X Choices

"Well you certainly took your time." Caius said when Jivana returned. "I trust you took care of her?"

"Yes, master. She won't ever ruin your plans."

He nodded in approval, but something was off...Why had she taken so long? And how come the rift he created didn't take her directly back to him? He had seen her walking from the village...

"I didn't expect her to be such a handful...You took so long yet there's not a scratch on you." He narrowed his eyes at her, but she showed no signs of nervousness or fear. "What proof do you have that you have completed your task?"

"This."

She pointed to the bit of blood splattered on one side of her corset. It was actually from a monster she had to cut down while walking back to him, but he didn't have to know that. She could easily play it off as Faith's blood.

"Good," he said. "Did she say anything to you?"

"'You won't get away with this'. Those were her last words."

"Humph, typical." He said with a smirk. "Rain will be the next one for us to kill, but it must be when he's alone. When his mother intervened I sensed that Etro had once given her a great deal of power, and most of it remains...I want to avoid clashing swords with her for now, and I want to be sure that he doesn't fill your head with any more nonsense."

"What about the girl with the spiky hair?"

"If she gets in the way then she must go too, but for now killing her may alter the timeline. I risked that when killing Claire and I don't want any more risks."

"Yes, master, as you wish."

"Did you hesitate to kill her?" he asked her still not entirely convinced that she did indeed kill Faith.

"Master, what do you take me for? I live for you."

"And now you're avoiding the question." He folded his arms and glared at her. "I'm also surprised that Etro didn't intervene, surely she brought that girl to Valhalla for safety."

"You sent me to kill her and I did, what else you want from me?"

"I don't believe you. I can see it in your eyes that you're lying to me."

She tried not to panic, but she knew he was onto her now...Her heart was racing, she had to do something!

"You want to see me kill someone? Come with me and I'll kill Rain before your eyes and your doubts will be cleared."

The words came spilling out before she could stop them. Rain… He had been so kind to her, and now there was no way she could get around killing him. She remembered what he had said before, about killing him instead of Faith...It looked like now that was going to be the case, but it didn't seem right.

"Good." He said with a smile. "But remember, I created you and I can kill you in an instant."

To demonstrate he lifted his hand and clenched his fist, and used the power of Chaos to cause her pain. She fell to her knees and let out an agonizing scream at once.

"If you dare to betray me, I will end your life. Is that clear?"

"No...Please." She struggled to breath.

"You have been warned."

He released her of the pain, but she still sat there gasping for breath. Every one of her nerves had burned...She never wanted to experience that again.

"Come then. I will watch you kill the boy, and won't intervene unless I have to."

She gulped nervously, but slowly stood up and followed Caius without a word.


That night Rain couldn't sleep. He still felt completely drained, but his mind wouldn't let him rest. He was worried about Faith, wondering if Jivana would keep her promise about sparing her. Every time he had started to drift off, he would wake up from a nightmare of Jivana mercilessly murdering her...

If that happened, he would break. He knew it, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. After Ashling had died, he had fallen into a deep depression that he had barely pulled himself out of...If Faith were to die too, that would return, only much worse.

He sighed, then slowly pulled himself out of bed. He needed some air, but he would stay inside the village. That's what he told himself as he slid on his shoes and grabbed his gunblade just in case, but once he stepped outside he caught sight of Jivana on the other side of the closed village gate.

"I want to talk, but not here."

She began walking away without a word, but it was more than clear that she wanted him to follow her. He hesitated, reminding himself that they were still enemies and that it could be a trap, but earlier she had trusted him just fine...Now it was his turn to do the same.

He climbed the fence with ease, then hopped over and down before he slowly followed her. Once the village was out of sight, she finally turned to him, knives drawn. He stiffened and muttered a curse as he turned to leave, but saw that Caius was now blocking his escape route.

"I see you've made your decision..." He spat as he glared back at Jivana and drew his gunblade.

"Take care of him, Jivana."

"Yes, master."

She charged him at once, while he took a defensive stance. He tried to hide the fact that his energy was drastically drained, and hoped this fight wouldn't take to long. He didn't have the strength and energy for this right now...

"I offered you freedom! Is this really what you want?" He yelled as their blades clashed.

"I don't know what are you talking about, I don't talk with the enemy."

"Fine then, live as a slave for all I care!"

He cast thunder and sent it her way, regretting it the moment he did. Not only did she dodge it with ease, but he could feel himself weaken. There would be no more spells from him this battle, that much was sure.

But she didn't waste any time casting hers, staying at a distance and using them rapidly so he could only block and dodge and not get any closer to her. It continued to wear him down, but he didn't waver. His anger was keeping him going.

"Enough." Caius slammed his sword into the ground sending a beam of chaos at Rain from behind knocking him forward and bruising him severely while his sword flew out of reach. "I've grown tired of this." he said as he placed his foot on Rain's back so he couldn't get back up. "Kill him, Jivana."

She sighed, and looked Rain in the eyes as she slowly stepped forward.

"Yes, master, as you wish."

"My offer still stands..." Rain muttered, giving her one last chance. "But if you're going to kill me, know that my parents will avenge me..."

"Your parents are no threat, right, master? Do you remember that guy?"

"Yes I killed Hope."

"In this world yes but he's alive in mine and he WILL stop you!"

Caius kicked him in the face to get him to shut up.

"Kill him." Caius ordered again.

"Yes master..."

"You don't have to do this..." Rain said softly as he looked up at her with pleading eyes.

"It's you or me. If I don't kill you my master will destroy me…"

"And I suggest you hurry up and end it," Caius said. His patience was thinning. "Kill. Him. Now." He had picked up Rains gunblade and shoved it in her hands.


"Rainbow!"

Rainbow flinched as she heard her name being called. She was dreaming, or at least she was pretty sure. She was walking along the beach with her parents on a bright sunny day, happily talking with them, when suddenly an unknown voice calling her name had echoed. She was the only one to notice, and turned around to face a stranger.

She looked no older then fourteen, wore army green cargo pants and a short dark red fraying poncho over a black tank top. But what intrigued her most was the girl's pink hair. It was the exact shade as hers, and she had it cut in layers so the back was short and fluffy, but the rest of it was in two low wavy pigtails that hung over her shoulders. It made her look a lot like Rain, they had the same green eyes too.

"Who are you?"

"There's no time for that! Look, you have to wake up, Rain's in trouble outside the village!"

Her eyes widened, but before she could ask any more questions the girl stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

She snapped awake at once, more than a little confused about her dream, but decided to take it seriously, Throwing off the covers, she quickly got dressed and grabbed her sword before heading out. Cloud was away on some deliveries, and Lightning had been called to help the Guardian Corps take care of a monster problem in another village. She was on her own right now.

Following as the girl had said, she climbed over the gate, and after some searching came upon the scene of Rain on the ground, and Caius handing his gunblade over to Jivana. She stiffened, then drew her sword and charged at Caius at once. That girl had been right...

"Don't touch my brother!"

Caius spun around and effortlessly blocked her attack with his sword.

"Last chance Jivana, end his life."

"Side with us and we'll protect you, I promise." Rain said softly.

Jivana locked eyes with him...She just couldn't bring herself to kill him, even with her life on the line. She sighed, then dropped the gunblade and stepped away.

"Sorry, I can't..."

Caius growled in frustration. Rainbow cast Piro at him, but he dodged, then kicked her away with his sword. He watched her get knocked down before he turned back to Jivana with anger burning in his eyes.

"Then you are no longer of use to me you traitor."

He lifted his hand, and with a swift motion broke the crystal full of the chaotic energy that gave Jivana life. Rain watched as she collapsed at once in front of him. He pulled himself up and called her name as he caught her.

Her skin was already pale and cold. Her eyes were still open, but lifeless, while the rest of her was completely still. There was no denying that she was dead.

"Caius, you monster!"

"You'll be joining her soon enough."

Caius slowly walked towards Rain, and once again knocked Rainbow out of the way as she tried to stop him. Rain picked his gunblade off the ground while he continued to hold Jivana in his other arm. He knew he was too weak to stand a chance, even if he wasn't battered, bruised, and drained he wasn't strong enough. How many times had he just barely gotten away? Surely his luck was going to run out this time...

Help me Etro...

His prayer was answered. Etro sent a portal to Valhalla right behind him, and he was pulled inside with a gasp, along with Jivana.

Damn you Goddess..." Caius muttered as the portal closed before he could act.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Rainbow getting up again with her sword, but he put his away.

"I have no business with you now, but if you dare get in my way, then you will end up like your beloved cousin Claire."

"I don't fear you." She spat. "And what the hell did you do to Jivana?"

"She betrayed me, so I killed her. Rain and Kristof will soon share her fate."


Rain gasped as he stumbled through the portal, clutching Jivana tightly. He came through the other side with a thud, and at once noticed his shocked sister standing in front of him.

"Rain?"

"Faith!"

Gently setting Jivana down for a moment, he hugged her at once, washed with relief.

"You're safe..."

She had kept her promise after all...

"Yeah..."

Her eyes were on Jivana's lifeless form behind them...Sighing, he just nodded, knowing she was likely going to ask if she was dead. Faith said nothing, just bit her lip and fought back a few tears. Enemies or not, she had still spared her...

Rain sighed, then gently closed Jivana's eyelids with his fingers. She deserved to be put to rest somewhere...

He killed you because you spared me...I'm sorry.

Guilt was settling in as he gently picked her up again, but as he looked back towards Etro's throne an idea sparked in his mind. He stood there silently for a moment, looking back at it, then down at Jivana's corpse in his arms, and then slowly walked over to Etro's throne.

"Rain?"

He said nothing to Faith. She just watched him as he knelt respectfully, and bowed his head.

"Goddess Etro, if you're there I ask of you...Is there any way for you to save her? To give her another chance at life?"

She deserved another chance to live, to be free. At first, there was no response, but then after a moment of silence Etro materialized in her throne, once again enveloped in light.

"Are you willing to give up your life for hers?"

His heart skipped a beat and he stiffened. There was no way he would go that far, but the Goddess continued before he could answer.

"Give your life force to her, and under my power you shall receive another."

That sounded better, but it was still asking a lot. He had to be sure of the circumstances before he considered it.

"And she'll live?"

"Yes. She will be free, she will have a soul."

"...And I'll still be alive as well?"

She nodded. He gulped, then glanced back down to Jivana. This wasn't about his stupid crush, that much he knew for sure. No, he felt that he owed her. She had not only kept her promise about sparing Faith, but had died because she had spared him as well. He had seen in her eyes that she hadn't wanted to kill him, that she really did want to be free of Caius...

She had been killed because of him. He knew that thought would remain with him, haunt him, if he didn't do this. He didn't want any more guilt weighing him down, Ashling's death had given him enough. If he walked away, he would most likely regret it. He sighed, calming himself, then glanced up at the goddess.

"Alright."

"Rain, no, you cant do this!"

"Quiet Faith!" He snapped glaring back at her, which made her flinch.

"Go ahead then..." He said softly, eyes back at Etro.

"Are you sure with your decision?"

"Yes..."

He closed his eyes, and gently held one of Jivana's cold, lifeless hands. He gasped in pain as he felt all his energy flow into her. Everything hurt, he couldn't breathe, he could feel his heart stop. But it was all over in an instant, then he felt fine. He gasped for breath, feeling his heart start up again and his strength return. Something was different...He couldn't quite place it at the moment, so mentally shrugged it off to worry about later.

Glancing down, he saw that the color was returning to Jivana's face, and that she was slowly breathing again. Relief flooded him, and he let go of her hand.

"Thank you Goddess..."

"Be warned child, for you are still mortal. You will still age and die like everyone else, as can you also die from injury or illness."

He nodded, but he didn't expect anything to be different. Though he knew know that he was technically supposed to be dead, he really was a walking paradox no matter what world he was in. Still, that seemed a small price to pay for someone's life.

He thanked her again, bowing as he stood up with Jivana in his arms. Behind them, a rift appeared, allowing them to leave, and then she faded from her throne. He adjusted his grip on Jivana, then made his way towards it. Faith glared at him the whole time.

"I can't believe you did that! If Caius kills the Goddess, then you'll die, too!"

"Well that just gives us one more reason to stop him then, and I don't want you breathing a word about this to anyone, especially mom."

They were interrupted when Jivana groaned, and slowly opened her eyes.

"You're alright." Rain said, smiling at her.

"Where am I?"

"Valhalla. The Goddess brought us here and saved you."

"What?"

Her eyes widened, shifting a bit as she started to recall what happened in her last moments...

"Yeah." He glanced at Faith, glaring at her to warn to her to keep her mouth shut about what exactly had happened. He would tell her the full truth later.

"Can you walk?" He asked, turning back to Jivana.

She nodded, so he set her down so she could stand up.

"Thank you for sparing me..." Was all that Faith said as she held Mog in her arms.

"But why am I alive? I'm supposed to be dead..."

Why would the Goddess bring her back?

"Caius killed you because you spared me. You deserve another chance at life...You're free now."

"Really?"

"Yes, he has no control over you now."

Free...It was just like Rain had said. No more carrying out orders from Caius, living how she wanted. She reached for her crystal, but it was gone. No more worrying about Caius having to kill her in an instant.

"Thank you..." She whispered

"You're welcome." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you coming back with us?"

"I think so..."

"Well you're on our side now...Right?" Faith asked nervously, taking a slow step back.

"I'm never going back to Caius."

That much she was sure of.

Faith sighed a breath of relief, while Rain nodded and offered his hand as they were about to walk through the rift.

"Time to go then."


Lightning stood behind Hope anxiously as he worked his academy magic on his laptop. When Rainbow got home, she found that her parents had both just gotten home, and she quickly told them what happened. Immediately Lightning had gone and fetched Hope, repeating the story that Rainbow told her.

They were all sure Etro had taken Rain to Valhalla, and now Hope was working furiously for any possible way to get them out. However they wouldn't have to. Without warning the paradox reading program automatically started up, detecting high levels in the area. Hope flinched when it unexpectedly popped up on his screen, but remembered that he had recently set it to auto instead of manual.

"That's right by the crystal pillar." He muttered worriedly glancing at the new data.

Lightning's heart skipped a beat.

"Don't tell me it's crumbling early."

Both of them raced outside to check, with Cloud and Rainbow right behind them. It appeared to still be standing just fine, but they all agreed this was something they needed to investigate. Hope took a moment to grab his laptop, then followed them outside the village.

They made their way to the crystal pillar in silence, alert for anything, but the last thing they expected was to see Rain, Faith, and Jivana walking away from it unharmed. Rainbow paled and stiffened when she caught sight of Jivana, knowing full well she had been dead only a short while ago. What was going on?

Lightning and Hope, of course, were also a bit surprised, but mainly relieved. Once Faith caught sight of her parents, she ran to them, both of them welcoming her with open arms.

"Thank goodness you're safe." Hope said, almost in tears.

"Mom, Dad…"

Lightning too, was on the verge of crying after seeing her youngest daughter all grown up after eight years, but more importantly, safe and sound. She then, of course, saw Jivana with Rain and narrowed her eyes as she gently pulled away and reached for her gunblade.

"Mom wait-" Rain said, half stepping in front of Jivana.

"What's she doing here, Rain?" Lightning demanded, with her hand still on the hilt of her gunblade.

"How is she still alive?!" Rainbow asked, still in shock.

"Etro brought her back! She's on our side now, I swear!"

Lightning didn't relax one bit, and continued to glare at her.

"It's true, Mom, she spared both of our lives," Faith said.

Rain nodded, agreeing with Faith's words.

"I'm dead to Caius, one way or another. I'm not going back to him." Jivana added.

Lightning slowly moved her hand away from her weapon, but the air was still tense. Cloud too, was glaring at her. Lightning didn't trust her a bit, but at the same time she knew they couldn't be lying about Etro bringing her back, and why would the Goddess do that if she was on the wrong side?

"Fine..." She muttered. Rain sighed from relief. "But I'll be keeping a VERY close eye on you. The moment I sense betrayal from you, you're dead, got that?"

"Understood."

"I'm also going to have to ask you to hand over any weapons you have on you."

Jivana sighed, but handed her knives over without a word, and felt silence also being cast on her as another precaution. She knew it was only natural though, no enemies became trusty allies with everyone overnight.

Naturally, the walk back was dead quiet, Lightning still frequently glared towards Jivana to make sure she wasn't planning on striking one of them when she wasn't looking.

"You alright with her and Faith in your room, Rainbow?" She asked when they were back inside.

She nodded, then led the two of them to her room for the night, while Rain sighed and muttered a goodnight and headed to the guest room. He shut and locked the door, then flipped on the light, glad that Noel had taken Kristof back to the other world for a while.

He pulled his shirt over his head, then walked in front of the mirror. Sure enough, Etro's symbol was in a crystallized mark on his chest, right over his heart. He had felt that something was different, and now he knew what. He sighed as he gently ran his finger over it, feeling the soft warmth it gave off as well as a bit of a glow.

"Well..." he muttered to himself. "Guess this means no more sleeping only in boxers."

Faith knew, and he would tell Jivana at some point, but he was going to keep this a secret from everyone else for as long as possible.


"Alright." Lightning said as she paced around the living room with her arms folded. "Faith's safe now, one less thing to worry about, but we still need to figure out how to stop Caius and save Cocoon."

"I've got all my notes ready to give the Academy here." Hope said confidently. "Were you able to find out anything on my father?"

She nodded.

"He's still alive, and the Director as you guessed."

"Then I can go to Academia tomorrow night and see him."

"I'm going with you." She said quickly. Her pacing stopped.

She wasn't letting him go anywhere alone, not with him still recovering from injuries and Caius out on the loose.

"Well then it'll be nice to have my bodyguard back, even if it's for a little while."

He smiled at her, but Cloud was silent beside him, clenching his fist. He was losing her...

"I should come too, just in case."

There were no objections.

Author's Notes

I hate this last scene, just feels blech because I was in a "I just wanna be done with this part" mood. Beta made no comments on it so...Meh? And yes Rain is now officially connected to Etro, and holy crap that right there had become glued to his character development for everything _ For those of you that I rp with here and there that are reading this, you know what I mean XD