In North Gustaburg Prishe awakens to see an airship flying overhead. Jumping to her feet she rushes after it believing it to be the one from Riverne.

Her running takes her to Bastok, there she harasses the locals into telling her of Airships and their creator, Cid. Just as she arrives at Cid's lab Ayame and Naji capture her and throw her into a holding cell.

Cornelia decides to keep her company though, and talks with Prishe about who she is. When she hears of what transpired, she takes her to Cid.

Informed of the armored airship and the hooded figures Cid realizes Jeuno has been secretly building armored airships since the first one was designed at the end of the Crystal War. Cid tells how 20 years ago he received an invite from Duke Kam'lanaut to work on a secret project that would win them the war. Cid took to watching the many Jeuno scientists and engineers, many of them hooded figures who rarely talked. He saw them conducting strange experiments around the crags of holla. He also explains that, it was indeed him that sent the mission north those many years ago. Someone had brought him a crystal from the northlands, and the power was so immense that he was convinced there was something up there that would be of great use. He was told, the piece he had was but a small bit of the stone they found there, now in Tavnazia, called the Star of Tavnazia. Prishe tells him of the return of bahamut, and Cid soon come to believe that the shattering of the crystals and the return of bahamut must all be linked... linked to Jeuno. Prishe says she knows of someone in Jeuno who perhaps can help them, a friend in Tenshodo.

In Jeuno she enters Tenshodo asking for Grezzo, but Aldo greets her asking how she knows Grezzo. She tells him long ago she was told that if she were ever on the mainland and in trouble, to ask for the help of Grezzo. Aldo explains Grezzo was his father and sadly is dead.

Prishe saddened by the loss asks Aldo instead to help her, she needs a way to return to her home. Aldo shocked says that she is not the first person to ask, there has already been someone to see him with a request to go to Tavnazia. She could easily join him.

In the Duke's Palace, the strange Zilart woman from the airship stands before a samurai from the far east. Her name Esha'ntarl, his Tenzen. He kneels down and asks why the Duke is not here himself.

She dismisses his question with the fact that the duke is a busy man. She will take any issues he brings up to the duke when she sees him. Tenzen angered, believes this is no simple matter. The emptiness which has begun to spring up here, has already begun devouring the 4 corners of his empire to the east. Those who see it have dreams of the keeper of the apocalypse. Esha'ntarl says she knows as little as he does, and they are working on a solution. Furious with her obvious lie, he tells her that they must know of the 5 shards of legend which rest in these lands. She is taken back by the outburst, asking him if he believes Jeuno is behind the emptiness. Explaining that Jeuno has protected the crystals for a very long time, and now with the eastern empire knowing of their existence, it would be bad for them to "fall into the wrong hands". Realizing the implied war against his people in her words, Tenzen backs down.

She says if he truly wants to help he can help them find the mysterious boy who seems to be linked to the emptiness. She believes he is the keeper of the apocalypse and since he has appeared at the 3 other mothercrystals at the crags, it is possible he will appear at the 4th crystal in the northlands. She suggests that if he wishes to go there he had best find a guide.

In San d'Oria Ulmia slowly walks through the sister city of her homeland. Seeing the church she approaches and asks the priests about the the song she had learned and the gateway to the gods. The priest explains that as punishment for attempting to open the gate long ago, the ancients were cursed by Promathia. He tells her that in San d'Oria they teach that to enter the gate of the gods and seek paradise, you must seek it and hold it within your heart. She asks about the curse, and the priest explains that they do not speak of the abhorrent one, for those who forget him, will forget the curse and it will lose it's power. But, if she truly wants to know to speak with a relative of the San d'Orian knight who went to the northlands of the infamous missions those 30 years ago.

In Carpenter's Landing, Louverance a Knight of Mistalle, the outcast knights tells her that the count is dead, but that his wife still lives. If she wants to speak with her to go to the manor in town. Back in San d'Oria, Ulmia begins to recognized the manor, she had been there before. Inside she meets with Hinaree, the countess of Mistalle.

Ulmia had only been a little girl when she was here last, but remembers her family and theirs were very close friends. Hinaree explains that perhaps if she wished to know more of the Gate of the Gods to speak with Cardinal Mildaurion. Ulmia explains the people of Tavnazia thought she was dead, but is told that perhaps she escaped. Ulmia shocked, is told that long ago the Cardinal's teachings believed that to reach paradise you must abandon all truth, but truth of what?!? Another question bugged Ulmia too, if the Cardinal was still alive, why had she not returned to her city?

Meanwhile in Windurst, the 3 Chebukkis explore their ancestral home and realize they have no food, no money, and no ability to leave. SOOOO.. they decide to find their father, believing him to be in the town. First they approach Yoran-Oran, which of course lets Shantotto do what she does best, make fun of people. Yoran tries to explain he's not the father, and that he's only been to Tavnazia once to examine and artifact they had found.

The Chebukkis suddenly decide he is far to poor to be their father, so they split during the tale of the artifacts discover in the Sea of Shu'meyo, and go to find their father again. Honoi-Gumoi, the richest taru in Windurst is their next target, as it becomes slowly clear they are looking for money more than a father. Of course the accusation of being their father is not only heard by Honoi, but a local reporter Kyume-Romeh.

Throwing cash at the 3 tarus, Honoi runs off after the reporter to make sure the story doesn't get published. Next the 3 end up in the Opistery, where they question Tosuka-Parika about their father, but he says he would be far too old.

They explain about their father and slowly it comes to light that their father might be the infamous taru founder of the animastery - Karaha Baruha! The same who had saved Windurst 20 years ago, but at the same time went mad with power recently trying to destroy it! Finding their possible father dead, they decide they had enough with Windurst and head to Jeuno to try and find Nag'molada.

Back in Jeuno Wolfgang approaches Nag'molada informing him the airship is ready for him. Nag'molada says he will not be joining them, he will be going alone, but if the boy appears to detain him. Wolfgang bows and leaves, and out of the shadows appears the 3 Chebukki. Nag'molada turns to them, "it is all going according to plan".

Meanwhile in Jeuno, Ulmia arrives looking for Prishe at Tenshodo. She meets Aldo who explains Prishe went walking around town til the ship was ready. They talk about Magicite and it's role in the events, as they must be connected to the mother crystals as well. Suddenly one of the Tenshodo run in and inform Aldo and Ulmia that Prishe is at Dr. Monberaux's after collapsing at the cathedral! The two rush to Upper Jeuno. In the clinic, Tenzen watches over Prishe, Monberaux explains he had brought her here. Prishe rambles something about the keeper of the apocalypse... Tenzen's sword begins to shake and vibrate. Prishe covers here ears rolling on the bed. Ulmia and Aldo arrive, and Ulmia notices Prishe's amulet is gone.

Ulmia asks the doctor if they can borrow the Amulet he found earlier, and places it around Prishe's neck.

They agree there must be some connection between the two amulets, but what? The amulet given to Prishe was given by the Cardinal Mildaurion herself! Monberaux mentions that the ducal guards have been speaking of seeing the boy in the ruins of Pso'xja to the north.

Tenzen quickly embarks to the northlands. Deep within the ruins Tenzen discovers a strange room, though he hasn't found the boy he begins to feel a dark chill.

Suddenly his sword begins to shake and in the distance he sees a figure laying on the floor. It's Prishe!

Unconscious the girl lays before a glowing portal, from which the mysterious boy appears.

Touching Prishe she begins to show signs of life.

Just then a dark winged figure appears, Diabolos. Tenzen grabs his sword and backs away from the group realizing that they must be in the "Shrouded Maw" the gateway to the realm of dreams...

and this must be a dream itself.

Drawing his sword it engulfs with flame. Diabolos calls out to the sword recognizing it as Phoenix's Flame.

Tenzen says he has come from around the world to request the assistance of Diabolos to defeat their common enemy of light. Diabolos laughs and says he has false hope, Phoenix is not whole and that emptiness is not without its reason. Instead he offers Tenzen the option to join him in his world, Dynamis, the world of dreams. Though the emptiness would consume his body, his should could live on forever there. Prishe rises to her feet saying there is always hope.

Suddenly Diabolos looks around, realizing that perhaps this dream is not his...

but that of Prishe.

Shocked, a blinding flash of light blinds them all throwing Tenzen back. When he awakes everyone is gone. Deciding it best to talk to consult Prishe on what had happened he heads back to Jeuno.

In town, Prishe is brought up to speed by Ulmia about what she discovered in San d'Oria. Tenzen arrives and realizes Prishe was conscious for the entire dream. He explains that Diabolos is the terrestrial avatar of dreams, one of 5 powerful gods born of Vana'diel. Many eons ago, the 5 avatars fought a fierce battle against an evil presence that attempted to envelop Vana'diel. Along with Diabolos was Phoenix, the bird of resurrection; Fenrir, the hound of the moon; Carbuncle, the keeper of the world; and Bahamut, Lord of the Skies. With Aldos help they decide that perhaps it's best to head back to Tavnazia and one last time try to convinced Bahamut to join them, now that Phoenix is one their side.