Aboard the boat to Goug, Balmafula Lanando decided that this was the last time she was going to stand by and watch the action: she was going to be a part of it whether Ramza Beoulve liked it or not. She got up from in back of the crate she was hiding behind and began to run for the door to Ophelia and Agrias's cabin. They were least likely to tell on her where Meliadoul would squeal to Ramza in a heartbeat not only to gain favor with him, but because it was the nature of a Shrine Knight to rat out their enemies. And Balmafula considered all of the ex-Shrine Knights enemies. They planned to rule the world with an iron fist, and that's not something one just gets over. As she snuck in, she noticed that no one was there.

"Huh," she thought out loud. "Must be having a meeting on the deck or something."

"Nope," she heard a male's voice from behind her say. "We came to see what all the sneaking around the boat was for."

She turned around and there stood Olan, Agrias, and Ophelia, who were all three just wearing a simple flannel suit of pajamas. Ramza and Meliadoul were nowhere to be found. She let out a sigh of relief. She was safe for now.

"I just wanted to be useful for once," she whined. "I mean, I am an Archsage, I do have some power. I can help. And besides, I'm smart as hell!"

"Okay, we won't hand you over to Ramza," Agrias said. "Only if you promise us that you won't get killed out there. You can stay with Ophelia and I."

"Phew," Balmafula said, relieved. "That's good news. I promise to do my best not to get killed."

"Okay," Ophelia said as she entered her sleeping quarters for the night. "Oh, and one more thing: Mel rooms with us too, and she'll be down in a moment. Good luck avoiding her." Ophelia waved to Balmafula as she shut the door.

Balmafula panicked for a moment, then ran up out to the deck to hide there. Olan followed her.

Olan ran up to the deck looking for Balmafula, but he didn't see her anywhere. Then, Meliadoul walked past him, headed for her room with Agrias and Ophelia. He hoped she didn't tell Ramza Balmafula was stowing away on the ship. The three women were sharing a room, as well as were the four young men, Ramza, Mustadio, Cloud, and Olan. Orlandu and Besrodio were forced to sleep in the same room as the Byblos and the robot. Olan felt kind of bad for them, but he supposed Pent and Worker 8 were alright. Then, as Ramza, Cloud, and Mustadio walked towards the cabins, he saw a small blonde knob sticking out from behind a couple of supply crates. He waved goodnight to Ramza and the others and walked over to the crate.

"Hey Bal," he said, and she looked up at him, terrified that he found her hiding spot. "Why not just tell Ramza you're here? I'm sure he won't mind."

"He'll try to baby me like he does with all his women," Balmafula said, and crossed her arms. "You see how he won't let a woman lead a group."

"Beowulf has proven his usefulness time and again Bal," Olan said. "And Sir Orlandu is a powerful, almost invincible hero, and Ramza fancies himself the leader. All three are incredibly strong, a kind of Holy Trinity if you will."

"Blasphemy is not a color you wear well Olan," Balmafula replied, standing up because everyone else had gone to bed. "Besides, what about Strawberry? Why couldn't she lead a group? She has Zodiac."

"By the time she summoned it, any one of those three would have cut her down a thousand times," Olan retorted, "Hell, anyone else on Ramza's team, even Masahiro, would have cut her down a thousand times before she got it out."

"What about Ophelia?" Balmafula continued. "She's powerful, resourceful, and smart. She has mastered all the job classes. Isn't she the perfect candidate for a leader?"

"No matter how resourceful she is," Olan continued. "She still isn't immune to Beowulf's many status effects."

"Haven't you noticed yet?" Balmafula said condescendingly. "You can't tell me that you haven't noticed that Ribbon that she ties in her hair rather religiously? That protects against anything Beowulf can dish out."

"Well, then, what about Orlandu?" Olan shot back. "He'd hit her with a Lightning Stab before she even got a chance to move."

"Are you kidding?" Balmafula said, annoyed. "She'd just become a Ninja and dodge it and strike him before he had the chance to realize his attack missed."

"What about Ramza?" Olan tried, although he knew she was just going to come up with some sort of half-baked reason why Ophelia would win. Feminists.

"You mean speed of a rock?" Balmafula asked. "I mean, I'm grateful to him for saving the world and everything, but he's the slowest member on the whole team, except for Worker 8. He wouldn't stand a chance against her, even if she was a thief."

"I'm done arguing with you," Olan said, and turned around. "I'm going to bed."

"Goodnight," Balmafula said to his back. "It was nice talking to you!"

Ramza knocked on Agrias's door. He watched as the door slowly swung open, and she looked at him in her nightgown.

"Hey Agrias," Ramza said as if there was nothing wrong with knocking on someone's door when the sun was down and they were trying to sleep. Tact had never been his strongpoint. "Can we talk?"

"Can I put on some pants first?" she asked groggily.

"You are probably the only woman who would ever say that," Ramza answered. "Well, except maybe for Chris."

"Uh huh," Agrias replied, shutting the door. She came back out a few moments later wearing her traditional gray armor with the blue skirt. Ramza changed out of his seafoam green turtleneck and decided to go back to his dark blue breastplate and leather boots.

He reached his hand out, very gentlemanly, and she took it and they walked up to the deck near the back of the boat. Agrias was still rubbing her eyes a little.

"What did you want to talk to me about that couldn't wait 'til morning?" Agrias said sleepily.

"Well, ever since the battle with Zalera in Limberry Castle, there's been something I wanted to ask you but couldn't find the words," he said, making a reference to the time that she got hit by a high level death spell and nearly didn't make it. "Or I could find the words but they wouldn't come out the right way. Agrias, I-"

"Yes?" she asked, hoping against hope he was about to say what she wished he would say.

"What do you think about Meliadoul?" he asked, and Agrias's heart sunk like a rock. "I mean she doesn't seem to like men very much. Maybe the betrayal of her father and the death of her brother jaded her a bit."

"Yeah I think she's gay," Agrias said with no actual proof, just a hope that he would believe her and stay within her reach. "Maybe you should find her a nice girl to settle down with or something."

"I don't think she's gay, I just think she hasn't yet found a man besides Orlandu that she can trust," Ramza speculated. "She just needs to meet a nice guy who can make her happy, you know?"

"Ramza," Agrias said, finally working up the courage to ask him what she really wanted to. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you too." Ramza sensed her pause.

"Whatever it is, just say it," Ramza said, putting his arm around her. "You know I look out for everybody on my team."

"Well," Agrias said, beginning to lose her nerve. "I wanted to say… that… we've been friends a long time now, and…"

'God, when it comes to monsters I can fell a Behemoth in a few hits, but I can't even tell Ramza how I feel about him," she thought. 'Come on now Aggie, just say it. Tell him that you-'

"Agrias?" Ramza asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you feeling okay? You zoned out there for a minute."

"Never mind," she said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "It's nothing. I'm going to stay out here for a few more minutes, so I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay," Ramza said, thoroughly confused. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't stay out too late. We may need you in tip-top shape when you wake up." He made his way towards the cabins as Mustadio walked out going the opposite way.

"Let me guess," Mustadio said as he walked up to Agrias. "You couldn't say it?"

"God, I don't know what's wrong with me," she cried. "It's three little words. 'I… love… you'. That's it. And it terrifies me to death. Maybe I should just give up…"

"No," Musty said, and grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Don't ever give up! Ever! You and Ramza are meant for each other Agrias. I know it. He may not come right out and say it, but I'm his best friend and I know him better than anyone. He loves you. He may not show it, and he may not realize it yet, but give him time. He's mentally deficient, remember?"

"Okay," Agrias said, a little afraid. "If you say so Mustadio. Well, I've got to go look for Bal-" She stopped cold when she realized she had given away Balmafula's position.

"What?" Mustadio asked.

"Mel," Agrias corrected herself. "I've got to go look for Mel."

"It's okay, I saw Balmafula sneak in too. I think Melly is the only one who doesn't know she's on board," Mustadio explained, and Agrias breathed a sigh of relief. "I should probably turn in too. I'll walk you to your room." He offered his arm to her and Agrias smiled.

"Such a gentleman," she said, taking his arm. And the walked arm in arm to the cabins together.

"Hiro, where's your fortune now, when we're walking in the hot sun to your house?" Alma complained, lifting her dress up to walk over some debris in her way. Masahiro looked annoyed because only members of his family and Pamela could call him 'Hiro'. "Couldn't you call a coach or something?"

"Alma stop complaining," Rafa said. "Back in the day with your brother, we walked everywhere. Have you ever wondered why none of us ever got fat?"

"High metabolism?" Alma guessed, and collapsed dramatically on the ground. "I'm dying."

"Anybody else want to stop for a break?" Rafa asked. Everyone else shook their heads. "Sorry Alma, but majority rules. You can sleep when we get to Jack's mansion."

Alma groaned, but got back up. Aeris reached into her basket of flowers and pulled a Potion out. Alma grabbed it out of her hands and guzzled it down. And they kept walking.

Soon, they were in the middle of the bustling trade city Warjilis. People were going all different ways, and carrying many different packages. In the middle of the town, a giant fountain stood with three statues of the three founders of the three trade cities: Heinlein Warjilis, Ramuda Dorter, and Nigel Zarghidas. Heinlein Warjilis was a great Chemist, while Ramuda was a dark-skinned foreign Time Mage, and Nigel was a scholar. They had been crafted long ago when Altima had first risen and people needed a place to go for the goods they couldn't get in Ivalice anymore, like samurai swords and ninja knives.

"Melissa wouldn't dare attack us here," Masahiro said. "Dave, I want you to take Gene back to my place. Pamela, take the women with you too."

Rafa raised an eyebrow. "Why do the women have to go to the mansion? I can personally fight better than you Masahiro. And who made you the boss?"

"Okay then," Masahiro said, totally ignoring the boss comment. "Dave, Gene, Pamela, Alma, and Aeris will go back to the mansion. The rest of you ask around town, see if you can find out where Melissa went."

"Why?" a familiar voice said from the statue of Ramuda. "She's right here." There was a clap of lightning, and then Melissa appeared, sitting cross-legged in front of the statue of the great Time Mage. She tossed her dark hair out of her eyes, and smiled viciously.

"Run!" Gene yelled. "You don't stand a chance! She's much too powerful now!"

"Aw, how quaint," Melissa said as a crowd gathered around her. "The whole village has shown up to be slaughtered." She lifted her hand up, and picked up a woman in the middle up the crowd psychically. Then she closed her hand into a fist and the woman started to choke.

"Stop it! You're killing her!" Masahiro yelled. "Please sister, don't make us kill you."

"You, kill me?" Melissa said, and she laughed an unholy cackle as the crowd fled and the life slipped out of the woman she was choking. She let her go and the woman ran away. "Foolish humans."

She let out a bolt of lightning from her fingertips and shot it at the woman she had let go of. It hit her square in the back and she started to convulse as the lightning continued. Then, after a few seconds, her charred corpse dropped to the cobblestones.

"Monster!" Masahiro said, and loaded the Perseus Bow. He fired an arrow right at Melissa's face, but, without her moving a single muscle, she fried the arrow right in the air.

"Stupid Hiro," she replied, standing up. At that moment, a demonic quality came into her voice. "I could level this whole town if I wanted." Energy surged from behind her, ruffling her hair and dress. She raised her right hand in the air, her palm curled in a circular form, and began to gather up energy.

"Deus oportet exuro orbis terrarum! Heavenfire!" The energy orb in her hand turned black and became enflamed. It grew quickly in size and she flung it at the six heroes. It hit Rush and Christine and they flew backwards into the side of the local pub. The black fireball knocked a hole in the wall which they flew through. Masahiro ran after them. Luckily, by this time everyone had evacuated this part of the city, so casualties would be low to nonexistent. Malak gripped his Rune Sword (Hell KNIGHT, he can use sword too) in his hand and rushed for Melissa, but she just shimmered out of the way and his sword got stuck in the fountain.

"Deus oportet exuro- Ah!" Her chant was interrupted by Rafa's Faith Rod cracking over her head. She now turned her attention to Rafa as she chanted another spell.

"Universium es malum! Induco orbis terrarum obscurum! Heartless Angel!" Jet black wings sprouted from her back and a blood red sword materialized in her hand. A black fire burned in her gentle eyes, and she smirked an evil smirk. She rose up in the air and then charged right for Rafa, sword drawn.

"Heaven Thunder!" Rafa yelled, and an arcane symbol infused with the power of thunder appeared in front of her, blocking Melissa's attack. Unfortunately, a similar symbol appeared and blocked her brother from coming to her rescue. The symbols disappeared and Melissa flew backwards preparing for another strike.

"Ready Malak?" Rafa asked, and her brother nodded. He ran over to her and held her hand. They both lifted their outside hands up and began to chant as Melissa flew towards them at high speed.

"Double Diamond Sword!" they both yelled, and an arcane symbol with the power of wind appeared in front of them, blowing the fallen angel backwards into someone's house. Right through the wall.

During this whole battle, Daniel had merely stood and watched. He was too terrified by this display of power to even move. He watched as the house Melissa fell into shook.

""Deus oportet exuro orbis terrarum! Heavenfire!" The entire front of the house blew apart, knocking the two ex-Kamyuja assassins on their backs. Stepping through the fire, Melissa looked completely unharmed, although she had lost her wings and her sword.

"You are certainly formidable opponents," she said, dusting her dress off. "The hardest opponents I've ever fought. Well, the only opponents I've ever fought, but still. You are to be commended for your bravery, but it ends here. "Deus oportet exuro-"

"Wait!" Daniel screamed, and Melissa held her black fireball. "What if we could make you some kind of deal?" Masahiro had now emerged from the bar with an unconscious Christine in his arms and an injured Rush next to him.

"Now that's more like it," Melissa said, and the fireball disintegrated. "I will be willing to trade your miserable lives for the Mirror of Ajora. I know you have it."

"What the hell is the Mirror of Ajora?" Rush asked. "And what makes you think we have it? All the treasure is stored safely away-"

"In a vault in the mansion, I know," Melissa finished. "And if any of it was worth my time I'd have taken it already. The Mirror of Ajora cannot be taken, it can only be given, and you have it. I know you do."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Rush said. "And no matter what you do to us, we'll never give it to you."

"Yes we will," Daniel said, searching his pockets and pulled out a hand mirror inlaid with rubies and emeralds. "Is this is?"

"No that's trash," Melissa said, extending her hand as it emitted a supersonic noise that shattered the mirror. "I believe Rush has the Mirror I'm looking for."

"What? I don't have anything," Rush said, taking off his jacket. "But even if I did, I'd still never give it to you."

As he removed the jacket, the Mirror found at the Deep Dungeon fell out of his inside pocket. Malak's gaze fell with it as he realized what it must be. Both he and Melissa dove for the Mirror, but Malak got to it first. He picked it up and barrel rolled over next to Rafa.

"We've got the Mirror Melissa," Malak said. "And nothing you can do to me will ever make me give it up."

"Fine," Melissa said. "You want to play hard ball? Well okay then. Batter up!" She stretched out her hand, and the unconscious Christine flew to her. Melissa smiled again.

"You may not care what I do to you," Melissa said. "But do you care what I do to her?"

"Put her down," Malak threatened. "Or else-"

"Or else what?" Melissa laughed. "You'll annoy me to death? You stupid Heaven and Hell Knights make me sick with your randomized magic and your white robes. Let me show you what real magic power can do."

She merely touched Christine's face with her finger, and Christine screamed in pain.

"Wait," Masahiro yelled. "Melissa, why are you doing this? You're not evil."

"Maybe not," Melissa said. "But at least now I'm useful. All I could ever do is sit back and watch while you and Jack saved the world. I was Mom and Dad's favorite, I was the one they liked, but that wasn't enough to save me in their will. They wanted to leave the money 'equally', so I got just as much as you two. It's your fault my life sucks."

"No, it's your fault your life sucks," Masahiro shouted. "It's your own damn fault. You squandered all your money on clothes, so you came to us. And we took you in out of the goodness of our hearts. And you spent lots of our money. You were the ruin of the O'Bannon family."

"No," Melissa said. "It was you and your gallivanting all over the face of the earth helping that 'heretic'. You ruined the O'Bannon name. It was bad enough that you ran when Uncle Vernon framed you for our parents murder so you looked guilty, then you help someone who'd been excommunicated. If anyone ruined the family, it's you.

"But I'll tell you what," Melissa continued. "I'll make you a deal. You give me the Mirror, and I won't blow her pretty little head off. Does that sound fair?"

"Alright, alright," Malak said, putting his hands up. "Just calm down and let Chrissie go." Christine felt a tiny surge of joy at the thought that Malak called her Chrissie instead of Chris, but that feeling was quickly replaced by pain as Melissa touched her again and she blacked out.

"Wait," Rafa said. "What happened to Jack and the others in the carriage? What did you do to them?"

"They're safe back at the mansion," Melissa said. "Jack's part of my family, I can't hurt him. Besides, they're no threat to me. Well, except for Luna, but she's pathetic enough."

"Okay," Malak said, inching closer. "I'll give you the Mirror if you promise to give back Chrissie."

"No, you'll just attack me in an effort to make me drop her," Melissa said, looking at Daniel. "Give it to Dan. He won't attack me because I'm from noble blood. Plus he's not that stupid."

Malak gave Daniel the Mirror and he walked up to Melissa. When he got to her, he gave Melissa the Mirror.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Melissa condescended. She took Daniel's hand. "Now let's get out of here."

"What?" Rafa said, surprised. "You're double-crossing us?"

"What did you expect commie?" Daniel said to Rafa like she was totally stupid. "And Masahiro, if you have any brains at all, you'll join your sister. No? Well, we'll be on Nelveska Island if you change your mind."

Melissa and Daniel teleported away carrying both the Mirror of Ajora and Christine. The two ex-Kamyuja assassins and the dark haired archer looked at each other.

"Rush?" Masahiro said, and Rush looked his way. "Go back to the mansion. It's more than big enough to house everyone staying there already, so what's one more?"

"But I-"

"Look," Masahiro said sternly, unusually angry. He was always the overly calm one in the group. "You got thrown through a goddamn building! You're lucky to be alive! Go and rest, Aeris will heal you, she's good at that. We'll go to Nelveska and get her back."

Rush muttered something to himself, but begrudgingly trudged up to the O'Bannon mansion. The dark haired Archer turned to his two friends.

"Okay, any ideas on how we're getting to Nelveska?" he asked. "Because unless either of you can fly…"

"How's this boys?" The voice of Luna came from behind them. She was wearing one of her trademark tight fitting, low cut, orange dresses with matching shoes and earrings. She held an old looking book in her hands. The pages were all ripped and shredded, but the one page that was open was in perfect condition, and it looked like a spell.

"I've been experimenting with transdimensional transportation lately," she said, flaunting her chest. "And we can use this spell I found to transport people over great distances in a short time. I wont bother you with the extremely complicated magical details, but there is one thing. A sort of… hitch. Here's the thing, it's a pentagram spell. We need five people."

"That's what I'm here for," said her escort, the ever sarcastic Gene. He took off his Oracle hat and threw it into the ruins of the bar, revealing his dark hair. "Never liked that thing. I want to save the world too. Don't think that just because you got into Ramza's 'secret club' that you're the only ones who can fight. I can hold my own, or at least provide a distraction."

"Fine, just don't get in the way," Masahiro conceded. "Or die. Alright Luna, how is this spell supposed to work?"

Kylie Masters, drawing her thick Knight's cloak around her to beat off the night's chill, looked out over the Burgoss Sea. She thought about a lot of things, mostly what Algus told her about David. He didn't seem to still be in love with her. She wasn't sad about being the only person who wasn't 'romantically committed' as she liked to call it, in fact it had more perks than being with someone, but she admitted that it got lonely sometimes. Sometimes she'd like nothing more than to curl up with a warm body and fall asleep in his arms. She was a flirt, true, but she really wished someone would just settle her down. Or tell her she's pretty.

She felt a presence behind her, and she turned slowly around to see it. It turned out to just be Reis. Kylie sighed.

"Just a little jumpy today, aren't we?" Reis asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you always like this?"

"Nope, it's just that you caught me thinking," Kylie said. "I knew I smelled something burning." This elicited no response from Reis, and Kylie whistled low and smacked her lips.

"No sense of humor on this one," she said playfully. "Don't you ever have fun Reis?"

"Or course," Reis said. "Fighting is exhilarating. I thoroughly enjoy it every time we fight."

"No, no," Kylie continued, swiping her hand at Reis. "I mean outside of battle. Don't you and Beowulf go to plays or something?"

"Sometimes we stay up all night and watch the sunset," Reis said. "Although I don't expect we'll have much time for that from now on."

"Why?" Kylie asked naïvely, and then her face lit up and her jaw dropped. "Oh my god!"

"Don't tell Beowulf," Reis asked, rubbing her stomach. "If he found out from you, I think he might take it hard. I mean, he freaked out when I told him that I thought I loved him all those years ago. He spooks easily about these things."

"I promise not to tell," Kylie said, and crossed her heart. "Can I feel it?"

"Feel him," Reis corrected. "It's going to be a boy."

"How can you know that?" Kylie marveled. "Let me guess: Dragoner instinct right?"

"No," Reis shook her head. "Maternal."

Later on, they pulled into the rundown port on the edge of the Deep Dungeon, and there they saw a lone figure that Kylie didn't recognize. He looked about Beowulf's age, dressed in Priest's robes. He wore an evil smirk.

"Hello Reis, Beowulf," the figure said, keeping that evil smirk. Reis was in disbelief, while Beowulf looked daggers at the man.

"Hello Buremonda."

A/N: So, Buremonda's back? Heavy. Obviously, Masahiro and Malak will play a bigger role than I originally intended them to. I know no one will ever like my generics as much as I do, so I will try to keep their appearances equal to those everyone recognizes. The spells Melissa casts are Latin, obviously, and they mean "God shall burn the earth!" and "Evil is the earth, cover the earth in darkness!" The relationships between Malak and Chris, Ramza and Agrias, and Olan and Balmafula will make more frequent appearances because I like them. And who would have expected Daniel turning? No one, because he isn't around long enough for you to guess he's evil. Xenogears fans may smell a Hammer (Melissa). And the plot will continue to thicken.

A note about Alma: I hate her. More than any of the other characters in the game. She will not appear much. She's useless. I hate her.