Special thanks to Guest for the reviews, you're keeping me motivated :)

Ceremony

Reason concentrated harder, sensing a faint presence.

Please, we need your help, he said, Your summoners are waiting for you to return.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, eyes closed and reaching out to the faint presence. Eventually he felt a brief acknowledgement and a stone leave the statue, dropping into his hands.

Reason opened his eyes, grinning at the Saphire gem.

'Looks like youguys were right; those four stones were the key.'

'Vivi said there used to be a Moonstone in there, but figured it was the best place to look.'

Reason turned to Vivi and nodded.

'Thank you,' he said, smiling. 'Now we have all three. Let's head to Alexandria.'

'Why couldn't it be near the entrance, why does it have to be all the way back here?'

'At least we didn't have to search around blindly for it when you can sense it.' Kuja pointed out. 'I doubt Mikoto's group will be so lucky.'

'Yeah, I feel sorry for Vivi stuck with that gloomy guy, and Mikoto has to be the constant translator…but, I guess you do know how that feels. No one but you can hear Queen Brahne.'

'Please stop talking about that,' Kuja groaned. 'Our souls are combined now but she'd rather keep it from Garnet.'

'Well, I think she should tell her…after all this. I think it will make her happy to know her mother's nearby.'

What do you think? Kuja asked.

Brahne remained silent.

'We'll see.' Kuja answered for her.

Eiko nodded, deciding not to push too much yet.

'Oh, there it is!' she shouted, running to a treasure chest in the location Mog had first changed into Madeen.

Kuja watched silently as she knelt by the chest, silent for a good five minutes before it popped open and she removed a Topaz gem.

'Right!' she said, spinning back to face Kuja. 'Let's get out of here! Get ready to fly again.'

Kuja groaned.

'Have some mercy Eiko, I need some rest first.'

'We'll see.' Eiko mocked, grinning and rushing on ahead.

I like her, Brahne spoke up, amused.

You would.

Freya and Fratley arrived at Burmecia in good time, relieved to see it unharmed but on high alert.

'Is the King safe?' Freya demanded from the first soldier she saw.

'Yes, Lady Freya, he's safe in the palace. We have our soldiers spread throughout the city and our knights guarding His Highness. There was a sighting of a man on a dragon two days ago, but he left without doing anything.'

A dragon? Was that Zidan- I mean, the destructive soul?

Her and Fratley continued on towards the palace.

Puck was sat on the throne, looking annoyed as the knight explained again why the young King had to be heavily guarded. He perked up as soon as Freya and Fratley entered, jumping off the throne and running towards them.

'What took you guys so long? Tell these idiots to back off, would you?'

'I'm afraid we can't do that, Your Highness,' Freya sighed. 'Things have taken…a rather unexpected turn.'

Puck groaned.

'Fine, you better tell us everything.'

Ipsen hadn't flown an airship before, so he was rather proud of himself when he managed to land it in the field outside of Dali without damaging anything.

…The villagers didn't share his good mood.

'Why an earth did you bring a cargo ship here without any cargo?' One middle aged man grumbled. Ipsen quickly realised he was the village's mayor. 'Lindblum better not be slacking off.'

'I'm afraid Lindblum has been seized by an enemy force. I wouldn't rely on trades with them for a while.'

He left the man grumbling and muttering with the other people there and headed straight for the windmill, already sensing a faint presence.

He found the hidden hatch easily and descended below ground, being lead into a room flooded with mist. He approached a treasure chest and concentrated.

Hello Empathy. No time to rest I'm afraid, your summoner needs you.

The chest opened a moment later, and Ipsen picked up the Amethyst gem, a sad smile on his face.

For the biggest battle we have ever seen.

'Um, what?' Mikoto asked, blinking in disbelief.

'Yer 'eard me lassie. Those 'oo visit the Santuary need tae 'ave the ceremony. Yer were there withou' it, so yer need tae do it now!'

'U-Um,' Vivi spoke up. 'I already had one with Quina.'

'Aye, yer fine lad, but 'ese two.' The dwarf indicated Reason and Mikoto. 'Need to 'ave it done.'

'What is this ceremony?' Mikoto asked suspiciously.

'W-well, um…'

Vivi explained as best as he could, and felt bad as her face began to redden.

'What's going on?' Reason asked Mikoto, confused. 'Why won't they let us past?'

Mikoto slowly turned to face him, unable to meet his gaze.

'T-they're saying we have to get married.'

Once again the destructive soul was hovering just outside of Burmecia, frowning down at the numerous soldiers stationed all over the city.

My little side-trip has given them time to prepare themselves…oh well, it should prove more interesting this way.

He commanded Forest to land outside the city, knowing the Burmecians jump ability would mean the dragon would be no help evading them.

Plus, I prefer to walk through the front door. Destruction smirked. He walked confidently into the city and immediately ten Burmecians scurried towards him, their faces hard.

So they've been warned this body is no longer friendly.

'I have no reason to kill you…yet. Surrender and no harm will come to you and your King.'

'You're lying! Lady Freya and Sir Fratley have told us everything. We won't let you destroy our city!'

Destruction let out a dramatic sigh as he continued walking towards them.

'If that's how you really feel.'

He released an ultima spell in the centre of the group, not even pausing as he walked through them.

They would not have survived the blast.

Reason stood on the boat platform with numb shock, not understanding any of the words the holy dwarf was saying.

This is insane! Getting married for such a trivial reason. We could have forced our way past…

And Mikoto didn't take long to be convinced this was the right path. Did she want to get married?

…But we barely know each other.

'Reason.' Mikoto said, waving a hand in front of his face. 'It's over; we can pass through Conde Petie now.'

'O-oh, okay,' Reason stuttered, feeling his face heat up. 'So w-we don't have to..?'

'What?'

'K-kiss? To c-consummate the ceremony?'

Mikoto's own face turned bright red as she turned away.

'Um, no, that's not needed. L-let's just go.'

Reason watched her walk off, confused.

Strange, she acted so confident and flirtatious in the past…So, did this ceremony actually mean something to her?

When Reason caught up to her she was with Vivi, who was talking to another Black Mage, both distressed.

'What's going on?' he asked Mikoto, who was watching them silently.

'He says Zidane came to the Black Mage village and destroyed the mist producing farm. No one was hurt, but that was helping extend their lives and creating more mages.'

'…That is strange.'

Why would the destructive soul go there? His mission is to cause chaos and death to Gaia.

'Vivi wants to go there.'

Reason just nodded, wanting to visit there himself.

What is going on?

'He's already taken out most of the soldiers in the city.' A scout reported.

'We should get you to safety, Your Highness.' Fratley said to Puck.

'I ain't going nowhere. If our back-up plan doesn't work, I'm as good as dead anyway. He'll follow me, just like he did to my old man.'

Fratley sighed but didn't try to argue further.

'Then we will go out and delay him.' Freya spoke up. 'If he's going to hesitate with anyone here, it will be me.'

'Yes, that makes sense.'

Freya bowed briefly at Puck then jumped, Fratley following her to the palace entrance.

Destruction let out an amused grunt at the two Burmecians blocking his path.

'This is all that's guarding the palace entrance? I'm disappointed, I thought you rats would be up to a decent struggle this time.'

Freya ignored his words, taking a step forward.

'Zidane, I know you're still in there-'

Destruction's deep laugh interrupted her words.

'Did you forget Alexandria's Queen already tried that? Should I slash your arm too?'

'I won't let you use Zidane's body like this! He worked too hard to save Gaia from war, he nearly died! You will not taint him.'

Destruction just grinned and shook his head.

'It's much too late for that.'

Freya balled her hands into fists, then sighed, falling into a battle stance to fight her friend…