*We last left our heroes witnessing Lierlo being destroyed.*
Tifanel: Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on. Are you sayin' he's gone for good?
Adrienne: Well, if you have any ideas of how to drag a sun out of the sky, I'd like to know.
Kuja: I didn't know this... This happens with all Spirits, does it? They become their base Element when they die?
Adrienne: Yeah. Anyone heard of a place called Rayevern?
Li: I've been there. It's known as the land of perpetual rainstorms, isn't it?
Adrienne: Yup. But before daddy died, let's say it was more of an attractive place to tourists.
Kitzie: *Blinks.* Lierly...? I killed Lierly...
Laurenza: Kitzie, he was already dead.
Kitzie: But I... I made him go away...
Thorn: We'll be able to get him back, Kitzie, there's got to be a way.
Kitzie: Please come back Lierly!
Scorn: *To Red.* Poor little thing.
Red: Yeah, maybe... we ought to go.
Scorn: Hmm...
Laurenza: Thank you for your help, girls.
Red: For what little of it we could give, you're welcome anyway. And Thorn?
Thorn: Hmm? *Looks up.*
*In front of him, Red and Scorn are no longer transparent, they look alive and healthy.*
Red: Thank you.
*The two disappear.*
Li: Well, that didn't turn out how I expected it to.
Ana: It's... like him dying all over again...
Laurenza: *Puts her hand on Ana's shoulder.* Get some sleep. It's been a long night. We'll figure out what to do in the morning.
Ana: Okay. C'mon Kitzie. Cheer up... *She and Kitzie head upstairs.*
Li: That's not a bad idea. I'm missing my bed terribly.
Tifanel: Lazy sod.
Li: You've got room to talk.
*Li and Tifanel go upstairs. Laurenza turns to go as well, but Kuja stops her.*
Kuja: Laurenza, after all we've been through... Can't you just forgive me?
Laurenza: No. *She goes upstairs.*
Kuja: *Mutters under his breath.*
Thorn: I'm sorry.
Kuja: Don't be. It's not your fault she's a stubborn bitch.
Thorn: *Changes the subject.* …There has to be a way to get him back...
Kuja: With a really, really big net?
Thorn: No, with resurrection. *Goes upstairs.*
Kuja: What is about people dying? Everyone loses their sense of humour... *Goes to bed.*

*The next morning, the gang are having their usual breakfast time assembly. Kuja is conspicuous in his absence.*
Tifanel: Seems very quiet this mornin'... I don't hear any snide comments. Oh look, Kuja's missing. Where's he got to?
Li: He was up early this morning. Saw him on the way to the bog. Said he was goin' out for a walk.
Tifanel: Shame, thought he might've up and died.
Thorn: You really think that badly of him?
Tifanel: I've always hated him. You know that.
Thorn: Yeah...
Laurenza: He's gone for a walk? Hmmm...
Li: S'up, sis?
Laurenza: Oh, nothing. It's just the last time Kuja went for a little walk, he destroyed the Divine Protection and let Lucifer into the world.
Li: Is that all? *Smirks.*
Ana: Wow... that's cool...!
Laurenza: No it isn't.
Thorn: Yeah, you're looking at the poor schmo who had to stop him.
Tifanel: Ahh, let's just leave him. He's not that stupid, so he wouldn't try somethin' like that again.
Laurenza: Wouldn't put it past him.
Li: Gee, if you're that bothered about him, Laurenza, why don't you go out and find him?
Laurenza: I'm not bothered about him.
Thorn: I'll go look for him. If... that's all right with everyone?
Adrienne: *Coughs loudly.*
Thorn: *Leaves the hall and goes to the main doors.* Except you...*He leaves the castle.*
*Once outside, Thorn takes a large breath of air and places his fist on his heart. He then closes his eyes.*
Thorn: Found you. *He then teleports to where Kuja is.*

*Loliusin Hollow, the forest at the foot of Dalimoor Head, has a permanent eerie feel to it. No matter what time of day it is, it is always dark and gloomy. There is something in the air that prevents the sun from penetrating into the forest. Kuja is sat leaning against a tree, with some manuscript paper and a pen in his lap. He has his eyes closed and is playing, though not very well, what appears to be Allen's song on Allen's flute.*
Thorn: You're getting good.
Kuja: *Jumps a little and stops playing, dropping the flute in surprise.* Thorn!
Thorn: Didn't think I'd find you?
Kuja: I knew you'd find me. Even if I hid in the deepest pits of Garglesnag you'd find me.
Thorn: *Starts to step closer to him.* Damn right.
Kuja: *Moves away from him.* Thorn...
Thorn: What's wrong?
Kuja: Don't start that again...
Thorn: It's what you want isn't it?
Kuja: *Looks down.* Of course it is. But it's not right. You've got Adrienne... I... well, I guess I'm single, but we shouldn't do this... We'd have hell to pay if anyone found out. I came here this morning to try and get my head straight.
Thorn: Maybe it already is. Maybe it is right and you just don't know. And for the record, Adrienne can go to hell. I think she'd like it.
Kuja: You and Adrienne have fallen out?
Thorn: I think so.
Kuja: I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe she's been hanging with Laurenza too much.
Thorn: Hmm... Maybe.
Kuja: Argh! *Kicks the tree.* I feel all mixed up inside...
Thorn: It's understandable.
Kuja: Maybe I should just leave. Laurenza obviously doesn't want me around, none of the others will miss me and it'd make things simpler for the two of us...
Thorn: You... you can't!
Kuja: Why not?
Thorn: We need you! I need you! You can't just go!
Kuja: No one needs me.
Thorn: *Tears start to form in his eyes.* I... need you.
Kuja: Oh, Thorn, don't cry. You're making this harder... *Wipes the tears gently from his face.*
Thorn: I'm sorry...
Kuja: I've got to go... We can't keep doing things in secret.
Thorn: Okay...
Kuja: What am I saying? I've got nowhere to go! Well, there's always the inn, but I can't spend the rest of my life there... And my old mansion... No, I can't go back to Yochi...
Thorn: I once had this dream... I'd left the castle, after we beat Levanté. I rode to this forest on a black horse and I built my own castle. It towered higher than anything in Dalimoor.
Kuja: Interesting...
Thorn: It's stupid. I mean, two castles in Dalimoor? Laurenza would kill me...
Kuja: *Laughs and does a high-pitched imitation of Laurenza.* How dare you build another castle and make mine look second best!
Thorn: *Laughs a little.*
Kuja: Dreams are weird, I once had one in which Mihako was teaching us all the alphabet.
Thorn: Heh heh...
Kuja: *Sighs a little.* What are we going to do...?
Thorn: I... don't know.
Kuja: Why do you have to be so damn sexy? It'd make things much easier if I could just stop feeling what I'm feeling for you...
Thorn: Yeah... me too.
Kuja: It's... it's just every time you come near me now, I get this tingly feeling inside...
Thorn: I know what you mean.
Kuja: *Goes to back to his spot against the tree and takes up the flute, pen and paper again.* I felt like finishing Allen's song for him... You know, as a rather lame way of saying 'Sorry for killing you.'
Thorn: I see.
Kuja: I'm no musician though...*Scribbles something out on the paper and writes something next to it. He then picks up the flute and plays it all the way through. The soft, sweet notes echo through the still trees.*
Thorn: It's beautiful.
Kuja: Yes, well, Allen wrote most of it.
*Suddenly, the trees around them start to rustle. The darkness clears, and sunlight pours into the forest.*
Kuja: Amazing…
Thorn: *Looks up and smiles.*
Kuja: So there is Magick in music after all... or is it the Magick in me that did it? Ah well… Here's to you, Allen.
*Kuja turns to a patch of earth that looks recently upturned. A cross of sticks marks the spot. This is where Allen was buried. Kuja sticks the flute into the ground. He stands back from the grave and looks it at for a moment, and then turns back to Thorn.*
Kuja: If the guys... if we ever told them what's been going on between us, how do you think they would react?
Thorn: I don't know.
Kuja: Do you think they'd mind...?
Thorn: I think they might be a bit frightened at first, but... I think... if we told them, they'd never act the same way around us again.
Kuja: Oh...
Thorn: It's just what I think.
Kuja: Do you think Laurenza will ever take me back?
Thorn: Maybe, you two... seem so right for each other.
Kuja: Hahah, tell her that.
Thorn: I did.
Kuja: What did she say?
Thorn: She said that it didn't feel like it just then. But give it time, you'll both see.
Kuja: But Thorn... I don't know who I like better...
Thorn: You don't need to decide. It's her you want, deep down. I know.
Kuja: Thorn... why are you trying to patch up my relationship with Laurenza?
Thorn: I… it wouldn't feel right causing a rift between you and Laurenza because of what I want.
Kuja: But if you're saying it was Laurenza I wanted all along, it's like I was using you or something...
Thorn: *Nods.*
Kuja: God... You must hate me.
Thorn: No. I'm used to it. I accepted long ago that nobody could ever truly love me.
Kuja: That's too sad…
Thorn: Sad, but true.
Kuja: I'm going to hang here for a while. You can go back to the castle if you want.
Thorn: *Nods and teleports back to the castle.*

*Back at the castle, the gang are listening to Li telling a story.*
Li: ...But that was only the first goat. By then, I'd realised the porridge was still missin'.
*They all turn to Thorn, except Adrienne who pretends he doesn't exist.*
Li: Hey Thorn. Find him?
Thorn: Yeah.
Laurenza: Is he doing something evil?
Thorn: I found him in Loliusin Hollow, by Allen's grave. He was playing Allen's song. He said it was a way to say sorry. It was the most moving thing I've ever seen.
Laurenza: He was?
Thorn: *Nods.*
Laurenza: *Gets up.* I'm going out for a while, guys.
Li: But I haven't finished my story!
Laurenza: I'll live. *She leaves.*
Li: As I was sayin', all they had to was pick up the watermelons and that would be... Hey, you're not listening to me!
Tifanel: Laurenza's going to see Kuja...
Ana: Maybe she's gonna finally forgive him...
Thorn: I hope.
Li: She didn't say she was going to see him. She might be goin' out for milk for all we know.
Kitzie: Duh!
Ana: It was pretty obvious she was gonna go to him.
Adrienne: And they will get back together and all will live happily ever after. Now isn't that nice?
Thorn: Lovely.
Adrienne: I thought you'd be upset.
Thorn: What do you mean?
Adrienne: If Kuja gets back together with Laurenza, your little boyfriend will have less time for you.
Thorn: Hmph. Throw your little stones.
Adrienne: When's the wedding, Thorn? Gonna go to Calanoa?
Thorn: Jealous?
Adrienne: Yes, you stupid idiot, yes! *She bursts into tears and runs out of the room.*
Li: Oooh...
Thorn: Anything for a bit of attention, her.
Tifanel: You're not gonna go after her?
Thorn: I've got better things to do. Like... sit around here doing nothing.
Li: Or you could listen to my story.
Tifanel: No one wants to hear it, Li. It ends up with you blind drunk and completely naked except for a top hat upside down in a donkey cart.
Li: I've told you before?
Tifanel: No. I was the one drivin' the donkey cart!
*Just then, a small bird flies in through the window. It is similar to the sparrow Kitzie pounced on the day before, but it has brilliant golden plumage.*
Kitzie: Birdie! *Chases it around the room.*
Ana: Daft kitty...
Tifanel: Wow, that's one awesome lookin' bird, huh?
Li: *Shrugs.* A bird's a bird.
Kitzie: Rar! *Jumps at it but it flies out of the window.* Rats...
*A few minutes later, the castle door opens, and Laurenza and Kuja walk in.*
Laurenza: Hopefully the arguing in the castle will drop quite considerably now.
Li: Don't bank on it. Adrienne's a bit huffy at Thorn.
Laurenza: Oh, Thorn. I'm sorry. I thought you could work things out…
Thorn: Leave it. *He goes off to his room.*