-Confrontation-
When the group had landed upon the banks of the forbidden land, Zidane was arguing about the prices of all things.
“Man they're loud,” Sonata said as she walked over to Sunset and Eiko, Sunset just shrugged
“Man, he’s robbing me blind.” Zidane said as he walked away from Momo with a bag full of items they needed.
With the last minute's check of their inventory, the party made their way onwards. Monsters both big and small confronted the party along the path to their destination. “That is a big mountain,” Sonata said as they finally came to an ascending path.
Not even a step forward and three sets of eyes began to watch them from afar.
It wasn't until the group found themselves before the entrance of a cave that they ran into a bit of excitement. “Go no further or face grave danger.”
“I ain't scared of no ghost,” Elko said holding up her new staff.
In retort, red smoke had gathered and began to form a Bomb. “You have been warned.” It started to cast fire every which way.
Zidane rolled to his right and tossed a dagger at the Bomb, only for the blade to phase through. “Physical attacks are a no go.” He said as he flipped over a fireball heading his way.
“It's made of fire so most of my spells are useless,” Sunset explained as she prepared to cast Swords of Revealing Light to hold it still.
“Then it's up to me then,” Sonata said as she held her katanas up causing water to surround them, but as she tried to slash at the Bomb, her water had begun to float upwards, becoming a gas cloud. “Never mind.” She said scratching the back of her head. Her face etched with a nervous smile.
“Pierce the heavens.” A voice called down from above, looking up, the group eyes a knight with a lance jump down and pierce the ball of gas, causing it to re-form.
“Really, Kain.” A voice called from behind. Zidane looked back and saw a knight in a pitch-black suit of armour as the Dragoon jumped next to the knight.
“It's the only way to fight it in when it's ethereal,” Kain said as he readied his spear.
“I got this now,” Sonata said as she rushed the now corporeal Bomb, slashing it as three swords held it in place.
“Fools. This place is a fiery hell.” The Bomb said as it shrank. “You there.” It said pointing at Sunset. “I can aid you on your quest.” It said with a smile in its base form, the three swords still pinned to its body.
“What's in it for you?” Sunset asked raising an eyebrow.
“What? I can't aid a powerfull summoner in training?” The bomb asked
With a shrug, Sunset placed her hand upon the Bomb’s head. “I shall come forth and aid you.” It said before vanishing.
“We shall take our leave, you never know who could be watching us,” Kain said before jumping off as his friend disappeared in shroud darkness.
“Okay, what was all that?” Zidane asked as he walked next to Sunset, Eiko doing the same.
“Wow, now you're on your way to being a real summoner,” Eiko said with a smirk.
“How does it feel?” Sonata asked
“To be honest, it feels great,” Sunset said with a smile before they continued their walk into Reflective Cave.
The cave walls were as anyone could have guessed, is comprised of flat reflective surfaces. As they kept going Zidane kept hearing a voice calling out to him, trying his best to shrug it off the best he could.
They soon came to a four-way crossroads. “Now what?” Sonata whined as each member looked down a different path.
Without thinking, Sunset went farthest left and Zidane went right. “Wait for what, where are you two-” Before Eiko could finish a wall came up behind both Zidane and Sunset.
The loud thunk snapped Zidane out if his trance. “Hey what gives!” He yelled slamming his fist on the wall.
“Why travel to find something not lost.” A voice said more than asked from behind Zidane.
“How th-” Zidane couldn't finish his sentence, for when he turned around, he was face to face with a young man with brown hair wearing a black tee and blue jeans. It was himself before he got into this mess.
“It's better off forgetting all about a world that knows one will remember...and blink an eye and you are gone.” It said as it walked closer and took a seat on a rock.
“What are you talking about?” Zidane asked, his eyes never leaving his doppelganger.
“The world, the world that looks into this one. Don't you remember?” The doppelganger asked, snapping his fingers.
“What-arrg!” Zidane screeched in pain, one hand clutched his head as memories flooded his mind. “No, you're wrong...” Zidane said standing up straight.
“You see only the few that care about you. Family members and one friend. Did I mention he was in this mess too?” The doppelganger leaned in with an evil smile.
“There are others,” Zidane said making the doppelganger laugh.
“Prove it by telling me that it would have been fun staying in that boring old’ world.” The fake Zidane said as he continued to laugh.
“That may be true, but my memories are a part of who I am and I am willing to fight you,” Zidane said taking a battle stance.
“You won't win.” The doppelganger transforms to look as Zidane did now and took a similar stance.
The two ran against each other, daggers clashed upon impact. “Give up and face the facts, those memories are just a burden.” the fake Zidane said.
“They make me who I am!” Zidane yelled, pushing back and jumping backwards to dodge a slash before running forward.
On the opposite path, Sunset came face to face with her own selfish desires. “Now that the toy is gone, we can finally do what we planned on doing this whole time.” The fake Sunset said with a smirk.
“That would be?” Sunset asked cautions of her surroundings.
“To help Chaos!” The doppelganger explained with an assured shrug. “You know deep down that you are on his side.”
“Just because that witch said so? Sorry, not buying it.” Sunset put a fist on her hip and leaned upon her leg, more an act of uninterest than of defiance.
“But if you did go to his side you can have all the power you crave.” The fake Sunset said as she walked over to what looked like a table.
“That power wouldn't be my own.”
“What? And you believed her? I can show you...if you want.” The doppelganger purred as darkness erupted from her feet.
“What do you think’s going on?” Sonata asked as Eiko tried her hardest to break through the pillar of stone.
“I don't know, but we've got to help them somehow!”
“Why, I believe I've caught two for the price of one.” A voice echoed from one of the middle tunnels.
“Who goes there?” Eiko asked trying her best to act tough, as Sonata started to shake knowing exactly as to just who it was.
“I am the living embodiment of Darkness.” The wicked voice was owned by a scantily clad gray-haired woman. Yellow tendrils writhed along her body, saliva dripping from their jagged maws.
“Y-you.” Sonata had begun to back away in utter fear.
“It's been a while. It seems you've turned on us.” Cloud of Darkness stated as she launched a pitch-black orb if magic at the girl.
Seeing this, Eiko launched a ball of ice, an explosion rocked the area upon impact. “Sonata, we HAVE ta fight her! It's the only way to help Zidane and Sunset.” She exclaimed, staff in hand.
“R-right.” Sonata took a breath, her twin katanas at the ready as she steeled herself for the worst.
Eiko waved her staff in the air summoning a silver wolf. “How shall I help master?” Fenrir asked, standing in between Eiko and the Cloud of Darkness.
“Help me defeat her,” Eiko said casting another blizzard.
“As you wish,” Fenrir said before howling, boosting Eiko’s magic and Sonata’s attack power, before the former began running through several of Cloud of Darkness’ summoned minions.
With boosted strength, Sonata charged at Cloud of Darkness, but with a snap of her fingers, Cloud of Darkness summoned a silver bodied clone of Sonata. The two clashed blades upon impact, neither flinching from the recoil. “My, aren't we feeling brave.” Cloud of Darkness said with a chuckle as she easily dodges several blocks of ice heading her way.
Although in her arrogance, Kain had found purchase and successfully impaled her from above.
Kain jumped away neatly landing next to Eiko. “You’re being rather unfair.” He quipped.
“Huh? You're the one that helped us out earlier!” Eiko said with surprise.
“Yes, but let's not let our guard down,” Kain stated as he jumped once more, launching his spear at the Cloud of Darkness that grazed her, but gave way for a chunk of ice to hit her square in the middle of her chest.
“Now that was a cheap shot.” Cloud of Darkness complained.
“Says the woman who can't seem to fight by herself.” Kain gave in retort, once more landing in preparation for his next strike.
With a growl, Cloud of Darkness shot a ball of darkness at Sonata when her clone had managed to push her into a wall. “Sonata!” Eiko cried out as she ran toward her fallen comrade.
“That was cheap, even for you.” Kain began to glow, his armour had become blue and his helmet disappears revealing his long blond hair. “Show no mercy.”
The Dragoon gave one final jump. Upon the apex of his rise, a grand fissure opened behind him to reveal a silver moon. With grace and precision, his spear pierced and pinned Cloud of Darkness unto the stone floor.
Kain jumped away, causing his purple armour to reform around him. “Curse you.” Cloud of Darkness hissed, fading away into dust.
Kain, now free from the battle, hastily moved to find Eiko attempting to heal Sonata's wounds, the latter was lying upon the floor, coughing through spurts of blood.
“Please...hold on,” Eiko said with tears falling. Kain put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
“Cosmo, take this soul so they may aid you in their quest,” Kain said stabbing the ground next to Sonata causing her to glow.
“What are*hiccup* doing?” Eiko asked rubbing her eyes.
“It is a forbidden act, something not done lightly. When the time comes she will be a hero of light, with no memory of her ever being loyal to Chaos.” Kain explained. Eiko nodded, hoping the others had been doing better.
Zidane narrowly dodged the strike of his doppelganger, jumping back to gain distance. “You’re far more agile here.” The fake said.
“That may be true but this place needs me,” Zidane said almost at his limit and he knows the fake knows.
“I get that.” The fake said dismissing his weapons. “Look,” it said before it started to vanish. “Come up with a plan…” the fake vanished causing the wall to crumble away...
Zidane rushes out to find Kain kneeling over Sonata. “What happened?” he asked rushing over.
“An encounter with one of Chaos’ minions... Strange. You would have thought the other wall would have fallen by now.” Kain said, standing up as the last of Sonata vanished.
“What did you do to her?” Zidane asked angrily
“Saved her. You will meet her later if this war of light and darkness continues.”
The wall had started to become translucent and Zidane had moved forward to find Sunset fighting a red-winged demon. “What’s going on in there?” he asked trying to get a closer look.
Sunset rolled to the right as the demon shot a fireball at her. “You kidding me? I'm nothing like that!.” she cried out sending out a fireball of her own at the demon.
The demon dodged the attack, a wicked smile graced her lips. “Oh look~ it's the toy.” It said pointing to Zidane.
“Hey! That 'toy’ happens to be my friend!” Sunset said pointing her rapier at the demon.
The demon flinched at the word friend. “Friends only hold you back! Watch!” The demon held up its right hand lifting Zidane in the air, bringing him closer.
“Aren’t you are a handsome one?” The demon purred as she held him in front of her.
“Let go of him!” Both Sunset and Eiko screamed.
“That must be the darkness in her heart… this happened to a friend of mine.” Kain said watching this closely.
“How can you be so calm?” Eiko asked
“She will come up on top,” Kain said calmly
“Let. Him. Go.” Sunset said sending fireball after fireball at the demon, but the demon just kept smacking them the way.
“Focus on the task!” Kain yelled with his arms crossed.
Sunset let out a deep breath and closed her, “With light comes darkness.” she said remembering one of Celestia's sayings. When she opened her eyes again light surrounded her.
“What? No, you don't!” The demon screamed, tossing Zidane away.
“If you are darkness...” Sunset's body was engulfed in great light. “Then I am light…” As the light faded, Sunset stood wearing armour as white as snow, wings of golden light unfolding with a brilliant shine. “And there is no way I'm letting you even graze my friend.” With a rebel yell, Sunset charged against the demon...
The two collided in a massive flash. When it faded the demon was gone but so to were Sunset and Zidane. “Where did they go?” Eiko asked as the wall fell.
“To a place far away from here. Come I shall bring you somewhere safe.” Kain said walking from the direction they came.
“Hey! If you can make anyone a hero, then make me one!” Eiko demanded.
Kain turns around. “That's not how it works...I sent Sonata to Cosmo for-”
“Then send me there,” Eiko said stomping her feet before pouting.
Kain let out a sigh. “You won't stop pestering me until I do, will you?” he asked getting no answer. “Fine, but we’ll be taking the scenic route.” The Dragoon stated, and with a joyful step, Eiko followed.
-End of disc one-