Radiant Garden, Merlin's house.

Merlin had been gone for a few days now and there was really no sign of him returning in the near future. While everyone was sure he'd be back they just couldn't say when. For the committee members who had worked with him they were used to his often comings and goings so they went about their time as if nothing had changed. Bodger, Luath and Tao did seem to notice the wizard but still they got along fine and even Archimedes was alright, usually perched high on a shelf as everyone worked. Everyone seemed to be fine with this with the exception of Arthur who had a hard time dealing with the wizard's absence.

Arthur currently looked through the book Merlin picked out for him. Flipping through the pages as he squirmed to comprehend everything in it. The ideas were so complex and were definitely harder than math or science. None the less he would reread paragraphs and even entire pages until he thought he understood it.

Archimedes then flew down from his perch and landed on Arthur's desk.

"I say, what is this boy?"

"Well it's a book about light and darkness" Arthur explained to him

"Yes, yes and what else?"

"…. I can't really say" Arthur admitted

Cid was typing into the computer but looked over his shoulder to see Arthur clearly struggling to get through the material and trying to explain it to the educated owl. "Hey kid" he called out and Arthur turned over to him "You need help with that?"

"Oh no sir I'm fine. Archimedes was helping me" he said pointing to the owl.

"Uh huh" Cid grunted "Well you've been going at that thing for a while now, why not take a break, do something else" Cid proposed

"You mean like practice sword fighting?" Arthur asked. At the notion of that Leon turned his head over to him and Luath following his lead did the same.

"Nah" Cid waved "Go for a walk or something kid"

"Oh that's a good idea" Arthur said as he picked up the book and walked towards the door.

"No kid that's not what I-" Cid was cut off as Arthur walked out and closed the door behind him "meant" he finished. He then let out a sigh "That kid works too hard" then a smile formed on his face before he turned back to his computer

"Hey what are you so happy about?" Yuffie asked

"Nothing" Cid responded "I think I finally got what that old loon was talking about"

"About what?"

"The kid "'puts his heart and soul into everything'" he said quoting the absent wizard

"Cid I think your turning into an old loon too"

"Hm I probably am" he admitted

Arthur walked around the borough to try and find a nice spot where he could sit and read his book. He walked up to the marketplace but it was too crowded and noisy. He walked up the stairs in the borough where he could look out to see the Great maw. He decided against this because he thought he would get too distracted by the view. He then walked around the town but couldn't find any spot he was comfortable with.

So with no real place in mind he decided to just sit down by against one of the houses. Opening his book he then continued form where he left off. But it wasn't long after he started reading that something caught his attention... a strange sound.

He heard something strange, some kind of quick flash of fire. He looked over to see what it was but he saw nothing, only a few black feathers that slowly fell to the ground. He then walked over to investigate. He knelt down and inspected them. The feathers just sat there on the ground amongst the silence. Then he heard it again.

He stood up and dashed his head over his shoulder to see more black feathers linger in the air and then fall to the ground. He then walked over to investigate those as well. He leaned over and still held onto his book.

Then he heard it again and he snapped around to see where it was coming from. Three black feathers fell to the ground but he noticed one man turned the corner right as he looked over.

"Hello!" Arthur cried out to get this person's attention but his calls went unanswered. Cradling the book in his arms he walked off after the person passing another pair of feathers as he went.

He looked out into the Great Maw and saw a solitary person standing with its back to him. Arthur looked out into the wide canyon and wondered what he should do. Then he asked himself "What would a king do?" Realizing a king would go meet anything head on he took a deep breathe, puffed his chest out and still holding onto his book marched forward.

He walked out of the town across the canyon and up to the mysterious person. He was now far away from the town, in fact it could not be seen but that it is not what concerned him. What did concern him was who this person was. Although he did not see the face he did notice another prominent feature, a black wing on his back and long silver hair.

"You're following me" the man suddenly stated "Why?" he asked in an emotionless voice.

"Well" Arthur said "I was just checking to see what you were doing?"

"What am I doing?" the man repeated. He then turned around to look at Arthur "I'm being pursued by you"

"Well I'm only doing what I was told"

"Hmph. So you're a follower not a leader"

"Well I will be someday"

"And how's that?" the man asked blandly

"There a lot of people I've met who are going to help me. I've been learning all sorts of things like swordsmanship and-"

"Swordsmanship?" the man cut him off "I see no sword with you"

"Well I don't have it with me now. But my teacher told me the greatest weapon is your mind"

"Really?" the man questioned. Then in a flash he drew an extremely long sword and held it a Arthur's throat "Your mind did not stop me there" Arthur then back up as the man slowly advanced "So what else do you have in your arsenal?"

"To protect against darkness.." Arthur paused and the man raised an eyebrow, seeming intrigued by what he was about to say "There's the light in my heart"

"Hmph. You remind me of someone" he admitted "Someone who tells me the exact same thing although they can't seem to find the words. Maybe you've met him…" he paused "Cloud"

"Cloud" Arthur repeated

"So you have. I can tell by that look in your eyes" he said "Well in that case I think I'll-"

"Sephiroth!" a harsh voice shouted out and cut him off. Sephiroth glanced over and dashed back right as a sword tried to cut him down.

"Cloud?!" Arthur exclaimed as he recognized the man before him

"Wart?!" he let out what are you doing here?!" Cloud asked but had no time for a response as Sephiroth came at him and their swords locked.

"So you've found me again" Sephiroth said "I'm not really surprised. You've gotten better at this" he said blandly

"Shut up" Cloud spat.

"I'll help you!" a female voice cried out. They all looked over as Tifa ran over to them. She ran up to Sephiroth and tried to kick him but he just pushed cloud away and slashed his sword at her. Sliding under his blade Tifa shot up and tried to punch him but he jumped back.

Sephiroth then starred down his two opponents who stood side by side.

"Tifa?" Arthur said upon seeing her

"Arthur? What are you doing here?" she asked concerned

"Well I just-"

"It's dangerous" Cloud told him "You should get out of here. Go somewhere safe"

"But I wanna help if I can" Arthur told him.

"I told you before. I'm the only one who has to worry about this"

"But you're not alone. We're here" Arthur said motioning to himself and Tifa.

"Absurd" Sephitroth said as he heard they're conversation "You can't help him no matter how hard you try"

"Yes we can. I know we can" Arthut told him

"Well then show me" Sephiroth said. Then he dashed forward at them. Cloud ran up to meet him.

He swung his sword but Sephiroth jumped over and passed him. Then Tifa ran up to engage him but he dodged her fists and went passed her too. He now headed straight for Arthur. Tifa and Cloud both looked back.

"Arthur run!" Tifa shouted to him.

Then Sephiroth was infront of Arthur and slashed him across the chest with his sword. The book dropped from Arthurs hand and he fell down to the ground.

Thanks for reading!

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