AN - TWO IN A DAY WOAHHHHHH. Now you're going to have to wait because I'm back at bloody work as of tomorrow.
Lightning heaved a sigh of relief when they were taken to the stables and she found rows of chocobos lined in the stalls. Once the birds had been organised, Khosrow set about showing them how to mount them. Her explanations died in her throat when Lightning smiled and deftly leapt onto the back of the white one she was given.
"Well, I see you're an old hand at this then, Lightning… Out to make me look like a giant fool?"
"Never mind Light, why did I end up with the angry one?" Fang complained as she side-saddled a big red chocobo with a blue tail. It squawked and jumped around, annoyed with the human cargo on its back. Khosrow laughed and gestured towards her with her hand.
"It looks like you, Ragnarok. So I thought it would be fitting."
A deep scowl was given in return from Fang, and she hissed at the bird in frustration. She managed to get it under control long enough to sidle up to Lightning, who was patiently waiting by the entrance to the stabled on her proud-looking chocobo. "Leave it to you to make it look effortless," Fang grumbled, and Lightning laughed as the patted the bird along the neck.
"It wouldn't be me otherwise, would it?" The soldier replied before pressing her heels into the mount's side and taking off at a leisurely pace. Lucyn rode into the group, bringing his bird up alongside Khosrow. The General regarded him amiably, though she still bristled from his outburst the other night. He nodded in the direction of the city and cleared his throat.
"The council talks appear to be going… Surprisingly positive, given the initial resistance." He informed them, rolling his eyes in disdain for the diplomatic practices. "I grew tired of the endless back and forth, and thought spending the day with my friends would be a better way to spend the time."
"Indeed." Khosrow replied, her eyes falling back on the two women in front of them, jostling and pushing each other as they rode. She shook her head at their banter and eyed off Vanille who was riding beside her.
"Are they always like that?" She queried, Vanille laughing and nodding as they rode to the outskirts of the city.
"The entire time. You wouldn't be the first to ask that either."
"And I am certain I will be far from the last."
When the sun was high they reached their destination, a lush sprawling field high above and beyond the city. Lightning marvelled at the expanse, the clearing lined with dense forest every which way ahead. It must have been a great relief for the first Pulsians to settle here that they found a land so abundant with life and wonder.
They left the chocobos in the shade and continued on through the fields on foot. Lucyn eyed the two women holding hands with a curious tilt of his head. "Fang," he called out, getting her attention away from the pinkette for a moment. "Tell me, how long have you two been together?"
Fang didn't seem fazed by it, and scratched the back of her neck. "Um, what would it be, close to a year now?" She asked the pinkette, not realising she was meant to be keeping track. Lightning simply nodded, figuring about the same length of time. The pinkette's eyes narrowed at his words, expecting some sort of malicious intent given his history.
"And how long have you… felt for her?"
Fang gulped, starting to feel a little out of her depth for this line of questioning. She wondered if this is what her parents would be doing if they were still alive. A gentle squeeze of her hand brought a warm smile to her face, and she looked at Lightning with a loving gaze.
"Far longer, Lucyn. Far, far longer."
Her friend hummed, placing his hands behind his back as he walked with them. He glanced over at the bands on their arms and pondered the similarities between the designs. Lucyn smiled, and crinkled his eyes in a playful manner. "So have you partaken in the rite of joining then?"
Lightning watched as Fang went bright red at the question, stammering and spluttering to try to come up with a response. "I.. I uh… I haven't… We haven't s-spoken about that!"
"Yet?" Lucyn teased, enjoying his old friend being off kilter. "Come on now Fang, the seasons are shifting, you have quite obviously a deep love for the woman, why not go through the rite?"
"Lucyn!" Fang shouted, her anxiety climbing higher the more he probed. Lightning looked back at him and pursed her lips.
"What's the rite of joining?" She asked, Fang's horror growing at the question. Lucyn put on a mocked expression of shock and held his hand to his head.
"Oerba Yun Fang, you mean to tell me you scorn your heritage by not even telling the woman about the rite of joining? My dear, sweet village girl. How you have fallen to pieces without me around. Lightning, the rite of joining is-Ooph!" His words were cut off by Fang tackling him to the ground, wrestling to clamp her hand over his mouth.
Vanille shook her head at the scene and nudged Lightning with her hip. "He's talking about a Pulsian tradition that's akin to your marriage ceremonies in Cocoon." She finished for him, Fang glaring at her like she had just spilled the worst secrets imaginable.
"Traitor!" Fang yelled, standing and coming for her sister. This time it was Lightning's turn to blush to her roots as the meaning sunk in. She hadn't really thought about it. But now that the idea was out there, it wouldn't leave her head. Khosrow whistled and brought their attention back to the present before Fang could get her hands on Vanille.
"If you're all done scaring away the wildlife in a fifty mile radius, we have company!" The General yelled, pointing at a large beast that came stampeding from the forest. It charged towards them with a bellowing roar and everyone reached for their weapons. The scaly black hide shimmered in the light, and it was draconic in appearance with claws, sharp teeth and all menace. Fang, Lightning and Vanille immediately got into formation instinctively and without words. Lucyn went to follow but Khosrow held onto him, keeping him in place.
"Hold, old one. I want to see them at work."
Lightning heard the words and smiled, adrenaline already flooding through her system. "Vanille, find out what makes it tick. Fang, I'm going to bring it around so you will have a chance to strike at its neck."
"Got it!" Fang replied, gripping her lance with a savage grin. She whooped and leapt into the fray, ducking from the sharp claws that slashed at her as she got close. Vanille held back and scanned the monster, as she was without any L'Cie powers or able to turn into a world ending beast. She provided tactical support where she could, and whipped the animal with her weapon if it got too close to the others.
The beast roared in fury, unable to figure out which one to attack first. Lightning dashed in and ran her blade along its flank, growling as it only seemed to create sparks. "Tough hide. Fang! We need to break through!" She called out, signalling for the brunette to come close.
Lucyn watched the scene unfold with a critical eye. "I don't understand, why is Fang taking orders from the Cocoonian? She is the huntress, she should be the one leading." Khosrow chuckled and patted his shoulder in a mildly patronising manner.
"Come now old one, stop letting the bias of your friendship override your thinking. You can see that Lightning is a natural leader, and that they are all working well together. Look at their formation! Their fluidity! Their brutality! It's a thrill to watch. They are both beautiful and deadly women, Lucyn. I think I might have fallen a little bit in love with them both today."
The dark-haired man made a scoffing sound of distaste and continued to watch them on the field. Lightning took a quick glance behind her to check their positions before turning back with a heavy breath. "This beastie is giving us a right proper workout this morning, isn't he love?" Fang asked, panting as well. Lightning nodded and threw a stream of fire from her hands to keep the monster at bay while she thought, the action causing a cry of surprise to leap from Khosrow's mouth behind them. "Thoughts, gorgeous?" The brunette queried further, knowing the meaning the smile enveloping her partner's face.
"Army of Highwind?" Lightning suggested with a twitch of her eyebrow, Fang's face lighting up in glee.
"Oh, darlin'. You certainly know how to get me all worked up, don't you?" Lightning rolled her eyes and shot forward, seemingly appearing from every which way as she cut deep into the hide of the beast with all her strength. Fang poised herself, ready to launch at Lightning's command.
"Now, Fang!" She yelled out, appearing in front of the brunette. Using her momentum, Lightning grabbed Fang's hand and helped to launch her high into the air. The beast would not see its end, Fang smashing down with all her might and piercing the monster at the base of its skull with her lance. With one long, droning groan it dropped to the earth and exhaled its final breath.
Khosrow broke out in applause and loud cheering, jogging over to the women as they caught their breath. "Gods, that was amazing. Truly, something that should have been filmed and played in an amphitheatre for all to witness such glory."
"Aw Khosrow, that was nothin'. You should come back to Gran Pulse and come watch us work over a Long Gui." Fang replied with a lop-sided grin.
A gasp escaped Khosrow's throat, and her gaze shifted, caught somewhere between excitement and lust. "Oh, to take on one of the legendary war beasts of old... now that would certainly be a way to woo this old woman. Does she always show you such a good time, Lightning?"
The pinkette chuckled and trailed her nails along Fang's exposed skin underneath her sari. "She certainly does know how to keep my blood running hot." Lightning responded with a sultry grin. Khosrow laughed uproariously and slapped Lucyn on the back as he approached.
"See? This is what it means to remove that spear from your arse, old one. This snake is a playful one, when she is comfortable. Perhaps you should take a lesson or three from her."
"Perhaps I shall," Lucyn replied with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "A most impressive display, from all of you. It warmed my heart to see a true hunter of the lands at work, and able to move with such coordination is impressive."
"Yeah well, I had a lot to-"
"-learn about teamwork, Fang. For Etro's sake!" Lightning snapped, healing the wound on her arm with a cura. As the pale skin knitted back together, she stalked over to Fang and knelt down, grabbing her jaw tightly. "We both got hurt because you rushed in, and we had to clean up your mess. We need to stick together, and if you can't reign in your temper I can't have you on the front line with me."
Fang glared and bared her teeth, thoroughly sick of this arrogant attitude coming from this Cocoonian. "You wanna talk to me about being hot-headed? You serious? After that bullshit in Palumpolum and you smacking the shit out of my face for having the audacity to wake up in the wrong place, in the wrong century?"
Whatever response Fang was expecting, the reality wasn't close. "I'm sorry." Lightning said quietly, her shoulders slumping with the weight of their focus. She sat down next to Fang and healed her wounds in silence. Her next words came even quieter, and with a subtle gaze over Fang's body. "Please, can we work on sticking together?" Lightning asked, placing a hand on Fang's arm, trailing her fingers along the tattoo. "You and I we... We work better as a team. I don't want to see you hurt."
The sudden shift, Fang realised, came when the others were out earshot. She shivered at the pink-haired woman's touch, a little unnerved at the softness coming from her gaze. "Alright, we'll work on it. The gods know I wouldn't want to leave you alone against the men in this little party, and Vanille would drive you mad in an instant."
"Fang? Fang?" Vanille's voice dragged her from her memories. Fang shook the fog off and gave her a quick hug.
"Sorry, 'Nille. Went off in the ethers again I see." Fang replied with a cautious smile. She was thankful that the overwhelming memories submerged her in the past less and less these days, but still rattled her nonetheless.
She felt Lightning's fingertips trail over the back of her neck in a soothing motion and hummed in contentment. "You back?" Lightning whispered, and Fang nodded.
"Yeah, wasn't a bad one, not really."
Lightning gave her a knowing smile and leant in to kiss her temple. "When we were arguing about teamwork?"
"How did you..."
"It reminded me of the same thing."
"Ah."
Khosrow gave a shrill whistle that beckoned the chocobos over and smiled at their obedient approach. Lightning looked over at Lucyn and gave him a friendly smile. His eyes darted away at her attention and she shook her head, tapping Fang on the waist.
"He's probably dying to get in on a bit of glory as well, Fang. Why don't you two go off for a hunt?" She offered gently, hoping it would give her a little less animosity thrown in her direction. Lucyn stiffened at the calling of his name and strode over to the small group, sighing heavily.
"Still acting like a child, as always I see."
Fang grinned broadly and took him into a headlock, ruffling his hair. "Just 'cos you're now technically older than me doesn't mean you get to make the rules Luc." She chided, letting him go with a gesture of her arm. "Come on ya lug, show me how your years of experience you've got over me made you a better hunter. Or am I going to still hand you your arse?" Lucyn's gaze finally turned playful and he broke out into a run, pulling out his blade and heading towards the trees.
"See if you can catch me first, Yun!"
Lightning watched them go with a smile and nudged Vanille. "Go on, I know you want to go too." She pushed the redhead gently and watched her skip off into the trees with a giggle. Khosrow gave her a hug around the shoulders and led her towards a nearby tree.
"You've got a good eye for family, Lightning. Even the perpetual thorns like Lucyn." The General mused as she sat down in the shade and leant up against the trunk. She patted the grass beside her and Lightning followed suit, staring out across the field. "Tell me, Lightning Farron, was this place everything you thought it would be?"
There was no answer at first, Lightning content to listen to the breeze. "I didn't know what to expect," she finally replied, keeping her gaze in the direction she'd seen the others head off in. "We had prepared for many different outcomes. That there would be nothing here but ruins, that there was a thriving civilisation preparing for war, that there was a thriving civilisation prepared to pave the way for peace. Too many unknown factors so... We prepared for every outcome."
Khosrow hummed in agreement, nodding along in thought. "Keep that fact to yourself during any negotiations, as a word of advice. The idiot diplomats and politicians don't understand what it means to be prepared. I would have ordered the same, if the situations were reversed, so I don't fault you for merely wanting to preserve the peace you've gone through hell and back to gain." She sighed and brushed a wayward strand of hair from her face, looking over the soldier that sat next to her. "Gods above and below, you really do remind me of my daughter. Perhaps my bias is blinding me after all."
Lightning reached over and gave the General's shoulder a squeeze and smiled gently. "Or maybe you're just able to look past where I've come from and know how to look beyond a person's lineage. I'm not interested in repeating the mistakes of my ancestors either."
"You hold much wisdom for someone stop so young. Do you have other family, beyond Fang and Vanille?"
"A sister. Our parents passed when we were young so it's just been the two of us, at least until her now husband came along." Lightning answered with a slight curl of her lips. Khosrow laughed and nudged her with her shoulder.
"Do I detect a bit of hostility towards your sister's joining with her partner?"
Lightning sighed and shook her head. "No, just... Remnants of my stubborn refusal to let Serah grow up."
Khosrow hummed again, looking over the fields. "Aye. It is a difficult thing, to let go of the past, especially when you feel like you have no one left. I think… That is Lucyn's problem and why he is so… antagonistic."
"So I'm getting my cosmic justice for being so hard on Serah's husband, I suppose."
"No, not just you," The General continued, shifting around until she was more comfortable where they sat. "He wants to bring back the glory of the past, but he was very young when he was taken. From what Vanille told me when we spoke, he had yet to be involved in the war, and it was mostly Fang that was exposed to the fighting. I fear his view of the past is tainted, and he riles up the other more suspicious council members with his bitterness of your appearance."
A distant horn blared back in the direction of the city and Khosrow stood immediately. "Bahjenoi, I do not need this right now…" She hissed, sticking her fingers in her mouth and letting off three short bursts of whistling. The chocobos came racing over and the General immediately mounted one, giving a whistled order for the other birds to go collect their humans.
"What is it?" Lightning asked, growing trepidation in her stomach. She released a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding when Fang and the others emerged from the forest on their respective mounts. Khosrow kicked her heels into the bird and took off at a sprinting pace, the others only able to follow suit.
"Fal'Cie sighting beyond the island. The city goes into lockdown whenever they're close to be safe. We'll need to take a secure passage back as the city will be offline by the time we get back. See? Vanille ain't the only one with a good projector." She explained, pointing back towards the city skyline. Lightning stifled a gasp when she realised the entire city had vanished. They rode quickly and silently through the lands until they reached a cavern hidden amongst vines. With a swipe of her hand Khosrow unlocked a door embedded in the stone, and allowed the others to enter.
Jano was waiting for them when they entered the city from the sub levels, briskly walking up to Khosrow and speaking with her in hushed tones. The General turned to regard Fang and beckoned her over. "Yun, with me. We need to you come with us to look at this big fella that's been seen off the coast. The council needs to know it wasn't you who has drawn it here."
Fang looked back at Lightning with an uncertain gaze and only received a warm smile in response. "Go on, I'll head back to the room. Come find me when you're done? Vanille, go with her, they might need your expertise."
Lucyn bowed and gave an easy grin to his friends. "I will escort Lightning back to the barracks, to ensure there are no further attempts on her life."
"Thanks, Luc. Keep her out of trouble will ya?" Fang replied, allowing herself to be led off down the hall. Leaving Lucyn and Lightning alone, they walked in silence down the hallways towards the sleeping quarters. It was some time before the Pulsian glanced over and ducked his head.
"Lightning I… Would like to apologise, if I overstepped earlier, discussing the joining rituals. It is not my place to discern the status of your relationship. I… Care for Fang, she is family and I only want what is best for her, to uphold the strong Yun traditions, of which she is the last pure line left."
The words sunk in and once again she found herself thinking about the rite of joining. To commit fully to Fang, to honour her clan and customs. Could she see herself doing that? It didn't take long to search her heart for the answer. "Lucyn, what exactly does the joining rite entail?"
There was a smile that crossed his face that almost looked like triumph before he turned away with a hum. "Well, you have to be accepted by the clan, for one thing. Dependant on the clan itself would be the outcome of the Trials. For the Dia, it is gathering the rarest of herbs. The Rayn clan, knowledge. For the Yun…"
"Let me guess, hunting?" Lightning quipped with an arch of her eyebrow. Lucyn nodded with a grin.
"Of course. The Yun clan were often leaders and great warriors. It stood to reason that anyone wanting to join with a Yun would need to show that they were strong enough to shoulder the weight of joining with someone that would very likely see battle."
Lightning nodded, taking in the information. "So what would I have to hunt? Exactly?" They reached the door to their quarters and Lucyn opened the door for her.
"Usually? Something big. Not so big that you cannot handle alone. But the Trial is a test of how much you're willing to bear. Depends on how much you love her, I suppose. I… I just want to see her happy, Lightning."
The pinkette hummed, walking into the room and checking all the various spots, cupboards, under the bed and balcony before finally relaxing. "What's the best mark this island's got to offer?" She asked, folding her arms and leaning against the wall.
"Now we're talking!" Lucyn said, leaping over the back of the lounge and sitting down. "There is a beast to the west of the island, it harasses the farming settlements out that way. But… Hm. The council is due to give their answer by sundown. Which means you'll be leaving tomorrow."
An audible sigh escaped Lightning's mouth, not quite ready to leave. "But the city is in lockdown, how can I… Damn."
Lucyn narrowed his eyes, scratching his chin. "I may know a way out of the city. I can give you the access codes to slip in and out. You'll have the mark done and dusted before the sun sets, and back here to win her hand. Fang deserves the best, Lightning. And I certainly hope for her sake that you are the best."
With a scrape of her boots she pushed herself off the wall with a deadly smile. "I am. Let's go."
Fang staggered back to the room, beyond exhausted after arguing for half the afternoon over whether or not she called the Fal'Cie to their shores. Khosrow walked with her and Vanille, wanting to check on Lightning to make sure she was alright. Fang pushed the door open and stepped inside the room with a yawn. "Hey Light, I think I'm about ready for you to absolutely go to town on my shoulders, how about a mass… Light?"
"Where is she?" Vanille asked, looking around the empty room. Khosrow frowned and gripped at the hilt of her blade. Fang felt uneasy and tried to crush the rising panic. The General motioned for them to follow her down the hall and she roared as she kicked Lucyn's door in. The Pulsian leapt up, startled by the sudden intrusion.
"Can I help you?" He said, feigning calm in his voice. Khosrow glared at him and started wrapping her hand around the handle of her sword.
"Where is Lightning?" She asked, Fang looking between her and her friend with rapidly growing concern. He stared at the General, refusing to speak. "Lucyn, what did you do?" Khosrow asked, stalking forward and getting in his face. He refused to be intimidated and pushed her back.
"I didn't do anything other than introduce your new Cocoonian friend to the traditions of old. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of respect, worthy of Fang's hand, so I sent her on the Hunter's Trials."
Fang growled, the last of her patience vanishing and shoved him up against the table. "What. Did. You do." He turned and shoved back, seething in his bitterness and rage.
"What I should have done the moment I laid eyes on the manipulative snake. Don't you see how she's turned you against your own kin? You put the people of Cocoon before your own! She wanted to throw herself willingly into the abyss to prove that she was strong enough to be with the great huntress of Gran Pulse, so I provided it. I told her to go and hunt and destroy Nam'taar."
The colour drained from Fang's face as she stepped back and leant against the wall to keep herself upright. To anyone not familiar with the language, it would have been a passing label for a mark, not unlike when they hunted across the steppe with the Cie'th stones. But the name held a specific connotation in the old tongue that made her blood freeze in her veins.
With a solid crack of bone that reverberated through the room, Lucyn fell to the floor from a swift hook to the jaw from the raging brunette. "Are you insane? You've sent her after a fucking Fal'Cie? Nam'taar, The Death Herald? What the fuck is wrong with you? What the hell are you trying to prove?"
"That these venomous snakes do not belong on this world! Fang, see reason. They're vipers, from Cocoon. We are your people."
"And she is my home!" Fang snapped in angry retaliation. Her hands shook with rage and this time she let the emotions roil through her. She'd need them if she was going to save Lightning. "You once begged me before you were ripped from the river by the Cocoon's Fal'Cie, to never lose my heart. Well she is my heart. I never thought I'd find it again, but I did, in her. And if she is taken from me, there will be nowhere on this wide planet for you to hide. No god that will listen to your prayers for a quick death."
The Oerban stalked to the balcony doors and ripped them open, leaping up onto the railing. Lucyn tried to follow her but stopped in his tracks when he saw her body creak and lengthen, her fingers becoming claws and her the whites of her eyes consuming her irises. "Fang… Wait!"
The world-ending beast stood in her place, sari shredded around her. She turned to give him one final glance before crouching down on her haunches.
"Find your own road to hell, Lucyn." The tone of her words threatening and guttural in the throat of the beast. She leapt from the balcony and took off through the dark streets, chasing Lightning's scent to the lands outside the city.