Rating: T

World: Final Fantasy XIII

Paring: Lightning/Fang

Part: Oneshot

Description: As the group of l'cie gather in the final moments before the fight with Orphan doubt looms with certain confessions and feelings coming to light.

Fate or Destiny

Silence, nobody a said word as our fate to face the final battle with Orphan approaches just beyond these walls. My resolve will not falter "I live to make the impossible, possible" so fate can kiss my ass. I turned to face my l'cie comrades and to Hope especially, he's grown up in a short period of time but as I look into his eyes I can see doubt still looms and I only feel compelled to have a brief talk with him before we leave.

"Hope" Hope turned to face Lightning "yes?" Lightning unsure of what to say to him but instead of thinking with logic she found the words from her heart instead and chose to speak with more emotion in this situation "Hope, I can't promise you what will happen once we leave and you've held up strong for a boy your age but I see doubt and I can't fault you for that but what I can promise you is that we will stick together and fight this through till the very end" his doubt clearing up with the strong words of his leader "thank you Lightning" Hope gave a small smile and tuned to the rest of the group with more confidence than before and Lightning looked at the rest of the group in thought.

"Now matter how dark the path or how uncertain a situation is to be you can't give up, you need to fight it through until you can't fight anymore. Life gives us challenges only to those strong enough to face them, we are all here for a reason, what fate will lie beyond these walls? We can't control our destiny but we can change our fate and better our circumstances. We only got this far because we refused to falter and we refused to lie down and take our fate, be strong..be strong for yourself and be strong for others, they may need you more then you know, I've been strong for so long it's become all I know"

I turned and walked away to give myself temporary distance from the others to clear my head but shortly after I felt a strong grip on my shoulder, it was Fang as I turned my head to look into green verdant eyes gone was her playful mischievous demeanor and it was replaced with a very serious look I've never seen before. "Light, I won't make any promises to ya..but our fate was already decided a long time ago..I thought.. just once I could change the script to the ending but it all played out as I feared, what lies beyond will change what we know forever to be and Claire..I love you.." only silence, the words "I love you" echoed throughout her head, cold walls that Lightning built all her life since her parents passed just had started to melt and she felt a needling pang in her heart, she refused to show any expression on her face but tears slowly started welling from blue eyes.

"SLAP"…

A loud slap echoed throughout the halls as everyone gasped and suddenly turned to the two l'cie leaders in unison "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Fang didn't say a word, rather she stayed put still with her head turned from the force of the slap "We got this far only for you to throw a pity party?" Lighting said with anger present and a raised voice, nobody dared to interfere or say a word to them they could only watch how this would play out between the two l'cie. Vanille looked with sad eyes at her sister from the distance, she refused to accept the truth but she too knew all along what fate lied for everyone on this path.

Steel eyes burned into verdant and Fang slowly turned to Lightning with a neutral expression but she knew she had to tell her the truth if she really loved her "Lighting, me and Nille' knew all along where our fates would lead us and these brands are ticking time bombs for those chosen by the Fal'cie gods to carry out the will of the brands.. I was Ragnarok, cursed as the destroyer by the dammed Fal'cie and I caused all this mess" everyone started at Fang in bewilderment "that can't be.." Lightning said "you're Ragnarok.." "she's not Ragnarok alone" Vanille said as she walked up to her sister "she can only be the complete Ragnarok with me" "Nille' I told you-" Fang was abruptly cut off by her sister "No Fang, I won't stand here and let you take all the blame..we are equally responsible for not defeating Orphan the first time. The least we can do to make it up to everyone and redeem ourselves for all the killing is to finish the job for good this time" Vanille turned to look at Fang and Fang looked back with sisterly concern and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Vanille, ya don't have to do this you can stay with the others, I can take Orphan on by my'self" all Lightning could do is stay quite as the conversation transpired even the chirpy little chocobo chick expressed sadness and flew back into Sazhs afro, Sazh could only shake his head, Snow looked to Lightning with concerned eyes thinking back to Sarah and all little Hope could do is sit back and watch as the reality of the truth unfolded before them. "Fang, you know better you won't be complete without me and there is no way you're leaving me behind!" Fang turned to Lightning with a softer expression "Sunshine I meant every word I said to you back in Oerba that even our fate couldn't keep us apart, even if I were to vanish I'll still live on in your heart forever" tears finally released from blue eyes, everything became suddenly overwhelming and her cold exterior gone only to reveal "Claire" a woman buried deep within after Lightning swore to never shed tears again after her parents funeral.

"what does that mean..? you're disappearing." Claire said in almost a whisper and Fang smiled softly to Claire "Sort of we are going to finish the job ya" Fang took a step forward to Claire and wrapped a strong arm around her in a final moments embrace and put her hand on her cheek to wipe away the tears gently with her thumb "Ya need to be strong, be strong for yourself and strong for the others because they may need you in then end more then you know and don't think for a second you're going to do this by yourself, we caused this and we are going to fix it so I can't promise ya' I'll be coming back Claire.." Fang gently grabbed Lightning's hand with hers and looked into blue eyes "I love you and I'll find my way back to you because not even fate can tear us apart" soft lips gently met with hers and Claire closed her eyes in the warm embrace taking in every second of Fangs lips and scent wishing this moment could freeze in time before Fang slowly drew back with a smile and turned to Vanille "last chance" Vanille looked back to her sister "let's go!" One last time green eyes met blue before Fang swung her lance with a grin and Vanille waved "Bye everyone take care!" and finally they walked off ahead. Lightning felt her hard exterior coming back "everyone come on and stay together, it's time to defeat fate we live to make the impossible possible, there are no miracles only the will to survive" Everyone took Lightning's cue and marched towards the final battle.

"I'll find my way back to you"