Here's the seventh chapter to A Hero's Storm. I don't think I'll progress much in this chapter, but I do want to upload something and I'm falling way behind on my quota of writing and updating at least 30 stories this year. (Which was my New Year's Resolution by the way.)

Anyways, I got the feeling I got to clear up some things here, so here we go.

XoXoX
Couple 7 - Chapter 7
A Hero's Storm - LinkxLightning.

Lightning tossed in her sleep. Initially thinking it was Link poking around her again, she shot up with her gunblade drawn. Looking around to see him asleep in his own bed; (As well as several Bhakti's "sleeping" beside him and her.) she sheathed her blade only to realize what woke her up was, in fact, a nightmare. She didn't admit it to Link since knowing him, he would prod on into it even though it wasn't his business. However, she has been having all these nightmares lately and they all seem to involve him for some reason, so maybe he would have some knowledge about it. She shook her head and thought it was just isolation from her friends that was driving her insane.

So she laid down on her bed again and stared at Link's direction wondering if he was the cause of it. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep again.

She opened her eyes to hear screaming and yelling. She focused and looked around only to see several monsters beyond comprehension laying siege to the area. The fire erupted everywhere and gunshots were heard all around. Yet, despite their best efforts, the monsters continued to destroy the vicinity. She looked around once more and realized that she was on Cocoon again.

Hearing strange grinding noises, she turned her head and saw that a monster had targeted her. Like all other monsters here, this one was beyond anything she had ever seen, even on Pulse. It was dinosaur-like having two huge hind-limbs allowing it to jump incredibly far along with tiny almost useless arms. Yet, it wouldn't need to use its arms as it also breathed fire, but the most notable feature was its tail. It was huge and seemed to be encased in a type of exoskeleton that made it incredibly hard. It swung its tail within its mouth and seemingly was sharpening it as it breathed flames onto it. Without much hesitation, it whipped it out and spun towards her, intending to cleave her in half.

However, before the deed can be done, someone tackled her out of the way. "Lightning! Stay alert!" The man called out as he got up and pulled her onto her feet.

She looked at him and recognized that stupid hat immediately, "Snow?" She called out bewildered as she had not expected to see him for quite some time.

The monster looked towards them and roared loudly, causing them to cover their ears. Then a boomerang appeared, striking the monster in the throat causing its flame sac to erupt, spewing all of its stored flames in an explosion making the monster topple over in pain.

The two looked at the boomerang return to its owner where a young boy stood atop a building, "Come on!" He motioned them to get to his direction.

Looking at the monster recover from its vulnerable state, the two immediately ran away and headed towards where the boy was.

As they regrouped with him, Lightning saw that he was not alone but with her other friends. "Hope, Vanille...everybody..." Lightning muttered as she saw that they were united again.

"What the hell is going on? We finally get back on Cocoon and all of a sudden monsters appear literally out of nowhere." A brash woman whom Lightning knew as Fang called out.

An older man leaned on the wall out of breath, "Seems we can never catch a break." The older man who was Lightning's first companion in this journey named Sazh spoke.

"How did this all happen?" Hope asked, looking at Lightning.

Lightning was still confused on what was transpiring before them, "Why are you asking me?" She called out.

Snow looked at her, "This all happened when you came back to Cocoon with that strange guy. You should have known what he was planning." He called out, grabbing her shoulders.

"Guy?" Lightning asked as if forgetting she was on Pulse in the first place and to an extent the one she spent some time with.

"I see him," Vanille called out, pointing towards a tower where a man in green looked down towards them.

Lightning looked where she was pointing and seeing who they were talking about. "Link?" She all of a sudden remembered. Link only looked down quietly at them before turning around and walking away. Without a word, Lightning ran after him.

"Lightning!" Snow called out, reaching out to her, only to stop when debris fell between them and separated Lightning from her group.

She ran non-stop as she entered the tower. Wondering where to go, she would often see glimpses of Link at the corner of her eyes, turning around the corner as if he was leading her.

Eventually, she came across a chamber. Here she spotted a prison. A crystal prison to be exact, she saw that it was, in fact, her sister Serah who was encased in crystal after fulfilling her Focus. Staring at her was Link who had his sword drawn and closer observation saw that he had his gloves taken off, revealing his Triforce which shone dimly as if it was losing its power.

"So this is your sister..." He muttered as he rose his sword at her.

Lightning looked at him, "What are you doing?" She asked him. She also took note that he wasn't using the gunblade he crafted during their time on Pulse, instead, it was a strange sword.

Link continued to point his sword at her sister, "This is who they want." He revealed having his dimly lit Triforce flicker as he focused his energy at Serah.

"Who?" Lightning asked.

Link never took his eyes off Serah, "The ones who called me here." He muttered.

"Who?" Lightning repeated her question. However, Link has ignored her this time around. She knew that he was going to take Serah away to whoever wants her, but she wasn't going to let her go just like that. So she drew her blade and pointed it at Link, "I'm talking to you." She now threatened him.

Link just turned his head towards her without a sound. Without notion, he had vanished from her sight, disappearing among the wind. However, Lightning already anticipated this trick and turned around, holding her blade up where Link appeared in the air and swung down towards her. Their blades had clashed, but since Lightning was prepared, she was standing her ground.

Link had once again teleported, this time, he reappeared some distance behind her at running speed. Turning towards him, Lightning held her blade in front of her defensively, where Link scrapped his blade against the ground and swung at her, grabbing his sword with both hands. Like his previous attack, Lightning was prepared and held her ground against him, but what she saw next wasn't anything she anticipated.

Link reshifted his grip, lifting his right hand up in front of her and pushing his strength against her. What was on his right hand was something she was all too familiar with.

"Your Branded?" She asked, surprised at the revelation.

Link took advantage of her distraction and twisted his sword, swinging it aside. Taking advantage of her weakened blocked and knocking her blade out of her hand, flying out of hands reach.

Link then spun and kicked her in the ribs, causing her to fall on her back. Before she caught her breath, she saw him in a midair leap, his sword pointed towards her.

As she felt the sharp pinch as Link had stabbed her, Lightning catapulted up with a yell. Breathing heavily as she realized she was dreaming again.

Her yell did not go unnoticed as Link shot up at her pain, "What's wrong?" He asked, drawing his gunblade, anticipating an attack. "Are we under attack?" He added, looking around. Of course, with both of them awake and shouting, the Bhakti's had decided to awake as well and started moving around making little noises.

Lightning was still stuck between reality and dream, placing her hand on her chest and looking around confused and when she saw Link with his weapon drawn, she scrambled into the corner of her bed with her weapon pointed at him and dare she say, frightened.

Link was confused. During their time here on Pulse, he had known Lightning to be strong and fearless, to see her in this vulnerable state; well it was unsettling, to say the least, aside from the fact that he figured that he was the cause of it apparently. "What's going on?" He asked, lowering his gunblade.

Lightning finally blinked and realized she was no longer dreaming. "It's nothing." She sighed as she laid back down and looked away from him.

Link tilted his head, "I'd say it's something, to see you so...frightened." He called out.

Lightning looked back at him, "I said it's nothing!" She snapped at him.

Link was even more confused, but he decided to let the matter drop, "Very well." He muttered as he placed his gunblade back in its sheath. "The sun is about to rise. I'll be outside if you want to talk." He added and stood up, making way for the door; along with some Bhakti's following him.

Lightning just heard the door closed before letting out another sigh. "Never in my life, have I felt so afraid for a moment." She admitted quietly.

"I'd say that's a relief that your partner is on your side, but my grasp on human emotion and terminology still eludes me, so don't take my word for it." The same Bhakti that Link first fixed proclaimed as it buzzed around the foot of her bed.

Lightning lifted her head a little, "Is he really on my side?" She wondered quietly. Perhaps she should get into his shoes and ask him a couple of questions later on.

A couple hours later

Lightning couldn't go back to bed and while Link was gone, she decided to look over her journal and read her previous notes of their time on Pulse. Surprisingly, she kept a separate book on Link's proclamations of Hyrule and she was reading those as well. Rereading them, she discovered something. They didn't add up. Link has mentioned many things of Hyrule and now that she is reading them now, they didn't fit together, unless Hyrule is his people's version of the afterlife and that it takes whatever form they wish, this Hyrule is apparently very fragmented. That said, what little history he shared didn't fit as well. One such example is how Hyrule is divided into West and East, only connected by their castle and two great bridges, yet another proclaim being that Hyrule was at the very North and lacked the bridges.

Lightning closed the book, "I think I need a talk with the Hero..." She muttered and stood up.

"While you're at it, can you ask him to look for some oil? My wheels are starting to jam." The Bhakti requested.

She went outside and looked around and saw Link sitting on the dock fishing. So she breathed quietly and went up to him.

Link sighed. He was confused at Lightning's behavior, but he supposed she had the right to still distrust him. However, to have her startled at the mere sight of him, a seasoned warrior and a hardened veteran reduced to a child sobbing at the sight of a monster, well it was concerning, to say the least. But he figured he had no say in that, it wasn't his business and he pretty much learned what happens when he pokes around Lightning's business. So all he could do was offer to talk and see if she would take up his offer.

His ear twitched as he heard footsteps coming up on the dock, looking aside he saw Lightning walking towards him with a book. He didn't know what she writes in the book, but he figured it would be a good way to keep your sanity.

"Link..." Lightning called out to him.

Link just reeled his fishing rod in and stood up before turning to her.

Lightning looked down before sighing, "Sorry for this morning, I was just having an awkward dream." She admitted. She figured to get him to talk, she should admit that part.

"I'll say. Never seen you so frightened like that." Link replied, crossing his arms and looked at her, "Of course, we've just been down here for a month, so no telling what other surprises you have in store for me." He added with a little smirk.

Lightning justed scoffed a bit, "Anyways, I think you have something to explain to me." She started out.

"I didn't undress you this morning if that's what you're thinking." Link immediately defended himself.

"What? No! Not that." Lightning stammered, before clearing her throat with her hand, "You trust me, right?" She asked.

Link just crossed his arms, "Yes."

"Should I trust you?" She added to her questions.

Link tilted his head, "That's up to you."

Lightning looked away, thinking about what she's about to do next, "I've never been good at speaking of things like this." She muttered quietly.

"I can tell." Link quickly quipped in.

"Shut it." She muttered towards him. "Okay, for us to work more effectively together, we should keep no secrets between us, right?" She asked him, holding the book in front of her.

Link was now confused, "What are you getting at?" He crossed his arms at her statement.

"No secrets?" She again asked that question.

Link sighed and suppose he did say he trusted her, "No more secrets." He agreed to her proposal.

"Alright." Lightning stammered, "Tell me this. Who exactly are you?" She asked her first question. The first of many.

Link narrowed his eyes, "You mean you still doubt my claims?" He asked, staring intensely at her.

Lightning actually shivered at his glare, "You have been telling me stories of several of your adventures." She reminded the Hylian, "But I have been noticing. They don't add up to the locations you described." She pointed out the flaw of his claims.

Link gave a silent groan, "You have been writing down my claims?" He asked.

"Yes, I have." Lightning sternly answered, "Either there are many lands of Hyrule, or you have just been making up your stories." She threw out her discovery of his claims.

"I should feel insulted, but I share your skepticism." Link admitted to the stories.

"You do?" Lightning was surprised he'd admit it, but she shook it off, "So who are you exactly?" She once again repeated her question.

Link looked away, "I suppose I should tell you about my contract." He answered the question.

"Contract?"

Link looked at her, "Long ago. Before Hyrule was given its name, its people were under constant attack and faced extinction at the hands of their enemy. It was when a light descended from the heavens where the Goddess Hylia helped them in their war. However, the darkness was still too great and she decided to take the people to the sky with her, but not before managing to seal one of the Great Evils there. For the seal to remain, Hylia requested if someone would stay behind to keep the seal strong. The man who agreed to stay behind was a man named Link. There, the Goddess gave sympathy to the Hero and gifted him with the power of reincarnation so he can live the life he gave up just to give hope to future generations." He told the story his people would constantly tell their children.

"Reincarnation?" Lightning muttered. That one word would answer half of her questions.

"The soul of the Hero would constantly be reborn whenever the world faced great danger and the soul of that Hero would take up arms to save it." Link explained why the Hero would endlessly reincarnate, "Even now, I'm just a reincarnation of that one Hero." He added the last bit of the story.

"So all of your claims..."

"They are true, but like you would suspect, they are fragmented." Link continued to explain, "Normally, I couldn't access the memories of my predecessors, but once I accidentally crossed the rifts between dimensions from my world to this one, all of these memories have poured into me. So many memories came to me to the point where I'm not certain which memories are actually mine. So I don't remember my reason for being here or what caused me to be here." He added to his explanation. "However, I do know I was sent here for a reason and I won't rest until I figure out what that reason is." He finally finished the story.

"I trust that satisfied your sudden curiosity?" He asked, looking at Lightning.

Lightning had her arms crossed and looked down in thought, "One more thing." She stepped up to him, "Give me your right hand." She held out her hand towards him.

Link reluctantly gave her his hand.

Once she grabbed it, she held the glove and untied the braces holding it. "I still think you are hiding something from me." She pointed out and removed the brace and pulling his glove off. There, just like in her dream, he had something, "I knew it." She muttered, letting go of his hand and looked at him, "You're Branded as well." She pointed out, stepping back.

Link looked at the Brand, "Honestly, the only thing I remember when I awoke in this world was this thing appearing on my right hand. I thought if I knew what it was, I can figure out which memories are mine. When I met you, I thought I would figure it out. However, from your stories, I don't think I would like what my 'Brand' would tell me." He explained his experience of finding out the Brand.

"Well, that explained your...curiosity." Lightning reluctantly muttered the last bit.

"I have discovered one thing, though." He called out, "I'm guessing this Brand is supposed to be a timer of some sorts, the more it expands, the more complete it is. And from your stories, we don't want it completed." He finally figured out it's a timer. "However, my Triforce..." He held up his left hand in front of him, "...seems to resonate with my Brand. Making it smaller." He held up his right hand in front of him.

"So it's effectively giving you more time." Lightning pointed out, crossing her arms.

"I think it extends to you as well." Link pointed out, raising his left arm towards her and pointing at her chest. "Just think, have you ever noticed it has barely opened up ever since we've been within proximity with each other?" He pointed out.

Lightning felt her chest, now that she thought about it. Her Brand hasn't opened up much since her arrival on Pulse. "So that means I have more time to get back on Cocoon and rescue Serah." She pointed out.

"However, I think there is a limit to how much time we can get. I say this because otherwise, my Triforce could've erased the Brand completely." Link pointed out, standing straight.

"So that means we should still hurry and get to Cocoon." Lightning muttered.

Link smirked, "Huh, I figured once we find a way, you would ditch me down here." He pointed out.

Lightning looked at him, "Right. Well, seeing as your Branded, you would probably have to go to Cocoon as well to complete your Focus. Plus, my friends could probably use the extra time as well." She explained her sudden reason for including him in the team.

Link looked up at Cocoon, "Well, we should probably try finding a way up there now, huh?" He pointed out.

Lightning was still lost in thought, "Oh yeah." She realized, "Your little claptrap was asking for oil back at the house." She forgot to mention to him.

Link straightened his head, "Right. I got some in my pouch. I should go give it to him." He muttered, walking back to the house.

Lightning continued to look across the horizon, still lost in thought. Now that she discovered what Link truly is and that he too is Branded. Maybe now she can get some sleep without having a terrible and awkward dream. Well, seeing that she has the time, she can collect her thoughts before going back to the house. So she'll do that for now.

XoXoX

I felt this explanation was much needed. The truth of this Link is that he has access to all other Link's memories due to a magic surge while he was crossing dimensions. Now he doesn't know where he's from or which memories are his.

But I finally uploaded a story. Hopefully, another update will come this week. I truly want to fill my quota in my Resolution. (The fact that my laptop randomly freezes at some points does not help either. Forcing me to force-restart and lose my writing progress.)

Anyways, hope you enjoyed!