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My sadistic instincts were taking over, every single thing I learned came flooding back to me in a text book fashion. Every swipe of my blade had purpose, every bullet hit its mark. If I drew blood from my opponents I would not flinch. If their blood stained my face, my hands, my clothes it only made me stronger. It warned the others of their approaching fate. I was a machine and anything that stood before me would be taken down without the slightest glance at mercy. I would slaughter them all. I didn't care. My pulse beat for two people other than myself right now and because of them I became an army of one. I sped ahead of everyone else without a backward glance. If my eyes fell upon hers.. Well I couldn't afford that moment of weakness. I'd have all the time in the world to gaze into that green oblivion when we finished our mission. My intensity was effecting everyone around me, I could feel it. As a team we were growing stronger. It was only natural. When human beings were faced with unsettling odds they could do amazing things, and today I was all but invincible.

So when the time came, it was only natural that it was my blade that dealt the critical blow.

It was a spectacle to watch. Their final destination was erupting like fire and brimstone. Orphans final cries could be heard reverberating off of the walls, and they stood there watching apprehensively. The fire danced off the reflection in Lightning's eyes. Every bit of emotion that she has been holding in since their journey began washing over her. She realized how tired her body felt, her muscles were aching but this was far from over. The lights in the room faltered and it grew dark. Unanimous gasps of fear could be heard, their exact sources unknown. They were all standing at the headstone of a planet about to die. The fire around them died out, and the room shifted hard. Lightning's feet left the floor. They had all started floating.

Panic spread through Lightning. "Stay together!" she shouted and took the hands of those nearest to her. She didn't bother looking at who it was. They formed a circle floating higher from the floor. She couldn't figure out what was going on, why were they flying? She watched the floor below them descending further away and with a sharp stabbing dawn of horror she realized that they were not flying. Cocoon was falling out of the sky. Her eyes shot up to the circle of people she was a part of. Her stomach dropped, they were two people short.

Her head spun around, catching two figures well below them holding hands.

"Vanille!" even Lightning didn't recognize the voice that produced the blood curdling scream. They were still close enough to meet eyes. Vanille's face was calm and determined as she drank in every detail of Lightning's face she could. Something worth dreaming about.

Lightning was at war in her head. She thought maybe Fang had a plan. Fang wouldn't let anything happen to Vanille, maybe they had a way out of it. But her deeper impulses told her to find a way to get to them. Before she could make up her mind Vanille broke eye contact with her. Lightning watched as she turned to Fang, a dim light began growing between them.

"No.." The whisper barely escaped Lightning's lips before the light grew brighter, devouring the dark sky and eventually blinding her completely. It was then that she felt her body locking into position. In a last stitch effort her hand came up instinctively to cover her face, to block the light. The last thing she saw was the silhouette of an enormous beast before she was swallowed by darkness.


"Wake up."

Lightning warmed to the voice, a smile playing on her face that was short lived as she opened her eyes. It stood like a magnificent work of art. Cocoon was completely crystallized, standing atop a long pillar of crystal. All of the air exited Lightning's lungs as slow painful realization came over her.

She's in there..

Tears welled in her eyes, and for the first time in her life since she was a child, she let them run freely. She couldn't stand it, she was the one that was trained to save peoples lives. She would have willingly given her life to save Vanille's life, If only she'd have known this would happen, she would have found a way, or she wouldn't have killed Orphan. Her knees felt like they would give way, her body was growing numb. Her breathing was shallow stabs of pain as the oxygen tried to scrape its way through her constricted airways.

Out of the corner of Lightning's eye she saw Snow's form coming out of crystal stasis. She turned from the Cocoon monument and walked a few steps back. She didn't want to show her tears or her complete and utter devastation. She wasn't willing to deal with people taking notice of it. Everyone had come to, she could hear them murmur to each other in awe over the sight before them. She ignored them, her mind was racing. Would she really be stuck there forever? Would Cocoon fall if she ever made it out? Her questions were turning into silent frustration until something she heard over her shoulder caused her to go rigid.

"Serah!" Snow all but shrieked.

Lightning spun on her heel to see her little sister spinning in Snow's arms. A miracle among tragedy. She stood transfixed staring at her, the innocent face of her sister melted her. Laughing and smiling and very much alive, Serah's eyes landed on her sister. They shared the same shade of blue eyes, the same pink hair, features they'd both also shared with their mother. It took Lightning's breath away. She wiped her eyes hastily as Serah approached her.

"I missed you.." Serah spoke before hugging Lightning tightly. Lightning's arm wound around Serah, her other hand pulling her head to her shoulder.

"Serah, I'm sorry-"

"Shh Claire, there's no reason to apologize. It all worked out! We're together again. I've forgiven you, you were just trying to protect me.." Her voice was overjoyed. Lightnings eyes crept back up to the crystal form of Cocoon. Vanille's tomb. She winced. "Y-Yeah.. I guess it did."


A week had passed. The survivors of Cocoon were getting used to their new dwelling. Most people took up residence in Oerba because it was the most developed area on Gran Pulse. Lightning and Serah took up residence in a two story house near the river. It had a nice view, and it played a central role to the town, there was roof access and a nice collection of flowers growing on it. Though Lightning agreed to let Snow marry Serah, she didn't think it was right for them to live together before they got married, or maybe she just wasn't ready to live alone yet. Regardless she spent most of her time on her own. These days, she was rarely even caught outside. Lightning had completely fallen apart. She rolled over in bed again, something she'd been doing constantly this morning. It was just the natural thing to do, but deep down she knew that no matter what position she laid in, it would still hurt.

Lightning heard her door open. Serah.. She'd shown her concern for Lightning, trying on multiple occasions to get her out of the house, but she truly had no idea what had happened to make her sister act like this. This was depression beyond anything she'd ever see her Light go through before. Today, she had a different approach.

Lightning felt the cover being pulled back on her bed, and then a weight sink it down further. Serah's arms came around her waist and she cuddled up to her back. Lightning sighed, "Serah, what are you doing?"

"Well, you never even talk to me anymore. You never want to go out, you never want to get out of bed. We haven't spent any time together. Sooo.. here I am. You can't get away from me here."

"Serah.. please just leave me alone." Lightnings voice was muffled against a pillow.

"Not until you tell me whats wrong with you."

"I don't wanna-"

"-talk about it." Serah did her best impression of Lightning's angry voice and followed with a small giggle.

"Serah, seriously.." Lightning tried to roll over to push her out of the bed but Serah's grip was so tight around her waist she wouldn't budge.

"Hey Lightning, do you think I could talk with my sister for 5 minutes?" another giggle. Serah always distinguished "Lightning" and "Claire" as two different people. Multiple personalities. She wasn't really wrong either..

Lightning cringed at the use of her taken name. She didn't like when Serah used it, it didn't sound right.. "Fine!" she said exasperated. Serah's grip slackened.

Lightning rolled onto her back and took a deep breath. "Something.. happened to me when you were away.." She met Serah's eyes, not sure how to continue.

"Okay.. And.." Serah pressed. Lightning took note of how less mature Serah was than her. She could see excitement in the girls eyes as if they were sharing gossip behind the school yard. She wondered in the back of her mind if their parents hadn't died that she would be as carefree as her younger sister.

"Well.. Serah I.. I met someone.." She felt stupid for blushing.

Serah's eyes went wide but she quickly composed her face. "So.. who is he?" It was obvious that Serah was trying to keep her voice composed as well.

There was a long pause and a sigh. ".. She." Lightning knew it was coming, so she expected the upcoming onslaught.

Serah's mouth fell open, her eyes completely bugging. "Okay.. You met a girl. Is she your girlfriend?"

Lightning rolled her eyes. "Serah, I don't actually kn-"

"Did.. you kiss her?" Serah was in another world now.

Lightning sighed again, "I knew I shouldn't have told you."

Serah giggled softly, "I'm sorry! Ok.. whats the problem?" She tugged at Lightning who had rolled back over.

"Serah. She's.. holding up Cocoon."

"What does that even mean..?"

"It means.. She's a crystal."

"Wait.." Serah began, but Lightning interrupted her.

"She became Ragnarok to save the world. She stopped Cocoon from falling. And now she's.." Lightning stopped, her voice had broke.

"Oh.. but Claire? If shes a crystal won't she wake up? You and I did.. and Snow and Hope and Sazh.."

"I.. don't know if she can Serah." Lightning felt Serah wipe a tear away on her cheek, her little sister's arms wrapped around her neck, her head resting against her own. Lightning was taken back to a time before all of this had happened. When she used to be the one comforting her sister after some stupid boy had broken her heart or something. In all those years she had never seen the roles reversed like this.

"That still doesn't explain what's wrong with you.." Serah began, petting her sister's head. ".. The Claire I know would be out finding a way to get her girlfriend back. She's not dead, Claire. What's this?"

Serahs hands had gone to Lightning's bedside table, taking a framed picture of two women.

"That's-"

"Vanille." Serah finished her sister's sentence. Lightning knew Serah had met her before on the beaches of Bodhum. She had found the picture in another dwelling in the village before it had grown more populated.

"You fell in love with Vanille..?" the smile came back to Serah's lips. "Or the other one? Who's she?" Serah's eyes were wide as she pointed at Fang.

"Yeah it's... her" Lightning pointed at Vanille ignoring her sister's other question. Her eyes fell upon the picture, she could not look away.

Serah watched her sister very closely, she could see the intense burning inside of her eyes. The pain was so evident on Lightning's face that it made Serah hurt too for her. Growing up together, she'd never seen her sister let anyone even within arms length of her, much less show interest in anyone. She was shocked to see such a different side to her. The feelings that Lightning had for Vanille spoke volumes now in the silence. It was deafening. Silently now, Serah could hear the cries of agony echoing out of Lightning's eyes.

"I've never seen you like this, Claire.."

"You don't understand, Serah. She.. she made me into a completely different person in the matter of 3 days." She stared into those green eyes in the picture knowing the picture did her no justice. A dull ache grew stronger in her stomach.

"She's a very nice girl.. " Serah began, "And sooo pretty, I can't wait to see her again."

Lightning looked at Serah. If there was one thing Lightning envied about her sister it was her ability to stay positive at even the hardest times. Maybe this was all easier than I was making it out to be.

Serah giggled and sat up, "Well she must be a good kisser..." Grabbing Lightning's arm she started pulling her out of bed, grunting a little in between words. "To make.. someone as stubborn as my dear sister here fall in love with them."

"Ugh, Serah-"

"Nope! No more excuses Claire! You can't live your life in bed because you're too scared to go get your girlfriend back." Reluctantly she allowed her sister to pull her to her feet. She knew if she wanted to she could have easily ignored Serah's attempts to move her, but she thought perhaps her little sister was onto something. Her legs felt weak. Lack of use. "There you go! Okay get dressed I'll cook you some breakfast" Serah was over the moon that she'd gotten her sister out of bed. Lightning eyed the huge smile on her sisters face. She looked so much like Mom when she smiled like that.

Lightning went to the window and stared up at the giant glass like figure. She couldn't help the excitement bubbling in the pit of her stomach. What if I could get her back after all.. She had to try. What was there to lose that wasn't already lost? She felt the willpower rise inside of her. Today, she would face the impossible.


Hokay change of plans. I'm just going to go ahead and continue the story here. Sorry it took so long I found that chapter extremely difficult to write. From here on out I have to make up a completely fabricated post game Pulse/Cocoon while trying to stay as close to the truth as I believe things turned out. Might take me a bit of a while to do this :P Thanks for all the positive reviews, hopefully I can do this story some justice. Ps. I love Serah, shes so cute about her sister