Lightning's POV
It's him.. The man who holds the answers to my past. The man that stood over me as my body burned with pain. It's true that I don't remember much of my past or what happened to me, but I know he is the cause of it all. I pull myself back up with the shaft of the parasol that shades us from the blazing sun as my blood boils with rage. Removing my sword from my back, I'm about to break into a run, when all four of my new friends grab me, in an attempt to stop me from killing the man.
"Stop! Light, Stop!" Tifa pleads as she tries to wrestle the serrated blade off me.
"It was him! He's the reason I don't remember! He did this to me!" I roar.
"The place is crawlin' with Shinra! You make a move on him and they'll gun yo ass down!" Barret explains as he sweeps my feet from under me and I hit the sand with all the grace of a brick.
Everyone is to busy trying to stop me from struggling to notice the extra shadow that is now stood over me. The mad scientist stands behind Tifa; who has finally yanked the sword from my hand, and looks down on me with a smug but calculating face.
"Well, what a surprise seeing you here.. But I guess after so long in a mako tank, one might need a holiday.." The scientist says with a smug tone, instantly drawing the attention of my previously oblivious friends.
"I swear, I will take your head for what you've done to me!" I threaten.
"And with me dead, how will you get answers? The not headed ones are never bright..." He sighs. "Tell me specimen.. Have you ever had the feeling something is calling you? Or that you had to visit some place?
"She has a name!" Aeris shouts in my defense.
"Hahaha! Let me guess.. Lightning? Merely a nickname.."
"Then what is my name!? Where am I from!? I scream, as he destroys another one of my beliefs.
"Oh, how tragic.. Doesn't even know her own name.."
"Leave her alone.." A deep voice I instantly recognize as Cloud's demands from behind.
"It's been a long time, Cloud.." The man says with a sinister smile.
"What do you want Hojo?" The blonde asks.
"I believe we're both after the same goal."
"Sephiroth.."
"Did you see him?" Hojo asks, earning a nod from Cloud. "I see... haha."
"What's so funny?" Our leader says flatly, as I see his patience fading.
"Nothing. I just remembered a certain hypothesis... Haven't you ever had the feeling something is calling you? Or that you had to visit some place?"
"I'll go wherever Sephiroth is, so I can end this mess."
"I see... This could be interesting... Were you in Soldier? Heh heh heh! Would you like to be my guinea pig?" Hojo mocks, pushing the blonde over the edge. And causing his hand to find the handle of the buster sword.
"Cloud! Don't!" Aeris warns, pulling Hojo's attention to her.
"Say, aren't you the ancient?"
"My name is Aeris! The least you could do is remember my name!" The flower girl shouts.
The evil professor begins to mumble about his tan and lets slip that Rufus was heading west, but after that his lips remained sealed as he returns to his spot and continues his vacation. I watch as the blonde's hand drop off the sword when he notices the sentries that are posted all around the resort and he is back to his stoic self, unlike me, who is ready to pull the smug scientist limb from limb.
"I want answers! Let me up!" I demand.
"Light.. I promise you that we'll get answers, but it won't be today.. There's too many soldiers around and there's kids here.. We can't afford to start a fire fight." Cloud explains softly as he offers me his hand, which I begrudgingly take.
"I have a right to know!" I bark, determined to have the last word before I storm back to the room.
Cloud's POV
I pull her to her feet, satisfied that she wasn't going to get us all killed; but I can tell by her expression that she's less than impressed. She snatches her hand back, and I'm left to watch her march off the beach. Her frustrations are understandable, but I need to keep her safe.. I need to keep us all safe. I debate following her but I decide against it for now, and take the group to the bar for a much needed drink that served two purposes. To quench the thirst brought on by the blistering heat from the seaside resort and to keep up what little morale we have left.
"Sure is nice not to have moody around for a bit." Barret states as he takes a large gulp of cold beer.
"Barret!" Aeris scalds. "That's just mean!"
"Hey, maybe I should make some of these cocktails at the bar when I get back. What do you think?" Tifa questions the group.
I ignore the group's bickering as the rose haired woman in etched into my current thoughts. I want nothing more than to rush upstairs and tell her the answers to her many questions, but I have none.. The path I have chosen gives me a slim chance for survival, never mind success and I feel guilty in her persistence in following me to what may be an untimely death. As for her past.. Who knows.. She say's she's from another world; an artificial one that floats in the sky like our moon but part of me doubts her. Her exposure to mako was enough to kill most people and the ones that do survive are usually far to brain damaged to even form sentences. Am I to assume what she is saying is nothing more than a broken mind's stories?
"Cloud?.." Red says, noticing my mind racing. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah.. Just a little tired." I lie.
"Where are we going tomorrow?" Tifa asks.
"We're gonna head west.. The map that Yuffie got shows there's a mountain pass with a bridge. Looks like it's the only way to cross the river." I explain.
"Maybe we should get some rest then. I feel bad for leaving Light up in the room on her own." Aeris suggests.
"I'm sure Cloud will take real good care of her. He's already helped her get undressed." Yuffie mutters. I could see her face dying to mention what she thought she saw to the others, but even though I'm prepared for it, my face still burns red.
"What?" Tifa and Aeris say in unison, both turning their gaze to me.
"Ignore her.. All I did was unbuckle some straps that you two had forgotten to take off."
My answer doesn't seem to satisfy the two girls and now it's my turn to watch their minds race, as the warms smiles they wore throughout the evening had vanished. I send a dark glare at the trouble making ninja before standing up and leading the party back to our hotel room, where I find Lightning, curled up in bed, seemingly asleep. Informing the others that she was asleep, we all creep into the room as quietly as we can manage and I find my clothes folded neatly on the window ledge, now warm and dry. I take them and make my way into the bathroom, feeling great when I discard the Shinra uniform with my own. I look into the mirror to find my bright eyes staring back at me, only for the reflection to flicker to someone else.. Someone with black hair.. But no sooner had I saw it, had it gone again.
"What the hell was in that drink?.." I mumble to myself as I climb into bed.
I close my eyes, and for the first time all day, I'm met with silence. Enjoying the stillness of the room, I take in a deep breath, that's followed by a yawn and inhale a floral scent coming from my clothes. Smells just like her...
Lightning's POV
After angrily marching back up to the room, I throw myself on the bed, still enraged that the man with all of the answers I need is allowed to mock me and leave without facing the consequences of his actions. Now I'm left with only a nickname and the vague memories that could all be a fabrication.. A dream that's both terrifying and wonderful at the same time. For now, my dreams were all I had, so I decide to get some sleep, not wanting to have to speak to the others when they finally returned.
"Light! Light, it's me!"
"Serah!" I shout to my sister as she races towards me.
"I've missed you soo much! We all have.."
"All have?" I frown?
"Everyone. Snow, Hope, Sazh, Vanille and Fang. Remember?"
"...Yes.. Yes.. I remember now.. Serah.. What's going on?"
"It's all an illusion.. You're still on Cocoon." Serah explains. "It's Orphan's doing."
"Fal'cie? How do I escape the illusion?"
"You need to get away from Cloud and the others.. It's all a trick.."
"But-" I begin, but the young pinkette is gone.
My eyes snap open and I sit up in bed, scanning the room for movement. I count the sleeping bodies, ensuring everyone was present before I remove the sheets slowly and slip out of bed. I take the sword that I left, propped up against the edge of my bed and go to walk out of the room. I catch the sleeping blonde in the corner of my eye as I pass his bed and pause. It pains me to believe that he is nothing more than an illusion, created to deceive me. To what end, I do not know; but I need to leave. Taking the money from my pocket, I place it on his bedside table, before taking a final look at the man I thought saved me from captivity and leaving.
It's still dark out. There's probably a few hours before sunrise, which should give me enough time to make good progress and get far enough in front to stop them catching up. If what Serah told me was true, Cloud is just another tool in Orphan's arsenal to deceive me, but the thought of never seeing him again still hurts. I snatch a map from the check in desk and curse myself for my new found weakness before heading off into the night.
The walk was pleasant and the breeze was refreshing, unlike during the day, making the miles easy. I managed to get half way up the mountain pass before the sun emerged from behind the horizon but my eyes kept checking behind, expecting to find blonde spikes racing after me. The mountain range has a river running through the middle of it, but it's joined together by a bridge, making it the only way to travel to the western part of the continent. I cross it, trying not to look down at the turbulent river that crashes, hundreds of feet below and head back down the other side of the mountain.
I consult the map once more, noting the nearest place on the map has a red ring around it with a note 'Quicksand desert'. Looks like the Goldsaucer is off limits.. Whatever the hell that is.. Corel village seems to be the only other option as another river and a mountain range divides up the rest of the continent. I'm now left with a question.. What do I do to get out of this illusion? Will time free me from my prison? Or do I have to reach somewhere to escape Orphan's clutches.
Cloud's POV
"She's gone!" Tifa shouts down my ear as she shakes my violently.
"Wa.. huuh?" I mumble as I sit up in shock.
"Light isn't here!" Aeris confirms Tifa's words as I'm finally conscious enough to comprehend what she was saying.
"Red, can you track her?" I ask.
"I can try.. But why is it that you are so fixated in location her? Perhaps she no longer wanted to join us.."
"... She has our money.." I mutter an excuse.
"Actually, looks like she did the decent thing and left it." Barret says, pointing to my bedside table, leaving me to quickly think of another excuse.
"She knows to much about us.. We need to make sure she doesn't talk." I offer as my next reason.
"You wanna kill her?!" Barret shouts. "You Soldier guys are psychotic.."
"No you idiot. We just need to talk to her.." I answer bluntly.
Red sighs but says nothing as he leaves the room. He clearly sees through my reasoning, but does not expose my selfish desires to the rest of the group. It's a blessing and a curse to have someone like him around; a beast with the wisdom only earned by a few men, that could see right through even the most convincing liars but also offer the most useful of advice; making me believe he was quite old. We all follow him outside and watch as he surveys the sandy street, looking for tracks or a scent to follow. He picks up a trail quickly, but with the head start she's had, we'll be lucky to catch her in time.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, I enjoy reading them and it helps me make decisions. I'm gonna increase the length of the boss battles as we progress through the story. Regarding this chapter.. I don't really wanna spoil anything but I want you to know I haven't done a ff10 "he was all a dream" story, but you'll find out soon enough. Any guess's as to what's going on? Leave a review and let me know what you think, and as always, thanks for reading.