Laptop is lasting for now, so here's the next chapter!

Ripples

'I guess we should start looking in the treasure chests, in case it's in there.' Dagger reasoned.

'Whatever, as long as we don't split up,' Amarant said, 'I'm not letting you out of my sight.'

'W-what do you mean by that?' Steiner stuttered.

Amaranth crossed his arms with a 'hmph'.

'Don't get me wrong; I just want a crack at 'Destruction' when he comes after her. Part of his mission is to kill the Queen of Alexandria, right?'

Dagger was silent as she began leading the way.

Oh Zidane…

Destruction stood on the back of his green dragon, squinting through the rain.

'A city of eternal rain, what a useless, dreary place.' He sighed, brushing his wet fringe out of his eyes. 'Still, it won't take long to crush them, not when they're still recovering and their two best warriors are away. A child as a King…'

A sudden image of Vivi popped into Destruction's head, a friend of Puck. Destruction growled, recalling the mist monster farm he'd seen through Zidane's memory.

'…On second thought, the rats can wait. This will be much more satisfying.' He laughed, instructing the dragon to move, heading towards the Outer Continent…

Reason's mind became clouded, his thoughts scattered and hard to focus on. His body moved on its own, turning and raising his weapon against Vivi, whose eyes widened in shock.

Stop! Stop! He cried helplessly as he attacked Vivi, taking a sixth of his HP. He saw Vivi reach into his pocket for a remedy, but Mikoto's sudden attack from the side made him squeak in surprise. The Black Mage threw the remedy at the nearest person, Mikoto, and tried to pull them both out of Reason's reach as she blinked back into awareness.

'Now, this will be entertaining,' Foresight smirked, reaching into her pocket. Reason's body was engulfed in an ether and immediately he began to cast a powerful earth spell. Vivi's eyes widened.

'Mikoto, move to the back row!' he commanded just before the spell hit him. The ground shook, knocking them about and depleting their HP. Mikoto's, who had never fought before, dropped to zero quickly while Vivi's was in the yellow.

This is really bad, Vivi thought, fumbling for a phoenix down. I didn't realise his magic was so powerful. I have to-

The phoenix down landed on Mikoto just as Reason reached Vivi, hitting him with his staff and dropping his HP to zero. The Black Mage collapsed into darkness.

Mikoto sat up groggily, seeing Reason looming in front of her and Vivi collapsed to her right. Her eyes widened as she tried to shuffle back.

'Reason, please stop!'

'Aww, isn't this just tragic.' Foresight giggled, 'Are you going to be responsible for the death of the one you care about again? Don't worry, you won't suffer too long, my charm spell will make you turn on yourself once she's unconscious, then I can finish you all off at my leisure.'

Reason blinked, his face becoming pained as his grip on his staff loosened.

'Mikoto,' he gasped out, 'Give me an ether, quick!'

Foresight's eyes widened in surprise, but a moment later she let out an amused sigh.

'Well, that wore off faster than I expected. But I shouldn't really be surprised; you always were unnaturally stubborn. Let me refresh you.'

Mikoto dosed him with the ether just as Foresight cast the charm spell again. Mikoto bit her lip as she watched Reason's eyes turn blank.

Foresight giggled as she used an ether on herself, watching the scene with eagerness.

What will he chose? He could annihilate them both with his magic or use a physical attack; much more personal.

She watched Reason begin to raise his staff and grinned. Mikoto whacked his leg in desperation, but only one HP damage was done and Reason didn't pause.

A remedy engulfed Reason, making him blink into awareness and Foresight scream in frustration.

'Who did that?' She looked around, raising an arm to re-cast the spell but stopped when she saw a moogle with an orange coloured pom-pom. 'What the-?'

The moogle started to glow a bright white, and Foresight watched it transform…

Mikoto tossed a phoenix down on Vivi, panting a little from her low HP. Reason had turned to watch Meaning perform Terra Homing, then began walking towards them.

'Be careful, Reason,' Mikoto warned. He didn't turn back to look at her, but she saw him nod before continuing walking.

He reached them as the attack ended, and Foresight was kneeling on the floor, head bowed and HP low. Reason grinned.

'I guess I forgot to mention my sister was here, didn't I?'

Foresight just snarled at him and cast charm again, but cursed when she saw the shimmer of his barrier back in place. Reason grinned down at her.

'This time, don't come back.' He brought down the staff on her head, dropping her HP to zero and knocking her out.

Then Mikoto and Vivi watched in horror as he drove the staff end into Foresight's heart.

Destruction hovered over the Black Mage village, his face blank as the mage's below gave him alarmed, curious looks.

Such pitiful creatures, desperately clinging to life in any way they can. What reason do they have to exist, now Kuja's original plan for them is gone?

Destruction forced the dragon to descend, stepping off once it landed. Black Mages came towards him cautiously.

'Mr. Zidane, is that you?'

Destruction forced his usually passive face to a form a smile.

'Yeah, I just came to check you guys are okay. Must be lonely with the genomes gone.'

'Oh, we're okay. I hope they're having a good time in Alexandria. Are you feeling better now? …Your outfit is different.'

'Better?' Destruction asked, then remembered what he'd seen in Zidane's memory. 'Oh, yes, my tail grew back and I feel great now. As for my outfit,' he shrugged in a Zidane way. 'I fancied a change.'

The Black Mage just nodded, accepting this.

'Your pet looks a little scary,' Another said, eyeing the dragon cautiously, 'What's its name?'

Destruction shrugged.

'I didn't give it one.'

'B-but it needs a name.' The Black Mage protested, 'Just like Bobby Corwen.'

Destruction had to resist pointing out they all had numbers as names.

'You name it then,' he shrugged, 'Can you keep an eye on it while I check on the farm?'

'Sure! I'll start by finding out the gender.' The Black Mage babbled happily.

Good luck with that. Destruction snorted as he walked away.

He headed straight for the farm, ignoring any other greetings sent his way.

How can such naïve creatures produce a monstrosity like that? But then again, humans are even worse. They cling selfishly to life no matter what the cost, even forsaking a higher purpose.

The farm only contained two Black Mages, which he sent away by mentioning the 'pet' dragon at the village entrance. A machine was in the process of draining a monster. Destruction raised his hands as the creature screamed out in pain.

Time to end this.

It was easier than Dagger thought it would be. A faint sense of a presence had guided her to the area a treasure hunter was working. For a potion he lent her a pick. It didn't take long to find a Garnet gem in the wall and hold it possessively to her chest, feeling the slumbering presence inside.

Hello, my old friend. I promise I'll bring you back.

'Well done, Your Majesty. That was quick work!' Steiner puffed out, 'Now let us hurry to the Ice Caverns.'

Steiner continued rambling his praises as they made their way through Fossil Roo, emerging out in Qu's Marsh.

'What's that?' Amarant asked, noticing smoke in the distance.

Dagger felt her blood run cold and her face drain of colour.

'It's Lindblum.'

Just to explain Reason's magic/techniques. Think of him being like Beatrix, really strong, powerful magic/abilities, but it uses a LOT of MP. That's why Forsight kept giving him ethers so he could cast spells again after one use of earth magic.

If you think Foresight's appearance was a big…random, there is a few reasons for it. One, she's like a mini-boss that the game has in most areas. Two, she was needed for Reason to overcome his past. Three, she made it clear to everyone Reason still has his Justice personality inside, and always will, which will lead to drama.