Yuri has a pretty important role here. You'll see a lot more of that late in the story. Also this one is... well just read. :)


Hell hounds rose from the fertile lands of what once was Sylvarant, all morphing from the increase of mana that swelled around them. Gazing through the thick forests, they faced Luin, a single girl standing amidst the semblance of life and death. Slowly, her frail grey hand placed a small weapon, a card, on the ground. Instantly, the ground was shorn away, revealing a gaping hole which pulled monstrosities of Hell out. It contaminated the ground, the surrounding trees turning blood red and dying. Poison dripped from their stems which sordidly affected the grass, killing it as well.

"Come, all of you." The voice was beautiful, like a chorus sent to fulfill the ambrosial desires of the gods. A string sounded with every resounding strain, giving her an air of mystique and grace.

"Indeed." This voice was the polar opposite: scratch, dank, and despotic. It controlled every aspect she wouldn't touch, yet it tempted her to, corrupting her soul. Demons snickered as it spoke. Before both voices, the bodies of three ninja sat squalid, all stained with their own blood. Their limbs were gnawed, with contortions and bite marks. Portion of ragged flesh lay scattered about the outcropping, decorating it with a macabre theme, one poising a sick ritual for the girl who watched. Beasts gripped the bodies at both sides, tugging back and forth, fighting for the fresh corpses. But she stopped, listening intently towards the forest. The monsters, all followers of the corruption, stopped and craned their necks outward, listening with the girl. A light conversation was being held, four people who had haphazardly wandered through the forest engaging in talk to tie their weary spirits over.

"Consume." The Hell hounds leapt forward, bounding down the clearing towards the small voices. A series of high pitched screams followed the hounds, with joyous barking resounding as they revealed in the slaughter. Further on, sections of the forest were being consumed as the hounds ravaged the landscape and the fauna. The voices laughed, filling the air with the sounds of a nightmare.


Sheena and Genis, both exhausted from the arduous trip from Mizuho, threw themselves at the twin pair of beds that sat in the corner of the rebuilt inn. The looming sky had started to darken on their trip, taking a turn for the worst as they entered Luin. Rain saturated the earth, giving everything a dark tint. Cold wind blew through the town, chilling any foolish soul that stood outside and braved the bucketing storm.

"Wow, it's really pouring in sheets. And at the slightest sleigh of hand, too…" Genis stared out the window, lazily drifting beyond the roving forests that encumbered the surrounding land. Rain violently smacked the window, leaving fat drops that quickly rolled off the glass, absorbing the condensation with a juggernauts pace. An ominous silhouette emerged in the woods, a demon roaring. "What", he questioned under his breath. It had vanished.

"No kidding. It's quite a day for a mission, I'll give them that." She had been informed of the other ninja, awaiting Orochi's messages and confirmations. Genis and she were to be stationed until Orochi needed assistance.

"Where are they? You'd think they would be back, or at least in town. It's not very wise to be out in this kind of weather." In the distance, thunder cracked.

"Trust me, this is Orochi's element. He's all about water and storms. Has been ever since he was a kid."

"Well I like rain but you won't see me running about in a daze."

"He's not 'running in a daze'. Honestly, you talk as if we stupidly wander around."

"Oh, so you don't?" Genis was obviously kidding and Sheena knew that too. It was an easy way to pass the time, and they always talked like that towards each other. No point in breaking tradition.

"Whatever." She shook her head, feigning annoyance. Still, she didn't want Orochi to be bothering himself with whatever was out there. Rain or not, he couldn't function in the elements forever.

"Is this were they were going to meet, anyway?"

"Yeah. I doubt they would go anywhere else. They are traveling in quite a large party." A group of five people was hardly something to snivel at. All were proflic warriors, excelling in every field and suited to handle most situations. "They're fine. I'm just being paranoid."

"Well…"

"I don't want to hear about the foreboding feelings. I'm already working myself over with other things."

"Heh. I wasn't going to say a thing." Genis was a master of manipulation, albeit a little naïve still. He couldn't help it, however. He was only fourteen or so.

"Shut up." Her face blushed. She was cold, wet, and her thought were spinning, occupied with Lloyd and Orochi. It wasn't time for Genis' little pranks.

"Genis one, you zero", he quietly whispered.

"Just keep thinking that." She turned back to the window. She felt odd, but not in a bad way. She almost felt calm and tranquil. As the lightning shook and illuminated the sky, she noticed two dark travelers enter town. Behind her, the door gradually opened. Turning around, she saw Genis slowly wander into the rain, putting his cloak over his head.


Lloyd and Yuri wandered into the town, both dashing to find some cover from the monsoon that threatened the land. Both had been pushed to the limits, mucking their way through muddy quagmires and feral beasts. Lloyd could hardly believe that he was standing, let alone fighting in his fullest form. Yuri took it easy, trying to save his energy and strength to stay warm.

"God, lets get out of this."

"Heh. Not a fan of a little rain, Yuri?" Lloyd, who donned a thicker cloak and larger armor, laughed, smiling widely. Lloyd enjoyed anything dealing with weather, one of the only sciences that actually were significant to his interests.

"I'm barely warm and am wearing hardly anything!" It was true. Other than his usual attire, he wore a small makeshift cape that protected his head.

"And that's your fault. You should have bought the other cape."

"Be quiet." He split left of Lloyd, shaking his head. "I'm going to grab a few things. Just go do something, anything to get out of my hair…"

"Already tired of me?"

"Beyond that. Give me a little space for a bit." He continued farther away, heading towards the market district of the evolving city. "I'll get us a room", he yelled, his voice echoing in the empty plaza. "Come back in a while."

"Sure", Lloyd returned, but Yuri had already left the area. "He needs to calm down. It's going to erupt in such a bad way…" Lloyd, having time to kill, walked down to the pier that extended over the lake. He walked by cozy cabins and homes, both basking internally with luxurious light. Smoke rose from chimneys, creating a homely ambiance. A small boy stood on the end of the dock, the only other person standing out in the rain. Wearing only a small runic cape, his hair was exposed, dripping down. It stuck to his shoulders, the silver hair dyed with a glossy sheen. He was mumbling something to himself, gazing deeply into the dull gray waters of Lake Luin, watching the ripples affected by the rain.

"Where could he be", he said, his tone and posture morose.

"Um, Geni…s?" Lloyd reached out, but stopped as he turned around. It was Genis, staring at him, his face a contorted mess of confusion, revelation, and astonishment. He couldn't speak, only stutter the first letter of his name. "Shit, shit, shit." Lloyd, taking advantage of the moment, turned around and fled the scene. Genis gave a quick chase, pushing himself with all his might, if only to catch up with his best friend.

"Lloyd! Wait up!" He was quick, moving faster than he had ever moved before. The half-elf was close behind, the soft and rapid patter of his feet unmistakably unique to Genis. Darting down a small alleyway, Lloyd positioned himself and quickly vaulted atop on of the scattered houses. He moved, building to building, watching the boy follow on the ground. Landing on the tavern, he stopped moving, shrouding himself in the shadows overhanging the second floor balcony.

"Genis, leave", he whispered harshly, almost hissing the words. He subconsciously felt them, striking heartstrings.

"Lloyd…" The boy circled again, Yuri walking up, staring at Lloyd, hiding in a pathetically obviously place. Genis, whose vision wasn't up to par, checked around the tavern, squinting as he stared up on the overhanging roof. Water splotched his face, further impeding his sight.

"Having some trouble, Lloyd?" Yuri laughed at the sight, giving Genis an obvious clue as to where he was.

"Yuri, shut up!" He sidled along the edge, readjusting his position.

"Lloyd, why did you leave us…?" The question was brutal, if not torpid and saddened. The languid words were almost sad, giving him a desperate appeal.

"How heartbreaking, Lloyd." Yuri would take any chance he could to annoy Lloyd.

"What", Genis said, stopping his fruitless circling. He walked up to Yuri, his breath lost and face tired. "How do you know him", pointing up at the shadows.

"Heh. We've been partners for a few days now. That's all."

"That's really Lloyd?" The despotic rain bounced off both of them, showing total superiority over everything else. For all he knew, it could be anybody else.

"Well, Lloyd's the name he said. I have no reason to believe anything else. Besides, what would he gain by lying?" Yuri, a manipulation master himself, was planting seeds in the boy's head, perfect for his plans.

"Lloyd's not smart enough to formulate something like that anyway…" Lloyd overhead this, blushing heavily.

"Genis, you're too nice", Lloyd skeptically cursed under his breath, attempting not to draw attention his spot.

"Why would you choose Lloyd, of all people?" The whole situation was peculiar, giving him a poor taste in his mouth. Genis couldn't help but dislike the warrior, his mannerisms grating and manners poor.

"That's my business, not yours. I doubt I need to say more." He pushed the young boy away, walking farther down to the inn.

"He's my friend! You can't just take him and leave me without a thought!"

"Actually, I can. And will." He shrugged, further annoying him. "But, he is there", pointing at the oblong shadow that lingered around the balcony. Lloyd, sweating bullets, retorted with an angry look, one of betrayal.

"Why wont' you say-"

"Lloyd. Come when you can." And he was gone, disappearing with an air of mystery.

"Lloyd…" Yuri smiled the entire way to the inn. His cruelty was ever expanding. Genis dropped it, turning around. His head hung low, the half-elf dropping a solemn tear as he walked back to the lone lake. Lloyd, making sure that the Genis wasn't around, lowered himself, dusting off as well. He dashed off in the direction of the inn, Yuri's laughter bouncing around in his skull.

"They're too easy. It's almost painfully simple." Yuri watched, hiding around a corner. An evil glint gleamed in his eye.


Sheena checked a small pack of gels, packing in a few more life, holy, and panacea bottles. But a strong knock resounded on the door, causing her to jump a few inches. Flipping the hair out of her eyes, she walked to the door and opened it. Blood smearing the door, Orochi, cradling an unconscious body, fell inside. He too was knocked out, a large lack of blood the obvious cause.

"Orochi!" She grabbed him, moving the other ninja's body out of the way. "Damn it." Pulling them out of the way, she shut the door and moved the dying two to the small beds that were scattered around the room. Orochi required immediate attention, causing her to deny the other man the treatment he deserved. Slowly, his body withered but Sheena was still trying to help stop his bleeding. That was over a half an hour ago, with Sheena trying to stabilize both of the wounded.

The floor of the cabin was stained with blood, both of the ninjas profusely bleeding. Orochi had large chunks of flesh ripped out of his back, small knives perforating his legs and arms. His face had large scratches, which bled, and bruises. Swelling occurred, giving him the appearance of someone with large tumors. Surrounding lamps gave an ochre glow upon the bodies, the blood morphing into an odd semblance of colors.

His bleeding had started to stop, the bandages haphazardly wrapped around his distorted limbs and injured body. Sadly, Sheena couldn't stop the profuse bleed of the other, with him slowly dying in his sleep. Retrieving a small slip of paper, she blessed it and started the traditional death ceremony.

"Spirits. Let this body flow back to you." She made a hand sign, the slip of paper bursting into a large pyre. The body started glowing, mana radiating from each part of him. Then the body disappeared, returning to the mana, the start of life as well as the end of it. Sheena had been trained at an early age to guide spirits, as well as her summoning artes.

Sheena drifted to the window, exhausted from cleaning and dressing the wounds of her comrade. "Orochi, what did this to you?" Beyond the view, the dark shadows appeared again, fully visible to Sheena. It smiled, almost seductively, starting to throw her into an unfathomable trance. But the door slammed open, shaking the feeling away. The shadows, again, disappeared. It was the innkeeper.

"Excuse me, but what's happening… up… here." She noticed the bodies, the sight shocking her.

"Sorry, but he arrived at my door. We both know each other, both of us friends."

"I don't care if he's the king of Tethe'alla. I do expect you to pay for him." Her greed overcame everything else. The sad thing was that Sheena helped establish the town, helped rebuild the inn.

"I will, I will. Just don't worry yourself about it."

"Hmm. We'll just see about that." She left, a sour look left upon her face. It worsened when she noticed the small boy running around in circle, dashing near the local bar that headed the town. Shaking her head, she went back to the counter on the first floor. Genis's running also garnered Sheena's attention, causing her to look away from Orochi. The clouds worsened, almost a tell-tale sign of her feelings.

"Genis?" Her voice was absent, an echo that remained through the empty room. It restated the lonely thoughts, bouncing around the sleepingly silent room. Again, the door was thrown open. "I said I would pay for him", Sheena yelled, not bothering to look at the figure that entered.

"Well sorry for the intrusion." Yuri, unbeknownst to her, walked in.

"Oh, sorry." Her mood barely changed. "This is room has been purchased already, so if you would please leave."

"Excuse me. I've rented the other room, though. I could hardly care if you have this one already. But I have a question."

"And what right do you have to ask me something?! You barge in here and start asking me questions?" Sheena was in no mood to talk to someone, let alone an asshole that basically was breaking in to her room.

"Is that your kid outside? He's chasing one of my friends…"

"What?" Sheena blushed heavily. "No! He's not my kid!"

"Well, call him off. I'm getting a little annoyed."

"I told you, he's not my problem. He can do whatever he wants."

"Wow, that's odd. It's actually almost…irresponsible. How sad."

"Where do you get off chastising me, anyway? I already told you he's not mine. Second, I'm not in the mood to deal with him."

"Hehe." Yuri, snickering with a voice of malevolence, walked by her, moving to the door on the other side of the room. He kept walking, as if he hadn't even noticed the bodies that were lying around the room.

"What the hell is wrong with people today…?" Sheena exhaled, quietly grumbling to herself. She turned around, looking back out the window again. Surprisingly, Genis was dashing back and forth, moving quickly around Luin.

Outside the town, the cloaked figure appeared with cards in hand. Twirling them, it threw them into the air and started chanting a spell. The grey day rumbled, instantly turning to night as the lofty card drifted back to the ground.

"Twelve hours." It was obvious that the person was a woman, as the voice had a feminine detail to it. However, it sounded as if an angel's voice had been morphed with that of a psychopath, a sadist with blood dripping from each slow word. Behind her, the forests roared with life, fighting with everything within it. It caused ripples, affecting the other patches of green that surrounded the area.

By then, the rain had turned to hail, large and heavy. Being the size of small berries, it knocked small plants out of the way, destroying and eroding the land. But if someone was to look up, they would quickly realize that there were no clouds in the sky, only a bright crescent moon at the apex of the nigh, standing above every other being in the sky. It was a giant monolith, an omen and an inhibitor. It was if the stars themselves were crying out in pain, watching the world slowly be absorbed by the unknown.


Yuri, holding Second Star across his shoulder, grabbed a few extra gels from their supply pack, reading his small supply pouch that hung from his waist. Provisions lined every pocket, a few extra blades hanging from sheaths on his pant legs. He'd been eavesdropping earlier, listening into the other room as Genis and Sheena solemnly spoke. The young boy had been blathering about Lloyd, Sheena skeptically listening to him. After an hour or so, Sheena had fallen asleep, exhausted from the events of the day. Genis followed her soon after, himself tired from running around and fruitlessly searching for Lloyd.

Watching the sky, he had been alerted by the time the sky rapidly changed. The sleepy town remained quite, no sign of the villagers noticing the recent trends. It was the perfect opportunity to search the outskirts. Lloyd could catch up later. Inaudibly, he crept out of the room, careful not to wake up both of the sleeping others. Once out of earshot, he dashed out of the town, running into the breach known as the Luin Forest. Energy rivaling his radiated from within the green outcropping, Yuri being saturated with an unspeakable power. He became an anomaly, meshing in with the iniquity.

Lloyd barely missed the black-haired fighter, walking into the small inn late in the night. He was confused by the sporadic change to night, startled and moving around town in a daze. Lloyd didn't realize that he had lost Genis, causing him to run around the town. Fatigued and annoyed, he slowly pushed the door open and was instantly caught distraught at the sight. Both Sheena and Genis slept soundly, unwavering at Lloyd's presence. Sheena's old clothes sat against her bed, the purple outfit worn and torn. He could hardly make out the shape and color of another set of clothes.

He moved, autonomously, towards the girl, her rhythmic breathing an old familiarity to him. "Lloyd…" she called out in her sleep, her face contorted to a painful glower, hurting him further. Resting his gloved hand across her face, he caressed her lilac hair, tears starting to well in his face. Her dreams filled with thousands of images of him, his gentle smile, his carefree attitude, everything. Reaching out to touch him, he disappeared, causing her to shout out.

"Sheena, God, I'm so sorry", he cried, falling to his knees, sobbing. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her sleeping body, warmly embracing the Rose of the Battlefield.

"Lloyd", she said, gently returning what he said. Tears rolled down her cheek, drawing a nice stain in his cape. It left an imprint in him, fazing him fully. He appeared in her dream again, with her rushing up and warmly embracing him. Lloyd held his ground, not disappearing into nothingness. He wiped the tears from her, both in reality and in her dream. And he gave her a light kiss, and stood up.

"I'm sorry", fading as he said it, the slight whisper turning into an inaudible ghost amongst the world. He had left the world, left her again, and broke her heart. They still loved each other.

As he opened the door, he felt the wind blow into his face, pushing the hood he wore off his head. The cloak flapped wildly and noisily, moving in wild spasms. He shut the window, staring blankly out into the beyond. It was a requiem to both of them, the wild flapping nothing more than the tumultuous road they traveled. And there was never another second look, never another step back after he crossed the turbulent Rubicon.

Energy shot out of the forest, shuddering Lloyd from his preemptive semblance of depression. Being nothing like he'd ever seen, he turned his full attention to it. Red mana erupted directly into the air, forming a massive column that started to tremor, the ground itself quaking at its might.

"What the hell…" Lloyd spat, squinting to get a better view on the phenomenon. It was a tremendous force, one that he could feel. A light pressure forced against his face, pressing his hair against his forehead. The column suddenly expanded, encompassing the forest in a pyre-esque light. Both the moon and the sun stood in the sky, separated between day and night, the colliding nature. An enigmatic laugh resonated from the forest. It had a familiar sound to it. Lloyd vaulted from the window, running with the full extent that his exsphere would allow.


Sheena woke up, surprised with the odd change in the world. It was dark on one side of the room yet the sun shined through the blinds that hung over the windows on the opposite side. It confused her, the world outside a mess.

"Hey, hey Genis. Get up, now!" He hardly stirred, lightly turning over in his sleep. "Genis, come on." He rolled back over, his eyes barely open, looking very unpleased.

"What?!" He rubbed both eyes, yawning wildly. "Have you any idea what the-"

"Time is? Not a clue. Look", she said with vivacity, pointing towards the window as she pushed the window curtains aside. Genis got up in the bed, his face riddled with confusion.

"What the heck? This…this doesn't make any sense." Sheena slipped her coat on, looking at the odd dark stains that sat on the edge of her bed and the floor. It was as if they were tears.

"Tears. It can't be, it just couldn't be real. Lloyd…" But the dream was too authentic almost surreal. She clutched her chest, drifting her hand across the water droplets.

"Sheena." Her concentration snapped, turning her back to the situation on hand. "Do you hear that?" Genis closed his eyes, absorbed in the world around him. A buzzing floated through the air, emanating from the forest.

"What is it?" She could hear a faint sound but it stood out, almost as if it were laughter.

"It's someone. Out in the forest." It feeling became more obtrusive as they waited, an aura of evil mockingly wandering around a black abyss. "I've felt this energy before."

"What do you mean?"

"It's similar, like the person we fought in Palmacosta. Like Kendl."

"You're kidding. I thought they were after…" She stopped herself. It was true they were after Lloyd, but she knew that he was around, probably near the energy.

"…" Genis was apprehensive, his face glowering and overall attitude somber.


Lloyd, his armor cloaking his body entirely, dashed through the thickets of trees and large bushes, Tetsusaiga radiating a brilliant color and energy. The plants and foliage seemed to move out of his way automatically, as if they were leading him along. Other parts of the forest were cut and diced, leaves smashed into the ground and large vines cleaved off in piles. Slowly, the forest opened up, with Yuri standing out in the clearing. He had acknowledged the threat much earlier than Lloyd. Second Star was out, flailing wildly as he fought back against monstrous beasts that burdened and blocked each side.

"Yuri, are you okay?" Lloyd dove headfirst into the fight, spinning his sword in an arcing pattern. Two were instantly felled, splitting into halves. He followed up with a thrust into the ground, causing rocks to erupt and smash into anything in the radius.

"You think I would honestly die to these pathetic beasts? Worry about yourself." He seldom spoke with the eloquence and grace as he did with his blade. His concentration, his movements and artes, they were superb, weaving a tale of detail and death as he moved.

"Demonic Winds!" Four large shockwaves fired down upon the foes, rending them into bloodied chunks. Winds poured down from the sky, pushing the remaining out of the way. Lloyd followed up with a twirling blade, killing another instantly. He threw the blade at a retreating beast, the sticky blood coating the ochre trunks of the surrounding dead trees.

"Heh. Not bad. Dragon Swarm." Yuri flipped the katana into his right hand, kicking a fiend up then bringing the blade down upon its face; he did it three times, felling it as the blade returned to his left hand. Yuri was ambidextrous, but preferred to fight with his left hand, only using his right fist to punch. He flung the blood off, laughing like a boorish general, and placed it across his shoulder.

More enemies appeared, surrounding them once again. "There's no end in sight", the cloaked warrior said, his remark more cocksure and resounding then a gibe at their crisis.

"Well, if that bitch would show her face."

"Bitch?" However, at the sound of the word, an explosion resonated through the forest, trees and ground both shaking. Animals scurried and glided out of the area, large packets of dust pushing and following them.

Around them, a third column of energy shot into the air, landing over what appeared to be Luin. Clouds of smoke billowed from it, the sight of orange flame appearing suddenly afterwards. Beyond the clearing, an almost indistinct cacophony of shrieks exploded, all coming from the direction of town.

"That's…Luin." Lloyd stopped mid-fight, blankly staring off.

"So, this was a distraction, wasn't it." Yuri scowled, the poor taste of discontent left in his mouth.

"Actually, it wasn't. Just an easy way to get the point across." A woman's voice rang out, shaking both men's heads.

"Estellise. Show yourself." Yuri blindly charged off towards the sound, his blade craned above his head.

"Estellise?" Lloyd watched, unfamiliar with what was happening.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I can't say that I recognize that name nor do I know you. But as a consolation, my name is Rinoa." The tone was seductive and enigmatic, pushing Lloyd into a quasi-trance. A girl with short, red hair appeared. Small black wings flapped on her back, an evil aura surrounding her altogether. "Pleased to make your acquaintances." Her smile revealed fangs, larger than those seen on common garden variety dogs.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Yuri rushed at her, swinging with reckless abandon.

"What a way to treat a lady", she returned, disappearing as the blade almost connected with her.

"Manners were never big with me." He leapt back, whipping his katana high above his head. "Azure!" A blue energy beam launched through the air, running against the ground. It fazed directly through her body, the girl absorbing it.

"Heh, that was lovely. Care to try it again?"

"Why not?" He repeated the same technique, this time charging his sword behind his back. "You ready?!" Blue energy vibrated off his blade. "Azure Storm!" Many different beams came out of the tip, all focused on her. She raised her slender right wrist and all stopped, having collided with an invisible shield.

"You talk too big. I like it." She licked her lips, long eyelashes batting a cynical, yet whimsical look. Yuri came at her, unwavering.

"I WOULD love to oblige, but you know the story; sorry to tell you. Besides, you'd just get burnt."

"Haha! Just my kind of guy." She dropped a small card, one identical to the ones Sheena used, Lloyd noted. Large vines came out of the ground and the surrounding plants, entangling Yuri in a lush green prison.

"Yuri!"

"Lloyd, not another step. This is my fight; just guard the perimeter, or something." The vines started coiling around him, large prickly thorns stabbing him with gusto. A flash of his blade was all it took to send the plants to the compost pile.

"All right." Lloyd retreated away from the fight, content on letting Yuri have his way. The forest continued to roar, as if it were watching the fight of the season, between their champion and his challenger. Both, however, didn't notice, occupied with the intense flurry of attacks and magic summonings. Yuri moved an attack in, slashing her beautiful face. Small bits of her hair fell to the ground, the dark ruby crimson beads following. Both laughed, letting their artes fly.

"Ah, it looks as if another wishes to join our game", Rinoa shouted, smiling although there were clearly visible gashes across her face and arms. Near Lloyd, a figure donning a dark cloak and hood ran out of the forest, weapons in hand.

"Hey, that's your battle!" Yuri barely spared a second to tell Lloyd, turning back to see who had entered. It was someone he had never seen, someone he couldn't evaluate. But he passed it off as Rinoa's claws hacked at his face, lacerating his nose.

"My time to shine", he whispered, running towards the interloper with full force. Tetsusaiga glimmered, but not with its usual battle lust. "Leave or die!"

"No", it said, the voice soft yet very powerful. It gently slid across a harp, turning and unsheathing a knife as the master turned away. The person spun to swords, angling them towards him.

"So be it", he uttered, masking his own voice with a visage of toughness. They met in the middle, swords lashing out at each other. He swung upward, the figure blocking with both blades. Lloyd pressed forward, his strength greater than the foe. Swiftly, he dropped to the ground and crushed his leg against the opponent, sending them off balance. Following, he rushed the hilt into their chest. They backed away, gasping for the air that escaped them.

"Who are you people? Why are you doing this?" It was obvious that the solemn figure was a female, an athletic albeit violent one. The voice, moreover, had turned hollow, without emotion. But Lloyd found solace in the embrace of the words, surprising him.

"What do you mean 'who are we'? We're trying to save your town!" He brought Tetsusaiga up in a defensive position, the twin blades sliding over the top.

"Who they hell are you?" He grabbed one of the blades, ripping it from the other's hand and threw it across the clearing, hardly giving it a second glance. She yelled the question again, standing still while she spoke.

He charged up his blade, and said, "I doubt it matters." The sword's zenith glowed, imbuing him with finesse and extra strength. He pressed the sword at her, ripping through armor. Metal fragments and shards shot out of the outfit, pelting his face with large steel. Lloyd looked back across his shoulder.

Yuri had finished up with Rinoa, stabbing his blade into her small chest. Blood sprayed out, the black-haired swordsman getting lightly coated. He flung the sanguine substance off his blade, wiping it off his face. The second her body touched the ground, the forest started returning to its original form. White energy sprang forth from her body, with Yuri absorbing the light in his strange gauntlet.

"Lloyd, finish them." He nodded, bringing the blade into the air.

"Lloyd? You can't be Lloyd." The girl jumped back, reading the blades.

"How the hell would you know", he roared, ready to finish the prolonged battle that he fought. He swung forward a blade, getting a good stab in. "I'm Lloyd", he said, pulling his hood and face guard off. He looked upon her, his gentle eyes stabbing her as well.

She fell to the ground, coughing blood. "Heh, it's funny." The dark outfit grew darker. Behind them, a small person walked out, wearing a rare cloak. He didn't wear a hood, his silver hair flowing to his shoulders.

"Genis?" Lloyd's eyes grew wide, watching the young boy run towards them.

"Sheena?" Realize the blood that sat around the downed warrior. "Sheena…! Get up, Sheena!"

"The idiots just flock to you, don't they." Yuri approached them, his face angry with rage. He moved the hair out of his eyes, both of them throwing daggers. "Kill him, now."

"Lloyd?! What the hell is going on?!" Genis panicked, looking back and forth between the body, the boy, and Yuri.

"Kill him, Lloyd."

"What? Why?" Lloyd slowly sheathed his blade behind his back, turning to question the other warrior.

"Because he's hindering us."

"Lloyd? Look what you did!"

"Lloyd, get rid of him! Now!" Yuri took out his blade, aiming it directly at Lloyd's body. He moved back and forth between him and Genis.

"Lloyd, please…"

"Genis, who is that?" Slowly the boy knelt next to the bleeding body and unmasked the face. His fears were more than confirmed. Yuri started laughing, a guttural and boisterous shriek that shook their souls. "Oh, God…"

It was Sheena. She was dead.


Dun dun dunnnnn... yeah... Also, the name Rinoa is just a name, not a crossover from FF8. Just lettin' you know that.