Chapter 15

Whatever had just happened caused a spike in stigma energy to flow through Arnette. For a moment her connection to Varen flickered and almost disappeared creating panic in her mind. As quickly as it had been nearly snuffed out, however, it exploded back flooding her with energy. It filled her with a renewed strength that put her on the offensive battling Claire back matching her speed perfectly.

The blade of Scythe Machina glowed brighter than when they first crossed weapons. Whatever was happening to Varen was effecting her and her weapon. She spun the weapon in a figure eight rotation making Claire parry at an awkward angle. Arnette let the scythe spin quickly rotating it behind her back before slashing it low. Claire staggered backwards a piece of her thigh armor broken from the scythe connecting.

"I suppose toying with you has run its course." Claire said making Arnette sneer.

"Then come again, Scythe Machina is still thirsty!" Arnette yelled accelerating at Claire. The Novaborn's rapiers danced around her strikes shifting Arnette's stance and attack patterns. After a swift upward parry a rapier pierced through Arnette's side and retracted just as quickly before the main hand dislodged from the scythe and impaled through her arm. The redhead stepped backwards crying out, but remained on her feet. Claire was simply too fast to fight head on.

"This is not a clean death Crimson Queen. A few more like this and you will die from blood loss. You are getting slower and slower with each pump of your heart that sends more blood flowing from your wounds." Claire explained. Arnette breathed deeply knowing she was right. Even with the sudden increase in power she received from Varen it wasn't enough to overpower Claire.

"Not yet…" Arnette said through labored breaths. Claire cocked her head slightly.

"What?" Claire asked watching the Pandora struggle.

"Not yet! You haven't beaten me yet!" Arnette shouted forcing her body to face Claire once more. The Novaborn watched her bemused and flourished her rapiers again daring Arnette to make a move.

"I can wait for you to bleed out. Your clock is ticking." Claire challenged. Using every last bit of energy she could muster Arnette ran forward once more pressing her attack on Claire with every last bit of resolve she had.

"The left flank is crumbling. We just don't have enough." Charles said as her and Elizabeth located Ingrid and Cassie linking up together. Cassie grabbed Charles and hugged her quickly.

"I'm so happy you are here." Cassie said tearfully letting the small Pandora go.

"Me too. What's the plan? Where is Varen?" Charles said looking around. Elizabeth looked off in the distance before looking down.

"He may have inspired this, but this fight is personal for him. His attention is solely on stopping Royal Blood. We can't rely on him to lead this battle. This time we need to help him and take charge." Elizabeth said. Ingrid nodded looking at the battle continuing around them.

"Right, let him and Arnette deal with the two Novaborn. We need to reinforce the left flank. Elizabeth, can you take these two and grab whoever you can that can still hold their weapon and get over there? I'll take ground command of directing the aerial forces and guide them to the Asakura positions." Ingrid asked.

"Got it, let's go." Elizabeth said bringing Cassie and Charles with her as she ran towards the faltering flank.

"Nightingale zero one, reroute to support position Charlie kilo thirty." Ingrid said into the mic scanning the battleground.

"Copy Nightingale command inbound."

"Captain…hurry." Ingrid added.

"Copy command." Captain Lane acknowledged.

Arnette slid along the mud nearly losing her footing barely able to keep her balance. A fresh wound to her thigh crippled her heavily making any form of movement unbearable. Aside from the single successful strike she had made on Claire earlier the Novaborn was unharmed and showed no signs of fatigue.

"You understand now don't you? It isn't that you lack the will to beat me. It is simply that we are too different. You are a human girl who learned her powers with the aid of implanted stigmata. I was born with it. I am steps ahead of you on the evolutionary ladder." Claire said.

"Shut up." Arnette spat.

"Pandora are bred for war. You are soft. All of you allow human emotion to dictate your direction and decision. That is why you now bleed before me. You have failed to fulfil your singular purpose. Pandora were created to fight and die. You have all disgraced the very reason you exist." Claire continued.

"I said shut up!" Arnette shouted leaning on the pole of her scythe.

"That careless attitude is what got my sister killed. She was corrupted by your human emotions. Charon and I are not that weak. You must be put to the sword for your crimes." Claire said.

"Don't talk like you knew Chiffon! Or any of us!" Arnette screamed.

"You are just a human. A being far below that of the Novaborn." Claire said bringing her arms back up into her duelist stance. Arnette could barely even hold her scythe now. Too much blood had been lost at this point that her strength waned. She never even stood a chance against one like Claire Fairchild. The battle had been decided before it even began.

"You're going to die." Arnette said shakily. Claire raised her eyebrows and sighed.

"Someday, yes. This is not that day." She answered. Arnette's mind went back to the day she watched Varen and Chiffon fight in Spireach. Why this memory came to her now of all times she couldn't know, but she knew it was important. Chiffon was Novaborn, and fought with the same strength and speed as Claire and Charon. Their technique and skill were the same albeit with different weapons. Chiffon showed one key weakness in the way she fought on that day and only now did Arnette realize it.

"Ok…I'm ready. Hang on Attia." Arnette said. Claire crouched and nodded once. She accelerated ahead and drove her rapiers through Arnette's chest piercing her heart. Arnette's back arched and her mouth opened as the weapons drove through her body and out her back. Claire's faceplate disappeared showing the face of a girl who looked confused and lost. Her mouth opened and closed as Arnette stared into her eyes.

When Chiffon fought Varen it only ended when Varen gave up his defenses and held back before impaling her through the stomach. Chiffon in turn had held back before her claws tore his head from this shoulders. That was her one weakness, the same that Claire shared. Her attacks left nothing to defend with. Varen had only gone for a low thrust that would have severely injured Chiffon in a real fight. Arnette, however, left herself open and chose a different strike.

"You…" Claire choked falling backwards, her rapiers coming free out of Arnette's chest making her stiffen in pain. Arnette's scythe slowly slid out from the side of Claire's neck sending blood pouring out of the wound. The girl fell to her back holding her hand against it her eyes still wide. Arnette looked down at her as she failed to stem the blood from the artery Arnette had cut.

"That's for Attia." Arnette said before collapsing on top of Claire who twitched a few times before lying still. Her muscles and body were beyond tired. Her body was finished and had nothing left to give. There was a small amount of peace for Arnette as her heart shut down from the damage Claire inflicted. Although she would not be able to live her life beside Varen, she avenged Attia.

She rolled off of Claire lying on her back staring at the sky as the rain fell on her face. She reached a hand up to the sky stretching her fingers and found herself smiling. She could see Attia's face in the clouds like she was beckoning her to come. This feeling had to be what Chiffon felt when she sacrificed herself to save everyone. A sense of pride and acceptance that with her death she had saved many others. Arnette closed her eyes and took one more deep breath waiting for Attia to take her hand.

Her heart beat twice slowly and her arm dropped to the mud beside her. Her eyes stared at the sky lifelessly as those two slow beats ended and her heart ceased.