ZEXION'S POV:

I turned to my human form and began to lift Koiras' large body onto my shoulder, and pulled him from the room. Everyone turned to huamn form to help life Koiras. Tora was supporting Koiras' right side, I had the left. His hoofed feet dragged behind us. Once we got him into the light of the Meeting Room, we could see that his eye lifds were fluttering. "Girls, get Herten!" I commanded. Tora and I managed to set Koiras up onto the stage. His pulse was weak, but it was there, softly.

"Sova, do you have anything to help him?"

"I'm sorry, but the link induces comas that can only be come out of with time."

"Alright. The girls are getting Herten, can you take a look at him. Tora, let's move Koiras to one of the rooms upstairs."

"There's no need for that. I have a few quest rooms down here. You can place him in #3 over there. Sova walked over to the terminal and set the door to open. Tora and I lifted him onto our shoulders again, causing a groan in Koiras.

"Well, he isn't dead Zexion, he's not lost yet."

"Yeah, I know, but incapacitated doesn't help our plight. Still, he fared better than Herten. I should have stopped him from doing this. I knew he wouldn't make it."

"It wasn't your fault, Zexion." Tora spoke as we set Koiras onto the bed in the small guest room. "I mean, the Paladins give their lives to help save her, right? Well, this was his sacrifice. He tried, give him that much."

"Sound words, Tora. As she said, we have risked everything to help her. Herten just gave his last bit, and Koiras is clinging to his last bit."

"Who said that?"

"The Great Mother."

"Wait, you SPOKE with her?"

"Yeah, didn't you? Your eyes were glowing and I only assumed that you were speaking with her."

"No, I didn't speak with anyone. I reached the link and I felt warm and i was surrounded in a bright white light but there was no voice, Zexion." Tora's words shocked me.

"Girls! Simha!" I called as I walked out of the room, leaving Koiras.

"Yeah, Zexy!" Aetos came bounding up to me.

"Did any of you speak with anyone in your links?"

"No, uhh... did you?" Aetos replied.

"Simha?"

"No, I felt warm and the surroundings were just black for me."

"Yeah, I felt warm too, but my surroundings was all a bright light! It was pretty, it sparkled and everything!" Aetos spoke up."

"Dominix, Lisica? How about you?"

"Nope, nadda, not voice, not even a bright light like Aetos' " Dominix

"Same here, Zexion" Lisica replied with eyes of concern.

"I see... I turned away from them, my fingers gripping my chin in contemplation.

"So, what does this mean, Zexion."

"I... I don't know. But there is one thing I do know." I spoke, turning to Tora.

"Tora, Aetos. Come here for a minute. Up here." I got up onto the stage, as Tora and Aetos followed shortly behind me.

"Sova... " I nodded to her. She knew what I was doing, from my conversation with her earlier, and hurried into the Leader's quarters and returned with a small bowl of white paint, that seemed to sparkle in the light of the Meeting Room. Sova smiled at me as I took the bowl from her hands. I gave a small smile back.

"Tora, Aetos...Close your eyes." I began, they did so. I placed some of the paint on my index fingertip and made a circle on Tora's forehead, cut in in half vertically, placed 7 wavy lines radiating from the left side, and placed 5 white dots on the right side of the circle. Above that, I placed a pair of spread wings.

"Both of you have done much for our Great Mother..." I spoke as I drew the symbol on Tora's forehead. I moved over to Aetos and drew the same symbol.

"Both of you have done much for out Great Mother," I began, drawing the symbol on Aetos' forehead.

"You achievement of the link with the Great Mother has confirmed my thoughts about you two. Therefore, as Zexion, The Great Paladin of the Paladin's of Rapture's Cosmos," I continued, stepping back from Aetos.

"I authorize your new ranking of Grand Paladins. You may open your eyes and step into your new role as exceptional Guardians of the Earth and all we know. Congratulations." I finished, as Tora and Aetos opened their eyes. Aetos, was surprisingly calm for getting such an honor. Tora looked almost confused.

" I don't understand." Tora spoke. "I don't think I deserve this title."

"Tora, Aetos! Did you realize that only us three saw the white light. That's an extra step towards being one with the Great Mother. For me, that tells me she feels your are worthy enough to see that light, that shows that both of you are worthy to have that title of Grand Paladin." I explained. Tora expression became more determined as I explained. Aetos was already excited, but hiding it best she could.

I walked down from the stage and stood beside Sova as Tora and Aetos went to talk with Simha, Dominix and Lisica.

"You were right you know."

"I was?"

"Yes, they were strong enough after all."

"I guess, but Koiras and Herten..."

"There's always a sacrifice."

"I knew that one would need to be. I was just hoping it wasn't Koiras too."

"It wasn't just Koiras and Herten who helped them. I know they all look up to you, Zexion. They fight for not just the Great Mother, but for you as well. Especially those two. I see the love they possess for you. They'd follow you anywhere and do anything for you."

"That's what I fear." I sighed.

"Tell them to get into Natural Forms, you'll see what I mean." Sova winked at me then turned her glance to them. I stared back for a moment, trying to make sense of what she just said. Sova, nudged her head towards the group. I sighed, frustrated.

"Everyone, turn into your Natural Forms." I spoke, not knowing what was going to happen.

Aetos jumped before me and changed to her natural form, sending forth a flurry of bright light, identical to that of the one in during the link.

The top of Aetos' wings had plates of metal covering them now. Aetos' head was now being held inside a silver plate of metal imprinted with a pattern of an Eagle running in between the eyes of the plate running over her face. A breastplate of armor covered Aetos' chest, embellished with a Eagle. Aetos' legs and claws were covered in a similar plate of armor to the armor was a stunning, sparkling silver color.

"Focus, Aetos!" I spoke quickly. I didn't know what made me say that, or even think it would do anything, but I said it for some reason.

"Uh... alrighty then." she replied and put on a face of concentration. The armor on the top of her wings and her talons began to glowed a white color.

"I see..." I spoke, thinking what it could be.

"Whoa! This is SO cool. C'mon the rest of ya'll, transform, would ya? See what kind of sweet armor you guys have too!" Aetos spoke to the rest with an excited smile as she further admired the touches of her armor she could see.

Tora was next to give his Natural form a look. As like Aetos, Tora's Natural Form was covered in armor as well. The plates between Tora's eyes also possessed a tiger imprint. The armor covered almost every inch of Tora, as did Aetos.

"Focus. Tora!" I spoke again, still not knowing what possessed me to say it. Tora did so and Tora's exposed fangs and claws glowed a bright red color.

"Interesting..." Tora said as he looked at his claws. The glow faded shortly after.

"Well, the rest of you, follow their lead." I commanded.

One by on the others changed to their natural forms. They didn't send out any light when they transformed but the rest had suits of bronze armor that shined in the even limited light in the meeting room. None of their suits had any imprints or anything. However, when each of them focused, something on their body glowed. Lisica had her tail, Dominix her claws and tail, Simha his claws and fangs. Everyone seemed very excited for what they had just received. I was beginning to grow more confidence.

"We may have lost a comrade in this, maybe two, but we have gained more strength and determination to complete our everlasting duty."

"Well, we're waiting, Zexy!" Aetos stared at me with an annoyed look.

"Excuse me?"

"Let's see... we haven't seen YOUR new Natural Form yet, mister!"

"Fine, I guess..." I spoke. I stepped forward and transformed, sending out a glow of white light, brighter and more intense than the others. When the light faded it revealed an armor of gold. Like the others, it covered most of my body and legs, as well as my head. On the helmet was a wolf leaping above a moon symbol toward the viewer. The claws of the wolf embraced the moon, as if protecting it. The moon symbol glowed a light blue and white color while the eyes of the wolf glowed a green color constantly.

"Focus, Zexion." Tora spoke. I looked over to him, to see him giving a sly, teasing smile. Whatever was his problem before, it's gone now. Regardless, I did what he said. I felt the armor began to almost jump and vibrate. I looked at the armor and noticed that a black lightning was jumping from the armor itself. My claws were glowing black as well.

"Black Lightning?" Lisica uttered, taking a step towards me.

"Looks like it." Dominix replied.

"That's so cool." Lisica mumbled. I looked over at Aetos, who glanced over to Lisica and then too the ground. Her body language changed in an instant.

"Well, that's enough with that. We need to get going." I spoke turning back to human form. "Sova, can you-"

"Sova! Come check this out on the TV. The capitol building and some buildings surrounding it are on fire!" A young member came bounding down the stairs. Sova jumped and ran towards the stairs and hustled her way upstairs. I followed on her heels.

"Well, don't just stand there!" I shouted skipping a stair as I ran up them. The rest of them got into human form and followed orderly.

Once we got to the top of the stairs, we stared at the television screen. On the screen was a helicopter view of a large gray building with large windows. Smoke billowed out of the building and up towards the large fan ventilation system that filtered all air that entered and left the dome. I stood towards the back of the crowd staring at the TV. Lisica and Tora stood at my sides, jaws slightly ajar and eyes focused on the screen. I turned and swiftly made my way to the front door. I jumped down the steps when I heard two voices shouting my name behind me.

"Where are you going, Zexion?" Tora shouted.

"Yeah, where do you think you are headed off to so fast?" Lisica gave a sly smile, as if they had caught me or something.

"I'm heading into town for supplies. We are leaving this evening." I replied.

"Well, let us help you carry things then." Lisica replied. I know Tora would be useful, but I'm not sure about Lisica. I guess I had no choice now.

"Fine, stay close to me, and do as I say, alright?" I spoke, turning towards the street again.

"Got it." Tora replied.

"Yes, Sir." Lisica giggled as they both caught up to my pace. It wasn't hard to know where I was going. All I needed to head for was the smoke.

I heard Tora and Lisica whispering behind me.

"Zexion..." Tora mumbled to me as he hurried to walk beside me.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Well, where are we going? We passed the marketplace already."

"We aren't going there."

"What?"

"Then, where are we going!" Lisica shouted behind me.

"To that fire."

"To do WHAT?"

"They need assistance."

"Why should we help them, after what they have done?"

"It's our job. We protect life, including humans." I replied. Tora and Lisica remained quiet. The sound of sirens grew louder. We turned a corner and were face to face with cops at a roadblock.

"Sorry. No unauthorized entrance into this danger zone."

"Come on, guys. Let's go back." I said, once I noticed it didn't matter what we said. We weren't getting through.

We turned and left the way we came.

"What are we going to do now, Zexion?"

"I have an idea. It'll be risky."

"Well, as you said, we need to save the people in those buildings. The news cast said there were a hundred or more in trouble here.

"Well, we need to get into our animal forms, and rush into the zone. However, a tiger, fox and wolf in the middle of a city, in a world where they nearly don't exist just asks for a casualty. We'll need to sneak through the roadblock." I spoke, glancing down a nearby alley and seeing a fire escape.

"Ah, there's our ticket." I jogged into the alley and transformed. The armor felt very fitting. It didn't cause any hindrance to my movement at all. I jumped up onto the fire escape as the others followed. We reached the rooftop, and I ran full speed towards the billowing smoke. I jumped from rooftop to roof top until the burning building was across the street. I heard a gasp behind me. It was Lisica. She has slipped on the edge and was dangling.

"Zexion! I need help here." Tora grasped Lisica's paw, but was slipping. I ran to Tora's side. I began to reach down, when Tora nearly let go of her. I knew that I would be too slow to do anything. I jumped over the edge and began to fall when Tora grip gave out. I was falling head first, as Lisica was falling back first. My energy was raging. I felt something grab me and yank me into the air. I wasn't falling anymore. I realized that something was allowing my to hover. I saw from the corner of my eye, that I had a pair or black lightning wings sprouting from my back. They weren't soild, but the same lightning that emitted from my armor back at the Headquarters. I yanked upward and flew in a circle and dove down once I got my sights on Lisica. I had nothing else to grab Lisica with. I caught the fur on the back of her neck in my jaws. I heard her cry out a bit. I pushed my wings to lift us upward. Tora's face and eyes were open wide with an expression of shock. I placed Lisica on her feet upon the rooftop again as my wings began to shrink until they were gone.

"You okay?" I asked Lisica.

"Yeah, luckily the fur back there is made for dangling." she smiled as blinked a few times.

"Good to know." I replied as I turned back towards the fire. "Now then, let's get going. We need to jump down and run into that building. The front door looks clear. Sprint for it, alright? Once inside, get anyone you can find out! Keep and eye out for each other. I'll howl when it's time to pull out. Got it?"

"Got it"

We both jumped down into the street, alive with cops, firefighters and ambulances. For safe measure, we decided to wear our armor.

"The front entry way is alight with fire and the second floor is about to collapse. Get everyone out NOW! We'll need to let this building go. The first floor has been cleared of citizens. There are several young kids on the second and third floors of this building here." I over heard one lead fireman shout into his radio.

"Hear that? The first floor is clear. Get in and get to the second and third floors. Watch out above you! Good luck!" I shouted and took off full blast towards the open doorway. I heard some shouts about what we were and what we were doing there. I dove into the entry way. Tora and Lisica following behind me. The walls were a flurry of orange and black. There was cracking and squealing of the burning wood and paper. The smoke was thick in the air.

"Let's find the stairs!" I shouted above the inferno around us. I took off down a nearby hallway. Tora went another way and Lisica followed slowly behind me. We scowered that hallway, there were no stairs, or any other way upward.

"Zexion! Lisica!" I heard Tora call faintly from across the large downstairs room. I turned backward and signaled Lisica to follow me. Lisica was light on her feet. She seemed to have a natural sense of awareness of the flaming material around her.

"Tora! What is it? Where are you?"

"I'm over here, Zexion! Listen to my voice! I found the stairs!" Tora roared. After a minute or two, I found him and Lisica managed to stay right behind me. We jumped up the stairs and got onto the second floor, which wasn't as damaged from the fire, but was filled with smoke.

"Get down. The smoke is thinnest towards the ground!" I got onto my stomach and began to crawl from room to room. Tora went down a hallway with rooms on only one side. Lisica took the right side of a dual sided hallway, I took the left. The first room came up empty. I crawled out as Lisica was crawling out of the adjoining room. Nothing. Next room. I found a small child. No more than 6 or 7 years old.

"Guys, I found one! Anyone with you?" I got close to the child and knelt down.

"Get on!" I spoke out of loud. The child seemed nervous, or shocked since a large black dog with armor just spoke to it. That was the least of this kids worries right now. The child hastily got on. I rose up onto my feet.

"Keep your head down, place your shirt over your mouth." The child did as I said without hesitation. I walked slowly out of the room and back towards the stairs.

"Zexion!" I heard Lisica call from the room across the hall. "Come here! Can you handle two more?"

"Yeah, tell them to get on!" I made my way into the room and the two children got onto my back closer to my hip.

"Keep your heads down and place your shirt over your mouth. Get close to the kid in front of you. You'll be fine, kids!" I spoke sternly.

"Keep looking for kids. I'll be back up in a bit." I left the room with Lisica behind me. I headed for the stairs as she continued down the hallway.

I saw Tora walking towards the stairs as I approached the doorway to them. Tora had two children on his back. That's 5 down. Who knows how many to go. Bounded down the stairs.

"Tora! Watch out! Some beams have already fallen from the ceiling!"

"Got it!"

We both made our way back to the front door. We stepped outside into the light and let the kids off. They ran towards the firemen and parents standing in tears just outside a ribbon of neon yellow caution tape. I glanced at Tora and we turned to go back in. We heard a cracking and the falling of a beam. The front door was now crushed in. No entry.

"What now?" Tora asked as I looked upward on the building.

"There!" I stared at a closed window on the third floor.

"How are we to get up there?"

"Here!" I jumped into the air, lifted off my feet, the wings spread wide again. I grasped the back of Tora's neck in my jaws and pushed up hard. Tora was much heavier than Lisica.

"I'll place you on the roof. Go in through the roof hatch!" I'll go in through that window to get another exit route!"

"Ah, I see. Got'cha!" Tora's paws hit the roof and I took off away from the roof and spun back around. I rocketed towards the closed window and spun, wings tucked in and broke through the window, with some scratches to my face. Nothing major. This was the third, and top floor. I met up with Tora in the slightly smokey hallway. This floor had no fire damage, but there was a decent amount of smoke billowing from the stairway downward. I jumped down the stairs and found Lisica again. She was clutching another tow children.

"Are there anymore?"

"Not that I have found. Tora's hallway isn't done yet, right?"

"He's on it now! Let's get these two out of here!" My paws were burning, my lungs were screaming.

"Lisica, get on as well! You need to get some air! The front entrance collapsed! We got in through the roof and a window on the third floor!" Lisica got on, told the kids to keep their heads down and I bounded back to the stairs. The stairs were harder to climb up than climb down with these kids on my back. I managed.

"Tora!" I called when I got to the top.

"Yeah? I'm here!" Tora was just ahead of me, two kids on his back, heading towards the hatch on the roof.

"Try to find a way down. I'm going to take the window!"

"Got it!"

"Hold on tight!" I shouted as I jumped from the window, let myself fall for a moment, then let the wings sprout and allow us to glide down to the ground. The kids got off and ran towards thier parents that were holding onto each other, tears cutting through the soot caked on thier faces. I looked for Tora. He managed to jump onto a nearby building from the rooftop and go down it's fire escape.

I looked into the crowd and saw only one couple still looking into the burning building. It was faint, but I heard a cry coming from the back of the building, from what sounded like the first floor.

"Lisica. Let's go! There's one more!"

"Right behind you, Zexion!"

I bounded towards the building again. The front door was still blocked and burning.

"Lisica, get on! We're going in through the window again!" Lisica jumped on and I took off. I hovered into the window with ease, slightly bumping into the wall only 5 feet from the window, but suffered nothing serious.

"Let's get downstairs to the first floor, follow me!"

I ran down the hallway, Lisica a pace behind me. I jumped down the stairs to the second floor, then down into the first floor. Lisica fell behind a bit down the stairs to the first floor, but kept up. I waited for her once I saw the hazardous condition of the first floor. The creaking was loud. It was an unbalanced scale about to topple.

I didn't say a word as she followed me. I heard a crash from above, but behind me. I turned to see Lisica beneath a descending wall of fire. I jumped back towards her and grasped Lisica's fur on her shoulder. I heard her cry, then I heard a metallic clank, then a massive weight placed on my head. For a moment, everything blurred to black, then back to focus.

"Lisica! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Let's get to that kid!" I shouted, not feeling quite right.

I took off towards the hallway I had first went down upon entering earlier on. I reached a closed door, but it was locked from the inside.

"It's locked, someone is in there!" I shouted to Lisica. "Stand back!" I turned and shoulder tackled the door. Upon entering the room I heard crying from a slightly older voice. This child was maybe 8 years old.

I approached him, telling he was far more scared than the others.

"I'm here to get you out, child. I'm here to help." I slowly approached him. He then slowly let his hand out to touch my head. Once he did, he didn't seem so scared.

"Get on. I'll get you back to your parents. Put your shirt over your mouth and keep your head down." I spoke calmly. He got on slowly and did as I said.

"Lisica. Walk ahead of me towards the stairs!" I called out.

"Okay."

We made our way out of the room and into the entryway to the building. More creaking made me more nervous. We went slow as to not trigger anything. We were halfway through the entryway when I heard another crash. Lisica didn't seem to be responding to it.

"Lisica!" I jumped ahead of her and pulled her from the path of the fire. This one wasn't as bad as the first had been. I sprinted towards the stairway, holding Lisica in my jaws. We got up to the top floor, I had nearly forgotten about the kid on my back. He was still there, hugging my neck.

"Hold on tight!" I shouted to the kid on my back. He whimpered an "m-hm" and I jumped out the window, letting the fresh air into my lungs and the light into my eyes. I didn't feel right. It felt like something was in my left eye, and I was blinking to get it out. It just felt odd, and it kind of hurt. I landed on the ground, let the kid off, who went running toward the one couple left alone. I turned to Tora and Lisica with my right side of my face and I took off to the left, towards the headquarters. The cops shouted and hollered at us. We just kept running until we got far enough away that I felt comfortable ducking into an alley to change back into rest and turn back to human.

"Zexion, are you alright?"

"Well, I have a pain in my left eye. There must be something in there. We can get it out when we get back."

"No, I mean you were dripping blood all the way from the fire." Lisica replied, from my right, walking towards my front. Her eyes widened when she got to a head on look.

"What is it?"

"Zexion... you're... you're eye. Tora, look!" Tora walked beside Lisica and also was shocked.

"We need to get you back to Sova. She'll know what to do!"

"Can you get into human form?" I focused for a moment.

"No, this pain weakens me too much to do so."

"Damn it!" Tora swore. "How are we going to get you back without raising suspicion?"

"Oh we have raised enough suspicion with the fire rescue. We can just hang low for a few minutes, then I'll take off towards the headquarters, and you two follow about a minute behind me, keeping an eye out if anyone is following me. If they are, you point them in a different direction."

"As usual, you do have good ideas, Zexion."

"Alright. For now, take a breather."

A few minutes passed, and I got to my feet and peeked into the street. It was empty. I ran into the street, making the last 600 yard dash to the Headquarters. I was looking around with my one good eye. I didn't see many people peering into the street. I kept running until I got to the headquarters. I ran around back in order to throw off any possible followers. I entered through the back door and let exhaustion take over until Tora and Lisica walked in behind me.

"Sova, Zexion needs some treatment... urgently." Lisica spoke to Sova as she walked over and saw me.

"Oh my... Tora, Lisica, get him downstairs immediately!"

"What's wrong?" Lisica asked.

"His eye is damaged severely. I'm not even sure that I can I repair it, or save his life after the blood loss he has suffered."

I was lifted downstairs and placed on the table there. I blacked out and don't remember a thing.