Kiriani Miral was looking out over the horizon, as she had every morning for almost a year. And just like every morning, all she could see was the ocean, stretching for miles around, and not a boat in sight. With a sigh, she turned back, and looked back to the small hut that had become her home. It was a makeshift job, comstructed from driftwood and mud, but it was sufficient; Kiri was a survivor, 'Besides,' she said to herself, waxing nostalgic for a moment, 'it's not all that much worse than the Imperial Cadets' barracks.' A wry grin touched her tanned face. It seemed an eternity since she had been 'recruited' by the Empire in Maranda...And it seemed like most of that eternity had been spent here, on this tiny, wretched island. The corners of her mouth turned downwards, and the old anger rolled back in like a thunderhead. Curse the Empire! Curse Kefka! Someday, she would have her revenge on them. She would make them pay for her humiliation!

Returning to the hut, she picked up the helmet that now served her as a basin. The soldiers who had dumped her here had made the mistake of untying her before they left, and one had payed with his life before he could regain the boat.

She slowly walked back down to the beach, and filled the helmet with water. She looked once more out across the sea...and saw her dream come true. A ship! 'Quick!' she ordered herself, 'think fast!' A signal, a signal...The helmet! It was a reflective surface! She turned it over, dumping cold salt water all over her legs. From her soldier days, she recalled a signal code and flashed a message at the distant ship: 'SOS'...

Kiri waited anxiously. Then a reply came. 'On our way!' Her heart lept with joy as hope returned. Flinging the helmet to the ground, she ran back to the dwelling as fast as she could, spraying sand out behind her.

Her possessions were few; she had only a sleeping pallet made from dried grass, and a hand-carved spear. She grabbed the latter from where it was leaning against the wall, and glanced for the last time at the inside of the hut. Her eyes came to rest on something laying on the mat. It was a small bundle wrapped in the remnants of an Imperial soldier's uniform. A storm of emotions crossed the woman's face as she stooped and gathered it in her arms.

"No," she breathed in a bitter whisper, "I wouldn't forget you. How could I?"

The baby stretched out a tiny hand and made a soft noise.

"Be quiet!" she hissed. "We're getting out of here."

She stepped out the doorway and looked out to the boat. It was much closer now, and she could make out lettering and a strange logo on its hull...

"Hidon Tour?" she read the words aloud. "A tour boat? Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter much..." She watched as it came closer to land, until finally a gangplank was lowered. An older man in a ridiculous pink robe walked down it, chattering like a squirrel.

"Well hello there, miss! Looks like you're in a tight spot here! Good thing I came along now, wasn't it? But it's always that way I suppose; up to Gungho to save the day! By the way, that's me: Gungho! Pleased to meet you!" He stuck out his hand, and Kiri took it reluctantly.

"I am... Kiriani Miral."

"Whoah! That's a pretty name for a pretty lady. Don't you worry now, I'll have you to Thamasa in two shakes of a dragon's head! Got blown a little off course a while back, but I'm set straight now! Yessir, it was nothing _I_ couldn't solve! Here, let me help you up the plank."

"That won't be necessary," she replied as she stepped back, drawing the child closer to her. "I am perfectly capable of walking up a board!" This ostentatious oaf was beginning to bother her, but she needed to get off this blasted island...

"Sure, whatever!" he was saying, undaunted. He walked right behind her up to the ship. "Say, that's a cute kid! Has your eyes, I'd say... Perhaps you'd care for a stuffed Hidon? Kids love 'em..."

"My son does not play with dolls," she replied tersely.

The old man nodded wisely. "Ah! I see. Don't want him to be a sissy, eh? Heh, heh! What's his name, anyway?"

Kiri glared suspiciously at Gungho. She was grateful for the means of escape, but she really wished he would leave her alone... "He doesn't _have_ one," she said shortly. No effect.

"Haven't picked one out yet, eh? Well, it _is_ a big decision you know..."

"No. He just doesn't have one." The old man looked at her strangely.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh... uh, yes. Well, alright then. I'll just... show you to a cabin..." He led Kiri below decks, and soon she was blissfully alone. 'Well, almost alone,' she thought, looking down at the child, who was sleeping in her arms. She turned to the porthole.

As she gazed out at the sea, her mind began to wander. She wondered what had happened to her brother, Joran, inTzen. 'Is he even alive?' she mused, as she absently stroked the baby's fine blond hair. 'Probably not...I've been gone so long...' But soon, she would be in Thamasa. Soon...

She laid the infant on the bed, and took out her knife. She selected a chair to sit in, and began to sharpen her spear.

"What's going on?" Gungho had come up from below decks, and was staring at the spectacle with a terrified expression.

"It's a battle," she stated. "The Empire is attacking Thamasa."

Gungho paled. "War...We'd feared this, but..."

"There's no time for discussion. Can this thing move any faster?"

* * * * *

Not much later, the ship dropped anchor a short distance from the besieged village. Kiri stood by the deck railing, poised to jump down and charge into the fray. There was only one matter she had to take care of first.

"You'll have to take the child," she said, turning to Gungho, and placed the infant in his arms. "Bring him to me when the fighting is over."

"Uh, I don't know..." he said, looking rather dubious.

"Nonsense," said Kiri, getting up on the railing. "He's only a baby. How hard could it be?" But the child had other ideas. Separated from his mother for the first time in his short life, he began to scream. Kiri, however, did not seem to hear. Her gaze was turned upward, fixed on the terrible sight in the air.

Airships. Unlike anything she'd ever heard of. The sleek black shapes hung in the air silently, without balloon or propeller, raining fire on the small settlement.

"Goddesses," breathed Kiri. "What has this world become?"

Meanwhile, Gungho was still struggling with the bawling child. "Uh, Miss Miral..."

"Cope," she said. And, grabbing her spear, she jumped off the side.

* * * * *

Soon, she had made it to the town. The carnage was incredible. Imperial Soldiers were killing Thamasians left, right, and centre. But the Thamasians were fighting back, doing a fair bit of damage themselves. In addition, there were others fighting with them; probably Returners. Kiri glanced up again at the eerie airships. Before she got mixed up in this, she wanted to know what was going on... She scanned the battleground, and saw a soldier who had just killed a Thamasan, and was looking for a new target. Perfect. Circling around behind the unsuspecting man, she grabbed him and held her knife to his throat.

"We're going to have a little talk, friend."

* * * * *

Gorin Feyd struggled to break free, but the woman's hold was too strong. The knife she held at his jugular didn't help, either... "What do you want?"

"Tell me, soldier," she hissed in his ear, "what is going on here. And tell me where I may find... Kefka."

Feyd was confused. "Kefka? Where've you been? The traitor Celes and her accursed band defeated him long ago. We now fight under the banner of his brother, Akfek, and Lady DelAubre!"

"Really?" The woman's voice became thoughtful. "Well, then. I'll just have to kill *them* instead. And now, my helpful friend, it is time for us to say goodbye..." Feyd looked up into the face of his attacker...and recognized her. Her hair was cut and her face was scarred, but it was unmistakably her... Kiriani Miral, former Captain of the Guard at Albrook. But... Hadn't she been.... How had she escaped? He had to warn Lord Akfek. She was crazy! He felt the knife slice through the skin of his neck then, felt his blood pouring down his chest... and then, Gorin Feyd felt no more.

* * * * *

Kiri let the body fall to the ground. There was blood all over her clothing, but she didn't care. There would be more before the end of the day...She heard a scream to her left, and turned to see a petrified Returner facing an Imperial trooper in Magitek Armor. Her face grew grim. 'They're sending Magitek against *peasants*?' she thought disgustedly. 'How vile!' The trooper lifted his TekLaser cannon and levelled it at the rebel fighter. If something wasn't done, the man would be toast in a few seconds. Taking careful aim, Kiriani lifted her spear and threw it as hard as she could. It whistled through the air, and hit its target dead on: the mechanical joint of the Armor's walking legs. The soldier, startled, fired his cannon, but missed by a mile. The Returner, a young man with long dark hair, circled around behind the immobilized fighting machine, and proceeded to push it over, leaving the soldier pinned inside. 'Innovative youth,' she thought, as he gave her a wave of thanks, and then dashed off. 'But so young to be fighting...'

Then, she heard something above her head. It sounded like a pair of wings flapping, but that couldn't be it; it would have to be one *hell* of a bird... She looked up. There was a monster in the sky. A huge, black creature, reminiscent of the gargoyles intended to ward off evil spirits, was soaring overhead. Kiri stared in amazement. She had seen the monsters created by Gestahl and Kefka. THIS was completely different... What kind of people were these new Imperial rulers? What kind of power did they have? As she watched, she saw the creature circle like a hawk, and then dive towards the land. Silently, she said a prayer for whoever might be about to face it....

And then, the sky fell. As the Imperial airships retreated, they rained fiery death on the town, causing more damage than the end of the world itself had.

Kiri was knocked out by the blast. When she awoke, she found that she had lost the vision in her right eye. It was obcured by blood, which seemed to be coming from her forehead. Gingerly, she raised her hand to evaluate her condition, and hissed with pain as her fingers touched the wound. It seemed to be about 4 inches long, slashed straight across her forehead. 'Wonerful,' she thought, 'Now I'm even _more_ beautiful...' Wiping the blood from her eye, she looked around for something to stem its flow. Noticing the body of an Imperial soldier nearby, she ripped a strip from his uniform and tied it around her head like a bandanna. Then, she turned to survey the carnage around her.

Thamasa... was toast. Few buildings were left standing, and those that were were hardly prime real estate anymore.

The huge gargoyle lay dead in what had been the centre of town. Presumably, it had been defeated by the Returner reinforcements. Kiri wished she had been able to help, but was nonetheless pleased by its demise.

But the monster's body was not the only one lying in the rubble of Thamasa. Returners and Thamasans alike were poking through the smoking ruins, looking for whatever remained of their family and friends. Kiriani gritted her teeth, trying to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes. How could any human being inflict such pain and suffering, and feel nothing? How black was the heart that could spawn such evil? 'You should know _that_ better than anyone,' a small voice inside her whispered. A single tear rolled down her cheek, tracing a clean line along her soot- streaked face. She suddenly felt very tired...

She heard footsteps, and turned around, wiping away the evidence of her emotions. Staggering into what was left of Thamasa was Gungho. His pink robe was now tattered, and more of a sooty mauve. His eyebrows had been completely singed off.

"My boat... my boat... the bombs... my boat!..." He kept repeating this, as if in a trance.

"Hey!" exclaimed Kiri as a realization struck her. Gungho wasn't carrying the baby. She grabbed him by the shoulders. "Where's... Oh, Goddess." The child was in a sort of sling on the old man's back, fast asleep. She loosened her grip on the elderly man's arms. "I'm sorry about your boat," she began again, "but look around you. These people have lost far more..." Gungho peered around, looking even more shaken than before.

"Oh my..." he murmured in horror, "perhaps we could help... somehow..."

Kiri nodded in affirmation "An excellent suggestion. Here. Pass me the child." She took Gungho's sling device, and adjusted it so that the sleeping infant rested on her stomach. "Just like old times," she remarked wryly.

"Where do you suppose we should start, Miss Miral?"

"Probably the... centre of town..." She hesitated slightly as she noticed something, or rather someONE odd walking around the edge of the town. It was a man, clad in dull red armor, and carrying two red knives. He was looking all around him, and seemed somewhat dazed. "You go on ahead," she told the older man, "I'll be along..." He nodded, and trotted off to help the citizens. Kiriani strode towards the stranger. It was his strange armor that had attracted her attention; he was no mere adventurer. But if so, what was he doing wandering around here as though he'd misplaced his brain? Shellshocked, maybe?....

"Hey you!" she called, "are you alright?" The stranger looked up at her as she drew closer.

"Yes...I think..."

"Do not attempt to rise," a strange and comforting voice stated. "You are still too weak to get up. It will pass in a little time." The voice reassured him and comforted him at the same time. Lulled by the calm and peace of the other's words, Leon fell into a gentle slumber.

Some time later, he reawoke feeling stronger. He tried to sit up agian but this time, he found that he had enough energy. Looking around, he got his first good glimpse of the room. It was a large room about fifteen feet high, 40 feet long, and 30 feet wide. There were many other beds such as his but he was the only inhabitant in the room. The walls wer composed of a material that looked metalic but transparent at the same time. Overhead, light pulsed from the ceiling but it seemed to have no source. There appeared to be no doors or windows. One wall, was transparent and seemed to be akin to a window but, there was soem type of glassy substance that was perfectly clear. As if it wasn't there. at first, he thought that there was nothing there but on a second glance, he saw a glint of light reflect from the surface. Through the wall, there was a plain that was dark and forbodding. It was darkness mixed with mists and he could only see a few feet into the darkness. The image so enraptured him that he didn't notice a form walking in behind him.

"So you have finally awoken," the form stated in a gentle manner.

Leon rapidly spun around. This caused dizzyness to overcome him.

"Peace," the form stated, "I wish you no harm."

Leon tried to form a few words. "Whr m I?" he managed to mumble.

"You are in the diamond tower in this land."

"Feeling a little recovered from his bout of dizzyness, and a litte more coherent, Leon managed to ask, "Wo re yu?"

"I am Tapek, the guardian of Magic," the form stated gently. "and you are in the world of the goddesses."

Leon, stunned by the answer fell back onto the bed.

Tapek walked over to him. "You will recover shortly. It is the magic of this place to aid recovery as quickly as possible."

Tapek left refusing t answer any more questions but promissing to return another day to speak some more.

Leon gratefully collapsed into slumber once more.

Darkness

Cold

Nothing

Pain

Darkness

Screaming

Terror

A Brightness

A Birth

A Light

A New Chance

Light

Being

A World

Forms

Goddessess

Leon awoke with a jolt. In his dream, he had seen events occurring. He tried to recall the images but found that they were quickly fading away. All that he recalled was the emptinesses and pain followed by hope and joy. Shivering with recolection of the nonbeing, Leon fell asleap once more.

He awoke later to find himself in the room. Looking over his body, he saw that his wounds had been healed. His left shoulder had been torn and his arm broken but, they had all recovered as if he had never been hurt. The scar on his hand still remained pulding as bright red as ever. feeling a presence behind him, he slowly turned around.

"I have returned as I promised." the familiar voice stated. Leon got his first clear look at the being who called itself Tapek. It appeared to be an old man in a large blue robe. He seated himself in a chair opposite to Leon's bed. "What questions would you like me to answer?"

"Who are you?" Leon asked.

"I am Tapek, the guardian of magic"

"Who are you?" Leon insisted.

"I am of the race that you call the goddesses. I felt your burst of power that resonated with a strange signature but it had a familiar feeling of one that I knew. I felt into your mind and saw you loosing control of your power. This caused me to bring you here, my home."

"How did you bring me here?"

"With my power. Your goddesses were beings that controled a type of magic. On this world, they were powerful mages who were masters of their respective magics. Poltergeist held the red magics; Goddess, white; and Doom, black. I am a master of the blue magics. They were exiled into your world for crimes they committed. I did not act with them so I was permitted to stay on the provision that I would guard your world so that the three could never return but in death. I have taken the added responsability of guarding the magic of your world.

Leon accepted this. "How long have I been here?"

"You have been resting here for a period roughly equvolent to two weeks."

"Two weeks!" Leon exclaimed.

"Don't despair. This world is not in a time frame equal to yours. Also, blue magic is time and space magic. I can return you to within a few days after I brought you here. But first, you must learn the power of your new abilities. You have gained the possibilities to gain the powers that were once bestowed to worthy warriors by the goddess Poltergeist. I looked in the past over your actions. If you hadn't been of similar temperment and skills as the warriors that are granted his powers, you would not have been able to pass through the doors in those ruins or survive the fall. You definatly would have not been able to hold the claw."

"What is this claw?"

"It is something akin to the magicite remains of the espers made by my once friends. But, it is of more power. This claw held much of the power of Poltergeist and, It has been infused into your blood bequiething you with the power and stablishing a bond between you."

"So I have all of the power of a great warrior?"

"No, though you have gained some power, the rest must be granted to you by a goddess of the power of red. To recieve it, you will have to face one and recieve it directly. I cannot grant what you desire and need but, I can direct you to one who can, Protector."

"But I have to return to Thamasia. Countless people are dying there!"

"As I stated before, when you leave, you will return soon after the battle whether you face Protector or not. Will you confront the goddess?"

"I will." Leon accepted with a resignation. "And maybe, I'll even survive."

"This is the entrance to the residence of the other goddesses. From this point, you will have to follow your heart to find your way to Protector."

With these words, Tapek touched a portion of the wall beside him, and the crystal rippled as a wall of water might behave. Leon stepped through the wall into the darkness beyond. Immediately, the dark mists surrounded him and embraced him with their dark tendrils. He was in a forest. The air reeked of death and power beyond the dreams of mortals. Leon surveyed the darkness and gloom surrounding him. The doorway had dissapeared, but Leon had been expecting that. He thought back to what Tapek had said and taught him before they had set off.

"I will not be able to help you beyond the portal but this spell may. It is a weak spell that has many uses." The words following had poured into the being of Leon, shrouding and nestling in his mind. Reveal, the spell was called, and it was to be his tool to find the abode of the power.

Chanting slowly in the dark, the words came slowly to him. Tapek had shown him how to cast one spell, but he had never previously cast a spell except in desperation. "Reveal!" The name of the spell ended the casting. A crimson bolt shot from in front of him into the darkness beyond. By the light, Leon saw a cave. A cave of pure red.

Reaching the cave, he peered into the depths below. The red glow eminated as a red aura from something in the depths below. He saw the size of the cavern below. It was larger than the arena of the coliseum. As he neared the bottom, he saw that the "something" was a massive statue. An ambiance of power had saturated the walls of the cave, causing it to shine in a red pulsing light. The only space of darkness was behind the massive statue, in its shadow.

"So you have come," the form stated. "State your reasons why this burden should be yours."

"For the good of the people of the nations, I seek the power," Leon stated in a strange voice.

"Are you prepared to accept the burden?"

"Yes!"

"First, you must face a test to see your worthiness. You must defeat the second seeker of this power." Out of the darkness, stepped a form that Leon recognized with a chill.

"Happy to see me at last?" the form said and gave a cackling laugh. "Wahahahahahahaha!" The light hit the form's face and clearly outlined it for Leon to see. It was Akfek, the new leader of the empire.

* * *

"Speed up!" Akfek chanted and started to move more rapidly. "Gem Missile! Earth Slide!" Akfek hurled off in succesion. Leon leaped aside to avoid the deadly missles as earth fell on him from above. Using speed he had not known he possessed, Leon dodged the rocks falling upon him. Akfek had dissappeared in the darkness, but the spells kept coming. "Burst!" came from somewhere to Leon's right. He dodged, but the heat and radiation hit him knocking him back. The claw had somehow deflected much of the spell's effects, but Leon still felt nauseous. "Speed Down! Dark Force!" Now orbs of darkness flew at him. Leon tried to fling himself aside, but his muscles responded sluggishly. The claw in his hand, however, moved of its own accord, deflecting the orbs back toward their source.

Inspiration struck Leon and he screamed the words to the one spell he knew. "Reveal!" The crimson light flung to Leon's left and hit a form. A part of the air shimmered red for a moment before becoming invisible once more.

"Damn you!" came from the invisible portion of air. Leon quickly leaped forward and swung with his claw. The darkness shattered, revealing a form. Leon swung at the form, but it dodged back. "Evil Gate! Dark Force! Sleep Flower!" Akfek cried in desperation. All three spells failed to work as Leon leaped forward and grabbed Akfek by his shirt with his claw raised. "Let's make a deal," Akfek stated. "You can have the power if you'll serve under me. I'll give you the whole southern continent to rule if you'll state loyalty to me."

"Never!" Leon snarrled and raised his claw. The form in front of him melted away in his hands.

"Well done!" came the sound of the voice of Protector. You have passed the test and proven worthy to bear the mantle of a Lyan."

"What is a Lyan?" Leon asked.

"It is a warrior of Justice and Truth. Will you accept the burden?"

"Yes, I must."

Red light flooded into Leon and he felt himself becoming stronger and faster. "You must be my representative on your world. Bring the world to peace."

"Isn't Akfek defeated then?" Leon asked.

"That was not Akfek but an image of him. It was but a test. The real Akfek is too devious and powerful for you to confront directly at this time. You are now but a first level Lyan. Gain knowledge and strength before confronting that foe." A shimmer of red opened in front of Leon. "Return now to your world and find companions for protection and help. And avoid the darkness of the power you have been granted. Before you go, I will make to you a gift," the form stated. "These two dirks will help you in your battles. While they are not as powerful as that claw, you will find that they hold a power of their own. They will serve you well until you are able to get yours repaired, and longer."

Leon looked down. Indeed, his claw had been scorched and dulled by the foreign power that had infused him.

The gate drew closer to Leon and as he stepped through the light, returning once more to the madness in the world, the massive voice rang out once more. "Remember your promise. Start at Narshe; you will find those that may help you there."

The cafe appeared in front of him. The Silver Goose. There would be sea captains inside. And one of them had to know where Leon had gone to. He went to enter the establishment to do a little more "convincing." In the moonlight, it almost seemed as if he had a cruel, bloodthirsty smile upon his lips.

* * *

Leon looked about himself. Moving from the dim cavern into the light of day had been a surprise to him and his eyes were still adjusting to the light. Beneath him, he could vaguely make out a set of ruins with only a few small buildings standing beneith him.

"Hey you! Are you alright?" Leon heard someone call. Turning around, he saw a form coming toward him. His eyes were still adjusting to the light, so he was unsure of what the blob coming toward him was. A man? A woman? He wasn't sure.

"Yeeees," he managed to state. His eyes were adjusting and he saw that the form was in fact, a woman, with some strange bundle on her back. "I'm fine," he clarified.

"Interesting armor," she stated. "Where did you get it?" The statement drew his attention upon the armor that he wore. Somehow, the energies of the goddess had changed his dark suit into a red jacket. "Ahem!" The woman cleared her throat, bringing his thoughts back from the cosmos. Leon suddenly realized that he must look incredibly stupid standing there still as a rock.

"It was a gift." Well, that was partially true. "By the way, what town is this?" He asked gesturing toward the burning ruins before.

"You'd do better to ask what town this WAS. Very well, it used to be Thamasa..."

Leon interrupted, "It STILL hasn't been rebuilt? Wasn't the battle a few weeks ago?"

"Did you get hit on your head?" she asked. "It just ended a few hours ago."

That statement cleared many thoughts in Leon's mind. He still had to get to Narshe and there might be some ships that would be willing to leave. It also meant that he might be able to find Alaric among the rubble and right now, he seemed like the best choice for getting to Narshe. "What of the gargoyle?"

"That was killed by some Returners. Did you hve some friends there? They might be in one of the shelters that were erected."

"Show them to me," Leon asked.

"Whoa, wait one minuite. Do you think I don't have anything better to do than to take a stranger to the shelters?"

"I'm sorry," Leon apologized with embarrassment. The surprise had made him a little uncourteous. "Hi, I'm Leon. Would you take me to the shelters?" he requested a little more courteously.

"Fine," she said, exasperated, as she rolled her eyes.

"Hey! arn't you going to tell me your name?" Leon protested.

"I'm not the stranger," she declared. "Come on," she said, then she was off leading in a direction toward the town. Leon followed, making some not quite civil comments about strange people that refused to give their names.

Indeed. But what she'd really found intriguing about the red- armoured stranger was what he had been doing wandering around outside Thamasa, acting like he didn't know what was going on. He didn't appear to have been involved in the battle... An Imperial spy perhaps? Who knew...It had been a few days since he'd shown up, and Kiri still hadn't found out anything about him. Now word was that the man (What was his name? Luke? Leo?...Oh right, Leon...) was getting ready to leave. And if he WAS from the Empire, she wasn't going to let him slip through her fingers. So tonight, she was going to have a little talk with him.

It was just after dark. Leon had, moments ago, gone into the newly-built lean-to that passed for an item store, and he would have to walk by Kiri's hiding place to get back to his tent...She heard him coming, his boots crunching on ash and broken glass. Soon he was right in front of her. Drawing on her years of training, she struck swiftly and silently, pulling him down and covering his mouth before he could get out a cry. He was larger than she by far, and struggled intensely, but Kiriani knew that mind can vanquish matter... She managed to force him to the ground, pinning his arm behind him.

"All right," she whispered, "we're going to have a little talk. She looked into his eyes, and knew what he was thinking: _She's crazy._ "You're right," she said, "I am. Now, why are you here, _really_? And don't try anything smart." She yanked his arm back to emphasize her directive, then took her hand off his mouth.

"What are you talking about?" he asked in a low voice. "I just came to help out with the battle, like everyone else!"

"Indeed. But on which side?" she hissed.

The man looked indignant. "The Returners', of course! What kind of a psycho are you?!"

"The very best kind....Now it seems to me that you were a little late to help them..."

He looked down abruptly. "Yes...I guess I was..."

"What were you doing?" Kiri demanded, squeezing his arm harder still. "Planning terrorist acts for Kefka? Answer me!" A glazed look had come over Leon, and he seemed oblivious to her insistence.

"I'm... not sure... There was a light... Goddess... my armour..."

She looked into his eyes. He was telling the truth, odd as it might sound. She had assaulted an innocent man. She let go of him and sank to her knees. She was no better than Kefka. "I can see," she said at last, "that you speak the truth." Leon looked at her, confused by her actions. "Please... forgive me." The words were difficult to say for someone with her pride, and this was obvious.

"Forget it," he said, dusting himself off as he sat up, "I can see that you were only doing what you thought was right. You must really hate the Empire..."

"Yes," she said still looking downward, "yes, I do... I used to fight for them, but now I seek only their destruction... It is the only thing that gives my life meaning..." Leon seemed a little puzzled by this statement, but pressed on.

"Well in that case, do you want to accompany me? I want to fight the Empire too, but I'm not really sure of how I'm gonna do it..." At this Kiri looked up and bared her teeth in a vicious grin.

"Now that sounds like something I could help with. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's fight!" She stood up. "There's just one problem," she continued, her expression darkening once again, "there's... something I have to bring with me."

"That kid? Is it yours?"

"Yes, in part I guess so... Much as it pains me..." 'But you'll never be able to leave him...' a small voice added inside her head.

"Well," said Leon, scratching his head thoughtfully, "I don't really see a problem. I was going to go to Narshe or somewhere to get some supplies. There doesn't seem to be much left here." He grinned wryly. "How inconsiderate of those soldiers not to leave me any peanut butter!" Despite her cynical nature, Kiri couldn't help but giggle at this. "Say, he added, as if as an afterthought, what's your name, anyway?"

"My name is Kiriani Miral, formerly of the seventh mechanized division of the Imperial Forces," she said, holding out her hand for Leon to shake, "and I do believe it will be a pleasure to travel with you." And for the first time in two years or more, she smiled.

Alaric suppressed the urge to throttle him.

"...and that's it. You were quite lucky."

"LUCKY?!"

The imperturbable young man nodded. "You survived the battle, even survived a Magitek core pack explosion almost at ground zero."

"Oh. When you put it that way..."

He nodded again. "Oh, a few other things in the area survived, too. Are any of these yours?" He gestured to a small pile of breastplates, helmets, clothing, swords, knives, and unidentifiable bits of bent and melted metal.

Alaric was about to shake his head, but paused, looking at the heap of metal. There was something... "Yes. A pair of dirks, underneath the silver breastplate, next to the staved-in bronze helmet."

The doctor looked at him quizzically for a moment, but he shifted the pieces of armor. His eyes widened as he retrieved the matched pair of Guardians--the weapons Alaric had nearly lost in the explosion. "How did you know...?"

He had no answer, so he just shook his head, accepting the weapons and securing them once more. Carefully, he stood, ignoring the doctor's protest that he was not well enough yet. He knew better. The twinges of pain in his body told him that he wouldn't be performing any acrobatics for some time, but he was resilient, he would heal. And he had to see about passage to someplace safe, maybe Albrook...

He sighed as he left the pavilion and a man called his name. Leon. He was sure that trouble would follow that one...

Wait. What...?

"Leon," he greeted the man. "Good to see you're still alive. Where'd you get that armor?"

The response was a little vague, as though Leon was thinking of something else. "It was... a gift..." He shook his head. "I have to get to Narshe, and I need you to help me."

"Why? You shouldn't have any trouble finding a ship bound for Nikeah, and from there you can get to Narshe..."

"Not that. You've been to Narshe, recently. I need help finding my way around..."

"Wait a minute." Alaric protested. "I was about to go to Albrook..."

"What are you going to do there that you can't do in Narshe?"

He thought for a moment about replying, 'Find a good glass of wine,' but decided against it. "Well..."

"See? Come on, we have to find a boat, and..." Leon proceeded, virtually dragging Alaric in his wake.

Well, at least he'd see Lyssa again...

* * *

"No!" was the answer that all of the captains gave.

"But kind esteemed sir," Leon said in a grovelling voice that threatened to make him sick, "My two caravan guars and I NEED to leave this island."

The captain replied, "Unless you have more gold than the king of Figaro, me crew will not be taking you ANYWHERE let alone your two guards. The Empire be out there somewhere!"

Leon raged inwardly as he listened. All the ship captains had been frightened and none of them were willing to make any trips until teh empire was long gone. Turning around a corner, Leon quickly took the merchant costume off of his armour and put it into his sack. The stuffing and cheeck pieces went in as well. Glaring back at the harbor, he tried to think of another method of leacing. As he approached the town, behind him he heard a shuffle of air. Turning around and unshiething his knives, he saw that three Harpys were posed to attack him. He leaped out of the way as one dived to try to impale him on it's razor sharp beak. The other two made a feinting attack toward his side. Leon skipped away from thier sharp beaks and claws and struck back with his dirks. "Two glancing wounds," he counted as he spun once more to confront them again. He was good, but he didn't think he was good enough to confront three harpies. One harpy was almost twice as large as the others he noticed. With that information came an idea. as they dive bombed him again, he dogded thier attacks and reached into his sack. A steel rope came to his hand as he turned to confront them once more. The large harpy lead a third attack, but this time, as Leon dodged under the massive bird, he put the rope between the harpy's teeth. He was also scraped down his back by the tallons. "Hope this works," he thought as he jumped onto the back of the monster. It gave a scream of definace and tried to shake him off. Leon hung on tightly and pulled. The pain caused the Harpy to stop it's twisting but it glared menicingly at him. Seeing their comrade in such a plight caused teh otehr two to stop as well. "Great, how do I get off of this thing now," he thought. As he hung on for his life, he sincerly hoped that the weasely-faced man had made this rope stongly. The bird, forced to move or endure further pain in it's mouth, rose. In the air, it tried to shake Leon off again, but he hung on tightly. As the harpy calmed down, Leon finally felt that he might actually survive this. Suddenly, the bird twisted in midair trying to dislodge its unwanted parasite. Leon carefully pulled one of his daggers out of their sheaths, and held it threateningly toward the bird.

"Either you follow me, or we both die," he told the bird. The harpy didn't understand what Leon was saying but being of an inteligent species, it did understand the meaning of the knife at it's throat. Calming down, it let Leon direct the flight pattern. From behind, Leon cought the sight of the other two birds following. Carefully leading the bird, Leon directed it toward the shelter where Alaric was supposed to be.

* * *

From inside the tent, Kiri saw a large shadow descending.

Alaric shouted out, "What is THAT?

They both rushed out to see Leon calmly descendig on a huge bird, with two others descending behind him.

Leon calmly said, "I found our rides," and tried not to burst out laughing at the shocked expressions on their faces.

Leon nodded.

"No. No. Uh-uh. No. We're going by ship, remember?"

"There aren't any ships. They're too afraid to leave Thamasa with the Empire out there. I guess I can't blame them," he added reflectively. "It wouldn't be safe."

"You call riding those things _safe_?"

"It's not as bad as it looks. They won't try to throw you if you'd kill them too."

"Oh, I'd kill them too. A big comfort that'll be, when I'm falling to an early death."

The woman--what was her name?--looked up at Leon and coolly remarked, "He's not taking this well, is he?" Leon shook his head solemnly.

"Forget it. I am NOT riding one of those!"

* * * * *

"I can't believe I'm riding one of these," Alaric moaned.

Leon must have overheard, because he called over, "I told you there were no ships!"

Alaric closed his eyes tightly, shutting out the sight of the ocean, several hundred miles below. Or so it seemed. And he hadn't even wanted to go to Narshe. He'd just been to Narshe. He'd been going to Maranda.

How had he been talked into this, anyway?

* * * * *

"Hey, what's that?"

Alaric opened his eyes and peered reluctantly downward and to the right, where Leon was pointing. A small collection of buildings, surrounded by a wall. "Is that Nikeah?"

"If it is, we're off course."

"It could be Doma..." The speed the avian monsters had attained would be truly remarkable, if that was the case.

"We'd still be off course."

Alaric shrugged... then scrambled to regain his balance. The harpiai held very steady, no doubt out of respect for the Guardian dirk Alaric clutched in a death-grip near its throat. When he had recovered, he replied, "It doesn't really matter. We've got to fly more westward anyway... and it's too dark to really tell."

Leon peered at him quizzically. "What do you mean? It isn't that dark yet..."

Alaric blinked. Leon was right, it wasn't dark... except... He could see a shroud over the town, as if it resided in its own individual twilight. It didn't seem... real.

"Alaric?"

He blinked, and the darkness vanished. "Uh, must have been a trick of the light. Right, westward..."

* * * * *

The monstrous birds, exhausted, glided slowly to a landing.

Alaric looked around, blankly. "Where are we?"

Leon sighed. "I don't know. But they couldn't carry us any further."

"I knew we should have taken a ship. Now we're lost."

The woman--Kiri?--snapped, "Would you stop with the ships already?"

"Sorry."

"Fine. Now let's figure out where we are."

A silence ensued. Finally, Leon tentatively suggested, "I think we might be a few days east of Narshe."

"It seems pretty warm for that."

Leon shrugged. "It's a start. There's got to be a town around here somewhere, if we just keep heading west."

"What kind of logic is that?"

"You have a better idea?"

Alaric heaved a sigh and turned to follow Leon, who had begun to march confidently west. He muttered, too low for the others to hear, "I knew we should have taken a ship."

"You're holding it upside down," said Kiriani tersely. Overall, she was not too impressed with the whole situation. She was sitting on a filthy, disgusting monster, hovering above an island with a castle that looked none too friendly. Judging from the flag flying on its turrets, it was under the control of the Empire. Much as she wanted to take them on, she knew that now was definitely not the time. Sitting here made her feel vulnerable, and that was a feeling Kiri did not like at all. And to top it all off, the child had woken up, and was constantly kicking her in the ribs.

"Maybe we could ask the people in that castle for directions," offered Alaric hopefully.

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, "that castle is controlled by the Empire! The last thing you want is to go in there. And the longer we sit here, the more danger we're in..." Kiri knew from experience that the Empire was somewhat paranoid, and it would only be a matter of time before a patrol came around and spotted them... She sighed in exasperation. "Give me that!" She sidled her Harpiai up to Leon's and pulled the map in front of her. "We are right over... Doma. Which means that Narshe is almost directly north. So let's go, already!" Leon nodded. He had pretty much gotten used to Kiriani's abrasive personality. He nudged his beast, and soon all three were headed in the right direction again.

Unfortunately, the Harpiai, though endowed in strength and stamina, were not particularly fast. An hour later, they were still over the ocean, with Narshe's continent just coming into view.

"Can't these things go any faster?" whined Alaric. "I'm cold!"

"Well, you're not the only one," said Kiri. Her bare arms were almost numb from the cold. She shivered involuntarily. Seeing this, Alaric opened his pack, and produced a blanket.

"Here," he said, holding it out, "take this."

Kiriani smiled; a facial expression that seemed slightly out of place on her. "Thanks," she said tentatively. Perhaps she had been too hard on this boy. She wrapped the blanket around herself and the infant, relishing the warmth it provided. "Mmmm." She couldn't suppress a sigh of satisfaction.

"That kid of yours is really cute," said Alaric amicably.

"Huh? Er, thanks." She looked down at the child, who had finally gone back to sleep, thank the Goddesses. "I suppose he is, in a way..." She stroked the baby's fine blond hair.

"What's his name?"

"Hrm. Well, actually, he doesn't have one..."

Alaric looked slightly taken aback. "Well, why not?"

"Well... I don't know, I guess I just don't want to get too... attached. There are things you don't know about him..." Kiriani couldn't believe that she was opening up to this total stranger. But, oddly enough, it felt... good?

"Oh. Well, that's gonna make things difficult when he's older! But I don't wanna have to keep saying 'hey kid', so how about if *I* give him a name? You don't have to get involved at all!" He grinned broadly!

Kiri looked a bit puzzled. "Well, I suppose... that would be alright... What did you have in mind?"

"Well... how about... Alaric?"

"I am *not* naming him after you!" She hugged her child closer to her, as if to protect him from the evils of bad names everywhere.

"Hm. Well, fine. What about... oh, I don't know... Luigi?"

Kiriani screwed up her face in a grimace. "You've got to be kidding!"

Alaric stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I really can't think of... Oh! I've got one!" His eyes lit up. "Jaran!"

"Jaran?" Kiri looked down at her sleeping child. "Jaran Miral," she said softly. "It's... perfect. How did you think of it?" She looked at Alaric with a tentative smile.

"Oh, well, it's from a fairy tale my mom used to tell me. It was a prince's name, or something." He smiled back at her. It was nice to see that she actually had a human side.

"A prince." She smiled again.

"Hey you two!" the atmosphere of camaraderie was shattered as Leon bellowed from up front. "We're almost there!" They looked down, and there, sure enough, was the cave of Narshe. They circled the beasts around, and slowly brought them to land. Once the riders dismounted, they slowly took off again and flew away, too tired from the journey to even bother fighting. Without any further ado, the three travellers headed for the mouth of the cave.

Once inside, they were greeted by a strange old man. Tufts of white hair stuck out of his head like cotton balls, and he was dressed in a bright red robe. He looked to be about ninety.

"Ahem! It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Narshe, the World of Healing's Winter Wonderland! All of us here have been anticipating your arrival! I hope we'll be able to do business!" As he spoke, she shook Leon's hand vigorously.

"Um, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," said Leon, trying to disengage his hand before his shoulder was dislocated.

"You're the investors from Jidoor, right?" The old man nodded, as if this were an incontrovertible fact. "Well, I intend to show you that Narshe is a great place for a winter holiday resort! You won't be sorry you spent your GP here!" He winked conspiratorially.

Kiriani was beginning to get fed up with this ridiculous little man. Her good mood evaporating, she spoke up. "Listen, you dried-out old husk! We're not your stupid investors! We just want to be left alone! So BEAT IT!" The old man looked taken aback at her outburst.

"Well, well, well... FINE then!" he sputtered, and bustled away. Leon snickered.

"Way to make new friends," he said.

"Can we just find an inn, please?" she said tiredly. "I have a splitting headache..."

"Yeah," put in Alaric, "and I'm starving!"

"Oh all right," conceded Leon. "Well just have to do our shopping tomorrow." With that decided, they quickly found the Narshe Bed'n'Breakfast (free item store coupons when you rent a room for two nights!) and checked in. It was quite late by this time, and Kiriani was asleep before her head touched the pillow. It had been a long time since she had slept in such a comfortable bed.

On the pallet beside her lay the newly christened Jaran Miral. The child stirred slightly, then opened his eyes. If anyone had been awake in the room, they might have noticed that they were much too clear for those of a child so young, or, that for the slightest instant, they had flashed violet in the darkened room. But there was no one. The child named Jaran closed his eyes, and went to sleep.