Kailor: Well, I guess everyone is slowly realizing that after 33 chapters I have brought a character that was barely mentioned to the forefront! How's that for a twist?

Nuriko: Review, review, review! Facebookers, go like, like, like!

Kailor: Cheer squad? Now, so everyone knows, I've been working every day from twelve to one so that's why this update is so late. I'm sorry!

Rikku: Kai, Naruto set the kitchen on fire.

Naruto: It was an accident. :'(

Setsuna somersaulted back between the parapets as Gep and his partner dashed around the corner and down the stairs. When they disappeared she peeked over the ramparts and saw the guards below dashing to the southeast corner. Only seven remained posted along the northern wall. While they tended to the fallen Fren and craned to see what emergency had lit the southeastern pyre she took her chance and rushed down the stairs. At their base she found they opened out to the courtyard. In the center of the yard was a stone building that served as the household for the fort's residents. Stacked by a small door in the side of it were boxes of corn and sacks of potatoes. Two guards were lugging the moaning Fren towards the front door of the household and the other five were standing alert along the wall, swords drawn. Taking advantage of their turned backs, she gave herself a hard chi boost across the yard. Landing between two sacks of potatoes, she licked her lips and pressed her ear against the door. She closed her eyes. Two men were talking about a young serving wench in loud voices, one of them punctuating the conversation with raucous laughter every time he made a dirty reference. Setsuna rolled her eyes, made sure her mask was secure over her nose and mouth, reached in her pocket, and knocked on the door.

A big man wearing a grease stained apron opened it, cleaver in hand. Before he could look down and notice her, she yanked a Sleep Ball from her pocket and heaved it under the man's arm, into the room. There was a quiet puff and suddenly there was a crash from inside and the big man in the doorway slipped to the ground with surprising grace. She leapt over him and found herself in a small kitchen. Another large man was prone on the floor with a table fallen next to him. Setsuna seized the first man and dragged him backwards into the kitchen and shut the door. The Sleep Ball was cracked open on the floor. She grabbed the remnants and shoved them into her pocket, not wanting to leave any evidence of her passing. Another door stood across from her.

Setsuna took a deep breath and slipped through it, crouching against the wall. The hallway was empty. Doors lined the walls and she quickly slinked down to the closest one and cupped her hands to her ear. Dull voices argued inside about the pros and cons of using a scimitar instead of a lance. Clanging sounds echoed from under the door and she guessed it was one of the weapon storage rooms.

A man must have drawn the plans for this fort. She giggled softly.

Inching down the hall she listened at each door until finally she found one where sleepy voices were bidding each other good night. One voice was distinctly female. She paused long enough to make sure only soft breathing touched her ears and opened the door a crack. Beds lined the wall she could see and one was occupied by a thick, snoring figure. Setsuna pushed the door open enough to slide past it and shut it back silently. Rising to her feet, she gazed down the length of the room. Only seven beds were taken and two were very large persons. She licked her dry lips, suddenly nervous.

What if Ashlyn called the guards? She had helped the princess run away. Cairo would not let that slide lightly. He would have the whole kingdom on alert.

Or would he even really care now? He didn't know about the resistance. For all he knew Konoka had run away and would never be seen again.

Either way, she wasn't going to risk being caught. Pulling a Sleep Ball from her pocket she stepped back and tossed it high. It landed in the center of the room and burst silently into a small puff of smoke which dissipated quickly. The figure to her left snored louder but otherwise nothing changed. Setsuna dragged one of the heavy beds in front of the door to secure privacy and raced from bed to bed, looking for Ashlyn.

When she reached the last bed she sighed and threw the blanket back down. Ashlyn wasn't there.

Behind her a bed moved.

She spun as the door opened an inch more, pushing the bed back. Someone was coming in.

Setsuna dove under the nearest bed that held a dark skinned man with a shaved head. Whoever was fighting the door open cursed and threw their weight against it. The bed slid out of the way the door banged hard against the wall. Setsuna flinched.

"What the hell?" A gruff, deep voice echoed down the room. "Idiots think I won't wake them for duty because they stuck a little bed in front the door?" His footsteps followed and came closer quickly. Suddenly they stopped and the man's voice changed to alarm. "Call the guard! Someone's been here!" Her heart pounded wildly and Setsuna slid back away from the aisle as the man's feet appeared before her. His thick hand curled around the bottom of the neighboring bed and flipped it. He roared in anger and Setsuna jumped, catching her breath.

How did he know? What happened?

Her answer came a second later when the man cursed again and threw something at the floor. A cracked Sleep Ball rolled under the bed towards her and she felt her stomach flip. She hadn't had time to grab it!

The man's feet spun to face her hiding spot. Terrified, she held her breath. His meaty hands appeared below the bed and grasped the frame. She was going to be caught and possibly killed. If her heart beat any louder he would hear. Time slowed down as his ankles bent and his fingers clenched tight, preparing to flip the bed. She drew her dagger.

"STOP!" A voice rang through the hall and the man froze, the feet of the bed an inch off the floor. "Get to the yard and take the girl with you. Whoever was here will try to escape when the alarms are sounded. Double the wall guard." The hands disappeared and the man huffed grumpily, striding away. She heard chains clink and a voice that she recognized.

"Get off me, jerk!" Ashlyn snapped. Setsuna acted before her mind could stop her. Sliding out from under the bed, she jumped to her feet and focused on the group of people before her. A thin man was holding the door open. His clothes were well tended and expensive. His eyes widened in fear when he saw her. Next to him the meaty man wore the insignia of a captain and his hands held a chain that led to the collar around Ashlyn's small neck. Ashlyn froze, not recognizing her. The meaty man grinned, however, and dropped the chain. He drew his sword and leapt at her.

Setsuna dodged and ran her dagger down the blade, making a loud keening sound that made the man flinch slightly. She slammed the heel of her hand into his wrist, breaking his grip. As his sword fell she shot her left hand towards the small hollow in his right shoulder. As she had hoped, he dropped his shoulder back and was forced to put his weight on his left side. In the blink of an eye she slipped her right foot against his left and pushed it out, throwing off his balance. He twisted back to his right in an attempt to catch himself and ran right into her next attack. His breast bone made a sick pop as her elbow rammed into it. All of his air shot out in a quick, quiet breath and he collapsed at her feet.

The thin man in the door ran for it. Ashlyn, though shocked, lifted the thick chain hanging from her neck and faced the strange girl in black who had taken out such a large man with ease.

A glimmer of pride surprised Setsuna by flashing through her chest. She grinned and tugged her mask and cowl down. For a moment Ashlyn still held the chain then her eyes widened and a smile lit her face.

"Setsuna!"

"Hey," Setsuna replied. The two girls looked at each other for a second, both grateful to see the other.

"What're you doing here?" Ashlyn asked.

"I'll explain later. I'm here to get you out of here. Why are you in chains?" Ashlyn sighed.

"I'll explain later too," She grinned. "I hear you're a fugitive now."

"I stole a princess."

"I knew I liked you for a reason," Ashlyn laughed. "I want to know why you came here for little ol' me, but I think that can wait. Get me the hell out of here."

Setsuna nodded and replaced her mask and cowl. Ashlyn gathered her chain up, ready to use it as a weapon. They slipped out of the room and Setsuna turned to race for the kitchen and her only known escape. Ashlyn whistled low and jerked her head in the other direction. Setsuna cocked her head to the side, confused, but followed without question. Ashlyn led her to the very end of the hall and down a set of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs were the holding cells. Only two were occupied.

"Mornin' boys! Let's get out of here!" Ashlyn called, grabbing a ring of keys out of a niche in the wall. The two occupants of the dungeon pressed their faces to the doors of their cells. Setsuna noted the only difference between the two was a white scar across one guy's forehead. It stretched from his left ear up over his eye, zigzagged a bit, then ended at his hairline directly above his left eye. Both boys were her age, short, and thin but muscled. They had bright blue eyes and hair so dark it looked almost blue in the torch light.

The twins gave her cursory glances but focused mostly on Ashlyn.

"You're late!" The unscarred one picked, laughing.

"The gratitude is overwhelming guys," The brown-haired girl laughed. She unlocked their cells and the boys stepped out, both grinning from ear to ear. "Really. I may have to lock you back up."

"Now, now," The scarred one winked. "Let's behave." He turned to Setsuna and held out a hand. "I'm Vaiden. This is my twin, Magden. I assume you're here to help."

Setsuna shook his hand and nodded. "We have to go." She led the way back up the stairs and down the hallway toward the kitchen. Rooms were open all down the hall and guards were all over. Cursing, she pulled both her daggers and handed one to each of the twins.

A guard noticed them and gave a shout. Suddenly the entire hall was teeming with swords, all advancing on them. Ashlyn lifted her chain, determinedly holding her ground. The twins clenched their daggers. Setsuna went for her sword.

Then something hard slammed into her, pushing her to the floor. Something shot over her, intensely hot. She fought to see what had her pinned but the heat forced her to keep her eyes shut. Ashlyn's cry of surprise was close by and then there was nothing.

Cool air ran through her clothes, calming her racing heart. She opened her eyes tentatively. Kaede jumped up off her and dusted off her clothes.

That was when the smell hit her.

She sat up. The entire hallway of guards was empty but for piles of ash and cinders. She gagged on the fetid stench of burned hair and roasted meat. Kaede was tugging on her sleeve and saying something. Stumbling to her feet, she saw Ashlyn, Vaiden, and Magden staring down the hall. Ashlyn looked as horrified as she felt. Magden looked stunned, like someone had clubbed him over the head. Vaiden, however, seemed oddly calm. There was something she would call melancholy in his gaze when he met her eyes.

"What the hell just happened?" Ashlyn whispered. Kaede shook her head.

"I don't know, but we have to go. NOW." They followed her down the hall in the opposite direction of the ashes. She opened a door and they filed out into the yard. A group of guards spied them and Setsuna braced herself to fight, pushing her confusion to the back of her mind.

"Vaiden!" Magden's voice was quiet but urgent.

"I see them," Vaiden replied. Suddenly both twins flew past her and she watched in disbelief as they took out the group of guards alone. Had she not been wearing a mask she would have felt like she looked very stupid with her jaw hanging.

Vaiden bent and pulled a bow from one man's hand and forced the quiver off his back. Magden flipped another guard over and pulled off his belt which held two clips, each clutching a coiled whip. Magden grinned wide as he strapped it on, letting it rest at a jaunty angle.

"These are ours," he explained. "We'll tell all our life stories and such later. What's the plan, Captain?" Setsuna was surprised to find him addressing her.

"Ah, this way." She quickly decided and the group raced toward the east wall. "Kaede!" The ninja girl looked at her. "Get Magden and Ashlyn over this wall. Vaiden, come with me."

She and the scarred twin turned and dashed back towards the west wall. The guards had finally noticed them and arrows whizzed past overhead. They ducked into the stairwell and raced up the stairs. Two guards blocked their path and they easily dispatched them. At the top of the stairs she raced to the northwestern pyre and seized the still burning lamp.

"Vaiden, how good are you with that?" She nodded to the bow over his shoulder.

"You'll never find a better archer," he answered. There was no boasting in his voice so she believed him.

"Shoot through the flame in the lamp at the southwestern pyre." Setsuna ripped her sleeve off and wrapped it around the tip of one of his arrows, keeping it thin enough that it would fit through the lamp then she rubbed it against the pyre beside them, letting it soak in the pyre's lighter fluids. He notched it to his bow as she took the walls off the lamp and held it out in front of them. Shouting echoed loudly from the east wall and she gave Vaiden an urging glance. He pulled the string back to his chin, let out a breath, and released.

The arrow flew true and the southwestern pyre leapt to life. She turned and smashed the lantern into the northwestern pyre and grabbed Vaiden's tunic. He didn't have time to argue as she pulled him over the edge of the wall and they began to fall.