CHAPTER IV: UNEXPECTED COMPANY AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS

The chosen warriors now stood in the center of the End of Time, right by Gaspar and the lamppost. The tension between them had dissipated for the most part after Bahamut's unexpected, though rather needed visit. They only faced two problems at this point: the dark forces that forced Bahamut to bring them there, and getting along with each other. The Guru of Time didn't say too much, listening to what everyone said instead, trying to remove the enigmatic nature of this harbinger.

"Ok, so we know why we're here," Edge said, "now can anyone tell me where 'here' is?"

"'Tis the End of Time," Frog answered. Edge and the others starred blankly.

"How do I explain this without stumping them," Magus replied coldly. Frog glared at him. "Fine, have it your way." Gaspar realized that he needed to say something to stop the argument. They all needed to work together now, regardless of their pasts.

"What Frog speaks is the truth, plain and simple," Gaspar added. "Accepting that or not is not the issue here, but what the King of Dragons gathered you here to defeat. Enough of your petty fights, you need to work together."

"Hmph," Magus snorted. "It'll take more than Lavos for me to work with the green pest again." Little did he know the truth of what he said, making Gaspar chuckle. "Something funny?"

"Nothing Prince Janus," Gaspar answered. Magus stared at him for a moment, and then returned to his thoughts.

He's hiding something, the old fool, but why? What is he not telling us? He looked up and resumed studying the other heroes as they took in what the Guru of Time had just told them. That moment was interrupted as a dark portal appeared, bringing with it an all too familiar face for Terra, Setzer, and Shadow.

"Hello kiddies," said the purple octopus. "Long time no see." He was greeted by an uncanny silence.

"That thing is disgusting," Edge replied. Kain chuckled as he pulled out the Holy Lance. The ninja king quickly unsheathed the Masamune and Murasame.

"You have no idea," Terra added, removing the Ragnarok from her side.

"HEY!" Ultros shouted. "You're addressing octopus royalty! Show some respect!"

"The calamari speaks, how amusing," Magus said coldly. Ultros stared at the warlock with a newfound sense of fear.

"Why are you here?" Shadow asked, pulling out his two katanas.

"An old friend of ours recruited me again," Ultros answered. "And this time, you guys won't get away with making Seafood Soup out of me." Ultros smiled evilly, if one could distinguish the smile from his hideous face that is.

"You know what to do," Setzer chipped in as he pulled out a hand of his razor edged cards. "Anyone with any Fire spells, use 'em, everyone else, do what comes natural. He's a pushover, more a of pest than threat."

"Not a problem," Irvine replied readying his rifle. Everyone else who didn't have their weapons drawn out at this point readied them.

"You heard the gambler," Squall added as he charged at Ultros with Cloud, Auron, and Frog. Kain jumped into the air with ease as Frog watched from the corner of his eye, parrying the attacks made by the fiend's tentacles. Moments later, Kain fell down from the heavens, planting his spear in the nearest tentacle.

"Gah, that really hurt!" Ultros cried out in pain.

"Thou hath incredible skill," Frog said to the dragoon. Kain nodded in thanks and resumed his onslaught. Cloud, Auron, and Squall parried attack after attack, making Ultros leave an opening in his defense that they made sure to take advantage of. To ensure this, Tifa pummeled at him on the other side, along with Shadow and Edge to attract his attention.. This gave Magus just enough time to cast his Fire spell. Terra didn't know why she stayed in the back, but since she was there, she decided to give casting another try. Both casters yelled "Fire" at the same time, causing Ultros to be hit by two powerful Fire spells, or so they thought. A green barrier appeared and reflected the spell right back at the casters.

"Nulfire!" Yuna yelled just in time to shield Magus and Terra from their Fire spell.

"Gwah haha! That trick won't work on me today kiddies," Ultros said smugly. "No Seafood Soup today!"

"So he's finally learned a new trick," Setzer replied as he threw his cards at the octopus. Irvine stood by him and fired shot after shot from his rifle.

"Any ideas?" he asked.

"Working on it," Setzer replied. Frog then remembered Kain's Jump ability.

"Kain," he said, "We hath to jump and plant our weapons on the beast's head." Kain nodded. "Magus, would thou be so kind as to cast a Thunder spell on our weapons?"

"Who do I look like, Crono?" Magus asked coldly in response. Frog glared at him. "Fine, but don't make a habit out of this."

"I'll help too," Terra replied.

"And I'll get rid of its Reflect," Yuna added.

"On my signal," Frog replied.. He nodded his head, and they jumped into the air, planting their sword and lance into Ultros' head.

"Dispel!" Yuna yelled, removing Ultros' Reflect defense.

"OW! Hey, what gives?" Ultros asked as he tried to pull the weapons from his head. Unfortunately for him, all his tentacles were occupied with the attackers. Frog and Kain quickly jumped off his head.

"Now!" Frog yelled. Magus and Terra both concentrated on the spell, and when it was ready…

"Thunder!" they both yelled. Lightning bolts descended from the sky and hit the two metallic weapons that acted as a lightning rod, sending it into Ultros. Once the spell was finished, Kain and Frog jumped up and took their weapons from the octopus' head.

"YEOUCH! We'll settle this another time kiddies," Ultros said as he disappeared into the same dark portal that brought him there.

"See, what did I tell you?" Setzer asked.

"Twas nothing for the most part," Frog replied.

"Nice work…," Kain added.

"Frog," Frog replied.

"Frog, I'll remember that name," Kain added.

"What do you call that move?" Terra asked.

"Spire," Frog answered. "'Tis something I learned during my adventure with Sir Crono." He turned around to face Magus. "Thank you."

"Don't think that'll happen too often," Magus replied. "Though I have to admit it was effective."

"Who sent that thing?" Squall asked.

"Someone one of us knows," Cloud answered. "Setzer, got any leads?"

"One, if what he said was true," Setzer replied. "Kefka," he answered with resentment. Gaspar nearly lost is balance at the mention of the name.

"That's impossible," Terra added with frustration, "we killed him!"

"I hate to interrupt," Gaspar said, "but I'm afraid we don't have time for planning now." All eyes rested on him. "The enemy has moved quicker than we anticipated, so I'm afraid the thirteen of you must be off now." He motioned to the far side of the End of Time and two blue portals appeared, slightly larger than the ones Magus and Frog used during their quest to stop Lavos.

"So we're splitting up then," Edge said. Gaspar nodded.

"These two portals should help start you off," he added.

"You wouldn't happen to know more about these things, would you?" Irvine asked. Gaspar shook his head. "Figures."

"Since most of us came in pairs, this should be easy," Auron replied.

"Yeah, just put me with the ladies," Edge added smugly. Auron glared at him. "What are you her father?"

"I'm her guardian," Auron replied. It had been quite some time since he referred to himself as such. Kain just stood there shaking his head.

Some things haven't changed. Edge looked at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," Kain answered. "Just watch yourself."

"No prob," Edge replied, "you too. I wouldn't want to explain to Cecil that I let something happen to you after you finally came out of hiding." Kain smiled underneath his helmet at the concern of his friends as he walked towards the leftmost portal, and Edge to the right.

"Watch yourself buddy," Irvine said. "I'm not gonna be the one to tell Rinoa the bad news should something happen."

"And I wouldn't want to tell Selphie on your part," Squall replied with a quick smirk that faded back into his serious demeanor and walked to the right portal. Irvine took the left. Cloud looked a Tifa and nodded his head.

"Yeah, I know," Tifa replied as she took the right path and Cloud the left. Auron stared at Yuna.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she said. "Besides, this allows us to share what we know."

"My sentiments exactly," Auron replied as he took the left path and Yuna the right.

"Shadow," Setzer said, "Keep an eye on Terra." Shadow nodded his head in response.

"Hey, I can take care of myself, thank you very much," Terra replied.

"I know," Setzer added with a chuckle, "let's just say that I wouldn't want to face the wrath of a certain bachelor's brother if something happened…" He stopped mid-sentence. "Ahem, sorry about babbling." Shadow raised an eyebrow in question. Terra seemed lost as well. Whew, almost let it slip there.

"Take care," Terra replied.

"See you around gambler," Shadow added as he and Terra took the left path and Setzer the right. Magus followed Setzer and Frog took the opposite portal.

"Good luck to you all," Gaspar said as the heroes disappeared to wherever the portals would take them.