A.N. alright, here's chappy 6. enjoy

Salvation

Chapter 6: Welcome to Gran Pulse!

Lightning woke up, when the sun's rays fell on her face. Funny...She could clearly remember that the sun didn't bother her, when she went to sleep. Lightning raised her arm to protect her eyes from the light and stood up to look out the window. The sun was in the east. And that meant...She'd slept through the rest of the day and the whole night. And where did Hope sleep? Still a little sleepy she went into the living room, to see if anyone was awake already. But everything was quiet and she saw no one. They must still be asleep. When she saw something from the corner of her eye, she quickly turned around and reached for her gunblade — which she'd forgotten to strap on. But then she relaxed when she saw it was just Hope. He slept on the couch.

So that's where he had to sleep. He could have waken her up...But what's done is done. The pink-haired woman went to the kitchen to get something to drink. But she had to search in many cabinets until she finally found something. She took a sip and when she turned back to the door, she would've spit it out in shock. Hope stood in the doorway and looked at her. She didn't notice him at all! What the hell was wrong with her? „Morning, Light.", he said sleepily, while rubbing his eyes. Lightning gulped down the soda water and greeted him back. „Morning, Hope."

„Did you sleep well?", he asked as he entered the kitchen. Lightning looked him over briefly. His silver hair was all unkempt and he wore a light green striped pajama, that's a size too large for him. Somehow she found the sight quite...cute. „Yes, but I could've slept on the couch." Hope shook his head and took the still open water bottle from her hand. „Nah, I didn't want to wake you up. After all, you couldn't sleep properly for the last few days, because you had to keep watch. I think you deserved it.", he said and took a sip of water.

„But you had to sleep on the couch.", she argued stubbornly. „It's okay. The couch is very comfortable." Lightning sighed resignedly and looked down at the boy. „You should lie down for a while. You still look pretty tired."

„I'm wide awake.", he replied as he yawned. „Yeah, I see that." When he stared spellbound at her, Lightning raised an eyebrow. „Hope?" Hope got out of his trance and looked into her eyes apologetically. „I'm sorry, I just...I mean...I...your...brand...", he stammered unintelligible, while pointing at her brand. „What about it?"

„Oh, nothing! Forget it!", he said quickly and ran out of the kitchen. Lightning looked after him in confusion. Somehow, the boy acted strange...She went back into the living room and sat down on the couch, while crossing her legs. She thought about the whole l'Cie thing. What should she now do? What should she do with Hope? She shouldn't involve him in her battles, but she couldn't just leave him to his fate. Sighing, she leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.

She wondered where Fang and Vanille were right now and what they did. Was it wrong to split up with them? Surely they'd know the solution to her problems, when they were here. Because she was apparently the only one who thought so complicated and had to analyze everything. A few minutes later she heard a noise. The others seemed to wake up too. In addition, she also noticed this delicious smell. In this moment her stomach began to growl loudly and Lightning noticed how hungry she actually was. She hadn't eaten for at least four days. So that's why she's always so exhausted. Through the many battles, she'd completely forgotten her hunger.

Hope's healing magic, gave her new strength again, but it wasn't enough. Even though she'd had something to eat with her, she gave it all to Hope. He needed it more urgently, than her. „Hey, sis, you're hungry?", asked an annoying voice suddenly. She didn't answer, she didn't even say something about him calling her "sis", even though it burned on her tongue to make a scathing comment. She'd promised her sister to give him a chance, so she should hold back a bit, before she acted rashly. „What's up?"

Then his stupid face came into view. She turned her head away and closed her eyes. „Nothing. Don't get too close to me, or else...!" She couldn't resist a small threat. „You've been asleep for quite a long time. Serah said it was a new record."

„Serah's awake, too?", she asked without looking up. „Yes, she'll be here any moment. I think all the others are awake, too." Lightning nodded. As the delicious smell of eggs, bacon and pancakes became stronger, her stomach growled once again. Then she heard Snow laughing and she had to control herself to not kill him right now. „Tell your stomach, he must wait a bit. Hope's not ready yet." Now she opened her eyes and looked at him. „Hope's cooking?" Then he looked at her in surprise. „Yes, I thought you know it."

„No, how should I know?" He shrugged. „Who was with him the last four days?"

„Do you think I ask him about his private life?"

„Nope, but he could've mentioned it."

„But he didn't." Then Serah came into the living room and greeted them. Good timing, otherwise she'd really killed him. So much stupidity had to be banned. „Good morning, sis.", said her sister, as she hugged her. „Morning."

„Good to see that my fiancé is still in one piece and breaths.", she joked. „A second longer with him alone and I've beat the daylights out of him.", said Lightning.

A few minutes later the whole group sat at the big table and ate breakfast. Lightning was so hungry that she would've gobbled everything, but she held herself back and ate as normal as possible. Even for such a simple breakfast Lightning had to admit that Hope cooked really good. She, however, was so miserable at cooking, that she even messed up breakfast. That's why Serah cooked for them. Actually, she didn't have to cook anyway. She always ate in the GC. „Well, sis, what's your plan now?", asked Snow and broke the silence. „I'm not your sister.", she grumbled, before she answered his question. „And I don't know what to do next."

„We wanted to go to Eden, but then Lightning said we won't go there.", said Hope, who's sitting next to her. „Eden? And why there?", asked Sazh and raised an eyebrow. „Um...We wanted to...destroy the Sanctum.", murmured Hope. „What?!" They all were staring at the two l'Cie in shock. „Is that your Focus? Destroy Cocoon?", asked Sazh. „Maybe. In our vision we saw Ragnarok. What else could this mean?"

„I know what it means.", said Snow and got everyone's attention. „It means that you have to stop Ragnarok and save Cocoon!" Lightning raised an eyebrow, but before she could reply, Sazh spoke. „Boy, don't be so naive. A Pulse fal'Cie has branded them. If you ask me, I'd put her on the other side." The soldier agreed with a nod. „The two are supposed to destroy Cocoon? Well, I don't buy that!"

„Me too.", said Serah. „If they have the power to destroy Cocoon, then they have the power to save it." Then she looked directly at Lightning. „Lightning. I never thought that you would take orders from a fal'Cie."

„I don't—"

„Then why did you want to go to Eden? Why did you want to destroy the Sanctum?" Lightning went silent. She didn't want her to know the reason, why she wanted to do this. It's bad enough that Hope knew. „You can save us all. Save Cocoon."

„And how are we going to do this?", asked Lightning and stuffed a few eggs into her mouth. Serah didn't answer, and that was all Lightning needed to know. „You don't know. We don't know either. So how is that going to work? I'm pretty sure we have to destroy Cocoon. We can either fulfill our Focus, or we'll turn Cie'th." Sazh nodded. „You don't have any more options."

„Don't be so pessimistic!", said Snow and hit the table. „I also believe that you can protect Cocoon.", said Nora, who only listened in silence with Bartholomew until now. Bartholomew nodded in agreement. „Don't you worry about the Focus. You decide what you'll do next and not some fal'Cie."

Bartholomew was really a wise man „But..." Nora interrupted Hope, by putting a hand on his shoulder. „You can do it. You have the power to save Cocoon."

„I think we have...right?", asked Hope and looked at her questioningly. Lightning nodded in response. They're right. If they had the power to destroy Cocoon, they also had the power to save it. The only question was: how? How should they save Cocoon? What should they do next? Hope then expressed her thoughts. „But we still don't know what to do now..."

The rest of the day they all thought about what they could do next. In the evening they all gathered in the living room and discussed everything. During their discussion, the lights suddenly went out. Lightning immediately jumped up and tried to hear if maybe PSICOM found them and attacked. They were silent and Lightning could concentrate better. Then she heard something. „Heads up!", she called to the others, and then the roof and the windows were blown up and smoke bombs were thrown in.

They probably wanted to burn them out. Lightning commanded everyone to take cover, but Hope, Sazh and Snow remained by her side, to help her. The pink-haired woman looked at Hope, who sent the others into another room and discovered a soldier who's about to attack Hope from behind. As Hope also noticed him and turned around, Lightning was already there and killed the soldier, before he could hurt Hope. „You okay?", she asked the boy. Hope nodded and took out his boomerang. Fortunately Lightning had thought to slip back into her uniform and to put on her gunblade. She took her gunblade out of its holster and attacked the other soldiers, who invaded the house.

She also saw that Sazh had also thought to take his two pistols with him and Snow...well he fought with his fists. The soldiers weren't much better than the last ones she had to fight and they could defeat them quickly. But she had to admit, they were stronger than the soldiers in the Vile Peaks and Gapra Whitewood.

When everything went quiet and the smoke cleared, they checked their location. Hope's parents, Serah and Dajh joined them again, and they hid from PSICOM who waited outside with a whole battalion and airships. There was no way to get out of there safely and if they didn't show up soon, they would surely blow the whole house up. „Hope.", called Lightning and broke the silence. Hope looked at her expectantly. „Tie up everyone.", she commended and looked at the group seriously. „We threatened you and forced you to help us. Got it?"

„There must be another way.", said Bartholomew. „I see no other way out."

„I don't either. We should do what she says.", agreed Hope and looked at his parents. „I don't want you to be dragged into this whole thing." Then the soldier turned to Snow. „Give me your jacket."

„Why?", he asked, confused. „Give me that!"

„Alright..." He then took off his jacket and handed it to her. Lightning took it and looked at Hope. „Hope." She nodded briefly and let him know, that he should come to her. He immediately came to her. She took his left hand and pulled his yellow scarf up, that he wore on his wrist and covered his brand. „Stay quiet.", she said to the group and ignored Hope's puzzled look. Then she went to the first smashed window and leaned with her back to the wall. The lights of the headlights shone through the broken window. Then she held out the jacket and the soldiers out there immediately shot at it.

„Hold your fire!", she shouted to the soldiers. „I'll show you what a l'Cie looks like!" Then they stopped shooting. Lightning looked briefly to the group — who looked at her shocked and worried — before she let the jacket drop and went out, through the window with raised arms. The soldiers aimed anywhere on her body. She knew that, because the lasers were on.

„I'm a l'Cie. Surprised? Did you expect a monster? I'm sorry to disappoint you.", she said and took a few steps closer to them and slowly let her arms fall on her sides. „I'm flesh and blood, like you. A normal citizen of Cocoon! And I'm not about to destroy it, it's my home, too!" Then she heard murmurs from the soldiers, like: „This can't be!", „She's lying!" and so on. Then Yaag Rosh came out of the airship and went towards her. „You have to be Sergeant Farron."

„And you're Yaag Rosh.", she said contemptuously and dropped his rank out of pure rudeness. Since Lightning didn't want to hear a lecture from him, she interrupted Rosh, before he could say anything. „So you now have your l'Cie. Kill me."

„Oh, don't worry, I will. We'll make a public execution especially for you."

„Wow, now I fell honored. I'll make you a deal.", said Lightning and looked at him seriously in the eyes. „I hear."

„I'll go with you, freely, and I won't defend myself." Not much. „When?", he knew that there was a hitch. „When you let the people in this house alone. They don't have anything to do with this." Rosh thought for a while. „What about the boy?"

„What boy?", she asked, pretending as if she didn't know what he's talking about. „The boy you protected yesterday."

„He's just a normal boy, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all." Rosh looked at her skeptically, but Lightning didn't flinch. „Well, for now it's enough if we execute you. I agree. Go into the ship.", he ordered. Before Lightning could take one step, she heard a familiar voice behind her. „No! Wait!" Don't tell me that kid...!, she thought, as she recognized the voice. Seconds later, Hope was standing beside her. „If you want to execute her, then you must execute me, too! I'm a l'Cie, too!"

Lightning then grabbed him by the collar — just as he showed them his brand — and pulled him closer to her. „Hope, what the hell?!", she hissed softly, so that Rosh didn't hear her. Hope also spoke quietly. „You don't have to go through this alone, Light. We're partners, right? Besides, I've promised you to take care of you." Lightning snorted and pushed him away — he fell to the ground in the progress — and turned her back on him. The boy didn't make it easy for her to protect him! Why's he doing this? He could get out of this unscathed and now he'd brought himself back into danger for nothing!

Before anyone could react, smoke bombs were fired at them. „Who fired? I gave no order!", said Rosh angrily. Lightning held her breath and turned back to Hope, who was still sitting on the ground and coughed. She grabbed his arm and pulled him up. Then she realized that the soldiers were killed one by one. And Rosh was nowhere to be seen. The pink-haired woman thought that the enemy troops would attack her and Hope, too, but nothing happened. When the smoke cleared again, a few soldiers were still alive and looked at them. They must've killed the others.

The airship that flew in front of them was shot down and was replaced by another. Lightning reached for her gunblade as the airship came closer and the hatch opened. When she saw the person who just left the airship, Lightning couldn't believe her eyes. „Hey, sunshine.", greeted Fang and went towards them. „Fang!?", she and Hope said in unison. „What the hell are you doing in this airship?", asked the pink-haired soldier. „I'll tell you later. You coming?" Lightning looked down at Hope, who nodded. „Are you sure?"

„Quite sure. I mean what I've told you earlier." Lightning sighed resignedly. „There's nothing that could change your mind?" Hope shook his head. „There are some things in life you just do, right?" Lightning smiled. „Right.", she replied and ruffled his hair. „Uh...Light...?"

„Hm?"

„I...Thanks to you I became so...strong, but...but there's still so much I need to learn..."

„And you think that I can teach you all this because I'm such a 'good company' for you?", she joked. „That's what I'm saying.", said Hope and grinned. Then she poked his forehead playfully.

„Hey!", called Fang. „Are you done flirting?" Lightning rolled her eyes. „Get the others. It's time to say goodbye." Hope nodded and ran back into the house. „They can come with us.", said the black-haired woman. „No way!" Then Hope came back with the others. „We can go with you?", asked Snow. „Yes."

„No!", said the two women in unison. „Lightning, don't you think they'd be safer with us than here?"

„She's right.", said Sazh. „PSICOM knows that we're friends with you, so it's just a matter of time, till they purge us." Lightning looked at the soldiers, who stood around them skeptically. „Don't worry, they're on our side. Come on, I'll explain everything to you soon.", said Fang, and entered the airship. Lightning sighed resignedly, and looked at the others who were waiting for her decision. „Alright, let's go." Lightning waited until they entered the airship and followed them eventually. Serah waited for her and went beside her. „This'll be so great! We both go on an adventure!"

„You don't believe that yourself, do you? You stay in this airship virtuously and don't do anything stupid." When Serah looked at her defiantly and opened her mouth, Lightning interrupted. „No back talk!" Then the younger one pouted and went quiet. Serah knew it would be hard to make her change her mind and under such conditions it was nearly impossible. When they reached the ship, she saw that Nora, Bartholomew and Dajh didn't board. „What's wrong? Aren't you coming with us?", asked Serah. „No, we'll stay here.", replied Nora. „Serah, board the airship."

„But—" Lightning pushed her into the airship and turned back to the others. „We can't fight as good as you. We'd just be in your way.", explained the silver-haired woman. Lightning knew by now that Nora was not so innocent and that she was quite able to fight with them, but she said nothing and nodded. „I see." Then Bartholomew looked at her seriously. „Take good care of Hope." The pink-haired woman nodded. „I will."

„Of course she will.", said Nora and smiled brightly at her. „I knew from the beginning that you'll protect Hope."

„How?", asked Lightning confused. When they first met, she was anything but nice. „I've seen how protective you are over Serah. From then on I knew it. That you're caring and nice inside." How could she figure her out like this? No one had ever managed that. Now Nora became really creepy in Lightning's eyes, but at the same time she admired her somehow. That she could analyze everything so well. „Hey, sunshine! Come on in, or we'll fly off without you!", called Fang from inside the airship. „You better go now." Lightning nodded and said goodbye to them. „Take care of yourselves.", said Lightning, before she entered the airship.

The gap closed again and she felt that the airship moved. She looked outside and saw that they're flying to a huge airship. „Looks nice, huh?", asked Fang, who appeared behind her. Lightning nodded in reply. „This is the Lindblum. Once we're there, I'll tell you everything.", said the black-haired woman, before she left her alone again.

As they went through the Lindblum and followed Fang to the center of the airship, Lightning was stopped by Hope. „Um...", he began, as he stopped in front of her. Lightning waited until he went on, but when he didn't say anything anymore, she crossed her arms over her chest. „What is it?"

„I just wanted to say that...I...well...I mean...Thank you.", he stammered, while looking to the ground. Thank you? Thank you for what? Lightning put his hand under his chin and lifted his head so that he looked into her eyes. She noticed that his face was completely red again. What was wrong with the boy? „What for?", she asked and didn't mention his flushed face. „For...for everything. And for not leaving me...behind." Then she ruffled his hair. „I've said I'll protect you, right?"

As she said this, his leaf green eyes lit up and he smiled at her happily. „Me too.", he replied, while grinning broadly. „Hope! Lightning!", called a very cheerful voice. Lightning recognized the voice immediately. Vanille. Before the two could react, Hope was suddenly pressed against her and a pair of arms wrapped around her. „Vanille.", grumbled the pink-haired woman. „I'm so glad you're okay!", she said happily and looked up at Lightning with shiny grass-green eyes, which were a bit brighter than Hope's. Vanille squeezed them and poor Hope was even more pressed against her. The soldier pushed Vanille away from her and then held Hope's shoulder, who also moved away from her. „You okay?"

The silver-haired boy looked back to the ground and nodded several times. Lightning decided to just forget what happened and moved on. „Let's go to the others." Hope and Vanille followed her immediately. When they approached the others, Fang finally answered their questions. She said that the cavalry was on their side, since not everyone were good friends with the Sanctum. It all began in the Sunleth Waterscape. The Cavalry was led by Cid Raines. „You know, I still think that we should take down the Sanctum.", said Lightning. „The fal'Cie have called the shots for long enough. We're gonna take down the Sanctum and give Cocoon back to the people."

Hope agreed with her. „I agree. We should do something against the fal'Cie!" Lightning — and the others — looked at Hope in surprise. She never expected him to say something like this. „So, what plan do you have?", asked Lightning Vanille and Fang. „Well, we want to return to Gran Pulse. Maybe we'll find out there, what exactly our Focus is.", said Fang. „Pulse? Oh great..."

„Gran Pulse.", corrected the black-haired woman Sazh. „Okay. And with some luck you might get rid of your tattoos.", said Snow and grinned at them. Lightning shook her head. Did he really believe, that they'll get rid of their brands? „Hey, you never know, huh?", he said to her. „If nothing else, we know Cocoon is safe for the time being.", said Hope and got everyone's attention. „I'd say it's worth going to take a look."

„Maybe. But what about your parents?", asked Lightning and crossed her arms over her chest. Hope turned to her.

„I made them a promise. I promised them to keep going, and do what I had to do. They said only I would know what that was. The world's full of lies. There's no way of knowing what's right. All we can do is believe in ourselves. It's easy to sit back and let people trick you. Like how the Sanctum had us all thinking that a l'Cie was some sort of monster. I'm done with their lies. Fal'Cie, this whole Focus thing. From here on out I use my eyes. Think. And act."

He paused for a while and looked at her determined. Lightning had so smile. She'd never expected him to say something like this and above all: she already could see his progress. That was the first time she saw this determination in his eyes. Then Hope continued.

„I might not make all the right choices. But as long as I'm the one who decided what to do, there's nothing to regret. Right?" Lightning nodded slightly. „Okay." Then Sazh went to him. „Alright. Let's do it! I'm with you, bad choices and all!", he said and patted Hope on his shoulder. „Of course I'm not sure how it's gonna turn out. Pulse is hell, you know."

„Oh, is it, now? How many times have you been there?", asked Fang and laid her hands on her hips and leaned down to him. „None. But I want to go, and see what it's like for myself." Lightnings smile grew a bit. She was really proud of his progress. „Okay and how are we supposed to go there?", asked Snow. „Yes, how? The portal is in Eden. And I don't think they just let us go through it.", said Lightning. „Don't worry, everything's under control." The pink-haired woman raised an eyebrow at the black-haired pulsian. „You'll see it soon."

„Tell us now.", commanded Lightning. „Okay, okay.", sighed Fang. „We're entering an airship. The Palamecia. We'll steal a smaller airship from there and that'll bring us to Eden."

„How can you be so sure?"

„I'm just sure. These babies have a special technology, with which you can fly through the shield of Eden."

„Palamecia ahead!", called someone and immediately everyone looked out the window and saw the Palamecia in all its glory. „Oh...That was fast. Man I'm glad I've told you the plan right now."

„We can make it, right?", asked Serah. „This is not your business, Serah. You stay here."

„But—"

„No."

„What about us?", asked Snow and pointed to himself and Sazh. „You stay here, too. Fang, Vanille, Hope and I are the only ones who go. It's our Focus, not yours."

„But we can still help you."

„I said no."

„Please, Light...", said Serah, while looking at her with her puppy dog look. „No." But her little sister didn't give up and hugged her. „Please, Claire.", she whispered in her ear. „How many no's do you want me to say?"

„Lightning, just think.", began Fang and went to them. „Who knows what awaits us there. We could need some help."

„That's right, we don't know what awaits us there. That's why Serah stays here!"

„No problem, we can give her a weapon, so that she can defend herself.", said Fang and shrugged. „You defiantly won't do that! I don't want to drag Serah into this whole thing!"

„You don't need to worry about her, Light.", said Snow and grinned. „I'll make sure that nothing happens to her. I promise you that! No, I swear it." Lightning thought for a while. Serah wanted her to give him a chance...Moreover, she didn't want to let her alone herself. But it would be worse, when she's coming with them. She might get hurt. Or worse. But if she'd work together with Snow, they could make sure that nothing will happen to Serah. „Make up your mind. We have to leave soon.", urged Fang. „Alright! You can come with us!", decided Lightning finally. Then Lightning suddenly found herself in her sisters embrace again.

„Thank you, Light!" Then she glared at Snow. „When I find a scratch on her, I'll make you responsible for it!"

„I promise that I'll protect her.", he said and looked at her so seriously that she could really believe it. But he had to prove it to her by taking action. „Okay! We should get ready now! Come on, Serah.", commanded Fang and led her into another room. „Yeah, get ready.", commanded Lightning the others.

When they were ready, they flew closer to the Palamecia. Lightning noticed what kind of weapon Serah got. It was a purple bow. „We'll blast a nice hole into it and jump in there.", said Fang and led them to the place where they'll jump out. „We should get ready for an attack.", added Lightning.
When they heard an explosion, Fang opened a door and she saw the Palamecia — and their "doorway" — directly beneath them. „Who wants to go first?"

Lightning didn't wait until she finished speaking and jumped out immediately. When she saw the bottom of the airship, she snapped her fingers to activate her Gravity Bomb, which afforded her a soft landing. And the others of course, too. Lightning looked around and found herself in a huge room again. And right in front of them was Primarch Galenth Dysley.

Great, she thought grimly. Of all the places where we could land, why here? Directly into the arms of the enemy! The others must've thought the same. Nevertheless, they went closer to him. What difference would it make when they take down the Sanctum now? The woman, Jihl Naabat, who's standing next to Dysley went to them to fight against them. „Your Eminence, please escape. I'll cover your retreat.", she said and got ready. „Why don't you leave, Jihl.", said Dysley.

„Or rather, take your leave. Humans have no business here." Nabaats eyes widened when he said that. „What?", she said shocked and turned to the Primarch, who killed her with magic. „What...?", said Sazh and Hope surprised. „Magic?" Then Dysley flew into the air and killed the other humans in this room with the same way. Just l'Cie are able to use magic. Did that mean, that Dysley was a l'Cie, too? The others must notice it, too. „Dysley!", growled Snow. Then the roof vanished.

„Monster! People are not yours to use!", shouted Snow, while Dysley floated back to the ground. „What else does one do with tools?" Suddenly Snow ran to him and attacked him, but a shield surrounded Dysley, which threw Snow back again. Idiot., thought Lightning. He couldn't break through the shield, even if he were a l'Cie. „Snow!", called Serah and quickly ran over to him. „Cocoon is a factory.", continued Dysley, as if nothing happened. „Built by fal'Cie. A factory for the mass production of human thralls."

Just what the hell was he talking about? Cocoon a factory? „Not anymore, it's not!", said Snow, when he got up with Serah's help. „What can mere men do? Without our help, death is all of which you're capable. You saw the fools. A mindless mob drunk on fear of a few l'Cie." Lightning then came a few steps closer. „If they only knew a l'Cie was the one filling their glasses!"

„L'Cie?", he laughed sardonically. „You mean me?" Then he floated back into the air. „Oh child, perish the thought. I am more than that!", he said, while raising his staff. Then a white owl came flying towards him and merged with it and lit up brightly. When the light faded, a giant monster that looked like a kind of machine stood in front of them. „I am fal'Cie.", it said in a deep voice that sounded like Dysley's. „My name is Barthandelus. Voice of the Sanctum, and Lord-Sovereign of the Cocoon fal'Cie." Lightning and the others backed away from him. Who'd have thought that a fal'Cie in human form was the leader of the Sanctum?

„Your kind feared the darkness, so we gave you light. You begged us for the Purge, and did it not come to pass? Now you sprun our counsel? You must learn your place!", it said and attacked them immediately. „Stay back!", called Lightning to Serah, Snow, and Sazh. „We'll take care of him!" Just a l'Cie has enough power to defeat a fal'Cie. Then the four attacked it with everything they had. Since Barthandelus couldn't really move, he was an easy target for them, but he still was very strong. Since he was a fal'Cie, his magic was, of course, more powerful than that of a l'Cie.

The fight lasted a long time, but eventually they were able to defeat him. Barthandelus collapsed and disappeared. „A fal'Cie controls the Sanctum...", said Snow then. „Then Eden doesn't pull the strings.", concluded Hope. „As I said.", said Dysley and reappeared in front of them. „I am Lord-Sovereign."

„Guess fal'Cie don't go down as easy.", said Sazh dryly. „Ease is not the issue. You have not fought to win. You should know quite well already the sure way of dispatching our kind. Ragnarok." Everyone went silent. „What's Ragnarok?", asked Serah. Then Fang's brand glowed. „Pitiful l'Cie, you've forgotten your Focus. Ragnarok is the beast one of you must become in order to lay waste to Cocoon.", he said, while pointing to Lightning, Fang, Hope and Vanille. So it was their Focus to destroy Cocoon...„You have had the dream. One among you will become that monstrosity, defeat Orphan, and destroy Cocoon."

„Orphan?", asked Lightning. She'd never heard of Orphan before. „The font of Eden's power.", replied Dysley. „Orphan fuels Eden with strength, and Eden in turn sustains you and the rest of our kind. Destroy Orphan, and you'll release a force such as this world has never seen. Cocoon will be torn asunder."

„If I did that...", began Fang suddenly. „Destroyed Orphan..." Shortly thereafter Dysley disappeared and reappeared in front of Fang. „Your Focus would be fulfilled." Lightning held tightly on her gunblade and without losing time, she ran up to them and attacked Dysley. „So what?!", she yelled, but Dysley disappeared again, before the blade touched him. Seconds later he appeared back in front of them. „Who says it has to be?" Dysley didn't answer, he just laughed sardonically, and then the airship suddenly shook. The white owl, which they saw earlier came back and suddenly became huge and turned into a small airship.

„Run, l'Cie! See how stark reality is!", said Dysley and then disappeared. Then the ship shook again. „Come on!", called Lightning and ran into the airship. The others followed her and entered it. Sazh got behind the cockpit. „Can you fly it?", asked Vanille. „Sure, I can.", he said with a grin and started the engine. They left the Palamecia, which exploded, and had to dodge the PSICOM-airships, that attacked them. „This is bad!", said Sazh. „The yoke's jammed!"

„What?", said Lightning and went to him. „I knew it was a trap!", said Snow, who also came to them. „Something's coming!", called Hope suddenly and just as suddenly they were attacked by missiles from another airship. Said airship almost looked like the monster that Lightning and Hope had fought in Palumpolum and she could swear she'd seen Rosh in there. As they dodged the bullets, Lightning thought that the yoke was working again. Sazh even shot him.

Then Rosh fired several bullets at one time and they were hit, but the ship was still intact. When the smoke cleared, she saw that a crystalline shield surrounded the ship. „The hell kind of ship is this? Fighting on its own?", said Sazh and hit the yoke. The ship flew to Eden and when they reached the shield, the just flew through it. „We're flying through it?, asked Lightning surprised and saw that Rosh followed them and crashed into the shield. „Sazh, watch out!", called Vanille suddenly and immediately everyone turned around again.

They were about to fly against a building. Lightning immediately grabbed the yoke and steered the ship sharply to the left to dodge, while they rolled over several times. As they flew normal again, Sazh maneuvered the ship directly through the portal to Pulse. „Off to hell we go.", said Lightning as they flew through it.

The bumpy flight continued on as they flew through the gate and Sazh had his difficulties, but fortunately they saw the end, and seconds later they found themselves in a completely different world. „You did it!", cried Vanille joyfully. „Yeah!" Lightning stared out the window. She couldn't believe her eyes. That was Pulse? The hell on earth? No, it wasn't. There were exotic monsters and unspoiled nature. Cities were nowhere to be seen, or other things created by the people. Suddenly the ship shock and she saw a huge, long, bug-like monster flew past them.

„Playful little critter, isn't he?", said Fang amused. „Yeah, well play with someone else.", said Lightning. „Happens all the time.", giggled Vanille. Then the thing turned and flew directly towards them. „He thinks we're lunch.", said the black-haired woman and got ready. Lightning did the same. „Yeah, like a l'Cie-food buffet.", said Sazh. „'Cie-food.' Cute."

„Guys, here it comes!", called Hope and a moment later they were hit by the monster. The roof tore open and Hope and Vanille were immediately pulled out, but fortunately she was able to hold onto the ship and Hope onto her. The others were holding onto something to not fall out too, but that would make no difference, since the ship crashed anyway. Before Lightning could help them, Vanille let go and they both fell into the depths. She and Fang immediately jumped off.

Lightning was about to call Odin, but then she saw that Fang's brand glowed and that she held a crystal in her hand. She wind up and threw it up. Lightning quickly took her gunblade and destroyed the crystal with one shot. As the crystal shattered, the symbol appeared and a flying monster came out of it. „Here, Bahamuth!", called Fang and stretched arms and legs in order to fall slower. As she came closer to Lightning she grabbed her hand and pulled her with her, until they landed on Bahamuth's back.

„Here goes!" Bahamuth quickly flew down to the crashing ship. „Hey! Over here!", called Sazh. As they approached the airship, Sazh, Snow and Serah also jumped on Bahamuth before they flew to Hope and Vanille. „You okay?", she heard Vanille ask. „Oh, yeah! I'm great!", replied Hope sarcastically. „Grab on!", called Fang before they caught them. Hope slammed directly into Lightning and she had to put an arm around him so that he didn't fall back down.

He immediately turned to her and clung onto her. Seconds later, he let her go again and wanted to move away from her as far as possible, but Lightning didn't release him and pulled him even closer to her. She didn't want to risk that he fell down. „Light..." She looked down to him, but he avoided eye contact again. „I...Thank you."

„Don't mention it, kid.", she said and then looked back at the scenery. „Home Sweet Home. Welcome to Gran Pulse.", said Fang, as they searched for a safe place to land.

A.N. Okay as you read, I cut out the 5th Ark part. I really hated the 5th Ark and I didn't want this story to be too long. I know Fang got Bahamuth there, but wait and see how I handled this problem. Till next time.