I do not own Final Fantasy or any of the characters.

I'm Back

Lightning leapt over a Ruinga then launched her own back at Barthandelus. The freak had started out with four extra faces that shot spells four him while he powered them up but now it was just him and he was much stronger. The other five had all been knocked out already and were laying in a pile. Just as she landed in front of them, Barthandelus' face slid open revealing dozens of barrels and cannons.

"Fuck me," Lightning said.

Just as the barrels began to glow, Daniel dropped from above slashing across them and the light faded. Then, Barthandelus' face slid closed again and Daniel stood.

"What are you doing here?" Lightning asked.

"I never really left," Daniel said, a half truth. "I kept watch to make sure that my father didn't keep after you. Just not close enough for him to notice."

"What took you so long then?" Lightning asked.

"I got drawn off," Daniel said.

"By who?" Lightning asked.

"Give me five minutes and I'll explain," Daniel said.

"Fine," Lightning said. "Want Odin?"

"Absolutely," Daniel said.

Just as Lightning summoned Odin, Barthandelus spit a sphere of black energy out. The sphere hit Daniel and he fell to one knee.

"So," Barthandelus said. "The prodigal son has arrived."

"You know," Daniel said. "I really don't see why my father respected you so much. You're not as strong as he thought."

Daniel stood and sprinted forward with Odin just behind him, leaping into the air over Barthandelus then landing on his back and driving his gunblade into Barthandelus' head. Barthandelus swiped his hand at Daniel but Daniel pulled the gunblade out and jumped over the hand staying just low enough to remove it. When Barthandelus screamed in pain, Odin leapt down his throat slashing, hacking, and blasting anything he could reach. Finally, he exploded out through Barthandelus' back and blasted him one last time with a Thundaga spell. Barthandelus collapsed and Odin faded. Then, Barthandelus did the same.

"You made it look easy," Lightning said.

"Thanks to Lumina, I'm twice as good as you, just half as strong," Daniel said.

"Okay," Lightning said. "Now who drew you away from us?"

"Lumina," Daniel said. "I began to slip into the same mental state as I was after both Sari and Misaki's deaths so she lead me to the same kind of monster that she pitted me against to cheer me up the first time.

"How did she lead you anywhere?" Fang asked.

"A trail of silver feathers," Daniel said.

"Was the creature a bird?" Fang asked.

"Yes," Daniel said. "But it was Lumina."

"How do you know?" Vanille asked.

As an answer, Daniel used his gunblade to cut his palm then wiped the blood into Lumina's necklace then threw it away. After less than a second, it froze in mid air and Lumina formed, as she had in the cave.

"You weren't supposed to summon me again," Lumina said.

"They didn't believe it was you," Daniel said.

"Lumina?" Vanille asked. "So you're really..."

"Don't worry Vanille," Lumina said. "I'm a part of Daniel now. We can still be around each other, Sister."

"Sister?" Fang asked. "Well that's...unexpected.

"You're sisters?" Daniel asked. "You never told me you had a sister."

"I know," Lumina said. "I never told anyone."

"Where was she when your mother was..." Daniel trailed off and Lumina smirked in spite of herself.

"Vanille was adopted when we were still infants," Lumina said. "My mother was only able to take care of one."

"And she did an amazing job of it," Daniel said.

"True," Lumina said then her smile faded and Daniel knew what was coming. "I have to go now. I want you to promise not to summon me again. I want you to let me go. I want you to move on. Be happy. Have a family. Just make sure to remember to let me go in the meantime."

"I...I can't," Daniel said feeling the familiar pain of loss hit him full force and his eyes begin to itch. "I can't let you go. I need you."

"I told you," Lumina said. "You never needed me. You were always able to do it alone. I was the one who needed you. Please, let me move on. Please, just let me go."

"I..." Daniel's face fell to the floor and Vanille placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Let her go," Vanille said. "She's accepted her fate. And even if you do, she's still with you. No one can take that away from you. She will always be a part of you. But you have to let her rest now. You can't keep her trapped here. She doesn't belong here anymore."

"She's right," Lightning said. "You have to let Lumina go. Do you really want to keep her trapped between here and the next life forever?"

Daniel's face fell further then he nodded and Lumina walked forward, smiling sadly.

"I'll always belong to you, and I'll always love you and be with you," Lumina said stopping just in front of him. "But I have to go now."

Daniel nodded then looked up just as Lumina kissed him. He couldn't feel her as if she had a body but he could sense her presence. It was a strange sensation. He kissed her back for a moment before she faded and the necklace fell into his hand. He let his head fall and closed his hand around the necklace, lowering it to his side.

"I'm sorry," Lightning said.

"Yes," a familiar and unwelcome voice rang out from above them. "Such a tragedy."

Daniel drew his gunblade and spun around shooting a single blast at Dysley who was floating above them, staff in hand, Minrva hovering beside his head. Dysley smashed the shot aside with his staff then laughed.

"Do you truly think you can end me?" Dysley asked.

"I think I would if you would get down here," Daniel said. "If you did, I'd make you regret ever being born."

"How?" Dysley asked. "Would you stoop to the level of your family? Use the dark power that you try so desperately to repress? Or would you simply activate them long enough to draw your father then allow him to kill me in order to protect you?"

Daniel didn't answer. He simply glared at Dysley with more hatred than anyone except his brothers and Crow had earned. Even his father hadn't earned that much. Not since Sari had died, at least.

"Have it your way," Dysley said at last before vanishing only to reappear behind Daniel and stab him through the heart.

Daniel spun his gunblade around and jabbed it back at Dysley but Dysley had already pulled his staff out and disappeared along with Minrva.

"Now, the rest of you shall go with him," Dysley's voice said. "Enjoy the fireworks."

Then it was silent, except Daniel struggling to breathe.

"Heal him!" Fang said and Hope, Lightning, and Vanille each sent a Curaja at him healing him fully.

"Thanks," Daniel said. "We need to leave. This thing's going to blow."

They all sprinted out of the room and found their way to a hanger where they boarded a ship. Sazh piloted them out of the Palamecia and Daniel looked at Fang.

"Tell her," Daniel said.

"No," Fang growled glaring at him.

"I had to let Lumina stay dead," Daniel said. "Telling Vanille the truth is not going to be as fucking bad as you think."

"Tell Lightning then," Fang said.

"Lightning isn't Vanille," Daniel said.

"Tell us what?" Lightning and Vanille asked together.

Before anyone could answer, the ship shook and Sazh swore loudly. Daniel threw himself into the gunner's seat and spun around seeing Yaag Rosch flying after them in the Proudclad, the prototype fighter that PSICOM was so excited about.

"Proudclad," Daniel said. "Get moving."

Daniel opened fire at Rosch but the Proudclad easily avoided the bullets. Then, it launched several dozen missiles. Daniel blasted most but several hit their ship. Suddenly, a blinding light made his vision go black and he felt like his stomach dropped through the floor. Then, the ship had stopped and his vision slowly returned. They were suddenly inside a massive warehouse-like building with machines walking around. The ship had exploded and crashed and the others were all awake except him and Sazh who had been set against the wall until they woke up.

"Where are we?" Daniel asked.

"I think it's an arc," Fang said.

"Arc?" Lightning asked.

"Places where L'Cie train to master their powers," Daniel said. "Terrific."

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