It was late, and yet they had accomplished so much in one day already. While Eiko slept, the rest of the group along with Quistis and Irvine sat in a dimly lit room discussing the current matter. The moonlight shone through the window lighting up the dark room along with the warm fireplace, as the group was gathered around in a circle sipping at their tea. Garnet was told of their situation and of the heartless that destroyed their world. She could only feel sympathy for the two, having lost something so great and important to them. Though she was also worried for Gaia as well, imagining what would happen if these heartless ever showed their faces.

"All we can do is hope they don't ever come here." Garnet said in a low tone.

"If they do, we will defend this world with our lives." Steiner spoke up, "Just like we did with Kuja"

"Kuja wasn't the darkness, but just followed it." Freya muttered, "Kuja is no where compared to the power of these heartless, the power of darkness itself. Kuja is but a mock to the darkness, what we're dealing with is hell itself. Though I do agree, I will gladly give my life for this world."

"Lets not rush to any conclusions yet, we have only heard about them from these two. We still have not encountered them in battle, nor do we know if they will even appear." Garnet said, "However, these monsters that attacked you in Burmecia worries me. You said they bare a strong resemblance to heartless, right?

"That's correct, though they weren't heartless." Quistis responded.

Garnet sighed, feeling this was all too much to take in all at once. Just when things were going alright, just when the world was living in peace, this happens. She felt as if things could never stay peaceful, for there always had to be a conflict to avoid. There aways had to be evil lurking somewhere, darkness creeping out of every corner. Not to mention, Vivi was still missing after a two year search and nothing had turned up yet. She began to wonder if Vivi's disappearance had to do with the heartless, remembering he claimed he saw dark figures following him. Whatever the case was, it was leading them all down a dark and dreary path.

"Alright, here is what we will do." Garnet said, "Zidane, Steiner and Freya, you will go out and help search for Quistis and Irvine's friends. Meanwhile, Quistis, Beatrix, Eiko and myself will sort this mess out and prepare for the worst if the heartless are to ever appear. It is better that we have a plan ready, just in case. Is that ok with you two?"

"Of course, thank you." Quistis answered.

"Though where are we to start looking, my Queen?" Steiner asked, "Our world is huge, they could be anywhere."

"Vivi, right?" Zidane spoke up, "You think this has to do with his disappearanc, since he kept ranting on about shadows following him. You think it has to do with these heartless?"

Garnet nodded and Zidane sighed in response. That meant that they were going to start looking where Vivi was last sighted, Madain Sari. For whatever reason, Vivi had gone there last and disappeared from that very place. They still couldn't figure out why he would go to Madain Sari, maybe thinking it had to do with the summoners or Eidolons. However, for the past two years since he went missing, they came up short on every single clue they received. Maybe with this new information, they could finally find out what happened to Vivi.

"Off to Madain Sari again." Zidane mumbled, as he got up and began out off the room, "I guess we'll head out tomorrow, got no time to waste after all. I'm gonna hit the snoozer, night everyone."

"We might as well call it a night too, Steiner would you please lead Quistis and Irvine to their rooms. Afterward, you are dismissed from duty." Garnet said, turning her attention back to her new found friends, "Even through the troubling news, I am glad to have met some new friends. We have a busy day tomorrow, so we might as well get some rest. Good night everyone."

Everyone said their good nights and went off to bed, as Steiner led Quistis and Irvine to their rooms. He showed them to the door, both Irvine and Quistis rooms turning out to be opposite of each other in the hall. Bidding them peaceful dreams, he walked off to his room and to good nights rest. Quistis sighed and turned her back to the wall, watching Irvine do the same. Already they had gone through so much and had only been in this world for two days. Granted, meeting Freya, Garnet and the rest of them was a great thing.The chance of having help for once instead of being chased off a world so quickly was welcoming. This chance might even lead them to their friends, lead them to Squall, Selphie, Rinoa and Zell. Quistis couldn't help but think about them a lot, remembering the good times each of them shared. There was just a lingering fear, a fear that they might not be alive. A fear that the heartless had gotten to them and had stolen their hearts.

"They're still alive, none of them would go down that easily." Irvine said, reassuring her.

"Right, of course." she replied with a smile, "Good night Irvine."

"Night" Irvine responded.

Quistis turned, walked into the room and closed the door behind her hoping to get a good nights sleep. Irvine sighed and walked in his room closing the door behind him. He wanted to believe in what he told Quistis, but the truth was he had some doubt as well. Truth be told, he missed his friends, especially Selphie. He just hoped she was ok, wherever she was.

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Far off from Alexandria, in a valley near the South Gate a black portal opened. Two hooded men stepped out of it, the portal closing behind them. The one lifted his hood back, to reveal a black haired man with an patch over his right eye. He had a huge grin on his face as he surveyed the area, the other man beside him remaining hidden.

"Xigbar, we have no time to waste in this filth of a world." the hooded man spoke, "Our targets are Quistis Trepe and Irvine Kinneas, our destination is Alexandria. We are to eliminate them, but no one else associated with this world unless necessary."

"Those were the orders given out, huh?" Xigbar said, a smirk on his face, "Isn't this the world Saix was investigating before, because of those summon things? I remember him saying that someone from this world got in his way and that he had to take care of that problem. Whatever it was, lets just get this show on the road, I'm wanting to put some holes in some people. Hope these people are worth the challenge."

"Hope they are worth the misery, lets go." Xaldin muttered.

The two walked off in Alexandria's direction disappearing into the distance. Behind a rock, Amarant had watched them, overhearing their conversation. Normally, he couldn't give two shits about two strangers, but they were headed off to Alexandria. This might cause some trouble for Garnet and Eiko, not giving a damn about Zidane. Standing up, he knew he had to hurry off to Alexandria and reach Garnet before they got their themselves. Who were these people though, and where the hell did they come from?