*Thorn decides to go up to his room, where he sits on his bed and stares at a wall, occasionally wiping his eyes.*
Lahrne: *Looks round the door.* Daddy?
Thorn: Hey, son.
Lahrne: What's up?
Thorn: It's just… Kuja being down there, all alone. And I just feel useless...
Lahrne: Isn't there any Magick that can help him?
Thorn: I don't think so. I had a word with Jo... you wouldn't know her, she's a very powerful Magick user... She didn't know of anything to help him.
Lahrne: *Jumps on to Thorn's bed.* Hug?
Thorn: *Smiles and hugs Lahrne.*
Lahrne: Don't worry, daddy. It'll get better, won't it? And I don't like to see my dad cry.
Thorn: Yeah, I guess it'll get better. I just have to keep looking forward... Not literally, I mean... well, you know.
Lahrne: *Turns and stares straight forward, giggling.*
Thorn: *Smiles.* Heh...
Lahrne: *Turns back to Thorn and pushes against his chest, pinning him down to the bed.* The ticklers are coming to get you... *Tickles Thorn mercilessly.*
Thorn: *Laughs.* Stop, stop, stop it!
Lahrne: No, I'm only just getting started. Here come the pinchers! *Pinches Thorn gently all over.*
Thorn: Ooh, ow...*Laughs again.*
Lahrne: *Laughs too and lays on Thorn's chest, cuddling him.*
Thorn: Lahrne, would you like to go on holiday, sometime in the not-too-distant future?
Lahrne: Wow! Where are we going? Where are we going? Dinosaur Adventure Land? Magic Story Book World?
Thorn: I don't know. I just thought it would be a good idea, good for Kuja to recuperate, good for all of us... just to get away from all of this for a while.
Lahrne: *Bounces on Thorn's bed.* We're going on holiday! We're going on holiday!
Thorn: Hey, it was just an idea. Don't get over-excited...
Lahrne: *Bounces higher and faster.* But I can't wait! It's gonna be so fun!
Thorn: Heh... I guess we could all use a break.
Lahrne: Where should we go? Come on! Decide NOW!
Thorn: I don't know, why don't we ask everyone?
Lahrne: Okay! *He runs out of the room. He can be heard going down the stairs, singing.* "We're all going on a summer holiday..."

*Thorn decides to head downstairs as well. Downstairs, Lahrne is already telling the gang of Thorn's idea.*
Lahrne: *Jumping up and down.* We're gonna go on holiday!
Kitzie: So we are going on holiday! I knew it!
Laurenza: We are?
Thorn: It was just an idea. You know what the young ones are like...
*Kitzie and Lahrne are both dancing around saying, 'We're going on holiday! We're going on holiday!'*
Lierlo: Hmm, it is a nice idea, though.
Thorn: Yeah, I thought so.
Mihako: Sun, sea and... um... sausages...?
Lierlo: *Pats Mihako on the head.* 'Sand,' Mihako. Have you had any thoughts on where we should go?
Tifanel: The Universal Beer Institute!
Thorn: Something for the kids, as well.
Li: Oh, well that scratches my idea off the list as well...
Lahrne: Dinosaur Adventure Land!
Li: Something for the adults, as well...
Laurenza: Hmm, I don't know, maybe we've got some brochures somewhere?
Kitzie: Brochure World!
Thorn: Well, I'm sure we'd find brochures there...
Lierlo: I swear, she gets a little more odd each day. What do we feed her...?
Li: *Goes and roots around in a sideboard drawer.* Oh look, Laurenza's baby photos... heheh... No wait, they're mine...!
Tifanel: Yoink! *Takes them and pockets them.* Future blackmail opportunity.
Li: Hey, give those back, crapbreath!
*Li and Tifanel start one of their usual little tussles.*
Lahrne: Daddy, you might have to do that cool separatey spell thing again...
Thorn: *Sighs.* I'd rather just tell them to grow up...
Lierlo: Anyone would think that Tifanel and Li were the kids here, not Lahrne and Kitzie. Come on, act your age, not your shoe size.
Tifanel: Fine.
Li: We're good little boys. *Grins.*
Thorn: Yes, so... brochures?
Li: No thanks, I quit.
Tifanel: That is so not funny.
Li: Yes it was.
Tifanel: Oh, shaddup. *Goes to another drawer and looks through it.* Aha, lookit what I found. *He takes a brochure out of the drawer.*
Lahrne: Oh oh, lemme see! Lemme see!
Tifanel: 'A fantastic and fun water adventure for all the family.'
Thorn: Where's that?
Tifanel: Coral Spring Park, Calanoa.
Laurenza: Let's have a look at that.
*Tifanel brings the brochure over so everyone can crowd around and have a look.*
Lahrne: Oooh wow, look! Water slides, whirlpools, wave machines and Jacuzzis!
Laurenza: Mmm, spa and massages.
Li: Tif, look, bikini volleyball!
Tifanel: You want to wear a bikini? *Laughs.*
Li: You know what I meant! We can look at all the chicks in their bikinis!
Tifanel: Yeah, suure...
Lierlo: Well, it sounds like a lot of fun. What do you think, Thorn?
Thorn: I think we should go after Kuja gets a little better, and when I've found out whether Bo and his friends want to come.
Kitzie: BO!
Li: You're inviting other people to come on our holiday?
Thorn: Why not? The more the merrier, in my opinion. I've been looking for a way to say thank you to those guys, they've helped us a lot.
Li: Fine, I'll just invite all my loud, rowdy, drunken friends along too.
Tifanel: You don't have any friends.
Li: *Chooses to ignore Tifanel's comment.*
Laurenza: Don't listen to Li, Thorn. It will be nice to see Bo again.
Kitzie: Bo! Bo! Bo! Bo!
Thorn: Heh, well, I'll have to see about contacting them.
Kitzie: Bo! Bo! Bo! Bo!
Lahrne: *Pokes Kitzie gently.* Mad cat. Oh, oh, if we're gonna go on holiday, I'll need some new clothes.
Li: What's wrong with the ones you've got?
Lahrne: You don't expect me to go on holiday wearing clothes I could wear at home! They have to be special and brand new!
Laurenza: ...He's definitely his mother's son...
Thorn: Yeah...
Lahrne: Let's all go shopping, right now! Come on! Come on!
Tifanel: Excitable lil' spring chicken, ain't he?
Laurenza: Not right now, Lahrne. Maybe if you ask him nicely, your dad will take you sometime soon.
Thorn: Yeah, soon.
Kitzie: *Is still going around saying, 'Bo! Bo! Bo! Bo!'*

*Over the next few days, the talk and excitement about the holiday increases, as they try and ignore the racket coming from the dungeons. One particular morning, Li and Tifanel are talking as they are walking along.*
Tifanel: I reckon this holiday's gonna be a blast, don't you? I mean, if we ever go on it. I wish Kuja would get sane again.
Li: Yeah, me too. But come to think of it, the resident loony's been unusually quiet today. Do you think he's died down there? *Laughs.*
Thorn: *From behind them.* Actually, I was about to go check up on him.
Tifanel: Oh, hey Thorn...
Li: Me and Tif were about to go... do... that thing... See ya!
*They both vamoose.*

*Thorn sighs and goes down into the dungeons. In the dungeons, Thorn finds Kuja's cell door open and Laurenza is there, looking over Kuja, who is sleeping.*
Thorn: Hey Laurenza. How is he?
Laurenza: *Sighs.* Look what he's done to himself... *She gently lifts one of his arms to show Thorn that there are teeth marks in it, and his knuckles are raw and bleeding, as if he has been punching the dungeon walls repeatedly.*
Thorn: Oh my god...
Laurenza: Why, Kuja? Why are you acting like this?
Thorn: You heard what Mihako said... two parts of himself, fighting against each other.
Laurenza: Well then, I want the part we know to win and come back to us.
Thorn: It will, I know it.
Laurenza: *Looks at Kuja's injuries.* Poor thing... *Puts her hand on him and starts to heal them.*
Thorn: I know how you feel… you wish you could do more to help him, right?
Laurenza: Yeah, I guess this is all I can do right now...
Thorn: Well, it's good of you to do it.
Laurenza: *Nods.* Oh, by the way, this was on the kitchen floor... *Hands him the pendant he gave Kuja.*
Thorn: *Takes the pendant and slips it into his pocket.* I'll see if he still wants it when he wakes up...
Laurenza: I'm sure he will.
Thorn: Maybe. Anyway, I was gonna take Lahrne out shopping today, so I'll be back later.
Laurenza: Okay, have a good time and don't let him put you in debt.
Thorn: *Laughs.*

*Thorn leaves the dungeon and finds Lahrne in the kitchen, having a snowball fight with ice cream with Kitzie.*
Thorn: *Ducks the ice cream balls.* Hey Lahrne, you wanna come shopping?
Lahrne: Yeah, in a minute, dad, I gotta finish ice-creaming Kitzie!
Thorn: Okay...
Kitzie: *Is catching all of Lahrne's shots in her mouth and is eating them.*
Lahrne: *Has used up all the ice cream.* Okay, let's go!
Thorn: Come on then.

*They board The Destiny.*
Lahrne: *Sits in the captain's chair and spins around in it.* Wheeeeee!
Thorn: Heh heh... shift Lahrne, I need to sit there.
Lahrne: Who died and made you captain?
Thorn: So you think you can fly this airship?
Lahrne: Sure I can!
Thorn: Okay, I guess it's logical, seeing as you know where we're going.
*Lahrne laughs and punches random buttons (without reading the labels) and various things start happening. A coffee appears in front of him, a handy-dandy-extendo-boxing glove hits Thorn in the face, and confetti falls from the ceiling whilst playing Bohemian Rhapsody.*
Thorn: *Rubs his nose.* Are you sure you don't want me to drive?
Lahrne: Um... *Gets off the captain's chair.* Okay, you can drive just this once.
Thorn: Okay, what's our destination?
Lahrne: Planet Camden!
Thorn: *Taps on several keys and The Destiny starts up and takes off.*
Lahrne: Are you gonna buy anything, daddy?
Thorn: Maybe not.
Lahrne: *Gasps.* How can you go shopping and not buy anything?
Thorn: Well, it depends what I see there. I'm not really going out to buy something in particular.
Lahrne: I'm gonna buy anything and everything!
Thorn: Eh heh...
Lahrne: *Plays in the confetti.*
Thorn: Hmm... Can't this thing go any faster? *Presses the super-speed button, making the airship speed up.*
Lahrne: *Falls backwards.* Whoo!
Thorn: Okay, according to the LPS, we should be there any minute.
Lahrne: Yay! *Throws confetti at Thorn.*
Thorn: *Laughs.*
Lahrne: *Hums the wedding march.* Hee hee hee.
Thorn: Hah hah...
Lahrne: You look funny! You got glittery bits all over your hair!
Thorn: Oh, have I? *Brushes them out with his hands.*
Lahrne: No, you should've left them in there.
Thorn: Maybe when no one else is around...
Lahrne: Are we there yet?
Thorn: Very nearly. We'll be docking soon.
Lahrne: *Sits quietly for a moment, and then...* Are we there now?
Thorn: Well, we're in the planet's atmosphere... now.
Lahrne: *Jumps up and down.*
Thorn: *Presses some other buttons.* Okay, let's land in the shopping centre's airship docks... *The Destiny lands with a slight thud.* Right, now we're there.

*The two of them enter the complex. There are hundreds of huge shops all around, for anything you can think of: food, clothes, shoes, perfume, toys, gifts, furniture, Magick, electrical goods, you name it. Crowds of people are rushing around doing their Christmas shopping. Lahrne is very excited and runs around, looking at things.*
Lahrne: Wow! Cool! Look at this!
Thorn: Lahrne, slow down there...
Lahrne: *Tugs on Thorn's arm.* But there's so much to see! Come on!
Thorn: *Laughs and follows Lahrne around.*
*They come to a clothes shop called 'Wild Thing.' Lahrne presses his nose against the window, admiring some clothes.*
Thorn: See anything you like?
Lahrne: That! *Jabs the glass, at a manikin with an outfit on it.* I'm gonna go try it on! *Runs into the shop.*
Thorn: *Follows him inside.*
*Lahrne asks an employee for the clothes. He is given them and goes into a changing room. He comes out of few minutes later. He is wearing a loud, red shirt decorated with safety pins. The sleeves are separate pieces, which are joined to the rest of the shirt with chains. He is also wearing black baggy jeans with patches on them. His hair is covered with a red bandana.*
Lahrne: What do ya think?
Thorn: If that's what you want.
Lahrne: Aren't you gonna say how cool I look?
Thorn: Well, you do look... cool, as you say.
Lahrne: Yeah! I want them! I want them!
Thorn: Well you can have them... *Heads over to the counter and pays. He then goes back to Lahrne.* Anything else you want?
Lahrne: Yeah, I want this, and this and this and this and this... *Soon they have a large pile of clothes in front of them.*
Thorn: You are truly your mother's son... it's a good job she left me so much money...
Lahrne: Hmm...
Thorn: Something up?
Lahrne: Nothing...
Thorn: Hmm, okay. You really want all this?
Lahrne: Yup. *Grins.*
Thorn: *Smiles.* Sure thing. *Pays for the clothing.* So, that everything?
Lahrne: For this shop! Hahahah! *Grabs some of the bags and runs out.*
Thorn: Eh heh... *He teleports the rest of the bags back to the airship and then goes back to Lahrne.*

*They wander around for a while longer, Lahrne buying several things that he needs, and a lot of things he doesn't. At one point, Thorn had to try hard to convince Lahrne that he did not need to own a tank. Thorn and Lahrne walking between shops when they hear a girl's voice behind them, calling to them.*
Girl's Voice: Hey, feather butt! Thorn! Yo, Thorn!
Thorn: *Turns around.* Who are you calling feather butt?
*It is a girl and what appears to be her mother. The girl dressed in a frilly pink dress with a red sash. She wears glasses, hiding her pale grey eyes. Her hair, decorated with red ribbons, is an unmistakable, shocking pink… Her clothes may be different to what they saw her in before, but there's no mistaking that hair… It's Larzel.*
Thorn: Larzel...
Larzel: Thorn and Lahrne... Now isn't this a coinkydink? Fancy meeting you here. You come to do a lil' shoppin' too?
Thorn: Yes.
Mrs. Maguire: Larzel, dear, are these friends of yours?
Larzel: Yeah, we've met before.
Mrs. Maguire: What darling costumes they are wearing. I love the wings. I have seen so many wonderfully convincing costumes today.
Lahrne: Costumes?! *Looks a little angry.*
Thorn: It's okay, Lahrne. I think we should retract our wings before there are any other... err... comments.
Larzel: *Leans over to Thorn and Lahrne and whispers.* I told my mum the costumes bit... 'cos, uh you know, she's a total anti-Magi bigot... I didn't want her to cause trouble.
Thorn: Oh… Yes, costumes... great.
Larzel: Listen, can I hang with you guys? Please! I've got to get away from her!
Thorn: Hmm... All right. You're not carrying any poison are you?
Larzel: *Laughs.* Maybe... Nah! Just kiddin'. *Goes to her mother.* Mumsie dearest, I'm gonna go hang wi' my pals for a while. You can go pick out a prezzie for Uncle Bob.
Mrs. Maguire: All right, Larzel sweetheart, I'll meet you by the car later. *She walks off.*
Larzel: Thank god she's gone. I hate her. She treats me like some kinda baby... *Rips the ribbons out of her hair.*
Thorn: Heh...and here was me thinking you were wearing those of your own free will...
Larzel: Are you kiddin'?! I'd rather be wearin' the kinda stuff that your little'un has got on there. Sweet look, Lahrne my man.
Lahrne: Right on, dude!
Thorn: Indeed. So, Lahrne, was there anywhere else you wanted to go?
Lahrne: Yeah. I wanna go get my ear pierced like hers! *Points at Larzel's upper ear piercing.*
Thorn: Are you sure? Larzel, doesn't it hurt?
Larzel: Not really, but aren't you a lil' young? What are you, six?
Lahrne: I'M EIGHT!
Larzel: Whoa, all grown up...
Thorn: Maybe you are a little too young...
Lahrne: That's not fair!
Thorn: I'll get you something else, how about we go in the Magick shops?
Lahrne: Oh, okay.
Larzel: Now this I gotta see. I never been in a Magick shop before.

*Thorn leads the others into a Magick shop. Inside the shop, Larzel looks fascinated at the curious items, books and strange noises... Lahrne is looking curiously at a small animal in a cage. It seems to be half-rat, half-snake.*
Lahrne: *Reads the sign on the cage.* 'Sha-ggy Beast.' *Pokes the bars.* What does it do?
Shopkeeper: Hey, don't aggravate the animals!
*The Shaggy Beast sneezes fire.*
Lahrne: Cool!
Thorn: *Is looking at Magick books.* I don't think we should get one of them, Lahrne.
*Thorn knocks a book of a shelf, and bends down to pick it up. Someone has also gone to pick it up. Their hand lands on Thorn's. Thorn picks up the book and looks up at the person. It's... Tobias.*
Tobias: *Stands up and back away from Thorn.* Oh god... please, don't hurt me...
Thorn: You...
Lahrne: Who's that?
Thorn: He... he... I can't tell you.
Lahrne: Fine... Don't tell me then! *Sulks.*
Tobias: *Is reaching for his Element Glass.* You can't blame me for what happened...
Thorn: I don't.
Tobias: You... *Stops reaching.* You... don't?
Thorn: I'm glad I could tell you. I don't blame you for what happened. You were trying to kill me. It was my fault.
Tobias: Right... it's a good thing. I have a feeling we will be fighting together someday, Thorn.
Thorn: What do you mean?
Tobias: Don't tell me you haven't had your ear to the ground ever since Hell lost its leader?
Thorn: Hell?
Tobias: Obviously not. Well, let me give you some friendly information. They're not happy with you. First Lucifer, then Ares... it won't be long before they come for you... *He runs out of the shop, and out the exit.*
Lahrne: You gonna tell me now?
Thorn: Your mother was... killed by a Demon. That guy... summoned the Demon to kill me.
Lahrne: *Anger blazes in his eyes and runs towards the exit of the shop.* Lemme at him! Lemme at him!
Thorn: Lahrne, fighting him won't accomplish anything. Besides, he's the only one that's ever had power over me alone.
Lahrne: But... mummy... He... Oh, okay. But the next time I see him, I'm gonna kick him up where the sun don't shine!
Thorn: But what he said… about Hell, what could that mean...?
Lahrne: They're gonna come for you...?
Thorn: Well... I'm waiting for them, whatever they throw at me.
Lahrne: Me too! If they want my dad, they're gonna have to go through me!
Larzel: *Comes over to them.* Hey dudes, check it out! *She lifts up what she has just bought. It's the Shaggy Beast.* My mum's gonna go ballistic!
Thorn: Umm... very nice.
Larzel: So, who was tall, dark and... scaredy? He single?
Thorn: Yeah, but... I don't think he's really your type.
Larzel: Aw, nuts. Can't blame me for tryin'. You guys all set here?
Lahrne: I haven't bought anything yet!
Thorn: No, I haven't bought anything yet. *He picks up the book that he dropped and pays for it, then slips it into his pocket.* Okay, that's me done.
Lahrne: But what about me? You said you'd buy me something!
Thorn: You've bought lots of things, Lahrne... All those clothes, remember?
Lahrne: Yeah, I know, but YOU SAID YOU WOULD!
Thorn: Oh, okay... Well... what do you want, in particular?
Lahrne: ...I don't know.
Larzel: *Laughs.*
Thorn: How about a spell book? *Looks at the shelves.* How about a spell book? *Looks at the shelves.* Blood Rituals for Beginners...? Maybe not. How about Elemental Craft for Mages? Or 12 Powerful Spells to Raise Demons?
Lahrne: I like the sound of all of them!
Thorn: Err...
Lahrne: *Smiles sweetly.* Please, daddy...
Thorn: Hmm... Okay. I guess Dark Angels aren't really built for the light stuff... *He pays for the books and passes them to Lahrne.*
Lahrne: Thank you! Thank you!
Thorn: That's okay.
Larzel: Always get what ya want, eh kid? *Ruffles Lahrne's hair.*
Lahrne: Stop that...
Thorn: *Smoothes Lahrne's hair down.*
Lahrne: Okay! Let's go! *Runs out of the shop.*
Thorn: *Goes after him.* I wish you'd slow down sometimes...

*Outside in the shopping centre, for some reason the gang come running up to Thorn and Lahrne.*
Laurenza: Thorn, so you're here.
Lierlo: It makes more sense now.
Thorn: What's wrong? What are you doing here?
Li: The old nut job got loose. We followed him here.
Thorn: Kuja...
Tifanel: But the thing is... we can't find him. This place is really huge...
Thorn: It's okay... *He puts his hand on his heart to try to locate Kuja.*
*Something blocks Thorn from sensing him.*
Thorn: I can't sense him... We're gonna have to find him the old fashioned way. Split up and look around.
Mihako: Thorn!
Thorn: Mihako?
Mihako: Thorn... Thorn! *Runs to him and grabs hold of him.* Thorn...
Lierlo: What is it, Mihako?
Mihako: He is looking for you, Thorn.
Thorn: Well then, let's look for him.
Li: Right! Me and Tif will start looking in the Beer Emporium. *The two of them go off.*
Laurenza: Li! Tif! Why would he be there? *Chases after them.*
Lierlo: Come on, Thorn. We'll go look for him.
Thorn: Okay.
*The four of them start looking for Kuja, whilst Lierlo tells Thorn what happened.*
Lierlo: Well, Laurenza went down to check on Kuja again and... well... she'd left the door open the first time. He had got out, so we looked around the castle for a while, found he'd broken the TV, and then Mihako informed us that he wasn't there anymore.
Lahrne: Left the door open... Stupid!
Thorn: Never mind. The only thing that worries me is the next person that comes to fix the TV...
Mihako: Wild... Wild!
Thorn: What's wild?
Mihako: Wild... Wild! WILDFIRE!
Thorn: It's what Kuja's thinking...
*There are screams heard.*
Thorn: Come on, let's check that screaming out.

*They go to the source of the screaming. A shop front is in flames. Its sign comes crashing down, and you can just make out the name written on it: 'Wild Thing.'*
Thorn: Oh my god...
Lahrne: No, no! That shop was the best!
Thorn: Is he in there?
*The windows are smashed by a blast of energy, and Kuja, in AoD form, comes out. He turns back towards the shop and begins completely obliterating it with Magick.*
Thorn: Kuja! *He runs up to him and tries to drag him away.*
Kuja: Th... *He stops and returns to normal Kuja, and drops to his knees.*
Thorn: *Hugs him.* Oh Kuja...
Kuja: Th... *He looks like he is concentrating really hard.* Thorn...
Thorn: Yeah, yeah, it's me...
Kuja: *Clings to him tightly, like a small, scared child and cries.*
Thorn: Hey, it's okay...
Kuja: I...
Thorn: Yes...?
Kuja: I... love you...
Thorn: I love you too... *Holds him tighter.*
Lierlo: Thorn, uh, sorry to disturb you in your... um... moment and everything, but why don't we get him home again?
Thorn: *Picks Kuja up.* Yeah, we should be going.
Lierlo: Okay, we'll go find the others, and we'll see you back at the castle. *He and Mihako walk off.*

*The gang decide to return in what they came in, Mihako's airship, The Fate, leaving Thorn, Lahrne and Kuja to come back in The Destiny. On entering The Destiny, Thorn lays Kuja down in a seat and starts up the airship.*
Lahrne: *Waves his hand in front of Kuja.* He-llo?
Kuja: *Smiles weakly at Lahrne.*
Thorn: Lahrne, you're best just leaving him to rest.
Lahrne: Oh, okay. *He decides to start rummaging through the shopping bags instead.*
*The airship takes off, Thorn sets the controls for Castle Medra and then goes to Kuja.*
Kuja: *Touches Thorn's hand with his.*
Thorn: Heh... *He holds Kuja's hand in both of his.*
Kuja: *Sharply pulls his hand away from Thorn's and curls up, whimpering a little.*
Thorn: *Sighs.*
Lahrne: *Throws a sweet at Kuja.* Hey... cheer up!
Kuja: *The sweet hits him.* Ow...
Thorn: Lahrne, don't...
Lahrne: Okay, okay...
Kuja: I'm... I'm sorry...
Thorn: Hey Kuja, it's all right.
Kuja: So many people... I killed so many...
Thorn: *Takes his hand again.* Who hasn't?
Kuja: But... selfish... I was so selfish... revenge... on all of them...
Thorn: I forgive you. We all do... nothing else matters.
Kuja: Thank you... Thank you... *Hugs Thorn tightly.*
Thorn: Hey, it's all right.
Kuja: *Rests his head on Thorn's shoulder.*