As the quad of four arrived at the Crag of Mea, something seriously strange happened.
"Off to the final Magicite that resides in Castle Oztroja!" Catpaw announced as she jumped off the side of the crag and to the Chocobos.
Alexei soon followed. As they rode into Meriphataud Mountains, Tilik, Trobian and the white mage were no where to be found.
"Where are they?" Cat asked as she stopped her chocobo.
"...They're gone..."
"...So, now what are we going to do?"
"Look for new members?"
Several minutes later, they had arrived at Castle Oztroja. It was quiet... Many adventurers passed by, both Cat and Alex tried to get him or her to join them...
"This is going no where." Cat sighed defeatedly as she kicked a nearby rock.
"Wait! I got someone!"
"Whom?"
"A Taru black mage and white mage."
"Alright!"
The two dashed off and came across the mage Taru that would help them. Leading the way, as Catpaw and Alexei were enchanted in spells of Invisible and Sneak.
Hours later, they had passed many Yagudo that plagued the halls, from warriors to mages.
"...are we there yet...?" Catpaw moaned as she dragged herself along.
The Taru pointed to the door, it was guarded by two Yagudo.
Breaking the two hiding spells, Catpaw darted behind one Yagudo, activating Sneak Attack; dealing heavy damage.
The Yagudo that she had attacked turned around and tried to wallop her with it's weapon, she blocked the attack with her sword. The other Yagudo charged at her, but was blasted aside by the Taru mage. Alexei jump attacked the Yagudo from the side. The battle raged on. The Mage took care of the one Yagudo he was fighting... As Cat and Alex tried fending off theirs...
"Cat! Watch out!" Alexei shouted as the Yagudo turned to bash Cat away.
Dodging the blow, Catpaw goes to counterattack but out of no where, a club walloped her in the back of head. She fell to the ground, unconscious...
"Damnit!" Alexei cursed as he swinged his blade at the enemy.
"FIRE!" cried the Taru and blasted the other Yagudo with the spell.
Several minutes later, the battle was over and Cat had regained consciousness.
"ow... that hurt..." she grumbled as she recollected her weapon.
"Here, let me help you up," Alexei pollitely offered.
As Alex lifted Cat back onto her feet, the door opened magically. The trio continued through.
Many more minutes continued on as they continued walking down the corridors. Finally coming across the door that would allow them to go to the Magicite that waited.
"Thanks so very much," Catpaw thanked the Taru, whom nodded back.
Alexei ran up to the magicite, which glowed a firery red. He glanced back at Catpaw.
"Maybe you shouldn't come over here... I don't want you to faint again..."
Cat blinked, seeming not to hear him... She started towards the magicite.
"Cat!"
The Taru jumped up, startled by Alexei.
Everything was blinded by white light.
"Summoning, you say?" asked a female Taru, her hair done up in a big braid.
"Yes," A high official Taru male walked forward, "I would like to name this magic "summoning". The divine texts depictit in the form of the Star Sibyl commanding a great beast. At any rate, we are very close. Soon, the magic of summoning will be complete."
A ghostly figure of Alexei sat up, rubbing his head. "Ugh... where am I?"
"Hmmm..." Star Sibyl pondered.
Karaha-Baruha looked at her confused, "Are you uneasy, Your Holiness?"
Startled by the appearance of two of the highest people of Windurst infront of him, Alex got up and waved his hand infront of the male Taru; after getting no response, he sighed. "I guess they can't see me... Why are they talking about Summons?"
"Yes..." Star Sibyl raised her head and continued, "Very. Time is of the essence. The lines of battle are at Tahrongi Canyon and draw close to Sarutabaruta. The attack on Oztroja shall fail, and many flames of life will be extinguished...like the Star Reading, long ago."
"Place your trust in me, Your Holiness," Karaha-Baruha bowed, "Windurst shall escape its fate of ruin. The Book of the Gods has taught me everything. It told me the meaning of the tower and the fountain. And it has taught me how to command the greatest of beasts."
Alexei blinked, slightly confused, "Is this the past?"
Another white flash blinded him...
A male Taru ran through Yagudo with a spell, damaging those whom passed his way.
"Shoo! Shoo!" cried the Taru. "Keep your grimy claws off of Windurst Orastery Minister, Ajido-Marujido!"
A Yagudo quacked at the minister, holding onto its staff, "You are a fool for coming here to the throne room... alone. You say you are the Windurst Orastery minister, Ajido-Marujido?"
"Gawk!" A Yagudo Templar stepped up, "Orastery minister? And I am Aviatory minister! How do we know what you speak is not lies? Gawk! I should cut you up and send you to Heaven's Tower! Gawk! Gawk!"
"Kahk!" The previous Yagudo spoke, "Silence... Our little friend came all the way from Windurst to greet us. Let us hear what he has to say."
Minutes passed as Ajido-Marujido explained. The Yagudo glanced at each other...
After it was explained, the Yagudo Avatar spoke, "Kahk-ka-ka! You came all this way to ask about the Full Moon Fountain? Well, you Tarutaru have probably already realized why the Horutoto Ruins were built and why the full moon fountain exsists underneath it. Those ruins are evil. The towers sponge dry the areas around Sarutaburta of all their magic. You think that we Yagudo are the cause of these wastelands, but you only have yourselves to thank. You-the Tarutaru that activated those Towers!"
Ajido-Marujido spoke back, "The towers are all damaged! How do you explain magic still being drained from the plains of Sarutabaruta? What about you Yagudo? What are those things that you continue digging? Those stones... maybe they are the cause of all this?"
Intently listening, Alexei thought, "Is it because of the Magicite?"
The Yagudo Avatar rose to rebel, "Kahk-ka-ka... I commend you on you perceptiveness. But the reason Sarutabaruta is becoming a wasteland has nothing to do with those stones. That night, twenty years ago when we were defeated by your armies, you made a grand mistake... Kahk! Kahk! You still don't understand? Make your way deep into the centeral tower of the Horutoto Ruins. There you will see first hand what Star Sibyl and those summoners really did. The moon and stars no longer smile upon Windurst. Now, the world shall kneel before the Yagudo!"
Another white flash blinded off and faded into a star light room.
There, Star Sibyl started to chant words as she stood on the astral formation of stars on a platform, "Stars of the Heavens, tell me what to do! Tell me, Karaha-Baraha! Help me!"
A cloaked figure appeared infront of her... Another flash of white appeared.
Laying motionless on the ground, the figures of Alexei and the Taru mage were plainly in view. Catpaw had awoken first.
"Ugh..." she moaned, clutching her head.
"What happen? Are you alright?" a new voice said and approached Catpaw, offering her hand.
"...I touched "that" and I saw bright light... My two friends are knocked out still..."
After helping Catpaw up, Lion walked over to the Magicite. "So, that's what magicite looks like. What could they possibly want with it?"
"I don't know... but... I think its not a good sign..."
"What the...?" Lion jumped in surprised.
Cat turned from Lion's startled face and faced the trouble, "?...!"
A dark figure composed of dark mist formed together infront of the two.
"You are too late..." the darkness grumbled in a low, threating voice... "I have already awakened."
"Your anger"
A flash of herself getting mad at a friend.
"...cowardice"
A flash of herself backing away from a fearsome foe.
"...envy"
A flash of herself being envious of one of her friends with another girl.
"...arrogance"
A flash of herself smirking and chasing after a tough monster.
"...and"
A flash of herself and her love hugging.
"...apathy"
A flash of herself being torn away from her love.
"...from these I will spread the bane that will destroy Vana'Diel."
A small tear trickled from her eye... slipping down to the ground... Absorbed in an instant.
"Who are you?" Lion shouted out.
"Your kind has awakened me... and this time, you will be destroyed! You cannot stop me."
Flames and dead bodies flashed into Cat's mind. The painful images of her parents dead before her eyes... She fell to her knees.
"Vana'Diel will be that grave for you and all your kind!"
With that, the dark mist vanished. Lion remained looking in the direction of the mist.
"Was that a phantom?" she asked the open air, "An image... of the Shadowlord!"
She glanced down at Catpaw, whom was still in a state of shocked, "The Shadowlord? It can't be! His powers can't have returned! ...then it is true."
Suddenly, Catpaw had awaken from her shocked mood, "...what is true?"
"...the beastmen are trying to bring the Shadowlord back."
"...oh no..."
"You be careful, too. Catpaw."
Lion ran off, leaving Catpaw by the Magicite. She had to wait for her friends to awaken before doing anything else.
Several minutes later, both Hume and Taru awoke.
"I saw the Star Sibyl and another man.. talking about summons," groaned Alexei as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Need a warp back?" asked the Taru.
Both nodded and thanked the Taru for the help as both were warped back to Jueno.