The new lovers held hands as they left the clearing.  Cecil and
Tucker walked behind, quietly talking to each other about the new situation
of things.
	"I knew he loved her," Tucker said.
	"Heh, maybe so, but I knew it before you did."  Cecil grinned.
	"I don't think so.  I have a greater eye for that kind of thing than
you," Tucker teased, "I mean, I've had to give up so many women in my
time... they just didn't work out.  I've learned from my mistakes."
	Cecil laughed.  "And I'm sure you've learned a lot, haven't you?"
	Tucker laughed along with Cecil.  "More than you'll ever know."
	Cecil couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness looking at Edge
and Rydia.  Cecil wondered where his betrothed was right now.  Edge had said
that Rosa was on the Big Whale... she must be here somewhere...
	Tucker jogged ahead and caught up with the cozy couple.  "Hey, you
two, I'd hate to break up a tender moment here, but we still have a tower to
explore."  Tucker smiled.
	Edge grinned.  "Sure thing, Tucker.  Feeling up to it, love?"
	Rydia smiled.  "Anytime you're ready, dear."
	Tucker chuckled.  "Oh, please.  Love and dear and honeybunch...
sheesh.  I'm gonna have to find me a set of earplugs just so I don't get
sick from all this sweet talk every night."  Tucker winked at the couple.
	Rydia giggled.  "Oh, I'm sure that you'll be able to sleep just
fine, Tucker.  You'll never hear us over your snoring."  Rydia stuck her
tongue out at Tucker.
	Tucker stammered, then laughed.  "I don't snore."  Tucker folded his
arms in mock insult.  He then stuck out his tongue at Rydia.  Everyone was
laughing by now.

*****
	Shortly after the walk, the party entered Kefka's tower once more.
The party searched the remainig floors of the tower, but came up empty-
handed.
	"I just don't get it,"  Tucker complained, "You have your basic all-
powerful tower here and nothing makes it through its gettin' blown up.
Makes you wonder about how things are built around this time..."
	Edge rolled his eyes.  "We're sorry, Tucker, but we've been lacking
fiberglass ever since the chocobo epedemic."
	"Chocobo epidemic?"  Tucker was puzzled.
	"Yeah.  We tried to make the stables for the chocobos out of
fiberglass.  Poor birds couldn't tell the walls for the door.  Millions died
charging full-tilt into what they thought was a door."
	Tucker smirked, and smacked Edge upside the head.  "Goof."
	Edge chuckled.
	Cecil, however, had better luck than the others.  "Hey, everyone,
come and check this out!"
	The group moved over to where Cecil was pointing.  Carved into the
stone floor of the tower, a strange rune sat glowing a pale amber light.  It
was shaped like a triangle, with small circles at each of the triangle's
points.
	"What do you suppose it is?"  Rydia asked.
	"Looks to me like a teleportation device,"  Tucker offered.
	"Only one way to find out."  Edge hopped into the center of the
triangle.
	Rydia gasped.  "Edge!"
	Edge chuckled.  "Don't worry, Rydia, Tucker's right.  You KNOW I
wouldn't have jumped on this triangle if it had posed any danger to myself."
	Rydia rolled her eyes and smiled.  "Sure."
	Edge's form was surrounded by silvery motes, and to the others, he
appeared to have vanished.
	To Edge, however, the room appeared to grow slightly, but it
retained the same decor: ruin.  Edge stepped off the teleportation device
and allowed the others to arrive.
	"Nice place," Tucker noted, "For a ruin."
	The party saw a corridor which branched off from the large entry
room.  They entered this corridor and followed it.  The father they got down
the corridor, the less damage they could see.  By the time they were halfway
down the corridor, there was no damage to be found.  Glowing lights ran the
lenght of the halls, all seeming to pulsate and move towards the end of the
corridor.  By the time they reached the 3/4 mark, they heard something.
	"That sounds like... a battle!"  Edge remarked.
	The party raced down the hall, eager to see what was going on.  They
were not prepared for what they saw.
	A man, dressed entirely in crimson robes, had long, white hair down
to his shoulders.  He appeared to be casting spells, but how could that be
possible?  On the other side of the man, another man, dressed entirely in
black, held an onyx sword and was fending off the magical attacks.
	"BROTHER!"  Cecil yelled.
	Both combattants came to a halt.  "Brother, is he?  Well, Golbez, I
didn't know you had any family.  Maybe I should spare you so you can tell me
all about it."  The red-robed man grinned.
	"Cardia, I've already explained to you the purpose of my following
you.  If you are unwilling to accept this rational explanation, then I fear
that one of us shall die.  But if you do not believe me, ask those people
over there.  They will tell you the truth."  The dark-clad man stood his
full height, looking down at Cardia.
	Cardia turned to the newcomers to the scene.  "Somehow, Golbez, I
doubt that very much.  He IS related after all, and he'd probably lie
for you if you asked him to."
	Cecil spoke.  "I would not lie to save my own brother, Cardia.  I
am a man of my word.  I am Cecil, Paladin of Light and King of Baron."
	Cardia nodded.  "An interesting collection of titles.  And who might
your other companions be?"
	Edge stepped into the light.  "I am Edge, Ninja of Light and King of
Eblan."
	Rydia stepped forth.  "I am Rydia, Caller of Light from the village
Mist."
	Tucker stumbled into the chamber.  "Hi, I'm Tucker."
	Cardia nodded.  "So you are the heroes that save the world for the
second time over, are you?  How nice.  I would never think that I'd get a
chance to meet you."
	Edge answered, "Well, if you wouldn't have been in such a hurry to
get that Red Crystal, you would have seen me."
	Cardia raised an eyebrow.  "Oh, how so?"
	"I chased you up that magic red beam of light to the Moon."
	Cardia grinned.  "So that was you!  My life just keeps getting
better and better.  But enough small talk."
	Cardia turned to Golbez.  "Golbez, I have come for the Orb.  It
would be wise for you to return it to me."
	Golbez growled, "I cannot 'return' what is not rightfully yours.
Besides, I do not have the Orb.  Edgar took the Orb from a girl named Celes."
	Cecil spoke.  "He speaks the truth, Cardia.  The Orb is now in the
hands of Edgar.  If you want it, go get it from him."
	Cardia smirked.  "An interesting propostion... but no.  If I cannot
have the Orb, then at least I can have the Red Crystal.  With this Crystal,
I can return to my time or any other time I wish."
	Tucker and Edge gasped.
	Tucker said, "You could get me back home?"
	Cardia nodded.  "Yes, I could deliver you to your own time, Tucker.
But what purpose would that serve me?"
	"None, probably.  I just thought you'd be a swell guy and offer."
	"No, my friend, I do not merely 'offer'."
	Edge spoke.  "If I could get you a shard of the Orb, could you take
me to save my parents from being transformed by Dr. Lugae?"
	Cardia grinned.  "This man speaks my language.  That, Ninja Edge, is
a fair deal.  I agree to your terms.  But I demand the shard of Orb before I
take you to your parents."
	Edge realized that he had suddenly dug himself a very deep hole.
	In order to get a shard of the Orb, Edge would have to infiltrate
Edgar's stronghold and capture a shard of the Orb from under his very nose.
A task even the greatest of Ninja would find nearly impossible.
	On the other hand, Edge knew of several shards of Orb that were
floating around.  Celes had one.  Cecil had another.
	Edge could not ask Cecil to give up a treasure as important as an
Orb shard.  Everyone was in need of Cecil's healing magic.  And Edge could
not ask Celes for her shard of the Orb... she and Edge had been through too
many rough times to make that plan viable.
	And then there was Rydia... was Edge willing to part company with
Rydia in order to search for his parents?
	And the final piece in the gambling hoard... could Cardia actually
be trusted?