This is obviously terribly, terribly late. I had some problems before, then, when summer started, and with the combination of stress, bad things I would rather not talk about, and good things and obsessions best kept to myself, I put off editing this. Still I am wavering, but I want to push forward and try getting back into the groove. Or something.

So I hope you can forgive me for how late this is. For how things have been going. I needed the break though. Very much.

But in truth, this chapter would not have come about today if not for a few special people, who I wish to thank.

Generalyao- My confidant, who told me yes, I could use a break and no, don't feel guilty for it. You listened to my rants about online problems and real life problems, and have been extremely helpful in Daybreak's continuance. Thank you.

H-Thar- My other confidant, with who I ranted often about whatever was under my skin. You understand me the way only a writer could, told me funny stories, gave me inspiration, and yes I will reply to the pm soon. :) I'm halfway through...but I got a little distracted. ^^;

Teravu- The gift of inspiration, as well as the gift of art. I am truly grateful for what you've done and will do. Our talks have been very enjoyable and sparked something I thought was lost. Thank you.

This chapter is dedicated to them, and everything they have done for this project, and for me the person.

And thank you all as well. Enjoy.


Lightning glanced at Hope, keeping one eye on Saorise as she hovered nearby, but the red-eyed woman's glare remained on Hope. Lightning swallowed, raising her gunblade and narrowing her eyes at the woman in front of her. "Hope, I need to know that I can leave you alone for a second. Can you really help him? And will you need my help? Anything before I…" She trailed off, waiting for an answer.

Saorise glanced back at her, sneering and shaking her head. "What's this? The prey is coming to me? That's a nice change of pace, but do you really think you can keep up?"

Lightning ignored her words, eyes flickering between Saorise and Hope. Hope looked up from Maqui, eyes briefly meeting Lightning's before he nodded. "I'm sure I can, Lightning. If anything goes wrong though-"

"I'll be at your side in a second," Lightning said, voice hard while she tightened her grip around the handle of the blade.

Hope gave her a small, brief smile. "You'll be there in a second." He and Lebreau jumped when an explosion sounded near them and debris from above began to sprinkle down. Hope glanced up, eyes searching for the source while Lebreau looked back at Maqui, shaking him and telling him to move or grunt or something.

Lightning could only listen for a few more moments, catching Hope's voice as he said, "Lebreau, come on, I need room to work. I have to be careful when I try this out." She gritted her teeth, focusing back on Saorise and standing straighter, gunblade in hand.

Be Safe.

"Are you trying to scare me, Farron?" Saorise shook her head, smile growing wider. "Trying to intimidate me?"

"No," Lightning growled, lowering the blade to her side and entering a crouch. "I'm trying to kill you." The words barely left her lips before Lightning charged at her, boots beating hard against the ground before she jumped to the side and swung at Saorise. She caught a glimpse of white hair as Saorise stepped aside, the woman throwing her arms in the air for balance. Lightning's eyes flashed and she swung the blade again, but Saorise's arm disappeared before the edge could slice through.

"You bitch!" Lightning jumped back, leaning away when Saorise threw a punch at her face, kicking at Saorise's feet when she tried to step away. Saorise wobbled again but straightened herself up and jumped backward before she turned and ran. Lightning blinked in surprise before snarling and charging after her, narrowing her eyes as the bright lights shimmering on the ground strained her eyes. Lightning focused on the tip of Saorise's loosening braid, lifting her gunblade up and switching the gears as she sprinted after Saorise.

"Die," she mumbled, fingers on the trigger before a shot rang out. Lightning's arm vibrated as the bullet left the gun, her fingers tightening around the handle as the light burst in front of her and ignited the air. Lightning blinked her eyes clear and slowed to a stop, eyes glancing around. There was no heavy thud to signal the fall of her target, and she wasn't catching the flash of white that would let her know Saorise was nearby.

Where did she go? Lightning took a small step forward, sweat beading down her temples. She took a deep, silent breath, heart hammering in her chest as she waited. But she wasn't sure if she'd spot Saorise or if the woman would just swoop in and attack her. Where did she go? Where? Would she have gone back to Hope and Lebreau, or is she really trailing me? And why didn't I hit her? I was close enough in range and everything. Maybe even too close…I need to be more careful.

Lightning jumped as another loud, booming explosion erupted in the air, and her eyes went to the right, an orange bloom of fire from the explosion erupting in another one of the buildings. She titled her head to look up and caught sight of a shadow on the ground, illuminated by the booming of fire.

There you are…

Lightning kept her head up though, pretending to watch the fire as her eyes traveled to the side, watching the shadow slink along the pavement below. The shadow shimmered as if reflected off a body of water, distorted and misshapen, until the explosion of fire began to stutter and the shadow was lost in the dimmed light and the buildings' shadows.

Wait for her to come at you…wait for her…

Wait…

Lightning raised her gunblade, chest tightening as she took a deep breath, and she could almost feel the air move with Saorise. Her head was buzzing, her heart leaping into her mouth. Beads of sweat trickled down her temples and she flexed her fingers around the handle of the gunblade. The air rushed by her ears and Lightning crouched down and rolled, springing back up several feet away a thud sounded from beside her. Lightning saw a flash of white before she charged at Saorise again, swinging her blade and feeling it dig into something soft.

There was a loud screech and Lightning's chest swelled in silent triumph, before she yanked her gunblade away and stepped back. Lightning ignored the soft squelch that followed and narrowed her eyes when she felt something warm and wet wash over her body, glancing down at her legs as blood sloshed over her. The crimson liquid pooled at her feet, dripping off her legs and staining her shirt and shorts before trickling into her boots, and Lightning looked up at Saorise.

Saorise was hunched over, clutching her side with her whitened, deformed arm and gasping for breath. Blood gushed between her shaking fingers and her legs jerked and trembled with the effort it took to keep her body up. Lightning's face was blank as she watched Saorise's leg start to buckle; Saorise was barely able to save herself by thrusting a hand out to catch her fall, her knee colliding with the ground. Lightning's eyes turned to slits and she clenched the gunblade harder, sneering at the sweat leaking into her fingers.

"It's not that easy without your magic, is it?" Lightning muttered, shaking her head as she raised her gunblade. The edge was coated in blood, droplets falling to the ground as she brought it toward her side, grabbing it with both hands. Lightning entered a crouch, eyes meeting Saorise's before she charged. This is it!

"No…it isn't easy," Saorise mumbled, clutching her side. "Which is why I am not alone in this. At all." Lightning narrowed her eyes before she swung at the woman, the stained edge moving toward her neck, but Saorise smiled and ducked, rolling away from Lightning and bringing her hand from her side. Blood splattered on the ground, but Saorise grinned despite her paling, trembling body. "I will kill you though. I will kill you for what you've done to Hope."

Lightning's eyes flashed and her body tensed, her hand tightening around the handle of the gunblade as she gritted her teeth. "What I've done to him?" Her words barely rose above her breath, her heart hammering wildly in her chest as she struggled to control the rage that was building and bubbling in her gut. "What I've done to Hope?"

Saorise chuckled, wobbling to her feet. "Yes, what you've done to Hope. It's not as shocking as you're trying to make it out. He was perfect before. Absolutely perfect." Lightning's eyes were trained on Saorise, widening when she saw the wounds starting to heal at her side, the gaping tears to her flesh gradually sewing themselves together, leaving no hint of a scar beside.

Ho-how? She shouldn't be able to heal herself at all. Hope can't because his magic is sealed, and she hasn't thrown one spell at me either. So how? How? Why now-

"When I had him, I was able to beat into him what he really was. I showed him that even with that little troupe he joined after he fled from me that he was only delaying the inevitable. I saw it. I saw the way he trembled before me and screamed whenever I made my way to the battlefield. You didn't though. You didn't see his companions try in vain to convince that it would all turn out okay. That he was really something more than just a tool for me to use! That's all! That's all! He knew his place!"

Saorise spat the words out, spitting at the ground as her bleeding on her side stopped. Her eyes were wide and frenzied, her body twitching. She lifted her blood-drenched hand, examining the red that had made its way into the creases of her fingers and under her fingernails. She shook her head, her smile growing. "It was wonderful. It seemed almost certain that I would have my way, that Hope would be there no matter what and all I had to do was push him over the edge. Just that last bit. He had been so close. And then you came and ruined it all!" Lightning gritted her teeth, eyes on the clean skin.

"Confused Lightning?" Saorise smirked, chest rising as her eyes scanned Lightning. Saorise chuckled, glancing down at her healing wounds. "Hope and I are Chaos' champions. We have his favor, bask in his blessing. Better than what you have. What you are. We are more than you could ever hope to achieve. Worthless compared to him. Worthless compared to me."

Saorise's face twisted as the words flew from her and she raised her hand, pulling something out of her shawl before a small click sounded. Lightning took a step back, raising her gunblade and gritting her teeth as she charged at the woman again. She narrowed her eyes, but they flickered to the side when she heard a strange noise, like metal scraping against something.

What is that? What is she doing…what am I missing? Lightning looked back at Saorise and swung the blade, swearing when the woman ducked and aimed a kick at her side, her right hand lifted high into the air. Lightning's eyes followed Saorise's arm, widening when she saw the metal, claw like glove that was wrapped around her other hand. What is that?

Lightning knocked back Saorise's leg with her blade, watching as more blood gushed from the wound in her calf before leaping away. She crouched and ran at Saorise again, eyes still darting around, searching for whatever it was Saorise was trying to do. Saorise smiled when Lightning looked back at her, showing her teeth as she tilted her head up.

Lightning didn't dare look up, only changed direction, approaching Saorise at the right side. Saorise snorted and jumped away, jogging back as she waved her arm in the air before yanking her hand down, almost gracefully. Lightning gritted her teeth and forced her legs to change direction, only to wince and arch when pain erupted in her back.

What-What was that? Lightning closed her eyes as the pain flared, hot and itching as it pierced her skin and dug inside of her. Gasping for air, Lightning reached behind her and felt something thin but strong, the casing of metal bumping her fingers before pain thrummed through her anew. She barely got a breath out before something was yanked out of her, the scraping of metal ringing in her ears as blood dribbled down her back.

Lightning groaned, shaking her head while she looked up at Saorise, watching thin metal wires return to her metal glove, several daggers popping into place. Lightning glared at the smiling woman, ignoring the small wave Saorise sent her.

"Do you like my new toy? It was present, just for this battle. I've been looking forward to trying it out, but…that's just so I can see what it can do to you," Saorise said, eyes flashing as she fisted the gloved hand and charged at Lightning, daggers protruding from her knuckles. Lightning's eyes widened and she swore, ducking as the daggers came flying at her face. Saorise's fist stopped though and came flying back around, making Lightning take several steps back to avoid the flurry of punches Saorise sent her way.

"Just. Hold. Still!" Saorise screamed, voice ringing in the air before she aimed a kick at Lightning's legs. Lightning blinked and jumped away from the kick, stumbling slightly when Saorise's boot grazed her hip before tightening her grip on the gunblade with both hands and charging at her. Saorise's gloved fist sent a clang through the air when it met the gunblade, and Lightning glared at her from the other side, seething.

"I don't know where you got it in your fucked up little head that Hope was yours to mess with," Lightning growled, pushing harder and harder against Saorise even as her arm erupted in pain and heat. "But you messed with the wrong family!"

"Prove it then, you bitch!" Saorise sneered at Lightning and jumped away as Lightning pressed harder and harder against her. Lightning narrowed her eyes, shuddering slightly when something cool hit her back, spreading through the skin before melting into her body.

What is this? Magic? Is that how? But the magic is just…leaking out of the crystal or something? There's so much of it around…

"I was hoping you wouldn't get to enjoy the effects of this…but I guess I was asking for too much," Saorise said before running at Lightning, her feet pounding against the ground. "I guess I'll just keep hitting you until the healing stops!"

"Go ahead and try!" Lightning shouted, bringing her blade up and meeting Saorise's fist again. The metal sang in the air, Lightning's arm vibrating with the motion before she forced Saorise's arm away and went in for another swing. Saorise's eyes widened when blade came by her head, just barely leaning away before it sliced through the air. Saorise growled and aimed a punch at Lightning's side, only for the woman to step away again.

"I hate you," Saorise said, her voice so soft that Lightning almost didn't catch it. "I hate you. I hate all of you. You ruin everything. You keep ruining everything! Absolutely everything! Just die. Just die! Just die!" Lightning tensed, readying her blade to block another onslaught, only for Saorise to stop and clutch her middle, eyes popping.

What-

"Ah-ah…no...stop, stop it!" Saorise gasped, shuddering and dropping to her knees, "You have to stop it now! I'm almost done! You have to stop-you have to stop-I have to this. Please let me do this." Saorise shook her head, hunching over herself until her forehead was resting on her knees. Lightning took a step back, gunblade at her side as the woman doubled over, her back arching high into the air. Her body was trembling and sweat was dribbling down her neck.

"Saorise-"

"What do you mean?" she said, ignoring Lightning and shaking her head. "You-you mean he's-but how? How would he even-" Lightning swallowed as Saorise's words traveled to her, her insides freezing and leaving her gasping for breath.

There are only so many people she can be referring to. Hope, you better be all right you idiot. I need to see-

"That fucker! That fucker! I'll kill him for this. I will!" Lightning jumped when Saorise began to shriek and her eyes widened when she saw that bumps were starting to appear on Saorise's back. Is it like before…before at the cabin?

Is Hope changing too?

"It shouldn't be like this! He shouldn't be doing these stupid things! He shouldn't! I'll fucking kill him!" Saorise continued to thrash on the ground, the bumps in her back starting to break through her clothes. Lightning took a step back, looking down the path she had run down and trying to recognize some of the buildings that surrounded her.

How far am I from Hope? I swear if he did anything stupid-

"Don't you fucking ignore me, you bitch!" Saorise screamed, struggling to stand up. Lightning turned back to her, narrowing her eyes. Saorise wobbled to her feet, still hunched over even once she was standing. Lightning's eyes widened when she saw the white film creeping up Saorise's face, red crystals staring to protrude from her neck. "Don't you dare ignore me when I'm fighting you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you, do you hear me!"

Lightning gritted her teeth, raising her gunblade and looking around, holding her breath as she tried to figure out what way she could go. I need to get away from here if I want to get to Hope. If she's changing…what does that mean for him and Lebreau? Does it have something to do with Maqui and the others? Did he-please tell me he didn't actually turn into a C'ieth.

What would I do then? What could I do?

"Pay attention!" Lightning blinked before Saorise came rushing at her, the woman not even bothering with the daggers. Instead, Saorise slammed herself into Lightning's stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs. Lightning gasped as she was knocked to the ground, cold hands grabbing her shoulders and digging into her skin. Lightning kicked and writhed, kneeing Saorise in the stomach before wrenching one arm free, the skin scraping on the ground.

"Get off!" Lightning grabbed Saorise around the head and tried to pull her away, eyes snapping to her trapped arm as Saorise's grip loosened. Lightning dug her nails into Saorise's head, feeling warm liquid seep into her fingers before she rolled herself out of the woman's grip. She gasped for breath only for Saorise to tackle her from behind and knock her back to the ground, her jaw bouncing when she hit. Her head thrummed with pain and her jaw throbbed, but Lightning pushed her arms underneath her body and lifted up in a deformed push up, shaking Saorise off and pulling herself to her feet. Her gunblade laid a few feet away from her, knocked away from the small scuffle, and she ran for it.

"No!" Saorise screeched, pushing herself off the ground and stumbling before charging at Lightning. Saorise lifted her gloved hand as Lightning pulled her gunblade from the ground, and she swore before she lunged at Lightning. Saorise grinned when she felt at one last dagger dig into skin as Lightning let out a grunt of pain. Saorise's chest swelled and she tried to dig the dagger in more. White film was creeping still over her, the crawling skin reaching the corners of her lips.

"You're not getting away from me, even if I change. I won't let you-"

"Sis!" Both Lightning and Saorise looked up, eyes wide as soldiers started to come from both sides. The uniformed mass formed a circle around them as Snow came charging in, fists blazing and eyes wide. Lightning took her chance and grabbed Saorise by the wrist, hands reaching up the woman's arm before she grunted and threw Saorise over her. Saorise landed on the ground with a thud and shrill shriek and Snow came bounding to Lightning, arms dropping to his sides before he reached into his pocket and handed Lightning a potion.

"Take this, it's going to help. We need to take care of her." Lightning nodded as she took the potion from Snow and gulped it down, the cool liquid making her shiver before she nodded her thanks. She watched as Saorise thrashed around, her body twitching oddly as more and more of the crystal film started to spread around her body. The ungloved arm was the worst, the white film that had first formed now crusted over with jagged white and red crystals. Saorise's body was thumping against the ground and trembling all over, as if she were going into shock. Lightning shook her head, blinking the clouds from her eyes and turning back to Snow.

"Sis, you okay?" Snow peered at her, eyes worried. Lightning nodded while the soldiers formed around Saorise, talking amongst themselves and pointing their guns at her jerking form. Lightning bit her lip, shuddering as she looked back at the crystal, then at Snow. Her mind was buzzing and distantly she could hear a voice telling her that Snow shouldn't have left, but a pair of green eyes flashed in her mind and everything else fled from the forefront of her mind.

"I need to get back to Hope," she muttered. "But I need to watch her too. Something's wrong. Saorise-before she started to change she said that it shouldn't be happening. That it had something to do with Hope."

Snow's eyes widened and he looked around, half expecting Hope to come sweeping in. He turned back to Lightning, squeezing her shoulder. "You go back then and we'll watch her. We'll hold her back and make sure you have time to get to him."

"But Snow-" It's dangerous. Why aren't you with Rygdea? What if she gets back up? What if you get hurt?

"If things get bad we'll call for back-up. Go on Light, no one else is going to check for him, and the others are still having trouble getting to this place. It's-I don't know-"

"Saturated with magic," Lightning said, nodding and taking a step back from Snow, sheathing her gunblade. "Don't get yourself killed. If you leave my sister alone, I'll castrate you."

Snow grinned as she turned around and started to run back, calling after her, "I'll keep that in mind." Lightning strained her ears as she started to sprint back to where she had left Hope, barely catching Snow's voice as he started to order the soldiers. She swallowed, forcing her legs to run faster despite the burning and throbbing, forcing her forward before she could change her mind.

I need to get there, check on Hope, and get back to Snow. Dammit…can I make it in time? I don't know how long they'll be able to hold Saorise down, and even then…will they just kill her? Can they? How long will she stay down?

Lightning barely turned the corner, glancing at something that flashed at her side, before screams and strained shouts reached her from behind. Her heart clenched and she whipped around, taking a step back toward the area. "You idiot, you idiot, you idiot. You better not have gotten yourself killed, you better not. I'll kill you if you did, you idiot!" Lightning took another step back, but stopped when a clap of thunder boomed through the area. The sound thrummed in her chest and she turned around, taking the last few steps around the corner of a crumbling building. Her eyes widened and her breath blew out of her lungs, her legs moving toward the scene.

Hope was still hunched over Maqui, but as Lightning squinted her eyes, she could see that the blond was relatively normal again. There was still a few patches of foreign skin and his eyes were clenched shut as if in pain, but he was no longer half-monster from what she could see.

Her eyes flickered to Hope and she shook her head, gasping for breath. White film was crawling over his face and arms, the sleeves of the uniform burned away and his arms either white with the brand or red raw, little charges of energy shooting and dancing on both arms. Lightning glanced around, trying to spot Lebreau, only to see her laying on the ground, splayed as if she had been blown back.

"What happened…" Lightning muttered, looking back at Hope and stepping toward him. Her ears were ringing and her heart ached-and this was not happening.

"Hope!" she shouted, eyes starting to burn and water. Light was shining around him, a blinding white light that would sputter and die one moment, and burst to life the next. Hope didn't look up at her as she called his name and a chill set into Lightning's body at the blank look on his face.

Hope, don't be gone. Don't be gone, you idiot. Don't you dare-

Lightning shook her head and ran toward him, but Hope looked up at her footsteps, eyes wide and bright.

"Stay away!" His voice was rough and raspy and Lightning narrowed her eyes. Hope looked away from her and pressed his hands on Maqui's chest, more charges of energy shooting his arms. He groaned when a whip of lightning shot through him and up in the air. Lightning threw her arms in front of her, seething when a cold burst of air blasted from Hope.

The crackling of electricity left burn marks on the pavement, and Lightning shivered as frost coated her skin. The frost around Hope quickly melted into small droplets of water and Hope groaned, pressing harder against Maqui's chest while another burst of magic escaped him. Gusts flew into the air, whipping around Hope before escaping an invisible confine and nearly sending Lightning off her feet.

"Hope!" she screamed. "You need to stop! You have to!" Lightning shook her head as Hope hunched over, his hands clenching at what remained of Maqui's uniform. Small bumps were appearing along his back, just by the shoulder blades, and Lightning felt fear crawl up her throat.

"Hope stop! You'll change! You'll change!" Lightning swore and ran at him, grabbing him by the shoulder and forcing him around. His eyes were still wide but the pupils were blown, the black almost consuming the green of his eyes.

"Are you even there?" she asked, gasping when lightning shot from him again, tingling through her body and leaving her arms numb. Lightning gritted her teeth and raised her free hand, slapping Hope across the cheek. The sound was loud and harsh, Hope's cheek already blaring red from the strike, but he just shrugged her hand off and turned back to Maqui. Lightning hissed and pulled at his shoulder again, glancing at Maqui's calm, sleeping face. Maqui's left arm was still twitching and the upper arm was sizzling, but the skin had stopped advancing. Lightning could see some shreds of energy still on the arm, but pushed it from her mind.

"Hope, it stopped! It stopped! He's safe now! Now get off of him before you wind up-"

"I know Lightning…" Lightning stopped shouting when Hope's voice reached hers, small and quiet. He looked up, eyes scanning the small area, and Lightning watched with him. The C'ieth from before were lying in heaps around them, limbs burned and torn, while others were completely missing appendages. Hope tensed under her touch and she looked back at him, gasping when she saw the film starting to creep up to his eyes. "I could only save him, Lightning. The others…they kept coming. Lebreau was defending me and then I was trying to help Maqui-but-but it wouldn't stop hurting. It hurt so much, Lightning…it hurt to pull all that-that magic out of him, and I thought about doing it for them too…and I was scared…and I don't know-I don't know what happened," Hope gasped, voice faint.

Hope's words ran together as he tried to explain himself to her, shaking his head while another burst of magic sent icicles flying in all directions. Lightning winced when some hit Lebreau, watching small slits of blood leaking from her arms and sides, but Hope spoke louder, "I couldn't do it. I couldn't. And-and when I thought that it all just exploded. It's because I'm weak, Lightning. It's because I had a weak thought and I screwed it up. I could have saved them but it was so bright and then I was burning all over and Maqui still wasn't okay and I didn't know what to do anymore!" Hope gasped and arched, crying out when white light shot from his body and soared into the air.

"Hope, hush. It's all right. Just take a deep breath and calm down and I'm sure it will…" Lightning trailed off when Hope shook his head, the man struggling to peel his hands of Maqui. He brought his hands to his face, the white spreading over the fingertips as Hope breathed out.

"It won't stop…it won't. I can feel it, Lightning. I need-I need to get to the crystal before it can-can take control and all that. I don't know, Lightning, I don't think-" Lightning shook her head and grabbed Hope under the armpit, hoisting him up. She glanced at Maqui, biting her lip as she struggled with Hope's weight.

"Don't talk like that. We'll figure this out. Just tell me where to take you and I'll do my best." Hope shook his head, trying to shove himself away from her.

"No-no you need to get-get awa-agh…" Hope let his arms fall from her and collapsed to his knees, hands clawing the ground while he hunched his back and bit back a howl. Lightning was at his side again, running soothing circles on his arm and glancing around. She could feel the sweat pouring down her temples and pooling in her chest, and her mind kept coming up blank.

How do I stop this? How? Hope is just-what do I do?

"It's…the magic…it's-it's pouring from the crystal, and when I-when I tried to help Maqui…it just-" Hope grunted, biting his lips before arching again. "Get…Get away!" he screamed, clenching his eyes shut. "Get away before-"

Hope stopped, eyes dilating before a scream tore from his body. Lightning winced and squeezed his arm, watching in silent horror as the first wing sprouted from Hope's back. The white, crystal wing grew from his back like a plant, spreading and opening as Hope just screamed into the ground, his voice shrill and loud, cracking as the wing spread. The wing stood tall on his back before collapsing to the ground, flapping helplessly as Hope writhed in pain.

"Dammit Hope, what am I supposed to do?" Lightning stood away from him, glancing around the area. She could hear more explosions sounding in the background, drowning out any other noise. Her eyes drifted to Lebreau and Maqui and the bodies of the other C'ieth. Then to the buildings burning around her, crumbling and falling into other structures when the support beams finally gave way. The crystal was the only calm thing around them, bright and shining above the carnage.

I don't know what happened to Snow, all I have to work with is bodies, and Hope's turning into a C'ieth right in front of me. I need something, anything, to help me. I-I could take him to the crystal, but will he able to do anything the way he is now? I need to-

"Run Lightning! Just run!"

Lightning growled, almost snarling when she turned back to Hope and punched him across the jaw. "Hell no you idiot!" Lightning grabbed him by the shoulder before he could respond, pulling him by the arm as he continued to thrash around in her grip.

Lightning looked around, eyes lighting up when she saw more soldiers finally entering the area. Finally! About time something went right.

Lightning nodded at them and pulled on Hope again, trying to hoist him into a more comfortable position. She looked back at the crystal to decide how to approach it, studying the area around it. Hope wriggled and tensed in her grip before he started to scream again, and Lightning almost dropped him as the second wing began to sprout. It scraped against the ground, fluttering and jerking around as Hope opened his mouth in a silent scream. The white film was spreading all over him, his arms bright white and the film starting to cover his eyes.

No! No, Hope stay with me! You aren't doing this! I'm not letting you do this to me!

Lightning jolted when gunfire started around her, the soldiers sending a barrage of bullets behind her. She turned and her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Saorise was making her way toward them, but several white, spindly legs attached to her back supported her. Saorise's head lulled as the legs moved slowly, shaking when they touched down, each step sending tremors through the ground. Saorise was a loose center to the spider-like legs, her eyes dulled as the legs brought her forward. She was several feet above them and Lightning shook her head as the bullets seemed to bounce off of her, the shells and casing falling uselessly to the ground.

Hope tensed under her grip and Lightning clenched her hands around him, shaking her head when he pressed his hands to her side and tried to push away.

"Stop Hope," Lightning mumbled, putting her hand on his head and flinched when electricity jolted up her arm. "You need to calm down. If we can just get to the crystal, we can end this. But you need to stay calm and come with me. All right? All right?" Lightning brought her hand away as more magic blasted from him and through her, her arm going dead as Hope shuddered, grabbing his chest. Lightning could hardly breathe as more white skin came over him, and green crystals were sprouting from his lower jaw, acting as deformed, pointed teeth. Hope's hands started to sharpen and green crystal spikes jutted from his right arm as he clenched his hands.

"Hope…" Lightning jumped when a body soared past her and Hope. The soldier slammed into one of the buildings and fell limply to the ground, unnaturally still. Lightning looked to see the other soldiers were scrambling, still firing at Saorise even as they tried to retreat, and Lightning's chest tightened when Saorise's new legs almost impaled Lebreau's body. Lightning leaned forward when Lebreau twitched, wondering if it would be a good or bad thing if Lebreau woke up with Saorise towering over her.

Hope jerked in her grip and the next thing she knew, Lightning was being thrown to the ground. Her skin tore as she landed hard on the pavement, her eyes fluttering closed before she was able to blink back the pain and see Hope.

He stood straight but his head was bowed, the wings that had grown spreading farther and farther, opening to the greatest extent they could and casting dark shadows on the ground. Saorise had stopped, her head still lulling to the side until she was directly in front of Hope. The legs that held her began to quake more and Saorise's hands twitched.

"Hope…" Lightning muttered, glancing between them.

Lebreau shook her head, groaning when she sat up. A gasp escaped her when she opened her eyes and saw the two, and Lightning glanced at her before snapping her eyes back to Hope and Saorise. Lightning swallowed and raised her voice, calling after Hope, "You need…to stop. That's all. Hope, just go for the crystal, don't-"

"I…her…" Hope groaned and shuddered, looking up at last, and Lightning shook her head when she saw that Hope's face was covered in the white film. Green crystals lined his lower jaw and reached toward his eyes as the white skin continued to spread up his neck. Green crystals jutted from his neck and his hands were elongated and sharp. His eyes narrowed and almost glowed as they looked at her.

"Die…" Hope mumbled, his voice oddly distant. Saorise, her own body completely coated in the white skin, jerked up at his voice. A small, sly smile crossed her face and Lightning shuddered as a low chuckle escaped her.

"Almost Hope. You almost ruined it. But he said…said it doesn't matter, so long as we get there." Hope growled, starting to crouch, and Lightning pushed herself from the ground. She reached for her sheathed gunblade, pulling it out and propping the blade at her side. Saorise didn't even glance at her though, even as Lightning slowly switched from the blade to the gun. Saorise was too focused on Hope, eyes dancing and smile growing.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised you let yourself go this far. And for what? The sake of a little boy," Saorise spat. Lightning shuddered as Saorise's voice started to deepen and almost echo, as if there were many people speaking with her. "And in the end it doesn't even matter. We shall all meet the same end. The eternal sleep. The world's one mercy to us. And yet you try to spurn it off!"

"Your mercy is nothing," Hope said, his own voice low. There was almost a growl to it now and Lightning winced when several crystals started to jut from his other arm and his knuckles. "You take and take from me, and now I will take from you. You will have nothing! I will seal you away and there will be nothing left for you to try!"

"You think you can you worthless l'Cie? Do you thirst for more blood than I? Do you wish to kill us more than we wish to end this world? Somehow I doubt that," Saorise said, her grin widening, cracking her face from the strain.

"I will show you bloodthirsty!" Hope snarled. Lightning swore and took aim at Saorise, the barrel directed at her head, but as the shots fired from her gun they did nothing but bounce off an invisible wall. The shells fell to the ground with almost silent clinks and Lightning gritted her teeth, switching back to her blade and crouching down to strike.

"Stay away from my kill!" Hope screeched, lowering himself and spreading his wings above him, his eyes teeming. Lightning could only glance at him before he charged at Saorise, his clawed hands raised to strike. Saorise chuckled, her spider legs lifting her up and away from his deadly hands. The legs thudded and the feet dug into the ground, cracking and splitting the ground with each step. Lightning shook her head, eyes flickering to Maqui's still form before she sprinted at him. She skidded beside him and grabbed his body, using her momentum to hoist and throw him to the alley of several buildings, glancing up to make sure the structures were sound.

"I need to make him stop. Or get to the crystal or something!" Lightning whipped around and spotted Lebreau as she struggled to stand, the woman clutching her left arm and limping away as Hope and Saorise began to fight. Lightning watched as Hope reached for Saorise's head, his clawed hands out again, and a shrill screech told her Hope was at least close to his mark. Shaking her head Lightning ran for Lebreau, skidding to the woman's side and letting Lebreau lean against her.

"What do we do, Lightning?" Lebreau started, her voice strained and scared and quivering. "What are we supposed to do now? Hope is-Hope is a C'ieth or is almost a C'ieth and Saorise is changing and nothing is going right. All those soldiers…she killed them or they ran off and now-now we're alone again. Dammit, we need to do something before this can get any worse. But what?"

Lightning almost sighed, knowing Lebreau was looking to her for an answer she did not have. Instead Lightning looked Lebreau in the eye, pointing her in the direction she had thrown Maqui. "Grab Maqui and get out of here. I have no idea how this is going to go now and if you're caught in the line of fire-"

"No! I am not leaving you or Hope alone. I'd rather be-"

"Finish that sentence and I drop you." Lightning glanced behind her when another loud screech sounded. Both women watched as Hope bobbed in and out of Saorise's range, more and more of his body covered in the white skin. Parts of his arms were starting to grow, large and jagged, much like the deformed crystal muscles Lightning had seen on some of the larger C'ieth. Saorise was changing as well, her face lengthening and smoothing out, reminding Lightning of a serpent, while her skin was nothing but white crystal.

"Both of them…both of them are going over the edge…" Lebreau muttered.

"Which is why we need to end this now. I have a feeling it's not supposed to end with either of them being a C'ieth," Lightning said. She glanced behind her when she heard voices, but when she saw more soldiers charging in, she did not feel the same joy as before. This is getting way too complicated, way too fast. What do we need to-

"They're leaving!" Lightning jumped, breathing hard as she looked back around and saw Hope and Saorise were moving away from them. Lightning loosened her grip on Lebreau, the woman grabbing onto the side of the building to steady herself, both of their eyes glued to the pair as they started to move away from them and into the deeper parts of the center of the town. Saorise was leading the charge, her legs slamming into buildings and glass breaking around her. Whole walls would fall when she leaned to heavily on one building and Hope was flying after her, dipping toward her every now and again and causing another small shriek when he struck. Saorise's crystal skin was ripped in several places-her legs, her face- but she never moved too fast or too far from Hope.

Lightning shook her head, narrowing her eyes as she watched the two. "She's leading him to the crystal." Lightning's eyes went to the hovering ball above them, the stem disappearing from sight as it was lost in the small structures around it. "She's leading him there so she can finish this."

"We can't let her!" Lebreau shook her head, pressing a hand to her forehead when a wave of nausea hit her.

"No…we can't." Lightning didn't wait for Lebreau to respond. "I need you to take Maqui-"

"I said I'm not-"

"-and get to Rygdea. We need to make sure Snow and the others are all right as well and we need to let them know we're going to need cover fire. Someone needs to keep tabs on Hope and make sure that he doesn't do anything stupid, and honestly, you can't be too good at that if you're limping!"

Lebreau looked as if she had been slapped, mouth dropping open and her cheeks turning red as Lightning looked away from her and toward Hope. She crouched down and started to follow them, ignoring Lebreau's muttered protests as she ran after the destruction the two had left in their small battle. Lightning could hear Saorise shrieking, the sound shrill and harsh, and she wondered just what Hope was doing to her. What he was tearing into with those claws and if his eyes were still flashing with a hatred she had never seen before.

Hope…

You idiot, when I get a hold of you, you're going to know a new kind of pain. You better not die. You better not do something stupid and make me have to-to-

I don't know if I can do that Hope. I can't even run when you tell me to, so how am I supposed to do something like that? Not after I finally found you again. Not when I finally got a chance to be with you. Not when we are all here, together and whole. This will not be the end.

I will not let this break our family.

Never again.

Lightning skidded to a halt, breathing hard as she tried to catch her breath. Her chest was on fire, the pain licking her insides as she looked up and spotted Hope as he dove for Saorise again. This time a leg came flying up, swatting him away, and Lightning winced when he struck the ground with a loud crash. She bit her lip and ran after him, glancing up at Saorise as she moved in between crumbling debris and flames, as well as the occasional still body.

"Hope!" Lightning called, watching as his body twitched and jerked on the ground. She dropped to her knees, leaning away from the wings as they fluttered and tried to push against the ground. She dug her fingers into Hope's shoulder and pulled him up to face her, her eyes darkening when she saw the crystals all over his body. She could barely see his face amidst all of the bright, hard skin, and she shook and called to him, trying to keep her voice even. "Come on, Hope, you need to get up. We need to get away from her now before she does-"

"Why are you here?" Hope groaned, eyes peeking out of the thick crystal he was coated in. "Why? You'll get hurt if you're here." Lightning blinked when he tried to raise his hand, his body shaking as more and more crystal seemed to pile onto his body, making him thick and slow. "I…don't be hurt. I can't…not if you-"

Lightning shook her head, looking up at Saorise and then the crystal that stood behind her. They were directly below it now, the great orb casting a dark shadow over them all. Despite all the gunfire and explosions outside, the orb was as blue and bright as it was before the fighting had started. Lightning watched it in silent awe for a moment. Saorise turning to it as well, Lightning and Hope seemingly forgotten.

"The…magic…" Hope muttered, making Lightning turn to him. "It was all over the place. Inside of me and her…and he did it."

"Chaos?"

"His voice," Hope continued, as if she hadn't spoken. "Always there, always in our heads. He told us-told her that he had to do it to her, or else I would come to kill her. That I would tear her to ribbons before magic could take hold. He was right too…I would have. I would have charged after her and killed her. I still...still want to. But it hurts-burns all over Light. I wish...wish it would stop..."

"Hope," Lightning mumbled. "Stop, you just need to rest and we'll-"

"But-but he says we can't do anything-anything as C'ieth. Nothing at all." Hope groaned, his forehead moving oddly, the creases in the crystal looking unnatural on him. "He won't shut up. He won't."

"Hope."

"They-they need to run Lightning. They need to run because he doesn't care. He'll use them so that the-the magic has a place to go." Hope shook his head and grunted, body arching and waves folding under him. Lightning jumped when something thudded around them and the ground rumbled, her eyes going to Saorise as the woman collapsed on the ground. The spider legs flew into the air, spreading far apart before falling limply at her sides, almost curling like dead leaves.

"Hope-what's-"

Lightning jolted when the world shuddered again and a distant, low whine started above them. She gazed at the crystal, almost feeling the air lift and change while the crystal orb began to glow. Inside the crystal seemed to be moving, as if waves were crashing within it and the orb was ready to burst open, releasing the torrents of water.

"Hope…is it-I mean, is it about to-"

"The others!" Hope gasped, arching again and grasping his chest. "It'll go for the others!"

The words didn't even escape his mouth before the orb shuddered and glowed with blinding blue light.