Chapter 3: A Crossing of Fate

===Area: Throne Room===

The great hall of Ru’Lude Gardens was empty. Not a single servant or soldier was found in its marble halls. In the throne room, Kam’lanaut stared down at the figure before him.

“Can you kill any who oppose me…?”

The woman nodded in response.

“Can you kill Avie…?”

Again, the woman nodded.

Kam’lanaut smirked and reached into his pocket. The woman simply stared at his hand moving into his pocket and producing a rather large sack. He tossed it to the woman, which she had caught with one hand.

The woman stood still for awhile, her hand moving about the bag and listening to the sound it makes, as if she is counting it.

“Now go and annihilate those who threaten my plans…”

The woman slowly bowed before turning and exiting the great hall, leaving Kam’lanaut to himself.

“Silence…now’s the time…”

Pulling out a decorated mirror out of his pocket, Kam’lanaut gazed into it and found something unsightly in his hair.

“NOOOOOOO!!!! SPLIT ENDS!”

===Area: Mog House===

“So! It is you Warrior! I, Shippuu have grown much stronger since our last encounter!” Shippuu quickly draws his lance and points it towards Avie. “I challenge you to a duel!”

“Avie! It is you! How have you been? It’s been awhile since we last met!” Tink waved to him while Avie makes his way towards her, passing Shippuu who is still pointing his lance at him.

Shadowolf cleared his throat. “Well…since you guys know each other, it’ll be easier on me to explain it.” Shadowolf snapped his fingers and three energy rings materialized around Shippuu and bound him, causing him to drop his lance and himself to the floor.

“HEY! What foolishness is this?! Let me out!” Shippuu began to wiggle and squirm towards Shadowolf who paid no heed to him.

“Quiet Shippuu, I wanna listen to what this cute Elvaan has to say.” Kaolla sat down besides the fallen Dragoon and pats his head.

“Don’t forget me! I, Menzo am joining this too!” Menzo quickly turn towards Kaolla. “Oh and by the way, I’ll forgive you for stealing my letter since you are such a sexy lady…” He blows her a kiss before sitting down on the floor, oblivious to the daggers that Shippuu attempted to bore into his head.

Mark sighed and sat down next to Leie. “Go on Shadow, tell us why we are here and what you plan to do with us.”

Avie nodded in agreement. “Yeah Shadow, I don’t remember much during that fight with the Tonberries…”

Shadowolf stared at him in shock. “What?! How could you not remember? You single handedly took out all of them!”

Avie shrugged his shoulders and sat down. “I don’t know…All I remember is being hit with an attack and then blacking out…”

“I guess we have to refresh your memories…Listen well everyone…”

Before Shadowolf could being, the door opened again and Cesario entered the room.

“Looks like you’re all back in one piece, how was your trip in Elshimo?” Cesario surveyed the group before him and lets out a small laugh. “It looks like you’ve recruited some new members too.”

Menzo stood up and saluted Cesario. “Yes sir! I’ve heard about your benefits and would like to join you in seeing the world, exploring the unknown, and see some chicks…”

“What was that last part?”

“Uh… nothing sir!” To take Cesario’s mind off what he just said, Menzo extended his had towards him. “It’s an honor to meet you, I am Menzo, student of the ways of the Paladin, Thief, Ninja, and Samurai!”

“Wow…that’s quite a resume…either way, you’re in.” Cesario reached into his pack and pulled out a linkshell. He then gave the shell four knocks, making it produce four pearls which he then handed to Menzo, Tink, Shippuu, and Kaolla.

“Hey! Don’t you want to know our resumes too?” Tink spoke up to Cesario who just finished giving out the last of the pearls to Kaolla.

Waving his hands at her, Cesario explained. “Oh no, I just like to hear Menzo salute me is all.” He then chuckled for a bit before speaking again. “I would however, like to know your names…”

“My name’s Tink! I’m a White Mage!” Tink spun around and then bowed at Cesario.

Kaolla sat up and pointed at herself. “I’m Kaolla, and this…” She then shifted her hand to the bound Tarutaru on the floor next to her. “…this is Shippuu, my fiance.”

Menzo’s face glowed red and he sighed sadly. ‘Damnit…that angel’s taken…’

Pulling up a chair, Cesario placed it in front of Shippuu and sat down. “Well, now that introductions are over, why don’t we get started with Shadow’s story?”

Shadowolf threw his hands up in the air and sighed. “FINALLY! I thought we’d never get started!” He then turned serious and told them what happened that day in the Temple of Uggalepih…

===Flashback===

Shadowolf entered a small room with walls of white bone. He looked at the door behind him closing. “I’ll be back soon guys, you rest for now.”

He walked down the stairs and examined the room from corner to corner and stopped at the middle, where a strange panel of light lit up upon his approach.

“What’s this…?” Shadowolf’s hand hovered above it, feeling the warmth of the light.

“So, you’ve come…” The voice rang into Shadowolf’s ears causing him to immediately turn around.

“Who’s there?!”

“Do not be afraid, we are not your enemy…but we know who is…”

Relaxing a bit, Shadowolf looked up at the ceiling. “The Zilarts?”

“Yes…and their plan. You who came and defeated our guardians, your presence here means that the Zilart have begun their plans…am I right?”

“The Zilarts are Kam’lanaut and his brother, they plan to wipe Vana’diel of all race.”

“That is part of their plan…”

“There’s more…?”

“Their ultimate goal is to revive the fallen city; Tu’Lia.”

Shadowolf was shocked to hear that word, a word not used for almost 1000 years. “Tu’Lia?! The city of the Zilarts? How do they plan on doing that?”

“When the city is revived, it’ll become a weapon to wage war on all who live on Vana’diel.”

“Wage war…” Shadowolf sat on those words for awhile before asking. “How do we hinder their plans?”

“The monuments of power… Thunder, Fire, Wind, Light, Ice, Water, and Earth…they plan to activate these monuments to supply power to Tu’Lia.”

“So we must prevent them from activating it…No, we must destroy them!”

“…”

Finally, Shadowolf thought of something he had failed to noticed before. “Hey…how do you know so much about the Zilarts?”

“…We were the race that was enslaved by them…1000 years ago…”

“That means, you’re…!”

“Yes…Kuluus…please, save Vana’diel…”

“Wait!” As fast as he had said that, the voice was gone… Now, Shadowolf stood there thinking of what to do next. “Kuluus and the Zilart…”

Wasting no more time, Shadowolf exited the room and back to the three unconscious adventurers.

===============

“And that’s what happened!” Shadowolf finished his story and looked at everyone. No one said a thing but just stared in shock. After a moment of silence, Shippuu finally spoke up.

“This must not be! I do not know how much of this is true but if it is, we MUST do something about it!” Feeling the spell wearing off, Shippuu stood up and nodded at Avie. “We will put aside our rivalry for now Warrior…”

Avie continued to stare at Shadowolf. “So that’s what Kam’lanaut was planning all the way back at Zvahl....”

“Heh, never thought our meeting at the Temple would lead to this…but if the Archduke’s threatening our world, then we’ll be there to stop him!” Mark punched his fists together, pumped up by the story told.

“That’s right, it’s our worrrrrld so it’s ourrr rrresponsibility to protect it.” Leie smiled and crossed her arms. “Count me in.”

Tink crossed her arms and nodded. “This sounds very interesting! I’m in!”

Kaolla clasped her hands together and giggled. “I’ll go wherever Shippuu goes! This looks like a great adventure to go on!”

Menzo’s hand suddenly appeared in the middle of the group. All eyes were on him and he just smiled. “So this is what I’m recruited to do…This is one heck of a job I’ll tell ya but…I’m in as well!”

“So…everyone’s up for it huh? We ARE attempting murder on the Archduke, you all know the consequences?” Cesario looked at the group and took their silence as a yes. “Very well…” He then placed his hand on top of Menzo’s.

Tink’s hand soon joined in, followed by Kaolla and Shippuu’, then Shadowolf’s, Mark’s, Leie’s, and finally Avie’s.

“Welcome to the EsperDreams.”

Everyone cheered and pumped their fists into the air. Their celebration was short when the room around them disappeared and was replaced by a gray emptiness. Nothing could be seen as far as the eye can see. No people, buildings, or land. It is as if they were floating but still standing.

Everyone quickly drew their weapons and got close, forming a circle of blades, cesti's, Great Axe, and lance.

“An attack by the Archduke?” Cesario’s eyes shifted left and right, trying to pick up any form of movement in the emptiness.

The sound of lightning ripped through the gloomy silence through Leie’s ears who immediately rolled away. “Rrrrun guys, an attack is coming!”

Upon hearing those words, everyone quickly jumped away before a large stream of lightning struck at the place they were standing.

Shadowolf looked around and found nothing. “I believe our enemy is a mage…a Black Mage at that…”

After a few moments, an orb of lightning appeared on top of the group’s heads and began to rain bolts of lightning from the sky.

Tink took out her Thunder Staff and thrusts it at the incoming bolts. The purple orb glowed and absorbed all the bolts before dimming and fading away. “That spell…”

“I know…” Shadowolf answered her and made hand movements ordering the group to spread out.

“What spell was that?” Mark whispered to Tink as they slowly moved away.

“It was a Thundaga V spell…”

The figure high above them observed the group like ants.

“Dance my puppets, show me your fear…your fear before death…”

Chapter 3A: Deadly Enemy! Wendi, the Magician of Chaos

Their situation was looking grim… Stuck in an alternate dimension with no escapes in sight and hunted down by an overpowered Mage bent on destroying them on a molecular level.

‘This is quite the day…’ Avie heaved his axe forward, deflecting an icicle that threatened to impale him.

“This is useless! How do we fight an enemy we cannot see?!” Shippuu jumped high into the air, Kaolla in his arms and avoided a stone spike that appeared on the ground beneath him.

Shadowolf and Tink pressed their backs against each other. The Thunder Staff in her hand glowed and absorbed more of the searing thunderbolts from above. “The elemental staves can absorb the magic! It might give us some time to find the enemy!”

“I’ll find him, you guys cover me until then.” Cesario closed his eyes and concentrated while the group clustered up around Tink and Shadowolf for protection.

The figure appeared above them and laughed at their attempt at defense. “Hahaha… so this is all you have to offer? Kam’lanaut was foolish to pay so high for your heads…”

Mark pulled out his Destroyers and stepped up. “So you’ve finally appeared huh? Kept us waiting long enough…”

Their attacker donned an abyssal black cloak that covered her from head to toe. The shadow from the cloak covered what her face looks like, but judging from her size and built, she is definitely Hume.

The assassin laughed quietly to herself. “Oh? I was under the impression that you knew where I was… but then again, a bunch of weak fools like you could’ve never guessed that.”

“Weak?! I’ll show you weak…!” Enraged, Shadowolf began casting a spell while the assassin just hovered above them, as if accepting his attack.

“Thunder III!”

“HA!” The assassin twirled her cape around the incoming bolts and reflected it back at the group. “Too easy.”

“Watch out!” Tink lifted her staff up again, allowing it to absorb the magic. The Thunder Bead on her staff began to pulsate rapidly before glowing dim and shattering.

“Whoa! The bead shattered!” Menzo looked down at Tink’s broken staff amazed at the damage done from one attack.

The assassin cackled madly. “Oh…did I break your staff? It was inevitable anyways…the bead’s limit had been reached and that last attack broke its limit…”

Shadowolf looked back up at the assassin. “Who are you…?”

“Me? Hmm…well if you must know, I am Wendi.”

Between the conversation with Shadowolf and Wendi, Leie just noticed that Shippuu was gone. She whispered into Mark’s ear. “Hey…where’s Shippuu…?”

Mark looked around him and saw that he was not there. “I don’t know…you think he ditched us?”

“Do you know what the Archduke is planning Wendi?! Why are you helping him?”

“Foolish Elvaan! I only help those with money, weather it be friend or foe!”

Mark’s eyes finally fell on Kaolla, who was staring at the sky above them for some reason. Slowly walking over to her, Mark looked up at where she’s looking. “What are we looking at?”

High in the sky, Shippuu laughed at the unsuspecting assassin below. “Haha! Now, feel the pride of a Dragoon!”

The Taru took out his lance and aimed downward onto Wendi’ head. After that, he lets gravity take care of the rest.

Back down below, Avie finished whispering something to Menzo. His nod tells him that he understands the plan. Not long after that Shippuu appeared in the sky and makes a clean slice at Wendi. The lance tears off a good portion of Wendi’s right sleeve. Had Wendi not moved during her speech, the lance would’ve impaled her head.

“Wh-What is this?!”

“Now guys!” Avie ordered before charging towards Menzo. Seeing close in, Menzo knelt down and placed his hand under the other.

“You’ll pay for interrupting my speech!”

Avie’s foot steps on Menzo’s hand before making a leap at Wendi, with Menzo giving him a boost to reach her height.

“ Power beyond the heavens, cast down your judgment and…”

Wendi never got to finish his spell thanks to Avie’s fist which had connected to her face. Wendi recoiled backwards to a waiting Monk behind her.

Punching his fists together, Mark began to channel energy to his right fist. Sparks flew between fists before his right cesti burned with a red glow. “Take this… Howling...” Mark reared back at took aim at the airborne mage. “…Fist!” He thrusts his fist forward and released the energy in a form of a sound wave.

The wave energy traveled quickly through the air and smashed into Wendi’ backside before going through her entire body and beyond. The blast blew her upwards now, giving enough time for Shadowolf to do what he does best.

“Thunder III!”

Finally recovering from the attacks, Wendi finds herself in the air with bolts of lightning converging on her. “Ugh, Shell III!”

A magic ring burned around her body before forming a shield to ward off the Thunder spell. Wendi’ smile faded when her shield began to break and shatter thanks to a Dispel spell.

Several tens of thousand volts of electricity ran through her body before dissipating.

Now, it was Menzo’s turn. The Paladin took out his Great Sword and ran towards the falling mage. “Now…feel the power of my sword, Cresent Moon!” Menzo jumped into the air and slams his Great Sword down on Wendi’ back, causing her to fall even faster and collided hard with the ground. He then brings his sword behind his back on his descent and heaves it over his head.

Wendi quickly opened her eyes and rolled out of the way just in time for the sword to crash into the ground. Not waiting for Menzo to recover, Wendi quickly chants a spell while the others rushed at him.

“Get him!”

“Now fools… Sleepga II!”

Instantly, the group dropped to the floor, unconscious. The spell had worked. Wendi took a moment to catch her breath and checked her wounds. “They did a lot of damage…ugh…can’t keep this up much longer, better finish this now.”

“…Manafont.”

With a wave of her hands, a giant orb appeared above her head sending energy throughout her body, before disappearing.

“Heh…now you will all die...and with no remembrance as to why you are dead…”

“Hell’s inferno, take form. Crimson flames of war, devastate and destroy. Leave no opposition standing from your wake. Bring the apocalypse of ages past, repeating what time has done…”

The dark space glowed red while the ground beneath the sleeping adventurers grew hot and began to boil and melt.

“Now…I pray that Hades has mercy on your pathetic souls...”

“Firaga V!”

Chapter 3B: Pilgrimage

The ground where the fallen adventurers lie exploded in a pillar of flames that engulfed the group in its fiery maw. The pillar ran from the ground to the ceiling of the dimension, melting away at its walls and floor. Wendi watched the sight with glee and crossed her arms as the pillar began to thin and soon, disappeared from the area, leaving only smog and gray fog covering the place where Avie and his friends were.

The clear blue sky shone through the dark dimension that has been ripped open by the sudden magical forced on it. Unable to take anymore stress, the dimension around them shattered like glass, revealing that they were in Rolanberry Fields the whole time.

“All this for a lousy five million…” Wendi turned around and slowly walks away. She stopped after her first step and laughed. “Well…well…it looks like we had an uninvited guest…”

The smoke finally cleared and the sight was not as Wendi was expecting. A barrier had been erected around the group and had protected them from the fiery storm. In the middle, was a lone and awake White Mage, hands in the air and eyes closed in concentration, trying to keep the barrier up.

“And just who might you be mage?” Wendi balled up her right hand, which sparked with electricity.

Upon hearing the voice, the White Mage lets go of the barrier and began casting another spell.

“Curaga III!”

A large ball of purple light appeared from above and showered the group with a cascade of healing light, not only healing their wounds but waking them up from their slumber as well! Wendi grits her teeth in anger and began casting another spell.

The White Mage smiled at Wendi and whistled. Wendi’s casting immediately stops when a sharp, jagged dagger pierced through her chest. Blood spewed from her mouth and Wendi fell to her knees, staring at her wound. She slowly turned her head around at the attacker and found a Elvaan smiling at him.

“Yo…You…”

“I think it’s time you’ve left…this many against one sure doesn’t seem fair to me.” The Elvaan’s smile faded. With a pull of his dagger, the sharp blade exited Wendi’ chest, tearing off pieces of flesh and blood in its wake causing Wendi to scream in pain.

Scanning the group slowly approaching him, with bloodlust in their eyes, Wendi nodded and slowly got on one knee. “This…this isn’t over yet, I WILL kill you all. Escape!”

A red portal surrounded the wounded Mage and hovered high into the sky before flashing out of Rolanberry Fields. Everyone sheathed their weapons and sighed; Except for the two new comers.

“Avie! Tink! It’s so good to see you two again!” Mozyr immediately ran up to an exhausted Tink and gave her a bone-crushing hug. Tink gagged and gasped for air but to no avail and soon turned blue.

Sepharix wipes the blood off his dagger before placing it back in its sheath. “It’s been awhile Avie.” He examined Avie from top to bottom before letting out a hearty laugh. “And it seems you’ve gotten stronger also!”

Avie nodded at Sepharix, a master thief now equipped from head to toe with the fabled Dragon harness set. “Thanks Sepharix, You too have gotten stronger.”

Cesario stepped up and welcomed the two old friends of Avie and Tink. “Thank you for your help before.” He then gave them both a bow showing his gratitude.

A little bit away from the crowd, Mark scoffed and whispered to Leie. “Tch, I could’ve broken that chick’s skull if I wasn’t asleep…”

His words fell on deaf ears. Leie was too busy staring at Sepharix’s armor and weapons to even notice Mark.

Shippuu and Kaolla went and gave both of them a handshake and introducing themselves.

“I am Shippuu, honorary member of the Dragoon family. This is my fiancé Kaolla, a Ranger! We are honored by your presence.” Shippuu bowed down to the two while Kaolla gave them a friendly wave.

Shadowolf spoke out to Menzo. “They seem like pretty good candidates for our cause don’t you think Menzo?” But when he looked at Menzo, he wasn’t there. Menzo had ditched Shadowolf and was now shaking hands with Mozyr.

“I’m Menzo, a Paladin. Did I mention that you have lovely eyes? Or the fact that your face resembles that of the goddess Altana? Perhaps I’ve said that your kindness rivals that of angels or…” Menzo got no further in trying to woo Mozyr when Tink’s silence spell took effect and all that came out of Menzo’s mouth was air.

After all the chit-chat and introductions were made, the group sat down under the shade of a nearby tree and listened to Shadowolf’s story…once again.

“What?! The Archduke’s really planning that?!” Mozyr sat up in shock, refusing to believe it. “But I thought he was a good guy…”

“To be honest…” Mark took another bite out of the rolanberry he picked up on the floor before continuing. “The guy creeps me out.”

“But…but…but…he was the hero of the crystal war!” Mozyr pointed out.

Sepharix nodded in agreement. “Yes…but such a story could not be a lie. What if the Archduke’s really planning on a genocide?”

“Then it’s our job to stop him!” Kaolla answered with her hand high in the air.

“I believe Shadowolf knows of a plan to hinder the approach of annihilation.” Shippuu recalled the fact about the monuments.

“That’s right, the seven monuments right?” Avie confirmed.

Menzo added. “The monuments of the seven elements right? They’re probably spread all around Vana’diel where that element power is strongest.”

“Now that you mention it…I do seem to recall seeing a monument of that description in Ifrit’s Cauldron. Could that be where the fire monument is?” Sepharix asked.

“It’s worth a check. But going as this big of a group might only slow us down. We should divide up the group and hunt for different monuments.” Avie proposed the plan of attack for the group while the others sat in silence and thought about it.

“How do we pick who is going where?” Tink finally said, after recovering from Mozyr’s bear hug.

The 11 people stared at each other for awhile. Finally, Sepharix spoke up.

“I’ll go to Ifrit’s Cauldron. I’ve seen that monument before and should know the way.”

Immediately after Sepharix’s statement, Leie shot up and yelled out. “I’ll go with you!”

Her outburst drew everyone’s attention to her. “Uh…I’ve always wanted to visit the Cauldrrron, it’s the only place I haven’t been to yet.” Leie quickly made something up to save herself from embarrassment from her true objective. Mark however, was too smart for that.

“If Leie’s going, then so am I.” Mark stood up next to Leie and patted her on the shoulders. “Someone’s gotta make sure they get there safely.”

“Since Mozyr and I are White Mages, I’ll go with you too and Mozyr can go with the other group.” Tink nodded to Mark.

Hearing Tink’s decision, Shadowolf quickly spoke up. “Guess you’ll need a Red Mage there too huh?”

“I’ll go to Ifrit’s Cauldron also. Powerful monsters lurk there and you would need all the help you can get.” Cesario volunteered and walked towards Sepharix's group.

“So, it’s six on Sephie’s and five on mine huh? Guess my group’s gonna be Mozyr, Shippuu, Kaolla, Menzo and I.” Avie looked at each of them when he spoke their names.

“If you guys are going to Ifrit’s Cauldron, then where will we go?” Kaolla asked, unsure of their destination.

Mozyr giggled a bit before answering. “I know of a monument in the Sanctuary of Zi’Tah. I can teleport us to Tahrongi Canyon and we’ll rent a Chocobo and ride there. It shouldn’t take more then 2 days at most.”

“So it’s settled then?” Shadowolf made sure there were no last minute questions before turning to his group. “Ok then! Tink, please teleport us to Yhoator Jungle.”

“I’m on it!” Tink closed her eyes and began chanting the spell.

“If anything goes wrong or you’ve completed the mission, meet back at the Mog House in Lower Jeuno, room 1337.” Cesario reminded everyone before vanishing into thin air.

After watching them leave, Menzo looked at Mozyr and smiled. “All right Mozy, let’s get this party started!”

Everyone except Menzo sighed. Mozyr then casted a teleport spell while everyone gathered around her. A pillar of light surrounded them when the spell finished and the group of 5 vanished into thin air.


===Area: Lower Jeuno===

High up in the sky, Wendi looked down at the Jeuno bridge and growled. “Feeble worms…no one defeats Wendi…”

She lifted her right palm high in the air and lets out a yellow flash of light before disappearing.

The ground beneath the bridge rumbled violently causing everyone to scream and run about in a panic. After a moment, the quakes have stopped. Feeling that its safe again, the adventurers and townspeople continued on with their lives before a giant stone spike drilled through the ground and crushed the Auction house. After the initial earthen spike, more began to pierce through the ground, destroying houses and killing innocents in its wake. Finally, the bridge gave way to the assault and crumbled and fell into the sea below, taking more lives with it.

The quakes and assaults finally ended with a wall of rock spikes separating Rolanberry Fields and Lower Jeuno. The once lively bridge of Lower Jeuno now rested in the bottom of the sea, along with hundreds and thousands of lost souls…

“Just you wait…I’ll kill you…”