Hello! I...am having trouble getting motivated right now. The end of the year is near for me, and Daybreak has the misfortune of being done on my computer. The problem is finding the want to edit it. I'm trying to thread my inspiration back together, so I will be burying myself in two of my favorite books, as well as listening to the songs that helped this fic come to be. And I will update on Tuesday if it kills me. I will try guys. I will get this up. Both for you and for me. I want to see this finished-I am not tripping at the finish line. I will also be getting back into replying in a more timely fashion as well.

Also, some of you may have noticed the wacky behavior of the pm system. And the new one that won't let you reply to old pms. Yes...it is very annoying when you have several conversations. And when you try to reply to reviewers and such, but you know some of them don't know you are because for the past few weeks the system has been broken and wouldn't tell you when you got a new pm. I am annoyed...extremely...with this. But hopefully, things will be better now.

Edit: Scratch updating Tuesday. Scratch updating next week. I need a break, I need a break, I need a break. I'm burning out-I can feel myself burning out. I need to stop for a while, not worry about this. I'm sorry but I'm starting to cringe when I think about this story. I promise I will update, but I need some time away before-I don't know. Before I let it sit here.

Sorry for my rambling. Here is a late release of the new chapter.


"Ugh!" Hope jumped when Lebreau's shout reached the living room, glancing at Lightning as she tightened her arms around his waist before rolling her eyes and releasing him. Hope smiled at her and made to stand, only to be shoved back down as Lebreau burst into the room.

"Stay there Hope, there's no point in both of us looking," Lebreau snapped, glancing around the room. Hope sighed, brushing his hair out of his face as Lightning grabbed him around the waist again and set him against her, resting her head on the cushions.

"Then be quiet. I need a power nap," Lightning mumbled, closing her eyes.

Hope smiled, shaking his head. "And just what are you looking for, Lebreau?"

"That good for nothing Maqui! How am I supposed to apologize to him if he's nowhere to be found? He's been gone for hours now, and it's the third time I've looked through the house."

"Trust me, we know," Lightning muttered. "We heard you swearing every time you didn't find him."

Lebreau opened her mouth to shout at her, only to stop as a loud thump sounded above their heads. The sound echoed through the ceiling and all their eyes traveled with it, the noise stretching along the ceiling, waiting until it had died down. Hope looked at Lebreau, seizing the chance to speak, "Did you check outside? He might be working on the bikes or something."

Lebreau nodded, throwing her hands in the air. "I checked, trust me. But there was no sign of him. And I'm starting to get a headache or something." She shook her head, reaching for her wrist and scratching at the sleeve. Hope watched her, narrowing his eyes when her brand started to peek through the purple sleeve. Lightning was starting to get up as well, and he scooted over so she could sit up, still watching Lebreau as she scratched at her brand.

"Lebreau-"

"Why. Won't. It. Stop. Itching!" she snarled, rolling her sleeve up so she could look at the brand. Lightning leaned next to Hope, narrowing her eyes as Lebreau revealed her brand, but Hope stood and walked toward her, pulling her wrist toward him.

"What?" Hope breathed, pulling her wrist closer to his eyes. He felt Lebreau tense in his grip and more thumping started to sound from upstairs, as well a loud curse word, muffled only by the ceiling. Yet Hope's eyes were glued to the edges of Lebreau's shimmering brand, and he breathed sharply when he saw the corner start to inch up.

"Hope? Hope, what's wrong with it?" Lebreau couldn't keep the quiver from her voice, but then she steeled her eyes and ripped her arm out of Hope's hand, shaking her head. "Forget this. I have to find Maqui. The idiot probably decided to do something stupid again." But she lingered after she stepped away from Hope, looking between him and Lightning and holding her wrist to her chest.

Thump, thump.

"What is it, Hope?" Lightning asked, coming up next to him and reaching for Lebreau's wrist. Lebreau stepped away from Lightning, shaking her head before looking at Hope's wide eyes.

"Her-her brand. It started to move-"

THUMP!

Hope jumped at the loud, hollow noise, but the sound that followed made his heart clench, then freeze in his chest. He closed his eyes and fisted his hands, brushing his fingers against Lightning's shoulder and feeling her tense underneath his fingers. But it was there.

The distant ringing of sirens.

Lebreau fell silent and closed her eyes as well, only for them to shoot open as the loud, piercing siren started to grow louder and louder. The thumping started down the stairs, and Serah's voice reached the hall. "Guys? Guys? What's going on, those sirens-"

"Dammit. Damn them, damn this place, damn Maqui and his stupid ideas!" Rygdea snarled, throwing himself down the stairs. Hope and Lebreau barely had a chance to blink before their uniforms came flying at them, Rygdea disappearing into the kitchen. "Get those on, now! Get ready to go out!"

Hope inhaled, taking a step back and glancing at his uniform, mind still buzzing from the sirens. He wasn't even sure if his heart had started up again or not.

"Hope, come on, I think we need to-"

Hope glanced at Lightning, his eyes widening further as his hands started to shake, gripping the uniform so tightly that his hands turned white. Blood was rushing in his ears, but Lebreau's voice broke through as she called after Rygdea, "What do you mean Rygdea? Do-do you know where Maqui is or something? Come on, you have to tell me if you do-"

Rygdea walked back into the room, Snow behind him, the taller man's brow furrowed as he looked between Lebreau, Hope, and Lightning, then outside toward the windows. Rygdea ran a hand over his face, shaking his head.

"Maqui's done something incredibly stupid at the worst possible time. And right now we have a code red and have to get our asses over to that damned crystal to try and fix things and-" Rygdea stopped, closing his eyes and swallowing hard.

"And this is it." He looked at Hope, nodding. "It will be all right Hope. Go on and get suited up. I already called Sazh, and he and Dajh are heading for one of the evacuation areas. We're going to have Serah take Hazel and do the same."

Lebreau's chest was heaving as Rygdea turned away from her, his eyes instead on Snow. "I wouldn't blame you if you decided to stay with your wife, Snow. This might-well, we all have…" Rygdea trailed off, blinking hard before he hardened his eyes and nodded at Snow. "So the option is open for you, if you really need it."

Snow's mouth parted, the man looking toward the windows again before he looked back at the kitchen. It fell silent between all of them and Snow clenched his hands as Serah's sobs floated into the room from the doorway. He looked down, shutting his eyes tight as he shook his head. "No-no I need to go. It wouldn't be right-I can't protect her-I can't protect anyone if I stay at some shelter and-"

Rygdea nodded, clapping him on the shoulder before turning to the others again. "We really need to get going everyone. Grab your weapons; whatever's left in the shed in the back or what Maqui's left out. Go get changed first, though."

Lightning nodded, placing a hand on Hope's shoulder as he remained still, staring at Rygdea with wide eyes with his uniform held tightly in his hands. Lebreau was shaking her head, cutting across Rygdea as he made to go upstairs. "But what about Maqui? What stupid plan, Rygdea? Tell us!"

Lightning glanced at Hope when his shoulders tensed, but her eyes went back to Rygdea as he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He went to Sultur for some idiotic plan to act-act as decoys or something to give us more time. He wound up bringing Tiaw, Vitan, Dart, and Silusa, and now they're in the center of this mess."

"Decoys…" Hope mumbled, clenching the uniform. "Why would we need-but we were going to-" Lightning took a deep breath, squeezing Hope's shoulder and wrapping her arms around him for a quick hug, before grabbing him by the arm and leading him toward the stairs.

"But-but what about them, then? Maqui and the others…they're okay aren't they? Or they'll be okay once we get there, right Rygdea?" Lebreau's questions floated to Hope and Lightning, even once Lebreau and Rygdea started to climb the stairs, her voice rising higher and higher. "Right Rygdea? They'll be okay! We'll get there and things will be okay, won't they? He's fine! They're all fine."

Lightning pushed Hope into his room, kissing him on the forehead and taking in his blank eyes. She shook her head as she turned away, listening as his door closed with a quiet thud before heading for her own room. She paused at the door, listening as Lebreau continued to ask Rygdea if the others would be okay, looking for some reassurance. Lightning nearly jumped when Lebreau started to shriek, her eyes going to the head of the stairs as Rygdea appeared, face drawn tight. She met his gaze briefly before hurrying into her room, Lebreau's voice still echoing in the house.

Rygdea never answered.


"When he comes, you must be ready."

"No mistakes."

"I don't care how mad you are at that woman, I will not have your moods bring to ruin all we have worked for."

"Peace will come to us, come to all. The great Maker will come and set right what we have wronged. Your freedom will be yours, take pleasure in this."

"They are inconsequential."

"No, Saorise. Now is not the time for that. You must be patient and wait until I intervene before trying anything. The moment must be perfect. The crystal must strike you before I may come."

"Do not get sidetracked."

"I do not care what the other human said, you will listen! You have worked hard for this, you have striven for it since you were young and in my care, shown the truth by the ever forgiving Fal'Cie. Do not forsake it now for some grudge! You will have it all, but you must be willing to wait. Patience Saorise. Patience is the key."

Saorise watched as the blond from before writhed on the ground, convulsing and gasping for air as more crystal skin started to overtake his body. Her eyes were still blank, mind racing, and her body was stock still despite the chaos around her. Soldiers began to point at the area, aiming their guns, but walls of water and fire rose over her, and several of the flying C'ieth flew to shield her. The C'ieth fell to the ground with loud, cracking thuds when the gunshots finally ceased, but Saorise did not flinch. Not even as more screeching C'ieth flew in, grabbing the soldiers and carrying them high above the ground, more cracks and howls piercing the air, blood dropping to the ground in droplets or gushing pools.

"Listen to him, Saorise. We are close to the end that we have all sought, the ultimate beginning. Today, we break the cycle, the eternal wheel of suffering we have all had to endure. Just bear it a while longer, and you shall know not only freedom, but also the truth. And the boy…the boy will be near you, in the infinite nothing. The endless rest that you seek. Just wait. Just wait and do as Chaos says."

The voice seemed to stroke her soul, some part of her that she could not see or touch. But she could feel it. The way this unseen part of her writhed inside of her body, question after question spilling from its mouth. The thirst to know-but her mouth was gagged, her voice silenced. She knew her questions would yield no answers.

She narrowed her eyes at Maqui, the first action she took since he had fallen and the crystal started to claim his body. Water was pooling around him, splashing as it dropped from the air. The other three were no better, little shocks of lightning, followed by low claps of thunder filling the area around their bodies. Their brands had advanced far more than Maqui's-their faces quickly disappearing, only to be replaced with black crystal masks embedded in their chests.

"But I hate them Neshrim…I truly do." Saorise took a step forward, tilting her head as the blond looked up at her.

"Maqui…" she mumbled, bringing her foot to his side. He shuddered and looked up at her, half of his face covered in white crystal, sealing his left eye shut and the other nothing but a slit as it looked up at her. Spikes were starting to pop out of his neck, ripping his uniform, and he let out a howl, thrashing from side to side.

"I hate them all…" she repeated, shaking her head. "I'm sure-I'm sure if I was careful, I could do it. And then it'd be easier. I doubt he'd offer any resistance after that. He's not the type. This-this will hurt him." She pressed her boot on Maqui's side, forcing his face to the ground again. "But losing her will break him. I won't have to worry anymore and that will be one less annoyance."

"Saorise."

"All I have to do is wait…and then, I can have it all. Salvation and Hope."

"Saorise!"

But she did not hear the voice. Maqui's words ran in her head, the words she hated and detested. The words that made her chest roar and her hands clench and some, small trickle of fear drop inside her heart. This unseen and unknowable thing...twisted and wrong and she did not understand it. Did not want to. And all from his words.

She hated him for that.

"I'll have it all."


Hope closed his stinging eyes when Serah hugged him, Hazel cradled in her arms. He almost couldn't look her in the eye as she pulled away, bringing Hazel up to his face. The young girl was shivering in the cold night air despite the blanket Serah had wrapped around her, but she raised a little fist and grabbed Hope's cheek, pinching it hard.

"Be back soon," Hazel said, eyes drooping as she snuggled back with her mother. Hope nodded, opening his mouth to speak, but all that came out was an odd, choked noise. Serah smiled, a tear falling down her cheek before she nodded and turned to her sister, then to her husband. She glanced back at Lightning, her lip quivering before she sobbed, burying her face in her daughter's hair. Snow shook his head, bringing Serah to his chest and pressing her against him, their daughter sandwiched between them.

"I'll come back Serah. I promise. We all will," Snow muttered, closing his eyes and Serah let out a shuddering breath, trying to rein her tears in. "We'll all come back."

"I know," she muttered. "I know you will." Hope almost had to turn away as the airship started to hover above them, wind whipping around while Serah broke away from Snow, her face bright with tears. She gulped, shaking her head before giving Snow a small, heartbreaking smile. "You always do," she whispered, blinking hard as she held up her daughter's hand, making it wave as Snow kissed Hazel, then Serah, on the forehead.

"You always do."

She nodded, turning away and joining the growing mob of people in the streets being led down a different path, toward several shelters. She kept glancing back at them before she and Hazel disappeared into the crowd. Hope's chest tightened and he looked away, eyes straying to Lightning and Snow as they watched her vanish. His voice caught as he watched their eyes follow her, even though she could no longer be seen, and he reached for Lightning's arm.

"We-we'll come back," he managed, blinking once when he felt something wet in the corners of his eyes. "We'll come back." Lightning turned to him, eyes shining and oddly bright, and Snow tried to give him a smile from behind her.

"We will." Snow nodded, breathing deep before his voice returned to its usually loud and boisterous tone. "We'll come home."

Snow nodded once more before leading them to the airship that was at rest on the other side of the street, small burst of wind released by the airship blowing their hair back, as well as dirt, leaves, and stray trash that had found its way to the streets. Rygdea was already waiting in front of the door to the airship, as well as Lebreau and two other soldiers. Rygdea nodded as they approached, stepping away from the door and pressing a button near the edge of the metal door. It slid open, a small ramp reaching the ground, and he tilted his head for them to enter.

"I called Sazh," Rygdea said as they stepped inside. "And he's staying with Dajh."

"Good," Snow mumbled, eyes unnaturally dark. "Someone has to stay with their family."

"You know it isn't like that, Snow," Lightning muttered as she stepped in after him. Hope sighed, waving his hand for Lebreau to go in. She shook her head, and Hope closed his eyes, letting out a silent sigh before nodding and heading in himself. He didn't comment on her red cheeks and eyes, only brushed his hand on her wrist before following Lightning into the airship.

Rygdea nodded at Hope as he walked in. "We can do this, Hope."

"I know." The words came out on their own, but once they left his mouth, Hope wondered whether it was a good thing that he had started saying things like that. Saying things would work out and that they would succeed when he had no solid proof that they would. Or when it seemed like they had proof that it wouldn't.

Is it all right...to be so optimistic?

He disappeared into the ship, then the two soldiers from before, one from De Novo, the other from the Guardian Corps. They both waved at him before heading for the pilot and co-pilot's area, chatting with the pilots to relieve some of their own tension. Lebreau was next, but she didn't even glance at Hope, heading for the nearest corner of the airship and leaning against the wall. Rygdea was last, looking at Hope as the door closed behind him.

Hope bit his lip, clenching and unclenching his hand before stepping toward him. "I-I think we can save Maqui."

Rygdea leaned back, eyes widening. "What?"

"I think we can save him." Hope looked down, his face feeling hot and his heart hammering hard in his chest. I can't be wrong about this. This is the one thing I can't be wrong about.

I can't be wrong.

"Even-even if it's worst case scenario, I might be able to do something." Hope jumped when Rygdea grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Rygdea? What-"

"I don't know what that is Hope, but as bad as it sounds-as bad as it sounds-"

Hope shook his head, trying to ignore the stares from the others as the airship went silent, or the way Lightning was glaring at Rygdea.

"I can't lose you too, Hope," Rygdea finally said, eyes scrunching up. Hope was stricken, mouth falling open as Rygdea's weariness finally showed. His eyes were lined and irises dulled, and Hope grabbed the man's arm, easily feeling the tired muscles as the grip loosened.

I'm so sorry, Rygdea.

I-I forgot…how hard this must be for you.

Like-like if mom-if mom had let me-and dad-

"It'll be okay, Rygdea," Hope said, hardening his eyes and grabbing Rygdea's arm in a tough hold, "I'll make sure everything is okay." Hope swallowed, boring his eyes into Rygdea's.

Rygdea blinked, arms falling to his sides before a small smirk made its way to his face. The man shook his head clapping Hope on the shoulder. "You know Hope, I have to be feeling down if I need you to cheer me up."

Hope sputtered a bit, glaring at him, but Rygdea began again. "You know Hope, I think you're right. Everything will be okay. But whatever it is you're planning to do, save it for the ground, okay? Where we can actually help you."Hope blinked, a small smile tugging on his face.

"Sir! We need your help up here, we're starting to experience interference." Rygdea glanced back at the pilots before shaking his head, heaving a sigh. He turned back to Hope, eyes hard.

"We will be talking about this, so don't do anything rash." Rygdea looked away from Hope, eyes focusing on Lebreau. She still hung by the back of the ship, near the door that lead to the engine and supply room. She narrowed her eyes at him, face otherwise blank.

"Any of you," he muttered, releasing Hope's shoulder and walking to the cockpit.

Hope sighed, running a hand through his hair before turning to Lightning, Snow, and Lebreau; the two soldiers walking back in. "That…could have been worse, huh?"

Lightning nodded but Lebreau pushed herself off the wall, stepping toward Hope. "What do you mean you might be able to save him?" she asked, eyes glued to his. "Save Maqui…and the others… But how? How can you do that, Hope?"

"Hey now, Lebreau," Snow said. "I don't think-"

"Yes," Lightning said, folding her arms over her chest. The ship wobbled slightly, creaking coming from above. All eyes traveled the ship's ceiling before Lightning's gaze was fixed on Hope once more. "How are you going to do this?"

Hope read between the lines though, Just how dangerous is this plan of yours? He glanced at Snow, but the man crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, nodding at him to continue.

"It-it's not too bad. It's just, I'm taking what I learned from before and applying it here. That's all, no big deal or anything." Hope shrank though when both Lightning and Lebreau glared at him, and he fisted his hands. "It has to do with the first book that I read, before we got the book about Chaos. It…it talked about all these different things about being a l'Cie, what it meant and all that, but it mentioned a few other things too."

"Like?" Lightning pressed, taking a step toward him as well. The soldiers looked between each other before pressing themselves against the wall. Snow watched them carefully, eyes slowly drifting between Hope and Lightning.

"Well…I think one of the things I read talked about taking power from another l'Cie. Something like that anyway. So I-"

"What was it, Hope?" Lightning glared at him and Hope had to hold back a sigh. He tilted his head to the side, trying to bring the words back from the bottom of his conscious. "Um… 'Even enemies…stronger despite power…' " Hope shook his head, pressing his fingers to his head, "'Take from their magic…watch as you grow while they shrink.'" Hope shook his head again. "Something like that."

Snow snorted, "Not gonna lie, that not very help-"

Snow's jaw snapped shut as the ship gave a violent tug, sending Hope crashing into Lebreau, who in turn crashed into Lightning, all of them crashing into the wall. Snow slid against the wall, his hands groping around for a grip. Lightning winced when her head cracked against the metal wall, hissing as something hot dribbled down the back of her neck, and Hope's voice came floating in.

"Light? Light? Are you all right? Just a sec-Lebreau, help me get off her."

"Yes, because I enjoy this so much. I just love to sit my fat ass on Lightning so I can suffocate her and-"

Snow blinked and pushed himself over as the pressure left Lightning, and soon his face joined Hope's as they hovered over her.

Lightning almost rolled her eyes but Hope was grabbing her hand and pulling her up. She nodded, pushing his hands away before reaching for the back of her head. Hope's hands came through though, pulling her hands away and pressing his own fingers to her head.

"Let me," he mumbled.

Lightning nodded, shutting her eyes when the room swayed slightly. "So...you think that you'll be able to help Maqui…by taking his power from him?" she asked, waiting for the relief to come and the pounding to stop in her head.

She looked at Hope when she got no answer, eyes widened when she saw that he had pulled his hands away and was staring at them with frightened, quivering eyes. She straightened herself up, pain becoming distant when she took his hands in her own and examined them palms up, looking for the problem. Lebreau watched, leaning in close to Hope and Lightning, but her eyes traveled to Lightning's neck, spotting the small dribble of blood.

"You're bleeding," she mumbled, raising her hand and pressing her fingers to her skull until she could feel the small wound. Lebreau jumped when healing magic immediately flew from her fingers, the bright green spell glowing as it went from her fingertips to Lightning's broken skin. Hope watched while the wound sealed before looking back at his own hands, slowly pulling them from Lightning.

"I just tried to heal it," Hope said, a slight tremor in his voice. "I tried to heal her, but nothing happened. No magic…nothing." Lebreau and Lightning both snapped their attention to him while Snow swore under his breath. Even the two soldiers were leaning in now. Hope shook his head, bringing one hand up and closing his eyes.

"Come on," he muttered, flexing his fingers. All eyes went to his hand, expecting something to burst out, but nothing came. "Come on, come on, come on!" Hope ground out, stretching his fingers until they started thrumming from the strain.

"Hope-" Lightning started, but he stepped away from her.

"What's going on?" Hope whispered, hands shaking as they fell to his sides. "What happened to my magic? My spells…I don't-Lightning!" Hope shouted, jumping when she grabbed his uniform, searching for the zipper near the side. Red leaked into Hope's face and he tried to get away, body flaring up as eyes focused on him and Lightning.

"What are you-"

"Your brand. I'm checking your brand," Lightning muttered, eyes lighting up when she found the zipper before she pulled it down his side. Hope shuddered as the air of the airship hit his skin, goosebumps forming on his exposed arm and chest. He looked down, trying to hide his red cheeks from the others, but his eyes focused went to the brand on his chest. He narrowed his eyes, trying to find some sign that there was something wrong, but it looked the same as ever.

"Nothing's wrong with it." Hope shook his head, looking back at Lightning as he pulled his uniform back up and zipped the side. "There's nothing wrong with the brand."

"Then why is it-"

Lightning was cut off as the ship shook again, but this time she was ready, grabbing onto Hope's arm and shoving them both to the wall. Hope grunted underneath her, but managed to avoid a hard collision with the wall when Lightning dug her fingers into his sides and pulled him up, softening the blow to the wall. Snow and Lebreau pressed against the wall as well, sliding to the ground so they wouldn't be thrown around, and the soldiers held on to each other until the moment passed.

"What the hell are they doing up there," Lightning seethed, stepping away from Hope and heading for the cockpit's door. "Hope doesn't have his magic, Lebreau's brand was advancing just a little bit ago, and now we have a few incapable pilots trying to crash land us or-"

"Lebreau!" Lightning froze, insides clenching when she heard Hope's shout before a thud echoed in the room. She whipped around, eyes widened when she spotted Lebreau on the floor, the woman curling in on herself and gasping for breath. Hope and Snow were already at her side and Hope rolled her over so she was facing up. Her face was scrunched in pain, mouth parted to let out small, raspy gasps, and she held her arm to her chest.

Lightning knelt beside her and pulled Lebreau's wrist away, rolling up the sleeve and narrowing her eyes. The shimmering brand had advanced again, this time glowing a deep purple as the strange film covered her hand, all the way down to her fingers. Lightning shook her head as she turned her attention to Lebreau's face, and then to Hope as he pressed his hand to her forehead and closed his eyes, calling for spells that wouldn't come.

"Why isn't this working?" Hope muttered, gritting his teeth and he strained his fingers to release something, anything.

"Why can't I call my magic? Why? If I can't do this-how am I going to-" He jumped when there was a thump from behind him and his eyes shot to the other two soldiers. The one from the Guardian Corps. was holding the other up and slowly helping him slide to the floor, the one in their arms groaning and reaching for their upper arm.

"Rygdea's collapsed on the front of the controls!" one of the pilots called, voice breaking.

Lightning swore, jumping up and bursting into the cockpit to find Rygdea slumped over, letting out small groans. She wasted no time and rushing forward and grabbing the man underneath the arms, huffing as she pulled him up and away as the ship started to lean toward the side. Her eyes caught a brief glimpse of the crystal as they flew toward it, as well as several ships already reaching the airspace of the crystal orb. But as she turned away she was jolted by a loud boom that she her too her, the sound reverberating in her body and making her insides bounce. She glanced back at the window, eyes lighting with the fire from several of the ships around the crystal as they exploded in the air, dropping like a dead birds and crashing into the buildings below.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" one of the pilots shouted, reaching for the controls and veering them away. "We can't go in if we're just going to blow the fuck up!"

Lightning shook her head and dragged Rygdea into the other room, grunting at Snow when he hurried inside and grabbed Rygdea's legs. Lightning's stare met Hope's scared eyes as he looked at her, then Rygdea. "Light-Light is he-"

"It has to be his brand too," she muttered, relaxing a little when she and Snow set him next to Lebreau. She shook her head when she released Rygdea, pressing the palm of her hand to her forehead. "It has to be the crystal or something. That's the only explanation. What else has changed since we got here?"

"What-"

"Several ships tried to approach the area the crystal was in, but wound up exploding before they could touch down." Lightning looked to the side, catching sight of one of the small windows near the top of the ship and watching as more ships steered away from the crystal to a safer landing sight. "The crystal…the crystal… Think about it. What do these ships run on?"

"Specially enhanced mana drives…" Hope muttered. "Fake magic in a way. But then-then they're reacting to the crystal?"

Lightning nodded, chest loosening when Lebreau and Rygdea stopped moaning, their faces relaxing as they moved away from the crystal. "It has to be. If the crystal is releasing magic or energy or whatever you want to call it, it would make sense. It's probably why they're reacting too." Lightning looked down at Rygdea and Lebreau, shaking her head. "And it makes this more complicated."

"Bu-but," Hope groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Why am I not reacting that way too? All that's happened is that I can't use my magic and-" Hope stopped, eyes widening before they glazed over. Lightning's chest tightened again and she leaned forward, snapping her fingers in front of his face.

"Hope? Hope, come on, what's wrong? Hope-"

"It's because…of before," Hope mumbled, bringing his hands up to his face. "Before, when I turned into a C'ieth...because I used too much power. It would-it would mean-"

"Chaos must have sealed your magic so that you wouldn't turn into a C'ieth before you got there," Lightning finished, shaking her head and making to stand. "That would make sense then. He doesn't want you to transform before you got there, not if he really needs you alive for this. And human for it to work…"

"But Lebreau…Rygdea, and everyone else. She doesn't need them Lightning. She and Chaos don't need them at all." Hope voice shook and ran a hand over his face, breathing hard out his nose. "What are we going to do now?" Lightning opened her mouth to answer but the airship gave a low groan before air rushed out in a great, whooshing gust. The sound was deafening, as if a kettle were releasing its steam, and she hurried to the cockpit.

"What're you doing?" she demanded, glaring at the pilots. One of them whipped around in their chair to face her, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Miss Lightning, but if we fly anywhere near there right now, we're going to get our asses blown up. I don't know if you saw it just now, but those ships did explode."

"Watch your tone," Lightning growled, stepping into the cockpit and looming over the soldier. "I know what happened. But I need to know how the hell we're going to get there now? We can't just sit here when the only person that can stop this from happening is riding this very airship!"

Lightning snarled, not even waiting for the man to respond before going back to Hope and the others. Hope was leaning over Rygdea now, trying to shake the man awake, while Snow hovered over Lebreau. Hope's eyes were stuck on the older man's face, waiting for his eyes to blink open and for him to make a wise crack about him worrying.

Lightning wished he would too.

Lightning knelt beside Hope and placed a hand on his shoulder, nodding when he turned to look at her. Hope sighed and lifted his hands from Rygdea, watching as Lightning raised a hand and slapped him across the face. The sound of skin slapping skin screeched through the room and Rygdea shot up, hand cupping his cheek.

"What the hell was that-oh," Rygdea moaned, moving his hand from his cheek to his head. The man swayed on the spot, his free hand inching toward his back. "I feel like shit and I don't like it. What the hell is going on?" His eyes bugged open and he lunged for Hope. "Did something happen? Where's Lebreau and the others? Were we shot down or something?"

Hope shook his head, pointing toward the cockpit. "It was-was from the crystal. Lightning and I think it might have something to do with why you collapsed too-" Hope flinched when a deafening boom sounded nearby, his hands almost reaching to cover his ears. "B-because of your brands."

"Then why aren't you affected?"

"He would probably turn into a C'ieth if he was allowed to feel all the magic pouring from that place. Or at least, that's what we're guessing it is. I could be wrong." Lightning said, "But now we have a problem. Some of the ships imploded when they got too close to that damn crystal. We think it's because of the mana drives, but that means we need a new way to get to the crystal."

Rygdea nodded, pushing himself from the ground and shaking his head at Hope when he offered him a hand. "I'm all right Hope, just a little winded."

Rygdea closed his eyes when he was able to stand, heat flooding his head and making everything heavy and hot. He took a deep breath. "All right, so we have quite a few problems then. It's going to be hard to get a lot of De Novo soldiers inside if they start dropping from too much exposure to that crystal. Transportation may not be impossible though."

"Sirs?" All of them jumped and looked at the Guardian Corps. soldier hovering over the other. He nodded at them, eyes dancing between them before nodding toward the engine room. "We did store several vehicles in case we had to do some land traveling. They have mana drives as well, but maybe they'll last longer than the airships, since they're smaller."

Rygdea's face lit up and he nodded, already heading for the back room, only to freeze when he noticed the door was open. His eyes widened and he looked around the room, then tried to peer into the cockpit, before turning to Hope and Lightning. "Where's Lebreau?"

Lightning and Hope jumped before glancing at Snow, but he threw his hands in the air. "I was trying to keep up with you guys. She was out like a light-"

Lightning ground her teeth and they all bolted for the engine room, ears perking up when they heard the revving of an engine.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Rygdea snarled as he threw the door open. Lebreau jolted, eyes snapping to him before she kicked down on the cycle, the engine roaring to life. She swallowed, nodding at Rygdea once before throwing her hand on a panel near the wall. The airship shuddered before the metal wall screeched open, landing with a thud on the ground and serving as a small slope.

"Lebreau wait!" Hope shouted after her, taking a step forward as she turned and rode out of the airship. He started screaming after her shrinking form, "We have to go together! Maqui will be fine but we-" Hope stopped when Lebreau disappeared from his sight, heading toward the crystal that was glowing over the city. Hope jumped when a C'ieth shrieked overhead, only for it to plummet to the ground a few moments later, several bullet holes in its skin. Hope gritted his teeth and shouted, punching the wall next to him before turning to Lightning, Snow, and Rygdea.

"What do we do?" Hope asked, but his eyes went from them to the last few cycles in the room. There were four left, and as his eyes focused on them, he took a step toward the vehicles. Two hands reached out and pulled him back and he looked back at Lightning and Rygdea, trying not to scream.

"We have to go after her! There's no way she's going to be able to do this by herself." Hope looked behind them to Snow, the taller man's eyes glancing from him to the outside, biting his lower lip.

"Lebreau..." Snow mumbled.

"I know you're worried about her Hope, but that doesn't mean you get to go off too!" Rygdea said, drawing Hope's attention. "We need you here so we can formulate some plan and try to-"

Hope chest roared and he stepped away from Rygdea, glaring at the man. "I know! I know we need to do that! But there's no time! We don't have time to think of a plan because it's happening right now! What difference does it make if I go now or later, when we had no idea what we were going to do in the first place?"

Hope lowered his voice, face reddening as he continued to speak. His stomach was tightening and the air was leaving his lungs but he couldn't stop. "We-I knew the risks the moment we came up with this plan. It's not even foolproof and we don't even know if it will work or not!"

Hope shook his head, eyes shifting to Lightning as he gave her an imploring look. "Please. Please let me do this. I have to. I have to do what I can to save them-to save all of them. They've done so much for me-everyone has done so much for me, and just this once I want to do something for you, too. And I need to help them. You know-" Hope's gaze drifted to Rygdea again, and Hope raised his voice, making Snow look back at him. "You all know what you've done for me and what they've done for me. Please…"

Rygdea looked away, running a hand through his hair as more explosions sounded in the distance. Lightning kept her eyes on Hope, watching as his eyes went from hers to Rygdea's waiting for an answer from either of them. Snow worked his jaw, looking between Hope and the vehicles, and Hope wondered if Snow would jump on one and go after Lebreau himself if this went badly.

"I think we need to let him go," Snow muttered. Hope's eyes snapped to his and the rush of gratitude nearly sent him crashing into Snow for a hug, Lightning still stared at the vehicles, clenching and unclenching his hands.

Lightning swallowed, looking over at the vehicles as well. The paint was rusted and chipped, but she could see the faint glow coming from what had to be the mana drives, already responding to the magic nearby. Then she looked back at Hope, stepping toward him and giving him a small hug.

"If this doesn't work and you die-" Lightning closed her eyes at that, shaking her head. "If you die, I'm going to kick your ass so hard you won't be able to sit for weeks. You understand me?"

Lightning almost smiled as Hope's body relaxed underneath and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. She shoved herself away from him and turned around, eyes scanning the room and her eyes lighting up when she saw several gunblades resting on the wall. Her hand went to her own around her waist before she walked over and slid one from the wall, resting it in both of her hands before shoving it at Hope.

"Ugh-what?" Hope gasped, clutching his stomach before struggling with the blade.

"You don't have your magic right now," Lightning said. "The last thing you want is to be unarmed."

"She's got a point, Hope," Snow said, glancing at him before his eyes went back to the vehicles.

"But I can't use these as well as you can," Hope said, shaking his head while his finger traced the edge of the gunblade. Rygdea sighed, rolling his eyes. He walked over to Hope, slinging an arm around his shoulder.

"Hope, I've seen you handle one before. You're not the best but you can handle it. You need it. You have no magic and Saorise will come after you-"

"I know that," Hope growled. "But even with this, that's not going to stop her."

"It might," Lightning said, walking toward on of the cycles and climbing on top of it. Her hands rested on the handles and she looked at Hope and Rygdea, eyes hard. She ignored Rygdea's wide eyes, but she watched as Snow's attention flickered to her for a moment. Lightning narrowed her eyes before glancing at Hope. "After all, if you can't use magic, who says she can? As far as I can tell, she's in the same boat as you." Hope's mouth dropped open but he barely had a chance to think it over before Rygdea was pulling him aside.

"I don't want you doing this Hope, but I don't want them dead either," he said, shaking his head as he pressed a hand to Hope's chest. Hope shuddered when he felt magic wash over him, watching as the bright blue shimmer of a protect spell, and then the green of a shell, passed before his eyes.

"I'm not going to stop you," Rygdea continued, going to Lightning and doing the same with her, "But that doesn't mean you can do whatever the hell you all want either. You will be coming back here, and in one piece."

"But Rygdea, what about-"

"As much as I want to get in on the action, I do need to make sure the others are aware of our position. That's the downside to being in command. You don't get to kill stuff anywhere near as often." Rygdea grinned at Hope and Lightning before leaning against the door of the engine room, nodding his head while Hope went to the next cycle.

"So get back here. And when it's over, we can finally relax. After we kick both Maqui's and Lebreau's asses, of course."

Hope smiled, nodding at Rygdea as he mounted the bike before looking around for a helmet. His eyes kept glancing at Snow and he had to resist the urge to apologize while he watched him. Snow caught his eye and gave him a small smile, shaking his head. "Don't start worrying about me, kid. I'll wait with Rygdea for a while and try to see where I can help out the most."

"Don't tell me you're trying to form a plan of attack, Snow. I'm shocked." Rygdea smirked at him and Snow rolled his eyes.

"Absolutely hilarious," Snow muttered, his lips twitching up.

Hope's shook his head at the two, sighing when he found no helmet around. He glanced at Lightning, then at Rygdea and Snow, blinking hard. "I promise we'll come back."

"I'm holding you to that Hope," Rygdea said, his eyes soft and sad. "Bring em back."

Hope nodded, reaching for the keys set in the ignition and revving the cycle up, just as Lightning's roared to life next to him. He glanced at her, nodding as she gave him a small smirk before he looked back at Rygdea. The man's eyes were tired, the same kind of exhaustion that he had seen when they had first entered the airship. Weary lines that spoke of how worn he was, watching his men and women and precious people die.

Hope's chest swelled before he steeled himself and nodded at Rygdea, mouthing at him, 'We're all coming home.' Then he turned back to the slope, catching Lightning's eye before she shot ahead of him, the ship vibrating as she left.

Hope sighed, taking a great gulp of air before zooming forward as well, bouncing on the cycle as it hit the ramp and then the ground. He swerved to avoid the fallen C'ieth that was only a few feet away, wind whipping behind him as he caught sight of Lightning's cape blowing behind her. He leaned toward the handles as if to will himself to move faster, putting more pressure on the pedals. The cycle hummed underneath him, the vibrations pulsing through his body, and the cold air rushed him.

He waited until he was beside Lightning again, looking toward her while glancing at the road. "Think she'd just go straight to the crystal?" Hope asked, shouting to be heard over the vehicles.

"It's the only place for her to go!" Lightning called, swerving as gunfire started behind them. Hope glanced back only to grasp the handles for dear life as the cycle wobbled dangerously on the road. His eyes went back to the road, unable to find the direction the gunfire was coming from. However, C'ieth flew from a set of buildings seconds later, two dropping dead and skidding on the ground in front of them. Lightning swerved to avoid them and Hope followed her trail, watching as several soldiers burst out from between the alleys before looking forward.

The crystal still loomed overhead, the bright, shimmering blues stained with orange from the gunfire and explosions. Hope's gaze lingered on the crystal a moment before he caught sight of sharp chunks of metal on the ground, sheets as large as his bike sticking from the pavement like disfigured spikes. Smaller bits of metal and debris were there as well, making Hope's vehicle bounce or shift oddly as he rode over them, and he prayed that the vehicle wasn't about to go out on him.

"Do you see anything?" he called to Lightning, pushing the cycle forward so he was level with her again. She shook her head, eyes scanning the area while Hope looked up and around, as if expecting something to swoop in. His eyes widened when several soldiers started to run from one another, until he saw the familiar black uniforms of De Novo. One of the soldiers was bent over, grasping their stomach as something started to sprout from their hunched back. Hope looked away before he could see the transformation, guts clenching at the thought of Maqui or Lebreau ending up like the soldier.

But I'm going to save them. I'm going to save them. I have to! That's all there is to it. I can't lose anyone else.

I'm not going to lose anyone else.

"Hope! Lebreau, up ahead!" Hope jumped at Lightning's voice but his eyes were already darting ahead of him, looking for another cycle. He spotted Lebreau as she turned the corner, black hair disappearing with a snap as she turned. Hope tilted his head as he followed, wondering why she was turning in the first place, before a small sound reached his ears. It was quiet at first, barely able to penetrate the sound of gunfire and screeching from monster and men alike, but then it pierced his chest.

Screaming.

Screaming, screaming, and more screaming. It filled the air, went on and on with one syllable of pain before being choked off completely. Hope looked at Lightning and saw her eyes widen as she stared ahead before increasing the speed her bike, Hope hot on her heels. Sweat was beading down Hope's temple as he stared ahead, buildings and soldiers meshing together as he tried to find the flash of blond or black that would tell him that Lebreau and Maqui were nearby.

As they got closer and closer to the crystal, the paved road underneath them now bathed in a blue glow, the soldiers and the C'ieth dwindled in number. Instead there were more bodies and broken, and torn pieces of scrap. Hope could feel vibrating in his chest, as if something were humming in his heart, and he bit his lip as he followed Lightning around another corner. His eyes bugged when he caught sight of Lebreau again, only this time his friend and teammate was slumped over on her cycle, the vehicle already starting to swerve to the right now that she was no longer in control.

"Lebreau!" Hope screamed, stepping harder on the pedal and nearly swearing as Lebreau pulled farther and farther from him.

Lightning narrowed her eyes and reached a hand out as she reached Lebreau's vehicle, wobbling as her own cycle started to jerk underneath her. Lightning gritted her teeth and Hope watched in silent awe as Lightning grabbed hold of Lebreau's uniform. Instead of bringing Lebreau to her own vehicle, Lightning pulled herself off, body momentarily suspended as the air plowed around her. Her body tightened when the momentum around her died and her cycle skidded and crashed behind her.

Hope jumped and swerved out of the way, parts of Lightning's cycle flying into the air and bouncing off the road with loud, metallic crashes. Hope sighed and looked back at Lightning, heart soaring when he saw she was on Lebreau's vehicle and reaching over for the handles. Lightning started to slow down and Hope followed suit, the two vehicles eventually slowing to a stop near one of the buildings.

Hope's blood thrummed through him as he dismounted, hands sweating and shaking as he walked up to Lightning and Lebreau. He glanced at the building they were resting at, eyes widening when he saw rubble falling from the structure, collecting at the bottom. Fire was crackling at the top, the orange flames waving and fluttering, and Hope could see some broken windows as well. He shook his head and reached Lightning, grabbing hold of Lebreau's ankles while Lightning lifted Lebreau from underneath her arms.

"When she wakes up, I'm giving her a good slap in the-" Lightning stopped when she caught sight of Lebreau's brand, helping Hope set her down near a calmer, relatively intact building, before reaching for her wrist. Hope swallowed and leaned next to Lightning to get a better look, stomach dropping when he saw the brand was crawling up her skin, a shimmering, film-like substance reaching up her arm.

"Why is this even happening?" Lightning muttered, shaking her head. "Is it really because of the crystal? But I don't…I don't get it."

Hope shook his head and rested against the wall, taking a few deep breaths before standing up. "What do we do, Lightning? Do we take Lebreau back or do we go look for Maqui? Or-or do we split up or something, so that I can make sure that-that the crystal and everything-"

"We are not splitting up," Lightning hissed, letting go of Lebreau and glaring at Hope. She stood up, folding her arms over her chest and hardening her eyes. "I've come this far with you, there's no way in hell I'm going to let you face that bitch alone."

"But Lebreau-"

"I'm…not going back." Hope and Lightning jumped at Lebreau's voice, both kneeling down next to her as she groaned, pushing herself off the ground. Lightning rolled her eyes and Hope pressed a hand to Lebreau's shoulder.

"Lebreau, I know you want to help Maqui, but if this is affecting you already then-"

"Then what's it like for him?" Lebreau shot back, eyes narrowed. Hope took his hand away and Lebreau's face softened, shaking her head when Lightning glared at her before addressing Hope. "It's not that…that I don't know the risk Hope, but isn't that why we're all here? To take a risk and see if we can pull this off? You said you'd be there for us, but we have to be there for you, too." Lebreau pushed herself all the way up, then tried to get off the ground, slapping away Hope's hands when he went to help her.

"Besides, I think I'm getting used to it anyway," she tried, brushing her hands on the uniform once she was upright. "And if Maqui is nearby, we have to find him. I have a feeling he's in a lot more trouble than we are."

Hope nodded, blinking in surprised when Lightning slipped her hand into his and squeezed before pulling away. Lebreau smiled at the two of them before looking at the crystal, eyes shining blue under its glow, "We're almost there. You ready Hope?"

Hope looked at the crystal as well, heart thudding painfully in his chest as sweat started to pour down his temples and chest. Am I ready? I mean-I said I was. I said I was ready, but so much of it is relying on chance. Do I-

"There are some things you just do." Hope blinked at the voice, familiar and soothing, before tightening his jaw.

"I think so," Hope mumbled. "But we should find Maqui first. Right?" He turned to Lightning and Lebreau, eyes searching them. Lebreau nodded at him while Lightning only stared before ghosting her hand over his arm.

"You are ready," Lightning mumbled. "Don't doubt that."

Hope smiled, glancing back at the cycles. "Think we should leave them behind? I don't want to risk blowing up because of the mana drives. I think we're already looking at a close call," Hope added, tilting his head to see that the mana drive installed underneath his cycle was burning bright blue and shaking in its place.

"Good call. We need to get moving though," Lightning said, pulling out her gunblade. "There may not be much movement now, but that will change once everyone is able to get through. And once she finds out we're here." Lightning's eyes narrowed at this and Hope watched as her grip on the gunblade tightened, her fingers growing white. Hope swallowed, reaching a hand up to stroke hers.

"Lightning…"

"I promise you Hope, she's not going to get away with this," Lightning said, eyes hardening. She gritted her teeth, looking at Hope with bright, burning eyes, "I won't let her get away with everything she's done to you. With what's she's done to this family."

"None of us will," Lebreau added, nodding.

Hope's mouth parted, chest swelling with warmth and love at their words. But Lightning was pulling on his shoulder, forcing him to look at her. "Draw your gunblade. Lebreau has magic, you and I don't."

Hope nodded, glancing back at the vehicle before hurrying over and pulled his gunblade from a small latch on the vehicle. Once the gunblade's handle was secured in his hands, Lightning nodded and started to walk ahead, glancing at Lebreau when the woman wobbled on her feet. Lightning raised an eyebrow at her as Lebreau's cheek burned red.

"I'm fine," Lebreau growled, walking ahead of Lightning as if to prove her point. Hope shook his head at the two and hurried after them, heart starting to pick up again. Lightning crouched beside one of the building and looked ahead, waving her hands at Hope and Lebreau before sprinting ahead of them. Hope ran after her, glancing at Lebreau to make sure she didn't collapse beside him, but his eyes caught something white as they reached the next building. It was much nearer to the crystal than the small alcove of building they were at, and as Hope leaned out to see more, he thought he could see the buildings ahead drop off to give a view of the crystal.

"There's something over there," Hope muttered.

Lightning nodded and pulled her gunblade up, eyes narrowed to where Hope was looking. Lebreau took a deep breath, holding her hands out in front of her where a small icicle started to form in her hands. Hope shuddered and brought his own gunblade up, eyes darting around and waiting for Lightning to give the signal-

-only to be shoved to the ground as she barreled into him.

"Lightning!" he shouted, arm crashing painfully on the pavement. She said nothing, lifting her gunblade and shooting at a C'eith as it came down on them, its giant white arms raised and bright red spikes gleaming in the glow of the crystal. Hope's eyes widened as it thrust its arms down on them, breath catching as Lightning grabbed and rolled with him. The arms slammed against the ground and Hope scrambled underneath Lightning, pulling out the gunblade and firing several rounds at the beast.

"Where the hell did it come from!" Hope shouted when Lightning was off of him and shooting at the C'ieth as well, the small explosions almost blinding at such close range. The lumbering beast was slow on its short legs, but it kept slamming the ground with its arms and making the earth tremble underneath them. The C'ieth turned to face them, a small mask dead center of the torso, and Hope felt something shake inside of him. Lebreau was blasting the C'ieth with thunder and lightning. Lightning continued to fire at the beast, but it hardly seemed bothered by the barrage of bullets.

The C'ieth turned toward Lebreau and threw its arms into the air, slamming them to the ground again before charging away from them and into a building. The building shook from the impact, dust and small bits of rubble falling from the new hole, and Hope stood with Lightning. He glanced around while keeping his gunblade raised, waiting for the C'ieth to come charging at them.

"You'll have to excuse them." Hope's heart froze, eyes snapping up at the sound of the woman's voice. Lightning pressed next to him and Lebreau struggled to her feet, eyes up at the building the C'ieth had slammed into. Saorise stood there, proud and tall, the crystal light caste on her body making her glow almost blue. Hope narrowed his eyes, watching her hair fall over her face from the loose braid, and her shawl and patches of her clothes were burned. One arm was covered in something milky-white and bumpy, and in the other hand was a limp body.

Hope's mouth dropped open when he caught sight of blond hair on the right side of the body, before his eyes were drawn to the smooth white skin covering half the head and reaching down the torso and legs. The half covered in the white skin also had bumps and spikes running along the arms and legs, and a small horn at the top of the head. It was hard to catch a good look, but Saorise smiled, lifting up the body as if to give them a better look. "Truly, you'd think he could at least get a transformation right. He was taking so long that I had to drag him away to meet you in time. But he's almost there, so I'll let it slide for now."

"How-how-"

"Oh, Hope! I think you know this boy, too! Name's Maqui, thought he could make a good decoy but wound up getting himself caught? I'm sure you're aware of all that, but still, it's nice to point out these things. Otherwise…" Saorise shrugged, smirking as she threw Maqui's body down. "Oh well."

Hope shook his head when Maqui's body crashed down, he, Lightning, and Lebreau rushing toward his still body. They crouched beside him and blood roared in Hope's ears, head throbbing from the sudden rush. Lebreau brought shaking hands to Maqui and rolled him face up, letting out a small, low scream when she saw that his body was covered in the milky white film from his brand.

"Maqui…Maqui!" Lebreau shook her head, hands on her mouth as she said his name over and over again. Hope shuddered, not even feeling Lightning's hand when she grabbed his shoulder, or hearing her when she said his name. He could only stare at Maqui. There were burns and bruises on what they could see of his body and the skin sweaty and pale. Maqui's one visible eye was closed. Around his chest, where the thick white skin was lumping over and hardening, something black and round had started to form, almost mask-like in its shape. Maqui's abdomen and right leg were consumed in the white skin, as was half of his face and back, the red crystals starting to jut out of his skin. The horn on his head was growing and more spikes were popping on his leg.

Maqui?

is that really you there?

"What's the matter, Hope?" A cackle, loud and shrill, sounded above him. "You at a loss?"

I mean…why? Why'd you come all this way? You must have known…you must have known what was going to happen to you. Why'd you do it?

"Shut up you filthy bitch!" Lightning screamed, gunblade raised. Her eyes were flashing as she seethed, but Maqui's image was still burned into her mind.

"Maqui!" Lebreau shouted, hands clenching what little there was of his uniform. She shook him, watching his eye and waiting for it to open. "Maqui, you idiot, you have to wake the fuck up!"

To protect us? Even though you'd knew you'd die…or that you'd turn into a C'ieth?

Do we really mean that much to you?

Even I know that's a stupid question.

"He's gone you know. Staring at him isn't going to bring him back."

"I said shut it!"

But Hope wasn't listening to Saorise or Lightning as they argued. Instead he pressed his hands to Maqui's chest, eyes burning as a few tears slipped down his cheeks. He blinked hard, trying to clear away the liquid and get a good look at his friend. To really see Maqui, and not the monstrous skin that was trying to consume him.

But you know…you're important to me too.

And…I promised to bring you home.

"Hope?" Lebreau asked, her voice quiet. She stared at him with wide eyes, unaware of the tears rolling down her face.

"Just give me a sec Lebreau," Hope muttered, trying to steel his voice. "I think I can do this."