Just open your arms to her.

-Golbez! We… did it! – Cecil’s thoughts rang across the calm surface of the Sygnus awareness. Now that the battle was over, they were slowly drawing apart in mind once more. We did, didn’t we? There was little joy in the fact. Ben couldn’t figure out why defeating the Dark Sygnus made him I feel that he had done something awful. Did you hear him? The way he said her name? -Yes.- Luccious had knelt down to the little girl. She had reached out to him. And the Dark Sygnus had wept. In the end… he was someone mixed up in a cruel fate. Not so different than us… -Except he gave into the Hatred that consumed him… and then the world. Golbez, don’t forget the fate of Father’s people was his doing. And Joran.- Joran…

Ben’s eyes fell on the motionless shape near the damp pool of blood. A pang of deep emotion gripped his spirit. The battle had given him time and distance from the reality. But now it was all coming back to him.

A shadow fell across the dark crimson glass. Ben looked up, remembering that they were not alone. Their companions were there, waiting. But they were acting strange — no one dared to look at them. No one dared to move. Their breathing was shallow as if they did not wish to be heard at all. It was too hard to bear.

“Cecil…?” Rosa finally gathered herself together, the first to break the silence. Her expression was tormented with longing, tracks from her tears clear upon her cheeks. Her eyes were rimmed red with the worry and shock of a woman who had thought she had just seen her husband die.

Ben could feel the twisting fear rush through his brother.

Just open your arms to her.

Uncertain, Cecil did, “Rosa. I…”

That was all she needed to hear — she was wrapped in his arms instantly. He stroked the hair out of her eyes, the dark-tipped wings curling around her protectively.

“Wings,” she whispered, peering up at him with hazy eyes, “Your wings are really pretty…”

The others were slowly approaching, a wariness about them.

“Cecil? Is that you?” Kain gave a skeptical look. His face was bandaged along one side, the cloth stained red.

“And Golbez?” Rydia stared up, echoing the Dragoon’s tone.

“What’s is that thing?” Edge crept forward, warily gripping his swords.

“Edge,” Rydia caught his arm. “It’s all right. I think it’s… Sygnus.”

“Sygnus?” he choked. Then a strange sadness crossed his features. “Who?”

“What?”

“Who? Sygnus who? Cecil or Golbez?” the Ninja repeated. He swallowed, then drew his tongue over his lips. “Who… died?”

“No one did,” Sygnus replied slowly.

“But, then how?” Edge stared, baffled.

“Somehow their spirits have merged together,” Rosa’s blue eyes bore deep concern.

Edge took a breath. He looked at Sygnus. Then he frowned. “That’s seriously screwed up!”

“Edge… hush!” Rydia punched him in the arm lightly.

Their chatter rose around Ben, but his own mind was far away. Something still felt undone. As if there was something left to do… only, he couldn’t grasp what it was.

-Do you feel that too?- Cecil asked.

Yes. I wonder what it means.

-I wish I knew. I wish I knew what happens to us now.-

I don’t know. Sygnus came so fast. And now that the battle is over, what do we do?

As if response to the thoughts, a warm gentle light bathed down upon Sygnus, reaching to him from somewhere vast and unknown. Within the light there was an awareness, so far beyond any that he had ever felt. He trembled slightly, but for the sake of the others, fought to remain outwardly calm.

A voice came to him. Only it was not a voice. It was more like birdsong.

~Sygnus…~

He could see her shape within the stream of light, outlined faintly. Her face and body were featureless, but he got the impression of long hair draping in luminous waves around her face. She looked up him and smiled. A sad smile of recognition.

Sparrow’s broken voice echoed through the hall for the first time, “Zeni…”

Zeni? She’s one of the Trine!

~Suzume,~ the light spoke. ~ Your time of rest will come soon.~

“Yes, I know. I’m ready,” the girl lifted her head, fighting back tears. “Lucci’s gone… there’s nothing left here for me anymore.”

~Please don’t cry. Everything will be alright,~ Zeni told her, touching the winged girl gently on the head. The two stood there for a long while before the light turned her attention back towards the Sygnus.

Not knowing what else to do before a member of the Trine, he slowly knelt.

~Please,~ she coaxed gently. ~You don’t need to do that. You were the one that avenged our brother.~

He looked up slowly.

~Sygnus. My time here is short. But my sister and I… we wished to offer you a gift in return for all you have done.~

“Gift?”

~Yes. We wish to offer you a place with us. At our side. To fill the void in the Trine… where your ancestor once stood.~

Rosa uttered a broken sound.

“To go with you?” He began to shake, mouth growing dust-dry.

What do we say?

-I… don’t know.-

How do we turn down the offer from one of the Trine?

-Turn her down?- Cecil’s tone was incredulous. -What are you talking about?-

Ben felt cold in the pit of his stomach. W-we are going to decline, right?

-Decline? But…  This… this… must be our destiny! This is where everything has been leading us all along!-

What about the others? What about Baron? For Shiva’s sake — what about Rosa?

There was a deep conflict. And something that just didn’t feel right.

-If we were given this power to protect the world… it’s our DUTY.-

But, Rosa loves you!

-And I love her too. I love her so much I would protect her. I would protect everyone!-

Cecil… I can’t believe you’re saying this!

-Don’t you feel it? Don’t you hear it? It’s destiny, Golbez. This is what we were born for! How can you deny fate?-

Ben could not find words to answer. Cecil’s statement sounded so similar to what Luccious had said. Scarily similar. Yet, what else could he do but to let Cecil have his way?

“Kain,” Sygnus began slowly, “I want you to take good care of Rosa.”

“Cecil! No…  no.. no! Please… please… no!” a look of horror marred the white mage’s soft features. She reached for him, clutching his cloak and running her hands over his armored shoulders.

“Rosa. This… is something I have to do,” he tried to explain. Failing.

She shook her head mutely, tears stinging her eyes.

Kain’s face was a mask of confusion and torment. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words.

~Sygnus~ Zeni urged. ~We do not have much time.~

Sygnus nodded. Then he took a step toward the light, turning his back to them. To the world he had known.

Suddenly, there was a piercing cry from behind, “Cecil! No! Please don’t leave me alone!”

Ben drew in a hissing breath between his teeth. The words. They had been his own words to Joran. Images shattered behind his vision…. the girl slumped in a pool of blood. Onyx run through her. The gentle smile as she stared into the face of death. Her body dropping limp into his arms. And his own cry– Please don’t leave me alone..!

NO! I can’t… I can’t let this happen! I…

Before he could make sense of things, the light consumed Sygnus. It was a warm, pulsing current that rose through his very soul. His green eyes cast skyward to the waiting presence. There he found a deep, lulling peace waiting. True balance. Real being.

Zeni’s voice washed over them, ~Is that your decision, Sygnus?~

“Yes.”

At the sound of the word, a burning pain shot through his body. Tremendous pain. Ben could feel the cry bubbling within his chest. He could hear another voice — Cecil’s voice, far away. It, too, was wailing.

A cold, heavy feeling churned within his stomach. Then the sickening feeling of falling — falling fast and leaving everything behind. The voice was speaking to them again, though it was harder to hear, further away.

~Then that is your choice. For you both must be willing for this to happen. I respect your decision, Sygnus. Nothing is harder than to choose your own destiny.~

The floor rose to greet him as the warmth of the light slowly faded from above. The stone was cold against his palms. He found himself in the Core of the Red Moon. When he glanced over, he could see the form of his brother slumped at his side.

Cecil lifted his head quizzically. Then he looked at Ben with a pained and uncertain expression. “Wha… we’re… you’re…! What happened?”

Ben’s face hardened as he answered, “It’s like I told Luccious — I don’t believe in fate. I never have and I never will.”

Cecil’s eyes softened in surprise.

Ben offered a crooked grin, “Listen to your big brother. He knows what he’s talking about.”

“Sometimes…” Kain was leaning over them with a quizzical look.

“Kain!?”

“Golbez. Cecil. I never thought I’d say it but… it’s good to see you in two pieces,” the Dragoon teased with a straight face.

“Very funny,” the Paladin frowned back.

“You are… sticking around, right?” Kain arched an eyebrow.

Cecil looked down at his hands and nodded. “Yeah. I… don’t know what came over me. It was all so weird. And I really felt compelled to…”

“Hey. Don’t gush at me,” the blonde-haired man thumbed back over his shoulder. “You better scoot over there to Rosa and do some patching up… or you’re going to be sleeping on the couch for a LOOONG time.”

Cecil’s green eyes widened.

“Is that bad?” Ben asked

“Oooh yeah.”

“Rosa! I didn’t mean it!” Cecil was making his way across to his wife, hands spread. His face was flushed, stammering as he tried to explain the unexplainable.  But was not allowed to utter another sound.

“Don’t say a thing,” Rosa’s finger dropped over his lips.

“But…”

“We’ll discuss it later,” she hushed him again. Her deep blue eyes studied him for a long moment, drinking in his image as if she had been afraid she would never see him again.

Still, yet, Cecil protested, “Just let me–”

So, she kissed him. He had no choice but to fall silent and kiss her back.

“The hero gets a kiss,” Rydia sighed with a giddy look. “That means it all must really be over.”

“Yeah,” Edge pulled some of the loose bandages tighter around his upper arm, “Let’s go home. I’m starved!”

“Home…” Ben paused, lost in thought.

Home. Where is home?

Thoughts of returning to the Lunar Homeworld made him shiver. The painful memories of Incrytan. Knowing that Joran would never again come to visit his little room in the depths of the library.

“Home…” he repeated, somberly.

Rosa looked over at him and offered a reassuring smile, “Home. To Baron.”

Sudden emotion welled within his chest.

“Will you?” Cecil asked, adding to his surprise. “Will you come home with us… and stay?”

“I…” Ben turned, mouth wide open. “I’d be honored to… if you will have me?”

“Always, Brother. Always.”

“You may think you are a Sygnus… but you are still just two separate parts. You are weak in your divided minds.”

Kain’s feet slipped, fighting to hold his ground as Luccious bore down on him relentlessly. Then with a back-handed slash of the long sword, the weapons disengaged. Kain was thrown back. A shower of blood followed as the dark blade skimmed along the Dragoon’s cheek, slitting it wide open.

Edge gave a throaty war cry, lunging past the Dragoon. In a twisting blur of steel, he cycloned down the full length of the Dark Sygnus’ thin blade. Luccious matched the Ninja’s speed blow for blow, the sharp silver eyes seeming to always know where his opponent was going to strike next.

Rydia helped Kain get to his feet while Rosa pressed wrappings and white magic against the long gash along his cheek. The Dragoon protested, eyes flicking back to the fight.

“I’m alright! Let me go!”

“Kain! Hold still! Please?” Rydia protested right back, gripping his arm.

Rosa’s voice was concerned as she pulled her hand back, “The wound is not responding to my healing.”

“What?” the Caller’s face grew troubled. Then she turned with a frightened gazed, watching the Ninja’s frenzied attack against the Dark Sygnus. “Edge!! Edge, please… pull back!”

The Ninja dodged under the sweep of Luccious’ next strike. His grey eyes flicked back at the pleading girl, then with a hiss he disengaged, flipping back out of the fight. But the Dark Sygnus wouldn’t let it happen. He followed Edge’s retreat with fierce bladestrokes that left sparks along the moon-stone floor.

“Shit!” Edge snarled, bounding and dodging blow after blow.

A flash of energy crackled through the air as a fiery nova opened up, right in front of Luccious. Rydia’s face shown in determination and concentration, her hands wide open, the flare expanding to envelope the tall winged man’s form.

Though it didn’t stop the Dark Sygnus’ approach, it slowed him enough for Edge to make a clean break away. And drew Luccious’ attention on the young Caller girl.

Cecil’s thoughts grew frantic. -That’s enough! We can’t let this keep going! He’s going to hurt someone!-

His hand tightened around the grip of the strange Sygnus blade. Though Ben had never used the sword before, somehow it felt right. As if it had been made for just this purpose. Yet, doubt welled in him. Despite the fact that he carried Onyx, Ben had never been very good in handling a weapon. Especially a sword.

But…

As his doubts took control, his grip on the blade weakened.

- We have Sygnus! We’ve got to stop this!-

I don’t know how to…

A strength born of a fighter’s determination flooded his senses, overriding his doubt.

-But I do! Let me fight!-

It might have been the one of the hardest things Ben ever had to do. To take a mental step back. To release all control. To completely and absolutely trust another — even if that other was is brother, Cecil.

Then Sygnus was in motion. Dark-tipped wings spread wide as the blade lifted, glinting in the final sparks of Rydia’s flare. He sped forward like it weighed nothing … not the sword or the armor the wings or even himself. His motion was pure and measured, an ancient strength rousing and flowing through him.

As Sygnus advanced, the silver mists parted, burned away by the soft light of the dual-toned blade.  Luccious turned to meet the stroke with a curled-lip scowl. Multi-colored sparks sprayed as the swords met, deflected and struck again. This time, when Luccious slammed his strength forward, Sygnus met the force with equal strength.

Irritation marred the silver-haired man’s smooth features. His lips drew back in a soundless snarl. He pressed forward again. And again, the Sygnus met with equal skill.

“You cannot hope to win,” Luccious hissed as their blades folded along the flat. “You may think you are a Sygnus… but you are still just two separate parts. You are weak in your divided minds.”

Cecil! Watch out!

Ben felt the pull of power only moments before the silver-haired man lifted one hand. In a split instant, Luccious drew in the silver mists and released them in a freezing blast of spectral energy. A howling wind of death and torment swept over Sygnus, driving him back under waves of fury and pain. Instinctively, he threw up his black-tipped wings, shielding himself.

That’s when Ben heard the sound. A soft, familiar voice carried upon the spirit wind. Sygnus’ eyes opened, glowing deep electric green, as he searched the silver torrent that whipped around him.

-Golbez! What are you doing?- Cecil’s battle concentration was broken.

I heard her! I heard Joran! She’s here somewhere, Cecil!

-That’s impossible! She’s—

Sygnus’ eyes narrowed. Realization.

She’s part of Luccious’ Mists!

The blade lifted again, this time, by Ben’s will.

-What? What are you talking about?-

Sygnus pushed forward, striving against the silver mist. He began to see it … the spectral forms that were contained within the wind. The spirits that Luccious commanded, spirits who had been drawn and absorbed into the Dark Sygnus’ power.

It was beginning to make sense now.

Luccious didn’t need Incrytan to release him. He needed spirit energy!

-I don’t understand! What are you talking about?-

The stories say that the Dark Sygnus gained power through death. He fed off the souls of those who died around him. So when Joran died… he…

There was a moment of chilled silence and understanding behind Sygnus’ glittering eyes.

I’ve got to free Joran.

-Golbez! We have to fight Luccious!-

His hand tightened on the grip of the blade once again.

No! You don’t understand. I can’t leave her trapped like this… not after she sacrificed herself for me!

-I know she did but…-

Internal conflict. Sygnus began to slip back, losing his grip against the howling winds.

Luccious still may not be as stable as he wants us to think. If we can release her, and his energies are hinged around her… we may have a way of weakening him. If only for a short time.

One step forward. Wavering trust.

Please Cecil. I think I understand now.

The Paladin’s thoughts were silent.

We have to do this together. I trust you in tactics and battle. You have to trust me with theory and magic.

It was slow, but the reply came. …Alright, Golbez. I trust you. Let’s do what we have to do.-

As the thought rippled between them, something happened. Cecil’s thoughts. Voice. Presence. His very essence faded. Blending. Fusing into Ben’s own. Boundaries between them melted away.

Trust.

Focus.

Balance.

There was a sudden rush of strength and clarity. Knowledge and insight. Flows of soft light and shadow began to expand, condensing around the silver winds. Containing them. Drawing them away from Luccious.

Somewhere within, he could feel her. Joran. And he knew she was reaching for him.

Feathers glittering dark and light, the Sygnus spread his wings. Thrusting one hand into the silver mists, he reached for her, too.

He knew there wasn’t much time. Luccious would be quick in figuring out what he was trying to do. But that’s when he realized that the winds had begun to subside. And not all of it was due to Sygnus’ will.

“Luuuuucci!”

The sound of Sparrow’s voice was distorted and distant through the flow of spiritlight. But it was there. The dark-winged girl was still trying. Still reaching, as well.

And despite the chaos that raged around the silver haired man, Sygnus could feel the connection between them. Something very deep and very old. Something that seemed to be pulling on the Dark Sygnus’ focus, causing him to falter.

Within the eye of the storm, Sygnus reached with a longing. Bit by bit he began to piece together the essence of Joran and pull her from the swirling mists. To release her. Free her.

Luccious’s silver eyes locked upon him. Realizing. Knowing what his enemy was attempting to do. With a feral screech of madness, he broke away from Sparrow’s voice, charging at the Sygnus with his blade point leveled.

“Cecil!!” shouts rang across the room in alarm.

But the Sygnus did not move. Did not look up. Did not flinch. His concentration was bent fully on the presence of the soul that he sought to free … if he could not save her in life, he would not allow her to be lost to the void of darkness beyond.

Sygnus hardly felt it as the long, slender blade burst through his wing. His feathers scattered, charring away where the silver light flamed.

But the Dark Sygnus was stumbling. Dissolving in madness and pulled apart by the call of the young girl’s longing. Luccious’ strike was disoriented. The swordstorke that had meant to skewer merely burned through the dark-tipped wing and grazed his enemy’s side.

Blood spattered across the stone floor, yet Sygnus remained unmoved. One hand was stretched up towards the streams of silver that met and mingled within shadow and illumination.

Luccious’ body lurched, smoking as the mist was ripped from his form. Then the Dark Sygnus gave a tormented cry, stumbling back. Writhing. His grip on the blade lost. Silver feathers rained down, vanishing as they touched the ground.

A sound like distant harmonies resounded within the chamber as the silver light became whole. Its color changed, a spirit becoming vibrant and aware. Breaking free from the Mists.

“Joran…” her name was seeped in sorrow. Sygnus’ hand was still outstretched.

She hovered for a moment, just out of reach of his fingertips. As if offering a last encouragement. A last good bye. Then in a brilliant shaft of light, the spirit shot upwards, streaming away, leaving only the distant sound of melody within his mind.

The silence was broken by the sound of heavy breathing and the scrape of metal along the floor. Luccious was struggling to get to his feet, his hand wrapped around the bloody hilt of his blade. His expression seethed in suffering. The Mists churned around him in absolute discord, swinging out of the Dark Sygnus’ control with the loss of focus.

Silver feathers shook free with each jerky motion he made. His wings had a washed-out almost transparent quality about them. Any power that Luccious had won from Joran’s death had been stripped with her soul’s freedom.

Sygnus’ fingers tightened around the grip of his blade, the sword tip rising.

This creature that stood before him was the Dark Sygnus. The son of Zeromus. The Bane of the Old World and Slayer of the winged people of the Dreigiau. It was because of him that battles had been fought for Incrytan on the Blue Planet. It was because of him that Joran had been brought to the Red Moon to die.

Yet, there was hesitation.

Luccious’ voice was somber, “Why do you wait?”

Sygnus’ green eyes deepened, focusing on his enemy’s face. Something beyond the Mists spoke of a person that the Dark Sygnus had once been. The one that Sparrow called out to in desperate longing. A child’s tears for something dear that had been lost.

“Come…” as Luccious gathered his strength, there was something different within his expression. A sobering of the madness, if just for a rare moment. “Come, Sygnus.”

The words were soft and inviting. Suffering. Asking for the end of it all.

“Why?” Sygnus asked, not sure what part of this he was questioning.

“Please…” Luccious answered hoarsely. He spread his arms with slow deliberation, wings unfolding from behind. Bearing his chest to the blade. His voice was hardly a whisper, “I did not want to become the Bane.”

In that moment of clarity, there was so much torment behind the silver eyes. So much that had been lost and distorted by the Chaotic energies. There was almost nothing left. Almost.

Nothing except for one final wish.

Numbness crept into the Sygnus’ mind, blotting away emotion. His wings unfolded. The blade lifted. Green eyes met silver. Sygnus lunged forward.

The Mists followed the motion of the sword as it plunged into the Dark Sygnus’ chest. An implosion. The spirit winds began to fold inward, gathering around the winged forms. Death drawn to the commander of the dead.

Luccious gave a choking gasp. His own dark blade clattered to the floor as he stared dully at the shaft of metal sticking from his chest. Then a pale-lipped smile bent his lips, voice rasping, “Thank you…”

Sygnus took a silent step back, pulling his blade free.

With a broken shout, a tiny dark form rushed past him. Sparrow’s arms reached up for the silver haired man. In response, he dropped to his knees before her. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as she sobbed into his shoulder. “Lucci! No!”

“Shh…. Shh…” he comforted quietly with a voice that had once been his own. The edge of his form was flaking away, dissolving into the streams of silver light that had begun to churn and froth around him. His fingertips were breaking into particles of light where he stroked the girl’s tears.

“Please! Please don’t go!” she begged. But already, she was having difficulty holding on to him.

His form was pulled into the Mists. Faster and faster. Floating off like dandelion feathers in the wind.

“Be good… Suzume,” Luccious’ voice faded into the sway of the spirit light, his features losing solidity.

Sparrow’s mouth was open in a soundless cry. She fell forward on her palms as the last silver shimmers streamed out of her arms. Then the Mists vanished, leaving nothing but her broken sobs.

There was no sound. No color. No vision. No light or dark. No warm or cold. Just an ever expanding awareness within himself.

He couldn’t feel his body anymore. The pain had been there, sharp and jagged. But now it was gone. Everything was simply gone. He didn’t know where he was, where he was going… or if he was actually travelling at all.

Everything was fuzzy. A part of him wanted just to fall into a deep sleep.

Is this what it’s like to die?

If this was what it was like… drifting into a slumber… maybe it wasn’t… so… bad…

-Golbez?-

The mind-voice drew his attention, caused him to snap awake again.

-Is that you? Where are you? I can’t see anything!-

He knew that voice.

Cecil?

-Golbez? What happened..?-

Wait. Cecil… why are you here?

A moment of pause.

-I was struck by the sword, too, I think. Does this mean that we’re both…-

I thought I intercepted it?

-You did but…-

Cecil, you were supposed to stay there! Be the hero! Become the Sygnus and—

-Golbez! I don’t know how to become the Sygnus! You’re the one with the massive magic power. You should be the one to…-

But you’re the Paladin! You know how to save the world. I was just the Dark Lord.

-That’s not true!-

Silence again. Ben couldn’t help but be surprised at the strength of his brother’s retort.

It’s not?

-No… it’s not. Not anymore.-

Cecil…

-And if we’re both here, wherever it is, who is out there? Who is fighting against Luccious?-

I don’t know.

-We can’t just leave everyone there alone to face the Dark Sygnus! We have to do something!-

Like what?

-You’re the Master Wizard. You make rifts and stuff. Isn’t there a way to get back to the Moon.-

Get back to the Moon..? Well, normally, rifting is a very delicate kind of magic that requires concentration and knowledge of both points of travel. You don’t just say “Let’s go back to the Moon” and expect something to happ–

Suddenly Ben felt a heavy, downward pull. Cecil must have felt it, too, because he had no response to the lectures on rifting.

The sensation was dizzying, like he was falling into a great nothingness. A brilliant white light filled his vision. At first, he shied away from it… only to find a swirling dance of shadow rising up to meet the illumination. Awestruck, Ben watched the two massive energies swirl, blend… and merge together into one.

Then with a staggering breath, he found himself back.

Back in the core of the Red Moon. Back to where he had just fallen to Luccious’ blade. Ben braced himself for the rush of sharp pain as consciousness gripped him. But to his surprise, pain didn’t come. As feeling spread back through his limbs, he found, instead, he felt astonishingly good. Maybe better than he had ever felt before.

As if the life he had been living before was a muted dream and he had just Awakened.

A strange tickling energy tingled through his body, nothing at all like the magic that he was used to commanding. His thoughts were calm and clear as he lifted his head and pushed himself up to his feet. He found the grip of a sword in his hand and lifted it slowly – it nearly felt weightless.

Best of all, Luccious stood watching him, the Dark Sygnus’ face twisted with a strangled expression of irritation. “It… is not possible…”

“You thought I would die so easily?” he answered. Then pulled up short.

The voice wasn’t his own. Even though he commanded it. Told it the words to say. It sounded nothing like what he was used to hearing when he opened his mouth.

Somewhere within his mind he felt another exclamation. That’s when Ben realized that somehow, he could still hear and feel Cecil. Only, he didn’t see Cecil anywhere.

Brother? Where are you?

-Golbez? I’m right here. Where are you?-

I’m right here, too. You can’t see me?

-No… and…-

The sword lifted slowly in his hand, his eyes drawn down to study it. For the first time, he saw that it wasn’t Onyx… but rather some strange long blade of interwoven light and dark metal.

-Where did I get this sword?- Cecil puzzled.

You? I’m holding the sword.

-No you’re not! I am!-

And to accent the point, the blade waved back and forth a little. That’s when Ben realized that not all of his body’s motion was his own. And the way that he held the blade in his hand was far, far more skilled and relaxed than his own meager training would allow.

Cecil…

Ben’s thoughts came, broken and choked as things started to fit together.

He turned his head slowly, eyes searching first the stunned faces of his companions, then over at the sheen of the reflective Crystal wall. Taking a slow step forward, he squinted, watching as the unfamiliar face that reflected a squinted in return.

Deep, gentle green eyes peered back. A shock of white hair, short where it framed the face, but longer in the back, pulled into a wrap. Ornate white, gold and green armor spread over his torso and arms, matching the woven dark and light blade in his hand. And from his back, a pair of large feathered wings stretched – white at first, then slowly darkening to black at the tips.

A balance of the shadow he was and the light that his brother bore.

-We…- Cecil struggled.

“We’re Sygnus…” he heard the voice say quietly.

But there was no more time to stand and puzzle.

“Watch out!”  Kain’s shout shattered the air.

The sound of rushing footsteps. Then the clash of weapons as the Dragoon’s spear lashed out, catching the silent strike of the Dark Sygnus’ sword that had been meant for the Sygnus. Kain’s teeth bared, lines of strain standing out on his face and neck. All of his strength focused on holding back the enemy.

“Kain! Be careful!” Edge gave a warning shout, also leaping forward, both blades drawn.

The battle against Luccious had begun.

“I… love you…” she told him.

Incrytan shown in fierce multicolored light and shadow, cupped between Joran’s two palms. Her face was lit with the energies. Her eyes were glazed with exhaustion. Long streaks of blood trailed from a multitude of tiny slashes over her body. Her posture spoke of weakness, as if she was being held up by some outside force alone. Ben felt a sharp pang in his chest at the sight of the Lunar girl. So much she had suffered. So much she had feared. All for the sake of trying to save him from himself. She had told him that she loved him. And maybe somewhere inside of doubts and confusion, he cared for her too. Regret filled him with the realization that he really didn’t know how to return her feelings. Maybe one day he would… but not just yet. He found himself walking towards her, despite the protests of his companions. I’ll make this up to you, Joran. I promise.

As if hearing the fringe of his thoughts, the girl’s face twisted in an otherworldly smile. Her face moved mechanically, controlled by something that was not herself. Her voice was dull and distant, “Do you really believe you are going to save her?”

Ben’s brows lowered, his hand wrapping around the grip of his sword.

“Don’t you know that it is the fate of the people of the Dreigiau to be consumed by the Bane. They could not stop it… they merely delayed it.”

“I don’t know what all of that means… but I don’t believe in that kind of fate,” the Half Lunar glowered.

“There was a time that I wanted to think like you. But reality is cold. Truth is rarely the thing we want to believe.”

“We choose what we become with our actions and our thoughts,” Ben took another step forward. He had drawn his blade, eyes searching the shadows of the Moon’s core for any sign of the force that controlled the Lunar girl. But there was nothing.

“Is that so? What do you expect to do even if you were to defeat me, Sygnus-Half?” her lips curved up. “Don’t you realize that in time, you would only come to take my place? The Arweinydd of the Time Before called us the Darkstar for a reason.”

“I don’t believe you,” his face grew hard, forcing himself to stand against the cold words.

“Then what do you believe? In idealistic hopes and dreams?” the voice paused then shifted in tone. “I can see it in you. You are a lot like me. You long to be accepted by the world that condemns you for things that were out of your control. I have been in your shoes before and I will tell you that there is no such thing as a happy ending.”

A shiver rippled over his body as the silver words rang in his ears. Would there ever be an acceptance for the once Dark Lord? Was it just his wishful thinking that made him believe that they saw something beyond Zeromus’ pawn?

And even if he was to walk out of here alive, what would he do then? Where would his future be? In the human world… or with the Lunarians?

A low quiet laugh rose from Joran’s throat. Then, very deliberately, she turned and began to walk towards an opening between two tall pillars of moonstone. Incrytan was the only light within the dead core.

“Golbez,” a quiet voice came from behind. The voice of his brother. “Don’t listen… none of it is true.”

Caught up in his internal struggle, Ben had almost forgotten that the others were still behind him. They seemed at a loss as to how to proceed, knowing that the Lunar girl was someone that he wanted to protect. The humans somehow understood that… and had respected his attempts to sway her back.

“That’s right,” Edge added quickly. “He’s shoveling you a load of crap. He’s trying to tear you down.”

“Don’t forget where we’ve been and why we’ve come here,” Kain murmured in a low voice. “There’s too much at stake to cop out now.”

“I’m not copping out,” Ben closed his fist in a tight ball at one side, mustering determination. Grateful for the unexpected support, no matter how tactless some of it was.

They’re right.

Ben forced himself forward, moving quickly after the Lunarian girl. He could hear his companions following behind. His mind began to flit from thought to thought, trying desperately to grasp what needed to be done.

There’s not much time.

He knew he couldn’t sway Joran back to their side. Luccious had too much control over her.

Why did he bring Joran here?

He knew that somewhere within the core of the moon, the Dark Sygnus was sealed.

Luccious has destroyed all of the Crystals. Wasn’t that all he needed to break free?

Yet, the Dark Sygnus had still not appeared.

There must be something more.

The girl strode forward, Incrytan in her outstretched palms.

He’s been gathering the Crystals’ energies inside Incrytan. A wavering spiral of silvery-blue began to form in the heart of the Crystal.

Maybe with the last seals broken, he can use the combined energies within Incrytan to…

His green eyes narrowed, reflecting the Crystal light. He suddenly realized.

I can’t let her reach Luccious with Incrytan!

If that was the final thing that the Dark Sygnus needed to be released into the world, then Ben had to make sure that something like that could never happen. He found his hands tightening on the grip of Onyx, blade drawn and reflecting in a cold green light.

What had begun as a dream to revive his lost family had turned into a nightmare for the Blue Planet. Despite what it would do to him – even if it meant his own death – he knew that it had to be stopped.

I am Incrytan’s maker.

And through his connection to the stone, Ben bore the power to destroy it. To conduct the remaining stolen energy from his father’s Crystals… and repower the seals that had been placed upon the Dark Sygnus. To destroy Luccious’ chances of freedom. Though there was very little chance that Ben would survive, either.

This world is better off with a Paladin Sygnus… than the Dark Sygnus I would become.

As Ben lifted the length of his blade, somewhere behind him, he heard the shouts of his companions. Maybe they knew what he was going to do. Maybe they didn’t.  The most important thing was to get a clean strike… to take out the Crystal and make sure that Joran and the rest were shielded from energy release.

Ben lunged.

He felt his breath go cold, caught in his throat.

Onyx’s flame was almost blinding as the point rose into the air.

All of his concentration was bent upon the flicker of Crystal light between Joran’s hands.

The blade blurred forward, lashing out with his full strength and will.

Then, Joran turned.

He couldn’t stop it. There was nothing he could do.

Joran turned. Purposely pulling Incrytan out of the blade’s strike.

Putting herself between the Crystal and the blade.

A fountain of crimson spray exploded across his vision. Onyx sunk into her chest, nearly up to the hilt. Warm blood, sticky, ran over his hands.

Joran’s blood.

A ragged cry broke from Ben’s lips as the girl slumped over on the end of his sword.

Her arms cradled Incrytan. Protecting it.

“NO!” he stared in disbelief, hands shaking. “NO! JORAN!”

Her green eyes lifted, squinting in pain. With the last of her strength, she pulled backwards, slipping off the blade.

“Don’t move her!” Rosa’s cry came from behind. The White Mage rushed forward, hands already grabbing for anything that could serve as bandages.

But there was so much blood.

“I… I didn’t mean… I…” Ben stammered, face horrified as he dropped next to the girl, on his knees.

“Golbez…” Joran’s voice came, a soft whisper. The voice was her own, now. The dimming light in her eyes shown the way he always remembered. She reached a pleading hand up to his face. “Forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” he echoed in shock. He caught her hand, then gently pulled her head up, cradled in his arms. “Why?”

“I know what… you were… trying to do. I couldn’t… let you destroy In…cry…tan…” when she coughed, it came up red. “You… would… die…”

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way…!” Ben’s face was hot with shameful tears. Guilt. Terrible guilt. He couldn’t pull his eyes off of her face. He couldn’t bear to look at the spreading pool of blood. “I was supposed to protect you.”

“And I… wanted to… protect you… too…”

His companions were there, around him, working as hard as they could to assist. Rosa’s hands were stained crimson as she fought to spread healing energies over the girl’s body. But they could all feel the hopelessness of the situation.

“Don’t leave…” Ben’s voice cracked as he pleaded with the girl. Pain swelled within his chest. Immeasurable sorrow.

If Joran was afraid, she did not show it. She simply offered a quiet smile and stroked his face, an attempt to comfort his grief.

He clung to her hand as if it could hold her there a little longer. If through will alone, a miracle would come. Regret… there was so much they could have done… if only he had been more aware. If only he had realized earlier how she felt.

A soft sob shook his body as Ben leaned down and touched his forehead gently to hers. Her mental response was a wave of sudden joy… as if with one quiet motion, he had made Joran happier than she had ever been.

“I… love you…” she told him.

For the first time, too late, he understood what that meant.

Before Ben could figure out how to respond, Joran shuddered in his arms. Then with a quiet, gasping sound, she fell limp.

“I will not allow you to destroy this place,” the boy responded quietly.

Luccious could see the Lunar Homeworld through Joran’s misty eyes. He could feel the warmth of the damp, balmy air against her skin. Something about the way the light shifted across the ground through the tall, deep-green fronds was familiar. Something locked in the depths of dead memory told him that he should know this place… that one time long ago, he may have felt the soft tropical breeze on his own body. During a time before all he could feel was cold mist and spirit light. But just as quickly as it came, the feeling was gone. There was no room for feeling. No room for emotion. Not where he was. Not where he would take the rest of them. The last survivors of the Dreigiau’s people. He had found them. After many long centuries of hunting, searching, battling the Trine. The Dark Sygnus would descend upon the last of the Dregiaiu’s people and fulfill his destiny as their Bane.

Perhaps then, the Hatred that boiled within him would rest. Perhaps not. Perhaps the Chaos that drove Zeromus, his claimed-father, to his downfall would finally grip him as well. Who knew what waited beyond the fringe of final fulfillment.

There was nothing… no one…  left in the living world for Luccious. The concept of Earthian love was only a faded dream of his short-lived childhood. All that he had once held dear, he had destroyed. So there was nothing left for him to do but move forward and destroy the rest.

Joran’s footsteps changed in tone. She was no longer walking along a dusty path. Instead, she was mounting the crystal-stone steps to the front of a tall, mountain-appearing fortress. Spires of glittering crystal jutted up towards the sky, seeming to have been summoned from within the stone of the planet itself. It was where Incrytan was leading them. Towards the final remaining Crystals.

As the girl walked forward, a sudden stream of young Lunarians bustled through the doors. There was the sound of sharp commands and numerous complaints as the children made their way down the stairs in a disorganized manner.

The Lunarians were evacuating the fortress.

This meant two things. That the others knew the next target would be the Crystals of the Moon. And that they had arrived before Joran had. If orders for evacuation had already been given, then it would be very likely that the Crystals would be protected. Or in the process of being moved.

Either way, the trifling must stop. Luccious was far too close to freedom for the Earthians to come and stand in his way.

“Joran?!” a voice called. A hand reached out and grasped the girl’s wrist, bringing her advance to a stop. “What are you doing here? Where have you been?”

A Lunarian boy stood there, his face lit with recognition as the green eyes stared up into her face. It seemed that the girl was known there. Not knowing what to say that would not blow her cover, Luccious caused the girl to shake her head slowly.

“You can’t go back in there,” the Lunar intoned gravely. “We’ve been given the orders to evacuate everyone.”

“I know,” Joran answered in a dull monotone. “But I have to.”

“Come with me,” he began to tug back on her arm.

It would have been nothing to have taken out Incrytan and done away with the boy right there. But it would have made it far more difficult to get into the fortress if they did. It would have certainly raised an alarm to the others, and that was not something that Luccious wanted to do. If he could take them by surprise, all the better.

“Let go of me!” Joran snapped forcefully. With a jerk of her arm, she yanked back from the surprised young Lunar.

“Joran, wait!” he called.

But there was no time to wait. Her feet were moving. Running. Making speed up the steps towards the fortress. Weaving in and out of the bobbing white heads that all flooded in the opposite direction. Soon his calls faded into the din of the evacuation. The boy did not seem to be so stubborn as to make a chase.

That was all well because Incrytan had begun to glow. Joran kept the stone wrapped away in the pouch of her belt, yet the closer they got to the rest of the Crystals, the more it had begun to react. Though most of the Lunars were far too busy making an escape, there would always be that one or two that would stick their nose where it wasn’t wanted. Instructed to ignore calls and shuffling of feet, Joran pushed her way through the tide, following the direction of the thrumming under her fingertips.

Before long, she had arrived in an area that was quiet and dark. There were little signs of other Lunarians here. The halls had grown wider and taller, arching high and bearing faint glowing designs on the face of the crystal stone. Ahead, the hall was lit with a luminous light, spilling out around the arching corner. Luccious could feel the pressure of a deep hum that seemed at once both immense and quiet at the same time. It vibrated through the girl’s body, making her steps shaky.

Incrytan was fully glowing now in response to the other Crystals. It would not be long.There came the sound of voices ahead – only two, wrapped in the soft intonation of magic. As Joran crept closer, her eyes fighting to pick out shapes within the Crystal light, it became apparent that one voice belonged to an ancient, bearded Lunar. And the second belonged to a tall, white-haired man. They were working together to draw warding energies around the Crystal room, in hopes to deflect that which they could not escape.

Joran’s eyes rested on the white haired man momentarily. Something about him caused her to pause, even at the force of the Dark Sygnus’ will against her mind. There was an emotion there, so deep and longing. Something strong enough to muster the will to struggle against him, as weak as the struggle was.

It was nothing to restrain her again. But Luccious couldn’t help pondering the intensity of her response.

He, too, knew this white haired man. It was the one that OMEGA had targeted. The one that was called Golbez. And in stopping to get a better look at him, Luccious realized the impossible.

This man was a Sygnus-Half.

But how could such a thing exist? Either one was a Sygnus or was not. There was no in between.

Yet, against his better judgment, there it was. A Sygnus-Half. One who stood divided, his power shared with someone else. But who… who could that someone else be?

Before he had a chance to observe further, a shout rang out across the hall. Other people were within the Crystal Chamber along with the two mages, but it had been hard to tell that before with the feeling of light and power flowing through the room. Now Joran had been spotted.

It was time to act.

Luccious’ will crushed the breath from her lungs as he forced the girl to rush into the chamber. She flipped open the top of the pack at her hip, pulling the brilliance of Incrytan out between cupped palms. The others reached for her, lunged to grab the girl. To capture her and hold her back. But Incrytan’s energy was fed from his own. Walls of silver mist-grown-solid sprang up around her, violently throwing anyone back if they got too close.

Their shouts of frustration and pain were rewarding. There was nothing they could do to stop the girl as she sped up to the dais that held the waiting Crystals. The warding that the two mages had been placing was incomplete. Though it took a bit more of a shove to break through the ring of protection, Joran walked over their boundaries and straight into the center of the chamber.

“Joran!” Golbez’s voice was hoarse, hands still dripping in the warding magic that he had been so desperately casting. Seeing that the spell was now worthless, he dropped his hands at his side. “Please… please don’t…”

Again, that welling feeling rose within the girl. Enough to make her pause. Enough to make Luccious have to repossess her.

“Please just give Incrytan to me. We can help you…” he reached out to her. Strangely, he seemed more worried about reclaiming the girl than his Crystal.

Taking a bit of pity due to the miserable look on the man’s face, Luccious force words into the girl’s mouth, “Joran is not here. It is not her will to carry Incrytan. It is not her will to do what must be done.”

Golbez reeled back from her voice as if he had been bitten. His green eyes were round and horrified, mouth stammering, “Who… who are you? What have you done to Joran!?”

It would seem that this Sygnus-Half was a complete idiot.

The sound of low laugher echoed in the hall, “You fight against something you do not understand. And what do you think you can accomplish? How can you hope to fight me? You are nothing but a mere Sygnus-Half.”

“Luccious…” the elder Lunar hissed between aged lips.

At least one of them seemed to know something.

“No…” Golbez almost groaned, his tone turning pleading, “Let her go! Surely whatever you need to do doesn’t require an innocent girl!”

“The time for talk is over,” came the reply. Then the girl’s hands lifted, Incrytan shivering between them.

“No! Joran!” he implored yet again.

Futile.

Already the Moon Crystals had begun to respond to the light of Incrytan. The sound was tremendous – the pleading keens of the living stones as their magics began to boil and break down from the inside out. Cracks split the surface of the Crystals, one at a time. And Luccious could feel it. The bonds on his power, on his awareness, slowly… slowly… coming free.

“Joran!!!” Golbez cried through the growing maelstrom of energy.

“No, boy!” the old Lunar grabbed the Sygnus-Half by the arm. “It is lost. We cannot stop what has begun. We must get out of here before we are consumed!”

“But Uncle! The castle… the Lunars..!”

“No time! Save what can be saved!” he began rushing through the chamber, pulling the bigger man along with a strength his old body wouldn’t have appeared to possess on first sight.

“JORAN!!” Golbez’s last call came as the two rushed down the other side of the dais, running for the door.

Slowly the stones had begun to dissolve, fragments rising into the air, energies drawn to the pulse of Incrytan. Frantic shouts rang from outside the spiraling ring of energy.

“Golbez! FuSoYa! What’s going on!?”

“I can’t see anything!”

“Chase? Are you alright!?”

“Cecil, we’ve got to get out of here… fast!”

“Rydia!? Where did you go?!”

“I’m right here! You can let go now?”

“We’re screwed! If this whole place is going to come down on us anyway, we should stay and fight!”

“Chase?! Where are you?”

“Enough — we must run! NOW!”

“Shit! There’s nothing we can do at all!?”

“RUN! THIS WAY!”

The shouts broke off, obscured by the roar of the energy vortex as it grew. The walls shuddered, trails of stone raining down as the hall groaned and rocked from the pressure swelling within. Slits of red appeared on Joran’s body, tiny gashes where fragments of flying crystal grazed her flesh. Her body was shaking under the impact of power drawn into Incrytan, only held up by his will alone.

She was growing weaker, her heartbeat erratic and breath labored. Feeble as Earthians were, he needed her to last just a little longer. Long enough to complete his release. Once that was done, she would be destroyed, along with the rest of the Dreigiau’s people.

There was no pity for the Lunar children, those who were descended of the Old Worlders. Their arrogance and intolerance had brought their own ruin. They had never accepted him… had treated him like the Bane. And the Bane he had become, true to their word.

He would be sure to repay each and every “Lei’ Igro” that had fallen from their lips.

As if in response to his eagerness, one of the Dark Crystals gave way completely. The implosion nearly sent Joran sprawling as Incrytan jolted in her hands. Part of the far wall cracked, a tall gash racing along the surface, up to the ceiling.

From the middle of the raining debris and dark haze, a form began to materialize. At first, it seemed just a trick of light and shadow — it was merely a small thing. But then it began to move. Approaching.

Yet another Crystal buckled, shattering like brittle glass into the roar of the vortex. Yet the shape continued forward, into the maelstrom of Crystal power unhindered

A little boy stepped out onto the dais.

At first, he appeared merely human — soft child features under a flow of sandy brown hair. But when the boy’s gaze lifted, burnished gold eyes blazed with an ancient, knowing light. A power radiated in shimmering golden waves around him, clam and controlled. As he had always been.

“Aur,” Joran’s forced words spoke. “So… Zemi sends his Guardian Watcher to do his work for him?”

“I will not allow you to destroy this place,” the boy responded quietly. Golden eyes watched, unblinking.

“I see,” came a soft laugh. “You are even weaker than when I last saw you. What do you — a washed-up Guardian trapped in a child’s form – expect to do?”

“I will do whatever I must.”

A statement to test out. So Luccious did. Yet another Crystal quivered, cracked and shattered. More red lines began to stripe the white of Joran’s arms. The walls groaned again, stone leaning under the impact.

Then suddenly, the groaning stopped.

A golden light spread from the boy’s form, wavering as it fought to absorb the shock of the energy blast. It rose up, expanding into the shape of a colossal golden lion, arching tall over the Crystal platform in a luminous, protective shield. With all the power that was left to the Watcher, he strove to contain the tempest of Crystal annihilation.

“You believe you can protect them, Watcher?”

In vindictive response, Luccious gathered his own will – now stronger with each Crystal that shattered. Then with a terrible focus, he unleashed it — a pounding wave of Incrytan’s light, spreading in every direction. As it flashed over the last remaining Crystals there was a moment of cold silence. Then a vast release as each living stone splintered apart simultaneously.

“Are these Earthians worth that much?”

The surge welled up against the great golden form, as its ethereal claws anchored down, holding against the blast. But the Crystal light was too much. Patches of gold began to dissolve and burn away. Streams of white broke through the shield, piercing through the beast’s body like a hunter’s arrows.

“What are you willing to sacrifice?”

“Everything,” came the Watcher’s answer.

Gold gave way to burning white Crystal light as the shield shuddered and failed. And a tremendous howl of anguish shook the Lunar Fortress.