A.N. Welcome to the new version! I decided to rewrite it a little bit and I guess I'll do it with some other stories, too. Hope you like the updated version^^

Éclair Returns

Chapter 1: The Heroine is Back

A jumble of blurred images and voices addled her thoughts. None of it made any sense and before she was able to make sense of this it was quiet again. And the memories of the dream began to vanish. Seconds later the silence was interrupted by a slow, steady beeping noise. That's when she regained consciousness. Crystal blue eyes opened and stared blankly at a white ceiling.

Where was she? How did she get here? Suddenly the beeping noise got faster and she found out that the noise was caused by her heart. Apparently she was connected to a electrocardiogram. And that meant she had to be in a hospital. She took a deep breath and almost instantly the beeping noise and her heart rate became slower.

The years of training to control her emotions paid off. She turned her head to look around. She wanted to get up or at least sit up, but her body felt heavy and weak as if she had slept for an eternity. Maybe she did...Her memories didn't catch up yet and she had no idea what made her be here. What happened again? She was on a journey...fought monsters...became a monster...?

Suddenly, the beeping noise went faster again. She remembered! She became a l'Cie after helping some random people from the Purge...Sazh, Dajh, Nora and Hope. The silver haired boy became on too...They went on a journey to...defeat Orphan? It was their focus to summon Ragnarok and destroy Cocoon. Or save Cocoon? And instead of summoning Ragnarok, she transformed into it. But she didn't know what happened next. Although when she thought about Cocoon she had a good feeling as if everything but her mind knew what happened. But this memory will return soon, too.

That made her less wondering what happened to her home, though. Or could she even still call it home? She was still the enemy, right? Maybe she was in crystal stasis after it? That might explain why she couldn't remember anything that happened after Ragnarok...How long did she sleep anyway? Were her friends even still alive? Was Serah still alive...? Then the door opened and ripped her out of her thoughts. She turned her head toward the door and the most important question was answered immediately.

"Claire!" Screamed her little sister, before running to her and hugging her as tight as she could. To be honest Light didn't care at all that Serah called her by her real name. Not even when the probably most annoying person ever came into the room after her.

"Serah..." Lightning cawed. Goddamn, her throat hurt like hell. Serah noticed and immediately gave her a glass of water. Huh, she didn't see it standing there on the bedside table...The older woman tried to grab it with a shaky hand, but then Serah pulled it away from her grasp. "Wait, I'll help you." Without waiting for her reaction, Serah raised her head gently and put the glass on her lips.

Lightning really hated to depend on people, but she was still grateful that Serah still did it. She drank the whole glass in one go and her sister put her head back on the pillow. That's when Snow came closer and grinned at her. "Hey, sis. Nice to have you back." Some things really didn't change. And to show him that she still didn't like being called 'sis' from him, she glared at him. But as usual he was rather unimpressed by her glare, probably because they both know she couldn't hit him, but it didn't really matter much now. "What happened?"

"Uhh...no idea." Answered Snow. Light just raised an eyebrow at him and let Serah explain. "You know, Snow and I went to the pillar and...we don't really know what happened there but it suddenly began to glow and then we found you there unconscious." Well, that sounded very ridiculous. But after all the things she's been through it could've happened. "What about Cocoon?"

"Do you remember? You saved it and now it's standing on a crystal pillar. You were trapped in there for quite a while..." Lightning frowned. So she somehow managed to make up from crystal stasis and get out of the pillar without destroying it? Okay..."After you saved Cocoon we decided to live on Gran Pulse." Serah didn't say it, but Light already knew Cocoon must've been partly destroyed when she saved it.

"It was Snow's idea to live near the sea and to call the place New Bodhum. Things are different of course but it's like our home." Lightning wasn't surprised that Snow got this idea. He's always been an annoying optimist, so naming the new home like the old one must've come from him.

"How long was I asleep?" Asked Light next and Serah's sad expression told her that it was more than a few weeks or months. "Five years." Lightning's eyes widened. Five fucking years?! Well, she should be happy that it was just five and not five hundred...But she still missed a lot. "And now you're the little sister!" Said Snow and grinned stupidly. Yeah, she still didn't like him.

Lightning ignored him and was lost in thought. There was so much she wanted to ask, but she had no idea where to start...If she wouldn't feel so weak, she'd go out there and see what changed. The little Farron sat down on bed and stroked her sisters hair like older she always did to her when they were kids. "You should rest, Claire."

"I've slept for five years..." Protested Light halfheartedly. But she knew her body needed a bit more rest. She couldn't stand up even if she wanted to...

Once Lightning was fit and ready to leave again — which was the next day— she released herself from the hospital despite the worries of her little sister. While Snow and Serah brought her to their place they talked about the most important things she's missed during these five years.

Serah was now a nursery school teacher. Sazh continued to work as a pilot and Dajh apparently didn't change much. Snow, Fang, Vanille, Team NORA and the Estheim's worked together and rebuild the cities. At this moment they dealt with Oerba.

Hope finished school and joined an organization called the 'Academy' and one year ago he became the director. Lightning almost didn't want to believe that Hope — the little Hope, who sought her protection and couldn't do anything alone — was the director now. It looked like he didn't need her either.

Lightning sighed quietly as she thought about it. Apparently she was no longer needed. Now she didn't mind sleeping a couple of centuries. "What is it, Claire?" Serah's voice tore her from her thoughts. "Oh, nothing. What's up with you and Snow? You've got married, right?"

"No, not yet." Answered Serah and shook her head. It was quite surprising to say the least. "Why?" Back then all they wanted was her blessing and now they didn't marry? "Well, at first it was important to build a new home and until now we'd hoped that you'll wake up someday, so you can be there. And the funny thing is: we thought that you won't wake up in time and decided to marry now. We already have an appointment, and we're in the midst of the preparations."

"What a coincidence..." Muttered Lightning thoughtfully. But was it really just a coincidence? "What about the l'Cie brands? I mean, are the others still l'Cie?"

"No, their brands disappeared shortly after Cocoon's rescue." Said the younger girl and smiled brightly. So they were all human again. Lightning was glad the whole thing was over for them. What she hid from Serah and Snow was that she still had her brand. Or she got a new brand to be exact. It looked different from the brand that Anima gave her. She was still a l'Cie and most likely she got a new Focus. The bad news was that she couldn't remember her vision.

She'd been so long trapped in this dream world that she no longer knew what was dream and what was the vision. She had to remember her Focus quickly, or she'll turn into a Cie'th. But since she didn't want to drag Serah and the others into this again she kept it a secret and will search for her Focus herself. "I'm glad." Was all Lightning said, before changing the subject again. "When is your wedding?"

"In two weeks. And there's still so much to do! We need to arrange Lebreau's bar, check the meal, get you a pretty dress..." From there, Lightning had to interrupt her. "A dress?"

"Yes, of course. You don't think you're going in your uniform, do you?"

"Why not? Many people go with their uniforms to such events. It's professional."

"Maybe, but you're a girl. Also, I'd be very happy if you wear dress on my wedding. Please, Claire." Lightning sighed resignedly. She'd wear the dress one day only and never again. "Alright." At her answer Serah hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Claire. I love you!"

"Yeah..." Mumbled Lightning and patted her on the back. "When will I see the others?" Serah let go of her again to look into her eyes. "I think we should keep it a secret and then announce it during the wedding."

"So that I can steal you the show? No way." Lightning also didn't like to be the center of attention anyway. "Oh, you won't, don't worry. This'll be a nice surprise for everyone."

"But I don't wanna hide in here for two weeks."

"It's only for two weeks..." And once again Serah looked at her with wide puppy dog eyes. She hated this look! Hope always looked at her like that, too. "Alright." She grumbled, while crossing her arms over her chest. "Thank you, Claire!" Lightning remained silent. This is gonna be some long two weeks...

She rather wanted to go out and check this place out and now she had to hide in there and do nothing. And she really wanted to see how her friends are doing. It was kinda weird, considering that she didn't feel like having friends before all this started. She wouldn't have ever dreamed of the thought to rely on someone, or to open up to someone. Even though if the only one she really opened up to beside her sister was Hope. Hope would be nineteen years old now. He and Dajh had certainly the biggest changes behind. After all she met them when they were kids. She was almost certain they have forgotten her. "Serah?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think the others miss me?" Serah looked weirdly shocked when she asked this question. "But of course! We all missed you!"

"You did?"

"Of course! Do you really think they've forgotten about you?" Lightning shrugged. It could've been possible. Kids easily forgot. "Hey, do you wanna see our photo albums?" Of course she had more than one. It wasn't surprising at all.

Serah always had to photograph everything. And even if she wasn't trapped in the crystal pillar, she would have made a lot of pictures. Maybe it's because they didn't have many pictures of their parents and she didn't want to forget important things ever again. Lightning nodded in response and then Serah jumped up and took a few photo albums from a shelf.

What did surprise Light, though, was the fact that she had five albums. Probably one for a year?Lightning opened the first one and the first photo was a group photo with all her friends and the crystallized Cocoon in the background. "We did this right after Cocoon's fall." Informed Serah and it sure was hard to miss. They all looked well and even though they smiled on the photo they looked sad, too.

Except Dajh maybe, he looked like he's the happiest of them to have finally reunited with his father. He even sat on Sazh's shoulders. The Chocobo chick was still in Sazh's hair. She flipped on and the next photo showed the building of New Bodhum. Mostly Snow and his Team NORA were seen in them, but of course there were enough with the Estheim's, Fang, Vanille, Sazh and Dajh. Just like she expected: everything and everyone important's been photographed. The first album was mostly about the construction of New Bodhum and other villages they helped in, so she got through it quickly.

The first photo in the second album showed Serah with at least twenty kids. Her eyes immediately fell on a certain boy with silver hair. "Is this Hope?" She asked, while pointing to the boy. He really stood out from the rest. "Yes. Hope was visiting and I asked him to be on the photo. You know, for good memories sake." Answered Serah and smiled. "And while he was there he helped me a bit with the kids and told me all about school. Told me he was top of the class." Lightning couldn't really hide her mild surprise then. Actually she shouldn't be surprised, she knew Hope was a smart kid. He definitely was better in theory than in the field.

No wonder he became the director...Lightning turned the page, this time there were more photos of her friends. And just as Lightning expected, she saw the biggest changes in Hope and Dajh.
The others didn't change a bit. Outwardly at least. The last photo in the album was a group photo again. It looked almost exactly like the first one, but Hope was already taller than Serah and Dajh also was too tall to be carried by Sazh. The Chocobo chick also grew and you could almost ride her. She also noticed that Hope was wearing a kind of uniform. "That was just before Hope moved to Academia. This is the uniform of the Academy. It's been three years now."

"Three years? Have you seen him lately?" Serah shook her head. "No. In the first year he called often, but then he had no more time for this. We don't know what he's doing there, but it must be a lot if he doesn't have the time to call us. Not even his father has heard of him." That was the last thing she expected of him. When they meet, she'll have to deal with him. "I see." Mumbled Lightning as she worked through the remaining albums. But the peaceful idyll was interrupted when an annoying voice called out. "I'm back!"

Serah immediately stood up to greet her fiancé, while Lightning didn't move from the spot and just looked at the photos. "Hey, sis." Greeted Snow as stupid happy as always, when he entered the living room. "I'm not your sister." Grumbled Light without looking up at him. "Not yet." He corrected and she didn't have to look to know that he had this stupid grin on his face. "You look through the photo albums, huh?"

"Looks like it."

"I'll go make dinner." Said Serah and went to the kitchen. Lightning put the albums on the table and followed her. "I'll help you."

"Thank you, sis." The two sisters worked on the dinner in silence and this gave Lightning some time to think. She wondered how the reunion with her friends will be. Especially between her and Hope. Lots of things changed, they surely had a lot to talk about. And she wondered how much his personality changed. Hopefully not that much.

He did change a lot during their l'Cie journey, so what happened to him after this? She didn't want to imagine how he was now. But she hoped that something from the fourteen year old Hope was still there. Something that was familiar to her.