Beautiful music filled the air, and there was clapping. Once

again, Cecil's friend Edward managed to raise their hopes on the long

laborious journey. Rosa's hand was in his as they listened. He was

blissful. The sweet smell of wildflowers and fruits grazed his

senses, and then Rosa's full weight was on top of him...

"Huh? Rosa? What... who... you're NOT ROSA!"

Cecil had been lying under a tree while unconscious. Now there was a dark figure clad in ebony on top of him.

Wait, he knew that outfit... but how?

Cecil climbed to his feet, just barely, in complete shock. "EDGE? But how? How did you get here to the future? Did Zeromus trick YOU TOO?"

Cecil was shocked. He had thought he was the only one of his time to be here. In fact, the thought of Edge, or anyone else from his time had barely crossed his mind.

Tucker walked up behind edge, sword at the ready, but not threatening.

Edge spun, his warrior skills honed to detect rear attacks. Within the blink of an eye, Murasame and Masamune were in his hands.

"EDGE, TUCKER, STOP!" He caught Edge's attention just in time enough to avoid melee. It wouldn't do to have friends quarreling.

Tucker looked at Edge expectantly. "Where are they?"

Edge shrugged. "One of them is saving the Big Whale from being cast into the Sun, and the other I have a death wish for. Sorry."

Tucker sighed sadly, and could only nod.

Edge then turned his attention to Cecil, the Paladin of Light from ages past. Cecil hadn't changed much over the years... "He's aged rather well, actually," Edge mused. "Must have been using Rosa's beauty cream."

"Cecil!" Edge began. "Where have you been all my life? Myself, I've been trapped in Eblan for the longest time... Striving to survive on fungi and perseverance."

It then sunk in.

"The BIG WHALE?! Edge, you were on the Big Whale?" Cecil was frantic.

"Well, yes, Cecil, but you of all people should have known that."

"... How so? I haven't seen the Big Whale since the defeat of Zeromus! Were you alone?"

"But Cecil, it was you that I saw... you told me Golbez was planning to send the Big Whale into the Sun, and sent Celes to do it."

"Golbez? Celes?... Edge, what ARE you talking about? Has old age finally caught up with you or something?"

"Cecil... you weren't on the Big Whale recently?"

"NO! How could I have been?"

Edge's face dropped. "Then who DID tell me about Golbez's plot?" he pondered, and began to shiver. "Oh, no... could it have been one of Golbez's tricks? Then... Celes..." Edge withdrew the Orb necklace that he stole from an innocent Celes. Tears began to well in his eyes. Edge hung his head in shame.

"Edge, is something wrong?" Cecil put his comforting hand on Edge's shoulder.

"Terribly so, Cecil, and it's all my fault. I have to find some answers, and fast. Tucker, do you have any idea where an area called the Veldt might be?"

But there wasn't time to talk about that now. In the distance, a large cloud of sand was swiftly approaching our heroes. Rumbling could be heard emanating from the cloud.

"Tucker!" Cecil exclaimed. "Can you see what that is over there?"

Tucker nodded, and set his visor on 'scan'.

"Looks to be a stampede of chocobos. Someone's riding one, and he appears to be fleeing from a separate group of chocobos."

--------

"CECIL!" Edge shouted above the dull roar of the stampede. Cecil's body had fallen to the onslaught of a warrior's autocrossbow.

Tucker rushed to the attack, slashing madly with his Tech Sword.

Edge wondered if he should use his magic to fall these new enemies. He decided against it. "I'd rather hack and slash my way through a fight anyway... it's more fun!" Reaching into his tunic, Edge withdrew a small sharp shuriken, and hurled it at the nearest foe. The shuriken glinted, then multiplied into many of the deadly projectiles. The poor chocobo never stood a chance. It toppled over, crushing its rider underneath its own corpse. "One down..." Edge mused, and looked at the oncoming horde of Chocobo and their armed riders.

"Only two or three dozen to go."

Drawing his twin blades, Edge dashed to Cecil's downed body.

"TUCKER! Can your fancy sword cure wounds?"

Edge and Tucker fought on for minutes. It seemed that they had been fighting for hours. As more and more of the enemies fell, Tucker's and Edge's wounds grew in number. Down to his last breath, Edge saw that the odds were greatly against him. There seemed to be no other alternative.

Edge weaved his fingers, summoning the magic from the Orb. "It's gotta work, or we're all doomed..." Beads of sweat poured down Edge's dusty face.

"FLOOD!" Edge called.

From deep under the swirling sands of the desert, a river of cool, refreshing water ran for several miles. The Orb called out to this river. In a rush of watery fury, the river forced its way through several hundred feet of silt, breaking free at the surface. In a crushing wave of force, the river flowed forth, inundating the enemy horde of chocobos. Many of the enemies were crushed under the pressure of the wave, many others drowned under the amount of water that seemingly sprung from nowhere. Those that survived felt that they had had enough, and fled.

Edge collpased from the sheer effort of fighting, and, exhausted, hoped that whoever it was he and Tucker had saved was on his side.

Bodies of chocobos and riders lay strewn about. The remnants of the Flood waters created by Edge's magic covered the batlefield with mud and ooze. The winds still blew with force, sending huge clouds of sand swirling across the tundra.

"But what about my friends?" Edge wondered through hazy eyes.

Cecil lay slumped up against a stone, recovering from his multiple arrow wounds. Tucker, looking worse for wear, lay gasping for air several feet away. And the stranger... what of him?

Edge examined his own wounds. Althought they weren't grievous, they were many. Edge was in no condition to do much of anything.

Suddenly, a bright beam of golden-white light shot across the dawn sky, illuminating the area around the fallen warriors.

"I don't like the looks of that at all..." Edge thought. "But what can we do in our condition...? We need a healer..."

Edge looked over at Cecil, and snapped his fingers.

Taking the fragment of Orb that Rydia had given him, Edge hobbled over to Cecil. Cecil looked up at Edge with a blank expression, and shook his head.

"My magic doesn't work, Edge..." Cecil began, seeming to know exactly what Edge was thinking.

"Cecil, take this. Rydia gave this to me before I left the Whale." Edge gave Cecil the shard of Orb. "It gives you the ability to use your magic."

Cecil only nodded, and took the shard in hand. Edge helped Cecil to his feet. "Now," Cecil said, "Let me heal your wounds, Edge... let the Light flow!"

Cecil chanted and his hands began to glow with an uneartly light. Raising his fist above his head, Cecil whispered, "Cure two!"

Edge's body was surrounded with violet-white motes of Light. Edge could feel his strength and will being restored, his body a well for the magic that was being used on him. Some of Edge's larger wounds began to close and scar, and Edge found that he could stand without need of Masamune's support.

"Thanks, Cecil!" Edge threw a friendly hug around Cecil.

Cecil chuckled. "You're welcome, old friend. Now let me go before the others get the wrong idea."

Edge chuckled along with Cecil and let go of the hug.

"And now for the others," Cecil said.

Edge withdrew the necklace that he had stolen from Celes, and hung it around his neck. Its fragment of Orb shone from within. Tucking it away under his tunic, Edge let out a sad sigh. "I'll get Golbez for everything he's done... I swear, Rydia."

Cecil worked his magic on Tucker, restoring him to full health. Cecil restored himself and Edge as well.

"Cecil..." Edge began, "I have to leave. Now."

"I understand." Cecil smiled. "You have questions that need answers. You have a debt to repay. And you have a promise to keep."

"And miles to go before I sleep," Edge continued. "I'll return as soon as I can, Cecil. You and Tucker should check out that beam of light that we saw. There's no telling what hidden dangers it holds."

Cecil nodded. "Farewell, Edge, and take care."

"You too," Edge shook Cecil's hand, and turned towards the Veldt.

"Edge, you're a fool. Celes isn't looking for Rydia. Why would she need her necklace?... Sure, she's a better wizard than I am, and could probably get more use out of it than I... but she's still under Edgar's control... now I cannot use magic anymore..." Edge kicked the desert sand in frustration.

Tucker smiled in spite of himself. "Problem, Edge?"

"No, Tucker, no problem at all," Edge spat. "I just gave a demon- woman the power to destroy the world for her master, Edgar. My friends are hell-knows-where and Rydia is buried in the sands!" Edge grabbed Tucker by his tunic and glared him straight in the eyes. "WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG?" Edge, lost in rage, shook Tucker and tossed him to the ground.

Tucker, taken aback by Edge's sudden outburst, stared up at him in disbelief. "Relax, man. Celes said that Rydia was only a mile from here. At least we'll be able to get her... besides, I don't see what you're freaking out over. You friends are all alive, somewhere." Tucker stood up and brushed the sand from his clothes. "Sheesh."

Edge was breathing heavily now, trying to calm down. "You're right, Tucker," Edge managed through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry. Too many things have happened to me and my friends for me to handle. There. I admit it. I, Edge, King of Eblan, CAN'T HANDLE HIS PROBLEMS!" Edge shouted to no one in particular.

Tucker playfully punched Edge in the shoulder. "There, now don't you feel better?"

"Actually, no," Edge answered. "Let's find Rydia."

Tucker nodded, and the pair were on their way north.

*****

Golbez stared at his derelict starship. "Useless piece of junk, couldn't even survive a little crash... Well, I didn't need it ANYWAY."

For the first time in perhaps several hundred years, Golbez breathed in the sweet atmosphere of the Blue Planet. Looking around, Golbez could see a seemingly endless range of tundra. This was the Veldt, though Golbez didn't know it. The sun had begun to set, bathing the plains in a red- orange light.

"I suppose I'd better find somewhere to bunk down, since my previous accomodations have been summarily destroyed." Golbez liked to use long words when he was peeved. "But where to begin the search...?"

To the south, Golbez saw a small mountain. It was perhaps the only feature that the Veldt had. "It would seem that over there would be ideal for my sleeping comfort." Salvaging what he could from the wreckage, Golbez began his trek toward the mountain.

*****

Edge and Tucker had been walking for some time. The pair talked during their trek, Tucker telling Edge about the future, and Edge filling in Tucker about the past. Soon, they reached an oasis, where they stopped to rest.

"Here's a good spot." Tucker gestured to the oasis.

"Sure, whatever," Edge said nonchalantly.

Tucker leaned up against a palm tree and threw his hands behind his head. He then closed his eyes and swiftly fell asleep.

/Not me,/ Edge thought. Edge didn't have time for sleep. Edge had more important things on his mind.

Silenly, so as not to disturb the slumbering Tucker, Edge padded away from the oasis. Not ten minutes later, he came across a large pit in the sand. The pit was roughtly twenty feet in diameter and roughly ten feet deep. It looked like an upside-down cone, its point at the bottom of the pit.

"Curious..." Edge moved closer to the brim of the pit. "This looks like the home of some burrowing animal. The thing must be huge..."

Suddenly, the sands in the pit began to sink. Edge scrambled away from the pit's brim. "Oh, no, I'm not falling for that," he said.

From within the pit, a huge creature arose. The creature was almost ten feet long. It had six legs and huge, bulbous red eyes. Its entire body was a sandy orange color. From the creature's head sprang huge razor-sharp pincers which could easily rend a man in half. It squealed, and eban lumbering towards Edge.

"Easy, big fella... I'm not here to steal your kids or anything," Edge said in a calming voice. He was attempting to bend the creature's will through mind control, a technique that only highly-skilled Ninja could attempt. "Why don't you just go back down to your lair and..." Edge suddenly saw something caught on the creature's mandibles.

A scrap of cloth. A green scrap of cloth.

Edge shuddered. /No,/ he thought. /There's no way.../

Edge suddenly felt the rushing tide of rage fill his heart. This was a different rage, however. Edge had never felt this angry since Dr. Lugae had turned Edge's parents into monsters. Edge's whole body shook, and in a flash, Murasame and Masamune were in Edge's hands.

"So, you'd make a meal of MY GIRLFRIEND, would you?" Edge ran and leapt into the air. "I'll make sure you'll never eat anything again!"

Edge flipped in mid-air and dove straight at the monster. Swords extended, he landed on the monster's back. Edge then thrusted both blades into the creature's back, right below its neck. The creature squealed in pain, and reared. Edge withdrew his swords and tumbled to the ground.

Angered, the creature thrust its powerful mandibles at Edge. The mandibles found their mark, and tore a gash into Edge's right leg. Blood flowed freely from the wound. Edge grimaced.

Edge launched another attack. Blades dancing, he sent Murasame high and Masamune low, cutting in the same direction. The blades caught the creature full in the side, opening a nice tear in the creature's stomach. Green ichor oozed from the wound. The monster squelched.

The monster launched its counter-attack. From its back, a barrage of stinging, sharp needled flew. They sailed through the air at an incredible speed, striking Edge multiple times. He staggered back under the assault.

Breathing hard with exertion, the dance continued for several minutes, with attacks and counter-attacks, darts and needles, mandibles and blades.

Both combatants down to their last, Edge slowly crawled back to his feet. Staggering, Edge withdrew a small object from his tunic. It was small and grey, no larger than a baseball. It was spherical in shape and glowed a faint blue. "Hope this thing still works," Edge thought, "or I'm a goner." Edge hurled the spherical object at the monster.

The sphere broke with a clap of sound that sounded almost like thunder. From above, streaks of greenish-blue electricity sizzled all about the creature, striking it across the length of its body. The creature's flesh melted under the intense barrage. With a gasp and a wheeze, the creature fell, naught more than a pile of bones.

Edge fell back on his haunches, exhausted. "And I thought those were useless," Edge mused. "I always wondered what Cecil wanted with those Lit-Bolts I stole from those blue dragons..."

Edge looked into the pit with sad eyes. "I guess there's only one way to know for sure..." he sighed. With a spring, he dove into the creature's lair, and let the sands carry him down, down...

... into a large tunnel, obviously made by the burrowing of a creature. The tunnel extended for a good distance into the pitch darkness. Edge began to follow the tunnel, groping his way through the blackness.

*****

Golbez reached the mountain without incident.

There appeared to be a cave within the mountain face. A wisp of smoke rolled from within the cave, drifting into the air outside. "Wonderful," Golbez thought, "I'll have to share. I'm sure they'll love my company, whoever they are." Grumbling, Golbez entered the cave.

*****

Edge continued his way through the darkness for several long minutes, taking turns where he thought they were and trying to keep his footing. The walls of the cavern were sticky with some unknown substance, while the floors were covered in a slippery ooze.

Suddenly, the mouth of the tunnel opened up, and Edge entered a large cavern. From above, a beam of red-orange light pored into the cavern, barely illuminating it. On the other side of the cavern, several large whitish-grey objects lay, spherical in shape. "Those must have been the creature's eggs," Edge reasoned. Something was in the middle of those eggs. It appeared to be a large mass of webbing of some kind. "And that must be the meal for the kidlings..."

Edge gasped.

Rushing over, Edge drew the Blade of Black, Masamune. He then began to cut his way through the thick, sticky strands of the webbing. Severing the cocoon open, he could not believe what he saw.

There was the unconscious form of his beloved Rydia, curled up in the fetal position inside the cocoon. Gently, Edge picked her up into his arms and carried her away from the eggs.

Then he heard a roar, coming from the tunnel behind him.

Edge looked around frantically. "Gotta put Rydia somewhere safe... There." Several feet above the floor of the cavern, Edge saw a small recess in the wall. Donning his Catclaw once more, Edge threw Rydia over his shoulder and climbed up to the hole. Gently, Edge lay her down on the rough stone. "At least you'll be fine up here... I hope." Edge smiled at the unconscious form. With a nod, he hopped back down to the cavern floor. As Edge touched down, his legs gave way from under him, and he toppled in a heap. Edge groaned in pain. "Can't let the pain... get to me... Ninja do not... feel..."

Another roar filled the cavern, echoing several times.

"Oh well," Edge thought. "It's been a good life..."

From the tunnel, a ghastly pale green light glowed. The brightness was getting more intense. Whatever was roaring, it was definitely coming Edge's way. Fast.

"... and I have no regrets..."

The cavern burst into light as the creature reached the mouth of the tunnel.

"... except that I didn't tell Rydia..."

The creature burst through the mouth of the tunnel, obviously larger than the tunnel itself. Huge chunks of rock and silt sprayed the cavern, partly covering Edge in debris.

"... that I love her..."

A deafening roar filled the cavern. Standing on its hind legs, the creature stood almost as tall as the cavern itself. It pulsated a pale green light from its body. The creature appeared to be made entirely of bone, and resembled the skeleton of a dragon. All eight of its eye sockets burned a greenish-white flame from within, and from its gaping mouth dripped a brown liquid. Acid.

Rising to his feet, Edge withdrew his twin blades.

<You cannot have the power> The creature spoke to Edge through telepathy.

"Power?" Edge spoke aloud. "What power?"

<I am the guardian of the Ebon Flame> the creature offered.

"Ebon Flame?" Edge shook his head. "I see no flame here, except that stuff that you're made of."

<The Flame is about to be born> The zombie dragon gestured toward the eggs that sat quietly across the room.

"Born? Dragon, you make no sense. What makes this Fire so special?"

<The Flame feeds on life It grows It consumes all>

"You realize, of course, that I cannot allow that to happen, me being alive and all," Edge said defiantly.

<You cannot stop the birth You are weak I sense a strong life force nearby Bring it to me and be spared>

Edge's glance darted at the crevasse that housed Rydia's sleeping form. "You can't mean Rydia?"

<It has a name No matter It is food for the Flame>

"I won't let you touch Rydia, no matter what you do!" Edge raised his swords in the air, and pointed the tip of Murasame at the beast. "I will defend her life at all costs!" Edge ran at the beast, knowing well the cost of defeat.

<You have no chance Your death is imminent>

Edge leapt into the air, swinging wildly with his swords. The full height of his jump barely passed the creature's knees. Edge's swords struck the creature in the thigh, chipping small fragments of bone.

<Fool>

The Zombie Dragon fought back. With one huge motion, the creature kicked out at Edge, catching him in mid-air. The force of the kick knocked Edge halfway across the cavern. Edge tumbled and rolled as best he could to avoid taking damage from the fall. With a loud THUMP, Edge slumped to the ground.

*****

Golbez stalked into the cave, holding a glowing sphere for light. The cavern branched off into a tunnel, which extended for some distance into the mountain. The smoke followed the tunnel, leaving the cave behind Golbez. Wordlessly, Golbez marched down the length of the tunnel. When he reached the mouth of the tunnel, he could only smile.

Gathered around a small campfire, four men sat eating some roast Chocobo. They were talking amongst themselves, laughing and having a good time. Their weapons and equipment appeared to be leaning against the wall several feet from them. By the looks of things, they hadn't been here long.

With an air of superiority, Golbez entered the chamber.

On Golbez's appearance, the men scrambled to their feet, lunging for their weapons.

"Hold!" Golbez commanded in a deep, growling voice. "I am not here to smite your lives."

"Oh yeah?" one of the men challenged. "And why ARE you here, then? I suppose you're looking for the AntLion's lair as well, aren't you!"

"AntLion's lair? Why would I be looking for the nesting place of some insect?"

Another of the men chimed in. "Don't play coy with us. You're after the Flame as well." He shook his fist at Golbez. "Well, we're playing for keeps, buster, and you can't stop us from getting it first!"

Golbez let that sink in. The Flame.

"I am not here to seek this... Flame. I come from the Red Moon. My ship crashed here on this tundra..."

"Veldt." The third man, shorter than the rest, offered.

"Veldt?" Golbez asked.

"The Veldt. Yes. That is the name of this tundra."

"I see," said Golbez. The Veldt. Golbez nodded. "Anyhow, I crashed here on the Veldt..."

"Wait a sec," the fourth man rose to his feet, and approached Golbez. "You mean to tell me you have an airship?"

"HAD an airship, yes," Golbez growled. "Now, as I was saying..."

"Let's go see this... airship..." The first man said. "I don't trust this man at all." The others nodded.

Golbez clenched his fist. "There is no need of that," he growled, "If it were in any state of repair, I would not have come here. I only came here for shelter and..."

The second man sprang to his feet. "If he has an airship, then he must be rich. Only Setzer had enough dough to build an airship."

The others grinned, and retrieved their weapons. The group then approached Golbez.

"How MUCH cash do you think it takes to build an airship, fellas?" The first man spoke. Apparently he was the leader, and the one Golbez decided to speak to.

"Do you actually think I would be carrying enough money to build an airship? What kind of fool do you think I am?" Golbez was quickly losing his temper.

"Don't know," answered the fourth man, "How many kinds are there?"

"Enough of this," the second man broke in, "Let's just sack him and get on with it."

"There'll be no sacking here," Golbez growled, down to his last thread of calmness, "There's no need..."

The leader interrupted, "... of us hiding out here in this cave, waiting to find the entrance to the AntLion's lair if you have enough money to support me and my gang for years!" The leader motioned to his followers. "Get him!"

In the blink of an eye, Golbez had his blade in hand. The blade itself was carved out of onyx, and hummed quietly. The hilt was made of obsidian, and melded itself to the hand of its wielder. The sword became a part of its master. This was the SoulSabre.

The thieves stopped in their tracks, gasping at the weapon that had been thrust in front of them.

"Now," Golbez sneered, "Do you still wish to do battle?"

"It's only a sword, men! Do your worst!" The leader egged his company on.

"Yeah!" The men shouted in unison. They advanced on Golbez.

"You have been warned," Golbez cautioned, and struck out with the SoulSabre. The second thief raised his rapier in defense. SoulSabre mashed its way through the blade of the thief and struck him full in the chest. Suddenly, the blade of the SoulSabre glowed with a violet light, and mist escaped from the eyes and mouth of its victim. The thief shuddered once, and fell, his life force drained.

Golbez watched the body fall, then looked up at the others.

The others were no more; they screamed, dropped their weapons, and fled past Golbez through the mouth of the tunnel to freedom. The leader stood alone, quivering with fear.

"I should run you through for this," Golbez spat, "but that is not my way. Tell me where this lair is, and I'll let you walk out of here with both of your legs."

The thief dropped to his knees. "I yield! Keep away from me! Here!" The thief tossed a tube to Golbez. While Golbez was distracted, the thief bolted out of the cave, after his followers.

Golbez grinned. "A shame they would not listen..." Golbez looked forlornly at the dead body before him. "There was no other way... I am sorry, thief."

Golbez then looked at the tube the thief had given him. It was made of bone, and stoppered with a piece of cork. Golbez pulled the cork free and shook the tube. From within, a piece of parchment fell into Golbez's hands. Golbez scanned the document. He then nodded, rolled up the document and put it back into the tube.

"Now, to see this 'Flame'," Golbez mused, and began marching farther into the mountain.

*****

The creature advanced on Edge's crumpled form. Edge tried to scramble to his feet, but he just couldn't manage to strength to do so. Sitting, Edge withdrew a throwing device that he had saved from the underground. FullMoon. Edge wielded FullMoon and hurled it at the Zombie Dragon.

The FullMoon glowed as it soared through the air, leaving a trail of bright silver light behind it. As it approached the Zombie Dragon, it seemed to scream. The FullMoon blasted its way into the Zombie Dragon's chest, shattering a rib. The FullMoon was said to be blessed with sacred power, and that power had shone through. Edge breahed a sigh of relief. The FullMoon then arced in the air and returned to its thrower.

The Zombie Dragon merely flinched.

<Clever But you are still no match for me>

<SWALLOW>

The ground shook, and ripped open beneath Edge. Not having the strength to dodge the attack, Edge fell into the hole that had been created by the Zombie Dragon. The ground then closed about Edge, trapping his arms against his sides and burying him mid-way to his chest. Edge moaned.

<And now to finish you little speck>

The dragon reared, and inhaled deeply. Edge knew what was to come next.

"Hopefully, enough of my body will be eaten so that noone recognizes me..." Edge hung his head in hopelessness, awaiting the spray of acid that was inevitable.

From above, a streak of light flashed. Suddenly, a ball of fire exploded on the beast's chest, knocking it back a step.

"Hey, Edge!" A familiar voice called out.

"TUCKER!" Edge would have been overjoyed, were he not trapped within the earth. "Get Rydia! She's over there!" Edge nodded his head toward the crevasse that held Rydia.

"Shouldn't I worry about you first?" Tucker called. "You're the one in danger!"

"DO IT!" Edge bellowed.

Tucker pointed his hand into the cavern, and spoke a quiet command. "Extend." From his arm, a steel claw shot into the hole above the cavern where Edge lay paralyzed. It sailed through the air, and latched onto the cavern wall some distance away. Tucker grabbed hold of the wire that hung behind the claw, and swung down into the cavern. "Yee-HAW!" he called, somehow enjoying himself.

The beast recovered from the initial shock of Tucker's fireball. It now focused its attention on the man who was swinging into the cavern.

<You cannot interfere Begone>

The Zombie Dragon unleashed a fury of scalding acid at Tucker. "NO!" Edge shouted. Tucker was oblivious to the scene. Without benefit of being able to dodge, Tucker was easy prey for the stream of acid. It engulfed him and his wire, severing the wire and burning through Tucker's clothing and flesh. Tucker could only scream as the pain of the acid and the pain of his fall to the ground hit home. Tucker lay there, stunned. Edge groaned. "You big goof," Edge said, "You could have at least snuck in..."

Tucker recovered quickly, however. Edge was amazed. Tucker stood up, TechSword in hand, ready to do battle. "How... how'd you live through that?!" Edge stammered.

"Tell you later," Tucker smiled and blasted another fireball at the Zombie Dragon. "In the meantime, I'll just save your butt." Tucker smiled inwardly as the blast rocked the Zombie Dragon back another step.

*****

Golbez followed the directions of the parchment to a tunnel entrance, obviously made by a burrowing creature. Golbez grinned. "Well, down I go..."

*****

Tucker and the Zombie Dragon continued their dance, Tucker being pummeled by the beast's great chitinous talons and jaw, and Tucker dealing out explosive fire damage to the Dragon. Neither seemed to be suffering much for the blows. Edge could only watch on in amazement and cheer when it didn't hurt so much.

<You are a formidable opponent>

"You're not too bad yourself, there, smiley." Tucker laughed.

<You have an advantage Now to use my advantage>

<CHANNEL>

The Dragon's eight eyes flared brightly, and the flames that burned within left their sockets and began circling Tucker.

"What the hell...?" Tucker managed. "Is that it?"

The Dragon just stood there, smiling its bony smile.

Tucker charged up his Techsword to full power. "This should make short work of these little balls..." The Techsword flared with the power of Fire.

Edge tried to shout to Tucker, "NO! That's what he..." but then blacked out for the effort.

Tucker swung at the wisps that circled him. He struck one of them, and his sword cut cleanly through it. The wisp glowed briefly, the winked out of existence.

What Tucker didn't notice in his frenzy was that the Dragon was reconstructing its body with the energy it was stealing from Tucker's sword. By the time that Tucker had defeated all eight of the wisps, the Dragon had fully recovered from the explosions and was in full fighting condition.

Tucker turned to Edge. "Now that's how a real... Edge!" Tucker noticed that Edge had blacked out, and ran over to him.

<SWALLOW>

As Tucker ran, the ground below him ripped open. Tucker, caught by surprise, fell into the small abyss. The ground then closed shut about Tucker, sending his sword skittering across the cavern floor. Now Tucker was trapped as well.

Tucker yelled, "Wha...!" and was pinned.

The Dragon laughed a telepathic laugh.

<You cannot hope to defeat me>

The Dragon advanced on the hapless pair.

*****

Golbez followed the tunnel for some time, aided by the light of his sphere. He reached a branch in the tunnel, which reached upwards to the sky. "Interesting," Golbez noted. "Shouldn't the creature who made this hole be here? Seems like a pointless trap otherwise..." Golbez shrugged, and continued his trek down the tunnel.

Several minutes later, Golbez reached the mouth of the tunnel. An eerie green glow filled the mouth of the tunnel, dwarfing Golbez's own light source. Golbez put the sphere away, and carefully approached the source of the glow. Golbez was amazed at what he saw.

A huge Dragon made entirely of bone stood as tall as the cavern. It loomed over two forms that appeared to be trapped in the living earth itself! Golbez withdrew his SoulSabre. "Now, to begin to amend my past guilt by acting hero."

Golbez held his SoulSabre aloft and shouted, "Virus!"

A dark green cloud of globules covered the body of the Zombie Dragon. Instantly, it began eating away at the bone's chitinous material, making its way to the bone marrow. The Dragon shuddered.

<Who what dares to strike at me from behind>

The Dragon turned its form around to stare down at the Dark Knight that was Golbez.

"*I* dare." Golbez challenged. "I have come for the Flame, and to save those two forms that would be your meal!"

<Another brave soul that would try and defeat me Very well>

The Dragon reared, and unleashed acidic death on Golbez.

"That was rather... impressive," Golbez told the Dragon.

<My thanks Dark Warrior It is a shame indeed that I must destroy you Darkness needs many allies to smite that which is Good>

"I am no ally of yours," Golbez growled. Golbez broguht up his SoulSabre and charged the Dragon's shins. Swinging, Golbez struck the Dragon a glancing blow. The SoulSabre seemed to bounce off the Dragon's hide, almost as if it didn't WANT to hit the Dragon...

<You cannot hope to defeat me with that blade>

"Maybe not..." Golbez glanced up at the cavern wall, and grinned. "But I can help someone that can..." Golbez raised the SoulSabre aloft, and pointed it at the crevasse that housed Rydia. Golbez shouted, "LIFE TWO!" The SoulSabre glowed with a bright violet light, and the image of a man appeared above the sword's blade. The image was an exact copy of the thief who Golbez had slain moments before his arrival. The image hovered across the expanse of the cavern, coming to rest beside the unconscious form of Rydia. Reaching out, the image touched Rydia's cheek.

<NO You cannot revive the meal I have chosen for the Flame>

Rydia's eyes fluttered open. Staring up at the ceiling of what appeared to be a small cavern, Rydia saw the fading image of a rugged man, who seemed to smile as he vanished. Rydia got to her feet, and looked out from the crevasse.

She gasped. "I cannot believe it!" True, how could she believe it? Golbez was fighting a huge Zombie Dragon, while two other forms were seemingly mostly buried in the cavern floor. Rydia suddenly got very frightened. "That is Golbez, the man who Edge was hunting. It is his fault that Celes went berserk and... how... exactly did I get here?" Rydia shook her head in confusion.

Golbez and the Dragon danced, with talons and blades crashing against one another. Golbez shouted at the crevasse. "Whoever you are, help me! I cannot defeat this monster alone!"

Rydia reached out with her Earth spirit, sensing the two forms embedded in the cavern floor. One of the men she did not know, but the other...

Rydia screamed. "EDGE! Edge, I'll get you out of there!"

Rydia stood her full height, and inhaled deeply. "From the Land of the Summoned Monsters, I call Titan! Please, get my friend from the cavern floor!"

Beside the two trapped bodies, a rumbling grew and took form to become Titan, Master of Earth. With his massive hands, Titan wrenched the cavern floor open, releasing both Edge and Tucker, who was shaken awake by the tremor. "W-Wha...?" Tucker stared at the Titan in amazement.

The Titan smiled, and embedded himself back into the earth from whence he came.

Tucker got to his feet, and ran for his sword.

The Dragon grew angrier as the glancing blows dealt by Golbez were adding up. Snarling, the Dragon stomped the ground with his massive foot. The ground trmbled as if affected by a Quake spell. Golbez stumbled and fell under the immense shaking. Stones and rubble battered Golbez as they shook and bounced across the cavern floor.

<Now to finish you pesky worm>

<SWALL...>

Rydia called to the monsters for help. "From the Land of the Summoned Monsters, I call Asura! Please, help my friends!"

From above the cavern, Asura appeared. Spinning her four heads, she filled the cavern with an intense light. The light of Healing.

Tucker felt his full strength return to him, as did Golbez. Edge regained consciousness and was in full fighting condition.

From above, Rydia cheered.

The Dragon rared and breathed acidic death on Asura, who promptly returned to the Land of Summoned Monsters before harm could be dealt to her. The acidic death slammed into the cavern roof, enlarging the hole that was already there. From above, the Moon shone, and stars twinkled.

Edge hopped to his feet, and gave a quick scan of the chamber. Someone was fighting the Dragon from behind. Tucker had just recovered his sword, and ran back to Edge. "EDGE! Glad to see ya, old man!" Tucker gave Edge a high-five, which Edge returned whole-heartedly.

"Glad to see you back in working order, Roboboy!" Edge jested.

"Let's slam this beastie before it notices we're up and around!" Tucker raised his sword and hurled a ball of flame at the Dragon.

"I hear that!" Edge let FullMoon spin through the air.

Golbez stood, glaring up at the Dragon. "You're in for it now!"

Rydia called down to the others, "You're safe in my hands! Do your worst!"

The Dragon spun around, suffering pain from behind. The Dragon clawed and clamped its jaws at Tucker and Edge. Edge deflected the huge claw with his twin blades, and Tucker leapt out of the way with his spring boots. The pair split up, leaving no target for the Dragon's maw.

<I will not be defeated so easily>

Rydia recognized that the monster was an undead creature, and weak against fire. "From the Land of Summoned Monsters, I call Ifrit! Burn that Dragon to hell!" Ifrit nodded, and scorched the Dragon with hellish fury.

Edge battered the Dragon with FullMoon, and Tucker launched another ball of flame into the Dragon's chest. Golbez used his SoulSabre to infect the Dragon with a magical Virus. Rydia pounded away with the aid of her summoned monsters.

It wasn't long before the Dragon breathed its last.

<I will not fall alone>

The Dragon, summoning its last ounce of strength, called forth its desperation attack.

<CAVE-IN>

The entire chamber shook. The ceiling began to gave way. The Dragon tumbled to dust and bones, its last bit of strength drained with the exertion of the Cave-In tactic.

"Rydia!" Edge shouted, "Get down here! We need you!"

Rydia leapt the several feet down to the cavern floor, and joined the group. Golbez, not wanting to be recognized, drew his cape over his faced and joined the group as well.

Huge boulders rained down from above, threatening to crush the heroes.

"From the Land of Summoned Monsters, I call Bahamut! Take my body and carry us out of this death trap!" Rydia urged.

The King of Monsters complied. He took Rydia's body and stretched it to mammoth proportions. Rydia sprouted massive wings, a tail, scales... in seconds, she became Bahamut, and Bahamut became Rydia.

"Climb aboard," Bahamut offered.

The three others hopped on the massive dragon's back, and were whisked away through the hole in the ceiling to safety. Below, the entire roof of the cave collapsed, crushing the eggs that were to be the beginning of the Ebon Flame.

*****

Several minutes later, Bahamut touched down somewhere outside what would be known as the wrecked castle of Doma. Bahamut returned Rydia's body, and faded into the night.

"Rydia! You're safe!" Edge couldn't resist grabbing Rydia and hugging her, sweeping her off the ground.

"Yes! Edge, oh Edge, it's been too long!" Rydia began to cry happily. "I've missed you so, and there's so much to tell...!"

Tucker smiled at the two, then looked over at the stranger. "Touching, isn't it? Makes me wish I had stayed where I came from... almost." Tucker winked at Golbez.

Golbez nodded. "Touching, indeed. I would think that I would never see those two again... in fact, I was counting on it." Golbez turned away from Tucker, and began to walk toward the rubble of Doma castle.

Edge put Rydia down, and ran over to the man who was leaving. "Stranger, I don't know how to thank you..." Edge was estatic. Golbez only grunted in return.

"You saved Tucker, myself, and most of all Rydia! Hey! C'mon, let us discuss what we're to do now! We have need of men like yourself..." Edge reached out to Golbez and spun him around. "What's your hurry...?"

Edge looked into the eyes of the man who had abandoned him on the moon, left him for dead, and perhaps even plunged the others into a fiery death... into the Sun.

"YOU!"

"What, are you blind, Edge? He just saved me and the rest of us! Even if he betrayed us before, remember back with Zeromus? Maybe that happened this time, too. Maybe he was hypnotized. Let him explain himself. Edge, I'm imploring you... We needn't duel with ourselves, especially not now. Already my regular magic is failing, and my calls may soon go. We'll need all the help we can muster." She looked straight into his eyes. "Please..."

Slowly, Rydia moved her hand towards her whip. She wasn't about to watch these men try to demolish each other. She thought a bit, and tried to send a mental telegram to Tucker. "Tucker... we can't let this occur..." She started to cry a bit more, and waited for the King of Eblan's reply...

Rydia grabbed Edge's arm, twirled him around. "Edge," she implored, "we need him, whether you like it or not. There has been enough killing on this world to last TWO lifetimes... please, don't add to the suffering..." Rydia's face was streaming with tears.

Tucker gently pulled Rydia aside to face Edge. "Old man, listen to me. You find the most unlikely allies in the most unlikely places. Do not hold a man's past against his future. People change."

Golbez stood rigid, waiting. His long black cloak fluttered in the wind. Golbez had already put his hand over the hilt of the SoulSabre, expecting an attack.

Edge spun around to face Golbez. Instinctively, Golbez whisked SoulSabre from its leather sheath, and took a defensive stance. In the same instant, Edge whisked out his twin blades and raised them to parry.

"Golbez," Edge growled, shuddering with every word, "I will only ask you once. If I do not like the answer, or you lie to me, I will finish you here and now, friend or no." Edge slowly lowered his swords, allowing Golbez to speak.

Tucker and Rydia watched on in horror, not sure what either warrior would do.

"Edge," Golbez began, "The Moon has just gone through what is known as the Second Phase. The rumbling you experienced was in fact a self- destruct sequence rigged to the Moon's core. In case of emergency or intrusion, a catalyst to a chain reaction was set to be released into the Moon's core. That catalyst, Edge, was stolen."

Edge was breathing heavily, forcing back the rage that urged him to strike out at this black-clad traitor. "Go on."

"Without the catalyst, the explosion could not occur. You were in no serious danger at all."

Edge squeezed his eyes shut, and sweat beaded down his forehead. He nodded through the anger. "Then why did you leave?"

Golbez continued, "The catalyst was a rare crystal, the colour of blood. You see, Edge, the Light crystals and Dark crystals controlled, or rather, used to control the flow of magic on our world. There was one other type of magic, the magic that only a Red Wizard could wield."

Edge stopped shuddering, and seemed to calm down slightly. "Red Wizards? I have never heard of them. You had better not be lying." Edge pointed the tip of Masamune at Golbez for emphasis.

"I am not lying, Edge, and you know it to be so. The man you were chasing as you entered the beam of light above Kefka's tower... his name was Cardia Lemieux. He was a Red Wizard."

Edge blinked. "I fail to see any connection."

Golbez nodded. "Of course you wouldn't. You were not present to witness the defeat of Chaos, four thousand years ago."

Tucker's jaw dropped. "Four thousand years! Man, and I stopped my trip only half-way there?!"

Rydia looked at Tucker quizzically. "You mean, you knew... Cardia?"

Tucker shook his head. "No, Rydia. I've had no dealings with Red Wizards of any kind. Suffice it to say that my journey should not have ended here."

Rydia raised an eyebrow, but only nodded in response.

Edge looked sceptical, but at least he was listening.

Golbez continued, "It was four thousand years ago that the first great Warriors of Light came to the earth's rescue. This is the legend that spoke of them..."

The world is veiled in darkness.

The wind stops, the sea is wild,

and the earth begins to rot.

The people wait,

their only hope, a prophecy...

"When the world is in darkness,

Four Warriors will come..."

After a long journey,

four young warriors arrive,

each holding an Orb.

Rydia gasped. "Each holding an Orb? You mean the same orb...?"

"... that you held but days ago," Golbez finished for Rydia.

Tucker shook his head. "I'm into all that jazz about time travelling and magic and stuff, but I still don't get what... Cardia?... was doing here..."

Golbez shrugged. "Neither do I, Tucker. Shortly after I rescued Edge from the EvilWall..."

Rydia gasped, "You RESCUED Edge from EvilWall? I remember that creature... from the Dwarf cave..."

Golbez nodded. "The same. It seems that many monsters from the past are appearing throughout the world. I fear that Cardia Lemieux might have something to do with it. When I learned that the Red Crystal had been stolen, I immediately took my airship and flew in search of him. On the Moon, I am the Chief of Security, and it was my job to guard the Crystal. To have it stolen... if the Lunarians awake, I will be disgraced..." Golbez hung his head and sighed.

Rydia put a comforting arm around Golbez. "That's okay, Golbez... we understand. We still do not fully understand the Lunarian culture. Personally, I'm glad you left us on the Moon... It gave us a chance to run into Celes... ooops..." Rydia glanced over at Edge, worried.

Edge spat, "Yes, CELES. What of her? Last I saw her I returned her necklace... and she was with her boyfriend." Edge said the last word in a mocking tone.

Rydia flushed. "I don't know how to tell you this, Edge... but it seems that Celes was taken hostage by Edgar, who branded her and forced her to do his will. The last time I saw her, she had taken my chunk of Orb and given it to Edgar..."

Tucker smacked his head. "And you gave Celes the last piece, old man! Now we're all done for..." Tucker's face was wild with panic.

Edge managed a grin under his mask. "That's okay, Roboboy. Edgar is still missing one fragment of the Orb. And I know where it is."

Golbez stepped closer to Edge. "Edge, we must know where that missing fragment is. Edgar is undoubtedly looking for it as we speak."

From behind the group, a familiar voice rang out crystal clear. "Hi all, did you miss me?"

The group spun around, and lo and behold, Cecil was walking towards them, covered head to toe in dirt.

"CECIL!" the crowd called out.

Cecil nodded. "Yes, it took me forever to find your trail... but what could I expect? I was trying to follow a Ninja." Cecil smiled, and winked at Edge.

Edge ran to Cecil and gave him a high-five. "Where've you been, big fella? We could have used your Crystal sword against that Zombie Dragon."

Cecil laughed. "Oh, YOU guys did that? I should have guessed."

Golbez approached Cecil for the first time in several hundred years. "Hello, brother," he growled.

Cecil's eyes went wide with panic. "YOU!" Cecil fumbled for his Crystal sword.

Edge held Cecil still. "NO, Cecil, I was wrong. He's okay. He helped us kill that undead nasty!" Edge smiled at Golbez for the first time. Golbez nodded in acknowledgement, and under his helmet, Golbez smiled in return.

Cecil nodded to Edge. "And who are your friends, there, Edge?"

Edge grabbed Rydia by the waist and plopped her in front of Cecil. Rydia giggled. "Cecil, this is Rydia. She's a Caller of Mist. Rydia, this is Cecil, the biggest pain in the butt you'll ever meet!" The three old companions laughed.

"Nice to meet you, Rydia." Cecil grinned and bowed a deep bow to Rydia.

"The pleasure's all mine, kind sir," Rydia laughed and curtsied.

Edge then stepped over to Tucker. "Cecil, I believe you remember Tucker... in fact, I think you knew everyone here! Why'd you bother to ask?"

Cecil smiled. "I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't dreaming." Everyone laughed. The party set up camp, and over roast chocobo, caught up on old (and new) times.

Cecil told his story last: "I had just been swallowed by a ZoneEater, a large purple worm that lives in deserts. I then blacked out. When I awoke, I was sitting in front of... can you believe this... Castle Baron! Tears in my eyes, I went into the old place and looked around... I found the neatest weapon..." From his belt, Cecil withdrew a long, thick rod and showed it to everyone. "Naturally, I didn't have a clue on how to use it, but I suspected I'd find someone who could..." Cecil gave the rod to Rydia and smiled warmly. Rydia thanked Cecil for the lovely gift.

Cecil continued, "Sure enough, the memories flowed back into me light the light does to an darkened room. After fully exploring the ruins, I managed to make my way through a series of tunnels until I came across a dead end. The passage was blocked by a huge pile of bones buried under a large amount of rock. I turned around, saw the AntLion's trap, and made my way up and through it."

Tucker broke in, "But how did you get all the way to Doma from there? That trap was outside Figaro."

Cecil grinned. "Didn't you know? Figaro Castle has huge tunnels all around the place. Seems that the whole castle can up and move anywhere it wants through these tunnels. I guess it was blind luck that I found the one that came up near Doma..." Cecil shrugged.

Edge shook Cecil's hand. "Man, that was a good stroke of luck. It feels good to be all together again... two kings, striking out against injustice... with the help of Roboboy here, and a Chief of Security, and the cutest woman I've ever met." Edge winked at Rydia.

Rydia flushed, and tried to stammer a response. She spun around, crossed her arms, and let out an exasperated, "Hmph!"

The men couldn't stifle their laughter. "Uh oh," Tucker taunted, "looks like you hurt her feelings...!"

Edge, at a loss for words, just nodded and took the jests for what they were.

The group had been travelling when a huge worm creature had somehow snuck up on them. Cecil, his warrior skills a tad rusty, had been the one to fall prey to the suprise attack. Before he had been able to draw his sword, the thing had SUCKED HIM UP! Seconds later, everything had gone black.

Having no idea how long he had been out, Cecil woke in some deep cavern, outside a barely illuminated castle.

There was something strangely unusual about the... wait!

"Baron..." the words barely escaped his mouth as tears welled up in his eyes. His home was in ruins, the signs of war grimly obvious. The place seemed deserted... of friendly life, that was.

Ahead of him a trio - a samurai, some lady, and a bubbulous creature - approached. Cecil pulled his sword, still slightly disoriented, for they didn't seem friendly. He was right.

The samurai sprang forward with the skill of a seasoned warrior. Cecil caught the blows on his shield and retaliated with a nice slash to the man's throat. It should have killed him, but the lady cast some sort of cure before the samurai fell. She was definitely going to be a problem. Cecil dodged left as the samurai struck out, and ran forward, barely avoiding the scimitar he wielded. Normally, he would never hurt a lady, but this one meant to destroy him. She was weak, and a nice fist to the back of her head knocked her unconscious... he would not kill her. Spinning, he parried the samurai's strike, and finished him off with a clean slice to the abdomen. His sword glowed an eerie obsidian. The creature thing fled before he could reach it. Tying the lady up, he found a potion on her body. /That's how she had healed the samurai,/ Cecil thought. /Well, I may need it soon./

He trekked off toward his castle, tears still filling his eyes. Why had he left to let THIS happen? Rosa was no doubt dead, and this saddened him more. Everyone was dead, except Edge... but hadn't he mentioned?... no, he couldn't believe it. The rest of them were dead.

"Welcome home... well, what's left of it." His voice was abnormally sad. Pushing open the castle gate, it fell off the hinges. He dropped his head, but not before a dim white light greeted him, pulling his gaze back up. On the throne, his throne, rested a shield of brightlluminesence. He walked toward it, but upon reaching the stairs to the throne, he was greeted by an unearthly voice.

"One so clad in the Armor of Evil, thou shalt not gain the article that is set before thine eyes. I am the spirit Salvatar, and have been guarding this shield for eternity until the one of light comes to claim it. He is the only one who should be able to see the ancient good. You must be very powerful, but, no matter, I will not let you have the shield."

Cecil stood ready for a fight he had not been looking for. Sword drawn, he backed away from the spirit. "I mean you no harm, I was merely--"

"SILENCE!" And with that, the handsome sprit clad in regal white robes attacked. Cecil swung defensively, slicing through the creature's arm. It howled loudly. "How?... No matter, I must defeat you!"

It lashed out again, this time with both arms. Cecil dodged the left, and took the right off with a quick slash. It dissapated into nothingness. The battle waged with Cecil having the upper hand, but the spirit was relentless. More than a few times did Cecil feel the chill of its otherworldly touch.

Cecil, though, was going to win, and Salvatar knew this. He stepped out of Cecil's way, and declared defeat. Cecil stepped forward to claim his prize, but as he did, he saw Salvatar looking at a small child, scared out of his mind. The spirit went after the child. Cecil had a choice: He was close enough to the child that he could dive and save it, but that would mean the shield would be lost to the sprit again...another battle Cecil knew he would not win for he would leave himself open for attack against the spirit trying to save the child. Or, he could grab the shield and forget the child.

The second idea wasn't even an option.

Diving with all his strength, Cecil grabbed grabbed the child in his arms and rolled away. He landed above the kid, who Cecil had found to be but an illusion. "Damn!" He was prone, sprawled on the floor face first. There was no time to move as the spirit came toward him. He cursed, anticipating the attack. A chilling grip found his arm, and he was being dragged to his feet.

"What?" Cecil was confused - there was no pain, just a chill.

"It seems I have been wrong about you, dark one....or should I say, one born of a dragon. Thou hast proven thyself worthy of the Spirit Shield, to which I am linked. Even if you had taken the shield, you would not have been able to use it, for I am the power it holds..."

All Cecil could say was, "Huh?"

"Do not be confused. I know now why you were able to see myself and the shield. YOU are the one of light... it is your destiny to hoist the light and the dark."

Cecil's medallion started to pulse, the color varying from obsidian the pure whiteness of Cecil's soul. Cecil's dark shield was pulled from his grip and, with the spirit shield, started spinning about each other in the air. Salvatar spoke again.

"One of light, accept my service, for my powers will now be yours to call upon." With that, the shields became one, and the spirit was absorbed into them. "Take this shield and find the spirit Cerebratan. He shall aid you, as will all my brothers...."

The shield came to rest in Cecil's hands.

"But how do I find Cerebratan?" There was no answer. Cecil took a seat upon his decaying throne to ponder what had happened.

Why did this always have to happen? Three times in the same lifetime - or was it four? - prisoner of gravity. Too bad, she thought, there's no one to copy a Float spell off of.

After a particularly painful landing (I _must_ remember to bring Cherub Down with me), Gogo looked around at her surroundings. A dank cave, with scattered bridges and large, gaping pits. Some hole... reminds me of that triangular prison I spent years in. Then came a voice. An indistinct man's voice, muted and muffled by the stone, but clearly human, and sounding as if from the bottom of a conical pit, in which someone had left a ladder. Hmmm...

The Ancient Castle awaited her at the bottom, its ruined marble towers hung with cobwebs, its door rusted off its hinges. She could see, now, the source of her sobbing - a well-muscled man, hair with a lavender tinge, an immense broadsword in his belt, almost glowing with internal energy. This must have been the Paladin of legend - Cecil himself was sitting on the cobblestone floor outside the main hall. Crying. I wonder, thought Gogo, if I can cheer him up...

"Hello there! I was wondering where you were!" A perfect copy of Rydia's voice rang through the cavern. Sure, it was sort of mean, but it was all in fun...

"Rydia?" The man ceased sobbing. "Where are you?"

Um... "I'm here behind this wall -" Gogo changed voices, to Edge's. "- with me!"

"Edge? You too? You sound like you're behind that wall over there - I'll be right over!"

Hm - perhaps this had gone too far. "Actually, neither of them are here. Sorry to get your hopes up, but it was all in fun." The look on Cecil's face was one of pure exasperation. "Look, I'm sorry. I wanted to make my presence known, so I thought I'd act familiar. Guess it backfired. Pleased to meet you, I'm Gogo, master of the simulacrum. You must be Cecil, right?"

The Paladin remained silent, staring at Gogo.

"Hm - maybe I didn't make the best first impression. Look, I want to come with you - I can help." The Paladin finally spoke.

"Help? HELP? Look at this - my castle, gone; those who I thought my friends, merely voices of a mimic - and now you want to help me?"

"I'm sorry about the voices, really. Forgive me? Please?"

Gogo had been hounding Cecil for almost half an hour, as he dug through the rubble to find any semblance of his past life. He had not answered yet, and Gogo was quite understably miffed.

"Hmph. All right, _be_ that way! I, master of the simulacrum, am going to find someone else to be my companion." No response from the Paladin. Oh well...

Backtracking her steps, Gogo came to the old exit of the caves leading to the castle. There was nothing there, of course, but a castle-sized tunnel in the rock, the perfect size for Figaro. Well, thought the mimic, nowhere else to go.

Turning left and hiking down the long tunnel, Gogo arrived (in a matter of hours - distances, for some reason, were very short on this world) at the desert south of Kohlingen. At least, she _assumed_ it to be the desert south of Kohlingen. All she could see were the tracks left by the burrowing castle as it lowered, then a ceiling of sand. Why wasn't it collapsing? Hm. One of the great mysteries of life, she supposed. Onward and upward! Besides, Gogo had a feeling she would find something there.

She did. After a night's stay at the inn (Gogo always made sure to have a little spare cash tucked away in the folds of her robes), she had set out to find the one person who could accept her as who and what she really was, and not as a mere copycat: her only true love. Sure enough, news of him had been around. The man had just left to the south. I'm coming, thought Gogo silently. You always thought you could outrun me...

Sitting, Cecil tried to grasp what he dared not to believe. /Rydia, Edge, AND Golbez....they were...are all alive./ But how had they survived all the years between now and then? Sure, Golbez was in hibernation, and Rydia was in that strange land of monsters, but Edge? And now his friend was gone. There was a Red Mage here, older even than Golbez or Rydia. An Ancient of legend when he, Cecil, had been a mere child. And his new friend, Tucker, who shouldn't even be alive yet... was there no meaning to time anymore?

His mind wandered again, to where it had landed every few seconds of thought... to Golbez. His brother, whom had once been his ultimate nemesis, was here, and this time they were fighting on the same side. Strange was not the word. Eerie was more appropriate.

"Brother, I have missed you..."

Golbez's voice woke him from his reverie. He was indeed "brother".

"Brother..." It was all Cecil could reply as he jumped out of his chair and clasped his hands around Golbez in an embrace only brothers could understand.

And then the other thought, the one he tried to suppress, hit him with full force.

"Golbez.... is... is..." The words came out fragmented and barely coherent, "Is... Rosa... alive?" It was the question he couldn't let himself ask, for fear of the answer, but he had done just that.

"Yes" was the reply from Golbez, who knew only that she guarded the crystal of flight.

"But how?" Cecil's voice was desparate, as if the one hope in his life was on the verge of being destroyed.

"FuSoYa. Your ex-wife became the guardian, and was granted magics to preserve her life. I know not where she is at present...Only FuSoYa would know where he stationed her."

Cecil didn't hear Golbez say 'ex'....he only heard that Rosa was alive. The world was spinning, sound had lost its meaning, and he could not feel anything...reality had crashed down upon Cecil.

* - * - *

"I think he's coming to!"

A voice... female... he knew the voice... Rydia!

"Rydia?... What happened?"

"You fainted, Cecil."

It came back to him, but this time reality held its place. It was as if something else was protecting his mental condition...

"Cecil... Ceeeccciiilll... your love is alive... yes... but she is far away... betwixt the mountain and the sky... she lies in waiting for the moon... you must forget about her... for now... you must find Cerebratan and the others... for we are the answer to the chaos...." Salvatar, as he had done for the past day or so, once again spoke cryptically to Cecil through his mind.

"Cecil? You okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine... just a little dizzy, that's all."

The others accepted this, and life returned to normal. But for Cecil, his mind was piecing together a puzzle. Time was in chaos...

He then began to think about his problems. First, there was that beast still following him. Second, there was that damned demon spawn Edgar and third, there was that blasted rune he had carved into my cheek! thought Tucker violently.

He brushed his hand against his cheek and was shocked. The rune was gone! He thought back... /that healing ray. The beam of light from that fourheaded lady must've healed me, including that rune! Well... that's two problems left two go./

Tucker finished fixing his grappling hook, tested it by plucking sleeping birds from the trees and letting them fly back up, and was satisfied. Happy to be free from burden, for a while, he snuggled into sleep. And in his dreams, he visited home, a place he had not been to in a long time.

Edge was the first to awaken in the party of his reunited old friends. Cecil and Tucker lay slumbering alongside one another, snoring loudly. Rydia slept quietly alongside Edge's bedroll. Golbez chose to sleep alone. Edge stretched, and watched the dawn.

"Y'know," Edge said to no one in particular, "I never really took the time in life to enjoy the beauties of nature. My life has always been crash-boom-bang and always on the go. Now, I realize what is at stake if Edgar gets his mitts on the rest of the Orb."

Edge decided to find some breakfast for himself and the others. Creeping quietly away from the campsite, Edge padded down to a small pond. Much to his delight, there were fish swimming within. Withdrawing some line and hook, Edge made a makeshift fishing pole and began to fish.

Half an hour passed, and Edge had yet to score a catch for the meal. From behind, someone approached him. Edge turned to face the intruder.

Rydia's smiling face greeted Edge. She waved, then sat down beside him.

"Edge," Rydia began, "I'm glad you decided to see things through before you acted on your anger."

Edge shrugged. "I couldn't let you cry. Besides, like you and Tucker said, a man can change over time."

Rydia smiled a sweet smile. "Catch anything?"

Edge shook his head. "No, not even a little nibble. Maybe it's my bait."

"What are you using?"

"Nothing." Edge grinned.

Rydia giggled. "That may explain your problem, Edge. Here..." From her pouch Rydia produced a handful of worms. "These tend to work better than a bare hook."

Edge stammered, unsure of what to say. "Thanks," he managed. Edge applied the bait to his hook and cast his line into the brink once again.

Rydia looked around, at a loss for words. "It sure is a beautiful morning, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Edge nodded. "Pretty."

An uncomfortable silence ensued for several minutes. Rydia was looking around, not focusing her attention on anything in particular, and Edge was watching his pool of fish.

Edge broke the silence. "D'you think that we'll ever catch up with Cardia? Golbez seems hell-bent on finding him."

"I don't know," Rydia answered, "but for Golbez's sake I hope that we do. I've never seen a man so consumed with a goal before. It's almost not natural."

"Yeah, but you gotta admit, Golbez is far from your average Joe."

Rydia nodded in acknowledgement. "That he is... he is special, no doubt about that."

"We're all special in our own way, Rydia." Edge gazed into Rydia's shining eyes. "Don't ever forget it."

Rydia flushed. "N-no, I won't forget, Edge." Rydia began to shiver.

"What's the matter? Are you cold?" Edge asked Rydia.

"A little." Rydia lied. Something more than the chills bothered her, deep down in her heart. She didn't know what to call it, but she had stronger feelings for Edge than she did for any other person she'd ever met. Rydia only wished that she knew for sure if Edge felt the same way towards her.

Edge removed his cape from around his neck. "Here, wear this. It should keep you warm." Edge offered the cape to Rydia.

Rydia held out her palm, disappointed. "No, Edge, you keep it. I'll be fine." Rydia sighed in frustration. Damn him! she thought. Why does he have to be so cold and impassive? Can't he tell me what he's feeling, just once? "In fact, I'll head back to camp and get a fire going. I should be fine once it gets burning." Without waiting for a response, Rydia turned away from Edge and stalked back to camp.

Edge shuddered. /I couldn't possibly tell her how I feel,/ he thought. If only she knew... but I know that we could never be. Her world is too different from my own. She would be unhappy living my life. I'm probably better off without her... Edge slammed his palm into the slender tree on which he was leaning against. The wood splintered under the crushing blow. "If only things were different," Edge said aloud, and for the first time ever, Edge wept.

*****

Edge returned to camp with a half-dozen fish, ready for cooking. On Edge's approach, Rydia turned away, averting her gaze. The others had awoken, and were hungry. The party ate, broke camp, and discussed what to do next.

"Well, I see we have two options," Cecil offered. "We can either attempt to rescue the Orb from Edgar's stronghold, or we can search for more clues as to the disappearance of Cardia Lemieux and the Red Crystal. Neither course of action is favorable, and both will be exceptionally difficult."

Edge nodded. "The only place we could begin looking for clues to Cardia's disappearance is up there," Edge pointed to the mid-morning sky, "on the Red Moon. And since we don't have a Big Whale to get us there, that doesn't leave many options."

Tucker continued. "And that Orb that you're all lookin' for is in the hands of the baddest fella I've seen in a LONG time. He's bound to have guards, sentries, traps... heck, he's got a whole ARMY behind him, if he needs it. I see what you mean, Cecil."

Golbez added, "My damaged airship is still on the Veldt. I have no means of repairing it, and even if I did have the means, I don't think I could fix it anyway. I'm no engineer. Mind you, I couldn't even begin to guess at the odds of anyone being able to fix the useless thing."

Edge chimed in, "Well, think about it for a sec. If all of us who were on the Big Whale survived its crash into the Sun, then Cid should still be around somewhere. HE could do a real good job on it. And, I must admit, I managed to pick up a few pointers while we worked on the drills for our old airship."

Rydia snapped her fingers. "I think I might know a way. Golbez, where did Cardia say he was headed for when he clashed arms with you?"

Golbez pondered for a moment. "Why, I believe he said he was heading for Bahamut. Apparently he thought that Bahamut would have all the answers."

Rydia grinned a huge grin. "Well, let's see if Cardia did indeed make it to Bahamut." Rydia stood, and began chanting. "From the Land of Summoned Monsters, I call Bahamut! Please, we are in need of vital information."

From nowhere, the huge form of Bahamut appeared before the party. The gargantuan dragon looked down at familiar faces, minus one. "Ah, Rydia. I see you have found some old friends, and a new one as well."

Rydia nodded. "Bahamut, we need to know if a Red Wizard by the name of Cardia Lemieux approached you concerning the Red Crystals."

Bahamut seemed to ponder this for some time. Then, he breathed, "Yes. Cardia Lemieux did seek my aid. I did not give it to him. No mortal should be concerned with the affairs of Lunarians. Nor should one decide on ruling over others with the aid of Lunarian knowledge."

"What did he ask, O great King of the Monsters?" Rydia asked.

"The mortal wished to know the source of the Red Crystals, and how he could tap their power and make it his own. That is not the way of red magic. That is the way of evil sorcery, sorcery that we Lunarians could not allow to come about. Not in this day and age."

"Bahamut, we believe that Cardia is partly responsible for Edgar's abrupt changes. It was Cardia that had knowledge of the Orbs, and sought Red wizardry to further his own cause, whatever that may be."

Bahamut considered Rydia's words. "Rydia, I will do what I can. But remember that we Lunarians cannot interfere in the affairs of the Blue Planet. Not before it is time." Bahamut then vanished as abruptly as he appeared.

"There you have it," Golbez growled, "Cardia is loose and wielding forbidden magic. Should he decide to join Edgar's cause, then all may well be lost."

"But where to begin the search?" Cecil asked.

"I suggest we split up," Edge offered, "and search each and every little nook and cranny of this planet until we find Cardia, or until we find others that may help us. So far, it seems to be the only chance we have."

Edge continued. "I intend to search the southernmost continent. I feel something is amiss there, but I do not know what it could be. Rest assured that I'll be back in one piece. We can keep in touch via carrier pigeon, and we'll cover more ground."

"But that's a lot of ground to cover, Edge, and none of us know our way around!" Tucker didn't like the idea of being alone on a strange planet, technology or no.

"Then that's exactly why we should start immediately." Edge rolled up his belongings in his bedroll and hoisted it onto his back. "I don't know what you all intend to do, but please understand that I MUST reach the southernmost continent. It is important to me." Without a further word, Edge began his trek.

Edge turned around to face Rydia. Her face, her eyes, who couldn't love her? "Rydia, I cannot explain why I must go."

Rydia frowned. "Sounds to me like you WON'T explain why you're leaving... and don't give me that 'It's my duty as a Ninja' speech, either... I may have fallen for it once, but not twice."

Cecil approached Edge. "Edge, Rydia is right. You're way out of line here. Be honest. You have absolutely no reason to leave us, do you? What problems could you be having that all of us couldn't help you with?"

Edge sighed. "Fine, you're right, I'm guilty." Edge took his bedroll off his back and hurled it on the ground. "Now, can we PLEASE get on with finding this Cardia fellow before I die of boredom?"

Tucker pulled Edge aside, and asked in a hushed tone, "Edge, old man, level with me. I know we haven't done the big bonding thing like you and the others have, but you can trust me. It's Rydia, isn't it." The last sentence was a statement.

Edge stood there, montionless for several seconds, staring at the ground. Slowly, he then nodded. "Not here, Tucker. Later." Edge cancelled any notion of a guy-to-guy chat with Tucker. Edge just wasn't in the mood.

Golbez watched Edge speaking with Tucker, nodding silently to himself. "I almost envy the man," he noted to himself.

Tucker brought Edge back to the group. "S'okay now, isn't it, old man?" Tucker playfully punched Edge in the shoulder.

"Yeah, fine," Edge said in a monotone.

Rydia didn't know what to say, what to think about the whole situation. She just stood there, quietly dealing with her own inner struggles.

Cecil nodded. "Okay then, maybe we'd best be getting on, then. There's no telling where Cardia could be."

*****

The party had been travelling for days in the direction of Kefka's Tower. It was there that the whole mess with Cardia had begun, and was agreed that there would be the ideal place to begin.

The red beam of light that once flowed skyward was no longer present. Only charred fragments of the tower remained.

"I guess we might as well go in," Tucker said.

The party entered the remains of Kefka's Tower. Little was to be seen here. Empty treasure chests lay splintered all about the ruin. Ancient documents laye scattered and burned across the floors. Magitek equipment lay far beyond the state of repair throughout the debris. The party searched the ruin high and low, and by nightfall they had come up empty.

"I don't understand it," Edge exclaimed. "How could the source of a powerful magic beam suddenly vanish, leaving nothing in its wake?"

Golbez growled, "We can search again tomorrow. We might as well rest for the evening." The others agreed. The camp was set, and the party crawled into their bedrolls.

All except two people, that is.

Edge, not being able to sleep, left the campsite to wander the woods. There was too much on his mind to allow any comfortable sleep. In the moonlight, Edge trained his body in ways he had not done since adolescence. Edge always felt that those exercises were unnecessary, that he was too talented for need of exercise. Now, Edge was worried. Edge felt weaknesses he had never felt before. He was dealt defeat by a woman he barely knew. His magic had left him for good. His emotions were taking control of his life. And now, he was being counted on to help rid the world of another ultimate evil. Edge didn't know what to think. His entire life had changed so drastically, nothing came clear to him anymore. Everything was a jumble of events that didn't seem to connect.

Edge doubted himself, and this doubt would surely be his downfall, if he didn't do something about it.

Golbez, during the night, quietly slipped away from camp. No one saw him leave. Not even Edge, who didn't sleep a wink.

******

Morning. Edge sat a good distance away from the others in a clearing which he had made by his training. Trees were torn in half by cuts delivered by his twin blades. The ground was packed down with endless pressure supplied by the Ninja's deadly dance. Rocks were strewn about, once boulders, but shattered by the force of Edge's blows. Edge was returning himself to nature. It was in this clearing that he meditated and awaited an answer to his dilemma.

Cecil awoke with a start, a victim of a bad dream. He had dreamed of fire and quakes, famine and plague, a world that would be dominated by Edgar's cruel and vicious heart if there were no one to try and stop him. It was not a pleasant sight.

Looking around the campsite, Cecil saw Tucker and Rydia quietly sleeping in their bedrolls. Golbez and Edge, however, were nowhere to be seen.

"Wake up! Tucker! Rydia!" Cecil urged frantically.

Tucker mumbled something, then rolled over to look into the face of a worried Cecil. "What's wrong, Cecil? You look as though you've seen a ghost... and you probably did, too, you and your kooky adventures..."

"Tucker, this is serious. Golbez and Edge are missing."

Tucker sprang to his feet. "Aw, Cecil, you don't think they...?"

Rydia slowly drifted into consciousness. "They, who?"

Cecil said, "Golbez and Edge. They're gone."

Rydia gasped, "Oh, Edge, you didn't!"

The three hoped that Edge didn't carry out his threat to Golbez, and hoped that the two were still alive and not engaged in mortal combat. But there was no telling for sure.

"C'mon," Tucker urged, "Let's split up! They couldn't have gotten far..."

Cecil let out a moan, "Tucker, there's no telling how far my brother could have gotten in the dark. He is one with the darkness, and it helps him from time to time. And you already know it's pointless to try and track Edge... he just doesn't leave a trail."

Tucker grinned and pointed. "Oh, I think he left one loud and clear, right over there." A path had been cut through the high bushes, leading deeper into the forest. "Let's go."

Cecil and Rydia nodded. The three followed the trail for some time, noting the subtle changes in the path's direction. Whoever made this path wasn't too worried about who might be following it; it was clearly made with no order in mind.

Rydia was worried to her bones. /Damn you, Edge, if you went off and did something foolish like killing yourself, I'd never live to see another day. I swear it./

By the time the group reached the clearing, Edge had awoken from his trance, and was just getting ready to leave. Edge looked up in surprise at his three companions whom he did not expect to see. The group was even less prepared to see the destruction that Edge lay on the surrounding area.

"D'you do all this, old man?" Tucker was most impressed of the three. "Just you? No machines, no nothing?"

Edge only nodded.

Rydia stalked up to Edge, anger in her eyes. "Edge, that tears it. If you have a problem, I want to hear it right now, or I'm leaving here and never setting foot on this earth again!" Edge could see that Rydia was genuine in her threat. /I wish I could live in seclusion,/ Edge mused, /but that is not my way./

Edge tore his mask from his face, and grabbed Rydia by her waist. In one swift motion, Edge pressed his lips against Rydia's, and held her with all the passion he could muster. Rydia, taken totally by surprise, pushed Edge away in disgust.

"You... you..." Rydia was absolutely livid. "How dare you...?"

Edge reached out with his mind, trying to calm Rydia down. As far as he could tell, the attempt was useless.

"Edge, you've put me through hell and back, and I've stood with you as loyal as friends can be! I've risked my life and yours to better this world, and I'm not going to just ignore that. And now, all of a sudden, you have the nerve to just whisk me into your arms and kiss me like we've been lovers for years! If I don't hear the absolute truth as to why you've been acting so strangely, I will never speak to you again as long as we both shall live..." Rydia's rage was unstoppable.

Edge took Rydia by her hands, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Rydia... I..." Edge stammered.

"You what, Edge, WHAT?" Rydia spat.

"I... love you, Rydia."

Rydia's face went blank.

"Rydia, from the first day we met, your every move, every smile, every word that you spoke to me, I have cherished and adored you. You are the kindest, gentlest, most loving creature I have ever had the privolege to be in the same company with. The very sun pales in comparison to the radiance of your beauty. Rydia, it is true. I would give my life for you... all you need do is but ask."

Rydia paled. She definitely did not expect this. Not from Edge. Not from egotistical, loose-cannon Edge.

"For years I have tried to cope with the emptiness in my heart that could only be filled by you, Rydia. There is no other woman on the face of this earth that I have loved more dearly, more intimately, than you. I have never had the courage to tell you these words, Rydia, until now. The thought of losing you because of my silence was unbearable. If you'll forgive me, I'll stop talking now and feast off the foot in my mouth." Edge lowered his gaze to the ground, waiting for the worst.

Rydia stepped to Edge, placed her hand delicately under Edge's chin. She lifted his head, forcing him to meet her gaze. Tears were welling in Rydia's eyes.

"Edge," she began, "I cannot believe this to be true. You would tell me that you love me. Edge, I have waited so long for you to say to me those words, for I have felt the same way towards you for the longest time. The Land of Summoned Monsters is a lonely place, Edge. No one of my kind lives down there. That life of seclusion drove me to leave in search of greater things. And nothing is more greater than love. I prayed each day that I would somehow find you, hoped that you were alive after all this time... and finally, finally, my prayers have been answered."

"Oh, Edge..."

Rydia tenderly brought Edge's lips to her own. Edge and Rydia embraced, and did not let go for a long time. Cecil and Tucker could only watch on, not wanting to disturb the tender moment. Cecil and Tucker smiled knowingly to one another.

"I knew he loved her," Tucker said.

"Heh, maybe so, but I knew it before you did." Cecil grinned.

"I don't think so. I have a greater eye for that kind of thing than you," Tucker teased, "I mean, I've had to give up so many women in my time... they just didn't work out. I've learned from my mistakes."

Cecil laughed. "And I'm sure you've learned a lot, haven't you?"

Tucker laughed along with Cecil. "More than you'll ever know."

Cecil couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness looking at Edge and Rydia. Cecil wondered where his betrothed was right now. Edge had said that Rosa was on the Big Whale... she must be here somewhere...

Tucker jogged ahead and caught up with the cozy couple. "Hey, you two, I'd hate to break up a tender moment here, but we still have a tower to explore." Tucker smiled.

Edge grinned. "Sure thing, Tucker. Feeling up to it, love?"

Rydia smiled. "Anytime you're ready, dear."

Tucker chuckled. "Oh, please. Love and dear and honeybunch... sheesh. I'm gonna have to find me a set of earplugs just so I don't get sick from all this sweet talk every night." Tucker winked at the couple.

Rydia giggled. "Oh, I'm sure that you'll be able to sleep just fine, Tucker. You'll never hear us over your snoring." Rydia stuck her tongue out at Tucker.

Tucker stammered, then laughed. "I don't snore." Tucker folded his arms in mock insult. He then stuck out his tongue at Rydia. Everyone was laughing by now.

*****

Shortly after the walk, the party entered Kefka's tower once more. The party searched the remainig floors of the tower, but came up empty- handed.

"I just don't get it," Tucker complained, "You have your basic all- powerful tower here and nothing makes it through its gettin' blown up. Makes you wonder about how things are built around this time..."

Edge rolled his eyes. "We're sorry, Tucker, but we've been lacking fiberglass ever since the chocobo epedemic."

"Chocobo epidemic?" Tucker was puzzled.

"Yeah. We tried to make the stables for the chocobos out of fiberglass. Poor birds couldn't tell the walls for the door. Millions died charging full-tilt into what they thought was a door."

Tucker smirked, and smacked Edge upside the head. "Goof."

Edge chuckled.

Cecil, however, had better luck than the others. "Hey, everyone, come and check this out!"

The group moved over to where Cecil was pointing. Carved into the stone floor of the tower, a strange rune sat glowing a pale amber light. It was shaped like a triangle, with small circles at each of the triangle's points.

"What do you suppose it is?" Rydia asked.

"Looks to me like a teleportation device," Tucker offered.

"Only one way to find out." Edge hopped into the center of the triangle.

Rydia gasped. "Edge!"

Edge chuckled. "Don't worry, Rydia, Tucker's right. You KNOW I wouldn't have jumped on this triangle if it had posed any danger to myself."

Rydia rolled her eyes and smiled. "Sure."

Edge's form was surrounded by silvery motes, and to the others, he appeared to have vanished.

To Edge, however, the room appeared to grow slightly, but it retained the same decor: ruin. Edge stepped off the teleportation device and allowed the others to arrive.

"Nice place," Tucker noted, "For a ruin."

The party saw a corridor which branched off from the large entry room. They entered this corridor and followed it. The father they got down the corridor, the less damage they could see. By the time they were halfway down the corridor, there was no damage to be found. Glowing lights ran the lenght of the halls, all seeming to pulsate and move towards the end of the corridor. By the time they reached the 3/4 mark, they heard something.

"That sounds like... a battle!" Edge remarked.

The party raced down the hall, eager to see what was going on. They were not prepared for what they saw.

A man, dressed entirely in crimson robes, had long, white hair down to his shoulders. He appeared to be casting spells, but how could that be possible? On the other side of the man, another man, dressed entirely in black, held an onyx sword and was fending off the magical attacks.

"BROTHER!" Cecil yelled.

Both combattants came to a halt. "Brother, is he? Well, Golbez, I didn't know you had any family. Maybe I should spare you so you can tell me all about it." The red-robed man grinned.

"Cardia, I've already explained to you the purpose of my following you. If you are unwilling to accept this rational explanation, then I fear that one of us shall die. But if you do not believe me, ask those people over there. They will tell you the truth." The dark-clad man stood his full height, looking down at Cardia.

Cardia turned to the newcomers to the scene. "Somehow, Golbez, I doubt that very much. He IS related after all, and he'd probably lie for you if you asked him to."

Cecil spoke. "I would not lie to save my own brother, Cardia. I am a man of my word. I am Cecil, Paladin of Light and King of Baron."

Cardia nodded. "An interesting collection of titles. And who might your other companions be?"

Edge stepped into the light. "I am Edge, Ninja of Light and King of Eblan."

Rydia stepped forth. "I am Rydia, Caller of Light from the village Mist."

Tucker stumbled into the chamber. "Hi, I'm Tucker."

Cardia nodded. "So you are the heroes that save the world for the second time over, are you? How nice. I would never think that I'd get a chance to meet you."

Edge answered, "Well, if you wouldn't have been in such a hurry to get that Red Crystal, you would have seen me."

Cardia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, how so?"

"I chased you up that magic red beam of light to the Moon."

Cardia grinned. "So that was you! My life just keeps getting better and better. But enough small talk."

Cardia turned to Golbez. "Golbez, I have come for the Orb. It would be wise for you to return it to me."

Golbez growled, "I cannot 'return' what is not rightfully yours. Besides, I do not have the Orb. Edgar took the Orb from a girl named Celes."

Cecil spoke. "He speaks the truth, Cardia. The Orb is now in the hands of Edgar. If you want it, go get it from him."

Cardia smirked. "An interesting propostion... but no. If I cannot have the Orb, then at least I can have the Red Crystal. With this Crystal, I can return to my time or any other time I wish."

Tucker and Edge gasped.

Tucker said, "You could get me back home?"

Cardia nodded. "Yes, I could deliver you to your own time, Tucker. But what purpose would that serve me?"

"None, probably. I just thought you'd be a swell guy and offer."

"No, my friend, I do not merely 'offer'."

Edge spoke. "If I could get you a shard of the Orb, could you take me to save my parents from being transformed by Dr. Lugae?"

Cardia grinned. "This man speaks my language. That, Ninja Edge, is a fair deal. I agree to your terms. But I demand the shard of Orb before I take you to your parents."

Edge realized that he had suddenly dug himself a very deep hole.

In order to get a shard of the Orb, Edge would have to infiltrate Edgar's stronghold and capture a shard of the Orb from under his very nose. A task even the greatest of Ninja would find nearly impossible.

On the other hand, Edge knew of several shards of Orb that were floating around. Celes had one. Cecil had another.

Edge could not ask Cecil to give up a treasure as important as an Orb shard. Everyone was in need of Cecil's healing magic. And Edge could not ask Celes for her shard of the Orb... she and Edge had been through too many rough times to make that plan viable.

And then there was Rydia... was Edge willing to part company with Rydia in order to search for his parents?

And the final piece in the gambling hoard... could Cardia actually be trusted?