Zidane dashes as fast as he can to find Squall. He finds Squall with Cloud and Terra after they defeated some manikins.
"Squall!" calls Zidane. "I need your help."
"What's wrong?" asks Squall.
"Bartz has been kidnapped," states Zidane. "The only hint I got from Kefka on his whereabouts is that He's at the place where he last fought with Exdeath."
"Hm," hums Squall in thought. "The only place I've seen Bartz fight him was in a place called The Rift."
"Wasn't that the place I managed to find you in?" asks Zidane.
"Yes it was," answers Squall.
"Great, I know where that is from here," exclaims Zidane. "But we gotta hurry. What Kefka also said was that by the time we get to Bartz he won't be his old self anymore."
"Explain along the way," says Cloud. The four of them runs into the direction of The Rift.
Meanwhile in a dungeon in the castle in The Rift Bartz wakes up. He finds out that he's sitting on a stone floor with his arms attached to a stone wall on either sides of his sides with cuffs. Suddenly Exdeath teleports in front of him.
"Glad you're awake," he chuckles.
"Exdeath, what do you want?" asks Bartz.
"To give you a chance to join me," says Exdeath. "By the way that monkey boy sounded yelling at you he doesn't what to ever see you again. Therefore you have nothing to loose."
"Fat chance!" yells Bartz. "Even if Zidane doesn't want to see me ever doesn't mean that I will ever join you!"
"Fine then," shrugs Exdeath as he brings a wreath of black thorns out from behind his back. He places it on Bartz head as he's trying to struggle away.
"That wreath I just put on you has dark magic put on it," states Exdeath. "The thorns will guide it into your head. Which will take over your mind and soon you'll be under my spell." He laughs for a few minutes before teleporting out of the prison cell. Leaving Bartz alone to deal with his own fate.
"Zidane," whispers Bartz as he lets a tear run down his face. "I'm sorry I was careless. Please forgive me." He closes his eyes as he tries to get some sleep.
Outside the castle Zidane, Squall, Terra and Cloud are hiding in the forest next to The Rift.
"Ok, here's the plan," he mutters to the others. "I'll create a diversion while Zidane will lead Cloud through the castle to Bartz. Terra will heal any and all injures he might have. Then you guys will take him to safety and join me as soon as you can."
"Agreed," says the other three at the same time.
"Now wait here until you see an opening," mutters Squall as he walks up to the castle
Inside Exdeath is relaxing on a chair when he hears a crash from the door to the castle. He teleports there to find Squall had smashed the door in and is holding his gunblade.
"I'm here to get a friend back," scowls Squall. "And if you get in my way I will carve you down." He then attacks. A few minutes later the other three to the rescue party slips in and begins their search.