"Whoa, this place is crowded."
That was what Snow said the moment he and Serah stepped into the lobby. There were at least two dozen people packed into the room, all normal looking people of varying ethnicities but otherwise they didn't seem outrageous. Voices clouded the air, and silence was impossible.
Tifa and Cloud walked past the tall blonde and his fiancé, scanning the crowd to see if there was anyone they recognized. Cloud looked off to the side and saw no one, but he had doubts. 'If Tifa and I are here, the chances seem good for any of our friends to be as well.' He turned to Tifa, "Let's dig deeper."
Tifa knew what he meant and nodded. Then she turned back to Serah and Snow. "We'll be right back."
"We ain't going anywhere," said Snow as he crossed his arms. With a friendly wave and a small nod, Tifa and Cloud went on their search.
Serah stepped closer to Snow and held onto his right arm. "You think anyone we know is also here?"
Snow nodded confidently, "I don't see why not. I mean if we got lucky enough to be here, I would like to believe some of our friends are as well-"
Snow's sentence was cut off as he felt something hard press against the center of his massive back. Serah noticed his hesitation and peered behind her fiancé and she gave an audible gasp.
A calm but very familiar voice spoke softly to the two stunned lovers. "I swear you two find trouble no matter how many times we save the world."
Snow slowly turned around and, standing right behind him, hands on her hips and looking rather upset, was Serah's older sister. "Hey Lightning." He kept his cool, but he was happy to see her nonetheless.
Serah couldn't keep her surprise inside like Snow could. She immediately leapt onto her sister, wrapping her arms around her. "Sis?! What are you doing here?"
The resemblance between the two siblings was uncanny. Same light pink hair color that was in a similar length and while their demeanors were vastly different, Snow knew that Serah had a temper that made her more like her sister than anyone gave her credit for. Not that Lightning was passive, he had crossed her more times than he would admit and had suffered her wrath.
"No need to get that sentimental on me, Serah," said Lightning as she shook free of her sister's rather tight grip on her waist. "I think I got caught up in whatever grabbed you two. I laid down after a day of patrols and when I woke up I was in a strange room."
Serah took a step back to give her sister some room. "Right, same here. We were both resting and-"
"Resting? Serah, we were cuddling on the couch, and last I remember you got really comfortable on top of me," said Snow without shame.
Serah's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "S-Snow!" She promptly sent her fist into his side which bounced off him like a pellet on a brick wall. She didn't like their private activities to be known to others.
Neither did Lightning especially. "Spare me the details." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You both fell asleep and woke up in a room?"
"Pretty much the gist of it," said Snow. "But still good to see you sis."
"Last I checked we're not family," though she sounded a bit heavy in tone at first Lightning couldn't help but smirk, "Not yet anyway."
Serah giggled, remembering how different her sister was now compared to when she had found out about her engagement to Snow. That felt like a lifetime ago. "But sis, have you any idea where we are?"
The tone between the Farron sisters changed slightly and in a direction Lightning was more comfortable with. "I've done recon as best I can, but there's these little moogles running around keeping me from investigating further." Lightning's training as a member of the Guardian Corps had been kicking ever since she had woken up, and the fact that when she had laid down earlier she had been dressed in her Corps uniform she was in full soldier mode at the snap of a finger.
Serah's eyebrows were raised when she heard about the moogles. "Moogles? Like Mog?"
Mog had been Serah's friend and companion in an earlier adventure but she hadn't seen him in years. A glimmer of hope sparked in her heart at the possibility of seeing him again.
Lightning couldn't answer about Mog, but the moogles themselves she had plenty to speak on. "Not sure about these fur balls. They didn't seem to recognize me when I approached. That and they looked a bit different as well. Still, I think they know a lot of what is going on and why we are here, but they won't tell us until they want to."
"We heard over the speakers to meet here, but..." Serah said before Snow cut in.
"Until they decide to tell us the why, let's see if anyone else we know is around."
Lightning nodded once in agreement. "Right, let's split up and find out."
"Don't disappear on us, okay sis?" Said Serah playfully, earning another smirk from her older sibling.
Snow waved before he went off to look and Serah took a moment before she did the same.
Lightning watched her sister leave and she relaxed. "You can come out now."
She seemed to not be speaking to anyone in particular but soon enough someone stepped out from behind a small statue of Bahamut. A tall muscular man in purple armor and a lighter shade of purple hair. "You didn't tell them about me."
"Why would I? The last thing I want is for them to find out you and I woke up in the same room together. They would get the wrong idea right away."
Caius smirked, "You like to hide the entire truth from even your own sister, partner."
"No, just the redacted bits."
Walking up to stand next to her, Caius spoke softly, "You do plan to tell them eventually, right?"
Lightning didn't turn her head, though her pale aqua eyes did move in his direction. "Please. If I let them figure it out they will get even more suspicious." She was cool on the outside but inside she had other thoughts going through her head. 'That or they would find us in very unnecessary positions like Serah reads about in those novels of hers. I'd rather not have that.'
Caius seemed pleased with her answer. "Then I will make myself scarce until you reveal me to them."
"No pressure. Thanks," said Lightning sarcastically.
Moments later Caius blended back into the crowd and Lightning sighed. She didn't want all this drama, though she believed she could tough it out should the need arise, she would rather not deal with it should she have a choice.
'Doesn't look like I have one in this situation...'
As she continued to ponder her thoughts her train of thought was snapped at the sound of a bell overhead. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation, kupo. My name is Mister Mog, and I am the owner of this fancy and beautiful island resort. Now, I am sure you all are very confused as to why you're all here."
Lightning peered up at the ceiling, her eyes burning holes in the plaster like lasers. Her ears were attentive like she was in a briefing.
From across the room Cloud and Tifa also paid close attention after reuniting with Serah and Snow.
The voice of Mister Mog continued. "Well, it'd be rather hard to explain without giving too much away, but the simple explanation would be that none of you are here against your will. Though you've been brought here if you desire to leave just let an attendant know, but also know that should you decide to stay here it is free. Explore the island to your hearts' content but please don't cause any trouble. And with that, I bid you have a nice stay and enjoy your vacation, kupo!"
Everyone in the room looked at each other confounded with what they had just learned. Some eventually grew excited, others annoyed, but the feeling in the air was generally warm. Virtually no one spoke up about leaving. Though it was apparent that some had great and personal reasons for wanting to stay.
The vacation had truly begun, and there were sure to be surprises in the days ahead.
