A/N: Here's the last of my three ToS one-shots, this time on The Judged. Hope y'all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own ToS, gettit?

The Judged

In an instant, I was. Brought forth from the Derris Emblem, I slid into this world. But no sooner did I live then I sinned. My sin? My life. For it I was judged. The entire world at one moment brought justice down upon me, and I was humbled, before I could even be prideful. And I lay in wait below the world for my sentence. Then it came, in the form of one familiar to me: Mithos Yggdrasill. He spoke to me, and levied my sentence. As one who was judged, I was to judge those who have sinned worse than I. With his words weighing me down, I go to where these greater sinners wait imprisoned. I see two of them, both humans. A large, powerful looking man, and a small girl of few years. I see their names as well: Regal Bryant, and Presea Combatir. And I look upon them, and seek out their sins. I see them, multitudes of them, all of the hundreds of sins all humans commit every day.

"Now do you see?' says Mithos, "They are deeper in sin than even you! Judge them, and your sentence shall be fulfilled!"

I look at them again, and at their hearts and minds. And with the cold logic of a judge, I create a sentence, and levy it upon them.

A dagger lays near their cell in Welgaia. It is old and rusted, its surface chipped. Through it I effect their plane. An image appears, an illusion, of a young woman, named Alicia Combatir. She is the man's lover, and the girl's sister.

As I thought, the man realizes what it is, for it was he who slew the true Alicia Combatir years ago. He steps forward towards her, so I open the door. He advances on her, hate and anger in his eyes for this illusion to impersonate his love.

But the girl does not realize. Never hearing the fate of her sister, she thinks it is true. So she leaves the cell as well, standing between the illusion and the man. The illusion speaks, professing its truth. It cements the girl's belief, and intensifies the man's anger. And their sentence…to shed the blood of their own dearest friends…begins. But before they can engage in their dark combat, another human enters the prison. His name, I see, is Lloyd Irving. He stands between the man and the girl, and speaks to them, releasing their enmity. But then Mithos appears there, and counters Lloyd's testimony. But Lloyd is their friend, and Mithos their enemy. They lower their weapons, and Mithos and the illusion fades.

But they cannot be allowed to evade their sentence. I move the dagger into their hands, that I may speak to them. To them I say,

"All life bears sin whereupon it is born. Will thou face thy sin?"

With the resolution of comrades, they agree. So through the dagger, I pull them into my plane. I appear before them as a crystalline body, surrounded by sharp-edged crystals floating in the air, and speak to them again.

"Then sinners…be judged for thy crimes!"

My crystals surge forward, their edges like blades against theirs, even as magical forces pour forth from my body. But they…they are too strong. They overcome me, and I an no longer able to keep them in.

I find myself fading. I cannot exact their punishment. But at least, they must know, so I speak one last time to them.

"…Light fell into darkness, along with sin. Thou bearest thine sin and thou art the new light. The power of darkness is now ended…"

And with that last testament, I…face…my true…punishment…

A/N: And there you have it. Enjoy if necessary.