Bartz turned back to Squall, about to say something when the air was suddenly knocked out of his lungs and he collapsed to the ground. The world reformed around them, the inside of a hollow in a great tree with four crystals in the centre. After the world came people, an old man, a woman with pink hair and a man with long purple hair appeared by Bartz' side, all of them in a similar state. Before them towered an enormous man - no, an enormous presence in blue armour. The crystals pulsed with energy, holding them down and slowly crushing them.

They didn't dare move. The slightest movement would shatter the crystals that were being used to torture them and after losing the crystals of the first world, the second world's were worth more than their lives would ever be.

And so they waited to die.

But then there was another presence and the pain stopped. Bartz tried to push himself up but couldn't summon the energy, only managing to look up at their rescuer, a young girl with an expression that was a mess of terror and bravado.

"...he shouldn't be doing anything for a whi-" The sound of Exdeath's armour moving cut her attempts at reassurance short. A circle of fire surrounded her. "Oh-!"

"Impudent little fool!"

Krile started to say something but was cut off as the flames closed in. The pressure returned, forcing Bartz's head back against the ground but he could still hear the girl's screams and the sound of Exdeath slamming her against the walls.

And Galuf stood.