Well here you go. I'm really not the greatest at Cid dialogue, or battle scenes, so I decided I would save everyone from the torture and timeskip through it mostly. (or I was being lazy, which is entirely possible.) I toned down Fang's accent, though I am keeping it slightly accented because the whole reason is to make her different. (or just because I loved her accent) And while Vanille did have an accent as well, the reason her's isn't written is because it's nowhere nearly as noticeable as Fang' for the reviews, I do love them, so keep them coming. ^_^ Character credit at Enix of course!
"What's this? A reunion a' the dead guys?"
Fang put into words Lightning's thoughts exactly. First Barthandelus, and then Fang and Vanille – which she hadn't been sad about, for sure – and now him? Lightning wondered what had happened to the 'good old days', where the people that were supposed to be dead, stayed dead. Then again, if that was the case, Fang and Vanille wouldn't be here.
A the large figure walked toward them, as commanding a presence as ever, Lightning couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Sure, he had come 'back to life', but…the last memory she had of him, was when he met them on the ark and tried to kill them. A less than pleasant memory, that was for sure.
Deep amber eyes turned toward her Pulsian companion, but no emotion showed on Cid's face. Lightning felt the tension that surrounded them, yet she said nothing, allowing her friend to take the lead in the conversation. "The hell are you doin' here Raines? Yer supposed to be dead," shot out the wild woman, and Vanille behind her bobbed her head wildly up and down.
"Ironic, isn't it. One that should be frozen in a crystal pillar, stating that I should be dead." Lightning bristled at that, but Fang seemed to shrug it off. The eyes quickly swung to her. Why did those eyes make her want to shift her own gaze away? She was a strong woman, the eyes of no one should make her want to shift her own gaze away.
"Answer the question Raines," Lightning coldly stated, her entire body poised for what might come. For all she knew, he would attack without a moment's notice. She would be ready for it. Ready for whatever the hell he wanted to dish out. Despite that, however, his eyes still bored into hers until she had to shift her gaze, settling them on Fang and Vanille for a moment to gather her thoughts once again. After inhaling a deep breath, she mustered the courage to once again face those eyes. Deadly, cold, but something else. Haunted? What a ridiculous notion. But that was what they looked like. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more going on in that mind than anyone could imagine. She hardened her heart, - a fairly easy task to accomplish – and glared at the looming figure standing there on the grassy plain only a few yards away.
"As I said previously, fate deals its hand once more." Lightning shifted her weight, a hand going to her hip. "Tch, you've said that. Cut the crap Raines." Fang piped up again then, walking until she was right there beside her. "Yeah! Why are you here!" Those eyes, haunting her, shifted, thankfully, looking toward Fang and Vanille, and then gazing off behind them, as if lost in thought. "Death." The calm manner in which he spoke that caused her to shift again, unsure of what to say. Thankfully it was Vanille's squeaky voice that prodded him to continue. "Death?" And then those eyes swung back toward them, causing Lightning to quickly shift her gaze away. "Death.", came the confirmation, patience for waiting rewarded when he continued. "That was once the only way I thought that I could escape the nightmare that was pushed upon me, but even in death, it would seem, you cannot be at rest."
Lightning couldn't help but feel edgy again, as if she was caught in some cage. "You had Rygdea kill you.", she stated quietly, remembering what she had been told. Eyes that seemed less haunted came to hers again, along with a nod. Perhaps things would be alright. "I thought, that if I couldn't free myself from bondage, that I would gain freedom through death. For a time, I've heard, it worked. Unfortunately, l'cie have always nothing but tools." The way he said that, with an edge of bitterness in his voice, caused her to rest a hand on her gunblade. Something that didn't go unnoticed by his somber gaze. "Answer the damn question," Fang growled out beside her.
Whatever feeling, whatever spark of humanity that she had seen in his gaze for the last few moments was quickly replaced with that haunting look that he held, causing her to recoil slightly. "If I cannot go against the fate of the Fal'cie to earn my freedom," he started, raising his fist to show the brand shimmering where it had previously been. "Then I will do my bidding and find freedom any way I can." The normally calm voice now had an edge to it. This couldn't be happening again. Not this nightmares. "Damn it Raines!", she bit out, before lunging at him. In an instant she had her gunblade out and slashed it downward toward him. Not unlike what had happened before, as well, he simply stepped around her assault, blocking with one arm while his other hand grabbed the gunblade from her grasp.
Landing heavily on her back, Lightning glanced up, seeing her own blade coming down to pin her to the ground. Was this going to be the end? She started to roll, but somehow, she didn't think she would be able to get out of the way fast enough. Until out of the corner of her eye she saw Raines stumble to his knees, gunblade clattering from his grasp. "God damn it Loight, You should know ya' can't take him on by yerself after last time." Scooping the gunblade up in her hand, she felt herself being tugged to her feet and whirled back, finding her own balance as she panted lightly. "I'm sick of savin' yer ass Loight.", came the altogether too cheerful voice. Lightning felt another presence, and turned her gaze to the left in time to see Vanille standing there with her rod out and ready. "We're all in this together Light!", came another altogether too cheerful voice.
They were right.
Focusing her gaze back on the man that was calmly getting back up and to his feet, Lightning settled herself, eyes narrowed in concentration. "Right." It was time to take destiny and shove it right back down his throat. He was nothing but a Fal'cie puppet once again. If it was down to them to take him down and then go after Barthandelus, then so be it. She would be missing Snow and his fists right about now…but here went.
And with that last thought, she lunged again, settled in for a battle against the hybrid form they had battled previously.
This wasn't going so well.
She dragged in a ragged breath before she felt Vanille's healing magic course through her body. "Thanks," she managed to hiss out, before attacking him again. He was weakening. With her and Fang out and out attacking him and Vanille healing them up, they had managed to hold their own. Still, even though he was weakening, they were as well.
Unfortunately, as soon as she lunged at him, he wrapped himself up in his wings, and her assault was nearly void of any real progress. "Tch," she angrily grunted out, lowering her blade and beginning to take a step back when the wings released and a 'claw' came up swiftly. Barely having any time to react, Lightning managed to block it partially, still being sent back to slam into the ground on her back. With a grunt, she rolled over and pushed herself up in time to see Fang take a swing at him.
This wasn't going a damn place, she thought, seeing Fang go to her knees hard. Coming up, but she could tell that his last battering had hurt her. It was then that she remembered Fang and Vanille 'going fishing.' It was an idea, anyway. And a lot better one then beating him as much as possible and then being slammed around themselves. Lunging to her feet, Lightning swept her arm toward the l'cie. "Vanille! Go fish!", she shouted at her, hoping that Fang would catch on as well.
Thankfully, she could rely on the Pulsian to do just that. Vanille set herself and did her thing, twirling the rod around and then sending the hooks to settle on the big looming figure that was causing so much pain. When it was secured, she grunted and pulled back to get him off balance, Fang instantly taking action. Lightning watched as her dark haired friend took charge, twirling her lance to get some momentum and then, with a grunt, launching Raines high up into the air. When she did, Lightning was ready for it. Launching herself into the air, she twisted her body and slammed her gunblade into the 'man' that was caught suspended in the air, sending him plummeting to the ground and smashing into the ground beneath him.
Maybe things were looking up.
Until just minutes later.
A well placed kick she hadn't seen coming sent her reeling back, before he grabbed at Vanille. Lightning watched him sweep Vanille down with his massive claw right before Lightning slammed into the grassy ground beneath her and rolled over, hearing cursing from Fang before she too was kicked down, going to her knees in front of the man, supporting herself on her lance.
"Damn it.", she muttered out, slowly gaining her hands and knees, looking up through hazy vision to see him stand up and start to advance toward her. Lightning was thankful to draw his attention away from the others, but still, she could do nothing but stand there, gasping for breath she couldn't seem to get, simply watching as he advanced toward her. Was this it? Had their journey ended before it had even begun? Kneeling there, she watched him advance. One step…two…three… His eyes locked with hers, the same haunted look there that she had seen before. With clenched teeth, she waited for the final blow. Yet it never came.
Before her eyes came the reason why. An airship had come out of nowhere, distracting Raines from finishing her off. As Lightning watched in her daze, she saw the two women she cared about motioning at her, they must be shouting, yet she could do nothing but blankly stare, her vision spotting. The airship, moderate in size, hovered around them, ready for…for what? Looking up at it, she stayed crouched there, before she felt strong arms lifting her up and dragging her back. "Savin' yer ass again Loight.", came the disgruntled voice, before she managed to gain her own feet. A moment later she felt Vanille's healing magic once again flow through her veins and she was urged into a run. "Thanks Vanille.", she breathed out, before glancing over her shoulder again. The airship was still hovering in a circle around Raines, but as soon as they were away slightly, the ship opened rounds on the hybrid of Raines. Skidding to a stop and dragging Fang to a stop as well, – who had still been half dragging her – Lightning watched in surprise as the airship fired shots at Raines. It took a few minutes for him to completely buckle under the fire power of the airship, going to his hands and knees. But as soon as he did so, the firing ceased.
She watched as the flash of light shone forth from where Raines was standing. With a grunt, Lightning jerked a hand up to shield her eyes. When the light was over, she lowered it again slowly, blinking to adjust her vision yet again. What she saw, was not the hybrid form, but the man himself, kneeling there panting for breath. "The cavalry has arrived!", came Fang's joyful shout, before the airship descended toward them. As the bottom section started to open, Lightning lifted her eyes from Cid to the airship. Flowing brown hair, a cocky smirk, leaning cockily on the side of the ship as it started to come down toward the ground.
For a moment shock seemed to pass by the features of the man, the cocky smirk wiped off his face for an instant before it returned, his eyes sweeping all three of them before landing on her Pulsian friend. "Well, look who's savin' who's ass now." "Don't get cute with me Cowboy, yer late! The hell took ya so long?", came Fang's reply, shot right back at him. "I think I was right on time little lady." Lightning watched the airship descend, wondering why he was here, why this airship was here , and wondering how he had known where to come. All the while eying up the man on the earth, panting for breath, expecting him at any moment to pop back up and have another round. Finally she had to ask,
"What are you doing here?"
