And finally here is chapter two, sorry it took me a while to get out but the third chapter of my story Sweet,sweet ignorance was really hard for me to write, it somehow made itself 11,000 words long (I don't know how that even happened, I was originally planning for it to be less than half that. The start of this chapter was also hard for me to write though it didn't even compare to SSI, I was just have trouble writing hope.

I'm currently in the mood to rant so this authors note will probably be quiet long but you don't have to read it if you don't want to.

Firstly I was being pissy yesterday for a very stupid reason, you see I had gotten my hair trimmed the day before and I decided to get my hair styled a bit, so I gave my self a side fringe. I loved the side fringe, it was just how I wanted it, the only way it could have been better was if it mimiced lightning but I don't really have the hair for that. But than I woke up the next day and it had died, even though I hadn't even toss around like I ususally do and I only managed to half fix it. But now I've decided I was just being an idiot, so who gives a shit.

Also my laptop is now dead (I'm using my parents right now) every time I turn it on it freezes and neither me or my brother can figure out how to fix it, so I hate it right now.

My god that turned out long didn't it.

I also want to thank the people who reviewed, I love it when I get them off people it makes happy to know I have people reading and enjoying what I write.

But on with the story, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, Square Enix does

The power of the Valhallans

Hope woke up with a start, lurching himself into a sitting position.

"Damn it" he whispered to himself.

Lying back down on the bed he covered his face with his hand and breathed out a sigh. Why did that dream have to haunt like this? Why did he have to be reminded of what happened? Why couldn't his mind just let the past stay in the past and forget about it?

But that was it; his mind just wouldn't let that happen.

Breathing out another sigh he rose into a sitting position again and pressed his hands to face, he wasn't too sure if he'd be getting anymore sleep tonight after that damn dream. Staring around the room quickly, he found that he was alone. Shrugging he decided that he'd go outside and see if anyone was about. Swinging his legs over the edge of his bed, Hope stood up and threw on a shirt before heading out the door.

Checking around the hallway he found that yet again it was void of people. This piqued his curiosity; this placed usually always had someone out and about whatever the time. Moving through the halls of the building hope was met with the same results everywhere he went. Growing tired of not finding anyone, Hope had a sudden feeling that he should go check the balconies upstairs.

Upon climbing the stair to the level above Hope found himself yet again alone, the situation now began to creep him out, it was like he was snuck in some scary dream where he was the only one in it. Through of course he knew that wasn't happening, he just woke up, didn't he?

Hope blew out a sigh of relief when he came across another person sitting cross legged on the balcony, "Finally" he said.

Jumping a bit at the sudden noise, the person, a girl, quickly turned to him, "Oh Hope, didn't see you there" she said running one of her hands through her shoulder length curly black hair.

"Oh and what was finally for?" she asked him as he sat next to her.

"Um, kind of 'cause I've gone all around here and you're the first person I've run into, I mean isn't this supposed to be a military base or something"

"That's what I was thinking but I suppose that everyone must just be haggard from all those prevented break-in's today, those Valhallans just don't quit do they?"

Hope nodded his head at the girl "yeah"

Placing a finger on her lips, she asked quietly "A bit off topic but has your mind been telling you that you were still dreaming"

"Um yeah, why?"

"Good that means I'm not insane."

"But what if I'm insane?"

"Damn it! Then I'm still insane." pausing for a second she started stroking her chin thoughtfully "Through mind my has also been telling me that there's a phantom stalking me, waiting until he has the chance to kill me, it just keeps saying "he's going to kill you Savina, he's going to kill you", so maybe I am actually insane."

"You need help."

"I realised."

Casting a look about the empty hallways Hope asked out of curiosity.

"Um isn't it a bit dangerous to have so little people around here? What about sentries?"

"Oh there are sentries about, I'm actually supposed to be one of them, someone woke me up a while ago and told me to come up here a keep a look out, poor guy looked like he was about to fall asleep right there."

"Hm."

"Bit off topic, but did you fall asleep in your jeans again?"

Hope shot a quick look down at the garment in question, "Yeah kinda."

"I thought I told you not to do that, it's bad for your circulation"

He shrugged at her.

She gave a slight tilt of her head, knowing that scolding him wouldn't really have an effect anyway before asking, "What you doing up anyway?"

"Couldn't sleep." Hope answered her.

"How come?"

"Why do I have to answer that?" he asked

"Cuz I asked it that's why"

Hope pinched his nose "If I don't answer you now you'll stalk me for days asking this won't you?"

"Same rules as always pretty boy"

"Stop calling me that Savina"

"You know I'll never do that" Savina said with a laugh in her voice "But you gonna answer me or what?"

Scratching the back of his head he answered a little absentmindedly "Is 'my mind' a good enough answer?"

Savina turned serious then "The same old dreams then?"

Hope didn't answer her but Savina knew him well enough to know she was right.

"Haa," she breathed out "And you say I need help, how long have you been having those dreams anyway?"

Hope shrugged at her question not bothering to answer it.

Savina gave a sudden twitch and dropping her conversation with Hope, she ran to the edge of the balcony. Quiet suddenly she said "There are people out there"

Getting up off the floor Hope walked to her side and peered ahead of them into the land beyond the base, wondering how on earth she'd picked that up with her back turned to the balcony, "Where?"

Squinting her eyes Savina peered into the forest beyond the base. Biting her lip she mumbled "Damn it!"

"What?" Hope questioned.

"Lost em." She answered.

Peering once again into the forest Savina tried her hardest to relocate them, succeeding she yelled out.

"Hope they're Valhallans, sound the alarm!"

He nodded to her as she rushed down the hall, "What are you doing! "He yelled over to her.

"Warning the people on the battlements that's what!" She yelled back before he lost sight of her.

Sighing Hope whispered to himself "Here we go again," silently wishing he was wearing something better then jeans and a singlet.

...:...

With the alarm sounding the soldiers were roused from their sleep and armed to protect the base. Valhallan sightings like this were common and the soldiers were well equipped to face them but with multiple sightings and attempted break-in already today, the soldiers were drained and not at their sharpest. This was something that could prove quickly fatal with Valhallans as your enemy.

Hope if anything was worst off then majority of the soldiers, having what little sleep he did get haunted by nightmares. Though the sentries would probably be worst; most hadn't gotten any sleep at all.

Peering over the battlements he now stood behind instinct told him to duck, and as he's knees hit the walkway an arrow whizzed over his head. Despite the fact that the arrow could have easily pierced his head it brought with it the knowledge that the Valhallans were using simpler weapons, meaning that they hadn't stolen any guns. Which was good in a way but with their deadly aim and even deadlier magic it wasn't much of an upper hand.

Without getting up, Hope raised his head high enough to see over the battlements, he wasn't risking getting shot in the head again. Lifting his gun up so that it was level with the battlements, he began to aim for the Valhallans he knew to be below. He was unlucky in his shots; through some barely missed the Valhallans none actually hit their targets.

He heard movement beside him, the sound of someone sitting down with the sound of a familiar voice soon following.

"Hey Hope, how you holding up over here?"

Savina, of course, the only person dumb enough to hunt him down while they were being shot at. Or perhaps insane, her IQ was a little too high for her to be called dumb. But ignoring the insanity of her actions he answered her.

"Alright I guess but I don't seem to actually be able to land a hit on anything" He said it with annoyance clear in his voice.

She made an "Hm" sound as she to lifted her gun to shoot at the enemy "If you let that get to you, you'll never land a hit" she pulled the trigger back and bullets whizzed through the air. Her was aim perfect, all her bullets found home in the skins of the Valhallans. Lowering her gun Savina pumped her fist "Yes, bullseye!"

Hope stared ahead in disbelief before slowly shaking his head and uttering "Of course, it's the women who got even less sleep then me that gets the inhumanly accurate bullseyes"

Savina shrugged "What can I say, I've been a natural with aim ever since I was strong enough to throw things a distance that mattered any, plus your probably still distracted by that delightful dream of yours"

She got him there.

"Probably have a point there"

"That I do, now come on pretty boy don't let yourself get distracted there are still Valhallans out there"

Hope blew out a sigh and aimed his gun again "When will you stop calling me that?"

"When hell freezes over"

"How'd I guess?"

Pulling the trigger he shot his gun again, this time with some of his shots actually hitting their target, even if only one was anywhere near fatal.

"That's better, see keep calm and you'll be more accurate" Savina whispered beside him.

After the shot off a few more rounds, there was a lull in the battle, and after a moment or so the sound of a bell like alarm rang through the air.

Both Hope and Savina tensed up the moment the sound hit their stood up despite the danger of being shot her eyes locked on the forest in front of them. Fear was imbedded in her next words "Oh crap, that alarms only used for-"

She didn't get the chance to finish her next words as only second after she'd began talking an unearthly roar tore through the air. "Manavlisk." she uttered in fear.

As if called by her words a colossal wolf like creature burst forth from the trees, loose chains hanging from its neck. Its build resembled that of a behemoth, with its fur painted colours of dark and light greys.

Over the sound of the still sounding alarm Hope and Savina heard a soldier yell "Pull back, Manavlisk coming this way!"

Savina ran off instantly, speeding across the walkway and down the stairs, coming to a less than graceful stop by the door to the bases main building.

Hope watched her curiously from the walkway, sure she wasn't the only person here who'd reacted that way but he'd never pegged her to be someone who would just run away like that. What was more, in all the time he'd known Savina; he's never seen her so scared. Hope's head swerved back towards the forest as more beastly roars filled the sky, he saw more Manavlisk tear their way through the trees and charge toward the base. At this sight he was met with the dark realisation that this base was lost, even with the Valhallans decimated, no one could stop that many Manavlisk; they would have been in trouble with just one to deal with.

Turning back to face the walkway he followed Savina's lead and ran to the stairs, his only chance at surviving tonight was getting as far away from here as possible. Meeting a petrified Savina at the main building's door Hope came to stand beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder he tried calm her down.

"Savina come on we need to get away from here" She didn't move at his words, she just kept on staring at the tall walls that surrounded the base, knowing full well that the Manavlisks could plough through them any minute.

Tightening his grip on her shoulder he told her gently "Savina if you let your thoughts get to you you'll never survive this" He wasn't too sure why he said it but he had a feeling that repeating her own words of not letting thoughts get to you who help her some.

Through it didn't calm her down all that much it did have some kind of effect.

Savina turned to face him and nodded her head, acknowledging the first thing he'd said to her about getting away from here. Hope grabbed her hand and nodded his head as well, while pushing the door open and going inside. They found themselves in an entrance hall, a large room with countless doors and hallway twisting off from the room its self. Pulling the silent Savina along beside him Hope began on a path to one of the hallways furthest from the front door.

Upon reaching it he pulled Savina closer to him and whispered in her ear "I'm taking us to one of the basements, we should be able to hide in there"

Savina offered a nod of her head and nothing more.

Her current state worried Hope, he'd never seen her like this, even in battle she'd never been in this dark of a mood, or scared for that matter.

After walking through the many twisting and turning hallways the building housed for a time, Hope came to a stop in front of a small door; walking up to it he twisted the knob, pushed the door inwards and stepped into a diminutive and dreadfully bare room. Kneeling on the floor he grabbed a small mat that covered a portion of the floor and pushed it aside. On the floor where the mat had been was a rectangle piece of wood that had been disguised as floor. Picking that up and putting it to the side much like he done with the mat, Hope exposed a stair case hidden beneath. The stair case was made from stone and led into a dark room also made of stone.

Twisting around a bit Hope held his hand out to Savina "Here, you come down first"

Grabbing his hand without a sound, she let him lead her to the hole in the floor and help her to step onto the stairs. When she was down them, Hope got up and went back the door. Looking around outside, he surmised that there was no one around so he closed the door and stepped back into the room. Kneeing back onto the floor Hope slid into the hole and grabbing both the mat and the wooden plank and replaced one on top of the other.

Carefully he slid the wooden plank back over the hole and hoped that the mat hadn't of slipped off, through it probably had some. Walking down the stairs he met Savina at the bottom of them sitting on the cold floor, she had her knees drawn up to her chin and her arms folded across her legs. Sitting down beside her he cast his eyes about the basement.

The basements of the main building use to be all connected but they had later been made into separate rooms and walls placed between them. He'd never known why they had decided to separate them all but that didn't bother him now; all he cared about was that it now gave him only a 1 in 10 chance of being found if an enemy found the basements.

Turning back to Savina, Hope placed a hand on her shoulder like he'd done outside.

"Hey Savina, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.

She didn't answer straight away, instead she opted to finger strands of her hair for a time before slowly raising her head to meet Hope gaze.

"I'm scared"

"Of what?" Of death was the obvious answer.

Hesitantly she answered "Of the Manavlisks"

He'd noticed. But ignoring the thought he asked "Why?"

Savina went silent again at that question, shaking her head to indicate that she didn't want to answer. Hope through wasn't going to let her get away without answering him, she'd done so to him one too many times for him to let her get away with that.

So he asked her again "Why are you scared of them Savina?"

She bit her lip and gave a seemingly misplaced laugh "This is my punishment for never letting you get away with not answering me isn't?"

"Of course." Hope answered her, he tried as best as he could to keep his voice light despite there current situation because he knew if she saw his fear then he'd never get her out of this rut.

She offered him a small smile but he knew she was still scared.

"It's not good things I have to say"

"So were some of my secrets." He retorted.

"Guess so." she replied weakly.

There was a silence that passed them for a few seconds before she answered "They killed my family"

"What?"

"The Manavlisks, one killed my family when I was four, I saw it happen too" She stopped for a second and lifted her gaze to stare at the ceiling, when she spoke again it was in an even smaller voice with tears forming at the rims of her eyes "I should have died that day, I have no idea how I didn't, I stared that damn thing right in the face and it just left me there, in a fucking corpse filled grove!"

As the tears began falling down her face she brushed them off with her hand and shook her head "I saw it all happen; I saw the damn thing tear my family apart!" she finished before breaking into tears.

Slightly taken aback by the sudden ferocity of her words, Hope hesitantly reached out a hand and putting it about Savina's shoulders. He wasn't too sure what to do to comfort the girl so he offered a simple "Hey it's okay" He hadn't expected that she'd tell him all that, though he'd be lying if he said he didn't have suspicions that she'd had an encounter with a Manavlisk when she had bolted at the sight of them but what she told him was downright ghastly.

In the minutes it took to calm the girl down, Hope kept his ears open for sounds upstairs. With that many Manavlisk's out there they could have easily broken through the walls, letting what remained of the Valhallans through. And everyone with a brain knew that even though they could be easy enough to take out in long range situations, it was suicide to verse a Valhallan in close range.

As the minute ticked by there was no sound from upstairs, the only thing to be heard all around Hope was the sound of his and Savina's breathing along with her occasional sniffle. Getting up, Hope walked to the opposite side of the room to the stair case and sat down.

Savina jumped up at this action, still shaky she asked "W…what are you doing?"

Hope shrugged "Keeping away from the stairs, this way I can see if any ones trying to get in better then when I have my back to it anyway"

Savina twisted her head to look at the stairs "You'd probably hear them better from here"

"Yes but they'd see me straight away"

"Hm, guess so" Savina said walking up to sit next to Hope. Leaning her back against the stone wall Savina produced a great yawn and stretched her arms.

Hope chuckled a little at her when she did "Tired much?"

"What? I haven't gotten much sleep tonight"

"Hm, realised, why don't you try to get some sleep then, I'll keep watch"

Savina smiled at him "Thanks it'll be appreciated"

Giving another yawn she lied down on the cold floor and tried to make herself more comfortable, before she closed her eyes she told Hope "Wake me up later and I can take over for you"

"Kay" Hope answered her.

In minutes the sound of her breathing softened, signifying that she'd fallen asleep. Trying to make his back more comfortable against the wall Hope settled himself in for a long night.

...:...

The sounds of gruff voices woke Hope from the daze he'd found himself in. Reaching a hand out he tapped Savina on the shoulder to wake her up. The girl twitched awake at the contact and Hope placed a finger on his lip to tell her not to talk. Very quietly he whispered "I hear voices at the top of the stairs"

"Are they Valhallans?" Savina whispered equally as quiet.

"I think so, they don't seem to be speaking in English" he replied to her.

She nodded her head and went quiet to try and listen in on the voices. "They're not in here yet, they must still be in the room above us" Savina said "And that certainly isn't English"

Hope nodded at her as the people above them found the hidden stairs.

Savina muttered a quiet "Shit" under her breath, in this basement there wasn't many places you could hide as the room was a simple rectangle. The only place you could conceal yourself in was in plain sight and in the darkness. But none of that would ever save you a Valhallan.

The tallest of the Valhallans laughed to himself when he caught sight of Hope and Savina at the opposite end of the room. In his native language he remarked to the two Valhallans to the side of him "Uuta, lyza niks rueza husko, ai antasha travano nas ken vu dincru chazoro"

The two to the side of him laughed but the sounds weren't anything humorous, they held an evil tone; at hearing those sounds and Hope and Savina knew that they were in big trouble, if the sight of three muscle-bound Valhallans hadn't already told them that. Almost too quick for the eyes to see one of the ones who stood to the side of the tallest ran forward towards them.

Dodging to either side as the Valhallans right hand swang forward in an attempt to catch hold of Savina, both Hope and Savina tripped up and barely missed slamming into the hard stone walls. As they jumped up once more as a second Valhallans joined the fro, they began a game of dodging the brutal hits the two Valhallans were continuously throwing their way. But of course in a small dark room like the one they currently occupied, the Valhallans would always have the upper hand with their superior strength and better sight, so it was unavoidable that they would slip up sometime.

A shrill scream filled the air as one of the brutes latched on to Savina and picked her up by the collar. The scream was enough distraction for one the second Valhallan to pin Hope to the wall.

With them both pinned and unable to fight back the tallest of the three laughed maliciously and spoke through his laughter to speak yet again in his native tongue "Ai antasha travano nas ai chazoro, ita asimdar vu yue, tulan don bi fortarla" He shook his head at both Hope and Savina as if he was some ashamed parent, the action causing the two others in the room to laugh.

Hope found himself irritated, he didn't know what the man was saying but language barrier or not he knew when he was being made fun of.

Twisting his head to look back at the man pinning him to the wall he found him still trying to contain his laughter. Taking advantage of the situation he mustered all the strength he could to pull his arms free of the man's hold and smash him on the side the head. With the man dazed, Hope grabbed hold of his arms and swang him into the stone wall he had just been pinned to. The Valhallan hit the wall hard and was successively knocked unconscious.

Turning to look over at Savina, Hope saw that she too had taken the advantage of her capture being distracted to also escape from his grasp and knock him unconscious. Smirking over to her she returned the action and they both turned to face the last of the Valhallans.

They hadn't gotten they high ranks in the military for nothing and the two men now knocked out behind them had just learned that the hard way.

Now staring at the last one Valhallan Hope was struck with confusion, instead of moving towards them he instead chose to stay where he was at the bottom of the stairs. his confusion grew as the man continued to stay in his spot and make no attempt to hurt them. Hope thought he may just be trying to mess with them so he could take them by surprise but there was something about that that seemed wrong.

Though the man that stood before them wasn't nearly as muscle-bound as the two now unconscious men, he exuded ingenuity, a feeling that seemed like he was not one to mess with. That even if you were stronger than him he'd still be able to beat you with skill alone. And Hope was sure the man in front of him had more of both skill and strength than him and Savina had put together.

But the man didn't make a move, he just stood there.

"Hope," Savina said evenly beside him.

"Yes?"

"Look at his arm" She pointed to the limb in question.

Looking at his arm Hope then saw that he was clutching it as if it was causing him pain. He hadn't noticed it when he'd been trying to figure out why the man wasn't attacking but now looking closer he saw that there was a long brand trailing across his left arm, slowing turning more and more red. It looked extremely painful and the way he was clutching his arm only reinforced that theory but none of that pain reached his face.

Hope looked at the brand again shivered, refraining from reaching over and touching his own wrist.

"He looked like he's in pain, what do you think's wrong with him, he's not attacking us." Savina whispered alongside him.

"Don't know." Hope replied.

At his words the Valhallan fell to his knees and lost the fight with his pain and his face screwed up in agony.

"Go" he urged them "Go before I lose control again" As he finished he pointed up to the top of the stairs signalling them to go up.

Despite the state of the man in front of them and the two unconscious men behind them who had to wake up sometime, Savina was a little unsure of going back up to the main building when there could still be Valhallans and manavlisks. Though anything would be better than staying here, or smarter.

But just in case she asked "You sure, what about all the Valhallans and manavlisks"

The man nodded and somehow got out over his agony "Most of us were killed by your guns at the start, there are only ten manavlisk's here you don't much chance of running into one but if I was you I'd get out of this place and hide in the forest"

Hope nodded to him and grabbed the somehow still unsure Savina along with him to the top of the stairs.

Before they'd left the small room above they heard he man at the bottom of the stairs give out one last warning "If you value your life avoid the blonde haired girl, with her you'll meet your death" He conveyed the eerie message before falling silent, presumably even falling unconscious from the pain.

Savina stared back at the hole from the doorway of the room, quietly she whispered to herself "The blonde haired girl?" she was curious as to who in the world the man had been referring to.

"Savina come on" Hope called from out in the hall way.

Savina swallowed over a lump in her throat, she wouldn't admit it but the man's message had shaken her more then she'd admit.

Walking through the door to joint hope in the hallway they both set out to get out of the building and into the forest.

...:...

Hours after the attack on the base had begun; Hope and Savina sat in a small grove in the forest leaning against two trees.

Savina had fallen asleep a few hours back but Hope found that tonight he just couldn't make himself follow suit. He was mostly just being paranoid but his mind kept on telling him that if he fell asleep an enemy would find them, though hours of undisturbed peace said differently.

He wondered if now would be a good time to check if the base was free of Valhallans. Though he doubted if there'd even be much of a base left after that attack, that Valhallan had said that they had had ten manavlisk with them and one would have been enough to tear the base apart to a degree, ten was just overkill.

His mind made up he reached out a hand and shook Savina awake "Hey," he said "Savina, I want to go check if the Valhallans have left the base yet"

Opening her eyes Savina groggily wiped sleep from her eyes" You sure" she asked.

"Yeah, it's been about eight hours since they attacked, it's around seven thirty now"

Savina bit her lip in uncertainty before nodded her head and saying "Yeah I guess it's fine to go check now"

Sitting up they both left the grove and started their walk towards the base. When they arrived what met their eyes was a sight that left them gawking

He had doubted if there would be much of a base left he'd meant it, but he would of never expected this. The only way to describe what they were both looking at now was a pile of scrap metal. He'd underestimated the destructive power of a manavlisk.

The entire base was destroyed, not one structure still stood, it made him scared to think that if they'd stayed they could have been crush under all this. It also made him wonder how many actually had.

Walking forward hesitantly Hope and Savina looked about for survivors and kept their eyes open for any Valhallans still in the area. It took them awhile but they did find some people, they were camped out in the shadow of some of the wrecked buildings. They found others scattered around the destroyed base too, some injured, some not. But as with every break-in, there found people who weren't as lucky as they were to survive, a lot of people. In the days to come after this attack, Hope and Savina they would come to find out a more accurate count of how many soldiers had actually died.

That out of the 5000 soldiers that were stationed here by the end of one day, was reduced to just 267.

And thats the chapter for you.

Theres a few things I want to say about the story before a go though. Firstly, the actually events of XIII are untouched, its what happened after them that I screwed over and lightning disappeared a year after the fall of cocoon.

And if anyones wondering, I'm not going to translate the Valhallan language, there's actually a lot of things said in it that would spoil things

And to everyone who read the authors note at the top, for what I said about obsessing over my fringe, I want to make sure that you don't peg me as someone who obssessed with their hair and always wants it to be perfect, the only part of my hair I'm an actually obssessed with is it's legth (It goes all the way down my back and I love long hair.)

I was just being incredibly stupid.

And lastly this may not be undated for a time because I'm goin to start playing FFXIII-2 again (I haven't played it in weeks, writing was somehow miraculously distracting me from it) and I'm going to go insane collecting fragments before I finish the game so I can have as much completed as I possibly can. And even when I'm done playing that I still have to finish the next chapters of my two others stories so this will go untouched for the next couple of weeks.

So bye for now and please review, I'll give you virtually candy if you do.