Chapter 2- Journey through a Land Long Forsaken.

Disclaimer: No. the only thing I own out of all of this is my MC Ash and the mini Scenario I am creating in this big scenario owned by Square Enix. I make zero dollars off of this story and if paid to read this go jump into the nearest Chaos source you can find.

It was the next morning and Lightning was now riding in the car with the others. "Well?" Fang asked.

"What?"

"She means continue the story Claire." Serah replied from the front seat of the car.

"Though I do have one question. Why didn't you try to find him when you were Etro's servent?" Fang asked.

"I did. In my spare time I looked for his soul though out the many timelines and in Valhalla. I could never find him. I even asked Etro and she had no clue either." Lightning replied.

"Then where was he?"

"Let me continue the story."

Nova Chrysallis Day 3. 10 days until the end.

"FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING CHEESE!" I roared into the sky when I found out I barely missed her again. Lightning was apparently frequently traveling between Luxerion and Yusanaan. Solving many various problems and basically saving the day. I would always seem to barely miss her.

"For the love of fucking cheese?" Noel asked me in confusion. Noel was some weird emo dressed guy I found in the slums of Luxerion sulking.

"Look man can you tell me if you know where she went? I have been looking for her for days now."

"Well I didn't really think I had the right to ask anything after I almost killed her because I thought I could bring back my dead love…" he replied sadly.

"In what fucking world does that even make sense? I get you were desperate man but did you really think that?" I replied in anger.

"Hey! If you don't want my help." He growled back. "I don't even know who you are to her why should I even trust you?"

I sighed heavily and tried to calm down. "Look. I get it. I am sorry but I have been rather frustrated and I am barely getting any better at riding Rex here. You try going to the various towns and back on the top of a supersonic Chocobo for three days" I sighed.

"Wow that does suck. But it doesn't answer my last question." He replied in pity.

"I was Lightning's boyfriend back on Cocoon before everything went to shit. I have no clue where I have been for the past several hundred years and I hear the world has gone to absolute shit and will end soon. Please, Lightning no, I mean Claire is the only thing I have left. Help me."

"Hagh… fine I get it. Look I can't leave here because I need to clean up the mess I made but I can point you in the right direction." He replied.

"Before she left she said she was going to try to meet up with Snow and stop him from doing something stupid and after that she was going to explore the Wildlands."

"Snow is here too? I knew he was a tough bastard but damn."

"He isn't really. After Serah died… he has been a shell of his former self." He replied sadly.

"SERAH DIED!?" I exclaimed in horror.

"Yeah. And it's all our fault. We were trying to the right thing. We were trying to save so many people. In the end all that it caused was this giant mess. Though some weird person named Lumina has been flitting around that looks like Serah but there is no way it is her." He replied.

"I see. Thanks here is my number if you see Lightning again." I replied giving him my number.

"Of course. And good luck." He replied before I leapt up to the rooftops and left him alone.

I was leaping off of rooftops for a while to let off some steam before I felt a weight on my shoulder. I turned my head to see a little girl on my shoulder. "HOLY SHIT!" I missed my jump and planted myself into the side of a building that I comically peeled off of.

"Heeheehee!" I heard the girl laugh as I pulled myself back to the rooftops. I turned to yell at her only to find…

"Lightning?! Wait… no.. Who are you? WHAT are you?" I asked as I sensed something weird with her heart. She looked like Serah but so much of her reminded me of Lightning.

"Well that's a first. everyone kept calling me Serah. SO who are you to be looking for my little Lightning?"

"Lumina correct?" she nodded happily. "Before I answer you. Why is it you sound so much like the side Lightning tried so hard to hide away from the world?"

"Oh? We have a smart one here. I will answer you if you answer me." She replied with a devious smile.

"I am Lightning's boyfriend. Now answer me who are you!"

"Oh… So the prodigal Ash returns? Well then I think you deserve a welcome party!" She then growled out before clouds of Chaos appeared out of nowhere and three huge Dragons were summoned forth. "Have a nice day!"

I stared up at the dragons and growled myself. "Why that little bitch!" I then grabbed my sword and channeled my anger. The Dragons roared and came closer. "I don't have time to play with you so why don't you just FUCK OFF!" I roared as rushed and slashed them all with a single strike. I then sheathed my sword as the Dragons collapsed dead behind me.

I growled as I tried to sense where she went. But she was already long gone. "Something really fishy is going on here. That girl… I need to find Lightning and fast!" I yelled before I took back off to Rex.

Present

"That is both really sweet and corny at the same time that he managed to immediately recognize that Lumina was a part of you." Fang replied.

"It is like something out of a love novel." Serah gushed. "But wait Snow how come you never told me you met him?"

Snow was still driving as the girls talked. "I didn't. He never came to visit me. Though Lightning did say she had a new travelling companion when she visited again days later."

"That's because he didn't find me until the 5th day when I was in the Wildlands. Dr Gyahsl told him about how I was heading toward the temple. I was about to face Caius when he finally showed up."

Nova Chyrsallis Day 5, 8 days til the end

"What kind of bullshit floating temple with multiple clones is this bullshit!" I screamed as I climbed the very many floating stone catwalks.

"Who are you?" Another glowing woman asked.

"I already answered you 24 times ago! So stop asking!" I yelled at her.

"But that was another me. Not me." She replied deadtoned

"For the love of all that is merciful in this world… Just find those yous and spread it around… I just want find Lightning…" I moaned.

"Lightning? She is with Caius."

"I KNOW YOU TOLD ME THAT ALREADY! Look… I apologize. But unless you are willing to magically take me to where lightning is can you all just leave me alone." I sighed.

"We can take you to her if you wish."

A big part of me wanted to murder her. It really did but I had bigger fish to fry. "Please if you could?" I suddenly felt the world around me spin and I found myself in a large open area in the temple.

"Huh… Thank you!" I yelled back to the many girls. I then heard the sounds of clashing metal behind me. I turned to see a sight for sour eyes. Lightning fighting for her life. Wait what!? Lighting then had sword knocked out if her hands and the big dude was getting ready to strike.

I rushed in sword drawn and blocked his attack. I knocked him off of the lock and turned to Lightning. "Hey Sparks! I am gone for several hundred years and I already find you in trouble?" I laughed as I gave her my hand.

"Who the hell are you." The man I knocked off replied.

"Me? Nobody special. Just a guy fighting to protect the woman that he loves. I can kick your ass to prove my point." I grinned before we charged at each other.

Present

"To see him appear out of nowhere and save me like that really shook me. Even with my heart damaged. Even more amazing as he beat Caius easily." Lightning explained.

"Wow… Even I have to admit this guy is just full of clichés sis." Snow laughed. As he parked the car in the airport parking lot.

"You think? The man was full of more cheese than a Calzone. Yet he was a very kind, patient, and gentle person. I found adorable in that way I guess." Lightning giggled as she got out of the car.

"So wait he was the weirdo hanging around with you back then?" Fang replied.

"I was wondering when you would remember him Fang."

"But he looked so silly and he even got trapped in quicksand! I just thought he was a bumbling sidekick for you. That you couldn't bother to kick away."

"That bumbling sidekick single handedly found Sahz'z son soul in a single day. He helped me solve so many cases so that I could save so many souls. He was a hero." Lightning defended.

"But what about the last day? What happened to him then? He disappeared altogether when he was supposed to help us." Fang replied.

"That's because he was captured by Bhunivelze and placed into the ark to be destroyed personally by him." Lightning growled at the memory.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Before we get onto that what about you how did you handle meeting him again?" Serah asked.

"My heart was still damaged. I couldn't fell anything at the sight of him again except that I wanted him to stay around. It… it hurt him a lot I know, to see me so emotionless." She replied sadly.

"Yet he still followed you around like a loyal dog." Fang added before whistling. "If that ain't dedicational love I don't know what is."

"So back to the Ark. What happened?" asked Snow.

"Ash… Ash was someone special as it turned out. A one of a kind soul that no other timeline could replicate. He was… the real god Bhunivelze."

"WHAT?!"

Final Showdown

"This new world shall have no place for memories of the dead! They will corrupt it and we will be back where we once were. Savior." I heard the smug bastard say to Lightning as she drew her sword. I was beneath the ground but he wanted me to watch. He wanted me to suffer like how I did all those years ago.

I heard them clash above me as I struggled against my bonds I need to save her… I need to save Lightning! "GRRAAAAGH!" I roared as the restraints bent to my will and power. Yet I still remained trapped.

"I see you need help." I heard a familiar giggle from my right. I turned my head to see Lumina.

"You! Go to her now! She needs her heart healed if she is to defeat him!"

"No… She needs you too." She replied as I felt darkness take over me.

"HeeHeeHee. Now go help her."

I know not when I awoke again only to see Lightning deliver the final blow. At least that is what she thought. "LIGHTNING!" I roared with renewed strength as I rushed behind her to block a cheap blow from behind.

"ASH!" she exclaimed.

"Bhunivelze. The time for gods has long since past. I knew that the moment you stole my throne from me you treacherous traitor."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Well if isn't the true god of Light you were defeated by me before you will be defeated again."

"What is he talking about Ash?! What is going on?" she yelled at me.

"I am sorry Sparks… I will tell all I can later but for now… Bhunivelze I was an idiot who knew so little of this world. If I was in your shoes now I probably would have made the same decision. But for now? It is time to end this." I drew my sword for the final time and pushed all of my energy into it and charged at him. He charged at me too and we slashed. It was no contest with him weakened by his match with Lightning.I sheathed my sword and turned as I watched him explode into nothingness.

I turned to Lightning who gave me a huge hug. "I was so worried. So… What happens now?"

"Now? Your wish will be granted Lightning. A new world will be born. One without gods. I wish that I could tell you everything but for now this will have to do." I replied as I touched her head transferring so many of my memories to her. A lone tear slid down our checks respectively.

"WHAT NO! I just got you back! Please don't!" I screamed as he started flowing away into the rift caused by Chaos.

"I love you Lightning. I will create the world that you want so desperately for everyone. But it will be at the sacrifice of my own soul. Thank you for all the memories… Please live a happy life for me too…" He turned around for the final time smiling with tears flowing freely from his face. Before a bright flash of golden light blinded me.

Present

Lightning stood in front of the terminal with the others waiting for him to come. "The rest is everything that you guys know."

"Amazing… Yet so cheesy and lovable and the same time." Serah replied in awe once Lightning's story was done.

"That sums him up in a nutshell." Lightning laughed.

"So wait… Why not tell us about him until now?" Snow asked.

"Because I honestly I completely forgot about what happened with him on Nova Chysallis until now. He must have done something when he gave me his memories to make me forget. Which I guess got broken when I heard his voice again on the phone." She replied.

"So wait why was he a human then on Cocoon? What happened to him in the several hundred years when he disappeared, There is still so much missing from this story." Fang asked.

"He didn't know so I don't know either. But at this point I don't exactly care I am just happy to have him back." Lighting smiled as the plane started to de-board.

"Ok Snow honey. Hold the board high and with pride." Serah ordered as she handed Snow a rather flamboyant sign with Ash's name on it.

"Of course!" he replied with a huge grin as he held it up high. Lightning searched the crowd eagerly waiting for Ash to show up.

"Well well well Sparks if I didn't know better I would say you were excited for me." She heard speak from behind the group. She and the others turned around and found Ash standing there in all his glory and with a massive grin.

"Ash!" Lighting replied in absolute happiness. She grabbed on to him tightly. Very tightly and with enough killing intent that the entire room turned to look at them

CRACK!

"Agh… I guess you are pissed about me sacrificing myself then?" Ash moaned.

"You think? Once we get out of this airport I am going to murder you." She replied in a fake happy voice.

The rest of the group took one big step backwards. "Meep." Ash replied in absolute fear.

Meanwhile

Two cloaked figures were watching from the top of a nearby airplane through the terminal observing window. If you looked closely enough you could see one of them had a soft smile on its face. "Good for you Ash. You got the happy ending you wanted. Hmph" She laughed softly.

"Well with the heavy handed intervention you pulled of course he did. Why did you help him so much this time? You normally never interfere no matter how much he suffers." Cloaked man replied.

"I… Hagh… I felt guilty. He is my son Kaelus, yet I always have to see him suffer under the influences of his wife and the Universes themselves. Any chance I can get to help him be happy I will take." She replied slumping slightly as if she showed the weight on her shoulders.

"Hmph. You are far softer on him than I realize. Though let's face it you do enjoy his pain from time to time." Kaelus replied with a small laugh as he took off the hood of his cloak to reveal a draconic face.

"Eh. He does have tendency to get cocky and I don't mind putting him down a peg or two. Though you realize if you tell him anything I will hurt you quite badly correct?" she threatened as Reality warped slightly in warning around her.

"I will try mam. But I am a part of your son after all if he finds out it won't be my fault." He laughed.

"Hmph I suppose that is price he is willing to pay in pain then." She laughed as well. "Now c'mon we need to head back. Reality doesn't govern itself." She replied opening up a small bright rift.

"Hmph… very well." Kaelus replied going into the rift before her.

She turned back for the final time to Ash who laughing while running for his life away from Lightning. Her smile got even bigger before tears began streaming down her face. "I am so sorry my poor little boy… If only I was quicker… I could have saved you. I could have stopped Akumi. I could have stopped you from having this horrible eternal life. Now you have to pay for my mistakes. Now you have to eternally pay for my sins." She started sobbing now.

For right now she wasn't a god. Now she wasn't a being with unimaginable power that looked over everything. Now… she just was a mother crying for the cruel fate of her only son. She soon stopped and wiped away the tears. She went to the rift again. "Forgive me Ash. But this is the most I can do for you. Enjoy this life as much as you can." She said softly as if in prayer before she went through the rift and disappeared.

"Huh?" Ash stopped suddenly when he felt something. He looked toward where she had left. For some reason he felt tears fall down his face. "What the hell?"

"ASH! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" Lightning roared at him.

"Oh crap!" he replied in total fear before taking off again laughing all the way.

AN: Welp this is the end of this story. Like I said before this was the best I could do. As for the ending bit? Eh… a cheap Deus Ex machina using my personal OC named Ash to make up for the plot holes I didn't care to fill up on my own. Truth be told I wasn't planning on making them the same person but… I know it's lazy but I am only one man and I really just needed this idea out of my head and onto the page. But at least I put some effort with that scene with his mother. Which if you actually follow all my stories this is the first time I revealed her. Now then if you honestly feel like writing this entire plot out with ex-god of Light Ash and his adventure with Lightning? Feel free to ask me and I will gladly let anyone do so. On that note please feel free to review, favorite, and if at all possible feel free to share it if you liked it. Until next time this has been humble servent signing off.