Right then, I have returned from my silence to bring you another chapter a little sooner then probably everyone expected. I hope you enjoy, and as always, your reviews and opinions are welcomed. :3 Chapter eleven is complete as well, and I've begun XII, hopefully this writing streak will continue! X3

Breathe

Ultima

This entire scenario was beyond her comprehension though, Lightning, as concerned as she was for the boy, found herself scowling as she helped him up and out of the reddened closet. The trio stood in silence, as their apparent leader contemplated exactly what to do. Or that's what they were assuming she was doing, to be honest, she was doing nothing of the sort. She has resigned to try and not understand how exactly Morrigan or something crazy-mage was messing with them.

If she did think about it, it made her head hurt and she had enough of a headache trying to get out of this maze of memories. No, there was no sense trying to understand anything, just go with it and survive each and every scenario they could come up with.

"Light..."

Hope's shaky voice broke her thoughts and she looked over, not even aware at how annoyed she looked. Her features lightened when he moved towards her and hugged her tightly. Lightning blinked, her arms slowly uncrossing and drifting down to cradle the boy somewhat, frown disappearing as sheepishness broke though.

"I'm sorry I failed..." He whimpered, his voice muffled by the fact he's head was buried into her overcoat and body. "I.. It happened so fast..."

"Hope," One of Lightning's hands went and placed itself on the back of his head, turning her awkward touch into more of a comforting hug. "It's not your fault, it's nobody's fault."

"The others.. They promised to free you." He pulled away enough to look up at her with sad, desperate eyes. "I went with her, the woman. I don't remember what happened after, I just know... She was going to kill you."

"Believe me she hasn't stopped trying." Lightning frowned, looking up to see Serah investigating the room. "What is it?"

"Where is everyone?" The girl questioned, looking back at her sister. "Shouldn't there be soldiers?"

"There should be." Lightning answered flatly, ignoring Hope's proximity after he released her. She understood he was afraid, but even when she was awake, he had a habit of sticking close. It was cute (not that she would ever admit this) but also annoying. She thought about it, before she scanned the room.

Nothing? Lightning had to admit to herself, that was really odd. She suppressed her blank expression behind one of determination, she needed to at least look focused. Odd..

"We should try and find a way out of here." Serah offered. "This is an enemy ship, right?"

Lightning nodded, unsheathing the Blaze Edge so she was armed with a rifle. Hope winced as he moved, following their leader as she chose one of the doorways that gave a small hiss as it opened up into a larger, green and black room that had teal orbs on the walls for light. The door shut with a louder sound then the soldier deemed necessary and she turned to look.

It was a wall now, and the hallway grew a little larger.

"Hn," The noise of irritation escaped Lightning. "This isn't going to be good."

"Light..." Hope gulped, pointing forward.

She turned, almost reluctantly to see what exactly was there, staring them down. She wasn't surprised, no anger, just a subtle irritation that didn't manage to ruined her focused appearance. She pointed her rifle defiantly, staring the monster down as it spun it's duel-bladed sword, rising up a tad.

Odin... She thought, shaking her head. I saw this coming. "You'd do well to move, Odin."

The knight's shield slid down on his arm, locking in place as he took a stance, blade beginning to spark with electric energy. It waited a second before it charged, spinning the sword at a bewildering speed before he whipped it forward. All three of the targets dodged, Lightning felt the stray arcs of electricity hit her, making her skin tingle and burn with pain before it moved on, sweeping over Hope who had dived for the floor and Serah who leapt back, slamming her back painfully into the wall, but avoided the blade.

Then Odin was there, crashing between the three to retrieve this blade. Lightning reached down, grabbing Hope and pulling so hard she threw him to the other side of the room. He grunted, rolling callously, but he was away from the Eidolon as it rose up and went for the soldier. She bit back a groan as her weapon switched to a sword just in time to block a slice but got electrocuted as the two pieces of metal connected.

The betrayer went for a swift smack then, with his shield. Lightning leapt, landing on the object before she jumped up, twirling before she brought her blade across Odin's metal face. The Eidolon didn't make a sound as she landed a hit, just narrowed his eyes before followed her, turning around and going for a swing as the soldier landed.

Lightning turned and prepared herself, the sword again smashing into hers, only to have her body become a conduit for thunder magic. Her knees shook as it coursed through it, dancing through the sergeant before it zapped and made static energy on the metal floor.

There was a flash of light, and a cascading boom before Odin was thrown back a couple of feet. Serah stood, panting, white traces of magic moving around her.

Being hit with a spell didn't seem to bother Odin at all. He charged, before more of the energy encircled the mage and threw the assailant back again.

"Leave her alone." Serah stated, though her voice was shaky. Lightning looked at her, a confused frown on her face.

Odin scoffed, before a bolt of lightning flew from his hand to Serah. Sending the poor girl flying back into the wall, slumping into unconsciousness.

Lightning's confusion quickly vanished, and turned into pure loathing. She was upon her summon even before he could blink, her blade smashing into every piece of the metal warrior she could find before she bounced over his shoulder, making her weapon transform midair so she could deliver a cheap-shot to the back of the Eidolon's head.

The knight came again, swinging long so the sergeant was forced to nearly break her back evading the move. A powerful, strategic kick from Odin sent her flying so she landed well past Hope, who had recovered some of his energy. He glared at Odin, calling upon all his strength, the wind returned, dancing around the boy before it rocked forward as a powerful twister. Odin paused, bracing himself through the strike, but small pieces of its armour broke off in the assault.

The Eidolon stabbed his blade into the ground, eyes glowing a bright, eery yellow and between his palms electricity began to dance. The air was turning dry and Hope knew he was in for it, the spell was so bright his couldn't even see it coming. He felt the air turn hot, and then someone roughly shoving him.

He hit the wall, but that didn't falter his brain from recognizing who had just taken the shot.

"Lightning!" He cried, watching her battered, burned and smoking body wobble and fall to the floor with a thump. Hope ran for her, dropping to his knees and sliding the rest of the way, despite the pain his body was in. "Light?" He questioned, gently touching her charred, smouldering hair. "Lightning?"

Her eyes didn't open, her mouth didn't move.

Serah grunted, her mind was foggy and her stomach stung like she had laid down on a hot stove. Her eyes moved under their lids, before slowly the dark veil was lifted and the scene was displayed before her. Odin was temporarily halted his assault, he stood a small distance from Hope and Lightning.

Her eyes widened in horror.

Lightning was down, her body obviously reached its limit. She looked like she had been thrown in a bonfire. Hope was there, a desperate but weak cure spell flowing from his hands into Lightning's unmoving chest.

She's not breathing, she's not moving.. No, no she can't be...

Tears overtook her, and she gulped as she stood. Her breathing was uneven, as she hiccuped in her miserable state. Her hands shook with something she didn't realize. It was something the happy girl had never felt before, never in her life.

Rage.

Rage that twisted around in her gut before it made it's way up, like a constrictor. It slithered around her heart, wrapping around it and mercilessly clenching it before what felt like thousands of tiny veins spawned from it, slinking through her limbs and settling just under her skin.

"Claire..." She whispered, her eyes, which she hadn't realized she closed, opened and slowly drew up. Memories danced before her, before her favourite one settled.

"I liked your name." The teenager crossed her arms as she sat on the couch. Watching as her elder sister went about making something for dinner in the kitchen.

"That's nice." Her sister had scowled, glaring at the girl. Serah ignored the anger and watched as her sister went from annoyed to serious. "You can't call me Claire anymore, I'm Lightning. It's been years, why bring it up now?"

Serah had frowned, crossing her arms miserably. Her sister could be such a drag, she had left her name behind long ago, but Serah had always assumed her strict sister would at some point, take up her old name and be happier. She paused, uncrossing her arms to play with her ponytail as she thought. "Is it a play on words?"

Lightning briefly halted her assault on the tomatoes and turned to face Serah. "Pardon?"

"Lightning, Eclair means Lightning. If you rearrange Claire, you get Eclair." She stated bluntly, she began to giggle at her sister's put-off expression. "So either you were clueless, playing on words, or you really like pastry treats..."

"Serah..." Lightning put down the knife and moved into the open living room, she stared at her sister dangerously. "Don't you-"

"I'm going to call you Eclair." She beamed, standing up to meet her sister's challenge. "I like it, and technically, I'm still calling you Lightning..." Serah paused, enjoying her guardian's dumbfoundedness. "Maybe I'll tell Snow..."

"Don't. You. Dare." Lightning moved closer as Serah began slowly for the door.

"He'd like that, I bet he'd tell all his friends..."

"Serah," Lightning growled. "I'm warning you don't you- HEY!"

Serah dashed for the door, grasping the handle and wrenching the door open before she sprinted and jumped onto the sand. She wasn't wearing any shoes, and she was secretly thankful she had made the bound between the porch and the small amount of pavement.

Lightning was out the door right after her, easily clearing the pavement with more grace than her younger sister. The jump had settled some of the distance between them, and seconds afterwards the girl was tackled to the sand, laughing as Lightning grabbed her flailing arms and flipped her over.

Claire, as that who she was at that point, with a content expression, watched Serah break out into laughter. She blinked, a small smile creeping onto her lips before her body involuntarily followed her sister's example.

Lightning-Claire-Eclair, was laughing.

She wanted to see her sister laugh like that again, and that thing meant to protect the sergeant, had stolen that chance.

Energy gathered around her, and she felt it move inside her, dancing around and mixing with her rage, misery and hate before it formed into something. It felt so strange to her, she looked down, watching as a pristine crystal phased out of her heart, glinting with silver wisps and looked just like one of the stars she loved so much. It had seven points, and hovered before it before it moved upwards, hanging just above her face.

She reached up tentatively and touched it, mesmerized by its beauty and gleam.

It shattered, and the energy exploded outwards before it transformed into a massive ripple that shot back towards her, dancing around her before it shot up into the ceiling, a giant glyph dancing there before the silver stars and black sky could be seen.

Then Serah watched a woman drift down, she had really nothing on, with white, shining skin with a silver gleam. Her feet touched the floor gently, landing with grace no human could ever hope to have. Six, massive, mechanical angel wings shielded the angel's body, hiding most of her figure and her face as they curled around her. They were a bright orange, fading to gold and then white.

Odin turned, clutching his sword. He braced himself as a rush silvery wind blasted away from the new force as she thrust open her top two sets of wings. She wore a elongated helmet, that hid her eyes behind a white energy bar. Long purple tendrils that Serah assumed was supposed to be hair dance behind the angel's head, spawning from the back of the helmet.

Her body may of been mechanical, but only a fool would call the Eidolon standing before the tired heroes anything but beautiful.

"Ultima..." Serah spoke quietly, the woman looked at her, nodding. Serah looked over at the lifeless Lightning. "Please help her... Please..."

Ultima looked over, with a wave of her hand Odin was thrown out of her way so she could see the wounded sergeant. Slowly she outstretched her hand, and golden energy travelled from her to the burnt body. It dived into Lightning through her nostrils and mouth, and a millisecond afterwards she was gasping, stiff body began to breathe raggedly.

"Ugh... H-Hope..." Lightning croaked, reaching up and grabbing his scarf. "H-have I woken up yet?"

"No..." Hope admitted.

"... Of... C-course not..." She moaned. She blinked, blurrily staring at the magnificent being before her. She didn't say anything, just let her head fall back onto the floor, utterly beat.

Serah's hands were clenched tightly into fists. "Now end it, end the betrayer." Her voice, so seething with anger barely managed a whisper.

Ultima was nothing like the Shiva sisters, while the elder could be called a kind soul, tempered by age and wisdom, and the other had the youthful vigour and bravery expected of a young warrior woman. Ultima was neither of these things. She stood on a foundation all her own, she was justice, fairness and truth all in one. The guiding light, the path of perfection wasn't an easy one, and Ultima was probably the only soul, human or not, to ever reach the end of that chosen road.

A higher being, even to other Eidolons, she pointed gently at Odin, half interested in his futile attempts to escape the unseen hold. She tilted his head, and Serah wondered briefly if she was asking why he would betray his own chosen. Whatever the answer was, it didn't seem to sway her actions much, her pointed hand slowly formed a fist.

Odin struggled as the pressure around him doubled, tripled, quadrupled before finally he exploded into light. Crystal shards flying everywhere before they vanished.

She rushed for her wounded sister, collapsing down on her knees on the opposite side of Hope. Lightning gazed at her weakly, her expression neutral. Serah knew that facade, she was hurting, more than she'd like to admit. Lightning didn't like to lose, she had been trained and practically raised by the army, losing wasn't an option.

"Claire..." Serah whispered, a sad smile on her face.

Briefly Lightning's body shimmered, and the younger girl beamed. She had a grin on her face as the Palamecia shook and began to shift and change. The four of them zoomed through the sky, brushing through the clouds before they could see Palumpolem in the distance. The sergeant looked confused for a good minute, the sight of the memory shifting confused her.

"What's going on?" Hope blinked, seeing his home city nearing. "Why are we...?"

"I'm waking up." Lightning admitted, wincing as Serah helped her sit up. "They kept their promise."

Hope looked relieved, but his peaceful expression changed suddenly when he realized he'd be without the woman who had been looking out for him. Lightning caught onto the fear, and weakly put a hand on the boy's shoulder, she could feel herself beginning to heal.

"You'll be fine." Lightning smiled softly, something she knew he'd appreciate. "Serah will keep you company."

Serah nodded, a small grin breaking onto her face. "We just gotta keep ahead of Morrigan."

"You can do that, can't you?" The sergeant eyed her pupil, narrowing her gaze a bit. Hope thought about it briefly, he honestly didn't want to be brave anymore, but if it meant escaping this place and seeing Lightning again, he would sum up every ounce of courage he had.

"She won't know what hit 'er." Hope smiled, nodding.

"Will I remember?" She asked her sister, as Hope's memory settled and had them laying in the middle of the square, people staring at them oddly. "Any of this?"

Serah thought about it, before slowly shaking her head. "N-no... Maybe you'll have an inkling, but..."

"Look at that!"

"What the hell is it?"

The crowd had taken notice of Ultima, who turned her attention to the encroaching Guardian Corps. soldiers. They were already onto the them, and the dream had barely even begun.

"You two..." It became hard to talk suddenly, Lightning's lungs were burning. "Are... Off to..." She gasped, clenching her sister's hand. This felt especially like dying, even as the burns faded away and the make-believe scars vanished. "T-to... A g-great... Start..."

She slumped, eyes staying open. Her lifeless stare went up to the sky, it was dark, with stars shining high above.

"L'Cie!" Cried one of the soldiers.

Serah glared over her shoulder. She had to keep Hope safe, she told Lightning she would.

"Ultima..." She whispered, and the angel's two sets of wings rushed opened once again, blowing a good portion of the crowd back. Her blue eyes settled on Hope, who was standing, wind dancing around him already.

"Ready?" Hope asked, eyes glowing a mix between white and yellow.

Seven spheres surrounded Serah, spinning faster and faster. "Let's go."