Chapter 7: Lost Sky

It was a jungle, vines hung this way and that. Little monkeys climbing along tree trucks, swinging between as they gathered for food. Lightning was slashing away with her gunblade, scaring some of the smaller inhabitants out of their hiding places. After Tifa took her obligatory elixir and Misa helped with recovering her fleeting memory, they travelled for a couple of hours. The pace was slow because of the amount of underbrush they had to slice through. Climbing a hill to gain some higher ground, they reached an overhanging cliff and finally saw the ocean. They could see a large ship anchored near the shore, however it was Moe that spotted a clearing in the jungle brush, a multitude of colors that blurred into an end of a rainbow.

"It looks like we found the Gummi Ship." Lightning said once they reached the crash site. What was left of the ship was disjointed and unsalvageable. The gummies were melted puddles than their usual rubbery cubes. Picking one up that looked almost completely undamaged, Lightning squeezed it lightly, only for it to fall apart into her now completely green hand.

Tifa lowered to inspect the ground, pointing at the little animal tracks that circled the Gummi puddles. "You said they were small right? Like mice?"

"Chipmunks." Lightning watched as Tifa directed her attention around the clearing, making a point that the tracks stopped right at the edge of the underbrush. "They must have collected what they could before they left."

"I don't think so." Tifa pondered the lack of broken leaves and twigs that would have indicated something passing through. "The trial ends there and disappears... I think something else may have happened." A heckle of voices could be heard, chatters of high pitches that sounded like birds. Lightning unfolded her blade, and instinctively Tifa neared her, placing themselves back to back with the moogles moving in circles above their heads. Silently they waited for the chirps to end. Tifa's fists tensed with anticipation, and when nothing happened after the jungle went silent she nudged Lightning in the arm. Whispering, "I think it was an echo."

"Maybe you're right." Lightning was still anxious, the muscles in her arms tightening around the hilt of her blade. She didn't like the way it put her on edge. Something about the laughter felt familiar, eerily familiar.

"Let's go to the ocean," Tifa suggested. "We'll need to find a place to rest, and since there's no sign of civilization I'd prefer it if we were near water."

"Alright." Asking Tifa to lead the way, Lightning stayed in the rear, listening for more of the chatter. During their decent towards the ocean, Tifa had turned to look at her a few times, giving her an inquisitive pout but Lightning could only shake her head. Lightning determined that even if she tried there was a good chance Tifa wouldn't understand.

"Race you."

"What?"

She was shocked at Tifa's sudden playfulness, but seeing that she was already almost a hundred meters ahead Lightning pulled herself together and bounded after her quickly. Moe and Misa looked on at the couple as they left them behind. Confused, "Kupopo!?"

"I win!" Tifa pumped her fist into the air, winking at Lightning who was ripping at the vines that had tangled at her legs.

"Yes, you did." Lightning frowned as she rubbed the back of her head. "I'll give you points for hitting me with that coconut."

"I was aiming for your legs too." Tifa smiled, unperturbed by her pain. Taking a glance at the sandy white shoreline that they were now standing in, she whistled at the beautiful view. "Since you lost you have to make the tent. Moe and I will gather some food." Tifa waved at the moogles as they finally caught up. It didn't take long for her and Moe to catch fish. All she had to do was tease Moe enough until he sparked. Splashing water in his face, he electrocuted himself and Tifa in the water as well as ten other fish and one octopus. She smiled to herself at their good fortune. Taking in the haul, Tifa started a fire while she sent Moe to forage for greens. He returned with a large leaf folded in half to hold everything he found. Berries, flowers, nuts and some mangoes- it was a decent scavenge and she praised Moe for his efforts. "Good job, this will be more than enough to last us a couple of days."

"Kupo-kupo." He placed some more dry brush into the fire. "I hope the tent is almost done..." Tifa looked at Lightning and Misa who were still working away. They constructed a three cornered pyramid and Lightning was just about finished with weaving in an overhanging roof above the entrance when they came to inspect the project. Moe and Tifa neared the two, giggling at their intensity. Misa had been busy threading vines within the stilts, reinforcing the giant leaves that they had layered several times in order to keep out the cold. Lightning tied in a little awning with thinner vines, bracing the ends of it with more vertical sticks. She explained to Tifa, "This way, one of us can keep watch while the other rests, even if it rains."

Tifa nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea."

"Kuupo? Is the food almost done?" Misa asked.

"Kupo-kupo." Moe lead Misa along by the paw. Mimicking Moe, Tifa went to grab at Lightning's hand. Successfully she pulled her, taking advantage of her distraction with the tent.

"I can walk myself." Lightning tried to tug her hand away but Tifa refused to let go.

Glancing back at her, "Why didn't you just use your transformation magic on a rock or something?"

She twisted her lips, "I miss doing things the old way."

"You mean the hard way." Tifa circled around Lightning and forced her to sit by pushing her down on her shoulders. Cross-legged, Lightning received the half coconut full of greens from Tifa while she started passing the items that she had been roasting over the fire. She continued, "But I agree. There's nothing like making something from scratch."

"Kuuppo!" Moe and Misa cheered as they dug in, munching the roasted fish like they hadn't tasted anything like it. However, the only one brave enough to eat the octopus was Tifa. Lightning was about to try, until one of its legs twitched. She pulled back quickly, realizing afterward that Tifa had tricked her into thinking it was alive by moving it around with a well hidden sleight of hand.

"That's all yours. I'm done." Tifa and the moogles laughed as Lightning retreated back to the tent, forgetting the rest of her meal with an annoyed growl. The warm tropical air dipped into a chill as the sun began to set. The ocean waters were active that evening, but as the twilight appeared the winds moved out into the ocean, leaving the party with a calm sea wave. Tifa had kicked out the fire once Moe and Misa had finished packing away the food and happily she entered the tent, Lightning adamant on taking the first watch. The moogles snuggled close to her, and the tent was technically big enough to fit all four of them, but Lightning preferred to sit outside the entrance, wanting to breath in the tropical air and be ready for anything. Taking her guard duty with all seriousness, she set her gunblade onto her lap with a hand on hilt, ready and poised as she began to stare out into the darkness. Tifa wasn't tired just yet, and feeling cold she neared Lightning until she was behind her back. Eyeing her red cape, she wrapped the end of it around her shoulders and placed the top of her head so that it rested against Lightning. Feeling the pressure on her body, Lightning asked "What is it?"

"I can't sleep."

Lightning sighed softly, and looked up at the stars that were twinkling against an obsidian night. It was a blackness she was used to and often found comfort in, however it was still unique in its own way. She counted the shooting stars. "Make a wish."

"A wish?" Tifa peaked up at the sky, up past Lightning's shoulder. She chuckled more to herself. "After Agrabah, I'm done with wishes."

"I used to..." Lightning started, "Make a lot when I was a kid."

"Didn't we all," Tifa nestled her head back down, "What did you want? A new sword?"

"No." She exhaled. "My parents back." Opening her eyes, Tifa shifted onto her back, looking up at the ceiling of the tent. Lightning had remained still, contemplated her next choice of words. "The black journal. My mother and father are in there. It's actually the day my sister was born."

"Sarah right?" Tifa asked.

"Yes." Lightning continued. "I'd be content if we were lucky enough to find it, but if not I... can live with that."

"Why? That's an important day isn't it? Don't you want it back?"

Lightning shifted, stretching her legs out like she was trying to push something away from her. "Most times a price is paid by whatever is most valuable to you."

"But what are you buying?" Lightning refused to answer her question, even when she bumped her head into her from behind.

"Go to bed Tifa." Pulling at her red cape, Lightning lightly covered Tifa's face with it, earning a couple slaps from her before she finally turned away with an annoyed whine. With Tifa finally willing to rest, and upon hearing the trio's snores and kupos, Lightning quietly shifted out from under the tent. Exploring the shoreline with a quarter moon hanging above, Lightning spotted the Ship in the ocean waters, now travelling about with all of its sails opened. The Ship was huge, and considering that it only moved at night she assumed that there must be something worth being afraid of during the day. Casting her eyes out into the waters, she saw no other land in sight, so any way on or off this land would be by that ship. If the Chipmunks were still here, they would have most likely tried to get aboard that ship or find another way. The answers were there, and upon daylight she'd suggest to Tifa to travel towards it.

Bumping into something along the sea sands, Lightning looked down to find she had kicked her boot onto some rocks. Upon closer inspection, she realized that she had found a small bed of oysters that were hidden along the folds of seaweed that were washed ashore. Briefly she wondered if she should harvest them and if they had any pearls, but quickly she put the thoughts aside. Gently, lifting every single one of the small creatures, she carried them towards the ocean. Once she was far enough, she placed them into the waters, huddling them together and hiding them beside some undersea rocks. Satisfied, she shook her hands free of water and made her way back to the tent.

Her thoughts carried along with her, the falling stars up above, as well as the oysters that she had placed back into the sea. Everything had their place, their destiny, their use. It was when Tifa had said that it was 'nice to be needed', that the idea had been forming within her like a pearl. All this time she had seen herself as a tool, and now with no world or soul to save she was directionless. She felt lost because outside of saving her sister from constant doom, there was no other desire. She was too excellent at being a soldier that in a way it crippled her. Now that her people were safe, and that her sister was dead and gone, what was left of 'Lightning' was just a fading existence. If anything, the only thing that was keeping her attention as of now was Tifa and the Moogles. To live quietly for the rest of her days felt more like torture than a reward, but to realize that her life was only alive within Chaos was the worst truth she had ever had to swallow. She looked at the stars again, still raining up above. If she had more desires like other humans, would she stop looking at death for an answer? Tapping the snowflake necklace that she had hidden underneath her sweater, she wondered if it would be best to throw it into the ocean. But then she remembered what Aurora had said, and that deranged premonition that she had been flirting with. It was all a lie. Lightning didn't want to believe. She is a perfect soldier, she knows better. What comes at the end isn't hers to take. She is a divine being, there is no love without sacrifice. And if there is such a thing as true love, she knew it only in that little black book.

There is no answer, there is only desire. Action, reaction. Cause and effect. This whirling wheel of fortune keeps on rolling , and whether she was a cog in that wheel or the hand controlling it was all a luxury that she alone had the choice to make. It was ungrateful to despise it, but she did. More and more she wondered if she was just as petulant as child as she was as an adult, and whether her entitlement would ever go away. The only redemption to her internal struggle was the compassion she had to those weaker to herself, but it wasn't enough. It wouldn't ever be enough until she found a way to exist without hating it so. That's why she still helps whoever she can, because the only meaning she had been willing to hold onto was saving others. A life with honour, even as a goddess, even as a enlightened human, would erase all her mistakes, forgive all her arrogance. It wasn't for love but for honour that was her motivation for all her actions, and reactions. For this fading light, that was the only thing consistent and real.

Making it all the way back to the tent, she felt something amiss. The snores and kupos that she had left could no longer be heard. Sprinting the last of the distance she found the tent completely empty. If this was a cruel joke of Tifa's she would definitely kick her butt back to Gaia but being unable to find any footprints or moogle paws in the sand she began to worry. It was like they had vanished into thin air. Lightning swore at herself for being so careless, and threw a wish to the stars as she entered the dark jungle without a hint of hesitation.

Tifa awoke with a start, the panic filling her chest at seeing the wooden bars that were keeping her entrapped. It felt like the Underworld all over again but this time she only had Misa with her. Misa was talking with a chubby young boy who was trying to feed her something through the bars. Pulling at Misa so that she couldn't take the item, she pulled her back, wary of the intention of their captors.

"Take it easy. We're not going to fatten you up and eat you."

The tribe of boys started to laugh like hyenas, cackling as some denied the fact, and others carnivorously ripped apart what looked to be a ravaged boar. Some circled around her cage, while others preoccupied themselves with chores, making bows and arrows or sharpening rocks into daggers. The one that spoke up appeared, a lump of a boar leg in her hand as she threw the item into the cage. Tifa stared at her pink hair, her blue-green eyes bright despite how dark her aura came off to be. She came off sharp, and Tifa assumed she was in command of the tribe because the group of boys that lingered near began to move away and give her space. She had a black cloth tied around her neck, and more black clothes that wrapped around her small body like a thief. She was barefoot and even though she had threads around her arms, Tifa could see the scars along her skin. She was abrasive as she yelled at some of the boys that had tied Moe onto a pole and swung him over the fire, and it was probably that hard nature that earned her the respect of the clan. The kids ran away into the jungle with Moe still squealing, before she turned back to Misa and herself, crouching down low to their level. The young pinkette looked at her prisoners, pointing at the gift that she threw, "Go on. Eat up. I cooked it myself."

Steeling her eyes, Tifa looked at the hoof then back at the pinkette. "Who are you? What do you want?"

She laughed. "Me?" Sitting down closer to the edge of the cage, she placed a finger along the bars, trying to get Misa's attention. Misa reached out to her despite the hold Tifa was trying to keep her in. "If you promise to be good I'll tell you. I'll even let you out. I'm sure it isn't comfortable in there."

Coldly, "I'll make do."

She ignored it with a smile. "My name is Lumina. What's yours?"

"Tifa." Misa wiggled out of her arms and leapt out towards Lumina, twitching her nose at the boar foot and then picking it up to bring it over to Lumina. She opened the cage latch, and Misa jumped out only to offer the item back like it was a game of fetch. Lumina smiled and snatched her up, hugging her tightly and leaving the cage open for Tifa as she turned back to the rest of the tribe. As Tifa exited the cage, some of the boys looked her up and down, curious but wary at the same time. They were all just children, maybe seven to ten years old at most. "Go on. There's plenty for everyone."

Tifa looked about, counting the tree houses, "What is this place?"

"These are the lost boys, and I am their leader." Lumina answered as she fed Misa some nuts and berries. "We are all orphans here." Lumina laughed suddenly to herself, finding amusement in something that Tifa had failed to grasp. Lumina took a seat near the roasting pig, still cradling Misa like a baby. Tifa took a spot near her, watching a few of the boys that were standing along the clearing's edge, keeping a look out for any suspicious activity. Despite their haggard appearance they seemed well organized, everyone was busy doing something for the tribe, sharing in the responsibilities and dividing the food equally, even with herself, the now free prisoner.

"Where are your parents?"

"You sure ask a lot of stupid questions." Lumina answered, petting Misa's smooth fur as she chewed her berries. "Why would we go back when we weren't wanted in the first place?"

Lumina's answer struck Tifa in a way that she suddenly remembered her own adopted children, Marlene and Denzel. She hadn't seen them in almost half a year... Did they feel like these kids? Abandoned and alone? "You can't say that, I'm sure your parents are looking for you."

"Maybe, maybe not." Lumina shoved a pig's ear in her face, offering the food without finesse. "Why worry about it? You'll be gone soon enough so there's no reason for you to care about us."

Lumina's harsh words bit into Tifa, making her wonder what this tribe had captured her for. She shivered at the thought that maybe they really were trying to fatten her up only to slit her throat when the time was right.. She chewed the pig ear slowly, watching Lumina talking to Misa like she was her own, and it made Tifa wonder. Underneath all that cold and resentfulness was there someone that could love, or wanted to be loved, if only were given the chance? These orphaned children weren't unlike the ones back in Midgar, and it saddened Tifa in a way that she had long forgotten. For the first time in her journey, she wanted to go back home.

Lightning had been searching the jungle for more than half the night and all morning before finally stopping to rest. Not a hair of their existence was left for her to find and she was starting think of the worst. Lightning rubbed her face with her hands, and after pushing the frustration from her mind she climbed one of the tallest trees she could find. From up above she could now see the shoreline again, but this time she found the Ship, anchored during the day. If there was any chance for her to find out any information about what inhabited this island it would be there. Sliding back down, she made her way towards the ship, hopeful to find Tifa and the Moogles again.

It was dusk when half the tribe went hunting, crawling away on all fours with their weapons in their teeth and belts. Moe was strung up now, still attached to a pole. This time the boys were treating him like a piñata, blindfolding each other and taking swings at him. Lumina then yelled at the boys not to hit him, to which they decided to change the game and play dodge ball. Tifa felt bad for Moe, but being thrown around was better than being beaten so she took Lumina's scolding as a blessing. Moe was tough, she reasoned, he could handle. Lumina stayed behind from the hunt, sitting with Tifa as Misa hopped between them. They had been tossing a coconut for Misa, watching her catch and return it by teleporting back and forth. After a few hundred tosses Misa was finally exhausted from the game, and landed atop the pinkette's head. Nuzzling comfortably, Misa closed her eyes. Lumina sat herself down slowly, careful not to let Misa fall. "I think she likes me."

"I think she does." Tifa smiled.

"It used to be worse, before I was in charge." Lumina explained suddenly. "Peter Pan, he was a tyrant."

"Peter Pan?"

"He lead the tribe before me. He was cruel and captured a lot of travellers, killing them for fun."

Tifa swallowed thickly. The boys that had been guarding the village edge had already switched turns, a fresh new batch alert and ready. If she had any chance to escape, she'd have to wait it out until she found the one weak link in their rotation.

"But I won't do that to you."

"What?" Tifa said surprised. She looked at Lumina to find that she had pulled something out for her to see. Something red. Something with only two pages. "My book!" Tifa went to grab for it but Lumina pulled it away. Not taking any chances, some of the boys that had seen Tifa's sudden movements ran up and pulled her from behind. Grappling her into a choke hold, it took ten of the boys to finally shove her back into her cage. They latched it tight and poked her with sticks for good measure.

"I told you if you were good that I'd give you some freedom." Lumina bent close to the cage, waving the cherry red book in front of Tifa to tease her. "But I guess you're just another stupid adult."

Tifa yelled. "Give it back, it's mine!"

Taking Misa who had fallen in the tousle, she cradled her in her arms before nearing the bonfire again. Lumina hushed Misa back to sleep as she lifted the book with her free hand, raising it above the fire so that the smoke danced along its red skin. The flames flicked higher, almost catching it aflame.

"Please." Tifa cried. "What do you want?"

"I don't want anything." Lumina answered, the darkness in her energy creeping up along her pure blue-green eyes. "Well... Maybe something."

"What?"

"Stay with us." Tifa's brows furrowed as she watched Lumina stare back at her with a seriousness that was calculating. She lowered the book to the fire threateningly, forcing Tifa to make a decision.

"Fine. I'll stay."

"Good." Some of the boys returned from the hunt, hooting and hollering with a large cat like spoil. Tucking the book behind her back between her cloth belt, she walked over to flip the latch, releasing Tifa from the cage. Pointing to the boys and their fresh catch she shouted her order. "Now go cook."

Lightning made it to the ship before dark, but stayed in the shadows before trying to board the ship. She had wanted to approach the crew earlier but upon seeing the swords and guns upon their sides she decided to take a more stealthier approach, waiting for the night before boarding the ship. Now that she had the safe cover of darkness, she boarded the ship silently, slipping past the crew that was already trying to raise the anchor. It took them some time to leave the coast, the ship itself was completely manpowered, and she kept that in mind as she explored the ship, taking care to avoid the lower levels so as to not be seen by the oar bearers. Candlelight illuminated the middle of the ship, the glass windows smudged with dirt and dust made it easy for her to pass along the side of the ship. Reaching the back end, Lightning listened for any footsteps, most of the crew was either down below or running the front of the ship, so she took this chance to slip in, breaking the lock that was at the back door.

She entered what seemed to be a storage room, extra ropes and barrels were lined up against the walls. But what caught her attention was the small light in a bottle. Lightning crouched down, nearing the item that had fallen behind some crates and found the last thing she was expecting. A pixie. It looked up at her, tired and weary. Opening the bottle that had been corked at the top, it popped, the oxygen entering inside and giving the pixie an new breathe of life. It squeezed itself halfway out from the top, watching Lightning as she set the bottle along one of the barrels. Lightning squinted as the pixie started to squeak, unable to make out what it was trying to say.

"She's trying to thank you." Lightning turned at the familiar voice. She turned to see a pair of eyes looking at her. It was Dale, the chipmunk with the gap in its teeth. "I know you. We met you in Traverse Town." Taking the small wire cage that Dale had been trapped in down from up along a shelf, Lightning opened the latch and he scampered out along her arm to rest at her shoulder. He pointed down towards some rags in the corner of the room. "Over there, Chip fell underneath." Following his gaze, Lightning plucked at the dirty rags, moving the broken sails to find Chip in a similar wire cage, stuck along the folds. Quickly she set him free and he ran up to perch himself on her other shoulder.

"Thank you Savior!" Chip chirped.

"It's Lightning." She looked at the tiny trio. "What happened here? Why were you all caged up?"

"They were going to trade us." Chip answered. Jumping down to go to the pixie, Chip helped her out of the bottle. Once free she stretched out her clear wings, the gold dust falling like glitter around her. She started to chatter again, and Lightning frowned at the inability to understand. Chip and Dale listened and effectively translated for her. "She said she came here to save Peter Pan, but Captain Hook trapped her in a bottle. She's asking for your help."

Chip added. "The moogle we were with, Mika-she should still be here too."

"Do you have any idea where they could have kept them?" Lightning asked.

The pixie pointed up, chattering again. Dale explained, "They tied Peter Pan to the main mast, up at the top. That way someone would always have to watch him."

"Okay." Lightning nodded. "We'll get him out." Looking at the Chipmunks, "What about Mika? She should have been able to escape."

"She wouldn't leave us behind, " Chip confirmed, "We were all hired by King Mickey, and he's expecting us all to return back home together with the new Gummi ship blueprints." They both pulled out papers tucked away within their little work aprons, revealing the blueprints that they had split between them. "She has a bit too, it can't be built without all three pieces."

Picking up Chip in her hand, she set him back on her shoulder and started to leave the small storage room. "Let's go find them. All of you stay low and let me take care of it." She opened the door quietly before the pixie charged at her face, shouting at her silently.

Dale answered her questioning look. "She said Peter Pan is hers. You can't kill him."

"Why would I want to kill him?" Chip and Dale shrugged in confusion at the pixie's words. Shaking the thought aside Lightning made her way to the front of the ship, slipping past a few of the crew by hiding against the rescue boats that were linked along the sides. Now closer to the front, she could spot the large mast in the centre, towering up above them with the sail set wide, catching the wind as the ship began to finally move. From where she stood she could see a man with a tall black hat at the wheel, directing the ship forward. Floating beside him was a moogle, its fur a bundle of curls that flew away this way and that. It waved its paw and in a piercing flash of light a portal opened in the sea, large enough that the whole ship and its crew could be swallowed up to a new location. Lightning charged forward then, running out to cast a powerful spell into the sky. She needed to derail the ship from its trajectory, or else they'd be sucked into wherever in the universe that Captain Hook wanted them to go. Sparks shot down at them from the heavens, the snaps lighting the dark sky. The pixie pointed up, she could see Peter Pan and quickly flew out to save him. Lightning shouted at her but to no avail, gunshots fired and the swings of swords rung out into the night. Bracing herself and casting magic onto her, she charged in, ready for a brawl she really didn't want to partake in.

After the feline feast Lumina was kind enough to escort her to a more private location of the camp. A pool of clear waters was set against a rock wall, with cascades of small waterfalls that intermingled into it. Knowing that Tifa hadn't cleaned up or had a chance to relieve herself Lumina brought her to the remote area in order for her to freshen up before resting for the night. Taking care of business, which was hard enough to do with her hands tied, Tifa emerged from the tropical bushes, glad that Lumina had taken her instead of one of the boys that were starting to give her the creeps. She didn't know whether their stares were because they literally wanted to eat her or something more grotesque. She didn't want to think of it. She looked at Lumina, thinking that if she stayed here she'd had a tough time being the only female in the tribe. Catching Lumina's attention that was pouring into her cherry red book, Tifa spoke. "Thank you, for bringing me here."

"The other boys aren't allowed here. This is my place." Lumina answered as she kicked her legs out along the edge of the pool. She had dipped her bare feet into the water, and was watching the ripping waves break the reflection of the moon. She held the book tightly in her small hands, and Tifa noticed them tremble slightly when she saw her staring. Tifa decided to take this chance to wash her face, cupping her hands at the fresh water.

Lumina's voice was soft. "The boy, the boy in the book. Did you love him?"

"I d-" Tifa stuttered. She rubbed her face, not wanting to look at her. "I did."

Purely, with an innocence so unlike her earlier brutish tone, "What's love like?"

"Love?" Tifa hummed as she set her hands down. The water was still shaking with the motions that the moon couldn't be seen. "It's like a fire that burns. Sometimes it's warm, sometimes it hurts." She thought of Cloud and looked up at the sky then, catching the sight of a falling star. Her stomach turned. Tifa realized then that in reading the book, Lumina had seen her sky, the sky that directed her life. She turned to Lumina and watched how intently she stared at the blank pages, recalling the memory, her memory. She's just a kid, Tifa berated herself, there's no need to tell her the truth. Fibbing to the young pinkette, "He was my true love, but he passed away a long time ago."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Tifa smiled. "Did you see it all? The water tower and the stars?"

Lumina nodded. "Everything was pretty. But I like the other story more. The one with your momma and poppa."

"Really?" Tifa asked, nearing to sit beside her. Another memory that she wasn't ready to share. Tifa breathed in, closing her eyes to hold back the pain. "That's the last day I had with my mother."

"Was she sick?" Lumina looked up at her, and for the first time she looked like the child she really was. Small, fragile and vulnerable to the realities of life.

"Yes." Tifa answered, her lips dried suddenly.

Lumina put a small hand on her leg, tapping her thigh in an attempt to comfort her. She shared, "My momma was sick too. She almost died giving birth to my sister Serah, but poppa was there so everything was okay."

Tifa listened to her story, holding her flinch tightly at the name.

"I miss them." Lumina pulled back her hand, and looked up at the sky, staring at the moon.

"Where are they now?"

"I don't know. All I remember was being with them, and then waking up here." Lumina quieted suddenly. "Do you think, they left me here because they didn't want me anymore?"

"No, that's ridiculous." Tifa shook her head. "Your sister wasn't there to replace you, they wanted you both."

Lumina stood up suddenly then, frustratedly swinging the red book around as she shouted at the falling stars. Tifa bit her lip, holding back her laughs at the cute little temper tantrum. "I wish I could get off this island and find them!"

"Then why don't you?"

"You can only fly out of here, and Peter Pan had all the fairy dust!" Suddenly in a strange magical way the skies were filled with clouds and the distant rumble of thunder could be heard. It was coming in from the ocean and making its way towards the camp. The trees began to sway with the winds, a storm was coming in, and it was coming in fast. Screaming in fear, Lumina pulled at her hand, taking her behind the waterfalls to reveal a hidden cave. Ducking low so that she could follow Lumina, they entered her hideaway, Misa already inside who had been busy making a small fire. After ripping apart the vines at her wrists Lumina pulled Tifa close, clutching her arm tightly as she shivered in terror. Her eyes were shut tight as she curled her tiny self beside her, fearing something that had no way of hurting her now. Tifa shushed her, patting her hand atop her pink hair to try to calm her down. Misa neared the two, suddenly being grasped by Lumina as she strangled the poor moogle in her terrified embrace.

"Lumina, its fine." Tifa cooed.

"I hate it." She sniffled, tears rolling down her face and onto Misa's smooth fur. "I just want- why did they leave me behind?"

Tifa looked at the defeated pinkette, saddened by her words. This was what Lumina wanted, why she asked her to stay. Tifa released her arm from Lumina's grip and wrapped it around her, trying to comfort and assure her that she wasn't alone. The confession came out before she could take it back. "I had a son, but I lost him in my tummy."

The truth was Tifa had only realized she had had a boy when Hades had let it slip, and it triggered a panic that Lightning had to deal with. That wasn't her, but Tifa had never dealt with anything like it. She had already mourned her lost child a long time ago, and almost killed herself because of it. But knowing more about the baby, that it was indeed a boy, made Tifa hurt in a way that she had never experienced before. What did he look like? Was he blond like Cloud or a brunette like herself? She could have given him a name, but she never got a chance to because she never knew the gender. She just referred it as 'the baby.' The lost baby. But he was gone now and reborn, and she will never know his face. "Parents don't leave their child behind because they want to. No matter what happens they never give up. If I- if you were mine, know I would keep searching for you. I'm sure you're parents are doing so right now."

Lumina only sniffled some more, rubbing her wet eyes with the back of her hand. She didn't look convinced, but snuggled closer to her none-the-less. "This tribe is my family now." Her voice sounded too old for her body, "In the morning you can go."

"What?" Tifa asked. Lumina only looked up at her, eyes wet with tears and a broken smile on her face. Taking Tifa's hand that had rested at her side she moved it atop her head, silently asking Tifa to keep it there. She closed her eyes and fell asleep under her touch, Tifa gently caressing her head to move her tousled pink hair to the side. Watching her sleep with Misa in her arms reminded her of Marlene, how she would hold her until she slept with her stuffed bunny. This child, Lumina, nasty and mean, afraid of thunderstorms, only wanted the comfort of her company for one night, but was willing to let her go for her sake, knowing fully well that it was the right thing to do. It broke Tifa's heart to see someone so fragile be so strong, that she held her again and softly kissed the top of her head. Lumina didn't know what love was, but she knew how to be loving. And seeing such potential in this young girl Tifa knew that if she could take her with her she would, bring her to Marlene and Denzel, let her have a family, a home. Let her be a child, to laugh, to only worry about skinned knees. Not about leading a tribe of young boys and wonder if they'd have enough to eat the next day. Closing her eyes to rest too, Tifa decided in the morning she would ask her. Take the child that looked like Lightning and keep her safe until she was old enough to live on her own, replacing all that bitter with a sweetness that only the love of a family could give- give her hope.

In Chapter 7 Part 2: Will Lumina accept Tifa's offer? Will Lightning be able to save Peter Pan and help the Chipmunks before getting teleported to a new world? Who is the young boy in the black-coat with a Keyblade in his hands? Until next time!