"Who is this strange girl?" Seres thought

She couldn't help but looking her over. She looked exactly like a friend of hers from years ago. But there was something different about her. She still had this look of distraught on her. But, there was something about her that said she was whole, she wasn't completely boxed up. But the fact she was wearing a dark red gown and holding a black violin was just plain odd.

"So where is this house of yours?" Terra asked

Cifer looked at her and smiled.

"It is right around this corner. Heh, its strange to hear a girl talk to me." Cifer speaks

"What are you talking about, I talk to you all the time." Seres said

"Yes well, you always are yelling at me or lecturing me." Cifer said

Seres stopped and glared at Cifer. Terra kept walking and smiled.

"The way you talk no wonder I'm the only one who isn't yelling at you." Terra said

"Wha?" Cifer asked

"Try to think before you speak to women. For the short time I have known you, you seem to just say what ever comes to your mind first." Terra finished

"Ha, finally someone else sees it." Seres taunted

"Have you ever heard of positive reinforcement?" Terra asked

Seres looked at Terra as her words seeped into her brain.

"Instead of yelling at him, try and help him with how he acts. If you keep yelling at a dog for everything it does it won't know what to do." Terra explained

Cifer and Seres stopped dead in their tracks. Watching as she walked with confidence this was a whole new person standing before them. Terra stopped and turned around to face them. Cocking one eye she spoke again.

"So which one is it?" Terra asked pointing a row of houses

Cifer ran up and showed her to his house. Opening the door for her Seres watched her enter. Remembering her words and how she spoke it had to be a different person.

"So Cifer, back so soon I thought you were going to go kill a hundred beastmen before breakfast." Ginryu said

"Yes well change of plans." Cifer said

He showed Terra in. She looked around and Cifer brought her to the living room. Terra sat down in a chair while Cifer and Seres went to the kitchen.

"So Cifer, who is that you brought with you this time?" Ginryu asked

"I'm not really sure. Seres and I saw her sleeping by Terra's memorial." Cifer answered

"Yeah, she looks just like her too. I wonder if it is her." Seres speaks

Out in the living room Terra was scanning the room. But there was this object on the mantel over the stove that caught her eye.

"That sword…" Terra said

Some strange force was calling out to her. It made her get out of her chair and go to the sword. It was old, very old. The years the sword was out of use dulled the blade it was chipped and dented. Dust covered the whole thing from blade tip to hilt. The blade had a red tint to it. A stripe at the top and the further down the more it spread out. A flaking film covered the metal. The red stained the metal causing it to shift colors. To the end of the blade there was writing. An engraving that was worn away by time, all Terra could make out were miscellaneous letters from the actual words on the blade.

".n.el..e.rt"

Underneath the sword was a small plaque. It have the numbers "1599" engraved on it. Terra couldn't resist the temptation anymore. Lifting an arm she placed a hand on its hilt. Feeling its cold touch a sudden emotion came over her. She didn't know if her eyes were closed or not. Terra could not hear or see anything. The lack of sound left a ringing in her ears. This depravation of all light and sound sent her in a wave of panic. In this empty pit Terra felt lost, there was nothing there, she was all completely alone. Like a beacon, there was a figure walking towards her. In a flash Terra came back to her senses and backed away from the sword. Stumbling backwards she bumped into Ginryu.

"So, I see you have seen that sword." Ginryu spoke

"Whose is it?" Terra asked

"It belonged to a friend of mine. The sword was made for her as a gift. She used it in all her battles and gave it to me for safekeeping. The last I ever saw her she used it for her last fight. This you see on the blade is her own blood. It was tragic really." Ginryu spoke

"Who was she." Terra asked

"I will tell you if you could be kind enough to give me your name." Ginryu said

"Oh my, after all the hospitality your children have done for me I never told any of you my name." Terra explained

She bowed and spoke.

"You may call me Terra." She said

Seres and Cifer quickly turned their heads to her. Ginryu's eyes widened.

"Your name… is Terra?" Ginryu said

"Yes… is that a problem?" Terra asked

"Its just… well… you look remarkably like a little girl who used to live around here. Her name was Terra as well and she disappeared about three years ago." Ginryu explained

Those words pummeled her brain. This new information set something off in her mind and she had to sit down. Taking a seat she put her hands over her eyes.

"Is something the matter dear?" Ginryu asked

In a broken voice Terra tried to answer.

"I don't even know anymore." She answered. "I am terrified and I can't explain why. I'm here in this strange city, the only person who can help me is missing and I have no idea where to find him. I can't handle this anymore."

Ginryu put her arms around her trying to comfort her. Hushing her she tried to calm her tears. Terra was softly sobbing into her arms and there was a knock at the door. Seres answered it. Opening the door there stood Kiary.

"There you are. You need to stop running off in the morning. At lest tell me where your going." Kiary said

She looked in to see Cifer standing alone in the kitchen.

"Where is Gin?" Kiary asked

He pointed to the living room. She walked in. Peering in she saw her sitting on the couch holding someone.

"Oh hey Kiary. I'll be a while." Ginryu said

Kiary walked in to see what was happening. She heard faint crying.

"Is there something wrong?" Kiary asked

She saw two mithrian ears on the head of a girl in Ginryu's arms. Then she saw two eyes full of tears. Then there was dead silence.

"You…" Terra whispered

Terra let go of Ginryu. Rolling out of her arms she backed against the wall in Ginryu's house. She had a new set of fear and anger run through her. On the table before her was her violin. She was with out a weapon and had to think fast.

"You… where did you take him?" Terra growled

Kiary was shocked to see this girl here.

"What are you doing here?" Was all Kiary could say

Terra leered at her. She scanned the room for anything she could use. Spotting a window Terra didn't think twice. Snatching her violin she bolted for a window and jumped out through it. She landed in a back ally. Without thinking once her feet hit the ground she started running. Out of the ally she sprinted. The long tails of her gown slowed her movement. Looking behind her there were the two kids that brought Terra to that house. On and on she ran. Through the street she tried to escape but they were always behind her. Flights of stairs she ran. All through Jeuno she had traveled. Hiding in the port area she snuck to the upper region of Jeuno. But Terra was easily spotted. She did not blend in at all with the people around her. The gown not only slowed her escape but it was a beacon for the ensuing party to find her.

Around the areas Terra ran until through a long stretch in Lower Jeuno she stepped on the outside of her gown and down she fell. Completely halting her progress the two kids caught up to her swiftly. Gasping for breath they stand a few feet back watching Terra lay on the ground.

"Go ahead, do with me as you wish I don't care anymore." Terra mumbled

Seres motioned for Cifer to go get either Ginryu or Kiary. As he left Seres slowly moved to Terra. Crouching down next to her Seres speaks.

"What would we do with you?" Seres asked

"That woman, she kidnapped me from my home and brought me here." Terra said

Seres, confused at this point, offers a hand for Terra. Getting Terra to her feet Seres walks her to a bench. Sitting her down Seres asks more about what happened.

"I don't think my mom would kidnap any one." Seres said

"Well you mind explaining why I am here of all places?" Terra speaks

Seres looks at her speechless.

"I remember her. That group she was with. They came to our home, attacked the animals of our land. Then they attacked me." Terra said

She turned her arm over to see the bloody bandage over her arm.

"This came from one of them. That damn mage. I don't know what happened. After he struck down my love there was this rage I couldn't hide anymore. Something inside that was calling out, and then I knew what to do. I had never used a sword before but I deflected his magic attack and struck him with the sword I had. After that I woke up in that strange room." Terra explained. "I can still remember their faces. So help me if I see any of them again."

Seres was a little worried. She knew her mom and dad were among the six that went to explore that area. But Seres couldn't understand why her mother would attack or kidnap Terra. Looking back to her Terra had her face in her hands.

"But it doesn't matter anymore. I just don't care anymore." Terra spoke sadly

From behind her Terra felt a hand on her shoulder.

"If you promise not to run away again I can take you to see him." Kiary said

Taking her hands away from her face she looks up at Kiary's sincere face.

"I'm sorry for what I did. Chster is an idiot when it comes to dealing with kids or people for that matter." Kiary said apologetically.

Terra stood up and faced her.

"Please take me to Isclei." Terra asked

Kiary paused at this sight. At Terra age she looked just like an old friend of hers, the face, the ears, even the voice. It was as if her friend had come back to life before her.

"Yes, lets get going then." Kiary said

Kiary led her to the hospital that Terra was once in. Bringing her to the third floor they approach a room that has two standing guards. They try to enter but are denied by the two.

"None can enter with out a proper pass or permission." One spoke

"I was the one who brought him here, why can't I go in to see him. I even brought one of his friends." Kiary demanded

The other guard took out some papers. Paging through them he spots some information that quickly changes his temper. Looking at Terra he speaks quickly.

"Yes I see. I am thankful for your service. You even brought back the one that decided to leave with out permission. We will be taking her into custody now." He spoke

Other guards quickly surrounded them. Two of which took Terra away and put her in a room next to Isclei's. Kicking and screaming Terra was yelling at the guards to leave her alone. After they close and lock the door there are continuous banning on the door. Muffled shouting two more guards stood by the door to her room now.

"We thank you much for your work. Your efforts will be reported to the headmaster and his thanks will be paid. Now we have important business to tend to, if you could be so kind to show yourself out." The guard finished

Kiary left the hospital looking up the building.

"What did I just do?" Kiary asked herself

In Terra's room there was only a single window a bed and a chair. Hopelessness washed over her as she stared at the wall between her and Isclei's room.

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