I still don't have decided if Hope will share what he knows with the Villiers or not. So, to make you wait I have decided to post this short chapter. It will be Belle/ Light centered. Enjoy.
Chapter 9 : soul
For the next few days after she had fall unconscious, Belle found that Hope was keeping his distance with her. And she was not pleased by it at all. She don't know what her other self had said to him to made him so sad, but she needed to find it out. She had tried to ask Hope, but, for once, he had refused to answer her. And it had hurt like hell. Belle don't wanted anything to come between the two of them, and she was very afraid that she had lost him. She can't stand the thought. That's why she tried an old device hiding in the city of Obera.
The first time when they have come to Obera, Vanille had take Lightning away one evening. She had lead her to an hidden room, and she had show the device to Lightning. At this time, lightning don't have understand why Vanille had chose her to show this device, Sazh or Hope would have been more interested by it. But when she had asked it, Vanille had just smiled, and Lightning can't have find anything more about her motivation. Vanille had explained to her that this device was used by her fellow citizen when they wanted to find some hidden truth. The device help the user to see through his own mind and find the answers he sought. Lightning don't have believed Vanille at all, but she had let her show her how to use the device. Vanille was so happy about it back then, that Lightning don't had the heart to tell her that she don't care.
Belle had made sure that no one had followed her. At night she was almost sure that she will be aware if she was followed. It was during time like this that she loved Light's skills. She opened the door and closed it behind herself. Everything was exactly like in the memories of Lightning. And Belle was glad of it. Maybe the device would not work for her, but she had to try. Like her other self she was very stuborn, but she hided this fact better. She was aware that she risked her life with this, and she was also aware that no one knows where she had go. But she can't turn back, it's too late for that. Her future with Hope is in danger, and she will do everything in her power to prevent of losing him. So, she put the device on her head and as soon as the device was on her head, it began to glow. Belle was a little scared by this, but before she can react everything gone black.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When she opened her eyes, Belle found herself in a strange place. She was in a house. But she don't know where she was. Never before had she go to this place. She looked around, but she can't found anything who help her to understand why she was here. A voice made her jump.
" Don't worry." Said the familiar voice. " You are in my mother's house. You are safe."
Belle turned around and found herself face in face with her aunt Lightning Farron. She had see a lot of picture of her, so she was sure that it was her aunt.
" Aunt Lightning ? Is that you ? What are you doing here ? Mom would be so trilled to know that you are alive !"
At these words the woman lost her smile. She looked a little frightening to Belle, but the girl was no coward and she don't let her eyes leave the woman.
" Alive ?" She said. " Yes, in a way, I was still alive. But I can't come to see my sister and her fool of husband anymore. Nor I can be with Hope the way I wanted the most."
" I don't understand." Said a puzzled Belle.
" Do you have ever wonder why you have an other person in your mind ? Of course, you have. This person is no stranger, it was you."
" Me ? How can she be me ? She was so much older than me !"
" Yes, older and bitter than you. But you still are the same. You know, when my parents were alive I was just like you. I loved my parents very much, especially my father. When he had die, a part of me had die with him. After that I was not a child anymore. And soon after my mother had become ill, very ill. Serah was too young to understand, but back then I have understand that I will be the only guardian of my sister's happiness. I was a very good student, but due to my mother illness, I have missed too much school days to hope to pass the next grade. It had made me sad and angry at the same time. And when my mother had die, I had lost all hope to see my wish come true. My mother don't have let us anything but the house, and I don't wanted to sell it, so I have searched a job. But I was too young for most of it, only the guardian force have opened their door to me. And, in a way, they have become the family I have lost. I had made enough money to offer to Serah a good life, but I had lost the link we once have as sisters."
Belle let her tears fall at this.
" What a sad life." She said.
Lightning looked at her with a small smile.
" It was not. I was not aware of what I was missing. I loved my life back then. No one was able to give me orders, it was the sort of life I wished. It was only after I have become a L'cie that I had started to understand that life was more than work. I was lonely, and until then I was not aware of it. I was so sure to be always right, that I don't even give his chance to Snow before it was too late. I'm very ashamed of what I was back then. But I'm also very proud of what I have gained as a soldier. I was good, and it's just a fact. I don't want to loose it."
" Losing it ? Why ?"
" Because you are here. Lightning Farron is no more. Everyone thought that I was dead somewhere. Belle Villier had take the place of Lightning as soon as I have drank this stupid potion ! All I wanted was to be able to show to Hope how much I loved him. And look what i have gained : a new personality who was not even close of what I was !"
" You're wrong. " Said Belle. " I'm still you. Yes. I had finally understand it. Belle and Lightning are the same. That's why I had your memories. You were me before, and now I am you. I don't want to become a soldier, but it don't means that I will hate to be able to fight. We can help each other to become better."
" No way !" answered Lightning. " We can't stay the two of us. One of us must disappeared, and I don't want to be the one."
" Why ? Why one of us must be disappeared ?" Asked Belle.
" That's what the old woman had meant when she had said that a sacrifice was needed. Belle or Lightning must live but not together."
" I disagree. You and me are the same. Our soul is the same, only the way we express our feeling is different. We can work together to have the life we have dreamed. Please, let's try it. Like you, I don't want to disappear, but I also don't want for you to disappear too. You are a part of me. Until then, we have fought each other to take the control of my body, now let's work together instead. You and me are the two face of a coin named Claire Farron, and it's time for her to found her life again."
" Do you think we can do it ?" Asked an hoping Lightning.
" I'm sure of it. Come to me. It's time for us to become one again."
Lightning and Belle take each other hand and a bright light come around them. Soon, the light was so bright that the two of them can't keep their eyes open. and everything go black again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When Belle woke up, she found herself on the floor of the room in Obera. She take the device off, and try to stand. Much to her relief, she can do it. For the first time since as long as she can remember, she really feel at peace. The other woman, Lightning, was not here anymore. But, in a way she was more present now than before. Belle take an old sword on the floor and she tried some move Lightning had done as a soldier. And Belle don't had made any mistake with it. It was like if she had always trained herself as a soldier. She know she can stand for herself in a fight now. She also felt more confident. The old Belle Viller was no more too, but like for Lightning she was still present. She had choose to keep Snow and Serah as her parent. Like Lightning had said, she was dead for everyone. And her parent needed her as much as she needed them. Snow and Serah were good to her, and she will no pay their kindness with ingratitude. For everyone she will be Belle Villier forever. But she know in fact that she really is Claire Farron. That's who she truly is.
To be continued.
I hope you have liked. I plan to show how Belle had changed in the next chapter, I will also made a choice for Hope. So expect the next chapter for the end of this week or the beginning of the next one. Don't forget to give me a review. Bye.
