#raihogg

(Used some in game cutscene text for this one just cause it writes the scene so well and sets up my idea so perectly)

Silence swallowed the room with the weight of Emperor Varis’s words. The Garlean Empire was created from the beginning by Ascians, and in truth, Katsum could not say she was surprised with the chaos the Garleans had always created, the pain and suffering they had caused based on her childhood memories alone. She felt the hand holding hers under the table tighten slightly as Aymeric felt her body tense through her fingers. Hien had been gracious enough to let her dear husband sit beside her, and she was glad that he had for there were a few times that Varis had targeted Aymeric’s and Ishgard’s sorrows specifically and it had only been his quick catch of her hand that kept the seeker from launching herself over the table. She took a long breath and squeezed his hand gently in response.

“Your ‘prize’ is a lie. It would be foolish to even wonder if you would have the upper hand in such an agreement. We would all die before peace is even a thought.” She answered, a bit to her tone as she scowled at him. Again she felt Aymeric’s fingers squeeze her a bit, and she felt his heartbeat quicken with worry.

The Emperor stood then, and spoke with a strange kind of fervor, “I come not to conquer but to liberate—to free man from the prison of divergence. Imagine a world united, and one perfect race beneath a single standard! We would be masters of our own fate! We would be far too strong for the servants of Darkness and Light to dare trifle with!” He held out his hands and grinned smugly, insanely, “I bid you join me! Not as a subject of Garlemald, but of a new nation! And together we shall win true freedom for ourselves and generations yet unborn!”

Silence returned for a moment, just for a moment, and then Lyse jumped to her feet, slamming her hands down on the table, “You want to trigger another half-dozen calamities!? You can’t be serious!”

“Have you forgotten how many died!?” Raubahn hissed, “There will be no one left!”

As he and Nanamo stood to their feet, so did Merlwyb, “Did you truly imagine we would aid you in your bloodletting?”

“It is unthinkable!” Katsum wasn’t sure she’d ever heard Kan-E-Senna raise her voice, but as she stood next to the other leader that had been there that day at Carteneau, it only made sense why. Alisaie looked to Lord Hien and Aymeric, and she and Hien stood to their feet. Katsum stayed seated as Aymeric let go of her hand to stand too, watching her out of the corner of his eye as she stayed still and stared angrily at Varis.

“And what of the other worlds? The ones we “rejoin”?” Alisaie finally broke her silence to shout, “Every calamity means you obliterate a star and every soul that dwells upon it!”

Varis frowned and grimaced in annoyance, “We are all but tiny specks in an indifferent universe. We cannot hope to oppose them until we have been made whole once more.”

“Odd, the same could be said about the many small countries and cities you forced under your rule in your…‘liberation’,” Katsum said softly, a clear edge to her voice.

He did not answer her.

Instead, Nanamo spoke then instead to fill the silence, “Are these truly the words of Garlemald’s ruler?” She did not give him the time to answer as she narrowed her gaze and continued, “The flaws which you so abhor are what make us who we are. Every nation─even yours, Emperor Varis─is made whole through the combination of these imperfections, the strengths of one compensating for the weaknesses of another. While it is true that man succumbs all too often to anger and avarice, he may yet overcome his baser instincts through the forming of bonds with others, fostering community and cooperation. That the protector of an empire should not only reject these fundamental truths but seek to change them at so dear a cost to life is indefensible,” She leaned forward and very nearly whispered, “Such a man is not fit to govern.”

The power in such words could shut out even Katsum herself she believed, and so Varis of course had naught to say to retort. He drew back to stand straight as a deep frown crossed his face, his eyes narrowed with the slightest hint of Katsum thought might be defeat. Then his gaze met her, “And you, Warrior of Light? Would you refuse me as well?”

Katsum was quiet, looking down to the table and closing her eyes as everyone else’s attention turned to her. Long had she carried this secret, keeping it safe from the knowledge of their enemy, but now, after these many long years, she was ready to bear her fangs.

“Tell me, Lord Varis, do you remember an island kingdom that your armies laid siege to some years ago? It was a small island that floated on the stormy seas of Sirensong, just to the east of Ul’dah’s shores. Do you know it?”

He tsked, “I remember some report of it, of mass destruction and nothing to gain from it. A waste of resources.”

Katsum’s fingers tightened into a fist, “A waste of resources…” She hissed this under her breath where only she and Aymeric heard before she continued, “Really? I thought you knew all of our histories and the flaws we sew into our nations.”

He growled, “Get to your point, girl.”

Katsum moved to slowly stand to her feet, feeling the eyes of the others as she stood tall and narrowed her sapphire gaze threateningly, “You call me ‘Warrior of Light’, ‘Defender of Eorzea’, ‘Liberator of Doma and Ala Mhigo’, and ‘Knightess of Ishgard’. All of these titles and more I now carry, but there is another title I have borne for far longer than any other. Do you know what it is?”

It seemed it took him a moment before his eyes widened, “You can’t be…”

“I am the Queen of Draic.”

Suddenly, the Draic necklace around her neck began glowing brightly, the eye of Raihogg burning into the red jewel. To the amazement of all, a deep rumble echoed behind her as she felt the dragon summoning his form, his wings spread out in his ghostly shade behind the other alliance members and hovered his head over Katsum’s like a shield, his glowing blue and golden eyes burning into Varis. The red dragon hissed lowly, making the emperor take a step back and his guards take a single step forward, but neither Katsum nor her dragon made a move to attack. The miqo’te stood tall as the confidence she had never known flowed into her veins. Still, she reached out her hand to the Elezen man beside her, wrapping her shaking fingers in his as he took her hand to ground herself and to keep her from going too far. He gently squeezed her fingers and it gave her the assurance that she needed.

“That ‘momentary’ island was my home and its people, my family. You reduced it to rubble for nothing and killed my people without remorse. Even now, you have no thought of sympathy,” She spat these words before she retracted and spoke sickeningly sweet, “Yet that is the past, right? A chapter for the history books, written and forgotten. Yet now you ask me as us to join this cause of yours, this movement of death and chaos and insanity. The same cause you forced upon my people,” Katsum’s eyes darkened angrily then, slightly baring her feline fangs as she hissed with her Dravanian companion, “If you truly believed we would join you in such madness, then you are far more a fool than you are a TYRANT!!”

Katsum’s consciousness faded in and out against the white, burning noise of the light that clouded her vision. It was a pain unlike anything she had ever felt before, like the very roots of her soul were being drawn apart forcefully, her body fighting to hold on and very quickly losing the battle. She breathed heavily like her body was weighed down by a large rock on her back, her arms and legs shaking like leaves. The Miqo’te could barely hear what was going on around her, could only just make out the unconscious body of the Exarch - of G’raha Tia - and Emet-Selch pacing lazily towards her with a smug look of pity on his face. She could hear him speak, yet she could barely make out what was said. Only bits and pieces were clear, yet one statement rang clear when he said it.

“What a disappointment you turned out to be.”

Katsum bared her teeth, her fingers tightening into fists. She tried to move, to stand, to fight, yet her body was wracked with pain, and instead, she coughed violently, a splatter of white hitting the ground beneath her. Her mind reeled, trying to think, to find a way out and a way to remain as she was even as her body continued to crumble. Deep within, she felt a war raging and in her mind, she suddenly heard the roar of her Dravanian companion. For a moment, the severity of the pain waned, and she then knew that Raihogg had found the source and was doing what he could to stop its influence.

‘Set us free, Katsum! I must fight it outside of your soul or it shall surely tear us apart!’ Raihogg’s voice echoed in her mind and she clenched her eyes shut, taking deep breaths to try and gain a stable heartbeat.

She felt the shadow of the Ascian fall on her as he knelt in front of her, “Hm,” She could hear him ponder audibly, “You still retain your form and your senses...yet you have all but become a sin eater.”

Katsum hissed as she forced the words out, opening her eyes to glare at him as the Draic necklace around her neck began to glow with the eye of Raihogg, “Not...yet!!” With every ounce of her strength, she had left she cried out, “Raihogg! With me!!!”

The familiar pull on her aether was a comfort as Raihogg’s form materialized, flying out of the necklace with a bright and blinding creature in his jaws. Katsum yelled out in pain as the light beast was torn from her body, yet it still remained connected to her being as Raihogg did, both still a part of her soul. They crashed into the tiled flooring, Raihogg throwing the writhing creature to the ground as he struggled to remain standing. The Scions and the Ascian were astounded by the great red dragon that now stood between Katsum and the creature of light, yet Raihogg’s eyes were focused on the shimmering creature, shaking himself to stand tall again and hiss with fury at his enemy. The beast of light moved unnaturally as it got to its feet, its wings stretching out and folding back as it turned its empty black eyes back at Raihogg and Katsum. Its scales were jagged and uneven, its talons longer than they should have been, and its twisted maw snarling as it too shrieked; a twisted and vile form of a dragon made sin eater.

Katsum gasped for breath as she looked up at the two dragons, her eyes meeting the terrible eater’s eyes as it hissed and moved to charge at her, yet Raihogg was quicker. He stepped between them again and crouched low before lunging at the sin eater’s throat, his jaws snapping closed just behind the beast's skull. The sin-eater howled, the talons on its front feet slicing at Raihogg’s neck, clawing at the soft skin. Yet he moved through the pain and flew up into the air to pull the eater backward over itself, slamming it into the ground with his weight and his own talons. Its assault faltered and Raihogg released his grip on its neck to rear back with his wings unfolded and took a breath of flame. As if it had been waiting for this, the dragon sin eater’s claws lashed out at Raihogg’s soft underbelly, causing both he and Katsum too to cry out in pain. His fiery breath failed him and his strength waned just enough for the beast to push back against him and knock him off balance, sending him crashing to the ground again as the sin eater pulled itself free again, its eyes falling on Katsum again.

“So this is your beast then? The one I heard so much about from Lahabrea,” Katsum glanced around to see the Exarch’s body gone and Emet-Selch floating far above them, looking down at her with an annoyed glare, “It still won't be enough. You do know that, don’t you? You can’t stop the inevitable.”

“You...you don’t...get to say...what my outcome shall be..” Katsum growled shakingly, “Just...watch us...and we’ll show you...how we’ll...survive this!!”

He frowned and shrugged with a sigh, “You’ll never get it, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Yet if you wish to turn into that creature before you in dignity, away from the eyes of the world, you may come and find me in the Tempest.” He looked down at the sin eater dragon as it stalked slowly towards Katsum, its jaws open wide and its wings unfolded, “Well if you survive this that is.”

Then, in a plume of shadow, he vanished. Katsum gasped for breath as she met the creature's eyes again, its shimmering mass towering over her now.

“KATSUM!!”

As it reared back its head, a sparking red blur shot into its side, rolling it off of its feet as Raihogg pushed it back down beneath him with his talons, staying aloft so as to not fall himself. As the sin eater turned his neck to sink its fangs into the flesh of his neck, the red dragon’s spark teeth sank into the shoulder of the beast, bright red electricity covering the two of them. The beast screamed in pain, writhing around to try and get free as Raihogg called out, “Save her! Stop the light!”

Katsum felt a hand on her shoulder suddenly, and she looked up to see Ryne staring at her in fear as she held out her hands and whispered, “Oracle, help me…!”

She felt the light’s pull suddenly slow, the torrent of the storm slowly calming, and the ripping of the tethers that held her soul together froze. Katsum gasped, her entire body violently shaking as she fell to the ground on her side. As her vision again faded in and out, she saw Raihogg drop the limp body of the sin eater and stagger over to her until he too fell before her with his nose touching her hand. His body was littered with gashes and wounds, yet his eyes only stared into hers as he wheezed, “I am...sorry I could not do more, Katsum...Yet I shall not stop fighting it...until its gone. I promise...”

She hadn’t the strength to answer, yet she knew he could hear her thoughts as a tear ran down her cheek. Her vision faded in and out again as the faces of the twins appeared beside the dragon, Alisaie patting the great dragon’s nose as he began to fade back into the necklace while Alphinaud sadly looked down at Katsum, “We’ve got you, Kat...We’ll keep you safe. Trust us.”

“How wonderful it feels to fly through the clear skies,” Raihogg mused as he stilled his wings so that they glided over the mountains, “No more of the corruption of the First’s aether weighing upon us.”

Katsum leaned back down to take hold of his scales again and hold fast as he flew, nodding, “Yes, it is good to be back...”

Raihogg chuckled in his dravanian way, “You are anxious to see him again, yes?”

Her fingers tightened as her sapphire gaze turned to the fortress looming in the distance, “Oh yes, most anxious indeed.”

“Ha ha ha...I do understand that feeling very well. ‘Twill be good to see Vidolfnir again as well.”

“I promise we shall make a stop to Anyx Trine so you may do just that.”

Raihogg turned his head to smile at her, “Thank you, my friend.”

Katsum smiled and nodded.

Raihogg beat his wings purposely as he hissed, “Let us make sure all of Ishgard knows its Queen of Dragons has returned!” With a great breath, Raihogg reared back his head and roared, his voice echoing through the mountains and across the highlands, ringing out of all of Ishgard. Katsum laughed with him as they dove down towards the city, the buildings slowly coming into view as they descended. The Miqo’te scanned the roads and walkways around Foundation, seeing the knights and some of the people of the Brume running up to the edges to wave up at her as she waved back. Yet she was looking to see the blue of that beautiful robe, the gold of the embellishments and armor, and the raven color of his hair. When she did not see him there, she urged Raihogg to fly higher to the edge of the Last Vigil by House Fortemps. It was there that she found him, standing up at the circular platform there with his right hand, Lucia, behind him and the inhabitants of House Fortemps as well.

“Aymeric!” Katsum cried as Raihogg floated down, fluttering his wings to slowly land in front of them all. Katsum did not wait to launch herself from his back, leaping from the red dragon’s back into Aymeric’s arms, throwing her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his neck.

“Oh, Katsum!” He said, holding her tightly in his arms so that he did not drop her, “How I missed you!”

“I missed you too. It’s been so long...”

“Yes, it feels far too long. Yet you are home now, and safe,” She pulled back to look into his eyes, wiping a tear that had trickled down her cheek as he cupped her face, “And that is all that matters to me. Welcome home, my heart.”

She giggled and leaned in to kiss him, tightening her arms around his neck as he held her close. They kissed for a long while, pulling back to smile at each other before remembering that they were not alone. Katsum blushed lightly as she looked at them all sheepishly while Aymeric set her back on her feet, clearing his throat shyly as she smiled at Lucia and the members of the Fortemp family, “It is good to see you all again.”

“Indeed!” Lord Edmont chuckled, “It is good to see you home, Katsum.”

Artoirel nodded in agreement with Emmanellain, though the youngest brother grinned and added, “Oh, it is quite clear she is very happy to be home herself, though it may not be to see us.”

They all chuckled and Katsum’s blush darkened, “I do beg your pardon. I got a little carried away.”

Lucia chuckled, “Welcome home, my Lady.”

Katsum smiled, “Thank you.”

“I am sure you will be wanting some rest,” Edmont added, “I will be sure to let Mistress Tataru know should she send any messages.”

“Thank you, though I have already let her know that I will be taking some time away for a bit,” She turned and looked up at Aymeric, taking his hand and intertwining her fingers with his, “And I had hoped you would come with me.”

Aymeric blinked, a bright smile spreading across his face, “Well, of course! I would be more than happy to...but…-”

“There is no reason to hesitate, my lord,” They turned to see Lucia smiling, “Katsum has already asked for my help in keeping Ishgard aloft while she steals you away for a while. Go. You both deserve some much-needed rest together.”

Aymeric was at a loss for words, “I...thank you, Lucia.”

She nodded and he looked down at his wife again as she held his hand with both of hers, folding her ears back as her tail swiped around her and she looked up at him with pleading eyes, “So…? Will you come with me? For a little adventure?”

Aymeric smiled warmly, kneeling before her to take her hands and kiss her knuckles on both, lingering over the wedding ring on her left finger, “Fury help anyone who dares to try and stop me.”

Katsum laughed and leaped into his arms again before pulling him to his feet and towards Raihogg. The red dragon leaned down and moved his wing to let her climb up onto his back. She turned and held out her hand to Aymeric and he took it as she pulled him up to ride behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she patted Raihogg. The dragon stood tall again and turned, unfolding his wings and preparing for flight. Katsum and Aymeric waved to the others as she looked back at the Elzen, “Hold on. Here we go!”

Raihogg hissed as he leaped from the edge, the updraft of the air filling his wings as he flew into the clouds with them. Aymeric gasped and laughed as he tightened his grip around her, making Katsum laugh as they turned their course towards the mountains.

As Raihogg leveled out to soar with the clouds, Aymeric hugged Katsum close and kissed her temple, “I am so glad you are home.”

Katsum leaned back into him, turning her head to nuzzle his cheek, joyous tears rolling down her cheeks as she did, “You’ve no idea how happy I am to be as well. I have so much to tell you about from my time on the First,” She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath as she grinned, “But for now, shall we see what adventures await us?”

“Lead the way, and I shall follow.”

She smiled and patted Raihogg with a grin, “Onward to Dravania!”

At the sound of his true name, the dragon’s eyes flared darkly, somehow turning blacker as he reared back his head and raised his wings and let out an ear-piercing roar that made Katsum wince. The sheer force of his voice pushed her backward, sending her back to where Alphinaud and Aymeric were standing in front of Hraesvelgr. They too seemed to be struggling to keep their footing, even at this distance. The great white wyrm snarled and roared in response, counteracting the younger Dravanian’s voice.

“Dear child of Ratatoskr, how lost thou art. You hath even made thine own name and instrument of thine rage.” He mused, lowering his head low over the three children of man before him, looking to meet Katusm’s gaze, “Though thine strength is great, thou shall find no victory in waging war with him.”

Katsum sighed and nodded, “Yes, I saw.”

“You saw…?” Ser Aymeric began to ask, but then paused, “The Echo…?”

Katsum nodded, “It is how I learned his name. I saw the past, the peace between man and dragon, the matriarch of my kingdom, everything...And I also saw him fight Nidhogg.”

“You saw him fight Nidhogg!?” Alphinaud sputtered, his gaze taking on a more frightened air.

“Yes, which is why I know fighting him isn’t going to wake him.”

“Then what will?” Both eleven looked at her strangely when she pulled off her cape and coronet, dropping them beside her as she knelt down and tightened her greaves, her eyes trained on the red dragon ahead of them.

“What are you doing?” Alphinaud asked frantically.

She stands to her feet again as she tightens her gauntlets and answers, “You won’t like what I say.”

Aymeric takes a step towards her, “What do you mean by that?”

Katsum took a deep breath and turned to them, looking between Alphinaud, Aymeric and Hraesvelgr, “I don’t have time to hesitate, and we don’t have many options left.”

“Katsum, what are you going to do!?” Alphinaud shouts.

“Lady Katsum,” Aymeric commands, his stance a bit more open as if he was catching on.

The Miqo’te woman takes a deep breath, “Do you trust me?”

The two Elezen look at her strangely, Alphinaud with a child-like look of shock and Aymeric with a more skeptical expression.

“O-of course, but what…?”

“Then don’t stop me.” She looked straight at Aymeric when she said this, knowing he was figuring it out. After she had jumped off of the top of the Vault after the young girl was tossed over it by the True Brother, she was sure that he was figuring it out.

“Katsum…” His eyes pleaded, and for a moment, she almost hesitated.

“Just trust me...please. This is my only chance to save him,” she pleaded back, her emotions shown in her eyes alone, just as his were; his gaze narrowed in response, yet he said nothing. She had one chance to do this, and she had to do it now. No more hesitating.

She took a deep breath, turning to look at the red dragon out of the corner of her eye, “(A dragon’s heart is found in flight)...(when all he has is the sky and his wings)...” She knew only Hraesvelgr understood, and that was the point. She looked back at them and nodded, seeing Aymeric take a slow step towards her and Alphinuad look between them curiously. One chance…

With a final breath, she spun on her heel and started running, her eyes set on her target and setting a course straight for it. Behind her, she heard Aymeric lunge forward to grab her, felt his fingers just brush through her hair, but he missed. She could only imagine the terror he felt again, watching her slip through his fingers again and taking a dive that could mean losing her life again. Yet even so as she blinked away the tears, she kept her gaze locked with the darkened eyes of the lost Dravanian, seeing him rear back his body again like he was preparing to attack. Hraesvelgr’s roar from behind her caused the red dragon to falter and shift his attention, giving Katsum the window she needed. Her breathing was heavy, and she felt her heart shake. The world seemed to slow as she drew nearer to the dragon’s side. His most frequent memories were those of when he and Bridgette flew together as one. If anything would help him remember, it would be flying, yet in the state of how it was now, it would not be a peaceful flight.

As she ran, she prayed, Heaven, help me wake him. Savior, give me strength…

Katsum leaped into the air, reaching up and grabbing onto the dragon’s neck and pulling herself up. Raihogg hissed and chased her with his teeth, but she pulled at his horns, turning his head away and knocking him slightly off-balance where he took a step back to regain his footing. He tried to turn and grab her again, and again, she made him back up closer and closer to the edge as he tried to shake her off. As Katsum fought with him, her eyes turned to Aymeric and Alphinaud again, seeing that Alphinaud had finally figured it out and screamed for her to stop and Aymeric had to reach out and hold him back. The sadness in Aymeric’s eyes broke her heart, and it made it worse when he nodded to her. Even as he could not stop her and as he feared for her, he still believed in her...

Help me to come back from this…for I have a most loving heart that I must return to….

With one final movement, Katsum wretched back his head, and Raihogg reared back, falling backward over the edge of the platform, falling into the mercy of the open air.

 “Art thou certain that this was was a smart idea, Katsum? We are flying behind enemy lines after all.” The dragon’s voice traveled through her mind rather than through the air, ensuring that she would hear him over the wind.

 The Miqo’te woman tightened her fist on the cloth that she held, and nodded.

 “I must know, Raihogg,” She shouted as she leaned down closer to him so that he could hear, “And the only way to know is to search for the signs.”

 The dragon sighed, “Very well. I am with thee until the end. As always.”

 “Thank you, my friend.”

 “And am I to assume we shall not speak of this in front of Ser Aymeric?”

 “Yes...he will worry to much if he knew...”

 “Very well. Thou should tell him at some point, however. ”

 She only sighed in response.

 The thunder around them sputtered as Raihogg gathered it close, the strikes of light burning brightly around them as they prepared to dive. The dragon slowed and lifted himself higher a bit before looking down and making his descent, the thunder and lightning following closely behind. They drove through the clouds and then broke through them, looking down on the darkened world of a refugee camp below. Below the clouds, the rain fell generously, soaking both the Warrior of Light and her dragon companion. As they plummeted towards the ground, Katsum’s eyes scoured the ground for any signs of the sigil, of the white banner with the red symbol she knew so well. When she saw none, she narrowed her eyes, noticing she saw no lights or fires lit either. It was dark with no signs of life at all.

 “Do you see anything, Raihogg? I can’t see anyone.”

 The dragon took a moment to look, his glowing eyes flitting about as he did, and a very confused tone filled his voice, “I see...no one at all.”

 He angled his wings to pull up, the lightning behind him breaking off  behind him and striking the ground below. Katsum held her ears as the sound was deafening, looking back as his turned them back to fly over the seemingly abandoned camp. Drawing nearer, she saw it was true. There were no people, no campfires or any sign of a living being. Yet thankfully, no sign of any death either as there were no bodies either.

 “Can we land for a moment? I would search around for anything that could be of use in our search,” He nodded and flew down to the earth and landed softly. He lowered his head to allow her to slide off, looking around them with wary eyes.

 “It looks as if no one hath been here for quite a while,” He mused, smelling the air as Katsum looked around the tents.

She agreed with him as she looked through the tents. It had been at least a few weeks since anyone had been here, so whoever she’d hoped to find here had been long gone. She stepped up to the bigger tent with Raihogg following close behind. A fluttering paper caught her eye and she reached out and caught it before it could blow past her, looking down at it and reading:

To anyone who reads this,

The dragon’s lady lives on and we of her fallen kingdom must rise to be ready to join forces with her when she arrives to free us all. Remember your loved ones that fell that day, remember the sacrifices we have made and rise.

For the Queen rides onward, and we must rise to be ready to help her claim our home once more.

Katsum’s hands shook, making Raihogg look down at her curiously. A tear rolled down her cheek as she read over the paper again, loosening her fingers on the white cloth to hold up the sigil of the dragon, the shield, and the crown, the symbol of the Draic kingdom that she had found at the last camp they’d found that led them here. They were alive after all...her people weren’t gone. They lived and they searched for her, had seen her somehow riding Raihogg into battle. And they rallying under her name…