Fenris watched the fight between Syttulg and Skyshot bemusedly, and sipped his tea. His attention shifted to Mauve, and decided to get himself involved in some small talk.

"So, Mauve, long time no see. What's up?"

"Thank you. At least someone here is helpful."

Garud reared his head up blushing before the realisation dawned on him...

"Oh, you meant... no, I've tried to kill him many times. It seems the old adage is true. No brain, no pain."

Garud looked around sheepishly.

"I feel really stupid now."

Arhra sipped her tea as she looked at the motley bunch. Newb and Skyshot seemed to be fighting over the second most comfortable chair in the room, Fenris was busy stuffing his face with the delicious eatables, Rhiya and Premonitions had dared to damage her precious house and the others, well they hadn't done anything particulaly stupid... yet. She was certain it was only a matter of time though.

Was this really the best the forces of heroism and stop-world-endingness had to offer? Well, better with her than against her Arhra supposed. Or, to use the more colourful proverb, better to have them inside pissing out than outside pissing in.

As everyone nibbled and sipped, Arhra spoke, "Ecurt is right. For a start, there's one little fact that they've neglected to mention baout the comet." Arhra paused for dramatic effect, "It's headed straight for us."

As everyone seemed to start shouting at once, some already beginning to suggest nonsensical plans like trying to blow it up with a rocket propelled giant materia, Arhra yelled over the top. "No, the comet won't be that kind of cataclysm from the skies!"

In a quieter tone she continued, "It's not actually a comet at all." At this point Yuri entered with a series of large flash cards and a stand for them. The first showed a sketch of the comet. "You've probably heard how the scientists haven't been able to get any reasonable data about it. That is because the very stuff it is made of is unreasonable. It is called the Invisible Moon."

Seeing she had everyone's attention, Arhra went on, "The significance of the Invisible Moon lies in what it foretells." Yuri moved the first picture to the back, showing a crude sketch of an looming, dramatically lit, armoured figure, explosions and general destruction all around it, somehow indicating it is probably responsible for them and tiny people running away from it. The tiny people had a helpful little arrow pointing to them labelling them 'You'.

Arhra let the picture sink in, "The End Times, when Chaos comes to reclaim the ordered universe that has been denied it for so long. I won't name names," Yuri briefly flashed a card with a sketch of Raiden on it , "but recent events have caused the dark powers of Chaos," Yuri switched over to a crude sketch that was mostly indescribable, "to bestow the mark of their favour, the Heart of Chaos," Next was a sketch of a gem set in an amulet that bore a vague resemblance to an opal, "upon their favoured champion, the Herald of the End Times." Yuri pulled the second flash card back out and then, after a moment's thought, pointed to the big central figure to clear up any potential confusion.

"Although granted the Heart of Chaos," Yuri flicked back to the gem, "The Herald," apocalyptic scene, "will not achieve its full potential until the Chaos Gate opens." Yuri rummaged around and found a sketch of an aerial view of a stony plateau, the ground carved into strange, not quite patterns and pitted with holes. "However, it will open upon the conjunction of the Invisible Moon." The magical girl put the comet picture back in front.

Arhra paused for breath and sipped her tea, "Now, to stop this ever coming to pass, the forces of Law," Yuri changed to a sketch of some important looking guy in a funny hat saying "blah blah blah", "constructed a series of seals around the Chaos Gate," A new picture came up, looking very similiar to the earlier aerial view, save that there was some sort of ring about the Gate and the ground it enclosed seemed strangely blurred.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any flashcards for this bit as there wasn't really anything interesting to draw." Arhra said apologetically, "They placed five elemental seals - fire, water, wind, earth and shadow about the Gate," Yuri went to change back to the old picture but Arhra waved at her to stop, "which would help seal it off from the rest of the world. These five seals also help support the Seventh Seal, the Seal of Time. It phases the entire Gate a half second into the future, making it even harder to access."

Seeing a few puzzled frowns begin to form, Arhra quickly interjected, "Yes, I know it doesn't add up. Apparently there was to be a Seal of Light but their budget ran out and they already had all their documentation refering to the Seal of Time as the Seventh Seal."

"Now here's the bad news. Over time, Chaos has entered the seals. They're rife with corruption - it's only a matter of time until they fail. A few weeks at best. If they were working properly, the conjunction wouldn't be happening. The Herald," apocalypse sketch, "waits before the Gate even now."

"At the moment of conjunction, the seals will dissolve fully and the Gate will open, empowering the Herald and permitting the numberless legions of Chaos entry. The universe will be devoured in an ecstatic holocaust."

Arhra had finally reached the end of the doom-laden-ness and got to the plan, "However... if we destroy the seals ourselves, before the conjunction occurs, the Gate will not be open and the Herald will be considerably weaker. All we'd have to do then is enter the Gate and defeat the Herald." Arhra clapped her hands together, "No Herald means no End Times."

"Now, heading off what is likely to be one of your first questions, one good reason for why you want to come along and help is that saving the universe invariably includes whatever you're standing on. Another good reason is I won't give you the antidote for what I put in the tea and buffet if you don't." Arhra smiled winsomely, "Any other questions?"

"Glad I didn't eat or drink anything." I said. "And just how do you plan on actually killing this Harold?"

"Speaking of team kill, that reminds me. Thorque... Guess what? Toastburner is your friend."

"FRIEND?"

Toastburner didn't know what hit him as Thorque got him in a bone crushing, organ squashing bear hug. When he was done, Garud looked at the damage and said,

"I don't know if this counts as team kill. Thorque is technically not part of the team."

Steel paused, looking at the cookie he'd gotten half way through. Then at the trail of crumbs, the last remains of a once great cookie civilization. Then back at his cookie. There was silence for a moment. Well, you know, as silent as it can be with people yelling questions and various curses at Arhra.

"But I like cookies..." He muttered. Then he shrugged. "Ok then. What seal we going after first, and where is it? And do we need to get all of them, or just one?

So while practically EVERYBODY ELSE (bar Steel) didn't ACTUALLY eat the delicious foodstuffs on the table, nor drank the steaming cups of tea, Rhiya had resumed her humanoid form and was busy washing two muffins down with a cuppa when Arhra finished with that twisted bit of information.

Needless to say, Premonitions wasn't happy when hot tea spurted from the nostrils of a pretty woman into his lap.

"Hey! I'd gladly go on an adventure of mass killing and destruction. You needn't threaten me," she said reproachfully as she tried to fix Premonition's pants, even though the damage was done.

"Besides, where is this place anyway? Nothing beats transport by dragon... albeit one that tends to eat her own teammates," she added quietly with a soft snigger.

Fenris tried to be mad at Arhra for posioning him. Really, he did. But he just couldn't bring himself to it and he chuckled a bit.

"So, basically, you're blackmailing us into saving our lives? 'Cause that's what it sounds like to me," Fenris said with a laugh. He instantly grew serious afterward.

"How long have you known about this? And more importantly, does this Herald know about us?" After asking that, Fenris looked back at his tea. Sure, it was poisoned, but he had already drank from it, and he was doing okay so far, so he took another sip, and waited while Arhra forumalted her response.