A/N: I figured this story could use a little battle scene. After all, no Final Fantasy story is a christmas story without action. Here, everyone is attending a meeting at ORPHAN Inc. where Raines gives them an assignment. This is going to be wicked. Have your popcorn ready.
Lightning and I are waiting right outside the Primarch office. Moments ago, Lightning phone Serah into telling everyone to come to the ORPHAN Inc. immediately.
Serah and the others, including Chantal, finally arrive ORPHAN Inc. is still under construction. Right now, only the first seven floors are available for work use, while the other four above are off limits due to being too close to the construction areas.
Chantal is pretty amazed at the sight of the building, mainly on the inside. Serah and the others found Lightning and I at the end of the first floor.
"There you guys are. It's about time." Lightning says.
I am surprised to see Chantal is here. "You guys brought Chantal here?"
"Wasn't we suppose to? You Lightning did say everyone." Snow says.
"Shut up, Villiers!" I say. Snow should know when Lightning means 'Everyone', she clearly mains everyone except Chantal. The only difference that separates between her and us is that we're l'Cies, use to be l'Cie but still carry the power and magic I mean.
"I'm sorry." Chantal says.
"No, no...It's fine. Just stay out here." I say.
"Raines is waiting for us inside. Let's go." Lightning says.
Chantal waits right outside while the rest of us goes into the office. The Primarch office is large with comfy furniture. Raines sits on his throat, which is the Sanctum throne that use to be seated by Primarch Dysley.
"Glad you all can make it." Raines says as he gets out of his seat.
"Why did you call us out here, Raines?" Fang is suspicious given to the last time we encountered Raines on Cocoon.
"It's a long story, so I'll cut to the chase." Raine pushes a button on his desk. A hologram of the Grand Pulse map appears in the center, focused on the Archylte Steppe. "Several weeks ago, we have sent a small scouting team to investigate the Archylte Steppe. But none of them returned or even report back. I have sent several soldiers to the area to location the missing team, but they they never returned as well. The situation grows much worse, then the largest raid of elite troops was sent earlier today."
"Did they went missing too?" Hope asks.
"Possibly. We were able to connect them for a report of the situation, but we lost contact when they were assaulted." Raines explains. "From what we've heard, it wasn't from PSICOM."
"A monster, perhaps?" Fang asks.
"Precisely." Raines says.
"And you want all of us to check it out?" Snow asks.
'It's obvious, moron.' I thought. "Look, with all due respect sir, but if a large raid of elite soldiers don't stand a chance against the thing, what chance do the eight of us have against it?" Sazh asks, worrying.
"Do not forget. All of you were once l'Cie. The power still flows through your veins. You all once faced the military and brought down Cocoon and save it. I have faith that you all will have the situation under control." Raines says. "Good luck and be careful out there, everyone."
We went out on our mission, riding on our Chocobo's against the harsh, cold winds. Serah is mounted on Lightning's Chocobo and Chantal with me on Snowflake. Serah and Chantal are not well experienced with mounting Chocobos, at least not yet for Serah. Chantal wanted to come and see us in action, after witnessing some of my power on the way to the house from the drop off.
Not only that, but we're all dressed up in our winter outfits. Lightning on a long sleeve white sweater and black winter vest. Fang and Vanille in fur coats. Snow and I are still dressed the same, only I have layers underneath mine. Hope on a thick white jacket with a green scarf. Serah in a pink trench coat and black snow hat. Sazh is also dressed regular with layers underneath and a scarf.
We arrive at the Western area of the Archylte Steppe. "This is the place where Raines said the disappearance started." Lightning says. We all hop off our Chocobos.
"Oh man! I didn't think the cold could get any worse." I say, shivering.
Fang slaps me in the back of my head. "Would you quit your complaining yea big baby?"
"Leave him alone, Fang." Lightning says. "All right, Fang and I will take point. Patrick, you and Serah cover the rear. Chantal, you stay close to Snow."
I on the other hand disapprove that. "What? Why are you letting that moron look after Chantal?"
"I understand your frustration, this is serious. Snow maybe an idiot, but he's capable of looking out for Chantal." Lightning says.
I refuse to accept it after witnessing the hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who got hurt because of him. Including Hope's mother, Nora. "If it makes you feel better, I'll watch out for her as well." Hope says.
When Hope says watching out for her, I got a feeling he's not meaning what I think he is, given to his crush on the girl. And it looks like Chantal might agree with me. "Fine." I turn my aggressive attention to Snow. "But if anything happens to her, you're dead Villiers."
Once we're at our positions, Fang and Lighting taking lead, Serah and I at the end, armed and on alert, with everyone else in between, we make our move.
We walk around the Archylte Steppe, keeping our eyes out for any threats. So far, there's nothing but ice and snow. There are no monsters wondering around here, that seems very strange. Especially to Vanille and Fang.
Chantal is feeling a bit nervous. She has a bad feeling that something is watching them. It's an eerie feeling. "There's nothing out here." Sazh says.
"Let's just keep looking. You'll never know when you'll-" Fang was interrupted by bumping into something. It feels like stone, but it's not firmly in place for her impact causes the statue to fall.
We all investigate the statue. "Is that...some kind of statue?" Hope asks.
"Just what is a statue doing in a middle of nowhere?" Fang wonders.
Lightning and I get a good look at the statue. I even bend down getting a closer look. Once I see it's face, I'm horrified. "Lightning! ...Look!" Lightning bends down for a closer look. "It looks just like Sixteen."
Sixteen is one of the soldiers we work with. I've only been on a few missions with him. Even so, I can recognize his face. "You're right..." Lightning stands back up, she walks up ahead only to find more statues with familiar faces. "Milla...Eugene...Slice." Up ahead, there are more statues. Each of them with a familiar face to Lightning and I, few from Hope as well. "The missing ORPHAN forces...they're all here."
Chantal approaches to one of the statue, gently knocking at it. Solid as a rock. "They've been...turned to stone? How is that even possible?"
As we wonder, both around the field and questioning what's going on, something from the cliffs is moving. Slithering is more like it. We are curious and cautious around these snowly fields. The further down the stone statue path we take, the more statues that appears.
Our path ends at some stonehenge made out of the statues. This has us all wondering, then we're on alert, Vanille, Sazh and Chantal terrified, when a loud, wailing screech echoes through the land. Hope even screams and jumps into Fangs arms, who was the only person next to him.
The screech goes on for a few seconds, then slowly dies down. Once it's gone, Fang looks at Hope a bit grumpy. Hope chuckles nervous realizing the situation he's in, then Fang drops him where the kid is greeted by a bed of snow.
"What...was...that?" Chantal asks, terrified.
Lightning turns over her shoulder, putting a finger on her pressed lips. Telling us to be quiet. Lightning draws out her Gunblade, then the rest of us take out our weapons. Serah and I have our Bow and Swordbow out, loaded and draw back ready to shoot, but we don't fire.
All of us stay on guard, on alert for any attacks from an enemy. But nothing comes. Lightning lightly waves her hand forward. We move ahead, slowly, still on alert and armed ready to attack.
It's quiet now, a little too quiet. Lightning, Fang and I don't even like it.
Just then, something crashes right behind us. We immediately turn, only to be shocked. We cannot believe what we're seeing.
The monster is a Cie'th. One we've never seen before. A giant 50 feet long serpent with four arms, two main large ones with scythe's for hands and two more beneath the arms with regular hands, sharp teeth, snakes for hair and the mark of the Cie'th directly on it's forehead.
Sumdea iapotrópaia
Serah and I shoot our arrows, physical and laser, instantly. They pierce the creature, only to react by slithering towards us in a burst of speed. "Everyone take cover!" Lightning shouts.
The second the creature is in range to slam one of it's scythe arms on us, we dodge out of the way. Lightning, Sazh, Vanille and Serah hiding in one direction while the rest of us are hiding behind a large rock against the creature.
"What is that thing?" Chantal says.
"It's a Cie'th." I say. "But it's nothing like I've ever seen."
Sumdea screeches. The monsters wailing hurts our ears. Lightning and the others manages to meet us from behind the boulder. "What kind of a Cie'th is that?" Snow asks.
We all look at Vanille and Fang for an answer. "Don't look at us. We've never seen a thing like that before." Fang says.
"How are we gonna take that thing down?! We're doomed!" Sazh says, panicking.
Fang slaps some sense into Sazh. "Calm down, Sazh!" Fang says. "What's the plan fearless leader?"
Lightning thinks for a plan. "I have a strategy we can do. Those Scythe arms are pretty deadly, so Fang and Snow will hold them off. In the meantime, Sazh, Patrick and Hope will strengthen us all. Once Snow and Fang have the monster in place, we attack."
"Chantal. You hide somewhere safe." I say.
Chantal nods in agreement. "Okay."
Chantal hides behind a rock near the cliff wall. Snow and Fang are out in the open, trying to draw the Cie'th towards them. In the hiding, Hope, Sazh and I are in our Synergist roles. Hope handles the defenses. Sazh builds everyone's strength, including Haste, while I'm doing En-spells and Vigilance.
"Hey! Ugly! Fresh meat over here!" Fang shouts.
Sumdea sees Fang and Snow. It screeches and slithers towards them. Fang and Snow are in their Sentinel roles. They defend themselves in Steelguard and Mediguard, and were able to block the strikes, holding onto the two scythe arms.
"Now!" Lightning orders.
Lightning charges right in. The rest of us stay behind. Sazh and Serah shooting in Commando. Hope casting offensive magic in Ravager while Vanille and I are in Saboteur, casting dark magic to weaken the monsters defenses. Sumdea is immune to Imperil and Slow, the Slow is predictable since it's very fast.
The second we finish weakening the monster it draws back slithering around at high speed. We all stay together, Vanille shifts into Ravager while I shift to Commando.
Sumdea slithers away at a great distance. Even far off, it still looks large. The Cie'th then turns around and comes right at us. "It's coming back!" Sazh warns us.
The Cie'th dives in head on. We avoid the attack as Sumdea iapotrópaia bites the ground we were standing on. While it's occupied, we attack the monster, even Fang and Snow switched into Commando. Fang leaps high, lets out a battle cry as she dives to jam her lance into the Cie'ths snake hair.
Lightning, Serah and Snow attacks from its left side while Vanille, Hope and I attack from the right. Sumdea impales its scythe arms to the ground and pulls itself up. Fang jumps off its head. Fang and Snow shifts back into Sentinel, but they're too late for defenses. Sumdea strikes Serah, Sazh and I. We were all knocked back, injured even.
"Vanile! Help them out!" Lightning orders.
Vanille salutes then starts coming to our aid. Fang and Snow both block the next attack. Hope shoots powerful Firaga spells at the Cie'th. Lightning leaps towards the monsters face, shooting with her Gunblade, then quickly shifts it into a sword to strike once she's in range of the face.
Vanille heals the three of us in her Medic role. Once we're fully restored, we're back on our feet. "This thing is like fighting that Skull Reaper from Sword Art." I say.
"No kidding. I don't know what's scarier about it. How fast that thing is or those scythe arms." Sazh says.
We regroup with the others and help battle against the Cie'th.
It's a rough battle. Long and dangerous. Chantal is at a mix of worried and amazing at how we're handling the monster. Lightning's plan works well up until the Cie'th begins to weaken. It screeches very loud, summoning a holy sphere. The sphere summons forth several Cie'ths. Shambling. Winged. Undying.
"Sweet mother of Fal'Cie." I say breathlessly. I have never been this horrified to a Cie'th since my father turned into one.
Even Chantal is horrified at the sight of sudden reinforcements. "This is too much to handle." Sazh says, and he's right.
"Then it's time for reinforcements of our own." Lightning says. "Everyone! Eidolon's now!"
We all summon our crystals and toss them into the air, each of them close to each other. I load up a Ruin-enhanced Arrow, aim for the crystals and fire. The arrow explodes once it hits the crystals.
All of the eidolons are summoned.
Odin. The Shiva twins. Bahamut. Hecatoncheir. Brynhildr. Alexander. Even My and Serah's Omega Weapon and the Leviathan twins.
Chantal is speechless. She has heard of the Eidolons, but this is the very first time of ever seeing them, up close and personal. The Eidolons come to our aid and they help us fight off the Cie'th.
Snow will act as a distraction, by riding on Shiva and hold off Sumdea iapotrópaia. "Hey! Ugly!" Sumdea hisses as it turns its attention to Snow. "Looking for me?" The Cie'th roars and chases after Snow. I'm liking that part of the plan so far.
The rest of us handle the reinforcement Cie'ths Sumdea summoned. Snow drives the giant Cie'th in circles, literally, throughout the field. Chantal keeps her eye on the monstrous Cie'th. Good thing cause it comes close to her. Chantal hides as Snow drives the Cie'th right pass her.
As the Cie'th chases Snow, it slams its tail to the cliff. The cliff rumbles and rocks start to fall. Chantal screams and makes a run for it.
The sound of the girl's screams catches Hope's attention. He sees rocks falling on her and starts to worry. The rocks stop falling and Chantal was able to catch her breath, but she is still not out of danger. What she doesn't realize is another boulder is falling right above her.
Hope sees the situation and runs to her. "Chantal!" Chantal looks up, the boulder is two seconds from crushing her. She's too shocked in fear to move. "Look out!" Hope tackles Chantal, pushing her out of the way. Hope wasn't too lucky. He's didn't get squashed, but his foot was crushed. by the boulder.
Hope lets out a loud scream of pain. The sound reaches to all of us and we all got worried, not so much from Fang.
"Hope!" Lightning, Snow, Vanille and I all shout.
Lightning turns her attention back to Sumdea, who strikes her. Lightning dodged at the neck of time then counterattacks with Odin. "Help Hope!" She orders.
After taking out my Cie'th, I hurry over to Hope and Chantal. Chantal is trying all her might to push the boulder, but it's too big. Hope's not doing so well either, enduring all the pain. I give her a hand with the boulder, but it still doesn't budge. Then Snow came in and lend us a hand. We were able to open it a crack. Chantal grabs Hope by the shoulders to pull him out, once he's out, we drop the boulder.
"Hope! Are you okay?" Snow asks.
I give Snow a slap on the head. "What are you? Stupid? Of course he isn't!"
Hope grabs hold of his broken foot, gritting through his teeth in agony. "I'll...I'll be fine. Help...the others."
Snow and I take Hope's word and we joined in on the battle.
Sumdea iapotrópaia has everyone at their limits. Already, it knocked back Sazh and Serah. Lightning and Fang fights in vein while Vanille is going all out with her offensive magic. Bahamut does an aerial attack, just when the eidolon is diving, Sumdea gives it a stoney stare with a hissy roar, and Bahamut slowly turns to stone.
As I run, I throw several of my shurikens at the Cie'th. They didn't do much damage, but they got its attention. I run at high speed, with the add of Haste. I'm about to show this creature the power of the Shadow Hunter.
I circle around Sumdea, shooting bows. Al so fast it's like I'm everywhere around the monster. Sumdea suffers much from the arrows. Once it had enough, it slams its tail on the course I was circling in, knocking me away until I crash into the cliff and fall unconscious to the snowy ground.
Vanille releases the metal wires from her binding rod. The wires coil around the Cie'th. Sumdea realizes the situation it's in and tries to break free by slithering away. Vanille gets dragged forward a little, but then stands her ground and pulls the Cie'th back.
"Hold her steady, Vanille!" Fang shouts as she, Lightning and the other remaining Eidolons, excluding Shiva, attacks Sumdea.
Sumdea wails in agony as it unleashes hundreds of dark razor winds, which takes out most of the Eidolons. Snow drives in riding on Shiva, unleashing blasts of ice and snow at the Cie'th as they drive around it.
"Looking for me, handsome?!" Snow shouts.
Sumdea shoots bolts of purple lightning at Snow, but always miss him by a couple of inches. "Whoa-ho-ho-ho! Ice try!" Snow unleashes Diamond Dust on the Cie'th, and it ends frozen solid. Shiva turns back into the twin sisters and they make their leave.
Lightning, Snow and Fang stand in front of Sumdea iapotrópaia. "I must admit Snow, that was very impressive." Lightning says.
Snow smiles with a wink. "Always leave this to the heroes."
Lightning gives a grumpy look. "Don't push it."
Just when they're celebrating their victory, they suddenly hear the sound of ice cracking. Just as they are worried, they look up at the Cie'th. The ice is cracking, until it shatters and the monster instantly lets out a screeching roar. Sumdea gives a hard tug and drags Vanille in, then whips its tail sending Vanille flying to crash into the snow.
"Vanille!" Fang shouts in worry. Sumdea strikes at Fang and Snow, knocking them back.
Now it's just Lightning and Odin. Sumdea roars right in Lightning's face. Lightning shows no fear, but she does look away from the drooling winds and the foul corpse breath.
"Guess it's just you and me." Lightning says. "Odin! Lend me your blade!"
Odin drops its Dual-Blades and transforms into a horse. Hope and Chantal watches Lightning and Odin. Lightning grabs the Gagnrad and mounts Odin. "Let's ride!"
Odin neighs and runs around Sumdea. Sumdea iapotrópaia strikes by impale its scythe arms to the ground. Odin dodges the attacks while Lightning strikes back at the Cie'th. The Dual Blades are enhanced in intense lightning energy. Sumdea suffers gravely from the slashes. Not only that, but powerful lightning rains down and strikes the monster.
Chantal is speechless from the fight. "Wow. I can't believe at what I'm seeing."
"Indeed. Lightning truly is amazing." Hope says.
Lightning shouts with every strike. Each of them unleashed by all of her strength. Odin charges onto the Cie'th, and Lightning delivers several hard strikes. Sumdea starts staggering, that's when Lightning has her chance.
She leaps off of Odin and unleashes Zantetsuken, delivering light-speed slashes on the monster, and ends it with a X slash.
Lightning lands right behind the Cie'th. Sumdea iapotrópaia is frozen in place. After a moment, the monster suffers the after slashes. The cries in agony as it slowly dies. Once it collapses, it starts to fade away into the darkness.
Lightning lets out an exhale, link the dual-blades together and hands them to Odin. Odin now makes his leave.
We take the time to recover from the battle. Not only that, but all of the ORPHAN soldiers and troopers return to flesh. They are free from the curse of stone.
Serah checks on Hope while we all gather back, except for Lightning who checks on the missing soldiers. "Is everyone okay?" Vanille asks.
"Define okay." I put a hand on my right shoulder. "That attack did a number on me."
"Speak for yourself." Hope says, complaining. "Ow...I need medical attention!"
"Okay. Okay. Let's get him back into the house." Serah says, and everyone else agrees.