Be my Hope, Be my Light
A/N:
OMG! This might be the longest chapter I have ever written! I expected it to be around 1000 words but turned out to be more than 2000! Well, it's a treat for all of you who waited patiently for an update. Especially OerbayunFang. Hope the wait was worth it!
Btw, my exam result turned out to be pretty good. I expected a C in math like I mentioned before but I managed a B! Looks like I am forever doomed to get a B in math (weakest subject). Oh well, I don't really need it to become a doctor. I just kept it out of impulse :3
I do not own Square Enix or Final Fantasy.
Chapter 10: Dreams and Nightmares
"No! Don't do it!" Hope begged.
"There is nothing you can do about it. As long as she wishes for it, I shall grant her death."
"Don't hurt her! I don't care! Hurt me instead!" Hope's pleas fell on deaf ears.
"I will make her suffer before killing her." Death grinned. "It will be slow and painful." Those words ignited Hope's fury.
"I'll kill you! Do you hear me!" By this time Death had disappeared and only his laughter echoed throughout Hope's crystal prison. Giving in to despair, Hope fell on his knees with his head facing below. "I have to save her…I just have to!" Hope didn't know what to do but he vowed to protect Lightning. He lifted his head up with renewed determination. "Light, it's about time I lived up to my promise."
"What happened?" Lightning wondered as she found herself in a strange world. There was no light whatsoever. Everything was filled with darkness.
"Greetings, Champion of Etro." That voice sent shivers down her spine. Even though Death's voice would not faze her, Hope's voice cloaked with murderous intent would.
It can't be…
Lightning turned around to find Hope. Hope smiled and reached out to her but Lightning drew her gunblade and slashed at the imposter.
This is not Hope! I don't know why but for some reason, I know that it's not Hope.
Death had perfectly disguised himself as Hope but Lightning was still able to see through his deception.
"You are not Hope!" Lightning announced.
"Very perceptive of you. I wonder how you figured it out?" Death disappeared and all of a sudden, everything went dark. "Is it because you spent a lot of time with him?" Only Deaths's voice echoed in this world of darkness.
I didn't spend much time with him but it was precious to me nonetheless.
"Is it because you love him?" Lightning went wide eyed.
I…I don't know.
She didn't have an answer and Death knew it. He would exploit her now that she showed some hesitation. "Poor sad little Hope." Death appeared and Lightning tried to attack but Death stopped her with a simple motion of his fingers. "Still trying to go after the impossible, wouldn't you agree?" Lightning averted her gaze. Death grinned. "Do you know why I take the form of Hope?"
"If you want to tell me, then go right ahead. I don't care either way cause I am going to kill you!"
Death laughed. "He is my vessel." Lightning listened to every detail while being cautious of any attack. "I will take the form of my vessel however….." Death covered his face with one hand. "I am much more comfortable looking like their true selves."
"True selves?" Death removed his hand and his appearance changed drastically much to Lightning's shock. Death still had Hope's face but now he had longer black hair and red eyes.
"Yes! Look closely! This is what Hope truly looks like. What he truly feels like! And…" Death smirked sadistically. "It is your fault!" Lightning's throat went dry.
My…my fault? What did I do?
"Look closely over there." Death pointed in the distance where a bright light illuminated a small portion of the world. There Lightning saw Hope, young Hope. "Now watch and realize the sin you committed against him." Lightning saw a younger Hope on his knees, crying with his hands covering his tear stained face. "The boy who had lost his mother." Then she saw none other than herself make an appearance next to younger Hope and trying to comfort him. "The woman who saved him from despair." She then saw the both of them walk together. She still had her usual cold indifferent look but Hope was….
Hope was happy.
Lightning was left speechless. What could've possibly come over Hope to make him feel happy in her presence? "The woman he admired. The woman he looked up to." Then she saw herself hugging Hope. She remembered it all too well for it was the time they promised to protect each other. "The woman who filled the hole in his wounded heart." All of a sudden the bright light was gone. "Now let's see the sin you committed against him." Death pointed in the way and once again a bright light illuminated a portion of the world, revealing an older Hope. The Hope she saw after countless centuries. The Hope who sacrificed his life for her. He saw Hope working day and night on countless projects. "The boy who became a man and the man who strived to protect mankind." Lightning then saw a sight that nearly pushed her to the brink of tears and Death was enjoying every second of it. Lightning saw Hope visiting her crystal day after day. "The man who was abandoned." Those words pierced Lightning more than the sharpest sword. "Abandoned by the woman he cares for."
"I…I…I just…" Lightning couldn't form any coherent sentences. Death knew that his plan was successful.
"Even though you visited Noel and Serah, you never visited me. Why Light! Why!" Lightning's eyes shot towards the accusing Hope.
"I…I didn't have time. I had to fight Caius and protect the goddess."
"Liar!" Lightning was taken back. "You still got enough time to show yourself to Noel and Serah on more than one occasion. Couldn't you have spared just a minute for me? Is that how you really feel about me?"
"Hope..I…it's not like that."
"I am such an idiot for hoping or expecting anything from you! I was a substitute for Serah afterall."
"No! Hope! Listen to me!"
"Enough!" Lightning lost her words. " You never really cared about me. You just wanted someone to keep you company because you felt lonely after losing your sister. After you get her back, thanks to me , what do you do? You got me killed!"
Stop this…please…Stop this.
Lightning couldn't take any more of this. Her heart could no longer bear the hatred that Hope carried.
"You failed to protect me! You broke your promise! Our promise!" Lightning's face fell.
"Stop…just stop…"
"How many times have you visited my crystal? Oh that's right! You never do!"
I…I just..I am afraid of looking at you and wanting to kill myself for letting you die.
" Stop this!" Lightning summoned Odin after going through such emotional pain. Death smirked at her efforts.
"Foolish girl, I control this dream. You will get what you wish for right now." Odin turned and attacked Lightning, who was knocked back with a powerful slash from her 'guardian'. That one attack was enough to take all the fight out of her. "Now then…." Odin prepared to strike down on Lightning once again as Death appeared next to Lightning. "What do you wish for?"
"….Death." Lightning choked out.
I don't deserve to live. I failed everyone. I failed Hope. I couldn't even keep my promise.
As Odin swung his blade, a bright green light appeared on Lightning's chest and then it blinded everyone.
"What is this?" Death covered his eyes. Once the bright light faded away, he saw Alexander block Odin's attack with one hand and sent him flying with a massive punch from the other.
"Is…is that Hope's summon?" Lightning couldn't believe it. Alexander turned in her direction to give her a silent confirmation and then headed to battle Odin. Lightning however was too injured to move.
"That giant still can't make a difference. I will kill you myself!" Death prepared to attack but he was hit with a weapon out of nowhere. "What?" Looking at the weapon, Death identified it as a boomerang.
"Miss me?" Lightning and Death's eyes shot towards the source of the sound. Hope had arrived.
"How…how is this possible!" Death never anticipated this outcome.
"Hope…is that really you?" Lightning asked. Hope walked towards her and bent down to her level.
"It's me Light. Just rest here a bit. I'll be the one to protect you this time." Hope got up but Lightning used whatever strength she had to firmly grab his wrist.
"Idiot! You'll die!" Hope looked at Lightning with piercing eyes which surprised her.
"Trust me on this." Lightning could only nod as Hope prepared to battle Death.
"You will need more than childish weapons like this to defeat me." Death took hold of the boomerang and crushed it with his hands.
"Yeah, you're right. Fortunately, I've trained myself with a new weapon." Hope took out two rods which when activated turned out to be twin laser light sabers. "I suppose this might suffice, don't you think?" Hope quickly lunged at Death and attacked. Death blocked the attack with one hand and punched Hope away. Death shot a firaga but one of Hope's blades started to glow. The attack landed on the blade but it surprisingly absorbed it and then shot it right back at Death. Death was not amused.
"Curse you!"
"It isn't like you to lose your temper like that, Death." Hope continued to provoke him. "Don't you think it's about time you gave up on this charade?"
"What?"
"You wouldn't kill Light or me. In fact, you couldn't even if you tried." Death was at a loss for words. "Remember when you told me that Chaos wants Fabula Nova Crystallis? Well, I am guessing you need us along with four others." Hope smirked in triumph. "You only attacked Light, just because you wanted to put me in despair and take over my body." Death couldn't say anything. He had been outwitted. Odin and Alexander disappeared and Death soon followed.
"You will be mine one of these days." Death disappeared. The world of darkness turned into a world of light. There was no more apparent danger and Hope took a breath of relief. He then sat next to Lightning.
"Sorry you had to go through that. If only I was a bit early."
Hope…please…don't apologise. It's all my fault.
"How did you even get here?"
"Well I figured since Death is a part of me, I would be able to follow him into your dream." Hope then looked at Lightning seriously. "Listen carefully. Death said that they need three souls touched by chaos and three souls touched by cosmos from different realms."
"What for?"
"Fabula Nova Crystallis. It's a myth but I am not sure myself." Hope attempted to get up. "Well, I guess this is goodbye, for now." He was suddenly pulled down by Lightning. She avoided any eye contact with him and it made Hope feel uncomfortable.
"Don't go." The way she said those words made Hope's heart clench with guilt. Hope placed his hands on her shoulders and looked straight into her strong blue sapphires.
"Light…." How do you console the woman you love? How do you even start? "I'm sorry for leaving you." Lightning's face fell.
"I should be the one saying that." Hope was dumbfounded.
"Why would you say that?"
"I never visited you when I was in Valhalla. I visited Noel and Serah but I never even thought about…" Lightning felt Hope place a finger on her lips.
"Light, you had bigger things to do than keep little old me company." Hope scratched the back of his neck. "I mean, sure, I would've loved it if you came to see me but that would be wishful thinking." Hope smiled at her. That one smile took away all of her guilt. "So please, don't beat yourself over this." That matter was resolved but Lightning had another important issue to deal with.
"Hope…did you mean what you said?"
"What?"
"That you l-l-lo" Lightning was having difficulty forming that one word. "That you love me?" Whatever carefree attitude Hope had right now completely drained from his face.
"You don't believe me?" Hope sounded hurt. Lightning raised her head to look at him but was awestruck. She finally got a good look at Hope in who knows how long. Hope was no longer the boy she knew. He was a man. A man who loved her.
But why?
"Hope…I know I helped you a lot when we were L'cie and I know young boys tend to get crushes so…"
"Is that what you really think?" Hope sharply cut her off. "Don't belittle my feelings Light." The tone of his voice caught her off guard.
"But…"
"Light…look at me." Lightning complied. "I've had feelings for you for over five centuries." Lightning's eyes widened. "Keeping that in mind, look into my eyes and tell me straight to my face that all that I feel is a simple crush." Lightning was overwhelmed by the intensity of his green eyes.
"But you know how I am. I am not a warm person, Hope." Lightning couldn't let him give up on his happiness for her. "You deserve someone just as kind and loving as you are."
"Light…the strong stubborn and prideful yet kind and caring soldier was the person I fell in love with." Lightning's eyes shot up to look at Hope. "So please, don't belittle yourself. Just stay the way you are. I don't want to change a single thing about you." Hope smiled and for the first time, Lightning felt her heart stop beating. "So, do you love me?"
"I…I don't know." Hope surprisingly didn't seem disappointed.
"Don't worry about it. I don't want to force you into anything. Your happiness is my happiness even if it lies with another man." Lightning didn't expect to hear that.
I…I really don't deserve you, Hope.
"I guess I should get going then." The light in the dream world started fading away. "It was nice to see you Light." Hope started to walk away but felt Lightning grab his hand. Hope didn't turn back and quietly listened.
"I….I miss you."
I don't know if I love him or not but I know that I want him in my life. This is the only answer I can give him….for now.
Lightning couldn't see Hope smile but felt him intertwine their fingers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze just before the light faded away.
"I miss you too."
A/N:
And so we have finally come across an emotional Hope x Light moment. Yeah! But…Hope is still crystallized.
Hope: If I don't get to kiss her soon, I am going to take my frustrations out on you!
Light: You…you really want to kiss me?
Hope: *blushes* Who wouldn't?
Me: Yep! Exactly! Light, you are the ideal woman and everything I want in a woman but…..you belong to Hope. Someday, I wish to find and marry the woman who would make me feel the way you do now.
Hope: Wow…that's pretty deep.
Light: No kidding.
Me: Enough about me! This is all about you! You guys better give us some Hope x Light moments in Lightning Returns, got it?