The Emperor sat on his throne with a smirk. Sure, he'll play the part of the 'loyal soldier' to Shinryu, but this world only deserved one ruler. HIM! Unlike the other Chaos Warriors, he was going to gain Shinruy's trust. And once Shinryu has conquered this world, the Emperor will pull his strings. Sure, Shinryu may think he has power, but it will be the Emperor who will be in control.

"You seem to be in a festive mood, Emperor," Garland said as he noticed the smile on the Emperor's face. The Emperor looked up at Garland, still holding his smirk.

"Of course. Because I know that we will win this war."

"Are you sure of that?" Garland asked. The Emperor frowned and gripped his staff.

"Of course I'm sure! I know everyone else has failed, but we won't, Garland! I KNOW Shinryu will succeed!"

Garland chuckled and it annoyed the Emperor. Garland doubted him, how rude! He stood up qiuckly and glared at garland, his teeth grinding. Garland noticed.

"Oh, did I upset you?"

"How dare you! You doubt Shinryu?!"

"No, but I know what you are plotting, Emperor. It won't work. You've tried to conquer worlds before, and you've always lost. Perhaps you should actually win a battle between you and Firion before making plans for you 'dream castle'."

The Emperor was furious and raised his staff. A circle appeared underneath Garland's feet and lightning shocked him. Garland let out a surprised yell.

"Hahahahaha!" The Emperor laughed. "Insolent fool! Maybe that will shock some sense into you!" He turned and left Garland kneeling on the floor. Yet it bothered him how Garland could actually see through him and figure out his plans with the future.

Using magic, he summoned a crystal ball in his hands. He could see the Cosmos Warriors and they were very close. He also noticed Caius with them and was being watched. So he failed too, it would seem. Weaklings, all of those fools who had gone up against the Cosmos Warriors had been weaklings! But not the Emperor. HE was going to succeed, and become ruler of this world!

Firion was watching Caius closely. Caius was watching him too. For a long while, neither one said anything.

"Tell me, why did you surrender to us so easily?" Firion asked him.

"I am aware of your power. I know I can't win against all of you. I'm not a fool as to even try. And even when I did fail to defeat you, Shinryu would just destroy me. At least I have a better chance at staying alive as long as I am with you," Caius said as if it was obvious.

"So even you are afraid of Shinryu, is that what you are saying?" Firion asked him. But Caius gave him no answer. Firion glared at him and grabbed him.

"If you dare try anything, I will.."

"I know," Caius said as he cut him off. "You have reason to distrust me. I'm no use to you, so why don't you just kill me now?"

Firiors weapons began to float out of their holders and point at Caius.

"I'm tempted, but we are not like Shinryu or Chaos."

"Yes...but you look as if you need a push," Caius chuckled. "Why not kill me now? It will be so much easier."

Firion was tempted to kill him, but it seemed too easy.

"No," Firion thought to himself. "This is just what he wants me to do. I must not give into anger. It could be a trap."

He let go of Caius, but held his sword to his neck.

"I am not the one who decides your fate. I'm nothing like the rest of you."

Caius chuckled, but he said nothing. Squall came walking up and he noticed how tense Firion looked. He put a hand on his shoulder.

"I have come to take your place for now. Let me watch him," he said carefully. Firion nodded and left Squall and Caius. He rubbed his forehead, he felt uneasy. This wasn't like him.

"What's wrong, Firion? You seem frustrated," came a voice. Firion turned around and saw the Emperor appear before him. "Did Caius upset you somehow?"

"Emperor! What do you want?!" Firion glared at him.

"I have come to settle things with you," the Emperor smirked. Firion reached for his word.

"If you want to fight, then I will!"

"Now, now, Firion. I wouldn't try using the crystal's power if I were you. It would only break," the Emperor said as he shook his finger and began to 'tsk,tsk' him.

Firion was shocked at the Emperor's response. Did this mean the enemy knew about the crystals weakening?

"What do you know of our crystals?" Firion asked, he was trying to buy time to come up with a plan. He didn't want the Emperor to take advantage of him.

"I know a lot about your crystals. I also know that you are searching for the Rechargeable Crystal. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by Shinryu. Your efforts have been in vain," he smirked. Firion was shocked.

"No, you're lying, aren't you?! We can still save this world! We'll find Prince Radient and.."

"Oh? Radiant, you say? Did I also forget to mention that he is dead? Shinryu killed him, such was his fate."

Firion was so shocked that he dropped his sword and fell to his knees.

"No, that cannot be true!"

"It is," the Emperor smirked. Firion didn't want to believe him. It couldn't be true. The Emperor had made him doubt before, yet after all the trails they went through, it was easy to believe.

The Emperor began to glow as power engulfed his body. Now was his chance to attack!

He summoned an alchemical circle and glowing balls shot out and headed towards Firion. Firion held him arms up for defense and waited for the pain to strike. But it never came. He looked up once the dust had cleared and saw the warrior standing there! He he blocked the glowing balls with his shield.

"Firion, don't be fooled!" he told him. "The enemy will say anything to make us doubt ourselves. Be strong and have courage, my friend."

Firion nodded and stood up. He took out his bow and aimed for the Emperor. He let his glowing arrow fly, but the Emperor caught it before it hit him. Firion wasn't finished yet and threw both of his knifes at the Emperor. Again, he had caught them before they could hit him. Firion began running around as he tried to get close and stay in the Emperor's blond spot.

"It is useless!" the Emperor said as he summoned a giant glowing blue ball. It followed Firion as he tried to dodge.

"Fade to the Light!" yelled the Warrior as he raised his sword and a glowing line of radiant light rushed towards the Emperor.

The Emperor frowned as he dodged the line of light. He had almost forgotten about the Warrior. Drawing a triangle with his staff, more glowing balls appeared and surrounded the Warrior. The balls exploded when the Warrior ran past them and smoke covered the area.

Suddenly, Firion appeared and sliced at the Emperor with his lance. The Emperor leaped away from him and held his wound. He growled. It appeared that both Cosmos warriors were acting as a distraction to confuse the Emperor. His power was beginning to fade and he had to attack now while he still had the chance.

He waved his staff about as he summoned glowing balls, and alchemical circles as he was setting traps. Firion and the Warrior noticed this and kept their distance. The Warrior again summoned his light magic and triggered some of the traps, exploding them before they could hurt either Warrior.

Firion rushed towards the Emperor with his sword drawn as he dodged the remaining traps. Using all his power, he struck at the Emperor hard to finish him. All his weapons appeared before him and they all struck the Emperor.

The Emperor cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor. Once the power faded, Firion too collapsed and his crystal shattered to nothing. The Warrior came over to his side and helped him stand.

"How could I have lost?" the Emperor struggled to say. "I can't lose to you insects! I WILL rule the world!" he disappeared in purple smoke as his final words echoed in their ears.

"Are you alright, Firion?" the Warrior asked him. Firion nodded, but he looked exhausted.

"Yes, I believe so. But I am very weak."

The Warrior nodded and had him lie down.

"Get some rest. I have a feeling that Shinryu is close by. You must rest while you can."

Firion nodded, yet he was still bothered by what the Emperor had told him. Was the Rechargeable Crystal truly destroyed? Was Prince Radiant dead? Was everything they hoped for gone?

Garland stood guard at the doors that lead to Shinryu's throne room. He had sensed the Emperor's life had faded away. It was all up to him now to protect Shinryu. After all, Shinryu was the one who brought him back to life. He was much more powerful than Chaos ever was. It won't be long now. The Cosmos Warriors will come. He wasn't sure what the outcome would be, but he will use all his power to protect Shinryu.

Shinryu could sense the Cosmos Warriors approaching as well. But he will be ready. But one thing still bothered him. Where was Radiant? And what had the Prince meant when he said that the crystal he destroyed was fake? What did it all mean? Were was the real Rechargeable Crystal? Radiant knew something, and Shinryu was going to make sure he will find out, even if he had to ring it from the Prince's throat. Only he will rule this world, and he'll destroy everything and anyone who gets in his way.

He felt for the scar on his muzzle that Zidane had given him. It made him angry that he had been injured so easily. He'll make sure that monkey will pay. All of them will pay!

He roared in anger and his roar echoed throughout the mountain.

Shinryu's roar of anger had reached the ears of the Cosmos Warriors. They knew Shinryu was close and that they would soon face him. But now wasn't the time to fear. They had hope and they knew they will have to give it their all before giving up. This was going to be the most fierce battle they will ever undergo, perhaps. It all depended on them!