So hi guys, and thanks for tuning into the next chapter of NR! :3

A big thank you to my reviewers: GCFarron, OscarMerrinoz96, SquallRocks, and Mylaervain! You guys rock.

To GCFarron: Of course you can draw something spun off of this fic, I'd love to see it! 8D

And, Mylaervain, how I update so often and such? Well, most of my inspirations come from my intense love for the XIII characters and my desire to improve my writing and to make you guys happy! xD While most of the main plot points are already planned, I do most of my thinking/plotting as I write, and well, I tend to write a lot - during boring classes when I don't want to listen to the prof, etc, haha! I live pretty close to my university so yeah. n_n

Moving on, several developments coming up, and enjoy as usual!

Chapter 22: Sinking Truth

Snow crashed through the undergrowth, the early morning sun hot on the back of his neck. Twigs snapped under his foot as he roughly pushed aside brambles, trying to peer through the thick foliage. Lightning had been angry at him this morning, true, but it wasn't like her to disappear for over an hour. Sis... you didn't ditch us, did you?

A small tug at his sleeve made him look down to Serah's heart shaped face, drawn with worry. "Snow... Claire didn't run off, did she? She wasn't that mad... right?" He ruffled her hair, chuckling, but there was no life in the small laugh.

"No, don't worry, baby, Sis is fine, you'll see. She's probably just still fuming." He rubbed his jaw again, wincing when his fingers brushed the swelling bruise she left on his face. And she sure knows how to pack a punch... My face will be purple for a week.

A small scuffle ahead of him made him tense in relief, but then he caught a glimpse of Hope's silver hair in the sunlight. It's just the kid. A sharp pain stabbed his foot as he stubbed it on a rock - clearly, he hadn't been watching the forest floor, and he cursed under his breath. A flash of pink caught his eye, and he rushed forwards, leaving a surprised Serah to stumble after him.

Snow charged into the clearing, his heart plummeting when he saw it was just a long pink feather caught on a rock. Wait... Just one pink feather? No, the entire clearing was littered with pink feathers, and his shoe kicked something shiny - looking down, he saw it was a bullet shell. A leap of excitement jumped in his chest - Lightning had been here, and she'd gotten a kill. If the feathers were still around, it couldn't have been that long ago.

"She's been here!" It was Hope, and he'd clearly come to the same conclusion as he had. "Light! Where are you?" His shout was swallowed by the budding trees and the occasional distant screech of wildlife. But to Snow's surprise, he heard someone yell back.

"Hope?" It was definitely Lightning, and she didn't sound too far away. Casting one glance at the relieved faces of Hope and Serah, he followed them into the woods again, heading in the direction of her voice.

"Sis? Wanna tell us where you are?" His voice was being carried by the breeze that was stronger - he guessed they must be nearing the cliff edge. His foot hit a lower spot, and he quickly pulled it back as it sent a shower of dirt down an incline.

"If you stopped raining dirt in my hair, you'd notice I'm right beneath you." Her snappish response did seem to be coming beneath him, and he looked down. Lightning was standing on a small jut in the steep cliffside, one hand holding a dead bird that she'd obviously shot, and she did not look amused at the brown smattering of dust in her hair.

"Ha, how'd you get down there, Sis?" She responded with an icy glare.

"How about you get me out of here before I explain?" She held up the dead bird, clearly expecting him to take it - when he hesitated, she let out a snort. "Clearly you don't want the breakfast I worked so hard for. Fine, Snow, you can hunt for yourself next time." He plucked the pink body from her fingers, grunting when he felt its weight. This isn't just breakfast, this is lunch and dinner for the next couple of days. He handed it to Serah, who gripped it by its talons and held it several inches away from her. Snow flattened himself onto his stomach, reaching a hand down to Lightning. He felt her steel grip close on his fingers, and he hauled backwards. Man... for someone who has as much athleticism as Sis, she's heavy.

Several minutes later, Lightning was kneeling at the edge of the cliff, a very dirty expression on her face when she glared at him.

"So, Light? How did you get down there?" Hope's voice was a little tentative - he knew Lightning wasn't in a good mood. She shot him a frosty look before letting out a huff.

"I fell. Isn't that obvious?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "But that's not important, because look what I found." Snow followed the finger that she pointed into the distance, and his eyes landed on a black spire. It looked like a tower, but from this far away he couldn't be sure.

"Uh, Sis? What's that?" He heard her sigh impatiently as she whipped out the map from the pack on her thigh. She jabbed a long, slim finger into a spot on the page, the place that had a red ink circle drawn messily on it. The tiny label underneath it read Demonsoul Tower. Not making the connection, he shot a glance at Hope, who shrugged, looking equally clueless. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lightning roll her eyes.

"Tch, why is it always me who does all the research?"

"Well, Sis, we all know you're better than the rest of us at that stuff, okay?" He honeyed his words, hoping to mollify her. He saw her hardened expression soften into something that resembled amusement, and she relaxed her pose. Serah was right when she said you had a soft heart, wasn't she?

Serah watched her sister expertly pluck the feathers from the bird, pale fingers moving quickly to strip the down from its body. She'd taken her gloves off, and Serah watched the movement of her slender wrists as she pulled the feathers. Mere minutes had passed before Lightning reached for her survival knife, flicking open the blade before deftly beheading the bird and slitting open its stomach, pulling out its entrails.

Her sister dropped the head, tail and innards of the bird under a rock, before going over to a shallow stream she'd found to wash her hands. Gently picking up the now plucked bird, Serah speared it onto a long stick before setting it over a fire she'd proudly conjured herself. Sitting back, she watched the bird cook. Hope sat down with a soft thump beside her, also watching the bird roast over the fire. She could tell he wasn't really paying attention to it though, and she gently elbowed him.

"Hey. Is something wrong?" He turned his sea green eyes on her, smiling a little.

"No, well... I heard from Snow. So Light was really mad this morning?" Serah giggled, finding that she could laugh about it.

"Yeah, Snow fell asleep on watch, and Claire woke up. She saw him I guess, and she punched him for falling asleep. And... oh yeah, she threatened to throw him off a cliff if he did it again."

When he didn't reply, Serah looked at him curiously. "Why? Is something wrong?" He looked up, startled.

"Oh, no. Just... wondering, if I fell asleep, what would she threaten me with?" Serah giggled again.

"Well, she likes you better than Snow, so... probably something less extreme." She watched his gloved hands tighten around his knees - Hope seemed to be at a loss for words, green eyes troubled. She saw him fiddle with the teal scarf around his neck.

"Does she? I mean, like me better than Snow?" Serah allowed a soft smile to spread on her lips.

"She probably likes everyone better than Snow," she replied playfully before getting up to call Snow to eat. She cast another glance back at Hope, who was still sitting by the flickering flames, eyes lost in thought.

You really care about Claire, don't you? I've seen the way you look at her: protective... almost possessive in a way. Like you're the one fighting to protect her, and not the other way around. Oh Hope... I really count on you being the one to open her up, to turn her back into the Claire I grew up with, and not the Lightning that she became.

Lightning picked her way carefully down the mountain, looking where she placed her feet. It wouldn't do to twist her ankle the way she'd done this morning - she was painfully aware of the fact that she'd gotten lucky this morning; if she'd slipped anywhere else, she'd have fallen down a steep drop that not even her l'Cie magic would be able to fix the wounds she would have no doubt received from it. She heard Snow and Serah giggle happily about something behind her. I really hope that idiotic retard is keeping an eye out where he steps... I don't really care if he falls, but if Serah falls...

Kicking aside a patch of thistles, she watched the purple puffs drift away in the breeze. She fixed her eyes on the tower that was now in her line of view without looking down. Demonsoul Tower... I don't know why they circled it on the map, but it must be important if they marked it. The rocky ground was beginning to flatten out into the hills, and Lightning let her thoughts wander back into the night at the cave.

They'd mentioned the name Yorun. She didn't know who he was, and if she was honest with herself, she didn't care who it was. From Hope, she'd heard that Larcell had died too easily, died with a laugh on his lips. That bastard... But it was obvious their assault on the Oerba Ruins hadn't changed anything - as far as she was concerned they were still the ones pulling the strings. And we could very well be playing right into their dirty hands... They were waiting for us at the Farseer Initiation Cave, after all. Lightning found herself gritting her teeth in frustration; it seemed that the further they walked, the more questions that went unanswered.

"Light?" Hope's voice sounded a little tentative.

"Mmhmm?" She didn't bother turning around, keeping an eye out in front of them - this was a bad place for a monster attack: one misstep and they'd be tumbling to their dooms.

"What do you think we'll find? I mean, when we get there?" She shrugged, keeping her hand on her weapon.

"To be honest, Hope, I just want to get to the bottom of this whole mess." A flash of black moved in the corner of her eye, and she stopped abruptly, causing Hope to bump awkwardly into her back. Slowly, she drew her gunblade, trying to squint into the shadows that were still present in the clumps of trees that clustered at the edge of the hills, straining to see through the thick foliage.

"What is it?" Hope's hiss came from behind her back - she could feel his elbow against her side.

"Saw something. Tell Snow and Serah-" But she didn't get to finish before a weapon fired, crumbling the rocks under her feet. They weren't yet off the rocky trail that led to the hilly area, and Lightning felt herself slip, left hand flailing desperately to catch something, anything that would stop them from falling thirty feet down.

Her gloved fingers found a rocky crevice, and she gripped onto it, steeling her fingers for the hold. There was no way she was letting go of her weapon, but there also wasn't a way to climb up with one hand... especially with Hope clinging to her lower leg. She grunted when she found that she was supporting both their weights with one arm - she was going to dislocate it soon if they didn't think of something.

Serah's shrieks were somewhere above her head, and she hoped to the Maker that Snow had the sense to keep her safe. Something grazed her shoulder, and she'd been in too many fights not to know what it was. She pictured how they would look to an enemy: two slender figures unable to even move their hands to attack, dangling precariously from a thirty foot high cliff. Lightning ground her teeth in frustration, letting a low growl escape from her lips at the thought.

And are we sitting ducks out here. Fuck.

Serah let loose a shriek when she saw the rock collapse under her sister and Hope. Snow's hand immediately covered her mouth, and it was only after a few moments of desperate struggling before she realized that she was giving away their general location. She felt Snow tense, pulling her roughly beside him, before she followed his gaze - there were five black figures emerging from the cluster of trees to their right and one of them held the bazooka. She glanced anxiously at the edge of the newly created cliff - even she knew there was no way Lightning could support both herself and Hope for very long, and a claw of dread raked through her at the thought of them falling.

"Serah, we have to attack! Dualcasting!" Snow's voice came from ahead of her, and she realized he had already charged ahead at the figures. Serah chased after him - Hope had taught her the commands in battle, and she tried to summon from the well of magic inside her. Her first few spells were strong - the Fire had distracted her opponents. She felt a pinprick of surprise when she'd seen that they hadn't been aiming for her, before the realization smacked her in the face. Of course they'd be after her sister and Hope, who were utterly defenceless at the moment.

But she was beginning to feel the first effects of continued casting already - the pounding in her head was starting to begin. Cursing her low well of magic, Serah desperately tried to aim another Aero at one of the assailants. Snow had taken out two, but the one with the bazooka was still on his feet and she couldn't let him get another shot at Claire and Hope.

"Serah, cast Slow! Undermine!" Feeling her reserve of magic beginning to run out, Serah tried to aim the debuff at the remaining enemies. One of them did stop in his tracks, crumpling to the ground, but her spell hadn't been enough to get all three. She flinched as one of them aimed his weapon at her, icy talons raking down her spine, and she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact.

Crack. The blow didn't come, instead, Serah opened her eyes to the sight of Snow's fist in the man's jaw as he sent him flying. "Divide and Conquer!" Summoning what was left of her shallow magic, Serah tried again to slow down the man with the bazooka. But she didn't make it in time, nor did Snow's fist connect with some part of him before he fired it again. The scream worked its way up her spine.

"Claire! Hope!"

Falling.

That was the one sensation she felt. And for a moment, just the one moment that felt like it lasted both a heartbeat and an eternity, she felt light, before her body slammed into the rough ground and the breath was driven out of her. She heard something crack, but Lightning wasn't yet sure of what that was - her body wasn't registering pain at the moment. Darkness crashed over her like a wave, and desperately, she tried to fight back before rock started raining down on her body. There wasn't even time to worry about Hope - she didn't know where he was; she couldn't even remember if he had let go of her the moment they'd fallen.

She had to give up. There wasn't a way to win against the incoming waves of darkness. Something else pricked her failing consciousness, and a grip closed around her wrist. Too weak to fight back, only one more thought crossed her mind before it was eaten by the shadows.

Who...

Snow punched the man, feeling rage drive his actions as he knocked the weapon away with one gloved fist. The motion of the attack sent the man sprawling on his back against a rough tree trunk, and Snow pulled him up by the shirt. The man was still conscious, hopefully he'd get some answers out of him.

"Who sent you here?" Ripping the mask off the man's face, Snow was greeted by frightened grey eyes begging for mercy.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me, please..." The begging was pathetic, and Snow resisted the urge to slam the man's head onto the trunk.

"Tell me who sent you!" He drove his other fist into the man's throat, partially cutting of his air supply.

"I-I don't know! These people... they came to my village, and then the elder ordered us to attack anyone who came our way..." Snow furrowed his brows at the gasps of the man.

"Who are these people?" He lowered his voice to a growl.

"I-I really... don't know...! They have r-red eyes, and they said-"

Snow cut the man off the moment he heard the phrase red eyes. His grip tightened on the man's shirt, and it took all of his control not to snap the man's neck right then and there.

"They said what?"

The man looked terrified, and Snow saw the beginning beads of tears in the corners of his eyes. "T-They said we had to bring them the silver haired kid..." Snow didn't need to hear anymore, throwing the man to the ground in frustration. His fingers closed on his gloves. Of course this is what this is about. They're still after us, and now they've got Lightning as well as Hope.

"Fuck!" he yelled out loud, scattering the birds from the nearby trees. He set his eyes on the village they'd agree to travel to, and the tower just beyond it. Kicking aside the unconscious bodies that lay in the dense, scrubby grass, Snow tried to control his temper. Fuck, fuck, fuck...

"Snow?" A small, terrified whimper broke into his tirade, and he forced himself to take a deep breath to calm down. Opening his arms, he waited for Serah to walk into them - and she did. He could feel the tears on her face, and gently, he stroked her cheek.

"It'll be okay, baby, come on, we'll save Hope. And Sis. You need to be strong, okay? Just imagine the look on Sis's face when you get her, hm?" Coaxing a small chuckle out of her, despite the situation touched a small smile to his own face. He scratched his stubble beard.

"We'd better get started if we want to get them soon." Snow led the way to the newly created crevice, peering down. He winced the moment he looked into the abyss - it was dark and stone dust still floated lazily in the shafts of sunlight. Trying to find a way down, he frowned - there wasn't a way as far as he could see.

Well, there was one way and that was jumping, but... Even I know that's a stupid idea.

"Snow? Snow! I found a way down, I think!" Bounding over to his wife, who stood several dozen yards down the rocky ledge - there was really no way across the created ravine now, he followed her finger. There. A series of smaller ledges, not ideal, but better than nothing. A little too far for Serah, but he'd go first.

"Okay, baby, I'll try. And then I'll bring you down too." Ruffling her hair once, Snow carefully lowered himself down. Cursing loudly when his foot slipped on the cool rock, he landed ungracefully on his knees. At least he wasn't hurt. Looking back at Serah's wide, anxious blue eyes, he opened his arms again.

"Come on, baby, jump. I'll catch you if you fall." A shower of stone dust in his face moments later, he was gripping her slim arm, looking down for the next ledge.

Each precarious jump brought them closer to the ground beneath the hills. There were a few tense moments, but finally, Snow landed with a thump on the shaded canyon floor, and Serah landed lightly next to him. His boots crunched the thin flakes of slate, and he cursed again when he stepped into a puddle. This place is giving me the creeps.

Serah followed her husband as he led the way through the ravine - they were nearing the place where, theoretically, Claire and Hope should have landed when they fell, when a flash of red cloth in sunlight caught her eye. Freezing, Serah rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining things before running to it, sneakers slipping on the sheets of thin rock that littered the earth.

There was absolutely no doubt it was her sister's cape... and hopefully the rest of her sister.

"Snow, Snow!" Thumps behind her told her he was coming, and Serah began frantically throwing the plates of rock off, hoping to find... There. A tendril of pale pink hair, and she'd seen the sunlight dance on something white. Large hands joined hers, also frantically digging. But for some reason, Lightning didn't seem to be buried deep enough. A cruel thing to think by any standards, but there was something off about the way they'd found her. Not that Serah had time to worry about that at the moment.

Lightning definitely didn't look well. Pink hair plastered to her heart shaped face with blood, Serah noticed a gash on her left temple. The omega weapon was lying several feet away, and Serah bit her lip when she saw the way her sister's left leg was twisted awkwardly underneath her.

"Light?" Snow was shaking her. "Sis, wake up!" But her sister's eyes remained closed, and for the first time since Cocoon's fall, Serah felt the familiar fear nag at her stomach, a fear she hadn't entertained since the night at the Bodhum Fireworks. She felt the despair choke her, as she sank to her knees on the cold stone, hands over her mouth, fighting the impulse to scream.

Today... I might see my sister die in front of me, while I can only stand here, utterly unable to help her.

Warmth.

Was this dying? No, Hope was fairly certain death was cold... and painless. He didn't remember anything after they'd fallen, didn't know if... Light! Was she okay?

He didn't want to open his eyes, afraid that if he did, he would see her cold, lifeless body lying in front of him. He didn't want to leave the dream state that entertained the fact that she could still be alive. But the burn in the back of his throat eventually forced his emerald eyes to open, to fully register the fact that he felt like he'd been thrown against several monsters and left as bait.

Cold, silver cat eyes stared back at him.

"And how are you today... Hope, is it?"

For some reason, though the words were spoken with a smile, it made him want to literally crawl away and hide. It pierced the most primitive part of him, the part that spoke directly to fear, and Hope wanted to cover his ears with his hands.

Light... help me!

His thoughts left his mouth as words, and the moment he uttered them, he regretted it, because the man laughed, and that laugh sent icy claws of disgust and fear down his spine.

"She's not here to help you. In fact, she won't ever be around to help you again. You're all alone."

Lightning... no!

Cliffhangers again! Haha, I should really stop torturing you guys from now on, but then again, it's fun watching the speculations. xD

Nonetheless this was an interesting chapter development to say the least, and you guys will have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens next. *cackles insanely* I think Seymour (from FFX) must be rubbing off on me - I was playing the part where he insists Yuna marry him last night, and urgh... *shudders*

Anyways, leave love as always in reviews, and I will see you all tomorrow!

Hearts!