Yay. I'm so happy i finally got this chapter out of my system. I hadn't any idea how i was gonna do this, so i kinda sat down and typed how it came to mind. Sorry if it seems a bit choppy. I'm a very impulsive person. Well, hope it lives up to your expectations... Disclaimer:

Isaac: Here we go. Miiake don't own nothin from Square-Enix, and she still wishes she does... STILL.

Miiake: That's right. On to the story. Chaaarge! ...Yeah, so i had a lil bit of sugar. sue me...

It was hard to breath. The air smelled of blood, both human and that of a Malboro. It was dark, and fog had completely surrounded the area where the battle took place. He could barely see what lied ahead of him. Despite that, he knew already. The caravan lay on the ground; all the carriages shattered and torn to shreds, wood lying all about the grounds. The bodies of the chocobos, those that were not devoured by the Malboro, lied close by, also torn apart. Feathers were covered in blood. There was only the sound of rain. He had fought to protect them. They all fought until they met their end. All had perished, except for Yoli. Yoli… and Sunder.

The paladin took a deep breath and continued forward. He managed to walk a few yards more, before collapsing on the ground. In the distance, the faint footsteps of chocobos could be heard, but due to his current state, Sunder did not hear them. His last thoughts went out to Yoli and Ryukah. "Forgive me," He whispered. "I promised to protect you… and I failed. I forced you to run into danger. What have I done?" With that, his world collapsed into the ever-growing darkness.

"I think he's waking up! Someone, bring in Doctor Monberaux! Quickly!" Voices echoed through the room. There were foot steps hurrying in and out, and it sounded as if things were being carried. Although he could hear this, Sunder still could not see. Finally, he realized his eyes were closed. He blinked a few times, and the room came into focus. It appeared to be an infirmary of some sort, and because he heard someone call a doctor, he was sure his theory was correct. Soon, a tall, kind looking elvaan man walked into the room.

"How are you feeling, sir?" He asked politely.

"I have felt better. What happened? And where am I?" Sunder asked.

"You're in Jeuno. There appears to have been an accident. You were found unconscious in the marshlands. The guards who brought you here could not find any other survivors." And after a minute he quickly added, "You've been asleep for about a day and a half now." He answered Sunder's question before it could be asked. "Please sir, could you give me your name?"

Sunder nodded the best he could; he was still lying in bed. He was trying to take in everything that had happened. It wasn't a dream. He had lost his comrades, and Yoli was probably dead by now. He sighed and answered. "My name is Sunder. I'm a paladin, hired by the archduke for a mission. The caravan I traveled with was attacked by a Malboro, and if what you say is correct," He paused. "Then, I must inform the archduke immediately.."

"I understand. I will send out a letter to him myself, and you may see him once your wounds have fully healed."

At that moment, an elvaan female walked through the corridor. She glanced through the open door and immediately stopped her work. "Sunder? Is that you?"

Sunder blinked for a moment. "Ah, Oletta, how have you been? It's good to see you again!" He smiled. "I almost didn't recognize you!"

She frowned. "I wish I could say the same. But, I would much rather see you outside the infirmary. What happened? Were you in the caravan accident?"

He nodded. "Yes." He then turned to Monberaux and smiled apologetically. "If you don't mind, Doctor, I would like to speak with my old friend privately. Is that alright?"

Monberaux nodded and left silently, closing the door behind him. Sunder then turned back to Oletta. "I see you became a doctor now. How's that been treating you?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes at his attempt to change the subject. "I have been well. But I see you're not. What happened? Ryukah wrote a letter saying she had a surprise for me… Was she with you?" She asked sadly. After going through so much, losing a friend as dear as Ryukah would be very hard for her.

Sunder shook his head. "No, thank Altana she wasn't. But…" He couldn't finish. How could he ever tell her that it was his fault Ryukah's daughter had died. How would he ever face Ryukah again?

"But what? Sunder what's wrong? Are you alright?" Oletta put her arm on his shoulder in attempt to comfort him.

He looked straight into her eyes. "Please, don't tell Ryukah I survived… I can't face her. Not now, not ever."

Oletta's eyes widened. "How can you expect me to do such a thing? She of all people would be heartbroken if she thought you had died. She loves you like her own brother. We all do. I'm sure she can forgive you for whatever happened." But further examination of his face made her worry. "Sunder… please, tell me what happened."

He couldn't look at her. "She asked me to do her a favor. She wanted for me to bring-" His voice began to crack. It was all his fault. He was too reckless. If he had only thought about what he was doing! He took a deep breath and continued. "- to bring… her daughter to visit you. But, when the Malboro attacked, I told her to run to Jeuno." He looked up at her, his eyes tearing. He was finding it difficult not to cry. "Damn it! She wasn't older than ten! She was still a little kid, and because I wasn't thinking, she's never going to have a chance to grow up! I can't go back to Ryukah and tell her that she's dead. I just can't…"

Oletta took a deep breath. The promises the 6 of them made when they were younger, the times they shared. They always promised to share anything and everything that happened to them, even after they spread away from each other. Now, she knew she would have to break that promise. For Sunder's sake. "Sunder, if you truly don't want her to know you lived, I won't tell her. But she does deserve to know. It's the least you could do for her." There was a moment of silence before Sunder answered.

"I know." With that, he quickly gave her a brotherly embrace and lied back down. "I'm so sorry, Oletta."

"I know… I'm sorry, I would stay, but I have patients waiting for me. I'll come back to see you later… I just can't believe everything that happened. Please, get well soon." With that, she squeezed his hand and walked out.

"It's good to see you again, Sunder. How have you been?"

"I'm alright. And you, my lord?" Sunder asked, bowing low before continuing to where the archduke sat.

"I'm uneasy. As of late, there have been troubles between the galka and the humes of Bastok. There is even talk of revolution. Not only could this throw of the balance of power, but it would be unnecessary bloodshed. I'm going to send you as a representative from Jeuno, seeing as we are a point of racial integration. You are to speak to the leaders of the nation and try to see what the problem is. Then, if the nation cannot find peace, report back to me, and I shall send the Ducal Guards there to bring about cooperation."

"Very well. Is there anything else I should know before I proceed?"

"No, that is all. Please carry on." With that, Sunder bowed again, and left the room. He went to his Mog House, grabbed his paladin armor, and left for the chocobo stables.

"Are you quite sure you would want to make your camp there? If a Tremor Ram passes by, it will kill you for sure."

A boy jumped up and spun around. Behind him, Sunder stood leaning on a silver sword, wearing a black hat and muffler. "Huh! Who are you! And, what's a tremor ram?"

He laughed a little and then walked over to the boy. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. As for the Tremor Ram, its an animal native to this part of the highlands. Of course, they are rare, but not rare enough that there isn't a chance it won't show up."

"Uh… I knew that! I was only double checkin', ya know, to make sure you knew that!" The boy replied, unsure of what to make of the strange character. He shook his head and walked over to Sunder. "Um… so, what brings you to the highlands? I'm on a quest with a dark knight. Of course, she just happens to be late…"

"I'm on a mission to Bastok for the archduke of Jeuno himself. And, although I'd love to meet your partner, I must make my leave. Give Yoli my regards, if you please."

"Yeah sure, no problemo!"

With that, Sunder steered his chocobo away towards North Gustaberg. He heard the boy yelling some words, but he was too far to hear what they were, so he disregarded them. "It's funny, I thought she was dead this whole time… And then two days ago, I run right into her at a crime scene. Not to mention, she working with a thief? This will never cease to amaze me. Thank Altana she's alive… but how? It doesn't make sense, even if she lived, how did she afford food housing… No part of this makes sense." With that, he sped up his chocobo and was on his way.

"Give Yoli my regards. That's exactly what he said! I swear, I didn't even mention your name once!"

Yoli stood lost in thought for a moment. "And you say he worrre a muffler and black hat? Sounds like the man I ran into in Jeuno. He was after you, just forrr your information. Wonder why he didn't arrest you…"

"Probably because he was on a mission? Did that ever occur to you?" Isaac responded rudely. He wanted to sleep past the crack of dawn, so of course, Yoli had to wake him up even earlier.

Yoli rolled her eyes and continued thinking. She almost jumped off her chocobo when she realized who he was. "Isaac! That's the man I rrran into when I lost Chaosbringer! Hurry, to Bastok!"

Isaac sped up his chocobo and they left the campsite behind. "Yahooo! Run like the wind my little birdie!" This evoked a strange look from Yoli. "At least we know where to go. The sooner we find the sword, the better. I don't know how much longer I can take being around him. It's so tempting to slice his head off with my scythe." She sighed and continued thoughts like these all the way across the highlands.