Chapter 37

At the airship hanger, moments later...

"Why was that ship heading north?" Astral asked. The engines of the Red Wings still hummed above them, but were now quieter, allowing normal conversation.

"Lodestone Cavern," Edge said with confidence. He snorted with his arms folded. "Where else?"

Rydia opened her mouth to reprimand him, but she decided to relax—or try to—in Kain's arms instead. She felt worried, and anxious. Her body shook, her blood felt cold, and her heart beat rapidly. She kept playing Leviathan's cryptic words in her mind over and over:

"The castle may be saved, but the Mist is gathering..."

"And what about the naval vessels?" Rand asked. Rydia glanced and saw his skeptical, narrow eyes. "I couldn't make out which direction they went."

"One of my men saw," Edge said. He faced Rand. "A direct course north." He grinned. "It's time to take the fight to them while they're wounded."

"A great sage once told me: 'don't be lulled into thinking we've won: a wounded beast is a dangerous one!'" Cecil warned him. "They'll be cornered and will fight like dragons."

Rydia smiled. Tellah said that when we fought the octomamatth, she thought. She paused, and thought about Edge's information. Directly north... but the Lodestone Caven is northwest.

"Wait a moment," Rosa spoke up. She stood in the middle of the circle. "Let's not be hasty."

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Astral asked. He cocked his head.

She faced Rydia. "You told me that Leviathan had spoken to you, but we got cut off when Rand arrived. What did he say?"

All eyes fell on the summoner; she squirmed a little and exhaled. "I think... it was a warning," she said slowly. She then repeated Leviathan's words to them. "He said them right after the remaining ships escaped. I don't understand what he meant, however, the Feymarch does have a close connection to Mist. When I first arrived, it had been months—at least in their time—since the Carnelian Signet was set off and destroyed the village. I was told by one of the eidolons there they had all had mourned over seeing the 'Village of the Summoners' fall. I remember I was able to see Mist all the way from the Feymarch, but I could not actually go there."

Cecil's face paled.

Rydia blinked. "What's wrong?"

"Kain..." Cecil said, slowly. "when we went through the Mist Cave all that time ago, when the Mist Dragon attacked us, you said those very words!" His eyes shot open. "My goodness!"

"I did say that," he said, his voice in solemn shock. "I did..."

A cold, icy feeling of horror claimed Rydia's heart. "And then Mist was burned..." she muttered. Her eyes widened and with sudden strength overcoming her, she stood. "They're not going back to their base. They're going to attack Mist!" She exchanged glances with everyone. "That town is defenseless!"

"And... they'd make an easy sneak attack back 'ere by plowin' right through it!" Cid added.

Stunned silence.

Then, Edge jumped into the center of the circle. "What are we waiting for then?!" He exclaimed. "We need to get our rears to Mist now!"

The group all mobilized, gathering their weapons, calling their warriors, and readying their ariships. Rydia smiled weakly. Good luck... She turned away from the others, and wiped her eyes.

"Rydia?" Kain asked.

The name of her town echoed in her head... along with the angry screams of the townspeople.

"You abandoned us!"

"I wish you all luck... please save Mist," she said, her voice cracking. Rydia closed her eyes. She grit in her teeth in helpless frustration. Her eyes broke into tears of despair.

"Rydia? What's come over you?" Edge exclaimed in disbelief. "It's your hometown! You have to come!"

"No, Edge." She forced herself to face her allies. "It's not... not anymore."

"Rydia..." Cecil muttered. He walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "My dear little sister, if they ever needed you, now is the time. Forget about the exile."

She stepped back, and pushed Cecil's hand aside. Shaking her head, she said, "I'm not welcome there. Just... go!" Rydia spun, and found herself face-to-face with her Mist Dragon. "You know it, too!" Rydia yelled at her eidolon. "It's not... like I don't want to help... it's that I can't!"

She fell to her knees and began to weep. Half of her believed it, half of her did not. Those two halves wrestled with each other, fighting for dominance... and her despairing side was winning.

Rydia felt something soft nudge her. She looked and met the determined gaze of her eidolon. A gaze she suddenly remembered seeing on another face she loved dearly.

"I... I can't even summon a chocobo!"

"Rydia... stop. I understand it's hard... but you cannot give up. Try again!"

Her mother.

Mother... I miss you, she thought longingly.

Then, a voice echoed in her head: "Rydia, my child..." She stared at the Mist Dragon. "I never left you, I was there when you first faced Ifrit in the Feymarch... in this form."

Mother?! You're...! Rydia's mouth gaped open in shock.Alive?!

"This eidolon is not native to the Feymarch... it was born in Mist. My home, your home, our home. Mist is and will always be your home. So, my daughter, what will you do?"

"Mother..." Rydia stammered, she could not stop the tears flowing down her face. Then, she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Kain. "I..."

"Don't abandon them," he said. He knelt down to her, and removed his helmet. "Just as we, your friends and loved ones have never abandoned you. Besides... your own students—your children—came to visit you joyfully."

"They were also protecting your house," Edge added.

Rydia shot a look at him. "What?"

He wiped his eyes. "They were... trying to continue learning about Summoning. Even if you weren't there," he said. "Kain's right. You still have allies at Mist, and you've got us."

Rydia blinked, and felt Kain's hands turn her head to face him. "Kain?"

"Do not drop your diamond," he reminded her. Kain pulled her close into a loving kiss. As they released, he added, "do not drop your dream."

Rydia's heart warmed, the icy grasp melted away. She smiled at him and nodded. I don't care if they hate me. I care about them! She looked into the eye of her eidolon—her mother—and nodded. The dragon responded with a smile, the same caring smile she remembered, and uncoiled herself.

The summoner rose. "Then, we're going to Mist! I'll meet you all there!" She jumped on the back of the Mist Dragon, and said, "let's go... home." The eidolon took Rydia into the sky and shot to the northwest.

-S-

Kain, Cecil, Rosa, and Cid gathered onto the deck of the Enterprise. The dragoons gathered behind their Commander, spears at the ready. Meanwhile, Rand and Astral took their soldiers to the Red Wings, and Edge and his ninjas gathered on the Falcon.

"Hurry!" Cecil ordered. He stood at the fore of the Enterprise and gazed upon each and every one of his allies. "We need to arrive at Mist as soon as we can. We're not just going to aid Rydia, but protect every member and building of the town! Even if they try to reject us!"

The soldiers of all types let out a resounding cheer.

"For Baron!"

"For Eblan!"

Kain raised his Holy Lance. "For Mist!"

His cry was met with affirmative shouts and roars. The airships started their engines, and rose into the air seconds later. Cid spun the helm and faced in the direction of Mist.

"Everyone ready? If not, too bad! We're goin'!" he shouted. "Find somethin' to hold onto!"

With that, the wind whipped across Kain's face as the airship soared over to the town. He scanned the skies. No sign of Rydia... she must already be there. He gripped his lance. We have no time to waste!

-S-

Above the Town of Mist...

Rydia kept her eyes open, despite the lashing wind as she sped toward her hometown. The Mist Dragon began to slow as they closed in on the town. And Rydia could hear the horrified screams of the townspeople, some of them called out for Juste to help.

She looked forward and saw an army of ninjas, traitorous Baron soldiers, and dark knights led by a man in crimson armor marching toward the town. They were coming from the east and in the distance she saw the enemy airship landed just outside the desert of Damcyan.

The ninjas were hurling shurikens and unleashing their powers on the hapless townspeople. The dark knights were engulfed in the shadowy energy of their dark swords. Their hate was cold and overwhelming... like Zeromus's had.

"I shall never die... as long as there is darkness in the hearts of men...!"

No, Rydia thought. We're not letting you come back, monster! Huh? She paused, noticing a line of people stand against the rebel army. They were rather... short. Except... Her eyes shot open in shocked terror. No! My students?!

Suddenly, all of the children illuminated with a bright green light as summoning orbs swirled out from each and every one of them. Rydia heard their combined cry of: "Chocobo Kick!" Her eyes widened further.

They... all learned how to...?

Her assumption was confirmed as a flock of chocobos came from the west and slammed themselves into the surprised rebel forces. It seemed none of them had counted on mere children to stand up to them and fight back; none of them were able to dodge in time. Rydia saw several ninjas, and a dark knight smash into the ground after receiving a swift kick to their face.

They did it...! They all know how to summon! Rydia smiled widely. I can't believe it. Dear children... you have no idea how proud I am right now. She wiped her eyes. Then she was nudged by her mother. "What?"

It is wonderful to see the fruits of their studies, but they cannot fight an army alone. The Mist Dragon shot her a wary glance. Rydia's smile melted away as she gazed upon her students again. They began to back away as the army turned on them.

"You're right, but I won't allow those monsters to hurt them!" Rydia exclaimed. "Mother, drop me off and protect the children!"

The Mist Dragon nodded. She swooped down in front of the young ones, and unleashed a blast of radiant mist unto the enemy. Screams of pain resounded in the air as ninja, dark knight, and traitor alike suffered. Rydia leaped off her eidolon's back, uncoiled her whip and faced the rebels.

"R-Rydia?" She heard a man call. His voice was shaky. "You... returned to us?" She heard other townspeople gather as shocked murmurs spread among numerous voices. Murmurs carrying her name.

"Miss Rydia!" exclaimed a young voice. Milina. "You're back!" The children cheered for her. She smiled and raised a hand to acknowledge them, but did not turn to face them.

Instead she faced the man leading the army; the one in crimson armor. His cape flowed behind him and a mask hid his face. He way he strode forward was filled with confidence, and no hesitation. Rydia narrowed her eyes. Too calm... I don't like this.

He held up a hand, and the rebels stopped their attacks. They gathered around their leader, yet kept a considerable distance. All of them eyed Rydia with loathing expressions. Weapons all drawn, and yet were not brandished toward her.

"Ahh..." the masked man said with a smug tone of his deep voice. "The summoner herself comes to aid those who hate her." He stopped. "A shame. I hoped you dead, but after hearing of Leviathan's rather convenient appearance at Baron, I assumed you were behind it."

Rydia narrowed her eyes at him. "Who are you?" She tightened her grasp on her whip.

The man chuckled. "Oh, where are my manners? Let me introduce myself: I am Gerad, leader of the true owners of Baron and Eblan." The ninjas, dark knights, and baron soldiers snickered around him, all sneering at Rydia. He raised his arms high. "And now, you will die." Flames of intense heat rose from his body, and grew larger and larger. "Burn like Mist should have!"

Rydia prepared her strongest ice spell. "Mother! Protect the children and the townsfolk!" she ordered. "I just need a little time..." Gerad's flames rose higher and higher. Rydia wiped her brow, and could feel her dry throat. The heat was so intense, despite the fact she was at least fifteen meters away from him. Where did he learn such powerful fire magic?

And then she noticed something; the fire was not coming from within Gerad like a normal spell. It was more as if it had been a spell, no, energy he had forcefully taken.

Her eyes widened; it now all made sense now. Why the rebels had supposedly just been flying around Damcyan, why Teran had been about to use some sort of justu on the Earth Crystal, why the ninjas were enhancing their ninjustu in the first place...

And why it had taken Leviathan to stop Mist from burning.

She stared. "So, that's how... You magic thief!" she roared.

"Figured it out?" Gerad asked, the flames writhing in his hands. "Wonderful. You can tell your discovery to everyone in the afterlife."

She ignored his taunts and instead focused on performing the impossible with her ice magic. Soon, her hands felt so cold they met the strength of the heatwave coming from Gerad. He thrust his arms forward, but not before she did. "Bizzaja!" Rydia screamed.

Crackling ice swirled around Gerad in a misty veil, consuming the stolen fire and freezing Gerad in place. The rebels gasped and stumbled back. One of the dark knights, donned in the most intimidating dark armor she had ever seen, pointed at her, shaking. "That... you... that spell doesn't exist! Shouldn't exist!"

Rydia ignored him. She snapped her fingers and the ice shattered around Gerad, setting him free. "What you took from the Fire Crystal is gone now. External magic is powerful, but once you use it all, it's gone, unlike internal magic which consumes mana." She scowled. "No one will burn today!"

She heard something crack. Rydia looked at Gerad's face and saw half of his mask fall away. And her mouth gaped open. "... Juste?!" She exclaimed. The townspeople behind her gasped and began muttering his name.

"I knew it!" screamed a familiar voice. Rydia bit her lip, and hoped Elena would stay back. "I had a feeling you were behind all of this somehow!"

"Juste... you were the one who set Mist on fire?" a man asked. "How could you! I... I trusted you!" The townspeople began to cry out against him.

The rebels stood their ground, and called out to him.

"Boss?!"

"Boss, you okay?"

Juste moved his clutched hand away from his shattered mask. "I'm fine!" he said in his normal voice. He drew two kotestus from his back. "Slaughter them like animals! All of them, men, women, and children! And you!" He pointed one of his swords at Rydia. "You summoner wench... I will drink your blood off your corpse!" His men obeyed and charged toward the townspeople. Screams of terror pierced the air.

Rydia moved to aid them, but spun to see a red blur soaring at her with the speed of a skilled ninja. She gasped and cast a short distance Warp spell; barely avoiding Juste's blades. He spun and flung himself at the summoner, swords in a flurry, eyes red with the intent of murder. Rydia lashed out her whip and coiled it tightly around one of his swords, and then pulled. She grit her teeth and struggled to hold her ground while her enemy slashed at her dragon whisker with his free sword.

Keep trying, you'll only dull that blade against dragon hide. Rydia released her left hand from the whip and readied a spell. She yelped and stumbled forward as Juste jerked back his bound sword. She raised her free hand, and yelled, "Firaga!"

Explosive blasts flared around her foe; she heard Juste roar and saw him roll out of the spell. He glared at her. His bracers had shattered, exposing his arm and his cape had been burnt to mere ashes. "You filthy whore!" Juste hissed before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Rydia spun, her eyes darted in every direction. Then, she sensed a magic aura coming from her left. She spun again, jumped back and cracked her whip forward. Juste appeared in mid-air and flung a shuriken at her nearly at point-blank.

She ducked, but the shuriken struck her right arm-drape and pinned it to the ground. She stumbled, and raised her head to see Juste raise his sword to strike her down. Rydia raised hand in a hopeless attempt to deflect it.

Schwing! She opened her eyes to see another ninja blocking Juste's weapon with his two katanas. "Edge?!" Rydia exclaimed.

"Perfect timing," he grunted. He kept his fiery gaze on Juste. "Bastard! You were behind all of this the whole time!" Edge shoved Juste onto the ground, and brought Masamune and Murasame down on him.

The rebel leader vanished into smoke, and Edge's swords tasted the grass below.

Rydia heard someone land behind her. Juste?! She turned her head, and her muscles relaxed. "Kain!" She beamed.

Returning the gesture, he snatched the shurikens out of her outfit and tossed them aside. "Glad we made it in time." Rydia leaped to her feet and embraced. "Thank you..." She let go and turned to Edge, "and thank you, too."

"Don't mention it," Edge said. "And don't worry about the townspeople. Cecil and others have them covered."

Rydia looked toward the town. The Red Wings and the Enterprise hovered over the buildings. Already, the sun knights, dragoons, Cecil, Cid, Rosa, Rand, and Astral had taken to the ground and were clashing with Juste's men.

"Ya traitorous goons!" Cid roared. He pounded in one of the rebel ninja's faces in with his hammer. "Ya got a lot of nerve ta attack a helpless town!"

She saw Cecil contended with the strongest of the dark knights. "Begone, demon!" Ragnarok hummed with holy power, and as Cecil swung, an arc of holy light slashed the dark knight's shield in two.

A ninja jumped Cecil, only be met with a well-aimed arrow to his chest. Rydia saw Rosa lower her bow and nod at her husband.

Astral and his sun knights charged the other dark knights, while Rand and his soldiers, along with Kain's dragoons assaulted the Baron traitors. Eblan's ninjas engaged their rebel brothers in a deadly battle.

The work of death commenced on both sides. A sun knight fell to a dark knight's Soul-Eater, while a rebel ninja was outsmarted by one of Eblan's and pierced through the stomach by a fuuma shuriken. A dragoon slew a Baron rebel, and a Red Wings soldier spilled the crimson blood of another with his spear.

"Kill them!" shouted a voice. Rydia looked. Juste had reappeared and gathered his swords. "Murder them all! Remember what you are fighting for! Freedom!"

"Such nonsense," Kain said with a snort. Holy Lance in his left hand, he approached the rebel leader with a dark frown. "Freedom? You only seek power which does not belong to you!"

"Disgusting," Edge growled. He lunged at Juste. "It'll feel good to have to dead once and for all!"

Juste smirked and phased away, safely avoiding Edge's attack. "You're the disgusting one, Prince. Seeking a whore to be Eblan's mockery of a queen? And you!" He added, glaring at Kain. "Just the paladin King's bootlicker. You think casting out men who fought for your kingdom was noble and just? Merely because they use the dark sword rather than the light?"

"Darkness only breeds hatred, and stains the soul," Kain countered. He pointed his lance at Juste. "Cecil, himself, realized that as he sought to stop Golbez. If he hadn't, this planet wouldn't exist... the Giant of Babil would have vaporized it years ago."

"All because..." Rydia started, standing. "he choose to embrace the light and forsake the darkness." She narrowed her eyes. "You are nothing but darkness, Juste! What are you really trying to do? Bring Zeromus back from the dead?!"

"Fairy tales and myths," Juste said. "There is no proof that battle ever happened. Only your deranged minds came up with such an outlandish tale!" He drew his swords. "Enough banter! I'll grant the three of you your very desires! Eternal slumber! Abyssal Bind!"

Purple needles fell from the sky, threatening to skewer Edge, Kain, and Rydia. She felt Kain grab her and jump out of the way. From the corner of her eye, she saw Edge backflip out of the area.

And then the needles turned and homed in on their targets.

"What?!" Rydia exclaimed. The needles slammed into Kain, and into her. She screamed in pain. not only did the justu paralyzed her, but it sent surges of dark energy, racking her entire body in agony. She could barely hear the two men yelling in torment.

"Dispel!"

The needles vanished into dust. Rydia gasped, and the torturous pain left her. With Kain's help, she rose to her feet and looked over to see Juste bolt down the hill toward the forest near the edge of the Damcyan Desert.

"He's fleeing?!" Edge growled. "Coward! Leaving his men to die like this?!"

"It's a trick," the same voice which cast Dispel said. Rydia looked over to see Rosa. "Don't follow him." She shook her head.

"Except he could gather more men," Kain said. "And return to create a pincer attack."

"Yeah, we can't let him get away," Edge agreed.

"Or worse, he's heading to steal more power from the Fire Crystal again," Rydia said. The three looked at her in confusion. "I can't explain, there's no time. I need to get down there and stop him. I know, it's probably a trap, but you three have armies to lead. Please, trust me."

Rosa sighed, and shook her head. "No, he's expecting you."

"I have to go after him!" Rydia said.

"You have to?" Kain asked.

"Well..." Rydia bit her lip. "I need to do something about him!" In her mind, she saw Mist burning again. She couldn't let it happen a third time. "Come to me!" She called out. Mist gathered around her and took the form of her Mist Dragon.

"This isn't like you," Rosa said, advancing on Rydia. "You're being irrational. Juste wants you to fall into his trap. He wants you dead, don't give him such pleasure."

"Rosa..." she said, crestfallen. She felt her mother nudge her. "Ugh... I know, but..."

"Rydia, take Kain with you," Edge said. She looked at him with surprise. "I'm serious. Go after Juste, he's expecting you, but he won't expect a master dragoon to be with you." She sensed a grin under his mask. "Besides, Rand led the dragoons once and I bet he picked up some nice tricks from Kain. They technically have a second commander."

Rosa smiled. "A good point, Edge. Not to mention, our dragoons are quite well trained." She turned her eyes to Kain. "All because we have an excellent commander and trainer."

Kain bowed his head. "Thank you." He turned to Rydia. "Mi'lady?"

She smiled. "I told you... you don't need to call me that," she said. Edge is right. She beckoned to her beloved. "Come on." She looked at her eidolon. "Mother..." The dragon nodded. "Right!" She climbed up onto the dragon's back, and nodded to Kain. The dragoon joined her on the Mist Dragon's back. "Good luck to all of you."

"And to you, too, Rydia, Kain," Edge said.

"Promise us you'll return alive," Rosa said with urgency.

"Fear not, we will," Kain said to her. He looked into Rydia's eyes. "Both of us will." She nodded in return.

"I don't doubt it," Edge said. He placed his hands on his hips.

Rydia nodded again, and then patted her eidolon. The Mist Dragon shot into the air and soared toward the forest Juste had escaped into.

I won't let you hurt or deceive anyone else, Juste, Rydia thought, the image of Mist burning still emblazoned into her memory. No, never again.