cat; au of the game-verse

Lightning had probably been the one most surprised to be released from Valhalla and given back to the world of humans. She wasn't home, but she was with the others and that was all she cared about, especially since she had fully expected to never leave Valhalla ever again.

Serah, Noel, and Sazh were just like she remembered. Fang and Vanille would be the same, she knew, if they were ever released from their crystal stasis.

And Hope…

Thought she'd spoken to him in his dreams and seen him through the timeline, it was still shocking to have him right here in person - not to mention that he was older than her now. It should have felt a lot stranger than it did, but in stead it was easy to think things had always been this way.

The only one missing was Snow. Serah had started on a desperate search since their lives had settled somewhat here in 500AF, and now Lightning and Hope were helping as well.

"The big lug probably thinks Bhunivelze is Cocoon and is wandering around up there," Lightning muttered. Hope hid a snort of laughter, but Serah just frowned.

"No, he knew the fall was going to happen," she mused, then sighed heavily. "We probably just keep missing each other."

Lightning bit her tongue. There was always the possibility that Snow as in another time period - or worse, dead - but she knew her sister knew that. Instead, she put a comforting arm around Serah's shoulders. "You still have Hope and I," she said. "We'll help you in any way we can."

"I know." Serah gave them a genuine smile. "I'm so glad you came back, sis. Even if we don't find Snow, I'll always be grateful for that."

"We all are," Hope added. He'd been rather quiet up until this point, but now his eyes were trained on Lightning. "We couldn't ask for anything more…except Snow's safety, of course."

"Of course." Lightning stared at him for a moment, completely missing the knowing little smile on Serah's face, but the spell was broken by a sudden rustling in the bushes near them.

Instantly, everyone went into battle mode. Monsters were scares around this area, but it was better to be prepared than not.

When the noise stopped seconds later, the three of them relaxed. Lightning faced Hope again with a little smirk. "I can't believe you still have that boomerang."

Hope smiled sheepishly. "I enhanced it myself. It's usually capable of shutting down certain monsters with an electro-magnetic sho - "

"Snow!"

They both whipped their heads around in surprise at Serah's shriek, expecting to see the tall man appear, but were instead met with nothing. Lightning frowned, wondering if her sister had lost her mind.

"…I don't see him."

Serah shook her head and spun around, cradling a cat in her arms. "Not that Snow, this Snow!" She smiled widely as the cat began to purr, its head rubbing against Serah's arm. "Yuj got her for me in New Bodhum, back when…" Her happy expression faltered for a moment. "Back when everyone left. I guess she must have gotten caught in a rift or something."

Lightning and Hope spoke in unison. "She?"

"Yeah!" Serah cocked her head. "Something wrong with that?"

The other two exchanged a glance. "…No. Nothing at all," Hope finally said, then cleared his throat. "Well, at least we've got one Snow here with us. Shall we continue to find the other?"

"Definitely!"

Lightning shook her head a bit, though she smiled when Hope walked up a bit closer to pet the cat - Snow, as it was. Which was still a very strange thought.

Serah was looking at her sister in exasperation, like she could read her thoughts. "Okay, sis, what would you have named her, then?"

After a moment of surprise, Lightning actually gave it serious thought, as she was wont to do. She came to the conclusion that if Serah had named the cat Snow, there was only one name she could've given had she been in the same situation.

"I would've named her Hope."