Didn't own any of the plots and characters. Just what to have some fun.

Closer to Home

Gridania: Central Shroud

"I want to go hommmmmmme!" a Miqo'te with black spiky hair that define gravity shouted at the top of his voice to let his frustration out, causing a few squirrels and bugs scatters out of some bushes and disappear into the next.

"Shuuuuuuuus! Calm down!" said a Miqo'te with brown braid hair tied with a pink ribbon. She wears a pink cotton half robe, a veleteen chausses and a tight boot. And she was holding a cane. "Everyone in a malm radius will know we are here."

"But Aer! It's been a month, and they still didn't find the shadow individual." The black hair Miqo'te signed. "I was wondering if they were just seeing things."

"If it was just one or two people, I will have the same thoughts with you." The female Miqo'te said, as she followed the path east to their destination. "But there have been many sightings of the shadowy figures and beside the Ixali seem to be wondering around in Central Shroud more often than usual."

"I was wondering why." The black Miqo'te frowned as he put his hands over the back of his head. "Isn't those birdmen's nest usually in the North Shroud? I wonder what make them wander so far away from their nest."

"That's why the Woodwailer asking for our help." The female Miqo'te said. "Even with a large group of Woodwailers searching the area and they still can't find a single trace of the target, they have no choice but to contact us, hoping that just a small group of people will have a better chance of catching he or she."

"Is it up ahead?" The male Miqo'te said pointing to a cave behind a waterfall.

The female Miqo'te opened her map and check and she nodded. "Yes, that's the entrance to the Lifemend Stump. I think I can hear some argument up head already."

"Heh, don't know how they can still fight against each other after being partner for this long." The male Miqo'te shake his head. "Look there they are!"

Up ahead of them were two people: one Hyru dress in white turban, white cotton top, gloves and crimson sabatons. The other was a Lalafell wearing black robes and yellow gauntlets.

"Yda, Papalymo!" the female Miqo'te called out to the two up ahead of them.

"Oh, you arrive! Aer!" The Hyru named Yda turned and wave her hand. "Greeting to you Zack!"

Zack smiled at Yda as he raised his hand at the Lalafell and walked up to the Hyru. "We can hear you voice all the way down the slope. What have you…"? He looked around and saw a sword trust into the stump. "Oh no… Aer… come here, I think we got a big problem."

"Yea, that what I am telling Papalymo. It's a bad idea to leave a sword like that in the stump." Yda said shaking her head. "It takes a lot less than that to incite the Greenwrath. The first time we came to the Twelveswood, we almost ended up as a treant's dinner just for crashing our airship in the wrong place. It was all Papalymo's fault, of course. Though he'd sooner swallow his staff than admit that he's wrong."

"Papalymo, how is the reading." The female Miqo'te asked the Lalafell while Yda was rambled on and on.

The Lalafell put on his goggles and looked around their surroundings, while Zack walked around the area searching for clues.

"Same as the last. There is a disturbance here as well, and newly manifested at that.' Papalymo said as he monitored the aether force with his googles. "What about you? Lady Aerith! Did the forest talked to you?"

"Something agitated them. They try to warn me something, but I can't make any head or tails of it." Aerith sighed in frustration. Why is it she always has the gift to communicated with the nature and half of the time she couldn't understand what it is telling her. Her past life is like that and now this.

"So, have you seen any dark shadow stranger while you hike up here?" Zack said, walking back to them.

"No, the Moogles didn't even see a thing." Papalymo answer as he took off his googles and let it dangle around his neck.

"Ever seen the Calamity, the forest's been really sensitive." Yda explained. "The slightest disruption to the aetheric flow…" her words were interrupted when the ground shake. "And this sort of things happens."

"Everyone! Watch out!" warned Zack as he pulled out his sword.

A branch arm reached out from the ground and A Greenwrath appearing before them, it also agitated the other Greenwraths that lived in the nearby area and the whole gang come charging towards them.

Yda pull out her knuckles, while Papalymo and Aerith pull out their staff and cane. Aerith quickly cast protection around her friends.

"It seems we have little choice" Papalymo said as he cast a fire spell towards a smaller Greenwrath.

Zack rush in and lure the big Greenwrath away from the group, while Aerith cast her healing spell on to him one after another to keep him from taking too much damage.

"Do you want to be eaten!" Papalymo yelled as he cast another fire spell onto one of the small Greenwrath. "Hit them harder!"

"I'm trying" Yda snap. As she released her attack. But another group of Greenwrath came charging at them.

"Papalymo! Can you do a group fire attack!" Zack asked as he doge a swing from the big Greenwrath.

"On it. I need to charge up." The Lalafell said as he channels his aetheic energy onto his staff, as Yda position herself in front of Papalymo to protect him from harm's way.

Aerith keeps casting healing spell onto her friends while also avoid the Greenwrath attack and finally with the combination of their skills, the Greenwrath was defeated, and the forest was once again back to normal.

They all collapse onto the ground and catching their breath. Zack pushed himself up and walked to inspect the dead Greenwrath and he saw something hiding in the bush that he didn't see earlier.

"Hey guys I think we found the culprits?' He said and together, Aerith, Yda and Papalymo walked to where Zack was and saw an Ixali's body lying under a tree cover by some bushes.

"An Ixali." Papalymo said in a serious tone. "And no ordinary Ixali, either – a chieftain. That they would venture this deep into enemy territory… The beastmen may indeed be acting under orders.

The sound of the linkshell made Papalymo reach for his and report to the person on the other side while Zack pulls out the sword.

"This is Papalymo." Papalymo reported as Yda, Zack and Aerith stood nearby to listen. "We found the culprit. It was an Ixali chieftain! …Yes, we'll seek Brother E-Sumi-Yan's cooperation in the matter… Yda? Oh, loud, tactless! Much the same as always! …Yes, both of them are here too… Understood. Over and out."

Papalymo end his linkpearl and turned his attention to his friends. "I and Yda will go and report to Brother E-Sumi-Yan. Zack, can you and Aerith take the sword to Bannock? I think they would know what to do with them.

Aerith and Zack nodded, and they watch the couple walked towards the entrance arguing again which set Zack laughing. Suddenly Aerith sense something and looked towards the sky and smile. When Zack finish laughing and went to pick up the sword, he finds Aerith stare in space.

"Hey Aer! You alright?"

"He is here." The healer Miqo'te said smiling.

"Here? Who…" Zack asked and then his eyes went wide with excitement. "He… you don't mean…"

Aertih nodded giggle at Zack cheer and do a black flip. "Wow hoo! The gang is back! Come let's go. He will be so surprised to see us."

"Wait Zack, we still have thing to do before that." Aerith reminds her boyfriend of their job.

"Awww Aer! I want to go hommmmmme!"

Limsa Lominsa Dock

As Brennan melt into the crowd, Sephiroth and Terra decided to get into the city and try to find an inn before they explore the city further. They left the dock and followed the people up a slop into the first building. On their left there is a door which they can see people going in and out of it and to Terra surprise, some of them had a furry fox-like creature tailing behind them or sat on their shoulder.

"Carbuncle!" Terra couldn't help but exclaimed.

"You know this furry creature." Sephiroth asked as he watch the blue creature followed behind the owner and melt into the crowd head.

Terra had a wistful smile as she watched carbuncle and its owner disappeared into the other side of the building. "It was the smallest of my kind," she sighed, "but sure that's it's not my kind, how did so many people could summon them, I wonder?"

"We can always come back here and asked." Sephiroth suggested. "Let's us looked for an inn and plan our moves."

Terra nodded as she followed Sephiroth to the next part of the building, which to Sephiroth relief is a marketplace with all kinds of stores that attract the attention of Terra. Seeing her browsing one stores to another totally forgot the carbuncle and the awe and surprise on her face lighten Sephiroth's heart. After that, they finally came to a big open plaza, where lots of people gathering there. Some sit on the bench talking and some play music. A big spinning crystal stood at the centre of the plaza.

As they wonder what the crystal are for. They saw one Miqo'te went up to it and reach out with his hand, then suddenly he disappeared.

"Teleportation!" Terra whispered.

"What!?" Sephiroth asked as he thought he heard wrong.

"Teleportation." Terra said in excitement. "This crystal must be a device that can allow one person to teleport to a destination of his choice." As to confirm her words, a few meters away, a Lalafell appeared and walked off as if nothing happen.

"See! I knew it!" Terra exclaimed excitingly. "Come, let's…

"Hey! You two there!' barked a voice causing Terra to jump and Sephiroth swing his head to owner of the voice. There near the entrance to another building, not far away from them stood a Roegadyn dress in yellow jacket, a helm and an axe on his back.

"Aye, I mean you two," the man nodded as he saw Sephiroth and Terra looking at him. "This is my district, and I make it my business to know all the scums that washes up in it."

'Scums'!? Sephiroth didn't like the sound of it and narrowed his eyes. Hope this man didn't ask them to pay for road fees. But as he looked around. He saw none of the people pay any attention to them as if nothing happened and the look of the man didn't seem to ask for trouble.

"Let see what he wants, I think he is the city soldier." Terra said. "I notice one of them station at the dock and the market just now."

Did she notice them? Sephiroth was surprised of how observe Terra is. "I thought you are preoccupied with the wares in the stores." Sephiroth couldn't help by teasing her.

"That doesn't mean I am not aware of my surrounding." Terra nearly rolled her eyes. "Didn't you also notice that there is a lizard man at the culinarian store at the second section of the market just now asking for two of raw blood sausages? And a mouselike creature selling goods?" she couldn't help to smirk as the shock show in Sephiroth's face and walked towards the man leaving the silver hair man root in his spot.

Did she try to get even with him, he smirked. It seems this woman there are more than meet the eye.

"Ah, adventurer fresh off the boat, is it?" The man said as he looked at Terra and Sephiroth. "Well then… Allow one of Lima Lominsa's finest to set you on the right path. Name Ryaafloh, I'm sure you'd itching to explore, but adventures are requisite to register their presence in the city… And without a bit of local knowledge, you' like to get your throat slit in some piss-stinking alley. So, before you do anything else, get yourself over to the Drowning Wench and enrol with the Adventures' Guild."

Then he turned and point to the area behind him and said. "Through this area and head straight down and you will see a man dress like me near the lift." Ryaafloh continued. "Speak with Grehfarr and he'll show you how to work that lift and that'll take you up to the pub."

"And once you up there, look for a fellow by the name Baderon – he's the proprietor of the wrench. He might curse like an ale-sodden sailor, but the man's got a soft spot for wide-eyed newcomers like you two. He'll set you straight." Ryaafloh smiled at Terra. "Now run along, and may the Navigator guide you on your journey."

They thank him and turn towards the hall that led to another area where they found a yellow jacket soldier name Grehfarr, another Roegadyn station there. They tell him where they want to go, and he open the lift which also called the crow's lift and led them up to the upper level of the city.

As the lift door open, they could smell the foods and beers. Drowning wrench was a pub that is dull and dreary. Few tables scatter around in the middle of the room, with a long bench counter with a few people behind them on their right. They saw some waitress walking around the room with drinks and foods and some taking orders. Terra asked the soldier that near the lift to direct them to the man's name Baderon. She pointed at the one who was looking at something on his counter. They walked over there.

The man looked up as they approach and smile brightly. "Greetin' to ye, lad and lass. What'll it be? …Ah, but you ain't here for a drink are ye?" he already had a guess before they open their mouth. "Ye've come with a mind to try yer 'and at 'venture. I reckon" he laughed as the surprise looked appear in Terra's face. "Well, ye'll find no shortage o' work 'ere in Limsa."

"The name's Baderon, an' this most 'ospitable of 'osteries is the Drownin' Wench." Baderon spread his arm out and welcome them. "This is the place were yer can get 'ork and information an' why I seem to spend more time savin' the necks o' whelps like yerself than wettin' the throats o' me regulars."

He smiled at the puzzle looked at Terra's face and glance at the stone face Sephiroth standing behind her. "'Ventures 'ave the knack fer findin' trouble, see." He explained. "Not that they need it in these parts, on account o' there bein' trouble wherever ye look. If ye manage to steer clear o' the fishback an' the Kobolds outside the city, the pirates on the inside will get ye instead. An' if they don't manage, there's always the Garlean Empire to finish the job."

"The Garlean Empire?" Terra frowned as well as Sephiroth. Another empire in this world too?

"Oh, no one knows where they are plannin' of course… But if they're plannin' anythin', ye can be sure it's to kill the lot of us." Said Baderon.

"This place seems peaceful to me." Terra said as she doubts the words of Baderon.

"Aye… this town seems peaceful at a glance, but look again, an' ye'll see people livin' in fear o' what tomorrow might bring." Baderon said as he scans the room before he set his eyes back to the two Elezens in front of him. "Ah, who can blame 'em, after everything that's 'appened?" he continued. "Eorzea took a mighty bow durin' the Calamity," Terra can sense Sephiroth's tense for a moment behind her, but she stops herself from looking back and continued to listen Baderon's tale. "But our 'omes weren't the only things what got wiped off the face of existence by that thrice-damned bastard of a dragon." Baderon went on shaking his head sadly. "It took our bleedin' memories, too. An' no one's been able to explain it in a way as makes an onze o' sense. None o' the folks what saw it an' lived to tell the tale seem to agree on 'ow the tale actually goes. 'Tis all foggy… like recollections from an 'ard night on the ale."

Everyone got amnesia. That was strange? It seems to Terra someone with a very powerful magic ability had cast a very powerful spell that wipes the memories of people.

"Ye can imagine why people might fear fer the future if they can't rightly recall the past." Baderon said and Terra couldn't agree more as she was also had amnesia before. She was confused and fearful then and suspicious of anyone who wants access to her powers before she fully known her heritage. "But there is one thing we all remember, an' that's the group o' 'ventures what laid down their lives to drag Eorzea back from the brink, when she was bound fer the abyss." Baderon said in respect, snapped Terra out of her through. "Well, I say we remember… Truth is, though we ain't forgotten what they did fer us, this godsdamned Calamity-spawned memory loss robbed us o' their names…"

"It won't even let us picture their damn faces." Baderon signed in frustration. "'Tis like starin' at a gull flyin' in front o' the sun – all ye see in yer mind's eye is a shadow set against a blind' glare."

Terra could possibly sure that a very powerful magic is the cost of the memories lost. How could the people of this world only know a group of people that save them and not even remember their names and even what they look like.

"An' that's 'ow every bugger describes it, but the way… give or take the odd gull," Baderon informed them. "It's this what's got people callin' these 'eroes the "Warriors of Light."

'Warriors of light!?" Terra this time couldn't help but looked back at Sephiroth and saw the surprise looked on his face too. The only Warrior of light they knew is the second in command of Materia and Cosmos. A noble silver hair man clads in armor, wielding a sword and shield with a blue cape. To Terra, he is not only a friend but an elder brother to all of the Cosmos' warriors, full of wisdom and courage. Did he somehow come to this world like them?

"If Limsa's ever goin' to put this time o' darkness behind it. It's goin' to need 'venturers to 'elp banish the fear,' Baderon said looking at them in a serious manner. "It's goin' to need new 'eros like the ones we lost. Maybe one day ye'll tow be one of 'em. An' that's why any aid we can give to a 'venturer is effort well spent." He then smiled at them. "What say ye? Ye willin' to lend us yer strength?"

Terra looked at Sephiroth and he looked at her, both saw the determination in each other eyes. Now, there is an empire who like the one in their world seems likely want to cost chaos to this world, they sure what to help these people whatever they can provide, specially Sephiroth, he wanted to redeem what he had done to Gaia and since he couldn't go back to his world. Then he will help this one.

Sephiroth nodded to Terra and she broke into her smile and she turned back to Baderon and nodded to the man. "We will help." She said cheerfully.

"Me thanks to ye," Baderon laughed out loud. "an' to the Navigator an' all. I knew She'd steered ye my way fer a reason."

Terra giggled. And couldn't help but thanks Commander Leo of his advice: People are people, not everyone is like Kelfa.

"Ah, but listen to me, yatterin." Baderon shake his head chuckling. He turns the book on his desk over to her and turned to a blank page and placing a pen on top. "'Tis 'igh time we got yer mark in me book. Put yer scrawl right there."

Terra took the pen and wrote her name down and hand the pen to Sephiroth and he did the same. Once they finished writing their name and hand the book back to Baderon, Baderon looked over the name and nodded.

"Terra Branford and Sephiroth Cresent. An' a fine name it is." He said, which Sephiroth quirked his eyebrow. "Well, Congratulations. Yer now an upstandin' member o' the 'Venturers' Guild."

Terra sighed with relief. Now they take a step forward towards their journey and…

"You two there – adventurers" once again bark a voice, nearly causing Terra to groan out loud and Sephiroth rolled his eyes, 'not again'. They turned and saw a handful of yellow jackets walked up towards them, two Roegadyn: one male, one female and one hyru, each of them has an axe on their back. It must be an official uniform of soldiers here. The way they looked at them make Sephiroth think these people is not as friendly as the one they met. He turned fully around and face them and also place himself slightly in front of Terra so she could see what happen but also make sure she will not be harm.

"How can I help, gentlemen." Sephiroth said coldly, making the leader of the group narrowed his eyes.

"You sailed in on the last ferry, did you not?" the man demanded and without waiting for his answer he continued. "The captain reported being attacked by a pirate vessel. And several witnesses have testified independently that two passengers matching your description went out on the deck mere moments before the incident took place. Sending your friends signals, were you?"

Now, it's Sephiroth's turned to narrow his eyes. Are they accused them of piracy? "What are you implying," Sephiroth said slowly and a lace of anger in his tone.

"Now 'old on a just a moment there, officer." Baderon spoke up quickly.

"Is something amiss, officer?" at the same moment a voice was sound that Sephiroth never forget.

Everyone turn to the voice and to Sephiroth surprise was a man that shouldn't be here walked up towards them.

A blond hair with blue eyes Hyur nodded at Sephiroth as he turned towards the yellow jacket soldiers. "Officer, I hope you are not thinking that my friends here have something connected with the attack just now."

"Master Lazard!" the soldier saluted at the blond hair man.

"Sir, we have report on the incident of the last ferry being attack at the Rhotano Sea by pirates., and eyewitness said before the attack they saw these two up on the deck." The leader of the yellow jacket soldier quickly

The man call Lazard make a glance at Sephiroth and turned his attention back to the yellow jacket. "And you think that Lieutenant Fair's brother here had something to do with it." It was a statement.

"Brother? Sir!?" The yellow jackets leader asked in panic, hoping he heard it wrong.

"Yes, although not by blood but they have been fought together in their homeland. If you don't believe I can contact him, and you can verify with Zack personally " Lazard replied as he reaches to his ears.

"And we have witness too" Terra suddenly steps beside Sephiroth and scowl at the soldiers, clearly not happy of being accused of piracy. "A peddler name Brennan is with us the whole trip, he even with us at the deck when the ship was attack."

"There, a witness. And even better is old Brennan. Thank to you miss, for pointing that out." Lazard give Terra a little bow and turned back to the soldier. "Now, do you need any more evidence?"

"I…I have no... I have no idea." The soldiers were red with embarrassment and his men was no better than him. "But sir, you are surely aware of the recent kidnappings? Respectfully, then we cannot be too trusting of outsiders at a time when the loyalty of even our closest friends is in doubt." The soldier tried to argue.

"I understand everyone is on edge these days, soldier." Lazard nodded. "But accuse of any newcomers that came to our city will also cause unnecessary panic and trouble to our Admiral."

"Master Lazard. Ye make a very good point." Baderon agreed cutting in their conversation. "Officer, you needn't worry, though – I keep one eye open at all times, me, an' two more often than not."

"Thanks, Baderon. Thank you for looking after my friends here. "Lazard said. "Now, Solider, I know you just doing your job but still you need to relax for a bit, what say you to have a tankard from me finest ale before you return to your duties, eh?"

The soldiers' face light up with the refreshment. "Thank you, sir." Accepting the offer.

"Good," Baderon smiled and point to an empty table. "Look, there's a chair over there just cryin' out to be sit on, so kick off them 'eavy boots, eh?"

The soldiers laughed as they salute to Lazard and went over to the empty tables. Within a minute a waitress attending to them.

After seeing the yellow jackets go over to the empty table, Lazard turn his attention to Sephiroth. He takes a step towards Sephiroth and give the silver hair man a big hug, "Sephiroth it so good to see you once again."

"Director…."

"Please call me my name, that title is long over," Lazard quickly interrupt. "I am just a businessman in here." Then he signs, "You just have to excuse these Yellowjackets, there's been a septate kidnapping, and everyone didn't get a clue who's behind them. The Yellowjackets have taken to clapping irons on anyone who looks suspicious, and it cause everyone on edge,"

"But don't take it personal, Baderon added in. "Us Lominsans can be an 'eadstrong bunch o' bastards." Earning the smiled from Lazaard. "But given time, we'll grown on ye. And thanks Master Lazard, for helping these 'venturers out."

"Baderon, they truly are our friends." Lazard smiled at the shock in Baderon, he then leans forward and whisper into Baderon's ears. "And Sephiroth is the father of the boys, but please keep it a secret for a while. It a surprise that Sephiroth will find it later."

"What…' Baderon couldn't believe what he just heard and looked at Sephiroth with interest, making Sephiroth wonder what Lazard has said to the bar man. "I see, o' cause. Me understand."

"Well, since everything clear out, Baderon, I will take this from here," Lazard said to Baderon. "They will be staying in our place, but if they need any job in the future, please lend us your hand."

"Of course, Master Lazard." Baderon said happily. "Anything for you and Lieutenant Fair."

"Then we should be on our way." Lazard said and he turned to Sephiroth and Terra. "Come, you must be exhausted with the travel. Let have a rest at home and you can plan what to do next in the future."