A/N: This story was written BEFORE the release of the game. I didn't plot anything; this came out of my dream. So what's with this story? I have no idea. One day I dreamt of it and here it is. Took me a couple of tries to write this out (mainly I wrote this on a bus, lol)! Difficult as heck, I don't know why but yeah, it was like a challenge to me... maybe? This story may be broken up into 2 shots since it's quite long… Anyway, enjoy or not! Leave me your comments!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: The battle had not begun yet it was already over. Crimson streams slid off Lightning's once polished armor of silver now stained with grotesque scars. Waiting for this misery to end, a hand extended out to her welcoming her to a new hell.
Nothing to Lose (Part 1)
Lightning flinched at the cold breeze scraping against her torn skin, exposed against the elements. A drop of rain bounced off her eyelashes awakening the sleeping warrior. Slowly opening her eyes, her blue eyes focused upon the black abyss beneath extending for miles. The wind picked up forcing her body to sway listening to sounds of the rattling chain. Tilting up her head, her eyes focused onto a shimmering silver chain and shackles digging into her flesh. Traces of red slid down her arms staining her armor. The feathers in her hips were scorched beyond recognition while other parts of her were drenched in blood.
The sound of beating wings caught her attention. Closing her eyes, she was in no mood to speak. Hell she already knew who it was. Chaos Bahamut appeared over the horizon, halting in front of the warrior. Caius watched Lightning unmoved yet her feathers continued to quiver. He reached out grabbing her chin knowing full well she was awake. Turning her face to the side, his merciless eyes gazed upon a grotesque gash burying into her fair complexion; infection had already begun to take its toll.
"I know you can hear me, Warrior Goddess."
Lightning remained unresponsive.
"You still fight even if defeat has been granted upon you. Listen to my words carefully, Warrior Goddess, you lost everything."
Upon those words, Lightning opened her eyes staring into those amethyst eyes. "I have nothing to lose," she spoke through gritted teeth.
"You believe you have nothing more to lose?" Caius questioned with amusement.
Lightning was done; closing her eyes, she focused her energy on breathing rather than speaking in circles. Amused by the goddess' words, he commanded the large monstrosity to leave. Ascending into the sky, Caius watched Lightning dangling below on a silver thread waiting for time to pass until death consumed her.
Upon the next day, Lightning was at the mercy of heavy rain. The skies lit up spilling lightning across the horizon complimented by clapping thunder. The winds refused to show her mercy; whipping her side to side, Lightning's head collided with the stone cliff. Cursing, she felt the shackles dig deeper into her flesh yet, none of this was nothing in comparison to her hollow stomach. She counted at least a week since her untimely defeat, hanging on death's edge. No food or water slipped through her cracked lips. Bruises were black yet her fighting spirit remained strong. But, she managed to muster strength whenever Caius visited her. Today was absolutely no different.
"Still hanging in there I see."
Once again silence answered his question.
"Your little silence game does not work with me, Warrior Goddess."
Lightning twitched.
"Regardless if you wish to listen or not, I am here to relieve you of your misery."
Misery? Misery? What did he know about misery? Listening to the howling winds, she sensed an enormous power from him. Opening her eyes, she saw the purple blade aimed at her. So, was this the way things were about to end? What else did she have to live for? Her existence mattered not in a world where everybody believed she died.
Closing her eyes, she waited for the blade to strike her. She envisioned her lifeless corpse tumble down the jagged stone edges, slicing or impaling her before bittersweet death consumed her. Her time drew near.
Hearing the sword whipped, she waited. Unexpectedly, her body felt lighter yet it wasn't deaths release, no. The chains above her snapped allowing gravity to pull her down, onto the awaiting back of Chaos Bahamut. Grunting, Lightning mustered her remaining strength to stand up and face Caius. She didn't need her sword to defeat him; she believed she was confident enough to challenge him in shackles. Confidence bubbled within her for a moment but she was no fool; in her current condition she was easily beat.
Placing the sword onto his back, Caius crossed his arms, eyes piercing Lightning. "You wish to fight me?"
"Can it." Lightning hissed. "I don't need to listen to your mockery, Caius. If you want to kill me, do it now."
Caius took a step forward forcing Lightning to take a step back. "There is no rush to end your life on a short notice," Caius paused and lowered his voice. "Keeping you alive already proved to be a wise choice."
Lightning scowled. Turning her gaze upon the abyss, the depths called out to her.
"You believe jumping will be the answer?"
"And you're going to stop me?" Lightning snapped.
"Try."
Lightning moved to the edge gazing into the unknown. Her foot was at the edge waiting for the precise moment. Closing her eyes she took a step forward but her body did not perform what she commanded; instead her body was spun around feeling a fist driven into her stomach. Her eyes snapped open and looked down at his fist paused on her stomach. Everything happened too quickly; Lightning's eyes rolled into the back of her head and succumbed to arms of her sworn enemy.
"Nghhh... What...?"
Darkness. Not even a glimpse of light. Just darkness. Once again she felt her body suspended. Where was it this time she wondered? Was it over a pit of smoldering lava? No, there was no heat. Perhaps she was dangling over another cliff? No, that wasn't right.
"Where am I?"
Her answer arrived in the form of sounds of scurrying rodents across the drenched floor. Sounds of dripping water tapped against the stone floor over and over again. The stench of mildew told her this was a dungeon. Her eyes blinked, wondering what was in store. Was Caius going to end her here, in a dungeon beneath some fortified fortress? Perhaps. The door clicked. Turning her head, she listened to heavy footsteps clicking against the pavement. It was too dark to see his expression but she knew, he watched her.
"Awake?" he questioned. "You slept for a week, Warrior."
"...I have a name..." Lightning muttered.
"Lightning," Caius answered.
Lightning looked at him.
"What do you want?"
"Do you wish to eat?" he questioned. He knew she was tough but even fools would not last long without proper nourishment.
"No," Lightning snapped. "I rather rot in here than have mercy given to me."
"You like making things difficult, don't you?"
Caius approached her reaching out holding her chin. Lightning recoiled from the touch.
"Don't touch me."
"What are you going to do about it?" he asked, circling her.
His hand reached out to the scorched feathers adorned on her hip. Ripping out a bunch of feathers, he threw them aside. Lightning flinched.
"Don't touch me!" she hissed thrashing within the bonds. She cursed at him and these damned shackles!
"Very well," Caius' hand retreated. "I will free you, Goddess only if you vow to be good."
"Suddenly I'm some kind of mutt?" Lightning shot. "I don't need to be freed!"
Already the sounds of snapping chains echoed; Lightning, without warning plummeted onto the floor and landed awkwardly on her ankle. Caius pulled her to her feet as they once again were eye to eye in the darkness. Pulling her by the shackles, he guided her through the door, exiting down an azure pathway aligned with monstrous pillars and solidified beasts.
Arriving at their destination, Lightning was out of breath. Pushing her into a room, her eyes were fixed upon a large open spaced area with the view of Valhalla. Below was an area for her to bathe. Golden fixtures lined the tub's white tiles. The flowing water was green, mixed with herbal fragrances with bubbles lifting off its steamy surface. Moving her eyes toward the curved stone railing, the thought of escape flashed through her mind but was immediately crushed. She was reminded she was several hundred meters off the ground. Plummeting to her doom was not her idea of escape.
"Cleanse yourself," Caius said.
Glancing down at the iron shackles, how on earth was she supposed to do anything? The idea of bathing only appealed to her as the medicinal waters would heal her wounds. Moving behind her, Caius unsnapped buckles on her armor. Startled, Lightning spun around and shoved him away. She shot him an icily glare.
"You require assistance undressing do you not?"
"I can do it on my own!" she spat. Lifting her hands she hissed, "Remove these."
"And you vow not to escape or rather: plummet to your doom?"
Through gritted teeth she replied, "Fine."
Pulling out a silver key from his sleeve, he eyed her wearily. Lightning was no fool. Even without weapons she could potentially inflict harm but in her weakened state, he knew she wouldn't dare. The iron shackles fell onto the marbled floor and Lightning gazed upon her bloodied wrists; the stench of infection repulsed her. Rubbing them, she shot him a dirty look.
"Get out."
Amused by Lightning's words, he exited locking the door tightly. With peace once again granted, she moved her attention to blinds for her to change behind.
Removing her armor proved to be hell for Lightning; every inch of her body screamed in agony while her blue eyes focused in hideous bruises and deep gashes. Once everything was removed, Lightning cautiously stepped out wearily for Caius. She made damn sure he was no where around. The coast was clear; heading to the curved tub, she dipped her toes in testing the water. Only a mere touch of the water proved refreshing. Looking over her shoulder once more, she lowered herself down, biting her lip. Her wounds stung feeling as if they were set ablaze by invisible flames.
The cuts on her wrist screamed in pain yet they were healing. Green magic weaved through each of her wounds sealing them shut. All signs of puss vanished leaving darkened spots as a nasty reminder. Touching the side of her face, she touched the gash and even it too fully healed.
"I look hideous..." Lightning whispered aloud. Her reflection wobbled on the water's surface.
Scanning over her body, the amount of scars bothered her; tracing a finger over a foot long gash down her leg, she wondered how she was bested in battle. She trained under the best but perhaps... Shaking the past out of her head, she focused her energy on cleaning up. She had a feeling Caius would rudely interrupt her peace. Running hands over her arms and legs, inside, she felt a bit better. Just a little.
Quickly getting out of the tub, she hastily moved to behind the blinds spotting a bundle of white cloth. Inching toward it, she picked it up. The bundle rolled out into a white gown with laces.
"He has to be joking..." Lightning muttered. What was she, a fool?
Scanning every inch of the fabric, she discovered it was slightly transparent. Placing a hand under one of the frilly layers, she saw five fingers. Her frown widened. What other choice did she have? She was not going to walk around this place in the nude! Without much of a choice, Lightning slipped on the gown and prepared to drown in her own misery.