Light found herself very bored one day. She was supposed to be scouting ahead of the group in the northeastern portion of the Archylte Steppe that was infected with navidons, but she found herself wandering atop a Chocobo to the side of a very large and very steep steppe.

Absentmindedly, she began to stroke the Chocobo's neck, wondering how long it would take her friends to realize she was missing. Deciding it didn't matter because she was her own person and she was so bored, Light motioned for the Chocobo to jump, and it did so.

Before her was a winding path between two high cliffs. As she began her slow trek, she lost herself in the lovely hue of the rocks on either side of her, and of the grass beneath her feet. Everything around her was a color she had never seen before. They were muted, but at the same time, oddly flashing microscopic details Light would have never noticed otherwise.

"Whoa," she breathed to the large fowl beneath her, halting it by tugging at its golden feathers.

Before them stood a small valley with a monstrous Ochu sitting at the far end and to the left of the gap where her path continued on. The sheer size and ugliness of the beast shocked her inert. Would it notice if she walked by it? She immediately struck the question down. It had its offspring crawling around its feet. The thing was probably hyper aware to thwart any possible danger. As if anything would dare challenge that incredible beast.

With no option but forward or retreat at her disposal, it was against Light's nature not to attempt to get past this valley. She ushered the Chocobo along, running against a slight breeze that wafted in from the unseen tops of the high steppes. It carried the scent of the monsters around her, the flourishing nature around her, and something strange that she couldn't place in such a setting. She escaped the threat of the Ochu with a simple roar for a warning. Sighing, she slowed down as she entered the familiar hue of the dim-bright shade of the path.

When she approached another opening in the path, she realized what that strange smell was. Ruins.

The sight was amazing. Stone pillars half buried in the dirt rose high above her on her left. A small ridge ran along the wall at her right until it curved around and hid behind a large stone building. Monsters crept along the yellowing grass of the ruins, kicking up dust and barring their teeth at each other. On the far side to her left was the opening of yet another path that was raised at least twenty feet into the air. The sky above the archeopolis was like a clear, crystal blue ceiling in the far away distance.

As much as Light didn't want to abandon the safety the Chocobo's speed and agility gave her, she figured it was for the best to set the Chocobo free and spare it a gruesome fate amongst these monsters. On her own two feet, she slowly walked through the yellowed grass, careful to leap from one monster's blind spot to another's. Soon, she was walking up the steps of an ancient ruin, which twisted around the square and half-sunken building. However, the thought of the inside of the ruin peaked her interest.

Inside, the ruin was dark and a charcoal grey. The air was chilly from the stone and the lack of sunlight, but she found it comfortable. The sound of the monsters outside was muted to a dull roar from where she stood. Just as abruptly as the light turned to shade inside this building, so was the ruin filled with a dazzling bright light that blinded Light and knocked her to the ground. She screamed, heard a strange screech from somewhere nearby in the ruin, and silenced herself immediately. Lithely, she leapt behind a pile of rubble in a corner, searching for the source of the noise.

A hair-raising bellow startled Light. She whipped her head around, preparing to find a Cieth stalking its way into the ruin, but found herself still alone. Where had that unbearably loud noise come from? That was when she realized that it was the same battle that had seemed muted moments before. Why was it suddenly loud again? Perhaps the sound seemed to reverberate off the walls differently from this angle.

Light attempted to stand and analyze her surroundings, seeing as how she actually was alone, but quickly discovered that she was already standing. On four legs. That were pink. And covered in fur.

She was a cat.


Hope was reluctant enough to see Light go off and scout by herself as it was. And when she was an hour late, he was a little more than worried, if he was being completely honest. Fang said she would be fine, that it was Light they were talking about and she could take care of herself. Certainly that was true. Hope didn't doubt it. But he was utterly terrified at the thought of an Adamantoise stepping on her, an Amphisbaena ambushing her, or a Cieth sneaking up on her. It would break his heart if she disappeared, because she was his heart. He was head over heels for her, consumed by the biggest crush he'd ever had.

So naturally, after another hour had passed, Hope was genuinely scared that something had happened to her. He paced along his side of the camp around the fire, attracting the attention of his fellow l'Cie.

"Hey, what's the problem, Hope?" Snow sat up and looked at Hope with a distressed expression.

"Lover boy here is worried that Light won't come back," Fang jeered. Vanille giggled at her words, covering her mouth.

"Oh, really? Well, I think she'll be just fine. You know how Light is: she refuses to give up anything, including her life." Snow rolled one of his shoulders, hoping to encourage his younger friend.

Hope wasn't satisfied with this at all. What if something honestly had happened to her? What if she was in trouble right now and everyone just assumed she could get out of it? Hope knew how bad it was to have things assumed about a person. People assumed him to be weak and useless, when in fact he was very useful in his own ways. He wouldn't let assumptions get in the way of him helping Light. He refused to let that happen. And since no one else seemed to want to help Light, he would go off by himself and tell Light what was on his heart. With iron determination and a slightly faltering expression, Hope stood apart from the throng of his friends and faced them all.

"I'm going to look for Light."

Snow jumped to his feet and caught Hope's shoulder. Fang and Vanille glanced up with anxious attention.

"Are you sure about this?" Hope stared at Snow for a long moment, then nodded his head with finality. "Then I'll come with you."

"No, thanks. I-I want to do this on my own." Snow watched Hope for a second, analyzing him and wondering if this was the best thing to do. In the end, Snow thought it would be best for Hope to do something by himself for once (and gathering coconuts didn't count). A learning experience of sorts.

"Sure." He smiled and affectionately patted Hope's head. "I expect you back by sunrise, alright?

Hope set off for the northeastern region of the Archylte Steppe, the part of Gran Pulse Light was supposed to have scouted. The night was dark, the stars were twinkling, and the diurnal monsters were replaced with ferocious nocturnal ones. He thought if he didn't find Light soon, he'd be in a heap of trouble getting back by himself.


A/N: This was supposed to be a one-shot request fill for Darkflame and fire, but I decided to make it into a short multi-chap fic. Chapters won't be too long, nor will the overall length of this story. Supposed to be light-hearted and with only mildly serious undertones.

Enjoy and review.