Fipp: Just so no one asks, the scenes directly from the game, written in italics, are meant to show where in the game's storyline Prishe, Vaan, and Lightning's own stories take place.

Rushing Ahead

"My real enemy," Squall said, before opening his eyes. "Her," he growled.

"Yes, Ultimecia," said Cosmos, standing next to him. "The witch who controls time. Defeat her and the Crystal shall be yours. It is a long and lonely road. Will you be able to maintain your lofty dedication to solitude?"

"Hmph. That goes without saying." He looked down at the chocobo feather in his hand. "Or for you want me to swear in on this charm?" He put the feather away and walked away, leaving Cosmos alone.

"No," she said, her appearance flicking into that of another for a moment. "You're doing fine."

000

Distant Worlds: Seeing the dangers that lay ahead, what will she risk to protect them?

000

Having been swept into war, Prishe holds no hesitation.

She started her journey with Firion, Cecil, Cloud and Tidus, but having heard their reasons, new thoughts have arisen.

With these thoughts, thoughts on the Crystals, where will her choices lead her.

000

Distant Worlds 1-5: When blood is drawn, there must be retribution.

000

Prishe would not lie; she missed Cloud, even though he had only left not to long ago.

"I wonder if he found anything?" she asked aloud, sitting one the platform that held one of the large glass capsules, kicking her feet back and forth over the edge.

"Who?" Firion asked.

"Cloud. He said he wanted a reason." She shrugged. "I'm just wondering if he got anywhere since he left."

"I wouldn't know," Firion answered, then looking down. He reached out his hand, and in a red glow, the Wild Rose appeared.

"That's you reason, right?" Prishe asked.

"It is," he paused. "But I don't think . . ."

Prishe jumped to the ground and walked to the taller man. It kind of annoyed her that she was one of the shortest warriors. "Don't worry about it." She then walked past him.

"What about you?"

Prishe stopped in her tracks.

"What's your reason, Prishe? Cloud's looking for one, Tidus is looking for Jecht, Cecil is looking for his brother, and I have this. But what about you?"

"Um," she said, tapping the tips of her index fingers together. "I really don't know." She spun around. "I figured I'd just go out there, beat some ass and get the Crystal. Easy as pie."

Firion gave a chuckle. "I wish I could think that. Then everything would be much more simple."

"Though, I probably need a better reason than that." She scratched under her hat. "But I can't think of anything." Another shrug. "Oh well, I'm sure I'll think of something sooner or later."

Suddenly, she then ran away, towards where Cecil and Tidus went.

"Hey! Wait!" Firion called, running to catch up to her.

000

"I wonder just how many of the statue things are around?" Prishe asked.

"I don't know, but we'll just take them all on!" Tidus pumped a fist.

"Even if we do that, we should still be careful," Cecil said.

"Oh, you're no fun Cecil," Prishe teased.

000

The Onion Knight looked around, not seeing anyone.

Had he looked behind him, he would have seen the Cloud of Darkness walking down the seemingly infinite staircase.

"You have already taken such a beating."

The Onion Knight turned around to face the stairs, only to see no one there.

"And you still wish to save her," the Cloud of Darkness said, floating from behind a pillar.

Onion Knight spun around and charged at it, jumping into the air and ready to swing at her. "Got you!"

He didn't even see it teleport away.

He crashed to the ground, but quickly jumped back up and began to look for it again.

"A lone heart will not change the world." A dark portal opened out of the ground, and the Cloud of Darkness rose from out of it. "What awaits when you awake,"

It placed its hands near each other, and began to charge negative energies.

Onion Knight spun around to see it, and gasped.

"Is nothing but despair!" It then launched massive Particle Beam, completely engulfing him.

When the remaining energy faded away, it gasped.

There stood the Onion Knight, arms crossed over himself, completely fine.

"Not even you can destroy this," he said. "What I've found is strength." He uncrossed his arms and glared right at it. "Strength to protect everyone!"

The Cloud of Darkness vanished into another portal, before appearing in front of Onion Knight.

"But can you use it?" it said.

He readied the Onion Sword, ready to face the embodiment of darkness.

000

Prishe cracked her neck.

"Damn, that last one almost got me," she said, rubbing it.

These Manikin things were getting real annoying, and numerous. She had been forced to separate from the others because of them.

"I better find those guys before they get into trouble." She looked around the abandoned stadium seats. Maybe they were at that big ass sword?

There was then a loud yell.

"Firion!" she called, running off.

She did not find Firion, only Cecil, leaning against a wall, and Tidus, kneeling next to him.

"Prishe!" Tidus called, seeing the young Elvaan run up to him.

"What the hell's going on? Where's Firion?"

"We were attacked," said Cecil, now a Paladin, clutching his side. "A man with long silver hair appeared and struck us from behind. I think he stole something from Firion, and Firion went after him."

"Firion chased after him? That idiot! What could have been-!" Prishe could have slapped her face, realizing what was stolen. "Dammit," she growled.

She was silent, thinking about Firion putting himself in danger, about Cecil's injury, about the worried look on Tidus' face.

"I got it," she said after another moment.

"You got what?" Tidus asked.

"Which way did they go?" she quickly asked.

"What?"

"Which way!"

This stunned Tidus. "That way." He pointed in the direction the large flaming symbol in the air lay.

"Thanks!" Prishe then ran off, ignoring both Cecil and Tidus' protest.

'I got it. My reason for fighting.'

000

Distant Worlds XI 2-5: The person in front of you, may not always be the one you must defeat.

000

"Okay, where the hell did that guy go?" Prishe said, looking around. "If he's lucky, I just might not kill him when I find him!"

000

There was the loud clash of swords.

"Sephiroth! It ends here!" Cloud yelled, swinging down at his opponent, sending him flying through the air, and through a floating boulder. "Go back to sleep!" Cloud pulled his sword back and dove down, the blade poised to strike Sephiroth.

To the surprise of Cloud, Sephiroth did not crash into the central platform. Instead, he stopped in midair, and lowered himself to it.

"Accept it." Sephiroth swung his sword, catching Cloud off balance. Even though there was only one strike, it felt like there were many more, and still happening.

Darkness glowed around Sephiroth. "I am the one who guides you, forever." He swung, tossing Cloud into the air like a rag doll, before he crashed onto the ground, his weapon clattering to the ground.

Cloud groaned as he pulled himself up. He looked up, tracing up the length of Masamune, and finally to Sephiroth himself.

"If it's despair you want," he smirked, "Then I shall provide."

Cloud growled and stood up, holding the Buster Blade in front of him. "What I what most, I'll find myself!"

A chuckle as Sephiroth held the blade up. "You're nothing, but a puppet."

Estuans interius

ira vehementi

Estuans interius

ira vehementi

Sephiroth

000

Warrior stepped forward. "The enemy is not one, but many. They have joined forces to defeat us. Should you not look for someone to guard your back?"

Squall glared at the Warrior. 'Don't force your thoughts on me. Just stay out of my way,' he thought. "I have only one goal." He brought out his gunblade and pointed it at the knight. "I won't allow for distractions."

Warrior brought out his sword and shield. "Why do you insist on fighting alone? Can you carve out your own path? Without the help of others?"

000

Prishe wiped her brow. "Damn, just where did he go?" She scanned the area again. "Maybe he fell off the edge?" she looked from the top of the castle and to the blue sky below them. "I hope not."

She was about to turned around, when something caught her eye.

A black feather.

"Wha-?"

There was a quick, sharp pain in her stomach, and she fell over.

Sephiroth chuckled as he appeared on the middle of the roof.

"That was almost fun," he said, looking to the downed Elvaan girl. He turned around, about to walk away-

"You!" He turned around in time to see Prishe get up and stand her feet. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you attack me?"

'That should have killed her.' Sephiroth looked away. "I was merely bored, having done my part."

Prishe narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute. You're the guy who stole from Firion, aren't you?"

"And what did I steal?"

"That long sword in your hand. I'm talking about the rose dammit!"

He turned back to her. "What if I did? Are you going to take it back? Because if you are, I no longer have it. Cloud does."

"Cloud?"

"That is correct. I gave him the rose, so he would come I find me."

"That's good, that Cloud has the rose." She shifted her stance and brought her fists up, ready to brawl. "I'm still going to kick your ass for hurting my friends!"

Sephiroth smirked. "You intrigue me. So," He turned to her, brining his blade up. "We'll fight as you wish."

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