Author's Note: I do not own any of the characters/locations mentioned; that honor goes to Level 5, Studio Ghibli and Bandai. Just putting that out there in case anybody is hunting the site for copyright infringements...

Sorry for the slow going, new semesters bring a lot of work! And yes, they finally make it to the Glittering Grotto! At first I only planned on having Cassiopeia see an illusion, but then I got to thinking that Swaine's illusion in the game was a bit of a missed opportunity that was glossed over. We could have a much more emotionally impactful moment. Now I've gone and done it, because after seeing something like that, I really don't know what they will say next chapter! I'm as much on the edge of my seat as anyone.

Special shout out to moonbird , because I am borrowing their name for the Emperor. I am not creative when it comes to names, and ever since reading their work, I've been calling him by that name ever since. Let me know if that is not all right with you and I'll change it to something else.

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She approached him curiously as he finished paying for the item. "What's this then, Gascon?"

"Ah, perfect timing. Come on, let's step outside of town to the north so I can show you what I have in mind." Beckoning her, he began to walk ahead, and she followed eagerly. He was always so mysterious, at least there would be ONE secret he would share…

Once they got out past the gates into the open snowy tundra, he stopped and held out the cage. She took it, looking at him intently. "This is a creature cage. Many wizards keep beasts to fight for them besides simply relying on spells. However, there are many people who keep beasts who can't use magic at all, myself included." To illustrate his point, he tapped his chest and summoned Gunther, his Hurley. The creature looked happy to see him and jumped up and down excitedly while grunting. "Heh, good to see you too boy." He patted Gunther on the head. "I'll need your help today big time, pal. There's definitely some chocolate in it for you…" Gunther liked the sound of that, hugging his master's legs excitedly and nearly causing the man to fall. He braced himself on the creature's head. "Woah Gunther, take it easy!" He cleared his throat. "This lady over here is Cassiopeia. She will be coming with us for a while, so you should introduce yourself." Gunther looked at the woman with interest, releasing his hold on Gascon's legs to investigate the newcomer.

She laughed with delight to see him. "Hello Gunther, it is a pleasure to meet you!" She held out a hand, but Gunther also hugged her around the legs, causing her to flail. This earned a hearty laugh from Gascon. "I'm glad you all get along. Come on back, buddy, we'll be ready to go soon." He tapped his chest again and the creature returned to its cage.

Cassiopeia brushed herself off. "So Gunther fights for you against the other monsters in the area?"

"Yeah. I don't think I'd have made it for too long wandering around if he hadn't "introduced" himself to me."

"So he found you? Then how will I gain a creature?"

"Well, you remember Esther, right? The blonde girl with the harp that traveled with us?" Cassiopeia nodded slowly. "She was a familiar tamer. When we battled monsters, some of them were so impressed that she was able to tame them by playing her harp, and they joined our party."
"I see. But I'm still not sure that will help us right now." Cassiopeia was looking… uncharacteristically impatient, which surprised him.

"Well, we won't be able to tame any familiars without her help and the odds aren't good that a creature will just decide to follow you. So, I'll simply lend you one of mine."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah. We traded familiars often between the three of us. Here, take Rufus." He pulled the creature cage from his bag and withdrew a small orb, handing it to her. She took it carefully and placed it in her own cage.

"So, I summon him by tapping my chest over my heart?" she asked, trying to understand how the process worked. "It seems like that should require some sort of magical spell…"

"Hmph. Well, the magic is in the item, not the person holding it. Just think of the creature you want to summon, tap over your heart, and it will appear. Tap again to send them back. Give it a try."

"All right. Let's see…" She closed her eyes and performed the necessary gesture. With a flash of light, a small, dog-like creature appeared before her, bouncing with energy. The queen looked delighted.

"Meet Rufus. We haven't been together as long as Gunther and I have been, but I can definitely count on him to defend you. Whereas Gunther came to me in the wild, Rufus was created from my heart using a form familiar spell. It was a stupid bet Oliver and Esther made…but I am glad to have him on my side." He smiled at the memory and bent down to scratch the canine creature behind the ears. It wriggled happily, nuzzling its master's hand.

Cassiopeia said nothing as she observed this interaction between man and beast. It seemed… well, it was like seeing Gascon for the first time. The real Gascon. Not the prince trying to follow the rules. Not the devil-may-care street-savvy vagrant. This was a man who cared about something deeply and radiated a real emotion. And it deeply honored her that he would entrust his own beloved familiar to her care.

"So, anyhow, on our way to the grotto, I think we should get in a few practice battles to make sure you get a feel for commanding him in a fight. Also…" he looked towards the sky uncomfortably "…it wouldn't hurt if we found a few raw materials lying around that we could sell at the Yule markets…"

Her smile disappeared. "Have I cost you too much money already? We've only been gone a day!"

"Errr, well…I mean, I could just tell people who I am and get whatever I need for nothing, but that's just not my style. Plus it would draw attention to us. But then again, taking care of a guest and lady is pretty important so…yeah. I need to get some more guilders so I can get us what we need." He blushed, now studying his boots. "I can eat stale bread and sleep in a ditch, but for you…"

His thoughts were interrupted when Cassiopeia slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Then I must earn my keep! I know I've spent my whole life in the palace, but I refuse to be a burden on this journey! Just tell me what to look for and I will find it!" When he raised his eyes to meet hers, he saw a look of fierce determination, even eagerness. It actually looked like she was excited to forage for items. This made him feel instantly better.

"Blizzard blooms," he replied with a smile. "You know, the plants they used to make that soup. The soup is so pricy because the blooms are hard to come by. Only crazy people like us go out as deep as the Glittering Grotto, you know."

"Ah, I see. Then I will keep my eyes out for them!" she agreed enthusiastically.

"Well, just make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the monsters first and foremost," he advised, shaking his head. "Are you ready for the trek? It should take us an hour or two depending on how many fights we get into."

"Let's do it!"

They arrived at the mouth of the glittering grotto seven battles later hanging onto three coldstones and five blizzard blooms. The pair were an effective team, with Cassiopeia true to her word and spotting them like a hawk, and Gascon with his Highwayman's Handgun to reach the items in difficult places. He wouldn't admit it to her, but it was a relief to have something to sell off. At least for the moment they would be able to afford food and shelter…

He may have been thinking about that, but Cassiopeia's mind was on another plane entirely. She was finally here. The place so closely tied to her father… The lair of Cerboreas, his faithful servant who had known him in life. As wonderful as the Elder had been, no one could help her move forward nearly as much as her own father, and this would be as close as she could get.

"Now, stay close and keep alert. This place is crawling with beasts. Fortunately, I know a few secret passages that will help us reach the inner sanctum more quickly. I just hope I can find them after all these months…" he declared, interrupting her thoughts. She nodded, hand finding the creature cage. Rufus had been very easy to link to, and he followed her commands without hesitation. She couldn't tell if it was the beast itself that was well trained and loyal, or if it was the will of its master himself, from whose heart it had sprung. Either way, she felt no fear, and no need to even contemplate casting a spell.

They walked straight up the path, quickly being hit in the face with a frigid gust of air. Gascon pulled his hood tighter. "Ugh, this place is worse than outside for whatever reason. I wonder if the Point of Origin just sucks the heat out of everything…" he grimaced.

Cassiopeia was not listening to his gripes. She looked around the glistening cavern in awe, completely unfazed by the chill in the air. This place truly earned its name of Glittering Grotto, with the ice that surrounded them sparkling like a thousand diamonds. There was a pristine quality to the place, probably due in part to the fact that special permission was needed before setting foot here. The beasts needed no permission, however, and she noticed them further back seemingly patrolling the area. It was like they were keeping guard… They would not stop her. Not when she was this close.

Suddenly, she became aware that she had passed right through a wall. "Huh?" she said, startled. She did a double take, and saw only a wall behind her.

Gascon chuckled. "This cave is filled with illusions. Some of the walls are not walls at all, they only appear to be. When we were here last, we found a couple very convenient passages."

"Are these the only illusions in the cave?" she wondered, stopping.

Gascon stopped too. "No. I don't know why. Again, maybe it is the influence of this Point of Origin, but you can see memories of the people who have entered here before."

"Did you see one when you were here?"

He sighed. "Yes. And I hope it doesn't happen again. Though, maybe for you it would be a good thing. Who knows." With that cryptic response, he continued walking up the slope. She hurried to catch up, wondering what he could have seen that was so upsetting. There was no point in asking, he clearly was not willing to talk about it, which disappointed her. A small part of her wished they would see something so she could get her answer.

A little further in, her wish was granted.

They turned a corner, and she nearly ran into him as he stopped dead in his tracks. Peering around, she saw the reason for his sudden halt. Transparent images of a delicate, auburn-haired woman and a burly man with a curling moustache flickered before them. She recognized the pair instantly as Emperor Elscon of Hamelin and the Great Sage Alicia, two people she had worked very hard to crush when she had been the White Witch. They seemed to be searching for something.

"Maybe we should head back, Elscon," the woman suggested, shivering. "There doesn't seem to be anything here we can use. The Wizard King must not have left anything behind…"

Elson growled, clenching his staff tightly. "Just a little bit longer. We just HAVE to find something. We need to if we are ever going to be able to stop Shadar!"

She patted his arm. "I know you are worried, but if we would have found something by now if it was here."

The image of the Emperor punched the icy wall with his bare fist. "Damn it! We need to stop him before he can hurt more innocent people!"

Alicia tried to soothe him. "I agree with you. But you seem so on edge. What is bothering you so, Elscon?"

He growled, and the familiarity of that sound caused Gascon to shiver from more than the cold. "Alicia, I know it is hard for you to understand now, but someday you will. I don't just have subjects to protect. I have a family that is in danger all the more because of who I am. You get married and have kids thinking that is just what rulers do to carry on the bloodline. But damn it Alicia, you don't realize how much you come to LOVE them! Marrying my wife was not our choice, but all the same she is the world to me. And my son…my Gascon…" he paused, clenching his fists. Gascon felt physically sick to his stomach. He had never heard his old man talk like this before. It all felt so wrong, like some kind of lie, but he knew deep down it wasn't. These were his father's exact words recorded for eternity in the walls of this hell-hole. "I am so worried for him. He is already five and not one flicker of magic has ever been shown. I know there is still time, but if he for some inexplicable reason does not control magic, how will he be able to protect himself if anything happens to me? His stubborn spit-fire attitude will only get him so far against our enemies. And then there's the baby on the way. I don't know what he'll be like, but I don't want a future where either of my precious children have to be afraid for their lives." The great hulking form of the man grew still, looking defeated. Alicia put a hand on his shoulder.

"You'll do everything in your power to protect them, I know. And I will do everything in my power to aid you. Someday I hope to have a child, and you are right, I want them to grow up in a world that is safe. Come, Elson. Let's check on our next lead." The images gradually faded out, leaving a trembling Gascon and a very guilty Cassiopeia. Neither knew how to fill the gaping silence.