"So you mind telling me why those two aren't under my custody right now?" a strong voice called out
"Well sir, we had one of them but she resisted my sp…" Chster tried to say
"Shut up!" Janus yelled. "Do I have to go out there and get them myself?"
"No sir. We will get them back." Ziggeraut said mildly
Janus walked to Ziggeraut.
"Do you think I can possibly trust either of you again? You screwed up twice! Now, I'm a patient man. I have forgiven you for you're past failures. You have one last chance at this. If you fail this time, there won't be another chance your either of you." Janus scolded. "Now go."
Chster and Ziggeraut quickly go up and exited the palace of Jeuno.
"Sir… do you think you were a bit too kind?" Kiashier asked
"Wizard. If you were in my position and I had failed you, how would you handle it?" Janus said
"Well, if you put it that way, the moment I found of your failure you'd be dead." Kiashier spoke
"My points exactly." Janus said
"Heh, I guess I should leave all of this to you then. I must prepare for their return." Kiashier said
The wizard walked away from Janus and back into the cellars. Janus was the new prince of Jeuno. His father had died during the second coming of the Shadow Lord. Now he leads Jeuno and the surrounding lands. His council had tried to assist him in his decisions about the actions of reconstruction of the three nations. But all he was focused with was Jueno. Janus left the surviving nations to fend for themselves. From these acts the nations grew irritated and angry with him. Afterward even his own council would leave him. Janus had lost power over the government until he had found the wizard Kiashier.
Kiashier had walked down the series of stairs till he had arrived at a dank laboratory. Poisonous chemicals lined the room. In the center of this poorly lit room was a pedestal with a large tomb. Kiashier slowly walked to it, using two hands he folded the hood that was covering his head back. Paging through the old book Kiashier spoke to himself.
"Just a little more time, master. Just a while longer and you shall be reborn."
The sun was rising over Rolanberry field. As its rays passed through a window it hit the face of an Elvaan.
"ehh…" Zanu said
The sun hit him right in his eyes. Rolling over he got up. Looking around there was Kiary and Kadak off by themselves. Kadak Jr. was sprawled out along the floor. Against the wall was Seres curled up against Cifer. Away from those two Ginryu was soundly asleep. On a lone bed there Terra had her arms around Isclei. Zanu stepped lightly to the door. Opening it he slinked outside. There, Elnroth was sitting against the house holding his bokken.
"What took you so long?" Elnroth said
"I'm not used to sleeping above ground. I haven't seen the sun in a long time." Zanu spoke
"How long have we been in Norg anyway?" Elnroth asked
"I have to say for about almost three years now." Zanu said. "Three long years. I wonder what would have happened if we had moved away from that place. Gone back to Bastok and lived as a normal life."
"Zanu… you need to stop beating yourself up about this. You couldn't have stopped her death. It was the damn Shadow Lord. Its nice to think about what could have happened. But you need to keep your head in reality now. You may have found your daughter. But you may have not." Elnroth said
"Its easy for you. Every time something goes wrong you can just cut your losses and move on." Zanu said. "I know this may be a lost cause. But something tells me that, Terra is in there. That my little girl is alive and well. But I can't force it on her. If she ever does regain her memory then maybe, maybe we can start over."
Their time was cut short by a short burst of laughter.
"What the hell?" Elnroth said
Opening the door there was more laughter. The bunch that was awake seemed to be poking fun at Seres and Cifer.
"What the hell is going on here?" Elnroth asked
"We're just congratulating the new couple." Kadak said
"Shut up dad!" Seres pouted
Ginryu snuck up behind Cifer and pulled him in to her.
"Oh my boy has finally found a girl to be with. It's about time too. I was starting to wonder about you. You would always be with all your guy friends. You never seemed to show any interest in girls." Ginryu spoke
"Goddess, mom!" Cifer complained. "What are you talking about?"
Another burst of laughter then Kiary started to chime in.
"Oh Seres, I'm glad to see you found a big strong Elvaan to look after you, even if he is still scrawny. He should fill out eventually." Kiary said
In this last burst of laughter Isclei and Terra awoke.
"Wha… what is all the noise for?" Terra asked
"Well what about them?" Seres asked. "Those two act like lovers!"
The group's attention is diverted; their focus was centered on Terra and Isclei. Barely wake Terra spoke.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Terra asked
"Me? Jealous? I couldn't care less about that jerk." Seres said pointing to Cifer
"Hey." Cifer questioned
"If you don't want him you'll have to look else where for a mate." Terra said sitting behind Isclei, her arms wrapped around him.
Zanu and Elnroth stopped the conversation before it got anymore out of hand.
"Now. Where do we go from here? We obviously can't go back to Jeuno. If we left for Norg we could have hid there for the longest time. No one dares go to Norg looking fro trouble." Zanu proposed
"Yeah especially if they want to find one of us." Elnroth said
Zanu looked at the two they had just saved the night before.
"What do you two think we should do?" Zanu asked
Isclei looked at Terra.
"Do you want to go back home now?" Isclei asked
She sighed slightly.
"I would love to." Terra answered
"What?" Zanu asked
"Well, we can go back to our home. If I properly seal the area, no one could find us again." Isclei speaks
"Where is that?" Elnroth asked
"Basil." Isclei speaks
"Ok… how do we get there?" Elnroth asks
"I'm not sure." Isclei said
Dumbfounded Elnroth's head started to ach.
"Well if you don't know how to get there why bring it up?" Elnroth complained
"Calm down." Kiary spoke. "We can take you guys there. Right Kadak?"
Kiary and Kadak got up.
"We went there on that expedition and found those two there. Its just through the Crag of holla." Kadak explained
"We can leave just as soon as the new love birds wake up." Kiary said
Kiary pointed to Seres and Cifer. After the short break of everyone picking fun at them Cifer had fallen asleep again and was leaning against Seres.
"Wake you punk!" Seres yelled
Seres pushed Cifer off of herself. He fell over grabbing her arm. In the momentum she fell on top of him. Shortly followed by more laugher. A brief intermission later and the group all started out for La Theine. As they arrived the sun was just overhead. Early in the afternoon still they approached the giant Crag.
"So how do we get home from here?" Terra asked
"At that platform there was a gate crystal. But for some reason it shattered. When this happened it created a gateway to this other realm." Kiary explained
She walked up to the pile of crystal shards. Leaning down Kiary placed a hand over them. The crystals resonated and glowed to her presence. In a blink of an eye she was gone. Kadak was the second to go. Then the rest followed suit. When the whole group passed through the gate crystal they stood before a large white staircase. At the top was a huge door leading to a hallway that seemed to go on forever.
"That's it. Through that door we will be back at your home." Kiary said
Terra and Isclei walked up the steps and stood before the gate. Pushing the door open a magical force took them and transported the two through the hallway. In a black flash they were gone.
"Well, who's next?" Zanu asked
The darkness faded away. Light started out faint then grew. Terra and Isclei were standing under the gazebo. The familiar sounds and sight of Basil came back to them. The two walked out from under the building. They walked through the black water and onto the white sand. There they stood waiting for the rest. Soon everyone had go through the gate. In awe the area they were in fascinated the group. Isclei escorted them all to his house.
"Welcome to my home of Basil. There is plenty of room here. Please feel free to make yourselves at home." Isclei said
In a short tour Isclei showed them the entire house and picked rooms for them to stay in. But there was something bothering Ginryu.
"Why did Chster and Ziggeraut attack us?" She thought to herself
She looked distracted, the rest could see it.
"Is there something bothering you?" Kiary asked
"Yes." Ginryu said. "When we got out of the hospital with Terra we were confronted by Zigg and Chster."
"Really? What did they want?" Kiary asked
"They first stopped us. Chster used his magic to bind us all in place. They wanted Terra returned to them. I don't know why they would do such a thing." Ginryu explained
"Well how did you get away?" Kiary asked
Ginryu looked around. She spotted Terra walking around on the second floor holding some sheets.
"There is more to her then we can see. She takes after her mother." Ginryu said
"What do you mean by that?" Kiary asked
"Well, when Ziggeraut was about to call to the guards Terra was able to break the enchantment Chster placed on us." Ginryu explained
"How did she do that?" Kiary spoke
"I couldn't see exactly what she did. But, there was a flash of light, it came from her I know that. In that moment, I could sense Angel again." Ginryu said. "It was like Angel was watching over her, and when Terra was in trouble she would help her."
Kiary thought back for a moment.
"Funny you say that. When we first came here Chster was attacking those two. And after he struck down Isclei Terra went after him. When Chster cast a strong lightning spell there was this flash and his magic was diverted from hitting her. At that time I thought I saw her too." Kiary said. "But what are we going to do about Chster and Ziggeraut. I don't believe they would attack you guys. If anything they would help."
"I don't know what happened. But as long as they can't find us we should be fine here." Ginryu said
Kiary looked out the window to the south. There she was looking at the gate they all used to come to this area.
"Well… they never saw me. I could go back and talk to them and see what happened." Kiary spoke
She started walking to the gateway.
"Wait." Ginryu said. "If your going to go back to Jeuno, do you think you could get something from my house before you come back?"
"Sure, I don't see why not." Kiary said
After a brief conversation from there on Kiary left for Jeuno. Ginryu went back to the house to tell the rest that she had left.
Kiary stepped through the gate to Upper Jeuno. Walking across the bridge she called in through her linkpearl.
"Has anyone seen Zigg or Chster recently?" Kiary asked
Soon after she got an answer.
"Well, I'm looking at Chster right now. If I had a mirror I could be seeing Ziggeraut." Ziggeraut spoke
"Oh hey guys. I was wondering if I could talk to you two." Kiary asked
"Sure Kiary. Tell ya what. We are having dinner in Upper Jeuno, why not swing on by and see us there." Chster said
A short walk away Kiary met they two.
"Hey guys, I was wondering if I could ask you guys a few questions." Kiary said
"Shoot." Ziggeraut spoke
"Remember way back when we went to that place in the Crag?" Kiary said
"Yes." Chster said
"Well, it's about those two kids we found. What ever happened to them?" Kiary said
"Actually we were thinking the same thing." Chster said
"What do you mean?" Kiary said
"Well a few nights ago they were in the hospital going under treatment for their wounds. But, later that night someone broke in and kidnapped them. We tried to save them but we were knocked out by the fleeing party." Ziggeruat said. "Hey, I have an idea. Lets bring you to Janus. He was leading the project. He could answer your questions."
Chster and Ziggeraut got up and took Kiary to the prince's mansion. Entering the main doors they walked up a flight of stairs and through a set of heavily guarded doors. At a lone throne there was Janus sitting.
"What do you two want?" Janus hissed
"We have someone with us who inquires about the two children. Maybe she could be of some use to our effort." Chster said
"I see. Kiashier, come up here, we have a guest." Janus spoke. "So what is it you inquire about?"
"Well, what is it you need those kids for?" Kiary asked
"Well you saw they damaged gate crystals. Once they have recovered we will ask if they know anything about it. After all, you were there. Once those crystals broke, you found their world." Janus said
From behind him came a man in a black cloak. His hood covered his face. All the man held was a small black orb.
"Now tell me, do you have any idea where they could be?" Janus said
Kiary paused and looked confused.
"What do you mean? Aren't they at the hospital?" Kiary spoke
Janus turned to Kaishier. Looking at the orb he held it was slowly changing colors.
"They were, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" Janus said
"No, no not at all." Kiary tried to say
The orb Kiashier was holding turned virbrant red. Janus made a cue to Ziggeraut and Chster.
"I know your lying. Now, where are they? Or will I have to use force?" Janus said
Kiary tried to run. But as she moved Zigg and Chster came from behind her and held her in place.
"Force it is. Kiashier, you have full right to use what you need to get the information out of her." Janus said
"I have a better idea. Rather then waste precious time, lets just use her like I did with those two." Kiashier said
"Might as well, if those two can't get the job done, use someone who is close to them." Janus spoke
Kiashier walked up to Kiary, he put both hands on her head and spoke an old dark acrana. Finishing his words he blew out into her. A black mist seeped into Kiary's nose and ears. She immediately stopped struggling. The two let her go. Kiary fell to her knees and coughed out violently.
"Rise anew. You have much work to do. There are two children you need to bring back. Kill who ever gets in your way." Kiashier finished. "and take those two with you, I want this done right this time."
Kiary got to her feet and walked out of the building. Before she left to get Terra and Isclei she retrieved the object from Ginryu's house. Wrapping it in a sheet Kiary walked the streets of Jeuno with an evil grin on her face.
Kiary traveled to the Crag of Holla, bringing with her Chster and Ziggeraut. Outside they waited for her. She walked through Basil and arrived at the mansion that the group was staying at.
"Kiary, your back. What did you find out?" Kadak asked
"I need to see Terra and Isclei, now." Kiary spoke sullenly
Kadak called to the group. Isclei and Terra came walking out. As they got into her view they called to her. Ginryu stepped out from another room.
"Well, what is it? What did they say?" Ginryu asked
"They said… they said…" Kiary spoke
She quickly changed. She was normal and herself till she started speaking. The black mist that was inside her took control of her actions. Kiashier's spell took effect and Kiary grinned a smile so dark the people around her back away. She threw the wrapped item up in the air, she caught hold of one end of the sheet and pulled on it. The item spun in the air until it was completely unsheathed. Kiary jumped up and caught the sword. It was the very sword on Ginryu's mantel. She dashed forward. Kiary turned to the blunt end of the sword and knocked out Isclei. In that sudden movement there were corrupted thoughts going through her mind.
"You can't get out of here with the two of them. Kill her and leave with the boy. Do it, he doesn't need them both. Slice her up, watch her bleed to death."
As it finished talking to her Kiary ran the entire sword through Terra. Standing there Kiary let go of the sword, spinning around she picked up Isclei and ran out the front door with a burst of speed. Outside Chster and Ziggeraut were waiting for her. Kadak, Cifer, Kadak Jr, and Elnroth ran out after her. Spotting the three quickly the four took to battle positions. Chster smirked and cast his binding spell again.
"Well Kiary, good work. I'm sure the other one will come looking for this one. We'll just have to wait for them to come." Ziggeraut said. "When your ready meet us in Jeuno."
In an instant they disappeared. A strong magical force summoned them away. All that was left standing were the four who chases them out there.
"Oh shit, Terra!" Elnroth yelled
Quickly they ran back to the house. There Zanu was holding Terra. He was trying to elevate her body from the ground. The old sword pierced her lung, blood was slowly dripping from her back. Coughing blood started leaking from her mouth. Ginryu and Seres were casting the curing spells they knew.
"What the hell did she do?" Zanu said. "Why did she have to do this?"
Terra was gritting her teeth in pain. The old sword was killing her, she would bleed to death or suffocate from the blood in her lungs. Terra's eyes were wide but slowly her vision was going, she closed them and everything went blank.
Legal notice. I do not own FFXI. It is property of Square-Enix. All PC's and NPC's have thier respective owners.