Chapter 1: Daylight
                           -------------------

	Xyo sighed as she rubbed her aching arm muscles; she hadn't done
this much work in over a millennium or two.  She studied the pond and
bent down again to scoop up the last few bits of pungent debris out of
the water.  She mumbled a few arcane words, and the sludge dissolved and
went its way back to its foul origins.
	She looked at the finally clean pool with a slight hint of
relief.  "That's another one finished," she sighed wearily.
	Yawning, she sat back against a nearby mossy boulder.  Glancing
distastefully at the sunlight dancing through the leaves, she pulled the
cowl of her heavy velvet robe further over her eyes.  Yes, the time had
come for a short nap.
	At the familiar rustle of the leaves in the trees, she knew that
someone else had other ideas.
	*You did good work on Dinosaur Pond, Xyo.*
	Xyo didn't even look up, but rolled her back away from her
visitor. "Spare me, please, I've done this too many times.  Praise gets
annoyingly tedious after the first few thousand cleanings."
	*Fine... fine... I will leave out the formalities.*
	"Well, obviously, you're not here for chit-chat.  Where do you
want me to go this time?  More of Kefka's pollution to clean?  Time to
scrub down the tower of *Bab-il*?  Can't I even rest for an hour?"
	The being gave a small chuckle. . *The years have been 'good' to
your disposition, I see.*
	"I have had a wonderful road companion."  Xyo was silent for a
moment and sat up and looked at the Dryad sternly.  "And could you
*please* try to use your vocal cords every once in a while?  My mind is
tired enough without you sending to me.."
	The Dryad smiled.  "Alright, I can bend to that."
	Xyo smiled triumphantly and pushed a stringy wisp of violet-grey
hair out of her eyes.  Then her face turned serious again.  "Well?  What
is it?  What will you have me do?"
	The ancient Dryad seated herself on a rock opposite of Xyo.  She
took in a deep breath.  " We've known each other for a long time..."
	"Long?" Xyo scoffed, "Now *that* is the understatement of the
ages."
	The Dryad sighed.  "... you have been working so long at repaying
your debt to me."
        "So I get another vacation?  200 years of deep sleep?  That would
be lovely..."
	"I was thinking more along the lines of final redemption."
	Xyo arched an eyebrow warily.  "Indeed?  Have I cleaned my
one-millionth lake?"
	"I'm being serious," the Dryad urged.  "I think I have a final
task for you.  Then, you can dream as long as you like."
	Xyo sat silently, staring off into space.
	"Xyo?"
	She turned away from the Dryad's eyes.  "What's the catch?"
	"Catch?  You mean the task?"
	"Yeah, what do I have to do?  Under what conditions?"
	The Dryad began to explain...

				* * * * * * * *

	"ADVENTURING?" Xyo cried in anguish.  "Do you see a person
capable of slaughtering monsters?  Saving heroes?  Goddess, Look at me!"
	Xyo pulled open her robe to emphasize how gaunt and malnourished
she had become.  The Dryad regarded her gravely and shook her head.
	"I know you have let yourself slide over the eons, Xyo, but if
you want the reward... no pain, no gain."
	Xyo's face darkened.  "That was low, Gaia."
	Gaia shifted from Dryad to Tree.  "I know this will be hard on
you.  But this is what the Goddesses had originally wanted."
	"I could have been warned beforehand..." Xyo muttered.  She
stared at her pale white-grey skin that had not seen direct sunlight
since the War of the Magi.
	"Really... then it wouldn't be so much of a trial, would it?"
	That brought out a small smile from Xyo, but it quickly faded
away.  "If it means my death... a truly peaceful death... I will do it."
	Gaia nodded solemnly, the leaves rustling.  "I wish you the best
of luck.  For I can only send you with what you have yourself.  I will
not be able to aid you directly."
	Xyo nodded.  "I figured as much..."  She bent over a moment,
doubling in pain.
	Gaia watched her sadly as Xyo recovered herself.
	"I'd say that was a nice 5.7 quake."  She gasped as she wiped the
blood off her lips.
	Gaia said nothing, as she shifted back into her Dryad form.
	Xyo glanced around and motioned for her mount, a young purple
chocobo, to be ready for riding.  She turned back to Gaia.  "Will I still
be able to talk to you?"
	"Only on occasion," she said sadly.  "Don't get into too much
mischief."
	Xyo flashed a twisted smile as she mounted the feathery beast,
"Have no fear, my planet, for I am *immortal*.  I will always be on my
*best* behavior for my *own* sake!"  Her sadistic grin was still colored
in bloody crimson.
	Xyo turned the chocobo and started to head out of Dinosaur
Forest.

				* * * * * * * *

	Taking to the air, Xyo realized she had no idea where she was to
go.  There were no towns to speak of on this island and she had very
little to go on.  How was she to go about this task if she didn't know
where to start?
	She glanced at the glaring sun and muttered, pulling her cowl
down. 'This was the most ridicules thing in the world', she thought.  'I
can imagine what the villagers will say of me as I walk into town.
They'll think I'm either ill, or undead.'
	She looked at her bony, white hands and quickly took out her
gloves to cover them.  She took her scarf and brought it around her face
to act as a veil.  She felt a little more at ease now that she looked
more nomadic instead of necromantic.  It was hot, but she had endured
worse.
	Satisfied that she would not scare the townspeople, she leaned
down to the chocobo's head, "Head east, over that big triangular island,
and land at the first town you see.  I am going to try and sleep."
	The chocobo chirped a response, broke out of its aimless spiral,
and headed towards the sea.
	Xyo sighed and wrapped her arms around the chocobo's neck.  For
a moment she felt a bit at peace.  The large gash in her chest, caused
by the earthquake, was closing up nicely.  Absentmindedly, she fingered
the wound gingerly.  With one last, pointless breath, she drifted off
into a fitful sleep.  The living heartbeat of her mount felt strangely
comforting...