"[color=coral]Ah--![/color]" Nadeline gasped as her attacks came to a halt. Before she could understand what happened, she was pulled towards Zodiark. She raised her arms over herself, half expecting to get stabbed, but that attack never came. Instead, she was nearly blinded by a million colors surrounding her, and it only took a few seconds to realize what had happened. She attacked the light only to find her rapier practically bounce off of it, as if she had attacked a stone wall. He would tell her that he decided to end the fight, and the next thing she knew, her surroundings were closing in on her. She continued to attack the walls around her in an attempt to escape, her attacks become more frantic.

She was clearly panicking at this point.

Shion narrowed her eyes at Nadeline's prison. Shinto had a point, and unfortunately, losing Nadeline would put quite a hamper on things. [i][color=deepskyblue]I suppose at this point I should step in,[/color][/i] She thought grimly, contemplating her next course of action. She looked over at the rightfully horrified Lorenzo, then at Grant, who was staring right at the ground. She looked at Shinto as she would stand, her own chains dissolving as she would shrug. As she concentrated on her weapon, she would slash the air in front of her before stabbing the ground, effectively wiping out the chains from the group. The hand pulsed in return, though she would pay no mind to it, instead holding out her arm as Lorenzo made an attempt to run forward.

"[color=deepskyblue]He wouldn't so much as bat an eye at disposing you,[/color]" She said to him, instead looking at Aloa and Vlyn.

"[color=thistle]You want us to go, don't you?[/color]" Vlyn asked, clearly exasperated. Aloa nodded at Shion, the pair having a mutual understanding at the next move to take. "[color=thistle]Mind filling me in? No? We're winging it? Ah, I will just follow you, then, I suppose...[/color]" He muttered, following Aloa away from the area.

Shion let out a sigh, walking over to Grant, who still sat on the floor. She knelt down so she could look at him eye-to-eye. "[color=deepskyblue]Will you stay? Nadeline's life hangs in the balance. She showed no hesitation on saving your life--will you return the favor?[/color]" She asked him quietly. 

Grant knew she was right. He could hear Nadeline's constant attacks against her prison, her desperate struggle to get out. She probably felt like she had let everyone down again. Didn't she realize how proud of her he was? How proud Lorenzo was? And here he was, still feeling sorry for himself. But he felt so defeated, so broken. He felt like he couldn't even stand. He closed his eyes, knowing deep in his heart that Shion had every point. But...

"[color=darkorange]Nadeline![/color]" Lorenzo shouted, clearly alarmed.

Both Shion and Grant would realize that it got quiet. Nadeline was no longer attacking her prison. Shion stood up, stance at the ready. "[color=deepskyblue]Make your decision with haste. Or don't,[/color]" She said, charging forward.

Aloa followed Shion's movements, and she and Vlyn would split up. Aloa, Vlyn, and Shion all approached Zodiark at their own paces. As she approached him, Shion noticed Nadeline on her knees, using her rapier to hold herself steady. She hadn't succumbed yet, but as always, time was of the essence. Coming to a halt as her blade would glow, she made a single vertical strike, a seemingly harmless thing, though as it traveled it seemed to pick up power, not relying on any element as her rose petals would scatter around her. Vlyn charged up his own magicks as Aloa would go in on the offensive.

[hr]

"[color=palevioletred]Do I look like an idiot to you?[/color]"

Grabbing his hand, it was Emiri's turn to slam him into the ground. Her grip was abnormally strong, a tranquil fury around her. She made sure to pin him to the ground, not even bothering with her powers. She seemed angry, eyebrows knit together as she glared at him. Keiran couldn't help but smile--Jaakuna's gentleness had actually gotten him worried for a moment. But alas, it seemed to have gone in the complete opposite direction. Still, she didn't seem like she was attacking, though her entire weight was on him, making sure he wouldn't get out from underneath her.

"[color=palevioletred]The future we talked about...the future 'we' wanted? The future [i]you[/i] wanted![/color]" Her voice somehow remained calm as she spoke, her hands gripping his shoulders as she would bring him up then slam him back down. "[color=palevioletred]How am I supposed to believe you about anything?! How can you tell me one thing and then completely turn around and do something completely different?! You don't know what you're talking about...how can you lie to my face like this! You said we were free, and then agree to get married on your grandfather's request! You said you denied your country, and then suddenly you're going to take back the throne! You said you'd never leave...you promised...and then you left when I needed you![/color]" 

[hr]

[i]"[color=pink]Do you truly hate yourself so much you would go through such pain?[/color]" She asked him, a realization dawning upon her. "[color=pink]You said Zodiark's will was your own--is this what you wanted? Is death the only true release you seek?[/color]"

Keiran's eyes widened, though he would seem to disagree. "[color=gray]Don't go speaking of things you know nothing about![/color]"

"[color=pink]I'm right, aren't I?![/color]" She argued. "[color=pink]You don't care about Zodiark or me or anything! You just want an escape! You want meaning to your life![/color]"

Unfortunately for her, that seemed to anger him, and he rushed forward. She grabbed one of her swords, managing to lock blades as he attempted to attack her. "[color=gray]Why?! Why won't you yield?![/color]" He shouted, pushing back. "[color=gray]You know nothing! You understand nothing![/color]"

"[color=pink]You're wrong! I do understand! I know what it feels like to be trapped, to have nowhere to go, no one to turn to![/color]" She said. "[color=pink]The whole world pushes at you, those with more power constantly controlling you--we're the same, whether you want to admit it or not! But dying isn't a solution! It's running away![/color]"

Keiran managed to push back harder, though Emiri's arms gave way as he struck her. He would then slam her against the wall, ignoring his burning arms as he would tighten his grip on her. "[color=gray]Says the Queen of runaways! Who are you to judge me?![/color]"[/i]

[hr]

Keiran grimaced, a hand to his head. No, he was still in control. He still had her. No, no, she was struggling back, but why?! He watched Jaakuna, whose flames had all but gone. How? How was he doing this? Emiri held him steady, though her hands were now around Jaakuna's neck. "[color=palevioletred]Why did you have to show up now? I was satisfied with dying...I was alright with bringing this damned world to an end! This world that insisted on tormenting me, constantly robbing me of whatever happiness I managed to cling to![/color]"