The party is transported into a hallowed hall, where the mysterious voice continued talking to them.

"Long have I awaited this – the day that you would come," the voice said, the sound echoing throughout the room. "A tragedy unfolds now which pains me more than you can know. To end it, I will gift to you my light. Though in so doing, I condemn myself to sorrow greater still. But the hour is late. No other road remains."

A holy sword appeared in front of Rosa, its polished blade pristine and shining. It floated toward her and she reached out to grasp the beautifully crafted Mythgraven blade.

"The time has come. Bid farewell to your bloodstained past."

Rosa raised the sword skyward and a blinding white light enveloped her. She swung the blade downward to dispel the light which revealed her actual appearance – a young woman with golden blonde hair styled in a half updo with long bangs and a tiara. Her eyes were dark blue. She wore spiked pauldrons over a floor-length white and gold cape, a sleeveless white top with long, decorated gloves and a large belt that held a dagger on her right side that also sported a sword sheath on the left. She also wore purple paisley patterned bikini bottoms, white patterned pantyhose, gold and pink knee braces and light purple ankle boots. An intricately decorated shield rested on her left arm.

Rosa had transformed into a paladin. Even as a paladin, she was still just as beautiful. No doubt to turn some heads back in Baron and possibly some of the mages' in Mysidia too, if they still didn't harbor any animosity towards her that is.

"Forsake the darkness you once embraced, or the light will find no hold. Vanquish the dark knight! You and she are one no more!"

Meanwhile, the reflection of Rosa's dark knight form remained in the mirror. This doppelganger shocked the others as it stepped out of the mirror out and advanced upon her.

"There are two of her!"

"What's happening?"

The dark knight wordlessly held her blade in front of herself. The reflection was angry as she muttered lowly while slashing at Rosa.

"Rosa!" Palom gasped as Porom also warned her to look out.

"Stay back," Rosa warned the twins then turned her attention back to the reflection. "This is a fight for me and me alone. My atonement for all the sins I've wrought – my test. And one I do not mean to fail!"

And thus Rosa began fighting her inner darkness.

"Cecil has been taken prisoner by Golbez," the reflection spat venomously, "Rydia, Edward, Yang are drowning at the bottom of the sea. All of them gone. My best friend and comrade in arms had betrayed me."

She held her sword out in front of herself in the same pose Rosa did numerous times and released a swirling stream of darkness towards the paladin who raised her shield to block the attack. It was a bit stronger than when she normally used it and managed to push Rosa back a few inches but she held firm. Even if Rosa couldn't see them, she could feel the eyes glare wrathfully at her from behind the darkened visor. After several more mutterings the reflection collapsed to her knees, the sword and shield clattering loudly on the polished crystal floor. The doppelganger then let out an anguished wail as she broke down into a crying fit. Rosa approached her, kneeling down in front of her and pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I'm terrified of what's going to happen," Rosa said. "But we can't let our fears keep us from doing what is right."

The reflection wordlessly slumped in her arms.

"The fear may never leave, but it's what makes us human. I have to believe there's a chance."

"Justice and retribution are but trifling things," the voice spoke. "There are victories of greater worth. Someday you will know them. Go forth now, Rosa!"

The dark knight disappeared from her arms and somehow was absorbed into Rosa as she accepted that part of herself.

"Your virtue is proven. I will instill you now with the hallowed light, formed of my very soul. May it be your strength, though it be the last of mine. My daughter... You must stop Golbez!"

"W-wait!" Rosa called out but she could not hear the voice anymore.

Rosa had ascended to a paladin, the first to do so. She nearly collapsed to her knees but held firm just as the twins came running up to her.

Concern flooded Porom's face as she checked over the older female, "Are you all right?"

"She really did it after all," Palom whistled as he gave Rosa a once-over before getting shushed by his sister.

The paladin looked at her hands, "What is this warmth I'm feeling? It's so... familiar."

They looked over at Tellah who seemed to remember something as he startled them.

"Oh!"

"Tellah?"

"My spells... I remember! I remember all of them! What's this? Me...teor? That light must have granted it to me. The most powerful black magic of all, mine at long last!"

"Amazing! You truly are as great a wizard as they say."

Palom nudged his sister, "Hey, Porom... Don't you think we should tell her now?"

She nodded before both she and her brother turned to Rosa, "Umm, Rosa..."

"You see, we–"

Before either twin could get another word in, Tellah interrupted them.

"All right!" The old sage said as he walked past them, "With this, we are made ready at last. Let us bring the fight to Golbez! Rosa! What are you standing about for? We must hurry!"

"Yes, of course," Rosa nodded as he pushed on ahead, instead speaking quietly to herself low enough that no one could hear her. "That light... It called me its daughter."

Palom yelled as he ran after the old man, "Hey, wait for me!"

"Rosa, we'd best go with them!" Porom said, snapping the older female from her thoughts.

"Right, let's go!"

Rosa held out her hand to grab Porom's as they left the crystalline chamber. Although it took some time to descend the mountain, it was great training practice for Rosa as she began learning white magic spells and testing out the new sword she got. Her spells weren't on par with either Tellah, Porom or Cecil's but they did prove pretty useful. Riding on chocobos they found in the forest outside Mount Ordeals, the party returned to Mysidia with the entire town amazed at Rosa's transformation.

The townspeople had whispered previously that she wouldn't make it and would die before even becoming a paladin. That Rosa would fall prey to the hordes of the undead swarming the sacred mountain or from sheer despair alone – claiming that the twins guiding her there was a fool's errand. Some had even said that she deserved it after what she put them through during her first time here. Upon walking into the Elder's house he was surprised that she had come back alive and well.

"You've returned – and a dark knight no longer!"

"Just as you can see!" Porom said, feeling a bit proud of herself.

Palom agreed with her, "I didn't think she'd be able to do it, either!"

Rosa blinked at them before facing the Elder, ""Either"?"

The Elder shook his head, "Forgive me. It pained me to do so, but I sent these two along to keep watch on you – to ensure your intentions were pure. It seems there was no need. Palom, Porom... you've done a fine job."

The black mage casually put his arms behind his head, "Well, now you know."

"I'm terribly sorry I couldn't tell you," Porom apologized but Rosa merely shook her head.

"No. You were well within your rights, after all I've done."

"But those deeds are behind you now," the Elder pointed out before he noticed the sword sheathed at her hip. "You are a paladin! Where did you get that sword!?"

"I received it on the mountaintop," Rosa casually replied before unsheathing the Mythgraven Blade and handed it to him. There were some words engraved on it as he inspected it.

"The writing engraved on its blade... Those are the words of a legend passed down in Mysidia."

"A legend?" She curiously asked before the Elder recited the legend for Rosa and her party.

"'Birthed from the womb of Dragon's maw
And borne unto the stars
By the light and darkness cast aloft
Are dreamtide oaths resworn.
Moon is swathed in ever-light
Ne'er again to know eclipse
Earth, with hallow'd bounty reconciled.'"

"The light on the mountain called me its daughter," Rosa remarked, remembering the voice on Mount Ordeals speaking to her. "Whose was the voice I heard?"

The Elder shook his head before giving the blade back, "I do not know what the light you saw was, nor do I know what the legend foretells. All I know is that we Mysidians have been told for generations to pray for its realization. To pray – and to trust in the one who bears the hallowed light. I believe that one may be you."

"Then all that remains is to put an end to Golbez, as quickly as we can!" Tellah cut in the conversation, causing the Elder to turn his gaze toward him.

"Oh, Tellah! Is that truly you?"

"It has been ages, my friend," Tellah greeted.

"We met Tellah on the mountain," the white mage spoke up before her brother did.

"He learned Meteor up there!" Palom added.

"Meteor? Then what is happening now must be of a magnitude great enough to shatter even those ancient seals."

"It would seem so," the old sage agreed. "And now I have the means to avenge Anna."

The Elder's eyes widened at this, "Avenge her?"

"Golbez killed her," Tellah spat venomously. "And now I will do the same for him!"

The Elder sighed with another shake of his head, "Tellah, my friend... Let hatred drive your thoughts, and it will be you undoing. Meteor would destroy you if you tried to use it now."

"If I should die, so be it! What he's done must not go unpunished."

"Stubborn as ever, I see. You've not changed a bit."

"Nor you."

Seeing as he wasn't going to get through to his friend, the leader of Mysidia decided to drop the conversation then and there before turning to Rosa who, along with the twins had been silently observing the exchange between the men.

"But young Rosa has become a paladin now. If the two of you work together, you just might have a chance."

Rosa spoke up, "But if we are to face Golbez, we'll need an airship. We must go to Baron."

"Very well. I will reopen the entrance to the Devil's Road. As a paladin, you should be able to walk it safely. I will retire to the Tower of Prayer, and pray for your success. Go now. The fate of the world rests in your hands!"

"Thank you," Rosa smiled gratefully as he looked at the twins.

"Palom! Porom! You need accompany Rosa no more. Your work is done."

Although they were truly finished with their task the twins shook their heads and begged the Elder to go with Rosa to Baron.

"No it isn't!" Palom protested. "You told us to help her, didn't you? To see things through to the end."

"Please, Elder, let us go, too!" Porom pleaded with him.

"Oh, you two..." The Elder shook his head and sighed again. "Very well. The light on Mount Ordeals accepted you as well. This may very well be your destiny. I cannot leave Mysidia, but perhaps you can aid Rosa and Tellah where I cannot. Rosa, Tellah... You'll look after them, won't you?"

Rosa protested, "But, they're only–"

"Only what?" Palom barked. "You've seen what we can do!"

Porom couldn't help but agree with her brother, "Well, you have, haven't you?"

"Fear not, Rosa," Tellah assured the paladin. "I'll be along as well. They will be safe."

"Then I suppose there's no reason to object."

"Woo-hoo! All right! We're going!"

"This isn't a picnic we're going on, Palom."

"The entrance to the Devil's Road lies within a small structure on the east side of town," the Elder instructed them. "It will lead you to Baron. I will be in the Tower, praying for your and all the life upon this earth. Luck be with you."

They use the Devil's Road and are transported to Baron.

When they arrived in Baron, something was off about the town although the citizens went about their daily lives even though they felt uneasy. Cid's daughter had said that her father had been at the castle for quite some time now and didn't return. She thought it was nothing but couldn't help feeling otherwise.

A couple of the townsfolk had said that King Odin's decrees were getting darker by the day and if anyone disagreed, they be thrown into the castle's dungeon. Apparently that's what happened to Cid as he didn't want to make another airship to help Odin and Golbez in their war and for that, he was sent on a one-way ticket to the dungeon. One woman had said that a monk now serving as Odin's royal guard was at the inn. While trying to find a way into the castle, Rosa happened upon Yang at the inn.

Rosa smiled upon seeing the monk, "Yang!? Yang, is that you? Praise be, I'd thought you for dead!"

Yang narrowed his eyes slightly at the young woman, "And you are...?"

"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't recognize me like this without my dark knight armor. It is I, Yang – Rosa!"

There was some slight recognition in his eyes, albeit briefly before the hardened stare returned.

"Rosa! I've searched long and hard for you. This woman is a traitor to the king of Baron! Seize her!"

"Sir!" The guards said as the stood up from the table and attacked her and the party. Try as they might they were no match for the paladin or the mages.

"Yang, do you not know me!?" Rosa asked, confused as to why Yang was acting like this. She hoped that he wasn't hit from amnesia after Leviathan attacked the ship on the way to Baron. But it seemed that way, given his attitude towards her right now.

Yang readied himself into a fighting stance, "Oh, I know you well, wench!"

"See my face, Yang!"

"Die, curs!" He sneered.

"It's Rosa, and I am no enemy!"

He sent a flying kick towards them but was blocked by the paladin's shield. Seeing as this was getting nowhere and given that Rosa had to end this fight quickly, she smacked him across the head with her shield. Not hard enough to give Yang a concussion or cave his skull in, but to incapacitate him temporarily. Yang grunted as he stood up moments later and shook his head before looking around and focusing his vision on Rosa. It appeared that he came to his senses as he now seemed to have calmed down.

"Rosa?" Yang spoke, somewhat confused at the situation. "We... we were attacked by... by Leviathan, weren't we? I remember little after that."

"Baron must have been taking advantage of your amnesia, using you to its own ends," Tellah remarked, causing the monk to look down in remorse.

"Forgive me," he apologized remorsefully.

"What of Rydia and Edward?" Rosa asked, as she was concerned about them both.

"Rydia... Rydia was swallowed by Leviathan. I do not know of Prince Edward's fate."

She looked away before Yang looked around, "I see."

"Where are we?"

"We're in Baron. And we'd best not talk here, lest any guards overhear us. Let's see if we can find a room."

The now group of five walked down the stairs from the pub only to be met by the innkeeper.

"Ha!" The innkeeper grinned. "I saw what you did to them guardsmen. You've grit, and strength to match! Why don't you spend the night? No need for coin, it's my pleasure!"

Once inside the room, Yang looked over at Tellah. Although the man had spoken to him earlier, he didn't introduce himself. In fact, he didn't even know the names of the two children who accompanied Rosa and Tellah.

"Who might this gentleman be?" Yang asked curiously.

"This is the great sage Tellah," Rosa replied. "His daughter and Edward were–"

"She loved him enough to give her life for his," Tellah finished for her.

"My condolences for your loss. My name is Yang, and I am a monk of Fabul."

"I'm the great Palom, magical prodigy of Mysidia!" Palom declared, pointing a thumb at himself as while his sister shook her head at his antics.

"Please, forgive my brother's lack of manners," Porom apologized on his behalf. "I'm Porom, his twin sister."

"All that monk training really paid off, huh? Letting Baron brainwash you like that!"

Porom gasped as Yang frowned, "Palom!"

"I've disgraced myself."

Rosa shook her head, deciding to direct the conversation elsewhere. "We've no time to dwell on what is done. We need to rescue Cid."

"But how?" The sage inquired. "I do not think we will gain easy entrance to that castle."

"What if you had this?"

Yang reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key before handing it to Rosa.

She pocketed the key, "A master key! Of course, you were serving in the royal guard! With this, there should be a way."

The party rests and prepares to sneak into the castle through an ancient waterway.

The ancient waterway was somewhat dark, musty, damp, reeked of mildew and full of monsters. Most of which were weak to lightning magic so they weren't a problem to Yang and the mages. The ones that weren't however as they absorbed said element, the party had to improvise to get rid of them. Palom wrinkled his nose up from the smell as they traveled on the stone paths and passageways that were just as damp and dingy as the walls of the waterway itself. He also complained about having to step into the pools of water and getting soaked.

Due to the twins' small size, they had to be carried both Yang and Rosa through the murky water. It was cold to the touch as it seeped through the adults' clothes. Luckily, there was a set of stairs that led to a fork in the road. One the right was a door containing a safety ward, the other pathway with another staircase leading to the exit. Inside the room containing the safety ward, the party pitched a tent to rest for a bit before they continued on. Once they made it to the exit, they stepped out only to end up in the moat of Baron Castle.

It was quiet around the castle as hardly a soul could be seen nor heard. Even the soldiers standing guard in front of the castle barely moved an inch, being so still that if anyone approached the castle gates one might mistake them for statues. The party made sure to not make a lot of noise, otherwise they would be caught. Once out of the moat, they quietly snuck through castle courtyard and halls, even checking the dungeon cells for Cid to realize he wasn't there. Rosa hoped that the engineer was not taken out of the dungeon for execution. If that were the case then who would make, repair or modify the airships? Surely not his apprentices as Cid's men weren't that experienced like he was.

As they wandered through the halls, a voice called out to Rosa belonging to none other than Baigan, captain of the royal guard.

"Lady Rosa!" Baigan spoke as he revealed himself to Rosa's group. "You're alive!"

Said person turned to him, but was a bit suspicious after hearing about what Golbez had done in the name of Baron.

"Baigan... Tell me you've not joined him, too."

The captain tilted his head slightly in a confused manner, "Him?"

"Golbez," Rosa replied with slightly narrowed eyes.

"I am captain of His Majesty's royal guard, Rosa. My loyalty belongs to Baron, now as ever."

Rosa apologized, "Forgive me, then. I'd heard that Cid is being held here. Is it true?"

Baigan nodded, "I fear it is. I led my men here in hopes of rescuing him, but... only I survived."

"I see. Will you come with us, then? Your blade would be most welcome."

Baigan bowed curtly. "Consider it yours, my lady."

The group of six walked halfway to the throne room when Palom and Porom sensed that something was amiss.

"What is it?" Rosa asked as they stopped walking.

Palom scrunched up his nose, "Something stinks."

"I smell it, too..." Porom agreed with her brother, "a monster's stench."

The captain began looking around frantically as if a monster had lurked nearby, "What!? Be on your guard, my lady!"

Both twins stepped closer to Baigan, highly suspicious of the man. They noticed that something was a bit off about him based on his behavior. Even his eyes didn't seem normal as the pupils were slitted like a reptile's, and he appeared to have sharp fangs every time he opened his mouth to speak.

"Hmph. His acting stinks, too."

"You would expect him to try a little harder to fool us, wouldn't you?"

Rosa's eyes widened than narrowed again as she turned to him, "So you have gone over!"

She couldn't believe that one of the men she trusted as an ally had joined Golbez. Had willingly given himself over to serve the wicked warlock as he took over the kingdom. Baigan held his hand out and turned around.

"Why must you keep accusing me of being some kind of traitor? I'm merely repaying a great man for the wonderful gift he gave me. Behold!"

Baigan grinned as he turned back to face them, showing his teeth as his body began to mutate and transformed into a monster. Baigan's body grew a bit bigger, his skin turned purple and scaly, and his hands had turned into smaller serpent heads. Quick as a flash, one of Baigan's arms reached out to bite Rosa. She raised her shield to block it while Porom scanned him with Libra. Apparently, Baigan was weak to ice and the white mage made sure to alert the others to exploit that weakness.

Not needing to be told twice, both Palom and Tellah began bombarding Baigan with Blizzara and Blizzaga spells, freezing him in place as the temperature in the hall dropped. Meanwhile Yang attacked with his ice claws and Rosa followed up with her sword.

In retaliation Baigan cast Reflect on himself, smirking at the mages as if daring them to cast another spell at him. They glared and grit their teeth, but Tellah managed to Dispel it, much to his surprise. Once the shock wore off he was about to cast it again until Rosa swung her blade at him a second time, followed by a devastating kick from Yang. The arms detached themselves from the body as Baigan fell before they were dispatched along with the main body.

Palom walked up to the paladin and scolded her, "You shouldn't be so quick to trust people!"

"Even Baigan..." Rosa muttered before she and the others headed to the throne room to confront the king of Baron.