Time had become warped in Vana’Diel. The days seemed to last for only a few hours and the nights seem to go on for days. Legolais and Ecaroh approached the body of Dragonesti, Ecaroh holding the vial he had obtained from Elexa. Legolais opened his mouth just slightly as Ecaroh took off the small black cap. Before they could do anything else, a strange essence drifted away from the bottle and into the mouth of Dragonesti. His chest began to inflate and his eyes began to open. Ecaroh looked at Dragonesti in panic and yelled,” Dragon! Wake up my friend. It is me!” Suddenly with a bright flash Dragonesti’s Wyvern appeared. A Dragoon’s Wyvern can not live unless its master is alive and well. This brought Legolais and the others quite a bit of comfort. The Wyvern crept down from where it hovered above and perched itself upon the chest of his master. Everyone began to gather around Dragonesti when they saw the Wyvern appear. As Dragon looked down at his wyvern and around at his friends he knew he was back, and with a typically coy comment he looked at Legolais and said,” Haven’t you beaten that shadowy bastard yet?”

Meanwhile, in a small cave in the snowy regions of Xarcabard, a lifeless Elexa was lying on what appeared to be a table formed from rocks. Fenrir lay on the ground in another corner of the cave and the strange Summoner walked over to Elexa with a wand in his hands. The Summoner began to whistle the theme song from Final Fantasy 7, while waving this wand over Elexa from her head to her feet. After a few repetitions, the Summoner placed the wand next to her body and released Fenrir back into the shadows. He pulled out an Astral Signa and began to summon Carbuncle. He appeared from the ground and quickly ran to the Summoner’s side. He then began to make a few hand gestures towards carbuncle and he leaped into the air above Elexa’s body. Carbuncle floated there for what seemed like minutes until finally a burst of light came from his eyes and pierced through Elexa’s chest. Her back arched and a scream came from deep within her. The echo of that scream was heard around the world with most people wondering what new evil Dark Lux had unleashed.

Dragonesti was eating his first meal at this point, with his wyvern and his friends at his side. There was only one thing missing to make this reunion perfect for everyone and that was the head of Dark Lux mounted in the King’s tent. Legolais was still recovering as well but he had managed to plan a way for a small party of them to get through SanDoria, and into the oubliette. Only 6 would go after the ship Highwind. Legolais and Ganiman pondered this for a great while on who would be the best to take along on this dangerous mission. Given the situation Ganiman suggested that a Paladin come along because of the dragons that could possibly be about in the skies. The shadows of a Ninja such as Majestica could not be withstand their attacks so easily. Tihm walked up from behind them and volunteered. Legolais turned and looked at Tihm and agreed that he was an experienced and well equipped Paladin suitable for the job. Tihm, Legolais, Ganiman, Rickshaw, Dragonesti, and Turq would be the party to retrieve the Highwind. Zeratu and Ecaroh would be left in charge down below to begin the 2nd phase of the plan which was to safely get an army to the northlands to take on the remaining enemies from the ground. The timing had to be perfect.

Ganiman and the others quickly put the party together as Legolais gathered a few needed supplies such as food and medicines. They said brief goodbyes to there friends and went by the royal tent to bid farewell to the king. The Elvaan king looked at them all with pride and said,” In my youth, I too would be at your side fighting this great evil. But now it is your time to fight the darkness away, and free Vana’Diel from the slavery Dark Lux intends for us all. Good luck to you Avengers….Good Luck.” They bowed courteously to the King and took there leave.

The six Avengers looked at the mist in front of them that was definitely not as thick as it once was, and decided this was a good omen for the mission. Legolais pulled out six Star Pendants, each of them coated with the same liquid that cured Dragonesti. They each equipped a pendant around there necks and ran into Southern SanDoria. They found it was rather difficult to still see through the mist. Dragonesti took point and led them through for this was still his home. Legolais however had all but forgotten the city and its walls. They entered the Chateau and began making there way underground through the prison. As Legolais walked down these halls he began to see haunting images. In one cell he saw himself, lying covered in blood, lifeless. In the next he was chained up against the wall by shackles. Cell after cell Legolais continued to see these things but passed them off as another of Dark Lux’s many tricks. Dragonesti opened the door to the oubliette and jumped down the hole. The others followed behind.

Zeratu and Ecaroh had begun to rally the troops in preparation for the ride to the northlands. Zeratu knew that Dark Lux was no longer looking in this direction, but looking at the gathering of his beastmen outside the Castle. Ecaroh stood proudly in front of the few hundred adventurers and civilians they had scrapped together from across the world of Vana’Diel. They were no longer afraid of what was to come for they knew that with The Avengers in the sky and leading them on the ground, Dark Lux would surely fall. They lined up and got into there respected alliances, prepared there weapons and began the ride to the Northlands. Ecaroh looked back to Zeratu and said, “Nothing is more exciting then the sound of an army of our people, riding their chocobos to victory.”

In Xarcabard, Elexa sat in a corner of the cave eating bread given to her by the Summoner. She was alive, but not by much. The Tarutaru wobbled over to her and said, “My name is Lasek. We metaru once before a while ago, though …. I think you don’taru remember.” Elexa looked up with crumbs on her face from the Moblin bread she was eating, and said,” Why, did you bring me back? He is going to make me a slave again. I can’t fight the darkness like the others can.” Lasek shook is head and began to explain to Elexa that where they were at was beyond Dark Lux control, and that not even his gadgets could see them. Elexa did not understand much about the ways of Dark Magic and Light magic. She was purely a Soldier of Fortune before the war began. My how times change, Elexa thought. After hours and hours of conversation and healing magic, Elexa was back on her feet and somewhat ready to rejoin her friends. She did not know how long she was dead and she did not care to contemplate that thought, she only knew that she wanted to find Legolais and help him defeat Dark Lux if they had not already. Lasek looked at Elexa and said, “I must show you something before you go…Somethingaru about your friend Legolais.” He reached into his cloak and pulled out a looking sphere. Elexa took it into her hands and gazed into it. Her eyes began to get wider and a look of surprise came across her face that could not be anything other then that made by fear. “This can not be.” she said. Lasek looked at her and said,” It is. And it must happen for this world to be at peace once againaru.”

Through the oubliette the Avengers marched heading deeper and deeper in following the strict directions of the King. They came across a dead end, and as they did the group began to turn around. Legolais said,” Wait. This is the correct location; this is where the doorway should be.” He looked at the directions and stepped forward some more when suddenly the floor gave out from under him and he plummeted into a room below. Splash! Was heard when Legolais landed in the filth below. Ganiman peeked over the hole and looked down at Legolais and said,” Well….you umm…you found itaru! But I am not going down that way” Legolais looked up with sewage all over his face and sighed dejectedly. The others came down by way of Dragonesti’s Wyvern, who kindly volunteered to drop them down safely on the side bars of the sewer. Legolais stood covered in filth, smelling like the wrong end of a sick Dhalmel and looked down the dark tunnel ahead. “Well, in we go guys. Let’s find this Highwind and get out of here. I am starting to get Noxious.” said Legolais as he choked on the smell of his own gear. Rickshaw looked down the tunnel and pulled out his hammer as he cast Deoderize on Legolais. Ganiman, couldn’t see too well either so looked over to Legolais for a little….fire support. Legolais grinned roguishly at Ganiman and began to cast Flare. He released a fireball down the tunnel until it disappeared into a larger room. Dragonesti decided to send his Wyvern down first to make sure it was safe for all. The Wyvern went down and into the big room. He was gone only a few minutes until he was seen flying back up and towards our heroes. Dragonesti looked towards the others and said,” Seems safe.”

Ganiman looked over towards Turq and whispered,” Hey galka man. You um… you go firstaru.” Turq turned to Ganiman and snorted a little bit as if he were attempting to sigh. They began down the tunnel until they reached the edge of the room. Ganiman could barely make out a wooden Chandelier mounted on the ceiling. Ganiman cast a spell of Fire and lit up the chandelier. As the room began to fill with light the Avengers peered onto the most incredible machine any of them had ever seen. From its golden trimmed blades and its solid oaken frame, the Highwind sat there in all its glory, unused, untested, waiting to become a hero like the ones that planned to man it.

Meanwhile, Zeratu and Ecaroh were just approaching the cliffs leading into Xarcabard. That is where they were to wait for the signal. If they saw the Highwind, they would rush the battlefield. It was truly incredible the way the different races and different nations gathered together for there own survival. Ecaroh thought about the family he once had, and the new one he had found through these hard struggles. No one outweighed the other in any way; they were just part of his family. Because he lost the first one tragically, he planned to do his best to protect what he had left…The Avengers. Zeratu and Finwe stood in front of an alliance of Black Mages. They were all so proud now, even with what has happened, these dark assassins new that there power would help tip the war into there favor. It seemed everyone had grown together and for this they had become a stronger and better nation. This was the final battle field, and they were all soldiers of Vana’Diel.