Something in the air had changed. What could possibly be happening right now? It was as if the world itself was trembling, crying out in pain. Karolina was never one to think of such things, but at the moment, all she could think about was her daughter and husband. If only she were stronger, she could help them somehow. She was ordered bedrest shortly after the trio had departed, but she stood against the balcony, watching the people below her. There was so much fighting, so much violence. The people were scared, and no one knew why. Reia was up to her neck in complaints, though last Karolina heard, the Empress was in a meeting with the Council.

She could not stand around no longer, and decided to go to visit Justine. The few servants that wandered around were busy helping the doctors and patients that littered the occupied rooms. As she entered, she slowly walked over to her sister's coffin. She looked almost peaceful somehow, and for just a moment, her grief almost took a hold of her once more. When the door would open behind her, she would see Vlyn stumble in, holding his head. She let out a gasp as he would drop to his knees, immediately rushing to his side.

"[b][color=a187be]Ah, Lady Karolina, so you're here?[/color][/b]" He asked rather nonchalantly.

"[b][color=f7941d]Are you alright?[/color][/b]" She asked him as she helped him to his feet.

"[b][color=a187be]We Viera are quite sensitive things. Funny, I figured since my ears were dulled, I wouldn't be as affected, but even my ears can hear the Wood scream out in pain.[/color][/b]" He replied, giving her a wink. "[b]No need to fret. I'm no Aloa, but I'll be alright, though...[/b]" He inspected her carefully. "[b][color=a187be]You can feel it, too, can't you?[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=f7941d]Something I share in common with my niece.[/color][/b]" She sighed, recalling Emiri. "[b][color=f7941d]Though I am no where near as Mist sensitive as she is. I feel as if this...this madness has gripped us all, though I know not what caused it.[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=a187be]That would be Zodiark.[/color][/b]" He explained as they would once more stand before the coffin. "[b][color=a187be]Looks like Ultima has been claimed. The Dark Esper now lashes out, and in turn Ivalice and her people suffer for it.[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=f7941d]What will happen now?[/color][/b]" Karolina asked, worried.

"[b][color=a187be]Either the end of Ivalice...or her salvation.[/color][/b]" Vlyn sighed, though the pair would look to the doors as they would open once more. Aloa herself had slipped in with a single white rose, though she seemed surprised to see the pair. "[b][color=a187be]You're here? What about Eruyt?[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=bc8dbf]The village sleeps in peace, the Wood deemed it necessary.[/color][/b]" She sighed as she would join them. "[b][color=bc8dbf]I thought I would offer my services here, as I can do no more for my people. And yet, something had disturbed me for some time, something that, if only I were wiser, I could have forseen...Zodiark and his presence has tampered with even my senses, it would seem.[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=a187be]What do you speak of?[/color][/b]"

Aloa would place the rose among the many surrounding the coffin. "[b][color=bc8dbf]Of Emiri. Both she and Jaakuna had come to see me, claiming that the Leviathan had helped her with her recovery. 'Twas true, this much I knew, however...something else was there, something even I knew not of. Perhaps I had hoped it would have been the work of her own Esper, but no...denial, could it have been? I know not, the screams of my people had clouded my ears, I was more desperate to help them than to focus on the outsiders.[/color][/b]"

Vlyn couldn't help but smirk. "[b][color=a187be]That's a Viera thought if I had ever seen one.[/color][/b]"

Karolina bit her lip nervously. "[b][color=f7941d]They were here, I thought Emelia was acting strange, but with what happened to Justine and Andre...I made the assumption it was sorrow. I...Forgive me, I should have--[/color][/b]" The blonde shook her head. "[b][color=f7941d]They have gone to the mines, where the explosion happened, with Lorenzo. I'm sure they will come back soon.[/color][/b]"

Aloa fell silent. Vlyn looked at her curiously. "[b][color=a187be]There's something else, isn't there?[/color][/b]" He asked.

"[b][color=bc8dbf]I am not completely sure, but...[/color][/b]" Aloa said slowly, her eyes briefly flickering to Karolina. "[b][color=bc8dbf]...I dreamt of the princess. Not a common occurrence, this much I can tell you, however...I fear. I wonder how she is doing.[/color][/b]"

If Karolina could get any paler, she probably would have. She inhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. She would send a silent prayer to the gods as she looked down at her sister. Her most precious child, her only ray of light, it seemed a mother's intuition was the best thing she had. She would shake her head, looking back at Aloa. "[b][color=f7941d]Nadeline is strong. She will come back to us, I can guarantee this much.[/color][/b]" She spoke, though as she did she felt like she was reassuring herself.

"[b][color=a187be]Of course, my lady. There was never any doubt.[/color][/b]" Vlyn reiterated. "[b][color=a187be]But tell me, Aloa, has Ultima been captured?[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=bc8dbf]I'm impressed, Vlyn.[/color][/b]" Aloa admitted, raising her eyebrows. "[b][color=bc8dbf]You finally sound of your heritage.[/color][/b]"

Vlyn scowled at her as Karolina would speak. "[b][color=f7941d]What does it all mean?[/color][/b]"

Aloa closed her eyes. "[b][color=bc8dbf]The end is approaching.[/color][/b]"

[hr]

Lola had always known Emiri was skilled, hell, their previous battle in Archades showed exactly what the girl was capable of even without her powers. But now, Lola was on her toes constantly as Emiri would come at her with every tool in her arsenal, so to speak. She should have been worried, but at the moment, she was enjoying it. That wild, untamed look she had, the sharpness of those violet eyes, the anger practically pouring out of her body--she had half a mind to pin her down and take her right then and there. Still, she had come to accomplish something, and she wasn't about to fail just because the little brunette was throwing what was equivalent to a temper tantrum. As she could spot her clone disintegrated by the flames of Belias, she knew her time was up. It was now or never.

Lorenzo didn't know exactly what Jaakuna was talking about, but even he wasn't stupid enough to ignore it. The bottom line was that it was bad news, period. Emiri was going berserk at Lola, leaving her attacks stronger yet quite sloppy and uncoordinated. Lorenzo cursed out loud, though he would signal for Jaakuna to stay back. "[b][color=f26522]If you go in with your big guy, you could fry them both.[/color][/b]" He might have been stating the obvious, but he knew that Jaakuna's first instinct would be to protect Emiri, and he was counting on it for his next move. He would touch both hands to the ground, looking like he was going to start running, but he eyed the two women very carefully, waiting for his chance. "[b][color=f26522]Emiri's going to get tossed your way. I'm going to need you to restrain her the best you can--no doubt the first thing she's going to do is try to jump back to the fray.[/color][/b]" He told Jaakuna, his tone unnaturally calm all things considered.

Lola had made her decision and was only waiting for an opening. As Emiri would disappear, she anticipated her next attack. At that moment, Lorenzo would charge forward as Emiri would reappear behind Lola. He would run forward with an inhuman speed, to the point Lola hadn't even seen him. He would intercept Emiri's attack, grabbing her wrist firmly as he would direct her attack away from him, though she managed to barely scratch his cheek. Lola would seize her chance, but Lorenzo had already anticipated her move as well.  Still holding Emiri's wrist, he jumped upwards as Lola would slash vertically, twisting his body and Emiri around and putting the brunette between the two. He yanked Emiri to him and managed to grab her by the back of her neck, effectively switching places with her and grabbing Lola with his free hand. Lola swung at him, though at such a range it went nowhere, and Lorenzo would throw Emiri at Jaakuna.

"[b][color=ed145b]You're a lot faster than I thought.[/color][/b]" Lola admitted, though she would grab at Lorenzo's pocket, her fingertips managing to brush his pocket. However, Lorenzo would release her, a glowing red magick surrounding his foot as he would kick her, sending her flying. Lola rolled backwards, managing to hop up to her feet as she skidded to a halt. "[b][color=ed145b]But not fast enough.[/color][/b]" She smiled as she would reveal the Midlight Shard in her hand.

Lorenzo's hand immediately went to his pocket, and he would pull out Emiri's hair-tie in its place. How was she able to do it without him noticing when he had her in control all this time? She didn't even go in his pocket, just touched the outside of it. "[b][color=f26522]You're more like a pickpocket than an assassin.[/color][/b]" Lorenzo replied, pocketing the hair-tie as he raised his fists in preparation for a fight.

"[b][color=ed145b]You have yours. I have mine. I don't think there's a reason to be fighting now, is there?[/color][/b]" Lola asked, smirking.

"[b][color=f26522]Just tell me one thing.[/color][/b]" Lorenzo said, putting his arms down. "[b][color=f26522]Why did you have to blow up the mines?[/color][/b]"

"[b][color=ed145b]Because I wanted to.[/color][/b]" Lola replied, placing one hand on her hip. "[b][color=ed145b]Boss wasn't too happy when she found out, she had wanted to put the Shard to better use. But I thought, 'why not cripple a country' and thought that was better.[[/color]/b]" Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. "[b][color=ed145b]Zodiark's coming...and he's going to destroy us all![/color][/b]" She stated, letting out a rather unnerving laugh.

"[b][color=f26522]She's completely lost it...[/color][/b]" Lorenzo muttered, shaking his head.

Emiri let out a small groan, rubbing her wrist. Why the hell would Lorenzo do that? Still, as she would see Lola, she could feel her previous rage start to resurface. Gripping her dagger, she made to move, determined to strike Lola down.

[hr]

Grant's eyes widened as Wesley challenged Shion. Was he insane!? Didn't he recall their last encounter with the woman? Jaakuna had barely managed to hold his own, and that was with the help of the Dark Esper. What was worse was that he knew Shion wouldn't hesitate to strike Wesley down, consequences be damned. He let out a curse as Shion would anticipate his attack, and broke into a run. If he could make it in time, he needed to stop the prince from what was essentially a suicide attack.

Nadeline's eyes widened considerably. What had happened to him? Wesley was never this brash, but it seemed the mentioning of the Midlight Shard had awakened something deep within him. She knew why, she knew what that place had meant to him. As she would try to move forward, her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. Despite Shion doing no harm to her, the action of mimicking her magicks had left her drained. No, she couldn't possibly be helpless, not now of all times! But as things looked bad, they were about to get much, much worse. The blue haired woman would only eye Wesley warily as he would attack. She would bring her arm up once again, a Protect springing up to life and blocking Wesley's attack. It was as if his attack was little more than a physical swing, though it seemed Shion wasn't done. 

"[b][color=00aeef]It was not I who ventured into the ruins of Nabudis.[/color][/b]" Her tone was darker, as were her eyes. "[b][color=00aeef]You would think me foolish enough to desecrate my own land, a place I once called home? Do I seem the type to spend needless destruction? While I will take blame for coming into posession of the shard, I would never attack Rozarria. What would I have to gain when my goal is to eradicate Zodiark from Ivalice?[/color][/b]"

Grant came to a halt, something clicking in his mind. That was right, Shion wanted to get rid of Zodiark. It was the only reason she had attacked Jaakuna. "[b][color=92278f]Then who gave you the Midlight Shard?[/color][/b]" He asked. "[b][color=92278f]You haven't answered my previous questions, either![/color][/b]"

Shion looked towards him, if only for a moment, but she would raise her sword at Wesley. "[b][color=00aeef]I will go to Zodiark and conquer him. The High Seraph is no match for his darkness, but it will give my own attacks an advantage.[/color][/b]" She stated, eyes narrowing. Nadeline realized what she was going to do, and she ran forward. "[b][color=00aeef]For Nabudis, for my fallen brethren, I will cleanse this world of the darkness once and for all! If you would stand in my way, I will cut you down as well![/color][/b]"

The ground underneath her would splinter as she charged forward, sword aloft. No, no, how did things turn out so badly?! The thought itself threatened to crush Nadeline's spirit, but the only thing she could think of was protecting Wesley. She couldn't let any harm come to him, she couldn't let Shion hurt him! And yet her body rebelled against her mind, too weak, and she would fall to her knees, her hand outstretched to her lover. "[b][color=fdc68a]Wesley--NO![/color][/b]" Nadeline screamed as Shion swung.

In that moment, it almost looked like time itself had slowed down. Shion's amber eyes were concentrated, ever focused on Wesley, though for a split second they would widen slightly in surprise. Between herself and the prince had Grant thrown himself, and he had used his weapon to deflect Shion's attack. It was not without a price, however, as Shion's attack was much too strong, and her sword would slice through his shoulder, taking the brunt of the attack. "[b][color=fdc68a]Grant! GRANT![/color][/b]" Nadeline cried out, pushing herself to run over to him.