So, I was browsing through old and new fics and saw this one. I tweaked some things (mostly in later chapters) so that it fit the game more. I'm replaying it now so maybe I'll find more things to fix or change. I look forward to what you think so review even though this fic is done. I usually get asked this so just to clarify, Hope is 18 in this story because I like it better that way and the age gap between him and Light isn't too big. Enjoy! SPOILERS
Hope stumbled along through the icy landscape of Lake Bresha. He looked down at his cold hands despite having gloves on the ice bit threw them. He was awfully tired, alone, and sick to his stomach with fear and depression. He had to see his mother fall out of this world and leave him behind. This horrible war only served to sever him from all he had held dear and now he was alone. Of course, he was momentarily accompanied by this strange pink haired girl who was all too cheerful even during this time of terror.
He lost her once that Fal'cie got a hold of him, that girl, and a few others he wasn't familiar with. He trudged along and came across some soldiers on the lookout for L'Cie like him. He could only assume what he was since that thing marked him. He glanced at his arm and then back up as the soldiers got closer. He hurried behind a large slab of ice and crouched there until he was sure they had passed. Peeking out, he came face to face with a pair of blue eyes. He yelped and fell backwards.
"Whoa, sorry I scared ya little guy. Here, let me help you up," a deep but playful voice said. He was pulled to his feet and he looked up to see a burly man with white hair, wearing a long white coat with a black bandana. His gloved hands still held onto his shoulders to steady him. Hope pushed them off and tried to level a glare at him. It was the same man who let his mother fall and the same one who was branded with him.
"I don't need your help," Hope mumbled as he began to walk away.
"Well hold on there, kid. You can't just walk off into danger. Haven't you realized that there is a lot of danger around here?" he said.
"Yes, I know there are soldiers around but I need to get out of here eventually," Hope retorted.
"I'll help you. With my strength, we'll be out of here in no time," he replied with a confident grin. Hope stared at him before nodding and continuing in the direction he was headed before he had to hide. The man followed in silence before he felt the need to talk again.
"My name's Snow. What's yours?" he asked.
"Hope," he replied, wanting to end the conversation there.
"Well Hope, do you know where you're going? Cuz I certainly don't. I guess we can travel into the great unknown together though, right?" he said. Hope only nodded. They continued to travel with Snow spouting off once in a while. He talked about how he was involved in the war and how he came to be here. Hope felt genuinely sorry Snow lost the girl he loved but still not in the way Hope lost his mother. Snow was about to start on another line of ranting when a group of three soldiers came running down a slope parallel to them and blocked their path.
"Damn. They found us. Do you know how to fight yet kid?" he asked as he shifted into a defensive stance.
"What are you talking about?" he replied; but Snow ignored him. He ran forward and slammed a powerful punch into the face of the nearest soldier. The strange thing was his fist shimmered with light when he did. Was this the power that the Fal'Cie gave him when he was branded? In response to the fallen soldier, the others deemed them a threat and opened fire on them. Snow ran in front of Hope who flinched in fright. A yellow shield covered Snow and the incoming bullets didn't harm him.
"Come on kid. Feel the power it gave you and let something go. I can't do this all by myself. You must have gained something too," Snow grunted under the hail of bullets. Hope closed his eyes and searched for any feeling of power within himself. A strange energy surged through him before he opened his eyes and saw his hand glow with what looked like fire. His eyes widened in fright until he realized that the fire didn't hurt. A thought flashed through his mind and he flowed with the instincts that followed. He pulled back his arm and released the fire from his hand in a blazing fireball that flew at one of the soldiers. He hit his mark. The misfortunate soldier flailed until the flames consumed him.
"Wow; that was great Hope! Keep doing that and we are sure to win," Snow cheered with excitement. Hope felt for the power once more and found a different form of energy. This time it was like wielding thunder in the palm of his hand. He let it fly and the last soldier fell.
"Well I didn't know you had it in you," Snow said with a smirk. Hope allowed a small smile before it dropped. They continued forward in this way and Hope couldn't help but feel like things were looking better. That is, until a Manasvin Warmech blocked their path.
"What the heck?" Snow said. Hope looked at him and then ran forward.
"Wait! You don't know what that thing can do!" Snow yelled to him. Hope ignored him and threw a fireball at the Mech. It only hit with a smear of soot on metal. The Warmech raised its saw and swung it at Hope. He threw himself out of the way just in time. Snow ran over and began to safeguard. The Warmech swung again and rebounded off Snow's shield which threw him back in the process.
"Geez, this thing is stronger than what we've been fighting," Snow grunted. Hope only nodded nervously. At that moment, a scatter of bullets assaulted the Mech. Hope looked over his shoulder to see an older man in green standing behind them wielding duel guns.
"This way!" he called and hurriedly waved them over. They glanced at each other before taking off without a second thought. The Warmech began to follow but it was slower in mobility. The man gestured them into a small space between two ice blocks. They all squeezed in right on time. The Warmech reached their hiding place and crashed into the ice. It couldn't reach them where they were.
"Come on. I know a way out," the man said. They began pushing through the small space and came out on the other side.
"That was close," Snow said with a sigh, putting his hands on his knees.
"Yeah it was. By the way, I'm Sazh. What's your guys' name?" he asked.
"Hope," Hope replied distractedly as he looked around their new surroundings.
"Snow," Snow replied as he held out his hand. Sazh reached out to shake his hand then they began forward. The only thing left standing in their way was a few more soldiers which they easily took care off with the help of Sazh and his double guns. Soon they came across a ship that PSICOM had left. Sazh confidently boarded and gestured for the others to follow. Once they took off they were spotted. A hasty retreat followed which had them crashing down in a heap on some rocks.
"Sorry guys," Sazh apologized. Hope sat down and rubbed his back while Snow stretched and shook his head.
"No problem," Snow said, raising a hand. Once everyone had sufficient rest they ventured out into the dusty, dry landscape.
"So, where are you guys headed to if you don't mind me askin'," Sazh said, breaking the silence.
"We really don't know either. After that whole fiasco with the Fal'Cie back there everything just got crazy and confusing," Snow said. Sazh nodded sagely.
"That's right. No wonder I recognized you two. I was caught up in that very same fiasco," he said.
"Then we're all on the same boat right Hope?" Snow asked him with a nudge that almost pushed him over. Hope only glared.
"I think with all that's happened, why don't we agree to a quick rest?" Sazh suggested.
"Sure, that sounds good. I haven't slept for what felt like forever," Snow said with a smile. A howl echoed in the distance and Hope jumped.
"Yeah, rest sounds good but let's not stay long," he said as he glanced around nervously. Everyone else nodded and a plan for one of them to stay up while the others slept was made to keep them safe. Hope couldn't stay asleep due to his nightmares and the sounds out in the distance. He curled up with his back to a boulder for comfort. Out here the sky was visible and the sun was already gone so there was no light. The darkness did not help his mood. It wrapped around and oppressed him. He laid on the hard ground with only thoughts of his mom and safety in his mind. By the next morning they set off again.
And just like before, the soldiers were still out on the hunt. Except this time, they were accompanied by hovering Uhlans which shot missiles. They were a tough foe to defeat. After a particularly rough battle they all sat down to rest. Hope limped to a rock to sit down, Snow held his arm where a burn was located, and Sazh had only a coat of dirt from rolling out of the way. He wasn't as injured due to the fact that he could fire from far away. Things looked bleak until Hope found out that he could heal. They all sighed in relief once there uncomfortable injuries were gone. The only positive thing to happen to Hope so far, he thought.
"This place seems to stretch on forever," Hope commented at the end of the day, feeling the harsh effects of battle.
"Yeah but with your curing powers we should be able to get through it alright," Snow said optimistically. Hope only grunted and turned over to try and get some sleep. Battle would never be 'alright', he thought. Sazh was already lying down. They had decided that Snow and Sazh should stay on duty and switch through the night. Snow shrugged and stood guard.
"Serah…I hope you're ok. Wait for me," he said as he looked up into the sky. The hours passed by as Sazh and Snow took turns taking shifts throughout the night. By morning they had to set out once more.