Chapter 17

"Rikku…"

Strained sounds came from the maddened girl's mouth as she resisted the urge to deliver the killing blow her arm was poised for.

"Rikku…"

Turning her head to the sound of her name being called, her eyes widened and her grip relaxed on her prey's throat allowing the white-haired girl to slide to the dirt gasping for air. Staggering in the direction of the impossible sight, Rikku felt tears running down her face. "Sarion?" Her voice was hoarse from the screaming just moments prior.

Pushing himself to his knees took considerable effort but Sarion managed to at least get that far and lift his head to look at the young berserker. "Rikku… she didn't" he coughed, blood dribbling down his chin as he pitched forward, barely catching himself with an outstretched hand. "It wasn't Kyia."

Rikku knelt beside Sarion and placed a pawed hand on his back. As her rage subsided a strange glow overtook her and like before, her appearance altered without any visible provocation. The fur and claws faded out of sight and her yellow garb appeared as ribbons that wrapped the newly exposed areas. Her hair fell back into braids and her daggers materialized at her hips as if she had never dropped them.

Yuna stood there in mute shock; having seen Rikku transform into her berserker form had stunned her but for her to change into another attire just as unexpectedly left the poor brunette with a headache. She hadn't even reverted to the clothing she was wearing earlier but was now in her typical thief outfit. It was mind-boggling to say the least.

"Sarion I thought you couldn't be hurt like this. I thought that since you… you were…"

Finally finding her voice, Kyia spoke up from a few steps behind them. "He is no longer afflicted."

Rikku's eyes snapped to the other girl. "But how is that possible?"

"Is now really the time to ask that or would you rather find a way to help him?" The white-haired girl spoke calmly but her voice waivered with concern. 'I can't lose you after all this time dammit.'

"But what can I do?" Rikku whined as she rubbed Sarion's back. "We have no medical supplies out here."

Sarion shook his head. "Kyia will have to be the one to heal me. She is not without her gifts."

Kyia nodded and approached him, pushing Rikku aside in the process; an action not unnoticed by the two girls. "I was in shock when I found you the first time. Then she decided to try and eviscerate me rather than allow me to explain."

Rikku crossed her arms in a huff. "Well you can't blame me. I come out to see Sarion in such a state and you're the only one around."

Ruby eyes narrowed at the thief. "Maybe if you thought with your head and not your heart you'd have seen I was doing nothing to injure him."

"At least I have a heart!"

"Enough!" Both girls stopped at Yuna's outburst. "Kyia, if you can heal him please do so. Rikku, calm down. We need to find out what happened but nothing good will come of this if he dies while you two bicker!"

Stunned by her cousin's harsh statement, Rikku studied the dirt as she drew circles with her toe. "Sorry Yunie."

Yuna sighed and sat down, watching the strange white-haired girl work at healing their friend. Her mind kept wandering from possible scenarios to where Paine could be. 'Did something happen to her? Is that why he's out here and so injured? What could have done this?'

Kate nibbled on a piece of cooked meat that Solari had brought her as they continued their journey south. It was a lot longer of a trek than Kate originally thought and she found herself glad to be atop the horse. She felt sorry for the villagers who were on foot of course but after seeing so many of them fall victim to blades she couldn't help but be grateful.

Looking up at the younger girl, Solari offered her another warm smile. It didn't seem forced or dishonest; it seemed like a genuine expression. "So Kate…"

The young girl swallowed her food and dabbed at her mouth with a cloth. "Mmm?"

"What do you know about us? Harvesters I mean."

Placing her index finger on her chin in a thoughtful pose, Kate considered the question for a moment before answering. "I know that you travel from village to village and select people to return with you. None ever return and any who resist are killed."

Solari nodded and allowed silence to fill the air for a few minutes before asking, "Anything else? Any rhyme or reason for why they take people or what the selection process is for?"

Kate tilted her head to the side in thought. "I don't know. I would assume it has something to do with their immortality. I don't know what they look for out of selection unless it's for people they think can survive the march."

"Hmm, but if we selected strong folks who could survive the march why do we have so many who do not? And I'm sure you noticed we do not always pick the most worldly."

"I'm not sure Solari. I just know that no one ever comes back." Kate took another bite of the cooked meat. It was delicious and was made more-so from her hunger.

Smiling up at the girl as she ate, Solari continued walking in silence. She had once wondered the purpose of the Harvesters but that was long passed. Reaching up, she placed a hand on her chest between her breasts and felt the small scar; a permanent reminder of who she was now.

"Solari, wait!"

The raven-haired girl stopped suddenly, her waist-length hair swirling around her in the process. "I told you not to follow me Claire."

Huffing from the sprint she had done to catch the older girl, Claire stepped around Solari so they stood facing each other. "You have to take me with you! I don't care what it entails but I can't stay here alone!" Her dress was surprisingly clean despite the numerous days it had been worn. The sapphire blue cloth still held some shine and the white frills were only slightly dulling. Her chest heaved behind the corset top, white frills atop the blue body barely covering her breasts as she gasped for air. Despite being a summer dress and sleeveless, the skirt still trailed down to her ankles forcing her to bunch it in her hands while she ran.

Looking into the soft blue eyes of the blonde girl before her, Solari felt a sharp pang of guilt. If only it were that simple. "Claire, you don't understand what these people are capable of."

The young girl, fifteen or sixteen, grasped Solari's hands in her own. "I understand fully that you are capable of more than the horrors that Harvesters are known for. You saved my life when you had no reason to. I owe my life to you as whatever you will take it for."

Solari shook her head, her eyes closed in frustration. She simply did not understand. "I saved you with intention that you would leave in the opposite direction when we broke camp. The others would view you as little more than a pet; a plaything."

Tears sprang into the sapphire eyes, causing Solari's heart to feel constricted. "I have nothing left Solari. They killed my family and friends. You're the only person on Spira left that I know and trust."

"Then you are more lost than I could ever hope to help with Claire."

"I'm coming with you Solari. Unless you wish to finish what the others started." Her eyes were defiant but her voice held some fear in it still. Having spent the last few days with Solari, the girl knew the ruby-eyed woman had a frightening temper.

With a sigh, Solari's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine Claire. But do not later come to me with surprise in your eyes when the others treat you poorly. Whether I claim you are my servant or not will mean nothing to any who outrank me." Shaking her head, she mumbled, "Which are most of them right now."

Claire leapt with joy, wrapping her arms around the stunned Harvester. She had not felt an embrace in longer than she could remember. "Thank you Solari. I promise, I'll do whatever I can to stay out of trouble and not make you look bad." Her smile was wide, genuine. It was almost as though she were being asked to aid royalty and not serve a member of those who slaughtered her village.

"You're a strange girl Claire. Now hurry with me so that we can make our next camp before nightfall. The Mistress does not tolerate any kind of delay."

With a bright smile and a nod, the blonde bunched up her skirt at the waist and moved at Solari's quick pace towards their destination. Something inside warned her that this path was not going to be any easier than trying to survive alone but solitude was not something she could accept.

"Will he be alright?"

Kyia sat back in exhaustion, casting the impatient blonde an irritated look. "I've done all I can do, girl. The rest is up to him and whatever creator he prays to. For now he needs to be left alone."

"How do you know Paine?" Yuna couldn't keep the question in any longer.

With a scowl, the white-haired girl got to her feet and brushed off the pine needles and dirt that stuck to her robes. "I am not keen on sharing information freely." She looked over at Rikku before returning her gaze to the brunette. "Especially to strangers. Maybe if you make yourself familiar to me I will be more willing to talk."

Yuna watched as Kyia walked over to the stream and crouched down to wash the blood from her hands. Though she was terribly curious about what Rikku had done her worry for Paine overtook those thoughts easily. "I'm Yuna and this is my cousin Rikku. Our airship crashed and Sarion saved us. I'm afraid that's all the information that would be relevant now."

A white eyebrow cocked in curiosity. "And why is that?"

"Because our airship crashed more than a century ago."

Kyia nodded; she had expected as much. "So you girls are what caused him to give up his life essence." She shook her head with a smile. 'If only he knew what he had truly done.' Standing, she turned to face Yuna before crossing her arms inside her sleeves. "He is a wonderful man. He is also incredibly strong. I believe he will recover fine."

Yuna sat on a stump and Rikku sat on a fallen tree beside her. The blonde spoke up this time. "We fought for Spira twice in the past ya know. We defeated Sin and this giant machine Vegnagun."

Ruby eyes went wide. "You are the girls that were referred to as the Gullwings?"

Yuna nodded. "Yes, have you heard of us? Paine fought beside us as well."

"Many have heard of you girls. Where I come from we spend significant time preserving the great histories of those who have served Spira. I simply had never learned the names of the girls more than the title."

Rikku couldn't hold in the question any longer. "Where on Spira are we?"

Kyia let out a soft laugh, almost a giggle. "It figures Sarion would never think to inform you girls of such a thing. Whether it was from sheer naivety or if he was worried at your reactions I am unsure." She picked up a stick and drew a rough sketch in the dirt of Spira. Something about it seemed wrong to Rikku and so she pointed it out.

"There's no island northwest of Bikanel Island."

With a smirk, Kyia poked the large landmass, nearly three times the size of Bikanel Island. "Explain that to the dirt you stand on blondie."

Rikku's mouth dropped and a retort formed in her throat but Yuna cut her off. "How is that possible? Surely someone would have found it even by accident."

Kyia drew a circle around the island with the stick. "Beneath our feet lies a labyrinth the size of the island. Sarion's home, the forest he found you in, is the center of the island and the epicenter of the labyrinth's power." She pointed at the circle. "From above or from the sea the land is not visible. When you get within this radius on an outside vessel the magic will guide you around the island entirely."

"That's unbelievable…" Yuna breathed. "That must take an incredible amount of power."

With a nod, Kyia tossed the stick aside. "It also makes your ending up here incredibly strange. By all accounts your pilots should have been maneuvered away from the island." Her eyes suddenly lit up as a thought came to her. "Unless you were meant to find it."

Rikku placed her hands on her head. "All this is giving me a headache."

Casting a disapproving glance, Yuna looked back to the white-haired girl. "Do you think it has something to do with Paine?"

There was no hesitation in the nod from the girl in the robe. "It very well could. The only people able to navigate to this island are those who have been here." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I am tired from healing Sarion so there may be some distortion."

Yuna and Rikku shared a look before gasping in unison as the scenery around them faded away. Dark stone walls replaced the forest and two women could be seen having what appeared to be a distressing conversation.

"Paine you can't do this! You can't just leave me like this!" Tears poured down the face of the white-haired girl as she pleaded with the lover who would not even face her now.

"I can and I did Kyia. We're done. What did you expect anyhow? You knew what this was from the beginning. You were nothing but something to occupy my time."

Kyia stepped back as if a slap had been delivered and not simply words. "You… you can't mean that Paine! I love you! I know you love me too!"

Ruby eyes flashed in anger as she rounded on the other girl; her face twisted in a harsh scowl. "You know nothing of love! Love is a weak emotion that will get you killed!"

Though she flinched, Kyia did not move from her spot. Her simple white robes a stark contrast to the usual dark attire she wore. As Paine's heated glare burned into her, she noticed the silver-haired girl was missing the necklace she had given her. "Your necklace…"

Paine's hand traitorously snapped to her chest; the one possession she had kept since becoming a Harvester no longer present. "I told you it's over Kyia."

"But-"

"There is no debate to this!" Paine roared. "You will be transferring over to Reya's control. I am no longer in command over you. You will fall in with her group and that is final!"

Kyia took a step back; the whole situation feeling like an icy dagger twisting into her heart. "Paine this isn't you…"

Paine turned her back to the other girl and began walking away. "You don't know anything about me Kyia. Goodbye."

As the older girl turned the corner at the end of the hall Kyia collapsed into a sobbing mess.

The scenery shifted significantly. Yuna's heart was beating so loudly in her ears she was positive the others could hear it. When their vision refocused it was a very familiar scene; the entrance of the cavern they had come out of when they first awoke on this island. Paine stood before it with another girl beside her; this one with jet black hair.

"You made the right decision Paine. Because of this both you and Kyia will live."

Paine sighed, her shoulders were slumped and her hair hung limply. "She will never forgive me for what I had to say."

The other girl nodded. "Perhaps. But it keeps you both alive. I am pleased you valued her life higher than your own. And I have something for you. Consider it a 'thank you'." She extended her arm so that her hand came free of the dark maroon robe she wore.

Staring at the outstretched hand for a moment, Paine finally reached out and snatched the gift. A gasp escaped her lips as she held it at eye level; it was the necklace Kyia had given her. It looked almost like a shell but made of strange metal resembling silver. Her hand trembled as she held it. "How did you find this? It was lost the night I-"

"The night you killed Praeta. I know. Just be glad to have it. It will be the only memory of her you have."

Paine nodded and swallowed, looking at the looming cavern fearfully. "If I find out you broke your word Solari, I will come back and I will kill you."

A smirk formed on the other girl's face. "I have no reason to break my word. Kyia will be given a safe position out of the fighting and I, nor will any subordinate of mine ever harm her."

With a nod, the silver-haired warrior made her way into the cavern towards a large pool of dark liquid. With one final glance over her shoulder she thought she saw a wisp of white hair in the tree-line but that was impossible. Stepping into the fluid she gasped; it was ice-cold despite being midsummer. As she waded deeper light-headedness began to overtake her and by the time she was up to her shoulders it was all-consuming.

Solari watched the other girl convulse in the thick, black fluid as it wrapped around her and pulled her under the surface; a content smile present on her lips. "Goodbye Paine. Enjoy your new life," She turned and walked away from the cavern towards the army she now commanded. "out of my way."

Kyia gasped for breath and collapsed on all fours as the scenery warped back to the quiet scenery of the forest. Her pants turned to dry heaves and, despite their differences, Rikku approached the white-haired girl and held her hair back in precaution.

"So she really was a Harvester." Yuna's voice was a whisper.

Placing a thankful hand on Rikku's leg, Kyia nodded and sat down on the dirt. "She was not just a Harvester. She led the military side of things."

The brunette swallowed hard. "And you and she…"

"Were lovers." Kyia finished easily. "Paine was the most incredible fighter I had ever seen and so I built up the courage over time to challenge her. She beat me within an inch of my life." She smiled as if the memory were somehow pleasant. "I challenged her every time she stopped by to speak to my commander. Eventually she asked me why and I told her it was to be close to her. She immediately removed me from my commander and took me into her personal squad."

Rikku let out a whistle. "You really are twisted. No wonder you two got along so well."

A heated glare from Yuna stopped the blonde from speaking further. "I don't understand. What happened to her? What are you people?"

Kyia shook her head. "Sarion can give you a history on Harvesters when he awakes if he so pleases. I am in no mood to do so and I'm tired. As for what happened to Paine; you tell me. That day was the last I saw of her. I tried to keep up with her through our information channels but they soon dried up shortly after she joined some squad." She tapped her finger to her chin. "It was so many years later…"

"The Crimson Squad?"

Snapping her fingers, Kyia nodded at the blonde girl. "That's the one. That was the last I knew of her."

"And the other girl?" Yuna ignored her rumbling stomach.

"Solari Vatasis. The new head of the Harvesters. She made Paine look as gentle as a lamb." Kyia shook her head. "However she also kills less. Her methods are enough to deter resistance. People feared Paine for her amount of bloodshed; people fear Solari for how she does it."

Yuna shuddered. "Isn't she your leader then? Can't you get in trouble for helping us?"

Kyia shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm not helping you." She looked over at Sarion. "I'm helping him."

Scooting closer to Sarion, Rikku eyed the self-admitted Harvester cautiously. "If you loved Paine, what's your deal with Sarion?"

A loud yawn from the white-haired girl preceded a slow head-shake. "I'm tired. I'm going to go to sleep." Without waiting for a response she leaned back against the tree behind her and closed her eyes.

"Yunie, what should we do?"

Smiling at her cousin, Yuna shrugged. "I guess we just wait for one of them to wake up." As it was she had a lot of information to digest. What happened to Paine in the cavern and how was she so completely different now than she was before?

Paine wandered aimlessly along the coast; her mind struggling to discern memories from dreams from reality. "Who am I?" She growled as she threw a rock into the dark blue waters.

She had been walking for hours now and the weight of her spiked armor had grown cumbersome. She had no idea where it had come from or how she came to be wearing it but here she was, on the beach, in her Dark Knight apparel.

Thinking back she couldn't recall anything that had happened since the night before apart from the strange vision-like dream. The dream was only in fragments now but she distinctly remembered being at the top of a tower and someone was there with her. She racked her brain and smiled as she kicked a seashell aside. Yuna. Yuna had been there with her. But she had looked so sad, why?

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she found the thought too elusive to grasp. It didn't matter. All she knew was she needed to be away from everyone. "Kyia…" The name felt sweet on her lips as if it were honey and not a word. She shook her head. So many strange memories were flooding into her but which were real and which were just more crazy dreams?

Suddenly she stopped and dropped to her knees; her breath ripped from her lungs as if struck. The vision of a blonde-haired girl with sapphire eyes filled her mind. 'Who is this girl and why is she so ingrained in my memory?' She lurched forward, bracing herself with her right hand as she convulsed violently, her vision blurring. 'That's impossible…'

The sun was out and shining brightly without a cloud in the sky to disrupt its radiance. The summer heat was enough that the ground radiated waves of heat back towards the bright blue sky. This did little to discourage the children that were out running through the fields and enjoying their youth. Suddenly the afternoon silence was shattered by the sound of the town bell ringing loudly; a sign to retreat indoors and hope to go unnoticed.

As families rushed to their homes, a single child remained in the field; her long blonde hair blowing in the soft breeze. When the riders approached her, she watched calmly as the lead rider dismounted and stopped just before her; the robe she war was maroon like the others but she carried herself differently.

"Do you not fear us child?"

The little girl of perhaps eight shook her head. It was true that they were intimidating but for some reason the girl felt no fear standing before them. "You aren't evil."

The cloaked figure lowered her hood and knelt down before the girl to inspect her. The girl looked back into dark ruby eyes before her eyes strayed to the blood-red hair that framed face of the beautiful woman before her. Eying the girl curiously, the woman smiled. "That is correct young one. We simply do as we must. You do not fault the fox for eating the hare do you?"

Again, the young girl shook her head. "The fox is a predator. It hunts to survive." She tilted her head to the side. "What's your name?"

Smiling at the innocent question, the woman offered her hand. "My name is Praeta. I am the High Priestess of the ladies who follow me. Your people call us 'Harvesters' I believe."

Small hands took the offered hand and shook it politely. "I am Serena. My name means star."

A soft laugh escaped the lips of the older woman, surprising both her and the women still on their horses. "That is a lovely name my dear. Now tell me young Serena. Would you rather be a fox or remain a hare?"

"A fox." There was no hesitation in her choice because it wasn't a question worthy of thinking over. Living or dying was as simple as the answer to a question and she knew that her life hung in the balance of this one.

Nodding, Praeta stood. "Well-chosen young Serena." She turned back. "Reya. She will ride with you. Let's go."

The woman she spoke to nodded and rode up to them, helping the small girl onto the horse before turning back towards their camp. The High Priestess' word was unquestionable law; their 'harvest' would have to wait.

The first weeks were brutal on the young girl. She was given just enough food to starve slowly and was forced to fight for any increase in rations. It was a simple process; they had enough food for less than half of the girls that had been brought with them. They could all share and slowly starve to death or the strong would oppress the weak and sustain their own life at the cost of those inferior to them.

After months of this, Serena had grown more and more accustomed to simply taking whatever she desired and eventually others ceased challenging her. Every so often Praeta would visit her in person, drawing the attention and disdain from some of the Harvesters that could not even get a glance from the High Priestess. During these visits she would simply brush the young girl's hair and talk with her in a private setting.

This continued for years and as time went on Serena felt more and more adoration for her frequent visitor. On the evening she was to turn fourteen the young girl snuck from her tent and eluded patrols, eventually winding up inside the High Priestess' chambers.

She approached the bedside and knelt down on the floor. "Praeta?"

A startled gasp came from the sheets and ruby eyes settled on the intruder. "Serena? What are you doing in here!? If the guards saw you they would kill you in an instant!"

"No one saw me."

The High Priestess sighed and laid her head back on the pillow. "Why did you risk such a thing dear one? You are so close to your trial."

Feeling the mattress shift, she looked over to see the young girl had climbed in bed beside her. "I just wanted to sleep beside you this once." Praeta opened her mouth to protest but Serena spoke first. "This is my last birthday as I am. Please let me stay?"

Sighing helplessly, Praeta placed an arm around Serena and pulled her close; the young girl sighing happily at the pleasant scent of the dark red hair splayed beside her. "You are a trouble-maker Serena. Anyone but you I would have publically beaten."

"Then I am glad I am myself."

She couldn't help but smile at the young girl's courage. After all, she did propagate it with her constant visits and attention but it was impossible not to. The girl was magnificent and being around her allowed the High Priestess to relax and be herself. Around the other girls she had to appear cold and detached but with Serena she could allow her more caring nature to show.

"Get some sleep dear one. After your trial well-rested sleep will become a thing of the past I am afraid." She turned and kissed Serena's forehead. If only the poor girl knew what lay ahead.

"Solari?"

Looking up at the younger girl, she hummed in response. "Hmm?"

Kate looked out at the impressive castle. "Do you live here?"

"I do." She kept her eyes on the young girl, looking for a reaction. "And now you do as well."

The young girl seemed to think for a moment before nodded. "I suppose I do." She looked down into the ruby eyes of the girl beside her. "Am I going to die here, Solari?"

"It's possible Kate." She saw, again, that the girl's expression did not change. It was almost as impressive as it was eerie. "I do not wish you to die here however. If you follow my instructions and desire to live I have confidence you will."

Kate nodded. "I'd rather not die." She looked around before allowing her sapphire eyes to settle on Solari again. "Will I be sleeping in the same area as the others?"

Solari shook her head. "No my dear, you will stay separate. Many would seek to harm you out of jealousy or simply in an attempt to anger me." She looked over the crowd. "Neither is acceptable and with time many will learn this." Her eyes moved back to Kate. "You will see horrible things Kate. I hope you can handle it."

Smiling at the older girl, Kate hopped down from the horse and stumbled before being caught and steadied by Solari. "I'll try."

"Hannah!" A blonde-haired girl a few inches shorter than Solari ran forward; her ruby eyes were wide and eager for instruction. "Take Kate here to your tent. Find her some clothing and get her a bath." She raised a finger in front of the other girl's face. "She is not to be harmed, understood?"

Swallowing, the shorter girl nodded and turned to Kate. "Come with me Kate. I will show you around after, okay?"

Looking to Solari, who nodded, Kate followed the blonde girl. Hannah seemed slightly older than Kate but she knew that the ruby-eyed people did not age like everyone else. She could be in the hundreds. With one last glance back at the raven-haired girl who had brought her here, the young girl was led into a medium-sized tent away from the other captives.

Solari sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Sometimes I just wish I could inflict half as much pain as I've felt." Turning back towards the castle, the current Harvester leader issued orders that were simple and to the point. 'Just leave me alone until morning.'

The sun had made it a good portion of the way down towards the horizon by the time Sarion awoke. Moving slowly, he noticed that Kyia, Yuna, and Rikku were all sleeping against nearby trees. Kyia, however, seemed the only one who planned for it. Yuna was sitting with her knees close and her head simply resting on them while Rikku was sprawled against a tree with her legs spread, arms down by her sides.

He couldn't help but smile at how adorable she was; much like a kid who had run out of energy. With a groan, he got to his feet and stretched his protesting muscles. Kyia had done miraculous work in healing him but it didn't make the newly mended muscles any happier to comply with his desires.

Approaching Rikku's sleeping form he knelt down between her legs and looked her over for a moment. Her thief apparel was certainly more revealing than the clothing she had been wearing lately and despite having seen her without any of it, the tiny yellow outfit made his neck heat up. His eyes wandered down to her hips where the yellow straps of her thong were visible above the tiny shorts. "You really don't leave much for the imagination do you?" He whispered with a smile.

Rikku mumbled in her sleep and shifted just slightly but did not wake. When he leaned closer a smirk came to his lips as he heard her mumble a second time. It seemed she was revisiting their shared evening back at the tavern.

Gently brushing his fingers over her exposed stomach caused her breath to catch. A soft kiss to her neck resulted in a low moan and increased breathing rate. Deciding it was time for her to wake up, Sarion leaned in and gently kissed her ear. "Rikku." Her name came from his lips in a soft breath and immediately caused goose bumps to line her arms and legs.

Gasping at the intimate contact, Rikku's eyes snapped open and quickly focused on the source. "Sarion!" Before he could brace himself she lunged at him; the force flatting him to the dirt as she squeezed him for all she was worth. "Oh Sarion you're okay!"

"Not… if… you don't… let go…."

Rikku giggled and loosened her grip on the nearly suffocated Sarion. She leaned close, a devilish smile on her face. "You were teasing me while I was asleep." She wagged a finger in front of him. "I'll have to get you back for that."

"Rikku? Sarion is okay?" Yuna yawned and pushed off from the tree to get to her feet. Seeing her cousin straddling the still somewhat injured man, she frowned. "You should be more gentle Rikku. He needs time to heal."

Looking up at her cousin, Rikku faked a pout. "He started it." She giggled and looked down at Sarion with a playful grin. "And later, I intend to finish it."

Sarion's face reddened as Rikku got off of him and went over to her cousin's side. "Well, I am glad to see everyone is still alive." His eyes landed on Kyia. "Seems healing me took a lot out of her."

"Sarion…" Rikku kicked a rock idly. "How were we supposed to leave if this is an island?"

Nodding in understanding, Sarion stood and leaned against a nearby tree for support. "About a day's ride north is the coast. I have some contacts who owe me favors. They have access to a gateway that would give us a one-way trip to a few major locations." He ran a hand through his hair. "What all did Kyia tell you?"

Yuna went over what Kyia told them briefly and looked at him expectantly. "She knew Paine and you know Kyia. Did you know Paine before all of this?"

He shook his head. "No. Not in person anyway. I've heard of her in passing but never by name. I dismissed it immediately despite her uncanny resemblance because she lacked the aura that most Harvesters have."

Rikku tilted her head to the side in thought. "When you say gateway is that like a portal? And why would it be one-way?"

"The magic here is incredibly powerful as I'm sure you've gathered. Apparently one of the early Harvesters had significant control over it and used a portion of it to create a stone gateway. This gateway allows for your body to be sent through a magical stream, similar to a road for lack of better description. Your body breaks down into pure energy and you are transported to one of four major points that the magic leads to. The Thunder Plains, The Calm Lands, Djose, or Mount Gagazet."

Nodding in understanding, a smile formed on Rikku's lips. "And since there is no gate on that side, it means you can't travel back?"

Sarion nodded. "Precisely. As for which place you wish to go, you simply need something to represent the location. Water, grass, sand, or a stone will determine your location."

"Glad you decided to pull through Sarion."

Looking over, Sarion smiled at the white-haired girl. "You know me better than to just up and die Koshka."

A low growl came from the girl. "Don't call me that."

Rikku looked from Kyia to Sarion with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. 'He has a pet name for her?' Before she could question it however, Yuna spoke up.

"We need to find Paine."

"If we follow her, we'll all end up in the same state you found me." Yuna's jaw fell open and Sarion continued. "Something happened the other night to Paine. She sprouted spiked armor in similar fashion to Rikku's transformation earlier. It was definitely the stuff of legends."

Yuna sighed. "How is that possible? How is any of this possible? Our grids and dresspheres were lost in the crash!"

Kyia chimed in. "Actually, I don't think they were." When the girls looked over at her she continued. "I think somehow either after the crash or when Sarion brought you back your body absorbed their power. It could be a side-effect of the cavern as well."

"But we knew the boy who invented them. He made them specifically for us." Rikku pointed out.

With a smirk, Kyia gave the blonde a knowing look. "And every creation came from divine inspiration without anything to model it after right? Did you ever think that maybe he got the idea from something else? Because I can assure you; Paine has been rocking those spikes longer than any of you have been alive."

Sarion pushed off the tree and began making his way back to the camp from the night before. "We should see if our horses are still there. After that we can discuss what we should do but without horses our options shrink. Let's just hope they are patient and decided not to wander off."

Rikku nodded and skipped over to his side. There was so much to worry about that her mind was literally aching but right now she simply wanted to be near Sarion. Despite being healed his pace was low and labored; obviously the body needed more time to rest. Sadly time was something that for the first time in his life, he lacked.

As the sun broke the horizon, Praeta let out of a soft sigh. She had remained in her room while the small group of potential Harvesters had gone to attend Serena's ritual. The High Priestess was not expected to watch and despite much begging from the young blonde, Praeta had refused to be present. It was not that she did not care about the girl but the opposite. The ritual was a horrible rite that forever sealed who you were away and created a new you. She did not wish to see the kind, loving girl she had been caring for all these years vanish before her eyes.

Serena had grown tough, calloused and even to some extent cruel but it was all for survival. The ritual was not about survival; it was about taking life. Not just the life of a stranger but taking your old life and destroying it forever. She could only hope that the young teenager would be strong enough to perform this task and still return to her with those bright, intelligent eyes.

Cold sapphire eyes looked down at the man and woman kneeling before her. They were blind-folded and gagged but their faces were easily recognizable. They were, after all, in her home village. Leaning down, she untied the blindfolds and gags on both of the bound villagers. Their collective gasp one of mixed shock and delight.

"Oh Serena my baby!" The woman exclaimed with tears springing to her eyes. "When you never came home I assumed the worst! What have they done to you baby?" Despite the years apart, the woman instantly recognized her long assumed dead daughter's face.

The man looked at his daughter with a hint of fear in his eyes; he did not recognize the girl before him as the girl he once raised. "What happened to you Serena?"

The girl looked from one parent to the other. "I became a fox."

As the mother opened her mouth to question this strange statement, a gurgle was the only sound produced as Serena ran her through with a jet-black blade. Her father's fearful eyes flicked to her just in time to receive the same blade through his heart.

Looking down at the two bodies, the girl felt only the smallest hint of remorse but soon that too faded. "Rabbits do not raise a fox." She placed her hand to her chest, a small smile present on her pink lips. "A fox does."

When she arrived back at the castle, the High Priestess stood waiting in the front hall. When Serena entered the door, Praeta ordered all the guards out. Serena waited for the guards to close the doors before approaching Praeta, stopping just a few paces away. "My task is complete Praeta."

Praeta fidgeted nervously under her robes, doing her best to not allow the young girl to see her in such a state. "And how do you feel Serena?"

Stepping forward, Serena's warm smile dissolved the tension in the room. "I am fine Praeta. I simply did as I was required to be able to return to your side where I belong."

"Then you are truly all I hoped for." She leaned in and tightly embraced the young girl before her. "Kneel my child; it is time for you to become one of us."

The door behind her opened and Reya walked in accompanied by numerous other Harvesters. They formed a half-circle around Serena before dropping to a knee. The High Priestess produced a small vial from within her robe and held it before her. "Take and drink from this, dear one."

Serena took the small object and removed the stopper, pouring the thick, black fluid into her mouth without hesitation. The effect was immediate. Her entire body felt as though she had been lit aflame from the inside but her screams died in her throat as she lacked the breath to produce a single sound. Dropping to both knees, she looked up at Praeta with confusion in her eyes and saw sympathy flooding the ruby eyes looking down at her.

Dropping to all fours she finally managed to cry out, her scream echoing off the stone walls as the torment continued. After what felt like an eternity she fell silent; the pain had subsided and her body was beginning to feel normal again. Looking up she saw silver tassels obstructing her vision and brushed them aside in annoyance only to have them return to her face. Reaching up she gasped; her once golden-blonde hair was now stark silver. Praeta had told her that in addition to her eyes becoming red that some Harvesters underwent other changes such as hair color but the sight was shocking nonetheless.

Kneeling in front of the now silver-haired girl, Praeta brushed the stray hairs aside and cupped her face. "Welcome to your family dear one. I expect you to bring us a new level of honor, Paine."

Hearing her new name struck something deep within the young girl but the tight embrace of the woman she revered more than any other overtook such thoughts. All she cared about was maintaining the comforting love that Praeta showed her.

Paine staggered to her feet and wiped the blood that had mysteriously appeared at the corner of her mouth. Walking down the coast, she saw a castle on the far horizon. It was that castle she had spent so many years both as a captive and then as a leader. Now she felt a strange draw to it as if there was no other place she could possibly go.

"Yuna." She whispered softly. "I'm sorry."

Author's Note

Woo~ Nice long chapter. Whole bunch of story going on. Welcome to Spira 2.0… or something. Not gonna lie, making a "place" was tough but I couldn't just throw them anywhere. Not with the THOUSANDS of years of history that would somehow go completely without notice on land? I think not. Figured this way worked best. Let me know. I'm sure I'll get some harsh critiques on this one but hey, at least I updated before I left!

This IS the last chapter during my deployment. My time in Afghanistan ends in less than 90 hours and after that I will be without internet for likely up to two weeks. I may write during that period but I'd have no way to upload so I stayed up until 3am writing this for you!

I promise, I will be at LEAST taking "notes" so I don't lose this train of thought. I know, or at least hope, you're all wondering what the deal is with Solari's flashbacks to Claire and what Kate's role is and overall WTF IS GOING ONE?!... I hope I have you that interested. Next chapters will involve a lot more excitement. This one was mostly informative.

Hope you enjoyed! Be sure to review because I WILL be checking for reviews before I lose internet! More inspiration = more writing while gone! True story!

Oh and yeah. Been awake 22 hours now. Contacts are also 2 months old. So if I missed any OBVIOUS things, correct me in PM and I will adjust. Everything is pretty blurry about now :P Same with any major lore errors. Lore in MY story, not with FF. I get into a "zone" sometimes and just GO! Sometimes I forget things. Love you all!