This epilogue feels very sequel-y, as if you planned on writing a sequel. Although it makes sense to examine Terra's guilt in the aftermath, this wasn't a happy ending and that made it feel somewhat unsatisfying. I suppose it is true to real life, where stories do not end with all the loose ends tied off and everyone set up to live happy peaceful lives ("and everyone lived happily ever after" is far from realistic), but it feels weird to read a story where the ending is so... open-ended. And yet I can't think of anything different you could have done.

In any event, very well-developed alternate plot idea and excellent execution that, although it could be longer, was treated seriously and professionally.

If the next chapter is the epilogue, despite how realistic this alternate plotline is, it wouldn't make for the best game because of its brevity. It's a great idea and superbly written, but lacking the length and complexity to make it satisfying as an epic-style story. You focused a lot here on the panic and stress and adrenaline of the events, which is a good thing, for in games, I often don't think of and couldn't care less about the ordinary citizens and the exhaustion of the fighting and running, etc., is something that's easy to ignore when the player doesn't feel those things along with the characters.

Suspenseful chapter. I like the idea (wehther canon or your own idea) that Kefka's madness was caused by being infused with magic and that he's practically drunk after his recent infusion.

I noticed that you didn't spend much time describing Terra's human appearance (even in the subtle references made in passing). Considering your level of description throughout the story, this seems strange and I should think you should include some more details even though we should all know what Terra looks like. As I think on it, you don't spend much time describing anyone's appearance, opting instead for gestures and facial expressions.

I love the misunderstanding at the beginning here, as Terra makes the wrong - but logical - assumptions about the humans and their holding of the esper. I also always enjoy confrontations like this: two different peoples who fear each other, don't trust each other, and yet there is the underlying curiousity and recognition that the two may not be so different. This is a common literary theme (aliens and humans, monsters and humans, or just plain humans of different races), so while I enjoy it, I wouldn't call it original. Remembering Terra's esper form, I found Edgar and Sabin perhaps too ready to be friendly so quickly, but at the same time, I don't remember how humans talked about espers or what the general person knew about them, so this feeling may simply be due to ignorance.

It was slightly unclear to me why Terra would not have wanted to unfreeze Valigarmanda. My assumption was that his desire to continue fighting meant he would be destructive upon awakening and so she felt it best to leave him the way he was, but this seems too considerate of the humans at this point in the story. I would think Terra would rather see him free even if he is wild too.

Celes' magic would indeed be something painful and antagonizing for Terra. I don't remember if they ever butted heads in canon over this. If they didn't, this is a great point and worth exploring, and if they did, I'm sure it is interesting to put it in a different situation.

Very good writing on the 'stolen magic' description. Struggling consciousness is hard to write, especially when you want it to be disorienting but not so much so that the reader can't follow it.

I don't remember how FF6's plot went all that well, and Celes wasn't a character that interested me as much as the others. Sometimes I like cold-hearted generals, but for some reason I never warmed to her, and so I didn't find this chapter all that interesting. However, you've kept the examination of how magic is experienced in the caster and it feels like there's even more description in this chapter than in the first one. And an abrupt and oddly funny cliffhanger to finish the chapter with.

The first thing I want to say is that it has been forever since I played Final Fantasy VI. I made it nearly to the end in childhood, so it's probably been at least 15 years. I saw this as a Favourite under someone's profile and decided to read it, since it sounded interesting.

I can tell immediately that there is an art here that will be lost on me for lack of memory of canon, that you are going to be a clever writer who uses obscure references like seasonings. I can tell as well that the quality will be high in that this is a serious, professional-style story. You start off abruptly and you are assuming your readers are intelligent and will not be satisfied with second-rate writing. You jumped from present a few times, suggesting you will sometimes vary from the traditional, simple straight-time style. Gaps lefts either for the readers' imagination or for filling in later appear right in the opening, showing that you assume the reader can follow along without being spoon-fed. This is very different from most fanfics and there are pros and cons to these assumptions, but nevertheless, it is impressive to see.

I love the disorientation of Terra's arrival in the human world, for I remember her flying away like a mad creature upon becoming an esper, and this scene provides the metaphysical explanation and exploration of this, what the magical creature must experience. The interior experience of inhuman creatures is something I always find fascinating, so that by itself piques my interest.

I am intrigued, feel compelled to keep reading, and feel that this will be a great story. You can't do much better on an opening chapter.

Please excuse the other review I posted, I'd forgotten I'd enabled Java and that makes the site behave differently than when it's disabled. Alas nothing I say after that screw up is going to look elegant at all, but I still want to thank you for your work on this story.

Edgar, Sabin, Celes, Kefka and even Terra all seem immediately familiar, and reminded me of all the feelings they originally inspired in me when I played FFIII all those years ago.

Long have I lamented the absence of more work in this old fandom, only to find you by chance. You make me feel like the Inazuma Double Kick track from the Diebuster OST.

Thank you.

Type your review for this chapter here...

You are very, very quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. I enjoyed this thoroughly and for too many reasons for me to list! As with all your other fics, the characters were spot on - you have an amazing talent for getting into the heads of whichever character you're writing, which is especially evident in a fic that alternates between two main characters. The concept was an interesting one and the execution was amazing! Just as with Divergence, your writing stays so true to the game and lends to the narrative rather than takes away from it; it's JUST like revisiting the original worlds and original characters. And that's what a lot of people read fanfiction for, to get more out of a world that we can only spend so much time in, and you do these worlds such justice that it's so incredibly satisfying to read your fics.

Alright, I'm kind of rambling here, but I can't get over just how believable you make the worlds and the characters out to be. Just as with Divergence, you took the world and treated it like a real place and the characters like actual individuals - and even things like the espers and magic were treated with such logic and realism, it honestly makes me wonder if you have some sort of telepod that lets you explore these worlds yourself in order to write about them!

Okay, seriously this time, enough 6AM ramblings. You've got my praise and admiration, and I can't wait to trawl the rest of your account and I definitely can't wait for the next time you decide to dive into the world of FF6! Thank you so much for this beautiful, beautiful story :3

Simply wonderful, loved it. I miss some of the other characters but really the only one I truly miss being part of saving the world is Locke. Everyone else is perfect :D

Incredible story. Absolutely love it. One of, if not THE best FFVI fic I have read.

Kudos on the brilliant writing,

HR

Interesting universe next door; I quite enjoyed reading this, especially with the focus on some of my favorite FF6 characters. Thank you very much for sharing this.

This is brilliant. One of the best FFVI fics I have ever read.

This is a very interesting take on the story, as a good AU should be. Well done. :)

good fic u should make a sequel that explores mroe of terra and celes relationship