Syl wandered out of the kitchen and past the main staircase in the entraceway, a box of yodels in her hand to satisfy that middle of the night urge, and was startled to hear two people come clamoring down the stairs.

"I'm not angry."

"I can tell you are...you stomp your feet when you're annoyed at me."

"And you get all defensive when you know I'm right."

Syl ducked behind the edge of the stairs as Viktor and Flik came to a halt at the bottom. "There isn't a right or a wrong, Vik..."

"Just you in one of your moods and me clueless to do anything about it."

"It's not your fault..." Flik's voice softened and he reached a hand out to touch Viktor's shoulder. From her hiding spot, Syl watched with interest.

Viktor shrugged off his hand and turned away. "Whatever...you know where to find me if you decide you want to talk."

"I just want some time to think about things," Flik protested as Viktor headed for the door, suddenly whistling cheerfully. "Is that so wrong?"

"Nope," Viktor replied with a grin, throwing open the door. "Just when I think I have you figured out, you run back into that clam shell o' yours, Flik. When are you going to stop running?"

Flik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not running...I'm just...confused..."

There was silence for a moment before Viktor nodded curtly, stepping out the door and reaching to close it behind him. "G'night Flik."

The door closed sharply and Flik sighed again, turning to trudge up the stairs to his room. Syl was tempted to follow him and see if she could find out what had caused this, but knowing it would reveal her accidental spying, decided against it.

She headed down the hall and climbed the stairs into the observatory, pulling out the notebook she kept tucked behind ehe telescope. She'd been thinking an awful lot about what had happened here at the castle lately. Everyone was quick to think that Sage and the continuum fluctuation had been about Sydney, as was this latest trangression betwene them, and between she and Hardin and Quistis. However, they have no knowledge of the weird intuition I've had, or the insanely large amount of meteors I've seen in the sky lately. I feel like someone up there is trying to talk to me again...and nearly being killed by Sage, and then being so close to Hardin... it brings back so many memories...

Syl reach to tuck a red curl behind her ear and leaned over her notebook, penciling in the latest positions as she pulled them form her telescope. Why would Sage and Sydney, two such powerful people, be so out of whack? Why would Tami and Andrea even let any of that happen?

She tossed the notebook down and lay on her back, gazing up to the sky until it all she could see, eternity in the darkness threatening to engulf her. "What if they didn't really have total control? What if some higher power is trying to change things around here? I'm being self-centered to think this has so much to do with me, aren't I?"

Down on the ground level, a ways off from the main part of the Castle, the solemn Cathedral stood. Hardly anyone really went in it besides Aerith, though she knew some mysterious muse named Cecelia actually tended the place. Deciding she'd get no better answer than trying to ask herself, she clambored to her feet and hurried through the castle and out to the Cathedral before she could change her mind.

Throwing upon the door she stalked up the aisle to stand under the skylight that let the moon shine in. "Alright, what's the deal here?"

She tapped her foot impatiently. "You really believe in this stuff?"

Syl whirled in surprise, scarcely able to believe who she was seeing behind her. "How the hell did you get in here again?"

"Relax," the other raised a slender hand, coming slowly up the aisle. "I was kidding...those Gods of yours and Sydney's...some pretty powerful stuff. I always thought they were jsut a manifestation of Tami and Andrea."

"Answer the question."

"I'm not really evil," she protested. "I don't know what happened! Honest!"

Syl narrowed her eyes. "You tried to kill me, and Kit, and destroy the continuum, Sage. You're telling me you don't know why."

"Not a clue."

"And why am I supposed to freaking believe you?"

Sage smiled sweetly and gestured to the altar. "Beats me...why don't you ask them?"

Syl turned and glanced back at the altars again. "They don't want anything to do with me."

"I doubt that..."

Syl took a deep breath. "I did come down here for an answer..."

"I swear I was not in control of myself the last time I was here," Sage muttered. "So I'd kind of like an answer too."

Syl nodded thoughtfully and turned back again, gazing upwards. "It's...been a long time since I asked for guidance," she started softly. "In fact, the last thing I said to you was probably somewhere along the lines of 'fuck off'...but I get the feeling you're trying to get my attention. I can't figure out what else would cause you to have Sage try to kill me, Sydney...and umm...Hardin and Quistis...." Syl shook her head. "Look, what the hell is going on?"

"Welcome back, Little One...we have been waiting..." a voice echoed around the chamber and as Syl sighed, Sage's eyes went wide.

The altar shimmered, and like a shadow, the images of three people came into focus above the altar. "We have indeed been trying to draw you back to us, and we likely owe apologies to your friends for utilizing them against their will."

"Not a problem," Sage said with a chuckle, interested to see how this would all turn out.

"Sydney already knows that he is already a tool of the higher powers, but your friend hasn't any idea."

"Who, me?" Sage smirked. 'I serve no Gods."

"In time," another voice answered to the left of the center god. "Where do you think your gifts came from, Feisty Girl?"

Sage looked at Syl who shrugged. "Ok, so, great, you got my attention. What do you want? It's not enough that I denounced you years ago?"

"Do you not miss the full range of your powers?" the third god questioned her.

Syl sighed. 'I don't know...I..."

"You still have your mission to complete. You left it in disarray, frozen in time. Very wrong."

"Mission?" Sage perked up and came to stand beside Syl. "Me too!"

The god on the left laughed softly. "Sylvia, you could learn from your friend."

"Friend?" Syl said doubtfully, taking a step away from Sage. "I don't need this crap."

"You are the Chosen. You cannot refuse."

"Why me?" Syl muttered.

"You were once very powerful...do not let the mistakes of the past corrupt your chance to make better the future."

"Can I at least have some time to think about this?"

"As you wish."

The images faded away and Sage whistled. "Pretty demanding Gods ya got there, Syl," she smirked.

"Yeah...and I've grown tired of trying to ignore them. It's like..."

"Don't you believe in fate?" Sage asked, following her back outside. "In doing the will of the higher powers?"

"I used to...maybe I still do..."

"Well then, do what they say! I, for one, would like to see these powers of yours they keep talking about." She grinned, tossing her hair over her shoulder and sauntering away.

"And why is that?" she replied, wondering how to explain Sage's reappearnace to the rest of the continuum.

"Cause according to those Gods, I'm a part of this too....and besides, I've been pretty bored lately. I could use an adventure."