Following the Adamantoise incident, the group made their way across the Archylte Steppes to find Titan once more. But this time, they were not challenged by a single beast, not even the normally aggressive Megistotherians, or the massive Behemoth Kings. Apparently word got around quickly on Gran Pulse, and every beast was wise enough to avoid a group that had taken down three Adamantoises.

Or at least most of them were...

"Ow, ow, ow!" yelped Hope. The Cactuar had just cast Thousand Needles. Hope was just happy that only about a hundred got through his protect- a hundred needles still hurt like hell. Imagine the pain if a thousand got through.

Caught in his own musings, Hope didn't notice the Cactuar getting close again.

But Sazh did.

Suddenly Hope yelped again, as this time, a hundred and fifty needles got through. He started casting a heal, while balefully glaring at the Cactuar.

Lightning, seeing Hope in pain like that, knew that the Cactuar was going to die. However, she also knew that physical attacks would end up in a lot of needles for the aggressor. But, she darted up behind the Cactuar, and poked it in the head with her blade, immediately flipping to the side. The Cactuar, sensing someone behind it, just sent needles in that direction, and wasn't prepared for the sudden Flamestrike from its side. It screeched in agony as it sent needles out in all directions. Thankfully though, Hope was paying attention, and had a Protectra ready. Little bubbles of shiny defense weaved their way around Sazh, Snow, Varic, and Hope.

Unfortunately for Lightning, she was out of the Protectra range. Seeing the needles fly towards her, she desperately snapped, creating a blue halo around her, but the needles flew on, undeterred. She then cast an Aeroga, causing many of the needles to fly away, but more than half continued towards her.

Snow, seeing Lightning in danger like that, shoved her out of the way, and shouted, "Steelguard!" With that, he braced himself for the needles, praying that the protect would stop them. It only stopped about fifty, but three hundred still flew at him. He braced himself, for the pain, flinching when it came.

It felt like five hours, but after five seconds, Snow lifted his arms, now studded with needles. Hope tossed a quick cure at Snow, who had just tossed back a second Hi-Potion. Lightning was still trying to gather her breath, but that didn't stop her from taking potshots at the Cactuar with her prized gunblade in gun form. No one noticed Varic, just quietly charging up in a corner.

Suddenly, a massive fireball soared out of Varic's hand, engulfing the entire cactuar, as well as an area twelve feed in diameter. Everyone else staggered backwards as a wave of intense heat billowed out, and then either stared in awe or glared glared at Varic. Varic shrugged, as if apologetic for the overkill.

"What? I had to kill it somehow."

A crackling campfire, holding back the night.

Hope, Sazh, and Varic were sitting around a halo of orange light, trading stories about Vanille. Snow sat standing guard at the entrance to the campsite. Lightning got up from her perch next to the campfire, and walked towards the entrance. Snow didn't even glance at her as she sat down next to him.

"Hey Snow," Lightning started, "Thanks for the save earlier."

"Hey, heroes always save the damsel in distress," Snow said. Seeing Lightning rolling her eyes, he continued somberly, "Think of it as payback for yesterday."

"Oh, the Adamantoises?" Lightning shook her head. "That was just instinct. I have to protect you. That's all."

"You know Light," Snow continued, loud enough for the three by the fire to hear, "I think anyone in this family would do anything to protect anyone here."

"Yeah, solder girl," Sazh said.

"You're not alone, Light" Hope said decisively. "Anything for you." Hope gestured widely. "Anything for any of you."

Lightning unconsiously teared up, as she waved her hand at Hope, saying, "I can't bear... to have you hurt... for me..."

"You have to live with it or die." Varic spoke up from the edge of the campfire. "You remind me of Fang and Vanille- Fang couldn't bear to see Vanille hurt." He teared up as well. "And look *hiccup* at where they are now..."

A/N

I tried to have more char. development in this one, as well as a bit of somberness. Tell me, how did it work out?

Also, don't forget to review! XD