"I'm bored."
	The King of Eblan sat on his throne, staring blankly at the walls of
the cavern which was his castle.  Eblan was once a proud, prospering nation,
but thanks to the power of Zeromus, the empire was no more.  Forced to flee
underground, the people of Eblan started anew.  For now, they were content.
	Edge daydreamed often of his adventures with the Hero of Light and
his friends... oh, how he misses the beautiful Caller Rydia, the one woman
whom he truly loved.  However, she was even father underground than he,
in the Land of Summoned Monsters.  "One day," he mused, "I will leave this
castle in search of her."  But he had responsibilities... to his people, to
his empire.
	He'd trade it all for a breath of fresh air from above, though.
Eblan had been in isolation for much too long.
	Unbeknownst to him, however, the world above had been in chaos.
Kefka, with his minions of darkness, had seized control of the Statues which
kept the world in balance.  Now, the entire surface had been torn asunder,
and lay in ruin.
	Then, it happened.
	The Chancellor, a short, elderly man, hobbled into the throne room
of the bored King as quickly as his stumpy legs could take him.  His face
was bright with excitement.
	"My liege," he wheezed, "the earth... hole... out... air..."
	"Calm down, old man."  The Ninja flipped nonchalantly off his
throne.  "Now, can I get you something for that wheeze?  You look
exhausted."
	"No, thank you.  I have great news!  News that will change our
lives!"
	The Ninja did smile under his mask.  "Let me guess, the Cobblestones
have discovered a new brand of fungus that they're dying to serve...?  Or
maybe the Derelict twins said their first word?  Or maybe, just to break the
monotony, the Armourer wants me to try out his newest creation?"
	"No, my liege, much better than any of that.  The earth, she has
ripped herself apart!  Several miles from here... there is an enormous
hole!  A way to the surface!"
	Edge's jaw dropped.  "You're sure?"
	"Yes, our scouts have just come back!  Everyone is ecstatic!"
	"Well then."  Edge ran over to his twin swords mounted on the throne
room wall, Murasame and Masamune.  Gently, he lifted each blade and mounted
it on his back.  "I guess SOMEONE will have to go and check it out."
	"Your Majesty, surely you're not thinking about going yourself!"
	"Sure, why not?  You have everything under control down here.  I'm
just an idle icon.  Don't wait up!"  With those words, the Ninja dashed for
the door.
	"Wait!" begged the Chancellor.  "You just can't leave!  What will
your people think?"
	"My people won't know I'm gone... and even if they do, so what?
They can take care of themselves.  You make everything sound so
melodramatic, Chancellor."  Edge laughed.
	"I'm only looking out for your best interest, Sire."
	"My 'best interest' is leaving this hole and do something useful
before I die of old age!  I'll be careful, I always am!"  Edge scooped up a
handful of shurikens on his way out.  Before the Chancellor could get out
another word, the door closed behind the aging yet spry King of Eblan.
	The Chancellor shook his head.  "Young people..."

	Edge travelled the subterranean tunnels of his kingdom by foot,
making a bee-line for the chasm.  After several hours' travel, he reached
the rift.
	Looking up, the Ninja grinned.  "That's gonna be quite the long
climb.  Hope I don't slip.  That would hurt."
	Edge hopped onto the wall, and began to spring from side to side,
grabbing onto outcrops and hoisting himself up where he could.
	By the time he reached the top, it was nightfall on the surface.
	Edge breated in deeply.  The crisp night air filled his lungs for
the first time in perhaps thirty years.
	"It's beautiful.  I had almost forgotten what the sky was like.  The
stars, the moon, the bright red pillar..."
	Off in the distance, a huge beam of crimson light pulsed skyward.
Sparks flew from its base, and the tip of the beam was all but invisible.
Edge raised an eyebrow, and said to himself, "That shouldn't be there... I
wonder what is is?"
	Curiousity had a very strong pull on Edge.  Inexorably, Edge began
his trek toward the ruby light.