"Well, here we are," Hiro said. "Suzaku." The group passed through the ironworked gateway to the main avenue, and soon began taking in their surroundings in wide-eyed wonder. All around them, buildings ranging from what appeared to be dwellings of wealthy merchants to meticulously kept temples shone with the luster of rich lacquer and copper-gold roof shingles. Passersby in simple yet elegant attire raised curious eyebrows at the collection of travelers as they went about their business. "Wow," Mika summed it up. "Wow indeed," Syeira added. "Talk about living the good life..." A samurai garbed in what those new to the city guessed must pass for the uniform of the local guard approached them. "Please state your business here in Su--oh, Hiro," he nodded a greeting to the errant swordsman. Hiro bowed. "Yoshimitsu-san," he began, gesturing at the foreigners, "these good people from a distant land wish an audience with the Emperor, and I have brought them here from Seiryu." The other samurai raised an eyebrow at that, and chuckled. In the native tongue, he commented, "" With a final bow to the group, and a half-hidden chuckle, he walked away. Jil turned an amused glance toward Hiro. "Errand-boy, is it now?" Hiro chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, it's a bit more than that, but um, well..." "Save it for later," Syeira said. "We've got an emperor to meet." ****** "Quite majestic, isn't it?" Cheney asked, chuckling at the amazed expressions on the three Dragoons. Kyle was the first to recover. "It is a rather symbolic layout." "It's a bird, sir," Martin offered. "I can spot a castle in the center of the city, but what's that building off to the north?" Reill wondered. "From the looks of it, it's at least as important to these people as the castle." "That would be the Tomb of Genji," Cheney said. "And this is where the heretics are headed?" Kyle asked, catching himself before he slipped and referred to his sister by name again. Cheney nodded. "Most likely." Kyle cast a glance north, then nodded grimly. "Then we'll be waiting there for them." "I suggest we make camp for the night," Cheney offered. "It's late, and they wouldn't be travelling to the tomb after dark, not after hiking through the mountains. They'll probably stop to rest inside the city." "Then we have to hurry, to intercept them!" Kyle interjected, starting to move forward. A hand on his shoulder brought him to a reluctant halt. "I have a better idea, sir," Martin said. Kyle raised an eyebrow at the private, who showed only a moment of hesitation before pressing on. "If we get there before they do, they can turn and run. Why not give them a chance to get there first, and then follow behind?" Reill seemed to understand what his comrade was thinking, and chimed in, "Yeah, that way we can trap them there. They won't be able to escape again." Kyle blinked, then slowly nodded. "That makes sense...excellent reasoning, private. Alright, we'll make camp here tonight." ****** When the weary group arrived at the castle, they were detained for nearly an hour by the royal guard before a man with meticulously styled dark hair and garbed in garish robes approached them. "I am the Emperor's advisor," he said, bowing. "Many apologies for the delay. The Emperor will see you now." He led them through a set of ornate lacquered doors inlaid with gold accents. The throne room was typical of palaces everywhere; lots of rich tapestries, the highest quality materials covering every surface in the room, and only one piece of furniture in the entire place; a deeply lacquered throne with gold fittings and intricate carvings. Seated upon this throne on a plush, velvet cushion was an ancient man with a round, slightly chubby face, tightly squinted eyes, and a narrow white mustache and beard. Oddly enough, he wore what appeared to be the latest fashions from Tienne, and a pair of obviously imported spectacles. "Your excellency, I present the foreigners!" the advisor said, gesturing grandly. "Ah, welcome, welcome," the Emperor said, his accent barely managing to get around the words. The group bowed respectfully. Hiro stepped forward, and all traces of his previous foolish demeanor vanished. "Great Emperor, these people have come a long way, through many hardships, to tour our lands and to seek the favor of the great ancient one that sleeps to the north." The Emperor nodded, smiling broadly. "So," he addressed the foreigners. "You riking it here, yes?" "It is a lovely country," Davin spoke, fighting to conceal an amused chuckle at the Emperor's accent. "Although I can't say we were impressed by the welcome we received in Seiryu." The Emperor frowned. "Shogun there is no good. I riked his uncle much more. I aporogize for any tlouble he caused for you." He smiled again. "Now, you want to visit tomb of Genji, collect?" "That's right," Davin said. "You rearize it is rocked up tight. We have had no way of going in there for many rong time." "We may have a way to get in," Marcine spoke up, withdrawing the Heartstone from its customary place around her neck. The Emperor's eyes widened. "So you may indeed. Well then!" He beamed widely. "You want lest tonight here in my city, yes? We will have gleat banquet in honor of our visitors. You can tell me of things going on in other praces, then tomollow, you may go to Tomb." The foreigners bowed gratefully to the Emperor. "Thank you, your excellency," Davin said. "We appreciate your hospitality." "Great Emperor," Hiro broke in, "there are also two other matters of concern in regards to our guests." He launched into rapid-fire Ryukin, and the Emperor's expression grew tight and concerned. Finally, the old man nodded. "Vely well," he said. "I will see to it that so rong as you are here in Suzaku, and at the Tomb of Genji, you need not fear these people forrowing you. And I will have my advisor speak with the shipmakers about finding a suitable claft for you to leturn to your homerand in." "Please, come with me," the advisor said. "I will lead you to the palace baths, and show you to suitable lodgings." With final bows of respect and words of thanks to the emperor, the group followed the advisor through the halls of the palace. Along the way, the advisor stopped, poked his head into a door, and bellowed something that sounded to the foreigners like "Arekizin!", then turned back with a broad smile and continued onward. Sharing puzzled glances, the others hurried after him. ****** He was floating, hovering above a great, crystalline pool of water. In the distance, he saw a mighty tree, with three beautiful angels tending its roots. Beyond the tree lay a darkness he felt inexorably drawn to. Unable to resist the pull of the darkness, he flew toward it. There, he saw a circle of dim, crude candles surrounding a stone pedestal upon which sat...a mask. It was unlike any mask he had ever seen before. It was massive, far too big to fit even a large man, roughly hewn from wood that had long since petrified. Narrow, uneven eyeslits and a grim line of a mouth were the only recognizable details it bore; the remainder of the mask's features were unfamiliar and unsettling. Around the edges of the mask, oriented in the fashion of numbers on a clockface, twelve runes were inscribed. In the center of the mask was another rune, burned deep into the wood and laden with gold. The runes were unfamiliar to him, but the one in the center seemed to represent (eternity) something significant. At the top of the mask, jagged horns of petrified wood jutted out, looking for all the world like a pair of young branches turned into bizarre, twisted antlers. Kyle woke in confusion. What had that dream meant? *Is madness the price for heresy? Does Marcine share in these deluded visions?* ----------------------------------------- FINAL FANTASY LEGACY Knights of the Round Chapter 23: Trials and Tribulation Begun by Brian Stricklin This chapter by The Eternal Lost Lurker ----------------------------------------- The party felt fully rested and fresh the next morning, a welcome change from the past few days of road dust, sweat, and almost perpetual exhaustion. The previous evening's banquet had been a rather festive affair, even when the topic of conversation had turned to the reasons for the party's flight and subsequent pursuit. "So in the eyes of your rocal raws, using magic is an offense punishable by death?" the Emperor had asked. Marcine nodded. "It's one of the most serious offenses to the Gods in the eyes of the Church." "Even though you used magic to heal a child?" the advisor asked, his face showing vivid disbelief at such a thing. "That's the Church for you," Syeira muttered. The Emperor shook his head sadly. "Such a thing is dishonorable and disgraceful," he said. "Lest assured, fliends, you will come to no harm while you are in my city. I will not torerate this kind of persecution." After the sumptuous meal and talk of more pleasant subjects, the exhausted travelers headed to the quarters provided them, and slept soundly. When they woke, they found one of the palace attendants waiting, bearing several boxes. "The Emperor was concerned at the state of your garments, and ordered our clothiers to provide you with new and more suitable attire." The harried young woman set the boxes by the door, and rushed off on another errand. After sorting out which box was intended for whom, and spending an hour trying to figure out how to properly wear the unfamiliar clothing, the group of foreigners gathered the rest of their gear and prepared to head off to Genji's Tomb. Davin was now outfitted in a wraparound tunic and wide, loose pants similar to those worn by the samurai. Marcine had been given silken robes much like the advisor's and a tall, cylindrical hat--she wasn't happy with the notion of giving up her old, familiar pointy hat, but it had begun to acquire a distinctly unpleasant smell lately. Syeira was garbed in a dark, concealing outfit that Jil recalled was worn by shadow warriors known as ninja The ship captain herself had received a simple tunic and loose trousers with ties at the waist and ankles. Mika sported a white wraparound tunic with a long blue pleated skirt that reached her ankles. All five had received a light vest of padded material to wear under their clothes; the note from the clothier assured them that it would soften the blows of any weapon, and also apologized for not having the time to assure a proper fit. Despite this, the new garments seemed to fit the five foreigners well, and none of them had any particular complaints. A short while after they had dressed, Hiro arrived at their quarters. "Well, are you all ready to go?" he asked. "Ready as we'll ever be," Davin said. "Lead the way." ****** "Halt. Please state your business." The line was becoming tiresome to the Dragoons by now. "We are representatives of the Church of Tienne, seeking fugitives who fled to your land." As he had done so many times recently, he held the (rather insulting) letter from the Seiryu shogun out for inspection. The leader of the patrol squad took the letter, examined it...and calmly ripped it to shreds. "Dragoons of Tienne," he said sternly, "your presence is unwelcome in Suzaku. By order of the Emperor, I am authorized to demand that you leave this place immediately, and return to your homeland." Kyle blinked. This was new. "I beg your pardon?" The samurai gave Kyle a look that spoke volumes of his opinion of foreigners. "The fugitives you seek are under the protection of the Emperor. You will not enter Suzaku for purposes of persecution." "I was afraid of this," Cheney said. Kyle's mouth drew down into a tight frown. "I assure you, we will take no action against the fugitives without first consulting with--" "You will take no action in Suzaku at all. Now leave." Kyle growled. Cheney shot him a warning look, then began speaking to the samurai in the native tongue. After a few moments, the old man shook his head, and the patrol moved on, glancing back at the Dragoons as if to make sure they were staying put. "Well?" Kyle asked. Cheney shrugged. "Nothing I could do about this one. The Emperor is not strictly more than a figurehead, but the samurai in Suzaku are loyal to him. I'm afraid there's little we can do except wait for them to leave." Kyle glared at him. "We've come all this way, we're not going to turn back just because--" "Careful, sir," Martin said. "I don't think the Church would like it if we made trouble here, captain," Reill put in. Kyle looked at the ground, and said nothing. ****** "Well, here we are," Hiro said. "Genji's Tomb." With the exception of Jil, the adventurers gazed at the place in wonder. Beyond the archway at the tomb perimeter stood a grand marbled edifice. Like the Emperor's palace, the roof was tiled with gleaming gold shingles, and the grounds were meticulously maintained by the local priests. A teenaged girl in red and white robes approached them and bowed deeply. "Welcome to the tomb of Genji," she said. "Feel free to enter the shrine and pay your respects, pray, or seek the counsel of the spirits, but take care not to disturb this sacred place." The others bowed in return, and headed for the shrine at the tomb entrance. More closely resembling the architecture of the residences they'd seen in the city, the shrine was built of lacquered wood, with ricepaper screens on the doors and windows. The six travelers walked through the open door after Hiro paused, bowed his head, and clapped his palms together. "Welcome to the shrine of Genji," the old priest inside the building said. "Have you come to pray, to honor the ancient spirits, or to seek counsel?" Hiro fumbled for a small, sealed scroll which he held out to the priest. "We have come with the Emperor's permission to enter the Tomb." The old priest blinked, unsealing and reading the scroll. "But...surely you know that there is no way to enter the Tomb since the door is locked and cannot be opened..." "We have a way to open the door," Marcine spoke up. "We hope, anyway." The priest regarded her quizzically, but shrugged. "If you believe you can enter the Tomb, and if truly you are able to open its door, then I will not prevent it." He led them to the tomb entrance. The group marveled at the ornate stone gate which barred the entrance to the tomb. Set above a rather simple-looking keyhole stood an ornate brass plaque, with a large oval amber stone embedded in it. The stone bore a Manakyr rune just beneath its surface. Marcine brushed her fingers over the rune. "Holy," she said. "it's the character for Holy." "Is that Genji's Heartstone?" Mika wondered. "If the legends I've heard tell of be true, then I doubt it," Jil said. "I'd wager the real stone be in the tomb, with Genji himself." Marcine nodded. "That's probably right." "So, let's open it already," Syeira said. Marcine withdrew the Heartstone of Earth from within her robes, and held it up to the plaque. The stone began to glow, and a low tone, like a bell, sounded. This was followed by the grinding of stone as the brass plaque withdrew into the door, and the massive gate withdraw into the wall of the tomb. "Remarkable," the priest breathed. "Well. Shall we go in?" Marcine led the way into the tomb, uncharacteristically eager. The others blinked, then scrambled to follow suit. The gate slid shut behind them. ****** Paper lanterns which had not been lit in ages lined the great stone walls of the tomb; Davin quickly discovered that a minor fire spirit had made its home here, and within moments, the old lanterns sparked to life, illuminating the grand, cavernous tomb before them. "It definitely is bigger on the inside that it seems on the outside," Marcine commented as they made their way down a long corridor. The marble floor was meticulously engraved with the many legends of the exploits of Genji. Ultimately, they reached a point where the lanterns ended, and plummeted the corridor beyond into darkness. "Well? Any ideas?" Syeira asked. "Well, maybe we could--wait. Did you hear that?" Davin gazed into the shadows, concentrating. After a moment, the rest of them could hear it too. "Footsteps," Mika said. As the footsteps grew louder, several specks of flickering light began to pierce the darkness. After several minutes, the source of the footsteps was finally close enough to be seen: an ancient samurai, craggy-faced and white-bearded, wearing battered armor which had probably once been quite brilliant and beautiful. The helmet upon his head bore not the moon crest seen on other helmets, but a strange symbol that looked like the sun, half-above the horizon. His dark eyes were sharp, piercing, and he walked with a grace and confidence more suited to a man half his apparent age. At his waist hung a curved white scabbard. On one arm, he wore a heavily padded glove; as he raised this arm, a bird, perhaps the size of a falcon, alighted on the glove and gave a piercing shriek. The bird itself was more of a curiosity than the old man; its plumage was a brilliant red, and seemed to be flickering with bright orange flames. As the party marveled at this sight, four similar birds appeared, circling the old samurai's head. "Welcome," he said in a deep, youthful voice. "It has been a long time since anyone has visited this place." "Are you...are you, by any chance, Genji?" Hiro asked. Marcine, however, was transfixed by the fiery bird on the old warrior's arm. "Is that...is that a...phoenix?" The ancient samurai chuckled. "You seem surprised." "I thought the phoenix would be a lot bigger than that," Mika piped up. This earned a laugh from the old man. "Ah, it would, if it were fully grown. These are but hatchlings." "Hatchlings?" Marcine gasped. "Then...then the phoenix is alive and awake? The Sleeper?" "Let me tell you a story," the ancient one said, sending the phoenix up to join its brothers. "A very long time ago, the people of these islands were savage, petty, and fought amongst themselves. At that time, threats from outside invaders were many, and dangerous monsters killed people by the hundreds. "The four gods that watch over and protect these islands did what little they could to try to bring peace to the islands, but they could not force the Ryukin people to settle their differences. But one day, Suzaku, the Phoenix, saw a man with a strong heart and a powerful will. This man was determined to see the Ryukin settle their differences and to unite the land as one strong nation. "When this warrior began rallying his people to drive out an invading army encroaching on the western shore, Suzaku knew that the Ryukin would not trust each other enough to withstand the invasion, and as the invaders slowly decimated the defenders, the god appeared before this man. 'I will make you a King,' the phoenix said, 'and create for you a kingdom which no enemy can touch. In return, I ask only that you devote your life to uniting the people of these islands under a common rule, and end the tribal feuding which will ultimately bring the end for all who live here.' "When this warrior accepted Suzaku's offer, Suzaku settled to the ground and slowly burned itself to cinders, leaving upon the ground the outline of its body. In the very center of this burnt valley, the warrior discovered several golden eggs, which he quickly hid in a secure place. Without hesitation, he built a great palace on the spot where he found the eggs, and people from all around began to gather around it in curiosity. When they found that the valley of the phoenix was safe from the wild monsters, and seemed to be immune to invasion from outsiders, they began flocking to that place by the dozens, building homes and shrines within the sacred area. "In less than a year, a great city had bloomed on the spot where Suzaku sacrificed itself, and its king set about the task of uniting the islands. He was successful, and became their first emperor, and when he died, he was buried here, along with the eggs of Suzaku--all except for one, which hatched while the king's palace was being built." There was a long silence as the group took this in, then... "Why didn't Suzaku rise from its ashes, like the legend?" The old warrior chuckled. "Why do the blue dragons breathe lightning and not fire? Why did the white tiger spare the marmot which was to be his dinner? Why did the turtle mate with the snake? These things are not meant for us to understand. They simply happen." After a long moment, he assumed a more serious air. "As to your earlier questions, the Sleeper is the one which hatched first, and I am, indeed, Genji, first Emperor of Ryukin." The group bowed to the ancient warrior, who regarded them with a look of careful appraisal. "I see many perils have befallen you, and you have passed many trials. You who are surrounded by the heavy cloak of destiny, and who carry with you the Heartstone of my brother in arms, Percival, I will now place before you yet another series of trials. Though I sense much about your hearts and minds, I must have proof of your worth and of yourselves. Will you accept my challenge?" The six glanced at one another warily, then Davin said, "We will." Genji smiled. "Excellent. Allow me to summon the first of four opponents you will face." ****** "We're going onward to the tomb," Kyle decided. He began marching toward the city. The others glanced at each other. "This doesn't bode well," Reill said. They rushed after the captain. As they approached the city, they found four samurai milling around the entrance. The swordsmen turned as they spotted the Dragoons approaching, and immediately dropped into combat stances. "You there!" one of them called out. "Stay where you are!" "We intend to pass through your city," Kyle said. "We will make no trouble for you, but we will not be turned back." "We have been warned of your coming," the apparent leader of the guards said. "Dragoons of the Church of Tienne, by order of the Emperor, if you set one foot within the city of Suzaku, you will be placed under arrest." "Kyle," Cheney said, "We should turn back. They're not making idle threats." "Neither am I," Kyle scowled. "We could just go *around* the city," Cheney whispered. Kyle shook his head. "If we did that, they'd have time to warn the heretics, and they could escape. No, we're going *through*." He turned again to the guard captain, and warned, "Stand aside, and we will not hurt you." The samurai laughed uproariously. "*You*, hurt *us*? I think not!" Ten seconds later, four stunned samurai lay on the ground, disarmed, and the business end of Kyle's naginata was pressed against the guard commander's throat. "As I said, we intend to pass through Suzaku to capture our fugitives." The samurai glared defiantly up at the Dragoon. "You may attempt to do so," he rasped, "but you will fail. You cannot defeat every warrior in Suzaku." Kyle removed his naginata from the man's throat. "We shall see," he said. Addressing his comrades, he ordered, "Let's go." He stormed onto the main road of Suzaku, leaving the others to blink in astonishment and confusion before scrambling after him. ****** "There will be a series of four trials," Genji stated. "For the first three, only one of you may attempt each trial. If you succeed, the final trial will commence. You may all face the final challenge." "Out of curiosity, what be the purpose o' these trials?" Jil asked. "These are tests of worth," Genji replied. "You will learn the purpose of these trials should you succeed in passing them." "Well, might as well," Syeira said. "So what's the first one?" Genji smiled, and beckoned to something half-hidden in shadow. A figure emerged; a tall, blue-haired man wearing a fox-like mask. His garb was similar to Syeira's. "The first opponent you will face is Kitsuri, a master of the shadow arts." "One of those 'ninja' guys, is it?" Syeira commented. "Alright, I'll take this one." "Then begin," Genji said. Kitsuri bowed, then spoke. "Gengame...change!" A dark fog shrouded his form, and when it cleared, his body had shifted. No longer did he wear a fox mask, or have blue hair. Instead, his head was dark green and inhuman. Thick, scaly plates covered his torso, like armor. He looked for all the world like... "A ninja...turtle?" Syeira stared, then began to laugh. "Oh, please..." She wasn't laughing when a handful of small knives flew past her head, nicking her earlobe and severing a few strands of hair. She froze, then growled. "Alright then, here we go!" The dark tortoise rushed at her, throwing lightning-fast palm strikes and kicks; Syeira dodged nimbly, blocking strikes she couldn't avoid completely. As she spotted an opening, she darted in low, drawing her dagger and striking in one fluid motion. The blade skittered off the ninja's chest, but distracted it long enough for Syeira to execute a perfect leg sweep that left the creature on its back. "Come on, that's not all you've got, is it?" Syeira taunted, backflipping to a discrete distance, prepared for anything as Kitsuri... ...stayed on his back, flailing his arms and legs ineffectually. The group stared in disbelief, while Syeira just shook her head. "That was really anticlimactic," she said. "That was also the easiest trial, which you have passed," Genji said. "The second trial should prove a bit more difficult." ****** Stine scowled at the odd assortment of creatures before him. Once he had set foot on the shores of the Ryukin Islands, he began searching for signs of the local wildlife. He had hoped that this new land might offer new and powerful beasts, creatures truly worthy of being commanded by the great and noble Citizens' Champion. But these...things. "What manner of odd creatures art thou?" he wondered aloud. Inwardly, he mulled over what little he could ascertain from their appearance. One was clearly an amphibian of some sort, bearing traits of many amphibious creatures, but also bearing a sharp beak and talons. Another of the creatures was...extremely pink, and the third...he had no idea what it was. Whatever it was, it looked to be completely insane. "Chi." "Chu." "Gwappa." Stine grumbled. "It matters not what thou art. Thou hast been defeated by Beastmaster Stine, and though the lot of thee posed no challenge for such a great and powerful opponent, perhaps thou hast some usefulness. Beasts, I command thee, show me thine power!" "Chi." "Chu." "Gwappa." Stine shook his head and sighed. "This was a grand waste of the Citizens' time." He began to make his way further down the beach, planning to leave the miserable creatures behind, when he sensed a quiet presence behind him. He began to turn around... "Doink." ...and promptly fell to the ground, unconscious. "Chi?" "Chu?" "Gwappa!" With that, the three odd creatures unanimously decided to abandon their new "master", and wandered off toward the sea. ****** "You performed well in the first trial," Genji said. "The second trial will commence as soon as your opponents arrive." "We're here," a voice said from the shadows, as two identical boys stepped away from the walls. "Ah, Amiboshi, Suboshi. Then we can begin the next trial. Who will challenge them?" "Hey, wait...there's two of them. Do we get to choose two people?" Mika asked. "It would not be a true test of skill if you were unable to establish that, if necessary, a single one of you could take on more than one opponent," Genji admonished. "Now, choose who will face the dragon twins." "D-dragon twins?" Hiro asked, seeming shaken. Amiboshi and Suboshi shared a smirk, then shouted in perfect synchronization, "Aoryuu...change!" With a blinding flash of blue light, the twins developed heavy cobalt scales and serpentine heads with slitted eyes and sharp-toothed jaws. "Why does it have to be dragons again?" Davin groaned. "I'll handle this one," Marcine said, stepping forward. "Are you sure, Marcine?" Davin asked. The young mage nodded. "I can do this." "Very well," Genji said. "Begin!" The twins opened their mouths, and roared bolts of lightning at Marcine. She hastily cast a Shell which absorbed the majority of the blast, only pushing her back a bit and giving her a light shock. She chanted quickly under her breath, then called out, "Fire!" Flames began licking at one of the dragons; it reared back slightly, roaring in pain. It then glared at Marcine, its eyes flashing. The other dragon rushed in and headbutted the mage, who was sent flying. As she flew through the air, the other dragon roared out a lightning blast, which missed Marcine by mere inches. As she landed, she painfully pulled herself to her feet, and cast Di-Ice. This had an interesting effect, as the dragon which had charged her froze over almost instantly, while the other dragon shrugged the spell off indifferently. The unfrozen dragon rushed toward Marcine, jaws gaping, but she was prepared, and dove out of the way. Still, the dragon grazed her leg. Grimacing, she cast a healing spell, then stood again, only slightly unsteady. *Okay,* she thought to herself. *One of them freezes, the other burns. What can I--ack!* She squawked indignantly as a bolt of lightning nearly blasted her hat off. Behind her, she heard a cracking sound, then felt the impact of a scaly head on her back, and felt herself skidding along the floor again. "Marcine!" Davin shouted. Marcine pushed herself unsteadily to her feet. "I'm...I'm alright," she said. She watched the dragons warily, casting another Cure spell to heal her injuries enough to continue. As she did so, she began to feel an odd energy washing through her. Something that felt...magical, yet not quite magic; it surged through her veins on adrenaline tides, enticing her to unleash its power against her opponents. Closing her eyes and holding her hands in front of her, palms facing the dragons, she let the unfamiliar energy rise to the surface, and..."ANTIPODE!" Strobing red and blue light illuminated the tomb as wide streams of ice and fire magic erupted from Marcine's hands, striking the dragons. Luckily, the blasts hit the appropriate targets, and the twins were sent flying back into the darkness. Marcine put her hands on her knees and panted heavily. "Whew..." After a long tableau of silence, Genji stated, "Well done. You have passed this trial." Marcine smiled wearily, and allowed herself to sink to the floor. The others gathered around here. "Marcine! Are you alright?" Davin asked. "What the heck was that spell?" Syeira asked. Marcine paused to catch her breath. "I'm fine," she said. "As to what that was...I have no idea. It didn't feel like normal magic..." "Well, whatever it was, it was a good bit o' work," Jil said. "I didn't think ye'd make it out o' that one." "Neither did I," Marcine replied with a weak laugh. "The third trial will not be easy. It will take a great swordsman to defeat the next opponent." Hiro stretched. "I've got this one guys, don't wor--" "No," Genji said. "I am sorry, but this challenge must be accepted by one of the foreigners." Davin patted Hiro on the back. "It's okay, Hiro. I'll handle this." Genji nodded. "Alright, then. I summon the next opponent..." A woman clad in samurai armor strode out of the shadows. She was rather short of stature, but she radiated strength and confidence. There was a hard cast to her rugged face, and she silently drew a beautifully crafted, highly polished, and extremely long katana from the scabbard at her waist. "For the third trial," Genji intoned, addressing Davin, "you must defeat, with nothing more than your own blade, Kira Cyori." The others gaped. "Kira Cyori? The legendary swordswoman?" "One and the same," the female samurai said, bowing. "It is an honor." Davin bowed to the long-deceased woman. "The honor is mine." Genji observed the two warriors for a moment, then said, "Begin!" ****** The various nobles, attendants, and other palace residents paused in curiosity at the horrendous noise approaching from the palace gates. "Let us go!" a voice roared. "You can't treat us like this!" "I'm afraid they can, sir," another voice said. "We did break their laws and attack their soldiers," another, older voice said, rather calmly. A small platoon of samurai marched through the palace, leading (and in one case, dragging bodily) four foreigners in unfamiliar uniforms. Many murmurs and whispers of curiosity and speculation passed between onlookers. The procession was brought to the throne room, where the four foreigners were tossed to the ground, shackled, before the Emperor. "The Dragoons of the Church of Tienne," the guard captain announced. "They were placed under arrest after assaulting seventeen members of the city guard." "These are the foul persecutors that would dare put a girl to death for healing a child?" the advisor asked. "Our laws and how we enforce them do not concern you," Kyle spat. "Appalentry, our raws do not concern you either, since you saw fit to viorate them by attacking our soldiers," the Emperor said. "As to how we enforce them, however...I shall be happy to demonstlate first-hand." He spoke in Ryukin to the guards, who retrieved the prisoners and dragged them off in the direction of the palace dungeon. ****** "I will not go easy on you," Kira said. Davin nodded. "I wouldn't expect you to." Kira held her sword flat on her upturned palms, and calmly intoned, "Shiromokou Change." Her facial features became feline, and the few places where flesh was exposed on her body developed black-striped white fur. A long white tail sprouted from her back, and lashed from side to side violently. She lowered into a combat stance, sword held in a high defensive position. A feral growl erupted from her throat. The two sized each other up for a long moment, looking for openings. Davin idly wished he'd had a chance to learn more about the fighting style used by the samurai, as finding openings in Kira's stance was proving difficult. For a long moment, nothing happened, and then... *CLANG!* Sparks flew as Davin parried Kira's strike. The tiger-woman pulled back, then slashed at Davin's midsection. He grunted as the blow struck home, but luckily he'd twisted aside enough that the blade didn't cut deeply. Scowling, he darted in low, stabbing forward with his sword; his blade bit into the samurai's leg. She darted back out of range and sized him up warily. "Not bad," Kira said. "Let's see how you handle this...SHINKUUKEN!" Davin was suddenly thrown backward as a wave of air erupted from Kira's blade, slamming into him with impressive force. He staggered, using his own blade to bring himself to his feet. "HEY! That wasn't fair! You said only swords!" Mika cried. Genji peered at her quizzically. "That *was* a sword technique," he replied. "Did you not know that the samurai of Ryukin possess such skills?" "It's true," Jil said. "Remember Hiro did somethin' similar fightin' those dragons." Davin grimaced, and emitted a short laugh. "Remind me to learn how to do that someday," he said. He then rushed forward, and struck three times with blinding speed. Startled, Kira barely parried the strikes, but Davin pressed on, forcing the ancient warrior to go on the defensive. The battle quickly turned into a game of thrust, slash, and parry, neither fighter giving quarter. Finally, Kira slashed out with a stroke intended to behead the geomancer. He dropped to his knees, and smirked. Even with the reach advantage of her blade, the samurai had overextended herself, given that Davin was a head and a half taller; he capitalized on her mistake with a quick thrust... Which went, much to Davin's horror, straight through Kira's heart. The samurai doubled over, and reverted to her original appearance. Davin stood, and lowered his sword, bowing his head in shame. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to..." Kira smiled. "You forget, I've been dead for a long time. You can't kill a spirit like that." She bowed. "Excellent battle. It has been ages since I fought someone truly worthy. Davin blinked, then relaxed, bowing and smiling himself. "Truthfully, I got lucky." "Yet you won, in any case," Genji said. "And now, the final trial can begin." ****** "Granddaughter, please attend to the shrine," the old priest said, holding out a bamboo broom to the young shrine maiden. "I must see to the prayer tree." "Yes, Grandfather," the girl said, swiftly rushing to her task. As the old priest affixed new prayers to the tree and removed older ones, a dark, masked figure strode through the archway. The old man's head snapped up immediately, and he scowled. "I sense a great evil about you," he informed the newcomer. "Begone from this place!" "I go where I please," the masked man said, his cloak sweeping behind him as he encroached upon the tomb. "I said begone! Those with evil intent in their hearts are not welcome on this most sacred ground!" He withdrew a strip of ricepaper from his robes, and with a quiet chant, hurled it at the stranger. The ofuda stuck to the dark figure's mask, where it hung for a second...before bursting into black flames. The man laughed. "Foolish old man." Grabbing the priest by the throat, he slammed the old man's head into the trunk of the tree, then dropped him. Blood smeared the bark of the holy tree as the priest slumped to its base, unconscious. The masked stranger continued onward to the tomb. As he neared it, the young shrine maiden inside rushed out, raven hair billowing behind her. "GRANDFATHER!" she cried, seeing the fallen elder. Glaring at the dark figure before her, she growled, "I will not tolerate such wicked acts in this sacred place!" "Oh? And what do you plan to do about it?" the masked intruder asked. The girl closed her eyes, and began to chant. "Power of sacred flame bestowed upon me by the ancient rites, destroy this evil to protect the holy spirits...KASEIHI!" The priestess thrust her right hand forward, two fingers extended. A bright globe of flame leapt from her hand, striking the dark man in the chest. For a long moment he stood, fire licking at his clothes. Then, the flame went out, and he wafted a bit of smoke from his cloak. "A strong effort, child. But not strong enough." He then drew his sword, which began to flare... Less than a minute later, Siegvin was striding through the gate of the Tomb, the smoldering body of the priestess lying on the ground behind him. ****** "So what's the final challenge?" Syeira asked as Marcine tended to Davin's wounds. Genji smiled. "For the final challenge, you must defeat me." He began to glow with a brilliant white aura. The party exchanged glances. "This trial will not be easy," Genji said. "It will take all of your skill. Are you prepared to face this challenge?" The party conferred for a moment. "We're ready." "Excellent. Hiro, you may assist them in this trial," Genji said. Hiro nodded, somewhat nervous. "If...if you say so," he said. Genji drew his sword, revealing a gleaming golden blade with a pearl hilt. "HOUOU...CHANGE!" In a burst of flames and brilliant crimson light, Genji's dilapidated armor turned a gleaming red, with an avian helmet that obscured his face. His thick glove widened into a crimson shield in the shape of a majestic bird, and great, fiery wings erupted from his back. And with no further words, was upon them. ****** Kyle growled as he paced back and forth in the small cell the guards had thrown them in. "I can't believe this. I just can NOT believe this." "I warned you, you wouldn't listen," Cheney said, shaking his head. "Shut up," Kyle snapped. "We have to figure out a way out of here. We've got to get out before Mar...before the heretics can get away again!" "But how, sir? They took all our gear." "We're stuck, captain." "Maybe not," Kyle murmured, unaware he was voicing his thoughts aloud. "Maybe I can..." "Maybe you can what, sir?" Martin asked, curiously. Kyle started. "What?" "You said 'Maybe I can...' What do you have in mind?" Kyle shook his head. "Nothing, nothing, just..." *What was I THINKING!?* Cheney walked over to him. "You were thinking about the Calling, weren't you?" he whispered. Kyle shook his head, then sighed and nodded. "Maybe I was...dammit. I'm no better than the very heretics I pursue." Cheney looked him solemnly in the eyes. "You're right. You're not. Your sister would not resort to such behavior, I know it." "How can you be sure of that?" Kyle snapped, no longer caring whether the others could hear him. "How can you be sure she wouldn't summon a Sleeper to break out of a prison? You saw what she did to that Stine fellow..." "I imagine at the time, that Stine fellow was probably trying to kill her and her friends. He *is* an assassin," Cheney pointed out. "Can you honestly say you wouldn't do the same in her place?" Kyle was silent. Then... "But she used the Calling in Tienne..." "She was going to be put to death, Kyle. For healing a child. What would you have done in that position?" Kyle glared at the old man. "I'm getting really tired of this," he said. "Don't you think I feel guilty enough? Don't you think I'm second-guessing myself enough? Don't you think I'm having a hard time dealing with what I've done?" "What have you done, sir?" Martin asked. "What's going on here?" Reill wondered. Kyle froze. "I...that is..." Cheney pierced Kyle with a hard, unwavering stare. "I think it's time they knew the truth, Kyle. I think it's time you told them just *how* we survived Kraken." Kyle rubbed his forehead, and sighed. "Why not? We're probably going to be put to death or something, or rot here anyway." He slumped against the wall, and sighed. "I...had an Egg with me. I'd found it a while back. When Kraken attacked, and it looked like we were all dead..." The two younger Dragoons stared at their captain. "You're saying you..." "I summoned a Sleeper, Tritoch." Kyle hung his head. "There, I've said it. Now when we drag Marcine and the others back to Tienne--if we ever do--they can put me in the Wall with her." The Dragoons were silent for a while, then... "We all would have died if you hadn't done that, sir." "We owe you our lives, captain." Kyle looked up. "But at what cost? I'm as much a heretic as my sister now. I'm a sinner, I've violated everything I've ever believed in. My life has absolutely no worth now." "I wouldn't say that," Cheney said. "Neither would I," Reill said. "Same here, sir," Martin said. "But..." Kyle looked at them. "I'm a heretic. My fate is sealed. I've committed the ultimate sin. I'm *evil*." "You don't look evil to me, sir. Just confused." "He's right, Kyle," Cheney said. "What you did wasn't evil, it was noble. Think about it." Kyle shook his head. "I just can't see it that way..." "Do you think it was any easier for Marcine?" Cheney asked. "She was raised as you were, fearing and abiding by the laws of the Church. Sure, she learned magic though it was forbidden, but when she used it, she did so for a good cause." "She healed a child, sir," Martin said. "Is that really such a bad thing?" Kyle just stared at them. "You're a servant of the Church, Martin. How can you stand there and *say* that?" "Maybe I don't agree with the Church, sir." "Then why...?" "Because it's my duty, sir. I'm a Dragoon...I don't question orders, I just follow them." "Same here, captain," Reill said. "But after all we've been through, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe we should just give up." "And go home empty-handed?" Kyle asked. "You'd all be put in the Wall with me..." "Why don't we discuss this after we've had some sleep," Cheney said. "We have all the time in the world to sort things out." Kyle nodded. "Yes...sleep sounds like a good idea..." But even as the four settled down to rest, Kyle's mind whirled. *Oh, Marcine...did you go through this kind of torment when you...of course you did, I'm sure you did. Dammit...I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what's right anymore, I don't even know what my place in the world is anymore...* And as Kyle drifted off to sleep, his dreams were plagued with images of masks, shadowy-cloaked men, and beings of great evil awakening, unleashing havoc on the world. ****** The group scattered as a sweep of Genji's sword sent a wave of fire hurtling toward them. Mika tossed a few small beads into the path of the fire; there was a pop and a puff of discolored smoke, and the fire dissipated. Marcine chanted for a moment as Davin engaged Genji, swords clashing. A sudden burst of heat engulfed the geomancer, who was forced back, just as Marcine finished chanting. "Di-Ice!" Massive ice crystals formed around Genji, who was driven back by the intense chill. However, it didn't seem to have much effect, and he sent another wave of fire rushing toward them. "My turn," Hiro said. "RIBASU!" He drew his sword in a wide arc, and the wave of fire turned back, slamming into Genji. It didn't seem to affect the phoenix warrior much, but at least it took a bit of heat off the group. "Nice trick, lad," Jil said. She hurled a few shuriken at Genji, they lodged in the joints of his armor, and stuck fast. "Hey Syeira," Mika said as the party regrouped briefly. "I've got something to give you." She handed the thief a medium-sized blue ball. Syeira blinked at it. "What's this thing?" "It's a Water Ball," Mika said. "I'd try to use it myself, but I've always had the hardest time aiming these things. They have to be a little bit more precise than a bomb." Syeira nodded. "Gotcha--whoa!" She rolled out of the way of a swipe from Genji's sword which nearly sliced her in two. Growling, she rose to her knees, adjusted her grip on the sphere, and checking her aim, hurled it. The warriors were rewarded with a loud hiss and a huge cloud of steam as the water ball impacted Genji. He let out a cry like a wounded bird, then charged into the group, stabbing repeatedly with his sword. Six groans of pain greeted his attack, as the party found themselves inflicted with various stab wounds. "Soul of the world, lend merciful aid to the wounded and in need...Di-Cure!" Brilliant green sparkles of light flickered about the six warriors, and their wounds began to heal. "Anyone got any ideas?" Syeira asked. "We should try to surround him," Davin said. "Aye," Jil agreed. "If we can go at him from all sides, someone's bound to get a good shot in. The plan decided, the six of them started spreading out, doing their best to avoid Genji's unpredictable attacks as they fanned out into a circle around him. The birdlike helmet turned from side to side, eyeing the party warily, attempting to decide who to attack while at the same time watching for anything they might throw at him. He didn't have to wait long, as Davin began concentrating, his arms and legs taking on a marbled appearance to match the tomb floor. "Spirits that dwell in the walls of ancient resting places, strike forth at my command! Grave Stab!" The tomb shook, and a thick, sharp stalagmite of marble shot upward, knocking Genji to the ground but not denting his armor. As he was getting up, he heard Marcine chanting behind him, and felt the numbing cold of an Ice spell, followed by three shuriken which embedded themselves in his shield as he raised it just in time. Leaping to his feet, Genji turned toward the source of the most recent attack, and began flapping his mighty wings. A powerful gust of hot wind caught Jil head-on, throwing her back several feet. The wind attack was followed by a ball of flames launched from the beak of Genji's helmet, which sizzled the ground just in front of the captain. Something exploded against Genji's back, and he staggered forward. Mika broke from the circle, and rushed over to Jil, holding a vial in one hand. "Here you go," she said. "Drink this." Jil looked at the vial skeptically as she pulled herself to her knees, but drank it. Immediately, she began to feel better. She smiled gratefully at the young chemist. "Thank ye," she said. She stood, a bit unsteady for a moment, and glowered at the phoenix-armored samurai. Genji was currently engaged in swordplay with Hiro, while Davin, Marcine, and Syeira discussed strategies. "I owe that blasted bird one," she snarled. Hiro was knocked to the ground by a hard slash to the thigh, and Davin and Marcine worked to pull him away from the fight to be healed. As they did so, Jil leapt forward, clutching a shuriken which was glowing with an odd purple light. "ANCHOR!" she yelled as she threw it. As the projectile buried itself in Genji's armor, arcs of purple lightning washed over him, and a dimly glowing blackness seemed to overcast the ancient warrior. Genji was noticably slower as he attempted to rush Jil, who sidestepped easily. As Genji passed her, another spike of marble rose from the floor, stopping the samurai in his tracks as he slammed headlong into it. "Marcine, do it now!" Davin shouted. "Right!" The mage chanted a spell, and... "Di-Ice!" Genji roared as heavy crystals of ice formed on his armor, and sank to his knees. "Enough," he called out. The crimson armor began to fade, and Genji appeared once more as he had when the group first encountered him. Standing, he turned to them and said, "You have done well. Your trials here are over, and you have proven to me your worth." "So what happens now?" Syeira asked. Genji smiled. "Now, I shall entrust to your care that which is the essence of my being." Grasping his sword by the base of the blade, he held it out before him, pointed toward the ground. The pearly hilt began to glow, and a smooth amber stone emerged. The character for Holy flared brightly beneath its surface. The group watched in awe as the softly glowing stone floated serenely in the air before them. "And now..." "And now, I'll be taking that stone," a new voice called out, ringing off the walls of the tomb with a hollow tone. Everyone spun to face the masked figure that strode in from the direction of the entrance, dark cloak swishing around his feet. "Siegvin," Davin hissed. "How dare you intrude upon this place?" Genji bellowed. "My, what a touching welcome," Siegvin said, chuckling. "I want only the stone. Surrender it to me, and I will spare your lives." "What do you want with the Heartstone?" Marcine asked. "That is my business and mine alone, girl," Siegvin coldly stated. "Now give it to me." "This stone is a holy artifact, and holds no purpose for the likes of you, Fallen One," Genji said. "Oh, but you're wrong. It does indeed hold a purpose for me," Siegvin said. He held up a similar stone, engraved with a rune Marcine recognized as "Thunder". "As you can see," the masked swordsman continued, "I am going to a great deal of trouble to acquire these." Genji paled. "Thor...no..." He shook his head sadly. "Why did you slaughter your countryman, Fallen One? Thor was once your friend..." Siegvin snorted. "His only use to me now is this. And your only use to me is that stone." "What could you possibly..." Genji trailed off, eyes widening. "No...you mean to activate the Mask of Slydgirag...!" "That does not concern you," Siegvin said. "You won't be around long enough to worry about it." Genji's face hardened, and the floating Heartstone moved to a discrete distance, out of reach of Siegvin. Reversing his grip on his sword, he bellowed, "Great light from above, gild my blade with your blessing and strike down the enemy of heaven! KINTENKAEN!" Genji's sword flared with a blinding white-gold light as he rushed forward, striking Siegvin. The masked man roared in agony and dropped to the ground, clutching at his abdomen. "Don't...think...you've won, foolish Knight..." Siegvin hissed. He then began to flicker, and vanished. "Now, where were we..." Genji began after everyone recovered from the disruption. "Ah, yes. Marcine-san, you carry the heartstone of Percival," he stated. Marcine nodded. "That's right." "It would not be wise to have one person holding both of the stones, especially in light of this incident." He turned to Davin. "You, Davin-san, carry one of the swords of Ashura. You handle the blade well, but the curse upon the demon weapon would be your undoing someday." "Curse?" Davin echoed. Genji nodded. "The blade is cursed, as are the others like it. However, in your case, this will no longer be a problem. Draw your sword, please." Confused, Davin did so. Genji's Heartstone floated toward the hilt, exuding a soft, pearly aura. It slowly sank into the hilt of Davin's sword, which promptly began to change. Seven pairs of eyes watched, transfixed, as the well-kept blade lengthened, becoming narrower and less severely curved. The hilt slowly faded to a bright ivory white, with an amber jewel embedded just beneath the guard. The gleaming silver blade shimmered slightly as Davin inspected it. "I entrust you with the stone of my soul," Genji said. "Honor my choice by keeping it safe from harm at all times, and it shall serve you well so long as you carry it." "That's pretty neat," Mika said. "Quite an improvement, indeed," Jil nodded. ****** "As my final boon to you all, brave and honorable souls, I will present you with the treasures of the Phoenix." The six adventurers blinked at each other. Genji raised his gloved hand, and the five young firebirds flocked to him. "First, Davin-san. Your skill, wisdom, and determination make you a worthy protector, both of your friends, and of the precious and sacred artifact you carry with you. However, one can never carry too much protection, especially when one is pursued as heavily as you and your friends are. Therefore, take this shield." He gestured, and one of the birds flew toward Davin. As it did so, its shape began to change, as did its apparent constitution. With a final cry, the young bird ceased to be a living creature, and began a new existence as a gleaming red shield, which Davin caught easily as it sailed toward him. "He who bears this shield shall never feel the heat of even the hottest flame, and will suffer less hinderance from the cold of winter." Next, the ancient warrior turned his one-eyed gaze upon Marcine. "Young mage, you are skilled in the ways of magic, yet you have much to learn before your purpose in this world is fulfilled." He sent another phoenix toward Marcine, which slowly transformed, its body narrowing into a long redwood staff with an ash-colored knob at the top, from which a pair of copper-gold wings sprouted. "Take the Phoen Staff before you, child. It will, over time, improve your understanding of magic, and strengthen your ability to wield it. As you mature, it shall also bestow upon you powerful fire and healing magic beyond what you have already learned." As Marcine examined her new possession, Genji focused his attention on Mika. "Brave young alchemist. It takes courage for one such as yourself to embark on a quest of this magnitude. Such courage is to be rewarded." A phoenix began to circle Mika's head, dropping its feathers around her. "Though these do not possess the magnificent power that an adult phoenix's feathers possess, this down can be used to heal a mortal wound before it becomes a fatal one. You will know how to use them when the time comes; use them wisely." Mika hurriedly gathered up the phoenix down and stuffed it into her satchel. "Captain Fallensand," Genji intoned. "It is the way of the sea that sailors trust the stars to guide them. However, sometimes even the stars cannot lead to what one truly seeks." He held out his hand, and a phoenix lighted in it. The bird began to shrink, and in a flash, became a round golden object which the ancient samurai tossed to Jil. "You have but to tell this compass what you seek, and so long as it can be found, the compass will guide your course." "And lastly, Syeira-san. Though you possess the skills and cunning of a ninja, your heart is as noble as that of a samurai. Thus, I present you with the final treasure of the phoenix." The last of the young firebirds fluttered over to Syeira, who held out her arm for it to light on. As it did so, it wrapped its wings around the offered appendage, and seemed to melt, flattening into a thin, wide band. Syeira blinked at it. "This Plume Bracer was once worn by the greatest master of the shadow arts. It is said that it granted him speed, grace, and agility far beyond that of those directly beneath him in skill." "Umm...excuse me, Genji-sama, but...what about me?" Hiro asked. "I mean, you just ran out of birds, right?" Genji smiled. "I have a special gift for you, Hiro-san." He reached into his armor, and fished out...a key. "I believe one of your ancestors left this here by accident?" The others laughed, while Hiro had the grace to look sheepish. The wizened warrior began to fade from view. "And now, friends, I depart from this world. Know that my spirit is always with you, and go always with wisdom and a clear heart to each new task destiny sets before you. Sayonara...." And then he was gone. ****** A group of samurai patrolling the area between Suzaku and the Tomb of Genji were surprised as a man in dark robes and a mask suddenly appeared before them. "Halt! Identify yourself!" their leader challenged. "Sorry, I have no intention of doing so," Siegvin said. He drew his sword, and extended it toward them. "Souls of men seared by darkness, draw the blood of life from the weak to feed the strong! Force Steal!" A dark mist enshrouded the four samurai, wisps and tendrils piercing their bodies. After a moment, the black fog withdrew, coalescing into a ball which was quickly absorbed by Siegvin. The samurai fell to the ground, dead. "Thank you," Siegvin mock-bowed to their bodies. "I feel much better now." ****** Deep beneath the sea, in a cavern concealed by a thick coral reef, a large blue crystal spun serenely, pulsing with a gentle blue light. Or perhaps it once had. Now, the crystal emitted a tortured shriek of protest as its rotation ground to a halt. The dim, flickering pulse of the crystal faded, nearly ceasing entirely. Finally, with one brilliant, blinding flash of azure light and a piercing wail loud enough to shatter the delicate coral outside, the crystal faded, falling to the cavern floor. A long, narrow crack ribboned across its indigo surface. AUTHOR'S NOTES: Whew. Long chapter. But fun. This was the obligatory "party gets new gear" chapter. There had to be one sooner or later; we haven't seen them pick up anything but the occasional major significant artifact in a while. Sorry about all the gratuitous references. I couldn't resist.^_^ I'd like to thank Terence Fergusson, Kate Malloy, Steven Scougall, and Scott Schimmel for their services in making sure this thing was ready to fly. And now, I'd like to talk about something less pleasant. A while back, I expressed extreme stress over the prereading of FFL #20. I spent seven hours editing the chapter for the myriad errors in it not because I was obliged to, or even because I was asked to, but because I wanted to make sure the chapter was in decent shape when it became part of FFL. We haven't had a lot of problems with that kind of thing, and I really didn't want to see it start with a chapter that was almost illegible. I only recently discovered that the author of that chapter chose, rather than using my hard work, to attempt to edit his chapter himself by comparing it to my edited copy. He was not even remotely successful, and the copy posted contained over 80 percent of the errors I had spent seven hours trying to eliminate. I am rather put off by this. I devoted my personal time to trying to do this guy a favor, and he chose to exercise poor judgement in how he dealt with my efforts. Anyway, sorry about that, I just had to get that off my chest, because this situation seriously annoys me. To make up for it, I've dedicated the title of this chapter to Raistlin. Anyone who was around on the fateful night will understand what I mean by that. Thanks for reading, everyone. ^_^ --Lurker