AN: Here goes, on to Yang. And soon it will break away from the main plot line.

Chapter 4:



They reached the mountain pass to Fabul the next day. Rydia was cramped and sick of being in a moving vehicle. Her legs felt like jelly when she tried to get up. Rosa gave a funny laugh and caught Rydia as she tripped.

"I hate long rides," Rydia sighed.

"It beats long walks through water-soaked caves, doesn't it?" Cecil asked, as he jumped down. Rydia smiled.

"I guess." She eyed the hug mountain range. "How long is it going to take us to cross that?"

"A few days," Edward replied. "I did it once when I was a boy, before monsters overran it." Rydia made another face.

"Monsters, monsters everywhere," she lamented. "And all out to kill us."

"Could be worse," Rosa replied with a little smile. "You have magic. Think how Cecil and Edward must feel." Rydia grinned. Cecil and Edward both gave a laugh.

"You aren't going to start that might versus magic again are you, Rosa honey?" Cecil asked with a fake mocking tone.

"Of course not honey," Rosa replied in the same tone. "Because I know that magic will always win." She winked. "Come on, Rydia. Let's go."

"Okay. But maybe we should let the guys tag along too?"

"You have a point," Rosa laughed. "Lead the way, boys."



They went into the pass as a group. Cecil stopped. He heaaved a sigh.

"The path is blocked by ice." Rydia looked around the others. She could see the thick ice. It was too much to simply hack through. It required fire. But she could not do that. . . .

"Rydia, looks like its your time to shine," Rosa said. Rydia swallowed.

"No," she replied, taking a step back from everyone. "I- I hate fire."

"Her village was destroyed in a fire," Cecil told them softly. Rosa calmly took Rydia's hand.

"Rydia, you are the only one who can do this."

"I can't Rosa," Rydia replied, feeling the tears that were trying to come into her eyes.

"Please, Rydia. Fabul is in danger. If we don't get there soon, more people will die. Just like the people in you village and Edward's kingdom. I know you don't want that. I know you want to help. That's why you froze Cecil's feet to the floor. You want to keep others safe." She knelt down at Rydia's level. "I know it hurts. My father died when I was young. He drowned when he was out at sea. I still swim every day that I can. If you let your fear rule you, Rydia, then you will never get past this grief."



Rydia blinked at Rosa. The young woman's eyes were filling with tears. She shook her head. Rosa was right.

"I'll try," she promised. She moved closer to the ice. She could feel the cold in the air. This ice could cost many people their lives. That thought made her angry. "FIRE!" she cried, holding her hands out in front of her. Fire burst out of her finger tips and engulfed the ice. Steam rose up around them, and soon there was a puddle on the floor.



Rydia stared at the puddle. She felt a small smile creep onto her face, and she turned back to Rosa.

"You did it!" Rosa cried. She swept Rydia up in a hug.

"Thank you, Rydia," Cecil said. Rydia smiled. She felt so much better now. She had proved to them that she wasn't a cry baby, that she could help people.

"Can we go now?" she asked.

"Sure, kiddo," Cecil replied, ruffling her hair. "You did good."



Rydia and Rosa brought up the back. Rydia was tired from the hard climb they had when they had run from a monster too tough to beat. Rosa was running low on arrows, and Cecil had taken many hits. They had reached the summit.

"Hey, what's that?" Cecil asked.

"A Karate Master, from Fabul," replied Edward. "I would recognize their uniforms anywhere. But they rarely travel alone."



A band of monsters, imps from what Rydia could see, attacked the Karate Master. He charged at them, doing a flying kick that knocked all three down.

"That one's not going to be so easy," Cecil said, pointing to a giant bomb monster.

"We should help him," Rosa added.



The fight with the bomb was tough. It exploded into smaller bombs that they then had to take care of. Rydia flopped to the ground after the fight. She hurt all over. Rosa came over to her.

"Do you need healing?" Rydia nodded. She felt Rosa's warm energy seep through her body. The stinging burns disappeared. Rydia smiled at Rosa.

"Thanks."

"No problem. That's what white mages do." Rosa stood up with a groan.

"You okay?"

"Sure. Just a little sore from the battle. But I'll heal myself when I've seen to the others."

"Let me," Rydia replied, taking her hand. She quickly recited the cure spell. The relief Rosa felt was obvious.

"Thanks, kid. You know, if you were not such an amazing caller, I would try to get you to become a white mage." Rydia laughed.

"Thanks Rosa. But Black Magic is sooo much easier."



Rydia joined the others as they faced the karate master.

"I thank you," the man said. "I am Yang, a Karate Master of Fabul. My men and I were training when those monsters attacked us. . . and my men. . ." He cast a regretful glance over the side of the cliff. "I am the only survivor," he whispered, shaking his head.

"My friends and I were on our way to Fabul," Cecil said.

"Golbez is using Baron to get the Crystals," Rosa added.

"Damcyan has already lost its Crystal," Edward finished.

"Then they will be after our Crystal of Air as well!" Yang shot to his feet. "Fabul is helpless. Those left at the castle are only trainees. They stand no chance against monsters like this." He gestered to the remains. He turned and stared back down the mountain.

"Wait, Master Yang," Cecil called. "Let us help you!"

"You are a Dark Knight," Yang replied. "A Baronian Dark Knight no less. How can I trust you?"

"I may be a Dark Knight, but I renounced the King. I am not a puppet through which evil will be done. Not ever again." He had his hand clutched around the hilt of his sword. Rydua was starting to feel very nervous.

"Master Yang, my name is Edward, and I am prince of Damcyan." Yang eyed Edward suspiciously, his eyes falling on the ring Edward wore.

"Your Highness! I apologize for my imprudence." He dropped to his knees. "Then you believe he is trustworthy?"

"I have yet to meet a more honourable, just knight. Do not be decieved by his colours."

"Thank you, Edward."



"We need to go," Rydia said. "Time is gonna get away from us. And I don't want to see anyone else be hurt."

"Your right, Rydia. Let's go. We'll talk as we walk," Cecil replied. They began to head down the mountain.





"Rydia, why does one so young travel and battle monsters?" Yang asked as he helped her down from a particularly high rock.

"I want to help people," she replied jumping down.

"Why aren't you with your parents?"

"My father left us before I was born," she replied. "My mom's dead." She would not look at Yang as she slid down another rock.

"Poor child. Is Cecil your uncle then? Or Rosa your aunt?" Rydia swallowed heavily.

"I met Cecil a few days ago, perhaps two weeks now."

"Then why are you not with someone in your village?" Rydia froze. She supposed he should know. Maybe he would leave her alone then.

"It was distroyed in a fire. Cecil, Rosa and Edward, they are my only friends left. And I cannot return to Mist, because it's bloked by mountains now." Rydia hurried on. They were out of the mountains now, heading east to Fabul.



But Yang would not leave her be.

"How did you meet Cecil?" he asked. Rydia stopped in her tracks. She could not keep dancing away from this.

"Cecil and his friend Kain came to my village. They destroyed my village and had killed my mother." She had a hard time keeping the anger from her voice. "Is that what you wanted to hear? That Cecil was tricked by an evil King and that Golbez guy, and he killed everyone I ever loved? That he has since saved my life again and again, and he keeps trying to protect me by getting rid of me?" She stood there, her chest heaving. She took a deep breath, banishing the tears in her eyes. She hated being so angry, so sad. She wanted to be able to forget all the pain.



The others were all staring at her.

"Rydia," Cecil whispered. Rydia shook her head. She ran to Rosa and hugged the young woman. She needed to feel safe again. That would chase all the anger and fear away.

"It's okay, Rydia," Rosa whispered. "You can cry. It's okay to cry." Rydia sobbed into the warm white robes.

"I, I'm sorry," Rydia managed. "We have other people to worry about now."

"There is nothing to be sorry about, Rydia. You can cry, you know. It doesn't mean you are a baby. After all you've been through, you deserve a cry, a few cries." Rydia nodded and tried to smile at Rosa.



Yang suddenly appeared, leading three chocobos..

"These will get us there faster," he said. "Hop on. Rosa, you and Cecil can ride one, Edward can take Rydia, and I will go alone."

"It's alright," Rydia said, waving her hand. A yellow puff appeared before them, and it transformed into a chocobo. "I'll ride on Chocky." She jumped unto his back, scratching Chocky under the chin where he liked it. Let's go, Chocky." He gave a funny grunt that was like a cat's purr. She hugged his neck and they followed after the others on their wild chocobos.