So, I must apologize for this long overdue chapter. Not only is it overdue, it's also too short.

I've been so busy this past year. I hope you forgive me.

This chapter is mostly conversation and travel.

I'm actually going to write and bunch tomorrow and hopefully upload a new chapter. I have some ideas I want to work out, but I'm exhausted (it's quarter after 5 here D:)

Forgive me, I promise to have more tomorrow3

(and I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes)

"So, Lightning, eh? Parent's came up with that or is this some kind of nickname thing you got goin'?" Cid asked, taking a long huff of his cigarette.

It had been an hour since they had left Tifa's bar and said their goodbyes. There was silence mostly among the three, Cid and Cloud exchanging a few remarks every so often about the city and routing their way around town. The streets were decently crowded, full of citizen's of Edge roaming about doing errands and going to work. Lightning looked around but kept her focus on following her guides.

Once they reached the outskirts of the neighborhood, they came to a slight halt and resting point. In front of them, lay rubble ad decay of an old city. Piles of concrete and metal lay in piles while dust and debris collected on the surface.

Cid looked back, threw out the short butt of his first cigarette and lit another from his pack and inhaled.

"So?" he pestered her.

"To you guys, it's Lightning," she answered back. She was reminded of Tifa asking her the same question. She figured she better get used to people second guessing her. She walked passed him and kneed down to what was left of a doorframe lying in the rubble. "What happened here?"

Cloud turned to her. "Shinra did this. This is where you we found you."

Lightning stood back onto her feet and continued to look around. "Why did Shinra do such a thing?"

"Keep out the garbage," Cid answered, shaking his head.

Cloud gave Cid a dirty looked and began to finish explaining. "A rebel group tried fighting Shinra, but once Shinra found out their hiding spot, they blew up the entire sector. Thousands of people died. Only three members of the rebels had been at the hideout that day."

Cid gave Cloud a glare from the corner of his eye. He knew Cloud didn't want to talk about it, though there was a lot more to that story.

Lightning looked at both men holding her breath. She decided it best not to ask any more questions and try to continue their journey. "We should keep going then," she said, kicking over brick rubble.

Everyone nodded agreement and walked through the aftermath without stopping. Passing through Midgar from Edge was a depressing site. People from Edge were not the happiest people and entering the slums of Midgar made Lightnings stomach drop. So many miserable people, it was like they were just wandering spirits, not even real people.

"This place gives me the creeps," she said out loud.

"As it should," Cid said back. He gave a deep sigh and a large plume of smoke left his nostrils. "The slums are full of lifeless folks. I dunno how people can stand to be here."

Cloud glanced down where he was walking. "Some people can't help it." He then looked over to Cid. "We worked hard to help people here."

Cid gave a snort and a laugh. "Yeah, Barret, Tifa and their lot did. You were just hired muscle. Remember, Mr. ex-SOLIDER."

Cloud became more agitated at this point. "You know what really happened, don't be like that. Besides, I stopped taking money when…I…I-." Cloud stopped in mid walk and quieted down. Cid and Lightning took a few steps more before realizing Cloud had paused their journey.

Cid rubbed his face and spat on the ground. Even the crude old man knew he'd crossed the line on this one, though Lightning managed to roll her eyes out of agitation. She crossed her arms and looked lazily at the two men.

"Hey kid, c'mon. No use getting upset over it anymore. Lets keep this train going, a'ight?" Cid said giving Cloud a hardy pat on the shoulder.

Cloud said nothing for a few seconds. "I just keep reminding myself of things that I can't help. Let's mosey."

Cid chuckled, "Remember what I told you? Man up, kiddo." Cloud gave a half smile and began to lead the way around the city.

The long haul through Midgar lead them outside to the city, which wasn't much to behold either. Weeds and dirt surrounded the city while decaying trees remained as the only large objects in the area. Everyone paused to stretch and look around.

"So…uh, Cid…" Cloud began.

Cid already knew where this conversation was going. "I landed the 'Darling Mog' towards the water. We just gotta keep going straight until we see it, not a terribly long walk. Cloud let out a smirk. Cid rolled his eyes. "Shera's idea. She insisted she named the damn thing."

"You're latest model?" Cloud asked.

Cid nodded. "Yup! She's flies like a dream. Just a stupid name, but go figure with the woman who names it."

Cloud shook his head, "Shera's good to you, you shouldn't put her down like that."

Cid grumbled. "Yeah, yeah…whatever."

"Your wife?" Lightning asked.

Letting out an obnoxious laugh, Cid responded, "HA! As if, Shera's my assistant. Marrying her would be like-"

"Cid…" Cloud warned.

Cid sighed. "Alright, she ain't that bad… Sheesh."

Cloud intervened. "Shera's a nice woman. You'll probably end up meeting her,: he said to Lightning. She just shrugged and kept her mouth shut.

After walking for a bit, a a small propeller airplane came to focus near a glum beachside. Cid ran closer to it and checked everything to make sure no one had fooled around with it in the past day.

"Gotta make sure no one's foolin' with my stuff around here. Can't fly near Midgar, I'll get shot down before you can say 'chocobo'." Cid said, checking the engine outside of the plane. "Looks like everything is good to go. Jump in and put on the googles from the compartment in front of you. Nothing worse than getting beach sand in your eyes. Oh, and parachutes are under the seats…For, well, I'm not going to explain it to you two."

Following Cid, Cloud and Lightning sat themselves in the others seats in the plane and waited for Cid to start the Darling Mog and to be on their way.

The ocean between Midgar and Corel was beautiful. The first bit of nature Lightning liked looking at from this world. She was beginning to think that the planet was just a giant mass of destruction and decay. The Darling Mog flew low enough to the water that she could see small wales and porpoises. Some creatures would jump out of the water, as if they were greeting the plane flying over them.

Serah would've loved this she thought to herself. Then her felt her hear sink. Serah, she hoped she was still alive on Cocoon. At least somewhere so she found find and be reunited with her only remaining family.

Another hour flew by and land became visible again. Cid looked over and gave a thumbs up to his other passengers. Cloud just nodded in return. As the beach of the next land mass came closer, a smaller town also came to focus. Cid began his preparations for landing and flew over the tiny town below him. A small jerk and the plane began landing in the sand near the town. Some skidding and the plane was now fully touching new soil. Cid turned off the plane and let the propeller continue to spin until it stopped on it's own.

"Ahhh, would you look at that, eh?" Cid said taking off his goggles. "Beautiful Costa del Sol!"

After taking off his goggles, Cloud jumped out of the plane and stretched. "Been a while since I've been here."

Last was Lightning to leave the plane. She began taking visual notes of her surroundings as she untangled her soft pink hair. "Costa del Sol?" she asked.

"A resort town," Cloud answered. "A good place to rest and eat before we make way to Corel. Also a safe place to leave our plane. Not even Shinra would bother us here."

"Heh, that's because even their employees don't even want to bother mucking this place up," Cid retorted.

"Are you sure we have time to waste being here?" Lightning asked with an aggressive tone. She didn't like the fact these men took her to a resort town and planned on staying a while. "I have to get back to Cocoon!"

Cid snarled, "Look, we wanna get rid of you just as fast, so calm you tits and find some food!" He huffed away to the nearest bar he could find. Cloud looked at her apologetically.

"We're not here to play, we just need a place to stop for a bit. No use being hungry or tired. Who knows when we'll be able to do either. We won't be long, okay?" Cloud said to her. She calmed a little bit.

"I'm sorry," she began. "I'm just worried."

Cloud gave a small nod. "Understandable. Let's find where Cid ran off too and take a breather."

Lightning agreed and the made their way deeper into Costa del Sol.

Tomorrow, more Costa del Sol and you'll find out what's been going on in Corel. Stay tuned :)