Disclaimer: Okay then, I do not own anything affiliated with Square-Enix (Final Fantasy 9, etc). However, I do own the concept of the spiritseers, the spirit realm, most of the "original" characters (Chris, Melissa, etc). Neil Day owns the rights to his character, and I am using him with direct consent. Bruce Thomson owns the rights to his character, which I am also using via direct consent from him. That about covers it for this one.

Hehe, bet that cliffhanger's eating away at you. This is the second installment of the trilogy, which started with "Help! I'm Stuck In FF9!". Make sure you have read that before reading any of this. It contains spoilers right from the start! Thanks again to anyone who read the previous installment (cookies to those who reviewed!), and let's hope this one gets kicked off to a good start. Strangely enough, I'd already started thinking up ideas for this one during that three year period of absence, so it should be good.

Reality Check

Prologue: Five Years Later

Five years ago, he'd left for the Iifa Tree with Zidane, in an attempt to rescue Kuja. That was the last time I ever saw him. Five years passed, and Gaia was healing from the terrible wounds that war had inflicted on it. Five years passed, and everyone's lives continued, each in their own separate ways. Not a day passes without a thought of the events of today, a desperate yearning for the truth. For today, the truth would be revealed, and I would finally know what happened.

I looked out over the bustling town of Alexandria, watching as life continued oblivious to the events that would happen today, especially the important one involving their queen and a certain mischievous young rogue. The stunning sun blasted down upon the swarming city, leaving not one fluffy white cloud in the sky. It was as if the heaven's were smiling down on today, as though it was a joyous occasion. It was though, if the one I sought was still alive, then he would be with Zidane.

"Don't get your hopes up." A voice spoke up in my head.

"Ah for Christ's sake Nova, he'll be alive. I know it." I assured my guardian, flicking a bug out of the air as it flew towards my face.

"Hey, I want nothing more than to see them again, but you saw the vision that Vincent had recorded. There's no way he could have survived that."

"What makes you so sure?" I heard a faint sigh.

"Look, even if he did survive, what kind of state will he be in? In case you didn't notice, there was a distinct lack of white mages there."

"Well, there was one."

"Oh, you really think he managed to save Kuja? His soul was connected to Zidane's, the timer would have run out."

"But Zidane had his soul removed, remember? That would have stopped the timer."

"But..." Nova tried to come up with another reason, but gave up. We'd had this conversation hundreds of times over the past five years, and each time he was defeated. Our little argument was suddenly interrupted by something large blocking out the dazzling sunlight that rained down on the world.

"They're here." I stood up and jumped back onto the crisp, green grass from the ancient stony wall that I had been relaxing on. Alexandria Castle had been well repaired, workers had worked day and night to replace the ancient crystal-like sword that had stood towering from the roof of the castle with a near perfect replica. The castle grounds were bustling with soldiers, civilians and other assorted people, all busily preparing for the play in the afternoon. I looked up again at the rebuilt Prima Vista, as it soared towards the castle grounds like a graceful swan would cross a lake. I gazed down at a familiar figure wandering towards me.

"Hey, ready for the play?" Neil asked, arms folded in impatience. He had recently been appointed a Paladin of Alexandria, since he took on Beatrix in the training room of the barracks, much to the stunned reception of the soldiers that had been training. To have one war hero training in the same room as you was an honour, but to have two in the same room, training against each other was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Especially when a weedy seventeen year old drop a war hero like Beatrix. Obviously, she'd been much impressed with this, and had taken him out with her on a raid on a bandit camp that had been troubling the town of Condie Petie. Amazingly, he had even saved her life, prompting a knighthood from Queen Garnet. I smiled when I remembered a recent battle between him and Bruce, ending in a stalemate in which they almost sliced each other's head off.

Bruce, while we had been tinkering around in Alexandria, had been hanging out in Lindblum, being issued as a bodyguard for Regent Cid and Lady Hilda, who had adopted Eiko, still the rambunctious little girl as always. Bruce had saved the lives of the family several times, even on a state visit to Black Mage Village, when he took several swipes from a vicious Mistodon and had dispatched with it in one blow. He was officially a Dark Knight of Lindblum, but he only bragged about about seven times a day. At the very least.

While they were off having a good time getting knighthoods and the such, I spent my time wandering the globe, mostly helping out towns in need, especially when they were under attack from the remaining few Mist Age monsters that were still hanging around. However, when Neil had told me about Zidane's imminent return, it had brought back hope of finding Chris alive. When I took a trip to Zion and asked Vincent about the premonitions that he had recorded, some were a little disturbing, to say the least. The worst, by far, was my death. It must have been heart-rending to see those you love die over and over again. It was then I had seen the vision he had had about the Iifa Tree, and I realised that the chances of him being alive were slim to none.

"I can't wait." I responded, following him to the Prima Vista's landing sight.

I'd never really liked plays that much. The usual story of betrayal, love, death and so on got old fast. I watched intently though, looking as though I was showing interest. A heavily cloaked figure stood on the stage, reciting a heart-felt speech, while the smaller figure of Cinna stood on one of the make shift balconies nearby.

"She told me that she could not live without me. So, the sun is our enemy, too. The eastern sky grow bright. Will we not spread our wings, as yonder birds in joyous flight?" The cloaked guy's voice sounded pretty familiar, but it was obvious that he was hiding his real voice. Cinna waved his arms about, shouting loudly.

"Hark, Marcus! They cannot wait any longer! The ship departs!" He jumped down the back of the stage leaving the lone figure alone.

"Could she have betrayed me? Nay, ne'er would my love speak false. I must have faith! She shall appear if I only believe! As the sun lends me no ear, I pray instead to the twin moons! I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!" The figure swept of his cloak and revealed himself to be none other than Zidane, staring lovingly up to the yonder balcony where Dagger sat up in shock. "Bring my beloved Dagger to me!" I heard some of the close members of the old group gasp in shock. I wasn't too interested in this, I was looking around to see if I could spot an altogether more important figure. I barely noticed as Dagger shot past and dived into Zidane's open arms. The whole audience burst into a mess of cheers and applause, as they shared a kiss. I couldn't help but clap anyway, still looking around.

The audience had started to filter out of the area that had been put aside for the play, chattering excitedly amongst themselves. You could just imagine how fast gossip like that would travel across the planet, especially when it was a bunch of nobles that were spreading it. Zidane helped Dagger off the stage, walking along hand in hand across the cobbled walkway, heading in our direction. Eiko was the first to reach him however, and dived at his legs, proclaiming his survival at the top of her voice. Freya and Amarant just seemed to nod nonchalantly, almost as if they knew the outcome of this too. Quina was just bouncing around happily, babbling about the magnificent feast she was going to prepare in celebration. Neil and Bruce and myself, however, just looked on in expectancy. Neil and Bruce had recently been discussing the possibility of returning to Earth at this point, since this was the end of the game, so to speak. I couldn't see how this could happen though, since I had arrived here three years before the plot had begun. I smiled as Zidane approached, but at the moment he saw my face, he almost winced.

"That can't be good." I thought. "Good to see you back." I smiled at him, hoping with every inch of my body that he didn't bear bad news.

"It's good to see you guys. Man, it's been so long."

"What the hell took you so long?" Bruce tapped his foot impatiently.

"Heh, long story."

"Uh, where's Chris?" Neil asked, causing Zidane to look down at his feet, chewing his lip with thought. My head screamed at me that this wasn't good, but the rest of me refused to believe it.

"He...didn't make it."

"WHAT?" Neil and Bruce were in complete uproar. "How in the hell did that happen!"

"Well, he got seriously smashed up by this huge vine while trying to save Kuja's life. It wasn't a pretty sight, he was barely alive when we managed to dig him out." I couldn't believe it. I downright refused to believe it. "He was pretty calm about the whole thing though, he just told me to deliver one last message to you all: Turn around and look behind you." My brain boggled for a minute. What the heck was that supposed to mean? Look behind you? I turned around to look behind me and almost dropped dead with shock. Barely inches away from me stood a vibrant light-brown haired, youth, standing draped in a black cloak that concealed most of his body, his blue eyes glittering in the setting sun. On his shoulder sat a familiar white dove, a stark contrast to it's owner's dark attire.

Melissa's beautiful face showed a myriad of emotions at once. Confusion, joy, anger, sorrow, and a whole host of others. At that point she turned forcefully around at Zidane and raised her hand, looking like she was going to knock his lights out. He was desperately trying not to laugh his head off at the circumstances. Even I had to admit that this joke was little cruel, but still, it was funny as hell.

"What is it with you and your refusal to just lay down and die?" Bruce shouted jokingly.

"Oh come on, you think a vine is enough to kill me? After having a sword shoved into my ribcage, almost being drowned, thrown off a building, zapped, torched and generally being blown to bits, you'd think I'd have died long ago!" I replied, before receiving a painful punch in the stomach.

"That was for playing that mean prank on me!" Melissa shouted angrily. I gasped, completely winded.

"...I deserved that." I tried to get my breath back, bending over slightly.

"So, what's been going on during these five years then?" Neil asked, eyebrow raised at the fact I'd just been leveled by a girl.

"Like Zidane said, it's a long story."

Sorry that was a little short, but it wasn't in desperate need of much anyway. The next chapter will be much longer, and will contain some new exciting developments. See ya soon, and make sure you click that little review button down there, it would make me very happy!

Ulthran