Author's Note: Welcome to Solar Flare, the sequel to Eclipse, another story of mine. You'll probably need to read that before you read this, since this will not make that much sense without the context. Now, the story incorporates some Final Fantasy 7 references, but not as much as before, or enough to warrant calling it out in the disclaimer.
Some things to note:
- Bayonetta is somewhat OOC, but for the most part is untouched.
- I'm going to be delving into a lot of headcannon, so the lore of Bayonetta 2 is somewhat thrown out the window.
- Loptr's character is majorly changed to not be 'generic evil villain.'
- This is a retelling of Bayonetta 2, a game I do not much experience with, so forgive me for any inconsistencies with the game knowledge and my own (plus google!)
Without further ado, I don't own Bayonetta, merely the idea for this story. Enjoy!
Prologue
500 years in the past.
…
A lone figure stood amongst the ruins of the Sunrise Valley. Bodies of slain men surrounded him, the stench of death and decaying flesh filling his nostrils. Gagging slightly, he looked to the sky.
"How did this happen…?" He whispered to himself, letting his long, silver hair float around in the breeze. "Why did this happen?"
He could feel his power seeping back into his bones. When he discovered he could wield the light again, he immediately threw his exile restrictions to the winds and made his way back to his old home, fearing the worst.
Those fears did not go unanswered. His fist clenched, then tightened as he remembered the faces of the bodies strewn about; many he had played with as a child, and had grown to be his Lumen brothers. And now they were all dead, and only he remained.
"Who could have done this?" He asked the sky, desperately looking for an answer.
"The Umbra Witches…" A disembodied voice called from behind him. "They were manipulated by a greater force."
The man whipped around and saw a blue portal shimmering in the air, showing the silhouette of a mountain in the background. "Who are you? And how do you know this?"
"Come, Lumen Sage." The voice chuckled. "I will show you the truth and allow you the chance for revenge. Is that not all you desire?"
"How can I trust you?" The man drew himself up, staring down the portal. "I do not know what you are!"
"Trust me, Sage." A figure stepped out of the portal and reached out to him. "You can learn everything."
"Tell me what I need to know." The Sage stood steadfast against the blue figure. "And then I will decide on whether I want to join you in your little game."
"You are looking for a being that refers to itself as Loki…" The figure dropped his arm and began to talk.
…
The present.
…
The statue of Jubelius lay scattered across the country side, and from the right eye of the statue's mostly intact head fell out a battered and dirty man. He was glowing blue as a spirit was trying to escape him, trying to pull itself out of his back.
"Not on my watch, you monster!" The man shouted with authority as he pulled it back into himself, golden chains wrapping around the spirit, containing it yet again, crawling to his knees as he did so. "You will die with me, on this day!"
He ripped off his half mask and threw it to the ground. "Never again shall a blight like you or me will stain this land no more. They deserved better, all of them."
He pulled out a monocle and placed it on as he felt his heart falter. "I am sorry for everything Luka; your father was just trying to do good in this world."
He collapsed to all fours. "I wished I had never met you Jeanne, for your sake. I am sorry for everything I have done to hurt you."
He fell to his stomach. "Thank you for keeping your promise, Cereza. You have made me the proudest father you could imagine. My dear, sweet child. My love for you is insurmountable…."
His sight began to dim. "And to my greatest creation, Damien. I bequeath you my greatest treasure. May it serve you well, and better than it has served me."
His Right Eye faded, and the blue energy dissipated into the air. He smiled as he breathed his last.
…
1 year later…
…
Luka shivered as he stepped into the bar, noticing the glares and glances the other patrons were sending his way. Walking around, he approached the counter and leaned against it, careful to leave a space next to him.
"You there." The bartender pointed at him. "We don't like your kind of people here. We also don't serve them."
"I'm not here for socialising or drinking." Luka answered. "I'm here for information."
"Oh yeah?" The man answered, cleaning a mug with a cloth. "Information is a hard drink to come by, sonny."
Luka slipped out a wad of cash from his sleeve. "I've heard so too. That's only one of several, mister, and I'm willing to pay whatever it takes."
The man raised an eyebrow at the money. "Well, you certainly have my interest now, stranger. What information do you want?"
"I want to speak to him. Your little weapon."
The bar went silent at his statement. Then it exploded into laughter.
"You think you can just demand to see our resident assassin?" The bartender doubled over. "He allows no one to see him, let alone mention his name."
"Sephiroth will allow his friends to see him." Jeanne stepped out of Purgatorio beside him and pointed a gun at his head. "And his closer ones too."
The bar went silent as the Umbra Witch stood there in all her glory. Her red couture dress was gone, replaced with a tight-fitting leather biking suit with long, thigh high boots. Her hair was now hip length, and partially covered her face. She glared at the bartender, and her uncovered left eye squinting at him, daring him to make a move.
"The witch in red!" One of the patrons whispered. "That's his lover!"
"His former lover." Another whispered. "I heard she threw him out!"
"She must have gotten bored of him. There's no way I would let a specimen like him go."
"Maybe she is a bitch, and she just used him for his power? I honestly would."
Jeanne stiffened, and looked down, shaking slightly. All these people were reminding her of why they were here, and why she was here in particular.
The bartender's eyes unfocussed, and he spaced out. He shook his head, and then pointed at the door to his left. "He will see you now."
…
The winged man stood against the window, his silhouette contrasting the light. Luka and Jeanne entered, and both smiled with relief as they saw him.
"Damien!" Jeanne stepped forward, and then froze as he held up a hand. Struggling, she felt that she could not move; her muscles had frozen.
Stupid paralysis spells. Why did she teach him those?
"Why are you here?" He asked, not bothering to turn around. His voice sounded, for the lack of a better term, dead. Gone was the innocence, the joy and the hope; now it was nothing but a barren wasteland of despair.
"Damien, we all miss you." Luka stepped forward, only to freeze as well.
"Stop calling me that." He turned around finally. He only wore a coat and pants, opting to be shirtless. His silver hair was grimy and dirty, and his eyes were surrounded by black circles. The eyes themselves, were lifeless. "Why are you here?"
"Damien, it's your bloody name!" Jeanne shook her head as she broke free of his light paralysis spell. "You deserve to be called that!"
"Deserve what?" His voice went flat, and a cold feeling formed in her stomach. "What do I deserve, Jeanne? Tell me; hat could I possibly deserve from you."
The witch began to break down, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Damien, what are you doing to yourself?"
"Why the fuck should it matter to you!?" He roared. "You tossed me away, you decided I wasn't worth it anymore, that I was nothing but another toy for you, and now you come to drag me back?! Well guess what, Jeanne? I have people who care about me now, and not just someone who has a martyr complex who wanted to feel better about themselves."
The words stung her and the truth of them was a gut punch. He was right, and she knew she could not reply without sounding like a hypocrite.
"I was curious about what brought you here, but if you are going to try and drag me back to your little world, then I don't care." He turned back, reforming the silhouette.
"What about your sister?" Jeanne snarled.
He stiffened, but did not answer. Jeanne took this as an opportunity to continue, and she began to approach him.
"Out of all of us, she is the one that misses you the most." She lied slightly, advancing on him. "When you disappeared initially, she fell into depression, and nearly insanity. You nearly destroyed her, because of your actions. If she found out that you, the once proud hero to this planet and its people, was nothing but a husk of his former self and was nothing but a prostitute to be exploited, she would kill herself. And if she found out why I did what I did because of you, she would agree with me."
He looked down, then turned around. "You left me because I saved you. She would never agree to toss out the person that saved them."
"It was my contract to bear." She shook her head. "The consequences will be disastrous for you!"
"I don't care." He turned away. "Leave me."
"Damien-" She placed a hand on his shoulder, and he shoved her away.
"I said leave me! Don't come back!" He yelled. "I don't want anything more to do with you! You are nothing but the exploiter, Jeanne! You only ever gave me my little haven so you could feel better about murdering thousands! Just remember Jeanne, who is the real villain here!"
Seconds passed as the words hung in the air.
"You don't mean that." Jeanne stepped back, a hand covering her mouth, her eyes releasing the tears. "You don't…"
"Jeanne, don't." Luka placed a hand on her shoulder. "He has made up his mind. Yeah, I don't like it, but you two butting heads forever won't solve anything."
Damien turned and gestured to the door. "Get out of my life."
Luka put his arm around her shoulder as they turned, comforting her softly as they left.
…
Bayonetta walked the streets of San Francisco, smiling softly at the atmosphere. She was dressed in what she referred to as her Sunday best; a white, open dress with black leggings, and a wide brimmed hat. She carried her white purse in one hand, and the other was fiddling with a lollipop, taken from Luka's stash back at their apartment.
The other people on the street gave her nods of recognition, and a couple waved at her. She waved back, noting that none of them were like the crazy fans she had in other parts of the country.
Eugh.
Two children approached her, shyly looking up at her. She pulled the lollipop out and leaned over.
"Hello, little ones." She said warmly.
"Hi, Miss Bayonetta!" They chirped, smiling widely at their acknowledgement. They looked at each other in excitement, as if they couldn't believe their luck.
"Are you two trying to talk to me?" She asked, shaking her head slightly in amusement. "You know, I don't mind talking to new people. Although, most of them are not worth my time. What would you two like to say?"
"We just wanted to say thank you, Miss." The girl on the right started. "For being the hero, the one we needed a year ago."
"Has it been a year?" She checked her watch and raised an eyebrow. "Wow, it has been a year. Time does fly. Well, little ones, I was just doing my duty as an Umbra. Nothing too special."
"Miss, where's Sephiroth?" The boy on the left asked. "We miss him."
Her eyes watered slightly at the mention of her missing brother. "He has his own path now. When he decides to come back, that will be up to him. I can't make him."
The pair looked at her eyes, and their eyes softened in understanding. They reached up, standing on their toes, and gave her a small hug. Returning it, she smiled and stood back up. "Thank you, little ones. I really needed that. Now run along; I'm sure your parents are missing you."
The pair ran off, chittering amongst themselves with unsubdued excitement. She watched them run off, fantasizing over their innocence, and then continued onwards. Turning into the apartment building, she took off her hat as she nodded to the secretary, and then stepped into the elevator.
Arriving at the 11th floor, she stepped out and walked through the corridor, into their apartment.
"Hey." Luka greeted her, and she smiled in relief. He was back from whatever errand he was up to. "Do I have to tell you that you look gorgeous?"
"I try my best." She replied, running a gloved hand through her hair, adjusting the new style. She had now opted for a pixie cut, and the unfamiliar lack of weight was getting to her. "I see you are back from whatever you did."
"Yeah…" He sounded sad, and looked down at the ground. "It wasn't successful."
Unzipping the dress, she slipped out of it, letting it fall to the ground. A shirt was offered to her, and she accepted it wordlessly. Taking off her heels, she grabbed the discarded clothes and began to fold them.
"What happened?" She asked as she placed the dress onto the dining table, turning her attention to him.
"We found Damien." He answered, tears forming in his eyes.
"What?!" Her mind was whirling as she turned to him, face in shock. "How?"
"He works for a mafia boss now." He shook his head, like he couldn't believe what he was saying. "Doing their dirty work and living the life of a criminal."
"…Why?" She asked, walking over to him. "Why would he do that?"
"He said that he has people who now care about him…" Luka punched the wall in anger, immediately regretting the action two seconds later. "Which is fucking bullshit!"
"It's Jeanne." Bayonetta realised as she gently examined her partner's hand, welcoming the distraction. "Her rejection of him from that day must have broken him."
"I guess so…" Luka looked at her, despair in his eyes. "He looks like shit, he acts like shit, he's not listening to anyone who cares about him; Bayo, he is going to die in that cesspool!"
"Where is he?" She asked, her eyes trying to find hope in his.
There was none.
"Some fucking random place down south. I don't know why he chose there, I don't know why!" He screamed in anger. "He's a fucking idiot!"
"I will talk to him, I promise." She looked at him gravely. "After I've finished helping Enzo with his shopping tomorrow; not a minute after will I spend procrastinating. I'm going to drag him back here and make him explain himself."
Luka smiled as he calmed down. "Only you could make that work."
She gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "That I could. Now, let's get some ice for that hand, and then I want some cuddling. A lot of cuddling, mind you, to make up for the fact you haven't been here for a week."
"Yes, Ma'am." He teased but followed her anyway.
She took three steps into the kitchen when she turned around and embraced him tightly, tears spilling from eyes. Crying into his shoulder, she trembled as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I miss him so much…" She whispered. "I just want him back…"
"We all miss him." Luka answered, rubbing her back with his good hand. "When he is back, we will take turns in beating him up, and then we can hug him and squeeze him and let him know we all care about him."
He reached down and picked her up, bridal style. Carrying her over to the couch in the next room, he sat them both down. She snuggled up to him, and he kept his arms wrapped around her. Reaching up, he pulled off her glasses and began to clean them for her.
"Luka…" Her voice was regaining its normal tone. "What did I tell you about my glasses?"
"You deserved to be pampered sometimes." He smiled, placing them back on her. "Wait here, I'll get some ice for me and I'll mix some drinks for you."
She smiled at him, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I really don't know how to thank you."
"You don't need to." He disconnected her limbs from his and stood up. "Again, you deserve to be pampered sometimes."
"Only sometimes?" She peered at him, faking a serious look. "Luka, I deserve to be pampered all the time."
"Heh, I can't quite argue with that." He laughed. "Maybe we'll do a little pampering a little later tonight?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she smiled deviously. "I haven't been pampered for a week, Cheshire. That's a lot of lost time you have to make up for."
His smile faded, replaced by a look of fear. He swallowed as her look went predatorial, and small beads of sweat formed on his brow.
"A lot of lost time." He repeated, his nervousness bleeding into his speech. "Uh, Bayonetta, I don't think I have the stamina to do that again…"
"You will." She continued to stare at him longingly. "I'll make sure you will."