*The next morning, after a quick traditional Velazian breakfast (which only went down well with the Velazians), Amber announces the water cannons are fully operational. They head above deck to try them out.*
Amber: Now, these babies can only be fired once. Sorry, but that's the way it is. I hope they get all the fire first time, eheheh...
Red: Yes… me too.
Laurenza: Let's give it our best shot then. Oops, pun...
Red: Good job Kuja isn't here…
Laurenza: Yeah... Okay Amber, fire at will!
Amber: Aye aye! *Jumps below deck.*
*The cannons extend and shoot two super-charged streams of water at the fire. The fire is quickly doused.*
Red: Hey, it worked!
Laurenza: Hooray! Good job, Amber!
Amber: *From below deck.* Hey thanks! Good luck in there.
Laurenza: Wait... you're not coming too?
Amber: No way. That fire thing's a bit too much for me. But you'll be dears and fetch me the treasure, right?
Red: Yeah… right.
Laurenza: *Sighs and shakes her head.* Come on, Red, let's go. *Climbs down into the little motorboat.*
Red: *Follows her.*

*They drive into the cave, as they did before. This time, there is no fire at all.*
Laurenza: No fire... Did we put it all out with the water cannons?
Red: It looks that way.
*They get out of the boat. Red steps forward and a large circle of fire appears around her, like the edge of an arena. It separates her from Laurenza.*
Red: No!
Laurenza: Red!
*Daimonion appears in front of Red in a flicker of vermilion.*
Daimonion: Back for more, are we?
Red: I won't be at peace until you're gone.
Daimonion: Go on then, just try killing me. I'll let you have the first shot, so throw your little ice spell my way.
Red: All right then, I will. But first, tell me something.
Daimonion: Hmm?
Red: Do you think you'll enjoy death as much I'll enjoy seeing you perish? *Closes her eyes and brings her hands in front of her in a diamond shape, preparing to cast her ice spell.*
*The air around Red begins to cool as her spell takes effect, but suddenly and unexpectedly, the temperature shoots right up again to the point of being unbearably hot.*
Red: *Stops casting her spell in surprise.* Damn, that isn't supposed to happen…
Daimonion: *In a mocking tone.* Oh, what's wrong? Is your spell bwoken?
Laurenza: *Watches them from behind the fire blockade.* What's going on? Red, try another spell!
Red: Right. *She holds out her hand and it fills with a deep red swirling energy, around which rose petals flurry.* La Rosa! *She launches the Magick at Daimonion in a beam.*
Daimonion: *Doesn't even flinch as the spell hurtles towards him. He just stands there, grinning wryly, as the energy transforms into a beam of fire and washes over him, doing no damage.* Ooh, that's nice.
Red: That wasn't supposed to happen either…
Daimonion: It seems I have the upper hand here. That's the way I like it. Shall we play this game my way, then? *Red is suddenly chained up.* I'm getting a strange feeling of deja vu... How about you?
Red: Not again…
Daimonion: *Stands with his face very close to hers.* Such a pretty girl... *Holds up his hand looks at his claw-like nails.* Let's see what we can do to fix that... *Scratches her cheek slowly.*
Red: *Cries out.*
Laurenza: Red...!
Red: *Struggles against the chains* You bastard!
Daimonion: Thank you, I do try. *Laughs cruelly and fills his hands with fire.* Now hold still, it's time for your complete makeover. I'll make sure to do it nice and slowly so you can savor every moment of my touch...
*Just then, there is a tiny flicker of black light near Red's face, so small Daimonion doesn't notice it, and Red only catches it out of the corner of her eye. A soft voice whispers in her ear.*
Voice: Distract him. I will free your hands so you can reach your guns.
Red: Huh?
Voice: I am here to help. Just keep him occupied!
Red: Oh... right. *She thinks about how she should distract Daimonion for a second.* Um... so, you like bondage, huh?
Daimonion: *Stops closing in on her and lowers his hands. He looks a little thrown by the sudden question.* Why yes. I suppose I like feeling in a position of power, with my victims completely helpless.
Red: *Smiles knowingly.* Yeah, I thought so. The chains? They're a dead giveaway.
*Red feels her hands being freed from her binds. Daimonion doesn't notice, as he seems to have been started on a topic of great interest to him.*
Daimonion: It's how people like your little girlfriend treated me that made my early life such a constant agony. Always demanding me of things... always dominating me and treating me like second-class scum. But look at me now, how the tables have turned!
Red: Fascinating. *She pulls her guns out their holsters and shoots at him.*
*Quick as lightning, Daimonion raises his hand and melts one of the bullets into a useless metal slop that falls on the ground. He is not quite fast enough to reflect the other bullet, however, and it pieces the unusual artifact he is wearing around his neck, shattering it into millions of tiny pieces.*
Daimonion: Shit.
Voice: *Whispers to Red again.* That was an Altergem you just destroyed. It converts all elemental forces to an element of your choice… in this case, fire... Now that it is broken, you may freely attack him. *In a quieter and slightly pitiful tone.* Just... please go easy on him...
Red: Hmm... I don't think so. *Starts off with giving Daimonion a good swift kick to his middle.*
Daimonion: *Recoils for a moment, growling. He then straightens up and punches her.*
Red: *Looks angry and punches him back*
Daimonion: *Wipes a trickle of vivid orange-red blood from the corner of his mouth.* Now, this is just shameful brawling... *Snaps his fingers and the fire arena spews flames high in air. Daimonion himself becomes surrounded with spiraling flames.* ...Let's finish this! *Charges towards her.*
Red: Fine by me. *Holds her hand up to stop Daimonion.* Vinchente!
*Daimonion, in all his flaming glory, comes to a halt inches before her.*
Laurenza: Finish him, Red!
Red: *Nods.* Don't worry. I will. *Closes her eyes and brings her hands together in a diamond shape, and places them in front of her face. She sharply takes in a breath and then breathes out. The air around her is freezing and her breath is visible as an icy mist. All of a sudden, she snaps open her eyes. They are glowing with a perishing white aura which freezes Daimonion where he lies. The earth around her shatters a little and her hair is blown around by the force of the spell.* Ojos... fríos!
*The fire arena vanishes a few moments after Daimonion was frozen. Laurenza comes running up to Red.*
Laurenza: Shoot him, Red! Make sure he can never bother us again!
Red: Sounds like a plan. *She draws her guns out again and readies her aim*
*Just before she fires, Daimonion is mysteriously thawed out. He lies unconscious for a moment, before being surrounded by a honeycomb-pattern Magick barrier.*
Laurenza: What the...?
Red: My thoughts exactly...
*A large pillar of black fire appears before them, before forming into the shape of a person not dissimilar to Daimonion. He has dark hair like Daimonion, but the tips taper off into black flames instead, and his eyes are ebony. He is dressed in extravagant purple robes and is wearing lots of jewellery. He smiles a kind but sad smile.*
Sarutamo: Hello Red, I am the one who helped you. My name is Sarutamo, the Djinn Creator.
Red: *Looks kind of surprised.* Oh... well, thanks.
Sarutamo: I will not let you kill Daimonion. All Djinn are my children and I love them, even the black sheep that is Daimonion. It was his abusive and hurtful masters that embittered him towards the human race, making him what he is today.
Laurenza: So you're just going to let him go?
Red: Looks like it *She doesn't look too pleased about this.*
Laurenza: But what's to stop him from hurting people all over again? What's to stop him from bothering us forever?
Sarutamo: *Suddenly looks forceful.* I am. I will not allow him to trouble you any longer. I am sorry he has caused you so much pain up to this point, so I feel I must make it up to you.
Red: Well... thanks. I appreciate it, but it doesn't change what he's done...
Sarutamo: If you kill him, how does that make you any better than he is?
Red: *Thinks about this.* Yeah... I guess you're right.
Laurenza: So... how are you going to make it up for us?
Sarutamo: I have two things to give you. The first is an offer my help in the future. I daresay you will need it.
Laurenza: We will?
Sarutamo: Yes... That is related to my second gift. I have the ability to gaze upon our possible futures and see which paths we are most likely to follow. I have made a prophecy concerning you and your friends.
Red: Really? Is it bad?
Sarutamo: I believe so, though these things can be interpreted in different ways. Listen closely, for I will only say this once:
Heed my words, O fated child,
Heavy weighed by destiny.
Forest, Flame, Light, Abyss,
In the vessel of valour's fist.
Paths have crossed and paths are lost,
In friends are foes and foes are friends.
Buried pasts will truths avoid,
Leave well alone what fears to feel.
Heed my words, O fated one,
Lest call the storm, five would be none.
Red: ...Well, that's vague enough to mean anything. Thanks. I think...
Laurenza: Yeah... we appreciate it, though I'm not sure what sense we'll be able to make of it...
Sarutamo: *Smiles some.* I should help my child now. Fare thee well, child of fate. *Both he and Daimonion disappear in a flash of black light.*
Red: Well... I can't say I was expecting it to end like that. *She looks like she's not sure whether to think it ended well or not.*
Laurenza: Me neither, but I'm glad it's over. Now maybe we can get back to our original plan. *Gets back in the motorboat.*
Red: Oh... oh yeah. *She smiles.* I'd nearly forgotten. Good job one of us remembered.

*They head back to the Imperial Scourge and go down to the lower deck. Amber is there waiting for them, looking expectant.*
Amber: So so, did you get the treasure?
Red: Ah, no. Someone had already made off with it. Pity.
Amber: So what took you so long in there?
Laurenza: We had to deal with that Daimonion. Don't worry, he won't be bothering anyone any more.
Red: *Nods.*
Amber: Ahh, I suppose I can't hold the treasure getting away against you. I'll keep my end of the bargain and drop you off at Sol's Pass.
Red: Heh, thanks.

*Amber takes them across the sea and they arrive in Sol's Pass, just as the sun is setting. Sol's Pass is a small, cosy-looking town with worn, white buildings. They head through a small forest beyond the town and reach a clearing, where a majestic waterfall fills the air with the sound of rushing water. Unusually, instead of the water cascading down into the lake below, it seems to be rushing upwards into the river rocks above. The rising water, almost shimmering in the late afternoon sun, is quite the spectacle to look at.*
Red: *Is speechless.* Well... that's far nicer than I thought it would be.
Laurenza: Hey, didn't I tell you it was something special? *Sits in front of the lake and beckons Red to do the same.*
Red: Well, yes. *She goes and sits beside Laurenza.* But it's far better when you see it for yourself.
Laurenza: I'm glad we made it here... *Puts her arm around Red and leans against her.* ...Because I wanted you to see something as inspiring and beautiful as you are.
Red: *Holds Laurenza close* You're so sweet. What can I say in return other than 'I know you are'? Sometimes it's hard to find the right kind of words to express how you make me feel. *She kisses her* It's not much, but it's a start. *She smiles.*
*The two of them embrace each other closely, as the fantastic waters rush around them.*