Crimson Rain

by The God Slayer

Decades after the planet has finally known peace, through great sacrifice and struggle, something ancient and sinister stirs beneath the surface. A mad man rises with power the world thought was extinct and declares war on the planet, igniting a turn in history millenniums in the making.

14. To Give & Take

Note: I decided that the chapter was too long, and I had to cut Celes' fight scene, which was MASSIVE and took me forever to write. However, I needed the "room" to deal with the more important aspects of this fanfiction. Hopefully it won't be too jarring to not have it.

To Give & Take

Cambyses couldn't peel his eyes away from the report. There was intense arguing going on around him, but the sound of it was like a buzzing to him. All he could concentrate on were the words written across the crumpled paper, and the few stains of blood decorating it.

"What are we going to do?" Hals asked. "We can bicker all day and night, but unless we come up with a solution about this new threat, we will get nowhere."

"What are we to even discuss?" Celes leaned into the table with a shake of her head. "Roskovo has weaponized magic, even if it is not in a traditional sense."

The room finally went quiet. Everyone in the room knew what this meant—what it meant not only for the world, but for the secret they had agreed upon all those years ago. Cambyses could feel all of them staring at him, expecting him to make the decision that would inevitably come next.

A red demon, he thought, staring at the words with terror. Thousands dead, thousands more enslaved to a tyrannical state.

"Your majesty?" Hals pressed. "What are we to do? The kingdom is in terror..!"

What could he do? This was beyond any of their scope...

"Cambyses?" at the sound of his father's voice, he looked up. "Son, if you need time to think..."

"To think about what?" Terra asked, on the verge of a cry. "You are not considering...no! We swore we would keep this secret!"

"Terra, I don't think we have a lot of options," Locke put in. "They are going to put the truth together whether or not we tell it now with this beast running amok. You ought to say it, before they are told what to believe."

"They did take the news of your daughter's heritage quite well," Celes added. "We could expect the same reaction."

"Or they will take that information as a means to further fear her...to fear us." she challenged. "You all do not understand. You...your people weren't hunted for what they were."

"Terra—" Edgar tried.

"—No." she cut in. "What will you do when they turn against her?"

Cambyses closed his eyes, and immediately thought of his baby sister's face. He hadn't seen it since he left Figaro, all those years ago, and pieces of her face seemed impossible now to remember. It seemed more a blank face, than one he could call sister. And he had put her where she now remained a prisoner.

No...you know he's using her for more, he thought, guilt burning at him. And it is all your fault. Finally, he opened his eyes and faced them. "Mother is right to be worried, but we have no choice. We must tell the world magic has returned, even should this creature not be of it." he hesitated. "But I do not think Roskovo learned to tame monsters..."

"What do you mean?" Edgar asked, straightening. "Camb?"

"I...I think Bertrand has been using Emma's blood." that drew a sharp gasp from his mother. "When I was there, he..." he took a staggering breath, to calm himself, but it did nothing. "He told me he would use her blood however he could, and I think he did. To...to make monsters, or control them."

Terra started to cry. "Why didn't you tell us this?"

"I...I did tell you all what he said. I just..." he looked away. "I didn't understand what he meant until much later...until now."

Terra squeezed her eyes shut and then stormed off. When she was gone, his father took a breath. "This is an alarming development but in the end, it changes nothing." every eye went to him then. "We already knew that he might be experimenting on her, for weaponry. We may now know a more concrete way he is achieving this, but no matter how he uses my daughter, the end result is the same. And we must think on how to deal with the weapons he creates before we can move forward—before rescuing my daughter is even possible. For if he has one, he may have others, and they could very well be at the capitol with my daughter right now."

"How do we even fight a monster with that kind of power?" Locke asked. "In case you haven't noticed Edgar; Terra, Celes, Relm and Gau are the only ones capable of harnessing this new magic, and even so this monster was able to decimate entire towns within a week. The reports said it could...it could set things on fire just at a glance."

Celes scoffed. "Or, more likely, they were terrified and their imagination ran ahead of them."

"What are you saying?"

"Think about it," she began, crossing her arms. "Even in magic's prime, you had to concentrate. You had to visualize it in your mind, feel that energy connecting to you, and then focus it onto something. Some of us grew accustomed to it well enough to avoid words, but before that, we had to give voice to it from the sheer focus it required."

It took only a second for Edgar to understand. "You're saying these reports of this monster's abilities could actually be more simple? Grounded?"

"Yes." she nodded. "And gods help us if this thing is so powerful it can think a spell and it'll be casted upon you without a moment's delay. We must all pray that is not the case, for if it is, I fear there is no shield against it."

"So far more likely it's not that big of a threat," Sabin piped in. "At least, not to someone used to those sorts of dangers. Someone equipped with magic."

"You mean my wife..." Edgar shook his head. "Terra has already given her answer. She does not want to help with magic, and you must understand her position. She gave up our daughter because of it. She has been victim to bigotry and attacks because of it. We must find another way."

"I could try to teach," Celes offered. "But I will be too busy with the war effort. I must do one, or the other."

Cambyses rubbed tiredly at his neck. This was getting more and more complicated by the minute. "I will talk with my mother, help her see how this is our best choice. We will make the announcement about magic later, when we have had a chance to discuss what to say. Celes, for now, have you received reports from Tzen?"

She nodded. "I have. They received our military expansion and have implemented them into their current militia. They report three naval cruisers in hand, but should Bertrand turn his attention to Tzen rather than the path he seems to be taking, they will need far more support. Bertrand's navy may not compare to ours, but we are stretched thin. With the blockade at Thamasa, our shores and that of Tzen and the surrounding cities, we do not have the power to take out their navy. If we could but combine, focus..."

"And abandon those cities?" Cambyses challenged hotly. "I will not let my people suffer!"

Celes set her icy gaze on him. "You are the king. You must make the hard choices. If we do not combine and assault them, they will continue to pick off our navy. With so few put together in dozens of locations, it will only take him a year to take control of every Figaro territory. If the reports are accurate, he has been sparing the people who submit. This will give us the time we need. I could round up the navy and push to regroup with Tzen, and—"

"Is there really no other way than abandoning those poor people?" Camb asked.

"I do not see any," Hals answered. "I stand with general Chere's observation. If we do not recoup and form an assault, we will lose everything. There will be no navy to take back those lands. Those people will then suffer indefinitely."

Cambyses swore and leaned into the table, to stare at the report again. How can I make this decision so lightly? So quickly? Hundreds of thousands of lives are depending on me, hoping for my intervention. How could I possibly turn them aside?

"What about the Veldt's advancements?"

"The last report came in that they were beset by roaming naval forces Bertrand had sent north and were securing the lands there, but were making progress to split into groups, with one heading to Thamasa. They lost nothing, but took out three of Roskovo's assault crafts."

I cannot bank on the Veldt's help being timely anymore...even they are being spread too thin.

"If we push east, we might reconvene with the Veldt, right?" Locke looked around the room. "Isn't that an option?"

"And leave the west completely open?" Celes pressed. "No...we cannot afford to leave the Sapphire Sea completely."

We have no choice, he realized, wishing he could go back all these years to when he was just a boy. When no lives depended on him. He sighed and looked at Celes. "How certain are you that you can pull together the forces in time to reach Tzen?"

"I could leave tonight and be there within a week or two. If Bertrand is still at the Isles, there is no way he can reach Tzen before us. The monster, probably, but most certainly not his fleet."

Cambyses stood. "Fine. You will take the remaining fleet and make way for Tzen. Sabin, I will need you to stop by the aerodome and inform Setzer we will require an airship."

"Whatever for?" his father asked.

"I will need someone to take it south, to the borders, and inform the remaining forces there to stretch along the coast between Bekler's Tower and the city of Fenan."

"What for? There's nothing there."

"The south is the easiest option to press Figaro," he said. "He will not be fool enough to try the north, west or east approach. The land will never work to his favor, but the south? There are towns aplenty, granting him resources to continue upland. I will not leave it completely open for him, when the day arrives he sets foot upon our soil."

"I'll go then," Locke offered, lifting a hand. "I'll make sure it's ready and stick around to be sure they're appraised of the situation."

Celes smiled. "You wouldn't be thinking of this to get out of sailing with me, now would you Locke?"

Locke's face went white. "Well...I mean..." he cleared his throat. "I'm just doing my best for the crown." she laughed and leaned over to lean her head against his. "I'll go if you would like me to."

"No," she pulled away. "You have the right of it. Someone must need go south, and I must head east."

"It is settled then?"

"Yes," she said with finality. "I will defend Tzen or I will die trying."

•••••••••••

How could any of them understand her position? They were not born with magic. They were all perfectly human. They never had to fear that subjugation, that experimentation or enslavement. They never had to fear being a piece of their children. But with Terra? The minute magic had come back, that fear bubbled in her. What would her children experience in its return? What would her little girl, born looking esper, have to experience? It was only through some small mercy that Gau and Relm were even able to hide that!

And all of those fears had come true. Her sweet little girl was being used for experiments, for entrapping other living creatures...for the power that flowed in her veins. It didn't matter to her daughter's captors how sweet and caring she was, and it never would. They wouldn't have the memories she had, of her daughter crawling into her lap for stories or giggling furiously over tickles and kisses. They wouldn't care how much of a joyous and loving person she was. They would only take and take from her.

Terra collapsed to the balcony she had escaped to and couldn't breathe over the thoughts. And yet I promised, she thought, clutching at her chest. I promised her I would protect her from this world...I failed. I failed her! She covered her eyes and sobbed. Emma, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry... she felt hatred burning in her then, so uncontrollable. I wish I could end those who have brought you pain, to rid this world of them just for you, but I am weak and useless now.

"Terra?" it was her husband. She couldn't face him. Not right now. Not after everything... "Terra, please, look at me...speak with me. Please." she relented, tearfully. His eyes softened even more when he saw her tears. Behind him, stood their eldest son, looking solemnly at them. "I know I have no right to ask you to have faith, to trust in me, but...but I swear to you that I will stop at nothing to free our daughter."

"What can any of us do?" she asked, sobbing. "For all we know, he has her locked in the deepest section of Roskovo. I will never see my daughter again and all everyone cares about is the stupid world!"

Cambyses stepped forward. "There is something we can do, mother. Something that you can help us with."

Terra angrily looked away. "I already told you, I will not do it."

"If you do not teach us how to use this new magic mother, everything will be lost. Do you really think the world will turn you and Emma aside if they realized magic was outside of the Figaro crown's control? Mother...they already know she has transformed. You told them all. They understood that as magic returning, they just didn't understand exactly how. But they stood by you. By Emma. Can't you give them the trust to do it again?"

"If I do this," she mumbled. "It will truly mean I sent her away for nothing..."

"That's not true," Edgar snapped. "Terra, my love, we sent Emma away not just to seal her magicks, but because of her sickness! Even should it be that we had no reason to fear the world with her, we couldn't have taken that chance with her illness. No parent would have. We didn't do anything wrong by acting in the best interests of her safety. You didn't. Emma doesn't hold you accountable for it, my love. She adores you."

"She doesn't even know why," she said, looking at him. "But when she does, she will hate us all."

Cambyses said, "No, you're wrong. Emma will never stop loving you two. Because that's how she was raised—that was what she learned from you, mother. To love. To forgive."

"That is the one thing I'm most sure of," Edgar added. "That, come what may, our daughter's heart only has room for love." her eyes filled with tears, and yet Edgar tried his hardest to soothe her. "Everything will be alright, my love. I swear it to you. But we need your help. We need you to teach us magic." She looked away, and there was anger int hat sadness as well. "Everything will be alright," he said again. "Everything."

"I can't" she whispered, still crying. "I can't." and then she hurried away.

---

Emma was kneelg with her head down, listening to Bertrand and Barkov debate what to do next and trying very hard to ingore the aching pain in her legs. The day before, they had sent Lucas off on his return to Roskovo. There was a little tension built from that, but Emma wasn't sure why. It didn't ever seem like Bertrand wanted his son around, and yet when he decided to leave, the man became unwrapped. He spent the rest of the day demanding to know what she did to send him away, and threatening to skin her alive if she wouldn't tell him. Ultimately, when his commands drew no answer that pleased him, he had let it drop. But in place of the open threats, there was just the glaring and the knowing that it would come some other way.

"We must press onward to Tzen," Bertrand said. "Controlling it will grant us considerable ease in launching assaults on Figaro."

"I concur, however, if we do not deal with Thamasa, you will not find a pliable enemy in Figaro, but a sleeping dragon. Those savages can raise up at any notice. The fool bitch in charge—" Emma cringed at the words put to Relm. "—can craft any monstrosity she desires and make it flesh. It would serve us better to rid this world of her before we press Tzen or Figaro."

Bertrand turned his gaze to her and she froze. "If you desire an end to Thamasa, then so be." he stood. "Come here, girl." when she got to her feet, she nearly fell a few times, but by the agitated look he passed her, she managed it quick enough and approached with her head still down. "Barkov informs me you have rested well?" She swallowed back a string of excuses to deny the statement and nodded. "Good. I have your second mission ready for you." he jabbed a finger hard onto the spot of the map on the table where Thamasa rested. "You will take this wretched island and deliver it to general Hruntig."

Her eyes widened. "W-what?" take it? What does he mean? No. No. He couldn't possibly mean...

"Is that defiance I hear, girl?"

"N-no, I...I just..." she tried to speak, but the realization of what he wanted was making it difficult. "I'm s-sorry Master, I was just...confused."

There was amusement reflecting in his eyes at her words. "I want you to depart tonight. When you have arrived, you are to press an assault as soon as general Hruntig gives leave to do so. Now leave my sight." he flicked a hand toward her, indicating further for her to leave. She gathered her wits and turned for the door, only to stop when he spoke again. "And girl?" she looked back at him. "If you come back without the heads of the Thamasan monarchy, you will regret it."

Emma could barely breathe. "Y-yes master, of course."

When she finally made it back to her room aboard the ship, she closed the door and pressed her head against it, sealing her eyes shut against tears. This couldn't be happening. It had to be a nightmare. A horrible nightmare that she would wake up from any second now. And yet, as the minutes flew by and there was no waking moment, she knew this was real. That Bertrand had just ordered her to assault Thamasa and bring back the heads of her loved ones, and there was absolutely no escaping it.

What do I do? Emma was panicking. I...I will kill them. I can't go. I can't! But what could she do? Once a command was given, there was no way to circumvent it. She gently bashed her forehead into the wood, frustrated. Please, if you are there...help me. The voice did not stir though. I'm sorry I never listened to you, but please...help me with this...please! And yet there was nothing. But Emma knew it was there; she could still feel its talons in her mind, pulling and pulling. There would be no avoiding this. Tomorrow, she would murder two innocent people who raised her, and there would be nothing she could do but watch helplessly.

Emma crumbled to the floor, crying.

---

Cambyses found his mother standing in his sister's room. She was facing the gaping hole in the wall, with solemn eyes. She clutched a tattered teddy to her chest, as if it were her daughter itself. She did not turn to his approach.

"Can I not have one minute alone?" she asked quietly, stalling his next step. "Please Cambyses...not right now."

"It has to be right now," he said, frowning. "I cannot trust it to father. He would never discomfort you again, after what has happened." at that little joke of his—his ill thought attempt to lighten the mood—she turned to him sharply, brows furrowed.

"Is this a laughing matter to you, Cambyses? To joke about the horrible thing your father had to do to your sister? Is it?"

"Ah, mother, I...I was just trying to lighten the mood. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking..." she turned her piercing eyes away from him then, back to the hole. He stepped forward hesitantly. "Although my joke was in poor taste, we both know there's merit to it. Father will not approach you with this request, and we all understand. It is why I have come in his stead." She shook her head and closed her eyes. "You must hear it mother, you must." he took her by the arm and gently squeezed, until she faced him. "If Bertrand has only ensnared or made one monster, that is one too many for any of us. You must understand that, I know it. If we cannot fell one of them, I cannot hope to imagine how we will storm Roskovo and rescue Emma."

That was enough to make her tear her arm away from him. "Do you think I don't understand how impossible the situation is, Cambyses? Do you think I am so stupid that I could think we could ever rescue my daughter?!"

"Mother, please, that is not true. We will rescue—"

"Do not attempt to placate me!" her howl shut him down quickly. "I don't even know if my daughter is alive and yet you stand there and dare bring up rescuing her when we both know it is impossible?!"

"What would you have me do, mother?!" he snapped. "I am trying not only to protect you and our family, but the entirety of our kingdom! Of course saving my sister is the priority, but I cannot take any further steps towards that if there's a monster between us! If you would but teach magic, we could get closer!"

"Closer?" she repeated, tears freezing, now replaced with anger. "Closer?!" he took a step back, startled by her uncharacteristic anger. "How dare you! It has been years and we have done nothing! Nothing whatsoever! I hear every day, 'we will save her soon!' and 'mother, we need to do this first'! There are always things that need to be done first. My daughter is never put first by anyone in this hell of a world except by me! So how can you tell me we will get closer when we never do?!"

Cambyses was at a lost for words, not only because he had never seen his mother so furious—and there were many times, after his sister's rape all those years ago—but because her words had struck iron through his heart. And he could not deny it, hearing it now, and so harshly. There were things always getting in the way, one more step that kept them more steps behind saving his sister. It was never planned, of course, and unavoidable...but still the truth. However it happened, it seemed that the world only pushed his sister further down the priority list. And now, with a monster raging about the world at the heed of a mad man? Cambyses could understand his mother's fury, and her loss of hope to ever see her daughter again.

And now, Cambyses too, was sick of it. He missed his sister. He missed teasing her. He missed the way she would annoy them all with her incessant humming, or drumming on surfaces when she was sitting. He missed the way she would yell and turn all red whenever something went wrong for her, even if it were minor, and most of all...he missed the way she hugged. The warmth and love of it. The way it said 'I will always cherish you'. And if he missed it all so much it hurt him, what was his mother and father feeling?

"You're right," he muttered, turning his gaze to the hole in the room. There was a swarming anger building in his chest. "I have always pushed and pushed that we needed to do other things first...and that will not change." he heard the gentle intake of air from her, the anger and fear mounting. "We are still an army short to storm Roskovo, but I acknowledge your words. You are right, as much as it pains me to hear it. It seems as if all the world is set against your daughter returning, but if we could make reality out of wishes and hopes, we wouldn't be in this mess."

She looked away, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You should leave. You already know my answer."

"I cannot do that," he whispered. "Will you truly not teach magic because things have not developed at the pace you desire?" he knew he was pressing it with his questions, but he had to make her see reason. "There is still hope we can save Emma, but not if we let that monster roam. You know it. If we take it out, we just have to wait on the Veldt's arrival. And then we can sail for Roskovo. For Emma. But we cannot do any of that, unless you help me mother. Please."

His mother shook her head. "All everyone can ever think about is someone else, something else...my daughter is never anyone's concern." she turned her teary eyes to him. "I will teach magic, but only if you swear to me that something will come of it. You must swear it, Cambyses, and you must mean it. Do not say the words if you cannot mean it."

"Something to come of it?" he repeated. "Mother, I am always trying...!"

"No," she said, sharply. "I do not want anything short of promises, of actual action."

"What do you expect? Do you think that if you teach magic, I will suddenly have an army?"

She said, "Then my answer is no."

Cambyses tightened his jaw, annoyed. "So this is it, then? You say no, stubborn to the last, and leave us all to this Roskovian hellhound? Is that truly what you desire?"

"What I desire?" he saw the spark of anger returning to her eyes. "What I want, Cambyses, is my daughter! What I want is to wake up in the morning and for everything to be normal...for my daughter to be safe and sound in her bed. Instead, I stand here deprived of my only moments alone, while my son flaunts my daughter's imprisonment in front of me as an attempt to cow me into a decision he wants."

That made Cambyses go pink in the face. He had only meant to poke a little, to help her see the irrational denial could only harm their chances, but now that it was flung in his face he couldn't help but notice that was what he was doing. "Mother, I'm sorry... I...I am frustrated and am trying to get you to understand. If we are to ever have a hope of winning this war and saving Emma, we cannot do it with this beast on the loose. We must have a way to fight it. You are that way. Our only way." he took a deep breath. "If I must beg you, I will. I will prostrate myself before you, if I must."

"I will teach..." he looked at her, waiting for the condition to come again. "...but hear me when I say this Cambyses: you will have three months to show me progress. If I feel it is not enough," she pressed the teddy to her again. "I am leaving."

"What?"

"I will leave," she repeated, harder. "I will fight this creature myself if it carves a way through to my daughter. I will do this with or without you or an army behind me. I will not wait any longer for these perfect conditions of yours to rescue my daughter. This will be your only deal. If you do not take it, I do not care. I will leave immediately." she walked over to the destroyed remnants of his sister's dresser and placed the teddy there before facing him again. "And no one will stop me. Now make your decision."

Cambyses knew she was serious. The look in her eyes... "Alright." his voice was quiet. "I accept."

---

The port city of Crestov came into view by early morning. A large naval fleet rested in its waters, and surrounding the city was a newly constructed wall, fortified and manned. It was the second largest city in Roskovo, and was now controlled by the Figaro crown. The forest around the southern and eastern part of the city had long since been cleared and in the cleared fields, were men working the wood into defensive structures and siege weaponry.

His guide, a soldier by the name of Heston, stopped them at the tree line. "This is as far as we can take you. A princeling will be afforded the appropriate ransoms and such, but us? We meager soldiers? They will cut our heads off before we can even say a word."

"I would not let them," Eric said. "I would insist upon your character, that—"

"Save your breath, kid," Heston cut in. "Our king, whether we want him as such or not, sent boys over to hurt their princess and now holds her as a prisoner, torturing her. Do you really think anything we say will matter?"

Eric swallowed back a cry. Sent boys over... he felt like throwing up. "And you think they would let me through unharmed? I...I am one of those boys you mentioned. I hurt her. You did not."

"But you will grant them a chance at demands from Bertrand," he said. "For that, they will not kill you. And for that, we know you will be safe. However, we cannot put ourselves in danger. We will not argue it." he gave Eric a rough pat on the shoulder. "Good luck, princeling." and then he started to clear his group back through the woods.

Eric watched them go and then stayed where he was for the longest time, afraid to follow them and return to the only home he ever really knew, and too afraid to confront the army and navy of the crown of Figaro. His mother's words echoed through his mind then and he stilled himself. Whatever fear he felt was nothing compared to the fear and turmoil Emma felt every day. He was sure he could do it, if she could stand up against that.

His march down the hill and out of the woods was short and brisk, and he knew as soon as the soldiers working in the fields saw him, he would either be littered with arrows or surrounded. He counted to twenty seconds after arriving in the field before a dozen soldiers surrounded him, armed to the teeth, and shouting for him to put his hands up. He did more than that. He put his hands up and then promptly knelt to get down onto the ground, to give them even less reason to suspect he was going to do anything.

A soldier quickly grabbed at his arms and locked them behind him, and then dragged him up to his feet. The questioning was quick, but Eric did as he was instructed. Demand to see whoever was in charge. Over and over again. They were becoming more and more annoyed and afraid though, he could tell. They began to argue about just killing him, sticking him in the stocks or actually taking him to whom was in charge. Eric was afraid they were leaning more towards killing him outright, and decided it was time.

"I will speak with whoever is in charge and only him. I have important intelligence to report on Roskovo and the princess of Figaro."

That immediately brought their arguing to a halt. They were staring wide eyed at him, but the gleams of anger burned behind those stares. One of the soldiers grabbed him sharply by the shoulder and shoved him to the ground. "You don't get to speak about her, you shit stain!" So, it was clear then they knew exactly who he was. And hearing about their princess from one who had hurt her...

Eric tightened his jaw. Be strong! "I must speak with whoever is in charge! Do you wish to anger him by killing me, or delaying our meeting?! Do you wish to be the ones who stopped vital information about your enemy, and the princess?!" they all looked at each other, unsure. "If you so wish, you can kill me after I have said what I need to! Cut me from limb to limb, I do not care! But I must speak with someone in charge first!"

The one who had spoken earlier approached, glaring. "We shall see!" and then bashed Eric over the head with pommel of his sword.

•••••••••••

Eric woke to a low murmur of voices, head throbbing. It was difficult to focus his blurry eyes on what was around him, but when his head cleared and his eyes finally took in his surrounding, the voices stopped. Aware of his awakening. He was in a hall now, and it was heavily crowded with soldiers. A man walked out from the group and glanced about the hall as he ordered them all out. They left reluctantly, each passing him a look that screamed bloody murder. There was no question who this man was. Eric had seen him a few times back in Figaro, always from afar, but how could one forget a general of the crown?

Suon knelt a foot or so in front him, his face hard. "You should pray to whatever fiendish god you worship boy, for the fact that I did not have you skinned alive for stepping foot in this city. Yes, that's right. I know who you are. A princeling of Roskovo. One of the sick bastards that beat and raped our princess."

Eric did not duck his eyes. He had to be strong. He had to be. For his mother and his little brother, and especially so for Emma. He swallowed hard, hoping it would settle his nerves. "I decided to still come to Crestov even despite you knowing who I am. In fact, I was hoping that you would."

Suon's eyes narrowed. "Are you testing me, boy?"

"No," he said quickly. "I just knew that you were the only one that would listen to me...even if it should precede a sword."

Suon stood, hand going to his sword. "Then speak what filth you came here to spout boy, and I shall judge whether you go back to Figaro for a trial or die here."

Eric slowly got up, making sure each movement was accepted by his captor and host, as he did so. His head was ringing and now he felt where the blood had dried down his forehead, but it made no comparison to the pain in his heart and his soul for the things he was about to tell this man. For all of the horrors he would know their princess endured. He needed to start from the beginning.

"As you are well aware, I am a prince of Roskovo. I did not ask for this title, nor have I ever wanted it, but that is such that I am. I have been close to most if not all matters related to my father's authority, save those he reserved for himself and his close counsel, or that of my older brother." he took a breath. Come on. You must do it. But he feared the sword would stick through him with the next words. "I have been close even to the princess." Suon took a half step closer, hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "There are things you could not begin to understand... the origins of this land you stand on, all of these people, my father...even your princess."

"Speak it plainly before I lop that head of yours off your neck!"

And he means it, he thought. "Have you heard the reports yet of a monster attacking cities?" he had to have. Eric didn't know what he would do if he hadn't. There would be no way he would believe the tale then.

Suon hesitated. "Yes, I have. A damnable creation of hell for which the world owes thanks to your father, I assume."

"Yes, that is correct. My father, and his team of scientists, all of which was assembled from forgotten men of the Empire, save a few who were not given an option to join or not. But no, my father did not create the creature..." Gods, let him believe me... if he does not, Emma will never be saved. "...and the creature is no monster. It...it is the princess of Figaro!"

Suon had lost all composure with the revelation. His eyes widened, first in disbelief, but then tears burned in them. Eric took it's meaning well. The Figaro crown's highest knew of the girl's blood, and for a long time. It made the happenings after the supposed rampage in Figaro all the more understandable, in how they got her out with out harm.

"That...that cannot be," he choked on his words. "No, that is...that is not possible."

"I assure you, it is the princess!"

"The...the details of it!" he cried. "It cannot be! That is not what she looked like!"

Eric frowned. "I am sorry to bring this to you, but it had to be given. And the reasons for her differences, I cannot say with certainty, but I can tell you that my father and those scientists have been meticulously experimenting on her with..." he hesitated before going. What point was there to keep this part secret? "...with esper blood."

"What?!" he started to pace, nervously. "That cannot be! The espers, they have all been...but who knows? The Empire could have had samples or...or..." he stopped pacing to glare at Eric. "No! This is all a farce! Even if I were to believe that was the princess, she would never hurt people like that! She would never do such atrocities for the likes of Bertrand!"

"She does," he said firmly. "But she does so not of her own will. My father has...has done something to her mind. They have made her incapable of denying him, of anything. She does whatever he bids...even attack cities!"

The great general looked ready to flee, to cry. And Eric understood that well. The princess was cherished by the crown's most loyal, and that was well known. He had often heard rumors that Suon had come to love Emma as if she were family and now, seeing the tears, Eric believed it. "Please...I know what I have done. I know the evils I did. But you must believe me, or your princess will never know freedom again. If the world does not know it is the princess, they will kill her! I am not here to beg you for mercy. I do not deserve it. You may kill me, I will deserve that, but I beg you to please take me to king Edgar of Figaro before it is too late! My father means to march on Figaro, after he has conquered the eastern front!"

Suon focused his eyes on him. "Aye... I will take your words to Figaro's king and we shall judge the merit of your words there, and it may be that you will die despite its accuracy."

Eric steeled himself against the fear. If it came to be, it came to be. He would deserve nothing less than death. "I understand. I am not here for protecting myself. I am here to protect the princess!"

---

Emma had arrived a few miles off the coast of western Thamasa earlier than she was expected to, and landed on a few rocky sections of the island's minor chains to watch the sun slowly rising over the horizon, basking the land she had called home almost all her life in golden lights. To her north, the blockade of Roskovo. A navy a dozen strong against Thamasa, whom had no navy itself. Along the coast was the encampment of the island's defenders, and by the looks of it, they had withheld many sieges and were still standing strong. It was of course not a surprise. With their leader being able to create things to reality at will, walls, weaponry, food...all of that could be solved within seconds.

She turned her eyes passed the encampment to the distance beyond it, and spotted the familiar outline of the castle. In contrast to Figaro's darker stone, Thamasa was constructed with grey slate and accented with marble. Under the direct light of the sun, it was almost impossible to discern against the horizon.

Gods, please protect them. She thought as she flew towards the naval fleet.

When she landed on deck, she spotted general Hruntig easily. He was in conversation with several officers when he finally spotted her. He sent the men away and approached, without any of the unease other soldiers made at her appearance. He stopped short of her. "So, the king's demon is here at last." she kept her mouth shut and her eyes forward. "You were dangerously close to being late, demon, but now that you are here we can begin."

Emma thought to ask for an hour's rest first, so she would have the energy to even fight, but immediately held her tongue. No, this was perfect. As exhausted as she was, there was no way she would be able to put up much of a fight at all. Perhaps then, she could finally be stopped...finally have that final rest. "We will start with the invasion. I will have our men make our main camp south of the capitol, and you will wait there until I give the order to assault. Is that clear, demon?"

She nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Hruntig smiled and faced the castle in the distance. "Then let the show begin."

---

The last update they received from Figaro was well over six months old now. The blockade set up by Roskovo was successful in blocking all forms of communication and trade. Relm and Gau ordered rationing a year ago, but increased the rationing twice since. There was one instance of revolt, but the crowd was quickly settled and the food stores were shown to them, so that they knew the crown was not hoarding for personal gain. Since there, they had no unrest. Everyone knew the precarious situation they were in, and that the enemy was waiting to tear at their throats.

Roskovo's demands remained the same since the first day; surrender and renounce Figaro to swear fealty to the Roskovian crown instead. And while Relm and Gau denied the demands they were still trying very hard to negotiate. If only as a means of delaying them, of distraction. They just had to wait on Figaro. But the wait was starting to gnaw at them, and the worry was growing with each passing hour.

And now the whispers of another revolt was on the wind, just as the naval fleet blocking them looked to be moving positions.

"We have set up the requested guards," a man in his late forties said as he followed his king and queen through the castle's halls. "Four men stationed at every merchant store, two at each pub unless they are in viewing and walking distance and sealed the blacksmith shops. But none of it has helped."

"We will have to make another announcement," Relm said quietly beside her husband. "It is all we can do to calm them, even for another day."

"Sooner or later they are going to want food in their bellies than thoughts in their heads," Gau mumbled, stopping them outside their war room. "I can lead a group of sailors east, try to bring something back."

Relm clearly wasn't in the mood for heroics from her husband. "Into uncharted waters? No. All that would do is risk your life and the lives of good sailors."

"Then what?" he asked her tartly. "It is that or we give into Bertrand's demands. I cannot see anymore starving children Relm, I can't."

"I do not condone reckless behavior," Relm told him sternly. "Your family needs you. This kingdom needs you. You will not risk their fate because you want to try something foolish. We are done discussing it."

Gau's face twisted in agitation. "We aren't done. I'm not letting them starve."

"I don't expect you to," she snapped. "But I expect you to act like an adult and think this through. You cannot risk it."

"Fine," he grumbled as they all entered the war room. "General Epson, where are we with our negotiation party?"

The man behind them, Epson, walked by them to the table and rolled a map out for them to see. "It hasn't been going well. We sent one party a bit north here," he pointed to a space of water between smaller islands. "but it has yet to return. Could be the coral got them, or could be Bertrand's army got to them. To be safe, we sent a four man ship directly west, through here—" he trailed his finger across the ocean directly into the open sea west of them. "—and last got our update two days ago. They were taken in and were awaiting discussions with the general leading the navy."

"I don't suppose we are expecting negotiations to clear with this man?" Gau asked, voice strained with worry and anger.

"You grace, I am sorry, but I do not suspect we will see that ship return. I expect the men have already been executed, but we had to do what we had to."

Relm crossed her arms and glared across the surface of the map, as if she could see something they couldn't. There had to be something they could do. The eastern waters were too dangerous to risk lives. It was overrun with monsters and pirates, and worse of all, weather straight from hell. They had one successful voyage out east, found a smaller island. The locals were primitive, but were horribly violent. They could try for that island again, but the danger...What else could they do? Was Gau right? Was a trip eastward their only option?

"What about south? Or north?" Gau asked, breaking her out of her thinking. "Could we make a run for the Veldt? I'm sure Qudin would be willing to help us with supplies, at least."

"True," Epson said. "King Cambyses did strike an alliance with him, didn't he?"

Relm clamped her mouth shut over that. When she had read the letter detailing the conditions of the alliance, it pissed her off. Cambyses had promised Qudin a chance to talk to his sister about her hand in marriage. A chance to talk. Against her consent. She had no doubt that if his parents weren't so against it, he would have sold her hand to get that alliance. When she saw him again, she would be sure to let him know just how much she didn't approve.

"...aye, we could get king Cambyses to agree to more if it means helping Thamasa, correct?"

Relm looked up at her general, eyes sizzling in rage. "Oh, at the expense of one girl?"

Epson looked from his king to his queen. "My Queen, I didn't mean..."

"What else do you expect Cambyses to offer Qudin that the man would want besides Emma?" she pressed hotly. "Well?"

"Alright, alright," Gau laughed dryly, waving his hands. "Let us concentrate on getting north first. If we make the trip, should we risk it by putting our officials through?"

They were silent for a moment, contemplating it. If Bertrand was to move on Thamasa, and succeed, then the best option now would be to get someone of high rank out now, so that if Thamasa was ever to be reclaimed, there would be someone with the right to it. Relm thought of her daughter immediately.

"Aria," she whispered, the idea of separating from her daughter crushing her. "If we can get through safely, we need to get her out of her. If something were to happen to us, she would be in line. And safely out of Bertrand's way. I would not put it pass that man to murder a child." he's already torturing and raping one now, she thought sickly. "Gau?" she looked to him for his input and saw tears in his eyes.

"I know we must," he admitted, trying not to cry. "I do not want to lose her the way I lost Cyan...the way you lost your grandfather." Relm reached out to grab his hand. "I don't want to risk you, either. Please, Relm, take Aria and head north. Qudin will protect you, I know he will."

"You expect me to leave you behind?"

"I do. For our daughter's safety, and for the future of Thamasa. You must do this."

Relm squeezed his hand. "I will send Aria away, but I will not abandon you." she looked to Epson. "I want a small fleet prepared for the morning. It will break off due north from a smaller band containing Aria, and sweep back to the main blockade. This fleet must get navy's attention when coming back, or Aria will never make it."

"Yes ma'am, of course. Who shall I send to accompany princess Aria?"

"Is captain Jaque back from the islands?"

"Yes my queen, he arrived earlier this morning."

"Then we shall send him and his son north with Aria." Gau shifted away from the table. "Now we must consider defending our civilians if war reaches us. I was thinking on it this morning. What if we moved the civilians into the mountains, the high ground, and fortify the capital? We know that Derell would seek the capital out first, or his men would. It is here that we should make our stand."

Epson nodded in agreement. "I was about to suggest much the same. Do you know the tunnels little Emma—she's not so little anymore, sorry—used to play in? What if I set my men below to blow the support columns just as enemy forces cross into the capital? It would also create a decent trench and give us more time to prepare our catapults and ammunition."

"Brilliant," Relm said with a smile of relief. She didn't think there would be anything they could do to prepare for Bertrand's onslaught at all. "What if we also set traps across the ground?"

"I could think of a few things to try," Epson said. "I will need at least a week to prepare the plans, but it sounds possible."

Gau sighed. "Then this is it...we fight."

Relm took her husband's hand, tightly. "We will get through this. Together."

He smiled back at her. "Together."

•••••••••••

Relm sprang up from her sleep to the distant sound of bugles and turned to look out her opened window. The horizon glowed orange and the sky darkened gray. Slowly she threw her blankets off and walked over toward the window. Her breath left her. For in the horizon a great fire burned away and the sea was cluttered by the enemy's navy fast.

They were attacking.

Quickly she started for her husband, who slept soundly underneath all their quilt blankets. "Gau! Gau! Get up now!"

He dug out from the blankets with a yawn. "Relm? What time is it?"

"Gau, we're under attack! Get up now and get down to the armory! I have to get to the castle bugle!" she was digging through the box at the end of their bed for her 'war attire' even as he scrambled out of bed and recovered his belongings. He stopped for a second before the window, horrified by the sight. Had they jinxed it? What changed to force the enemy into action? Were his people safe in the southern mountains? Would...would they fail?

"Gau," he heard his wife calling, but his eyes could not look away from the inferno sweeping across the open field toward their capital. Toward thousands of homes. "Gau!" suddenly she pulled him away from the window, now dressed in her armor, carrying sword and brush alike. She was ready to fight to the death. "Listen to me...you must get to the armory and help Epson manage the tunnels. Their ground army will not be far off. We must be ready to halt their advance by the gates." he wasn't looking at the fire anymore, but the floor's stone. "Gau, are you listening to me?"

After a moment, he swallowed back anxiety and looked up at Relm. "I am. Go. Get to the bugle, and then sweep toward the south end of the capital with Vathos' men. I will hold this end as long as I can." she leaned over to kiss his lips, lovingly.

"We will get through this. Together."

"Together," he added with a warm smile before he pushed the window open and stood on the ledge. Morning birds sprang from the ledges in surprise and he jumped forward, merging with one of the birds even as his wife hurried down the stairs.

As she ran through the castle she caught a squadron of soldiers desperately trying to escort sickly soldiers or injured ones out of the capital. She caught the captain fretting over how to accomplish getting them out safely. She took him aside. "Take the eastern tunnels until you reach the 'evacuation' sign. Take the right tunnel all the way down. You will see several guards waiting for you."

He bowed to her. "Thank you, my queen! Men, you heard her! To the eastern tunnels! Now!" he paused to look at her one more time. "Ma'am...don't worry. With you and Gau here, the city will not fall. Not to the likes of Bertrand, or Roskovo!"

I pray you are right, Relm thought. "With able-bodied men like yourself, you make leading possible. Now you really must hurry. If you happen upon the civilian evacuation party further down the road to the mountains, protect them as best as you can." He saluted her and then stormed off after his men. Afterward Relm made her next stop the warning tower, where the war bugle was installed.

There were no men stationed at the bugle and Relm had no time to wonder why they had abandoned their positions. She blew the bugle once, then twice and then again. She waited, watching the streets below for any bugler. None. She repeated herself but the result was the same. Where were her men? She blew it once again. This time, men rushed out from surrounding buildings, some carrying injured people or sickly ones, others armed. There were only two buglers.

She leaned over the railing and shouted, "You two," she gestured to the bugle men. "One of you come with me, the other meet the king at the western gate. The rest of you, form up lines and secure the wall alongside the king. Go!" the rest of the men split away from her, leaving one bugler behind.

When she was beside him, he was panicking. "What are we going to do?"

"We will do whatever we must to protect this land and its people." she gripped his shoulder hard. "Now keep at this bugle until the rest of the capitol forces have responded. You will leave this spot only when the fighting as nearly reached you. Am I understood?"

"Yes, your grace!"

•••••••••••

From Gau's position at the wall, he could spot the enemy gathering along the hills a mile or so. His flight earlier had revealed the rest of the hostile forces tucked away behind the first line, outnumbering Thamasan forces. That, itself, did not worry Gau. He knew sheer number could only get Bertrand's military so far, but the few siege towers and catapults concerned him. If it came down to it, he knew he would have to try and deal with the weaponry first and foremost-even should it be a suicide run to do so. In that, he could at least also secure some sort of revenge against Bertrand for the horrors he committed against Emma. A girl he had come to love as his own daughter. And, if he succeeded, he was certain it would tip the favors towards Thamasa and thus save his daughter and his wife.

I will sunder this world if it means saving them, he thought, watching the fires light across the hill. This morning, he would let himself run rampant, even should it be his last morning.

His resolve thickened when the enemy's warning bugle resounded through the smokey air. The men behind him, plastered behind shields and wooden shields on rolling tables, threw their arms into the air to answer the enemy with a war cry. Adrenalin rushed through them all. Another warning and this time the enemy poured down from their position on the hill, crying themselves. The siege weaponry began to tip over the hill even as the men were halfway to the wall.

Quickly Gau turned by his waist, lifted a hand and then threw it forward and shouted, "Fire!" boulders rushed over head in a roar, set ablaze and smashed into the ground, rolling and rolling, its path smearing down soldiers like grass until it met the steepness of the hill behind them and rolled back into a stop. Some of their catapults were smashed or otherwise overturned, while their towers remained unscathed.

Gau growled. "Fire!" he shouted again when the men readied the catapults. Another round came, another round missed the towers. One of the soldiers beside him became nervous, his crossbow shaking. Gau took a firm hold of the lad's arm, steadying. "Keep it steady son, we will win this yet."

The man's eyes, brown saucers, went back to the enemy, their impending doom. "But...but sir, there are so many—"

Gau have him a firm shove. "Even the largest colony of ants can be overcome. Do not linger on numbers. Consider the Imperials' defeat! Their numbers were vast! They had weapons far beyond what the Returners could hope to build, and yet the few defeated the many. Remember that when you enter battle today, and you will not die."

"Y-Yes sir!"

Gau turned from the lad and looked off to his side, catching General Epson commanding off his own catapults. One of his hit one of the towers, bringing it down around the enemy. He wasted no time; he had the archers fire while the men ahead of them scrambled out of the way of falling debris.

An idea struck him. It was an old tactic of warfare. It was simple but destructive. He turned around to the catapults as the men began to lift one of the boulders.

"You there, forget the boulder this time around."

"But my king—" the men began, but were silenced.

"—We shall show Bertrand's dogs what Thamasa is capable of! Now bring any flammable liquids you can and load them up in barrels. We shall see if these dogs are as impervious as the mad king claims them to be." let them taste the touch of fire's embrace, he thought, pointed to the second round of catapults. "When ready, fire as normal. Put anything you can into it; boulders, furniture, metals, debris—anything we can afford to discard." then he hurried down the length of the wall to the archers aligned perfectly against the wall, waiting for their prime opportunity to strike. He explained the situation to them as Epson appeared.

"But surely they have thought of it," the captain of the archers mumbled. "It would be a waste of liquids, of time."

Gau growled. "Launch the damn liquids. Do not make the mistake of disregarding your king's commands."

"My king, I hadn't meant it like that...I just..."

"Your Majesty, please, understand the lad's view," Epson cut in. "Every military that has ever existed knows of this tactic. All of them have come up with some form of manner to combat it. Doing this will only rid us of supplies faster."

"I understand," Gau said, trying to fight back the tone he so meant to give. "But most armies, most battles, never fought with a mage."

Epson smiled tiredly. "That is so, your grace. That is so."

Good, he thought, I cannot have anymore questioning me. Now right now! "When we have launched the liquids, I shall handle the rest. Fire until you have depleted your source and return to whatever you can launch. If my wife makes it here, tell her she must either come find me on the field-she will know what I mean-or retreat to the second wall." they were still standing there, dumbfounded. He growled. "Have I made myself clear or must I repeat myself?"

Epson shook his head and then saluted him. "You lead, my king."

"Good. We must keep them back until the catapults have been properly equipped. Until then, I'm taking a regiment through the wall to secure the gate. If any rogue squadrons get too close, do whatever you must to keep them off the door."

Epson bowed. "Yes my king, be safe." and then he went back to directing his men. Gau immediately leapt over the side of the wall down into a free space among his men, startling them for half a second, and then found his regiment standing aside, shifting anxiously.

Gau took a moment to look them over, and consider his words. "My gallant soldiers," he said, watching as they straightened to watch him. "The hour has arrived that will test us. I cannot make you any promises that we will not perish defending this land, but I can promise you that if we put our entire being into protecting it, that our deaths will not taste so bitter. Every moment we fight here, that we hold these savages back, is another moment our brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, sons and daughters step closer to safety, to peace, once more. I will not force any man here that wishes to depart for whatever reasons they might harbor, but I pray that you will stand beside me and help me repel these hounds back to the hell they crawled from. If not for the oaths you swore, I ask you of it so that we may stop their evil in its tracks." the men were quiet. "For all of these years, you have served me and mine honorably, so make your decisions knowing that you will have my undying loyalty and support in whatever it is you decide. And that I will not stop today until I can make our beautiful land safe and free again, even should it cost me life." he drew his sword and held it high. "If you are with me, my brothers and comrades!" The men began shouting and howling with encouragement and praise and promises, throwing their swords and fists into the air with excitement. Gau smiled. "Then let us rain hell upon these hounds!"

They rushed upon the gate with battle cries, hacking their way through the few men of Roskovo that had managed to break through somehow. Gau slayed his way through four men to the stairs leading to the battlements, determined to find where they were crawling in through. Archers on their side were raining down arrows upon the enemy, but were distracted and could not see the ladders being brought up around them. Below, the battle ram smashing into the gate reverberated everything.

"Hold! Hold!" Gau cried down to his men from the battlements, kicking a Roskovian soldier off the ladder he had secured against the side of the wall. "Hold!" he cried again when the door bucked against the men's hold. "Hold!" this time he sheathed his sword and kicked the ladder back. Three men fell over thirty feet to their backs, either dying from the fall or to their new crippled lives.

Gau reached for another ladder, shoved it and looked down at his men to see how they were fairing. The gate bucked against their hold once again, showing wear. With a snarl, Gau scanned the skyline frantically. There was one lone raven.

"Hold, men! I shall bring you a reprieve!" and then he concentrated on the bird and was gone the next instant, his body fast approaching the bird in a swirl of bright colors. His spirit collided with the raven and with just a half second of fight, it gave over control. From this aerial view, he could see the enemy's numbers in greater detail. There were thousands already down the hill, and if he estimated right, thoughts more on the hill, to defend the camp. Thinking quickly, Gau soared to the east, as quick as his wings could carry him. He flew passed more Roskovian men before he made it to the open fields out east.

His eyes caught on the large shape of a prowling green dragon immediately. He swooped down low enough to prevent injury from a Leap and separated from the raven's body. In a flash of rainbows he dived for the dragon. It looked up at him, snarled and opened its mouth to spew fire but stopped as his spirit merged with the beast's body.

For a moment the dragon fought him, it's power and will fiercer than most creatures, but in the end its will subsided and Gau gained full control. It was always made him sad to Leap into a creature, but he was always careful and tried to keep it from pain as much as he could. The years of training and honing his skill had made that possible. In a calm voice, he spoke to the dragon, feeling its fear. I shall release you from this bond soon, proud dragon, I promise. I require your might for just a little while. And then he took to the skies, scattering the chocobo the dragon had been hunting.

•••••••••••

Once Relm had the wall secured, she helped general Amos reorganize his disbanded soldiers and they worked together to seal a hole in the gate. It was short work, with their archers keeping most of the enemy at bay from the gate.

When it was through, the general took her aside. Amos was sweaty and dirty, and he looked afraid. Though she knew not for himself. "My queen, please. You mustn't remain here any longer. The danger is ever present, and not a one of us can fight with our all knowing you are here, within reach of the enemy."

Relm knew there was no point in arguing with him about staying or not, and so ignored that bit altogether. She turned her gaze to survey the rolling hills the enemy had encamped themselves on, and watched begrudgingly as the enemy began to retreat behind lines, just as their siege weaponry was push forward again. If only she could put her foot into the ring, she could decimate them all easily. No, she thought herself. I must save it for an emergency...

She looked at Amos. "I must find Gau. Will you and your men be alright here until reinforcements have arrived?"

Amon bowed. "Of course, your grace! They will not breach this wall so long as we stand here."

When she was clear of general Amos she made her way to her husband's walls. When she arrived she found his regiment desperately trying to secure their gate, for the enemy was bashing against them with ferocity. She leaned over the wall to peer closer into their numbers for her husband and could not find him. "Men, where is my husband?" the men below could not afford to spare a single soul, but she was pulled away from the edge of the wall by general Epson.

"Your Majesty, 'tis foolishness to hang over a ledge!"

She had no time for his worry. "I asked where my husband is, Epson."

"He Leapt into a raven, my queen, and hasn't returned."

Relm looked towards the field, scanning the enemy for any animal or beast, and then looked skyward. There in the distance, she could make out the sparkle of something large flying toward the enemy encampment. She knew instantly what it was and smiled. She looked to Epson. "Please tell me you did as my husband commanded you and doused the enemy in flammables?"

"Yes, my queen, but it was for nothing. The enemy was prepared for our fire arrows and drew up their shields when fired upon."

Relm said, "They will find no safety with their shields, general. Be sure of it." she pointed a dainty finger toward the sparkling mass in the distance.

Epson gaped. "Is that his majesty?!"

"Aye! Now quickly, call back the men, before he arrives! And you!" she hollered over the edge of the wall to her husband's regiment. "Hold that gate and be very still for a moment!" the men grunted their replies, and held their positions quietly against the heaving against the gate. Quickly she retrieved one of the brushes slung across her waist and a smaller jar of silver paint. She uncovered a rolled paper from the other side of her waist and began. She quickly sketched out a large, mythril shield attached to columns to act as an overhead shield for the men at the gate. She held the paper out above them and the drawing took to real life.

With magic gone her artistic talents had always been known to still exist—for reasons many tried to figure out, even Terra, rather desperately—so her men were accustomed to it and did not flinch or look about as the contraption started to build itself above them. The next moment she drew herself one of the mythril shields and hid behind it as her husband neared.

•••••••••••

The enemy encampment was easily visible from the sky, but it was not his target in mind. At least, not for now. The pressing concern was the assault on the gate and the walls. It would not take much to take care of that problem, though. So he closed his wings and dove straight down for them. The wind rushed by him in loud howls and when he threw his wings open just twenty or so feet above the enemy, he let loose a column of fire upon the men and flew on, igniting not only soldier alight, but the catapults and siege towers as well. The howls of men was sickening to hear, but Gau knew it was the price to pay to keep innocents-and his family-safe. Those that survivored either crawled away or died more slowly. Their weapons and caches were absolutely destroyed.

The encampment began firing at him, but their arrows, spears and bolts either deflected off his harden scales or missed entirely. He turned his attention towards the encampment then and as he dove in for another attack, heard the confused shouting below him.

"A dragon!", "Dragon!" and "Shoot it down!" were just one of the many things his heightened hearing picked up.

Gau turned, elegantly avoiding another bolt aimed for his ribs and did a twirl to avoid the next barrage of fire, before landing behind a large swath of them and whipping his spiked tail through them. Men were either split in two or flung about like ragdolls. Before they could move their bolt throwers in his direction, he fired upon them all again and then took flight.

From his great height, he watched solemnly as the enemy's army began to cripple by fleeing or through the casualties he had bestowed upon them. He watched as the fire overtook the hills—the same hills he had played with his daughter and Emma through—, leaving nothing behind but the husks of men and weaponry.

How many must die before this world accepts peace? He turned from the encampment and made his way back to the wall, landing rough on the opposite side. He tore what remained of the battering ram to pieces before looking up at the face of his wife. He smelt her long before he noticed her by sight. She smiled down at him.

"My dear husband, Amos is in dire straights. Would you perhaps grant him a reprieve for me?"

He answered her question with a thundering growl and took back to the sky. He faintly heard her thanking him as he soared through the sky and met the assault by the other part of the Roskovian military. He dived and clawed, glided and attacked with fire and picked catapults up and various other objects to toss and fling back at them. They scattered from the wall—Amos shouted in appreciation from the wall—and retreated to their company, but Gau dropped in front of them and let loose a flame.

The rest of the soldiers withdrew, their war bugles resounding through the hum of battle, and Gau turned his massive head around to watch them flee. It was not over yet. He knew that if the enemy were allowed to retreat and refortify, they would attack with new strength, but he could not bring himself to kill fleeing soldiers. He determined then to stay in the dragon and watch their retreat and at the first sign of regroup, attack.

A thunderous screech shattered the sky then and pierced his sense of hearing so sharply he drew back with a pained howl and felt the control momentarily slip from his grasp before regaining control. He sought out the source, his eyes blurry still from the sound, and spotted something flying towards him.

A small figure flew through the smoke ahead of him and landed gracefully in front of the fleeing Roskovians. Gau watched in confusion as the men slid desperately to a halt, as it was clear they stopped for one thing only. Fear. Gau strained his enhanced eyesight to better look at this creature. It stood taller than any human could, with limbs that were too long and thin and bent in awkward ways. It's body was comprised of red and black fur, but the wings that expanded behind it was of red membrane. Atop its head, two twisted black horns and whipping behind it, a long tail with a pointed end. It's hair almost looked like fire dancing in the wind.

He could only find one way to describe this creature. It's a demon, he thought, staring at it as it folded its wings and gave the Roskovians another screech. The men began to uneasily part way for the creature, too afraid to turn their backs on it.

Gau had scoured the ends of the planet and had seen everything it had to offer, but not once had he ever come across something like this. No animal or monster. And he understood immediately what it meant—that Bertrand had been creating horrors in Roskovo and this beast was the result. He felt terror creep into his heart. He could feel this immense power radiating off of this beast, and this undeniable bloodlust that made the consciousness of the dragon hurl itself against his control. If it terrified the dragon, Gau could not underestimate it. I cannot let that thing into the capitol, he couldn't let it happen under any circumstance.

The beast screeched again and was airborne so quickly that Gau did not even have the time to adjust direction. It appeared beside him half a heart beat later and as it raised a hand, he tried to snap at it. The demon elegantly dodged it mid-air and then punched the side of his head. Everything whipped passed him in a blur and the control he held onto started to crumble to unconsciousness. No! He was falling out of the sky, wings refusing to obey his hurting, barrowed body. I must not stop here! With every ounce of his strength, he forced the dragon-body to respond and recovered air, gaining distance from the demon as quickly as he could. But it was futile. It appeared in front of him in a flash and twirled downward, smashing its tail down across his head and throwing him downwards.

Gau crashed hard into the ground, landing on his left wing. He felt it snap. The pain was unreal, for him and for the soul of the dragon. They howled together in pain, but Gau's pain and shame doubled over. The dragon would die today, and his promise broken. I am so sorry, he thought to the wailing soul he held. I am so sorry.

He tried to keep his eyes open even as the creature landed before him, furling its wings. Breath came to him difficult, but it wasn't his breath. Let me take your pain, at the very least, he thought, siphoning all of the dragon's agony so that it may pass in peace. He would ultimately Leap out, safe and alive, so he owed this majestic animal that much. When the demon was just a few feet in front of him, Gau acted desperately. He opened his maw and let fire run out, engulfing the creature entirely. Please, let this kill this monstrosity! And yet, a moment later when the fire gave way, the demon stood there, unharmed. Is it a fire elemental? He lashed out with his claws when it drew closer, but it effortlessly floated out of the way and then smashed a fist into the center of his chest. He felt something break and more pain flood into him. His connection with the host was weakening now, as death started to call the dragon home.

Gau looked up at the demon, his dragon vision flashing. Amber eyes burning like embers met his. They were full of anger and blood lust, and yet there was something behind that veil that spoke of something more—of pain and confusion. And something he couldn't quite recognize. He laid there, wheezing, when it stopped at his head and lifted a hand. Do it, demon, but I will not die here. You will find no ground to gain while I still breathe!

Those amber eyes blazed with irritation. "Come out and play." and suddenly his spirit was pulled from the dying dragon. He felt the dragon's mind rush out from his control, felt the dragon's last breath and thought and was suddenly becoming whole again in the grasp of the demon.

How?! He thought, confused. No one had ever pulled him from a Leap before, not without killing his host to do so. Yet this demon had forced him out while the dragon yet lived, and somehow knew he was even in there. As his body finally fully materialized, he gazed into its burning eyes. "How...how?" his words came choked. "W-what are you?"

Its amber eyes widened at his words and then it snarled, lifted him off the ground and tightened its grasp. He sputtered, clawing at its hold. Claws began to dig into his flesh. If he did not do something and quick, he would die. Frantically, he Leapt. The demon howled as he exploded into a thousand different colors and swarmed inside of it.

NO!

Gau's spirit burned in pain at the sound of that denial to his control, and suddenly the blackness that came to his Leaps was suddenly popping with color and waves of blurry images. It did not come to him why this was so until his mind started to spread too thin over the vast distances of this intelligence he had Leapt into. It was only then, as the boundaries of himself began to slip away, that he realized this demon was a human. The one thing in all the world he could not Leap into. As his thoughts watered away, they were of Relm and Aria, and all of the things he would never get to do with them again.

I failed. His thoughts carried away until his body finally merged with this demonic human, soon to be rejected and his mind lost in the process.

No, please!

The blurry images spiked to that voice, and for a second he thought he recognized them, recognized that voice, but whatever familiarity he had quickly waned.

"No!" the demon shouted, collapsing onto its knees, twitching painfully. The voice that followed sounded different to the one that came before. "Get out, get out!" suddenly his spirit was thrown out of the demon and back into corporeal form. He was lying on the ground now, beneath the demon and the orange sky. He focused his eyes on the demon wailing above him. It's face was contorted in pain and tears ran down its face.

Why do you look so sad? He wondered, angrily. You did this to me. Human or not, you did this evil. And yet the tears ran down its face all the same and suddenly, those amber eyes faded and he could see eyes of purple and blue staring back at him. Those eyes... now where have I seen them before? He tried to force the familiar to come to him, but it was so difficult.

Please, no, no, no!

His mind jumped to a vision of a girl running through the halls, barefoot and giggling a toothless smile; of eyes full of tears and monsters under beds and in closets; of a girl dressed like a pirate chasing around a man in a silly pirate outfit, laughing.

It hit him then with such force that he cried from the realization. Emma! Oh gods, it is you, isn't it? Those eyes were beginning to fade back to amber. Gods, what did that monster do to you? He opened his mouth to put a voice to his waning thoughts, but only a whimper came. It was too late, he was slipping away. Her tears did not relent and he felt her fingers touch his face, tenderly despite the shape she was in. Oh dear girl... do not blame yourself for this. I know in my heart this is not your doing. Please...hear my thoughts...don't cry. Everything will be alright. I love you, child. I love you with all my heart.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as the color of amber fully replaced her beautiful mismatched eyes once more. She gave a horrible screech and backed away from him, clutching at her head, knees buckling beneath her weight. "No! No! I won't, I won't!"

Emma...

"Get away from my husband, you demon!" he heard another woman's voice and knew immediately who it was. Relm! No, oh gods no Relm. Please, run away! He watched as Emma was smacked aside by a drawing of a large beast Relm had drawn. She collided into the hills in a puff of dirt and debris and laid there unmoving. Relm appeared over him the next instant, lifting his head. "Gau, oh Gau, why? Why did you try to Leap into that thing?"

"Duhn...Rhem...duhn." the words were becoming more and more difficult to think, let alone say. His strength, his mind, was fleeing him.

"Quiet now," she whispered, tearfully. "You must keep your strength. I will deal with this demon." she gently laid his head onto the ground and took out a new page, even as he tried to warn her. His words only came out as jumbled messes. The painting Relm picked was a familiar one to her, albeit much larger. It was a dragonoid figure, standing upright as if human, but stood over thirty feet high. He knew this. The deadliest in her arsenal; Bahamut.

Relm! No! You will kill her!

This drawn version of Bahamut had been meticulously practiced over the years, reinforced over and over again until she had found no flaw in it. It was made to rival the Esper it was inspired from, but without any of the rage the original had harbored. This one would be an extension of her will and thoughts. It would offer no fight except that which Relm wanted it to give.

And this drawn Bahamut moved without vocal command, acting on the mental link between it and Relm. It charged Emma just as she rose and smashed a fist down on her. The demonic version of the girl he had raised held his fist above her, but the struggle was easy to see. Just as it seemed she would be crushed, she threw Bahamut's fist upward and flew out from under his reach. With a sharp turn back, she slammed her foot into Bahamut's jaw. The drawing did not have any feeling of pain, so the attack did little more than shift it away. With a quickness, Bahamut snapped at her and had her in his mouth. She was struggling keeping his jaws from closing in on her. It was clear by then, to everyone watching, that she was no match for this drawn creature.

Terrified, Gau fought for the last of his strength. "Relm, no!" the artist paused and so did her art, momentarily confused. It was enough of an opening for Emma to rip away and flee. In doing so, she had abandoned the Roskovian army. Relm hurriedly sent Bahamut to corner the remaining men before rushing to his side.

"Hold on Gau, hold on," she took his hand in hers and squeezed. "I will get you help. Everything will be okay, I swear!"

There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he knew only one thing mattered in that moment. The girl they had raised as their own. That they had grown to love so thoroughly. "No...you...you must...tell him..."

Her eyes filled with tears. "What? Tell who?"

"Edgar," he managed weakly. "Tell him...Bertrand..." he hesitated, his consciousness getting harder to hold. "tell him...he has her...he has Emma, he has..." but he could no longer find the strength to speak. His eyes lost focus of her face and for a moment he thought about missing her, before everything left him.

"No," Relm wailed. "Why? Why did you do this Gau, why?!" she laid her head atop his chest and sobbed.

---

It was late afternoon when the bugle announced 'the demon's return'. Sherra had shuffled to the deck as quickly as she could, after she set her son to sleep. When she arrived above, she witnessed Bertrand repeatedly assaulting Emma. Johl was being held back by a soldier. His face was pale and his eyes wide with terror and disgust.

"You whore! You were commanded! Commanded!" the last time he struck her, she just kept her eyes down, to mitigate some of his anger. "You are lucky I do not have you skinned alive for this!"

"Please, your Majesty, the girl needs rest and medical attention. If I could—"

"Quiet!" Bertrand howled, pointing a finger at him. "This is your fault! You have been neglectful in the serum treatment, haven't you?!"

"Please, that's not it. Alveri has been administrating it with me, up until we departed Roskovo. There's only so much I can do here, on the move."

"I do not trust you," he snarled. "I know you conspire against me! All of you do!"

"If I may, your grace?" Barkov spoke up, cutting through the building tension quickly. "If it is true that this woman can create whatever she desires to any power she desires, it is a blessing that this demon got away when it could." Sherra tightened her jaw at his words. How pathetic. She was human enough to beat and rape, but outside of that, she was back to the demon?

"A blessing?" he echoed, furious. "This worthless cunt—" he kicked at Emma, hard. "—just left the single most deadliest threat we have alive!"

"That is so," Barkov agreed. "But there was nothing else that could be done, it seems. We still have it as a weapon, at least. If we push forward, and we isolate Thamasa from allies by destroying Figaro, the woman is left defenseless."

"Defenseless? When she can create beasts greater than any power this world has ever seen?"

"I do not think she can create them as easily as we think," he said. "If she could, why hasn't she cleared the blockage all these months? Why not sail for Figaro or better for her, to Roskovo?" that quieted the mad king. "I do not think she can create them so easily. It must take quite a toll on her, or perhaps she needs certain materials..."

Bertrand started to laugh, and it was maniacal. "Well," he said, moving away from the crumbled heap that was Emma's body. "At least the dumb girl rid us of one of the many pretender kings." he turned back on the girl. "There is still the matter of your disobedience though, whore."

"Your majesty, you did order her to return at risk to her health, perhaps—" Barkov tried.

"No," he cut Barkov off sharply. "Look at her." he gestured to her. "She is barely even hurt. She offered no battle so that she would feel threatened. Isn't that so, girl?"

"No, master," she cried. "I...I wouldn't! I...I wouldn't!" she was crying now, prostrated by his feet. Even then, in her trance state, she looked defenseless and broken. Without power.

That was enough. Sherra pressed on. "Enough!" they turned to look at her, annoyed by the interruption. "You know she is not capable of disobeying you, Bertrand! You ordered her to fight and she tried. Relm is just a much larger threat than you cared to look into." The deck grew quiet. The soldiers were staring in alarm. Barkov shook his head, as if disappointed.

Bertrand glared. "Bring her to me." a soldier hesitated before complying. He took Sherra's arm, gently, and guided her toward her husband. "Hadn't I warned you before to watch your tone with me? I am your husband. Your lord. You will show me respect, woman."

Sherra met his eyes with equal fury. Something in her refused to back down to him. "You will get respect when you have earned it...husband." he gave a short laugh, dry, before smacking her. She took a step or two back, head ringing. She simply met his gaze again, face already swelling. "Beating women will not earn you that respect." he snarled and struck again, this time hitting her so hard she fell to the deck. Despite it all though, she did not cry out. Barkov hesitated, clearly disturbed, before stopping himself. She faced him again where she laid, blood dripping from her mouth. "Is that all it takes to unnerve you, Bertrand? For a woman to point out your flaws?"

Bertrand's face was burning red and when he took a step toward her, Barkov stopped him. "Your grace, please... do not let a woman get under your skin. She has been punished."

He ripped his arm away from the general. "Punished? You think that was her punishment?" he laughed. "Oh, no. I will have my wife truly regretting her behavior before the end of the day." he snapped his fingers, and some unsaid command passed between him and Emma. She drew herself up mechanically and walked toward him. "We will do what is to be done here as payment of your arrogance, wife. And here's the fun part..." he pushed Emma to her knees. "...she will decide."

Sherra could not understand. If Emma was to decide, surely there would be no punishment? "You're losing what remains of your sanity, Bertrand." she snapped. "And your foolish war will leave countless dead behind you, before reaching you. But you have time to stop your madness! To send surrendering terms...to give them their princess back!"

He smiled. "Demon?" she cringed, painfully, as some unspoken commands reached her. "You can decide on what I do here; do I punish her for her insolence, or do I punish you?" that made Sherra freeze, terrified. "Now, now, now," he said, when Emma tried to immediately respond. "Let me explain the punishments first! Now, if you pick Sherra," he passed a smile over to her. "Her punishment will be her tongue, as well as an eye of her choosing." Emma's eyes widened and filled with tears. "However, you can pick yourself." that made Sherra try to get up, horrified, but Bertrand knocked her back over. "And if you decide to pick yourself, I will have Barkov bring you below deck and I will have you beaten so severely you will wish you had died in Thamasa."

"Emma! Emma, pick me!"

"Quiet!" Bertrand snarled. "If you speak again, I'll cut her throat here and now. Do you understand me?!" he then dug his fingers into Emma's shoulder and she cringed again, another command. Her body began to rapidly change back. In seconds, the pale fleshed and battered image of the girl stood between them, trembling. Emma looked at her squarely and Sherra knew what choice she would make. It filled her with shame.

"M-m-me," she managed through a broken voice, so visibly in pain and yet deciding to add more to her own suffering just to spare another. Sherra began to cry. "I p-pick me."

Bertrand erupted into laughter and took several steps away. "As I knew you would, which only makes it hurt my dear wife. May it teach her to stay in her place." he snapped his fingers again, and Barkov moved forward to take Emma by her arms.

"Please! Consider what you are doing!" Johl howled, shrugging out of his captor's hands to run in front of the king. "Please!"

Bertrand did not remove his eyes from the man when he spoke. "Get this fool out of my sight." soldiers dragged him off seconds later, while the man shouted and begged the entire way out.

This was all her fault. "I'm sorry Emma!" she howled after the girl. "I'm so sorry!" when the girl was brought below deck, Sherra went to her husband, in tears. "Please, Bertrand! Please grant her mercy! Do not make her suffer for my actions! I beg of you!"

Bertrand took her by the face, fingers digging into her skin. "Mercy? I give the bitch mercy every day I do not have her killed! You are lucky I cannot inject you the same way I can that beast, or I would have you broken like a dog. Since I cannot...I will have to make you too afraid to disobey me or speak against me ever again." he let her go, hard. "Take my wife to her quarters."

As a soldier guided her away, all that burned in Sherra's chest was guilt and anger, and the insatiable desire for revenge.

•••••••••••

When Sherra was brought back to her quarters, every inch of her was alit in fury. The desire for revenge almost hurt her. She wanted to make Bertrand suffer, for the first real time in her time as his wife, as she hated him more than anything. There was a part of her that had hoped when she was young and freshly married off to him that he could be the gentleman of her dreams. Days when she gave him excuses and days when she prayed for him to be better, because part of her wanted him to love her and wanted to love him back. But now, all she wanted was for him to suffer, in the same ways he made her children and herself suffer. In the same ways he made Emma suffer.

And she would make him suffer, somehow.

She looked up and at the crib where her son was sleeping, and felt terror seize her. No. She knew she could not make it her mission to make him suffer, not here and not now. She had a newborn depending on her, and what's more, she knew what she needed to do. And it involved her far away from the man she hated. She started to cry. And far away from the girl she loved as her own.

Sherra closed her eyes, torn. What was she to do? She knew that if she stayed, there would be nothing she could do to help anyone, especially not Emma. But if she left, she could reach Figaro, warn them of what has happened to their princess, and of everything else Bertrand had been doing in Roskovo. And yet, if she left, she would leave behind Emma, and she didn't want to. The pain and suffering she knew her husband would enact on Emma should she leave would be immense, but...what if it was the only way to eventually free her?

She knew her answer, deep inside, even though it hurt more than anything. She had to leave Emma behind. She hoped the poor girl would understand, but as Sherra began to pack a very small bag of things to take with her on her escape, her heart sank. Of course Emma would understand, but that wouldn't make her hurt any less. Sherra had promised to be be there for her, and to protect her, and now she was ready to abandon her...

No, she thought, stuffing things for her son into the bag. I mustn't think about that. I...I cannot.

It took her only about an hour to ready a bag. She hid it away by the door behind some unpacked boxes and waited impatiently for night to fall. She knew she could count on a few soldiers on board to let her off, to help her, but she wouldn't get very far in the daylight even with their help. When darkness finally fell, she gathered up the bag and her son, tucking him away in a sash about her breasts, and hurried out into the halls. She had come to know the schedules of the soldiers very well, and managed to slip passed any she knew were not allies.

At the entrance to the top deck, she hid her bag behind the stairs and then went down the rest of the hallway, to where the princess usually slept. Sherra did not know what she expected to see, all she knew was that it was going to be bad. As she drew into the dark room, the girl's quieted moans of pain greeted her first. A sliver of moonlight drifted through the curtains behind her bed, illuminating her face.

Sherra gave a hushed cry, pressing her hand to her mouth as she knelt beside the bed. "My sweet girl," she whispered, reaching to brush a hand down her her cheek. "Why must you be so selfless? So brave?" she let her tears fall. "It was my fault," she said, with more anger than she ever felt toward the girl. "Why? I would have gladly given up sight and speech to save you...why?" she pressed her face against the girl's shakily rising chest, sobbing. "You are just a child!" she hissed, frustrated. "Why do you think you have to take everything? Why?" after a long moment, she moved away, brushing a hand against her nose, and rising. "I swear to you, I will find your family. I will let them know everything. They...they will come for you." she knelt over the poor girl and kissed her forehead. "This is only goodbye for now. I will see you again, and it will be under joyous conditions." she took a breath and stepped away. "Goodbye, Emma."

After she collected her things in the hall, she pressed on out into the dark, looking back only once.

•••••••••••

Emma woke to the commotion outside in a disorientated state. The noise was muffled, but it almost sounded as if a stampede was happening on deck. The pain in her legs began slowly, distracting her more and more from the noise above her, until it soon grew so intense she could only cry and writhe about her bed in pain. The memory of what happened kept searing across her mind, a reminder of her stupidity, but she knew that she had no real choice. She couldn't let Sherra be hurt, not in anyway, especially now that she had a newborn to take care of. If Emma had to suffer to save them, she would do it every time. She was not worth anything more than that, anyway. Her last waking thoughts was of Sherra, of hoping the woman was safe, before her body began to whisk her away. She tried to linger in consciousness, but the pain was too unbearable. She fell asleep quickly, but fitfully.

When she woke next, it was due to the rough noise of her door opening, scratching against the floor. She startled awake, breathing hard, anticipating trouble—pain. Her eyes were too blurry to see anything but the dulled light of late morning and her head was spinning crazily in protest to the pain in her legs to notice the blur of a figure that came to stand above her. It was the smell of someone finally registering in her head that gave the presence away at last. Whoever it was, smelled heavily of the sea and soil, and smoke. She tensed.

A sailor.

Emma started to cry. It hurt too much. Why now? Why? "Please... I c-can't right now," she whispered, voice hoarse. "Please...it hurts."

The sailor made a noise she couldn't quite make out. "What is it that you cannot do?"

"Please," she tried again, desperately. "I'll d-do w-whatever you w-want, just not r-r-right now, please."

The man drew closer and she pinched her eyes shut, readying herself for the pain. "Listen... I'm not here to..." he hesitated. "I'm not here to hurt you, girl. I'm here to help." just as he had finished talking, the doors drew open sharply, banging against the walls. Her vision finally cleared enough for her to make out the men gathering into her room hurriedly, and the sailor turning to face them and giving salutes. The sailor looked hastily dressed, his uniform barely in code, but it seemed like she was the only one to notice. As the captain that filled in before his men didn't. Emma recognized this man; Abos Derant. He was an exceptionally cruel man.

Abos sent a glare to the sailor. "What are you doing in here, sailor?"

"I thought to question the girl sir, as I was prompted to question any on the ship by general Barkov himself."

Abos turned his eyes from the man to Emma, and he laughed. "Even the green thumbs suspect you of it! I will enjoy ripping every ounce of intelligence out of you, little monster." Emma had no idea what he was talking about, but she knew his threats weren't empty. "Well then, out with it sailor. What does the cunt know?"

The sailor hesitated. "I had only just asked, sir, but she didn't seem to even know about what happened."

"Or so she claims," Abos said, walking forward, arms folded behind him, until he stood at the end of her bed. His eyes held hers. "But the entire fleet knows she would do anything for the queen now, after last night. The queen's escape could not have been achieved without her help, either."

Emma's heart started to race. What? No...no! Sherra, she...she wouldn't leave me!

"With all due respect, captain, I do not believe—"

"Silence! I did not ask for your input, sailor." Abos placed a wide grin on Emma next and reached down to place a hand on her leg. Even that delicate touch sent a ripple of sharp pain up her legs and to her spine. She groaned and withered about, trying so very hard to hide how much it hurt but was failing. "You have only one chance to tell me what you know, cunt, or I will make your pain a thousand times worse." and instead of asking the question first, he gripped her leg as hard as he could. Emma let out an ear piercing screech that was followed immediately by a wretched sob. "Talk, whore! Where is the queen?!"

"Ahhh!" she cried. "P-please, please s-s-stop, please...!"

"Answer me, gods damn it!" Abos released her abruptly. "If this pain is not enough to loosen your tongue, perhaps a visit to my cabins again might do the trick?"

In-between the waves of pain and her blurred vision, she saw the sailor tense up. "Captain! She doesn't know anything!"

"Nonsense! Of course she does!" he squeezed her leg again and smiled when it drew another episode of pain from her. When she finally fell down from that pain, he asked her again. "Tell me where the queen is!"

"She...she w-w-wouldn't leave me," she rushed through a cry. "She w-wouldn't!"

Abos started to laugh, almost hysterically. "Oh...oh this is just perfect! You really don't know where our queen went, do you?" he turned away with another laugh. "The king will be displeased, but no matter. We will find the traitorous bitch sooner or later, and the news that Sherra left the girl behind without even talking to her? That will surely brighten up some of the king's mood." and in that, Emma knew it was another jab at her, but she couldn't care anymore for anything. The last thing she had to live for had left her. "And you," Abos was directing the sailor. "Since you are so concerned for the whore, stay here and make sure that she doesn't try anything until I have returned." he slammed the door behind him and his soldiers.

The sailor walked back to the bed, slowly.

Emma closed her eyes and looked away. "Please," she begged. "I j-just want one m-moment alone...please." whatever he wanted, she hoped he could at least grant her that first. At the moment, all she wanted was time to grieve, to wonder why Sherra had left her behind, at least without saying goodbye. But as the turmoil in her heart rapidly grew too much to bear, she couldn't stop thinking about all of the danger and grief Sherra endured by Bertrand as well. And that wasn't even concerning herself. Emma knew the good woman probably hated all of the constant worrying and fear, and having to witness the cruelty against Emma and the cruelty she was forced to do via commands.

It was clear now to Emma that all she ever was to people was a bother in the end. And with Sherra, it had finally grown to be too much to endure. And in the end, how could Emma blame her? In part, behind the misery, she was grateful. Grateful that the woman took the chance to flee to safety.

"Do not cry, girl." the man whispered, coming nearer. "I have already told you I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help, to bring you to safety."

She could hardly believe she heard the words. "Help me?"

"Yes, yes," he said hurriedly. "I cannot yet tell you who I am or where, but I am here to get you out. Right now, even. Can you walk?" he asked it but did not wait for an answer. He picked her up by her arms and pulled her up, and as soon as he had, she gave a hoarse and pathetic whine of pain. "Oh, fuck, I'm sorry!"

"M-m-my legs," she whined through tears, gripping her hands into the sheets, trying so hard to hold back crying. "Please, it hurts!"

"I'll just carry you then!" he cut in and did as he said he would. He got her cradled in his arms for half a heart beat before she started crying and trying to get out of his arms. He paused. "Gods, what are you doing? Sit still!"

"No! No! You can't! You...you can't take me away! You can't!"

"Quiet, will you?!" he hissed. "If you scream like that, I'll be the only one they kill." when she settled some, he continued. "Why can't I carry you out?"

"They...they..." how could she even explain it without being allowed to? The commands would make this impossible. "They did something to—" the commands shot pain through her, preventing her from continuing. She jerked about in his arms, and he hurriedly put her back on the bed. When she settled from the pain, her tears amassed anew. Help was futile, as was asking for it.

"Shit," he muttered into the quiet that followed. "I think I understand...they did something to you, didn't they?" she wanted to scream yes, but her body throbbed with pain at even the thought. Her silence seemed to be answer enough for him though. He swore under his breath. "I do not know what they could have done to you, but I understand. I won't take you away, not yet, but I will be returning. Tonight. Do you understand?" She looked at him. Only his eyes pierced out from his sailor mask, and they were tawny. She wanted to believe, but she knew what happened whenever she decided to trust someone. There was always betrayal and pain. Would this be any different? She closed her eyes at last, too tired and sore to fight her exhaustion any longer. That act seemed to annoy her would-be rescuer.

"Damn it girl, I mean it. I will return tonight, with help..." And the feeling of not wanting to be alone overwhelmed her. She no longer had Sherra to run to, to ask for. Was this was real loneliness felt like? The desire to not want to be anything? To do anything? Not even breathe?

Emma thought of the woman's kindly face and felt warm tears roll down her cheeks as the face shifted to her mother's. Please... she thought, pulling further away from consciousness. Please don't leave me...

---

Alexander was nervous. This was the third encampment they had stopped at, and it was beginning to both infuriate him and terrorize him to keep picking the wrong place. It was going to look suspicious soon to camp leaders if a rogue ship was sailing around looking for a specific camp. Robert assured him that the fake missive they had would get them through any suspicions, as it came from a general back in Roskovo, but Alex had his doubts.

This has to be the one, he thought, as they walked off the ship and toward a greeting company. The night's chill greeted them. It has to be...I don't know what to do if it is not. The men that greeted them ended up not suspecting a thing as soon as they saw the missive. They were even eager to help the "general's men" find what they needed, or just about. Robert pressed about the main ship location as they were meant to join it. They were informed that they were in fact in the right camp, but the men did not know which harbor the main ship was docked in, and then informed them that the naval fleet would press out in a few hours.

When they were finally alone, Alexander could hardly control himself. "Robert, we must hurry! One of these ships...!"

"I understand," he mumbled, as they walked down the harbor with a few men that were on their 'side'. "Let's not just run around. That will not do any good for us if we're caught ahead of saving your girl. We will need an escape plan, and the only way off this pitiful island is a ship. Remember? So...just calm down."

"I'm calm," he snapped. "I just want to find her."

Robert sighed and stopped to look at him. "I know that, but we need to find where that bastard king is first before we can find her, and to do that we would need more time than we have to search every ship."

"What are you saying?"

Robert crossed his arms. "We need to split up and search, but I don't know if you're ready to go by yourself."

Alexander tightened his jaw and bit back a sling of swears. "I know I've been...hard to handle, but—" Robert raised a brow, unamused by the description. "—but I swear, I now how dangerous this is. And I know that one misstep can ruin everything. I will be 'controlled' so long as her life is in danger, so please...let's do whatever that will help us find her faster."

"Fine," he muttered. "Fine. I will leave you with half our detachment, that ought to make you less suspicious. If you get stopped, just remember to stay calm and recall your character and who sent you here, understand?"

"Of course."

Robert hesitated, really unwilling to depart, worried for what could happen. "Alright then. I will take the southern docks, and you the northern ones. We will meet here in a few hours." he patted Alex hard on the shoulder before walking away.

Alexander wasted no time. He turned and started a brisk pace towards the northern docks. His section of men followed dedicatedly, looking every bit of Roskovian perfection.

•••••••••••

Robert immediately set his sights upon the harbor. He dispatched his men to question others around the camp slyly about any news or developments they might have missed while on sea. With his men set off, he kept an eye out on the walk for any sailors separated from crowds and moved as soon as he saw a higher ranking sailor move off alone. Acting quickly, Robert knocked the man out, took his uniform and then tucked his body into some shipping crates before pressing on his search again.

With the uniform, he was granted easier passage to any ship he wanted. Most other sailors or soldiers didn't even stop him, and those who did smiled and moved aside when they saw the missive. Robert knew that if he happened upon someone of actual rank, like a general, that missive would get him killed. But for now, it was serving its purpose beautifully. For that reason, he had to move even faster. It took several hours of searching ships before only two was left, and his luck was running thin. It was early light now, and much of the camp was beginning to wake up to their daily schedules and tasks.

It was just as he was approaching the last two ships that the uproar began. Six men rushed passed him towards the camps and someone was standing on the deck of the last ship. He was waving and shouting at the men rushing off ship. Robert drew closer with brisker pace to meet the panic around him, and heard the words with astonishment.

"You will turn every damn rock upside down, I do not care! Find the queen and do her no harm! Go you fools, go!"

The queen is missing? Robert glanced at the men that ran aboard ship and then followed suit with his head down. This would bring the most perfect opportunity to search the last two, and regroup with Alexander. It was only up close that Robert recognized the man issuing orders; Barkov. It was only in passing imagery that Robert ever saw the man's face, but it was distinct in that sort of way that one could never forget it. And that told him that this ship had the only chance in all the world of holding the princess.

"What are you staring at, sailor?" Barkov snarled. "Get downstairs and question everyone."

"Everyone, sir?" he pressed, gauging and finding the risk worth it. He had heard the passing remarks in Roskovo on how the princess was generally remarked upon, and went with the most common. "Even the girl?"

Barkov sent a nasty stare. "What do you think, fool? If she says anything of merit, bring it to captain Abos Derant. Now go, his majesty grows more impatience by the gods damn minute."

Robert saluted him and moved towards the interior of the ship with a very hard to suppress smile. So, this was the ship. Their long months of journey was nearing its end, and the forgotten princess soon in her lovers' embrace. But that wasn't just yet, and he had to get to her and get her out without anyone noticing. That was going to be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, but if it came to it... he had his extreme measures to pull in such situations.

Below deck, the panic was just as rushed. Even the ship crew was in on the bustle. Robert had no time wasting looking for the princess' room, so he stopped a chef and asked him where the room was and added onto measure that general Barkov himself said to question to girl. The chef was so busy and so stressed he didn't even question it. He just pointed to the next set of stairs down and told him the 'beast's door is marked' before running off again.

Robert swirled and hit the stairs fast, trying very hard to maintain that hurried look the rest of those around him possessed. He passed six rooms, three on each side, before he saw the previously mentioned door. Marked just as the chef said. Robert stood before it staring. The symbol was a giant X etched into the hard door, with what looked like a knife.

He checked behind him to make sure someone was not lurking, and then slowly drew the door open. He had the door half way open when he noticed the still form of someone on the bed near the window, and when he opened the door all of the way and scratched it across the floor, the figure startled. It was the soft, frightened feminine sound of it that told him it was the princess before he ever even saw her.

Robert drew cautiously closer, after shutting the door behind him. His eyes' widened at the sight of the girl lying before him. The distinct minty green of her hair fell about her face in curly waves, and her mismatched eyes roamed the area he stood aimlessly, almost blindly. She was breathing hard, erratically, and it wasn't until he glanced at her legs that he saw why. It looked as if someone had repeatedly beaten her legs with something wide and flat, leaving the flesh red and yellow and swelling. He couldn't even tell if she could walk on them or not. It was so grotesque, so cruel, he almost whirled around and vomited. In the months of travel, he had assumed but never brought up to Alexander, that the girl was being subjected to intense trauma and torture, but this... this was ungodly in its evil.

He stopped at the foot of the bed, staring, unrealizing he had just stopped until she made a noise and tensed up. He looked up, and saw her crying. "Please... I c-can't right now," her voice was so quiet, so broken. "Please..." she begged again. "...it hurts."

He made a noise in the back of his throat, confused. "What is it that you cannot do?"

"Please," she tried again, so desperately it stung him. The history of pain etched so deeply into every word, every sound, drew him into his thoughts. "I'll d-do w-whatever you w-want, just not r-right now, please."

Robert thought on her meaning only for half a heart beat, and felt repulsion ripple through him. She thought he was here to...? He swallowed back vile curses for those who had subjected her to this and drew even closer. She shut herself away from him by pinching her eyes shut.

"Listen... I'm not here to..." he hesitated, unable to say the word. "I'm not here to hurt you, girl. I'm here to help." but before he could say anything else, the doors flew open hard, alerting them both to their new company. Robert quickly faced the company, trying to compose himself from the anger burning in his chest. The desire to kill the men standing in front of him. The sight of what was clearly the captain drew memory from him. Abos Derant. He supposed he took to long for Barkov's likes...

"What are you doing in here, sailor?"

"I thought to question the girl sir, as I was prompted to question any on the ship by general Barkov himself."

Abos turned his gaze to the princess and laughed. "Even the green thumbs suspect you of it! I will enjoy ripping every ounce of intelligence out of you, little monster." he noticed the way the princess tried to draw herself further into her bed, away from him. So...this man she knew. This man has hurt her, and bad, many times before. Robert tightened a hand into a fist beside him, trying so hard to control himself. The captain turned to him next. "Well then, out with it sailor. What does the cunt know?"

One day, I will bring Alexander here and we will kill you all... "I had only just asked, sir, but she didn't seem to even know about what happened." he suspected as much, as she would have behaved very differently upon the captain's appearance.

"Or so she claims," Abos said, and walked over, arms folded behind him until he stood at the end of the girl's bed. Robert readied himself for intervention. "But the entire fleet knows she would do anything for the queen now, after last night." what does this bastard mean by that? "The queen's escape could not have been achieved without her help, either."

Robert watched the despair hit the princess's face and drew himself straight. He needed to get these people out of the room and quickly. "With all due respect, captain, I do not believe—"

"Silence! I did not ask for your input, sailor." Abos grinned at the princess and then reached to place a hand on her leg. Even just that small touch caused her to wither about in pain. "You only have one chance to tell me what you know, cunt, or I will make your pain a thousand times worse." and instead of asking her, he gripped at her leg. Robert flinched when Emma let out a screech that twisted his insides, and then broke into wretched, pathetic little sobbing. "Talk, whore! Where is the queen?!"

"Ahhh!" she cried. "P-please, please s-s-stop, please...!"

"Answer me, gods damn it!" Abos released her abruptly. "If this pain is not enough to loosen your tongue, perhaps a visit to my cabins again might do the trick?"

Robert tensed. He's among her rapists... he made sure to remember that face. Justice would come later though, as for now, he needed to get the girl out and fast. "Captain! She doesn't know anything!"

"Nonsense! Of course she does!" he squeezed her leg again and smiled when it drew another episode of pain from her. When she finally fell down from that pain, he asked her again. "Tell me where the queen is!"

"She...she w-w-wouldn't leave me," she rushed through a cry. "She w-wouldn't!" the sound of her cries, her denial, made him look away. In just this short time, he had come to easily understand the immense depth of pain and loneliness she was being subjected to.

Abos started to laugh. "Oh...oh this is just perfect! You really don't know where our queen went, do you?" he turned away laughing. "The king will be displeased, but no matter. We will find the traitorous bitch sooner or later, and the news that Sherra left the girl behind without even talking to her? That will surely brighten up some of the king's mood." he moved a foot or so away. "And you," Abos was directing him now. "Since you are so concerned for the whore, stay here and make sure that she doesn't try anything until I have returned." he slammed the door behind him and his soldiers.

When they were finally alone again, Robert made his way back over, slowly. He hoped that caution would ease her a little, but it didn't. She closed her eyes and looked away from him, as if the sight of him brought her even more pain. And he supposed it only made sense that it would.

"Please," she whispered. "I j-just want a m-moment alone...please." he felt that earlier anger rise in his chest. What sort of life had she been living in Roskovo for her to beg for just a minute or two alone, before what she expected was more pain, more torture? He knew that when Alexander saw this girl, and heard what has been happening to her, he was going to want to kill everyone here.

Robert drew nearer, leaning just a little bit closer to her. He wanted to calm her, to brush away her tears, but couldn't. "Do not cry, girl." he whispered. "I have already told you I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help, to bring you to safety."

"Help me?" she sounded so frightened by the prospect.

"Yes, yes," he hurried. "I cannot yet tell who I am or where I will bring you, but I am here to get you out. Right now, even. It looks as if your legs are hurt though; are you unable to walk at all?" he asked it and went to gently lift her up, but even that movement caused her to pull from his arms and give off a hoarse cry of pain. "Oh, fuck, I'm sorry!"

"M-m-my legs," she whined. "Please, it hurts!"

Right! How could he forget?! Her legs! Well, no matter! If she could not stand, if she could not walk, he would whisk her out! "I'll just carry you then!" he took her into a cradle in his arms for only a second before she burst out crying and wiggling in his arms. He paused. "Gods, what are you doing? Sit still!"

"No! No! You can't! You...you can't take me away! You can't!"

"Quiet, will you?!" he hissed. "If you scream like that, I'll be the only one they kill." when she settled down, he asked, "Why can't I carry you out?"

"They...they..." he watched as she searched desperately for words. "They did something to—" suddenly, the words stopped and she began jerking about violently in his arms, though somehow Robert knew...felt...that this was not her doing by intent. It was almost as if she were having a seizure. He gently laid her back down onto her bed and took half a step away.

"Shit," he said into the quiet, thinking fast on what he could do, not entirely understanding what she meant but knowing she meant something was preventing her from physically leaving. "I think I understand... they did something to you, didn't they?" the way her teary eyes looked, gave him all the answer he needed. "I do not know what they could have done to you, but I understand. I won't take you away, not yet, but I will be returning. Tonight. Do you understand?" her eyes held his, and he could see in that stare that she was struggling to trust him.

"Damn it girl, I mean it. I will return tonight, with help..." he hesitated when he noticed her eyes closing dreamily, her focusing lifting off him, off of everything. "Wait, not yet, I still need to tell you—" he reached for her hand, unconsciously, and froze when her little hand gently gripped his.

"Please don't leave me..." she mumbled, hand tightening ever so slightly, before loosening.

Robert stood there dumbly, unable to look away from the tiny, pale haired girl.

---

"Please, your majesty, think this through..."

Bertrand turned to Barkov like a rabid dog. "I have thought it through! I want my damn wife! Find her!"

Barkov hesitated. "Your Grace—"

"I ought to skin the demon here and now! No, I ought to sever her legs entirely! That ought to teach that traitorous whore of a wife a lesson!"

"Now," he began, slowly. "If you do that, if you ignore the advice of your generals, you will rid yourself of a powerful weapon. You have already crippled her despite advisement not to, but if you remove them altogether? Gods forbid it, Your Grace, but what if she needs to reach you in her human form one day?"

"I have already crippled , Barkov."

"Then you have no reason to go any further, yes?" Barkov knew he had a very thin edge to back his king from, and very little time to do it. "The girl has been questioned and cannot even move on her own, at least in her human form. She knows nothing of the queen's escape. And to be frank, the queen would have had to have been absolutely dull to tell the girl."

His king snarled and smacked things off a nearby table. "You know she flees for Figaro, do you not?! To tell my enemies of my plans, of our only weapon!"

Barkov watched him pacing. "It will not matter if she does. We are sailing for Figaro on the morrow. She will never make it there before us, as she will have to avoid all direct means in order to avoid your men. By the time she reaches Figaro, you will have already conquered it with the girl. Please, Your Grace, you have nothing to worry about."

"Except Tzen!" he said, turning around to face him. "Except for Tzen. If that city does not fall, Barkov..."

"I understand," he cut in, nodding. "I intend to sail there tomorrow. I have regrouped and resupplied during this encampment. I will take the city for you, and we will hold it against the Veldt when they undoubtedly try to sail by."

He was finally relaxing from his rage. "I want our fleet to move now, Barkov. We must."

The man nodded again. "If that is what you desire, we shall sail within the hour. What will I command of those staying behind to search for your wife?"

The king said, "Find her whatever the cost. Do her or my child no harm, but kill anyone helping her."

Barkov said, "It will be done."

---

It was late morning by the time that Alexander had finished searching all of the ships to the north of the harbor. And not a single one held any clues, nor did any of the staff make any comments about Emma. He did hear passing comments about the king, but nothing else.

If I do not find her here...where am I to go? His thoughts were growing darker with each second of failure. He wanted so desperately to see Emma again, to hold her in his arms, to make sure she was okay. To free her. To give her everything in all the world she deserved, and yet he kept finding failure instead.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

Alexander was barely paying attention to the rushed panic around him, until a soldier plowed right into him and drove him straight to the ground. The man didn't even bother to apologize or stop to help, he just kept running. He bit his tongue on the impact and then struggled back up, just as six others ran passed looking terrified.

"What's going on?!" he asked the rushing men. "What's happening?!"

One soldier slid to a stop. "We're shipping out! The king's fleet just left, and we've got to set after them!"

The words froze Alex to his core. "What?!" but the man was already running off again. No! This couldn't be happening! Not yet! Alexander took off running towards the south, eyes searching over the bustling crowd for the familiar face of Robert. Several minutes in, his men found him and briefly told him that earlier that morning the queen had fled the king—sending him into a rampage. That the push to leave fast was because of the queen.

"At the moment, I do not care if the queen jumped into a pit of vipers!" he hissed at them. "I'm here for one person and one person only! Tell me; have you seen Robert?"

"No, but we did group up with his men earlier. They're searching in town, I've heard."

"Fuck," Alexander was in no mood for this. "Then join those men, see if you can speed up whatever Robert sent them off for. I'm off to look for him."

With the men already off to their new assignments, Alexander pressed on down the docks as quickly as he could. Most of the ships were already pulling out of harbor by the time he arrived at a small junction in the paths. Robert came dashing out from the civilian crowd, breath rushed and dressed as a sailor.

"Alexander! Gods, there you are! We must move quick!"

"I know, they are setting sail! I haven't found her ship yet!"

"I have!" Robert howled, turning. "I have found her! I've seen her! Come, it's the last ship! We must hurry!"

"You've found her?!" he cried, ecstatically, chasing after him. "Is she well?! Gods, Robert, answer me!"

"We have no time! Run, damn it, run! They're leaving!"

And so they ran, faster and faster, until all the air in Alexander's lungs felt ready to burst there and then. His thoughts began to swarm about Emma. He wanted to see her so bad that it hurt him. Tears began to run quietly down his cheeks at the idea of finally being able to hold her after all these years, to take her away from it all and give her everything she deserved.

Please gods! He pleaded, running so fast his lungs were burning angrily. I will give you anything in return! Please let me reach her! Let me save her!

"This way!" Robert howled, waving an arm forward, just a foot or so ahead of him. "Just over here..." he came to an immediate stop, words slipping away. Alexander almost crashed right into him. When he straightened and saw ships already out at sea, his heart plunged up into his throat. "No..." Robert's voice was quiet against his own thoughts.

No! This couldn't be it! Not when they finally found her, not when they were so close!

Alexander ran ahead, tears burning his eyes as he crashed into the waves and tried to walk further out-just to get to the ship. Robert was fast behind him, shouting for him to come back, but all that was left in him now was desperation. A desperation to see Emma that was so strong it hurt him deep inside his very core. If there was any possibility he could save her, any at all, he would reach for it. If it meant his own life, he would gladly give it. Because he was certain that in all the world, there was no one else more deserving of peace—of safety.

He was over waist high in the water now, and still slushing forward. The ship was getting further and further away, growing smaller and smaller in the horizon. "No!" he howled after it. "No, no, no! Please!" the ships finally vanished out of the horizon, and by then, Robert had finally caught up. He locked his arms around Alexander's chest and started to drag him back. "Let me go, gods damn it! Let me go!"

"Stop acting like a fool!" he howled, dragging. "There's nothing you can do now!"

"I can reach her! I can!"

"Gods damn it, man!" Robert flung him back, onto hot sand, and then pushed his boot onto his chest to hold him down. "Listen to me!" Alexander tried to tear the foot off of him, but the man had a greater strength than him. "Listen, damn it!"

"You swore you would help me!"

"I am!"

"Then get the fuck off me!"

Robert pressed even harder, glaring. "I am helping, you godsdamn fool! There is nothing you can do now to reach that forsaken ship, but we can reach them if we secure another ship."

"It doesn't matter!" he finally let go of his grief. "I...even if we sail now, they would just move on...I've...I've failed..."

Robert finally let him go, and shook his head. "You haven't failed, not yet." that made his eyes widened. "If we are to do this though, we must leave quickly and find us another ship—by any means necessary." he held a hand out to him. "Let's push this to the end and get your girl, yeah?"

Alexander closed his eyes, and tried to choke off the fear that had overwhelmed him earlier. He was only capable of it because he envisioned Emma's face; that dorky and gap-toothed smile. He then he imagined the sound of her strange little laugh, and smiled against the grief boiling within him. If it meant he had to endure all the pain in the world, he knew he had to. This wasn't about just freeing the girl he loved, it was only ever partially about that. It was about giving a poor girl, who had only known suffering and pain all her life, a chance at whatever happiness she might take in this pitiful world. If he could free her, and she found peace someplace else without him, he wouldn't even care. Because, in the end, she would be safe. She would be happy.

He shakily reached up to grab his friend's hand. "One last push, my friend." and gods have mercy on the people who stand in my way!

---

When news had reached Cambyses that his wife had gone into labor, naturally he dropped everything and made his way to their chambers immediately. The hours had been intense. Cadence's painful cries carried to him in the hall, and it sent him into worry and anxiety. It reminded him far too much of his mother, when she had labored for little over a day to bring his sister into the world. And when she laid dying, her only thought had been of her daughter, not of herself. Things had come through in the end due to magic's return, but what if something went wrong here? With Cadence? With his unborn child?

It took many hours before he was finally allowed into the room, after the cries had quieted and he heard the loud, shaky whine of a newborn. His mother had come to get him, smiling. He followed after her quietly and nervously, heart racing.

The sight of his wife sitting upright, cradling their newborn, momentarily froze him. She was pale and sweaty, and looked so completely exhausted, but yet she was still the mot beautiful woman in all the world to him. He smiled and hurried over, bending over to kiss the top of her head. "Gods, you're okay! I am so grateful, so very grateful!"

She smiled and looked up at him. "I wouldn't ever leave you, Cambyses." but he knew it was not up to either of them, but the whim of the gods. "Come, take a look upon your son."

My son? He thought, turning his wide eyes down at the babe nestled against his wife's bosom. The swaddled baby was a little red, but even then he could see the babe's mother in him. In the nose and the hair so blond it almost looked white. Tears filled his eyes. "My son..." he started to cry. "I...I have a son." and then it hit how profound that was and he laughed. "I have a son!" Terra laughed. "And look at him! He will be so strong!"

Cadence smiled. "What will we name our strong boy, then?"

That took him out of the excitement. He turned his eyes from her to their son, heart racing. It was important, the name of a child. He did not want to ruin it, to give their child the wrong name. It had to be considered well. This would be their son's identity, after all. He thought over names, but each didn't fit the squishy, fat face blindly suckling at his wife's breast. Not, at least, until the last. When the name came to him, he knew it was it.

He smiled and reached down to gently brush a finger down the babe's hair. "Henry," he spoke softly, staring in amazement. "His name will be Henry."

•••••••••••

The news of the newborn heir of Figaro spread across the land like wildfire the next few days. Lords and ladies came to pay their respects and to wish him and his family all the best. Even members of the Veltic family that had remained in Figaro came to see them and give good wishes. And for those few days, he had forgotten everything else around him that was not his wife and son. Cambyses was on cloud nine. There was nothing that could deter him from this happiness, or so he thought.

On the twelfth day, that happiness was ripped from him unexpectedly, and painfully. And as it usually happened, bad news usually followed the good.

He was sitting in their small study, beside his wife as she rocked their son. His parents sat across from them, engrossed in some dusty tomes. They were all enjoying the silent and peaceful nature of their gathering. Terra had taken the day off from educating magicks, exhausted and deserving every second of rest. Edgar had joined her, and together, they decided to see if there was room to join their son and his newly growing family.

A quick and harsh knock came suddenly, disturbing them from their quiet. Cambyses mumbled permission to enter, and a high ranking office stepped in. It was Wren. Camb looked up at him briefly but quickly returned his attention when the man's red and panicked expression finally struck a cord in him. He sat up.

"Wren?" his worried voice drew the attention of his family sharply. "Gods, whatever is wrong? You look as if you ran all the way here from South Figaro."

"Gods! Here you are! You must come to the solar, Your Grace! Immediately!"

"What, why?"

"It's news about Thamasa! Hals is awaiting you for a debrief!"

Cambyses rose to his feet immediately, followed quickly by his parents, and more leisurely by his exhausted wife. "Send word to my uncle to join us." Wren ran off to carry out the commands just as he turned to his parents and wife. "I know just by the look in your eyes, that I cannot keep you from that room. Cadence, if you would like to join us, I'm sure that-"

"I would," she cut in, sharply.

He nodded. That was expected. "Then let us be off." and gods willing, this will not be bad news.

It took them roughly three minutes to reach the solar. The hallway was empty, except for the soldiers standing at the other end, keeping the royal wing secure. Cambyses helped his wife into the room—she was still a little tired—and caught sight of Hals immediately. The man stood by the table, looking solemn. Just as they reached the table, Sabin came running into the room.

Cambyses did not wait for his uncle. He looked to his general. "Please tell me this is not bad news, Hals."

"I am afraid it is both, Your Grace." he placed the letter on the table before him. "The demon has attacked Thamasa." everyone was shocked into silence. A part of Camb knew that Bertrand would turn his eyes east eventually, but a foolish part of him had hoped it would be more time before then...that he would have his magically trained units before then.

Terra took a shaky breath. "Are they okay?"

It was not needed to know who she was talking about. He nodded. "Yes, they live. The good news is that they held back the Roskovian assault better than they expected. Relm said she suspected that it was not a large fleet and that is why it was as 'easy' as it was. There is, unfortunately, more bad news." he sighed, looking broken over what he was about to say. "Whilst both the Wardens live, Gau has fallen into a catatonic state."

"What?" Terra gasped. "How?"

"He tried to...to merge with the demon."

Sabin asked, "Why would he ever try something like that?!"

Cambyses' eyes widened. The only dangers Gau had ever experienced with his Leaping was twice, and both had been with humans. It almost killed him, had he not severed the link as quickly as he had. But why had Leaping into the demon... "Gods!" he said aloud, alarming everyone. "You...you don't suspect that this...this demon is sentient, do you?"

Edgar considered that briefly. "It would track well with what we know about Gau's abilities, unless something else caused the catatonia. What else was said?"

Hals continued quickly. "Some good news, in the mess of this. It seems that, although this demon is incredibly powerful, it could not hold up to her drawing of Bahamut."

"Some good news indeed!" Edgar said, smiling with relief.

"Good news?" Terra repeated, horrified. "Gau is comatose! We must not stand about! I have to get to Thamasa, I have to cure him—"

"Mother, how do you expect to do that?" Camb asked.

"I could fly there in a few hours and be back before—"

"You could die!"

"Stop interrupting me, young man!"

Cambyses' cheeks reddened at that, but he pressed on, heated by the naivety he was seeing from his mother. "I do it because I have to! You apparently cannot see passed your own naivety to understand the enormous risks you would be taking flying there as if you were some commoner! You have a purpose, one that could help end this war! And what's more, if you—"

Now Edgar was brought into the argument. "What did you just say to your mother?! How dare you speak to her like that! I ought to—"

"Enough! Enough!" Cadence howled, stopping the argument there. The whole room was staring wide-eyed at her, startled by her outburst. "You are all right! We cannot allow Gau to continue to suffer, but we cannot risk getting to him. Instead of arguing about it, we should be considering actual options! And you!" she threw a finger toward Camb, venomousness anger burning in her eyes. "Do not ever disrespect your mother like that again! If I ever see it, I will take our son and leave for my parents, and I will not return. Do you understand me?"

Cambyses' face went red. He could hear it in her tone, too. She was serious. "I..." he swallowed back a pathetic attempting at getting around what he had done, because it would only make matters worse. He ducked his eyes, ashamed. "I'm sorry." Cadence crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow at him, and abashed, he turned to his mother. "I'm sorry mother, I shouldn't have reacted like that, I was just...angry and frustrated." but his mother only stared, and he knew she was angrier than she usually ever got. This meant he was going to need to apologize a lot more...

"If I might continue?" Hals asked a moment later, after coughing to clear the silence that came up.

"Yes...yes, of course. Go ahead."

"The blockade around the isle has been lifted," he said, smiling when everyone started to celebrate. "The demon abandoned the naval forces and the ground forces, allowing Relm to capture them with Bahamut."

"Good news indeed!" Cambyses laughed.

"Then perhaps I can still go over to help," Terra said.

"I'm afraid not, Your Majesty." Hals shook his head. "The blockade may be lifted on the isle, but they pressed westward. If you attempt to fly over head, we cannot be sure what they would do. Perhaps they would even send the demon after you. However," he put another letter on the table. "This arrived the same day. It is from the Veldt."

Cambyses hurried to grab it. It had already been opened, of course, but that was mandatory for his generals. He flattened the paper out on the table and read it. His father and mother were asking him what it said, annoying him as he read. It was a very short letter, straight to the point.

"What does it say?!" Edgar snapped.

"It says..." he smiled and looked up at them. "Father, they're almost here! They took out the northern naval fleet entirely, and have pushed southwest towards Tzen!"

Terra started to laugh, happily. "Then that means, if they reach us, we will soon have the means to go to Roskovo for Emma?"

Cambyses met her enthusiasm and happiness with a big smile. "It does! We could storm them effortlessly, without leaving Figaro open!" he looked to Hals. "Have we already begun to prepare South Figaro to receive them? If our ports are not able to accommodate..."

"South Figaro has the second largest harbor in all the world," he said. "If we cannot house the Veldt, nothing else can. If you want us to move civilian classes to minor harbors in surrounding towns and cities, we could. It should relieve enough space for them when they arrive."

"Good. See that it is done!" he was excited, and for once in the months following his sister's assault, hopeful. He had run head-first into the war with this grand idea that he could single-handedly destroy those who had hurt his sister, bring her some sort of relief, and be done with it within the year. How foolish and naïve that was of him. His actions had only brough on further grief for his family, and Emma most especially. He would never rush into conflict again, not without weighing every option carefully...not without thinking about how it might harm h is sister. And provoking another direct battle with Bertrand, without means of securing his sister's safety somehow, was something he was not willing to do.

Now, if they could convince Bertrand that further war was impossible for him—that not even his precious demon could save him—he might be willing to trade Emma safely, rather than Figaro being forced to remove his sister forcefully. Of course, Cambyses did not wish to discuss surrender terms for the man, and he would not accept anything short of the man's execution, but if he could just get the man to surrender his sister peacefully in exchange for something... perhaps the safety of his sons?

No, Cambyses thought bitterly. I will see them shackled and executed as I will their father. He wanted to remove their heads and present it to his parents, and to his sister, and promise them that something like this would never happen again.

"...then it is settled, yes?" Edgar asked, rushing the conversation forward. "We will start formulating an assault plan on Roskovo?"

"I have been teaching our...what are we even calling them?" Terra said. "Students, I guess? Well, I've been training them on the most basics, but they make great students."

Cambyses frowned. It was true that her students—comprised mostly of family, being that of Sabin's boys and Setzer's—were learning exceptionally fast, but he had seen some of their lessons in play. They could barely hold their thoughts long enough to cast spells. They were nowhere near ready to go to battle, least of all with the demon. His mother's other students—Sabin, Edgar, Setzer, Cadence and himself—were more skilled in the art, but that was because half of them had prior experience with magic and it was assumed that Cadence and Cambyses were more efficient to it because of their bloodlines. Although Celes was not a natural magic user, her biology had been altered permanently by the Empire. And Terra...in her blood flowed the power of the Espers and magic itself, and thus, through all her children. Though it always seemed to be ever present in his sister more than he or his brother.

Are we ready for that? He wondered on it for only a few seconds before realizing they were not. At most, Terra might be able to contend with the demon, or Celes if she was not holding back an assault on Tzen, but the rest of them? This creature's only opponent that beat it was a gigantic, carefully rendered interpretation of one of, if not the most, powerful Esper in the world. Was it wishful thinking to think that even his mother could hold her own?

"No," he said, cutting the conversation off. "The others are not ready to fight... I doubt they will be ready when this battle reaches us. Mother, you and Celes are the only ones capable of combat. Efficient combat. Sabin and father are adjusting to these new rules you speak of well, I'm sure, but I've seen you cast effortlessly, but uncle and father take more time to cast. That could mean the end of them in battle."

"Then what do you suggest?" Edgar pressed. "To send your mother in alone?"

"I..." he hesitated. "Yes, actually." the room grew silent, surprised. "I know, but mother and Celes are the only ones capable. And since Celes is not here, and she may be holding Tzen until the end of this war, it leaves mother. Or do any of you have any arguments that proves me wrong?"

"We could be supportive in battle," Edgar tried. "Sending her out alone..."

"No. If you joined mother, you would all only be a liability." Cambyses said, firmly. "And you know it. Mother would need to be looking out for your well being before she could even think about fighting the demon head on. You all would be of better use supporting the army."

Terra shook her head and then looked to her husband, sadly. "Edgar...he's right."

"No! I could help, I could—"

"Edgar," she started again, softly. "He is right. If I fight that creature when others are there, when they are trying to help, I will be distracted. I couldn't possibly fight the demon whilst I worry about my own sons, or family, or friends that I love with all my heart. I couldn't. I...I have been thinking about it anyway. I think I should lead the demon away and fight it far away from people. If it is as strong as the rumors say, fighting near others could cause great loss of life."

Cambyses saw the look of fear drain the color on his father's face. It was obvious to anyone who looked at his parents just how committed they were to each other. If something were to happen to his wife, Edgar would break. Camb knew this, but he also saw in his father's eyes the deep understanding that it was true. That only Terra could fight the demon.

"I will be okay," she told him, walking over to take his hands. "I will be, I swear it, but you know I must do this. It is the only way we win...it is the only way we get our daughter back."

Edgar tearfully looked down. "If something were to happen to you! I...I can't lose you..."

"You won't lose me," she whispered, lifting his face up to look at her. "You won't, Edgar. I promise."

Cambyses cleared his throat, not trying to be rude, but needing to get back on top the topic. "So, we are in agreement. We are pushing towards the final leg of this war now, and we must keep focused if we want to win."

"And if we want Emma back," Cadence added.

"Aye," he agreed, nodding. "So...let us get to it, yes?"

---

Emma laid alone and shivering in her bed, staring at the roof as the storm crashed waves hard into the ship. It rocked so terribly so that it was all she could do to distract herself from the nausea. She had never faired well on water, but the travel on the sea the last few weeks had been disastrous for her. Since they left the island—and since Sherra's escape—her master had been oddly...distant. He still had his orders to lay down for her and such of course, and there were always seething glares whenever he visited her room, but there was something different about him. It was neither a good kind of change or bad kind, it was just a change she had noticed. She always tried to stay on his better side, though it was much more difficult with her being unable to move about again. Whenever he visited her room, she focused intently and was quick to appease him whenever she saw a spark of something that meant pain.

In her freer time, when she could only think on herself and her damnable situation, she spent the first few days since their departure in pain. She couldn't believe Sherra had abandoned her, but as the days went on, she slowly began to realize what it was really about-protecting herself and her newborn. And when that realization finally came to her, that feeling of abandonment shifted to happiness. If there was any sort of chance the woman got away safely, Emma would never fault her for it. In fact, she determined, it was all she ever really wanted since finding the woman as her solace. And if she was gone now, and safe? There was nothing else for Emma to live for.

Someone was at her door then. It wasn't the knocking that she heard, at least it wasn't what she was alerted to initially. It was the scent. She moved her eyes from the roof and towards the door, and watched as Johl walked cautiously into the room. He was accompanied by two guards, as he had been every day since Sherra ran off. The guards were to enforce that he did his job, and that he didn't get away, or kill Emma.

Bertrand had become increasingly paranoid.

Johl approached with a small smile. "Emma," he whispered. "How have you been? Has the medicine helped with your nausea any?" even before she could think of a response, one of the shoulders shoved him sharply, an indication to move it along. "Oh...yes, yes...of course." he put his bag down and paced her a quick glance before digging through it. "Do you have a racing heart?" she gently shook her head. "Any headaches?" well, yes, but she had no idea of knowing if those headaches were due to the injections or her daily abuse, so she said nothing. "Any abdominal pain?"

"Get on with it!" one of the guards snapped.

"Listen you, you brainless tit, if I administrate a dosage to her while she's experiencing symptoms, I could kill her—"

The soldier that had barked the order grabbed him by the neck and shoved him towards her. "I don't give a fuck! Do as you are told and give the demon its injection! Now!"

Emma held his gaze for a few seconds before smiling. "It's okay," she said. "I'm be fine."

Johl lowered his eyes, and reached for her arm. He wiped it with a cloth dipped in alcohol and then gently pushed a thick needled syringe into the crook of her elbow. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit down on her lips as the pain started to burn up her arm. And yet, just as quickly as the pain had began, it vanished. She was confused. She looked at him, and only saw a stern stare returned back to her. She didn't know what exactly that look said, but she knew it was not something he could safely say aloud. And if it wasn't because of the soldiers, it was because of her. If she knew something she was commanded to reveal to superiors, it would come back on him.

When he was done, he discarded the syringe into his bag and stepped back. The soldier scoffed and dragged him even further back. "You best be thankful I do not tell his majesty that you were short with us earlier in the halls when we see him next." he glanced at Emma, eyes full of malice, before he turned and ordered his men out. When Johl tried to linger, the man was quick to drag him out too.

"I must watch for any symptoms, for any—"

"You can check up on her in a few hours."

"Please, it could be too late for me to help by then. I must insist that I stay behind."

"I do not care!" he howled. "Get out of the room."

"Then you may tell his majesty that, if the girl should fall ill or die, it was you that prevented me from doing my job."

The soldier made a face and then stepped aside. "Fine. You will return to your quarters within the half hour. If you do not, I will drag you before the king myself."

Johl cleared his throat and adjusted his collar. "Yes, yes...I'm sure that you will." the men slowly abandoned the room, and Johl came back over to her. All she could think of when she looked at him was Sherra, and how little was left with the woman's absence. She looked away and closed her eyes, hoping that this latest injection would be her last. It would kill her to have to harm another person she loved. She wanted Gau to be the first and only family or friend to suffer by her hands like that.

"I haven't much time," he whispered, coming to stand beside the bed. His voice was quiet, and thick with grief. Emma finally looked at him, alarmed by the tone. "I will be killed when I have declared what I have done. I haven't much to live for, but I have more than I care to have to regret for. And most of that has been about you."

She frowned. "Me? W-what did I do to you?"

He chuckled, weakly. "You haven't done a thing to me, you silly girl. My regret is about what I have done to you and allowed to be done to you, for my own gains or selfish desires. In that, I have committed unspeakable evils not only upon the world, but upon you."

That wasn't so, she knew it. He only worked with Bertrand, with Roskovo, because the mad king had his sister imprisoned. Sherra had told her as much. She would never call something like that selfish. She had only spent her life in Roskovo breathing for the lives of others, even if living meant hurting others to do that goal. "No," she mumbled. "You aren't responsible. I...I am the one who has done so much evil."

Johl offered her a pained smile. "You are too sweet for your own good, child, and far too self-loathing." he took her arm gently, and looked over the spot he had stuck earlier. "I did not give you your injection." that made her eyes widened. "I gave you some typical medicine, an antibiotic. I will not be part of this anymore. I think..." he took a moment to collect himself and sighed. "I think my sister would agree that this is not worth it, the evil and destruction I have done."

Emma began to cry. She knew what this admission meant for him, and what it meant for her. This now seemed selfish of him, knowing that she had to report this the next time a superior visited. Why was he doing this? She was going to be made to kill him. Did he not wish to live that badly? "He will make me kill you," she said, crying. "Why...? Why?"

He met her eyes, and there wasn't anything in that stare but exhaustion and pain. "I cannot live like this anymore, Emma. I was meant to save lives, to heal the sick, but I have done nothing but take lives and help hurt people. It is against who I am." he said. "When it comes to the command, please... do not try to fight him on it. And do not feel any regret or pain for it. This is what I want...this is what I need."

"Please," she whispered as he began towards the door. "Please don't do this."

Johl paused at the doorway just for a second before pressing on.

•••••••••••

Bertrand stared red faced back at him, veins bulging on his forehead.

Johl had just told him that he would no longer tend to the girl or do her injections, even if he should threaten death on him or his sister. The man had gone quiet immediately, but the reddening of his face was the only indication he had been heard.

A soldier, the one from before, drew his sword. "I'll have his head for you, your grace!"

"Silence!" Bertrand howled before focusing his gaze back on the good doctor. "I will give you one mercy, you fool. Walk back to the demon and give her that injection, or so help me...!"

But Johl held his ground. He lifted his head and straightened himself and squared his shoulders. No. He would not show this pathetic shadow of a man, so cowardly he crippled and beat on children, any more fear or hesitation. He was worth nothing, and he would be given nothing. "I will not. Do as you will. I will not bow to your every whim any further."

"I'll cut him down!"

But Bertrand stopped him with a sharp gesture. "No." he said, glaring. Johl knew what was going to happen next. He had anticipated from the start. "Bring the girl here. If he wishes to die, let him by the hands he thinks he's saving."

After a few minutes, the soldier returned, this time with the young exiled princess of Figaro. When he turned to see the girl, he frowned. It did hurt to have to put her in this situation, but he knew that Alveri could not replicant the serum without him. It meant she was not going to be injected anymore, though he wasn't entirely sure if she would still be safe. However, at that point, he wondered if death would be a mercy for her.

The soldier was holding her up roughly by her arms, dragging her forward. When they were before the king, the soldier dropped her to her legs. She crumbled painfully in a heap at his feet, unable to sustain her weight on her crippled legs. There was no time wasted. Bertrand ordered her to transform, and after a few agonizing seconds for the girl, she had. He tried to keep his expression blank at the struggle of her transformation, of the development of weakness in control, and watched her as her Esperian form towered over them.

Bertrand stepped in front of him, revealing a cruel smile. "I will relish in the fact that you will die here knowing that I will have your sister put down as brutally as I can possibly achieve it. Know it in your heart that you caused this, and die like the little rat that you are."

He returned the man's stare with his own. "Be done with it then, you coward. I have beings of actual power that I need to face."

That comment contorted the man's expression. He turned away. "Kill him."

And with that, Johl faced the Esperian girl with a growing smile, one he hoped would remind her of what he had said in her room. She raised a hand, molten eyes watching him. "Be brave." he said, and watched as a swirl of blackness overcame him.

---

Alexander sat in the dark, quiet corner of the tavern while Robert asked around about any possible ferry to the next island, or a ship to pay passage for. It was decided that he was too hot tempered at the moment to do any digging, and he had to agree. Whenever he saw a Roskovian soldier, his blood boiled and he wanted nothing more than to tear them limb from limb. It was unreasonable of him, he knew it, to hate all Roskovians. It was not their fault what others did, and it was not fair to judge them all on the acts of others. He had known many of them on his journey through their country, and whilst many were horrid, many just as well were gracious people who had no option to say no.

He tried to distract his growing impatience and anger by chugging his ale, but couldn't even stomach it at the moment. He sat it aside and didn't even look when a man leaned from his table to grab it off his table. He needed to keep his mind clear anyhow, because any moment an opportunity could sprout up, and he couldn't miss his chance to seize it.

I was so close, he thought, staring down at the chipped table top, seeing that ship sailing away again, and feeling every ounce of that pain once more. The closest I have been to her in years...why had I walked away so easily? He sighed. No. Robert was right. There was no way he would have been able to reach that ship, it was reckless, and he couldn't afford that right now. Not when Emma still needed him. He missed her so much though, so much that it hurt.

All of that time I had with you... why had I wasted it? He was such a fool for not realizing it sooner, for having needed Cadence of all people to point it out to him. All of those moments he could have given her his heart and received hers in return. That moment in her room, when she hugged him...that feeling...how had he not understood? Was it truly because he just didn't want to admit he was falling for someone, at last? He felt so ashamed. His denial and his arrogance had taken the hard earned trust of a lonely girl and broken it in a manner that could have been avoided altogether, had he not been so stupid. No more, he determined. The next time we are together, I hope you will let me hold you forever...

Robert came out of a back room then and made his way quickly over. "Get up and follow me. You need to see this."

"If it's not about a damn ship, I don't care."

"I said get up," he snapped. "And follow me."

Alexander sighed and drew himself to his feet to follow. A few men in the bar paid them a bit of their attention before diving back into their mugs. He was led to the back section of the bar, where a door separated the main room from a hallway of various doors. Robert walked passed many of them, before stopping at the sixth on the right. He waited until they were a few inches apart before he spoke.

"Listen...you must keep your temper, do you hear me?"

"What? Why?"

"If you won't control yourself in here, I will be forced to do so."

He sighed. He had no time for games. "Whatever you say, now will you just tell me what this is about?" Robert opened the door instead and gestured for him to go in.

The room was poorly lit, but it looked as if a closet had been quickly cleared out to make it a temporary room. Whatever garbage that still remained was stacked against the other wall, though rather poorly. In the center of the shuffled mess, was a woman, and a crying babe. As he walked further into the room, confused, Robert closed the door behind them and went ahead and stood between them, almost defensively.

"What is this?" Alexander demanded, gesturing towards the woman who was now staring terrifyingly at him. "We need a ship and you bring me to a mother?"

"She is not just some mother," he said, still standing rigid, as if ready to jump at any notice. "Alexander...she is the wife of Bertrand."

Alex's eyes widened and he shot them toward the woman in shock. And like a raging storm suddenly exploding within him, he took a step toward her. "What?!" the woman gasped and leaned away, clinging her child to her. "You...!" Robert took a slight step forward, and that action in some way, calmed him down immediately. He scoffed and stepped back. "I don't have time to waste on her or her demon spawn."

"Please, you don't understand, I never—"

"I don't give a shit!" he snapped. "You are lucky that I do not have time for you..."

"Or you would what, Alex?" Robert pressed. "Kill her? Kill her child?"

"What? Of course not, that would just mean I'm as low as she is." he passed the woman another seething look. "Though I don't think the world would miss a child of Bertrand's."

That made the woman's eyes narrow on him. The anger of a mother. "My son is innocent," she stood, holding her son to her protectively. "Whatever scum his father is, he has done nothing. It is not his fault how he was brought into this world."

Alex laughed. "Is that right? Then what's your excuse?"

"Do you think I really wished to stay with Bertrand?" she asked. "Why would any woman ask to be with a man so cruel? I was sold to him when I was still in my youth. Yes, it was a different time then...he wasn't so cruel. I thought...I thought that I could love him. But then he heard about the princess' birth and it completely unraveled him. I am not trying to say it is anyone else's fault, only that..." she sighed. "Only that whatever sanity he was holding on to left him in that moment. It took me years to understand why it angered him so much, and by then it was already too late. I couldn't run off. I had two sons that I was desperately trying to protect, to keep his influence on them back."

"Oh, so you're innocent in all of it too, yes?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "No," she managed through a choked cry and that startled him. "I am not so innocent. I stood by for years in fear of him to do anything. I let him turn one son into a monster and abuse the other, because I was too much a coward. And then I let him torture an innocent little girl for his own gain, because I didn't want to lose her, or any of my children...and yes, even the monstrous one. Am I innocent? No. I feel the guilt of every action I have taken every day of my life, but I am trying to do something differently. I am trying to be what Emma needed now, so that I can help her however I can."

"You talk of her as if you knew her."

"I do," she told him. "I have loved her like my own all these years. I have tended every worry, injury and fever. I have seen her laughter and good moods, as well as her anger and her poorer moods. I know you think poorly of me, and I do not blame you, but there is one thing I will not allow you to say about me and that is that I do not care for her wellbeing."

"If you care so much, where is she now?" He challenged. "You abandoned her, didn't you?"

Sherra's tears fell faster now. "I...it's much more difficult than that! You do not understand!"

"What don't I understand?" he howled. "That in the end, she didn't matter to you?"

"Alex, let her talk."

"I am! I'm failing to understand her reasoning, that's all. For someone who claimed to love Emma like her own, she sure left her quickly."

"I had to!" Sherra screamed. "I had to! He was going to keep hurting her to get at me and...and I swore to her that I would find someone to tell this to, so that she could get help."

"What does knowing how you feel help her?"

She looked at Robert briefly before back at him. "It's more than that. Please, we have gotten off track and on the wrong...wrong foot? I think that's the saying. Please, sit, there is so much I have to tell you."

"I would rather stand, lady."

That made her laugh. "You act almost exactly as she described you. So direct with people."

That caught him off guard. "What?"

"Does it surprise you?" she smiled softly. "She didn't like to talk much about the people she loved, but sometimes, when she was in a really good mood...she would speak of you and her parents, and her brothers. She was afraid to speak much of you, though." that made her look down, frowning. "Bertrand and Lucas, they...they were not fond of that."

Alexander hadn't realized he was crying until he felt it roll down off his face. "You...she spoke to you about me?"

"Of course," she said, softly. "She loves you dearly. It was often a point of conflict for her, even."

"What? W-why would you say that?"

"Bertrand and Lucas did not like it," she said simply. "But I think the rest ought to be for her to tell you, if she should like to."

Robert cleared his throat and gestured to the makeshift seating. "Sherra, I think we should get back on topic. Tell him."

"Oh..." she sighed. "Yes, of course, I...I'm sorry. Speaking of her helps when I'm nervous. Please sit, Alexander. It would be best that you were when I tell you what I have to."

"What is it that you have to tell me?"

"Gods damn it," Robert grumbled. "Just sit down."

Alexander took a seat quickly then, annoyed with the secretive nature of this news. Sherra joined him the next instant, though Robert stayed where he stood, arms crossed. The woman took a moment to calm down her newborn son and then tuck him into a ricket, makeshift crib and then composed herself. "Tell me...what do you know of Emma's heritage?"

The question was so sudden, and so unexpected, he could only stare dumbly. What did he expect though? That Roskovo wouldn't know, somehow, about Emma and her heritage? "I...I know she is part Esper."

She nodded. "Yes, and I suspect you knew long before we did, that she had transformed before?" he swallowed hard, remembering that time in her room. She had been so completely out of it. He had never seen such rage from her before. It was almost like it wasn't even her. He nodded. "Bertrand knew of it, too. For a very long time. There was a man on one of the ships to Thamasa when the king and queen were taking her there to the wardens. That man was tortured for weeks until he told Bertrand everything."

"Are you saying he knew about her since she was a baby?"

"Yes," she nodded. "He tried three times, even, to move on Thamasa to capture her but the attempts were foiled, though the wardens misunderstood the incursions as pirate assaults."

"Gods..." he couldn't believe it. At any moment, Emma could have been kidnapped as just a little baby? A little girl? The thought terrified him. Why was this mad man so obsessed with her? Why did he seem to hate her so completely? It seemed unbelievable that simple speciesism could drive a man to such vile evils, but he had seen racism do just the same thing in even civilized parts of the world, so why not this? "Why?" he asked, quietly. "Why does he hate her so much?"

Sherra held his gaze. "It is not just Emma that he hates, Alexander." when he gave a long stare, her expression shifted into surprise. "Are you...do you really not know?"

"Know what?"

She gasped. "Gods, then it is true...! Bertrand was right. Edgar has understood nothing."

"What are you talking about?"

She looked at him. "Bertrand doesn't just hate, he hates her mother too, though the reason..."

Robert cleared his throat again and walked away, closer to the door, even as Alexander leaned forward. "But why? What have they done to him?"

"Edgar must not have had a good look at Bertrand," she mumbled, almost to herself.

"Will you answer my damn question already?"

"Alexander," she said, slowly. "Bertrand and Edgar know each other, it is just Edgar does not know it."

"How is that even possible?"

"Because when Edgar met Bertrand, the two went by different names." she explained. "This was long ago, just a few weeks after the world had fallen to Kefka. Edgar had taken a position in disguise amongst a band of pirates and...one of those pirates was Bertrand. He was known then by 'Atole'."

No. This couldn't be right. Surely, even Edgar would have said something if he saw Bertrand? He couldn't have missed a familiar face, right? Or had he known all this time, and kept it secret? No. Even if Alexander hated the man, he knew he was incapable of something like that. "You're mistaken. If Edgar knew that bastard, he would have said something."

"I assure you, they knew each other. Bertrand has changed a lot in those years, and to be very clear, Atole was not someone Edgar was routinely around back then. It was actually Atole's older brother that Edgar knew far more."

"Brother? There's another one of them talking this planet?"

Sherra shook her head. "No, and I'm afraid that is where this hatred has begun." she leaned into her seat with a long sigh. "Is the overall world aware of a kidnapping of Terra? It was shortly after she was married to Edgar."

Alexander sat up, alerted. "What? No, that's not...I...that would have been news."

"It happened." she mumbled. "Atole's brother, Estam, was captain of the pirate crew after Edgar left them. He felt betrayed by Edgar's lies and when he heard that the man had taken wife some time later, he devised a plan to kidnap her and ransom her back to him. The act happened when Edgar and Terra arrived at Nikeah for a meeting with the lords there. Estam waited until they were bound on their journey via chocobo to cause panic in the city. The chaos grew too furious even for Estam. I do not, in all honesty, believe he meant for it to get so dangerous, but it had. Edgar had to get out of the carriage to get men off the carriage, to protect Terra. In doing so, he left it open. The driver had been paid off by Estam, and before Edgar could even act, the carriage was gone."

"Gods...!" Terra, kidnapped? How has any of this been kept a secret all of these years? And suddenly, he realized in full force why the two were so protective of Emma all those years. Did they think the same could happen to their daughter? "How did it resolve? Surely she got away?"

"No," she said. "She did not. Terra was six months pregnant with her first born." Cambyses! He thought. "She could not risk the child in attempting to fight her way out, or rather, she wouldn't. Estam did not realize she was pregnant until she was before him. She was held captive for over a month before Edgar found them. I do not know how he did this, I only know what Bertrand has told me. Edgar had brought four warships with him and when he arrived, there was a fatal confrontation with the pirates. As hell burned outside of the hideout, he made his way into the building with two thousand soldiers and found Estam barricaded in the main section of the old hideout."

Alexander could not even begin to understand that kind of terror for either of them. How had Terra kept her resolve and strength for so long? How had Edgar not gone insane with fear not knowing if she was okay or not? It was everything Alex could do that searching for Emma did not break him. "I do not know the details of the fight, Bertrand never cared to speak of it, but he told me that he had seen Edgar mercilessly slay his brother. That has stuck with him all these years. Before Emma was announced to the world, Bertrand was often more drunk and quiet than anything, mumbling about his brother or Edgar. The day he found out about her... it was as if a calm had settled a great and terrifying storm. He changed so quickly and so completely, I...I don't even know how to properly describe it."

The pieces finally began to fit together. "Bertrand...he's doing this all to get back at Edgar?" her gaze was enough of an answer. Emma had to suffer all that she had suffered, because of something her father had done? For the repulsive actions of her captor's brother causing his own downfall? It was then that he deduced that Edgar could not know who Bertrand was. Because no matter how much Alexander hated him, he knew the man would not do what he had done if he had even the slightest suspicion...

"Is this what was so important? How does it help Emma any for me to know this?" all it did was make him angrier, and enflamed his grief. To know that Emma's life had been at the whims of a deranged man out for revenge for someone else entirely.

Sherra's eyes began to glisten. "It's Emma." she tried to speak evenly, but her voice had cracked. "The...the demon that Bertrand has, it...it is Emma."

If she knew that Emma was the demon, or rather that Emma could transform, it meant she might know more of the mad man's plans. Specifically, where they might be headed now. "Yes... I know."

"You...wait, you know? How?"

Robert finally spoke up from near the door. "We have been in Roskovo. We tried to rescue the girl earlier, but we were too late. We were informed of her...condition...by one of my contacts."

Sherra said, "I don't understand... if you know, why are you still here? Why haven't you gone to Figaro?"

Alexander exchanged looks with Robert. "Why would we be in Figaro?"

Her eyes widened. "You don't know? Gods...! Bertrand is sailing to Figaro! He means to take the kingdom using Emma!"

---

Johl had anticipated pain, an intense and crippling pain, but instead the world had blackened around him and he grew ice cold. And then, in a bright burst of light, he dropped several feet, landing hard on his back. It disoriented him so completely that it took several long seconds before he realized the burning light above him was the sun, and the burning against his back was sand.

He sat up slowly, favoring his back as he did so, and looked around his surroundings in absolute confusion. There was white hot sand all around him, and rolling hills running off in the distance beyond them. The ocean behind him glistened like sapphires and stretched out far into the horizon. Was this what death was like, after it came?

He managed to his feet when a second flash of light burst in front of his eyes. He covered his eyes, grimacing, and looked when it had gone at last. A woman was lying unconscious on the sand in front of him, so skinny it looked as if wet cloth laid over bones instead of flesh. It took him a long moment to recognize who it was, because of the state she was in. And when he had, the earlier confusion tripled.

"Astelle?" he cried, and dropped beside her to his knees. "Astelle! Oh gods, it is you! But...but how?!" he lifted her out of the sand and leaned her against him. "I...I don't understand! How..." he looked around them, not understanding. "And where are we...?" and then something began to form in the back of his mind, as he stared unbelievingly at the face of his sister.

Instead of killing him as commanded, Emma had found some way around her commands. And not only that, she had sent him away and somehow saved his sister. But if that was the case, how did she manage it? She had never even seen Astelle before, or had she? And what sort of magic could even allow her to do whatever it was she did? There were so many questions, so many needed answers, but he was certain as he held his sister to him, that Emma was responsible for this miracle.

Johl pressed his forehead to his sister's, tears in his eyes, disgusted with himself for having left the girl in the way that he had. It came upon him just how selfish had been in that decision, and that even despite that, she had decided to help him. Even if it meant more pain for her. Gods have mercy on me, he thought, closing his eyes. I will do everything in my power to help her in anyway that I can, I swear!

---

Terra stood in the center of the crumbling, ancient castle and looked about the library that stood tall around her. For years, she had taken refuge here when she was anxious, scared, worried or even happy. The day she had learned she was pregnant with every one of her children, she came here to sit in the quiet and thank the gods for the miracle. When she had first learned that Emma's magick seals was holding fast for the first year, she came here and wept happily. It was a comforting place, in all her moods.

Today, she was anxious. The tutoring had gone well, but still she knew her students were too far off what they needed to be to fight the demon. And then there was the matter of the demon itself. Terra knew her skill was matched, if not superior, to the demon, but it was the power level she was worried about. Without her Trance, she wasn't sure if she would be able to keep up with a creature that could even fly. Why had magic returned, but not that half of her? It seemed so unfair. Whyever did it come back? What purpose did it serve to return that, but not the other half of herself?

She lifted a hand and brought fire to life in her palm, and watched the brilliance of the flame dance across her skin and throw shadows around the room. Magic was life, and not just because she had been born to it. It felt like it was in everything...part of everything. She wanted that feeling back. She wanted to feel alive in the way her Esper part had let her, when she finally accepted it. When she no longer feared it.

I miss it so much, she thought, staring deeper into the flames, memories teasing her of her time adventuring, of when she still bore a part of her father. Tears glistened in her eyes. But I would gladly give away even the memories, if I could just do transform again, just enough to rescue my daughter... she let the flame die and wiped her tears away. No. There was no use hanging on that. It was impossible to make things happen off of wishing. That was all she had done these years, wish so dearly for her daughter to be home again, and it got her nowhere.

Now she had to take things into her own hands. It was quickly approaching her given time restriction to leaving, and she was nowhere near where she needed to be. And she knew she had to figure it out, the potential power difference between her and the demon. And there was only way to quickly achieve it.

Transformation.

Terra looked up at the spiraling room and took a breath. I do not have the aid of an Esper to help me achieve it, she thought, sadly. I may not even be able to do it, but I will try until I have exhausted myself to near death, if need be. But how could she achieve it again without an Esper to guide her? Did she even need that in the first place, or had it only ever been about pushing her through a block? She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the memory of what it felt like to go into her trance. First, she thought of the pure terror that had seized her back in Narshe and then she moved to the shame she had felt in Mobliz, when she saw how her children looked at her. It was not working though, she felt nothing stirring in her that was familiar to transforming. Please, she begged the gods. Please, just this once, help me!

And yet, there had come no answer, so saving grace. She furiously stormed from the underground castle, annoyed with herself for thinking a miracle could come here and now.

She made her way to the solar, where her son was awaiting news of recent development of her students. Of course, she knew that Cadence was telling him the information herself, but for the sake of things he still required her to tell him herself. It was frustrating, at times, to tell him that progress was unbearably slow. It wasn't the fault of her students, either. This new form of magic...it was different. It was chaos and order in the palm of your hand. Those who had touched magic before struggled a little less with it than those who never have, but it was still a struggle nonetheless. It seemed as if Terra and Celes, and even Gau and Relm, were the only ones without the struggle of adapting. She suspected it was because they were all born with the power, or otherwise altered to it on a biological level.

She only wished she had better news to share.

The inside of the solar was surprisingly packed. Her husband and his brother stood about the table with her oldest son, and her youngest sat on a free chair apart from the, studying a regional map of Roskovo's western shoreline. Locke, Setzer and Cadence were there, too. The later was sitting on the sofa though, tending to her newborn.

Cambyses noticed her first, and stood straight with a small smile. "Ah, mother. It is good you have joined us. We were awaiting your arrival to continue. Hals dropped off a missive from Tzen a few minutes ago before running off to the crow's nest. It is from Celes."

She was confused. Why wait for her? "I do not understand. Why did you bother to wait for me to ready something so crucial?"

"I thought it might function as an olive branch, mother. I know you are frustrated with our delays and perhaps you might even think I do not value your input into our struggles, but I do. Waiting for you shows, I hope, that you are an invaluable part of my council."

Terra knew he was trying very hard to keep her within Figaro longer, and although she did not doubt he meant to earnestly show her that he valued her input and worries, it annoyed her. She didn't need to be coddled about it, and she certainly didn't want to be bribed in any sort of manner, to abandon her promised plans. Her first instinctive response to lash at him, but she reigned it in quickly, and moved quietly across the room to join Cadence on the sofa. She hoped the expression she made told her son how annoyed she was and convince him not to push any further. It seemed to work just as she intended, because he cleared his throat and opened the letter even as the others settled more into their positioning.

When Cambyses began to read off the opening section, little Henry began to stare intently at Terra, big curious eyes as bright as her son's had been when he was born.

It is with great honor, and relief, that I write to you to inform you that Tzen still stands. The fighting had been intense and chaotic, and just when it seemed as if the Roskovians would gain precious ground, the Veldtic navy arrived to aid us.

Terra sat up, alert and surprised. "The Veldt? They are at Tzen?"

He smiled as he looked at her. "It seems so."

"What else does it say?" she pressed, excited. If they were so near, it would only be weeks before they arrived at Figaro soil. It would mean her daughter was that much closer to being home!

Cambyses continued on.

I must make this brief however, as the good man running the Veldtic navy is demanding it so that we can leave on schedule, but you will find this next piece of information just as important. We have captured a high ranking general, a man who has given his name up freely as 'Barkov'. The Veldt has left six thousand men behind in Tzen, and four of their ships to help protect it, and I agreed to supplement their attachment with two thousand men of our own and a ship. The rest of the Veldt sails on the 'morrow with us, back to Figaro. I suspect this letter with reach you before we do, but look forward to the days ahead. Soon, we will sail for Roskovo, and put this war to its close at last and rescue your sister.

It was a miracle, Terra thought. It was not the one she had prayed for, certainly not, but a miracle nonetheless. With Tzen's safety ensured, and the Veldt now making its way to Figaro, there would be nothing stopping them from advancing on Roskovo with their full might. Well, except for the demon. She felt such relief, such hope, that she started to cry. Would she be able to hold her baby girl in her arms again? To smother her little face with kisses? To feel her boney and yet strong little hugs?

"This is it," Edgar spoke quietly into the stunned room, catching everyone's attention. "We must begin immediately. If we act now, we can sail within days of the Veldt arriving."

"We don't even have an assault plan, or—"

"We can think of one!"

"Father, please," Cambyses cut in sharply. "I know this is what we have wanted, and we will not squander it, but we must not rush out without a plan."

No. No, this was not be actually being discussed, was it? Terra got to her feet, outraged. "You swore to me!"

Cambyses looked at her, surprised. "What? Mother, no, I didn't mean we aren't going to, I just meant—"

"We will sail immediately, or I will leave!"

"Mother!" he shouted, finally stealing her attention from her rising anger. "Gods! We will sail. I promise you, we will not wait more than a week or two, but if you think I will sail not only Figaro lives into enemy territory without a plan, but also that of the Veldt? I'm sorry, but I will not do it. We must have a plan of attack before we move."

Terra met his gaze with her own fiery one. She knew he was right, that attacking without a plan was foolhardy and risky, but she knew in her heart that they needed to move as swiftly as humanly possible. She didn't know how much longer her daughter had, if she were even still alive. If he did not want to move without a plan, she was not going to stop him. She would go ahead of them, though as she stared into his determined eyes, she knew she shouldn't tell him that. He might as well have her bound to her room if he knew.

Edgar spoke up. "Son...we have waited so long."

"I know," he said, softly. "I do, I know. I'm not going to make you wait any longer than—"

The doors flew open sharply and Hals ran in breathing hard. "Your Majesty! Quickly, we must get to the dungeons, we must—"

"Hals?" Cambyses glanced from his father to the man quickly. "Gods man, you've looked as if you ran from South Figaro..."

"It is Suon!" he finally managed. "He has returned to Figaro and is awaiting you in the dungeons!"

"What?! Cambyses hurried around the tables. "Why has Suon abandoned his post?!"

Terra did not like this. A great and sickening feeling began to settle in her stomach. There was no way Suon would have left his post, not without the reasoning being something grave. He was too honorably, and too skilled a man, to be defeated either. Not without an overwhelming opposition. If he left his post, it was because he knew it was more important to be somewhere else. It was part of the reason he and Edgar had become such good friends, that they shared that sense of responsibility. And she trusted in that feeling, and feared it.

"When I spoke with him, he looked ready to pulverize me for delaying coming here, that is all I know. I have never seen the man so shaken."

Terra wasted no time. She was the first one out of the room, walking so fast she was all but running. Edgar was right after her, followed by Hals and Cambyses, and then the rest of them. She did not need to be led to the dungeons regardless, and she would have snapped if Hals had tried to guide her. She was not in the mood for any of that kind of behavior. And if Suon had abandoned his post—the most crucial holding they had in Roskovo—she wanted to be the one to ask him why he abandoned the only position that could get them to her daughter. She needed to see his face when she asked.

When she entered the dungeons, the soldiers standing guard came to attention sharply, and not a one of them looked her in the eyes. It worried her. She climbed down two levels before she finally saw Suon standing before a wide set of cells. At the sound of her footsteps, he turned and paused at the sight of her.

"Your Grace? I...what are you doing here? Where is your son?" But Terra's eyes had focused on the young man behind the general, locked within the confines of the cell. He was a bit gawky and looked famished, but there was something about him that was familiar. "Please, this is not something you wish to hear, not like this."

The green eyes staring guiltily at her had suddenly become clear to her. She had seen him. Her heart started to race painfully as the memory of that summer ball came back to her, of the tall lad that had taken her daughter as escort, and the gangly brother that stood behind him like a shadow. "You..." the young man's eyes widened, but before anyone could move or act, Cambyses had come down the stairs hastily.

"Mother, if you could just slow down for a..." the words stopped dead in his throat at the sight of the boy in front of them. At the sight of the young kind, the gawky boy leapt back, eyes going with in pure terror. "You son of a bitch!" he charged towards the cells, but Suon quickly intercepted him.

"Please, you must listen to what he has to say!"

"I'll kill him!" he howled. "You never should have come here, boy!" by that time, the rest of the people had come downstairs. "Suon, get out of my way!"

"I will only move once you have heard him out," he said, sternly. "Please, I beg of you. Listen to him!"

Edgar was disgusted. "Listen to him?! He...he..." he was trying so very hard to hold back his anger, it was clear to everyone there. "How could you bring him here, Suon?! After what he has done to my daughter?!"

Eric finally spoke up. His voice was soft with terror. "It is true. I have hurt your daughter in unforgivable ways. I am not here to ask for forgiveness, or mercy. I do not deserve it, not a single ounce of it." his tone sharpened with resolve. "I will not give you reasoning, and I do not want absolution. I am just here so that I might help Emma—"

"You do not get to say her name!" Edgar cried out, taking a threatening step towards the boy. "Speak her name again, I swear to—"

"Enough!" Terra's demand cut through the arguing quickly. "I will hear what he has to say about my daughter, if Suon believes it needs to be heard."

"Mother, consider what you are asking! You know what he did to Emma, why should we—"

"Quiet!" she snapped, and the young king actually obeyed. She turned her eyes to the boy in the cells and took a few steps forward. "I hate you with every ounce of my being and I know you are afraid, I can see it in your eyes. And yet you came here anyway, knowing what might happen to you." his eyes softened. "If you have something to tell me about my daughter, say it."

Eric nodded. "Yes, of course..." he glanced at Suon shortly. "I will make this brief. We probably do not have much time." he took a breath, and it was shaky. "My father sails for Figaro, even as we speak. I'm afraid that is not the only bad news I have brought with me. He sails here with your daughter."

"What?" Terra gasped. "That...that can't be." this meant there was even less time to prepare, to train her students, to wait for the Veldt!

"It will be fruitless to assault Roskovo now," he continued. "You would only leave Figaro open for him."

"How can we even believe you?" Cambyses demanded. "You are a conniving snake, just like your father and brother!"

"You will see," he said. "My father was last known to be at the United Islands, wasn't he?" the hesitation from the young king was answer enough. "And you have had trouble pinning him down, yes? His plan was to bring ruin to your cities and strong points as he sailed north. When he arrived at the United Islands, he finally gave order to have Thamasa hit."

"You know an awful lot of sensitive information," Edgar said, glaring. "How do we know you were not here to derail us?"

Eric frowned. "I...I wouldn't..."

"An easy enough thing to say," he continued. "You haven't any proof, do you?"

"I'm afraid that's not all the bad news he brings with him," Suon mumbled, eyes stinging with tears. "Tell them, boy, and be quick."

Eric frightfully lowered his eyes. "I...yes, of course. My father, he...he and the king-Edgar, I mean-they know each other."

The whole room turned heads to Edgar, who looked appalled by the mere suggestion of such a thing. "What?! What sort of game are you on, boy? What I know of that bastard is from having to go to war with him!"

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that, you know him you do. You just don't know it."

"I should think I would know if I knew a man!"

"Atole," he said, calmly. "You know him, though not as well as you knew his brother...Estam."

Estam?! Terra thought immediately of the broad shouldered man that had taken her captive all those years ago and felt that sickness rising to her again. She looked to her husband, alarmed, and saw his eyes wide with realization. No. This all had to be a mistake! The pirates had been captured, or dwindled away after Estam's defeat. Why would his surviving brother wait all these years to...

Terra lifted a hand to her mouth, crying, and disgusted. This was revenge. It was only ever about revenge. Every moment of her daughter's suffering had been orchestrated all in a pursuit against them.

Cambyses looked to them, confused. "Who is he talking about? He's lying, isn't he?" Edgar looked away, tears gently coming. "He is lying, isn't he?!"

"I am not lying to you," Eric continued. "I...I have done unspeakable things, all out of selfish reasoning, but I am trying to be different. I am trying to be what...what your daughter has been since I have known her." they turned to him again. "You wouldn't believe me on this either, I suspect, but your daughter...? She is unbelievable strong, stronger than any person I have ever known in my life, and I am not talking about strength."

Suon shook his head. "There will be time for that later, boy. Tell them the rest...they need to hear it."

Eric faced them, looking resolved. "My father has figured out how to unlock the power of your daughter's blood. His initial intention had been to unlock a similar power to Magitek, but it proved fruitless early on. Instead, he focused on..." he took a moment to collect himself. "He focused instead on your daughter entirely, instead."

Terra said, "...what do you mean?"

Eric's eyes were full of tears when he spoke. "The demon. It...it is Emma."

The room had erupted into chaos, but Terra had fled. She couldn't be in there, not right now. She pushed passed the small crowd and hurried up the stairs, chest tightening with each step. By the time she made it to the hallway, the pain had intensified so drastically, breathing hurt. There was no point in arguing whether or not the young man was lying. She knew it deep in her heart that he was not. It made so many things make sense. Why Bertrand had done what he had done; what he said to Cambyses when he was captured and the 'demon' itself. There was no creature like that on the planet, not with sentiency. Why hadn't she seen it before? What this 'demon' was, and that it was related to Espers?

The hallway opened up before her, and into variedly spaced balconies. She couldn't breathe. She made her way trembling towards one of the balconies and collapsed to her knees into the ice cold rain with a loud and anguished cry of pain. Why? Why did this have to happen to her little girl, her baby? What had she done that could ever justify that sort of pain and suffering? To be made into a slave, to hurt and kill, to break and be broken?

Why? She cried to the gods, pressing a shaking hand to her aching chest. Why have you done this to my little girl? What has she ever done to you to deserve such evil? She lowered herself further, pressing her forehead to the ice cold stone of the balcony. If you had to punish anyone, why didn't you pick me? No, what was she thinking? It wasn't the fault of the gods, but of her. If she had never let her daughter go to that summer ball, she would be safe. If she had never taken her daughter from Thamasa for the selfish reasoning of missing her, the girl would be safe and happy. What have I done?! Why...why... the face of Lucas sprung to mind then, and she felt ready to burst from the anger.

No. This wasn't the fault of some deity or another, or even herself. This was the fault of one man and one man only. Her skin felt so hot she was afraid she would burst into flames. She wanted to hurt them, tear them apart, limb from limb. She wanted to see terror in their eyes and hope it was the same kind of terror they had put in her daughter. She wanted to burn them alive and watch the last breath of life escape them in rigid pain. Never before had she felt such intense anger, so much hatred, it felt so foreign. It felt as if she had stepped aside from her body and let another think for her. And despite that, her heart ached all the same for it.

And now Terra had to fight her own daughter, and somehow do so without killing her. She had sworn that time in her room all those years ago would be the last time she raised a hand to her daughter, but here she was. Unable to find another way around it. And it was torture. Angry and frustrated, she screamed into the storm. A crack of lightning shot down in the distance, igniting one of the castle towers into flame.

The world stalled around her. The fire burning in her exploded and she felt its heat race up from her stomach to her head. Her eyes felt ready to melt from the heat of it, but she kept screaming, driven by this rising animalistic anger she could not contain. She collapsed forward, forehead to stone again, shivering as the anger and energy washed away from her. And then she cried, voice hoarse and heart split in two, and lifted herself tiredly up.

That's when she caught sight of her hands and shot back, terrified and confused. They were covered in pale thistle colored fur, fringed with darker purples. She stood, stumbling, heart racing. It can't be... she turned her hands over, trembling, and then looked herself over. Instead of pale flesh, she was covered in familiar faint purple-pink fur. It was real. She had gone into her trance, but how? How could this be possible, when years and years of trying had brought her failure? The tears ran hot down her cheeks.

"Terra?"

She spun around and looked right into the shocked face of her husband. His eyes were wide and mouth agape. Suddenly terrified, as if she had been caught doing something she was not ever meant to, she tried to explain. She was crying. "It...it isn't what it looks like, Edgar. I...it just happened and I—" Edgar just walked over and took her into an embrace. It was warm and safe, and she let her anguished cries take her again and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm here," he whispered, holding her tighter. "I'm here now."

---

Damn, that took a long time to write. With life being a pain in my ass, and tons of health and economic issues, there hasn't been a lot of time to write. My apologies to the long time readers, who have stuck with this since 2009. I promise you though, this story is getting finished, even if it kills me.

If you spot any errors, be assured, I will get them fixed over the coming days. As you can imagine, ironing out 30k+ words to have no grammar mistakes is a painful job. lol

Thank you for reading!