Chapter 1: Prolouge
No longer could she feel or see her surroundings - only the blackness that she had enveloped herself in. She was here because she needed to be, because the fate of the conflict depended on it. She called out to the god that hid in the shadows, the one whom remained neutral. She awaited her answer to, what seemed like, no avail. However, patience was one thing she was always good at keeping. Her worry and fear were the only things that kept her from the world.
At last, there was an answer.
"Hello Goddess," said a voice through the empty darkness. The voice was one of monotone and relaxation, yet something about it struck intimidation into those who heard it - and that same thing made it sound comforting. "What do I owe this lovely talk?"
"Truce," she said, referring to the speaker's name. "What you have done goes beyond forgiveness."
"I don't need your forgiveness, Goddess," Truce responded, the same tone echoing through her ears.
"Your role in this conflict is to not exist," she continued. "As the god of balance it is your duty to keep the cycles from ending on a whim. It is your job to keep the battlefield a fair fight."
This time the voice had no response.
"Why have you forsaken me, Truce?" she called out to him. "Why?"
There was a pause before the response. "I grow weary of this war," he told her.
"It is not your place to grow weary," she told the God of Balance.
"It is not your place to question me," was his response before the existence of the voice became null in the darkness. She was left alone to think
* * *
"Cosmos?" said a voice.
When the Goddess of Harmony opened her eyes she was no longer in the empty blackness that housed the conversation between her and another god - but what had been said was not forgotten. The God of Balance, whom had hidden in the shadows for so long, had finally done something of his own will. When she looked forward to the voice that called her, there stood a group of her warriors - five of them - and in the middle was the caller of her name. He wore a black, sleeveless turtleneck, with baggy pants, shoulder armor and black hair slicked back - his signature smile taking Cosmos momentarily away from worry.
"Cosmos?" Zack repeated. "You called for us?"
Cosmos lowered her head, closed her eyes and smiled. "Yes," she confirmed. She looked around at the five warriors before her. "So you're the only ones that heard my call."
"We all came running as soon as we heard," said a female youth. She wore long blonde hair, braids and beads hanging down over her fave and tied up with a blue bandana. Some found it odd that she wore a yellow bikini and an olive miniskirt into battle, but free spirit argued otherwise. "Well, I did at least," Rikku finished with a smile.
Cosmos sighed. "There is something that I must tell the five of you..." Cosmos began, sounding as if she didn't want to say it. "In this conflict, it is one god versus another, is that correct?"
Everybody looked around at each other until Ceodore, the 15 year-old paladin, nodded back at the Goddess. Penelo shot him a quick stare, as if to ask if that was the right thing to do. The two of them had been traveling together for some time now, becoming rather close friends.
Cosmos continued. "There is but a third divine deity in this world of battle," she waited for the warriors' response, but it only came in puzzled looks to each other. "Where there is a goddess of harmony and a god of discord, in the shadows is a god of balance; Truce."
Zack smiled, crossed his arms and shifted his weight to his left leg - the massive sword on his back lingering a little more to the left. "So big deal," he started. "I don't see any warriors of Balance around here, do you?"
Rikku shot him a look. Zack's cheerful personality contrasted her own, which gave the young Al Behd both comfort and irritation. "Oh zip it, Zack," Rikku told him. "Can't you just let her finish?"
Zack uncrossed his arms closed his eyes and shook his head, his smile never-fading. "You're lucky you're so cute, otherwise I might not listen to ya,'" Zack replied playfully.
Cosmos chuckled. The thought of joining in on their conversation was a happy one, but she knew she had to finish telling them what it was she needed them to hear. "You warriors are not to know of his existence," she paused. "You would have my gratitude to keep this a secret." The five warriors nodded to her, and she continued. "Truce has recently informed a Chaos Warrior on how to unleash an army upon us." She paused again. "I'm not sure how or why, but it seems the god of balance has chosen a side in this conflict. The side of our enemies."
"It's okay, Cosmos," Penelo told the goddess, her far too baggy red pants blowing in the wind. "You can tell us what you need to tell us," she finished with a bright and caring smile.
"I think what she's gonna ask us to do is take down Ol' Balance once and for all," Zack interrupted with a cocky attitude.
Rikku shot him another stare, but quickly diverted it upon Cosmos's next words: "It's alright Rikku," Cosmos told her. "Zack is correct."
"See?" Zack said to Rikku. "Have a little faith in me next time."
"Ohhh shut up," Rikku said playfully with a light push. This caused laughter from Zack.
"I do not wish to place this burden on the five of you," Cosmos exclaimed. "I'm sorry I have no other choice."
Wearing a revealing, form-fitting dress of white and redish-pink, a girl with pink hair tied up to a pony-tail on one side stepped forward and said; "Don't worry Cosmos," Serah hefted strange bow-like weapon onto one shoulder. "You can count on us."
Cosmos smiled as the others nodded in agreement, with the exception Ceodore; who was ever-lacking in confidence. The goddess of harmony put her hands out and five dim beams of twisted their way to each of the five, disappearing upon each of their foreheads. The group was frozen in awe for this short moment.
"These are the locations of the crystal pillars," she told them. "Only once all five have been destroyed will you be able to see the Bridge to Truce hidden in Mirage Sandsea."
The warriors each smiled and gave cosmos their silent approval before taking their leave.
As the Warriors departed Cosmos uttered one last thing to them: "And please," she began. "I beg of you to keep the existence of this third god a secret."
* * *
He pierced the last Manikin with his brilliant red sword before stopping momentarily to breathe. His long red coat and and brown hair blowing in the wind. He looked to his destination: sanctuary. He had heard the calling of the Goddess that had chosen him and was running to her aid when he got caught up with Manikins. Now, just minutes away, he hoped he was not late.
Once the man was in the presence of Cosmos, she knew what he was there for. "So you had heard my call as well?"
The quiet man spoke few words. "Yes," he answered.
"Your friend Zack was here a moment ago," Cosmos sighed. "If you hurry you'll catch up to them."
Genesis nodded and took off after Zack.