"Is this the way that leads to Favool?"

Cecil laughed at Rydia's mistake as they stood at the entrance path to the Mt. Hobs. "Don't you mean Fabul?"

"Oh, yea. That's what I meant. Fabul."

"Yes, this is the way."

Rosa hopped out of the hovercraft joined them. "I hope this doesn't take too long."

Cecil nodded as he looked up the way. "I've never been through this pass. I always took an airship every time I went to Fabul." The memory of being a Red Wing brought a chill to his body. A slight wind ruffled his hair. Mt. Hobs stood tall above them covered with huge boulders and ominous pine trees. The sky was overcast and gray but he could tell that it was well past mid day. "We have to get going because I'm not sure how much day light we have left."

"I agree." Edward came up from behind them and adjusted his cap. "We want to cover as much ground as possible. We have to keep an eye out as well."

Rosa looked at him. "Eye out for what?"

"Monsters."

Cecil nodded. "They have become more frequent lately. You have to be careful."

"Don't even start this crap, Cecil. I know how to take care of myself."

"Hey now, don't get feisty on me. I am allowed to look out for you and Rydia. Right Rydia?"

The little child squatted down to examine something on the ground. "Right, Cecil."

"See?"

"Gimme a break," she replied, chuckling slightly.

"With all due respect, Miss Rosa, we all need to be careful," Edward said politely. "There are dangers out there that I'm not even sure we know about. I know what this man is capable of doing. I saw him destroy Damcyan with my own two eyes. Pride set aside, we are going to have to work together on this."

"Oh man," Cecil said suddenly, running his fingers through his hair. Rydia looked at him curiously.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing really. I'm just regretting the fact that I let you and Rosa come."

"By the Gods, Cecil!" Rosa cried, exasperated. "Please don't waste your energy thinking about that. It's too late, we're here and we're all in this together."

Rydia nodded. "She's right! We're wasting time!"

"You guys are ganging up on me. That's not fair."

"Too bad! Let's get going. I for one, am not looking forward to spending the night on this mountain, how about you Rydia?" The little girl shook her head. Rosa gave Cecil a quick wink and began to lead the way up the trail, Rydia bouncing along at her heels. The Dark Knight looked to Edward, but the Prince shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't look at me, my friend. I've never understood women either."

* * *

"My, my, aren't we persistent today, dear Rosa."

The dark man stood over the crystal globe as he watched the White Wizard trudge along the path. Rydia moved behind her, so full of energy and so full of life.

"More like full of annoyance and irritation," he muttered to himself, his low guttural voice echoing through the dank chamber. "How can you stand such a little menace? I myself would have to throw her out a window by now, or perhaps, cast a spell upon that green head of hers." He placed his gangly palm against the cool crystal and watched as it zoomed in upon the tiny Caller's bouncing figure. His eyes studied her over. "Full of magic, you are Rydia, if that's how you pronounce such an odd calling. It's too bad that you survived that horrible fire! Tsk'tsk'for you to call upon Titan!" He paused for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Actually, now that I think about it, I guess it was a good move on your part. Why, without that spell I wouldn't have been able to'well'"

The dark man tapped his fingernail against the crystal. "Well, you know what Titan did. Rydia, you opened such a door for me! You gave me a weapon that I simply can not lose with! Perhaps a thank you is in order? Yes. A thank you is definitely in order." He pressed his hand against the crystal once again and released a shining blue light down into it. Blocks of ice and snow began to compile in a valley ahead of the travelers.

"What is the one thing that little Rydia absolutely loves more than anything in this world?'Why of course'"

He cackled evilly.

* * *

"Ceciiiiillll!" Rydia whined as she struggled to stay up with the rest of the group. "I'm so tired, how much longer is it?"

The Dark Knight sighed quietly but didn't let on. After all, she was a little girl, he couldn't expect her to have near the endurance of an adult. With one quick motion, he reached down and swept her off her feet and onto his back. She giggled playfully and held on tight.

"Brrrr'" Rosa shivered coldly and looked up at the sky. The day had long progressed into evening and it was beginning to get dark. Edward fell into step behind her, proceeded to remove his cloak and wrap it around her shoulders.

"I mustn't let a lady be cold if there is something that I may do to remedy it," he said politely, smiling shyly.

"Why, how gentlemanly of you Edward. You will make a fine husband one'" She stopped suddenly and threw her hand over her mouth, realizing what she had just said. Edward's eyes fell to the ground. "Oh, Edward, I am so sorry. I didn't mean'I just'I forgot'I'"

The Prince smiled sadly. "Do not apologize Miss Rosa'"

"Please Edward. Call me Rosa."

"Okay, Rosa. Like I said before, do not apologize. I too find myself thinking as if Anna were still alive sometimes. 'Tis only been a matter of days since'" The Prince stopped as a lump formed in his throat.

"I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm sorry."

"Please, Rosa, do not apologize!" He reached up and rubbed his tired eyes. "I have come to accept that it has happened. Now, have I gotten past it? Not by any means. I am not even sure what is keeping me sane right now. It has got to be the fact that I have a chance to stop the man that destroyed my lover and my kingdom'my parents'it drives me to keep going."

"I'I understand your loss Edward." The Prince's eyes widened.

"You do?"

Rosa's eyes fell upon Cecil. He and Rydia had walked ahead but she could see them laughing together like they were old friends. His handsome face crinkled happily with each smile that the little girl brought him. Such a kind and caring face' "Yes I do Edward. Years ago I lost the love of my life. Not as tragically as you did, but it hurt tremendously. It still hurts, even to this day."

"I am sorry for your pain. The loss of a loved one is something that I would never wish upon another human being. Ever. How did you ever get through it?"

The White Wizard's words were caught in her throat. How did I get over losing Cecil? She was silent for a moment, as she could not find the words that would justify how she was really feeling. It's because you never got over him.

"I don't know Edward." Don't lie to yourself Rosa. You never got over him. Never.

"Well, what do you guys think about this spot?" Rosa's head snapped up at the sound of Cecil's voice. He had stopped and was slowly letting Rydia slide off of his back. "I don't know about anyone else, but the air is bitter cold and I am tired. Especially after carrying this munchkin around!" He punched the little Caller lightly on the arm, who laughed playfully and pushed him back.

Edward nodded and rubbed his bare hands together. "You're right, Cecil. I hardly even noticed that it had gotten so cold until now. It's getting dark anyway."

"Are you ready to stop Rosa?" Cecil asked, eyeing her cautiously.

The White Wizard rubbed her hands together too and then held Edward's cloak tightly around her shoulders. "Yea but where are we going to stop? We don't have a tent."

"Well, how about there?" The Dark Knight pointed to a shallow cave off to their right.

"You're kidding."

"No I'm not. Why would I be?"

"I'm not sleeping in some cave that's probably home to some wild demon or something!"

"There is no such thing as wild demons."

"The hell there's not!"

Cecil sighed loudly. "There are children here Rosa, help me out a little."

"I'm not a child!" Rydia cried. Edward pulled her against him and smiled.

"Now, now Rydia. We mustn't get defensive."

"But Edward'"

"Ta, ta, ta, hush." The Prince laughed. "Believe me child, you are a child."

"Rosa, there is nothing in that cave," Cecil continued as he cupped his hands together and blew into them in an effort to bring some sort of warmth to his body.

"I'm sorry, I'm not going in there."

"Oh my God! Do you want me to go in ahead of you and kill any bad things that might be waiting for us?"

"If you feel the need to."

Cecil sighed. "Okay I will. It's such a shallow cave though, I can almost see to the back wall from here!"

"Whatver."

"Fine, I'm going!" With that, the Dark Knight took off.

"He's so stubborn," Rosa hissed with irritation. Edward just smiled back at her.

"Sure Rosa."

The White Wizard stared at him haughtily. "What do you mean, 'sure Rosa'?"

"Nothing."

"What?!"

"Nothing!"

"Edward!"

"What?"

"What?"

"What do you mean what?"

"Oh forget it!" The White Wizard blushed with frustration. She knew what had really just happened. He knows that Cecil is the one I am talking about. Damn royalty'just who do they think they are? She couldn't help but allow the corners of her lips to curl up though. He had seen right through her.

"OH MY GOD, HELP ME!!!" Cecil's frantic cry suddenly ripped through the mountain air. Rosa gasped in horror as she looked and saw the Dark Knight lying on the ground.

"Cecil!" she screamed. All three of them sprinted towards the shallow cave. Rosa fell to his side and grabbed his shoulders. His eyes were closed and his body was limp. "Cecil!!"

"Yes darling?" The Dark Knight opened his eyes immediately and looked up at her worried face with a smirk on his lips. Rosa's mouth dropped open and she pulled away from him.

"You jerk!" she shrieked. She reached out and smacked him on the arm. He started laughing and sat up.

"Oh, good one Cecil," Edward said, smiling. "Someone is going to be in the dog house tonight!"

Still laughing, he rubbed his stubbled chin. "I'm already in the cave, can't get much worse than that!"

"Cecil, you meanie, that wasn't funny!" Rydia cried, putting her hands on her tiny hips.

"It was just a joke ladies, calm down."

"It was not funny at all," Rosa snapped, sitting down against the rock wall. "Right Edward?"

The Prince shifted nervously and looked at Cecil with mock sternness. "No Cecil, that wasn't funny at all." It was almost impossible for him to contain his amusement.

"Oh thanks a lot Edward," Rosa said sarcastically. "You men are all alike. Come here Rydia, let's huddle together. We'll share all the warmth. No men are getting close to us tonight!"

"Rosa, lighten up honey, it was only a joke. You know you love me." Cecil got up, gave her a quick hug, then motioned for Edward to follow him. "Let's go find some wood for a fire. We don't need these girls!" The Prince looked at Rosa, shrugged, then followed the Dark Knight out of the cave.

Ha, Rosa thought sarcastically as Rydia snuggled up against her. Me, love you? Never in a million years'

* * *

Crack

Cecil sat quietly against the rock wall and stared into the orange flames of the fire as they crackled and snapped against the silence of the mountain. Rosa, Rydia and Edward were we all sound asleep, their chests rising and falling with each breath they took in. Sleep would not come to him. At least, he would not let it come. Edward was right in what he said earlier. There were dangers lurking in the wilderness these days that not even he had heard of. As Captain of the Red Wings, it had been his job to know about everything on the Blue Planet from what crisis the Clerics of Toroia were meeting over to what new invention Cid was planning on inventing. Anything that kept Baron not only the most informed nation on the Blue Planet, but the most powerful, Cecil was required to know. He only hoped that he knew enough to keep his friends safe.

I hope we reach Fabul in time, he thought to himself. We are the only chance they have of preparing themselves for an attack. I mean, I am sure that they can handle their own, but it wouldn't hurt'

"Cecil?" A soft voice made yanked him from his thoughts. He looked over and saw Rosa gazing back at him. "What are you doing up still?"

"Someone has to keep watch."

"Yes but you have to get some sleep."

"That's not gonna happen for me tonight."

"Please try, Cecil."

"I can't Rosa. You just turn back over and get as much rest as you can. You need it a hell of a lot more than I do. How are you feeling anyway?"

"Fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I would feel a lot better though, if you would lay down and get some rest too."

"Fat chance."

Rosa sighed. "Please?"

"Listen Rosa, don't fight me on this. I am going to stay up and keep watch and that's that."

"If you insist."

"I do."

"Okay then, good night Cecil." With those words, she rolled back over and faced the wall.

"Rosa?"

"Yea?"

"Sorry about scaring you earlier."

"Yea'well'whatever."

He smiled and sat back, knowing full well that she was smiling too.