HEYA CHICAS!!!

Sorry for the long wait, but I've had a LOT of stuff going on lately - Exams, coursework, family crisis, etc. I think this chapter is a bit better than the last one, but not by much... T.T

Still, I'm here now! And thank you all so much for the reviews! I was reading them today 'cause I was a bit down and they really cheered me up, so YAY!

Oh, by the way, you MUST listen to 'Still Alive' by Lisa Miskovsky (Yeah, it's the Mirror's Edge theme - Which by the way is an awesome game - And it is incredible)

Okay, done plugging my song of the moment - Let's rock this joint!"Are we there yet?"

"Lexus?"

"Yeah?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm replacing Felix." The scarred man responded sarcastically.

"DON'T." Placido said sharply, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "Just don't."

"Sorry." Lexus leant back in his seat next to Noctis and raised his eyebrows at the Prince. Noctis said nothing. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Fine." Noctis muttered. Liar, hissed a voice in his head. "Tired, that's all."

"You're always tired." Placido pointed out as they went over a pot hole.

"Shut up." The prince muttered darkly.

"Look, get some sleep. It's going to take us a while to get there anyway." Lexus said calmly. Noctis leant back against the seat, ignoring the headache forming in his skull.

Felix opened his eyes and groaned.

Perfect. They had left. And he wasn't going to get discharged for a few days at best. So, he'd be lonely, AND his friends would be risking their lives without him, and he wouldn't know what was going on.

Because he highly doubted Noctis would tell his uncle. He never told him anything if he could avoid it. Not that Felix could blame him.

Felix fidgeted in an attempt to get more comfortable and froze.

There was a figure in the doorway.

"... Hello?" He asked out loud. "Heeeellllloooo?"

"Hi!" The figure stepped forwards. Felix breathed out a sigh of relief – It was just a woman, no visible weapons. "I just came to see if you were okay." She shuffled her feet slightly.

"Oh... are you one of these friends of the hospital people?" He asked. She shook her head and giggled slightly.

"No!" She smiled, a warm natural smile that spread easily over her face. "I'm Oerba Dia Vanille, but everyone calls me Vanille."

"Sounds like the-"

"If you say it sounds like the ice-cream I will poke your ribcage so hard your stitches burst." Vanille interrupted. Felix gulped slightly.

"Sounds like a lovely name."

"Thank you!" She walked over to the bed. "I just came to make sure you're okay."

"Uh...." Felix frowned. "How do I know you?"

"You don't." Vanille shrugged. "But I know you got shot."

"Oh, on the news? You don't want to pay any attention to what that bastard Nicomedes says-"

"Who's Nicomedes?"

"Not the news then." He smiled. "That's relief... I think." Vanille giggled.

"So...." She held out a box. "Do you like fudge?"

"Noctis?" The prince opened his eyes and blinked to get rid of the drowsiness. "We're here."

"Oh, right." Noctis opened the door and stepped out. The rain that was falling was heavier than he had ever seen rain fall before.

"Screw the rain we get in Tenebrea! This," Lexus yelled over the thunderstorm. "THIS is rain!" Noctis shielded his eyes in order to try and see properly.

"There's a village over there." Placido jerked his thumb towards a few buildings. "We should start looking there."

"We could also find some shelter." Lexus muttered, already walking towards the village. Placido and Noctis followed, the latter massaging his temples.

Stupid damned headache. Blasted humidity...

There was a sudden crash and several loud curses.

"Get out of here you bum! Pay for yer drinks or get plastered elsewhere!" Snapped a man, as another man staggered out of a nearby building. He cursed loudly and shakily walked away.

"Looks like we've found a pub." Lexus said bluntly.

"What makes you think that?" Placido asked sarcastically. More thunder and lightning erupted across the sky. "Christ!"

"Let's just get in there. Blasted rain." Noctis muttered.

"You're in one of your sunshine moods, aren't you?"

"Shut it."

The trio walked into the relative dryness of the pub. There was a low buzz of chatter, which heightened slightly at the appearance of the three strangers.

"You," The bartender suddenly spoke up. "Are from out of town." She looked at each of them in turn. Lexus spoke up.

"Yep. Your point is?"

"We've got enough issues without you lot coming in and causing hassle." She hissed.

"FOR GAWD'S SAKE GIRL!!!" A man suddenly came out from a room behind the bar. "As long as they pay for their damned drinks, who gives a flying monkeys where they come from?"

"No way am I serving them." She crossed her arms. "My brother died in the last conflict-"

"You and your brother didn't speak for 15 years, and you pushed a dead rat through his letterbox. Stop being a drama queen!" With a 'hmph', the girl walked away, leaving the man standing behind the bar shaking his head. "Jaysis."

"Nice girl." Placido muttered.

"Heh. Ignore her; she's got a stick up her arse. Name's Cid (A/N: I GOT HIM IN!!!)." Cid smiled. "What'll it be?"

Upon the acceptance of the strangers by the owner of the pub, the customers turned back to their drinks and original conversations.

"Anything wet. Is it always this humid?" Lexus sat down, as did the others.

"Yep." Cid began to pour some drinks. (A/N: I'm fifteen; I don't know what men in their early twenties like to drink! Gimme a break!) "Welcome to Pulse gentlemen."

"Thanks." Noctis rubbed his temples yet again, wincing at the headache. "May I ask you something?"

"Shoot." Cid handed over the drinks as Placido pushed some money onto the bar. "But not literally, like some people do on Saturday nights." He added darkly.

"You wouldn't know anything about a group called Phoenix, would you?" Cid's eyes widened and the three men exchanged glances. After a moment, Cid leant over the counter, looking right into Noctis' eyes.

"Listen to me boy, and listen good. You go around asking questions like that, one morning you're going to wake up dead." He whispered. "Phoenix are bad news. And if anyone from there finds out you're asking questions, you're going to be on their hit list."

"He already is." Lexus spoke up. Cid stared at the group for a moment.

"Rest of your drink's are on the house. Least I can do." He muttered after a moment. "You're brave men, going after them."

"But what do they do?" Placido asked. Cid groaned before reaching for another glass and pouring himself a pint.

"Anything they need to do. I guess the best thing you can say about them is that they're determined."

Noctis stared down at his drink, which he hadn't touched. He blinked as he realised his concentration was going, while Cid continued talking.

What the hell is wrong with me?

He shook his head slightly and tried to rejoin the conversation.

"They'll take in people off the street. But they have no morals or loyalty. Some member apparently got whipped half to death for failing to assassinate someone."

fal'Cie.

Noctis blinked in shock as a word drifted into his head. He knew that word of course, anyone who knew anything about the crystals did but... it sounded like someone had said it. He glanced over his shoulder, no-one was there.

l'Cie.

"Noctis, you okay?" Placido sounded like he was talking through water. Noctis looked up at him.

"I... I need some air." He managed to stutter, standing up as the voice got louder.

Summoned.

Crystal.

"NOCTIS!!"

The prince felt his head hit the ground before he passed out.

Timaeus stood on the balcony overlooking Tenebrea, a frown on his face.

He was worried about Noctis. He had never understood his nephew – Then again, he had never understood his sister.

Liana.

His sister, who had just given up. He owed it to her, he promised he would look after Noctis – But he didn't have a clue where he might be. He had phoned the hospital, but they said he wasn't there.

"M- my- My Lord." A servant suddenly appeared behind him. "I-I apologise for the interruption."

"There is no need to apologise." King Timaeus sighed. "What is it?"

"Well, my lord," The servant bit his lip. "It appears that the Prince Noctis... has left Tenebrea and headed to Pulse."

"What?!" Timaeus spluttered, before hastily regaining his composure. "Very well. Would you send for Arminius?"

"Yes my lord." The servant backed out of the room. Timaeus sighed and turned back to face Tenebrea.

Of course Noctis would go to Pulse. He should have known he would have.

"My Lord." Arminius appeared. "How may I assist you?"

"The troops are going to Pulse?"

"Yes, soon."

"Then look for Noctis while you are there." The king shuddered. "I have a bad feeling..."

"Noct! Wake up man! Come on Noct! Wake up!"

"Wha..." Noctis peeled his eyes open and winced at the torch light being shone in his face. "Ow! Are you trying to blind me?"

"He's awake!" Lexus yelled, dropping the torch.

"I'm standing right next to you genius, no need to yell." Placido muttered, as Noctis sat up on the sofa they had laid him down on. "What are you doing!?"

"Lie down!" Cid yelled suddenly. "You smashed yer damned head against the floor! Had to bleedin' drag you into the back room!"

"I know what to do, stay here!" The Prince got off the sofa and ran towards the door.

"Noctis-"

"Bleedin' eejit-"

"I know what I'm doing!" He yelled as he exited the room, racing out of the pub.

I know where you are.

"Vanille, will you hurry up?" Snow yelled as he attempted to prop the Shiva motorcycle up. It fell to the ground with a loud clang. "Urgh! Will you just work!?"

"I'm coming Snow!" Vanille hopped out of the abandoned house, pulling a boot on as she went.

"Good, we need to get back." He pulled Shiva up again. It fell down again, making Snow curse.

Vanille sighed slightly, wondering whether or not to tell Snow. She had just wanted to check that Felix was alright – Sometimes she felt like Lightning's conscience.

It turned out the blonde was... well, nice. She liked him, and funnily enough, he liked her. They'd even exchanged phone numbers.

But she felt guilty. It was because of one of her best friends he had been shot.

No. She shouldn't tell Snow – Not yet anyway. He was already too worried about Lightning – which was the reason they were racing back to Pulse.

She walked over to the bike and helped him prop it up.

"Sazh'll catch up with us later, right?" She asked as he climbed on the bike.

"That's the plan. He needs to tie up a few things here first." He patted the seat and Vanille climbed on behind him. "Let's go."

And with that, he revved up the engine.

Noctis stood at the cliff face looking up. A passerby might have thought he was looking at the sky, but his eyes were focused on the cave, semi hidden from view.

She was in there. He knew it. Some called it gut instinct, he knew it was the crystal.

The crystal had told him where she was – So he could finish it. With a smirk, he felt the cliff face.

There were dents in the rock, foot and hand holds. Noctis wasn't a great climber, but he had to get up there. He owed to Felix, to the counsellor, to his country.

He grabbed hold of the slippery rock and started to climb.

She's scared, look at her. Look how weak she is, how fragile, bewildered and helpless – Oh, she's very aware of her helplessness.

Now watch her change. She's wary now. Watchful, missing nothing. She's planning now, she's a schemer.

Watch her change – From prey to predator.

A necessary change you say? Maybe. Oh yes. Definitely yes.

But how does a predator live with herself? What becomes of her? How does she exist?

Noctis finished his climb and breathed out slowly.

He looked back at the path he had taken and smiled slightly. The cliff wasn't high – But he still didn't feel like falling off it.

He summoned Somnus into his hand and walked into the cave. He winced as his eyes adjusted to the gloom of the cave. He slowly made his way through the cave, noticing it wasn't completely dark.

Strange... He thought to himself as he walked into a rock. The Prince bit his tongue to stop himself from yelling. He had the element of surprise, and he didn't want to give it away.

The cave widened suddenly, and brightened. Noctis shut his eyes as his pupils shrank. He opened them slightly after a moment and turned his head to the left.

Lightning lay face down on the ground, extremely still. Noctis walked towards her slowly, tightening his grip on Somnus. He knelt down next to her, and noticed her slowly breathing.

She was asleep.

He scowled, a rush of anger making his eyes turn blood red. This assassin, a murderer who had taken countless lives was peacefully sleeping on the floor. It seemed like a massive injustice, people who had done no harm were dead because of her.

Noctis hated killing in cold blood. It was a horrible, filthy business. But now, right now, he couldn't think of a more fitting end. He stood up and raised his sword.

As he did so, he raised his head and saw the source of the light.

A crystal stood in the middle of the cave. He dropped his sword to his side and stared.

"So the rumours are true..." He muttered under his breath. Pulse was indeed a crystal bearing world.

The crystal was different to Tenebrea's. It was a shade of light purple, whereas Tenebrea's was light blue. He walked slowly towards it.

The crystal also seemed more... He couldn't describe it. The aura around it was stronger.

More controlling? That was it. Tenebrea's crystal was a power source more than anything, but this crystal was definitely alive.

Did it have l'Cie? Maybe that was it. Some crystals used l'Cie, whereas others didn't. Tenebrea's crystal didn't use l'Cie, but maybe Pulse's did.

"What are you doing here?" Noctis turned around at the acidic voice. Lightning was sitting up, glaring at him. "How did you get here? And get away from the crystal!" The last sentence was an order. The Prince paused, before deciding to stand his ground.

"I'm surprised you haven't shot me already." He said calmly. Lightning stood up.

"I don't kill in front of crystals!" She snapped. "I thought a prince like you would know the legends."

Snow pulled up next to a small village.

"Okay, here's the plan." He yelled over the rain. "We're going to split up. I'm going to head towards Phoenix to see if Lightning's around there, and you head towards the crystal cave."

"Right." Vanille climbed off the bike. "Don't worry, I can run there. It's quicker. See you later!" Snow nodded and watched as Vanille ran into the jungle.

He hoped Vanille was the one who found her. The further away Lightning was from Phoenix, the better for her. He blamed himself, and he was sure Lightning did as well.

He never should have brought her to Phoenix.

"Why do you want to kill me?" Noctis asked the woman, who was growing increasingly angry.

"I don't have a choice! Now will you get away from the crystal!" She snapped.

"I don't see why I should." The Prince crossed his arms. Lightning scowled and pulled out her gunblade.

"Get away from it."

"It's not like you can do anything to stop me. You're a l'Cie, aren't you?" Noctis smiled as she dropped her hands to her side. "I thought so. Nothing but a slave-"

"SHUT UP!" Lightning screamed, dropping the gunblade and clenching her fists. "I am not a slave!"

"Oh that's right," Noctis remembered something he'd read while learning about the crystals. "You prefer the word 'Servant', don't you?"

Before Noctis could react, Lightning had punched him in the face. He staggered backwards, rubbing his face

"Do not," She hissed. "Ever call me a servant." The Prince paused before smirking.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone like you before." He observed, keeping one eye on her fist. "If you had a choice then, would you kill me?"

"What kind of question is that?" Lightning frowned in confusion. "It really doesn't matter what I would do if I had a choice, because I don't."

"It matters to me," Noctis explained with a small shrug. "Because it's the difference between you following orders begrudgingly or you being a psycho. So if you had a choice-"

"What I would do doesn't matter!" Lightning yelled, growing increasingly uncomfortable with the entire situation. She had never had such a messy mission before. They had ALL been clean kills, but this was getting more tangled by the day. "All that matters is here and now!" Noctis now frowned.

"Oh, so you shooting my friend doesn't matter?" The soldier seemed to deflate slightly.

"It was supposed to be a warning shot..." She muttered.

"Don't bother with those anymore, he got more than a decent warning from you." Silence fell in the cave for the first time Lightning had awoken. She bent down and picked up the gunblade, and placed it back in its holster.

"Is he okay?" She eventually asked.

"He's alive."

"That doesn't really answer my question." She snapped.

"I thought all that mattered was here and now."

"Will you STOP throwing things back in my face!?" Lightning bellowed, before sighing. "Look, I'm sorry I shot your friend. I was just trying to get rid of them."

"Why?" Noctis crossed his arms, watching her closely. He didn't trust her one bit.

"Innocent people shouldn't get hurt." His eyes turned blood red, as he became more agitated.

"And me?"

"You're just a target."

"So," The Prince attempted to understand Lightning's thought process. "I'm not even worthy of human being status?"

"It's easier that way." Lightning sounded like she was trying to convince him. "Cut yourself off from the target."

"The counsellor you murdered had a five year old son." Noctis said calmly. "Isn't he hurt?"

"Do you think I enjoy it?" Lightning glared at Noctis, her voice becoming quiet. "Killing? I take it you've killed people." He nodded slowly, wincing slightly at the memory. "Then you know that feeling as you fire the gun, slash the sword... it's the worse feeling in the world. The trail of blood, the fits as their body shuts down....." Lightning's voice trailed off. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't kill anyone."

"So here and now isn't all that matters?" Noctis asked out loud. Lightning glared at him.

"You are the most arrogant person I've ever met in my life!" She yelled. Noctis smirked, more relaxed after hearing Lightning's mini-speech. He looked at the crystal, alive and glowing with an almost blinding light.

"So, l'Cie-" He said after a few minutes, turning his head towards her.

"My name is Lightning."

"And I'm Noctis, not 'A target'." The two held each other's stare for a moment.

"Alright, Noctis." She said after a moment, empathising his name, a ghost of a smirk crossing her face.

"So, Lightning," He continued. "I think you should realise there is always a choice. For example, now I could kill you, hand you over to the authorities or let you go." Lightning didn't even blink, she instantly headed towards the exit. Noctis grabbed her arm, twisting it around so she was forced to look at him. "Guess what I'm choosing?"

"I have no idea." She muttered sarcastically, squirming in his grip.

Noctis let go of her arm.

"Now you do." He smiled slightly. Lightning blinked in surprise.

"You're... letting me go?" She frowned.

"On one condition." Noctis explained. "If you ever injure any of my friends or family again, I will kill you." Lightning nodded numbly, turning her back to him.

"... Please get out." She whispered after a while.

"Next time I see you," Noctis smiled, trying to make a joke out of the serious situation they were in. "Can you try not to kill me?"

"Just go." She repeated. The Prince nodded slightly, before turning and leaving the crystal cave.

There was no noise except the slight hum from the crystal. Lightning breathed out loudly.

"... I wish I could. I really wish..."

Yes, I KNOW Cid should be an engineer, but I needed a name for my barman, and Cid suited him. So.

Yes, I put in a little shotgunXVanille. Sorry, but that pairings so cute, and I need a bit of sweetness in this story - Believe me, Noctis and Lightning aren't going to generate a lot!

Oh, and Liana: Short form of the Latin 'Eliana', meaning Sun.

And "You're in one of your sunshine moods." Is what I say to my friends when they're pissed off. I think the gang would say it to Noctis.

Also, updates may slow down slightly - This is as far as I've planned the story so far!

Still, enough of my random ramblings (Ooh, alliteration - My English teacher would be proud!), please review mo charas!

Peace out dudes and dudettes!