*We last left our heroes finding out Laurenza is carrying Kuja's child.*
Thorn: Oh god, I knew about the child but I didn't know...
Tifanel: You sure work quickly, Kuja...
Kuja: I suppose I'm going to get the Thorn Treatment now...
Thorn: You bastard...
Kuja: Hey, it takes two to tango. *Gestures to Laurenza.*
Laurenza: ...
Thorn: Be glad I don't have my powers back...
Kuja: She so wanted me.
Laurenza: Kuja! You forced yourself on me!
Kuja: You let me do it!
Laurenza: But... but... you started it!
Kuja: Oh, that's really mature, Laurenza. You know you still love me.
Laurenza: I... I...
Lierlo: *Looks worried.* This is a very bad situation...
Kuja: Thank you, Mr. State-The-Obvious.
Thorn: He has as much a right to speak as you do, perhaps more in my opinion.
Kuja: You're just jealous...
Thorn: Of Laurenza? I don't think so...
Kuja: No, half-wit, I meant me. You just wish it were your seed she was carrying.
Laurenza: Kuja, stop it.
Thorn: That should do it...
Laurenza: What?
Thorn: Make Kuja stop with the annoying quips and comments. *Thorn sits, strangely full of energy.* I mean, I know I should can it with the metaphors, but it is remarkable how comparable to a plague you are, my Queen.
Laurenza: A plague?
Thorn: Getting every man in sight.
Laurenza: Shut up!
Lierlo: That's just not nice...
Thorn: Make me stop. You seem to be pretty good at it...
Kuja: If she gets every man in sight, you must've been the exception, Thorn.
Thorn: Well, what can I say, I must just be… *Looks at Laurenza.*... immune.
Laurenza: ...I want to keep the baby.
Tifanel: You're kidding.
Thorn: Oh… What have I done to deserve this? *He smiles.*
Laurenza: I've had it with you, Thorn. I don't know what you feel half the time, and really, it doesn't look like you do either!
Thorn: Well, maybe half of the time, I'm just a completely different person… *He heads for the exit of the castle and slams the doors shut.*
Kuja: Probably going to attempt global destruction again.
Tifanel: You just don't know when to shut up, do you?
Lierlo: Where do you think he's gone?
Laurenza: *Fuming.* Who cares? Good riddance.
Lierlo: I... I can't believe you, Laurenza! How could you be so cruel to Thorn?
Laurenza: So, I guess all those times he was cruel to us were perfectly all right? Well, I'm giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Lierlo: Two wrongs don't make a right.
Laurenza: I'm just gonna forget about him. He doesn't matter. I'm better off without him.
Lierlo: You don't mean that, do you?
Laurenza: I do, and if you have a problem with it, why don't you go find him and be his friend instead of mine? Come on, Kuja. *Leaves the room.*
*Kuja, who looks absolutely dumbstruck by the whole situation, simply nods and follows her.*
Lierlo: Tifanel, what do you think about all of this?
Tifanel: My duty is stay by the Queen's side and protect her with my life. Does that mean I have to agree with her too?
Lierlo: I don't think so... You have your own free will.
Tifanel: I know. Still, I don't know who to side with. Who's in the wrong?
Lierlo: It's difficult to tell anymore... Say, you don't think Thorn is going to do anything crazy, do you?
Tifanel: What, like global destruction or suicide? I dunno...
Lierlo: I still can't believe everyone is being so cruel to each other... Why can't we all be friends?
Tifanel: You've lived most of your life in your safe, naive little Spirit World. It doesn't work like that in the real world. Things are tough.
Lierlo: Yes, I suppose. But Laurenza and Thorn should at least apologise to each other.
Tifanel: *Smiles.* I doubt that'll happen. I don't think Laurenza ever wants to see Thorn again.
Lierlo: But I don't want things to end like this...*Leaves.*

*Lierlo goes after Laurenza. He finds her alone in her room.*
Lierlo: Laurenza, I think you should apologise to Thorn. I think he really cares about you...
Laurenza: Really? Then why was he such a bastard towards us all?
Lierlo: But you were cruel to him too... Don't do this, Laurenza, it's not like you...
Laurenza: I know... I still care about him too. I'd like it if we could be friends...
Lierlo: Maybe we should go find him?
Laurenza: Yeah... all right.

*The gang all clamber into The Destiny and drive to Thorn's home. They all get out and approach the entrance.*
Laurenza: Thorn?
Tifanel: Anyone home?
Thorn: Umm… Come in.
*They all go in.*
Kuja: Nice place you've got here.
Thorn: You've seen it before.
Kuja: Only the outside.
Laurenza: Thorn, are you okay?
Thorn: I'm fine. Really.
Laurenza: I'm sorry about what I said earlier...
Thorn: Yeah, me too. *Thorn is incredibly twitchy, looking around and fumbling with his hands.*
Lierlo: Is there something wrong, Thorn?
Thorn: What? No, look you'd better go, I err... might say something... I shouldn't.
Laurenza: Why? What's wrong?
Thorn: *His eyes go hollow and he speaks in a completely different voice.* Oh, I thought you'd had enough of me?
Kitzie: Creepy...
Thorn: *His eyes change back to normal.* You... can't fool them any more... *He is suddenly thrown across the room by an unseen force.*
Tifanel: Whoa! What's going on?
Thorn: *Again, with the different voice.* Shut up!
Lierlo: This is weird...
Thorn: *With his normal voice.* Please help me... she's... coming.
Laurenza: Thorn, what's wrong? What's going on?
*A bolt of lightning blasts through the roof of the cave and hits Thorn, who is thrown at the wall and knocked unconscious.*
Kuja: Eesh... this guy's got some serious problems...
Voice: You got that right.
Laurenza: Who's there?
Voice: You mean who's here, finally...
*A young woman steps out of the darkness, dressed similarly to Thorn, with similar flowing black hair.*
Lierlo: Who are you?
Ares: I am Ares.
Laurenza: Are you the one who was bothering Thorn just now?
Ares: Yes, don't worry. He'll survive. Not that you'd care, you don't want anything to do with him, remember?
Laurenza: I didn't mean what I said... *Thinks.* Hey, how do you know I said that, anyway?
Thorn: *Slowly stirs, his head bleeding.* She's... she's been...
Ares: *Raises her hand to Thorn and blasts him with dark power.*
Tifanel: What the hell did ya do that for?
Ares: I find it fun… Using the power Thorn unwillingly gave to me.
Lierlo: What do you mean? This isn't making any sense.
Ares: Okay children, let me explain. Perhaps you'll stop pestering me then... I've been inhabiting Thorn's body from time to time, trying to find an opportunity to re-enter this world, but I couldn't resist stirring up your lives a little. And all along, you thought Thorn was doing all these things to you! *She laughs.* Well, now I'm powerful enough to make a body of my own, thanks to Thorn. You see, when you lot knocked his Magick out of him, I managed to claim it as my own, due to the fact I was wedged in Thorn's mind. And now, finally, I shall obliterate this world, as my Master initially wanted.
Thorn: I won't let you...
Tifanel: None of us will.
Ares: I don't think you have a choice.
Kuja: I think we do. We can either let you destroy this world, or destroy you.
Ares: You know Kuja, during my short periods of time in this world, I really hated you.
Kuja: Well, since you were in Thorn's body, I guess I felt the same way about you.
Tifanel: Ready, guys?
*They all get into battle stances.*
Ares: *Laughs.*
Tifanel: Shining Blade! *His sword glows and he fires an energy attack at Ares.*
Ares: Finitum! *The attack disintegrates.*
Kitzie: Summon Bird of the Flame! *Nothing happens.*
Lierlo: Um... Kitzie... I cant do that anymore...
Kitzie: Oh yeah, sorry.
Ares: Weaklings... all of you, you'll never have the power to stop me.
Kuja: Think! Think! Think! *Kuja appears to be trying to remember something.*
Laurenza: Cleansing power of the Divine Goddess… In gentle wisdom… Wash away this evil that taints our land… White Apocalypse! *She sends a powerful explosion of white energy at Ares.*
Ares: *A shroud of darkness envelops Ares, making the energy shatter.*
*A glimmer of hope shines in Kuja's eyes and he runs over to Kitzie and whispers something in her ear, whilst Tifanel tries again with the sword attack.*
Tifanel: Hiyaaah!
Ares: *Simply walks around the energy flying through the air.* Please… is this all you've got? 'Cos if you can't perform better Magick tricks than this, I'm just gonna have to jump to the big finish...
Kitzie: Summon Flying Death!
*A giant raven-like creature appears and Kuja immediately protects it with the Mirror Wall spell.*
Ares: Very clever, but are you really gonna let Thorn die as well?
Thorn: It doesn't matter...
Tifanel: You're not dyin' on my watch. Laurenza, get him out of here.
Laurenza: Right. *Touches Thorn and they teleport out of there.*
Kuja: Any last words, Ares?
Ares: Okay, how about… 'Bye bye!' *Teleports after Thorn.*
Tifanel: Kuja, you bloody idiot.
Kuja: Yeah, I feel stupid right now...
Lierlo: Chances are Ares is chasing after Thorn and Laurenza. We'd better follow them quickly.
Kuja: Indeed. *Throws down some flash powder and the rest of them teleport back to the castle.*

*At the castle, Laurenza materialises with Thorn.*
Laurenza: Let's hope we'll be safe here.
Thorn: She's got my power, Laurenza. She'll find us.
Laurenza: Well then, I'll be ready waiting for her.
Thorn: Laurenza?
Laurenza: Yeah?
Thorn: I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you about this before...
Laurenza: No matter. I'm now quite used to not being told things.
Thorn: The way she was in mind. It's a transfer, like a possession from the Eternal Etheria, lodging her in my mind, making her control me. If I'd told you, she would have cancelled the spell, killing me...
Laurenza: In that case, I don't blame you for not telling me.
*The gang appear in front of them.*
Kuja: Where's the little bitch? She had a head start on us.
Thorn: I don't know, but if we don't know where she is, it can't be good.
Lierlo: I thought she would have followed you and Laurenza...
*The wall to the left of them blasts open, bricks and debris fly everywhere, and Ares steps through the hole.*
Ares: She did.
Kuja: *Claps.* Right on cue. Good villainy is all about the timing.
Ares: *She holds up her hand to Kuja.* Zip it. *His mouth is gone and he cannot speak.*
Tifanel: That's an improvement...
Kuja: Mmf!
Ares: I just came to say goodbye to you all. It's been a blast, it truly has. But I've gotta move on you know, do my master's bidding, and destroy this world.
Tifanel: By your 'master,' you don't mean Lucifer, do ya?
Ares: Well, duh, duhbrain!
Tifanel: Hate to break this to ya, sweetheart, but ol' Luce has bit the big one.
Ares: I know, that's why I'm doing all this. He would want me to...
Laurenza: What is it with people trying to destroy this world? It's like it's got a big neon sign on it that says, 'destroy me.'
Lierlo: Whether Lucifer wanted you to or not, we can't let you destroy this world. So many innocent people will die.
Ares: Oh, that's just a bonus. You don't understand, kiddies... Lucifer wanted to obliterate this land off the face of the galaxy for some reason, and he failed. Now I have his power. It passed to Thorn, and then to me. You think you're gonna stop me? You don't have a choice. Nothing can stop me.
Voice: You should not speak too soon.
*In a bright flash of light, a great shiny Wyvern and a mighty Phoenix appear.*
Lierlo: *Looks surprised.* Father, Roreille... you came to help us?
Siun: We came to rid the world of this evil, so I suppose it will help you, yes. *Binds Ares with Magickal ropes made of fire.*
Ares: *Roars and bursts through the ropes.* You can't take me!
*Roreille coils her tail around Ares and squeezes tight. Ares struggles, but can't break free*
Ares: Let me go!
*Kuja waves madly at Kitzie trying to tell her something.*
Kuja: Mmf, mmf mmf!
Kitzie: *Nods.* Summon Flying Death! *Once more, the giant Spiritual raven is called.*
Thorn: No...
Laurenza: This better work this time... *Grabs Thorn and teleports away.*
Ares: Fine... Kill me. But when I rise again, you'll wish I'd killed you now...
*The raven lets out a huge bellow and Ares dies.*
Tifanel: All right! *High fives with Kitzie.*
Kitzie: Yeah! *Dismisses the Spirit Beast.*
Lierlo: Father, Roreille. Thank you.
Siun: Just because we worked together, it does not mean we are no longer enemies.
Lierlo: I understand.
*Siun and Roreille teleport away.*
Kuja: Da-da-da! Ooh it's so good to hear my own voice again! *Sings loudly.* "The hills are alive with the sound of meee!"
Tifanel: Shaddup! *Thwaps Kuja.*
Kuja: Okay, okay! Heheh, I guess I was just too funny for the little bitch, and she couldn't handle it.
Tifanel: Nah, if you ask me, she did us all a favour.
Kitzie: Where'd Thorny and Renzy go?
Lierlo: Somewhere where Thorn couldn't hear the raven.
*Laurenza appears with Thorn.*
Laurenza: Aah, good, she's dead.
Thorn: And I've got my powers back.
Kuja: Wonderful.
Thorn: Sure you don't mean 'fonderwul'?
Kuja: *Goes a bit red.* I have no idea what you are talking about.
Thorn: Right.
Kuja: So, Thorn. All those things you said and did to me, were they Ares talking, or are you just a bastard all on your own?
Thorn: No, it was Ares I'm afraid. But she's gone now.
Laurenza: From one trouble to the next. What am I going to do about this whole 'being married to Thorn but pregnant with Kuja's child' thing?
Thorn: What do you want to do?
Laurenza: I really don't know... Things are so confusing and I no longer know how I feel about you, Thorn, because of what's happened.
Thorn: *Nods sadly.*
Laurenza: Do you still love me?
Thorn: Yes, I do.
Laurenza: I'm so sorry...
Thorn: Don't worry about me.
Laurenza: *Turns sharply to Kuja.* And you can stop grinning because I never said that I was going to get with you.
Kuja: Then, neither of us is going to have you?
Laurenza: It would be better that way, because the one who doesn't would always be jealous of the one who does.
Thorn: It's the best thing to do.
*Suddenly, there is a loud crash from another chamber.*