The night was dying and the sun of day was getting up, as well as Zidane and some guys.
"OOOAAAH!!" "AWE damn, my clothes smell like alcohol," Zidane said angrily.
Zidane rolled and fell down from the bed. BLAM!
"HEY! Keep it down will ya! We’re still exhausted," Blank shouted
Freya got up from her bed, she was about to wake Tarsh up but wasn’t there. She went to look outside and saw Tarsh leaning on the railing. Tarsh noticed that Freya has already awakened.
"I suppose you’re wondering why I’m so quiet and staying still, staring at the sun. I think to find the answer I’m searching for is just to live my life and cooperate with it, because I think that just learning, knowing and experiencing new things is understanding why you are living and why you are being what you are."
Freya didn’t understand a word he said, but she just agreed so he won’t start to ramble. "Hey, you guys are up early," Zidane said.
"OH YEAH, I almost forgot, we got to go to Cid to get that airship," Freya said.
"Going airship cruising you two?" Zidane asked them.
"No, all of us are going to a spot near the black mage village," Freya told him.
"Oh yeah, well, wait for me, I’ll just freshen up before we go. No, when you got the airship, just wait for me outside, I’ll be there okay?" Zidane said.
"Sure, but be really there, this is not fun and games," She told Zidane "Tarsh, let’s go," Freya said to Tarsh.
"Okay, but please just use the air cab, I don’t want you to force me to jump around," Tarsh said to Freya.
"Fine, let’s go" Freya said.
The two got up the stairs and before they got to the station, Freya saw Vivi and wondered why he was there.
"Hey Vivi, what brings you here?" Freya asked.
"Good morning auntie Freya! Ms. Dagger asked me to give this to Zidane," Vivi showed here Zidane’s daggers.
"Man, of all the things he forgot his own weapons, what a idiot," She said to her self. "Vivi, let me introduce you to a new friend, his name is Tarsh Burrow," Freya told Vivi.
"Hello there, just call me uncle Tarsh, you know you shouldn’t be walking here alone," He told Vivi.
"Uncle Tarsh’ right Vivi," Freya said.
"Don’t worry about me, I just learned this new magic called teleport, I can go anywhere I want only on this continent, so I told Ms. Dagger that I’d go alone, but it is a waste of my magic," Vivi explained.
"Wow, teleport, but you better know where you are going or it’ll get you lost," Tarsh warned him.
"Don’t worry uncle Tarsh, I know the whole continent so I’ll be fine," Said Vivi.
Tarsh was surprised because he didn’t thought that Vivi would know the whole continent. "Hey you said it’s a waste of magic? Why don’t you just come with us to the airship and we’ll drop you of to Alexandria? Let’s be practical and save magic," Tarsh inquired.
"Uh… Okay, but what’s the airship for?" Asked Vivi.
"Well, we’re going to some place near the village of black mages" Tarsh told Vivi.
"Black mage village? HEY can I go too? Please? I wanna visit my friends there," Vivi pleaded them.
"But Vivi, don’t you really live there?" Freya asked.
"No I’m permanently staying in Alexandria with my other black mage pals, but I just want to see them again, even just for once," Vivi told them.
"Well, I’m allowing you to go, but just take care of yourself, but wont Dagger worry?" Freya asked.
"Dagger told me that I can go with Zidane if I want." Vivi told them.
"Well, okay, just follow Zidane," Freya told him.
Freya and Tarsh got in the air cab and sat down, Freya started staring at Tarsh and thought that something was missing.
"Hey, don’t you have any weapon with you?" Freya asked.
"I don’t need a weapon because I use my body as a weapon, I fight with my fists and my feet," Tarsh told her.
"Pretty impressive, for a simple looking guy," Freya thought.
"I just want to know, did that Fratley, really dumped you on purpose? Because if he did, why are you still looking for him?" Tarsh asked her.
"No, he didn’t dumped me on purpose, but he had a major amnesia, he has forgotten me, his kingdom, his people, but I’m just wondering that if that person who helped rebuild Burmecia is really him, then why did he remember his duty to protect Burmecia?" Freya told him.
"If it really is him, then it’s not normal," Tarsh said.
"What’s on your mind?" Freya asked.
"This sounds kind of ridiculous, but I think he’s changing personality, then if it is, something bizarre must have happen, though I’m not sure that it’s really it, I just got a hunch, but somehow I feel it’s true," Tarsh told her.
"I don’t get it as well, but we’ll find out soon enough" Freya told him.
They arrived at the castle and saw Cid outside waiting for them; they walk towards him for the airship.
"Good morning your highness," the two said.
"Well good morning to you two, the airship is already here, follow me and I’ll guide you there.
They entered the castle with Cid and went upstairs to the airship dock.
"Actually, I didn’t expect a luxury ship but thanks a lot your highness," Tarsh thanked Cid.
"Well what are you waiting for, let’s go already" Freya hastily said.
They got up the airship and heard Cid shouting out something. "BY THE WAY, IF YOU NEED FOOD OR REFRESHMENTS, THERE"S A KITCHEN AT THE CORNER OF THE SHIP." They all waved good-bye to Cid.
"Wow, imagine that, an airship with a kitchen," Tarsh thought. Freya went to the cockpit and told the pilots when they reach the outside of Lindblum that they will land. They did, and they found Zidane and Vivi waiting for them.
"You’re just in time," Zidane told them. They entered the airship and surprised of what they’ve seen.
"THANK YOU CID for the best airship," Zidane said with surprise. Vivi started jumping around with excitement.
"Hey guys, there’s some food at the corner of this ship, let’s eat breakfast first before we begin okay?" Tarsh told them.
"Sure, I’m really hungry," Zidane said.
"Alrighty, let’s have something to eat," said the excited Vivi.
Freya, Tarsh, Zidane and Vivi sat down the dining table and started to eat, conversation begins. The 1st class airship is flying to its destination smoothly.
"What I don’t understand is that the guy lives near the middle of nowhere," Tarsh told them.
"Well there has to be a reason," Freya told him.
"Uncle Tarsh, please don’t forget to drop me off at the black mage village," Vivi told him.
"Don’t worry, I won’t break my promise," Freya told Vivi.
"Thank you auntie Freya," Vivi smiles.
"I wonder, what have those black mages been doing all this time." Zidane asked himself. Tarsh suddenly paused. His face became uncertain and shocked. His vision started to turn vague, he then saw face of a demonic beast and then an image of a burning forest appeared. While seeing these frightening images, he felt stiffness in his muscles and spirit.
"Aauugh, grr" he was struggling in pain, "haaah" Tarsh moaned. Suddenly, everything stopped and he felt normal again.
"What’s wrong man!?" Zidane asked Tarsh.
"Uncle Tarsh are you okay?" Vivi asked him.
"Hey, what’s going on!?" Freya asked him.
"I have a bad feeling, something bad is about to come up though I’m not sure," Tarsh told them. "Hurry we must hurry to our destination," Tarsh told Freya like he was stressed.
"Okay I will," Freya told him. Freya got to the cockpit and told the pilots to hurry up. They’ve they saw the northern continent on the horizon and something was wrong. They all saw a big smoke cloud of smoke on top of it. They became faster. The airship landed on the Island and got off the ship. They ran as fast they could towards the smoke. They noticed that the smoke was near the village of black mages. Vivi became so worried.
"NOOO!!" Vivi shouted. They ran faster and faster towards it. They got to it and they saw the black mages running towards them. Vivi saw his close black mage friend and called him.
"What’s happening, PLEASE tell me," Vivi pleaded.
"Don’t worry, everyone’s fine but the village is on fire," the black mage said.
"Who or what did this?" Tarsh asked the black mage.
"That did it, that beast!!" The black mage told them, and ran away.
"Get ready people!" Zidane told them. Freya noticed something familiar about the beast.
"WHAT!? NO!!" Freya said. She saw Fratley himself in his dragon knight outfit. The only difference was, he had red glowing eyes, large dragon-like wings and the beast that is clinged on his neck and torso. He was bleeding blue blood and had a soar voice.
"FRATLEY!!!" Freya shouted.
"No, that’s the monter I saw," Tarsh said. He started feeling intense pain again, this time he shouted with anger. He was glowing and started transforming. His eyes became red and his hair stretched out, his skin was covered with silver-like material and his legs looked more dynamic.
"He’s in Trance!" Zidane and Vivi said at the same time. The beast on Fratley’s back threw a large ball of fire at them, Freya covered all of them, knowing that he was dealing with his Fratley. Freya got badly damaged, Zidane, Vivi Tarsh were damaged a little from the explosion. Tarsh and Zidane rushed at the beast, Vivi casts Blizzaga at it. It was damaged, Zidane sliced it with his dagger and Tarsh performed a lightning fast slicing kick combo. The beast started bleeding from Tarsh’ move and used Fratley’s wings to fly away. The monster escaped. Tarsh saw Freya lying on the ground, bleeding. She was moaning in pain and bleeding. Tarsh reverted to his normal form.
"FREYA!" Tarsh shouted. They walked towards her and Tarsh got his Elixir out of his pocket.
"Here, drink this," Tarsh told her. She drank the elixir and got recovered fully. Vivi was using blizzard to stop extinguish the fire.
"Freya, Zidane, Vivi. I have to tell you something, when I was feeling pain, somehow, the beast communicated with me with our minds, and I heard him saying: You are me. I am you. We are the same person divided." Tarsh told her.
"Tarsh, that beast, it was…. Fratley!" Shouted Freya to Tarsh. They heard an explosion far from their position, and rushed to see what it was. They got out of the forest, and surprised of what they saw, their airship was engulfed in fire and was falling apart
"How are we ever going to get back!?" Zidane said.
"That doesn’t concern me now, what I’m trying to focus on is that beast, because he’s Fratley," Freya told him.
"That’s right! I remember what Fratley looked like, but how could it be like that?" Zidane ponders. Vivi saw the black mages near them; he called his friend to come over here.
"Mr. Black mage, don’t worry, your village isn’t that badly damaged and the houses only received medium burns, and I saved your chocobo. Here he is, take him," Vivi told him.
Thank you very much Vivi, this chocobo matters a lot to me than the village itself. We weren’t be able to attack the beast because he was too fast and his magic was beyond ours," the black mage told Vivi.
"You could go back now, I’ll help you fix the village if you want," Vivi told him.
"Oh thank you! Please do!" The black mage thanked Vivi.
"Um.. Guys, I won’t be with you for a few days because I will help them rebuild the village," Vivi told them.
"It’s sure nice of you Vivi, I’m allowing you, but please be careful," Zidane told him.
"Vivi, if the renovation is done and you’re going to look for us, we are at Eiko’s place, find us there," Freya told him.
"Why Madain Sari?" Zidane asked her.
"I think Eiko can help us, we must go now" Freya told him. As they were heading to Madain Sari, they entered Conde Petie and saw the same elves saying "RALLY HO!" Zidane told them "Rally ho" as well.
"Zidane what’s this rally ho thing?" Freya asked him.
"It’s like their hello here, better say it or they won’t let you pass, you too Tarsh," Zidane told them.
"RALLY HO!" Freya and Tarsh said at the same time, the elves let them pass. While they were going to the back exit, Zidane suddenly remembered one important thing.
"OH NO! Freya, Tarsh, I’m sorry! But for us to get to the other side of this, you two must get married here, in this town! They believe that married couples are the only ones allowed to pass to get to the sanctuary or the Iafa tree," Zidane told them regretfully.
"WHAAAT!!!" Tarsh and Freya shouted at him.
"Don’t worry, me and Dagger also got over this thing when we got married, also don’t worry, you won’t be forced to kiss each other," Zidane explained to them.
"MAAN, I’m a human, not a mouse!" Tarsh told him.
"And I’m a mouse not a human" Freya followed up.
"…Wait a minute, come on, stop joking Zidane," Tarsh told him
"Don’t believe me, we’ll see who’s joking," Zidane warned him.
They walked to the other side and the guards said that only Zidane could pass because he was married to Dagger.
"See, who’s joking now?" Zidane told him.
"What a predicament this is…" Freya sighed. They got on with the ceremony, the priest said all he should say and told them to kiss each other if they want.
"What!? What am I feeling, why do I feel … Fratley is beside me," Freya said silently. She was naturally forced to come closer to Tarsh. "Fratley…" She said. Tarsh started to weaken a little and started to feel Fratley’s presence inside him. His mind and heart was changed to Fratley’s. "I am you, You are me," he remembered that phrase. "I…. Am…. Fratley," Tarsh said. He also was naturally forced to come closer to her. They both started blushing as if she was actually going to kiss him and he was Fratley, going to kiss her. She saw Fratley’s face on Tarsh’. But at the moment they were gonna kiss each other, the powerful force around them grew weaker. Freya, instead of kissing him, just hugged him tightly. He followed along as well.
"Freya… I just don’t know what got into me," He whispered.
"Me too, but I can’t stop myself from hugging you like this because I saw his face on you," She whispered.
Tarsh replied,"Me too, I felt his presence inside me, I felt like I was not myself, but I was him, so I am holding you like this." They released each other slowly.
"Tarsh," said Freya.
"Mmm?" asked Tarsh.
"Will you be my…. Brother?" Freya asked him. Freya started to shed tears.
"Wha?" Tarsh was surprised.
"I know it sounds crazy, you, being a human, me being not, but please I beg of you, the least best thing you could do for me is to be my brother, because, when I was holding you, I felt the warmth of Fratley in you, so please, be my brother. Let’s just treat each other as siblings," Freya pleaded.
"Okay, I’ll be a brother to you, you’ll be a sister to me, I just don’t want you to be sad," Tarsh told him. Tarsh wondered why he said that to her, but he couldn’t understand why.
They got down the ceremonial boat and continued their journey.
"Well, I didn’t expect that to happen, but hey, that was an act of courage you two did," Zidane told them.
"Okay, let’s go to Madain Sari," Freya said. Heading to Madain Sari, Freya, ever since that moment, always stayed close to Tarsh.