Once the trust is broken, can it ever be truly be regained? I wonder…

"Is it not your duty to forge a covenant with Astrals for the king of kings? Are you going to abandon your duty and destiny for a traitor? Choose wisely my Oracle for the fate of this star is in your hands now. It's a covenant or him. Your choice."

"Why must you do this?" she stammered, on the verge of breaking down.

"Because I will not let the history repeat itself. Bahamut will be avenged."

"I don't know what you are talking about. This is the first time I am meeting you and you keep blaming me for things I don't even know about. If you are so eager to fight, then fight you shall get." Leon readied his gunblade and Ramuh his staff.

"Open your eyes and see for yourself, Oracle. Earnest repentance can wash away any sins, yet you see none in him. He still has no remorse raising his sword to the Gods. If he truly has the best intentions for our Star in his heart, then he would not defy the providence, he would embrace it. Your champion raising his weapon against the Gods is the same as you doing it. So long he does that I will not forge the covenant with you."

"If your whole strategy for giving out blessings is forcing your choice on someone, then you are no God of mine."

"So, you do remember what you said last time. It is precisely this rash attitude that made you fall from grace. There will be no exile this time for I shall end you now!"

"Bring it on, old man. Come on Luna, we can take him down."

'This is not fair! Ramuh wants to punish Leon, and he is not even allowed to fight back? Moreover, I cannot even defend him? Does he expect me to just stand and watch Leon die? He is practically asking me to trade Leon's life for a covenant. No God can be this cruel.'

"Get ready Luna, here he comes," he warned, Luna but she remained unmoved.

"Luna?" he said again, but she did not respond.

'Should you raise your weapon to defend him, there will be no covenant,' Ramuh's words played back in her mind.

Leon called out to her again, but she did not respond to his calling. She shook her head slightly.

"Oh," it suddenly dawned on him what this meant.

"I see. So, that is your choice?" He asked somberly.

Luna still remained unmoved; her eyes cast down on the floor below. Her silence was painful. He felt like she had stabbed his heart, even without moving. He was very familiar with pain, but this felt different on a whole new level.

"I guess, I am on my own now," he remarked disappointedly.

She remained unresponsive. The only thing that moved was her tears streaking down from her eyes to her cheeks.

While Leon was distracted by Luna, Ramuh used this opportunity to strike him with a bolt of lightning. The power of Ramuh was such that even his rubber suit couldn't shield him entirely from the damage. Another thunderbolt followed, even more intense than before, knocking Leon off his feet easily.

All the while Luna just stood there with tears in her eyes. She knew that Leon as a warrior could hold on his own against Ramuh, but it was what Ramuh said that worried her. 'Your champion raising his weapon against the Gods is the same as you doing it. So long he does that I will not forget the covenant with you.'

She knew Leon was not going to hold back.

Knowing that there will be no support from Luna, Leon shifted his attention to Ramuh. Ramuh sends down lightning from the sky, which he dodged multiple times. To counter Leon's agility Ramuh brews a storm of lightning encompassing the entire opening in the cave. It was going to be a guaranteed hit.

Leon saw the storm materializing and realized that there was no escaping this one. He noticed that Luna was still standing unmoved.

"It's okay if you don't want to help me, but at least get out of the way," he yelled. Luna was lost in her thoughts completely detached from the events unfolding around her.

"Urrghhh," he groaned and dashed towards Luna. Just as the fury from the sky descended towards them, he covered Luna, taking the brunt of the attack. That seemed to wake her up. "Oh, I am sorry," she apologized before moving out of the harm's way.

Before Leon could recover from the last attack, another lightning nailed him. The explosion from the blast sent his body flying across the cave. He collided hard with the solid rock wall of the cave. Another lightning bolt followed angering Leon.

"This is enough," his heart beat faster, a mind unclouded of any thoughts, and the time seems to have slowed down for him. It was time for his limit break. He readied his gunblade and dashed towards Ramuh. He dragged him gunbalde along the ground, sending sparks flying from it. Luna had seen this attack before, it was going to be an uppercut slashing the enemy bottoms up.

Leon was only a few strides away from Ramuh when Ramuh's words echoed in Luna's head, "Your champion raising his weapon against the Gods is the same as you doing it. So long he does that I will not forget the covenant with you."

Just as Leon leaped up to deliver the blow, she screamed, "Please don't."

Leon's instincts took over and he autonomously reacted to her words. How managed to stop his attack at the very last second, even he did not know.

He landed back on his feet as he heard her say, "If you attack him, then he will not forge the covenant, Noctis won't be able to fulfill his destiny, and everything would be lost."

"There is a God out there hellbent on killing me and I am not even allowed to fight back? My healing magic is limited, so I can only defend so much. Which means this is going to be a war of attrition until I fall. Is this what you want?"

She had gone through many pains as a child, she had sacrificed a lot as an adult, but nothing compared to the amount of pain it caused her to say the next sentence. "I am sorry. This is the only way to save Eos."

"Is this what you want?" he repeated the question.

"What I want is not of concern, it never has. As always, the only thing that matters is what I need to do. As an Oracle, I need to safeguard the future of Eos and its people."

"Gotta admit. I am impressed. Blocking out emotions and making a pragmatic choice is something I can appreciate."

He got out of his rubber hazmat suit.

"What are you doing?" she asked, surprised at Leon's actions.

"I am fighting a war I cannot possibly win, so why prolong the misery? Ramuh, give me your best shot," he challenged the Astral.

Without waiting Ramuh sends down a bolt of lightning. Leon screamed and convoluted in pain. Another bolt sends him flying across the cave. His limp body collided with the stone wall and fell to the ground.

"Gotta say that it is not befitting a God to attack an unarmed man," Leon hissed, trying to get back on his feet.

"Neither is it befitting to betray the trust of the Gods," Ramuh countered, hurling down another bolt of lightning.

Bolt after bolt, Leon was mercilessly being attacked by Ramuh. All Luna could do was to stand by and watch. She prayed and prayed and prayed for his torment to stop.

"I hope you know that you are punishing me for something I don't even remember I am guilty of," he stammered, getting back up on his feet using the wall as his support.

"Not remembering your sins is no grounds for forgiveness."

"Haha, some merciful God you are," he taunted Ramuh which only angered him further. He once again conjured another massive storm of lightning and thunder and unleashed it on Leon.

Leon was bruised, battered and bloodied, and yet he kept coming for more. Luna could not watch it anymore, so she closed her eyes. However, his screams would haunt her for eternity.

Leon was starting to lose his strength and his consciousness.

After the latest volley of attack, he just laid on the ground, unable to stand anymore. A puddle of blood formed quickly where he was lying. His back against the cold ground, his eyes fixated on the Astral who raised his staff for another attack, which he was sure would be his last. Half of his face covered with blood. He wiped some of the blood from his face and turned to see Luna wailing in the corner.

"Hey Luna, you made the right choice. I am not a fool. If giving up my life can save the whole planet, then I will gladly do so. No regrets," he spluttered with whatever strength he had left in him.

"I am sorry. I am so so sorry," she whispered amidst her cries. She had let a person she loved die, so she could fulfill her assigned duty.

"Don't be. I am going to sleep now, call me if you need me and I'll come back to you. Thank you, for everything," he whispered weakly. He wasn't sure she heard him. He looked at her one last time and closed his eyes, waiting for the end.

He could hear clouds rumbling. He could feel the energy picking up. Blinding lightning conjured around Ramuh's staff.

Luna was frozen, watching this horror. Ramuh hurled the lightning and Luna screamed and looked away.

Leon, who was phasing in and out of consciousness wasn't sure if the lightning descended close to him or upon him.

'Are we dead yet?' Wondered his mind.

'If you can ask this question, then you are not dead, you idiot,' replied his heart.

'How would you know? You have never died before,' retorted his mind.

'Touché,' said his heart.

Leon suddenly felt like he was floating in the air.

'My body feels like it's floating in the air. I don't know what's going on. This is so confusing. I didn't realize that death would be so confusing.'

He felt energy return to his body, as if someone had cast the world's best curative spell on him. He instinctively opened his eyes and he was indeed suspended in air and the one healing him was Ramuh.

"Am I dead? Because this is so confusing. Ramuh was about to kill me and now he is healing me, I don't get it."

Hearing his voice, Luna looked up and was dumbfounded to see him floating in the air. "What the?"

"It seems that my judgment was mistaken. I almost killed you and yet you did not raise your weapon. You were willing to sacrifice your life to save Eos. You really have changed, Squall."

"Thanks?" he said, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "Wait, how do you know my name?"

"Forgive me the Fallen one. I have seen the folly in my way, the Oracle was right about you. Everyone deserves a second chance, even you. While I cannot heal your mortal wounds, I have blessed you with divine energy which will substantially aid your recovery."

Luna smiled through her tears looking at Leon. She had to pinch herself to make sure this was not a fantasy. Ramuh gently glided Leon back to the ground.

"As for you young Oracle. I heard your prayers. I felt the pain of your heart. Your willingness to sacrifice the one closest to your heart is a testament to your commitment to your duty. You are an Oracle like none other. Fret not, for I shall forge the covenant with you. So long the chosen King finds me here, I will aid him, without any trial."

"Thank you, Ramuh," she said, wiping her tears and regaining her composure.

She stepped in front of Ramuh. With her trident in left hand, she outstretched her right hand to start the covenant. A gold lights begin to emanate from its body, some of which coalesce around her. The energy circulated around her for a few seconds before lifting her off her feet and suspending her in the air. The energy around her suddenly imploded on her. As her body absorbed the massive amount of energy, she screamed in pain. She descended to the ground and immediately collapsed on the floor.

Leon stumbled his way to her. Using Leon as support, she tried to stand up, but was clearly out to strength. He held her until she was stable on her two feet.

"Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

"Mhm," she said, avoiding any eye contact.

They could hear the thunder roaring in the distance and soon the sky opened up. The torrential rainfall descended with unmatched ferocity.

"We should get out of here," he suggested.

"Mhm."

He just sighed. He was starting to hate this 'mhm' response.

They made their way out back to the area where they had fought off the Naga earlier. Neither of them said a word. Luna had not looked up from the ground at all.

While walking, she stumbled and lost her footing. Leon caught her in time.

"Are you okay?"

"Mhm."

Leon facepalmed hearing her answer. Leon deduced what was bothering her and said, "I don't blame you for whatever happened inside."

"You should blame me," she said in a low voice, and started walking again, using her trident as support.

They had barely walked a few steps when she suddenly collapsed on the ground, losing her grip on the trident.

"Luna!" he rushed and kneeled next to her.

"I feel weak because of the covenant," slurred her words as her eyes closed. "I am so sorr-" her eyes were shut close even before she could finish that sentence. Her body went completely numb.

Luna did not know how long she was out for but she felt her energy coming back slowly. She was starting to feel her senses return to her numb body.

Luna inhaled a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. She lay there motionless as she slowly regained control of her senses. She looked at the ceiling expecting to see the sky, but all she saw was dimly lit enclosed ceiling. She realized that it was a cave. That realization jarred her memories as she recalled how she ended up there. The last thing she remembered was her body giving up as they made their way out after forging the covenant with Ramuh.

She turned around to get up and saw Leon lying there unconscious. With whatever strength she could muster, she crawled towards him calling out his name.

"Leon. Leon, wake up," she said, getting close to him.

She did not know how much time had passed between her passing out and waking up. But during this time something terrible must have happened to Leon as he lay there unconscious.

She moved next to him and cradled his head in her lap. This was the first time she saw his face after the battle with Ramuh. He had cuts and bruises all over his body. His face had a big laceration around his jawline. He must have gotten hit somewhere around his head as there was dry blood around his forehead. She traced his face with her fingers, exploring every inch of it. It broke her heart that she did nothing to help him. But she would have to process all these emotions later as her priority was to wake him up.

She tried calling him, shaking him, sprinkling water on his face and even used cure magic on him. Yet, he did not respond to anything. Her heart sank and fear set in. She did not know what was wrong with him. She could see his chest rising and setting, which gave her relief that at least he was breathing fine. After trying everything she could think of, he still refused to wake up.

"What do I do now? I can't carry him out of the cave on my own. I cannot leave him here and go get help. Should I just wait till he wakes up? But he is not asleep. I think he needs medical attention," her mind raced along.

"Wait! Let me try to heal him," she thought and immediately went to action. She gently grabbed his head and touched her forehead as golden light started emanating. "Blessed Stars-" her words got caught in her throat when she felt ominous hissing behind her.

"Oh no, not now," she dreaded this timing.

"My baby… Where…" asked the hissing Naga.

Luna grabbed her trident and with its support barely managed to stand up. Her legs felt like jelly. Her hands were shaking and she barely managed to hold her trident. The covenant with Astrals siphon life at a rapid pace. It was a miracle that she even woke up. She was in no shape to stand, let alone fight.

The Naga lunged at her and it easily overpowered her. It attacked again and knocked her off her feet. She landed awkwardly on her side immediately howling in pain.

The Naga targeted defenseless Leon on the ground and lunged at him. Luna erected a protective shield just in time. "I won't let you harm him. I will fight till my last breath. I've let him down once, never again."

She conjured a quick blizzard spell to knock the Naga away from Leon. Casting a spell took a lot out of her. She could feel her energy draining. She got close to Leon so she could protect him better.

The Naga swiped with its massive tail knocking her off from her feet. She tried to stand up again, but her legs gave out and she fell next to Leon. She knew she was fighting a losing battle just like Leon had done a while ago. Fresh out of options she did the only thing she could. She cradled Leon's face in her arms protectively and said her final prayers to the Gods above and erected a protective barrier with all of her remaining strength. Now she hoped for a miracle.

The Naga attacked, but the shield held it off. Instead of attacking again, the Naga started circling them patiently waiting for an opening.

Luna was quickly running out of energy and her barrier would disappear any second now. She knew the end was nigh.

Author's notes:

Every choice comes with consequences. How would Luna's choice affect her relationship with Leon? How would you react if you were in Leon's shoes? Hmm...

Please leave a comment if you have enjoyed the story so far. Would love to chat with some of my readers. Or at least say 'Hi' so I know someone is readying this. Thanks :)