*We last left our heroes witnessing Thorn apparently getting killed by Kuja…*
Laurenza: Thorn! *She turns to Kuja, eyes burning with anger. She speaks in a harsh voice unlike her own.* You will regret that! * An overpowering feeling of hatred wells up from somewhere inside her and she spreads her fingers, releasing a ball of dark energy.*
Kuja: No… Laurenza! *It collides with him and he falls.*
Laurenza: Thorn... *Runs to him* Are you... you're not... are you? *Strokes his hair, fearing the worst.*
Thorn: *Opens his eyes suddenly.* I hate it when people do that!
Laurenza: *Grins, but also looks relieved.* What? Kick your ass?
Thorn: No, it only knocked me out. *Stands up and faces Kuja, vengeful desire playing on his face.* By the power of three times three, let it be. By the power of three times three so mote it be! *Tetrastorm is cast, three times as worse on Kuja.*
Kuja: *Screams and then lays motionless.*
Laurenza: Thorn…
Thorn: I'm so very sorry. But it must be done. *Waves hand over Kuja and he is fully healed.*
Laurenza: *Looks surprised.* Wow... I didn't expect that from you... Especially since it was Kuja.
Thorn: We have lost one from our allegiance already.
Laurenza: True.
Kuja: *Gets up, approaches Laurenza and bends down on his knees.* Your Highness, please forgive me... *It is difficult to tell whether he is being sincere or not.*
Laurenza: Just don't do it again. But to show that your really sorry... go clean the royal latrine.
Kuja: *Looks disgusted. He tries to get out of doing such a dirty job.*...I deserve a bigger punishment than that.
Thorn: Accept the punishment our Queen gives you.
Kuja: *Scowls.* It is done. If you'll excuse me... *Walks off towards the royal john.*
Laurenza: *Watches him leave, trying to figure him out, but finds it impossible to fathom the mysteries of Kuja's mind.* He's a little confusing at times, but I wouldn't want to get rid of him. He's been a… good friend for a long while.
Thorn: It is your choice.
Laurenza: What would you do? Would you keep him in your rank?
Thorn: Of course, six heads are better than five.
Laurenza: Yep. *Yawns.*
Thorn: Get some rest. I shall see you in the morning, my Queen. *Leaves.*

*Early the next morning, Thorn is sat on his bed reading. His hair is slightly messy. He hears Falos and Kuja passing his room and catches a snippet of their conversation.*
Falos: Where've you been? You smell like... well... crap.
Thorn: *Looks up and grins.*
Kuja: Don't want to talk about it... Anyway, where's Laurenza? *They disappear off down the corridor.*
Thorn: *Sorts out his hair and follows them.*
Falos: …She went down to the village at first light, alone. Arkun didn't approve but she said it was important.
Kuja: Oh... Well, I need a cup of tea. Shall we go to breakfast?
Falos: Yeah. *They go downstairs towards the dining hall.*
Thorn: *Keeps following.* I'm... sorry to eavesdrop, but has the Queen ever done this before?
Kuja: What? Gone off alone? Not often, normally she takes Tif or Arkun with her.
Thorn: I see. *Runs out the castle doors and down the long path.*

*At the foot of Dalimoor Head, beyond the forest of Loliusin Hollow, lies the small farming village of Dalin. There are a few wooden cottages with thatched roofs, huddled together on the forest boundaries. There is also a church, a bar and a small amount of shops. Thorn stops outside one house and looks around.*
Thorn: *Shouts.* Laurenza?
*Two villagers approach him and eye him with suspicion.*
Joe Public: You new in town?
Jane Public: Are you one of the Queen's... ahem...
Thorn: The Queen's what?
Joe: Toy boys.
Thorn: We are warriors!
Jane: You just keep telling yourself that.
Thorn: *Spreads his magnificent wings and flies five or six meters above the folk.* You just keep saying things like that and you're gonna find yourself in a lot of trouble, I swear...
Joe: *Doesn't look frightened.* Oh yeah, and the Dark Queen will have us all executed.
Jane: Better than living here with her as Queen.
Thorn: *Slowly floats back down and lands. He pokes his finger in to Joe's chest.* Never insult my Queen. Ever. *Holds his hand up, shrugs, and quick as a flash, he slits his long black nail across the man's throat. He is killed instantly.*
Jane: Joe... Joe! *Glares at Thorn.* You and your bloodthirsty Queen! You do nothing in this world but wrong! She brings shame to her royal heritage.
Thorn: *Smiles.* It is her power, my dear woman. *Looks up at the castle.* ...Ours... she can use it as she chooses, and the say of an inbred piece of vermin like yourself does naught but annoy. Tell me where the Queen is.
Jane: If I knew I would not tell the likes of you.
Thorn: *Grabs her throat.* You wouldn't would you? *Tightens his grip* Wait? You don't know? *Lets go.* And I was having fun and all. Oh well, there's more than one way to find the Queen, but if I did it here I'd probably be tried. Good day to you. *Teleports back to castle.*

*Back at the castle, Thorn sees the rest of the lads are all in the dining hall having breakfast.*
Thorn: I don't want them all staring... *Goes up to his room, sits on his bed and starts to chant.* Reveal to me, let my mind see…
*He sees an image of Laurenza in an abandoned shack at the back of the village talking with someone.*
Thorn: I'd better not interrupt the Queen. She knows what she is doing; she can take care of herself. *Goes down to breakfast.*
Tifanel: *Wolf-whistles as Thorn enters.* Hey, hey, lover boy!
Thorn: Shut up.
Kuja: Tif, don't think he's special. I mean, I've kissed the Queen before.
Arkun: Who hasn't?
Thorn: Hmm… strange, she seems to have moved on now. Perhaps you just... weren't her type, shall we say?
Tifanel: *Laughs.* She changes her type every day.
Arkun: Who says she won't move on from you?
Thorn: I do.
Kuja: Be careful with her, she'll end up hurting you. I know it all too well.
Thorn: It's natural to hurt the one you love. Comebacks anyone?
*Silence, for a moment.*
Falos: *Quietly.* Umm... she's in the village with another man right now...
Thorn: What?
Falos: I... I said she's in the village with another man.
Thorn: Oh.
Falos: I'm sorry...
Thorn: It's not your fault. I couldn't complete her.
Arkun: Huh? Talkin' likes she's some friggin jigsaw...
Tifanel: *Laughs.*
Thorn: She's definitely a puzzle.
Kuja: *Bangs head on table.* I hate puns.
Thorn: *Ignores Kuja and turns to Falos.* How did you know?
Falos: Know... what?
Thorn: Where the Queen was.
Falos: I saw her leave when I was on my morning round, and she told me where she was going.
Thorn: You all knew?
Tifanel: I didn't, but I don't give a flyin' monkey.
Thorn: The black widow has spun a web of trickery.
Kuja: You and your metaphors, I don't know...
Thorn: I'm going down to the village to kill a few people. I won't return. *Leaves.*

*Down in Dalin, Jane Public is sweeping her doorstep.*
Thorn: *Holds out his hand, the broom zooms straight into it. He throws it like a spear, straight through her heart.* Get my point? *Looks up to the sky, his eyes jet black.*
James Public: You can't go around killing people like this! First Joe and now Jane... you... you monster!
Thorn: *Shouts.* Element of Fire, bring your fury! Power of rain and fire, be combined! *It rains great flaming balls of energy, causing utter destruction. People are running and screaming and houses are being totally obliterated.*
*From the other end of the village, Laurenza comes running.*
Laurenza: What's happening?!
Thorn: *Looks back down, his eyes normal but full with rage and pain.* Hello, lover.