TELLAH'S DEPARTURE

Cecil and Yugi charged at the Octomamoth, slashing at its tentacles. "This could be awhile." Cecil said.

The Octomamoth swung its tentacles and knocked Cecil and Yugi back.

"Thunder!" Tellah shouted.

A lightning bolt hit the Octomamoth, weakening it and lost one of its tentacles.

"Cure!" Rydia cried, and healed Yugi and Cecil.

Of course, Yugi thought. It's in water so electricity would defeat it. He jumped between Rydia and one of the attacking tentacles, slashed it, and yelled, "Thundara!"

A stronger lightning bolt came down and stuck the Octomamoth's tentacle and its tentacle was sliced off.

Rydia stared in awe at Yugi. He protected me again. She thought. You're so cool Yugi.

The small teen turned to her. "Are you alright?" He asked.

Rydia blushed and slowly nodded.

Yugi smiled and nodded a reply.

"Worry later!" Tellah shouted. "We're still in a fight!"

Cecil nodded. "Yugi!" He called.

The small teen looked forward and nodded. "Just stay on healing duty." He said to Rydia. "I'll protect you."

Rydia smiled in determination and nodded.

The fight continued and the Octomamoth had two tentacles remaining. "Be careful." Tellah warned. "This is where it is most fierce."

Yugi took a deep breath and shouted, "Thundaga!"

A bright and powerful lightning bolt came down, struck the Octomamoth and killed it.

Yugi fell to his knees in exhaustion.

Rydia ran over to him and threw her arms around him. "Are you alright?" She asked.

"Y-Yeah." Yugi panted. "Just tried."

"I would be too if I did something like that." Tellah hissed. "Your magic is still rusty. Using that spell would have killed you."

Yugi smiled. "I didn't want it to hurt Rydia." He muttered.

The young Summoner blushed.

"Cura." Tellah growled and healed the small teen's wounds.

"Let's go." Cecil said. He and the Sage walked off.

Rydia released Yugi, and he rose to his feet. She suddenly grabbed his arm.

The small teen looked at her. "What is it?" He asked.

Rydia looked up at him with a sad smile. "Wait for me, Yugi." She whispered.

He stared at her, confused. "Um…oh-kay." He replied.

"Yugi!" Cecil called. "Rydia! Come on!"

Rydia jumped onto Yugi's back as he began to leave, making the small teen have to carry to her. She giggled to herself, closed her eyes, and drifted to sleep.

Yugi looked at her and smiled. No idea what she meant, he thought, but I'll wait for her.

"There's Damcyan Castle!" Tellah exclaimed.

"But is-?" Yugi began.

"Red Wing Airships!" Cecil interrupted.

All four watched a group of airships fly over the Damcyan Castle and bombed it.

"Anna!" Tellah yelled.

Yugi's blood ran cold.

Does this have something to do with the crystals? Cecil wondered.

Rydia paled.

The airships flew off, leaving the Damcyan Castle in ruin.

Tellah ran off. Anna. He thought.

Cecil, Yugi, and Rydia hurried after the Sage. "I can't blame him." Yugi said. "But the bard-thin, I'm still a little confused about."

"We'll find out once we get there." Cecil said.

"Right!" Yugi and Rydia replied.

Once inside the ruins of Damcyan Castle, they found a male with blond hair kneeling and wearing a bard's outfit. Next to him was a young woman lying on the ground.

Yugi paled. Serenity? He thought. Wait. No. She's Anna, but she looks like Serenity.

"Anna!" Tellah shouted in alarm. He stormed over to the bard who looked up. "You! You kidnapper!"

"Wait!" The bard cried. "Let me explain!"

"No!" Tellah yelled. He attacked, not using is staff or magic.

The bard dodged each time. "Please." He begged. "Let met explain."

"You spoony bard!" Tellah snapped.

Yugi sweat dropped. Spoony bard? He thought. He saw the young woman stir.

"S-Stop!" She groaned, opening her eyes.

Tellah and the bard hurried to her. "Anna." Tellah breathed.

"Please," she whispered, "don't be mad at Edward."

"But-." Tellah began.

Anna smiled weakly.

Yugi knelt down next to her. "Here." He said, holding out his hand, palm downward. "Let me-."

Anna shook her head and muttered, 'No."

Edward looked away. "Anna." He whispered.

"Edward." She breathed very softly as her eyes slowly closed. "I always loved you." Her breathing stopped, a sign that she was no longer living.

Edward fell to his knees, picked up her body, and sobbed.

"Tears don't bring back the dead!" Tellah shouted, holding back his tears.

"Who did this?" Cecil demanded.

"A man named Golbez came here, destroyed the castle, and took the Fire Crystal." Edward explained. "Anna protected me from a falling wall."

"Maybe I could-." Yugi began.

"No!" Tellah snapped. "Not with your magic level!"

Yugi flinched and looked down at the ground.

The Sage turned and began to leave.

Yugi looked up. "M-Master Tellah!" He called.

Tellah stopped abruptly. "I'm sorry." He said. "But I cannot continue your training, Yugi. I will go off in search of this Golbez and avenge my daughter's death."

Yugi's eyes moistened. "B-Bu-But…"

Tellah balled a fist. "Look. You'll meet me again at Mount Ordeals. The creators of Final Fantasy IV wrote it that way." Then he stormed off.

Too upset to be confused, Yugi looked down at the ground. Master Tellah. He thought.

"Edward." Cecil said. "A friend of ours is stricken with Desert Fever. We need a Sand Pearl to cure her. Do you know where the Antlion Cave is?"

"Yes." He replied. "But I'm not coming." He trembled and cried.

"Coward." Rydia snapped.

Edward and Yugi looked at her.

"You're a coward." Rydia continued. "You sit here and cry like a baby. At least, I've stopped." She looked away, thinking about her deceased mother.

Yugi felt his heart sink. ""Rydia." He murmured.

"You're right." Edward sobbed and held Anna's body. "I am a coward. That's why I'm staying here with Anna."

Cecil slapped him in the face. "Pull yourself together!" He shouted. "I don't believe she would want that! Now, please, help us."

After Edward wiped away his tears, he laid Anna's body down, placed her hands on her chest, and stood. Then he nodded and said, "All right. I'll do my best. We must hurry."

Cecil nodded. He turned and left.

Yugi stood and followed with Rydia close behind him. I don't blame Edward for crying. He thought. But I wish she would have let me heal her. Maybe she wouldn't have had to die.

Rydia wrapped her fingers around the small teen's hand and tightly pressed her palm against his.

Feeling the comfort she gave him, Yugi wrapped his fingers around her hand in return.

Edward began to leave, when he stopped and turned to Anna's corpse. "Anna." He whispered. Fighting back the tears he hurried after Cecil, Yugi, and Rydia.

Small lights surrounded her body, and Anna's corpse disappeared.

Mrs. Muto stealthily crept through Baron Castle, heading towards the throne room. She was careful not to be seen by any guards or Baigan. Yugi. She thought. Wherever you are, I hope your magic is returning to you. I believe in you and I pray to the Moon that we will be reunited. However, I must find the real King of Baron.

She had managed to escape the dungeon thanks to the two Black Mages and White Mage from Mysidia. She let them to a safe passage and told them to go trough Demon Road to return to Mysidia. When they asked her to come with, she merely said that she had to locate the real King.

Mrs. Muto hid behind a pillar when she heard footfalls come toward her. She held her breath and screwed her eyes shut.

"Where is that female Sage?" A male voice hissed.

Mrs. Muto opened her eyes, recognizing the voice as Baigan. She kept still and as silent as possible. She could hear her heart pounding and prayed that Baigan could not.

"I know not sir." Another voice replied, sounding like Kain.

"Find her and kill her!" An unfamiliar voice ordered. It was deep and masculine and it sounded serious.

Mrs. Muto heart fell to the floor as she heard the footfalls move and fade. She ran silently to the thrown room, burst through the doors, and headed straight to the throne.

Looking beyond the throne appeared to be something amiss on the wall.

Mrs. Muto crept over to the wall and pushed.

A door opened to another room.

Mrs. Muto took a deep breath and went in, closing the passage door behind her.

dragonchild247: Well. Tellah has left the party. And yes, what he said before he left was a spoiler to those who haven't played FF4. ^^'' Sorry. But I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and stay tuned for the next chapter of Moonlit Knights! (By the way, the title of this story will be understood in time. Jane!)