Spilt Ends

Introduction: Whooo! Chapter 11! Sorry for the evil cliffhanger… wait… it was really that evil? *back tracks to Chapter 10* Oh! ^.^;;; I guess it was. Anyway, I've got a few more chapters left, and we'll delve deeper into Doned's wonderful predicament in this chapter and the next. Enjoy!

Italics- thoughts, memories, etc Bold- actions, important stuff

Disclaimer: I haven't put one up in a while… ahem! I do not own FFTA! Whoever does, you are lucky! I may not own the game and characters, but I do own my own wittle cartridge, which as we speak is collecting dust! Anyway!

XI

****

     Mewt sighed as he wandered through the long halls of the palace. He had been told to look in the East wing for any clues that may help, his father looking in the West one. Llednar had apparently sealed off the palace from the inside so there was no escape. But they had found something out, something terrible, and that was all that was needed to send Babus out with a distress signal.

    Mewt shuddered in the cool breeze. He remembered walking down this hallway with his 'mother' Queen Remedi, talking. He would try to force himself into believing that his mother really had come back, but that was something he never accomplished. In his heart he had always known that all of this was a dream and that it would end whenever he woke up.

   Gently his fingers grazed the stone pillars. He leaned on it and wondered where he was.         The problem with his dream was that he never wanted to wake up from it. He didn't want to leave his mother even if she wasn't real. But part of him had already realized beforehand that his mother was truly gone, and the illusion only proved that point. Suddenly the dream had become a nightmare.

    Figuring he could control it he had strengthened the laws. He slowly turned on Marche, fearing him and his triumph in bringing everyone back home. He realized now how foolish he had been.

   Don't dwell on that… a small voice in his head spoke up. He nodded to himself and continued down the hall, his mind reverting to something else, something a little more pleasant.

    He came to the end of the hall and fingered the grand white door. Smiling to himself he remembered that snowy day when he had first met Marche and Ritz had spoken up for him. His smile grew slowly, for he admired Ritz's strength of heart from afar. He had no idea that he was blushing.

  Pressing his weight on the door he found that it was indeed open and not locked like he had supposed most of the doors were. The door swung open slowly, revealing a bedroom.

  My bedroom… Mewt scanned the room in amazement; the room was much too large for just one person. He stepped in slowly, and as he did something moved on the bed, causing Mewt to jump.

   The person's eyes came into view first, and Mewt knew exactly whom it was they belonged to. "Llednar!"

   Llednar stepped onto the marble floor, carefully avoiding the mess of books on the ground. He looked exactly as Prince Mewt had looked, his hair done up in horn like statures. His apparel was yellow and he held a staff identical to Mewt's. The eye color was the only difference between the Prince and Mewt. "Yes…"

   A new courage swirled through Mewt's body. "You led me here didn't you? Half the doors in the palace were locked!"

   "You're getting it now," Llednar said, his mouth taunts. He walked around Mewt, the two eyeing each other. "Where are you hiding it?"

   "Hiding what?" Mewt said. He sneered. "The other copy of the book? It's gone. Babus took it."

  "You dolt, I know where the book is. That fat little stooge…" Llednar gritted his teeth. "I sent two snipers out to kill the little mage…"

   Mewt's eyes widened. "No…"

"Heavens yes," Llednar said icily. "I can't have two books in one world… I assure you that one of my snipers will fetch it and bring it back quickly…"

   Mewt forced himself not to look concerned, if Llednar knew he had inched fear into him then all would be lost. Besides, he needed more information. "You can't seal this world Llednar."

   "Oh but I can," Llednar said gently, examining his nails. "And you know all too well that you, nor your father can stop me. Which reminds me…"

   He snapped his fingers and an orb of light appeared at his side. "Your father's in the dungeon, about to be persecuted for impersonating the dead Judge Master."

  "What?!"

 "And the penalty…" The image in the orb swirled into a picture of Cid in the dungeon. Mewt reached for it, but as he did it disappeared. Llednar watched him with malice. "Death."

   "No!" Mewt cried in horror. "He's our dad! You can't do that!"

 Llednar grinned. "Yes, but I don't need a father anymore, I can take care of myself just fine…" He opened the door to the hallway. "Now then, stay here where I can keep an eye on you. If you even think about trying to free your father, I'll kill your little friends as well. And the first one to go will be the girl… what's her name? Ritz?"

  Mewt's eyes widened. Llednar sneered at him. "Yes, that's her name. She's cute."

 "You wouldn't dare…" Mewt said quietly. Llednar's eyes narrowed. "Oh but I would."

 Mewt charged at him, "You won't get away with this!"

   "Sit down!" Llednar ordered, his eyes flashing. Suddenly, Mewt could feel two white hot hands grasp his arms and throw him back onto the bed, halfway across the room. He lie still, his wrists burning where Llednar had grabbed him. "You take one step out this room and I'll slay the whole lot of them!"

  Llednar slammed the door behind him as he stormed out. Mewt lie, breathing heavily with his vision slightly clouding.

    "Dad…"

****

   "Doned!" Marche's heart burst with joy. "You're okay!" He ran toward his brother and hugged him fully, resting his chin on the top of Doned's head. "We were so worried…"

   Ritz stood, watching Doned carefully. Her grasp on the stuffed bear tightened. "Marche!"

"Mom's been turned into a viera…" Marche said gently, "But she doesn't look so bad. The clan's on its way here and-

   He cut himself off as blue static bolts climbed up his body, shocking all his muscles. "What the…"

    Before he could finish the static force threw him away from his brother and across the hall. Marche collided back first into a stone pillar, slicing it before he came to a stop at the wall. Ritz cried out in horror.

   Marche's eyes were wide and glossy. "D-Doned?"
Doned walked toward him. "Big brother told me I have to kill you. You're ruining Mewt's life. Poor Mewt… poor big brother."

  "Doned, I'm your brother," Marche shook his head in dismay. "Remember? Marche?"

"How dare you insult big brother!!" Doned growled. "You are scum! Scum like you can't be big brother! Die!!"

   Ritz was there in an instant. She grabbed Marche and dodged the energy ball Doned had shot at him, and rolled down to the wall. Marche ended up leaning against the wall with Ritz on top of her. Both of them were blushing.

   "T-Thanks…" he whispered, but she had already pushed herself off him, standing in front in defense, rapier drawn. Doned kept walking toward them, another energy ball forming in his hands. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way you scum!"

   Marche stared at Doned. "Doned… you can walk!"

 "I've been walking you imbecile!" Doned snarled, shooting an energy ball at them. Ritz blocked it, sending it back at him. Doned was too busy glaring at Marche to dodge it.

  "Doned look out!" Marche cried, standing in an attempt to go help his brother. Ritz held him back. "Do you want to get killed?!"

   The rebounded ball hit Doned's right leg, and immediately the boy buckled. "Ah!"

  "Doned!" Marche cried, tearing past Ritz to get to his brother. Ritz reached out to grab him and missed. "Marche wait!"

   He reached his brother and checked his leg. "Can you move it?"
Doned stared up at him, his eyes flashing. "Get away from me!!" He threw out his hands and pushed against Marche's chest, sending him flying to the wall again. Marche hit the wall with an earsplitting crack and toppled to the ground, half conscious. "D-Doned…"

   Ritz gasped and ran over to Marche, dodging the fireballs Doned hurled at her. Slowly Doned tried getting to his feet, but his right leg kept buckling. "What's going on?"

   "Ah…" Marche swallowed, trying to push away the pain as he tried to stand. Ritz grabbed hold of his arm and hoisted him to his feet. "We have got to get out of here!"

   She handed him a potion. Marche downed it in an instant and tried to protest. "But Doned-

  "Doned's never been better," Ritz snapped sarcastically. "But we'll be cut to pieces if we don't get out of here!"

   Marche glanced at her in surprise, but she had already thrown open the double doors. She motioned for him to move, "Let's get out of here before he figures out how to get around his crippled leg!"

   Too late, Doned was already on his feet, one of his legs limp as he dragged it across the hall. "DIE!" He continued to shoot energy balls at them, purple balls of hot energy that made craters in the marble flooring.

   "Run!" Ritz cried, grabbing Marche's wrist and taking off down the hall. Doned jumped from wall to wall, shooting from all angles. He was hopping on one foot, but for a limping person he was going pretty fast.

   "Ritz!" Marche tried to wrench free from her death grip on his arm, but he couldn't seem to break her grip. "He's my brother…I have to help him!"

   "I don't want him to make the same mistake!" She cried over her shoulder. "I don't want him to awaken and find you dead!"

     Marche didn't give up. He halted his movement and skid, trying to stop her from running faster. Apparently, that wasn't completely possible, as a fireball grazed his cheek. "Oh my god! He's that fast?!"

   "Why do you think I'm running at this speed?!" Ritz grabbed, yanking him to run faster. "We can't stop now, there's a door up ahead; we can hide in that room!"

   "Burn and die in your ashes!" Doned shrieked, bouncing off the left wall and shooting out a horde of fireballs. Ritz streaked through them with death defying speed, somehow managing to dodge every last one. Marche was half running after her, his hand still in hers.

   Ritz smiled. "There it is!" she pressed faster as the amount of debris accelerated (Doned had now found that he could hurl the suit of armor at them), praying she'd be able to get them through the door.

   Doned shot out an energy ball, aimed straight at Marche. Ritz bounced off the door, kicking it open as she flipped onto her feet, facing him. "Get in now!"

   "But Doned-

"GO!" she shrieked, pushing him with unknown strength into the next room. She held her ground and smacked the energy ball away like a baseball, causing it to ricochet around the room before finally striking Doned's other leg. Doned buckled at the door as Ritz dashed inside, slamming the door before him.

 Ritz heaved a sigh of relief, sinking to the floor in exhaustion. "Phew…"

    "Marche? Ritz? Is that you?"

  The two whirled around, immediately prepared for any kind of attack. But they lowered their weapons at what they saw. "Mewt!"

   Mewt sat on the bed looking slightly battered. His wrists were burned severely as he hopped off the huge bed, stepping over the books scattered across the room. A few of the pages from some of the books danced around his feet. "Ritz… your hair…"

  "Long story short," Marche spoke before Ritz could. "This is her true hair color."

   He stood a foot away from them, staring at his feet. "I'm sorry… we got captured… and Babus…"

   Marche sighed. "Babus is dead… yes."

Ritz walked over and hugged Mewt. "It's ok Mewt, we're here now. We're here to help you."

   "Babus…" Mewt hugged her back and started to cry. Marche walked over and hugged them both. There they stood, grasping onto each other for support emotionally. After a moment or two they withdrew, silent in their own little worlds.

   An annoyed pounding at the door sprung all three of them back into reality. There was panic in her eyes. "We've got to get out of here, Doned will break down that door soon and…"

  "Doned?" Mewt looked at Marche. "They got to Doned too?"

 Marche bit his lip, but said nothing. Mewt took his hand. "Marche…"

  There was a loud clang and a huge dent appeared in the stone door. Mewt raised his eyebrows. "Did he just throw a suit of armor at the door?"

   Ritz wasn't listening as she prowled around the huge room, looking for something, anything that would help them escape. "Damn! Mewt how could you live in this place?! There are no windows!"

   "That was so I wouldn't try to escape my own dream," Mewt nodded. "But as I do recall, there should be a secret passageway somewhere in this room."

   Her eyes lit up at that. "Great! Help me look!"

 Marche drew toward the dented down, where he could hear Doned slamming away at the door in an attempt to break in. He put one palm on the door. Doned…I'll get you out of this safe and sound… I promise.

 "DIE!" Doned bellowed, slamming his fist at the door with all his might. The door crumbled in one spot, spewing out rock under Marche's hand. His eyes widened.

   "Marche!!" Ritz cried, grabbing his hand. "Let's go! Mewt found a passage behind the bookcase…" Luckily Doned could not hear them above the racket he was making. "Hurry! Let's go!"

     Mewt held the passage open as Ritz dragged Marche down the dank hallway. Mewt closed the bookcase gently behind them as they trotted down the passage. The bookcase closed completely just as Doned burst into the room, sword drawn. However, they did not hear his curses as they wandered down the dark spiraling staircase lit merely with torches.

    "Thanks Mewt," Ritz said gently, smiling at him. The boys stood on either side of her as they walked down the seemingly endless staircase. His face flushed slightly. "N-no problem…"

   Marche watched the two in silence as they walked. His stomach twisted as he watched his friend blush, and for a brief second he would've liked nothing better than to punch Mewt. He quickly got over the feeling, leaving him to wonder why he had felt such a weird burst of anger in the first place.

   After a while of walking in silence he felt Ritz press his palm. He just realized that they had been walking hand in hand the whole time. Suddenly he felt very uncomfortable and tried to release her hand, but she strengthened her grip and pulled closer to him. "It's cold…" she whispered more to herself than to anyone else.

  It was cold? Everything seemed so warm. Marche could feel heat pulsing through his body as she pressed against him, seeking body heat. He could feel his face flush and hoped that Mewt couldn't see. Anxiously he glanced over at his soft-spoken friend, who was thankfully staring straight ahead.

   It was a big transition, coming from the throne hall to this dank staircase. Up in the throne hall against Doned there was never a dull moment… in fact, Doned was like a mini Llednar. But down here, it was very quiet, although Marche wouldn't quite call it dull.

   Suddenly his foot slipped on the next stair, and Marche slid down to his rump and skid down the next couple of stairs to the foot of the staircase. Wincing, he glanced up at his two friends who trotted down to him. They were trying their best to contain their laughter.

  Their smothered snickers were immediately silenced as they heard footsteps step into the room at the foot of the stairs. Quickly they whisked back up the stairs, peering through the stone railing in the shadows at the scene below.

   Ujuidar stepped into the room, followed closely by Ztir. Llednar stood in the circular room leaning over a wooden podium to look at the Gran Grimoire perched upon it.

   The walls were lined with shelves and cabinets filled with assorted potions. In the center of the room stood an ink black cauldron, a swirling green mist billowing lightly from it. On a long table next to the cauldron stood the weirdest assortment of objects, including Ujuidar's bloodstained sword.

   "No sign of the blasted thing…" Ujuidar said gruffly. "Mewt may have been telling the truth."

  "Come now," Llednar said. "We always bring it everywhere… why wouldn't he have it now?"

  It wasn't on his persona when you wounded him at the park so maybe it was left in the real world. Ztir's feet were on the ground for once. Ujuidar stood near her stiffly, looking more like a bodyguard than anything.

   "Nonsense," Llednar stated. "It's bound to be here somewhere because it's not in the real world anymore. I know."

   Ritz's eyes widened. The bear…Her hands tightened around its cotton filled body, holding it closer to her chest. They want the bear!

  "And how do we know you're telling the truth and not sending us on some wild goose chase?" Ujuidar snapped. Llednar looked up from the book, his eyes narrowed. "You're still angry with me. It's not my fault that she got hurt! Take my word for it, I am your master!"

  Ujuidar folded his arms in annoyance, leaning against the wall. Ztir looked at Ujuidar, Why must you argue with him?

   "Because he's going to have you killed…" Ujuidar whispered as he eyed Llednar. "I know he will…"

  "I can hear you with supreme clarity," Llednar said. "And if you must know, yes, I do plan on killing your precious Ztir."

  Ztir's eyes widened. What?
Ujuidar stood up and unsheathed his sword. "Why?!"

  "Apparently she has become the only thing you'd die for," Llednar said, staring up at Ujuidar with malice. "I am your master. I am supposed to be the object of which you've sworn to protect!"

  "I will not stand for this!" Ujuidar growled, standing in front of Ztir. "Leave her be!"

"Step aside Ujuidar," Llednar's eyes narrowed. "Your master commands you."

   Ujuidar stood defiantly in front of Ztir. "You'll have to get through me first."

 "You dare defy me?" Llednar's eyes clouded. "Fine then! Her fate is sealed!" He lifted his hands. "Omega!"

  "What the?! You bastard! Not here!" Ujuidar cried, but it was too late. Almost immediately the blast struck him full force in the chest, sending him crunching through the wall. When the dust settled, Ujuidar lie still in the mass, unconscious for the time being.

   The three on the banister gasped in horror as Llednar rounded on Ztir. She was strong however, and stood defiantly, awaiting his attack. I will not go without a fight.

  "So be it," Llednar sheathed his sword. Ztir pulled up her staff and cast Reflect and Protect spells.

   His pupils dilated as he charged forward. "Those puny defense spells cannot repel me! I will tear through you like tissue paper!"

  He slid the sleek metal sword straight through her shield and her body, sending a swathe of blood to the ground. Ztir gave a look of surprise, but her expression changed in an instant. You fool. You've been with me all this time and you still think you can just run me through with a sword?

 Llednar raised an eyebrow, but after a moment of thought it dawned on him. Laughing gleefully the Ztir in front of him disintegrated into thin air, whereas behind him the real Ztir came down upon his head.

   He dodged at the last second, sword drawn and in front of him. Ztir's eyes gleamed. Reflection!

   "Damn…" Llednar growled under his breath. "I hate it when you use this spell…"

 Ztir continued laughing as she spilt in two, fingers touching. Then the two split into two; the clones continued to double until they had made a circle around him, still laughing. They released fingertips and drew out their staffs. Find me now Llednar! Firaga!

   Thousands of fireballs rained down upon him. Llednar managed to dodge only a few as the circle of Ztirs spun faster and faster, creating a whirlwind. The mini tornado struck Llednar with such force it tossed him bodily to the wall. The Ztirs turned on him. Hahhaha… come now you can do better than that. I've already taken off half your health!
  Llednar grinned. "Tsk. I've already found you…"

   He struck the ground with his sword. "Abyss!"

 The attack struck all the Ztir's, their eyes widening as each one disintegrated into thin air. No!

 Once they'd all disappeared Llednar gazed around. But the real Ztir was nowhere to be found. "Come on out Mistress of Illusion…"

  Die! Once again Ztir came down upon his head, staff poised and ready. Just at that second Llednar teleported just as she was about to strike. She landed softly and whirled around in preparation for counterattack. Instead a smooth metal blade slid under her neck. "Game over…"

 Ztir gasped. Llednar stood a foot behind her, sword drawn under her neck. One wrong move, and Ztir would be dead. She smiled. Ah… I see I am still no match for your speed or power…

  It was at that moment that Ujuidar awoke dizzily, watching the scene from the hole he'd made in the wall. "Ztir!"

   Llednar smiled. "Goodbye Ztir."

"NO!" Two voices cried out, one was Ujuidar's, and the other was Marche's. Marche rushed forward and took the knife away from Llednar. Shielding Ztir behind him he held the knife at Llednar. "Don't!"

   Llednar's eyes dilated. "Ujuidar! I thought the boy was dead!"

 Ujuidar stared at Llednar. "Dead? Well apparently not. His little friends seemed to have gotten to him before he could die…"

   "Damn you!" Llednar seethed. Ujuidar stepped forward toward Ztir, but Llednar growled, "Take one more step and she's history…"

   Ujuidar stared at the frightened Ztir sitting behind Marche. Reluctantly he stepped down.

  Llednar turned back to Marche, circling him. Marche followed Llednar's movements, arms outstretched to ensure that Ztir could not be blasted with Omega. Llednar stopped after walking full circle and unsheathed his sword. Threateningly he pointed it at Ztir, and when Marche shifted so he blocked the shot he pointed it at his neck.

  "You dare defy me?" Llednar's grin was ice. "You? Pathetic boy who wanted so desperately to save the world… I despise you…" His icy grin widened as he gripped his sword. "Maybe a taste of Omega will change your mind…"

   Ujuidar opened his mouth to speak, but Llednar was a step ahead of him. "Not a word!"

He fell silent and Llednar turned back to Marche. "Tell me one thing Marche Radiuju… why do you insist on protecting Ztir? She is the enemy is she not?"
   Marche stared at Llednar defiantly, silent. The point of Llednar's sword poked his neck. "Is she not?" he pressed, growing impatient.

   "Yes…" Marche said softly. "She's the enemy…"

Llednar grinned. "That's what I thought… so why do you protect her? I could easily slay her for you, and then there would be one less of us to kill."

   "I do not wish to kill," Marche replied. Llednar withdrew his blade and slashed at him. Behind him, Ritz screamed in horror as blood splattered to the ground.

  Marche stood with a long, sleek cut running from the bridge of his nose to just under his ear. Blood trailed down his face, but he still stared defiantly at Llednar. Then slowly he knelt down, his right hand tracing the long cut in pain.

   Llednar brought the tip of the sword to his mouth and carelessly licked the blood from the sword. "You did not answer my question. Why is it that you wish to protect Ztir?"

   Marche glared up at Llednar's emotionless eyes. All he could see was hatred. "Because… Ztir is Ritz's hatred."

   Llednar stared at him. "I know that you fool. Stand aside!"

"And…" Marche said, annoyed. "Ritz is my friend, and as her friend I have sworn to be by her side through thick and thin…" He wiped the blood from his face. "Ztir is a piece of Ritz. If I can not accept Ritz for who she is than I am not a good friend… and I care for her…"

  He glanced at Ritz. "I accept Ritz for who she is."

Ritz gasped, her eyes watering slightly. She beamed at Marche, her hands covering her smile and blush. Marche smiled back, and Mewt nodded at him. Mewt stood and came over to Marche. "We're her friends Llednar… Marche and I would never want anything to happen to Ritz…" he glanced back at Ztir. "Even her hatred."

   Ztir stared up at them, tears flowing down her cheeks. She smiled up at her friends and whispered, "Thank you…"

   They gasped. "Ztir!" Ujuidar cried out, smiling. Everyone looked at him in horror: Ztir had spoken in voice… and Ujuidar smiled? "Ztir! You can speak!!"

   Ztir's eyes however, were on Marche and Mewt. She beamed at them as a white light shrouded her. Slowly her body disintegrated, her white particles drifting over to Ritz and entering her chest. Ritz sat there, immobilized, until finally Ztir was gone.

    "What?!" Ujuidar stepped forward, amazed and horrified at the same time. "Ztir…"

 Llednar bit his lip to keep from killing everyone in the room. "Dammit…"

    He growled in annoyance once Ztir had gone. "God damn you! Mewt!!! You're out of your room! And you know what that means…" his eyes glinted maliciously. "Death!"

  "What?! No!" Mewt cried out, lunging at Llednar before he could reach the stairs. Llednar however, disappeared on the spot. "Ahahahahah! I may not have been able to kill Ztir but I know someone else who is just dying to see me!!"

   His laughter echoed through the castle. Mewt's fists were clenched. "Dad…"

 "What's going on?" Marche asked, touching Mewt's shoulder. He sighed, "Llednar said that if I left my room than Dad… he was going to execute him…"

  "What?!" Marche cried out in horror. He grabbed Mewt's wrist and hoisted him up. "Come on! Maybe we can reach him in time!!" He turned to Ritz. "Ritz, let's go!"

    She smiled and nodded, following after them as they dashed up the stairs. Thank you… both of you…

  Once they had left Ujuidar crept out of the shadows, his eyes flashing. "They… they killed her. They killed Ztir…" A malevolent grin upturned on his face as his eyes glittered red. His whole body was shaking with rage, his fists tightly clenched at his side. One hand tightened so much around the hilt of his diamond sword that it cracked. "They shall pay… they shall pay very, very dearly…"

**To Be Continued**

Oh yeah… I forgot to mention Ztir dies. Oops…