I blinked slowly several times. Had I heard Shelke right? Maybe the oxygen had been deprived from my brain too long and I was hearing things. I caught sight of Shelke's gaze through my own, hazing vision. The intent of destruction twinkled in her ethereal eyes.

As my vision completely blackened, I only registered Vincent stepping between us, Shelke's hands dropping as she moved away.

Then, my eyes rolled back and I went crashing down into Vincent's chest.

~~FFIX~ Destined to Die~~

There was endless clambering echoing about in the realm of sound. I had the urge to gag as soon as I took a deep breath. I sat up, eyes opening wearily, found a bucket next to me and did so. After discharging the sickness, the nausea vanished with ease. A light weight pulled my head down, but I no longer felt the acid from my stomach churning.

A wet cloth was pressed to my mouth and I cracked my eyes open once more, seeing blurs of red and black. Taking the cloth, I cleaned up a little and a brown cup was handed to me.

Looking at the dark liquid swirling. Inside caused me to raise an eyebrow. Vincent had his eyes shut as if he was meditating. Sighing, I ingested the questionable concoction. It had a bitter-sweet taste, but burned uncomfortably down my throat.

I decided to glance about the room as it seemed Vincent wasn't in the mood to talk. The clambering had been Shelke moving some chairs and heaps of junk out of the way. We were in, what seemed, a small cottage built out of orange rocks.

"I apologize for before," she said softly, looking to me as she paused in her task. The solemn-faced girl walked over, kneeling beside the small cot I was seated upon. "however, I would like to know what happened. Your eyes are naturally brown, but they are as blue as the noontime sky."

I stared, confused. "Pardon?"

She let out a small sigh and dug about in a pile of collected clutter, finding a reflective surface. She waited as she sat down with it, the mirror turned away from me, clutched to her chest. "Just look," she requested, handing it to me face-down.

Shelke was letting me have time to prepare. Kind, patient Shelke. She was always like this. I supposed that leading a life under the control of someone else gave her a certain sympathy to not push others into an uncomfortable task. Even when I had tired through our journey together, she and Vincent had allowed me time to recuperate and heal.

Reflecting back, I remembered we were making our path to Oelivert. An enemy had cornered us, blocking our path with its horrific strength. However, it was nothing compared to what we would face afterward. During the battle, I had taken a nasty fall from trying to dodge the beast. I tripped backward over my rod, having dropped it and landed headfirst to the ground.

I felt just as sick as I had the moments ago when I awoke. During that time, Shelke gave me her support, letting me climb atop her back as she carried me part of the way. I was surprised at her super-human strength. A child managed to carry me part-way across the desert whilst Vincent kept fiends from the mist at bay. She really did have a good heart. A protective friend.

I held the mirror shakily. My hands slowly turned it over and my eyes gazed down into the endless portal, catching sight of two cerulean orbs staring right back at me. On impulse, I dropped the mirror, gasping in surprise before covering my eyes with my palms. I rubbed them for a moment, pulling my hands away. Slowly, I picked up the mirror and examined my eyes once more, squinting one of them shut to open it slowly.

My heart quickened at the sight and I pressed my hand beneath my eye, staring in awe. "H-how can this be?"

Shelke placed a light hand on my shoulder, coaxing me to look up. "Are you alright?" she asked sincerely. I half-expected her to ask for an explanation, but I supposed she knew I was too baffled at the moment to think of one.

"Y-yes," I stammered. My mind was filling with exclamations and endless, pressing questions.

Her hand squeezed my shoulder lightly. "You don't know, do you?" She was referring to how I got it. I numbly shook my head and she nodded hers. "I see. Dropping her eyes pensively, she removed her hand, placing it on her lap.

I poured through my memories, drawing out specific events since we'd been separated. I stopped when I came to the event in which I was attacked by Chandersin's servant. That strange world of dimensional form, crossing between the center of the universe and the place of splitting time. I still remembered my mother's voice. All those poured out secrets. And then…

"Blue light…" I muttered.

"What?" Shelke inquired. Vincent opened his eyes, glancing over.

It was then that I contemplated telling them. Would I relay all my secrets, my worries-I glanced to Vincent- my guilt? Chandersin was alive, quite possibly following my trail. Could I allow them this knowledge and quite possibly put them in danger? I shuddered, tasting the phantom poison that dispelled from my system.

The blue light. Energy. Life. Power. I suddenly felt like a water faucet of the endless flow. Sole survivor of my race. A Terran half-breed. There was more than half the possibility that I would still be hunted by Chandersin. And if someone honing mal-intent learned about my lineage, things might get knotty.

"Terra?" Vincent spoke, eyeing me with a hint of suspicion. I met his crimson gaze. He continued, "Don't feel obligated to tell us. However, if you choose not to, you can't wear that hurt expression. It'll only cause us to worry more."

"Right," I sighed with a nod. A moment of silence passed. I added, "I believe… I hold a power… that even I have trouble controlling."

Shelke's eyes narrowed in thought. "What? Like a trance?"

"Sort of. But… when the power surges through, my control switches to an audience perspective. Like watching a play, feeling like you're part of it, but the words you want a character to say, or the thing you want to happen, you can't do a thing about. It's almost like I'm living in my subconscious.

"Hmm…" I looked over to Vincent. He had closed his eyes again.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's just a curious predicament," he stated. I cocked my head to the side, wondering if he would continue, which he did. "Trance is induced by a surge of powerful emotion. However, you're from Terra, the planet. Perhaps their trance is harder to control."

"I'm not sure. I don't know of any other Terran besides me," I answered. "Well… there is… Kuja…" his name slipped through my lips with a small bit of trouble. I had to force the syllables out. I knew both of them could see the effort. I slowly added, "But… apparently…" I shook my head, "Never mind…"

"Terra, you can tell us," Shelke insisted.

"I can't."

"He's dead, isn't he?" Vincent asked. The surprise caught me off guard and I looked over. He scoffed. "It's not the first time I've seen someone else lose someone precious. And it's not like you're alone in losing someone." He stood, leaving through an open door frame to outside. The sky was darkening. I watched him, still not understanding everything, but knowing what he meant. I was acting a little selfish…

I looked to Shelke who was looking down at her hands. "He has moved on, but those kinds of scars aren't quick to heal, even after many years…" she stated.

"I suppose I understand a little," I said.

"In any case, the specimen is just beyond this village," Shelke said, looking up to me.

"Ah…" I said, perking up a little. "Hey, there aren't any of those dwarves around," I said, confused.

"We're not in Conde Petie anymore," Shelke answered. "This is the Summoners' Village: Madain Sari."

"Oh?" I said, misunderstanding. "Where are all the summoners?"

She smiled, looking down. "One of them is your Queen… the other is the Regent of Lindblum's daughter," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "The others?"

"That is unknown. They just vanished," she said.

"How sad…" I said, leaning back.

Shelke nodded. "Some villages are just unlucky." I didn't say anything to that. Madain Sari… it was gone… Burmecia… Cleyra… and Alexandria. Our civilization was crumbling and I was searching for the culprit. I felt like some kind of criminal accomplice. No, he was dead… maybe I needed to realize that. "I'll… go there tomorrow… alone," I stated.

"Why?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you insist on going alone?" she pressed.

"Why not?"

"Terra… I've a feeling that is unwise."

"Why?"

"You're being chased by something. If you go alone, he could get a hold of you."

"I can fight."

"You can struggle… but you can't beat something that powerful."

"How would you know?"

"You may be able to get a few good hits, but you were still captured."

"I escaped."

"…That you did… but how much luck was involved?"

"None. It was my…" I paused. "I managed to fight him off." I kept myself from revealing too much. The blue light alone was far more than I should have said.

She gave me an inquisitive gaze, but I looked away, saying nothing more on that. Closing my eyes, I said, "I order you not to follow me."

"Sorry?"

"You will not follow me tomorrow."

"My objective, Terra Evans, is to ensure your safe passage wherever you choose to go."

"Your objective has just changed," I stated, laying on my side as if to say the conversation was over.

I heard her sigh. She hesitated and said, "As you wish." I heard her leave the cottage as well, heading the same way Vincent had.

Making sure she wouldn't return, I waited half an hour, laying awake. My eyes were closed, but my mind was active, thinking things over. Curling up, I drew the blanket around me, shaking as I wept. The real weight was pressing down upon me as I thought of him. He was dead. The words ran through my mind and I conjured images of his body mangled and bleeding. Those beautiful eyes losing their life like a flickering flame.

My senses quickened and thoughts warped into more dreams. He was shaking with strain, eyes filled with anguish. His arm reaching out toward me, lips moving to unheard syllables. I didn't need to hear to understand. He was calling my name; pleading for me. His eyes widened and he let out a dying gasp. Something sharp and strong had pushed through his chest from behind. A large, thorn-like dagger piercing through and still moving, stealing the light from his eyes. I watched in horror, counting the seconds until his arm dropped to his side, unmoving. His gaze was blank, full of shock and pleading. Blood ran across his face from his hair. I could see more thorn-like daggers approaching him from all around. They all drew back, ready to fire into his cold, dead flesh.

I tried to move, wanting to jump in their path and save his already deceased body from anymore mutiny. They lunged forward and I screamed, the world going black.

I was sitting up, gasping and panting for air. My body was shaking, I was covered in sweat and I felt like gagging again. I reached around, finding my jacket in the darkness which was alighting with first light. The sun was peering ever so slightly over the horizon. I knelt, staring outside through a small, dusty window. Pulling my jacket about me, I left the cottage, finding the quaint village in complete peace.

I explored a little, making my way toward the city's entrance. A sign pointed toward Conde Petie whilst the other to the mountain path. I tried the mountain path, carrying a pack of supplies and food. A tent was always useful as well.

The path took around half an hour to navigate through. I walked slowly, doing a little self-talk along the way. Anything to calm my mind felt good. The walk was calming in itself. I had the silence to think. My lone footsteps gave me comfort, but my heart beat unsteadily in anxious unease. I felt sick to my stomach again. My childish instincts wanted me to turn back. I would have done so had I not pushed myself through this trial. I needed to know. Vincent was right: I had to stop running.

I climbed over the last hill, looking out over a barren desert and, quite possibly, the largest tree I had ever seen. I was glancing toward the height of the sky even while standing on the precipice. My heart raced and I felt a gravitational pull toward the tree; nearly like the pull on my body I felt while induced in trance. I walked forward, moving at a moderately faster pace than before. I had the urge to run toward the 'specimen', but my fear did well to bridle that urge.

My heart raced faster, having reached the root's margin. I stared up at the monstrous sight, feeling a particular pulse of life. It was a near strange experience, as if I was sensing my own life and the palpitation of the tree's in a realm similar to that of where the blue light slept.

I approached the roots of the tree, climbing slowly at first. Panic filled me and I climbed faster, cutting up my palms and slipping here and there. My legs and arms gathering scratches along the way. I managed to reach the base and it was sealed shut; all openings closed. Floods of energy were swirling within, entering and exiting. My mind was edging in and out with each palpitation. I froze and shuddered along with each movement. I was going to go mad within moments!

My mind wanted to block the signals, but I forced my will to stay. I had to overcome this panic. Kuja was in danger. He was alive! He needed me now and I wasn't inclined to let that chance slip away. I pounded on the trunk of the tree, wanting to break through.

The ground rumbled beneath me and I fell against the wood barrier. Pushing up, I heard creaking and moaning. A shadow rose behind me and I turned in time to avoid becoming a shish kabob as a vine dove through where I was previously standing.

Alarm flooded through me and I realized that the creaking and moaning didn't stop there. The ground was rumbling even more now and I noticed that countless vines were rising up like large snakes. I felt the air leave my lungs and I pressed myself against the tree's trunk, wincing, ready to become a permanent fixture in this sculpted nightmare.

Something unexpected happened. My eyes opened and I gazed out toward the elemental assailants. Cautiously, I stepped forward. To be honest, I probably would have wet myself if my mind hadn't taken that comfortable backseat. The vines shook violently before shooting out toward me. Inches from my face, it bounced away, a vibration of blue shimmered where it had been deflected. More of the vines had risen to attack and they all bounced off, laying motionless and turning the color of ash. The vines died and I stood there, as if challenging anything else to strike.

To my amazement, I stood there even after the power suppressed itself within. My heart remained quickened and I gripped it, letting out a sharp breath as if I had just taken my very first.. I blinked, letting the fear settle. I had nothing to fear, but I could not allow this power to take over every time I became afraid or wanted to avoid what came at me. I needed to drive this power; not let it drive me.

The ground continued to rumble threateningly and I froze, waiting for another attack. When none came, I continued to tread carefully over the broken roots that were strewn about. I walked around the tree, following the path upwards. Layers of tree vines were wrapped along the trunk, trailing upward and puncturing through from all sides, almost like the tree was a giant mince.

Unlike the vines that nearly skewered me, the ones slicing into the tree were a dark gray, almost ash colored, whereas the ones that almost did me in were a vibrant green; filled with life. This phenomena caused me to wonder why there was such a strong pulse of life vibrating from something dead. Perhaps the power was something only to be seen on the inside.

Abandoning my previous engagement of circling the structure,. I made my way about, searching for some kind of threshold that would allow me entry within the dying specimen. I spotted something like an entrance near the top, however, I could never reach it from where I stood: the task would quite possibly cost me my neck. Something I was adamant to keep.

There were no ruts to climb, sans the deadened vines layering one over the other. I took hold of one of them, my hand cupping over it like a rod. I cautiously placed my foot on a comfortable groove that I could reach and pushed myself up. I slipped only a little and climbed back down. My gaze panned upward. At the sight of the distance, I trembled. The opening was, at least, two hundred feet from where I stood. Was there no other way inside? I sighed, pressing my forehead against the deadened bark. The pulsing of energy continued. In and out; the tree was breathing.

Even through my panic, I felt undeniably calm. Closing my eyes, I let out the breath I had been holding. Instincts told me he was there. I wanted to go inside, but maybe the want wasn't sufficient enough. I'd come so close, yet I felt I could not continue. My objective left undone. Disappointment ran deep, burning from the inside and then on out. I felt pathetic, trying to keep the pain inside, but it was pressing out of the dam I had built around it. My resolve was crumbling, dragging my strength down with it.

Tears once again clouded my vision and I hated it. I wanted to stop, but part of me needed to let out those tears. I'd done too much weeping. More than was necessary. There was a chance! I felt it and knew it was true, but I could do nothing! I slammed my fist against the tree's wall, cursing. Why was I so weak? Why couldn't I overcome this. Isn't love stronger than anything? Can't it be strong enough to break down any barrier, tread through any obstacle and guide over any forest? Why wasn't the agony in my heart strong enough? Was I to become like one of the tragic heroines in my favorite books?

I gripped at the wall, sliding down the side as I fell to my knees, lost on how to continue. He had to be dead. This was all just a pile of false hope that had been building inside over the years. I had to discard that pile, and quickly.

I blinked, my eyes hazing, fatigue mixing with my tears. I wiped them with the back of my hand, sniveling and clenching my fists. Acting like this angered me. I was crying when I should be doing something. I felt frustrated and it bugged me! I felt a small pulling at the back of my mind, ushering me to calm down. Letting out a sigh, I obeyed, moving to stand. I turned without opening my eyes. I should have walked away sooner, but there was something within that was finally satisfied, no matter how much I truly hurt on the inside. There was a small, indescribable something that was soothed. I knew now at least… and now it was time to move on. It would be a slow, sorrowful process. I couldn't just up and forget one day, but I had to move on; he would want that… He would. He gave up a majority of everything he had just to secure the fact that I might be happy one day. I was alive; he'd relinquished his threat and had returned me to my family.

He was gone. And I regretted so much. I regretted leaving that night from Treno. I regretted letting him go. I wanted to punch myself in the face each time I thought about it. How badly I screwed up in allowing that chance to pass by. But no matter how much my regrets grew, I knew nothing would change it. Water may build and build just to cover the land, but no matter how much it does build, it can never swallow it because of the process in which science works. It was just impossible.

Only through a miracle could something finished go back and change. Or perhaps something in the current timeframe could be altered, but there was nothing. I was a tragic heroine and the only one that really knew right now was me and I wasn't even a heroine. I was a little girl, deeply in love with someone whom I had let go. Time had been kind temporarily, but there was only so much leniency in the realm of life to allow such a stretch.

The fact that I wasn't the only one left alone gave me a small bit of comfort. There were others like me. No matter how much harassment draws my life into chaos, I too am the same as everyone else. I go through things; painful things and so too does everyone around me. It was a strange comfort. Maybe I had the capacity to lead people similar to me to that comfort as well. I forced a smile, but it didn't quite fit. Smiling at a grave made me feel malevolent. Immediately, the smile vanished and I hardened my features, taking a step away from the tree trunk. It was then that I felt like I had lost my footing and then suddenly fell through a weightless portal. My mind and body felt so terribly light that I felt euphoria dance about in my chest. I partly wondered if I was passing out.

My sight then flashed before settling. I found that another layer of vision overlapped my own before everything went white, blindingly so. I moved my arms to block my vision and the white light calmed. Cautiously, I moved my arms away. I took a step back, a figure appearing before me. Her hair seemed to be woven from smooth, golden thread and her eyes were a lovely hue of azure. She wore a gown of white that reflected like diamonds when she moved. A golden crown sat glistening upon her head as wavy hair cascaded about her shoulders. Her skin was unblemished, seemingly soft and her rosy lips were set in a smile.

My mouth moved before I recognized what I was saying, "Cosmos…" Knowledge and warmth filled my mind. I stood before the goddess who watched over Gaia. Her majestic presence caused me to bow my head to her. I felt so embarrassed for not doing so before.

She took two brisk steps forward, hands resting gracefully before her. "Terra Evans…" she began. "Lift your head." Her voice was a mixture of a chime, the soft movement of water and the grace of wind. I obediently lifted my head, allowing my gaze to meet hers. She smiled to me and said solemnly, "You've come seeking one whose fate is sealed." Her words echoed in the space that we stood. "Yet you've faced many of your own trials and tests, you can only think of those around you. An admirable quality. Your heart is blazon with light. If there be anything you desire, I would surely grant it… however, there is a cost to all things," she said.

I looked down, hesitating. What did I want? Was there anything left to choose even? I licked my lips and said, "If at all possible… I want to give him a second chance."

"You're quick to decide. Is that your true wish?" she inquired.

"You're asking a child; I know only selfishness," I half-laughed. My laugh was anxious, worried.

She smiled and shook her head, hair bouncing gracefully as if moving with unfelt wind. "A child has many forms of charity."

"I'm exempt…"

"No… Terra Evans is not selfish." When she spoke my name in a sentence, it was as if she was writing it clearer. Julian sometimes did the same to convey a message more powerfully. Instead of using the noun 'you', it held more weight. 'You' could be used on anyone. But names… they held worth; tangible meaning.

"What makes you say that?" I asked, feeling the urge to cry again. Not tears of sadness, but not joy. Relief probably? Perhaps the fact that I might truly have someone watching over. I averted my gaze, staring down and catching the shimmering of her gown from my peripheral vision.

"Nothing makes me say it. I speak the truth. I know you value truth in its pure, vigorous state. Truth is hard to find… and you've been searching for quite a while. A young warrior of light you're becoming. You want a miracle… you want to be with him again, don't you?"

I closed my eyes, allowing a drop of the want to stream down my cheek. I shook my head, wanting to clear the emotion away. I wanted to be strong. But how could such a complicated problem have such a simple answer such as this? I furrowed my eyebrows a little, clenching my fist as my resolve broke a little more. "I do… but… it's impossible to bring the dead back, isn't it?"

She smiled and I stopped crying abruptly. "It would take a miracle… if he really was."

"What?" my eyes widened a fraction.

"One chance… Time is limited, but not impossibly so." She began to fade into sparks of golden light.

"Wait! What am I supposed to-!?"

"Terra… don't think of the consequences… focus on that unselfish desire…" Her voice was still surrounding me, but she was gone. The tree eased back into view and I stared up, my hopes lifted once more.

I wanted to focus on my desire, but what could I do? I'd been asking that ever since I reached this place. I clutched my hand over my heart, shutting my eyes tightly. I wanted to scream. This occurrence only caused me to worry a lot more. I turned back to the tree, staring up. My eyes watered as everything phased back slowly. I reached out, hand brushing the surface. My hands warmed with the energy and I sighed, letting myself calm. I felt a slow rhythm palpitating. And then, a song filled the air, soft and mellow, like the hum of a violin. My body then moved on its own. My feet took a step back from the tree and my arms spread to my side. I felt my head lean back slowly, my eyes opening just barely. Things were split into a different dimensional view. I could see everything; the particles and breakdown of the molecular world around me.

The tree opened up to me, parting vividly like opening a pair of double doors. My conscious moved forward, floating through the tree itself. It was a literal out-of-body experience. I could see from my body and also from ahead, like holding a mirror behind me that reflected myself walking forward whilst I saw the view from where I stood. My eyes felt they were moving at an immense speed, piercing through the solid wall before me.

Time slowed to near nothingness and things seemed to be frozen. Perhaps the mind didn't go by time. Maybe the conscious state got in the way to make us believe that time was important to the accessing of the inner mind. However, I found my time was limitless. I could inspect and analyze the crystalline atomic particles for what seemed to be hours and nothing changed.

Digging farther through the branches, I found two bodies huddled together, though they were surrounded by a curious beam of light. Perspectives changed and I was looking down at them. My breath caught, or it would have if I had been restricted by the barriers of time. Kuja! He was there! The boy, Kuja's brother, held onto him, arms drawn about him as if he had been protecting him. I could see residue of vines scattered about the small chamber, just enough for the two to settle. It was like they were both surrounded by a shell.

My ethereal hands reached out to stroke Kuja's face and I felt his smooth skin beneath my hand. I smiled down to him and then knelt beside his brother, smiling to him as well. I could feel their energy pulsating. The tree was deadened on the outside because its life was being fed into my beloved and his brother whom had protected him.

Suddenly, my understanding kicked in. I knew what I had to do and I'd no idea how much it would take. My hands outstretched before me as my conscious was back where it belonged. I blinked, focusing as I closed my eyes. My mind found the room of universe and time splitting and I walked within the chamber flowing to the brim with blue light. I stared at the source in wonder. Such a simple thing, but so very controversial. I forced the energy to gather together, seeing some of it solidify before me. My mind was engaged in the task and I wondered how much this would hurt physically. To have an immense amount of energy shoot out would obviously injure me.

The value of a life though, was far worth the price of a few dislocations and gashes. I was pulled from the room and my body jerked as the light went forth, sinking through the tree as it was locked on the two occupants. The power blew a hole through the tree, searing it into tiny wood chips. I let out a yell of agony, my arms and heart burning like ignited sulfur. I closed my eyes, forcing the energy out and locking the destination as my body was tempted to give up after the first two seconds of channeling the energy through. Moments passed utterly slow and then the energy was spent. I had no more reserves left for the time being. I was hoping that whatever I had done, had been the right thing. My body collapsed and my eyes returned to the normal view from before. I got a glimpse of what was around me and then blinked slowly. I hadn't fallen to the ground. Instead something had caught me.

Squinting my eyes, I realized I was staring up into two amber irises. Neither of which looked happy to see me…