HEy guys! Chapter 2 is up! I know it's too short but this is all I could do for now...xD

I wanted to thank all who wished me good luck for my studying =D ARIGATOU MINNA-san! ^_^ I really did appreciate it.

So..ENJOY! Reviews are welcomed! =D


Lightning found herself floating in darkness. This was the best thing to do. Finally she did something useful. For years she only focused on protecting Serah, without knowing that, what she was doing, was leaving her own sister behind. Deep down she knew that it was all her fault that Serah had found Snow, she was feeling alone and she needed someone to talk to, but Lightning was never there.

Lightning's greatest fear was the time when Serah wouldn't need her anymore, so she ran away, trying to escape from that time, but when she realized she was losing her sister to that idiot of Snow, fear flowed through her body.

The thought of losing Serah, she couldn't accept it. When Serah told her that she was engaged to Snow and she became a l'Cie, Lightning couldn't believe her, so she threatened her instead. But when she saw Serah trapped into that crystal, she realized what to do. She wanted to repair for all the destruction she brought. She had to.

She curled up on herself. She felt cold and numb. Was this the feeling Serah had while she was in crystal stasis? No. Was this the feeling Serah had for all this years? She remained there, floating into the void, recalling the image of her friends. Though it was the right thing to do, it was sad. Cocoon was saved for sure and Pulse too. But now, she was the one who needed to be saved.

If she could just forget everything and reborn in a new body, she wouldn't make the same mistakes.

'Serah's gonna be alright. She has Snow and Fang will take care of her. She's in good hands.'

She wondered if the others would miss her. Because she missed them.

The only thing she regretted was the fact of becoming Lightning. She wanted Claire to come back and have a new life, someone to protect, someone to love, just like Serah has.


Cocoon was saved.

Fang, Vanille, Snow, Hope and Sazh were crystallized on the lands of Pulse.

They came out of crystal stasis one by one.

Fang woke up from her sleep. She opened her eyes and looked at Lightning's pendant.

'Lightning' – she thought as a saddened expression on her face. – 'Why…'

She raised her head as her eyes widened. Cocoon was completely covered and supported by the crystal pillar. It was gorgeous. Fang couldn't find the words to describe the view. Lightning must be there, somewhere.

'She did it…' – she thought, remembering what Lightning said to her.

'Take care of her…she said…Always thinking about her sister…'

She was the cause for which the others got dragged into this mess. The one who scarred Pulse becoming Ragnarok. The reason for which the two worlds were almost destroyed. She was the one who deserved to be sacrified. She didn't deserve to live. It wasn't fair that it was Lightning the one who paid for her errors. It wasn't right.

"Fang…You think… she'll come back?" – she sadly asked – "She…"

Fang hugged tight the girl and sobs began to escape her lips. Vanille closed her eyes and buried her head into Fang's chest. She could feel it. Fang's heartbeat. It was strong and fast. She could sense her friend's pain and guilt.

"Hey!" – someone yelled - "We're here too!"

They turned and saw the others approaching them. Sazh, Snow and Hope… they were released from crystal stasis too.

"Hello… Good to see ya!" – said Sazh as the chocobo chick jumped out of his afro, flying onto Vanille's head. "Kweh!"

"Hi!" – saluted Vanille. The chocobo was jumping onto Vanille's head.

"Wow… This is just gorgeous…" – said impressed the blonde man. "This is… This is a miracle."

"Yeah…" – responded Hope. "It is…But…"

Pulse was deserted and the sun had just risen. There was nobody. Nobody but them.

The silver haired boy looked around. Someone was missing. He approached the raiven haired woman, who was staring at the panorama.

"Wh-Where's Light?" – asked concerned the boy.

Fang turned to face the boy and lowered her head. Vanille placed her hand on her chest, trying not to cry. To keep her sobs silent.

"Fang…" – began the red haired girl. She wanted to tell everything to everyone. What happened to Lightning.

The pulsian warrior glanced at the girl, giving her a what-should-we-say-now look. It was so difficult. How can they explain this? Lightning was gone and it was only her fault.

"Fang! Answer me!" – he scolded angrily.

"Kid. Calm down. Okay?" – yelled the blonde man as he tried to calm the boy. "Now… tell us what happened… Where's Light?" – he turned to the two pulsians. But nothing… They just kept looking at each other. It was obvious that something was wrong.

"Please, Vanille. At least you, please tell me…" Hope's voice was not louder than a whisper. He was begging her to tell him. His eyes were teary and his voice trembling.

Vanille bit her lip, she didn't know what to do. She couldn't take it to see her friend like this. Specially Hope, she established a bond with him. He has lost his parents to this Purge mess. And now the only person he has left, his mentor, was gone too.

"Lightning used all her power to save us all… And…" – explained Fang.

"N-no… No…" – said the boy quietly. "B-But she'll come back, right? She'll come back, like us…right?"

"I-I don't know…" – began Fang.

"What does it mean that you don't know?" – bawled out Hope – "She will come back, won't she?"

'You'll be okay…I'll keep you safe' – he heard Lightning's voice in his mind, remembering that time, when she first hugged him. He could still smell her scent.

'I said that I'd try to look out for you too… But I… I failed.'

"Fang. Vanille. Are you telling us, that Lightning sacrified herself to save Cocoon, right?" – asked the black man. "So she completed her Focus, just like all of us. Doesn't this mean she'll come back just as we did?"

The two pulsians stood still, without saying a word. They knew more of all of them and their silence was also their answer. It was clear. She was gone. Gone, like lightning.

"Th-that's not possible! She said she'd stay always with us! That she'd protect me…" – cried Hope- "So how can she, if she… i-if she's… And you Snow? Why won't you say anything?"

Silence fell among them. Everyone was immersed in their thoughts.

"It was too much. What happened to Serah. All I could do think about was, 'What could I have done?'. I hated myself for not trusting her. It hurt too much. I couldn't face it." - Snow reminisced Lightning's voice. "Look Snow. I'm sorry. Forgive me."

"It's all your fault!" – cried Hope as he aggressively pointed at Fang and Vanille. – "If you… I-If you…" – he said as he turned back.

'Control your emotions, if you want to survive you forget about sympathy…' – he started to cry thinking about Lightning's words.

'Light… Light…' – he thought as tears filled his eyes. Hope was devastated, everybody he has ever loved was gone. His mother, his father and now even Light. He had nowhere to go now.

"Snow!" – someone called from a distance.

The blonde man turned his head and saw the pink haired girl running towards him along with a little black boy. The two young l'Cie were awoken from their sleep.

"Serah!" - he yelled and smiled at the girl.

"Daddy!" – the little black boy ran towards his daddy and hugged him tight.

"Dajh!" – responded the man.

"Snow! I missed you!" – exclaimed the pink haired girl.

All Hope could do was stand and watch at the scene. Snow had Serah. Sazh was finally with his son. Fang and Vanille were together. But he, he had anybody left. He had nobody to return to. He was alone.

'Lightning… It flashes bright, then fades away. It can't protect it only destroys.'

'You did it Light… you flashed bright and protected us all. But in return you destroyed yourself and faded away…' – he sadly thought. But after all it was Lightning's choice. He had to accept it, but he didn't want to. Lost in his thoughts, he recalled every single moment about this long journey.

Fang eyed the young girl. Pink hair... 'It must be her…'

Serah looked at her fianceè. Something was wrong. "S-Snow…?"

"Hmm…?"

"What's wrong…? And… Where's Lightning?"

Fang gazed at the girl and crossed her arms over her chest.

Serah turned and lifted her head to look at the woman's face. She was sure she's already seen her. But she just couldn't remember when or where. The tribal clothing, weird bijoux… That woman reminded her of someone. Someone like…

"Vanille!" – she called the red head next the raven haired woman. She ran towards the red head, smiling. But seeing the serious and saddened expression made her warm smile fade. "Hey…"

Serah turned away looking at everyone. They were so serious and Lightning was missing. What was wrong?

Fang approached the girl. "Here" – said Fang as she handed something to Serah. – "You should be the one to keep this."

She took a better look at the object as her eyes widened. It was Lightning's necklace. It was a gift from their mother and a sort of lucky charm. So how could a stranger hold something important like this? So why? A thought suddenly crossed her mind.

"Wh-what does this mean?" – she asked with a trembling voice as she looked at Snow.

The man glanced at the girl with teary eyes, narrowing his eyebrows.

"Wh-where's my sister?" – she cried. But no one asnwered. "S-Snow? Wh-what happened? Where is she?"

The others lowered their heads.

"She… She's gone." – said the pulsian woman.

Serah blinked and fell onto her knees. Sobs escaped from her as she started to cry. Her heartbeat was starting to increase. She couldn't believe it. It must be a joke. But the serious look and the gloomy atmosphere that filled the air at that moment, confirmed what the woman said.

Pain was the only thing she could feel. 'N-no…Sis… That's not possible… Sis…' she quietly sobbed.

Her heart was broken and her world crashed into darkness.

The raiven haired woman walked towards the girl and knelt in front of the crying Serah. She took the girl in her arms, petting her head.

"I-I'm sorry…" – she whispered.

Serah's eyes widened. She felt something. This woman… she didn't even know her, but somehow she could reassure her. This woman could transmit her a warmth… A warmth that only her sister could transmit her. When she calmed herself, she dried her tears and faced the pulsian. She had a warm, though sad, smile. Looking her in the eyes, made Serah reminisce something.


*FLASHBACK*

It was summer and the Farrons went on a trip to Lake Bresha. The place was really beautiful, the air was fresh and there was a little bridge by the lake.

"Don't get too far girls!" – ordered the woman to her daughters.

"OK! Mom!" – responded the little girl.

The two girls went towards the wooden bridge.

"Serah! Don't run!"

Serah didn't listen and ran forward. "Catch me if you can!"

"Aah!"

"Serah!" – shouted the older Farron as she heard something falling into water. She ran forward and stopped as she saw a hole. She dived without hesitation. She had to save Serah.

"Serah! Serah!" – cried Claire. "Open your eyes! Please!"

Serah began to gain consciousness as Claire gave a sigh of relief.

The little girl coughed and started to shiver. "C-Claire…"

Claire smiled and covered her little sister with her sweater. "You're freezing… C'mon let's go and change your clothes."

"C-Claire… I-I was s-so scared…" – said the girl as she started to cry. Claire looked at her and hugged her tight, trying to keep her warm.

"I'm here now… Don't worry…" – she whispered. "I'll never leave you… I promise."

"But… Claire…"

"Shhh…" – said Claire and smiled at her – "Let's go now…"

Claire gave her a piggy ride. The cold was almost gone. She leaned her hear on Claire's back. That perfume… That warmth… was all she needed at that time.

"Serah… I'm sorry…"

She blinked as she rose her head.

"I should've take more care of you…" – she said.

Serah lowered her head. She felt guilty. But that was Claire. She'd always apologize. She was always ready to take the blame for everything. Even for something she hasn't done. Her warmth and her smile were the favorite things about her sister. With those she knew she would always be safe.

Claire would always be there for her. Always.

Vanille looked at the scene. She felt a strange feeling. Her heartbeat was way too fast. She was confused. What was this strange feeling? Fang didn't even know Serah… It was like they already knew each other.

They were so close… Just like sisters. She lowered her head and placed her hands on her chest.

"Hey, Lightning… Is this what you feel, whenever you see Serah with Snow?" – she thought.


'If it's too much to deal with, face it later.'

Serah's voice echoed in her mind.

'Face it later…'

The redhead remained in silence. Maybe it was just because Fang was keeping Lightning's last wish: to take care of Serah. It was the least she could do. But wait. She had to take care of Serah too. She was there too…

Serah's eyes were full of tears and they started to overflow. She wanted to apologize to Lightning for everything. But Claire would always be there for her, she'd always come back to her, she'd never leave her like this, thought Serah as she handed Lightning's pendant and said - "If she gave this to you… Then you're the one who should keep this. It was the most precious thing to her. It was our mother's…"

Fang blinked. "No… You're wrong… You were the most precious thing to her..."

The pink haired girl stared at the woman before facing the tall man.

She jumped into Snow's arms. "She'll come back? Right, Snow?" Serah convinced herself that Lightning would come back. Somehow, she would.

"Yeah…sure." – he responded, trying to comfort his fiancée.

"Fang…" – said Vanille as she approached Fang. She gazed at her friend with sadness. It was their fault. The cause for which all of them were involved. The reason of why all of their lives were ruined.

"Lightning…" - whispered the silver haired boy, looking up at Cocoon. "I guess you meant for this to be goodbye…"

The group stood still as they gazed at the panorama of the crystallized world.

'We live to make the impossible, possible.' – And so they would from now on.


"Hey… Honey… How was…"

"I'm sorry Snow… I'm a bit tired, I'm going into my room and get some rest. There are leftovers from yesterday in the oven… Goodnight."

"O-okay…Goodnight."

'Serah…' The blonde man sighed

"Looks like she really is Lightning's sister… Always going into retreat after a tiring day." - said the raiven haired woman closing the door behind her.

"Did you just get in?"

"Yup… Vanille's still at Lebreu's bar. I'm going to pick her up later…"

"Fine… There are some leftovers in the oven, you and Vanille can eat them if you want. I'm not hungry…" – said Snow with a saddened look on his face.

Fang narrowed her eyebrows and looked at him.

Almost two months have passed since Lightning's departure.

After the defeat of Orphan the former l'Cie took different paths except for Fang, Vanille, Snow and Serah.

Fang and Vanille have started to live with Serah and Snow on Cocoon.

Fang began to work for the Guardian Corps, she wanted to continue what Lightning had started and to keep her promise, protecting Serah. Vanille joined the team NORA and worked part time at Lebreu's bar.

Sazh restarted to pilot and along with his son embarked on a long trip around Pulse. To compensate for the lost time.

Hope has entered to the New Eden College. His father was accused of betrayal for helping Pulse l'Cie and been purged. He started to leave by himself, trying to keep himself from remembering bad things.

They all tried to leave behind what happened. It was too painful to remember.

Especially for Serah. It was more difficult for her. Their parents died and since then, Lightning was her only family left. And now she was gone too. It hurt her.

Snow, kept leading the team NORA and help the survivors from Pulse's plague. All this time he could see clearly in Serah's eyes her pain and anguish. He could see that she was suffering.

For the past two months Serah became colder and colder. She distanced herself from everyone, making the pulsians and her fiancèe and Fang worry about her. She was acting just like her sister. Cold, numb and distant. But all she wanted to do was trying to keep her sister alive inside her.

She was sitting on her bed, holding a picture of her and her sister. She was thinking about their past. Claire has always been there for her. She was missing the sister that would kick the guys who would bother her. She was missing that time, when it was only them. A sad smile appeared on her face.

She was feeling guilty. It was her fault that Claire had been turned into a l'Cie and trapped into crystal stasis. Two months ago she convinced herself that her sister would come back sooner or later, but the wait was too heartbreaking. Her hope was starting to fade away. She lay down and slowly closed her eyes.

'Serah …' - said a familiar voice.

'S-sis?'

She slighly opened her eyes and saw Fang's face looking at her with concern.

"Wh-what's wrong, Fang?" – she asked rubbing her eyes. She picked up her legs and brought them to the side of the bed, in a sitting position.

Fang sat near her and said "I'm sorry for waking you up… But I wanted to talk to you… You're making us worry, especially the hero… What's happening to you? Why are you acting like this?"

The girl sighed and faced the woman. With numb eyes.

"Serah…" . Fang placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Fang… You think she'll come back someday?"

The pulsian blinked. She was confused. She didn't know how to answer Serah. She remained in silence. Just what Lightning would do in this moment?

Lightning would just sat and listen to the girl with sympathy. Without saying a word.

But… She wasn't Lightning. She would never be able to take her place, but she sweared she'd do her best to take care of Serah. Not because she was told by Light, but because her friend gave up on her life to save her and Vanille's. It was the least.

"F-Fang?"

The wild haired woman turned towards the girl. She wrapped her in her arms, holding her tightly.

Serah's eyes widened. 'This warmth…' She closed her eyes imagining Lightning. She started to sob and cry. 'Sis…'

"Listen, Serah… She is here. In our hearts. She'll always be. " – she assured, smiling at the girl - "I'm taking care of you from now on… okay? Well… Until she comes back…"

"You think she will?"

"Yup… I'm sure of it!"

Serah nodded. "Thanks and you now… I really miss her, Fang." – cried the girl. "I really do…"


'Claire…Claire… It's now time to wake up from your slumber.'

The cold air made her shiver. She slightly opened her eyes as she got up, in a sitting position. She looked around her and found nothing except green and trees. The sun has just risen and that place was deserted: no animals and no people. It was just her.

"Where am I…?" – she weakly asked.

Confused she stood up and tried to balance herself as she felt a weight on her back. She noticed there was a holster hanging off her belt with a sort of gun in it. She esamined the object there was an inscription that reads: "White Flash. Call upon my name" 'White flash?' – she thought

She put back the gun in its holster as she lowered her head and look at her gloved hands, her clothes… And that leather band on her right arm. It was familiar… She put her hand on her chest… Something was missing. Looking at herself was making her more confused. Who was she?

She began her walking to nowhere asking herself - "W-Who am I…? Why am I here?"

'Claire' That name kept running into her mind. She leaned on a tree and sighed, trying to remember with no results.

"Claire… Claire…" – she muttered – "Is that my name?" Yes…she didn't know how or why, but she was sure that, that what her name. It was odd but she could feel it.

She continued on her way, without remembering anything about her past. But she knew that her journey has only began.

'Yes… You shall know live your new life, my child. Just as you wished, You are now Orphan of your memories.'


Just like I said before... Reviews are welcomed! =D xD

Tell me if you liked it or not... AH! And Noctis should appear in the next chapter...or later... o.O

^_^' sorry don't want to spoil anything...xD