Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Here's chapter 2:
Time after Time:Chapter 2: Orphan's Cradle:
Lightning's body and mind was trapped inside an illusion machine, created by Orphan. When Orphan tricked Lightning into going in a "Time Portal", he immediately casted a spell that knocked her out unconsciously. When she was unconscious, Orphan placed her inside the illusion machine, which fooled her into thinking that she went back in time. The illusion machine is a machine that combines Lightning's memories and a fake virtual reality world of Bodhum, Eden, and Palumpolum. When the gang broke into Orphan's Cradle, they found Lightning's body trapped in the machine. They tried everything to free Lightning, but Orphan told them that the only way to free her from the illusion is for her to regain back her memories. However, the more time Lightning is inside the virtual world, the more memories she loses. That's when Fang decided to go inside that machine and help Lightning regain her memories, but Lightning's been there for 7 days (which is 7 years in that illusion machine) and her fake virtual memories replaced her real ones. If Lightning can't remember anything, then her mind is trapped in that illusion forever.
The illusion machine beeped, which means that someone had left the virtual world. The illusion machine looks like a giant refrigerator, except it has thousands of buttons and switches. Inside the illusion machine are helmets and goggles for the person to enter the virtual world.
Hope: Fang, are you alright?
Fang took off the helmet and goggles and exited out from the machine, leaving Lightning inside.
Fang: Ugh…why do I feel so light headed?
Sazh: That's because the illusion machine is trying to get rid of your memories and replaced them with some fake ones.
Fang sat on the ground, rubbing her head.
Snow: So, how's Lightning?
Fang: You mean your girlfriend, Claire?
Snow: Huh?
Fang: Lightning is a complete goner.
Hope: What!? Don't say that!
Fang: It's true! She doesn't remember me, she doesn't remember her name Lightning, she doesn't remember anything! It's like she's a different person!
Sazh: Well that's what the machine is supposed to do. It screws with her real memories and changes it to whatever Lightning's mind wants it to be.
Vanille: So what was it like to enter Lightning's virtual world?
Fang: Well…..She looks really happy…she's in medical school…she's going out with Snow who is also in medical school….
Snow: Whoa, what!?
Fang: The machine combines her memories with the virtual ones. Apparently she remembers you and wants you as her boyfriend in her little fantasy world…
Snow: Hm…sounds…nice…
Fang: Also, Serah is an alcoholic whore!
Snow: What!? Why would Lightning want that?
Sazh: It's probably sibling rivalry. If Lightning wants Snow to be her boyfriend then she has to make Serah unpleasant, so there's no competition.
Hope: So…there's no chance of getting her back?
Fang sighed and patted Hope on the back. It's obvious that Hope has a "thing" for Lightning.
Fang: I'm sorry kiddo…but I don't know how to get her memories back…
Hope: Well couldn't you have just told her everything!? Just tell her that she's in a machine and that she's in a fake world!?
Sazh: She can't. If she does, then Lightning's mind would go overboard and ALL of her memories will be erased. It'll be like amnesia, only ten times worse.
Hope: Well…what did you tell her?
Fang: Well, for starters, I went along with Lightning and observed her and the fake Snow. I didn't want to look suspicious but I guess I did. I also beat the shit out of the fake Serah.
Snow: What!?
Fang: Well why not? She's not real anyway!
Snow: In Lightning's fake memories it is.
Fang: Well, anyway, I kind of went crazy. I mean, Lightning was so different! She was so brainwashed in this virtual shit, that I couldn't take it anymore! I almost ratted out that she's in a virtual world, but I quickly disconnected myself.
Fang then twisted one of the switches, causing a screen to appear next to the machine.
Vanille: What's that?
Sazh: It looks like a list of her memories.
The list of memories were divided into different categories.
Snow: Hey Fang, click on the people category! I want to see myself there!
Fang shrugged and opened a file of the fake virtual Snow. The screen displayed a picture of the fake Snow and the profile of him.
Snow: Well, well, well. Look at me! I look….different…
Fang: You mean more handsomer and professional looking?
The virtual Snow had shorter hair and wasn't wearing a bandana. And instead of Snow's usual trench coat, the virtual Snow was wearing a blue polo and plaid shorts. He was also wearing glasses.
Snow: What the! I look like a geek!
Fang: Well, in Lightning's world, you're apparently hot and sexy.
Snow: Ew, why would Lightning do that to me?
Sazh: It's her world, Snow! She gets to change whatever person or thing she wants. Snow looks too much of a rebel and stupid? Why not add some polo and glasses? See how she can easily change something!
Snow: Well…let's look at my profile…lets see…21 years old…goes to Eden's University…a straight A student…plays golf…has a cat name fluffy…wow…
Hope: Am I in there?
Fang: I don't know. Let's look.
After a couple minutes of searching, they found a profile of virtual Hope.
Fang opened the file and everyone saw handsome and tall muscular man.
Fang: What the hell is this?
The profile said: HOPE ESTHEIM. A 20 year old ex-boyfriend of Claire Farron. Hope goes to Eden's University Law School and met Claire Farron at the beach in Bodhum. The two broke up, because Hope had an affair with Serah Farron.
Hope: Whoa! Why did Lightning made me older and made me had an affair with Serah?
Sazh: Probably because she wants some drama in her life. No one wants a super duper happy life, you know.
Snow: Hah! Lightning chooses me instead of you!
Hope: That's not fair!
Fang: You guys, calm down, this isn't real! Beside, Hope had sex with your fiancé, so he wins.
Snow: What!?
Hope: Oh, burn!
Sazh: You guys, we need to stop going off topic and help Lightning!
Snow: Well, what can we do?
Vanille: I know! We get someone like Snow and replace him with the virtual one!
Fang: That's it! We get the real Snow to help Lightning get her memories back!
Snow: Cool! Should I go inside?
Fang: Well, we need a good time for you to tell her. If you randomly start telling her things, she's going to get suspicious.
Fang then opened a new document and opened "Future Events". In one of the events shows a picture of Snow and Lightning in a hovercar, kissing each other while watching fireworks.
Fang: Ahah!
Snow: Whoa, when's that?
Fang: Well lets see… its in June 26th…
Sazh: What's the date right now for Lightning?
Fang: June 17th…so it's 6 days away..
Hope: Actually it's 6 hours away. Days are years in that world, so hours are days.
Snow: Well, that's in a long time…so what do we do now?
Fang: I know! We should try to make you look similar to the fake Snow. Then Lightning won't be suspicious.
Snow: What!? You expect me to cut my hair, change my clothes, and act smarter?
Sazh: Well, we could easily change your looks…but making you act smarter is going to be a challenge.
Fang then pulled out a pair scissors.
Fang: Alright Snow, let's turn you from Serah's fiancé to Lightning's boyfriend!
Thanks for reading! Please review!
