The brothers felt like they had just fallen asleep, when they awoke in a strange place. It wasn't that the scenery was strange. There were green hills, blue sky, and white cloud. Nothing odd like that. But the world felt strange. /P

Then they noticed a familiar figure sitting on top of a hill. They were a little surprised that she was there. But whom she was speaking to was even more of a shock. The two brothers began to walk towards Dragon Shadow./P

Sephiroth allowed his brother to lead something that he had done quite often since being freed. It was almost as if he feared making another mistake. And perhaps he did. That was one thing neither he, nor his brother, knew for certain. /P

Shadow must have known they were coming, for she turned to look at the two. "I figured you might show up. The moment I knew she would not, or could not, kill me. I'm not sure which"/P

Sephiroth looked at the large dragon seated next to Shadow. "But where are we?"/P

"In the land of the summoned monsters." The dragon looked down at the two brothers. "So these are the two you told me about. They truly aren't what I expected. Yet, I am not certain as to what I did expect…"/P

Shadow started to laugh. "I have been thinking the same thing. But for a different reason. But I cannot answer the question you asked. I am uncertain as to why I am here, but I believe they are here because of me."/P

"Strange things are happening here too. Some of which are because of that man…" The dragon looked at Sephiroth, as if he knew who had helped Jenova. Sephiroth took a nervous step back, but his brother stood in front of him. "Who are you to judge my brother?"/P

The dragon laughed in amusement. "Who am I? I am Bahamut ZERO, greatest of all dragons!" Neither brother said anything. It was hard to tell how they reacted. It was hard to tell what they thought as well. Bahamut said nothing, uncertain of what to do in this situation. Never before had humans entered his realm. It had always been the other way. Yet already three figures, none of which were summoned monsters, had entered their realm./P

But Bahamut couldn't help, but feel a kinship for Shadow. Something about her drew him to her. It was Odin who realized what it was. As he rode past, he suddenly turned, and road towards the hill. "It is odd to feel materia in this world. I do not believe it has ever occurred before. Yet the feeling is different…"/P

"Tainted!" Bahamut looked up. "That is what I felt about you. You hold tainted materia!"/P

Shadow was puzzled for a moment, and then she remembered what she'd heard before…/P

CENTER* * * * */CENTER

I
In a forest, another time, a few days earlier…/P

"Now that we've proven Jenova can shape shift, can I go find my shuriken?"/P

"YUFFIE!!" The three yelled at her./P

She looked puzzled. "What? All I want to do is get my…"/P

BTHUNK!/P

/BYuffie's shuriken landed right in front of her…minus Materia./P

"My shuriken! But wait….My…err Materia is missing."/P

A voice from the near by trees replies./P

"Is that what you call these funny rocks? Well, I think I'll keep them as a reminder of what I owe you. Latter."/P

The girl jumped out of a tree, and vanished into the woods./P


CENTER* * * * */CENTER

/I
"I don't understand the importance of the materia…" Shadow looked at Odin, puzzled./P

"Our world, the realm of the summoned monsters, exists because of the red materia. Before there was a planet rich in materia. But recently, you are the only one we've found with any summoning materia. Something happened to either change, or destroy all the materia on that world. Or at least all of the summoning materia, the source of our existence…"/P

Sefiroth looked at him in disbelief. "No… The whole world…?"/P

Odin shook his head. "I did not say that. Only that something has happened to the summoning materia on that world. As a result, we summoned monsters are in trouble. Should something happen to the materia you hold, our lives are forfeit…"/P

Shadow turned to look at the red scales upon her back. "The fate of a world…?"/P

Sephiroth nodded. "Upon your back. I heard the legends, but I never believed them. I guess I now know otherwise."/P

His brother quietly looked around, then back at Shadow. "But if something has happened to the materia, what dose that mean for the world…?"/P/FONT/BODY