“Through here,” Silarion said, beckoning them into the great stone chapel. Fariel, Kobie and Sonya just stared at the scale of the building and its stunning stained-glass windows, but they didn’t have time to admire the view for long.

“That corridor leads to a portal into the elven city,” Silarion explained, pointing, “And the High Priest’s chambers are through here.”

She led them into the great room overrun with roots and flowers, and High Priest Laconfir was there waiting for them just as he had been for Neji. His hand rested on his jewel-topped staff and Tyrion and Alariele were standing either side of him.

“Where’s Neji?” Fariel asked.

“We thought it best to perform his binding first, and alone,” Laconfir said, “Fear not, for he passed the test and is no worse for wear. He was probably on his way back to the camp just as you left. Come.”

He beckoned them through the door into the dark room, lighting the way with a spell cast by his staff. In its steady white light, they could make out the gigantic glyph - now dark and dormant - that Neji had stood on only an hour before. Laconfir and the others led them past it and through another door into a similarly dark room with three rune-covered daises, upon the top of each was carved an image of one of their Aeons. Laconfir motioned for them to take their places.

Kobie gently squeezed Sonya’s hand reassuringly before they parted and Tyrion led him up onto Ramuh’s dais.

“This room is a link to the Farplane,” Laconfir explained, “I want you to stand here, clear your minds, and focus on trying to make contact with the Aeons inside you. Accessing their powers will come later.”

“Stand here for how long?” Fariel asked the High Priest.

“For as long as it takes.” he replied, his golden eyes unblinking.

Then he put out the light on his staff, and they were plunged into darkness.

* * *

Fariel stood there for a long time, not feeling any different.

Leviathan? she asked, for some reason not aloud, are you there?

No answer. She was starting to feel a bit silly.

Then she felt a presence begin to grow around her. Her ears were filled with the roar of rushing water, and a vision flashed in her mind - growing and growing until it filled the entire room and pushed beyond its boundaries - a vision of a glowing nimbus of light spinning slowly in the air before her. From out of the shimmering corona a great blue and white serpent emerged, slipping and sidewinding effortlessly towards her. The ground quaked and split apart, and the serpent slithered and coiled round a mountain of jagged rocks that was pushing up from the earth below. It froze at the top with its body forming a great glowing S, and in an explosion of light a tidal wave had appeared in its place and was thundering down the waterfall formed by the rocks, straight towards Fariel. Instinctively she braced herself but the water parted of its own accord and flowed to either side of her, until she was standing at the bottom of a huge whirlpool.

As she looked on in wonder, Leviathan had reappeared and was circling her slowly beyond the veil of water.

Hello Fariel, she heard a voice inside her head say. It was soft and fluid, like running water. I have been wanting to meet you in person for some time…

* * *

The voice coming seemingly out of nowhere surprised Sonya, but she was not afraid. She sensed something was in the room with her, something other than Kobie and Fariel and the elves, but somehow she also knew that it would not harm her.

The darkness seemed to melt away before her, to be replaced by a green and fertile landscape with shimmering rivers and fast-flowing white streams winding their way across the land while innumerable payraflies drifted and danced overhead.

You are looking at the Farplane, said the voice. Once Spira was like this also, before Sin came.

A group of payraflies were gravitating together in front of her, melding into each other to form the outline of a giant bird. Their ambient glow grew brighter, whiting out the landscape around, and forcing Sonya to shade her eyes with one hand. When the light faded, a beautiful, swan-like bird of such size that it seemed to tower above her had appeared, hovering before her as if on a strong thermal. Its multicoloured feathers, crest and tail plume rippled and swayed, although there was no wind. It turned its eyes towards her.

“Tritoch?” Sonya whispered.

The bird’s eyes smiled.

* * *

A pinpoint of light had appeared before Kobie’s eyes, a far away image that was swiftly growing brighter and more distinct. He wasn’t sure whether the image was drawing nearer, or if he had left the ground and was flying towards it, but he knew exactly where he was going.

He was standing again on the desolate plateau, sheet-lightning flickering overhead. Every few seconds a bolt of forked lightning would lance down from the dark clouds, sending stone chips and gravel spraying upwards from the ground around him.

The clouds spun like a hurricane overhead, and a particularly large lightning bolt flashed out of the vortex, quaking the ground right in front of Kobie. The familiar but still awe-inspiring figure of Ramuh had appeared before him in a swirling swarm of Payraflies.

“So, we meet again, Kobie,” the old mage said, his voice somehow carrying without effort over the howling winds, “You have done well to make it this far, and yet the journey is still only beginning.”

Lighting slashed down to hammer the ground all around Ramuh, and the strong wind whipped his cloak and beard around him fiercely. The scene was a lot more violent than in Kobie’s last vision.

“Where are we?” Kobie shouted over the gale.

“A realm of chaos, to where I was exiled after being defeated by Sin. But with your help I am now growing stronger. And soon…”

Ramuh held his staff up high and multiple bolts of lightning flashed down to swirl and coruscate over it. He slammed it into the ground between his feet, and a shockwave seemed to blast outwards from him in an expanding disc of light. As it passed, the sky overhead rippled and calmed, turning azure blue. Trees began to burst from the dead, blasted ground, growing at an incredible rate. Jagged spires of twisted rock disappeared, to be replaced with gently-rolling hills and orderly forests.

Kobie watched stunned.

<ooc - booyah! Now how’s that for dramatic? Asreal, don’t tell me Shakey’s storytelling is cooler than that, even if Fariel’s bit is just Leviathan’s “Tsunami” attack straight from FF8!>

“Alright, Leviathan,” Fariel whispered through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to shout, “We’ve done it your way and I’m back in the temple, now what do you want?”

I can see you are not in the frame of mind to listen to me today, Fariel, said the voice inside her head, but please understand I am not trying to dominate you. I am trying to help you - you and millions of others throughout Spira.

“But why me?”

“And how do you know that?”

“I make my own destiny, Leviathan!”

* * *

Sonya flew through the cloudless sky of the Farplane on Tritoch’s back, payraflies zipping past and her hair blowing back in the wind as the Aeon soared effortlessly over the dream-world below.

To try and unlock the vast powers of an Aeon is a dangerous process, Sonya, Tritoch was saying in a soft, musical voice, but High Priest Laconfir and I will guide you through it as best we can. At the end of the day however, it is your will and your power alone that will allow you to call me forth to battle Sin.

“But what if I’m not strong enough, Tritoch? What will happen to Spira then?”

They wheeled in the air and began descending. Sonya saw a building below them surrounded by trees and recognised it as the elven chapel where she really was. The Farplane around her began to darken and dissolve, as did Tritoch as they swooped down towards the chapel.

As if waking from a dream she found herself standing on the dais in the pitch-dark room, Tritoch’s voice echoing as it faded from her mind in a rush of wind-noise.

* * *

“Did you commune with your Aeons?” Laconfir said, relighting his staff and making all three of the Avengers blink in the bright light. They nodded.

“Good - you are making excellent progress, young Avengers. Tomorrow we may even try manifesting your Aeons.”

Kobie did not know how long he had been gone, but the sky had grown dark and the stars were out as their guides led them back out of the chapel. They spoke little, but Alariele and Tyrion were conversing quietly in elvish, discussing Tanis’ trial and Selina’s unexpected treachery. Unthinkable that she would use her powers to steal the souls of others. And if Laguna was to be believed, her father had not died fighting Sin at Besaid as she had claimed.

“I see it all now,” Alariele said, “We all thought my cousin Lauthelias would be the one to train the Angels, especially after he found and began training two of them - lady Fariel and lady Sonya.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the two as she spoke.

“A strange twist of fate that it should not be the master, Lauthelias, but his outcast pupil Tanis who was destined to be their prophesised guide.” Tyrion mused.

“Selina thought Lauthelias was the guide too. She was ever power-hungry and tried to stop him.”

“And came dangerously close to undoing everything we sought to bring about.” said Tyrion.

“I see her mind now,” Alariele continued, “When he hired her, maestor Mika could not have known what he was doing, much less her ulterior motive. After Lauthelias’ death, Selina has been hunting the rest of the Angels ever since, for if the prophesy remained unfulfilled she could continue to build her unholy powers, eventually transcending mortality to become an Aeon. Taking her father’s soul would have been a long way towards this, with perhaps her brother Tanis being the final step. Then she would defeat Sin herself, and after the 10 year calm, replace him as the new Sin and the ultimate power in this world. She nearly succeeded.”

“She may still yet, “ Tyrion said gravely, “With your cousin’s death we thought all chance of fulfilling the prophesy was lost. But then, three days ago Yendor appeared and announced the arrival of some unexpected guests,” he glanced fondly back at the three adventurers following them, “And hope was rekindled. They can still stop them, Alariele. They can stop Selina and Sin and save Spira.”

<ooc - and I think we’ll be confronting Selina and company soon enough…well there you go, how’s that for some rambling, inconsequential philosophising :p we’d better wrap this training up relatively soon, guys - don’t gloss over it, do the summonings justice, but we need to be moving on to face the assassins and have the final showdown with Sin. Have you given any thought to what your characters might do after this is all over (if they survive…)? BTW my next post is going to be them noticing that Tanis has buggered off! LOL>

Whether it was because they were beginning to harness their Aeons’ power or because the elves were simply outstanding teachers, the Avengers’ training was coming on by leaps and bounds. Kobie and Tyrion awed the others using their timeshift ability to duel so fast that they were both just a blur, Kobie’s thunder-infused Dragon’s Claws showing only as sparking blue contrails where they swept through the air. Sonya had now mastered most of the high magic spells to such a degree that Alariele was hard-pressed to beat her, and had adopted an acrobatic fighting style that impressed even the agile elves. Fariel was now less of a fighter than a deadly assassin capable of getting the drop on her hapless friends almost every time with attacks that, had they not been only dummies, would almost certainly have been lethal. There had only been a couple of notable exceptions, like when Kobie somehow saw her coming and timeshifted out the way, or when she tried to surprise Neji and he smashed her to the ground and snarled in a voice that didn’t sound completely like he was joking that if she tried that again he’d break her arm. Neji himself had not attended the official training sessions, but nevertheless seemed to have greatly improved his skills over the last few days, and as for those new weapons of his…

Tanis however was nowhere to be found, a fact that kept cropping up in conversation over meals.

One evening, an hour or so before what Laconfir had said he was confident would be their final summoning lesson where they would manifest their Aeons for real, Fariel said to the others:

“You don’t think he’s gone on another one of his little adventures without telling us has he?”

“He might have,” replied Melina from where she was leaning up against Neji, “But doesn’t he usually tell you guys first?”

“You’d better keep watching the skies, Fariel,” Kobie said with a grin.

“Yeah, Tanis takes ‘dropping in’ to a whole new level!” Fariel said with a reminiscent laugh, “Still, I’d like to know where he’s gone.”

Sonya felt a now-familiar presence touch her mind.

“I know how we can find out,” she said.

“How are you going to do that? He’s a slippery one when he wants to be,” Neji put in.

“Not me,” Sonya replied, “Tritoch.”

She closed her eyes and calmed her mind, then let it reach outwards. Her consciousness soared up through the trees and flew across the forest, scanning every detail and missing nothing with a hawk-like, omniscient gaze. Whether Tritoch was extending her sight or whether she was seeing through the Aeon’s eyes she didn’t know.

Suddenly she found what she was looking for, and swooped down on Tanis where he waited crouched between two rocks, checking that the coast was clear. Somehow he sensed her presence, and turned to face her with an amused smile.

“Hello Sonya,” he said, “Yes, I know you’re there - I can sense you. Very interesting, I didn’t know you had the gift of Farsight. Only a few of the most powerful mages do. I have something I need to talk to you all about, something very important. Tell the others I want you all to meet me on the hill near the forest edge after your Aeon training.”

Wondering about that mysterious message, Sonya let her vision retreat back to the glade where they were sitting and re-enter her real body. She opened her eyes to see Fariel looking at her with a questioning eyebrow raised.

“He wants us to meet him later this evening,” she said.

<ooc - okay, I know this is brief by my standards but we don't want to be here all year>

“What the hell happened to you?” Fariel said as she rejoined the group and saw the state that Neji was in.

“Just killing time with a bit of training before the final summoning lesson,” Neji said offhandedly. He had declined to attend further Aeon training after the binding ritual, but Retala had eventually convinced him to join the others for the last and potentially most dangerous lesson. Melina smiled fondly at him.

“But you’re still having a bath before then even if I have to cast Watara on you myself!” she laughed.

Suddenly there was a flash behind them, and they whipped round to see a lightning bolt flicker down from the sky to strike somewhere outside the forest.

“What was that?” Kobie asked, and then, “Are you okay?” to Sonya, who seemed to be staring into space.

“Shh,” she said quietly, closing her eyes, “I think Tanis is trying to say something…”

“You wha-?” Fariel began, but Kobie hushed her.

“He wants us to meet him on the hill where the lightning struck as soon as possible.”

“What? But training with Laconfir’s in an hour!” Kobie said.

Sonya closed her eyes again and opened them with a confused frown.

“He says it can’t wait. And…and that if we go and see him now, we may not need that final training session…”

“What’s he on about?” Neji growled. Sonya shrugged helplessly. Fariel was the first to get up.

“Come on then!” she said light-heartedly, looking around and seeing that no elves were nearby to stop them, “I want to hear what that pointy-eared pest has been up to these last few days!”

* * *

Tanis watched impassively as his five companions emerged from the trees. They had all come - good.

“Tanis, where have you been!?” Fariel shouted as she ran towards him, stopping just short of hugging him and looking slightly embarrassed.

“I will explain later, and I have something very important to tell you. But first, I want you to fight me.”

Fariel’s smile wavered.

“What?”

“Consider this your trial by fire before you take on the assassins,” Tanis said smoothly, “Come on now, defend yourselves! Bisingr!”

Sonya reflexively deflected the fireball he had launched at her with her staff to send it streaking off harmlessly into the air.

“Tanis, what are you…?”

She blocked another Bisingr, and this time rebounded it back towards the half-elf. It burst in a bright glare against his magic shield.

“That’s more like it!” Tanis said with a flicker of a smile, “Now don’t go easy on me - I’m telling you now I’m not going to go easy on you!”

They circled him warily, Kobie extending his Dragon’s Claws with a hiss of metal and standing next to Sonya. Neji placed himself protectively in front of Melina, his fingers flexing on the grips of his pistols. Fariel opened the attack, leaping at Tanis from behind. He leapt aside and let her roll back onto her feet.

“You’re still too impatient to rush your target, Fariel,” he said quietly, “Think. Adapt your fighting style so that you don’t need the element of surprise.”

Neji raised his pistols and Tanis braced his shield ready to receive the bullets, but to his surprise the first shot punched effortlessly through his magical defence, scoring a deep gash in his cheek. He dived aside, dodging through the other bullets as they threw up fountains of earth behind him. Kobie seized his chance but Tanis saw the tell-tale blur of his timeshifting and raised his katana in defence. Kobie’s claws sparked against Tanis’ blade, then the half-elf’s other arm flicked out. To Kobie’s surprise it held Neji’s old sword - Silver Wolf - reforged, though he had no time to wonder at this and he had to leap backwards to avoid Tanis‘ counterattack. Despite his dodge, the sword still struck him a glancing blow, leaving blood trickling down his forearm from a minor flesh wound.

“Mind your defence, Kobie,” Tanis said, “You’re fast but you’re not invincible. And Neji - very good but let’s see your swordplay.”

As Neji obediently spun his pistols back into their holsters and drew the Set sword, Tanis spun and easily dispelled the Blizzaga that Sonya had cast at him.

“Come on, you can do better than that!” he chided her, “I said don’t go easy on me!”

“Ishara!” Sonya shouted in response and slashed her glowing staff downward, sending a spiralling vortex of water roaring towards Tanis. For a second the column of water seemed to assume the shape of a giant hand that closed around Tanis before crashing down on him. As he reeled to keep his balance Kobie leapt forward, spinning through the air in a whirlwind of blades that Tanis barely avoided.

“Better! Now you’re working together!” he said as he defended himself against Kobie, Fariel and Neji simultaneously. He blasted them all backwards with a shockwave of raw magical power and saw that Melina had her hands raised and was about to summon one of her Aeons. He cast Aero <ooc - that’s the spell by the way, not the chocolate bar LOL>, hurling her off her feet and slamming her against a tree behind with devastating force. As she crumpled to the ground, Neji roared in anger and fear and pushed Sonya roughly out of his way to get to her side.

“Melina!”

She did not reply, only moaned faintly.

Neji’s head snapped round, and Sonya gasped in horror when she saw the bestial snarl of rage that had contorted his face. His eyes, fixed on Tanis, had turned jet black.

<ooc - uh oh… ;) >

"DAMN IT EVERYONE GET BEHIND ME!"

Tanis screamed at the top of his voice. Not even he could subdue Diablos alone. he would need there help.

"Goddamn it! i knew this would happen. The elves have not done there jobs! at this rate he will be the one to destoy us!"

The angels stood behind Tanis weary from battle. They had noted how much he had improved. His power was vast. But...ultima? how could he think of casting that? surely that was beyond him.

"Quickly everyone give me your palms! i must have your energy! your aeons will protect you! hurry theres not much time left he is almost free!"

The angels held there hands out obediently and Tanis swiftly cut there palms. Chanting, he waved his hand above theres and started to absorb there energy...

Tanis recoiled...he fest unlimited power sources in all of them

"Such power...how could they not defeat me?"

Tanis finished absorbing energy and left them to be healed by Sonea.

"Now when i say the word i want you all to try and contact your aeons. I know you have had little practice but i need you and there help. Now get ready...because here he come.."

Neji was standing there but it was no longer the Neji they all knew. He had the black markings of Diablos on his body. A dark, boding aura surrounded him and power radiated visibly off of his body. He spoke with a voice not human or demon.

"Now half-elven you and these so called anges shall die and i shall reign supreme again!"

"i am sorry Diablos but i cannot allow this to happen. You will not kill us...We shall defeat you!"

Tanis lunged towards Diablos, surprised to see that he didn't even flinch. he drew his katana and slashed at Neji's, Diablo's, neck. But Diablos was having none of it. He drove his knee into Tanis's abdomen sending him recoiling into a nearby tree. tanis could not defeat him. He was a mere puny half elf.

"Damn it...i'm screwed...as usual."

tanis lunged again, feigned to his left and struck Neji from below. But again He was brutally repelled, this time sent flying at the angels feet.

"hold my friend its almost time..."

"but Tanis? what are we waiting for? you'll die!" whispered Kobie.

"No i wont. You will save me!"

Again Tanis threw himself towards Neji, this time managing to draw blood. But staring,wide eyed, as the wound simply healed.

"Tanis you fool your power is no match for mine give up and accept your fate!"

"I MAKE MY OWN FATE!   ULTIMA!!!"

Power radiated from Tanis as he released the energy from within him. The power was even greater than before. He was vaugely aware of hearing the angels screaming for him to stop. But it was to late. The energy consumed Neji and imploded with such ferocity the angels were thrown 20 meters back.

Fariel was first on her feet scanning the area where the two titans were battling.

Neji was first into view again. Diablos was still in control although he was losing his grip...there was only so much he could stand against in a human body.

"That was foolish...he cannot defend himself no-"

"ULTIMA!!!!"

"WHAT! THIS CANNOT BE!"

Another wave of pure energy hit Neji. Again consuming him. Fariel had just enough time to see Tanis standing there preparing his spell before he unleashed it. Then she had the sense to hit the ground. As did the others. Again the energy flowed past them and again the energy surrounded them. And yet...again!?

"ULTIMA!!!!!"

Although this time there was another sound.

"Now guys unleash the aeons! stop him!"

fariel looked at the others they nodded, then began to concentrate...

(o.o.-take it away guys....maybe a seperate post each? or someone do the lot

(occ meanwhile in Neji's head)

"Diablos! stop this now,"

"i'm only doing what you wouldn't do yourself Neji!"

"Damn it Diablos at this rate, you'r gonna get Melina killed to!"

"Good, she is your weakness, this power you have rite now was supressed by Melina, and i know that aslong as she lives you will continue to be weak! thats why i was waiting behind this seal, waiting for someone to hurt her so you would realese your anger, and alowe me to break through the seal and finally take control,"

"This is my body I will never allow you to control it!"

Neji fought back hard against the invading Diablos, and soon located him inside his head he could see Diablos sitting on his throne, laughing wickedly at Tanis and the other's attempts to defeat him. Neji raised his sword.

"DIABLOS!!" Diablos turned to Neji and got up from his throne all that could be seen in the darkness in Neji's head was alone figure Neji staring down the daunthing Diablos.

"Diablos! its time for me to finally defeat you and lock you back in you'r cage, this battle will decide who has complete control of this body,"

"you fool Neji, you cant defeat me," Diablos drew his sword and readied for battle.

"enough talk, lets Fight!"

(occ you guys aint the only one's fighting Diablos)

In the Darkness of Neji's mind all that could be heard was the clatter of steel as Neji and Diablos' blades pounded into eachother. It was a bitter fight and one that would seem go on forever.

"damn it Neji just give up! you can't beat me!" Diablos swung his sword reletlessly pushing Neji further and further back.

"No way! Diablos, this is my body and your in my world you cannot defeat me in here!" Neji knocked aside Diablos' sword and allowing him to gain more ground. Diablos snarled he was starting to tire.

"Whats wrong Diablos? You seem distracted? I trust things arent going well out there,"

"I have enough power to defeat you and your pathetic friends,"

"really, then why havent you won yet? Face it Diablos even you can't fight 2 battles at the same time,"

"SHUT UP!" Diablos rushed forward thrusting his sword at Neji, which he easyily side stepped but the back swing was so powerful that it knocked Neji's sword out of his hands and causing him to fall back. Diablos rose his sword for the finishing blow but Neji's swiftness allowed him to dodge the strike, with a powerful Drop kick Neji knocked Diablos off his feet which gave him enough time to get a resonable distance beatween them.

Diablos laughed at Neji's febel attempts to buy time. "You have no chance Neji not without you'r sword,"

"I dont need my sword to beat you, you seem to have forgotten you'r own attacks Diablos," without wasting anymore time Neji prepared the Lightning Edge attack, the pure energy crackled in the dark but something was differnt about this Lightning Edge it didnt turn the usual Black Colour, it crackled and sparked with a bright blue colour which illuminated the area around Neji's hand.

"You say this attack can cut through anything, care to test it against you'r sword?" Diablos immediatley knowing of the powers of the attack put his sword away and also prepared the Lightning Edge attack, his went the usual Black colour.

"You only know how to use the attack you dont know the Science behind it, it is effective at cutting through everything because it is created from a power not of you'r world, but if 2 powers of the same world and effects meet they will cancel eachother out and it will come down purely to the physicle power of the user, you can't win in a test of Strength against me,"

"I dont care of Science of things, i only have one thing on my mind and thats putting you back in you'r cage, and i have a feeling I wont lose."

Diablos snarled and charged towards Neji at full speed, Neji did not back down or cower at the charge and instead raced towards Diablos with equal force.

The 2 powers collided with an eruption of power, the energy of the attacks sparking as they both pushed towards eachother never giving a inch, eventually the collision of energys gave off a great blinding flash followed by a mighty explosion.

When the flash faded away into the darkness, all that could be seen was Diablos' daunting figure panting over Neji's body.

Diablos speaking beatween pants taunted the fatigued Neji, "I...told...you, you can't defeat...me," Diablos drew his sword and lifted it high above Neji's head, "now vanish from this world Neji."

Neji noticed just out of arms reach lay his sword, he tried desperatly to reach it but to of no avail, Diablos' sword came pummeling down towards him. When suddenly Diablos stopped his attack and jumped back in pain. It appeared that a powerful attack from the outside had crippled Diablos who was attacking Neji's friends it had weakened him greatly. Neji knowing he had no time to waste rolled over to his sword, rose to his feet and swung his sword with what was left of his energy. It connected with great force and as it struck a blinding white light filled the area, "stay in you'r cage were you belong. Diablos."

When the light faded Neji found himself lying on his back looking up at the blue sky as the dark clouds parted and surronded by the concerned faces of Melina and the Angels. He slowly fell out of conciseness.

Tanis let the silence hang for a few seconds, as if reluctant to say what.

“I must leave you again,” he said at last, “There is something I have to do.”

He silenced their protests with an upraised hand.

“My role of guide has been fulfilled. You do not need me anymore.”

“What about your role as friend!” Fariel snapped back. Tanis smiled at that, but only for a second.

“Maybe, but I still have to go. I saw you safe to the elves and that’s what mattered most, but there are still other things I have to take care of before my part in this is over.”

“But Tanis, when will you be back?”

The half-elf looked across the hills and trees towards the setting sun, unblinking.

“I don’t know.”

“Well I’m not letting you go!” Fariel said firmly, stepping infront of him with wave swords drawn. Tanis’ voice flashed in her mind as he stood looking at her.

Gently, he pushed her aside and began striding off down the hill. Fariel let the wave swords drop to her sides as she watched him go.

“He’ll be back. It’s just another one of his little adventures, right?” Melina said hopefully.

“I don’t know,” Sonya replied pensively, biting her lip, “Have you ever seen him that gloomy when he went away before?”

Retala, who had been carrying Neji back into the forest with a strength belied by his slender frame, put him down and rested him with his back against a tree as he suddenly woke up with a groan. Melina was by her guardian’s side in an instant, and allowed Sonya to cast her healing magic on him.

“Neji? Is it really you?” Melina asked.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Neji replied, “I beat him. I put Diablos back in his cage. But for a minute there…did I hurt…?”

“It’s okay, we’re all fine,” Melina said gently, “Sonya, Kobie and Fariel managed to summon their Aeons and restrain Diablos long enough for you to get back in control,”

“Retala,” Neji said suddenly, looking up at the elf, “Don’t…don’t tell Laconfir…”

“Too late,” the elf replied, pointing, “He’s already here.”

They spun round to see the regal figure of Laconfir stride from the trees with many of the elves behind him, his carved staff with its glittering blue jewel held in his hand.

“Most impressive, Angels,” he said, to their surprise, “I think you have proved your power - not in the way I would have liked, perhaps, but nevertheless proved - and you are ready to play the part destiny has assigned you all.”

They didn’t know what to say as the High Priest inclined his head.

“Get some rest,” he told them, “I’m afraid that tomorrow you must leave our forest. There is just one more thing we must discuss first. Please go with your guides one last time - they have some important information for you. Melina, you stay with Retala. Neji, would you please come with me.”

His face was stern and unreadable as he said those last words, and they couldn’t think of anything to do but obey. The elves led them silently back into the forest.

* * *

“There‘s one more challenge you must face before you confront Sin,” Tyrion said as he motioned them to sit down in their tent and Silarion closed the flap behind them,

“The assassins,” Kobie said darkly.

“The assassins,” Tyrion confirmed, “How much do you know about them?”

“That every time we run into them we get pulverised!” Fariel snapped, “Those guys are powerful!”

“Yes,” Silarion said gravely, “The one who is hunting you - Kerr Locke, was it? - in the beginning he was just a rogue like yourself, but he has recently grown into something far more sinister.”

“No ****…” Fariel said under her breath, looking down at her hand which Kerr had driven his sword through in their last encounter. Thank Yevon Leviathan had saved her that time…

“He has been consumed by his hatred,” Silarion said, projecting an image of Kerr from the crystal globe in her hand. She was right, Kerr did look far more dark and sinister now than the vindictive teenager who had betrayed them on the Thunder Plains, “And that has unlocked his full magic potential.”

The image flickered and changed to the daunting figure of Kiba.

“Neji told us about him,” Melina said, “He’s the leader of a bandit cartel and he wants his revenge on Neji because he killed his brother.”

“He’s more than that now,” Retala answered, “Maestor Mika has somehow infused him with the energy of a Dark Aeon.”

“So that’s why he had such superhuman strength!” Melina breathed, “And I’ll bet that’s where he got his Sand Shield power from!”

Silarion’s globe shimmered again to project a picture of Sonya’s assassin, the witch with the purple orb.

“We are reasonably sure that this is the witch Kirareq,” Alarielle said, “The only human we know of to have learned and utilised the forbidden life-drain magic. How she did it we don’t know. You see the payraflies trapped inside her orb? Those are the imprisoned spirits of mages she has killed, and she forces them to obey her, increasing her own magical power.”

Sonya recoiled in shock - living souls trapped as slaves, unable to escape to the Farplane…it was a horrible thought.

“This one we’re not sure about,” Tyrion said as Silarion projected an image of the Guado assassin who had been assigned to hunt down Kobie, “All that the Guado we’ve talked to have told us is that he is an outcast, a deranged killer who abandoned his clan and until recently hid out in the Thunder Plains, murdering those who crossed his path for sport. He’s insane, he’s sadistic, but he’s a frighteningly efficient killer. They did not know his name, if he even has one. How Mika convinced this cold-blooded killer to work for him I have no idea.”

“And this…” Silarion said as she tapped the globe to make it produce its final image.

“Selina,” Fariel growled.

The projection was indeed of Tanis’ sister, perhaps as she had looked before she had turned to darkness. Fariel was frightened by the resemblance she bore to that innocent elf-maiden, now changed almost beyond recognition to the Selina they had fought at Macalania.

“She has become everything we once feared that Tanis was,” Alarielle said sadly, “And more. Do not be under any illusions about her abilities.”

The Angels and Melina nodded silently. The mention of Selina had made them think again of Tanis and how he had suddenly disappeared.

“These assassins are the last thing standing between you and the final battle against Sin,” Tyrion said, “They will never stop hunting you. However, I am pleased to say that you are now far better equipped to face them than you were before. But whatever you do, do not underestimate them, even with your Aeons.”

“I don’t think underestimating them is going to be much of a problem,” Kobie said gravely.

As Tanis turned to leave the angels he breathed a sigh of relief. If Fariel had challenged him he couldent have one. The ultimas were one thing...but he took a beating buying them time! But Tanis had promised himself...he would never allow anyone to see him in the state that the angels had. They were a past time in his life. It was time to move on. Wether he liked it or not. He decided to head towards east. He had no idea where he would end up but it was better than standing around like a fool.

"Phew this has been a run! i must have covered around 3 days worth of travelling tan when i was with the angels!"

It has only been 8 hours but Tanis had already covered immense distances. He was regaining some of his strength and was feeling quite happy.

"maybe leaving was a good thing! I can finally have to stop babysittin- Hang on whats this?"

Tanis bent down and picked up a shread of cloth...black cloth...

"SELINA!!!!"

A dark shape dropped form the trees above Tanis, forcing him to dive to the side. Before he hit the ground he had already done two things. one, he had drawn his katana. Two, he had figured out that he was dead. he was still to weak to fight her. He came out of the dive and spun to face his sister. But puzzled he saw that Selina had not moved nor even drew her blade. Catiously he sheathed his blade and stood.

"So Selina...may i ask why you have not already ran me through?"

"Ah...my brother. I know that i would destroy you now if i attacked. But although my quest for power has left me down the seperate path from you...i still have my respect and honor."

Tanis spat in the ground.

"Thats what i think of your honor."

"Very well...i shall depart. But i am making my proposal. A duel. In a month. You and me."

"Ha why should i trust you? Your nothing but scum!"

"Brother your words hurt. But i shall let them go. You can trust me...i give you my word. And you know what that is to use elves."

"...I do indeed. One month...where?"

"I have recieved information that in one month to this day your friends will be fighting sin. I wish to engage you there...wherever your so called "angels" are...do you accept?"

"I do sister...one month we end this. I look forward to it."

"As do i Tanis as do i..."

And with those words Selina dissappered as quickly as she arrived.

"Well well...isn't this a turn of events...looks like i will have to go back to the angels afterall...oh well it could be worse."

And Tanis started running again...relishing the time...perhaps his last month of life.