Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or FF13.
Arc 2: Academia
She had received the order; a mission she didn't want to take but Raines had insisted. The memories still haunt her to this day, and the terrified screams still echo in the silence of the night.
She wonders if redemption could come in the form of a raven haired rebel, whose innocence is so rare and genuine that she feels as though she has the duty to protect it.
She couldn't believe it, she really could not believe it. Fang's snicker and half-assed apology? Delay? What the hell? This was been planned, calculated with precision and efficiency, and she doubts Hope would ever let her down like this. She knew who would though; Fang. The frustrating snicker was a tell-tale sign and the spear wielder didn't do anything to hide it. They didn't have time for this, training would've been a better choice than to waste a day of her life frolicking in this gaudy place.
Lightning could feel her eye twitch as she watched they others seemingly entranced by this concept of 'fun,' and in her words, a complete waste of time. What were they? A bunch of kids? A migraine was already beating at her temple with the incessant laughing, screaming, yelling, and all the other painfully loud and annoying things that happen at a damn amusement park. Pinching the bridge of her nose, a sigh escaped her lips as a list of many other activity alternatives she would rather be doing runs through her mind.
The flashy lights and the amount of gold color was just overwhelming, enough to knock all possible redeeming hope that this place could be somewhat tolerable out the window. It only reminded Lightning that a place like this would not exist in Cocoon or near Academia to survive; the Golden Saucer would be a huge laughing stock with the simplicity of the games and rides here. If they really wanted to do something like this, Nautilus or Serendipity would have been better choices.
Again, a sigh escaped her lips as she scanned the surroundings for a place devoid of loud or annoying people, at the very least, a place where she could hear herself think. "Well, we'll meet up here at nine tonight, right?" Barret's voice boomed over the noise and Lightning could only rally enough energy to muster a halfhearted nod. With that, he swooped up Marlene and disappeared into the crowd along with Biggs, Wedge and an unwilling Jessie who had been dragged away from her crush.
Lightning couldn't help but roll her eyes as they fell onto Tifa and Aerith clinging each onto one of Cloud's arms. Sure, they were 'friends,' in a very distant, and somewhat in line with that description, but it didn't change the fact that she found it absolutely ridiculous. Frankly, the blonde wasn't much of a fighter and lacked every quality in a man she imagined would be desirable. He was a stuck-up pretty boy with an attitude problem, worse of all, he had nothing to back it. Blonde hair, blue eyes, she knew of another man like that.
With a slight scoff, Lightning comes to wonder if all the guys she hates somehow always manage to have blonde hair and blue eyes with a resemblance to some animal. She knew of an annoying behemoth that could not shut up for the life of him, while this one looked like a chocobo with a foot stuck up his ass, stupidly grinning as Tifa and Aerith tugged on both of his arms. One thing was sure though, she knew the other was much more 'man' than Cloud. Even back then at that young age, he was much more promising; something Lightning had failed to notice until it was too late.
Shaking her head as if to banish those thoughts for another time, Lightning turned her attention back onto the other three because anything seemed preferable to thinking back to those... difficult times. Crossing her arms, the soldier walked past as if she didn't know them and hopefully they would pretend the same, especially with all the stares they were getting.
"Lightning, you want to come with us?" Tifa called out with her usual smile.
She didn't bother turning, "I'd rather jump off a cliff." With that she continued forward, ignoring Cloud's witty reply. In reality, would she? Yes. She has the grav-con anyways so it wouldn't make a difference, but given the choice she would kick Cloud off the cliff instead and watch him flap his arms. Who knows, maybe chocobos can fly and he'd be the first of the species to do so. She easily slid through the crowd, ignoring the people, men and women alike, that had tried to talk to her and sent a glare to any who didn't get the idea that it was a 'no' and 'leave me alone or else.'
Her blue eyes scanned the area, stopping at a slightly desolated park; her temporary sanctuary from this jolly-good hell. How enticing. Lightning mused she probably needed help if she found that enticing and not the people who approached her looking not half-bad, but for one thing; they talked way too much. She managed to find a bench in the quieter part, taking a seat and sending a glare at anyone who tried to approach her. Satisfied with the invisible barrier of antisocial reclusiveness she had managed to build around herself with a dark, murderous aura that seemed to radiate within a ten-foot radius, she finally leaned back. Her hand instinctively dug into her pouch and dug out her survival knife, flipping it open and close. It was a bad habit she had developed during her more 'personal' times she had managed to stumble upon in her busy schedule, but since Fang had decided for herself that she would delay the mission, Lightning had no choice but to let up as much as her training allowed her to. This was why she doesn't let loose. She finds her mind wandering to memories that she would rather not revisit.
"I guess you didn't find your cliff." Lightning's eye almost twitched as she resurfaced from her thoughts, blue eyes darting up in a murderous glare that made the other shift in his spot.
Crossing her arms, the soldier slid the blade away smoothly, practiced thousands of times. "What do you want?"
Cloud nodded towards Tifa and Aerith walking towards the with pop cans in their hands, "It was their idea. Given the choice. I wouldn't be talking to you."
"I'm flattered." The soldier remarked sarcastically, "Now disappear and take your groupie with you."
"That's not nice." Aerith hummed but her smile never dimmed as she handed one can to Cloud, "How do you like it here?"
"Yeah, absolutely chummy."
Tifa laughed, ignoring the dead-pan tone, and handed Lightning the other can but to be met with an empty stare. "Well? Take it." With a sigh, Tifa stuffed it into Lightning's arms, "Y'know, it won't kill you to be a little friendlier."
"Who knows, maybe it will." Cloud muttered.
"I'll agree with him there." Shrugging, Lightning set the can on the seat beside her before she resumed her original position, "You can leave anytime you want." The group fell into silence before Cloud abruptly spun on his heel with a gruff scoff as he waltzed off without another word.
"Well, I'll see you later then." The flower girl smiled before she followed behind the blonde man again.
"Light, you really sure you want this?" Tifa asked glancing back and forth.
"Go or your princess will throw a hissy fit." A pout appeared on Tifa before she nodded, rushing away.
Finally. Lightning took a deep breath of relief as the comfortable silence fell in again, though it didn't take long for her to notice that people were staring at her appreciatively again. Too lazy to rebuild her antisocial barrier, she pushed herself up to leave before her mind was drawn back to the can on the bench. No point in wasting it. Snatching it up, she continued on her pursuit of privacy; something she found to be literally impossible in a place like this. The can snapped open with a hiss, and bubbled in her mouth as she took a sip. Her eyes wandered over the area map. Speed, round, ghost, event, chocobo, battle, and wonder; it really was a wonder. She gave it full points for originality. Seriously. Her blue eyes focused on the battle square and couldn't help but wonder what might be in store there. Hopefully something that could put her rampant memories and thoughts at bay long enough. Taking another sip, she turned away walking down the path to her next destination.
Lightning raised an eyebrow at the decor, now this is what she called original. She's never seen anything like it and she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. The large picture of a skull hung above the door, perhaps to make it look more intimidating, but the purple carpet on the white and black checkered floor with red curtains certainly didn't help. Walking through it, she wondered if it was anything like the Coliseum where these types of competitions were held in Academia, more so for the military to flex their muscles, but nonetheless, it served the same purpose as a place of battle. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" The soldier sighed when a hand was clamped over her shoulder.
"Do you want me to break your arm?"
A laugh suddenly broke free after a moment of surprise as Lightning turned, stilling at the sight of the man. What the hell was he wearing? Or... why the lack of it? "I see you've found a place to fit right in." The man said brushing his mustache as he looked Lightning up, "I can tell you're a feisty one." Without another word, Lightning turned around to walk away but, to her annoyance, the heavy footsteps followed her, "Quite an attitude as well. How about a little competition?"
"Look," Lightning hissed, turning around to glare at the man, "Leave me alone."
"You came here looking for a fight didn't you?" Crossing his arms, the man smirked, "Then you've found the right person."
"I didn't even-"
"Now, now, no need to be at a loss of words. I'm the owner of the Golden Saucer. The name's Dio." He could see the woman look him up and down with a weary stare.
"Huh, shocker."
Brushing off the tone of sarcasm tinted with disbelief, he continued, "We haven't had any fighters lately so how about this? I have this keystone here."
"Keystone?"
"Yes, a key."
"Not interested."
The man hummed crossing his arms before he puffed out his hairy chest, "Scared are we?" That seemed to click with the woman as her deadly glare returned back to him, "The little pink birdy is too afraid to get her hands dirty? Too much for ya?"
"You're on." Lightning stated, "But let's make this more interesting. I'll give you the fight of your life but I get all of your top prizes at my win."
"Now, that's a little greedy-"
"What? Bird brain's backin' out? Should've known. All talk but nothing to back it." With a scoff and roll of her eyes, Lightning walked ahead.
"Wait!" The voice boomed from behind, "You're on. You better get ready for a beatin' cause you ought to be taught a lesson."
Lightning smirked; maybe she might enjoy it here.
She followed Dio into the preparation area, eying the few individuals sitting there nursing their wounds. They were all dressed ridiculously, probably to rally the crowd but still. Crossing her arms, she watched as Dio talked to an employee tending to the entrance gates to the arena before the large half-naked man walked back up to her, "You get a choice of any weapon, armor, or items that we have. Think if it as a small handicap I'm giving you." He said, bolstered with a laugh as he motioned to the various weapon racks littered with swords and what not.
"No thanks." Lightning said, "When is my turn?"
"Eager?" Dio asked, "This isn't a walk in the park-"
"Just get on with it." Lightning interrupted meeting the man's unamused stare with one of her own.
"What's your name?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"I need to announce it." Dio sighed, "Give an introduction-"
"I don't care." Lightning said stepping up to the gate, "I'm going next right?"
"No, no, not yet." The man says, "Have to wait for the word to get out. A single woman to take on all the monsters at the battle arena. I'll have men lining up to see you get rough and tumble, not the mention..." His eyes narrows and looks Lightning up before her purrs his next words, "You're quite the beauty. Oh I know! How about the Ice Queen? The Nameless Warrior? The Amazon Warrior?" Dio said smirking, "I'll call you... the Warrior Goddess. How fitting."
"I really don't know if this is an attempt at flattery or if you're just trying to get me annoyed."
"Uhm... excuse me?" Both turned to the employee before he blushed madly when he locked eyes with Lightning. "The - er..."
"Out with it!" Dio said slapping the boy at his back, "You're interrupting us."
"The beasts are ready."
"Good!" Pushing the young boy away, Dio turned his smile towards Lightning again, "Here's your last chance. There's a chest full of potions and materia-" Lightning simply walked away and towards the gate, nodding at the boy from earlier as he opened the gate to allow her through. Shaking his head, Dio headed towards his own viewing throne smirking. "Feisty."
The moment she steps out a huge light flashes and the crowd erupts in cheers and wolf-whistles. Releasing a deep breath, she walks calmly to the center, standing in a circle marked by red. Time to focus. Closing her eyes, she could barely hear Dio's introduction of her as she prepared herself for battle. Who knows what Dio is going to throw at her so it's better she's always prepared for the worst. Her hand glides behind, feathering over her saber's edge, "Combatant ready!?" Lightning opens her eyes and draws her gun and with the mechanical twist and fold, it opens up into her blade. The gates open. "Be prepared, the Jayjujayme!"
"The jayju-what?" Lightning tenses and watches as red eyes flash in the darkness of the cage across the battlefield before the monster slithers out. Well, more so crawls... slowly. She swallows thickly and stands up straight again, out of her battle position, watching as the over-sized caterpillar crept out. She looks up at Dio and he's smirking down at her. Perhaps there's more to this monster that meets the eye. Her instincts fire instantly and she moves before the monster had even attacked to dodge it, and after a short moment it spat a string of silk to coil up on the ground where she had stood.
"I see you have good instincts." Dio said over the mike, "But don't think that this is your only opponent." The soldier turns back to the cage as more monsters walk out, more of those, well, silk worms apparently, a grass like monster, a bug, and a four-legged beast with a green tongue with what looked like a green napkin tied around it's neck. She's never seen these monsters before. "This is the first of your sixteen battles, let see how you-" She swung her hand, releasing the cackling blue electricity before a incredible white pillar of light thundered, crashing down to engulf the group of monsters. It tore up a huge storm, it's cackles echoing in the stadium and shaking the grounds and seats. Silence reigns in the end as the dust cleared. Lightning shifts her weight and puts one hand on her waist when the battle field has been leveled completely. "W-well, the next battle it is." Dio stammers, motioning for it to continue. Again? Lightning frowns slightly as she watches another of those jayju things crawl out, but this time accompanied with different monsters. A horned beast and a creature that looked like some sort of flying bird. Putting it down a notch, Lightning sends a thundaga forward, clashing with the beasts, this time leaving only the birds hovering about. "Not so easy." Dio chortles. With a scoff, she grips her Blaze Edge and dashes forward meeting the bird-like monsters head on. A flash of steel and silver, a half caw that the beast had managed to cry before it falls to the ground.
"Battle number three." Lightning breathes, settling into her battle mindset. A smirk plays on her lips, body pumping with adrenalin readying her for the thrill of battle once more.
...
The crowd was going wild, a storm brewed and thundered monstrously with the cheering, screaming and yelling. Word passed through the entire area with people desperately crowding and scrambling in to catch the fight, more like slaughter as people were describing it. The money was pouring in and being the business man that he was, Dio had arranged for several bets to lure more people to gamble away their money. What person, be it a woman no less, would be able to take down all of his monsters? He wasn't a sexist man, merely stating the facts as men cried like babies after a certain point, but he knew a fighter when he sees one. He was a betting man, an avid gambler, and a good one at that, so he went against the grain and placed his stash behind the mysterious pink haired beauty. It was a simultaneous loss and gain, of course he's making loads, enough gil to make up for the loss already if this woman manages to win and makes off with his most treasured items, but what he would lose and never regain would be his pride.
She was making him eat his own words and strangely enough, he was more than eager to do so just to see the extent of what this woman was capable of. With a loud laugh booming through the stadium's speakers, Dio couldn't stop himself as the sixteen battles ended just like that, yet here she was; standing at the center of it all, weapon sheathed with her hand resting on her hip as if she was expecting more. The people went wild, cheering and whistling until it made his ears go deaf. "Warrior Goddess indeed!" He bellowed, laughing at how fitting the name he came up for her was. She truly did have the skill and spirit of one.