Bringer of Nightfall

by RoseDragonWitch

Now hailed as a hero throughout the Source, what next awaits the Warrior of Light, soon to become a Warrior of Darkness? The time has come to move on only now we are heading to not a different country, but rather an entirely new world! The path to the First is open to us and a new battle awaits… the most epic one yet… discovering the truth of what lies at the heart of the Star...

24. Crossroads

Chapter 20: Crossroads

They were making good progress so far.

With the rebuilding of all that were damaged from the attack well in hand, the Crystal Exarch had retired early that evening to the tower—under the guise of being drained from his duties of helping those displaced from the sin eaters.

Which wasn't a complete lie, he was exhausted from it all, but the tower was more than able to keep him going despite the lateness of the hour with its boundless energy. At this point, he wished to check on the Champion and the Scions to see how their progress was going so far. So he reached out to the mirror and watched as the Scions, who had split into two groups, were still continuing their journey through the Hills of Amber.

He had just witnessed them able to restore life to the Talos in the small town of Twine and were getting ready to head towards Nabaath Arang to meet with their original Minfilia.

Ah... from the looks of things it seems that they were getting ready to leave Twine. Their meeting was soon upon them... it was simply a matter of time.

Though, if he had to be truthful, he was deeply concerned with how this would turn out... and what it could do to the Scions no matter what the outcome was. But he had every confidence that they would find the Lightwarden soon enough—?

But he held up his crystalline hand so that he could get a better look at their hero's face and he felt concern boiling inside. Though the image was slightly distorted thanks to the crystal, he could see that she didn't look well at all. Her complexion had taken on an ashen color and the dark circles under her eyes stood out sharply, especially underneath her hair which was halfway white now... she was looking more and more...?

"Like a sin eater..." he sighed. He knew that this was coming, had known about it for years... but it was still painful to watch their hero suffering like this. Still, she was putting up a brave face and not letting the others worry. Indeed, it looked like she was offering some words of comfort to young Minfilia as they sat near the edge of the cliff and talked. He wished he could hear what they were saying at this point even though it was none of his business. Old habit from when he was young—which was many, many years ago—of just aching for all kinds of information.

Still, she was holding up... which he was grateful... but he feared how much worse it will get after this next Warden is defeated?

He turned his attention back to the Talos and watched how they were getting it to walk with them and were leading it over to the tracks—so to be ready to head to the railyard for the trolley. Hopefully, Urianger would be able to contact him soon to give him an update... it was like reading a picture book to an exciting tale but had no words to accompany it. As wonderful as this mirror was it could only show him images, leaving him unable to hear what was being said.

He did not tear his eyes away even as he heard the door behind him open and footsteps echoing around the hall. He didn't even have to look to know who it was. If it had been Lyna, she would have made her presence known to him before entering. And anyone else with manners in this city would have knocked first before entering.

"To what do I owe the pleasure that is your extended stay?" he asked without turning around.

"Oh, to the tediousness of our heroes' present endeavors," Emet-Selch's bored answered back with a slight sleepiness to his tone. "That and the insufferable abundance of Light in Amh Araeng. I should be glad to keep my distance."

He heard him give a loud yawn.

"I'm rather fond of sleep, you know," the Ascian went on in a rather contented way, "Wonderful way to pass the time. Not that my compeers would agree, mind you. Always on the move, the lot of them. Like Lahabrea, constantly jumping from vessel to vessel. Such fire, such determination! So much passion, fleeting and forgotten…"

He could dully see where this was going. Emet-Selch had sometimes come by to check on him to see if he could get something to slip about his plans. Well, the Ascians weren't the only ones who were insufferably vague when it came to discussing what they were planning... something that he suspected fascinated Emet-Selch as much as frustrated him.

"Come to think of it, Exarch, I don't believe I've ever seen you retire to your chambers for so much as forty winks," Emet-Selch chirped up, as if merely discussing today's weather, "However do you keep your eyes from closing?"

The Exarch stood there stiff and did not answer, not even bothering to look back at him, refusing to rise to the bait.

After about a minute of silence, he heard Emet-Selch sigh.

"The cold shoulder. You wound me, sir," he said in disappointment, "Always so guarded in our every interaction—interactions you curiously refrain from sharing with the Scions and their champion…"

"And risk souring your budding relationship?" he answered back, wishing that he would just go away and leave him be to think, "I think not. Much as I dislike you, there are more useful targets for her energies. And I am not in the habit of pointing her at my enemies like a weapon."

That was the one thing that he would not do. Especially not in her condition. She was not a weapon or a tool to be used... not to him... and not to so many others. The fact that he still stood here watching these events was proof of that.

"Is that right?" Emet-Selch went on with a hint of more interest, "Fond of you, are you?"

Again, the Exarch did not answer, but he could feel an unsettling feeling crawl across the skin that had not yet become crystal.

"You continue to fascinate me, Exarch. But tell me… who are you?" Emet-Selch asked quietly.

The Exarch did not like how interested he was... both in himself, the tower, and the Warrior of Darkness. Emet-Selch had been trying for weeks now to get some information out of him, but thanks to his last few decades of careful preparation, he was able to prevent him from learning anything significant... at least, he hoped so.

"The once great nation whose ingenuity gave birth to this tower was shaped by my hand," Emet-Selch sighed at the nostalgic memories as he turned around the room and observed the crystal walls, "As such, I know full well the wonders it can facilitate… and those it cannot. There is nothing in these walls which could have aided you in summoning our dear friend across time and space. Much less in possession of her mortal flesh! Not even I could have performed such a feat."

Ah, he had a feeling that was the case. He had long since wondered about how Ancient Allag were able to become build the greatest technological advances ever seen in such a short time... much like with the Garleans... they had a helping hand to shape them.

"I see… you had a hand in Allag as well," he said in understanding. Thanks to that information, thus solving one of the many mysteries he was still curious about the Allagans, he finally decide to turn around and face him. Such an answer, deserved an answer, if only to get him to leave him in peace.

"You would know what I am?" he asked him coolly, "I am the adjudicator of the sacred history with which you dared trifle. I am keeper of this tower's boundless wisdom. The wisdom of ages without age. Of everywhere and nowhere. The great work of those who tamed the wings of time, and grasped the nature of the rift. 'Tis a boon born of the sacrifice of brave heroes who gave their lives for a brighter future. I will not see their hopes and dreams squandered. The history which led us here will be unwritten. I promise you that."

Nothing he said was a lie... but it left as many questions as it answered. That was the point though. And though he didn't show it, he could see the irritation and curiosity growing in Emet-Selch's face. But there was only one person so far whom the Exarch revealed the whole truth too and he would never speak of it to anyone. As if he would be so foolish as to come out and tell and Ascian everything and risk them from putting a stop to all that he and those same brave souls who sacrificed so much to see him to this point. Much and more had been asked for this one chance to change the future and he would not let those wishes die with him... not until his message was safely delivered.

The two looked long and hard at each other before Emet-Selch finally shrugged.

"Well, it seems we are both eager to fulfill our duties, then," he said.

"On that much we are in agreement," the Exarch answered stiffly and he turned back to the mirror, blocking him out.

With his back to him, he could no longer see his expression—and in hindsight it was probably not the smartest thing to do to have his back to an enemy—but Emet-Selch seemed to realize that their little interview was over and he heard his footsteps leave.

But not before he heard him add, "Well, in that case, I shall leave you to your duties... as I will return to mine. Though, one cannot help but wonder which one of us is more determined to see them through? And what we will be willing to give up to see that point."

The Exarch felt his fingers grip his staff tightly as he heard the door close behind him and he felt that it was safe enough to lower his hood for a brief respite.

Grateful for the freedom that lowering his cowl brought to him, he was able to refocus his attention upon the mirror and watched as Claire joined both Thancred and Minfilia on board the trolley. They were getting ready to leave as Urianger, who didn't climb up onto the trolley with them, seemed to be waving them off.

No sooner did the Talos push them out of sights did Urianger say something to the miners and left them behind as he began to head his way out of the railyard.

Not even a minute later, the Exarch heard the familiar ringing in his ears.

"Ah, Urianger," he said, glad that they were able to work out most of the problems with the linkpearl so that they could talk more clearly—with only the slightest bit of a buzz on the other end whenever one spoke, "How are things faring?"

"As well as can be expected," he answered back, "Soon I will reunite with our other companions and assureth them that we shall have our answers soon."

He gave him a brief description of all that they had gone through to get the trolley moving, and the Exarch could not help but smile at that.

"I am glad to hear of that," he said, pausing slightly and asking, "And how do you feel?"

He heard Urianger let out a long-suffering sigh.

"I fearth that my heart growth heavier day by day," he confessed, "I know not how I will be able to keep my vow of secrecy until the very end... 'tis only my desire to see this world saved that keepth me going... yet...?"

The Exarch shut his eyes and sighed once again.

"Again, I fear that I must apologize for this difficult position that I put you in, my friend," he told him sadly, "But soon, it will be over and you will be free from the burden that I forced upon you."

Urianger did not answer, but he didn't need him to know how he felt about all of this.

"But what I must ask... is how you think this upcoming meeting with Minfilia will end?" he asked.

Again, Urianger was silent as he gave it some thought.

"In truth... I know how our own Minfilia would wish it to end," he confessed, "But that make not mine heart feel any lighter. More concerned I feel for Thancred. For now though, I will search out our companions and inform them of all that has happened thus far. We shall meet up as quickly as possible. Thus, when we have our answer and slay the next Lightwarden, I will inform thee of all that has happened."

"Thank you, my friend," he said, "If you need anything, do not hesitate to call upon me."

He let the line die there as he turned back to the mirror.

Whatever else Emet-Selch may have said, there was one thing that he did agree with. And as he looked to the group aboard the trolley as they were heading their way through the desert, it only reaffirmed his determination... there was nothing that he would not give to see his wish granted. And if that meant sacrificing a life in the process to secure a future for both worlds... so be it.

*Elsewhere across the desert*

"I know that it's none of my business..."

"Then don't ask about it."

"...but... as your sister I'm asserting myself here because it's my duty to ask what is going on between you two."

He responded by telling her to shut up.

Y'shtola rolled her eyes as she led the way through the red sands, listening to the twins bickering the whole way.

They had decided to keep an eye at the Inn at Journey's End for Alisaie's sake but couldn't risk getting too close of being spotted by Eulmore and bringing them down upon the carers and patients. They did see a fair number of soldiers about, but they did seem scattered at the very least. Aside from a few skirmishes here and there, running back and forth to confuse the enemy, things weren't as bad as they feared. Nothing like how it had been back in the Greatwood. It seemed that without Ran'jit to take command then the rest of them were struggling to figure out what to do.

Unfortunately for Alphinaud, this gave rise to small talk and Alisaie was now poking his buttons to get some information.

"Now is that anyway to treat your favorite sister?" she asked him teasingly.

"You are my only sister," he reminded her as he brushed his bangs out of his face and continued to look pointedly away, "And I thank the gods for that."

"Ahhh, you are becoming a brute!" she scolded dramatically. "No wonder your relationship is in flames."

"IT'S NOT IN FLAMES!" he yelled back.

"Oh, come on, you two could barely look each other in the eyes!" Alisaie pointed out, remembering how the two of them were avoiding eye contact. "I mean, I know that you are dense, brother mine, but I can't think of what you could have done to cause this reaction?"

"What makes you think that it was my fault?" he demanded hotly, only to look away when Alisaie raised an eyebrow at him. He then added in a mumble, "It wasn't… completely my fault. She should've locked the door."

"I beg your pardon?" Alisaie asked and he choked and looked away. By this point though, even Y'shtola was interested and was looking over at them as Alisaie was now pushing for an answer. This went on for some time before Alphinaud, finally realizing that she was not going to let this go, finally gave her somewhat of an answer.

"Look, we had… a slight… disagreement," he muttered gruffly.

"Yeah, I figured that," she said as she rolled her eyes, "So you said something to affect her in some way?"

"I didn't mean to upset her!"

"So she is upset with you! Spill it! What did you do?!"

"Just leave me alone!"

"Now, now, is this any way for loving siblings to act?" Y'shtola interrupted calmly, cutting through their bickering.

"Maybe," Alisaie admitted, "But is it wrong to be concerned? Maybe I can help?"

"Help? Help me how? By pestering me?" Alphinaud demanded.

"Look, maybe we can help with whatever happened," Alisaie said cheerfully, "You clearly don't know the mind of a woman, but we do. So why don't you tell us what happened and we'll see how we can go about making amends."

"I will talk to her when we get back," he promised.

"Yeah, and risk another argument and make it worse?" Alisaie demanded, "When did you guys get into a fight anyway? You weren't acting like this the other night? It must have happened early this morning, right? Now that I think of it, you did say that you were going to go and talk with her after we finished our breakfast…?"

He tensed up, an odd shiver going down his spine at those words and Y'shtola arched an eyebrow, wondering what on earth could have happened in such a short amount of time? But then the phrase 'She should've locked the door' came back to her and a suspicion suddenly appeared in her mind.

"Correct me if my assumption is wrong, but it sounds like to me that there really wasn't an argument but rather you entering a room you neglected to ask permission for," Y'shtola smirked, understanding immediately what must have happened.

Alisaie was now looking between her and her brother, completely at a lost here as Alphinaud just kept his head down and was as red as a rolanberry. When he didn't counter that, Y'shtola laughed and said, "I'm guessing you like what you peaked on?"

Now Alisaie was growing frustrated and was demanding to know what they were talking about or she would bring it in front of Claire—which frightened Alphinaud more than anything. Under threat, he finally muttered something, but he spoke so low that Alisaie couldn't understand a word he said.

"Repeat that please?" she asked firmly.

Alphinaud mumbled something a little louder… but still impossible for Alisaie to make out—causing her to now glare at him, "That's bad when someone with ears like ours can't hear what you're saying. One more time and louder please."

"This morning… I went to her room to speak with her… and… I sort of accidentally… walked in… on her… without knocking … while she was changing…"

Alisaie it that time. Her eyes widened at that, suddenly understanding the sudden awkwardness.

"Oh," was all she could say, also turning red at the thought.

"What did she say when she realized she had an audience?" Y'shtola grinned.

"Nothing really," he mumbled, now looking to the ground in such a way that it was as if he was hoping to be swallowed up, "She just threw a water jug at my head. Not that she needed to say anything, I think that it was pretty clear. After that… I just sort of… ran out of there."

"Wow, whatever I was expecting, it wasn't that," Alisaie said, still rather stunned by what she heard. "Well at least you had the decency to look away. I mean only an idiot would have just stood there and stared."

She laughed at that… not that it didn't stop her from noticing the way that Alphinaud's body stiffening and then she asked, "You did look away right?"

The blush evident on Alphinaud's face was enough of an answer.

"You mean you went charging into a lady's room without knocking and just stood there, like a buffoon, and watched?!" Alisaie demanded loudly, "What? Is decency completely dead?! I can't believe you! What is wrong with men today?!"

"Hey, it's not my fault ok?" Alphinaud tried to defend himself, but he knew that he had no leg to stand on here.

"Sure it's not," was Alisaie's sarcastic response. "I'm sure Claire invited you to watch?"

He was never going to live this one down.

"I can see why she's annoyed with you," Alisaie said with a disapproving shake of her head. "I swear, this whole thing between you two is really starting to get to me. Just what are you two? A couple or not? Just what is it?"

"I was going to talk to her about that very subject," he mumbled, his face still red as Y'shtola listened in with raised eyebrows.

"I think that you both are overthinking everything here," she sighed, "I understand your feelings on the matter, but you do realize that is not the way to go about it?"

"I didn't mean to!" he yelled out, "I just walked in and…?"

"Look," Y'shtola intercepted, "The best you can do right now is apologize. Though I struggle to think of any explanation that you could come up with can justify what happened."

One would have expected Alisaie to start laughing, but the younger girl just still seemed to be in a state of astonishment and just didn't know how to answer that.

"I will," Alphinaud mumbled, "I just… don't know how to go about it."

It was a bit of an awkward silence for them all for a few minutes before Y'shtola's head jerked up and she looked to the distance. He and Alisaie both turned, immediately thinking that more soldiers were coming for them, but it turned out that this was a welcomed face.

"Urianger," Y'shtola said as they hurried for the dark-clothed figure that was making his way towards them.

They met halfway across the desert and he greeted them warmly as they quickly asked what was going on and where Thancred and the girls were.

"We choseth to part ways from one another so that I may hasten back to tell thee what has happened," he said, "Rest assure that they are well and when last I had laid mine eyes upon them they were already on their way to Nabaath Arang safe and sound."

"Then why are you not with them?" Alisaie asked hurried.

He sighed and gave his head a shake as he added, "The time is almost upon us mine friends. I came to meet with thee so that we may join them. For well do I fear that, no matter the possible outcome of this journey, Thancred will need our support now more than ever before. I fear what will become of our dear friend should he be confronted with losing one of the two girls that he careth more than any other."

They all felt true fear there as they hurried on ahead, taking a path through the mountain that Urianger was able to use to get to them. He had explained of the settlement of Twine, of the trolley, and of how the others went on before them upon the tracks and that with the door open, they should be able to follow after them.

He led them to an area just outside of Mord Souq that was held up against the cliffs behind them that separated the deserts, and they were able to travel across the gorge to make it to a small cave. This cave led through the mines and would bring them out through the Hills of Amber. After that, it was simply a matter of traversing the tracks until they caught up with the others.

"How was Minfilia holding up?" Y'shtola asked, as anxiety began to settle inside them after they made it out of the mines and Urianger led them to the tracks.

"Shaken and conflicted with her feelings," he confessed, "She is both determined but fearful. She wishes to maketh her decision but fears of the costs of what it will bring. For to her we must also lend our support."

They were all worried, and they were all conflicted about how they wanted this to end. To see their old friend again at the cost of their new one? How could one ever hope to make such a choice?

They were both terrified of what was going to happen. Which was why they had to hurry to be there to support both Thancred and Minfilia when that moment came. No matter how this was going to end, they feared that at least one heart would be broken beyond repair.

They raced down the tracks, eventually coming to a tunnel when they came to the mountain, having been left open for them, confirming that the others must have made it this far.

They carefully slid down the slope and emerged on the other side, blinking a little surprised at the bright light.

"I have never been this far south," Alisaie said as she squinted around them, observing the area with curiosity, shielding her eyes from the light bouncing off the wall of crystal. "They can't be too far off now."

"Nay, they should be close by," Urianger confirmed as they began to make their way forward, "Let us hurry. We may still be able to fly to their sides and…?"

"Wait!"

The command from Y'shtola was enough to get them all to stop and they spun around to stare at her as she kept her gaze fixated forward. They followed her gaze, wondering just what the aether around them was showing her, when they could make out the form of what looked like dirty white rags lying in the sands.

"Thancred?" Y'shtola asked as she squinted to the white in the distance before her eyes widened in shock and she screamed out, "THANCRED!"

The rest of them had hardly ever heard such a cry from their friend, but Y'shtola had already broken free from them and she bolted to the figure lying there on the sands—the rest following behind. Alphinaud gasped when they were close enough to see the full picture.

Thancred looked as if he had tried to stop an entire army on his own. He was beaten black and blue, bleeding heavily in some places as his clothes were torn and covered with blood and dirt. For a horrible moment, they all feared the worse. Y'shtola crouched down next to him to raise his head and his arm—which had been flung over his face—slipped down he began to cough violently.

It was a good thing that so many of them knew a thing or two about healing. Alphinaud and Urianger focused on healing the worst of their friend's injuries, who was still unconscious, as Y'shtola and Urianger supported him on either side.

As they focused on mending the flesh Thancred stirred and slowly woke up. He let out a shaky gasp before his eyes opened and he looked around hazily, as if struggling to recognize them all.

"You lot…?" he croaked, his throat so raspy that it was painful just to listen to him.

"Welcome back to the world of the living," Y'shtola said, glaring down at him, "Now, I won't hurt you in this state since that may accidently kill you… but in the worlds of the Admiral, what in the seven hells happened to you out here?"

Alisaie gave Thancred her water pouch, which he drank greedily until he had drained every last drop. After choking slightly, he was able to be pulled up into a sitting position where he wheezed out, "Ran'jit…"

"What?" Alisaie cried out, "That's impossible! I thought that he was dead!"

"Nah, that would be making things too easy for us," Thancred panting, still struggling to breathe.

"Well, this is something that I didn't see coming," Y'shtola muttered, "Then again, I suppose I survived that fall. I wonder how he did it?"

"But where art thou our companions?" Urianger asked as he looked around, eventually spotting the trolley and the Talos lying yalms away from them.

"Ran'jit was waiting for us this whole time," Thancred gasped out, "He took care of the trolley. I stayed behind to deal with him. Minfilia and Claire went on ahead. And…?"

He began coughing and a few drops of blood fell from his mouth.

"We can worry about that later," Alphinaud said, glancing around quickly, realizing how exposed they were before spotting the town a ways ahead that was barely being held together. He pointed it out and they decided to get out of the open and take shelter there as they treated Thancred's wounds. With all of them supporting him, they managed to get Thancred to his feet, though he was barely able to take more than a couple steps before threatening to collapse.

He did manage to wheeze out a little more information about the battle taking place, for they needed to know just what kind of damage he had taken on in that fight.

"Just when I thought you could not be any more reckless," Y'shtola scolded, now looking mad, "Using such tactics with your condition?"

"Jeez, you're making it sound like I'm rabid or something when you say 'condition'," he told her as a dripple of blood dripped from his mouth and ran down his chin. They made it to a porch where they set him down in the shade and continued to work on healing his broken and piece together enough of his story to have a good idea what happened.

"Full sure I am that they will return to us hale and whole," Urianger said as they laid Thancred flat on his back and he was bathed in the healing light of his friends. Y'shtola had joined in and helping to mend more of the internal damage that he took such as ruptured blood vessels and strained heart, while Alisaie stood on guard for there were more than a handful of fiends about them, "They will both return to us ere long."

At the mention of their two comrades, Thancred covered his eyes once more as he let them work. But as Urianger looked on he noticed that Thancred was trying to whisper something. He then quickly suggested to the others to look around for anything that they could use to help them. Y'shtola and the twins went off to give a quick search through what remained throughout the remains of the settlement while he tended to Thancred.

Once the others were gone, he leaned over him, wanting to know what it was that Thancred was struggling to say.

"Pray, what is it?" he asked quietly and his eyes widened as he saw the tears dripping down his cheeks, the salty tears mixing with his blood and causing a slight wince but Thancred refused to lower his hand from his eyes.

"I let her go," he croaked, "And I can only pray that I made the right choice."

*Minfilia*

"Because I'm not her. I'm not his Minfilia."

She knows that. She knows that better than anyone that she wasn't who she knew he wished her to be.

That wasn't the first time she had ever thought that.

She could still remember growing up in her cell back in Eulmore and Ran'jit would talk to her about who she was before. When she had been very small, her eyes were wide at some of the stories that he did have to tell about her past selves. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not remember any of those events... none of the battles... not of the countless little things that Ran'jit had to tell her about the past Minfilias.

Like the one who loved to sing and dance… while she could barely carry a tune herself… the one who could paint beautiful works of art… but her own drawings were ok at best... the one who loved to garden… that sounded wonderful but until she left her cell she had never seen what a flower looked like… or about the one who loved animals and was gifted in healing… yet she didn't even know how to use magic while growing up let alone how to save lives…?

Eventually, it dawned on her that she was completely different from those Minfilias—regardless of what anyone else thought. She tried to tell this to Ran'jit, but he just brushed it off. It didn't mean much to him that she was just because she was the latest in a long line of reincarnations that had nothing compared to the others who came before her. As far as Ran'jit was concerned, all the girls were one in the same… just with different personalities and interests outside of the constant battles with the sin eaters.

She always knew differently. She could feel it inside that she was a part of those other Minfilia's but separated at the same time. She didn't know how else to describe it.

But what more could she do? She was instructed to stay in this cell because it was what was best for her. The only other person, other than the guards, who visited her was Ran'jit.

All she knew was a life of solitude in that lonely cell with only her books to keep her company.

Because she wasn't her… she wasn't his Minfilia… any of his Minfilias.

And he knew it.

As time went on he started to find excuses for not coming to visit her as often as he once did. His visits grew less and less until she realized that he was ignoring her and only came to check on her when he had to. There were days that she would remain locked up and only see those who would bring her meals.

She spent a great deal of time crying in the dark, wishing she could see the outside world at least once. But this was all she knew, this was where she was safe and this was where she had to stay. That was what she was made to understand.

But when Thancred arrived that day… most would think that she would be frightened at the sight of this strange man she had never seen before… but that wasn't the case at all.

Once the shock wore off and she looked into his face… she couldn't describe what she felt. Only that there was this wonderful sense of familiarity. Like he had been an old friend that she hadn't seen in forever even though she was sure she had never seen him before. She didn't have friends after all.

But one look at his face she felt this warmth inside her that she clung on to. And when he held out his hand, telling her it was time to go, she could not get up fast enough.

It was much later did she realize why he felt so familiar. Because he was close with the original Minfilia.

But she wasn't her.

This he also became aware of with time.

She was not her, she was never her.

She tormented herself with these thoughts because she wasn't good enough. She would never be good enough for them or anyone.

Once she came to that realization, she felt herself growing apart from Thancred. Well, emotionally anyway, she didn't stray from his side at all within that first year after escaping Eulmore. But until he taught her how to defend herself she was terrified of taking more than a few steps away from him in this strange and dangerous world.

All her life she had been locked inside a gilded cage but now that she had a taste of true freedom for the first time, she realized she never wanted to go back to that cell no matter how nice they made it. But she also came to the painful realization that until she decided what she wanted she would never truly be free to live.

Despite all that he had done, she had once loved Ran'jit like her father. But he wasn't like the caring parent that she had read about in the countless of tomes that they given her to keep her entertained. And now, with the knowledge that he was determined to drag her back to her cage, frightened her more than anything else out there in this world.

So when she saw him standing on the tracks, she felt her very blood run cold at the sight. She stood there, frozen in shock until she felt her self flying through the air and hitting desert sand and rock beneath her. She came in contact with the earth hard and rolled painfully on the hot ground, coughing and gasping for air as her vision spun around her.

She could hear Thancred growling at Ran'jit but it took her a few minutes to register what they were saying before she was able to figure out which way was up and down. Ran'jit turned his cold eyes to her and barked, "You will remain as you are, while I dispatch these villains."

Once more, she felt that surge of obedience seize her as if chains holding onto her. An old habit that was grained into her from a young age into following whatever orders that Ran'jit had given her. But this time, she felt herself resisting those chains that held fast to her spirit.

She wasn't sure what it was exactly this new sensation was, only that it was rising hot and fast through her and gave her the strength to move her limbs as she moved up onto her hands and push herself up.

"No! I won't...! I won't let you!"

It was one of only a handful of times that she actively defied his orders. The other times that she did yell at him, refusing to let him have his way, she had always felt fear inside because she knew how strong he was. But this time, this time was different. She was still the weaker of the two of them and knew in a head-on fight he would certainly beat her, but she didn't feel the fear that came with that.

She felt…

Anger.

And that anger only grew as he looked at her with a mixture of frustration and bitterness. He then barked, "You forget to whom you speak! Who armed you? Trained you? Fought and killed a thousand sin eaters with you!?"

Again.

He was doing it again.

She wasn't her—any of them—she wasn't that person! All those Minfilias that he trained and fought with were different people each time. They were their own person with hopes and dreams of their own. And they deserve to be treated as such; as did she!

Suddenly, that anger boiled under her skin and rose up so that it cast aside all trace of fear inside. It was like clear enlightenment hit her at that moment as she understood. He couldn't look at her and see a separate girl from the other Minfilias. He held onto the idea of who she was, or rather what he thought that the Oracle should be. He saw the Oracle—a precious treasure that needed to be kept locked up and safe. Not a living, breathing girl who wanted to be free from that lonely cell.

And so the answer to how to break free from him hit her like she got run over by the trolley as memories entered her mind.

"But Master Ran'jit…" whimpered the little girl, no more than six years old, holding onto the old man's hand as she pleaded with him when he was leaving her 'room', "Why can't I go out? Please? Just for a little while? I'm afraid of the dark."

"You are safe here," he told her gruffly, "The world is a dangerous place for you. Now stop crying. It's inappropriate for the Oracle."

The memories of her years trapped all came flooding into her mind and before she knew it, she found herself screaming, "I don't know about the world… but I never asked to be saved."

All her life she never had a choice in what she wanted.

She trusted Ran'jit because she had no choice but to do whatever he wanted. And look where that got her? Close to a decade locked up in a pretty cage and knowing nothing of the world. But he had taken enough from her. She wasn't going to lie down and take it anymore.

Until she started making her own decisions she would never be free.

It wasn't until someone asked her, flat out, what she wanted did the answer became clear.

*Earlier*

"Thou needs but have faith. Have faith, and all will be well."

Faith that all will be well? Could such a simple concept truly be that easy? She didn't think so, but the words did help to bring her some comfort.

Urianger just smiled kindly at her before he looked up and she followed his gaze to see that Claire had joined them.

"Is everything alright?" she asked them, "Or do you need some time? We can wait?"

"Yes, I do believeth so," Urianger said as he smiled kindly at Minfilia, who looked down at her feet, still looking lost.

He seemed to give it some thought before looking to Claire and had a suggestion.

"Why don't thou remainth here and rest with young Minfilia for a brief respite?" he asked to Claire, "Doubtless, the others will be needing a little time to finish fawning over the Talos before we set out. It would put mine mind at ease if I knew that thee were taking this chance to properly enjoy the scenery?"

Minfilia didn't look up at them, but she could only assume that she was nodding in agreement.

Urianger placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up slightly, and he still looked at her with nothing but care as he told her to rejoin them when they were ready. Minfilia nodded as Claire slowly came over to sit beside her and Urianger left them alone. They remained sitting in that silence for what felt like hours as the land seemed to stretch out before them.

Not for the first time, Minfilia wondered just what the lands beyond that wall of crystal once looked like? Before the Flood… how many beauties and dangers were out there before the light stole everything from them?

"You probably think I'm being ridiculous acting like this," Minfilia said in a muffled voice, "Having so much trouble coming up with a decision when the answer should be obvious."

"No, I don't think so," Claire answered softly, "I don't think there is an obvious decision here."

"Not to Thancred," she whispered, not meaning to say that out loud.

"I don't think so," she answered again, "I doubt that he would ever willingly let you go for anyone. Not even our Minfilia."

"I know what you're thinking…" Minfilia sighed, "That I should…?"

"I think you're confused," Claire interrupted quietly, "All your life you've been led to believe that you are supposed to be someone else."

"Well of course! That is what I'm supposed to be!" she choked out desperately, feeling like she was going to tear her apart on the inside. "I don't know how to explain how I feel in a way that makes sense! Only that I'm…?"

"You don't have to," Claire interrupted again, "I already know."

"How could you?" Minfilia said in doubt, now resting her cheek on her knees as she kept her head turned away from her.

"You want Thancred to be happy and so you think that means sacrificing yourself, but you are frightened to do that. Yet, at the same time, you love him like your father, and you want him to love you back the same way," Claire said and Minfilia's head jerked up to stare at her in shock. "You want him to be proud of you and to accept who you are?"

"H-How…?" she croaked.

Had she been that obvious?

Claire only smiled sadly back.

"B-B-But?" Minfilia stuttered, not sure what to say.

"I only know what I feel," Claire confessed softly, "And if it were me, that is what I would be feeling. I lost my father a long time ago. I don't remember anything about him. But I always wished I had that connection with someone."

She then reached up to her choker that held the red unicorn and she brushed her fingers over it with a small smile.

"And then, I met someone who all but accepted me as his own," she added. "So… I like to think that I can understand at least how you might feel with a substitute father."

Did she truly understand? She remembered how she told her and Alisaie that her father was dead but then she showed up with that necklace and claimed that… oh, now she understood. This adopted father must have given it to her that day she left.

The choker she was wearing looked slightly worn—and she wondered who it must have belonged to before. Perhaps that was why Claire was smiling whenever she brushed her fingers against it. Like she was remembering something both happy and sad at the same time.

Now that she thought about it… that reminded her of something she had. She reached under her dress to find the practice projectile that Thancred had given her when they first met. She had held onto it all this time, putting a little more magic into it every day as she continued practicing. She had wanted to show him how well she could make herself useful and whenever he thanked her for the projectiles that she gave him, it made her smile with pride.

"I can't say for sure what must be going on inside you now, only that it must feel akin to the seven hells," Claire added. "But if it's any comfort to you, I know what it's like to feel the weight of expectation on you and feel as if you are struggling with who you are and what you should be."

"Truly?" she asked, sure that she was pulling her leg this time, "How would you know? Is it because you were asked to become the Warrior of Darkness?"

Claire shook her head and answered, "Oh, now. This was long ago. They didn't always look at me like they do now. At one point, I was just a means to an end. A weapon or a tool, I suppose, at least in their eyes."

Minfilia stared at her.

Her? Was she just saying that? She saw how everyone fretted and worried over her. Sure, they had her fight a lot, but never once did she see them ever treat her as anything other than a dear friend. Indeed, the twins, alone, were practically joined at her hip and were the first to leap into action if they thought she needed it.

Claire chuckled when she noticed her staring.

"You had not seen how they were when I first joined the Scions," she told her quietly.

"You mean the others treated you as such?" she asked, truly baffled at such a notion.

"Mayhaps not knowingly," Claire sighed as she leaned back onto her hands and stared up at the light sky before wincing in pain and just closed her eyes as she kept her head up.

"It started off small with a few missions here and there, a few harmless enough errands," she sighed, "I didn't mind at first since I was still learning what the Scions were all about. But after defeating my first primal, that was where things really started to speed up. They saw someone who could get the job done. So they gave me just about every job that involved some kind of fighting or… persuading. It didn't take me long to realize that they were treating me like… a convenience. I was a puppet… a tool… a negotiating piece… a weapon."

She opened her eyes and looked down sadly at her as she confessed, "And though I never voiced it, I always… resented them for that. And you wish to know the worst part of it all?"

Minfilia just stared at her, almost afraid to hear what she was going to say next before Claire confessed, "They rarely ever asked me what I wanted. They just assumed that I would help. Even should I give my all to see a job done they would quickly move on to the next 'project' and asked if I would help with that. And again… and again. Just assuming that I would be there like their perfect wind-up doll. Or a sharpened blade in this case."

"If… if you felt that way, why did you allow them to use you like that?" Minfilia gasped out, finding it difficult that any could see her as a tool like that.

"I guess I hoped that the end would justify the means," she confessed, "If it made Eorzea a safer place, then perhaps it would mean that one day there would be less fighting. I liked that idea. But then they started to compare me to the Warriors of Light that we lost in the Calamity… the last Calamity I mean. It made me proud to think that they would hold me up on such a pedestal but I never really thought about it until they started bringing it up more and more… and before I knew it they were hailing me as a hero and I was given the title of Warrior of Light."

"That… that sounds like…?" Minfilia croaked out as Claire nodded.

"I'm sure that it sounds a little similar," she confessed. "At first, I was proud to wear the title. But the fun soon left it. It became more of a burden than a joy to carry. But I continued on because I wanted to continue helping people. But then… the bloody banquet happened. And all that went down in flames. One by one, the others stayed behind, including Minfilia, giving me a chance to escape. I did, and only Alphinaud and Tataru escaped with me. Which led me to Ishgard… which led to more fighting. Which then led to Ala Mhigo and then Doma… and eventually, led me here."

She sighed and shook her head heavily.

"All that… and I feel like I got nowhere," she whispered before glancing at her once again, "Don't be like how I was. You have a choice. You always did. But I think you were scared to make the wrong choice and that is why you are hesitating now."

She was scared? Of course she was! How could she not be? This choice was going to decide her future. Either she would be forced to take up all of the previous Minfilia's burdens and live or fade away to—who knows what?

"What do you want to do?"

Minfilia gazed at her, though Claire didn't look back as she kept her gaze upon the frozen wave of crystal in the distance.

"Why are you asking?" Minfilia asked softly.

"Because it's not often when I am asked that question," Claire told her, "So I will do you what I wish that I had been asked. What is it that you want?"

"I know that Minfilia would...?" she began but Claire was shaking her head.

"I'm not asking what you think that she would want, I'm asking what you want," she interrupted firmly.

"Does it matter?" she asked as she wiped her nose, tears welling up harshly in her eyes.

"It makes all the difference in the world," she answered back, "What do you want, Minfilia?"

"I want…" she croaked and before she knew it, she broke down completely. She didn't howl out or cry, but she did weep bitter tears as she buried her face into her knees and cried. She felt Claire rub her back in a soothing way as she let out how she felt with all of her tears.

"I'm not her," she cried, "And I can't ever be her. I want her to come back and free me from all this, but I don't want to give myself up. I want to be my own person. I want to fight and help others. I don't want to be a burden to you or anyone else. I can't stand the thought of anyone else getting hurt because of me. I want to be someone who can help others. And not because I'm some stupid Oracle! I don't want to be her…"

She felt good to get out some of this terrible weight that was crushing down upon her. Some of this grief that she had been carrying around for so long now. And as soon as she did, she found herself unable to stop, feeling as if something poisonous was leaving her as she vented some—not all though—of her wishes. Finally finishing by saying:

"I want to be someone other than Minfilia."

"And you have every right to be," she said as she helped her up to her feet.

Claire just let her cry herself out and she hiccupped into silence again as she wiped her tears away from her face.

"However Thancred may act about this, he was right about one thing, this is your choice," Claire told her. "And not one to be made lightly."

Minfilia nodded before the question she needed to hear the answer to the most came blurting out of her mouth.

"Would… would you hate me for taking deciding to take Minfilia away?" she asked worriedly.

Claire was silent for a moment as she thought the question over as Minfilia stared at her anxiously.

"No," she finally confessed, "I guess… I would be sad."

Minfilia lowered her head before feeling Claire place her hands on her shoulders and she looked up with wide eyes as she finished, "But… I would be sad to lose you too. But it's not my opinion what matters."

She gently wiped the tears off Minfilia's cheeks as she told her, "I will support whatever decision you make. But I don't want you to make a decision that you will regret because you think that's what everyone else wants. Don't be like how I was. When we meet with her, I want you to speak with her and say everything that is on your mind like how you did right now. Everything that you feel. No excuses, no lies. She will not mind if you continue on or if you shout and rage… all that she would want is honesty. And when everything is laid bare… then you choose. But if there is even the slightest bit of doubt in your mind, don't you dare decide."

Minfilia sniffled at that, but she found that it was a reasonable request and she nodded. Right now, her heart was torn in two. One part of her wanted to give in and surrender her pain to another. But the other…?

"I'm scared," Minfilia confessed and she felt Claire take her hand.

"Whatever you decide, I will support it," she promised, "So long as it is what your heart truly wants. But… my one condition…?"

Minfilia nodded again, understanding. "I know," she said, "I promise, that when I meet her, I will say what I want and I will decide then. And when I do… I will not turn from it."

*End of Memory*

She meant what she said at that moment. She never asked to be born as the Oracle of Light! It just happened that way! She may not be as strong or as brave as the previous girls who carried this name, but this was all she could do!

She was her own person and she wasn't going to live like some kind of pet bird in a cage any longer!

She was venting all these feelings that she had been carrying around like shackles inside her, spewing forth to Ran'jit in a way that she never thought she would hear herself say.

"However much it hurts, and however hard it gets, it's my life, and I want to live it on my own terms!" she screamed out, forcing herself to stand back up, her anger continuing to spill out as she finally found the courage to sever the chains that held her bonded.

"And those "mad fools" you want me to abandon? The ones I've traveled with, fought with, and may one day die with ─ they feel the same. So no, I will not be deceived! No matter what you say, I refuse to believe it's all for nothing!" she yelled, finally doing what she wanted, seeing the world as she saw fit, and realized that it wasn't so bad out here in the light. Better that than one small room, however nicely it was decorated, being your entire world. She thought of the kindness that her friends showed her, both the big to the most mundane and she treasured each and every memory both good and bad. Because they were proof that she was alive and continuing on with them.

And going on in a world without them was a world that frightened her.

"They're everything to me," she confessed honestly, finding herself smiling at this simple truth, "All I have and all I need. And I would gladly do anything for them."

She raised her head proudly as she glared at the man she had once both loved and feared more than anything else as she gave him the greatest ultimatum she could, "Let us pass, or kill me. I'm not leaving here without them."

Her words were enough to infuriate Ran'jit, outraged that she was daring to speak out against him and the next thing she knew was that he was flying straight at her. She gasped, but didn't back down, refusing to give in to fear this time, but that was when Thancred leapt between them.

She stared at the back of his head as he held his weapon up protectively in front of her.

"I heard what you said. And I'm sorry for all the things I've left unspoken."

'Thancred… I'm sorry if I hurt you. I know that it was never easy, but thank you so much for all that you did on my behalf.'

"You have to go. Now!" he ordered.

"Thancred, no─"

She pleaded to him, but he would not budge. He was willing to die to get them the time that they needed. No, she would not accept that. He yelled back, refusing to back down either, determination blazing in his voice before he ordered to Claire to take her and run.

And so, she left with Claire. Trusting in his strength for it wasn't just in her that a new resolve, a new strength that seemed to magically erupt inside them. He could win this fight, she just had to believe.

They ran along the tracks as they headed further south until they found the ruins waiting for them.

Though now that she was finally here, she came to the realization that she had no idea where she was supposed to go from here or how to contact Minfilia. They were so focused on getting this far that she didn't even think about what she was supposed to do once she got here!

"Come on, let's look over by the crystal wall," she said, hoping she sounded more confident than how she felt, and Claire followed after her through the red ruins. Everything was tilted at an unnatural angle and she couldn't help but feel slightly dizzy as they made their way through the ruins. She stuck close to Claire for the most part, who was looking around sharply, as if expecting trouble around every corner.

Not that she could blame her; after the shock of seeing Ran'jit again it would be enough to put anyone one edge. Oh, she hoped that Thancred was alright…?

They would just have to hurry.

They climbed up over the walls, already half buried in sand, until they were directly underneath the wave of light. It was so bright here that she was forced to shield her eyes to try and see more than a few steps in front of her.

But finally, they managed to make it to very near the very edge of the solid crystalized wall and she looked up at the buildings around her.

She knew this place. This was where she felt herself both a part of and separated from Minfilia… she was close. She could feel her presence close by.

Once she realized this face she felt herself stop as fear took root and seemed to hold her squarely in place. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to just stand there frozen and never move again, but then she felt Claire's hand take hold of her own and gave her a comforting squeeze.

Minfilia looked up at her with wide eyes as she kept that stoic expression on her face. No smile or a frown... it was completely blank.

She wasn't giving her any clues or suggestions to what she should do. This was completely her choice. Claire nodded and they continued on until they reached the tallest building for malms and looked right up to it.

This was the place alright. She remembered the platform that stood here; just like last time.

They stared up at the building that the top was obscured by the brilliant light that reflected through the wave… such brilliance… such…?

"Is this…?" she whispered as she felt a stabbing pain in her head and everything faded.

Minfilia recognized the power of the Echo—revealing to her the past once again.

She felt it… experienced it from Minfilia's point of view—the Real Minfilia. The random thoughts that drifted across her mind such as: She could not allow him to give himself up… no, not that she now knew the truth. He needed to remain behind.

But who? Who was she thinking of? She was having a hard time trying to focus on the memory of what happened the day the Flood had been stopped.

It slipped through like water through her cupped hands as other memories and feelings swept through her body.

She tried to focus, but felt herself fading in and then out before riding it, allowing herself to be carried away.

And there it was again.

That wonderful feeling of being pulled into a loving embrace and held as if she was truly treasured. She smiled at the feeling, never wanting to leave it, yet the world stopped spinning and she opened her eyes to a beautifully bright place.

She looked around, completely at a loss to where she was. She gazed about in a blinkered way, finding that the light here didn't hurt her eyes like the sky sometimes did. This light was calmer… cooler… more soothing as it shimmered with a deep golden white and she felt as if she were wrapped up in a warm blanket. She looked down and saw the light shimmer beneath her feet as if she were standing upon water and wondered just what this place was.

She then saw Claire out of the corner of her eye and she felt relieved to know that she wasn't here alone—not that anything here would hurt them—she just knew it.

"This place…" she whispered before she heard a slight rustle… and then there she was.

Minfilia—the real Minfilia—had appeared and was walking towards her… the one true Oracle of Light.

The Oracle took slow and careful steps towards them, her feet bare upon the water's surface, gazing at them both with a loving smile.

"You…" Minfilia gasped, staring up at her as the older woman came to a stop just out of reach of her, "You're…"

"Ours is a meeting long overdue," the Oracle said, "Full glad am I that we may finally speak."

The Oracle then looked over to Claire, her empty eyes lighting up as Claire smiled back.

"It's good to see you again," she told her, which seemed to please them both.

The Oracle just beamed at her friend and gave a nod much like how she had seen Claire do countless times before. But then she turned her full attention back to herself and went on, "My dear, sweet child… yours is a burden none should ever be forced to bear. Such pain and suffering you have endured, yet still you came. For this and more, I thank you."

The Oracle suddenly looked guilty but Minfilia shook her head, knowing she didn't deserve thanks. She was just a pale imitation. She couldn't even escape her room in Eulmore without help.

"I've lost count of the times I've almost given up," she confessed, "If people hadn't helped me every step of the way, I never would have made it."

"Yet here you stand, resolved," the Oracle reminded her kindly, "Now… tell me your heart's desire."

Her heart's desire.

She was still afraid of the answer that she knew she wanted to give. She knew she said she had thought long and hard what she would say when she was face to face with her, but now that she was, she found those words weren't enough to express how she felt. She gave it a moment to get her thoughts together before answering, "To defeat the sin eaters, and bring this world back from the brink! The remaining Wardens have hidden themselves from us. But with the power of the Oracle, I thought that we might be able to find them…"

"Indeed you could. Their radiance would be unmistakable," the Oracle confirmed for her, her tone becoming more serious, "But know, my child, that the power you seek will come at a price. We stand now at the crossroads. A decision must be made."

So this was the answer that they needed. In the end, it didn't really matter which one of them remained behind because either one of them could become he eyes that the others needed.

The question of who it would be… was entirely up to her.

One of them will live on while the other would fade.

She looked down, shaking slightly as the full weight of this choice pressed down upon her as if she were underwater.

The Oracle then smiled again.

"Tis only natural to be afraid. To hesitate," she reassured her soothingly, "But for your many trials, you have grown stronger and wiser. And with the love and support of those you hold dear, you have grown to love yourself."

To love herself.

Yes, that was true, wasn't it? Slowly but surely, the more she travelled with her friends, the more she saw of the world, however tiny it was, the more she began to realize just how much she wanted to be a part of it. The more that the others cared for her, the more she realized that perhaps she didn't have to be like any of the other Minfilias. They cared about her not because of her name or what she could do, but because they supported her—each in their own way.

She did learn to love the person she had become… and was determined not to be the one she used to be. It was because of this that the answer rang out clearly in her mind and she nodded.

She took a deep breath before walking forward so that they were close enough to touch and she looked up into the Oracles face—who was patiently waiting for her answer.

"The Flood has washed away so much of this world," she told her softly. "So many people and places and possibilities—and all of the heroes who fought to protect them. Yet here the Scions are, trying so, so hard to help those few of us who remain. And seeing how tirelessly they work, how completely committed they are to the cause… I can't help but believe."

This world was badly scarred and just clinging to life. It would be a lot of hard work, but someday—perhaps when she was long gone and turned to dust—it will be rebuilt into something even greater than it used to be. She wanted to be one of those who first lay that foundation and watch it grow for as long as she could.

She looked down and smiled as she confessed, "But I want to do more than just watch and cheer. I want to make a difference. I want to help them, like they helped me—and maybe even inspire others to do the same." She looked up and went on, "Coming together, providing for one another—that's the only way forward I can see. Since all of our heroes are gone, we'll just have to make heroes of ourselves."

She wasn't a hero, but if she could someday help others who were lost—that would bring her the most amount of joy that she could imagine.

She gazed up as the Oracle stared at her, her mouth falling open slightly, as if taken aback by her wish. For a moment, she feared that she may have said something wrong, but when she saw the Oracle smile again a second later, she knew she made the right choice. The Oracle then reached out and placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Tis a beautiful, wonderful dream," she answered, "One we share. That selfsame hope lives on in you. It gives me comfort to know that the future is in capable hands."

And then she felt themselves being wrapped up in even more light. So this was it...?

This would be the end? By surrendering all she had left to her that would put an end to the rebirth cycle wouldn't it? There would be no more Minfilia's, or at least, no more Oracles of Light. She wasn't sure what would happen after that, but either way, she vowed that she wasn't going to let that stop her.

"If ever you should falter, remember this: no one, however powerful, is immune to the whispering of doubt and despair," the Oracle whispered to her gently as Minfilia felt her eyes droop and she became sleepy, "Do not give in to them, but do not deny them either. Look instead to the light within, that you may continue to serve as a beacon to others."

When Minfilia saw only love and acceptance in the Oracle's face, any lingering feelings of doubt were dispelled and she nodded, promising her, "Thank you, Minfilia, for believing in us. For believing in me."

Minfilia felt herself stand a little taller as she felt this other Minfilia press her lips to her forehead and everything faded away as she was bathed in a sea of light and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Feeling proud for coming to make her first, and perhaps the biggest, choice of her life.

*Claire*

So the choice had been made.

Claire watched on, having suspected for a while how this would end. While she was relieved to see that they wouldn't be sacrificing this Minfilia, she still felt conflicted on having to say goodbye to the one they first knew.

She looked to her old friend and knew that it would be the last time they would ever meet.

Minfilia, their Minfilia, looked to her.

"Dearest friend… no words can express my gratitude to you for keeping her safe in these tumultuous times," she said softly as the child Minfilia seemed to be in a daze at that moment, "You are a hero to us both."

The Oracle of Light's smile faded for a moment before adding, "But not even the most valiant heroes can stand alone. Only together may you change the fate of two worlds."

Claire blinked, confused by the way she said that as Minfilia smiled again and then everything faded around her and she suddenly felt herself falling back. The light that surrounded her wasn't like what was in her. She felt warm and comfortable as her eyes closed and she seemed to become weightless as she drifted downwards. That was when the images she had witnessed through the Echo returned to her—the vision she had seen the day that Minfilia arrived in the First and halted the Flood—setting everything into motion.

*Earlier Flashback*

This time it felt as if she was watching the scene play out as it happened so long ago. When Nabaath Arang was still strong and filled with people… but it was being swallowed up in the oncoming wave. A great wave made of pure light but moved as if it were water, was rising up higher and higher until it was just over their heads and blocking out the sky. Below it the streets were full of people who were screaming and running, desperate to find some way to escape the Flood, but had nowhere to go.

"Run for your lives! It's the Flood! The Flood!"

There were children crying having been separated from their parents and people were being trampled or just given up in the street as hope left them.

She wanted to help but what could she do against such an overwhelming force?

But then one man, who had fallen, was pointing to the tallest building and cried, "Look! Th-There's somebody up there! On top of the palace!"

Most kept running, not bothering to stop, but a handful of people were looking skywards to see her there against the Flood.

Minfilia was there, looking just like she had the last time they spoke. This had to have been right after they said goodbye to her while back in the Source… for surrounding her were five balls of light. Lights that she had seen before as well.

Minfilia hovered in the air before holding up her hands and winced in pain as she gathered the light within herself. That was when one of the lights took on a new form… it was knight Branden. He held up his hand and offered up himself to her light and giving her strength before fading away. Immediately afterwards, Renda-Rae appeared and she made her sacrifice by offering herself to the ever growing shield of light before fading away with a content smile. Nyelbert and Lamitt also appeared and together they passed on what little strength they had left before they passed on, leaving Minfilia with only one last orb of light.

Finally, this last light took on its form and it was Ardbert. He held up his hand, ready to give himself, but that was when Minfilia commanded in a firm voice, "No. Stand back. We will stay the Flood."

Ardbert's eyes widened in shock.

"But this is what I want!" he pleaded back, "It's my sacrifice to make!"

But she just shook her head.

"Your time has not yet come. When all hangs in the balance, you must give them hope," was all she answered before a blinding light engulfed them all.

His eyes widened in shock as he screamed out her name and then it was all gone.

*End of Flashback from before*

Claire had seen all that and the images were playing themselves over for a second time.

She didn't open her eyes as she drifted through this sea of light, close to falling asleep. But then she felt someone wrap their arms around her and rest their head against her chest in a tight embrace. She instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure and held on tightly… it was Minfilia—the child Minfilia's form… but the voice that spoke was not the same voice that belonged to this girl.

"I pray you forgive me for this," Minfilia, the Oracle, whispered to her, "I just wanted to hang on… just for a moment longer. To cling to whatever piece remained left of the woman I used to be."

Claire did not answer as she held her, rubbing her back much like how she did earlier when the child Minfilia was crying.

"Long have I watched over you during your journey through the north," she told her softly, "Never once doubting that you would succeed where anyone else would have fallen. You should know that I thought of you a great deal in these many decades. It brought me no small amount of comfort. But this child has chosen her future and so happily will I give onto her what little power I have left to bear. Soon… I will rest."

"Was there no other way?" Claire could not help but ask. Was there something that she could have done…? If she had just forced her to come with her that day in the tunnel…?

"I fear not else could have been done. But take comfort in the fact that it has ended in no other better way," Minfilia reassured her. "Do not blame yourself for this. You have done nothing but support and care for me. And for that, I thank you. I never would have made it this far on my own. And though it is hard to let go, I'm finally ready to rest. But do not fear… though I may be gone, I will not be forgotten. I will live on in the Scions and in this beloved child. The love that I always felt around me will never fade."

Claire smiled at that and she knew that Minfilia must be able to see it for she chuckled slightly.

"And... when you see Thancred…? When you can, please pass onto him a message from me?" she asked.

"What is it?" Claire asked.

"Tell him that I never blamed him. Not once," she sighed, "My father's death was not his fault and so he should move on from that. Nothing he could have done could have stopped what was set in motion from that day. I suppose, a tiny part of me did want to blame him, for he so readily offered himself up as partial blame… believing that he could have done something to have prevented the goobbue from escaping. No. He is innocent in that act and it is time that he learn that. It is time for him to move on and embrace life."

"I will tell him," Claire promised as Minfilia hummed in a contented way.

"And also F'lhaminn... my… mother," she added, "When you next see her, please tell her that not a day went by that I didn't think of her. How often had I thought of her and how much that I owe to her. She made me the woman I am and I will always be grateful to her for all she had done. Tell her from me that I love her and she will always be my mother. And that I have long since forgiven her for her part in my father's death. She deserves to be happy from this moment on."

"I will tell her," she promised.

"I know you will," Minfilia chuckled, "You've always kept your promises. Unlike me. I can only hope that you can forgive me for not being able to keep mine own in returning safe and hale."

"It's alright..." she whispered back, hugging her tightly, "I'm only sorry that it had to end like this."

"Don't be," Minfilia said, "Looking back, I realized that bringing you into the Scions was the best thing that could have happened to us. And not just because of your strength. You were the one who changed us into the Scions that Eorzea needed us to be."

"What do you mean?" Claire asked, now confused.

"It wasn't until we met did I really began to see just how... disconnected we Scions were with the people of Eorzea," she confessed, "I was so focused on dealing with the Ascians and the primals threat other than problems that were right in front of us. I don't think I ever truly understood the difficulties that the people went through... those were distant thoughts as we worked to bring the dawn's light to Eorzea. A grand ideal, aye, but so far off that we were blind to the suffering at our own doors. Only when it was too late did I realize just how dangerous it is when someone is so focused upon the light that they fail to notice the chasm opening at their feet. That was what broke us... and almost destroyed us."

"I still don't understand," Claire told her, wondering where she was going with this.

"Don't lie to me now. I'm sure that you must have seen it," Minfilia told her peacefully, "What the Scion's greatest flaw was all along. We were ignorant of the people's suffering. The same people we swore to defend—in many ways we didn't understand. Not truly. But you did. You did understand and you never turned away from those who needed help. You knew more about the people and their sufferings, as well as the beast tribes, than any of us did. The Scions were all but destroyed that night but the best part of us lived on through you and eventual grew to reflect that."

Her arms tightened around Claire as if desperate to hold on for a moment longer.

"Thanks to you, the Scions learned and survived," Minfilia whispered, "We have lost much and more along the way but the Scions have grown to become something even greater than I ever dared to hope. Though I was seen as the leader, you were the heart. And that is all because you were born with a very special gift. Something even more powerful than the Echo or the Blessing of Light. You have the gift of understanding. Of listening..."

Listening…? Understanding…? Where those simple things that changed them?

"Thank you," Minfilia whispered, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done and will continue to do. You are an inspiration to us all. And… please look after the others for me?"

"I'll... I'll try," was all Claire could said, feeling tears welling up behind her closed eyelids.

She could hear the smile in her voice as Minfilia spoke again, and somehow she knew that it would be the last time she would ever hear her speak.

"You are loved…" she whispered before she felt herself fade. "By so many… if you can only remember one thing, let it be that. You are so loved and we will always believe in you. Goodbye… my pillar of strength… my hero… my… dearest friend."

"Minfilia…" Claire whispered and felt a few tears drift past her as she fell deeper and deeper and then everything was gone.

…

Feeling only slightly light-headed at this point, Claire came too and looked around—quickly realizing that she was waking up right where she left off in Nabaath Arang, at the foot of the building where she saw the images of Minfilia and the Warriors of Light.

Did all that really happen? She could still feel the weight of Minfilia's arms wrapped around her as well as her voice ringing in her ears.

She craned her neck upwards to the wave... finding it had grown strangely... darker. As if the light that was inside it was now extinguished.

She then began to spin around, looking for Minfilia, wondering where she was before spotting something white lying at the foot of the stairs of the platform and she sighed in relief before rushing over to her.

Claire gently shook Minfilia to awaken her until the child groaned.

Minfilia slowly sat up and that was when Claire realized that the red of the sand didn't leave her hair... but how…?

Claire felt her mouth fall open as Minfilia blinked up in confusion and stared around.

"What happened?" she asked innocently, "I remember speaking with Minfilia… and then…"

But Claire was too busy staring at her, completely taken aback by what she was seeing, that she didn't answer her.

"Is something wrong?" Minfilia asked worriedly.

"Your eyes, they've changed," she said.

That was putting it mildly.

She still looked like how she did before all this, just her hair and her eyes had changed. Her long, golden blond hair had now been transformed into a coppery red much like the sands beneath their feet... while her eyes now looked... normal. They were no longer that luminescent, crystalized blue but regular pale blue eyes of any other child.

Minfilia was confused by her words at first before some of her locks fell into her face and she stared at her red hair in shock. She then pulled out one of her daggers, which she took great care of and polished so much that they were rather like warp mirrors—but they worked well enough for her to get a glimpse of her eyes and stared in before she stood up.

She then smiled as she glanced back to the wave, as if the answer was very simple.

"A parting gift, I think," she said softly. "Until now, I've walked the path she set before me. The path she set before all the Minfilias. But she's given me a new path—a new life—that I can call my own. And even though she's gone, I can still feel her… warm and calm and gentle." She closed her eyes and placed a hand over her heart—much like how the original Minfilia used to do.

"I can feel the beating heart of the world, the Light what swells within it," she spoke softly before looking up with a brand new excitement that Claire had never seen before and cried, "And the Lightwardens. There's one here in Amh Araeng. Let's hurry back. The others need to know."

Claire wholeheartedly agreed before Minfilia's joy withered and faltered before looking to her feet.

"You don't think Thancred will be angry with me, do you?" she asked with her head low.

That was the question, wasn't it?

She gave it some thought before answering.

"It's what Minfilia wanted," she told her, "I'm sure he'll understand."

He will mourn for her, that she knew, but she also knew that he could never bring himself to hate her. He will be happy to see her return.

"I'd like to think so too, but…" Minfilia sighed before Claire moved forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug.

"Don't worry," she promised, smiling proudly at her decision, "I'll be there with you."

Minfilia, though still looking worried, did nod in agreement to that.

"Would you mind going on ahead?" she asked quietly, and when Claire hesitated, she added, "I'll be right behind you. I promise."

Claire agreed, suspecting that she just needed a little time in figuring out what she wanted to say to the others, and especially to Thancred, before meeting with them again.

But she did tell her that she would know if she wasn't following behind her, as she headed out. She didn't know how the others were going to react to this news, but she could only hope, for Minfilia's sake, that they understand.

(Oh, that is so sad! But what did you all think? It was hard to try and come up with how Minfilia would be feeling through all that and when I realized how similar it was to the WOL's own story I had to compare the two of them. And I don't know about anyone else, but I found the original Minfilia's goodbye to a little… flat. To be honest, I never really liked Minfilia, the First's Minfilia I love her, its the Source's Minfilia that I find lacking. I don't know why I just was very annoyed with her for some reason. I actually made an entire video on what I think about Minfilia and you can check it out here: Is Minfilia Useless? Made it a while ago before 5.0 came out but just in case you lot are interested. Again, I love the Minfilia of the First, she is just precious and I am happy that we managed to keep her. I don't know how we're going to be able to keep her in the story after the others return to the Source, but I hope that we do get to keep her because I do love seeing her here. But how will the others react when they see her? Find out next time!

Oh, and for the scene with Alphinaud, let me say it first nothing lemon happened, but he did get an eyeful—more than he intended to get. We'll find out more about what exactly happened in the next chapter as well as diving down into the next dungeon to face the fourth Lightwarden. Which leads one to wonder how our Warrior of Darkness will hold up?)