I wrote this on vacation. Cyan is by far my favorite FF6 character, and he really is the stuff of legends. If he were a literary character written long ago, he would no doubt be an archetype for the concept of hero.
The Ballad of Cyan Garamonde
Ii
O, ye who would hear a hero's tale,
Be moved, enchanted, inspired strong
By the knightly deeds of chivalric ones,
Hearken unto my words! For without fail,
He, whose shoulders, black plate mail is o'er hung --
Yea, Cyan Garamonde, pallor of snow,
Master of the light fence and heavy lunge,
Beset by, o'ercoming sorrow's degrees --
A thunderous soul, with heart aglow --
Shall in this high regard, never displease.
Iii
There came a night, in the halls of Doma,
When nurse and aides the castle had long left --
A maiden with child did cry to the moon --
As her husband did sense sharp this moment,
And with feet swiftly in stride -- handling deft --
Did escort her to retainer stronghold.
There, among rapier blades and deadly tunes,
One entered this domain without crying --
And praises untold did shake that stone mould,
And after the night, he was named Cyan.
Iiii
Forthright, he was held, adored by mother --
A fleeting woman, of beauty eterne;
Cursed by sickness, blessed by life of meaning,
She too, received the love of another --
For the heart of his father, with strength burned,
Living full, drawing life in every breath.
His face bright, his chest with power swelling --
He planned the future for his newborn son --
For defensive hearth, and his sword's smooth breadth
Would enter the hands of his chosen one.
Iiv
But the kingdom had just begun its rise;
Yea, beset on all sides, it chose to fight,
Save it be ushered coldly to time's sands --
For its regiments of foot knights, whose size
Was small, travailed with valorous might,
And stood ever fast 'gainst resistance fierce --
Taking destiny into their own hands,
Brandishing swords, and crying warlike yells --
To blackhearts pierce -- and protect those dearest --
And at opportune calling, seize new realms.
Iv
At the head of the kingdom's defenders
Were the king's men, whose charge it was to stay
The hands of those who sought to stain the throne,
And stood with him past the evening cinder.
This outfit, Cyan observed, in his young days,
For herein, his father did rigidly serve;
Yea, among his peers, in skill he stood lone --
Exploring, perfecting his deadly swing --
With passioned fervor, sharpening his curve,
And forging a new heirloom of technique.
Ivi
And within the vine-covered castle walls,
A young man slashed away at dolls of straw --
Eager to earn the red ribbons of war;
And while others his age attended balls,
Cyan danced 'round the moat to fix his flaws,
Mastering footwork, expecting to wear
One day mail, the Doma crest at core.
And as his innocent desire grew --
Fulfilling his cares, with fluorishing dare --
An enemy force awaited its cue.
Ivii
For in the hills, the last who hel dchallenge
To Doma's claims lay waiting to descend
Upon the castle, and spill regal blood --
Ho! -- A cry is heard; the plans of revenge
Are in motion; as the onslaught did rend
Asunder the gates in the dusky light,
And the retainers charged in sword-tipped flood,
Cyan sprung, with clean blade, into the fray --
Imposing his might, and struggling to fight --
But beside him, a warrior was slain --
Iviii
Fo there, in the black battlements, lay death;
And though countless foes lay rent on the wall,
One too many had charged his father brave.
The battle lay done -- as fell a sunset,
Ushering him to the West, and her halls,
As Cyan gazed where the sword had seared.
As he stood, to reality a slave,
And none dared to approach, for fear of life --
He carried no fears, nor shed any tears,
But in his deepest soul, buried the strife.
Iix
And the time came to appoint successor;
Grim Cyan kneeled and bowed his troubled head,
And sternly swore to uphold the knight code --
To speak, that all words be a promise more --
To fight courageously in Doma's stead --
From the deep well of sloth, never to sip --
To speak clear in humble and noble tones --
To love, with strong passion, the kingdom light --
At home, life give, and in battle, life give --
And to always fight for the ideal right.
Ix
And so he lived, as the sting of that day
Lessened in time, 'till just a dark whisper
Of the heart -- one that matured, carried high
The title of Chief Retainer -- a name
Rightly giv'n to a tempered warrior.
Though strict in his manners, his face forlorn,
He was indeed friendly, though proven shy;
An inquisitive spirit to the last --
Always in good form, and to his friends, warm,
He had learned to accept the tragic past.
IIi
But far away brewed others of ill stock,
Whose black faith lay in machines and magic --
Yea, Vector, creators of an empire,
Fueled by power stemming from Esper rocks.
And as it sated its dark visions sick,
Many cities fell, and at its feet fawned,
And bowed to evil Gestahl as sire --
And as Kefka rose to lead its forces,
New plans were drawn -- to exercise their brawn --
His ships, to Doma, altered their courses.
IIii
But time had been good to Cyan the tall,
Taking a woman of pure love as wife,
And raising Owain -- a bright, happy boy,
Eager to learn and heed his father's call --
To one day walk the path of knightly life --
To at this age, practice, and not play games.
And Elayne did observe the fighter coy,
Devoting his time to family dear --
Teaching and training, and loving the same --
Forging for them a future bright and clear.
IIiii
But O, unfortunate fate would not bend --
For a desert camp, the empire made,
And to Doma's gates, its sergeants dispatched,
While Cyan rushed over the walls to fend --
With slash and side -- away the invaders.
And as storms -- thunder and rain -- with him joined,
Both he and lightning into their hearts crashed;
With each swing, he tightened his iron grip --
To bloody anoint their heads with sword point --
As his blade, into deep crimson, did dip.
IIiv
But decency, from this fight, was absent;
For upstream, Kefka's wretched poison spilled --
And one by one, lord and normal man fell,
As in regal chamber, Cyan did bend
To hear the last words of the king, lain still --
Forever thanks -- see thine fam'ly -- he said --
And Cyan ran through the castle, a hell
Of muffled wails, and in his quarters found --
Elayne stainéd red -- Owain still in bed --
And as he watched them, there was not a sound.
IIv
Thus he charged, into the Empire base --
His mind torn, and bent upon firey rage,
Unable to forgive his not saving,
Though it were beyond his power and grace.
Joining him were travelers of younger age --
Sabin and Shadow, who helped on his side,
Though did not share his madness and craving --
And with each troop killed in the desert sun,
Anger did subside -- sorrow crept inside --
Until the deadly battle had been won.
IIvi
And the trio soon entered a dim glade --
Cyan, enlisted in their cause for good --
And into Phantom Forest, departed.
Round ghosts, spectres, beings of life faded
They passed, as they walked through the haunted wood,
Keeping their exchanges in whispers low --
And beyond the trees, a black form did bid --
For they heard, in tones of dread, soft bells rung --
Old pistons go, and a grim whistle blow --
And hurried to the spectacle ahead.
IIvii
Resting there, upon a worn steel rail
Was the Phantom Train -- escort of the dead,
Its wheels well traveled in spirit domains --
For when souls set free their earthly sails,
To the next world they are somberly led,
Amassed in carpeted carriages dark --
Eidolons appearing as azure flames,
Long departed through a raven engine --
Led into realms afar, in black boxcars,
Away from the land of those still living.
IIviii
And as Cyan and friends boarded the train,
Unearthly, cold blue eyes from corners peeked --
He warded off wraiths with his silver slash,
Though one joined him; outside, long ago slain.
And through the corridors labrynthine and bleak
They passed, til trapped by ghosts of vengeance hot --
Escaping narrowly through rooftop dash --
And at last, they had reached the engine's top;
And though it fought, with pistons iron-wrought,
It soon was forced to screech to a hard stop.
IIix
They stepped down; on the platform, Cyan saw
Pale visages of two to him dear --
Elayne and Owain, glancing expressionless,
As Cyan shouted a desperate call --
Beleaguered by sorrow, and startling fears,
He heard their answer -- to not be sad, and mourn;
That he must continue to fight, and bless
The land with his courage, despite their fate --
And inward they turned, as his heart did burn,
And low in his chest was a somber weight.
IIx
And days after, the final fight occurred --
Set atop a riven, flying isle,
Where Kefka and Gestahl made their last bid --
A stand, from the ground, appearing a blur.
As Kefka backstabbed -- revealed his guile,
And imbalanced magic in reckless dare,
Cyan fought greatly, this tyrant to rid --
But new power proved too great to undo,
And without care, he ordered the land's tear,
And plunged the world into night anew.
IIIi
In the new land, charred black and ochre brown,
He awoke -- rising after two day's rest,
He wandered through broken landscapes and rifts,
The weight of the world troubling his crown.
Still in the armor bearing Doma's crest,
He had small hope, but he knew just the same
That Doma likely lay buried in swift
Currents of the murky, stainéd ocean.
Wand'ring without aim, on self placing blame,
WIth the dejected praries, he did blend.
IIIii
The despairéd knight soon came to a town,
Ravaged and ruined, in which a woman
Awaited letters from her soldier beau --
A meekly humble face among the frowns,
Sending unanswered writs across the sand --
Attached by white pigeons, for a city
And man who had long since joined the waves blue,
Killed at the time th eworld was riven.
Though on this beauty, he did take pity,
He continued forward to a mountain.
IIIiii
And upon a mount, thieves dwelling at base,
Cyan made his retreat, in the high peak --
For there, using his more elegant crafts,
He made flowers, with petals of red blaze --
Mimicries beautiful from deadwood bleak,
And posing as soldier, long letters filled --
Sending these gifts to the woman, who laughed
With shaky glee, and did write in return.
Though he felt guilt at illusion he built,
He had helped to ease her heart's painful burn.
IIIiv
And as he prepared to reveal his guise --
An envelope composed, ready to go,
Urging her to live, despite her great loss --
His friends did return, having months survived;
Scattered abroad, now united once more.
Caught off-guard the knight did struggle and rush,
His sweet creations, to conceal and toss.
They saw, and complemented his makings.
Embarassed, he blushed, his cheeks in red flush --
He did go with them, that place forsaking.
IIIv
And the party sojourned to the lands West,
To search for Kefka -- his minions defeat,
When exhausted, they needed room and bed --
And there, bearing that black, ill-fated crest,
Stood Doma Castle, still proper and neat --
No wallstone touched, overturned, or made weak --
Empty -- long ago were removed the dead,
Though a few candles provided dim light.
Though his caution peaked at this shelter bleak,
He agreed, in his quarters, to spend night.
IIIvi
No sooner than he had covered himself --
Closed his eyes to a grim, troubled repose,
Four wraiths descended upon him in dream --
A trio who preyed on sleep; wretched elves,
And a combined evil, from slain men rose --
Yea, Wrexsoul, festerer of inner strife,
Waxing crimson -- and together this team
Entered Cyan to eternal nightmare --
With pain twisted rife -- and to save his life,
His friends entered his dream, without a care.
IIIvii
They found themselves upon the Phantom Train --
With no forest to be seen, for it rolled
Ever on, into spacious, raven hell --
And there Cyan jumped -- from edges did hang,
To escape white ghosts, who sang and did toll
For him to ever remain in oblive',
And rot, believing his honor unwell.
And Wrexsoul, at Cyan, did laugh and dance --
That he could not live, nor himself forgive --
But ho! His friends had taken battle stance.
IIIviii
And though in combat, they nearly did die,
The terrible spirit lay split in two --
And in the dream, Cyan joined them at last.
Before them, at the throne of Doma high,
Appeared Elayne and Owain, spirits blue --
And as in reference, he knelt and fell,
They spoke -- that on self, he should no more cast
Blame -- that eterne, they shall be with him dear.
He could foretell, this was final farewell,
And as he bid goodbye, gone were his fears.
IIIix
Thus they departed -- Cyan bright anew,
His armor now of an inner nature --
And attacked the tower of Kefka tall;
Yea, those strong, daring, and courageous few
Climbed its halls, to accost that evil cur --
And they struggled 'gainst his fitful tirades.
At last, they buried forever his gall;
The structure did now crumble and bellow --
And on an airship's blades, their escape made,
They returned to the saved world below.
IIIx
His honor restored -- with his heart at peace --
To sweet Miranda, he quickly returned,
Revealing himself to Lola, so bold,
Who also, a close secret, did release --
She knew her beau's death -- that fate, had her, spurned --
And she heard his calls -- her spirits to rouse,
And had been kept 'live by his gesture gold.
His heart panged with warmth, and with joy did fill --
As they embraced in that house, they took vows
To live happily -- and Doma rebuild.
