As you can see writing a chapter after a year of not even being able to touch the file makes for... odd twists. I hope that you all like it and dont think its crap " Down loaded AbiWord.. it is amazing... free word processor no joke, but some of the spell check opts are a bit off. oh will i can write again so mer... I also plan to have some one edit everything from the beginning so when that happens i will update the first two installments with less errors... and this one too... enjoy hope it doesnt suck.

Chapter 8 Pulse? Yes, I Have One It's Gran

"What do you mean she went to Pulse?" Fang had been to Pulse a few times before she joined the Corps, and on one account it had nearly killed her. Pulse or Gran Pulse was considered a waste land of a forgotten time full of wild animals and very dangerous. Only the toughest of the tough went there and returned alive. "Gran Pulse is no walk in the park!"

"I know Fang. She said she went with a guide. Sazh. That name sounds like I should know it." Lightning's brows were knitted together in frustration. That name nagged at the back of her skull. She began to pace while Fang watched thinking as well. Suddenly they both looked up at each other.
"The Bounty hunter!" they said together.

"What in the world would one", Fang held up one finger," Sazh the bounty hunter be playing guide and two", Fang held up another finger," why would Vanille know him?"

"My thoughts exactly… I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this…right?" Light and Fang both frowned at this statement. "I guess I will just have to ask her… "

Fang held up a hand to silence her," You know, if she is wanted you will have to break it off with her… she seems nice enough, so I would hate to have to arrest her." Fang gave a sad smile that Lightning understood. "Would you like me to come with you when you ask her? I would love to hear this first hand." Lightning simply nodded.

**************************************

Later that day Fang and Light entered a coffee shop that they were to meet Vanille in. It was a quiet café down by the water, Lightning and Serah grew up near this very shore. They took a seat near a window. Everything seemed surreally calm save for Lightning looking like a startled deer.
"Would you quit fidgeting like that? You're making me nervous." Fang was more than ready to knock Light upside her head. "She will be here and then we can talk this out."

"I hope you're right." Light once again looked at her NAV system." She's late." Lightning could no longer sit still, not that she had been, and began to pace.

"Would you please sit down." Fang lowered her voice so low that it stopped Light in her tracks and she sat looking sheepish. Fang smiled in her charming knowing way," You must really like her and I mean really like her. I've never seen you pace so much before or fidget. Since I've known you, you have always been so..." Fang shifted in her chair looking for the right words. "So..."

"So, what Fang? Cold? Stoic? Bitchy? What have I been Fang?" Even though her words were harsh with frustration and nerves, her voice was more or less calm.

"Stoic... maybe. Cold? I think not! You are my Raincloud partner not my Blizzard," Fang flashed a cheeky grin while Light rolled her eyes. "Bitchy? Maybe, but hey we are female and we have every right to be so." At that Lightning sighed and gave a small smirk. Fang mentally applauded herself. "But, back to my point, you are the most spot on person I've ever known. You hardly leave anything to chance. Even when things don't happen the way you hope you just shrug and keep on moving to your goal. So, why are you so worked up?"

It was a question she had asked herself many times and yet she still hadn't found the answer. She had never been afraid of being alone. In fact she relished the thought it after her parents death. You couldn't miss who you didn't know. But this girl... Vanille... she was something special. Sure Light had her sister, Serah, and her idiot boyfriend around her. And the other people at GC Cid and Fang. But, it wasn't the same feeling being with them as it was being near Vanille. Covering her face with her hands elbows on the table Lightning simply sighed. How is it I can bring down rings of criminals by out smarting and out maneuvering them, I can't figure out myself?

Fang leaned over and poked her in the forehead causing Lightning to frown at her before she could speak Fang held up a hand. "You need to get out of your head. That's how people go crazy. Stop thinking about it and just feel it. I'll ask again, but differently. What are you afraid of? Besides her being a criminal we would have to arrest of corse."

Narrowing her eyes slightly to glare at Fang she sighed. Well I've already told her more then I've ever told anyone else, why not express myself? Softly she whispered, "For-... For the first time in my life I'm afraid. Of never going to bed with someone and waking up to them in the morning. Of having someone I know will be there for me in ways only a lover can be. Of being alone when everyone else has moved on in their lives." Looking to the window sighed and closed her eyes lacing her fingers together before her mouth index fingers up in a hushing pose.

Shocked by her open honestly Fang didn't know what to say, so Fang did what Fang does best. "Well you know you will never be alone." Lightning slowly opened one eye to stare at Fang. "See I've got a plan. If this doesn't work out, you and I can become room mates and grow old yelling at kids to stay the hell off our lawn. We will be Bitty Buddies!" Fang swung her arms wide," You and me... what do yea say?"

"I say you're an idiot." But, Lightning was smiling as she said it. "Bitty Buddies? Really?" Fang just nodded and grinned. "Thank you Fang, for cheering me up. Now if only Vanille would get here... she's an hour late."

-Beep-Beep-Beep-

"Hello? Vanille where are you? What's all that noise? It sounds like a war zone... ..." Fang cocked an eye brow at Light and mouthed 'What is it?' Light simply held up a hand. "... yea got it I'm on my way." -click- Light looked up at Fang with a worried expression.

" She's not coming, is she?"

Standing Lightning stared hard at her phone for a moment. "She's in trouble. Fang... it sounds bad... you should sta-"

"You can shut up right there Cloud O'Doubt. You are my best friend and I'm going with you no matter what you say." Fang was on her feet arms crossed pensively staring at Lightning." So what-cha waiting for? Lead on!"

Lightning needed no further encouragement and dashed out of the cafe' knocking over people that didn't move out of her way fast enough. Fang grinned, tossed 20 gil on the table and dashed after her.

**************************

As they rounded the corner to Vanille's street they could hear hundreds of howls, snarls, gun fire, and screams of death. Silver Lobos ran after civilians, some civilians couldn't run fast enough. Vanille stood firm on her front steps beating back Lobos whenever they came near, but there were to many and she was clearly fighting a losing battle.

"Vanille." Lighting breathed and dashed across the littered street.

"Oh shit...HEY! Get back over here!" Leaping over Lobo and Civilian bodies Fang caught up to Light and snatched her behind a building and cuffed her on the shoulder. "And what will running in there blindly do for us now? Guh, I hope after all this I get the old Lightning back... this pupply love Lightning is going to get me killed." Frowning Fang held Lights shoulder while she peered around the corner. "Well, looks like Vanille is the last one fighting. Either everyone either ran away, is hiding or and somewhere on the ground. We need a plan... I'll go left and you go right and we will split them. That should give Vanille a break what to you sa-." A blood curdling scream ripped through the air. A Lobo had broken Vanilles defense and she was down. Lightning shoved Fangs hand away.

"VANILLE!"

"LIGHT-AHH" Another Lobo stepped into Vanille's sight snapping at her face, missing by inches. Desperately she tried fighting off the Lobo that surrounded her, bleeding sluggishly from a wound in her side.

Light transformed her gunblade back and forth, shooting this one in the head or beheading that one with the blade. Fang sticking to her part of the plan ran left and started mowing down the ugly beasts her bladed lance easily slicing through them. 20 down. 30 down...75 down. Fang was getting tired they needed to end this, she was beginning to think that there was a good chance they might be eaten if they didn't soon. "Light we need to do something special before this goes any farther!"

Light had finally worked her way in front of Vanille keeping the Lobos away, protecting her. "I'm on it... just hang in there a little longer!" Taking a deep breath closing her eyes she moved both her hands to her blade. Softly she breathed," I will protect you. I will be an army of one if I must." Snapping her eyes open she lashed out in a blaze of flurries, swiped, slashed, and gun fire. And then it was over. Every last Lobo was gone. Lightning staggered, shaking, heaving ragged breathes. Vanille stirred and sat up holding her injured side. Lightning looked back and smiled," Your army of one." And then clasped to her knees. Vanille scramble and caught her just before her head hit the ground.

Fang strutted up to them and glared at Vanille," We are going to have a nice heart to heart about what the hell just happened after we get her inside." Gently picking Lightning's limp body up she carried her inside.