Hey everyone!

I'm back with a new chapter. Cue the Victory Fanfare!

Anyways, I would like to let you all know that I've started a new little fanfic project for Final Fantasy XIII. Now, don't worry, it's only going to be six chapters long and I don't plan on neglecting this fic. So, if you guys are curious, please check out Divine Machination! The fic is about my take on each character coming across an Eidolon for the first time and the struggles they endure facing them.

Oh, and special thanks to hypaalicious and TeddyPro!

Without further ado, here's Chapter 19!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Square-Enix does. All original concepts are mine.

As the horde of insects bore down on us, I stood motionless, frozen. A battle this giant and serious definitely wasn't something I had any experience with. I was both horrified and mesmerized by their gargantuan numbers advancing upon us. I watched everyone's mouths move, but their words didn't register. Offhandedly, I saw the party falling into some kind of formation, with Basch at its front and Balthier in the second line.

Vaan shook me. "Lary! Lary, come on!"

I blinked and when I opened my eyes, I felt like I dove into cold water, snapping me awake. My senses were jostled, alarmed. Back was the adrenaline, back was the tunnel vision. And of course, I was back. "Right! S-sorry!"

"Get to your places!" shouted Basch, taking complete command. "Mages to the rear! Sword-arms to the front!"

"Be careful!" Vaan said to me before he ran up beside the former Captain. The knight and the orphan stood feet apart, with Balthier slightly behind them in the middle. Fran glanced my way and said quickly, "Keep to your space! Don't fall into mine!"

"But what am I supposed to do?" I blurted out.

Fran's brow knotted in frustration. "Heal! Heal and I'll cast offensive magicks!" With a fluid motion, she grabbed an arrow, encased it with Blizzard and shot it into the mass of mimics. The arrow seemed to explode on contact when it hit the ground, causing the bugs to get struck by icicle shrapnel. Their front line tumbled over each other, screeching. The mimics that weren't hit threw themselves at Basch and Vaan, who were well prepared to take them on. The two swordsmen slashed, dismembering legs and heads from torsos. Basch especially was mowing through the mimics that attacked him not only because he was more experienced, but because his sword was lighter, as well. He moved the weapon faster, more efficiently. Vaan was still good at holding his own, the creatures falling under his heavy blade. But, the youth would probably get tired out soon.

"Look out!" I shouted as a pair of mimics vaulted through the air, leaping over the natives of Rabanastre, our first line of defense. In an instant, Balthier blasted the bugs, empty shells flying out of his gun. The insects flew backwards in a white explosion, being torn apart by buckshot.

I watched the three men in front of us doing their best to make sure none of the mimics broke into our row. Vaan was grunting every time he lifted the broadsword now. I could faintly hear words tumbling from Basch's mouth, which seemed to be advice for Vaan. Whatever it was, the youth responded well to his words, changing his stance so he could better handle the giant sword. The leading man was concentrating hard, his mouth not moving. Only his fingers did the talking. Each resounding shot of gunfire announced his focused contribution to the party, taking out any ambitious bugs which tried to swarm either the boy or the knight.

Fran was busy casting Blizzard; giant shards of ice crushed into the enemy line, breaking their formation. As the things were far from intelligent, they couldn't consciously organize themselves. Whatever positions they naturally fell into with their large numbers were easily broken, and they were just as easily scattered, which while great on one level, proved dangerous on another.

The Blizzard-struck mimics that remained alive became frenzied by the attack. A group of six had unluckily been displaced closer to us than intended by Fran's magicks. A few were able to break through our first two lines, the men currently far too caught up in defending themselves to keep our row safe as the creatures overwhelmed them.

"Heads up, ladies!" shouted Balthier over his shoulder as he used the butt of his gun to smash a mimic's face when he clicked his gun dry.

I held my spear out in front of me, waiting for a bug to strike. Seeing the angry, disgusting faces and long legs scuttling closer and closer was probably the creepiest thing I had ever seen. Nervously, I glanced sharply towards the Viera's direction. Fran was busy taking care of her own business. She couldn't be much back up right now; I could feel the chill of her constant ice spells hitting her targets, giving me gooseflesh. My head snapped back to the sight right in front of me. I chewed on my lower lip, the bugs crawling closer, their bodies starting to hunch down, getting ready to jump.

Two mimics were ready to eviscerate me and I screamed when one pounced into the air; the other crawled hastily on the ground, its mandibles snapping. My skin crawled at the sight of their vicious advance.

Before I could even put in any conscious thought as to what I was doing, I released a Blizzard spell, watching it hit the leaping mimic, which slammed the creature to the ground and into the one that was still approaching. I took in a heavy breath, thankful that I was starting to get some reflexes in battle. Then I stepped up to the stunned mimics and thrust the spear into both of their heads, cringing when I felt the crunch of the metal piercing their exoskeleton.

"Hey!" Vaan shouted thickly with exertion. "A little help here!"

My attention focused on the youth, watching him drop to one knee, grimacing as he pushed his blade outwards sideways, holding back a mimic from further slicing him. His temple was running with blood, the casual trickle turning into cascading mess. I remembered the Cure spell, extended my arm, and breathed a sigh of relief when the wound stopped gushing as soon as the magick reached him. With a savage grunt, the orphan pushed the insect back and stood with a slash of his sword, splitting the buggy beast messily in half.

To the boy's side, Basch continued, determined. He stepped over the dead bugs, which were piling up substantially, and ploughed forward. The man had switched sword arms, I noticed, awed by his ambidexterity. The knight's chest heaved, lungs labouring to supply his body with great breaths. Perspiration wetted his skin, stinging his eyes. Every aggressive action he made, every mimic that fell under his blade, seemed to unleash more and more fury. I could tell by watching him that each mimic was an outlet for his bottled anger, his regret, his pain. Technique mingled with emotion, making Basch a Hume juggernaut. Hunger, thirst, weariness … they were but words.

"You're breaking formation!" cried out Balthier, throwing his weight into a mimic, making the insect tumble. He went into his shirt, pulling out more shells. I suddenly realized he had a harness strapped to his chest, hiding under his top. His fingers were steady, reloading the weapon with haste.

"The queen!" Basch exclaimed as a pinwheel of ice materialized to his left from Fran's efforts, exploding into a cluster creatures. "We must slay the queen! Their numbers dwindle but she is their leader, their mother! They will fight to protect her!" He ran his sword through a twitching thorax and growled. "With her dead, they will not spawn, they will not hold!"

Balthier fired a round, causing a group of charging mimics to be pushed back a few feet. "Quite a romantic way to put an infestation, if you ask me."

"He's right!" Fran agreed, holding a hand to her head, her eyes half-shut and face screwed in pain. I didn't see her take any hits. Maybe casting so many spells at one time had a price? She was going nonstop, after all. "I can't endure this for much longer!"

Balthier placed his hand in a leather pouch at his side, having the same idea as I did. "Ether!" He tossed her a stout bottle, which she caught, almost doubling over. A revealing look of concern briefly touched the leading man's face.

"It's not that, the Mist –" his partner stalled, her eyes widening. "Watch yourself, Balthier!"

Three maimed bugs used what was left of their energy to rocket into the air, ready to land on the sky pirate who had taken their limbs with his weapon. He spun around too late and the triplets drove him into the ground, oozing their liquids all over him, clicking their mandibles together and trying to tear his skin to ribbons. He cursed his stupidity loudly, which caused Vaan to look over his shoulder.

"Balthier!" The youth shouted, turning his back to the fight in front of him.

And that's when chaos erupted.

A roar from the queen caused the mimics to shriek in reply. An ever-increasing chatter arose from them, the racket almost that of a rattling maraca, a sound which I never thought an insect could produce. I squinted, seeing that their legs were rubbing together, their mandibles, too. In that second, they all sprang up into the air, all what was left of them. Their out-stretched legs cast shadows over all of us, and I wanted to shrink back. But there was nowhere to go.

They need me! I told myself, repeating it in my head over and over, using it as a mantra for me to concentrate when all I wanted to do was run. I scrunched my eyes shut and focused on the Cure spell. Please … give me the strength to heal everyone before we're ripped apart! In my mind's eye I saw everyone on the field, and I felt heat surging through my body. My heart raced, pumping blood so fast that I was getting lightheaded. My breathing was getting shallow and rapid, and that's when something overcame me.

My hair rose one at a time, something almost electric was in the air, but this wasn't residual energy from the conduits. This wasn't anything manmade at all. Whatever this force was, it was entering me, mixing with my blood and the magick I was trying to use. My skin tingled painfully, the sensation smothering out my other senses. Was this what Fran was feeling at this moment? Was this the Mist?

"Now!" I hissed through my teeth, forcing the energy that was building outwards, which instantly relieved that pressure of the mysterious force. A part of me I didn't know existed knew what to do and directed the curative magicks into each party member. In the back of my head I even somehow knew how much I had healed them. Once my magick hit Fran, however, I heard her emit a gasp of surprise.

My eyes popped open.

No way.

The world had changed.

I closed my eyes and opened them again. The mimics were frozen in mid-jump, the queen had stilled. The world looked as it had been dropped into an empty void, full only of black and grey space, mingling with stars. I glanced around, looking to and fro, trying to find anyone in the party.

No one.

Hesitantly, I looked at my hands. I couldn't see my hands, or any part of myself, for that matter. My mouth fell open. At least, I think it did. I shouted out everyone's names. Nothing. Silence devoured all sound here.

What is this? This looks like … I tried to piece together what was happening. A Quickening?

My thoughts were confirmed when Fran's silhouette appeared in the darkness, shining more and more until her physical form materialized. She was glowing, radiating an ethereal light, sending all shades of blue dancing around her feet. The glowing azure hues spiralled from her toes to the crown of her head. Her eyes were sparkling, her beautiful face made more alien in this fantastical moment. Resolve graced her, pushing her shoulders back and stiffening her spine. In one majestic motion, she leapt.

Fran shot into the void, feet above feet, transcending physics in this odd realm of time and space. She whirled, her long legs kicking blasts of energy at all of the bugs. Supernovas of light exploded on contact, giving waves of colours and sound. At last she fell back to her feet, crouching. She raised her lower back, and her legs extended. With a flip, she spun backwards, sending a vertical shockwave of energy towards the queen. The burst of oranges and yellows that thundered throughout the dimension in response made me exhale slowly in awe. It was both glorious and frightening.

With that, I suddenly felt the soles of my boots touch solid ground. Wasn't I already on the ground? I didn't feel like I was floating …

I blinked.

And we were back inside the dungeon, in the exact same positions we were in before we were transported to the void. The mimics, including the massive queen, were gone. Not even their remains were left. The shocked expression on everyone's faces was beyond priceless.

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?" Vaan hollered, breaking the stunned silence. He spun on his heel, his head turning on his neck as he appeared to be looking for traces of the other world.

Balthier sat up, patting his lone sleeve clean of dirt. The bug juice stains, however, were going to be there a while. "The stuff legends are made of. Clearly, Vaan." With a groan he pulled himself to his feet, ignoring the eye roll from the teenager.

"A Quickening." Fran said, astonishment in her voice. "The elders in my village … they spoke of the Mist coming to assist those it had purpose for, extraordinary individuals."

Basch stepped closer, closing the space between us and him. "I have seen this before, in battle." He paused, the recollection making his eyes stare off into a distance no one else could see. "A similar power overtook me and I was able to annihilate many an enemy. I thought the experience a hallucination, a fever-dream from the wounds I had received. But then the - Quickening, did you call it? - happened once more, in front of my men. The last time being the night …" He trailed off. The man didn't need to finish. We knew which night it had to have been.

The Viera stated simply, quietly. "That hasn't happened to me before."

"Well, it's never happened to me!" Vaan blurted out.

The male sky pirate grinned. "That's because you're not extraordinary."

"Hey! I bet that's never happened to you!" Vaan appeared to be mildly miffed by the playful jab.

"It doesn't need to, I'm far extraordinary enough. The Mist recognizes that as such, and respects the fact." Balthier tossed me a cheeky wink, fully knowing that the response was egging Vaan on even more. But it was a good distraction from Basch, so I couldn't exactly feel too bad about it. I smiled as their banter continued, glad something light hearted was diffusing the heavy atmosphere. I watched the other two casually; Basch looked lost in his thoughts and Fran too, appeared to have gone off in a world of her own. I stared at her a little too long; her gaze caught mine.

"The Cure spell." She said, causing the pirate and the boy to hush. "The Mist affected you as well."

"I, uh, yeah." I stammered. I hadn't said anything in a while, and being suddenly put on the spot after bearing witness to a Quickening kind of had me at a loss for words.

"Ah, yes." Balthier raised an eyebrow. "Your magicks have taken a noticeable dip in their potency since losing the nethicite and magicite. That spell was something else."

"Magicite and nethicite!" Exclaimed Basch, incredulous. "However could you get your hands on such things?" The intensity and the subject of his question was enough to make me flush as my brain stalled like a dying engine.

"A friend gave them to me." I stated, at last getting a coherent sentence out of my head. "Where I come from … it's far from here." I ignored my stomach wrenching. "And I can't go home without them."

"Lary," Vaan stepped closer to me. "Where are you from? Really?"

"Does that matter right now?" I rubbed my forehead. "We're all tired, thirty and hungry. Where I come from is the least of anybody's worries. Please, forget about that for the time being at the very least."

Vaan gave a resigned nod, disappointed with my answer. "Yeah, sure. But, you're not off the hook."

I sighed. "I know I'll have a lot of explaining to do … and in time, you know, maybe I won't mind doing it."

Balthier cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "We'll have lots to discuss once we're out of this miserable place, I'm sure. Mist, magickal escapades in other dimensions, and teenage angst. It'll be a smash. Until then, though, may I suggest we get a move on?"

Everyone murmured their agreements, and we carried on, with Fran taking the lead once again. As we exited that circular room, I glanced over my shoulder. Something was supposed to have happened here, something else. I turned around then, facing the vast empty room, cocking my head. It was on the tip of my tongue …

The room was supposed to collapse! The queen was supporting the walls and ceiling while she was still alive, wasn't she? I thought, puzzled. Why would that have changed?

Just as the thought came to me, an eerie feeling of eyes on my back sent a shiver down my spine. The faint presence of something otherworldly was still lingering, however this was giving me bad vibes, unnerving me to the core.

"Lary, let's go!" Vaan suddenly yanked on my arm, pulling me out of my paranoia and into reality. "We're almost out."

"You're right. Let's leave." I smiled at him, weakly. "I can't wait to get out of here!" For more than one reason, I thought, trying my best to ignore the heebie-jeebies.

"Oh yeah?" his face split into a devilish grin. "Just means more running through the desert."

I rolled my eyes and said flatly: "Oh joy. Freedom never tasted so sweet."

We both laughed.

"Come on." He tilted his head towards the other members of our party, over fifty feet away from us, walking towards the warm sandy-golden glow at the end of the hallway. We were so close.

As we were taking a few steps in the right direction, the ground trembled. I stiffened.

"Huh?" Vaan spun around, eyes widening.

And then the tremble turned into a quake.

The blond started in alarm, pulling on my arm. "It's caving in!" He broke into a run, dragging me with him the whole time. I kept my feet moving clumsily with him, a swell of dread building within me. The timing of the collapse seemed deliberate. As soon I questioned myself why it wasn't happening, it happened. The walls coming down had to be more than just coincidence.

Pebbles and dust blew past us as we ran, approaching the puzzled team members ahead of us. When we stopped at last, my legs felt wobbly like jello. We both panted hard, coughing away the dirt and whatever else was in the settling air. I peered behind us, squinting through the particles. The room had indeed caved in, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was laughing at me, knowing I was confused and scared.

"For Faram's sake!" Balthier waved a hand in front of his face to fan the filthy air from him. "Vaan, what did you do?"

The corners of my mouth upturned and, despite my fear, I burst out laughing. To my surprise, even Vaan joined in. We both laughed until our eyes watered and we had to cough some more, and Balthier stood before us with a lopsided grin, shaking his head while muttering, "Kids." I caught Fran wearing a smile before she put a hand to her mouth, and stepped past the knight, who surveyed us warmly. He probably hadn't seen happiness for such a long time. With a short nod to himself, Basch followed Fran out into the desert.

"Time to get going!" Balthier stepped behind us and shoved us along until we straightened up. "I don't know about you two, but I'm fairly excited to have added jail breaks into my repertoire."

In a matter of moments we bolted out into the desert, the bright sun beating down hot rays on my clammy skin. I opened my arms up to the sun and closed my eyes, letting the sunshine wash over me. This was the farthest thing from that terrible, woeful dungeon, full of misery and darkness. I wanted to bask in the sun, to warm myself up from that supernatural chill. Though, I had a suspicion, that wouldn't be the last time I'd be feeling it.