Author's Note: Greetings everyone! Well, I want to begin by thanking Mar, or "Tablet of Dreams" as she's known on She acted as my editor for my previous chapters, but now I'm going to edit my own material—which will make getting new chapters out much easier. Still, I want to thank her for her help. Other than that, please continue to read and give critical reviews!

When the sun sets over cherry blossom skies,
and the twilight fills the air,
you can see the snow on the mountaintops,
through the veil of old Japan.
On an island led by the ancient ways,
just a million miles from here,
and yet it seems like only yesterday,
that her song rang out so clear

"Benzai Ten"—Blackmore's Night

Mother Terra

Chapter XII

"This is all that's left?" Captain Steiner said about his surroundings. "A vast ocean and a lowly island. Who would want to revive this?"

"…I think that I can understand them," Eiko said. "Even though I wasn't born on the day that Garland attacked Madain Sari—and reduced it to a pile of rubble—most people wouldn't want to live there, but it was still home to me; and I still enjoy going to visit it. There may be nothing left on Terra, but it's still home to Nuri and his genomes."

"…Fine," Zidane said, "but that doesn't give them the right to kidnap my wife and son…"

"I agree," interjected Eiko.

"Or harm Gaia. If they love Terra so much, they should come here on a holiday."

Once Zidane finished his sentence a genome approached them. "Ah, you made it! Welcome to Terra!"

The genome presented the party with a courtly bow, but the gesture infuriated Zidane.

For his courtesy, the genome received a kick to the jaw. Blood flew from his mouth, and the genome fell; but Zidane lifted him up by the hair, and placed a dagger at his throat.

"You kidnap my wife and son, and you expect me to be happy to see you! Like I'm going to some damn ball!" Zidane pushed the genome's head back into the ground, before he lifted him up again. "Now, I'm going to make this very clear to you. If you even think about casting a spell on me this blade'll easily slice your throat, and you'll be dead within five minutes. Understand?"

"Y-yes."

"Good. Now then, where's your master?"

"We-we don't have a master. We're all…"

The genome screamed as Zidane cut some of the hair above his ear.

"I don't want to hear this, 'we're all one' shit! Now where's Nuri?"

The genome gasped. "He's…he's in a house straight ahead."

Zidane removed the dagger, pushed him to the ground, and stood with his foot on his head.

Zidane turned to the party. "Draw your weapons."

And the party did as Zidane requested.

Finally, Zidane removed his foot from the genome; and informed him, "You lead the way."


The terrified genome did as Zidane required.

"Hmm," Zidane said, "I guess Nuri didn't set any traps for us, because this guy's traveling the exact same way he told us to travel."

In the distance, a small cottage could be noticed.

"Okay, this is where Nuri is. Now can I go?"

"No, I want you to give us a personal introduction."

"But why?"

"Because it comes down to two choices. The first choice is that you take us to Nuri. The second choice is that your internal organs become a fixture on Steiner's sword. It's your choice. So what's it gonna be?"

The genome gulped. Perspiration mixed with dried blood on his lips. "This way."

Outside the cottage Nuri stood smoking a cigar. Ironically, Nuri did not stop when he saw Zidane approach him with one of his genomes as a prisoner.

"Zidane, let Calum go," Nuri said, with a puff of his cigar.

Zidane's party was stunned by Nuri's actions.

"Even with one of his men in danger it doesn't seem like he cares," Vivi said.

"Something's wrong here," responded Eiko.

"How can he be so cool, calm, and collective?" added Steiner. "He must be planning something."

"Release Dagger and Hunter this instant, and I'll let him go!" replied Zidane.

Nuri gestured to be patient, and took another puff. "All in good time."

"'All in good time' my ass! Release them right now!"

Nuri sighed, threw the cigar to the ground, and tossed a fireball. His aim was not at Zidane but at the party.

In response, Zidane sliced Calum's throat. His cut was not strong enough for a finishing blow, but that did not stop the flow of blood.

Steiner, Eiko, and Vivi fell back. They tried to launch a counterattack, but were stopped by an army of genomes. The magic that the genomes used pushed Steiner, Vivi, and Eiko back even further.

Nuri approached Zidane with a smirk. But Zidane did not return the smirk. Instead he waited patiently, with daggers drawn. Nuri held out his palm, and a ball of fire charged from it. Zidane dodged the attack and counterattacked. One of his blades left a cut on Nuri's shirt, but it did not penetrate the skin. Nuri attempted a counterattack, but Zidane dodged that attack again. Zidane's second attack produced a different effect, however. Zidane's daggers did not pierce Nuri's skin, but they did knock him down. Nuri was helpless, and Zidane prepared the finishing blow, but two men—Goldwin and Aldous—stopped him.

Goldwin and Aldous' magic struck a blow that was not strong enough to kill Zidane, but it was strong enough to make him drop his daggers and lose consciousness.

Nuri picked up Zidane's lifeless body—and with Goldwin and Aldous around him—used another warp stone to vanish.