Disclaimer: Don't own it. There are a couple allusions to Xena and Buffy just for fun. Oh, and Pirates of the Caribbean, too.

I truly apologize for the long delay. I'm going to college all year round, and classes have kept me busy. Writer's block was an issue, too. I tried to at least mention most of the side quests, but I didn't develop them fully for sake of moving the story along. Enjoy the twenty-fourth installment, where an important revelation is finally made!

Chapter Twenty-four: Shadows of Legacy

Strago's earlier words to her hit home as she stared into all too familiar blue eyes. You mustn't let your fear of yourself take over. The figure was clad in armor so black it looked to be made of the shadows themselves, but the face was unmistakable. Celes actually took a step back.

"Y…you're—"

"You," the shadow affirmed. "I'm the one you've been trying to run away from. That deepest, darkest part of you that you just can't seem to get rid of."

Celes seemed to shrink away from her dark twin, looking uncharacteristically fragile. "Why can't you leave me alone?" she whispered.

The sinister double tilted her head to the side. "Because I'm stronger. Because I've always been stronger. Face it: you're nothing without me. Who made you who you are today? Me. The force that brought a continent to its knees? Me. The strength that made men tremble at your name?" The shadow smiled. "Me."

"I don't need you," Celes asserted softly. "Not anymore."

"Oh, look at you. You're shaking. Trying to be brave, to pretend that you can make it without me." The shadow's sympathetic smile turned sour. "You're so pathetically weak."

The Ragnarok was at the twin's throat in the blink of an eye. "Stop it," Celes nearly growled.

The shadow grinned sadistically. "There I am." The tip of the damned sword lowered uncertainly. "You fight it, but you'll never win. You will never be rid of me. But go ahead," she taunted. "You hold the Ragnarok… Use it. Kill me." Dark Celes stepped forward so that the half-raised sword touched her chest. "Just one little jab, and it'll be over."

Celes' hand trembled. The wall of blue flame continued to blaze unrelentingly, keeping her from her friends.

"Celes!" Sabin warned. "Don't let it win!"

"We're with you, Cel!" Locke followed.

The darker knight groaned in disgust. "Gods, you all make me sick. How can you put up with that, the constant whining?" she asked, gesturing towards the thief. She let out an overly sarcastic and mocking whine. "Cel, Terra, Rachel, wah!" She flipped a lock of blonde hair back over her shoulder. "You should have killed him long ago. You're not exactly known for your patience with whiners." She donned a look of thoughtfulness. "But then again, there's that tiny little detail. That one flaw that you try so hard to hide, hoping nobody ever finds out that deep down, you're just a lovesick little—"

The dark double found herself pinned against a nearby stone pillar in a split second.

"Ooo, struck a nerve. And still I'm forced to wonder…" The shadow shoved her counterpart away and circled around her. "…what happened to the Ice Queen? Cold-hearted bitch of the Empire, without a spark of emotion, or humanity for that matter? Don't tell me the almighty General Celes has been felled by a petty thief."

Celes swung the Ragnarok, but the shadow ducked under it, jabbed an elbow into Celes' jaw, and backhanded her across the face. The shadow spun and kicked Celes square in the stomach, sending the knight back into the stone pillar and sinking to the ground.

"Because, if that's the case…" Dark Celes took hold of the back of Celes' clothes and, with tremendous strength, dragged Celes across the encircled area and rammed her head first into another column. "…it's truly unfortunate."

Dazed by the blow, Celes spat blood from her mouth and tried to stand, but she only managed to get into a kneeling position.

Dark Celes squatted down beside her. "What if I just went over there and snapped his neck? What would you do?" She smirked. "Would you cry? Would you put on that stoic mask of yours and try to be brave? Or would you try to kill me?" She mockingly patted Celes' shoulder. "Let's find out."

As the shadow stood, Celes followed and violently twisted her double's arm behind her back. A cry of pain turned into an amused chuckle.

"There's my girl. I knew it'd just take a bit more prodding. But of course…" The shadow heaved Celes over her shoulder. "…that's not enough."

Ever agile, Celes landed on her feet in front of her dark twin. She threw her head back to stun her opponent, then backhanded her. Celes raised the Ragnarok, but after a prolonged moment of consideration, she threw the cursed sword off to the side and drew her Rune Blade as the shadow watched curiously.

"Interesting," the twin murmured as she bore her own replica of the Rune Blade.

For the Returners, it was difficult to tell who struck first: their companion or the doppelganger. The fire that separated them distorted their view, and the situation was confusing enough as it was. Save for the armor, the evil twin was a perfect reflection of Celes, even down to each individual attack. Every step, every movement of Celes' was mirrored exactly by the darker swordswoman.

When eventually their blades became locked together, neither warrior could out-muscle the other. A simultaneous shove, and both stumbled back, quickly retorting with a strong arc. In a split second, their swords were at each other's throats.

Dark Celes gave a disgruntled sigh. "Why do you persist?"

Celes' answer came out before she even realized what it was. "Because I have something that you never had."

"Really. What's that?"

Celes glanced past the wall of flame at the people watching anxiously. "Friends."

Swiftly knocking the shadow's blade away with her free arm, Celes punched her rival in the jaw with her sword-holding hand. An elbow jab and backhand followed, and Celes spun, thrusting her sword back into the double's torso. Locke and Terra both cringed at the sight of the Rune Blade sticking out of the look-alike's back.

When Celes slid her blade out, the dark knight staggered and fell to her knees. "You still don't get it, do you?" she rasped.

Celes suddenly winced and held a hand to her abdomen as a searing pain stabbed through her. Pulling her hand away, she was shocked to find blood covering it, and she too fell to her knees. Terra cried out to her friend, but she wasn't heard.

"You can't kill me without killing yourself," the shadow reminded weakly. "I'm a part of you, whether you like it or not. Your strength, your skill, your instinct." She coughed. "I can tell you now you won't survive the coming battle if you don't accept this."

Celes looked up from the ground in surprise. "What?"

The double stood shakily and picked up the discarded Ragnarok. "To conquer others is to have power." She threw the obsidian blade to Celes' feet. "To conquer yourself is to know the way."

The pain left Celes, and she found that no gaping wound marred her stomach. She took the Ragnarok in hand and followed the shadow in standing. "That's it? That's all this was? A ruse to conquer my dark side so I wouldn't be so easily corrupted by the blade?"

"Exactly. And you're the first to ever succeed. No one else has ever come close because no one else possesses the skill you have, the control. You are the prodigy, Celes. The Child of Destiny."

"What? …Why? Why me?"

"It is your fate…as the last decedent of Rune." The shadow suddenly looked Celes right in the eye. "You…are aware of your lineage…?"

Celes hesitated a moment before slowly nodding once.

"Then you understand your duty…" The entity fell to its knees as if to bow and whispered so that only Celes could hear. "Heir of Genji."

Celes drew a shaky breath. A light flashed, and the wall of blue flame dissipated. When the realm became again dim, the Returners saw that Celes now bore the armor the entity had. No long black as shadow, the armor gleamed a platinum sheen with intricately-detailed gold trim.

The dark version of Celes was nowhere to be seen. In her place, a figure swathed in worn but colorful robes stood, its helmet veiling all but eyes that glittered with untold wisdom.

"Who are you?" the blonde knight breathed.

"I was once Radius, advisor to Odin, mentor of Genji and his son, Aegis. Undertaking the guardianship of Genji's tomb, I became the Master of Mimicry. Call me what you will."

"Mimicry?"

"Whenever a person stumbled upon Genji's tomb, I could see into his soul, allowing me to transform into his greatest enemy, his worst fear, or what have you."

"Me," Celes mused.

The mimic tilted his head. "You fear yourself immensely. What you've done, what you're capable of, who you are."

"What I might become… You think I'm some great hero, but…how can I be? The blood on my hands… I've made so many mistakes."

"Everything that has happened, everything that you have done has only served to set you on your path."

A stream of whispers invaded Celes' mind, overlapping one another and nearly overwhelming in their force.

You think you know who you are…

You were born the Angel of Death.

…what's to come…

You will know it before the end.

…you haven't even begun.

The mimic spoke, echoing a final whisper. "Become who you were born to be."

((ooo))

"Gogo? You want to call a millennium-old entity Gogo?"

Locke shrugged, and Edgar threw up his hands. The warriors, consisting of a king, a prince, a thief, an assassin, a retainer, a knight, a mage, and now a mimic, made their way back through the underground passages towards the surface. Knowledge of the conversation between Celes and Gogo (as he was apparently to be called) was severely limited for the others. What they knew was that the mimic was the guardian of Genji's line and the Ragnarok, and that the armor Celes was given was the armor of Genji himself, reputably impenetrable if worn by one worthy. Despite repeated inquiries along the way, neither the blonde knight nor the mysterious newcomer offered further explanation.

The knight in question, with the Ragnarok strapped securely to her back, walked a ways behind the group as if in a daze. Eventually, it was Shadow that dared a private word with her.

"A heavy burden, that," he noted, referring to the damned sword.

"And?"

"Can't figure out why."

"We all have our secrets," she reminded flatly.

Shadow grimaced beneath his mask. "That we do… You do know the meaning of 'Ragnarok,' don't you?"

"'Doom of the gods,' derived from the name of the sorcerer himself. End of days kind of thing," she added flippantly.

The ninja sent Celes a pointed look and spoke ominously. "Not all secrets should be kept, Celes."

Celes walked in silence for a moment. When she finally turned to Shadow, he was no longer at her side. "Indeed…"

When the warriors finally reached the surface, Gogo stood basking in the fresh air and cool breeze as Setzer was signaled to land the airship.

"A thousand years…" he mused.

"You'd probably feel that wind a whole lot better if you weren't wearing that helmet," Locke suggested. When the mimic made no motion to remove it, the thief shook his head. "As stubborn as Shadow…"

"I heard that," the assassin called lazily.

"Then take the hint," the thief threw back teasingly.

The Falcon landed, and the warriors were greeted by Setzer, Strago, Relm, and Gau.

"I was beginning to worry," the pilot said.

"We got a little bit…" Edgar cast a sideways glance to Strago, "swallowed."

The old man held up his hands. "I warned you."

"That you did."

"Who's the shrouded one?" Relm asked, gesturing to the newest member of the group.

"This is Gogo," Edgar answered, ignoring Locke's triumphant smirk. "He's a mimic."

"A mimic?" Relm scrunched up her face. "What's he going to do, pretend he's trapped in a glass box?"

Celes raised an eyebrow. "That's a mime."

Relm looked sheepishly down at the deck. "Oh. Right. Then what can he do?"

"Then what can he do?" a young girl asked.

Relm looked in surprise to where Gogo stood, but the mimic wasn't there. In his place was an exact clone of herself. "Hey!"

"Hey!" the double imitated.

"How did you…?"

"How did you…?"

"Stop that!"

"Stop that!"

"No, stop that!"

"No, stop that!"

"Grrr…"

"Grrr…"

Celes rolled her eyes. "Gogo!"

The imposter looked up at the older woman with an innocent expression. "What?" Celes merely shook her head. "Fuddy duddy," the mimic muttered before transforming back into his true self.

"Incredible," Strago breathed. The mage noticed the sword on Celes' back, "Celes, is that…is that the Ragnarok?"

The knight nodded slowly.

Setzer, who stood behind Celes, tilted his head. "So this is the infamous Sword of the Damned."

The gambler reached for the hilt, but Celes whirled around while grabbing his wrist. "Don't."

Setzer drew back from the near growl as if struck. "My, aren't we possessive."

Gogo shook his head. "You wouldn't like what it would do to you."

"Like what it's doing to Celes?" Terra wondered bitterly.

Celes held back a sigh. "Terra, I already told you I'm fine."

"Yeah. Right before you made a mad dash for that…that abomination."

"Terra—"

"That thing is going to destroy you, Celes."

"And why would that matter, considering the incredibly high probability that we're all going to die anyway?" Celes snapped harshly before storming below deck.

"Let her go," Gogo advised Terra. "There are many things you don't understand, young one, but you will. When the time is right, you will understand."

Terra crossed her arms defiantly. "Maybe I want to understand now."

There were various murmurs of agreement from the others, but the mimic held up his hand. "It is not my place to tell you."

"Then how art we supposed to trust thee?" Cyan asked. "Or the general?"

"By good faith."

"Good faith…" The Doman rubbed his forehead as if pained. "'tis a hard thing to come by these days."

"Indeed."

Sabin watched as Cyan continued to rub his head. "Cyan, are you all right?"

"Fatigued."

"Aren't we all."

"Maybe we should think about a rest," Terra proposed. "Just a short break to relax before going that last mile?"

Edgar nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. We could all use it."

"I wish to return to Doma," Cyan stated wearily but gratefully.

Relm tugged on Strago's cloak. "I want to go back home!"

The old man looked fondly at his granddaughter. "As do I."

After a couple minutes of listening to the gang decided where everyone wanted to go, Locke slipped down below deck. Facing away from him, Celes sat on one of the sofas in the lobby.

"How're you doing?" He put a gentle hand on her shoulder, but she immediately jerked away as if his touch burned. "Other than kind of touchy lately. You know, in the non-physical sense," he added with a small grin.

"Sorry," she murmured. "Just edgy."

"I noticed." The thief plopped down on the sofa across from her. "The others figured it was time we all took a mini vacation. They're choosing destinations right now."

"Really." She didn't sound too interested.

"Yeah. Relm, Strago, and, strangely enough, Shadow are headed to Thamasa. Cyan's going to Doma, and Sabin and Gau are planning some walkabout thing or something."

"The others?"

"Terra's feeling nostalgic and wants to go to Narshe. Ed and Setzer are going with her. Gogo gave the impression he'd go where you go."

"And you?"

"Haven't decided yet. Ed 'strongly advised' that no one travel alone, so I'll probably end up in Doma with Cyan."

"Doma," Celes whispered.

"What?"

"I've never been there."

"Well, now's your chance."

"Yeah…"

((ooo))

With no verbal opposition from Cyan, Celes found herself in the Doman castle with the retainer, Locke, and Gogo. The fortress had a very hollow feeling, reminding her of the Ancient Castle. Something prickled at the back of her neck the deeper within the walls she walked, and it was quite unsettling to the normally impassive knight.

The three kept a respectful distance from Cyan as he wandered the halls, especially when he entered his bedchamber. It was so quiet, Celes swore she could hear the dust settle after being disturbed by the intruders. The Doman eventually made his way to the throne room, where he drew is katana and knelt in front of the empty throne. The three left him in peace.

Celes' unease continued to grow.

Locke noticed the blonde looking around as if searching for something. Her hand was gripping the pommel of her Rune Blade. "What's up?"

Distractedly, she answered. "I have this feeling…"

"What feeling?"

"Like we're being watched."

"Someone else is here," Locke guessed.

"Or something," Gogo followed. The air grew cold, and the walls seemed to moan. "The spirits are restless."

Celes was clearly agitated. "We shouldn't be here."

A far-off scream echoed eerily, and Locke shifted nervously. "I'm beginning to agree with you."

Suits of armor and mounted shields and swords began to rattle. "Get Cyan," Celes ordered. "We're leaving."

Locke ran down the hall and into the royal chamber, while Celes and Gogo followed on his heels. Cyan lay unconscious on the ground before the throne.

"Cyan?" Locke shook the Doman, but there was no response. "Cyan!"

Still the Doman did not stir.

"There is a dark power at work here," Gogo intoned.

"So much for a break," Celes muttered. A sudden wave of dizziness overtook her, and she swayed unsteadily on her feet with a hand held to her head.

"Celes?"

Locke and Gogo watched in alarm as the woman collapsed to the ground. The thief took a step towards her, but he too was hit by a blast of vertigo. As Locke fell, Gogo suffered his turn.

"Bloody hell," was the last thing out of the mimic's mouth before he succumbed to darkness.

((ooo))

Locke slowly regained consciousness. His head was swirling, and when he opened his eyes, he realized the air was swirling as well. Shaking his head to relieve his grogginess, Locke stood and glanced at his surroundings. The air appeared as thick as paint with an invisible brush sweeping through, mixing the colors in a hypnotic pattern. The solid surface on which he stood seemed only an island—one of many—in the endless expanse of undulating hues.

That's when he noticed the prone figure on one of the other islands. "Celes?" Locke looked around again and saw the frame of a doorway standing nearby. Taking a deep breath, the treasure hunter stepped through and found himself on a new platform. This one had two doorways in front of him but no way back behind him. Choosing one of the portals, he ended up back on the island he woke up on.

"Fantastic," he grumbled.

Locke took the same path again, only this time choosing the other portal. This one landed him next to a figure sitting in a meditation position.

"Gogo? You all right?"

The mimic looked up and nodded, and Locke helped him to stand. Another chain of doors loomed ahead, conquered only by trial and error, until finally they came upon Celes. She stood patiently waiting for them, and the three merely exchanged nods of greeting. Passing through the only portal on that platform, they came to a much larger island, one door standing dead center.

"What about Cyan?" Locke asked.

Gogo walked confidently to the door. "I don't think he's here."

When the mimic disappeared through the portal, Locke looked to Celes. The knight simply shrugged and followed the mimic through the door, With a sigh, Locke trailed along behind her.

((ooo))

"Terra, are you sure about this?" Edgar glanced at the frozen Esper up ahead. "I mean, last time…"

"I'll be all right," the mage insisted. "I think I know how to control that part of me now."

"If you're sure…"

Mog stopped dead in his tracks, and Setzer nearly stepped on him. "Kupo…you hear that?"

Edgar and Terra also stopped and listened. A scuttling sound could be heard. From around the corner in the icy maze, a large shadow drew closer.

Setzer's eyes widened. "Um…guys?"

"More moogles?" Terra wondered in unconvincing hopefulness.

Edgar drew his Flame Saber. "I'm inclined to think not."

"The sasquatch?" Setzer offered.

The shadow loomed closer and larger. "Ku…po."

"Was that a no?"

Mog readied his spear. "Kupo."

"Great."

Setzer took out his metal cards, and Terra drew the Atma Weapon. They kept their gazes high, awaiting whatever enormous beast came around the bend. A shrill cry startled the four, and the shadow suddenly shrank. The warriors looked down to find a small blue-scaled creature standing fearlessly before them.

"A lizard?" Setzer laughed. "We were afraid of a big lizard?"

"Setzer…" Terra warned.

"Kupo. Not a lizard. A dragon."

At Mog's declaration, the three humans whipped their heads around to look at the small creature. Yellow spines on its back stood rigid and its tail lashed about. The tiny dragon took a challenging stance.

"I think you made it angry," Edgar whispered to the gambler.

Another screech pierced the cold air, causing the warriors to flinch. Setzer shrugged. "No biggie."

The dragon sucked in a lungful of air.

"Take cover!" Mog shouted.

A blast of ice-cold fire leapt from the creature's mouth, which the four barely escaped.

Edgar called over to Setzer. "You had to say it, didn't you?"

Terra readied an incantation of scorching flame. "Horse around later! Fight now!"

((ooo))

Locke looked around. "That was weird."

He, Celes, and Gogo had just finished a bizarre sequence of what they could only assume were Cyan's dreams. There had been Magitek Armor, a chase through Phantom Forest with angry spirits in pursuit, and something about a guy with a scone. The three found themselves back in Doma. Only, it wasn't. The castle was distorted in impossible ways. Colors were inverted. Entire rooms were flipped upside down. Hallways shrank and dwindled down to an infinite point. Only the path to the throne room remained more or less undistorted. Distant screams of agony from hundreds of spirits floated to their ears.

Warily, the three entered the royal chamber. Off to the side, they saw Cyan ensnared in a writhing prison of fire as it fought to consume him. Locke made a step towards the Doman, but Celes stopped him, pointing to the dais at the head of the chamber. The throne was wreathed in flame, and upon it sat a devilish-looking sage, his eyes black as coal.

"Who the hell are you, and what have you done to our friend?" Locke demanded.

"I am Wrexsoul."

"The Soul Eater," Gogo whispered. "He feeds off the torment of others."

"This man's soul is mine," the demon continued. "I have sensed his anguish growing day by day and when finally it became too much for him, I summoned him here."

"We want him back!"

"You are in my realm. You belong to me."

Celes drew her sword. Wrexsoul gave a deep laugh that seemed to reverberate throughout the chamber.

"Ah, this one has pain that rivals the Doman's."

"Celes, get back," Gogo warned.

Before she could react, the knight felt a searing grip close around her heart and mind, and she fell to the ground in convulsions. Locke called to her, but Gogo held him back. Wrexsoul raised a hand, and the blazing throne disgorged a small army of his fiery minions. His voice hissed out a hate-filled command.

"Feed on her!" Dozens of Devourers streamed forward and enveloped the woman, only adding to her torture. "May the living flame devour your soul."

((ooo))

"Oomph!"

Edgar, Terra, Setzer, and Mog landed in a heap on straw-covered ground. After having freed the Esper Tritoch from its icy prison, the cliff gave way, and the four warriors were cast down into the darkened abyss below.

"Ow."

"Kupo."

A low rumble drew their attention before they could stand. In front of them was a very large pair of white hairy feet. The warriors craned their necks up in unison to see a massive and muscular yeti staring down at them, not looking happy with their unplanned intrusion.

"Uh…hi."

((ooo))

Locke drew his dirks and rushed at the demon lord. He didn't get four paces before a smothering pain stopped him in his tracks. The thief clutched at his head and dropped to his knees. Gogo grabbed one of Locke's arms and dragged him back to a safe distance.

"He will seize upon your inner turmoil if you get too close," Gogo told him. "It's not great enough for him to take hold fully, but you'd best stay back."

A dozen of Wrexsoul's spawn drew closer.

"What are we going to do?" Locke grunted through clenched teeth.

Gogo stood up and bowed his head, holding his hands away from his body. His form rippled as air would in sweltering heat.

((ooo))

Relm harrumphed. "That damn chest needs to find its own damn coral!"

"It doesn't exactly have arms or legs," Shadow reminded.

The child could tell the ninja was smirking. "Shut up. It could hire a delivery service…that's not us."

"And pay them in what? Coral?"

"Shut! Up!" Shadow chuckled quietly, which only aggravated Relm more. "I'll paint your portrait!"

The assassin didn't seem too worried.

Strago let out a hushed exclamation. "There! Up ahead! It's Hidon!" He raised his staff. "This is for you, Gungho."

((ooo))

Wrexsoul looked on in confusion. The robed one was different from the others. Certainly not human. His soul could not be touched. Then he changed, his form remolding itself into the appearance of a familiar blonde clad in black leather.

"Interesting." Wrexsoul did not sound pleased. The clone of Celes reached back over her shoulders and drew twin blades out of their sheaths. "Very interesting," the demon amended, a touch of fear in his tone.

Locke couldn't help but feel awe as pseudo-Celes lunged at the nearest Devourer and sliced it in triads. As it went up in a puff of smoke, she moved to the next, fluidly as water but with the fury of fire. Gogo truly was the Master of Mimicry. As Celes, he moved with the same speed, grace, and passion that the thief always admired in the knight.

Sparing a glance to the real Celes as she lay trapped in flame, he prayed Gogo would be able to break Wrexsoul's hold.

((ooo))

Sabin loved the freedom of the wilderness. Gau seemed to be enjoying himself as well. The two wandered the plains and valleys east of Narshe with no particular destination in mind. Sabin used the time to meditate and focus his energy. Gau would attempt to imitate the martial artist before ultimately becoming bored and running off to chase some creature or another.

Turning a bit to the North, Sabin and Gau both picked up on the faintest whiff of smoke. Curiosity got the better of the prince, and he continued north to find the source. The two travelers came upon a cabin amidst a small grove of dying trees. Just as Sabin raised a hand to knock, the door swung open and his jaw dropped.

"Master Duncan?"

((ooo))

Wrexsoul stood from the throne and stepped off the dais. Turning her short swords around in her hands, pseudo-Celes raised her left blade to hold off a Devourer while she sliced through its midsection with her right. The same blade swept back to her right and into another minion. When two spawn rushed her, she turned away from them and thrust her swords back, catching each junior Soul Eater in the chest.

Sensing Wrexsoul closing in, the faux knight slammed her two blades together. They fused into one katana as another change rippled through the mimic. A reflection of Cyan turned and cleaved his weapon down upon the demon lord. Wrexsoul sidestepped the strike, and pseudo-Cyan began a sinuous attack, his katana weaving patterns in strong wide arcs.

Wrexsoul threw fire, but the mimic was too fast, and his katana grazed the demon's flesh on more than one occasion. Finally a blast of flame caught the imposter Doman, sending him back through the air. Seamlessly and while still aerial, the mimic shifted shape again. After landing on all fours, the face of Sabin looked up with a feral gleam in his eyes, and his claws scraped across the stone floor as he lunged for his foe. Perplexed by the alteration, Wrexsoul received several gashes before he even registered the attack.

The flames surrounding Celes and Cyan began to wane.

Six Devourers banded together and tried to overtake the cloned martial artist, but he transformed into Shadow and took two out with deadly-accurate shuriken. The other four continued their blitz, and the doppelganger ninja turned to run up a nearby wall, changing back into Celes as he did. The faux knight flipped backwards off the wall, slashed through two spawn, and landed behind the remaining duo. Swift opposing arcs of her blades fell both.

Turning to face Wrexsoul, Gogo-Celes extended a hand and chanted an icy incantation. The demon sent his own stream of fire, and the two forces collided. Locke finally rose from the ground and came up behind the Soul Eater. A slash from the thief's dirks broke Wrexsoul's concentration, and the mimic's ice overpowered the fire. Frozen liquid surged over the demon's body and encased him. Crossing her blades at Wrexsoul's neck, the mimicked knight forcefully pulled them apart, severing head from body.

The fiery prisons dissipated, freeing Celes and Cyan from their torment. Though physically unharmed, it was clear both were exhausted. Gogo-Celes stood surveying the throne room, blades still out and appearing ready for another fight.

After struggling to her feet, the real Celes glanced at the mimic. "Stop looking like me. It's creepy."

Gogo smirked, then changed back to his true form. "As you wish."

Locke put on a look of innocence. "But, but you…he…she…was in black leather…"

Celes gave the thief a strange look that quickly turned dark. "I don't do black leather."

"Actually, what I mimic, what I reflect, is one's self image." Somehow, they can tell Gogo is grinning under his helmet. "Seeing that most people have more than one, I choose the most interesting."

Celes turned her glare on Gogo. "I hope you mean useful."

Gogo gave a patronizing nod. The realm shifted and faded, and the warriors awoke in the real Doma. Groggily, the four stood, wobbling slightly on their feet.

"I thank thee for thy aid," Cyan said, his voice strained. "All of thee. I am truly sorry for the trials thou endured on my behalf."

Locke shook his head. "It wasn't your fault."

"All that matters is that you are well." Gogo added.

"I…I am," Cyan affirmed. "I saw…I saw my wife. And my son. They gave me the strength, the courage to continue on. I feel a weight has been lifted from me."

Locke smiled sadly. "A good feeling, isn't it?"

"'tis indeed."

Celes remained silent.

((ooo))

Edgar scratched his chin. "So…did anyone actually get to relax?"

Sabin shrugged. "Rigorous training session aside, I was quite relaxed."

"Well, look at it this way: we all gained something, right?" Terra proposed.

"Speak for yourself," Celes muttered.

"Well, each group," the mage amended. "Mog and Umaro, triumph of a childhood dream, spiritual release, mastering blitz… Things are starting to look up." Terra winced at Celes' venomous glare. "Well, for most of us… You know, you could at least try to be happy, Cel."

"I almost had my soul eaten. I have a right to be cranky."

Terra couldn't help but grin, and in spite of herself, Celes returned it.

"You said you guys fought a dragon?" Relm asked Edgar.

"Yeah. A big one."

"Huge," Setzer hastily agreed.

Terra shook her head disapprovingly. "It was smaller than Mog."

"Kupo."

"And a violent little brute," Edgar mumbled bitterly. "Nearly bit my arm off."

Terra rolled her eyes. "Ed, you baby. It's only a scratch."

"Oh yeah, a gaping hole where my arm used to be. Only a flesh wound."

Shying away from the general cheeriness of the group, Celes moved to the back of the airship. To her surprise, Cyan approached her a few minutes later.

"Not once since we first crossed paths have I shown any will to trust thee." The blonde raised a quizzical brow but said nothing. "And yet thou hast risked thy life, thy soul, to aid me. Why?"

"Well, burning hatred for each other aside," she began with the tiniest of grins, "an ally is an ally."

The older warrior nodded slowly, then looked at the blonde thoughtfully. "A tortured soul…'tis not an easy penance to bear."

Celes dropped her gaze. "But we have to, right? Otherwise, what more do we have to make us human?"

The Doman studied her for another moment. Finally, he glanced over his shoulder at the group of warriors before he answered. "Friends."

As Cyan left her side, Celes followed the path of his gaze. As she watched the Returners continue to trade stories, the knight nodded to herself.

((ooo))

Though no one admitted it outright, the warriors were searching for any excuse to delay going after Kefka. Their unspoken anxiety led them to decide on hunting down the last three dragons. They heard rumors of only one.

Setzer adjusted his trench coat. "A few people in Jidoor are saying a dragon tore its way into the Opera House."

Edgar thought for a moment, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright. Sabin, Locke, Celes, and I will take care of that. The rest of you split up and look for the other two."

Celes crossed her arms. "Uh huh. And what, pray tell, elected me into this group?"

"Nostalgia?" Locke suggested, trying to look innocent but failing miserably.

The woman swatted half-heartedly at the thief. "Jerks."

Setzer joined in the banter. "Well, if you're going to the Opera House, these clothes won't do at all. It should be a dress or nothing." He gestured below deck with a mischievous smirk. "I happen to have no dress in my cabin…"

"I hate you all."

Hours later found the four designated dragon hunters within the Opera House. The edifice was deserted as far as they could tell, which wasn't surprising. Walking directly into the main audience chamber, the quartet found what they sought. Standing only on its hind legs, it was taller than any of the dragons the warriors faced before.

"Hmph. Center stage." Locke prodded Celes with his elbow. "Jealous?"

A hard punch to his arm was her answer.

"I'm really tired of fighting dragons," Edgar whispered.

"This was your idea," Sabin reminded.

"Apparently I didn't think this one through."

"Apparently." The king sighed. "Here we go again."

The four drew their weapons and approached the stage. The dragon merely watched as they neared, seeming unconcerned by any means. Edgar raised his crossbow and released a bolt. The arrow bounced harmlessly off the leathery hide, and the dragon glared down at the king.

"Uh oh."

The beast lifted its head towards the vaulted ceiling let out a roar that shook the building's structure. It stomped its foot, and a tidal wave of dirt rose up and crashed down on the warriors.

"Dragon of Earth," Sabin deduced, coughing in the dust.

"Just slice and dice, gentlemen," Celes said, making her way to the primeval creature.

Ducking under the dragon's stubby front arms, she slashed at a hind leg, while Locke leapt in and buried one of his dirks in the other. Both were swatted away like flies. Sabin called on Duncan's teachings and executed his highest-level blitz. Bum Rush left the dragon lacerated on all sides and exceptionally peeved.

The dragon's enormous tail crashed down onto the stage, causing the ground to shake violently. The Figaro brothers, further from the quake's epicenter, managed to remain standing. Closer to the upheaval, Locke and Celes were knocked off their feet. The knight landed on her back with the thief directly on top of her. Locke's agile reflexes allowed him the presence of mind to cushion his fall with his arms, and as he looked down at Celes, the thief suddenly became hyperaware of his body pressing against hers.

If only for an instant, the battle faded into the background as Celes brushed a strand of hair from Locke's face, and the thief unconsciously lowered his head. A second of hesitation, and the moment came to an abrupt halt when the Earth Dragon let out another thunderous roar that made the opera hall tremble. The warrior again taking over, Celes roughly pushed Locke off of her, picked her sword up from the ground, and charged the beast. The treasure hunter let out a disgruntled sigh before also clambering to his feet.

The battle continued, resulting in the complete and total destruction of the stage. Ultimately, the dragon was defeated. Battered and worn, the four warriors wandered the about the Opera House as they awaited Setzer's return.

A while later, Locke stepped into the magnificent white hall and searched for a break in the near blinding light and white marble. Squinting through the brightness, he saw her standing at a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out over the ocean expanse beyond.

His footsteps echoed in the hall, and Celes turned as he approached. "What?"

"How long is this going to continue?"

Celes' brows knit together in confusion. "Until we find the last two dragons and kill Kefka?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what?" Locke took her hand, but she pulled away. "What are you doing?"

The thief sighed. "This is what I'm talking about. Why do you fight what's going on? How can you ignore what's happening between us?"

"Nothing's happening, Locke."

"Don't say that like you believe it, Celes, because I know you don't. Why do you deny it?"

She looked away. "Because I have to."

"What, are you afraid to let yourself feel something?"

"But I don't, and that's the problem!" The thief stared at her in silence, dumbstruck at seeing tears in her eyes. "I try, but I can't! I can't feel, Locke! I don't feel anything!" When he continued to not say anything, Celes took a deep breath to compose herself. "It gets worse day by day. There's pain, but beneath that…numbness. It's spreading, seeping into every part of me, and I can't stop it—"

Locke unexpectedly took her by the shoulders and claimed her mouth with his. Startling both of them, Celes clung to the thief as though her life depended on it, crushing the two together with bruising strength. It took all Locke's willpower to pull away. As he did, his world spun, his heart was racing, and a euphoric wave of heat pulsed through him.

"Tell me you didn't feel that," he challenged breathlessly.

Looking him in the eye, Celes opened her mouth as if to reply, but no sound came out. She tried again to speak, but failed. Finally, she bowed her head.

"I…I didn't."

Author's note: Is she lying? Is she telling the truth? I'm not sure I even know the answer…

I drastically shortened the dream sequence in Cyan's side quest due to extreme lack of wanting to write it—I left out the Dream Stooges and the Phantom Train, and the guy with a scone was just for fun. The "dress or nothing" line is my ode to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Finally, in case you missed it, that last scene in the white hall was an allusion to a certain dream Celes had earlier in the story.

Reviews are my elixir, and here's next chapter's teaser:

Celes and Terra at Leo's grave. "I won't fail again. Because it ends here. One way or the other."

Locke embracing Celes. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Celes at the door to Locke's room. "Just once, I want to feel…alive…"