FFOG Chapter 10

Allies Introduced:

Spirits Introduced:

Summary:

Death Comes in Threes

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

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

Luigi of the Pipes

And so Jeice was once again turned to stone that night by the efforts of his own magical prowess and that of the Reflect spell that Asura cast to her own defense.

King Bellows gave them leave to spend another day in Cortez and prepare themselves, which they graciously accepted, aside from Jeice's desperation and prompting for them to keep moving forward. When the sun had finally fallen beneath the horizon, all had been made ready and they departed together aboard the Gigyas Predator, just at the same time as Lady Ganymede and her own company stole the scout ship of Voltaire.

A quick run-through of the possessions that Reno and Psycho had left proved disheartening to the Dove-seekers, for they had taken the Fire Crystal and Wind Crystal with them, and all that could be found of anything at all was the map that led to the Fire Crystal, and a similar map of the countryside of New Continent, where Psycho claimed to have found the Wind Crystal's shrine, and no doubt bore a picture of the crystal months ago. Jeice tucked away these with the one to the Earth Crystal. It mattered not if they had the crystals at the moment anyway, as they would still need the Earth and Water Crystals before the Dove could be in their grasp, and they hoped to cross paths with their old teammates well before then.

With all due speed Aaron pushed the ship over the waters, and they arrived at Avania, one of the port cities of Ananke, within the morning hours. Fourteen weary travelers departed from the ship: Cid and Siddhearth first, looking dismal about the venture in general, Jeice following them dutifully and half-dragging Asura along with him, then Cullen not far from him, next Fay with Stray still resting around her shoulders, after them Karolie and Uargo, the latter explaining his role (or lack thereof) in the Pirate Wars of the Hashule Sea years ago, after them Aaron and Ken, and finally Ian and Silver.

The final two stood at attention at the front of the deck and called for likewise notice from the others. As they turned to face them, Ian cleared his throat and began. "I have been to Voltaire before," he spoke smoothly, glancing constantly to the northeast. Asura sighed deeply, guessing his intention, and with a sharp roll of her eyes looked away, catching her intention on some bright fire in the sky. "Reno and Emperor Yien have not," the knight continued, barely holding his composure after Asura's immediate rejection. "Therefore, they do not know the dangers that they approach as well as I do. And so..." He took a deep breath. "Silver and I have decided to pursue them."

And the flood walls broke. Nine loud groans and nine pairs of eyes trained on them with pity and regret at their decision. "Please, I must," he continued. "My mind has been in constant turmoil ever since I decided not to abandon you at Grundon. I need some time alone to sort it out, or I fear that I may do something I will deeply regret, as I did in Building A. Besides, I'm feeling absolutely claustrophobic around all of you. Already we have exceeded the amount of cabins the ship has." They nodded their consent, but the looks didn't leave their eyes. Finally, they made their way away from the dock, leaving Ian and Silver with short goodbyes and the duty to find their own transportation.

No sooner had they backed away when Asura dashed off suddenly, running in the direction her keen eyes had been looking ever since averted from Ian, with all the haste of the huntress she was. They called after her, but were simply ignored, as the desire to hunt the firebird swelled above everything else on Asura's mind.

"This is ridiculous!" Cid spouted, pacing and swinging his arms wildly. "Why don't we all just run off!? This is hardly a group if..." He stopped, clasped his hands in front of him, closed his eyes, and tried to pace his breathing. "I'm alright. I'm all right..."

"Of course you are, brother," Siddhearth nodded, sharing an amused glance with Jeice at their employer's antics. "Let's stop worrying about this whole mess and get this job over with. Naturally, the best place to start with is the capital."

"But King Bellows said we could trust the Court of Spayar?," Jeice interrupted. "We shouldn't need to..."

"He also said that the Court wasn't here at the moment. Therefore, we should suspect people who are there, redecorating the offices to their own likings. Especially the ones in ?Taire skins."

"Indeed," Cid acknowledged, pressing a finger to his pudgy chin in thought. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, then passed it to Jeice. "Go and fetch a carriage, m'boy. If that doesn't cover the cost there, you've got some shecklums in your pockets that will get the rest." Jeice walked off, offended that Cid should know exactly what change he had in his possession.

He returned a moment later with the cheapest carriage he could manage, and they made their way into Spayar?, and from there to the House of Spayar?, the ruling castle for the Court. The doors were flung wide open, a sign to the world that the Court trusted its people. "Poor fools," Cullen grinned. "Poor, poor fools. This place has a Valekryian Viking Raid written all over it."

They entered the great hall and looked around in silence. The castle was full of people, admiring the relics that were displayed or carrying on usual business. At sight of the strangers, however, they all cleared out, the only sound their footsteps clicking on the tile as they retreated. The group exchanged glances, shrugged, and began to examine.

"Right out in the open," Uargo commented, walking up to a picture that the plaque underneath titled as ?The Betrayal of Faltasy by Pekyuare' with four men depicted, one holding a sword at another's neck, while another was holding the arms of the fourth to keep him still.

Cid walked up as well, and pointed at the man being held. "Why, I believe that's Sir Jonas Gelgonde. This appears to be showing how he escaped from Ananke to cause his havoc on Grundon."

"Indeed. It looks like all this stuff is pretty new, and none of it gets stolen!"

I've a right mind to steal some of it, if I weren't more of the pick-pocketing type... Karolie mused as she walked up to a bust of a young girl, the sculpture entitled ?In Trilphy We Trust'. Cullen repeated aloud some comment similar to her thought, and was quickly smacked over the head by Fay. "Idiot! I can't build a casino here if they don't trust us!"

"I wouldn't even touch it," Jeice added. "It's being held down by a magic barrier. No doubt would give you a shock. It's almost visible for a mage," he mumbled, squinting at one of the pieces. "I'm sure Aaron can see them too."

Aaron remained silent as he walked up next to Karolie and stood staring at the bust. "Trilphy Faltasy, I see," he nodded. "She was at the Mage School at the same time as Reno was. I had no idea she was actually famous around here."

"She knew Reno, eh?" Uargo commented, walking over and adjusting his glasses. "Well, maybe that's why Reno..."

"She died."

". . . oh . . ."

"Excuse me," a voice interrupted them. "You say you knew Miss Faltasy, aye?" They turned to look at the speaker, then craned their necks down... and down... and down. A short character stood before them, less than a meter tall, dressed in a green tunic over black pants, tied with a gold-buckled black belt, with a thin brown beard all around his face save the chin and a bald head covered by a green bowled hat with a four-leaved shamrock tucked under the buckle. In his hand was a crystal-mounted rod, which he seemed to be holding ready to threaten if the strangers were threatening themselves. "Lagnon Clovet to you, lads and lass, and I give my greetings."

"And here I thought I was of a small stature compared to these men," Ken commented, walking up to them. "Far too short to even be a dwarf, I see."

"Aye, no. Leprechauns aren't well heard of by most, though more here than other places. We came from Goralend nearly a lifetime ago, a great fifty years, right before the war waged in those waters. The Lord Hashule as we named him, though I now hear of him called Bahamut, was very kind to my fathers back in the days of old, bless his scales. Alas though, the pirates came and drove us out, planning to use the island as a base to attack Colnelia. We're a withering race now, and most of us ended up here in Spayar?, hiding, hoping that Hashule will return and aid us again."

"Well, don't hold your breath," Cullen grunted, and they all remembered back to the look of Bahamut's corpse as it lay atop the wreckage of the Victoria.

"Aye, I'm not. I've gotten a position here as the Lady Ganymede's chief advisor. At the moment, I'm the only member of the Court of Spayar? still present. And it's for the best that I was left behind. There's some foul stirrings in the area, aye.

"But anyway, I implore you to enjoy your stay. Anyone who's a friend of the daughter of Ferris and Kayth Faltasy is more than welcome here, aye." He started for the door.

"Mr. Clovet, wait," Jeice stopped him. "I need to ask what you know... about the Water Crystal?"

Lagnon froze and peered at them over his tiny shoulder. "What do you know is the question now, aye?"

"We're trying to find it, and all the crystals. We need them to get to something else."

"No! Absolutely not! The Dove is not to be tampered with by men, dwarves, and leprechauns alike!"

"But you see, I am plagued by the reapers! Every night for the past thirty dusks I have been chased by it, and many of them I have had to spend sleeping in a cocoon of stone. If we could enter the Dove and find a spell that would..."

"Hundreds of people have been killed by the reapers in the past year, aye. Why should you be any luckier than them?"

"My friend knew Trilphy Faltasy."

"Your friend. Not you, and it's apparent you know little of their connection, aye." Aaron clenched his jaw, desperate to mention his own harassment by the reapers, but still wary.

Jeice fumbled desperately in his pockets, brushed a piece of paper, and fished it out. "But I have this!" He extended the map that Umbriel had left to him for Lagnon to see. His eyes widened. Jeice grabbed the other map and held it out as well. Lagnon's hand shot up and grabbed it.

"Where did you get this, aye?! This belonged to Lady Ganymede long ago!" He turned it around and showed them the back. A certificate, authorizing the birth of one female to Ananke approximately thirteen years ago. Such certificates were used in every country, and Jeice peered at the back of the other map to see a likewise document naming Umbriel's birth in Cortez. "You no doubt have used these two maps already, aye?"

"Yes, and a third was used by one of our company before any of us met." He held out the last map, looking at the back to find Blaine Hala Yien's birth claim. "We had found all three crystals save Water, but Wind and Fire were taken by our companions who we assume snuck on board the fortship of Spayar? during their stop at Cortez, and Earth was stolen by an agent of the Empire, who bear perfect doubles of the Wind and Fire Crystals as well. It's imperative that we get the Water Crystal before them, even if we don't use it to get the Dove."

"Well, if you have tampered with the others, then it must not harmful to tamper with this one either. You couldn't get the Dove anyway it seems, aye?"

"Why not?" Jeice pressed.

Lagnon looked at them, judging their character. "I tell you this only because you might have to protect these from the Empire as well, aye? The crystals can only be used by those known as the ?crystal guardians'. It was a failsafe that the Great Spirits put in when they were created. You've no doubt heard the legend of Eric Heimdall in Cortez if you were there before. He was one of these, shown by the fact that he found and used the crystal, where others couldn't."

"You hadn't found it prior?"

"No. The legend goes faulty there. Heimdall bore a map like yours that he used to find it, after being dropped off by a crew of smugglers that he was part of for a short time."

Aaron grinned. "Guess whose crew that was."

"How have you learned all this?" Uargo interrupted. "I have done extensive studying in the mystic's library of the Crescent Moon School of Magistry and in the halls of the Colnelian scholars and never heard such things as these, as neither has our captain no doubt."

"The father of my fathers ten times over was one of these guardians, as is Lady Ganymede who I now serve. My ancestor wrote a book to describe what he had discovered during his time as the fire guardian. The most important of these points involves these maps here. You see, when a guardian dies, the first sentient to be born, be it human, dwarf, leprechaun... even moogle, becomes the new guardian. Luck of the draw that you together should apparently meet three of these already. Since these guardians may go through their entire life without ever seeing their crystal, the only way to denote them as guardians is by these maps that are magically imprinted on the backs of the birth certificates, or, if these are not available, the first form of identification that person should come by."

Jeice looked at the Earth Map. "Then that means that Umbriel was one as well, and Psycho was being truthful to his claim of being the wind guardian. And that map..." He pointed at the Fire Map. "The bearer must have given it to Reno. I see it doesn't say Kayth Ganymede on it."

"Aye, no. Kayth Ganymede is Trilphy Faltasy, a name she adopted after her feigned death. This Reno was a friend of hers apparently, if she found him close enough to give away such a treasured possession."

"I must say," Siddhearth interrupted. "I find all these conveniences positively appalling. This smells terribly of a ruse to me. A trick by the Emperor, perhaps, or Dr. Robbins."

"It could be," Lagnon nodded. "Though I don't see how you could doubt when you had two of the crystals before you. I wish it were all a ruse though, aye. I stand by my concern about the Dove, and hope desperately that you not use this information wrongly. But then, I am only an old leprechaun. I couldn't stop you. Tell you what, I'll take three of you to get the crystal tomorrow. A larger crowd would attract too much attention. I shall meet you at the lobby of the Rocsham Inn promptly at daybreak. Rooms will be reserved for you there for whenever you feel ready to turn in." And with that he left, sighing deeply.

"Well, I'll be sure to go with him," Jeice spoke first, avoiding Cid's stare. "Anyone else?"

"Me," Cullen called. "If we stick together, we might have a better chance o' findin' Ironfang and Steeltooth again."

"And I'll go once more," Uargo added. "Quetzacoatl spoke to me little while Blaine remained in our company, but I got from him that he was to be guarding the Wind Shrine like Phoenix and Palidor guarded Fire and Earth, had he not left to Kazuki. There is no doubt a final bird at this one. Treeticks he said, or something like that. They still owe me a good talk to, and besides it may need someone to protect it."

"As you wish, then," Cid nodded. "The rest of us will begin our investigations of Bellow's concern promptly on your departure. But first, let's find this Rocsham Inn and set up, shall we?"

Shoat. Titan. Bahamut. Palidor.

Zel stared at these four, trapped in their binding crystals. None more remained. Thirty slots for all thirty Great Spirits on this shelf, even Loki himself, but only four were still filled.

Shoat. Titan. Bahamut. Palidor.

"Well," he sighed, scooping up the first three and leaving Palidor. "There's no use for either of us if you're all there. Other than Palidor, of course. I may even let Palidor go if he just tells me where Alexander is hiding... Or even Phoenix and Tritoch and Golem." He glanced sideways at a small, shrouded character sitting at a table in the corner, sipping a cup of tea. "And Coyote of course, for your sake Kappa. Too bad about Cait Sith." The figure nodded, but said nothing, and went ignored as usual. Zel leaned down to face the last crystal, but Palidor pecked the glass in defense. "Have it your way, then. You shall rot until I find out!"

Zel turned about face and looked at Lich, rising from the ground to meet his gaze. Zel juggled the crystals a bit until he had Shoat alone in one hand and held it up. "Take this swine and fuse it to your agent in the Underworld, as I showed you how. I fear he may need a better way to defend himself than measly books all too soon. Blast those weak scholars..." Lich nodded his consent to the demand and the curse, took Shoat, and sunk back into the ground without a word.

Zel turned about face and looked at a soldier, having finally arrived after his earlier summons. "Take a small regiment to Grundon and release Sir Gelgonde from the Capital Jail. Tell him that his old friend Elemeno needs him, and bring him to me." The soldier saluted and left. Zel set down Titan and pat the crystal. "Soon you'll have a host. Worry not."

Zel turned about face and looked at the new figure, standing where Lich had previously been. His chin was long and pointed, with a dark blonde goatee forming on it. Above that was a mouth with lips sunken in so far that they couldn't be seen amidst the tanned skin, and further up was a small nose surrounded by a pair of slanted blue eyes. From the nose rose a long, outward-curving brow upon which a mop of dark blonde hair was growing, the bangs hanging down like tangled vines. His hair spread down his neck and curved around a pair of elf-like ears upon which long jewelry pieces hung. From the side, his face gave off the remarkable appearance of a crescent moon.

He was muscularly-built, hiding incredible strength in his thin structure; strength that seemed to flow from him like an aura. He was dressed in a general's garb, though no bearing of rank showed about him. Zel grinned over him, his creation, a creation to rival that berserk old man he had met in the Colnelia tunnels in power, or even a Great Spirit. "Gilgamesh had it easy, giving that power to Enkidou. I wish he had imparted the secret of how he did it to me. Would have been far easier than all these years of labor.

"I pity you, Project Omega. Such a fine experiment, and the spitting image of Uncle Loki. But he will not use you for his host, he says. Your nose is too short. And you become like all the Project Omegas before you: Ian Zarrier... Gard Namman... the Yien child... Project Omega-Alpha... Project Omega-Beta, or as I prefer, Omega-Blasta." He chuckled, remembering the explosive end of his second project. "Oh well, if Uncle Loki is going to be picky like this, then we'll just let him break out on his own. As for you, you may still be useful. You're more powerful than I could have hoped, yes, but even Enkidou who you match in strength was killed by Maliris. That's a big no-no for you. You need more power. So I've got a gift for you."

He held Bahamut up before him. "The most powerful Spirit of them all, aside from Alexander and Loki, will be fused into you. As soon as I have dealt with Jonas and Titan, and have word of Lich's success with Edlan and Shoat, you will have Bahamut all to yourself. You will be unstoppable in every sense of the word. Thrilling, isn't it?"

Omega stared at him passively.

"Well, it is for me anyway!" he grunted, slamming Bahamut in the table. "Some people just don't appreciate fine science!"

Psycho

Colonel Curiden entered his luxurious quarters with a furious expression on his face and a look of pure hate in his eyes, but also the look of a man who was plotting revenge... Revenge for a great humiliation that he suffered at the hands of what he considered the lowest form of gutter trash and street scum he had ever had the misfortune to meet. They had mocked him and forced him to aid them in their quest, and had even stolen his airship from him. This he would not stand... not for long, anyhow. He looked at the nightstand by his bed and saw his telecommunication crystal, and an idea struck him. He would help them out all right. Help them right into the hands of the Voltaire prison system.

He snatched up the crystal and set the frequence to that of General Kareen Mentels. "Hello General, it's me Curiden. I have what claims to be the Emperor of the 'Kazuki', the Lady of the Court of Spayarè, and a few others on my ship. I'm taking them to Voltaire, to your base in particular. I think it's in our best interest that you have a nice large party of troops ready when we land. I'm sure that Emperor Zande will be most pleased if we reel in this kind of a catch."

"..."

"How long until we arrive, you ask? I'd have to guess about three or four hours tops at current speed. Be ready, sir." He set down the crystal, and an evil and ominous grin spread across his face.

"HA!!" He cackled aloud maniacally. He then left his quarters and approached the Lady Ganymede. "We shall be arriving at the destination in about three hours, maybe four. I thought you ought to know. That's all madam," Curiden said gruffly, trying to hide his intentions.

"Thank you Colonel. I appreciate what you are doing for us.' Trilphy smiled. "Had situations been otherwise behind our loyalties..."

And he replied triumphantly, "You have no idea how much this benefits the both of us, my dear." Curiden grinned smugly as he walked away, laughing to himself.

The airship was hovering above its destination, but cloud cover hid from their view what was waiting for the newest passengers on board the Pantheion. It slowly lowered itself to the ground, like a mother bird ready to nest. The fog was still thick, thick as pea soup in the base. Blaine, Reno, Trilphy, and the rest of the Court of Ananke had no idea what was waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp as they descended. Soon they reached the ground and then the crew of the Pantheion deboarded as well. The fog immediately cleared, and the departers found themselves surrounded on all sides by hundreds of Imperial troops of varying ranks.

"I should have expected this! I can't believe I didn't see this coming! I swore that this would never happen again! I am a disgrace to myself and my people! I no longer deserve to live! Do you hear me, Imperial dogs?! I'll lay dead at your feet before I am captured!" Blaine roared in fury, leaping high into the air and, placing his right hand in front of him, bellowed, "Tri-Beam!" The large, triple-element beam of energy flew down and knocked away a fair number of troops. The attack continued to raze the battlefield until Blaine's descent finally began, then, drawing his bo from his back and putting the knife attachment on, he charged forward, slashing in all directions. Then he invoked upon his Double skill, and soon there were two of him attacking the Imperial troops. Reno, taking his cue from Blaine, had already defeated many troops as well with his range of spells. Trilphy and the Court drew their swords and joined in the fray.

After a bit of intense combat, the small group began to drop like flies from exhaustion and their numerous wounds along. Though troops and moombas littered the ground around them, there were still many more ready and well. "General, what should we do with them now? It's obvious that we can't keep them in the same prison," Curiden inquired.

"Worry not, my friend. We shall split them between the three other prisons we have. Take the faux Emperor to Felion in Altbrune. He won't be able to cause any trouble there. Then, after that place breaks him, give him to Dr. Robbins," the general replied.

"Yes sir. I'll do that, sir."

And with that Blaine, Reno, and the Court of Ananke were scattered about the prisons of Voltaire: Blaine to Felion Reno to Altras in Amerdan, and the Trilphy to Nelin in the Imperial Capital, where Blaine's father, Kia Hala Yien the III, was also imprisioned. The remaining six of the Court were spread in separate camps close to Nelin.

Blaine awoke in a cell on the third floor of Felion, where the most dangerous of all criminals were sent. His cell was fairly large and had an actually comfortable cot to sleep on. He had one cellmate; a monk, who looked to be in his mid-twenties. "Ho there, who are you?" he asked kindly.

"I? I'm Blaine Hala Yien, son of Kia Hala Yien the III of the Kazuki. Might I ask you the same?" Blaine replied.

"Wait a second! I knew I recognized you, Psycho! Ho, don't you remember me? Gradus? Your old training parner from Sensei Keero's school?" Gradus replied enthusiastically. "Well, I'll be damned! Great to see you, old friend! What brings you in here for?"

"I'm here for trying to sneak in and futz up some Imperials," Blaine replied joyfully, happy beyond compare to know that one of his classmates was still alive.

"Me, I tried to assassinate Zande twice. Once, by poisoning his food, and again in the dead of night. The disturbing part is that he actually ate the food. And survived.

"I may be from Anrees of Voltaire, but I do not support the Empire at all. Hell, no one in this prison does. The only guy that did was executed last week. Heh, he tried to poison the Imperial base around here through the air. And he did it. I don't know how, but he did. Killed quite a few soldiers before they caught him. And you know, he only did it cause they wouldn't let him join the army," Gradus replied.

"I see. Well, think I should plan on busting out of here in a few days, or, preferably, a few minutes. Want to come with?" Blaine inquired.

"Sure, and you see those guys in cell 232? They're my buddies. An archer, William Wood, and an artist, Rodger Skies, though he prefers to be called a 'Pictomancer'. He's a miracle, I tell ya. His pictures actually come to life and do his bidding. They claim to be from Cortez, but their names sound awfully like they're from Grundon. Not that that matters. They helped me out on my second attempt at Zande, so... can we bust them too?" Gradus replied with his own question.

"Yeah, I plan to bust all the captives here, but I want you and those two to come with me. I have some friends and my father trapped in a few other prisons across Voltaire. But, before I start making big plans, we gotta escape. I'm going to mess with the guard over there. Care to join in?" Blaine chuckled as he spoke.

"Sure, but how?" Gradus inquired.

"Just follow my lead."

Blaine stood up and leaned against the wall, exactly as the guard was doing. Gradus followed suit. The guard scratched his head, and they both mimicked his movement. The guard walked forward to the cell across the room, the two once again copy his movements.The guard, beginning to think something was up, turned around to see Blaine and Gradus sitting on their beds, talking. He shrugged his shoulders and turned around. The two stand up and follow his lead. The guard once more turned around, to find them still talking. He turned around... and whipped around again, to see that they hadn't moved. A bit perplexed, he began his round by walking down the hall. The duo once again began to mimic him. After what seemed hours of being mimicked, the guard could feel himself slowly going into madness. He turned around again and found the two sleeping. After turning around once more he heard them begin to copy his movements and something inside his brain snapped.

"I can't take it anymore!!! I know you two are copying me!!! STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!!!" He bellowed and dashed down the hall toward the window. "HA! Let's see you mimic me now!!!" he cackled, then leapt up and smashed clean through the glass. HA HA HA!!! I WIN!!! I... oh sh--!!!"

Then he hit the ground with a loud, sickening thud. The other prisoners on the floor cheered. On the other hand, Blaine and Gradus felt an unexpected pang of guilt, as they hadn't wanted to make him do something so serious.

The moment his yelling began they felt their spirit rise, but now their joy was cut short at the unintended death of the guard. "Well, uh, like I said, we'll escape in a few minutes with him out of the way..." Blaine said, his souring mood now stronger than ever. "I didn't mean for that to happen..."

"Neither of us did. We weren't thinking properly. Sensei would be furious at us for doing this. Though, I guess he would commend us on not being caught red-handed by the guard." Gradus replied.

"Sensei's in no position to be furious at anyone anymore," Blaine grumbled, fingering the crystallized Keero in his pocket.

The two then lay down on their beds and fell into a restless nap, trying to think of a way to escape the bars.

Luigi of the Pipes

The turn of the night grew near, and Jeice was, to say the least, growing tense. He and Cullen were waiting together in the room that they shared at the Rocsham Inn, Jeice sitting with his hands folded, Cullen pacing nervously.

With both Reno and Asura gone, there was only one other alternative that would allow him to be petrified, and thus safe from his nightly antagonists. A method he did not relish to think about.

Finally, Cullen drew his sword. "I can't wait out a minute more of this. I promise t'be soft, alright?"

Jeice's scars ached, every injury the Reapers had given him thus far, which silenced any complaints. He nodded and held his arm out, silver light shining in his eyes as Cullen charged his sword with a Stone spell of his own.

The hissing of the wind and the chimes of a clock in the hall gave indication of the Reaper's arrival. A cold chill ran down their backs as its head poked through the wall and scanned with wretched eyes, eyes that came to fall on Jeice.

"Ready?" Cullen asked.

"Put the sword down, Red," Asura called from the doorway, surrounded by a green glow.

Cullen turned to regard her, his thoughts immediately turning about the fact that he didn't get along well with her. "Waste of a good spell, I say."

"I've wasted a spell too. It's Jeice's choice now."

Cullen turned back to Jeice, who quickly tried to close his fist around the gray spell he was holding. "Heh, sorry Cullen."

"Bloody..." Cullen growled, turning to the Reaper. "HELL!" He stabbed the Reaper through with his sword, discharging the spell into it. For a moment the apparition seemed to succumb to the effects, but easily shook it away and continued forward.

By this time though, Jeice had already reflected his Stone spell. The Reaper began its methodic prodding despite, in which Cullen and Asura regarded each other again.

"Mark my words, Crismon..."

"No need to get frustrated," Asura replied with a quick roll of her eyes. "Jeice chose comfort over pain. Wouldn't you?"

Cullen's knuckles went white as his grip on his sword's hilt increased, then suddenly slacked as he felt more than saw another party in the room.

"What've you been up to all day?"

Asura felt herself flush with heat, and she turned to hide the reaction. "Nothing."

"Nay..." Cullen replaced his sword and grinned. "There's something different about you. Or maybe, there's someone different with you, eh?"

Asura kept turned. "It's nothing."

"Fenrir can sense it." Cullen's grin grew as he took command of the hazing situation. "Which ‘un did you get?"

Asura turned on him, now her knuckles turning white. "I do not appreciate you and your flea-bitten, rabid counterpart prying into my affairs!"

Cullen held his palms out in innocence. "C'mon woman. You didn't think you could keep Phoenix a secret forever, did yeh?"

Asura lowered her face. "Fine. You've had your fun." She looked back up and motioned to Jeice, no longer plagued by the Reaper, then to the door. "Please leave."

Surprisingly, Cullen made his way out, but not without a final remark. "Y'know, Phoenix is rather popular where I'm from. She's nothing to be ashamed of. And I know I wouldn't mind hearing about how you two got together, eh?"

"Out."

"Of course, m'lady." Cullen slipped out the door, laughing as he went. Asura bit her lip and concentrated on her Esuna spell.

Estarè was a well-known port town in Ananke. It's population rivaled that of the capital, Spayarè; it consisted of nearly a thousand people, a staggering sum in such days.

It was the perfect place.

To be destroyed.

A dark airship loomed over the town, unnoticed by the citizens long asleep. Zel glanced at his passengers, both standing stock still. Patient. Completely obedient.

He grinned.

"This is what our master loves, Project Omega," he crooned. "Well of course, not that fool Zande. Goddesses know how he got his own Empire. But, this is what our master loves." He looked over the rail at the sleeping village. "Snuffing out lives."

At this, the other passenger stirred, knowing his purpose. He was hidden deep in a black cloak; only two large horns that protruded from the sides of his head were visible.

A Cuckold. A monster of a human. Zel couldn't help but picture himself with such horns.

The transformation that had given this poor being the horns hadn't been just physical, though. He now carried the Great Spirit Shoat with him, though the usefulness of such a fusion had yet to be seen.

"Go ahead Edlan. It is Edlan, right?"

The figure didn't reply, but rather moved to the edge of the airship and glanced down. His voice was like a whisper as he said those words, those two little words that Zel loved so much.

"Doom Two."

The words poured out of him, a black wave that quickly wrapped itself around the city like a bubble. Zel was so enraptured by the sight that he failed to see Lich appear, grab Edlan, and drag him through the floor of the ship.

Nor did he care. Doom 2 was much more interesting to watch.

"Fasten your seatbelt, Omega. We're in for a ride."

The typically peaceful mornings of Spayarè were torn asunder that particular morning. Word had spread quickly of Estarè's impending doom, and men and women from all around the country had come to the capital to beg for the lives of their loved ones in the Reaper-infested city.

Some didn't realize that the actual deaths would come later that night, and were only passing through to thumb their noses at the Court and move on to collect the dead. Others came to plead with the Court to join the Empire before it was too late to save them.

Some had come from Estarè. Some thought that they could escape the death by escaping the cursed town.

Jeice pitied these the most.

He watched the crowds grow outside the House of Spayarè, its doors uncharacteristically closed to visitors. The mark of the Reaper, a mark he hadn't noticed until now (a scythe-shaped scar placed above his heart), burned with pity for them.

"Ye see what I meant yesterday, lad?" Lagnon said from somewhere behind him. "All o' those people are gonna die. Are ye finding the Dove for them too lad, or just for yeself?"

Jeice pressed his forehead on the window. "I'm sorry I can't do anything for them."

"Mr. Clovet," Siddhearth murmured, thinking that Jeice wouldn't be able to hear him, "Jeice has... ah... self-esteem problems. We'd all appreciate it if you didn't..."

"Tell the truth?"

"In such a brutal way."

"Eh, if ye insist."

Jeice turned to look at them. Cid and Siddhearth were to either side of Lagnon, having come to get details on the rising situation. Cullen and Uargo were waiting by the door, not sure if they were still needed. Everyone else was back at the Rocsham.

Well, not everyone.

Psycho and Reno were still missing, presumed to have gone to Voltaire with the Court of Spayarè. Ian and Silver were still sailing after them, no doubt in a stolen ship.

Asura was at the inn, though. And Fay and her cat, Stray. And the Dwarf, Ken. And Aaron and...

Jeice noticed someone outside the window, pushing her way to the door, sometimes convincing people (men specifically) to move in more subtle ways. What in blazes is she doing?

"Are we gonna get goin' or not, laddy?" Lagnon's voice floated into his conscious.

"Going?"

"I promised I'd take ye to the Water Crystal, aye?"

"Don't you have to deal with this?" Jeice motioned out the window.

Lagnon looked aside. "I'm takin' ye so I don't have to deal with it."

"Clovet here is only a financial manager," Cid explained. "He has neither the power nor the skill to deal with this situation. Siddhearth and I will remain and try to diffuse the situation."

"It pains me to consider missing a talk with a Great Spirit," Uargo interrupted, coming forward, "but I'm staying as well. My mediating skills work as well on beasts as they do on men."

"So it's just the three of us, aye?" Lagnon asked, looking from Jeice to Cullen, then back. Jeice started to reply, but the door swung open, cutting him off.

Karolie stood in the doorway for a tense few seconds, as if forgetting why she had come all this way, then stiffened and said, "We're going to get the crystal. And I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not."

Cullen looked at Jeice with an ‘is-she-for-real?' expression, then put on a mischievous grin. Jeice stopped him by quickly agreeing to her demand.

With that, they were off.

Good little spy, Lich whispered, horribly close to Karolie's ear. We could find the crystal ourselves, but we'd much rather for you to find it for us.

Karolie forced herself to agree.

Lupus

It was a mere half hour later when an armor clad knight trudged into the cell hall, taking over roles from the previous guard. He was soon to notice that this previous guard was missing, and then insisted on waking Blaine and Gradus up in order to terrorize them for information.

"What is that sound," Blaine mumbled, rolling off his mattress onto the cold floor. The sting of sudden change in temperature caused him to leap to his feet sleepily, just as the Knight proceeded to bang on their cell.

"Where’s the Night Guard?" the man yelled aloud, rattling his armored fist into the metal bars. The sound was almost deafening, and Gradus was quick to his feet as well. "I asked you a question, so I expect it answered!"

"I..." Blaine managed to get out through a yawn. "am the Night Guard."

The other grinned. "Oh yeah? In a cell? I suspect you want me to believe you just flew around the world in twenty four hours, too?"

"Not far from the truth." Blaine thumbed back at Gradus. "This guy tricked me. Pretended he was sick and trapped me in here. You know how these auto-lock systems work..."

"You would have keys, then? Why did you not use them? Why are you dressed up in inmate’s clothing?"

"Good question." Blaine grinned at the soldier, then patted the rags he had been given was he was imprisoned. "Good lord! My keys are missing!" the samurai said loudly, a definite quiver of laughter in his voice.

The soldier outside the cell was stupider than he first looked. He took out the keys from his pocket, stuck them in the cell door and twisted. The barred door flew out and hit him in the face, knocking him out cold. Blaine bent down and quickly made the guard’s keys his own.

"I cannot believe that guy’s stupidity," Gradus mumbled from the bed behind Blaine.

"You may want to put yourself in his shoes, literally. These rags won’t get us very far inside this complex, I shan’t think."

"What about you?"

Blaine held out his hand at the cell corridor’s door, mumbled something beneath his breath, and the entire door caved in. "I’m fine."

"I can see..." Gradus mumbled in jealousy. "Are we going to let these others out?"

"It depends on what they’re in here for."

Gradus nodded. "This entire hall is for people who attempted the life of the Emperor."

Blaine grinned. "So that's what they think I'm here for."

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind."

"As I was saying," Gradus said with a tone of irritability in his voice. "I think they all deserve a second chance."

"So be it."

William Wood and Roger Skies were quickly freed, thanks in whole to the guard’s keys, and the foursome made their way to the caved-in door.

"You there! Old boy!"

The voice was rough and low, coming from the cell right next to the door. Blaine span around, eyeing the other.

"Old boy, eh?"

An old man who had a long beard that reached his hips was leant against the cell bars, his hands gripping them madly. He wore the usual inmate clothing, however his was light brown with dirt and was ripped more than it should have been, giving the impression that the man had been in there for a long time.

"Yes, you! I saw you and yer magic trick just then! I don’t suppose an generous boy like you could give an old man some help, would yer?"

"Helping people is not one of my vices, I’m afraid," Blaine replied quickly. "I think not, we really must be leaving."

The old man looked around as if trying to think of any excuse that would get him further. "Look... I know these passageways. I was a high adviser in my time... you’d’n all be jealous with the things I did see! I can help yer..."

Blaine narrowed his eyes. As he was about to respond, Gradus stepped forward. "Why are you imprisoned, then? You look a bit shabby, honestly."

"HURTFUL WORDS old boy! Hurtful words! But I can tell yer, the Empire was buzzin’ with rumors about me. All true, of course. Ruddy McDougal Johns let our plan lose, and it all fell down! Arrested me before I could threaten, blackmail and generally corrupt the Emperor even more thanee is now!"

"Uh... right," mumbled Blaine. "Well, come on then..."

He shoved the battered keys into the lock and it clicked open. The old man wobbled out and shook Blaine’s hand fiercely.

"You’re a good man. Wouldn’t doubt it for a second, a good man you are! I am Nebuchadnezzar, I used to be good with the old magic tricks, for sure! Not sure if I can rustle any up nowadays, eh? What’s yer name, old boy?"

"My name is of no importance. As soon as we get out of here we are parting ways."

Nebuchadnezzar nodded vigorously. "Right yer are. Let’s be off, then?"

Blaine nodded and threw the set of keys through the bars of the prison to his side. They landed with a hearty clank next to a man who was snoring loudly. "They’ll let themselves out later."

Climbing over the rubble they hoarded into a conjoining corridor, devoid of any forms of protection, and made their way to the grubby staircase at the end.

"We’re not going to be able to just walk out of here," William chipped in.

Blaine shrugged as he reached the foot of the stairs and turned around. "I don’t see any guards."

"Rather suspicious, I would say."

Blaine nodded. "It is, it is. You’d think they would want to keep us in, after all the trouble they went to to get us in here."

The lifeless corridors stretched in multiple directions away from the bottom of the stairs, turning corners out of sight at the ends. The walls were patchy and generally not well kept, and flakes of plaster littered a vast majority of the floor.

"If I didn’t know better I’d have thought someone had cast Ultima in here," said Roger, bending down on one knee.

"Impossible. Something’s happened between the time the Night Guard came in and by the time we left that hall. If it was Ultima we would have felt it."

"Nay, yer’ve got it all wrong, old boy!" Nebuchadnezzar said loudly. "They’re all jus-"

What they all were just doing, they never found out. The wall below the staircase caved in with a deafening explosion, and Nebuchadnezzar was thrown from the stairs as they collapsed into the opposite wall. Blaine, Gradus, Roger and William collapsed to the ground quickly, their hands over their heads.

"That wasn’t very healthy on the old back," Nebuchadnezzar moaned as he tried to get to his feet.

"Sorry about that," Jere’s voice came with a loud cough, and he scrambled from the gap in the wall. "I thought it was more of them guards. Didn’t really think to check who you were before blowing the wall down."

"And you’re...?" Blaine questioned, on his feet and brushing the dirt from his clothes.

Jere’s eyebrows rose. "Forgotten me already, have you? Here." He offered his hand to Nebuchadnezzar who took it quickly and nearly pulled Jere to the ground as he got up.

Nodding idly, Blaine turned around. "Blaekus, right?"

Jere smiled in affirmative. "Who are these?"

"Gradus, a friend from long ago and his two compatriots, William and Roger. And this man," he continued, nodding to the bearded man. "is Nebuchadnezzar. Don’t know who he is and I don’t care much either."

"Wow, what a friend you are," the other responded.

"So you cleared this entire place of guards? Singly handedly?"

"Well, I had to, didn’t I?" Jere replied. "I don’t know where the others are, and Lady Ganymede hasn’t contacted me yet as I thought she would... to be truly honest with you it is quite worrying she hasn’t. Anyway; they tried to stash me in this little hole a bit to the north of here. Suspected I’d just sit around and wait for them to question me."

"So you blew them to pieces and escaped?"

"Naturally. If they think they can board me up with two idle guards it’s their own **** fault." Jere squinted for a second at something he could apparently see on the wall in front of them. Then he turned to Blaine. "Here, take this," he said quickly, drawing his sword and handing it to the samurai. "At least until you find your fighting pole thing."

Blaine took the sword and placed it idly in his inmate's belt. Then, without a word, turned back from the hallway to face the others. "Let’s mosey," he said lamely, and the others instantly agreed.

Reno cursed as another crate of whisky fell from high above his head, and splintered across the floor with a thud and crash of shattering glass. The chocobo carriage steered sharply left almost immediately, throwing the debris across the back of the cart.

"It would be appreciated," Reno began loudly, so the two soldiers out the front could hear him, "if the idiot who decided they needed ten gallons of whisky on a prison cart was promptly fired."

There was no reply other than the sharp sting of "Shut up!" that called through the wall, and a large bang that indicated that the caller had smashed his fist to it.

"Stop that," the younger immediately retorted.

The same gruff voice replied. "You’re in no position to give us orders, kid."

"Oh, so this is about my age, is it?"

"Shut up."

"I heard you the first time. I also disregarded it the first time. Please stop persisting on getting me to be silent."

"Some nerve, I’d say."

"Leave him alone," the other voice came. "If you deflate his ego too much he may not answer certain questions... sheesh, that reminds me. We’re nearly there. Better late than never, I s’pose."

The door swang open and in trudged the second soldier, sword sheathed and pistol in its holster. The door closed with a rattled bang and the older glared down. Reno had risen his head finally, upon the door opening, and was staring fearlessly back. The soldier held in his hands a noteclipped pad of papers and was hurriedly scanning over them. "I will ask you some questions," he bagan, not taking his eyes from his notes. "You will answer them. If you do not answer them, you will regret it, understand?"

Reno didn’t move his head an inch. "Please don't go on about that misconception," he spoke silently, "Such delusion is a particular common origin of social evils these days. Thoroughly."

The guard acted as though he hadn't heard him, then began to read from his notes. "Rupert Lupus, born Selby, age thirteen according to this date, prosecuted on accounts of treason, murder, and genral rebellious tendancies to Emperor Zande, amongst other more trivial cases." He paused for breath. "To be escorted to Altras, Amerdan on General's orders unto which he will belong to until he is willing to discuss his convictions in trial at a later date.

"Is this correct?"

"I distinctly heard you say rebellious tendancies."

"Indeed..." The guard glanced back down at his notepad.

"Surely you didn't say rebellious tendancies."

"Next question," the guard replied immediately and loudly, as if he hadn’t heard what Reno’d said. "What are you doing in Voltaire?"

There was a silence as Reno thought his answer over carefully. "I don’t think I should answer that."

"I think you should. Well, I’m waiting."

Reno blinked heavily and stared up at the soldier. "If you must know I was going to bust a friend’s father out of prison."

"Mmmhmm..." He scribbled something sloppily on the notepad. "Exactly who out of prison?"

"As I said, a friend's father."

The soldier looked up from the notepad. "This is not making it any easier for you."

"Nor you. We're even."

"If that's the way you want it to be..."

"Yeah, it is."

One's coming to get you.

Reno nodded to himself as the words filled his head. He didn't entirely understand them, but knew it was wiser to follow them than to ask questions. The soldier in front of him had put away the notepad and walked towards the back of the cart, searching for something. As soon as he did, the carriage began to slow down, until it finally stopped with a loud puff from the soldier in front.

"Get off the road!" the gruff voice yelled to someone or something.

"I've just got these carts to pass into the hills! Won't be a minute!" the reply came from a voice unfamiliar.

Making use of the distraction, quickly, Reno jumped to his feet and dived past the notepad-scribbling soldier, pushing open the door. The driver looked back at him in shock, and drew his cutlass a second too late. The sharp tip hit the wall of the carriage with a thud and recoiled. The driver yelped in pain as the younger wrestled the tugged tightly at the cutlass until it came free. The driver made a lunge for him, narrowly missing, and Reno jumped backwards onto the cobble road and, without a glance backwards, sprinted off into the roadside trees.

He continued to run until he was out of breath, and fell against an oak tree to regain his composure. Facing the direction he had run from, he scanned the distance thoroughly before heading in a diagnal direction back that way so he could reach the road again some miles down the track.

A sudden rustle in the leaves behind him made him jump. He immediately span brandishing the stolen cutlass losely.

"Put it down boy!"

Reno inhaled sharply, lowering his weapon. It was only one of the court; which one he didn't know.

"Which are you?"

The court member's eyes narrowed for a minute, then widened as he realized what Reno was talking about. "Creon. Cransen."

"It's nice to meet you - er, again, then."

"Aren't you going to thank me?" the other asked.

"For what?"

"We just saved your skin, that's what!"

"Uh, we?"

Creon ignored him, and instead put forward the practice of studying him carefully, as if acknowledging his deed had just saved this boy like he claimed. His eyes lingered over the stolen cutlass in his hand for a second longer than the rest of him, then his eyes fixed again. "That cutlass, boy-" he paused and shook his head. "You stole it."

"Yeah, I did," Reno replied briskly, wondering what the other was getting at.

"Not a good idea. They're going to come looking for you now. You've just costed their state in whatever republic they're preaching several thousand gil. They don't exactly praise people who do things like that."

"A cutlass would be worth no more than fifty."

One of Creon's eyebrows raised and a sarcastic grin spread across his lips. "You know your weapons? Do you? You know the exact price of crystal and diamond? You think they're not going to be worrying about, and tracing with whatever magic they can muster, a crystal cutlass?" He smiled again, in a satisfactory way, then his tone became serious. "Leave it here. We don't want them following us."

"Alright."

The cutlass skimmed through the trees and out of distance, sending shredded leaves fluttering in its wake. Reno felt his upper arm being gripped tightly and pulled through the shrubbery. He regained balanced and made after Creon's hurrying figure, much more slowly this time.

The forest thinned out and made off onto the cobbled road. Creon stopped.

"Now we're either going to have to wait for Lady Ganymede or make our own way south. Personally the thought of walking along in close sight doesn't appeal to me. Today was too cold a day for us to go and get captured."

Reno nodded slightly, checking both angles of the road. "Waiting isn't much better."

"No," Creon replied, drawing a pipe from his pocket, muttering something and sticking it into his mouth and beginning to pace a stretch of the road. "No, she said she wouldn't be very long. Just had to nip off north for a bit to find the others. Not much of a mystery is it? Blaekus has the communication crystal that we need. As soon as we find him, or he finds us, we can get out of here."

Reno sat down on the grassy edge of the road and crossed his legs. Staring into the distance as if something was bound to show up sooner or later, he ignored Creon's insistant pacing.

"What did you tell them?" the court soldier suddenly said.

Reno glanced at him. "Nothing, bar the fact we're looking for a 'friend's father'. The guard who was taking notes was baffled."

"You know," Creon said with a puff of smoke. "It's highly unlikely we'll be able to continual our original plan now."

"Original plan?"

"Rescuing the Kazuki Emperor's father," exclaimed Creon, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "They're onto it now, it won't be as easy."

"So that's it, is it? Giving up just because a few more people have to die?"

Creon shrugged. "Whose side? Remember we are outnumbered severly. It's astonishing that Lady Ganymede managed to come up with something so fast and relay it to me so quickly. Of course, half of it was luck. I can't say we'll be as lucky after today."

"Luck was certainly part of it," responded the younger. "As is making the most of opportunities. If you are relying to heavily on thinking it is merely luck, I should say you'd only get as far as you are exclaiming."

"You speak wisely, but I'm afraid speaking wisely isn't going to help us now."

Reno sighed. "I don't suppose it would be too far from the truth to suggest that you're a pessimist?"

Creon shook his head. "Listen. This time tomorrow they would have narrowed who you were talking about down considerably, and put the remaining prisoners on high security. Especially if they think you've still got that weapon and you'll deliver it right unto them."

"Then we'll just have to rescue Blaine's father before then, won't we?"

"Sure, saying you're going to waltz into an Imperial camp and snatch one of their most guarded prisoners up from them is easy enough, but when it gets down to actually doing it..." He trailed off.

"Look, as soon as we team up again with Blaine, he'll have an idea."

"I have no idea."

"What?" Gradus moaned.

"That's just it. I have no idea where the others are."

"Surely you..."

"No."

"But maybe..."

"No."

Gradus sighed and took a few steps back, resting against the outside wall. It hadn't taken them any longer than three minutes to locate the hold where their weapons and clothing was stored, then a minute longer to escape thanks to Jere's wall-destroying tendancies. Now that they were out, they had no clues as to what they were to do now.

Jere spoke up, breaking the increasing silence. "The only alternative from waiting until we get a sign is contacting the rest of the court back in Ananke with this," he said as he held up his crystal. "And by the time they arrive we'd be unlikely to still be breathing, what with the monsters around here at night. We'd undoubedly be ripped apart by dragon fangs, or eaten in our sleep by killer snakes."

"You're a right little ray of sunshine, aren't you?" William said angrily, hammering his fist into his palm.

Luigi of the Pipes

They slept with their backs to each other that night, hidden deep in a giant tree somewhere in the blasted country of Voltaire. The soldiers hadn't come around for some time; they were no doubt preoccupied elsewhere, or might not have even noticed the prison break.

Gradus leaned over to mumble to Blaine. "Don't you have some sort of... uh... telepathy you could use to find the boy, Psycho?"

"Blaine," the other corrected. "I haven't used my codename since I became Emperor, Montague."

Gradus stuck his tongue out. "I prefer my codename, thank you."

Blaine nodded, then returned to the subject. "No, I didn't know Reno well enough to form a rapport with him, like I've done with Silver and Lio and..." Zel...

"How about your father, then?"

Blaine cast his eyes down. "I hardly know my father."

"You came running here to save him anyway."

"Well..." Blaine closed his eyes. "Let's see, then."

Father...

Kia Hala Yien slumped in his cell, bruised, his own blood staining the floor. He didn't care about the beatings. He was going to die soon anyway. The Evermore Tide had left him drained of life.

What a pitiful sacrifice. The life of a dethroned emperor for one of a hundred Imperial Lieutenants. And the bastard survived, at that. What a pitiful sacrifice.

Father.

The girl in the cell next to his tried vainly to comfort him, though he knew he should have been comforting her. She was only a child, after all. But still she was the one who tried to comfort, telling him lies about how she had come just to save him. About how she had even brought his own son to save him.

His own son.

Lies. It was too late to save Kia Hala Yien. His life was ebbing. Anyone who had ever used the Evermore Tide would die a mere week later. Four days had passed. The sun was rising on the fifth day. Lies.

Father!

Kia snapped upright, looking around the room. "Who calls me father?"

The girl slept soundly. The guard snarled in the corner. The word had not been spoken.

Kia closed his eyes, following the word with his mind, tracing it back to the ‘speaker'. A presence familiar, but altogether unknown.

Father. The presence seemed to grin. Tears welled in Kia's eyes.

Are you...?

I am Blaine Hala Yien, inheritor of the throne of Kazuki.

My son...

I need to know where you are Father. I have come to save you.

My son! Kia leapt up with joy. Death didn't seem so close anymore.

Father, there is little time. Your location.

My prison is just outside the capital. I am being held with a young girl in what the Inquisitioner called ‘the Special Interests floor.'

Who is the girl?

I do not know. She spoke of you, though.

We shall make haste to you, Father.

Kia grinned wide. Their connection had closed, but he held to the strains of the other's signature, caressing them like a father to an infant.

He turned to the girl in the other cell. She was watching him.

"I think I owe you an apology."

The girl waved it away and grinned. Kia grinned back.

"I found him," Blaine said, trying to hide sudden tears. "Just outside the capital."

"Must be the Nelin camp," Jere Blaekus mumbled from Blaine's other side.

Blaine nodded. "Lady Ganymede is with them."

Blaekus remained impassive. "Good."

"What shall we do then?" Gradus asked.

Blaine stared forward a moment, then shrugged and replied, "Sleep."

"Can't catch a wink with all that buzzing," Nebuchadnezzer grumbled.

"Sorry."

"Not you." The old man pointed toward the north. "Out there somewhere."

"It's an airship," William noted, squinting his keen eyes through the branches. "See it, Rodger?"

Rodger didn't look up from his sketchbook.

"I see it," Blaekus confirmed. "It blends with the night. I believe that it is the personal vessel of Dr. Robbins."

"Zel," Blaine scowled. "Where's he headed?"

Blaekus licked his lips, trying to keep his expression straight. "I believe... Ananke."

"What's he want with Ananke?" William asked.

"The hell should I know?" Blaekus grunted.

"Sleep, gentlemen," Blaine interrupted. "We have a long trek tomorrow."

But despite escaping the topic, Blaine's dreams were still haunted by Zel and the Reapers.

Psycho

The Blue Shogun III rocked gently over the sea. The crewmen were walking the decks of the vessel, going about their various duties and tasks. The elite Samurai guards kept lookout from stations about the decks, and even some up in the crow's nest. But three others stood at the front of the ship. Silver silently paced, muttering quietly to himself as Ian and Captain Mihashoo conversed.

“I can’t thank you enough for helping us Captain. How can I repay you for this great service?” Ian gratefully inquired.

“No thanks are needed," Mihashoo responded kindly. "If anything, I should thank you. It is our sworn duty to protect His Highness.

"My only concern is whether or not the story that we concocted will work. It seems sound, but I must question. You see, ever since Chang stole the throne from his brother Kia, the rightful Emperor, the people of Voltaire, being of the few who knew of us beyond the Storm Ring, have tried to keep on good terms. I’m not sure why. Most likely for tactical purposes. Attack routes and a strong ally and whatnot.” Mihashoo went on with a hint of anxiousness in his voice.

“The story itself is not in question here my friend, but rather if we are good enough actors to pull it off with at least some degree of success," Silver grunted. "I know Blaine. He’ll have told them he’s the Emperor, but not that Chang is dead. So Captain, your cover story of being sent here to kill Blaine and remove a potential threat is good.

"Ian my friend, it is up to us to pretend that we were captured and are to be traded for Blaine. It makes sense as well. For if Chang were still in charge the capture of us two would mean nothing to him other than as a possible bargaining chip with Zande.”

Silver spoke with an air of almost sagelike wisdom in his words.

Ian and Mihashoo pondered this for a few moments, then Mihashoo was the first to speak.

“I had always believed the legend of your kind Silver Strike, but I never thought that your intelligence would put those old stories to shame. Here you have never even met Chang, but your explanations of how he would have acted in this situation are right on. I met him many a time and I understood him better then most ever would, and that is exactly how he would have acted.” Mihashoo shook his head in surprise at Silver’s judgment.

“Yes I now see why Blaine values you as an equal rather than an animal. Though I have a feeling that something is troubling you, my friend. What is it?”

“It’s Blaine," the beast responded gloomily. "Our connection is stronger than ever, and he would rather die than put me in mortal danger. As such, he keeps leaving me behind these days. I don’t know why that bothers me; it shouldn’t, as in most of the incidents when he left me behind, it made perfect sense. Yet I still don’t think he should just left me like this.”

Silver lay down on the deck and began to gaze at the stars.

“I can understand that you feel like you’re no longer important to him anymore," Ian began. "That’s why you're in this fit state. I don’t blame you. I suppose I would feel the same way in your situation.”

Ian spoke kindly to the tiger, but his words were ignored as Silver was trying to talk to Blaine himself.

Blaine, can you hear me, my friend? I need to speak with you.

Silver, what is it? Are you in danger? Are you hurt? What is it? Blaine replied hastily.

No, it’s not that. It’s just that it bothers me to be away from you so much lately. ...This is so trivial, I shouldn’t have bothered you with this.

Come again? I didn’t hear that last bit.

I said that this matter is so insignificant that I should have just left it alone.

Insignificant? I left you behind so that the others could get in touch. Or in case your intellect was needed. And of course, for your safety and the security of the mission.

I understand. Silver glanced downward. Thank you.

Not a problem. Besides, you saved me from one of my least favorite dreams.

With that, the connection was broken and both fell into a sleep, one feeling relieved, one feeling a bit uneasy still.

Luigi of the Pipes

Aaron sat alone in the courtyard of the Rocsham Inn, gazing around at the flowers. They weren’t the prettiest flowers he had ever seen, and each one pleaded with him to give them all the wonder they deserved. He lifted his hand toward them to do just that.

A cold metal bracelet slapped around his wrist.

“Give me your hand.”

Aaron kept the other hand down.

“You are identified as Aaron Vidar Nyoran, Captain of the Gigyas Predator, which has been used to smuggle resources out of the Empire of Voltaire-“

“Actually no,” Aaron coughed, lifting his index finger. “That was my old ship, the Gigyas Prey. My ownership was, eh, thrown overboard.”

“Associating with known criminals of the Empire such as Odin Veriol, Freya Kiley, Thor Hanimar, Hoenir Malgam, and Njord Shrin-“

“What do you care about them? They’re all dead anyway.”

“And for escorting the fugitives Cid and Siddhearth Seamus, who have both funded Anti-Voltaire campaigns and allegedly formed an organization, of which you and your three associates in this inn are suspected members, that has been wreaking havoc upon the Voltaire settlements in the New World.”

“Oh please, I haven’t been to the New Continent in ten years.”

“Give me your hand.”

“I’ll do no such thing. I’m tending the flowers.”

The speaker backhanded Aaron’s face. He turned a glare on the aggressor, taking into note that he was dressed like a Cortez merchant instead of an Imperial soldier.

“Infiltration work. Nice.”

“Give me your hand.”

Aaron held his other hand up and felt the cuff snap around it. “Doesn’t matter, y’know. I won’t need it.”

Asura spread her brown robe out on the table in her room and rubbed a finger over the burn marks left in it during her spar with Phoenix. She crinkled her brow and scratched at them harder, trying to peel away the scars themselves.

Cure spells didn’t heal clothing like they did flesh, unfortunately.

Eventually she stopped scratching and just rubbed her hand over the material. She was never one to think about her appearance, but she still tried to keep the robe as clean as possible. It had been a gift after all, and it was only courteous to take care of one’s gifts.

Footsteps in the hall stole away Asura’s attention. She felt no concern at first, instantly assuming that it was Aaron or Ken or Fay, but Phoenix whispered feelings otherwise.

Stop, look, listen. These footfalls sound of aggression. Someone is coming to attack.

Asura nodded to her companion and hid herself behind the door. She hadn’t needed to go to the trouble though, as a loud explosion sounded in the corridor outside. The steps turned and started in that direction.

She stepped out the door and glanced down the hall. A Cortez merchant ran away to the sound, but the way he strode made it obvious that he was the kind of soldier that Voltaire employed.

She pulled out her bow, tried to target him, but her target area was too small for human eyes to aim. “Help me out, eh?” she mumbled.

Her eyes blinked red as fire for a moment, and when they cleared she could distinctly make out the point she wanted. She took aim again and fired. As the arrow flew, a small, fiery bird seemed to catch the arrow and guide it through the man’s shoulder, spinning him around. She shot another arrow into his arm to prevent him from attacking, then charged forward to knock him down.

The soldier yanked the arrow from his arm, then dropped it in shock as his palm flared with heat. Just enough distraction for Asura to tackle him to the ground. She managed to force his back against the wall, then quickly pinned his shirt in place with another arrow.

“Stay put,” she whispered, backing up and pulling a jar from her satchel. “These bees have a nasty sting.” She unscrewed the lid and left it loose on the opening, then set the jar on the man’s stomach and started down the hall.

He screamed profanities after her. She was used to it.

Further down the corridor, Asura found Aaron sprawled on the floor, staring vacantly at a still smoking hole in the wall beside him. Soot covered his face, which Asura swiftly wiped off with her sleeve as she cast a quick spell to revive him. “What happened?” she demanded as soon as his eyes had opened.

“Uhn...” Aaron pressed his fingers to his forehead. “Wicked backfire. Don’t talk so loud.” He looked up at her. “Nice tunic.”

“Shut up.” She’d left her robe in her room. “Soldier?”

“Yeah. He got away somewhere after I hurt myself.”

“Did they come for us?”

“I guess. Zel Robbins has been taking a considerable amount of interest in us.”

“Zel doesn’t use soldiers. He has his bodyguards to handle this stuff.”

Aaron nodded. “Must’ve been Zande, then. Or some other official. Word spreads fast in Voltaire.” He grinned. “We are the perfect super-soldiers nowadays.”

“Go get Ken and Fay. I caught the guy who came for me. We can find out more from him.”

Aaron pushed himself to his feet. “Alright, alright...”

Asura was already deep into her investigation by the time Aaron had returned with the remaining two members. He and Fay stepped to the soldier’s sides, with Asura in front of him, effectively blocking him off from his surroundings. Ken attempted to squeeze himself in as well, but eventually gave up and resigned to grumbling over his stature in the corner.

“He’s being stubborn,” Asura grumbled.

“Maybe he’d like to meet our friends,” Fay replied, a grin on her face.

The soldier snorted at her and cast his eyes down to the jar still on his stomach. Glancing back up caused him to jump in shock, a yelp escaping his throat.

Towering above him where the red-haired woman had been was a giant, flaming bird, its wings folding around to grab the jar before he tipped it over. To the left was a bulky, thick-muscled feline with two massive teeth that shot out from its lower jaw. To the right was a heavy swordsman, his blade held crossed over his chest, spiked helmet reaching to the ceiling.

He screamed again and covered his face, but when he peered through his fingers they were gone, replaced again by the humans.

Aaron shoved Asura aside and grabbed the man by his shirt, lifting him up to eye level. “Listen up now. We are well more than capable of taking out a whole platoon of you grunts. Unless you want to meet our friends in person, you’d better tell us exactly what you’re doing here, and exactly how many of you there are.”

“We came on orders of the Supreme Administrator Du Bou,” the other stammered, “to initiate a movement that would bring Ananke under Voltaire’s jurisdiction.”

“Du Bou?”

“Ultima Du Bou. He is one of five on the Imperial Council, the seconds in command of the Voltaire Empire directly under the Emperor himself. The Supreme Administrator is highest of the mages in the aristocracy class.”

“I know who he is! Why did he, or they, send you and not Zande?”

“The Emperor is a weak Emperor. He has, nor has ever had, any intention of expanding the Empire. He releases our captives into the City-States, and escorts women and children out of the cities that Sciencemaster Robbins has been assigned to...” He paused meaningfully. “Take care of. As the Supreme Administrator of the Council therefore, Du Bou handles all of our crusades and often passes them off as direct orders from the Emperor. Many times the Emperor frowns on us, in fact. We are hoping to replace him soon.”

“So what’s this about, then?” Fay asked. “I doubt you came here to discuss Ananke’s annexation with the Court over a cup of tea. Did you come to kidnap them?”

“Of course not. We came with secondary orders as well; we are to arrest any and all members of the so-called ‘Grundon Society of Polite Inquiry’ that we find, then bring them to Voltaire for examination by the Council, the Supreme Administrator in particular. He has read the files that Sciencemaster Robbins keeps about you, and is very intrigued by some of your skills.” The soldier glanced down. “He of course did not prepare us to deal with such skills.”

“Stick to explaining your primary mission,” Aaron grunted.

“Of course. We know that the Court has detoured itself at Cortez after fringing very closely on our airspace, but we also know that they wouldn’t all leave, and that at least one member is still here.”

“So if you weren’t going to kidnap him, what were you going to do?” Fay asked.

He grinned. “We came to kill him.”

“Good people, I implore you,” Uargo bellowed from the wide balcony overlooking the crowded streets of Spayarè. “Your loved ones in Estarè will die, yes. But there is no cure for the destruction that Voltaire has brought on them. Joining them will gain you nothing. If you invite the Empire into your home, it can only cause you more pain.”

The crowd hissed. A tomato splattered against Uargo’s ear. He sighed and wiped his glasses on his robe.

“I thought you said you were good at this,” Siddhearth said, stepping forward to pull Uargo back inside.

“I am ashamed to say that they are more close-minded than the very beasts I tend. Perhaps if you soothed them with a little composition.”

Siddhearth grinned. “ I usually make people pay to hear my work. Cid will get an idea and clear up this mess.”

Cid was sunken into a couch near the balcony doors, thinking over the situation. “This is not as simple as building an airship, brother. Have you tried music yet?”

“Oh shut up.”

The door into the room opened with an eerie creak. In walked a merchant from Cortez. “What’s this?” the man crooned. “Cid Seamus himself?”

They turned to regard the other. “You are from Cortez?” Cid spoke up.

“I hope not.” The man pulled a pistol from his belt and pointed it toward the plumper Seamus. “Cid Mycroft Seamus, you are hear by under the arrest of the Empire of Voltaire for such criminal actions as the funding and formation of illegal bands that have attacked unprovoking Voltaire settlements on the New World, and for associating with such known fugitives of Voltaire as Cullen Briganmir, Aaron Nyoran, Biggs Bellows, Ian Zarrier, Blaine Hala Yien, and Rupert Selby.”

“See here!” Cid shouted, jumping to his feet. “I am not under the jurisdiction of Voltaire!”

“As a matter of fact, you are. Your homeland of Grundon willingly submitted itself as a country of the Empire almost a month ago.”

“My roots are in Cortez! Can you not tell by my name?”

“Indeed!” Siddhearth added. “I ought to know!”

The soldier turned to him. “You, Siddhearth Sherrington Seamus, are charged with identical crimes.” Uargo began to speak, but was cut off. “As are you, former Ambassador Uargo Albert Predict.”

“Someone’s done their homework,” Uargo mumbled.

The soldier lowered his weapon and lifted a whistle to his mouth, giving it three sharp blows. “Where is the Court of Ananke?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Cid asked, his face red. “They are in Cortez.”

“We are aware, yes. But one member must have remained.”

“None.”

The soldier frowned. “Out onto the balcony, all three of you.”

“It is a brilliant plan,” the soldier beamed. “We kill the Court member before the assemblage in front of the House of Spayarè. Dressed as men from Cortez, they will immediately turn upon their former ally and request our support in seeking vengeance. All it took was the destruction of Estarè to get them riled up.”

“How many are there?” Aaron demanded, knuckles turning white as he gripped the soldier.

“Only two of us came to inspect this inn. We are inspecting the other inns in Spayarè as well, of course, and the brunt of our squadron should be moving through the halls of the House of Spayarè as we speak.”

“How many in total?”

“A platoon and a half,” he said with a sneer. “Thirty men. Eighteen are in the House.”

“I don’t like those odds, Aaron,” Fay mumbled, counting on her fingers.

“Are you doing this at Cortez, too?” Aaron kept on. “It’s the only other country that you can’t take over as you please.”

“Aha. We have a scholar amongst us. Yes, the Supreme Administrator was waiting for them to get stirred into a mob as well, which Sciencemaster Robbins reportedly handled with little trouble. The timing is a bit off, I suppose, if either is to realize that they both seek assistance from Voltaire at the same time, but I have faith in the Supreme Administrator to handle the minor details.

“In fact, at this very moment...”

“We cannot be expected to send an infiltration party to Voltaire on such a whim, especially with such a large number of our people clamoring about the events at Dracodore and how unity with Voltaire is our only option for survival,” King Bellows answered, shaking his fist at the assembled Court members. “You know what I speak of when I say the events at Dracodore, yes? When fire bursts from its chambers, it has been foreseen that the land of Cortez will fall to a great army of the north, unless we repent all of our transactions against that army and it’s land, and willingly enter their boundaries.”

“But what of Lady Ganymede?” a Court member, a one Rakmas Xilos, replied tensely.

“Kayth was a fool to get herself into that mess,” he answered curtly. “I am far too busy now trying to disprove the Dracodore legend to save a fool.”

Vicks, beside him, made a face. “Father, perhaps if I...”

“No! My decision is final.” He turned to the Court. “You must deal with your problem on your own. Your welcome here has been overstayed.”

“Your Majesty! You would throw away-“

“I said that-“

The door swung open, cutting Bellows off. An Ananke soldier walked in.

“Ah, what’s the matter?” Xilos asked, turning his attention like the pages of a book.

The soldier lifted a pistol and shot Xilos square in the eyes. Someone cried out. Vicks jumped to his feet, whipping his spear off his back, but Bellows caught his arm.

“Don’t do anything rash,” he cautioned, hiding his discomfort. “You’re all I have left.”

“Father...”

“Good Kingy,” the soldier chuckled. “Out to the balcony, all of you.”

“What about the dwarves?” Ken spoke up. Aaron dropped the soldier and moved aside for the diminutive figure.

“Dwarves? The dwarves are no threat. If those corpulent bastards think that they can hide from the rest of the world under all their little mountains, why should the Empire waste its time on them?”

Ken pulled his shovel out and pointed the spade into the man’s nose. “I’d watch your tongue, fool, unless you want an early grave.” “Let’s go,” Aaron interrupted, grabbing the soldier’s arm and hoisting him up. “Asura, we...” He turned toward Asura, but she was gone.

“Ah, yeah,” Ken explained. “She ran off as soon as we heard their plan for the leprechaun.”

Aaron nodded. “Let’s go.”

“The alliance between Cortez and Ananke is shattered!” the soldier bellowed at the crowd, firing his gun into the air. “When we find the Court, they will die!”

The people shouted in fury, most trying to barge into the House. The doors were held strong by more soldiers.

The leader turned to Cid. “I ask again, where is the Court?”

“And I say again, none remain!” he huffed in reply.

“Then perhaps you need something to refresh your memory.” He turned the gun on Uargo and cocked the firing device back.

“No!”

“Mr. Seamus!” Uargo cried, eyes darting to the sky for something, anything he could motivate into helping them.

The sound of a gunshot startled everyone. Uargo clasped his heart, then realized that he was fine. The soldier was sprawled on the ground, wriggling in pain.

Siddhearth blew the smoke off his gun’s barrel. “Get inside.”

Zel walked into his lab, humming some tune he’d had stuck in his head the past week.

How aggravating...

He looked around. “Dove dear, where’s the...” He stopped, eyes spotting movement at his chessboard. One of the pieces was rattling. One of the enemy’s pieces. That could only mean one thing...

Grinning, the scientist stalked over, taking a seat on the side with the action. The piece shaking was of a tall, gaunt fellow brandishing a revolver. A soldier pawn was positioned perfectly to ‘capture’ him. “Ha ha! The fun never stops!”

“He’s armed!” someone in the crowd shouted, pointing up at Siddhearth. “He’s one of them! Cortez bastard!”

“That was not a man of Cortez!” Siddhearth called back. “He was a Voltaire infiltrator, come to assassinate the Court and accuse Cortez of the crime! This is how Voltaire seeks its ‘coexistence’!”

The crowd didn’t listen, but rather decided to prattle on about how evil he was or search themselves for a weapon that could reach him. The composer cast his revolver aside and tried again.

Cid and Uargo fell back out onto the balcony before he could, pushed in by another set of soldiers. Two rushed to retain Siddhearth, but stopped as they heard their leader rasping.

“He’s armed! He’s armed!” the soldier gasped between his shallow breaths. The soldiers immediately backed away.

“Shoot him!” someone cried.

“With pleasure...” another responded.

A soldier lifted his gun to bear on the composer.

“Siddhearth!” Cid shouted, struggling to aid his brother.

The gun cocked.

Siddhearth turned toward it.

The gun fired.

“Pop goes...”

The soldier slid forward on its own, taping the other piece closer and closer toward the edge of the board. It paused a second, then with a final push shoved it off the table and onto the floor.

“The Weasel!”

The piece rolled to a stop. Inscribed on the bottom was the name.

SIDERTH.

Masamune

The shot fired. There was screaming, yelling, and cries. The man on the balcony fired a misdirected shot at his attacker before falling. Cid and Uargo tried desperately to catch him, but he fell and fell...

Of course, it was not enough to kill him. But the mob surrounded Siddhearth and continued to press towards id and Uargo. The two were forced to retreat in the building as two guards closed the doors behind them. The guards had caught the attacker and had his hands bound. He lay on the ground glaring up at his captors like a caged animal.

Cid was short for breath and still shocked at the events. When he finally came around, be looked up at Uargo. On the old man's hand was a bird, which he seemed to be communicating with.

"What are you doing?" Cid cried.

The bird flew out through a window as Uargo turned to Cid, "Warning Jeice and the others. Pray that we are not too late."

"What about my brother!?" Cid retorted angrily.

"Dead," one of the guards interrupted. "He was hit in the chest. If the bullet didn't his heart, he'll be dead before we could extract him from the crowd... granting they didn't drag him off."

Cid collapsed into a chair, "I don't believe this..."

"There's no safe place on the planet now," Uargo replied. "No safe place..."

---

"What in blazes are these things for?" Cullen asked in frustration as he looked at the clear or he had in his hand. "Sure it makes a lovely fish bowl, except you can't put anything in it!"

Jeice agreed, "I don't see what these have to do with getting the Water Crystal..."

"Are ye daft, laddies? We be needing these orbs to go underwater!" Lagnon answered.

Cullen, Jeice, and Karolie felt their jaws drop. 'We're going underwater? Why!?" Jeice exclaimed.

"Ach, you didn't very well think a Water Crystal would be sitting all pretty like on some shrine for you to fetch and be on your way, did ye?"

"In a word, yes," Cullen replied.

"Nay! The guardian, he be a sea-faring feller. So put them orbs on, laddies and lass."

"Er, like I said... it's solid all around," Cullen noted.

"We'll get to that later, first ye may want to drop the coats and what have ye, it'll slow ye down," Lagnon replied as he tossed off his hat. He then pulled his boots off, his socks, coat ad undercoat, leaving him in only his overalls.

Jeice did the same, tossed his hat aside, pulled off his tattered cape, his coat, and his tunic. He then removed his boots until he was only in his pants. Cullen went down to about the same and had a bit of fun flexing his muscles compared to Jeice's smaller stature and Lagnon's gut belly. However, Karolie was not as willing to do the same.

"Listen, we're going to be underwater. Don't be so modest," Jeice admonished. "Besides, it'll be nice to have some dry clothes to put on when we come back. Listen, if you want to stay behind, that's fine."

It won't be that easy... hissed a voice in Karolie's ear.

"No, I'm going still."

Karolie ended up in her chemise and petticoat, much to Cullen's disappointment. After all, she reasoned. Even if she was being forced to do it, she was not going to let someone like Cullen enjoy it.

"So, the orbs?" Jeice asked to end the awkward moment they all found their selves in.

Lagnon chuckled and held his orb in front of him. He placed his hands on either side of it, his fingers separated. The bottom of the orb seemed to glow as Lagnon lowered it on his head, until the bubble surrounded his head.

The other three quickly did the same, except Cullen, who ended up hitting his head on it before getting it right. "Well, we look like a set of four fools," Cullen noted.

"Well don't plan on taking those swords with ye, lad."

Cullen glared, "Why is that?"

"Quite useless down there," Lagnon walked over to a rack of tridents and harpoons. "Jeice's spear will work quite nicely, the rest of ye will need one of these down there."

Cullen reluctantly set his swords aside, "I can't help but feel I'm leaving the best part of me behind."

"Great, I guess that means we're getting the worst part," Karolie replied sarcastically as she grabbed a harpoon.

"Why I oughhta-"

"Please! Calm down," Lagnon exclaimed in frustration. "For now, I'm the leader of this little venture and I won't tolerate none of that."

"Good, then let's go," Jeice replied. "I think we've wasted too much time already."

Jeice jumped down in the small pit of water first, the others soon followed... not that he noticed. He was instantly caught in a powerful current that carried him for longer than he cared to remember before being deposited on the floor of some underwater lake. Soon enough, Lagnon, Karolie, and Cullen followed.

"So, where now boss?" Cullen asked as he looked over the large area they were in.

"At this point, we explore," Lagnon replied.

"I was afraid of that," Cullen muttered.

Jeice pointed ahead, "There's a cave just up there, we should probably check there first."

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Cullen grumbled as he looked around. "There's something down here with us..."

"And I'll bet it isn't our Spirit friend," Jeice replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if Zel doesn't have our old friend Kraken causing mischief down here."

"Then lets move fasters, laddies and lass," Lagnon replied. "I've got enough wrinkles as it is."

---

After a long swim, they finally crawled out of the water. After several encounters with electric jellyfish, freezing eels, and blind sharkmen, they were utterly sick of fish. However, the harpoons and tridents had come in very handy.

They had exited in a cave after much trial and error in the underwater lake. Aside from a few treasures they had found in the caves (mostly jewelry), they had wasted most of their time swimming and battling. Fortunately this cave looked as if it would not branch off.

The four of them soon took the orbs off their heads and sat down for a moment to catch their breath. Jeice fumbled around in the dark and found a suitable piece of wood for a torch and soon set it ablaze with a weak Fira spell.

"I'll never eat fish again," Cullen growled. "Unless it's for vengeance."

"I'll never wear a dress next time we go swimming, either," Karolie grumbled, since it turned out her clothing were not exactly ideal for getting wet. At all. "Maybe Fay has a better sense of style."

"Don't be so glum," Lagnon replied.

"At least the swimming is over," Cullen said.

"We still have to go back," Karolie snapped.

"Or keep going, if this is the wrong passage again," Jeice noted.

"Is pessimism a prerequisite for these excursions?" Cullen replied sarcastically. "Besides, we got a leprechaun, besides I got a good feeling about this cave."

Lagnon merely snorted and stood up to continue leading the way. The others soon followed him. As it turned out, Cullen was right. The cave soon opened up to a large cavern about five hundred feet around and the ceiling a good thirty feet up. In the center was a large perfectly cubical stone. They could see writing inscribed on it. The leprechaun quickly ran over to read it.

"'To my dear daughter Sara' it reads," Lagnon started. "'If you are reading this, then the events I long feared have come into play. The day of the moon's lunacy drove the villagers mad in what seems so long ago and now your brother is dead or a pet experiment for the mad experiment of Zel Robbins. You have no doubt discovered that among the documents I gave you upon our separation contained the secrets of the crystals and the map to the crystal you have come to claim. Only a child of mine may enter this place, but do not go alone. For the way ahead will not be easy.' ... and it is signed Eric Heimdall..."

"The last of the four crystal guardians," Cullen noted.

Lagnon turned back to the group, but was shocked to see that Jeice's face had gone pale. "Are ye alright, lad?"

"Eric Heimdall... he was my father..." Jeice said slowly.

"Eh!?" Lagnon replied. "I spoke about Heimdall before! Why didnae ye say something!?"

"I thought it was a different Heimdall," Jeice replied. "It had to be..."

"Even after I said Eric Heimdall!?"

Jeice's face reddened, "It's been so long, I had forgotten the names of my father, mother, and sister... but I never forgot what happened on that day... there is no questioning this. If this is true, my sister may have exactly what we need to find the Dove."

"One step at a time, lad!" Lagnon exclaimed. "If that's the case, hopefully the Spirit guarding the crystal will recognize you as Eric's son."

"Hopefully," Karolie mumbled.

The other sides of the stone had no markings, except for the bottom on the other side which read simply: Zepharos Enquos

They reached the other side of the large cavern and entered a dark tunnel that continued for a long time until they could no longer see the cavern they had previously been in. It was all darkness until two bulbous, yellow orbs suddenly appeared.

"... son of Heimdall... Gilgamesh... Fenrir... and companions..."

Jeice had his spear ready in a second, "Who's there?"

"... I Zepharos Enquos..."

Lagnon raised an eyebrow, "Aye, we saw your name before... ye must be the trouble Eric wrote of."

"... you are wise, leprechaun. None shall meet Tritoch..."

"You seem the reasonable sort," Cullen interrupted. "What say you stand aside, we snatch the crystal, and we'll be on our way?"

"Son of Heimdall... you are not the one I expected... then it is true you defeated Tefra the Blood Ogre and the chimeras at the Temple of the Fire Crystal..."

"Word travels fast," Jeice replied. "It's true, what of it?"

Another ball of light appeared and it appeared to come from the hand of the speaker. He raised the hand above him and the light traveled to the ceiling and soon began to glow brighter, until they could see the one who spoke. It was a strange wizard of sorts, only with the head like that of a squid. It reminded Jeice of Kraken, only far wiser and noble.

"A mindflayer," Lagnon noted. "I thought ye all died ages ago."

"Nothing ever dies completely in the ocean..." Zepharos said. It was then they noticed his mouth did not move.

He was speaking telepathically.

The strange wizard then raised both hands and in a bright flash of electricity, summoned four trident-wielding sahagins at either side. They all hissed at their enemies and reared back as if ready to pounce.

Cullen, Karolie, Jeice, and Lagnon quickly readied their weapons.

"... at last it shall be repaid.. an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This is the way of the world..."

---

"Whew, keep breathing. That's the key, breath..." Ken told himself as he ran after the others.

"Hurry up, Shrun!" Aaron called over his shoulder.

"We dwarves aren't built for marathon racing!" Ken complained.

Aaron looked ahead and was surprised to see Fay aiming her gun. Some ways in front of her was Asura, readying another arrow to fire. Three of the Voltaire soldiers had the misfortune of running into them. Aaron and Ken soon caught up with the two.

"This isn't good," Asura said as the others arrived. "Someone's been shot."

Ken raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

Asura cringed, "One of ours."

---

Jeice put his foot on the Sahagin's head and pulled his spear out of it's limp body. Cullen, Karolie, and Lagnon had finished off the other three. Zepharos stood calmly in the middle of the combat, watching it all with a strange disinterest.

"...as I thought... you fight well, son of Heimdall... but is your mind honed for this..."

Jeice blinked, then suddenly noticed his companions were gone. He blinked again. Brigid, Jinn, and Lugi!? He instantly lunged at Jinn, intent on avenging Biggs and Wedge. Attacking like this did not seem right though, something was not right... why was he so enraged?

He tried to draw help from Gilgamesh, but realized to his horror that he felt a strange emptiness. He could not contact his spirit, though his magic abilities seemed to be still functional.

---

Karolie dodged the blow from Zel and swung her trident at it. He tried to attack her with his own spear, but with no luck. She could not help but wonder why the fighting style seemed so familiar. Or exactly why he was even her and fighting in the first place.

---

Cullen jumped away from Brigid and aimed a low attack at Lugi's head, who promptly ducked away and launched furiously at Zel. With renewed resolve, Cullen shouted a battle cry and was once more in the fray. They would all pay for this. He'd make them.

---

Lagnon was at a loss. He'd never been in battle with the imperials before and was at a loss at why they were so intent to kill him. But regardless, he found himself without a weapon and running away from several blows. Perhaps dealing with angry mobs was not as bad as he thought it was.

---

Jeice found himself caught in battle in a fierce battle with Brigid. Dodging a blow from her, he stepped back and was surprised to splash in water. He had not noticed before, but this particular cavern also connected to the underwater lake. They must have taken the long route. He swung a blow at her, but she used her staff to dodge it.

He tackled her to the ground, both of them losing their weapons in the process. He had her pinned down, but then she flipped him over surprisingly and pinned him to the ground. This happened a few times until Jeice suddenly felt his hair wet. Brigid had him completely pinned this time, but that was not what had him shocked.

He happened to look to his side, but did not see Brigid's reflection. His eyes suddenly widened. So this is what the mindflayer meant about the mind being honed. Jeice mused.

---

Karolie grinned as she looked down. She finally had Zel where she wanted. Finally it would be over. But then something happened she did not expect. He pulled his hands free and grabbed her head. Before she could resist, he pulled her into a kiss.

She was about to slap him a good one, when she suddenly realized it was Jeice. He had a bemused smile on his face as he pushed her off and stood. Before either could say anything, they saw Cullen chasing Lagnon around the cavern in what vaguely resembled cat and mouse. Jeice quickly apprehended Cullen and Karolie grabbed Lagnon. They soon realized what was going on as well.

They all turned to face Zepharos, who regarded them with emotion. Cullen stepped forward angrily, "What are you trying to pull, making us fight eachother coward!"

"... you have all done well. Come son of Heimdall, you and your companions may now pass..."

"And what of you?" Jeice asked.

"We will meet once more, at the appointed time," the mindflayer replied. Cullen rushed forward to tackle him, but the strange wizard vanished seconds before he made contact.

Suddenly they heard rumbling, as two stone doors began to slowly open ahead. Despite how dark it was, they could see the Water Crystal glowing faintly ahead. At last they had succeeded.

Ditto McCloaker

Readied by their past experiences for something like this, the four proceeded without hesitation through the massive stone portal into the Water Shrine.

The chamber was as massive as the cave before it, only now the walls were carved like the interior of a temple. Massive arches streamed down the walls of the massive circular room, like the legs of an all-encompassing spider. Light filtered down from the ceiling; at the top of the dome where met the arches was a wide portal opening. Dark and green above it were the waters of the giant lake above them.

In the center of the Shrine the floor gave way to a massive bowl, filled with clear, sparking, absolutely still water. Over the water shot out a fiery prism in all directions, as the light filtering through the lake above hit an object suspended over the center of the water.

The four exchanged looks. Lagnon and Karolie were stuck on how to get to the crystal, as there was no bridge. Jeice and Cullen, however, became aware of a stirring as the Great Spirits within them began to stir.

Waste no time, there's none to waste,

Jeice felt his legs propelling him forward.

Advance forward, go

Karolie and Lagnon hung back as Jeice advanced and Cullen swiftly headed around to the side of the pool.

and address him by name...

"Tritoch," Jeice found himself saying, in a voice much deeper than his own.

In a flash, it happened. A cloud of pure prismic light swept up from the pool and converged, and whooshed around in an arc in the air above the pool, and then it was golden, and then it spread out again, and it took a solid shape. The fourth Great Bird spread it's wings before them.

Tritoch had the body of a massive bird, the tail of a serpent, and a flowing, rainbow-colored headdress. It's massive wings flapped without the creation of wind, and the Spirit's body hovered over the Water Crystal protectively. Its massive head swung around, gazing down at Jeice, and then around at Cullen, as though surveying familiar messengers.

Karolie and Lagnon remained at the entrance, unseen observers witnessing the spectacle, neither so much as entertaining the thought of interference; the air crackled with immediacy, and they knew not to interrupt.

And it was over amazingly quickly. After hovering steadily in the air for a few tense minutes, Tritoch's head lifted, and it's body straightened. The entire chamber shuddered. Presently, the air grew colder; a fierce wind roared around the chamber. It concentrated in the center, and the water in the great pool became ice; with a loud cry and a powerful rush, Tritoch launched itself upward, crashing through the domed ceiling. The water, instead of flooding down into the chamber, instead froze as Tritoch soared up through it.

Up above, to the watchers at the banks of the lake, the water suddenly exploded upward, and then froze in midair, and the ice spread outward some distance from it, such that there was now a majestic crystalline funnel rising up from the center of the lake, and emerging from it was a grand creature of awe-inspiring description and size, which disappeared over the horizon within a minute's time.

Deep down within the cave, the wind had not ceased to roar, and even around the edges of the pool, the wind was near chilling. It was like a vacuum, and all four felt themselves sucked toward the pool in the center. As they dived into the bone-chilling water, there was a great surge upwards, as the water became a waterspout, propelling them upwards through the icy hollow tunnel which led up above the surface of the lake. And there, the surging waters propelled them through the air, and down they plunged, like stones, into the waters of the lake above.

---

An hour later, after the last of them resurfaced near the shore and rejoined those waiting for them, the last glass helmet was removed, and they were wrapped in thick blankets before a roaring fire. The four were silent; Jeice and Cullen staring hard into the fire, the Water Crystal between them. Karolie and Lagnon were silent too, looking at them. None of their saviors on shore pressed them, despite their wonder at what they'd witnessed from the shoreline. And then, finally, Karolie spoke.

"...What did it say?"

Jeice looked up from the fire solemnly.

"...That there's no choices left."

The ones who had brought the four all exchanged anxious looks at this cryptic pronouncement.

"The crystals can't be allowed to be dispersed any longer," intoned Cullen.

"He was furious."

"Enraged."

Jeice glared into the fire. Because of him, there was no telling into which hands the real crystals would fall into. Both sides had some, but it was impossible to know which hand held all the cards.

"The crystals have to be brought together, and kept... away." Karolie and Lagnon nodded.

"The Wind and Fire Crystals are safe away with Psycho and Reno, and-"

"No." said Jeice, his face snapping to theirs instantly, his voice hard. "They've got to be gathered together. NOW."

Karolie sputtered, "But, how can we-"

"We're not," said Jeice, simply, and again stared hard at the fire. "Tritoch's taken the matter in hand."

---

Somewhere, far to the north, Blaine Hala Yien and Reno Lupus traveled separately across the land of Voltaire, much closer to each other than they knew. The wind was calm.

And then there came a great wind, and a storm came from nowhere. The trees swayed violently. The emperor and the boy emerged from their protective forests into the wild spray of rain. The clouds were tossed, and lightning flashed around them.

The boy pointed upward, and tried to shout over the roar to his other companion. High above, the moon had turned blood red, and seemed larger against the dark sky. From the other direction, the storm surged toward them.

At the beginning of their voyage, the boy and the king had contended with an uneasy stirring from the Great Spirits with which they shared their bodies, but this had quickly subsided. Of late, in fact, the two had felt the stirring of their internal spirits gradually cease and become nearly inert.

As the storm pressed on, however, they began to feel the stirring again, but this time, uneasy, and unsettling. The storm continued to surge, feeling almost as if there were two storms, raging at them from opposite directions, and in the midst, the two adventurers found themselves together again and felt the desperate thrashings of the Spirits.

And at the peak of the turmoil, the moon seemed to have a face of it's own, gazing intensely at the violence below. And from the swirling clouds of the storm came fleeting visions of some massive flying thing, like a great golden bird controlling the storm.

And at the last, the two felt their spirits rip from them, launching as if borne aloft by the storm's winds, confronting the hungry moon.

And when the calm returned to the land, the humans were nowhere in sight, and the twinkling night sky was unblocked by a single cloud, and the moon, distant and yellow, had retreated to lick it's wounds. Ronin and mage were returned to their separate companions, and the event passed over them as if a dream.

The mission failed. By daylight, the lone crystal that Tritoch had managed to take would be brought to the Water Crystal. The other remained safe still in the protective clutch of Blaine Hala Yien, who, as its guardian, had been able to resist Tritoch's bid.

The crystals of the Enemy remained to be taken.

Psycho

Blaine was awakened only three hours after his chat with Silver. He checked the light of the moon to determine how far away the sun still was... with Quetzacoatl's help. It would not rise for some four hours still. Sighing, he carefully got up and got out his Bo. He slipped the knife-blade attachment on the end and went out hunting.

An hour or so later he walked back to the tree, a large couerl-like animal slung over his shoulders. He set it down and began to skin the monstrous creature. After skinning it, Blaine put a pole through it and set up a fire to roast the beast. Another hour later his companions began to awaken. Some sat down to talk while the rest went to get fresh water or safe herbs and other seasonings for the meal.

Reno awoke to the smell of fish cooking and saw Cransen roasting a fish over a smoke-free fire. He stretched and decided to try a conversation.

"So, do you think we'll find the others?"

"I have little confidence in that young emperor friend of yours. We'll probably have to go rescue him... and the others."

"I see..." The mage grimaced at the insult toward Blaine, but took it in stride and continued. "Well, what say we follow the river? Won't that lead us to the capital?"

"Yes, it will lead us there. But a good deal of the area is open fields. We'd be spotted for sure."

"Oh..."

"I suppose we'll follow it until it leaves the forest, and can plan from there. You know that the odds are we'll be found out before we get there."

"Yeah. God, can't you try to be a bit more optimistic? For my sanity sake at least?"

Cransen gave him a look. Reno nodded as if he expected it and shut up.

"This is good," Gradus commented between mouthfuls. "How did you pull off the kill, anyway?"

"It wasn't easy to peg him while he was running. This panther ran a good fifty meters with my weapon still in his neck. I'm pretty sure he was running on sheer spite then..." He snorted at the remains of the carcass. "It was a direct hit nonetheless. If we had the time, I'd tan the fur to make a nice vest and jacket." He grinned. "Out of spite." He took a bite out of the leg he was holding. "Yeah, if we had the time we could make jerky out of the rest," Nebuchadnezzar said matter-of-factly, as if he knew exactly how to do it and everything else there was to do in the world. "But it looks like we'll have to leave the scraps for the scavengers."

Soon they had all had their fill and were on the move again, when William brought up the topic they had been avoiding. "How are we going to get to the Capital? I mean, the river leads there but after a while it'll leave the forest and we'll be in the grasslands. Easy prey for troops with serving equipment."

"True, but the field division isn't up this early. Heck, aside from farmers not many people are." chirped in Rodger, trying to lighten the mood.

"I doubt it. They'll be up and looking for anyone, half asleep or not." Gradus commented. "We should just follow the river and go from there. Above all else, we must be quiet."

The sun had finally appeared when Blaine again stopped the group. He nodded to Gradus, and they both bent to the damp forest earth and placed their ears to the soil.

"There's one..."

"Two."

"There's two of them about three hundred meters... I'd say at ninety degrees from us," Blaine reported . "I'll go check it out. I have a feeling it's trouble, but I can only hope I'm wrong." He disappeared into the underbrush.

After hiking for about four hours, Reno stopped walking. "I have a very odd feeling," he mumbled. "Like someone is following us."

"Doesn't surprise me," Cransen grunted. "There are all kinds of creatures in these woods, most that don't fear men. It's probably just some Ahriman eyeing us down."

They had stopped a bit later for a drink when they both heard leaves rustling. The duo froze for a moment, then whipped around with their weapons drawn. With shocked expressions they lowered them again.

"I can assure you two that I'm no trick of the light," Blaine whispered, clapping his hands on their mouths, necessary or not. "Good deduction back there. I had just got into earshot when you began to speak." He lowered his hands. "Follow me and I'll lead you to the others." They nodded and sheathed their weapons, then followed him.

Another hour had passed when Blaine, Reno, and Cransen rejoined the rest. They all sat down to rest and talk.

"I take it that introductions are in order," Blaine grinned, glad to see things going smoothly. "This is my old training partner Gradus, a fellow student of Keero Lio. He's a master with any weapon, but as you can see he prefers the double-headed flail." Gradus nodded politely. "The one to his right is Rodger Skies, a very special sort of magician. He paints a picture, it comes to life. A Pictomancer, if you will." Rodger waggled his brush at them. "To the left is William Wood, an expert archer. And also we have Nebuchadnezzar, a former noble of the Imperial Council."

"Used to be the Supreme Overlord," the old man nodded. "I had it all... ‘til they let that Mateus Noman guy take over..."

"This is all well and good, but we need to solve the problem of crossing the grasslands to get to the camp." William interrupted pessimistically, twirling one of his arrows.

Reno grimaced. "Can't we just cross that bridge when we get to it?"

"If you want to get caught again. They don't go so easy on second-time prisoners."

They kept going despite William's foreboding, and by noon they were near the end of the forest, well-hidden once more and trying to discuss possible plans and strategies.

The Blue Shogun III was speeding along at a good clip. Voltaire's shoreline was in sight. The crew had arranged an appointment with the Imperial Council.

Everything was to plan.

"We'll dock at the port within the hour," Mihashoo announced to the crew. "Then we'll be escorted to the Capital from there. Everyone assume your characters." Silver and Ian nodded. They were put into chains and made to look as if they were beaten and sickly.

"This had better turn out well, or we'll be swinging from the gallows," Ian noted.

"True words my friend, but I'm sure that they'll fall for our story," Silver replied smoothly. "All it takes is a little acting."

Luigi of the Pipes

"The Water Crystal will be the gathering point," Jeice explained, paraphrasing everything Tritoch had told him only an hour before. "Whoever has it will get the five other crystals as well when they are brought to him."

"Five?" Lagnon asked. "But there aren't..."

"I created doubles of the Wind and Fire Crystals while still in our possession, to make sure that we would still have as many as Zel when he stole the originals. Tritoch is willing to crush the doubles to ensure that nothing goes wrong, but doing so would release a great deal of magic. Restraining it will weaken him something fierce, so he'll need a host." He looked at Karolie. "You, Siddhearth or, if he can survive it, Uargo."

"What about Ken?" Karolie replied, shivering under her blanket.

"We don't even know why Ken is with us. It's probably best if we don't bog him down with all this trouble we've been going through."

"That's all the crystals, then..." Karolie sunk in on herself. What good was a spy when there was nothing else to find? "There isn't some fifth element we're missing?"

"I've heard tell of metal being an element," Cullen nodded.

"I'm trying not to dwell on that possibility," Jeice mumbled. "We need to head back before it gets too late."

"Aye," Lagnon agreed. "I hope they managed without me."

"It's getting late, Mister Seamus."

Cid pressed his face into the palms of his hands, drowning Uargo's voice out. Drowning everything out. He had started the society as a way to voice their displeasure with the Empire. He hadn't wanted it to go this far. Neither had Siddhearth.

Siddhearth...

"We can prepare some beds for you," a guard spoke. "We've caught all the infiltrators that we know of."

"No need. I couldn't sleep if I wanted. We should wait up on our companions."

"Very well. I, ah, I apologize for not arriving... soon enough."

"Your apology is accepted. Some things are just beyond anyone's control."

Cid let his hands drop onto his knees. A tear dripped off his nose.

"Poor bastard," the soldier continued. "I can't believe Cortez would do this."

Cid got to his feet and stalked up to the guard, grabbed his tunic with one hand, and smacked him across the face with the other. "Cortez!?" he screamed. "You think this was Cortez's fault! Voltaire killed my brother! Only Voltaire, and its damned Emperor!"

"Mister Seamus!" Uargo exclaimed, moving to calm the other.

Cid growled. "Maybe you're one of them!"

The guard lowered his face, then looked back up with a grin. "Can't fool you." He jabbed a gun into Cid's gut. "Put me down." Cid did as he was told and backed away, shocked into silence by the truth of his accusation. "Your brother died because he pushed his luck. Don't do the same. Gather the rest of your ‘society' and surrender to the Empire."

"Jeram!"

The guard spun toward the voice. "Vetudo?"

The soldier, Vetudo, was standing in the door, with another, larger man next to him. He lifted his gun and started to voice a threat, but the big man swung his fist toward the floor. It rendered to his will and shook, knocking Jeram off his feet. He was quickly surrounded by three others, a dwarf and two women, while the big man grabbed Emerl's arm and dragged him up to Seamus.

"Sorry it took us so long to get here," Aaron apologized. "The mob was hell to get through, and the guards were reluctant to let us in."

"No worries Captain," Uargo replied. "Your timing is impeccable all the same."

"What happened here?" Asura interrupted. "Please tell me that this group is still intact." Uargo cringed and took on a sober tone as he turned to her. Cid collapsed back into his chair, face hidden in his hands.

Asura scanned the room, but Fay beat her to the question, voice quavery. "Siddhearth...?"

Uargo nodded slowly, moving forward to close the door. "Siddhearth."

They headed back to collect their clothes and weaponry, the men who had been generous enough to provide blankets and strike a fire following them. There were ten in total, each one smartly hidden behind the hood of his robe. A part of the way there, they were interrupted when a small bird came flapping up to Jeice, cawing for his attention. In Uargo's voice.

"I bear a message to Jeice Apalocks and company from Uargo Predict," the bird crooned, picking at itself.

"I am Jeice."

"Master Predict wishes to inform you that you cannot, under any circumstance, return to the House of Spayarè or the city in general, especially not when Advisor Clovet is with you. Situations have arisen which will prevent it from being safe. If you return me to Master Predict with the location you intend to remain at until morning, they will come to meet you as soon as possible. There is one particular matter they must speak to you of... in person."

A chill went down Jeice's spine as the bird gave the message, but he nodded and directed him to Lagnon. "He'll know of a place where we can stay."

The bird nodded its head and fluttered over. Jeice stared after it, afraid to guess at what the "matter" might be.

They gathered their belongings without further incident and started toward the inn that Lagnon had designated. They hadn't thought to bring any money, but the leprechaun promised that it wouldn't be a problem.

"I've a bit of magic myself, y'know," he explained. "I'm not a financial advisor for nothin', aye?" He picked a leaf up off the ground and held it out to demonstrate. "Watch." As they stared, a gold hue slowly spread over the leaf, starting from where Lagnon held it between thumb and pointer finger.

He handed the yellowish leaf to Cullen, who cautiously bit into it. "This is real!"

"Aye. Gold magic. It's a rare brand, but it's pretty effective when yer short on cash."

They kept moving, the men still following but at a greater distance than before. Karolie alone noticed another robed guest who had decided to follow, focusing on him rather than her companions. He's coming for me... I'm no use to him anymore... Gotta get rid of me before I squall his scheme...

I'll show him.

She stopped. Her companions walked on a ways, then turned back to her. "Somethin' wrong, lass?" Lagnon asked.

"Zel is here."

Cullen walked up to her, anger on his face. "Again!? Bloody devil!"

"Where at?" Jeice grumbled, pulling out his spear.

"I don't know. But he is."

Cullen glanced back at Jeice a moment. "How would you know?"

"Because..." Karolie shuddered. Lich was drawing near in the corner of her eye. "It's because I'm... his spy. He's following me to get the crystals. I led him here... and now that all the crystals are found, he'll..."

The men gave her shocked looks. Cullen went red before she could finish. "You're a traitor!" He stalked up to her. She stepped back, worried she'd bump into someone. This wasn't what she had expected... "You're no different than Fay! Never trust a woman!"

"I had to! You don't understand! The Reaper... Lich... I was only a child when I made the deal! Only five years old! I didn't know better! I didn't realize it would come to this!"

"Rubbish! How we supposed to trust you anymore?!"

"What about you, then? You worked for Jean! We still trust you!"

Cullen froze. The group of men stiffened, but went unnoticed. Lich had seemingly disappeared. "I... I needed to find my sister..."

"Your sister works for Zel too!"

"That's diff–"

"I couldn't say anything! He'd have killed me! And Aaron!" She fell to her knees, tears welling in her eyes. Cullen backed away, suddenly nervous. "I failed! I failed him! I failed everyone! I'm dead!"

Lagnon stared at her, utterly confused. Jeice put a hand on Cullen's shoulder. "Let me take over." Cullen cleared his throat and nodded. Jeice crouched down to face the girl. "You were right. We don't understand. All along... ever since you met us?"

Karolie nodded, streaking tears from her eyes. "I didn't realize what was happening until that night in Valekryie. And by then I was too late." She sniffled, trying to gain composure. "It was so long ago, and now I'm trapped. He is going to kill me."

"The Reaper?"

"The Fiend. Lich."

Jeice squinted. "Uargo mentioned him to me. He's been following us this whole time?"

"Me, mostly."

Jeice nodded. "What does Aaron have to do with it... him? Is he only connected through you?"

Karolie bit her lip. "How else do you think he got your magic?"

Cullen cracked his knuckles, realizing that the situation was well beyond him now. Jeice turned the statement over. He had managed to forgive Aaron for that transgression, and while he knew that the Reaper meant something in the deal, he hadn't known how much. He knew now.

He had forgiven Ian. He had forgiven Aaron. He had forgiven Fay. What was one more?

Jeice offered his hand to Karolie. She took it and let him lift her up. "I won't let you die. None of us will." He cast meaningful glances at the other two, then turned back to Karolie. "Alright?"

She nodded.

"None of that means anything now. You're still with us, just like Fay and Cullen. You're still one of us."

She nodded again and embraced him in a hug, then, to both of their surprise, reached up and kissed him. She backed away quickly, cheeks turning red. "Just... paying you back for before." A hint of a smile crossed her face, but faded again. Jeice nodded slowly, carefully, hiding a blush of his own. Cullen and Lagnon shook their heads and mumbled, "Show girl..."

One of the men grunted. "Honestly, she could do much better than Jeice Apalocks."

Psycho

The group was still pondering when Blaine held up one of hands. "Silence. I hear something. Listen carefully, and you just may hear it too."

"What are you-" William started, but then cut himself off as he began to hear the sound. It was close by.

Day and night we toil. Our blood, sweat and tears moisten the soil. This is not fantasy. This is our reality. You see us and feel pity, yet it is empty. How we long to be free.

Down through the years we have had great fears, yet none as bad as this. Our bones are almost dust, our sprites are nearly bust. This is our lot in life. What did we do to deserve this kind of strife? What a horrible life.

We are the children of the corn. Born to tend these fields day and night, using ever bit of our might. The scars on our backs never fully healed. This is it, our fates are sealed. Would, oh could someone hear our plight? Lest we live till the bitter sweet end.

This is not the life for our children. If it would protect them, we'd hide them in a hill then. If you think this life is rough, try being a mother, it affects us like no other. To us how rough our kids are treated makes us feel defeated. On our backs, we'd take lashes. We'd even make bids if they would spare our kids.

Oh how our hearts are aching, for the women's backs are breaking. We feel as if we are forsaking our sons and daughters. To this pain the Imperials are the authors! For we are the ones who broke the law. So snap our necks and whip our backs! For all this we will take, to keep ache from our wives and children!

Old man Neb was our liberator, but for all we know he's in the incinerator. He lived our life. Joined in our strife. He had us on his mind. And as are our lives, you'll find now he is gone, gone, gone...

"Hmm," Gradus mumbled. "Sounds like the Empire isn't as kind to its citizens as it claims." He turned to the others. "Now that we know there are prisoners out there, we also must assume that someone is keeping track of them. How are we going to knock out the guards and then convince them to help us?"

"Convince them to help us?!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted, jumping forward. "I can't! They go through enough as is!"

"You're the liberator they spoke of?" Blaine whispered, waving the elder quiet.

"Obviously. Who else do you know with a name like mine?"

"All I have to do then is take care of the guard." He got to his knees and crouched low in the grain to avoid detection. He crept through the field and stopped his approach some ways behind the nearest person. His weapon came to his hand, and after peeking to be sure he had found the right target, a single solder looking over the farmers, he took aim. The fool turned his face to the left, about to scold someone. There was a loud clang, and the guard fell to the ground with a dull thud. The prisoners quickly gathered to the scene. The guard was unconscious on the ground, the left temple area of his helm caved in a bit to make a shallow cut on his scalp. The offending object lay on the ground.

"What happened? Who did this?" they muttered quietly. Two of them pushed forward, and Blaine recognized them as two of the Court members. He elbowed Blaekus with the question.

"Mars Dolen and Efeg Hirich," the other answered. "Two down, two to go."

On cue, Blaine and one by one the rest emerged from their hiding places. Nebuchadnezzar had his arms crossed, glaring at Blaine for what he knew was gong on. Dolen and Hirich grinned, moving to join up with their companions.

"My friends and I heard your song of sorrow, and we decided to help," Blaine said, hoping to keep the people at ease until he thought they would trust him. "My friends and I hope that you can trust us. We mean you no harm."

One, if not the oldest of the lot, hobbled over to the former Council member. "You... you're Nebuchadnezzar! What happened to you? Why didn't your bill pass?"

"Oh, there's plenty of time to explain, my friend. Have a seat and..." The others turned their eyes on the old man. He sighed and closed his eyes. "My companions and I need to get into the prison, or else Sciencemaster Robbins will do harm upon their friends." He sighed. "You do not have to if you do not want to. In fact..."

"We know how to get you in, but you'll have to start from the pantry on the third floor," The elder replied helpfully.

"Then let's do it," Nebuchadnezzar replied grimly.

An hour later, ten bags of grain were left in the pantry. One by one, feet popped out of the bottom of each bag and pushed themselves upright. They tossed the bags aside and dusted themselves off.

"We split into two groups," Cransen said, taking charge of the situation. He turned to Neb. "Which floor will the special interest prisoners be on?"

"Top floor. Common sense, my boy."

"I'm not your boy."

"Gradus, Rodger, William, and I will take the left hallway," Blaine interrupted. "Hopefully we can distract the guards, then meet you at the top. Nebuchadnezzar can take you five up to Tril-- ah, Lady Ganymede and my father. If we don't meet you within a quarter hour, get out."

"I'm not leaving you," Reno grunted.

"No choice." Blaine tussled his hair. "Don't be so typically young."

Luigi of the Pipes / Psycho

One quartet slunk down the corridors. They came to a stairway with a guard, who drew his sword in greeting. Before he could strike, they surrounded and knocked him into unconsciousness with their own weapons.

Bo, flail, bow, brush.

They skipped up the stairs, thankful that they had knocked out the only guard. The next stairwell had a guard like the last one, and the odds proved too great for this fellow as well. He was out even before he hit the ground.

Bo, flail, bow, brush.

Blaine's bo bent as he smashed it against the man's steel helm. He scowled and put it away, keeping the knife handy to attack. As had become the pattern, each stairwell had only one guard, and they continued without incident. The guard at the next set of stairs had an extra trick up his sleeve, however. He lifted a whistle and let out a loud bleep.

Knife, flail, bow, brush.

"Great!" William shouted once the guard was down. "You wanted a distraction? That was a Bangaa Whistle he blew."

"So?" Blaine asked, grabbing the soldier's broadsword.

"They're bringing in the officers. The elite soldiers. You have brought damnation upon us all, great emperor."

"Still your tongue, Wood," the emperor replied. "You knew this would happen as soon as you entered this jail."

"I had no–"

"Ah, cork it Will," Rodger grunted. "At least we'll go out good."

William kept his glare on Blaine. "We should at least try to escape."

"Ridiculous. I've been waiting for this very moment. Now they won't be able to find the others. Look, the old man made his sacrifice letting the prisoners help us. You make yours. Lady Ganymede is infinitely more important than you can grasp."

William shook his head. "The best archer of this age for a girl? I doubt..."

"Prepare yourselves!" Gradus snapped, turning to the hall. "I hear the click of their feet." The other three turned to the hallway and made a solid line, weapons braced. From the passage came fifteen warriors, fearsome Bangaa with very sharp swords. They stopped and stared the four down.

"Look, lizards," Blaine mumbled.

"Look, ninjas," one of the Bangaa replied.

Blaine went wild and lunged at the group, swing his sword around to deal a death blow to the speaker. Gradus ran up after him, while Rodger and William backed away. The former waved his brush in the air and generated a Thundrake, then followed it into the fray.

The samurai had cut a swathe through the scaled ranks by then and come out behind them. He struck the closest one down, then jumped aside as the yellow dragon let out a spray of electricity into the carnage, attacking both friend and foe. Blaine had escaped, but Gradus had not. He collapsed to his knees along with two other Bangaa. One of them, seeing the opponent weakened, mustered his strength and drove his sword through Gradus's back. The monk's eyes went wide, then he collapsed.

Blaine howled and leapt at the crowd, but they had turned their attention to the Thundrake and Rodger. A few well-placed blows turned the dragon into dust. Rodger fell with his creation, the attacks far too much for him to handle as they struck relentlessly. The glances of Rodger Blaine was still able to see told him that the artist wouldn't be getting back up.

He was about to shout again, but William beat him to it, finally letting loose with his weapon. It was too little, too late. While one or two Bangaa fell, the rest of the arrows wedged harmlessly into armor or thick cloth. They surrounded the archer and felled him in the same way as Rodger.

Finally finished with the first three nuisances, the remaining group turned to finish the job. As if he'd never been there, the samurai was gone. They searched the room briefly, picked up their wounded, and split up to find him.

Blaine let go of the ceiling and dropped to the ground, then collapsed to his knees. Honorless swine... you should have died with your friends... He crawled over to Gradus and turned him face up. Dead. Completely dead. Blood stained the wound. "Montague..."

"Mr... Mr. Yien," William grunted, trying to push himself up. He couldn't find the strength, so he rolled to face the other instead, eyes hollow. "How could you let this... happen?"

"I don't... I don't know. I went too far. I'm... I'm Psycho." He shuddered. "I really am Psycho." He buried his face in his hands. "I didn't expect it to go this far. I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry," Rodger slurred, not even attempting to move. "It's better than being stuck in that prison..."

"Is it?" William grunted.

"It is. We'll be famous. Sneaking into the most guarded prison in... in Voltaire." He turned his face. "Take my sketchbook. Spread the pictures. Make me famous..."

"I will. I–" Blaine crept over and rolled Rodger onto his back. Dead. He took the sketchbook reverently and stuck it in with his bo.

"Fool," William groaned. "Waste... of a good... arch..." Dead.

Blaine rose to his feet slowly, pulled out his sword. Coward. He nodded. Honorless swine. End it now. Save a shred of dignity. He nodded again and turned the sword around to point it at himself, grazing his stomach with its tip.

Reno came stumbling up a stairwell on the other side of the hallway, Nebuchadnezzar and the others following. The boy called out for Blaine to follow, then disappeared up the next set of stairs.

"Right behind you..."

He thrust the sword.

"We almost there?" Reno panted, looking left and right as the others caught up.

"This is it," Neb wheezed, grabbing his knees. "I don't think I can go on..."

"You can. Left or right?"

"Left."

Reno nodded and ran that way, rounded the corner, and slammed into the chest of a human guard. Two more ran up from behind as the first drew his weapon. The boy jumped back and shouted out "Firaga!", then hurled a great fireball into them. Two fell, but the farthest jumped through and knocked the boy down. Cransen and Hirich ran forward and quickly subdued him, while Blaekus and Dolen helped Reno up. They skipped over the remaining fire and continued down the hall, Nebuchadnezzar panting along after them.

Two more guards were standing in wait, but before they could do anything they fell to sharp blows on the head. "Right here," Blaine croaked, waving them forward. He turned to the cages along the wall. "Hello, Father." There was no reply.

Blaekus and Dolen set Reno down, then strolled over to the cell. "Lady Ganymede!"

"It's about time," the girl scowled, then grinned. "Thank you all."

"What'd they want with you?" Reno asked, testing the strength of the bars.

"It is because I am the Guardian of the Fire Crystal, and something about a man named Crism."

Reno nodded and fumbled sheepishly in his pockets. "I, uh, I gave the crystal to you, right?"

"No..."

Blaine waved them quiet. "Worry later. We still need to find our last two members."

"Bordoon and Fkoud, yes," Trilphy agreed.

"What if the guards send out an alarm?" Cransen noted. "Every prison in the country could be expecting us."

"You leave that to me," Nebuchadnezzar wheezed. "I knew from the start what I was gonna do if we did come into here. Now I'm gonna do it." He pushed himself upright. "Get them out of there and get as far out as you can. Make sure all the prisoners are away from here too."

"What do you intend to do?" Reno questioned. "You can't keep all these guards quiet. Or any!"

"I told that fellow that I used to use some magic. Let's see if I still can, eh?"

"Neb..." Blaine started, but was waved aside.

"Don't get me started. Just go."

They nodded and pried the cages open. Kia was weak and needed to be carried, but Trilphy still found herself capable.

"Make sure there's no prisoners inside, if you can," the old man said as they started out. They nodded and made their way out. By now, the guards had all moved away from the stairwells in search of the fugitives, so they were able to slip out easily.

When they left, they heard the old man, his voice booming into the clearing despite his old age:

Dying breath, Light my blade, And sing in shadow...

OMEGA!

The building was, for only a few seconds, encased in a bubble. Like Ultima, Reno noted, only black instead of white. Then it exploded, raining down around them. They ducked the stone shrapnel, traded uneasy glances, and headed back into the woods.

Luigi of the Pipes

He was distracted. There was no denying it.

Zel sat back in his chair, trying to concentrate on his situation. The fourth crystal had been found. He had done nothing to get it for himself. Not now. Not when Lich reported the spy's discovery.

Why?

He could have easily. Kraken would have no trouble with the wizard and his friends. Nor would the Leviathan child. Anyone who sees Leviathan loses courage and falls to the ground, after all. The moon begged him, pleaded with him, even tried in its lunacy to make him go and collect it. Complete the set. Find the Dove. Take absolute control over the world.

End the world, if he pleased.

But he had done nothing, save send Lich to collect the spy. He would not be able to collect the crystal himself; it's nature hid it from his gaze. Yes, all he was doing was bringing the spy here. The Epsilon project was far over-due, and at any moment Zande could come and force him to cancel.

Blasted Zande.

There had to be some reason why he hadn't pursued the crystal, though. Maybe it was the other three. Maybe it was the fact that two of them...

The walls collapsed around him; the roof fell to his right. The sky took on a surreal, gold-and-purple appearance. The massive Tritoch floated toward him, waving his tail back and forth... back and forth...

The fact that two of them were fake.

"You!" the doctor snarled, jumping to his feet and jabbing a finger up at the monster. "You did this!"

Hello... Balder.

"My name is Raiden! Raiden!"

You'll be happy to know that your father survived the stunt you had Ramuh pull.

"I could care less about my father. He has sided with mortal flesh, and an utterly disgusting specimen of it at that. Now my uncle... my uncle would never have done such!"

Your uncle is banished to an eternity inside his stone prison. And you were to be with him.

"But I am not. Speaks highly of me, yes?" He clenched his fists. "Get to your point, foul beast."

I want the crystals.

"How did I guess? Here's an answer for you... no! Next you'll be asking me to surrender Palidor too!"

The wind picked up, tearing the room apart. Too bad for you that you do not have a choice in the matter. The three crystals lifted from the rubble and floated toward Tritoch. Zel lashed out and grabbed the nearest, yellow earth. Thankfully, the only real one.

"I have every choice in the matter. Jonas! Ghastra!"

Two men rose from the rubble, turning their fury on the spirit. The first, Ghastra Grondea, was greatly dwarfed by the other, Jonas Gelgonde, who stood nearly twelve foot tall and stooped under his own weight. Thanks to his fusion, of course.

Mortal flesh?

"You surely know of my experiments. Chupon may not interest you, but Titan was once an Aesir, yes?"

Monster.

"Hmm... yes, I suppose you are." He waved to his servants. "Dispose of this nuisance."

Gelgonde leapt forward while Ghastra notched an arrow in his bow. He pulled back and let it fly, using Chupon's wind to fling it at Tritoch faster than any bullet. The arrow hit the bird's wing, then Gelgonde's fist came down on the other with a shattering crunch. Tritoch collapsed to the ground.

"I see that you recently defeated my uncle in battle."

This is true...

"I also hear that it wasn't a fair fight. Three to one? You ought to be ashamed."

Gelgonde backed away from the bird and used Titan's earth to try and encase him. Tritoch sprung into the air and fluttered out of their range.

"The odds will backfire on you now. Omega!"

A third man rose from the lab's rubble, his appearance giving Tritoch a chill. You would carve your uncle's face on a man?

"There's much more to it than that. Bahamut. Finish him."

Omega walked toward the bird, hands held casually at his side. Tritoch backed away from him slowly, filled with apprehension. The man lifted one hand, and the next thing Tritoch felt was indescribable pain causing his body to spasm and erupt from the inside out. His vision was darkened, but he vaguely saw the Omega, a strange fire wrapped around his hand that had somehow spread to the bird. Zel, too, was standing there, holding a vial ready to capture him. Tritoch fought through the pain, snatched up the Wind and Fire Crystals, and took to the sky with all his might.

He turned only once, and delivered a final message. You will regret your actions someday Balder. Repent while you can.

"It's Raiden!"

Zel slumped down in his chair, grumbling over his misfortune as the lab magically rebuilt itself, as if Tritoch had never even been there. Gelgonde, Ghastra, and Omega disappeared back into the room, along with all of his other projects. The Earth Crystal slipped from his hand and rolled along the floor.

The sun rose.

The sun set again.

Zel remained in his chair, for no reason in particular. Dove moved through the room with Hugo, making him more comfortable with footstools and pillows while also keeping their eyes on the mischievous Jinn. The other four; Lugi, Brigid, Ghastra, and Gelgonde, kept to themselves. Omega was nowhere to be seen. One of the pieces on his chessboard rattled, but returned to an upright position. Lich appeared some time or other, but he hadn't bothered to see what the fiend was doing.

As the moon appeared in the sky, Zel felt its presence in his mind. "Here I am," he acknowledged. "What do you call me for? . . . Weak? Who? . . . Me!? I am not– . . . It's just easier to make them do it! I can't be– . . . It has nothing to do with my father. I would be more than willing to kill him and his host in your servitude . . . My sword? Of course I've used it recently. My hands are callused with its use! . . . Glitnir? He gets three square meals a day. Don't you start lecturing me on how to take care of my . . . How can you say that!? I am nothing if not your most loyal servant! Even Diablos cannot compare! . . . No, it is not my fault that Diablos works against you. He does so unwillingly . . . Kill him? He is your friend! Just because I, because he is trapped within a mortal? . . . Here!? Ian is here!? . . . With the Council, I see . . . Carbuncle and Quetzacoatl too? I shall send Omega to neutralize them at once! . . . Me? I have to do it? But . . . But uncle . . . But I . . .

"Yes. Yes, I shall do it. The blade of Raiden shall sing once again!

"Really? You noticed?" Zel felt his hair. "Yes, it has been in need of a trim . . . Why thank you! Speaking of you, have you lost weight?

". . .

"Yes, yes of course. I'm on my way. This just might have been the perk I've been looking for!"

Zel pushed himself up and moved to the nearby coatrack. He threw his coat off, hung it, and grabbed a set of body armor. He threw it on, pulled on his helmet, and tightened his sheath. He drew the sword Kvasir, watched it glisten in the light, then stalked to the door.

"Dove! I'm going out! I'll be back before dinner!" He charged out the door and ran for the stables.

Blaine and Reno led the group through the forest as they escaped the prison. No one spoke. The losses had been heavy already, and they still had no idea how to find their last two escorts. When they came to a clearing, they decided to rest for the night, with Mars Dolen taking up the first watch.

Barely an hour had passed when he came running into the clearing, crying out for their attention. "Something's coming toward us! Our escape was not as clean as we thought!"

"Blazes," Blaine mumbled as he drew his stolen sword. The forest came alive with the sound of other swords drawing. They all turned to where Dolen had seen the disturbance, and gaped as trees went flying to the left and right with a single swipe of their pursuer's sword. The galloping of hooves filled their ears. The emperor counted no less than six steps for every stride.

A horse and rider burst into the clearing, the horse a monster with six legs. Reno yelped, recognizing the beast from Aaron's brief encounter in Valekryie. Blaine too shouted, immediately realizing who the rider was. He started toward the villains.

"Zel Robbins! Fight me!"

"Ho! Glitnir!" the doctor cried. "The might of Raiden is revealed this night!"

---

Cullen turned to the man. "What makes you say that? You know Jeice or somethin?"

The man laughed. "Far long than you, dear Cullen." He threw back his hood.

"Jean!"

"Jean?" Lagnon asked.

"Jean!"

Jeice and Karolie turned away from each other, scowling at their misfortune. Jean's laugh continued as the other nine strangers tossed their hoods back, revealing his crew. "I should call you a deserter," the wizard said, "but I suppose I did allow you to leave. And you've done so well getting me the Water Crystal."

"I did?" Cullen lifted the blue crystal.

"Oh, rest assured you did. And it just so happens to be my favorite color." Jean lashed at Cullen with his whip, wrapping it around his arm. He tugged the viking forward and plucked the crystal from his hard hands. "Thank you, truly. Adieu friends, adieu!" The whip slacked.

"You just hang on a second!" Cullen said. He pulled on the whip, bringing Jean back close to him. "Well, you're more arrogant than I thought! What makes you think you can just get away with that?" He snatched at the crystal. Jean hid it behind his back.

"You're poorly outnumbered this time, and I know quite well that Mr. Clovet there doesn't have a fighting bone in that diminuitive frame of his."

"Psycho was outnumbered too."

"Ah, then let's just say that you're not the only ones with friends from high places."

Cullen backed away. "So you kept him, eh?"

"Kept him?" Jeice asked. He walked up to Jean. Gilgamesh gave him a thought. "Oh... I see. That jealous of me, huh? Had to get one for yourself?" Jeice adopted a mock cocky stance. "It's to be expected from the likes of you, I suppose."

Karolie and Lagnon traded glances. Jean seemed to fume where he was standing. "I was going to save this conflict until Tritoch had returned with my crystals, Apalocks." He cracked his whip, freeing Cullen's arm. "But you have challenged my honor. Gentlemen! Leave the wizard to me!" He looked at Cullen. "And if you are a gentleman as well, perhaps you'll take eight opponents upon yourself and leave the lady only one."

"Ian Zarrier, former aristocracy, you are charged and sentenced to death for crimes against your country and government, a list of which shall be read at your hanging. Do you have any last words for the ears of the Imperial Council?"

"I would like to point out that I have served in the Imperial Army for over fifteen years, including two wars, and am under Act Seventeen of the Imperial Statement thus a veteran, who is therefore allowed to choose the prison where my execution is held, so as to be near my relatives." Ian sighed. "Though I am sure that you'll call me false."

Supreme Overlord Mateus Noman shifted in his seat. "The Council is aware of your... situation Zarrier, and willing to acquiesce to your request. However, recent jailbreaks at Felion and Altras require us to execute you here at Nelin with your 'friends', where safety is not in question."

Ian scanned the faces of the five on the Imperial Council. Mateus Noman... Ultima Du Bou... Adrammalech Fangea... Exodus Niero... Famfrit McDoogle... "Odd that you are concerned with the safety of a dead man."

"He means our safety, Kupo," McDoogle said.

"Of course." Ian grinned to himself. So did I.

Ian rode with three others, crewmen from the Blue Shogun III. A caravan of carriages was transporting them to prison Casuma, where they would pick up transfer prisoners and return to Nelin the next night.

"Is it working?" Ian asked.

A crewman spoke up. "The guards who know of the Grundon Society were convinced that we are the members. The Council was not, and the soldiers were still sent to Ananke to capture them."

Ian shrugged. "It was worth a try."

The Blue Shogun III had docked at Voltaire and promptly surrendered. Ian, Silver, Mihashoo, and the crew, after convincing the soldiers that they were the semi-feared Grundon Society, were taken to the Imperial Council for the typical screening of prisoners. So far, only Ian was sentenced to death, though Silver's temper had brought him very close.

The doors of their carriage opened and the guards tossed two men inside. "Enjoy the company, Master Zarrier," one of the guards said. Ian faced his toothless grin without humor. The guard slammed the door shut. "Next stop, Manun!"

The men got to their feet, then sat down on the bench. "I've seen you two before," Ian said.

The looked over at him. "Zarrier... Ah, right! You were at Cortez a few days ago, right?"

"Same time as you. Members of Ananke's Court."

"We are Bordoon Zetse and Fkoud Resi."

"Did the entire Court come with you?"

"No. We stole an Imperial ship. It was Emperor Yien, the boy Lupus, Lady Ganymede, and six of us. The rest returned to Cortez on our fortship."

"Before you ask," the other said, "we don't know where they are. What brings you here?"

"Following you. Emperor Yien and Reno forgot to mention that they were leaving."

The men traded glances, then looked at Ian's bound hands. "Our apologies, then."

"Yes. You do owe me a complementary dinner after this."

The caravan passed through other prisons and approached Nelin the next night, just as expected. The soldiers gave few opportunities for them to relieve themselves, and they found sleep impossible on the wooden benches in the wagons.

The caravan came to an abrupt halt. Ian and his companions, now numbering twelve, fell toward the front of the wagon. Chocobos snarled and warked. Over the sounds of the birds, Ian heard the soldiers.

"What in the name of the goddess happened here?"

"As if I should know. Go get the prisoners. They'll be beaten for this, I'm sure."

Boots scuffed the ground. The soldier started toward the wagon, but suddenly let out a yelp and flopped onto the ground. The prisoners froze.

The doors flew open, revealing an ugly man with a club in hand. "Welcome gents, to the Republic of Nelin!" Two other men jumped into the carriage and pushed them out. The other carriages were likewise emptied. "So what brings you to our humble infant country? Thievery? Murder?"

"Treason," Ian said.

"Ah. Well, better grab your goods and keep moving. Nelin can free prisoners, but can't harbor them. We're low on food supplies."

Ian held out his arms as two men worked to remove his shackles. "I'd say that this is fair trade."

---

Jean’s horde was upon Cullen before he could so much as pull his sword. Jeice turned to help, but Jean stepped up and pushed him to the ground. “I’m not playing games, Apalocks. If it hadn’t been for you, I would have graduated from Colnelia’s school.”

Jeice pushed himself back up. “Get over it.”

Jean turned furious. “If it hadn’t been for you! I would be respected among the highest wizards! I would be treated like a master Blue Wizard, not some vagabond mage!”

“Would it help if I said I was sorry?”

Jean glared at him. “No.”

Jeice scowled. “Does it help then that I’m tormented day and night by one damned thing or another? That I had to watch two of my best friends die because I was too inept to save them? That so many times I’ve just wanted to throw myself to the Reaper and be done with it? I’m suffering enough without your help.”

“No, you’re not.” Jean drew his saber. “Not yet.”

“What do you want, then?”

“The crystals. The Dove. Maybe even your head on a platter.”

“Sounds a bit extreme.”

“Not if you keep getting in my way.”

Jeice picked up his spear. “You can have it then. But not if I get yours first.”

“Don’t let him get out!”

“I’m not!”

“Grab his arm! No, the other arm!”

“Let go of my arm!”

Cullen punched one of the crewman across the face. No sooner had he than another stepped in and returned the blow, then added one to his stomach. He collapsed as the air left him. Fenrir was calling... calling... calling...

“Got ‘im!”

“Good shot!”

Someone put a foot on Cullen’s back and pressed him into the ground. “It don’t feel right to kill him. He was a damn decent guy when he was working for us.”

“Let’s say we just throw him back in the water where we found him the first time.”

The others nodded and exchanged a few quick jokes about the affair, then lifted him on to their shoulders. Cullen struggled as his strength returned, but they held him tight.

Karolie and Lagnon stepped in front of them, brandishing rapier and rod respectively. “Halt!” the girl said. “Take not one step closer to that water.”

The men laughed. “Little girl thinks she can take us on?” One of the men let go of Cullen and drew his weapon, a scythe. The others continued past them.

Karolie grimaced and shot a quick glance around for Lich. “Go help Cullen, Mr. Clovet.”

“If ye say so, lassie.” Lagnon chased after them.

Karolie charged the man, but he dodged to the side and swung his weapon as she passed. She cried out and stumbled to the ground, clutching a cut on her shoulder. He started toward her, but she turned and stopped him with a wide-eyed stare.

But I’m only a girl... You’re such a mean... big, sensitive, strong, handsome gentleman.

He felt color rush to his face and walked toward her. “I’m sorry. I know better than to hit a...”

Karolie swept her legs into his, knocking him to the ground next to her. She jumped up and grabbed his weapon, then hit him hard between the eyes with the handle. He blacked out.

She flipped her hair back. Being a woman had its advantages.

The fine mythril of Umbriel’s spear did not relent to Jean’s saber, regardless of his fury. “You’ll pay!” he snarled. “When you’re dead and the crystals are mine, my might shall be recognized by all!” He slashed again and again. “I think the first thing I’ll do with the Dove is destroy all the Red Mages and Wizards of the world! They’re worthless anyway!”

Jeice kicked him in the stomach, sending him back. “You’d make a better player than a magician, you know. Such drama!”

“Poison Claw!”

Jeice fell back, holding his green wound.

“You may have me as far as strength goes, but there’s more to this than strength.” Jean grinned and touched the wound, rendering Jeice paralyzed. “Blue Magic is by far more versatile than Red Magic. It’s just harder to learn because of the fickleness of monsters, you see? Angel Whisper.”

The scratches sealed themselves just as they had opened. Jeice lifted his arm to inspect. Jean grabbed it and twisted, causing Jeice to yelp.

“Idiot.”

Lightning formed in Jeice’s hand. He snapped his fingers, catching Jean in a ball of electricity.

“So prideful.” Jeice stood. “That’s all you care about, being better than everyone else. Well, I’m glad that my coat is patched and my shoes have holes. That my versatility makes me worse than everyone else. It's better than acting like you.”

Jean scowled. “Who are you to judge? You’re an upstart! A waste of breath! You’re an uneducated little runt who steals the glory from the deserving upper-class man, and then has the gall to pretend that he didn’t even want it!” Jean stood up and stared into Jeice’s face. “You, Monsieur, are a hypocrite!”

“Say what you like.”

Jean glared at him. “Taste and see my fury.” He opened his mouth, releasing a cloud of green poison into Jeice’s face. Jeice backed away and batted at the fumes. Jean licked his lips, spit out green saliva, and wiped his mouth. “I truly don’t see how Malboros can stand the aftertaste...”

Cullen fought them, only prompting more blows meant to still him. Lagnon struggled to stop them, but they paid him no mind. Two of the men took Cullen by the arms and two took him by the legs. They swung him toward the water.

“Un… deux…”

“Put him down!” Karolie appeared between them and the ocean. The men laughed and threw Cullen anyway, knocking her over with him. Their weapons went flying.

They rolled back to their feet and ran into the group, wielding nothing but their fists. The men attempted to move away, but found their boots suddenly heavy. Looking down, they saw that a good part of their equipment had been turned into gold, weighing them down considerably more. A giddy laugh filled the air as Lagnon ran for safety.

Cullen caught one with a hard punch that pushed him into another. Karolie caught a third unaware and stole his weapon, a now golden mace. She promptly dropped it due to the great weight. It landed on the soldier’s foot anyway and sent him hopping back for cover.

The men had recovered and gathered around Cullen again, this time beating on him much harder than before. One stepped aside and caught Karolie by the throat, lifting her off the ground. “Little girl thinks that she’s better than us, eh? She thinks she’s got us on the ropes? Well…”

Enough of this!

The cry startled everyone into stillness. Tritoch descended into the area in an aura of blue, his talons clutched around some glowing matter. He didn’t spare them a glance, but continued to drop toward Jeice and Jean. The man dropped Karolie and walked back to his fellows, who had stepped away from the semi-conscious Cullen. They exchanged a few words determining whether to stay and finish Cullen or go help their captain, and decided to stay.

They turned first to Karolie, as Cullen was barely upright anymore. Then they yelped at the sight of her. Or rather, they yelped at what was behind her.

Karolie pushed herself up and grimaced. “Come at last.”

Enough…

Jeice punched Jean’s stomach. Jean backhanded Jeice’s face.

Stop…

Jean sent 1000 Needles into Jeice. Jeice set Jean ablaze with Fire.

Boys…

Gilgamesh struck at Jean through Jeice’s spear. Jean’s spirit blocked Jeice through Jean’s saber.

Enough of this!

Tritoch fell to the ground with a mighty quake, clutching several crystals in his talons. His chest smoked with a cooling flame, and many of his feathers were scorched. Son of Heimdall, I…

Tritoch paused, looking back and forth between the two. Forgive me. I was not aware that you bore a twin.

“Wha…?” Jeice look at Tritoch, then at Jean. He saw himself instead, lifting the Water Crystal for the Spirit to see.

“I don’t. It’s one of those Simgot monsters. I was just destroying it.”

Ah. Let me help you. Tritoch lifted his foot and brought it down on Jeice. Jeice caught it on raised arms and tossed it aside with Gilgamesh’s help. Tritoch hesitated. Impossible. Nothing can impersonate a Great Spirit, especially not a Simgot. Nothing except… Tritoch turned to Jean, uttering a foul shriek. Coyote!

“1000…”

Tritoch swung his wing down and knocked Jean over. His illusion faded along with his half-cast spell. The Spirit Coyote appeared next to him.

Tritoch, so good to see you again. Visited my cousin lately, did you?

Fiend! Horrible trickster!

Polite as ever. You must admit that I’m still better than Kappa, though.

Tritoch bent to peck at Coyote, but he disappeared again as quickly as he had appeared. Jean got to his feet and glanced at Jeice. “Once again you win on a technicality, Apalocks. But at least I get to keep this.” He raised the Water Crystal. “We’ll meet again!”

Jean turned and ran for the horizon. Jeice looked at Tritoch. “Won’t you go after him?”

I cannot. I no longer have the strength. He may keep my crystal… for now…

“It’s one of those Reapers!”

“What do we do?”

Lich leaned down and caressed Karolie’s shoulder. She flinched, feeling her strength fade.

The men looked at the sight. “I say we leave it the girl and go. There’s Jean.” They backed away, afraid to stir the Fiend into action. Karolie grimaced even more as they turned and followed their captain away.

“Here we are together again, dear.”

Her throat swelled. Tears began rolling off her eyelids. “I’m not ready to die.”

“Die?” Lich pulled her to her feet and turned to look at her. She flinched at his gruesome face. “Who said you were going to die… yet?”

“She’ll die over my sword!” Cullen said. He stood and walked to them, holding his weapon shakily. “She may be a spy, but I won't let no innocent creature like her fall to some monster like you.” His sword glowed with a red fire. “Let’s see how well you burn!”

Lich sighed and set Karolie down, grabbing the mace she had stolen earlier. He reared back. Cullen flinched. The mace hit his chest in a flash of sparks, sending him flying. He landed in an awkward position some ways away. Lagnon leapt up from behind a rock and ran at the Reaper, but was likewise thrown aside.

Karolie grabbed the abandoned scythe and swung it at Lich, taking off the arm with the mace. He turned and grabbed for her with the other. She backed away and waved the scythe at him. “Go away! Just go away!”

“Put it down, child.” He held up his own scythe. “Mine is sharper.”

She tripped and fell, losing the scythe. Tears came again. “All right. I’ll go. Just… just please don’t hurt them anymore.”

“Of course. I only kill those that stand in my way. Stand please.”

She stood. He reached for her.

Metal cut into her bare arm. For a moment, she was confused. Her arm felt stiff. Then the other. Legs… back… neck… mouth… Her eyes became covered with stone.

Cullen pulled his sword away and looked at Karolie’s cold expression. He turned to Lich and uttered a raspy “Ha.”

“…”

“Go ahead! Try to take her now! I win!”

Lich turned to him and raised his weapon.

The following brutality that befell Cullen was beyond the withstanding of any mortal. Only through Fenrir’s aid was he able to even remain aware, praying all the while that Tritoch would come and chase the demon away. He remembered his sister, his poor sister. Ironfang, Steeltooth, Fenrir… He remembered how he first found Fenrir, left for dead. Ironic that he felt now how Fenrir must have felt then…

Lich grabbed his dismembered arm and reattached it. He noticed with dismay that he was floating much lower than usual, and was utterly exhausted from his efforts. He moved to pick up Karolie, but noticed Cullen stirring. If he had a jaw, it would have slid down a notch.

“Ye gods… I only kill when they get in my way.” He rolled up his sleeves and turned back to the man.

The statue of Karolie watched on…

My strength shall only be lessened once I’ve destroyed these, Tritoch said. He lifted his foot to show Jeice the crystals. I’ve met many terrible things in Raiden’s Court. I doubt we can hold you responsible for his corruption any longer, Gilgamesh. He’s a wicked boy through and through.

“I appreciate it,” Gilgamesh said, appearing ghostly beside Jeice.

If I do not survive, swear that you will let Alexander know why.

Gilgamesh nodded. “I swear on his sword Excaliber.”

Tritoch lifted himself slightly and dropped the true Fire Crystal into Jeice’s hands. It’s yours to protect. It is a pity that I did not gather the others, like I wanted to. The Spirit burst into the air. Good bye, son of Heimdall.

Jeice felt compelled to glance toward his companions, something Jean had forbidden earlier. He couldn’t, as Tritoch’s light blinded him.

The Spirit rose until he was among the stars. He took the crystals in both of his talons, took in a breath, then pulled.

The explosion was great and served to further blind Jeice. He tossed the Fire Crystal into the air, caught it again, and counted.

A few seconds later, a small blue bird plummeted to the ground. Jeice stepped over and picked it up.

“Tritoch?”

The bird seemed to nod to him.

“I’ll find you someone. There’s a girl right over here who’s been waiting for a Spirit of her own. She’s a very special girl.” He cradled the bird, walking slowly. “You’re very lucky. Very lucky…”

In the distance, all was silent.

Lagnon pushed himself to his feet, thanked his lucky hat that the mace hadn’t stuck with him, and then cursed it again when he saw that Karolie and Cullen were gone. Jeice was coming toward him, carrying a blue bird and a red crystal.

“My great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s crystal! But where is the Water Crystal?”

“Jean got it,” he said as he tucked it in his pocket. He looked around. “What happened? Where's Karolie? And, uh, Cullen?”

“They’re gone. That Reaper just kept coming for the lass, just kept knocking Cullen and me away…”

“Gone? But…”

“I wasn’t out too long, aye. Maybe they’re…”

“I can’t believe this…” Jeice turned away, hiding his face. “I promised myself. I promised after Wedge died, after Biggs died…”

“I’m sorry, lad. If only…”

“I promised that we wouldn’t lose anyone else.”

Lagnon cringed. He turned and kicked a rock into the water. It skipped a few times, hit something floating in its path, and sunk. Lagnon gasped. “By Hashule!”

Jeice turned back. “What?”

“There! It’s Cullen!”

“Cullen!” Jeice started into the water, then stopped as he looked at the other. Cullen was floating face down, not moving. “No…”

Two yellow dots appeared above him. A Reaper slowly formed around its eyes. It floated over Cullen a moment, and then started toward the shore.

“Midnight…” Lagnon said.

Jeice grit his teeth and lit a Fire spell in his hand. “Let’s see how well it burns, then!”

Lagnon waddled into the water and grabbed Jeice’s arm. Gold spread quickly through him, encasing him as effectively as any Stone spell. The fire still burned in his hand. The bird still breathed heavily in his other hand.

Lagnon stuck his rod into the fire and turned it on the Reaper. “Where are they?” The Reaper stopped, looking at the fire. “Come on! All you zombie monsters are afraid of fire! Now where are they!?”

The Reaper started forward again and passed through Lagnon unharmed. It stuck its hand into Jeice’s chest, found its method again useless, and disappeared.

Lagnon shivered. He looked back into the water, at Cullen's lifeless body, regretting that he couldn't do anything. He turned to Jeice, remembering that he didn’t know how to reverse the gold spell. He grabbed Jeice’s arm and tugged him. Jeice followed agonizingly slow.

It was a long way to the inn…

Masamune

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

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