Chapter Twenty-Five

The sky was beginning to darken when the team departed the Burmecian Castle. The help of the castle had dressed Alex in a hunter green woolen cloak that weighed heavily on the small girl's shoulders. Her face was pinched, her eyes as wet as the ground around them. When Zidane knelt down to hug her, she latched onto him like she was never going to see him again. Zidane had to admit, feeling her tiny arms hold him so tightly broke his heart. He, too, squeezed her back, lifting her into the air and tilting her back and forth. Tenderly, he kissed Alex's forehead, cheeks, and nose, but the smallest princess couldn't help but cry in her father's arms, which then lead to frustrating hiccups. He lowered the small girl back to the wet cobblestone that lead towards the castle. She shook in his arms, refusing to allow him to let go. Alex kept her arms locked around Zidane's neck. Gently, he wrestled back to look at her sopping wet eyes. How it made his heart shatter into a million pieces.

"One day, you're going to understand, little monkey," Zidane said quietly. Behind him, the team composed of Sarah, Dante, Steiner, Beatrix, Eiko, Freya, and additional help courtesy of the Burmecian Castle waited patiently. Zidane's slacks grew wet as he sat on his knees in front of the trembling Alex. "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow... maybe not even next week- but you're going to realize why you have to stay here, Alex."

"But... what if you don't come back?" Alex croaked, holding his hand tightly against her, as if that would prevent him from walking away. "If I never see you or Sarah or Bella or even Beatrix ever again, how could I ever understand, Daddy?"

Zidane pursed his lips, gingerly tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear. "You're going to see all of us again, Alex. We won't come back unless we have everyone- including Bella." Alex was not convinced, however, and wailed out again, throwing herself into Zidane. He was trying so hard to keep it together, to not let his hurt fuse with her's. He had to be strong. But in that moment, he just wanted to hold his little girl for a few moments more. He held her small wiry body tightly against him, his fingers knotting through her wet curly hair. Around them, the rain pummeled against the glossy cobblestone bricks, their earthy tones illuminated beneath the ruminating storm clouds. His awaiting team watched the King hold his youngest daughter rather grimly. Though nobody knew what truly awaited them on this journey, they knew it would not be easy. It never had been. Seeing the King tenderly hold his little girl, kissing her wet face over and over again, brought great sorrow to the heroes. How terrible a thought was it to almost have returned to square one, where they once stood nearly seventeen years ago.

As Zidane stroked his hands through Alex's hair, listening to the patter of the rain, feeling it coursing down his skin, he couldn't help but think he had failed. This wasn't the world Zidane wanted to leave for his girls. Not the kind he wanted to expose them to. But it was all unraveling again and he felt powerless to stop it. Finally, though, the slender fingers of a maid reached for Alex's shoulders, pulling her away from her father.

"Daddy!" Alex nearly screeched as the maid picked her up. Her short arms reached out from beneath her woolen cape, the cold rain sliding down her porcelain skin. The look in her eyes was soul shattering. The maid held Alex steady as the young girl reached for her father, as if she was never going to see him again. Zidane could only stare at her, with his heart pounding his ears, everything moving as if it was slow motion. Alex's tears streaked down her face and Zidane felt his breathing shallow as the rain pelted against him. Firmly, Beatrix placed her hand to Zidane's shoulder, drawing him back. The king staggered a few steps, still looking towards his upset child. His youngest. His baby. "Daddy!"

Steiner came to the other side of Zidane, his warm hand gripping his arm. Gently, Beatrix and Steiner tugged at him. But Zidane's eyes were still glued to the wildly upset princess who did her damndest to break free so she could follow. The maid was strong, however, and had seen many restless children in her day. There were no signs of her arms letting go of Alex. Alex reached her small slender hand out towards Zidane, her face pinched and nearly betrayed. Zidane also extended his hand, but she was out of his reach. Zidane's heart pounded in his chest as Steiner and Beatrix successfully dragged him away from the heartbreaking scene. Finally, Zidane had to will himself to turn around. His boots scraped against the slick cobblestone as he turned his back on Alex's cries. He pursed his lips and squeezed his eyes shut as he forced himself to walk away. He lowered his head, the raindrops falling from the tip of his nose. He felt like he almost couldn't breath, his gifted woolen cape blowing against his broad shoulders. Zidane felt anything but okay as he and the team descended the platforms of the Burmecian Castle.

...

The mud in the road had become diastrous. The path sunk nearly to sea level as Fauna and Bella continued onward. They now muddled through the way of travel. Bella was nearly ankle deep in mud and praying the slop wouldn't flow over to the inside of her boots. The rain was relentless. Bella had visited Burmecia a few times in her childhood and had long heard the tales of the eternal rain. She wished it would let up, but she knew that would never happen. The vast ocean was not far off, either, and the misty fog descended around the duo. Fauna pushed her hair from her face as she stepped through the murk, staring through the fog.

"There, the Northern Ports," Fauna pointed ahead. Bella squinted through the weather. Evening time would be setting in soon. But vaguely through the rain, she could make out the distinct shape of boats bobbing in the restless sea, crates stacked a top the glossy boardwalk, and several figures. Bella hadn't seen other people in days. It was almost calming, in a way, to realize there were still other living beings out there. Fauna grabbed Bella's wrist, tugging her through the mud at a quicker pace. "We must hurry. From here, our jouney will be easier. As soon as we get out of this damned rain, at least."

You don't have much time. Remember your powers.

Fauna ground her teeth together as she pulled Bella from the path. The two treaded through the slick grass in their clumpy boots, approaching the dock quickly. As they came closer, Bella saw several people of varying backgrounds wandering aimlessly about, looking towards the mountains and gazing out to the sea. They were all dressed like Fauna in the tight bodysuits with chainmail embedded against their midriffs and shoulders. Fauna released Bella, immediately approaching someone else to speak to them. The young princess went to the edge of the dock where she began scraping her boots against the edge of the wood. She watched the soggy clumps of mud drip from the planks, back to the ground, where it belonged. She pursed her lips and climbed onto the dock, adjusting her wet backpack against her even wetter jacket. Bella looked between the boats. None were of a spectacular size. She wondered if they even had cabins down below. She walked between the two docked boats, trying to guess which one would take them safely across the ocean, towards the unknown. A crack of thunder rang out overhead as Bella inspected crates that were nailed tightly shut. Many said FRAGILE in dark bold paints along the side. Bella cocked her head to look harder at the crate when a figure emerged from the deck of the boat. Bella gasped sharply, staggering backwards, nearly off the other end of the dock.

It was a black mage. He wore long purple and golden coats with a dark brown pants. His yellow eyes lay on Bella for only a moment before he hoisted the crate into his hand, moving it onto the deck. Bella's eyes were wide as saucers as she watched him diligently work, not at all bothered by the downpour. Bella had never seen a black mage in person. He vaguely resembled the charcoal drawings she had seen of Master Vivi, one of the eight heroes of the Old War. One of her parent's best friends. Another one popped it's head up with its flappy wide-brimmed hat, reaching for a crate and dragging it beneath the deck. Bella cautiously approached them, but they paid her no mind. It was as if she wasn't there at all.

Fauna's boots clunked heavily to the wet pier. Behind her, the people in matching clothes seemingly scattered. "It's time. We've made it this far, now all that's left to do is get on the boat."

"Who are they?" Bella pointed towards the rather mindless workers.

"Don't mind them. They won't bother you," Fauna waved her hand dismissively. Bella only watched the black mages continue to do their back-breaking work. "Get on the boat, Arabella."

The sound of an unsheathing sword was heard in the next moment. Fauna felt cool steel come to press to the nape of her neck. She paused, a smile almost coming across her lips. She didn't dare move to even look at who it was.

"If you even think of putting her on that boat, I will have you tried and put to death," Came a voice as hard as the steel of their sword. Bella looked around Fauna, surprised to see a group of familiar faces, dressed in woolen capes she had never seen before. Her father held his dagger outwards, a look of stone embedded into his face, as he held the weapon steady towards Fauna. Beside him was her sister, who looked to Bella with relief, holding her sword confidentally in front of her.

In one deft move, Fauna slid backwards on the deck, grabbing Bella by the collar of her coat roughly. The woman had never handled Bella so callously. She let out a small 'eep' as she staggered back with Fauna towards the end of the pier. Behind them, she felt the mist of the raging waves beating against the algae covered pier legs. "A king as fair as yourself would allow his emotions to drive him to public execution? You're no better than Brahne herself."

"The difference is I actually care about my daughter," Zidane replied. His voice bubbled with frustration and anger. "Release her. You're at the end of the line, Fauna."

Fauna smiled, tugging at Bella's collar and drawing the young girl upwards. "You look at me as if I'm the traitor. I'm loyal to one. The same cannot be said of you. You make promises you can't keep. You betrayed Kuja after you told him you would work with him."

"You what!?" Beatrix lowered her sword for a moment, looking to Zidane. He didn't flinch.

"The deal is off," Zidane said through clenched teeth. "Kuja didn't uphold his end of the deal. He was supposed to leave Bella alone."

"Beggars cannot be choosers, Zidane," Fauna shook her head, tugging Bella by her coat collar again. The dark haired princess' heart beat rapidly in her chest. Her eyes darted between Fauna, the mindless black mages, and the team of Alexandrian's and Burmecian's who had come to her aid. Bella realized in that moment things were going gravely wrong. And, for the first time, she was beginning to worry for her life and everyone's around her. She couldn't even begin to guess what could happen next.

"Enough with the talk," Sarah stepped forward, holding her sword up. "Hand her over or your head won't be attached to your body."

"My, my, that's not how a princess should speak," Fauna clucked. "The princesses minds have been poisoned by violence and the incredibly loose tongue of the king. An utter shame. But Kuja shall make amends of that."

"It doesn't have to be like this, Fauna," Zidane came to stand beside Sarah. Bella looked to them through the wet hair sticking to her face. They both seemed so serious... so hardend. Bella had never seen Sarah look so adamantly angry. Her shoulders rose and fell, as if she was seething, ready to hack her sword into the nearest body. She never expected her older sister would come this far to find her. "Can't you see you're being tricked?! You're letting Kuja use you as a puppet!" Overhead, a crack of thunder rang out and a gusty wind pushed through the scene, sending the cold rain sideways. "You used to be a regular human being, Fauna! You used to have your own life, your own emotions. Kuja has destroyed who you were. You're letting him win!"

"Hush with your appeals, they mean nothing to me," Fauna shook her head. "I'm tired of your talk. You're nothing amusing, as you'd like to think." Fauna lifted her hand. Beatrix and Steiner's heads immediately snapped towards the boat, watching as the two mindless black mages began lifting their hands up and down, beginning what looked to be a focus of energy.

Beatrix wasted no time. She brandished her Save the Queen and deftly leapt onto a beam of the pier. She jumped into the air, landing on a crate and slashed her sword at the black mage, who clattered to the ground. Steiner hauled himself onto the ship, causing it to buckle back and forth. The last remaining black mage had a glowing light to it. The angelic beam met Fauna's hand. Steiner lifted his sword.

"Don't, you fool!" Fauna shouted, grounding her teeth together. Steiner brought his sword down with great force just as the beam of light erupted from the black mage. Immediately, the blinding light became an intense electrified blue. The very ground shook beneath everyone's feet. Fauna's arm was engulfed in the light and she strained under the immense energy she was met with. Beside her, even Bella began to feel the pressure as the electricity reached through Fauna and coursed into her. Dante nearly fell into the water with the shaking.

In the next moment, the pier was engulfed in an orb of light. And when it all faded away, not a single person remained. Flashes of ambers, emerald greens, and misty whites flowed past Zidane's eyes. He felt as if he was hurdling through the air. His stomach plummeted as he found himself being tossed through the abyss. Fleeting whispers passed by his ear, making goosebumps pucker across his skin. A feeling of doom was beginning to unfurl inside him. What was this place? Fleeting thoughts of Memoria passed through his mind as he felt himself turning and tumbling. All those soured memories were coming back to the surface. He had tried so hard for the past two decades to bury the unwanted memories, dedicating himself to only remembering the high times of his journey with friend's. But now, the damned past, with all it's baggage, was unfolding before Zidane into the utter pitch that surrounded him. A scream pierced his ears and he cringed at the sound. It was a familiar scream that sent a tremor down his spine.

...

Zidane jerked his head up from where he lay face down on a dusty, uneven, and rocky surface. Beneath him, rubble and dirt scraped to the ground as his stiff body slowly came to. His head pounded furiously. Nearby, the bodies of Beatrix and Steiner laid in awkward positions. Zidane let out a dry cough, tilting his head down. He pressed his forehead to the sharp ground, his mind still reeling. The chill that gripped his body was slowly dissipating into a radiating heat. He heard movement nearby and lifted his head, breathing heavily. Sarah was face down, as well, but she was awakening. Zidane blinked rapidly, looking around the area. Eiko, Freya, and Dante were all out cold. The Burmecian soldiers and nurses who were with them were no where to be found. The warm pain in his body quickly flooded away as he came to recognize what surrounded them.

Sarah let out a ragged cough and brought her head up. Her gloved hands rigidly ran through the dust and rubble that surrounded her. She had hit her head and a gash cut straight through her left eyebrow. Her skin was crusty with dark blood. Her sight was quite bleary as she grappled to become fully conscious. Overhead, a hot sun beat down on her; quite unexpected from the weather she was experiencing moments before the chilling darkness had overtaken her. Sarah coughed again as she tried to bring herself to her knees. But she slumped into the wall beside her. She squinted into the sunlight above as she attempted to catch her breath. Slowly, she looked at her surroundings.

It was nothing but rubble, it seemed. A forgotten place that had been overrun dozens and dozens of years ago. She found herself sitting in what almost resembled a colosseum. A wide circular space enclosed by tall walls that were crumbling and shifting apart. Towards the center, old pillars stood crooked and ready to tumble over. The ground was entirely uneven with protruding slabs of stone coming through the surface. The walls were covered in engravings and spectacular etchings of powerful looking creatures. Overhead, a large bird spread its wings and squawked. Sarah turned her head, looking to the wall behind her. With a little effort, she dragged herself through the dirt, so she could better inspect was written before her.

"Fear not the power of summon magic, but the ones who can use it..." Her scratchy voice read out faintly. Her bloodshots eyes darted to the left. "Greed and instability endlessly repeat old mistakes... Will omniscence set us free...?" She felt her breathing shallow, as if the words were leaping out at her. Sarah's neck felt heavier and she clutched the Raven Claw in her palm tightly.

She heard stirring behind her and quickly looked over her shoulder to see her father was gaining consciousness. Sarah staggered to her feet and crossed to him, pressing a hand to his back. "Daddy, are you alright?" Sarah asked, rather breathlessly.

"I'm fine, I'm fine..." Zidane rattled as he came to his knees. Immediately, he reached his hands up to grip her jaw. "You're bleeding. Beatrix has a first aid kit in her backpack."

"I'm okay," Sarah assured him, gripping his arms tightly. "Daddy, where are we?"

Zidane was quiet for a few moments as he caught his breath and inspected the unstirring party members they had left. A gust of wind blew a swirl of dust into the air and the birds continued to announce their presence. He pursed his lips and blinked his wet eyes, looking to Sarah.

"This is where your mother and Eiko were born..." He said, softly. "This is their hometown."

"Madain Sari," Sarah had tears in her eyes now. She took in a deep uneven breath, gazing down towards the pendant dangling from her neck. She gripped it tenderly and slowly came to her feet. Sarah was slightly off balance at first, but she gripped a nearby decaying pillar for support. Zidane stood behind her, now, as she approached another section of writings. "I survived the storm... I wonder if you two are okay?" She came closer to the wall. Zidane felt like all the blood in his body was rushing out of him. Sarah lifted her hand, gently touching the rigid etchings. "I see the two of you smile every time I close my eyes. I imagine I see you when I open my eyes..." Sarah pursed her lips, looking to her father. "Doctor Tot has always spoken of Madain Sari as being a sacred place... but... there's nothing but misery etched into these walls..."

"This used to be a very special place," Zidane replied, nearly numb.

"But it still has to be," Sarah turned to him. "It's an utter ruins yet... this is the pulse of the planet. Why has it been left like this?"

"It is left as testament," A ragged voice said from behind them. Sarah and Zidane gazed into the rubble of the Eiodolon Wall, watching as Eiko rose. She had suffered a busted lip and scraped chin from the impact. She untangled herself from where she had fallen with Dante and cautiously came to her knees, catching her breath and coming to. Eiko pushed her hair from her dirt smudged face that was sticky with sweat. "This is what remains of the Summoners heritage. It is a fact."

"Isn't there hope to restore Madain Sari?" Sarah threw her arms out at her side, gesturing to the destruction. Now, all the party members were coming to. Freya reached for her hat that had fallen a few feet away, mashing it over her tangled and knotted ashen hair. Dante rubbed his dusty eyes furiously and rotated his sore wrist. Steiner gently carressed Beatrix as she sat up, rubbing dust away from her rosy cheekbones. "You and Bella... you're still living testaments to the Summoner heritage. There has to be more we can do."

Eiko weakly came to her feet. Dante steadied her for a moment, looking to Sarah whose bloody face was hardend. "You have read the textbooks," Eiko said, with a voice that was faintly woozy. "Every war that's ever been, summons have been used inappropriately. The people who do not understand fear us. And they are in the mass majority. I realize I'm fool now, trying so desperately to hold onto what I thought I had. There is nothing to be proud of as a Summoner. It only causes dread. Zidane, you were right. Eiodolons are weapons of mass destruction. I'll never be entirely control..."

"Eiko..." Zidane stepped towards her, but in the next moment, she fainted backwards into Dante's arms.

...

The creatures chirped loudly that night. The sound of the roaring waterfall brought some comfort to Zidane's shot nerves. He found himself sitting on the back patio of Eiko's old house. The kitchen was still in disarray, as if she had never left. Zidane had expected to find Lani here, but there was no trace. He recalled Mikoto had encountered her but a month ago. He reached into his backpack as flecks of mist speckled against his face. Zidane grimaced as he withdrew a soggy pack of cigarettes. They would have to do, however. He lit his match and anxiously puffed on his cigarette, watching the end cherry. He then flicked the match away into the violent white rapids of the waterfall.

Zidane tilted his head back as he took the much needed drag. There were so many stars clustered above him. Bands of milky purples and greens reached through the galaxy. He blinked slowly as he exhaled, his smoke lazily slinking away from him. As he placed his cigarette between his lips, he wondered if Dagger had once been under this sky, looking at the same stars. Did she ever remember how beautiful the night was in Madain Sari, with it's orchestra of critters, and soothing sounds of water? He wondered if she had ever dreamt about the happy times in Madain Sari. If she had, she had never told him. The very thought of Dagger placed an excrutiating pain in his temple, as if Kuja was reminding him of his presence. He furrowed his brow together, keeping his eyes trained on the stars.

He heard bare feet to the deck behind him and a moment later, Eiko was pulling herself into the rickety wooden chair beside Zidane. She folded her knees up against her chest and hugged them, placing her chin on top. Zidane glanced to her, taking his time with another drag.

"You should be asleep," Zidane said.

"You, too," Eiko turned her blue eyes on him. But she heaved a high, hunching her shoulders. "I can't sleep... I just- I hate being here. In my first few months at the Lindblum Castle, I thought I was homesick. But I realize now I really never wanted to come back."

"How come?" Zidane asked, watching the waterfall.

"Shame... humiliation," Eiko shook her head. "I broke my grandfather's promise and I have continually let my people down. I don't deserve to be back here again."

Zidane flicked his cigarette over the railing, crossing his arms over his chest and sliding back in his seat. "You're too hard on yourself," He almost scoffed. Eiko looked to him, furrowing her brow. "You can't take the burden of an entire civilization on your shoulders... it's not fair. Not when you were born into the downfall. You got swept up in an avalanche with no hook, Eiko."

"Maybe so," Eiko lowered her dark, tired eyes. "But I've always liked to think I could help myself. I can't, though, Zidane. I fail every time I try. I was never as strong as I wanted to believe. And... I'm just so sorry."

"Why're you sorry?" Zidane turned his head.

"I should have listened to you all those weeks ago, Zidane..." Eiko squeezed her eyes shut as she felt a wave of hot salty tears spring up. "You told me not to and I... I didn't take heed of you or even take into consideration your side of things. I was so determined after that night at Sarah's gala. I thought I was doing what was right. But now, everything's gone wrong. And Bella is probably halfway to the Iifa Tree... just outside of Kuja's grip..."

Zidane cast his eyes down as he listened to Eiko try to conceal the sobs attempting to erupt from her chest. Fleetingly, memories of Bella flashed by his eyes. He could see her young pudgey face, grinning with missing teeth. He saw her focused face as she divulged in her favorite books. He could see her sprinting through the castle garden. There she was reaching out to him, calling his name. He counted how many times he had seen her blow out the birthday candles. How many times she had asked him to read to her, to sing to her, and to dance with her. Her entire face, with her dark locks framing her rosy cheeks, was beaming in front of him. She looked so much like her mother, it was almost painful.

Zidane sat forward in his chair and reached for Eiko's trembling shoulder. She lifted her sopping wet eyes to him that glistened in the moonlight. "I'm not going to let her surrender herself to Kuja, whether she believes it's the right decision or not. We're not going to let him win, Eiko. I swear it on my own grave- we will get her back. We have to believe that."

"I want to, Zidane..."

"Then try harder, Eiko... for me," He said, firmly. The two could only gaze tensely at each other.

From behind the duo, in the darkened archway, Sarah watched them carefully. Their soft words barely made it to her ears. Sarah couldn't sleep, either. She was totally unnerved. She felt off in this place. Something beckoned her, nearly spoke to her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Something so hauntingly familiar yet utterly obsecure crawled beneath her skin. Quietly, Sarah turned on the balls of her feet and manuevered through the cluster of bodies on the floor. Deftly, she exited. But one young man had heard her and lifted his head, gazing after where the princess had disappeared. Dante only waited a moment before unfolding himself from his sheets and following her.

Sarah walked quietly and calmly in the rather tranquil night. She wound through the cleared aisles, glancing at all the utter destruction that surrounded her. She entered the spacious courtyard they had passed exiting the Eiodolon Wall. A small desecrated fountain sat in the center, bubbling with water. Sarah only listened. But in the next moment, a tingling sensation overtook her. And before her, the courtyard brightened. The stone beneath was flat and uniform. It had even been brushed. The fountain was restored to the once magnifcent sight it used to be. Tall and proud, chugging water with force. Intricate carvings of ancient writings adorned its edges and at the bottom, silver and gold coins glinted from beneath the rippling surface of the refreshing water. People sat in benches or stood and chatted. The men smoked pipes and the young girls wore bonnets and gave chase to boys with curly hair. Giggles and shrieks rang out. Little feet to the cobblestone pounded about. Sarah's breathing shallowed as they wound around her, not paying her the slightest attention.

A woman entered from the far side, coming from the Eidolon Wall. That's when Sarah noticed everything behind her. Little adobe houses, nearly stacked on top of each other reached beyond the Madain Sari Sarah had actually know. They surrounded the Eidolon Wall, belting out towards the coast. Women could be seen sweeping their porches and bending over wash tubs to scrub their clothes. Chimneys puffed light clouds of smoke. Madain Sari was alive. The woman who entered held her orange skirt tightly in her hand. She had long dark hair reaching down her shoulders. Sarah almost thought it was her mother. She had the same face. The rosy complexion, the bold brown, the curved nose. She gazed around the courtyard, giving curt nods to people as she passed. The children looped around her and that's when she did a double take in Sarah's direction. She waved her hand, her long bell-sleeve tumbling down her slender arm. The woman took a few steps forward, her skirt grazing the stone.

"Sarah! Sarah, come here!" She called. The princess felt herself blanche. A moment later, a small girl appeared beside Sarah. She was even younger than Alex. She was a clone of the older woman, with long dark hair and big brown eyes. "You were supposed to be home an hour ago. We must have the rugs beaten before supper." She reached for the young girl's hand and began to lead her from the courtyard. Sarah took a few numb steps forward, watching with wide eyes as the child version of her mother walked away, completely unaware of her. Sarah could hear her heart throbbing in her ears.

Suddenly, though, a hand gripped her shoulder and she gasped sharply. The courtyard was dark again. The fountain was sloped. And all around them, it was just piles and piles of rubble. Sarah breathed heavily as she turned to see Dante, his face full of concern. Sarah pursed her lips, her shoulders falling up and down.

"What's going on with you?" He whispered, bringing his hand up to stroke her jaw. She was tense beneath his touch. "You've been acting weird since we got here."

Sarah's blue eyes intensely looked to him. "I'm seeing things, Dante... I'm seeing my mother."

Dante pursed his lips. "It's just this place playing tricks on you. The rocks and shadows are deceiving," He glanced around for a moment. "You're exhausted, too. When's the last time you even slept?" Sarah blinked her red eyes, casting them down. In the past three days, she had maybe only slept seven or eight hours total.

"You're right..." Sarah whispered, nodding her head. "I'm just tired..." She looked to the empty desolate courtyard, her heart sinking. It all seemed so real. She really thought she was standing in the middle of the once prosperous town. She thought she was seeing the true pulse of the planet.

"Come on," Dante wrapped his arm around her, guiding her back towards the last remaining house of Madain Sari. "It's chilly outside."

From the shadows across the courtyard, however, they had never seen the dark figure that lingered against the ruins of a pillar. Fauna's face was covered in blood and the healing of her once-broken wrist had been utterly undone. She breathed raggedly, filled with hate, anger, and pain. The stirring behind her had Fauna turning around. There lay Bella on the ground. Her wrists were bound in front of her with twine, her ankles, too. A dirty cloth covered her mouth. The young princess twisted and turned on the ground. Fauna carefully came to sit beside her.

"Wiggle all you want, Your Highness, you'll never break free," Fauna told her, spitting blood onto the ground. "I have but one more task to complete and you and I shall depart before sunrise. We will be with Kuja soon."

Bella looked to her with wide and upset eyes. Nothing was going according to plan. She was now riding blind. Bella again rubbed her wrists back and forth, making noises through her facemask, but Fauna paid her no mind now. The older woman reclined backwards against a slope of uneven rubble. With her good hand, she cusped a green light in her palm and slowly worked it around her body. She let out sighs of pain as the green light flickered out. Fauna pursed her lips and tilted her head back as her body radiated with agony. She had to conserve her energy. Bella continued to shift around on the floor and Fauna let out another sigh, turning her head to look at the awkward convulsing princess.

"Give it a rest, little one," Fauna said. "You'll cover your body in blisters and ravage the last of your clothes." Bella's nostrils flared as she paused and looked to Fauna. "Rest now. I'm not sure I'll be able to carry you the rest of the way."

Bella's heart was beating a mile a minute in her chest as she gazed up to the stars above. The twin dug into the skin of her wrists and pressed her boots rigidly to her ankles. Everything was going horribly wrong. Everyone was getting hurt. And it seemed the end of the suffering was far from over. How absolutely frustrating it was to be bound and gag only fifty feet away from your loved ones, yet they had no clue. Bella regretted everything in that moment. She wasn't the strong one. She was selfish. Tears surfaced in her eyes and leaked from the corners as she lay flat to the uncomfortable cold surface. She had made a mess of the entire situation. Bella was so utterly sorry.