Cecil knew he needed that armor the strange man was wearing. The question was, how was he to go about getting it?

"None shall pass," the gigantor proclaimed. "None shall live," he added as if it was a small, insignificant point.

Cecil stood there bewildered, when Kain piped in: "We mean you no harm, strange one, we only wish -" He never finished his sentence; he was too busy being shocked by the behemoth's sword as it swung towards his face.

CLANG!

Cecil's sword parried the giant's blow, but not easily. The giant was strong, and Cecil needed to be prepared for a fight.

"He shall never be free again. Once, I failed. I shan't fail again!"

Lola backed off a little to give Cecil some room. "Do you get the sense," she said in a harsh stage whisper, "that this guy is a little mad?"

Kain nodded.

The giant swung at Cecil again; their swords locked in a parry. Cecil was using all his might to keep from being crushed by the giant's sheer strength. Kain leapt into the fray, prepared to do battle, when the giant let out a piercing scream. As if a paper plane, Kain was met by something like an invisible battering ram, and flew backward, crashing through the tunnel wall and forming a dark hole. Kain struggled to speak, but all he could manage was rather unprofound silence.

Lola stood, unsure of who to help, when Cecil yelled, "See if Kain's okay!" Lola nodded and ran to the hole to attend to Kain.

A dark stony grin became apparent behind the shroud of the giant, who knew he was beating Cecil in the strength game. Cecil knew this too, and suddenly jumped to the left. The creature's sword, with all the might it was exerting against Cecil crashed into the ground, sending rock shards everywhere.

"You cannot free him!" it screamed in a low guttural voice.

Cecil was too busy swinging his sword to give about the creature's ramblings. He brought his sword down on the giant's neck. Surprisingly, the sword hit its neck as if it were rock. Cecil spent a fleeting moment looking at the wound before he realized that it *was* rock. This man was made of stone. A Golem. Not good.

The golem turned and screamed. A powerful gust of wind hit Cecil; he pushed against it, but was smashed into the wall of the chamber the Golem was guarding. Cecil, a little dazed, could see the creature do the same to a form emerging from the hole that Kain had made. With a scream it was blasted back into the hole. Cecil, enraged, charged the Golem and leapt onto its back, putting the sword around the front of its neck in a deadly choke hold.

The creature thrashed back and forth violently, trying to get Cecil off its back. Then it screamed again, and a grey light enveloped Cecil. The light pulsated, then receded. Cecil smashed his sword into the creature again and again, apparently to no avail. He swung one last time, but the Golem caught his sword and tossed him and the sword across the room. He smashed into a wall with a loud oomph.

Cecil pushed himself up, blood and sweat streaming down his face. The Golem turned and raised his hands, which grew and shot like battering rams at Cecil. Cecil dodged them, and they smashed into the wall behind him. The Golem fires a grey beam from his eyes; in a flash, Cecil blocked it with his shield. The beam bounced off the shield with an odd ping and hit the Golem, whose arms retracted as a result. It screamed again, and Cecil was again blasted by wind. He smashed against the wall, leaving a large Cecil-shaped dent.

Cecil, laying on the ground, muttered something, cast Cure and found himself in the Golem's shadow again. Cecil began to climb out of the rubble, but the Golem stood above him, grinning his rocky grin, and raised his deadly sword. Cecil was too dazed to do anything, but Kain appeared from nowhere and stabbed the Golem in the back. It whipped around and screamed at Kain, who smashed through the altar and back into the hole he had come from, landing on Lola.

The Golem turned back to Cecil and readied itself for the kill. It brought the sword to Cecil's cheek, and prepared for the final thrust. Cecil scrambled to get away, but then the ground seemed to wrap itself up around him like a spider's web, holding his limbs to the ground - and his mouth shut.

Then, from behind the Golem, a eerie green mist began to arise. The Golem didn't notice, but Cecil did. Electricity crackled throughout the room; then there was a blinding white light. When it cleared, the Golem had whipped round to see what the trouble was, and a man clad in all black was standing where the altar had been. His smile peeked out from behind the darkness like the light at the end of a dark tunnel. The Golem swung his sword at the man, who jumped out of the way. The Golem screamed, and the man was blasted back against the wall. By then, Cecil had had time to get free, and he engaged the Golem in a duel. Their swords hit each other again and again. The golem was stronger, but Cecil was a much better swordsman, and he disarmed the Golem. In its anger the Golem screamed again. Cecil braced himself this time, but to no avail; he smashed deep into the wall, and he began to fade from consciousness. The Golem came in for the kill, when suddenly there was an earth-shattering silence. Time froze, then a few simple words floated across the battlefield.

"Bestia sine..."

Suddenly the Golem screamed; a different scream, a scream of pain. It fell to its knees and curls up in a fetal ball. It writhed about on the floor as if its very soul were being assulted by demons.

"...mortuus vita!"

With a deafening noise, the Golem exploded from inner pressure, scattering its rocky flesh all over the small room. The flesh then eroded in seconds, as if time had just caught up with it for the time it had remained unweathered.

A second later the enigma in black stood over Cecil, smiling. Green, eerie smoke floated off his body into the stale crypt air. He extended a hand from the sea of clothing, to assist Cecil.

Cecil stood, still a little stunned, and muttered, "Thank you."

"No," responded the man, his smile like lightning striking from the heart of a storm, "Thank you. Now before you ask, let me introduce myself. I am a man of great wealth and taste. The name is..."

And the man grinned wider, knowing something Cecil obviously didn't, the deathly green smoke still rising from him. "Omega."

Kain walked up to them both, not more than a few seconds after the Golem's destrustion. "Uh, thanks... Omega... Sorry 'bout Cecil's daze, but he gets this way sometimes when he is nearly killed." Kain had been confident until he said those words, for suddenly he didn't know how he knew what he had just said about Cecil.

"Yeah, thank you again, Omega. That thing almost had me. It almost seemed as if he was trying to keep me from getting that... what happened to that green crystal?" Cecil hadn't noticed Omega's connection to the green crystal, but Lola had.

"Excuse me..." Lola spoke somewhat timidly, "but why were you trapped in that crystal?"

There was a pause, as the man Omega thought of how to reply. "I really cannot say, milady, for it seems that my memory fails me in that regards... but I am thankful for your release of myself."

Cecil gazed over to the pile of ash that was once the Golem's body, and Cerebratan spoke to him. "Sir Paladin, that is the armor you seek, Arturian."

Cecil mumbled thanks to Cereb as the others looked on questioning, never hearing the Helm Spirit's voice. Pulling the Genji Medallion from beneath his breastplate, he took off the Obsidian Armor and held it aloft with the Medallion, chanting arcane words softly.

White light filled the room, immediately followed by an answer of inky darkness, and then pulsated between the two as the two armors floated into the air of their own accord. Faster and faster they spun, and a voice boomed over the quickening breastplates.

"I am Arturian, spirit of the days of Chaos and protector of the Pure One who is to come. Who disturbs my slumber?"

"Arturian, I am Cecil, the one whom you wait for. Please join me and thy brothers, Cerebratan, Salvatar, and Murcreties, to vanquish the evil from this land."

"I sensed as much, Great Paladin, and so you may have my powers."

With that, the two armors joined in a magical union, slowing to come to a stop before Cecil, who then donned the newly formed breastplate.

***********

"Cecil, are you quite certain that this leads outside?" Omega was growing impatiant as the now group of four navigated through the tunnels.

"Yeah..." Cecil said with little enthusiasm. His sight spell hadn't failed him, he was certain, but the trek in hadn't seemed this long.

Finally, they came to the surface near the waterfall they had seen before.

Omega also turned and scanned the horizon. He didn't like it. He knew this place and he didn't like it one bit.

"See?" Cecil began, regaining his enthusiasm. "We are back above ground. We have reached the surface."

Omega nodded glumly, as Kain emerged from the tunnel.

"Nice to see light again." Kain said, Omega's mood apparently contagious.

"Where are we going?" Omega asked, realizing he knew absolutely nothing about this world. He had no idea how long he had been, well, the best way he could put it was, sleeping. The world had probably changed much. He knew the tunnels were probably the only thing he recognized. Only because he, Rassilon knew how long ago, had let a little experiment of his run free in there. Magic teddy bears. Not nice ones either. They were alive and sentient. They had proved to be too much off a success. He had fled with his life trailing behind him (quite literally) from those tunnels. Those things were surely dead by now, but that was how he knew the place. That mage had known too - built his tower upon the tunnels to use bears as a natural form of defense. During his first assault on the tower, he had stupidly gone through the tunnels, thinking the bears had perished. Speaking of which, where was the tower? There was no tower. It was *completely* gone. There should be something left. It just showed how little he knew about this world he had suddenly been thrust into. Almost like a newborn child; and he was ready to scream for food.

"I think we should head to Narshe." Kain said, still as solemn as Omega. "It is probably them safest place to rest. And from the looks of things, we need that. Need that bad." Kain let out a nervous laugh.

Cecil nodded. "Yes. I agree; and before it gets cold. How about you, milady?"

"Hrm? Oh, sorry, just thinking." Lola replied out of a daze, "Yes, Narshe sounds good."

Cecil turned, and looked at Omega, who simply nodded. For Ash's sake, he didn't know these people either. They were strangers. They had saved him, but nonetheless it was accidentally. Quite unintentional. They didn't seem like bad people. One certainly wouldn't want to make an enemy of them. The Golem had been using anti-magic on the one known as Cecil, otherwise Omega was sure Cecil would have won. After all, he was pretty sure Cecil was a Paladin, a warrior of light. He could sense it from him. That man was destined for greatness. He should also have great magic. He had met a Paladin or two in his day, both as friends and enemies. Their magic was a formidable force. And this one, Cecil - he had a stronger soul than any Paladin he had ever met. No, Cecil was not one he would want to face in a battle.

Kain. Kain he was very unsure about. Kain was the one Omega was most worried about because he could tell the least. This man, as opposed to Cecil, was shrouded in evil. His soul was stained, marked by some unspeakable horror. Kind of like a dog tag. Yet... yet there were strains of purity desperately trying to break through the darkness. This was a man in conflict with himself. No man is ever good, who is not at ease with his own soul. This one might be trouble. He hoped not.

Lola. Lola seemed to be a warm, caring individual. What she was doing with these other two was beyond him. Cecil was surly hunting great evil. So was Kain, possibly in an attempt to purge his soul of past sins. Lola, however, seemed... well, out of sorts in the party. She must have been a mage, he figured, and a powerful one. Probably masking her abilities and simply appearing as a young, innocent, and charming girl. Or maybe he was out-thinking himself. Well, he would see.

* * *

The strange headed across to the country in the direction of Narshe. Cecil and Kain were taking the lead, but not with enthusiasm, just because Omega was purposefully dragging behind to get his thoughts together. These men accepted him for his service to them; he didn't think they liked him. Lola was walking beside him, as well. She was more chipper than anyone else, but still not to an excess. She, Omega realized, was a smart girl at least. She had recognized his connection to the crystal, while the others had not. This was puzzling him. He might as well ask her about it, while he had the chance. He liked having human company, but he could not be sure it would last past this city of - what was it called? - oh yes, Narshe. So he might as well begin is inquiries into his dark fate.

"Madam Lola?" Even as he said this to her she shivered.

"Yes?"

"I would like simply to know how it is you noticed I came from the crystal."

"Well, I'm not sure exactly. Just, when the crystal was broken by Kain and Cecil, well, out of it came..."

"What?"

"Well, this green mist... and from in it, in what I must say was a blinding flash of light, you came."

Hmm, Omega thought, the crystal shouldn't have broken. It was a creation of the Animus esper. The plot thickens. "Hmm. I told you the truth when I said I didn't know I how I came to be in there." He hoped she was gullible. He knew very well it was that mage and his Animus esper that had put him there. He didn't know how he had managed to be released, though. "But I need to find out. I feel as if I am different somehow from how I used to be." This was true. The start of a good tale was to be based in fact, and this was true. He had not felt quite right since his resurrection; as if something was missing. What else could Animus have done to him? "And I need your help, beg your help even, in finding out what happened to me. I am willing to do anything, if you and your warrior friends can help."

Lola looked right at him, "I will do what I can, Omega, and I'm sure Cecil and Kain will also help. They are good people. We will help find the evil," Omega suppressed a giggle, "that did that to you."

Omega smiled his best, most heartwarming smile. Good. They would help. Or if not, it would be simple at this point to catch them with their guard down. No, he was pretty sure they would help. Now, for information.

"Another question, madam. If I may?"

"Feel free." Lola responded, looking up into the sky which was getting heavy with dusk as they spoke.

"I have obviously been in that hell -" Lie; he couldn't remember what it was like, a void in his memory. Blacked out. "- the crystal, for a long time. I do not know this world I suddenly find myself thrust into. I wish you would tell me the history of the world as you know it."

Lola cracked a smile. "Sure. Where should I begin?"

"At the beginning." he smiled back.

And so the story began...

* * *

Lola's story continued on as the party approached Narshe. The sun had set; darkness had invaded the previously bright world, bringing with it its brother Cold. They could see their breath, an icy white contrast to the dark black night. It was snowing, too; the landscape was transformed into an icescape, and the eerie white tundra battled for control with night over which would get the travelers first.

"We're almost there!" Cecil shouted. The present turn of weather was refreshing. His spirits had risen as his temperature fell. "And then warmth and fire!"

"And food." Lola piped in, stopping the story to heed her growling stomach.

Kain seemed at home in the eerie battle between white and black played out on the landscape. He seemed like a statue of some great tragedy that was trudging its way through the snow to find its podium.

Omega turned his attention back to Lola, to get back to the story. It was interesting so far. She was talking of the war of the Magi. She was giving the background for it, but had not actually gotten to anything interesting yet. What she couldn't believe was that he was before then. A time way before the war of the Magi. The world described to him sounded nothing like his own.

"So," he grinned, "You were saying something about the Empire's fleet, that was stealing crystals, what did you say they were called - red wing-"

He never finished his sentence; the void came rushing out at him, and he fell to the ground screaming.

Inside his mind, a drama played out.

* * *

Darkness.

Void.

Emptiness.

A part of an incomplete entity is there. It is aware. It cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. It is not even aware they exist. It is aware of two things:

A yearning. A yearning to be whole, and something it knows on what passes for it's subconscious.

Hate.

These two things are all it has. All it is aware but soon it becomes aware of something else.

Another awareness. Something else out there that is aware. Hovering on the horizon between this reality and another.

It comes. Comes for that hate. Drawn to it. It seeks it, and it leads it to the entity. It embraces the entity, merges with it.

The entity is its anchor. No its lifeline. And the entity knows no more.

Emptiness.

Void.

Darkness.

* * *

Something pulls him back to reality...

The pain.

The pain. It filled his head, growing larger and stronger, blotting out everything else. Almost everything else.

Touch. He could touch. He could feel her touching him. Her warmth, her souls. She comforted him. Oh, how good it felt to be held again. He hadn't been held like this in a long time.

Tears.

Tears? Was it the pain or was it the touch? Oh, how good each felt. One driving, the other loving. He touched the soul of his embracer. Touch. He reached out to another living being. Touched them. Merged with them. She tugged at him, to bring him back to consciousness. The touch drew him out.

Smell. He could smell the breath of those around him gathered in concern. He could feel their breath on his face, warming him.

He heard them now to. Heard their worried breathing, flustered and quick. Caring. Caring for him.

He could taste the snow. He was somewhere in the wilderness. The snow embraced him, like his savior. Yet it was cold and painful. His other savior - it was warming and loving.

She was warm and loving. He could see her now. The woman holding him. He had stopped convulsing, and she was holding him, as if he were a newborn child. His anchor... no, his lifeline.

She had saved him.

* * *

As Omega recovered they went on their way. Towards Narshe and warmth. Away from the cold and crypts. The crypts where even now something was stirring. Something old as time.

That something was standing over the remains of its pet; the Golem. The Golem had failed it. He should never have left something so weak to guard the Devourer of Souls. The Necrenomicon spoke of his power, and Fenric's power, but he had underestimated it.

Stupid. Now he would have to go after the Devourer of Souls himself. No screw-ups this time. With that he tore out of the crypt, like a cat out of a bag. His mission to stop the Devourer and all those that would help him. Permanently.

She pulled her cloak tighter around her body. Once they'd come out of the tunnel, the temperature had dropped a considerate amount. "It IS the mountains..." Lola mused to herself. She shivered in spite of herself.

Lola glanced at Omega. He noticed her looking at him and he smiled warmly, then paused to bow to her. She watched as he quickened his pace to catch up to the others again. "He's so strange... seems like something's not right..." Lola thought. She shook her head in exhaustion. She bent her head against the wind, and continued to force her feet to push forward.

Cecil moved over to her and began keeping her pace. "Are you alright?", he asked. "Cold? Hungry? Tired?" Cecil was cold, but he tried to ignore the chills that threatened to ravage his body.

Lola smiled. "I'll be fine, Cecil. Thank you for asking." She glanced at Kain. "Oh! I think he may need you more than I do!" she suddenly exclaimed.

Kain had fallen behind the rest of the group. Cecil, Lola, and Omega stopped to let him catch up. Cecil spoke first. "Kain... shall we rest?"

Kain waved his hand in protest. "No. I am fine. Only tired. We can go on..."

Lola moved in close to Kain, and grabbed his hand. "Oh! Your hand is like ice! And... your lips are turning blue!"

Cecil stomped his foot. "That settles it.  We'll have to rest!" He looked at Kain thoughtfully. "But where...?"

Omega politely interrupted. "Ah... if you don't mind me interrupting... I think there is something over there." He pointed to a mountain in the distance. "See the torches?"

Lola strained her eyes to see the lights. "No... I... Wait! Yes! I see them!" She began to flail her arms in excitement. "It's Narshe! We're almost there!"

Cecil looked at Kain. "Can you make it?"

Kain managed a smile. "Of course, Cecil."

Cecil shook his head. "Well, I'll keep my eye on you." He gently slapped Kain on the back. "We'd better get moving... looks like snow..."

Slowly but steadily, the party began to move toward Narshe. The torches grew brighter as they approached.

Lola was exhausted and relieved when the party made it to Narshe unharmed. She looked at the others. "Let's find the inn, and get inside!" She happened to glance up at the sky. Small white flakes of snow had begun to fall. "Snow! We definitely should get inside now!"

Omega nodded at Lola. "Yes, indeed. Splendid idea, my dear Lola." He stepped up to the entrance to the inn and opened the door. He smiled at Lola. "After you... dear lady."

She blushed politely at him and went inside. She motioned to the innkeeper. "We need a room for four..." Cecil put his arm around Kain's shoulders to help him in the door.

The innkeeper was shuffling about behind his desk. His grey hair flopped back and forth as he rustled through papers. He looked up at the sound of Lola's voice. "Room for four, eh?" He slammed a stack of papers on the desk. "I wish I could take you in, but I don't even have room for one tonight!" He shrugged. "What with the storm and all... I'm all filled up!"

Lola sighed. "None at all?"

The innkeeper shook his head. "None. I am really sorry."

Cecil pounded his hand on the desk angrily. "But where will we stay? My friend is sick!" He pointed to Kain helplessly.

The innkeeper scowled. "I have no room! I ask you to please leave! Away with you!" He went back to his paperwork.

The party shuffled dejectedly out of the inn. Omega sighed and scratched his head. "Cecil's right... where will we stay?"

Kain mumbled, "Is there a village elder?" He smoothed his hair out of his eyes. "Perhaps he... would have somewhere for us to stay..."

"How can HE leave out in this cold like that? Decency should compel that... innkeeper to give us a place to stay!"

The four trudged through the unforgiving storm trying to find an elder's house, but all doors werre barred tight due to the unrelenting blizzard that threatened to cover the city any minute.

"Perhaps we could stay in there... the place looks abandoned..."

Omega was right. There was a house in the far southeastern portion of the city, placed high in the mountains. There were no signs of life and it was the trio's only hope.

******************

After making a long climb over rubble and up long flights of stairs, they managed to come to the building's door, which was ajar. The darkness inside was worse than that of the lightless sky.

"Light," Cecil chanted as he held the Orb aloft.

The room lit up brilliantly, revealing a trove of treasure chests-all opened.

"Well, guess someone beat us to whatever treasure was here." Lola's voice was almost uplifting, something they were all feeling as they shut the door and finally escaped the elements.

Kain was shivering almost violently, though, and Lola placed him on the rooms only bed.

"Close quarters, eh? Almost feels like the time I was stuck inside a Big Chocobo." Cecil had a smile on his face, Lola was confused.

"A big Chocobo? What are you talking about?"

"He's talking about the time -" Kain coughed, then continued. "- when he pulled me and himself inside of one of those Fat Birds that people use for storage." Lola was stilldumbfounded, and Omega was busy finding a place to sit down atop a chest. "Oh, they must've died off... they were - wait a second, How am I remnembering that?" For the first time since Cecil had found him, Kain actually felt that he and Cecil were the close friends Cecil said they were.

"Dunno, maybe the Brain Freeze is joggin' your memory, Kain." They both laughed. "But wait a sec..." Cecil held the orb aloft and chanted Heal. "There - I dunno why I forgot about that... maybe your memory loss rubbed off on me." Again there was more laughter, and even Lola and Omega joined in.

The night was the best they had had in a while.

************

The next morning, the blizzard was gone, and the group found a thick white blanket of snow covering the ground. But it was a beautiful day. The air was calm, and the sun shined brightly - almost too brightly, but no one minded.

Having been out of touch with civilization for months, the group tried to find someone who could tell them what was going on.

"Excuse me, sir," he began, "Might you be the Village Elder?"

"Well, I might be," the old man croaked as he stood to greet them, "but sometimes it depends on what kind of mood I'm in. As it is, I'm feeling pretty good, so yes, I am him. How can I be of service?" During this exchange, Kain had moved over to the fire, and stretched his frozen fingers eagerly towards it's heat.

"We were just passing through you town," the Paladin began to explain, "and we were told that there were no rooms left in the inn..."

"Basically, what he's saying is we need a place to stay, and we were wondering if you might be able to help us." Lola interrupted. Though she usually found Cecil's knightly qualities endearing, she was cold, and tired, Kain was sick, and she just didn't have the time or patience to wait for him to get to the point. "Our friend here," she said gesturing at Kain, whose lips were only beginning to loose their bluish tinge, "is almost frozen to death, like we all will be if you turn us away. I really hate to be rude, but we really need you help."

"Well, young lady, if you put it that way, how could I refuse?" The elder was smiling slightly, his old, yet seemingly ageless, eyes twinkling youthfully. "Narshe is a very hospitable town, and I'd hate to have you think otherwise. Just because we have a small Inn doesn't mean we aren't big people, does it... Henry!"

The barkeeper hurried over from chatting with his regulars. "Yes sir?" he smiled broadly.

"Your four sons have all left to join with the Returners, haven't they?" The elder asked. He seemed not to notice the party members' looks of surprise and confusion.

"Yes, that's three free rooms available, if they are needed," Henry answered, the last part directed mainly towards Cecil and Lola. Kain was still over by the fire, and Omega was sticking to the shadows it cast.

"Well, there's you answer, my lady." The Elder smiled as he settled back down comfortably into his chair, with a small bow in Lola's direction.

"If we could rent those rooms you mentioned, for the night, it would be greatly appreciated." Cecil turned to the barkeeper.

"Don't worry about rent," Henry waved his hand as if to send off any such silly suggestion. "We only rent to people we cant trust! You, " he said, looking Cecil directly in the eye, "I have a feeling you may be one of the most trustworthy people in this town, and I've always been a good judge of character."

"Why, thank you.." Lola began, as they were lead up the stairs to their rooms. She was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed buy all the hospitality they were receiving. It made her feel as if she had gone home for a visit, instead being welcomed by strangers in a frozen town in a ruined world...

"Rita!" Henry yelled downstairs to a woman they assumed to be his wife, "Bring up some hot food for our guests, and some blankets and hot water before they freeze to death!"

"I'll be up as soon as I put the soup on!" She cried back up to him.

* * *

They had been told just to call down if they needed anything else, but most of the party members did not want to infringe. Lola had, of course, been given her own room. Omega had offered to take to other single room, so that Cecil could make sure his friend was alright.

Later, warmed by hot meat, soup, and spiced cider, the companions would leave each other to their own private thoughts. Kain would wonder about the things in his recent past, finding Omega, rescuing Lola, finding Cecil. His thoughts would then dwell upon the fact that he had only a few months memories to replace a lifetime, and he would grow more and more depressed. Lola would think of her family of friends, of hoe much her life had changed recently. This would lead her to think of Driel, and wonder where her friend was, whether she needed her help... Omega would ponder the relevance of his awakening, leading him to other dark and secret thoughts... Cecil would think of repaying their host for his generosity, and also of Rosa, his wife, after which he would start to wonder when he would ever see her again...

Birds flew through her imagination. Then she thought of her flower garden. Not noticing her outward frown, she sighed and let her mind drift over each dying plant. She imagined she could reach one. Touch one.

Suddenly, a hand appeared in the vision. A white furry hand. She drew back suddenly, losing her daydream as a voice said, "Lola? Are you alright? You look so sad..."

Lola tried to focus her eyes on the figure hovering in front of her. Gradually, Cecil's hands loomed into view. "Wha...?"

Cecil sat down next to her and took her hands into his. "I said..."

"Oh!", Lola interrupted suddenly. "It's you, Cecil." She looked down at her lap. "I was just daydreaming."

Cecil let go of her hands and stood slowly. "Yes. That I can relate to. Daydreams... too close to reality, if you ask me."

Lola looked up at Cecil. Something inside her forced her not to press him on the matter. "I think I understand, dear Cecil.", she said simply. She looked forward to look at Kain and Omega. Nodding to Cecil, she remarked, "They appear to be doing the same. Daydreaming, that is." As she noted the faraway looks on their faces, she became filled with a mild sense of sadness. "Is this all that's left?", she demanded to no one in particular. "All that's left after our loved ones die, and are lost?" She took small notice of the stares being placed upon her by Kain and Omega. "We all have lost." She moved her face close to Cecil's. "Even you, Cecil. I can see it in your eyes." Her gaze was deep unto Cecil.

Kain glumly nodded, barely visible in the darkness of the room. "I guess losing all of your memories is like losing a loved one... or two."

Omega shook his head in agreement with Kain. "I think nothing could be worse than losing an entire existence. I have lost myself... as well..."

The rest of the party gave Omega a few curious looks, but all were sympathetic. A moment of silence passed through the room.

Cecil, still looking into Lola's eyes, whispered, "Well at least we still have our lives..." He stood suddenly and turned to Kain and Omega. "I am very tired. I shall be going to bed now. Perhaps what I need is sleep. Perhaps what we -all- need is sleep."

Kain also rose to go to bed. Nodding to Omega, and smiling at Lola, he said his good-nights. "Yes, sleep! Good notion, Cecil...Good night all."

Cecil paused before closing the door to their room behind after Kain had entered. He lingered for a moment, looking at Lola softly. "Good night my dear lady.", he whispered to himself. Shaking his head, he closed the door.

Omega stood to stretch his legs. He also glanced at Lola, and couldn't help but notice the spaced-out, yet glum expression on her face. Leaning in her direction as he stretched, he ventured, "My lady. Pardon my inquiry, but is everything alright?"

Lola sighed. Normally, she didn't mind the attention, but she wanted to be alone. To think. To... She turned to face Omega for a moment. "Thank you Omega. I am fine. We're all fine here..." Shaking her head she turned to escape to her room. "I just need some time to be by myself." She sprinted to her room door.. At the last second she stopped, but did not turn around. "Please.", she pleaded to Omega. "Don't worry about me. Good night." Closing the door softly, she left a confused Omega standing in the living room area by himself. "I hope he doesn't think I'm rude...", she yawned to herself.

She walked over to her bedroom window. Her mind playing her bizarre daydream over and over in her mind. She tried to focus on... "A white hand...", she said aloud. "A furry white..." Sighing, she gazed out the window. "It's no use. I can't even remember my own daydreams. Maybe I'm going crazy..."

Turning her attention to the weather, outside her window, she couldn't help but find some beauty in the blindingly white, swirling snowstorm. Her eyes widened as a large snowflake landed on the thin glass of the window. She giggled excitedly when she realized she could see tiny intricate patterns throughout the snowflake. Then, it melted.

Sighing, as she tried to forget about the pretty snowflake, she rested her arms on the ledge of the window. Placing her chin on her hand, she tried to concentrate on the falling snow. "I wonder how far I can see.", she thought to herself. "Can't be too far. Only a couple of meters...."

While she was staring out the window, she noticed a figure groping its way through the storm. She leaned forward, pressing her face against the window, hoping to get a closer look at the figure. What she could make out through the white haze startled her.

Straining her eyes, she could barely make out a silhouette of a woman. She appeared to have a slim build and tall stature. Lola squished her face into the window pane a bit harder. Her breathing had increased, and she had started to feel a cold sweat begin to take over her body. "If I could only see...", she panted, not knowing why she was becoming anxious.

In the last instant, as Lola viewed her last glimpse of the woman, she noticed a long, flowing, flowered scarf being beaten by the wind. Lola's eyes, as if frozen in time, locked their gaze upon the woman's scarf as it disappeared from view. "Where have I seen that scarf before...?", she asked herself frantically.

Her eyes flew open as an irrational thought came to her mind. "My mother had a scarf like that... Could it be..?" She paused. "Mother?" Tired and homesick, she grabbed her bag full of garden tools and her anti-elemental cloak. Within seconds she burst out of her room shouting, "Omega! Omega...?" She screeched to a stop in the living room. "I guess he went to bed too. I really shouldn't bother him... or Kain, or..." Her mood softened. "... Cecil.", she whispered.

Casting a final glance at Cecil's door, she ran through the house and out the front door. "I'll be back soon guys.", she said under her breath.

As she burst out the door, the cold air overwhelmed her. Grabbing for her cloak, she threw it around her shoulders, silently thanking the old innkeeper for her unselfish gift.

She looked in both directions, not sure which way to go. Turning around in circles, hoping to find a clue to the mysterious woman, she closed her eyes and stopped. "I guess this way is as good as any.", she thought to herself. Picking a direction, she ran off into the swirling blustery night.

When it did, it brought not the most comforting of dreams. He would see himself standing with his back to the edge of a cliff, shadowy yet almost familiar figures standing in front of him. He was powerless to do anything. He could not move. The figures pleaded for him to save them, as the horizon faded before them. He was faced with the knowledge that he would eventually lose himself as well, watching those he assumed must be his friends enveloped by the void. He would then turn and look down at the inviting rocks below, the easy way out. He usually woke up then, scarred like he had never been before. Sleep was not his ally.

As on many sleepless nights, he decided to go for a walk. He could tell a storm was brewing, but that did not bother him. He would much rather face the harsh reality of nature than the unknowns of his dreams... He donned his old blue cloak and travelling clothes, and set out into the night.

Cecil, had he not been affected by Lola's words as well, might have been concerned by his friends reversion to his old wardrobe. Unfortunately, he was too wrapped up in thoughts of love, loss, and reconciliation....

* * *

It was a good thing that night that higher power had not so recently taken an interest in the Dragoon's life. It was through the silent guidance of Cecil's father's hand more than anything that led Kain to find shelter in the caves of Narshe during the heart of the storm. But it was more than his health that concerned the deity tonight....

'Damn Her!' he thought to himself... 'I should have known...'. He decided it was high time he paid the offending Lady a visit. That night, he left his mountain top dwelling to seek out an invisible dome hidden deep within the dinosaur forest.

The dome was visible only to the eyes of the gods. Few but the most powerful of men and daemons could even detect the immense magical presence the resided there. Even when magic had left all other parts of the world, it had remained here, as this sorcery was self- contained and alien..

It seemed rather small to house a goddess, especially one of the most powerful (seeing as three of them had been destroyed). It was only large enough to fit two people standing, from the outside. The trick was that time and space meant nothing inside. And sometimes, things escaped. Local folk lore had developed a story around the forest, sprouting unknowingly from this very place. People who walked through the heart of the forest often experienced strange things, such as losing time. Many claimed to be bewitched by a beautiful lady with long brown hair....

It was on this spot that the hero Paladin's father now stood. Preparing himself for anything, or at least making a valiant effort, he stepped inside. As usually, no matter what he expected, he got something completely different.

He walked into what seemed to be a large underground den. It inhabitants were moles. Either they were extremely oversize, or he had considerably shrunk. In the centre of the room was a radio, playing some kind of bouncy foreign tune. It had a 4/4 beat, and made him feel like jumping from one foot to the other. Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder. A shimmering blue figure the shape of a dragon was nibbling at a stray fibre on his tunic.

*Not here,* it thought at him. *You'll have to get through them first*. It flew over to one of the moles and promptly buried itself in the fur.

He sighed. She, of all people, should know that they couldn't harm each other. He walked over to one of the moles, preparing to un-think her creation. Instead, it looked at him, opened it's mouth, and swallowed him whole.

He fell through what seemed to be a solid glass wall, and into a large aquarium. True to Elanya's contortion of matter, however, the aqua that surrounded him did not make him wet.

He looked around slowly. At first he saw nothing, except the usual trappings of an aquarium, including the plastic skeleton, fern, and a dragonfish. Then he heard movement behind him, coming from the plastic fern.

"NI!" the tall figure shouted as she jumped out from behind the decoration. Her movement seemed unimpaired by the water. "How may I help you?"

She was extremely beautiful. Tall with floor-length dark brown hair, small features, and a beautiful yet malicious smile. The most disconcerting thing was her eyes. They were reflective, so that when you looked at her, you saw yourself as she saw you. She was dressed, as per usual, in a long burgundy dress, and a grey cloak.

"I have no time for you games, Elanya! I have important matters I need to discuss." He was becoming unnerved. He could never, no matter how hard he tried, be ready for whatever Elanya would do next. It had always been like that.

"Oh." she responded simply. "Wanna cookie? Chips Ahoy." From nowhere she produced a plate of the treats. "They're a bit soggy."

Before he had a chance to refuse, the fish came along. It was hungry, and seeing food, it ate. Elanya kicked it. She waved her hand, and they were suddenly transported to a large stone chamber, obviously a conference room of sorts. It was lit only by glowing balls of light held by large stone elves.

"Stupid fish! Here." she produced another platter, this time accompanied by a pitcher of milk. She set them down on a large table that had appeared especially for that purpose. On it were two glasses into which she proceeded to pour the milk. She passed one to him. "So what were you saying?"

He sat the milk down. It grew eyes and legs, glared at him, and walked away of the table, where it started jumping up and down on his foot. He frowned, and waved his hand to make it disappear. "This is about Kain," he began. He wanted to spend as little time as possible in Elanya's chaotic world. "What the hell are you trying to do to him?"

She seemed about to hive a serious reply, but instead, slumped over on the floor. The god was not quite sure what to do. He tried several times to shake her awake, but to no effect. He eventually came to the conclusion that the only thing he could do was to make her comfortable. By this time, she was mumbling incoherently about something or other. He laid her down on the table, as there was nowhere else to put her. He decided to wait it, whatever 'it' was, and began to examine the room more closely.

There really wasn't much to see. There were no exits, and all the statues were the same. He was thankful that she was beginning to come out of it after only a few minutes. She was soon completely awake and stood up.

"Sorry," she apologized, sitting down on one of the seven chairs that had suddenly materialized. 'It's the sight you know... I keep having these visions.... Interesting though...Seems our friend Edge is now a time traveller. But what were you saying about Kain? I thought the treatment was going rather well!?"

"Yes, I'm sure it is... but _what_ are you doing? He's losing himself!" He was a bit put off by what she had said about Edge, but he would concentrate on that later.

"Oh, well that's part of it. That's what he asked for, isn't it?" She saw the look of imminent doom flash across Cecil's father's face. "Isn't it?"

'So that's what happened." He had know that something had gone wrong during the ritual, be he had never been quite sure what. It seemed that Kain had improperly phrased the request to the Goddess. This could pose several problems, depending on what he had asked.. "What _exactly_ did he ask for?"

"Well I thought it was strange at the time, but he made two requests. It wasn't in the perimeters of the ritual, but, oh well." True to her nature, she really didn't care. "He asked, hmmm.... 'To be free from the corruption of the forces of evil so they could hold no further influence over him', and something about cleansing his conscience through loosing that part of himself that had been evil. I forget."

"Remember."

"Bite me! I know what I'm doing! Geeze... you 'good' people." she said the word as if it were a derogatory comment. "You're just like your son. You think you deserve a hero cookie for making the world a 'happy' place. You know why there is so much evil in the world now? It's because before there was TOO MUCH good. Now the Master's back, and that demon guy, and even just evil men. Kefka was just the beginning. He was a snappy dresser though. And he never should have ignored his brother like that. Akfek would have made such a great painter... but that's besides the point. Have you ever noticed how many of _you_ there are? There's the returners, General Celes's group, your son, and countless others! How many people do you think know what really needs to be done? None. So I'd like to have one, at least, to restore the proper balance. So bite me."

"Well, why can't you use the people that are considered 'good'? What's wrong with them?"

"Ha! What's wrong with them? They are too good. It's so easy to make good people evil. All you have to do is flip them over. Just switch them into reverse. But if someone is truly neutral, making them the opposite of what they are does nothing. It's like a two headed coin. Look at what happened to Edgar! And there's also the risk of becoming too good. Like general Celes is. She battles all the evil, taking it on almost singlehandedly. What do you think will happen when she finally wins? She'll star to seek it actively, seeing evil where there is none. Everything will be good. What will happen to the Balance then?"

The God had an idea. "What about Garland, and the other fiends? Wouldn't the Lord of Chaos be the perfect one for you to control?"

"Garland is here for other purposes. If he were not, he would. You're right. But he seeks only his orbs. He may be distracted for awhile, but eventually, he will turn. It does not, then he is not truly then he wouldn't be very chaotic, would he? No, once he realizes who has his precious orbs, his attentions will be turned from saving the world."

"But none of this gives you the right to change Kain against his will!" He was getting desperate.

"I'm not! The only way he can not be evil is to not be good. The only way he way he can lose his goodness is to lose himself. He has to learn how not to care."

The Goddess of Apathy had some good points, but he had promised to look after Kain. He could not let her have him. He decided he would have to stoop lower.

"How are you going to use him if he jumps off another cliff?" he questioned.

"I'm not the one who has sworn to watch over him, am I?" She smiled smugly. "This bores me. Be gone."

Suddenly he found himself back in the forest, outside the dome.

"Damn you Elanya!" I swear I will not let you have him as easily as you might think..."

* * *

Meanwhile, back in the caves, Kain had fallen asleep, alone to wait out the storm. His dreams were not his usual, filled instead with a strange woman with long hair...

"Oooh, cold.", she shivered. Pulling her hand back under her cloak, she stood back up. "I should never have left the house.", she thought suddenly starting to feel afraid. Shaking her head she berated herself. "How could I have thought that was my mother?" She wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders and pulled at her bag. "I saw her buried with my own eyes." Sighing at her impulsiveness, she frowned. "I have to make it back to the house.", she said aloud, realizing her plight.

Slowly she turned around. The wind kicked up suddenly and threw her lightly off balance. Bracing herself, she started to walk into the wind. "I think this is the way...", she mumbled. "I need to find a light. If I could just find a light..." Lola strained to lift each of her feet as she took each agonizingly slow step. She put her hand in front of her eyes to try and block some of the snow from blinding her. "I can't see!", she yelled, as her eyes began to water. Like one who has gone insane, she began rubbing her eyes furiously with her free hand. "I must see!", she screamed.

Again, the wind tossed her. This time, she was not able to keep her balance. Still rubbing her eyes, she was thrown violently onto the snow. She cried out and put her hands out to catch her fall. Just in the time, her hands slid under her as she landed on the ground. Lola screamed out in pain as she felt her right hand smash into a hidden rock covered with a dusting of snow. At the same time, her ring, the telepathic link between her and Driel, also made contact with the unseen rock. As the force of the cold and the pressure of her fall became one, the ring shattered, and the pieces bounced and blew off of her hand.

Lola moaned and as she lay on the ground. Looking at her hand through the blinding whiteness, she watched small rivers of blood trail down her hand and onto the snow. "Oh, I think I really have done it this time, Driel...", she said as she looked up toward the sky. "It's not so bad out here. I think it's actually kind of... warm... And I think ...I see a light..." Then, she closed her eyes.

* * *

The storm raced on and slowly passed over Narshe. The sky began to clear, and the moon was becoming barely visable to the residents of Narshe. Inside the town, the local Innkeeper excitedly made his way out of his building and dashed toward the outhouse. "Whew! I am glad things have died down a bit out here!", he said as he tromped through the snow. "Boy, I gotta get me one of those inside outhouses..." Nearly halfway to the outhouse, a shadow loomed over him. He looked up at the sky and put his hand to his forehead. "What is that... flying thing...?" His eyes widened as he realized it was heading straight for him. "Oh, Goddesses!", he shouted. Running as fast as he could, he dove inside the outhouse and slammed the door. Peering out the small window, he briefly saw two clawed talons swoop by, nearly taking him with them. Sighing, he wiped the sweat off of his brow. "I guess I was almost lunch!", he said with a hint of relief. "Wait until I tell this one to...AHHHHHH!" The Innkeeper chuckled to himself as he sat down. "This damn seat is COLD."

* * *

The falcon flew back up towards the clouds, slightly disappointed. After all, he was supposed to find help. His mind focused and sharp, like most birds of prey, he silently vowed not to miss his next opportunity to find help. He flew higher, dodging the low passing clouds to get a better view of the town. Somewhere in his mind he thought it was strange that no other humans were outside. Then, like a pair of focused binoculars, he spotted a human about a mile from town. Determined not to miss this chance to get help, he swooped down with all the speed he could muster. His talons steady he readied himself to land... to catch the human...to.. Suddenly he hesitated. His eyes studied the form below cautiously.

Ending his dive, the light grey falcon circled high above the still form. Taking his time, he realized that this human was not going to run. This human would be too easy. Thinking he had found help, that wouldn't run this time, he landed smoothly next to Lola. Standing over her, the nearly four foot falcon decided to preen his feathers. He smoothed his feathers, as he tried to figure out how he was going to tell her he needed help. During the extensive grooming, he looked down at his leg. Upon seeing the note attached to his leg, he remembered what to do.

He moved in close to Lola and stuck his leg close to her hand. He stomped his claw impatiently as if to make her take the note faster. His eyes studied her hand intensely. His falcon eyes recognized the blood, and he began to nervously preen again. Reaching his beak down to the note, he began to bite at the rope that bound it to his leg. The rope snapped in his sharp beak and the rolled paper note slid to the ground, along with a couple of grey feathers. He looked at the human again. When Lola still didn't take the note he squawked loudly. Confused, he looked up at the sky. Making a quick decision, he spread his wings and began to soar into the clouds once more.

He gazed down at the human below. Stretching his talons, he dove toward Lola once more. With lightning speed, the falcon closed in on her, his sharp claws digging into her bag and cloak. At the last second, her cloak caught on the rocks below her. With a loud ripping sound, a small piece of her cloak was left stuck to the rock. Letting out another squawk, the falcon pulled her into the sky. His eyes blazing with success, the falcon vowed to find his master.