:D I'm surprising even myself, updating this quickly. I guess I was just so happy with my inbox being assaulted with e-mails announcing follows and favorites and reviews. It certainly made my day. Thank you all so much. I shall address the reviews I received for the last chapter at the end of this one.

For now, I would like to say that the first part of this chapter will be told from the point of view of a veteran character in FFXIII...Snow! Yeah, he personally isn't my favorite character, but this was necessary. And unfortunately, our Noel and Fang duo won't appear in this chapter, although Fang shall in a flashback. Not to worry though, for they shall be dominating the next ones for sure! With that said, go ahead and start reading! :P

Edit: I forgot to add one thing. I've recently started a Wattpad series (call me suicidal about adding more onto my plate...) and if any of you are interested in reading it, it is called Memoirs of an Immortal and the link shall be put in my profile.

(Note: With obligatory repetition, I must reiterate that this game and story belongs to Square Enix and I am only expanding on this plot as I please.)

(Second Note: I have some Grammar-Nazi tendencies, and some of you might have noticed the chapter title in the box lacks commas. It could not be helped because of character space, but it frankly bugs me...)

Chapter Seven: Silver, Violet, and Scarlet

And their tears are filling up their glasses

No expression, no expression

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow

No tomorrow, no tomorrow

Gary Jules, "Mad World"

His adversary lay motionless on the floor, the man's plated armor dented and cracked beyond repair. He figured the fellow wouldn't be standing for quite some time—he already had plenty of blood spilt along with bruises and broken bones. But fortunately for his opponent, the owner of the Coliseum—the Arbiter—was in a less dark mood and would probably spare him.

Snow Villiers sighed. Yeah, this guy'll be spared all right. But for what? To live a little longer in a man-eating hellhole?

The fair-haired man knelt down and patted his fallen adversary on the shoulder. "You'll be all right, man. You're one of the strong ones. He'll like you for that," said Snow. The man gave no response. Snow raised his eyes to the stands where hundreds upon hundreds of assorted creatures and armored men and women had gathered to watch and cheer on the fighters. The Arbiter had restyled the Coliseum to accommodate an audience, an audience that was comprised of competitors who had wanted to watch the Coliseum's champion in action. They watched now as Snow stood and raised a hand to them with a smile. They let out feral shouts and hoots of bloodlust as he turned his back to them.

It was an easy crowd to entertain when you won. And Snow had yet to be beaten.

Still, the glory of victory he had felt in the beginning had dimmed to a sort of blasé weariness. The sentiment had even affected his ever boisterous spirits. That shift in his attitude had happened ever since he had come upon the news of her death. When chaos had taken over all, Snow had figured it meant Serah and her companion had failed. But had Fang not told him the further truth of the matter, he would have held on to his blazing hopes.

"Fang?" he asked with some surprise, standing up and raising his arms. "Well, look at that. You're alive! Not even a hell load of chaos could get you down, huh?"

"It looks like it couldn't get you down, either," Fang said. "I came to find you. It's not safe here, Snow."

Snow had been sitting in the stands pretending to watch a battle between Gilgamesh and two Proto-Behemoths. They had no reason to fear being overheard over the roar of the crowd. Gilgamesh was pounding his chest and making arrogant comments that tempted Snow to call out from the stands that he'd beaten Gilgamesh far too many times for him to consider the warrior worthy competition.

He beckoned Fang to sit, and she did. Then he asked her, "How'd you get out of the crystal?"

"Hope and Sazh got Vanille and me out. Not to mention a load's been happening since the chaos took over," Fang replied.

"Don't I know it. Have you seen how the Arbiter's gone absolutely nuts?"

"No, but I figured as much when some of his guards have been trying to recruit me for this stupidity. I like a good fight, but not when it's against bozos like these," she said with unconcealed disdain.

Snow chuckled. "Hey, that's why I enjoy giving 'em a good beating. Trust me, it's fun when you get into it," he said. "You know you'd enjoy that much."

"You were saying about the Arbiter?"

"Right, right. He's been taking anyone he could find into the Coliseum, willing or not. It's not just the strongest fighters anymore, Fang. He's taking the weak ones, too," Snow said in a more serious voice.

Fang was astounded. "What the hell's his problem?" she asked.

"He served Etro. Guess he didn't take her death too well," he answered grimly.

"He's crazy. And what happens to the people who get captured?" she asked.

"Look up," Snow said, pointing in the direction.

She raised her gaze. Snow did likewise, despite knowing what he would see. Far up in the ceiling hung brass cages. It was hard to determine their size from this angle, but Snow had already guessed they'd be large up close. There had to be about fifty of them. And if one looked closely at the shadowy figures shuffling within…

"Dear Etro," Fang said in amazement, shaking her head. "What the hell is he doing with them?"

"They're basically like slaves. He either gives them away as prizes, or puts them to fight in the arena."

"But there's no way they can survive," she muttered in outrage.

"That's the point." Snow clenched his fist. "That's why I've made it my duty to get them out of here. I can't go with you, Fang. I've gotta free them."

Fang regarded him skeptically. "And how do you plan to accomplish that?"

"Well, I might try to knock some sense into the Arbiter. Try to convince him. If not, I might have to teach the prisoners how to fight somehow, because I have a feeling these guys here won't be happy if I set 'em free."

"You're finally starting to use your head, hero," Fang said with a grunt, "Just don't get yourself killed. We're trying to find everyone as it is." She was tapping her thigh as she considered something. Then she added carefully, "I'm surprised you're still so upbeat, though. You know that Noel and Serah failed their mission, right? Etro's dead."

He sighed. "I thought as much. Do you know where they are?"

Fang exhaled deeply and said, "I figured you didn't know. Guess I'm gonna have to just rip the bandage off." She nonetheless paused for a moment, and Snow felt somewhat ill at ease. What did she mean by that?

"Where's Serah, Fang?" he asked.

Fang gave him a level gaze as she said, "Etro's not the only one dead, Snow. Serah…."

He hadn't wanted to believe it at first. But he knew Fang for her blunt honesty and that she wouldn't lie about something so grave.

Snow mounted on a levitating device in the corner of area—a metallic disc—that lifted him up to one of the private balconies reserved for the top competitors. Being champion, he had a perfect view of the Coliseum below him while maintaining his solitude.

He usually would talk and joke with the other fighters and watch the matches with them. But unimaginable grief had raged within him since that day that had utterly shattered his cheery disposition. It had been so incredibly potent that it had driven him to leave the Coliseum for a time to search for Serah. But he'd found no traces of her anywhere, no clues as to where she might be. The world truly had become tangled up in this chaos beyond comprehension. His fruitless search had nearly driven him to insanity, and the only thing now that kept him rooted in this insane world was his obligation to set the forced 'recruits' free.

I'm the worst fiancé, he solemnly admitted to himself as he leaned onto the railing and grabbed his face in his hands. What the hell was I thinking that I let her go undo the damages done by paradoxes on her own? Well, she had that kid that didn't like him to accompany her…Noel, wasn't it? He gripped Serah's necklace tightly. Didn't Noel claim he could protect Serah better than he ever did? He had a bone to pick with that kid if he ever found him alive.

"Great competitors of the Coliseum!" The Arbiter's voice exclaimed, resonating throughout the entire structure. The Arbiter of Time suddenly appeared in the now vacant arena, holding up his hand for silence. The audience quieted considerably after a few seconds, all eyes focused on him. The full-armored being raised his other hand as he announced, "I bring to you another round of idle sport! Another soul lost to the currents of chaos recruited to combat one of your own!"

Guffaws erupted from the audience, anticipating their "entertainment". Snow grimaced as he muttered, "What's gotten into you, Arbiter?"

The golden-clad Guards of the Arbiter brought out the shackled victim. From this distance, he could see that it was a girl who could not be older than thirteen. He didn't have to get a closer look to know that she was unarmed.

Snow grasped the railing in a vice-grip, refusing to see anymore. He wanted nothing more than to intervene, and before he would have. No wonder Light thought I was an idiot back then. I would've jumped into the scene without a second thought. And that would have gotten him killed in an instant by the Arbiter and the competitors. He was more than confident that he would have taken down a great number of them, but he was not foolishly arrogant to think he could take them all.

Snow.

He was startled. Did a voice just speak in his head? He cast discreet glances around him, but no one was paying particular attention to him.

Who's this? What do you want? he asked.

I am one of the imprisoned, said the voice—a girl's voice. He lowered his gaze to the girl in the arena, and the voice continued, You won't see me down there.

Where are you? he asked, now lifting his gaze to the cages.

Even if I told you, you can't help me right now. But I know you want to set us free. I can help you, she said.

No offense, but how can you help me when you're inside a cage?

What I can give you is hope. A man of great power is coming to rescue me. He is coming with someone you know.

Someone I know?

Yes. Lightning.

Snow blinked. Lightning? So she's alive?

Yes. And the two of them can help you.

When are they coming?

Perhaps in a short time. Perhaps in a long time. I only know that they will come.

Snow looked at the cages thoughtfully, not giving up on his search for the unidentified telepathic speaker. Well…I don't know who you are, but I think I believe you. There isn't a reason you'd lie to me, anyway. One thing though…you know my name, but I don't know yours.

There. He knew he saw one of the prisoners looking directly at him. Snow could not see her face, but he saw the long silvery-blue hair.

My name is Yeul, said the girl, And I know where Serah is.

It occurred to Lightning that she was completely immobilized. The boy no longer disguised his laughter as sobs; he was blatantly cackling at her. She could only kneel there, powerless to react. That fact more than anything vexed her.

"Thank you, miss," the boy said again, releasing her from his tight embrace—standing back with that damn smile still plastered to his face. She realized then that his amulet was emitting a scarlet glow. "I've been very hungry, you see. I could sense you were very powerful, and powerful souls make for a filling meal. And here I was thinking you would never fall for our tricks."

She knew she ought to be afraid, but she only felt rage. How could she have been so stupid? How dare this boy deceive her?

Shows me to ever show a sliver of compassion…

The ruby unexpectedly flared brighter. Despite herself, Lightning found that she was entranced by its glow. Her anger began dissolving into an eerie calm as the light drew her in like a moth. It vaguely struck her that this light was draining her strength—draining her very essence—but she also realized that she presently did not care. Her own resolve was slipping away, so becalmed was she by the light. The ruby's glow on the boy's chest was simply too mesmerizing…

And suddenly a sword sprouted out of his chest. The amulet's spell flickered out and was flung off his neck. The boy made a choked sound and fell to his knees.

She instantly reacted. Able to move again, Lightning sprung to her feet and unsheathed her sword in one smooth motion.

But she saw that she didn't need to attack him. Caius stood over him, his eyes cold and unfeeling. Chaotic energy undulated off the Bahamut blade and began to flow onto the child's body like thick tendrils of smoke. It wrapped around and engulfed him head to toe, mummifying him. The chaos squeezed him all the more tightly until it finally dissipated into the air, leaving no remains of the boy she had seen only seconds before.

Dead silence passed between them for several moments. Lightning wordlessly stared at him in the duration. As expected, there was no sign of remorse upon his countenance—no sign of anything. She never could read his face, never could receive an indication as to what he might be thinking. He was as expressionless as a statue.

Finally, Caius lowly said, "You are a fool."

Rather than allowing herself to be provoked at the statement, Lightning asked, "What was he?"

"He was what the Pulsians called a Z'rahul," he said.

"Z'rahul?"

His inscrutable gaze was fixed on her as he explained, "A soul-eater. The drainage of energy you felt as you gazed on at the amulet was your soul being stripped from your body. Any second longer and it would have been so."

Lightning sniffed. "Well—thank you," she said grudgingly, not meeting his gaze.

She caught the slightest smirk flickering on his lips. He bent down to where the amulet had fallen and picked it up. "They disguise themselves as normal people to deceive and draw in the unsuspecting. There are many roaming about, but if you do not stray from me again, there should be no such trouble repeating itself. You should take better care. They are dangerous predators from the Unseen World, preying upon lost souls both dead and living."

"And you allow them." It wasn't a question.

He performed a subtle shrug. "Why shouldn't I? The weak serve the strong, and the weak deserve to be subjugated. That is why you and I can survive in a world such as this. We are like gods among these lost souls. They are at our mercy." He smiled slightly as he added, "But when you show signs of weakness as you did with this 'child'…"

"Compassion is not weakness, Caius."

"You let your guard down because of it. And that would have been your end."

Lightning forced herself to let out a slow breath, clamping down her jaw. He just loves picking at every single button, doesn't he? she thought. Well, he asked for it… "If that's your argument," she said softly. "Then what about Yeul?"

His eyes locked with hers. "What about Yeul?" he asked in a dangerously low voice, his tone warning that she was touching upon a subject she shouldn't.

But she would not relent. "Yeul needs you to protect her. That makes her weak according to your words, Caius. Doesn't that mean she deserves to be subjugated by you, also? Doesn't that imply that she must serve you?" she asked icily.

In a single swift motion, his blade was at her throat—his face close to hers, his brow furrowed darkly. "Do not make absurd banters of Yeul," he growled.

See Caius? I know what makes you tick, too. Lightning observed his dark expression, one that was usually reserved and guarded. She calmly answered him, "You can't threaten me, Caius. You need me because you, too, are weak."

Caius did not respond for a moment. Those violet eyes silently assessed her in a way that made her feel somewhat uncomfortable, but she was determined to not let him see that. She coldly stared back, fingering the hilt of her sword.

Finally, he harrumphed and turned away from her, discharging the tense atmosphere as he walked ahead. He said, "You make a point, warrior goddess. You have not convinced me, but you have nonetheless made your case."

She placed a hand to her hip, puffing at a stray strand of hair. "At least you're not that stubborn."

"Stubborn bears a connotation that is far more suiting for you. Resolute,I think, would fit better with me," he said without looking back.

Lightning's eyes flicked to the amulet dangling from his fingers. "Drop it, Caius," she ordered, raising her sword at him from behind.

He glanced back. "It's a valuable item that may prove of use to us," he said with a hint of amusement.

"To you, maybe. That thing almost killed me. And I don't want you holding it."

"What do you fear, Lightning? Leverage?" he asked, the amusement still in his tone as he took a step toward her. She assumed a fighting stance as a warning. "I thought we already established that you did not trust me."

"I don't. That's why I want you to put that thing down," she snarled. "Or I swear I'll attack you right now."

"I don't think you will."

"Hah! What makes you so certain of that, Ballad?"

"I think you might reconsider. In fact, I think you might reconsider our entire bargain. Logically, it would take an eternity searching for your beloved sister. Perhaps, then, we should alter our arrangements."

She noticed then that the amulet was glowing again, if a little more faintly. Dimly, she thought that he was indeed up to something, but found she oddly felt no indignation on the matter. Instead, she was lowering her sword and listening to him intently.

What the hell's wrong with me?

"What I have not mentioned concerning the amulet is—in addition to its soul-stealing ability— its persuasive and becalming power over any soul. Consider it like a seductive nectar to the mind, regardless of the mind's iron will." He cocked his head and continued as he approached her, "I must earnestly apologize for my deceit, Lightning. But as I said, I am a resolute man. And I am resolute to find Yeul. And I am afraid that finding your sister would only have gotten in the way."

The anger was there, in the back of her mind, like a poorly stoked ember. He dare spoke like he was truly remorseful…as though he could ever experience such an emotion. Lightning was able to briefly manifest her fury as she cast him a baleful look, which only brought a humored smirk on his lips. The smirk she had always wanted to wipe off his face.

Damn you, was her final thought before the dying embers were at last snuffed.

That was very naughty of you, Caius. Poor, poor Lightning has to deal with you. In any case, I shall update when I can, which should hopefully be soon. Now I did promise to address some reviews:

To the inspirational i: Wow. Just...wow. You are and shall be one of the most loyal fans I know. You reviewed the last chapter so quickly! It touches me to know that you still looked for updates on the story despite the lengthy absence. I apologize for making you wait, and cannot express my appreciation more for a patient, forgiving fan like you. I do have a question, though...what exactly are you looking for concerning those minute details in the story? If you could elaborate, I shall listen and consider them in earnest. Also, I corrected that mistake regarding the eyes. I could have sworn they were brown...gah. Edit: And yes, I did see the trailers. I actually like this new Snow...and I like his hair like that. And I kind of turned this Snow into him, just not as depressed.

To deanosmiley: I know I PMed you, but I had to address you here and thank you once again for your humbling review. It gave me the further encouragement to update. :)