A/N : Firstly, I would like to apologise for the amount of time it took to upload this chapter ; I have been quite ill recently, and I only started to feel better this morning. Secondly, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far :). Its because of you guys that I continue to write this, so, thankyou! :D

Hope you enjoy :)

'So, where the heck are we again?'

Luneth peered upwards at the kindly figure of the beautiful Terra, as she smiled kindly back down at the young Onion knight.

Luneth, Terra and Cloud had thankfully been reunited with Tidus and Firion, not forgetting the newest member of the group - Jecht. The six of them were wandering through an unknown landscape, filled with perilous rocks and gargantuan mountains. They had yet to find out about Kathryn's abduction; and were also yet to find Zidane, Bartz, Squall and the Warrior of Light.

Jecht sneered at Luneth. The pesky little twerp had been asking the same question for about an hour or so now, and he was really starting to grind Jecht's gears.

'For the last time kid, we don't know!'

Jecht growled so harshly when he spoke that Luneth recoiled in shock, and stuck his tongue out at the muscular man.

'Why you insolent little…'

Jecht started towards Luneth, who cleverly scampered behind Terra. Tidus, who found the whole incident really quite amusing, pulled his father away from advancing towards the young knight; who stuck his tongue out at Jecht again as soon as his back was turned.

'Calm down pops, he's just having a bit of fun…'

Jecht growled at his son, but did not say anything else. His pride had been shot, not that the almighty Jecht would admit defeat.

A few minutes went past, and Firion, who was leading the intrepid group of six, came to an abrupt halt and held out his arm, signalling for everyone to stop, and to keep quiet. Only Cloud wasn't paying attention, and promptly swore loudly as he walked straight into the back of Terra, who turned around to giggle at the spiky blonde. He subsequently flushed a deep shade of crimson whilst uttering hushed apologies to the beautiful young woman that stood in front of him.

Firion looked around wildly. He could have sworn he had heard something coming from in front of the group - a whisper? Turning around to silence Tidus and Luneth who were whispering impatiently and rather loudly, he heard the noise again.

Was that a voice this time?

Firion drew his blood red sword and hastily pointed it towards the rock nearest to them. Fearing the noise may have been made by a rogue mannequin, or maybe even a Chaos fiend, he spoke loudly and angrily in an attempt to strike preliminary fear into the unknown personage's heart.

'Who are you? Show yourself, or we won't hesitate to attack!'

A few seconds of agonising silence ensued, before the group heard a furious rustling sound coming from behind the rock, accompanied by a low snarl of :

'Great job you two. You're lucky my Gunblade isn't loaded or I'd…'

'Gunblade? Wait! Squall…is that you?'

The roguishly handsome figure of Squall rose sheepishly from behind the rock; accompanied by a very embarrassed Bartz and Zidane, who were toeing the ground beneath their feet uncomfortably.

'Firion, thank Cosmos it's you! We thought you were a mannequin or something…'

Squall scoffed at Zidane, who shrugged his shoulders and looked sideways at Bartz.

'It's a good job they weren't mannequins then Bartz, because you and Zidane would have given our position away with your incessant arguing.'

'It's not my fault! Zidane tried to tell me he was better looking than me and I -'

'Hey! Don't blame this on me! I can't help being irresistible to the ladies…'

Squall rolled his eyes at the troublesome pair and stormed off. He had put up with those two for long enough now, there was only so much he could handle. What he wouldn't give to back in Balamb right now; in SeeD headquarters; or in the arms of his beloved Rinoa. Anywhere, but here.

'What? Was it something I said?', Zidane asked a bemused Bartz, who sighed and hung his head.

Firion and the others began to make their way after Squall, who was thankfully walking in the same general direction that they were aiming for ; straight ahead. As they were walking Bartz began to get very restless, and decided to carry on the previous argument he had been having with Zidane, much to Jecht's dismay. Jecht was clenching his fists by his side in order to keep a steady grasp on his uprising anger. He really was at the end of his tether now. Why wouldn't those brats just shut the hell up?

'Uh, guys? You might wanna stop…', Tidus interjected nervously, shooting them a worried glance. Only Zidane seemed to notice this, and elbowed Bartz sharply in the ribs, but Bartz carried on regardless.

Big mistake. Jecht eventually lost all control of his temper, and turned around to an astonished Bartz, snarling and breathing heavily as he yelled at the top of his lungs :

'Will you shut the hell up?'

Bartz was stunned. He stumbled a hasty apology to the angry man, and scrambled quickly over to join Firion, only glancing back once to see a very angry Jecht glaring straight back at him. Zidane and Tidus were trying desperately not to burst out laughing as Bartz turned nervously to face in front of himself again. Bartz really did need to learn when to keep his mouth shut; especially now that Jecht was around.

Cecil wearily strode a few paces away from the bottom of the vast mountain to take another hurried look around. He still had no idea as to where his beloved had been taken; and he was worrying himself sick. He cursed himself for not finding out more when it really mattered. He had failed her, and he feared that by the time he had found her, it might already be too late.

Meanwhile, Golbez had gone to see if he could possibly acquire any more information on Kathryn, and on Kefka's whereabouts - but to no avail. The colossal dark knight returned to his brothers side with a heavy heart. He had failed Cecil yet again.

As Cecil eagerly ran to Golbez's side, Golbez felt that it was a good thing his face was covered by a helmet, for he honestly felt like breaking into tears as the sight of Cecil's expectant expression, knowing only too well he did not have the good news his brother longed to hear.

Golbez watched Cecil's face when he shook his almighty head ; the light of hope in his sapphire blue eyes faded as his expression became crestfallen.

'I'm so sorry Cecil. I looked everywhere I could…'

'You tried your best brother. You need not apologise.

Cecil hung his head, as a single tear dropped from the corner of his eyes.

Little did he and Golbez know that there was someone close by that knew exactly where Kathryn had been taken: the forgotten mannequin, which was clambering its solitary way down the mountainside. It was moving slowly for it was dying, its energy ebbed away with every step it took, but it had to tell the broken hearted paladin and his brother; the mighty dark knight exactly where Kathryn was, to redeem itself before it passed on.

As it reached the bottom of the perilous mountain, it collapsed due to its weakness, hitting the ground with such force that it was nearly rendered unconscious, but, it battled on, gripping its fingers into the very ground beneath it as it battled on, determined to pass on its very important message before it was too late.

After a few minutes, it stopped to catch its breath, only to hear a stern, quite angry voice sounding from behind.

'Stop there cur. You go no further!'

The mannequin turned itself over in complete fear, to be confronted by a magnificently armoured knight, mighty horns protruded from his glorious helmet as he brandished his equally magnificent sword at the cowering mannequin. He did not understand. The paladin must hear what needed to be said before it was too late, otherwise it could be the end of the abducted girl.

'Please…', the mannequin croaked, its raspy voice chocking the Warrior of Light. He had never heard one of these fiends speak before.

'You, you can talk? No. I must be mistaken.'

'You are not mistaken. Please, I beg of you. I must talk to - '

'Silence!'

The Warrior of Light roared so loudly, he instantly caught the attention of Cecil and Golbez who were standing but a few feet away, completely oblivious to the Warrior's presence until now. They hastily ran over to see what all the commotion was about, and as soon as they reached the Warrior's side, Cecil gasped loudly. He had just seen the mannequin, and realised that it bore the exact resemblance of his beloved Kathryn.

'Please…'. The mannequin spoke to Cecil now, who crouched down slowly beside it, grasping a gentle hold of its cold, fading hand.

'Don't kill me…please…I need to tell you….' Cecil desperately fought back a fresh wave of tears as he gazed at the dying mannequin. He waved for the Warrior of Light to withdraw his weapon, which he did, albeit begrudgingly.

'We won't harm you.'

Cecil's warm voice somewhat soothed the frightened mannequin, and it half smiled back at him. It was fading more rapidly now, the bluish hue that surrounded it dying in the sharp breeze that stung its skin. It could feel the cold kiss of death slowly approaching as it opened its pupil - less eyes to look at Cecil once more.

'I know where she is…'

'Where Kathryn is?'

Cecil's eyes lit up as the mannequin nodded its head slowly. It tried to speak again, but the words got stuck in its throat. It desperately gasped for air as its lungs began to give in.

Cecil pleaded with the mannequin, which tried with all of its strength to tell the Paladin what he needed to hear. Finally, with its last ounce of strength, it managed to whisper the words :

'Kefka's tower', before its body finally gave in, disappearing sadly, and slowly into nothingness, leaving Cecil stunned and rooted to the spot.

He knew where she was. Kefka's tower, which was not a great distance away. He got up to run, but was stopped by Golbez and the Warrior of Light, who looked at him ominously. Why would they not let him save her?

'You cannot go alone Cecil.'

'Why not? I have to save her!'

'I know Cecil. I want to save her too…'

'Then, let me go! Please brother…'

'If you go in there now, there is a chance you could be killed. That will only make things worse…'

Cecil knew his brother spoke the truth. Rushing there with his guard down and his heart filled with hatred would jeopardise everything. Everything they had fought for thus far. Everything they had yet to fight for. His very future with Kathryn would be at stake.

He looked at the Warrior of Light, who smiled at him kindly, regretting how he had previously regarded the girl. She was braver than she appeared, and as a fellow Cosmos warrior, it was in his best interest to help her and Cecil out, in their time of need.

'You won't have to go alone Cecil, for I will come with you. This Kefka has to be stopped. They all have to be stopped…'

'I too, will aid you brother. I owe you this. I will join Cosmos' fight. I am done with Chaos and his tiresome plans.'

Cecil promptly thanked Golbez and the Warrior of Light. His heart seemed to burst with pride for his brother. Finally, they would be able to fight together at long last. It seemed some good had come out of the current situation.

He was further surprised and uplifted when an all too familiar voice sounded from behind him ;

'We too, will help. Kathryn is our friend, and this is what friends do.'

Cecil turned around to see the faces of his fellow warriors, whom he had been separated from for longer than he would have liked. He smiled at Firion who took lead of the group, and even smiled at Jecht, who he knew must have been Tidus' father ; the resemblance was uncanny. Jecht caught Golbez's eye, and winked at the almighty dark knight who chuckled from under his helmet.

'Everyone, thank you. Your strength will see me through this, I have no doubt about that. But we cannot waste anymore time.'

Everyone nodded at the kindly paladin, who hastily turned to walk away, Golbez at his side.

'Yeah! Time to kick some creepy clown ass!', Jecht yelled, as everyone followed Cecil's vigilant stride towards Kefka's tower.

Kefka would start to regret ever messing with the Cosmos warriors, especially when Cecil got his hands on him. Nothing could stop the gentle Paladin now he knew where Kathryn was. Nothing would get in his way this time...

The shining Goddess sat on her magnificent marble plinth. Her heart was riddled with sorrow and guilt. Kathryn had been captured by someone so evil, so virulent, it was going to be a mighty struggle on her to survive. She sighed wearily as she looked over the watery landscape, watching the sun's light catch on the various ripples on the water's surface. Next to her, a little Tarutaru mage sat. Her name was Shantotto, a dark mage from the land of Windurst in Vana'diel standing only a mere couple of feet from the ground. She sensed the kindly Goddess' sadness, and caught hold of her hand. Even though her own hand was tiny, she kept a steadfast hold, and smiled up at the Goddess.

'Do not fear my shining Goddess, you know in yourself this is only a test. We have yet to see the girls interior power. Oh yes. That girl has much magical prowess. Not that she knows it yet, but very soon, we will see, just how potent her powers will be…'

The Goddess smiled downwards at her tiny, yet extremely wise counterpart.

'I only hope you are right Shantotto…'