Lighting. When you think of her, what comes to your mind? A warrior? A loved one? An escape? A friend? A sister? In her own way, Lighting was all those and more.
To Serah, a sister. Her whole life, Serah was protected by Lighting. She held back the pain, kept away the nightmares, and loved her unconditionally. She had travelled the world, fought countless men and woman, been injured and then some. All for Serah, just to get her back. She wasn't just a sister, but a miracle. A knight.
When Snow looked at Lightning, he wanted to see a sister. But instead, he mostly saw a warrior. A warrior whose whole world had fallen apart, but continued to press on through it all. She held the weight of the world on her shoulders, but never once did her steps falter. She never let people see the pain of she felt for her lost sister, instead she held her head high, to show them all she wasn't giving up. In Lightning, Snow saw a more than just a sister, he saw a warrior.
Hope still wasn't quite sure what he saw. She was a lot of things to him. In one way, she was his savior. His friend. Lightning had come along and helped him on his way. Toughening him up for the long road ahead and making sure he was safe. When he thought all was lost, she came along and showed him that there was still more to find. She may not have held him close when he wept, or rubbed his head playfully like Snow, but she kept him going.
As Lightning unknowing lead their group, Sahz watched her. She was a leader. Now she didn't always give motivational speeches, or high five someone for a job well done. But when it came down to it, she slapped everyone out of their slump and shoved them to their feet. But not by talking; no. By doing. Seeing her carry on the will to fight, to never stop gave them all hope and let them continue on. No, Lightning wasn't some heartless solider, she was a leader.
While Fang and Vanille watched Lightning fight, they saw the warrior behind those eyes. The woman trained to kill without emotion. And they respected that, Fang envied it a little even. Lightning was more than just a warrior though. She was an escape. Someone they could connect with, someone who could understand, though she never spoke about her problems. Vanille loved to just look at Lightning. When she stood, she kept her back straight with her chin up proud and it made her want to do the same. Sometimes Fang didn't always see eye to eye with her, but when they did she realized just how much Lightning did for them all.
So Lightning was a lot to many. A sister, a warrior, a savior, a friend, a leader, an escape. But Lightning never saw that in herself. Instead she saw a liar. A little girl hiding behind a mask so long, it was impossible to pry it lose. When her eyes met in the mirror, she only saw herself. Nothing special, nothing beautiful or admiring. Just this person she had become to help everyone else.
Not great, I know. But I've stumbled apon Final Fantasy and watched all those Cutscene things. Lightning has really inspired me! Well, go ahead and tell me how bad it sucks :P lol