Revised: July 2014

Lightning walked around the perimeter just outside Academia, scanning the area. It was only her second day out of stasis, but she had needed something to do. So that morning she had gone to Amodar to go back to work.

He grinned at her as she walked into his office. He said he'd heard that she had woken up and knew it was only a matter of time before she would report in, ready for duty. He had told her that she should take a week, spend some time getting used to the new surroundings. Maybe she should train some, before going out in the field.

Lightning, respectfully, told him that she didn't need any extra training; she was just as sharp as she had been before the fall. Amodar was unconvinced. So her morning started with a few training exercises that went by rather quickly, and then a couple one-on-one matches with some of his 'best soldiers' available at the time. She had to admit, she had gotten a tad rusty. The first few minutes of her first battle had left her a bit panic stricken that she may lose. Her limbs and joints were sore, presumably from years of disuse. She quickly recovered however, regaining her usual speed and agility. The second battle went by with much more ease. At this, Amodar was satisfied. He gave her a new uniform, that was basically the same style but with a black and silver color scheme, and sent her out on guard duty, leaving her to walk the perimeter for the remainder of the day.

It had been hot and muggy with little monster activity for the most part, causing Lightning to retreat into her thoughts. She reflected on her conversation with Hope the previous day, seeing as that had been quite a bombshell of a conversation.

"There may be a way for us to wake those in crystal stasis."

Those words hit Lightning hard. It had only been a day, so the true gravity of her sister's crystallization hadn't hit her yet. Before, they had thought that all they had to do was beat their focus and she would wake up. They really hadn't been thinking logically or they would have foreseen their impending crystallizations. The reality is, it could be anywhere between tomorrow and centuries from now.

After he had said it, he let the words sink in. He just stood there, green eyes carefully watching Lightning's movements.

Lightning stared at Serah's face, most of her true emotions hidden deep within her. She turned toward him, face utterly impassive, and asked him how.

"I haven't been able to prove it yet, but that's what Rygdea and Sazh are venturing to do tomorrow. I-", Hope stopped abruptly and looked at Lightning. She had put a hand on Serah's cheek. The serious amount of vulnerability in her eyes led him to stopping, thinking that if he should continue, that expression would only worsen. He hadn't seen that look since Serah had first turned crystal.

Lightning looked back up at him, sensing his hesitation. She nodded for him to continue, but he just looked away.

"Maybe this should wait for another time. When we're sure-"

"No." Hope looked back up as Lightning's eyes bored into him. Her icy stare was locked on him with determination and impatience. "You don't get to say something like that and just retreat. Spit it out."

Hope's hand shakily went to his shoulder, rubbing it slightly as he went to take a tentative step forward, though he thought better of it. "I really shouldn't have said anything. There's nothing concrete to back it up and I-I just... It's really just a theory based on a few months of research."

Lightning calmed her thoughts and steeled her expression before walking back toward Hope. "It was enough to send a team out, right?"

Hope heaved a heavy sigh and turned away. "It's only because we don't have anything else to go on. It's really this or the alternative of waiting for who knows how long."

Lightning wanted to hit him, force his explanation out. But it would definitely not turn out in her favor. Instead she gently grabbed his shoulders and turned him toward her. "I'd like to know", said Lightning calmly.

Hope bit his lip. Damn it. I knew I should have kept it to myself. "I found a book in ancient Pulsian language", Hope began. "I had read through dozens of books before it and had come up with the same line, over and over again. I must have read it in at least six books. It seemed so familiar, but I just couldn't place it until I finally remembered. It was something that Orphan had said." Lightning's eyes darkened. "'From shattered shards, a new crystal legend will arise.' You remember, right, Light?"

Honestly, she didn't. Orphan had spouted off so much nonsense, that Lightning had blocked most of it out, hoping it would never be necessary to understand. Lightning just nodded so he would continue.

"Anyway, this one book had it as an inscription on its cover. The book was titled 'Fabula Nova Crystallis', which translates to 'The Tale of the Crystal'. It spoke of a crystal created by the Maker of Pulse, the Maker of Cocoon, and the Maker of humanity. It was broken into three shards and left around Pulse. It said that with the formation of this crystal, if all three shards were brought together as one, it would give the beholder the power of all three, Pulse, Lindzei, and Etro", Hope drew in a deep breath after he realized he hadn't been breathing.

Lightning took this opportunity to speak. "So, you think that with this crystal, this power, you could use it to... decrystallize everyone?" She gave him a look of disbelief.

"Well, it tells of having the power to bring back the Maker of all or Bhunivelze. I'd say it's a fair assumption that it could free those from crystal stasis."

Lightning paced around him. "So the secret mission Sazh has is..."

Hope gave her a furtive glance, but conceded, wisely. "They're going out to see if they can find one piece of the crystal. We figured the best place to check first is Etro's shrine, since it's closest. And we figure things out from there."

"What makes you so sure you'd even be able to control this power?"

Hope swallowed and ran a hand roughly through his hair. "Well... the book alluded that it could only be controlled by those touched by the Maker. So, assuming it means l'Cie... that would be... us."

Lightning stopped and huffed. Before raging about being stuck with more l'Cie garbage, a question struck her. "But our brands are gone. We don't have our powers." Lightning sighed and put a hand to her forehead before dropping it. "I thought... we weren't... we aren't l'Cie anymore." She shifted her weight to her right leg, and put a hand on her hip.

"I know." Hope rubbed his eyes, bringing back Lightning's initial worry. "That's why I was so hesitant to tell you. Even if the crystals exist, we would have to find all of them, find a way to put them all together, and find someone to wield it. I guess I'm hoping that maybe just because the brands are gone, and our powers as well, that it doesn't mean some part of it isn't still inside us. Maybe we don't have to currently be l'Cie. Maybe just having been 'touched by the Maker' in the first place is good enough." Hope peered back at Lightning. Her eyes were fixed on his.

"Hope." Lightning knew it was a long shot. She knew he knew it was a long shot. But he was trying. Trying so desperately to free their friends and all in Cocoon. She couldn't bring herself to drag his thoughts down any further. "If there was anyone who could find a way to free them, it would be you."

Hope stared at Lightning in disbelief. All this time and she still manages to surprise me.

Lightning tweaked her brow. "Don't look at me like that." She looked back at Serah and the others and walked towards the door. She grabbed the handle, but turned to Hope who was staring at the wall. "Hope", Lightning called. He blinked and turned toward her. "You look exhausted. Go to bed."

Hope smirked, "I'm glad you're awake Light. You have no idea how much I've missed you."

Lightning was dumbfounded. She knew Hope had looked up to her, but she had no idea that within those few weeks as l'Cie, he'd become so attached. In truth, the feeling was completely mutual. After their rocky start together, they'd actually grown into a powerful team. When she had left him that first time back in the Vile Peaks, it had been because she hadn't wanted him involved. He was just a kid and she figured she would only succeed in getting him killed. But he insisted on following her and, to her immense shock and pleasure, he turned out to be an excellent battle partner.

Lightning just nodded back and left, her thoughts still consumed by Hope. She continuously found herself thinking of him as that young, vulnerable boy she had known and almost destroyed by encouraging his plot of vengeance. But he isn't fourteen anymore. He's nineteen, leader of the last of mankind. I can't believe how much I've missed. Not only of this world, but of Hope's life. Lightning's stomach churned at the realization of just how much she had missed. But she found comfort in the fact that his personality seemed to uphold through his daunting transformation. That sweet kid is still in there.

A loud snarl broke through Lightning's thoughts, starkly bringing her back into reality. Lightning bolted toward the sound as a yell was cut short. She rounded a corner to see a guard unconscious at the base of a large rock and faced against a small pack of Gargonopsids.

Lightning ran in front of the fallen soldier and drew her gunblade. The beast at the front snarled and sent a clawing strike at her. She jumped from the spot and shot off three rounds in it's direction. The bullets shot through its head, killing it off instantly. Lightning brought her gunblade up above her shoulder, waiting for the next to make its move. She didn't have to wait long as the last two bounded for her almost instantly. Lightning maneuvered quickly around them and sliced her gunblade deep into one's thick head, causing it to shriek. It fell to the ground as she back flipped away from the other's swipe, but wasn't quick enough. It managed to cut three gashes into her thigh as she landed.

Lightning switched her weapon into gun mode a second too late. The Gargonopsid used its virulent breath on her, sending the poison throughout her body. As it lunged for its final attack, Lightning saw a flash of yellow fly toward the snarling beast. A shock of lightning shot through it, causing it to stagger. Lightning watched the yellow thing, recognizing it to be a boomerang, as it flew towards its owner.

Hope? What are you doing out here?

Hope flew to her side and pulled out a gunblade of his own from a holster on his back. He quickly flicked out the blade and slashed the Gargonopsid across the throat. It let out on final yelp before landing on the ground.

The world became hazy before the pinkette. Lightning fell to her knees, feeling the full effect of the poison.

"Lightning", Hope cried. Her skin began paling quickly and she was unresponsive.

As she knelt there, she felt her skin flare up, sweat beaded on the back of her neck, and her heart was rapidly shutting down. Each beat passed slower than the last. She recognized the feeling, though she definitely did not welcome it.

Hope knew how swift the poison was. Death was almost instantaneous and always left only a few minutes of breathing room. Swiftly yanking out an antidote from his pouch, he handed it over to her. She drank it and waited as the calm washed over her, relieving the pain of the poison.

"Thanks", said Lightning as she stood. She hissed at the feeling of the gashes in her thigh. "Well this is embarrassing. Can't even take on a few Gargonopsids."

Hope winced at the look of her leg. "You should sit down, Light. That doesn't look good." He went to help her with her wound as she sat down on a boulder.

"You should check on him first." Lightning gestured to the soldier on the ground.

"Right." Hope reluctantly left her side and looked over the soldier.

A gunblade Hope? I guess I didn't expect you to be using the boomerang forever, but...

Hope checked the soldier's pulse. It and his breathing were steady. He seemed to only be unconscious, but with another look Hope noticed his arm at a bad angle. It's probably broken, but it could have been a lot worse. Glad I came when I did. He looked over at Lightning. She was staring at the Gargonopsid on the ground. Hope went for his comm and called for a medic team on the south side of Academia where they were located. He then went over to look at Lightning's wound.

"You okay, Light?" When she didn't respond, he knelt in front of her and cupped her face with his hands, gazing intently in her eyes.

This not only knocked Lightning out of her state, but made her heart flutter slightly. Her body went rigid before she shook his hands off. "Really it's fine. I'm fine." He continued looking her over for other injuries, ignoring her words. "Really, Hope, I'm fine." She stood to make her point and tried to deflect the conversation elsewhere. "When did you start using a gunblade anyway?" She pulled it out of his holster and looked it over. It was a few inches longer than hers, but mostly had the same build. She went to switch modes and was shocked at how effortless the transformation was. Lightning smirked. "I guess you did grow out of the toy, huh? Well, not completely", said Lightning, referencing its earlier use.

Hope chuckled, "I still use the toy on occasion, obviously. It comes in handy for far enemies, but is definitely not meant for close combat. So I started training with this. I've made a lot of my own improvements on it though." He took the blade from her hand and holstered it. "I'm not nearly as proficient with it as you, but who is?" Hope smiled smugly. Lightning just rolled her eyes, ignoring the warmth that seemed to surge through her body at his compliment.

The medics arrived soon after and rushed the unconscious soldier off to the hospital. Lightning though, ignoring Hope's protests, refused to go anywhere, so the medics just bandaged her up and left. Maker, she can be so stubborn.

Dusk was fast approaching and Hope felt the need to reiterate his concerns. "Light, you really should have gone with them. Wha-"

Lightning put a finger to his lips. "It's sweet that you care so much, but it's fine. Seriously. Don't you have some work to be getting to?"

He grinned at her before putting on a dejected expression. "Aw, you're in stasis for five years and I finally get to spend some time with you, and you want me to leave", Hope whined. "Fine." His shoulders slumped as he blew out a sigh. "I see how it is." He walked away a few steps, but Lightning grabbed his jacket.

"Why were you out here?"

Hope swallowed and turned around. "I came out to check on you. You know, it... was your first day back on the job..." Lightning crossed her arms "...and I..." He turned a dark shade of pink and coughed. Before he could say anything else, Alyssa came ambling up behind him.

"Director", exclaimed Alyssa, exasperated. "I just found out what happened." She put her hands on her hips. "How did you get away from the guards?"

Lightning glanced at Hope with confusion.

"Bodyguards", said Hope, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, Alyssa, they're unnecessary. Especially if I can slip passed them unnoticed."

Alyssa looked them over carefully and gasped at Lightning's bandaged leg. She arrested Hope's arm and started to drag him back to base. "It's not safe out here."

"Alright, alright", Hope yielded. He wrestled his arm free and looked back at Lightning. "You comin', Light?"

Lightning nodded. "In a bit."

Hope laughed as he turned and walked back towards base with Alyssa. "Just don't wait too long. Wouldn't wanna have to be rescued again", Hope yelled over his shoulder before taking off at a brisk pace, Alyssa trailing behind him.

Lightning went wide-eyed at the statement and scowled at his retreating form. When did he get so damn cocky? And is it just me or is Alyssa a tad clingy? Oh, like it matters. He's not a kid anymore. That's for sure. Lightning shook her head. He can do what he wants. But when did he get the nerve to tease me? Lightning sighed and began walking back to the base when the soldier to replace her came.

The crystal Cocoon towered over Academia, the last of the sun reflecting off it just slightly. She stopped, staring at the world before her. Her heart felt heavy as a plethora of emotions struck her. "I'm sorry", Lightning whispered. She continued forward as memories of Vanille and Fang flooded her mind. Vanille, with her relentlessly sunny disposition. Fang, with her incredible fearlessness and strength that even she could not match. Although her time with the Oerban women was short, they had made a huge impact on her life, just as the others had.

Her reminiscing led her thoughts back to her stasis dreams where she had had so many simple days of laughter and love. Now what is there? Hope's working himself to death, Fang and Vanille are trapped with the weight of the world on their shoulders, literally, And Serah is still- She couldn't finish that thought. All it did was cause all of her old guilt and regrets to emerge from the depths of her emotions. She felt so despicable for not believing her sister about being a l'Cie. The moment Serah had told her, Lightning had basically called her a target. How could I have said such things? How could she ever forgive me? For the briefest of seconds, Lightning was grateful Serah was a crystal. She didn't want to know how her sister would feel towards her, if she would even want to speak with her. Lightning shuddered at the thought and cut herself off there. No, I want my sister with me. I want her awake. Even if she hated me until the end of time... I miss her. A small tear fell slowly down her cheek.

About a mile into the city, she heard a scream, and sped to its origin. She was alarmed, knowing that there would most likely be no one there to help her considering the scream came from a rather desolate part of the city.

Not five minutes later, just on the outskirts of town by a building currently under construction, Lightning came upon a young girl on the ground. Lightning quickly ran to her and knelt down, taking in her appearance. She couldn't have been older than a teenager. She actually seems about Serah's age. The girl had dulling, innocent green eyes that looked completely terrified. Long, dark, coral blue hair framed a pale heart-shaped face. Her tattered white and purple outfit was stained with blood and dirt. The most disturbing observation that Lightning made was the multiple cuts, bruises and burns on her body. The girl's breathing was labored and as Lightning held her hand, the soldier found that her pulse was extremely weak.

Not knowing the number for the hospital, she quickly called Hope. She told him her location and to call a med team. When she hung up, she turned back to the girl, gripping onto her with uncertainty. The blunette's breathing was slowing and her consciousness was slowly fading.

"Hold on, someone's coming to help you. Can you tell me your name?" Lightning brought her up into her arms, attempting to keep her awake.

The girl looked up to her, her eyelids fluttering before she focused on the woman holding her. She attempted to speak, but instead let out a number of harsh coughs into her hand. Blood slowly dripped from her paling lips and into her battered hand. "It's Yeul", she choked. After her reply, she gasped, her eyes flashing.

"Just hold on." Lightning was trying desperately to help, but felt utterly powerless. She looked around, eyes frantically searching for someone, anyone that could help. A part of her wished for her l'Cie powers, having the ability to cure being unbearably appealing. Right then, Lightning realized how vulnerable and alone she was. She had no powers and Odin's presence was no longer inside her. All she could do was comfort the dying girl in her arms and pray that the med team would reach them soon.

Yeul gave her one last look, trembling slightly before jerking forward and grabbing Lightning's face tightly with both of her calloused, yet gentle hands. Fiery green orbs looked directly into Lightning's eyes as the girl spoke in a hushed whisper, "Only through his suffering, can humanity prevail."

Lightning's brow furrowed in response. "What..." No more words were spoken before the young woman went limp. Yeul's arms fell to her sides as her breathing abruptly stopped. Lightning shook her lightly, hoping to rouse some sort of response. She couldn't just die. Not like this. "Who?" But Yeul was gone, her body laid lifeless in Lightning's arms.