its half way over guys! ...well, sorta X)
as a heads up, the last few chapters might be something completely different than the course it was taking so far, i know i want to write a chapter for Stray to see which plot i want because i have two possible plots and we could either get kitty lightning or kitty noctis...might end up doing both i dunno.
so yeah, the last couple chapters will be different than the course that this story is going, so don't be too surprised with the sudden change! it'll probably be the last 2 to 4 chapters.
Despite how tiring this job was, Lightning did thoroughly enjoy it.
Specifically with moments like this.
Looming over the training area, Lightning slowly walked along the upper railing, offering a stand for the mentors to look down from at the training recruits and to catch everything that went down below. For the moment, all the recruits were running with Red hot on their heels, darting around and snapping at any that were trying to drift away from the group. Lightning smirked down at the group, nostalgic memories coming over her eyes as she watched them run. It brought her back to the time where she was one of them, pushing her limits to see how fast and long she could run.
Back then, there wasn't such a drive to move except their own determination and the sharp shouts of their teachers pushing them on. As good as it was to push yourself, it was hard to do when exhausted. Lightning remembered that the training itself did little to prepare her for running from a real behemoth, or lobo.
So for every once a week, she brought Red in to chase these boys. They learned their limits and got faster and more durable, and Red got some entertainment and excise.
The boys were so skeptical the first time she brought Red. First it was what sort of creature he was, and that he was really her pet. When she had informed them that he would help with training, there was even more skepticism on how the large lion like creature would help. The answer came when she sicked him on them.
Overall, she was delighted to find that they were improving. They were getting faster, could run longer, and much, much better reflexes; especially since Red would completely destroy their clothes if they weren't fast enough.
Pulling out a ball, Lightning bounced it in her palm before shouting, "Grenade!" and threw it down at the center of the group. They all dove to the side, even Red, as the small ball hit the ground below, exploding into blue paint that flew everywhere. Taking a moment to pause, Lightning peered down to see who had blue on them, and was quite satisfied to see that those that did only had to drops dotted on them.
They were getting much, much better.
"Alright girls," she declared as they slowly rose up, straightening and peering up at her steadily; like good soldiers. "I'm satisfied enough that we'll be moving onto the next course." They all perked, some subtly, others openly smiled in pure relief that they were no longer running.
"Despite this though, I don't want you lot to stop running. Five miles a day."
The area was filled with groans, even from her more serious students. Rolling her eyes, she went on. "Its good to keep up your leg strength, especially since we'll be focusing on increasing and improving your other strengths. I understand that some of you need encouragement to run... for that reason, you can join me and Red in the morning." All the boys glanced over at the lion sitting down near them, flashing them a smile full of teeth. "If I see any of you slacking, you will be joining me and Red. Do I make myself clear?"
They all nodded, paling as they watched the lion slink up to join his mistress, his flamed tip swaying behind him.
"Dismissed," Lightning eased as Red slid up alongside her, all the boys rushing out.
Once they were all gone, she turned down to Red, weaving her fingers through his mane. "Did you have fun today?" she cooed, earning a confirmed purr from her comrade. Sighing to herself, she sat down, leaning against the wall while Red laid himself down beside her, purring contently while she ran her hand over his course fur.
No wonder Serah liked having a cat.
Though she did prefer this one compared to Snow, that cat was just a spoiled brat. Much like her soon to be brother-in-law that the cat was named after. Serah just spoiled that man and cat too much in Lightning's opinion. Its a wonder that they weren't jealous of one another with all that she does with and for them.
Her thoughts were broken when the door slid open, both she and Red perking up. Thinking it was one of her students, she leaned forward, only to blink in surprise at the sight of Noctis slipping into the room, rolling his shoulders as he tugged his black shirt off. Reflexively, Lightning drew back, keeping herself hidden as her cheeks warmed slightly before she realized that she was blushing.
She quickly scolded herself. She's seen plenty of men half naked in her military, some parts she didn't even need to see. There was no reason for her to react to this. When the sound of cloth being tossed aside, Lightning peeked back up, curious to see what Noctis was doing in the training room, much less why he was even in the castle at all. Curiously, she watched as he started to stretch and work out.
Was he a faculty member here? A part of the royal guard?
That possibility flew out the window when he disappeared in a flash, reappearing across the room, wielding a falchoin that looked like it had an engine attached to its hilt. With wonder, she watched as Noctis flew around the room, swinging his sword through the air and swiping at unseen enemies. It was almost like she was watch a l'Cie fight, but not even a l'Cie could be graced with these abilities, disappearing into air and then reappearing, even his weapon came out of thin air.
The closest in her group to this was probably her when she was a l'Cie with her grav con.
Lightning gripped the bars to the railing, resisting the sudden urge to dive down and lock blades with him. Its been a long time since she had a good spar, and seeing his capabilities laid out before her, she was tempted to go down and challenge him, to test her skills. She may not have magic anymore, but she could still match his speed.
But how did he have such skills and powers? There were no l'Cie in Lucis, as far as she knew. They shared the same death goddess though, so maybe they did have l'Cie...? Lightning merely shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside and watching Noctis dance around the arena, studying, criticizing, and comparing.
Over all, he was a good fighter, could give anyone in her family and in the GC a run for their money, but he was arrogant and sure, she could tell by his stance and movements. It was almost like he had complete control over the situation, in his mind with this mental battle, he did. She really wanted to see how he'd fair in the battles she fought with chaos everywhere and control was the last thing any of them had.
How well would he fair?
Red shifted, and Lightning turned her attention back to the door, watching as three other men slipped inside, Noctis pausing at the sight of them, his falchoin disappearing as he turned them. Lightning narrowed her eyes as Noctis met the three, a few words bouncing through the air as she struggled to hear what they said.
He was familiar with them. That much was evident by his posture and how he moved around them, with all of them. He was open with them and vice versa. Sighing, Lightning slid away, leaning against the wall and keeping hidden from sight, running her hand through Red's fur. Why the man was so intent on hiding his life from her was a complete mystery from her. She didn't know what he did for a living, she didn't know these men he was talking too, she didn't know anything about his life.
While he knew hers well enough.
"What am I going to do with him?" she softly asked Red. Her lion merely tilted his head up at her, staring up at her with one large, apologetic amber eye. Red didn't know either. She scratched him behind his ears, easing away his apology and smiling at the deep purr that rumbled out of his throat.
They'd know the mystery of Noctis soon enough, she was sure, they just had to wai-
"We're going to need a prince tonight."
Lightning froze at the loud voice, suspiciously reminding her of Snow; though more at his words. Prince? Ligtning really didn't know much on how the government is run here since it was nothing like Sanctum; but she did have the basics idea of it, ruled by a single man they call a king.
Wasn't a prince the son of a king? Next in line to rule?
That was her understanding.
Drawing away from Red, she crept closer, watching as Noctis scoffed and shook his head at the blonde, she could hear his distant grumbles bouncing off the walls, the other men joining in and confirming what she heard.
"Best behav... Princess Stel... treaty..."
The rest escaped her, especially as the four drew away and left the training area, but Lightning got all that she needed. Nobles met with nobles; it was common knowledge, even on Cocoon. It'd made since for royals to only meet royals...
Noctis was a prince, or someone high class, that she was sure of.
And for the moment, she didn't know what to think of it.
Should she be angry?
Maybe.
Should she really care?
Maybe.
Lightning sighed as she mused to herself on the couch, debating on how to react to Noctis when he finally dropped by. She wasn't expecting him tonight, it sounded like there was something going on. Probably a good thing, to help her sort her thoughts.
It wasn't so much that he was a noble. Hope was a noble and she didn't treat him any different, she treated him like any other comrade struggling to survive and rely on each other. The same went for any other noble. They were merely men with more money than most people. So long as they didn't get in her way, she had no problems with them...
Even if some of aggravating half the time.
No, it wasn't Noctis being a noble that irked her, it was more of the fact that he hid it from her. What explanation did he have for that? No good ones as far as she could tell.
Grumbling, she glanced across from her, glaring at her sleeping lion sprawled out on his armchair. Lucky Red, not having a care in the world about Noctis' and his reasons. The man was just a man to the lion, someone else in his life besides her. What reason did he have to be so frustrated with him?
Besides occasionally stealing his steak.
Lightning wished she was just as fine with this as Red was. She wouldn't be brooding this evening away otherwise.
Stupid Noctis and his stupid secrets.
"Hey Light?"
Speak of the devil...
Lightning and Red both perked slightly, watch the doorway expectingly as Noctis slid into the den, a dark scowl on his face as he sat himself down on a near chair, mindful not to sit on Red again. "Mind if I crashed here tonight?" he bit out, Lightning hearing the retrain in his voice to keep him from snarling out.
"I guess the meeting with the princess didn't go well?" she offered carefully, watching him closely.
"It was tedious and boring!" he declared, slouching back in his seat and running his hand over his face. "There were so many unnecessary complications that it was just ridiculous. Tenebrea didn't want Lucis to go parading around their kingdom to get to Solheim, Lucis didn't want guns, Niflheim wanted everything; and then Princess Stella invited me to attend to one of her balls, ugh. Now I have to find a guest that'll go with me so she won't cling and..." Noctis trailed, slowly drawing his hand and away as he looked up at her.
Lightning sat still and calm, observing him while he rambled, her legs crossed as one foot tapped patiently as it inally clicked what he was just saying. "So," she said when the realization dawned on him. "You are prince of Lucis, aren't you Noct?"
"Uh...I can explain...?"
serah has a cat named snow; not to be confused with her boyfriend... you know, as much as i'd love my boyfriend, i'm not sue if i ever would name my pet after him, that would just get confusing...
lightning isn't aware the powers the royal family have here in Lucis, and is still somewhat grasping the idea on how the government works here since there was no royalty of any kind on cocoon and mostly likely pulse as well.
now she knows! for the moment, i didn't feel like getting too into the details on how the rest of this conversation would go, though it doesn't end horribly for noctis... at least not too bad.
now for the drabble to continue with prince noctis and lightning's interactions~
