"Where the hell are we?" Noxes spoke

The paladin stepped out into a negative. The sky was black and the ground was white.

"Well, this is new." Kiary said

The six walked from the decorative hut that they materialized under. Stepping through the dark water the adventures were on the new land. The new plane of reality was a wonder to them.

"Well let's not stand around here anymore. We came here to explore." Ziggeraut said

Spanning out Kiary went south looking for new plants or animals. They rest started north. Splitting the group more they all scanned the new land. Kadak took a few vials of the dark water. Kiary had gone south from the group already. Traveling further down she saw few animals wondering about. They moved away defensively. She crouched down and looked closely at the earth and grass. This world was completely confusing. The earth was a pale white. It was dirt though, not a gravel or sand or clay. It was a white earth. What was more unusual was the trees. Normally trees grow straight. These seemed to either curl around or split and grow apart harboring strange fruit. Getting up Kiary took notice to her surroundings now. There was a large house off to the south. Taking out a pair of binoculars she looked through them to acquire a better view.

"How about that." She said to herself

Kiary looked through the magnifying lenses to see two figures standing to the south. One was looking back to the north. She tried to see the second. But all Kiary could make out was that was a Hume male and a Mithra female. Putting the binoculars away she swiftly snuck forward trying to stay out of view.

"Where could that sneaky Mithra now?" Chster said

The powerful red mage was pacing around waiting for Kairy to report back. The rest of the group had rejoined by the building that brought them all to this area.

"Well I guess we should go find her." Kadak said

Bale looked at the tracks around them.

"Well looking at these we all went north and there is this set going south. But…" He stopped pointing a pair of tracks. "There is this second set going south as well."

Bale got up and looked at the group before him.

"Shall we be going then?" Bale asked

The five moved south following the tracks.

Isclei and Terra were slowly walking back to their house. Terra was watching the waters edge as she walked with Isclei. He, however, was constantly looking to the north.

"What is it?" Terra asked

He looked at her.

"Oh its nothing. I thought I saw something. It must be nothing." He answered

Behind them Kiary was close by. She was spying on the two. She had eluded them until she ran into one of the animals close by. It gave off an eerie howl at her. She scrambled to her feet. Backing away from the strange beast it charged at her. Knocking her down she drew a kunai. Slashing out with it Kiary caught its side sending it reeling in pain. The other five of the group heard the cries coming from the south and started to run. As the beast backed away it called out to others close by. Soon the surrounding beasts overwhelmed Kiary. A bolt of lightning came from the sky striking one of the strange creatures. It instantly died from the shock of the spell Chster cast.

"Kiary get back her!" Kadak yelled out to her

Bale dashed up and circled around slicing at one with two short katana's. It fell quickly too.

Terra and Isclei were at the doorstep as they heard a crack of thunder. Looking north they both saw a group of people attacking a swarm of animals.

"Terra, do you think you can use your violin yet?" Isclei asked

Terra looked at him confused.

"How do you mean use it yet?" She replied

"Remember how you felt when you played that one sad song?" He spoke

"Yes, but how will that help?" Terra asked

"Play a song in a minor key and focus your energy into every note." Isclei said

She nodded and ran to the attacking party. Isclei threw the doors open. Inside he ran, bolting up the stairs to his room her found a chest at the foot of his bed. Opening it he grabbed a degen and ran back outside to assist Terra.

Noxes raised a shield and bashed one of the strange creatures aside. Its body cracked upon collision of his large metal shield. The animal was crystalline, somewhat of a clear body it twisted around a glowing orb. When he smashed it with his long sword the light dimmed and went out.

"Got another one." Noxes said to the group

They looked at this ever-growing legion of creatures. As the group went in for another strike the animals backed away. All six of them stopped and put up a guard. Waiting for the surrounding creatures to attack again they watched but nothing happened. Music started playing. The air carried the tune of a violin. The minor pitch created an ache in the minds of the group. It started off mild as a mild headache, but it grew tremendously. They all dropped to the ground in pain. Holding their ears it was too late. The enchantment from the music already was set in their heads. It played on in their heads. Their vision was going blurry; all that they could make out was a figure walking towards them playing an instrument.

"What the hell is that?" Ziggeraut yelled out

His words were washed away in the music. Kiary started screaming trying to drown out the music, any noise to block it out. But the figure just stood there and played. Chster took all his effort and forced his fist to the ground casting a stone spell. It rumbled the earth around them and quaked the ground around the figure. It fell over dropping its instrument. The music stopped and soon after the spells effect wore off. The pain went away immediately. Getting up Kiary looked at the person who was playing. She was on the ground trying to get up. Wobbly from the stone spell she got up and quickly searched for her violin. Spotting it she ran for it. Bending down to pick it up Chster cast an aero spell sending her backwards in a gust of wind.

"Gotcha." Isclei said

He ran behind her and caught Terra before she hit the ground.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked her

He looked at the cuts on her legs and the scratches on her face and arms from the wind. Isclei set her down; Terra got a good foothold and they started walked towards the group again.

"I am going to ask you all to leave now. You invade my land then attack the animals of this plane, and now you attack my love. I should strike you all down right now." He yelled

From their standing point the six looked at the two standing before them.

"You can't be serious?" Ziggeruat said. "We are only here to explore this new land, we meant no harm to anyone, we were just defending ourselves."

"By attacking an unarmed you lady. Very courteous." Isclei yelled back

Kiary hit Chster in the head.

"Fool, you see what you got us into." Kiary said

"That "little girl" was going to kill us with that music of hers." He snapped back

Isclei was growing impatient. He leered at the group placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. Terra slowly crept out from behind him. Kiary looked at her as she slowly walked out from behind the defending man.

"Is that… it can't be." Kiary thought to herself

As Kiary was about to speak Terra walked to her violin on the ground and Chster threw another wind spell at her stopping her from picking it up again. Terra was pushed over and rolled along the ground, this gust of wind opened up a gash along her arm. Getting to a stop Isclei ran to her trying to cover her wound with a bandage made from cloth of his shirt. Patching her up he turned to Chster. An angry look covered his face. Isclei was furious. Charging at him he drew his sword, Noxes stepped in front of Isclei's path. Raising his shield Noxes stopped him from his charge. Backing away the rest took defensive positions. Distracted Terra crawled forward towards her violin, this time Chster cast a strong lightning spell. He aimed it right for Terra this time. A thundering boom over head and bam, the lighting bolt struck down. Isclei saw Chster preparing a spell, seeing Terra near her violin again he rushed back to guard her from another wind spell, but he was hit was a large bolt of lightning. The shock sent him down and out. He fell down and didn't move. Terra's eyes widened in horror to see this last person she knew or loved go down. Leaning over him she tried to wake him. Shaking him he did not wake and Terra was bawling over his motionless body. Putting her hands on his Terra took the sword out of Isclei's hand. Standing up she looked at the ground. Moving slowly towards the group she uttered words in a broken voice.

"He only asked you to leave." Terra spoke sadly

As she stepped forward the rest backed away slightly. Her eyes caught Chster. By instinct he threw a stronger lightning spell at her. A roar from the sky and a strong lightning bolt came down. Terra slashed Isclei's sword simply knocking it aside. As it struck her sword a flash behind Terra and there was a feint image of full spanned wings. In that flash it was gone. Chster was left surprised; Terra took that moment and rushed in. She stabbed quickly with the thin degen. Through his armor and passed his skin did the tip go. Terra pulled it out leaving Chster with a bleeding wound. She hit him through a vital point piercing one of his lungs. As he fell the rest gathered around his body. Terra walked back to Isclei and waited for the next attacker. But all that happened was a pinprick and a wave of blackness.

Kiary watched this girl easily take out this strong mage. Rustling quickly through a bag she found darts with a sleeping potion on them. She threw one at her. Within seconds the darts poison took effect and she was out.

"Ok we need to get out of here now." Bale said

Chster's wound was severe and he needed medical attention. Ziggeraut and Bale were carrying Chster. Kadak and Kiary were looking at the two that were knocked out.

"What are we going to do about them?" Kiary asked

Noxes looked back to them.

"Well… we can either leave them here." Noxes said

"Or?" Kiary spoke

"We can take them with us to at lest treat their wounds." Noxes answered

Kiary looked at Kadak and Noxes.

"I guess we take them with us." Kadak said

Noxes took Isclei and Kadak picked up Terra. After going through the transporter the surveyors took them back to Jeuno with a teleportation scroll. Chster was immediately treated for his wound and was released later but Terra and Isclei were another matter. The magic Isclei was struck with caused a massive amount of damage to his body and the sleeping potion that Kiary used was much too powerful to use on a young Mithra. It was a waiting game until either one regained consciousness.

In the hospital Terra was rustling in her bed. She couldn't seem to wake up. The sleeping potion put her mind in a trap. The dreams were coming back and Terra couldn't escape from them this time. In her mind there were images long forgotten that came to her again.

"Get away from her!" A female voice shouted

Terra saw through the eyes of a child. She looked out to see a tall evil man taking her away from this older woman. It subsided and jumped times. She was being beaten on the ground. Through these visions she felt this void devouring her. Something was lost within her, this desire to be whole that couldn't be filled. Through all of these horrible sights there was one light that eased every pain that Terra felt. A Mithra draped in a fine rode, her voice was calm and soothing, when she sang her whole body was warm and felt genuinely safe.

"I want to stay this way forever…" Terra lightly grumbled

The nurse who was watching the two looked to her.

"Did she say something?" The nurse asked

Terra curled up under the sheets.

"Mom…" Terra said drifting to slumber again

The hours passed and the sun fell and the moon was full in the sky. A cold breeze blew through the window. Terra's eyes opened and she sat up.

"Where am I?" She spoke

Getting out of bed she fell to the floor. Her legs were weak and couldn't support her body yet. Gabbing onto objects around her she slowly walked to a chair with her clothes on it. The blue robe she wore would give herself away in her mind. Trying as fast as she could Terra changed into her red dress. Picking the last of her clothes up there was her violin.

"I wonder why they would bring that with me. I thought they tried all they could to stop me from getting to it." She said to herself

Picking it up she held it under her arm trying to hide it. Opening the door to her room she peered out scanning the hall. This late at night everyone was asleep. Creeping through the halls Terra snuck to the lobby, walking calmly she approached the doors. Opening them she walked into the open air. She took in the sight of the huge city.

"What is this place?" She said

Walking the streets she found herself moving to an unknown direction. The place seemed familiar but she could not discern where her legs were taking her. Walking through back streets and past houses she found herself at a bridge. Stopping she walked to a wall and leaned down. There was something etched into the wall. Trying to read it a wave of fatigue rushed over her. Resting next to it she fell asleep again.

Morning came. The sun rose into the sky. It shined light down over the land. Its rays warmed Terra's face. She turned her face away still resting. People walked by barely noticing the girl. Some did see her and were a little surprised at her presence there. But nothing was as unusual when two kids came by.

"Hey Seres, look there." A tall Elvaan spoke

Seres, a slender Mithra, stopped and looked at the sleeping Terra. Seres stepped closely to her. She was leaning against the engraving they did for a friend of theirs. Terra rolled over revealing her whole face. Seres stepped back.

"Umm… Cifer, do you know who this is?" Seres asked

He took a good look at her.

"No can't say that I do." He replied

"Think back three years." Seres explained

Terra opened her eyes; she saw the two looking at her.

"Gah." Terra said

She was awake looking back at them. She huddled up in her place.

"Can I help you?" Terra asked

Seres and Cifer looked back at her.

"I guess I can ask if I can help you. You seemed to pick a rather interesting spot to take a nap." Seres replied.

"Why is that?" Terra asked

Seres pointed to the wall that Terra was leaning against. She got up and read it.

"RIP Angel. 1576-1599, A loving mother."

"What is this?" Terra asked

Seres and Cifer looked at each other confused.

"You mean you don't know about the great shadow war?" Cifer asked

"No can't say that I have." Terra replied

Terra put a hand over her abdomen. Picking up her violin Terra stood up and brushed her dress off. When the ends of her gown got out of the way there was more writing on the wall. She walked away from the bridge and the two kids followed her.

"You know… if your hungry you can come have breakfast with us." Seres said

"Yeah, my mom makes the best rolandberry pancakes ever." Cifer said

Terra paused and looked back at him.

"I mustn't be of any trouble for you. I have some work to do and a person to find." Terra spoke

"Well we can help. But first I say we go get some breakfast. I, for one, can't work on an empty stomach." Cifer explained

"I guess it couldn't hurt." Terra said

Seres and Cifer took Terra to Cifer's house. Away from the bridge the suns light shined on the memorial that was engraved into the bridge wall. Underneath the original engraving was more writing.

"RIP Terra. 1594-1609. Beloved daughter."

Legal notice. I do not own FFXI, it is property of Square-Enix. All PC's and NPC's have thier respective owners.