Tainted fal'Cie
A/N: Another chapter is up! This one on time! Lol. Thanks everyone for your patience, reviews and support.
A huge thank you goes to Scraggles for being my beta reader.
For those of you who left unsigned reviews, see my replies below:
black. dot – Thanks again for the reviews and the support BD. It really means a lot. ^^ You are right in your guess that the story will get darker from here. Oh, it will. Mwhahah… *coughs* But I can't say anything more about that. Lol. You'll just have to wait and read it as it progresses. :P Thanks again for the comments! :)
Chocobo ProdoCo – That's too bad about not being able to write stories. Maybe with some time, that could all change. When it does, let me know. ^^ Hehe, killing cactaurs in game was just so random for me. The first time I came across them, I was like WTF! I figured I may as well have them make an appearance, as they seem to be one of those loveable things that pop up in games from time to time. Heh. As for the Moogles, while I've seen them in the FFXIII-2 trailers, I won't be adding them to this story. Perhaps if I decide to write a FFXIII-2 story you may see them, but as of right now, I don't have any plans to write a FFXIII-2 fanfic. Thanks for the comments! :)
HvnlyEngage – Thanks again for your comments. :) I'm glad you're enjoying the little snippets of things from in game that I mix into the story itself. Sometimes it takes a lot of research to make it appear seamless, and not everyone realizes it. At the same time, the intention is for people not to realize it, to keep the realness of the game in the fanfiction, but it's always nice when people point out that they caught it. :) No worries about not logging on and leaving a registered review, you still review nonetheless and that makes me happy. ^^ I'm flattered to be an inspiration to you, to get writing, though honestly I don't think I've really done anything to be credited for that. Hehe. As for the rest of your questions, I think you'll find them answered in this chapter. Mostly. Lol. Thanks for the comments! :)
Riku91 – I really appreciate your continued support Riku91. :) I'm glad you feel I'm keeping everyone in character. ^^ That's one of the hardest things I find in writing a fanfiction. There's always the fear of a character doing something people think is unusual for their character, so I always try my hardest to keep them in check. As for what the gang will do about Lightning, read on my friend. This chapter should explain everything. Lol. XD
On a final note before the chapter starts, due to the great support and feedback I've received, expect to see chapter 2 of Etro's Keepers posted up shortly after this chapter. But again, don't expect the updates for that one to be as quick as this fanfiction. Hehe.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.
*** ~ Chapter 25: Blue Eyes Tainted Black ~ ***
To always struggle against tainted blood lust,
Those gifted with Etro's messengers in trust
For the Tainted's illusions drew from humanly desire,
To undo past wrongs, turning dreams into liars.
- the Last Scroll of Etro
The night was quiet. And Serah couldn't sleep.
Two days ago, her mother died.
There was no outpouring of sympathy from family. There were no condolences from friends. There was only silence. And her mother's cold, empty body lying on the hospital bed. Well, the body was in the hospital morgue now - until the burial arrangements could be finalized - but that changed little. Serah and Claire were now on their own from here on in.
Serah rolled onto her side, her bed frame squeaking softly under her movement. Her parents had bought this bed for her when she was finally old enough to have her own room. It was a soft pink colour, just a bit darker than her hair. Oh, how she squealed when they surprised her with it. She was so happy back then, back before their father passed away. And now their mother…
Serah pulled the covers over her shoulders. Aside from the typical creaks and groans coming from the well aged home, and the rush of wind rattling the windows, all was the quiet. And that terrified her. It was as if Cocoon itself knew their mother died. And Cocoon had gone quiet in mourning.
Then a scream.
"C-Claire!"
Serah scrambled out of bed and crashed to the ground face first. The blanket had twisted around her legs, tripping her. The smaller Farron whimpered, her shoulder and cheek throbbing sharply as she lay still on the cold wood floor. Serah squeezed her eyes shut, hoping the tears would not fall.
Another scream.
"Claire!"
Shaking her head clear and almost literally tearing away the material that bound her calves, Serah staggered to her feet and stumbled towards the door. She hadn't closed her bedroom door since her mother died. Normally she would have, to impede the sounds the eldest Farron made after tucking her daughters in to sleep - that and the bright lights that usually streamed in from downstairs - but now, there were no more lights; there were no more sounds - just her sister's screams.
Claire was in the thrall of another nightmare when Serah found her, for the second time in the past two nights. The smaller girl paused momentarily in the doorway of her sibling's room, pausing to catch her breath and to slow her rapidly beating heart. Claire gripped at the sheets with white knuckled fists, the material near its ripping point. The older Farron writhed underneath it.
"Blue eyes… tainted black…" Claire murmured, over and over. "Blue eyes tainted black…" She screamed again.
"Claire!" Her sister's scream drew Serah from the doorway, Serah racing up to her older sister's bedside as fast as she could. "Shhh Claire, shhhh. It's alright. I'm here. I'm here."
Claire was covered in a cold sweat, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Locks of pink hair matted against her forehead. Crystal blue eyes were squeezed shut with brows furled. "Blue eyes tainted black…" She shuddered.
Serah bit her lip. Hesitantly, she crawled onto Claire's bed, reaching over and wiping Claire's tears with the sleeve of her night shirt. The older Farron jolted at the touch, half rising into sitting position, propping herself up on her elbows, looking around bewildered.
"S-Serah?" Claire's voice was hoarse and cracking.
"I had a bad dream" Serah said quickly. She wrung her hands together in her lap. "C-can I sleep with you tonight?" A quiet plea.
Claire took a deep breath. "S-sure." She leaned back into her pillow, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. Soon a familiar weight pressed down on her shoulder and warmth snuggled up against her side. Unconsciously the older of the two wrapped an arm around her sister's torso while her free hand pulled up the blanket on the both of them. Claire closed her eyes.
"I miss Mom." A sniffle.
Claire swallowed thickly. "I miss her too." A hoarse whisper. Claire rubbed her sister's back. "Don't worry Serah." The eldest Farron kissed her sister on the forehead. "I'll keep you safe now."
"Thank you Claire."
Claire had fallen asleep even before Serah had finished her humming.
"Serah don't!"
Serah flinched from the harshness of Fang's voice.
"Don't… That's not Lightning."
Serah swallowed. How could she say that wasn't Lightning? Sure she and the others had just awoken to Vanille's scream. And the sleep had not yet been rubbed from her eyes. But Lightning was Lightning. She was unmistakeable. Gunblade in hand, pink locks of asymmetrical hair, crystal blue ey-wait. Serah blinked, peering at Lightning harder.
A gasp.
"Serah?" Snow looked to his fiancé in confusion and concern.
Serah's hands covered her mouth. "Blue eyes tainted black…" Serah's heart dropped.
"W-what's going on Fang?" Hope glanced at the Pulsian warrior, noticing how tightly coiled Fang was, as if were ready to spring at their leader at any moment. Hope turned back to the soldier. "Light?"
Black eyes narrowed. "Foolish Defenders of Light. Are you so ignorant that you do not understand your efforts are wasted?"
"If this is some sort of trick, it ain't funny Lightning." Sazh's hands twitched, hovering over his gun holsters. "Especially coming from you." Lightning's voice had an eerie undertone to it. The old man didn't know how else to describe that undertone aside from it being chillingly dark.
"It's not Lightning!" Vanille mewled further as the grip around her wrist tightened. The red head shuddered, sucking in a breath as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. If the grip went any tighter, bones would snap.
"I don't know what's going on here, but this has got to stop!" Snow took an intimidating step forward, his steely gaze narrowing at the pink haired soldier. "Let Vanille go Lightning!"
Black eyes flicked upwards to meet Snow's gaze. Soon Snow found himself breathless and shaking, and not in a good way. A psychotic grin stretched across Lightning's face, making everyone's insides go cold.
Serah was trembling. This was like Holland all over again.
"This one is mine." Tainted Lightning looked down at Vanille, the girl still writhing in her grasp. "As you all will be."
"Not while I'm still breathin'!" A feral growl escaped her lips. This was a dangerous gamble and Fang knew it. But what other options did she have? Desperate times called for desperate measures. She needed to get Vanille away from the possessed soldier's grip, fast. If they had any hope of turning their leader back, Vanille had to be free.
Fang charged at Lightning.
"Fang!" Serah reached out a startled hand at the charging huntress, not realizing the danger she was in the moment Fang's feet moved.
"Serah! Look out!"
Serah looked left, catching sight of blur of colour before pain exploded in the back of her skull and everything went white.
Serah sat up abruptly.
"M-Mom?"
The youngest Farron currently sat in a plastic chair, in a small room with no window. In the middle of the room was a large bed. Serah looked around in bewilderment.
The walls were white and bare. The room itself was quiet. And her mother was sitting up in bed, wearing nothing but a pale green hospital gown. Claire sat on the opposite side of the bed from Serah, sound asleep with her head resting against their mother's blanketed legs. Serah stared at her sister in alarm. Claire was… How old was she? Fourteen? Fifteen?
She looked down at herself. Hell, how was she? Eleven? Twelve? Her hands looked a lot smaller than she remembered them to be.
"Had a bad dream sweetie?"
A gentle hand ran through her hair. Serah flinched at the touch, going absolutely rigid as if expecting to be hit. She reluctantly looked at the one addressing her.
"That must have been some nightmare." There was such kindness in that voice.
"What's going on? How did I get here?" Blue eyes darted around the room again nervously. What happened to the others? What about the Tainted? Claire was-
"You and Claire came to visit me" the eldest Farron replied. "And after telling me about how school went, you fell asleep darling." Her mother smiled.
Serah stared at her mother, blinking back tears. Was everything that happened before now an illusion? Serah watched as her mother tilted her head to the side, something she always did when she was waiting for her daughter to say something.
"Is this… for real?" A whisper. Small fists clenched at the blanket covering her mother. Tears threatened to fall.
"Oh sweetheart."
A kiss to her forehead.
"I know this wasn't what was supposed to happen."
Was this a just long forgotten memory? Was everything else just a horrible nightmare?
Serah's fists clenched at the blanket tighter. She looked up at her mother through blurred vision, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Was she going to watch her mother die all over again?
A thumb brushed away her tears.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more" the eldest Farron said, regret in her voice. "My song was incomplete. It wasn't strong enough to protect us."
"S-song?" Serah choked back a sob.
"There, there. Don't worry about that now little one. You'll understand when you're older."
Serah roughly rubbed her tears away with the back of her hand, but the tears continued to fall. Her mother's smile did not falter.
"Stay strong for me, love. Can you do that?"
Serah nodded, reaching out and holding her mother's hand tightly. She took a deep breath, doing best to stop her tears and sobs.
"You'll have to be strong for Claire too, alright?"
The youngest Farron turned to look at her slumbering sister. Claire looked so at peace when she slept. This must have been before the nightmares started. Her mother ran a hand through Claire's hair, the older woman's gaze fixed on her firstborn. Claire smiled in her sleep, murmuring something inaudible.
"There will come a time when Claire loses her way," her mother said. "When it happens, you'll have to help her find her way back."
"H-how?" Serah sniffled, turning her gaze back to her mother.
Blue eyes shimmered. "You'll know what to do when the time comes." A hand pressed against her chest. "Use your heart and call her back."
Serah blinked a few times, rubbing her eyes. A white haze had formed around the edges of her sight, a sudden tiredness taking hold of her. "Mom?"
"Sing, Serah. Sing."
Serah's eyelids slowly dropped shut, the youngest Farron feeling herself hunch forward again to rest her head against her mother's blanketed legs. She couldn't fight the lethargy that suddenly overcame her, as much as she tried to. She could only succumb to it. Yet even still, she resisted.
"Mom…" Her own voice was soft and fading. Her eyes were barely open.
"Sleep now, my sweet" her mother's voice floated in the air. "I love you, both of you. Never forget how proud you both make me."
Serah smiled, feeling her mother's hand trailing through her hair again. "Love you … Mom…"
Finally her eyes closed and everything went white again.
Muffled sounds and panicked cries.
"… ah…"
A groan.
"… Ser… ah…"
Brows furled.
"Serah!"
The first sight that greeted Serah when her eyes cracked open was a pair of large brown boots, a familiar looking pair of 33cm sized brown boots. Snow stood protectively in front of his dazed fiancé, as two tainted beasts shuffled up to him.
The blonde sentinel roared, his right fist slamming into the red eye of the tainted Goblin closest to him. The fiend dissipated into nothingness after a half choked sputter. The second of the tainted green men followed suit, Snow snarling, teeth bared animalistically, as his left fist ripped through the second red eye.
Just moments ago, the former l'Cies were ambushed by a group of tainted Goblins. The moment Fang charged their possessed leader in an attempt to free Vanille, tainted reinforcements burst upwards from the ground around them. Serah was the first of the group to go down, as one popped up right behind her and took her down with one hit. Had Serah not spun around like she did at Snow's warning, the tainted Goblin would have definitely killed her. But lady luck smiled upon them, specifically Serah, and the youngest Farron only got clipped instead. Yet Snow had never been so afraid before in his entire life.
Fang released a war cry as she dismembered the tainted Goblin in front of her. The thing was cleaved cleanly in half by her attack, the red eye popping in a burst of red flesh before the fiend disintegrated.
"Vanille, how's Ser- Holy mother of-" Sazh jerked to the side, narrowly missing the balled fist of a tainted Goblin that darted behind him. While Vanille scrambled to Raise Serah, Sazh provided cover for the redhead along side Snow. He covered the right, while Hope covered the left. Fang was their wild card, picking off as many tainted l'Cies as she could before they got any closer to her family.
The gunner fired off two quick shots. The tainted Goblin disintegrated into ash the moment bullets pierced red flesh. Sazh breathed heavily. He just missed having his head knocked cleanly off his shoulders by that nasty.
Serah groaned, a hand holding her head as Vanille helped her sit up.
"Easy Serah." Vanille held her steady, a hand glowing green as it pressed against her scalp.
Serah's head was pounding; though not as bad as it did when she first awoke, thankfully. A calming and cooling sensation ran through her as Vanille infused her with another Cure. Serah winced, her curious fingers running over a bump on the back of her head. She felt something wet. Bringing her fingers to her face, blue eyes widened to see blood.
"What-"
Serah let out a startled yelp, as two tainted Goblins leapt into the air to pounce on her and Vanille from the left. Both of them were soon engulfed in a blinding Thundaga, Hope's fingers crackling with energy as he popped into her field of vision. The tainted fiends released a warped howl before turning to ash and disappearing.
"Hope!"
Metal whooshed past Hope's shoulder, a standard issue survival knife embedding itself into the tainted Goblin advancing on Hope's open side. The red eye which occupied the empty space in the tainted Goblin's chest cavity exploded before the tainted Goblin disappeared for good.
"Take that!" Vanille's wand swung upwards, a black mist forming around the final tainted Goblin left standing. There was a whoosh of air before the mist shot inwards and flattened the tainted fiend. It crashed to the ground with a distorted wail before it too turned to ash.
"Phew! Glad that's over!" Vanille breathed in relief, her weapon shaking in her exhausted grip as she lowered it.
"It ain't over yet Vanille!" Fang darted over to the red head's side, giving the girl a quick look over for injuries. "Everyone alright?"
"Can someone please explain to me what's going on!" Sazh looked at Fang in exasperation.
"C-Claire!"
At Serah's yell, all eyes turned towards the pink haired sergeant. Lightning stumbled backwards with her shoulders hunched forward, her head in her hands. She breathed heavily, shaking. The soldier's jaw clenched tightly. Guttural growls escaped her throat and she stumbled back a few more steps.
"That's a good girl Light," Fang said cautiously approaching the struggling soldier. "Fight it with everythin' ya got!"
"What's… wrong with her?" Serah rose to her feet shakily, Snow wrapping a steadying arm around her shoulders. "Snow?"
Snow grimaced. He wanted to know the exact same thing. "Fang? Vanille?"
Vanille bit her lip, staring at their leader. Lightning growled, shaking her head as she staggered a few more steps backward and away from the group.
"Vanille?" Sazh put a hand on Vanille's shoulder. His eyes quickly darted over to Lightning when a whimper escaped her lips.
The red head lowered her head slightly, squeezing her eyes shut. "Lightning's been branded," she said breathlessly.
Multiple gasps.
"By the Tainted."
"W-what!" All the blood drained from Hope's face. Serah looked ready to faint.
The grip on Vanille's weapon tightened. The Medic could only pray for Lightning's forgiveness later. The sergeant was adamant about this secret remaining a secret, but the others had to know. They were a family, weren't they? These kinds of things you didn't hide from family.
"How long have you known?" Snow's voice came out almost like a growl. He made a fist.
"Snow-"
"How long!"
Vanille flinched at the volume of Snow's voice. She reluctantly turned to meet his gaze.
"If ya have enough time ta shout, maybe ya can lend me a hand here!" Fang took a quick glance back, torn between pursuing a retreating Lightning and defending Vanille from an angered Snow. Emerald eyes turned back to Lightning when she released a strangled groan.
"Save it for another time." Sazh stepped between Snow and Vanille. "It doesn't matter how long they've known. What matters now is changing soldier girl back."
"Can she even… be changed back?" Hope swallowed, having found his voice once again. His eyes pleaded with Vanille to say yes.
"Easy Light" Fang said, still inching towards their distressed leader. She was close, just out of arms reach. Lightning shuddered, suppressing yet another throaty growl, taking a reluctant step backwards.
"That's right, keep fightin' it darlin'. We'll get ya through this."
"We can't change her back" Vanille started. Snow opened his mouth to protest, but Vanille continued before he could say anything. "But I can keep the taint sealed until we defeat the Tainted. As long as the Tainted exists, so does its hold over her."
The sound of clashing metal made everyone jump.
"Get… back…" Lightning said through clenched teeth. Semi-clear blue eyes pleaded with Fang. She pressed her gunblade forward vertically as Fang continued to block with her spear held horizontally in line with her forehead.
"I can't do that Light." Fang dug her back heel into the ground to brace herself. Her arms trembled as their weapons grated against each other. If it was going to be a fight of strength, Fang would surely win it, being the stronger of the two.
"F-Fang…" Again the plea.
Fang narrowed her eyes. "I won't… abandon ya Light." There was such pain in those blue eyes. It tore at Fang's heart. This is not how things were supposed to be.
"Please Fang…" Lightning gritted her teeth, feeling the darkness creeping up on her again. "I don't want to… hurt… you…" Lightning was slowly starting to push back against the Pulsian warrior. Through brute strength not all her own.
"Hurt me?" Fang chuckled at the statement. Her eyes widened however, when Lightning started to overpower her. Her jaw clenched in exertion. "Not… gonna happen Lightbug. Ya love me… too much…"
Lightning's eyes softened, a smile curling on her lips. Fang relaxed just a fraction at the sight, thinking Lightning was going to laugh. But then the soldier jerked backwards, Fang lurching forwards as the pressure against her spear suddenly disappeared. In one swift movement, Lightning grabbed Fang's spear, propped her foot against the woman's stomach and rolled backwards on the ground, flipping the sari clad woman over and behind her.
"Sonuva-" Fang immediately rolled to her left, narrowly missing a slash that would have cleaved her into two. "Bloody hell Light!"
"Fang!" Vanille gasped. Lightning was fighting back, but she was losing her battle against the taint. Vanille had to do something!
"Oh Goddess Etro, tainted fal'Cie does rise…"
Tainted Lightning whipped around to glare at Vanille as the red head started to chant.
"Uh oh. That's not good." The grips on Sazh's guns clenched tighter when he saw the look that twisted on the semi-possessed soldier's face.
"Casting shadow upon beast and creature, shattering earth and mortal where they lie…"
"Vanille!"
Tainted Lightning took off like a bullet, charging at Vanille, gunblade trailing slightly behind her on her left. She was unfazed by wisps of ethereal light that shimmered into existence around the medic, circling around the girl lazily.
"Your messengers fall silent, their words untold…"
Vanille's eyes widened, Lightning still darting towards her. But she couldn't stop now. They may never get another chance like this again. So the red head continued the chant, even with her own undoing at hand. The wisps of light started to collect in an orb in her hand.
"Suffering and sorrow sweeping your children as the taint unfolds…"
"Light! Stop!" Hope was frantic. He instinctively raised his hand to release some spell or another, in defense of Vanille, but couldn't follow through. Not against Lightning. Sazh was in the same position, guns raised but not having the heart to pull the trigger. This was Lightning they were talking about here!
Serah was panicking. Lightning was tearing at Vanille to kill. She could clearly see that intent on her face. But this couldn't be happening. Lightning would never hurt Vanille or anyone else for that matter. They were family!
"We plea to you oh Goddess Etro, abandon us not-"
"Vanille!" Fang was livid. She chased after the soldier, but Lightning was living up to her name. The soldier was already too far ahead of her for Fang catch up. "NO!"
Lightning took to the air, gunblade raised above her head to strike.
"- when fal'Cie have f-fled-" Vanille's breath caught in her throat as Serah jumped in front of her protectively and Lightning's gunblade came down.
"STEELGUARD!"
The ground beneath Snow's feet cratered as he absorbed the blow from Lightning's attack. His eyes were wide in disbelief at the sheer power, his knees buckling under him. But despite crashing to the ground on his knees, his Steelguard held and Lightning's blade didn't harm a hair on Vanille's head. Or Serah's.
Serah fell back on her bottom, utterly shaking at Vanille's feet.
Vanille's heart pounded in her ears as she stared wide-eyed at the scene. Snow struggled to keep Lightning's blade away from her, but despite that, black eyes bore into her very soul as the strawberry blonde glared at her from overtop Snow's bandana.
"Vanille! Seal it!" Fang grabbed Lightning from behind and wrestled with the possessed soldier. Snow twisted the gunblade from Lightning's hands, the weapon clanking harmlessly on the ground. Fang growled with exertion as she tried to still the thrashing girl.
Vanille took no further prompting and thrust her hand past Snow's shoulder, straight at Lightning's stomach. "Gift us with your mercy and send darkness reeling instead!"
A blinding light pierced the area, a sonic boom tossing everyone off of their feet. When the bright light vanished, all of them found themselves on the ground, dazed. Serah was the first to get her wits about her, bolting upright and screaming.
"Claire!"
Lightning was on her knees, sitting back slouched on her heels. Her face was turned skyward, locks of pink hair covering her eyes.
"C-Claire?" The younger Farron hesitantly rose to her feet and inched closer to her sister.
Lightning gave no response. Not a twitch, a whimper or even a snarl. In fact, she was deathly silent. Serah's shaky hand reached out to her.
"C-Claire?" Serah said in a quieter voice. Serah's heart pounded so fast. She could barely breathe as nervous anticipation coated the air thickly. "Y-you alright?"
Lightning's hand twitched.
"Serah! Look out!"
Fang's warning came too late, for in a blur of motion, Serah found her back pressed up against Lightning's front with Lightning's arm snaked around her neck.
"Foolish Defenders of Light."
A/N: In case there was some confusion, the beginning section in italics was a flash back to a few days after Serah and Light's mom died.
A shoutout to slipsour, here's your Lightning goes evil and turns on everyone chapter. Hehe. I actually had this planned out long before you asked about it. But I wasn't able to fit it in until now. Hope you liked it! Stayed tuned! For there is another chapter of it still yet to come! XD