Black Mage Village is nestled deep in the heart of Magdelene Forest, far from any other beings and that was how the Black Mages liked it, they had been bred to destroy and now all they wanted was to live out their short lives in peace.
The village itself consists of a few wooden huts with roofs pointed like the mages hats, with a small stream running through the middle.
As Zidane, Domino and Thunderchild entered the village they found it completely deserted much to their surprise.
"I suppose we should have expected it…after all, we've had to fight most of the Black Mage population just to get this far!" said Thunderchild
"There should be someone around here." Said Zidane
Domino nodded in agreement
"Yeah…after all, who's gonna look after Bobby Corwen?"
"Bobby who?" asked a puzzled Thunderchild
"It's what the mages called their Chocobo." Explained Domino
"Bobby CORWEN?" asked Thunderchild incredulously "What kind of a name is that!"
Domino shrugged
Thunderchild walked closer to one of the wooden huts, suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a pointy hat in the bushes
"Hey!" he began but was quickly silenced when a fiery blast erupted from the bushes and smashed him into the wooden hut behind him.
"We're friends!" shouted Zidane
A Black Mage wandered out of the bushes
"Then why do you bring him? He is not our friend!" it said
"Hey! What have I done!" asked Thunderchild from where he had collapsed next to the hut
"You are the one that took our friends away from us." Said another Black Mage which had emerged from one of the wooden huts
"He can't have done, he's been with us all the time." Said Domino
Thunderchild had begun to put two and two together and figure out what the Mages were talking about.
"It's because I'm Terran isn't it…and so is Jara." He said
"You dare speak her name out loud?" shouted the first Mage
Thunderchild sighed and muttered "Oooh dear."
Domino walked forward but stopped when the Mages pointed their staffs in her direction.
"Look….We're fighting the person who took your friends…we're trying to stop her…all of us, Thunderchild included."
The Black Mage seemed unimpressed and crossed its arms with an air of indignation.
Thunderchild stood up and brushed the black burns off his breastplate
"Oh for cryin' out loud," he muttered "Look, I don't know why the hell you think I'm gonna destroy you all…and frankly I don't really care. I've let Jara slip through my fingers twice now and I don't know what kind of destruction she is causing to my friends on the Discworld and all I want…all I want is your help to stop her, to stop this madness."
The Black Mage turned and looked at him
"Maybe this is true…but how can we trust you?"
Zidane stepped forward
"Look, you trust me right? I mean I saved you lot from Kuja remember…now we're trying to save you again, this time from Jara."
At the mention of her name the Black Mage visibly winced and grimaced.
Thunderchild sighed
"There's no way you're gonna convince them Zidane…our quest ends here. When Jara has gathered enough power from the Discworld…she'll come through to here and when she does she'll be unstoppable. Then once she's got enough power from Gaia then she'll use it for Terra to assimilate Gaia and restore all of the lost souls of Terra back to life. It will essentially be the end of this planet."
The Black Mages glowing eyes flared brightly
"This is what she will do!" it asked
Thunderchild nodded sadly
"Yes…it's what I would do…." He sighed
The Black Mage studied Thunderchild for a time and then turned around and began to walk off
"Hey wait!" shouted Domino "Where are you going?"
"I will consult the rest of the Black Mages and return to you. Please feel free to use the amenities in the village." Said the Black mage, and with that it walked away into the village.
Thunderchild looked around at the village lit up by torchlight in the darkened night.
"Well….what do we do now?" he asked
Zidane shrugged
"Wait I guess..."
"Well, I don't know about you but I'm absolutely shattered." Said Thunderchild, still partially exhausted from everything that had happened in the Twilight Forest.
Domino nodded
"Me too."
Zidane raised his eyebrows, he wasn't feeling tired at all but then again he only knew half of what happened between Domino and Thunderchild and so he presumed they had their own reasons.
"Ok…well, there's an inn of sorts over there, you can get a bed there…I'll be walking around the village should you need me."
Both Thunderchild and Domino nodded their thanks before walking over to the inn.
Zidane sighed and walked over to the left of the entrance of the village, he knew exactly what he was looking for. After less than a minutes walk over small wooden bridges and past various Mage houses, including the Black Cat synthesis shop…still open Zidane noted with a smile.
Then he got to the mound.
The Black Mage Burial Mound was made by the mages not long after they first arrived at Black Mage Village because many of them 'stopped moving'. Only a few Black Mages had known fully what 'stopped moving' meant…Black Mage number 288 and Zidanes companion Vivi.
Above the mound on sticks were figures that looked almost like scarecrows but dressed like Black Mages…one figure was smaller than the rest and below that figure written on a small wooden plaque was one word.
ViviA small tear rolled down Zidanes face as he remembered the infant Black Mage who had been his companion through the struggle against Kuja…Vivi had grown up a lot through that…he had discovered his own past and his true purpose, in a way the Genomes and Black Mages had a lot in common, they were both bred for war but wanted peace.
A rustling behind him made Zidane look around, a Black Mage had walked through the bushes behind him.
"You have come to visit the resting place of Vivi," He stated "288 said you would one day."
Zidane nodded
"He was so innocent." He said
"We all were…that's how we were led so easily, tempted so easily."
Another tear joined the first…it wasn't like Zidane to cry, he usually kept his feelings bottled up inside of him but just recently he hadn't been feeling himself, his mind kept straying back to Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th, his love the queen of Alexandria. He had chosen to rejoin Tantalus much to her annoyance not long after the defeat of Necron and his return to Alexandria…he had fond memories of that day when he stepped off the airship and she had flung herself into his arms.
He regretted rejoining Tantalus now, he could see that he had made the wrong decision now…and once this whole debacle was over he would return to Alexandria.
"You are leaking!" exclaimed the Black Mage
The comment made Zidane laugh, it was typical of Black Mage innocence to say something like that.
"No…no I'm ok." He assured the mage while wiping the tears from his eyes.
He say goodbye to the grave of Vivi and walked past the Black Mage back to the village. The Black Mage made no move to stop him, it just stood there staring at the silent memorial to the Black Mages who had gone before, Zidane didn't know what the Black Mage was thinking but it seemed….lonely.
On his way back to the village he passed Thunderchild walking out into the forest, he waved to the Terran in greeting but was ignored, Thunderchild seemed to be walking in some sort of daze. Zidane raised his eyebrows but didn't pursue Thunderchild, he was a law unto himself and Zidane couldn't even begin to fathom the guy.
When he got back to the village he checked at the inn to see whether Domino was awake but she wasn't there, she must have gone after Thunderchild he presumed and so he climbed onto the top bunk of a bunk bed and lay there thinking.
He thought of Thunderchild and Domino…ever since he had met Domino barely a year ago she had seemed…a little off the rails. But he had put that down to her destructive programming but now he understood more about the genome, how Thunderchild was a stabilising force to her…when he was around she didn't lose it quite so often and not as badly as she used to. He wondered where all this would lead…where it would all end up.
As he lay there wondering a howl rent the peaceful air of Black Mage Village, a two-tone howl which Zidane had heard before…usually in victory or triumph or even as a warcry…but not in sadness which is what he heard now, it touched something deep inside of him and caused terrible sorrow…as if he had lost something.
"Ulllaaaaaaaaaaaa" howled the voice.
Then it was silent and the peace returned to Black Mage Village.
Not far away from Black Mage Village in a clearing in the forest stood Thunderchild, not in his standard form but in the form he took in Ultima Trance, but he wasn't actually fully in Ultima Trance…for some strange reason he had taken this form at this time and at this place.
A small stream trickled through the clearing, it's song mixing with the sounds of the forest…Thunderchild stood there listening to them, not sure of what he was doing or why he was doing it.
A ghostly figure emerged from the stream and floated up until its face was level with Thunderchilds.
Yissan it called
Thunderchild frowned
"Jara?" He asked
The figure shook its ghostly head
No…I am not her…can you not remember who I am?Thunderchild stepped closer to the figure and looked at the face, then he jumped backward in surprise
"Mother!" he asked
The figure nodded
"How?" he asked
I'm part of the mist now…Jara has reactivated the souls contained within it. I have missed you son.
"I've missed you too mother."
You mustn't fail now Yissan…Jara remains strong, even as we speak her forces prepare for the destruction of Ankh-Morpork, many will die if she cannot be halted. After Ankh-Morpork she will march on the major cities of Gaia…Treno, Lindblum, and Alexandria all will fall before her forces and then…then Terra will take Gaia…destroying all life. She has the Crystal Yissan…the Crystal of power.
"The crystal of power?"
Yes…this crystal is the ultimate controller of life on both Terra and Gaia…it was formed from the four crystals which governed our worlds many years ago…Jara doesn't fully understand the crystal but she's close and if she does unlock it's power then she won't need to come to Gaia…she could annihilate both planets from the Discworld.
"Ye gods…" he muttered "In the face of such power what use am I?"
You are strong Yissan…and deep in your heart you do not have hate…you only love. Love will win over hate as love will build on itself while hate simply destroys itself in its quest for power said the spiritual form.
Thunderchild nodded
"I think I understand…and I will do what I can do…what I have to do."
That is all you can do Yissan…but do not falter, do not stray from the path chosen for you for evil is only a step away. The battle must not be fought in lies…you must face Jara as your true self.
"My true self?"
As you stand before me nowThunderchild looked down at his form and clothing as though he'd seen it for the first time.
"So this is my true form…" he said "I'd always wondered…always felt something deep inside me."
Yes…the forest unlocked it for you. You are special Yissan…for your birth was not as simple as thought…your father was not Terran…
"Not Terran? What do you mean?" asked Thunderchild, finding out his own history for the first time.
The spirit sighed, running its hands through its hair it moved close to Thunderchild
A man came to visit me long ago…we fell in love at first sight, I became pregnant and gave birth to you. He was very proud of you and held you in high regard…but one day he said he had to leave forever…he explained he wasn't from Terra that he was not Terran in form, that his current form was a disguise.
"So…that's why I have some of these powers?" asked Thunderchild
The spirit nodded
Most of your powers come naturally as a Terran…Originally, many thousands of years ago the Terran race looked a lot like the Genomes…we had a lot of the powers of the Genomes but over time we lost the powers through fighting and war…much of the original Terra was forgotten in the mind, but not in the heart.
"Is this why I look like this?"
Yes, this is your true form and this is your strongest form. Do not be afraid to explore it…but with great power comes great responsibility…do not misuse it Yissan.
There was a rustling in the bushes behind Thunderchild and he felt a presence beside him.
Ah…the form of Jara joins us said the spirit
Thunderchild turned his head to see Domino standing beside him, staring wide-eyed at the spirit of Thunderchilds mother, she didn't seem to see his dramatic appearance as a blue tailed and blue haired genome look alike…or if she did she didn't react.
"Who are you?" asked Domino
"Domino….this is my mother."
Domino jumped
"Lawrence is your mother!" she asked
Thunderchild jumped now too
"What! What are you showing her?"
The spirit smiled
Only her version of me…Lawrence created her…just as I gave birth to you"But she hates Lawrence!"
Hate will destroy itself in the end Yissan…remember that.
Thunderchild looked puzzled and turned to Domino
"What's he saying to you?"
Suddenly Thunderchild found himself seeing what Domino was seeing, the old figure of Lawrence…old and yet not frail, stood before them.
I'm disappointed in you Mithril…you had so much potential, why did you throw away the gift I gave you? He asked
"The gift of destruction? What kind of a gift was that! When people look at you in fear…you can't feel love through the hate inside you."
You don't need love…fear brings power…power is all you need"NO!"
Why do you reject power Mithril?"My name is Domino."
Your name is irrelevant…embrace the gift, envoke your fighting spirit…you can rule the world Mithril if you only let yourself…cast off your love for Yissan and take your place as the only leader of Terra and Gaia.
"NEVER! I love Yissan and I will not lower myself to your level Lawrence…you're nothing to me. I do not know you anymore."
Do not know me? I CREATED YOU!Domino turned her back on the figure of Lawrence and shut her eyes
Mithril! Mithril! Yugami! Cried the figure as he faded
Thunderchild put his arm around Dominos shoulder, causing her to start in shock but Thunderchild quickly soothed her fears, looking down at his clothing he could see he had returned to normal.
"Well done Domino…you beat him…you finally beat him."
Domino nodded and hugged him back
"Come on," she said "Lets go back to the village."
Thunderchild nodded and turned around, looking back at where the spirit of Lawrence had stood…now the spirit of his mother had returned and she was waving him farewell. He smiled back and then turned around and followed Domino back down to the village.
Zidane ran up to them as they walked into Black Mage Village
"Where have you been?" he asked "We've been looking all over for you!"
"Just sorting a few things out." Explained Thunderchild as a means of apology.
"Well. never mind that, the Mages have agreed to take us to the Discworld."
"That's great news!" said Domino "Maybe we can end this thing now!"
Thunderchild nodded feigning joy but inside he knew that there was a lot more to come before Jara was defeated.
"Are you sure you want to come Zidane?" he asked "I mean, this isn't your fight."
Zidane shot Thunderchild a strange look and said
"What affects Terra and Gaia affects me…so it is my fight."
Thunderchild nodded
"Ok…well…this is going to be dangerous."
Domino laughed
"You mean it isn't already?" she asked
Thunderchild rolled his eyes
"I mean, it's going to be twice…no…three times more dangerous. Jara has been on the Discworld for almost as long as me…she's had time to build up her strength…plus the magical field of the Discworld means her magical powers are much stronger than on Gaia."
"Sounds like fun." Commented Zidane
"Yes…now…we're going to a world I know of… and you don't. It will probably be best if you just stuck to me for most of the time… a lot of what you are going to see…will seem weird to you."
Zidane and Domino nodded
"Ok," said Thunderchild "Let's get going then."
Less than ten minutes later a circle of Black Mages had gathered in the centre of the Village.
What seemed to be the leader of the circle of Mages, a small mage who looked familiar to Zidane, walked up to the three of them.
"We are greatly reduced in number because of Jara but we have enough power for one trip to this Discworld."
"Thank you. That'll hopefully be enough." Said Thunderchild
Zidane knelt down to the mage
"Do I know you?" he asked
"My name is Vivian," said the Mage "I think you knew my father."
Zidane jumped backwards in shock
"Vivian! Vivi had children!"
The Mage nodded
"It is an honour to meet you Zidane…my father spoke of you much before he….stopped moving."
Zidane patted the mage on the back
"I'm sorry about that."
"It doesn't matter…he has gone to a better place."
Zidane nodded
"Anyway," said the mage "We must continue…please stand in the middle of the circle…and…hold hands."
Zidane, Domino and Thunderchild stood in the middle of the circle, Zidane and Thunderchild either side of Domino and holding either hand.
As the Mages each in turn raised their arms and began chanting, Thunderchild turned to Domino and whispered in her ear
"You might want to hold your breath…it'll be the last breath of fresh air you'll get for a while." He said
Domino turned and looked strangely at him as the world around them suddenly went a bright white and everything disappeared.