Hiro couldn't believe they were coming upon the place he had been just 3 years ago. The castle of L'Renouville had not been rebuilt yet, and the back throne room was still crumbled to bits. The place was deserted, and it had a haunting aura about it. All that remained were the Highland guards, possessed by Leon Silverburg…but still standing guard. Hiro and his party confronted them. The first thing they noticed was the weird look they had in their eyes. They had an almost empty look to them. They knocked them out quickly and the moment they were slapped, the look vanished from their eyes. Flik was about to kill one when Hiro yelled…

"No! Don't Flik! Stop!"

"What is it?" Flik asked. He stopped his blade inches from one's throat.

"Look…the look from their eyes is gone. We must've done something when we confronted them and fought them…" Hiro said. He shook one by the shoulders. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Uh…huh? Where am I? What am I doing in uniform?" the soldier asked.

"What happened, are you alright?" Hiro continued asking.

"I'm fine…I don't remember being sent here. I don't remember anything. All I remember was before we were being let off after the war…Leon Silverburg paid a visit to our ranks…"

"That bastard…" Viktor growled.

"Everything is fine…please, go now. We'll take care of everything. Watch out for your friends here, they're just the same as you. If you see any of your other friends, slap them a couple of times, it's the work of Leon Silverburg. If they don't listen to you, then it's your choice, kill them or run," Hiro said. With that they dashed inside the castle leaving the dazed soldier standing in the middle of the gate. Hiro stopped as he stepped inside. It was quiet, and it had a chapel like feeling to the place. He felt Jowy's presence in the air. It wasn't threatening at all…it was almost too sad to say. He hadn't seen his best friend for three years…he thought he probably drove him all the way to death. Maybe it was his fault after all…

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"Hiro…please…as my last wish…"

"Jowy I can't."

"Hiro, I'm not going to last too much longer…please…if your grandfather and Hal Cunningham couldn't seal the two runes…maybe we can…"

"Jowy…you're not going to leave me…we ended the war! We should be able to live out our lives together…we can be friends again…" Hiro said. He was holding his best buddy in his arms. He held him tighter.

"Hiro…we were always friends…all the time…anytime…"

"Jowy?"

"Hiro…I understand…maybe we won't need the Rune of Beginning…or will we…? But…I…I'm glad that you were in my life Hiro. You showed me so much, taught me so much. The people will talk for ages about how the wonderful leader of the State defeated the Evil King of Highland…you've…you've become someone I've envied for so long Hiro…but I don't mind…you're my dearest…friend…" Jowy said. The world around the young king was beginning to fade. "Hiro…promise me one thing…that you…you won't let anyone ever have our runes…we should be the only ones to have ever carried…this burden…" with that, the blond haired boy slipped into the next world.

"Jowy? Jowy! No…Jowy!!!" Hiro shouted. That was the day Hiro's world seemed to break into pieces impossible to put together. Not too long after that, he left. Never to return for 3 years…

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"Hiro…are you alright?" Viktor asked. He had been standing in the castle with his eyes closed for a few minutes, lost in thought.

"Huh? Oh…I'm fine…" he replied. The others were concerned about him.

"Are you sure? We could…" Miklotov started.

"No, I'm sure I'm fine. We can't afford to wait any longer. I've waited for too long, and look where it's gotten me. No, we have to end this now…we have to find Leon Silverburg and end this madness…" Hiro replied. Camus nodded.

"I can't believe he's gone as far as to mess with the people who have left this world…as if we can't live in peace…it doesn't mean they have to suffer with us…" Camus said.

"Yeah…Jowy…I promise…I promise I'll keep you safe like always," Hiro muttered to himself. They started walking into the castle. All of a sudden, music started playing. It sounded like an organ. The whole party jumped.

"What…an organ?" Eillie asked.

"It…it sure sounds like it," Flik replied.

"He knows it…he knows we're here…" Hiro said. They nodded and treaded forth carefully. Now that they knew they were being watched, the tension seemed to grow. They followed the organ music. At times, it seemed to fade, only to come back stronger. They quickly found out it was coming from beyond the main throne room…in the chapel that Jowy was married to Jillia Blight. In the chapel, that Leon Silverburg had unleashed the Beast Rune only three years before. In the same chapel, that Hiro was positive he'd left his friend behind when he saw his jacket on the chair. It was coming from the chapel that held so many haunting memories.

"It's not too far from here, come on guys. Let's get to the bottom of this," Viktor said. They hurried forth. They ran up the stairs and into the room that Culgan and SeeD had protected. Hiro stopped for a moment to reflect, the rest of the group seemed to remember as well. They walked slowly through the room. They were brave men, he still hadn't decided if they were really the enemy or not. They were so kind, yet they were adamant about protecting their king to the end. They were truly loyal men, but had no evil intent in their hearts. Did men with such noble intentions…deserve to die? Hiro didn't know…but they probably saved Jowy's life that one fateful day…

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"Hiro…"

"Jowy…"

"Hiro, I'm going to ask you one more time. Relinquish your position in the State army and run with Nanami far away…run far away, I'll end this war."

"I…I can't do that Jowy," Hiro replied.

"Jowy! You…you and Hiro can work this out now…Jowy…why can't you come back with us?" Nanami argued.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Jowy replied.

"They went this away!!!" some voices shouted.

"Go now Hiro…you'll be caught…" Hiro hurried off, dragging Nanami away with him. Culgan and SeeD came soon after, with Rowd not too far behind.

"Which way did they go? You saw them didn't you?!" Rowd shouted. Jowy didn't say anything.

"We were with him the entire time. We did not see anyone suspicious pass," Culgan spoke up.

"That's right, are you going to deny our authority?" SeeD added. Rowd was extremely frustrated now.

"Neh," he spat. He ordered soldiers to scour the area. He left, stomping away. Jowy turned to Culgan and SeeD now.

"You…" he said.

"We have no intentions of letting Rowd get his way…and we don't want Luca Blight to rule either. We understand that if he were to rule, both sides would lose. The land would be scorched, impossible to live off of. We understand this, so please…" Culgan said.

"Please, use us to fulfill your ideals," SeeD said. Jowy nodded.

"Thank you Culgan…SeeD…your sacrifice will not be in vain…"

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They walked up a few stairs then walked into the chapel. The organ music stopped, and Leon Silverburg turned around on the organ stool. They looked shocked. He looked older, maybe the war had taken a toll on him. He laughed violently then stopped. He showed them the rune on his hand. Eillie gasped, realizing the power that the rune held.

"LEON SILVERBURG!" Hiro shouted. "I WILL BRING THE LIVES OF SO MANY TO JUSTICE…"

"Lord Hiro of the State…it is your turn…to join your friends…"