As Minfilia stepped into North Thanalan, dismounting Lutia, she did not expect her Linkpearl to go off again. And yet, it did - she raised her hand to listen, and heard Papalymo on the other side. “Yes, Papalymo—”

“—Ave you seen Yda?!” Papalymo half-screamed over the other end, before managing to calm himself. “She’s still not recovered, but she’s gone!”

Minfilia stretched, as she listened. Loosening herself up, as she put Lutia in nearby Chocobo stables. Set up by the Immortal Flames. “I told her she couldn’t fight, she’s still quiet and bruised—” Papalymo continued, but Minfilia understood.

“We’re both Ala Mhigan, Papalymo,” Minfilia replied. By birth or by choice. “And what Ala Mhigan would not want to fight to prevent what happened from happening again?” Her eyes glittered, as she looked around the campsite. Bluefog. The scent of ceruleum filled the air, and made it hazy. Her hand lowered, as Papalymo sputtered at her response. A warmth filled her eyes. Men from all three Grand Companies stood - many of them seeming afraid.

She walked up to a general. “Pardon me, what may I do?”

The soldier looked at her, at the young woman who seemed to be a Miqo’te at first glance, and then looked out to his soldiers. “…They’ve lost heart. They need something that reminds them of home. You able to do that, cat?”

Minfilias’ ears twitched. Her mind went back to months ago, when she met Yda, and she gave a firm nod. “I can.” Proudly, she walked off.

Minfilia soon saw what she was looking for. A meaty basilisk. However, as she raised her fists, she felt magic flickering in her body again. The same gross feeling she had when she lashed an aetherial tongue to save Francel. But this time, the tingling moved to her hand. For a moment, she swore she saw a bomb in her hand - and in that moment, Minfilia panicked. She threw the orb, and it exploded like a bomb - the basilisk looking to her, as their body was torn open. Her body bristled - again, that feeling filling her - and Minfilia tackled into the beast.

It fell quickly. The meat was still usable, even after Minfilia threw the bomb that was not a bomb, and she could drag it back to camp. As Minfilia cut up the meat to stew, however, a familiar figure loomed over her.

Yda. But unlike before, Yda had parted her hair, to show her Garlean eye. Her eyes were haunted, unfocused. Slowly, Yda sat across from Minfilia, beginning to skin the basilisk.

“…their skin makes for good armour,” Yda mumbled, distracted. “And they make for good gil, when you’re on the run.”

“…Yda.”

Yda looked down to Minfilia. Tried to crack a smile. “I’ve already spoken with Raubahn. You… you should too.” Minfilia, however, shook her head - as she put food into the cauldron she’d found.

Pausing, Minfilia then remembered Fordola couldn’t just light it up anymore, and shuddered a little, holding back her sorrow as she looked around for a fire crystal. Yda tossed one over, and Minfilia lit it. “Not yet,” she said gently. “Not until I’ve shown each and every soldier the same love you showed me when you first reached out to me.” Kindness though soup and stew. Minfilia sat, watching the fire begin to bubble.

And then, she looked to Yda. “Papalymo’s worried.”

“I know.” Yda sat down, flopping across from Minfilia. “But I need to do this. Because—”

“Liberty or death, right?” Minfilia replied, before giving a little grin. Yda stared, wide-eyed - there was no need to hide her face right now. “While I may be wishing to avenge Fordola and Ala Mhigo, I also know… this isn’t the end.”

Leaning back a little, Yda nodded. “I’ve got some intel. Ultima Weapon is in the middle of that Castrum - they call the place the Praetorium. We’ll need to battle our way though.” The warmth of the soup was beginning to fill the air - Minfilia began to look around for something she could use as bowls. “I hope you have a plan, Minfilia. Because, uh, I don’t know.”

“My plan is to trust Raubahn,” Minfilia admitted. “And to bring Belias out to fight if we cannot…” Her trail of thought was interrupted as she gazed out out at the soldiers. The soup was done, and she stood.

Each soldier she served soup to smiled at her, told her why they fought. Some because they felt they wanted to be heroes, others because they had lost family to Garlemald. And yet others were afraid, they didn’t want to. Minfilia gave a gentle warm smile to each of them, and reassurance - even if she felt like she was out of place. She was a monster among men. That suited her just fine, but the disgusted looks did not.

As one of them - a tall Raen Au Ra with frost white scales and hair, which did not suit the red tint to his tail - took the soup, he gazed at Minfilia. He gazed past her flesh and blood, giving a little swish of his tail. Giving her a smile. “You are…”

Minfilia waited for him to finish, but he never did, instead putting a hand to touch her. She allowed it, his hands shaking as if her flesh would break from his chilled touch. “You deserve the world.” Honestly, Minfilia was getting used to people giving cryptic praise to her. And yet, he was far too kind to simply be giving her hollow praise.

“Who am I to you?” Minfilia asked. Was she the reborn soul of his child, as well?

The Raen - Shivan, having borrowed some flesh - tried to smile again. His face was frozen in a scowl most of the time. “You remind me of my daughter. She is a wonderful woman. I fight for her.”

All of that was the truth. He gazed a similar soul to Mishiva inside Minfilia - but one that burned warm, not one which chilled her to the core. If they were not the same being across time and space, then they were destined to be close. Soon, Mishiva would have her knight happy. Even if it cost him his own life.

Minfilia seemed pleased by his answer. “I will be looking forward to fighting alongside you, then.”

Raubahn stood in front of the gathered soldiers. Bolormaa, K’pandolu, and Phae had arrived, and stood close to Minfilia. Alisaie sat on the ground, covering herself in heavy clothes like always to hide her monsterous form. The Raen soldier she had befriended curled his tail around Bolormaas’, in a quite cute display. Yda stood a little away, having covered her hair once more. Minfilia also sighted Cid, giving a little groan in the distance - and while she knew she should listen to Raubahn, she rushed to her friend.

“Is it Alexander?”

Cid turned almost too stiffly, eyes wide. He nodded. “They… they’re willing me to come along,” he admitted. “Taking some Magitek into the fight.

I’m scared, Minfilia.”

Minfilia gently took Cids’ hand in hers. They shook. Oh, how they shook. “I’m scared too, Cid. But we’ll survive. Alexander has never steered you wrong before, right?” Cid living would be best for the Primal. Gods, Minfilia was working alongside a Primals’ will. Perhaps if she could find Alexander, she could free Cid from this torment. His eyes closed, and for a moment, all was calm.

The booming voice of Raubahn rallying the soldiers broke the illusion. Many would not be entering the Castrum they were gathered by - no, a small number would be sneaking in to disable the magitek protection stopping them from getting further inside. Minfilia was part of this group - but not because she could fight. No, because she had known Fordola.

They reasoned she knew more about Garlean structures just because she had loved one. Yet, Minfilia did not deny it. Yda was with them for similar reasons, even if she’d left years ago. As for Bolormaa and the two Miqo’te and the beast? Firepower. Same with the Raen, who looked at them with his soulless, bead-like eyes and gently frowned. Ice danced on the steel he walked on, as they entered Castrum Meridianum.

Soldiers on patrol seemed not to notice them - as they watched for gaps. K’pandolu then dashed forward to one of the aerial lights, smashing it. Oops. That caught the attention of a group - suddenly, they had to fight. Minfilia focused on healing. The others? Many soldiers fell before they could cry out for help.

They made their way though, having to slaughter more and more. They were the enemy. That was how it was. However, as they faced down the pilot of the Black Eft, Minfilia saw a look she had only seen from one sort of person before. She moved in front of her allies.

“Ser. Do you wish to fight for Garlemald?”

The pilot froze, staring. Hands still on the controls. Minfilia was being crazy again. “You need not fight. Please - if you surrender now—”

“—I’ll die,” the pilot replied harshly, as they fired at the group. Thankfully, the Raen made a shield of ice to protect them, hands turning a pale silver. The blasts from the Reaper reflected harmlessly off of it. As the magitek pilot was stunned, the group ripped him out of the machine. But before they could try and talk to him, he detonated a bomb on his body. He did not survive.

Blood trailed off from his corpse, towards one of the walls. Towards one of the walls. Bolormaa gave a soft prayer, as did Minfilia, before looking to the wall. It looked… explode-able. Some might think the trash was a better idea, but the imperials were already aware of their presense. Why not cause some chaos? K’pandolu thought the same, as she climbed into the now empty Black Eft. With a few slams on the control panel, the wall blew open - more magitek on the other side.

As they progressed though, none noticed the one watching them. The white-clad woman stood, anger building. They wanted to ruin her. They wanted to ruin Lord Gaius. No… perhaps they were bringing themselves to him, to join him. No! She wouldn’t let them. Cid was with them - Lord Gaius would surely choose him!

And thus, as the group got to the final magitek barrier, she stood there. She stood in front of them… glaring.

“So you are the ones Lord Gaius is interested in,” Livia said, looking right at Minfilia. Before she could speak more, however, Shivan moved in front of the group.

“Go ahead. This one is mine. Final thing should be nearby.”

“Are you certain—”

Shivan looked back at the group. His flesh began to bubble with aether. His body began to grow, shift, grow larger. The others knew, somehow, he had this. Unknown to the others, however, Minfilia lingered.

For Shivan reminded her of Thancred. Gods, she missed him.

The large figure loomed over Livia. She did not fear. “You hurt him, didn’t you.”

Livia did not err. “I hurt many.”

“To strip one of mine of their tail… how dare you.” Their tail… was this Raen familiar with Urianger? But of course. He was a mysterious man. Of course he’d known a Raen who could grow and change into a monster, a beast of frost. Different then Halone.

Livia, again, did not err. “Savages working with Eikon. Of course.” She raised her arms. Shivan looked down at her, blackened eyes glaring. “I shall stop you from tempering Lord Gaius! He belongs to nobody…

But me!” With that, she moved to attack. And Shivan, the Fatebreaker, did not move. As she stabbed him, as she attacked him, he did not move.

“My turn.”

With a swish of his hand, ice suddenly danced, almost curling around an invisible dragon. It slammed into the ground, rocking the entire Castrum. In a moment, Livia was dead.

Shivan gave a grunt, picking up Livias’ corpse emotionlessly. He tossed her to the ground, shattering her - grasping something invisible in one of his large claws. Before turning, and seeing Minfilia staring right at him. A flicker of regret covered his face, as his form turned back to a Raen. As it did, his wounds made him flinch, stumble, kneel before her.

Minfilia weakly moved towards him. “You— how did you—”

Shivan frowned. Looked to the ground. “I grew angry. My power wanes,” he lied. Well, he both lied and told the truth. He was letting it do so, for his future plans. “You understand.”

Minfilia… did not. But she had accepted she did not understand much. “Come, we must needs reunite with the others.”

The protection was gone.

It was time for their final conflict.

The group realised quite quickly that they would all need to crowd into the Enterprise. There was no way they could waltz into the inner defenses - the Praetoirum - and simply get though. The Immortal Flames were planning on swarming it. Minfilia had almost considered asking the Gigas for help - but it would not be wise. However, as they stood on the fragile airship landing, Minfilia heard a buzz on her Linkpearl. She answered swiftly.

It had been a long time since she had heard the voice on the other side of the line. La Mi screeched at her. “Can we help, aid, offer assistance?” Minfilia was quiet, as the Kobold continued to ask questions.

She raised a hand, even if they were talking on the phone. “…Do you truly think it is— no, I understand. We fight for peace, and even you wish to help. Hmm…” The Kobold would likely be slaughtered in the midst. But La Mi was a healer, and the others could gather… “The soldiers who survive will need succour. Pray prepare supplies that can be brought by the Maelstrom.” It was not much, but it seemed to please the Kobold. “I will also see if any of our allies under the banner of the Gigas can aid in bringing supplies for once this battle is done.”

Alisaie watched as Minfilia discussed what the Kobold could do to aid, and gave a soft sigh. She was pleased, yes. But she also worried. Was Minfilia going to make her own organization? Were the Scions of the Seventh Dawn going to be splintered? That was not her intention. And what of the Kobold, and the other tribes? They weren’t going to give up their lives.

As Alisaie lost herself in thought, Shivan stood next to her. Looked her over, with his dull eyes. “Seelie and Unseelie,” he muttered, and Alisaie stared at him. He had a similar aura to a Voidsent, she admitted, as she was this close to him. But she couldn’t let her hunger get the best of her.

Thankfully, Bolormaa stepped between them. She first looked to Shivan, and his pale scales. “There’s not many other Au Ra out here, are there? Even if you are of the Dawn Father.” The Xaela had a warm smile on her lips, tail moving to curl around his. Shivan took a step back, staring past her eyes. “—can you see it? Can you see Bolormaa before Bolormaa?”

Bolormaa spoke, of course, of her eternal soul. Shivan could see it - but he could see something deeper. Something that the faerie king could not explain in words, nor in gestures. Something primal, from before time. And thus, he averted his gaze. “…You are old,” is all he could comment. That seemed to please Bolormaa.

Until Bolormaa paused. “You’re dying, aren’t you?” Shivan looked back to her, shocked. “…I’d choose this as a worthy place to die, as well.”

Shivan looked to his body. Oh. He looked bruised, bloodied. As his magic faded, so did his energy. Just as he planned, of course. “You are not upset?”

“Of course not,” Bolormaa said, looking up to the sky. “I am not ready to burn brightly. But I cannot stop those who are. I will keep you alive, but I will not stop you from dying.”

“Is there a difference?” Alisaie asked, butting in.

Crossing her arms, Bolormaa nodded. “If one is pierced though the chest, there is much you can do to save them. But if they are in their final fight, then it is better to let them bleed out.” It was just how Dotharl were. Shivan nodded gently - before giving Alisaie a frown. This was his choice.

His choice, however, was not simply to die. As he had told Raiden, he had seen himself inside that knight. It would be best if they became one, to make himself stronger. For his daughter. And for Minfilia, who seemed to be close to him as well.

Minfilia had finished talking to the Kobold. And had also called up the Tonberry, to ask them for aid. She looked back to everybody.

“I… I’m ready. Are you?”