Lost in his own thoughts, Zett stared blankly at the small pond in front of him as he leaned his back carefully against a willow tree. With a calm breeze blowing its dull, green foliage, he breathed out a sigh of relief in being hidden away from others, even if it was only for a moment.

"What are you doing?" called a voice from behind.

With a hint of agitation, he replied "Do you really care, Zaram?"

"Don't think I'll allow you to-"

"I'm not leaving." Zett interrupted, stepping out of the tree's shade "I promised Arya didn't I?"

"Then why are you here?" Akira asked.

"I don't know." he sighed "Just thinking I guess."

"About what?" he questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.

With a look of annoyance he turned back toward the willow tree, calling "You sure are annoying today, Zaram." as he entered into its shade.

"I'm only doing this for Arya's sake." he demanded, following the emperor as he brushed past the drooping branches.

"Then shouldn't you be more concerned of getting rid of me?" remarked Zett, turning to face Akira.

"I would if I could." he replied seriously "But the empress has taken an interest in proving that there's good in you, so I can't."

"Then she's wasting her time. She's a fool for thinking that there's anything remotely good about me."

Grabbing him by the collar, Akira growled "What did you call her?"

"What's the matter?" he challenged, pushing his arm away "You should know more than anybody what I'm like, so why'd you save me? You, her, and everyone else are fools for believing that I was ever worth saving."

"Let's get one thing straight, I didn't save you. Arya did." Akira hissed "You should be grateful that she even took the slightest bit of pity on you."

"I never wanted pity!" spat Zett, pushing him to the ground "Did you actually think for a moment that I wanted to live?!"

Immediately, both of them went silent as they just stared at each other, breathing heavily as they took in each other's words.

"Well it's too late now." Akira grunted as he picked himself up "As long as you're alive, the empress won't stop worrying about you."

"Do I look like I want to be a part of her pity project?"

"Look, she didn't do this for herself!" he shouted "She did this for you! She risked her own life for you. If you can't understand this then return to her the Heaven's Stone."

As if on cue, a small pulse began to throb gently against Zett's chest.

Lightly grasping the object around his neck, the emperor lifted it up to see the stone's dark, oval shape. Running his thumb on its smooth surface he asked softly "What is this?"

"It's the thing that kept you alive."

Looking back up, Zett saw that Akira's eyes were also drawn to the object in his hand, but with more caution in his gaze.

"That stone you're holding is Arya's." he spoke slowly and quietly "Right after she saved you, she collapsed and was unconscious for hours. It could've been from exhaustion or shock that day, but the stone... is important to her wellbeing somehow."

Glaring back at the emperor, he continued "So if you dare betray her kindness in anyway, don't think I'll even consider for a moment to forgive you."

Arya... collapsed after saving me? Zett thought, too distracted to have heard any part of Akira's threat. Why?

"Everyone is worth saving. Even you." her voice echoed inside his mind.

Clutching the stone tightly, Zett quickly pushed past Akira as he began to make his way back to the Rainbow Line.

"Where are you going?" he called from behind.

"Where else?" he retorted as he kept going, never looking back.

Attention Shadow Line, an unverified train has infiltrated Castle Terminal.

"What? Impossible!" cried Baron Nero and Mork in unison.

Just about ready to alert the guards, a voice spoke joyfully "Oh, but it is possible."

"Noire!" Nero exclaimed, turning around to the sound of her approaching heels "Why are you here?"

"Why you ask? Well now that the emperor has been eliminated, there is no stopping us from stealing back what was rightfully ours!"

"Us?" questioned Mork.

Suddenly, she froze as she felt the sharp blade of a sword rest just centimeters away from her back.

"Yes us." growled a deep voice.

"Schwarz!" threatened Nero as pointed the tip of his cane at the intruder "If you so as try to steal Castle Terminal, then you will have to go through me."

"Gladly." the general responded, directing his blade toward him.

"Enough, Nero!" shouted Mork "Let them be."

"What?" he gasped, lowering his cane.

"We are clearly outnumbered." she replied curtly, her eyes glaring coldly at Noire.

"My, what sharp eyes you have." she mused, gesturing for the camouflaged Shadows surrounding them to reveal themselves.

"H-how is this possible?" stuttered Nero, gazing wildly at the amount Shadows in the room.

"Noire!" called Mork "Spare our lives, and we'll let you be."

"W-what?!" cried Nero.

Chuckling, she replied "So be it, but you will have to confine to our rules and live as servants."

"Never!"

"Nero!" demanded Mork, fastening an icy glare at him "Have you forgotten what I said earlier?" she hissed.

Remembering clearly, he took one last begrudged look at the marchioness before submitting to the traitors.

"Guards, chain them!" Noire ordered.

Not daring to move, Mork and Nero allowed themselves to be forced onto their knees as their arms were chained to their sides.

"Trust me, Nero." Mork whispered under her breath "Our humiliation will mean nothing once his majesty returns."

However, Nero was far too agitated to be comforted by her words. It took every bit of willpower to suppress the shrill laughter of Noire that drilled into his ears.

I will obey for now. But when his majesty does return, I will see to it that I watch every last second of your torture.