EVERYONE NEEDS SAVING.
Lightning feels so weak, she is barely able to stand on her feet, so weak that sometimes she even has to lean over the ancient stonewalls of the Temple of Etro to prevent her fall, as black blood oozes from the magical wound Caius had inflicted on her.
She doesn´t know how it could´ve happened, nor how could´ve she let her guard down in such a stupid way, but what had made the matters worse, was that she had diminished the problem. In her mind, she still wants to justify herself with the fact that, after the blow, the pain had receded quite fast, and though she had definitely felt the depletion of her stamina, it had been barely perceptible, so she had dismissed the event as a non-immediate threat, and rushed to meet her eternal foe.
It had been mistake after mistake.
After several minutes running all around over the intricate maze the ruins became, fighting monsters and having her mind confused by the many Yeuls, she realizes too late the true implications of the curse: she can see them now, trails of black blood left behind in every step she takes, small fragments of her strength and her own life taking color and texture.
And now, standing face to face with her sworn enemy, she regrets her naivety and her foolishness. Caius hadn´t wasted the opportunity to kill her in a single blow: he always wanted to see her like this, coming to him debilitated, at his mercy, almost on her knees, so he could laugh at her before striking the fatal blow. But she wouldn´t have any of that.
"Right…"
By sheer will, Lightning straightens her posture, her stand that of pride and power, before meeting Caius´s threat.
"I will save your soul… even if it´s against your will."
Caius only smirks at her and raises his immense blade, attacking with all his strength.
She redirects the killing blow with her sword, all too weakened to counterattack, and Caius retaliates with a strike that clashes with her blade, producing sparkles for the friction, and sending her reeling backwards. Blow after blow, she sees herself being forced to take defensive strategies, as dark blood makes intricate patterns in the floor beneath them. Blow after blow, she also notices how her body begins to give up on her. Sweat forms on her forehead, and she feels her muscles protesting, refusing to act as she forces them to, as fast as she needs them to.
Caius smirks, knowingly. With a swift movement, he breaks her guard open with another strike, immediately redirecting the blade´s trajectory for the fatal blow. Lightning notices the intent, but her muscles this time completely abdicate on her, and she comes too late to stop the attack, as Caius´s massive sword strikes her chest full force, tearing apart her front black armor, breaking her savior insignia, and opening a deep cut right on her cleavage, fracturing her sternum and clavicle. Lightning staggers backwards, pain clouding her vision for a moment, utter disbelief plastered on her countenance, as bright red blood pours from the wound, mixing with the black one coming from her left breast, just over her heart, and tainting with crimson and black, the beautiful white cloth of her Providence garb.
Still stunned, Lightning looks up, azure orbs wide open, just to receive a direct kick on the jaw that sends her crashing against the wall, and she falls on her knees, one hand gripping her blade hard, the other embedding her fingernails on the floor, as the ancient rocks beneath her are bathed with her blood, the bright crimson and the darkened one. She breathes in and out repeatedly, trying to focus her sight and to recover her strength, but she knows it´s a lost cause, as she feels cold tremors running down her spine, and her sight blackens for a split second.
A pair of large boots approach her, but she refuses to look up. She wouldn´t have the strength to see the smirk on her enemy´s face, even though she perceives his movement, the moment he raises the blade to deliver the killing blow. This is the second time he takes advantage of her in such a dirty way… or could she call it dirty, really? He took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself. Advantage of the mistakes she had made. It´s war after all, isn´t he supposed to do that?
Serah…
She can hear the wind whistling the moment he lowers his blade, straight to her neck, and she grasps the emblem over her chest, the broken, parted in half emblem that had represented her power.
But she´s the Lightning. The Savior! How could she die?! Serah depends on her! The world depends on her!
I can´t die here! I won´t die here! I´ve gotta see Serah!
As if responding to her words, she´s suddenly surrounded by a blinding light, that immediately turns a deep foggy black, and the Chaos envelops her whole, entering her lungs and obstructing her sight, and she feels herself floating for a few seconds, only to fall on her knees over a soft, hot ground that hurts her palms and her knees, the air so warm it almost burns her lungs. With her free hand, she clutches her chest and feels the impossible pain still ripping her off. The fatal wound is still there, and unless she does something, she´ll die. Lightning looks up, but the intensity of the sunrays reflects everywhere she turns, blinding her, refusing her any possibility of orientation.
I-I´ve gotta…
She doesn´t finish the thought, her mind going numb, but her determination lingers, and so she clutches her blade tighter and grits her teeth, as she gathers all her will to force her body to stand, helping herself up with the other hand clutching her knee. Laboriously, the effort coming as a titanic accomplishment, she manages to stand upright on both legs, only to fall head first onto the warm sand, already unconscious, her mixed blood intertwining with the warm sand and forming a muddy pool underneath her, as her last thought goes to her sister´s memory.
Serah… I´m going to see you soon…
ooooOOOOOOXIIIOOOOOooooo
Fang has to accept she´s somewhat stalling her moment of departure. She´s not sure why, since she already knows there´s an urgent need of being in Luxerion to prevent any single ritual to happen. Though she´s well aware they won´t be doing anything until the appointed day, she has to collect everything and everyone she might need in order to succeed. But for the love of Etro, she cannot allow herself to leave this walls, where she had find the most sense of peace she´s had in decades.
"Boss! Boss!"
It´s Adonis who rushes inside, interrupting her train of thoughts.
"What is it, man? Do you really have to barge in without previous warning? What if I´m all naked?"
Against his will, the man blushes at the image her words have put on his brain, but shakes his head to focus.
"S-sorry boss, but I think you should come. It´s the Savior, we had words from the outpost that she´s come to the Dead Dunes."
The warrior turns around, trying to hide the smile that plays on her lips, and feigning nonchalance.
"So what? Let her come, I´m not all that happy with her. The only thing I´ll do is demand an explanation for her behavior. It was her doing that I lost the Clavis." Fang sits on her chair, all angry and flustered.
"I really think you should come, boss. They say she´s injured, and that it´s serious."
"What?" All her anger forgotten, Fang immediately rises from her spot, rushing towards the door. "Why didn´t you say so in the first place?" She passes by the man, pushing him aside on her rush. As they arrive at the lounge, Fang immediately recognizes the white garb and pink locks, but the moment her eyes take the whole picture, her face contorts in a mask of worry. Lightning is unconscious, her limp body tenderly resting on Bigg´s arms, one of the thieves she had met in Yuusnan, who, uncharacteristic of his hard and rough mannerism, is carrying her with too much care, as if she were made of crystal and he were scared of breaking her. Fang´s eyes meet with the man´s, and she can see how utterly terrified and sad he seems, a haunted expression plastered on his face, and the woman can´t do nothing but sympathize.
"Boss… she´s…"
Fang only nods, but can´t believe what she´s seeing as she approaches. With her head resting on the thief´s shoulder, Lightning´s eyes are closed tightly, her countenance that of deep pain, and her once white and pristine garb is tainted with blood all over, red and black covering most of her clothes, contrasting with the deep paleness of her already pale skin.
"Bring her to my room. And send for the sorcerer. We´ll need all the help we can get."
As the thief does her bidding, Fang lingers, interested in the pool of blood the woman had left behind. There, she can see the distinct texture, the mixing of bloods, and she can sense too something dark emanating from it.
I might not be a savior, or a priestess for that matter, but I´ll be damned if this is not done by Chaos. She clenches her teeth in worry. Helping Lightning is gonna be harder than I thought.
As she arrives at her dormitory, Fang finds it hard to enter, since the door is already crowded with many thieves, trying to get a look at the dying Savior.
"Off with your curiosity! Only females are allowed here!"
Many male thieves moan, but immediately comply, their obedience coming partly out of respect, partly out of fear, and Fang is finally able to make it inside. Lightning is already resting on her humble bed, blood still coming out of her injuries. Fang frowns, and without further ado, she rips off the clothes and unceremoniously tosses the remnants on the floor, as she eyes the five female thieves that remained in the room. Without words needed, they immediately follow her desires, and help Fang to free the wounded Savior from her now useless armor. They proceed with swiftness but with care, until they strip Lightning off completely, leaving only her black panties, her semi naked body being immediately covered with a silk cloth.
Now Fang can see, the trail of open flesh that travels up from her right ribs and into her left shoulder, drawing a deep wound that, as they apply wet towels to clean the blood, sometimes they can take glimpses of bone. As they make their way into cleansing the soft skin from blood, the raven haired woman discovers the intricate wound over the pale left breast, where she once set eyes on the brand of the l´Cie curse. In its place, now there´s an opening of the flesh, in the form of an ill-drawn star, that produces black dense smoke, and that still oozes dark blood, no matter how much they cleanse it.
Oh Lightning… what in the word of Etro happened to you?
"Boss, the sorcerer is here."
"Let him through, and continue the cleansing of her wounds." She rises from her spot, and without previous warning, threateningly takes the man by the collar, bringing his face very close to hers. "There´s something I want to tell you. You see, not only I´m the boss of this place, but more specially, she´s a very dear friend of mine. So you can imagine what will happen to you if something where to happen to her…"
"I-I´ll do my best… B-boss! I swear no my life." The man stutters his response but tries to be reassuring, and she releases him slowly.
As the sorcerer inspect the wounds, Fang gives the supine woman a look of despair, and turns around in a rush, stepping out of the ruins, the air feeling suddenly too dense for her to breathe.
Twilight is falling upon them already, and the still hot air fills Fang´s lungs, somewhat refreshing her. The tall Pulsian inhales deeply and frowns, not knowing her next curse of action, until she decides to just go for a stroll. Fang walks slowly, following the path of the west, her thoughts a complete turmoil, as she seeks calmness in the light of the dying sun.
"She´s so amazing, isn´t she? I bet so many people would be heartbroken if she were to die…"
Her thoughts interrupted by the childish voice, Fang stops her strides and sighs in tiredness.
"What do you want, Lumina? As you can see, I´m not in a mood for your pranks."
"Aww c´mon, Fangy, it´s been quite a while now since last I saw you. I´m sure you missed me."
"Nope, not in the least." Angrily, the woman turns around to face her talker. "Spit it out already. What do you want now?"
The azure eyed pouts mockingly, tilting her head to one side, as she gingerly circles the angry warrior. "Oh Fang… I´m hurt. Don´t you think I´m only here because I´m concerned about Lightning´s well being?"
Her words set Fang´s anger on fire, and she makes her crimson blade to dance menacingly towards the girl.
"Don´t you dare place a hand on her, because I swear I´ll split your little throat in two."
But Lumina is far too fast for the woman, so she jumps backwards, avoiding the blades, and shakes a finger mockingly.
"Now now, that´s being plain rude, Fangy. I came here in good terms."
"I really don´t care what you claim your intentions to be. If it´s you, it´s got to be bad intentions. Just give me one more reason, and I sure as hell will give you that spanking you´ve earned for centuries."
Lumina laughs heartily this time. "Well wouldn´t you want that? That´s for sure a wish coming from your heart!" The girl laughs some more, making Fang seethe in anger, but the woman fights not to fall in her game and just ignores her. "I´m sorry to disappoint you, Fangy, but that´s something you won´t be doing soon. But pushing all foolishness aside, I came to warn you: I know of a deeper desire that rests inside of you, and that right now you´re refusing to accept."
Fang smirks at her words, shielding the bloody lance once more. "If you´re talking about the Clavis, I think you came too late, my wish to prevent Vanille from performing the Soulsong is already out in the open, and known by everyone, even the Savior."
"Ooooh… our dear Savior…" Lumina flaps her eyelashes mockingly, "yes, I indeed know she´s already aware of your true intentions, but I´m sure you don´t know something. The moment she saw you, especially after your cold reception, the Chaos around her shifted. Your previous encounter actually made me wonder if hiding your feelings from her could´ve hurt her at all?" She lets the words linger for a moment, and then sighs. "But I´m sure you know I´m not talking about that."
Fang raises a delicate eyebrow, weary of asking the question. The stretched silence makes Lumina giggle, understanding all too easily the woman´s concern.
"Bingo! I think you already know what I´m talking about."
"No. Not a clue. So if you´re not gonna say any coherent thing today, you´ll have to excuse me but I have a guest to attend."
"Ah yes… you´re soooo wishing to see those beautiful blue eyes open, right?" the sweet honey embedded on the girl´s voice sends shivers down Fang´s back, and her senses speak of danger. But against her best judgment, the raven haired warrior speaks up her mind.
"I don´t like your tone, Lumina. What´s this circus about?"
The young girl approaches the warrior once more, playful steps making circles around the tall figure.
"I´ve always wondered why do you like Lightning this much, you know?" Lumina looks intently at Fang, who eyes her with her most deadly glare, but the girl just giggles. "I mean, it can´t be her hair nor her eyes, after all, Serah and I have those too, and you hate my guts, so, it can´t be those." The girl takes several steps more around the woman, one finger over her lips, mocking a thoughtful pose, as she keeps her piercing stare on the tall warrior.
"Why are you suddenly so interested in my tastes? I´m starting to wonder if you have a crush on me."
Fang teases her, but the playful and enigmatic look that Lumina sends her makes her even more weary, though the girl continues her monologue as if she hadn´t been interrupted.
"It could be her body. Have you seen it? Seen her naked? She is absolutely beautiful, isn´t she? Her perfectly formed curves, modeled with those toned muscles, make her body appear as if chiseled by a master artist…" Lumina sighs teasingly, as she clasps her hands in front of her chest. "She´s like a dream come true…"
The images evoked by her words involuntarily make Fang blush, which sets her anger anew, and she storms towards the building, only to be stopped by Lumina who steps in front of her, blue eyes fiercely piercing hers, a devilish smile on her features.
"But of course not! Silly me. It is her eyes! Those eyes so full of fire and determination and power. And I bet it´s her cold and strong personality too, who speaks of no regrets, no turning back, no defeat."
Fang growls, and her reaction brings a triumphant smile on Lumina´s lips.
"But I do wonder. Would you love her if you knew she´s not the same Lightning you met centuries ago? She might not be human anymore, you know?"
"I know that." Fang tries to walk away again, but Lumina stands on her path once more, icy blue eyes blazing with excitement.
"But the most important issue is, would you still love her this much, if you ever see her weak, scared, defeated? Have you ever seen her cry like a child?"
Fang smirks this time, and bends just a little at the waist, to bring her face closer to the girl´s.
"Well, I have some news for you: what you said seems rather a description of your petty self, and guess what? She´s not you, Lumina. But if you must know, I´ve already seen her weak, scared and defeated; I have seen her at her worst, and my feelings haven´t changed at all. So, if you´re done with your childish babbling, I´d rather go see if my friend is better, than to spend another minute with you, silly girl."
With that, Fang walks away from her, leaving Lumina alone, wishing she would ponder the mean words she has thrown at her. But knowing the spoiled brat, her words must´ve hit deaf ears.
For all that I care…
"She´s the Savior, remember?" Lumina calls on her once more, emotion on her voice. "She´s come to this world to make all of our wishes come true, no matter how small or deep inside us they are. Her mission is to save us through the accomplishment of our deepest desires." The girl raises her voice to be heard, just close to yelling, but Fang only growls and shakes her head, refusing to acknowledge her anymore. "Even yours Fangy! Don´t forget that when you see her!"
Fang doesn´t turn around, not even once, angry and flustered to no end, so she misses the small, soft smile that illuminates the pinkette´s lips, replacing for a moment the sarcastic grin usually plastered on the girl´s face.
ooooOOOOOXIIIOOOOoooo
A/N: I think this is my first Flight fic that I write, though it won´t be long, I´m actually planning only two chapters (though honestly, I´m not sure, I tend to prolong the stories too much). I think we can take a wild guess as to what is Fang´s deepest desire, but whether she´ll get it or not we´ll have to wait to know it.
Biggs is one of the thieves that challenges Lightning to their trials, back in Yusnaan, and who later acclaims her when she overcomes their most dangerous trial. I exaggerated a little bit his reaction, by having him worshipping her, so you can imagine his feelings when he carries in his arms a defeated and dying Lightning.
About Lumina, well… I REALLY adored that girl, I mean, how could you not hate her guts? XD but adored even more the fact that I had suspected Lumina would end up being Lightning herself, and the idea made me wonder how had she interacted with Lightning´s most precious friends. We know that she took care of Sazh, and that always pissed off Snow (XD good for her!), and also that she became best friends with Vanille (I swear, that girl could be friends with a Chocobo Eater!), but they never said anything about Fang, so I hope you like the way she teases her too. I wanted her to be a bit of the teasing-helping that she always procures to Lightning, meaning that she cares for Fang as well, maybe not as the Flight fans would like, she might be too young for that (maybe… she seems like a 13-year-old, so why not some sort of hero-worship?) but she still cares.
I really hope you liked it. Words and comments are always welcomed!
