"I want to know more! I don't remember half the things that happened to me when I was really little." Elena knew better than to argue with Ramza. She always seemed to have been right.

"/Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day./"

"Well... Your dad always enjoyed spoiling you rabidly, although I always came in as a reality check. I'm not sure if you remember or not, but when you were three, we went to Seven Flags. You were very young then, and Reno bought you some cotton candy. Now, being the responsible mother that I am, I should have let it stop there. But no. You didn't look like you wanted anything except to go on the rides, but your dad just kept winning these stuffed animals for you. That's why you had all those bears and cats at the end of your bed. Whenever... he won one off of the milk bottle throw, or the strength test, he loved seeing you get it for some reason." Elena shook her head, and sniffed. Ramza laid on the ground and watched the sky intently. The clouds were rolling around, and her brain construed them as things like a train or an ice cream cone.

"/You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way./"

"Mom... I know I'm just a little girl trapped in a grown-up's body. But... I really miss you... a lot. I was really scared when that man said I was an accident. I don't want to be an accident. I want to be a little girl again. To be your little girl, with daddy at home." Ramza sniffed, and rolled over.

"/Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown./"

"Ramza, you have to realize that you're not a little girl anymore. You're a grown up now. Get out of the past, and think of yourself in the moment." Ramza fidgeted a little bit, and rolled over again.

"/Waiting for someone or something to show you the way./"

"Mom, there's this big guy after me and Nate, and he says his name is Liquid Snake. He tried to kill us, and he's following us everywhere. We don't know where we are... We're lost."

"/Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain./"

"Don't change the subject. Admit it. You are not a little girl anymore! You are a young woman! Admit it! You are not eight! You are twenty three! You have a size eight waist! YOU HAD A BABY! YOU ARE NOT A CHILD!" Elena got up and shook Ramza. "Stop living in the past! Grow up! Act your age!" Suddenly, the clouds became dark. A solitary tear strolled down from Ramza's eye. Thunder cracked, and the rain crescendoed to a downpour.

"/You are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today./"

"M...mom..." Ramza sniffed. Elena folded her arms and kept her firm glare. "Why... are you mad at me?" Ramza sniffed loudly again. The rain was now falling in extreme force. Both of their blonde heads were soaked immensely, and Ramza's clothes were sticking to her skin.

"/And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you've missed the starting gun./"

"I'm not mad at you. I want you to see the truth in yourself, instead of fooling your fake sense of control." Elena walked forward and put both of her hands on Ramza's shirt. Elena knew she would probably regret doing the next step, but she went ahead anyway. She took both of her hands, and ripped Ramza's shirt off. "See? You've matured in body. You have a very beautiful figure. No man would find you resistible. Your brain may think like a woman, but your attitude still shows that you're just a young girl. I want you to grow up, and to live life!" Ramza looked down. Closing her eyes, she took her hand up to one of the bra straps and flicked it. Ramza sniffed again, but there was more to this one than Elena had seen before.

"/And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking./"

Ramza bent down to pick up her torn shirt. She put it back on, and found a large tear separating it in half in the chest area. She turned around and sat down in the pouring rain. "You don't love me. I am an accident. I... remember when I was having the baby. I just sat around with you. You looked like you cared. Now... you hate me." Elena was now genuinely taken aback by these words. But, she learned something.

"/Racing around to come out behind you again. The sun is the same, in a relative way, but you're older./"

"I don't hate you. You mean a lot to me. You just have to grow up, and look beyond the fact that you were seven one minute, and twenty the next. I think you becoming pregnant was probably the best thing that could happen to you to make you realize you're older. I know what you mean when you say your life was taken away. Move on. It's been a year. You can make a difference. You. Are. Unique." Ramza looked up at Elena, who now did not have the stern look, but the motherly love she recognized. Ramza lifted her shirt up, and felt a small scar from a cesarean section. It was healing, yes, but it was a constant reminder of who she was."/Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death./"

"I was a mom too, you know. I went through a lot when you were floating around inside me. I felt different, too. Sure, 'the bulge' got in the way, but I didn't look at an unborn child like that. Deep in my mind, I always wanted you to be a doctor or something important, so I could soothe my guilty conscience from all the bad things I did. Whenever I could, I got alone and just sat down somewhere with no shirt on, rubbing my swollen stomach, reading to it, playing classical music to you. I thought it would make a good seed from two bad ones." Elena sat down next to Ramza, and hugged her. "Promise me you'll grow up, okay?"

"/Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time. Friends that either come to naught, or half a page of scribbled lines./"

"I promise." Ramza was now sniffling uncontrollably. She stood up.

"It's time for you to wake up. Find Liquid! Get rid of him! And the next time you fall asleep, I'll be waiting for you." Ramza nodded, and took her fingers and pinched herself.

"/Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way, the time is gone, the song is over, thought I've something more to say./"

Ramza jerked her head up. She saw the clear blue sky unfold before her eyes. Her shirt did not have a large tear in it, and she was dry as a bone. Nate was laying next to her, still asleep. This place they were in was nowhere near where they were last time. The land looked like it was healing from a large assault. The trees were only beginning to grow again.

"/Home, home again. I like to be here when I can. And when I come home cold and tired, I like to warm my bones beside the fire./"

She stood up and surveyed the land. On the horizon, it looked like a town was to the north. Ramza nudged Nate. He groaned.

"Come on, time to wake up." Nate rose, and looked at Ramza. Her features were highlighted by the gleaming sun. Boy, was she gorgeous. He grinned, and stood up. He surveyed the land. Nothing interesting except for a town to the north. The landscape was very sparse, and the only pretty thing in it was Ramza. Funny, she would never leave his brain. No matter what he thought, she was there. There has to be something more to it.

"/Far away, across the field, the tolling of the iron bell, calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells./"

"Hey. There's a town to the north. How about we head to it?" Nate asked. Ramza nodded her head, and looked to the north. From a distance, it looked like a small, quaint village. A large church steeple rose above the entire town. It looked almost medieval, in a sense. Ramza walked forward, with Nate following suit. Soon they arrived to a small town outside of a giant castle. It wasn't much different than the ones Ramza saw in storybook illustrations. It was covered in vines, and a classic moat surrounded it. The town itself was very quaint. The women and children were playing with each other in a park, while a collection of gentlemen watched a sporting event. Ramza figured that there would be a king here (hey, it's a castle!), so she walked up to the castle doors.

Two burly guards stood in front of the large wooden doors. They each wielded a spear and a large shield with a distinct symbol on it. The helmets they donned were similar of dragon heads. One of the guards came forward as Ramza and Nate walked up.

"And who do you think you are?" He pointed his spear at Ramza, but Nate came forward to explain.

"We're here to seek an audience with the king," Nate asked. Ramza looked at him oddly. "That's what I heard them say in knight movies," Nate whispered into her ear. She nodded softly.

"Well, we can't let just anyone see His Majesty Harvey. Where are you from? And what business do you have with him?" Apparently these adamant soldiers wanted to give them as hard a time as possible.

"Well, we need to ask the king a few... questions. We live in the area," Ramza replied. Of course, if she had half a brain, she would figure that the guards wouldn't accept this as probable cause.

"Really. We shall escort you to him. No funny business," the guard scoffed. His counterpart and himself went behind Ramza and Nate, and held their spears out. "Come on! Are ya going or not?" Nate nodded warily and proceeded into the castle. The guard opened the giant wooden doors. When they were opened, Ramza and Nate couldn't believe their eyes. There were people everywhere. Young children running around, a band playing music, and a large pool. It was indeed a fairy tale castle if Ramza had ever saw one. They kept walking forward until they reached the king's chamber.

The king was nothing short of knight-like. His armor was crystal glass. He was dazzling all over, more of a warrior of light than a king. His flowing blonde hair covered his face, and a large sword, presumably made from the same material as his armor, sat by his side like a trusted companion.

"Ah, Dragoon Wright! What have we here?" the king nonchalantly asked. Wright stepped forward and kneeled to the king.

"These humble people seek an audience with you, my liege." The king nodded, and motioned for Wright to stand. He surveyed the two. A woman and a man, no doubt in love. The woman was tall, blonde, and very in shape for her age. The man had a hairdo that he had not seen in his lifetime, and was wearing some sort of foreign garb. They seemed fit to talk to him. "Wright, you and Gilmour may leave." Wright and Gilmour nodded, and returned to their posts. "As for you, I am king Cecil Harvey. It is a pleasure to speak with you." Ramza raised her eyebrows at this man's politeness. He was indeed a regal king, like the one in "King Andrew and the Knights of the Square Table." Cecil twirled his hair on his little finger, waiting for a response.

"Well, we are searching for some help. Would you mind if we stayed here to see if we could find some? We have to find a way home," Ramza explained. Cecil nodded. His fingers were now rubbing a clean shaven chin. He was thinking rabidly. What shall he do? Send these people off? Or be the fair, kind person he knew himself as? He shook his head.

"You can stay. However, I would like to introduce you to a few important people first." Cecil snapped his fingers, and two women came out. One was dressed in white robes and long, light blonde hair. Her ruby red lips echoed the light in the room. Her slender figure made her seem like a magazine model. The other woman had unusual traits. Green hair surrounded her head, which had a rose pinned in the bushel of hair. A long green dress with pointed sleeves covered her again slender body. Ramza felt some sort of magic emanating from her, but not what exactly it was. It was like this woman could control the animals.

"This is my wife Rosa, and my vizier, Rydia. Please, ask them anything about me or my castle. Make yourselves at home while we help you." Ramza and Nate nodded in reply. Both of them turned to the two women next to them. Rydia came forth first.

"Hi! I'll show you two to your rooms." Before Rydia could say another word, Ramza broke in.

"Well... we don't want separate rooms. We want a shared room," Ramza asked in a craven note. Rydia looked at them for a second, and then laughed. "What's so funny?" Ramza asked in reply, almost laughing herself.

"Oh, nothing. You two just look like 'the' optimal couple!" Rydia added a small laugh to the end. Ramza looked at Nate, and he looked back at her. Ramza turned suddenly to Rydia and gave a stare. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything..." Rydia wiggled her toe, and shook her head. "Come on, you two!" She smiled, and turned to leave. Nate followed Ramza, who followed Rydia down the hall. The three of them returned to the garden, and walked towards the east tower. The tower had three stories, and the top one had been converted from a treasure storage room to a bedroom. Flowers were everywhere. Apparently this place had a resident florist. A table was in the center, decorated with a deck of playing cards and a candelabra. A king size bed was in an alcove, with an old-fashioned record player next to it.

"Well, I'll be off. If you need anything, just give me a ring with the bell." Rydia flashed a smile and left. Ramza walked over to Nate and he put his arms around her.

"You look like a radiant young woman," Nate said. Ramza looked up. His hair was drooping on to her forehead, and she brushed it aside. Suddenly, Ramza remembered what Elena said.

"Yep, I am a radiant young woman," she added. Out of nowhere, she turned around and hugged Nate. "Hold me... kiss me..." Nate lowered his head down, and Ramza stood on her tip toes. Both of their lips met. It was as if a nuclear reaction occurred. Their arms began rubbing each other, in a strong embrace. Both of them collapsed on the bed. Still engrossed with each other, they dug under the covers.

Suddenly, something which would eventually happen to both of them happened.

"Oohh..." Ramza opened her eyes. She found herself half naked, and Nate was bare himself. She rolled over, and found him sleeping silently. It was dark outside, and Ramza lost track of the time. She carefully moved over Nate, and found a stack of their clothes on the floor. Ramza picked up the undergarments and put them on. She read the clock. Midnight. She walked back into the bed, and motioned Nate to wake up. "What just happened to us?" She asked, with a small nervous twitter in her voice.

"I don't know. I really don't know," Nate said, and shook his head on the pillow. "I think it's what a man and woman do when they're in love." Ramza moved away at what Nate said. Were they in love?

Who knew?

"They seem like a happy young couple to me," Rydia added. Cecil, Rosa, and Rydia were in a secret meeting chamber. "I think they might help us out."

"Perhaps," Cecil replied. "I would like to get to know them better. The descendant of Zeromus can only be defeated by a special person. I think both of them are the right ones. I could tell by looking at their eyes. Both of them can assist us to help destroy Neomus," Cecil stated. The others nodded.

"Are you sure, Cecil? Neomus is very powerful, just as Zeromus was. I don't think we can put that much trust in these newcomers." Rosa never was one to jump into things, Cecil thought.

"I've been getting reports from the four Crystal districts. The clerics of Toroia have noted to me that the crystal of Earth has been acting up. I have received similar reports from Fabul, Damcyan, and the Elder of Mysidia has been noting extreme concerns. All of the Crystals of Light haven't been controlling their elements properly. Tidal waves, forest fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes have been sweeping the lands. I can trace it to Neomus. Ever since the other moon started acting up last year, it's been Hell. I am concerned for the welfare of the civilians. Your thoughts?" Cecil had a point, and it was hard to argue with him.

Neomus, by Cecil's description, was nothing less than Zeromus. He was the blood son of Zemus, who inherently had the curse of evil written into his DNA. A new moon came to orbit the earth. It was probably a meteor of some sort that got caught in the earth's gravitational field and started to orbit the earth. Whatever it was contained the sleeping body of Neomus. Probably a part of the Lunarian's original planet, but Cecil was unsure. The activity on the moon just started one day, and it was noted by the Agartian astronomer.

The new moon was turning blood red, and that was not a good sign. And that's when the crystals started acting up.

It all started with a tidal wave outside of Eblan. It was totally washed out, but there was no real damage, and no one was hurt. A wildfire broke out near Toroia, and many parts of the land started to turn to desert, trees fading away. The world was going to Hell in a handbag, and Cecil wasn't going to take it.

"I can tell by their eyes. The color is unlike ours. They must be from another world. I am too old to fight. Rosa, our twin daughters need us. We can't leave and fight. Only these two can do it, and I'm sure they can." Rosa let her head down at the mentioning of their daughters. They were ten years old, and they needed their magic lessons on a regular basis, otherwise their skills would deteriorate.

"Well, they need some of us to go with them! I can go, and Edge can, and so can K..." Rydia closed her mouth after almost talking about "him." Cecil nodded.

"I'll ask them if they're willing tomorrow. I'll send carrier pigeons to Edge and Edward. They can surely assist, as well as you." Rydia nodded. "Anyway, I think we all could use a well deserved sleep. Good night, Rydia. Rosa and I are leaving to our room." Rydia nodded, and left. "Rosa... come. Let's get some sleep." Rosa stood up and walked with Cecil to their room.* * *

"Ramza..." Elena knew what Nate and Ramza did. She wasn't ashamed. She also knew that it wouldn't affect Ramza one iota. She was out of her window. Ramza probably wouldn't know what she and Nate had just done, either. But Elena knew that Ramza felt that she was keeping her promise to grow up. Falling in love is just another part of it.

Elena started to think about the things she said to Ramza, the things that she had done. She was very surprised that Ramza was afraid of what her grown up body offered. Of course, if she didn't watch out, some pervert would come and grab her ass. Elena added a small chuckle after that thought. The guy would probably get a pounding, too. Yes, Ramza was very beautiful, just as Elena knew she would be. This place in Ramza's mind was very comforting, to say the least. It was filled with flowers and trees. Ramza must be happy if the scenery looks like this.

Elena remembered when she tore Ramza's shirt off. The clouds darkened and started to rain. Ramza's thoughts affected the weather here. Ramza was afraid of her sexuality, of the purpose of growing up. Elena saw it when Ramza flicked her bra strap. She was afraid. Elena never had the talk to Ramza about "that" time of month. Tifa must have talked to her about it. She was surprised that Ramza wore one at all.

"Next time I see you, you'll be a woman," Elena said aloud. She knew it.