*They leave the village and out of the forest, back on the road towards their destination once more. Tifanel has fixed a rope around the Li-statue and is dragging him along. A light snow has started to fall, as the temperature has dropped further.*
Laurenza: *Holds out her hand and catches a flake.* Isn't it pretty?
Red: Yes, it is.
Chiara: Pretty cold... I can see my breath in the air.
Tifanel: Here... *Takes off his jacket and hands it to Chiara.*
Chiara: Won't you be cold without this? You're only wearing chainmail underneath.
Tifanel: Nah, I'm ok. Dragging this statue is actually makin' me kinda sweaty. *Grins.*
Kuja: Thanks for the info, Tifanel...
*They walk onwards for a while. Even for a strong man like Tifanel, pulling along a huge stone statue for so long begins to take its toll on him. He stops to catch his breath for a moment at a fork in the road, leaning against a signpost.*
Thorn: I'll take over for a while, if you like.
Li: He's just bein' lazy.
Tifanel: Shut up, Li. Yeah, thanks Thorn, that'd be great.
Thorn: *Smiles and takes the rope.*
Tifanel: So let's see which road we have to take... *Reads the sign.* 'West: Allonia, East: Jubril.'
Lierlo: So we need to take the east road.
Tifanel: Yep. *Glances in the direction of Allonia for a moment and spots two young children running into the distance. He stares at them, noticing how familiar they look. They are the two children he has seen so often in his dreams.* Sweet mother of the Goddess...
Red: What is it?
Tifanel: Sorry guys, but I've gotta go this way...*Sprints towards Allonia.*
Thorn: *He shouts after him.* Tifanel!
Kuja: Where does he think he's going?
Ares: Should we follow him?
Laurenza: Yeah, we don't want to get split up.
Thorn: Come on. *He seems to have forgotten about Li.*
*They head after Tifanel. Chiara stops in front of the sign and touches it.*
Chiara: I don't see it...
*She follows after the others.*
Li: *Shouts after them.* Hey, what about me?
*They run down the road towards the town. Chiara catches up with them.*
Lierlo: I wonder what all this is about.
Chiara: Hmm... Maybe it's to do with his dreams.
Kitzie: What dreams?
Chiara: He wouldn't say what they were about in detail... They were about something he wanted, I think. Oh well, we can ask him when we catch up with him, huh?
Thorn: Hmm...
*They reach the town. Tifanel seems to have already gone in.*
Laurenza: This looks like the place. Let's go in.
*They head inside, all except for Chiara, who stays where she was.*
Chiara: Strange...

*The others are now in what looks like a fairytale town. The buildings are of random designs, each unique, and painted in bright colours. The lightly falling snow on their roofs gives the appearance of icing sugar on sweets. There is a castle at the far end of the town that towers above all the other buildings, but it looks like a cartoon exaggeration of a castle with huge turrets and towers. The only normal looking building is a picturesque cottage with a white fence.*
Thorn: What an odd-looking place.
Kitzie: It's really cute!
Lierlo: There's no pattern to the building designs at all.
Apathy: It all looks so haphazard.
Laurenza: I wonder where Tifanel is.
*At that moment, the front doors of two of the strange houses open at the same time. Two residents exit them and approach the gang, smiling profusely.*
Villager: Hello.
Villager 2: Welcome to our nice little village.
Kuja: *Quietly.* Look at the smiles on those two... Someone's dumped saccharine into the drinking water...
Thorn: Uhh... thanks.
Kuja: Have you seen a guy around here? He's about so high, silver hair, misses the g's from his words a lot...
Villager: *Ignores the question.* You all must be frozen. Come inside and have some tea.
Thorn: That's very nice of you, but... this man. We really need to find him.
Villager 2: Now now, you can't do anything on an empty stomach.

*The gang are split in half and shepherded inside the two houses by the villagers. The first villager takes Thorn, Kuja, Lierlo and Apathy inside their house and the other takes Laurenza, Red, Ares and Kitzie into theirs. In the first house, the boys are gestured to sit around a pretty table with a tea set upon it. There is a clock on the mantelpiece that fills the room with a loud ticking.*
Lierlo: *Quietly.* These people seem very intent on having us for tea. This won't take too long, I don't think; so let's just humour them for a few minutes. It can't hurt.
Kuja: Well, I do get a cup of tea out of it...
Thorn: And it is nice to be out of the cold for a while...
Apathy: And into normal-looking surroundings... *To the villager.* This is a very strange town.
Villager: It's a lovely town. It's perfect.
Thorn: You're very proud of your town.
Villager: That's because it's so lovely. Do have some tea.
Kuja: Don't mind if I do. *Takes the teapot and pours it out, only to find it's empty.* What?
Villager: There we go. Drink it whilst it's hot. *Takes the pot and proceeds to pour out some invisible tea for himself, before adding equally invisible milk and sugar.*
Thorn: *Mouths to Kuja.* What is going on?
Kuja: *Whispers back.* Either we've all lost our minds, or something's not quite right here...
Lierlo: Ouch... *Stretches out his arm.* I feel a bit stiff.
Villager: Have some hot tea. That will help. *Offers him an empty cup.*

*Meanwhile, in the second house, the girls are sat around a similar table that is covered in food.*
Kitzie: Who lives in the cottage? Why did Tiffy wanna come here? Who lives in the big castle?
Villager 2: Our mayor lives in the big castle. We love him.
Ares: He runs the town? And he does a good job?
Villager 2: Oh yes. Please, help yourself to food.
Kitzie: Ooh! *Picks up a cream bun and bites into it.* Owww!
Red: What's wrong?
Kitzie: It's made of plastic. I hurt my toothy.
Laurenza: *Picks up an éclair and knocks on it with her fingernails, making a soft plasticy sound.*
Red: It's all pretend...
Kitzie: Pretend food isn't as nice as real food... *Rubs her leg.* Ouch... now my legs hurt.
Villager 2: Oh dear, have a lollypop and that'll make you feel better.

*Meanwhile, in the small cottage in the centre of the village. Tifanel is stood in the living room he has seen before in his dreams.*
Tifanel: *Tentatively.* Merith? Sheridan?
*The two children come hurtling down the stairs towards him, and jump into his arms.*
Merith: Daddy!
Tifanel: *Holds them both tightly.* Kids... Oh god, you're real...!
Sheridan: Of course we are, daddy. You're funny!
Tifanel: But... how? Oh well... *Kisses them both.* I'm so happy!

*Back in the first house, the atmosphere has started to feel a little strange. The ticking of the clock now sounds really loud to Thorn.*
Thorn: *Holds his hand to his forehead.* Uhh...
Kuja: What's wrong, Thorn?
Thorn: That clock...
Kuja: Is its ticking bothering you? I could go smash it if you like. *Goes to the mantelpiece and picks it up. He looks at it and then takes out a pocket watch and checks the time* Um, Thorn... the clock stopped a few hours ago...
Thorn: I can still hear it...
*There is suddenly a shooting pain in Thorn's back.*
Thorn: Aaargh...
*As he puts his hand to feel where the pain was, he touches something smooth and metal sticking out of his back. It is winding round and round like a clockwork key.*
Thorn: Kuja...
Kuja: *His eyes are wide with surprise.* Thorn, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you appear to be made out of clockwork...! *Stitching suddenly appears along Kuja and he falls limp like a rag doll.*
Lierlo: Oh my... oh my... This is so strange. *Looks around to find Apathy is no longer with him. Lierlo now is quite wide at the bottom and narrow at the top and appears to be made from wood.* Apathy? *Lierlo pops in half, his head and torso coming loose from his legs and drops to the ground, revealing Apathy is inside him like a Russian doll.*
Kuja: *Manages to prop himself up against a wall.* What's happening...? *Notices the villager is lying motionless on the floor, strings coming from his arms and legs like a giant marionette.*
Thorn: Well... *He marches rhythmically over to the villager.* I'd say we're turning into toys.
Kuja: Well observed. I bet the same thing is happening to the others. We ought to go find them... but you'll have to help me move, Thorn. I'm rather floppy now.
Thorn: *He marches back over to Kuja and lifts him up.* No problem.
Lierlo: *Bounces his top half back on and moves towards the door in small hops.*

*They head into the second house and find that things have become equally bizarre. Kitzie has lost her legs and is flopping around the floor with the appearance of a glove puppet. Laurenza is a porcelain doll whose eyes are stuck shut because she is sitting back. Red is a wooden model, with joints fastened on with pegs that tend to keep popping off. Ares is a solid lead miniature. The villager there has also become a motionless puppet.*
Kitzie: Thorny! Creepy Guy! Lierly! Help!
Thorn: We would, Kitzie, but we're as equally stumped as you are.
Laurenza: Can someone sit me up? I can't see a thing.
Red: *Pulls Laurenza up, but loses her arms in the process.* Oh dear...
Kuja: *Flops along to Red and replaces her arms.* We've got to get to the bottom of this...
Lierlo: And find Tifanel. Something may have happened to him too.

*Those who can move more easily help those who are having trouble out of the house.*
Kuja: *Looks to the cottage.* That's the only remotely normal looking building in the whole town... Do you think Tifanel went in there?
Thorn: Let's check it out.
*They go inside the cottage. It's a tidy little house with cute furnishings. They find Tifanel sat on the sofa, with two ventriloquist's dummies shaped like young children on his lap.*
Red: Tifanel...?
Tifanel: Oh, hey guys. *Due to his normal reaction to them, he doesn't seem to have noticed the gang's transformation into toys.* You're not gonna believe this, but these two lil' kids are my children!
Kuja: Uh Tifanel, they're just dummies...
Tifanel: What're ya talkin' about? Say hi to my friends, kids.
*Tifanel makes Merith's mouth move and speaks for her, like a ventriloquist, using a high voice and without moving his lips.*
Merith: Hi!
Ares: I don't think he realises.
Thorn: But this goes far beyond just insanity, this behaviour, the town... everything here, it must be some kind of spell.
Lierlo: That's what I'm thinking as well. Who do you think is responsible?
Laurenza: The person who lives in the castle at the far end of town? The mayor...
Red: That's a good idea. Even if they aren't responsible, they must know something...
Kuja: I don't think we're going to get through to Big Daddy here... *Gestures to Tifanel.* Let's leave him with his 'kids' for the moment and go seek out the mayor ourselves.
Thorn: Good idea. Let's go.

*They make their way to the strange castle at the edge of town and enter it. Inside, the main hall is filled with piles and piles of toys. In the centre of the room is a small child seated on a frighteningly realistic rocking horse. He has dark hair that falls into his blue eyes every so often, and he is wearing a hat and patchwork clothes clumsily sewn together. On one hand he has a sock puppet.*
Thorn: Hey, um... Hi. Can you tell us where we can find the mayor?
*The boy makes the sock puppet talk in a squeaky voice.*
Sock: *Points at the boy.* He's right there!
Red: *Smiles.* Sorry kid, but we don't have time to play. We really need to see the mayor.
Boy: *Slips off the horse and stands up straight.* I'm the mayor! This is my town. *Smiles widely.* Have you come to play with me?
Kuja: Funnily enough, no. We don't have time to waste entertaining little children.
Laurenza: So you're the mayor? Did you do this to us?
Boy: I sure did.
Kitzie: But you've got lots and lots of proper toys here. Why didn't you play with them instead of making us into toys?
Boy: I get awfully lonely here all by myself.
Sock: There's no other children to play with!
Boy: Toys are great, but I like the company people give. *His fringe falls into his eyes, making him appear slightly sinister.* Company is great but people don't always do what you want like toys...
Kuja: So you thought you'd combine the two?
Boy: Yep! It's never worked as good as this before. Now you can stay here and be my special friends... forever.
Thorn: I'm sorry, but we can't...
Lierlo: We have things we need to do.
Laurenza: You can't force us to stay here.
Boy: Maybe you forgot... You're my toys and you'll do as I say!
*The sock puppet hisses at them, and then transforms into a huge snakelike monster with large fangs.*
Red: This is going to be a little difficult, seeing as we're toys...
Kuja: I know what you mean...
Lierlo: I don't think I feel very comfortable fighting a child anyway...
*The sock puppet slams down on Lierlo, bowling him over.*
Lierlo: I take that back... Ouch, even though I'm made of wood, I can still be hurt, it seems...
Kuja: We can't stand here and let this brat make fools of us... Let's give this a try! Pyro Flare! *Spreads his hands towards the boy and instead of a fire spell, a handful of confetti bursts from between his fingers.*
Red: Oh well, we can always do weddings after we get our asses kicked...
Boy: Naughty, naughty. You shouldn't try to defy me.
Kuja: *Falls over as his stitching comes undone, stuffing now dropping out of him.*
Thorn: Kuja...! *He kneels by Kuja's side, before rushing at the giant sock puppet and attacking it with his fists.*
Sock: That's not very friendly! *Grabs hold of Thorn's key and yanks it out of his back.*
Thorn: *Gasps as the ticking in his head begins to slow down, and his actions become slower and slower.* No...
Boy: Anyone else want to try and beat me?
*Kitzie flops pathetically around his feet. Lierlo wobbles in his general direction and Laurenza falls over. Ares, in an attempt to wobble in the sock's direction, causes herself to topple over onto Red, who also collapses, dislocating her arms in the process.*
Boy: There we are, no more being naughty... Time to play... *Looms over them ominously.*
Laurenza: No... What are we going to do?
Lierlo: We can't fight him...
Voice: CLEAR VISTA!
*The doors come flying open and a jet of purple light streaks towards the boy. It strikes the sock puppet, making it return to its normal appearance. Chiara is stood in the doorway, brandishing her whip.*
Laurenza: Chiara!
Chiara: Oh my gosh, guys! What happened to you?
Ares: We were turned into toys, and then attacked by a giant sock puppet.
Kitzie: It was that meanie boy!
Chiara: Really? I better teach him a lesson, then! *She picks up the boy, puts him over her knee and gives his backside a good smacking.*
Boy: *Wriggles out of her grasp, sniffling some.*
Chiara: That'll show you. Being a kid should be fun and happy, don't waste your time being evil. *Goes over to the others.* Hmm... Hold still... I think I can help you. *Raises her hands.* Shatter Illusion! *There is a sound like smashing glass and everyone returns to normal.*
Thorn: *Stands up and stretches his arms.* I thought as much... just an illusion. *He walks over to the boy, handing him a tissue.* Here.
Boy: *Takes it and wipes his eyes.* All I wanted was some friends...
Thorn: I know, but you know that isn't the way to get them. If you want friends, you have to be nice to people.
Boy: Ok, I'll remember that.
*The town suddenly vanishes from around them and they find themselves stood amongst nothing but rubble. The boy has also disappeared.*
Laurenza: Oh! *Looks around.* Was the town just an illusion as well?
Ares: It seems like it...
Chiara: Yeah... I couldn't actually see this town, you know. You guys just sort of vanished and I had to find you... I feel so left out.
Lierlo: Don't, Chiara. It's a good thing you didn't come with us, or else you would have been subjected to the same spell.
Laurenza: We really appreciate you saving us, Chiara. Right, everyone?
Kitzie: Yeah! Thanks Chiary! I didn't wanna be a toy forever.
Red: Right. Thank you Chiara.
Chiara: That's ok. Hey... isn't Tif with you?
Kuja: He was in one of the houses, but now it's gone... *Looks around and spots Tifanel leaning against some debris a few yards away.* Oh, he's over there.
*They go over to him. The two dummies vanished along with the rest of the town and Tifanel looks rather sad for some reason.*
Chiara: Tif, what's wrong?
Tifanel: ...
Laurenza: Is it something to do with those dummies?
Tifanel: *Sighs.* Yeah... I'll tell ya all about it if you promise not to laugh.
Thorn: Of course we won't...
Tifanel: A couple of you guys know I've been having these dreams for a while. I've been dreamin' of myself in like... a parallel life. I'm married to... uh... someone and I have two young kids called Merith and Sheridan. At first, I thought it was just a dream, 'cos... Well... I ain't married and it's not really possible for me to have kids. But these dreams kept comin' and they were so real... Then we came here and I saw Merith and Sheridan for real... I was so surprised and happy, but I guess it was just some stupid illusion all along...
Red: It's ok, Tifanel. We understand.
Chiara: That's so sad...
Laurenza: Yeah, I can imagine you feel disappointed.
Tifanel: *Nods.* Sorry for wastin' your time dragging you all here.
Lierlo: That's ok.
Ares: It was an experience, at least.
Kuja: Oh well, let's get going.

*They head back to the crossroads and find a rather irate Li-statue.*
Li: Where the hell did you guys go?!
Laurenza: Oops, I guess we forgot about Li...
Thorn: *Takes the rope wrapped around Li.* Sorry, Li. We lost track of time.
Li: Pfft.
Lierlo: *Looks at the sky.* Hmm... Maybe we should set up camp. We'll be walking through the night if we carry on right now.
Thorn: You're right. We can continue in the morning.

*They set up the tents and have something to eat, before settling in for the night. Everyone is in the tents except for Tifanel, who is stood outside by the Li-statue, looking at the sky.*
Li: Look at you, all broody. What's wrong with ya?
Tifanel: Nothin' that concerns you. *Puts a bag over Li's head.*
Li: Mmmf mmf!
Chiara: *Comes out of the girl's tent.* Tif, is that you out here? Looking for a wishing star again?
Tifanel: Maybe I am this time.
Chiara: You're really cut up about this children thing, aren't you?
Tifanel: Yeah... but I know I gotta get over it. I guess I just want a family 'cos I never really had one myself. But I can't…
Chiara: There's other ways. You mustn't lose hope… Here, take this. *She hands him a charm shaped like a pink rose.*
Tifanel: What's this?
Chiara: It's a charm from the Temple of Aphrora, before it was de-holified.
Tifanel: The Temple of Aphrora? That's in Fidea, right? I've been there; it's a real sickly tourist attraction.
Chiara: Yeah, but it wasn't always like that. My foster mother gave me this. I'm supposed to give it to the person I marry so we have lots of children, but maybe you need it most right now.
Tifanel: Heheh... thanks Chiara.

*Meanwhile, Kitzie is far away in her dreams in the Forsaken Realm, recounting the events of the day to Faunus. She mentions in particular what happened with Tifanel.*
Faunus: I can understand why he is sad. Paternal instincts are powerful things. He can feel strongly for children of his, even if they turn out to be only illusions. *Holds Kitzie.* I was really happy when we were able to reunite as a family.
Kitzie: Me too. I was pleased to have finally found my daddy. Everyone should be able to find that kinda happiness…