Sisterly Love Chapter 16: Death
"Lightning...what did you do?" Cloud asked taking a few careful steps towards his little sister, who still stood in the same position with that cold smirk still present on her lips.
"You have eyes Cloud. See for yourself." Lightning spoke bluntly lifting her head so she could see his face.
"The Lightning I know wouldn't have done this." Cloud said motioning towards the top half of Jihl's body with his hands.
"Well Cloud you don't necessarily know me then, now do you?" Lightning asked kneeling before Jihl's body.
"I know you well enough to know you have a heart!" Cloud yelled, his voice echoing around the room, Lightning merely smiled in response before pulling something from Jihl's pocket.
"But you haven't known me long at all my dear brother." The young strawberry blond said as she stood to her full height.
"You don't even know yourself. What have you done with my sister?" Cloud asked watching Lightning intently.
"I am your sister-"
"No your not!" Cloud yelled cutting her off, which made her sigh and cross her arms over her chest.
"Well make sure to give her this, next time you see her." Lightning's ice cold voice rolled off her tongue as she tossed the blue crystal over to the blond man.
"What's this?" He asked catching with one hand and frowning at the rock.
"The reason she went to Pulse and the reason you were able to meet up with her. If it wasn't for me you two never would have been united." Lightning spoke her voice transforming from
her own into something much more deeper and was no longer human.
"What are you?" Cloud asked taking a few cautious steps back away from his possessed sibling.
"What kind of brother are you? hmm won't even save your little sister when your well aware that she is being controlled by something quite harmful to her?" 'Lightning' asked laughing at the
spiky haired indivisual. "What are you?" Cloud asked again ignoring his possessed sister's question.
"I am something that holds your dear little sister's life in my hands. Now let's see just how good you really are." And with those words the possessed Lightning flew at Cloud with her Blazefire
Saber in hand, slashing at him wildly each hit knocking him back. Cloud took a swing at his sister, not to hurt her but to force the young woman onto the defensive. Lightning blocked the
attacks with ease, despite being younger than him she seemed to be out of his league when it came to fighting. Letting his guard down for only a second was more than enough time for the
strawberry blond as she landed an attack on his shoulder. Cloud grasped it momentarily before Lightning landed another attack on the right side of his ribs, forcing the blond man onto one
knee. Looking up into Lightning's light blue eyes he saw a single trace of his sister in them before it vanished instantly as she brought her sword down towards his head. Just barely Cloud
was able to roll out of harms reach as Lightning's sword struck the marble floor. Cloud threw a punch and landed it on Lightning's already badly injured ribs, expecting a hurt reaction Lightning
merely smiled in response seemingly unaffected by the blow. Cloud was at a loss of what to do, he couldn't hurt his own little sister but he couldn't allow her to hurt him and he can't even
hurt her without using his sword. Cloud was jarred from his thoughts as the building began to shake violently, and explosions started causing the room to burst into flames as the bombs Jihl
had planted went off consecutively shaking the building to it's very foundation. Lightning seemed unaffected as Cloud stumbled a bit, and he recovered just in time to block Lightning's next
attack. Flipping over the man Lightning fired several bullets at him which embedded themselves into various places on his upper body, Cloud figured that the real Lightning still had a bit of
control because of them were lethal shots. Cloud gritted his teeth as he brought his sword back up to prepare to block the young woman's next attack, with their swords clashing Cloud was
able to lock them together easily taking the advantage sice he was much stronger than her. The building suddenly started to slide down on the right side- the side that Lightning had her
back to. The pair started to slide down as the floor as they fought to keep their footing a wall of fire appeared in front of the shattered window, as the two got closer to the fire Lightning
turned around and pulled away as she back flipped and kicked off of the wall just above the fire. Cloud quickly reacted doing the same by jumping and kicking off of the wall to avoid the
blazing inferno. As soon as he turned around Cloud was struck in his shoulder by Lightning's blade, crying out the blond man held his injured shoulder as he was hit with a firaga spell
which hit him directly in the gut. Cloud fell onto his back and began to quickly slide towards the open flame threatening to burn him to death, but at the last second a slender gloved hand
grabbed his own hand. Looking up Cloud saw the normal, gentle, kind, compassionate Lightning back in her eyes, but only for a second as she suddenly gathered the strength and tossed
him into the air following after him while slashing madly and landing every single blow. With another swing of her sword Lightning knocked the man back to the floor the force of the impact
making a small crater around where he layed so he wouldn't slide down towards the raging inferno beneath him. Coming down with her sword pointing downwards Lightning landed with
her Blazefire Saber sinking deep into Cloud's left shoulder, once more a non-lethal attack when she could have finished him off. Another sign that Lightning wasn't completely lost in the haze
of her controller's will. Pulling her sword free Cloud took his chance and grabbed a hold of her waist as he quickly jumped to his feet doing his best to ignore the pain.
"Hey what are you doing?" Lightning asked her voice now back to normal, but Cloud suspecting that it may be a trick clapped his hand over her mouth and slammed her head off of the wall
knocking her unconscious. Cloud scooped the young woman into his arms bridal style and started to search for a way out , drawing his sword he took off and smashed it into the wall creating
in opening to jump from. Clutching his unconscious sister close to him Cloud jumped from the building and landed on his feet, his knees buckling beneath him he carefully placed Lightning on
the ground. Putting her Blazefire Saber into it's holster, he began to pet her hair worried for her well being, stuck wondering whether being controlled like that for a long period of time
would have any affects on her when she wakes up. Picking the young woman up again Cloud headed towards the Farron home.
Serah began to worry, it had been a while since Lightning had been gone as well as Cloud who left maybe an hour ago. What could they be doing? Serah thought nervously glancing around
the room. "What's wrong babe?" Snow asked looking over at his fiance.
"Um well Lightning hasn't come back yet and so hasn't Cloud and it's been like a whole hour." Serah answered fiddling with her hands in her lap.
"She's fine, ten buck says so...speaking of the devil." Snow said motioning to the door as he saw Cloud's spiky hair through one of the windows.
"Huh?" Serah asked before turning to where Snow was motioning too, as Cloud opened the door with some difficulty. Jumping to her feet Serah ran over to him with some relief but also
a sick feeling in her stomach. "She's fine." Cloud told her as he brought Lightning into view for Serah to see.
"Oh my God." Serah breathed upon seeing her sister's condition, on impulse she stepped forward and began to pet Lightning's head trying to comfort the unconscious girl.
"Take her to the couch." Sazh called from the kitchen as he was fixing himself a sandwich, Cloud nodded carrying the light woman into the living room carefully laying her onto the couch.
"Shit she needs to go to the hospital." Snow said as he saw Lightning's short shallow breathing along with the many injuries which had been inflicted upon her.
"Yeah, but were all l'Cie. We can't just walk into a public place." Fang spoke taking a seat while placing Lightning's head onto her lap and petting it.
"So did you guys bet Jihl?" Vanille asked stepping into the room while fiddling with her many bracelets.
"Yes." Cloud replied not looking up at the young girl.
"Really?" Fang asked surprised.
"Lightning did it alone." Cloud answered looking over at the tan woman.
"Wow." Fang breathed looking down at the strawberry blond. "But not without some difficulty huh." She stated looking over Lightning's injuries.
"Yeah, now let's go to the hospital." Cloud said standing up, Snow helpfully brought his sister-in-law into his arms bridal style and headed for the door.
"I really don't think this is a good idea." Snow stated his opinion again as they all climbed into the car and pulled out of the driveway.
"Don't worry I have a plan, Fang make a stop by the PSICOM building." Cloud ordered to which Fang nodded a little hesitantly but headed in the direction none the less.
"Are you crazy man?" Sazh asked turning to look at the injured man with a look of shock written across his face.
"No, but you can never be too careful." Cloud replied cryptically, making everyone frown at him. Ten minutes later Fang pulled to a stop in front of the PSICOM Bodhum branch where Cloud
quickly jumped out of the vehicle and headed towards the entrance to the building. Not being a l'Cie made it easier for Cloud to move around the city then it did for the others as he was
not a wanted man. Stepping through the door Cloud walked up to the front desk earning him some stares because of his bleeding all over their new carpet.
"Can I help you sir?" The receptionist asked as the blond man arrived at the front desk.
"Yes, uh is lieutenant colonel Rosch in?" Cloud asked looking around the lobby.
"Uh, yes he is. May I ask what it's regarding?"
"Yeah, just tell him that a is here to see him." Cloud responded looking back at the woman in front of him.
"Alright." After a short conversation the receptionist gave Cloud directions to the silver haired man's office, it took him five minutes but he reached it with no problems. Stepping into the room
the spiky haired man saw Yaag seated behind his large desk.
"Ah may I help you? I see you must have had no problems with dispatching Jihl." Yaag said happily leaning back in his chair.
"No we didn't." Cloud started as he continued to walk towards Yaag's desk. "Now we've done you a favour, now it's your turn to pay us back."
"Hmm I suppose I may be able to help, what is it?" Yaag asked scratching his chin.
"Well Lightning was hurt pretty bad while we were busy doing your dirty business for you. And she's in no condition to be laying around in bed at her own home, so we need to take her to
the hospital." Cloud explained stopping in front of the now top lieutenant colonel's desk. "And congratulations on your promotion." He added as an afterthought.
"Hmm I appreciate that, I guess I could clear a whole wing of the hospital under PSICOM's command but only under one condition." Yaag told him sitting up.
"What is it?" Cloud asked with a sigh.
"She has to be detained." Yaag answered accepting Cloud's request.
"Fine." Cloud replied hesitantly but only caving in the end for his little sister's health.
"Alright then, you can follow us to the hospital." Yaag answered standing from his seat and heading to the door.
"Arrgh." Lightning groaned as she awoke from her unconscious state of being. Her eyes fluttered open to be met with a dark room, good at least it's not a bright white one she thought as
she felt someone holding her hand, looking to her right with some difficulty due to a stiff neck she saw Serah sitting in the chair beside her holding her hand in both of her own sobbing.
She didn't seem to notice that Lightning had woke up as she had her eyes closed with her hand pressed to her face. Lightning bit her lip hesitantly and then winced as they were puffy
and swollen like she had been making out for the past couple of hours. Serah caught the motion as she raised her head and instantly smiled as seeing her sister awake and well.
"Lightning are you okay?" She asked her voice a tiny whisper just above the sounds of the heart monitor among the other machines in the room.
"Y-yeah." Lightning answered her voice extremely hoarse and it pained her greatly to talk. Lightning tried to sit up only to let out a loud cry seconds later as she collapsed back onto the
hospital bed from the amount of pain that seemed to resonate from head to toe. Taking a look at herself she saw that she was now dressed in a white hospital gown that went down to her
knees and that she wore a black cast on each of her hands that started from the elbow and went down to her hand leaving space for her fingers to poke out of. Moving the blankets aside
she felt her ribs to see that they were heavily bandaged and just a small amount of pressure applied to the area caused her great pain. The strawberry blond also noticed that all the dirt
and grime from the battle had been washed from her body, even the blood now she was squeaky clean with her hair washed and everything. Lightning attempted to move her right hand
but saw that the movement was restricted for there on her right wrist was a pair of handcuffs as she was handcuffed to the bed.
"Yaag, has to put up the illusion of you being captured so the PSICOM won't do anything." Serah explained upon seeing her sister's frown. Nodding it had had taken Lightning this long to
realize that she could only see out of one eye, she gave Serah a confused look which prompted her sister to pull a mirror from her bag. Lightning took it from her still with the frown present
on her face, gazing into the glass she saw that her right eye was swollen shut and was black, probably from the punches Jihl landed she thought seeing that it was pretty much the only
damage done to her beautiful face. Handing the mirror back to her sister, Lightning dropped her head back onto the pillow with a heavy hoarse sigh.
"So what's the damage?" She asked referring to her body and it's injuries.
"Um..well you have three broken ribs, four cracked ribs, um you broke both her hands, suffered a collapsed lung and well you have a black eye that's swollen shut if that counts." Serah
explained, Lightning nodded before gazing around the room her body aching and in pain.
"Where is everyone?" She asked looking back at Serah who shrugged.
"Their outside, I wanted some time alone with you." She explained leaning over and giving her sister a light hug. "You never break your promises do you? you won and are safe."
"Yeah I never do." Lightning agreed chucking lightly but then stopping as she held her ribs in pain.
"Be careful. You pretty much can't do anything without hurting yourself." Serah said lightly placing her hand on Lightning's casted hand.
"Yeah tell me about it. I can barely raise my voice above a whisper." Lightning said sighing at her inability to do simple things which frustrated her beyond belief.
"Don't try to do anything except lay there." Serah ordered as she stood to head for the door.
"Yes mom." Lightning was about to roll her eyes but though better not to do it, since the one is swollen she doesn't want to find out if it hurts to do so or not.
"Good." Serah answered smiling as she opened the door to where the others waited sitting among the many benches and chairs. "Okay guys she's awake now."
"Finally." Fang said sarcastically rolling her eyes as the group got up and slowly filed into the room to see Lightning laying in bed looking fairly tired and hurt.
"Hey hows our favorite feisty young woman doing?" Snow asked taking one of her casted hands in his own.
"The only sound I can think of to explain it Snow is, ugh." Lightning explained seeming not to notice that he was holding her hand, an action that normally would anger her.
"She's on some pain meds." Serah explained upon seeing the puzzled look Snow gave her.
"Oh she seemed a little more relaxed than usual." Hope observed from his place on the couch in the corner of the room. Apart from Serah, Cloud seemed to be the most relieved of all to see
his sister was back to her normal self and had no lasting affects from the entity that had controlled her.
"Hey hun." Fang started as she went and kneeled beside the hospital bed taking Lightning's left casted hand in her own and looked into her eyes. "I brought your perfume for you." Fang
said holding out the small bottle, Lightning smiled as Fang grinned too. Fang gave her a light hug before praying the perfume on the younger girl.
"I never knew you used perfume Lightning." Sazh mused frowning at what he had just found out.
"A girl always uses perfume Sazh." Vanille informed while pointing her index finger at him.
"Not the greasy ones." Fang said thinking back to her high school days where the greasers populated the place with their leather pants.
"Can I talk to Lightning alone?" Cloud asked the group looking to each of their faces.
"Uh..sure." Snow shrugged as they all filed out slowly.
"Cloud I'm sorry." Lightning started as soon as the door was closed and it was only her and her older brother in the room, aside from all the quiet machines that occassionly made a beep or
two. "It's alright Lightning, I know you were not yourself. You are forgiven." Cloud spoke softly as he placed a hand reassuringly on her shoulder, Lightning nodded but made no move to
speak any further. Cloud lifted Lightning's head up by her chin so he could look her in the eyes, her beautiful light blue eyes that complimented that off both her soft facial features and went
perfectly with the color of her hair. "Do you remember anything?" The blond man asked watching his little sister's reaction to his question. Her facial expression changed to that of confusion
and curiosity. "Uh..no I don't." She admitted after a few moments with her own thoughts.
"What do you remember?" Cloud asked in an attempt to establish what his sibling already knew to save time explaining it all.
"Um, well I remember fighting Jihl, and that clone of myself along with Jihl's eidolon but after killing her, I don't know it's just a big blank." Lightning frowned as she continued to search her
mind for the memories that seemed to elude her, like a bad dream where your chasing something but no matter how fast you run your unable to catch it 'story of my life' Lightning thought.
"Hmm so what happened to cause you to cut the woman in half?" Cloud asked frowning- by now he had taken a seat in the chair beside her bed, also releasing Lightning's face from his
grasp. "I guess..I don't know all my anger,hate, and fear for the woman just came out and took over me. I had no control of my actions, but I remember it clear as the sky is blue." Lightning
said flicking towards the window to her right which layed behind Cloud. Turning around, sure enough the sky was a cear blue as he hovered over Bodhum with many clouds in it's embrace.
"Hmm shorty after that, I came back down from the roof and you attacked me." Cloud informed leaning back in the uncomfortable chair that seemed fit as the beds were also not the most
luxurious. "I'm sorry." Lightning said again as she dropped her head so her bangs cast a shadow over her eyes.
"It's alright. I knew you were there some what, I could see it in your eyes. There were so many times when you could have finished me off but you didn't because you were there."
"Oh." Was all Lightning could manage to squeak out in response, also turning her head away from her brother.
"Oh yeah 'you' told me to give this to you the next time I saw you." Cloud said removing the blue crystal from his pocket and tossing it over to his little sister, Lightning caught it and stared
into the object. "Huh the object of my desire as of late." Lightning muttered holding the crystal up to the light shining in through the window.
"Yeah, but why is it that you need that thing?" Cloud asked frowning at the small object which rested in his sister's hand.
"Um, I think it may be my focus to deliver this thing to the fal'Cie." Lightning explained looking over at her brother, who still frowned at the object.
"Hmm how far along is your brand?" He asked wondering how much time she had until becoming a Cie'th.
"Hmm I think the fal'Cie may have put it on hold for the moment." Lightning replied bringing a casted hand to her chest, the place where her ticking time bomb resided.
"What fal'Cie branded you?" Cloud asked curious as to which God-like creature had put a time limit on his sister's life-no both his little sisters lives.
Lightning gave a shrug before answering. "Beats me, he never told me his name."
"Of course why would he." Cloud mused thinking about how the fal'Cie felt that they were superior to humans although the two races were meant to be brothers.
"Tell me about it. Stuck up pricks if you ask me." Lightning spat, but brought a hand to her throat as the volume her voice took caused her pain.
"Take it easy, get some sleep." Cloud told Lightning who turned and looked at him with something close to gratefulness in her eyes.
"Alright." Lightning said simply as she layed her head down on the pillow, while groaning in pain from the stinging hurt in her ribs and back.
"So how long you figure until she gets better?" Serah asked looking towards the door that led to Lightning's hospital room.
"She'll be bed ridden for a while. but it's nothing she won't recover from." Sazh answered turning to face the young eighteen year old.
"Yeah your right." Serah replied with a small smile as she looked back towards the room. "I think I'll go check on her." Serah stood from her seat on the bench and made her way over to
the door. Serah lightly wrapped her knuckles on the metallic door and entered upon hearing a low 'enter' from the other side. Opening the door Serah walked in and observed her sister
laying in bed with her eyes closed and her brother sitting in the chair next to the bed. Quietly taking the seat on the opposite side of Lightning's bed, Serah crossed her legs and took one
her sister's hands in her own. Confirming her suspicions, Lightning was fast asleep with a peaceful expression drawn across her face accompanied with a small smile touching her lips.
"So what did you guys talk about?" Serah asked not so much as to get an answer but more to break the silence that enveloped the room.
"Just some fal'Cie stuff." Cloud answered cryptically obviously trying not to upset the young girl.
"Hmm." Serah hummed still holding one of Lightning's casted hands. Minutes later her own fatigue caught up with her and she fell asleep resting her head on Lightning's stomach.
"Hmm." Serah awoke a few hours later to Lightning groan of pain, she quickly realized she was the cause of it and shot up in her seat. Opening her eyes Serah saw an amused Lightning
laying in the bed with a small smile directed towards her. Serah returned the smile with one of her own as she let Lightning's hand go and leaned back into her chair.
"How are you feeling?" She asked her injured sister in a soft voice.
"Pretty much the same as before, still groggy from the pain medication." Lightning answered in a soft whisper in an effort to avoid aggravating her sore throat.
Serah's only response was another smile and running her hand through her sister's soft strawberry blond hair, Lightning leaned into her touch with a sigh. It had been a while since
she was able to feel so safe, just knowing that Yaag had everything under control put her mind at ease. Lightning let out a sigh as Serah continued to pet her hair.
"Serah, you should go home and get some rest." Lightning spoke suddenly causing Serah to frown in response.
"Oh come on. I want to be here with you." The younger of the two shot back in a whining manner.
"I know I know." Lightning started raising her hands in front of her-the one that was handcuffed making a clanking sound along the rail of her bed-in an attempt to silence Serah for a
second. "But seriously, you can't get any good rest in this place." Lightning finished gazing around the room in which she noticed that Cloud was now absent.
"Oh come on! just share your bed with me." Serah answered with a smile.
"Believe me I would, but my back and ribs just kill from a slight movement. And sharing a bed with you!? haha come on Serah you know you squirm in your sleep. I would be in constant
pain." Lightning laughed grinning at her little sister. Serah pouted crossing her arms over her chest and puffing her bottom lip out.
"Please Lightning, I swear I'll be still." Serah whispered seriously, Lightning's eyes softened upon seeing how much her sister wanted to be with her.
"Um.." The blue eyed woman hesitated for a moment slightly biting down on her lower lip. Knowing she would regret this Lightning finished what she was going to say "Alright." She smiled
warmly. "Thank you." Serah replied softly as she helped Lightning slide over in the bed by placing her hands under her wounded sister's upper back, slightly lifting to reduce the pain
emitted from her back and ribs. Serah naturally let Lightning have the majority of the bed and sqeezed into the space that they vacated for her, giving Lightning a light hug Serah layed
down on her stomach as she rested her right arm over Lightning's upper body as the two quickly fell asleep.
"Where's that fool going?" Sazh asked as he watched Cloud start off down the hall of the hospital, with a hidden object clenched within his right hand.
"I'll go find out." Fang spoke as she left her position from leaning against the wall and started down after the blond man. "Hey!" The woman's accented voice called out but the man seemed
to ignore her as he continued around the corner. "Damm him!" Fang cursed under her breath as she started a slight jog to catch up with the spiky haired indivisual.
"What do you want?" Cloud questioned as Fang came to a stop behind him, the man still looked forward not bothering to turn around when he spoke to the woman.
"Isn't it obvious?" Fang frowned as she walked around him to face him head on.
"I'm going back to Pulse." The man said blankly as he looked into the tan woman's dark green eyes.
"Are you now?" Fang started sarcastically while throwing her hands in the air out of exasperation.
"Uh huh." Cloud nodded still looking the Pulse born woman in the eye.
"Like hell you are, you know damm well that Cocoon doesn't even allow their own citizens to leave this God forsaken place!" Fang yelled but quickly hushed as a few passing nurses gave
her some strange looks. "Relax we've both gone from Pulse to Cocoon before." Cloud said in an attempt for Fang to see reason with him.
"Yeah but now after Jihl becoming a l'Cie and nearly destroying all of Bodhum the security is going to be tighter than Lightning's ass which is pretty damm tight to begin with." Fang hissed
before frowning at the last statement that had left her mouth.
"What?" Cloud asked now confused with the woman.
"Never mind." Fang snapped quickly. "Just there's no way for you to get out of here and if you are able to, what makes you think you'll get back in?" Fang asked raising a brow.
"I can do more than you think." Was all Cloud said before starting down the hallway again.
"Well your not going alone I guess." Fang sighed before dropping in tow beside him.
"Do whatever you want." Cloud said as the two exited the hospital.
"I guess she's not coming back either." Vanille sighed plopping down on the bench. "Owww." She groaned rubbing her but afterward. "Why can't they make these things soft?"
"Because then it would cost some real money." Sazh answered leaning back on the bench.
"Yeah no kidding." Snow laughed as the group continued to sit on the benches that lined the hallway.
"Hey what exactly are we doing here?" Hope asked after a few moments.
"Isn't it obvious? were here to see Light." Snow said turning to face the boy.
"Then why are we sitting out here?" Hope asked back.
"Yeah let's go in there, I'm getting tired of waiting." Sazh said as he stood with the rest as they entered Lightning's hospital room. Stepping inside the group saw the exotic young woman
fast asleep with Serah in the bed with her, resting one arm over her. Sazh threw his arms up in the air with an incredulous look on his face.
"Are you kidding me? we were waiting outside while you two were in here sleeping?" The dark man asked as both Lightning and Serah awoke from there slumber.
"Sorry Sazh, you can go home now." Lightning spoke her voice barely above a whisper, which seemed to be her regular voice for the time being.
"Hmm I'm not sure I want to." Sazh replied, his mind going to his soon to be ex-wife Monique. Lightning smiled in response at how freely Sazh shared his feelings about his wife.
"Well you can't stay here. Seriously how am I supposed to get any sleep with you in the room?" Lightning asked smiling at the older man.
"What? can't take your eyes off me?" Sazh asked grinning but it turned to a frown as Lightning shook her head.
"No. Your just too loud." The younger girl answered "and so is Snow." She added turning to face the blond man.
"Hey I don't deny it." Snow spoke shrugging.
Fang and Cloud had managed to sneak into the Guardian Corps nearby facility and hot wire a small airship. The two took off and made for the hidden portal to Pulse.
"So what are you doing on Pulse again?" Fang asked as she sat down in the passenger seat of the airship.
"I'm doing something for Light." Cloud answered still not willingly telling the woman what.
"Does she know about it?" Fang asked knowing that Lightning would rather do a task herself then to place the burden on someone else.
"No." Was the spiky haired man's short answer.
"Well tell me at least. I mean I'm going with you aren't I?" Fang asked crossing her arms over her chest. In response Cloud dug into his pocket and tossed an object over to the Oerba.
"A crystal? what does Light need you to do with this?" The raven haired woman asked frowning at the object while turning it in all directions thoroughly examining it.
"I need to give it to someone." Cloud answered making Fang's eyes go wide.
"No! you idiot then she would turn to crystal!" Fang yelled at the man, her voice laced with panic.
"You'd rather her go Cie'th?" Cloud asked turning to face her.
"NO of course not! it's just that there has to be a way to get rid of these brands...and I don't want to see her turn into a crystal either. I like her the way she is." Fang whispered afraid of
losing one of her best friends, if not her best friend all together. She had grown real close to Lightning since she had met her, even more close then she is with Vanille.
"Well it's either one way or the other that she can go." Cloud spoke trying to convince the woman beside him.
"Bull shit give her time! her brand still has a long way to go." Fang told him while turning her head away from the blond man to look out the window across the vast sky.
Upon the tan woman's falling silent, Cloud glanced at her and stared for a little while before a question came to his head.
"Are you really twenty-five?" he asked taking in her appearance. In response Fang turned and took a quick glance at his eyes before looking back out the window.
"Your not are you?" Cloud asked but it was more of a statement then a question.
"No I'm not." Fang replied quietly while scratching the back of her head.
"How old are you then?" Cloud asked now curious to find the woman's actual age.
"Physically, twenty-one but in all actuality..." Fang cleared her throat before turning to face the man "about five hundred and twenty-one."
"Hmm so you've been crystallized before?" Cloud asked to which Fang nodded "well your not actually five hundred and twenty-one years old since when your in crystal stasis you don't age.
Or really live for that matter, so be actually be that old I believe you would have to experience three hundred and sixty-five days a year not sleep through them. Your twenty-one, your
young." Cloud gave Fang a small pep talk to which she smiled at.
"Nice to know I'm not an old lady." She chuckled lightly. "I just don't want Light to go through the transition of becoming a crystal then waking up. It's awful knowing that your alone in a
world that you don't even know. Luckily for me I had Vanille and she had me. But if you go through with this your risking that Lightning will be alone in a whole new different world one day."
"I know, but I don't want to see her turn into a monster." Cloud whispered "so Vanille was crystallized too?" He changed the subject after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah. And she's not seventeen, she just looks it." Fang replied tapping her fingers on the dashboard of the ship.
"So you two just picked some fake ages to go by?" Cloud asked.
"It's stupid I know." Fang replied shaking her head.
"Hmm I'm surprised you went with an age older than you actually are." Cloud mused out loud.
"Yeah so am I."
"So Cid's not your brother than?" Cloud asked turning to face the young woman.
"No. Me and Vanille were lost once we awoke in this world and he took us in. We actually are living in his house. And Vanille is not my cousin, we only said that we were cousins so we could
keep our full names with the Oerba still in there." Fang explained as she continued to gaze out of the window before noticing that they had gone through the portal and were now currently
on Pulse. "I know I wouldn't want to abandon my surname." Cloud said as he pulled the airship down onto a patch of land.
"Why here?" Fang asked as the duo stepped out from the airship. Looking across the landscape this certain area seemed to be dead compared to the rest of Pulse. It was not green as the
ground was brown with no grass growing at all. There were cliffs surrounding the whole area and it was at this moment that Fang realized that the only way in was to climb them, but Cloud
had expertly landed the airship inside the rather large alcove devoid of life.
"Well isn't this lovely." Fang stated sarcastically as she took a few steps across the barren plain. "You never answered me." She said looking over her shoulder at the blond man.
"Something tells me that this is the place that Light was supposed to come to with the crystal." Cloud told her as came to a stop beside the woman.
"So your gonna turn your sister into a rock without hesitation?" Fang asked not bothering to look at the man.
"Just drop it alright?" Cloud asked as Fang just shook her head at him and looked the other way.
"At least there won't be any monsters down here." She stated gazing around the dead place. The two made there way over to what looked like a pedestal like platform.
"Here it is." Cloud said as he ran his hand over the imprint that layed upon the old pedestal.
"Of course here it is I shoulda known." Fang said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Be quiet." Cloud muttered as he placed the crystal into the engraving. As soon as he pressed down on the object the ground started to shake as the ground seem to drain down into itself
like some kind of drainage ditch. Looking down the pair saw a staircase emerge as the ground sank down below it, with a shrug Fang started down the steps towards the dark cave that
awaited them. They walked for what seemed for a while down the staircase, Fang took this opportunity to take in the intricate designs that were crafted expertly into the stone walls that
encircled the narrow staircase. The designs upon the walls resembled the carving that Fang and Lightning had discovered in the hidden tunnel that layed under the destroyed village.
They all depicted the young strawberry blond woman battling some unknown fal'Cie. Something deep in Fang's mind told her that whatever Cloud had planned would not work, no matter
how hard he tried. Reaching the bottom of the staircase Fang casted a low-level fire spell onto one of the unlit torches which lined the dark hallway. The fire illuminated the corridor which
revealed that the ground was no longer dirt but a finely polished marble floor, with a large mural upon it in the center of the small cavern. The mural sent chills down Fang's spine as it was
now doubt in her mind that the young strawberry blond was indeed Lightning. No one else had those piercing blue eyes, hair style and beautiful looks and body. The resemblance between
the mural drawing and the living girl was striking. As if the most gifted painter had made this work of art. The mural showed Lightning battling a strange entity, although something was off
about the drawing, it took a Fang a couple moments but she realized that the sword that Lightning held in her right hand was not her Blazefire Saber but a jagged sword with multiple
points, a total of five altogether. The blade of the sword was black while the hilt and a little up from it was silver, the bottom of the sword where it was held was black with a few points
protruding from it. The sword however still seemed to be a gunblade model as it featured the same mechanisms from Lightning's Blazefire Saber. Looking to her right Fang saw one word
inscribed on the wall "Omega" frowning the woman turned back to gaze at the mural. The shape and appearance of the entity that the strawberry blond was fighting was obscured by an
odd mist making it impossible to tell whether it was a known fal'Cie or not. Lightning's expression did not settle well with Fang for the young woman had a look of complete sorrow and
loathing on her face this forced an unsettling feeling into Fang's stomach. Along the bottom of the ancient picture showed many small and large spiders scattered around the battlefield
with a giant spider head watching over the battle with a wicked grin upon it's face. It's many eyes shining an ominous blood red a complete look only described by the word demonic.
"Well this is lovely." Fang muttered as she visibly shivered at the sight of the drawing. Something in Fang's senses and sub conscious told her that she has been here before but she
drew a blank upon attempting to remember the time and reasons she had been here. Shaking her head Fang turned to see that Cloud showed no signs of paying attention to the mural
as he walked as he walked over said drawing which was engraved into the marble floor. The man began to examine the back wall of the small chamber, he seemed to be searching for
something and found it shortly after as he placed the blue crystal into a small groove. Fang shrugged following him but soon stopped as the back wall started to shake violently throwing
the dust from it's corners. The stone wall slowly moved back now revealing what seemed to be another world. A warm blast of air rushed into the small chamber as if the entrance was a
straw sucking all of it inside of the small place. The hot air forced Fang and Cloud to cover their faces from the ferocious onslaught until it seized to do so. Uncovering her eyes Fang looked
through the newly formed opening, taking in the environment before her. The air was thick with a substance resembling smog along with very thick grey fog obscuring the view of anything
past five feet in front of one's self. A strange mist was added into the mix of ingredients present in the air making it difficult to see and breath. The ground was molten rock with small
streaks of lava flowing through the many cracks which stretched through out the withered barren ground. Just ahead of them the pair could see burnt up and shriveled trees which were
once a vibrant green but now the clor of coal as they had begun the slow process of crumbling to the ground. The sky was pitch black in color with some mixed in gray that Fang guessed
to be clouds. Lightning bolts streaked across the sky but made no sound as they ominously flashed brightly, producing what little light was present in the barren wasteland.
"Is it even safe to go in there?" Fang asked turning to face Cloud who did not respond as he slowly stepped into the foreign land without any hesitation. Fang sighed and followed the
man into the terrible place where life seemed impossible to bloom. As soon as she stepped in it felt as if the gravity had been turned up several notches as the raven haired woman's
eyes began to close as she tiredly tried to keep them open but to no avail. With a shake of her head Fang gave herself a smack to the side of her head to wake herself up from her
incoming sleep. It's as if this place sucks the life right out of you she thought as the two continued walking through the dark place. Up ahead a volcano erupted, spewing lava and molten
rock high into the air. Fang groaned, as if on cue the sky started to rain meteors down beating into the ground with brute force. Continuing on the pair found it easier to walk the more
time they spent in the place, ten minutes later they stumbled upon what looked like an old ancient temple which had not been touched in a good while. Cloud started up the steps while
Fang stayed behind staring at the large building. It took a few moments but she finally got hold of her senses again, the tan woman quickly ran up the stairs and placed herself between
Cloud and the door. "What are you doing?" He asked watching the woman closely.
Fang let out a sigh before answering "stopping you from doing this." She told him as she drew her lance from it's resting place upon her back.
"If that's how it has to be." Cloud said as he drew his large sword from it's holster and readied it, the tip of the blade facing the young woman. Fang sighed again clearly reluctant about
the actions she were about to do. Fang lunged at the man with a swift swipe of her lance, Cloud parried this knocking the woman's weapon away and bringing down his own in an
attempt to hurt the woman. Fang brought her lance back up and blocked the incoming attack, kneeing the man in the gut Fang flipped over him and brought the end of her lance down
upon his head. Cloud fell to the floor holding his head, looking up he saw the woman already up in the air poised to finish him off. At the last second he was able to roll out of the way
of her powerful attack. Cloud brought Fang's legs out from under her with a swift sweep kick, the woman did a back flip and landed on her feet bringing her lance across the man's face
leaving a streak of blood in it's wake. Cloud gritted his teeth as he took a swing at the warrior in which Fang blocked and slid back a few feet. Cloud rushed towards the raven haired
beauty and leaped into the air, Fang spun off to the side and kicked Cloud's exposed back causing him to fall down the stairs with a loud thud. Following him down the stairs Fang leapt
up high into the air preparing her Highwind attack to finish him off. Spinning her lance in her fingers Fang swiftly came down the air pounding her in the face causing her eyes to water.
Cloud looked up and saw the woman about to come down on him, spinning his sword twice a blue aura surrounded it. In one swift motion he cut cleanly through the air causing a blue
energy beam to disperse from his sword which shot up into the sky and connected with the incoming Fang. With a cry Fang fell back and landed hard on the ground no doubt bruising
her ribs internally. Groaning Fang lookded up to see Cloud standing over her. Grinning the woman pressed her advantage as a l'Cie and threw a ruin spell at the man, the small white ball
of energy connecting causing Cloud to flinch and give Fang an opening to escape her predicament. Landing a spinning kick on the man's spiky head Fang brought the pole of her lance
into his stomach making the man hunch over in pain. Fang flipped over the blond man and brought her and down in a chopping motion down on his exposed neck but Cloud caught her
arm and flipped her over him before she could land the attack. Fang scrambled to her feet and brought her lance up just in time to block the incoming attack from her opponent, their
weapons caught in a fight for dominance with neither willing to back down from the other. Fang managed to slip her lance under Cloud's large sword and push him back following it
up with a kick to the stomach knocking him down onto his behind. Fang took this opportunity and summoned forth her crystal from her l'Cie brand and threw it into the air slicing
through the fragile crystal with ease. The sky turned even darker as storm clouds appeared overhead along with a runic design, Fang's eidolon Bahamut flew through the design
shattering it with ease which cased the sound of breaking glass to fill the air. Fang sighed and looked down to the ground as her eidolon hovered above her awaiting her command.
"Just stop." The young woman whispered her voice filled with sorrow. "Stop trying to play the hero, let Lightning do what she wants. If she wants to be a slave and deliver this crystal
then let her do it herself. Let her make her own life choices, sure she's young but she isn't naive." Fang whispered just loud enough for the blond man across from her to hear.
"All's I'm trying to do is protect her." Cloud responded climbing to his feet.
"And that will get you killed." Fang shot back throwing a glance over her shoulder at her eidolon.
"Maybe but I don't care. I'd rather die helping her gain eternal life then live and watch her turn Cie'th when I could have helped her." Cloud explained hastily.
Fang closed her eyes and made no move to respond, she simply waved her hand and Bahamut excused himself from battle. Suddenly Fang felt a tremendous ringing sound in her ears.
Bringing her hands to her head Fang fell to one knee with her eyes squeezed shut. A few moments later the woman opened her eyes and looked around to find that she was no longer
at the entrance to the temple but in a other realm that was nothing but black all around in all directions, feeling a presence Fang raised her head Fang looked but saw nothing. The
darkness hid the entity although Fang could tell that it was a large creature which wielded great power that no human could even dream of holding in their own hands.
"That fool wants to try and help? then let him. I would love to teach this inferior creature a lesson." A voice resonated from the darkness, it was deep demonic and held power and
authority. "W-what?" Fang questioned frowning hoping her yes would adjust to the dark so she would be able to see the entity.
"Step down young one, let me take it from here." The voice responded.
"Take what?" Fang asked before letting out an ear splitting scream and falling forward unconscious. Cloud looked down with confusion written across his face as he watched Fang sceam
out in pain before dropping unconscious. Kneeling down he placed a hand on the younger girl's back as he whispered a small 'I'm sorry' before moving on. As soon as he placed a hand
on the knob of the doors that led to the temple, the building began to shake a little before slowly dissipating into mid air.
"What was that all about?" Cloud asked himself as he started his trek down into the more barren land. With a look over his shoulder he felt a bit guilty for leaving Fang behind in an
unconscious state but felt a bit better as Fang's eidolon Bahamut reappeared out of shear will to look over it's master. After walking for a good ten minutes Cloud came across what
looked to be a demonic gate that seemed to reach the heaven's themselves. The gate had several eyes that surrounded the small groove that was no doubt intended for the small crystal,
several stray body parts were spread all over the gate causing Cloud to cringe from the disgusting sight before him. The man stepped forward and placed the crystal into it's resting
place in the gate. The gate shook and slowly opened up with a loud creaking sound and groans of despair, Cloud stepped in and instantly noticed the large shadow at the end of the
enclosed area. Approaching the large figure, Cloud stopped ten feet away from it. The smell was too horrible to go any closer and it was smarter to be a good distance away from one's foe.
"Welcome." The voice boomed as visible saliva dripped from what Cloud guessed to be it's mouth. "To Gran Pulse my loyal servant. Although I haven't branded you."
"I'm here on behalf of my sister." Cloud told the entity fiercely.
"But why? she has already been here." The being informed with a chuckle.
"Bull shit, she's laying up in a hospital bed, unable to even stand!" Cloud spat at the large creature.
"Hahaha foolish insolent servant do you not know who your talking too?" the being let out a loud laugh.
"It doesn't matter." Cloud shot back although his curiosity was peaked on what this creature was.
"Hahaha, my name is ******* and you shall know death!" the entity shouted as the light dawned upon it to reveal that it was a giant spider, the same spider from the mural. The same
fal'Cie Lightning had been seeing in her dreams for the past while. Cloud stared wide eyed up at the being now wishing that he had head Fang's warning and just turned back. Shaking
the doubt from his mind Cloud drew his sword and prepared for battle.
"Now I shall show you your sister and see if your mind is strong enough to persevere." Suddenly a thick mist appeared and surrounded the fal'Cie and when it cleared Lightning was
standing there with her Blazefire Saber drawn and ready for battle. Lightning moved swiftly in jumping forward and kicking Cloud's sword out of his hands, Cloud rolled away and
retrieved his sword. Looking up Cloud noticed that the woman's eyes were glazed over, meaning she was either being controlled or not his little sister however no matter how hard
the man tried he could not bring himself to hurt her. Just the small chance of it being the real Lightning was enough to stay his blade no this can't be the real Lightning, she can't even
stand right now Cloud thought as he forced himself to his feet and brought his sword up to his chest. Lightning jumped towards him again and their blades caught in a fight for
dominance, Cloud easily overpowered her but as he brought his sword down Lightning back flipped and kicked his sword from his hand. Landing gracefully Lightning looked up to face
Cloud, her hair falling over her eyes obscuring them from view once more casting a shadow over her beautiful eyes. Lightning seemed weaker though a sure sign that it was not his
little sister over there trying to kill him by force of a fal'Cie. Cloud refused to take his sword and fight for some unknown reason he couldn't do it. Maybe it was what Fang said about
letting Lightning make her own decisions in life. "What's wrong? can you not do one simple task for your fal'Cie?" The fal'Cie asked with anger in it's voice.
"Your not my fal'Cie." Cloud responded staring into "Lightning's" eyes which were still glazed over and lacked the spark and piercing look that they always carried.
"Hahaha like it matters I can take your life in an instant." The entity chuckled and shook it's head.
"I would have to see it to believe it." Cloud sneered at the beast becoming more irritated with the superior being.
"Hahahahahahahaha." The entity's voice changed into a more child like demeanor as it laughed, the sound driving a shiver up Cloud's spine. He watched as
the fal'Cie transformed from that of a giant spider to something that Cloud could not see for a shroud of grey mist enshrouded the thing.
"Watch what you wish for, but it is quite clear that you choose the path of oblivion!" The fal'Cie shouted as it shot out a grey arm like appendage from behind the mist, the hand clenched
a fist flew at Cloud with blinding speed and in a few seconds went right through the unsuspecting man's stomach and clean out the other side. Stealing Cloud's final breath from him.
Well I finally got the Omega Weapon! it took forever, but it was better than fighting those stupid Admatoise's :P and many thanks to Pulse99 for Beta reading this I strongly recommend reading his story Atonement and Revenge it's awesome =D