AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm so excited for Lightning Returns: FINAL FANTASY XIII! With new story details released, I just had to write this! Possibly a one-shot, but who knows? I'm working on A Storm Gathers, but also waiting for more information to release.

Write on,

WriteFF13

.:LIBERATOR of SOULS:.

Chapter 1 - Reflex Redux

"Do you see them?" Hope's voice sounded in her ear.

Lightning pressed a finger to the comms unit in her ear, thankful for the clear connection. In the Erador forests, there was a weak connection that resulted in a constant static, but in Luxerion, that didn't seem to be the case fortunately. She was currently crouched on a second-floor balcony, peering through the skinny marble that lined the edge. Below her was a dark room, not easily entered from the streets…or seen, for that matter. In here, away from the watchful eyes of the Order, a mysterious group of white-cloaked people had gathered, but not without her following them. In broad daylight the group had snuck in here, their meeting lightly illuminated by a clock lit above them. A quick glance showed eight days left until the end of the world.

Lightning turned her head away and covered her mouth with a hand to help muffle the sound. "Yeah. They're just talking."

"How many?" She glanced over her shoulder, bright blue eyes darting from figure to figure.

"Six."

There was silence on the other end. She could imagine her companion rubbing his eyes tiredly, days of three-hour-or-less nights catching up to him. The end of the world began in eight days…she couldn't exactly blame him. She was running on a hidden store of energy right now, just recovering from last night's meeting with the Reverend.

"What are you going to do?"

"…I don't know. If I can't confirm they're the cause of the murders, then I have no reason to harm them."

"Maybe detain them. At this point it's still unclear. They could just be the last remnants of Etro's teachings after all. You know, the ones the Order kicked out of Luxerion."

"Huh. What do you think, Hope?" she countered.

"You already know where I stand." His voice was firm.

He thought it wrong to kill anyone just because their beliefs were different, that they maybe still believed in Etro's teachings instead of Bhunivelze. That was where he and Lightning clashed – she was chosen by the god of creation to be the Liberator of Souls. She protected them with every ounce of strength and wisdom she owned.

"Hope…"

"Don't get me into this, Light…I trust in your judgment. Isn't that enough?" the boy – or rather, man – signed.

Lightning nodded to herself, pushing the conversation for later. Right now, she was in a vulnerable position with a mysterious mob of hooded figures below – possibly the source of the serial killings that had plagued the "peace" of Luxerion. That is, until the doomsday clock awoke. She was also on her own.

"I'll close them off, and wait for the Order to show up. Reverend doesn't want them dead, and neither do I. He wants me to question, them, but for that to happen I need them all in once place, and this is as good as it's going to get," she whispered.

"Okay. Be careful, Light."

She smiled. "I always am."

There were two entrances into this little cove where the mob had gathered – one from the North Station, which the group had originally entered from. That entrance needed to be cut off immediately to prevent them from fleeing to Erador, where Lightning knew she would lose them. Its dense thicket of trees and bushes provided for perfect hiding spots…and the setup for an ambush. There was also Tabora, the vast desert situated between Etro's shrine and Luxerion. Although anyone could be seen on the light sands of the desert, the area was hostile nonetheless and teeming with monsters.

"Hope, is there anyway you could station guards at the main exit road to Erador, a few at the North Station, and one on the bridge to Tabora? If this goes badly, I'm gonna need backup," she said, speaking quickly now. Any second they could disperse into the busy crows of Luxerion once they shedded their white cloaks.

"Sure. I'll see if I can get the Order to approve," Hope responded, and momentarily left from his seat where she knew he was analyzing archaic documents for evidence of a possible third entity.

"Hurry," she said, speaking to no one.

There were no doors to the entrances, just arches that would take time to knock down and block exit…time she didn't have. She glanced at the doomsday and grit her teeth. Nine hours until the seventh day.

Now was the time to act.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: When I heard about Lightning Returns featuring Lightning as Bhunivelze's "Liberator of Souls" this scene popped into my head, especially after seeing the screenshot of Lightning crouching as she watches a mysterious mob of white-hooded figures. The names "Erador" for the forest to the north of Luxerion and "Tabora" the desert to the north east of Luxerion are entirely made up until more information is revealed for those locations. Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!

-WriteFF13