Oh man, it's been way too long, I apologize! I've had this story on the back burner forever, but kept changing the ending. Anyway, I think it's not too bad, now, so yes, finally, after eons, it's posted!

Ruminations

Rydia

He hadn't said a word.

Then again he didn't talk all that much anyway. But... he hadn't talked more than a word since they defeated the monster guardian wall. It was like he wasn't happy that they got the dark crystal afterwards or something.

Sometimes he would give her a rather desperate look, which made her uneasy. But he wouldn't say anything. Now, they were all more than halfway out the cave, and those fleeting desperate glances have stopped. Rydia took another deep breath, trying to summon the courage to ask him if anything was wrong.

No one else seemed to notice. Probably because he doesn't say much normally anyway. Especially after Edge joined their group. The two hated each other at first sight. Usually he would only certainly say something if Edge makes a comment that he finds asinine.

As they turned another corner, vampire bats were spotted flying towards them. Rydia gripped her whip firmly in case any of the bats decided to attack her, but for the most part, she and Rosa generally stood back and let the men do the attacking. Bats weren't worth her time in chanting any spell for. She looked at Rosa, but her eyes were following Cecil. She and her great bow looked as relaxed as they usually do when the group of enemies was light and no one seemed to be in serious danger.

Maybe Kain's just in a foul mood. But usually he smiles at the very least, when they all cheer after dispatching a group of enemies. There he is, looking like the bats. His mood was getting colder and colder fight after fight. Why hasn't anyone noticed or cared?

She slowed her pace to walk next to Kain, and stole a sideways look at the grim-faced man and took another deep breath.

"Um, Kain, are you feeling okay?"

Kain looked at her. There was something chilling about it. "I'm fine, why?"

Rydia swallowed. "You...just seem so quiet."

She saw it again. The flash of alarmed desperation that flickered in his eyes before it was glazed back over. But now she understood. She hoped she didn't look as pale as she felt. It took all her strength not to react to it and slowly look away.

When did it happen? she thought desperately. Then she knew... and nearly slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand (she smoothed out a lock of hair instead). She was so stupid, she should have been suspicious, not annoyed when Kain was completely ignoring everyone since the defeat of the guardian wall! Well, she was more than suspicious now. How could Kain have been taken so swiftly and without some kind of fight? The thought that Kain might have let it happen was quickly quashed by the memory of his plea for her to kill him off if ever his mind fell into the wrong hands again.

"I am always quiet. What is there to say to one another when there is nothing to be said?"

Rydia was so caught up in her thoughts that she nearly jumped out of her skin. He was giving her a curious look, and she was really wishing now that she didn't say anything. Then again, she was really wishing she had something to say to his baffling she should just walk a little faster and tag a little closer to the rest of the group...

She shrugged her shoulders instead, hoping it was a good enough reply. Should she warn the group? But there was no way for her to do it without him realizing it...

Suddenly ear-splitting screeches sounded right above Rydia, causing her to throw her arms up in defense. Vampiresses unfurled within seconds at the smell of living flesh below, eager to bite the nearest target and feast. Cecil doubled back to help the girls, slashing at the hoard of bats that always accompanied the vampiresses in droves. Kain threw his spear at the vampiress above Rydia, then jumped and relinquished his weapon from the ceiling. Rydia was pleasantly shocked for a split second...until she realized Kain was about to step right on her if she didn't roll out of the way.

That wasn't very nice.

Blood rushed hotly to her cheeks and a pulse ticked loudly in Rydia's head. A quick spell for fira sprang forth, and she directed it at a bat that Kain was now going for. Instantly the bat burst into flames just as Kain had reached it, and scorched his hand. Oops.

"What are you doing, woman?" Kain yelled, as he went to finish a vampiress.

Rydia's face flushed with indignation. Oh that really wasn't nice at all! Woman?! The nerve!

All the spells she had learned cycled through her mind for her to pick. Suddenly she had an idea.

Her cheeks cooled rather quickly as she took out a large jar of hi-potion from the group satchel and drank it up.

Hmm...Kain, Cecil, and Edge were still hacking at the last vampiress...

"Extra Small!" Rydia cried.

"What th—!"

Kain was about to deliver a stab with his spear when suddenly, he shrank to the size of Rydia's fist. Everyone—including the last vampiress—watched him shrink in complete bafflement.

"Toad!" Rydia yelled as she ran past everyone—without daring a glance at any of their faces—scooped up Kain (who was now a small blue toad), tossed him in the jar, and immediately corked the jar. As an afterthought, she poked some holes in it.

"What are you doing, Rydia?" Cecil said, smoothly taking out the still-stunned enemy in one fell swoop.

"That was awesome, Rydia! Great joke!" Edge cried, giving her the thumbs up as he bagged up the gold from the fallen enemies.

"Surely, this is not just some antic?" Rosa said, holding her hand to her mouth as if to hide a cough.

"Well, Kain... he's not himself. I-I'm absolutely certain that he has been taken over my Golbez since we got the Crystal!"

Rosa walked over and took the jar from Rydia's hands. "Really?"

"Aw, it wasn't a joke?" Edge muttered.

"Didn't anyone notice how quiet and cold he was since we got ahold of the crystal?"

Cecil, Rosa, and Edge exchanged puzzled looks.

"You're right," Rosa said finally, "I did notice he was much quieter than usual. I just thought he was maybe in a bad mood and wanted to be left alone."

The frog let out a loud croak.

"Well, I wanted to be safe that's all..." Rydia said, her face heating up from embarrassment.

There was another loud croak.

Everyone huddled around the jar and stared at the blue frog that was—or is—Kain hopping against the glass walls and making rather loud and angry croaking sounds.

Then there was a stifled sound of laughter and...

"Cecil!" Rosa said in shock, and hit him lightly on the back. The frog was really jumping wildly in jar now, which prompted Rydia to take the glass jar back from the crook of Rosa's arm.

"Sorry, Kain..." Rydia said in a low, embarrassed voice. "I promise I'll let you out when we don't have the crystal anymore..."