Breaking Point

Reason didn't look at the other two as he picked up Foresight's body and pulled off the crystal necklace from around her neck. He then tossed her into his makeshift prison pit. He used his earth magic to fill it up, sighing shakily.

I guess I can't downplay what I just did…and they were finally starting to trust me.

He felt Meaning hover near his shoulder, and he turned tired eyes toward her. She held out a ruby gem.

'Thanks for everything,' he smiled weakly, tucking the gem into his pocket. He pulled out his broken device. 'We need to get the other eidolon here and leave quickly.'

Meaning's answer was to fly off, heading further down the Iifa tree. Reason sighed then sat wearily on the floor, beginning to fiddle with the device.

'Reason?' A hesistant Mikoto asked. '…Are you okay?'

He looked up at her, his face blank.

'Meaning has gone to collect the other eidolon. You two should rest while you can.' He turned back to the device as a sign of dismissal.

All of Mikoto's hesitation vanished in a wave of annoyance as she snatched the device out of his hand to get his attention.

'Don't you dare go all zombie-mode on me! You just killed someone! Talk to me, Reason!'

'What's there to talk about?' he deadpanned, 'I'm a monster. I don't regret for an instant what I just did. She was too dangerous to keep alive.'

'…Okay,' Mikoto said slowly, sitting beside him. 'But it still can't be easy to do. Don't shut me out, Reason; Vivi and I owe you our lives for what you just did.'

'Technically you owe Meaning.' Reason snorted. His eyes widened in shock as she pulled him into a tight hug.

'I won't let you slip back into being Justice, okay? And I won't abandon you.'

Reason remained stiff for a few moments, but noticed Vivi watching them a few paces away, worried. Reason smiled, relaxing a little.

'Okay. I understand.'

Dagger hadn't planned to change Ipsen's advice, but seeing the smoke rising from Lindblum wasn't something she could ignore.

'Steiner.' She commanded, getting his full attention, 'I want you to return to Alexandria as fast as you can. Prepare our army to defend from invasion. Amarant and I will check on Lindblum and carry on to the Ice Caverns.'

Any other time Steiner might have tried to protest, but the Queen's tone made him hold his tongue and just nod.

'Be careful, Your Majesty.' He said instead.

Little did they know, Ipsen himself was already in Lindblum, hoping to get on a cargo ship to Dali, until he saw the devastation the city was in.

The stolen battle airships were hovering close to the ground just outside Lindblum, ready to spring into action when commanded.

So Garland hasn't attacked full force. Is he giving them a chance to surrender?

Ipsen prayed Cid was smart and did just that. The Terrans would have no qualm about killing every last citizen.

But why would he give them the option to surrender? He needs to kill as many Gaians as possible. Unless…

The destructive soul isn't here.

'Well, that's something at least.' Ipsen sighed. Garland could take Lindblum, but without the Destructive soul he would lose many Terrans, something he couldn't risk lightly.

I should steal a ship while I can and head to Dali. The eidolons are the best hope we have. But…

He heard a pained scream come from within the city and began running towards it without a second thought.

I can't just ignore their pain.

Garland smirked in satisfaction as he and five other Terrans were escorted to Regent Cid.

Everything had gone according to plan. The Terrans had stormed the Business District, catching it by surprise before any reinforcements could come and help. Once they'd arrived, he's promised to temporarily cease their attacks if he was taken to Regent Cid.

He surrendered in the past, I can't see him resisting this time.

Cid was sat on his throne, his whole body tense and his face pale. His wife sat beside him, head held high but with a glint of fear in her eyes.

Good, Garland smirked.

'I think you know what I'm about to say,' Garland said, 'Surrender to my army and we will stop killing your citizens.'

The Regent glared down at him a moment, but then sighed and bowed his head in defeat.

'Very well; whatever it takes to keep my people safe.'

'Good. No harm will come to your citizens as long as they co-operate. No one is to leave the city, and all trade must stop. I will leave soldiers behind; you will obey them until our 'ambassador' arrives.'

'Ambassador?' Cid asked, a chill going up his spine.

'Yes, he's just visiting some rats first.'

Destruction calmly walked away from the remains of the farm and back to the village entrance, ignoring the devastated and shocked stares of the Black Mages.

'But why?' The enthusiastic one from earlier whispered, voice full of tears. 'Without that farm we'll die.'

Destruction climbed onto the dragon's back and stared down at them with a sigh.

'Were you really happy living longer by such a means? It's better your life remains short and your souls untainted.'

He was about to set off when the mage spoke again quietly.

'What?' Destruction asked.

'Forest. It's a girl, so I think she should be called Forest.'

Part of Destruction wanted to scoff, but he surprised himself by nodding and giving the mage a warm smile.

'Forest it is.' He said, then commanded her to rise in the air.

When Dagger and Amarant reached Lindblum all was quiet. She entered the city cautiously, spotting genomes/Terrans further ahead with citizens rounded up and under watch.

'What's-'

'Queen Garnet!' A frantic whisper drew her to the gate's side, where Ipsen was healing a Lindblum soldier with his magic.

Amarant and Dagger joined him, now out of sight. She remembered how Vivi had hid here when Lindblum had been attacked by her mother, and how he'd eventually been found.

We can't stay here undetected for long.

'What are you doing here?' Dagger asked.

'I was going to get on a cargo ship to reach Dali,' Ipsen grimaced, 'But I arrived during the attack. The fighting has stopped now; Regent Cid must have surrendered.'

'Oh good.' Dagger breathed out in relief.

'Yes, it must mean the destructive soul isn't here with them. As long as he's busy elsewhere Lindblum's people won't be hurt further. Our original plan will be the best way to help them.'

Dagger swallowed the lump in her throat.

So I can't try to help here? Just like when Alexandria was attacked…

Ipsen stopped his healing magic, seeing the soldier was stable. He looked at the young Queen and smiled.

'However, there is something you can help me with here…'

Eiko was unusually quiet as they made their way through Esto Gaza towards Mount Gulug. The last time she'd come here she'd been unconscious most of the time, but the brief flashes she had weren't pleasant memories.

'Are you okay?' Kuja asked, hesitant; knowing he was the cause of Eiko's bad experience.

Eiko shook her head to shake off her cloud of doom and looked over at Kuja.

'I'm fine…I guess it just reminds me of when I nearly lost my eidolons, but now they're lost anyway.'

'We'll get them back,' Kuja promised, 'In the meantime, you have me.'

Eiko smiled.

'Wow, I must look really depressed when you're trying to cheer me up so hard.' She giggled. 'Is Brahne giving you a guilt trip?'

'She doesn't need to.' Kuja shrugged.

Eiko punched him lightly.

'No more moping for either of us. Let's get this eidolon and get out of here.'

Kuja nodded in agreement as they entered Mount Gulug.

'Are you sure about this? Even with my help this is a dangerous plan.' Dagger cautioned.

'For us too,' Amarant added. 'We'll be drawing their attention to us.'

'Garland won't dare come near you when there's an active eidolon.' Ipsen reassured. 'He plans to leave you and Eiko to the destructive soul now, but put some distance between you and Lindblum, just in case.'

Dagger nods in understanding, trying not the wince at the thought of Zidane's body coming to kill her.

'Then we better get started. Good luck.'

Ipsen smiled as he climbed into one of the few airships not hovering above the ground. Amarant reluctantly followed. Thirty seconds later Dagger heard cries of surprise and sounds of fists hitting flesh. A moment later Amarant reappeared, carrying two unconscious Terrans.

'This Ipsen is almost as big a pain as Zidane,' He muttered, tossing the Terrans on the ground as he reached Dagger. 'Right, let's get moving.'

Dagger nodded as they began to run, putting as much distance between them and Lindblum as they could while Ipsen started up the airship.

'Thanks Meaning,' Reason said as she handed him the aquamarine gem. He was still sat, they all were, but his attention had turned to his device, now fixed and giving off a signal.

So it wasn't just Foresight, he sighed.

'What's that mean?' Mikoto asked, turning away from her conversation with Vivi.

Reason winced in answer.

'It means we need to stop Garland, and fast.'

As soon as Ipsen was in the air the other airships hovering nearby went after him. Dagger took a deep breath as she saw them prepare to fire on the small cargo ship.

'It's now or never.' Amarant piped up.

Please, I need your help, but don't cause any loss of life.

The sky began to darken as she summoned Ark. His airship form appearing between the cargo ship and its pursuers. They swerved to avoid it as he changed into his humanoid form and fired the laser blast beneath, just strong enough to rattle the ships, making them lose control and crash to the ground.

As Ark vanished Dagger scanned the far away area to see the damage caused.

'They'll live,' Amarant reported, his eyesight better, 'And Ipsen got away. Now we should leave too before they start searching.'

Dagger nodded and let out a shaky, relieved sigh.

Good luck Ipsen. Hopefully we'll all meet again soon.