"No human is born with the powers you have..."

The sword feels uncomfortable in her hands. It is as familiar as an old friend, but it has gone too long unused. She has to stop herself from using magic; it has become almost a reflex. She let herself grow accustomed to using it, until it was easy - too easy.

A slow swing, and she brings the length of metal across, parrying the enemy's blow. Her muscles begin to recall the countless hours of training. Her mind begins to recall the faces of those she once sparred with.

Another swing, low, and she steps back. Her blade comes up and nicks the enemy's hand. She recalls the arts mastered by her comrades; fencing, bushido, ninjutsu. She was master of none, yet apt with the sword nonetheless. Her body and mind return to the fields of battle. She watches.

He steps back, and she moves in, bringing her blade forward. Her strike is graceful, but not strong. Her muscles remember, but memory is not enough. His sword comes down, sending hers to the ground. She looks for an opportunity, but he is vigilant. Giving her no opening, he claims the weapon. Her mind sees a treasure hunter, smiling, his latest prize in hand. But he is not there.

Firion tosses the sword back to her, and she catches it by the handle. He does smile, now, and speaks with the voice of a cordial ally.

"Going on the attack is always a risk," he instructs. "A good defense," he continues, displaying the small cut on his hand, "is sometimes more effective."

"This is helpful," she tells him. "I'm starting to remember some of my old technique."

A voice from beside her catches her attention. "That's good, Terra. A balanced approach to fighting can help a lot, especially when you don't know who you'll be facing." Her young guardian steps closer, wearing his usual serious face. "Who knows what else we'll run into looking for your crystal? Your magic might not always be enough."

She feels that doubt within herself, as well, but she is hesitant to share it with her companion. Instead, she smiles. "I'll have you there with me, won't I?"

He doesn't answer, and a strange look crosses his face. She wonders if she said something wrong.

"Well, if you want to work on your physical ability," Firion says, "why not start with some exercises?" He looks around the ruined arena, noting the railings connecting the stage they stand on to the semicircular walkways in the distance. His eyes are drawn to the giant sword forming the centerpiece of the arena. "Let's start with some running. To that sword, all right?"

Terra nods, then begins to run, Firion keeping pace alongside her. She looks at the way he moves, and notices he is surprisingly agile for all the weapons he carries. With a bit of embarassment, she realizes that he is moving far more gracefully, and could probably outpace her with ease, weapons or no.

She can feel her blood flowing with the activity, and is feeling more able when she reaches the sword. To her surprise, Firion doesn't stop with her. Instead, with a hop, he steps onto the face of the sword and begins running upward, grabbing the giant handle at the top and planting his feet on top of the blade.

She steps back, and looks up at him in awe. "How did you do that?" she asks.

"Lots of practice. But it's simpler than it looks." He gestures to the other side of the handle. "Why don't you give it a try? Give yourself some room, then run onto the face."

She is hesitant, but decides to give it a try. She steps back several paces, then runs forward and hops onto the wall the way she saw him do it. For a moment, it feels like she has it. Then she watches her feet go racing up in front of her and spins backward into the air. Regaining her balance, she lets herself rise up to the top by a more instinctive method, floating with her legs dangling below.

When she lands, clumsily, on the top, she is surprised by Firion swinging around the handle and standing beside her. He looks at her, impressed. "I didn't know you could fly," he says.

"Oh, that..." She looks away. "It's magic, though. It won't help where I'm weak."

"Don't be so sure of that," Firion says. He looks out over the empty expanse between the stage and the stands. "I've got an idea. Get your sword out." She does so, though she is uncertain of what he intends to do. "Now, I'll jump out there-"

"What? You'll fall!"

"Not right away. I've got a few tricks for that. After I jump out, I want you to follow me." He gestures to her sword. "When you get close, go ahead and try to attack me."

"In midair?"

"Exactly. I want to see how agile you can be in the air."

She looks out over the expanse. It's certainly too far to jump, and there is nothing below but the edge of this world. However, she trusts him to take care of himself. She trusts her own abilities as well. "All right," she says. "Let's do it."

Firion nods, and leaps out without further comment. Terra allows herself only a moment of hesitation before following him, floating gracefully through the air. She watches as he uses an acrobatic flip with his cape to control his descent, but she knows it will not get him across. Shouting a warning, she launches herself toward him and swings.

The sword clashes with his small shield, much more forcefully than Terra thought she was capable of. Firion is sent flying backward. When he regains his balance in the air, he shouts "Again!"

Terra repeats the maneuver, and Firion is knocked back into the stands. Dipping a bit in the air, she floats toward him and lands. Sheathing her sword and approaching him, she asks "Are you all right?"

Getting back on his feet, he turns his torso right and left, then stretches his arms. "I wasn't sure that would work. You really are stronger than you look."

"I hadn't meant to hit with such force," she says. "Are you injured?"

"Not at all," he tells her, reassuringly. "That was impressive, Terra."

Hearing a shout from across the chasm, they turn to see the young knight standing at the stage's edge. "Terra! Are you all right?"

She gives him a reassuring wave and shouts "I'm fine, Sir Knight!"

The boy sighs and shakes his head.

"Let's see, now..." Firion says. "What should we work on next?"

"Firion, here you are." A man wearing a tight suit of black armor approaches. Despite his intimidating mask, he speaks gently. "You slipped away so suddenly. Did something happen?"

"No, nothing serious," Firion replies. "I ran into two of our allies and I was taking the opportunity to train with them."

"Is that right?" the armored man looks at Terra. "I hope he wasn't too rough. Firion's training can be... harrowing."

"Not at all," she replies. "I found it very helpful."

Firion smiles at his friend. "This was only a bit of athletic practice, Cecil. Not as stressful as my toughness course."

Cecil laughs, a pleasant laugh that doesn't seem to fit his appearance. "Well, you should probably let Tidus know you're all right. He's convinced you've been carried off by some villain."

"I'll be right there." Firion turns to his student. "Terra, you have an inner reserve of strength that you aren't using. If you can tap into that strength, you'll be better equipped for the challenges ahead."

Terra nods. "I'll try to find it. Thank you."

Firion and Cecil say goodbye to the girl, and she returns to the stage where her knight is waiting.

"So that was Cecil..." he says.

"He looked scary, but his voice was kind," Terra replies.

"You can't always judge by appearances," the boy says, putting on his thoughtful face. "Dark knights may be intimidating, but their power isn't truly evil."

"That isn't something I expected to hear from a warrior of light," Terra says, smiling.

The boy shakes his head. "It's the most important thing for us to understand. Light and darkness form a balance that's essential to order in the universe. If the light ever became too powerful, we'd need people like him to correct it."

A voice from above startles them. "But the light isn't powerful now. It's the darkness you gotta worry about." The two of them look up at the sword to see a rough-looking man sitting on the top.

"A servant of Chaos?" The knight moves to guard Terra.

"You got it. But there's only one person I'm supposed to fight, and it ain't either of you. I'm here to tell you somethin'." He drops down to the stage floor, sending dust into the air as he lands, and the two Warriors of Cosmos take a few steps back. Up close, they can see a large tattoo on his chest. "A warning, see. Word is you got a problem you're not dealin' with. A big one."

The knight eyes the man suspiciously, holding his sword at the ready.

"You, girl." The man points at Terra. "You've got power, but you don't know how to control it. That's dangerous."

"You don't know anything," the boy says.

The man gives him a dirty look. "If you think you're safe, you'll find yourself in hot water soon. That weird clown is cookin' up a plan to turn the girl to-"

"Shut up!" the knight shouts, rushing at the man and swinging his sword.

The man catches the sword in his hand and looks down at the boy. "Guardians don't usually attack unarmed men." He pushes the sword aside and turns away. "Huh. Fine. Don't say I didn't try to warn you." He walks across the stage and hops off the side, disappearing.

The knight lowers his sword, not turning to face his companion.

"Onion Knight..." Terra starts, uncertainly. "What was he talking about?" The boy doesn't answer. An odd fear growing within her, she asks again. "He said I have power. What did he mean?"

"Terra..." Onion Knight turns to look at her, but only manages to stare at her feet. "You can't trust Chaos's minions. He was probably-"

"You're lying." The words come out of her mouth before she even realizes it. "You know what he was talking about. What is this power I have that Kefka is trying to use against me? What's going on?"

"Terra, it's..." He lifts his gaze to meet hers. "It's nothing-"

"You're hiding something important. You've been hiding it since you got your crystal." She lowers her gaze, hiding the tears welling up in her eyes. "Please, just tell me what it is."

The Onion Knight hesitates before giving his answer. "I... I'm sorry, Terra. I can't."

She steps back, looking at her companion in a strange new light. "I... I can't trust you." She takes a few more steps back.

"Terra, the ledge!"

She turns around and jumps outward, taking off into the air, a tear dropping from her face.

"Terra, wait! Come back! Terra!"

She tries to ignore his call. Hurt and confused, she flees into the sky, reaching the edge of the world shard and passing beyond it, into the darkness...

"Whenever I try to think, it just makes my head hurt..."