This chapter had a bit more cutting than I thought it would, but still wound up being a monster of a chapter. I hope it's an all right read though. Some of the things I was sad to cut, but it would have made things a little too long and difficult to proceed with. It's hard to explain. Again though, this is just me voicing my insecurities. Ignore my ramblings.

Thank you though, for everything my readers. You've made writing this a lot of fun, and I hope it continue to entertain.

Plummy-kins: *giggles* Evil aren't I? But I am glad you like it! :D Thank you!

Anonymous- Hey! Sorry I haven't said anything on MPS, I just haven't been going on lately. There's just not a lot of time, but I'll try! And a big hug! *hug* I look forward to seeing that story, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot, hearing that you value my writing as an actual way to learn, and, well, thank you. And I'm really glad you liked the connotations. Lol with Rygdea's questioning, but I'm glad it helped. The confusion and doubt sum it up nicely. And I'm glad you caught that. The odd thing is, I didn't notice while I was writing, I was so engrossed in it. It feels like it really did just come to Hope's tongue, Maybe he is a good liar! 0-0

Thank you all for sticking with me. On with the chapter.

The marble colored room was brightly lit, the ceiling stretching high above the heads of the people, and bright chandeliers were fastened to the ceiling. The light illuminated the large, wide room, and on the wooden floor were white tables. The tables were pushed toward high windows resting against the walls, the glass tinted so no one could look out or in. People were dancing on the floor, dressed in elegant pastel dresses and suits, and each person wore a mask, some with feathers, others with brightly colored beads. The music was quiet, almost hushed, but the sound of a cello could still be heard weaving through the crowd. The notes were slow and careful, low pitched in their execution, and the dancers were slow in each twirl and step.

"What an odd place to talk."

Hope shrugged as he pulled his masked partner along with him, feet moving mechanically with the hushed music. Hope had no mask, and he looked behind his partner where the voice had come from. There was Saorise, her hair bunched up, strands popping out of the bun, and she had a small smile on her face as she moved with her own masked partner. Her red eyes softened as she took in Hope's dark blue suit, and she bowed her head.

"But you do look lovely tonight. And tell me, what do you think of my dress? Red is my favorite color...but I'm worried it might be a little too much for this party," Saorise said, looking down at her frilled red dress. She shrugged and released her partner's hands, not even flinching when he wobbled before turning o a puddle of blue at her feet. She lifted her dress slightly, the ruffles moving in waves.

Hope didn't answer her, instead turning back to his white masked partner. He nodded to her and she nodded back, releasing his hands and turning to the next dancer. Hope followed suit, turning away from both the woman and Saorise, joining hands with another masked dancer. This one was dressed in light yellow, and her mask was a deep black.

"No answer? Then I must look positively hideous," Saorise said, raising an eyebrow. She puffed up when Hope did not turn to look at her, but took a deep breath as another masked man reached for her hand. She smiled at him and allowed him to grasp her, but her eyes flashed as the man touched her waist.

"Is this all we're going to do then? This is our big how do we do before you come barging into my home?" Saorise asked. Hope looked away as she appeared near him, but did not flinch when she appeared at his side not a moment later. Saorise glared at him and his unruffled demeanor, but her face melted into a calm smile.

"I get it...you're trying to be the big man right? I mean, think about it. Soon you'll be right where I want you, and all because your military is afraid of me. Hmph. Figures. They always fear people, countries, and higher beings more powerful than they could ever hope to be," Saorise pressed. She jumped when the man in front of her moved away, but smiled again as another took his place. Hope glanced at her before releasing his partner and taking another, his face still oddly blank as he moved with the music, steps soft but sure. It was as if Saorise was not in the room, talking to him. As if she wasn't there at all.

It frustrated her to no end.

She looked at the man she was dancing with, noticed the tufts of hair sticking in all directions, and she smiled, her look smug. "But I suppose it could have been avoided if that oaf of a man had managed to protect you, right? What was his name? Rygdea? Yes...he did manage to fuck things up for you. I know you resented it to," she said, shaking her head, "Quite clear. Not that I can blame you for the anger. I mean, he should have-"

Saorise stopped as the man in front of her burst, the bright blue puddle sloshing over her feet as droplets fell on her dress. She fisted her hands, but her smile was back in place as she looked at how stiff Hope's back was. She held up her hands and another man came as the dance continued.

"Hit a nerve did I?" Saorise said, using the rhythm of the cello to dance her way toward Hope, her and her partner's feet easing through the bodies. She same up to Hope and his dance partner, leaning in close, "What did you want me to do Hope? Sugarcoat it?" Saorise stopped, her eyes widening when Hope stopped and turned to her. Hope held out a hand, his face blank as he looked her in the eye.

"Would you like to dance?"

Saorise narrowed her eyes and released her partner, another puddle splashing on the floor with a violent crash. "Certainly," she said, taking his offered hand as she was pulled in to the next dance.

She glanced around at the countless nameless and faceless people before turning back to Hope, her eyebrows raised. Her smile slowly returned, corners twitching as if she could barely contain her laughter, "Is this your way with coping with the inevitable? Are you accepting what you can't escape? What you couldn't escape since that day you fell from the sky, right into my lap? Is that what this is?" Saorise asked, a few more strands of white hair falling in front of her face.

She did not give him a chance to answer, looking around at the people dancing. She released Hope's hand for a moment and ripped away the mask of a fellow dancer, then another, then another and another. Soon they were facing Lightning, Rygdea, Snow, Lebreau, Maqui, Serah and Sazh. Saorise's smiled widened and she looked at Hope, shaking her head.

"Or is it that you have some wild, deluded notion that you can still save them Hope?"

Hope remained silent as she reamed him, glancing instead at the faces she had unmasked. Each expression was blank but real, the faces of his loved ones, and he took in their empty stares. Hope's eyes lingered on Lightning, her blue eyes never lifting form his own, before he turned back to Saorise, "I thought you were trying to show me...the value of nothingness?"

Saorise blinked, leaning her head away from Hope as he stared at her his eyes searching her face. He took a deep breath and continued, "I won't...quake in a dream Saorise. Even if you're really talking to me, I have no reason to flinch away here."

Saorise's chest swelled and she growled, "I can give you a reason."

"I know you can," Hope said, "But that's not what we're talking about."

Saorise sneered at him, "Yes, I am to show you just how...wonderful it can be." Her eyes glazed over and she looked away and out the tinted windows where no one could see, "To make you understand the value of nothing. Don't you realize yet, how pointless this all is? All he's trying to do for us is give us peace of mind."

"Is that what it is?" Hope asked softly.

Saorise went on as if Hope had not spoken, her gaze still lost, "Think of it Hope. If there was a way to make it...so that you'd never feel any pain again would you take it? Would you stop the monotonous day to day life that only cycles your pain. Would you allow it to steal your strength, make your bones wither to dust as time does to all things." Saorise turned back to him, her eyes holding more emotion than Hope could ever remember.

He wished it was gone.

"Wouldn't you stop feeling the way you feel? If you could have nothing over the pain...would you take it?" Saorise asked, her eyes boring into his. They had stopped dancing, standing in the middle of the ballroom floor. The dancers continued to twirl, step, and move around them, each group seemingly obvious to the still bodies among them. "I mean it Hope...if you could end this, would you?"

Hope released Saorise's hands and stepped away from her, bowing his head. The music around them died down completely, and the dancers all stopped their movements. They stood in rows, the faces of Hope's loved ones melting into puddles on the floor, and each body was still and stiff. Saorise watched as Hope took a small step back, her face unchanging as she waited for a response.

Hope took a deep breath and slowly raised his head, face shining as the chandeliers' light hit him where he stood. His shoulders slumped at his sides and his face became serene for but a moment.

"If I were honest with myself," Hope said, closing his eyes, "I would say yes...I would like all of this to stop." Saorise's face lit up and she took a step forward, but Hope spoke again, "But there are so many problems with your plan that I will always say no." Hope smiled as Saorise shrieked, opening his eyes and stepping away as she lunged at him. Her hands were lit with orange flames and she sunk her fingers into the nearest of the now still dancers, screaming as they melted and whipping around to face Hope.

"And just because I don't want to do things your way, doesn't mean I can't end this," Hope said, dodging again as Saorise lunged at him. Several more bodies exploded into liquid and Hope turned away, running from the scene as Saorise began to chase him. "In fact," he called, "I have a way to do it. I promise it'll be soon too, you just gotta wait for me...me to-"

Hope wavered, closing his eyes as his heart jumped, the organ thrashing in his chest and then his throat. Saorise slowed in her pursuit of Hope, slowing to a small walk as the ballroom gave a violent jerk. She blinked and looked up at the ceiling, narrowing her eyes as the chandeliers shook, the glass clinking together. Her eyes widened as small shards of glass broke off of the chandeliers and fell to the room below, the shattering noise ringing in the room.

Hope had stopped running and was looking as well, swallowing hard and grasping his chest as his heart started to slow. Saorise looked back at him and smiled, tilting her head to the side. "Oh? Is little Hope afraid of his own plan? Hm? Losing your backbone before we even start?" she asked, walking closer to him. Hope looked back at her, his eyes roving her face as he took a small step backward. "How are you going to end it Hope? Really? I'm very curious. I mean, last time we were there together, all you managed to do was scream. But I won't lie." Saorise placed a hand over her left eye and laughed, the sound cold and bitter, "You did get me good when you left. But what will you do now?"

Hope glanced around him, taking in each and every unmoving figure that surrounded him, but his eyes froze a moment when he caught a flash of black moving among the bodies, followed closely by a flair of red. His chest swelled and he could almost hear them then, and Fang was almost there smiling at him.

"Come on kid, at least show her you mean it huh?" A voice he hadn't heard in so long made him jolt, but Hope could feel his chest swell at the deep and comforting voice. Brazen and hard, but not without playfulness. Thirst for a battle and to protect.

It all screamed Fang.

Hope blinked and took the voice, memorized the words and looked back at Saorise. She smiled at him, seemingly unaware of the small flash of movement, her eyes eager as she prepared to move in on her prey. Hope looked down at the floor and swallowed again, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He placed a hand over his chest, pressing his fingers past his suit and digging his nails into his brand, "Please, I need this. Just this once, I need to be stronger," he whispered.

Saorise rolled her eyes, "Yes, because asking for strength always worked so well. Tell me Hope, is it nice in your little dream world? Oh, that's right-" Saorise smiled, lifting her hand as it erupted into flames, "Of course it's not. As long as I'm here, you'll never be-"

"Enough," Hope said, voice firm, "I've had enough of you and enough of this place." Saorise glared at him, opening her mouth to retort, but stopped as the walls began to tremble. The flames coating her hand went out with a puff and her arm dropped to her side as she looked at the shaking ground. She held out her arms to keep her balance as a violent tremor made her wobble, and looked back at Hope, snarling when he stood perfectly still, staring at her with blank eyes.

Hope blinked before turning around, watching as part of the wall broke out-of-place, the pieces crumbling away from their places as if they were puzzle pieces. A gaping black hole was left in the wall's place, and soon more slabs of wall began to break away. The long stretch of white walls cracked, dust was shaken from its place as the room quaked, and the masked people began to fall where they stood. Saorise snarled as several bumped into her and she shoved them to the ground, the bodies exploding into puddles. The floor began to shake more and more, cracking open like a canyon, and the puddles began to wash over the sides.

Saorise stepped over the floor as it cracked and split, charging at Hope, her fire reigniting in her hands. "Think you can play with me Estheim?" she shrieked, "I'll show you who gets fucking played with!"

Hope looked back at her, face never changing as she lunged for him, "No Saorise. For once...for once I'm not going to just give in." Hope stepped toward her, not even flinching when she stopped just inches from his face, the tips of her fingers aimed at his eyes. She grunted and roared, yanking at her arm as she realized she was caught in an unforeseen trap, muscles locked in place by something she could not see. Hope narrowed his eyes and took another step forward, sliding to her side and out of her deadly fingers reach.

"This time you will lose."

Saorise barely had time to blink as the room was lost to bright, blinding light. She shut her eyes, feeling them tingle and burn where the light had touched them, water pooling behind her lids. Finally she opened her eyes, taking a step back as she felt the ground sink under her feet. The ballroom was gone, replaced instead by a room made of white mush. Her feet sank underneath the goop and she looked around until Hope's figure caught her eye. A clock was sitting behind him, fastened to an invisible wall. The large black hands had stopped but the light sound of ticking could still be heard.

Hope looked right back at her, his dress suit gone and replaced with a simple black sweater and jeans. He dug his hands into his pockets and leaned back, closing his eyes a moment and breathing in. The clock behind him chimed loudly, the sound echoing in their ears before dying into the nothingness around them. Saorise gritted her teeth and took a step toward him, growling as her feet stuck to the white goop. Hope watched her as she struggled moved, eyes unchanging, his face wiped of any emotion.

Saorise snarled when several strands of her hair flew over her face and she glared back at Hope, "Oh yeah Estheim? And how will you do that? How will I lose. How will I lose when I have a Fal'cie behind me? Huh? How will I lose when it's geared to let me win? When what I want will happen regardless of your fucking feelings? Huh?" Saorise grinned, her eyes manic as she searched him, her voice still ringing in the air.

She fought to take a few steps closer, snarling and crying out when she barely moved an inch forward. She gave an incoherent scream when she nearly fell forward and whipped her head toward Hope as she regained her balance. "Tell me Hope! Tell me how this happens, how I lose, when I win as long as..." Saorise took a few deep breaths, eyes widening as she took several gasps of air, "As long as..." She trailed off, her eyes widening more as she looked at Hope.

Hope blinked at her, taking a breath as she shook her head. "You've already answered your question," Hope said, voice flat, "I see no reason to explain it to you."

Saorise's eyes twitched and she growled, hands lighting up once more with bright orange flames. The fire cracked in her hands and she shot the flames at the ground, white goop flying away from her feet even as her boots burned. She jumped off the ground, switching elements in her hands, and gusts of wind propelled her up.

"You bastard," she muttered, glaring at him. He met her eyes with nothing, not even blinking as she glared at him, "You fucking bastard! You think I'll let you get away with this! You think I'll justlet you?" she roared again, shoving her hands behind her and shooting herself toward him, "After everything I've worked for, you think I'll let you take the coward's way out!"

Hope flinched at her words but the look of surprise was gone a second later. He turned to face her as she barreled toward him, and he shook his head. The room seemed to shift, lifting itself for a moment, the air digging into their bodies and making them float. The clock behind Hope unfastened and lifted itself from the wall, sitting on the air as Hope closed his eyes.

"Saorise..." Hope whispered.

The spell was broken and the endless room seemed to fall. The clock behind Hope smashed into the ground, the face cracking as the hands disintegrated, little black specks floating into the air. The glass shards seemed to glide away from Hope and as Saorise aimed her strike, her arm turned to dust. Her eyes widened and she screamed, throwing a fist at Hope. That arm too was lost to the nothingness, and Hope stared as she began to fade into nothing.

"You know, I'm still scared of you," Hope said, watching as her body began to fade away. Saorise stared at him, eyes filled with hatred, "I don't think that will ever change. But I think...I think I've finally found a way to stop you and protect everyone and everything that I love."

Hope smiled, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes. He did not hear Saorise shriek at him, did not hear her scream obscenities at him before her being faded into his dream world. He stretched out of his arms and felt a great warmth encompass him, sprinkled with fear, but totally swallowed in light of his acceptance. He did not even notice as his body began to fade away, like the room and clock had. Like Saorise had.

All he felt was his resolve. All he saw were his loved ones, safe and free and happy. All he heard was their laughter; her voice whispering words of comfort.

All he knew was his next step.

"I'm sorry...and I love you. I love you all."

And he faded into nothing.

Saorise whipped her head back, biting back a hiss as her head connected with the wood wall behind her. The cabin room she sat in was silent except for her ragged breathing, and she reached behind her head and rubbed the now sore spot. She swung her legs over the simple bed she sat on, eyes going to the fire that cracked in the fireplace in the corner of the room. Her eyes were lit strangely by the luminous orange glow, and she stood from the bed, teeth bared.

"The little fucker," Saorise muttered, clenching her hands. She shook her head, glaring down at the floor, "That little motherfucker! I'll get him, I'll get him for this! I don't care what it takes!"

"Calm down."

Saorise's head shot up and she stomped her foot, pacing to the fireplace, then back to the bed. She kicked several books out of her way, even blasted some of them into the walls. Pages fell from the bindings and were strewn along the floor, and Saorise seethed with anger.

"Calm down? Calm down?" She shook her head and punched the wall as she walked toward it, "Fuck you. How can we calm down! You saw it! You saw it! I know you did! The little fucker was making a mockery of me! He's forgotten his place. This won't stand. I'll show him what it means to mess with me. He'll relearn what he is, where he stands with me," Saorise muttered, slamming the wall again.

"And you are forgetting what else was there. You saw them didn't you? The red headed girl and the dark haired woman. They are at the center...they are what we need and you disregard their presence in his dreams," the voice boomed. Saorise shook her head but the voice continued, undaunted by her frustration, "If they are there, he is far closer than we realized. All we need now is an opportunity, and they are handing us one tomorrow."

"No..." Saorise mumbled, "The military, even us, we are handing him one." She gritted her teeth again and flopped onto her bed, grabbing the pillow and ripping the seams.

"You act as if he will have the ability to utilize this opportunity. As long as you remain clear in your path, what we wish to see will come to pass."

"The fucker thinks he can get away with this...well he won't! Mock me. Please. He'll be the one on his knees, begging for mercy, groveling at my feet while I laugh at his face. And at the end of it, he'll lay broken. A doll. That's all he'll be when I'm through with him." Saorise nodded into her pillow, smiling into the fabric, "He won't know what hit him. I'll take him out first thing. Boom and then down. I'll take him away from his little friends and his...lover. His sweetheart. His wonder Lightning. She makes me sick. That Lightning he was always fawning over." Saorise sat up in her bed, pulling the pillow into her lap. She dug her nails into the broken seams and began to pull out feathers, lighting them on fire and watching as the light slivers of the feathers curled and blackened.

"Saorise, you must not lose focus. He is trying to-"

"I'll kill him...I'll kill him if I have to," Saorise mumbled, ripping away shreds of the pillow. Feathers began to fall to the floor, catching on fire as her fevered mumblings grew. "I'll make him pay. People like him, people who think they might actually be better, they don't learn. No, if I couldn't stamp it into his little pea sized head there's no way I'll do it again. I'll make him suffer a little, then I'll kill him."

"Saorise!"

"He'll pay for this! I won't stand for it!" Saorise cried. She shot up from her bed and threw the pillow into the fire, grinning as the thing burst into flames. She stepped back and looked at all the feathers on the floor, before commanding her flames to devour them. Each feather went up in heated fire, the destructive heat eating away as the delicate tips, each sliver blackening and curling until it was burned away.

"Saorise!"

But the voice, for once, could not reach her.

Lightning watched as everyone gathered in the living room, clenching her own hands as her chest seized up. Never before, on any mission, had she felt this nervous. She tried to close her eyes and feel that familiar detachment that would wash over her on a normal mission, but each time Hope's face would flash in her eyes. Her heart would jump and her nerves would frazzle all over again, and she quickly gave up.

The others were faring no better. Lebreau and Maqui were suited in their dark armor, glancing at each other and sitting rather closely on the couch. Lebreau would throw a glance at Maqui every now and again, raising an eyebrow when he twitched or jolted. Maqui's gaze was distant, looking through anything his eyes happened to fall upon, and he jumped at the slightest of noises. He always seemed surprised when he looked and saw Lebreau next to him, no matter closely their legs were pressed.

Snow was holding onto Serah, the couple standing near the door. Snow rested his cheek on top of his wife's head, whispering a few words only they could hear. He seemed like a bodyguard for the door that would lead them to their mission. Whether it was to bar the way, or force them through, Lightning wasn't sure.

Lightning glanced at the stairs, shoulders slumping as the group waited for Rygdea and Hope. Sazh would be meeting them at the base, having volunteered his services to the group for this mission in particular. The thought made Lightning grateful, but at the same time, afraid. They were walking into a trap against one of the most deadly people they had ever met. There was a great chance that they would die or be injured. The thought of leaving Dajh alone in the world...

But it must be even harder for Sazh. After everything he's been through, the last thing he wants to do is leave his son. Yet here he is, standing with us. If...no. No, there's no room for doubt right now. Just focus. Focus on the mission ahead and you should be fine. You will protect them, you'll protect Hope, and this will be the end of this. We're all risking the same thing, so we have to do what we can to protect it.

Lightning nodded to herself, standing more firmly in her place as she examined the room once more. Her eyes widened when she heard the door crack and she snapped her attention toward the stairs. Rygdea was the first to come down, dressed in the same black armor as Lebreau and Maqui. His face was grave, his eyes dark as he looked ahead. Rygdea met Lightning's gaze and nodded once before looking behind him. Lightning followed Rygdea's lead, eyes focusing on Hope as he followed behind Rygdea.

Hope was dressed in his armor, his head almost bowed as he headed down the stairs. His arms were held tightly at his sides, and as he got closer, Lightning could see how white his hands were from his grip. Despite his efforts, his arms were shaking and he couldn't seem to calm them down. Lightning watched his as he headed for the living room and could see the worry lines on both Rygdea's and Hope's faces. But one thing still bothered Lightning.

Hope still looked...peaceful. His eyes were worn with bags, dark and purple, and his hair was flat, but his face was still calm. Even though every inch of him screamed otherwise.

Rygdea stopped in the middle of the room and all eyes turned toward him as he stood a little straighter. He nodded to Lightning again, then Snow, before cracking his knuckles and taking a deep breath, "Ain't gonna lie. We're heading into one serious trap. There's no lying about it, and there's no avoiding it. All we can do is suck it up and go in," Rygdea said, turning to each face in the room. Maqui and Lebreau nodded, standing up from the couch and joining Hope on either side. Snow turned toward Serah and kissed her on the nose, much like he had done for Hazel without the girl even awake.

Lightning glanced at Hope, their eyes locking as he looked up, and she held her breath. Hope blinked at her, slowly tilting his head up as if to get a better look at her. He glanced down for a moment, but his eyes almost immediately traveled back to hers, and he slowly raised his hand. Lightning nodded, feeling her chest swell and nearly burst when Hope managed a small smile. But as serene as it was, as glad as Lightning was to see it, it did little to alleviate her growing fear.

"I guess it's time to go everyone. We'll be meeting with the other groups at the base, then heading over Gran Pulse. The whole ride is supposed to be a two hour trip, to and back, but that's not taking into account the excursion we're taking. All right?" Several heads nodded and Lebreau muttered a small yes as they turned to the door.

Lightning glanced back at her sister and Snow as Serah grabbed her husband by the arm and pulled him back to her. "Come back," Serah said, leaning up to give Snow a small kiss before pulling away. Snow grabbed Serah by the arm and pulled her close, tilting her head up for one more kiss before pulling away. He gave her a toothy smile, running his fingers down her cheek.

"I'm the hero Serah. I'm supposed to come back," Snow said. Serah giggled, the sound turning into a hiccup before it had even finished, and she nodded before throwing her arms around her husband. Lightning turned away from the display, only to see Hope staring at them with rapt attention.

"Hope," Lightning said, coming up next to him, "What are you-"

"He'll come back," Hope cut across her, looking back at her with fierce eyes, "Everyone will come back. I'll make sure."

Lightning's stomach coiled but she said nothing, only nodding as Hope turned away from her. She touched him on the shoulder and tilted her head toward the door, signaling that they should give Snow and Serah some time alone. Hope opened his mouth, but slowly closed it, giving her a small nod and following her out the door.

Serah just cried into Snow's shoulder.

Inside of the airship was painfully quiet. There was, of course, the rumblings of the engines and the loud sounds from the machines. The drilling or the clinking as parts rubbed together, or the roar of the very airship itself as it sped across Gran Pulse. There was the feeble attempts at conversation within the airship itself, several members of De Novo trying to liven things up before slipping back into the quiet.

Three men and three women would tug at the black armor and look at each other, smiling a little or immediately trying to say something. It was often pointless, such as, "Did you get your gun ready?" or, "This will be one tough mission." Pointless things to say that would result in a half nod or shrug, or even the occasional yes. Of course they're guns were loaded, each person's hand resting on the trigger. There was no need to say it would be a tough mission; that much could be seen without the need for words. But they said it anyway.

Anything to stop the silence.

The silence was evil. It sapped away much needed energy. It allowed a person's thoughts to be sucked into a void, warped and twisted, spouting off all their fears and worries and the terror of death. It ate them alive without actually biting them, and left each and every person feeling as if they had just lost a chunk of themselves. No amount of chatter or engine sounds could fill the silence, or beat it back. It could not be staved.

So they sat in it.

Lightning watched as each man and woman fumbled with themselves or with their weapon, sometimes standing from their chair and walking around, other times sitting so still she would think they had been glued there. But her eyes would always, without fail, stray to Hope. The way he slouched over his own chair, his elbow resting almost lazily on the sleek metal arm of the airship chair. He seemed relaxed and composed, but Lightning didn't focus on just his body.

His eyes told much more.

They traveled to each and every person in the airship. To the few soldiers that had boarded on their own group's arrival to base, to Rygdea as the man would ask questions to the pilot and co-pilot. His green orbs would linger on each solider that spoke, each and every time they voiced their nervousness or fake confidence of the mission. And sometimes those same eyes would fall on her and she would have to look away.

Hope.

What are you thinking? Are you worried that this will be the last time you get to see any of these people? Are you worried we'll all die? Are you just afraid of going back there?

But...earlier. Earlier you were acting differently. You still are I guess, and I still don't know what ti is you're trying to do. But I'm worried Hope.

How am I supposed to help you?

Lightning sighed and brushed her hand against her forehead, pressing the edge of her palm against the skin and glancing through the window. The lush green fields of Pulse were rolling underneath them, and just below Lightning could make out a pack of monsters as they charged through the fields. The rock masses were still large and looming, even from the distance, and the sun reflected off their now hot and rough surface. Lightning had to squint whenever her eyes caught them, and she wondered when they would reach Saorise's hideout.

And more importantly, what they would find once they did.

She looked back and could just make out the edge of another airship as it flew behind them, and she glanced to the other side of her own airship as if she could get a glance of the other. Her eyes met Hope's again, but he looked away from her before she could react. She sighed and looked back out at Pulse, but her eyes kept straying back to him. Her chest was seizing and she clenched her hands, swallowing her breath.

"Hope..." she said after a few moments of silence. The entire cabin had gone quiet and she shut her eyes, wishing that someone else would talk. She didn't like the idea of others hearing her speaking so...intimately with Hope, even for a pep talk.

Rygdea looked back at her and managed a smirk, easily sensing her discomfort. He rounded on one of his nearby officers, slinging an arm over her shoulder and whispering loudly into her ear, "Why, I do believe she's trying to have a conversation with Hope! Funny thing those two, for you see, they are madly in love with each other, but are so socially inept that neither is able to admit it." Lightning and Hope's heads whipped around at Rygdea but the man's grin only widened, "Why yes, I do believe they are annoyed right now. Perhaps this was the moment that Miss Lightning would finally make her deceleration of love?"

Rygdea snickered as both Hope's and Lightning's face burned bright red, Lightning even standing from her chair. Rygdea smiled and continued on, " I mean, it is about time isn't it?" Rygdea started to chuckle when the woman covered her mouth, a few giggles escaping, "In one of those trashy romance novels, not that I read those by the way, it's usually around this time that either the male or female protagonist reveals their undying love for the other. And since Hope already declared his undying love, I think it's fair to assume that Lightning was going to make her move on Hope, you know, since it's before this big battle and everything." Rygdea nodded almost sagely to himself, beaming as several giggles erupted from the girl. The pilots at the front had their shoulders hunched, trying not to laugh as they flew the ship. There was a smile on each face with the exception of Lightning and Hope.

Lightning looked ready to punch Rygdea, and had already balled her fist to strike, whereas Hope just looked stunned. His jaw had gone slack, and the redness in his face was more prominent than ever. He blinked as Lightning marched toward Rygdea, and the girl next the scruffy man squeaked before scurrying away. Rygdea grinned and held up his hands, already thinking of an excuse.

"Come on now, it was all in good fun after all! Besides, it helps relieve some of the tension. Can't have my men and women going in nervous as a pack of rats now can I?" Rygdea tried, his eyes landing on Lightning's fist. "Now how about we just calm down and be happy that it actually worked? I mean, come on, look at this crew! They're all shits and giggles now."

"That would be fine if we had time for shits and giggles," Lightning seethed, "But considering what we're about to do-"

"Hey now, I was just going for a bit of fun." Rygdea smiled, his eyes flashing and becoming almost devilish as he leered at her, "Besides, it's not like I was completely lying now was I? I see you two, giving each other the eye and all that." Rygdea shook his head when Lightning sputtered, waving his hand off to the crew so that they knew to butt out. Hope was still staring into space, either still stunned or lost in contemplation, no one knew. Rygdea wrapped an arm around Lightning's shoulder, only for his arm to jolt in pain as she punched, pinched the skin, and twisted.

"Ah! Ah...touchy, touchy I see. But your face is red, so I know you're just embarrassed."

"Soon your face will be red too. A nice broken nose so that-"

Rygdea held up his arms again, shaking his head as he led her away, "Always so violent aren't we? You know Farron, you catch more flies with honey-" Rygdea snapped his mouth shut when she raised her fist again, but smiled once she dropped her arm, "But seriously, are you going to tell him something? Because I've seen you looking, and after I saw you sneak into his room, I'm really wondering."

Rygdea flinched, half expecting a fist to come flying at him, but he peeked his eyes open when he found himself uninjured. Lightning was looking away from him and over to Hope's chair, his fluffy silver locks just visible over the top of the seat. Rygdea blinked, his eyebrows disappearing into his mop of hair, and he turned back to Lightning. "Come on then, we'll have a while before they manage to find anything."

"I'm not coming with you," she snapped. Rygdea raised an eyebrow before nudging her toward the back, a small door waiting for them at the end. Lightning growled and punched Rygdea in the arm, smirking as he winced before going toward the door. Rygdea glanced behind him, catching Hope's eyes and giving the man a thumbs up before following Lightning toward the door.

Lightning grabbed the door by the rusty handle and pulled it open, disappearing into a room of machinery, Rygdea following behind her. Her eyes roved the different parts of the engine as they bobbed up and down, swung from side to side, and busted out in scratching metal noise. She could already feel her head begin to pound with each second she spent there, and she turned to Rygdea as he closed the door.

"Hurry up Rygdea," she shouted, her voice thinned out as it fought with the noise of the engine, "Now's not really the time to be talking about this."

"Then when is it the time!" Rygdea shouted back. Lightning bit her cheek and turned away, her face growing uncomfortably warm. Rygdea's sigh went unheard as he walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Do you really plan on telling him anything? Because I need to know."

Lightning stared at Rygdea, her eyes searching his, before she turned away again. She shrugged, still biting her cheek, and Rygdea glared. "Lightning, I need to know-"

"I was!" Lightning shouted, refusing to look at him, "I was planning on telling him! I'm not sure..." Lightning's voice died in the room but Rygdea kept his ears peeled, listening hard for her voice. Lightning swallowed, her face absolutely burning, "I'm not even sure what I want to say. I just-I need to tell him this before he does something stupid and I-" Lightning shook her head, bringing her hand to her forehead, but Rygdea nodded.

"Before he does something stupid right? Before he does something stupid and you can't." Rygdea shrugged at her surprised look, looking toward the machines as they chugged away. "You've seen it haven't you? The way he's been acting?" Rygdea shook his head, putting a hand on his hip, "I don't know what he's thinking but it ain't good, I can tell you that much. He was up late, I could tell because he was up before I was. And I was up damn early. And he wouldn't be sitting there all calm about where we're going. He wouldn't be-I mean, I'm glad that he smiled but it still-" Rygdea stopped, shaking his head.

Lightning watched as the frustration played on Rygdea's face, her own heart clenching as she recalled Hope's strange and calm behavior. She looked back at the door, eyes lingering on the handle, and she clenched her hands.

"What do we do?" Lightning asked. She looked down though, the answer already playing in her head.

"We'll just have to watch him as carefully as we can. Make sure he doesn't try something stupid, or go off somewhere," Rygdea said, "Really all we can do."

"Right," Lightning mumbled, letting out a sigh and leading the way out of the engine room. Rygdea held up his hand, reaching for her, but he stopped himself and let his arm drop. He shook his head, almost grinning to himself.

"Guess I just have to let it play out," he mumbled, following Lightning out of the room, "It's up to her anyway." He blinked as the bright lights of the cabin in the airship flooded his eyes, the retinas burning with the sudden flash. He glanced at Lightning as she made her way over to Hope, but his eyes locked with Hope's as the man glanced over. Rygdea raised his hand and waved at Hope, and the silveret slowly nodded, giving him a two-fingered salute.

"Sir!" the pilot up front called, "Sir, come look at this!" Rygdea's eyes strayed from Hope to the cockpit, and he nodded at Hope one more before hurrying to the front. All heads turned to him, but Rygdea closed the door behind him, barring any noise from escaping the room.

Lightning's eyes lingered on the door, her chest seizing up as she thought of what the pilots could have found. She clenched her hands and looked out the window, expecting to see some trace of Saorise's hideout already waiting for them below. Hope watched her, still glued to his chair, and while his face was calm, his hands clung to the arms of the chair.

"We'll probably get there soon," Hope said, his voice raspy. He swallowed and looked away as Lightning glanced at him, and he tightened the grip he had around the chair. His heart jumped when Lightning knelt next to him, and the organ catapulted to his throat when he felt her hands ghost over his arm.

"Probably. We'll have to stay on our toes. Just focus on what's ahead of you and you'll be fine Hope," Lightning said, her fingers wrapping around his wrist. She could feel his rapid pulse, the way his blood rushed through his body just under the skin, and she tightened her hold. "And remember, you can rely on us. You don't have to do this alone, not anymore."

"Light…" Hope released his breath and looked away, his cheeks burning brightly. Lightning kept her eyes on his arm, her own face warming as they sat so close together. Hope glanced at her, his eyes betraying his conflict and turmoil, the swirl of terror hiding so much more than he wanted to say. He slowly reached over and laid his hand on top of hers, forcing his body to tighten so as not to shake. Lightning glanced up at him when she felt his warm hand over hers, blue eyes boring into green. Hope swallowed, breath catching, but he didn't look away, "Thank you Light. For everything."

"Hope…"

"When this is over," he said, barreling over her own voice, "I promised to tell you everything. From...from what I remember when I first met Saorise, to the very end, when it all sort of blew up. The incidents I remember or the ones that stick out the most in my mind, the things that made me-" Hope paused, shutting his eyes and shaking his head. His face tightened and he released several short breaths, grasping Lightning's hand, "Everything that made me what I am now." Hope looked back at her, his eyes shining. His eyes quivered but kept her gaze, and she could see the pain hiding behind their depths.

"I want you to know…I wrote it all down." Lightning nodded, eyes narrowing as she tried to think of why this, of all things, was worth mentioning. Something in her chest went cold, making her shudder. "It was hard…really hard. I wanted to-to just rip up the paper sometimes and forget it all. But it was so-" Hope looked up, searching above Lightning for his answer, "I don't know how to describe it. It was painful and everything but-but I can't tell if it helped me or not. It's supposed to be like catharsis right?" Hope mumbled to himself, "So maybe that's what it is."

"Wait Hope, I-"

"Trust me Lightning. You'll understand why." Hope squeezed her hand again, eyes imploring as she hesitated.

Lightning's eyes hardened, but she didn't pull away, instead placing her other hand over Hope's. She opened her mouth but paused for a moment, eyes roving over Hope's face. Her heart seemed to be trying it rip itself from her chest, tearing at the skin with each beat, as it to break free from its cage. She swallowed and nodded to herself, locking her eyes with Hope.

"Then when this is over Hope, I'm going to tell you something." Lightning squeezed Hope's hand, swallowing, "It's really important, and I think we'll need to talk for a while. Where we'll go from there and all that." Hope's eyes widened and he tried to speak, but Lightning shook her head, "I'm going to do this Hope. We're going to talk and then…then I can…" Lightning sighed, shaking her head, "I can't make it come out right, can I?"

"Light-Lightning I-"

"Hope, just promise me that we'll talk when this is over. I have to do this, I have to tell you this, before I do something stupid or you do something stupid and-" Lightning trailed off, looking into Hope's eyes and trying, desperately, to tell Hope what she was trying to say with her eyes. He has to understand. He has to know. I have to tell him… I want to tell him.

"Lightning…"

The door to the cockpit reopened, the metal door creaking and landing softly on the wall. Rygdea stepped through, the man running a hand through his hair. All heads turned to him as he blew out a sigh, his weary eyes surveying the ship and all the soldiers within. Rygdea's eyes lingered on Hope and Lightning for a moment, and he cleared his throat.

"After this next rock formation, we'll be approaching her hideout. I have Lebreau and Maqui each taking their stations near the airship door. When we get over the area, we'll need them and Vitan," Rygdea looked at a young woman with sandy blond hair, her eye bright gray eyes hardening as she nodded, "to get themselves ready at the doors and pump as much magic as you can over this barrier. I don't know what it is or how she put it up, but I expect it to be there like it was before." Rygdea's eyes swept over the group, each face hardening and every body tensing, "Hope, you and Tiaw will position yourselves behind Vitan and provide back up. This thing will probably be fighting back, and I don't want to lose anyone before we even hit the ground."

"Yes sir." resounded in the room and Lightning stood up and away from Hope as he made to stand, but Rygdea held up his hand.

"I don't know what we're going to find down there. I've heard only one account, and I have no way of knowing how this psycho may have changed things since he left." Hope tensed beside Lightning and she stepped just a bit closer to him, "But this will not be easy. As many precautions as we take, however many men we bring, there is a risk. We all know this. But we all know who we're dealing with, we all know that she won't hold back, and we all know what will happen to us if we let out guard down for a second."

Rygdea took a deep breath, his grin returning, "We know all that, and you know what else? It ain't gonna matter. Some of us will go down, that's the way of things, but I know I'm in command of some of the toughest soldiers I've ever had the honor of coming across. You all know how to get things done, and even when you get knocked back down, you keep getting the fuck back up." Rygdea raised his fist, grinning wider, "You can have that black eye, hell, a broken leg, and you'll still drag your body off the ground and give em hell! You'll be spitting blood, you'll be wishing you were dead, but you're still doing it!" The soldiers began to smile and nod, some even flexing as tentative smiles flashed on their faces, "And that's how I know this bitch is going down! You'll be dragging yourself from the grave just to get back at her. We're going to win this fight, whether she likes it or not, and we'll take back that security that she took from us!"

Rygdea shouted the last part and let out a heavy breath, nodding to himself. One of the men smiled at Rygdea, cocking his gun next to him, "And you said you don't know how to give public speeches captain."

"What can I say? Guess even old guys can learn something new." Rygdea shrugged, looking around at his soldiers. "Well? What the hell you waiting for, an invitation? Get in your positions! Vitan, Tiaw, Hope, by the door! Everyone else, I want your guns ready and your eyes peeled. Be ready to drop in the moment this ship lands. If something tries to get in through the windows, shoot it down. If something tries to get in through the bottom of this thing-" Rygdea stomped on the floor, the metallic sound ringing through the room, "-shoot it down. If something is trying to eat you…well, you're one unlucky bastard. Shoot the fucker down!"

Bodies were up and moving before Rygdea had even finished. Hope reached for Lightning, his fingers ghosting over her arm before he joined Vitan and Tiaw at the door. Vitan pulled the door open and the wind rushed in, whipping her hair backward as the currents rushed her. Hope and Tiaw remained near the door, just out of Vitan's reach but close enough to grab her if need be. Around them the soldiers were cocking their weapons, stuffing barrels into their belts or cases before laying their hands on the gun.

Lightning pulled her gunblade from its satchel, inspecting the fine edge before holding it at her side. She watched Hope as the man leaned toward the open door, his eyes narrowing as the wind rushed his face. Rygdea walked up behind them, glaring at the ground below. All he could see were the rolling fields of grass, and as the airships came to a stop, the grass was all that was seen below. "Hold her steady up there!" Rygdea called. He waited until he heard the "Yes sir!" before looking back below. Rygdea reached into his pocket and pulled out a communicator, "Everyone in position?" he called.

"Affirmative!"

"Affirmative!"

Rygdea nodded before locking eyes with Vitan, "You know what to do." He held up the mouthpiece and shouted, "Start!"

Vitan whipped around before Rygdea had even finished his sentence and threw her arms out in front of her. Her hands took on a light blue glow and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before icicles shot out from her hands and torpedoed below. A rush of flames and bolts of lightning joined the ice as they shot toward Pulse, but instead of hitting the ground, the spells seemed to hit a wall of water. The flimsy surface rippled as the spells hit, and heads leaned forward to try and get a closer look. The spells continued from each ship, Vitan biting her lip and shifting her feet to keep up the spell. Rygdea walked forward. Clasping Hope's shoulder before leaning over Vitan to look at the barrier below.

"Of course…" he mumbled, glancing at Vitan. Increase the pressure. If you start to feel strange, switch with Hope or Tiaw." Rygdea waited until the woman nodded before stepping back, pulling the communicator to his ear, "You all get that then?"

"All ready on it sir."

Rygdea nodded, lowering the communicator and watching as the fire and lightning from the other ships increased in size. The cracking flames seemed to roar over the engines of the ships, and coupled with the constant crack of lightning, the occupants could feel the ringing in their ears. Icicles and frost increased, the rapidity of their impact causing them to burst into shards as they hit the barrier. Rygdea motioned again, relaying an increase to Vitan before commanding the same of the other ships, and Vitan took a heavy breath. Sweat poured down her temple and she nodded toward Hope, stepping aside to give him room.

Hope swallowed and nodded, his pulse thrumming wildly as he planted his feet in the wide open doorway. He held out his hands and closed his eyes, sifting through his head for an element to use. He sighed and felt the rush of water at his fingers tips, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. Then his eyes snapped open and he pushed forward, toes touching the edge of the ship as torrents of water streamed below. Like the other spells they hit the barrier and caused ripples, the water sliding down the walls of the blockade. Hope puffed his chest and heaved, the water torrents barreling down below and mixing with the other spells.

Rygdea watched the group with careful eyes, waiting for the slightest limp or off breath, any indication that something was wrong. His eyes would stray to Hope as well, thoughts flickering to the odd incidents with his magic just days ago.

"Duck!" Vitan and Hope shouted, throwing themselves backward and landing hard on the floor of the ship. Rygdea swore and dropped to his knees, soldiers around him helping as well to grab Hope and Vitan and pull them away as a wall of fire flew by the doorway.

"What the hell was that?" Rygdea shouted, leaning forward as the flames died.

"That was the barrier fighting back," Hope muttered, pushing himself to his feet. He walked toward the doorway, biting his lip as he studied the barrier below. It no longer disappeared, leaving the group with only the innocent appearance of grass, but now cast a milky white glow over the ground. Hope's chest swelled and he shook his head, turning back to Vitan, "Did it look like it was just…shaking our spells off to you?"

Vitan pushed herself up and nodded, joining Hope at the doorway, "Kind of…like it wasn't doing anything."

"And when it tried to hit us, it was a water spell that hit it right?" Hope asked.

Vitan's eyes widened and Rygdea brought his communicator up to his mouth, "Maqui, step away from the door, but try casting a lightning spell that way." Rygdea looked toward the barrier as the lightning cracked through the air and snapped the barrier. There was an odd rumble below, one that made the barrier shake, and then more flames shot up, this time toward the ship. "Fuck," Rygdea mumbled, pulling the communicator back to his mouth, "All right, Lebreau, send a fire spell that way."

Rygdea watched as the flames danced out of the last ship and shot toward the barrier below, but this time there was no recoil. Vitan and Hope looked over the doorway and Hope shook his head, "It's fire. She geared so that it'd go down with fire."

"Well then that's what we'll shoot at it," Rygdea said. But he did not miss the tremor in Hope's voice or they way he stepped back, holding his hands to his chest. Hope's brow was furrowed and he glanced at Rygdea. Rygdea could only nod at him, watching as Hope turned away and sent several fire spells below, substantially weaker than his water spells from before. Damn… Rygdea shook his head, The bitch knows we're here, that much is sure. But is she waiting? Or was this just a trap knowing we'd come? She knows…she knows how Hope would react, how this whole thing relates to fire with him, but does that mean she's in there?

"Rygdea! Rygdea!" Vitan shouted, looking over her shoulder, "The barrier it-" Vitan and Hope stepped back as Rygdea charged ahead, glaring at the ground below. Hope's expression was except for his eyes, searching below as well. They were dark, haunted, and already lost in his past. Of the screams…of the pain, and of cold and bitter snow.

And below the ships sat a lone cabin, made of dark wood and seemingly abandoned. There was snow around the small building, the white fluff caked every crevice it could reach on the cabin, and the snow was packed several feet on the ground. Numbing wind blew up the ships as each person looked at the painfully lonely looking sight below. There was nothing but the snow and the cabin, nothing but a few broken planks of wood and a small circle that resembled a fire pit.

But they knew there was more. There was an evil woman, intent on killing them all. There were screams and books that held more riddles than clues. There was blood and taint. There was in inborn darkness, reeking of something putrid and bitter.

There was a broken boy.

And so they began to land.