Kai: Hey guys! MWHAHAHAHA NOW IT IS TIME!!!! TIIIIIIME!

Hope: Time for what? Bed?

Kai: *hits Hope* Noooo DX You will find out though :D MWHAHAHHAA *runs away laughing*

FF13 cast: *stares after me* weird.

Kai: On with the story! :D

Chapter 9: Realization

Lightning mumbled as she took a shower, her servants washing her fur clean and brushing it out neatly. Serah sat on a stool as she watched her older sister get out of the shower and sit down in front of the mirror. Her servants continuing to tame the wild fur. The beast glanced at the cat and grumbled.

"Why am I getting dressed up? I'm a beast I don't need to try to look good because there really isn't a point." Lightning grumbled but Serah chuckled a bit.

"Oh come on Light, I'm sure Hope will like it." Serah said as she watched as a moogle cut at Lightning's fur.

Lightning stared at the mirror, seeing as her fur was now straight up and she looked like she had a fancy royal beard.

"Uh you look....." Serah started till Lightning finished for her.

"Stupid." Lightning answered bluntly.

"Um... let's just go with natural." Serah giggled as the moogles continued to cut at Lightning's fur.

Lightning rolled her blue eyes as she waited patiently. Serah thought for a moment and grinned. "So Light, what's Hope mean to you?" she asked.

Lightning blinked and looked at Serah. "....he's important." she answered.

"Do you love him?" asked Serah curiously and hopefully.

Lightning paused then looked at the mirror. "He's just a kid." she answered and Serah rolled her eyes.

"Like that really bothers you. He's cute, he's kind, he's sweet, and he is very patient." said Serah, flicking her cat tail with a innocent smile.

Lightning simply snorted, not answering her sister anymore.

~Later~

Hope walked down the stairs in formal clothing that one would wear to a ball. It was white to match his hair with golden buttons and golden shoulder pads. His hair was neatly combed out and he was staring at Snow and Sazh curiously.

"So why am I dressed so nicely tonight?" Hope asked the dog and crow.

"Well you wanna look nice for the master don't you?" grinned Snow.

Hope blinked and nodded. "I guess, but it's only dinner." he said and Sazh snorted.

"Well today you two are going to dance." Sazh announced and Hope's jaw dropped down to the floor.

"What?! I have no idea how to dance though! And how is that suppose to work? Lightning is bigger than me!" Hope yelled at them while Snow and Sazh just shrugged then looked up the stairs.

"Look! There she is!" said Snow, flicking his golden tail up the stairs.

Hope looked up to see Lightning, in formal men's clothing. Similar to his but it was a red shirt and black pants. A lot like a french soldier's outfit was but this one was made for a ball. Hope blinked as the beast made her way to him then stopped in front of him. She looked at him and fixed her collar.

"Shall we go?" she asked as her blue gaze looked into this green ones.

Hope smiled. Knowing that Lightning would never wear a dress, it would look weird. "Yes." he said bowing politely and took her hand and lead her to the dinner table.

Lightning followed him and sat in her usual place while Hope sat on the other side. They both lifted their glasses in a tost then drank their water and ate their dinner which was steak. Later, Lightning stood up and walked over to him and held out her hand to him. Hope blinked and took it gently as she helped him up and led him to a grand ballroom. Hope stared around at the beautiful room in awe. It's golden walls and floor shinning brightly. He then looked at Lightning when she spoke.

"Care for a dance?" she asked calmly though had a slight smile on her face.

"But I don't know how and..." Hope said and noted to her supirior size.

Lightning nodded. "I'll teach you. I'll be the lead, just follow it and pay attention so you can lead one day." she said and Hope nodded as he watched Lightning place his right hand on her left shoulder. She took his left hand into her right and then they started moving with the music slowly.

Hope blinked in surprise at her graceful movements and yelped when he tripped a few times. He looked up at her and smiled at her slight amused gaze.

"Your doing fine." she encouraged and he smiled brighter.

Fang and Vanille watched as they instructed the musical moogles to keep up the slow steady beat. Sazh, Serah, and Snow watched in interest. Excited at how they were getting along. When the music slowed and the two were done dancing, Sazh flew up and blew out all the candles, creating darkness within the room. Lightning and Hope walked outside to the balcony and they both sat down on a bench. There was a long comfortable silence between them till Hope spoke up.

"You dance really well." he said with a smile.

Lightning nodded and smiled back a bit. "I suppose. You will dance just as well with practice." she said and Hope laughed.

"Well I don't know about that." Hope chuckled.

Lightning looked at him for a moment. "Hope?" she said, getting his attention. "Do you enjoy being here?" she asked, her blue eyes staring into him curiously.

Hope blinked, surprised at the question. Then he smiled. "Of course! I love being with Sazh, Serah, Snow, Vanille, Fang and most of all you! I'm happy I got to know you all." he said happily and Lightning softly smiled at his excitement then frowned when he suddenly saddened.

"But... I do miss my father. I just wish I could see him again." Hope said and Lightning thought for a moment.

"There is a way.... follow me." Lightning instructed then stood and headed back inside. Hope blinked then followed after her quickly.

They were now in Lightning's room. She picked up a mirror and handed it to him. "With this, you can see whatever you want." she said and Hope blinked as he looked at it.

He took it and looked into the mirror. "Show me my father, please?" he asked the mirror and something swirled within it. Suddenly a image of Bartholomew appeared on it, out cold in the forest, soon to be covered by the raging blizzard. Hope gasped in horror. "Oh no! He's sick and... he's out in the forest... he could die." he said sadly.

Lightning blinked then she thought for a moment as she looked at Hope's sad expression. She sighed softly and turned away from him and stared out of her window.

"You can go." she said quietly and Hope looked up at her curiously.

"What?" Hope asked, not sure of what he just heard.

"I said you can go. I free you, you are no longer my prisoner." Lightning replied quietly and Hope blinked then smiled brightly.

"Really? Oh thank you Lightning!" Hope said loudly then hugged her tightly.

Lightning blinked slightly then wrapped her right around him in a slight hug then let go when he pulled away. "Call me Light." she replied.

"Light... Thank you so much! I'll never forget you!" Hope said and Lightning nodded.

"I won't forget you. Now go." Lightning ordered and Hope nodded.

Lightning watched as Hope was about to hand her the mirror and she shook his head. "Keep it. So you can remember us." she said and Hope smiled and nodded then quickly run out of her room.

Lightning watched him then turned to look out of the window. Soon, she was watching the boy get on his Chocobo and ride away from the castle. The animals walked in, looking cheerful since they had no idea what had happened.

"So how are you and Hope doing?" asked Snow.

"I let him go." Lightning replied.

"What?! But what about the spell? How could you let him go without breaking the spell?! The petals have almost all fallen!" Sazh yelled, flying around panicly.

Serah looked at Sazh then at Lightning curiously. Lightning didn't turn to look at them, still staring out of the window.

"If I forced him to stay, then I really don't truely love him now do I?" Lightning mumbled, her face expressionless though her eyes flickered.

"What?" asked Vanille.

Serah smiled sadly. "I see..... letting him go... means you really love him because you want him to be happy... right?" she said as she looked at her sisters back.

Lightning did not answer. Snow sighed. "Guess we're stuck like this." he said.

"No.... the spell only resolves around me. Perhaps when I die, everyone else will turn back to normal." Lightning answered calmly and the animals gasped.

"Wait a minute, you don't mean..." Fang said as she looked at Lightning.

But Lightning did not answer. She only stared towards town, turning her gaze to the rose in the glass case. One petal was left.