-1Scenario 3 - Shattered Sight: The Legacy of Oddler

A sky blank and gray with the clouds of a storm made the sun seem to fall to rest early. The darkness fell over Granseal without a moments notice, drawing out the candles in the homes of its citizens, their homes becoming alight before the darkness of the sky overcame them. Granseal was only just born, its people only freshly rooted into the soil of the newfound civilization, the castle still under construction. Yet, they were not as welcome as they believed. Just a short distance away, on the very top of the towering ancient building that stood among the cliffs just near Granseal, a figure overlooked the continuing construction of this new kingdom.

The Ancient Tower's roof still crumbled after Darksol's attempt at revenge against his greatest enemy and his second failure in defeating them. The man turned slowly, his eyes tightly shut as he cradled a child within his arms. His hand fell smoothly on the newborn's head, combing back his hair gently.

"What your purpose is…that is beyond me. And yet…" Oddeye felt the baby wriggle slightly within his grip. "…I do know what I would do if your future was my responsibility alone…"

-----

"It seems even the son of Darksol understands who he is, despite the fact that he could have never figured it out through word of mouth…" said Geshp. "He wasn't working for us anyway. Wherever he is now, he won't survive for too long."

"He was your responsibility Geshp…" Oddeye said cooly.

"You obviously taught him wrong! How is it my fault that he decides to run off!" Geshp growled.

Oddeye said nothing.

"Its unimportant." Roared Zeon, his voice a bellow even when he didn't mean it to be. "The jewels have been enshrined for too long. I can't stay in contact with the surface forever…"

"I'm fading as well. Without Zeon's presence, we are nothing." Zalbard hissed. "What can we do? We cannot remove the jewels ourselves."

Cameela nodded.

"We can't do anything about it. We just have to wait for the right opportunity, no matter how long it takes. We'll get our chance." said Oddeye.

"Easy for you to say! You won't get dragged into that hell with Zeon once he has gone!" Geshp growled. "You get to stay here."

"Then he is our best chance at ruling this world…" Zeon bellowed. "Why do you think I made him? His design is flawless."

"Well if he is so great why aren't there more of him?" Cameela said, her arms folded.

"Not all attempts were fruitful. I was lucky he survived. His eyesight was his only lacking sense, and yet he is still better a swordfighter than any devil."

"You all may fade, but I will stay vigilant." Oddeye said. "It shouldn't be too long until some bumbling fool wanders someplace he shouldn't be and try to remove the jewels. Once that happens, we'll be free to take back what our lord won."

The 3 greater devils seemed less than enthusiastic, but they could do absolutely nothing.

Years would pass, Zeon's presence would fade, and Geshp, Cameela, and Zalbard would, one by one, be sucked down into the abyss that is Arc Valley with their master. Oddeye, on the other hand, would remain as vigilant as he had said, taking his place atop the Ancient Tower for hours every day. Until…

-----

"Oddeye…it…is….go…od…to….hea…r…your…voi…ce…" Zeon's flickering mist like outline spoke to Oddeye long after Granseal had been swallowed by the earthquake.

With Elis and Galam now within Arc Valley, and the jewels in Bowie's hands as he sailed from Grans Island, Zeon's power was slowly returning to him. If the Jewel of Darkness had stayed in his possession, he would have already come to the surface. Unfortunately for him, he had to let the power of the jewel return to him slowly over time.

"Milord…our time has finally returned…" said Oddeye. "It's been a long, long time."

"Not as…long as…it may seem…" Zeon said. "I…feel…many times more…capable…now that …the jewels have…been removed."

"What of the others?" said Oddeye.

"When I…regain a little more power…I'll be able to return…them to the surface." Zeon bellowed. "Then we can set our plans…into action."

"I understand. What of me now, though?" said Oddeye.

"Nothing yet. In time, though…you must find out where the jewels…have gone. Galam tells me he could not keep them from the boy…but he does not know where he has gone. He will…undoubtedly get them to Volcanon when…he realizes the jewels have…been removed."

"Knowing Volcanon, he already knows." said Oddeye.

"Indeed. And he will fate it so that the boy comes…right to him with the jewels…but we will kill Volcanon first." said Zeon.

Oddeye was surprised for a moment.

"Kill god Volcanon…?" he whispered.

-----

Within several months, Zeon had regained a good portion of his energy. He was able to send Zalbard to the surface, but he could do nothing else at the moment. Oddeye and Zalbard both raised armies and took to the mainland in search of the jewel of darkness. Zalbard went to Tristan, to see if the boy had made his way to Mitula. Oddeye went to Bedoe, to see if the boy had gone to Volcanon.

Zalbard took Mitula with very little effort, and stole the ground orb, which is the only thing that kept her control upon the northern part of the Earth at a constant. Without it, she was powerless. Oddeye, though…

"Are we ready?" Oddeye roared. "We will take Bedoe without so much as a peep from Volcanon! He will DIE!"

Oddeye's army roared in unison as he led them into Polca, the city at the foot of Mt. Volcano. The townspeople did nothing to stop the devils as they moved through the city quickly. They had no time to stop and attack such a weak place when Volcanon was right in front of them. Birdmen of Bedoe awaited their arrival intently, Volcanon's senses having picked up their approach well before their arrival.

"No mercy for the birdmen! Kill them and their protector!" roared Oddeye as he drew his blade and made his way into the fray.

Birdmen swooped in from left and right, faster than any grounded enemy could attack. Swords swung past Oddeye, yet even without his sight, he dodged every attempt at removing his head or wounding him. Oddeye clambered up one set of stairs, whipping his blade through several birdmen and laying waste to the massive army that was coming at him. He tore through wings and thrust his blade into chests, stomachs, and faces. Without mercy he plowed his way up the mountain to Bedoe. Volcanon finally found it necessary to make his presence known. As the birdmen fell, the sky drew dark even though the sky was cloudless and the day was young. From above, Volcanon's true self came into view, his shadow covering the sky for at least a mile. His enormous wings spanned farther than one could see.

"Oddeye!" Volcanon roared, causing the very earth beneath him to crumble and crack.

Volcanon's physical being had been on the earth only on rare occasions, and both the devil army and the birdmen marveled at the sight of the god before them. Oddeye, though without his sight, could sense the power he stood before. Even though that was the case, Oddeye overestimated the enemy. He was quite capable of killing even a god.

Volcanon landed upon the top of the volcano, his feet barely able to grasp it because he was so large.

"Zeon sends a sentinel here? His foolishness is unrivaled!" Volcanon cawed, causing the cliffs to crumble with each word.

"I'm not a sentinel!" Oddeye called back. "I'm here for the jewel!"

"Then you're in the wrong place!" Volcanon pulled his head back, his dark feathers rippling with the wind, his dark red eyes becoming only slits as he belched forth a comet like rock that was sent barreling in Oddeye's direction.

Oddeye avoided the large fireball easily, and launched his attack. He moved forward in Volcanon's direction. Volcanon shot a second and third fireball, both of which Oddeye avoided. Without hesitation, Oddeye bounded up the side of the mountain, his balance and agility his only means of gripping the solid rock wall of the mountainside. Volcanon leaned forward upon his perch, belching more fiery rocks toward Oddeye, and missing still. He attempted to take flight, but Oddeye was already upon him, his blade having been thrust deep into Volcanon's belly.

A brain rattling screech emitted from Volcanon as his eyes widened and he lost his balanced on the top of the volcano, and toppled down the side of it. Oddeye, having drawn his sword forth, followed the wounded god as he fell helplessly. To Oddeye's surprise, though, Volcanon landed and his feet upon the cliff were the birdmen and the devil army still battled.

"Scum! Zeon will never come back to the surface! Can you not see?" Volcanon bellowed as a stream of blood covered the cratered ground below him.

"No." Oddeye said with a grin, as he leapt forward and stabbed Volcanon a second time.

Volcanon let out another screech that echoed within every crevice of the mountain, but he kept his balance this time, and counter attacked. His beak jolted down unto Oddeye, tearing him from his stomach with his beak and practically crushing Oddeye's body within it.

Oddeye screamed with pain as he was crushed, and then thrown into the rock wall of the mountain. He lay helplessly, his armor having been completely destroyed. Only shards of it hung from his lifeless body. Volcanon could feel the barrier he kept around Bedoe fading as he used the last of his power to fire but a final ball of flame at the helpless, unconscious Oddeye…

-----

Oddeye awoke at the foot of Mt. Volcano, his army had been crushed, and the birdmen and Volcanon had returned to Bedoe after their victory. Though Volcanon had been weakened terribly, and was ashamed that it was from one of Zeon's greater devils that he had received such blows, he was able to return to the heavens.

Oddeye stood wearly, his body torn and battered, his armor gone completely. He was rapped in nothing but tattered black cloth, the only remnants of his battle equipment. Oddeye felt around for something he could cover himself in, something to allow him escape this place, wherever it was. For some reason, he could remember nothing. He couldn't remember why he was unable to see, why he was clothed in nothing but torn cloths…

He grasped a white robe, one which one of his soldiers had been wearing. He put it on weakly, his head pounding. He felt his face, his eyes were badly burned, from what, he did not know. He accepted it, though, as the obvious reason for his being blind. He couldn't know that he'd been blind long before his encounter with Volcanon…with his head aching unbearably, and his eyes burning, he stumbled forward in whatever direction his legs dragged him. Noises came from every direction, but he had no idea where he was or what was happening. Without his eyes, he felt powerless, but somehow, he managed to wander into Polca, his left arm dripping with blood.

A tremor struck below him, very suddenly. The product of Volcanon's rage still making the entire region tremble. With whatever strength he could find left in himself, he stayed on his feet until the moment long tremor subsided. Then, though, his legs finally gave out, and he felt himself falling, almost in the slow of time, until he hit the dirt path before him with a sickening thud.

-----

A dream came to him, not visibly, but in sound. It was as if all his memories consisted of nothing but a constant blaring in his ears, yet nothing before him that he could set his eyes upon.

This dream, though. He could hear nothing but the roaring of a deep voice commanding him. It was faint, yet it seemed to be in real time. Like someone was actually speaking into his ear as he slept. Already confused, he could hardly grasp the distant, broken message he was being delivered in his mind's eye.

"Odd…ler…get……." mumbled the voice.

Oddler? Was that his name, or fragments of the broken message that had to be pieced together differently?

"…get…up! You…'re…not…done with….Vol…can……"

The message seemed to get clearer and then farther from him as he strained to hear.

"Odd…..eye…" and with that, the voice restarted the message until it slowly faded into a distant hum.

Days seemed to pass within the loneliness of his own mind. Was he dead? No, he could feel himself breathing. He could still feel the numbness that was once pain throbbing in his skull. He could feel the air from outside on his face, the warm covers neatly laid over his body, the sound of distant footsteps. He was coming out of his sleep. With wonder of how long he'd been in bed, he opened his eyes, something he felt he hadn't done in a long time. A loud hum instantly forced them closed, though, as did the sound of a nearby yelp.

"MY! My goodness!" cried the voice of a man. "Your eyes!"

Oddeye twitched.

"Beams…"said the man. "You must never open your eyes…they…they must be a product of the devil's attack on you."

Oddeye twitched slightly again. His head was still pounding.

"Never…never open your eyes." the man repeated. "What is your name…?"

Oddeye couldn't recall, and with his head in such pain, he wasn't going to try and remember. He simply said the first thing that came to him.

"Oddler…" he managed to say weakly.

"Oddler, well." said the man. "It's good to see you're at least awake."

"Leave me…" Oddler moaned as he tightened his grip on his sheets.

"My, my." said the man as he backed away. "Right, you need more rest."

The man disappeared. His footsteps having trailed from Oddler's hearing after just a few seconds. He laid for hours, in and out of a troubled sleep. No dreams came to him, but with the way he was feeling, it was hard for him to sleep soundly. Finally, he awoke again, the pain in his head now simply a bothersome aching. His arm was what concerned him most. He weakly lifted his right arm to feel the bandages rapped tightly around his left. He could only imagine the bloody mess that lay underneath it. To his surprise, though, it didn't hurt.

The last thing on his mind, now, was were he was and what he was doing there. He had no recollection of anything that had happened before his awakening at the bottom of Mt. Volcano.

He sat up, feeling his body sway slightly. The sounds from outside told him it was still day, and so he tried his best to stand. He easily lost his balance, though, and fell back onto the bed. He tried once more, this time, keeping his balance with aid from the wall to his right. He stood in this position, his right arm extended to support him against the wall, and both legs spread oddly to keep him standing. His head set facing downward, he breathed heavily. He didn't know he'd have to put such effort into simply supporting his own weight. Footsteps approached…

"What? What are you doing out of bed?" gasped the man.

This man, whoever he was, had obviously been taking care of him while he slept. Oddler felt a slight feeling of anger toward him though. He didn't need his help…but what way of thinking was that? Anger toward a man that has helped you to survive…?

"Come, come. Get back into bed--" started the man.

"No. I…" Oddler groaned. "I have to go."

"No, you'll stay here. You won't get anywhere alone." said the man commandingly. "Sit down."

Oddler opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden crash from outside distracted him. He heard the man jump at the sound as well.

"What in hell…?" the man said as he walked to the open door of his home. "Oh no…"

Oddler let go of the wall, his balance now concentrated. What was happening out there?

"Devils. Oddler, get back!" the man whispered, as he pushed Oddler into the wall behind him. "Stay there."

Oddler said nothing. He simply stood in the corner as he was told. What were devils, he wondered. The door of the house closed, but the man was no longer inside with him. He must have ventured out to see exactly what was going on.

-----

"Where's the boy!" one of the devils growled.

A white eyed dwarf-like man stood with his axe outstretched. His face was old and wrinkled, scarred and dry. His teeth were like fangs. To his sides, two tall minotaurs stood silently, their axes gripped tightly in their hands. They seemed like statues, but their height and build was more than intimidating.

"What boy?" cried one of the three birdmen opposite them.

Two armored birdmen stood grounded, their leader in front of them. He was robed in royal shrouds, his head adorned with a small crown.

"The boy! Where is Oddeye?" the dwarf roared as he moved forward.

"You mean Oddler? What do you want with him?" cried the head of the birdmen.

"Oddler…" The dwarf looked at the minotaurs behind him and grinned slightly. "Yes, Oddler, where is he?"

"You won't touch him!" said one of the bird soldiers.

The minotaurs moved forward like lightning, taking both birdmen by surprise. They were beat down with axe blades and chopped to bloodied pieces within an instant, and their leader could do nothing but stand wide eyed as his friends were mutilated.

"My…my comrades…" he managed to say.

"Enough of this. Now, were is Oddler?" said the dwarf.

The birdman's face grew disfigured with anger as he began to draw his blade, but a voice from behind halted his movements.

"Prince Luke!" cried a gruff voice, seemingly from nowhere. "I'll help you protect Oddler!"

From within the brush behind Luke emerged a tall man, covered in thick brown hair, upon his head a green cloth. He looked at the devils before him with just as much hatred as Luke did.

"Gerhalt?" Luke's eyes widened. "Why didn't you flee with everyone else?"

"The Polcan's…they have abandoned us; They've abandoned Oddler." said Gerhalt as he moved forward.

Out of the corner of his eye, though, Gerhalt caught sight of two figures. Upon a hill to his left stood a young man and a bird. Luke seemed to noticed them, too.

"Peter!" called Luke.

"Luke? What are you doing here?" Peter called in return, the devils now concentrating on this new group.

"I came to prepare a raft for you…but, the Polcans…"

"You! You're Bowie, right? You can help us beat these guys!" Gerhalt said as he moved toward them. "I'll fight with you to protect Polca."

"Hey! Don't forget me!" Luke called as he moved in behind Gerhalt.

"To hell with this. A force fighting against the devils!" the dwarf growled. "Kill him!"

A minotaur moved in like lightning, slamming Luke in the head with the back of his axe, and sending him tumbling into a patch of flowers.

"Luke!" cried Peter.

Bowie stood wide eyed as the devils now turned his way, but he slowly grew ready for battle as he drew his blade.

"Peter! Lets go!" Bowie roared as he moved forward toward the nearest set of stairs.

From behind he and Peter, a group moved in. Of them, a blue haired elf, a fiery eyed scaven, a bow wielding centaur, and a hobbit, among others came to Bowie's sides.

The devils retreated as the bulk of the force came from within every nook and cranny within Polca, brandishing axes, bows, and dirty, razor-sharp claws.

"That all?" smiled Kiwi, a small turtle who seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

Kiwi cracked his knuckles and smiled up at Bowie.

"Piece o' cake." said Slade, as he emerged from the shadows.

"As easy as they seem…" mumbled Bowie. "We better watch ourselves."

"Prince Luke…" Gerhalt bounded over the ledge that separated him from Bowie and his force, his eyes somewhat wide. "Is…is he dead?"

Peter had the same wide eyed look on his face. Luke was his best friend…could he really be dead?

"If he's alive we have to protect him!" Peter cried.

Nothing else was said. Bowie jumped down over the stairs to the ground below, his sword at the ready, behind him, Chester and Jaha. May and Slade moved back behind a patch of brush, Kiwi nearby. Sarah stood on the ledge above, still, out of danger but ready to use her magic when needed. Kazin moved in behind Bowie, Gerhalt and Peter at his sides. From Bowie's front came a small group, a blue furred creature, axe in hand, with a deranged looking corpse at his side. Even the walking dead had come into this battle.

"The hell are those ugly things?" Jaha said.

"The undead. They look…unfriendly." Chester replied.

Kazin shot Chester a strange look, as did Jaha. Bowie turned to them.

"Keep focused." he said simply.

Chester reared up at the command and charged in, seemingly catching the axe wielding hobgoblin off guard. He pierced the creatures chest easily with his lance, sending the hobgoblin barreling backward into a bush.

Jaha was moving in as well, the walking corpse before him making him somewhat uneasy. He was right to feel that way. Upon the lifting of his axe, the zombie's sluggish movements became like lightning. He whipped a gnarled, bloody claw through Jaha's right arm, and the other across his chest. Jaha gasped and fell backward as the deranged being moved in closer to tear him limb from bloody limb.

Gerhalt seemed to appear from nowhere, almost leaping in from the sky above, and grabbed the zombie by the throat, and socked him with the other hand. The zombie toppled backward to the very edge of the ledge they now stood upon. As the zombie began to slowly rise to his feet, Bowie was there to behead him.

"Sarah!" Bowie yelled, as Sarah already began to make her way toward Jaha's gasping body.

May, Slade, and Kiwi were awaiting the slow approach from the south of a ghoulish mist and another clumsy zombie. The mist made it to them first, catching Kiwi off guard. The glowing teal mist reared up and molded itself into a green palm. It shot forward, claw-like blades of mist shot into Kiwi's shell, knocking him onto his back hard, but doing little else. Kiwi jumped to his feet and shook his head.

"Idiot." he said with a grin, as he pulled off his helmet.

Slade and May watched as Kiwi slammed the mist like figure with his pointed helmet, leaving the creature sputtering in and out of its face like form. Slade made his way in, swifter than even his comrades could see, and sliced through the twitching mist. It sputtered again, and seemed to evaporate into the air. May had already engaged the zombie by firing arrows long over the brush at the stupid creature. It flailed and growled as arrow after arrow came from out of sight and pierced its skull and shoulders. Finally, it gave in and fell to its knees, the green spot of light in its eye sockets fading out as a dieing robot's would.

-----

The sound of battle outside rendered Oddler immobile. He stood in the corner, his expression indifferent, but his mind swimming. So many strange memories would flash before him as he heard the sound of steel and the clatter of weaponry from outside. It was like he was listening to pieces of his memory. Fragments of something he longed to remember. The flash he seen most was one he could tell was long past. It was faded and fragmented, almost indecipherable mumbles and whispers…and yet, one simple thing separated it from the rest of these bits of sound. He could see. His only memory in which his surroundings were visible. Why was it that, as he believed, a life with sight only just taken from him could be filled with everything but images, excepting this single one.

Though he could hear nothing, he could see well when it came to this flashback. He was surrounded by many people, men and women, all his age. They were all different looking, all special, except for a single similarity between them all. Their eyes were so blue. Blue, like the blue that one sees in the sky just before the sun appears. A radiant blue.

They spoke well and with one another, some even unto him, but what they were saying, he did not know. One girl he thought stood out, even though they were all unique, she was one she could see immediately within the crowd. Her hair was a light shade of purple, lavender even, and her face was much less pale than the rest of them. And her lips…

He moved past the rest of them toward her, as she spoke happily to another girl nearby. Everything around them was simply black, except for the ground, which was almost like sand. Were was he, really? As he moved closer, it seemed this girl noticed him, too, and her mouth stopped moving, and her eyes fluttered and then grew soft. Her beauty was indescribable.

Before he could think about it any longer, it faded. He could remember no more. His history was compacted into just that memory, and he couldn't even remember it all.

The sound of battle had slowed, and Oddler could tell the enemies were few by now. When the noise had died completely, he still did not move for the door. He did not want to die…

Just as he thought that, the door opened, and the man from before spoke to him.

"Are you well?" he asked.

Oddler only just noticed his body was only slightly weary at this point, and his headache was gone completely.

"Yes." he said simply.

"I don't know if the devils are still out there. At the sight of them…I…I…" He stuttered. "I hid in the bushes behind the house. I heard fighting, but…"

"Hid? A man who hides…"Oddler muttered.

For a minute he thought to call him and utter coward…but that…how could he ever say something like that? He didn't want to venture out into the battle either. Then again, a blind man should have no wish to be in the midst of battle.

The door clattered and the man jumped into another corner of the room.

"No…no…the devils are still alive…" the man stood back against the wall.

Oddler felt his heart jump, but only slightly. A moment of fear came, but it was gone in and instant. He couldn't understand why he wasn't more afraid for his life.

The door opened and someone entered, and the man yelped.

"No! Please! Please don't kill me!" the man cried.

"Sir…" said a voice.

"No! Take him! Take the boy, just don't kill me." he cried again.

Oddler's mind wondered. Offering me for his life…humans are so inconsiderate! And then again he felt strange. He was human, and yet he was accusing the general race. He was more confused now than he'd been when he'd awoke. Amnesia was a plague to the mind, he thought.

"Mayor!" yelled another voice.

The mayor turned to see Luke, Bowie, and Peter before him, but to him, they could have been devils for all he knew. Upon further investigation, though, he realized his foolishness.

"I…" he sputtered.

"You were willing to give me and Oddler both to those bastards! I almost died!" Luke said angrily.

"I'm sorry! Please! Please don't tell King Bedoe!" the mayor begged.

"Hmmm…okay, I won't…on a condition. Get Bowie a raft." said Luke with a grin.

"Yes…Yes! A raft, right away." The mayor proceeded outside and returned shortly after.

"Okay, all set. You can go now!" said the mayor as he almost literally shoved them out of his house.

"He wants to get rid of us…" Luke whispered in Peter's direction.

And so, without further conversation, Bowie, Peter, and Luke left the house and headed for the outskirts of Polca, were their new raft sat along the shore of the nearby river. They hadn't gotten beyond the first of Polca's ridges before the Mayor emerged from his home, Oddler at his side.

"Wait!" he called out, as he moved Oddler in front of him.

"What…what are you doing?" Oddler asked, a tone of innocence in his voice.

The mayor said nothing.

"What is it?" Luke called back.

"Well…uhm…" The mayor looked over Oddler shoulder, almost using him as a shield. "I was wondering if…please, take him with you."

"You lazy human!" Luke hissed. "Take care of him yourself, he is your responsibility!"

"Yes, but…as mayor, I cannot further endanger the citizens. Devils will come back…" he managed to sputter. "And since you lot seem to be headed into the fray…maybe he's better off with someone that can protect him."

"He has got a point, I guess." Bowie whispered to himself.

"What do you think, Bowie? Seems like if we're to be fitted with this boy…we'll run into a lot more trouble, and he may slow us down…" Peter said, in as low a voice as he could.

Bowie sighed.

"We have to bring him…" said Bowie. "He might be killed otherwise."

"You're serious? Wow, you're too nice…" Peter replied.

"Oh, thank you!" said the mayor as he led Oddler to the stairway.

Oddler wobbled forward slowly, but after a few steps, he gained his composer and seemed to walk perfectly for someone who had just lost their eyesight. He felt a hand on his back now, and knew he was amongst these new people. It was so sudden, he hardly even knew who they were, and yet now they cared for him.

-----

Hills were scaled, rivers were crossed, devils defeated. As the Shining Force beat their way through ancient ruins, defeated colossal beasts like the Kraken, and felled the unfaltering Taros, they finally made their way closer and closer to their destination. As King Bedoe had advised, Bowie and his group made their way to Devil's Tail on the very tip of southern Parmecia to find Creed, their only possible lead as to how they would be able to defeat Zeon. As little as they knew of the devil king, they knew enough to understand the consequences of failure. Creed would be able to lead them into Zeon's realm with the knowledge they needed to reseal him.

As they reached the edge of the continent, they met a mountain range impassible by foot. What they ran into next was naught but a matter of chance.

"What is that…" Oddler stiffened and turned his head.

"Hm?" Bowie turned to see what was wrong.

"Someone…is screaming for help." Oddler said.

He didn't seem to be straining to hear, and yet…

"I don't hear anything…" said Peter, as he looked around.

Oddler pushed past both he and Bowie without hesitation, and turned to a clearing. They had been walking within a forest for the past few hours, and hadn't even noticed the clearing amongst the trees.

"From in there." Oddler said, as he walked slowly in the direction of the clearing.

As they made their way into the open, they realized how beautiful this tiny area was. Lined with flowers and small ridges. Bowie noticed two sets of manmade stairways leading up the hills. The three of them made their way up, now with Peter and Bowie able to hear the sounds Oddler had mentioned.

"Help! UGH!" A small voice came from the highest point in the clearing, and as Bowie reached the top, he found the source.

There, thrashing about in a rather small pond, was an elfin boy. His cries were interrupted by his inability to remain above water.

"Oh no!" Peter flew forward as he spotted the boy, intent on pulling him out via his talons.

"Hey!" came an unknown voice.

Peter and Bowie both stopped to look, while Oddler simply froze in place.

"That's my dinner! Whatever I catch in that pond is rightfully mine." said the creature before them.

A large, winged woman hung in the air, her wings flapping in almost complete silence. She looked at the three of them angrily, and then turned toward the dense forest and screeched loudly. Oddler stumbled backward, his hands over his ears. He was sure even to a normal man the screeches would be utterly ear piercing, but in his case, he felt his head was about to explode. Then, it stopped. Oddler lay on his back, his eyes tearing, gasping for air.

Creatures slowly emerged from the woods in all directions. Bowie looked around excitedly, unsure of what he would do next. Just then, the caravan, and ancient vehicle in which his comrades stayed when there was no battles to be won, crashed through the trees and off a small ledge, landing clumsily next to Peter, almost crushing him. Rhode, a historian and, as it seemed, engineer emerged with a grin.

"You old coot! You almost killed us!" Peter flapped his wings wildly.

Oddler stood weakly, unaware of exactly what was going on.

"You're lucky I was waiting so close behind." said Rhode gruffly. "You couldn't fight all these buzzards without help."

Suddenly, the caravan showed how, despite its seemingly poor design, it was indeed the work of a power civilization of the past. A large steel set of doors opened at the front, pushing outward in all directions, and opening into a rather small passageway that led deep into this mangled looking contraption's core. Inside, was a miniature room, a large training hall of sorts. With it, were several small people, all of them going about their business. Some sat at a bar, some at tables, some in a small arena, others were eating intently, chatting with one another, and cleaning their equipment. Several of them looked up at the opening above them.

"Bowie! Something going on out there?" Chester, a bright eyed centaur grabbed up his lance and looked up at Bowie through the whole intently.

"Yes. All of you, lets go!" Everyone stood rather quickly from what they were doing, grabbed up their equipment, and stumbled forward to a small square symbol on the floor before them.

One by one, Bowie's comrades stepped on the symbol and began to grow in size, until they were big enough to escape this tiny world they stood in.

The battle raged. The winged woman, harpies, where quite powerful, and since they appeared in great numbers, and with comrades to help them, the battle was quite a difficult one. Finally, though, the group stood, worn and splattered with their own blood and that of their enemies, gasping for air.

"Wow." Peter moaned weakly. "What a pain that was…"

"Oh, the boy!" Bowie spun around quickly and ran back to the pond, in which the elfin boy still thrashed, now with much less energy than before.

Peter pulled him out easily with his talons, and let him go over dry land. The long eared young elf fell on his back, coughing and breathing heavily.

"Tha…thanks…" He managed to gasp, his clothes wrinkled and wet.

-----

The adventure onward to Creed's was nothing short of unbelievable. A hidden cavern, another band of enemies in the desert, a magical door, a world set entirely on the top of a desk, and another on the floor, and then, finally, to the main library of the great ex-great devil Creed's mansion.

"Zeon is was revived?" the little fairy gasped. "Impossible! He can't just escape!"

"Someone must have removed the jewels…" Creed mumbled. "I'm not sure what I can really do to help, but maybe…"

"What is it? Any little thing would help us out." Bowie asked intently.

"Evil Spirit. He may be able to see what's going on on Grans." Creed's face wrinkled more than it already was. "Follow me."

Evil Spirit was a magnificent being. He was able to channel Zeon and see through his eyes, if only for a moment, and find out just what Zeon wanted, why he was still on Grans Island, and what he was planning to do. Unfortunately for Evil Spirit, Zeon was of just as great a mental ability as he was physically. Evil Spirit was enveloped by Zeon, at which point Zeon demanded Bowie return the Jewel of Evil, in return for the precious Princess Elis. The sight of Zeon set Oddler to thinking.

"BRING THE JEWEL TO GRANS!" Zeon roared. "AND I WILL RETURN ELIS!"

Oddler's mind wandered. That voice. It was much louder and angry than it had been, but he was so sure he had heard it not long ago. Why was it so very familiar…?

Zeon stopped for a moment, and Oddler could feel a strange sensation. He was sure Zeon's eyes were literally boring into his soul.

"…You're alive…" A bellowing voice rang out, but no one but Oddler could hear it.

Then, unexpectedly, Evil Spirit exploded into nothing, the altar on which he had appeared was again empty, as it had been when they first entered the cavern.

"Hm…" Creed stood puzzling, his hand on his chin.

"So what the hell do we do?" Peter hissed, as he looked angrily at Creed.

"There's nothing we can do here. Follow me back upstairs…" Creed said, still puzzling, as he pushed past the group and toward the stairs.

"Creed! Wait for me, don't leave me alone down here!" called the fairy as she flew past them and toward the stairway as well.

"Well." Creed cracked his knuckles. "You'll have to go to Tristan and find Mitula. North Parmecia is the only place the devils seem to be able to get to. They used the Nazca ship to fly from Grans Island to Moun, and they must be pouring onto the continent by now, unless Mitula is able to stop them."

"So we have to speak to Mitula?" Bowie asked intently. "Shouldn't be too difficult."

"Go now. It's a long way from here." Creed smiled weakly. "Good luck, boy."

"Didn't you mention a sick dwarf?" the fairy asked as Bowie made his way to the door. "I'll go there quickly and visit him to see if I can help, then it's back to the woods for me. Creed is such a boring old man, and he's horrible at chess."

And so they made their way to the front gate, a new comrade in tow, one that Creed had urged to accompany and aid the force on their journey. Yet, they were not but a few steps from the exit when Creed approached them from behind.

"Wait." He called to them.

Bowie turned, expecting another 'good luck'.

"I understand you." said Creed, looking toward Oddler.

Oddler felt a sudden urge to rest. A sudden need to stay. A sudden pull. He hadn't felt it until that very moment, and if Creed had not stopped them, he would have walked through that door without a second thought, and yet, something in his head changed his mind completely right there.

"Stay here with me." said Creed, his eyes transfixed on Oddler. "You want to, don't you?"

Bowie looked to Oddler, somewhat confused. Peter had the same puzzled look on his face.

"Y-yes." Oddler managed to say, still feeling strange.

'Why?' he thought to himself. 'What here is so great? There is nothing but the smell of an old devil, a magic door, and a cavern bellow filled with molten lava and a useless altar. Why stay here? To play with the rats in the wall? The living chess pieces? The King Pompei and his little soldiers? To steal the many gold pieces hidden in a crevice in the molding? It is absurd!'

"Yes, I want to stay." Oddler said reluctantly, and he turned to Bowie slowly. "I'd just be a burden, out with you, I'd get in the way of your fights. The devil's won't find me here, and if they do, Creed will keep them away."

Bowie nodded slowly, and Oddler turned and walked past Creed, turning around one last time to look at them.

'But I want to stay with them!' he thought loudly. 'I don't want to stay here, damnit! I can feel the fight in me, the smell of steel and the sound of clashing swords is what I want! Not to spend the rest of my days growing into an old hunched man in this dingy mansion!'

'You're better of here.' said another voice in his head. 'Trust me.'

The voice was Creed's. It was very obvious. Oddler would have left, but someone was manipulating him.

"Come, sit." A large, broad shouldered man stood in Creed's library, seemingly awaiting Oddler, a book held tightly in his hand.

"You're Goliath…?" Oddler felt his urge to leave replacing the one that told him to stay. "That book…"

"I'm so sorry." Goliath looked at the book somberly. "Master Creed told me to. He says you're better of here."

"You manipulated me?" Oddler hissed, realizing what was happening.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, Mr. Oddler!" Goliath moved forward slowly. "Please, you must stay."

Creed appeared in the doorway behind Oddler, having led the force out and away.

"Oddler." Creed said in a low tone. "You're better off staying here. You have to trust me."

"No! I don't want to stay here! What in hell do you want with me!" Oddler growled, his face tightening.

He could feel his blood beginning to boil. Something strange was rising in him.

"You wrinkled old…" Oddler clenched his fists. "I don't want to be a crumpled shell like you, hiding out here forever, until I'm nothing but bones."

"Please Oddler." Goliath pleaded.

"Trust me, Oddler. I'm not going to hurt you or anything of the sort. I just…don't want you to be injured, or worse, while you're out with the force." Creed moved toward Oddler slowly. "Please believe me."

Oddler calmed himself, took in Creed;s words. It wasn't like him to grow so angry, and he was upset that he'd done so. He understood what Creed was saying, and it made sense.

"I…" Oddler started.

He would have simply said 'Yes, I'm probably better off.'. He would have told Creed he was sorry and that he understood, and that Creed was right. He would have bore with the old mansion in order to live his days peacefully rather than out in the midst of battles he couldn't fight. But something at that very moment, changed him. His mind became clouded for just a moment, why, it is not known. What is known is that, in this reality, in this instance, this time around, things would be different.

"I suppose." Oddler lied, as he sat down in the chair where Creed had been sitting earlier.

"Good…I'm glad you understand." said Creed with a winkled grin, as he sat across from Oddler. "Goliath, tea."

"Yes." Goliath grinned also, and left, leaving the book in a pile by a bookshelf that stood near them.

"Right then…" Creed said. "Chess?"

"Not today." said Oddler, as he stood.

"Hm?" Creed looked at Oddler, seemingly confused. "Ah, I see, you're probably not familiar with the pieces. Here, your hand. I'll help you learn."

Before Creed could grasp Oddler's hand, Oddler bolted toward the door, throwing it open quickly.

Goliath stood outside, just making his way outside for something or other.

"Goliath!" Creed yelled as he slowly moved after Oddler. "Block that door!"

"Sorry, Mr. Oddler." said Goliath as Oddler barreled toward him.

Goliath was sent reeling backward, much to everyones surprise, as Oddler charged into his bulky body. Goliath slammed into a wall near the outermost door, knocked unconscious. Oddler continued onward, not stopping even after he'd thrown open the door and outside, over the bridge, into and through the forest, and out into the plains. Into the desert he stumbled, the sounds of Creed's screams muffled in the woods behind him.

"Oddler! No, please! You must come back!" Creed yelled.

Oddler didn't stop until he could no longer hear Creed's voice, and he was far out in the desert. Oddler finally stopped when he had finally grown weary of running in some unknown direction, and that's when he began to use his other senses. His listened; hard. He could hear the sound of wings flapping somewhere nearby, and he decided it best to make his presence known.

"Bowie!" Oddler screamed as loud as he could. "Peter!"

They had heard him. The sounds of kicking sand and shuffling in the desert grew as Oddler gasped for breath.

"Oddler?" Peter yelled. "What the hell…how did you get out here?"

"I…I don't want to stay there! I don't want to!" Oddler felt tears coming, but he held them back. "I don't want…to…old devil…door…cavern…rats…"

Peter looked at Bowie, and the both of them looked at the fairy, puzzled.

"It's okay. You can stay with us. Just like we wanted you to, anyway." Bowie smiled and lifted Oddler from the ground.

"Thank you…" Oddler tried to smile, but couldn't, so instead he just cried a bit.

-----

Oddler traveled with Bowie and Peter all the way to Tristan, where they reached Mitula's shrine. There, they met the first of the Greater Devils, Zalbard, at which point, Oddler heard something he'd never thought he'd hear.

"Oddeye?" Zalbard gasped at the site of the robe clad young man, standing their amongst the enemy. "You're alive?"

Oddler said nothing. He was quite confused. Oddeye?

"What are you doing there, with them? Where are your weapons? Your armor…" Zalbard looked at Oddler, expecting a prompt answer.

"Oddeye…?" Oddler's face was blank.

Oddeye. He was Oddeye. Yes. He remember that, now. He remembered Zalbard's voice. He remembered Zeon's groans, Geshp's hissing voice, Cameela's warm stench of death. He remember that. He remembered his sword. He remembered his armor, his eyes, his memory. He remembered his army, he remembered Volcanon, he remembered the Jewel of Evil, he remembered the feeling of nearing death just as Volcanon tore into him. He remember the satisfaction he felt when he held a blade, when he swung it, when he sliced flesh, cracked bones, drew blood, splattered innards and brain matter, disemboweled, dismembered, decapitated, murdered, hacked, burned, killed. The enemy, the helpless, the young, the old, the men, the women, and the children. He remembered his loyalty, his rank, he skills, ability, power. It all came back. All in one single instance, and he showed no sign of it. In fact, he still said nothing. He was a devil in the company of human's, his master's enemies, and he'd been with them for a very long time. He'd befriended them. And now, just then, as his memories of everything he'd ever done flooded back into his mind, he decided whether he preferred his friendship with this force, the Shining Force, or the favor of his master, Zeon.

"Oddler…" Astral, and elderly wizard stood nearest him, his eyes wide. "Oddeye. Oddler."

Bowie's eyes widened, and soon after, so did Peter's.

"Zalbard." Oddler said coolly.

"Yes…?" Zalbard was sweating profusely.

"Kill them." and Oddeye was gone.

-----

It was strange that Oddeye could have overpowered them all there in Mitula's shrine, and yet he didn't. He left it to the lowest of the ranks, Zalbard, the weakest of the greater devils. Since, the Shining Force had slaughtered Zalbard, there in Mitula's shrine, and then Cameela at the Nazca site, Geshp just outside the Ancient Tower, and, now, they were coming right inside. And he would be there to meet him, because Oddeye was the most powerful devil alive, next to Zeon himself, and even Bowie, in all the strength he had shown and Oddeye remembered, was not a match for him.

"Hello, Bowie." Oddeye said with a slight grin. "It's been a long, long time."

"Oddler!" Peter gasped.

"You're the leader of the Devil Army that attacked Bedoe…?" Sir Astral looked sternly at Oddeye, his eyes tightening.

"Yes I am, Sir Astral." Oddeye responded. "I don't understand how you didn't see it before I regained my memory."

"What do you want?" Petter growled.

"Don't talk to me like that, Peter. I'm very sad…" Oddeye looked down into the lava below him.

"Sad? You've got to be joking!" Peter looked at Oddeye hard.

"Well," Oddeye lifted his head and grinned a bit. "Yes I am, I'm really quite evil. Don't you think so Red Baron?"

Lemon quivered slightly, the shame of his being undead rose slightly.

"Anyway, I came here to deliver an ultimatum. Think long and well before answering me. Leave the jewel, your weapons, and your items here...or DIE!" Oddeye grinned evilly, his hair seemed to float on its ends above his head.

"That means we don't have to fight him…" Peter whispered.

"True, but we can't take the easy way out…" Astral bowed his head somberly. "We mustn't give him the jewel."

"Bowie…" Oddeye called to him from across the chasm that separated them. "You know how strong I am. I think you had better accept the offer."

Bowie's face tensed as he tried to think of some way around the situation.

"What should we do?" Peter pleaded with Bowie.

"We must fight!" Astral urged.

"Time is up…" Oddeye drew his sword. "We need space to battle."

And with that, a series of transparent blocks materialized in the air, floating around, clacking together to form an enormous battlefield across the chasm.

"I am very sorry, Bowie…" Oddeye moved forward slowly, standing aggressively. "…but I must kill you."

And so the battle raged. Oddeye pulled no punches, and the Shining Force pressed onward, destroying Oddeye's troops with little effort, until they reached their old friend, their close enemy.

"Oddeye!" Bowie called. "Oddler! Why fight?"

"Because you are my master's enemy, and therefore, my enemy." Oddeye hissed. "I'm sorry we ever grew to know each other, it was my mistake, but I cannot change the past. I must kill you now."

"Why didn't you kill us at Mitula's shrine then?" Bowie pleaded. "Why did you wait until now?"

"I…" Oddeye had no explanation. "I trusted your death to Zalbard."

"You knew our strength, Oddler. You knew he couldn't beat us." Bowie held the Force Sword close to him, almost ready to strike if Oddeye made a move.

"I knew you could beat Zalbard." Oddeye's eyes tightened.

"Then why?" Bowie pleaded more.

"I wanted to see how far you could go!" Oddeye admitted. "I wanted see if you were worthy of me. I always though it was I who would never be as powerful as you, and then when I remembered…"

Bowie said nothing.

"Then I knew I was more powerful than even you, and I couldn't accept something like that." Oddeye explained himself well, but stood his ground. "I wanted you to at least be worthy of this battle."

"And what now then?" Bowie asked.

"I've told you already." Oddeye hissed. "Now I kill you."

Bowie was expecting Oddeye might remember Oddler, and how he was when he traveled with them, just enough to admit something more than his envy of Bowie, and when that didn't happened, Bowie was caught off guard, sent reeling by the power of Oddeye's eyes. The Oddeye Beam, a skill he alone was born with, blew through Bowie's chest like to knives into the belly of a pig. The searing heat of a single beam pierced Bowie's left lung, the other, his heart, and Bowie was killed in an instant.

Oddeye stood motionless as Bowie's motionless body flew limply off the side of the transparent blocks, and down into the fiery lava below, where it landed and was instantly engulfed in flames. His body melted within seconds, and was eating by the fire and lava. The Force Sword lay on the blocks before him.

"NO!" Peter dove down off the side of the blocks, in an attempt to save the already disintegrated body of his friend.

Astral stood on the other end of the chasm, his mouth wide, as Oddeye stared into space, his eyes open, no beams emitting from within them. And again, he cried. If only for his own remorseless soul, and as Peter dove headfirst into the lava below and disintegrated on contact, Oddeye could feel the pain welling up inside of him. Peter reappeared near Astral, his body new and rejuvenated. Regardless , he flew down into the spot where
Bowie's corpse has disappeared. Over and over he did so, as the rest of the force stood silent, Oddeye doing the same, until he finally closed his eyes.

Oddeye slew at least 29 more people that day, without mercy, without remorse. He slew them one at a time, and they each put up quite the fight, more than Bowie had. Lemon and Peter stood stunned near Astral's mutilated body, unable to do much of anything. Oddeye did attempt to decapitate Lemon twice, but failed, and reserved himself to leave he and Peter to lay and rot their on the edge of the chasm. Oddeye stole away, with not a single word to say to them, past the corpses of the rest of them, each of whom he did not give the honor of being thrown down into the bubbling pit below with their leader. He just left their bodies strew bloody across the transparent battlefield.

-----

Oddeye returned to Zeon, without the Jewel of Evil. Even with such news, though, Zeon was somewhat grateful that there was no one threatening to reseal him. His power slowly grew as energy gathered in Arc Valley. Oddeye slew Galam some time later, and though Zeon was highly displeased, Oddeye was his only remaining minion, and so he did little to punish him. Elis died as well, having stayed with the darkness for much too long. Oddeye remained with Zeon for some time, until he was overwhelmed with grief. Again, not at the death of Bowie, but because his soul was so troubled. Dreams of the sand room and the lavender haired girl grew more frequent as time went on, and soon, Oddeye found it necessary to end Zeon. He entered the Ancient Hall one day armed with the Force Sword, and he called Zeon to the earth with a challenge.

"What is this?" Zeon roared. "You've done so much, and you want to waste it with betrayal? You're just like Geshp!"

"Never compare me to your toads. I am much more powerful." Oddeye lifted the sword in his hands. "This will reseal you."

"You're an idiot! You cannot do it alone!" Zeon laughed. "Oddeye, I am sorry you have led such a troubled life. I think you are probably better off dead anyway."

And Zeon rose. He opened a chasm and emerged from within the planet, his dripping fangs ready to consume Oddeye.

"Come, Oddeye. Meet your fate." Zeon bellowed.

Oddeye and Zeon fought for a long time. Days past them by like seconds, and soon, they had destroyed much of Grans Island. Oddeye's power had grown tenfold simply with the power of the Force Sword. Eventually, though, he ran out of energy. Zeon delivered a finishing blow. He consumed Oddeye, tearing into his flesh with his fangs, and chewing him to nothing but chunks of bloodied, torn skin and bone.

Zeon has since taken the planet. He consumed much of it's inhabitants, including all the animals and his own remaining devils. Volcanon fled with Mitula, leaving the world to be destroyed by Zeon. Eventually, Zeon stumbled upon the Jewels of Light and Evil, and upon touching one, regained what little power he still required, and the other, he touched by mistake. The Jewel of Light was made by Volcanon, created to seal Zeon. His power was sapped away into the Jewel of Light. Volcanon and Mitula were able to reseal Zeon beneath Cypress, and with the Jewels placed there, Zeon would not reemerge unless someone where to remove them. Though the planet had been completely decimated, Volcanon and Mitula set out to make the planet beautiful again. While, deep beneath the planet, where Zeon resides in the darkness, in a black room with a floor of soft, cool sand, a group of unique beings were being cultivated one by one, the only successful experiment being a very young boy with skills unparalleled, even with shattered sight.