Authors Note: All the yada yada stuff. I don't own the characters from the game but I do own mine, if you use them without my permission I have permission to eat your first born… things like that. Stuff in Italics is direct thoughts of characters. It should be understandable who's thinking it by the dialogue of the thought but if not I am sure that I can come up with something just let me know. Also the two period breaks (……) are shifting back to present of the story just in case you didn't catch it. Enjoy

Chapter 2: To tempt fate

I stand on the brink… I look off into the explosion and wonder… "is it really over?" I have fought for so long… to long for it to come down to this. My family is gone save my sister, I myself cannot return to that which I called home and so many thing have since happened… would I really want to. The explosion is beginning to clear now and I see my friends… they have survived… we all have. I look at the glowing gems in my pouch… the thirteen zodiac stones that started this whole mess. All this time they have led to nothing but misery and despair… now they have saved our lives. Perhaps the idea was correct… perhaps the stones are neither good nor evil. It would seem they merely reflected the inner heart of their user. Ha! Inner heart… was mine really that pure to be saved by these holy stones? My friends and I float aimlessly around in the void that is meant to be our grave and the stones still glow as if to tell me something. Perhaps they have found a way out… but why would I leave this place? There is no place for me to go out there… all I have left is my friends…

            "Ramza… I think we have found a way out of here." A blonde haired warrior came to the boy floating in deep thought. He looked at her… he had always admired… no something more then admiration, what he did not know, but he did regard her fondly.

            What is it about you that I find so interesting? You wear that cross still, despite the fact that we now know that St. Ajora is completely evil. But more I think I respect you for your faith... I trust you… you, Orlandu, Mustadio, Meliadoul, all of you have shown me great kindness. You are all here for your own reasons but you also are here to help me save Alma. We are all we have left… even if we do escape from here; we have no home out there. Our world is now gone, the war destroyed it and we are no better then dead. But perhaps…

            He shook his head clear. He looked up at the twenty-three year old knight in front of him. He couldn't help but notice the smile on her face.

            "You're happy; do we have a way out of here?" He asked her. She looked up at him and her happiness grew… he was back to his old self.

            "I think so, Orlandu took his crystal to a point to the north of here and it seemed to punch a small hole in the barrier that is keeping us here. Mustadio surmises that if all six of us focus the power of our stones on that spot we may be able to cause something to happen. It's only a theory but its all we've got." She stated losing her smile. She couldn't believe that after all that, after all they had been through that they were destined to be suck in this void forever.

            Ramza, you look so peaceful looking at me like… have you accepted this fate? But why, why would you do that. You have your sister and there is a whole world for you to live for out there. Why do you look at me as if I should be the happy one? I have nothing now… everything I fought for was a lie. I believe in St Ajora, but now I am left with nothing. What is it that you see in me? You can't see beauty because there is none there. You can see a soul because I have none. I have fought for the devil for so long… I cannot have a soul.

            "What are you thinking about in there? Come on, you were so happy before. You mustn't allow the darkness of sadness cloud the sunlight that is your beauty." Ramza said snapping her out of her thoughts for a moment. Both of them simply looked at each for what seemed like forever.

            Did I just say that? I mean, of course she is pretty but what would posses me to say something like… could it be that what I feel is… no, impossible. After all that I have and couldn't do I don't deserve that kind of happiness… I must have just been joking.

            Did he just say what I thought he said? He couldn't of… why would he? I have no beauty, I am just a warrior, a fighter who has lost her cause. What purpose would I have for feeling… feeling… what I now in my heart to be correct. This absurd, I am a warrior; I cannot let my feeling cloud my judgment or I am no better… no better… no better then a… woman.

            They both stared at each other… neither of them wished to respond to the comments that Ramza just made. But then after looking deeply at each other… they both broke out in loud uproar laughter.

            "Thank you Ramza, I am fine. Come on, let's join the others." Agrias stated floating towards the remainder of the group. Ramza smiled to himself putting what just happened off as nothing. Agrias for her part had deeper thoughts.

          He was just trying to cheer me up. He is a great friend and an even better ally… so why do I feel the way I do? Why does it hurt that we laughed at that moment? What did I expect to happen? He can't love me… no one can. I am a warrior who has sold her soul… what would he ever see in me. Bah! Why am I thinking this, I am a warrior, I have no time for thoughts like. These are the thoughts of a school girl not those of a Knight. I must clear my head of these thoughts… but how do I clear my heart?

            She shook her and noticed that Ramza was looking at her. She knew he was concerned about as any friend would be. But she laughed and floated on ahead of him. He smiled and joined her. A few moments later they join Alma, Orlandu, and Mustadio at the place where the barrier was destabilized.

            "Ahh good, you are both here. Now all we need is Meliadoul… I wonder she is?" Orlandu greeted the two. Mustadio looked around and could not see, so he decided that he should go look for her.

            "Orlandu, Alma, explain to them my theory, I am gonna go look for her." Mustadio stated as he floated off. Alma moved to join him.

            "Hold on I'll go with you." She stated in her normal happy voice. Mustadio stopped moment and turned to respond.

            "No, I can find her. Just stay here, I won't be long." He responded before flying off again. She still moved to join him when she was stopped by the blue armor encrusted arm of her far older companion Orlandu. She had only known him for a short time but already knew that he was far beyond her in wisdom.

            "But…" She tried in vain.

            "No, let him go. This is something he must do." Orlandu responded watching him fly off. Alma just looked up at him and wondered what he meant. Orlandu thought about what was going on around him.

            From tragedy comes many things. Strength, wisdom, courage, but I guess in this case love is the aftermath. But do either of them know, I fear that what he has to say to her neither of them are ready to hear.

            "Something troubling you old friend?" Ramza asked noticing that Orlandu had not taken his eyes off the now out sight Mustadio.

            "Of course not, I guess now is the time I explain what we need to do like he asked me to do." Orlandu said snapping back to reality. He then went on to do just that.

            "Mustadio believes that we ourselves are the reason that the barrier is in place. Murond has felt that there are living souls within its void and placed a barrier to keep its prey. However we believe that if all six of us point our respective Zodiac crystal at the barrier that we will be able to break this barrier and return to our… the world." Orlandu stated correcting himself. He knew as well as any of them that this was no longer their world. Ramza thought about if for a while then asked the question that was on everybody's minds.

            "When we get back to that world where will we go? According to the Galbados Church we are all heretics if not dead. We can't just go gallivanting around out there and pick our lives where we left off… mostly because they no longer exist. I am sure that for a while we could find shelter in Goug with Mustadio's father or with Reis and Beowulf… if they made it, but other then that there is no place for us out there. Where do we go from here?" He asked as the others just looked off into space with their own thoughts. Alma was the first to speaking and was of course the voice of optimism.

            "Then we will find a place. How do we know that Ivalice is all that is out there? There could be hundreds of lands just waiting to be explored and why not those explorers be us? We know that there have been civilizations on this Ivalice for centuries, that…"

……………………………………………………

            "Wait a second; did she just say what I think she said?" Asked Jonathon who had been attentively listening to Horatio and Simon's translation until this point.

            "What do you mean?" Asked Dr. Cortez

            "I think you're right, damn Simon, you taught this boy well. If what Alma said is true… then there have been civilizations on the planet for certainly far more then the 900 years originally believed but now it seems for far more then the 2000 years we have come to believe… astounding." Horatio said thinking about where he would put his numerous Alistair Prizes.

            "One anthropological breakthrough at a time gentleman. Let us get back to this work so that we can understand what we have now. There will be time for the evolution of civilization at a later time." Simon said breaking both of the other two men out of their daydreams.

            "Of course Simon, would you care to get the next part, it looks to be more your style." Horatio said handing over the scripture.

            "Certainly. Continuing on with what Alma was saying…"

…………………………………………………...

            "… you learned through those jobs that your group did for those tavern keepers. Perhaps it is time we find the origins of those civilizations." She concluded. The others just looked at her as if she had a second head growing from her chest. About that she thought she did. Throughout all of it Agrias was think about what she said.

            You have a lot of heart kid, no wonder Ramza was willing to risk his life and I guess sacrifice it to save you. I wonder if he would do that for me. Perhaps it is time that I hang up my sword and do what she says… I certainly have enough knowledge to handle myself out in world that no one has ever seen. I am a clean slate as it were. I believe in nothing and have no world to call my own… perhaps it is time that I make one.

            "I think that's a great idea Alma." Agrias said snapping everybody back to reality. Alma for her part was overjoyed to hear that someone agreed with her. Ramza and Orlandu slow agreed with the notion and they three of them began to discuss it as Alma looked on and pondered.

            They agree… at least I can give them another path. They are here because of me, it's the least I could do. Of course, Ramza would just say that it was because of the stones and Ajora… but I know it was my weakness that caused all of this. Look at those two, my brother is in love and he doesn't even know. Or course that's not a surprise seeing as how Agrias doesn't realize she's in love either. I hope we find a way out of this place and a place to call our own… so that they can be happy together.

            "What troubles your mind young Alma?" Orlandu asked bringing her back to consciousness.

            "Nothing why?" She retorted.

            "Because you have allowed the light current here to carry you away from the group." Orlandu informed her. She looked around and realized that she had floated quite a distance.

            "I am sorry to worry you."

            "Oh I am not worried about that, but I do want to know what you were thinking." Orlandu asked. She decided that it was best to tell despite the fact that if she asked he would not ask again… she had known him only a short time and already looked up to him.

             You are so much like my father was. Honorable, caring, wise, how could Dycedarg turn out the way he did? How could he be corrupted by the stones? But then… what right do I have to ask that question… I was living embodiment of the devil.

            "You are thinking to deep for a nineteen year old girl Alma; tell me what it is that is troubling you. I have been around a lot longer then you have and I probably could help." Orlandu stated noticing that she had slipped back into herself.

            "Perhaps you're right." She responded getting ready to express ideas that she had planned on locking away.

            "Of course I'm right… I'm old." Orlandu said as they both chuckled. He knew how to lighten a mood and saw the she need it.

            "Do you think… do you think that this is my fault?" Alma asked breaking through the laughter. Orlandu thought about it for a moment.

            Of course I don't think this is your fault… you never willing accepted Virgo or St. Ajora. But that is not what you are wanting to hear. But perhaps there is another way…

            "What do you think?" He asked her. She was caught off guard by this. She was expecting him to say that, no he didn't and that she shouldn't either. But he was asking her what she thought. How could she respond to that but with the truth.

            "Yes, I do. There was nothing I could do. I got captured by the Zodiac monsters and got turned into the devil himself. Ramza, Agrias… you, you are all down here to help me, to rescue me and I attacked you. So yes, this is my fault." She finished and looked up to see him shaking his head in agreement.

            "I have to admit, you are correct about all of those things. But if I remember correctly, you got captured trying to help people. Then because you were captured you were her to cast very helpful magic in our battle with Ajora. In addition it wasn't you that attacked us it was Ajora which you helped us defeat. If you asking me whether I believe what you say about the events leading up to our current predicament, then my answer is yes. However, if you asking me if those events happened because of you… well let me ask you this, if you could have broken free of your captors would you have?" He asked her.

            "Yes."

            "And if you could have stopped them from taking you to Murond, would you have?"

            "Yes."

            "And if you could have stood up against Ajora would you have?"

            "In a heartbeat."

            "That is where you are wrong and that is why I believe there is not fault to be had. Because you did stand against Ajora, and because of that, you have earned the respect of everyone here. Do not worry about us, we came here of our free will with our own reasons. The reason of rescuing you was just something that Ramza's leadership instilled in us. Now come on, let's go back to the love birds." Orlandu stated with a smile. Alma was ecstatic, not once did he claim it wasn't her fault. He never said that what she thought was wrong. Perhaps… it wasn't her fault after all. She was content to leave it at that until Orlandu's closing words sunk in.

            "You see it too?" She asked.

            "A blind water buffalo could see the fact that those two love each other… I am not sure why they can't." Orlandu returned scratching his head.

            "My brother is hopeless." Alma said returning to her normally extremely happy self.

            "As is Agrias… well, here's hoping that those two make something of themselves." Orlandu said starting back to where the two were still talking about the outside world.

            "Wait… Orlandu?" Alma said stopping him.

            "Yes?"

            "Thank you. I needed someone to tell me that this wasn't my fault… without telling me that it wasn't my fault. That was skill that only my father could do." She said bowing her head remembering her father.

            "Balbanes was a noble among nobles. He was the greatest knight to ever grace this world… perhaps save his son." Orlandu stopped short.

            "Zalbag?" She asked.

            "No, Ramza. He fights for what he believes in… not what he is blindly told to do which most knights… even myself at one point did."

            "You seem to have a lot of faith in both of us." She said with a smile.

            "It was something your father instilled in me. He asked me to take care of you once he was gone. It is that I intend on doing… now that we are all we have." He said with a smile of his own. Alma just glowed at thought of this.

            I barely know you and already I love you like I loved my father. I knew that he would find some way to take care of us and I am glad that you are that way.

            "Well, as you said, let us return to the lovebirds… daddy." Alma stated with a giggle. Orlandu just shook his head and joined her.

            If that is what you wish to call me young Alma then by all means do so. I don't think Balbanes or I would have it any other way. However, I do wonder what is going with Mustadio and Meliadoul. I hope those two are alright…

            Meanwhile, Mustadio had finally found Meliadoul sitting on a small fragment of what was left of the graveyard of airships.

            "It took me long enough to find you." He called out to her.

            Great… he is the last thing I need right now.

            "Where have you been all this time?" Mustadio asked floating up to her. She merely turned away from him.

            "Hey what's wrong? We may have found a way back but we need all six of us to use it." He asked her his concern building.

            Can he really be that insensitive? Can they really be that dense?

            "Melia, what's wrong?" He asked her using the nickname he had come up with.

            There is that stupid name again. But… if it is so stupid why does it make my heart melt to her him call me by it?

            "Don't you understand… don't any of you understand?" She asked him quietly.

            "Understand what? Melia you're not making any sense." He commented flying closer to her.

            "UNDERSTAND WHAT!? Of course you don't understand… you couldn't know." She screamed loud enough that it echoed through there area.

            "You're right, I can't know something you won't tell me." He responded calmly.

            There is that damn logic again. Why do you have to make things sound so simple?

            "You want to know what's bothering me!" She asked forcefully.

            "Yes, actually I do." He responded still as calm as ever.

            "Don't you all realize that this was meant to be our grave? Fate stated that we die down here… after we are in hell aren't we? But once again those damn stones deny me my… my…" She couldn't continue, it was just too much for her. Mustadio for his part thought about what he could say.

            "Your what?" He asked.

            "My family. My father was taken by the stones and the monster that he became killed my brother and try to kill me and then I watched him die. I just wanted to die to but no, those damn stones wouldn't allow me to die. They once again block fate's hand." She said through tears. Mustadio look at her and wished he could take her into his arms and make it go away. He didn't like seeing anyone in tears especially her… although he didn't know why.

            I have seen people cry hundreds of thousands of times…what is it about you that makes my heart hurt to hear you weep and see tears roll down your face?

            "I am not sure what to say." He told her shaking his head.

            "Of course you don't. You could never understand what it means to have you family endanger by the accursed war!" She screamed turning away from him.

            "Now hold on a minute there. The whole reason I am here is because my father was almost killed after we discover one of the 'damn stones' in Goug. He was hunted and captured by an evil man and that man force me to hand over the stone to him and would have killed me if Ramza hadn't shown up to save my life. He's saved my life more times then I can count." He concluded.

            "Yeah, Ramza has a way of doing that doesn't he?" She returned still through tears.

            "The point is I do understand at least in some aspects what you are going through." He retorted.

            I know he is just trying to help but this is where I was supposed to die. Fate had this in store for me as my punishment.

            "No, you can't… at least your father is still alive. I have nothing left. I just want to die like fate said I should… like it said we all should." She said sniffling.

            "I am scientist… I don't believe in fate. If it is fate that said we die here than I say fate be damned. Your brother didn't care about fate. He stood up against your father though he knew he could win." Mustadio said coming around to her front. He looked at her face… though it was streamed in tears it was still beautiful. Her green eyes were darker then any emerald and nose was just round enough to compliment her face. It hit him, in that moment and he knew what he must do.

            "What do you know about fate and my brother?" She asked looking into his eyes. In that moment she felt something she had felt before but was always able to suppress, however this time it was overtaking her.

            "Maybe I don't know about either but I do know about us. You know, you say fate had us to die here but I think that it actually wanted something more for us. Maybe it was the stones, maybe it was fate, or maybe it was just our own tenacity that save us, but one thing I know is that we are alive. It time that we start living." Mustadio said as tear became worse in Meliadoul eyes.

             He just doesn't understand… although I can't blame him. No one can understand what I am going through… although I guess he is trying. But it is too late…

            "You just don't get it do you. We are supposed to be dead. None of us have anything to live for, me least of all. It doesn't matter what my brother did or wanted because both he and my father are dead.  Fate stated that this was supposed to be our grave and I think it's about time I help it along." She said pushing him away and drawing her sword. She placed the point of the blade to her heart. Mustadio regained his bearing and stopped from floating backwards. He saw what she was about to do and pulled his gun.

            "So you pull your gun on me. I don't think it will do you any good because it will leave the same result as this sword if just a little bit less messy. So by all means, fire. But I ask that you be kind and aim for my heart, so that I don't have to feel what I feel." She said looking straight at his gun barrel. She thought either way the end was near.

            "My bolt won't kill you, but it will stop you from doing what you are doing. I don't want to fire but I cannot allow you to go through with this." He said preparing a paralyzing charge.

            What is with him? Why can't he just get it over with or allow me to do. There is nothing I have to live for anymore… save if he… but he would never do that so why is he doing this?

            "Why are you delaying the inevitable? What is it that you want?" She asked looking right into his heart. What she saw amazed her but not as much as his next set of words would.

            It's now or never I guess. I never thought I would ever be able to say this to her but I guess the time has come…

            "Because Melia… I love you. From the first moment I saw I felt something for you. Even though you were trying to kill me I knew there something more inside you. I know that we have only known each other for a short time but it has been enough for me to know that there is no other person I would rather be with then you. I know that we are polar opposites. You area temple knight and I am scientist and I know that there is nothing left in that world for us apart. I also know that neither separately have anything to live for. But maybe together we can make something to live for in a world that we can call our own. So please, put down your sword and let us tempt fate… together." He concluded. His heart was racing, he finally said what he had wanted to say for so long. But would she believe him.

            Did he just say he loved me? But that is absurd… my heart and mind are playing tricks on me. I cannot be happy, I cannot have heard something that would make me that happy. I couldn't have heard it, I couldn't have, I couldn't have, I couldn't have…

            Mustadio noticed that she had raised her sword and he reacted by pulling the trigger to his gun…

………………………………………………..

            "Wait a minute! So he shot her? That's the worst romance novel I have ever heard." A young girl stated interrupting Dr. Cortez. She stood at the door dressed in what appeared to a black sleeveless vest and a matching short skirt. She had red hair which was tied back into a pony tail that reach down to about a quarter of the quarter of the way down her shoulders and was about 5'6" tall. She didn't look any older then twenty.

            "Hello Sarah. Horatio this is my other star pupil, Miss Sarah McAllister. What is it that you want Sarah?" Dr. Cortez said somewhat annoyed.

            "Oh, I am sorry Dr. Cortez… I was trying not to interrupt. I wanted to drop off these papers but I heard that you were reading a romance novel to Jonathon and… what was your name?" She asked looking over at the man in rags.

            "Horatio Marcus… Dr. Horatio Marcus." He responded.

            "For your information Sarah, this is not a romance novel, it is a journal attached to the Durai papers that I found on a dig recently." Jonathon stated beaming at his accomplishment.

            "Really, more to the Durai papers? That is Dr. Marcus is here, to help translate. Do you mind if I sit in and listen?" She asked nicely sitting down before an answer could be given. Dr. Cortez had no choice but to agree.

            "Fine, fine, fine, just as long as you don't ask questions and don't interrupt anymore." Dr. Cortez stated.

            "Consider my mouth zipped." She said leaning back into the chair she was sitting in. Horatio took the scripture and continued to read.

            "It look like this part goes back to Ramza's group…"

……………………………………………..

            Rmaza, Alma, Orlandu and Agrias were awaiting the return of their friend when they heard a gunshot ring out.

            "Mustadio!" Ramza said looking off in the direction of the shot.

            "Let's go." Orlandu said flying in the direction.

            "Agrias stay here and protect Alma… we won't be long… I hope." Ramza said joining up with Orlandu. Alma for her part was worry but also annoyed that Ramza didn't want her along. Agrias however had different thoughts.

            You are asking me to protect Alma… you trust me that much. Perhaps there is more to what I feel then I thought… nah. He just believes in my abilities… hum.

            Meanwhile, both Meliadoul and Mustadio just floated there frozen in time as the smoke from the gunshot cleared. When it had, Meliadoul looked at him and lowered her sword... he had fired, he missed, but he had fired.

            "Why did you do that?" She asked him.

            "Because I will not let this end that way. I will not allow you to end your life. I say fate be damned… it is time that you and I make our fate together. I love you and I will not let you go that easily." He stated lowering his gun. She looked at him and saw straight to his heart again. His eyes were dark brown but his heart was pure gold.

            He did say it… fate be damned it is not my time. I have found something to live for… Love!

            She floated over to him and grabbed him. He returned her embrace and for the first time they saw each other as one. They knew that they would face any challenge, no matter how difficult they were about to become together and in that moment their lips came together for the first time and magic just exploded around them. Ramza and Orlandu just stopped dead in their tracks when they came upon the scene. Orlandu shook his head knowing that it would come to this… Ramza for his part just looked confused. Orlandu cleared his throat loud enough for them to hear. They broke their embrace and looked on at their friends.

            "What was that shot we heard." Orlandu asked the couple who were still holding each other. Ramza was still confused about the whole thing.

            "Sorry about that…" Mustadio said and went on to explain the whole thing between them as they flew back to their friends. Alma immediately noticed that Meliadoul and Mustadio were holding hands and started glowing.

            "I am so happy for you two! I wish two others would be as…" Orlandu cleared his throat and stopped her before she could finish.

            "Oh… sorry." She said looking down. Agrias and Ramza just looked at each other and looked back confused… Orlandu could only shake his head. Mustadio reluctantly separated from Meiladoul and grabbed his Zodiac from Ramza and pointed it at the opening in the barrier. Instantly a beam of energy was emitted from it and the barrier began to ripple.

            "Come on everyone… we have a world to go back too." He stated as Orlandu joined him follwed by Meliadoul who kissed him on the cheek. Ramza and Agrias were next as the five energy beams began breaking down the barrier Alma looked on.

            Come on Virgo… you turned me into a devil before not I say send us home.

            She pointed the Virgo stone towards the barrier and the beam joined the rest soon they were over taken by a flash of and swept away in what appeared to be a tunnel of some kind then everything went dark.

            Well that's it for now, remember to review. Next up, the world…