They ran up and saw a closer look at the ruined palace; the door was impassable and the giant statues were all broken in some way, rubble lay everywhere.

"Geez, this is terrible..." Zidane said as they surveyed the place, "Freya, I'm sorry, but from the looks of this, I don't think the king made it," Freya knelt on the ground with her head hung low.

Night. What do we do here? Defeat, convince, or lose to Beatrix?

Whatever we can do.

A-alright... She thought nervously.

Everything's going to be fine.

... Can you lose to her? She asked suddenly.

What?

Is it even possible for you to lose to her?

Technically, right now, yes. He said. That made her shiver, But I'll protect you no matter what.

"Vivi, let's go see what's over there," Zidane said. As they both walked away Freya got up startled and jumped to the top of the large statue. "Freya!"

"There's someone inside the palace! What are you waiting for? Get up here," she said running in.

"You make it sound so easy… I guess I'll start here," He said jumping onto the lowest point of the statue. "Come on."

"Uh... Okay," Vivi said jumping onto the statue's foot but falling on his face.

"Oh man. I'm gonna go on ahead. Lailah can you fly them up? I'll meet you up top."

He nodded and grabbed Vivi and Tessa and flew to the top dropping them off before Zidane even got started. Zidane jumped to meet them as he flew back down for Quina. "Me don't like heights." She said backing away.

"It's alright, I'll soothe you. You won't even notice... Tessa doesn't like them either."

"Um, um, okay..."

He grabbed her and lifted her to the top of the statue just as Zidane reached it. He heaved a little, "You're pretty quick."

He laughed "What did you expect?"

"Eh, dunno. Not really used to this," Zidane admitted.

"Let's go. I don't like it out here," Tessa said. They all took her advice, Lailah led the kids inside.

They all ran behind a line of statues when they reached a gap Zidane asked quietly, "Who is that?" They all surrounded the gap spying on the queen and a brown haired woman.

"Beatrix, Alexandria's general," Tessa said.

"That's Beatrix?" Freya asked. "The cold-blooded knight who knows no mercy."

"That's a rumor. She just blindly follows her orders, unless her conscious steps in," Tessa said.

Freya forced a laugh "That one's hard to believe," She then was lost in her memories. Tessa pat her back and smiled.

"Are you alright?" Zidane asked.

"Yes. I was just thinking... About the past..."

"... You still can't get over him, huh?"

"Why should she? True love and all that," Tessa forced a smile, her voice cracking as memories flooded over her and tears slipped down her face.

"... Tess..." Freya looked at her concerned. Tessa shook and bit her lip to quiet her tears, Lailah held her close, shushing her as he pet her hair.

"Who is that?" Zidane asked again as a silver haired young man in a long flowing robe cut in certain angles approached the two women. Everyone focused their attention to the newcomer except Tessa who clung to Lailah and buried her head in his chest.

"I find this rain quite pleasant... It feels as though the raindrops are blessing our victory..." He said.

"This is a great victory for us. Kuja, your black mages made this conquest so simple," The queen said. "My only concern now is finding the King of Burmecia. We must take care of him once and for all, and prevent these rats from ever rising up again," she turned to her general "Beatrix, what's taking so long!?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty. I've ordered Zorn and Thorn to search the perimeter, but there's been no word so far."

... Why did he have to go...? Why...!? It's all my fault...!

Shh... Hey, you're not to blame at all.

But I...!

No...

But!

"Shh..." He soothed her, eventually her sobs subsided and she fell asleep quietly.

"I will join them and lead the search right away," Beatrix said.

"Who're Zorn and Thorn?" Vivi asked.

"They're the clowns from before; Zorn is the red one who speaks backwards, Thorn is the blue one who speaks somewhat normally," Lailah explained softly.

"You're wasting your time," Kuja said.

"What?"

"Rats often look for new homes when they sense an earthquake. They probably moved to the sandy tree house by now... So, you see, it's too late. The King has already turned tail and fled."

"Sandy tree house... Surely, you don't mean Cleyra!? It'll be quite difficult if they escaped to Cleyra," The queen said

"Cleyra..." Beatrix said, "Unless we can get through that sandstorm, it will be impossible to attack them."

"Sneaky, little rats!" Brahne said, "Kuja, what do you think? Surely, with your powers, there must be something you can do," Brahne said.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I will present you a marvelous display of my power. I am certain that you will be most pleased," He said bowing to her, then he turned to the general "I was wondering if you would gather your troops near Cleyra. I'm certain those filthy rats will retaliate in full force, and my black mages may not be enough."

"Sounds like we got trouble," Zidane said.

"That sinister man... Who is he?" Freya asked.

"Beats me... I've never seen him before," He said.

"Well, it sounds like they're going to Cleyra. I've always wondered why people call it the 'City of Illusion'," Zidane said.

"I don't know, either. Cleyra has remained in isolation for a hundred years," Freya said, "If my people escaped to there, they'll be safe, at least for a while."

"What's this place like?" Zidane asked.

"The people of Cleyra are originally from Burmecia. Long ago, they severed ties with Burmecia over a trivial conflict. Now the kingdom is at peace, shielded by a large sandstorm."

A Burmecian soldier ran up to attack the three Alexandrians, Beatrix ran to defend her queen, while Kuja just sauntered out of the way. "Look, there's someone else coming!" Zidane shouted, startling Tessa awake. "Geez, he's gonna get killed!"

"What is he thinking!?"

"Daddy...?" Tessa asked sleepily.

"You stay here okay?"

"Alright..." She said exhausted looking for a place to lay down, "But, shouldn't I help?"

"No. Stay right here. I'll come back for you."

"O-okay..."

Lailah set her down and pet her hair before following the team. "Ha ha ha. I've never been so humiliated in my life," Beatrix laughed. "I once killed a hundred knights single-handed... To me, you six are nothing more than insects."

Tessa watched the fight nervously, feeling as if she should help, but also terrified and exhausted.

Beatrix launched at Zidane who slid by and swiped a chain plate.

Freya went into a trance and jumped high into the air, where she sent volleys of spears towards Beatrix.

Zidane stole a phoenix down after a volley, while Vivi cast slow onto her before hitting her with Thundara.

While she was distracted Quina cast Mighty Guard onto her allies.

Zidane sped up to her and stole a mythril sword while Lailah slashed at her torso piercing her armor and leaving a trail of blood.

She winced and slashed his left shoulder, releasing large amounts of blood, he didn't falter but instead counterattacked with Blizzaga, throwing her back by the force of the spell.

Tessa watched the Generals attacks trying to calculate what they were between game stats and what she'd already seen from the battle at hand. Stock break... Climhazzard... her mind trudged sluggishly, she growled frustrated as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She opened them to see Beatrix stun Vivi, making the battle schematics in her head snap to attention as her adrenaline and heart rate shot up.

She wasn't sure why or how but her body moved on its own, in a split second she realized she was shielding Vivi with Beatrix bearing down on her.

She braced for impact as Beatrix used Shock, sending her to the ground. She clutched her stomach and cried out in pain, as the world started fading.

She knew the general stood over her, ready to end her, Tessa closed her eyes shut and breathed in deeply fearing death ... I'm so sorry…

She vaguely heard Lailah shout "Mili!" he flashed to her in an instant from the other side of the battle, blocking Beatrix's blow with his sword making a resounding clang that echoed throughout the room.

Beatrix faltered back "... How did you...!?"

"Don't mess with my daughter!" He growled casting Blizzaga and sending her flying backwards where she skidded on the ground.

He knelt to Tessa and healed her quickly, as her eyes cleared and the pain eased, she saw him shake uncontrollably with tears. When he was sure she was healed he held her close, "Don't ever do that again! Don't ever, ever do that!"

"I-I'm sorry -I..."

"Shh... Everything's going to be okay..."

"You're no match for me!" Beatrix shouted using Stock Break. They all slumped to the ground. "Ignorant fools," She flopped her hair. "How ridiculously weak. Isn't there anyone who is worthy of facing me?"

"Come, Beatrix. We must prepare to attack Cleyra," The Queen said.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she saluted.

As the queen and the general walked off, Kuja said "Now, what do we have here...? Another filthy rat, and... Hmm... This boy could become a problem... But you..." As they lay with the rain pouring down Kuja grinned over them wickedly. He flipped his hair and turned to walk away, stepping onto his silver dragon and flying into the sky.