Dream Five: Impostor

"Cecil?"

"Come on man…wake up!"

"Can you hear us?"

"Mmmm…"

Cecil had been in bed and was having a wonderful dream – one of the best he had had in a long time. But someone was trying to wake him up, and he could feel the warm sunlight tickling his face – he supposed he had better open his eyes and face the day.

Standing above him smiling with her arms crossed under her breasts was Cecilia, his mother. Her shiny, waist-length platinum hair was tucked neatly behind her ears as to not hide her alabaster complexion, and her eyes, the same blue as his own, were sparkling from the light drifting in from the white linen curtains blowing lazily in the spring breeze. She was dressed much more formally than usual – she was wearing her best violet gown, fashioned from silk and embroidered at the sweetheart neckline and waist with delicate trails of transparent pearls that looked like sea spray. Around her neck, she wore a simple, but well-loved platinum pendant the shape of a crescent moon.

"We're going to be late for the coronation, dear," she lectured, though not unkindly. "I thought the whole reason for you spending the night here was so that you were sure to get there on time?"

"Right!" Cecil sighed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he sat up. "I was just having the best dream…"

"What was it about?" Cecilia asked, turning away to throw open another window that was across from Cecil's bed – or at least, what had been his bed when he lived there – letting in another cheerful burst of sunlight and the smell of the village's spring flowers. Cecil pushed his hair out of his eyes, and smiled.

"You know…I already forget. But it was really good."

"All right…best hurry up and get dressed so we can get going," Cecilia crossed the room to Cecil and hurriedly kissed him on the forehead – a habit she had never let go of, even now that he was a grown adult. "Your brother should be here any moment too. Your father will meet us at the spot he found – he said it's the perfect view."

"Mother!?" A loud, deep voice boomed from downstairs. "You still here?!"

"And there's Theodor," Cecilia shook her head. "He's going to wake up the whole neighborhood." Cecil could tell that despite her tone, she was secretly pleased to have both of her boys under one roof, however briefly. She left, closing the bedroom door behind her.

He climbed out of bed, shaking his head a little when he saw that his mother had already laid out his clothes for him, freshly-pressed and hanging from the back of the door. He yanked them down and pulled on the black cotton slacks and dark gray tunic. Just as he was shrugging on the elegant black overcoat that fell just below his narrow waist, his door slammed open, and standing before him, a smirk curled on his lips, was his big brother.

Theodor was ten years older, a head taller, and twice as wide – but it was all muscle from years of military drills. He was dressed similarly to Cecil, but already had his slacks tucked into his leather, knee-high boots, and wore a pair of black diamond earrings that were barely noticeable under his silver-gray hair, which was a few shades darker than Cecil's own, but nearly the same length. His skin had a healthy tan – he spent a lot of time outdoors as a member of Baron's elite air force, the Red Wings. It had been through Theodor that they were able to snag invitations to the "public" portion of the coronation in the first place.

Theodor's violet eyes flashed as he took in Cecil's freshly-awoken state. "You're still not ready? I don't care what Mother says…you really do get special treatment. She let you sleep in until the last possible moment – again."

"Come off it," Cecil laughed, but it was true. Cecilia spoiled him rotten – her differences in discipline between her first-born son and her second-born son had probably been the main reason why Golbez was a member of the most powerful nation in the world's army and why Cecil was a wandering (but successful in his own right) instructor of swordsmanship.

Cecil finished getting dressed, ran a brush through his hair, and bolted down the stairs along with Theodor. Cecilia inspected each of them, licking her thumb and rubbing a smudge off of Theodor's forehead before nodding in approval.

"I have the handsomest boys in all of Baron. I daresay you've got nothing on our new king, the gods bless him."

"I'm pretty sure that's some type of treason," Theodor laughed. "Don't say that outside this house."

They left together, joining other groups of military families that had been extended the same invitation as them. They were approaching the promenade that led to Baron Castle, which was awash in freshly-blossomed pink and white trees, as if the planet itself knew today was one of celebration. Cecil and Theodor's father, Kluya, was waving to them from underneath one such tree, his normally wild navy hair tied back into a respectable ponytail and his formerly chest-length beard neatly trimmed to his chin. Theodor had clearly gotten all of his features from their father, while Cecil was basically the male version of their mother.

"This is a good spot!" Cecilia said, giving Kluya a quick kiss on the side of his mouth. "How did you manage this?"

"I offered one of the soldiers free magic lessons for his daughter…" Kluya winked. He could get away with anything if he offered the secrets of the Lunarians as a prize.

Only fifteen minutes later, the promenade had become packed, and you could tell by the way the soldiers were double and triple-checking the route that the newly crowned king and queen were about to arrive at any moment. Cecil pushed himself up on his toes, momentarily jealous of Theodor, who was undoubtedly the tallest man among the entire group of revelers. Cecilia and Kluya were leaning in toward each other, whispering something and not even paying attention – even at their age, they would get lost in their own world.

Cecil's palms were sweaty, and he felt a nervous twist in his stomach, although he wasn't sure why. It had been his idea to join his family for the coronation celebration – he didn't understand why he was suddenly feeling so anxious about it. It was going to be a five-minute parade, and then it would be all over. It was the oddest feeling – like he had been split in two, and one half of him was watching it all in from the sky above, waiting for disaster to strike.

As the doors to the castle slowly slid open, the crowd silenced their chatter. A tall, elegant man stepped out first, outfitted in emerald-green dragon scale armor that practically blinded Cecil in the sunlight, it glimmered so beautifully. From his back trailed an elegant ivory silk cape, and his long blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail, a wyvern wing headband framing his face and complementing the gold and emerald crown that sat upon his head. As his sky blue eyes scanned the crowd, Cecil felt a chill when they seemed to fall directly on him.

What…what's wrong with me? Cecil thought. Something doesn't feel right…why do I feel like I know that man?

Their new king was holding the hand of his bride, and as he led her out, Cecil felt like a sinkhole had opened up beneath him, eagerly awaiting to drag him to hell. It was Rosa – his Rosa – a living dream in a white taffeta wedding gown that sumptuously hugged her lithe frame with an angel wing motif pinned in her hair to match the king's dragon wings. Her veil was thrown back, her bow-shaped lips in a wide smile as her hair spilled down her shoulders and bare back in golden waves.

That can't be Rosa…wait…how do I even know a Rosa?

I don't know anyone named Rosa…

Theodor looked over at Cecil, and frowned. "Brother, you look pale. Are you OK?"

But his words were drowned out in the sudden burst of cheers from the crowd. "Long live the Highwind clan!"

Highwind? Cecil pressed his hands to his temples, trying to stop the spinning that was making him want to throw up right there on the promenade.

Kain Highwind?

Kain and Rosa are…

Kain pulled Rosa closer, and kissed her in full-view of everyone, right at the top of the castle steps. Rosa closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his waist and anxiously pressing deeper into him, like she was trying to become one with his form. Cecil sunk to his knees, a scream escaping his throat. He felt like his head was about to break open – the pain was unbearable, and his chest felt tight – he realized couldn't breathe. He could feel his body starving for oxygen as black spots began to bleed into his vision.

"Brother!" Theodor cried. He kneeled over Cecil, along with Kluya and Cecilia. Everyone else had disappeared, and his family leaning over him was the only blurry spot of color against a stark white sky.

"Cecil, wake up!" Cecilia begged, taking his face into her hands and forcing him to look into her depthless eyes. "This is just a nightmare!"

Cecil opened his eyes, and was surprised to feel tears trailing down his cheeks.

"Cecil!" Porom gasped, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing. "Oh, thank the gods!"

"You are such a jerk!" Palom groaned, but he was clinging to Cecil's arm like he would never let go.

Edge was kneeling before Cecil, his hair falling in his eyes and his cowl pulled down around his neck, his mouth set in a straight line. Cecil had never seen him look so serious – or dare he say worried – in his life.

"Edge!" Cecil blinked. "That light…it was you?" It had been the last thing he could remember before "waking up" in Baron.

"Yeah, I fried that bastard with a Blitz," Edge finally let himself laugh. "And just in a nick of time too, it looks like. Did you really have to pass out before I made my big entrance?"

"Sorry…" Cecil shook his head. "For a while…I thought I was dead. I had this dream…my parents were there, and my brother…but…"

"Didn't you hear us calling?" Porom sniffled. "I thought you would never wake up!"

"I…I think I did…" Cecil recalled the voices he had heard before he woke up…his dream within a dream. He sat up more; surprised that most of his pain was gone. He ran his hand over his chest – the burned skin had healed, leaving just a flush of pink that would fade with time. "…I'm sorry. Thank you for bringing me back from the brink."

Edge stood up, stretching and cracking his neck. "I should've known you would all be here. I would've come sooner."

"What do you mean?" Cecil pulled himself to his feet, shaking off the clinging twins.

Edge raised an eyebrow. "It was just for a sec, but I saw this tower glowing with my own eyes – right after dreaming about it."

"Then it's true…" Cecil shook his head. "We saw it too."

"Yeah. I don't know who it could be, but someone is trying to get this thing running again."

"No way…" Palom blanched. "But without the crystals…?"

"And Rydia is…!" Porom faced the doors to the cannon room, which had been damaged in the fight with the final android.

"She's here, too?" Edge asked quickly, and Cecil nodded.

"Yes, she's…"

But before he could finish, Edge withdrew Murasame and Masamune from the holsters on his back, and slashed them through the door in an "X" motion. The doors broke apart in four clean portions and collapsed inward, clattering to the floor. They rushed inside, but were shocked to find the room completely empty. There hadn't even been a sign of a struggle – despite the condition of the androids when they faced Cecil and the twins the first time.

"Rydia…!?" Cecil called, and the twins dashed in, scouring for hiding places.

"Where'd she go now!?" Palom sighed.

"Well, we have to find her!" Porom bit her lip. "She could be in great danger!"

Edge put his hands on his hips, looking down at the floor. Damn it all…! I was too late.

"Edge, do you know how we get out of here?" Cecil asked. "The other door on this floor is locked."

"Oh, I took care of that one too," Edge sighed, nodding toward the remains of the door they had just bust through. "That was how I got here. But I was already upstairs…do you think she…"

"She told us that voices were calling her from above," Cecil frowned. "She must have tried to follow them."

"Then let us double-back," Edge said, already turning away from the cannon room. "Let's hurry!"

They fled back down the walkway, and sure enough, the door that had been previously locked had met a painful fate thanks to Edge's blades. Stepping over the rubble, Edge led them through the maze of hallways, though this time, none of the stairways were guarded by monsters to hinder their progress. When they reached what had formally been Doctor Lugae's lab, where they had been forced to destroy the madman that had turned himself into a monster, they spotted Rydia standing on the walkway that led to the tower's transporter. It appeared not to be working – the lights were out and the consoles next to it that controlled it were still destroyed from their battle with Lugae, with no one left alive from Golbez's empire to ever fix them.

Rydia was staring straight ahead, and didn't even turn to face the others when they finally arrived, out of breath and sweating from running nearly the entire way up several flights of stairs.

"Rydia…!" Cecil gasped, trying to take in oxygen as he spoke.

"Thank goodness!" Porom sniffled. "We've been looking for you…"

"What the heck are you doing in a place like this?" Palom raised his eyebrows, giving the destroyed lab an once-over. "Creepy…you can tell lots of bad things have happened in here – I'm getting a nasty vibe."

Edge crossed his arms over his chest. So…this had been the dark presence he had been feeling. He looked at Cecil, Palom and Porom, who were staring at Rydia in utter confusion – wondering why she was ignoring them.

I see…they have no idea.

"…It is a good disguise, huh?" Edge asked. Cecil looked at him, and that got Rydia's attention – she whirled around, her lips pressed together in a straight line and her eyes narrowed angrily.

"What!?" Cecil cried. Edge shrugged, raising his eyebrows and nodding toward the girl.

"But I'm not fooled that easily! That's not Rydia."

"How could that be…?" Porom glanced at Rydia, her staff rattling in her shaking hands. Why couldn't Palom or I sense it?!

"Then who is this chick!?" Palom demanded. He was thinking the same thing as his sister. How the hell had she gotten one past them?

"Is it true…?" Cecil looked down, ashamed. How could he have possibly not figured it out, when so much had been wrong from the start? He had been completely blindsided. "So it was you that made the monsters go berserk in the Sealed Cave…? That's why there was no evidence that anyone else had been with you…"

She cut a glance at Cecil and crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking Edge, but said nothing.

"Come on you cheap knockoff, give us some answers!" Edge demanded. Rydia growled and suddenly sprinted past Cecil, throwing herself on top of Edge and wrapping her hands around his neck. Although she took him by surprise, he was able to toss her away as easily as a poppet, sending her flying into the glass of the busted transporter with a piercing shriek while Cecil, Palom and Porom watched in horror.

Rydia – or the girl they had thought was Rydia – picked herself up from the floor and swiped at the blood that was dripping from a fresh gash in her cheek. Raising her hands in the air, the glowing orbs from the four eidolons she had acquired appeared before her, spinning around her in a blinding loop of light and creating a protective barrier.

"Remove…all…obstacles…!" she hissed, and the first of the four orbs sprung free from the spinning lights, exploding in storm of snow and ice before the party – Shiva.

"We have to fight the eidolons!?" Porom cried.

"They think she's their master!" Cecil frowned. "If we don't defeat them, they'll kill us for sure. They don't recognize us!"

Shiva hopped from one foot to another in an elegant dance, preparing to launch her ice storm. Porom cast Haste on her brother, and Palom summoned a Firaga spell, the flames converging around Shiva as she tried to leap away desperately, shrieking when her fan caught on fire. Just as the snow around her had started to form an obscuring barrier, the flames exploded, forcing the ice dancer to her knees. Her screams filled the chamber as the fire melted her flesh away, and Cecil had to close his eyes until there was nothing left of her but a puddle and rising steam.

The false Rydia stomped her foot and thrust her hand out, sending another orb into battle. An elderly god in baggy blue and gray robes appeared, his golden beard curled down to his feet and a massive ruby staff in his hand that was as tall as he - Ramuh. Smashing his staff to the floor, the room turned dark and erupted into rolling thunder, lightning strikes raining upon the party. Cecil shouted for the others to gather near him, and he raised his shield in an attempt to divert the lighting and absorb it. The twins dove underneath and clung to his legs, while Edge dodged the lightning on his own, his natural speed outmatching even a thunder god's magic.

He dashed behind the girl, whom he knew the lightning would not touch, vaulting off of her shoulders before she could even turn around and launching himself into a mid-air somersault. His katanas withdrawn, he slammed them into Ramuh's back, sinking them down to the hilt as the blades burst through the front of his chest, his eyes wide and white from shock.

The lightning subsided, and Ramuh disappeared in a burst of green crystal bubbles, the darkness of the storm clearing from the room. Edge tumbled forward without the leverage of the old man's body, but launched himself into a back flip to join Cecil and the others across from their assailant.

She sneered, but without hesitation, sent out another minion. This time it was Ifrit, a fire djinn with deep green skin, ivory horns that sprouted from all over his flesh, and spiky purple hair. He let out a roar, and crouched down, a purple and red aura beginning to envelope his body. His signature attack was to wrap himself in flames and charge his enemies, crushing any that he did not manage to burn to death.

"I don't think so," Palom smirked, firing off a Blizzaga spell before Ifrit could even launch himself off the floor. Massive icicles materialized beneath him, and when Palom snapped his fingers, they expanded to twice their size, puncturing Ifrit all over and lifting his battered body from the ground. With a third snap, Palom shattered the icicles into hundreds of ice crystals, and Ifrit disappeared in a blur of sparkling dust.

"I will end you," the false Rydia said calmly, and released her last orb of light. Springing forth was Titan, a bronze colossus that Cecil was unfortunately all-too familiar with – he was the same eidolon that had caused a massive earthquake in Mist when Rydia had accidentally summoned him as a child, mutating the entire topography of the Misty Valley and sealing Mist Village off from the rest of the world permantely.

"Porom!" Cecil called over his shoulder. "Do you know Float?"

"Yes!" Porom cried. "One moment!" She closed her eyes, thrusting her staff in the air and chanting the spell. Translucent angel wings fastened themselves to each party member's back; lifting them nearly a foot off the ground. Titan slammed his fist into the floor, splitting the glass open and creating a massive sinkhole only inches from where they had been standing. Had they been on the ground, the tremors would have knocked them right in.

Confused that his prey had not fallen, Titan slammed his other fist into the floor, ripping open yet another crevice. The sinkhole now completely collapsed in on itself, and Cecil could see the rubble and glass pouring down onto the floor below from which they had just climbed up from.

"They are flying, you idiot!" the girl hissed, and Titan looked back at her, scratching his head. Cecil took advantage of the opening, and leapt forward, raising his sword in the air and bringing it down across Titan's chest. Titan wailed and lunged as the blood gushed out of his wound, grabbing Cecil's foot before he could dash away.

"Damn it!" Cecil cried, writhing in Titan's grip. Titan swung Cecil in the air by his leg, aiming to slam him into the crevice he had opened up in the jagged and broken glass below. Cecil slammed his eyes shut, his stomach twisting itself into knots as he was whipped through the air.

"Cecil!" Porom screamed.

A piercing whistle shot past Cecil's ear, and he was suddenly flung away as Titan roared and reached for his face with both hands, trying to pry out the fuma shuriken Edge had launched into his eyes with perfect aim. The angel wings on Cecil's back righted his balance, and instead of falling, he floated back down to the others, his head spinning from the trip. Miraculously, he had kept hold of his sword his entire time in the air.

"Bio!" Palom chanted, and green, sticky ooze climbed up Titan's body, seeping into his wounds and eating away at his strength. Titan tried to fling the ooze off in sticky handfuls, but quickly became overwhelmed and weakened, crashing to the floor on his face and going still.

Disgusted, the impostor waved her hand, and Titan disappeared in a burst of green crystal bubbles. The light barrier around her body was gone now, and she was vulnerable.

"There is nowhere to run!" Cecil shouted. "Give it up and tell us who you are!" He still couldn't bring himself to hurt her yet, even if she only looked like Rydia.

Staring at Cecil as if he had made the most ludicrous request in the world, she shook her head and pressed her hands together, closing her eyes. Her hair blowing in the wind, she began to glow with a yellow aura, and more of the green crystal bubbles began to form around her, orbiting her like a sun.

"She shouldn't have any more eidolons!" Porom cried. "What is she doing now?"

Her question was answered shortly – a powerful blast of wind ripped through the room, and the sound of beating wings reverberated in their ears. Sinking to the battlefield from the skies above was the All-Father of the Eidolons himself, Bahamut. A fierce wyvern the color of deep space and undoubtedly also the strongest of the eidolons, he was able to incinerate entire villages with a single breath of his aptly-named Mega Flare.

Even the real Rydia hadn't been able to defeat him using conventional combat methods with her friends – she had only been able to strike a covenant with the All-Father when she cleverly turned his own power against him using Reflect magic.

"Porom!" Cecil knelt beside the poor child, who was shaking in her boots as she stared at the dragon coming closer and closer. "We need you to cast Reflect!"

"I…" Porom was white as a sheet, and stuttering. "Uhh…" Cecil frowned, grasping her shoulders.

"Snap out of it!"

The imposter giggled and pointed toward Cecil and Porom. "Take care of those obstacles first. They think they're clever…"

Bahamut paused mid-air and began beating his wings furiously, whipping up a maelstrom so powerful that it lifted some of Lugae's old equipment in the air, spinning it around in a funnel cloud and sending it flying across the room with a loud crash. Even with Float, Bahamut's wings were too powerful, and Cecil, Edge, Palom and Porom were thrown backwards into the wall behind them, sliding to the floor in a heap as the shattered glass they slammed into showered them.

"Ugh…!" Cecil gasped, feeling several shards lodged into his back. When he dared to move, they just dug themselves in deeper in his flesh.

"She's even more powerful than the real one!" Edge moaned, lifting his head from the floor, his arms sliced to ribbons.

"Watch it…guys…!" Palom reached up, pointing to the glowing ball of energy that had begun to form in Bahamut's open maw.

"Porom…!" Cecil moaned, but she was passed out next to him, blood pooling in her hair, which had been ripped out of her ponytail. Cecil choked out a Raise spell, but he knew it wouldn't bring her around fast enough to cast all of the Reflect spells she would need to chain together to give them a fighting chance. Porom was only opening her eyes when Bahamut reared his head back, preparing to release Mega Flare.

"I can't die here!" Palom wailed. "I haven't even gotten to kiss a girl yet!"

"My thinking too, kid…" Edge's forced laugh turned into a violent cough as he spat blood onto the floor.

Cecil summoned the remainder of his strength, pulling Palom and Porom's limp bodies against him the best he could manage. If he could at least shield the children with his body…they might stand a chance in surviving the attack, and could launch a counter with their Twincast magic. Edge groaned and tried to lift himself up, only to fall back on his face.

"Awaken, Hallowed Father of the Eidolons!"

A crystal-clear, cheerful voice radiated throughout the chamber, causing Bahamut to slam his jaw shut and look around the room, vexed. Smoke curled out of his nostrils from the simmering Mega Flare in his throat. The room began to fill with a cold, glittering fog, and a white dragon rose from the massive hole only feet away from Cecil and the others, swirling in radiant, holy mist.

Cecil opened his eyes, his heart skipping a beat. That dragon…!

Throwing its head back, the white dragon sprayed mist all over Bahamut and the girl. Bahamut sank to the floor, collapsing in front of his false master, and she futilely tried to cover her face with her arms, screaming in agony.

As the fog in the room cleared, a lone figure could be seen standing on the white dragon's back, her emerald hair shining with the mist that clung to her locks like diamonds; a whip in one hand and a deep violet, glowing orb in the other. In her hair, a fully-whole ruby hyacinth hairpin twinkled.

"Rydia…!" Bahamut swallowed his Mega Flare spell and flew toward her, fading into aether as the wind carried him into the violet orb in her hand. Lifting the orb in the air, Rydia closed her eyes and let it absorb back into her chest, her body glowing with divine light.

"Curaga!" Porom moaned, and the party was bathed in rainbow light, their wounds closing and pushing away the invading glass. As soon as Edge was able to stand, he bolted up and ran toward the dragon, taking care to deftly leap over the remaining cracks in the floor.

"What took you so long!?" He shouted, but Rydia ignored him, instead pointing her finger at the imposter, who was curled up on the floor in a pathetic heap, clawing at the holy mist that was blinding her eyes.

Rydia…it's really her! Cecil climbed to his feet, pulling the twins up along with him and leading them to Rydia's mist dragon.

"I can't believe you used my friends for something like this…I will NEVER forgive you!" Rydia screamed, and raised her hand, her eyes flashing crimson. "METEOR!"

A barrage of burning stars convened upon the impostor, pouring through the black hole that had ripped open in the ceiling and juggling her limp body about like a ragdoll. When the stellar assault ended, the girl was left tossed onto her back, her hair splayed out and her bloody clothes torn to shreds. Her legs were bent into unnatural, painful positions, and her hand was weakly grasping at an open, weeping wound on her abdomen. Her eyes briefly popped open, and flickered from green to pale amber before stubbornly returning to the green she had stolen from the real Rydia. Though her lips didn't move, Cecil could swear he heard her cold, distant voice in his ear.

I hope you liked the dream I showed you, Cecil…a little gift from the crystals to show what could have been.

"What…?" Cecil whispered, pressing his hands to his ears. Could she possibly mean the dream with Theodor and his family? Palom and Porom stared up at him, but didn't say anything.

The girl cracked a smile as if to acknowledge his suspicions, and in a flash of light, burst into a haze of glittering gray dust.

"She disappeared…" Edge shook his head.

Cecil closed his eyes, his heart aching as he recalled how real it had felt, however briefly, to have his family by his side. How could have every detail felt and looked so perfect? Even though he had never seen their faces, he somehow knew they had been replicated just as they would have been in reality if they were to stand before him today.

How could she have managed such a feat?

"But just who was she…?"

In an empty crystal chamber in the upper spire of the Tower of Babil, the mysterious girl climbed one of the eight daises, pausing as she stood at the ledge where the crystal would have rested, if one had been here. Even though the crystals had not been gathered in this place for some time – at least a year, according to her calculations – she could still feel the remnants of their divine power in the air.

Although the mission had been a success, she was disappointed – had she had more time to bathe in the crystal's light, she was sure she would have been able to achieve her objective faster. But the Sealed Cave's monsters being roused by her presence was an unforeseen problem that brought unwanted attention from those infernal insects. She knew her master would be glad to have this information, but she wondered if she would be scolded for having her fun with the insect they had called Cecil. She never thought a being of such pure light would be in a place like this – it had been too tempting for her to play with her half-breed prey before swallowing him whole, and still he had gotten the best of her.

Oh well…any flaws would be overwritten until there was only perfection. Her master would ensure it – even if it took a hundred years. They had nothing but time, after all.

Stripping off the remains of her filthy rags, she then reached up to her hair, yanking out the broken hairpin. Effortlessly crushing it in her hand, she opened her fingers and let pulverized ruby dust spill over the dais steps. She closed her eyes and recited the passphrase.

"Eidolon system…completed."

Her flesh fading to gray and rendering transparent, she took a step forward, vanishing into the aether.

"Cecil?"

Cecil's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his name. He had retreated into the Falcon's hold after he, the twins, Edge and Rydia had escaped the Tower of Babil, and had intended to rest until they had reached the surface. However, sleep wouldn't come – the adrenaline from the battle with Rydia's doppelganger was still rushing through his veins, and his mind was alit with questions.

The five of them barely spoke as they made their way back to the ship – Cecil assumed that they had all been as stunned as he at what had just transpired. Cid had started to ask what was going on when Cecil boarded, but all Cecil could do was shake his head, and Cid took the hint. He didn't even attempt to sass Edge, which was usually one of Cid's favorite hobbies. And that had been when Cecil excused himself – he needed to process what had happened before he could even think about debriefing with the others.

But now Rydia – their Rydia – was standing in the doorway, staring at him with worried eyes. Cecil gestured for her to come in, and she crossed the room to the bunk he had taken, sitting next to him. As he met her gaze, he was once again distraught that he hadn't seen through the impostor's disguise earlier. It all seemed so obvious to him now – even the way Rydia's head tilted inquisitively when she looked at him now was so distinctive.

"I just wanted to check up on you," Rydia said. "Cid and the others are worried – but I told them it might be best if only one of us came down."

"Thanks," Cecil sighed. "I'm still experiencing a bit of a sensory overload. This has been one of the most vexing thirty-six hours of my life."

"Even weirder than when we first met?" Rydia smiled a little, and Cecil couldn't help but smile back.

"I guess that was pretty bad too. It might be a tie."

She crossed her legs, leaning her cheek against her hand. "Yeah…it was pretty odd for me as well, seeing someone who could be my twin trying to murder my friends. I guess I went a little overboard with the Meteor spell."

"You saved our lives," Cecil shook his head, amazed at how effortlessly Rydia had slung one of the most powerful black magic spells like it was nothing – the girl couldn't even bring herself to cast a Fire spell last year when they first met. She had become even more powerful in the time they had been apart – frighteningly so. "She wouldn't have answered any of our questions anyway, even if you hadn't finished her off. I just can't believe she managed to trick us all, except Edge."

"Edge?" Rydia raised her eyebrows. Cecil didn't pick up on the sudden lift in her tone. "What do you mean?"

"It had just been the twins, Cid, Luca and me up until we reached the tower," Cecil said. "We only ran into Edge shortly before confronting your impostor. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he announced she was a fake. That's when she went berserk and attacked us with the eidolons – he blew her cover."

Rydia bit down on her lip, not liking the way her heart had suddenly started hammering in her chest.

"I'm such a fool…" Cecil buried his head in his hands. "I still can't see what's right in front of my face. I guess some things never change."

Rydia reached up, gently resting her small, white hand over his. "I can sense that perhaps there is more to this than just our false friend. Do you want to talk about it?"

"I…" Cecil slid his hands down, and Rydia could see his eyes were rimmed with tears. "…I've been living in the past…trying to change the unchangeable. This entire journey, all I was able to think about was what had happened to us a year ago, and not what was happening right now. It clouded my judgment – for a while, I even suspected that it could have been Kain behind the incident in the Sealed Cave. Before we left for Damcyan, Rosa asked me what we would do if Kain never came home, and I just shut down – the thought of her mourning the loss of her friend because of me just drives me to change all the more – but I can't do anything about it. It's an endless cycle of agony."

"Cecil…" Rydia shook her head. "Don't you realize that you, in a way, are in mourning too? It's not just Kain…I know it was hard for you when Golbez decided not to return with us to our planet. Even if you still don't entirely forgive him for what he did – he was still your brother, and now you wonder when or if you'll ever be able to rectify that relationship. But maybe before you consider what it means to forgive either of them, you forgive yourself first." She squeezed his hand. "Being a paladin doesn't mean you'll never have darkness in your heart again. But it's surely proof that you're capable of overcoming that darkness – again, and again, and again. And Rosa, Edge and I…we'll always be by your side if you should need aid."

Cecil lifted his head and looked at his young, but so very wise friend – one of the most important people in his life who had taught him what it truly meant to forgive after the unspeakable acts he had taken against her people – and he knew that every word she spoke was true. Rydia's impostor had known nothing – she had merely been a false prophet. She hadn't brought any revelations to light with her teasing dreams – just crippling doubt and fear, meant only to weaken him.

"Thank you, Rydia…your words comfort me greatly, as always. I do wish you would consider coming home – well, to Mist, that is. The surface world continues to have need of good, beautiful souls like your own. And Rosa and I miss you."

Rydia blushed slightly, and turned away. She still wasn't sure how she felt about ever coming back to Mist – she had still not yet shed the mantle of anguish and heartache that the agony of the war had laid upon her – but knowing that at least one person wanted her around made her want to take it under advisement.

Rydia stood up, extending her hand. "We'll be to the surface soon. Where should we tell Cid to head next?"

Cecil took her hand, and let her haul him away from the bed. "Let's go to Fabul – I want to check on Rosa. And…there's someone there you need to meet."

"Hmmm?" Rydia smiled. "A surprise?!" Cecil could only grin in reply.

Back up on the deck, Cecil caught Luca, Rydia, Cid and Edge up on what had occurred inside the Tower of Babil. When he finished their story, Luca could only angrily shake her head.

"I knew something was wrong! But…I was afraid to say anything…I didn't want to upset what I thought was the real you, Rydia – and I didn't want anyone to be angry with me, after everything Cecil, Master Cid, Palom and Porom did for us."

"Luca, you should never be afraid to speak your mind!" Rydia admonished. "If you're ever going to be the chief of your own airship someday, you have to be totally transparent to your crew! Right, Cid?"

"Absolutely," Cid nodded. "If there is only one good thing about Edge, it's his ability to speak candidly. I would allow it if that was the only habit you ever picked up from him."

"Listen here, you interminable blowhard…" Edge glared. "…If you cleaned out your hair-ridden ears, you would have heard the part of Cecil's story where I saved your boy's sorry arse…so a little thanks would go a long way!"

Cid glared back, clenching his fist as smoke rose out of his ears. Porom winced, as she was most unfortunately standing between the two men, and cleared her throat to interrupt them before they dove on top of each other.

"Ahem! Rydia, if I may ask…why didn't you come to Damcyan? And how did you know to come to the Tower of Babil?"

"Oh!" Rydia blinked. "Well, I had every intention of coming…but when I reached the underworld proper, I was not able to summon Bahamut, so I was stranded. Of course, that indicated a bigger problem for me as well…I ran back home to find Leviathan and Asura, and Asura told me about the monsters that were pouring out of the Sealed Cave. When even they could not communicate with Bahamut, they agreed to help teleport me to the mainland so I could ask King Giott to borrow the Falcon and find you. But when I got there…" Rydia raised an eyebrow in Luca's direction, "…Imagine my surprise when Giott told me his daughter had stolen the Falcon from right under his nose!"

"Oh dear," Luca covered her mouth. "I just remembered I am going to be in huge trouble when I get home."

"So I stayed to help Giott fight off the monsters that had made their way to the mainland – and while doing so, discovered I had lost my ability to summon some of my eidolons. One of his men spotted the Falcon flying toward the Tower of Babil, so I took off on foot to see what was going on. That's when I eventually found you."

"And Edge saw the tower glow from Eblan, which would explain why he never arrived in Damcyan either…" Cecil shook his head. "You said you had a dream too, right Edge? What was it like?"

"Er…" Edge crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. "I can't really remember. Just that a familiar voice was calling me to the tower. So off I went!" There is no way in hell I am telling them I dreamt of Rydia…she'll never take me seriously again!

"Without any of your ninjas? You could have been killed," Rydia said dryly. "What kind of fool runs off to the Tower of Babil alone, especially after knowing what treachery goes on there?"

"I'm looking at one!" Edge hissed. "What about you, missy? Couldn't you have just waited like a good girl at the castle?"

"Oh, you'd like that!" Rydia spat. "I should have let my impostor smack you around a bit more before rescuing you!"

"Whoa…" Palom muttered, shaking his head. "Why don't they just make out already and get it over with?"

"Palom!" Porom gasped, yanking his braid roughly. "Inappropriate! Where in the world did you hear language like that?"

No one had heard the twins bickering, however – Rydia and Edge's decibel levels were rising with each newly-slung insult.

"Don't act like you're all high and mighty just because you're some kind of monster princess now! I could have taken fake-Rydia on just fine on my own! I had these kids to think about though, you know?" He gestured toward Palom and Porom, who responded with eye rolls.

"Don't drag us into this, man," Palom grunted. Cecil and Porom looked at each other in disbelief.

"Monster princess!? If you ever bothered to drop by and say "Hello" once in a while, you'd know I live a life nothing of the sort!"

"Bothered to drop by…?" Edge blinked. "What are you talking about? I came to the Feymarch months ago, and some stupid little bird told me he would fetch you because I wasn't allowed in the village. When you never came out, I figured you were too busy to bother!" His cheeks were visibly reddening, obvious even under his cowl.

"What…?" Rydia gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth as she remembered the conversation she had had in front of the library before leaving for Edward's party. "Oh no…Chocobo! He only told me that recently…and he couldn't even remember who came! That was you…?"

Edge whirled around, crossing his arms over his chest and jutting his chin out. "Save it – we've all had a hell of a day. I'm proposing that we throw a wicked party when we get to Fabul to celebrate our hard work. It's not like Harley is going to let us party in Damcyan – that chick is wound way too tightly."

"Um, it might also be because you missed the party she already threw," Porom pointed out gently. She liked Harley and felt a kindred spirit with her – she liked that she didn't let the men in her life run the show – and that she had the gall to put Palom in his place was just a bonus.

"We'll see what Yang says…" Cecil trailed off. Edge had no idea that the newest resident of Fabul Castle was calling the shots, and that a party would most definitely be a no. But he decided to let Edge find that out on his own.

Cid, who had left in the middle of Rydia and Edge's awkward tantrum to pretend to supervise the dwarf who had taken over flying the Falcon, called out his commands.

"Prepare for landing, men! Luca, get over here – I want you to watch this time. Please make note that we are not going anywhere near the harbor…"

Cecil was surprised to see that it was Yang himself who arrived at Fabul's drawbridge to greet them. Twilight was beginning to settle into the horizon, and many of the guards were getting anxious for their shift change, calling jokes to each other and acting squirrely. But as soon as Yang strode up to the gates, they all snapped to attention, wiping their smiles from their faces. It made Cecil laugh – he wondered if the Baronian guards acted the same way around him – they never would have taken him seriously before he became king.

"My friends, you're back!" Yang exclaimed. "And Rydia and Edge, too! This is a pleasant surprise."

"Yang!" Rydia cried, throwing her arms around him. He embraced her tightly, and nodded to Edge over her shoulder. Edge gave a half-nod back, still in a snit.

"Yang, is Rosa all right!?" Cecil burst out. Yang pulled away from Rydia, who blinked confusedly. Even Edge had the decency to look concerned.

"What's wrong with Rosa?" Rydia bit her lip.

"Please don't worry, she is recovering well from her fainting spell yesterday," Yang replied. "I asked Kaya – our nation's best healer – to keep a keen eye on her while she was not with Sheila, and this morning she recommended that Rosa go home to rest somewhere more comfortable for her. The Red Wings picked her up and I've been assured she is back in Baron, safe and sound."

"Thank you…" Cecil sighed. "It's because of you that I did not have to worry while we were away." He and Cid exchanged looks of relief.

"Well, if she's quite all right, then I suppose a celebration is in order?" Edge grinned. "Yang, what do you say to breaking open the Fabulian liquor reserves? We've got enough stories to keep you drinking all night!"

"Ah…" Yang laughed nervously, his nose turning pink as he remembered what had happened the last time he was at a spirit-fueled celebration with Edge, which would have been Cecil's wedding. His mind had conveniently censored out some of the more obscene comments Edge had made while he shared stories of his love life. The Red Wings had been cheering him on, so he hadn't noticed that Yang was dying from embarrassment. "Well, I'm afraid that's just not possible for two reasons. One, Fabul is a dry nation – and two, well…"

"Why don't ya'all go celebrate in Baron?" came Shelia's voice from behind, and Yang whirled around. She was wearing long taupe dressing robes that skimmed over top her bare feet, her violet hair plaited neatly over her shoulder. In her arms, reason number two, otherwise known as Princess Ursula, was sleeping, pink-faced and drooling. "Honey, you should go – having you around here for a whole day has been too much for me. Ursula and I need our space – you have my blessing."

"Is that…?" Rydia gasped. "Yang, you…"

"Oh jeeze," Edge sighed. "I can't get away from these things…" Sheila snarled, and Edge quickly cleared his throat. "I mean, congratulations! Honestly. That's my official statement as King of Eblan."

"Don't quit your day job, darlin'," Sheila sighed.

Rydia fawned all over Princess Ursula, and Luca and the twins joined in too, taking turns holding her. Even Palom was gentle, and maybe even a little in awe at the tiny girl in his arms. Cid, Cecil, Edge and Yang looked at each other.

"So, party at Cecil's place?" Edge asked hopefully. Cid narrowed his eyes.

"Boy, why are you so anxious to not return home?"

"Well…" Edge laughed, scratching his head. "I might have lied about where I was going, and surely people have figured out by now that I did not actually make it to Damcyan. I figure I better let them cool off before heading back, you know?"

"That explains it," Cecil smiled, shaking his head. "Seneschal is going to be calling for your head."

"But I really do think we should talk about what happened," Edge added, his tone just slightly more serious. "If you think about it that way, it's just a work thing. We have to tell the others what we saw in the Tower of Babil so they can keep an eye out – just in case."

"I suppose I am no longer welcome in my own home…" Yang glanced back at Sheila, who was laughing while Porom gave Ursula gentle raspberries on her stomach.

"We have to go to Damcyan anyway to pick up the Enterprise," Cid mused. "…We could pick up Edward along the way. He deserves a do-over anyway – since we kind of ditched his party early."

"All right, all right," Cecil threw up his hands. "As long as we keep it contained to the throne room. Edge is right – we should share what we know."

Yang nodded. "I could tell by the looks on your faces when you arrived that you had been through quite a trial. I'm anxious to learn how I can help."

"Yes!" Edge cheered, pumping his fist. "Come on, kids! I'm going to show you how we celebrate in Eblan!"

"Oh no," Rydia muttered, not being able to help but overhear Edge's plans. "Well, I suppose I'd better go with them. Sheila – please let me know when you need a babysitter!"

"Of course dear," Sheila smiled. "Go on with yourself, and have a wonderful night. Ya'all look like you need it."

After stopping in Damcyan to recover the Enterprise and to convince a bemused Edward to join them, Cecil and the others arrived in Baron as the night's first stars began to shyly twinkle from above. Leaving Cid to get the others to the throne room so they could get settled, Cecil raced to the western tower where his bedchamber was situated; hoping Rosa was there since there had only been a few guards to greet them, with none of them claiming to see the queen since her arrival home earlier that morning.

The door to the bedchamber was ajar, revealing a pale spill of candlelight in the hall. Cecil quietly pushed the door open the rest of the way, and saw Rosa sitting up in the middle of their bed, dressed in a pink lace cropped bodice with her hair lifted in a high ponytail, exposing the white curve of her shoulders. She was inattentively playing with a petite orb of Cure magic that she was crafting between cupped hands, the light just bright enough to illuminate her flushed cheeks. When Cecil's shadow fell over her, she looked up, surprised, the magic dissipating in her hands and leaving only the wall sconce's flickering candlelight to fill the room. The window next to the bed was wide-open, letting in the mercifully cool night air.

"Cecil!" She gasped. "You're home! I thought I heard some commotion outside, but…"

He crossed the room, nearly knocking her into the headboard as he climbed into the bed and threw his arms around her. She returned the embrace, closing her eyes as she pressed her lips to his hair. When he pulled away, she moved over few inches in the bed to make room, quietly watching him settle in next to her. His hair was a tangled mess and smelled like smoke and the igneous rocks of the underworld, and she could see that part of his chest plate had gone missing, exposing torn clothing underneath and a flash of pale pink skin. The rest of his armor was scratched to hell, like he had been in a battle with a razor blade. He caught her staring, and smiled slightly.

"I'm all right. And so is everyone else."

"Thank goodness…" Rosa's lip quivered, and Cecil leaned in, taking her face in his hands as he trailed his lips down her forehead, nose, and mouth, murmuring.

"I was most worried about you. Please rest easy…I want you well again."

She looked up at him, pressing her forehead to his.

"But I am well, Cecil."

He blinked, his hand absentmindedly twisting a lock of her hair around his fingers. "Then what…?"

She sighed happily in reply, pulling his hand out of her hair and tugging his glove off, letting it drop to the floor. Taking hold of his hand again, she guided it under the sheets that had pooled in her lap. His eyes followed in confusion, watching as she pressed his palm into her bare abdomen and held it there. He looked up at her, feeling a blush crawl up his cheeks at how warm and soft her skin felt – even after all this time, he still couldn't believe only he knew what all of her felt like.

"What is this about…?" Cecil couldn't resist tracing his thumb over her belly button, and Rosa smiled brightly, the light of the lone candle in the room reflecting back at him as brilliantly as one of the planet's crystals. It had been the happiest he had seen her look in months, he realized with a pang of sadness – something else he had quietly accepted as their new normal.

"I'm about two months along," Rosa said softly. "Right as we start the new year, we'll be welcoming a son or daughter." She squeezed his hand tightly. "You're going to be a father, Cecil. Can you believe it?"

Cecil was dumbfounded – all he could hear in his mind was radio static. He stared at his hand on Rosa's stomach for what felt like hours, and then looked back up at her eyes, and then down to his hand once more. The entire time, the hopeful smile never left her lips. His voice shook as the weight of her declaration finally began to sink deep into his heart, pushing out the fear and apprehension he had been carrying within him since they had come home from the moon.

I'm going to be a father.

And Rosa…she's going to be their mother. The mother of my child. The mother to our kingdom's legacy.

We've been given the chance to have the kind of family neither of us had…

"You're sure…right?" He whispered. It had been the first thing he could choke out. "This whole time we thought you were sick, you've…"

"…Been exhibiting some fairly common pregnancy symptoms, according to Queen Sheila's midwife," Rosa couldn't help but laugh. "It certainly wasn't the first thing on my mind though – not with everything else that has been going on. It's not like we've been trying."

"But we haven't not been trying," Cecil blushed, and they laughed together. "This is…surreal."

"Are you happy?" Rosa tilted her head. Cecil nodded fervently, bringing his other hand to her abdomen and fanning his fingers over her skin.

I'm terrified too, Cecil thought. But…oh gods, I am so, so happy.

"Our child is in here," Cecil breathed. His heart was beating so fast that he could barely catch his breath. "I never dreamed I'd come home to news like this. Does anyone else know?"

Rosa shook her head. "Just the midwife. She said she would be willing to travel to Baron when the time comes for the little one's debut, if we wanted."

"We'll do whatever you want," Cecil murmured, lowering himself to his hands and knees and brushing his lips over her stomach. "Whatever you need in the coming months, it's yours."

"I…" Rosa sighed dreamily and sank back against the pillows, closing her eyes. "…I think we can talk about that later…" She ran her fingers through his hair encouragingly, and felt a shiver run up her spine as her started to move his lips higher, toward the fringe of her bodice.

"CRASH!"

"Edge, you idiot!" Cid's unmistakable snarl echoed as if he were standing right below them.

"Hahahaha…sorry about that…!" The laughter faded away.

Cecil stopped and lifted his head, and Rosa's eyes snapped open, both of them looking out the open window at the same time.

"Um…did you bring company?" Rosa asked, and Cecil laughed nervously.

"Actually, everyone is here…Edge thought it might be a good idea to talk about what happened today. I told them to stay in the throne room though…"

Rosa raised her eyebrows, and Cecil reluctantly sat up straight, pushing his hair from his eyes sheepishly. "Maybe…we can continue our conversation later."

"I think that's a good idea," Rosa smiled, shaking her head. "You know better than to think Edge can follow directions – and it sounds like he's going to give Cid a coronary. But if everyone is really here…maybe I'll join you later. I really am feeling much better – I just want to rest a little more. Kaya says that as long as I don't go on anymore "adventures" for the time being, that I should be OK."

"Take your time," Cecil stood up and kissed her forehead. "I'm sure they're going to be here all night. But…what should I tell them when I go back down? Everyone's going to be asking how you are."

Rosa gazed out the window again, entranced by the moon rising over Baron Village, a sliver of shadow indicating it had entered its waning cycle once again. "Tell them the truth."

Cecil crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you sure…?"

"I'm positive – I don't want anyone to worry about me. It's gotten kind of exhausting, having people look upon me with pity." She turned back to Cecil, and he was stunned to see that her eyes were glistening with tears, but still, she was smiling. "Actually…it's quite perfect this way. I want all of them to be part of our child's life – so I want them to find out at the same time as you and I. When I think of it that way…it means everything up until this point has happened the way it was supposed to, don't you think?"

Cecil watched as a tear escaped and slid down her cheek, disappearing as she flicked it away with swipe of her finger. She sighed wearily, and draped a hand over her stomach, the band of her ring shining against the pale stretch of skin peeking out from the sheets. He knew at that moment that they were both thinking about the one person missing from downstairs who should have been reveling in their joy along with them.

Rosa…how could I ever have thought that you would turn away from me, when you ache as much as I? We're two sides of the same heart…I realize that now, more than ever. Maybe this isn't the life we imagined after the war, but it's the life we were meant to have for right now. And together, you and I can build the future of our dreams – one that our child can look forward to.

"…You're right," Cecil nodded. "The only fate I will ever rally against is one where you are not by my side."

"I will never let it come to pass," Rosa said softly, closing her eyes. Within moments, her breathing had steadied, indicating she was asleep. Cecil left the bedchamber quietly and blew out the candle nestled in the wall sconce next to the door, plunging the room in darkness save for the path of moonlight trailing from the heavens above.

Downstairs, Rydia was standing off to the side, contemplating the scene before her. Edward and Yang were talking excitedly about Ursula, with Edward furiously taking notes – he was already composing a new song in his head in honor of the world's newest princess. Palom, Porom and Luca were hungrily digging into the cookies Cid and Edge had managed to sneak from the kitchen – or at least, what had been left of them after Edge tripped in the courtyard and sent the massive silver tray they were on flying, causing a huge ruckus. Palom was bragging about his battles in the Sealed Cave, and Rydia could see Porom rolling her eyes all the way from where she was standing. Luca, however, looked absolutely entranced – Rydia could sense trouble on the horizon for that poor girl.

I guess I can't blame her too much though…it's easy to fall for the wrong guy…all flash, no substance. When she's older, someone will have to explain it all to her…I guess it will have to be me. The thought of King Giott talking about boys with Luca nearly sent Rydia into a laughing fit – it was never going to happen.

Cid was coming and going with more food – he had banned Edge from helping anymore and had told him to stay in the throne room, or else he would have the Baronian guard arrest him. Edge was sulking on Cecil's throne, his legs draped over the arm, nursing a bottle of champagne he had lifted from the kitchen prior to his banning. As Rydia watched him, she could feel her feet involuntarily shuffling forward, and before she knew it, she was at his side.

Edge looked up at her, and offered her the bottle. She shrugged, and took it, throwing back a huge swig.

"Edge…" Rydia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and handed the bottle back to him. "Cecil told me on the Falcon that you were the only one to recognize the impostor as a fake…is that true?"

Edge nearly choked, spraying champagne out of his mouth as he sat up straighter on the throne. She could see a streak of pink creep over the bridge of his slender nose. "Er…Why would Cecil lie about something like that? Has the man ever lied to you in the entirety of you knowing each other?"

Rydia smiled, and shook her head. "No…but I just wanted to be sure I heard him correctly. How did you know?"

Edge yanked his cowl back up over his mouth, despite suddenly feeling like it was one-hundred degrees in the blasted room. Setting the champagne aside, he stood up, crossing his arms over his chest and tapping his finger against his upper arm, which Rydia couldn't help notice being very well-defined.

"I…I don't know! I mean, it was a lot of things…the vibe was totally wrong, first of all…you know how when someone enters a room, sometimes you just get a feeling from them? Well, hers was all murdery and angry, I guess. Second…" He shook his head, turning away. "…I just…had an instinct, OK? As a ninja, it's my job to know these kinds of things. And third…" Rydia could see his ears turning redder and redder. "…It was the hairpin. Hers was broken, and I know how much you treasure yours – it's your reminder of your connection to the Feymarch. You would never let it come to harm."

Rydia pressed her fingers to her lips, wondering if the sound of someone's heart could be heard pounding if their mouth was hanging open. Right on cue, a lock of her stubborn hair slipped from the hairpin, awkwardly flopping in her eyes. Edge looked back at her over his shoulder, wondering if she was going to say something smart-assed to him in reply – or anything, really. He noticed the lock of hair, and before he could stop himself, turned and reached toward her, gently tucking it back behind her ear. Rydia watched his fingers, but still didn't breathe a word.

"I…uh…I really like that you're trying to grow out your hair," Edge said quietly. "I think long hair on girls is beautiful…uh, not that it matters what I think."

"It doesn't matter," Rydia replied, just as quietly. But she leaned in, tugging down his cowl with her index finger and kissing him on the cheek so swiftly that he thought he had fantasized it. "But thanks for knowing who I really am." She released the cowl, and it sprung back up over his cheek.

"Rydia, come try one of these cookies!" Luca cried. "They're divine!" Rydia turned and walked away without a glance, leaving Edge speechless.

Damn…months of meditation and all that other mindfulness crap out the window – I should have known none of that would cure me. Rydia…what would have happened if you had come to see me in the Feymarch that day? I don't have many regrets in this life…but not knowing that is one of the top three.

The throne room doors opened behind them, and Cecil appeared, a partial smile on his lips as his crystal eyes swept the room. Cid turned away from a plate he was laying out, and scampered over to him.

"So how is she? Is Rosa feeling better?"

Cecil paused, suddenly realizing that he had no idea how to tell them. He had practically floated back to the throne room, and hadn't had a thought in his brain the entire trip.

"Well, she…" Cecil trailed off.

"Cecil?" Yang frowned. He prayed it wasn't bad news – he felt like Kaya would have disclosed to him as Rosa's caretaker if something was wrong – but she hadn't elaborated on why she had wanted Rosa sent home, either. She had just given the order, and he obeyed.

The room fell silent, and Cecil realized that eight pairs of eyes were scrutinizing him deeply. He blushed, running his fingers through his hair.

"She's fine…and in about seven months…we'll be welcoming a new arrival of our own."

There were gasps and cheers, and Cecil suddenly found himself surrounded by his friends, everyone talking at once and several hands slapping his back excitedly.

"You serious!?" Edge cried.

Cid looked like he was going to pass out.

"Congratulations, Cecil!" Rydia squealed. "Where's Rosa? When can I see her?!"

"Oh, it has been one miracle after another!" Luca sniffled, throwing her arms around Cecil's waist.

"So that means…Cecil's gonna be a dad, too!?" Palom blinked. "I hope your kid is cooler than you. Ursula has some hope, but…"

"You'll have to start thinking of names!" Porom giggled while simultaneously giving Palom a smack in the back of the head for his insolence.

Cecil rested his hands on his hips, pressing his lips together in thought.

Names…? One name immediately rose to top of mind – and he was sure Rosa would agree…

Cecilia for sure – if the baby's a girl.

But for a boy…that was going to take some thought.

Meanwhile…

Even after nearly a year's worth of sleeping under the stars, Kain still couldn't sleep in the light of a full moon without his helmet on. The moon's reflection was so bright – even more so, it seemed, after the red moon had disappeared from orbit – that it burned right through his closed eyes and made his body feel as if it were aflame with fever. Cursing under his breath, he tossed his blanket aside, and crawled out of his tent, deciding to take a walk first before settling back in again.

He briefly glanced back at the shrine he had made camp in front of – as usual, there was no indication that any holy power radiated from it any longer – the carved marble was dull and covered with years of grit and growth from the elements, and the door was rusted shut. However, it was thanks to the shrine that not one person dared to ascend the mountain – the legend of Mount Ordeals was still as real as ever to the local villagers and was his insurance that he would be left alone – the mountain had accepted one soul, bequeathed it with light, which meant none other were worthy and would only suffer death upon attempt, according to the legend.

Kain had not been totally isolated, despite his best efforts – there would be times where an unusual number of airships would comb through the area, which Kain was sure was Cecil's doing. What other business would the Red Wings have in the Mysidian region anymore if not to search for someone? Being without the usual chatter and interaction one would normally experience in a day, Kain's hearing had become very keen, and he could usually pick up on an airship's rotors long before he could spot one in the sky. During those times, he would merely hide in one of the mountain's passages until the threat had passed.

He encountered other unsettling moments when he would sneak into Mysidia for supplies, or to the forest to hunt for food – he always went in disguise, which consisted of discarded clothes he would find on dead travelers in the woods, or sometimes his own clothing, sans dragoon armor. He had been tempted to cut his long blonde hair, but always ended up wearing it under cloaks or hats instead. Sometimes he felt like he would get suspicious looks from the villagers, even though Mysidia was becoming more and more populous with strangers these days, thanks to the war ending and the exploding popularity of studying magic.

His paranoia had reached an all-time high when he once literally bumped into Porom, the young girl mage Cecil had traveled with for a brief time. He had fled in terror when she gazed up at him apologetically, offering to pay for the potion he had dropped. It was only when he was safely back on Mount Ordeals that he realized that she would have never recognized him – he had only seen her through the mysterious apparatus Golbez would use to spy on Cecil – they had never actually met.

It was moments like that that made him question if he was doing the right thing – the loneliness was unbearable, and although he had become quite the survivalist, he would be kidding himself if he claimed to not long for his old bed, his old room, in a safe castle that had no exposure to the elements.

But he needed to be alone – of that he had no doubt. He could never bring himself to ensnare Cecil or Rosa into any more of his struggles, ever again. The degradation, the suffering – everything he had inflicted upon his friends, he wanted to feel too, one-hundred fold. He trained, meditated, and prayed without fail every day, all in an effort to drive away the darkness he could sense had taken root deep within his soul and to become a strong enough dragoon that he would never fall to it again.

Zemus had said before he perished that all men held darkness in their hearts – but Kain felt that there must have been something exceptionally evil about his heart that had made him such an easy target for Golbez. That had been what frightened him the most about the war – losing control over his mind and having his secret thoughts twisted into something ugly and stained with jealousy – transforming them into weapons used against his friends and comrades. He still couldn't even remember the exact moment he had become enthralled by Golbez, or time after – those days had been robbed from him, possibly forever – so he had no way of truly knowing what had made him so vulnerable that fateful day.

I long for my own hallowed light to save me from myself…to save Cecil and Rosa from my darkness… Kain collapsed to his knees next to a gnarled, dying tree at the edge of the cliff he would frequently meditate on. But still, I know I harbor dark thoughts in my heart of hearts…in daylight, I temper my strength and mind to become worthy of my father's legacy, the Dragoon Knights of Baron…but in moonlight, I dream of revenge, driven by mad jealousy…I cannot return until I know I have control over my real self again!

Lowering his head, Kain closed his eyes, clutching his hands together in prayer – it was the same prayer he offered to the heavens every night when he was wracked with insomnia brought on by the phases of the full moon.

Deliver me from the sins I have laid against brother, friend and country…

A bitter wind whipped through the summit, stinging Kain's ears and entangling in his hair. He shivered, lowering his head more and hunching his shoulders. There came a more powerful gust, carrying along with it a distant whisper as it made the barren tree branches rattle above him.

"You…"

Kain raised his head hesitantly, opening his eyes. He could swear that he saw a flicker of light in the peripheral of his vision, and stood up, gazing toward the shrine. However, nothing had changed – it remained a pale, dead monument, bathed in moonlight and nothing more.

"Dragoon…"

Kain gasped, taking a few steps forward. This time, for sure, he had heard something – and it was definitely coming from the shrine. The voice had sounded trapped – there was no echo riding the wind.

Kain cautiously approached the shrine, trying to peer inside. He thought he could see the tiniest spark of light from deep within – it was hard to tell if it was coming from within the shrine itself or a reflection from the moon. Kain tried tugging on the door once more, but it did not give.

"Who's there…?" Kain whispered.

His hair lifted in another bone-chilling gust of wind – but with it came no reply.

Continued in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years