Firion stepped off the Whale dizzy, to find a dark and clouded sky over a withered, likely once grassy land. The others followed, quieter since the attack. Maria stumbled ahead of him.

The others set up a temporary base while Firion guided Maria aside. Iris instructed them to remain within some glowing runes on the ground, which they designated safety against the daemons of the night. Gladiolus and Iris confirmed that no sun would rise.

"We can't leave," Maria muttered. "This world must remain our home until the corruption of the Light fades."

Firion listened to her ramblings and pretended it didn't hurt. The more he listened, the more he understood the words she spoke.

She put a hand to her head and dropped. "I am sightless and lost, without this world or my own. There is no Light to guide or see, there is not…" She cut off. Met Firion's eye. Then blinked, as though seeing him for the first time. "Leon?"

"… Not quite. Your other brother, I'm afraid."

Maria's mouth twitched in a facsimile of a smile. "Firion, of course. I know that it's you. I meant…" Her eyes widened at something behind him. She jumped to her feet.

Firion stood before following her gaze towards the horizon. A figure clad in dark and horned attire strode forward with the cadence of a predator on a hunt. Firion glanced over his shoulder to remind himself of the positions of the rest of the party, and found that no, he could not maneuver to a more protective location.

The figure stopped, still too far to make out the details. Firion rested a hand on his sword and waited.

"I don't believe he comes to fight, Firion," Maria said, cheerfully. "Not this time, at least."

Firion said, "My apologies, Maria, but I can't trust your judgement now."

The figure approached them and said with familiar voice, "I should've realized I'd run into you so soon."

"Leon?" Firion asked.

Maria said, "What is lost may always be found again."

Leon kept a hand lifted in peace. "You shouldn't worry about me this time. I've got bigger problems than this rivalry to deal with."

"Yes!" A pink-haired girl phased in beside him. She looked like Lightning. "You can thank me for that!"

Maria stepped past Firion and took Leon in a hug. Leon reddened and gently pushed her away. Then he pretended not to care when she resisted and took him back.

"I've come with bad news," Leon muttered. "You might have heard."

Firion asked. "Is it Altair?"

Leon scoffed. "Even after all your time off-planet, the only thing you care to consider is the fate of Altair?"

Maria stepped back. "What happened?"

Leon said, "It's not Altair. It's our whole world."

The breeze turned cold and Firion forgot to breathe.

"Our world." Maria wrapped her arms around herself. "I… it isn't the Light, is it?"

"It isn't," Leon said. "It's in a convergence with the Void."

Firion said, "We thought we had more time before… Odin. Damn it."

"Did you bring anyone?" Maria asked. "Tell me, what of Queen Hilda and the rest?"

The pink girl made a show of offense.

Leon's face twisted. "Alive, last I saw, but I'm the only one who left. Scott figured I was their best chance of… ugh, getting help. But even I wouldn't have made it off without this… girl."

"Is it… gone?" Maria asked.

"No," Firion said. "In my bones, I feel it. Gaia II stands, but it cannot last. We should join it, as soon as we can."

The girl flung herself at Firion and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Forget about that for now!" she said. "I've missed you!"

His heart raced. Thoughts fuzzed. "But you can't be—?"

She planted a loud kiss on his check and emphasized it with a "Mwah!" sound. Then she pulled back with a tug on his cape. "From Lightning," she said. "Sort of."

"What's going on?" Maria asked.

Firion meant to explain, but it came out as a jumbled mess of sounds. He felt like someone set fire to his skin and left him to burn in the middle of the day in the peak of summer.

"We worked together," said the girl. "I'm Lumina, by the way! Half-fractal of Lightning and here to serve as spy for you against Bhunivelze! I know all the secrets."

"Secrets." Maria gave Firion an expectant look and he wished he could form coherent thought long enough to—

"Don't worry about it," Lumina said. "Even if Lightning felt the same way, it could never work between them. But I can get away with murder since I won't last forever! Call me when the negotiations start for real."

She warped out of there.

"I'm confused," Maria said. "But I'm not your mom, I guess… How old was she?"

Firion gestured toward the rest of the group as if he could make them be there and not here. "Moving on."

"Wait, but—"

"Moving on!"

He went to join the rest, but he didn't miss Leon's chortle. He fought to ignore that and the sickening burn in his chest. He just lost his planet, after all, he—

—He just lost his home.

And he wasn't blind—he knew that with Ace gone and Baralai unavailable, it fell to him to lead these people. He would be selfish to forget the greater good in the shadow of his own interests. Yet the thought of Hilda and Gordon and Guy all suffocating in an ocean of nothingness…

"Listen up," Firion said to the gathered circle. He waited as the remainders settled and gestured for Leon. Leon shook his head but followed when Maria joined the circle.

Firion meant to introduce Leon, but his throat closed. He meant to explain what happened, but—

"Gaia II is lost," Leon said.

"Didn't Hilda go back there?" Iris asked.

Leon said, "And now she's in danger. She chose to stay, but I cannot believe she was in her right mind—she was a vessel once."

Baralai muttered something as he reached for a bottle left on the ground. Vaan snatched it away and handed it to Fran.

"We just got here," Terra said. "But do we need to leave?"

"We need a plan of action," Firion managed.

Another armored visitor interrupted him. The light of their sanctuary revealed a tall man in light armor, followed by a younger one wearing dark leather.

"Squall!" Selphie cried and barreled into the leather-clad man. "What are you doing out here?"

Firion knew them. This arrival was not a coincidence.

"Who are these?" Baralai asked.

"I am known as the Warrior of Light," said the other. "Sent by Princess Sarah of Cornelia, from the first of all worlds."

"I've not heard the name," Firion said. "What does this princess want?"

The Warrior of Light met his eye. "She is the speaker of the crystals, and executor of their will. She wishes for the outcome you would—that the poison be stopped and eradicated at the root. To that end, she has spoken with all in her reach."

Selphie chatted with Squall, though the conversation seemed quite one-sided. He appeared perturbed.

Leonora said, "Tell us what we need to know."

The Warrior said, "The Void must be fought on Gaia V. It is where our warriors will stand the greatest chance of victory."

Firion shook his head. "There is a convergence on Gaia II. Would it not be necessary to fight from there?"

"Gaia II will contain the greatest force from the Void. There would be no victory."

Leon grimaced and Maria shrunk. Firion said, "Nonetheless, I would fight for my world."

"Understand that this will be the best chance for your world, as well as countless others."

Zidane raised a hand. "I'm lost. Are we leaving again? What about Bartz and Balthier?"

"Yeah," Penelo said. "We've lost people and we should find them."

The Warrior cocked his head. "Bartz Klauser, of Gaia V? We intend to meet him there."

"He's not the only one," Vaan grumbled.

"I cannot speak for the other," the Warrior said. "But there are ten that must meet on Gaia V, of which Bartz is one. There are six here."

"Who would those ten be?" Setzer asked.

"Firion of Gaia II," The Warrior said. "The Onion Knight of the crystals, Cecil Harvey from Gaia IV, Bartz Klauser of Gaia V, Terra Branford of Gaia VI, Cloud Strife of Gaia VII, Squall Leonhart of Gaia VIII, Zidane Tribal of Gaia IX, and Tidus of Gaia X."

Rikku said, "You set on that roster? I think you're gonna have a hard time with at least one of those names."

"Cecil can't go," Palom mumbled.

"Why us?" Zidane asked.

"Cosmos," Terra whispered. "What would she have given us that mattered?"

"I apologize for my late arrival," a new voice said. A ghostly, fair-skinned and elegantly dressed woman in white coalesced beside Firion. None other appeared to hear her.

"And you are?" Firion asked.

"Call me Luna. It is my home you've come to."

"Firion?" Zidane asked. "Vivi says someone's talking to you?"

"She introduces herself as Luna," Firion said.

"Luna?" Iris asked. "As in, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret?"

Luna said, "That, I am."

"Another speaks to me," Cecil said. "Tellah, of Earth."

Palom shot to his feet and Porom's jaw dropped.

"There is much we must discuss," Luna said. "Know that the dead offer their full forces, yet in few ways may we be capable of using such. We must alter the course to allow for an outcome where our power may join the living."

Cecil gestured and led Palom, Porom, Leonora, and Rydia away from the group.

"Decide as you will," the Warrior said. "Sarah can arrange us travel that will arrive on the morrow. Any pending decisions must be made within the next five hours."

The Warrior turned to leave and disappeared into the night.

"The Warrior is right," Luna said. "V contains secrets that may win us this fight, and as such, it stands as our best hope."

Firion relayed the information and let the others discuss before lowering his voice and speaking to Maria and Leon. "If I go to V, can I trust the two of you to assist in safeguarding these people?"

"Probably not," Leon muttered.

"Always," Maria said.

Luna said, "I understand it will be difficult and as such offer my sincerest apologies. Yet I would still beg you go, for your world as any other."

"I expect it will be necessary," Firion said. "This man seems truthful, and we don't have the luxury to doubt each other."

Leon shifted. "I get it. Quit your preaching."

They hashed out specifics, but Firion struggled to focus. The Warrior's words still echoed back to him, strange for his hearing them again after their time with Cosmos. And he couldn't help wondering what would happen if they solved all this and faced normal life again.

Cecil left earshot of the guild with the twins, Leonora, and Rydia. Tellah huffed beside him and gave the twins a considering look.

Palom's face twisted. "Did you say the old man is here just to get us away from the group?"

"I'm not sure whether to be proud or upset that the five of you left Earth," Tellah said.

"Tellah," Cecil said, "Why are you here?"

"You may have noticed that we have two problems. One big buffoon matched with the soul-sucking Void. Together, they make one gigantic problem. I wanted to make sure we had the most powerful mages focused on the task at hand."

Cecil glanced at the twins. "He names you powerful mages."

Palom said, "And what else is new?"

"Let's not get lost in flattery," Tellah said. "There is a task that requires them, and it's going to require exorbitant magical power. Now, there's more drawn in, with this 'shards' fiasco, but we need those two front and center. Not distracted with nonsense from their antics and capers."

"Cecil?" Rydia asked. "What's going on?"

"Tellah wants the mages to do something."

Palom and Porom shared a short glance and something went unsaid between them. Cecil warmed to see them on good terms again.

Tellah continued, "The main problem is that our forces are divided amongst the worlds. The twins, combined with other like-powered individuals, can deal with that."

"How and when?"

"Soon. Can't say exactly, but I'll stick around to make sure everyone's casting at the same time."

When Cecil communicated that, Palom said, "We'll do it."

Porom gave a vigorous nod and Leonora hummed in confusion.

Rydia said, "It's good to hear from you, Tellah."

Tellah responded in kind and the discussion turned light. They could never dispel that constant cloud of dread, but they ignored it for a time and Cecil let it sink in that he'd leave again in the morning.

Cloud gripped Marlene tight as they spun through the dead and twisting roads of planetary connections. He blinked and they hit the softer, weary currents of the Lifestream.

Marlene lost consciousness at the overload and Cloud grew heavy. He caught onto the first exit he found and hauled them both up. Near here, he sensed Nanaki's attuned presence. Cloud focused on that and let it pull him toward the surface.

Marlene got through the outlet at Cosmo Canyon where Nanaki waited for them. Cloud slipped and flew to the next exit. The initial panic of separation barely registered before he broke through the next opening.

He rose to find jutting ledges and billowing winds of Lifestream energy. He couldn't focus past the haze brought on by Mako poisoning, but he found the strength to pull himself up and onto the first ledge. He recovered his breath.

Monsters filed past him and Cloud seized up when one paused to look at him. Engraved into its side were circled wings and a pointed, twisting heart. The catlike creature snarled at him and Cloud stood.

He'd surfaced in the Northern Cave of all places. The exit looked to be a mile up.

Cloud took a deep breath and readied before the first monster threw itself at him.

A man's voice called. It sent a rippling wave and reminded… her. She vibrated with a strange force and something propelled her out.

"I can't leave them!"

"They'll have an easier time leaving if you're not here."

"I can help them!"

"Help them from the outside. Go!"

Hard rock pressed into her side and jabbed at her back. This place filled her with memories of running wild, of seeing stars and planets, of defending against invaders. She knew fury and terror and the grief of loss. She wondered when she'd next find her uncle by the craggy streams or fish from faraway rivers.

"Wakey, wakey!" A human lady crouched above her. She looked young and old at the same time. "Can't keep the party going without you! So, get up! In fact, I'll cast a little magic to help you…"

… Her memories were wrong. She didn't know those lives and they didn't know her. She… she was human.

The fog cleared. And the woman disappeared.

Marlene crawled out of the rocky pit to find the towering heights of Cosmo Canyon's walls. The walls of the labyrinth that housed the biggest entrance to the Lifestream. Marlene shook the death from her and searched the wall for handholds like they used on Spira. She touched her earring and remembered the strength she learned from Denzel and Cloud and Tifa. Remembered what materia meant to Barret and Yuffie and Nanaki and how Cid would push her to keep going and Vincent would just take her there.

"Where are you, Red Man?" she muttered before taking hold of an outcropping. Maybe if she found the Turks then they could get her family back out of the death place.

Rocks scraped her knees and she tasted dust on the wind.

"Wait," said Nanaki, who hopped from another platform to join her. "I'll take you where you need to go."

Marlene climbed onto his back and gripped his mane. Nanaki started off and Marlene watched the desert pass them by.

Nanaki didn't say much during the trip and they eventually reached Costa del Sol where they purchased a boat ride to Midgar. But because it took so long to get there, Nanaki helped her find a place to sleep that felt safe.

They settled down to sleep in a small room with only one bed, so Nanaki offered to sleep on the floor.

"I don't want to sleep alone," Marlene said.

Nanaki padded up to the bed and sniffed at the edges. "I don't think it's big enough…"

"It is."

Nanaki batted at the pillow and hopped on at the foot. "If you insist."

Marlene watched him curl up into a ball and climbed on. She took the pillow and put it on top of Nanaki. She laid down against him and Nanaki shifted under her.

"You trust strangers," Nanaki said. "Why?"

"Silly, you're not a stranger."

Nanaki hummed and she felt it in his whole body. "I would have hoped the Turks would teach you otherwise."

"… I hate the Turks. Why would they teach me something like that?"

"We learn things from odd places, young one, and if we don't test those things then we don't move on from our misguided assumptions."

"What?"

"Never mind." Nanaki gave a big huff and shut his eyes. "Just go to sleep. We have a long journey in the morning."

Marlene hugged her pillow tighter and wondered why Nanaki didn't breathe as deeply as he used to.

When they woke in the morning, Nanaki guided her to their boat, and it took so long for them to cross the ocean that it became sunset again by the time they reached Midgar's ruins. Marlene insisted on finding the Turks before they went to sleep, but Nanaki resisted. He didn't want to sleep in their house.

By the time they reached Edge, it was dark, and Marlene remembered falling asleep on Nanaki's back. They looked for somewhere to stay, but the streets were still full of monsters. Gunfire followed them everywhere and Marlene didn't see anyone out that wasn't armed and armored.

Nanaki gave in and they found the Turks in their usual alcove. Nanaki didn't know how to find it, so Marlene directed him best she could despite how tired she felt.

Rude opened the door to greet them and Nanaki reluctantly entered. They talked about the fighting around here and Tseng helped them find a place to sleep. The others were out killing the monsters. They put Marlene on a couch and promised she'd be safe with them.

Marlene didn't remember falling asleep, but when she woke up, it wasn't much brighter than before. She went to find someone, but the house seemed empty. Eventually Elena came in and said it was almost noon.

Elena also stopped and stared at her. "Your eyes," Elena said, "what happened?"

"What's wrong with my eyes?"

"It's—never mind. You went through a lot to get here. Why?"

"Because you can help. I can't find Cloud."

"We're working on that. Tseng picked up on a signal just hours ago, but the planet is acting strange and… well. It'll be fine. Of course. Your other friends are missing, but they're safe. Space seems like a good place to be right now."

Elena took a seat on the couch and gestured for Marlene to do the same. But Marlene didn't want to sit down. Elena frowned and looked away. "Barret left a message and said that he tried to reach your family, but that must have been about the time of the fiasco when Denzel ran away. They're trying to stop the thing that's spewing monsters into our world."

Marlene missed her Dad, but he kept saving the world. It made her a little mad. "We'll be together when it's over," she said. Barret knew how to take care of himself and that must be why he tried to take care of everyone else, too.

"I'll get you breakfast," Elena said. "But you should wash up. We still have running water for now, so use it while you can."

Marlene did as told and accepted towels to take upstairs. Her clothes were gross, too, so she would wash them while she was at it.

When she stepped into the bathroom, she cleaned off the mirror to find her eyes glowing like Cloud's did. But when did she get injected with mako energy?

She would ask Cloud when she got him back.