The group are now make their way through the Jungle, eventually arriving at a barrier of energy that won't let them pass.
"What is it?" Gat asked.
"The jungle denies us our passage." Fiona explained.
"What have we done?" Evelyn wondered.
"We? No. I." Fiona sadly said as she walks away.
"What's that mean? How're we supposed to get through that?" Pete asked.
"Making an appearance?" Atomic Cat suggested.
"I am." Fiona replied.
Atomic cross his arms, knowing about why Fiona look so sad. "I thought you'd left for good." He recalled.
"Our choices are few." She explained as she is is trying to get their attention, but they're walking away. "This is as much for you as it is for me." Atomic and his team look silent a for this. "You are ill at ease. The nethicite troubles you? You've let your eyes betray your heart." She said and she is is standing... somewhere. She waves her finger around as energy emanates from it.
"What are you doing?" Tom asked.
"Soon you will learn." Fiona said. As the path of... green appears. Much for everyone's surprised. "We go to seek aid of the people who dwell ahead.
"I bet they'll be glad to see you after so long." Rei suggested.
Fiona sighed. "I am unwelcome. An unsought guest in their wood." She said as they proceeds forward, and enters a Village. "In the village ahead you will find her: Clover. Bring her to me. She will know why you call her." She informed Pete and the others.
The group proceeds through the village and as for Fiona, she stay behind, and reach the villagers.
"Hey, Clover lives here, doesn't she? We're here to see her." Kid explained to the villagers as they stare at him blankly.
"You will leave at once."
Then they saw a Red female cat and she approached the group.
"It is not allowed for travelers to walk on these grounds." She warned.
"We'll go as soon as we've seen Mjrn." Pete stated
"If you can find her." The Cat claimed.
"We're not leaving until you let us see her." Pete insisted, but then she looks away from him. "Fine then. We'll look for her ourselves." He suggested as he and his team walks away. But then noticed that the cat saw Fiona walks in to the village, and she walks past the group to the Red female cat.
"I've heard the voice of the Wood. She says Clover is not in the village. Snow. Where has she gone?" Fiona asked.
"Why do you ask?" She coldly said. "The Wood tells us where she has gone. Or...can you not hear Her?" She wondered and that makes Fiona look sad. "You cannot. Your senses are dull from hearing their harsh speech, I think. Our Villager who have abandoned the Wood are viera no longer. Clover, too, has left Her embrace." She said.
"And you forsake them in turn?" Power Puss guessed.
"It is the will of the village. My villagers must live always with the Wood. So is the Green Word, and so is our law." Snow explained.
"We'll let you worry about keeping your laws. Just do us a favor and stay out of our way. We'll find her ourselves." Kid declared, but then a wind arises from under Snow... she raises her arms, and a bright light shines from above.
"Our sister has left the Wood and gone west. She wanders warrens among men who hide themselves in clothes of cold iron. Thus to me has the Wood spoken.
"Our people begin as part of the Wood, but is it not the only end that we may choose." Fiona stated.
"The same words I heard 50 years ago." Snow pointed out as she walks away.
The group returns to the entrance to of the Village.
"Not bad, Pete and friends. Didn't think we'd get any information out of that one. So then, what was she saying about men in a warren?" Atomic curiously asked.
"The Henne Magicite Mines... maybe that's what she meant. They lie in Bancour, south of the Ozmone Plain. The entire region is a colony of the Atlas Empire. There would be soldiers." Link stated.
"Is that a problem?" Atomic Cat asked.
"Let's move." Pete declared. As he and the others walked off except Tom
"Hey, Fiona!" Tom called out as she stopped and face him. "I was wondering... what Snow said, you know? About how you said the same thing 50 years ago?"
"Your point?" Fiona asked as Tom is going to say something to her.
"How old Snow is again?" He asked, and everyone look awkwardly silent for this, including Pete, Gat and Kid who has face lakes because of Tom's stupidity, and that makes Fiona walks away look annoyed because of him.
"Nice, Rookie." Atomic Cat said with cyanical look as he walked away, including the group. Even Evelyn sighed as she looked away from Tom and she began to ignored him, leaving him clueless on why they don't talk to him and look so annoyed..
"Surprisingly rude." Link muttered
"Try grow up, please." Rei said to Tom.
Tom is still clueless for this, but then he was whack on the head by Pete who is holding a Paper Fan, and he seems to be glaring at him because Tom's foolishness. And Gat dragged Tom away while he's still rubbing his head that Pete whacked him.
They all return to the Ozmone Plain, where they see a couple of wounded Atlas soldiers. One asks for a Potion, and Rei given to him, knowing how caring she was.
"Thanks to you, my friend's life is saved. We are in your debt, sir. We fled here from the Henne Mines. We were attacked, you see... It was all we could do to make it this far. We'll rest here until my friend's wounds have had a chance to heal. If you like, we could lend you the use of a chocobo until then. There's a lot of terrain around here which can't be accessed without a chocobo. You let me know when you need one." The Imperial suggested, as they all ride on a Chocobo and headed of to the Henne Mines.
Outside the mine, Atlas Soldiers and workers are lying on the ground.
"Researchers from the Draklor Laboratories. What were they doing here?" Link wondered.
"Research." Crab Tabby casually answered.
They venture deep into the Minies
"Look at the magicite. The mines much resemble the ones at Lhusu. Of course. Draklor must be searching for new sources of ore. Should the Resistance move, the magicite in Space City will be forever beyond their grasp." Link stated.
A soldier is on the ground. Link runs next to it... while Fiona senses something, and she realized something.
"It is her? What is this Mist? Clover!" Fiona called out as she saw her, but seems to be possessed by something
"The stench of travelers. The stench of power." Clover muttered and she looks likes like a yellow cat.
"What's wrong with her?" Evelyn asked, but then saw Clover points at her
"Stay away! Power-needy freak!" Clover yelled, much for Evelyn's to see her called like that. Then Clover awkwardly runs off.
They follow her; in the next area, Clover still jerks violently, past a giant dragon with a ring around his head. It gets defeated. Afterwards, she stumbles into view, holding a piece of nethicite. She drops it, and Link gasps. It rolls to a stop, and disintegrates into shards. Suddenly, some sort of bizarre white creature with no face and small circles of energy for eyes appears above Clover. It dissapears, and Clover collapses
"That thing inside her. What was it?" Tom asked as Fiona cradles Clover in her arm.
"Is it you?" Clover said softly as Fiona nodded to her, she sighed and smile before she her eyes closed.
At the Village, Clover explained everything what just happened. "When the alien soldiers came to the Wood, the village took small heed of them. So long as the Wood herself is safe, the viera give little care to goings on beyond. But in me an uneasiness stirred. I had to discover why they had come." She said.
"So you came here hoping to find something out, and got yourself caught." Atomic Cat said as Clover nodded to him. "You're as foolhardy as your sister."
"They took me then, and set close beside me a stone. They said its Mist would be drawn into me, that the my people well suited this end. I saw the light coming from the stone, and then-" Clover then got interrupted by Fiona.
"We have seen this. On Leviathan, the Mist from the Dawn Shard drove me, too, into such a rage. She was taken not by the Dawn Shard." Fiona stated.
"Manufacted nethicite." Link corrected as Fiona nodded to him. And then realized as he look at Rei. "Then that means... Rei, the stone I gave you, do you still carry it with you?" He asked.
"Sure, it's right here." She answered as she takes it out, and Link immediately grabs it. It's glowing faintly.
"This is more dangerous that I had imagined. I should never have given it to you. Forgive me, I did not know." Link apologize.
"I'd always thought of it as a sort of a good luck charm. And even if it is dangerous, on Leviathan it kept us safe." Rei said.
"There is a place for all things, even danger such as this." Evelyn recalled.
"I hope you're right about that." Pete said.
The group & Clover exit the house and are walking in the village, but they stop as they saw Snow and a couple of Villagers people are standing in front of them.
"I heard the Wood's whispers. Take it." Snow informed as her people gave an item to Pete. "Lente's Tear is a permission. Pass through the Wood and leave. To other places go."
Pete nodded to her, and the group began to leave the village, then Clover steps forward.
"That cannot be all! I saw it when I left the village! Planet Acme is changing! How can our people stand and do nothing at all?" Clover exclaimed.
Planet Acme is for the Evelyn and her people. The Wood alone is for us." Clover explained.
"But that is wrong!" Clover insisted. "How can we just hide here in the trees when all the world outside ia on the move! I took with to live freely... to leave this Wood!" She yelled.
"Do not do this. You must remain away from the travellers. Stay with the Wood. Live together with the Wood. This is your way." Fiona suggested.
"But Fiona... my sister!" Clover said it back.
"I am no longer of you. I have discarded Wood and village. I won my freedom. Yet my past has been cut away forever. No longer can my ears hear the Green Wood. This...solitude, you want, Clover?" Fiona asked.
"Sister-" Clover murmured.
"No, Clover. Only one sister remains to you now. You must forget my existence." She coldly said as she look away from her and now Clover runs away crying knowing that Fiona doesn't need her anymore.
"I am sorry to make you do this." Snow apologized knowing how their sister look so stubborn.
"She goes against the laws of the Wood. I threw down these laws. It is better that I do this." Fiona explained.
"Better I than one who must uphold these laws herself." Atomic Cat added.
Clover nods to one of her people behind her, and they both walk away. They all began to leave the village, But Fiona stayed behind to talk to Snow
"I have a request: listen to the Wood's voice for me. I fear... I fear... She hates." Fiona hesitated.
Clover does the Wood-listening action that she performed earlier. "The Wood longs for you. For the child gone from under Her boughs." She said.
"A pleasant lie, that." Fiona smirked at her sister as she began to leave.
"Be cautious. The Wood is jealous of travellers who have taken you." Snow warned.
Fiona sighed. "I am as them, now. Am I not? Good-bye, sister." She said.
Fiona walks away, rejoining the group and leaving Snow behind as she waved goodbye to her. Minutes later, they pass through the energy barrier which was impeding them before, and travel through the jungle, eventually arriving at one area. A creature that seems to be made of the Earth itself; a dragon covers in grass and flowers roars forth. Then the group managed to defeat it and it gets destroyed like all the others.
The group continues on, exiting the Jungle and venturing through the Paramina Rift, a mountainous blizzard region, getting closer to Mt Bur-Omisace. They eventually encounter a group of people struggling through the snow
"Empire parades down city streets, while refugees walk barefoot through the snow." Power Puss stated.
"And so I sue for peace to stop short war and ease their suffering. My father will choose peace." Link declared.
"Will he now? You sound sure of yourself. You can never know another, even your father." Crab Tabby warned as he walked away.
"Don't take it the wrong way, okay?" Kid cheered him up, but Link just stands there, and seems utterly dejected.
Meanwhile, at the Emperor of Atlas. Vanitas is talking to his father, Lord Edmund.
"This crisis would not end were I gone. The Senate hates the very fact that House of the Empire exists. By necessity, we must find reason to silence them." Vanitas said as his father gets up from behind the desk.
"Necessity? Ah yes, necessity. Does that word free you, I wonder? You show no hesitation to solve matters with blood." Edmund said.
Vanitas looks up at the banner of House of the Empire; solid black, with a white castle, among other things.
"The sword of House of the Empire cannot be left to rust in doubt. It was you, excellency, who tempered that sword." Vanitas recalled as he look at his father who is standing next to a window, looking outside.
"Is this your idea of vengeance?" Edmund asked.
"It is my idea of necessity." Vanitas answered as he heard his father does a half-grumble, half-sigh. "If we do not act now, it is not only our future you imperil."
"So you would dirty your paws, to keep his clean?" Edmund coldly said.
"My paws are stained with blood. I see little reason to stay them now." Vanitas replied.
"So they are. And so House of the Empire lives on." He declared.
Back to the Paramina Rift, as the group continues, and eventually conludes, their journey to Mt Bur-Omisace; and they see massive temple around the city that looks so futuristic. They enter the "Hall of the Light" to speak with the alien head honcho, Anastasis. His face seems ravaged by time... Link and Evelyn stand in front of him, blinking.
"Is he sleeping?" Tom aaked, then the group began to hear a disembodied voice. And they know it came from Anastasis's
No, my child. I do not sleep. I dream. For reality and illusion are a duality, two parts of a whole. Only the mirror of dreams reflects what is true.
Then Evelyn approach him Anastasis, Your Grace, I am Evelyn-" she started.
"Lay down your words. Evelyn, daughter of Gregory, I have dreamt your dream. Who better to carry on the Blanc line than she who bears the Dawn Shard? Your dream of a planet to be restored peaceful and harmony is known to me.
"Gran Kiltias, then give us your blessing. Grant the Lady Evelyn the Cat her accession..." He prayed for him, then the group saw a grey cat with sporting sunglasses, and a servant cats standing beside him are behind the group.
"I do not suppose this is something you might...reconsider?" He proclaimed as he walks through the group, up to Link.
"My little emperor-in-waiting. You called and I have come." Link said as he extends his paw as the other cat pat, then he pat Link on the head. Hs pushes the cat's paw away.
"This is the cat I wanted you to meet. Believe it or not, he is a member of the noble House Sea, rulers of the River Empire." Link explained to the group.
"I am but one of very, very many. Try as I might, I could not stop this war alone... thus I came seeking Links assistance." He said as he takes off his sunglasses, the servant girl instantly takes them. "Jerry the Cat, at your service." He introduced as he bowed. "To think I stand before the Lady Evelyn the Cat. It is truly an honor." He said as he kneels and kisses Evelyn's paw. Rei puts her hands over her mouth look so surprised to see that, and noticed that Pete look away from her, blushing. "I see it is true after all. Ah, stunning is Blanc's desert bloom."
Link sighed as he face palmed, knowing how Jerry acted like that for the ladies.
"In Atlas, Link. In River City, Jerry. They dream not of war. Should empire join with empire, the way will open for a new Blanc in our time." Evelyn suggested.
"Hah, Gran Kiltias! You speak much of dreams. But in our galaxy, war is upon us." Jerry pointed out.
"Gran Kiltias, I was told my coming here would prevent this war. I was to assume my father's throne and announce the restoration of Dalmasca... treat with the Empire for peace, and persuade the Resistance to stay their hand. I have not come all this way to be asked to reconsider!" Evelyn explained.
"A word from you and the Resistance would stop cold... and Gregory's pretext for joining the war... scattered, off to the four winds. This was what we had hoped. Alas, circumstances change. A full two years have passed since your reported death. Were it to become known you were still alive... I fear it could only worsen our current situation." Jerry said.
"Because I am powerless to help." Evelyn sadly answered, then Jerry shakes in head.
"Nay, in fact it has little to do with you." Jerry disagree.
"Then what? If Lady Evelyn were to extend her hand in friendship... perhaps I could then persuade the Emperor. His Excellency will solve things peacefully-" Link began.
"The Emperor Edmund is no more. His life was taken." Jerry sadly answered much for everyone's horror including Link, he began to cry to heard what happened to his father.
"Father!" He screamed.
Meanwhile at Atlus.
Judge Howl is seems to be marches to the Emperor's room. Two Senators are being carried out by soldiers.
"What possible cause could we have to lay hand on our Emperor?" The senators wondered.
"A deception and an outrage! The Senate will not stand for this!" The other Senators cried out.
Howl enters the room, as the doors close behind him. Three Judges and Vanitas standing over an individual's body; the three Judge was two boys and one girl and they look like humanoid cats. Judge, Drace. Gramis, and they know what happened to Lord Edmund.
"A viper amongst our Senators!?" Drace exclaimed.
"With Chairman Gregoroth as it head. He confessed and passed his own sentence." Vanitas concluded.
"A viper with many tails. Much of the Senate is culpable." Judge said.
"We had to strip the Senate of authority and assign powers of autocracy to myself-" Vanitas declared then he was cut off by Drace.
"Spare me your lies! I see the serpent coiled here before me!" Darce pointed out.
"Drace, you speak too freely!" Zargabaath scolded.
"Zargabaath! Do not tell me you join in this mummer's farce!" Drace exclaimed.
"With River City poised to invade at any moment, our leader must have a free hand." He said.
"The once-great House of the Empire is now reduced to myself and my dear brother Link." Vanitas said.
"Surely you would not go so far!" Drace suspicious asked as she pulls out her sword and sticks it in front of Vanitas's face. "Vanitas the Cat! As Judge Magister and upholder of the law, I hereby place you under arrest!" Then she gasped as she noticed that the Zargabaath is pointing his sword at her.
"Vanitas did not make himself autocrat. It was the very Ministry of Law which you serve. Do you see it now, Drace? When you bared your sword at His Excellency, you bared your sword at the law." Zargabaath warned.
"You wear the mummer's motley well, Bergan." Stace said as she lowers her sword... then swings around, attempting to strike Bergan, but he stops her sword... and covers her face with his paw. He then throws her across the room.
"Such strength... Jerk!" Drace lashed out as Bergan forms a wicked smile.
"Zargabaath, take the Alexander. Accompany Bergan and bring Link back to me." He ordered him as he salutes and walked away.
"Your Excellency, Lord Link was placed under my charge." Howl explained as he bowed down to him.
"Oh? Perhaps you mistook your orders then. I see no other explanation for why you were reporting on my doings to my late father." Vanitas said.
"Your Excellency-" Howl started but then cutt off by Vanitas.
"A hound, begging for scraps at the Emperor's table. Would you serve another master, hound? You may fulfil your duty as Judge Magister before us all." Vanitas said. As he noticed that Howl is looking at Drace on the ground. "She has been tried and found guilty."
"Your Excellency, I beg you reconsider!" Howl pleaded as he walks up to her, kneels, and picks up Drace's sword. Zargabaath looks on. Howl readies to stab her, but hesitates.
"Do it." She said much for Howl's horror as she looked at him with an apologize look. "I care not. Live, Howl. Protect the young lord. Protect Link..." She softly said.
"Forgive me." Howl sadly replied.
"Pray be quick." She said.
He closes his eyes, and thrusts it in. She moans, and is soon dead. Across the room, Vanitas touches his father's paw.
"And so House of the Empire lives on." Vanitas said to his late-father.
Back to the Group at Mt Bur-Omisace.
"Let us suppose you approach the Empire with a peaceful resolution. The late Emperor Edmund would have lent you his ear, that much is certain. But we are dealing with Vanitas. Should the Princess return, he would claim her an imposter. All to tempt the Resistance into battle. Vanitas wants this war, that much is certain. As our ill luck would have it, the cat is a military genius." Jerry explained to the group.
"The dreams have told me thus. To reveal yourself would imperil us all. I see war, and Vayne's name writ bold on history's face." Evelyn realized.
"Atlas's banners fly high. They are making ready for the coming war." Jerry warned, then his servant hands him a piece of paper and began to read it. "According to our latest reports... The Western Armada prepares for war, under Vanitas's command no less. The newly formed 12th Fleet has already been deployed. The Imperial 1st Fleet stands ready. They'll be under way as soon as the Odin's refit is complete. And there is more: the 2nd Kerwon Expeditionary Force is being called in... to replace the missing 8th, so there will be no gaps. The largest force ever seen!" Jerry informed.
"And then... the nethicite is the coup de grace." Evelyn proclaimed as Jerry nodded to her. "Gran Kiltias, Your Grace. I spoke to you of my succession. Let us put that aside. Should I become Queen of Blanc now, powerless as I am, I can protect nothing. With a greater power at my disposal, perhaps then." She declared and then noticed Anastasis approach her.
"It is the nethicite of which you dream?" He assumed.
"I require something far greater." Evelyn explained as Anastasis opens his eyes, and begins speaking to her.
"To wield power against power. Truly the words of a cat-alien." He said in remarked.
"I am descended from the Dynast-King himself." Evelyn pointed out.
"Indeed." Anastasis agreed. "Then you have but one choice. Seek you the other power Gregory left..
"Does such a thing exist?" Evelyn asked hopefully.
"Journey across the Paramina Rift to the Stilshrine of Miriam. There rests the gift he entrusted to the Gran Kiltias of his time. Seek it out. The Sword of Ancestors...can cut through nethicite. Why he would entrust the power to destroy nethicite, the instrument of his greatness... to another and not to his own progeny, I cannot say. Awaken Evelyn of Planet Acme and take up your sword, or your dream will remain but a dream." Anastasis said.
Evelyn walks away, momentarily pausing to look at Link, who's still shell-shocked from everything that's happened. Anastasis closes his eyes. "My dream, too, fades into day." He whispered.
