"Ozzie!!! Let her go!!" Janus yelled.

The mystic grinned. "You betrayed the mystics and expect me to listen to you?!! Not likely, brat!!!"

Janus snarled at the mystic leader. "You bastard, she’s my decendent!! And the name is Janus, Prince Janus!!!"

Ozzie smirked. "Well then, your highness, here she is!!" With that, he thrust Nadia over the tower edge.

"Nnnoooo!!!!! Put me dow...Ohmygod! Forget I siad that!

Ozzie laughed with pleasure. "Here’s your princesss!!!" He released Nadia, sending her plumeting to the ground.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

"No way!" Max quickly ran towards the wall, running up the stone and push jumping up, flying towards Nadia. "Got ya!!!" He caught her and focused his powers, slowing down their descent with a flight spell. Glenn cut the ropes binding her, and frowned. "Princess, art thou alright?"

Nadia nodded. "I’ll be fine, But Lucca’s still in there."

Max stare at the fortress. "We’ve got to get her out of there."

Glenn shook his head. "Thy intentions are noble, but the fortress is impenetrable."

Janus nodded. "Glenn’s right. After the last fight with Ozzie, he’s bound to have beefed up security in there."

Max looked back to his companions. "Look. If we don’t save her, my best friend will never exist, and I will never have had the jetbike that saved my butt back home from that time flux, meaning I will never exist."

Glenn nodded. "Given that, we must go in, opposition, or none. We must save her."

Janus sighed, then had to smile. That boy really is my decendent. He’s got my stubborness and arrogance.

The three ran to the door and Glenn slashed it in half with Masamune. "Ozzie, prepare for the Reaper!!" Janus yelled into the hall.

Ozzie looked at the idol in front of him. "I’m taking an awful risk here you know."

His companion gave a small smile. "Don’t worry Ozzie. If it worked for him, it can work for me."

Ozzie looked back at his lieutenant. "This better work. If it doesn’t, they’re going to save me the trouble of killing you."

Just then, Flea ran in. "General Ozzie, the humans have broken through the first line!!"

Ozzie whirled around to face the shadowed figure. "Don’t fail me like you did last time!!" Ozzie turned around and stormed off.

Max slashed the Nag-ettes in front of him and left them on the floor, continuing the trail of bodies he had made.

"For someone who’s never been in many fights," Janus exclaimed, "you sure kill a lot of people."

Max shrugged. "Since when were Ozzie’s scum considered people?"

Janus chuckled at that. "Got a point there." Suddenly they heard a scream.

"Lucca." Max ran off towards the source.

"Max, wait up!!"

Slash stood by the prison door, enjoying himself. "Let’s see. How do we get rid of you? Do we, skin ya?!! No, too easy. Why don’t we, chop you to bits!!! No, not very satisfying. I know. How bout we, barbecue you!! Yeah, that’s it. We’ll have you for......"

"For what, Slash?"

Slash stopped in mid-sentence. "Oh, didn’t you were down here, Maahahaahommy?" The door exploded in, blowing Slash away with it. Lucca coughed as the dust cleared and looked up at the rubble. "Janus?"

The Prince of Zeal smiled and walked over the debris to Lucca. "The one and only. Max, over here."

Max ran over to where they were standing and pulled out the Sun Sword. "Pull your arms towards yourself Lucca." He smashed the chains in half and cut the clasps off Lucca’s wrists.

"Oh god, that feel better. Ozzie’s in the old idol room, he’s trying to summon Tykotious!!"

Max growled angrily "Damnit, come on!!"

"Nee Tie, Kai Norsi, Mi Cont,. In Su Ra." The cloaked man was chanting the spell he had cast to summon Lavos so long ago. Guards stood around the path leading to him. The man smiled softly to himself. Soon, he thought. Soon we will unite our powers and take over this puny world.

Max raced up the stairs. Mystic after mystic fell before him. "Ozzie, Where are you?!!!"

"Ozzie’s not here, but mabye I can fill in."

Max turned to the voice as Flea appeared in front of him. "Funny, I don’t recall reading about any women in Ozzie’s army."

"They don't tell you everything," Flea replied with a wink.

"She's a slut too?" he cracked.

"How dare you..." Flea was about to let Max have it, when Glenn and Janus came running in. "Oh no, not you again. Who the hell made you human again frog boy?"

Glenn stared at Flea. "The name is Glenn, Flea. And t’was Prince Janus who healed me."

Flea looked at Janus and laughed. "Prince Janus? Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!! You, a prince?! Ahahahaha... Uuuuhhhhgggggg!!!!!!"

Max took the chance to stab Flea in the chest, crushing her lungs. "You.. little... bast...ard...." Flea collapsed on the floor.

"Two down," Max quipped.

"And one to go."

"Kai Tar Nee Sorai, Matia Jati Bash Desi! Mako Lini!!" The man continued the chant, despite the pain it brought him. "Keonta Karova! Melanta Harkova!!"

The three fighters ran to the entrance of the idol room. There Janus stopped them. "What is that sound?" He listened carefully to the sound, and his eyes went wide with horror. "It can’t be. No."

Max walked up. "What is it?"

Janus looked at Max. "I need to do this alone."

Glenn walked up to his friend. "My prince, we do this, together. We are a team. A team with few bonds, but we are still a team nontheless. We started this together, we end this together, no matter what."

Janus sighed and smiled. "You’re a good friend Glenn. I don’t deserve such loyalty. Well, let’s stop that crazy son of a...."

"Son of a what, brat? Or should I say Prince Janus? Either way, you’re a traitor." Ozzie floated down in front of the doorway. Janus growled at the mystic leader. "I’ve waited a long time for this Ozzie."

Ozzie smiled. "You’ve waited too long. You know who’s in there, right? Of course you do, you remember him don’t you? Yes, good old evil Maaa..... Gggggggllllll!!!! Hit a chord didn’t I?"

Janus stared at the monster in front of him, holding Ozzie's throat tightly. "You bastard, you have any idea as to what kind of pain I went through?!!"

Ozzie barely smirked at Janus. "No, but it’s nothing compaired to the pain you’ll soon experiance."

Janus stared at the door, the looked back at Ozzie, snarling. "I’ll deal with you later." He threw him against the wall, Ozzie smiling as Janus ran down the hall.

Janus kicked down the door and was greeted by six heavily armed guards. He swung his scythe around his head and decapitated all six in one stroke, twirling his weapon like a baton.

"You’re too late Janus," the cloaked figure stated, turning to face Janus, his eyes and upper face hidden in the shadow of his hood. "I’ve already summoned the Golem. Now all that’s left is Tykotious, and he will soon join us."

Janus stared at the man with a look of pure hate. "You tried to control me, you tried to erase me, you tried to kill me!!"

The man smiled dryly and laughed. "And you deserved it. Face it, there’s no way you, or your, ‘friends’, can stop me this time. It’s over, little prince. Your mother would be ashamed to see you..."

Janus exploded at the mention of his mother, bringing his scythe up.. "Leave my mother out of this!!!"

A faint roar came from a dark spot on the wall. "He comes," the figure mused. "Well, I must say it’s be nice to see you again, and, have a nice funeral." The man vanished as a giant creature broke through the wall and roared at Janus.

Max and Glenn ran to his side. "What the hell is that?!!"

"The Golem!!" Janus rpelied, backing away. "We must leave now!!"

Ozzie suddenly appeared and stood before the door. "Going somewhere?" he chuckled. Janus looked back at the Golem. Their escape was blocked and they were trapped.

"On second thought...." Ozzie mused as he vanished, and the stairs appeared in the doorway.

"Let’s go!!" The three ran up the stairs, the Golem right behind them. They burst through the door, only to find...

"A dead end!! We’re trapped!"

The stairway had lead them to the rooftop, several stories up from the ground. A storm had begun while they were inside, raging in fury, rain coming down in turrets as lightning split the sky. The Golem broke the doorway and lumbered towards the heroes, it's roars battling with those of the thunder.

"Janus, thou can fly. Go get help, I’ll handle the monster."

Janus hesitate, then nodded and flew off.

"Max, go now!!"

Max shook his head in defience. "I can’t just leave you," he stated, drawing the Sun Sword. "You said it yourself, we're a team!"

Roaring, the Golem lunged forward and swiped Max away, sending him smacking into a wall, out cold.

"Thou art a strong one against children," Glenn growled, gripping his weapon. "Now thou must face me." He drew Masamune from it’s sheath, taking a deep breath as he readied himself. "Masamune, doth not fail me now." Glenn charged the Golem, slashing at the beast with all his might, but the monster took the swipes like they were nothing! "Tis impossible. This behemoth can withstand Masamune?!!"

The Golem grabbed Glenn and threw him against a wall. He yelled in pain when he hit, his arm becoming dislocated when he hit the stone bricks. The Golem advanced towards Glenn, growling with evil glee. "Hhhhuuuummmmaaaannnnnnn!!!!!"

Glenn rolled away and stood back up, readying himself, despite the pain in his arm. The Golem turned around and walked towards him.

"Dddddiiiiiiiiieeeeee....pppuuunnnyyy Hhhhhuuuuuummmmaaaaaaaannnnnnnn!!!!!" The Golem swung at Glenn, sending him flying into another wall. Glenn stood up and was greeted by a rocky fist acrossed his face.

Glenn crashed into the pavment. Struggling to lift himself, he dropped his sword. As he reached for his sword, he looked in a puddle. Blood was pouring down his face from the blow, his eyes swollen. Gathering his strength and courage, he stood up and faced his foe, knowing full well what would happen if he attacked the Golem again. But, he thought. It will give the others more time to end this war. Without a second thought, Glenn gripped the sword and rushed at the beast. "This is for you, Cyrus!!!" He leapt up into the air, channeling his power and struck with all his might.

The Golem took the hit, then stepped back as if in pain. It clenched it’s fist, and a spike protruded out. Glenn stood and faced it, sword in front of him. The Golem grabbed Glenn, lifting him up as Max came to and saw Glenn’s face. "Glenn!!"

Janus came through the doorway at that moment. "Knight!!! Release him, beast!!!!"

The Golem looked at the two and turned back to Glenn. "Dddddiiiiieeee... Hhhhuuuuummmmaaaaannnnnn!!!!" With that, it stabbed Glenn in the stomach, and Glenn screamed in pain as a lightning bolt lit up the sky."Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"

"No!!!!!" Max yelled out, his voice echoing as time seemed to slow to a crawl. Without thinking, he pulled Excaliber out of the sheath on his back and hurled it at the Golem.

"Max, no!!" Janus tried to stop him, but he was too late. The sword went flying towards the beast, and sliced into the monster right where it’s lungs and heart would be.

"Rrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!" The Golem screamed in pain, for the first, and last time in it’s life. It threw Glenn over the edge as it fell, and he went reeling towards the earth.

"No!! Glenn!!" Max ran at the edge, jumped over and sped towards his friend, readying a mechanical grappling hook. He grabbed on to Glenn’s speeding body, turned around and fired, the hook catching onto one of the statues and stopping their fall. "It’s ok, buddy. You’re going to be alright."

Lucca came out the doorway shortly after Max got Glenn back to the rook and over to Janus. "Ohmygod, Glenn! Is he going to make it?!"

Janus sighed sadly. "No amount of magic, can heal these wounds. They were inflicted by the Golem, a being who’s might is fueled by black power. There’s nothing we can do now."

Glenn opened his eyes with what little strength he had left. "Max.... You.... destroyed the Golem. Thou art...a true warrior."

Max smiled. "You could’ve done the same."

Glenn shook his head. "No.... I wasn’t strong enough. Strong enough to carry Masamune.... But not defeat that monster. Only you held the power to destroy it. I’m sorry.... I couldn’t do the same."

Max’s eyes grew moist. "Glenn, you can’t die. You still have so much to teach me."

Glenn cracked a smile, but Max took no comfort. "No... no, there is nothing more that I can teach you. You are a great warrior, Max Triggara... Never give up hope... For there lies your greatest strength.... In the little time I knew you... I grew to care for thee like a son... Don’t let me...or your father down... Fulfill...your...destinyyy...." Glenn’s eyes closed for the last time as his head went limp, his chest heaving it's last as his heart stopped.

Tears poured from Max’s eyes. "No, this can’t be happening.. It just can’t be...."

To be Continued......