Well i hope you like this chapter written by moi and co written by Blaid =) Mainly about Sazh and Vanille but it also includes the Odin fight and some small parts with Snow and Fang so please read and please comment and give feedback so that we know we are doing a good job !!
Sunleth Waterscape, The Old Growth
"Fresh air, nice" sighed Vanille as she walked out of the tunnel spinning around to reveal a forest region.
"So? Where are headed?" asked Sazh and Vanille shrugged.
"Don't know" answered Vanille as she turned her head to the side.
"You don't know? I thought you had somewhere in mind the way you took off" sighed Sazh as he walked ahead.
"I followed the smell" commented Vanille as she skipped to keep up.
"What?" asked Sazh in disbelief.
"It smells nice. All naturey" answered Vanille as she continued forwards while Sazh sniffs around.
"Just smells damp. And I think something bit me" groaned Sazh however Vanille looked up as she saw something before gasping.
"Hide!" commanded Vanille as she pushed Sazh down as ships flew by overhead.
"A Skyfleet. Closest city that way is Palumpolum. That is not good. I wonder if those three were caught in the net?" muttered Sazh as he waited until the largest amount of the ships had passed over.
"What do we do?" asked Vanille as she worried about Hope and Lightening.
"What can we do? Right now, what can we do?" countered Sazh and Vanille nodded her head in agreement.
"Right, no choice. We run…the other way" announced Vanille as she walked off followed by Sazh,
"Which would be…to Nautilus" answered Sazh with a nod.
Vile Peaks, Scavenger's Trail
"Enough! You're a Liability! The whole world's out to get us. I can barely keep myself alive, let alone some helpless kid! I don't have time to baby you. You want to get tough? Do it on your own!" announced Lightning as she directed her argument towards Hope after the group had survived various fights against PSICOM yet Hope was still behind and constantly falling over.
However her Brand suddenly reacted and Albion smirked as Odin appeared before charging at Hope which Lightning moved to protect
"This cannot be happening. Look out!" she yelled.
"Move!" commanded Albion as he pushed Hope to the side while ducking under Odin's first attacks.
Hope was thrown to the floor as the Eidolons sword swiped where he had been standing moments before causing the small male to gulp. Lightning meanwhile was fighting Odin with her own sword causing fearsome sounds to echo around them as their swords connected to each other with such force. She yelled as she was thrown back by a thunder spell yet quickly flipped back to her feet where she stared at her untamed summon.
Albion pulled Hope to his feet who was still slightly shaking and his eyes were stuck onto Odin who was slicing at Lightning again. His older brother sighed in anger before he out stretched his swords and struck the summon from behind which made him yell and twist towards the male soldier. It aimed a thunder spell at the male before swiping its sword at him which connected with his armour for a split second yet he jumped into the air and threw a ruin spell at the creature. Lightning took her chance and dug her own sword at the creature who yelled in pain and suddenly covered itself in electricity which it blew around it in a blast.
Both fighters were thrown to the floor and had to grit their teeth as they got up, he was trying to paralyze them. Lightning yelled in anger and aimed her sword back at the creature before her while Albion made his way to Hope who was running towards them with a glowing hand. The small male fired a holy spell at Odin who was thrown backwards off of its feet while Hope dropped to the floor breathing heavily. Holy spells caused the most damage yet drained a lot of energy until they were mastered.
Odin yelled and threw itself at Hope who was rooted to the spot, Albion grabbed his brother and pulled him onto his back before he dodged the slashes from the summons swords. He ran and flipped over the creature using its shield to propel himself further. Albion landed with a thud causing Hope to let go yet he soon got back to his feet and Lightning ran past the pair with her sword high.
The female jumped into the air and sliced at Odin who deflected the blows, Lightning then aimed her own magic at the creature throwing a thunderbolt which hit the creatures chest making it double over for a split second but that was all she needed. Lightning sliced her sword against the summons chest before grabbing its shield and throwing it to the floor. She landed and smirked to herself when the Eidolon noticed that it couldn't defend itself anymore.
Light swung her sword at the figure again who blocked with its sword yet a holy spell hit the summon in the chest. Lightning turned to see Hope standing and using a few holy spells at the creature making her smile before she ran at Odin and run her sword into one of the holy spells. Her sword using the power to boost her own and as soon as she connected the weapon to Odin`s chest the summon yelled in pain and jumped into the air.
Odin began to transform as its legs flipped over to form hoofs and his body twisted round. Soon enough in the sky was a golden horse that began to run at the group leaving a trail of thunder behind it. It stopped when it reached Lightning who picked up the figures sword in her own hands with a frown before shrugging and jumping on the horse where it began to glow.
"Well done, you have tamed Odin" clapped Albion as he watched the Eidolon sink back into Lightning's brand.
"Lightning! Your brand looks different. Was that an Eidolon? Like L'Cie can summon?" asked Hope and Lightning groaned.
"Magic and mumbo-jumbo, I must've hit my head at Snow's apartment" complained Light as she rubbed her forehead as she started to walk off.
"Um...Am I really in your way?" asked Hope and Lightning scowled slightly at the question "I'll do better! I'll try harder, I'll"
"Hope. We'll toughen you up. I'm sorry about before" sighed Lightning as she led them on ahead "Oh and for the record good job back there".
Hope beamed before looking at the sky hoping that Snow was ok and hoped that they would find each other soon. He wouldn't tell the other two but he missed the male a lot and well he had to admit to himself that he loved Snow which he was determined to tell the large male when they met again, after all they didn't get separated on very good terms.
"Im waiting for you Snow" he muttered before his brother yelled at him to get a move on.
Sunleth Waterscape, A Shimmering Sky
"Hey, Sazh, tell me about yourself" spoke Vanille as they came to a stop at the top of a large cliff.
"Huh?" asked Sazh confused.
"Any family?" wondered Vanille as she sat down on a stone.
"I have a little boy" answered Sazh sadly but almost did a double take when Vanille jumped excitedly to her feet.
"Oh! So you're married!" giggled Vanille as she stepped closer to Sazh.
"I was, yeah" answered Sazh sadly while Vanille was a burst of energy.
"We gotta get you home. Your son needs you!" announced Vanille before carrying on with encouragement when she saw Sazh's sad face "Come on, we'll make it!"
"It's too late" sighed Sazh as he started forwards.
"Is it the L'Cie thing?" commented Vanille solemnly.
"How'd you…" started Sazh but Vanille cut him off while putting her hands on her hips with a serious expression.
"You might be a L'Cie, but you're still a daddy. So, what's his name?" asked Vanille as stepped in front of him.
"Dajh…" said Sazh as he looked faraway in thought.
"Sazh?" asked Vanille and Sazh looked up suddenly.
"Huh?" asked Sazh as he was surprised.
"You're alright?" wondered Vanille and Sazh nodded slightly.
"Oh. Yeah" agreed Sazh as he got his mind back to the matter at hand.
"Come on, Pops! You really got to keep it together, okay? Now…let's go?" announced Vanille as she started off.
"Now I've got kids looking out for me. Some dad I am" sighed Sazh before he headed off after Vanille.
Sunleth Waterscape, Near Rain-spotted Vale
"You look tired. Not enough sleep?" asked Vanille after they finished making their way down hill.
"I guess" answered Sazh as he moved to sit down.
"Not surprising. Cute girl like me, it's hard to close your eyes, huh?" joked Vanille as she put her hands on her hip and stood tall.
"I'm just gonna lie down for a bit" muttered Sazh tiredly as he lay down and took a nap while Vanille spoke to Sazh's Chocobo Chick.
"Being made a L'Cie, it's not easy. I mean, look, even I'm kind of worried. But even if we don't know what'll happen, we have to keep our dreams alive. Have something to look forward to, you know" commented Vanille as she spoke to the Chocobo Chick which bounced up and down in agreement.
"Next stop is Nautilus…City of dreams" announced Sazh as he closed his eyes to sleep.
"Yup" agreed Vanille as she also lay down to sleep.
Later
"What? Sazh?" asked Vanille as she awoke and noticed the Chocobo Chick to the waterfront where she found a Sazh deep in thought and decided to spook him "Sazh?"
Sazh fell back to the floor before saying "You scared me"
"What up?" asked Vanille curious as she watched Sazh stand.
"I'm just thinking" answered Sazh distantly.
"Don't blame yourself. You know, you can't control who a Fal'Cie picks for its Focus" muttered Vanille as she tried to cheer Sazh up.
"My son Dajh. He was picked. He's a L'Cie. He said he wanted to see a Fal'Cie. So, I took him on a tour of the Euride Gorge plant. Though I'd surprise him with a Chocobo chick to take home, but the second I turned my back...into the energy plant he went Apparently, those Pulse L'Cie had snuck in and tried to attack the Sanctum Fal'Cie. It did the only thing it could, and make a Dajh a L'Cie to protect it. My son, he got picked by a Sanctum Fal'Cie. He's a hero. But were' Pulse L'Cie…Dajh's enemies. PSICOM showed up right after that to take custody of him. And then, it was one test after another. Even then they couldn't fight out his Focus. Maybe it was look for Pulse L'Cie, maybe it was to kill them. Either way...how could a kid that young stand a chance?" explained Sazh sadly as he turned away before drawing one of his pistols "After he was made a L'Cie, Dajh had some way of sensing things from Pulse. He was the one who found the Pulse Fal'Cie. But the kid can't fight. So, that's why I put myself on the road to Purgeville. I figure Focus has to have something to do with destroying the Pulse Fal'Cie. Though I could do it for him, and, well...You know the rest. If I was right about his Focus, he's probably a crystal already. Of course, of he was suppose to take our that thing L'Cie...that either we die, or he's a Cie'th"
"Die? Really?" asked Vanille sadly unknowing to the one before her the secret that she was hiding.
"It's a pickle all right. But the bird the bird says no" answered Sazh as he walked ahead which Vanille paused before following.
Cids Ship, Somewhere in the clouds
"You must be Snow. Names Cid Raines. Brigader Feneral of this fleet" said a male as Snow was brought into a large room by Fang and the two soldiers from earlier.
"Hi Cid thanks for the escort" exclaimed Snow in a sarcastic voice and pushed them off of himself so that he could fold his arms
"I apoligise but it had to be done and i have a few questions to ask you. If it works like they tell us, that means she must have fulfilled her Focus no?"
"You leave Lightnings sister alone" snapped Snow sure he needed know her too well but still she was related to Lightning and thus a friend to him.
"As a tainted Pluse L`cie" muttered Cid as he looked at Fang who shrugged at him.
"You think she wanted to hurt Cocoon?"
"I'd hardly be alone if I did. When it comes to Pulse, who could claim to know anything? I need the truth, for the sake of Cocoon"
"The sake of Cocoon.." repeated Snow with a frown before he began to shout "We're from Cocoon! Shipping us, Purging innocent people...That's how you lend us a hand?"
"Those are the Sanctum's methods not ours. The public fears what it doesn't know. It's grown tired of living in constant terror of these treats from the World below So, the Sanctum devised a plan for you l'Cie"
"Yeah i bet they did" snapped the large male.
"A public execution. The people don't know any better. Strike down the phantoms before their eyes, and they sleep like babies" said Cid in a calm voice
"No they cant do that" bellowed Snow.
"They can and they will. The Sanctum has intelligence on the other l'Cie already. It's only a matter of time."
"Hope..." he muttered "You wont catch them"
"We want to help them and you can help us" said Cid with a small smile before nodding at Fang who patted the male on the shoulder before speaking.
"Remember what i told you before and you wanted in? This is it and if you want to survive i suggest you grab with both hands"
Snow looked to the floor and gritted his teeth before he looked back at the two figures. He looked from Fang to Cid then back again, he felt that he could trust Fang but he wasn't sure about Cid. Snow knew that he wouldn't stand a chance on his own, he had to find the others and maybe with the males help he could.
Sunleth Waterscape, Hemmed in Stone
Vanille and Sazh walk through a cave entrance into an open area and gasped at what they saw, the Woodwraiths known as Enki and Enlil lay there asleep and Sazh sighed quietly remembering what he had said to his faithful Chocobo, he never could quite get a break.
"Uh-oh. That's not good" groaned Sazh lightly as he looked for a way out of that mess.
"What do we do?" whispered Vanille in question and Sazh made a hand gesture meaning that he understood.
"All right, I got it! We sneak" announced Sazh just quiet enough so that the pair of monsters wouldn't hear him as he began to sneak around the two.
"Right" agreed Vanille as she followed suite, however moments later Enki moved its head, then it moved to stand.
"Just too much to ask to cut me one break, isn't it?" complained Sazh as he prepared his pistols while Enki bellowed.
"Come and get it!" shouted Vanille as the bellow awoke Enlil as Vanille drew her rod and prepared to fight.
Enki charged forwards sending a burst of water when it landed in front of Sazh which sent the man rolling onto his back with a yelp, he rolled out of the way at the last moment as Enlil fired a bolt of lightning from its maw at the downed Marksman, Vanille cast a Thunder spell at Enki sending it sprawling across the floor however it soon got its balance and charged yet again. Vanille gasped as Enlil was about to shoot a bolt of lightning at her however well aimed shots from Sazh which was strengthened by Fire Magic sent the Wraith reeling back causing its aim to be off, the shot instead hit Enki which yelped in agony, Vanille and Sazh took this opportunity to hit Enki with rounds of Lightening Magic before it disappeared in the most peculiar manner, they dodged the charges made by Enlil before attacking with Water and Wind Magic causing its death.
Sazh looked at his palms before frowning at what he had just did, he had automatically used magic without even knowing he could which meant that his L`cie power was getting stronger although he was confused as Vanille seemed to be able to control her spells rather well, he noted to himself that he would ask her about that later.
"Well, they were odd, unlike any monsters I've ever seen" commented Sazh and Vanille stepped closer to him while pondering.
"I think they were Wraiths, I heard a legend from where I was born that said that if an Eidolon helps its L'Cie and that L'Cie then either dies or becomes a Cie'th, those Eidolons become Wraiths" commented Vanille "or that is what I've heard"
"Oh, well now let's go. It's a hop, skip, and jump, and we're in Nautilus" announced Sazh as he looked towards the open cave's exit.
"The 'City of Dreams'..." pondered Vanille as she followed Sazh whom had gotten moving again.
"If only we were dreaming up those clouds" announced Sazh with a nod as black clouds covered the skies.
The two of them exited out the back of the hollowed cave to see a fence covered in electricity at the bottom of the hill, they noticed that the fence was there to stop monsters from going near the Airship Station, noticing a hole the two ducked through it and walked closer to the station.
"We can board the ship over there" nodded Sazh however it started to rain heavy making the two quickly get under cover "when it rains around here, it pours. And then it rains some more"
"Sazh...Do you hate Pulse?" asked Vanille as she walked back and forth under the cover.
"Why wouldn't I? Look at this mess it gotten us all into! Of course, that's
not to say I always hated it. Seemed fishy. All that Sanctum ranting about the 'threat from Pulse.' 'Only a matter of time before their strike.' 'Pulse is infested with monsters.' Scare after scare, and not even a shred of proof" commented Sazh as he looked out at the rain "tired old cynics like me, we don't just swallow that tabloid crap. No, no. Not me. I figured the Sanctum was up to something crooked. At least until I got dragged in"
"Yeah..." sighed Vanille sadly.
"Now that I think about I, all this Pulse business...it really only happened because Dajh found that Pulse Fal'Cie in Bodhum" muttered Sazh however Vanille then looked hysterical.
"You're wrong. Don't blame him. It was all…" started Vanille however Sazh cut her off.
"Yeah, you're right. It was that scum from Pulse behind it" announced Sazh causing Vanille to run into the rain to disguise her tears.
"You're getting soaked" commented Sazh as he stood and walked over towards her.
"I'll be fine. It's only water" countered Vanille with a smile.
Cids Ship, Somewhere in the clouds
"Okay lets hunt some L`Cie!" yelled Fang as she ran into the main area of the ship.
Snow ran close behind and watched as the various soldiers were getting ready to land the ship. He shrugged and walked the last few steps to Fang where he frowned at the female. He still wasn't sure what they were going to do but he couldn't fight the others, he wouldn't do that.
"We find them and thats it right?" he asked rather forcefully.
"Calm down man and yeah" she answered as she brushed her hair from her face before hitting Snow on the head where she shook her hand from the pain "I knew you were hard head but still"
"Ow" he mutterd to himself.
"Let go" she said still holding her hand.
"Yeah yeah alright im coming" he said chasing after Fang as she ran towards the exit doors of the ship "Im coming Hope as fast as i can"
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed =P