A/N: Tes the Fanfiction, and my family in Grand Pulse...Oh how I wish I really was living in the world of Final Fantasy XIII. Or...MY version of it is more like it, and I think you all know my reasons of choosing my own version over Square Enix.
Now we go on with the story. It's Christmas here on Grand Pulse, and Lightning is celebrating the holidays with her l'Cie family. Not just them, but they also have a very special and talented guest star. Me! ...Oh, and Chantal too from SnowEmbrace.
Ha, ha, ha. I'm just kidding. Chantal is the real special guest star. I am not one who withers in arrogance.
Civilization has really improved on Grand Pulse since the fall of Cocoon. Of course it's only been a couple of months.
It's a few days before it's Christmas and everyone is getting ready for the holidays. If only PSICOM could. Boy, how evil never sleeps. Not even for the holidays. It's a snowy day, New Bodhum is very festive for Christmas. Banners and lights all over the city. Christmas Tree on nearly every street. Snow all over the grasslands and sidewalks.
Funny thing is that the Crystal Memorial Fountain really touches up on the season.
The former l'Cies are setting up the decorations for Christmas. Hope and Serah are setting up the tree. Hope takes the lower branches while Serah's doing the top while humming 'Deck the halls', and Snow is holding the ladder steady. Lightning is setting up the fire place and Fang is just sitting by the bar enjoying some wine.
"Can't believe Christmas is near. Man, time sure does fly." Sazh says.
"It will be nice to spend the holidays together." Snow says.
"Yeah, it sure does beat spending it with a group of kids." Fang says with a chuckle, then Lightning joins in as well.
Snow seems offended, he knows that she's talking about his group NORA. Serah starts walking down the ladder. "I think it's nice that one of Patrick's friends is coming by to spend the holidays with us."
Chantal is an old friend of mine. When I was sixteen, I signed up for the Pen Pal system to a Middle School in Palumpolum back on Cocoon. I ended up with Chantal. We've been writing to each other ever sense.
From what I've learned, she's a shy girl about three years younger then me, so she should be eighteen right now. Very friendly and understanding, trustworthy even. However, that doesn't mean I could tell her my dark secrets, such as my fathers death. Really smart, an Honor's Student even.
If anything, Chantal is a lot like me before the Cie'th incident with my dad. The only difference between us is that I dropped out of school.
Recently, I heard she became a student for Eden university while I was becoming a l'Cie with Lightning and the others trying to save the world from our Focus. I can only imagine how much damage our salvation to the world caused to her life. But from what I've heard two months after the fall, she's doing very well. Since Eden is no more, she went to a small college in Palumpolum, back to her original home town.
What's funny is that she's in the same hometown as Hope and yet the boy has never heard of her. They say 'it's a small world', but I guess Cocoon isn't small enough.
On my last letter, Chantal has some free time since school is closed, so I offered for her to spent the holidays with my family. And she accepted. It's a great opportunity. Chantal wanted to see Grand Pulse after I told her about everything during my adventure. It would be nice to meet and see her in person. Plus she really wants to meet my friends who've been like a family to me...and Snow.
Even through I told her what a jerk Snow is, she's curious to meet him. She even said, 'I'm also curious to meet this Snow guy, even if you say he's a jerk. I'd prefer talking with him directly before judging him.' Though I do understand what she means about judgment, that I can relate.
"I just hope this friend is not like him." Fang says, crossing his legs. "I can't tell if I should feel more sorry for Snow or myself."
Everyone looks at Fang like she said something stupid. "Leave him alone, Fang. You know why he's like this." Lightning says.
"Yeah. Yeah. The whole 'Killing-my-Cie'th-father' scenairo. I'm familiar with that speech." Fang says.
"Fang. It was a horrible dark day for Patrick." Serah says with worry.
"Even I felt bad." Lightning says. Even everyone looks at her like she wasn't expecting that, since from the start Lightning never really liked me cause I was a Mercenary when we met. "Well, killing his dad was one thing cause he turned Cie'th, but it was when he was cutting himself that was terrible. I mean, I get he was upset about what he has done, but that was no reason to hurt himself like that."
Everyone mutters in agreement. "Anyways, you should know how he feels at least, Fang. After all, what would happen if Vanille turned Cie'th? You even turned my son into a l'Cie just to save her." Sazh says.
Fang just gives Sazh a look, then looks away groaning in silent. She knows he is right. "Well, all that is behind him, isn't it?" Vanille asks.
Lightning knows it's true, since I throw away the dagger I used on my dad and myself after we woke up from crystal stasis. "It is, and I think it's nice he has other friends. I can't wait to meet Chantal." Serah says.
"From everything he mentioned about her...do you think she knows about the Cie'th incident he went through?" Hope asks.
Everyone else wonders as well. "He didn't say anything about telling her, so I'm guessing no." Sazh says.
"It's probably best if we didn't say anything to her." Serah says, and everyone else agrees. "Hope. Would you mind helping me put up the lights?"
"Not at all." Hope says.
I await at the drop off by the Crystal Pillar, in the snow with Snowflake.
After the fall, many people choose to live on Grand Pulse, others to stay on Cocoon. The united military force known as ORPHAN decided to use few of the warships to do deliveries, travels and drop offs between Cocoon and Grand Pulse until we have installed the Grand Elevator.
I am right now waiting by the drop off for Chantal. I just wish there was a warm place for me to wait in.
"Ah-choo!" Snowflake looks at me a bit startled after hearing my sneeze. I take a drink from my cup of hot chocolate. "I hate the cold!" I say, wrapping my trench coat tight for warmth, then look at Snowflake. "You're lucky you have a feather coat keeping you warm...and haven't endured being out in the cold rain for weeks, and then hours at the Yuna concert."
Snowflake only give a soft kawh. I just hope Chantal doesn't keep me waiting for too long.
After five agonizing frozen minutes, an airship arrives. Once it lands, it unloads all the people who are riding. Chantal gave me a photo of her on the last letter she sent me, so I know who she is. I just told her to look out for a male hunter dressed in black with a white chocobo.
I look through the crowd of thousands, until I have my eyes on an eighteen year old girl in straight, brown-grayish hair, with a backpack and a luggage bag. That's her.
Normally, Chantal is in a hot pink shirt with the waist black that partly reveals her left shoulder, silver ruffled skirt with black leggings, white shoes with black laces and black elevator heels. But she is right now in a thick deep red coat with a colorful scarf to protect herself from the cold.
I approach her. "Chantal?"
I have her attention. "Yes?" Chantal gets a look at me. Black trench coat. Black pants. Boots. Black fadora with a Mockingjay pen and a white chocobo behind me. She found me. "Patrick!" Chantal seems pretty excited, the girl even pulls me into a hug.
I hug her back without hesitation, not only because I'm glad to meet her in person, but I'm also freezing and can use some warmth...I probably shouldn't mention that second part. "It's good to see you, Chantal." I say.
After our hug, we get a good look at each other. "Wow. You are...different then I was expecting." Chantal says.
"I'd say the same thing about you, but that goes against everything I believe in about judgment." I say. "Well...welcome to Grand Pulse." Chantal gets a look at the view of the world, which is snow. mostly snow and ice. "Yeah...not much as I mentioned it. It's mainly amazing in the spring and summer. Sorry about that."
"No, it's fine. It's just perfect." Chantal says.
I chuckle a little. "I see you're in spirits like your letters say." Chantal giggles. "Now let's head to my place, I'm becoming a popsicle out here."
I introduce Chantal to Snowflake. She really enjoys the chocobo, and I can see that Snowflake is taking a liking back to Chantal, rubs her head onto Chantal. Once I load her luggage on the settle I help Chantal get on Snowflake. Then I hop on.
"You ever rode a chocobo?" I ask as I grab the reins.
"No. I haven't." Chantal says, nervously.
"Well, then you're in for, literally, a ride of a lifetime." I say. "Hang on."
Chantal wraps her arms around me. I command Snowflake to run. Chantal screams as Snowflake runs through the winds. Chantal has her head buried on my back, holding on tightly.
"You doing okay back there?" I ask her, loudly enough to be heard over the winds.
Chantal doesn't answer at first. I know I heard screaming from the start, but then she's laughing with enjoy as she raises her head. "Wow! This is amazing!"
This is defiantly her first time riding a chocobo. Frightened yet excited.
We ride through the snowy fields of Grand Pulse. Chantal seems pretty amazed by the world so far. "I still can't believe a world like this exists, even from Grand Pulse of all worlds."
"Well, the Sanctum and Fal'Cie weren't too far off from what they were telling us about Grand Pulse." I say. "This world is a place ruled by the brutal struggle for survival. When I first arrived with Lightning and the others, there was nothing but crumbling ruins and bloodthirsty wildlife. And from what Vanille and Fang mentioned: There is no such thing as mercy. Only a never-ending string of trials that weed out the weak, and leave only the strong."
Chantal seems a bit shocked by my words. "Wow. That's...that's scary. It's no wonder people fear this world."
"Indeed. But who's to say we can't change the laws of nature?" I say, earning a surprise look from Chantal. "From what I've learned during my travels as l'Cie is that we look out for each other. Even against the toughest of battle and trials, we will prevail. Such as saving Cocoon from its own destruction. Grand Pulse can try to weed out the weak, but it also guides the strong to protect the weak."
"Wow...that's deep." Chantal says.
I smile giving Chantal a small nod, then that moment is ruined when a bellow roar echoes. "Uh oh. Speaking of which." We both look ahead to see a Behemoth charging at us. Chantal screams as the Behemoth leaps at us. "Duck!" Chantal and I take cover as Snowflake bends down and slides on the snow. The Behemoth leaps over us, just barely.
Snowflake stands back up and turns to the Behemoth, who's snarling as it turns to us. "Great. I thought those Behemoths went to hibernation." I get off of Snowflake, glaring at the Behemoth. "Okay, beast! You think I'm scared of you? I once faced the end of the world, taken on the entire Sanctum army and defeated several powerful Fal'Cie!" I would also add 'killed my own father' but I prefer not to with Chantal presence. "A-bring it!"
The Behemoth roars and charges towards me. Chantal is worried. I start off in Synergist, strengthening myself with Bravery, Protect and Vigilance, then I shift to one of my secondary roles: Sentinel. The second the beast is close, I do Vendetta, and grab the Behemoth by the head and teeth when it strikes.
Chantal is surprise, I was pretty sturdy from the impact, didn't flinch and only slid back slowly by three feet. I grit at my teeth holding the monster back, then I give it a hard repel, causing it to lose its balance and collapse on the ground.
While it's knocked down, I quickly shift back to Synergist, give myself Haste, then I went to Saboteur. I take out my bow and do Black Shot, shooting the Behemoth with dark arrows. The beast suffers Deprotect, Poison and Slow from the shots.
Chantal is amazed by my fight, single-handly taking down a Behemoth. Once the creature is back on its legs, I shift into Commando, attacking it with my full strength. I am running to the sides, shooting rapidly with my bow and arrows. The The arrows pierces the beasts flesh, but it shows no signs of stopping. The Behemoth leaps in front of me. I swipes, but I jump, landing on its shoulder then shoot it right in the eye.
The Behemoth bellows in agony. It snaps its jaw right at me. I leap back to avoid the attack. Midair, I conjure a Ruinga in my hand, and enhanced my arrow with it. I land, loading the Ruin Arrow on my bow. I aim at the behemoth and fire.
The arrow pierces, then the Ruin magic takes over and explodes, sending the Behemoth flying.
I quickly get on Snowflake, making a get away while the monster is staggering. "Hyah!" Snowflake obeys and runs off.
We were able to out run the Behemoth before it manages to get back on its feet. But we didn't let our guard down. Just then, we are being chased by Snow Wolves. "Man! You've gotta be kidding me!" I say. "Hang on, Chantal!"
I command Snowflake to run faster. Even so, the wolves are still catching up to us. Two of them chase after us on the sides. I shoot the one of the left, hit it right in the mouth. The one on the right pounces, and I command Snowflake to move left. We avoid the attack.
Snowflake runs right into the trench canyon. The wolves follows us all the way in. "They're on our tail." Chantal shouts in worry.
I look up at the cliffs. I have an idea. "Not for long!" I create another Ruin Arrow. I load and aim for a high point of the cliff. I don't shoot, I try to find the right spot to shoot. Once I do, I let it fly.
The arrow flies high and fast. The second it hits the cliff, it explodes and the boulders starts falling. Chantal is worried, the boulders falling are straight ahead. Either we're going to be crushed or blocked by a dead end and devoured by Snow Wolves. Either way, we're dead.
"Haste!" I cast Haste on Snowflake, and the chocobo sprints at high speed. Even the cold stings twice as much, three times for me.
The boulders crashes to the ground, blocking the path the very second we made it through. The Snow Wolves stop. For them, it's a dead end, and a loss for dinner.
Chantal and I manage to make it out.
After five minutes of fleeing, we were able to relax. We arrive at the cove, the entrance to New Bodhum.
"Patrick. You were awesome back there." Chantal says.
"Guess you can say being a l'Cie has its benefits." I say. We arrive at New Bodhum. Chantal is surprised once we pass through the force field like a bubble. "We're here."
Chantal gets a view of New Bodhum. "Wow." She hops off of Snowflake. "It's like a winter wonderland. It's amazing."
I hop off of Snowflake as well, but still hold onto the reins. "It is, isn't it? Of course the town is more lively in the summer. When it's the beach season." I start walking. "This way."
I show Chantal around the city while we make our way to my house. There's not too much sight seeing around here since it's mostly snow and ice in the winter season. The one place Chantal really enjoyed seeing was the memorial fountain. She's never seen anything like it.
A mountain made entirely out of crystal. And with it are statues of myself and the rest of the l'Cie gang, and a statue of the Cocoon Crystal Pillar on the top center.
It's pretty amazing.
After a short sight seeing, I now take Chantal to my house. I put Snowflake back into the stables. Chantal is nervous about meeting Lightning and the others, but I tell her they're friendly people. Excluding Snow.
That said, we go inside.