After Maleficent fled, moving on to what she claimed to be a more time sensitive matter, Dotty had practically collapsed of exhaustion. There was only so much that the magic could do. Zen-Aku's spirit and Taivas sat on a balcony watching the grand ball that had been planned going on bellow. Philip and Briar (Or Aurora as it turned out her name really was) dancing merrily as their parents happily watched. Taivas looked at the monstrous spirit next to him. [color=00aeef]"I... I have to leave..."[/color] He said. Zen-Aku looked back at him.

[color=bc8dbf]"Can't say i blame you. But Dotty is in no shape to-"[/color] But Taivas put his hand up.

[color=00aeef]"No, I, singular, need to leave..."[/color] Zen-Aku turned to him, about to raise an objection. [color=00aeef]"It's not you, or Dotty. It's..."[/color] He growled under his breath in frustration.

[color=bc8dbf]"... Your friends you mentioned."[/color] Zen-Aku responded. [color=bc8dbf]"I can't say i blame you. Dotty only came with me because she has a need for adventure and no idea what that means. But i need to learn about my past as well. I need to know who that man you saw when i sang was. So, if you need to go, then do so. But at least give us a ride back to Traverse Town so we can get our own ship. The ship is yours, you paid for it, but i'd appreciate us not being stranded."[/color] He replied.

[color=00aeef]"I just talked to Yuna. She says that she and the others can send you back to Traverse Town with their magics. But they also have something for Dotty when she wakes up... I'm no good at goodbyes, so i'm going to head off before she wakes up. Tell her that Han The Handsome has adventures away from Poodlewolf."[/color] He said, before turning around. He looked back at the dancing lovers. [color=00aeef]"They make a good couple... When i saw Yuna, i also saw Philip, he gave me this back. You should have it."[/color] He pulled the Shield of Hope from his back and handed it to Zen-Aku. The Duke Org looked down at the shield, before holding up his hands to indicate he should stop.

[color=bc8dbf]"If there's one of us who needs Hope right now, it's you."[/color] He said. Taivas looked down at it, before reholstering it on his back.

[color=00aeef]"If you ever need it. Let me know."[/color] He said, before waving him a goodbye and walking out. Zen-Aku sat continued to stand, watching the pair dancing... But in his head, he wasn't seeing Aurora and Philip, he was watching that mysterious man and the woman that he may have loved or may have killed... Or even both. He didn't know which eventuality scared him the most.

[color=a187be][i]Each day when the sun rises, I hurry from my sleep...[/i][/color] He mumbled in rhythm. [color=bc8dbf]"I can't wait to greet you with my song..."[/color] He sighed.

[color=7bcdc8]"The song of Animaria."[/color] Yuna sighed. Zen-Aku's eyes bolted wide open as he looked at the little fairy next to him.

[color=bc8dbf]"You know that song? YOU KNOW IT?"[/color]

[i][color=7bcdc8]"You are every kind of flower, every animal I meet,
You are nature full of grace and majesty."[/color][/i] She continued.

[color=bc8dbf]"You MUST tell me what you know of that song..."[/color] He quickly remembered what Master Phant had told him. [color=bc8dbf]"Please..."[/color] Yuna smiled at him.

[color=7bcdc8]"I know very little, i'm afraid. I used to be a Summoner back where i come from. I summoned the Aeons from the spirit realm."[/color] She replied. 

[color=bc8dbf]"What's an Aeon?"[/color] Zen-Aku asked.

[color=7bcdc8]"They go by many names across the cosmos. Aeon, Esper, Spirits, Eidolons, but they all have one thing in common, they come from the Spirit Realm.[/color] She replied.

[color=bc8dbf]"And that song? Where do you know that song from?"[/color] He asked, sounding increasingly desperate, as if she was teasing him with an answer just out of reach.

[color=7bcdc8]"One of my friends, an Aeon by Valefore, he taught me the song. He said he learned it from another, by the name of-[/color] [color=7bcdc8]A[/color][color=bc8dbf]n[/color][color=7bcdc8]i[/color][color=bc8dbf]m[/color][color=7bcdc8]u[/color][color=bc8dbf]s[/color][color=7bcdc8]"[/color] The pair said at the same time.

[color=bc8dbf]"Did you ever meet this Animus? Do you know where to find him, how to summon him?"[/color] He asked.

[color=7bcdc8]"I'm sorry, i never met him or formed a Summoners Pact with him, i'm afraid."[/color] She sighed. Zen-Aku crossed his arms and continued to watch the happy couple dance as Rikku and Payne began dancing around them, zapping Aurora's dress with their magics, turning it back and forth from Silver and Gold. In a flash, Yuna transformed back into her human form. [color=7bcdc8]"May i have this dance, Duke?"[/color] She asked. He grunted, before reluctantly taking her hand and beginning to dance on the balcony with her to the music.

****

As next morning rolled around, Dotty awoke and her youth practically restored her overnight. After a quick breakfast and a long, loud crying fit over learning that Taivas had his own way to go, she made her way to the Throne Room where Zen-Aku had told her to go. Aurora and Philip were there awaiting the girl and her spirit guardian, alongside of them was Yuna, Rikku and Paine. The pair walked up to meet the couple. Aurora smiled at Dotty. [color=f7976a]"Thank you, my friends. With your valiant effort, you held off Maleficent enough for me to finally..."[/color] He smiled at Aurora. [color=f7976a]"In any case, i believe a reward is in order. I have talked with the others and-"[/color] Dotty walked towards Philip, waving her arms.

[color=6ecff6]"Wowowowow..."[/color] She sighed. [color=6ecff6]"My poor, sweet, sweet Philip. I know what the reward is, and i'm afraid i'll have to turn it down."[/color] She looked up at him with loving eyes. [color=6ecff6]"But our friend, Han The Handsome has left us to forge his own path and to save more worlds. I'm afraid that i need to go as well. I can't afford to marry you and be tied down here as your queen."[/color] She choked back a tear. [color=6ecff6]"Hussy, you'll have to be his consolation prize. I'm just afraid I have a whole universe to save."[/color] She then  grabbed Philip by the front of his collar and pulled him down to bend him over as she gave him a kiss on the cheek, before lightly petting it. [color=6ecff6]"You'll get over me, don't worry."[/color] As he opened his mouth to say something, she put a finger over it. [color=6ecff6]"Shshshshsh... Don't say a word. I have to go... Before you beg me to stay."[/color] As she turned away from him as a big, fat tear rolled down her cheek. Philip leant back up and looked at Aurora, mildly amused, mildly bemused. Aurora had both hands across her mouth, desperately trying to stiffle her laugh. In the meantime, Yuna, Rikku and Paine approached Dotty.

[color=fff79a]"Before you go, we have something for you."[/color] Rikku giggled. At that point, Yuna pulled a glowing sphere from her back and handed it to Dotty.

[color=silver]"We liked the way you sang with the band, kid."[/color] Paine smiled. [color=silver]"So, here's something to stay with us."[/color] As Dotty reached out for it, she exploded in a bright flash of light, the Mask of Zen-Aku disappearing into it, as suddenly, she reappeared in a [url=https://live.staticflickr.com/4105/4975183850_66c9f2b46b_b.jpg]Red, musketeer looking outfit with a Rapier on her hip and a fancy red hat.[/url] She looked herself up and down.

[color=6ecff6]?"OMIGODOMIGODOMIGODIMAREALADVENTURERJUSTLIKEPOODLEWOLFANDHANJUSTLIKEEPISODE91WHERETHEYGOTOTHEKINGDOMOFBONEOVIAANDHAVETOCLASSCHANGEANDHANGOESFROMTHIEFTOMUSKETEER!"[/color] She screamed out all in one singular breath.

[color=silver]"Slow down, there, girl. We have a few Dresses already loaded into there, but we felt that giving you firearms would PROBABLY be a mistake. But we're hoping that Mage classes might be what you need to focus you."[/color] Paine continued. Dotty quickly changed from the Red Mage to a [url=https://www.ffxivinfo.com/images/disciplines/blackmage.png]Black Mage[/url], then a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/97/e1/a0/97e1a0e53b1733c8ae8763ca98e3885f.jpg]White Mage[/url] then, finally, into a [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/f/f9/Ff10-2-paine12.jpg]Songstress[/url], looking much like Paine's had done. [color=silver]"We also modified it to store your mask. Just think of the mask and it'll appear."[/color] She said. She then looked at Zen-Aku. [color=silver]"We're not doubting your ability to look after you, but i think she needs to learn to defend herself without you, too."[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]"No, i'm very greatful. Last world, she got hurt because she couldn't get to my mask, this will make me feel safer. Taivas said you could get us back to Traverse?"[/color] He asked.

[color=fff79a]"Oh yeah, one quick spell and-"[/color] Rikku rolled up her sleeves, but was cut off by Yuna, who shook her head.

[color=7bcdc8]"I managed to get in contact with my friend, Valefore last night and he managed to give me this."[/color] She waved her hand and a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/08f4569c5262.png]firy red crystal with a falcon in the center appeared in his hand.[/url] He slotted it into his Flute Knige and in a flash, it turned into a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/51/0d/2b/510d2b0494eb198514563995b390e589.jpg]Red bow with a Falcon motif.[/url] [color=7bcdc8]"Fire it into the air and say the name, Wild Force Rider and the rider will arrive. The Rider will get you anywhere you need to go."[/color] She smiled. Zen-Aku got down on his knee's.

[color=bc8dbf]"I thank you for trusting me with this great power."[/color] He replied. [color=bc8dbf]"I owe you my life twice over now."[/color] He growled in servitude.

[color=6ecff6]"Alright, let's go then!"[/color] Dotty yelled. Zen Aku drew back the bow's string and an arrow appeared by magic.

[color=bc8dbf]"WILD FORCE RIDER!"[/color] The Arrow fired into the air and in a flash of crackling red lightning, a large, red motorcycle appeared. Dotty's eyes lit up as if the bike were a large lolipop in the window of a candy store. Immediately straddling it, she looked at Zen-Aku, who pushed her to the back of the bike and mounted the bike properly. [color=bc8dbf]"We will see you soon, my friends, hopefully.[/color] As the bike took off, it burst through the doors of the castle, into the courtyard, as the wings on the front of the bike unfolded to reveal an eagle's head. It let out a screech, before flapping its wings and the bike took into the sky, disappearing through a portal, back into The Space Between.