Lightning's Thoughts

On Chocobos

Lightning would not admit how excited she was when they found chocobos on Gran Pulse. No way was she going to let any of them know how her heart skipped a beat at the thought of riding them. Compared to horses or riding Odin, chocobos were the next best thing.

Sazh was the first to climb up on one. He was on it so fast that she didn't get the chance to see how he had climbed up. Next was Vanille, giggling so much with excitement that she struggled to get on top. No, Lightning couldn't do it that way or else she would look like a fool.

Hope seemed to have the same issue as her, uncertain how to board but not wanting to look silly. The two carefully watched with disappointment as Snow boarded easily due to his height. They turned, almost desperately to watch Fang.

The woman rested her arm around the bird's neck, lifted one leg, and swung herself over. This seemed to do it for Hope, because he quickly turned to the bird next to him and followed suit. Lightning turned to the bird next to her, looking it up and down warily.

But . . . What if I break it's neck?

As always, she refused to let any sign of weakness show on her face. She couldn't let them see her as anything but calm and collected. She felt this, despite how all of them had seen her anger, frustration, and turmoil.

Her heart pounded as she reached her arm around it's neck, making sure not to pull at any of it's feathers. It blinked and glanced down at her, it's beak just inches from her face. It was almost as if the bird was asking her what she was waiting for. She raised one leg and quickly sung up onto it's back.

She was surprised how soft a seat the bird's feathers made. The breeze blew and she felt light and free sitting up there.

"We're ready to go then?" Sazh asked, glancing around at everyone to make sure they got on okay.

"Let's go," Lightning leaned forward, pressing her legs against the bird's soft sides to keep her balance. With a light kick the Chocobo was off, trotting into the wilderness.

They rushed past monsters with ease, trotted past trees and crossed streams. The sun shone brightly warming her skin, the wind blowing calmly keeping her at a consistently comfortable temperature. It was almost like sunbathing on the beaches of Bodhum.

"Enjoying yourself?" Snow smiled, trotting up next to her.

Lightning fixed herself a frown. She patted the Chocobo's head. "They aren't the best thing to ride, but they'll do."

"Oh, come on, Light!" Vanille came between them. "Isn't this fun?"

"We have other things to focus on,"

"Come on Grumpy," Sazh said over his shoulder, "No use in thinking about stuff you can't change."

By now Lightning was actually getting pissed, rather than just putting on a tough face. Couldn't they just leave her alone and let her enjoy the ride in peace?

"I rode chocobos almost my whole life and I've never seen someone riding one with such a sour look," Fang rode up on her other side with a big smile on her face, "it's almost funny, Light."

She could imagine it, a young woman atop a giant chicken looking like a child whose ice-cream fell in the sand. Yes, it was funny, and that just annoyed her more. So what if she looked funny?

"It's not like we're riding horses," Lightning muttered.

Fang heard her and laughed. "Ah right, our resident pony princess." She nudged Lightning playfully before moving on to take the lead.

Lightning huffed and shook her head, glad that no one else knew what the other woman was taking about. She patted her chocobo softly. It glanced back at her and cocked it's head.

Yes, it was good enough.

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing!

is was one of the first ideas I had, this one and the first one. My brother and I were playing thirteen and got on some chocobos, earlier I had said something about how you never can get lightning to look directly into the camera and when you so it's actually quite frightening. So, when on the chocobo I was like "we should try to get her to look into the camera again." and it was hilarious! Her pissed off look while on a chocobo was priceless, like, how could you be that upset while riding such a cute thing! :D