They were gone within the hour.

Luckily, the kids had been too frightened to pay much attention to the savage fury that Bahamut had unleashed. Furthermore, they saw the dead things as mere monsters and not really people. They still clung to him for protection when he came back, as well as Terra. By the time Bahamut had returned, Duane and Katarin were struggling to quiet the sobbing, terrified children. Terra herself was cradling Athena, and Bahamut could tell that, in the confusion, she was trying to work some of her own repitoire of healing magic on her. She was still alive…but now was the time to put the emergency fund to use. Bahamut dove back into the wrecks of the homes and quickly got out the winter clothes for everyone. After giving it to them to get dressed, he went out to the chocobos and quickly hitched them up. After that, he loaded the family up and sent them off, to make for Tzen as best as they could in the snow. Luckily, he had been able to switch out the wheels for runners on the wagon, making it more of a sleigh, which would make it easier to go. Still, they had to move fast. Bahamut planned on helping that…after he finished back at their home.

Once they were gone, Bahamut finally washed the blood off of his own body and dressed himself. Now, he fully used his magical power, not caring anymore for doing things in the "traditional" way. He cleaned up the blood and refuse he had cast about in his wake, and incinerated everything solid in the growing pyre. That done, he looked to the holes he had made, stretched out his mental power, and transfigured them. Soon, the walls on both homes were rebuilt, without a single blemish on them. He went to the fence next, and repaired that in much the same way. Only this time, he reinforced it with a powerful protection spell. Now, even a behemoth couldn't puncture the simple palisade wall. With his home thus rebuilt, cleansed, and protected, he dashed out into the night after the wagon.

At full speed in his human form, he caught up with it within two minutes. The family was surprised, and shaken out of its own worry and concern for Athena, as the great esper flung himself up on top of it and sat in the front. Once he did, he called all the children to him again. They were crying and scared now, shivering in the cold. Bahamut's own face was cold, but he spoke to them as he always did, and called them to say the magic word again…this time so that they could get to Tzen as quickly as possible. They said it again, and Bahamut spread out his power over the chocobos, immediately making them go so fast they could nearly fly. Within an hour, they had crossed the massive peninsula and were back in Tzen.

Terra rushed Athena to the doctor, while Bahamut, Duane, and Katarin gathered the children together and led them to the local inn. They had little trouble securing rooms, seeing how distraught they all were and how cold the kids looked. Bahamut stayed long enough to try and comfort them. They were still scared and in tears when they lied down in strange beds. Bahamut tried to tell them a story to help them sleep, but his own mind was muddled. The events that had happened to him had left him stunned and overwhelmed. However, he forced that out of his head. He had to be there for the children. And so, he forced on his normal façade and reassured them all. At last, they did finally go to sleep. Katarin and Seras went down as well, and Duane stayed up to watch them. Once they did at last, Bahamut ran over to the doctor's office himself.

There were no major medical facilities in human civilization. There were only local practioners, and now was no exception. The physician largely operated out of his own house, having only enough room for his personal locations, his examination room, and two rooms for patients. It was open when Bahamut got there, and he walked in immediately.

It appeared that the room he was in was the main examining room. It had all the effects of a normal doctor's office. There were the bottles of medicine, the tools of the trade, and an examining table where patients would normally sit. However, a pillow had been brought out that night, and it had blood on it. It was drying now, and there was only a little. There were a few dim lamps lit here. Bahamut looked across the room in the dim light, and saw two doors in the back. They obviously led to the patient areas. There was a single chair for either of them, and Terra was currently seated in one. Her head was bowed…and there was a strange, stoic look on her face. The doctor had his own head bowed as he looked to her. He had just finished saying something when Bahamut walked in. He looked tired and haggard, having been awakened at this late hour to see a patient. However, when he heard Bahamut walk in, he turned his head up to him. He hesitated a moment, looking from Terra to Bahamut and back again. Yet in the end, he turned back up to Bahamut and moved to walk forward.

Immediately, Terra looked up. Her eyes were to the ground, but she seemed to notice this.

"No, doctor…I'll tell him."

The physician hesitated, and looked back to Terra again. Bahamut, by now, was making his way forward. The man looked back up to the esper, and back to Terra, but at last nodded. He began to turn away toward a door on the right wall, that obviously led to his own room. "…Feel free to stay as long as you like. I'll be back in a few minutes…" With that, he walked to his own door, passed through, and shut it behind him until it clicked.

Terra kept her own gaze low and sat there. She was totally quiet, and showed no emotion. However…Bahamut could smell her fear and sadness. He quickly crossed the rest of the way through the room until he was close to her. When he did, he took the other chair and pulled it up, closer to hers. He sat down and leaned in until he was almost looking over her. He stretched out his hands and took her own, and held them firmly. However…her grasp was cold. And they were weak, and not answering back.

Bahamut swallowed. Fear began to fill his own heart.

"…How bad is it?"

Terra kept her head bowed silently for a moment. She inhaled sharply once, and tried to get her bearings back. After a pause, she began to speak in the most normal tone she could muster.

"…It…it's good…really." She began, in a tone so hesitant that Bahamut doubted this at once. "She's…she's alive, Bahamut. She's tired…and the doctor just put her down for bed. She became conscious just after we got here. She woke up and sat up and moaned a bit that she was sore…" Terra hesitated again here, and swallowed. Her voice slowed. "She…wanted to know where she was. She wanted to know where you were or the others… I tried to encourage her. I hugged her and kissed her, and said she was at the doctor's. I was so happy that she was awake and everything…" The half esper hesitated…and a brief smile formed during this time and faded just as quickly into grimness.

"…She started asking where I was next…" She slowly continued, her face becoming blank. "She said she couldn't see me…told me to turn on the lights… That was when I realized that she still didn't know who the doctor was…though I kept pointing him out. I noticed that her eyes were open wide…but that she was still looking around blankly… The doctor…he looked at the blow on her head…" She hesitated again. She continued to stare blankly. But as she did…her throat began to tighten, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

"He said…this was typical for people who received hits there… He said they could recover in a few days…but after that they never did…"

Bahamut stared, and felt an icy knife in his heart. He knew what this meant. She didn't say it…but it was clear. He felt his own body turn stiff and cold. He felt hismouth loosen and his throat tighten. His eyes closed as they began to burn…and he hated himself for being too late. With all of his speed and power…he wasn't fast enough to stop this from happening. If only this had happened in a different time…under a different set of circumstances. If only it had happened before magic had vanished… Then he could have called on the power within both Athena and himself, and he could have given his regeneration to her…healed this. But because he couldn't…because the world had changed…he began to realize that it was not possible.

Athena was blind.

Terra couldn't hold back any longer. She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Bahamut, and buried her head in his chest. She began to sob bitterly. And the only use that the esper could be now was to support her as she cried against him.


As quickly as they had come into Tzen, they went back just as quickly the next day. They waited until noon, until all of the children were fed and watered. It was at that time that Bahamut struggled hard not to weep over Athena. They tried to feed her for the first time since the accident, and soon she was fumbling and struggling over everything. Every time she missed getting something Terra stifled a sob. Athena kept asking why she couldn't see anything. Terra didn't have it in the heart to outright and tell her the truth. She tried to tell it to her in a more subtle way. As she went about this, Bahamut went out to the doctor again and asked if there was any hope. Unfortunately, the physician had little to give. The brain was still a mystery, both to esper and humankind. No one knew why exactly a sharp blow to the back of the head could blind a person. There was a chance that she could regain some sight in the future, seeing as she was so young, and perhaps the severity would lessen with time, enabling her to see some things. But for now…she was quite blind. And only time would tell if it would improve. The doctor could do little other than bandage her head and eyes, and then give her some medicine for pain. Bahamut forced himself to thank the physician, reminding himself it wasn't his fault that she was like this, and then led the kids back to the cart. Slowly, they began their long road back to Tzen.

Terra at last managed to explain to Athena and the kids something. She said the "bump on the head" had taken away Athena's sight, but it might come back in a few days. Until then, she was going to wear the bandages over her eyes to remind people that she couldn't see and needed to be helped. For now, Athena was content with that. She firmly believed that in a few days, she would see normally and go around as usual once again. Terra managed to say yes in a bright voice…but Athena was confused when she heard one of the kids say she was crying as she spoke in this pleasant voice. Duane and Katarin themselves sat with bowed heads…sorrowful and quiet.

Bahamut led the chocobos on…his blue eyes burning out into the snow with a cold glare.

The chocobos still made good time, even carrying all of them. They seemed to do well on snow, and they did weigh less than everything else had when it had been loaded with supplies. Still…it was a long trip for them. Bahamut spurred the chocobos on into a trot more than once, yet night had fallen long before they returned to their home. All of the children had nodded off by then and came in close together to protect themselves against the cold. Terra sat with them and embraced them as much as she could, trying to stretch out her warmth to all of them.

At last, they came to the gates and passed through them. Duane and Katarin were immediately surprised, wondering why the buildings were suddenly intact again after last night. They hadn't seen Bahamut destroy them in the first place, but they had seen the damage. Then again, they had been in such a rush to leave they wondered almost if they had hallucinated the whole event. Everything about the previous night still seemed unreal and surprising. Katarin took her own child to bed, but Duane stayed in order to help Terra and Bahamut carry the rest of the sleepy children inside. As it turned out, that was good…for Bahamut didn't help. He still looked dark and cold, and he walked over to his own porch and sat down on it. He said nothing and showed nothing. He merely sat there and continued to glare.

One by one, the children were put to bed. Once Terra was sure they were all tucked in and safe, and had fallen asleep, she went out to see Bahamut. That took some time. The children didn't feel safe anymore. They were growing fearful again, as they had in the days of Phunbaba. It was only because Terra stayed with them until they fell asleep that they were able to relax. Even when they did, Duane didn't go to sleep, but returned to his own house and stayed awake. He wanted to make sure he would protect his wife and his child from any returning attackers. Terra tried to reassure him to rest, but he said it would be hopeless anyway. They were all unnerved now. For a short time, they had begun to feel that they could live life as they had before the Collapse. But now…the old fears and terrors were back. The world was once again an unknown and dangerous place. None of them felt safe in it anymore.

Bahamut knew all this very well…for he was feeling the same violation. He heard every word spoken in the silent town. He smelled all the emotions on the minds of all the residents and children. He heard this all…and thought again of last night.

After midnight, Terra, wrapping her coat around herself, walked up to Bahamut's side. He didn't react to her. He continued to glare coldly out at the night. It was quiet now. Everything was still and silent. The woman looked at him a moment, but then slowly turned and sat down next to him. The esper didn't react. At first, Terra didn't touch him. She sat next to him silently.

"The kids finally went to sleep." Terra told him.

Bahamut didn't answer. He continued to look out.

Terra swallowed once and slowly sighed. She bowed her head slightly. "…Maybe…we should go back in the basement for a few days."

Bahamut's anger surged at this.

"…These are good children…great children." He spoke out loud in a dark voice. "They never hurt anyone…never threw any fits…never had anything to do with what humanity did… And now…because of some filthy subcreatures…they have to live in a dank hole like rats. They lost everything they had…and now they must live in fear. Athena had a precious long life ahead of her…and those bastards robbed her. They took one of her greatest gifts from her. And all she could do was scream at them. She didn't even touch them."

Terra was silent. She stared back at Bahamut without any reply.

"They deserve to live in a world of peace. They deserve to go to sleep happy every night. This world has turned into a nightmare for them. This place has become wild and savage. They're going to sleep terrified tonight…scared back into that prison in the ground. This is their home. They deserve to go about it as they please. They deserve to live free from fear. That…bastard…whoever he is…he will pay for what he has done with his life."

The half esper continued to stare at him for a while. However, she wasn't a fool. She took this in as well. She hesitated only a bit longer, before becoming serious too. She leaned in closer to the great esper as he sat on the steps.

"Those were monsters that attacked us. Common beasts. We used to kill them by the dozen. But they were smart this time…they attacked us with a purpose. That was how they got past the wall."

The esper glared out without change.

"…Yes."

"They were told to attack us."

"…They were."

"…You know something more, Bahamut. You're not telling me everything. You never told me how you came back to life. Who were you talking about just now?"

Bahamut closed his eyes…and inhaled deeply. He hoped it wouldn't have come to this. And yet…he should have done something about it long ago, when he still had time. The day he ran off on his own after being brought back to life…a part of him agreed with Nireevyou's agenda. A part of him wanted to see humanity suffer and die for what it had done. That was what kept him from finding this person and stopping him then. After that…he became so used to his own life here that he forgot about him. He figured he was just some distant old esper, working on a futile cause. Here, the world would stay unchanged and he could live as he had forever.

Now…he realized that the past had caught up with him. It took it almost a year to, but it was here. His reprieve was over. Whoever he was…he was striking now. He should have reacted earlier, back in Tzen. He knew it had to be him there. That was the only explanation. Now…he was gaining power. Even without Bahamut's help, he was beginning to attack smaller villages. Soon, he'd be able to attack more. He was getting better organized and stronger. And Bahamut knew he couldn't afford to overlook him any longer. Now…the fight had been brought to his home. The peace he thought he would enjoy was breaking. His perfect life had ended up being just that…too perfect. And now, it was coming around again. His time of peace and contentment was gone. Once again…he found trouble in his life. He found threats to his peace and those he loved. And he couldn't afford to turn away from it again.

He told Terra everything he had omitted. He told her how he had come back to life, and what had happened in that short exchange there. Now…at last the woman realized why Bahamut had been so vicious and heartless when they first met. He had just received a horrible revelation. What more, he also told her about what he heard in Tzen. He didn't doubt that the two events were related now. It was a lot of information for the half esper to take in. After Bahamut was done, both were silent for a moment. Terra continued to look to him, and he kept his head bowed. She swallowed.

"So…what now?"

Bahamut continued to glare out in the distance.

"Now…" Bahamut slowly echoed. "Now…I do my duty as the patriarch of this family. Now, I strike back viciously and vengefully, as I would against anyone who dared to attack my family. Now, I make Nireevyou pay for what he has done here. I swore that I would make this world safe for these children…my children to live in. And I will do that. I will spill the blood of every last demented fiend that has been released on this Planet. But first…I will destroy Nireevyou and his army. I will remove the last threat to broken humanity. I will do away with the last of the old world. Once they are gone…humanity alone will be free to rule this world."

Terra hesitated again. "But…he's an esper too. He's the only other member of your kind left…"

"Then he should have observed my decrees against harming humanity." Bahamut retorted. "Besides…I have abandoned my race now, as you have. I will no longer be living as an esper, but as a man. Bonds of species loyalty mean nothing to me…especially in regards to murderers."

Both were silent for a brief moment. However, it didn't last long. Terra soon thought of another concern. "He knows who you are. He brought you back to life. What if he has some sort of power over you?"

"That's why I'll be going in as this." Bahamut responded, gesturing to himself. "As a human. He wanted to kill this race…now he has his chance. It won't be until I am face-to-face with the man himself that I will vent my full, unbridled fury upon him. Before then…I will make the other foul creatures of this world fear humanity once and forever…and disperse them into the wild."

There was another pause between the two. Terra bowed her head slightly and heard Bahamut make these statements of revenge. He clenched his hands into fists and stared out into the night, as if he could already see his foe from far off and could kill him with his glare. Bahamut anger was aroused, and there was nothing that could make it yield. The half esper continued to stare at him and saw him like this. But then, at last, she gave a nod.

"…When do we leave?"

At last, Bahamut's cold stare was broken. He turned back to Terra at that. "Pardon?"

"I'm coming with you." Terra immediately answered.

"No, you're not."

"Yes I am."

"It's too dangerous. I'm not sure what he has waiting for me. If he had enough intelligence to bring me back to life, there's no telling what other devilry he has planned."

"I don't care." Terra sharply returned, with surprising ferocity. It was so much that even Bahamut was silenced for a moment. "You may be mad at all of this…but the only reason I'm not brooding like you is because I have to look after the children too. I'm furious. Those creatures stole Athena's sight and the peace of mind of my children. I don't want them to ever threaten my family again either. The only reason I agreed to go with my friends to fight Kefka was because I knew I was making the world safe for these children to grow up again. If these monsters are still here…my work isn't finished yet."

"The children need you." Bahamut returned, his tone softer but still firm. "If both of us leave, what then? What if they counter-attack?"

"We'll stop them before they have a chance." Terra answered. "And Duane and Katarin have watched everyone before. The kids are even older and more responsible now. They truly need me to defend them. And this is the only way I can."

"This is my fight…"

"No, it's mine too!" Terra nearly shouted in response, once again stunning Bahamut into silence. "These children mean the world to me. I don't care about anything else. I will never drag another one of them to Tzen in the middle of a winter night because of a creature attacking. They made it my fight the moment they laid a hand on Athena. And you need me. If you're in human form, then you'll need someone to help you out. You said it yourself…you don't know if he has power over you. What will you do without me if he tries something?"

The esper had to admit Terra had a point there. And she was still a shockingly powerful fighter. No longer restrained, her esper half would be one of the most powerful espers in history. However…he still didn't want her to go. He knew full well she had braved countless dangers before…but that didn't make it any easier on him. He wanted her to stay where she would be safe. He didn't want her to have to fight in this gruesome business that he would soon bring himself to do. He would have tried to protest this. He would have been more gentle…tried to persuade her or voice his own fears. And perhaps she would have softened a bit as well in response to them.

However…in the end he knew it would be futile. He did not wish to marry Terra because she was a weak woman. She was strong now…especially now that she had a purpose. She had been soft and caring before, but he knew that within her raged the spirit of the fiercest lioness when it came to her children being threatened. She was too strong willed regarding them to be denied. She would die to protect these children, and to make the world safe for them. He knew that nothing he could say would deny her, no matter what his fears were. She would come in the end whether he liked it or not. And as she said…there was a personal element involved. She fought to protect the ones she loved. She had always done that ever since coming to Mobliz. She had to be able to do it now too, regardless of what Bahamut felt.

In the end, the esper slowly sighed. Terra calmed down a little at this, realizing he was accenting. But still, the great esper didn't like it. Why did this have to happen? Yesterday, he and Terra were preparing to be married and spend a long, happy life together. Now…they were being pushed back into fighting again. There would be more bloodshed, anguish, and pain to come…as well as more fear and anxiety. He wanted to spare her this. He wished that she would just stay here and leave him to do his grim business. However, because she would not…he wouldn't press it. And there was a cold comfort in that. In the end, if he did have to do this…he didn't want to be alone. And there was no one on Gaia he would rather have at his side. In the end, he gave a nod, and then reached out and took the half-esper's hand. Terra calmed down the rest of the way at that, and stared back in his eyes.

"Alright…together."


The next day, Bahamut found himself with Terra over on the other side of the now empty wheat field, close to the same place where they had been that night, overlooking the ocean. Terra took him there bright and early the next morning, right back to the stump that had functioned as their table. Once there, Bahamut had begun to dig a hole with their shovel. He was the only one who had the strength the puncture the frozen ground, and so he had to be the one to tunnel through the snow and beneath it. He did so for a few feet more, as Terra stoicly watched from the side. She stared at the ever-growing hole, but said nothing about it. Finally, Bahamut's shovel struck something hard. When that happened, he threw the tool aside, and went into the hole himself.

The esper felt around for a moment, digging his fingers into the soft, muddy earth surrounding the area he had hit. After doing so a moment, he managed to find handles. He dug through the mud and grasped them, and with one mighty yank pulled the object out of the ground. With a great uprooting sound, he soon pulled a small chest out and up to his waist. He was a bit puzzled when he did so. The chest was fairly little. It didn't have enough length in it for even a shortsword. However, he turned around and placed it before Terra, and then climbed out of the hole himself.

The woman bent down and produced a key from her pocket. She undid the lock on the front, and then opened up the small chest. Bahamut himself was out now, and turned to look down andsee what he had managed to unearth.

It looked essentially like a handle to a weapon. It was made of some sort of silver metal that looked highly advanced…much as some of the Lunarian technology once had. It was studded with crystals and gems, and the handle branched out twice in long arrays. Two other branches twisted sharply and turned back in over the top of the weapon, seeming to focus to a point. One great blue gem, perfect and rounded, was fitted in to the hilt portion. But other than that, there was nothing. Terra nevertheless grabbed this handle, which was big enough for two hands, and then pulled it out of the chest.

The esper crossed his arms. "Will I have to dig another hole to get theblade to your sword?"

Terra responded by holding it out in front of her. "Stand back." She instructed.

Bahamut did as he was told, despite his confusion. Once he was safely behind her, Terra held the handle in front of her, brandishing it like a real weapon. A brief moment passed. Then, to the esper's shock, a burning sound suddenly went through the air, and it sounded as if some high-pitched squeal was bent back in on itself. As it did, a blue light erupted from the focused part of the handle, and projected outward instantaneously. Within an instant, Terra was now holding a meter-long blue blade of energy. It blazed brightly and intensely, and Terra practiced waving it a few times. It made burning, cutting sounds through the air as she did so.

The esper was justly amazed. "Wow… I've never seen a sword like that in all my life…"

"Technically, it's not a sword." Terra answered. She did something to it, for the blue blade seemed to suddenly slide back down into the sheath, and vanish. The sound disappeared, and Terra began to tie the weapon to her side. "It's some sort of unique weapon we found. It focuses all of your inner energy into making a blade. The stronger you are, the stronger it is. When I turn into an esper, it becomes even longer and deadlier. It's called the Atma Weapon."

On hearing this, Bahamut wrinkled his brow in confusion. "Atma Weapon…didn't you say that was the creature you destroyed falling from Terratopolis?"

"Well…there were two made. One was the monster, and the other was this sword." Terra explained. "Ironically…this is what I used to kill the other one. At any rate, because its pure energy, it cuts through most blades and goes right for the enemy. It will come in useful."

Bahamut could hardly disagree. "I imagine…"

The woman finished fixing the sword to her own belt, and then turned and faced Bahamut. She inhaled deeply once, and then exhaled. "Alright…what now?"

"We should take care of matters around here first." Bahamut responded. "Once we are certain they can handle everything, we'll depart."


It took some time to get everything situated. First, Terra and Bahamut tried to make things as comfortable as possible for the children. They gave them another big breakfast, smiled and talked pleasantly, and tried to reassure them. It worked to some degree, but it was obvious they were still unnerved. Both of them still tensed when Athena struggled to eat. It was even worse as time went on, when she kept bumping into things and flailing about wildly, trying to find her way through the room and to her things. The two tried to help her adjust as best she could, and got the others to help out in this endeavor. It was going to have to be all of them working with Athena for a while.

Once the kids were situated for playing that morning, indoors this time, Bahamut and Terra went over to Duane and Katarin and explained that they were going out to find the person responsible for the attack and make sure he never did so again. But to that end, they would have to leave them alone. Katarin was a bit uneasy. Without Terra or Bahamut, an attack like the one the other night would have killed them all. None of them were exceptional fighters. However…Duane himself wanted to be able to prove that he could defend the ones he loved, especially his own wife and child. A part of him was upset that he hadn't run out and tackled the attackers the night before as Bahamut had, and he wanted to get back for that. Most of all, he wanted Bahamut to go out and strike back for what had happened. In the end, they would be ok with it for a while.

After that, as Terra prepared more of her own things, Bahamut went out to "secure the area". He first annihilated every monstrous fiend in a twenty mile radius, removing the foul subcreatures from the earth. Next, he began to take their bones and blood to make special wards. The espers had long since become well versed in all ways of "monsterology". In times of old, all espers, and many humans, knew how to construct special fields around small areas using these materials to ward off any creatures. Bahamut did so now, around the entire compound. Now, it wouldn't matter how intelligent these things were. They would be confronted with a paralyzing stench if they got within two hundred feet of the walls. It would induce such a sickening, nauseating feeling within them that they would either have to turn around or be immobilized by the sensation. It would only get worse as they got closer. Lastly, Bahamut cast numerous fortification spells on the walls, making them impervious to any threat.

When the esper returned, Terra had packed enough food for the both of them. She took a portion of their remaining money, but they carried no other camping gear or tents with them. She had fully dressed in her old red battle armor, light and flexible, and had her weapon at the ready. Duane and Katarin thought they would take chocobos, but to their surprise Bahamut dismissed that idea. He said that they would be faster without them. Neither of the young adults knew what that was supposed to mean, but it wasn't pressed.

Now it was time for goodbyes. Bahamut and Terra moved to each child and gave them a hug and a kiss. They reassured them that they would be back soon…that they were just going out to make the world safe again. Marcus and Essner were glad at hearing that, being the older and more adventurous types, and remembering how the world had changed for the better the last time their mom had left saying that. Still, the others were uneasy. They never liked saying goodbye to their caretakers. But the two preferred to do it now, in front of them, instead of waiting for when they went to sleep and slipping away then. That would only lead to more confusion the next morning. Bahamut gathered all of the children around to him once, and told them all that they would act out the very adventure that he and Terra were going on once theycame back, and that after this the children would never have to be afraid of monsters again. They liked this, although they missed them, and at last let him go. Terra hugged each one again individually, and finally got down to Athena.

As the girl rested her head on her shoulder, she asked a question. "You'll come back to us, won't you mama?"

"Death didn't stop me once from coming back, Athena." Terra answered with a smile. "It won't do it this time either."

At last, the group broke. Bahamut and Terra broke off. Bahamut was still dressed in his simple clothes and coat, while Terra had her long coat and boots on over the rest of her. Now, the two of them walked for the entrance. They looked behind and waved once more to the children they were leaving, but eventually they made it to the gate. Once they were there, they passed through, and left Duane to lock it behind them. After that, they marched back out onto the peninsula. The sun began to set, and the children went back in. After a few minutes, Mobliz began to vanish far behind them, and they stopped hearing any sounds coming from it. They were out into the wilderness, and now they were alone with each other in the wild.

They walked on a bit longer, until Mobliz had disappeared into a faint line on the horizon. It took about an hour, but that was alright for them. They wanted to make sure they were far enough away. After that, Bahamut and Terra both halted and turned to one another.

"Now…" Bahamut began. "Where is this Zozo?"

"Zozo is a den of thieves, robbers, murderers, liars, and monsters." Terra darkly replied. "It's no surprise to me that if who you're looking for is there that no one has noticed. Most people wouldn't be caught dead there. Ramuh hid there simply because no one would live long enough to find him."

"Sounds lovely." Bahamut darkly answered.

"The continent is big enough that we can land in a lot of places to get there." Terra went on. "But I think we should head to Maranda first."

This puzzled the esper. "Why?"

"So long as we're trying to clean out a place like Zozo, I thought we could maybe use more help." Terra answered. "Maranda is a pretty good place for finding carrier pigeons. We can get messages out quickly from there. I wanted to write to some old friends in Figaro and Kohlingen."

The esper frowned a bit at this. He didn't want more company. He'd just as soon have the two of them go and get it over with. They would have to wait even longer for more people to arrive, if this was what they wanted to do. However…he did trust Terra's judgment. And besides, she could have a point. Assuming the worst happened and some evil befell them, it was important for others to know what was going on. Humanity would have to be ready to strike against this in case he failed. Of course…he had no intention of failing, and Nireevyou was his personally. But it still wouldn't hurt. In the end, he sighed.

"Fine. Let's just get going."

Terra hesitated again at that. She looked around a bit, and then turned back to Bahamut. "How are we going to get there?"

Bahamut frowned a bit. "How do you think?"

The half esper hesitated at that. She got the meaning…but it unnerved her regardless. She looked down to the ground momentarily.

"…What's the matter?" Bahamut finally asked. "Are you still nervous?"

The young woman paused a bit longer. However, in the end, she shook her head. "…No. But I still didn't know we were going to do this… It's been a long time…"

Bahamut simply turned and walked a distance away from the woman. Once he had reached what he assumed to be a good range, he turned and looked back. The woman looked up at this and watched him. As for Bahamut, he cracked his neck once and twice, and then planted his feet.

"It's been quite a while since I've been this way…but it looks like you'll finally see my new body."

With that, Bahamut said the words in his head to induce change. Immediately, his clothing was ripped into shreds as his body bulged. A tail exploded out from behind him, and the skin on his back was stretched out at a strange angle before bursting, allowing two gigantic red foils to emerge. He continued to distort and enlarge, quickly spilling over the area he had placed around himself. Terra watched in shock, almost stumbling back as she saw this transformation. Her own was nothing compared to this. Now…she was stunned as she saw the strong man she had watched for months now turn into his true form…a massive, fearsome beast. As the last of Bahamut's shreds of clothing fell to the ground, he cracked his massive scaled limbs and rotated his tooth-filled jaw. Now, he was Neo Bahamut, brimming with power and as formidable looking as a mountain.

Slowly, he turned his head down to Terra. Even breathing from him now was awesome, blasting up huge clouds of dust at his feet, and spreading hot, moist air over everything. He spoke to her, but now his voice was tremendous and blasting. Again, Terra was stunned that she had actually been with this man… "Is something wrong?"

Terra blinked as she stared at him. "You… You're even bigger…more terrible…than what I saw when I used your magicite."

"I told you I was reborn into a stronger body." Bahamut simply answered. "Now it's your turn, unless you want me to carry you."

The woman blinked and hesitated a moment longer. But then, she slowly shook her head, and seemed to come out of it. The truth was, after seeing the massive change that Bahamut went through in his own esper form, her own body seemed rather mild by comparison. She hesitated again, but only long enough to inhale a deep breath and plant her arms at her sides. She closed her eyes and held for a moment. For the first time in nearly two years, she'd willingly be bringing her esper half out. She focused a bit longer inside her…before she felt her mind grasp the power that she bore within, that she had used to always miss before, and denied after she found it. Now…she freely brought it up.

The rays of light surrounded Terra again. Her aura blazed, and heat began to envelop her. Her hair fell loose, and began to grow fierce and free. Her eyes blazed with burning blue power. Her nails grew long and her face became bestial and cat-like. Finally, the rest of her body was enveloped in a burning pink glow. With that done, she cut off the power. She looked back down, and became normal again. Only now, she was wrapped in flame and blazing with power. Bahamut stared at her, and was justly amazed. Apparently, humans and espers made powerful hybrids. Terra's form would have given him a run for his money in his old body. He wondered if she even knew the full breadth of her power…

Both people…both espers…stared at each other a moment. They marveled at each other's bodies. They were so used to seeing each other as humans, this was almost bizarre. Bahamut hesitated, but then his great tooth-filled mouth grinned. "Kind of strange after all this time, isn't it?"

Terra inhaled once, seeming to still be a bit nervous about being in this form. The biggest part about turning into an esper that unsettled her was that her primal side loved it. It yearned to flex its strength and might and to fly about fierce and free, especially the longer that Terra held it back. The more she denied it, the longer it wanted to stay out when she changed. She would be overcome by her own emotions and passions, and desired to just be a free-spirited, wild creature. It was because of that facet that she truly feared she was a monster when she changed for quite some time. Even now…she almost trembled with excitement to be filled with this new power.

"Yeah…" She answered with a nervous chuckle, her own voice seeming like she was a great predatory cat rather than a woman.

"I never told you this…" Bahamut went on after a moment. "…But you're beautiful in that body." A pause, and then an apology. "I mean…I love you as a human as well, and you're gorgeous there too…but you seem so vivid and free in that form. You have a natural beauty to you."

Terra's pink aura, if at all possible, seemed to turn a bit redder. She bowed her head a moment, but then looked up and back to Bahamut.

"I think I feel the same way about you like that. You're a terrible looking creature…and you look so horrific and monstrous… And yet…you have that inner beauty as well. You look beautiful because you're such a pinnacle of power and strength… It's like how people admire predators not because they're so savage but because they have some sort of poetry in motion about them…some sort of fluidity and perfection in strength and skill…"

Bahamut kept grinning. "I'll…take that as a compliment." He finally answered. "Well…shall we?"

Terra nodded with her own smile, showing off her sharp teeth. "Yes."

Moments later, the two powerful espers were tearing across the ocean at full speed, leaving the peninsula and Mobliz miles away.


To be continued...