"Your Brand's really gone huh?" Hope's finger lightly grazed Lightning's skin. Today Lightning's wardrobe has changed into a silver Valkyrie armor with a drape of white feathers by her leg. She looked good in the new armor and her blade has changed too.
There was something different about Lightning now, she seemed to radiate a new aura of power and light. Her skin glowed differently, and her hair seemed softer and a deeper pink. To put it simply she looked more alive.
Her new armour exposed her chest more, her pendant no longer hung around her neck and her l'Cie Brand would have been visible if she was still a l'Cie.
"Yeah, and so is yours. But I see Snow's got a new one."
"It's such a Burden… having a Focus, it can bring so much despair but once completed bestows you with so much hope. I'm not sure whether to take it as a gift or a curse to be honest."
"It's a curse Hope; I don't want to be Branded again – ever. The first time was tough enough."
"It was wasn't it? But the feeling of hope is just as overwhelming as despair. If we never have anything to despair over then we might never have a reason to hope either. I want to find the hope that I did back when we were l'Cie."
"So what, are you saying you want to become a l'Cie again?" Lightning scoffed at him.
"No I don't need to because I already found a reason to hope again."
"What's that?"
Grabbing a hold of her wrist Hope looked at her with determined eyes.
"You're my reason to hope, I'm going to save you Lightning." And without another warning Hope pulled her into him and kissed her gently. He brushed his lips over hers gently afraid that if he were to be too rash she would break the kiss.
He pulled away and looked at her; his heart was beating so fast. He was so nervous but happy that he was finally able to kiss Lightning.
"And if you can't save me?" Lightning asked in a low voice.
"And if I can't then I guess I'll just have to be the next fallen warrior." Hope said without hesitation.
"Hope… don't say that!" Lightning furrowed her brows.
"I'll find a way to get you out of Valhalla, and if I can't then I'll just come to you."