A once proud empire called the Scarlet Moon became corrupt by the weakness of it's emperor. The fact that his Court Magician, Windy, had resembled his late wife blind him to the pain and suffering of the people he had freed during the Seven Year Succession.

But this empire crumbled in vicious civil war as the son of a famous general was branded a traitor and eventually came to lead the Liberation Army. After much battle, the Liberation Army was successful in defeating the Scarlet Moon Empire and the Toran Republic was founded.

Of course, by now, everyone knew the true story. After Young Master McDohl became president of the Republic, it was finally revealled that the infamous Lady Odessa Silverburg, the person everyone THOUGHT was behind the rebellion, had died long before it's first large scale battle. At the beginning, there was some outrage, but soon the populace came to realize the reason for keeping it a secret. Now, most scholars praise Odessa's late brother Mathieu for the strategy.

After the Republic's formation, President McDohl disappeared without a trace. Some say he left in search of adventure. Of course, there's more to it than that . . . . .

It happened on the one year anniversary of the Republic's founding. A holiday was declared and everyone was getting ready for the celebration in Gregminister.

President McDohl had been called to Toran Castle (well, the basement actually) by a few of the 108 Stars of Destiny who had helped him defeat Emperor Barbarossa. People, who's help had been invaluble . . . if a little scatterbrained.

"A test?" Young Master McDohl blinked a bit. He looked a little hesitant at the smiling faces of Juppo, Vikki, and Krin. It wasn't one of those warm smiles you get from family and friends. It was one of those smiles you get when someone was going to play a practical joke on you. And knowing those three . . .

"Yes, sir!" Vikki said enthusiastically. "We had planned something special for the parade and we were wondering if you could help us out."

"Uh . . . " He felt a little uneasy. He had finally worked up the nerve to ask Kasumi if she would go out with him, since he noticed all the shy stares she gave him during the Toran War. Yet, life side-tracked him yet again.

"Don't worry!" Juppo chimed in. "I've been working hard with Vikki to help her tweak the blinking mirror for the festival. It'll be a sensation!"

"Tweak . . . ?" Young Master McDohl felt ill everytime he heard Juppo say that word.

"Hee hee . . .we plan to use the mirror to teleport a large ice statue from Sarady to Gregminister during the parade, but we needed a test subject.

"Not that we don't think you have other important things to do!" Vikki hastily added. "But this is so . . . um . . . IMPORTANT (yeah, that's it) that we thought you would want to be here to supervise it directly."

All three of them waited, eyes pratically twinkling, and Young Master McDohl just groaned a "why me?"

He was about ready to tell them all he was too busy, but then images started running through his head of Gremio telling him it was time to talk to the council, Gremio racing after him to make him take off his bandanna when speaking to dignitaries, and Gremio just scolding him politely over every little detail.

"When do we start?" he said, smiling weakly.

It turned out that they were already set up to proceed, all the needed was their victi . . . er, volunteer. As Vikki started casting the spell that would activate the blinking mirror, there was some loud crashing from the floor above. Someone was not watching where they were walking and making a mess.

"Young master!"

Oh no. Not him. Young Master McDohl smacked his forehead with an open palm. He had told Gremio specifically NOT to follow him today. But, then again, this is Gremio. What are the odds he'd listen?

Gremio came running down the stairs to the castle basement, trying hard not to trip over his own feet. He looked around until he spotted Young Master McDohl in front of the Blinking Mirror.

"I've been looking all over for you! You had me worried sick! Young master, you are the president of the republic. You cannot just go galavanting about whenever your heart desires and futhermore. . . blah blah blah blah blah."

As Gremio's lecture continued, he was still advancing towards everyone. Krin and Juppo didn't even have the time to yell "Look out!" before Gremio crashed into Vikki. Her hand gestures went awry and her eyes grew wider.

"What . . . ?" was all Young Master McDohl could ask before he "popped" out of existence without a trace.

"AHHH!!!!!!!" Vikki screamed.

"Uh oh," Juppo sighed.

"YOUNG MASTER!!!" Gremio cried, dropping to his knees. He had an expression of utter horror on his face, while Krin just giggled in his own little maniac way. The spot where Young Master McDohl stood sizzled a little.