12)---------- In Which, Masamune gets the final word

12)---------- In Which, Masamune gets the final word.

Kormag didn't bother resisting as one of the Dragoons dragged him off to a very "special" cell in Baron's dungeon, along with the other conspirators. He was very loud about it, but didn't really resist.

Cecil and Kain were trying to get Edge, now more unconscious than conscious, to the Castle so he could have a break and recover.

Both armies just sort of stood there, uncertain of what to do about each other.

"Hey!" Kain snapped. "Don't just stand there! Mingle!"

And so they mingled, getting to know members from the other side. It was interesting - they were beginning to realize, as Kain had so tragically all those years before, that there was more in common between them than not.

A loud blast behind them caught everyone's attention.

"Now what?!?!" Cecil seethed, looking over his shoulder. Then his jaw dropped and he just stared.

Kain started laughing.

The sky above Baron was suddenly lit up, as brightly as it had been during the battle. But this time, it was with fireworks instead.

"What do you know?" Kain sighed, shaking his head. "Happy New Year, everybody!"

Rydia pushed her way over to them.

"Edge . . . ?"

"He should be okay, I think," Cecil told her. "Just completely exhausted. And somewhat binged up."

"Masamune's a tough customer."

"That it is."

"Cecil," Kain interjected, "maybe you should try to find Rosa? I haven't seen her since any of this started."

So Rydia slipped her arm around Edge's shoulder in Cecil's place, and left him free to go in search of the Queen.

"Did you free Edge?" Kain asked her as they continued toward the Castle.

Rydia nodded and mumbled something.

"How?" Kain pressed. "I doubt Masamune'd hand him over at a polite word."

She flicked a glare at him.

"How do you know what happened with Masamune?" she sharply demanded.

Kain shrugged.

"Simple. After the Sword ate him, he managed to communicate with me from the other plane."

"Huh?"

"I chatted with his ghost."

"How?"

"We don't know. It just worked out that way."

"So you knew that Eblan was attacking tonight?"

"Yeah, we found out earlier today."

"Why just then?"

"Because that was when I woke up."

"Woke up?"

Kain raised an eyebrow.

"I think I have a lot to fill you in on since the last time you were here, Rydia."

"I think you do, Kain."

Cecil pushed his way through the crowds in the Kingdom. Apparently, the people had returned when the fighting had settled down. Although much of the City was in a charred ruin, though, the atmosphere was far from downcast. Rather, everyone seemed to be concentrating solely on the fact that it was a holiday.

Their new beginning. In just two months would be the anniversary of his attack on Mysidia as the Dark Knight. When all this had started.

He blinked as he walked through the broken streets.

It hadn't even been a year. Not a full year since all this had started. One year ago . . . he remembered it. Watching out of his tower window as the Kingdom celebrated the holiday, but feeling so withdrawn and guilt ridden that he'd been unable to feel anything but negative emotion.

Now? Now, well, it was a completely different story.

White Wizards were still running everywhere, seeing to the many injuries sustained in the attack. Very few people had gotten through unscathed, and a good many had, in fact, been killed. And there were many that were as of yet unseen to.

But they were doing their job, and Cecil knew that if he tried to intervene with them, he'd be in the way. So he continued looking for Rosa.

It took him a while to find her. As it was, he was almost ready to just check in at the Castle and see if she'd gotten back there safely, and was on his way before he finally located his Queen.

Still unconscious from the last blow she'd taken, she was in a charred heap against the City Wall. Nearby were Cid and Cami.

They all seemed to be hurt pretty badly - but nothing incurable.

Another Wizard, catching up with him, sighed something and began chanting at Cid. Cecil, on the other hand, turned his attention to Rosa.

He knelt beside her, rolling her onto her back. She made no response, completely unconscious. And although she was burned and battered, Cecil was once again reminded that he'd married the most beautiful woman on the face of the Earth.

Softly, he cast LIFE, holding her gently in his arms.

She frowned faintly and opened her eyes.

"Cecil?" she murmured. "Did we win?"

"Very," he replied in a soothing voice, moving on to a CURE2.

Rosa didn't appear to be in any shape to argue with that, so she just lay there and let him heal her.

Then she frowned again, looking up at him.

"Cecil," she said in a stronger voice, "I don't know if I ever mentioned this to you before. It just hit me when I woke up . . . you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."

He laughed and helped her to her feet.

"I don't know if I ever mentioned this to you before," he told her, "but you have the most beautiful face anyone's ever seen."

She laughed, and they went back into the Castle, the fireworks still blazing above them.

Thomas, another of Kain's students, led a group of soldiers to the wreck of the Rapier. Marion met him, Floating down to the ground and shocking the daylights out of him.

"What, haven't you ever seen a FLOAT spell?" she quipped, catching his astonishment. "Peasant." She swept a hand over the Airship.

"Damages are minor, considering. It'll need new propellers fitted and a whole bunch of other technical stuff that the Captain said that I couldn't understand. I don't speak the Airship lingo, not like you kids in your generation." But when she turned and grinned at him, he had a feeling that she was more up to date than anyone else in the Kingdom. And Thomas silently swore to never get on this woman's bad side.

"Was anyone injured?" he inquired, feeling nervous.

The Master Wizard shook her head.

"No, nothing I couldn't fix. If only the other Redwings kept an experienced Mage on board, a lot of injuries could be nipped in the bud. But no, that's not Cid's idea of a tight ship . . . "

"Um, Ma'am, would you just, euh, come back to the City? Please?"

Marion winked.

"If you want me to shut up, boy, you may as well just tell me so."

Thomas squirmed.

"No, Ma'am. Talk all you like."

She sighed.

"I don't believe it. Kid, you need help." She turned back to the Airship to address the crew, which was hanging over the side waiting for her word. "C'mon, guys! Party at Cecil's!" she called, and they came down with one loud whoop. Marion turned back to Thomas.

"So I take it the business with Masters has been dissolved?"

"Dissolved? Um, yes. Everyone infected had fully recovered by earlier today."

She nodded.

"Good. Rosa kept me informed, but I hadn't heard the final word."

"Probably because we heard we were going to be attacked, and she was concentrating on other things."

"Probably. We could see the fireworks from the Great Library, and figured that if Baron was burning, we'd better step in."

"It's a good thing you did!" Thomas sincerely told her. "Otherwise, I think we'd've been sitting ducks!"

"You were sitting ducks, boy."

"You're right. Thanks for the help."

"You're welcome. Now can we go back to the City? I'm starving."

"The Castle's taken major damage - "

"But I'm sure there's still food?"

"Well, yes, Ma'am."

Marion smiled, tossing her long silver hair over her shoulder.

"Then lead on, my little Dragoon! I need to have a chat with your superiors!"

"Explain."

This was Cid's only word as he regarded the Bounty's lack of a propeller, a propeller which, for some reason, had turned up embedded in a nearby hillside.

Torram shrugged, grinning. He was too relieved to take any offense.

"The propellers froze, and it just up and flew off, Sir!" he explained.

Cid crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

"And exactly what are you going to do about this?"

"Get someone to fix it, Sir."

For a moment, Cid stared at him blankly.

"I see. Hmm." He frowned. "You've got an attitude, you know that?"

Torram shrugged.

"Just following orders, Sir! Take it up with King Cecil!"

Cid burst into laughter.

"You know I will!"

"Yes, Sir! Better make sure the King doesn't cancel our contract!"

"If he does," Cid declared, "I'll have him beaten."

He looked over the wounded wing of fighters.

"You know," he sighed in a low voice, "when my father and I, and KluYa, first designed the Airships, we meant for them to end this war. Not give it a chance to flare up again."

"They did end the war, Cid," Torram reminded him. "It's just that there're too many power hungry freaks who get a hold of them, and ruin it for all of us."

"True." Cid glanced at Horizon. "I can hardly believe that one held together, much less was the first off the ground. Maybe it's in our best interests to restore it instead of scrapping it."

"You've not scrapped an Airship yet! You just want an excuse!"

Cid shook his head.

"I scrapped one. One that was utterly beyond repair, and not even salvageable. Not even I could save it."

Torram frowned for a moment, then nodded.

"Dawn."

Cid murmured an affirmative.

"Dawn was quite a ship. Did you ever fly on it?"

"No, Sir. I was on Arrow."

"Arrow. There's a laugh. Who named that clunker?"

"Baigan did, Sir."

"Hm. I guess that would explain why it runs so slowly. It's still revolting against that freak."

"I'm sure that's it exactly."

"And if it's not, it should be. But you know, Dawn such a wreck by the time we got to it, that we weren't even sure which side was the front anymore. It was totally destroyed." He paused. "Only Airship Cecil ever let be scrapped. I've suggested it on Horizon more than once, and only just recently did he even begin to consider it. I'm telling you, that guy hangs onto the Redwings like they were muffins in a famine."

"So why did he let you scrap Dawn?" Torram inquired, laying a fond glance on his Airship, Les Cheveux.

Cid shrugged.

"I could never be sure. For one thing, of course, he didn't have as much of a say because he wasn't King . . . but he didn't even object. Just sort of looked at me when I said there wasn't enough left to fill an eyedropper, nodded, and never talked about it again."

"He had some bad memories from Dawn. Maybe that's it."

"I doubt it. I don't know exactly what it was, but anyway, he's never let us scrap a Ship since. And just when he finally lets up on Horizon, I decide to keep it!" Cid shook his head. "This isn't wrong . . . it's just not right."

Torram smirked.

"Nope. I checked it. It's completely wrong."

Cid raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be a weird boy."

Torram shrugged again.

"Catch ya later, Cid. I'm goin' home."

And with a wave, the Redwing Captain left Cid's vicinity.

Kain peeked around the edge of Bounty, which Cid was standing beside.

"Candygram?" he greeted. "Hey, Cid! What's the status here?"

"Don't even ask!" Cid snapped lightly. "I may be forced to throw a brick at your head!"

Kain waggled a finger at him.

"You wouldn't! It would defile my sister's memory!"

"Half sister."

"Right."

"No, actually, I think Veronica would've shut you up a long time ago. And since she's not here, I'm gonna have to do it for her."

Cid reached down and grabbed a brick which was lying conveniently at his feet and hurled it at the Dragoon's head.

Kain whooped something and took off running, laughing like a maniac.

"You've been trying to get me for years, Cid, and haven't caught me yet!"

"That's about to change!" Cid assured him, lopping another brick at Kain.

This one actually hit him smack on the head.

"OW!" Kain yelled, rubbing his helmet. "I can't believe you just did that!! You hit my head with a brick!!!"

Cid laughed.

"It'd take more than a brick to crack that hard skull of yours, Kain. So why don't you just take your wounded pride back to the Castle? I'm sure Cecil could use you on cleanup after this incident."

"Oh, I'm heading there in a minute anyway. We just finished interrogating Kormag and his accomplices, so I'm off to make my report."

"Did they break easy?"

"It would be humiliating to even speak of it in public. Not even traitors deserve that embarrassment."

"That weak?"

"That weak." Kain waved lightly, still rubbing his head. "Happy Year's End, Cid!"

"Whatever!"

Kain laughed again and left for the Castle.

The fireworks were still blazing brightly in the sky, and the people of Baron were still busy celebrating.

"Tomorrow will be Jour d'Anee," Rosa murmured quietly, watching the festivities below. "The day of the year, when all activity in the Kingdom stops, and everyone rejoices their good fortune."

"Good fortune?" Cecil murmured back, standing next to her on the tower. "The Kingdom's in a ruin."

"But we're alive. We're at peace." Rosa sighed, leaning against the railing. "We have more to be thankful for then I can comprehend at once. Just think of everything that's happened in one year . . . "

Cecil smiled and drew her tightly into his arms.

"The good outweighs the bad," he told her, "because it's still here." He kissed the top of her head. "You know, Rosa . . . for all the terrible things that happened, I don't think we could ever have wished for anything more than what we have right now."

"Of course not! We're royalty now! Can't ask for much more than that!" she jibed.

"Do you think you're funny?"

"Yes."

"Well . . . maybe a little." He squeezed her slightly for a moment. "All that time, when I was a Dark Knight, I never let myself believe how I felt about you. If it ever crossed my mind, I blotted it out so darkly that I never knew. I guess I was just too afraid. But after Golbez took you . . . I just suddenly knew."

" 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'," she quoted.

"Very fonder," he added.

She smiled again, then frowned slightly.

"I just wish I knew what was wrong with me lately."

Cecil frowned, concerned.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know!" Rosa flailed her hands helplessly. "I just haven't been myself! I've just been so moody, I never know what to think! And I keep having these spells where I just feel nauseous, every morning in fact . . . " she trailed off, realization dawning on her face. "Crud! Me, a Healer, didn't even notice! Cecil!" She turned to him, her face bright with joy. "We're going to have a baby!!"

For a moment, Cecil was frozen, shocked by the news.

"Sure?" he asked in a tiny voice.

Rosa, as a test, cast a PEEP on herself.

"Yep!" she confirmed.

"Woah!!!" Cecil yelled, suddenly feeling as if he were floating on pure jubilation.

Rosa wasted no words. Rather, she just grabbed onto him and kissed him soundly.

Light footsteps suddenly told them that they were not alone on the tower.

"You two are going to catch your death standing out here in this weather, you know."

Cecil looked up as Kain, still in full battle armor, strode up to them.

"Have I ever mentioned what a cute couple you two make?"

Cecil broke away from Rosa to glare at him.

"You sure know how to ruin a moment, you know that?"

Kain made a sweeping bow.

"I live to serve, My Liege!"

Just as Cecil considered whacking him over the head, Rosa grabbed Kain and kissed him soundly as well, before bouncing down the stairs.

Kain blinked, staring after her, and Cecil broke up laughing.

"She's excited," he explained.

"I'll say." Kain blinked again. "I just hate it when she does that!"

Cecil grin faded somewhat.

"What do you mean?" Kain didn't say anything. "What, she's kissed you like that before?"

"Mmmmmm . . . " Kain squeezed out, shrugging, "not quite like that."

Cecil crossed his arms, suddenly a blank expression on his face.

"When was this?"

Kain crossed his arms back and met Cecil's gaze steadily.

"While you were out tracking down Masters. I told her I was going after you, and she up and lip-locked me."

Cecil nodded, his expression still blank.

"And what did you do?"

Kain shuddered.

"I bolted and didn't speak to her again until I got back, shortly after which I lost consciousness anyway."

Cecil sighed, seemingly with relief.

"Why?" he asked. "Aren't you still in love with her?"

Kain just blinked at him.

"I know you were," Cecil pointed out. "And if you still are, you've never made any sign of it, for which I'm grateful, seeing as how we're married. But if - "

"Cecil, please don't even ask!" Kain suggested, holding up a hand an grinning slightly. "I just haven't let myself consider it. It was considering it once way back when that started the whole problem. The way I see it, if I just keep my nose out of it, then nothing else will go wrong. You're right. You two are married. So I refuse to butt in. It's just a bit hard when she goes around doing that."

Cecil nodded his appreciation.

"But that's Rosa for you."

"Yeah. So, uh, why's she so excited?"

"It seems we're going to have our first child."

"No way!" Kain smacked him in the forehead. "Congratulations, you Royal Idiot! I knew you had it in you!"

"You're weird, you know that?"

"Just trying to ruin a moment."

"And you're doing a good job of it. How's Edge?"

"Conked out completely the moment me and Rydia got him on a bed. We're just gonna let him sleep it out, and hope he comes out of it."

"And Kormag's group?"

"Spilled their guts. Begged for mercy, and even started crying."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

"And that freak almost beat us?"

"Yep."

"I can't believe this."

"Yeah, well, send Marion a box of candy for showing up when she did."

"I just may do that." Cecil shook his head. "So, am I the only one who still has a lot left to sink in after that Masters bit?"

"Not at all," Kain assured him. "I think the jolting of the whole thing will do most of us more good than anything else, though. It's always good to remember where we all came from . . . "

"So I realize. You know, Kain, the more I think about it, the more you remind me of Rorunar these days."

Kain grinned.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Cecil was staring out over the City again, not watching the other member of the conversation.

"It's also reminded me of some important things that I can't believe I was so dense as to overlook since becoming King."

"Oh?"

Cecil nodded and turned back to face him again, drawing his Sword and placing it lightly on Kain's shoulder.

"Dragoon Kain, I, as King of Baron, use the authority granted to me to lift the disgrace on your name, and restore to you your full rights as a Dragoon of your rank; to serve and protect the Kingdom as your heart dictates." Cecil swallowed, a little nervous. "Okay . . . that's it."

Kain burst out into laughter.

"And you say I know how to ruin a moment?"

"I'm not very good at this King stuff, Kain. Somehow, when I do it, it just seems corny to me."

The Dragoon shook his head.

"It's not corny, Cecil. This means more to me than you could ever know." He paused, reflecting on that. "Or maybe you do."

Cecil just grinned.

"Good night, Kain."

He walked past the Dragoon for the stairs.

For a moment, Kain said nothing. Then, just as Cecil started going down, he replied.

"Year's End, Cecil. The past is now officially reconciled."

Cecil paused.

"Not just yet," he answered quietly. "But that's between me and someone else."

For three days, Edge made no move of recovery, and it was beginning to have everyone very, very worried. The Eblanian troops had gotten along amazingly well with the Baronians, and Cecil had to agree with Edge - this was too easy. But they weren't going to complain.

With the snowy winter season upon them, and the now-thick blanket of snow over the Kingdom reminding everyone of the chill, it had taken a bit of doing to get the Airships thawed enough to handle a large distance. Falcon had made it to Baron, but not only was it under major repairs from all Bahamut had done, but Cid said that with the rate the temperature had dropped, it never would have made it back even if it was in the best of condition.

But by finally finding the correct combination of spells from the Black Mage population (and Rydia), Serpentine was made ready to make the flight, and well over half the remaining Eblanian army was sent home, along with the new officials Edge had placed in charge. This way, the Kingdom wouldn't go to chaos while he was invalid. Serpentine was also allowed to remain with them, as a gesture of good faith, and in case they needed emergency aid.

Now, on the third day of the new year, a council was convened in the marred Castle of Baron to discuss what steps could be taken to ensure that this would not happen again.

The idea had been to have a spokesperson from each Kingdom, but the Toroians were persnickety and sent in their entire council. With them was Edward, Yang, Rydia, and of course, Cecil and Rosa. Edge, for obvious reasons, was not able to attend, but Cecil planned on filling him in fully when he awoke.

In the background were Kain and Cid, always ready to toss in their two cents.

" . . . none of this would have happened if your peoples would have gotten a chance to warm up to one another," Yang was pointing out.

Cecil nodded.

"Exactly. And that's what I feel we need to address."

In unison, the Toroians each raised her left eyebrow.

"Explain," they prompted.

"We need a way for the people of our Kingdoms to get to understand one another," he obliged.

"That's rather hard, considering that we're all scattered across the world," Edward pointed out. "How could we come to understand each other if we never see one another?"

Cid sighed loudly from his corner.

"Are you sure none of you planned this?!" he snapped, not really thrilled with the plan.

"Excuse me?"

Shaking his head, Cid stepped forward.

"What we propose to do," he sighed, "is to start a program of public relations. Cultural exchanges, and the like, so we don't end up killing each other over something that happened a hundred years ago."

"How?" asked the Toroians.

"How else? Put an Airship in every Kingdom! Not only would it offer greater protection from an insane ruler, but it really increases tourism."

"I like it!" Yang pronounced, considering the trade advantages. "It could give everyone's economy a boost. But, um, how do you propose to go about this?"

Cid grumbled something under his breath. Cecil stifled a laugh.

"By . . . well, training your people to build and man their own Airships."

"Doesn't this place you at a disadvantage?" the Toroians inquired, still speaking in unison. "As we all know, the Redwings are that which have made Baron such a powerhouse nation."

"This isn't about strength," Cecil told them all, feeling a little spooked by the Toroians' unity. They were freaky. "It's about trying to unite the people of our world, and preventing another war from breaking out."

"Next thing, you'll want peace treaties," they sighed.

Cecil raised an eyebrow.

"Actually . . . "

"I'll sign it!" Yang exclaimed.

"Me too!" Edward chimed.

Rydia frowned slightly.

"Cecil, I only represent the Land of Summoned Monsters. I don't speak for them. You'd need to take it up with Leviathan."

"Yes, I know," he told her. "But this way, you can relate everything that happens to him, and then bring us his answer. We can wait."

She nodded.

"What about King Giott?" Edward pointed out.

Cecil grimaced.

"He's . . . indisposed. But that's another story."

"Ah."

"So?" Rosa turned to the Toroians. "Will you sign a peace treaty with the other Kingdoms?"

The seven Toroians turned and stared at one another for a moment.

"No," they replied. "We prefer to remain neutral."

Cecil nodded.

"I see."

"What about Eblan?" Yang asked. "How's Edge? Has he recovered any?"

"Not that we can tell," Rosa told him. "We're just waiting. Physically, there's nothing wrong with him other than exhaustion, so we're letting him rest."

"He's been out for over two days."

"I know."

Yang settled back in his seat and said nothing more.

"At the moment, we're holding our position against Eblan," Cecil explained for everyone. "We will not make any hostilities, but will defend ourselves if we must. Until Edge wakes up and we can settle things, that's all we can do."

Kain stood silently and let himself out of the room. Cecil noticed, but said nothing. Other than that, his departure went unseen.

Silently, he quickly went from the council chamber to the Barracks outside the Castle. This time, however, he wasn't heading for the areas sectioned for his own people this time. Rather, for one of the buildings that he'd avoided for as long as he could remember.

The main office and Barracks for the Knights.

"Hello?" he asked tentatively, peeking inside the office the head Knight held.

Jason glanced up at him, startled.

"Kain?"

"Hello," Kain repeated, stepping into the room. "Euh . . . can I come in."

Jason shrugged.

"Refresh my memory," Kain suggested. "Exactly how did you come to be in charge of the Knights again?"

"Because the guy who was in charge before got his head chopped off shortly before Cecil became King."

"Oh. Well . . . just thought I'd check and see how your positive thinking complex was doing."

Jason blinked blankly for a moment, then had to stifle a sudden laugh. He rose to greet his old - very old - friend.

"It's been a long time, Kain," he acknowledged, extending his hand. "A very long time."

"Too long," Kain agreed, shaking his hand warmly. "Which, of course, is why I'm really here."

"Of course. Let me guess: you think it's time we reconcile the differences between the Knights and Dragoons?"

"I do. That's an old feud that's caused us too much trouble. And it's utterly pointless."

"And?"

"And? If our people could suddenly end up roomed with an Eblanian Army and not break into violence, then I see no reason why two different casts of our own Kingdom shouldn't be able to get along."

"I see. I guess it makes sense. I can't argue with sense. How's Cecil handling everything?"

"Okay. Fortunately, everyone seems more excited right now about rebuilding the City than extracting revenge."

"That's a plus."

"I know."

Jason posed thoughtfully for a while.

"It really shouldn't be difficult. Get your people together with mine - especially during the reconstruction of the damaged parts of the Kingdom - and they should start getting along in no time."

"Agreed," Kain agreed.

"You know," Jason then pointed out, "you've got a very large position to fill, Kain. I myself know that I couldn't handle being Sir Rorunar's successor. You've got a lot to live up to."

"I know," the Dragoon replied. "And I wish I considered myself a better authority. Really, I could've done with a few more years of training myself. I mean, Aromuth and I were the most inexperienced kids in the group. It would make me feel a little better if I had something more than theory to work off of."

"Don't worry. Rorunar had you pegged to take his place from the very beginning. Almost everyone noticed that except for you."

Kain raised an eyebrow.

"If you say so."

Cami charged through the corridors in the undamaged section of the Castle, where most activity had been moved. He'd been ordered to find Rosa and bring her quickly to Edge's room, and he knew exactly where she'd be this time of day: overseeing the White Wizard training. As the resident Master of the trade, it was her job to make sure nothing went wrong.

" . . . which makes the CURE spell far more convenient and safe then a Potion," Marion was explaining, being the guest instructor. While the Rapier was being repaired, she said she'd just wait things out here, rather than return immediately to the Great Library. "A Potion could be dangerous to a young person, depending on its potency and the stamina of the child. Anyone with an HP level of less then five could be seriously damaged. When necessary for use, it's best to dilute it, and administer the Potion orally. Whereas, they have a stronger effect on an adult when broken open and administered directly to the wounds, and are quite safe. Spells, however, are safe, family fun for all ages."

Rosa turned from where she was taking notes as Cami barged into the room.

"Queen Rosa!" he called. "You're needed!"

"Is it Edge?"

"Yes - they think he's either waking up, or just having a delirious seizure."

Without pausing for clarification from her old instructor, Rosa snapped to her feet and followed the Dragoon to Edge's room.

Marion glanced after them.

"Well then!" She glanced back at the room full of Mages-to-Be. "Class dismissed!"

Rosa assessed the situation in a heartbeat. Indeed, either he was regaining consciousness, or having a seizure.

"He's waking up," she pronounced, crossing the room to the Ninja's bedside, brushing past Cecil, Kain, and Rydia. "Completely out of the coma, trapped in a deep sleep. And he seems to be having a nightmare. Has anyone tried to maybe wake him up?" she added in a mildly sarcastic voice.

"We tried," Rydia replied in a biting tone. "It didn't work."

Frowning, the White Wizard glanced around the room, her gaze resting on Masamune, which was laying innocently on a bedside table beside a potted plant.

"That," she snapped, pointing at it. "Rydia, you said that he said that it was messing with his subconscious. Let's see what happens if we throw it out the window."

Raising her eyebrows and grinning like a maniac, Rydia gingerly picked up the Sword and, when it didn't threaten her in any way, flung it out the window.

A scream was heard below.

"Whoops," Rydia shrugged.

Instantly, though, Edge stilled, almost in a spooky way. Then, just when they began to worry that he might be back in his coma, he rubbed his eyes and sat up with a groan.

"Dang it, that hurt," he grumbled under his breath.

"Edge!" Rydia exclaimed, dropping onto the bed beside him and grabbing him by the shoulders. "Are you all right?!?!"

He looked up at her, and an icy chill ran through everyone in the room. There was something in his eyes that none of them had seen before - a cold certainty and pure horror that made their blood run cold.

"All right?" he repeated in a weak voice.

Rydia blinked, boring straight into his eyes with her wide, uncertain ones, trying to fathom the sudden change in him.

"Edge?"

Kain grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.

"Masamune?" he inquired simply.

Edge looked up at him as if seeing the Dragoon for the first time. After staring blankly for a long moment, he nodded slowly.

"Always has to have the last word, I guess," he said in a low voice. "But . . . that's just Masamune for you."

"What did it say?" Kain pressed, more alarmed at the change in Edge's persona than he was willing to admit. All he knew was that something was very, very wrong.

Edge looked down at his hands for a moment, frowning, as if surprised to see them on the ends of his arms. Then he looked back up.

"Where is it, anyway?"

"I threw it out a window," Rydia replied.

Edge nodded.

"Good idea." He sighed deeply, his whole frame seeming slighted somehow. "It communicated with me for the last time."

"How do you know it's the last time?" Kain inquired skeptically.

"Because it's so weak. It used every bit of energy it had left stored on that last dream. Now it's gotta lie dormant until it can store up enough power to wreak havoc again."

"But what did it say?" Kain asked again.

Edge didn't answer. It didn't seem as if he'd even heard the question.

Instead, he pulled himself easily to his feet, as if the three-day sleep had fully revitalized him, and just stared at them all silently.

Rosa almost shuddered under his gaze.

"Edge, what is it?" she forced herself to ask, although she was suddenly certain that whatever it was, the implications were more than she could handle.

Blinking, he shook himself and looked at her again with an expression filled with mild surprise, as if he hadn't noticed she was there. But it was also filled with such an extreme sadness and grief that Rosa could almost read her fate in his eyes.

"What was that?" he asked.

She cleared her throat.

"What did Masamune say?"

He blinked slowly.

"Well," he murmured, "it showed me the future." He paused. "Our future."

The four exchanged a confused expression.

"What do you mean?" Kain asked, feeling as if he were being held on a very tight leash.

"I mean," Edge replied, carefully not looking at any of them, "that our dear friend Masamune took it upon itself to fill me in on what no living person should ever know."

"His own death . . . " Rydia whispered out of the blue, catching on.

Edge nodded.

"And not just that. The death of everyone in this room." Again, his gaze lingered slightly on Rosa, sending a chill up her spine. "Exactly how, when, and why it will happen. And then on. The fate of our Kingdoms. How each eventually falls, how our descendants try to rebuild our civilization, and eventually to the point where everything here in our world is beyond forgotten. Reduced to vague legends, which I suppose is to be expected. It just changes things to see it all. Oh, and of course, the obliteration of our bloodlines, the destruction of our world, the obliteration of the human race . . . "

"Stop it!" Rosa snapped, chilled to the bone by the indifferent certainty with which he spoke. "The future hasn't been written. It can be changed."

"Sure, we can change it. But the changes we make will all end up being exactly what Masamune has said." Edge stopped, realizing that his words didn't make sense. "I can't quite explain it clearly. There are beings that exist outside of our reality, who can look at our existence like one big timeline. The past, and the future. The choices we have yet to make, they can already see, have already been recorded." He paused again. "We haven't written it. Not yet. But they can still read it. I guess it's sort of like flying - you can see the world, but people on the ground can only see what's immediately around them. They don't know where they're going, but you can look ahead on the road and see where it leads."

"And . . . Masamune is one of these beings?" Cecil whispered, speaking for the first time since Edge had awoken.

Edge glanced at him in surprise, noticing his presence for the first time.

"Somewhat. Not fully - it can only see things during the time in which it has and will exist. Um . . . listen, this is all very strange. You know, talking to you all after seeing you die. It's very guiltful, you know, to not be babbling out details, when I know I can't, but feel like I have to. So, if you please, could someone be kind enough to wipe my memory?"

"What?!" Kain snapped in alarm at the very suggestion. Cecil, Rosa, and Rydia just stared at him in shock.

The Ninja shook his head.

"Not fully. Just enough . . . to wipe out what that stupid Sword said to me. I, euh, I really can't go on with this."

Rydia grabbed his hands.

"Edge," she said, "if you can see such terrible things, why can't you tell us? No matter what you say, isn't there some way we can change the path of things if we know what you've seen? Tell me that I'll be run down by a raving Dwarf in Toroia three months from now, so that I can make sure I'm not there! We can change things, Edge! Use what you've seen to help us all!"

Edge just shook his head.

"Rydia . . . I guess you'd have to be there. I can't change what's going to happen - no one can. It's all written. Just not yet."

"How could anyone wipe your memory, anyway?" Rosa pointed out. "We don't know how to do any such thing."

"Rydia does. She knows a spell called AMNSA, which she came across one day studying in the Land of Summoned Monsters, and learned because she had a feeling she might need it some day," Edge informed everyone in a matter-of-fact voice.

Rydia choked on a gasp.

"How did you - "

"Don't ask."

Swallowing nervously, Rydia fell silent.

Edge shook his head.

"Everyone, I can see why you wouldn't want me to do this. But the fact of it is, if I don't, I will most assuredly go insane."

Rosa had to nod.

"I have to agree . . . you would. Knowing everything that was about to happen . . . "

"So this is my choice. Only the dream, nothing more, to be erased from my memory. I'd rather not know any of this. And if only you could see it . . . you wouldn't want to know either."

"Is it that bad . . . " Cecil muttered under his breath.

"Actually," Edge admitted, "it's gratifying in a way. I'll say this . . . it was quite a finish."

Rydia glared at him.

"That is morbid," she informed him.

He nodded.

"I know."

Sighing, Rydia glanced at the other three.

"I guess I really don't have much choice," she conceded. "I'll do it."

Edge nodded.

"Thank you."

She looked up at him and shuddered. The pain she could see in his eyes was too much for her to take.

"Hold still," she instructed, and he did so. Then, placing her hands against the sides of his face, she glanced quickly at Rosa, and looked up at Edge. "Are you sure about this?" she whispered.

"Yes," he replied, his eyes glued to her face.

After a tiny sigh, Rydia began chanting the words she'd hoped to never use.

"Rydia," he murmured as she reached the end of the incantation, "you're beautiful to the very end."

All she could do was look back up at him, before AMNSA took effect, a magical tingle running through the air, and a flash of green light.

Then it was all over.