There's really only one character that can be used as a secondary villain for II. Only one.

I don't to hear as much of an utterance of the name "Borghen". Clear?

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

He had disappeared when they were running from the Imperials, and now, finding him was her only goal.

She already had Firion and Guy with her, and the only other surviving member of her family was missing. Every time she thought about it, she could only imagine her biological brother suffering in an Imperial dungeon, the thought is what steeled her for the struggle.

Maria was one of the most prominent archers in the Wild Rose Resistance, and had assisted in a fair amount of charges into enemy territory. Though, always alongside her half-brother Firion, and childhood friend, Guy. Every time a battle occurred, she wished for the chance that she might find Leon captive, and in turn she could free him.

Yet, as the war progressed, her hope began to wane. She searched in every battle, but never found Leon, she had little reason to believe that he'd be kept in one of the higher-security prisons, unless he had proven difficult to contain.

He had trained in swordplay extensively, the possibility that he was being locked away in a more secure prison for that reason was the sole flicker of hope she had. Yet even now, it was fading.

Still, looking for her brother wasn't what she was doing at this precise moment. This place was an Imperial stronghold, that much was true, but she had no recollection of entering it, and she never struck off on her own.

She walked by a window and peered out, hoping to get an understanding of where she was. Instead, she cringed at the sight of a swirling wall of wind just outside. She pulled back from the window and snapped around, releasing a gasp at that discovery.

One possibility that came to her was that she had been kidnapped, though she had never been aware of a Palamecian Dungeon of this design. The long drop could do good at preventing escapes… perhaps it was a dungeon.

The swirling wind, the long drop, yes, it would be an effective dungeon. Escape might be impossible.

Her eyes widened with a sudden realization, a hope that Leon might be here, she turned to leave the room she was in, only to discover a man blocking her path.

This man had very… characteristic blonde hair, and on his back was an exceptionally large sword. Her first thought was that the man was dungeon personal, she jumped back and brought her bow to the front, an arrow already on the string.

"Who are you?" It was a rhetorical question, seeing as she was certain that he was Palamecian. Or was she? Among Palamecians, she had never seen one with the physical characteristics of this man. The Palamecians had a distinct physique and facial structure, and this man seemed to betray all that. He was either a hired mercenary, or…

"Cloud Strife." The man, Cloud, took a few steps forward. "I came to get you out of here."

"What?" Maria lowered her bow, the possibility of the man being an ally struck her, and then she raised her bow again. "Who sent you? The Empire? Or the Wild Rose Rebellion?"

Wild Rose Rebellion? Cloud's mind flashed to his times with Firion in the last conflict, and the Wild Rose that represented his dream.

"A man named Firion sent me, while he's busy with other duties." Cloud half-lied, while it was true that Firion was bust with other duties, it was Cosmos that had sent him, not Firion.

"So… Hilda hired you to help us fight the Empire?" Maria remained slightly skeptical, even as she pulled the arrow out of her bow. Cloud, on the other hand, was confused over the identity of "Hilda", but dissuaded his thoughts.

"There's a lot you need to hear, you should come with me." Cloud extended a hand to Maria, but she only backed away.

She wanted to think about this just a bit longer. This man didn't seem hostile, but his claim of knowing Firion wasn't particularly noteworthy, everyone seemed to know him, her, and Guy. Yet, somehow, she couldn't see the man as lying about this either.

With a fair bit of caution, she began to walk forward to grab the outstretched hand.

My son…

Leon, covered in the armor of the Imperial Dark Knight, walked slowly through Pandemonium. A cape coming off of his shoulders, and his head obscured by the cruel visage of his helm.

When you were born, I knew that a man of virtue had entered this world.

Leon reached down to his left hip, the fingers of his right hand twisting around the hilt of his sword. Slowly, he pulled his Imperial sword from its holster.

Leon, I watched with pride in my heart as you grew into a servant of righteousness.

Leon pointed his sword forward, allowing the light to gleam off of it for one brief moment.

You always put Firion and Maria before yourself, and I have no doubt that in the life you lead, such selfless decisions will continue to guide you.

Pulling the blade back, Leon wrapped the fingers of his left hand firmly around the hilt.

Always remember, Leon, a protector's greatest desire is not fame, not fortune, not power, it is peace.

Leon suddenly raised his sword up in the air and swung it back down. The blade struck the crystal-like ground of Pandemonium, shattering the area in front of him like glass.

"Father…" Leon put his sword back in its holster, then brought both his arms up to lift his helm up off his head. "The lessons that you've taught me, I've learned were never true."

With his helm carried in his left hand, he balled the right one into a fist. "When the ones I had protected for so long betrayed and abandoned me to the Imperial knights, I realized something…" Leon uncurled the fist and swung the arm across his field of vision and back to his side. "We're all in this alone, and the survivors are the ones who can take care of themselves, the ones who know how to use and then discard others."

"Power!" The sudden yell was followed by Leon putting the Dark Knight helm back on his head. "That's all I will ever need, the power to control everything."

"I see you have not let go of your delusions." A familiar voice sounded from behind Leon. He wouldn't have turned around for anyone else, but for the time, he had to be loyal to this man. Leon about-faced and knelt down to Emperor Mateus.

"You have not forgotten the truth I illustrated for you." Mateus smirked as he beheld the Dark Knight in front of him. Leon's greed, his lust for power was like an aura that Mateus could feel. Leon was a avarice driven animal, but at the same time, a very predictable one, provided he was not allowed undue contact with those who he believed had betrayed him.

"A new conflict for you to take part in has arisen, come Leon." Mateus turned around, signaling for Leon to rise back to his feet. The dark knight paced behind Mateus as they left the area.

"Oh, one more thing, Leon." Mateus looked over his shoulder as he walked, "You are the Dark Knight, do not tell anyone you meet that your name is Leon."

The dark knight merely nodded, he had spent more then enough time in the Palamecian system to know better then to ask questions about Mateus' orders.

Pinning Leon's personality isn't exactly easy. Mostly because of the sheer lack of diologue in II. (Hilda was the only character who could be considered particuarly "chatty" in that game) I have to base him almost entirely on the scene where he loses the throne to the returning Emperor. In which case, I'll write him as completely power-obsessed.

Oh yes, and I'm leaving him in his full Dark Knight gear. There'll be a reason for this.

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