Hey, guys. I know it's been a while since I updated. Last Saturday was my sister's 18 birthday party, and it was a pretty big shindig – a debut – which is basically equivalent to a quinceanera. I was running around trying to make it an actual party rather than people standing around doing nothing, so I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting with no update.

Naturally, my first instinct would have been to make Cloud's Eidolon Fenrir, but then I remembered the fal'Cie Fenrir seen in Final Fantasy XIII-2. So that was a bust. Before Valefor, I considered using Ramuh as Cloud's Eidolon, but when I saw the FFXIII concept art for him, I found it hard to try and imagine a way to turn him into a vehicle or something to ride on.

As to what Valefor is gonna turn into, you'll just have to see that for yourself in the future. (Though considering that it's Cloud, it's probably gonna be a no brainer). Uhuhuhuhuhu!

The Capture

The last twenty-four hours had been a strange blur, especially for Cloud and his recently acquired partner. After they finally got past the vast fields of the Archylte Steppe, the group descended into the Mah'habara Subterra – a stark contrast of the bloodthirsty wildlife they trekked through. Machines and robots sprung to life in their presence, long forgotten by the Pulsian natives lost in the War of Transgression.

Across many platforms and walkways, Lightning and Snow marveled at a familiar sight. Atomos, the Pulse fal'Cie streaking through the tunnels of Mah'habara, waited for them like a patient shuttle, as if expecting them in need of his services.

"At least we didn't need a machine this time to stop him," Snow commented as he trailed into the chamber within Atomos.

"Yeah, good thing Hope isn't here," Lightning retorted from behind.

Meanwhile, Cloud, Tifa, and Vincent hesitated back on the platform. They eyed the monstrosity with wariness, even watching the others board Atomos with curiosity.

Serah slid into her seat next to Snow before calling out, "Aren't you coming in?"

Peering over the edge, Tifa sized up the fal'Cie, taking in the circumference of glowing spikes that could flatten any normal human with ease. She wondered if their l'Cie strength could prove to match it…but decided against testing that theory.

"Aren't fal'Cie supposed to be the bad guys?" she inquired while following Cloud and Vincent into the chamber.

Snow settled back as they were sealed inside, Atomos suddenly lurching into motion. Despite the wild pace they could imagine the fal'Cie was going, everything inside remained relatively steady, as smooth as a ride on an airship. "Some of them are," he explained. "The ones that are hell-bent on starting a new war. Others, however, are simply doing their job, finishing whatever orders some higher-up fal'Cie gave them."

"Do you ever fight them?"

Lightning exchanged quick glances with Snow and Serah. "Only when we have to." Her answer was terse, which was more than enough for Tifa to realize the facing a fal'Cie wasn't so easy, and not just in the physical sense. In a world where the gods were masters, fighting them was asking for the whole population to ready their pitchforks. If they had to make their way through a line of fal'Cie before even finding out what happened to the Jenova strain, it was impossible to say if they were to even make it to the end.

When Atomos finally stopped, the chamber opened to the sound of running water, fresh air once again filling their lungs after the stale venture through the Subterra. Wild plants sprouted along the path, creeping into the cavern housing a havenless spring. Cloud and the others only rarely saw places like these back on the Planet, and finding this one brought marvel into their eyes.

"Take five," Lightning's voice echoed through the cavern. "This is the last stop until Oerba, so we should be well rested."

While Snow strolled through the springs with Serah, Vincent and Tifa wandered on their own path, observing an ecosystem they only heard stories of existing. Now that they thought about it, lingering on Pulse after the battle was over didn't sound like a bad idea. Their only problem – did they have enough courage to leave their old life behind as Lightning had supposedly done a year ago?

Cloud was in his own corner, watching crystals in the water throw shimmering lights across the rocks. It wouldn't be long until they reached Cocoon…drawing ever more closely to Jenova. For almost a decade, the alien matter brought ruin to his life; perhaps it cursed him by being housed in Nibelheim, as if fate continuously strung him to it wherever he went. Unintentionally, his hand reached for the mark on his bicep, as it counted down the seconds before he would finally face the abomination for the last time.

"How's the brand?" he heard from behind. Cloud threw a glance over his shoulder to find Lightning watching him with some caution. Almost contagious, her hesitance seemed to spread to him; their last conversation with just the two of them floated in his mind, tightening a rope around his neck. Should he forget to think before acting, he could suffer at the mercy of Jenova…

But did he still have a right to think like that? After what happened in Vallis Media, Lightning was well on her way to earning their whole trust back. He wanted to forget the threat of a Sanctum l'Cie in the midst of Pulse servants, even if their fates were on the line.

Remembering, he snapped out of his train of thought and tried to recall her question. "What?" When she gestured to his left arm, Cloud slightly lifted it so that the brand was in better view. At first, he wondered what she was trying to point out, but something about the black mark caught his eye. It somehow grew bigger than before, spreading across his skin, slightly but surely. At each end of the mark, a single arrow pointed in opposite directions, stretching the center to reveal a vague pink shade

"When we get lost from our path, or if we go through a nasty shock, the brand changes." She drew closer, though not too close, before leaning in to observe the brand along with him.

Cloud's eyes remained fastened on the brand as her words ran through his head. "It does look different."

Lightning pulled back and walked toward the edge, watching the crystal lights dance on the surface. A tight expression marred her features, and he wondered what was running through her head.

Folding her arms before her chest, she let out a sigh. "It's said that Eidolons come as saviors when we lose hope. When we can't find our way, they remind us to keep going – that we shouldn't relent to this curse the fal'Cie give us." Her voice held no wonder that he assumed was to come with the mention of a savior. Though they come to help l'Cie, their rise had an underlying interpretation.

'When we can't find our way…' Cloud turned away, remembering what ran through his head just before the scalding sensation from his l'Cie brand. Amidst the tension between the others, he struggled with the choices laid before him, and his reluctance to complete his Focus only made things worse.

He heard Lightning's heel twist in the dirt, her eyes piercing into the back of his head. "Something was running through your head after that attack," she said flatly, blocking any way for him to lie around it. With a slight lift of his brows, he finally understood the look on her face back in Vallis Media, when she mentioned the reason behind the Eidolon's presence. At that moment, he probably did need Valefor's presence the most. If the spat between Lightning and Vincent had escalated, he would have had no other choice but to choose a side.

"Can I trust you?" he asked in a low voice. Cloud's tone was pleading, seeking for a strand of hope in the sea of despair he was forced to swim in since they uncovered Hojo's files.

It was a long moment before Lightning replied. "Back to this again." Her voice was full of scorn, though he could pick out a hint of masked pain underneath. Though Lightning did very well in concealing her true feelings, he had known her long enough to find the cracks in her shield.

Instinctively, frantically, he searched for reasoning. "I need to know if these brands aren't permanent," Cloud said in an even tone. "There's gotta be a way to get them off without the risk of turning into a crystal or becoming one of those monsters."

Lightning's returning look was tight and pained. "We'll get through this," she assured, though it did little to assuage Cloud. "We can find a way to get these brands off, and things can be normal again." Every ounce of him wanted to believe her; she clearly had the experience to back her words, and even Snow and Serah were there to confirm that there truly was a miraculous chance for them to be saved.

As soon as he felt like showing a sliver of hope on his face, she turned her eyes away, a dreaming glimmer hidden in her aqua eyes. "Maybe…you can even stay here."

Cloud could almost see what she envisioned in her mind, and his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. Turning away, he silently cursed at himself for being so close to giving in. At that moment, he felt that they could go back to the way things were – a happy life, surrounded by friends, living together…

And all that would have to come with the consequences – danger and risks he couldn't bear facing if Lightning's life was on the line.

"No." His voice was on the brink of trembling when he finally spoke. Behind, he could imagine the weight of his response dropping on her, the look on her face as the air swept out of her lungs. "I can't. If we get through this, I'm going back to the Planet."

The silence was hardly bearable, but Cloud wasn't sure how to handle any other reaction. Though the statement wasn't exactly clear cut, he hoped Lightning would understand enough. He couldn't, or to be more precise wouldn't, seek out any reason to stay behind if they found a way to fix everything. The opportune moment of happiness could be blatantly offered right in front of him, and he would turn away without a second thought…so long as it meant Lightning was free from harm for the rest of her life.

"Is it…because of the materia…?" Lightning's voice was a bare whisper while she did whatever it took to find words.

Cloud closed his eyes and took a deep breath before turning back, looking at her with such rigid features. Any chance to sway his choice was to be instantly shot down before Lightning had a chance to pitch them. "I mean I'm going back…by my decision. It's hard with you…being how we are."

"How we are?" Lightning gave a brief shake of her head, failing to see where he was going with this.

His gaze drifted away. "Somehow, you always seem to get into a big mess." A wry smile ended up on his lips, almost as if he was fighting their attempts to fall in the other direction.

A mask of pain washed across her face; she looked at him with a mix of distress and rage. "I didn't want any of us to become l'Cie-!"

"That's not what I meant!" Cloud was able to catch on and see where her train of thought went. Of everything that had happened, he wanted to avoid putting blame on her. It would have all too easily appeared as a l'Cie fighting his mortal enemy, which wouldn't have helped anyone's predicament. "Look at what's been going on, Light. No matter what I do, my chances of saving you are growing smaller and smaller."

For a brief moment, a flash of worry crossed her features until he turned away, refusing to give in to the strong urges inside. Being selfish had its consequences, and Cloud couldn't risk anyone getting caught up in it. "I'm not fit to help anyone," he muttered with a hint of disgust.

Lightning stomped her way around to face him, her face twisting in an effort to hold back whatever threatened to flood out from inside. "Nobody said you have to do this alone. Vincent and Tifa came with you. Snow and Serah joined you."

In response, Cloud let out a humorless chuckle. "And look what's happened to them."

Speechless, Lightning drew back. He could see her slipping farther out of his reach, and though it crippled him by the second, he was relieved about the distance. The more, the easier…and he had to make sure it stayed that way.

"We were supposed to get past this," she muttered in a strained voice. The sight of her misery was a reprieve compared to what he saw in that vision in the Haerii Archaeopolis. "Listen…" She took a step closer, and he had to think twice about drawing back. "When we beat this Focus, promise me we'll talk."

Cloud didn't want to compromise; he had to concentrate on getting everyone out of this mess, and then he was gone. Even if he wouldn't immediately go back to the Planet once it was over, he would have to disappear, do whatever it took to make sure nothing changed his mind. Without looking back, he maneuvered around Lightning and headed to the exit of the Sulyya Springs, opposite where they came from.

"I've missed you."

The vulnerable words stopped him, his legs as if frozen in ice. The ground felt moments away from disappearing beneath his feet. With the flick of a switch, a heavy weight dropped into his chest, forcing the guilt of doubt onto him with no choice. Temptations flickered, and he struggled to keep them down.

Gritting his teeth, Cloud closed his eyes. "Don't," he said in a low yet clear voice, enough for her to easily hear.

Lightning, however, must have been lost in her thoughts. Her voice echoed with wishful thinking, her tone light and vaguely pleasant. "Ever since Midgar, I'd been hoping to see you again. Of course, not like this…And then Serah's been asking about you—"

"Enough!" His voice cut like a razor blade; the reaction was so abrupt he was able to notice the sharp intake of breath Lightning took. Cloud whirled on his heel to shoot daggers from his eyes, to strike down any further attempt she would make to sway his mind. "It doesn't matter anymore," he continued in a lower voice, tired and defeated. "You were right. Valefor did help me. Once this is all over, I'm going back."

His words hung in the air between them, and it was only when he heard Lightning's sharp intake of breath that he knew they hit home. Keeping their hopes up wasn't going to make things better – he had to make sure that stuck in his mind, or else future despair would cripple him.

"I don't want to see you again after this," he muttered in a dark voice as he turned back, barely loud enough for her to hear. For the past year, Lightning had to make sacrifices for the sake of keeping things stable between them, unable to foresee the terrible consequences they were now in. Cloud couldn't risk letting her take the same risks, especially if her fate was in the balance.

'This will be my last sin…To hell if I'm never forgiven.'

Daring himself, he turned just enough to look over his shoulder. Lightning's hard gaze was fixated on the ground to her right, the look a mixture of pain and conservation. He could see the conflicting thoughts raging inside, but it was near impossible to read them, not if she was still unaware of her Focus…was she?

At that moment, his hand instinctively reached out toward her, seeking to give her some ease of mind amongst the chaos enveloping them. It was only when she flinched back was he aware of his actions; a twinge of resentment was aimed in his direction, and he realized just how far he had pushed Lightning.

Cloud was one step closer to achieving his goal. Relief should have washed over him, knowing that Lightning had the chance of being safe once it was all over…but was it worth it?

"Lightning!"

Serah's frantic cry broke through their suffocating silence, and Lightning turned on her heel to find the younger Farron rushing up with a horrified expression. The weight of their conversation eased to the back of their minds; in an instant, Lightning held her arms out for Serah to run into. As her brows knitted tightly together, she gently held Serah's face in her hands while Cloud hurried from behind for examination.

"What is it?" he asked, immediately sensing the new tension.

Lightning tried to wait as Serah's eyes darted back and forth between her and Cloud. "Serah?"

She struggled to find the words, whatever frightened her still processing in her mind. Not too far behind, Vincent and Tifa hurried to regroup, looking at Serah with similar expression of worry.

"S-Snow…PSICOM, they…they took him!"

Eyes widening in shock, Lightning shot her gaze toward the end of Sulyya Springs, where the path eventually led to Taejin's Tower. Cloud's mind was in a similar state. How had none of them heard or even sensed anything wrong just outside of the cavern?

With a quick nod to Tifa and Vincent, he watched them dart off to where Serah came from in hopes of finding a lead. Why PSICOM didn't continue pursuing the other l'Cie worried him…and it added more suspicion as to what was happening on Cocoon.


The back of his head throbbed incessantly, keeping him from making an effort into holding it up. His arms were roughly tugged on, and his body followed as his heavy feet dragged across a long aisle.

As his vision slowly returned, he saw the familiar décor of Sanctum buildings and architecture. AMP-powered drones flew up above, off to fulfill whatever task PSICOM programmed them to do. His ears were vaguely muffled, eager to pop. In the distance, he heard the wind whipping around obstructions, indicating that they were aboard an airship. Soldiers lined the hall, at the ready if he planned to find means of escape.

Up ahead, he noticed a woman with pale silver hair trailing down her body in waves. A sleek white dress fit her form perfectly, allowing emphasis on her bright blue eyes that looked upon him with stern gentleness.

Snow was practically tossed before her, landing on all fours. With a groan, he eased back onto his knees. Contempt marred his features as he looked up at the woman with suspicion. "Let's skip ahead to the torture part, shall we?" he suggested with no hint of eagerness. No doubt she was probably some high ranking-person in PSICOM of the New Sanctum, the far less superior provisional government, but he couldn't recall any mention of someone fitting this woman's description.

She smiled a bit too pleasantly, and it actually sent shiver down Snow's spine. "My, my," she said in a low patronizing voice. "So strong…and stubborn."

To the average person, it may have sounded normal and teasing…but he was well aware of a Sanctum official's coy play on words. Glancing around, he noticed how all PSICOM personnel remained on standby, her command their only signal to spur into action. He knew there was a provisional government in place until the population was able to handle adjustments to new life, but this scenario was too familiar. If he didn't know any better, it was like this woman was the new primarch.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked with suspicion in his voice. Ever since Lightning's return from the Planet, things had been on fast-forward development. It was difficult to find who to trust…and who to avoid.

And when the woman's smile grew increasingly darker, Snow wanted to be anywhere but on the same airship as her.

"I apologize," she suddenly excused with soft pleasantries. Snow's nerves bristled even more. "We should get to know each other better. My name is Jenova."