The trees seemed to stretch on, and on never-ending. And each tree looked as indistinguishable as the last, adding further to the frustration that he felt.

Firion had been requested by Princess Hilda to go into the woods South of Altair, and head towards the swampy marshes that was home to some of the more formidable monsters of the land. Of course Maria and Guy had attempted to convince him to take them with him, after all, they had been working and fighting together on this journey since they were saved by Minwu and brought to the Rebel Army hideout by the White Wizard, and after they discovered Leon was not among them, they had made a concrete decision to never let such a thing befall them again. But Firion wouldn't have it; there had been an attack on Altair beforehand, and he wanted there to be some capable fighters there to defend the princess should the Emperor make another attack.

Now, here he was, fighting the monsters who dwelled within the forests alone, all the while trying to choose his battles wisely, and sneak past those who he deemed to be unnecessary in his quest.

The rebel could hear some babbling coming from the nearby distance, it was unintelligible, and just vaguely reminiscent of human in sound, but it was a voice that he had recognized, as this wasn't the first time; it was an ogre. These parts of the forests were full of them, and he had learned the hard way that they weren't just some common push-over either.

Firion crept from the trees, his back firmly pressed against them, and he peered over the moss-ridden tree in which he held his back against, gazing towards the bronze-skinned and long green-haired creature that slouched over. It was a monster of a creature, with massive limbs the size of a stout tree-trunk, and easily towered over him at nine feet tall. It was a brute in every sense of the word, with muscles poured over muscles.

The fiend was dressed in a toga of animal-hide.

"I heard that the monsters that lived in the South were strong," Firion whispered to himself while trying to keep his voice as low as possible, "but I never would have guessed that they were this strong."

The battles had proved challenging for one man alone. Firion wasn't used to fighting solo, he always had his sister, Maria, the amethyst-haired archer, to back him up, along with the ax-carrying wild-man who could speak to beavers, their good friend Guy. So he had to tread carefully, less he found himself in more trouble than he could get out of.

That wasn't to say that Firion wasn't a fairly capable fighter himself, quite the opposite. While Firion was fairly inexperienced to the world of arms, easily struck down by one of the Empire's horsemen soldiers while the four attempted to escape into the woods, the ensuing battles that came after their recovery by the hands of Minwu the White Wizard, had hardened him greatly in terms of fighting prowess. Firion was more powerful than he had been, otherwise, he wouldn't have made it as far as he had now, on his own.

Still, he realized that if he didn't keep his guard up, it could all be over.

Perhaps it would have been a better idea to have brought some along with him, Maria's stealthy archer skills would be coming in handy in this type of situation.

The rebel warrior was slowly descending away from the tree when the bronze-skilled muscle beast jabbered in between obnoxious snorts, then the ogre spotted him and the monster's brows pulled down tightly onto its eyes and then the muscle-head trudged towards him.

Firion's blue lips curled upward as he grounded his teeth together, and he quickly reached one hand to his hip where his sword was stashed at, his hand hovering readily over it as he prepared for the creature's attack. He was going to wait until the monster was close enough to him and then draw his weapon for one quick, and hopefully precise, strike at wherever he could reach.

The ogre made a surprising move, and full-on charged towards him, one fist the size of a glazed ham swinging towards his face, knocking the rebel right off his feet and nearly sending him flying backward. But Firion managed to stop himself, and just as another powerful punch came to hit him a second time, he shifted out of the way, his cape flapping in the breeze created by his swift movement.

It was then that Firion reached for his iron sword, and struck the ogre in the face, causing the fiend to let out a pain-filled roar that echoed through the adventurer's ears.

It took a few minutes for the ogre to recompose himself, then he attacked again and swung his fists a third time at Firion, missing only by half a second, his punch hitting the thin air.

"Begone!" Yelled the swordsman, dodging another deadly punched from the ogre, thrusting his sword outward, yet not in an attacking motion. A large crystal of ice summoning forth and piercing the ogre in the chest with its razor sharp end, significantly damaging the beast.

Their exchange last for a while longer, with Firion taking blows and dodging others, with the ogre like-wise doing the same. And it wasn't until a second Blizzard spell that the ogre finally collapsed onto its back, rattling the ground just a little bit from its weight.

Firion stared at its corpse to assure himself that the threat was no-longer breathing, then inhaled a breath of his own and putting his weapon away. He then continued on through the South forest of Altaire, resuming his journey to Mysidia.

Thoughts of Leon, Maria's older brother began to fill his mind as he walked along a twig-strewn path. They had grown up together, with Leon and Maria's parents taking Firion in when he was just a small boy. Leon was the older-brother figure that he never had, and Firion understandably looked up to him, the two forming a close relationship together that was indeed worthy of a blood brothers' bond. But that was a bond that was ultimately severed, and Firion often looked back to the early signs that should have jumped at him sooner, such as when Leon stabbed his dog out of a fit of anger and grief from his fiancee left him.

But things had escalated from there, and Firion had found that his brother, was no longer his friend, but had became his enemy, and sided with the Emperor and his men. A deep-searing pain that no weapon on the planet could possibly induce.

Leon was a far cry from the protective older brother he was when they were children.

And Firion still couldn't bring himself to accept the fact Leon would attack his own little sister, the one person Firion knew that Leon loved more than anything, or anyone, in the world.

His eyes grew misty, but Firion restrained all but one tear which slid down his cheek.

Would his brother ever come to his senses?

Why did Leon betray them all? How could he attack his own sister without even the slightest hint of remorse?

Firion had often asked himself time and time again, just what exactly had happened to Leon during the time that they were apart from one another. What had happened, once the Empire had taken him.

He could now see the marshy area coming into view, and Firion's gaze was hindered by a dense mist that enshrouded the area. This was meant that he wouldn't be able to make out the monsters very well, but he also held onto the hope that it would work equally in his favor and the monsters' vision would be just as impaired.

Of course that left things as a game of luck and chance, of who could strike first.

He was grateful that the marshy water was only knee-deep, or at least, it appeared to be so. As he gazed farther ahead, Firion began to estimate the swamp waters reached depths of five to six feet deep. Still not nearly hazardous. However, there were other concerns that he had regarding the terrain he was currently maneuvering.

As he made his way through the surprisingly crystal clear colored water which eerily bubbled at the surface, for a moment, Firion vaguely made out the figure of a monster. But unlike the previous monsters he had encountered, this one possessed the charm and feminine curves of a woman. She had bright red-skin and yellow eyes that glowed through the dark marsh and its treacherous mist, long flowing red hair that reached the back and was of a somewhat darker shade of red, and wore minimal purple clothing that covered her chest, lower regions, and wore purple boots.

Her fingertips looked unnervingly sharp like a dagger's edge.

"A Vampirette..." Firion murmured to himself; subsequently slapping a hand over his mouth.

The vampire fiends had very good hearing. Yes, that was a known-fact of most monsters in general, save for a few, but vampirettes were very keen in their hearing, far outclassing the hearing range of humans and even domestic pets.

But it seemed Firion's utterance didn't catch the pointed-ear of the female vampire.

He was going to need to take another route to get past the vampirette, without drawing her attention. But then, as he started looking for an opposite direction to take, rather than the straight-ahead approach, he saw that more monsters were lurking about, with a few other Vampirettes coming into his vision.

This was the point where many adventurers who attempted to reach the town of the mages, failed.

Because this was where many of the monsters peaked in their strength and rank.

Woe unto those poor adventurers who charged in unaware.

Pacing back and forth around the small patches of green land that surrounded the crystal water, was a Killer Mantis. It was one of the stronger bug monsters. It looked like any other preying mantis, but bigger, the size of a human, and had a hot-rod orange color to its body, with yellow eyes and greenish-white wings.

Distracted by the Killer Mantis, Firion didn't realize that the Vampirette who he thought hadn't heard him, was right in front of him, hovering above him in the air, with her golden eyes shining.

"What brings you to this marsh?"

Firion quickly retracted his attention away from the Killer Mantis and focused his gaze onto the Vampirette, who was grinning at him wide enough to show her two sharp fangs.

He was surprised she hadn't went straight for an ambush attack.

"I'm here on a mission," Firion half-answered her.

Of course, even if he wanted to give away the full details of his mission, Princess Hilda hadn't exactly given him much information on WHY she wanted him to go to the marshlands, to begin with. Which, in itself, was a little suspicious.

The Vampirette hovered closer towards him in the air, her smile growing wider.

"Is that so?" She hummed. "Well, perhaps you would enjoy a little company here? ...You are cute..."

Firion had heard stories of the vampire monsters growing up. Things were a bit foggy, he could only remember small fragments, but he remembered that his adoptive parents had told him that the vampire girls, like many other female monster types, heavily excelled in the art of charm. And that many unsuspecting men had become ensnared by their charm, seduced fully by them...And then their life ended.

He already had been lured in by the Lamia Queen who had disguised herself into Princess Hilda, and nearly seduced him into the bed with her.

Leila, the pirate, had really bailed him out of that one.

And he had certainly learned his lesson then.

….Or so he hoped.

"Your feet have carried you so far, traveler! Surely your bloodstained sword tires you. Yes, you want rest, don't you? You must rest, yes! ….Rest...With me."

His vision became impaired further as the surrounding area around him took upon a strong red tint, with a storm of red hearts entering his gaze. The Vampirette was using her Charm ability, just like in the stories he had been told when he was a little child.

As was the case with the Lamia Queen, Firion was compelled to the side of the Vampirette.

She chuckled under her breath, one hand reaching behind Firion's neck as she floated in the air directly in front of him, slowly caressing the skin. Then her golden eyes were consumed by a momentary glint. "Fool! You're mine now, and you will travel no LONGER!"

The alluring Vampirette's fingertips' claws grew by a couple of inches, and she went to dig them into Firion's neck. But before her fingernails could quite penetrate his flesh, a lance coated in darkness cleaved through her neck, allowing her only a single throaty 'guhk' as she sputtered up blood and drooped her head forward lifelessly.

"You never were good with resisting the charms of lecherous women," stated a voice.

Firion, slowly snapping out of the enchantment placed on him, looked towards the direction of the voice that derided him. It was a voice that he had heard many times before in the past. A voice that he longed to hear again, even if he partially thought that he would never hear again. And Firion almost froze like a hapless adventurer on the receiving end of a Blizzard spell.

Firion was flabbergasted by the unexpected turn of events. He just stood there, mouth agape, eyes wide, as Leon slew the monsters as if they were nothing.

But more than that, he was puzzled why the Dark Knight would save his life from the impending monsters, given Leon's alliance with the Empire. Firion, after all, was one of the rebels, which naturally categorized him as an enemy of the Empire.

"What's the matter, don't you have anything to say? I would think you'd be jumping in joy upon seeing me, Firion."

"L-Leon...?" Firion choked out. He was barely even able to get the words out.

Indeed, it was him.

There he stood, the tanned older sibling, dressed in that wretched outfit that they had seen him wearing before when they embarked on their journey to save Princess Hilda!

That golden-horned silver closed-helm that revealed only his cold, cruel eyes that once were filled with warmth and kindness to those around him and black outer-armor with gold accents. The proud, flowing red cape that spoke volumes of the authority that he possessed as the Emperor's right-hand man.

"Leon, why," Firion broke free of his immobility, stepping sluggishly towards the older teen. "Why did you save me?"

The Dark Knight, pulling his blood and darkness covered spear back to his side, stared in complete silence at his once alley and friend.

Firion fearlessly continued towards him. "Leon...Please..."

"I owe nothing to one of such lowly stature such as yourself!" Rebuked the Dark Knight.

Firion groaned.

"Leon, listen to me!" Firion pleaded. "It doesn't have to be this way, we don't have to fight each other and be on opposite sides. Leon, PLEASE! Join us, join the Wild Rose Rebellion."

"I have no interest in your plight, Firion, or your little fool friends," scowled the Dark Knight as he thrust the straight-end of the spear right against the ground. "Do you not understand? None of you can hope to stand up to the might that is the Empire! And your efforts will crumble."

"Maria is there! Your sister is waiting for you!" Firion persisted, still trying desperately to reach the other.

A visible look of pain washed across the Dark Knight's visage when Firion said this, but he was quick to counter it with a mocking laughter. "Maria is none of my concern," he stated coldly with a sneer.

"Leon!" Firion cried, "what kind of demon has taken control of you?"

"I am in full control of this power, Firion! Do you hear me?! The weak stumble!," the Dark Knight said with a darkening of his eyes, "the strong stand tall and prevail. Power, that is what triumphs all. POWER."

"That's not true, Leon!" Firion rebuked with a tightening of his brows. "Even when backed into a corner, the weak can find immense strength to break free of their affliction, and strike back tenfold like the fury of the goddess herself; we have power that rests deep within us, and it lends itself to us when things look their bleakest."

The Dark Knight scoffed at his statement, jeering laughter escaping his lips. "What nonsense which you speak, Firion. But, I ask you, what would you be left with if you no longer had your dreams of idealism to cling to? Would you still, even then, preach to me of the righteous power that the weak harness?"

His words were met with silence on behalf of Firion, who just looked him straight in the eyes with knit eyebrows.

This, causing the Dark Knight's laughter to boil further.

"I have no more time to waste with the likes of you," the Dark Knight turned his back to him and lifted his spear from the marshland greenery. Gazing down only for a moment at the blood that misted the crystal clear water, from the killed Vampirette. "I must return to the Empire. But, know this, Firion, this will not be our last encounter with one another. And, there will come a day, sooner than you think, that I will strike you and your friends down."

The Dark Knight motioned his hand forward, a purplish-black portal forming in front of him. He walked towards the portal and then vanished into it, leaving Firion alone with the body of the Vampirette which lied lifeless on top of the marsh waters, pouring with blood from her neck.

"What has happened to you, Leon..." Firion whispered to himself.

Crushed, Firion began to slip into his thoughts, and now he was beginning to believe that perhaps Firion really had fallen too far into the seduction of power, to a point that Leon was unreachable.

But Firion was quickly pulled from his thoughts when he heard the shuffling of feet, and he turned to look behind him at an oddly dressed man with a dirty face and a rather lengthily and distinguishable beard.

The man looked much older than him, around his middle age, and wore a hat-wear that was reminiscent of a turban but with subtle differences. And his clothes looked as if they had seen better days, as well.

"Are you a friend Princess Hilda?" Inquired the man.

"Yes," Firion confirmed with a smile. "My name is Firion, I'm a member of the rebels."

"Then," the man crept closer towards him, "you are the one who Princess Hilda told me would meet me here?"

"I think so," answered Firion. "Princess Hilda told me I needed to head over here to the marshlands, but she didn't inform me of the reason."

"Then," the man smiled a smile of his own, "allow me to explain things, on behalf of the princess and myself. You see, my friend, I am in possession of a very rare and precious artifact that once belonged to my great, great grandfather. It is a medallion, you see, but a medallion that grants unimaginable luck to any who wield it."

"And you're giving this to us?!" Firion stared at him stunned.

"Quite so, yes," the man nodded. "You see, I am indebted to the royal family, as Princess Hilda's father once saved me when I was a boy from a rogue of monsters when I traveled too far into the woods. I am most certain I would have perished, had it not been for His Majesty! But, with His Majesty no longer among the living, I have decided that this medallion will go to Princess Hilda. I'm confident that it will turn the tide of this war, into your favor."

Firion was a little skeptical about all this, but he wasn't about to turn away a gift that was meant for Princess Hilda.

Firion reached his hand forward and took the medallion once the man had stretched his hand towards him. And he took it and stashed it into his pocket.

"Thank you. I'll make sure it reaches Princess Hilda."

"No, my friend," said the man jovially, "I must thank you. Fight the good fight, yes? The Empire must be stopped of their madness, many, many lives have been lost, many many. You mustn't allow them to claim anymore."

"As sure as the wild rose blooms, the rebels will put a stop to the Empire and their schemes," Firion firmly assured with a nod.

Firion turned and left the area and started his way back into the marshlands.

He was subjected to further battles along the way, combating additional Vampirettes among many other powerful foes, until Firion came across one that proved too be too much for him to handle, one of the most dreaded creatures that stalked the land: The Adamantoise.

It was a creature that the appearance of a turtle, but, needless to say, much bigger and many times as deadly. It was an adventurer's nightmare, due to its extremely high defense that was granted by its hard shell, and equally staggering high attack.

Firion fought the creature valiantly, striking at its body, but the Adamantoise' hardshell proved to be too great for him, reducing his attacks to mere scratches. And while his Blizzard spell was able to get in some decent enough magical damage, due to ice being the creature's weakness, Firion wasn't nearly as experienced in the art of magic as Maria, Minwu, and Leila.

"Damn," Firion spat out, subsequently back-flipping, distancing himself from the creature. "I'm outmatched here..."

But he knew if he tried to flee, there were other monsters who would probably catch up to him.

He had done well to make it this far on his own, but he now realized, without Maria and Guy, he wasn't strong enough to fight and survive. This realization, bringing him back to what Leon, the Dark Knight, had said to him about the difference between the weak and the strong.

"Fine," Firion clenched his sword firmly, "then, I'll fight."

Still he fought. And the damage began to accumulate now, with Firion finding it difficult to even stand up straight anymore.

Just as things seemed to have peaked, Firion's eyes dilated: The Adamantoise was opening its jaws, with a blinding beam surging within it. This attack was the signature move that the fiend was known for, and it was by far its most powerful move: Atomic Breath.

But just as the beam fired towards him, a large barrier of darkness materialized forth in front of Firion and intercepted the attack.

The Dark Knight slowly came into his view, standing directly behind the dark barrier, his arm stretched out to the side in a gesture, while his hand held the spear that he had previously killed the Vampirette with.

"Your weakness is pitiful, Firion," the Dark Knight scoffed.

Before Firion could utter a verbal response, the Dark Knight rushed forward and easily moved through the fushioned purple and black energy barrier. He went straight for the Adamantoise who was swift to attack him, but the Dark Knight smoothly dodged the Adamntoise's attack, and then struck it directly in the shell with his spear which reverberated with the dark energy that floated around its body.

The Adamantoise let out a shrill cry, then it collapsed onto the ground with a quake of the ground.

The freedom fighter stood paralyzed by the turn of events; he was sure that Leon had given up on him, and had, by this point, fully rejected his humanity in favor of the dark power that the Empire had gifted him. But now, Firion wasn't sure anymore, because his brother had just saved him from what would have been an otherwise certain death.

"Don't sit there and stare at me like that," the Dark Knight turned to look at him.

"Leon..."

"You couldn't handle the enchantment of a Vampirette, and you were overwhelmed by an Adamantoise? Pathetic! And here you had just told me some big speech about how even the weak can muster up a great deal of courage when push comes to shove."

"Leon why did y-," Firion stopped midway when he saw him waving his hand dismissively.

The Dark Knight just shook his head in response to Leon's puzzlement. He had turned to leave just as he had come, but then he stilled in place until he stopped moving altogether, and just stood there.

There was a long silence, the only thing that broke it was the chattering sounds of monsters from within the nearby distance, as well as the blowing wind that had grown stronger than it was during the course of Firion's journey to Mysidia.

But he eventually broke his silence.

"Firion...Maria, take care of her, all right?"

"Leon, wait-,"

"Firion, I've created another portal, it will take you back to Altaire. Go."

And just like that...The Dark Knight backed up, keeping his front facing the rebel, and disappeared into another dark portal.

Firion collapsed to one knee, a single hand palming at the ground.

"Leon..." He choked out, restraining the downpour of emotions threatening to escape. But then, he smiled.

"You're still in there, aren't you? Somehow, deep down, buried in the depths of the darkness, you're still the same Leon who always took care of me Maria, and me!"

Firion laughed, laughing at himself for even losing faith in his brother. Maybe Leon was right all along, he was a 'fool', but not for being inferior in power, but for giving up hope for his friend. And now, he was filled with a strength that he had never experienced before. One that he believed could even match all the power of the Empire.

Firion, dusting his clothes off with his hand, pressed himself up from the ground, and stood up. He reached to his side and drew the sword that rested at his hip, and lifted it high into the air as the sun shined brightly within the sky, its rays hitting his face. And from there...He renewed his promise:

"Leon, no matter what it takes, I'll save you from the darkness, and I'll bring you back home, to Maria, and myself; I haven't given up on you brother, and I never will. This I swear on the petals of the wild rose!"

Firion headed towards the second portal that the Dark Knight had created for him as a means to return back to Altaire. And within seconds, he was right back at the town and headed back into the building that acted as the Wild Rose Rebellion's headquarters.

Once he was back in Altaire, he exhaustively made his way on the cobblestone ground and spouting fountain.

He made his way to the hideout, then went to the throne room where Princess Hilda awaited.

He was greatly drained of his strength, but even with his strength diminished, Firion handed to the medallion to Princess Hilda. And the blonde-haired princess smiled kindly at him, nodding a silent thanks to him for his efforts before calling over Minwu to restore his strength.

Maria, the purple-haired archer, rushed to his side and reached her arms around him, gazing softly at him. And this wasn't too shortly followed by the ax-carrying musclebound brunette, Guy, also quickening to his side. Maria eased him against him the wall of the throne room and turned her purple eyes pleadingly towards the White Wizard, Minwu, who stood guard next to Princess Hilda.

"Firion, what happen?" Asked Guy, in his broken English, wild-man accent.

But Firion, without offering a verbal response, shook his head.

"Do you really think that this medallion holds such properties?" Inquired Maria, the purple archer, glancing towards the direction of the princess while she crept her fingers up and down Firon's sides.

Princess Hilda shook her head to the archer, smiling."The medallion itself holds no true power, that is what I believe," Princess Hilda replied, her eyes slowly scanning over the sapphire-embed golden object. "But, he seems to believe that it does, and, if that is indeed the case, then we too should also believe that it houses great fortune."

"Firion survived the most powerful of beasts that South of Altaire has to offer," Minwu gazed towards them, smiling behind his white face mask. "Surely that in itself is proof enough of its prowess."

"What does that mean?" Firion looked towards the White Wizard.

Minwu laughed softly, shaking his head. "I assure you that I jest, Firion. There is no doubt in my mind that your safe return was nothing short of your own might. You've grown remarkably strong, in comparison to the level of strength which you were when you, Maria, and Guy arrived here. Not just you, but them, as well."

"Firion," Princess Hilda sat the medallion down in her lap and looked at him. "I thank you for going through so much trouble to retrieve this item for me. I may be the princess, but I am not blind to the things that you and your friends have been doing, your efforts do not go unnoticed."

Firion smiled silently and nodded to her words.

He wasn't sure when he would encounter Leon again. But he was able to hold his head up high and smile now, knowing that, underneath that callous and jeering new persona that the older had taken, that the Leon he had grown up with and considered and older brother was still buried underneath. That he wasn't quite overtaken by the darkness. And that filled him with a stronger resolve to bring Leon back to them, where the misguided teenager belonged.