*Some time after Lierlo's death, Laurenza is still quite mad at Kuja for being so insensitive about Lierlo. Laurenza walks into one of the chambers, with Kuja following.*
Kuja: Laurenza…
Laurenza: Hmph.
Kuja: You're not still mad at me about Lierlo, are you?
Laurenza: Of course I am!
Kuja: But I never liked the guy much.
Laurenza: I don't care. That's no excuse for your behaviour that day.
Kuja: But I used to evil, remember? It's hard to lose the devil-may-care attitude. Okay, okay. Even though he wasn't a friend of mine, I know you cared about him. His death must have hurt you. I'm… sorry.
*Kuja puts his arm around Laurenza, but she pushes him away.*
Kuja: What? What? I said I was sorry.
Laurenza: You weren't being sincere.
Kuja: I was! I was being very sincere. What more do you want me to do?
Laurenza: I want you to change your attitude!
Kuja: What's wrong with my attitude?
Laurenza: Do you want the list of things that's wrong with it?!
Adrienne: *Walks in the room.* You guys seem to be getting along swell…
Renza & Kuja: Hmph.
Adrienne: Okay, I hit a nerve there... I won't talk about it.
Laurenza: What do you want? Why aren't you with Thorn?
Adrienne: Roreille wanted to talk with me, but I cant find her now.
Roreille: *Appears in the room.* Did someone call?
Laurenza: Oh, Roreille, while you're here, I was hoping you could answer a question for me.
Roreille: What is it?
Laurenza: Before Lierlo... died, he could use Magick, but I thought he had his powers taken from him.
Roreille: I was wondering about that myself. I actually think father did not take Lierlo's powers from him, but sealed them instead. I think the emotional stress that he went through caused his Cielnoir side to break free of the seal. In fact, his Cielnoir side is what I wanted to talk about with you, Adrienne.
Adrienne: Alrighty.
Roreille: He told us that he had urges to kill... is this something that all Cielnoirs experience?
Adrienne: Yeah, it's a kind of instinct. But it's no biggie, you just learn to ignore it, or get a magnifying glass and fry a few ants. Lierlo was probably afraid of it… he let it consume him. Must've been hard for him to handle, being half Luneblanche and all.
Roreille: If only he had not acted so rashly... we could have helped him.
Thorn: *Walks into the room.* Oh, did I interrupt something?
Kuja: No, but you missed Laurenza biting my head off.
Laurenza: Shut up, Kuja.
*Thorn feels slightly awkward, so he looks at the floor. He's shocked as he sees a hole in the floor that looks like it has been carved into a large mouth.*
Mouth: Guess who?
Thorn: Aaargh!
*The mouth disappears.*
Adrienne: What the fu?
Thorn: Didn't you see it?
Adrienne: See what? What made you scream, hun?
Thorn: *Kneels down and touches the area where the mouth was.* There was something here.
Roreille: What was it?
Thorn: A mouth, it said... 'Guess who?'
Kuja: Fred the Floor Demon?
Thorn: *Looks up at Kuja.* It didn't sound like a guy.
Kuja: Freda the Floor Demon, then.
Thorn: *Shakes his head.* I was probably just imagining it.
Laurenza: I certainly hope so. I wouldn't like to step on the floor and find that it has teeth.
Thorn: *Stands up.* Well, I.. *He looks around and the walls suddenly start dripping with blood. Real blood.*
Adrienne: The castle's alive!
Thorn: Wait a minute... Get out! *Starts to tug Adrienne out of the room.* Everybody, get out!
Kuja: You don't have to tell me twice. *He and Laurenza exit the room, and Roreille teleports out of there.*
Thorn: *Slams the door shut.* I think I know what's going on in there.
Kuja: Enlighten us, would you?
Thorn: Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but... isn't that the room Ares was in last?
Laurenza: Ares!
Kuja: Little bitch!
Roreille: Not Ares...
Adrienne: Who?
Laurenza: You're lucky you don't know, Adrienne.
Thorn: Ares... is the Darkest Angel. If you think a Cielnoir's lust for death is bad, then you're in for a shock.
Roreille: Just a minute, I thought we killed her last time.
Thorn: Dark Angels can come back as ghosts, but whatever was in that room, I don't think it was a ghost.
Kuja: What was it then?
Thorn: I don't know.
Kuja: Anyone else feel like they want to leave the country?
Thorn: We can't run away. If it really is Ares we're dealing with, then we'll have to stay and fight. Who knows what she'll do if we don't stop her?
Laurenza: But how are we going to stop her?
Kuja: Will the old raven call do again?
Thorn: I honestly don't know.
Kuja: I don't know about you guys, but I have this awful feeling that it won't. I mean, it didn't work last time, did it? She's back!
Thorn: If we've got a hope in hell of stopping her, then we're going to have to stay cool. Now, she can't possibly take corporeal form. The body she created for herself last time she needed my Magick to do. So I'd say were dealing with something that can only possess...
Adrienne: *Puts her arms around herself.* She's not having my body!
Thorn: I know Ares. She only goes for people with the most power.
All: Thorn.
Thorn: No way... I'll kill her first. She's not making me do those things again. *Teleports away.*
Laurenza: We can't let him do it on his own.
Kuja: Follow that Thorn!
*Kuja, Laurenza and Adrienne teleport after him.*

*They appear in a large room with red carpets and walls and a long, important-looking conference table. At the head of the table is Bo, with Jo next to him. On their right sits Lenny and a large tiger. To Bo and Jo's left, sit two dogs that look like Bo, but one is neon yellow and the other is a golden colour. Thorn is stood in front of the table.*
Kuja: Did I accidentally wander into a menagerie?
Laurenza: Shush.
Thorn: Bo, it's really important, you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was.
Bo: Thorn, we'll help you, it's just... *Bo looks at the man, woman and Spirit that have just appeared out of nowhere.*
Thorn: *Turns round.* Oh, guys. I'm sorry for rushing off like that.
Laurenza: Is this a private conference or can anyone teleport in? *Smiles.*
Thorn: We're nearly done. Go on, Bo.
*Bo looks back at Thorn, but the other animals are staring intently at Kuja.*
Bo: Err... yes. Okay Thorn, I'll come with you, and I'll bring Jo along with me too. *Bo turns to the two other dogs.* And will you guys hold the fort here while we're gone?
Yellow Dog: Anything you say.
*Thorn touches Bo and Jo and they teleport to Castle Medra.*
Kuja: *Notices the animals staring at him, then turns to Laurenza.* Is there something on my face?
Laurenza: No... Come on, let's get back.
Tiger: HOLD IT!
Laurenza: Is there a problem?
*The tiger pounces from its chair and stops right in front of Kuja.*
Lenny: Tinny! No!
Kuja: Can I help you?
Tinny: I suppose it's you who's responsible for beating up my husband a few months ago?!
Kuja: So, you're married to the pyromaniac lion? Heheh, now that I think about it, he and Lierlo would have gotten along famously.
Laurenza: *Gives Kuja the look of death.*
Kuja: Uh... I didn't beat him up, actually.
Tinny: That's... not how he tells it.
Kuja: Oh, but I tried. He was rescued by the blue witch-bitch at the last minute.
Tinny: Oh well, you tried, so you're still mean! *Bops Kuja on the head.*
Kuja: Thanks, I do try. *Kicks Tinny gently away from him.* Now, can I go home? We've a world to save.
Lenny: *Gets off his chair and puts his arm around Tinny.* I think that would be a good idea.
Kuja: Bye now. *They teleport back to the castle.*

*Back at the castle, Thorn is explaining the situation to Bo and Jo.*
Thorn: ... And now, there's blood on the walls and there was this mouth in the floor. We think she might be coming back
Laurenza: Are Bo and Jo going to help us fight her, then?
Thorn: I think Jo could help us figure out the situation first, then if we do need to fight, we have backup.
Jo: That is if you want us to.
Laurenza: Against Ares we need all the help we can get.
Jo: *Bows to Laurenza and then turns around to Thorn.* You'd better take us up then.
Thorn: *Looks scared, but nods.*
*They go up to the corridor outside the room.*
Thorn: Who wants to go in?
Jo: Well, I'll go in and take a look around...
Bo: Not without me you wont.
*They hold paws and walk into the room together. The blood on the walls has dried, and there are now odd-looking symbols on the walls, formed out of the dried blood.*
Bo: It's okay, there doesn't seem to be anything in here.
Jo: Well, not anything deadly at least. *Examines the symbols.*
Thorn: *Walks in.*
Adrienne: *On the other side of the door.* Is it safe to come in, Thorn dearest?
Thorn: I think so.
Adrienne: *Walks in.* What are those on the walls?
Jo: Satanic symbols, mostly used in spells to summon Demons and so forth, but it's okay, they're inactive.
Adrienne: Inactive or not, I don't like 'em being there. They give me the creeps. *Huddles up to Thorn.*
Thorn: Hmm... Is there any way to make them go? I mean, if Ares is coming back then this has to be part of her spell, right?
Adrienne: Wet wipes?
Jo: Maybe not. Well, I'll give it a go. *Mumbles something about Thorn being too busy, and turns round to face a wall with a large circle with two symbols inside, one A the right way up and one A upside down. Jo closes her eyes and the walls start to glow with a white light.*
Thorn: *Looks into Adrienne's eyes.* Standard exorcism spell, nothing to worry about...
Adrienne: Who said I was worried?
Jo: *Turns round, with a look of sheer horror on her face.* I'd say it was time to be very, very worried.
Bo: What is it?
*Suddenly, the ground starts to shake and objects in the room fall and smash. A large crack starts to open up in the floor, heading straight for Bo. He jumps and grabs Jo and takes her to the other side of the room.
Thorn: What is happening?
Adrienne: Eep!
*Streaking black clouds start to erupt out of the crack like a geyser. The clouds form together to make one big black cloud. It hovers in the centre of the room for a few moments, then shoots towards Thorn's chest.*
Thorn: No!
*The cloud is absorbed into Thorn.*
Adrienne: Thorn!
Thorn: *Looks up. His eyes are black and hollow, blue veins become visible on his hands and forehead and a smile spreads slowly across his face. He speaks in a hollow voice, unlike his own.* It's good to be back.
Adrienne: W-what's going on?
Bo: *Steps forward and brandishes a sword at Thorn.* Thorn? What is wrong with you?
Thorn: Oh, if it isn't the faithful mutt. *Looks over to Jo.* And his bitch!
*Bo lunges the sword into Thorn's chest.*
Adrienne: Bo, don't!
Thorn: *Doesn't seem to be affected.* Oh dear, what a shame. *Punches Bo across the room.*
Jo: Don't you ever touch him! *She releases a ball of white energy in Thorn's direction.*
Thorn: More weak attempts to stop... *The ball of energy hits him and wraps around his stomach. He appears to be choking. He floats into the air and coughs up the black cloud that entered him. He coughs more, and falls back to the ground, sobbing.*
Adrienne: Thorn?
*Jo looks at Thorn, then to Bo. She seems to feel no remorse for Thorn whatsoever. She then goes and tends to Bo.*
Thorn: I'm okay... *Coughs some more.*
Adrienne: *Goes over to Thorn and hugs him.* You don't sound okay.
*Thorn breaks out of Adrienne's grasp and goes over to Bo.*
Thorn: He... looks hurt.
Jo: *Looks up at Thorn.* Well, what would you expect?
Thorn: Jo, I'm really, really...
Jo: DON'T!
Thorn: What?
Jo: You heard me, stay away from me and my friends!
Thorn: Jo, about what just happened… it's not my fault.
Adrienne: Lay off him, Jo!
Jo: You shut up! No, Thorn. That's were you're wrong. It is your fault that Ares tried to possess you.
Thorn: You knew?
Jo: Yes, I knew about what she can do.
Thorn: But, if you know, then how could you think it's my fault?
Jo: Because you crave the power, Thorn! That's why Ares chooses you. You kill, you destroy and Ares... well, that's what she wants. You're evil Thorn and you will never wash your hands of that. NEVER!
Thorn: No!
Jo: Yes. Now stay away from me, my family and my friends, you foul, evil BASTARD! *She touches Bo and they both teleport away.*
Adrienne: Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.
*Thorn is dumbstruck about what Jo has just told him.*
Thorn: *Close to tears.* She's... right.
Adrienne: No she ain't. You're the one who told me that what I do as a Bounty Hunter is sick remember? You don't like killing people. You're not evil! *She hugs him close.*
Thorn: *Hugs her.*
*The cloud hovers down from the ceiling, and floats close to Thorn, he turns around and looks at it.*
Cloud: *In Ares' voice.* Don't worry, Thorny. You'll always have me...
*Thorn turns to the black cloud, which takes the misty form of Ares.*
Thorn: No I won't. Bye, Ares.
*The cloud explodes in a flash of strong, white light.*
Thorn: *Turns to Adrienne.* Thank you.
Adrienne: What for?
Thorn: For telling me that I'm really a good person. Ares would never possess anyone who thought they were good deep down, so, with no one evil around to possess, she can't be around.
Adrienne: So she's gone, then?
Thorn: I think so. *Puts his face close to hers and whispers.* Thank you so much.
Adrienne: No problem, Toffee Pudding.
Thorn: *Kisses her.*
*Just then, the rest of the gang bust in, all kitted out with weapons ready for battle.*
Tifanel: C'mon guys, let's get her!
Thorn: *Stops kissing and looks at them.* I hope you brought your carpenting tools, Tifanel, 'cos the only piece of Ares you're going to see from now on.. *Gestures to the crack in the ground.* …Is this.
Tifanel: Funny you should say that. *Opens his jacket to reveal all of his tools strapped to his belt.*
Kuja: Are you telling us that you've already defeated her?
Thorn: It was easier than I thought it would be… *Looks back at Adrienne.* …Thanks to Adrienne.
Laurenza: Thank god.
Kuja: I really wasn't in the mood for a battle, anyway.
Thorn: And, I don't think we'll be seeing Bo and his friends again, either. Ares... took hold of me, and they... blamed me for hurting Bo.
Kitzie: Bo-Bo got hurt?
Thorn: Yeah... *The experience is obviously still painful.*
Laurenza: Isn't that a little unfair, though?
Thorn: They were right to upset me. Jo told me that Ares doesn't seek power in the people she possesses. She seeks people who seek power. *Looks down at the ground.* Like me...
Laurenza: Well, the most important thing is that she's gone.
Thorn: I guess.
Ana: Party! Party!
Laurenza: *Ruffles her hair.* Not tonight.
Tifanel: I'm gonna get on with fixin' the floor, so can you guys all shift out of here, please?
Laurenza: Do you like DIY stuff, Tifanel? You seem to do it an awful lot.
Tifanel: Well, there's always a busted door or a large hole to fix around here.
*The gang all shift out of the room to let Tifanel do his job.*
Adrienne: Shall we go to your room, Thorn hun?
Thorn: If you want.

*They go to Thorn's room and Adrienne slumps on his bed.*
Adrienne: I guess you're not in the mood for anything.
Thorn: No, not... maybe later.
Adrienne: I understand. *She conjures a thick catalogue out of the air and leafs through it, looking at clothes.*
Thorn: *Goes to a drawer and takes out a piece of old parchment.* I hope this thing still works. *He sits down on the bed, takes out a pen and starts to write.*
Adrienne: What'cha doing?
Thorn: Hmm? Oh well, this piece of paper, well, it's a piece of really old Magick. You write out a message on it, fold it and the person you've addressed the note to will receive the message in their minds.
Adrienne: Cool.
Thorn: I want to write to Bo. He and Jo seem to have done some spell so teleporting is impossible between our dimension and theirs. I need to explain what went on a few minutes ago.
Adrienne: Uh huh. *Goes back to her catalogue.* Aah, I could sit here and look at catalogues forever. Couldn't you just, Thorn darling?
Thorn: I'm not really one for accessorising.
Adrienne: Oh, I could, Allen sweetheart. I love them to bits.
Thorn: Allen?
Adrienne: *Blushes a little.* Oh, I'm such a ditz... terrible with names, heheh...
Thorn: Right... *Goes back to writing the letter.* So... who is Allen, anyway?
Adrienne: No one!
Thorn: Okay, if you don't want to tell me, I won't pry...
Adrienne: You're not. He's nobody, just a name I pulled out of the air.
Thorn: Like Toffee Pudding.
Adrienne: No, not like Toffee Pudding. Those names are special.
Thorn: So, you'd only call someone Allen if they weren't special? *Goes back to writing.* That must be terribly confusing.
Adrienne: No, that's not what I said. *Flops forward into her magazine.*
Thorn: You know, if you just told me who Allen was... it wouldn't be as confusing...
Adrienne: ...He was my first boyfriend.
Thorn: Oh...
Adrienne: Little, cute, sweet Allen. What did I do wrong?
*Thorn has stopped writing, but is still looking at the parchment. He is also gripping the sheets on his bed very tightly.*
Adrienne: We had so much in common. We never fought. We always agreed with each other. It was the perfect relationship... and then he broke up with me, and I haven't seen him since. *Sighs.* I'm sorry, I shouldn't yammer on about my ex like that. I've got you now.
*Thorn lets go of the sheets and continues with his writing.*
Thorn: I know.
Adrienne: You know, your jacket is really similar to one he had. I noticed that when I first met you.
Thorn: It seems to be a running trend around here anyway.
Adrienne: I'll just stop talking now.
Thorn: There, done. *He folds the letter, then unfolds it, and the words are gone.* Let's hope he knows it's telepathy and not just a daydream.
Adrienne: *Has put a pillow over her head.*
Thorn: *Walks over to her and takes the pillow off.* So you're doing a Lierlo, now are you?
Adrienne: *Laughs, takes the pillow from him and hits him gently with it.* I wasn't trying to suffocate myself.
Thorn: No, I mean, hiding under bed things.
Adrienne: Hahah. A new phrase for hiding under bedclothes: to pull a Lierlo
*Thorn looks a bit sad at the mention of his name.*
Adrienne: But to pull a Lierlo can also mean burning something, killing a family member, or committing suicide.
*Thorn bites his lip.*
Adrienne: *Doesn't notice his sadness and laughs harshly.*
*Thorn is very close to tears.*
Adrienne: Did I say something wrong?
Thorn: No, no, I started talking about him. And... we shouldn't remember him like that.
Adrienne: Yeah, he was an okay dude, I guess.
Thorn: *Nods.*
Adrienne: *Yawns.* Adrienne sweepy.
Thorn: Yeah, we should get some sleep.
Adrienne: *Nods.*

*The next morning, the gang are assembled in the dining hall having the most important meal of the day. Suddenly, without warning, who should appear in the centre of the room but Lierlo?*
Kuja: *Spits out his tea.*
Thorn: Lierlo!
Laurenza: Lierlo?
Ana: You're meant to be dead!
Lierlo: *Is dressed in Luneblanche robes, the ones he wore when they first met him. He is shiny and slightly translucent.* I am.
Tifanel: That means... you're a ghost?
Lierlo: Yes. I'm a ghost. Boo.
Kitzie: You're not scary.
Lierlo: I'm lucky to be here. Roreille pulled a lot of strings to let me appear in the Mortal world. They've been cracking down on ghosts lately, saying they're a disturbance to the living and that they shouldn't be allowed to appear in the Mortal realm. I came here to say that I am sorry.
Thorn: No Lierlo, we're sorry, we couldn't help you. You have nothing to feel sorry for.
Lierlo: Of course I do. I was rash, foolish. I didn't think things through. And I hurt all of you, so that's plenty to be sorry for.
Kitzie: I forgive you, Lierly. *Runs to hug him but goes straight through.*
Thorn: Kitzie, usually it's me to walk straight through Lierlo.
Lierlo: *Smiles.*
Thorn: It's good to see you smile.
Lierlo: It seems like a long time since I have. So, have I missed anything?
Kuja: Oh, nothing much. Tifanel had his hair done, I found my missing sock, and oh, Ares came back.
Lierlo: She did?
Thorn: You found your missing sock?
Kuja: Yes, and you'll never believe where it was: on top of the fridge.
Thorn: *Laughs.*
Lierlo: So, since I left Ares became second priority to socks.
Thorn: What do you mean, 'became'?
Lierlo: The first time she was here, we wouldn't have valued Kuja's lost laundry as more of a problem than her.
Thorn: Well, okay. Yes, she did come back, well, at least an... embodiment of her. She did possess me, but I realised something that utterly defeated her.
Lierlo: What was that?
Thorn: Well, it turns out it was my lust for power that drove her to me, but it's sorted. Adrienne helped me through it, and Ares couldn't possess me any more, so she kind of exploded. She's gone, forever.
Lierlo: Good for you.
Kuja: So, Lierlo, what's death like? When I snuffed it, it wasn't really dying, so I didn't experience what you have.
Lierlo: It's... oddly formal. There's lots of paperwork to sign on the other side, you have to give them your name, age, date of birth, date of death, reason for death, etc. It took the entire mystique out of death.
Laurenza: ...Doesn't surprise me.
Thorn: I never went through anything like that, but then again, I didn't really die...
Lierlo: Well, it was nice to see you all again. I better get back, I can only spend so long out here.
Thorn: You will come again?
Lierlo: Yes, of course.
Thorn: *Smiles.*
Laurenza: Kuja, do you think you could clean up that tea you spat all over the floor?
Lierlo: *Laughs.* I thought Kitzie said I wasn't a scary ghost. I'll see you guys soon. *He fades away.*
Kuja: How about I just leave it on the floor? We could turn it into an indoor swimming pool.
Laurenza: *Gives him a stern look.*
*Suddenly, without warning, who should appear in the centre of the room but Jo?*
Kuja: Oooh, just missed the tea.
Jo: Oh. Ermm, Thorn, I came here to say that I am sorry. I should never have shouted at you like that.
Thorn: That's okay. Is Bo all right?
Kitzie: *Looks up anxiously.*
Jo: Well, after he got better, he got this really bad headache. I don't know where it came from. The guys are tending to him now and I decided to come and apologise.
Thorn: Headache, oh... well.
Jo: Anyway, did you defeat Ares?
Thorn: Yes.
Jo: Well, I'm... sorry, and bye. *She teleports away.*
Kuja: Most people get post in the morning. We get people appearing in the middle of our kitchen.
Thorn: Heh heh, two good things already. Our luck can't hold out for this long, by the law of averages, something bad has to happen today.
Tifanel: What's it gonna be, a murder or an attempt to destroy the world? Take your bets now.
Laurenza: A murder, if Kuja doesn't clean up that tea soon.
Kuja: Okay okay, I'll get a cloth. Gee, why are you being such a... *Goes to fetch a cloth.*
Adrienne: What is going on between you two? Are you guys falling out?
Laurenza: I'm still mad at him for saying such awful things about Lierlo, and Bo and his friends.
Kuja: *Back with the cloth.* How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?
Laurenza: Until you stop doing it.
Kuja: *Mops up the tea.* There. Happy? *Throws the soggy cloth at Laurenza and storms out of the room.*
Laurenza: Grrr.