Cecil Harvey is the main protagonist of Final Fantasy IV, who also appears in the sequel Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, and the interquel Final Fantasy IV -Interlude- that bridges the gap between the two games. Cecil is one of the few characters in the series to permanently change his job during the game, starting out as a Dark Knight, but after a trial and the battle with the first of the Four Elemental Archfiends, transforms into a Paladin.
In the English version of the 3D remake originally released for Nintendo DS, as well as in Dissidia Final Fantasy, Cecil is pronounced [/ˈsɛsɪ̈l/] (seh-sil). However, the bonus disc included with the Final Fantasy XII collector's edition pronounces it as [/ˈsiːsɪ̈l/] (see-sil).
Theme songs[]
Body of Dark, Heart of Light[]
Before the 12th cycle, Cecil was summoned to Dissidia, at the World of Darkness. He was soon ambushed by the Genome, Kuja, who wanted to impatiently test his skills as a fighter, though the Paladin was clueless on who Cosmos and Chaos were, even the eternal conflict itself. He lost to Kuja, but something menacing awakened inside him, his transformation into a Dark Knight from his hidden malice! Kuja took advantage of his sudden urges, utilizing a Dark Crystal, and he enslaved him as a pawn to work for him!
Kain and Yuna met up with the evil duo at the Lunar Subterrane, and the Dragoon was able to subdue Cecil! His rage still kept him going, though, till Yuna decided to talk some sense into him, on there must be a reason feeding off his darkness and encouraging him to have friends for support. Eventually, after he said who his name was, he tired out, and the summoner and Dragoon carried him to Cosmos. She sensed his duality persona, but her aura seemed to calm the troubled knight, and he vowed to end the eternal war. He soon met her other warriors, though he was humiliated as he failed the "test" to catch Zidane. Firion assured him he has what it takes to be enlisted as one of Cosmos' warriors; he even stated that he can master his black arts like any other weapon/ability, though Luneth was unsure. Warrior then challenged him to a sparring match, which was tough as nails, until Cecil made a surprise attack refracting its light projectiles blinding it, then churning to a Dark Knight and caught him off guard! He was about to slew him till Firion and Cosmos pleaded him to stop!
Cecil then snuck out of the Sanctuary, after he had a nightmare with the "goddess" in peril at Edge of Madness. He met a Moogle who offered him to sleep for free, then he went to a Gateway which led to the innards of a colossal, mecha giant! There, he faced with his brother, Golbez. He was reluctantly to accept him as such, but after the rough battle, the warlock saw hope in him; he can control his impulses and switch between light and darkness whereas he couldn't. As long as he remembers what/who he fights for, he shall prevail with both.
He soon made it to the Crystal World where he confronted Kuja, although the Genome still had him at his mercy with the Dark Crystal and enhancing Cecil's dark might! Firion, Yuna, and Kain witnessed the transformation and under his thrall, he incapacitated the weaponmaster who begged for Cecil to never lose the good in him! He succumbed more to his dark urges, until he remembered his friends speaking to him in his mind. They each assured him he should fight for his friends and end the conflict to conquer evil. Eventually, Cecil regained his senses as he resisted and turned into a Paladin again. He withstood some of Kuja's blows, luckily, he was able to cure himself. He realized being a Paladin was the polar opposite of a wrathful Dark Knight, so he used his duality against Trance Kuja, and performed his EX Burst finishing him! He emerged victorious as Kuja faded and the small Crystal destroyed.
Remembering Firion fading away, Cecil hurriedly rushed to his side, and noticed he can give power back to him since he usurped his energy! It worked, and his friends knew Cecil would control both sides of himself and help win the war, remembering his friends' and his brother's advice.
Dissidia Shadowgate[]
Cecil was one of the warriors that defeated Chaos, and soon left the destructing Edge of Madness to Castle Cornelia. The Warrior declared the battle's over, but he remembered losing Kain in the 12th cycle! He became emotional of his fallen allies, before the 9 warriors made it to Stormhaven, where he reunited with the Dragoon, the Summoner, and others.
Cecil accepted the final mission on venturing to Shadowgate and preventing the warlock from awakening the Behemoth that's said to destroy all worlds. Throughout the expedition, Cecil learned his forgotten White Magic. including Teleport, Esuna, Protect, Libra, and Cura. At one time as a Dark Knight, he assisted Bartz copying his Dark Flame destroying a troll, then being infatuated by a danced at the moonlit balcony till she churned into a Lobo and mangled him! He cured himself though he was assisted by Cloud and Tifa defeating her and her duplicates.
He eventually reached the last chamber before the warlock, and he was able to retain his past memories of his family, Baron, and he hopes to reconcile with Golbez. Unfortunately, he fell against the monstrosity, though it was Firion who finished the job. He helped Terra, Prishe and others escape from the crumbling keep, then after some final tips for Luneth on being a knight, he faded with Kain to the Blue Planet! He saw the Lunar Whale, assuming his brother was in it, and he reunited with his lost family at Baron!
Trials of a King/Conquest of the Blue Planet[]
Cecil with Cid and Namingway at the Troia pub
This was a 2-parter fic, in which it revolved around Cecil's trials/tribulations as the new Royal of Baron. It was the start of his 21st birthday, to which he had forgotten till Rosa gifted him with a silvery necklace of a Moon. It was the same day when the King took him in as an abandoned baby. Cid barged in and gave him an invitation to the finest pub in Troia! They went via Enterprise and met up with Namingway, to which he claimed his first date he regretfully made was known as the Dancing Dagger. After his first drink, Cecil became lightheaded, and as he tried to sober himself, he was drowning in the nearby lake where the Cagnazzo hallucination claimed him! Cecil was lifeless, till Cid was able to resuscitate him; he assured Cecil he won't tell Rosa of the incident.
The next day, Cecil and Rosa were discussing their plans on bearing an heir, and they were heading to Mysidia for the Elder's prayers via airship since the Devil's Road would sap their vitality. He then spotted a few unusual people in red skin, with a woman tied up. They followed them to a distant cave, and the royals fought them off. Cecil dove in after the hostage and saved her. She introduced herself as Dragon Rose, part of the Injukhal of Tenebre and daughter to Chief Abdullah. They then headed to her camp, and Cecil grew infatuated with the drums, as well as the chieftain reciting a legend that a noble warrior would save them from poverty and death during the lunar eclipse. He was anointed as such, and the Injukhal celebrated, making Cecil mesmerized with the drums and Dragon Rose, even leaving Rosa at their mercy! Deeply fascinated, he nearly reached in for her kiss, but Namingway tossed in 2 smoke grenakes and pulled him to the woods. Now known as Redeemingway, he assured Cecil to remedy his mistakes, and did just that to Cecil's affair!
He soon reached Baron by his Black Chocobo and confronted Rosa, Cid, and the Dark Knight, Dameon! He was about to slaughter Cecil, till Rosa confessed she had feelings for him cause of Cecil's betrayal. Heartbroken, he left to the Mist cave and slept there. He soon encountered Fusoya who took them to Mist where he saw his parents die in front of him! He decided to visit their graves for a while, until Rosa came to him and regretted her decision. She'll accept Cecil as long as he stays faithful. Though he wasn't ready to return; he decided to head to Fabul to cleanse his spirit and climb Mt. Ordeals to re-attain the light. Yang sympathized with his plight and knew he won't surrender Rosa willingly. After a very treacherous journey to the summit, Cecil encountered Dameon again, filling him in as his dark self, being taken in by Dragon Rose and Domin after he separated and vowed revenge if he shouldn't join his fellow tribesmen. First, he shall rid of Rosa, making the hold permanent! He dissipated, then Cecil reunited with Kain! He was about to attain the light too, till Dameon fed Cecil his urges again! He lashed out at him, to the point on having umbrakinesis and fire onto the altar, causing a catastrophe! As he was hanging from a precipice, Cecil begged Kain to take his stead and protect Rosa, then he fell, and the Dragoon took him to Mysidia.
He soon recovered, but he was completely doubtful if he should be himself and defeat his doppelganger. He prayed to the Water Crystal he once stole for strength, and the Elder wasn't sure of his motives. He took the Devil's Road to Baron, but Rosa was missing. Cid said she took an airship south to the Underworld. He chased there and King Giott informed she wasn't herself as she mindlessly headed to the Sylph Cave! He found her, but in an exotic getup similar to the Injukhal drawing him in! He was ambushed and knocked out by Dameon! By the time he came to, Rosa was at his mercy, then Cecil fought him with everything he had! Using fear tactics, Dameon aimed for Rosa though Cecil endured the blow, laying lifelessly! Rosa teleported him at a distant platform, then assured he'll never die as long as she's there for him! She recuperated him and restored his soul, making him a match to Dameon! In a last desperate attempt, the Dark Knight tried to pull him from a cliff to a pool of magma, though her Holy spell separated them, making Dameon plummet and save Cecil!
Cecil embracing Rosa at the izba
At a distant izba where the Sylphs lived, Rosa and Cecil got intimate. Then he had a nightmare of his comrades zombified and still controlled by the Injukhal with their new chief, Domin, massacring Abdullah and Dragon Rose! Cecil begged Rosa they must put a stop to them at Tenebre, though she wasn't too hasty. She never wanted their heir to be born in a time of war, and she believed it'd be isolated. Cecil reluctantly promised, that was until she succumbed to a severe sickness several months later.
In Ikran's second story, nine months had passed, and Cecil was being plagued with nightmares on Rosa suffering thru her pregnancy. She's in her third trimester and during a meeting for last-minute preparations, Cecil noticed the Injukhal arrived. A soldier alerted they were looking for him, and one wanted to give him the arrowhead crusted in blood. Knowing they meant business, he followed them to the village. He stopped them before they should use fire arrows and fought them off, excepting 1 who scurried away. Cid was impressed on facing them, but a soldier abruptly said Rosa's been unconscious and pale with the baby inside her! She was gravely ill, and Cecil was desperate to find a cure since White Magic never worked. A fugitive from Mythrill at the infirmary informed she must have the Glamour Greens. Cecil headed to Mythrill where the city was ablaze! He saved a few hapless midgets, even the Mythrill Brothers. The tiny salesman showed him the mini garden, only to be scorched; he said they're hard to find, and he must head to Tenebre to retrieve them! Cecil was on the hunt after he said goodbye to Cid and made sure Joanna would keep her well as long as possible.
Cecil made it to Mysidia, thinking if the Injukhall would annihilate other villages. He found the village barren and the Elder wounded. He cured him and he informed that Palom and Porom were abducted by the savages while brainwashing their best Mages! Cecil promised to save them if he should find the Greens for Rosa. He then headed to Fabul and saved Yang and the Grandmaster from wrathful, hypnotized Monks! He fought them off, and he noticed they were controlled by distant drums. He ordered Yang and his family to evacuate to Baron, and he gifted Yang the Master Key he used to have as Baron's Royal Guard briefly; he assured Leviathan won't attack since he's loyal to Rydia. Yang offered him the Wind Crystal for safekeeping, as it was the only one not stolen.
He soon headed to Tenebre, though he needed to land the Enterprise outside a forest and grab a Black Chocobo for discretion. He traversed thru and fought off several warriors, till he reached the same cave as before! The Greens withered and he was ambushed by a few more Injukhal with their condors. Using Rosa's augment, Rosa's Love, he was able to endure the fight. There was another one impressed of his skills and didn't work for the warring ones. Cecil told him of his plight, and the warrior accepted, till Cecil noticed it was actually Domin after he brainwashed him!
Cecil, under his new master's jurisdiction, willingly gave him the remaining Crystal to him. All four hovered over a smoke pit and glowed as they reunited. Domin shall attain the Dark Crystals, though he and Cecil were being prepared for the enticing ceremony... Cecil embraced their might, even the warriors they found various locations as their conquest was nearing fruition! Cecil became a proud servant to Domin and the Injukhal!!
After the celebration, Domin offered Cecil to drink the blood of the Injukhal from a golden chalice, making him a part of them indefinitely. Cecil was about to but...he abruptly hesitated and noticed he was sitting with the enemy. He looked into his chalice and offered Domin to excuse himself. He headed to a tower of limestone and found the Mage twins chained! He found them and sliced the chains, and he Teleported them to Mysidia before the warriors noticed! Elder thanked him, though he and Palom became skeptical with his sketchy attire. He rinsed himself off and discarded any cloths of them, then he headed back to Tenebre and challenged Domin. Cecil was backed away to a precipice though he was saved by Leviathan and Rydia before he plummeted to the choppy ocean! He fought Domin again, only to be enthralled with his power and the drums. Noticing Edward's Harp, the thrall broke over him and he fought Domin till he was weak against his Exhaust! Rydian casted Stop on the drums, and Kain came to his aide! Together, they fought off Domin's altered form, Deimos! With the augment activated, Cecil was the only one who heard Rosa to distract the abomination while she'd cast Holy! She did, and it worked as Domin reverted to his original vessel! Cecil noticed the control over his people is breaking and ordered him to surrender, but he was enwrapped by the tail of the Shadow Dragon, with Golbez puppeteering it! With the Black Fang, he killed Domin and dropped his lifeless vessel to the sea below! In his voice, he said he'd been watching over his brother as he slept in the Moon. By the time he said farewell, the Glamour Greens appeared as shiny as ever!
Cecil implored an Injukhal familiar with the herbs before they should reunite with the Great Spirit. Much to Cid's dismay, he assured he's there to help as he churned the Greens with Sheila's tea! The broth restored Rosa's vitality fully, and she was able to deliver their son, in which she named Ceodore! Lastly, Cecil placed the tired baby into his new crib and wished him to be a powerful, competent heir to carry on their legacy.
Tribal Ceremony[]
Of course, Cecil was part of the enticing tribal ceremonies since the 1st annual event. He beats on his Tom Tom next to his chieftain while a Spear Guy prances on it.
The 2nd one had him and Dragon Rose embracing each other, reunited with hers and Domin's thrall becoming permanent soulmates.
The third one made them seal the deal as their master plays on the bongos enticing them, and having their relationship be permanent, while Tribal Count leads them with the Injukhal leader.
Trivia[]
- Cecil was one of Ikran's all-time favorite characters in the Final Fantasy juggernaut.
- So much so that she mentioned Dark Knight Cecil as one of her favorite video game doppelgangers.
- Cecil, particularly as a Dark Knight, has been chosen as one of Ikran's Video Game Umbrakinetics.
Gallery[]
Origin[]
Final Fantasy IV PS1[]
Final Fantasy IV DS[]
