Author's Note: Hey everyone! The only thing I wanted to say on this chapter is at the very end. I don't know why, but is having some trouble with the final sentences of this chapter. I've copy and pasted those lines, but they may look a little different than usual format. So I apologize for that. Other than that, please continue to read and give critical reviews!

From the red sky of the east,
to the sunset in the west,
we have cheated death,
and he has cheated us.
But that was just a dream,
and this is what it means,
we are sleeping,
and we'll dream forevermore.
And the fragment remains of our memories.
And the shadows remain with our hands.
Deep grey came to morn,
all the colors of the dawn,
will this journeyman's day be his last?

"Journeyman"—Iron Maiden

Mother Terra

Chapter X

At dusk, Zidane, Steiner, Vivi, and Eiko entered the Black Mage Village, and a group of genomes and black mages greeted them.

"Vivi, you're back!" a young black mage said.

"We wondered what happened to you," added a genome. "You and Mikoto left all of a sudden. But I see now that you're back, and Zidane, Master Steiner and Miss Eiko are with you. But where's Mikoto?"

"She's in Alexandria," Vivi said.

"Really? Why?"

"She had some important business there," responded Zidane, "but hopefully she'll be back soon. All of us would love to spend an evening partying in a village, but today we're here on important business."

"Important business?"

"Yes. Are Nuri or any of the genomes that came with him here?"

"…Actually, I haven't seen any of them in a while."

"Did you see any of them today?" asked Steiner.

"…Yes, I did! I saw one of them visiting the item shop."

"Do you know what he bought?" asked Eiko.

"…No."

"Is this genome still in town?" added Vivi.

"…I don't know. I didn't bother to look."

Zidane smiled. "Thank you."


Zidane and his party entered the item shop.

"I'm sorry," began the owner, "but we're…Vivi! Zidane! Steiner! And Eiko! It's been a while. Normally, I close my shop at this hour, but I can certainly help you!"

"Well, actually," began Zidane, "we're not here to shop. We're here to collect information."

"Information?"

"Yes…I'm not sure how to say this, but…you remember my wife, Dagger, don't you?"

"Of course! Nobody could forget her!"

Zidane smiled. "Thank you…That makes me feel good right now."

"What do you mean?"

"The queen has been kidnapped," interjected Steiner.

"What! Kidnapped! By who!"

"By Nuri," responded Vivi.

"Or more specifically, by two of the men that came here with him—Goldwin and Aldous," added Zidane.

"What! You're kidding me!"

"I wish I was," Steiner said, "but I'm afraid that I'm not. And the reason why we're here is because we learned that one of the genomes who was with Nuri visited your shop today. We need all the information we can get."

"…Yes, I do remember one of those genomes visiting my shop today."

"What time did he come here?" asked Eiko.

"Well…I think it was around noon—I think anyway."

"Do you remember what he bought?" asked Vivi.

"Yeah…and it was kind of weird."

"How come?" asked Zidane.

"Because it was stuff that you'd buy for a baby—diapers and such. I have no idea why they'd need such things. I've never seen any little children around them."

"Hunter," Zidane said, before he added, "Thanks, you've been a big help. Can I ask you to do me a favor?"

"A favor? If it's something that I can do, I'll certainly try."

Zidane smiled. "Thanks. I know that it's cold outside, but could you ask the citizens if they'd come to the square? I want to tell them what I told you."

The owner nodded. "I'll do what I can, Zidane."


One hour later—despite the temperature—all of the Black Mage Village citizens gathered in the square. Zidane stood before them with Vivi, Steiner, and Eiko behind him.

"Everyone, I want to thank you for bearing the cold weather, and listening to me this evening. I'm sure that some of you can remember that I was here a little over a month ago, and when I confronted Nuri. My conversation with Nuri did not go so well. He requested my help in the restoration of Terra, and I refused…And because of that, he decided to become a coward and kidnap my wife and son."

The genomes and mages gasped.

"Nuri believes that by kidnapping my wife and son it'll convince me to help him. Instead, all it's going to get for him is a good kick in the ass! But before I can do that, I need your help."

The crowd was perked up.

"When Nuri and his genomes left Terra for Gaia they came here. And I believe there's a reason why. And that reason is that there must be a warp between Gaia and Terra around this village. I need you to help me find it. I know that it's late, and that it's cold, and that some of you can't help me right now, and that's okay. But if you could help me in any way right now I'd appreciate it."

Although the weather forced many of the citizens to return to their homes, some decided to stay.

"Zidane?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm the owner of the synthesis shop."

Zidane examined the mage. "You're Master 24, aren't you?"

Master 24 smiled. "I'm glad that you remembered me."

Zidane returned the smile. "How could I forget? Those daggers you forged for me really helped me on that journey four years ago."

"Thank you. Well, I have some information for you."

"Yes?"

"About a month ago, Nuri—and his friend, Goldwin—came to my shop. And today, one of the genomes that have been with Nuri came to my shop."

"Really? What did they buy?"

"A pair of Warp Stones."

"Warp Stones?"

"Yes. The Warp Stone is something that my apprentice, Sharif, designed. The stone comes in pairs, and when a person uses them they're able to warp to where the other stone's located."

"…So what you're saying is, is that if one of those stones was here—and the other was in Alexandria—they could warp to either place?"

"Yes. There's a button on the stones, and when someone pushes the button they warp to wherever the other stone's located."

"That explains how they were able to escape the Castle."

"Zidane?" Steiner called.

"Yes?"

"I think we have found something. Please follow me."


Steiner directed Zidane to the very edge of the village—an area where most of its citizens do not trod.

"Zidane," began Steiner, "this young man's name is, Sharif. He's the synthesis shop owner's apprentice."

Zidane smiled at the young mage. "Yes, I just heard about you from your master. Apparently the people that we're looking for bought something that you designed."

"Yes, they did," responded Sharif, "and that's why I brought you here."

Sharif held out a small stone. "Have a look at this."

"What is it?"

"That's one of the Warp Stones. I've only sold two of them—one was to Nuri, and the other was to that one associated with him."

"So what you're saying is that if one of those stones is here, then the entrance to Terra must be around here somewhere as well?"

"I think so," responded Steiner.

"But how're we going to find the entrance?" asked Vivi.

"Excuse me, Mr. Zidane?"

Zidane turned to discover a female black mage—no more than four-years-old. Behind her were two older black mages that were probably her parents.

Zidane smiled. "You're up late, aren't you?"

The mage returned the smile. "My mommy and daddy let me come out after I told them something. They said that it might help you."

"Oh? And what was that?"

"One of those genomes told me where they came from."

Zidane was very interested. "And where's that?"

"The cave that's down the hill," the girl said while pointing.

Zidane turned to Vivi. "Vivi, do you know where this cave is she's talking about?"

"Yes, but we need a torch to get there."

"Okay." And turning to the young mage, Zidane added, "Thank you."


Zidane secured a torch, and Vivi led the party down the hill. The cave was small, but large enough for the party to enter.

"This is the cave. I've never been in it before, so I don't know what to expect."

"I guess we're about to find out," Zidane said.


When the party took a few steps inside the cave, they realized that they did not need their torch anymore.

"Look at that light," Steiner said.

"Yes," began Zidane, "it's the same blue light we saw on Terra four years ago. Obviously we came to the right place. I don't know about you, but have you noticed how it's gotten slightly warmer since we've come closer the light?"

The party members nodded.

"Mikoto told me that Terra isn't like Gaia. There're no climate changes—everything's the same year 'round…Well, are you ready?"

"Wait, Zidane!" Steiner said. "Where're we supposed to go?"

"We'll know once we arrive. Nuri told me that day in the village that Terra has been reduced to nothing but a small island. We'll have no trouble finding Dagger and Hunter. The only problem'll be getting them out."