Lightning was determined to keep her family alive even if it meant she had to give up her own life to achieve it.
"It's best if it's only us two," Lightning stated.
"What?" Hope, Snow, Vanille, and Serah said together.
"You can't Fang," Vanille said with a pout.
"That's suicide," Snow stated.
"Claire, what are you talking about?" Serah asked sadly. Hope only looked at Lightning remorsefully.
"I can't risk your life now that we are all finally together. It's not suicide Snow. We still don't know of a way that can kill me so I should be fine. Fang has made her decision regardless of the risks," Lightning said sternly.
"But Fang, we were lucky last time. What if you don't survive?" Vanille said holding onto Fang's arm like she could keep her there if she just held on.
"I'm doing this for the one I care about too Vanille," she said simply. Vanille looked like she was about to cry. Fang looked close to it too as she pulled Vanille into a hug. When they parted, Fang looked at Lightning. She was ready and determined.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine Serah," Lightning said to her sister.
"Take care of her Snow and don't let her out of your sight," she told him. He nodded.
"Sazh, you might want to go with them," she suggested. The older man nodded and steered his son over so they stood with Snow and Serah.
"You too Vanille," Fang said. Vanille moved to stand by Sazh. Lightning turned to see Hope on the other side of the room. He had separated himself from the group when he heard Lightning was leaving them behind. She walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face her and she saw tear tracks down his face.
"Claire, please don't go. I need you," he said sadly. She brushed off a new tear and held his face in her hands.
"I'll come back. I have you to take care of remember?" she said quietly. He nodded and laid his head on her shoulder as he hugged her. She pulled him close and then let him go.
"I love you," he said with a kiss on her cheek.
"I love you too," she replied. She turned to go but he stopped her. He let go of her arm and untied his bandana.
"Here. Hope it gives you luck. I want you to keep a part of me with you," he said. She took it and tied it around her upper arm. She looked at him once more and her eyes strayed to the scar now slightly visible without the bandana to cover it. She reached out and traced the markings. He held her hand there and closed his eyes then he reluctantly let her go. She smiled reassuringly and then made her way back to Fang who stood waiting. The others had already left while she was with Hope. She turned to look where he was standing but he was gone too. She sighed sadly.
"I thought it was best if you didn't have to say good-byes again so I told them to leave before you got back," Fang said.
"Yeah, it's probably for the best," she replied. They began to walk in the direction of the Tesseracts.
"So, you and the kid huh, what made you finally agree to let him so close?" she questioned.
"He got to me," she replied simply. Fang smiled.
"Your heart isn't as frozen as I thought. You know, ever since day one that kid has stood up for you. He risked his life to keep yours healthy. Nothing short but determination and caring," she said.
"What are you trying to get at?" Lightning asked a little irritated.
"Nothing just realizing that I was majorly wrong about you. I just want to say I'm sorry. I hope you can accept it. I was raised to think that your kind is the most merciless thing in existence next to the thing that created you, but you aren't. I guess along with proving me wrong you taught me a valuable lesson. Thank you," Fang said.
"You're welcome. Thanks for keeping me in line," Lightning replied. They shared an appreciative smile before entering Orphan's Cradle.
"Whoa, this place is weird. How do we find Orphan?" Fang wondered.
"We pick a path and keep going," Lightning answered, moving forward again. They walked until a fork in the road appeared. Three different paths lay ahead.
"Look, that one leads back to Pulse," Fang said, pointing to a warp gate at the end of one.
"Yeah, and that one leads back to the Edenhall Foyer," Lightning said, pointing to the other warp gate.
"So that means that last path leads to Orphan," Fang reasoned.
"Hopefully," Lightning answered, touching the bandana on her arm as they continued. The path to Orphan was filled with every type of Cie'th as well as Aquila Velocycles, Megrim Threshers, Dragonites, and Sanctum Templars. Navigating the paths and fighting off relentless Cie'ths continued for what seemed like forever. The only break in the swarms occurred when they reached a warp gate and found themselves in a room with a Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch. Both Fang and Lightning took direct hits from these foes. Lightning put herself in the way of an attack meant for Fang many times to avoid severe injury on Fangs behalf. They no longer had a healer to help them. When they won the fight, Lightning staggered to a stop and sat down. She was exhausted and Fangs' injury wasn't helping things.
"Shit those claws hurt. I've never been hurt this bad and have to deal with it. I'm getting lazy dealing with the pain factor," Fang said as she too sat down.
"Yeah well try telling my ego I almost didn't get through that fight," Lightning replied.
"Why can't you just let the shadows have you and fight through all this unscathed?" Fang suggested.
"I can't. I need to save that for later. We can't afford for me to run wild when we haven't even reached Orphan. No, don't be stupid. If I'm at least in front of Orphan when that happens I won't have to worry about anything except making sure Orphan is defeated," Lightning explained.
"What if you get too beat up before we get there? Then what are you going to do when instinct takes over?" Fang questioned honestly.
"We'll deal with it when it happens," Lightning responded. She pushed herself to her feet and swayed a little.
"You ok? I think you should let me handle myself so we don't lose you early," Fang advised, steadying Lightning with a hand on her shoulder. Lightning nodded and they left the room through the warp gate. An Immortal guarded the path ahead but with quick reflexes both Fang and Lightning managed to get by without a fight. Both of them were still tired. Strangely as they continued, there was no more Cie'ths around. The atmosphere became quiet when they entered another warp gate.
"I don't like this feeling at all," Lightning said nervously. Suddenly a flash of blades swept past. Lightning jumped out of the way and Fang barely avoided the abrupt attack. They searched their surroundings for the attacker. A Wladislaus shifted into view wielding wicked long blades.
"A stronger Cie'th," Fang said as she pulled out her spear.
"It's quick too," Lightning added. The Wladislaus readied its weapon and jumped forward. Lightning blocked. The next attack came at Fang who rolled out of the way. Lightning swung as hard as she could and slashed it across the back. It screeched and spun, sword out and deadly close to Lightning but she dodged again. They settled into a distract-and-attack routine. This way the Wladislaus couldn't blur from sight and catch them unaware. They kept the Cie'th on its toes until it staggered. Then together they rushed forward for the kill. They exited the room through the warp gate, followed more paths and ended up in yet another warp gate.
"I wonder what's going to happen this time. I'm beginning to hate these rooms," Fang said cautiously.
"At least we get a heads up," Lightning replied. A blue mass flew into the room as the words left her mouth. It stopped in front of them and landed. It was a Tiamat Eliminator.
"Oh great, here we go again," Fang said sarcastically, but Lightning could hear the fatigue under it. She was beginning to feel at a loss for energy too and was getting slightly hungry. She cursed Rosch for not helping her out in that category but deep down she knew it wasn't just something to eat that she needed. She needed Hope.