a/n: Here it is! The much awaited action-packed chapter! You guys have no idea how long it has been since we originally conceptualized this chapter...It's such a relief to see it posted! Scipio wrote a majority of this chapter...so it may be a little different. Tell us what you think!

Cheers!

P.S. May contain images of gore and extreme violence. You have been warned.

Other Character Counter: 2


Chapter 56: Pillars

"Vaan hurry!" A ringing voice echoed across the ancient halls of the Stilshrine of Miriam, foreign in its panic, discordant in its haste. Harried footsteps, scrambling up back passages of passed excursions, reverberated across the olden stone. It fell clattering, alien against the usual quiet of the shrine.

"I'm getting there!" a male voice shouted back at the person who shouted, as the rumbling of the shrine resonated all around them, deafening and uproarious.

Vaan was scuttling, desperate to get to the other side of the room where Penelo and the others were waiting with tense faces. He resisted throwing a look behind him where he was sure Balthier and Fran had already made their escape. After that woman attacked them from out of nowhere, they quickly broke apart, thinking to scatter in order to confuse that woman with a whip.

Balthier had caught a boulder to his shoulder knocking him almost unconscious. No doubt it was Fran who rescued him and used Famfrit to escape. Vaan shook his head, dodging falling rocks again barely leaping into the air to jump over a large boulder that came careening towards him to skid across the hall to land neatly beside Ashe and Penelo.

"Do you have it?" Penelo asked rather breathlessly, eyes wide and shining as she looked at Vaan who was struggling to catch his breath.

Vaan nodded, then flashed a bright grin, his eyes unsually white against the tan color of his skin. He opened one fist to reveal the dimly shining stone in it.

"Good job Vaan," Basch praised and Penelo gave a shriek of triumph only to be turned into a scream of terror when a loud whip cracking echoed across them.

" Did you think you can escape me that easily?" the woman's voice sounded from somewhere and though it was disembodied, the volume was enough to suggest that she was near.

"Run!" Larsa barked and the party didn't need anymore prompting.

"Belias!" Vaan cried and a roar later Belias materialised before them, horns iridescent red and orange.

"Cover us!" Vaan barely shouted as the group run past the Esper and the once guard of Raithwall's tomb merely bellowed in reply before he thundered off towards the direction they came.

They heard Belias challenge the woman and the woman merely laughed, but the echoes of battle was enough to convince the party that they had some time to escape.

The party stood before the gates of the entrance now, breaths ragged, hair damp from sweat and faces red from the excursion. The remains of the teleport was not a welcoming sight. Then the slight glowing of the glyph in one of Vaan's pockets stopped their hearts cold. Belias did not win.

The party's heads snapped towards the now closed doors of the shrine and sure enough the clattering of high heeled shoes could be heard, ricocheting around the hall.

Vaan muttered an oath under his breath and unsheathed his Ultima blade as if preparing to fight.

"Vaan no!" Penelo cried, running over to try to push the blade down.

"What else can we do Penelo?" Vaan demanded, his expression fully contorted into one of rage.

"We need to run!" Penelo insisted, her mien looking absolutely mad with her hair in disarray. "We can't fight her! You saw what she did in there! You heard what she did to Belias! We can't!"

"Then what do you suppose we do!?" Vaan demanded, trying to shrug her off but Penelo held fast.

"Mateus." Ashe's soft whisper interrupted any other argument and a flurry of snow and cold wind hit before Mateus the Corrupt slithered before them, giving them the impression of a large fish emerging from the ice.

Ashe stared up at the conjurer of ice, the ice blue of its skin merged alongside the body of the priestess it had captured long ago bound tightly against itself.

"Help us," Ashe merely whispered and as if the Esper understood, Mateus revolved around so as he was facing the arctic winds of Paramina Rift.

"Come on!" Ashe cried urging her companions as an outsized makeshift sled made out of ice materialized behind Mateus who hovered a few inches in the air.

"What?" Penelo asked looking at the sled even as the others quickly stepped on it. "How are we supposed to steer?"

Nobody could answer because Mateus went lurching down the icy terrain, the sled seeming to be attached to the Esper by invisible rope for some reason and the party had to struggle to remain their balance as Mateus went whizzing down the frosty Paramina Rift, without giving much thought as to the cargo behind him. Behind them they heard the woman break through the doors with a resounding bang.

"Vaan!" Yvelle's voice once soft was surprisingly loud and clear as the others were crouched down, clutching with icy fingers at the sides of the sled, the only grip holds they had.

Vaan looked up, locks of hair whipping the sides of his face as Mateus slid with a speed to rival the wind. Unlike the others, Yvelle was standing on top of the sled, hands clutched tight on her Cloud Staff. She was making weird circular motions in the air.

"What--?" Vaan had barely asked before Yvell reeled back, and as if throwing a fishing line, snapped the staff before her in one movement. Flickering, almost transparent chords shot out and wrapped themselves around Mateus waist before twisting back towards the party.

"Grab them!" Yvelle cried, reaching for the chords nearest her and though Vaan feared that they may be brittle, the chords felt hard and sturdy underneath his grip, like how real rope felt like. Vaan gave a wide grin to Yvelle before passing a chord to a bewildered Penelo.

"Hold on!" Vaan shouted to Penelo amidst the whizzing sounds of their flight, wrapping his partner's hand around the translucent rope Yvelle conjured out of nowhere. Penelo grinned in triumph and stood up, her balance barely wavering as she held onto to the lifeline Yvelle provided. Just as soon tough for Ashe, once they hurdled along a particularly difficult ravine shouted "Now Mateus!" to the Esper to which the controller of Ice responded with a high-pitched keen before unleashing devastating powers.

Ear-splitting thunders rumbled all around the rift as the snow began to rise up into the air in a flurry of wind and ice. Behind them, they could hear their pursuer skid across the ice and was slowly coming up to them even without a sled of her own.

'No fleet or sleight will help you win!' cried a shrill voice, the sadistic words echoing across the rift. The wind howled as it swept the snow up and swirled it around in the air, creating a blizzard within the rift.

Quickly, they rushed past the rift, towards the mountain, pursued by some newfound foe who commanded terror and whiplash deftly. She came from above so suddenly, when the tryst between Vaan and Balthier had yet to begin, with whip and ferocity unknown to be in women, she lashed at them with her whip and sent them reeling, then to their heels.

Basch and Ashe had tried to keep her at bay, but she was relentless. Basch could not stop her, neither could Ashe. Then they had all tried to confront her, and she greeted them with a sting of her whip and laughter in her voice.

She was too quick, too ferocious to stand up against, as though she was the Queen of hell. Her fury prompted Basch to call a retreat. As they fled past the gates of the Stilshrine towards the Kiltia temple, the party saw smoke billowing from where Mt. Bur-Omisace stood, a sight not so alien to their eyes. The pillar of smoke felt horrifyingly familiar and most members of the party were suddenly transported back towards when they had seen such smoke rise up from the Mountain like that. The last time had eradicated most of the Kiltia and had signalled the death of the previous Gran Kiltia.

"No." Larsa's whispered voice was still heard even as the blizzard continued to swirl above them, their tracker still hot on their heels.

"We need to get back there!" Vaan's voice was heard and Ashe, hearing so, spurned Mateus, if it was even possible, faster, caring less for their hunter but to arrive swiftly towards the mountain that had provided the party with more than shelter.

And so they fled to the mountain, whether or not there was smoke they all would have thought fleeing to the mountain most wise.

The mountain was afire again. The streets filled with Kiltia and Imperial troops locked in combat. Thousands of Imperials poured from the several Ifrit which hovered above the sacred peak. The Kiltia, though they had produced a somewhat large amount of fighting forces among the priests were still vastly outnumbered, outgunned and outflanked. Still they fought hard for the peak and for the Gran Kiltia.

The party barely made it inside the city, reeling back at the sudden violence they witnessed in the place that was thought to be neutral and respected. Mateus had been dismissed and the party was again on foot, barely dodging and blocking their way towards the entrance towards the main Kiltia Halls, spotting somebody familiar among the front lines.

Barenor, the Kiltia's Head of Defence, fought at the front lines. His mighty Sweep crushing Imperial helms. He fought valiantly alongside his comrades but the Imperial ranks were far too many. When he saw Larsa's party, he paused enough to tell them that the Gran Kiltia and her two guards were inside the Hall and it seemed they were trapped by the main perpetrator of this invasion and they could not get inside.

Vaan and the others had little time to grasp the situation; amid the screams and yells, Larsa was frozen still, unable to comprehend that the Empire he grew up in and loved dearly could massacre hundreds of innocent people with barely a conscience. Basch however, having seen many years of warfare was not perturbed by the suddenness of the spectacle. Instead he immediately yelled to the party, "The Gran Kiltia might be in trouble, hurry to her chambers!" and the party bolted for the Grand Hall, leaving Barenor's side reluctantly, but doing so out of time and haste.

The huge double doors moaned as they swung inward, revealing a heated battle.

Gran Kiltia Lerusse stood a little ways away from the dais of where she usually stood, back towards a wall and guards before her, providing defence. Frethelion and Ardian, poised to strike, were facing an ominous figure. The armour and the cape easily gave away that the enemy was an Archadian Judge Majister.

"Party's over!" Vaan yelled angrily, suddenly tired of running and eager for a fight. His Ultima rang ominously in the air as he unsheathed it. The rest of the party formed up behind him, weapons flashing dangerously as they revealed them.

The figure, his back towards the party, shifted a little then said in a silky smooth voice, "Oh?" there was a defined edge of arrogance in his voice. He turned around slowly...

"Scipio!" Larsa scowled as he moved up to the front of the party. The young Emperor's face wore nothing but an expression of pure astonishment. His eyes were wide, almost childlike in its disbelief as he stared at the Judge Majister standing before them, masked and armed, with that sardonic smile about his face.

"Greetings your Excellency," Scipio uttered guilelessly. He gave the young Emperor a flourished bow. When he straightened up, a small smile flitted across his lips.

There was a sound of heels softly but quickly tapping behind them. The party glanced behind them and saw the woman who assaulted them back at the Stilshrine, "I see you've met my old friend." Scipio drawled his crimson eyes transfixed on the young emperor. He gestured idly to the woman behind them. " Hilaneya, this is Lord Larsa and..." he paused casting an arrogant look among Larsa's companions as if searching for the right term. " Friends." Scipio seemed to decide at last but his voice suggested anything but welcome. Hilaneya bowed to them mockingly. She looked like an incubus, standing there before them. So elegant and beautiful, but her eyes were seductive and her smile sinister. The whip she used upon them hung on one hip, her hand sat idly on its leather handle. She winked at the party.

"We've met." She said with a smile and her voice had dropped the shrill of madness they had heard while they were fleeing her a while ago. Instead, it was back into those smooth and sultry tones of a woman beguiling. She passed the party, her eyes never leaving them before she stood beside Scipio, clearly stating where her allegiances lie.

Ashe turned heatedly to Scipio, 'What is the meaning of this?' she demanded.

"Royal brats are always the same, so impatient." Scipio commented easily, a hand waved dismissively in the air as if he was commenting on the weather. Then he fixed his red eyes back at the group, eyes spellbound on Ashe. "That's what brought about the downfall of your kingdom," Scipio said calmly, his voice cold and sarcastic. Ashe narrowed her eyes at him but otherwise said nothing.

"You are not welcome here," Lerusse's cool voice floated from where she stood protected by Ardian and Frethelion. "Leave now," her ruby eyes flashed and lightning crackled around her skirts and her voice rang with hidden power.

Scipio eyed the crackling with a bare glance and shrugged. "I resent that your Grace," he made a hiss of her title. "And here I thought the Light of the Kiltia shines upon all those who seek its shine or some such?" He exchanged glances with Hilaneya and she smirked back at him.

Lerusse did not answer but in a flurry of movement she unleashed a lightning strike towards where Scipio and Hilaneya stood. The air crackled drowning almost the sounds of the battle outside but that was not what shocked the group.

Scipio had flicked his arm at the oncoming strike and the lightning meandered towards one of the pillars that stood mighty across the halls. The stone cracked at the force indicating how powerful that lightning strike really was. Lerusse turned her flabbergasted eyes towards Scipio who didn't even flinch.

"You did not have to do that you know." Scipio admonished lightly. He waggled a finger at her. "Now you would have me believe I'm not really welcome." He nodded at Hilaneya who grinned, her look absolutely feral. With less than a blink she was charging towards the Gran Kiltia, her whip flailing behind her

A flash of light later and the end of Hilaneya's whip was wrapped tightly against the large blade of Ardian's Masamune, preventing her attack on Lerusse. Frethelion was poised in defence of Lerusse, standing closer to the Mist Sage.

"Tiresome." Hilaneya smiled, her full lips stretching yet again into a grin. The other members of the party were frozen in place. Scipio gave a small mirthless chuckle.

"It's useless you know," Scipio warned with a shrug of his shoulders before his masked face was directed back towards the party again. "Together, we three shall make your days miserable!" An evil grin was on Scipio's face.

"Three?" Ardian's voice held all the doubt he felt.

"Yes," A foreign voice mixed in the fray. Heads swivelled towards the poised Frethelion. It seemed his scar gleamed angrily against the white of his hair. "Three," Frethelion replied and a sinister smile flashed on his lips before he turned speedily towards Gran Kiltias Lerusse, a knife aimed for her throat. A resounding bang and Frethelion was sent into the air, only for him to summersault neatly beside Scipio, robes fluttering softly. A small cut oozed blood from the good side of his face but Frethelion's eyes were aimed murderously at Ardian who met his look with one of his own. Gran Kiltia Lerusse had disappeared after that bang, signalling her own escape.

'You betray the Kiltia?" Ardian spat angrily, though his tone was eerily calm. His tightening his hold on his weapon was the only indication he was irked. "You betray her Grace Lerusse ?!' Ardian asked huskily, eyes never leaving Frethelion.

Explosions outside made the pillars of the great hall shudder. The gunshots and the clanging metal intensified outside.

"Yes, I do." Frethelion replied with glee, He folded his arms defensively. "These two people are offering cold cash, whereas her Grace could only ever offer poverty and suffering!' Frethelion laughed menacingly.

"You forsake our faith." Ardian hissed his eyes fixed on Frethelion.

"I was never part of it," Frethelion replied coldly.

Scipio gave a short laugh now. "Now that we have established the sides, let's get this over with. You two," he gestured towards Hilaneya and Frethelion. "I'm leaving the Gran Kiltia to you. I'll settle this rabble." He grinned towards the party. Frethelion grinned and with a mock salute towards the group made to leave, passing Ardian on the way. Ardian grimaced and with shout, he wrenched his blade away from Hilaneya's whip and aimed it towards Frethelion's neck, only to be sent soaring into the air towards the group. Ardian straightened up, using his sword as a stand, scowling at the intruders all the while. When he had straightened, Ardian quickly poised himself, slinging his gigantic Masamune over his right shoulder. Frethelion smirked at them and walked away, leaving through one of the doors away from the Grand Hall. Hilaneya straightened up, whip idle beside her before turning towards the party and bending a bit, she blew them a kiss before she too disappeared with a crack of her whip.

"Scipio, you will pay for this!" Basch snarled gruffly, Zodiac Spear at the ready.

"For what?" Scipio cocked his head to one side, as if curious. "Laying waste to a pathetic race? As if.' Scipio said in a deadpan tone.

Basch glared at Scipio. His glare was met by a cold, lifeless, gaze; even though Scipio's eyes were concealed by his eerie mask, Basch knew that Scipio was also eyeing him and the scowl on his seemed to be etched upon the man's face.

"You have something that I want," Scipio began turning his sights to Vaan. "Or better yet something my employer wants."

"Employer?" Larsa doubtfully asked, unsheathing his Royal Edge, eyes chips of ice as he glared at Scipio. A small smile flitted about Scipio's lips. "Of course." He spoke, voice as smooth as silk. "You did not think I was clever enough to come up with this on my own, did you, your Excellency?" he laughed again mirthlessly.

"No, I'm not." He chuckled about his own joke. "Your dear pal Senator takes great care in telling this to my face whenever he "orders" me about. Take it as you will. I still need that stone." He nodded towards Vaan.

The sky pirate merely widened his eyes for a moment before dropping into a defensive position just like Ardian beside him. "Over my dead body," he hissed coldly. Scipio seemed to find this funny because he threw his head back and laughed uproariously. Vaan merely growled in reply.

"Now," Scipio began taking his long cape off, fully revealing the monstrous weapons he had: both swords and his Gatling gun and Castellanos, both fire arms having been modified and fitted with bayonets. "Don't bother using Mist, friends. I absorb it. Just a bit of advice, if you will." He flexed his shoulders and adjusted his mask before he continued his dialogue, "I shall judge your worth." He gripped his firearms with confidence.

"You judge nothing!" Ardian hissed. Mist gathered around him as he mustered his strength, "Everyone, scatter!" he ordered gruffly and the uncertainty among the party quickly vanished as they spread themselves, surrounding Scipio as best they could.

The mist stopped gathering towards Ardian. His body glowing with power, he spoke calmly, "Your pain...," he leapt suddenly his sword raised on high, "...SHALL BE TWOFOLD!" His Masamune came down in a hissing silver arc; Scipio quickly parried with his Gatling gun, sparks flying from the powerful impact, then he quickly manoeuvred his Castellanos and impaled Adrian's left shoulder with its bayonets.

Ardian howled in pain as the three bayonets attached to the Castellanos tore through his bones, Basch rushed to aid him, Vaan and Penelo rushing from behind Scipio.

Scipio quickly swung his castellanos launcher towards Basch, throwing Ardian off the weapon's muzzle towards Basch, Ardian crashed into the charging Judge, making him tumble in his tracks.

Scipio swiftly wheeled about and unleashed an unforgiving volley at Vaan and Penelo. The thunderous roar of his Gtaling gun echoed across the hall.

Yvelle quickly jumped into Scipio's line of fire, shielding both Vaan and Penelo with Protectga.

Ashe and Larsa quickly charged at Scipio, their weapons at the ready. Scipio saw them coming. Without relenting on his attack towards Yvelle, he parried Ashe's strike with his Castellanos, gripped by his left arm. The metals shrieked as they clashed together. Larsa was closing in on Scipio's vulnerable left shoulder. Scipio quickly shoved Ashe so that he could point his Castellanos at Larsa. He quickly ejected a bayonet, the small metal stake sprang from its socket and gashed Larsa's left shoulder, making him spin violently.

Ashe had been tipped off balance and stumbled. Scipio quickly kicked her ribs hard. Ashe keened in pain and he kicked her head, dropping her like a ton of bricks. He eased of the Gatling gun's trigger and leapt out of the way as Vaan charged shouting from behind Yvelle, the Ultima hissing past Scipio, missing him by inches.

Yvelle was exhausted from keeping the Protectga up, which still stood, glowing softly against the white washed stones of the Grand Hall.

Scipio sidestepped and evaded another cleave from the Ultima, he strafed closer to Vaan, making it difficult for him to strike. Vaan hacked at Scipio but he was too close. Scipio quickly jammed his knee into Vaan's gut, the hard metal of his knee pad made the pirate fall to his knees. Scipio struck his head with the bottom part of his Gatling gun. The concussion exploded colours in Vaan's head and he lost consciousness.

"Vaan!" a sharp cry echoed across the hall. As Scipio swamped Vaan, Penelo was quick to leave Yvelle's cover. She dashed towards Scipio, her daggers behind her. Scipio aimed his Castellanos launcher carelessly towards Penelo and fired twice. The explosive charges stopping her assault; one charge exploded too close and her legs were maimed by shrapnel.

"You mortals really do amuse me," Scipio ridiculed easily, laughing as he did so, aiming once more towards the healer of the group.

Scipio quickly trained his Castellanos at Yvelle and fired at her Protectga.

"You have such potential you know," he tsked at her, shaking his head regretfully. "It is rather a shame you are on the other side." He grinned at Yvelle, who stood with her Cloud Staff at the ready, face for once deprived of any shyness but was grim and haunted. "I'll see what I can do about that," Scipio added mysteriously before smirking.

The Judge Majister emptied the Castellanos on her still upright Protectga spell, bullets gathering smoke at the intensity of the barrage. They could hear Yvelle's grunts of effort as she struggled to keep the magick up despite the hundreds of bullets discharged at her.

Then it stopped. The Castellanos groaned silent and for a brief moment all was quiet. The smoke subsided and Yvelle stood vulnerable, her knees buckling from the pressure of having withstood Scipio's barrage. She swooned, but the Judge Maister was not done. Scipio flung his Castellanos at Yvelle. The novice hunter had barely begun to register at the flying projectile before it landed on her. The force of his throw was too great for Yvelle to bear. She was launched into the air, body colliding heavily on a bullet-riddled pillar and she fell with a splash down on the water that usually flowed through the Grand Hall, reeling from the Castellanos as it clipped her when it was thrown.

"Enough!" Basch's gruff voice sounded next and Scipio turned towards him challengingly. Basch had recovered and lunged at Scipio. His spear's thrusts were strong and steady but it was not quick enough to skewer Scipio. He easily dodged Basch's attacks and ended the assault with a quick heel to Basch's chin.

Scipio saw Ardian struggle to get up. He promptly launched another steak from his Gatling gun, the metal spike impaled Ardian's thigh, immobilizing him instantly.

Scipio stood alone. Then Larsa staggered to his feet, Royal Edge leaning heavily on the polished hall.

'You've not won yet.' Larsa said defiantly, blood gushing violently form his wounded shoulder.

"I have to concur," the Judge Majister gave a nod.

Scipio dropped his Gatling gun and it clattered to the ground loudly before the Judge Majister drew his Durandals. Larsa gripped his Royal Edge knuckle-white against the handle. They glared at each other, Scipio sneering, Larsa panting. Outside, the battle raged, the explosions shook the chamber again.

"You are a traitor to Archadia," Larsa breathed, his eyes as cold as ice as the young Emperor regarded Scipio with the entire hate he could muster in the moment. To no avail it seemed because Scipio did not even flinch despite the intensity of Larsa's glower. Instead the Judge Majister just scoffed at the fifteen year old, Durandals flashing dangerously beside him.

'Die.' Scipio sneered and darted towards Larsa. With his swords he was a harder foe, Scipio hands were so sleight that Larsa found his blows hard to parry. But Larsa tried to keep up nonetheless; he had not been trained by Basch, Zargabath and even Vaan for nothing and he will not give up without a fight and stand.

They circled each other, striking and parrying each other. The flow of their blades was graceful and elegant. Each strike was forceful; each strike made to decapitate, the ringing of their blades the only sound to them, excluding the horrific echoes of the battle outside as Kiltian priests fought to keep Imperial forces at bay. Larsa ground his teeth, barely even managing to block the assault that Scipio assailed relentlessly.

"You are ham-fisted, your Excellency," Scipio drawled mockingly as their faces drew ever close to each other, masked eyes filled with derision, azure eyes filled with hate. Then Scipio retaliated.

Scipio struck from above, Larsa brought his sword up to parry, but Scipio rapidly withdrew his strike; a feint, and hacked from the side. Larsa was not able to parry well and his right arm was cut deeply. The Royal Edge flew out of his hand and skittered out of reach. Larsa fell to his knees, the pain overwhelming. He gazed up desperately, looking at Scipio's murderous face.

Scipio's lips parted scornfully, his right Durandal raised, poising to deliver the death blow.

So it ends. Larsa thought. He closed his eyes and readied himself for the final strike. Scipio's Durandal came hissing down in a golden arc and was abruptly parried, the steel clashed against it sparked and shook, the Durandal a hair's breadth from Larsa's head. The Queen of Dalmasca's Excalibur valiantly stopped Scipio's attack and Larsa managed to scuttle away.

"Don't interfere, brat." Scipio said coldly. Ashe was straining against Scipio's strength. Her mind was still fogged and her ribs ached, but still she held on, her eyes flashing like hard flint, her lips drawn into a firm line as she used all her strength to block the Judge Majister.

"Not yet," Ashe hissed at him, hands tight on her sword. Scipio merely gave a grunt of impatience.

Scipio swiftly struck Ashe with his left. The haft of his Durandal buried itself on her side. A shaft of pain shot up in her body and she reeled to the ground.

"Pathetic," the Judge Majister scorned and gave Ashe a good kick in the gut sending her rolling away. Scipio turned to Larsa next and, using his Durandal as though it was a great paddle, struck Larsa's neck. The impact of the blow knocked him out.

Basch got up again, his mind swimming. Growling, he rushed at Scipio, swinging his spear from side to side. Scipio parried every strike and manoeuvred closer, strafing left and right until he toppled Basch with more than a couple of blows. Basch fell on the ground, breathing heavily.

"I've won, fool." Scipio muttered acerbically and impaled Basch's left shoulder with a Durandal. Basch yelled as pain seared through him. Scipio kicked the once knight's temple hard and Basch fell silent, blood trickling from the angry wound.

Now Scipio was standing unchallenged again. "Really now," he said as if disappointed though his expression was grim and daring.

The Judge heard moans. He looked around him. Basch lay at his feet, decimated. Larsa was out cold. So was Yvelle. Ashe stirred not far from him, blood trickling from her nose. Vaan was, surprisingly, trying to get up. Penelo was trying to crawl towards her daggers. Ardian had lost too much blood and used too much Mist to get up and fight

.

Scipio gave another sweeping glance before deciding. He walked casually towards Penelo. The girl doubled her efforts, her terror mounting as Scipio stood menacingly over her frail body. Scipio stepped on her back, Penelo wailed as he increased the pressure he was exerting on her. Then he knelt down and broke her right elbow as if it was nothing but a piece of driftwood Penelo shrieked as the bone snapped. Abruptly, Scipio stepped on her lacerated legs, sending shafts of pain throughout her maimed body.

Cruel... Vaan thought bleakly as he tried desperately to get up, very much aware of Penelo's screeches of pain, as she writhed about, doubling over as the hurt swelled.

After Scipio had struck him Vaan was still able to hear somehow. He heard all the screams and the howls and he could hear, he could feel the others' pain.

Scipio walked towards his Castellanos. Ashe strained to get on her feet and this caught Scipio's notice. He gave an exasperated noise under his breath before Scipio ran towards his launcher, picked it up and quickly trained the muzzle at Ashe. He squeezed the trigger which would launch a stake...

Vaan could scarcely see but he could see enough. Scipio was aiming his weapon at Ashe. Vaan scrambled to get in front of her...

Scipio pulled the trigger and the stake shot out from its socket, whizzing past at blinding speed as it impaled Vaan's tricep, the metal bayonet now protruded from his bicep. Blood spurted from his arm as he shouted in pain. Scipio, an evil grin across his face quickly discarded his launcher and dashed at the kneeling Vaan.

He quickly grabbed Vaan and lifted him, Scipio's grip on the flat end of the stake. He hurled Vaan towards Ashe, who laid a few paces away and was still trying to get her mind clear. Scipio twisted the cylindrical bayonet in Vaan's arm violently towards the Queen of Dalmasca. With all his force he drove the sharp end into Ashe's torso, and stabbed it in below her sternum her scream of pain shrill.

"Ashe!!" Vaan's howl echoed across the hall, threatening even to drown out the sounds of the battle outside. It was a shout full of anguish that could be heard after Ashe's gasp of pain fluttered out, her movements still and stopped.

"Ashe!" Vaan cried, catching Ashe by the shoulders, preventing Ashe's fall. Ashe was suddenly still, blood dripped from the stake. Her eyes widened, Vaan was skewered into her by the metal barb. He could barely register this fact and ignoring the pain in his arm, he tried desperately from letting her body slide further down the stake towards him, and a cruel version of an intimate embrace, the stake bound his bloodied arm to her torso.

"Vaan," Ashe strangled out, her once hardened eyes glazed by pain. Blood trickled past her lips. Vaan shook his head vehemently, struggling against the dizzying pain in trying to prevent Ashe from sliding further towards him via the stake. "No," he barely uttered, as Ashe inch by inch fell further, emitting strange gurgling sounds from her parted lips. His eyes spoke the horror he felt, face ashen and gaunt, knees buckling in effort in trying to keep both of them upright. The physical pain seemed to be nothing compared to the odd, constricting pain that throbbed in his chest awfully, threatening to cripple him more than any stake to his arm. Vaan could barely breathe, his eyes unable to leave Ashe's quickly fading ones, blue struggling to keep the grey fixed on him.

"No," Vaan whispered in pure agony, fingers becoming death grips on her shoulders. He did not realize that the tears that streamed past Ashe's eyes were mirrors of his own woe.

"Vaan,' Ashe barely whispered and a shaking hand reached for his face blindingly. Her finger barely grazed over his cheek before it fell. Her eyes rolled back and her weight became slack; Vaan struggled to maintain his balance, trying to keep her upright.

The battle outside worsened. Dust shook from the chamber ceiling.

"Ashe!!!" Vaan shouted in full agony, arms frantically reaching and failing to keep the queen standing. The tears came in torrents now, blinding the hunter.

Scipio chuckled darkly and kicked the bound couple to the ground, completely disregarded the two of them now and proceeded to collect his weapons. He then made his way back towards Vaan and picked up the red stone that had fallen from the hunter's pocket.

A loud resonating boom echoed suddenly around the hall and the wall were the great statue that symbolized the power of the Light of the Kiltia fell, a large hole in its middle and Frethelion came flying from it, falling abruptly towards the ground a little away from Scipio's feet.'

Scipio raised his eyebrows at Frethelion which the latter returned with a grimace before straightening up and looking back at the hall. Scipio followed his gaze.

"Heathen bitch!" Hillaneya's screams echoed from the gaping hole followed by the sounds of her whip and crackling thunder and Frethelion chuckled.

"Funny, I could say the same thing about her." He muttered under his breath earning him a sharp glance behind masked eyes by Scipio.

"The Gran Kiltia?" Scipio asked archly and before his new cohort could answer, Gran Kiltia Lerusse emerged in a flurry of white skirts and lightning, followed by a demented Hilaneya.

"Leave!" Lerusse uttered the lighting threatening to envelope the whole Hall. The water began to bubble and the pillars began to quake, the ground shaking underneath her feet. "Now!" she cried and launched lightning towards the three. Hilaneya quickly caught the bolts with her whip and with a flick flailed them towards the pillars, sending a few of them falling towards the water.

Scipio eyed his two companions with a smirk and with great finality, fired with his launcher and Gatling gun at the ceiling and then at the vast columns which supported it. The whole structure crumbled down and he vanished suddenly, with Hilaneya and Frethelion in tow, his laughter resonating evilly at the aftermath. Outside, the foreign echoes of the sounds of a different war ships reverberated even inside the Hall, but they fell into one set of ears only and it was quickly dismissed.

Lerusse deftly summoned a shield to save her from tumbling remnants. Vaan, with the remaining dregs of his consciousness struggled to free his arm, pain searing it. He wrenched his ragged arm free and covered Ashe as best as he could, not even daring himself to believe she would die.

Gran Kiltia Lerusse stood alone as the smoke cleared and her eyes roamed around the group who had fought to protect her. She beheld carnage. Vaan was cradling Ashe, a spike protruding from her chest, blood flowing. Her eyes were lifeless yet they still flickered with life. Her hands trembled and her face was ashen. Vaan could only look at her helplessly. Around them, the other members of their party seemed to be in equal states of semi-consciousness, bodies keeling from pain and dazedness, unable to believe the assault they had received.

Then minutes later, the sounds of clattering footsteps and the groaning of the doors announced the entrance of more than one person.

"Your Grace!" Barenor's deep voice was laced with worry as he and those who followed him beheld the massacre before them. Lerusse looked towards the entrance, her pain for those who helped her evident in her ruby red eyes.

"What happened here?" Olen of the Order of the Tournesol spoke next, his eyes betraying the shock that his aloof face would not, his cobalt blue eyes focused on the bodies of the party. He hurried towards the side of the nearest body, which was Basch's and tried to revive him. Captain Sephyr revealed himself just as quickly, his face betraying nothing, but his Tournesol glinting against the light.

"This is madness," the accented voice of somebody very disgusted followed next and soon the air was filled with low oaths unbefitting the stature of Lord Al-Cid Margrace. Odd spectacles fell and with quick gestures prevented his "little birds" from seeing anything but the doors. His onyx eyes closed as if pained by what he saw and then he fixed his eyes towards the Gran Kiltia.

Lerusse meanwhile waved the hovering efforts of Barenor to check for her wounds, and instead raised her arms upward, palm upright. A bright glow surrounded her as the Mist she was so adept in handling, swirled about her. Whispered words and bright lights fluttered before Gran Kitlia Lerusse uttered the strongest Renew spell she knew and it swathed the incapacitated members in bright bluish light. The newcomers waited in bated breath for the spell to take place. Lerusse hoped it would be enough.

XOXXOX

Scipio stood at the bridge of the lead Ifrit. Their attack had failed its initial objectives, which was to wipe out the Gran Kilitia. However, Scipio was more than satisfied with what had transpired. The Battalion which attacked the mountain was devoted to covert operations, covert in a sense that only Scipio would know of their activities. Now they were heading back towards Archades, no doubt towards that fool of a Senator. It was just a temporary arrangement, juat to mess with the Senator. Soon he would be nothing but another figment of their imagination, buried and forgotten.

Scipio had tasted blood again. The cruel killer instinct had taken control of his actions. He did not shake it away, even when he heard Hilaneya's heels click somewhere stopping a few steps behind them.

"Will they live?" Hilaneya asked genially.

Scipio didn't answer. He wished that they would live so that he may torment them again. "Perhaps." He replied finally.

"Hmph." Hilaneya tossed her fire-red hair over her shoulder, tone full of distaste. "I would have thought you had killed them. It would save you, us, the trouble."

Scipio smiled from behind his mask, and because he was facing away from Hilaneya, she did not see. "What fun would there be in that?" he asked her instead and there was no emotion in his voice.

Hilaneya gave a sultry laugh. "Well, if you put it that way. I suppose I can forgive you." She teased, closing the distance between them, draping one smooth arm on his own arm and giving him a kiss on his cheek. Scipio did not flinch nor did he move away. Hilaneya did not hide her own smug smile. Instead she kissed him again, on the neck this time then moved away, saying something about talking to Frethelion before she disappeared down the bridge. Scipio, his gaze unflinching from the view the Ifrit offered, wiped the place where she kissed him minutes after she had left, as if done on an afterthought. He was fortunate Hilaneya did not see that. He was sure she would laugh mockingly at him and he had had too much fun for her to spoil his triumph.


A/N: Have we told you we love character deaths? Hahaha...Just kidding...Such a twist from our usual happy ending chapters...Hope you guys review and a few more chapters to go!! Here's to Chapter 56!!

Cheers!

Comet and Scipio