And now for story finale of When The Glass Shatters.
I just wanted to say thankyou all to those who have read, reviewed and helped me along the way of this story, Its been a journey, one which I hope you have all enjoyed.
One last thing to say - check back on the 11th November for something rather special.
When The Glass Shatters
Labour/Love/Lost
The hulking machine of the airship powered through the shockwave's hold over them.
Everyone saw the pillar of light, yet they could not see through it.
"Light's down there, you've gotta go get her!"
Snow shouted encouragement to Vanille.
They all knew that if anyone could and should save Lightning, it had to be the one who held a deep love for her; Vanille.
"Snow's right girl, I'll get you down there. Just leave it to me"
Fang was standing near the edge of the door of the airship and she let go and fell.
Everyone didn't know what she was doing jumping out like that.
Yet Fang had a plan. While falling she clutched her arm tight and drew the crystal from it.
She threw the crystal in the air and by its own will it fly up high in the sky.
A purple glyph tattooed the sky and the mighty dragon Bahamut came soaring down from the atmosphere, narrowly missing the airship as it flew down and caught Fang on its back.
Once she had control of her Eidolon she flew up, level to the airship and Fang waved her hand to Vanille.
She jumped, straight onto Bahamut's back and landed behind Fang.
Vanille wrapped her arms around Fang's stomach for support and they both flew down, deep into the pillar of light.
To Fang and Vanille the pillar of light seemed like a bottomless pit.
They flew on Bahamut's mighty wings for what they thought to be an eternity, yet Vanille could see the bottom.
It too was covered in light, yet she saw a portion of Lightning merging into the light.
Vanille shouted Lightning's name, yet her voice didn't seem to have any effect in the pillar.
They finally reached the bottom and Vanille released her grip on Fang and she jumped off of Bahamut's back and down to Lightning.
Lightning was fading fast, when Vanille first saw her she was half consumed, and now she only had her arm left showing.
Falling down, Vanille reached out her hand and grabbed hold of Lightning's.
Grasping it tightly, Vanille felt her lover's hand respond with a twitch.
She smiled, Lightning was in there, and she knew who was rescuing her.
Vanille spoke again.
"Lightning, Lightning. I'm coming for you beautiful. Just hold on"
Her hand twitched again.
Fang had tied herself to Bahamut and jumped off, trying to fall enough to reach hold of Vanille.
"I'm going to get you out of here Lightning. I-I"
She stuttered. Her words could not escape her lips without her shedding tears.
"Claire Farron, I love you, with all my heart. Let my heart be your guide through the darkness of the light. Please, just come back to me"
As she declared her love little water droplets ran out of her eyes and speedily up into the air.
Fang, who now had a hold of Vanille's foot, ready to drag her back up was hit in the face by all these little water droplets.
One landed on her lips, she licked them and tasted how salty it was.
Realising that they were her friend's tears she simply smiled.
"Vanille now, grab hold of Lightning and pull"
The hand of Lightning twitched once again and as Vanille held tight and pulled she felt Lightning grip in return.
Smiling happily, she pulled on Lightning's arm and Fang pulled on Vanille's leg.
Fang gave the signal to Bahamut to fly up and once again the pillar of light seemed like an eternity in a heartbeat.
After a short while of flying straight up Vanille could see Lightning's body emerge.
First her arms, then her head, body and finally her legs and feet all emerged.
Vanille breathed a sigh of relief, yet all was not that simple.
As Lightning had fully emerged from being consumed by Asélia the transformation was not complete.
A gigantic shockwave was emitted as soon as Lightning had left.
Fang and Vanille were sent skyward, Vanille had a tight hold of Lightning so she couldn't go anywhere, yet they were all swaying from side to side heavily.
The shockwave had completely obliterated the pillar of light and a sudden rush of sky, sun and air had hit them.
The airship was waiting above, yet everyone looked concerned.
The pillar of light had not been a great omen, yet it being destroyed certainly wasn't.
As the light faded away everyone could see exactly what had caused the shockwave.
What had emerged was a golden colour, with two broad mechanical angel wings on its back.
It had the head of a griffon, its beak filled with razor like teeth, yet it had a golden set of armour covering its entire body as if it were a legendary knight.
The armour had only one distinct feature; emblazoned on the breastplate were ancient scales.
The monster stood there, taking it its surroundings.
It was taller than any building in the city of Eden, and could even be seen from Gran Pulse.
All the L'Cie were on edge. No one knew whether to run or fight.
After a while of being motionless the armoured creature spoke.
"I am Iudica, ruler of all Fal'Cie. I am incomplete due to your meddling. Return my child to me or suffer the consequences"
The Fal'Cie's voice boomed over the entire Cocoon.
Vanille, although small in comparison to the Fal'Cie gave her own punishing response.
"I will not give her back. I will not give up the woman I love"
Upon hearing those words the crew of the airship decided to act.
Apart from Sazh, who had to pilot the machine, Hope and Snow free-fell out of the sky and activated their own crystals, summoning Alexander and Shiva respectively.
Bahamut dropped Fang and Vanille safely down on a large field nearby and Vanille, laying Lightning down gently activated her own crystal, summoning Hecatonchier.
With four Eidolons against one Fal'Cie the battle was an outmatched one.
The L'Cie attacked with all their might, each blasting their fiercest attacks at Iudica.
Yet he merely stood there. The armour he was wearing prevented nigh on all damage from hurting him.
Looking at the small creatures in all four directions around him Iudica spread his wings and flapped them once.
The resulting force threw all four Eidolons back, and they all were dismissed in one attack by the Fal'Cie.
After this minor attack had resolved itself Iudica took flight, and flew away. With every beat of its wings another blast was emitted, shaking the airship.
As long as Iudica was in flight, he was immortal; the true mark of a god.
Vanille ran over to the field she had placed Lightning in.
Upon reaching Lightning's cold, lifeless body she started to cry.
"Wake up Light, you've just gotta. You can't be dead; otherwise you'd be a Cie'th by now. You hear me? You're alive…wake up"
Lightning was alive, but she was in a comatose state. She could neither hear, nor feel, nor touch, nor smile ever again. She may as well be dead.
While sobbing over the lifeless body Vanille tried to heal her, forming repeated orbs of Curaga, Esuna, Raise and her own concoction; All-Cure.
None of it was having any effect. Lightning was still as inanimate as before.
Vanille couldn't stop crying while holding Lightning in her arms; she could not resign herself to believe that Lightning was gone.
Snow quietly walked up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder for comfort. She acknowledged he was there but chose not to say anything.
"We need to get her inside; we need to find a place to leave her so she can rest in a safe place."
Snow knelt down and wrapped Lightning up in his coat, and then in his arms as he picked her up and carried her, Vanille ever present by her side.
They walked in the direction of the airship, slowly boarding it as it touched down.
The group discussed amongst them where they thought would be best to keep Lightning safe; they could not reach a common agreement until Snow spoke.
"Bodhum. We should take her to Bodhum. It's her home. That's the safest place for her. Besides the Guardian Corps is stationed there too, they should keep an eye out for one of their own"
In turn everyone nodded, for they knew that Snow was right.
Sazh piloted the airship towards the fireworks capital of Cocoon.
They touched down on the beach and Snow carried Lightning into her home.
He rested her on the bed, and was soon accompanied by the other L'Cie.
They all stood around her bed and watched solemnly as Lightning's cold body lay still.
Vanille knelt down and held Lightning's hand, hovering over her lover's body.
She kissed her lips just one last time, tears appearing after every contact made.
When Vanille stood up to leave she heard a chime and turned around.
Lightning's wrist began to shine; Vanille noticed that Lightning's numbered brand was emitting the light.
Soon after she heard a crack, then another and finally she saw the noise; a white crystal was forming around Lightning's body protecting her.
This crystal had activated to preserve Lightning's body for Iudica to consume; it also prevented her from turning into a Cie'th.
Vanille watched Lightning become fully encased in the crystal.
"Rest in the glass coffin my sleeping beauty, for I shall return to part the thorns and kiss your lips once more to awaken thee and return you to my arms"
Fin..?
The bedroom was dark and empty. The white crystal lay there still as the day it was formed. A single, yellow feather drifted down, swaying to and fro until it rested gently on the crystal.