The Untold Saga of Daryll Gabbiani
by Kimberly Scott

*Disclaimer:  Although I forgot to in previous stories, I should add
that the characters are property of Square Co., Ltd, and are only
being used for nonprofit purposes.  Then again, you probably could
figure that out, couldn't you?

Foreword

     I had always wondered if Daryll had really died.  It bothered me
     that while they mentioned that the Falcon was found a year after
     Daryll's crash, no mention was made of whether Daryll's body had
     been found.  I began to think 'What if Daryll HAD survived
     somehow?' and came up with the rough outline of a story.  I
     typed the beginning into the computer, most of it spontaneously.
     For one thing, I never originally planned to explain how Setzer
     and Daryll met, but when I launched into the beginning I decided
     that it could only help.
     When I was considerably into the story, I told my friend Michael
     Siegl about the story.  He was none too pleased.  He began
     ranting on about how you could go to Daryll's tomb and revive
     her.  Of course, he had the very first version of FFIII (U.S.,
     of course); in fact he had reserved it in advance.  He had
     already told me that the 'resurrection' code only worked in the
     very first FFIII cartridges.   Therefore, only the people who
     owned the first version of FFIII could use this code, right?
     I'm sure that isn't a signifcant percentage of those who own
     FFIII.  Therefore the rest of us only knew that Daryll's airship
     had crashed and that it had been found a year later.  No mention
     of what happened to Daryll herself.
     I have decided, after 'What REALLY Happened to Vicks and Wedge!'
     that since I had tried comedy, I might as well take a stab at
     something more serious.  Anyway, enough talk.  I hope that you
     enjoy the story, even if you do own the first version of FFIII.
     Especially you, Michael.

Part I

     Setzer stood at the foot of Daryll's gravestone.  He laid upon
     it the fresh roses he had brought and thought about the
     impetuous young woman he had loved once, long ago.  At least she
     had died doing something she loved, he mused.  But it was a
     shame that while the wreck of the Falcon had been found,
     Daryll's body was still missing.  But wherever her broken body
     lay, it had a grave at Daryll's tomb.
     He thought back to when he first met her, a young ambitious
     teenager, and he not much older.  He had been King of the Skies,
     floating alongside the clouds in his magnificent airship,
     laughing at those bound to the earth below.  The sky was his and
     his alone, a place all to himself.
     Then...that voice marred his perfect world, and at the same time
     made it even better.
     "Hey you son of a -!  Watch where you're going!"
     Setzer saw that he was about to crash into another airship and
     steered out of the way just in the nick of time.  He caught his
     breath, relieved that he had not collided with that
     other...AIRSHIP!!!
     "Hey," Setzer shouted, "what the heck you think you're doin'?
     This is MY sky, so get lost!"
     "Just who do ya think you are, ya big hotshot?" the voice
     retorted.  "You can't tell me to scram!  This sky doesn't have
     your name written on it!"  And then Setzer saw the person that
     the voice belonged to.
     She was of average height, and well proportioned.  She was
     crowned with radiant strawberry-blonde hair, cascading down to
     her waist in golden waves.  Fair skin the color of cream, and
     green eyes that sparkled like emeralds.  She had a small but
     straight nose, and her lips were roses, full and bright red.
     She wore a red jacket that reached to her knees, and a black
     dress considerably shorter.  The dress was also considerably
     tight, as he could tell by the way puberty had run its course.
     Her beautiful, well formed legs were partially hidden by the
     brown leather boots she wore.  It was love at first sight.
     "I'm Setzer Gabbiani, King of the Skies!  And who might you be?"
     The girl snorted.  "You don't look like a king to me."  But then
     she smiled.  "And I'm Daryll, Queen of the Heavens."
     "What, you don't have a last name?"
     "Do I NEED a last name?"
     "Yeah, so everyone'll know it was YOU that I beat in a race
     across my skies!"
     "Oh yeah, big shot?  Let's just see who owns these skies!"  She
     turned and within moments her craft shot off towards the
     horizon.
     Setzer stood there, mouth agape, marvelling at the fast ship.
     "Dang, that's some woman," he mumbled.  And if you don't go
     after her, a voice inside him said, you won't see her again.
     Quickly he turned and gave chase.

     That night Daryll and Setzer landed near a hill south of Jidoor.
     The stars were especially bright from that point, and together
     they sat staring up into space, Daryll's head leaning against
     Setzer's shoulder.
     "Look up at those stars," Daryll whispered.  She pointed at two
     stars that were very close to each other.  "They look so happy
     together.  I know it sounds strange, but...they do!"
     "That's because those stars are called the Lovers.  They're
     always close," mumbled Setzer.
     Daryll turned and stared into Setzer's eyes.  "Does that
     mean...what I think it does?"
     "What, it means something?"
     Daryll leaned back against Setzer and sighed.  "Well, I just
     meant...do you feel the same way about me I do about you?"
     Setzer pretended to be exasperated.  "What, first you mouth off
     at me and now you're sayin' you're madly in love with me?"
     Daryll pushed him playfully to the ground.  "I knew it!  You DO
     love me!"
     "What makes you say that?"  Setzer yelled.
     "Why would you assume I'm madly in love with you unless you felt
     the same?  That IS what I asked, you know."
     "Uhh..."
     "Then kiss me.  You'll know soon enough.  C'mon.  Pucker up."
     Setzer obliged.  As they kissed a shooting star lit up the sky,
     and the stars known as the Lovers shone extra bright for an
     instant.

     And now that love can never be, thought Setzer bitterly,
     returning to the present.  He leaned his head against the
     tombstone.  "Daryll..."
     "What?"
     No, it couldn't be.  But as Setzer turned around he knew it had
     to be.  The once strawberry blonde hair had turned more blonde
     than strawberry, and seven years had taken their toll, but it
     was still her.
     "Daryll!"  Setzer flung his arms wide and Daryll rushed in.
     They kissed once again as they had that first time, seven years
     ago, on their hill.

Part II

     Setzer broke the embrace.  "But you can't be here!  You died!"
     Daryll smiled faintly.  "Almost, on several occasions, but I'm
     still here."
     "How...how did you make it?"
     "It's a long story."
     Setzer grabbed her hand.  "Do you still have..."
     "Yes.  I still have the ring."  Daryll took her hand from Setzer
     and opened the breast pocket on the left side of her coat.  From
     there she took out a rather large diamond ring, studded with
     tiny emeralds all around.  "I may have lost many things on my
     long journey, but I never lost my engagement ring."  She smiled.
     "For five long years I've waited to see your face, your smile.
     Goodness knows it was all I could do from leaping off our hill
     at times.  It all began when I flew off towards the stars, over
     five years ago..."

     Daryll shouted at the wind as she coasted along through the
     heavens in her sleek aircraft.  The breeze was wonderfully crisp
     as she dared to fly higher than any before her.  She passed a
     flock of geese heading south and flew over low clouds.  She
     rejoiced in the freedom of flight.
     Suddenly a large shadow passed overhead.  Daryll looked up and
     saw four figures flying above her.  They seemed to be coming
     from the general direction of Vector, and were heading toward
     Crescent Island.  (Daryll's ship was over the southeastern edge
     of the Veldt.)  The leader of the travelers looked like a woman
     with a lyre.  She was followed by what resembled a horse and
     something that looked like a cat.  In the back was what appeared
     to be an old man with a long beard carrying a staff.
     Daryll was surprised, but not terrified.  These must be Espers
     -- magical creatures that were from the time of the War of the
     Magi.  She had heard rumors that the Emperor was draining magic
     from such creatures, but she had dismissed it as idle gossip.
     Now she knew the truth.
     But she would not remember it.  The first three beings were
     unable to maintain flight and they crashed to the earth below.
     They just barely missed the Falcon, but the airship became
     unstable.  Daryll tried to regain control, then cursed when she
     realized it was impossible.  The airship began to fall, and
     Daryll was flung from the helm.
     If Daryll had fallen to the earth she would most certainly have
     died, but she was lucky.  She fell in the narrow strait between
     the Veldt and Crescent Island.  Even so, she nearly drowned.
     She hit bottom, but the impact had slowed her enough that the
     blow to her head was not nearly as severe as it could have been.
     She came up to the surface gasping for air.  She paddled to the
     shore, dizzy and half-drowned.  She reached shore just as the
     last of her strength was fading.  She tried to stand up, then
     collapsed on the shoreline.

Part III

     The first thing Daryll felt was warmth.  Then pain, as she tried
     to move her head, but only succeeded in awakening a dull
     throbbing in her skull.  She opened her eyes a tiny crack to
     take in her surroundings.
     She was in a dark room.  There was a fireplace at the far end
     with something burning, and there was a small table beside her.
     Suddenly the room was filled with light as the door opened and a
     man walked in.
     "Setzer...?" she mumbled.  Had Setzer found her and nursed her
     back to health?
     The man was not Setzer.  For one thing, he was too old, in his
     forties or so.  Second, his hair was black, not Setzer's gray.
     Third, her gut instinct said it wasn't.
     "No Setzer around here, miss," he said as he set the basket he
     had been carrying on the table.  "I'm Harold McKinney, just an
     old widower.  And who might you be, young lady?"
     "Daryll," she muttered.  "Where's Setzer?"
     "As I've already said, there's no Setzer here.  I'm glad you've
     finally come around.  You've been in that coma for over a year
     and a half.  I found you on the shore of Crescent Island when I
     went fishing.  You were half-dead."
     "What?"  Daryll shouted, then regretted it as the throbbing in
     her head sharpened at her outburst.  If she had been in a coma
     that long, then Setzer probably had given up looking for her.
     In that case, then, she would have to find HIM.
     "I've got to go," she said as she tried to sit up.  "I've got to
     find Setzer."
     "I'm sorry, but you can't go anywhere yet," said Harold.  "You
     need to rest.  You've been hurt pretty bad, and even though
     you're awake now, you still need to recover more.  The only
     reason you're alive is because..."  He swallowed.  "I've used my
     cure magic."
     "Then cure me and send me on my way!  I've got to find Setzer!"
     "I'm afraid it's not that simple.  You need to eat again."
     Daryll gingerly got to her feet and hobbled toward the door.
     "Food can wait."
     Harold realized that Daryll was not going to stop unless he did
     something drastic.  So he once again called on his Mage Warrior
     heritage.  "Sleep!"  He caught Daryll as she fell and put her
     back in bed.

     For another three months Daryll stayed at Harold's cottage
     recovering her strength.  By the second month she was able to
     walk normally, but she continued to stay and help Harold as a
     sort of return payment for all he had done for her.  When she
     was dusting one day she came across a small framed painting of a
     beautiful young woman.  "Who's this?"
     "That's Sara, my late wife," said Harold.  "She was the most
     beautiful lady in Tzen.  I used to live there, when I worked on
     a cargo ship - of course, I kept my...abilities under wraps.  We
     married young, but unfortunately she died in the Empire's
     attack.  That's when I moved back to Crescent Island, but not to
     my childhood home, Thamasa.  They didn't like that I left the
     town in the first place, being a descendant of the Mage Warriors
     and everything.  They were afraid I'd reveal their hideaway.
     And if I returned it would only cause them to jeer at me about
     how I couldn't survive outside Thamasa.  So I built a house on
     Crescent Island, by the sea, and lived there alone as a
     fisherman.  I could've lived in with someone else, but part of
     the reason I wanted to be alone was to grieve for Sara.  When
     she died it nearly tore me apart."
     Daryll stared at the picture for a long time, then finally
     whispered, "I must find Setzer.  I can't let him suffer thinking
     I've died.  He doesn't deserve it."
     This time Harold did not stop her.  He only smiled.  "Then go.
     This time I think you are ready."
     "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."
     Harold's grin became even wider.  "Nonsense.  For almost two
     years I've had a daughter, thanks to you."

     Harold took Daryll across the narrow strait to Mobliz on his
     fishing skiff, then he waved as he turned back to Crescent
     Island.  Daryll was on her own.  She stood there at the entrance
     of town for a while, debating how to start the search, then
     decided to ask around.
     "Excuse me, sir, have you seen an airship?" Daryll stopped the
     nearest person she saw, a man of about twenty-five.  He turned
     to her and gave her an odd look.
     "Airship?  What're you blabbering about?"  Then he thought
     awhile and understood the question.  "Oh, you mean one of those
     blimp-thingys?"
     "Yes," said Daryll, forcing back her exasperation.
     "Mmm...About two years ago there was one sighted, but it was
     crashing.  It went over the mountains and we never saw it again.
     And more recently, there was a man that stopped here, asking for
     the wherabouts of Diane or Darla or someone like that.  He had
     an airship."
     Setzer!  "Where is he?" cried Daryll.
     The man shrugged his shoulders.  "'Zat his name, Setzer?
     Doesn't matter, though.  He stopped in here nine months ago.  No
     telling where he is now."
     Daryll bit her lip to hide her disappointment.  "Thank you,
     sir."
     Well, he had tried to be helpful, but she was even more
     disappointed now than when she first arrived.  Almost a year ago
     he had come to this backwater town, and she figured that he
     probably found the Falcon soon after and took her for dead.
     Maybe she should try getting to Jidoor.  Even if she couldn't
     find help there, she knew Setzer loved the opera, which was
     nearby.  If she went down to the opera house regularly she had
     to bump into Setzer sooner or later.  She decided to stop at the
     local inn.  Maybe someone there could help.
     "Sir," she said to the innkeeper, "do you know how I could get
     to Jidoor?"
     "Jidoor, eh?" the innkeeper laughed.  "The only way t' get t'
     Jidoor is through the Serpent Trench.  It's completely
     underwater, though, so you'd probably drown before you even
     reached the ocean."
     Daryll turned away in bitter disappointment.  "Now just wait a
     minute, miss," spoke someone else.  "I've come here from Jidoor,
     you know, to get away from it all.  I'd offer you a ride on my
     private yacht," Daryll's face lit up.  "...but it won't be free.
     You have to pay for extra gas and that sort of thing.  Probably
     around 1,000 GP.  Have you some way to pay?"
     Daryll was crestfallen.  "No..." she whispered.
     "I'm sorry, miss.  But remember I'll still be here for another
     four days.  If you earn the cash by then, the offer still
     stands."
     "Thank you, sir," Daryll whispered.  She left the inn in a daze.
     How was she going to earn 1,000 GP in four days?  She walked up
     to the cliff by the north side of town, overlooking the sea.
     The sun was setting, painting the heavens in bright pink and
     orange near the horizon, gradually fading into green and blue.
     Such a beautiful night prompted Daryll to sing.  She began an
     aria from Setzer's favorite opera, with the childish hope that
     he might hear and come to her.
     The skies had faded to nighttime blue when Daryll finished.  She
     turned back to head into the village.  She stopped short.
     Several people had gathered near the cliff, listening to the
     song, including the man from Jidoor.  He came up to her now.
     "Miss," he began, "why didn't you tell me you could sing?"
     "Huh?  Do you mean...I'm good?" 
.    "Good?  You're spectacular!  You should consider singing at the
Opera House!  In fact, the star singer just left recently to take up
a job entertaining the Emperor in Vector.  I'll take you to Jidoor
free...just pay me the first 1,000 GP you earn, okay?"
     "You're that confident in my ability that you're willing to risk
     1,000 GP on me?"
     The man smiled.  "Yes, but I'm also a bit of a gambling man."


Part IV

     Four days later, on the ship to Jidoor, the man, who introduced
     himself as Patrick Allenton, was helping Daryll prepare for a
     life on the stage.
     "Now first of all, what's your name?"
     "Daryll."
     "No, no, no.  That won't do at all.  Who'd go to an opera where
     the main star is some girl named Daryll?  No, you'll need a
     stage name."  Patrick looked up at the ceiling in thought.
     "Hmm...How about...Maria?"
     "Maria?"
     "Yes!  Maria will be perfect!  You will now be called Maria.
     Now about your hair..."  He picked up a tress in his hand, and
     Daryll swatted him back.  "You'll need to dye your hair blonde."
     "Why?"
     "Sex appeal.  Men love blondes."
     "Now that's not true..."  Daryll forced back a tear as she
     remembered Setzer.
     "Maybe not, but dye it anyway.  It won't hurt.  Mm-hm.  Now
     let's work on your breathing.  You know you have to breathe a
     certain way in order to sing properly..."

     On opening night crowds gathered from near and far to witness
     the debut of the new singer Maria.  Some had heard that she had
     the most beautiful voice in the world.  Others said that she
     supposedly got in on account of stunning beauty.  Still others
     argued both.  And of course there was those few idiots in the
     crowd who said Maria was going to flop.
And in this crowd - naturally - was Setzer.
     Setzer paid more attention to the star of the opera than the
     opera itself.  Such radiant beauty, and a voice to match.  There
     was a small nagging feeling that he knew this brilliant young
     woman, but he couldn't think who it was.  And at any rate, he
     never could get a good look, as he never got closer to Maria
     than the balcony.
     For nearly two years Setzer attended the opera regularly, glued
     there by his attraction to Maria.  He gradually fell in love
     with the actress, and one day decided to do something drastic.
     He was going to carry her off and marry her.

     Daryll had noticed Setzer's regular attendance at the Opera
     House.  It frustrated her immensely that she never got a chance
     to get closer to him than the stage.  When she received the note
     saying that she was going to be taken away, she was overjoyed.
     Still, she thought, she should probably give it to the
     Impresario so he would know what was going to happen.
     Big mistake.  "WHAT?  He's going to kidnap you?" shouted the
     Impresario.  "We can't let this happen!"  Daryll wanted to say
     that she wanted to be kidnapped by Setzer, but she felt that she
     would upset the Impresario even more, so she kept her mouth
     shut.
     "I must notify Owzer at once!" cried the Impresario, and he
     dashed out of the Opera House.

     As it turned out, a party of warriors needed Setzer's airship,
     and so Daryll a.k.a Maria was kept at Owzer's while the former
     Imperial General Celes assumed Maria's place.  When the time
     came for Setzer to carry Maria offstage, Celes was actually the
     one being abducted.  Everyone else thought they were doing the
     right thing when all they were doing was keeping two lovers
     apart.  After Celes was abducted Daryll returned to finish the
     rest of the opera, then told the Impresario she was quitting.
     "WHAT?  Are you mad?  We can't go on without you!"
     "You did before and you're going to again."  Daryll decided she
     had better tell the Impresario why she was quitting.  "My name
     is not Maria.  I am Daryll, and that man who was going to abduct
     me is Setzer Gabbiani, my one true love.  I hoped that he would
     carry me off to be his wife, but now I must hunt him down again,
     thanks to you.  So I will be going."
     "Maria, are you feeling quite all right?  You're beginning to
     imagine things.  Are you sure you're not coming down with flu?"
     Daryll took her earnings and stomped out of the Opera House.
     There was just no talking to some people.

Part V

     "For the next month or so, I followed one step behind you.  Then
     the world fell apart... I was in Thamasa at the time.  When
     everything had settled I had no clue where you might be, or even
     if you had survived.  So I settled in Thamasa in an abandoned
     house that had once belonged to a well-known blue mage and his
     granddaughter.
     "Then one day I saw it overhead.  The Falcon -- completely
     restored and flying.  There was only one man who could have
     performed such a feat.  My heart leapt when I realized you were
     still alive.  I wanted to leave Thamasa and find you.  I took a
     boat and went in search.  A traveler had come through Thamasa
     and informed me of where places were in the rearranged world."

     Daryll landed a day later south of Mobliz.  As she traveled by
     land she ran into the occasional traveler, but none of them said
     much.  One, however, warned her about the Cult of Kefka.
     "If you're goin' north," she said, "be careful.  There's some
     newfangled cult that worships Kefka ahead, 'bout three hours
     from here.  They hypnotize unwary travelers and make them a part
     of their cult.  Don't mean you can't go north, just be on your
     guard."
     "Thank you," said Daryll.

     A little less than three hours later, Daryll came to some low
     mountains.  She sat down and took a breather, wondering where to
     head after she took the ferry from Nikeah to South Figaro.  She
     was startled from her thoughts by the sound of an old man
     muttering and gasping for breath.  She turned around and saw an
     old man with a mohawk wearing a red cape.  He was trying to
     climb the mountain but was having little success.  He finally
     collapsed, panting.  Daryll walked over and helped the old man
     up to his feet.  "Oh thank you," he wheezed.  "Could you help me
     to my home?  It's over these mountains."
     Daryll agreed, and the two set out over the mountains together.
     In just over an hour they arrived at what appeared to be a huge
     apartment complex that reached into the heavens.  The old man
     walked up a couple of stories.  Daryll followed, half
     unconcerned about where she was going.
     "Come in," the old man said. "Let me thank you for escorting me
     home, with a dinner."  Daryll wasn't about to pass up a free
     meal, especially when her rations were low and her stomach had
     begun to complain.  She walked in and the man followed, bolting
     the door.
     "Why do you live here, in such a large place?"  Daryll asked as
     the old man put a tea kettle on the stove to boil.  The small
     apartment was dark, illuminated by only a few candles.  There
     was little furniture, only the stove, a table and one chair, and
     a cot in the corner.
     "Well, I'm never lonely," said the old man.  "There are lots of
     people here like myself."
     "What is your name?" Daryll asked.
     The old man started, then settled back into his easygoing
     manner.  "Don't need a name here.  No one cares.  Everyone has a
     number - makes it easier."
     "But you haven't always lived here, have you?  Where you came
     from before, didn't the people have a name for you?"
     "I don't remember living anywhere else.  This is the only home I
     know."  The kettle began to whistle, and the old man removed it
     from the stove.  He took two cups out of the cabinet and poured
     the hot tea into the cups.  He handed one to Daryll, who sipped
     politely.  She settled back into the chair, tired from her long
     journey.
     The old man did not drink his tea.  He mumbled something softly
     to himself, holding the tea cup in one hand.  The mumbling made
     Daryll feel even more exhausted than she already was, and her
     mind began to drift.  The old man had said he had no name.  But
     why was that?  Didn't he have a family somewhere?  But why did
     people have names, anyway?
What was her name?  She couldn't remember...
     Daryll's head drooped lower and lower.  The old man seemed nice,
     and happy living here.  Maybe she should stay here, too.  She
     could bear a number - numbers were so much easier than names,
     for names repeated and numbers were infinite.  Infinity...she
     felt as if she had lived for all eternity, she was so tired.
     And yet she couldn't remember anything.  Daryll wanted to rest,
     she was so tired from her journey.  But why was she on the
     journey?  She couldn't recall.  Must have been something
     trivial.  But now she could sleep...
     Just as Daryll's head was about to fall in her lap, something
     shining caught her eye.  It was the ring, her engagement ring
     from Setzer, which had caught the candlelight and sparkled in
     the fire.  Daryll remembered Setzer, and everything, including
     the traveler's warning the other day.  She was overjoyed to have
     her memory back again.  Then with a shiver she realized where
     she was.  Joy was replaced by anger, burning hatred for this old
     man who had tricked her into the Cult of Kefka Tower.
     "You lying geezer!" Daryll shrieked.  Before the old man could
     react, Daryll had jumped out of the chair and punched him in the
     mouth.  She ran for the door, trying to open it.  She paused as
     she remembered how the old man had bolted it.  She fumbled in
     the dimly lit room for the bar that blocked the door, hoping she
     could raise it in time to escape.
     She was too late.  By the time she had flung the bolt aside the
     old man had recovered.  He muttered something unintelligable,
     then pointed at Daryll.  The blast of Kefka's unique magic
     knocked Daryll senseless.  The old man shoved her out of the way
     and began at last to drink his tea.

     "Who is she?"
     Daryll heard the hissing voice as she struggled to
     consciousness.  She cracked her eyes open just enough so that
     they would think she was still unconscious, but she could see
     what was going on.  There were many hissing voices and hooded
     people (they WERE people, weren't they?) and they seemed angry.
     "She must be the one that the old blue mage brought in.  He must
     not have been able to make her join us before that bratty girl
     came and snapped him out of i