It was a beautiful night in the great forests of Ircandesta. The sky was clear, the moons were bright, and the air was cool and dry. The wind whispered softly as it wove through the folded leaves of the massive chronoan trees surrounding Yuna Lake.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNOJFjZvPM

A young tigreth woman stepped hesitantly from the cover of the trees, her folded clothes clutched to her naked bosom. Although the color of her fur was hard to make out, the light of the moons caught on the white patch of fur that covered her stomach, chest, and ended just above her nose.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡk93TYgd8B7

Her cat-like ears twitched as she listened intently for something beyond the normal sounds of the forest. She set her clothes on a smooth rock near the edge of the lake, and with a final glance at the forest around her, she stepped into the tranquil water.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbPNj86JtQ

"Thank the Creator." she breathed as the cool liquid washed over her road-worn body, "I feel like I haven't had a bath in ages."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkgeiTxFX4

The young tigreth maiden waded into the lake until the water came up to her stomach. She hummed softly as she cleaned herself in the cool water. As she started to wash her hair, however, her ears twitched. She froze for a moment before looking around only to find the lake and the forest as empty as ever.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OGFpB2o8k

The tigreth maiden let out a light-hearted laugh and resumed cleaning herself only to stop a few seconds later. This time she was certain she could hear something.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zvtmxAErM

After a few moments of looking around only to find herself alone, her gaze rose to the night sky. The stars were shining brightly, as were the three of Vinta's moons that were currently visible. After a few seconds, however, it was clear that one of the stars was much brighter than the others. In fact, it was growing brighter by the second.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64RG9CeCTD

The tigreth maiden stared at the star a few moments, her ears continuing to twitch as the subtle whine in the air grew louder and louder. She wanted to run, but her innate curiousity made it impossible to tear her gaze away from the falling object.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU9K4vqzSX

A strange wind began to blow around the lake. It started as a whisper, but in a matter of moments grew into a gust that shook the limbs of all the trees.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8erModzgXe

A particularly old limb was blown free and hit the ground with a crash that brought her back to her senses. Finally tearing her eyes away from the shining light, the tigreth maiden moved toward the shore. The wind stirred up the water of the lake, making it hard to keep her footing. Desperation on her face, the tigreth maiden fought through the rippling water and rushing wind.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5VChx6Ik2

The brilliant light slammed into the lake just as the girl leapt from the edge of the lake and landed with feline precision behind the rock where her clothes lay. The impact sent water in all directions. Fortunately, the girl had the forethought to grab her clothes before they were soaked.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkjJvE50Gt

As the wind died down and the surface of the lake began to calm, the tigreth maiden stepped tentatively out from behind the rock. She clutched her clothes to her chest as she approached the edge of the lake, her eyes searching for whatever had just interrupted her bath.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡABHIbCeH0C

Something broke through the surface of the lake. After a few moments, it became clear that it wasn't something but someone. By the light of the moons, she could make out the smooth-skinned face of a young Galden man, apparently unconscious.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJA6k6mVYR

Dropping her clothes, Teria rushed into the lake and swam toward the still figure as fast as she could. She grabbed his arms, but abruptly let go when her hands touched metal.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwydCRfV0K

"He's a scrap." She whispered, looking with interest at the young man's metal arms.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡThYcjQyLwW

Shaking her head, she grabbed him under his shoulders and dragged him to the shore of the lake.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EIzRwWHb1

She pressed an ear to his chest and listened for sounds of breathing. Hearing none, she put both hands on his chest and pushed hard once … twice … three times. Tilting his head back, she put her mouth to his and blew as hard as she could.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCmskhZXMa

He still wasn't breathing. Worried, the tigreth started to blow another breath into the boy when he coughed right into her open mouth.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhTq1woVr8

"Ew!" She fell back, wiping her mouth as the boy sputtered back to life.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuMzpIF8vv

He pushed himself over and promptly retched lake water. The tigreth maiden patted him on the back as he fought to regain his breath.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡoskyo3sdeb

"Thank you." he breathed once he got the water out of his lungs. As he looked up at his savior, his cheeks went bright red. "I-I … I …."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSabR4t0H8

"What?" Looking down, she realized that in her hurry to help the boy, she had forgotten that she was still naked.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Emq7zoQaB

With a yelp, she darted back behind the rock and started clawing around for where she had set her clothes.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BJXdiTmHy

The young man picked her clothes off the ground and approached the tigreth maiden slowly, careful to keep the rock between them. His eyes averted and his cheeks crimson, he held the clothes out to her. "Are these yours?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OCoEICIIG

She kept her eyes on his as she stepped out from behind the rock and snatched the clothes from his grasp. Once she had darted back behind the rock, she said, "Thanks. What's your name, anyway?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgrjlX0bS0

"My name is …" The boy's face fell. He ran a metal hand through his long unkempt hair, looking pained.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZcGpV4BVH

Slipping her shirt on over her damp fur, she asked, "What's a matter? Don't tell me you have amnesia."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFKSGVbPrW

The boy shook his head. "It's not that. I just …"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WiOykjbeD

She gave an impatient snort as she tied her shirt into a makeshift top. "Do you know who you are or not?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfnZxcSkhT

"I'm Glen Gineros."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOohI28W3h

"Your name's Gineros? You a sentient or something?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4trFVdgs6n

"What's a sentient?" Glen asked, looking perplexed.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXancc9utd

"How could you not know what a sentient is? Are you from another planet or something?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQMFTg16jN

Hearing nothing but silence, the tigreth gave an exasperated snort and stepped out from behind the rock to get a look at the young man.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡeILtO452DT

He was looking at Everblue, an odd look of wonder on his face.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxNAUTmOt6

"What?" She asked, looking up at the moon, "What's wrong with you?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPWSrB5ISu

"I think you're right."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tnaalItRp

"Of course I'm right. Wait, what was I right about?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSJLd9m2Uv

"I think I'm from another planet."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUoY7pQ3zh

The girl didn't seem perturbed by this, small surprise seeing as she had witnessed his unusual arrival. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Great. I got peeped by an alien."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZtaeCkksV

"I'm not a … I didn't …" the boy flushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlLEliMNHK

"To fall out of the sky into the lake so that I had to haul your butt out and give you mouth-to-mouth?" A grin slid across her face. "So, how was it anyway?'copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGe3WFRZhY

"How was what?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbVkBg4f9I

"Your first kiss."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMp3LIWM1t

"I …" the boy's whole face went red. Coughing, he asked, "So what planet is this, anyway?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjjA1hI2Cd

"Vinta. It's a nice place." Her face fell. "Well, usually. It kinda sucks when your parents are on your case, y'know?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LvFXKvxhA

"I never knew my parents." The boy said, sounding a little sad. "The closest thing I ever had to a family was my team, but I guess that doesn't matter anymore."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01uTt9CwAu

Teria leaned toward him, her hands behind her back as she peered at up at his downcast face. "You wanna talk about it?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFQYaPiKic

"Not really."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN9guJPyZd

After a few moments, she kissed him on the cheek.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTqCUcefTE

He looked up with surprise in his eyes.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrpxnHDgAi

"Life can suck sometimes," She said kindly, "but you can't let it keep you down."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtgFj5FqW1

"You're right," the boy admitted, "but-"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSXDYtiD9g

"But? But? There's no but. You just got kissed by a beautiful lady twice. Isn't that enough to cheer you up?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY99dyej7H

The boy let out a light-hearted chuckle. Rubbing his spiky hair with a metal hand, he said, "I guess the only thing to do is to start over again."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDzhkqFJRJ

"That's the spirit!" The girl gave the boy a hearty smack on his back. "And you can start by being my protector."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHAOZlEK3c

The boy gave her an incredulous look. "Excuse me?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ukJ0IPLr5

"My protector. You know, my bodyguard." Her eyes narrowed. "Or were you just gonna abandon me out here?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj1OWWDT84

"O-of course not, but I don't even know your name."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqcsaq1aN8

"Easily fixed." She thrust her hand at him. "Teria Celes Myssohn."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RxhGvILzH

"Call me Glen," He said as he shook her hand.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RmzOAmlct

She gave him a crooked grin. "Glen, huh? Strange name, but it's got a good sound to it."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq2AIbZ2Vf

The world began to blur. The night sky melted away into the beautiful twilight of the dream realm. The lake vanished, replaced with the edges of the floating island. The Chronoan trees faded until one remained, which slowly shrank into a single oak tree.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9a5yWQup3

One sat up suddenly, accidentally knocking Nixil off his lap in the process.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkCPlVHekH

"Gyaah!" Nixil bounced off the ground like a small rubber ball. After recovering from the initial shock, he flew up to One's face, bat-like wings flapping angrily. "Hey! What's the big idea?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXhD02dB5O

"Sorry, Nixil." One said apologetically, "I was having a strange dream."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3qZBlLyfZ

"Of course you were dreaming! This is the dream realm! Just being here is technically dreaming, you moron!" With an angry snort, Nixil flew off toward the Solarius, the distant sun that hung in the very center of the dream realm.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡez9dNPvguw

Sighing, One fell back against the trunk of his oak tree. The dream … no, the memory had played out in his eyes like a reel from a movie. He was regaining his memories, but how? Luck had the ring. Was she doing this for some reason?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtvlyqgCB1

He had vaguely remembered falling into a lake during his first visit to Vinta, but he didn't remember it actually being Yuna Lake. He certainly hadn't remembered that Teria had been there to fish him out. It was ironic his next visit to the planet would see him arriving in a lake as well, Rinoa Lake in Homestead..copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbRAAWn4pB

Just thinking about their first encounter brought a chuckle to his lips; she hadn't changed a bit since then, at least not personality-wise.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡWklOGHCeIz

"I wonder if she's doing okay." One mused.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVS2XudxKS

"What about Luck?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gWwJnaALs

"I like her. I like her a lot, but …" One stopped abruptly and turned to see to whom he was speaking.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRKwDu5jOB

A black-robed figure stepped out from the shadows cast by the oak tree. One was on his feet in an instant, Headache materializing on his arms.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8G4T7r6g1

The figure lowered his gaze to the units encasing One's arms. "Ah, One's infamous Headache. The grapple beam still giving you problems?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYOudh9ldu

"Who are you?" One demanded.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyYWXW7f1j

"Forgive me. I am told that I have something of an unsettling manner." The figure pulled off its hood, revealing a surprisingly youthful face and a head of long, white hair. "As you can see, I am unarmed."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxeNduaXNY

"That doesn't mean much in the dream realm."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHm6XdVkMM

The robed boy let out a laugh. "True enough. However, I give you my word I'm not here to give you any trouble."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuubnjYup32

Lowering Headache slightly, One asked, "How did you get to my nexus point?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfctKy2Vas2

"You invited me. Indirectly, of course. You can call me Mixe, by the way." Mixe bowed to One. "And you are the Dreamer known as Narrator Number One."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvW9DUf1IW

"Are you a Dreamer?" One asked.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTHLPdy4OS

Mixe shrugged. "Something like that, yes."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsD7LWpxF6

Chuckling, One lowered Headache. "I thought I was supposed to be the cryptic one."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Zi2F5fYk

"Actually, I've always felt you were refreshingly straight-forward." Mixe sat down and rested his back against the tree. "You see a problem and you hit it dead on, no delay. I know some consider it a flaw, but I've always believed it your greatest strength."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV0nCWNqGL

One wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just sat down beside Mixe.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3xSKzgh8v

After a few moments, the boy said, "The dream realm is as lovely as ever, I see. I've always loved the perpetual twilight."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZhdxvOATY

When One didn't respond, Mixe chuckled. "Now, now. It's not like you to be so quiet."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcLlDRdYK8

"No one was supposed to know where I was. Even if they did, I don't let just anyone into my nexus point."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjmboq5rjH

The boy raised his eyebrows. "Really? Then I guess I'm flattered. I love what you've done with the tree."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7la1ao2Or

One opened his mouth to deliver an annoyed response, but Mixe quickly raised his hand. "I just thought you might appreciate a friendly ear, especially after what happened with Luck.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCl730MUih

"How do you know about Luck?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM4Jc4dzad

"Ukaroh."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGB4VcyM5N

A pang shot through One's heart at the mention of his ex-girlfriend. "Ukaroh? You've seen her?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rc91lwuJ2

"Indeed. She's still keeping tabs on you, y'know."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz1SFdmhdc

"How …"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB5mwb0oH7

"How is she?" Mixe asked, raising an eyebrow.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDZbKHTiOb

One nodded silently.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlanSDd4DDH

Mixe considered a moment. "She's definitely gotten better at guitar. Now that she's dyed her hair blue, she looks like someone out of one of Wong's anime shows. Oh, and she's still upgrading that old motorcycle of hers with any technology she thinks will make it faster … or more dangerous. It's hard to tell with Ukaroh."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡluJRq0wQ80

"It always is. I'm glad to hear she's doing well." One said, but it sounded forced even to him. When he had refused to leave the Elsewhere with her, she had left him without a second glance. Even after a few decades, it still stung.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQNCWKrWLl

They watched the clouds in silence for a few moments.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLYNnOErdp

One let out a sigh. "What should I do?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28PVFSEB0Y

"About Luck? To be honest, I'm not sure. Your situation is … complicated."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiu6ZXvEk8

When it became clear that Mixe wasn't going to continue, One let out a snort. "Thanks for that, Mixe. Here I was getting worried."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGVeMcUqaJ

"It is a rather personal affair." Mixe said in mild tones, "If Luck doesn't want to be found, let's face it; you aren't going to find her. If you can't find her, there's not much of a relationship going on, is there?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9vBaL2wHQ

Shaking his head, One said, "Something about the Breath of Fire scared her, but why?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR5a6MgIpM

"Maybe it just scared her. It is an intimidating machine."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmwAHpUVkw

"Pssh. Luck's faced worse things than that."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MB1jGH0KN

"Perhaps it wasn't the Breath of Fire that scared her, but rather what the Breath of Fire represents."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLp79poB1C

One glanced at Mixe curiously. "And what does the Breath of Fire represent?"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38OsMN4zwH

"What indeed." After a few moments of silence, Mixe stood up. "Well, I'd better be on my way."copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsRqIsW6H2

"Wait a sec!" One scrambled to his feet. "If you know something about this, just tell me already!"copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Zk04DNEU

"It's not for me to tell, One. Don't worry, though; I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually." With a final bow, Mixe vanished.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2eGK0W6zJ