A/N: Happy summer, everyone.

Hope you enjoy and review!

Reviewers:

NightwyngN52 – Happy to not disappoint. Shuusei is doing very well. Thank you for your best wishes.

Twilight AngelDemon – I thought it was fitting for a god, especially for one of this series. Thank you so much!

H-thar – Aw, thank you. I thought it was about time for a little boomerang action, however brief. I kind of did beat up on Lightning a bit, didn't I? Well, I'm pretty sure she's tougher than anything I can dole out, anyway.

A Better Day – Sorry about that. I'm a sucker for cliffhangers. Hope the quicker update makes up for it!

Nightsparrow15 (4) – I have always held a sort of fondness for the boomerang, I'll admit. I'd never thought to compare it to Captain America's shield, though. That brings to mind some odd images. And speaking of odd images, I will never be able to get Santa Claus Hope out of my head. XD I think you've ruined the idea of Hope with facial hair for me. Like dear lord, no thank you.

The blinding brightness was the first thing she opened her eyes to. Her aqua orbs sought out Hope's form as she struggled to see through it, but all she could spot were the two Pulse guardians shivering in the whiteness. Their screams were shrill tells of the pain such light brought them as their shadowy bodies disintegrated into the air. It was an enrapturing sight, but eventually the light began to sting her retinas and she closed them tightly with a hiss.

It was a long, drawn out moment before the light finally faded. Lightning hesitated in opening her eyes, unsure what she would find. A lone thud from across the room had her eyelids flying open faster than she'd wanted. Her vision was blurry and she had to blink several times to get the white spots to clear, but when they did she spotted Hope's fallen body in the middle of the floor. Terror consumed her as she stared at his prone form. He laid there unmoving, possibly not breathing, and quite possibly dead. Before she could call out to him she heard the doors slam open, Sazh's shouts carrying over to her. She attempted to move so she could see the entrance and her teammates rushing to their aid, but the slight tug drew a near scream from her throat.

It wasn't until then that the state of her own body registered to her. Everything hurt. Her entire left side felt broken and fractured, all of it too limp to move. The rest of her had an uncontrollable twitch, her nerves still partially frayed as they fought off the remnants of Shadow-Hope's thundara. The worst was her neck that felt unbearably tight and rigid, like the tendons and muscles were being stretched to their limit without even a moment of mercy given.

Zalera stood over her, panic in her eyes. "What happened to you?"

The woman attempted to turn her over, but just the light pressure as her palm met her forearm had her crying out. Zalera quickly backed off. "H-Hope," Lightning croaked, "is he-"

"Sazh is tending to him. For now, just focus on my voice. This is going to hurt like hell."

Before she could question that statement, the Pulsian yanked her over onto her back and pulled her up into her lap, the movements causing her to scream out in blinding agony. The pain rippled all throughout her body, drawing tears from her eyes as her fingers scraped uselessly against Zalera's thigh. Just as she was about to yell at the woman holding her, a bottle was quickly pressed against her lips and she tried her best to swallow the substance as it was practically forced down her throat.

"Alright," Zalera cooed as she brushed the bangs from the girl's forehead. "That should help… At least I hope so. I was never very good at this."

Lightning grimaced at the taste, but the effects of whatever she'd been given easily overshadowed its grainy, dirt-like flavor. The warmth collected in her belly before spreading out to the rest of her limbs. She could feel it settle into her body as it connected bones and tissues, reduced the burning inferno that had taken over her muscles, and smoothed over the jitters of her nerves. It was a calm current that soothed over every inch of the trauma, her breath hitching in discomfort every few seconds as something snapped back into place. Whatever it was packed quite the punch.

When the pain finally waned, her injuries still present, but a fraction of their previous severity, she sat up and pulled herself away. She glared over her shoulder at Zalera, distaste creasing her features. "What did you just give me?"

Zalera's expression fell, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "You could at least say thank you." Lightning only gave her a slow blink in return and she heaved a long sigh. "It's an old healer's remedy. I made it back in the mountains figuring it would come in handy if one of us ever really needed it. Call it a Pulsian version of your potions, if you want. It saved your ass, so you could at least be a little grateful about it."

Lightning ignored that last comment, standing up and wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Her gaze fled from the disgruntled Pulsian over to Hope and Sazh as the latter knelt over the silveret, bandaging his side. "How is he?"

Sazh stood as the soldier made her way over. "He has a bullet wound by his hip, but the bleeding's minimal. His skin's a little hot, but he looks healthy otherwise… Did that light come from him… or that?"

Lightning followed Sazh's finger as he pointed to the middle of the room. Her jaw slackened as the hovering crystal came into sight. "Is that…?"

"Would seem so." Zalera stood and walked over to the shard, gazing at it intently. "So this is what all this has been about?" She couldn't help the irritation that seeped into her tone. This tiny crystal fragment was what the four of them had been sent after. This thing had been the cause of the fall of her tribe. You took everyone from me. You took Yeul! In a flash of impulsive anger, she reached out to grab it. She didn't even know what she would do with it except smash it against the wall.

But as her hand just barely grazed the blue orb of light that emanated from the shard, an immediate spark shot out. Zalera suppressed a scream as she yanked her hand back. She gazed down at her palm, cringing as the ghost of pain scorched her hand, but there was no visible damage. Everything was as it should be.

Sazh was by her in an instant. "You alright?" He tried to look at her hand, but she sheltered it against her chest before he could get the chance.

"Fine," she spat. "Just don't touch it. That damn thing must know its owner." Her eyes settled on the unconscious teen, hoping that it wouldn't hurt him the way it had lashed out at her. "How'd you guys find this thing, anyway?"

Lightning shook her head, running a hand down her face. "We didn't. We got trapped by more of those spirits. I guess defeating them summoned it." She gave a groan as it reminded her of the throbbing in her side. "And where were you two while we were fighting for our lives?"

Sazh and Zalera shared a glance, both wincing at her accusatory tone. "We kinda got… locked out," explained Sazh.

"What do you mean 'locked out'? You guys couldn't even bust down the door? We could have used you!" Lightning glanced back down at the slumbering Hope, concerned that he hadn't woken up yet. She turned back to her two companions, crossing her arms as she cocked a hip.

"We tried," Zalera snapped, irked at the soldier's overall behavior, "but it wouldn't budge! You know what-"

Sazh came between them, his hands resting on Lightning's shoulders as he looked her over. "You should sit down. You look like hell."

"I feel like hell, but I… What even was that? That light was so intense…"

"No kidding." Zalera kept the crystal in her periphery. As much as she hated the thing, she knew that everything that had befallen her wasn't its fault. Somehow, she had to make peace with that fact. "It was bright enough to shine out from under the door." She glanced down at Hope before focusing back on Lightning. "You really should rest."

Lightning noted the guilt resting within her tone. Both Sazh and Zalera looked deeply upset by the fact that they hadn't been able to help, but their feelings weren't her priority right now. "Not until Hope-" A sudden groan startled her out of her sentence and had her rushing to a certain man's side as he sat up.

Hope went to hold onto his head as the room spun, but his arm couldn't quite make it there. It landed back on the ground with a thump, limp and numb. He felt completely sapped of his energy and it was a wonder that he could even move at all. Everything ached, his bones, his organs, they all felt like they had been squeezed and drained of every ounce of his life-force. It took a lot of willpower to even move his tongue. "What… happened?" Lightning knelt beside him, her expression wrought with concern as she helped him stay sitting. "You're okay."

"Yeah, but you're not." She grasped his chin and forced his gaze to meet hers. She searched his eyes for any sign of brain trauma, but he appeared to be fine. "Can you stand?"

"Don't really wanna try." He laughed at her eye roll. "I'm fine, just exhausted is all. I-" Hope stopped short as his gaze dropped to his hand. It was the same as it had ever been, but he didn't understand what exactly had come from it. That spell had been a lot more powerful than any he had ever used before. "I'm not really sure how I did that."

"What was that?" questioned Sazh, something tightly restrained in his voice.

"I think… I think I used holy magic… in its purest form…" He stared at his brand, completely in awe of the abilities it held. It seemed almost whiter now, but it still held its finer, fragile blue. "I've never done that before."

Lightning pursed her lips and glanced back up at the crystal, wondering if its close proximity had managed to instill a stronger, more dangerous magic within Hope, or if this was simply his brand evolving on its own again. She didn't know which was worse. "The crystal's here, but no one can touch it. It has some sort of barrier or something." She hesitated with her next sentence, her grip on Hope tightening even more. "I think it's up to you."

He tensed with the mention of the crystal. He could already feel the intense power radiating off of it in waves behind him. It held an energy that spoke right to the core of his senses, attempting to lure him in as if it were singing a siren song. A deep desire arose from within Hope as his eyes finally locked with that radiant blue. But for as much as he wished to simply snatch the gem from its perch and claim it as his own, he didn't want to go near it. It wasn't just the crystal's luminous light that resonated with him, but the immense darkness that laid hidden inside. He could do so much good with its power, but it was a double edged sword. It's potential to do harm was just as great as its ability to do good.

He couldn't ignore the eyes of his comrades that no doubt remained on his form, nor could he disregard his lack of choice in this matter. The crystal shards were their only hope. With this in mind, Hope brought himself to stand. He almost immediately fell back to the floor with the lack of strength in his body, but Lightning was there to catch him. She easily pulled him up against her, her steely gaze assuring him of her unyielding support. Together they walked to the middle of the room, the crystal's vivid luminescence only seeming to shine brighter as they neared. Pushing his fears to the back of his mind, he reached out, his fingertips just grazing the glowing sphere of blue light that surrounded the crystal shard.

"I'm sorry." The words escaped Lightning's throat as if they held a will of their own. She wanted to tell him that this felt wrong, that they should walk away, but even as she felt the danger tingle up her spine, she knew she couldn't protest. The truth burned her from the inside out and she couldn't just ignore it. They needed the crystal, but she knew that once Hope held even a portion of the gods' powers, there was no turning back.

For some reason she had to make sure that they were okay. All of the turmoil, every word spoken in anger or spite, didn't mean a damn thing and he had to know that. She had his back. She always would. "About earlier, I-"

"I know," he replied, a strained smile on his features. "I heard you." Her words had reached him even as he was caught in the grip of the spirit's emotions. Her apology hadn't made the pain go away, nor did it erase what still lingered after their fight, but it was enough to push him forward. After all, they didn't have time for such squabbling, petty or otherwise.

Before Lightning could say anything else and before he could lose his resolve, Hope swiftly grasped the crystal. He winced, closing his eyes as he waited for something horrible to strike. But nothing happened. He opened his eyes after a few moments passed and looked down at his new prize.

It was lighter than he thought it would be. It laid within his palm, now a mere object rather than a mystical legend. Its ominous vibe seemed to fade and Hope breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in Lightning's body also give when all was clear. It was easy to forget what the crystal really was as it sat there innocently, no bigger than a comm device. A little too easy, in fact.

Suddenly the crystal's glow began to grow darker and its weight became heavier. Hope drew in a sharp breath as it began to sting his palm, its energy burning into his skin.

"Drop it, Hope!"

But he couldn't. The shard was already embedding itself into his hand. He could only watch it disappear into his skin, blatant terror in his eyes. He shoved Lightning away as the energy lit up his veins with unbearable pain that brought him to his knees. He cried out as his heart began to beat wildly, his organ trying to fight off the intruder. Clutching at his chest, Hope tried to calm himself, but it was no use. He began to hyperventilate, his lungs being seized of all of their air. It was like his body was being invaded by alien matter and it didn't like it one bit. The crystal energy pulsed fiercely within him until it began to slow, soon keeping time with his heartbeat as it finally fused with his own energy.

When he found himself able to breathe again, Hope sat back on his heels, shaking his limbs out as their earlier lethargy vanished when the shard settled. He felt along his torso, noticing that his bullet wound was also gone.

Lightning came back to his side, her hand cautiously gripping his shoulder as her eyes frantically searched his form. "Hope, what-"

"I'm fine." He clasped his hands around hers, his body finally steady and sure. "I think it's-" His eyes widened and he drew up a hand to his mouth as his stomach unexpectedly tightened. He turned and puked on the castle floor. He heaved and heaved, unable to stop even as he came to notice that he was vomiting up an unhealthy amount of blood. He was dizzy when the urge to wretch quieted. He sat up again, shaking it off. "Okay… I think I'm really alright this time."

"How can you think you're alright after that?!" Lightning yelled. She grabbed Hope's chest, her fingers gripping tightly onto the fabric of his jacket, as if she could reach in and snatch the crystal back out. She wanted the vile thing out of him before it could do any more damage. She couldn't believe she let him do it. It was her job to keep him safe. "We have to get it out of you."

"How, Lightning? How do you expect to do that?"

"I don't know, but we can't just-" Lightning's brow furrowed as she felt a sharp pull on her abdomen, like she was being tugged back by a leash. It was persistent and she didn't understand what was going on. The tugging stopped only for it to feel like a giant, invisible hand was clutching around her middle. Lightning had just enough time to shove Hope back before she was ripped away from her spot on the ground. Her body flew backwards through the air and she clenched her eyes shut, waiting to feel herself slam back into the wall. But it was like she never made contact. The sound of collapsing stone met her ears and she opened her eyes to see the walls break around her. A sharp change in direction pulled her through the floor of the next room. She blacked out shortly afterward.

"Light!" Hope went to run after her only for his own body to seize up. It was like something was physically trying to pull him away, but he couldn't see anything even as he glanced behind him. Whatever it was, it wasn't letting go, even as he forced all of his willpower against it. He turned his head to Sazh, his eyes pleading. "Go after her." It was all he could manage before he was pulled backwards in the opposite direction of Lightning.

Sazh and Zalera exchanged frantic glances before going to run off after their friends, Sazh after Lightning and Zalera after Hope. They were stopped, however, as l'Cie warriors quickly filled up the room. Sazh narrowed his eyes at their enemies, finding that this abrupt separation made sense now. They were being attacked again and this time by a foe they knew well.

Zalera drew up her chakrams and stood beside Sazh, a deep worry and aggravation searing into her being. It was no mystery who was behind this little charade.

Lightning awoke once more to the aching stiffness of her bones and a grainy dust in her lungs. Incredibly sore after having been thrown into the building's walls thrice now, and mildly bewildered at how she was still alive, she sat up and surveyed her surroundings. She was still in the castle, that much she could tell. She was about to marvel at the large hole in the ceiling she had made with her entrance, when her sharp senses alerted her to another person within the room. She turned and immediately kicked them in the gut before rolling a safe distance away. It was with a great exhale of relief that she found her gunblade was still in its holster, but this relief was short lived as she came to recognize the face of her attacker.

"It's been a long time, my fair guardian."

Lightning sneered as Sebastian stood before her. "Not long enough."

"You wound me with such harsh words." He brought a hand to his chest, as if having been truly hurt by her statement. "Personally I find our encounters to be quite enchanting."

"That makes one of us." Her eyes swept the room as she continued to back away from him.

"You can relax. We are the only ones here. Just me and you."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" As she glanced around, she found that his words rang true. There was no one else there. None of his teammates, none of hers. They were alone. It was almost unnerving how much that disturbed her. She was growing too dependent, too soft. She pulled out her weapon and switched it to gun mode, aiming it at his face. "What did you do with Hope? Where are Zalera and Sazh?"

A gruff chuckle of amusement rose from him before he spoke. "Your friends are currently occupied with my brethren. And the child, well, milady desires some time with him."

Her breath cut short as she took a step back in her momentary stun. She was being distracted, yet again, by Sebastian as the conniving woman had Hope in her clutches. She locked her jaw shut with an audible click as pure hatred welled up within her. She wanted nothing more than to end the man right then and there, but she had to get to Hope. She would never forgive herself if Castea hurt him again while she was busy messing with the overgrown barbarian.

Hope was strong, yes. He could take care of himself, yes. But this was Castea. This was the woman that had taken everything from him. She'd be damned if she took anything more.

Sebastian, recognizing the look in her eyes, stepped aside from the lone doorway in the room, extending his thin, but incredibly sharp blade out to guide her to the exit. "Three rooms down there's another hole in the wall. It will lead you right to them."

Lightning eyed the entryway, and then stared at the man. He went through all that trouble just to get me here and now he's just going to let me leave? As if. "I don't know what game you're playing at-"

"No games." Sebastian stepped a little farther from the door, blade passive as it joined his side. "I don't desire a fight like our last two encounters. If you're too concerned about your burden, your mind won't be here."

The soldier didn't like it. Not one bit. But she ground her pride down with her teeth and was ready to walk away, only for her gaze to find the long knife holstered at his side. She recognized the blade, though not from her own memories.

Long weeks and months Hope had spent within the ark, his body and soul being carved into by that knife, by that man that she was set to disregard. Castea may have been the mastermind behind it all, but Sebastian had been his main tormentor. He had been the person to cause Hope unbearable pain time and time again. A strong distaste climbed up her tongue as she could see the emptiness in Hope's eyes, the resignation that had claimed his features, all as if it were happening before her right then. She could feel his will to survive hollowing, almost as if she were in his position herself.

With the simple glimpse of that weapon, Lightning knew she couldn't abandon such an opportunity. This man had killed a part of Hope that she could never get back. Castea would get what was coming to her, but Sebastian had to pay first, and he would pay with his life. She pulled herself back in her stance, a little weary on her feet after all she'd endured that day. She wasn't sure how much more her body could take, but he wasn't going to get away with what he'd done. She couldn't believe she'd even considered giving him a pass, but now that she knew even more of Hope's torture since the last time she'd faced him, she felt her need for vengeance burn even stronger.

He laughed again, drawing up his own weapon back from his side. "You want to fight?" he asked, his eyes skimming across his sword with an indecipherable gleam. "Man to man?"

There was something dwelling beneath the surface of his excitement and it had Lightning's suspicions rising tenfold. She didn't know why he seemed to enjoy battling her, but she would make him regret it.

"No, man to woman."

Everything was a blur. He flew through the air as if he was weightless, a fish caught on a line so strong that it was useless to fight against it. The walls and floors crumbled instantly as he passed through them, the thick, heavy stone reduced to rubble and dust. He didn't feel the impact, not once.

His journey slowed as he came through the last barrier and he was only given a moment to register that he had been brought outside before he was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground. His body slid to a stop, his skin scraping against the dirt as he suppressed a groan at the biting pain. Laying there for a few moments, Hope felt his injuries almost instantly heal over. He frowned as he watched a scrape on his forearm seal up. He'd used no abilities, summoned no magic, used no potions, but the mark was gone all the same. There was a familiar buzz within his veins, though, and he knew, in his gut, that it was the crystal at work. It was protecting him, much like his brand had back when he'd tried to cut it off. He didn't know whether he should feel gratitude or fear.

An overwhelming sense of unease came over him and he shut all unnecessary thoughts out. She was there. He could feel her presence. The woman that had taken his city, had killed his friends, stolen his family. It was undoubtedly her. All of his dormant feelings came back full force and there was no stopping the anguish that washed over him. It was like he was back in Academia, his wounds fresh from all of the fighting, all of the loss. Emilina's screams for her father rang in his ears. Georgina's lost gaze and Maqui's stricken face flashed in front of his eyes. Cass's dead weight still sat upon his chest.

He wanted to kill her. He wanted to maim her. She would die and it wouldn't be pleasant. He would inflict upon her everything that she had dealt to those he loved. She would feel everything he had felt within the ark. He would bring her to the brink of death, and reel her back in. By the time he took her life it would be a mercy she still didn't deserve.

"So what now?" Hope hauled himself up from the rubble, coming to stand before the woman who was far too close to a man who was trying to rein in his homicidal intent. His eyes met hers and he let his emotions out in one slow breath. "Come to take the crystal from me?"

"Smart boy."

Castea grinned and Hope felt another strand of his sanity being plucked by the simple action. "You could have given me a moment to catch my breath, but I suppose it would be foolish to expect such kindness from you." Finally taking the woman in, he found a dangerous hunger in her eyes. Their usual wolfish gleam had intensified with a yearning Hope could easily guess at the cause of. She wanted the shard badly enough that she was practically salivating over it. "You can't have it. This power isn't meant for you." Her answering smirk was too predictable.

"You fancy yourself the hero, Hope?" Her tone was taut with stress, each syllable of her sentence thick with unrestrained resentment and longing. "There's something you have yet to learn. Evil wins. I watched it win in the civil war that took many kingdoms. I watched it win in the last great war that took everyone else. And I watched it in your war with Orphan that took your home. There's no fighting it, Hope. If I am the evil in this tale, then you are doomed to lose, oh great hero."

She spoke with such certainty, a sincere sorrow in her eyes despite the confidence squaring her shoulders. It threw Hope off. He wasn't used to such emotion from the woman. Anger, satisfaction, pain, yes, but never sadness. "I can't speak about your civil war. I know nothing of your origin, except that it is centuries past. But Cocoon and Pulse survived the War of Transgression. As did the people of both worlds." His previous resolve returned to him as he looked upon his brand. Now was not the time to question his path or to fear the new addition to his abilities. He had one of the crystal shards and he would continue to find them. "And we may have lost Cocoon, but that doesn't mean that we lost altogether. We triumphed." He closed his open palm into a tight, determined fist. "And we'll triumph again." He was stronger now. The power of the crystal thrummed with the beat of his heart. There was no way he would let Castea have it now. The only thing she would receive was a painful death.

He could sense the spell coming at him before she had even lifted a finger. The lightning crackled and he could feel it surge throughout his body, but instead of crippling pain, he felt refreshed by the magic. It was as if he had absorbed the spell.

Castea gaped at him, her eyes wild with shock. "You should not be standing…"

Some part of him knew that. He felt the force of the thunder spell, even if he'd failed to suffer the repercussions of it. It had been potent, but he was too strong for it. Not sparing her any time to collect herself, Hope sent three of his own spells toward the woman. She managed to deflect the first two, batting them off easily with a wave of her hand, but she wasn't quick enough to catch the last. It seemed that fire had been his lucky element lately.

She screamed out in agony as the flames ate at her face, her vision covered by orange flashes and her flesh as it sizzled and melted. In a desperate frenzy, she attempted to snuff out the fire with her hands, the sleeves of her robes, anything that would stop the searing pain. She crumpled to the ground, flailing and clawing at the rocks beneath her palms.

Hope watched the bright flames sear into her skin, amazed by its enriched light. The fire burned stronger and more brilliant than any product of his previous fire spells. It was a vibrant and lively orange that burned white at its core, its enhanced energy blazing with crisp purpose. Ignited by feelings of retribution, the fire consumed its meal with immense satisfaction. Hope, on the other hand…

Her screams gratified him at a primal level, but he couldn't help but feel disgusted with himself for enjoying her pain. Although, he couldn't understand why. She had killed and maimed and tortured. Without a hint of remorse she hurt every single person he held dear, and she would continue to do so with a smile. She was the ultimate monster. A creature of nightmares that remained long after one awoke. A demon that refused to be vanquished by mortal tools. She deserved this. She deserved every flicker of pain he managed to inflict.

The heartbeats stopped his thoughts, his spiral into a sadistic rage. He had killed those mountain creatures that had almost eaten Sazh. They had almost eaten Zalera. They could have killed Lightning. But killing them hadn't put him at ease, it didn't serve to fulfill him. Their deaths were necessary for survival. It wasn't out of revenge, or out of a twisted desire to hurt. Those were never supposed to be reasons to kill.

He looked down at Castea, watching her frantic movements, her own attempts to survive.

The mountain pups weren't just monsters. They weren't just ravenous beasts to put down. They were their own beings just looking for a meal. They were just trying to survive, like he himself had been.

Those Pulse disciples weren't just undead husks. They were human souls, trying to protect what they believed in, just as Hope was.

As he thought about the previous foes he had slain, Hope couldn't help but see Castea not as the viscious villain he had always known her as, but as the human that was currently crying out beneath his spell. She could feel pain. She could feel sadness and anger. Standing there, he could only wonder what she'd survived through to become what she was. He could only wonder what she believed in. What she was trying to protect.

With remorse coloring his thoughts, Hope went to use his abilities to draw back the flames, to heal over the cruel harm he had dispensed. But he was too late.

Castea finally gained a handle on her faculties, beginning to tame her panic. The rational part of her mind reached blindly for her magic, a healing spell finally springing forth to soothe over her skin. She let her body slump in relief. It took longer than she would ever admit, but she managed to cure away the pain.

The damage to her face, however, wasn't going away as easily. An alarming tightness had her groping her cheek to feel healed over bumps and mutilated skin. "No," she gasped in horror.

The devastation to her tone just drove another spear of guilt through him. The right side of her face had been deeply marred by his fira and, for some reason, the damage had scarred. He cringed at the sight, watching as her healing abilities failed again and again.

She covered her face with her hands as she gasped in sharp breaths. None of it was working. Nothing she tried repaired any of it and a new panic rose from within, but she couldn't allow herself to fall apart. Not in front of him. Not in front of a man.

Below her shock and strain, Castea found an odd humor sitting at the edges of her emotions. This had been what she had wanted. He was supposed to get stronger. That had been her goal. Get the boy strong enough to obtain the crystals. She just couldn't have imagined that this would be the outcome. To go home with a wounded face and empty hands was just icing on the cake. This is laughable. I helped him do this to me. She couldn't stop the chuckles that bubbled up from the depths of her self-loathing

It was a few moments before a low laugh broke through the quiet. It grew until it became a manic cackle that caused Hope to stiffen with caution.

"You're finally getting strong enough, little Estheim. Though I wonder how long it will take... until your sanity is in shambles... until you can hardly function with the power of the crystal... until you have nothing but the crystal as your company."

His brow creased as he frowned down at the woman, sympathy still tinging his features despite the irritation resurfacing. "What are you talking about?"

Her hands fell away, revealing her mutilated face that held an expression of crazed amusement. "You have nothing. Your city doesn't trust you, not after you abandoned them. All you have left is your little rag-tag team. And even then..." She came to stand, but didn't attack. Her words were enough. "What would happen if we found the new Yeul? Who do you think Zalera would side with then?"

Stop it.

"And if we procured Dajh? Where would Sazh's allegiance lie?"

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Hope knew this already. He knew where he stood with his teammates. But it didn't make it any easier to hear.

"And we all know how deeply Farron cares for her sister. What lengths she'd go to to protect her. Not that you could trust her now, anyway…"

Hope held his feelings back from making any outward appearances, but she read his blank face just as easily.

"Oh? Didn't she tell you? She knows…"

When the implications of her statement settled into his mind, he found her words stabbing into his gut just as fiercely as a physical blow. She… knows?! But… no, Lightning would tell me. She wouldn't just keep that from me. Not something like this. But something inside of him told him she would. He remembered the way she'd almost immediately stopped pestering him about it, and how the look in her eyes after the incident had been so full of anguish and defeat.

For the second time that day, he felt the ground vanish beneath his feet.

Castea's face was wicked with glee. "What do you think I was there for? Just visiting her sister? I showed her everything that we went through together in that lovely ark." She laughed, her entire body shaking with mirth as she hugged her middle. "Trust is such a crucial thing in any relationship, isn't it? Doesn't seem like there's much around here, though…"

"Leave them out of this!" He was done listening to her. What was he doing trusting her over Lightning anyway? "You don't get to talk about them. This is our fight."

"They are all a part of this," she spoke, finding it obvious. Did the boy really think that he could spare the teammates he'd taken into battle? You have to lose what's precious to you, before you can be victorious. You should know that by now, Hope. "But in the end, it'll just be you. Whether they're dead or not is up to you."

"I'll never abandon them."

"But will they abandon you?" She watched him take in her words, his eyes glazing over in a way that kept her in her fragile high. "I'll enjoy watching how you handle the crystals. I always loved your screams of anguish. And there will be plenty to come."

Hope looked up from the ground to find her gone, but her words hung in the air as a strong and true promise.

"You're mine to kill, Estheim. Do not forget that. If anyone else thinks that they can take that pleasure away from me, they are sorely mistaken."

Sebastian kept her on her toes quite literally. Every time she landed, he was ready with another blow. Instead of being able to land any of her own hits, she was hopping around from place to place like a hyperactive Ceratosaur. He was fast for his bulky form and his strikes didn't disappoint. Despite his slender blade, his attacks were heavy and substantial, strengthened by his firm stance.

They battled it out for a good while, each striking at the other, but never managing to make contact. Lightning studied his movements from beneath her fringe, his green eyes trained on her as he did the same. When neither made any progress, they backed off, allowing a small lull to pass in silence.

It wasn't until she leapt over him, shooting down at him from above, that she managed to find a weak spot. He may have been fast, but he lacked agility. She landed behind him before he could turn around and delivered a good slice to his back. As she went to strike again, though, he was ready for her, knocking her back with a strong swipe of his elbow. Attempting to retain her balance, she almost missed another swing of his weapon. She quickly blocked its path towards her chest, catching the hit with the flat of her gunblade, but the impact had her stumbling backwards, most of her body a wide open target as her boot slid in the rubble of the ceiling.

She was losing focus. Her speed and strength were already heavily burdened by her fatigue and the throbbing in her limbs that was starting to return, but it was her concentration that was becoming her own worst enemy.

She couldn't focus on the battle, on what was going on right then and there. She couldn't see past the months Hope had spent strapped to Sebastian's table. His pain and his hopelessness were all she could feel and those emotions were only fueling her fury into an outrage she could not control. She drew in quick breaths as Sebastian stepped back, a certain understanding capturing his visage.

"The past haunts your thoughts," he stated, shaking his head. "However are we going to have a fair, honest battle with you in such a condition?"

Lightning brought herself up and stood strong, a spark of defiance lighting her gaze. "Why?" she asked in an exasperated exhale. "Why did you hurt him? What did you gain from all that?!" Her shoulders heaved with the force of her questions. Sebastian said nothing. That irked her more than any answer he could have possibly given. "How many times did he have to beg you to stop before you were satisfied? You took him and broke him and…"

"It was my duty to see that he reattained his brand."

Her head snapped up at his response. "I saw your face. You enjoyed what you did to him! It was more than just an order," Lightning barked, nose crinkled in contempt. "Yeul, Zalera… Hope, they were all just playthings to you, weren't they?"

Sebastian brought his most prized possession from his side, staring into the reflection held within the blade. When he spoke, it was filled with a deep melancholy. "I didn't used to be this way, but I am what I am. I've become what I needed to be… for her."

She didn't know what kind of answer she'd been expecting, but this one left her completely dissatisfied. She didn't need to know, anyway. Asking questions only wasted time. It was about time for Castea's dog to be put down. Pulling her gunblade back up at the ready, she began her next attack only to be overcome by a blizzara. The frost crept up her limbs, paralyzing her body as ice encased her almost entirely.

"Cheap shot." Lightning struggled in the magic's grip, but it held firm. "Where's your honor as a swordsman?" As if I expected you to have any.

"My honor was stolen from me years ago. I'm sorry, but I must cut our battle short. My queen calls."

His hand grasped her chin as he looked into her eyes with an unwelcome tenderness. Unable to do much else, she wriggled free from his hand and spat in his face. He laughed, not bothering to wipe her saliva off.

"How I do love your fire, my dear."

Just as he was about to bring his blade back up toward her, he too was frozen in place, his entire body quickly freezing over into an icy statue. It was a few moments before he shattered, pieces of the frozen warrior littering the ground.

"Light, are you alright?" Hope ran into the room, his hands instantly roaming over the ice covering her form. It was thick, solidly built around her body. Choosing to ignore his newly born aversion to the ability, he let a fira burn beneath the skin of his palms as they continued to glide along the ice, thawing it until she could break free on her own.

Lightning didn't allow the space of a minute to pass before she wrapped her arms around him, securing his safety beside her. "She didn't hurt you this time."

He looked down at the top of Lightning's head, feeling an odd mixture of irritation and disgust take over. He'd been excited to find her, and relieved to have gotten to her in time, but…

Didn't she tell you? She knows…

Castea's disclosure echoed in his mind and it had him pulling away from the roseate a little harsher than he normally would have. This wasn't the time to be thinking of such things, but he couldn't help it as it leapt to the forefront of his mind. "We need to get to Sazh and Zalera." He took off, pointedly not looking down at the mess he had made of Sebastian, nor at the puzzled expression of Lightning. He couldn't think about it. Any of it.

Lightning gazed after him, bewildered by his actions, but she didn't question it. Not when there was so much still lingering between them. Glancing down, Lightning stomped her boot down on a rather large piece of Sebastian, finishing their fight with an unsatisfied huff. It was hardly a consolation, she doubted that even being shattered into many bits could kill him, but it was going to have to do for now. After one final squish of what she could only hope was something important, she ran after Hope, keeping him in her sight being her top priority once more.

"Why won't it heal?" Castea asked as she wrung her hands in her lap. She knelt before her master, her eyes pleading with his façade of a form. "Why won't it go away? The pain is gone, but the-the... It's like a-"

"Scar?"

His deep tenor rumbled around her and she flinched as if having been struck. "Why won't it heal?" Her fingers trembled as they brushed over her ruined flesh. The skin was tight and thick, knotted at her cheek and webbed up around her eye. She swallowed down her grief and looked forward, steeling her expression as best she could.

"You disobeyed me, Castea."

The anger within his voice made her insides twist with guilt, but she didn't regret her choices. She knew she was the rightful owner of the crystals and she was willing to do anything to prove it.

"You went on a mission to kill Hope Estheim. Did you think I would just allow something like that? You are powerful, but not powerful enough to wield the crystal-"

"How would you know-"

"Silence!"

The burning sensation flared up and she clutched onto her face, crying out as it felt like it was on fire once again.

"Do not interrupt me."

The pain settled until it was a mere whisper across her skin. She quieted her whimpers and bowed her head for him to continue, a swift apology crossing her lips.

"If we lose the boy, we lose the new world. You lose your ultimate position of power. We have nothing without him." Hs voice softened as he continued. "I care for you deeply, my child."

She could feel the ghost of a caress across the right side of her face and she leant into it, a small tear falling from her undamaged eye. Then the touch suddenly grew harsh as it gripped her cheek.

"But never forget who you're dealing with. I am in charge here, not you."

The invisible hand fell away and she fell to the floor, pained gasps leaving her. "B-b-but, sir. The..."

"Think of this as a lesson. This is your punishment. A cruel irony. You marked your husband for his betrayal so he would never forget who he belongs to. This is much the same. Now leave me."

Her wide eyes searched the stone statue of her fal'Cie, but there was nothing to find. He was indifferent to her pain. She crawled away before finally being able to lift herself up. He'd barely touched her, but she felt just as beaten and broken as if he had abused her in the cruelest of ways. She lingered in the doorway, her gaze looking out into the empty space. Gray eyes were soft with a desperate plea for him to reconsider.

"I said to leave me. Now."

And so she did.

The battle was over by the time they reached the two missing pieces of their team. Lightning and Hope found Zalera and Sazh in the same room they'd been in before, both exhausted as they remained hunched over, panting and covered in sweat.

"What happened?" asked Hope as he stood over the tall woman and put a reassuring hand on her back. Her breathing was harsh, but he could sense no deep injuries. Her chakram fell from her hand as he was alerted to her palm's very raw state. Her hand had been burned badly in the scuffle, it seemed. He took it into his own hands, soon healing over the blistered and scabbed skin. The look of it reminded him a little too much of Castea's face. He refocused his gaze on the woman in front of him.

Zalera caught her breath as she gave Hope an appreciative nod for his healing. "Castea's little followers happened. They just kept coming until they finally disappeared." Wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her unoccupied hand, she made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat. "I'm getting sick and tired of fighting phantom enemies."

"You alright over there?" Lightning knelt down, her eyes glimpsing over Sazh's body to check for wounds.

"All clear here," he reported, dazed on his feet. "Got lucky this time."

"What about you two?"

Hope looked up into concerned green orbs, unsure of what to say. He settled for shaking his head at her, hoping she'd let it lie. She didn't.

"Don't give me that crap. What did she do this time? You still have the crystal, right?"

Hope groaned in irritation as he finished up sewing her skin back together. He gave her a look, but it did nothing in the face of her determination. "Of course I still have the crystal. And she didn't do anything… I'm fine."

"You don't sound so sure of that," Lightning stated from his left.

Hope's face flushed with anger. What? You think I'm lying, Lightning? Me? That's rich. But he said nothing, giving a half-hearted shrug instead.

Sazh took up the silence. "So we got the crystal. What now?"

Lightning didn't like it. Hope wouldn't look at her and it was obvious that something Castea had done had affected him. Tendrils of worry writhed under her skin, but there didn't seem to be much she could do about it. She didn't even know where to start. She was still reeling from the remaining emotions of their fight. Now she had to fret about not only that, but the crystal that had had some serious negative effects on Hope's body, and Castea who was still a hovering threat. "We head to the next one." Her tone was even more lifeless than usual.

"Are…" Zalera faltered with her words, annoyed by her own uncertainty. "Are we sure about this? The path we're heading down… there will only be more of this waiting for us." Her eyes were fixed on Hope and Lightning, the two having taken the heaviest hits.

"What choice do we really have?" asked Lightning.

Sazh holstered his weapons, finally feeling it safe to do so. "There's always a choice. But we've made ours. We're on this path. Let's see it through to the end."

"We should get going." Sazh's words should have been inspiring. They should have made him feel invigorated by the idea of his freedom to choose. As if he could really take another path. As if he wasn't bound to walk the one fate had chosen for him "I want to put some distance between us and this place."

Castea looked back at her reflection in horror. She quickly covered her mouth, her eyes falling away as she could no longer stomach the sight. Her beautiful face was gone, covered in disgusting, disfigured skin. Absent was her right eyebrow, the eyelid beneath it left with limited movement and an involuntary twitch. The right corner of her mouth was even permanently twisted into the gnarled skin of her cheek. She now looked every bit the monster she claimed to be.

A cruel irony, indeed.

But her repulsive appearance wasn't what had her so thoroughly devastated. She could barely breathe as she thought back to her master's words. "You disobeyed me, Castea." She clenched her teeth as she shook with rage. "This is your punishment." His betrayal stung deep, filling her veins with a poison that sunk into the depths of her heart.

"You'll get wrinkles if you keep that up, Hun."

Castea's eyes widened at the gentle, melodious voice of the woman she knew well. Her heart pounded harshly in her ears as she turned, unable to believe her eyes. "Cecily...?" Her name came out in a gasp. She could hardly make out her form as her eyes blurred with tears, but there was no mistake.

"Hi, Sis."