FFOG Chapter 2

Allies Introduced: Cullen the Red, Ironfang, Steeltooth

Enemies Introduced: Jinn Jenkins

Summary: The GSPI returns to its home base at Grundon, only to run into some trouble with the local law enforcement. Siddhearth's concert is ruined as the group is forced to chase after two of their own who are arrested. When they finally escape to a country inn and stop an attempted assassination, they go to see the Grundon Legionaries and face a shocking revelation. Grundon has made a deal with the Empire, and they must flee.

What Can Go Wrong In A Single Day

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

Author Unknown

The Victoria swept down through the clouds, descending gracefully into a giant cobblestone area. Immediately, several engineers came rushing out to take care of the vehicle and escort Cid and his guests. A red-velvet carpeted staircase was rolled to the door, and down proceeded Cid Seamus, followed by his brother Siddhearth, Biggs, Wedge, Reno, Jeice, and Asura. At the bottom, Jeice automatically held his hand out to help Asura down the steps. For a moment, he chastised himself, thinking of how a woman like her most certainly needed no help. To his shock, however, the hooded woman smiled and allowed him to escort her down. He clumsily muttered something to her, and she smiled to him gracefully, before walking away.

Jeice looked about him at the landing field he had glimpsed on several occassions through the dark night, hastily grabbed impressions he had formed, usually on the way to carry out some mission for Cid. He had been here many times, but this was the first time Jeice had seen this place in the glorious morning light. Now, the scene was breathtaking.

He presently stood in the vast Airship landing area, which covered a large, flat, grassy expanse some distance north of Grundon. The natural beauty around the Landing strip was breathtkaing, but the rambling and bustle of the area was equally impressive. What was striking was that it wasn't a fiery, industrial installation, but a quaint, cobblestone area with colorful, cottage-like structures which housed the repair and maintenance facilities. Jeice marched across the blacktop, admiring it, until he saw Siddhearth running towards him, his coat and tails flapping in the breeze.

"Jeice! Jeice!" he yelled out.

"Yes?"

"Jeice, Cid wants to see everyone at the Manor. It should be mostly a recap of the night's activities, and a pat on the back, but I expect he'll appreciate you formally introducing our guests." Siddhearth nodded.

"Okay, I'll be there. How are they?"

Siddhearth shrugged. "Well. All are still wide-awake from last night's events. Especially the boy. Now..."

At that moment, they were cut off by a commotion, loud enough to be heard from across the airfield. Back at the airship, Ian stood on board, before the staircase. The were trying to escort him down, but he recoiled at their advances.

"We'll just assist you down, sir!" a crewman said.

"Keep away, do you hear?! Stand back! Do not approach me, for your own sakes!" Ian ordered, waving his hands to make the crewmen back off.

Jeice and Siddhearth ran up to him.

"What's the problem?" Jeice asked.

"Disperse the personnel," Ian calmly replied. "I can get down by myself, but it is my wish that no man shall come too close."

Siddhearth gestured for the men to go away. Ian came down. They walked over to him, but he flinched.

"Are you... alright?" Jeice questioned.

"I... I am fine..." Ian squinted at the morning sun as he spoke. "But..." He paused, as though choosing his words carefully. "I thank you... for your assistance. But... it may be at your own misfortune."

"Why? What has been done to you? Do you feel the urge to kill returning?" Jeice jokingly said.

Ian started to laugh, but stopped. He finally responded.

"I... no. Dove's mind control was broken. I now have control over my actions. But... nonetheless I am still a danger to others."

Siddhearth nodded as if to understand. "Perhaps you just need some rest. I'll just..."

Siddhearth took a step towards him, but Ian backed away cautiously.

"What's the matter, then?" Jeice asked again.

"It is... not something I can explain. Even I am not certain. But you may have brought more danger upon yourself by saving me than you realize. I need a place to... yes, rest. Rest would be good, too. But I must be alone. And... come nightfall, I must be allowed to leave."

"Sure, we'll give you a room and arrange transportation wherever you need to go-" Jeice was interupted by Ian.

"That will not be necessary. And when I do, it would be best if you do not follow me."

"But-"

"Listen to me. It is imperative that I do so. Do not try to understand. Hopefully, you will not need to concern yourself."

Ian marched off, in the direction of the Manor. They watched him go. The silence was then broken by Siddhearth.

"I suspect that man has a greater weight on his heart than the deaths of those men."

"Hmm..."

Siddhearth turned from where Ian had disappeared to Jeice. "In any case, I must go." He checked his pocketwatch. "I am due at the Grundon Symphony soon. There is much to be done before this evening's performance." Siddhearth suddenly paused and started to search his pockets. "Oh, yes, I almost forgot... where are they?"

He continued to ruffle his pockets which were full of junk.

"Ah, yes. Here you go!" Siddhearth grinned. "I procured some very good seats for you to tonight's performance. Some of the finest seats in the house, for you and any other guests you wish."

"Thank you!" Jeice replied with a smile.

"I hope to see you in the audience tonight. In any case, I must hurry. Go see Cid, and then enjoy Grundon for the day..." he chuckled. "That is, if dear Brother Cid leaves you enough daylight. Good-bye!"

Jeice waved good-bye to his friend. Then, he turned and looked in the direction of the large, stately Manor House that was the home of Cid. It was one of the most imposing and elegant examples of architecture for miles around, and it is said to have been Cid's own design. Jeice had never seen the exterior in the broad daylight before, let alone the interior. Full of his usual sense of exploration, he marched in it's direction to begin getting things done.

The 'feast' turned out to be a plate of hastily thrown together eggs and sausage in Cid's drawing room. Reno ate happily and the others munched, while the ascetic Cid's sat cold beside the armchair where he stretched his long legs out. He steepled his fingers, and politely waited while everyone made themselves comfortable.

Thud! Psycho landed on the soft bird's like nest below the hole in the center of the pit. Getting to his feet, he looked around. The nest was smothered with a faint light from the skies above, but around him was darkness. For a second he thought he heard a grunt from the darkness, but he threw the thought away, took a lantern from his pack and held it before him. Light immediatly showed a small cavern, which looked no way out.

Silver jumped from the light above him to the nest. Psycho looked down.

"Hey, Silver."

Silver growled. Psycho walked forward, examining the stone wall that trapped them in the pit.

"Now where did those Red Demons come from? I will avenge the death of you Silver!"

The words coming from his mouth sounded stupid after he had said them. The growling was heard again and from the opposite side of the room, from nowhere, came Silver Strike... another one.

"Silver...?"

Psycho noticed Silver beside him, and the one in front of him. Suddenly the enemy Silver jumped to its back feet and it grew into a human shaped being.

"Telo'Nak?" Psycho shook his head.

"You made it! You win...!" Telo'Nak shouted.

"What?"

Telo'Nak grinned.

"THIS!"

Telo'Nak disappeared and a Red Reaper jumped down from the hole into the nest, anaware of the intruder. It spotted Psycho, and Silver growled louder than it had ever growled before, and he instantly knew it was the exact one who killed Silver before.

Psycho grinned. "Say goodnight Reddie!"

Psycho lunged forward with his blade in his right hand. He was lightning fast and it struck the Demon in the chest, green blood spewing up from it's chest. It collapsed in a pile of green, dead. "That wasn't much of a fight... and anyway, that was a Red Reaper, not trained to fight!"

Telo'Nak suddenly reappeared and laughed.

"I beat it," Psycho said.

"So you did! Now take your prize and leave!"

Telo'Nak handed Psycho a staff and a pendant.

"Is this the pendant I need to find The Dove?" Psycho asked.

"Yes, and that staff can only be used by you! It is your ultimate weapon and can give you perfect accuracy or transform into any necessary tool.

The staff that was floating before him suddenly morphed into two swords exactly like his others. His old swords floated off his belt and out of the Demon hole into the night. He sheathed the two swords before him. Suddenly he felt himself fly upwards out of the pit onto the rim of Desdemona.

"Now I can find the legendary Airship Dove!" Psycho said exitedly. Silver Strike landed on the ground beside him, being lifted out of the crater too.

Psycho looked at the pendant. His mother's half and his father's half were stuck together, a riddle written on the back in Desdemish. "If I decode this riddle I can find the Dove..."

He read it. 'The Dove is hidden between the two eternal seas of blue each reflecting the other. When the chosen ones appear with the pendant barrier the ship will appear to all.'

"Well my dad always said that I was one of the chosen ones. Now to find the rest! I have a good idea of where the eternal seas are but I need the others to help find it!!"

Silver sniffed around. Then it growled in the direction of east.

"You found them? To the east? Good boy Silver. C'mon let's go!"

Extra Scene: Strangers in a Foreign Land

We momentarily go south to the large industrial city of Grundon. It is a sprawling, bustling industrial city. In the early morning fog, rugged workers march into taverns for breakfast before going to their labor. Top hatted men and elegant women go about their daily business on the wet, cobblestone roads. Crowded yet quaint buildings line the grimy streets. Chocobo-drawn carriages skitter across the roads. Signposts flutter in the wind. Gas lamps are extinguished. Grundon is a noisy, but quaint place.

Extra Scene: Grundon... The Great Metropolis

A group of strange forms walked along the streets. One wore grey robes and a steepled hat that draped his face in shadow. Behind him were a few others. Two small elf-like women in a white hoods and cloaks, and two small, white-haired spritely men with broad red hats and capes. They were smaller than everyone else, but they marched along, out of place but unnoticed, along the sidewalk. They confered with one another, and then scurried into a cluttered shop. They walked along the aisles, curiously, as the baffled shopkeeper looked on. Finally, they each grabbed a loaf of bread and marched, single file to the counter.

The shopkeeper looked at them strangely.

"Uh... five loaves of bread. That'll be... 20 gold pieces."

The group huddled and whispered amongst themselves. Finally, they nodded to each other and break up. The little black mage in front addressed the shopkeeper.

"We concur to your terms," the Black Mage said.

He put the money on the table. The shopkeeper started to ask if they would like bags, but they each grabbed a loaf of bread and walk, single file, out. The shopkeeper rubbed his head, shrugged, and put away the money.

Extra Scene: Unfit company

The downtown section of Grundon, a small building. A theatre of sorts, or perhaps a fancy diner for the lower people of the city. In the far off corner of the building, past the tables, chairs and people, the ever witty theif, Biggs sits alone.

Biggs sighed and set down his drink, "How long am I going to be a part of this...?" he thought.

The people silenced as a young lady made her way on the stage. Dressed in a long dress that went to her feet, her hair flowing behind her. A voice spoke out, "And now Lady Faleena. The dancer of all the world."

"They aren't my type..." he thought. Biggs looked up at the dancer, "I want to stop the empire, but working with those people... I'm a petty theif, not a fancy aristocrat gathering information to calm the nerves of concerned citizens."

He looked up at the girl dancing, he put his head down once more in shame. How could a person like him ever hope to have anything?

Extra Scene: Alterations

"Well, well my dear... that was naughty of you to go against me," a voice chuckled, coming from the man Zel, from before. In front of him, strapped down to a strange device was Dove.

"Ho ho, but there is nothing you can do now. I was always afraid you would show your true self... the impefect human you are. Now you can become a true soldier," Zel taunted, turning his attention to the large crystal above her. A grin formed on his sadistic face as he slipped his hands into gloves. Although she struggled, somehow her mouth had been magically sealed together to prevent yelling. Zel lifted his hands and began mumbling an incantation, the room suddenly went dark. The crystal began to shine, lighting only Zel and Dove.

Dove was suddenly lifted from the panel, being drawn towards the crystal. The crystal began to decrease in size, spinning wildly around her. It's power altering her appearance as she took a pale blue coloring. After the transformation finished, it returned to its large size and became dormant.

"Ho ho ho... it worked. Now the power of Shiva has been freed... just like Diablos..."

Author Unknown

"Hmm... it seems Biggs and Ian have failed to appear," Cid replied, "I was hoping to meet your friend..."

"He... decided to go on his own," Jeice answered, "Has things that he needs to work out..."

Reno and Asura both shot him a confused look, but remained silent regardless.

"Biggs mentioned going into the city," Wedge spoke for the first time that evening. before he had seemed to been in some sort of silent trance.

"Ahh, that is unfortunate," Cid replied in a dissapointed tone, "But alas, we must get down to business. I'm sure young Reno and Lady Asura are curious over just what we do."

Asura nodded, "I am curious as to what your whole mission was for. We are all the way on the eastern continent out of danger of the newly spawned empire."

"Yes, it is quite curious is it not?" Cid chuckled as he stood up and walked over, "The imperial army, as you stated before is quite young. Few know exactly where they spawned from, but..."

Jeice likewise stood up, walking towards the map and pointing far to the south to a small group of island. "There's been rumors about them coming from the Crescent islands."

"Ahh yes!" Cid exclaimed, "But you are getting quite ahead of me. The empire does pose quite a threat, the reapers have destroyed ten villages now. While here it seems to an alien concern... After the first village, several people rallied to their leaders for something to be done. With no evidence to link the reapers and empire, nothing could be done."

"So a few of you rich people decided to do it yourself?" Reno interrupted.

"Precisely. Although we have poured nearly all of our resources into it, my brother and I did not hesitate to investigate this. Currently we only consist of the Victoria and the crew. But with some of the new evidence found, we hope to make an appeal to the high Legionary," Cid informed, pausing to take a short drink, "And so that brings us here with you two. Everyone involed in this are loyal and would dare not speak a word. I truly hope we can say the same for you..."

"I sensed a deep hostility in Ian..." Wedge suddenly said, "He could compromise all we have worked for."

"I am aware of that..." Cid answered emotionless.

Extra Scene: Secrets

There was a tap at Biggs's shoulder. "You Biggs?" the voice asked.

"Uhh... yeah, why?" Biggs said without thinking.

"You're under arrest for treason!" And with that, cuffs were slapped on his wrists.

"What? TREASON? But-"

"You have the right to remain silent, andthing you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..."

"But..."

"...You have the right to speak to an attorney..."

"...I didn't..."

"...and to have an attorney present during any questioning..."

"...What?..."

"...if you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."

"...WHY?"

But already Biggs was on the way out the door, as the mass of confused patrons crowded around.

Author Unknown

Cid broke the ensuing contemplative silence simply by standing up, signaling the end of the mini-conference.

"It's getting late," he announced, glancing at the setting sun through a nearby window. "It would be immensely rude of me to keep you here when you are undoubtedly itching to explore the city. Just be sure not to be late to my brother's concerto; trust me, you will regret it." He finished this thought with a slight chuckle, knowing first hand what missing a "performance a la Siddearth" meant to one's well being.

The others nodded and dispersed from the room. They still had many questions, but Cid's expression and stance stated clearly that there would be no more discussion tonight.

Asura was the last to leave the conference, after looking back at the singular figure at the opposite end of the room. "What an intriguing fellow..." she thought, her cloak whispering along the floor as she exited. The metropolitan areas of Grundor lay not far off; she was a bit excited at the prospect of a new place to explore in spite of herself. Jeice and Reno plodded some way ahead, different in many ways, yet boys will always be boys...

She frowned a bit as she thought of Jeice. He obviously was a magic user- she had never met another like herself. Of course, their magics differed dramatically, but the principle was the same, she figured. A genetic fault, or some such scientific mumbo-jumbo. She had never cared much for discovering the reason for her ability...

But discovering another who had it was another thing entirely.

The faint smell of smoke drifted into her conscienceness, bringing her back to reality. She grimaced as the familiar smells and sights of an industrialized area invaded her senses. She lost sight of Jeice and Reno as they turned a corner, and decided to put them out of her thoughts. Siddearth's performance was not scheduled for a while yet; she decided to enjoy herself while passing the time.

She walked briskly through the industrial areas of the city, smiling at the various catch-lines designed to rope a customer into unloading some valuable gold. More than one approving glance was thrown her way, yet she had long since learned to treat those men with a careful indifference. She was once again losing herself in her thoughts when a sudden shout jolted her to reality again.

She found that she had wandered right into the middle of a prison-break. Or was it? The man didn't look like he had been in prison, though he wore a pair of handcuffs. A familiar voice reached her, then, and she whirled around to face the speaker.

"Hey! Biggs...? What in the name of the Goddess...?" Wedge was standing not far off, his wanderings apparantly had taken him to this place, as well.

"Treason!" Biggs replied, his hands cuffed and his guards holding him firmly.

"What!?" Wedge exclaimed in disbelief. He then proceeded to let loose a string of insults at the flustered guards, who tightened their grip on Biggs and attempted to ignore him. Asura looked on in confusion, unsure of what was happening.

Just then, a stately, and rare, blue chocobo was seen gracefully pulling a rich-looking carriage. Asura immediately recognized it as one of the carriages from the Seamus Manor, and she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. The brothers obviously held more than a little influence here; the misunderstanding would be cleared up soon, no doubt. She attempted to fade into the background, content to remain a silent witness, yet she held herself ready to use her bow at a moment's notice.

Cid stepped from the carriage with an easy grace, the fruit of years of practice. He addressed the guards with a commanding look, and they stopped in their tracks. Wedge, who had been extremely irritated, to say the least, calmed a bit as he saw a resolution in the near future.

"What are you doing?" Cid interrogated coldly, his eyes holding no room for paltry excuses. "That is my friend, you should know. I do not take kindly to seeing my friends chained like criminals."

"Y-yes, of course sir." One guard replied shakily. "B-but he has been charged with high treason, and-"

"Nonsense!" Cid bellowed, and the guard trembled.

"I-i-it's quite t-true, sir, you s-see..."

"I don't believe it. Release him. Or you will regret it."

At this, the misshapen guard's face lost all its color. It was a well-known fact that to cross Cid Seamus was to lose everything; yet to cross one's lord meant the same. What to do, what to do? The second guard, younger and more prone to threats, looked near tears, and promptly released his quarry. The first guard soon followed suit helplessly.

"That's better," Cid muttered coldly. He then addressed his friends with a bit more warmth. "Now, then. The performance will begin soon, and it appears as though you will need a ride to get there on time. Biggs, Wedge, and yes, you too, Asura, I see you over there, step into the carriage."

The three obliged, there was enough room for all four of them. Soon enough, the blue chocobo was headed to the rapidly filling concert hall, leaving two very dishelvled guards in its wake.

"So, what do we tell him?"

"Tell him that he escaped, I suppose..."

"Oh, we're so dead..."

Things were a bit brighter at the concert hall; Cid and his companions, who had all arrived safely, were enjoying themselves in luxury accomodations. Reno's smaller frame was nearly lost in the excessive padding of his chair, and Asura couldn't help giggling at him, he looked so ridiculous. Reno blushed slightly, and shrugged helplessly. Asura replied with a sympathetic nod, then allowed herself to sink into her own chair, and focused her attention on the stage below them. Jeice, Biggs and Wedge sat nearby, their attention focused on the stage.

"You're going to like, no, love this," Cid informed them, his pride in his brother showing through his voice. "Siddearth is quite the musician."

"I'm looking forward to it," Asura replied, as Siddearth took the stage.

"...errm..."

"Problem Biggs?" Wedge asked as he looked over.

"Just a bit queasy, no more..." Biggs replied sheepishly.

Wedge nodded and turned back to the stage, Siddhearth was in the middle of his third song. His music had been truly fantastic, as he poured his emotion in to every note.

"Egh..."

Jeice leaned over this time, "Something wrong?"

"No... not at all..." Biggs once again reassured.

They continued watching as Siddhearth started the next symphony. Biggs suddenly clutched his head and began shaking it. He stood up quickly and fell on to the man in front of him. Wedge and Jeice quickly reacted and pulled him back up. Soon Asura, Reno and Cid took notice of the three. They had soon started dragging him out of the aisles. Siddhearth seemed to take notice from the stage, but swallowed and continued his playing.

"Hmm... you veally should have checked up on him," The old bearded man stated as he looked him over, "Apparently he has been inflicted vith Trouble, Sadness and a odd zort of ailness I am unfamilair vith..."

"How would he get that?" Cid mused as he looked down at the unconcious Biggs.

"Hmm... I beleive it was aquired when injured back at Prison... by the arrow," Wedge suggested.

"Vat? He vas shot and you did nothing about it!" The doctor excaimed angrily, "You are lucky I came! This Remedy shall get rid of zee illnesses... hopefully the other disease as vell. So you just leave me here and I vill take care of zis!"

"Hmm... Siddhearth will probally be dissapointed if we do not return for his finale..." Cid said, "I suggest we return."

"I will remain here..." Wedge interrupted, with a unquestioning tone that made the others realize he would not change his mind.

The four agreed and made their way back, as Wedge walked in to a seperate room. Inside was a circle of candles and a little pad in the middle. Wedge stepped over the candles, sat down, crossing his legs over Indian style. Placing his palms together, slosing his eyes while whispering something.

Cid and everyone else made their way back to the concert hall. Siddhearth looked relieved when they returned, then tensed up when he realized Biggs and Wedge weren't with them. But he continued to play.

The movement ended. Reno got out of his seat. "I need to go," he said.

"But the concert is almost over!" Jeice said sternly, "Where do you think your going?"

"No, you don't understand, I need to go."

"Oh... ok then..."

Psycho stared down at the busy port. "One... eternal sea..." Psycho said, "The only sea of which the other end has not been reached. The other eternal sea. . . the sky, that's the other one, that has to be it. But..." He stared at his pendant, "it seems as though none of the chosen ones are here... maybe we need to hunt them down?" Now he looked at Silver. "So how do we find them?"

Reno was walking back down through the halls to the concert hall. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the doctor who was supposed to be treating Biggs ran up to him.

"It vas horrible!" He yelled at Reno, obviously only caring that he was with the group who came in, "Ze imperial gaurd... barged in, put Biggs und Vedge into custody..."

"WHAT?" Reno yelled. "I've got to tell the others!"

Back in the music hall, Siddhearth was playing the very final notes to the song. Reno barged in, and ran directley to Cid, whispering something into his ear.

And as if some magic button had been pushed, The concert ended. Siddhearth looked down to where Reno finished talking to Cid. Cid waved his arms at Siddhearth in the fashion that indicated They Need To Go - Now. Siddhearth took a single bow to the stage, and walked off. He whispered something into the stage manager's ear, whom nodded in reply.

The group, now assembled again, now made their way out the concet hall doors.

Out they darted, into the darkened streets. The sun had long since gone down, and a dense fog began to roll over Grundon. It seemed a different place. The streets were barren, save for unsavory shadows in the alleys and the distant thud of a drunkard's blow. The glistening road was illuminated at points by ghostly yellow gaslights.

Jeice had hastily pulled his red cape over his shoulders, and adjusted his big red hat. Reno, mature lad that he was, was grim and collected. Asura kept close, not saying anything, but remaining alert. Cid ran out into the road and whistled for the carriage. The sound of the blue Chocobo squeked from the darkness.

"Scree! Scree?" the chocobo buzzed.

Siddhearth brought up the rear, his coattails flying behind him. In his haste, he had neglected to put away his conductor's baton, which he still held in his hand. They all piled into the carriage. Cid paused on the step and threw a tiny sack to his driver, and pointed down the a street with his cane.

"To the Chief Magistrate's, driver! At the top of your speed!" Cid ordered.

"Yes sir!" the driver nodded, then turned to the reins. "Giddap, bird!

"Screeeeeeee!"

The rattle of the wheels and the skitter of the Chocobo's claws picked up, and with a lurch, they were off. They darted through the streets, doing hairpin turns left, then right, splashing through puddles. Asura was the first to break the silence.

"Where are they taking them?"

"To the Chief Magistrate's Building, in the Judicial District," Cid replied, looking over his shoulder. "All criminals are taken there first, to await trial."

Siddhearth frowned. "I should like to know what charges they intend to bring against them."

"Aren't they thieves?" Jeice questioned.

Siddhearth frowned. "Chocobo scales. That is very unlikely. Cid provides..."

"-Two occurences in one day nearly rules out the probability of these being routine arrests," Cid interupted.

"...Consider also that very little time elapsed between their leaving the main hall and their arrest. It would appear the Guards were able to summon a prison wagon on very short notice."

"Chocobo scales, Siddhearth," Cid said. "Imperial guards do not seek to meet their quotas around such places as the Symphony Chambers in any case."

"..."

Jeice suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "So, what do you mean to say...?"

"He's saying somethin's fishy," Reno translated.

Cid nodded. The carriage rolled on. Suddenly...

"Mr. Seamus! I believe I see the Prison wagon ahead!" the driver informed.

Cid did not seem to relax. "Pull up beside them, and try to get them to pull over..."

The carriage lurched forward, and the bunch sat silently inside, as they listened for sounds of the exchange from the drivers. None came. Instead...

"They're speeding up!" the driver yelled.

"Stay on them, man!" Cid ordered. "Don't let them get away!"

With that, the chase began. The carriages rushed through the dingy streets, taking swift and often narrow turns. Jeice, Asura, Reno, and the Seamus brothers gripped their seats for security, their faces all mutually creased with tension.

Ahead, the bulky Prison Wagon rattled shakily through the streets. Biggs was not feeling well. Wedge held him steady, despite his manacles. They wondered what was going on.

As the Prison Wagon turned one corner, it's driver beheld a group of huddled figures ahead, who seemed to be making their way in the same direction. He slowed down a bit, but the group made no movement. He shouted ahead, and a few of the figures looked up.

"Out of the way, pedestrians! Do you hold up the Chief Magistrate's business?!" the guard screamed.

Several of the small figures darted away, but one, a stocky figure in grey tailcoats with a face hidden by a steepled hat stood his ground. It held up it's hands, as if to hold off the oncoming contraption. The Guard yanked the black Chocobo's reigns to one side, veering the Wagon to one side, on past the figure, narrowly missing him. The little urchin spun wildly off to one side and rolled onto the sidewalk. It pulled itself to it's knees, dizzy but unhurt. The other four figures rushed back to their leader as he adjusted his pointed hat.

The two carriages now were side by side, going at a high speed, still turning the cities narrow streets. Cid called out to the driver of the prison carriage.

"Slow down, blast it! What do you think you are doing?"

The driver did not even look in the direction of Cid, but concentrated on the road ahead.

Siddhearth looked at his brother, "We can't keep this up! One of us will crash if we continue this for long!"

Smash! The prison carriage rammed into Cid's, hitting it off course. Cid's wagon skidded sidways into a fruit stall on the side of the road. The chocobo started up again and lined up with the prison wagon.

"Wait for it, I'm gonna jump!" Reno announced, proping himself up on the edge of the carriage.

"Don't be stupid! You'll kill yourself!" Asura said.

"Don't worry, I've done this plenty of times! I've had loads of practise!"

Cid blocked Asura from pulling him back down. "Whatever the kid says. It's not my fault if he gets hurt." Asura flinched at Cid's arrogance.

Cid's carriage lined up against the side of the smaller prison carriage. Just at the right moment, Reno leaped from the rim of the carriage, landing on the driver of the prison carriage's roof. He pulled out his blade, and just as he was about to slash the material, the driver quickly turned right down an alleyway, tossing Reno off to the side, him desperately hanging off by the ripped material. Cid steered the chocobo down the alley after them, but it was so thin they couldn't make it.

"Quick! Go around the building! If we're fast enough we'll trap them on the other side!?" Jeice said quickly.

Cid nodded curtly, seeing the wisdom in this, and informed the driver of the plan. The chocobo turned sharply soon after, nearly capsizing the carriage and throwing those inside against the wall. The driver whipped at the exhausted animal, and, amazingly it found the strength to go faster. The prison carriage had been forced to slow its pace in the narrow alley, and the result was they emerged behind Cid's carriage. The black chocobo leading it gave a surprised "Scree!" and faltered, but quickly pressed on again as the lash of the other driver fell.

"Go, you dumb animal!" He snarled, yanking the reigns. "Around those fools!"

The fabric Reno was clinging to ripped further, causing his heart to relocate to his throat. He kicked in the window to the carriage before the guards could attack him, but instead of going inside where he would surely be killed he used the window as a step to reach the roof again. He sat there for a moment, noting that Cid was now ahead of them, then gasped as a sword point suddenly appeared in front of him. The guards inside were attempting to impale him from below.

Reno, thinking fast, jumped from the roof onto the driver. The surprised man turned to look just in time to be shoved off the speeding carriage into the street below. Reno grabbed the reigns then, and pulled sharply, stopping the sweat-bathed chocobo in its tracks. It stood there, its chest heaving, awaiting further orders.

Reno jumped from the carriage just as Asura, Jeice, and Cid exited the one ahead. The guards, however, had other ways of ensuring that their quarry did not escape at the hands of Cid Seamus once again. They were near the destination they had been trying to reach, anyway, and a platoon of guards who had heard the commotion were pouring out of the alleys around them.

"Don't let them escape again, hear me!?" A familiar voice rang out. "They're traitors to the empire, and must be punished!"

Dove stood at the head of the platoon, a strange glimmer in her eyes that hadn't been there before. She pointed at the group standing in front of Cid's carriage.

"And them," She scoffed in a condescending tone, "Take those traitors as well. If they are so bent on saving them, they must be in league."

Zel stood close by, hidden by the shadows. Dove had power over the soldiers; he was a scientist with nothing but a commanding personality. Very commanding, he thought, smiling slightly. He mentally gave Dove her next orders, enjoying having her as his little puppet more than he had first imagined he would.

"Get them on board the Bleeding Heart at once," She favored the warriors with a mocking smile. "See you in hell, my friends. And let me assure you, that's what it will be for you and all traitors who follow your example."

The group was thrown into the prison carriage and the damage was repaired rather quickly, all they're weapons were removed and placed in a box inbetween the driver and the other guard. The carriage started to move, they weren't far off from the destination, maybe fifteen minutes, now that no one was chasing them.

They all sat on the floor except for Siddhearth who was pacing about. Obviously he was thinking of a means of escape, but none were coming to his mind.

The carriage felt as if it hit a bump. Then the locked back door swung open, and a figure swung in and shut the door behind him.

"Ian!" Asura exclaimed, but Reno shushed her, they could not make too much noise or the guard would get suspicious.

Cid said, "So this is Ian, is it?"

Ian, now in clothes of his own, stood at a height of about six foot five. His long hair was now neatly combed and tied into a pony tail. He wore a pitch black trench coat. Underneath a white shirt, and hanging around his neck a ruby pendant. Strapped to his side was the sword that he had killed the many soldiers with.

Siddhearth said, "So why have you come back?"

"It's a long story, I'll explain after we get out of here, I know of a place nearby that we can hide, we've got to jump of this carraige once they leave town and start going through the fields."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The carriage left the confines of the city, and now was only a few miles from the location that they were headed. Ian motioned and they saw a grassy field that extended for miles. The grass was almost three feet tall.

"Now one at a time now," Ian said.

One by one they all jumped out and gathered by the side of the rode, after the carraige was a ways off. Ian then showed them to a inn far out of the limits of the city, and so small it would take the empire a while before finding them.

At the inn, Cid managed to have enough money on his person to pay for one large room.

The eight of them now stood in the room waiting to hear Ian's story.

Ian started, "Well, its quite a long story, so bear with me. My full name is Ian Zarrier. I am decended from two warring tribes now no longer in existense. The Zarrier clan from which my father was from, and the Vorpalio tribe from which my mother was from. They themselves did not want to war with each other, but were very much in love. I was their son, but I was also the downfall of the two clans, they soon went to war over me, and only my mother and father survived by fleeing.

"My mother managed to steal the artifact of the Vorpalio's the Vorpal Sword, and my father took with him this pendant which I wear. They are all I have of them."

"What happened to them?" Asura asked.

"They were murdered by the empire, I saw it in front of my own eyes. I was nine then, I could do nothing. The empire then took me and put me under mind control, they taught me to be one of their mightiest warriors, the empire knighted me for bravery, but that was just a joke. I was code named 'Vorpal' after my mother's clan. I had only recently gotten free of my curse, when Asura, Jeice, and Reno showed up."

Jeice muttured under his breath.

"I'm sorry if I was a bother to anyone, but I wish to help you, since you did save me from grueling torture and a life of servitude to the empire."

"Well," Reno said, "the first step would be to get our weapons back."

"Agreed," Jeice said.

About a hundred miles from Cid and the rest...

"I know Silver, I'm tired too... I know we will rest now- I can sense them Silver, the others!"

Silver growled a response.

"They're about a hundred miles east, we can't stop to rest! If we do we may lose track of them. No risking it! The darkness is returning to the world once more. Father told me that if it did return and the chosen ones weren't there to stop it the world will be destroyed!"

Silver sensed what was coming next.

"Stay behind Silver. I can move faster alone. I don't want to leave you but you need rest!"

Psycho casted a monster proof forcefield over Silver Strike, who collapsed to the dirt asleep.

"I'm off now, get some rest, you deserve it old friend!" Psycho said, then sprinted away into the horizon.

At midnight an over exausted Psycho entered the inn where Cid and the rest were sleeping.

"Whew! I need... sleep..."

Psycho collapsed to the floor in the lobby. The inn keeper woke up from his quiet rest at the counter and spotted the passed out stranger.

"I better get him to bed... It could be serious."

He picked up Psycho from the floor and carried him into the only room with a vacancy for the night...

They all looked at the oddly-clad man laying on the bed. He was dressed in chillingly bone-white clothing. He looked like some sort of stealthy warrior, or martial artist. Whatever he was, he was in bad shape.

Jeice looked over at the wall. The man had been out for 20 minutes. It was now a minute to midnight...

Jeice put his hand to the prostrate man. He closed his eyes and chanted for about a minute. A white light appeared on his finger tips and illuminated the man. Under Jeice's minor healing spell, the warrior began to stir.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He sat bolt upright in the bed. Immediately alarmed at being helpless on a bed in a strange building surrounded by strangers, he flipped off the bed. He grabbed the sheets, and flew at Jeice. He draped it over his head, and grabbed his wrists from behind. They guy whipped out one of his TwinDaggers and held it to the sheet where Jeice's neck was underneath. Sweat beaded down his face, as everyone looked at him. Silence sat over the room.

A silence which was suddenly broken by the sound of the clock chiming midnight...

"Who are you?!" he demanded. His body was absolutely tense. He was at the peak of alertness and aggression. His one good eye darted wildly around. No one moved, or spoke. Suddenly, however, a strange feeling came over him. He looked at the people in the room. His wild reaction faded slightly as he experienced something like Deja Vu. He realized what it was.

"Is it... them?!" he thought.

Siddhearth made a slight movement, calmly, non-threateningly, and instinctively, the man in bone-white tensed up again and pressed the dagger to Jeice's throat, but, under this new feeling, he grasped that it was not a threat, and loosened up on Jeice. He allowed Siddhearth to approach.

"We... mean... you... no... harm," Siddhearth said as if the man was an alien.

"..."

"You stumbled in here and collapsed. We took you in. I say again, he desire to do you no harm."

Chime, chime... Midnight.

To his surprise, the man relented completely. He quickly put his dagger away, and, even more amazingly, threw the sheet off Jeice. He straightened his collar, and then bowed.

"I apologize," the man said.

"???? Talk about change of pace..." Siddhearth grinned.

"Perhaps you could tell us your name, son?" Cid said, ignoring his brother.

"I... I am called... 'Psycho.'"

"I wonder why..." Jeice smiled to himself.

Psycho glared at Jeice, but again, he quickly let his aggression drop. They were the ones he had been searching for.

"Who are you... and where are you going?" Psyhco asked.

"I don't think it's any of your business, but... We are on a journey to the Imperial Nation. We have some.. business. Where are you heading?"

"I'm looking for the 'Endless Sea.' And now... you will help me."

"There he goes, living up to his name again..." Jeice mocked.

Psycho ignored him.

Siddhearth spoke. "I'm afraid we cannot deviate from our quest. You see..."

Psycho shook his head. "You must. It is fate. Chosen ones... Fated to go with me... that is, come with me. We have to go to the Fiery Pit, near Telo'Nak."

"Perhaps this can wait 'til morning when, er, brains are a wee clearer. We mean you no harm, and I hope you feel the same. Understood?" Cid said.

"Well, I suppose..." Psycho said reluctantly.

Suddenly, Jeice's eyes opened wide. His face was a total blanch, and he pointed a finger at Psycho.

"The reaper is just a step behind you!!!"

Psycho grinned. "Heh heh. This is true. I lead a dangerous li-"

"NO! NO!" Jeice waved his hands behind Psycho. "Behind you!!!

They followed Jeice's gaze, out the window.

Every heart stopped in horror.

Out the window stood a tall, gaunt figure in an elaborate black cloak. The little bit of light from the room went through the window and illuminated the bottom half of the face.

It was a skull. With no jawbone.

It was a Black Reaper. The Black Reaper.

It lifted it's bony hand and pointed at Jeice.

And then, it seemed to glide backwards, away from the window, but it didn't turn. Suddenly, it sailed forward again, torpedo-sytle, and flew through the window. It flew towards Jeice, and swung it's scythe at his neck. Jeice ducked, and the ghoul passed overhead, and passed through a wall. A scream was heard from the other room, followed by the sound of a door slam and feet rushing away. Presently, the Reaper glided back, torpedo-like, back through the wall into the room.

But by this time, Jeice, Ian, Reno, Asura, Wedge, Biggs (who miraculously seemed not to notice his wound), Siddhearth, Psycho, and Cid had pitter-pattered from the Inn into the cold, dark, still night, and made definite haste from the Inn. Jeice, in terror, looked back.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ian with his head down. Jeice looked at him.

"I... think we lost him." Jeice said this hoping it was true.

Ian merely looked down and shook his head.

"No. You didn't."

"What do you mean?" Jeice said surprised.

Ian looked up, his eyes filled with infinite grief and sadness.

"...You will never lose him."

"What are you talking about?"

"Back at Building A. You touched me."

"I saved you. So? What does that mean?"

"It means... you're marked."

"What?!?"

Suddenly Psycho spoke. "Er... sorry to brake the suspense, but will you excuse me for a moment?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He stepped out into the streets and gave an ear-splitting whistle. Minutes later Silver Strike appeared.

"Did you rest well? Good, you'll need it."

Psycho bent down to whisper so the others couldn't hear him.

"I found them boy. But incredibly, Siddhearth is one of them! I know I just have to put up with it I guess."

Psycho stood up and walked back inside the inn to their room. "Hey Siddhearth, catch this!"

He threw the pendant over to him, Siddhearth catching it in one hand.

"Read the back of it," Psycho demanded. Siddhearth obeyed to see what Psycho meant earlier.

"I see what you mean. This couldn't possibly be coincidence," Siddhearth said. "We are meant to get the Dove... but..."

"When we get it," Psycho said, "We can make it into the Imperial Continent in record time."

That morning they all had another meeting.

"Well," started Cid, "we obviously have to get the ones of you who lost your weapons we'll have to go to the Judiciary District, where they were taking us. It is placed about three miles out of town, and it would be wise if we decide who is going."

Jeice put out his comments, "Well, it was me, Biggs, Wedge, Reno, Asura, and Siddhearth who lost our weapons, I suggest we go only."

"Then we'll be leaving Ian and Psycho with Cid," Siddhearth said.

"True," said Ian, "it is only us with the weapons, too, we should send four or five of us to go and get them with either me or Psycho going along with the group."

"Well then," Reno said, "We should decide who goes, and who stays."

"I'll go," Asura said, "and I think Ian, should come, too."

"Me too," Reno said, "And if I would have to choose between Ian and Psycho, I'd choose Ian, only because I know him slightly better."

Jeice sniffed, "I don't like this plan one bit."

"I think Ian is worth trusting," Siddhearth said, "I'll go, too."

Biggs started to stand up, "I'll go to, ah."

Wedge caught him in midfall, "I believe, me, Biggs, Cid and Psycho will stay behind."

"But I didn't say I wanted to go!" Jeice blurted out. But no one seemed to care.

It had been decided, the group would go the Judicary district. Since that would obviously be where they would have taken their weapons. Although most of the weapons were of no particular value. It was obvious Reno placed some sort of value in his weapon. Cid seemed to recognize it as he had been the one to suggest it.

Jeice was still uneasy however, after being attacked by the Reaper so much he had become very anxious. His mind teased him, causing his to fear every step. Thinking it could be his last, which he knew deep inside. It could very well be true.

They soon arrived via chocobo coach to the main judicary buidling. Siddhearth went ahead of them, followed by Jeice. Reno and Asura soon followed with Ian following in the back.

"Ahh! Master Siddhearth... what a suprise... to see you here..." A guard said in suprise, baffled as to why they had came.

"A few guards took some of our weapons, we are here to receive them," Siddhearth explained.

The guard looked hesitant, but nodded and walked into the back.

"This seems a bit to easy," Jeice said.

"This is a bad thing?" Ian asked.

In the back section of the building.

"Bah! Those stupid guards!" Dove yelled, "Give them their weapons. It shall only be a slight setback."

The guard nodded as he looked at her eyes beneath the cloak. Empty and devoid of life, ready to kill anytime...

"Here are your weapons..." The guard said meekly, handing each weapon to Siddhearth who handed them out to their owners and keeping Biggs's twin knives for later.

The group walked out a little uneasy from the sheer easiness and the guard's tone.

"Hmm... something is not right," said Ian, "That guard... he was uneasy."

"The empire is up to soemthing," Asura agreed, "But here?"

"We better get back to the others," Reno suggested.

That night, outside of the Inn.

How much longer can I go on like this...? Am I putting the others in danger? I am marked... they are not. I will be running for the remainder of all my days. No... I cannot fall to such a fate, destiny or not I shall escape...

Jeice had remained quiet for a long time, in some sort of fear of death. The same kind of fear and anxiety a man receives when he is told he will soon die from a disease. He had spoke not a word to any of them. Cid and Siddhearth had resolved to talking about their current situation with both Ian and Psycho's appearance. Asura had kept to herself, keeping a watchful eye over everyone else. Reno stood a few feet from the Seamus brothers, listening intently to every word they said. Ian seemed concealed in his own thoughts, a look of guilt stretched on his face. Psycho had been staring down the streets for a long time, seemingly waiting for something. Biggs had sat down, leaning on the outside of the Inn asleep. Finally, Wedge stood outside the group, looking around outside the group should any danger become present.

They were quite a sight to be seen, all outside of the Inn. Each one with something toiling in their mind, casting an uneasy spirit among the group. Out of all of them, only Psycho and Wedge seemed to be the only truly relaxed. Reserved and alert, the dilemna and woe of the group did not seem to phase neither of them.

"...I agree, it is odd Imperials made their way in the city... but..." Siddhearth trailed off, consumed in his own suspicions.

"This city is well-guarded, it is unlikely the guards could overlook a prison carriage. Unless..." Cid was suddenly cut off.

"Unless the Legionary granted them access," Siddhearth finished.

"Why would the Legionary allow THEM here?"

"He has never agreed to our ideals, I am sure he would not even allow the Victoria to land here if it was within his power."

"This is true, I must put my suspicions to rest and speak directly with him," Cid replied, "But we should not all go, if my suspicions are true..."

"Agreed, it would be better you go. You have always been the one to speak with him. It would be suspicous if I was to go. I suggest you take Jeice and Asura. Psycho still may be dangerous and if the Legionary truly has sided with the empire, Ian would draw to much attention. With Biggs actually being arrested by Legion guards, sending him and Wedge would be unwise."

Cid nodded and agreed to the terms. He would speak with the Legionary and find out what was going on. Siddhearth would take the others to the Victoria and be ready to leave immediately should trouble stir. The plan was told to the group and they agreed wordlessly. Psycho was a tad uneasy, not willing to delay his quest any longer than possible.

The three called down a carriage, with a sum of money the driver agreed to drop them off at Grundon Castle. They travelled through the lower streets to the upper-class area of Grundon, where the castle stood high above the buildings. It had always been a symbol of freedom and peace, but things did not seem that way anymore...

The carriage rolled along the road, past several fine, expensive-looking houses. Asura sat near the window, peering out at the buildings with a queasy feeling in her stomach. She hadn't seen such buildings in quite a while, and her memories of them were hazy, muddled. The rhymatic sound of the Chocobo's steps and the rocking of the carriage eventually lulled her into a fitful sleep...

--- She is hanging onto the hand of a man; she calls him father out of habit, though has never really felt close to him. The only family she ever knew truly was her brother, and now even that small piece of comfort is being taken away from her. He has some skill; she overhears this from the shiny metal man with the spear before her. He's taking him away, she knows that much, but is powerless to stop it. She almost wants to scream at them "Stop! Take me, too, I have that power, too!" But she knows that her father will deny it. He will say that she is crazy, she only wants to be with her brother, who is slipping away before her very eyes... he would lie to save her, and she hates him for it. She hates them all. The shiny men are taking her brother away, and she knows that he will never come back. She has lost him.

Forever.... ---

She was awakened suddenly by a gentle hand shaking her. She reached for her bow out of habit, and experienced a moment of panic as she realized that it was not there. It was then she remembered where she was, and her vision cleared, revealing the concerned face of Jeice hovering over her.

"Hey, Asura? Are you all right? You looked fit for murder for a second there..." He said, only half-joking. She grimaced as she stretched her back out; a carriage was no place for one to catnap in. The dream was already fading away, dying in the world of the awake before she could grab it back.

"Sorry. I should have warned you never to do that."

"I'll remember that," Jeice replied, smiling. "but for now, you'll have to stay awake, since we've arrived at the castle."

"Oh, have we?" She had only been inside a castle three times in her entire life, and she stepped out of the carriage, her excitement slighty shadowed by the seriousness of the task ahead of them. She and Jeice met Cid on the short path leading to the castle gate, the enormity of the situation apparent by the look in his eyes.

"Follow me, then," He briskly ordered, and the two shrugged and did so without question, the shadow of the castle enveloping them as they started toward the gate.

From within the shadows, a pair of eyes glowed, watching silently as the group approached. A slight flash of red was seen for but a moment, then faded from view. Without warning the flashing color returned, rearing up in front of them. Silently a figure stood there, hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat and a long, flowing red trenchcoat. The fellow chuckled as he regarded the group.

"And who might you be?"

After guarded introductions, they looked at him, waiting for the same. He flourished, removing his hat to reveal a devilishly charming face. He bowed deeply, then rose.

"Cullen the Red, Swashbuckler Extraordinaire! Finest swordsman in the world!"

A voice from his side spoke: "Not *this* again!"

Cullen growled. "Quiet, you!"

Another voice, from the other side: "But Cullen, surely you wouldn't want *dishonesty* tarnishing your reputation!"

Cullen growled again. "Both of you, SHUT UP!"

The group looked at him, puzzledly, not sure if they wanted to ask just who he was talking to. He answered for them anyway.

"Don't mind *them*..... I forgot to buckle by sheaths tight enough..... you're hearing my *loyal* companions, Ironfang and Steeltooth... oy." He pulled back the coat, revealing two elegant cutlasses sheathed at his hip, one on each side. With some annoyance he buckled the sheaths closed tightly. "So, what brings you here?" he enquired.

Cid looked over the man, he had heard of him before. An adventurer who prided himself in his skill with twin swords.

"We are here to speak with the Legionary" Cid replied, the motioned to Jeice and Asura with him, "These two are with me."

"Really now?" He asked, "Cid Seamus, I have heard of you actually. Pilot of the famed Victoria, correct?"

"Yes..." Cid answered as he looked on towards the castle.

"Well, normally I wouldn't allow just any--" He began, but was sharply cut off.

"Ach, again?" A voice mocked, seeming to come from the one 'Ironfang', "I doubt you will earn much off these people!"

Cullen growled slightly but soon regained his compsure, "Pay them no mind. I shall personally make sure you arrive in the castle."

Jeice gave him a confused look, "You? Why would you do that?"

"He has a reputation to uphold" The other sword snickered.

Cullen was quite annoyed by now, "Let's just go."

The strange man led them into the castle, he was ready to talk his way in. But the guards saw Cid and let him in right away, much to Cullen's dismay. They were soon stopped by one of the guards.

"Halt!" The knight called out, "What business do you have here?"

Cullen merely chuckled, "Ranson... we need to chat with the Legionary. I know it's a bit against the rules, he can't be THAT busy though."

"Well... I guess I owe you one..." Ranson muttered, "I need to take a bathroom break, I never saw you here."

Cid watched in astonishment, as Ranson, one of the most loyal guards walked off wordlessly. But they went on, walking right in on the Legionary. Inside a Imperial soldier stood. Long yellow hair, a smooth gentle face. He was speaking in a clear yet prideful manner to the Legionary. His eyes betrayed his looks, stubborn and prideful. The two stared at the group in awe, as they burst in on a very important... secret meeting.

Cullen acted cool, or tried.

"Uh yeah, your honor, these men would like an audience..."

The Imperial coldly glanced at the newcomers, then an icy gleam of recognition. "You!"

Cullen looked displeased. "Uh yeah, *us*! So blondie, what's all this hush-hush about?"

the Imperial didn't answer him, he spoke hastily into a communicator in a hushed tone, then grinned.

"Ah yes.... the one they call "Cullen the Red".... still looking for your beloved sister?" his voice was taunting and cold.

Cullen drew Ironfang and Steeltooth, the twin swords gleaming "What do you know about her, you imperial bastard?!"

"Nothing much... I believe Zel is finding her... entertaining..." he smiled sadistically as several Imperial soldiers burst into the room. Cullen screamed bloody murder and leapt at the Imperial, who dodged and parried, but was hard pressed to counter the storm of blows Cullen rained down. the others desperately tried to hold back the guards. Finally in rage he smashed the hilt of the Irontooth into the Imperial's nose with a bloody crunch "Got ye, ye bloddy fool!" the sword crowed in glee. But as the leader went down, several more imperials burst in, and it was painfully obvious that the group was outnumbered greatly. Cullen snarled, snatched the documents the Imperial had been carrying, and leaped onto the window sill, and with a kick shattered the glass.

"Everyone, this party's gotten outta hand! If you value your hide, you'll get the hell outta Dodge!" and with that he sheathed his blades, shoved the papers into his pouch, and dived out the window to the street below, landing gracefully on his feet. He drew steel again to dispatch the guards on the street, then waited for the others to make their escape. Then with a grin he tossed a small smoke bomb into the window, and watched as it erupted in a cloud of crimson smoke.

"You got that ship of yours handy, Mister Seamus?"

Cid nodded. "Yes."

Cullen grinned. "Good. Scatter, and make tracks back to it. I'll meet everyone there... now let's move out!"

No one argued as they rushed off into the secluded streets after him.

The group were dashing madly down the streets, followed closely by a mixture of imperial and legionary soldiers. Up ahead they could see the massive Victoria. A rope ladder dangled from above. At the bottom of the ladder, Ian stood waiting. He soon saw them and motioned them towards the aircraft. They soon made it, climbingup in the order of which they arrived. Cid going up first, followed by Asura, Jeice going up afterwards, then Ian. The ship prepared to take off, with a mad dash Cullen grabbed the end of the rope ladder as they took off for the sky.

Later... inside the dining hall.

"So it's true then?" Siddhearth asked, "The Legionary really is in league with the Imperials..."

"Yes..." Cid sighed, "That leaves us with no home port as well. We may have luck convincing the Queendom of Valkyrie."

Siddhearth nodded as he looked around, spotting Cullen in one of the corners. He seemed to be talking to someone, but to low to actually be heard.

"Who is this man?" Siddhearth asked as he motioned to Cullen, "I could not help but notice he boarded at the last minute."

"He helped get us into Grundor Castle... sort of" Jeice explained, before Cid himself could do so.

Cid nodded and looked over at Cullen, who had by now joined the group. "Say, who was this 'sister' the Imperial Captain was referring too?"

Cullen looked at them, "My sister was taken by imperials soldiers six months ago... as for the rest. That's none of your bloody business."

With that, he left the room without another word. Jeice looked off and rubbed his chin, His sister missing, so familiar...

"We have to decide our next move," Cid said, overlooking Cullen's exit. "We can either proceed with out original plan of Crescent Isles. or seek aid from the Queendom of Valkyrie."

"We should proceed to the Eternal Seas immediately." Psycho interupted, speaking for the first time in quite a while.

Cullen sat on a bench on the deck, the two faintly glowing cutlasses floating about as he looked at a small portrait inside a locket.

"Brigid.... I hope you are still safe..."

Ironfang hovered over. "Don't worry Cullen..."

Steeltooth approached as well. "Yes, I'm sure she's just fine..."

Cullen sighed sadly. "Thanks fellas, but it's no use... I failed her. All the bravado and showy tricks I know.. worthless! Totally, absolutely *WORTHLESS*!"

"I wouldn't say that."

Cullen and the cutlasses both spun to face the speaker. Jeice stepped into view.

"Really now? All the flashy tricks in the book didn't stop them from taking her... when I think what Zel might be doing to her...." he shuddered in anger and disgust.

"The imperials are strong, and odds are, you were outnumbered..."

"Ten to one."

"See? And you saved our hides back there! I promise, we'll help you find your sister. I know how it goes..."

Cullen repressed his sarcasm "Really, now?"

"Yeah.. I lost my sister, long time ago. You were close before she was taken?"

He nodded, showed Jeice the locket. The young woman within looked Cullen's age, a beautiful girl with fiery red hair and flashing green eyes. "Yeah, our parents died when I was ten..... bandits. I stole food and clothes, we lived on the streets, until the contabulary found us, threw us out.. then on to a new town, the pattern repeating. Until I found these two." The cutlasses floated over to the two men, glowing faintly. "That's when I decided to take up a job as a sword for hire.... we managed to save up, buy a little cottage..not much, but it was a home... until the Imperials burned it to the ground and took her.... maybe to get back at me for some job I'd done? Hell if I know.. doesn't really matter, either...."

Jeice planted a firm hand on the man's shoulder. "Don't worry" (how he wished he could take his own advice) he said calmly "we'll find her, and make sure it happens to no one else. You have my word. After all, we owe you our lives, most likely... (even if mine is currently only borrowed time he muttered to himself mentally)"

Cullen sighed, but seemed to be reassured. "where to? Valkyriee, I thought I heard?"

Jeice nodded.

"Leave that to me..." he chuckled, his previous good humor returning "You might say that the Queen and I are.... old friends."

With that Cullen sheathed the twin blades and headed back below deck, leaving Jeice standing there, mouth open in disbelief.

Psycho protested to the decision, "But, we must go to the Eternal Seas, it's of dire importance."

"Does it have to do with the pendant you gave me?" Siddhearth pocketed the jewery Psycho had given to him earlier.

Psycho, "Precisely."

"Hey," Ian interupted, "Those look similar to mine."

"Another one," Psycho said, "Where did you get that, you must be one of the heroes."

"I've had it ever since I was a child."

"You've never spoke of your childhood," Asura broke in.

"It's a terrifing story, maybe if I ever gain the confidence to speak on the matter, you shall be the first to hear the tale if you wish."

"I would like that very much." Asura smiled, but the Psycho soke again.

"Let me explain, the pendants that the three of us have, signify that we are heroes spoken of in legend. There is this shrine in which a slab of stone has a story, but, has phrases missing. On each of the pendants there lies a phrase written in an ancient language forgotten through time. If we can find all of the heroes and recover all of the pendants, we will uncover what is known as 'The Dove,' my belief is that is an airship of which the likes have never been seen."

"Very interesting," Siddhearth said, "So how many of these pendants are there, and how do we 'awaken' if you will, the Dove?"

"Well, I do not know how many heroes there are, but each will have a pendant, or will have to find one, the key is that, each pendant makes a magical connection with the holder, which signifies the true hero."

"And how will we know this?" Siddhearth asked.

"That's the problem, I believe you will only know, by either a gut feeling, or by the shrine itself."

"Hmm, it would be like going on some wild goose chase," Ian commented.

"It will..." Psycho stopped, and began to tremble and pant. "No! It can't be those filthy Imperial Bastards! How did they find it?"

"Stop talking in riddles man!" Cid ordered.

"The Wind Crystal! I hold its spirit! If it shatters then who knows what will happen? How did they find my hideout? My hideout near Desdemona has the only entrances to the underground crystal shrines! Not only the wind crystal, but fire, water and earth and near shattering! I can feel the pain of the other keepers of the crystal spirits! You must drop me and Silver off there! This is a desperate situation!

Cid flinched with Psycho's blabbering that had come suddenly. Psycho drew his twin swords.

"Silver, we must be at the ready!"

Cullen just blinked as he walked into the conversation. "Amulets? Dove? Shrine? Whoa, slow down! I agree, we have more.. pressing concerns than some wild chocobo chase. We need a safe base of operations, since I doubt we'll be welcome in Grundon now after that whole fiasco. Head for Valkyrie, Her majesty and I.. are well acquainted, you might say. She should offer us shelter in the least, unless she is not the lovely woman I remember. That is my advice." He calmly waited for anyone to reply or object.

Psycho sighed.

"OK, I'll explain it once more. The chosen worriers are every one on this ship, except maybe Cullen. It is our job to protect the crystals which have underground shrines. But my hideout has the only entrance to the passages that lead to the shrines. I am a rare breed of warrior. I contain the crystal of wind's spirit. That is why I start to become faint when the crystal is in danger. If the Empire controls the crystals they control the warriors who hold their spirits. There is a warrior for each crystal. Now the Dove is the name of an ancient airship as old as the crystals. Only the chosen ones can bring it out of it's hiding place between the two seas of eternal blue. It is far superior to this airship because it can act as a sub and even has a shield against magic. It is also much faster and can fly higher. If you don't believe me look at this!" He pulls out some blueprints of the ship. "Now I must ask the ones who hold the crystal spirits to come with me. We must save the crystals from the Empire!"

After Psycho's announcement, everyone scattered to think of what to do next. Psycho stumbled down a hallway into an empty room, collapsing onto a bed, eagle spread. He fell asleep instantly.

Psycho (editing required)

Siddhearth: Yes honey I will be home soon. I just have to make an important call. Tell little Siddhearth Junior and Cid I said hi! I love you all bye! *Hangs up up the phone. It soon rings and Siddhearth picks it up.* Boy: Yes sir, you asked me to call you? Siddhearth: I want you to jump off a cliff and die! Boy: But sir... I am still of use to you! Siddhearth: You are not! Jump off a cliff! Boy: I... I hate you! *Suddenly the slave crown on the boy's head exploded in the boy's resistance, freeing him.* Siddhearth: You hear me? Boy: I am no longer under your control! I'm gone! *Slams down the phone, then runs off into the forest.*

Author Unknown

Psycho woke up in a cold sweat again.

"Why must I be plagued with these infernal dreams? Are they really my past? No, they can't be!"

Silver Strike growled beside him. Psycho had woken him up.

"Sorry, old boy. I just figured out... the Siddhearth on board here isn't the evil one I think I used to know! They look alike... I must talk to Siddhearth alone!"

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10