Chapter Four: Pulse

"Well, welcome to Pulse," Vanille said, introducing Lighting to the world outside of her caged life in Cocoon. "What do you think?"

"Green." Lightning answered simply, and it was a fitting description.

Moss covered trees danced in the wind around them, vines handing from the canopy and the dark clumps of leaves shut out most of the light. The ground was covered with a grass that was as thick as carpet that held no flowers, only small black rocks that rose out in slabs. It was a lonely quiet place, the only sound being the small birds that flittered in and out of the plants and the constant chattering of small animals waiting for the strangers to pass.

"Well, I'll agree, it's not much…" Vanille said, a little disappointed at Lighting's response. "But you just wait. There is one place in here that I know you'll love!"

Lightning rolled her eyes and continued deeper into the forest. "Somehow, I doubt that." She turned as she spoke and stared through the thick layers of flora to stare back at the glimpses of giant grey wall that surrounded Cocoon. "I miss the comforting shelter already, despite wanting to be free of it for so many years."

This brought a smile to Vanille's face. "You're scared."

"No, I'm not scared of a little scenery," Lightning shot back, struggling to contain the volume of her voice. "I just… haven't been this, well, 'outside' before." She turned and began to walk through the bushes and shrubs, ignoring the younger girl completely as she bound up beside her, expertly finding a faster route.

"Okay, sorry. I guess you're immune to fear," Vanille said, rolling her eyes.

Lightning smiled at the compliment. "Thank you," she said as kindly as possible, but she did not think she was immune. In fact, she knew she wasn't. Her past had showed her that.

The forest was Lightning's first taste of freedom and it was starting to coax out her more excited, but the area wasn't without it dangers.

"Did you hear that?" Vanille asked urgently, her hand flying out and gripping Lightning's shoulder to pull her back roughly.

The woman pushed her off forcefully and stared ahead, an enthusiastic grin printed on her face. "Oh, I heard it," she murmured quietly, her blade already in her hand. "A wolf, or maybe something much more exhilarating."

"Oh great, I've brought out the monster in you."

Lightning snickered. "You haven't seen anything yet. Watch this." Then she was gone in a second becoming a maddened woman, slicing her way through the branches and leaves recklessly until the growls turned into savage animal cries. Vanille lost view of Lightning and started to worry, for the sounds of struggle were clear.

"Lightning? Hey, do you need some help?"

No answer.

"Hey! You okay?"

Still silence.

That was all the girl could take. She rushed in, throwing herself down the leaf strewn path and calling her companions name. She was blinded as vines whipped into her face where Lightning had missed with her over-excited swings. Finally she was stopped in her path as her foot struck a stone and she was sent flying through the air. She landed with a yelp on her stomach then lay still, her entire body aching and her mind struggling to understand what had happened and if she was even hurt.

As her senses returned to her, She lifted her head a fraction, but immediately regretted the action. A giant wolf's head twice the size of own stared own at her, the long shaggy grey fur mattered with blood. Black markings seemed to shine as its bright yellow eyes glared down at its new prey, then with a snarl it bared its teeth and prepared to strip flesh from the victim of the fall.

Lightning was fast. She struck the wolf in the side, splitting open its entire ribcage and leaving it to land a few metres away where blood trickled down from the wound. She smirked at the sight and then glanced down at her bloodied weapon.

"I was hoping to keep this clean."

The kill had caught Vanille off guard. She hadn't even had the time to convince herself that she was going to die, let alone understand the sudden defeated threat.

Seeing her state, Lightning sighted and lifted the girl to her feet again with no effort. "You're going to need to get used to seeing things like that now that you're with me."

Vanille had understood that and took the chance to ask her question as subtly as she possibly could. "Then why don't you teach me?"

The ask shocked Lightning and for a moment all she could do was stare at Vanille. It seemed she had hit a nerve.

"I'm sorry, but-"

"No, it's okay," Lightning cut her off, lifting a hand to ensure her silence. "I understand if you want to learn how to stand up for yourself better, but I can't teach you how to kill like that. I won't"

Vanille shrugged. "That's okay, I guess, but… why?"

Lighting answered as she walked away, refusing to face the girl. "Because I don't want you to turn out like me."

It was dawn by the time the pair reached the part of the forest Vanille had wanted to show Lightning, and it was then when she began her own personal tour to lighten the mood.

"Okay, are you ready to learn about Quari Forest?" she asked in a booming voice that echoed through the trees and seemed ear-splitting in the silence.

"Quari Forest? That's what this place is called?"

Vanille was surprised at Lightning's lack of education. "You lived in the middle of it for as long as you remember and you didn't even know what it was called?"

Lightning shrugged in her defence. "I don't usually pay much attention to things like that. It doesn't bother me."

"Wow…" Vanille gasped. "Not like me. I would die if I didn't know."

They continued down a small valley that gradually became like a canyon. Large moss covered rocks rose on either side of them like walls and a small creek ran alongside in a small crack in the earth. Flowers grew alongside, swaying gently in the wind on short stubby brown stems. They brought bright colours to the scenery other than the usual green, and Lightning found herself bending down to pick one of the largest and lightest purple coloured.

"Pretty, aren't they?" Vanille piped up, standing close to them besides Lightning.

As she smelled the flower, Lightning's nose wrinkled and she flicked it from her hand. The flower landed in the water, ripples erupting around it, and it floated across the steady stream.

"Not the nicest smelling though," Lightning pointed out as she turned and began walking again, this time pausing to let Vanille catch up. She peered at her form over her shoulder impatiently. "Well, how far is this place?"

The gesture surprised Vanille, so she was slow to reply. "Umm… oh, not far. It's just a bit further down here."

"Good. I want to see this place to stop your whining, then leave this damned forest."

Immediately Vanille realised that Lightning was simply waiting up so she could insult her yet again, but again all she did was sigh and continue to follow in the woman's footsteps.

Like it or not, they were stuck with each other.

"Okay, it's just through here."

The pair stood outside of the wall of rock that rose steadily higher the further they trekked along the creek's edge. A giant fracture rose up the rock and disappeared near the top, though it was wide enough for them both to fit through. Flowers covered the outside, struggling to reach past the tall grass that led into the dark cavern just visible inside.

"This is it?" Lightning asked, not even bothering to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Vanille jumped in front of her and stood before the crack. "Come on Lightning, at least pretend to be excited. You wanted out of Cocoon, right? Well, this is a great place to start!" She flung herself around and smiled widely at the pink-haired woman. "I promise this will be worth it."

Again Lightning let out a sigh, and though she didn't nod, Vanille knew that she was willing to go on. The opportunity to play tour guide again was too much for her and she bounded into the darkness, calling out for her 'tourist' to follow.

Reluctantly, she did.

The inside of the cavern was beautiful, Lightning could not deny that. She found herself staring straight at the walls as colours danced across. Blues, purples, crimsons… then she saw the source. A line of crystals climbed up the walls like plants, and pools of water below reflected their colour. Ahead there was another wall that held a grand crystal that sparkled a bright yellow. In front of it was more water, and beneath the surface was a small group of stones that sparkled a deep blue.

Vanille sat upon a slab of stone that was next to the left wall. She traced her hand along she patterns of reflected light with her finger, then turned to Lightning and smiled, patting her hand on the space beside her.

Lightning ignored the gesture and instead headed straight for the pool that held the odd stones and stared up at the giant crystal.

"The crystals in here. They must be worth a fortune."

Vanille gasped form behind her, then hung her head. "Well, yeah, probably, but… they make this place special. I would never even think of selling them."

Her choice of words pricked Lightning's curiosity. "Wait, are you the only one that knows about this place?"

Vanille nodded, but then regretted it. "Lightning, this is my… special place. Ever since I found it when I was little I would come here to think. Please... ound it when I was little I would come here to finger, then turned to Lughtning and smiled, patting her handdon't tell anyone about it."

Slowly, Lightning turned back to the crystal, though she was not really looking at it. Instead she was thinking. The girl was so innocent, so kind hearted and good natured. "Vanille, why me?"

"What?"

Lightning exhaled and took a step closer to the water to stare down at the stones while she thought. Finally, she spoke again. "Why were you chosen to come and save me? Were… so different."

Behind her, Vanille simply shrugged. "We don't get to choose whose souls we save. Our dreams decide." She knew she sounded crazy and lowered head.

"I see." Lightning didn't turn around. She was too busy trying to understand this 'ability' the dreamer held, but the younger girl asked her next question.

"Back in the trees you said you didn't want me to be like you."

Lightning froze.

"Is that what this is about?" Vanille continued.

There was silence for a few moments before Lightning decided to finally grace the cavern with her words, but they were cold and clearly concealing deep emotions. "I don't like what life has made me."

It was Vanille's turn to hesitate. She was unsure of what to say, what to do. How would Lightning react if she said something like, 'I think you're a good person!' She didn't know her at all, so she stayed quiet and just stared at the crystals beside her head.

It was clear that Lightning would say no more on the subject.

"Come on," was all she said after a moment. "We should get out of this forest. I want to find someplace to sleep, and maybe get something to eat." She paused and turned to the shocked Vanille. She had tried so hard to please Lightning by taking her here, and now Lightning was leaving. "It's a nice place," she managed to choke out, even delivering it with a small smile. "I think we should come here again soon."

This brought a happy smile to Vanille's face. "Okay. Your right, we should get going." She pulled herself from the slab of rock and headed towards the opening with Lighting. "Come on, my village is just outside of the forest, and that you will definitely like."