The cloud of dust was visible for miles around. It traveled through valleys and mountain passes where possible, but was not afraid to cross directly over ridges when necessary. Finally, after a long, hard march, the leader of the column raised his hand, and the dwarves slowly drew to a halt. The leader looked at the grey-robed dwarves nearby, each one at least six hundred years old, and they immediately referred to the rune-inscribed scrolls they carried. They bickered and argued, each one vying to make his opinion heard. After several minutes of this, however, a consensus was reached, and they nodded. This was the place. Each race has its own ancient prophecies; those of the dwarves, for instance, generally regarded things within or coming out of the ground. The pro-tem leader of the dwarves stood a moment in thought. Then he looked north, then looked east, then looked south, and smiled at what he had seen. Then, finding an appropriate rock to sit on, Drond lit his pipe and waited. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FINAL FANTASY LEGACY Knights of the Round Begun (and herein continued) by Brian Stricklin EndGame II: Legacy and Betrayal -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Excelsior descended slowly into the crater, carefully skirting the Worldtree's stump. Occasional low branches extended from the trunk, brushing against the airship's hull and making it seem as though the tree were still alive. It was only an illusion, however - tendrils of purple smoke continuously rose into the sky, and the stump gradually eroded in the process. Davin watched the smoke with apprehension; with the passing of every second, more of Emhara's power was released, and the world crept closer to destruction. Nevertheless, that fear was nothing compared to the huge gnawing anxiety he felt, a constant desire to be reunited with... He glanced at Fenris. "Siegvin didn't say what he was up to, I assume?" "No, but I fear the worst. He wants Emhara's power, there's no doubt about that... but I don't know how he intends to get it." "What I want to know," Kyle said, "is why he was helping us. That isn't exactly his style." "Maybe he just wants us to take out Darovan for him," Pearl suggested. Fenris shook his head. "Siegvin has never considered Darovan to be a serious threat, even when he was mortal. Now that he's regained some of his Guardian powers... he wouldn't hesitate to kill Darovan himself if that's what he wanted." "I'm sure we'll find out what he's up to sooner or later," Davin said grimly. The ship shuddered gently as it scraped along the bark of the Worldtree, and Jil conferred with her spotters. "That be it," she said finally. "There's no goin' down any further. We've reached th' top of th' roots; there ain't enough room for th' Excelsior." "Is there any place to set down?" "Aye, but launchin' again would be a problem. We need a run-up to take off, and with th' way the Tree be fallin' apart..." "Got it." He nodded at his companions. "Let's get to the ladders; we walk from here." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Isn't it magnificent, my Legacy?" Glass-eyed, Marcine could do little but stare dully as Darovan gestured at the sight before them. They stood beneath the Worldtree itself, their surroundings illuminated by a single source: a brilliant green crystal, glowing with an internal light. The roots of the Tree were twined around the crystal protectively, almost lovingly, even as they slowly decayed. A recess at the base of the stone held a pedestal surrounded by numerous, everburning candles; atop this pedestal rested a rough-hewn creation of ancient wood, its narrow eye slits staring balefully out at the world. The Mask of Slydgirag. "To think," he said, "that such a small, lackluster item could be the key to unimaginable power..." "And it will all be ours," Madonna purred. "You and I will finally bring the Church - the entire world - to its knees." He chuckled. "As it should be." The Knight then peered at Marcine, and snapped her fingers in the girl's face; there was no reaction. "Are you sure she'll do it, my love? She's resisted before..." "Ah," he replied, "but that was because there was a... conflict of interest. But she *wants* to help us now." He tucked a hand under Marcine's chin, lifting her head toward him. "Don't you, my dear?" She stared at Darovan without seeing him. "...mmm?" "You know what will happen if Emhara's power is set free, don't you?" "...destruction..." "Yes, indeed. So we should seal the power away while we still can." "...mmm..." "Good girl." A cultist hurried up to them and saluted. "The symbols have been inscribed, Lord. We're ready." "Excellent. Everyone to their places." He nodded at Madonna. "You, too." "Yes, Lord." She seemed hesitant for a moment. "I'm... still not sure what I'm supposed to do." "Don't worry, the spell will take care of everything. Just stand in the center; I couldn't possibly do this without you." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The companions walked along the roots of the Worldtree, Fenris leading the way. The erosion was slow at their current depth; only the occasional faint trickle of smoke gave evidence to the destruction above. The roots formed a thick tangle, and the only way downward was to travel between them, working their way through narrow tunnels and gnarled passages. Almost as soon as they left the Excelsior, the creatures left behind centuries ago by the Sleepers to protect the Mask attacked in droves. They ranged from the terrifying to the surreal, creatures from darkest myth and things never before imagined. One such monster was a dragon, as large as any GOLeM, with iron plates embedded in its skin. Its roar shook the Tree as it spied its prey, and thundered toward them, black acid dripping from its maw. "Tharlo! Kyle! Take the point!" Davin shouted, moving to the left. "Stine, take the other flank! Mika, keep some potions handy!" His companions quickly complied, acting with well-honed precision. Near the back of the group, Pearl fidgeted anxiously. "I wish there was something I could do to help..." "Don't worry about it," Jil advised, though she, too, kept an eye on the combat. "These be cramped conditions as it is - we'd just get in each other's way if we all charged at once. At least we can make sure we don't get ambushed while they're fightin'." "This one is certain that they will defeat this foe." Shizuka winced as Mika took a heavy blow from the dragon's claw, then sighed in relief as the alchemist rolled to her feet, more angry than anything else; the mythril vest she wore had saved her from serious damage. "...though it would be better," she added, "if we didn't have to fight these creatures at all." "They will only become stronger as we approach Slydgirag's Tomb," Fenris said. "It was the only way to prevent casual explorers from discovering the Mask." Jil sighed. "And then Darovan just teleports directly to it, makin' the whole thing pointless." Then she glanced to the side, taking in the rather listless figure of Zarela, and lowered her voice. "I still be worried about her," she admitted. "She's been like that ever since we left th' Manakyr base." "Perhaps she feels guilt over losing Lumina's Heartstone?" Shizuka suggested. "More like she's depressed over losing her precious 'Alexandros'," Pearl said. "Personally, I'm a bit more worried about these bodies and skeletons we keep finding. They don't inspire confidence." "Aye, 'tis a grisly sight, and no mistake." Jil scowled down at one such corpse nearby, its once-pristine armor hopelessly corroded by the passing of time. "Probably those casual explorers Fenris mentioned. Still, at least their supply chests still be in good condition..." Finally another thunderous roar shook the ground, and the iron dragon fell to the floor, its dark blood cascading from numerous wounds. Nursing a deep scratch in his arm, Davin gratefully accepted a potion from Mika and drank it in one gulp. "That," he declared, "was tough." "I'll say," Kyle agreed. "I thought we were in serious trouble for a while there." A thought struck him, and he looked around. "Um... where's Stine?" They found him, eventually, under one of the dragon's wings. Grabbing one of the protrusions on the creature's hide, he pulled himself to his feet. "Stine didst not enjoy that," he proclaimed. Davin grinned. "Hey, at least we all made it through in one piece..." Then he blinked in surprise. "Wait a second... what's that you're holding onto there?" Stine stared at him blankly, then looked down at his hand... ...and was immediately bowled over by a certain Holy Knight. Roughly shoving Stine aside, Zarela grasped the protrusion with both hands and pulled; it held fast for a moment, then slowly slid free. Kyle stared at it. "What the heck was *that* doing in there?" "Mayhaps one o' these luckless adventurers wounded th' dragon with it," Tharlo offered, "but it became wedged in th' beast's scales." "Who cares?" Zarela snapped. "It's mine now! Mine! MINE!" Heedless of the thick black blood and years of curdled body fluids that coated its surface, Zarela cuddled the broad-bladed sword gleefully. "Oh, my dearest Maximillian!" she crooned. "I'm just too, too happy to have finally met you! We'll make an invincible team, you'll see!" Pearl rolled her eyes. "There she goes again." Davin shrugged. "It *is* a nice sword, though." And it was - even through its rather gory patina, it was clear that the weapon was finely crafted, fairly glowing with inlaid jewels; where the fluids were rubbing off on Zarela's clothes, an iridescent sheen was visible beneath. "Aye," Tharlo agreed, "looks Elven made ta me. An Aura Cleaver, I'd guess - ye don't see many o' those in this day and age." "Yeah, yeah, shiny pokey thing, yippee." Mika crossed her arms impatiently. "Less talking, more walking!" Davin straightened up. "She's right. Let's keep going, folks." He started off down the passage again, and his companions quickly followed suit. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Darovan gently guided Marcine to a podium built within clear sight of the Mask, positioning her behind it. A large and heavy tome, its pages yellowed with age, lay on the podium; crabbed, almost manic writing filled it from cover to cover. A wide and intricate circle had been drawn in a raised platform before the podium, and several Manakyr cultists were standing at marked points along its border. Madonna stood at the center of the circle, looking nervous but excited." "There we are, my Legacy," the ancient mage said. "Go ahead; begin the spell." She nodded, then frowned slightly. "...Heartstones?" "Ah, yes. Clea's little trinkets. Effective in their own way, I suppose, but I've devised an alternate method that's rather more efficient for my purposes." He nodded at the mages. "Proceed." One by one, they lifted the staffs of power they carried and began to chant; each mage recited a different incantation, their voices creating a dissonance in the vaulted chamber beneath the roots. As one cultist completed his spell, a brilliant lance of cold fire leapt from his staff, stabbing into the recess that held the Mask. A moment later another mage finished, and a thick bolt of undulating vines and leaves joined the fiery beam. Darovan smiled in satisfaction. "Elegant, isn't it?" he said, ignoring the fact that Marcine was in no condition to hear or respond. "The Heartstones could be scattered to the four winds, to be lost or stolen, easily within Siegvin's grasp. But knowledge, Legacy... knowledge can never be stolen." A beam of purest sunlight struck the Mask, which had begun to glow. "Each of these mages has trained their whole life to cast one spell - the ultimate spell, one might say, for each element. No need for those elusive Stones..." He gazed down at Madonna, who was staring fixedly at the jade tomb before her. "...except, of course, for one." A cultist hurried up to him. "Lord, the clairmancers are detecting that second Legacy, somewhere nearby." He scowled. From Blight's information, he'd solved that particular puzzle - the Legacy's brother. Which meant... "It seems," he said, "that the demons were not as effective as I'd hoped." "Lord?" He looked at Marcine. "Begin the spell," he said sharply. "I have business to attend to." She nodded and, as she began to chant in a quiet, emotionless voice, Darovan strode away, his expression grim. Some things, he reflected, needed a personal touch. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As Fenris had promised, their battles did indeed become more difficult as they progressed, and the creatures they faced became increasingly bizarre. The oddest, Davin reflected, had to be the strange animate pots that begged for healing elixir; Mika found them annoying, and had taken to blasting them to bits as soon as they appeared. Most battles, however, were far more troublesome; even given their numerous healing abilities the companions were feeling decidedly battered, and had to consciously steel themselves whenever a new set of monsters chose to attack. It was after one such battle that Davin suddenly felt a strange surge pass through him, a sensation of restlessness and... awakening. Puzzled, he lifted his head, and his gaze met that of Fenris. The great wolf nodded. "Yes," he said, "I feel it, too." Pearl looked up from where she was resting against the passage wall. "Feel what?" Suddenly she yelped, and leapt away from the wall as though bitten; the roots had begun to writhe gently of their own volition. "What the hell?" "They are beginning to tap into Emhara's power," Fenris said gravely. "The ritual has begun." A fist tightened around Davin's heart. "Dammit..." "Quickly, children." The wolf hurried down the tunnel. "There's not much time left." "Hold on," Mika protested, a freshly-made potion in her hand. "Pearl's still hurt! That king behemoth really did a number on her." "I'll be fine," Pearl said, taking the bottle and swiftly swallowing its contents. "We can't let that hold us back now." The companions rushed along the tunnel, and for once no monsters interrupted their travel, a fact that Kyle remarked upon. "We're nearly at the bottom of the crater," Fenris explained, "where the Three battled Emhara so long ago. They're afraid to come this close." "We need to be prepared for anything," Davin said to the group. "There's no telling what's down there or what kind of defenses the Manakyr have put up to stop us." He scowled. "One way or another, it all ends *now*!" The roots around them twisted and rolled, as though the Worldtree itself was trying to slow their progress... then suddenly there was light ahead, and the companions burst forth into a huge open space. Davin pulled to a stop, the others quickly doing the same; the tunnel had ended at a rocky ledge which overlooked a vast cavern beneath the roots, the floor of which was at least half a mile away. The roots came together at the center of the cavern, spiraling down to wrap around a glowing green stone of some kind. Something was happening to the stone, as numerous rays of color were being directed at it from a pattern on the ground; as the companions watched, a bolt of lightning suddenly joined the others, piercing into the heart of the stone. "That's Titan's Tomb," Fenris growled. "The fools are activating the Mask!" "Davin!" Jil shouted. "Look there!" He followed her gesture toward the minuscule figures that were the source of the magical beams... and one standing near them wore an unmistakably familiar blue dress. Marcine... He stepped purposefully toward the edge, only to be held back by Stine. "Art thou mad?" the Beastmaster demanded. "'Tis too far down! Even thou couldst not survive such a drop! We have to take yonder path along the side." "What we *have* to do is get down there as soon as possible," he snapped. "There's no time to go the long way around. Look, there's a decent slope to it; we should be able to make our way down without getting hurt." "Do you really want to risk it, dummy?" Mika shot back. "I know you want to save Marcine - we all do - but you won't be able to help her if you've broken your stupid neck!" He glared at her, opening his mouth to respond... then slowly closed it and took a deep breath. "You're right. Sorry, everyone." He shut his eyes for a long moment. "Okay. The long way it is, then." "No, I'm afraid not." The companions whirled toward the new voice, and several gasped at who they beheld. Wearing ornate crimson robes and holding a tall staff that crackled with energy, the man before them seemed no older than his late forties, but there was an ancient mind lurking behind his eyes. His lance at the ready, Kyle risked a glance at Davin. "Is that...?" The elementalist nodded. "Darovan." "Indeed." He seemed perfectly at ease, ignoring the razor-sharp weapons held before him. "And you're that boy that has protected my Legacy from the Church and from my former teacher. For that, I feel I must be grateful... not much, but a little bit." Davin raised his sword, pointing at the ancient mage. "Let Marcine go." Darovan seemed highly amused by this. "Just like that? I think we both know that's just not possible. Why, if I did, what would happen to the world and everyone on it? Nothing more than floating dust and ashes, I'm afraid." "Because you put it in danger in the first place!" "Yes. And see how well that has served me? My Legacy is here, bringing my plans to fruition as I foresaw many, many years ago. Emhara shall be born anew, and we will rule this world together. The hour of destiny is at hand, boy... and nobody, not you or Siegvin or the Guardians themselves, can stop me." A sleek white shape moved forward to stand next to Davin. "We'll see about that." Darovan's expression brightened. "Ah, yes. Odin's lapdog. *So* nice to see you again. Tell me, are you as strong as Blight feared? Are you feeling invigorated this close to Emhara's power, your demon blood feeding off her energy?" "I'm strong enough, mage," Fenris growled. "Strong enough to bite you in half!" He leapt forward, and Davin reached out a hand. "Fenris, no...!" But it was too late. The giant wolf lunged forward, his teeth bared... and with a single word of power, Darovan gestured at the Sleeper and sent him flying backwards to land in a crumpled heap. Bands of energy surrounded the wolf as he lay there, and Fenris writhed in agony. Staring down at him, Darovan shook his head. "Dear me. And Blight was so sure you'd be a problem. That's the problem with demons, of course... useful tools, but they give such poor advice." Fenris struggled to stand, but fell back to the ground. "What... what did you *do*...?!" "Why, I merely exorcized your demon heritage, that's all." "You..." "It was a tricky bit of magic, if I do say so myself, but well within my capabilities. You should be thanking me - soon you will be free of the part of yourself you always hated most. Of course, I strongly suspect you're mortal enough to die because of it, but the theory itself is perfectly sound." "You miserable bastard..." Davin stepped forward angrily, but stopped in his tracks as a shimmering wall appeared around them, encircling the companions as well as Darovan. He shot a glare at the mage. "You can't trap us here forever!" "You're probably right," Darovan replied amiably. "From all accounts, you're quite the resourceful group. But it doesn't have to be forever. It only has to be long enough for my Legacy to complete her spell... and since I can't be bothered with keeping track of you in the meantime, you'll just have to die now." "We're not afraid to fight you, Darovan." In response, the mage rapped his staff against the ground, and the magic flowing from its tip began to wrap around his body, protecting him. His eyes glowed like fire, and he began to float into the air. "That will change, boy," he said, his smile sharp and venomous now. "That will change..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The final ray of elemental power lanced into place, and the Mask fairly hummed with energy. Feeling the magic of the spell fill her, Madonna instinctively lifted her arms acceptingly; the chain holding her Heartstone snapped, and the small green pendant floated to the Mask, gently inserting itself into a niche on the artifact's surface. It was an exact fit, and the Knight gasped as a surge of power washed over her, binding her soul to the Mask immediately and irrevocably. Even in the grip of the spell, Madonna laughed exultantly. To finally fulfill the purpose that Darovan had assigned her so long ago! Now nothing could stop her from ruling the world at the side of her true love, and she would never be weak or alone again! It felt wonderful! It felt glorious! It felt... It... It felt *cold*. A dark numbness was pouring into her body; already she had lost all feeling in her hands and feet. Was this how the spell was supposed to work? She wondered if this was just a precursor to the extraordinary power that had been promised her... but then the first stab of agony shot through her, and she knew that something had gone horribly wrong. Madonna opened her mouth to protest, to tell the nearby mages to stop, to scream... but no sound emerged. The Knight twitched helplessly as excruciating pain ignited along every nerve, and Marcine continued to chant, her dull eyes focused on the page before her. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- They attacked him from all sides, and he simply laughed. The multicolored barrier around him warded off their blows, leaving him unharmed; he responded with spells of incredible power, sundering the ground and forcing the companions to dive for safety. Seeing an opening, Davin pressed in against the mage, his blade slicing through the air. Darovan did nothing to stop his attack, and as had happened in Dwarvenhome, the demon-cursed blade refused to touch its target, a piercing shriek stabbing through Davin's body and knocking him back. As the pain gradually faded, Davin got back to his feet in time to see Tharlo and Zarela, looking as though they'd done this all their lives, moving in perfect harmony toward the ancient mage, striking both high and low simultaneously. To his surprise, Darovan seemed momentarily stunned by this combined assault... but then he grinned, and a pulse of force sent the pair rolling backwards into the nearby wall. The mage suddenly frowned as a series of shuriken reflected off his barrier, and turned around to face their source... only to receive an explosive potion in his face. He floated backwards for a moment, smoke rising around him, and Mika exchanged grins with Jil. "That's the way to do it!" the alchemist shouted. "Mistress!" Shizuka suddenly leapt at Mika, knocking her out of the way as a large meteor, summoned by Darovan's magic, appeared above them and slammed into the group. The ninja took the brunt of the blast, pelted by stones and hot debris; Jil and Mika were in better shape, but had still been damaged by the spell. Darovan glared down at them, looking none the worse for wear from Mika's attack. As Stine and Kyle moved in toward the mage, Pearl chanting over the scale of an Adamantoise to protect them, Davin scrambled over to where Tharlo and Zarela were sprawled on the ground. "This is insane," he shouted. "His defenses weren't nearly this strong at Dwarvenhome. And why won't the Ashura Blades hurt him?" "I dinnae ken 'bout his barrier," the dwarf replied, climbing to his feet, "but for th' other, Darovan has some power o'er th' demons. "If he kin remove demon blood from a Sleeper, a simple demon blade won't hurt 'im. 'Scuse me, lad." With that, Tharlo hefted his axe once again and hurried toward the melee. Davin winced as another shriek marked Kyle's failed attack, and he shook his head. "We've got to take down his barrier!" "How?" Zarela demanded. "No matter how many times we hit it, he doesn't have any problem with maintaining it *and* hitting us with his spells!" "I know, I know. It's just like..." He stopped, and turned to stare at Darovan. "... the airships! He must be getting extra power from somewhere!" A sudden gleam filled Zarela's eyes. "I bet I know where, too!" Before Davin could stop her she was rushing toward the mage, her Aura Cleaver dancing through the air. Darovan turned toward her, raising a hand to repel the charging Knight, but she had already begun her maneuver. "Hellcry Punch!" A brilliant blue light erupted from Zarela's sword, sending a shockwave through the very air around it. The light struck Darovan, who fell back under the assault... but more importantly, the tall staff he carried was suddenly cut in two, sundered by Zarela's attack. "No!" Darovan's expression was one of shock as the barrier around him wavered once, then vanished in a flash of light. "You worthless vermin!" "Good Gods," Davin breathed. "She actually did it." Shaking his head, he quickly recovered. "Stine! Tharlo! Press the attack!" The two warriors complied, and Darovan was forced backwards to avoid their blades. On the other side of the ledge, Jil had gotten back to her feet and leaned against the wall of energy around them, regaining her bearings. After seeing that Shizuka's wounds were being tended to, she turned her attention toward Darovan in time to see him floating towards her, his attention focused on his attackers. She smiled; Zarela's strike had done the trick, and Darovan's barrier was gone. But wait... if that were true, then shouldn't...? "Back off!" she shouted urgently. "It be a trap!" Surprised, Stine and Tharlo tried to halt their attack, but they were committed to their swings. Immediately the barrier around the ancient mage snapped back into place, and their weapons were deflected harmlessly. With a smile, Darovan sent a wave of infernal fire at the two warriors, the flames washing over them in a constant stream. Stine was immediately knocked back by the spell, falling into an unconscious heap, while Tharlo managed to divert the brunt of the blast with his runic axe. The dwarf had still been badly injured, however, and fell to one knee as he gasped for breath. Meanwhile, Darovan nodded pleasantly at Jil. "Well spotted, my dear." He gestured, and a new staff appeared in his hands. "Now do you see? I'm far beyond the reach of pitiful mortals such as yourselves. Your fate is sealed." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A fierce, howling wind raged within Madonna, wracking her body with pain and stripping away her mind. She desperately tried to escape her torment, but she was locked within the power of the spell; it pulled at her life essence, trapping it, using it for its own ends. Yet her last shreds of identity still called out to Darovan, begging him to set her free... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The companions regrouped, watching Darovan carefully. For his part, the mage seemed perfectly content to let them make the next move. Kyle glanced sideways at Jil. "How did you know?" "'Cause o' that thing," she replied, nodding at the energy wall. "Darovan made that, as well - it's gotta be comin' from the same thing as his personal shield." "There must be something we can do," Davin muttered. "Kyle, are you up to a Calling?" The Dragoon shook his head. "I already tried, when I saw my lance wasn't doing any good. I don't get any response when I hold an Egg; they might not be able to reach us down here." "Quite correct, my boy," Darovan said, though Kyle had spoken too softly to be overheard. "It would be foolish of me to leave such a gaping hole in my defenses, after all, and the presence of a Sleeper would be problematic." Then he stopped, and turned to look at the ritual progressing below. "And see," he continued, "the spell is nearing its completion! If you wish to do something, you'd best do it now." Pearl narrowed her eyes. "I'll 'do' something all right, you bastard..." She caught Shizuka's gaze. "Magpapansin ka!" she said quickly. "May gagawin ako!" The ninja's gaze widened, then she nodded. "This one understands." Darovan's brow furrowed. "What are you up to...?" But Shizuka was suddenly on the move, dashing toward the mage before anyone could stop her. Hurling a barrage of shuriken through the air, she quickly closed the distance between her and Darovan, then pulled a pair of knifes from her sleeves and began a furious attack. Though he was originally taken aback by her actions, the ancient tyrant quickly recovered, firing numerous spells at the rapidly dodging figure. For his part, Davin was just as puzzled at the ninja's unusually rash actions. "What the hell...? Mika, Jil! Give her some support before she gets herself killed!" Darovan was swiftly losing patience. The girl was like an annoying gnat, too fast to hit; she flipped and tumbled around him, apparently unconcerned that her weapons had no effect. Then a bomb struck the back of his head, and with a scowl he sent a bolt of lightning at Mika, who quickly scurried out of the way. As the rest of the companions moved closer, weapons at the ready, Pearl knelt down behind a shattered boulder, her hands cupped before her. "Secrets and all things unseen," she muttered quickly, "become visible before me! Scan!" There was a pause, then a soft green grid appeared between her hands; an image of Darovan was magically drawn on the grid, mimicking the original's movements. With a smirk, Darovan whirled his staff around him, and a sheet of lightning leapt from its tip. Jil and Tharlo fell to the ground, electricity still arcing across their bodies; the others stumbled back, battered by the spell. "Not good enough," the mage snarled triumphantly. "Nothing you can do will stop me!" Pearl's gaze was locked on her spell, watching intently as yellow lines traced across Darovan's image. "C'mon, c'mon... There!" Something on the image's chest, just below his neck, began to flash. "Davin! *It's his amulet!*" "NO!" Darovan whirled toward her, and there was no mistaking the unbridled fury in his eyes. "Damn you, girl! I'll-" But Davin had wasted no time. "Zarela!" he shouted, and the Holy Knight nodded and raced toward the mage, her sword weaving once again. Darovan aimed a spell at her, but as it leapt forward Davin and Kyle intercepted it, taking the full force of the attack. As they dropped to the ground, Zarela jumped high into the air. "Trinkets and baubles, trappings of vanity, give way to winter's howl! Icewolf Bite!" Her arm moved in a blur, stabbing toward the ancient mage dozens of times, and with each lunge a dart of diamond-hard ice shot from the blade's tip. Darovan raised his staff to protect himself, but there were too many to block; the darts sped toward him, punching through his barrier and ripping at his clothes. Finally, one well-placed dart flew at Darovan's chest, striking the plain, unassuming amulet he wore with a direct hit. The pendant shattered instantly, falling to the ground in pieces, and a fraction of a second later the barrier around Darovan disappeared, as did the energy wall lining the ledge. Beside himself with rage, Darovan lifted his staff toward Pearl, energy gathering at its tip. "You'll pay for that, wretch!" "This one disagrees," a soft voice said at his ear, and he turned toward it far too slowly... Desperate energy filled Shizuka, and as she leapt backwards she found her hands filled with phantasmal throwing knives, which she instinctively released toward their target. Oddly, they remained transfixed in the air when she released them, hovering with no visible support. Shizuka landed in a half- crouched position, facing away from Darovan, and closed her eyes for a moment. "Scarlet Requiem," she whispered... ...and one by one the daggers shot at the unprotected mage, each one detonating in a burst of concussive force as they struck home. A full two dozen knives dealt their punishing blows, his body shaking under the assault. He stood there for a moment, and the companions held their breath... but despite his powerful magicks, Darovan proved to be merely human after all. He fell to the ground, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Whistling a little tune, Siegvin ambled through the rocks and debris below the Worldtree, crossing a small cavern separate from the one where he knew quite interesting things were happening at the moment. Though his gait was unhurried, there was a definite directional component about it; he stepped around large stones and the occasional root, but always resumed his previous vector. A soft moan caught his ear, and it was no coincidence that its source lay directly in his path. He sauntered over to the broken and twisted figure that lay crumpled on the ground, noting the bits of bark and leaves that marked its fall through the extremities of the Worldtree. "Well, well," he said with a faint smile. "Having a bit of difficulty, are we?" Laying in a pool of black blood, the sapphire Ashura Blade still protruding from her chest, Kali painfully turned her head toward him. "O... Odin..." He knelt next to her, his expression one of careful concern. "Yes. It is I." "P-please, Lord Odin," she croaked. "I'm... I'm dying. Remove the Blade." "I understand." "Quickly," she begged. "I'll do anything, I'll serve you-" "Shh." He place his hand on the sword's hilt. "Let me concentrate." "Thank you, Lord," she whispered. "Thank you..." He tightened his grip around the hilt for a moment... and then he pulled his hand away, bringing with it a milky-white pendant that slid out of the sword as though it were made of water. He stood up and smiled at the Heartstone, then turned and wandered off, resuming his cheerful whistle. With a sinking heart, Kali began to shout after him. "Lord Odin! Please, I beg of you! Don't leave me here! Please...!" It would be impossible to say what faded first: Kali's screams, or Siegvin's happy tune. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As his friends were revived and Mika's fading supply of potions was distributed, Davin stood over the fallen mage. "It's over," he said grimly. Darovan managed a few faint breaths, a weak smile on his face. "Well done, boy," he said. "I haven't had... such a battle in... ages." "We just did what we had to do," he said stiffly. "How noble." The mage looked up, staring directly into Davin's eyes. "Such a pity," he added, "that you weren't able to finish the job." "What?" Blood leaking from his mouth, Darovan nevertheless laughed a gurgling laugh. "Did you really think that I would put myself in danger," he asked, "if there was any chance at all that you could defeat me? No, boy. Not this close to my victory." Davin scowled, clenching his hands into fists. "You're insane, Darovan. You're dying." "Yes. I am dying... but unlike you, I have ways around that." A sudden burst of heat from behind him knocked Davin forward, and he tumbled to the ground in excruciating pain. Climbing back to his feet, he looked toward the source... and gasped at what he saw. A giant falcon, its body formed of never-ending fire, hovered over the mage's body and screeched defiantly. The sheer heat of the creature forced the companions back, but left Darovan untouched; indeed, he seemed renewed by the creature's presence, life returning to his body and his wounds closing of their own accord. Davin stared at the beast, slowly shaking his head in denial. "Phoenix..." he said softly. "We completely forgot about Phoenix." Now fully revived, Darovan rose into the air once more, magic crackling at his fingertips. "Indeed you did, fool!" he shouted. "Do you understand now? I am immortal!" "*NO!*" All eyes turned to Fenris, who had somehow managed to regain his footing despite the raging pain he felt. "Hear me, Phoenix! You have to listen!" There was a pause, then Phoenix turned its head to stare haughtily at the wolf. "We have nothing to discuss, Fenrir." "*Listen*," he insisted. "Before it's too late!" There was no response, and Fenris looked at the ground. "Why?" he asked. "Why do you act as willing slave to Darovan? Why have you betrayed us so?" "I have betrayed no one!" Phoenix snapped. "It is *you* who betrayed Il'handra! All you and the others spoke of was sealing her away, trapping her for all eternity. But Darovan spoke to me, explained that he wanted to free Il'handra. I would give my own life to see that day arrive!" "So that's why..." Fenris said. "But it cannot be done, Phoenix. Il'handra is gone; only Emhara remains. Her mind was blackened and twisted, first by Odin and then by Hades. All that remains is a cruel parody of what she once was." "Lies!" Fenris chuckled, then a sudden stab of pain washed over him, making him wince. "No, Phoenix. No lies. I'm dying, you see; lies would do me no good now." The firebird was incredulous. "Dying?!" He stared at the wolf, examining his life force, and saw that it was true. "But... how could this be?" "Ask... Darovan," Fenris grunted as a new wave of agony drove him to the ground. "He's the one who did this." There was silence for a moment, then the mighty Sleeper turned its piercing gaze upon Darovan. "Is this *true*?!" The mage stared back, apparently weighing his options. "Yes," he admitted. "He wished to prevent Il'handra's release, and I could not let that happen. It-" "No!" Phoenix spread his wings furiously. "You swore, human. You swore that no harm would come to the Guardians by your hand. I allowed you to use my brethren against their will because I knew that someday, Il'handra's release would make their sacrifice worthwhile." His eyes narrowed. "But now I see that we're no more than tools, to be used or cast aside at your leisure." The Sleeper then looked at Davin. "I shall tend to Fenris," he said. "Do with this... vermin what you will." He flew to the wolf, growing smaller in the process, and wrapped his wings around the battered form... and then both were gone. With a curse, Darovan leapt off the ledge, floating out of sword's reach. "It doesn't matter," he snarled. "Emhara is nearly free; the ritual is almost complete! Soon, it will all be over!" He vanished, narrowly avoiding a bomb and several shuriken. "Dammit!" Davin looked at his companions. "All right," he said, "let's-" "Davin..." Something in Jil's voice caught his attention, and he turned toward her. "Ye remember those monsters we haven't seen in a little while?" "...I know I'm not going to like this... Yes, I remember. Why do you ask?" She simply pointed down at the base of the crater, which was suddenly filled with movement. Monsters of every shape and description were crawling from hidden tunnels and recesses, howling for blood. The long path along the side of the crater was already infested, and more were appearing every second. The elementalist frowned. "...all right. I propose we take the fast way down. All in favor?" There were several vigorous nods. "All opposed?" No reaction. "The ayes have it, motion carries, everyone JUMP!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Darovan materialized on the platform, glancing back at the ledge high above. To his annoyance, small figures were already making their way down... and they were taking the direct route. There wasn't much time left. He walked to the edge of the engraved design, noting that Marcine's chants were reaching the final lines of the spell, and stared at the figure in the center. Madonna was wreathed in darkness, her body suspended in midair as the magic poured through her, and her muscles twitched reflexively as she weakly tried to escape her prison. Somehow she noticed his presence, and lifted her head to look at him. Her mouth moved, and though she couldn't speak he could make out the word on her lips: Darovan. The mage closed his eyes, looking deep inside himself... and then he held out his hand. A small, jagged patch of shadow appeared on his palm, and was soon joined by two others. The shadows writhed painfully, jostling against each other, trying to join together but failing. Darovan smiled, then gently breathed on the shadows, blowing them toward Madonna. "Accept this gift, Emhara," he whispered. "Your new home." Slowly at first, but with increasing speed, the shattered fragments of Emhara's soul drifted toward Madonna's helpless body, finally floating into her open mouth. Marcine spoke the final word of the spell, and the platform was bathed in a sudden burst of silent flames. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The companions reached the bottom of the slope in more or less once piece, then barreled toward the distant platform, running as fast as they could. Their progress was heavily slowed, however; monsters pressed in on them from all sides, and magic seared the air over their heads. "There's too many of them!" Kyle shouted. "We'll never get there in time!" "You've got a better idea?" Davin demanded. "Keep moving!" "Nae, the lad be right!" Tharlo trotted alongside Davin, his axe swinging. "It be too crowded ahead of us - we'll nae make it like this!" "Are you saying we should just give up?!" "Not at all. We just need ta change our tactics." With that, the dwarf hurled himself forward into the teeming throng, sending bodies left and right. Davin stared incredulously. "He'll get himself killed!" "If that's what it takes," Zarela said behind him. "Keep going - we'll clear a path!" And then she, too, was gone, disappearing into the mass of creatures. "What are you doing?" Kyle raged. "We need to stick together!" "If we do," Pearl said, "none of us will make it." "Aye," Stine agreed, cutting down a eyebelisk in passing. "It doth be up to the two of you now." They nodded to each other, then burst forward, pushing the ranks of monsters aside with powerful Beastlores. A brief kiss caressed Kyle's cheek. "Don't be gettin' yerself killed now," Jil told him. "We'll be havin' a nice long talk when this is all over." "And this one asks you to be cautious, Mistress Mika," Shizuka added. "She would not forgive herself if she stayed behind and you became injured." Mika shook her head. "No, I won't leave you to fight these jerks! I'll stay, too!" The ninja smiled, a rare sight indeed. "And leave your big brother without your help? Go, Mistress. He needs you." She and Jil hurled their throwing daggers at the throng, then pushed into the space thus created. Davin glanced at Kyle, then down at Mika. "Looks like we don't have any choice... let's go!" They rushed toward the platform, their friends providing a buffer space around them as they plowed through the enraged creatures. As they drew closer to Titan's Tomb, the throng grew more frenzied and vicious, the ground shaking with raw magic... And then they were through, the stairway to the top of the platform before them. The three companions hurried upwards without a pause, and their friends moved into position at the bottom of the steps, forming an impenetrable wall against the seething horde. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- They slowed as they reached the top, looking around warily. Davin immediately took note of Marcine, now trapped within a cylinder of blue light; a tome rested on the podium before her, but it was severely burned, little more than loose pages and ashes. The design on the floor still glowed, but scattered across its surface were twelve corpses, having suffered the same fate as the grimoire had. Darovan stood near the center of the design, his back to the companions, and before him... The style of her armor marked her as a Knight of the Round, but dark fire played along her limbs and poured from her hair. In the calm, constant light from the Tomb, her shadow jumped and danced as though it had a mind of its own. Her head was lifted, tilted slightly as though she was listening to something only she could hear. In contrast to her jet-black armor, her breastplate was made from wood... or rather, it had been *replaced* by wood, the crude and grotesque mask forcing itself into the metal. Davin stared at the mask, a horrible suspicion rising within him. "You're too late," Darovan said without turning around. "It is done." "We'll see about that," Davin growled, raising his blade. "Let Marcine go!" The mage chuckled. "Still worried about that, are we? Your devotion does you credit. Don't worry, she's quite safe. I have no intention of allowing her to come to harm - she can still be very useful to me, you see." Furious, Davin took another step forward, but stopped as the armored woman's head slowly rolled toward him, her eyes like diamonds against her ebony skin. "Yes, my darling," Darovan crooned. "You see them, don't you? They want to imprison you again." The woman stared at the companions, her gaze boring through them, and the ancient mage lifted a hand to stroke her cheek. "Isn't she beautiful?" he asked. "Madonna Nocturne. The Night Queen reborn." Suddenly nervous, Mika leveled her bomb launcher at the woman. "Y-you mean... *that's*...?" Kyle gripped the Ashura Lance tightly. "Emhara." "Soon she will regain her full strength," Darovan said dreamily, "and with her power at my side, the world shall finally be mine." Davin shifted uneasily, his sword at the ready. What could they do now? The only way to deal with Emhara was to contain her, and without Marcine... Then Darovan turned toward him, his smile gone. "I have no more time for you, boy, or your delusions of competence." He nodded at his companion. "Kill this fool." A low, unearthly laugh escaped her lips. "With pleasure... *master*." There was no time for anyone to react. Madonna Nocturne moved with inhuman speed, her hands turning into razor-tipped claws, and blood erupted where they touched flesh. Her victim gasped, staring down at the hand embedded in his chest in disbelief, and clutched at her wrist in a vain attempt to save himself. Darovan fell to his knees, his life's blood pouring from him. He stared up at Madonna Nocturne, shaking his head in confusion. "Why...?" She simply smiled, remaining silent, but another voice answered. "Because, you pathetic insect, she knows where her loyalties lie." The three companions whirled to see a dark robed figure appear out of nowhere. Twice as tall as a man, he was oddly proportioned, his limbs too long and thin and his neck too... sinuous. As he stepped forward there was a constant rattle of metal, and they saw that below his robe he was wrapped in a suit of rusted chains. Darovan blinked uncertainly at this figure. "You... how can you...?" The robed figure laughed. "Oh, come now, Darovan. You didn't really think I would forgive you for imprisoning me all those years ago, did you? I allowed you to use my children because it was the most direct route to Emhara, and you played your part magnificently." Madonna removed her hand, and the mage slumped to the floor, staring down at the fatal wound in his chest. "No," he muttered, blood pouring from his mouth. "No, Emhara is mine to control!" "Fool! You tried to bind her by using the Knight's soul, but she belongs only to me - now, and forevermore!" He raised his hand, and a gout of black fire suddenly enveloped the ancient tyrant, who screamed briefly before he was utterly destroyed by the flames. Kyle raised an arm to guard his face from the intense heat, while Davin hunched over Mika protectively. After several long seconds the fire diminished, and the three companions risked a look. The figure lowered his hand, smoke rising from his fingertips. "Such is the fate of all who defy me." Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and he slowly turned. "And as for the heroes of the day..." Davin scowled, brandishing his Ashura Blade; Kyle and Mika stood close by, waiting. "Let me take a guess," he said finally. "You would be... Hades?" The figure inclined his head in a gesture of acknowledgment. "I don't know what you're used to facing," Davin continued, "but we're not afraid of you. We've beaten demons before." Hades chuckled. "Yes, I was watching. Well done, indeed. It's a small loss, however; I was planning to eliminate them regardless." He shook his head. "My eldest children... one with more courage than sense, one overly fond of his own cleverness, and one sunk into the depths of her depravity. They were a mistake, one I will not make again. The world is mine, and mine alone... and even as we speak, the humans are about to be wiped from the face of the planet, never to bother my children again. "You see," he continued, smiling at their expressions, "the time of the Guardians has long since passed, and my minions hunger to take their place in the world. With Emhara's revival, they have been freed from their ancient prison, and soon they will burst forth in a mighty horde, destroying all before them..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Earth and stone crumbled beneath their claws, sending a shower of debris upon the demons lower down. They dug in a constant frenzy of motion, and when one slowed down he was immediately pulled aside so that another could take his place. The bedrock gave way to packed sediment, which quickly turned to topsoil. With a cry of victory, the first rank of demons emerged into the light for the first time in two thousand years... ...and were immediately obliterated by a thunderous barrage of dwarven cannonballs. Having wisely stayed *behind* the first rank of demons in case of just such an event, Azaroth rose out of the pit, a sinister aura boiling around him. The assembled army of dwarves stared up at him impassively, apart from the ones that were reloading. Azaroth sneered and crossed his arms. "What have we here? A pitiful attempt to halt the inevitable?" "Aye, ye ha'e it aright, ye foul beastie!" Olaf Fiendsmiter strode forward, his axes held at the ready. "Ye'll nae be leavin' here, unless ye make it past us!" The demon spread his black wings wide as, below him, his brethren were quickly gathering the courage to emerge once more. "Ridiculous! Do you truly think that you can defeat us all by yourselves?" There was a pause as the dwarves exchanged uncertain glances, then Drond took a final pull on his pipe. "Now that ye mention it," he said, "nae." He paused. "Not by ourselves." Something in the old dwarf's voice made Azaroth hesitate. He slowly turned around... ...and to the north stood the moogles, their ceremonial lances and war chocobos at the ready; and to the south stood the shahagin, tridents and nets held confidently; and to the east, to the east stood the last of the elves, floating gently over the ground in a scattered formation. Olaf grinned. "Looks like everyone's come to *this* party, don't it?" King Dagon shook his trident furiously. "Defilersss," he hissed. "We ssshall not allow you to leave here alive!" Sparks crackled from Titania's eyes. "For the glory of our Lady Shiva we shall destroy you, if it takes the last breaths from our bodies!" Laying insolently across the back of Chocogrande - the largest, fattest, most vicious chocobo who ever lived - the elderly gray moogle shrugged. "We're just here to beat people up." He nodded at Azaroth. "You'll do." "'Tis a shame none o' th' humans be here ta see this," Drond said idly. "They'd ne'er believe their eyes." With a shrug, he dropped the pipe and ground it under his heel, then reached behind the rock and produced an ancient warhammer, nearly as large as he was. "Well, then. Let's get to it." The four races moved as one, converging on the unnatural intruders, and the battle was joined. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Below the roots of the Worldtree, Kyle glanced at Davin. "What do you think?" The elementalist smirked. "Personally, I think our chances just went up. Darovan may have been immune to the Ashura Blades, but I'm pretty sure *he's* not." "Let's kick his butt!" Mika shouted. They started forward, but immediately a tremendous gravity wave pulled them downward, pinning them against the platform. Hades laughed. "Worms! You forget that I have the full power of a Guardian! A shard of Il'handra rests within me - I will not be so easily destroyed." His smile faded. "And unlike Darovan," he continued, "I am wary of my own overconfidence. So while I'm sure I could defeat you, given your past successes I see no reason to take needless risks." He turned toward Madonna Nocturne. "Emhara!" he shouted. "It is time to cast aside this mockery and regain your true form!" Madonna threw back her head and screamed, and as Davin stared up at her he saw the skin of her face suddenly split down the middle. The two halves bulged and shifted, and then began to separate. He heard Mika scream beside him, but he couldn't look away... The thing that emerged from within Madonna grew quickly, its bulbous appendages becoming thinner and more clearly defined. The Mask, breaking away from the Knight's lifeless body, became embedded in the creature's massive forehead, the green gem in its surface glowing brightly. As her size increased, a spiral of purple smoke flew through the roots overhead, the once-trapped power rejoining its rightful owner. When the creature had reached its full size, larger than a house, the monstrous entity stumbled briefly as the platform shuddered below it, but remained standing. The elementalist shook his head in disbelief. It was impossible to mistake what he was seeing; after all, he'd already seen an image of it, and not too long ago. "Emhara..." The Night Queen cackled madly, acid dripping from her fangs, and Hades rose into the air next to her. "Do you see, human?" he asked, Emhara gazing at him fondly. "There shall be no escape for you, no heroic last-minute struggle. You shall die, and your entire pathetic race will die with you." "We're stronger than you think!" Davin shouted defiantly. "It makes no difference. You will-" Emhara had moved one of her long arms in a swift arc, faster than her size would suggest; before Hades realized what was happening she had snatched him up, holding him tightly in one gigantic hand. He struggled against her grip, but in vain. "Emhara!" he raged. "Release me at once!" "Yes, my child," she crooned, but rather than relax her grip she held him closer to her, her fist tightening around him painfully. The demon Guardian redoubled his efforts, but she still held him fast. "What... what are you doing?!" "My precious child," she murmured in a voice that shook the ground. "You cannot leave me, no... it has been so long... so long..." She began to stroke him roughly with her free hand, as a child might play with a doll. "I love you... I love all my beautiful, darling children..." Her hand twitched violently, and Hades screamed in agony as she pulled his arm from his body. Down below, Mika shuddered and turned away. For his part, Kyle was looking decidedly green. "What's happening? Did something go wrong with the spell?" "No..." Davin replied slowly. "No, it's like Fenris said. Her mind's gone; she can't be controlled by anyone." What had Darovan said in Dwarvenhome? All it wanted was hatred... perhaps Emhara no longer knew the difference between love and hate. Hades stared up at the Night Queen's face, saw the fires of insanity within her caring, devoted expression. "Emhara..." he whispered. "Please..." "Feel my love," she whispered. "Let it fill you. Let it protect you." And then she squeezed, and the body of Hades suddenly vanished in a burst of dark light, his last agonized wail echoing for several seconds afterward. "Let my love destroy you." She stood silently for a moment, then a shaft of sunlight appeared from above, and she lifted a hand toward it curiously. She stared in amazement as the sunbeam cast strange shadows through her fingers... then Emhara looked up, and saw that the roots of the Worldtree were all but gone, and the sky above was blue and pure. An excited smile appeared on her face. "My children!" she screamed. "My children are waiting!" As the Night Queen began to take her first uncertain steps, Kyle gripped his lance helplessly. "What do we do now?!" Davin stared at Emhara for a moment, then closed his eyes. "I'll tell you what we'll do," he said. "We'll fight." "What?! Are you insane? That thing's-" "Listen," Davin snapped. "She's not at full power yet - there's still some of that purple cloud above us, and there's a lot of the stump remaining. We've got the only weapons that might have a chance of killing her, and if she reaches full strength we may not have a second opportunity. We have to take her down *now*, or there's no telling what she'll do." The Dragoon stared at him, then took a deep breath. "Dammit. I hate it when you're right. Okay, let's do it." Davin nodded, then looked down at the girl beside them. "Mika? Get her attention." The alchemist was already in the process of loading a bomb into her launcher, and fell to one knee as she took aim. "Okay," she said, "but I better get double allowance for this one!" She fired, the explosion causing Emhara's head to snap forward... and slowly the Night Queen turned around to face her attacker. She had thought them beneath her notice, but she was more than willing to deal with them here and now... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- They had to fight. They had no choice. At first, they seemed to be at an advantage; Emhara was already distracted and uncertain, and had difficulty concentrating on such small opponents. As Davin had hoped, the Ashura Blades were quite effective against the Night Queen, cutting deep gashes into her rough hide. Mika's bombs also did their fair share of damage, but she spent much of her time healing her companions after Emhara's devastating counter attacks. Soon, however, the battle dredged up unpleasant memories of her previous battle, and her fury knew no bounds. "Ungrateful creatures!" she sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she swiped at the companions with a massive claw; though he dodged out of the way, Kyle's weapon was caught by the attack, and the haft was broken in two, the Ashura Blade tumbling off the platform before he could retrieve it. Emhara advanced on the companions again, her attacks wild and uncontrolled. "Shiva! Ramuh! Ifrit! Why do you betray me so?" "She's lost it," Mika noted, reloading her launcher. "She's also not slowing down," Davin noted. Kyle frowned at his weapon, the tip a ragged mass of splinters, then squared his shoulders. "Time for some more firepower, then..." He reached into Marcine's bag. "With Darovan dead, I should be able to... what the hell?" "What's wrong?" "The Eggs! They're..." He pulled out his hand, and shattered glass fell from his gauntlet." Mika glared at him. "Way to go, you klutz! You broke them!" "They don't break like that," he protested. "Only when..." "Only when the Seal is removed!" Davin said. "That's it! When Darovan died, his spells stopped working. And he's the one who kept the Seals in place, so the Sleepers must be free now!" "And if all of his magic is gone," Kyle added, then..." He and Davin stared at each other, then simultaneously looked back at the podium. Marcine was lying at its base, and the pillar of light that had imprisoned her was nowhere to be seen. "Go! Go!" Davin shouted, pushing Kyle toward his sister. "We'll hold Emhara off - Marcine's our best chance for stopping her!" "I'm on it!" The Dragoon leapt into the air, his Boost Armor carrying him swiftly toward the unconscious girl. Within seconds he landed nearby, and as he muttered a quick healing spell, she moaned and sat up. "Marcine," he said quickly as she blearily tried to focus on him, "Emhara's free. She-" But she was staring over his shoulder, her face a mask of horror as she took in the monstrous form of the Night Queen. "No..." "We need you to Seal her," Kyle continued. "Now, before it's too late!" She shook her head in denial, not hearing his words. "It can't be..." she whispered. "That's... did I...?" With a scowl, he grabbed her shoulders and interposed himself between his sister and the Night Queen. "Dammit, Marcie, we don't have time for this! We have to contain Emhara, and you're the only one who can do it! You have to cast Clea's spell!" "I... I can't! Without the Heartstones, it just won't work!" He cursed. "You're right; I forgot. But there has to be something we can do!" Marcine shook her head uncertainly, seeming close to tears. "I... I just don't know," she stammered. "Last time it took the power of the Three to stop her, but-" "The Three..." He stared at her, lost in thought. "Before you cast that spell on the Excelsior, you said it was a gift from the Three. What was that all about." "It's... I can feel the Three Gods sometimes, when I'm in danger. At first I didn't know what it was... but I think that because I'm the chosen Legacy, they've given me certain... blessings." "Like what? Come on, Marcie! Anything you can think of could help us!" "Um... Antipode attacks with two of the three elements, but I don't think it's strong enough... Runic Barrier is a flawless defense, but it doesn't last very long, and..." She concentrated. "There was one other..." Kyle glanced over his shoulder, where Davin and Mika were having definite trouble keeping Emhara at bay. "No pressure, sis..." "Seraphic Beacon! That was it!" She hesitated. "But... it summoned Tritoch..." "...who's now dead, I know. Still, we have to try *something*. Look, I'm going to go back and help them - you do what you can." With that he was off, returning to the battle with Emhara. Marcine drew a deep breath. Her last use of this ability caused, indirectly, the death of a Guardian... and it seemed likely that the same thing would happen here. Was she willing to take that responsibility? What would happen if she didn't? She had no choice. Closing her eyes, she held her hands before her. "Seraphic Beacon..." The power poured into her once more, like it did in the Temple of Purity... but there was something strange. The words of the next incantation started out like Tritoch's ritual, but they fell apart when she concentrated on them. But why would it even try to call a dead Sleeper? ...because that Sleeper was the Herald of the Three. The blessing of the Three summoned their personal warrior to one's side. It was hopeless; there was nothing she could do... Then, suddenly, a new set of words rolled into place. Still uncertain, but desperate to try anything, she began to speak. "From the... from the heart of thy sire, I call to thee. Avatar reborn, I summon thee..." Reborn? How could this be? Unless... perhaps not even an Ashura Blade could truly kill a Guardian. Perhaps it only diminished them, and some of their power remained behind. The original being would be gone, certainly, but a new soul could be created from the ashes... Then she stopped thinking, and concentrated on what she was doing. "Hear me, Neo-Tritoch! Hear me, Child of Tragedy! In the name of the Three I summon thee! By the thirteen stones, cast your prismatic light upon the land!" The power leaps around her, and she felt herself fading. "Omni-Dazer!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- For a long moment Emhara stood confused, wondering where her opponents had gone... then the sense of a new playmate caught her attention, and she turned to face it. There was no dramatic entrance, no clash of magics. The tiny dragon just appeared, and when it did it was almost ridiculous to behold. It was no more than three feet long, with long narrow spines along its back and paper-thin wings. Nevertheless it opened its mouth and bellowed... or at least tried to. What emerged was more of a kittenish squeak of outrage. Completely puzzled, Emhara tilted her head. She reached for the dragon curiously, either to pet it, kill it, or both. Then... Neo-Tritoch suddenly took to the air, flying an intricate pattern in the sunlight. He seemed to shine brighter with every sharp angle he took, the iridescent scales on his hide glowing with a multicolored sheen. Finally, his pattern took shape; a thirteen-pointed star, suspended vertically in the air with its edges alight with magic. Neo-Tritoch flew behind the star, taking a deep breath... then let it out, and in a completely anticlimactic display, only a pencil-thin beam of light emerged from the dragon's mouth. Or so it seemed, until it touched the star. Instantly, the star emitted a tremendous beam of energy at Emhara, magic from all thirteen elements combining into a single unstoppable assault. The Night Queen screamed under the attack, but she was too weak to resist; it tore a hole through her body, wild energy crackling around the mortal wound. Emhara reached toward the tiny dragon again, her tears coming in a non-stop stream... and then she fell to the ground, her life essence fading until, finally, it ceased to be altogether. Hovering above his opponent, Neo-Tritoch gazed down at her regretfully, then with another undersized roar he soared away, twisting and spinning as he reveled in the sheer fact of his existence. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Davin and Mika stared at Emhara's body as it slowly shrank, her twisted face almost seeming... peaceful in death. The alchemist rubbed her nose reflectively. "Y'know," she said, "I feel kinda sorry for her. She never wanted any of this to happen. It was all because of..." She stopped and looked around, realizing that she was alone. "Big Brother?" Then she turned, and smiled despite herself. "I shoulda known..." Davin was already halfway across the platform, sprinting headlong. "MARCINE!" With tears of joy and relief, she quickly ran toward him. "Davin!" Time seemed to slow as they drew nearer, reaching out for one another... A black crescent-shaped slash of energy leapt from the shadows, spinning toward Marcine with deadly accuracy. She stared at it, paralyzed with fear... Then Davin lunged to one side and turned his body, taking the full force of the attack. The blast cut through his armor and flesh, spraying blood across the platform. The impact sent him tumbling, twisting through the air, and Marcine stared in shock as he slid off the platform, disappearing into the rocky crevices below. Her body and mind numb with dread and loss, she slowly turned toward the source of the attack... and saw what she expected to see. "Hello, Legacy," Siegvin said. "It's been a long time."