Chapter 10

Nautilus the city of dreams

Vanille stepped from the ferry boat that had taken them to the city and stretched her legs with a sigh of relief. The ride had taken most of the day to get there and the sun was setting over the city when they arrived. However it was surprisingly bright when they arrived. Nautilus as it turned out was just starting most of their larger attractions and as the city never slept, the streets were lined with lights that flashed in every color imaginable.

Vanille looked off into the distance as if lost in her own thoughts. It was Sazh who pulled her back into reality. "You seasick or something?"

"Huh? Oh, no I'm fine. I've just never seen a place like this before." She replied.

"Never been to Nautilus? Well I suppose there's a first time for everything."

She nodded with a smile as she followed him off the docks but she pondered silently if she should tell Sazh the truth. She had been thinking about it the whole trip, but couldn't bring herself to do it. How could she tell a man who hated all things Pulse that she was born there, lived there for most of her life, and was looking for her best friend who was also from Pulse? She had tried to do so many times but every time she built the courage to tell him he would say something like "Pulse is a vile place that breeds monsters and hatred." Or "When I find out why Dajh was turned into a l'Cie I will kill whoever is responsible."

Vanille bit back her words. How could she possibly tell him that because she and her best friend Fang woke up from crystal stasis in the Vestige that this whole mess started? She was responsible for Dajh and Sazh becoming l'Cie. She was afraid of causing Sazh more pain than he was already in. So she stayed quiet. Perhaps when she was with Lightning and Hope she could speak up, but her own advice haunted her. She remembered telling Hope how important it was to talk to Snow, so why couldn't she talk to Sazh?

"You know," Sazh said suddenly. "There isn't a lot of security around here. The people are very relaxed too. The l'Cie panic must be a world away to these people."

Vanille nodded but stopped to look at a large screen overhead that announced a parade that would be starting in a few moments.

"Ah, looks like they're putting Eidolons on parade tonight." Sazh announced.

"Eidolons?" Vanille questioned.

"Yeah, the mythical beings granted to l'Cie for help in completing their focus. It's just a legend though. I would love some help from an Eidolon to survive" Sazh answered

Vanille smiled and nodded again. She knew what an Eidolon was, and she knew they were real. Though she had never used one herself, she heard of stories from the village soothsayer on Gran Pulse about previous l'Cie using them to attain their focus. "Let's go check it out."

They were about to head over to where the screen directed when the image changed. Vanille paused to see what was going on. It was a news cast with the familiar sight of the Bodhum Vestige on the screen. "We interrupt this program to bring you an urgent update." The image changed again from the Vestige to a recording of Lightning and Hope surrounded in an arena. "The l'Cie that surfaced in Palumpolem earlier today are still on the run from authorities."

Vanille and Sazh gasped as they saw their companions. Both fear and relief coursed through them at the same time. Fear because they had been nearly caught relief because they hadn't.

The reporter continued as the scene changed from Lightning and Hope to Snow and Fang on a motor bike. "Sanctum soldiers are tracking their location but have yet to find the fugitives. Palumpolem will be placed into lockdown until the fugitives are captured and eliminated."

Vanille let out a soft cry. Her eyes wide with confusion and amazement.

"What's wrong?" Sazh questioned.

"It's her."

Sazh nodded. "Yeah. Looks like the army found them" he placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry, Lightning will be okay."

Vanille nodded sadly. She was upset because she wasn't referring to Lightning; she was referring to Fang, her best friend, her sister and her only companion in this world who didn't hate Gran Pulse. They had gotten separated about ten days ago, and after that the Pulse panic began. She thought she'd never see Fang again, yet there she was saving the day, just like she always did.

Sensing Vanille's sorrow Sazh pulled her away from the screen. "Come on, the parade is about to begin." Reluctantly she followed him.

They stood in the arena as instructed as the sky lit up with a mixture of lights and fireworks. The parade was a narrative of what happened during the war between Cocoon and Gran Pulse hundreds of years ago. Vanille knew the story to the extent of understanding it from Pulse's side, but now she was going to get a chance to see Cocoon's side of the story.

She watched in fascination as the Shiva sisters danced around the sky representing the population of Cocoon living in peace and prosperity. She watched even more intently how Shiva faded into the background as the eidolon Ifrit arose being controlled by a Pulse l'Cie swearing vengeance and destruction on Cocoon.

Shiva and Ifrit battled each other in a complex array of dance moves across the open air above them. Both of them equally as strong one never seeming to hurt the other. Vanille noted it was exactly like it was today. Both Gran Pulse and Cocoon were equal and neither seemed to hurt one another but both lived in fear that one day they would.

However, after dancing through the air Shiva began to weaken, her Ice was being melted by the intense heat of Ifrit. Shiva was losing, Cocoon was losing. When all hope seemed lost for Cocoon a Cocoon l'Cie appeared defending Cocoon and it's fal'Cie. The Cocoon l'Cie was strong and had a will of iron. He was able to hold back Ifrit and the anger of Pulse however the Pulse l'Cie swore to fulfill his focus and with a mighty shockwave Ifrit and the l'Cie merged forming a monstrous dragon like form that swooped over the crowd's heads.

"It's Ragnarok" Vanille cried in fear.

Ragnarok flew up to Cocoon ready to destroy it but the little Cocoon l'Cie ready to die for its home was willing to fulfill his focus too and so he held back Ragnarok's attack. There was large explosion and the air around them cleared. All that remained was an image of Cocoon still floating in the space above Pulse, it's shell had a piece missing. The Cocoon l'Cie had managed to save his home but not from all damage.

Vanille stood there in amazement realizing how different the story she had known was compared to what she about it brought back memories of home and how much she missed Gran Pulse. She couldn't help but let a single tear slide down her cheek as she looked away from Sazh. She wondered just who's side of the story was correct, but even then deep down she knew what had happened and who had been lying.

"So what next?" Sazh asked as the arena cleared out.

Vanille quickly dried her eyes and smoothed her skirts making sure her brand wasn't showing. "I'll let you decide." She forced her self to smile and feel cheerful when so much was going wrong. Sure they were free from the grasp of the army and not running for their lives, but Fang, Lightning and the others were in danger while they were playing around in an amusement park. Plus she knew she had to tell Sazh what happened, eventually he'd find out and she wanted the story to come from her rather than a stranger. Maybe that way he'd understand.

"I know, how about we go and see the Chocobo's at the park." He suggested. "I think you'd like that."

She sighed. "Should we really be playing around like this?"

"What else can we do? We're too far away to help them, plus we need to keep a low profile and blend in. Two people moping around in a bustling city like this is not blending in."

She forced another smile and nodded. "Okay then, let's go!" She followed behind him. "You seem to know you're way around. Have you been here before?"

"I've been here plenty of times with my folks when I was little. I promised Dajh I'd bring him some day." Sazh explained. "I hope I can at least tell him about this place one day."

Vanille cursed under her breath. Why was everything he said about Dajh now! She got the point. She knew he missed his son and was eager to find who forced the fal'Cie to turn his son into a l'Cie. Now it seemed like she'd opened a can of worms when she asked him about his family. Everything that came out of his mouth was about hating Pulse or missing Dajh.

"What about you?" Sazh asked. "You've been grilling me about my family. Where's your family?"

She hesitated but said "My parents are dead, and I am an only child." It wasn't exactly a lie. She and Fang figured they had been in crystal stasis for hundreds of years before waking up, so her parents should be dead.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

She smiled "Its okay. Besides, I brought up bad memories for you, so it's only fair."

He couldn't hold back his own grin. It was as if being around her was infectious. "How about someone special?"

She shook her head. "Nope! If you're talking about a boyfriend that is. I've never really had a boyfriend. But I do have a best friend. Once this calms down I am going to find her."

"Good for you!" Sazh cheered. "Now we both have something to look forward to after this mess clears up. Ah, here we go."

They had arrived at the park's gate. Just behind it, Vanille saw muscular yellow feathered Chocobos munching on patches of grass or chasing each other around. She couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles. Finally somewhere on Cocoon where she could just be herself and let her guard down. Chocobo's wouldn't judge her for being from Pulse.

She followed Sazh through the park as he recounted his childhood trips to Nautius and how much Dajh would love to have been there. The chocobo chick that Sazh had been carrying around popped its head out from Sazh's massive hair and twittered to the fellow birds of his breed.

Out of nowhere Sazh turned to Vanille and said "Thanks"

"What for?"

"For everything. For keeping things bright and optimistic when I know I can be the biggest downer, and for reminding me that I need to live long enough to see my son again."

Vanille's smile faded.

"He's being held by the military; by PSICOM. They're running tests to try and figure out his focus. I've been thinking a lot since you made me realize just how important seeing my son is."

"What are you saying?" Vanille asked, worry was starting to etch across her face.

"I've made up my mind, I'm going to turn myself in." He stated.

Vanille gasped. "No! You can't they-"

"I know. I know they'll execute me, but they aren't total monsters. They'll grant one last request." Sazh admitted. "We'll be running the rest of our lives. It will only be a matter of time before they move on to searching for us. Our future is grim, either we die, turn into a Cie'th or turn into a statue. I just want to make sure I can talk to my son one more time before it ends."

"Sazh no!" Vanille pleaded. "You need to believe that you can wake up from the crystal sleep. You need to believe that Serah will wake up one day and once Dajh completes his focus he too will wake up. You can't give up like this, you need to fight to live."

"Vanille, please…..let me do this. You really don't think that waking up from being turned into crystal is possible do you?" Sazh replied.

"But I do. I do believe it because….because…." She was on the verge of telling him everything.

Sazh sighed and gripped her shoulders. "You have no part in this. You'll have plenty of time to run away before I turn myself in. I know you'll be fine, that optimism is keeping you alive you know. Go find your friend and live as happy a life as you can." He let her go and began to walk down a path that lead to a customer relations desk toward the front of the park.

Sazh was slipping away, and Vanille couldn't stop it. She didn't know what to do. She had barely kept herself hidden when she and Fang had gotten separated, there was no way that she could survive running by herself. The same fear that came to her when she thought Sazh had left her in the waterscape arose in her chest. Panic gripped her. "Wait!" she screamed in desperation. "I know who's responsible. I know why your son was made a l'Cie."

"What?" Sazh rushed back to her and grabbed her shoulders again. He shook her hard. How could she have kept something like this from him? "Tell me! Who is responsible for it?"

She built up every bit of courage that she could muster and prepared herself to tell Sazh everything. "It was-"

But she was cut off, the sound of gunfire echoed through the park. Soldiers who had been hidden in the brush around them had guns pointed to their bodies.

"Soldiers?" Sazh cried. "Where'd they come from?" He grabbed Vanille's arm and ran as fast as he could through the park. Any thought of surrendering himself had vanished. He had newfound hope that he could get revenge on whoever ruined his son's life and that was enough to motivate him to keep running. Besides, the way those soldiers shot with no hesitation made him wonder if the army would even let him talk to their precious Cocoon l'Cie. All he could do was protect Vanille and survive, so that's exactly what he did.