Chapter Twenty

Zidane's stomach lurched as he soared across the sky. He struggled against Kuja, flailing back and forth. But Kuja's grip was strong, nearly threatening to break his windpipe. The next Zidane knew, dry, parched vines were driving into his back and he spun through the foliage. He came to a grinding halt on his belly. Zidane's face had suffered a few cuts and blood now speckled his pale skin. Nearby, he noticed his daggers and quickly stumbled to his feet, vaulting the vines that were desperately trying to reclaim what was once the Iifa Tree's. As soon as he felt the gritty hilt of the weapons, he spun around, crossing them over each other. Kuja came from above with a diving kick. Zidane staggered as he deflected it. As he tilted his head up, he watched as Kuja hovered above, his arms held out at his side.

"The power of the souls, the power of the planet, I feel it inside me," Kuja's hands slowly curled into fists. "I've never felt more alive."

Zidane took a few steps back, warm blood dribbling from his hairline. "You sick, depraved bastard," he shook his head.

"You know, Gaia has told me you've just had the crummiest year, Zidane," Kuja dramatically pushed his ashen hair from the frame of his face. "You gave up on your one true love, you've made practically no advancements on your late friend's research, and now, your dead girlfriend is trying to take over the world. As they say, it comes in threes."

Zidane slashed his dagger through the air in a fit of rage and frustration. His jaw clenched. "You're not even the real Kuja. You're just some re-fabricated remnant."

Kuja admired his nails. "And the world did such a fine job, wouldn't you say?"

This can't be real, Zidane's heart pulsated in his ears. I'm dreaming. Or I'm already dead.

"It's been years since we've last seen each other," Kuja came closer, his white waist cape waving in the stiff breeze breaking through the mist. "And yet, not a thing has changed. Astrid's soul helped me realize that. But you, Zidane, are the living proof. Look at you. Blood stained, scarred, and beaten. What happened to you? Why do you continue to torment yourself? Everything in life is relatively easy. Why do you continue to make it difficult?"

"Shut up!" Zidane sneered, his breathing shallow. "Don't think you can just crawl out of your miserable grave and be my psychologist. Your tactics won't work on me, Kuja. I know all your weak spots."

"And I know yours," Kuja grinned. "Let me get you better acquainted with them." In the next moment, Kuja directed his arms out and then crossed them over his chest. Two thick blankets of mist criss-crossed into Zidane, leaving him utterly blinded. Zidane brought his daggers up defensively, his eyes darting into the gray abyss surrounding him. "Let the mist guide you." Zidane turned around sharply. Still nothing in sight. His teeth ground together as he looked around. He windmilled his arms as he staggered into a protruding vine, but Zidane quickly found his stance again. "Let the mist show you your happiest memories, your toughest failures, and your unfortunate regrets. There are many to choose from, but only the biggest ones will stand out."

"This isn't going to work, Kuja!" Zidane shouted into the nothingness surrounding him. "I'm a Terran just like you. That should count for something."

"Now... it means nothing," in a flash, Kuja emerged from the wall of mist, his arm extended outward. A small ball of golden, radiating light was in his palm. He thrust his hand forward, making contact with Zidane's forehead. For a fleeting moment, Zidane felt that same intense, burning sensation inside of his skull before it weakened and his tired body simply gave out, crumpling into the vines. Kuja's boots jingled as he gently lowered himself onto a curving vine. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the mist away. He then crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. "Just what will it take to get through to you, Zidane?"

...

"... my earliest memory is the first time Baku ever beat me," Zidane was saying. A warm orange fire was glowing in front of him. Mindlessly, he tossed another stick into it and then hugged his knees. Around him, the cicadas were chirping and the clouds were hustling in the night sky. "He got me in the nose, right off the bat."

Across the fire sat his only companion who also wasn't tired that night; Garnet. She had her legs folded sideways, her back straight, and her hands in her lap. Her olive complexion glowed in the flickering flames. She arched her bold brow, leaning forward just a bit. "What did you do?"

Zidane tilted his head, a small smirk on his face, as he endlessly searched the sky. After a beat, he shook his head. "Honestly? I don't really remember."

"Why would Baku beat you in the first place?" Garnet furrowed her brow, her long onyx hair rustling behind her back.

"Well, he'd call it 'tough love'," Zidane shrugged, breaking another branch to feed the fire. "We were always acting up, anyways. I imagine princesses don't get brute punishment..."

The plains leading towards the Iifa Tree were dark. The wind was whistling that night and it was a miracle the fire was able to stay aflame. Zidane had insisted on camping against the basin of the mountains separating the impressive tree from Madain Sari and Conde Petie. In the tent beyond Zidane, Eiko and Vivi had crashed hard. It had been a long day. Zidane looked into the crackling fire before he slowly lifted his eyes to Garnet. The princess had a lot on her mind. Zidane saw the tell-tale signs of someone wanting to distract themselves. As he peered over the lick of the flames, he saw her eyes wandering elsewhere. He could only imagine where it went. Most likely her mother, who he knew Garnet was gravely worried about.

"You know," Zidane licked his lips. His voice brought Garnet back to that present moment. "You've done really well, Dagger."

Her dark, coffee eyes gleamed into the flames and her face did not move.. "What exactly is your definition of 'well'?"

Another twig cracked between his hands and Zidane looked at the grooves and knots etched into the wood before he tossed it to mercy of the fire. "I think you've really adapted."

She smiled modestly and shook her head. "It's hard to keep to the dialect. And out here... I'm not quite sure it matters."

"Maybe not," Zidane sat forward and crossed his legs. He bobbed his knee absently. "But all of this... it's outside of a princess' normal routine. And I'd say you're killing it."

Across the fire, Garnet straightened up and coyly turned her head to the side. "Imagine for a moment that I wasn't a princess. What would you think of me right now?"

"Well," Zidane leaned back on his hands, letting the cool wind run over him. The clouds were moving fast overhead, obscuring the moons and blocking the abundant, twinkling stars. "I'd think you're a girl still trying to find her place in the world. You know what you want, but you don't know how to manifest it." Garnet's face softened as she watched Zidane stargaze between the rushing clouds, his features relaxed and exuding its ever present charm. "You're aware of what the world is capable of and you're still not afraid of it. That's who you'd be if you hadn't become a princess. You'd be a survivor. A daydream believer, even. And there's nothing wrong with that."

Her dark eyes shimmered in the flickering flames as she looked at him intently. After the silence had permeated long enough, Zidane sat forward. Garnet still seemed quite perplexed across the fire and, for a moment, he wondered if he had insulted her. She licked her lips and started to shake her head, stopping midway. "No one... has ever said something so nice to me before."

"Aw, come on," Zidane shook his head, sheepishly running his hands through his hair. "There's no way, Dagger."

"No, really," Garnet leaned forward now, her hands curling in her lap. "That was so... authentic. In the castle, compliments are served like mints. But rarely do they feel genuine."

"Well, it's just what I've observed," Zidane shrugged rather lamely. "It's just the truth."

"And I appreciate it, if that's what it truly is."

"Then when things get tough and we don't know what to do," Zidane told her, looking directly at Garnet. "Remember those words. Okay?"

Garnet's eyelashes fluttered as she glanced out at the dark foreboding silhouette of the Iifa Tree in the distance. "I don't know what's going to happen, Zidane... but I just want you to know that I trust you."

"I trust you, too, Dagger."

She looked to him, her gaze soft. "No one has ever said that to me, either."

Zidane's grin was lopsided and boyish. "There's a first for everything, huh?"

...

Kuja was seemingly admiring his work as he looked over the unmoving Zidane. Slowly, his bright eyes drifted out at the landscape obscured in mist around him. How much had changed, yet everything seemed the same. In the next moment, however, he perked up before soundlessly leaping backwards in a graceful manner to the next vine. In front of him, where he had been standing seconds before, the vine was obliterated by a mythril javelin. At lightening speed, Freya landed beside it, her olive coat waving in the stiff wind. She ripped her weapon from the mangled, dry vines and lifted her chin. Beneath her matching hat, there was nothing but anger and vengeance. Kuja grinned, crossing his arms languidly.

"Oh, Freya of Burmecia... I see your anger. I feel your loss..." Kuja brought a slender finger to his bottom lip. "I feel it coursing through me, begging for justice."

Freya's fingers curled tightly around her javelin before she glanced to Zidane. Quickly, she looked back to Kuja. "What did you do?!"

Kuja brushed an ashen lock from the frame of his face, scoffing and shaking his head. "I'm only trying to help him." Kuja again perked up before sending himself further down the dry, wavy vine, throwing his arm sideway to move a blanket of mist away, revealing a disgruntled man with a mess of red hair. "As his friends, are you not alarmed?"

"Do you think you're making this better?" Freya shook her head, swiping her javelin at her side. "You should have just remained as the listless soul you were always meant to be."

"So much resentment flowing out of you, Freya," Kuja seemed quite amused. "You really ought to bury your misgivings and regrets deeper."

"This isn't about any of us," Freya's voice was steely. "And you're at the bottom of the list of concerns."

"Well, the world would say otherwise," Kuja sounded bored now. "If not about us frolicking through the mist and honing in on all our anger, then who is it about?"

"This," Freya gestured out to the Iifa Tree that was doing its damnedest to sprout again. "Is about the world. The planet we always take for granted and use for our own selfish reasons."

"So dramatic," Kuja was laughing now, his shoulder pads bouncing up and down.

"Shut up," Amarant sneered now, lifting his claws. "Enough jabbering. Lets dance."

Kuja turned toward the mercenary and was about to reply when, suddenly, there was the sound of a swoosh, and from the pockets of mist came a spiraling broadsword gleaming in the faded daylight. The ashen hair man was caught off guard as the tip of the weapon ripped across his biceps and chest. Deftly, Freya caught it as it passed Kuja. He staggered for a moment, black goo oozing from him as he found his standing again on the vines. With a flick of his wrist, he revealed Steiner, whose face was red and twisted.

"I must say," Kuja shook his head, tenderly using his index finger to wipe some dripping blood from his chest. "I didn't think you were nearly that skilled. I'll show you how I improved, too." He faked his arm out to Steiner, who braced, but then shot backwards a fury of black, purple, and white blasts towards Freya. The Dragoon took to the air and flipped over Kuja, dropping Steiner's sword. Below her, the Captain caught it. Kuja's hands steamed as he turned towards the team. He bolted forward with rapid speed, sending thorns of vines in his wake. In his palm, a ball of light was forming again as he zeroed in on Steiner. From behind, Amarant slashed his claws out and caught Kuja by his waist coat. Kuja ground his teeth together and reared his leg back, nailing Amarant directly into the face. He then lifted to the sky with his tattered cape and brought his hands in. Slowly, the purple, white, and black flares began to accumulate.

Below, Freya landed beside Steiner, her shoulders rising and falling. "He's releasing powers we only saw him do when he was in trance."

"It seems he's tapped into the planet's true core power," Steiner watched him tentatively. "We have to figure out how to disconnect it."

"This isn't looking good," Freya's voice was soft as she heaved her javelin up over her shoulder. She closed one eye, before she leaned back and hurled the spear forward at record speed. The Dragoon then followed after it as it whistled in the air. Through the ruminating evil, Kuja brought his hands apart, creating a shield. The javelin ricocheted off of it as if it were just a toothpick. Freya's eyes widened as she flew through the air. She had expected to follow through on the attack. The javelin spun down below, staking in the ground beside Amarant, whose eyes were still spinning. Kuja turned his palms outward, sending his blast of power forward. It struck Freya and she went spiraling away, crashing into the vines with a big poof of dry dust. Her ashen hair fell across her face where blood now had splattered and she rattled a cough, slowly propping herself up on her elbow. She blinked rapidly as she found her bearings again. Freya tensed and rolled as Kuja's furious beams came raining down on her. She tumbled through the vines, scratching herself and ripping her coat. She panted heavily as she stumbled to her feet and continued dodging all of the magical fireballs. Freya pumped her arms as she ran at godspeed for her javelin. She ripped it from the ground, offering a bloody palm out to Amarant. "You okay?"

"Never been better," Amarant replied gruffly with a split eyebrow. Slowly, Kuja lowered himself to stand beside Zidane's unmoving body. He was smiling, his slender fingers twitching as bolts of electricity ran through them. Steiner's armor was heard as he vaulted over the vines, shaking his head.

"We have to fall back and think of something else," Steiner told them. "The hut. There has to be weapons in there that would be of use."

"Oh, there are," Amarant agreed, casting a look to Kuja. Every moment, it seemed, the man was honing in on the power flowing through him. "Crossbows, maces, you name it."

"Then let's go," Freya said, raking his hair back from her face. Streaks of blood ran through her locks. Slowly, her slender legs backpedaled and then the trio disappeared into the mist. Kuja was grinning widely, even as he glanced at his tattered clothes splattered with black blood.

He knelt down beside Zidane, gently gripping his jaw. Kuja turned Zidane's head, but the young man didn't react in the slightest. "How does it feel, Zidane, to know it's your turn for downfall?"

...

From a top the Eidolon Wall, Liam watched as Garnet and Eiko knelt in the center of the sacred space, among the uneven, eroding rocks. Their heads had been bowed and their hands folded beneath their chins for what seemed like forever. All was eerily still and quiet. Liam glanced in the direction of Madain Sari, seeing lifeless corpses that looked to be dead for quite a while. It made his skin crawl. They were the same people who had stampeded on the castle. For it to happen again seemed improbable. Liam's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his boots scraping against pebbles, as he paced the wall. Ever since he had gotten involved with Garnet, it seemed that absolutely nothing was simple. Nor did anything make much sense. Anything could happen and, in a way, it completely unnerved him. He paused from his mindless walking and turned to look at Garnet. Her gray tunic was snagged and stained. Her black pants were faded. He did admire her perseverance and the fact she never gave up; never stopped moving forward. Liam furrowed his brow and lowered his eyes to his feet.

Did all of this have to happen? What if mysteries had been left exactly as they were? What if Garnet had walked down the aisle and sealed her marriage to Liam in front of all of Alexandria? He shook his head and turned away from the scene of praying girls. Even if she had, Liam had come to learn that none of it would have been authentic. Garnet would have simply been settling and Liam would come to understand with time that she could never love him truly. They'd be doomed to sit on the throne side by side and simply do what was expected of them. Liam and Garnet would smile at all the noble dinners and dance among all the admiring subjects. They'd have children to renew the faith and stability to the Alexandrian throne, but never would it rekindle anything inside of them. But what was to happen when all of this ended? When it was time to go home, where would they all go? How would they cope? Then again, would this ever end? What was to become of Alexandria? Or Zidane and all his misgivings? What was Liam's future now? Could he return as head engineer for Lindblum? Could he show his face to all his colleagues and know that they knew he was the failed king-consort of Alexandria? That he was beat out by a thief turned martyr that made a muck of everything.

Liam paused and tilted his head up to watch the mist block the sun. What if he had never gotten frustrated that cool spring afternoon? That day Garnet had leaned on her bodyguard for support and totally miffed him, why did he march down to a dank dive for a drink to wash away his discontent? If he hadn't, he never would have met Astrid. She was like a siren that threw his entire life off the tracks. Liam shook his head again and ran his gloved hand along his forehead, cursing himself in his mind. Liam had been so green and eager. And his fear of nothing organically growing between him and Garnet had been off the charts. If he had never done that, would Garnet had learned to love and appreciate Liam? After all, he was there for her in periods of lowliness and sorrow. Zidane was off being someone else entirely, pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. Liam had put in the work to appreciate her and be present. That, however, didn't seem to account for much when one was branded as a lovesick fool. The entire journey, the team had only wanted to push forward and throw all caution to the wind. Liam had never met such fierce people willing to sacrifice everything for their cause. He was watching history unravel in front of him, but he knew there'd be no mention of him in the books that would line the future shelves of the Alexandrian Library. He wasn't doing it for fame, though. Slowly, Liam turned back to the girls, still in their same unmoving positions. He was doing this because deep down inside, he still loved Garnet. It was like driving a knife into his gut and twisting. Every day, it seemed as if he laid his hand down against red coals. Liam loved her so much and he couldn't do a thing about it. He was a daydream believer, a ditsy unmatched creature. Liam knew how wrong it was to love Garnet, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted something so badly he couldn't have. Liam felt strung along, but he followed that heed of command without thinking. It was silent moments like this that reminded him of what he was doing; that it was all going to be seemingly for nothing. Liam would never get the girl despite how authentic his love was. What even was love at this point? Why had everything become a bloody valentine, marred and desolate?

He lifted his sword up into the gleaming mist, growing more and more lost in his mind. And down below, Eiko and Garnet remained still, sending their souls to plummet beneath them, where their origins lie.

...

Boots beat against crumbling stone paths and the chains on jackets jingled with rushing movement. Freya, Steiner, and Amarant stole across Madain Sari. Their guards were still up despite the littering of still goons. How many times could the dead rise from the dead? The mist passed along their skin, making them all shiver at the thought of listless souls rubbing up against them. The mist was like a message that the powerful dark entities of the invisible unknown would never truly rest or ever quite leave them alone. Steiner pushed the door open with a bit of effort. A dresser barricaded the front entrance. Amarant's eyes darted everywhere, recalling the many months he and his little family had lived there. Now the home seemed empty and desolate. All their memories were gone with the mist. Together, all three of them rushed along to the next door and barreled down the steps to the damp little cellar beneath the patio.

Freya leaned her javelin up against the wall and tugged at her tattered coat before crossing her arms over her chest. She realized in that moment she had lost her hat. Slowly, her eyes gazed over the variety of weapons in front of her. But continually, she came back to looking at her javelin. It was the weapon of her people. It is what the Dragoons used for defense through all their history on Gaia. Freya had started training with one when it was two times the size of her. It felt wrong to even consider anything else. But as she looked down at her palms that were scratched and bloody and she felt the warm pulsation of the wounds across her skin, Freya was beginning to consider how, at this point, it was life or death. How many more hits could her friends take? How many more could she? Zidane had been beaten down so significantly. Her old friend... she couldn't lose him again. But they were. The Heroes of Prevailing Peace were failing.

Beside her, Steiner sheathed his sword and pulled a crossbow from the wall. He brought his elbow up and looked down the sight. His eyes darted all around before spotting a quiver full of arrows, which he hurriedly wrangled across his chest. Across the narrow space, Amarant pushed a set of dirks into his belt. He glanced around for a moment before he knelt down and pulled a heavy trunk towards him. Amarant smiled as he lifted a weapon from it, turning to Freya and Steiner.

"Made it myself," he seemed quite proud. "A repeating crossbow."

"Impressive," Freya replied, looking back to the wall of weapons. After a beat, she reclaimed her mythril javelin in her hands.

"Old habits die hard, huh," Amarant grunted as he worked on loading a series of arrows into his weapon.

"It only feels right to fight with this."

"What are these?" In his palms, Steiner presented lead balls that had quite a weight to them.

"There's a sling on the shelf above your head," Amarant nodded in that direction. "Think you can spin in a circle and hurl them accurately?"

"Might as well take all we can," the Captain replied, reaching up to pull the leather pouch down. He tied it to his quiver.

"We've only got a hundred arrows between us, Steiner," Amarant looked up now, his dark eyes peering out from beneath his mane of red hair. "Only take a shot if you're certain."

Freya pressed between the two men and soundlessly ascended the stairs, back into the mist that made her insides want to crawl out. She had been through enough warfare that she knew exactly was coming; the final stand. All the cards would be on the table. It would be menace meets gumption. They'd all to pull all stops out if they expected to see anything turn out in their favor. Slowly, Freya turned back to Amarant and Steiner, who were still securing their weapons and ammo. So many battles they had all faced together. When would it their final one? Her ears twitched in the next moment, however, and she turned sharply. There, in the thick blankets of mist, she saw a figure sailing through the air.

"It's Kuja," Freya said quietly, narrowing her eyes. After a beat, she turned to the men. "He's heading for the Eidolon Wall."

"Her Majesty, Eiko, and Liam might still be there," Steiner's voice was tense and stressed. Hurriedly, he cocked the crossbow back. Amarant and Steiner bounded out of the room while Freya knelt and took to the sky, soaring through the souls that clawed at her mind and inner turmoil.

...

Liam's pacing went on and on, back and forth, atop the Eidolon Wall. He didn't know what the next move was. Where had the rest of the group gone? And what was the praying actually accomplishing? As Liam looked around the desecrated and crumbling holy space, he wondered just how much of that power it still held. He never believed a place like Madain Sari actually existed. He remembered in all the fairy tales of his youth, stories about a group of magical summoners living on the pulse of the planet. What had Madain Sari been like in its glory days before it became nothing more than a shrine to the misery that seemed to forever plague this world? Was there any magic left? Could anybody hear them?

In the next second, though, a sound interrupted his thoughts. Liam furrowed his brow and turned around, just in time to see a conniving Kuja burst from the thick mist, his hands alight with swirls of purples, blacks and whites. Liam gasped sharply as Kuja unleashed his power. It struck the young man, sending him down into the sacred space. He landed with an 'oof', his sword sliding from his hands. His entire body felt as if it were on fire and, for a moment, he struggled to control his motor skills. In the center of the Eidolon Wall, Eiko looked over Garnet's shoulder and gasped sharply. Quickly, she slammed her hand to the ground and a protective shell emerged around her and Garnet. The queen looked up with stony eyes as Kuja landed on the wall, pressing his hands to his hips. Liam's shaking arm reached for his sword and it ground against the stone as he managed to get to his feet.

"Liam, you have to hold Kuja off," Garnet said from where she crouched beneath the shimmering shield. "We're still extracting the most powerful Eidolon we can."

Liam was bent over, his hands to his knees, as he tried to steady his breath. His dark hair wavered in front of his forehead. He turned his head to Garnet. "Me... versus him?"

"Just keep moving," Eiko snapped, pressing both hands to the ground now. "Remember your footwork!"

Slowly, Liam straightened up, holding his sword in front of him. The very sight sent Kuja into a fit of laughs. "Well, a good day to you, Sir Liam Baron Winters of Lindblum. It's quite amusing, as well as an amazing twist, to see you on the battleground now. Do you think you have what it takes to protect what you love? What Zidane failed to do?" In a rapid motion, Kuja lifted his arm and sent a flaming spiral of power at Eiko's shield. Inside, the young girl ground her teeth together as, with all her might, she kept the shell standing.

"Press your hands to the ground and keep chanting," Eiko told Garnet. "This is do or die, Dagger!"

Liam glanced to the girls before looking back up at the menace. His hands wound tightly around the hilt of his sword as he moved into his best battle ready position. "Don't you have anything better to do?!" Liam shot back, hoarsely and lamely.

Kuja was admiring the dancing flames in his palms, grinning and amused. "You know nothing of me, Sir Winters. But I know everything about you. You had mediocre marks in Engineering School, but your father was a high enough powered councilman to see you through and secure you a tenure on the most revered airship engineer team on all of the Mist Continent. You worked your way up with impressive aerodynamic ideas. You are credited with the creation of the Dart Ship. Quite cramped for my style, but it surely does get you everywhere quickly. You've always felt like such an accomplished boy. But one thing was always lacking in your life: love. You always asked yourself why a girl could never procure into your life. You were a pilot, a dreamer, a sensitive and smart young man. Quite good looking, you might add. It's always been a wonder that someone as perfect as you are on paper was always seemingly alone."

Liam lowered his sword for a moment, his face puzzled. "Who the hell are you?"

Kuja's hand intensified with raging power. "I am the doubt you feel in all your actions. I'm the little voice who always reminds you that you're not good enough. I'm the shadows in your bedroom you always tell yourself you're not afraid of. And I am the one who controls the inner workings of this world and manifests the misery everyone should feel. Just like I do." He sent his palm out again, the mystifying anger flowing freely from him. It was aimed directly at the shell protecting Eiko and Garnet. Without even thinking, Liam moved forward. Turning his elbow up sharply, he brought his sword diagonally in front of him. The bolt collided with the steel, sending it away. It also threw Liam across the Eidolon Wall, where he slid on his side to a stop. His head was spinning again as he reached for his sword. Liam came to his feet, slowly moving back to where Garnet and Eiko firmly planted their hands to the ground and furiously whispered.

"And you get up once more," Kuja tapped his boot. "That's amazing considering how scared out of your wits you are. How far are you willing to go, Liam Winters?" Kuja leapt from top of the wall and soundlessly landed behind Liam. The engineer spun around. "Tell me, is it worth it? You know she could never love you back. I think deep down in your heart, we both know we have the same enemy. The people who stop me are the same people who stop you. They're the crusher of dreams. The destroyer of pride. And why do we let them be the ones who get the final say? You and I? Why, I don't think we're much different."

"Shut up," Liam shook his head. "We're nothing alike."

"Oh, finally some spunk," Kuja laughed. "I was just beginning to wonder if you were a spice or just a sack of flour."

Liam's anger skyrocketed in that moment and he launched forward, slashing his sword down with all his might. Kuja deftly moved out of the way, though, with little effort. He reared his leg back, sending his foot into Liam's lower back. The young man let out a shout as he staggered, but spun quickly on the balls of his feet. He was met with another shock of fury as Kuja blasted him into the wall, sending rubble and debris down onto him. Liam was on fours, panting heavily. But he grabbed his sword and took off in another run at Kuja. Liam brought his sword down for an upper slash, but last moment, switched to a side swipe. He caught Kuja in the arm and he felt the cold black ooze splatter across his face as he followed through on the attack. Kuja glanced nonchalantly at the wound.

"Impressive, Liam," he nodded. "You learn quickly. But is it enough to protect what you love?" Quickly, he fired against the shell and it wavered for a moment causing Eiko to feel a break in her concentration. Liam spun again with his sword, but Kuja caught his arm and sent the sword between a space in the bricks. The young man pulled at it with great effort, but it was jammed. In a split second, Kuja appeared behind him, grabbing Liam by his hair and driving his head straight into the wall. Blood gushed from his hairline and split eyebrow. Kuja then caught him by his shoulders and swung him across the open space. Liam crashed through a pillar and all the rocks fell on top of him. His ribcage was searing and he writhed as he pulled himself from the wreckage, breathing heavily. Slowly, Kuja came to stand beside the shell, crossing his arms over his chest. Liam's face was coated in blood now. "You know you're only human, right?" Kuja brushed an ashen lock from the frame of his face. "How much do you think your body can take before it simply gives up?"

Liam quivered, his hands curling against the jagged rocks beneath his hands. He looked up at Kuja again as dark crimson blood rushed past his eyes. "I am not giving up. Not when I've come so far. Who cares if nothing is in it for me? I can't walk away from something as vile as you."

"Oh, I love angry, Liam," Kuja smiled and coyly turned his head. "But you're so grumpy and in need of a nap." With just a simple raise of his hand, the black, whites, and purples swirled together, striking another pillar. Liam gasped sharply, looking up just in time to see it falling over him, burying him beneath.

Garnet's eyes shot open from where she prayed, her head snapping in the direction of the fresh rubble. "Liam..." she whispered, her dark eyes as wide as saucers. Slowly, her head cocked over Eiko's shoulder, seeing Kuja now peering in at them, amused, like they were fish in a bowl. "Eiko... I don't know if we're going to make it..."

...

The sound of brass bells rang out, drawing Beatrix from her staring at a portrait of Queen Garnet on the wall. It had been done in the immediate aftermath of the Mist Wars. The young woman sat in a tall backed chair of gold, plush with red velvet. Her familiar white dress, vibrant with ivy embroideries, fell over her slender body. In her lap, her small hand curled around a scepter accented with encrusted garnets. And a top her head sat a modest, silver crown. The painting was near perfection, catching the mannerisms and every little detail of Garnet. When Beatrix looked at her face, however, there was a much more telling story behind those uncurled lips and dark, dark eyes. Quickly, though, Beatrix took off the down the spiraling never ending staircases. As she made it to the front foyer, she was greeted by a Knight of Pluto.

"Lindblum inbound to the airship docks, General," he saluted.

"Thank you," Beatrix began past him. "Please be sure tea and snacks are prepared. Have the conference room staged. Nothing more than a few platters. This matter won't take long."

She moved on without even waiting for his confirmation. Down another set of stairs she went, winding between the kitchen above and cellar below. Up another set of stairs and she made it to the hallway where the airship docks were. The gates were easing open when she entered. They were loud and groaned with all their might. It was like nails down a chalkboard. Beatrix anxiously approached the railing, leaning over to see bright flag of Lindblum blowing proudly in the wind.

"General, please stand back for ascent," a gate worker shouted over the growing noises of the airship engines. Beatrix's hair swirled in the madness as she watched the large, magnificent airship come into bay. She tilted her head back as she took it in for all its glory. The Blue Rose on her maiden journey. The engineer team, headed by Sir Gerald Crouse in Liam's absence, had used the young man's designs and notes to expedite completion of the ship. He had a gift for design, the General told herself. The engines whirled and hissed as they disengaged. The Alexandrian gate works were prompt in connecting running boards to the deck. It didn't take long for Regent Cid to come out from below. His tired, wrinkled face was in a constant state of discontent. And on his arm dangled Lady Hilda, who seemed as if she suffered from nightmares and insomnia. They were quiet and grave as they stepped onto the platform and approached General Beatrix.

"Thank you for coming on short notice of my request," Beatrix greeted them formally with a salute. "I've had a late afternoon snack and some tea prepared in the conference chambers so we-"

"Beatrix, tell it to us straight," Regent Cid cut in. His eyes were quite serious. "Why have you called for us? What have you heard?"

Beatrix closed her eyes for a moment, slowly licking her lips. "That's just the matter. I haven't heard a thing. Regent Cid, it's been nine days since the Blue Narciss Marx set out and there hasn't been any word. No owl messengers. No return. At this point, I don't believe this is a sit and wait game. This has now entered the territory of search and extract. Whatever is happening out there, we have to find all involved and bring them back before matters only get worse."

Regent Cid shifted back and forth between his boots, his mustache bristling. Anxiously, Lady Hilda held his arm tightly, looking to him with great earnest. "What exactly do you believe is happening out there, General Beatrix?"

"I don't know," Beatrix shook her head, glancing at the Blue Rose. "But I've got a very bad feeling, Regent. As a General of twenty years, I know better than to act against my gut feeling."

"And what do you propose?"

"You and Lady Hilda, I need you both to watch over my son, Addam. Take him away from Alexandria, from all this madness and discomfort that's stewing. I'll put together a crew to go with me. And I request the use of the Blue Rose."

"Are you mad?" Regent Cid furrowed his brow. "It's still in testing. It's barely out of prototype stage. Flying it over an ocean so soon? That's a suicide mission. I'm in charge of all testing. There shall be no blood on my hands, General Beatrix."

Beatrix's eyes were stony now as she stared at him with a clenched jaw. "Don't you trust your engineers? Don't you believe Lindblum is the finest innovator of our time? The only blood that will be on your hands is that of my husband, your only child, the Queen of Alexandria, and all our friends. You have to let me do this, Regent Cid. I can't sit here a day longer and tell myself everything is fine. That they're all just out taking a grand cruise in the brand new Blue Narciss Marx. That they're bringing our queen back healthy and ready to resume what she put down. What is your answer now?"

"Please, Cid..." Hilda's voice was full of emotion as she gripped at his cape. "Eiko must come home. Shari is worried sick for Liam. This must all stop, darling."

The Regent cast his eyes down as he considered everything once more. Finally he sighed and looked to Beatrix. "Fine. Prepare your team. Have the maids teach Hilda how to rear your child. I'll have my crew prepare for a long journey."

"Thank you, Regent," Beatrix said, turning around to rush off.

"And one more thing, General." She took just a few more paces before she paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "I'm coming with you."

Beatrix stared at him for a few beats. "You understand this will be dangerous, right?"

"And when have I ever turned my back on danger before?"