Act Twenty-One: The Lunarians

"You wish to see the master?" The dwarf asked confusedly. "You were here before, right? He's not taking any more visitors."

"We have what he is looking for," Cecil said, holding out the Adamantite. "He'll get out of bed for this, right?"

They had arrived at Kokkol's Smithy, but were having some difficulties actually making it inside.

"I don't know…" the dwarf sighed. "He got really angry at me the last time I let someone in. They didn't have the real ore and he really let me have it. I couldn't sit for a week." Cecil cringed.

"If this isn't Adamantite, we'll take the beatings for you," Edge offered. "Promise." Rydia and Rosa blanched. He was speaking for himself, right?

"Eh…well, that should be OK," the dwarf shrugged, and opened the door. "Take the stairs, his bedroom is the entire second floor."

The workshop on the ground floor looked empty and lonely. There were several stone fireplaces of varying sizes, but they weren't lit, and the tools that were used inside them were bundled neatly in baskets and covered in dust. The iron-lined counters were wiped clean and spotless, and a counter that must have acted as a store front in a former life had a torn-down price list and a giant "Closed" sign nailed to it. The wooden floors creaked as they crossed them to reach the staircase in the northern corner.

On the second floor, they encountered a cozy bedroom filled with stuffed bookcases and worn, faded throw rugs to combat the freezing cold of the stone floor beneath. None of the lanterns were lit, but the blazing magma outside that surrounded the house lit up the room enough through the small windows. Curled up in a bed in the far corner of the room was a figure wrapped in blue robes with a yellow turban upon his head. Pointed ears stuck out from underneath the turban, and he had the traditional dwarven beard, but it was snow-white and cut off at his chest. His skin was much paler than a typical dwarf's, and Cecil had to wonder if he was at least part human. His eyes were closed, but he had twitched slightly when they entered the room, so Cecil suspected he wasn't sleeping.

"Kokkol?" Cecil asked. "Can we talk to you for a moment?"

"My smithing days are done," Kokkol replied in a near-whisper. "What good would it do for me to forge another sword with what this world has become? I cannot find the legendary Adamantite, and without it I can do no greater work. You will have to go elsewhere. And on your way out, tell my lousy assistant to lash himself. I haven't the energy."

Cecil walked over to the bed and pulled out the Adamantite, dropping it next to him without a word. The others stayed behind, quietly observing. Kokkol was silent for a moment, but rustled under the covers to take hold of the ore. He suddenly bolted up in bed, his gray-yellow eyes alit with excitement.

"This…this is Adamantite, if age has not robbed me of my wits!"

"It is," said Cecil. "Harvested from the overworld."

Kokkol turned the ore over and over in his hands, his lips quivering. "I…I cannot believe it. And for the world to be in such a state that we can now access the overworld…what is happening?" He looked up and down at Cecil, and his gaze zeroed in at the scabbard at Cecil's waist.

"Allow me to re-forge that old sword of yours, as a token of my most heartfelt appreciation."

"This?" Cecil asked. He withdrew the blade of legend he had gotten from Mount Ordeals. Kokkol nodded and took it from him, looking it over and running his finger over the edge of the blade.

"Yes, yes…this will do perfectly. A fine blade on its own, but I will make a thousand times finer. I should be done in a few hours."

"A few hours?" Cecil looked back at the others.

"Should be enough time to visit Yang!" Rydia said.

"This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Edge said. "You gotta let him do it."

"It's OK, Cecil!" Rosa smiled. "We can get by without your sword for a few hours." Cecil turned back to Kokkol.

"It's all yours," Cecil said. "Thank you."

"You won't be disappointed!" Kokkol exclaimed, and leapt out of bed. "Oh, I haven't felt this alive in years…" He fled out of the bedroom and pounded down the stairs. They could hear the assistant's cry of surprise from below.

"Master…what are you…Oh!"

"I'm still not sure about this," Cecil said.

He was standing at the base of the broken ladder in the Sylph Cavern. He had jumped down first, and was waiting for Rosa to come down next. She scooted to the ledge, and jumped, closing her eyes. Cecil caught her in his outstretched arms, and she looked up at him with a look that could melt snow.

"Whew…thanks," she sighed. "I can't get used to that." Cecil was tempted to wrap a lock of her silky hair around his finger, but he remembered Rydia and Edge were just above him, and decided against it, quickly setting her down. Rosa gave him an odd look as he moved back into position for Rydia.

"Well...I do agree with you," Rosa added, brushing off her clothes. "I'm not sure about this either."

"It will be fine!" Rydia called from above. A few seconds later, she too was in Cecil's arms. Cecil set her down, and she flounced over to Rosa.

"Yang's wife said it was the only thing that could wake him up. Who are we to doubt her?"

"I don't think she exactly understood the situation," Cecil said dryly. "And if you haven't noticed…she is a little extreme in her actions."

Edge jumped down and landed with a loud thump. "It would be shameful of us to not even try. Would you rather go back to her and tell her we were too cowardly to follow her instructions, or tell her that we tried but accidentally killed her husband? I know which one I'd pick." He patted his hip, where he had hung Sheila's frying pan.

Cecil crossed his arms over his chest. He prayed that Yang would be awake by the time they got to the Sylphs' house so that they didn't need to debate it any longer.

At the house, Edge took the liberty of pushing through the door without knocking, the result of which was a loud, piercing scream that erupted from inside.

"Oh dear…" Rosa looked up at Cecil. "I hope we don't get in a fight."

"I knew I shouldn't have left my sword!" Cecil groaned.

"Get out!" A sylph shouted. When Cecil walked in, he could see one of the sylphs tugging on Edge's cowl and shrieking her head off. The other two were flying down the stairs, waving their hands and making a beeline for him. Rydia had taken the opportunity in the chaos to sneak over to Yang's bed. But even from the entryway, Cecil and Rosa could see that Yang was still in a coma. He hadn't moved an inch since the commotion began.

"What are you doing here?" The second sylph said, getting right up into Cecil's face. "We told you to never come back!"

"Wait!" Rosa cried, and cried out in annoyance as the third sylph started pulling on her hair. "We have a message from Yang's wife!"

"You do?" The first sylph asked suspiciously.

"Er…yes," Cecil began. "She…"

"Time to wake up, darling!" Edge sang in a falsetto, and lifted the pan in the air.

"Noooooo!" The sylphs cried in unison. Cecil cringed and closed his eyes, and Rosa buried her face into his chest. Rydia ducked at the foot of the bed.

"WHACK!"

"Clang!"

"Ugh…"

When Cecil opened his eyes, he saw that the sylphs had piled onto Edge, beating him with their tiny fists and causing him to drop the frying pan. Yang was still in bed, a red welt on the side of his head. Rydia had stood back up, her eyes wide. "Edge!"

"Ack, get off me!" Edge groaned. "Ladies, there is enough to go around!"

"Not for long!" one of the sylphs hissed.

"Please!" Rosa cried. "Everyone calm down!"

"Uhhh…is it time for training already? Just let me sleep a little longer…"

Everyone stopped shouting and turned toward the bed.

Yang's eyes had opened, and he was sitting up, rubbing his head. As his vision focused, he looked around and was shocked to see Rydia, Cecil, Rosa, a stranger, and three very angry fairies staring at him. "What's this…Cecil?"

"Yang!" Cecil shook his head. "You're…"

"Oh I'm so happy you're awake!" Rydia cried, throwing herself on the bed and wrapping her arms around him. Yang hugged her tightly, patting her back.

"I would not even be alive had these kind sylphs not rescued me," Yang said. One of the sylphs attacking Edge made an "hmmmph!" noise, and kicked him in the head. Rosa stepped forward, sniffling.

"Yang…it was thanks to you that those terrible cannons were destroyed. You did it…you saved the dwarves!"

"And now I can come with you again!" Yang replied. He started to stand up, but staggered a bit, and quickly sat back down on the bed.

"Oh no, you mustn't!" Another sylph said, abandoning Edge and fluttering over to Yang. "As you can see, you still need care and rest!" Yang shook his head.

"I cannot simply sleep the hours away while the fate of the world hangs in the balance!" He tried standing again, and groaned, holding onto the bedpost to keep himself up. Edge approached him and patted his arm. Yang winced at even that.

"The wounded have no place on the battlefield."

"And who might you be?"

"I'm Edge, of Eblan – your superior replacement!"

Yang raised his eyebrows. "Of Eblan, you say? A ninja, then…But I still must go as well!" Edge crossed his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes. This guy could barely stand!

"No no no!" The sylphs cried. The one closest to Yang gently pushed him back down onto the bed. "That will not do at all. If you must fight, let us go in your stead!"

"Hmmm?" Yang blinked.

"This young one is a summoner…that much is plain to see," the sylph squeaked. "So let HER call on us to fight…whenever there's a need."

"Yang can rest here and won't need to fight!" Another sylph said, nodding. "An acceptable arrangement, yes?"

"You'll let me summon you?" Rydia asked. "Thank you!"

Yang sighed and shook his head. He could see that he was the one being irrational. "Then I will continue to rest…My pardons. I suppose there is little I could do to help you now, weakened like this."

"Yang…" Cecil bowed. "Thank you for everything. We'll ensure that your sacrifices are not in vain." Another person suffering, because of me! He added bitterly, but only in his thoughts.

"I know you will," Yang said, bowing back as low as his back would let him, which wasn't very deep. "And it seems that you continue to find strong, valiant friends to aid you. I have no doubt of your success." Edge puffed out his chest and winked.

"Please feel better soon, Yang," Rosa said. "Your wife misses you."

"Ah, and I her!" Yang smiled tiredly. "If you see her again, please tell her I'll be home soon."

"Alright, everyone," one of the sylphs shook her head. "I must insist that we've had quite enough excitement for the day. I'm sure you remember your way out?"

"This is only good-bye for now," Yang yawned as he crawled back under the blankets. "But…I must confess…it feels good to sleep in…"

Edge landed the Enterprise next to Kokkol's Smithy, and began to lower the ramp to exit.

"I'll be right back," said Cecil. "He should be finished by now."

"Are you sure you don't want company?" Rosa asked, smiling. But Cecil didn't reply. He merely waved his dissent, and disappeared. Edge, who was about to follow him, paused and took a step backwards, whistling casually.

Rosa and Rydia watched Cecil descend down the ramp and walk into the smithy, not looking back at them once.

"I wish Yang had come with us…" Rydia trailed off. "I'm grateful that the Sylphs granted me their power, but…"

"I know dear," Rosa said. "But he wouldn't have been happy not being able to do his best."

"What…what's the big deal?" Edge asked, feeling insulted. "I mean, Fabul's monks are amazing warriors, but…you've got me!"

Rydia huffed and whirled around, glaring daggers at Edge. "Yang is the exact opposite of everything you are. That's the main appeal." Edge's jaw dropped and he huffed back in a mimic, turning toward the steering wheel and pretending Rydia no longer existed. Rosa laughed nervously.

"That was a little harsh…"

"I'm sorry," Rydia sighed, and leaned in to whisper. "Ever since Kain left…things have been bad, haven't they? We're all tightly wound – waiting for something horrible to happen – and Cecil hasn't been this moody since before he became a paladin. Has he told you that anything has been going on?"

"Not really," Rosa replied, looking away. Rydia didn't realize it, but she was touching on a sore subject. Rosa had tried to give Cecil his space these past few days, but he still seemed like he was on another planet. "He's going through a lot right now…I can tell he's taking the loss of the crystal like a personal failure. He's lost his best friend…again. I'm sure seeing His Highness last night was very painful, as well. Cecil told you he was orphaned…right?"

Rydia nodded.

"King Baron raised Cecil like his own son – they had their differences, especially after he pushed Cecil so hard to master the dark sword…but Cecil still loved him like a father. The king and Kain were the only family Cecil has ever known. To lose both of them in such a short time…" Rosa looked down.

"I…I pushed him to go to the cellar…" Rydia shook her head. "I was just so curious…I didn't realize it was going to be so awful. Queen Asura had said the spirit was benevolent, so I thought it was going to be a good thing. Do you think he's mad at me?"

"Oh no dear, of course not!" Rosa placed her hands on Rydia's shoulders. "I know he's not. Cecil just…shuts himself off sometimes. He wants to keep his suffering to himself and try to be strong for others. Becoming a paladin didn't change that. I'm not defending it, but…that's just how he's always been." She blinked, and was surprised to feel a tear fall down her cheek. "Kain would know what to do."

"Oh…" Rydia felt really terrible now. She pulled Rosa close and dug her fingers into her back. "I'm sorry...sometimes I forget…he was your best friend too."

Edge was suspicious at the sudden silence, wondering if the girls had abandoned ship out of spite. He turned, but when he saw them embracing, heard the quiet sobs emitting from Rosa and saw the distraught look on Rydia's face, he felt his heart drop into his stomach. He just knew it had something to do with that backstabbing bastard.

If I ever see you again, Kain…you will pay for what you did to us.

"My boy! It is done!"

Kokkol appeared from the back of the workshop, covered in the aforementioned soot and grinning wildly. In his arms, he was carrying a blade, hidden by the sumptuous red silk it was wrapped in. He pushed the silk away to reveal the hilt, which was cast in radiant platinum that curled into the blade like waves cresting in a restless sea – a glimmering diamond set in the pommel. Cecil took the hilt in his hand, and Kokkol pulled away the remainder of the silk. A blade that had the appearance of glass danced in the light of the raging fireplaces behind them; The core of the blade was the shimmering Adamantite ore, the starlight-like spray of crystals emerging from the center of the blade and fanning out into the ombre gradient that ran from pale pearl to the crystalline finish at the edges. As Cecil tilted the blade away from him, he could see the Mysidian legend etched in the crystal, reflecting in the light.

"This is…incredible," Cecil inhaled. "It feels so familiar, yet…there is a power I had never sensed in the sword of legend."

"It is now the hallowed blade, Excalibur!" Kokkol said proudly. "I pray it will serve you well."

"It suits you, Lord Cecil," the assistant said, shaking his head. "Truly, Master Kokkol has outdone himself. That is a sword worthy of kings."

"Thank you…sincerely," Cecil said, sheathing the blade and extending his hand. "I'll treasure it for the remainder of my days."

"And may they be many," Kokkol said, shaking his hand vigorously. He clapped his hands together. "Come, apprentice! We have a lot of work to do if we are to stock the shop again!"

The young dwarf widened his eyes. "A-A-Apprentice?! You mean…"

"Yes, yes, my boy! Assistant you are no longer…the help you provided in crafting Excalibur has more than promoted you in my eyes! You are ready to start making weapons of your own."

"Oh sir, thank you so much!"

Cecil cracked a small smile, and left them to have their moment, closing the door of the smithy behind him. He couldn't believe his good fortune – and could only hope that it lasted a little while longer. He would have to thank Rosa for pushing him to go.

"Cecil, did you get it?!" Rosa waved at him from the Enterprise. Cecil raised a hand in response and climbed back aboard. He was met by Rosa and Rydia, who both looked a little flushed, and Edge stayed in his position at the wheel, stone-faced.

"Is everything OK?" Cecil asked, looking between all of them. "I didn't mean to take so long."

"Yes, it's just…so hot down here," Rosa smiled, making a show of fanning herself.

"Do we get to see it, or what?" Rydia made a teasing grab for Cecil's waist.

"All right!" Cecil smiled, and was about to grab the hilt, when a thundering crash echoed in the far horizon. Cecil paused mid-movement and Edge twisted around. On the periphery of his vision, Cecil saw a flash of lightning reflecting off of the canyon walls near the entrance to the surface. He swore that he could hear wind howling all the way from where they were standing.

"Did anyone…just see that?" Edge asked quietly. Cecil nodded.

"It…it wasn't supposed to storm today, was it?" Rydia asked.

"No…the skies were crystal-clear when we left!" Rosa bit her lip. "And we weren't gone that long…"

"We have to get to Mysidia," Cecil frowned. "I have a really bad feeling."

No one argued. Edge fired up the Enterprise, and headed for the path to the overworld straightaway. Cecil made his way to the bow of the ship and clutched the rails, the wind whipping through his hair as Edge pushed the Enterprise as hard as she could handle. Rosa and Rydia joined Cecil, staring up as the entrance to the surface got larger and larger. The sky had turned a violent purple, with clouds that were so swollen they seemed to brush the tops of remaining Agart Mountains. When they burst through the passageway, another massive roll of thunder ripped through the sky, and a strike of lightning crashed in the east – directly over Mysidia.

A powerful gust of wind blew through, nearly knocking Rydia over. Cecil and Rosa both grabbed her, looking up at each other as their hands touched.

"You two need to go in the hold," Cecil said firmly.

"No!" Rosa cried. "What if you need help?" Cecil was about to argue, but Edge interrupted by cursing loudly.

"I could use some help! Things are getting a little unwieldy!" His feet were sliding on the deck as he tried to keep the wheel steady and fight the wind. Cecil ran to Edge's side, gripping the wheel with him and trying to get them back on track. As the ship began to right itself, the clouds opened up and rain began to pour down.

By the time the Enterprise touched down in Mysidia, everyone was soaked to the bone and disoriented from the gales. The streets of the town were abandoned since everyone had run inside to seek shelter from the storm, and they were already starting to flood from the rain that was now blowing sideways. Cecil could hear splashing from ahead. A brief break in the intensity of the rain revealed the Elder, his beard and robes whipping around him like a self-contained maelstrom.

"Cecil," the Elder shouted. "I have been waiting for you! I was about to send a messenger…Come, we must go to the Tower of Prayer!"

"Elder, what is all of this?" Cecil shouted back. "Is it Golbez, or…"

But the Elder had already turned and was retreating back toward the tower. Cecil and the others had no choice but to follow. At the entrance to the tower, the Elder shoved open the ancient double doors, and a mage waiting a few steps away hurried to close them after everyone was inside. Cecil could hear voices drifting down the stairs before them mingling with the sound of their dripping clothes on the floor, hushed voices chanting the Mysidian Legend.

"Birthed from the womb of a dragon's maw

And borne unto the stars

By the light and darkness cast aloft

Are dreamtide oaths resworn."

The Elder led them up the stairs into the spire of the tower, where at least a dozen mages of all classes – black, white and apprentice – were on their knees, hands clasped. Above them, a glimmering crystal ceiling revealed the stormy sky above the spire, blurred by the rain that had splattered upon it. Some of the mages' mouths were moving silently, others were repeating the Mysidian Legend out loud, all had their eyes closed and looked as if they hadn't slept in days by the looks of the shadows above their cheeks. The Elder turned to Cecil and the others.

"There is no other time but now…pray with us. Pray with all your heart! Prophecy must be made reality!"

"I…I…" Cecil stammered. What was he to pray for?

Rosa grabbed his hand in and looked up at him with her wide, hopeful brown eyes – eyes that had never led him amiss. Rydia had taken Rosa's hand, and Edge had taken Rydia's.

"Pray for what's in your heart, Cecil," Rosa whispered. "Pray for a miracle…it doesn't matter what form it takes!"

Cecil closed his eyes, and although he wasn't sure if he was actually praying the way the Elder intended – he listened to Rosa and tried to visualize in his mind's eye everything he had been trying to fight for. He saw Prince Edward, sitting upon a restored Damcyan's throne, his face the color of health once more and the light returned to his eyes. Palom and Porom were practicing their magic in the classrooms downstairs, Palom pulling pranks and poor Porom having to clean up the mess. Yang was back in Fabul, training a new generation of monks and returning home to his family at the end of another long, but peaceful day. Cid would be back in the shipyard in Baron, working for days at a time until Amelia had to physically drag him home.

Edge sat upon the throne of Eblan as the newest king, surrounded by newly rebuilt walls and all of his favorite things – women, dirty magazines and his people. He saw Rydia back in Mist, sitting next to the pond where he first met her, teaching the survivors of the fire everything she had learned about their people in the Feymarch. Rosa was waving at him from the steps of Baron Castle, her hair pulled up in cascading ringlets and wearing a white dress that sinuously enveloped her body. And leaning against the brick wall behind her was Kain, wearing his trademark half-smile and giving Cecil a discreet nod of approval, his long, blonde ponytail slung over his shoulder.

There was a booming crash above them, and Cecil opened his eyes just in time to see the clouds above the crystal roof split apart and reveal a massive black hole. A blade of white, opalescent light discharged from the hole and crashed down beyond their view, followed by a deafening roar. Cecil could swear that from very far away, he heard someone calling his name, and everything around him went white.

"Cecil…"

"What was that?!" Rydia cried.

"I'm going to see!" said Edge, and disappeared down the stairs before anyone could stop him.

"Edge, wait!" Rydia gasped, and followed.

"Cecil…"

"Cecil, we have to go!" Rosa tugged on his hand. "They could be in danger!" Cecil broke from his trance and nodded, barely hearing her. Who was trying to call out to him?

Cecil and Rosa burst out of the tower, emerging back into the storm and covering their faces with their arms as they tried to catch up with Rydia and Edge. Ahead, beyond the town gates, they could see the white light from the sky pouring into the ocean and disappearing beneath the waves, which were churning furiously. Just as they reached Rydia and Edge, who had stopped at the shore, a dark mass emerged from the ocean, tossing the waves out so vigorously that the four of them were drenched with one hit.

The clouds above them cleared away, and the sky began to gradually darken from the bruised purple it had been to a dusty twilight. The rain stopped as suddenly as it had begun, and the mass that had emerged from the ocean could be more clearly seen in the burgeoning moonlight.

It was a mammoth airship, colored deep ebony and had curves reminiscent of a blue whale. Where the ventral pleats were on a whale's stomach, the airship had silver tubes that ran up the underside of the hull and merged into numerous jets that extended out to the rear. Glowing red light strips ran vertically down each side, and set between each strip was a length of black reflective glass. Two rear wings, shaped like a whale's flukes, emerged from a tower stacked on the rear.

"Behold, my children! She has heard our prayers!"

Cecil and the others turned to see the Elder, who had silently followed them outside. His arms were raised in the air, reaching toward the ship, and tears were on the rims of his eyes. "She is risen! The promised Ship of Light – The Lunar Whale!"

"The…Lunar Whale…" Cecil returned his attention to the ship, which was now lowering itself into the ocean, right off the shore. He felt a tight, hot feeling in his chest, like someone was taking his heart and clenching it between their fingers. There was something about the ship that was so achingly familiar, but in a painful way. And in the silence, he could hear it now, clear as a bell – someone was calling his name. They weren't on the ship though – it was still very far away.

"Do you hear it, Cecil?" The Elder asked. Cecil gasped and looked to him. The Elder smiled slightly and continued. "A voice spoke to me in the midst of our prayers. "Go to the moon," it said. "He awaits you there.""

"I hear the voice too," Cecil said. "But…to the moon? How?"

"The Lunar Whale is a ship from the moon," the Elder explained. "According to the writings I've discovered, there should be a teleportation crystal on board in addition to the crystals that serve to power its flight. That crystal controls travel between here and the moon. Speak to it, and it will transport you between the two faster than you can even blink."

"…What?!" Edge cried. "You mean…" He pointed to the sky stupidly.

"The very same," the Elder replied. "It is a compassionate voice. I have no reason to believe they will hurt you."

"How does the voice know Cecil…?" Rosa looked to the ship anxiously. Rydia was silent. Her hands were rested at her temples, and her mouth twisted in thought.

"I see…" Cecil nodded. "We will search for the voice then." He had to understand what was going on – and if he had to leave the planet to find out – then so be it!

"Then the Lunar Whale is yours to control," the Elder said, blowing so low that his beard brushed the ground. "I wish you the best of luck – I pray you will find what you need on the moon to end Golbez's tyranny once and for all."

"This is…incredible," Cecil breathed.

"How can something like this exist?" Rydia gasped. "This is…way beyond an airship."

Edge was practically drooling over all of the pillars and consoles, encased in glass and lit up in glowing greens, blues and yellows. He was darting back and forth, touching everything and making tons of noise as he barreled about. The floor and walls were made out of titanium alloy, with glowing blue arrows lighting up as feet crossed over the tiles to guide the way in case of a blackout. From what they had explored so far, the party could see the ship had at least three different levels. There was a massive hold that ran along the underside of the ship, where crates were stacked to the ceilings filled with food and goods long-forgotten. The first level above the keep contained the ship's navigation system, including the crystal of flight that the Elder had told them about. The navigation crystal was floating on a raised platform accessible by a short flight of stairs, a golden shade and the size of a small child.

The top level appeared to be a commons area and a bunker. Soft, silicone, gel-filled sacks were arranged hastily in a circle of six, and the push of a button on the wall would make miniature tables fold out of the walls for meals. Tall glass and gold-plated pods were fastened to the walls as well, resembling futuristic coffins, their use not yet determined. Beyond the commons, six small rooms were accessible via sliding vertical metal doors; similar to what could be found in the Towers of Zot and Babil. Each room was starkly furnished – A double bed on a plain titanium frame with white sheets and a pair of pillows, and a mirror hanging over a vessel for water. A glowing blue light plate was set by the door, which would flood the room with frosted blue lights when touched, or red lights if the ship was undergoing an emergency.

"This all came from the moon…?" Rosa was wide-eyed as she descended from the common area. "Who…who built this?"

"Maybe the person who has a direct line to Cecil's head?" Edge asked.

Cecil watched his reflection in the crystal of flight. "The voice kept calling my name. But…it wasn't the same voice as the one I heard at Mount Ordeals. It didn't make me feel…sad, when I heard it."

He clenched the railing and looked down at the floor. The pain he had felt looking at the ship while on the beach had intensified twofold upon stepping inside. The best way he could describe it was like the feeling he got when he went on his first traveling mission in military school without Kain, and was desperately homesick.

"Cecil?" Rosa was tilted sideways, trying to peer up at him. He shook his head and took a deep breath, forcing a smile. He had to be strong for Rosa…and for the others. But especially Rosa. That's what his dreams were warning him of, right?

"Crystal of Flight…awaken."

"Good evening…" The crystal chirped in neutral, robotic voice. "…Cecil Harvey. Rosa Farrell. Rydia of Mist. Edward Geraldine."

"Wait, WHAT!?" Rydia turned to Edge and burst out laughing. "Your name is Edward!?" Edge turned red and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What of it? Edge is a nickname, you know? Get it – EDward GEraldine?"

"We know two Prince Edwards?" Rosa blinked. "This could get confusing."

"Who is the other Prince Edward you know?" Edge demanded.

"Well, Prince Edward's real name is Gilbert…" Rydia trailed off.

"That…lay about, from Damcyan?" Edge barked a laugh. "Well, regardless of what he's been calling himself, I was born first, you know – I'm two years older, so I get to decide who goes by what name! And correction – you only know one Prince Edward, and one soon-to-be KING Edge. So a little respect, please!"

"Awaiting your command," the crystal said patiently. Cecil raised his voice, trying to drown out the arguing behind him.

"Please…take us to the moon!"

"We will arrive in one minute."

"One minute?" Edge pushed his way over to the crystal. "That's impossible! I know the Elder said it would be in the blink of an eye, but…"

They heard the whirl of engines firing, and the sudden jerk of the ship lifting itself from the ocean. Edge and Cecil grabbed onto the railing, and Rosa and Rydia grabbed onto the nearest object – each other. The Lunar Whale began its ascent into the sky, drifting higher and higher with its rear engines burning as the Mysidian Village shrunk below them, turning into a speck of light on the continent. In a flash of radiance and flames, the ship suddenly tore into the atmosphere of space, the blue planet behind it the size of a child's marble as the Lunar Whale approached the red moon.

When Cecil opened the door to step outside, he had to pause for a moment to take their new scenery in.

The most striking thing was the complete and utter silence that surrounded them. There was no wind, no birds, no tree branches rustling, and no water breaking against the shores.

The skies above were black, with the brightest stars Cecil had ever seen sparkling in gold, purple and red. In the distance, their home planet shined like a polished cerulean pearl. The ground was comprised of silvery dust and craters of all sizes – some as small as a street puddle and others as large as the Lunar Whale herself. Strips of crags jutted in multiple directions, and sloping gray bluffs rose into the horizon.

It was also very cold. Particularly when you were soaking wet from your home planet's sudden deluge.

"Brrrr…" Rosa shivered, wrapping her cape around her tighter. "Where are we supposed to go?"

Her voice was crisp and clear in the emptiness with nothing for it to echo off of.

"Let's climb one of these bluffs and see if we can get a better view," Cecil said, shivering as well. "The sooner we get inside somewhere, the better…"

The bluff a few yards away had a path upward that looked forgiving enough to hike upon. As Cecil reached the top, he could see that as far as elevation was concerned, the bluffs were high as you were going to get. But now that they had a slightly better view, in the far distance, Cecil could see something of interest.

It appeared to be the only structure on the entire surface – a resplendent crystal palace that was comprised of a blue-white marble with six towers that looked similar to the observatory in Agart – tall with crystal-domed ceilings. Emerging from the center of the towers and of the main building were hundreds of translucent crystals, some of them the size of entire buildings back on their planet, and others layered over each other as they sprouted off into their own growths. Despite there being no viable light source of the moon, the crystals glowed brightly, reflecting the pool of stars above them.

"Cecil…"

Cecil raised his hand to his temple – now he could not only hear the voice, but could feel it reverberating in his head. "The voice…it's definitely coming from there," he said, pointing toward the palace.

Rydia was gazing in the opposite direction, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something. Edge waved his hand in front of her face, but her eyes didn't even flicker.

"Rydia!" He barked, and she jumped, kicking up some moon dust.

"I…" She shook her head. "I thought I heard something."

"The same voice as Cecil…?" Rosa blinked.

"No, no," Rydia closed her eyes. "I thought it was…an Eidolon."

"Eidolons on the moon…" Cecil looked back toward the crystal palace. "…What is this place?"

The path to the crystal palace was not direct. Since it was closed off by both jagged crags and bluffs, the only way they could find to get through was under – through a series of tunnels that had been dug out under the bluffs. By whom the tunnels had been dug was not evident – weather it was by man or beast.

"It's quiet…unsettlingly so," Rosa said, cautiously reaching for her bow as they crossed through the first stretch of tunnels. It was too dark to see, and Rydia had lit a Fire spell cupped in her palms to guide them.

"Kory – that astronomer from Agart – said the moon was teeming with life," Cecil said, "And that's why it had been turning red. But I haven't seen a breath of life anywhere."

"If anything is here…it's probably feeling us out right now," Edge said softly. "We've probably been the first fresh meat this place has seen in a long time – we're getting sized up."

"D…Don't say that…" Rosa swallowed a lump in her throat. "The creatures that could survive in an environment like this have got to be…awful."

They emerged from the tunnel, and found themselves back on the surface of the moon, almost completely surrounded by bluffs this time. It made their pathway to the next tunnel direct, but the feeling of being out in the open after Edge's comment made everyone increasingly nervous. Rydia nearly lit Rosa on fire when Edge accidentally stepped on one of her sleeves.

As Cecil plunged into the next tunnel, he felt his heart begin to progressively pound harder in his chest. He wasn't afraid, he didn't think – the darkness was something he was used to as a former dark knight, and with Excalibur, he had no concerns about slaying anything that might get in their way. It was more like his heart was anticipating something that his mind didn't know existed yet. But he knew, somehow that this was going to be the last tunnel before the palace.

He confessed quietly: "I feel like…I've been here before."

Rydia and Edge quietly exchanged confused looks. Rosa silently slipped her hand through Cecil's, squeezing. He squeezed back, and felt his heart calm down marginally.

After they emerged from the tunnel, Cecil saw his instincts were right – they were steps away from the opulent French doors of the palace entrance. Without hesitation, Cecil pushed the doors open, and they gave away silently, revealing a dazzling foyer. Everything within was made of crystal – the floors, which reflected the rainbow of lights reflecting from the hand-cut crystal chandeliers above, each more decadent and layered than the next as they stretched across the vaulted ceilings; the walls, which revealed the moonscape and the darkness of the sky outside; and sculpted pillars that ran the lengths of the palace.

As they stepped gingerly forward, their footsteps echoed out like music notes, and their reflections could be seen all around them – the four of them filled the entire chamber.

There was a crystal dais ahead in the dead rear center of the entryway – it was twice the size of any of the daises on their planet, with an open pit in the center that was illuminated so brightly that you couldn't tell where the bottom was. But unusually enough, the crystal was absent.

"Does the moon have a crystal too?" Cecil asked out loud. As he stepped toward the dais to investigate, a glimmer of light emitted from the pit of the dais, gathering into a shape of a human. When the light disappeared, before them sat a floating, ancient man, with receding silken silver hair that flowed down to his waist, and a matching beard and mustache that were so long, it nearly concealed the bottom half of his face. His eyebrows were unruly and climbed off the top of his head, going in every which direction like they were trying to escape. Patient blue eyes stared at Cecil, which unnervingly made him feel like he was staring at an older reflection of himself.

The man wore a simple, long-sleeved shift that was colored lavender at the chest and faded into an ombre of white and corn silk blue. The sleeves flowed as he floated in place, revealing a slip of slender, fine-lined white fingers, with nails filed to points.

"At last…you've arrived!" He smiled, although you could only tell because his mustache had lifted slightly.

Cecil lowered his guard, relaxing his stance just slightly. This was the voice who had been calling him, there could be no doubt. "Who are you?"

"I am Fusoya, and I am charged with watching over the slumber of the Lunarians."

"Lunarians?" Rosa asked, her voice cracking from nerves.

Fusoya nodded. "Yes...we, the people of the moon."

Cecil, Rosa, Rydia and Edge were taken aback.

"People live here?" Edge crossed his arms over his chest. "But it's so…quiet. We haven't seen a single soul except you."

Fusoya folded his hands. "I will explain, of course. Long ago, the world that lay between the Red Planet and the Great Behemoth stood at the verge of destruction, both terrible and complete. The Great Behemoth wanted nothing more than to consume the world for his own – and he succeeded. The last survivors of that devastation boarded a ship and escaped to the Blue Planet."

"Blue Planet?" Cecil took a step forward. "Could that be…?"

"Yes, the one that you call home. But your planet was still in the midst of its evolution, you see. And so those travelers created a second moon for the planet, and there they settled into a long and quiet slumber. This is that second moon, of course."

Edge tilted his head, trying to put it all together. "And they're the ones you called the Lunarians."

Fusoya nodded again. "Indeed. But there was one among us who was loath to sleep. He thought it fit that we should simply raze all existing life on the Blue Planet, and claim it as our own."

Rydia gasped. "That's horrible…" She recalled the flames devouring Mist, and blinked back tears.

Fusoya sighed, his eyes gazing up at the crystals above them briefly, as if recounting the story brought him great distress. "Yes. And so I used my powers to force him into hibernation with the others. But as he slept, his will grew stronger and took on a consciousness all its own – he developed tremendous psychic powers, unusual in strength even for a Lunarian. It reached out to men with tainted hearts on your planet, twisting them into beings yet darker still. And through them, he began to gather the crystals."

Cecil took a deep breath, everything starting to finally click. "So he was manipulating Golbez! And what powers do the crystals have that enrapture him so?"

"Does this guy have a name?" Edge hissed.

Fusoya didn't reply right away. He seemed to be weighing his words carefully, wary of overwhelming them with despair. His eyes had gone cold and distant. "His name is Zemus. The crystals function as a source of energy, you see. I fear he has gathered them in order to activate the interdimensional elevator within the Tower of Babil. With it, he will be able to transport the Giant of Babil to your planet and use it to extinguish all life there."

Rosa bit down hard on her lip, a sob threatening to escape. "Oh, no..." Were they too late? Was the miracle they were praying for a ship to help them escape while the rest of the world burned in their stead?

Fusoya shook his head quickly, seeing her distress. "But do not be mistaken. His will is not that of all us Lunarians. The rest of us have been waiting quietly for your planet's people to progress to such a point that we might treat with one another as equals. We but wait and sleep, dreaming of that day."

Cecil rested his hand on Rosa's lower back to pull her closer, her fear and tension palpable. "And the Lunar Whale, where did it come from?"

Fusoya brightened a bit at that question. "Ah, the ship...My younger brother Kluya built that vessel long ago, and flew it to the Blue Planet. He took with him several of our secrets, such as the ones employed in your Devil's Road and in airships - a gift to your people."

Cecil gasped. "Those are all bounties of Baron, my homeland."

"Why did Kluya not sleep?" Rydia asked.

"Kluya was fascinated by your planet and wished to know more of it. The people – their innocence and their evolutionary youth – were extremely attractive to a man of science like himself, and he would steal away multiple times to make observations and allow himself to become enthralled by your planet's beauty. And while he was there, he fell in love with a woman of your planet. She later bore him two children."

Fusoya placed a hand over his chest, his eyes clouded in sadness once more. "One of those children was you, Cecil."

Cecil dropped his hand from Rosa's back and momentarily ceased to breathe. He felt as if the floor had disappeared from underneath his feet and he was falling through space, millions of miles away from the crystal dais before him. Rosa, Rydia and Edge could only stare, all wearing the same look of astonishment.

After few moments, Cecil managed to choke out a cohesive thought. "What!? Me? Then, that voice I heard at Mount Ordeals…"

"…Was the spirit of your father. Indeed...you are the very image of Kluya in his youth," Fusoya leaned his chin on his palm. "Your eyes are the very same as the planet he used to love so. I can see the beauty of the Blue Planet and Kluya's ambitions reflected back to me in them. I had no doubt as soon as I saw you that you were his son."

Cecil closed his eyes, trying to remember the precious few moments he had on Mount Ordeals when the voice spoke to him…called him "son". "So it was my father…! And you…you're my uncle…!"

Everything was beginning to make sense…his familiarly with a moon he had never traversed; the ache when he boarded the Lunar Whale, the loneliness that at times clouded his heart when he stared at the night sky… It was his Lunarian blood coursing through his veins, warning him all along of the strife to come. The same Lunarian blood as a madman trying to decimate all life on the Blue Planet!

Rosa watched Cecil worriedly, wanting to say something – anything – but words failed her. For Cecil to learn of his heritage this way…to learn that he wasn't even entirely human in the midst of a war that had now gone intergalactic…what could she possibly do to comfort him? The universe as she knew it had suddenly expanded beyond her comprehension, and she realized that within it, she was a mere speck of dust.

Rydia looked down at the floor. In her heart, she had always known there was too much supernatural circumstance that surrounded Cecil for him to really just be a former dark knight of Baron, but that hadn't meant she wanted to be right in such a fearsome way.

Edge stared beyond the crystal dais and Fusoya, the dazzling crystals before him blurring into an inconsequential mess of colors and glass. Orphaned all over again, eh Cecil? I know how you feel too well… Anger boiled through him as he thought about his last moments with his reanimated chimerae parents…through Rubicante and Golbez, Zemus had shed a lifetime's worth of Eblanese blood, and he was going to pay dearly.

Fusoya sighed. How it pained him to be the messenger of truth to his young nephew and his companions! "Indeed, Cecil…we are blood. My brother – your father – vested you with his power on Mount Ordeals so that you might prevent Zemus's plot from coming to fruition. I am sure you understand, but it bears affirmation: Zemus must be stopped! For your planet's sake and for that of my – I mean our – people as well."

Cecil didn't reply. He had heard everything Fusoya said, but none of it was registering in a way that willed his body to take action. Even in death…my father had loved our planet so. How can I possibly live up to his wishes? Will his power really be enough?

Fusoya rose, and floated down the steps of the dais. It was only when he reached the floor that his bare feet touched the ground with a light tap. He gently touched Cecil's shoulder. "We must hurry to the Tower of Babil near Eblan." Cecil lifted his eyes, and for a brief moment, Fusoya thought he was staring at a specter of his long-gone baby brother.

Edge woke up from his daydream about slicing Zemus to ribbons. "The Tower? It's protected by some kind of barrier now. There's no way in!"

Fusoya stepped away from Cecil and gestured for the others to follow, making his way out of the crystal palace. "I should be able to bypass the barrier. We must not let the Giant of Babil be unleashed upon your world!" Edge and Rydia began to follow, but paused to look back at Cecil, who had not moved an inch since Fusoya's revelation.

"Cecil!" Rosa shook his arm. He looked up at her, the weight of the evening's revelations plainly evident in his features. Fusoya had been right – Rosa realized that staring into Cecil's eyes was akin to gazing upon the Blue Planet from a tower in the crystal palace.

"I'm all right…" he finally said. She kept staring, lost in his gaze and unbelieving. He reached up, taking her hand from his arm and setting it over his heart. She could feel it beating slow and steady under his breastplate, ever the same as before. "…I swear to you – I will save our planet!"