Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The New Zodiac Brave Story ❯ Book One - Of Lions and Snakes(2) ( Chapter 2 )

Ramses shook his head and looked around, "We've got to head to the post, we'll send a carrier pigeon back to Igros with our information, and then we can look for another Stone or something!" he grinned and veered off the road down a side street to a dirty-looking building, covered with birds, with a big sign that read 'POST OFFICE' along the side. Ramses walked right through the door and nodded to the shopkeeper, "I'll need your mot reliable bird, or a runner if you don't think they can handle a message." Ramses quickly jotted down the information, and a message to send an investigations team, then handed it to the man, along with 1000gil. "It has to make it to Igros Castle by tonight, can you do that?" The man hefted the sack of gil and grinned a grin that was missing a few teeth, "Of course! We'll get it there in no time!"

Leona blinked a moment. "And it'll get there by tonight? Nifty! I've never seen a post office, that's cool!" She blinked, as they walked away from the missing teeth man and shook her head. "Someone hasn't been eating his fruits and veggies!" She looked around her, before taking in a deep breath. "The next Stone is south from here," she added. "A little bit of a distance, but I'm sure well make it in no time!" she added.

Ramses nodded and thought for a second, "South…the Zirekile Falls, and Barius Hill are to the south!" he smiled, secretly impressed that he'd remembered his geography classes, "So, you said you had something to tell me once you'd left the castle?" he asked, smiling to her. Ramses raked his green and black hair back from his eyes, turning to the south and heading off in that direction.

Leona smiled. "Wow, you really know your way around!" she said, before Ramses mentioned the OTHER thing. And he was smiling, so trusting... could she really withhold something so important from him and betray his trust? Or could she rat on her own brother? "Yeah... yeah I do," she said softly, subdued for once. "Ramses... remember when I mentioned Eris and being created?" she asked, finding a thick lump seem to grow in her as she tried to find the right words, how to explain things...

"Yeah, you told me about that..." Ramses stopped and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly, concerned. "What's the matter Leona? You look really upset?" he frowned, looking into her eyes, wondering what was bothering her, and wanting to help somehow. He couldn't bear to see her like this!

Leona looked over to Ramses; at the look on her face as for a moment she closed em, taking in a deep breath. "I... wasn't the only one sent to this world Ramses... and originally ways to getting a home was much different..." she said, before stopping a moment in her path. "Ramses you may... want to sit down a moment," she said, taking in a deep breath. "...I should have told you a long time ago about things but I just didn't want to ruin things and I thought I could stop em somehow before they got too out of hand..."

Ramses tilted his head, leading Leona off to the side, and sat at a bench, patting the spot next to him. He looked deadly serious, "To out of hand? What do you mean? Did someone else sent here do that back in the castle?"

Leona sat down, taking a deep breath. "Yes..." she admitted. "I sparred with him many a time and lost Ramses... I'd recognize his work anywhere. "It was my... it was my brother... Zetsumei," she paused a moment, head down as she wiped at her golden eyes a moment. There, she'd done it. Zetsumei had done nothing wrong, and she'd betrayed him. He'd done what he was supposed to... "I was sent here to revive the Zodiac Demons and cause chaos with them... send the world into disarray while Zesty was to keep them off my trail using any means necessary... only I met you. And…plans changed. Zetsumei hasn't done anything wrong here..." she said, at this point looking away from Ramses again, head down as she wiped at her eyes again.

Ramses blinked and swallowed hard, digesting the information. Everything she'd said…she was here to cause chaos? But...plans had changed... "So... your brother did that? And…he's always beaten you...? And…and he's your brother, and you're telling me?" Ramses stated these things, and lifted Leona's chin with a finger, wiping her eyes with his thumbs and hugging her tight. "Don't worry Leona, it's not ruining anything.. We'll meet with your brother if we can, and we'll let him know what we're up to!" he smiled helpfully, really wanting to comfort her, "It'll be alright..."

Leona had expected for him to yell, at being deceived even for a bit, or at least to back away... but to her shock he didn't do either. Instead, he wiped away at her tears, before drawing her close into a hug. She returned the hug, leaning her head into her shoulder as a few stray tears seeped through. "Yeah... I know..." she said. "But that will never change the fact of what I've done... to you and to him. Its done... and something Ill just have to live with. I'm... sorry Ramses... I really am.... and thanks...' she added, resting there for a moment. His words indeed were comforted; perhaps they could meet up with Zetsumei and resolve things? Let him know how things have changed? Yet she couldn't help this gut feeling in a way shed betrayed Ramses, Zetsumei, and even her creator Eris. All things shed deal with in time but for ow she was content just to lean on Ramses, and his reassurance.

Ramses rubbed Leona's back gently as he held her, wanting her to be happy again. Seeing someone as bouncy and carefree as her saddened was really unnatural to him. He leaned his head gently against hers and thought to himself about how she must be feeling. By telling him about her brother, she'd effectively admitted to betraying them both. She was torn between them, and there wasn't much to be done about it. "I'm sorry too Leona, but we're not gonna tell Igros or Zeltennia about him. They don't need to know, let them go on thinking it was one or the other. The only thing that matters right now is getting on with finding the Stones, and seeing your brother. We can all live in our home when it's all over, you'll see!"

"Y-yeah, you're right," she said finally, wiping her eyes dry as she looked back towards him and finally gave him a bright smile, like clouds lifting. "Well deal with this! Well find the rest of the Stones and make things right again and, well have a home! All together!" She blushed slightly, getting up and walking a bit, before waving. "So come on Ramses! What are we waiting for?" she asked. She gave a bright smile still as she though, 'Thanks Ramses... what would I ever do without you?'

Ramses stared at her for a few seconds, smiling back, then stood up, dusting his legs. "Oh Iono, romp around and miss out on cooking and bread, and probably get on some noble's bad side?" he winked and nudged her with an elbow as he walked past, still heading south. "So which Stone d'you think it is this time? I hope it doesn't have a cheesy name... Cancera... ugh... I still say if the Cancer Stone Monster is named Cancera we're -so- walking away and saving it for last... I mean JEEZ!!" Ramses was still secretly worried over Leona, and made a silent promise to keep an eye on her.

"I think I'd be on a few nobles bad side!" she replied, giving a wink. "I hope its a nifty stone, you like Pisces! FISHY!" she said, bouncing a bit. "But if it's actually NAMED Fishy, Stone or no Stone I'm swallowing it whole okies?" Sure, she was still, well, a bit depressed but there was nothing she could do about it all now right? And Ramses… she didn't want to upset him any more. So she just sniffed the air again a moment, before continuing the way. "But really, I have no idea which one! I can smell real good, but not THAT good!"

"Like Cancera huh?" Ramses snickered and followed along beside Leona, "Maybe we'll find something cool when we find the Stone, like an unexplored cave, or some pirate treasure!" he laughed, having always wanted to find something like that. They continued down the road, out of the town, and in the direction of the Stone.

"We should give the monsters a class... Naming 101! I swear its like as soon as they get the stone all creativity goes out the window Ramses! And treasure? Really? Coooool! I hope we do get to see something like that!" she said, as they continued onwards down their path. "Think it'd be guarded by some pirates ghost even? We'd give him what-for even if there was!"

Putting his hands behind his head and looking at the sky, Ramses grinned, "Of course! I mean, what good is treasure to a dead guy anyways? I mean, we go to all the trouble to find it, it's ours now!" Ramses dropped his hands and ruffled his cloak, looking around, "Leona... have you ever seen a Behemoth before...?" he continued cautiously, careful not to give away that he'd seen something, his voice barely a whisper, "Because if not, we're about to... down the path, on the right..."

Leona blinked, hearing the seriousness in Ramses' tone. "Uhm no… I haven't. Are they a bad thing?" she asked, as they walked onwards. She kept her guard up, but couldn't help and steal a glance or two where it was indicated. "You think it'll fight us or something?" she asked just as quietly, as they tried to sneak through. That was when she felt a tickle at her nose, "AH-AHCHOO!" she sneezed, the sound echoing down the path.

Ramses blinked, "Aw hell..." he muttered as he took a step forward and snapped the Serpentarius Blade from its sheath. The Behemoth tore out of the forest and stopped in the middle of the path, rearing up and bellowing. A large, red stone was embedded in its forehead, and it gleamed menacingly with the symbol of Aries. "What...no cheesy name? Too dumb to talk maybe?" Ramses said incredulously, gritting his teeth, "Be careful Leona! Behemoths are extremely dangerous normally, but this one's using the Aries Stone!!"

Leona blinked, that sounded like a LOT of trouble. Only… this one didn't seem too bright if it wasn't even giving a name. She looked around, for something, anything, when she saw something and got an idea. Giving Ramses a wink to let him know it was all right she transformed into a larger version of her cat form, a form a bit ore muscular but not sacrificing much on speed. She grinned towards the Behemoth, one hand on her hip as she waved the other one. "Come on big guy, what are you waiting on? I'm not afraid of you!" she added, giving it a wink.

The Behemoth roared another challenge, and barreled towards Leona, electricity lancing from its huge horns and slamming into the ground and trees, before it tried to gore her on the crackling points. Ramses disappeared in a flash of blue light; reappearing on it's back, straddling its neck. Thinking quickly, he whipped his cloak off and slung it down, under the horns, and back up into his waiting hand. Ramses called upon his Stone for strength, and hauled back on the cloak, snapping the Behemoth's head backwards, causing its Bolt 3 spell to whip of Leona's shoulder. "Yee-haw!!!"

Leona blinked a moment, was that... a Bolt spell from its horns? That was when Ramses came, and saddled the behemoth. Leona couldn't help but laugh to herself a moment, even as the lightning bolt spell singed her shoulder a bit. "Hold him steady Ramses then jump off!" she yelled at him, as she took hold of a nearby tree the Behemoth had knocked over, setting it in the path. She stood a bit in front of it, before waving. "This way!"

Ramses nodded and shot the spines from his heels, slamming them into the Behemoth's shoulders before retracting them. The venom coursed into the beast's veins, burning and infuriating it with the annoying pain. He hauled on the cloak more and forced it to charge at Leona, and, at the last minute, Ramses leapt up, giving his powers back to the Stone, and caught onto a tree-branch, hanging from it and waiting to see what Leona had planned.

Leona could feel its hot breath as the beast charged… and stumbled upon the log right in its path, falling over and over until for a moment it was belly up. She grinned and at that moment leapt up, extending a set of claws as sharp and a bit longer than the ones she usually wore. The feet going wildly as it tried to right itself she landed, tail twitching and holding a leg of the Behemoth's tight, while her claws made a quick, clean cut down to the beast's heart. A last blow from a leg glanced at her cheek, but she shook it off and jumped off, as the beast gave one last twitch and was still, its Stone clattering to the ground beside them. Switching back to normal Leona picked up, wiping off her cheek. "We did it!" she exclaimed with a grin.

Ramses dropped from the tree, landing hard on the ground far below and rolling to his feet. "Yup! Oh! It got you, right there," Ramses closed his eyes and performed the ChocoCure, the small wound on Leona's cheek re-knitting as the healing energy pulsed into her. He grinned and scooped up the Stone, holding it up into the light, sending rays of reddish light spewing around the area. "What's that…? Aquarius, Leo, Serpentarius, Scorpio, Libra, Taurus and now Aries? Wow!" he nodded and offered the Stone to Leona, "Wanna hold onto it? The kill was yours after all!"

"Thanks," she said, before flushing as she saw all the stones gathered. "Wow.... we've come so far Ramses! I don't think anything could ever stop us from getting em all," she said, smiling before his last statement. "Hold onto it? Hmmm? Oh sure! Coooool!" she said taking the offered Stone and setting it inside her bag. She couldn't help but note Leo shine brighter as she did so and smiled. "Wow, not too much left huh?" she asked. "I'm bummed, you didn't let me ride him!"

"Well, it wasn't really something I thought through... I'm surprised it worked actually..." Ramses laughed and retrieved his cloak from the horns of the fallen Behemoth, pinning it back on. It disappeared afterwards, leaving behind a large chest. Ramses nudged it with his foot, "S'all yours Leona, heh. Why don't you open it and see what he left us? Maybe it's something neat! And, the next time I see a monster big enough to ride, I'll try to get you on its back as well eh? Sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan!" she said, giving a nod as she bent over to open the chest. She blinked, as she pulled from it an Elixir. Blinking she looked at it, tilting it in the sun as she tried to figure out WHAT it was. "Ramses…ever seen this stuff? Looks gross but important! I don't think I'd want to ever have to use it or anything and…" she sniffed it, before making a face. "GROSS! It smells like poop!"

"Like poop huh? That must mean it's good for you.... or... it's a bottle of poop." he smirked, "Maybe it's an Elixir? They're supposed to completely heal the mind and body, but I've heard they taste awful… Guess it must be like taking your medicine eh? Though Potions aren't exactly a walk in the park, they're good by comparison!" he laughed and nodded. "Hey, did you ever wonder why Materia works to cast magic now? I mean, back when Ramza was questing, it was just a pretty trinket, but now it can be used for magic! Maybe it has something to do with the worlds merging?"

Leona blinked, tilting her head. "I thought you knew because I have no idea!" she said, pocketing the elixir. "But its possible, this world and all the others will go through a bunch of changes. No one knows yet but you, me, Zetsy, and my other two sibs... but who knows how long that will last huh? No worries about it now though, lets just say it does eh?" She paused a moment, before tilting her head. "Did we want to rest for a bit or go straight after the next one?" she asked.

"Why don't we rest up for the rest of the afternoon, and the night? You have other siblings besides Zetsumei, you said. Would you mind telling me about them Leona? So I'm not surprised if they pop up or something, I want to be on the same page as you, that way I can be helpful!" He smiled a bright, genuine smile, raking his fingers back through his hair to get it out of his face.

Leona nodded, looking to the forest for a good spot before finding a bit of a clearing. She sat down, cross-legged, as she leaned against a tree. "Yeah… I have two. Ones a lot like me, his names Force. The other is more like Zetsy, her name is Arashi." She paused a moment, taking a deep breath. Same page? She wasn't sure of she could do that. Of course she knew all of her siblings stats, powers, and weaknesses and such, but there wasn't a reason to tell Ramses that was there? "But Force and Arashi were sent to help conquer other worlds," she added. "Whenever they're done, I suppose they'll just hop over to another world and get started. She gave a smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't even think to mention my sibs! I forget you don't know that much about me. Er... anything else?" she asked, head tilted.

Moving over and sitting across from her, Ramses set up the leftover stew to heat, "Destruction's powers, gather to heat this meal, FIRE!!" the blaze sprouted beneath the pot and began to heat it. He smiled to Leona and shrugged, "Anything else you think I should know, Leona? Like... Iono, I know your favorite food is Fish, that's a no-brainer!" he laughed and took out two bowls, two spoons and a couple loaves of bread.

Leona giggled. "Am I that obvious?" she asked, before thinking a moment. "There's… at least one thing I can tell you," she said, before closing her eyes a moment. She set a hand in front of her, closing her eyes a moment, before energy gathered in her palm. A portal appeared in front of her, away from them enough, as with her other hand she stretched it open slightly enough to reveal a completely different world, a more mechanical one. "My sibs and I can shift between worlds and places within at will," she explained, closing the portal, her eyes drooping a bit with the expenditure. "But I cant do it very often, just enough to get around!"

Nodding, Ramses scooped some of the heated stew into a bowl and handed it to Leona with a loaf of bread, "Ahh, okay. Well, that's helpful, see, now I'm not gonna over-react if something pops out of a portal, y'know?" he laughed and dished some out for himself, tasting it, "Ahh... stew always gets better when you let it sit for awhile! Oh! Uhm, since you told me something, I'll tell you something! You're gonna love this," he continued, "Aleax taught me how to use the ChocoMeteor attack! He said it's really strong, so I'm gonna try it next time we fight something!"

Leona blinked a moment, surprised with how well he took it… and the fact he didn't ask any OTHER questions. He was always surprising her like that, and she couldn't help but give a genuine smile. She took her offered food and started into it, tilting her head. "ChocoMeteor? Nifty! Id love to see that!" she exclaimed, before taking a bite of her bread and meal. Now she was actually a bit lighthearted. They had another stone, they had a meal, and well, she had a friend here. Shed often doubt sometimes, since she never had one and even her sibs hadn't been friends but comrades. But now she knew, without a doubt, Ramses was the true definition of it.

Ramses started heartily into his food, dipping the bread into the stew and letting it sit for a while before eating it eventually cleaning his bowl out, then a second, as well as eating his whole loaf of bread. He leaned back a bit and turned his head to the sit, hitting his chest, then... "BUUUUUUUUUURP!! Ahh... excuse me!" he flushed and laughed; wiping his mouth and setting his dish and spoon aside.

Leona practically fell over laughing, as she clapped at the immense belch Ramses had released. "Wow! That was at LEAST a 9.5!" she said, still laughing and yet trying to eat at the same time. By some miracle, she managed to get her down before patting Ramses on the shoulder. It's a wonder we can still HEAR after that one! You should enter a belching contest... do they even have those? Cause if they did you'd win!"

"Ya think so?" Ramses laughed and scratched his head embarrassedly, smirking, "Well, if I ever see one, I'll be sure to enter!" he kicked back, smiling and folding his hands on his stomach, "Can't beat this…out adventuring with my best friend, knowing what we're doing, but not what's around the next corner. I wonder if Ramza ever felt like this, heh. If he's still alive, and we find him, we'll have to be sure to ask eh?"

"Yeah!" Leona agreed, smiling. "Meeting Ramza huh? That would be coooool! And we could ask if he wanted to be a brave and everything!" She smiled, looking back at him. "Yeah! It's amazing going out adventuring like this. Kinda like we know but don't know! Its exciting!" She rested back a moment, content. He was right. THIS was the life!

"Iono, I think someone as awesome as Ramza would have found his Stone before he had to fight Altima, don't you? I dunno..." he smiled softly as he nestled himself into a place between a couple of trees, "Why don't we take a break here? I mean, we don't have much else to do except get a couple more Stones! And, since we're taking a break, we can have a nap, and you can practice with the Materia!"

Leona tilted her head a moment then smiled. "Yeah, guess you're right! It would have sucked to have fought Altima without one!" She rested a moment against a tree, giving a nod. "Sounds like a plan Ramses, it's amazing! We just have a few left, and then well have em all! And ooooh! Materia! Really? You're right, I should start practicing a bit before I set something IMPORTANT on fire or something!"

Laughing, he nodded and rubbed the toes of his boots, wondering how you managed to scuff the tops of them when it was the bottoms that hit the ground. "Yup, I remember when I first learned ChocoBall... I was blowing stuff up all over the place!" Ramses laughed and unpinned his cloak, laying it to the side if Leona decided to use it. He smiled and stretched out, lying down against a tree, "As for me... I'm tired... I need a -nap-!"

"All righty Ramses!" she sad, before giggling. "Really? That would have been a sight to see!" She gave him a wink, amused at the thought. "Well get some rest, its going to be another big day tomorrow!" She smiled, and rested back before deciding to play with her fire Materia first. After all, she was kinda partial to it. Finding a few stray sticks to practice on she smiled and started to work, careful that the intended twigs were well away from Ramses or their supplies just in case.

Ramses yawned, and idly watched Leona toy with the twigs, eventually falling asleep, snoring lightly. A familiar fog drifted through his mind, and various faces blew in and out of it, but Ramses could see much else. He wandered through it for what seemed like hours...before coming to a fogless patch of ground. Devoid of plant life, the ground dry and cracked, he looked around, trying to figure out where he was.

Leona could hear Ramses snore a bit. 'Aaaaaw, sleeping soundly,' she thought with a smile, before turning back to the twigs. There were three, so she went for the first, deciding to try different incantations each time and see what worked best. "Breath of life, Light that twig on the right!" she said, concentrating on it a moment, before it went smoking with a small wisp. "Oooookay, lets try another incantation. It must not like that one!" she said, tilting her head. Smoke, but no fire.

Ramses looked around awhile longer, groaning when he realized he was alone. "Oh shut up, you're not alone," a sibilant voice hissed, before his Zodiac Form stepped out of the fog, shifting back into his likeness, except that it was the Lucavi again, "What's the matter kiddo? Harder to control that you thought? I saw what happened with the Scorpio Lucavi, he came close to hurting your little lioness girlfriend, and you go nuts. Beautiful by the way, I couldn't have done it better -myself-! Ahaha!!"

Leona meanwhile moved to the second twig unaware of the hidden peril Ramses was in. "Hmmmm.... Breath of life, fire upon that middle stick!" She concentrated a bit more this time on the middle stick, and this time was able to get a small fire going. A start at least. 'Hmmmm…' she thought. 'Wait! I got it!' She squealed a bit and moved on to try the last one.

Ramses flushed and looked at the scuffed toes of his boots, frowning hard until he composed himself, "I'm NOT like you, Demon! I don't have anything to do with you other than the Stone! Just because I got angry doesn't mean you had anything to do with it!" he spat each word at the Lucavi, as if speaking to it brought bile to the back of his throat. It grinned at him, displaying cracked, jagged teeth, "Exactly!" it hissed, "And what do you think they're going to want from you? That 'Zetsy', the cat's brother, as well as Eris and the rest of them sent to cause Chaos. They're going to see your own chaotic and destructive potential and try to take advantage of you, what then Ramses? Can you make that kind of choice? If it comes down to your life or hers, who's going to survive?"

Looking to the last stock Leona smiled. "I got you now stick!" she said, before taking a deep breath. She concentrated on the last stick, and as she did so spoke the words "Breath of life, IGNITE!" Opening her eyes, she looked up to see a raging inferno big enough to engulf all three sticks. "Yay!" she said, giving a thumb's up before looking to the packs, and coming back with a fish filet somehow left over and using another stick roasting it. "Might as well reward myself with a fishy!" she said, smiling.

"Humph, you obviously haven't been paying close attention, Leona wouldn't let that happen, and I wouldn't let it happen! There's not much you can do without me, so why don't you just bugger off and leave my dreams alone huh? Else wise I'll get RID of the Serpentarius Stone and be rid of you on the same count!" Ramses stared at the mirrored image of himself, and fought with himself to keep his stand. "Hah! You can't be rid of me!" it hissed again, then pointed at Ramses. A mirror appeared in front of him, reflecting his face, then it warped into the twisted visage of the laughing Lucavi, then shattered. Ramses awoke with a strangled gasp, sitting up and looking wildly around.

Leona blinked as she heard the gasp, blowing out the fire as best as she could and setting down her fish on the embers as she came over to Ramses, who was looking around wildly as though for something. She sat beside him a moment, head tilted. "Another nightmare?" she asked, concerned. "Ramses, you all right?"

Ramses nodded, sweat beaded on his brow, "Y-yeah... it was the same Lucavi..." he mumbled, looking around still. "Oh... I'm still tired...ugh... why can't it just leave me alone?" he groaned. "Did you get the hang of your Materia while I was out of it?" he faked a smile as best he could and looked at her, then over to the embers from the twigs, with the fish filet roasting over them.

Leona closed her eyes a moment. 'Darn that Lucavi... why don't it leave him alone?' she thought, before looking back to him. "Well no worries Ramses, you're still you and he's still a pain in the butt! One of these days, well figure out a way to defeat him together! As to why well, I think he's just a pain in the butt," Leona offered, giving him a wink. She then smiled a bit. "Yeah! I sure did! Well, Fire anyways!" she said, bringing over the fish filet that she had left. "Try some!" she said, tearing him off a piece and offering it to him. "Then, get some rest Ramses. Ill stay right here and at the first sign of trouble I'll wake ya up, okay?"

Nodding, Ramses took the piece of fish and smiled, popping it into his mouth and chewing it. Chewing, chewing, chewing, it went on for quite a long time before he could finally swallow, then he smiled weakly. "Sure thing... maybe this time I'll get some sleep...heh..." Ramses leaned back against the tree and yawned, "And thanks Leona..."

Leona finished her part of the filet, her eyes not leaving Ramses as he fell into sleep. She would watch him all night if need be, ready to wake him at the first sign of trouble. But waaaaait... she nodded as another thought came to mind. It was risky, and well she knew Ramses wouldn't approve but... she wanted to help him. She hoped he slept well this time but if he didn't... she'd be right there.

His head dropped quickly, as he fell again into sleep, the troubling fog that heralded the Lucavi quickly blew in. Ramses found himself standing on the same patch of ground where he'd fallen asleep, though Leona was nowhere to be seen, and their adventuring gear was missing. Ramses felt around in his pockets and leapt to his feet, looking around frantically. 'The Stones! No…where are they?!' his mind raced, and he looked everywhere, after all, they'd probably fell out of his pockets. "The Stones! No…where are they?" the Lucavi's voice floated through the air, mocking him, "Oh come now Ramses, I thought that you could handle yourself without them... After all, you're not me, you don't -need- the Stones."

Leona blinked, as she saw Ramses begin to toss and turn. "Darn that Lucavi!" she swore, before she gave a slight grin. "Time to teach him a lesson he wont soon forget!" Making sure her materials were ready, she opened a portal towards Ramses' mind. Going through, she found the Lucavi staring him down. She stepped in front of Ramses, her usually kind eyes hard and glinting. "LEAVE… HIM… ALONE." She gritted out, a forceful tone to her usually kind voice. This was the one being she was pissed at, and it showed.

The Lucavi smirked and waved a hand casually, a sinkhole opening up under Ramses and pulling him in, then closing as fast as it had appeared. Ramses fell through blackness, hearing nothing but the whistling of wind around him, for what seemed to him like an eternity. "So, little girl, what is it you think you can do to me, in the mind of such a pathetic fool as him?" it hissed, jagged teeth showing through its lips. It may have taken Ramses' form, but there were some differences to be seen.

"Ramses is NOT a pathetic fool," Leona growled, fists clenched around her cats claws. She blinked a moment, back at the hole. This was his mind... he'd be all right she knew. But she would have to defeat this Lucavi first. "You are, for bringing such torment upon him!" She looked to her Stone, then back at the Lucavi. "And I wont let you get away with it any longer! I won't let you drive him insane... your time is up demon!" She gave a nod, asking her Stone for the way to defeat the Lucavi, and transformed. She stood as a powerful cat anthro, though slim and agile as well. She leapt into the air, her golden eyes a fire, and she somersaulted behind the demon and brought her sharp claws to meet a place between the scales in his neck. One thing Leona was glad for, it was that she could smell weak points.

The Lucavi smirked and moved with the strike, Leona's claws only doing surface damage. He spun around her and planted a booted foot in the small of her back, twitching the muscles in his leg and shooting her forward. She whipped through the air and landed on a soft bundle of greens, Ramses' cape under her, the Serpentarius Symbol right in her face. Part of any good demon's fight was psychological after all. Laughing, he stood where he was with a hand on a hip, "Uh-huh, says another fool. What do you think you could possibly accomplish, fighting me in a mind that is as much mine as it is his? I control this dream, kitty, get used to it!"

Leona fell back, huffing a moment, as she landed... against the cape. The symbol glared at her, a reminder of whom she was fighting against. She gritted her teeth, looking back up. "You control nothing, not even your own ego demon!" she yelled back. "Ramses is his own person, and I will not let you take him away! I wont let you hurt him!" She thought a moment, and then came up with a plan. Again she leapt for his back, this time her claws sticking into him, as she held herself there a moment. "Shimmering magic freeze, ICE!" she yelled, covering the Lucavi's neck with ice. She smiled, grateful it had worked before trying her next spell. "Erratic static surrounding, BOLT!" This time, lightening raced through the ice, which served as a conductor, amplifying the attack...

The Lucavi growled under the magical assault, the force punching through his defenses. He wasn't used to being blasted with artificially created magic, in fact, this was his first experience. Roaring, he shattered the ice, grabbing Leona's arms and throwing her over him, his skin still emitting little arcs of yellow electricity. "You will die here, scum, in your friend's mind! It shall be you who haunts him for all eternity! You shall be his undoing!" The Lucavi cocked its arms back, lifting its mouth to scream to the heavens, "Stars and planets, heed my call, destroy this infidel in the name of Lucavi!!! ZODIAC!!!"

Leona gritted her teeth as she was thrown over, again to the ground as she noted the electricity arching over the Lucavi. "I wont die... not without bringing you down with me!" She wasn't afraid of death, and she was willing to do so for Ramses, but first, she would defeat this Lucavi. That's when it called upon Zodiac. Leona had heard stories about the attack from Eris... but she didn't think it existed! 'Ah dang it!' she thought, knowing the only way she could possibly survive was to use her speed to her advantage. She moved towards the Lucavi, and with a fast movement moved to punch the opened moth underneath with her extended claws. But it was too late, the attack was already coming. She moved to try landing another hit and another, hoping to keep herself moving and inflicting damage upon the Lucavi before the attack came...

The Lucavi took each hit, intent on summoning the Zodiac, he was so close. With a final laugh, he spun and kicked Leona to the ground, the many beasts that were summoned slammed into the fabric of Ramses' mind. He screamed in pain as his mind was shredded, and the Lucavi burst into nothing, it's Essence drifting out of the Stone, the Stone dimming lifelessly. Leona was thrust forcefully out of Ramses' mind and slammed into a tree a good twenty feet from where he lied on the ground in the real world. His eyes were blank, and his face was twisted into a mask of pain.

Leona found herself thrown out of Ramses' mind as the beasts came forth, tearing into him. She gritted her teeth, slamming hard into the tree with a slight crunch, breaking it in half with the force. "Ramses!" she yelled, running back over to him, or rather limping a bit. "ChocoCure!" she called, the feathers working to heal her... but having really no effect on him. The damage done was... mental. The look on his face, and the eyes... and nearby his Stone had dimmed into just a regular stone. "Ramses!" she called out, setting her hands on his shoulders. "By Eris Ramses say something! Ramses!" She closed her eyes a moment, sinking to the ground beside him tears lining her eyes again. "Ramses... anything? Please?" she asked. She couldn't bear the look on his face... and the thought that came nagging at her. She had brought the battle to the Lucavi... she had started it inside his mind knowing the risks. If she hadn't... she looked back to Ramses. What was that saying about the best intentions Eris had often told her?

Ramses stared unblinking at Leona, the tears in her eyes nagging at something in some of the undamaged parts of his mind. He closed his eyes and composed his features, sitting up and shaking his head. He worked his mouth and tried to speak, his voice harsh and gravely, like he was gargling glass. Wisps of the Zodiac Beasts lingered in his eyes, haunting his vision. "What...what happened...? I can't remember..." he held his head and gritted his teeth, "My brain... it…it feels like it's on fire...ugh.." Though he was sitting up and speaking, his eyes were still empty, not their usual rich hazel, but a very dull yellow-brown.

Leona thought a moment, wiping her eyes, as she thought of how to phrase things. He was still speaking his voice had lost its usual tone and his eyes... the fire seemed to be gone. Something... that Lucavi had done something with that last attack… "Its... Its my fault Ramses," Leona explained. "I saw you struggling again but instead of waking you like I should have... I teleported myself to face the Lucavi. I'm sorry... I should have... I know that now. He just made me so mad and I tried Ramses but he summoned a Zodiac attack and… I don't know. Ramses... I'm so sorry..." She hugged him close a moment, a few things popping of hers as she did so. 'Maybe it would have been better for him if... if we had never met...' she thought, eyes closed. "I wish I could fix it but... I don't know how Ramses... I'm sorry…" she said again. But to her, no matter how many times she said it, it wouldn't be enough.

Ramses digested that information for a second and blinked, hugging her back. "It's alright Leona..." he mumbled, trying his best to make her feel better right now. She was obviously distressed about this, but he couldn't quite wrap his mind around why she would be upset. He wasn't upset about it, why should she be, "I'll be alright... I mean, I'm still alive and everything, and I'm sure that whatever happened… I'll…nnngg…" he put a hand to his forehead and winced, stopping for a moment, before continuing, "I'll be alright..."

Leona wasn't so sure. If she hadn't been evicted... she would have gladly taken those blows for him. But she hadn't had the chance and because of her things were... She looked to him a moment, before taking a deep breath. "Ramses, I want you to get some rest, okies? There's something I've got to do... okay? I'll still be here, don't worry. Just, get some rest..." It was all she could tell him, she knew he needed it. She was touched by how even as he was in such a state he was still trying to comfort her. But she knew what she had done also. "You're right... somehow it'll be fine. It may not look so now... but somehow I'll fix things..."

Ramses nodded, not in much of a state to argue. He lied back from where he'd sat up, and closed his eyes, his breathing deep and natural, as he fell asleep in no time, falling deep into sleep. There was no nightmare, no fog, nothing. Not even a dream took place while he slept, another sign that his mind had been torn. The Serpentarius Stone zipped along the ground, pressing itself into his palm, still dim and opaque, as if it were just a regular stone. Even the symbol didn't show up very well, but Ramses clutched it instinctively while he slept.

Leona looked to him and nodded. He was asleep... and this time he wouldn't be disturbed. Stepping back a few moments she called upon a small portal, which opened in front of Eris. The Goddess, startled, looked to Leona. "Leona my child... why have you come? Have you already gathered all of the Stones?" she asked, her voice resonating with power. "Well... no," Leona admitted. "I need your help you see. The man I'm traveling with; Ramses... he's helped me out so much. But the demon was plaguing him and I went into his mind to defeat it and…" "Wait just a moment…" The Goddess said, brow raised. "You were trying to DEFEAT the demon. Leona... I sent you to revive the demons. Why would you want to defeat them?" Leona took a deep breath. "Because... because these people will be better lead, easier to rule under the Braves. I've already started, I can't go back..." "So you defied my orders, my wishes Leona? On your own will?" "Yes..." Leona replied, her head down a moment. "Interesting... your free will has gotten away with you. I shall... let you indulge in this experiment of yours Leona... but do not think it'll be without consequences..."

Leona blinked. "Consequences?" she asked. "Yes..." the goddess replied. "Leona... you defied my orders and do not think I don't know of what you have told him already... but what is done is done. I shall heal his mind, if anything as thanks for keeping you alive. However..." A magic tendril reached through the portal, lancing through Leona's heart and coming out through her Leo stone. The Stone gave off a bright light, before dimming down to where it remained as dull as Ramses'. Almost instantly, it felt like a part of her was gone. She staggered back a moment, blinking. "What did you…?" "Your fate is now linked to his Leona. Your Stone will not reactivate until his does... I hope you have chosen your path well. And Leona... do not betray your family again. That Ramses is a valuable ally; however I will not hesitate to do what I must." Leona's eyes widened at the statement. "N-n-no! You wouldn't..." "Just a thought to bear in mind my child. Now, I will do as promised... though since I am not in that world I shall have to borrow your strength to do so..." The goddess reached through again, using Leona's energy to repair Ramses' shattered mind. Leona found herself feeling drained, but Ramses was healed at last. Knowing this Leona collapsed, and with her so did the portal.

Ramses snapped awake, the burning ache in his head had gone away. His eyes flashed as he looked around, it was dusk, and a heavy thud had startled him. Blinking, he saw Leona in a heap, and slid over to her, gathering her in his arms. "Leona... Leona! Wake up!!" he shook her gently, holding her against him, his eyes frantically scanning the surrounding area for any enemies that could have done this to her. "What's wrong... wake up!"

Leona heard a muffled voice as her eyes halfway opened. Ramses? Then... it had worked? She smiled lightly at that, looking up at him. He would be all right. She felt extremely drowsy, drained, but she remained awake for his sake. She'd shake it off somehow. "Ramses... you're all right..." she said, smiling a bit wider. "I'm... glad I could do something right..."

Ramses smiled warmly and pressed a finger to her lips, his eyes shining in the darkening light. He hugged her close and wrapped his cape around her, "Shh…just go to sleep Leona... And stop acting like that, anything you did, you did because you thought you had to to save me... and in my eyes that makes it right, so stop worrying." he held her long after he finished talking, and kissed her forehead soothingly. "Besides, it's time to go to sleep anyway..."

Leona nodded. "You're right..." she said, when she noted his eyes. For a moment it had seemed like they were back to almost normal. "Yeah.... you're right... thanks..." She fought a moment longer to stay awake but found she could not so there, in his arms, she fell asleep. She had fallen asleep in such a way that the arm with her bracer on it was visible, the normally bright stone now looking almost like any other stone. She was glad he would be all right... glad he saw things differently, and in the morning she hoped things would be better all around. Tomorrow was a new day, and as always they would work out the challenges presented before them together.

Ramses smiled as he watched her drift off to sleep, and sat there holding her for the majority of the night. When dawn finally broke on the horizon, it found Ramses' form hunched over Leona, as he'd fallen asleep holding her. The Serpentarius Stone hung from its chain from his hand, near to the bracer with the Leo Stone in it, and the two gleamed faintly. The other Stones they'd obtained were still glowing strong, so the only two that were drained were Ramses' and Leona's.

Leona slept soundly, though her dreams weren't quiet. She couldn't help but remember what her creator had said at first. But eventually, even that faded as she felt the warm arms around her, until finally she could feel light hitting her. She opened her eyes, feeling a bit better from the sleep, when she noted Ramses had fallen asleep holding her. Leona couldn't help but smile a bit. "Thanks," she told him softly, content to just lie there a moment. In the corner of her eye, she could see the Stones gathered. The others shined so bright... she'd find a way to make theirs glow again. But for now, she just rested there against Ramses. Every time it seemed, he would amaze her by his reactions to things others wouldn't have taken so lightly. She couldn't be thankful enough to have met him.

Ramses slowly woke up awhile after Leona did, and raised himself from his hunched position. He smiled down at her, and flushed lightly, noting once again just how pretty she was. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, still holding her, the thought to let her go having not quite occurred to him yet, "And thanks again for what you did Leona..."

Leona looked up, flushing. "So you know huh?" she asked him. "I guess it is pretty obvious huh? But no worries! Well find out a way to make them shine again! And besides Ramses," she added, "Its the least I could do after everything, you know? I think it'll all be all right," she added, giving him a confident smile as she realized there, in his arms. It really hadn't occurred to her either to mention anything about it. She felt safe there, comfortable. There was something else she felt too as she looked up at him, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what it was...

"Of course we will! Like we said when we started to find the Stones! If we can do that, we can make our Stones shine again!" he grinned and looked into her eyes, wanting her to be as happy as she'd been when he'd met her. It tore him up to see her sad, and would do anything he could to cheer her up. He'd never felt like doing something that involved him going out of his way to do anything for anyone before, but he didn't know what it was about Leona that made him want to take on the world for her...

"Yeah!" Leona replied, smiling. "If anyone can do it, its us! Together!" Her eyes locked together with his a moment, and she noted that once more they were shining their usual bright hazel. She was immensely relieved to see that, and just the sight made her think 'Everything really will be all right. Well fight for it together...' And with those thoughts, her eyes seemed to sparkle, something that had been hovering in and out had returned. Back when she had seen those eyes so faded... she realized she had been willing to do anything to bring him back. When she fought the Lucavi... she really had been ready to die mission or not. It was an odd feeling. He had placed above everything: her home, her honor, even her own life. And yet, she still didn't mind. She didn't mind at all. She just wished she knew what this feeling was! Eris had never mentioned it before....

He held onto Leona for quite some time afterward, letting her go only when he was sure that she wasn't going to do something weird like collapse into dust or disappear. Helping her up, he smiled again, and looked around, at the bright new day they'd been granted. It was then that he noticed he could feel anything from the Serpentarius Stone, and no resonance between it and the Leo Stone, it was like they were dead. He was used to that, having never been able to access the powers until recently, but would Leona be all right? Ramses watched her carefully as he doled out two bowls of cold stew, finding himself unable to call forth a Fire spell. "Here, have something to eat, we've another big adventuring day today."

Leona nodded. "Right!" she replied, smiling. They did have another big day, and though they had more than half the Stones there were still a few to go. And this next battle, they'd have to go about it without the help of the Stones. It was a really, really odd feeling for Leona considering she'd been created harmonized with the Leo Stone, had that feeling since her first days. At least she still had the Materia, though she was uncertain how it would react either. She tilted her head, noting the watchful expression he gave. "You all right Ramses?" she asked, setting into her soup. "You look like something's bothering you."

"Mmmf…" he mumbled around a mouthful of the cold stew, then swallowed and tried again, "It's not what's bothering me, it's what's bothering you... I mean, up until I'd met you, I'd never used the Serpentarius Stone for anything, and losing focus with it isn't a big hit. But for you, someone who's been using their Stone all their life, it's gotta be weird, I'm just wondering if you're okay or not, that's all." Ramses nodded, then continued eating the stew, fully aware that without the Stones, they'd be having a hard time from now on whenever they went after a Lucavi, and from the legends told before and after Ramza's quest, the Virgo Stone was to give them the most trouble.

Leona blinked a moment, taking another mouthful of soup. She didn't mind that it was cold or anything, after all up until she met Ramses she hadn't even known about soup. She flushed a moment, wanting to come up with some excuse but then; she didn't want to lie to him. "Well... it is a bit," she admitted, looking back to him. "When I was created, I was harmonized with the Leo Stone. Its kinda hard to... well I don't know. Its just a really, really weird feeling I guess. Like... I guess the best way to say it is like there's supposed to be something there but it isn't there. It doesn't hurt or anything, so don't worry!" she added, knowing he'd be concerned with the way she had said it. "Eris said that when yours glows again mine will too and I know that we can get them to glow again! So no worries!" she added, taking another think of soup. "I'll be fine," she added, giving a slight wink and she finished off her soup.

Ramses nodded and put his bowl aside as he finished, grinning again, "Okay! Well, you can still smell where the Stones are, right? So we don't have to quit our journey! And this'll be a really great learning experience too." Ramses was doing his best not to let on just how worried he was about how Leona would react in the next battle. If she tried to transform, then couldn't, and freaked out, he'd be hard pressed to defend her. Oh, he'd defend her, he was sure of it, but it wouldn't be easy. "That Materia should still work, so you should be fine! Not to mention, you've been training for a long time, so yeah!" he packed up the bowls and gave the stewpot a quick rinse and wipe from the water they carried, stowing it away. "Let's go find us the next Stone eh?"

"Right!" Leona replied, standing up a moment and taking a deep whiff of air. "Its that way!" she said, pointing towards the west. "And not too far away either! Come on Ramses, let's get it!" She bounced a moment, checking her pack, supplies, and claws to see if they were ready. She didn't mention training or anything because well, fighting with the Stone had been the central part of her training and everything else had come after that. Of course, Ramses had no way of knowing that.

Nodding, Ramses felt for the Serpentarius Blade, only to find that it had disappeared. Without the link to the Stone, the sword didn't exist. Frowning as he ran in the direction Leona had indicated, he pulled two daggers from the belt he'd asked Leona to get him earlier. Dagger fighting wasn't a common noble means of combat, but when one got into close quarters, knives usually did better than a big slow sword. His hazel eyes flitted about the area, searching for anything that could be a Lucavi.

Leona meanwhile lead the way. She knew it wouldn't be an easy fight, but she could still smell weaknesses! That's when she noted something was running towards them... or rather skittering. It looked like a... eeeeeeew. Giant crab. It stopped when it got close to the two; eye stalks going back and forth almost hypnotically. Leona looked away however; glad she could smell and thus avoid the eyes. "PLEASE tell me you're name isn't Cancera?" she said, looking at it and the stone shining on top of the shell. "SILENCE! MY NAME IS CANCERIS, AND IT WILL BE I TO SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS HAVE FALLEN! YOU WONT GET PAST MY SHELL!" "Want to bet?" Leona asked as she came forward with claws extended. She moved to take out an eye, when she found great claw bat her away. Gritting her teeth she used a spell as she came back down. "Breath of life, FIRE!" the fire spell went to the eye... but had no effect. And she wasn't as fast as the claw…a factor she wasn't used to dealing with.

Ramses stopped running and looked up at the crab, swallowing hard for a second. What he wouldn't give for a Bolt spell... oh well... Gritting his teeth, he focused on his teleportation, coming up behind Leona and moving them both onto the top of the crab's shell. He let her go, and wavered as he got his balance on the shifting crab, he dove onto the shell and slammed a dagger into a niche between the plates. It lodged in, and he hung on for dear life. "Heh, hold on Leona!" he called, a wide grin on his face.

Leona blinked a moment, as she found herself suddenly on top of the Lucavi. The crab demon meanwhile was NOT a happy camper at having a dagger lodged into it, and was hissing vehemently. Leona though, glad to have good reflexes and balance steadied herself as she held onto him, wondering what he was thinking of doing. "Okay!" she said. "Wait, do we get to ride him like you did the Behemoth?" she asked, a grin on her face because well, that had looked REALLY cool!

Ramses flicked another dagger from the belt, and aimed it again between the plates of the crab's shell. He drove it in and hauled himself forward, grasping on of the eyestalks and trying to think of just what he was going to do while he was up here. Mentally, he whipped through the list of attacks he could use without the aid of the Serpentarius Stone, and an idea flashed into his mind. He pulled himself up into a standing position, leaning on the stake, and focused on the cracks the emanated from where the Cancer Stone had embedded itself in the crab's shell. He called down a ChocoMeteor, the magic stone slamming into the shell with a loud snap, exploding into golden stars. Then he called another, and another, until a sizable hole started to develop in the shell.

Leona blinked, watching his strategy. "I get it!" she exclaimed, seeing the hole that was not forming. Smiling, she decided she might as well loosen up the area, help aid it along. So she started using a few Bolt spells, weakening the dense shell, as the crab protested with shrieks and tried desperately to get them to get off. Finally, she noted the flesh underneath. "Breath of life, FIRE!" she yelled, aiming for that spot. The flames entered its wound, racing through it, cooking it from within. "THERE WILL BE OTHERS!!!" It hissed, falling to the ground with a loud hissing sound. Leona blinked a moment, examining it before looking back to Ramses, a surprised but big smile on her face. "We did it Ramses!" she said. "Even without our stones… we did it!"

Ramses smirked, trying to get a good response, "Was there ever any doubt? Not only did we get the Cancer Stone, we also have fresh CRAB for dinner!" he grinned ad grabbed the Stone, hauling back until it popped free. He held it out to Leona with a grin, "Why don't you hold onto it? And then we'll see about dicing this thing up to see what's good and what's not? See? S'not like we -need- our Stones to win, they just help!" Ramses smiled at her, still holding out the Cancer Stone, it's bright yellow surface gleaming in the light.

Leona smiled a moment. No, knowing them, not really. "Yeah! Wait... he's edible?!? Wow that's a LOT of food?!" She sniffed at the crab. "Smells almost fishy! Think I can swallow him whole?" she asked, head tilted as she grinned widely. He was right, being created able to use the Stone she hadn't thought of herself fighting without it really. And Eris's words about Braves came to mind again. She smiled widely, knowing now the truth there! "Yep, I'll hold onto it!" she said, giving a nod as she took the outstretched Stone and looking to it a moment, pocketed it. "You're right Ramses!" she said, sniffing at the crab again before smiling. "We really are Braves, you know that?" she asked him, head tilted.

"Damned right we are! Remember, it's not the Stone that makes the Brave!" he grinned, "And yeah, a crab is kind of like a fish. No, you can't swallow the whole thing whole." Kneeling down, Ramses plunged a hand into the crack he'd made, pulling out a sizable piece of crabmeat, "This, on the other hand, you can swallow whole!" Ramses winked and shoved it into his mouth, chewing it a few times, before swallowing it with a good deal of effort, coughing once afterward and rubbing his neck, "Okay... I'm not built for that..."

Leona couldn't help but giggle at Ramses' attempt to swallow the chunk whole. "Easy there, don't want to choke do you?" she asked, moving beside him and looking into the deep hole. "You know of course I have to try right?" she asked, pulling out her claws and taking a massive chunk out. She sniffed it a moment, and smiled setting it into her moth and swallowing it whole, before bouncing. "Mmmmmm, that was good! Why can't all enemies be edible like this?" she asked, smiling.

Ramses shrugged with a happy laugh as he delved into the shell of the beast. No doubt it would have infuriated the spirit to see the body consumed as such, but oh well. It was here, they were hungry! He tore out huge handfuls of the crab, putting them in his inventory, since the extra dimensional space didn't let one thing touch another; it was perfect for messy food!

Leona grinned happily, as she dug into the crab from another whole as well. "Why cant all Lucavi be edible like this?" she asked with a giggle. And boy, it really did fill a person up! Of course, normally it would have, but Leona was a bottomless pit! "Next time we see a giant crab, I want to see if I can swallow him whole!" she said, grinning at the thought of that challenge.

"Well... some of them might be poisonous!" he grinned, "Like my Zodiac Form... I was dripping with venom the one time, when that Scorpion Monster almost got you..." he trailed off, and forcefully tore back a section of shell, hurling it over his shoulder. He kept taking the cooked crabmeat, eating some now and again, then looked at Leona, "And no way you could swallow a giant crab!"

"Ooooh, you gotta point there," she replied, as she took another bit herself before watching the shell go flying! "Good throw Ramses," she said, before his next statement came to her ears. "Whaaaat? You don't think I could do it? I bet you I could do it right now if I tried!"

Laughing, Ramses stepped away from the crab and nudged her in the ribs, "Well, don't blame me if you get a tummyache, I mean, I'll look after ya, but it'll be your own fault!" He put his hand on his swordbelt, and smirked playfully, watching to see what she did.

Leona giggled. "Watch me!" she replied, walking over to the crab with a determined look to her face. "You don't believe I can do you?" she asked, before giving a wink and sticking out her tongue. "You," she said, pointing to the crab, "Are mine!" She moved to touch her stone to access a bit more power to pick it up, but at the last second stopped and instead moved to the things back. Using all of her strength she lifted it, though it was a bit lighter now with some meat out of it, and started to shove it in her mouth starting with the back legs...

Ramses gaped and sat down before he fell down, watching her stuff the huge crab into her mouth. He wondered idly if she'd be stretched out when she got it all in, and how she intended to digest it. But, by his experience, it was like there was a constant Demi spell in her belly, the way she ate.

Two legs down... four legs... now the HARD part. Leona's eyes widened when she saw the size of the things shell compared to her mouth. Only ONE way to do this! Her mouth opened a bit wider, as the crab seemed to be sucked in, slowly collapsing upon itself. At one point, nothing held the crab up but Leona's mouth. And that point she tilted over, which knocked the rest of it down. "Ooooooh, remind me not to take stupid challenges like that again," she said, blinking, before getting up and giggling. "But I did it Ramses! See? I... BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!"

Ramses scurried over and laughed, patting her back. "Yeesh, I don't even wanna know the truth about that. I'm just gonna say your stomach is a living Demi spell Leona, it's simpler that way..." he smiles, sitting beside her, "And 'grats on the belch! Oh...are you okay?" he added with a sheepish grin.

Leona grinned, satisfied. "I don't know it works either but it does! Eris just about fainted when she discovered I had THAT power! When I first got here, I tried it out on a tree! Though trees aren't very good, they taste like paper! Blech!" She grinned wider. "Thanks! I'm rather proud of that one! And yeah, I'm fine. Remember, I once ate a 20 pound salmon?" she asked, giggling.

Ramses shook his head in disbelief, finding the way Leona did things just...refreshing. He'd never met someone who could down a giant crab monster before, that's for sure! "Well, a big meal tends to make me tired, Iono about you... how about we find a place to turn in for the night?" Ramses grinned, and valiantly scooped her up, one arm behind her knees, the other on her back, "Sound good?"

Leona nodded, feeling happy and safe, like not a thing in the world could happen to her from where she was. She took a great yawn, nodding. "Sounds great Ramses!" she replied, already almost to sleepy land herself. As she finished that statement in fact she fell asleep there in his arms, a wide smile still on her face.

Ramses smiled, holding her close against him as he walked to a place between a few trees. He lied Leona down on a nice bit of underbrush, wrapping her in his cloak, then leaning back against a tree, to fall asleep sitting up, after spending some time watching over Leona. Before he fell asleep, he reached out with a gauntleted hand, and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, smiling softly, then he passed out.

In the middle of the night, Leona is torn from Ramses' side, for a visit with her Brother and her Mother

As Leona slept there, Ramses' cloak drawn around her, she felt a pull. Opening her golden eyes she blinked, and when she opened her eyes she found she wasn't by Ramses' side anymore. "Ramses?" she asked, eyes darting around as she looked for any sign or trace of him, drawing his cloak near. "RAMSES! Where are you?" It was then she knew where she was... she was back before Eris. "Eris?" she asked, bewildered. Shed already been punished so why was she here again? "I have summoned you here," Eris explained. "You... and Zetsumei." Leona's eyes widened a bit, knowing what she was supposed to do now, why she was here...

Zetsumei looked around as he too felt a kind of pull, the surrounding world seemed to almost melt as he arrived within Eris' chambers. Zetsumei listened to Eris words as he looked over to Leona. She seemed rather surprised by being summoned by their goddess. Almost confused. Zetsumei stood silently as Eris finished addressing them.

Leona looked over to Zetsumei, wondering how to even start. "Zetsy..." she began. "I know what you did back in Ivalice and all. And while that's all great and good and all for what we had planned... I changed the plans. Instead of the Lucavi Demons I'm bringing about the Braves and defeating the demons. The people... they're easier to lead than to conquer and plus we'd have more followers right?" There, she said PART of it. She took a deep breath, knowing the hardest part was coming up next.

Zetsumei crossed his arms over his chest and looked from Eris to Leona. "I don't recall any change of plans." His voice sounded hollow, seeming to resound slightly in the chambers. There was something amiss, not too long ago, Leona, like he seemed rather eager to cause chaos in the worlds that would soon be theirs. He waited patiently for a response. Eris must have known about this...

Leona seemed to hold the cloak around her closer a moment. "The first person I met with a stone... his name was Ramses. And well... I couldn't bear the thought of him being a Lucavi... I got to know the humans a lot better. They're well, they all have such interesting stories and while some annoy me I still want to know them all! Curiosity huh? I got to known how they tick, and well, they would follow easier under a hero instead of a conqueror, not as likely to resist! And well Ramses... he kinda knows... well... everything," she continued. She wondered if he would figure out the entirety of that...

Zetsumei's red eyes narrowed a bit when she mentioned her interest in the mortals. Did she not forget that they die and others come along anyway? "So, you seek to use this human to your advantage?" It did make sense to him, in the fact that using him would make a speedier way to accomplish the goal of conquering that world. Zetsumei let his arms rest at his sides. "Just remember that they will be under our control eventually either way. Currently I am seeking to recruit Sephiroth in his home world, but am having some difficulties locating him."

Leona blinked. "Well, were working together for the same goals if that's what you mean. I'm not using him though! She shook her head at that. "And yeah, of course I know that Zetsy! I think we'd just have more fun if there were more people left alive there, that's all. And Sephiroth huh? Sounds like a pretty scary name, good luck! And one more thing... he has already promised me he won't tell the nobles it was you, okay?" she asked, head tilted. Eris meanwhile watched the exchange in the background, silent.

Zetsumei shook his head, his blackened ornaments clinking together making a hollow sound. "Only if you are sure you can trust this mortal." His empty voice seemed to fade as he was thinking. "Sephiroth was the one who came close to destroying his world. Once we recruit Sephiroth, that world should fall easily." Zetsumei returned his attention to Leona. "So, this 'Ramses' has pledged his allegiance to Eris then?"

"I am sure... I would trust Ramses with my life," she responded, giving a smile. "So, with this Sephiroth then you feel that world won't last long huh? Just be careful, people can put up one mean fight when they want to!" She paused a moment, blinking, as her thoughts were stopped by that last statement. "Well no, he hasn't. Zetsy, he wouldn't betray me. I know that for a FACT. Why would it matter if he did or not?" she asked this with hands on her hips, head tilted once more.

"I am sure that Sephiroth wouldn't hesitate to join our cause." Zetsumei's red eyes grew a little dim as he addressed Leona. "You should be absolutely sure he does not make it known to others what is going on. Pledging his mortal life to our cause would be the bond that makes sure of such things." Now he was curious as to Leona's reaction. She didn't seem like herself in full, almost as if something was missing...

Leona shook her head. "He wouldn't! One of these days you'll have to meet him Zetsy, and you'd know it too! I don't think we'd have to make him pledge anything, I'm content with things just the way they are!" Leona noted the way Zetsumei looked at her, and looked back, curiously. "What?" she asked him, blinking. "I don't have something stuck in my teeth now do I?"

"Why do you care for them so much? They will all die eventually anyway and be replaced with new ones. There's no point in getting attached to one. That and they are flighty and don't know the meaning of being aligned with one person as well as we do." All four of them were created by Eris and have had plenty of time to spend time with each other. "What promise could this one hold?"

Leona stopped a moment. Why was it that around Ramses... "I want to see if there are more like Ramses," she replied. "Zetsy... you ever been to a carnival? Heard the bards? Seen a play? They have a lot of interesting things down there that I'd rather see stick around after we take over. As for flighty, well, you'd be surprised how loyal some are. I think we can get them to follow the Braves, I really do!" She paused a moment. "Ramses? He's helped me in so many battles, he's always there, and he knows just what to say! He's a valuable ally Stone or not and well, when I'm around him... I don't know. I don't have a word for it to be honest!" she replied, blushing a bit. Which WAS true, she had no idea what it was she felt when by him.

Zetsumei's disappeared for a moment and he sighed, something that sounded similar to a cold wind. His ruby red eyes appeared again. "I have not been to any of their festivities, or celebrations regarding their limited time of life. I shall leave you to your designs then and to what you believe will speed the process of taking over that world." He was caught off guard by the way she trailed off at the end of her remark. Maybe she enjoyed the idea of having a pet human? "Remember that if you need anything, we are able to contact each other, even when worlds apart."

"Right!" Leona replied, nodding heartily. "I wont forget Zetsy, and don't worry! Ill get the Braves all gathered and Ivalice will be ours in no time! Then we'll all finally have a home right?" she smiled. "Keep in touch Zetsy, okay! And no worries, I got it all under control!" She gave a nod, and looked to Eris who nodded. Eris was contemplative, though she didn't say a word as Leona opened a portal and headed back to Ivalice, curling back with Ramses' cloak as she had done before and making sure it looked like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Zetsumei nodded and watched as Leona left. He turned and bowed to Eris, his white pale horse appearing next to him as he stood up and mounted upon it. A portal appeared as he galloped through it leaving Eris in her own chambers.

Meanwhile, Ramses had his own encounter with a member of Eris' family

Force sat for a moment outside of the Farplane. He hadn't found any trace of Seymour there, and he still had a whole 45 minutes before he was supposed to meet with Arashi. He'd been sitting there for a good 5 minutes already, so of course, he was bored. "Ah...what to do what to do..." He thought aloud as he got up and paced. Then, the proverbial light bulb. "Ah-hah! I know, I'll try that new power Eris gave me. I'll go and…see how Leona's doin', yeah, that's it. It shouldn't take that long. I'll be back waaayyy before I'm supposed to meet Arashi. She won't even know I left..." He nodded for a second and then headed back into the Farplane. No one was in there at the moment, so it was a good place to slide from. Concentrating on where Leona was, he felt the scenery shift around him and when he opened his eyes, he was in a totally different place than he had been. But where was Leona? All he saw was some guy....

Ramses had fallen asleep with Leona in his arms, but had slumped forward when she had left to see Zetsumei and Eris. He hadn't woken up, because he was actually quite drained from having his mind torn up by Zodiac, then repaired. Ramses mumbled in his sleep, between deep breaths, "Don't worry Leona.. it'll be alright.."

Tilting his head to the side. Force squatted down to get a better look at the guy. He was saying something about Leona, had he done something to her? That didn't seem possible. She was way too smart for that...right? Cautiously, he poked the sleeping guy with the butt of his katana. "Hey…dude...what'd you do with my sister?" He asked. Poking a little harder the second time, but his tone was more curious than threatening.

Ramses stirred, and instinctively rolled away, clutching for his sword... which… just wasn't there without the power of the Serpentarius Stone to put it there. Rising to his feet, but remaining in a defensive crouch, he looked at Force, his hazel eyes gleaming as he formulated a plan out of this. Then he realized that Leona wasn't there... "You! What've you done with Leona?" he said in a warning tone.

Force raised an eyebrow at the guy, apparently he had *some* fighting experience at least. "Ah, that's what I was asking you. You were the one talking about her in your sleep. Hey…wait. How do you know my sister?" He asked, standing next to Ramses in the blink of an eye, his usual placid smile dimming only a little. His eyes still looked closed as usual.

Ramses blinked, and stepped away from Force, trying to maintain a safe distance. Something tugged at the back of his mind, and he thought for a second, he said Leona was his sister... "That'd make you...uhm... Zetsumei or Force...right?" he asked, slowly dropping out of his stance. Heck, if they were all as nice as Leona, he didn't need to protect himself as if this guy were a monster He probably cared about Leona as much as Ramses did. "I'm Leona's friend Ramses..."

"Ohhh okay. Yeah, I'm force." He laughed. "Zet? Haha, do I LOOK like a cranky pile of metal to you?" He said, folding his legs smoothly under himself to sit down. "So, if you haven't seen her...and I haven't seen her...no wait, I just got here, so I don't count. But still…where'd she go? And more importantly...." Force tried to put on a serious face, placing his hand on his chin and rubbing thoughtfully. "Just what are your intentions for my sister sir. Are you employed? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Ramses blinked and sat down, not really understanding why he was being grilled... "Intentions... like what? We're looking for the Zodiac Stones... and then the Zodiac Braves... I'm the Serpentarius Knight... a member of the Hokuten Knights... and the Belouve court... Not by birth mind you, I'm an orphan, heh! And...in five years? I dunno... probably being the Serpentarius Brave?"

Force put his hand over his mouth, but couldn't stop himself from bursting out laughing. "Oh man, this is a lot more fun than waiting for Arashi!" He said. "Haha, I mean do you intend to marry my sister, you know, make an honest woman out of her and all that?" He said between guffaws. Mostly because he was imagining just how red Leona would turn if she happened to hear this conversation.

Ramses flushed a deep crimson, rubbing his forehead for a second, "M-m-marry her?! What gave you that idea...?" Ramses' blush stayed though, a sure sign that what Force had said had a deeper impact than he let on, "Uhm... she's honest now... why would I have to make her honest...?" He blinked again.

"Ah, it's just a figure of speech man, no need to freak out." He looked around, sniffing for a moment. "Hey…do you have any of that human food around here? That stuff is so awesome you guys have it so good you know that?"

Ramses nodded and delved into his inventory, producing a large pot, a bright red ball, a pair of clay bowls, two spoons, and the ingredients for a rich, thick beef stew, as well as two loaves of crusty bread, and water and flour. Ramses quickly threw together a stew with vegetables and beef, thickening it with the flour, then burst the Flame Ball under the pot, starting a fire to heat it up. "I can't cast magic anymore.. my Stone doesn't glow..." he explained, "But there should be stew in a little while! Did you know your sis likes to swallow fish whole? She managed a twenty pound salmon once." Ramses spoke with a kind of breathy lilt when he mentioned Leona, though he didn't notice it himself. "Here, try the bread!"

"Wow! I always teased her for having a bit mouth" he chuckled. Taking some bread. "This stuff is great!" He said as he verily plowed through it. "So…I didn't think people needed stones to cast magic here?" He asked. "Don't you…just have to change classes or something?" he questioned in between bites.

"Well...it's what you know and what you don't. Not everyone can be every class... well, they -can-, but some don't have the options... I was taught to be a Serpentarius Knight by the Stone, but I don't know anything else. The Hokuten Mages have been doing research into the Materia that Ramza found, and it's active now…probably to do with the merging worlds, but they don't know that... Leona told me about it." he smiled softly, "I made a Fire, Bolt and Ice Materia for Leona before I lost my Spellcasting ability... BUT! I can still use monster attacks!"

"Hmmm" Force thought for a moment. "Materia, a type of stone I think, used for Spellcasting on a world called "the planet" by it's natives. I think that's the only way they have to use magic on that world." He nodded. "We should go see." He decided. "Maybe you can get some more useful Materia there." He stood up, gesturing with his hand. "Come one, it'll be fun!" He smiled broadly.

Ramses blinked and looked around, noting that the stew was almost done. He dished some out for the two of them, and started in on his, trying to think of what he meant, "You mean... you're gonna take me somewhere other than Ivalice...? But what about Leona? I still have to find her!"

"Ah, she's fine, and she'll be able to find us easily. If it makes you feel better, you can leave her a note?" He dug into the stew. "Man I love human food! This stuff is so great!" He said with a grin. "And hey, you never know, we might be back before she is. Besides. I think I may know where she is already." He said nonchalantly,

Ramses nodded, and took out a piece of paper, in case she got back and found him missing. He wrote out what he wanted to say, thinking each word, 'Dear Leona, I've gone to get some Materia with Force, I'll be back in a little while! Wait here for me! -Ramses' "Alrighty" he said as he folded the note and put it on the stewpot, setting a spoon on it so it didn't blow off, "Okay, we can go..."

Force nodded, and the scenery seemed to morph around them. The pot and the note disappeared and the ground turned to concrete. Trees morphed into huge buildings and a distant mountain range phased into a train track, though it looked a bit destroyed. There was no sky above them, instead, a huge metal ceiling hung over them, blotting out the sun, but it wasn't too dark, because there were street lamps lit everywhere. Force grinned a little. "Ah, I think this is Midgar, we should be able to buy some Materia around here. If not, we can go look for some somewhere else hmm?" There were a few people around who seemed a little stunned that two oddly dressed people had just appeared out of no where, but Force didn't seem to notice.

Ramses looked around, trying his best not to freak out or burst into questions. Midgar looked so bleak and dead, "What...what happened here... why is it so dead..?" he mumbled, he looked down at the Serpentarius Stone, and even it seemed to glow against the machine and concrete backdrop. Ramses hoped nothing like this happened in Ivalice.

"The people here like to call it 'progress'." Force chuckled. "They're all technically advanced and stuff. Don't worry though; the whole world doesn't look like this, just this city. Most other places look a lot like your world I think, with lots of plants and stuff." Force started off down one of the streets. "The place is pretty big though, so we should try and find someone who can tell us where the shop is. Oh yeah, the reason it's so dark is because there's another half to the city above us. Creepy huh?" He asked with a grin.

"Yeah... I mean, what would happen if some fell? People would be crushed!" he shook his head, following Force, "So...this is a different world... I need to get a new sword... mind doesn't appear without the Serpentarius Stone." Ramses said matter-of-factly, "And Materia eh? Do they take gil here?" Ramses looked around, his hazel eyes sweeping from place to place in the strange city. Children, dirty and scruffy, crept along the garbage looking for useful things; they were Street Kids. "Don't they take care of orphans and the poor...?" he wondered aloud.

Force shook his head. "This lower level is called the slums, it's where all the poor people live basically. I'm pretty sure Gil is one of the common factors in all the worlds, it seems you all have the same currency. I think that makes things convenient, don't you?" He asked. "Oh, and to the other thing. One of them DID fall once if I remember right, and yeah, a lot of people were crushed, but the leader at the time didn't care because it was just all the poor people and beggars and stuff."

Ramses frowned and nodded, "I'm not gonna even ask... Ivalice has it's own problems, and I can't afford to try to save everything until we get the Braves together..." he muttered, "Okay! Let's get that Materia...and a sword! Do you know where we should go, Force?" he asked. Ramses liked Force so far, he wasn't as cool as Leona in Ramses' biased eyes, but heck, they were biased!

Force shrugged. "I figure we'll just ask some passerby where the weapon and Materia shops are and go from there. sound good?"

Ramses nodded, not eager to talk to anyone here just yet. It was a new world, and a damned strange one. Would this be what Ivalice could be like if Ramza hadn't stopped the Bloody Angel from ruling? His eyes, ever alert, took in everything he saw. Most of it was technology beyond his grasp, but he could see things that intrigued him.

Force saw someone shuffling down the street, and tugged on their shirt as they passed. It was a middle aged woman, sad and haggard looking, who seemed to be hoping that she got away without being harmed, despite Forces' usual friendly expression. "Ho there Ma'am" he said as politely as he knew how. "We're lookin for the Materia and weapons shops. Can you point us in the right direction?" The woman relaxed, but only slightly, she was wearing rags and she looked like she'd probably seen her share of muggings in her lifetime. She pointed down the street, to where a neon sign in the shape of a sword glowed. Force chuckled slightly. "Well, that was easy" he said. "Thanks." He told the lady, slipping a small bag of gil into her hand and motioning to Ramses to follow him as he headed down the street. The lady looked down, and looked back at Force, utterly stunned.

Ramses frowned a bit and rooted around in his inventory. It had been filled in the castle, and he had all manner of things. He pulled out a set of simple, warm clothing for the woman, and pressed it into her hands, smiling softly. "Be well, and many thanks good woman." he nodded, then hurried after Force, leaving her with an even more stunned expression on her face. "So, what kind of Materia do they have here? Is it all elemental like ours?"

"Oh it's all kinds of things. They have Elemental, and status stuff. They even have Summon Materia. But you can't buy that. You have to go out and find it. " Force nodded. "There's even Materia that attracts Chocobo's. I always thought that was kinda cool...I wonder what a chocobo tastes like..."

"Well, back home we have a dish called Choco Gratin, some chocobo are raised for a food source, while others are for riding in war!" Ramses smiled as he stepped into the store and looked around, eyes wide, at all the glimmering Materia, "Whoa... they don't have this much back in the castle! And they've been working for ages!"

Force nodded. "Of course not. Because it's only been active for a little while there. Here it's been around as long as the planet has, so naturally they know more about it." Force had to chuckle to himself, he sounded so...mature.

Ramses nodded, doing his best to take in information from Force, out of habit. It did a person good to know stuff like this. "Okay... so what kind of Materia should I get, Force? Well, Leona has a Fire, a Bolt, and an Ice Materia...just so you know!" he grinned, pressing his face to glass panels as he stared at the glimmering stones.

Force put a hand to his chin in thought. He'd never really bought Materia before, so he wasn't entirely sure what all they should get himself. "Well, You're going to want some 'All' Materia I think, and...well, why not just get a little of everything hmm? It couldn't hurt, right? And you need your own elements don't you?" He asked curiously. "Hey, maybe after we get back, we can take Lee and find some summon Materia!"

Ramses nodded, and looked to the person behind the stall. He took down a rather large sword from the wall, hefting it. It was about the same weight as the Serpentarius Blade, and was taller than he was. The owner gaped as he put it on the shelf, "I'll take this one!" he smiled winningly, "And two of every kind of Materia you have!" it was a pretty large boast, but Ramses could afford it, either in Gil, or trade items!

Force hummed to himself as the Cashier rang up Ramses' items. He looked at the Materia and weapons, He didn't see anything that looked stronger than his current Katana, so he chose not to buy anything. He did realize however, that he would need to be getting back soon. So he turned to Ramses. "Hey, you almost done?" He asked nonchalantly.

Ramses nodded, tying to sword to his back, after speaking briefly with the shopkeeper about equipping his Materia. He could put it in the Slots in his new sword, or the pair of shoulder guards he'd bought for himself and Leona. He put the two Titanium Bangles into his Inventory, and followed them with two "Fire", "Ice", "Bolt", "Cure", "All", and "Steal" Materia. He slid some items, and the rest of his gil over the counter, then smiled. "Let's go back, I don't wanna worry Leona... she's a little down since her Stone isn't working..." he mumbled, sliding back out the door into the sooty Midgar air.

Force nodded. "Yeah, I gotta be getting back to Spira anyway or Arashi will chew my head off." He said with a nod. He stepped off into a side alley where they wouldn't be seen. "Ya ready?" he asked

Ramses nodded, only really having one more question, "When you asked about my intentions for your sister, Force... uhm... she invited me to live in the home that you four and Eris are making.. I'm wondering if that would be alright with you?" He hoped he'd made at least a good impression on Leona's brother, she was his only friend after all. And he hoped Arashi and Zetsumei turned out as nice as he was.

"Hey, I don't mind. I think everyone's going to have their own part of the world anyway, so if anyone else has a problem with it, then you'll just have to avoid their parts of the world and just stick to me an Lees' parts, right?" He said with a shrug and a grin. By the time he was done talking, they were back in Ivalice, though they were a little ways away from where they'd started.

"Of course... thanks Force" Ramses smiled genuinely, his hazel eyes flashing. "Good luck with whatever it is you're up to in 'Spira'." he extended a gauntleted hand, to shake Force's, a wide smile still on his face.

Force took the hand and shook it, though the concept of "shaking hands" was still a little new to him. But then, he -was- the youngest of the four. "Alright, we're I think a ways west of your camp, sorry I'm still new at this sliding thing. You should be able to find it alright though."

"Many thanks!" he shook Force's hand, not gripping too hard, and turned, trusting Force with his back. It was sort of a test, to see if he could really trust the man like he could trust Leona. Without looking back, Ramses headed back to their camp and carefully sat down beside Leona's sleeping form, leaning against a tree near her, with only a small creaking of his armor, and a rustling from his new sword.

Force watched him go as the scenery shifted around him, soon he'd be back in Spira, he hoped he wasn't -too- late for his meeting with Arashi, but knowing him, he probably was, and that meant he was in trouble....

And now, back with our intrepid Zodiac Braves!

Leona stretched, yawning herself awake. It had been an interesting encounter with her brother to say the least, but well, at least it was done with right? She looked over to the sleeping Ramses and smiled. She may not have her powers, but she could still hunt and cook them up some breakfast right? "Be right back Ramses!" she said, giving a nod as she set out into the woods her claws in hand. It wasn't long before she came up against a deer, which she quickly killed. But she now realized something as it lied there dead... how was she getting it back? She couldn't swallow it and spit it out... she'd have to drag it! That's when she noted she wasn't alone...

Ramses heard her and yawned, rolling over and stretching out. He was confidant that they'd chosen a safe place, and that Leona could take care of herself. Not to mention he was half asleep and his judgment was a little off...

Leona blinked, as she found something charge towards her. She leaped out of the way, only to find herself landing on top of a behemoth. And it wasn't alone... ten of them now surrounded the area, attracted by the blood from her kill. She could take on three or four alone but this many... and no way she'd get away if she tried to run. She did the only thing she could think of... reached for her Stone. Only... it didn't work and she was standing there in the middle now, frozen as the behemoths surrounded her. "RAMSES!" she yelled, loudly, knowing they'd go for him next. "YOU'VE GOTTA RUN!" Meanwhile she just gazed at the behemoths surrounding her, trying time and time to get her Stone to work but it wouldn't. NOT good!

Ramses jerked awake, hearing Leona scream. 'What?' he thought numbly, groping for the familiar lump near him, hoping he was dreaming, 'Shit! She really screamed!!' Ramses jumped up, still half asleep, and hauled the large sword off his back, sprinting in the direction he'd heard Leona scream. As he approached the area, his eyes widened, Leona was frozen in place between a group of one...two...TEN?! Ten behemoths?! "Ahhhh!!!" he screamed as he leapt off the ridge, cleaving the head off one of the deep purple beasts. It fell in a shower of gore, coating Ramses in it's sticky red blood. In this state of frenzied combat, his eyes gleamed more like the Lucavi's that had been in the Serpentarius Stone. This wasn't going to work, he'd die here if he didn't think of something. Worse yet, Leona would die here...

Of course Ramses didn't go like she had called, but instead he came directly into the middle of it! Instead of one gone... there'd be two! She shook her head, reaching out with one of her claws and striking a behemoth in the chest, causing it to fall over. But as she did so another came tumbling into her side and sending her flying, straight for another behemoth. She didn't even have time to land on her feel, moving her claws to meet the beast's skull. She killed that one and jumped towards another, but as she did one she couldn't see sideswiped her and plowed her into the ground knocking her dazed and for a moment senseless...

Ramses looked over after driving his sword into another. A squeak had caught his attention, and he had looked over just in time to see a behemoth removing it's heavy skull from where it had slammed Leona into the ground. She wasn't moving.... he couldn't tell if she was alive... Rage welled anew in Ramses' heart as a tortured scream tore its way from his throat, wordless in his anguish at seeing his friend, who, for all he knew, was dead. The Serpentarius Stone flared to life in an instant, as Ramses' mind sought a way to save Leona. Anything would do. About the same time, the Taurus Stone flared up, and Ramses was well into his transformation, roaring bestially as he was struck by the behemoths, again and again, as he gathered his energy for what the Stone told him was his last choice.

Leona could hear Ramses cry out and tried once again to get up to her feet. If she was going down, she was going down FIGHTING. She came up, bringing her claws to the nearest behemoths chest as her own vision blurred a bit. She didn't realize her Stone was alive as well, as the behemoth met her first, tossing her claws away with its claws before charging at her sending her once again flying, this time against a tree. She slumped against, eyes cold, and not moving at all.

Ramses took each blow the behemoths threw at him, lost in his fury, and anguish. He'd seen the final blow, the behemoth had slammed it's head into Leona, and threw her with bone-breaking force against a tree. This was it, she was dead, they -would- pay. Ramses waded through the combat, shouting the words instinctively, calling upon the powers of the stars themselves. "Heavens and Cosmos, heed my call, come to me, Beasts in the Stars, and crush my foes!! ZODIAC!!!" there was a hushed delay as he finished the incantation, as if the entire world was awaiting the power that Ramses had unleashed, to slam into it and to endure the colossal force of his anger and need. One thought entered his mind, he had to cover Leona, Summoning Magic didn't hurt the one who summoned it, Ramses could use his body to shield Leona's, at least she could have a decent burial then... He left his transformation behind, and threw himself atop Leona, cradling her in his arms, hunched over her, not noticing her shallow breaths. The carnage around them escalated for a few seconds as the almighty beasts rampaged, destroying everything around them for a good fifty feet...except for their master, and the humanoid they couldn't get to. Ramses' eyes dimmed as he heard everything go calm around him, he ached for Leona to open her eyes and say everything was all right.

Leona couldn't hear or feel anything around her, but she was still barely alive, breathing. She wasn't sure how long she lied there, but slowly things were coming forth. Her head was pounding, her ears ringing... but she could feel something warm and familiar. Ramses? Was that Ramses? How... he was all right? She took a deep breath to steady herself and coughed a bit, bringing up a bit of red, before leaning a bit closer to him. "You...re, all right Ramses?" she asked, not sure if she would even hear him with how low her voice was at the moment.

Ramses nodded, tears welling in his hazel coloured eyes. She was alive.. He nodded and kissed her forehead, shushing her as he hugged her closer, "Shh... you'll be alright, don't worry, I'll keep you safe from now on." he vowed to himself and Leona, "If I have to call upon Eris or Arianna or whoever, I'll not let this happen to you again... I was so afraid that you were gone, Leona..." his voice broke, and he didn't say any more, he just hugged her to him.

Leona settled down for a moment, finding his presence reassuring, his gentle kiss. She looked back up to him, giving a thumb's up. "No worries," she said, adding a smile. "It'll take a lot more than a few behemoths to take me down!" she coughed a bit more, before looking back to him. He had really thought she had died hadn't he? In truth if he hadn't been there... "I... I wouldn't leave you like that Ramses," she said, not sure what it was about things but finding herself slightly blushing.

Ramses shook his head, still holding her to him, not wanting her to see what he'd done just yet. The truth was, in that moment of clarity, he'd realized something. He had been created by the Serpentarius Stone to be Serpentarius' link to Ivalice... he was in fact the demon he'd feared himself to be. He was ashamed of that, but another thought sparked to life, as Leona had mentioned. 'There are good and bad monsters...like people?' she'd said... Could it be that there were both good and bad demons as well, and he'd chosen his own path, despite everything else? Ramses kissed Leona's forehead again and smiled, hugging her tighter, but not too tight, calling upon the ChocoCure to heal her slowly, "Thanks for everything Leona..." he mumbled, finding himself in the same blushing state she was in

Leona found herself smiling there beside him, the Cure spell washing over her and knitting inside of her what it could. Her breathing became much easier then, her surroundings a bit more focused as well as her thoughts. "I should be thanking you Ramses... you saved my life," she said, "But you're welcome." She looked up to his hazel eyes, and something seemed a bit more... at peace? Was it just her imagination? She didn't want to break the moment though, and didn't ask, for once letting her curious nature rest.

Ramses shook his head again, smiling softly, "That's not something you have to thank me for... But you... you helped me realize mine, and who I am... Really Leona, thank you for that, and for sticking with me..." he stopped talking, still using the ChocoCure, slowly still, watching her heal and adjusting his arms to make her more comfortable. "I meant it to, I'd have called on Eris, or Arianna, or any god to make sure you'd be alright... you're the best friend I've ever had, and you mean so much to me..."

"I, I did?" Leona asked, a bit confused at that. She was glad she could help him, she just wasn't sure what shed done! "You know the thing is Ramses... I don't know what Id do if I hadn't met you that day. I think I would have been eaten or something! But you came along and were there to teach me, to help, and well, to just have some great times right?" She realized then something, as he continued to heal her. She was going to make it out all right. Already her wounds and such were healing together nicely, and though she'd be sore granted, she would be all right. She flushed a bit again, before adding, looking up towards him again smiling, "You mean a lot to me too Ramses..."

Ramses nodded again, feeling overcome by a strange thought. The nobles back at Igros had a way of showing that they cared deeply about the people in their lives, though Ramses had only seen men and women do it, never a man to a man, or woman to a woman. He figured this was the best time to try it. Slowly, Ramses drew Leona closer, and leaned down, putting his face close to hers and moving to press his lips against hers, when he stopped, wincing. He'd whacked his nose into Leona's... okay, so maybe it wasn't as easy as everyone made it look, Ramses blushed furiously.

Leona blinked a moment with surprise, not sure what Ramses was intending on doing. She found herself closing her eyes a moment, as she came closer to him, the two so close when... THUNK! Her eyes opened again, and she smiled back at Ramses flushing just as red as he was. She wasn't sure what he was going for but when they'd been so close she had felt something.... it was a feeling shed felt more and more often being around him. "Care to... try again?" she asked him, feeling light hearted, giggly, high, and well so many things at once she couldn't name all she felt. Even her soreness was gone as she looked up to him blinking.

Ramses nodded softly, and tilted his head to the side, trying to avoid bashing her nose with his again. He was so embarrassed about that, but she didn't seem to be angry with him. His arms tightened around her as his lips met hers, without the -THWACK- of noses. He held his lips to hers, feeling so many different emotions that his head felt like it was going to burst, his stomach churned in excitement while he kissed her, doing his best to express all the feelings he didn't know how to. Concerns about Ivalice, the Stones, and even the destruction surrounding them were swept up in the heady rush he was experiencing.

Of course Leona wasn't mad or anything, she was too... caught up in her own well confusion and emotions to be angry. Their lips pressed against each other's, and it was like something within her ignited. It was just the two of them, no behemoths, no stones, no worlds; even her home world was far away as they came together. Shed never seen anyone do this, never felt anything like this, like all of her emotions were coming to a head in a single moment... their moment. And it filled her heart to know it probably wouldn't be their only moment either. Was there a word for this feeling?

Ramses eventually, reluctantly moved his lips from hers, nudging her nose as he spoke, wanting to feel like this for the rest of his life, he didn't know what to call it, but he'd never felt it before. Ramses resolved to ask someone about it when he got the chance... though he couldn't think of who. "I... I... wow..." he breathed, staring into Leona's eyes, finding himself drowning in their deep golden depths, this moment feeling an eternity. Ramses would gladly give anything for an eternity with Leona, that was exactly ow he felt, but he didn't know how to say it. "It... I'm sorry..." he stammered, "I just..."

For a moment after their first kiss they looked into each others eyes, her into the hazel depths she had come to realize that she wanted to see forever. Those eyes had seen a lot but through it all, they'd always been there with her. Leona knew the feeling he felt, unsure how to say anything either. "Don't be sorry!" she said, flushing again. "I... I uhm.... I kinda liked it..." she admitted, smiling a heartfelt smile. Kinda? That was an understatement on her part! Who could she ask about this feeling? Certainly not Zetsy or Eris! And Ramses she was certain, though he felt it too, seemed like he wasn't sure what it was either!

Ramses blushed again as he remembered the grilling that Force had given him. Did Force know what it was Ramses was feeling? Maybe... but probably not... since he was from the same pace as Leona. He smiled again to her, his eyes roaming over the features of her face. He snapped back to his normal frame of mind, though the unbidden feelings of his unknown love for her were there as well, he lifted her carefully in his arms, lying her head on his shoulder, "Close your eyes please Leona? I... I don't want you to see what I did..." he seemed ashamed of it, and he had every right to. The scorched area behind them was littered with corpses, twisted as if they'd died in unspeakable torment. The same torment that Ramses had felt when he'd thought Leona dead, transferred to physical pain. It was a ghastly sight, and he didn't want to subject Leona to that.

Leona looked towards him a moment, but not towards the scene as she was lifted up. What had he done? Leona had been out cold, she had no idea how he had overcome the behemoths either. But she nodded, if anything for him. Her curiosity could wait. "All right Ramses," she said, closing her eyes as she rested against him, not looking towards the carnage before them. They would walk away from this, and she made a promise to herself not to mention it either, not to ask what had happened.

Ramses sighed thankfully as Leona closed her eyes, he held her against him as he picked his way around fallen trees, behemoth corpses that somehow refused to become crystals or treasure boxes, their bodies forever locked in Ramses' pain and torment from the moment he'd figured Leona to be dead. The area would always remain this way, but Ramses couldn't help it, the most he could do was make sure Leona never saw it. He walked them steadily away from there, to an area far away from the Zodiac-blasted landscape. Ramses didn't stoop to put Leona down; somewhere rooted in the back of his mind was a small belief that she might break.

Leona wasn't sure how long they had traveled, finding herself wondering dimly just how large of an attack had it been? She knew one thing for sure; they weren't ever going to look back. "Uhm Ramses?" she asked quietly a bit, eyes still closed as she tilted her head. "Can I open my eyes now?" she asked.

Nodding, Ramses looked around, and once behind him to be sure that they wouldn't ever see that area. He hoped that a Stone wasn't there... he did -not- want Leona to see what he'd done. "Of course, I... got lost in thoughts, sorry..." he smiled reassuringly. "Are you alright to walk Leona...?" he asked, not really wanting to let her go regardless of weather she could or not. "I got you some things from... err... I went to a place called Midgar, with Force..." he flushed, remembering the questions again. "I got you a few Materia, and a bangle to wear!"

"Its all right! Better to be thinking than not thinking right?" she asked, before nodding. "I, I'll be okay to walk! Might help loosen things a bit and wait, you saw FORCE! And I missed it? Bet you guys had a blast! And Midgar? I've never heard of it.... but, wait! Zetsy mentioned that place too!" She remembered him mentioning the place before... "And wait? New Materia? Bangle? Can I see Ramses?" she asked, her natural curiosity taking over.

Ramses smiled and set Leona down, making sure she was steady before he let her go. He rummaged around in the Inventory, before producing a pair of Mithril Bangles, they looked like weird shoulder armor, for one shoulder. Ramses pushed the yellow Steal Materia into it and handed it to Leona with a grin. "There's also some more Ice, Fire, Bolt, and Cure Materia, as well as another Steal, and some All Materia!"

Ramses nodded and reached over, adjusting a strap so it was fastened securely. "The All Materia makes the magic effect all of your enemies, but it makes it weaker, 'cause it's force is divided up!" Ramses then strapped his Bangle on, slotting a Steal Materia, as well as an All which he'd use with his natural magic.

"Ah, okay! Still though, it sounds cool! Can you imagine that many fire or bolt spells going off at the same time? Nifty!" She looked over to the Materias a moment, before laughing. "Now I'm not sure WHICH one I want to try first!" she said. "But I do know one thing!" She gave a big smile, before saying "Thanks Ramses! You're the best, you know that? Looks like you must have had fun with my bro huh?"

Flushing, Ramses smiled, he didn't really think he was the best, but coming from Leona it made his cheeks heat up, "Well... I wouldn't say it was all fun..." Ramses chuckled derisively, "There was a part I didn't enjoy too much, but he's pretty nice! Hmm... maybe we should try going to a town and seeing what's up? We've been in the wilderness awhile, y'know?"

Leona noticed him flush, and wondered why he'd flush so when she was just saying the truth! "Yeah, Force is a great bro! He's the youngest, I'm just a bit older than him. A town? Yeah, that might be fun! Who knows, we could get some more good things to eat and get a place to rest right?" Her curiosity made her wonder what it was there that happened, and what Force had said in all, but she decided not to press it. "And I uh, hope I didn't make you worry with vanishing there last night!" she added, remembering she forgot to explain why she had just vanished that night.

Ramses smiled and nodded a little, "You disappeared too? Weird... where'd you go to? I left a note in case I didn't come back in time," he added with a chuckle as he led Leona off in the direction of the closest town. The way he'd taken her from the destruction, the closest town was more to the south, he couldn't remember what it was called.

"Ah well, I was kinda summoned," Leona explained. "Eris called me and Zetsy together... went a lot better than I expected! He's helping find this guy named Sephiroth in another world right now, and well it was said that I could keep going with things in this world as they were!" She didn't mention the other things Zetsy had said, about humans and not getting too attached, and found herself wondering what would Zetsy do if he ever met Ramses? Nor did she mention how Zetsy had wanted Ramses to swear fealty!.

"Ahh, well, at least it went well!" Ramses grinned and took Leona's hand in his, squeezing it softly. He didn't know why it mattered that he did this, but it did. He felt better when he was closer to Leona for some strange reason, maybe it had something to do with that kiss? Ramses blushed again, thinking about it.

Leona blinked a moment at his gesture, then smiled. She felt that warm fuzzy feeling again, the one that was making its presence known more and more with him around. The one that said shed do whatever it takes, go to Hades and back for him. "Yeah, it went great!" she said, giving a nod. It had worried her a bit that Eris hadn't said a word the whole time, but even that worry was gone, replaced by the fuzzy feeling. Which despite everything, she still didn't have a name for! What was it called? And did it even really matter? As long as it was there, Leona was happy.

Ramses squeezed her hand softly as they walked, he hoped nothing attacked them right now. The warm and fuzzy feeling had erupted in his chest again, and he didn't want it interrupted. Ramses snuck a look at Leona, then looked up into the sky, smiling happily. "We'll be to the town soon Leona, not sure what's there though."

"Well, guess it'll be a surprise right?" Leona asked. "Some of the coolest things are surprises!" Like this feeling, like the way he held her hand, like that kiss... She had a mushy feeling too, but in a good way. Why hadn't Eris told her about anything like this? But it didn't matter. She could always ask later, for now, she just wanted to enjoy the warm fuzzies.

"Yup!" Ramses grinned and put a hand on the Serpentarius Stone, knowing that it was alive. It pulsed along with his heartbeat, now that he'd accepted it. He wasn't exactly human, but he wasn't -not- human at the same time. It was confusing even to him, and he was living it! Ramses made a quick mental note to ask someone in the town about how he felt, he wanted to tell Leona, in words, exactly how he felt about her. But for now he stayed happy being nearby.

Leona noted as he set a hand on his stone, and noted something. It was, it was alive again! But how? She found her gaze for a moment drawn to her own, and noted it was alive again! Funny how something she had felt the absence of so strongly, she hadn't even noticed its return. Was it after that incident? Well, it didn't matter now; things were definitely looking bright again. It had been a close call; she'd never been so close to that point in her life. But now, it was like life and things did a 180 for her!

Ramses didn't notice her looking to the Stone, or to his, but he did notice her perking up a bit. That was a relief! "You seem better" he commented with a smile, his eyes scanning the trees and the road for any threats; they all seemed to be frightened by the sheer power of what he'd done earlier. Guess Ivalice'd be feeling the aftershocks for a little while...

Leona nodded. She was feeling better; she was walking the soreness out and well barely noticed it with how she was feeling mentally even. "Yeah! Uhm, no worries Ramses! A bit of rest and I'll be good as new!" Though she had a feeling might be some time before she left on her own to get deer again!

Nodding, Ramses felt the weight of his gil bag. What with the gil they'd made, and that he'd collected from the Behemoths... there was enough to afford a really swanky inn! "Oh yeah!" he said with enthusiasm, "We can buy the best room that the best inn has to offer!" Ramses squeezed Leona's hand again and moved at a slightly faster pace. They'd get to the town by nightfall.

"Really? Sounds cool Ramses!" Leona said, as the quickened a bit towards the town. "I want to see it!" She was excited as Ramses sounded, her curiosity running over! "Were going to have a night to remember right?" she asked, smiling. Of course, with him, every night had been one to remember hadn't it? They had led quite the adventure together!

"Yup! Remember when they had that feast in my honor? We missed that, but we'll have a better meal with all the money we're gonna spend!" Ramses was normally pretty thrifty, but when it came to showing Leona around in the world, he wanted her to have and know the best, most fun things he could think of! Being poor was neither fun, nor the best, but they'd have plenty of money even after the huge inn-bill.

Leona nodded. "Yeah, I remember! Wait, even better? Pluuuuuss we wont have to deal with the nobles right?" she asked with a wink. "We can eat till we're both stuffed reeeeeally full! Think they'll even have fishies?"

"Yup! They'll have whatever we ask for! And darn right, no nobles, no dresses, no suits, no boring dances. We can have a REAL party! And they'll even clean up for us! How cool is that?" Ramses loved inns, especially when he had this much gil to spare!

"Oooooh, don't remind me about the dress thing! That lady just plain scared me back at the castle! And yeah! Well have a real party, all night long!" she giggled, when he mentioned cleaning up. "REALLY?!? They clean up for you even? Wow... they must really like having people around huh?"

"Well, yeah! Long as we're putting out the gil, they have to do their job for us!" Ramses smirked a little, "It's that way with anyone who works, even you and me! See, we're working for Eris, to get the Zodiac Braves together, so we can be repaid with our home!" Ramses hoped Leona got the concept, that people weren't slaves, but worked for their gil.

Leona blinked a moment, taking in what Ramses said. "So when a person does a job for someone else, then they get paid for it?" she asked. "I think I get it! People work but they always work for something in return right? Nobody works for free? So even the people in the plays, the towns, and the castle all were getting paid by somebody else?" A lot of money passing around, that was for sure! Almost boggled her mind!

"Yup! See, you and I're strong enough to fight monsters for our gil, but we can't make our own home. People work for what they can't get themselves! Most people can't just fight monsters for gil, know what I mean?" Ramses stepped over a root, and slowed down a bit to make sure Leona didn't trip either.

Leona nodded, and seeing Ramses step over a root in the way made sure to avoid it too so she didn't end up tripping on it. THAT would have been embarrassing! "Ooooooh, right!" Leona tried to picture an everyday Joe fighting a pack of wolves, but she couldn't do it! She found herself laughing at the thought, the poor guy would end up running for the hills! "Yeah that wouldn't be good to have everyone fighting monsters for gil! The white mages would have their hands full all the time!"

The town loomed on the horizon, as the sky was colored a deep orange, tinged with blue and purple, by the sunset. He grinned as he looked to Leona, "Almost there!"

In the realm of the Goddess Eris

Eris, having just returned (well, to her it was just, it could have been days to them) from her 'chat' with Arianna, sat down in her large chair and folded one clawed leg over the other, scratching her chin with the elevated foot in idle thought. Eris had come to the decision, that she must meet this "Ramses" herself. And so, she called her minion and her minion's traveling companion to her, making sure that the mortal had breathable air and gravity. (Eris is technically an it, but we'll use her for convenience's sake, mmkay?)

Back on Ivalice, with our lovably warm-n-fuzzy heroes searching for an Inn…

"Yeah!" Leona agreed, smiling. "Almost there and then we can have a feast and get spoiled rotten and well just have a great time right?" She was looking forward to this, wondering what the inn would be like!

Grinning and nodding, Ramses pointed to a large up-scale inn. It was whitewashed with bright red shingles and window shutters. All in all it looked damned spiffy! "What about that one?" he asked happily, "It looks -really- expensive!"

Leona looked over at it, blinking at how big and fine it looked. "Yeah!" she said. "It looks awesome! Lets go in!" She giggled a bit as she headed towards it, hardly believing they were going to be staying in such a nice place!

Ramses walked to the door, always the gentleman, and opened it with a smile. Little did he realize that inside was a dimensional portal, which sucked him in before he could even squeak.

Leona blinked as she was sucked into the portal as well, and knew only one could be responsible for it. But why? Was it about Ramses and her? She couldn't say a thing to Ramses though, as she was sucked right through as well.

Our Heroes find themselves in the realm of the Goddess Eris, Leona's mother

Eris nodded approval at the startled expression on Ramses' face, which was good; she couldn't stand "brave" mortals who thought she wasn't so tough. Leona wasn't far behind either. She waved a slender finger to summon the girl to her.

Ramses blinked as he was thrust into a rather long hallway. The only noticeable feature was the giant chair at the other end of the hallway. Instinctively dropping into a ready stance, Ramses assumed the worst, as always, "Where am I? And what've you done with Leona?" he called out.

"I'm right here Ramses, don't worry!" Leona said, coming from behind. She blinked, as Eris curled a finger and came forward obediently, a gesture she had followed many a time. "Yes?" she asked.

Eris quirked an eyebrow. What a silly mortal, the girl was right next to him and yet he was yelling at her? She had half a mind to teach him a lesson about messing with deities, but instead focused on Leona. "Ah, Good." she said coolly. "I had wanted you to introduce me to your...little friend there. But if he's going to go yelling at me I may just have to send him away. Do keep him under control please?" she tilted her head to the side.

Righting himself, Ramses stood up straight, seeing that Leona was all right. As long as things remained that way, he didn't see any reason to try to provoke a fight. He watched her approach the voice on the chair, and swallowed hard.

"Ramses will be all right," Leona replied, giving him a nod as if to say she'd handle this. "Eris, this is Ramses, Ramses, this is Eris. Ramses is the first Zodiac I met, he's the holder of the Serpentarius Stone."

Eris now turned her gaze onto Ramses fully and gestured for him to approach as well. She wanted to see him up close and really couldn't understand why he'd stayed back there anyway.

Ramses blinked and fought down the twisting knot that was his stomach, and approached the chair. He stopped beside Leona, looking up at Eris, his hazel eyes alight with curiosity at the being. He was silent, after taking the hint from Leona. He wasn't sure if he should speak before being spoken to anyway...

Eris put finger to her cheek for a moment. Her red eyes gazing down at Ramses. "So. You are the one who's promised to help us make a world for ourselves...." she smirked slightly. "And, just why have you decided to help us, hmmm?"

Ramses held himself up a little more, straightening his back. "Because I've never really had a home, Eris, and I wouldn't want to live in any home that Leona couldn't be in." His face was set in the mask he'd learned to use when dealing with noblemen and other higher-ups.

"Oh, so you have…feelings, for Leona?" She narrowed her eyes a bit. "And what's with that face you're making? Use your normal face when you're in my presence." She said, quite annoyed that he didn't seem to be showing her his true self.

Ramses' face didn't change, "Well, this's the face I use when I'm speaking with one of such a lofty station. And yeah... I have feelings for Leona... but I don't know how to put them into the right words..."

Leona blushed a moment, looking back and forth between the two. She wasn't sure what Eris would say, but if need be Leona was ready for anything that might happen.

Eris kept her cold, penetrating gaze on Ramses. "It bothers me. If you do not show me who you really are, I cannot trust you and that does not bode well for you." She said simply. After a moment though, she looked back to Leona. "You fully realize that you will be around long after he has expired due to the ravages of time, correct?" She asked casually. After all, she had to be sure that Leona was prepared for such inevitability.

Ramses frowned inwardly, knowing that it wouldn't do to insult the mother of the girl you felt so strongly about. Clearing his throat, he relaxed a fraction, his face softening into his usual smile, complete with his calculatingly gleaming hazel eyes.

Leona nodded. "I... I know that," she replied softly a moment, before adding, "But I don't care Eris! Ramses is... well he's really special to me and Ill follow this trail with him wherever it leads!"

It was now Ramses' turn to blush, and he did so quite admirably, feeling his stomach clench again. Leona was willing to stay with him despite what Eris'd said... that just felt great to him.

Eris tilted her head to the side ever so slightly. "Well, as long as you're aware then, as you know, I care not what you do with your time so long as you do not stray from the main goal..."

Leona nodded. "Of course not Eris! Ivalice will be brought under the Braves, and we'll have a home sooner than we think!" she replied, grateful she had well, at least semi permission.

Eris nodded her approval. Then she raised her head slightly once more. "By the way, I have sensed…trouble, in your heart. Are you having some sort of trouble down there?" She asked matter-of-factly.

Ramses listened unobtrusively, filing away little facts about Eris, and Leona's interactions with her. It wasn't that he meant to, it came naturally to him. He'd have the information in case it became important. Coughing a bit, still ashamed about how far he'd gone, but knowing he'd been right in doing it, "I... I thought that Leona had been..." he swallowed hard, "Killed... Something clicked inside me and our Stones came back to life."

"Ah, I see" Eris said turning her gaze back to Ramses. "So your profound emotions reawakened them. That is…interesting."

"I...I guess... but I still don't know just what to call it... I'd die for Leona, I'd cross the world if she asked me to, and I wouldn't ask why. If someone ever hurt her... I'd...." he stopped, teeth clenched, hands shaking at his sides.

Eris cocked her head to the side slightly. "Even I know what that is. It's called love. It's the most dangerous weapon in the universe in the right hands you know." She smirked a little at that, having seen the damage that love could do.

Leona looked over to Ramses, blushing and smiling at the same time. She felt the same actually... exactly like that. Love was it? That was the word for it? Somehow she didn't see it as a weapon...

He chose his words carefully, "Love... how can it be a weapon? Weapons are for hurting things... Love... it doesn't hurt..." he frowned, not grasping the concept Eris had put forth.

Eris' smirk turned into an unsettling smile. "Of course it can hurt. Anyone who's had his or her heart broken will tell you that. And it's a hurt that lasts forever." She chuckled softly. "Also, if there are two bound with love, they can do great damage to opponents in the name of protecting the ones they love. Some even commit murder for their sake"

Ramses fought down another wave of guilt about what he'd turned a good fifty square feet of Ivalice into. His own anger and pain, to last there forever... "Oh..." was all he could manage just then.

Leona would never, couldn't even think of breaking Ramses' heart. So then why... then she thought of the behemoths and how she was asked not to look... and she could only give a silent nod.

Feeling a little sick, he had to say something, "I would never...ever...do something to hurt you like that Leona..." he managed in a hoarse whisper, the majority of his voice choked off by his regret at what he'd done.

Eris was getting a bit tired of playing teacher however, and excused with issue with an idle wave of her delicate pale green hand. "I suppose you'd like to be getting back to your mission now hmm?" She asked flatly. She wasn't much for the softer emotions herself, so the things Ramses felt bad for held no meaning for her.

"I know that Ramses," Leona replied, making a mental note when they got back to give him a big hug. "Don't worry... what done is done. Its past now," she added reassuringly.

Eris shook her head, thoroughly bored with the two of them for the time being, and waved her hand slightly. The scenery shifted around the two, changing back into the room they'd been getting ready to enter. With nothing better to do, Eris decided to indulge in a little sleep.

Back on Ivalice, the Zodiac Braves find themselves entering the Inn Ramses had seen

`Well THAT was an interesting visit to say the least' Leona thought to herself, as they found themselves right back where they started, now a normal inn before them instead of Eris. What had Ramses thought of her? That wasn't one of the easier meetings, and a lot of hard questions were being asked. She figured maybe it might have shaken him a later to see an immortal Goddess of the realm, so she decided to lighten up the mood. "We're HERE!" she said, grinning, as she looked around. People had already come up asking for their bags, making Leona blink. "Now THATS service!" she said, giggling, before looking to Ramses again. "So what do we do now? Is it time to eat till we pass out and give ourselves mini heart attacks with the bill?" She then noted something, a tray of mints that said Please Take One. Curious as always, she did so, popping it in wrapper and all and getting some very strange looks. 'Now why would they make plastic flavored candy' she asked herself, never having seem a wrapped mint.

Ramses almost laughed when Leona ate the mint with the wrapper on. Almost. He grinned and took one, unwrapping it and popping it in his mouth, before leaning over and whispering to her, "You're supposed to unwrap them Leona." into her ear. He leaned back and handed his backpack to a bellhop and smiled, dropping some gil in the young man's hand, "We'll take your best room, and we'll need to rent the entire banquet hall, as well as order...hmm... three of everything on your menu..." he winked to Leona, "That should do it, huh Leona? A feast fit for...well...us!"

Leona blinked. `Ooooooh that would explain it!' She took another one and unwrapped it, after swallowing the wrapped candy, and stuck the unwrapped one in her mouth. She grinned. `Much better!' "Thanks!" she whispered to Ramses, before smiling sheepishly back at the staring attendants. "Yeah! Three of everything! And fish? They'll have fish right?" she asked, imagining all of that food there for just the two of them. "Well explode and have a blast doing it!" Ah, the wonders of food.

Nodding to the disbelieving people, Ramses strode boldly to the counter and plopped down one...two...three... three bags, near to bursting with gil. "That should cover the room, and the food," he said with a bright smile. He'd show Leona exactly why nobles had feasts, and exactly why you had to have a feast without nobles if you could! "We'll need our bags delivered... and could you show us to the room?"

Leona blinked, wow. That was a LOT of gil. No wonder the attendants were just about falling over themselves for them! The attendants meanwhile were going "This way sir and ma'am! Right away!" Leona blinked, as they followed the attendants down a hallway, until finally a room was opened up for them. She blinked, in disbelief. "Holy... Ramses it's HUGE! And and, well look at it! You sure this isn't part of the castle?" she asked, tilting her head in disbelief they were standing in such a place, could even afford it! To say it was elaborate would be an understatement; it was easily the size of a small house! Luxuries, huge beds, a window view... it was almost more than Leona could take in!

Gently ushering Leona in, Ramses turned and tipped the woman who'd led them here, then he closed and locked the doors. "Yeah... I almost never stay in these rooms, they're almost -too- big!" he grinned to Leona, "So... do you like it?" Ramses finished his question as he crossed the room and took off his cloak, hanging it up on a peg. Following this, he pulled his black robes up over his head and hung them near the cloak. It just wasn't right not to take advantage of the lull in the adventure, and Ramses was determined to lounge a bit without his armor!

Leona nodded, blinking a moment as Ramses took off his armor. She did the same, now down to a pair of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. "Are you kidding? I love it! I've never been in a room so big! It's bigger than it was back with my family even! Its amazing!" She looked over excitedly at the room again, before finally taking a running leap and jumping onto a bed, lounging back a moment. "Aaaaaaah, can we take this with us afterwards Ramses?" she asked with a grin, before sitting back up again. It was comfy to say the least considering the things they were used to sleeping on!

"Ahh c'mon, you mean to tell me you don't prefer the ground? Bundled up in a blanket on a patch of moss?" he winked jokingly and unsnapped the shin guards and took his gauntlets off. He slipped out of his breastplate and raked his fingers back through his hair. "But no… we can't take it with us, mind, we can stay in the Inns in any town we come to!" Ramses now stood in his deep blue traveling clothes, embroidered with the symbols of the Hokuten Knights, as well as his heavy boots. The belt of daggers still circled his waist, though he removed his large sword, Materia bangle, and Serpentarius Blade. Gleaming, well, greenly, was the Serpentarius Stone, in it's pendant, on his chest. He flopped onto a bed next to the one Leona had claimed and let out a loud groan of appreciation, sinking a good three inches into it.

"Aaaaaw, I could always test out my new Steal Materia on the beds and the Inventory holds everything!" she said, giggling before flopping back down, relaxing fully. "Okies, okies, I don't think a forest could hold em anyways! And wait, in any town? You mean every town has these inns? Coool" She then thought of something and giggled. "Did you see the looks on their faces when you asked for three of everything Ramses? It was priceless!"

Ramses closed his eyes and rested there a moment, feeling deliciously comfortable, before answering. His eyes opened again, "Darn right! But I figured heck, I told you we'd feast and by golly we're gonna have us a FEAST!" he sat up and grinned happily to her, "Besides, if anyone could eat all that it'd be you and me! But you're gonna try everything, not just the fish!"

"Aaaaaw, you mean I cant just have all the fish?" she asked with a smile. "Well, I wouldn't eat just fish anyways because I don't want to get that scurvy thing you talked about Ramses! Deer's good too! And beef, and well, geeez Ramses you're making me all hungry just thinking about it!" She giggled, visions of beef and salmon now dancing in her head. "Heeeeey, think they'll have those twenty pound salmons here?" she asked with a grin.

Ramses nodded with a snicker, picturing Leona trying to eat the Canceris monster again. "Iono, they'll have some neat stuff! Wait'll you have dessert, maybe you'll eat it slowly for a change!" he grinned again, teasing her a little. Sitting up, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and looked at his feet, flushing a little as he thought of what he wanted to say to her, "Uhm... can I talk t'you about something...?" he finally asked, not looking up.

"Dessert? What's that?" she asked, before mock pouting a bit. "Heeeeeeeey! I don't eat fast... well THAT fast... okies maybe just a little bit!" Leona then straightened a bit, looking over at Ramses with full attention from her bed, curious once again. "Sure Ramses! You should know you can tell me anything," she added, smiling. She had a feeling though that this might have something to do with the events with Eris...

Ramses swallowed hard, his mind suddenly gone blank. He mentally cudgeled his brain, trying to remember, "L-Leona... uh... when we saw Eris she told me how I...uhm..." he stammered, suddenly feeling like he was that crying child back at the orphanage. 'FUCK!!' he thought, 'Great time to get stuck Ramses, you can destroy a whole part of Ivalice and you can't even tell her you love her?' Ramses swallowed again, looking up at her, a blush heating his cheeks as he decided to say it and not get fancy, or dashing in the least, "I...err...I-I love you Leona..."

Leona sat up, curious, as to what would be so hard to get out. He seemed so nervous, what was it he wanted to say! Was it... finally he let it out, and she remembered what Eris had said back before, about love and what it was. Smiling, she tried to act composed but truth was she was all a flutter, her stomach was in knots, and she felt dizzy with her feelings. She walked over to him though and sat down beside him, before hugging him close and setting her head on his shoulder, her cheeks flushing as well. "Thanks, she said, before adding, "I think ya just made me the happiest girl in all of Ivalice Ramses," she added. "And you know... its only fair because well... I love you too," she added, feeling that at the moment her cheeks would downright explode! And here she thought it would have been her stomach first!

His breath caught in his throat when he heard that, 'She loves me too!' he mentally cheered. Ramses carefully hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair for a second as he did. He let go at length, fearing that if he squeezed her any tighter she'd break, and he blushed again. "I...well... I have to tell you why I didn't want you to look…when...y'know, the Behemoths..." he took a deep breath, feeling his stomach wad itself up into a scrunched little ball, feeling nothing like a stomach should.

Leona paused a moment, looking at his eyes now reflecting nervousness. "Its all right, I'm listening," she said, giving a nod. "Don't worry, no matter what it why Ramses, Ill still be here for you," she added, setting a hand on his shoulder. It reminded her of the time she admitted how she betrayed those close to her, although she hoped for his sake this admission would be easier on him that that had been to her.

"Well... uhm... I'd thought that you'd been ki-...killed.." he stopped, blinking for a few seconds as he figured out how to word it, "I… got really angry, and sad, and desperate...all at once. All that mattered was making sure they paid for what they'd done... I... I summoned Zodiac again, and used it to destroy the Behemoths. Normally that would be okay, but the way I felt I wanted them to hurt forever... so... the Behemoths, and part of Ivalice, are stuck like that... because of me. In…well, pain... the worst pain I could think of inflicting..."

Leona didn't say anything a moment as she listened, and took in what he was saying. She had thought for certain she was going to die then too... had a feeling if she was anything but what she was, if she was a normal human or something she would have. She hugged him a moment, before looking into his sad hazel eyes and continuing. "What's done is done Ramses... truth is if you hadn't come then I know I wouldn't still be here. I have you to thank for even being alive! As for that part... well maybe someday well find a way to fix it? Until then, don't worry about it. It was an accident... you didn't know what would happen right? Besides Ramses, it was my fault for trying to go out and get some deer anyways. And lets look on the bright side; I noticed your stones shining again right? Were both alive and well here right? We have a feast waiting for us, and room the size of Eris's chambers! And plus, we have each other. I'd say we have a lot goin for us!" She smiled then; hoping something she had said would cheer Ramses up a little bit at least. She never was truly certain what to say at times like these.

Ramses brightened a little, hearing Leona reassure him. "Thanks..." he murmured, just holding her for the moment, then let go and stood, putting on a grin. "Yeah... we have each other... and you're right, there is that feast waiting for us!" he moved to the door and opened it wide, turning to hold a hand out to Leona, "And dessert... sweets, that's what it is. Sweet things, candies and such!"

"Candies?" she asked, jumping off of the bed and taking the outstretched hand. "Sweeeets? Mmmmmm.... hey Ramses? Things like that must be the main course then right?" she asked, imagining a table full of sweets. It made her mind wheel around just thinking about it! A whole table full of candy!

"Well...no… but dessert's it's own course. So once we're done with everything else, they'll put the sweet stuff out for us!" Ramses squeezed her hand, putting himself close to her side as he took her down the hallway, and down a few flights of stairs, then he stopped in front of the doors to the banquet hall, delicious smells wafting out of it. He blinked and blushed as his stomach gave a fierce growl, he was hungry! "Shall we?"

"Lets!" Leona replied, grinning, as her heightened senses picked up quite a few of the smells and she could realize what a few of the things were before they went in. There was fish, crab, deer, beef, EVERYTHING! Her eyes wandered over the three huge whole salmon, the crabs, the herbs, things she couldn't even think of what they were! "What's this? And that? And that smells good!" She said, as her eyes darted over the table, and she found she couldn't help but be hyper. After all, if there was one thing about Leona, she could eat!

Ramses walked in and glanced to the two chairs that were seated closely. That was good... he wanted to be close to Leona right now. "Well, that there's a type of pudding, it's made with veal and Bolt magic actually, to stimulate your taste buds. And that's a plate of nachos, they're really good. That one's...whoa, they went all out!" Ramses flitted over to a trio of roast pigs, split down the middle, stuffed, then sewn up. He tugged on one of the strings holding a pig closed, and it opened in a cloud of steam, revealing that they'd been stuffed with peppers, and whole chickens. "Hoo-boy! Let's eat!" he grinned, moving back to Leona to help her choose things, and to explain things that she didn't know.

Leona blinked, watching the pig open and chickens revealed. "Woooooooooah, Ramses, now THAT was neat!" She looked over things, finally deciding on her first course. She wanted to try the nachos, one of the pig stuffed with chickens, the pudding, a pair of salmon, some crab cakes, two whole crabs, shrimp, some veal parmesan, cooked veggies simmered in lemon herbs, baked potatoes with all the works... and somehow managed to get it all on one heaping plate. "Okies!" She proclaimed proudly. "I think this'll work as a first round don't you?" she asked.

Ramses nodded as he filled his plate as well, although his was a heck of a lot smaller than Leona's. Ramses already knew what he liked and what he didn't, and selected some sliced beef simmered in red wine, the same potatoes Leona'd snagged, a filet of the last salmon, a small haggis, some pudding, and a big bowl of Caesar salad. "Okay! See, they couldn't have fit everything on the menu in here three times, so they're gonna come take things and replace them while we eat!" Ramses sat his plate down and pulled Leona's chair out for her, always the gentleman.

"Really? You mean there's more coming? Wow, its a wonder the table doesn't break or anything! Well, we'll just have to be ready for `em and have it emptied for them when they come right?" She set down her plate and smiled as Ramses pulled her chair out for her. "Thanks Ramses," she said, taking a seat and pushing herself further in. "All set?" she asked, barely able to see over the top of her plate.

Ramses sat down beside Leona and grinned, taking up a knife and fork. "Okay!" he laid into his food with abandon, scarfing, snarfing, munching, burping every now and again. "S'cuse that!" he'd grin. This was a party, wasn't it? So why not treat it like one, and one without nobles at that!

Leona grinned, just what shed been waiting for! And started into hers. Swallowing the two salmon whole, it was only till she got past the crabs she started using her fork, eating well at a rate that would have made almost anyone else sick! Every now and then she made an mmmmm noise, or a contented grin, as she discovered a brand new taste. She noted Ramses belch every not and then and laughed. "You're s'cused!" shed reply, and keep at her almost never-ending plate. Of course, every now and then she'd add one of her own, especially after salmon. What was it about swallowing whole salmon that made one belch anyways?

Ramses eventually finished his plate, just as people had started filing in to remove the plates they'd been emptying. He hurriedly loaded up on meats and cheeses and breads before they were taken, as the next course was going to be much lighter. All fruits and vegetables most likely! "Want some?" he offered Leona a piece of the pig he'd saved from the people, "It's good!"

Leona blinked, as plates were being taken, and took a cue from Ramses rapidly refilling her plate as well. She looked over at the pig and nodded. "Sure!" she said, taking the offered piece and restarting in again on the bits she'd taken. She could definitely get used to this, though it'd be a miracle if they could move after this! "Thanks!" she added, swallowing, it, and finding it really was that good! "You're right!" she added, smiling and making a mental note next time she went out hunting to catch a pig.

With a grin, Ramses did his best to polish off what he'd taken, but in the end succumbed and let a server take his plate. He moved slower now, as he was getting full, and he filled a bowl with salad, veggies, and fruit, bringing it back to his spot and sitting down. "Whoo! It's good to do this every once and again, we deserve it huh?"

Leona had no troubles, almost inhaling what she had, before hers was taken and now she set to work on the lighter things that were there. She set to work, most of these were things she'd never had before and she wanted to try them all! "Yeah!" she agreed, sitting down as well. "We should definitely make this a regular thing, we've definitely earned it!" She added, thinking of how, with just the two of them alone, how far they had come in gathering the Stones together... and well how far they'd come in general!

"You said it!" he grinned, eating his food slowly, but steadily. He enjoyed this kinda thing, but too often and you'd get used to it, and then it wouldn't be as enjoyable! "Ahh..." he groaned and leaned back, suddenly feeling full. He was gonna have to sit there for a little bit, until his appetite came back. So, to amuse himself, he watched Leona eat, and happily pointed out the ins and outs of eating certain foods.

"Ah, don't tell me you're ready to give up yet Ramses!" Leona teased with a wink, starting back in on hers and following a few guidelines. (Like NOT swallowing the spiny parts of a pineapple!) Before long, her plate was emptied again, and just in time too as the plates were being taken away and a certain course was coming in... "DESSERT!" Leona said, as she couldn't help but cheer at the thought of what was coming up!

"Me? Never! I'm just saving room for dessert!" he grinned. And what better timing to say that, but when desert was being brought in! Pies of every variety; apple, pumpkin, peach, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, apple-cherry, strawberry-rhubarb and plum. Cakes ranging from simple vanilla affairs, to towering, multi-layered, intricately decorated works of art. Puddings, candies, candied items, sweet juices, wines, and some fancy bon bons were all laid out. "See?"

"Woooooooooah, I see! Its, its its amazing!" she said, all of the sweet smells coming towards her at once. But if there was anyone who could try them all, it would be Leona! She set to work finishing her last plate, and starting filling, putting at least one of every kind of desert on her plate. She only paused at the towering cakes. "Almost a shame to cut them... oh well!" she said, adding some of each to her plate as well.

Ramses laughed as he watched Leona grab some of everything. For himself though, he took wedges of various fruit pies, always having preferred them to heavier cakes. "You look, well, like a kid in a candy store Leona! Careful though, you don't wanna get a toothache! That's a lot of sugar." he grinned an took a bite of a blueberry pie-wedge, almost melting out of his chair at the taste of it.

"A toothache? Ah, no worries Ramses! No toothache could get in the way of well, THIS!"" Leona replied, though decided that this round she would TRY to eat a bit slower. She started in on the cakes and pies, and mmmm'd over the bon bons. After finishing those off quickly, she found herself trying the different pie slices she had grabbed, deciding that she liked the orangey one the best. "Did you try this one?" Leona asked, indicating the color of it with a smile. "Whatever it's called its really good!"

"Yup! Pumpkin Pie, that's what it is." Ramses smiled at Leona, glad to see her enjoying herself. When she'd said he'd made her the happiest girl in Ivalice, he hadn't said anything about how happy she made him. Lately, his eyes said most of his words for him, even now, as they sparkled amusedly. Ramses took another bite of a different pie slice and shivered in pleasure. "Gosh... try this one!" he grinned, sliding the strawberry rhubarb pie over.

"I'll have to remember that name so I can ask for it again!" Leoma said, smiling. She seemed to be doing that even more than usual lately, despite certain things. She caught a look at Ramses, at how happy he was too, and thought `Wow, what a way to live huh?' "Sure thing!" she replied, biting into the new pie offered to her. "Mmmmmm! That IS good! And what's it called?"

"It's a strawberry rhubarb pie," Ramses explained, "It's just sweet enough, but it's still a bit tart." Ramses chewed thoughtfully, looking around the room, wondering how Leona planned to sleep that night, when she was filled with all that sugar. Well, if anyone could pull it off it'd be her. That's when he spotted the bill, at the end of the table. "Why'd they send this... hmm... I paid for the...whoa..." he put it back and coughed a bit. "Yup... mini heart attack...eheh."

Leona blinked, seeing the bill as well. But he'd had put up three whole bags of gil! She leaned over to look, and just about fell over. "Wow, more like MAJOR heart attack! "Wow... but it was worth it wasn't it?" she asked with a grin, finally finishing off her plate and relaxing back a moment feeling for once in her life pretty full. She didn't think THAT was possible! "I think so at least!"

Ramses shrugged and nodded, producing a few more bags of gil from his inventory. "I didn't actually think it was gonna cost so much. Not that I didn't make sure we could afford it! I said we'd feast, and my goodness... we feasted!" Ramses plopped back down beside Leona and leaned against her, yawning mightily.

Leona nodded. "We sure did!" she replied, still pumped full of sugar a bit. "We feasted and a HALF Ramses!" She looked over towards him resting there and smiled. "You look ready for bed!" she said, smiling a bit as that new filled feeling settled in with her. "But then... we did eat a lot huh? I have this odd feeling... I guess I can get full! Should we call it a night?" she asked, head tilted towards him. One didn't even want to contemplate how much food that had been to have Leona be full!

"Yeah... I think so... before I fall asleep down here..." Ramses chuckled, a slow blush creeping along his features at the thought of sleeping close to Leona. It had been different before... Shaking his head, Ramses stood up and stretched, grinning and wiping his hands on the tablecloth. Heck, they expected a mess!

Leona let out a yawn as well, her mouth stretching almost impossible wide before nodding. "Okay then and," she paused a moment, noting Ramses blush and giggled lightly to herself. "Ooooh, so that's what that's for!" Leona said, and before Ramses could point out otherwise wiped off a bit herself. Shed been wondering the whole time about what the cloth was for! "And no, no sleeping here. Think of the beds we have back at the room! I'd be a shame to let them go to waste sleeping down here!"

"True, true" Ramses mumbled as he stumbled out of the banquet hall. He was full, to say the least. In fact... he was having trouble walking! "Urk..." he groaned as he leaned heavily on the wall, walking up the stairs, "Next time...note... try not to out eat Leona... it will never work."

"You okay there Ramses?" Leona asked, as she followed down the hallway as well. "Well I'd say you did a good job keeping up! The attendants were lookin at us like we'd pass out!" She patted him on the shoulder. "Look at it this way, at least it's a short trip to the room right?"

"Yup, I'm just fine!" he smiled reassuringly. "And yeah, you ever see such wide eyes? Think they never saw people eat before!" Ramses shook his head and grinned, opening the door to their room. It was dark now, but the room was dimly lit with lavender scented candles, as was the style the nobles loved at the time. Ramses took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Yup...lavender."

Leona laughed. "I just about spit a salmon out laughing at this guys face when I swallowed the fish whole!" She blinked, seeing their room was a bit different now. It was lit with small candles, and it had a nice smell to it. "That's what that scent is?" she asked, head tilted as she stared at a candle. "I kinda like it!" It was much different than the scent of well, nature she was sued to sleeping with. And considering her nose, she smelled EVERYTHING. "Do they do this at all inns?" she asked, blinking. It was dark now, wow! How long had they been eating?

Ramses shrugged, "Depends on the inn... remember, we got the best room? They're treating us like royalty..." Ramses yawned again and scratched at his chest, closing the door. He frowned a bit, trying to sort out how he felt. It was hard to do that lately. It'd just been urges to be close to, or be touching Leona in some way. He'd usually done it by holding her hand. "Oi…" he said under his breath as he crossed to the window and opened it, needing some air.

Leona meanwhile took to sitting on a bed, taking a deep breath of the cool air as it came in. It had been an interesting day to say the least. From being within inches of death, to now being full of life, hope, and well what she now knew as love, it was a day she'd never, ever forget. Question was, now what? But she found herself slowly lying back, relaxing in the bed. It was comfortable to say the least. "Ramses? What's on your mind?" she asked, looking over towards him, curious.

Ramses blinked, startled. He'd been looking out from the window, over the town. Slowly, he turned back to Leona and walked back to his bed, sitting down on it. "Not much... Just that I'm lucky. I'm so glad you found me back in Mandalia; you were my first real friend. Still are... except now it's...well...more..." he blushed in the darkness, remembering when he'd kissed Leona. He felt rather awkward, because he'd wanted to do it again, and again, since they'd left the spot he'd blasted.

Leona smiled, finding herself sitting up, before walking over to his bed and sitting beside him. She loved just sitting beside him like this, just being close. "Yeah, I know. Even if we know what it is, it's hard to put words to it huh?" she asked, before giving a wink. "Just uh, well," she blushed brightly sorting out her words. "I'll just let you know I don't mind kisses or being held or anything, just as long as we aren't in the middle of a fight right?" She smiled then, slipping her arms around him and setting her head on his shoulder, feeling comfortable, safe being so close to him. "We'll figure out this whole love thing together right?" she asked.

Ramses put his hands on hers and just smiled, nodding. "Of course, not in a fight." he murmured, kissing the top of Leona's head and just enjoying the closeness. He'd always wondered what was missing... he didn't have to anymore. "Thanks for being here Leona..." he muttered into her hair, squeezing her hands. He brought one of his up under her chin and lifted her face gently, moving his hand to cup her cheek as he bent his neck and pressed his lips tenderly against hers for the second time.

Leona smiled. "No, thank you Ramses..." she said. He had shown her more, given her more in the short time she had been in Ivalice than shed ever thought possible. It was amazing really, but he'd shown her one of the most important things of all: love. It was hard now to even picture her life before he had come along. Ramses brought his lips to meet hers and she returned the tender kiss, her heart afire, as it was the last time. A feeling she knew would never grow old. She could feel it a hundred times over, and it would still be like the first time they kissed. That fiery, lighthearted, all too hard to describe feeling that even afterwards remained in her heart, always lingering when around him.

Ramses eased her back after the kiss, and lied beside her, holding Leona in his arms. He didn't ever want to let her go, didn't want to take the chance of losing her. He wouldn't have to... he'd always be there for her, and she'd be there for him. Eris had said that he'd succumb to the ravages of time eventually... but did that really work for Demons? He didn't bother asking, resting his face near Leona's, he just asked simply, "Stay with me...?"

Leona nodded. "Definitely," she replied, and found herself resting close against Ramses. "Good night Ramses... I love you," she said smiling as she looked into his eyes before settling down almost instantly to sleep. After all, eating food like she had was bound to catch up with her! And here, she was in the best place of all of Ivalice, inn or not. It wasn't the surroundings that made this place best of all, it was him.

Smiling happily, Ramses rested his forehead against hers, his arms cradling her against him as he drifted off to sleep. For once in his life his dreams weren't nightmares, but were rather pleasant. He shifted a little in his sleep, but slept deeply, mainly due to everything he'd eaten. The Serpentarius Stone glowed softly in the darkness, pulsing in time with Leona's Leo Stone.

The next day, our two intrepid explorers awake to another beautiful day in Ivalice!

Leona stretched out a moment, looking beside her as she awoke. Ramses was curled beside her, and well, she couldn't help but smile. Amazing really, still to her. It was then she caught a whiff of something... something new that hadn't been around the night before! It was coming from the still slightly ajar window, and right away Leona knew what it was! 'It's a Stone!' she thought to herself. But why did it smell like... it was coming closer towards them? "Ramses?" she asked, blinking. "You awake?" she prodded him gently, head tilted.

Ramses grumbled a bit as he slowly woke up. It was almost too comfortable, he didn't really want to wake up, but Leona's voice cut through the haze and he opened his eyes. The hazel orbs flashed warmly as he smiled up to her, "Hey Leona..." he mumbled halfway into her shoulder, still tired, "What's the matter...?"

Leona shook her head. "Well nothing's wrong or anything, its just that I smell a Zodiac Stone... odd part was is that the smell wasn't here yesterday and it almost smells like its coming closer!" She shook her head, looking towards the window. "Maybe I'm just imagining things?" she asked, blinking.

Blinking, Ramses detached himself from Leona and sprang from the bed, fire alive in his eyes. "No, you're not imagining things Leona, there really is a Stone headed our way... Remember what Minota said? 'If I sniffed the two of you out, when you gather more Stones what's to stop others from coming for them?' We have like...eight Stones. The people in town aren't safe!" he crossed the room and pulled his armor on, snapping the clasps over his arms, legs, waist and back.

"I remember but I didn't think that... you're right Ramses!" she said. "We've gotta meet them halfway, before they get here!" She moved towards her own equipment as well, setting back on her armor and such, glad it was so light and easy to get on. Slipping back on her bracer as fast as she could, she knew now the two were racing against time. She just hoped that this Lucavi wasn't fast or anything, or else they'd REALLY be in trouble!

Shrugging on his robes, and pinning on his cloak, Ramses turned to Leona. "Quick... if I'm right this should work to distract it. Give me all the Stones except yours... that way it'll come after me, see? You can sneak up and hit it from behind!" Ramses flashed her a sneaky grin, and winked, strapping his Serpentarius Blade, and the large sword he'd gotten from Midgar, as well as his Mithril Bangle on.

"All right then, sounds like a plan!" she said with a nod. She took out the stones she held, handing them to Ramses, the only stone still in her possession the Leo stone in her jewelry. "Lets do this!" she said. "And don't worry, I'll take care of `im before he can even get a single shot in!" She flashed a grin in return, winking. "And I know just how I'm goin to do this!" She double-checked, making sure her cats claws were at the ready, as well as her Materia just in case. But she had a feeling this might be a quick match yet!

He tucked the Stones into his pockets, letting the Serpentarius Stone rest on his chest. It flared brilliantly with the proximity to the other Stones, and Ramses nodded, giving Leona a kiss on the cheek. "Be careful okay?" he grinned, "Go out the window and stick to the rooftops, I'll stay on the ground, it'll be easy!" he gave her a thumb's-up and tore out of the room, down the stairs, and out into the street. "RUN!!!" he yelled to the crowd, waving his sword around. They scattered, screaming and calling for the guards, Ramses just hoped that he and Leona took care of this before they showed up.

Leona nodded, giving him a thumbs up back and a wink. "You've got it Ramses!" She decided for a job like this she would need a bit more speed, and of course agility. So she took to a lithe lioness form, jumping out of the window before her and clinging with her claws to the side of the next place, before climbing up quickly towards the rooftop. Running over the roofs with almost single movements, she would bound to each effortlessly in this form, until finally she could see their target ahead. It looked like a massive plant, tentacles splaying out everywhere as it zoomed along the ground towards the city. "GIVE ME THE STOOOONES!" she could hear it yell. "Impatient little guy!" Leona said to herself, leaping towards the final rooftops, hoping Ramses would be all right as she landed in position, ready to strike.

Ramses set himself as he saw the thing coming. It looked like a mass of tentacles, growing from a huge mobile ball of...plant matter. A gaping maw dominated its features, and a pair of cruel eyes gleamed as it screamed. It was headed right for him, probably because Ramses held all of the Zodiac Stones. "Come on!" he yelled, calling on he Serpentarius Stone for strength, he rapidly changed into his snake-man form, towering over normal people. "You're MINE!" he taunted it.

Leona grinned, the beast was launching itself as instructed, roaring with indignation. "YOU CANNOT TREAT CAPICOCHU LIKE THIS!" it screeched. Leona shook her head, these bosses just got dumber and dumber, but at least they were improving in the name department! She took off at full force from the rooftop, and grinned, as she smelled its weak spot. Easy to get to also! Digging her claws in around it, she shifted as she hung on with one paw to her anthro form, before taking her free fist back and punching it, digging it deep into the fleshy plant matter. The plant made a gargled sound of surprise as Leona's fist went in deeper, green fluids spilling out, until with a final hiss it fell over dead as Leona pulled out the Capricorn Stone, still dripping green. "It worked Ramses!" She said with a grin, walking over towards him, smiling.

Ramses blinked, then leapt forward, catching one of Capicochu's tentacles in hand, as three more wrapped around his waist, the thorny barbs digging into him. He roared in pain as the poison raced through his veins, not really harming him except for the burning sensation. "Leona, look out, it's not dead!" he managed a garbled sentence before the thing slammed a tentacle against his throat, wrapping it around, and cutting off his air. Ramses' head swam, and red explosions lit his field of vision. He tried to take a breath, but nothing came out. "AWWW, THE LITTLE SNAKE NEEDS AIR DOES HE?" the beast asked in a positively gleeful voice, before inhaling deeply and spewing forth a cloud of the foulest smelling green mist, washing over Ramses and heading right for Leona.

Leona eyes widened. How could it not be DEAD?!? Leona clenched her fists, seeing the beast wrap a tentacle around Ramses throat... he couldn't last like that long! "NOW you've done it..." she growled towards him, and knew she had two options. With her agility she could jump and avoid the mist but it would loose valuable seconds towards Ramses. She knew what she had to do. Extending her claws she leapt straight for the beast, towards the base of the tentacle that held Ramses. She sliced it clean off with the force of her attack, the tentacle falling and loosening the throat grip as the green mist wafted around the air. Leona's particularly strong sense of smell was just about overloaded, as she smelled a smell worse than anything she could remember, even worse than Forces socks had been after training! She coughed a moment, spinning, but shook her head. Three more tentacles were still doing their work...

His eyes widened at the smell, watering. 'Ugh!' was all he could think, as Leona sliced clean through the tentacle around his neck. It fell away, and he took a huge breath, despite the horrible mist. Leona was in the mist too! Roaring with effort, Ramses snapped the tentacles at his sides, flexing hard. He took Leona around the waist, and hurled her up into the air, trusting in her agility to land her on her feet. Ramses may be immune to poison, but Leona sure wasn't!

Leona blinked with surprise as she was hoisted into the air, and knew and thought for a moment it was the monster, but realized she knew the touch. But why... it was then she realized that this was a plant, the air was green, and as she was thrown upwards she found herself able to breathe easier. As cats always do, she landed on her feet behind the beast once more. It still had the gaping hole, a now critical weak point. Ramses had broken free and was the one now holding the Ochu's attention as it looked ever still to the Stones. Extending claws once more she took a slippery step hold near the plant's bottom, the claws on her feline feet digging in for a good hole. Nodding she set both of her claws into the hole on opposite sides, and started to tear apart. It may be a plant, but if she could force it in half then not even it could regenerate! Meanwhile the Ochu, was still blinded even as this went on, lashing out its tentacles towards Ramses once more...

Fending off the enraged beast's attacks, Ramses focused on it. It -was- a plant, and this would be the perfect time to try it. He grabbed a tentacle and forced a Fire spell down it's length, infusing the plant's body with the spell. He knew Leona was trying to tear it up, but that wouldn't work, the lingering power of the Capricorn Stone she'd taken was regenerating it too fast. He called out to her, "Leona, get your hands out of it!" as he began his chanting, "Purifying flames, destroy this wicked beast, FIRE 2!!!"

Leona nodded as she realized the plant was trying to regenerate around her! Taking an agile leap, she disengaged her black claws and jumped once more, coming to Ramses' side. The air now clear once more of the green mist, the way was clear for the spell. She blinked a moment; as she saw a massive fire spell, much bigger than the usual, launch its way across the monster. It was too much for the beast, as the flames engulfed its easily flammable matter. Moments later, with a dying shriek, all that was left was a pile of cinders, and the stone. "I don't think he's coming back from that one," Leona said, smiling towards Ramses. "And what spell was that Ramses? I don't think I've ever heard you use it before but it was cool! Er, I mean hot!"

Grinning, Ramses released the Stone's powers back into it, reverting to his normal form. "It's a Fire 2 spell... when you use a spell a lot, it gets easier to put energy into it, and sometimes you can make it more powerful!" A rumbling shook the ground, as the wind blew the ashes away, leaving Ramses and Leona standing there, guards surrounding them. "Err... yeah... I had to scare people off, Leona," he whispered to her, "I think these guards are my fault."

Leona flushed a moment, returning back to her normal state as well as she eyes the guards staring at them, and now there was no Ochu left either to blame it all on. "Ramses... somehow I doubt they'll believe it was an Ochu that was here... I know I don't usually say this but maaaaybe we should run," she suggested, to where just he could hear. She remembered once Ramses saying how he hated fighting humans, and well these guys were just doing their job anyways so what would be the point?

Nodding, Ramses grinned, "Watch this!" the guards were advancing on them, Ramses muttered a quick incantation, "Flash from the heavens, destroy my foes, BOLT!" Instantly, lightning lanced down in front of the guards, stopping them in their tracks. Ramses blew them a kiss and winked, "See you guys later!" then he turned and looped an arm around Leona's waist, glowing inwardly with a bluish light as he teleported. The two of them disappeared, reappearing moments later atop the Inn.

"Whoa, I think you just made them pee their pants Ramses!" she said, giggling, before she found herself held a moment and in a second teleported. Blinking, she noted they were a bit higher, and looking around realized they were on the roof of the inn! She couldn't help but be amused, watching the guard's confuzzled reactions! "This is almost better to watch than a play!" she teased, giggling slightly before looking back to Ramses and asking, "So are you feelin' all right? I saw what that plant did to you!"

Shrugging and looking around, Ramses tapped the Serpentarius Stone around his neck. "Makes me immune to poison when I transform, remember? I'm more worried about you; you didn't inhale any of that mist did you? Something that gross-smelling had to be bad..." Ramses eyed her worriedly, settling back on his behind on the roof. They'd leave when the commotion died down and the guards went away...

"Yeah I know but still when it had you by the throat I was worried!" she explained. "I was more worried Id pass out from the smell if anything else! That was officially the grossest thing Id ever smelled!" She shook her head, glad that despite its stench it had dissipated quickly. "I don't think so, thankfully you got me out before I could!" she replied, smiling. She sat down as well; still eying the guards a bit to see when they'd finally give up and go away. "I think it's going to be a few days before I eat veggies again," she joked, before bringing out the Capricorn stone she held. "Oh here Ramses, I think you should hold on to this one," she said, holding it out for him.

He took it carefully, laying the other Stones on his lap. Ramses pocketed the Aries, Taurus, Cancer, and Capricorn Stones, then he held out the Scorpio, Libra, and Aquarius Stones to Leona. Unconsciously Ramses knew that any Lucavi would be more attracted to him than her, as he held more Stones. "Here, you hold these ones, 'kay Leona?" he grinned to her, and peered down to the guards, who still searched the area.

Leona nodded. "Okay," she replied, before realizing he had one more, and that could draw the Lucavi closer. They were getting smarter, stronger as well. With over half of them gone, and with all of the stones they held, the Lucavi were on the hunt. Well, even though they'd follow Ramses more, shed just have to make certain they didn't get that close! She pocketed the three stones, glowing in unison, before relaxing back a moment as she giggled looking down at the guards again. "They'd never guess we were up here in a million years!" she commented.

"Shyeah... not many people can teleport...it's hard to learn how I've heard." he shrugged and leaned back a little. The guards were continuing their search, going door to door searching for the two troublemakers. "Erk... seems like we'll have to stay out of sight for awhile... keep low profiles, y'know? If the law's looking for us as troublemakers, they won't really believe we're with the Hokuten at Igros. I didn't bring any documents..." Ramses flushed embarrassedly, because he hadn't thought ahead.

"Kinda hard for a pair like us, but up here I think we can manage," Leona replied. "Yeah, can you imagine if we tried to tell them the truth? And I don't know about you, but being caught doesn't sound like very much fun!" She was sitting cross-legged beside him, thinking. "Hmmmm... how long does it usually take for people to give up hunting?" she asked, head tilted. After all, shed never been on the run quite like this before! Funny how they'd jus saved the town and now were being looked out for as wanted!

"Dunno... I didn't hurt anyone, and it's not like we broke anything. They probably saw me transform... so they're thinking 'DEMON' or 'MONSTER' or somethin'. I don't think we can afford to get caught...they'll want me to tell them how I transformed, and all that stuff. We can't let people know we're bringing the Braves together again, last time it didn't go too well... and we might end up with crowds of people trying to be Braves... but they'd only end up as Lucavi." Ramses frowned, looking at the shingles. He'd said they'd end up as Lucavi...but technically he was a Lucavi. He was made by the Stone... did that make it wrong for him to hold it? He shook his head and dismissed the thought, thinking of what Leona would tell him. 'You're the person who's supposed to have that Stone, you know that!'

"Wow, people are so quick to come to judgments" Leona said, shaking her head. She knew last time it didn't go too well, with most of those involved ending up with well, not happy endings. "This time will end up differently," she said with confidence. "Well make sure of it! And when we gather all the Stones, well have them direct us to those who can hold them," she added. "No easy task, but I know that together it can be done!" She noted the lookin his eyes however, and it didn't take a scientist to figure out what he was thinking. For a moment she was going to say something and rebuke whatever dark thoughts were going through his mind, but instead she decided on something much simpler: she hugged him.

"Wha..?" he blinked and stiffened as she hugged him, but quickly melted into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Leona and hugging her back. Ramses had almost forgotten that she was there for him, and he was incredibly grateful to her, once again. "Thanks..." he mumbled into her thick brown mane of hair, holding her tight. "I don't know what I'd do without you Leona."

Leona smiled, glad she could help in so simple a way. Sometimes, it helped to follow instincts. She was reminded of the times she'd said those words to him, and couldn't help but smile. "No thanks needed Ramses," she replied. "None needed at all," she replied, keeping her hold on him when she noted something, things were quieter. Had the guards left?

As he held her, Ramses picked up on something. The town had quieted down, and he was sure Leona had heard it too. Normal guard patrols were about, but other than that it was all clear. "Ready to go?" he asked in a soft whisper, standing up slowly as he let her go. "We can make it out into the woods before nightfall, and we'll be able to find somewhere to camp." Ramses ruffled his cloak and looked around, his eyes went wide, they were near where the orphanage used to be, and the Deep Dungeon.

Leona nodded towards Ramses as she stood up beside him, looking around. "Yeah, lets get out of here before they decide to try again and-" She stopped a moment, noting a sudden change in atmosphere. She looked to Ramses, whose eyes had gone wide. "Ramses? Ramses what's wrong?" she asked, head tilted. "Did you see something?"

He nodded and pointed off in one direction, off to the southeast. "The orphanage that found me... it... it used to be over there. It was close to a place called the Deep Dungeon. I...uhm... Ramza found the Serpentarius Stone there on his journey... least that's what the survivors of his crew told the people at Igros. A monster called Elidibs had it..." he winced; thinking of the destruction Elidibs had probably planned to cause with the Zodiac Summon.

"The Deep Dungeon?" Leona asked, blinking. She'd never heard of that place, even in what Eris had told her about Ivalice! "Somehow, that doesn't sound like a very welcoming place," she added, shaking her head. "So Ramza was there huh? Well, at least the monster was defeated right? We can always go around it, Ramses, if you like, I don't think any Stones rest there now anyways," she added, sniffing the air a moment towards the southeast to check just in case.

Ramses nodded with a smile, "Thanks... I... I don't want to go there." he smiled and leapt down off the Inn, landing on a lower roof, then rolling down into an alley, crouching on a barrel. He grinned up at Leona, as if to say 'Hah! Betcha didn't think I could do that!'

Leona blinked a moment, giggling. Knowing she couldn't say anything yet just in case she just grinned and gave a thumbs up of approval. She made a jump towards the next roof, a bit harder to do in normal form but she got across anyways. There were no other barrels, so when she hopped down she grabbed onto a window ledge, before bringing herself to the ground beside Ramses.

Grinning, he hopped down from the barrel and wrapped his cloak around himself, running silently through the alley. He broke into a dead run past a pair of guards as they turned, and threw a large bag of gil at them. It exploded upon contact, scattering gil across the ground, the guards diving for some of the free money. Ramses did this to distract them, so they wouldn't see Leona as they finished their turn.

Leona nodded, almost stopping herself just in fascination over the trick Ramses just used. "You're going to have to teach me that one!" she said catching up with him with almost no trouble at all. She looked back over her shoulder once, to see the guards still grabbing up what they could! "I think they need to pat the guards better too, but works for us!" she said, sticking out her tongue at them before turning back around, keeping up with Ramses as they escaped down the alleys.

Shaking his head, Ramses winked. "Orphan's secret," he explained, "You figure out how much money means to people, and what they'll do for it. C'mon, we'll find a place to sleep out of town, sleeping outside in an alley is -way- more dangerous than sleeping in the woods!" Ramses turned sharply around a corner, and slammed into a guard. The two went sprawling, and Ramses hit the ground hard, "Owww...." he grumbled.

"Heeeey, I didn't see a wall there and... heheh.... oops?" Leona said, as she looked up from being sprawled on the ground at the guard before her. She looked to Ramses, then back to the guard rubbing her head. "We were just... coming through!" she said, but it was obvious the guard wasn't going to buy it. "Think that trick will work here?" Leona asked Ramses. "Either way, wed better take care of him before he calls attention to us right?"

"Nah... but now's a good time for.." Ramses whispered, then turned to the guard. He was staring at them and reaching for his sword, Ramses pointed behind the man and shouted, "What in Ivalice is that?!" The guard smirked, and wasn't going to turn. "Like I'm gonna fall for that, k--" Then a massive impact shook the ground as a ChocoMeteor collided with the flagstones of the street. The guard was knocked over again, and Ramses took Leona's hand and bolted for the tree line.

As the two ran hand in hand, Ramses in the front, time stopped completely in Ivalice. It was like everything was frozen, even Leona was frozen in mid step.

Our Serpentarius Knight finds himself somewhere else…

Only Ramses wasn't... to Ramses it was as though he had merely ran into a new room. Only... only Leona wasn't there. It was just Ramses, and the great temple before. "Ramses? Please, come down the hallway," a gentle voice guided him, from not very far off at all. Something had moved him, taken him from Leona's side. It knew his name, and there wasn't much he could do about it. This was just like when Eris had taken them at the Inn. Cautiously, Ramses went down the hallway, one hand ready at his sword belt, the other set to fend off any attacks that might occur. In truth, the temple was beautiful, with polished stone walls, and a perfect kind of symmetry. It just seemed...right.

At the end of the hallway, one could see Arianna, the Goddess. Only well, half of her anyways. The other half was embedded deeply into a wall, imprisoned. She smiled warmly as she saw Ramses, nodding towards him. "Greetings Ramses, my name is Arianna, Goddess of the worlds," she told him. "I have summoned you here because there are some serious, important things happening in these realms. The world are coming apart at the seams Ramses... they will not hold out much longer if intervention is not sought after. As you can see... I cannot do this myself. I've been imprisoned by the very same entity that seeks to destroy what I have created, to emerge the worlds into one. Worse yet, while she is merging the worlds and gathering power, she has sent four of her minions to the worlds to stir chaos, dissention... to make it easier to conquer. If Eris succeeds, then many lives will be lost meaninglessly..."

Taken aback, Ramses stared up at Arianna. Leona had mentioned her once or twice. This Goddess had also mentioned Eris, and countless meaningless deaths... Did Leona know anything about it? "So, you're Arianna..." he said. "But… why summon me? Why not someone else?"

"A good question," Arianna replied. "There is a good heart within you Ramses, and a fighter's spirit. A rare combination whether you realize it or not... and one I had a very difficult time in finding. I realize that this must be a lot for you to take in. I'm afraid it is just that these are desperate times... already there has been a collision point between two worlds. There are three others, people from various worlds, but I fear for them, should they ever meet Eris's minions. Which, eventually, is bound to happen..."

'Heh... minions... I wonder if she means Eris' children.' Ramses thought, he decided to ask, "Well... what's wrong with the worlds joining anyway? I mean... if Eris' childr--err... minions... her minions. Why would Eris and her minions want to kill all sorts of people, and join your worlds?" he still hadn't mentioned Leona. If he did, she might be put in danger. '

"These worlds are radically different... some are simply not ready for what other worlds have. The technology of some worlds is far more advanced, but it's not just that. In some meeting places there would be cataclysmic reactions, earthquakes, floods... this isn't just the merger of two worlds we are discussing here but many more. Plus, there are people within those worlds who would manipulate the newcomers, the situation at hand even further. As for Eris and her minions, the fact is they are joining these worlds to create a home for themselves. Eris was banished long ago to another dark realm for her deeds... but her holdings are all but severed. She has sent her minions out to kill and create chaos so the people are more easily gathered, ruled upon. Ramses... they are all timeless, immortal. To Eris, human life is expendable... she would not care if every human was killed so long as it meant she had a home. And I fear in a way, her revenge as well."

Ramses digested this, idly tapping on the hilt of his sword. He'd seen Eris firsthand, she was indeed quite frightening. "Everyone should have a home," Ramses said, rather boldly, "And how would I stop the merging of whole worlds? I'm just..." he stopped for a second, "I'm just a Lucavi. I can't stop something this huge. Besides.." he hesitated, then decided against saying a thing about Leona. He wouldn't betray her.

"Very well… I can see that something is holding you back. When you've come to a decision, please return here, you merely have to want to, and call my name." And with that, Arianna gently but firmly pushed Ramses back to his place on Ivalice.

Ramses stumbled as he was thrust back to Ivalice, quickly regaining his footing. He ran harder through the trees, stopping in a copse where he felt safe. He panted heavily, hands on his knees, trying to make sense of what had happened. Both Goddesses had taken interest in him in the same day... because of Leona. Ramses looked up to her and sighed a bit, determined to tell her. "Leona..." he mumbled, "We have to talk about Arianna..."

Leona blinked a moment, that was the LAST thing she'd expected to hear when they got to a clearing. Why would Ramses ask now? She'd mentioned Arianna once or twice sure but... "Arianna? Why Ramses? What about?" she asked, blinking as she looked back to him. She couldn't figure out why he would ask, his question completely baffling her.

Ramses sat down and patted the ground beside him, putting some sticks together and pointing to them, "Combusting force, set these alight, Fire!" and caused a small campfire to spring forth. "I...she..." he trailed off, not knowing how to begin.

Whatever thought had crosses Ramses mind, it had to be something serious. Leona nodded, sitting beside him a moment. "Its all right... you can tell me anything," she said comfortingly. "That is, if you want to I mean, you don't have to... but it seems like it's bothering you and I would like to help!"

Looking at her, Ramses just felt compelled to tell her everything that had happened. "Well... we were running, and then I wasn't...here...anymore. I was in Arianna's temple, I think. She… she said that Eris had caused the worlds to merge, and her minions were sent out to cause chaos and destruction to make people easier to rule. That, and, when the worlds finish merging, it'll cause all sorts of disasters...like floods and earthquakes."

"She summoned you?" Leona asked, shaking her head. "Ramses... I'm sorry. I should have warned you about her before but I didn't think she would bother you! Eris would tell us a lot about her... she manipulates people to do what she wants them to... to go against and try to unravel Eris' plans. The worlds are merging yeah, to create a new home. Whatever happens after the merger, Eris said she could handle it! And well... yeah. We were sent down here for that reason yes but... well we talked about that right?"

Shaking his head, Ramses looked at her. "It wasn't that... it was just... she told me Eris was banished because of things she did... and Arianna wanted me to fight to stop the worlds from merging...with three other people.." he sighed and stared into the fire, "I... I couldn't ever fight you..." he mumbled, feeling guilty for some reason he couldn't fathom.

"Hmmmm.... maybe she was lying to you about that first part? Eris always told us Arianna sent her to the void, banished her there, for no good reason." She paused a moment, taking in what she was hearing. "So... she wanted you to fight alongside the others shed summoned?" She held Ramses hand a moment. "Ramses, I know. I couldn't fight you either. I can only tell you what I know, what I've been told by Eris about things, but... this is your decision to make Ramses. Whatever decision it is... I'll stand with you on it." She finally said, looking towards him again.

Ramses sighed, and then had an idea. "Well, since neither of us could fight the other, we'll have to choose a side, right?" he got a funny grin on his face, "How about we play Rock Paper Scissors? If you win, we'll join Eris, but if I win we join Arianna?" he smiled brightly, obviously pleased with the idea.

Leona blinked. So... let fate decide it for them. "Right!" she said with a nod, before laughing. "All right, yeah! Lets do this then!" She replied, thinking a moment. She remembered seeing some kids once play this game. "Rock... papers... scissors!" She said, doing the hand motions until she revealed what was on her side: scissors. She looked to Ramses, to see what his was.

Ramses shook out his hand as Leona did, and ended up with a closed fist, signifying Rock. Then he saw that Leona had made Scissors... 'Oh no...' he thought, looking into her eyes, feeling his own eyes itch, threatening to start watering. He didn't know what to say... "L-Leona...?" he asked, "Best two of three?"

Leona blinked a moment, as she saw what Ramses had come forth with. She had heard though about people doing two out of three, and she knew looking at Ramses that... this wasn't quite the right idea either. If it was fate, if they really were meant to be on that side, then what could two more hurt? "Right, lets try that," she said with a nod. "One... two... THREE!" And with that she revealed that this round, she had, instead of the scissors, a sheet of paper.

Chuckling, he rolled his hand in time with Leona's, and threw his own. As his hand unfolded, he looked at Leona's, and almost gasped in relief. "Paper..." he smiled happily to her, the twisted knot in his stomach coming undone a little. "That's a tie, means we have to go once more, maybe twice!" he grinned and brought his hand up, "One...two...THREE!!!" this time he threw scissors.

Leona nodded, a relieved smile on her face as well from the result, opening her hand at the same moment this third time to reveal scissors once more. She blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "We're two out of three... but two times we tied?" she asked. "What does that mean we should do now?" she asked, never having heard of two people trying in this game like this before.

Ramses blinked, then shrugged, scooting over to Leona and grinning almost like a madman. 'Yes!' he thought, 'We tied, that means she doesn't have to betray her family!' Ramses was overjoyed at not having to watch Leona suffer through that. "It means...well...we're tied. Se, if I won, we sided with Arianna, right? And if you won, we were with Eris. But neither of us one, that must mean Fate wants us to side with...ourselves! We're supposed to fight for ourselves, for us." Ramses thought that was right anyway, it's what his heart was telling him.

Leona blinked a moment, listening to Ramses, before breaking into a smile. "Right! You're right!" she said. "Well fight for ourselves, and no one will be able to tell us what to do. We'll be on our own but you know what Ramses? I think that'll be all right." She added, smiling. It felt... it felt right. For after being with Ramses, it didn't quite feel right anymore killing humans. She'd found out, through him, just how much there was to him. And, it certainly didn't feel right to go against her family, but this... this felt right. That's all she could think for as moment, knowing it was the right decision.

Nodding, Ramses hugged Leona tightly against him, just wanting to hold her in the light of their campfire for now. Sooner or later he'd have to call on Arianna to inform her of their decision, and he didn't know how the Goddess would take it. He was also worried about what they were going to tell Eris... she seemed a lot less understanding. "I... just... I love you Leona, I wouldn't want to be anywhere without you... ruined world or the same as we have now, it's perfect with you in it."

Leona blushed a bit, as she held him back, their decision made and final. Of course things weren't going to be as easy as that but... she was willing to fight for this. "How come you always know just what to say to make me happy Ramses?" she asked, smiling. "I love you too, and no matter what happens, well fight through it together! Well forge our own path, and I wouldn't want it any other way." She was content there, as the two held on to each other, and for a few moments, every worry seemed far, far away.

"I dunno..." he replied, blushing as well, "I just... I feel like telling you things like that. I want you to know that I appreciate you...that's all. And you're right, we'll find our own way, do what -we- want, not what some gods in a power struggle want us to do." he squeezed her gently, kissing her cheek, "But... I'm to call on Arianna once I've decided.. and we will have to tell Eris..." he mumbled against that spot between her ear and neck, eyeing the forest out behind her.

"Well, I definitely appreciate you... I don't know what Id ever do without you," Leona replied, smiling. "Yeah... yeah we will won't we? It won't be easy, but we've got to tell them. Who should we try first?" she asked, blinking. "Arianna?" The hardest part in this decision was to come right here, telling the goddesses...

"I'm...not sure. Eris and Arianna... they're both Goddesses, and they're not gonna like us turning away from them. You...because...Eris is your mom. And me...because Arianna chose me as one of her Heroes..." he sighed, rubbing Leona's back gently, just wishing he could forget both Goddesses, and hold Leona, and fall asleep next to her. This was a huge decision they'd made.

"Well, I definitely appreciate you... I don't know what I'd ever do without you," Leona replied, smiling. "Yeah... yeah we will wont we? And..." She stopped a moment, finding their scenery had changed a bit. They were now in Eris's hallway, sitting there. "Well... I guess our decision has been made for us huh?" Leona asked, blinking again. "We'd better go down there... she'll be waiting for us and Eris doesn't like to be kept waiting I'm afraid," she said, hoping to sound brave when in reality, she was quite nervous about this part.

Ramses stood up, helping Leona to her feet, and looked around. He frowned a little, at being moved here forcibly, despite their plans to make their own lot in life. "Right..." he said, trying to sound brave as well. His voice didn't waver or quake as he set himself into that same emotionless mask, squeezing Leona's hand tightly to show her he was just putting on an act and really was nervous, and he slowly walked down the hall.

Leona nodded towards him, as they made their way down the hallway firm, until both were in Eris's chambers. "Yes Eris?" Leona asked, blinking. "You know Leona... its amazing when one sees when they are bored and wish to check up on their children. I am hoping that perhaps I have seen wrong. Leona, come forward please." Eris asked, waving a claw towards Leona, who shook her head. "Eris… whatever you have to say to me you can to him too," she finally said, the first time she had ever even slightly rebelled like this. Eris gave a nod. "As I thought..." Eris said, shooting Ramses a look to kill.

Ramses shrank back a little from the look, then dropped the mask, his hazel eyes rich and full of emotion as he stared boldly back to Eris. He'd done nothing wrong, and wouldn't be treated as if he did. His hand still gripped Leona's and he stood by her side, resolute.

Eris nodded towards herself. "Hmmm... so let me see if I get this straight Leona. You're willing to drop all alliances for a mortal human? You've already lived hundreds of years longer than he has... you know you're bound for hundreds more, yet you're willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of a few decades, at most? You wish to make it harder on yourself... after he dies what then? You go down this path Leona and I will not help you any further... and if you get into our... my plans then it will spell the end for you no matter which of your siblings you meet. Do I make myself clear?" Leona nodded. "Yes ma'am... you do." "And you are still willing to?" "Yes ma'am..." "Then be gone from my sight. I tire of this," she replied, waving them off with a bored hand movement, as the two appeared once more in the forest.

Ramses frowned, looking to Leona. "A-are you alright...?" he asked. Ramses didn't' expect Eris to be so casual about it, like she didn't really care that Leona had chosen a different path. He didn't know how his ladylove would take it.

Leona blinked a moment, back in the woods. "I.... I not sure what I expected but I guess it wasn't quite that," she replied, shaking her head a moment. "I'll be fine, no worries! Besides Ramses, this is the first step on our path were making, so I don't mind. "She... she doesn't know what she's missing!" she added, though still a bit flushed from the encounter. Sure, it had bothered her... a lot. But there was nothing that could be done now. "Well, anyways were halfway to being home free right?" she added.

He nodded, and hugged her again, trying to comfort her. "I'm sorry Leona..." he added, before releasing her, just holding her hand. "Should I call on Arianna aga-" he was asking, when they were gently torn from Ivalice again. They were deposited outside Arianna's spic and span temple, with it's perfect symmetry and angles. The sky was bright and clear around them, and Ramses looked to Leona, who was also taken with him. "Err...guess she heard me?"

"Wow, she... must have been waiting or something..." Leona commented, shaking her head as she looked around the immense temple. "Its... its so... different," she said, never having seen a place like this and well it was almost exactly the opposite of where they had just been before. She knew now came the challenge for Ramses. She squeezed his hand gently this time; at least she would be here this time to comfort him. "Well I guess we better tell her right?" Leona asked, looking forward down the oddly perfect hall.

Nodding, Ramses swallowed hard, visibly shaking. He steeled himself, and started forward, walking into the temple the way he had before. As a caution, he positioned himself in front of Leona, as he wasn't sure how Arianna would react to her... "Arianna?" he called, hoping she hadn't been consumed by the wall yet.

Arianna's voice carried through. "Of course, I am here," she replied, as the two came into her chambers. She of course was in the same state as before, not out nor more in the wall than before either. She noted however that Ramses was not alone. "Ramses... have you come to a decision. And... I see you are not alone are you? Who do you bring with you... is she the one who made you hesitate before?" Arianna's eyes looked to Leona but Leona held the gaze strong.

"Uh...y-yeah." he mumbled, then cleared his throat, "This is Leona... the reason I didn't want to join you was because of her. See... I'm in love with her, and if I joined you it would mean having to fight her, and I couldn't ever do that." again, Ramses left out just who Leona was, "So... we let fate decide what we were to do.. and we've decided to both remain neutral in everything..."

"I see... love is a powerful thing. But, it also made fools out of wise men, jokers out of kings. To be neutral... to not have a stance... so if the world falls apart around the two of you, you shall just let it be?" she asked, her voice calm however. "I respect your decision... but if you don't stand for something what will you do?"

Ramses cleared his throat and squeezed Leona's hand. "For us... it doesn't matter if the world falls apart... as long as we have each other..." he shrugged softly, "We'll do the same as we did before, our best to protect Ivalice, an find the rest of the Zodiac Stones. After that.... I'm not sure... maybe just find somewhere nice to be with each other..."

"Hmmm....I am disappointed to see this Ramses, as you should probably have guessed. However, to make a fighter fight against their will... that never works. So if you are certain, then return to Ivalice... and may the two of you find happiness amongst the wreckage." And with that, moments later, the two had returned to the woods. "Well," Leona said, "We did it! We're free to live our own lives now, and I have a feeling it'll be the best path ever taken." They'd overcome a lot, and now the path was completely clear at last ahead of them. Well, as clear as it would get anyways.

Smiling, Ramses hugged Leona rather tightly, grinning wide. He let her go and looked around, "Y'know, everything looks different when you're not on a set course. Everything's brimming with possibilities." he shrugged, realizing that it was still late, and he was tired. He plopped down and yawned, unbuckling his cloak, "But I'm tired... so right now the best looking option is getting some sleep, sound good?"

"Sounds good!" she replied with a nod, covering a large catlike yawn. It had been a long day to say the least but... he was right. When she thought upon it a bit, he was right. She'd have to think more on it later, because well it did seem the possibilities were endless! But right now... it was sleep time! She settled in to sleep close beside Ramses, smiling. "Good night Ramses," she said, before drifting immediately off to sleep.

Shivering softly, delighted, Ramses gently wrapped Leona in his cloak, and lied down beside her, draping an arm over her protectively. He yawned and nuzzled his face a little way into her mane of hair, and drifted off into pleasant dreams.

Leona found herself having nice dreams, dreams of well, the possibilities she had seen right before she'd fallen asleep. It was pretty amazing after all. It even helped keep her mind off of how easily she'd been dismissed but then, she'd been determined not to let her feelings on that show anyways. This was their path... and she knew the right one. Not too many Stones left now and they could find the Braves and unite Ivalice even. She wouldn't even have even noticed if another Zodiac came close, she was sleeping that soundly!

Stirring slightly, Ramses detached himself from Leona. He rubbed his eyes, sitting up and looking around. Something was wrong here... "Wha?" he got out before a slender female foot snapped up out of nowhere, catching him under the chin and sending him spinning away from Leona. The owner of the foot, a woman dressed in skintight pink leather followed him as he sprawled against a tree. "Awww, poor little snake, did I surprise you?" she asked, grinning positively wickedly, her eyes roaming shamelessly over him. About the same time, a well formed man, dressed in a skintight blue leather suit, leaning against a tree, smirked in Leona's direction, "So happy, so content." he mused, walking boldly over and squatting near her, he wiped a strand of hair from her face with the same leering smirk on his face, as Ramses gasped through the pain, unable to talk. "Too bad she has to die like your boy toy, sis."

Leona missed something, blinking... it was like Ramses was no longer there. She started at that, opening her eyes to find a man giving her a leering smirk, one that had her up in arms. She rolled away a bit, coming to her feet and pulling out her claws in an instant. "What did you do with Ramses?" she asked, eyes glaring at the intruder, as she kept her claws out and ready for him. She couldn't help but look around, she could smell Ramses was still close, just not see him. "You better bring him back or you'll regret it! And if you've hurt him I swear..." She found herself pretty mad at the moment, wondering who the person in front of her even was in the first place!

The man grinned, as did the woman, but where the man was loud, the woman whispered lewdly into Ramses' ear, "We are Gemini, and you are ours." Then the man snapped forward, holding out one of Leona's wrists far to the side, pulling her up against him and locking eyes with her, "Mmm...you'll be fun." he leered at her again, and yanked hard on her wrist, spinning her away from Ramses. Meanwhile, Ramses was still recovering from the kick to the throat, groaning slightly in pain and slightly in revulsion of the woman near him. Something about her just rattled him, and he wanted to be away from her so he could wash himself clean. "Ugh..." he managed, "Get away from me you...y-you..." Ramses coughed a second, then managed one word, "whore." The woman exploded at this, bringing an armored pink palm around and slapping him a ringing blow upside the head. The force of the slap was enough to send him spinning, again, away from Leona.

"Gemini... ZODIAC!" she said, realizing they did have that smell to them... how could she not realize it before this? "You bet I will... I'll hurt you so hard for this you won't know what's coming!" she replied, glaring hard at the Gemini half before her. Why did Ramses smell like he was getting further and further away and this monster... why did she hate him so much? She didn't understand his innuendos... she just knew she didn't like the sound of them! Then she had an idea... she had to break free. She called upon her stone, releasing her anthro feline form, which would be a bit faster and more agile than her usual form. Lashing out with the hand that hadn't been yanked upon, she moved to bring her now extended feline claws into the Gemini' half's chest. She just hoped Ramses was doing all right... and owed to make this quick and try to bring her attacks to where she moved closer and closer back towards his scent.

Grinning, the male half of Gemini held onto the wrist he'd grabbed, leaning impossibly far to the left and out of the way of the claw, "Ooo, skin shifter huh? Yeah I was right, you'll be fun." then he locked his arm down on Leona's and leaned close to her, his eyes strangely empty for a human's, except the promise of a good deal of horrific things his mind was planning for the holder of the Leo Stone. Then he brought his head back and slammed it forward, trying to head butt Leona. Ramses, on the other hand, wasn't faring so well. Blow after blow skipped him across the ground, bouncing him off of rocks, trees, and the occasional startled animal. "You shall NEVER call me that again you little man! To you, I'm Mistress Gemini, and don't you forget it!" she lifted her spiked heel to stomp into Ramses' back, but suddenly he wasn't there, having vanished in a flash of blue light. "Wha?" she asked, before he slammed down onto her back, wrapping his legs around her waist, and one arm around her throat, pulling back as hard as he could. The woman's eyes bugged out of her head, as if they were going to pop, and Ramses leaned close, whispering into her ear, "Not for all the Gil in Ivalice, whore." and twisted sharply to the left, then threw all his weight to the right, bringing a sickening -CRACK- through the forest as he shattered Gemini's neck.

Leona's eyes widened, as the man managed an incredible dodge, even with her speed, and locked close to her again. She hated being near to him, hated his touch. It was so... slimy was the best word for it! That when he brought his head back, and Leona knew as she struggled to get free, that THIS was going to hurt. However, the man fell back, releasing his hold, and when she looked again he had fallen over, dead. "Ramses!?!" she called out. "Where are you?" She ran, following his scent, hoping he was doing all right as well and wanting as well to get as far away from the slimy man, or Zodiac, behind her.

Ramses became numbly aware of what he'd done, and he planted his feet as the woman slumped, letting her pink, leather-clad form slip from his arms. She hit the ground, her head lolling at an unnatural angle, and Ramses felt bile rise in the back of his throat. Gagging, he turned and hunched over a bush, spilling the contents of his stomach into it as waves of guilt and revulsion rolled through him. Why did he kill her?! He could have just knocked her out! Retching, tears streaking his cheeks, Ramses' mind raced.

Leona blinked, as she finally came upon the body of a woman she knew was the other half of the Gemini duo. She could see the woman's neck was bent at an odd angle... and a Zodiac Stone tumbled to the ground beside the corpse. Leona picked it up... then she heard something. "Ramses?" she asked, blinking when she came up to his side and noted the tears there, and the fact he had just thrown up. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on Ramses... lets just get out of here," she said softly, knowing the longer they stayed here the worst the feeling for Ramses probably would be.

Nodding numbly, lost in the miasma of his emotions, Ramses let Leona lead him away from the woman he'd killed. 'It had to be done... so you could get to Leona and save her.' he thought, then savagely fought back against himself, 'Then what the hell is she doing HERE saving ME?!' he groaned a little, swallowing convulsively as he tried not to throw up any more. Really, there was nothing left to pump out, but his stomach was still twisting.

"Ramses... its over, its done with," Leona said calmly having changed back to normal as they walked, speaking as soothing as she could as they made it further and further away. "Besides they attacked first... and definitely had been corrupted... I think they were too far-gone anyways. That man... he had a slimy feeling to him... not a normal human feeling at all' she said, shaking her head. "And not only that... but you saved me. When that woman fell, so too did the man who was going after me. I don't know what he wanted, but he kept saying I'd be fun... whatever the case is though Ramses, I have you to thank that I'm all right!"

Swallowing hard again, Ramses started to calm down. He flushed, partly in anger towards the man and the woman, and partly in embarrassment, but....mostly in anger. "I have an idea of what he wanted..." Ramses frowned, "Probably the same thing the woman did, only from you, not me." he sighed and plopped down heavily on the ground, his cloak forgotten at their last campsite. "I'm sorry you had to meet someone like that Leona..." he mumbled, realizing that he hadn't prepared her like he said he would, "Not everyone is...err....nice."

Leona sat down close beside him, glad to see he had calmed down a bit. "Well, they were zodiac monsters right?" Leona asked, blinking, still unsure what Ramses meant. "You mean they wanted the stones? That's an odd way to ask for them..." she said, shaking her head, still a bit confused. "Well... we've met some mean people before. Like those bandits right? Or wait... is this somehow different than that time?" she asked.

Blinking, Ramses tried to think of how his teacher had said it, and combined that with the blunt honesty that knights had. He looked at her and mumbled, "They wanted us for sex, but more'n likely they wanted us for the bad kind..." he flushed, knowing what he'd meant when he said it, and hoping that Leona never needed to know. "It's...a very bad thing to force that on someone... I guess that's why I was so angry..." he looked down at the ground, to escape looking into Leona's eyes. He should have been ready, after all, Minota had told them that the Zodiac Beasts would be drawn to them, the more Stones they gathered. Now there were only two left, Sagittarius, and Virgo.

Leona blinked, having no idea what sex even was. That was something Eris had never mentioned to her, or any of her siblings. "Ooooooh, okay," she replied however, getting the gist that the things planned had not been nice things. She saw him look down, and knew something was up. "Well look at it this way Ramses, its over with now and we only have two stones left! Were far enough now though... should we try sleeping again?" she asked, blinking as she took in a deep breath. "The next Stone isn't for miles away from here after all!"

Nodding, Ramses remembered the forgotten cloak, and dismissed it. He could always get another cloak, and this time he'd be sure to sleep closer to Leona, in case something else bothered them while they were asleep. Settling down, he looked up at her bright eyes and mumbled, "I was so afraid that something was going to happen to you... I couldn't see you when I finally got my eyes open, and after the behemoths... I just want to be able to keep you safe."

"Well we're both all right now Ramses," Leona replied, settling down as well right beside him. "I'm safe, because of you. That guy... he was actually faster than me so I don't know how things would have turned out had you not helped. But its all right now, and were both safe." She added, covering a great yawn again before settling in for the night. "Good night Ramses and thanks... I love you…," she said, not sure of her words would be heard or not as she drifted off to sleep and conked out.

His spirits lifted by Leona's faith in him, Ramses pulled her tightly against him, and wrapped his arms around her to be sure nothing could take her away. "I love you too..." he murmured into her ear, before laying his head down and slowly drifting back to sleep.

Leona dreamt well despite the battle they had just been in and the danger they'd passed, and hours later finally awoke with a large yawn, opening her eyes to the new day. She was about to think to herself to get some breakfast, but decided, remembering what had happened the last time, not to despite the fact she had her powers back. So instead she gave Ramses a slight wink, hoping not to wake him until he was ready, and started a campfire for the two of them with a "Breath of life, FIRE!" Rummaging through their packs she found some fish steaks, a few herbs, and a skillet and started on breakfast for the two of them, humming as she cooked what she hoped would be edible!

Ramses didn't stir as Leona slipped from his arms, mainly because some deep instinct told him she was nearby, regardless. Soon after she started cooking, the smells wafting to his nostrils, Ramses sat up groggily. "Mmm... mornin' Leona..." he mumbled, raking his fingers back through his hair and stretching lavishly. He scuttled over beside the fire, next to Leona, and kissed her cheek, "Sleep well?"

Leona smiled and kissed him back, before flipping over the fish steaks. "Morning!" she said happily, fighting back another yawn. "And yep! I slept really well, had a lot of good dreams too," she added, smiling widely again before looking towards the steaks that had just finished cooking. Pulling out from the packs a pair of plates, she set a pair of fish steaks on each, before settling back beside Ramses, munching happily. "Did it turn out all right?" she asked him, raising a brow. After all, considering the things she would eat she was never sure!

Blinking, Ramses eyed Leona, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wow, cooking? Smells really good!" Ramses picked up one steak, ignoring how hot it was, and bit into it, tearing off a good mouthful and letting the fish flop back onto the plate. He chewed heartily, then licked off his fingers with a small burp. "Mm mm mm! Pretty good Leona!" Ramses smiled. After all, this was like, the second or third time she'd tried cooking, and it really was good, "You're a natural at this!"

Leona blushed at that. "I am? Well, I did have a really good teacher you know?" she added, winking at him. "Besides its fish, where can one go wrong right?" she added, munching back into her fish again with a contented look, before finishing it off almost as quickly as she had started it. "Can't start the day off without food anyways!" she added, starting to gather up a bit of the mess she'd made.

Chuckling a little at the praise, Ramses hurriedly stuffed the remains of one steak into his mouth, chewing it up and swallowing it, then plowing through the second. He leaned forward, scraping both plates into the fire and wiping them with a rag. The juices from the fish hissed and popped, and Ramses passed the plates to Leona. "Right.... next time it's my turn to make breakfast, but you always wake up first... so wake me up, kay?"

"No problem!" she replied, giving a nod. After all, it was only fair to take turns. She wasn't sure why she was always an early riser... or maybe it was that Ramses liked to sleep in? "I can't believe we only have two Stones to go... seems like only yesterday!" she commented, looking up at the clear sky a moment as she took a deep breath of air in, if anything to check and make certain nothing was after them yet!

"Yup... what's left, Sagittarius and Virgo?" Ramses' mind went to Ramza's adventure, and how he'd taken the Virgo Stone last, and the Airship Graveyard had exploded. No-one ever found Ramza's corpse... "I hope that doesn't happen to us..." he mumbled to himself, standing up and looking around, his hazel eyes taking in their surroundings.

"That's it, just those two!" Leona replied with a nod. "I wonder which one well see next... whichever it is its a few miles to the south!" She blinked, tilting her head towards Ramses having half heard his mumbled words. "Hope what doesn't happen to us?" she asked, curious what he meant.

Ramses moved to her side and smiled, taking her hand and starting off towards the Stone. It'd probably be looking for us, whatever had it, and would more than likely try killing them for their 11 Stones. Ramses was getting used to it by now. "Oh... uhm.. when Ramza got the Virgo Stone, something happened that blew up the Airship Graveyard... They never found his corpse."

Leona blinked. "So that means he could still be alive! Wow, I heard a lot about him from the legends... would be really nifty if we could meet him one day huh?" she asked, smiling. She followed behind, towards the Stone's path, wondering which one it would be, what it would hold. Either way, she knew they could take it! "Who knows, it we met him maybe he'd be a Brave too! " she added, knowing even after they found the Stones, they still had to find the Braves meant to hold them!

"Yeah, who knows? I mean, he could be anywhere now, who knows what's happening on other worlds? Maybe he got shoved into a new world?" Ramses shrugged, knowing anything was possible. Soon, the trees turned into a wide sea of grass that came up to about mid-thigh on Ramses. As the wind blew over it, it was as if small waves passed over them. "Wow...." Ramses breathed, his eyes shining as he admired the area.

"Could be! There's..." Leona thought a moment. "Well there's at least three other worlds that I know about... but Eris mentioned quite a few more than that!" she blinked a moment at the mention of Eris' name, but shook it off. Looking around her, it was certainly easy to get lost in the scenery... that was when she smelled it. She couldn't before with the wind and grass... or was it just THAT fast? "Uhm Ramses... might want to be on your toes," she commented, scanning the area for any signs of what she could now smell.

Blinking, Ramses let go of Leona's hand, mentally cursing the tall grasses he'd been enjoying a second ago. "Careful Leona, with the grass, this might end up being an ankle biter..." His eyes swept the area, searching for some tactical advantage they could use. Nothing looked promising, the tree line was too far back, and the rest of the ground was flat, save for the grass.

Leona nodded, when suddenly she felt something sniff at her leg. She looked down, finding a small Uribo. It looked up at her with cute little eyes, a smiling face, and even cute little stripes that made her squeee. "Aaaaaaaw, looks Ramses, he's so cute! I think he likes me!" She said, when the small pig came up to her Leo Stone and its eyes widened. She blinked. "What's wrong little guy?" she asked it, when it backed off a short distance. Leona blinked, as she could now see something emerging from its forehead... the Sagittarius Stone! "Uhm... Ramses?" she asked, When the creature darted off into the tall grasses, a shining of light erupting around it before dying out... and its position was lost yet again!

Ramses blinked, focusing on the light. "The Stone!" he cried as he watched it vanish. They'd never find it in this grass! Frowning in concentration, Ramses pointed to where he thought the Uribo was going to go, and muttered under his breath, "Nature's barren kiss, erupt from the earth, ICE 2!!!" Immediately, huge shards of ice formed in the grass, causing it to become brittle. If the Uribo was heading that way, it would surely shatter the now frozen plants.

And indeed they did shatter! Leona blinked, watching the pieces fly as the Uribo was once more exposed. It had changed now though, bearing large tusks and spines, and the friendly look it had in its eyes was now gone. "Wow, that worked!" Leona praised, when she noted the Uribo try to dart for the grass once more. "Oh no you don't!" she yelled, jumping forward with her claws outreached and jumping in front of it, blocking its path with her set of claws. Squealing, it tried to turn and run... inadvertently towards Ramses' direction!

Setting himself, Ramses flexed his armored hands and waited. The Uribo monster charged him, it's tusks going for his stomach, but Ramses was faster. Snapping his arms out, he grabbed the tusks and was borne backwards, almost losing his footing. Then the beast hauled back, flipping Ramses up into the air, and over it's back. He lost his hold, and sailed past Leona, crashing through a frozen section of grass. "Oof!"

Leona blinked, watching as Ramses sailed over her. "Ramses, are you all right?" she asked, concerned, when she heard a squeal. The pig was trying to get away! She remembered something she once saw a farmer do during the short time she had traveled alone and decided to try it. "SOOOOOEY! HERE PIG PIG PIG!" she yelled out, her voice loud enough to wake the dead! The pig stopped, starting to charge happily towards her. "Ramses?" she asked, "Do you still have that Fire2 spell?" The creature was running in a straight line towards them, she could tell by its hungry grunting! "If so, aim it for there when I release mine," she added, pointing to a small patch of grass. "In three... two... one giveroflifeFIRE!" She yelled, sending her fire spell to the spot the pig would be in within seconds...

Sitting up, Ramses heard Leona, 'Aw crap... she'll set the plains on fire!' he thought, but saw the plan. "Right, once we do that though, cast an Ice spell AROUND the Fire spell... to contain it!" Ramses leapt to his feet, and pointed to the earth where Leona's spell was forming, yelling, "Wrath of the cosmos, gather explosively! FIRE 2!!" followed quickly by, "Return the flames to their dormant slumber! ICE 2!!" his Fire spell exploded, igniting Leona's spell and the grass around it. Quickly though, ice formed on the grass, just behind the pig as it squealed, entering the fire.

The pig at that moment ran into the flames... and it was over within a fraction of a moment. As the ice did its work, all that was left behind were scattered ashes... and one nicely cooked roasted pig! Leona blinked, taking in a deep breath and she picked up the Zodiac Stone that had fallen off, before looking to Ramses. "Hey... you know he smells even better than the crab did! Can we eat him Ramses? Pleeeeeease?" she asked, giving her best grin. The smell WAS pretty tempting!

Rubbing his chin, Ramses walked over to Leona, and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Good plan with that fire!" he grinned, kneeling down and flicking a dagger into his palm. "Of course we can eat him, just don't eat any bones, those are what's going to turn into the crystal." he smiled, whipping his knife back and forth, cutting the juicy Uribo meat from the bone, and setting it on a patch of soft grass. Soon the pile was stacked high, and Ramses licked off his knife, replacing the weapon on the belt of many such knives he carried. As soon as he'd finished, he blinked, having an idea. He whipped a Phoenix Down from his Inventory and used it on the bones. A brilliant red-gold light surrounded them, just before they were about to turn into a Crystal, and a rather startled-looking Uribo popped into existence, squealing and rubbing against Leona's leg.

Leona took in a deep whiff of the meat, blinking when it was just the bones left. "So the bones are what becomes a Crystal?" she asked, having learned something new. That's when the unexpected happened and Ramses used a Phoenix Down. The Uribo was there again good as new, cured from the Stone which it must have eaten! "Aaaaaaaw! You're all right! Piggy!" she squealed, happy so see it was all right and opening her arms wide. The little Uribo was happy to oblige, coming in closer to nuzzle her as she hugged it. "Wow Ramses... that was cool and look!" she said, as Piggy went from her over to Ramses and licked his cheek. "He thanks thinks it was cool too!"

Smiling, Ramses patted the little Uribo, and scratched it behind one ear. He straightened up and smiled, "Sorry about killing you there Piggy, but we needed the Stone you ate. And it wasn't helping you. Go on and live a happy life!" the Uribo oinked and grunted to Ramses, and Ramses blushed a little, then Piggy ran off through the grass, leaving Ramses, Leona, and a big stack of pork.

Leona watched him go, waving at him happily. "Bye Piggy! Enjoy the world!" she called, before turning back around. "Aaaaaaaw, he was so happy! I'm glad we could help the little guy... not only that but we get to eat too!" she added, as her gaze couldn't help but go towards the huge stack of pork steaks. "Hmmmm, we almost have enough there for a whole mini army... or even an eating contest!" she said, taking the smell of it in deeply. Pork was one of those things that when cooked smelled almost as good as fish! Almost.

Ramses stooped and loaded most of it into his Inventory, leaving a rather sizable portion left for Leona and Ramses' lunch. "I think we've earned a break, besides, Virgo's the last one, and goodness knows where that one is!" Ramses laughed a little, and sat down in the ashes. He grabbed a chop and chomped into it noisily, munching on it and gesturing to a place for Leona to sit. He swallowed, "Wow... that's good stuff!"

Leona sat down beside Ramses, then grabbed herself a few pieces of pork chops so and relaxed back a bit. "Well only know when we get there!" she said.... for she had to admit to herself for some reason she couldn't smell it! But shrugging it off, she turned to the food at hand and took in a few great bites. "Mmmmmm, you're right!" she replied happily. "It IS good! Its great when the enemy is edible isn't it?" she asked, finishing off her first with a happy gulp. She had to giggle a bit, remembering the look on Ramses face the time she ate the remains of the Cancer Zodiac whole!

Laughing and eating, Ramses nodded. "Yup! Like when you scared Canceris? That was...pretty cool in hindsight!" he shook his head, not really focused on the Stones, so much as he was focused on having a good time with Leona. Inwardly he was a little worried about Ramza and Virgo still, something, a mysterious instinct he didn't know, was telling him to be careful. He shoved it down under his happiness, and grinned, "So what's after lunch? Can you smell the Virgo Stone?"

Leona shook her head. "For some reason I can't right now... maybe it's hidden? Or somewhere I cant smell it?" She finished off the last pork chop she held before taking in a deep breath. "I mean I can smell traces of it... but where's its at I know it can't be right!" she said, shaking her head as she took another pork chop and started in on it. "Or it could just be with all the strong smells around here the Virgo Stone's really far and its just covered up or something!" she added, quickly finishing off her pork chop before looking back to Ramses. "Well at least we'll be fed right?" she asked with a wink.

"What do you mean it can't be right?" Ramses asked, looking concerned, "I mean, if it's covered, our best bet would be to go to where it was recently, right?" he finished eating and wiped his mouth, settling back and looking into the sky, watching the clouds. He could feel the pulsing power of the 12 Stones they'd gathered. They were a veritable beacon for Virgo, if it wasn't dormant like Libra was when they'd found it.

"Right!" Leona replied, nodding. "The reason I say that is because it almost feels like Virgo's energy is... surrounding us." Could the power really be THAT big? "Its expansive... not concentrated like the others were," she explained, wondering HOW to really go about explaining smells. Either that... or had it been waiting for this moment, when they'd collect the dozen before it? But the bigger question was... who could hold that much power? She tensed up a bit, shaking her head. She didn't like it at all, not one bit.

Ramses blinked, then stood up. The feeling in the pit of his stomach, as if he was expecting something to happen. Suddenly, a lilting, pleasant voice sounded from off behind them. "Hello there, may I come into your camp, fellow travelers?" Ramses turned, arcing a black and green brow. Across the field stood a man in dark black, skintight clothes, with deep green armor on his limbs and torso. He had a head of unruly blonde hair, and a friendly smile. Ramses gaped, and tugged on Leona's shoulder, "R-Ramza?!"

Leona blinked... how often was it that you stood before a legend like THIS? "So... you're Ramza?" she asked. He couldn't be anyone else really, he just had this... feel to him. But there was also something else about him that bothered her... something wrong with how he smelled. Something... off. "Well, its nice to meet you, heard a lot about you!" she said, trying to make talk and hope that the feeling she had, that the smell, was all wrong. After all... this was RAMZA! "And sure, sure why not! My name is Leona," she said, and decided on how she wanted to phrase it before stating proudly, "And this is my love Ramses!" She set a hand on Ramses' shoulder, hoping he'd get over his shock soon! He was better at these intro things!

He shook his head and blinked a few times, realizing that Ramza was really there. He heard what Leona had said and blushed lightly, remembering that Piggy had said 'You're lucky to have someone like that' to him earlier. "Err... Yeah. I'm Ramses deBezna... and this is my love, Leona." Ramses purposely left out mention of their Stones, after all, Ramza had spent his time KILLING Zodiac demons. "We've got some food, would you like some?"

"I would actually," Ramza replied with his usual charming smile. "It has been a long journey and who am I to refuse something like pork chops right?" he asked. "Right!" Leona agreed, grateful she hadn't ate all the pork chops yet as she sat down, leaving a spot for Ramses beside her, and beside him Ramza. She knew Ramses would definitely want to be close to the legend after all. Leona rummaged through their bag, gathering an extra plate, before passing it with a few fat pork chops on it over towards Ramza, then a fork they happened to still have around. Now, ignoring the feeling she still had, she decided to ask questions to sate her curiosity. "So... what brings you to our camp anyways? How did you find us?" she asked, looking over towards the Hero.

Ramza shrugged at the question, cutting some of the meat with his fork, and chewing idly before answering, "I was just wandering. I've been around Ivalice, and I'd heard of two young warriors passing through places. Seems they've stirred up a few...interesting...stories. The lost Temple of Libra was destroyed." he said simply, eying the golden bracelet Leona wore, "And people have been talking of a Marlboro rampaging. Things like that." Ramza continued to eat, while Ramses watched. Ramses' head swiveled to Leona, then back to Ramza as he gripped his love's hand tightly.

"People heard about that?" Leona asked, wondering briefly to herself how ANYONE could have known when the temple was so remote right? There'd been no one around... had they made THAT much noise? She shrugged it off however, grimacing at the mention of the Marlboro incident. Then had he heard about their other forms as well? Did he know that? She looked to Ramses, then to Ramza. What could they say to that? "Well, travelers are bound to get into some adventure right?" she asked, trying to put on a smile. "Besides, any problems we created, we also took care of!" she added with a nod. She set her other hand on Ramses' lap... wondering what thoughts were going through his mind. Was he thinking the same as her... did he feel that off-ness too?

"And shouldn't you have gone back to Igros after the incident at Zeltennia?" Ramza asked casually, then stopped, looking from Ramses to Leona as he finished his pork. "Oh, forgive me. Where are my manners, these are your adventures and I'm telling -you- about them!" he laughed. Ramses didn't, he took the time to scan Ramses' form, something was screaming to him, something was WRONG.

There... there was a messenger who took care of that," Leona replied, before finally she couldn't take it any longer. The scent, the feeling, was driving her downright crazy! "Ramza... would you excuse us for a moment?" she asked, before looking back to Ramses and gently leading him off to the side where Ramza couldn't hear. She knew it was rude, but at the moment she didn't care! "Ramses," she said, letting go and pacing back and forth like a cat. "Something is off, something is seriously WRONG. He smells of the stone but... he doesn't smell... right. Tell me I'm not insane here right? I mean can you smell it... err sense it too?" she asked Ramses, still pacing a bit and shaking her head.

Ramza spread his hands, "Be my guest." he said simply as they went aside. Ramza didn't focus on them; instead he seemed to look out into the plains, losing focus. Once aside, Ramses looked to Leona and blinked, rubbing his chin, "I don't know... something's wrong... I mean, where did Ramza come from, and how does he know all that? And... he smells like Virgo." Ramses was careful to be quiet, but Ramza heard him anyway, "Maybe this has something to do with how he disappeared... Virgo possesses people, like St Ajora and Alma..." he murmured, as Ramza's hair turned stark white, "We should be careful."

Leona nodded. "That's exactly what I was going to say he smelled like," Leona replied, stopping her pacing now that she knew she wasn't going insane or anything. "Nobody could have known about the Libra temple... Marlboro sure but not Libra and... uhm.... Ramses?" she asked, blinking, as she happened to turn around and see that Ramza's hair had changed colors on them. "That... cannot be a good thing," she said, blinking, as she took in a deep breath and set her hands close to her claws, just in case. What could they do if it was though? Would they... would they have to kill a hero like Ramza?

Ramses' eyes went wide, as he watched Ramza lift off the ground, the air crackling with energy. "I'm sorry, Ramses and Leona, but now that you've outlived your usefulness, you have to die. Face the wrath of the Bloody Angel! ALTIMA!!" Ramza screamed as he threw himself forward, pure energy, a diverted Ultima spell, powering the blows he expected to land on the two. Ramses shoved Leona out of the way, mentally apologizing, and swung forward with the Serpentarius Blade, attempting to finish Ramza quickly.

And the white hair was only the beginning as Ramza she could see was powering up... NOT GOOD! So close, she wasn't ready yet just to give up! She held her claws about to dive towards Ramza and at least try to knock the stone away from him, she found herself shoved out of the way and Ramses diving past her. "RAMSES!" she yelled, knowing that the impact would... not be good. She got up quickly, running towards him if anything to try and hold him back from a full frontal assault. Even with his power... it wouldn't be good. Her speed with her as she strained, she had her hand on his shoulder when she could feel the Stones she held vibrating like mad. Power issued forth from them, now all together, crackling through the air around them like a multicolored maelstrom. Even the Virgo one did, throwing Ramza backwards. At the same time however, Leona and Ramses' Stones threw them backwards as well... and into a concentrated area of the magic. The last thing that Leona saw was a knocked out Ramza, back to normal... and the Stones they worked so hard to get exploding off into different directions. She reached for Ramses' hand and held it tight, as white exploded around them, and they were tossed through the tear in Ivalice.