Author's Note: A Ligtning centered chapter because I love her and I got the idea for flashbacks when I saw a picture of young Serah and Claire. Also, the idea of using the Promise as a lullaby came from a fanfic I read. I don't remember who though. Enjoy!
Seeing Hope and Arystillia argue like that reminds me of how Serah and I use to argue over stupid things and then make up over her crying, Lightning thought as she walked ahead of the two, what was I thinking? Shutting my sister out like that? Lightning facepalmed and sighed.
"What's the matter, Light?" Arystillia asked.
"Nothing." Lightning responded. Such a curious girl, always trying to get into my buisness but I guess that's why she reminds me so much of Serah. Why am I comparing her to Serah? Lightning thought as she kept walking.
"We're here in the tunnels. This way we can avoid the soldiers." Hope told the crew.
"Alright, lead the way." Arystillia smiled at the younger boy. Hope nodded and walked ahead of the crew. He's just like her, always taking responsibility when others can't. Damn it, Lightning! Stop thinking about this crap! Lightning mentally beat herself up, I just can't believe that Serah, my only family left was taken away from me by that damned fal'Cie and then it turns us into it's slaves. Lightning kept walking, continuing to be quiet, more quiet than usual. Usually, she would join in on a conversation and say a few words but this time, she was purposely ignoring the world and focusing on how she missed her sister.
"Claire. Serah. Stop jumping around so much or I can't get your shoes on." her mother spoke in a calm but scolding tone.
"But mom, we want to go now." Claire and Serah whined.
"If you keep moving around then it will take longer." their mother told them. Claire pouted while Serah gave up on squirming around.
"Okay, mommy." Serah told her mother in her innocent tone.
"Good girl. Now let mommy get your shoes on." her mother smiled and helped Serah put on her shoes, "Now's your turn, Claire." Claire walked over to her mom and she put her shoes on.
"Now can we go?" Claire asked her mother.
"Yes. Let's go." her mother responded and opened the front door. They were going to a flower field by the seaside town of Bodhum on Cocoon. It was said to be one of the most beautiful fields ever and the three of them were lucky enough to live nearby so they were able to visit whenever. The two girls quickly rushed out of the house and skipped their way to the flower field.
"Hey sis?" Serah asked her sister.
"What is it, Serah?" Claire responded.
"Why can't I wear my hair like you? To the side like yours?" Serah asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Silly, it's because it's too short. You will be able to one day." Claire told her sister with a smile.
"Promise me?" Serah asked.
"Promise." Claire responded. Serah jumped up and down and hugged onto her sister with happiness.
"Don't go to far ahead or you might get lost." their mother warned.
"Okay, mom." Claire responded as they reached the flower field.
"It's sooooo pretty!" Serah exclaimed as she ran ahead and twirled around in the flowers.
"Serah! Hold on!" Claire shouted towards her sister as she ran to join her. They both twirled around in the flowers, holding onto each others arms and giggling.
"Be careful, you two." their mother told them before sitting down and setting up their picnic, "when you two are hungry, let me know."
"Okay, mommy!" they both exclaimed with joy as they ran around in the flowers. After a while of running, Claire got tired and plopped down in the flowers so Serah stopped and sat with her sister.
"It's so pretty here." Claire told her sister. Serah nodded and smiled. They both wished that this day would never end since it was so beautiful.
"Hey, Serah? Turn over here for a minute." Claire told her sister after about 10 minutes.
"Huh? What is it?" Serah responded before she felt somthing put on her head.
"There you go. I made you a flower crown." Claire responded.
"Really? Yay!" Serah exclaimed before pouting, "I want Claire to be pretty too!"
"Ok, fine. I'll make myself one." Claire told her sister as she picked a few flowers and started assembling a crown. After 10 minutes, Claire finished and showed Serah.
"There. I'm done." Claire spoke.
"I want to put it on you! Please?" Serah begged.
"Okay." Claire gave in and Serah put the crown on her sister's head.
"Now we're matching!" Serah exclaimed before smiling really wide," I wanna learn how to make one so we each give mom one!"
"Okay, it's going to be difficult. I warned you." Claire said before poking her sister playfully in the check. Serah puffed up and cheeks and pouted.
"I don't care if it's difficult. I'll learn!" Serah whined. The two pink haired siblings worked on making flower crowns until the afternoon when they were both done. Claire's flower crown was neat and tidy while Serah's was sloppy. Serah's eyes filled with tears.
"It's not good like yours!" Serah pouted.
"It's alright. With practice, you'll be even better than me one day." Claire reassured her sister.
"Really? Claire, you're the best sister ever!" Serah shouted with joy before getting up, "Let's go give these to mom. I'm sure she'll love it." Claire got up slowly before meeting up with her sister. The two girls ran towards their mother and gave her the two crowns.
"Did you guys these?" their mother asked.
"Yup! And Claire taught me how to make one!" Serah told her mother with joy.
"I love them." their mother spoke with a smile. The two sisters smiled widely before hugging their mother.
Lightning sighed. Why am I remembering this? That was right before mom died. Our last happy moment. Why the gods have to be so cruel and take her away from Serah and I? Did we do something wrong? Lightning questioned herself, What would mom do if she saw how we've turned out to be? Would she be happy or would she be disappointed that I shut out my own younger sister?
"Claire! Claire! What's wrong with mom?" Serah asked, tears in her eyes as Claire and her walked to the hospital nearby. She didn't respond to her younger sister's question but kept her eyes focused on the hospital. They were coming home from school that day when a nearby neighbor told her that they saw their mother being taken out on a gurney by some nurses. Claire didn't even bother to go home, she just grabbed Serah's arm and they both rushed to the hospital.
"Claire? What's wrong?" Serah asked her silent sister. Claire sighed, a tear rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm scared, Serah. I'm scared for mom's sake." Claire responded as they kept walking. Serah was sniffling as her olders sister tried to keep a tough face on, to hide that she felt scared. They finally reached the hospital and they went to the front desk. Claire gave out the information needed the front desk lady gave them the room number. The two girls hurried to her mother's room. Claire didn't want to believe that her mother was slowly dying on this hospital bed.
"You're here." their mother spoke, softly. Claire rushed over to her mother and held onto her hand.
"Mom..." Claire spoke.
"Save it. Don't waste your time babbling over nonsense like you always do." her mother cut her off.
"B-But-" she tried to protest.
"No buts. Stop being stubborn like your father. That one thing that pissed me off about him." her mother spoke, hinting a faint smile. Serah ran over to her sister and kneeled down before her.
"Serah. You have to start looking after yourself more. Sometimes, Lightning or I can't be there to protect you." her mother whispered as she ran a hand through Serah's hair, periodically stopping at the curls.
"Mom. I love you." Serah mumbled, choking back the tears the threatened to spill over.
"I love you too, my dear sweethearts." her mother smiled faintly and Serah's tears fell from her aqua eyes as she looked at her mother.
"Don't cry, Serah. There's no reason to." her mother reassured her. Claire could feel her own tears threatening to spill over but she couldn't cry, no she had to be strong for Serah.
"Claire. I know that you are only fifteen but I want you to start looking after Serah more. Protect her from anyone that tries to harm her. And protect her from...the lightning that strikes during storms." her mother told her. Claire nodded before looking down at the ground, her vision blurring from the tears. She felt a gentle but frail hand on the top of her head.
"Remember the day in the flower field when you guys made me the flower crowns? That was my most happy day ever since your father died. I actually got a picture of you and Serah in the field, if you want to look at it, it's in my room on the dresser along with the two dried up flower crowns." her mother whispered as she gently stroked Claire's cheeks that were tear stained.
"Mom..." Claire said as she put her hand on her mother's hand, "I love you...and I'll never stop loving you..."
"That's good to hear..." her mother spoke.
"Can you sing me that lullaby that you always sang to us when we were little?" Claire asked. Her mother smiled and nodded. She took a shaky breath and then opened her mouth.
"Make my wish come true, let darkness fade to light. Show me there's still hope, show me it's not over..." her mother began singing when Claire and Serah joined in, voices cracking.
"Battles we can win, our struggles lies within. Will we live to great the dawn? Love will not leave you, hate will not leave you. Promise me one day that peace shall reign..." the three of them sang. Their mother's eyes closed and her hand went limp.
"Mom? Mom?! No, please! Mom!" Claire called out to her dead mother, tears falling from her eyes and landing on her mother's arm. She felt an arm around her and looked over to see Serah's eyes all red and puffy while tears kept falling from them.
Dammit, Lightning! Lightning cursed in her head, Mom... I'll always love you...
It was the middle of the night when Claire heard her door open. Her eyes quickly opened and saw her younger sister standing there, teary eyed.
"What's wrong, Serah?" Claire asked as she got up from her bed.
"I'm scared." Serah responded, holding tightly to a moogle doll that her sister got her for her birthday.
"Scared of what?" Claire asked. Just then, a flash of lightning appeared and Serah quickly ran over to Claire and held onto her.
"The lightning, isn't it?" Claire asked. Serah nodded as she cried into Claire's shoulder. Claire gently rubbed Serah's back and waited until Serah calmed down.
"Can I sleep with you tonight, please?" Serah asked. Claire stared for a bit before nodding. Serah got onto the bed with Lightning and lied down with her. She snuggled close to her older sister, sniffling.
"Hey, Serah? You're afraid of lightning right?" Claire asked. Serah nodded.
"Well, why don't you call me Lightning?" Claire told her sister.
"What?" Serah asked.
"Think of it like this. When you see the lightning, just imagine me. When it flashes, it shows that I'm looking out for you. You're not afraid of me, right?" Claire asked. Serah shook her head.
"So then, call me Lightning and you won't have to be afraid anymore." Claire told her.
"Okay, Lightning." Serah said with a quivering smile.
"See? You're already doing better." Cliare told her.
And that's how I became Lightning. It flashes bright then fades away, it can't protect it only destroys, Lightning thought, I lied to Serah, I told her that I would always protect her but I couldn't even protect her from becoming a l'Cie.
" Hey, Light. You okay? You've been awfully silent." Arystillia asked.
"Yea. Perfectly fine." Lightning responded as she caught up and they continued on their journey through the tunnels of Palumpolum.