The royal hovercraft coasted smoothly into Kaipo just as the sun was setting over the horizon. Cecil barely waited for it to halt before he pulled himself up and over the side of the vehicle. The ride back seemed to take days, although it was only a matter of several hours. His feet hit the sand and immediately started running.

Please be alive, Rosa, he thought, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He felt the Sand Ruby slap against his leg from inside his satchel. The heat from the sun cooked his armor, lacing his skin with sweat. A dull ache pounded within his ankle as it carried his armored body across the town. His eyes focused straight for the doctor's house. His stomach reeled with fear. I can't be too late. I just can't...please Rosa...I pray that you were able to hold on...

"I've got it!" was the first thing that burst from the Dark Knight's mouth when he exploded through the front door of the doctor's house. His chest heaving, he pulled the Sand Ruby out and looked around. The doctor came skidding down the hall and gasped when he saw Cecil.

"You were able to retrieve it?" he cried, eyes widened in exclamation. Cecil nodded and thrust it towards the old man. His knees felt weak.

"Yes, I got it! Is Rosa..." The Dark Knight's voice staggered. "Is Rosa okay?"

The doctor pulled the Sand Ruby from Cecil's hands. "She is alive. Barely. There is no time to waste, I must remedy her now!" The Dark Knight followed the doctor as they hurried down the hall. Cecil's stomach churned violently when he saw Rosa. Rushing to her side, he grabbed her red hand and looked upon his crimson face.

Dear Shiva...Cecil cried to himself, horrified at what he saw. Her soft features were stained an even deeper red than what it had been when he had left. Visible trains of salty sweat poured down her face. Her white blonde hair lay matted against her fevered head as it harbored the deadly disease.

"She has gotten worse!" he cried, looking desperately at the doctor. The old man did not respond as he stood over Rosa's head with the Sand Ruby. He pulled a chisel from his pocket and slowly began to rub it against the smooth surface of the red gem. Tiny red chips flaked away from it and floated lightly down to her face. As Cecil watched the tiny shavings, he felt his mind swimming with memories. He could hardly believe that he was able to get back to Rosa in time. The horrible sense of urgency that he had been feeling for the past days...past hours...past minutes...was ever so exhausting. The image of his dying mother filled his head. If only the flakes had fallen upon her face too, just as they were upon Rosa, maybe things would have been different...

"Mmm..." A slight mumble escaped Rosa's parched lips. Cecil's eyes focused upon her in anticipation. It was working! Her eyes remained closed as the horrible redness slowly began to lift. The Dark Knight's heart exploded with a silent joy. He felt his hands begin to shake as he gripped her tiny fingers in his own palms. The beads of salty sweat that covered her skin slowly began to dry up. The change was so swift...so encouraging.

"I think she will be alright now," the doctor sighed, pulling the Sand Ruby and chisel against his chest and collapsing into a chair. The old man's face was aged and tired and looked like it hadn't gotten a wink of sleep in years.

"Her face is still red," Cecil said with concern. The doctor nodded.

"It will be for a few days." He stood back up and walked over to Rosa's side. He ran his tiny wrinkled hands across the skin of her cheek and through her sweat ridden hair. He nodded again. "She is still warm, but I anticipated that. I'm not sure, though, when she is going to wake up."

Cecil's heart fell. "You don't know? But..."

"I have never had first hand experience with this disease, sir. All I can say is that I think we have gotten her over the worst part, and after the beating that her body took, it's only natural that it will take a little time for her to heal..."

The Dark Knight tuned out the doctor's words after that, too enamored by the woman that lay in the bed before him. The swelling had gone down, so much that at least he could recognize her now. Never, though. Never again would he forget the image of her laying there so close to death. I was so close to losing you Rosa...so close... He leaned over close to her head so that his lips brushed her warm cheek.

"Please...dear Rosa...please come back to me..." His words were soft and whispered as they entered her ears. She stirred slightly, but remained in her state of sleep.

"Cecil?" a timid voice suddenly chimed. Looking over his shoulder, Cecil saw Rydia and Edward standing together in the doorway, as if they were waiting for his okay to come in the room. The Prince's eyes were strained and heavy as he looked upon the sight of Cecil and Rosa.

"Is she..." he stammered, not really knowing what to say. He clasped his hands nervously.

Cecil nodded in reply, a tired and small smile crossing his lips. He motioned for them to enter the room. Edward sat down in an empty chair and Rydia cautiously joined Cecil by Rosa's bed. Her eyes looked carefully at the White Wizard, and then back at Cecil. The Dark Knight removed his helmet and brushed his sweaty white hair from his eyes, looking back at the little Caller.

"Is Rosa going to be alright?" she asked him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, I think she is going to be alright," he replied, placing his shackled hand upon her tiny shoulder. An obvious wave of relief washed over her tiny face.

"Really?"
"Yes, really, Rydia."

The little Caller's next move took him totally by surprise. She flung herself into his arms and gave him the strongest hug that her little body could muster. He was shocked but then slowly wrapped his arms around her in response. His eyes fell upon Edward, who sat quietly in the chair across the room. The Prince gazed back at him intently. Through the sadness and grief, Cecil could tell there was a pleasure. A sense of happiness that they were able to save the one that Cecil loved. There was no hope for Anna...but there was hope for him.

Rydia pulled away then and looked back at Cecil with her emerald eyes shining. "I am so happy that we got here in time!"

"Me too, Rydia," he replied, smiling back at her. "You played a big part in helping us, ya know. Edward had that spike in his leg, and I was fighting that Antlion. You were really brave to run in there and get the Sand Ruby."

She beamed with delight. "I do what I can!"

He chuckled. Reaching up, he tousled her mane of green hair. "I am truly grateful that you were there with me...I don't think I could have done it without you."

Edward stood up then, and walked over to the window. He peered out into the hot desert, his eyes hazy and tired. Cecil looked up at the Prince, realizing that he had not given Edward any credit. He got up from his kneeling position and walked over to the window as well.

"You helped me as well, Edward," he said softly, staring intently at his barren face. The Prince did move his gaze from the window as he spoke. His voice was gaunt, tired, and harbored no emotion.

"I did not help you. I only hindered you."

"That is not true!"

"Oh, but it is, sir Cecil. It is. You came to me for help and I only put your life in danger."

"Edward, how were you to know that the Antlion would attack us?"

The Prince's head turned slowly and looked at Cecil. His eyes were weary and rimmed with a glossy red. "I still can't help but feel like I let you down. For Shiva's sake, I let my parents down...I let Anna down, and look where there are now? Not here with me, I can tell you that." His voice choked on tears but he fought them back down. "But it matters not, now, for they are gone. We have succeeded, though, in saving Rosa. That is what it important."

What can I possibly say to make this man feel better? Cecil thought, studying Edward's somnolent face. I am so grateful that he was even there to help us, especially after the loss he had suffered. The very fact that Rosa is alive and Anna is dead makes me feel guilty. What can I say? What...

"Don't think anything more of it, Cecil," Edward said calmly, brushing his scraggly blonde hair from his eyes. He reached up and pulled the bard cap tighter upon his head, his eyes meeting the gaze of Cecil's. "There is nothing you can say that will lessen my grief. I know you are trying to find the words, but there are none. Just allow me to feel it. I have to feel it. ëTis my fault that they are dead..."

"Edward, it is..." The Prince held up his hand to Cecil's protest.

"Allow me. I beg of you, just allow me. My grief will be private, I assure you. I would not permit myself to expend upon you and little Rydia what I am going through, so let us not speak of it again. You have enough on your conscience, Cecil Harvey, Captain of the Red Wings..."

Cecil's heart skipped a beat as he looked into Edward's eyes. They stared back knowingly, yet sympathetically. He has known who I am the whole time. The whole damn time, he knew that I worked for Baron.

"Edward, the Crystal of Water was a mistake..."

Once again, the Prince held up his hand. "Worry not, sir Cecil, for it does not plague my mind. I knew who you were from the second I saw you in our castle. You are sorry for what you did in Mysidia."

"I have never been so sorry about something in my whole entire life."

"I understand and believe you. By just observing you, watching you interact with little Rydia, noticing you stare off into the desert and think, I can tell you feel the remorse one should feel over doing something so unspeakable."

Cecil sighed and looked back at Rosa. Rydia had gotten onto the bed and was squeezing a wet rag over her forehead. She glanced at him momentarily, but kept her attention focused on the White Wizard, realizing the importance and the privacy of their conversation.

"I will redeem myself, Edward," Cecil said, his voice rich with truth. "I refuse to let King Odin rule my life. I just wish that I could have stopped him before they got to Damcyan." He paused for a moment and looked out at the desert. "I don't even know who this Golbez is. Do you?"

Edward shook his head. "I don't know either. That man...Shiva...he was so terrible and menacing, Cecil! I can't even describe to you what he was like."

"I want to meet him, personally." The Prince's eyes widened in surprise. Cecil nodded. "I would like to come face to face with a man who would do something like this."

"Why?"

The Dark Knight hesitated before speaking, his thoughts running rampant. "I am so angry about what I did in Mysidia, and what happened in Damcyan. There is such betrayal in my actions, especially from King Odin."

"No person in their right mind would want to fare against a man who can cause so much destruction."

Cecil laughed bitterly. "You don't understand. I gave that man years of my life...years of my own loyal service! Then to have him turn around and want me to do something to horrible. Stealing the Crystals is something that the King Odin I knew would never do. He has changed so much. So much."

"I understand what you are saying, Cecil," Edward replied, stepping back from the window and rubbing his eyes tiredly. "I never knew King Odin to be like that either. It just doesn't make any sense."

"None of this makes sense."

The Prince suddenly looked up, a slight alarm in his eyes. "Doesn't this mean that the other two Crystals are in danger as well?"

The hair on the back of Cecil's neck stood on end. He was right. The Crystal of Air and the Crystal of Earth. "Fabul and Toroia are in danger!"

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know." The Dark Knight looked back at Rosa's unconscious figure. "I can't leave her right now Edward. I just can't!"

The Prince nodded his head. "That is understandable. As the last royalty of Damcyan, though, I feel that it is my duty to warn Fabul. They are the closest kingdom to us right now and can be accessed using the hovercraft. To get to Toroia quickly, we'd have to have a black chocobo, the ones that fly."

The Dark Knight looked at the Prince with slight desperation. "I want to go with you...in fact, I will not let you go alone. But I can't leave her!"

Edward's hand came to his chin and his eyes glazed over with a sudden tiredness. He thought for a moment, his gaze never straying from Rosa. "Let us wait at least over night, to see how her condition improves. We don't know how fast she is going to recover."

"Thank you Edward," Cecil said, his voice deep and exhausted. The Prince nodded.

"We should get some sleep. It has been a very..." He stopped for a moment, overcome with emotion. He fought the tears back down before they were able to break from his eyes. "It has been a very...long...day."

Cecil held out his hand. Edward extended his own and gripped the Dark Knight's shackles. They shook them firmly, a glowing respect falling down upon the two. Cecil continued. "I will see you in the morning then, correct?"

"I will be here."

Edward pulled from the handshake then and walked up to Rydia. He whispered something to her and she nodded compliantly. She hopped down from the bed and followed Edward out of the room. The doctor's wife trailed behind, her hands full of pillows and blankets for them to use.

"Give it time," the doctor said as he watched Cecil approach the bed with caution. The Dark Knight nodded and pulled a chair close. Pulling his armored gloves off, he reached under the blanket and grabbed Rosa's hand. Sensing the need to be alone, the doctor gathered up his things. "Will you need a bed to sleep in?"

Cecil shook his head vacantly, barely able to comprehend the doctor's words. He could not take his eyes off Rosa and her peaceful, sleeping face. The doctor said no more and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Rosa..." The Dark Knight spoke softly, his voice laced with emotion. An overwhelming wave of exhaustion consumed his body as he squeezed her hand gently. The events of the past few days had finally caught up with him. He would never forget the image of his love as she lay dying, helpless in a state of which he could do nothing for, except for getting the Sand Ruby. That in itself had taken so much time.

How did I possibly get the Sand Ruby in time to save her? he thought, his mind plaguing him. What if this...what if that... I can hardly believe that I was able to accomplish it. Something had to be looking down on me...someone...Lifting his tired head, Cecil gazed out window. The gentle twinkle of the stars shined brightly down upon the desert. Their glow warmed him, as if they were glimmering from the heavens above. At that moment, he knew that his mother was with him. He knew that she had helped him survive the attack of the Antlion. He knew that she had been with Rosa and kept her alive. She had helped him. He just knew. His lips slowly formed the words of a thank you as he looked into the night sky. I will be forever grateful to you, mother, and always in your debt.

A slight wind flowed through the open window then, running gently across his face. He stood up and removed his armor, piece by piece, and laid it on the floor. He pulled the chair even closer to the bed and gripped Rosa's hand once again. The gentle moon light cast it's glow upon her soft, pale skin. A strand of her blonde hair fell unkempt onto her eyes, down her cheek, and against her cracked lips. Cecil reached up and slowly pushed it away, savoring the coolness of her skin. When his fingers brushed against her lips, though, he stopped and allowed them to rest there.

"I wish I could kiss you, Rosa," he said softly, surprising himself with his own words. He hesitated before speaking again, for she might be able to hear what he was saying. That's ridiculous, Cecil. She is asleep. Go ahead...say it. You need to say it. You need to get it out, for you will never have the strength to do it while she is awake.

He took a deep breath and allowed his words to flow. "When I first saw you stricken and dying with the Sand Fever, I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. To see you in such a state...Shiva...to see you in such a state threw me into a void that I can't even begin to describe. My mind was not what it should have been. Rosa...sweet Rosa...my mother died of the very same thing. You know that. You were there the day that she died. You placed your soft hand on my shoulder to try and comfort me, but I was too devastated to realize that you were there for me. There have been two times in my life in which I have cried like a little baby. When my father and brother died, and then when my mother died." The Dark Knight shuddered, another wave of emotion crashing into him. He felt the sensation of tears begin to burn from behind his eyes, but he fought them back. He would not weep.

"I was without family, Rosa. Without family. Do you know how devastating that was to me? Three holes were ripped in my heart when they died. One for my father, one for Ben, and then one for my mother." His voice cracked with sadness, a lump forming in his throat. He forced it down and continued. "Those were voids in my life that I have never been able to fill. But you....you Rosa...you helped me heal. You helped get past it and move on with my life. Over the years, we have become so close. But I am nothing more than a friend to you..."

Cecil stopped himself and stared down at the White Wizard. Her chest rose and fell slowly with each breath that she laboriously took in. The words that he wanted to say next were words that he had promised himself would never leave his mouth. They were to stay inside of his heart forever, for jeopardizing the relationship with her that he was lucky enough to have in the first place was just not an option. He felt compelled though. He had almost lost her forever and never had a chance to say how he felt. Now was the perfect time. He just had to hear the words come from his mouth, whether or not she was able to know them.

"I love you Rosa. I have loved you from the day that I first met you. I want to hold you in my arms, caress you, love you.. By the Gods, that is all I want to do. You are the most kind, beautiful, caring person on the Blue Planet. I will set my pride aside and say that I am enamored by you. My heart beats uncontrollably whenever you look at me, so much that I can't even stand it anymore. If I had lost you to the Sand Fever, you would have taken my heart with you to the grave. Somehow, I was able to save you, and for that, I am truly grateful. You mean so much to me. If you're friendship is all that I am allowed, then you're friendship is the only thing I will allow myself to have."

The Dark Knight leaned over and gently kissed Rosa's cheek. He ran his hand through her hair as he looked at her delicate features. Her caring eyes, her soft cheeks, her supple lips. They were all features that he could never have.

"I love you Rosa. I always have, and I always will."

* * *

Edward tossed and turned in his bed, unable to bring himself to sleep. He did not know how long he had been laying there, wide awake, thoughts running rampant through his head. The cool desert breeze flowed gently through the open window and swirled endlessly across his deeply tanned skin. He finally turned his head and opened his tired eyes, looking out at the night sky. The moon's light beat softly upon the land.

The moon... With a saddened sigh, Edward lifted himself up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. His parents had always loved the moon. He couldn't sleep. It was impossible. He had to get out of there. With Rydia still sleeping soundly in the next bed, the Prince quietly made his way out of the room.

The cool air hit his face like a ton of bricks as he stepped out into the night. He stopped for a moment, taking in a deep breath. His heart ached with every beat that it took. The stars twinkled brightly, glittering off the atmosphere with an intensity that he calmed his emotions. He walked through the town streets in a daze, allowing the coolness to ease his pain.

Anna...Edward thought miserably, as he approached a tiny glimmering pool of water. The moonlight reflected off the tiny wake that was made by the gentle wind. He felt all his energy leave him then, and he collapsed to his knees in the sandy bank. He ran his aching fingers through the grainy substance. It is so soft...so peaceful...

"What am I am going to do without you?" Edward whispered, his voice cracking with the weight of his grief. He buried his head in his hands as his face crumpled with sadness. A choked sob filled his throat, threatening to cut off his air. He wept quietly, unable to hold it in any longer. I am so sorry Anna...I failed you, and now I will never see you're sweet face again. Forgive me, please. I beg of you...forgive me...

"Edward..." The Prince's head snapped up in response to the soft voice. His breath stopped violently, staying harbored in his lungs. He felt his heart explode against his ribcage. Unable to speak, the stunned Prince stumbled backwards in the sand.

"Dear God," he hissed, barely able to find the words. "Anna!" Edward's eyes widened in pure shock as he watched the scene before him. A soft blue light rose slowly from the water, swirling around a transparent figure that was forming right in front of his very gaze. The redness of her long hair created a soft frame around her pale face. She slowly lifted her hand towards him, a trail of glittering blue light tracing it's path. The Prince was frozen, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

"You're help..." Her words were soft and almost inaudible. "Cecil will need your help..."

Edward moved his lips slowly but no words passed through his throat. He reached up and ran his shaky hand across his brow, pulling his cap from his head. He clutched it against his heart and allowed himself to fall backwards into the sand. His eyes glazed over and widened with all the elasticity his sockets would allow. Fighting through the invisible clamp that gripped his voice, the Prince spoke with utter amazement.

"A...Anna!" The ghostly figure of his lost love wavered for a moment, then brought her hands to her chest. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, as if there was something she wished to say, but couldn't. Edward felt his tears evaporate like nothing. He was too shocked to feel any emotion. Reaching his unsteady hand out, the Prince spoke again.

"You are...you are actually here." His eyes ran back and forth across her form. He beckoned her with his outreached hand. "Dear God, Anna, how can this be? Please...please let me....let me touch you."

A quiet sound escaped the transparent throat of the ghost, as if she was holding back a choked sob. She opened her eyes and began to reach for him. Edward pulled himself to his knees to extend his arm. Before they could touch though, she recoiled. Edward's heart dropped as he watcher her pull away.

"What is wrong?" he cried, overcome with sadness. He wanted nothing more in this world to be able to touch his lover again. He balled his hand into a fist and drew it into his chest. The gentle blue light continued to encircle Anna's ghost as she hovered there before him. Though vacant and clear, Edward looked into her eyes.

"I cannot Edward..."

"But, why?!"

"Please, my love...do not question me...for my time here is very limited..."

Edward's heart lurched. "Don't leave me again!"

"Please listen to me Edward..." The Prince went silent, and waited for her next words. An aura of glittering light swept around her figure, stirring the hem of her once yellow dress. "Cecil needs your help."

"But..."

"He needs your help!"

"With what though? What is he possibly...possibly going to have to do now that he will need my...my help with?"

"You can not even begin to imagine...my dear...sweet...Edward..."

The Prince hesitated for a moment, taken aback by what she said. A look of confusion crossed his face. "I can't even begin to imagine? Anna...is something going to happen?"

She closed her eyes again. "I can not tell you any more..."

"No! Please tell me!"

The ghost shook her head violently, as if suddenly overcome with emotion. She floated away from him slightly, holding out her hand. "I cannot...just believe in me... do you trust me?..." She paused for a moment. "Did you trust me?"

"Yes!"

"Then take my word, my love..." Her voice came in and out with every sweep of the gentle desert wind. "And believe me when I say that Cecil will need all the help he can possibly attain..."

"Then I will help him, Anna. If it is your wish, then it is my command."

A slight smile crossed the ghost's face as she stared down as him. "I must...I must go now..."

"No!" Edward felt a ball of desperation form in his stomach.

"I must..." Her ghostly figure slowly began to dissolve.

"Anna, don't!" He stood up and started towards her, stumbling in the sand. She rose higher into the air, the blue light beginning to fade.

"Live on...Edward...please....help Cecil...and live on..."

The Prince waded into the water, his arms extended up towards his disappearing lover. "Come back to me, Anna! Please!"

"Promise me...promise me..."

Edward stopped his pursuit, knee deep in water. He allowed his arms to slowly fall, realizing that he could not stop her. His voice trembled violently. "I...I promise..."

"I love you....Edward...with all...my heart...I...love...you..."

And with those words, she was gone. An emptiness flooded his body as his senses slowly began to return. The stars twinkled softly in the night sky, but they offered him no comfort. She was there...she had actually been there with him. But now she was gone...and this time for good. Edward felt his strength leave him, and he collapsed to his knees in the water. It's coldness soaked into his clothes, but his body was too numb to even cause a reaction. The Prince stared deep into the endless night sky. All the tears in his body had been cried....all the sobs had been wailed...He had a new mission now.

"I love you too Anna. For everything that I hold true...I will help Cecil."