An officer was told to protect Lightning under any circumstances during the Bodhum fireworks festival. Lightning was told to observe and watch the suspicious officer, who was said to be hostile, violent and aggressive.
When they meet, she was not what Lightning had expected; she was quiet, calm and polite, however, she was also stoic and cold. But after Serah becomes a l'Cie, the two must fight together and settle their differences. However, the officer thinks indifferently, she has a black history and an even blacker future. As they get closer to Serah, the officer becomes more mysterious and secretive. Consumed by darkness, sustained by hate and blinded by her own goals, she strives to complete her long awaited ambition.
Set in the plot of Final Fantasy XIII, rewritten and polished. What would have happened if this officer was thrown into this situation? What would have changed?
Lightning thought she would just walk around aimlessly for a while before heading to work, but ended up at the shopping mall. Every year tourists came from all around for the fireworks festival in Bodhum. The festival had been around since ancient times, and there were quite a few legends surrounding it. The most popular being, 'If you pray to the fireworks, your wish will come true.'
That was it. Nothing else required.
All you had to do is pray. Probably because it was so simple it had been believed in for decades, possibly longer. Everyone has wishes. No matter how happy they are, there will be something that could make them even happier. That's why on the night of the festival, Bodhum's gates swell with many times the usual number of people. With that many humans gathering together all at once, accidents are bound to happen. So on festival night, Bodhum's security force is out on patrol.
She looked in one of the windows and something caught her eye. A large pendent hung from a delicate chain was on display. The pendent was of Cocoon and some sort of strange shaped object. Lightning didn't know much about jewelry, but it looked like something Serah would like. Walking around and looking at all the things in the mall made Lightning realize how long it's been since she'd window shopped like this.
Probably since the last time she went shopping with Serah.
It's been a long time. Ever since I joined the Guardian Corps….
Lightning suddenly felt guilty. After joining, she thought that once she got used to her job she would make it up to Serah. But then a year passed, and she got more responsibility. Before she knew it, not only were they not going out together but they were hardly speaking.
When she joined, Serah was still in middle school. Serah was probably worried about what she would do after school or her relationships with others. Everyone has problems when they are that age. She probably wanted to ask Lightning's advice on a lot of things. But no, Lightning had been too busy at work to listen. Serah had probably been lonely. She probably just wanted someone to talk to...that's probably how she got drawn to a show-off like Snow.
If that's the case, then this is all my fault. If only I had been there for Serah. Even if I was busy, I could have made time for her. Why didn't I? I swore before our mother's grave that I would protect her, but I only made her feel lonely.
"Oh, how cute!" a woman squealed.
Lightning glanced at the merry voice. A mother and son had stopped in front of a transportation container at the pet shop.
"You like this kind of thing mom?"
"What? But you used to like these too. You'd always stand in front of the store crying, saying 'I want one, I want one!'"
"And how many years ago was that?"
"Not too long ago...only ten years."
"Yeah, and I'm fourteen now, mom."
The mother and son were both looking into the container. Even from behind you could tell they got along well. The son's hair was a cool silver, while the color of his mother's hair was much warmer. Even though their hair color was different, their faces looked alike.
I was that age when my mother died...
Lightning's shoulders drooped, she sighed sadly.
"These are really good with kids. They're clever, and become easily attached to their owners." the employee told them as he took a small bird from the container and put it into a cage. It was a Chocobo chick. "These are sold out everywhere right now. Our shop in Euride just got some the day before yesterday and they're already sold out. We're going to have to send them replacements soon."
When we were children they weren't as popular as they are now, but a few people in Serah's class had baby chocobos. Serah had a friend that she would often play with that had one, and her eyes would always sparkle when she would talk about it.
"So would you like to buy one?"
"Oh, no, unfortunately we're on vacation. It would be too far to take it all the way to Palumpolum."
A vacation, that might be a good idea, it would be a great way to make it up to Serah for making her so lonely. Lightning could take Serah away somewhere. Though she wouldn't be able to take a long vacation, if she put a bunch of her days off together, they could go on a short trip. Once the festival was over with their schedule would probably be more flexible and she could put in for some time off.
On my birthday, we could talk about it.
During Lightning's birthdays they would always spend it by making dinner together. Then Serah would give her a present that she had put a lot of thought into. This time she would be able to say thank you for the gift by telling her they would go on vacation; just the two of them. While they were on vacation she would listen to anything Serah wanted to talk about. To make up for all the time they hadn't talked. Of course when they got back from vacation she would make enough time to talk with Serah. Lightning wouldn't let her be lonely anymore.
She decided it was an excellent idea. Lightning turned around towards the small building, but they were no longer in front of the pet shop. She looked over her shoulder and saw them walking away together in the crowd.