Final Fantasy XIII:
Darkness Light
By
Skylight96
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Summary:
Darkness had been nothing but my companion ever since the day I was born. Blinding from the light around me as I fell deeply into the shadows surround my existence but yet… light could still reach me since the day I meet her… my light…
My name is Adrian Heathcliff and this is my story…
Disclaimer:
I don't own Final Fantasy XIII and the plot reference by Garrett 67.
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Chapter 1:
Together for what may be
…
Consciousness slowly brought me back into reality as I woke up instantly from the dreamless slumber before bolt up from the cold icy ground beneath me as pain searing on my neck began to ache, hissing at the stinging sensation before glancing around me to find the others. On my right, there was her, Lightning slowly woke up with our hand still entwined from the previous accident before a shout jolt me back into the present as I turned to Snow who was sitting up from the floor in surprise and glanced around before meeting my gaze, "Adrian?"
"Yeah…"
He looked around him as I do the same, stunned by the crystalize waves beneath us as the hand inside my own began to stir and turned to meet a pair of icy aqua eyes opened as she slowly got up from the ground, "You're alright?" she turned to me and nodded silently as she pulled away her hand from mine, ignoring the pang of hurt inside my heart at the action as I stood up and looked around at the others who slowly started to wake from the fall.
"Is this… for real?"
I looked up and gazed at the cacophony of colour around us in amaze for the beautiful breath-taking sight. The other slowly got up onto their feet and looked around to find the location of our whereabouts, except for the young silver haired boy who still sitting onto the icy crystal ground with his head buried onto his knee.
"Hey, you're alright?" I asked, kneeling in front of him as I placed a hand onto his shoulder but I was greeted by nothing but silence from the boy which I couldn't help but release a deep sigh in defeat before stood up once more to survey the place cautiously.
"This must be…Lake Bresha?"
I turned my dark gaze to Sazh as he murmured into the air, looking at the familiarity of the crystal shape surround us, obvious that it were crystalize waves of water belong to the lake, frozen in time. I walked towards the older man and looked up towards the skyward, "I guess we fell from up there" motioned towards above us, "and the lake turned into crystal"
"Wait a minute! Help me out here! I mean did the fal'Cie do this?" Sazh spoke out urgently as he looked between me, Snow and Lightning with his arms outstretch to prove his point of the surrounding, "How in the world did we end up here?"
Lightning scowled at the words and crossed her arms against her chest in irritant, "How should I know?"
"Just like I said, we fell from up there and land onto the lake… as for it to be crystalize, I don't have a clue"
Vanille fell onto her knee and clasped her hand together to catch our attention, "We're alive. How?" she asked, touching the crystal ground with her hand in amaze and slightly curiosity for the outstanding phenomena.
"Serah!"
We all turned towards the source of the outburst and looked at Snow who standing on the edge of the crystal clearing, turning towards us with hope yet grief glistered on his face, "No one survive a fall from that high" motioning towards the skyward of the vestige, "not without a miracle, Serah saved us!"
"Serah?"
Lightning's eyes flashed with anger as she turned the idiotic blonde, "Listen. It's all your fault she-" but she couldn't finished as she turned away, hiding the doubt and sadness inside her eyes. I gazed at her sadly and gently placed a hand onto her shoulder, slightly surprise as she didn't mind for the action before something caught the corner of my eyes and pulled her away behind me, "Watch out!"
A Cie'th sudden appeared and pounced onto me as I groaned at the impact, causing my wound to reopen as I looked up at the creature fearfully.
"Adrian!"
Snow instantly make his way to me and swung his fist at the Cie'th, knocking it over from as Sazh helped me up from the icy ground. A brand on his forearm brightens, showing the Pulse fal'Cie mark engraved on his body with blue glowing light forming on his fist. I gasped lightly as I saw the insignia before hissing in discomfort at the crimson liquid soaking my white button-up shirt, placing my hand onto the wound, trying to prevent blood loss and looked up at the creature with my other gripping my gunblade, shifting it into its gun mode in case of the others attacking them.
"W-What did I… just do?"
Hope's eyes widen along with the other at the action and instantly got up onto his feet, pointing at the blonde man accusingly, "You used magic!" scrambling to his feet as the sound of more Cie'th started filling the air around us, causing Vanille to gasp in surprise as we all stand guard at three more entering the crystal plane, You used the power of l'Cie!" he exclaimed, "the fal'Cie cursed us! We're l'Cie now!"
It was suddenly dawned to me. The burning pain, the vision flooding my mind…. It all makes sense now! I touched my left neck, hoping to find the rough ink craving and there it was, the Pulse I'Cie symbol branded onto my neck, hidden underneath my scarf.
Lightning silenced and drew her gunblade from its holster, giving out the air of fierce determination as she faced the Cie'th, "Right…" she murmured, pulling herself into her fighting stance as the others took her side to face their enemies. Lightning took command and instantly went into her sergeant mode, "You" pointing toward Vanille, "distract that one-"indicating to the one Cie'th on the left, "try to stagger it so I can get a clear hit"
Snow took the order silently without much of complain and started to launch an attack at the middle one with his fist. I as a former soldier knew my job well so Lightning took the liberty to let me do as I please as I fought side by side with her and took out the Cie'th heading towards Vanille with my gunblade.
I dodged one of the Cie'th attacks and swung my blade into it, kick it away after plunging my blade into it middle while Snow fired small ball of ice into its face. Lightning and Vanille took care of the remaining Cie'th as I watched them bring them down with deathly combination attack for the two women. I guess, women's wraths are deathly. My thought shuddered at the consequences of facing one before finishing the last one within my range.
"So, we really are I'Cie"
I turned my gunblade into it gun mode and slowly placed it back onto my holster, minding the injury as I frowned slightly at the thought, "I guess we are…" answering the spoken question from the blonde man. Sazh hung his head, "Looks like it" he agreed as he glanced around us, searching for something to occupy his thought.
Snow sighed in defeat and turned to Vanille, "You too?"
The young maiden nodded, lifting her short tribal skirt up to show the mark on her upper thigh, causing the men cheeks including mine to burn slightly in embarrass for a moment before returning into serious mode as we glanced among each other.
"What about you, Adrian?"
I shifted my gaze to Snow and pulled down my black scarf slightly to show it, "Right here"
"L'Cie to the last" a voice coming out behind me as I turned to see none other than Lightning frowning at the situation faced by them. A whimper caught my attention as I turned to the youngest among our group, sitting onto the crystal ground as he hugged his knee tightly against his chest, "Hope…" I called out softly as he shook his head like a mad man.
"Why me?" he whispered before lifting up his burning emerald eyes, "I don't even know you! But you have to go and attack that thing?!" accusing at the pink haired woman before him, "Just leave me alone!"
I silently make my way to the poor boy and kneed in front of him, gently consoling him as I placed my hand onto his thin shoulder, "Shh… it's alright, Hope. You're not alone… I'm here for you" soothing him as I faced them with a trouble face for my gloomy thought.
How someone so young could ever face such a big responsibility…
-but he still not satisfied with it and leaped onto his feet as he glared at Snow, "All of this is your and Serah's fault!"
"Watch it!"
Snow snarled and eventually walked up to him in anger for the accusation, causing the boy to fell down onto the ground in haste of escaping from the blonde's wrath. I raised my hand in hope of catching him before stumbled upon Lightning who looked down to the poor boy with a cold glaring eyes at his childish attitude and crawled away to hide once again from us.
I frowned at them and sighed in defeat as I shook my head in disappointment. Snow angry gaze slowly softened as he began to feel guilty at his outburst and sighed as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry"
My eyes softened at the apology given by the bulky man and turned to the young boy with a soft genuine smile adorned on my lips. The orange haired girl slowly approached him and placed her hand onto his trembling shoulder, "Everything going to be alright. You'll see" as she pulled him onto his feet, saying "Come on. Off we go!"
Hesitation could be seen on his face as he turned his gaze to me, asking silently whether it's alright for him or not. I nodded slightly in encouragement and watched the duo walking their way from these crystallise clearing as I followed behind them to watch over them, "Don't go too far, kids!"
"Yeah!"
I chuckled at the girl enthusiasm and turned to the sound of upcoming footstep beside me to meet none other than Sazh and Snow, "L'Cie huh?" Snow said direly, falling deeply into his deep thought as I nodded in agree, "Yep. We're all playing for Team Pulse now" frowned Sazh as he sighed in defeat and looked up at the kids before us.
"This day just keeps getting better and better huh?" I chuckled and glanced sideway to the older man with a playful smirk on my lips.
"Why me?..." the man sighed in defeat as I patted his back consolingly.
"If it would make you feel better, we're l'Cie as well…"
The poor man grunted and lightly shoved me away from him as I laughed playfully at him to ease the gloomy atmosphere around us, joined by Snow who pulled me into a headlock while ruffling my black locks teasingly, "Hey knock it off, Snow!"
Lightning said nothing as she walked passed us men and seemed to decide ignored our playful argument. Sazh scowled at the emotionless woman and shook his head, "Trust the soldier to keep her cool throughout this mess"
I silenced and chuckled, "Hey! I'm once a soldier too, you know" ignoring the pang of guilty squeezing my heart at the black history which kind of catching the men and also the pinkette attention (but didn't show) as their turned to me with shocking façade, "You were?" Snow questioned.
"Well, yeah. So how you supposed I beat the PSICOM easily?"
"So, you're a soldier?"
"Yup!" popping the 'p' as we continued our walk ahead.
Sazh turned to me with curious eyes, "A PSICOM or Guardian Cops?"
"None…"
"None?"
I nodded as I give them a playful smirk, "It's a secret…" pointing my index finger onto my lips as I give a wink at the men who laughed at the gesture before stopping suddenly in the middle of our track at the pinkette who paused in front of us.
"You're a SHADOW aren't you?"
My dark gaze instantly went to speaker as I watched her turned slightly and glanced sideway behind her at me with cold icy blue eyes, "A dark, unknown organisation held below the Sanctum's rebellion to destroy Pulse. In another words, you're an assassin sent by them to destroy this place…"
"That's right… such a clever girl" I smiled happily at the words but slowly flatten as I playful, happy façade turned 180 degree into cold, stoic, emotionless façade I used to wear when I went into a mission as I meet her glare with my own, "Just as I expected from the Guardian Cops herself" smirking sadistically as the other look at us shockingly.
"An assassin?" Sazh gasped.
I nodded but slowly turned back into happy façade I wear earlier, "but I guess since I fail my mission, I probably been kick out from it. It's such a shame though…" pouting playfully to ease the tension between us, "I really love my stay at the organisation…"
"Ok…" Snow trailed off to avoid the awkwardness between us and looked between us sheepishly, "if we didn't know our focus, how do we complete it?"
"I think… I saw it…"
We turned our attention to the mumbling orange haired girl as she looked down onto the ground gloomily. Lightning turned to her, "Saw what?" she asked, leaning closer interestingly as she eyed the girl with her cold icy blue eyes. Sazh step up to help the poor girl down from the scary Guardian Cops and turned to us, saying "That's how a Focus comes down people" he began to explain, "The fal'Cie? They don't spell it out with clear-cut instructions. All you get is a hazy glimpse of it"
Snow mirrored the pinkette posture as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Well, that's what they say. You know, legend and all"
I nodded in agree at the thought before turning my gaze to the smaller boy between us, "Hope…" I called out to catch his attention, "Did you see anything, lad?"
"I uh-I just… it's all kind of foggy, but I thought this big-I mean towering-"
"W-Wait a minute! Hold on now! Did we all have the same dream?" Sazh interrupted, asking to everyone as we glanced among each other.
"Ragnarok…"
"So," continued the dark skin man, "We all saw the same dream. The same voice…"
"You mean that's our Focus?" asked Hope, eyes swimming with fear and horror as he looked at the man in disbelieve, "But, how are we supposed to know what to do from that?" turning around to watch our reaction to the unexpected news.
"That's the tricky part" I spoke out, placing my right hand underneath my neck in thinking posture as I browse throughout my memories, "The dream's the only hint the fal'Cie gives us. Figuring out what to do with it… that's our job"
"Okay, okay" hushed Sazh, "We're Pulse l'Cie right? Enemies of Cocoon… so, does that mean our Focus is-?"
"Save her…"
My dark eyes shifted at the bulky blonde beside me who had interrupt the afro haired man words.
"Say what?"
"Our Focus is to protect Cocoon"
I frowned for his words and couldn't help but asked, mildly interest with the discussion, "Really? But why? We're Pulse l'Cie. Isn't our job to destroy Cocoon?" which earning a nod from Sazh as I voice out our view regarding the situation and crossed my arms against my chest thoughtfully.
"Serah told us remember? Let's do it! We're all in this together!" he spoke out as he faced us, "I'm going to look for Serah. She ought to be nearby" and began to ran off towards unnamed destination alone, leaving us behind in search of his crystalize fiancé. Vanille made an exasperated gesture as she shook her head amusedly, "I'll come too! Wait up!" she called and started to run after him from our sight.
"Honestly…" sighed Sazh as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "That boy can't stay still!"
"Really…" murmured Hope as he quietly followed them before turning to take a look at me which I returned it with a small smile and a nod for his silent permission of following the duo, "Don't get lost" I warned the boy which he smiled shyly at the words and walked away.
Sazh who walked beside me, grinned as he nudged my rib, "Oh geez, kid! I don't know you such a mother-hen" he joked.
"Oh yeah? Maybe because you too old to remember, Katzroy"
"Haha really funny, Heathcliff"
"Thank you, I try"
We both laughed at the jokes, talking among us men about nothingness as I glanced sideway to the beautiful pinkette soldier walking on my other side, "You know, Lightning. You could be a little bit social with us. We don't bite" I murmured as I give a friendly smile to her stoic feature.
"But she does…"
"Aww, come on, Sazh! Don't be such a whiny"
Lightning couldn't help but rolled her eyes at our playful bicker but I knew it was more friendly than a gesture of animosity. I mean, come on! I'm a playful kind of dog! Woof!
It didn't take us long to catch up with the other and we all allowed Lightning to lead the way. What can I say? It's a soldier instinct. "There's gotta be a way through here somehow" Snow said, glancing around the ruin building for anyway route in finding the crystalize maiden, "Let's keep looking. We need to find a way out of here. We can worry about everything else later"
The ex-Guardian Cops lead the way through the crystal maze, seeing a clearly defined path through the waves after cutting down another group of Cie'th roaming around the ground, "This just might work" said the bulky blonde hopefully about our new found powers of the l'Cie as I withdrew my gunblade into its gun mode before turning to face him.
"Okay? What might work?"
"Magic may be cursed, but it makes stronger, doesn't it?" referring to the damage we (or in another words, him) for the usage of magic we regained from the Pulse fal'Cie, "What's to stop us from putting it to good use?"
I thought about it for a moment as I looked at him. Meh, he had a point there! The abilities of l'Cie were powerful, but there was nothing stopping us from using it against Pulse instead of Cocoon. Hmm…
"We are, I guess. We could just turn around and say, 'Take that, Pulse fal'Cie' while insert a maniac laugh" I grinned and laughed at the joke, joined by the other around me for the pitiful joke but hey! At least they laughed.
"Then we fight it!" he nodded with determination and held up his fist, glancing among us with a huge grin on his face, "Ragnarok!" our party stopped to listen his sudden outburst as I stepped backwards to avoid any flaining limb that might be elicited from his passionate speech (since I stood next to him), "That's the reason we're l'Cie. To stop it- to keep Cocoon safe!"
"Yeah, why don't you give us one good reason to believe that? One reason" questioned the afro-haired man as he crossed his arms against his broad chest.
"Serah…"
"Huh?" I quirked my eyebrows in surprised and confused for the words as my jaw began to drop in disbelieve.
Snow sighed in exasperatedly before pulling me into a headlock and ruffled my dark locks, "She said to protect Cocoon and she turned to crystal"
"Ok! Ok! I get it! Hand off, Villiers! You're destroying my hair now!"
"The hell it does! You're grasping at straw, son! Pulse fal'Cie are Cocoon's enemies. We just got recruited by one of them!" Sazh snapped fiercely, probably tired of hearing about Serah's crap and all from Snow, "If I were a betting man… I'd put us on the other side"
Finally! Snow released me and turned to the man angrily, "So, Serah's an enemy too?" he stamped his foot like a scold child, "Well I don't but it!" before turning to strode over the silent pinkette who was facing him with her hands on her hips, glaring coldly at the man before her, "We have the power to save Cocoon!" indicating to the brand on his arm, "If we work together and carry out our Focus-"
Lightning responded with aggression and began to draw her gunblade as she pressed it against the man throat, warning him to say a word about the matter, "Our Focus? The fal'Cie took Serah from us and you want to help it? Whose side are you on?"
"Woah… woah…" I shushed them (after refining my hair of course) to prevent any bloodshed occurred for the children before a gun pointed behind me which I instantly froze before glancing backwards at the PSICOM standing behind me, "PSICOM…"
"Freeze!"
The sudden command of the elite soldier caught our attention as I raised my hands up in surrender and sighed in annoyance of being caught as I watched the men began to surround our little party.
"Place your hand behind your head!"
Five of our group grudgingly obliged and only Lightning hesitated before letting her gunblade fall onto the crystalized ground. I frowned at the unexpected capture before one of the soldier who I presume the superior of the group turned his gaze underneath his helmet towards me with a recognised look on his face, "You!" he addressed me, "You're SHADOW" probably referring towards the golden brand located on the heart of my long black trench. The SHADOW logo.
"Was" I corrected with a fake smile.
"-and You" he said, speaking to Lightning, "You fall off the Purge train?"
Lightning just silently placed her hands behind her head and closed her eyes, "Maybe" she said calm to annoy the man which I couldn't help but let out a smirk at the cold attitude from the fine lady. Oh, this is good!
"Are you talking back to me?" asked the commander as he pointed his gun inches from her head angrily.
She smiled and looked at him with mischief eyes.
"Nice gun"
-then she moved.
I smirked knowingly at the fast movement of the ex-Guardian Cops as I watched her knock the gun out of the commander's hand and delivered a swift elbow onto his head. Yup! She's good alright. She circled around him and pushed upwards her palm onto his jaw, launching him into the air and lifting her long leg in a vicious kick to the unfortunate PSICOM commander.
"Not bad!"
I retracted my secret dagger underneath my sleeve and swift it onto the guard behind him before giving him a kick onto his abdomen to free myself, catching his gun into my hand and began to fire the rest of the soldier around us.
"Let's the fun begin!"
I fired at one of them as their blood spattered underneath the crystal land and began to fall backwards towards death, dodging the flying bullet as my sole purpose right now to kill all of them before they're call for backup cause trust me, it won't be pretty. A bullet pierced onto my left shoulder, and I throw the empty PSICOM gun over the culprit, knocking him down before taking my gunblade as I shifted it into its gun mode, "Shit! That's hurt!" I cursed and fired at the other behind him.
Within seconds, I had felled five solders before more magic swam through my body as I felt the pain of my injuries began to subside and heal itself. I turned to the source of it and smiled at the silver haired boy who grin at me as his arms withdrew to his side, "Thanks, Hope!" I thanked him with my proud smile before raising my gunblade to kill the remaining soldier.
"I thought they'd tougher than that" said Sazh after finished killing all the PSICOM group and crouched over the corpse to exam it, "These guys are PSICOM, yeah? Supposed to be cream-of-the-crop"
"I'll say" I frowned and placed a hand onto Hope's silver locks as I ruffled it affectionate for his help earlier which cause the boy to flush at the action before giving me a huge grin, "But I guess the Lady Luck is on our side now"
"Cut the crap. Their grunts might be green but PSICOM's elites are cold-blooded beasts. They hit the field and it's game over" Lightning cut in as she crossed her arms against her chest and glared at the bloody corpse surround us. Snow opened his mouth but luckily Vanile spoke first (much for my please), saying "Oh-oh! Then let's run away. Ciao!" and took off, bouncing onwards like a hyper child who take too much sugar inside her food as Sazh called out for the young lady, "Hey, Wait up!"
I chuckled and shook my head in amused at the duo as I followed them with Hope walking beside me like a lost puppy, but I guess I like his presence as he constant remind me of my younger self who earn for fatherly love or a brother. I could see Vanille hurried ahead and began to lightly shove Hope to catch up with the younger girl as he follow her quickly, leaving me, Sazh, Snow and Lightning behind as we watched out for the kids.
"It's not right. Why'd kids have to get dragged into this mess?" Sazh expressed his sadness over the matter as he watched the children gloomily.
"I guess, we have to try our best to keep them out of trouble" I smiled at the elder man in support and give him a pat on his back to ease his dark mood. From the look of him, I could tell he had a past regarding his child but I decided to let it slide, not wanting to bring back the sad memories as I watched them running ahead of us.
"Don't worry, I'll keep the kids out of trouble!" said Snow as he pointed to himself.
"That's the problem. You're one of them"
I scoffed and eventually laugh at them as I shook my head.
"Hey!"
"Trying to take on the Pulse fal'Cie, that's was our first mistake" Sazh said, ignoring the blonde outburst as he watched them in the distance, "Should have left it to the Sanctum"
"-or me" I added helpfully with a playful smile.
"HEY! COME ON!"
Vanille waved at us, beckoning us towards her as she grabbed Hope's hand and waved it for him. I chuckled and grinned at the enthusiasm of the youngster as I quicken my pace for them, "My, youngster this day. Too energetic for themselves" I mumbled.
"Or maybe you too old for that"
"Hey!"
Us men laughed for the joke and resume our quest in finding more information of our Focus among the ruin buildings surround us. I let them walking ahead of me as I slowly walked beside the pinkette leaving behind and glanced sideway to her, "Everything will be alright, you know…" I murmured softly to her, letting no one hearing our little talk as I give her a warm smile adorned my lips, "As long as there's hope. Everything is possible"
"…"
"…Just keep believing in it and you're find your way" slowly turning to other with a smile, "After all, you're Light" I said and walked away from her towards the silver haired boy but not after I heard a soft yet clear voice coming from her as she passed me to take a lead once again, "Thank you…" and lifted up my gaze to her back, placing a smile for her words.
"You're welcome…"
Not far ahead from our journey, we encountered a group of mechanical beasts roaming around the place and such enemies were standard for the Sanctum, posing no real threat to us. I mean, it's common for the Sanctum to create bioweapons from living creature combined with technology, combination that given the military to fully control over the creatures and to behold when utilized in force. So, I guess they're kind of crazy like a mad scientist in the old movie.
"I guess they're hunting down Purge survivors now" Snow guessed after defeating a group of Pantherons around us before standing straight to face the damage we cost. We continued our journey for a while, taking out groups of PSICOM here and there inside the building as the Cie'th disappeared into the thin air without a trace.
"Do you think Serah's down here?" I couldn't help but asked to ease the silence between us before we come upon a more open area and stepped onto the carriage of one of the Purge trains buried deeply underneath the crystalize plane, "The train fell too. I wonder what else is down here" asked Vanille as she looked down at the ground beneath us.
"Food maybe? I've been skipping my breakfast earlier" I added and looking down as well to hunt for edible thing, "Nope, there's nothing edible around here. Such a shame though!" I pouted and got up to cross my arms against my chest stubbornly.
We kept on as there were two carriages still linked and one formed a ramp leading onto a ridge. Lightning who lead the way down suddenly gasped as she frozen in place. I paused beside her and looked down in surprised for the sight. on the tip of the ridge was a cluster of crystal and in the centre of it was Serah.
"Serah…" she said quietly with relief emitted from her voice for her sister safety.
She started to walk towards her but Snow who heard her name instantly pushed her aside roughly and run ahead of us, crying out his lover's name. He crouched in front of the beautiful crystalize maiden and caressed her her face lovingly as the rest of us began to approached slowly. He grasped her cold frozen hand and squeezed, "I'll get you out of there!" he said and looked around to find something to get his lover out from the icy ground. Snatching up a long, sharp metal pole lying on the ground, he began to claw his way through the crystal at the base of the frozen Serah's shell.
The orange haired girl rushed over him and started to help him with a sharp pick of her own, digging furiously, "I'll help you" she said brightly to the blonde man. Sazh also joined the effort as Snow give a quick 'thanks' before returning to his task in hand. I stood there and watched them as they work themselves up to free her before a mutter of 'goodbye' behind me caught my ears as I turned around to see Lightning walking away with her back to us.
"Lightning?" Snow asked as he turned to see her, "You're just gonna leave her?"
"PSICOM will be here soon. If they find us, we're all dead. You think Serah would want that? You think you know how she feels?" she said without turning around to face them. My gaze softened for her as I took a step forwards and gently placed a consoling hand onto her thin shoulder, "Light-"
"If I leave her, I'll never know" Snow cut in, still remaining where he was, "We'll be fine. I can handle anything they throw at us. No one will die. I'll protect Serah. And Cocoon!"
Lightning turned slowly as I withdrew my hand back to my side and watched her took long strides to Snow, studying him for a second before giving him a punch in the face, "Does she look protected to you?" she snapped loudly as Snow fell onto the ground, accidently knocking Sazh over in the process.
"Lightning…" I murmured and took an initiative to calm her down from beating the man into pulp but sadly I was ignored… again.
"I can save her!" Snow yelled and got back onto his feet but only to be sprawled once again by her heavy blow, "What can you possibly do?" she shouted back, arm tensed for another strike on his face. I couldn't take this any longer and grabbed her shoulder to face me, "Snap out of it, Lightning!" I said, "Just calm down dammit! It's not the end of the world! You two are arguing like a bunch of kids over a toy! Behave yourself!"
"What do you know?! You're just an outsider!"
"Because I'm your friend!"
Lightning mouth instantly shut as she watched me silently without a word while the rest of us watched on, afraid to interfere until Sazh waved his arms, saying "You guys are hopeless" and walked away as Snow picked up his crude ice pick to continue his hacking the crystal. I sighed in defeat and slowly let go off her, "I'm sorry" turning away as I walked back to the background, standing beside Hope who looked at me concernedly.
"You just can't it admit it. You want to stay as much as he does" Sazh said to her.
I silenced in deep thought before the sound of Sazh yelling widly caught my dazing attention as I turned to see him flailing his arms with a bright spotlight trained on to him. It didn't take long to locate the source. On the train carriage behind him, perched a Sanctum machine, similar to a scorpion based on its design with white, heavy armour concealed it.
"No, no, no, not now!" the afro haired man yelled.
Lightning drew her gunblade and ran towards Sazh, falling into a fightning stance behind him as the rest of us followed, preparing for the upcoming battle towards us. I take out my gunblade and stood beside the ex-Guardian Cops as the machine launched itself off the carriage and landed before us. I turned and saw Hope who was too near with the machine instantly pulled backwards as I grabbed his arm.
"Thanks, Adrian"
"No problem. Be careful next time"
The rest of us took up our position and faced it with our weapon tightly within our grasp. That machine known as Manasvin Warmech lowered its massive head down to our level. The six of launched a series of attacks when suddenly its head spilt in half as I gasped, "Oh, shit!" I cursed as a beam of light began to generate between the two halves.
The beam of the searing energy finally being released as it swung its head sideway. I slid underneath it to avoid the burning lights as Lightning flipped over it. Vanille and Snow combined their effort and launched several magic attacks, mixing it up into combo to beat the machine, giving an opening for Lightning and I to deliver a killing blow.
I dashed forwards, shifting my gunblade into its blade mode and fully swing towards it when the Warmech swept its long tail, hitting my side and throw me across the area. I smashed into the crystal wall and fell down onto the ground, causing the crystal boulder collapse onto me instantly, trapping my lower part as I groaned in pain for the impact.
Snow instantly shield me from its attack with his l'Cie magic when he sensed the Warmech heading towards me and throw it off before returning to fight it. I struggled to free myself when a warm sensation flooding my aching limbs, healing it before an enormous force of wind blowing the boulder away from me. Hope who was at the back of the party helped me up as he support my aching body onto his smaller figure and dragged me away to heal me.
"You're alright, Adrian?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Go, help the others!"
Hope left me behind as I tried to regain my losing strength and looked up at the machine with determination, "You're one hell of a machine!" I grinned sadistically and got up into my shaky feet, dashing forwards with my gunblade as I swung onto its head, earning a roar for my accomplishment.
"Adrian, grab its tail!" Lightning shouted over the sound of battle to me as I run and give a nod in acknowledgement for her instruction. When the Warmech swung its tail to Snow who was in defensive stance, I jumped at it and hooked my legs around it before stabbing its tail into the ground with my gunblade, "Yes!" I cheered softly before pulling multiply blades from my pouch behind me and continued to stab its tail, pinning it onto the ground.
After making sure that the tail kept in place, I grabbed my gunblade and went to assist the other to kill it. Blows after blows were given by us and the Warmech finally shuddered as I took it as a good sign for us and Lightning took the opportunity to leap onto its back and impaled her gunblade into its head, killing it once and for all.
"Finally!" I sighed in relief and went to retrieve my precious blades, placing it back into my pouch, "I glad that was over" I murmured and changed my gunblade into its gun mode before putting it back into my holster.
Lightning turned and began to walk away but was stopped by Snow's large frame blocking her track, "You're leaving?" he demanded as he crossed his arms against his chest. I looked over them two and turned back to Serah's crystallize form, grasping the importance of getting away here as soon as possible to avoid PSICOM but I knew, Snow would never left his fiancée behind.
"We want to help Serah too" Sazh sighed, "But without tools… we could be digging for days" trying to reasoning with him, "The army's on our trail. For now, we've got to keep moving. For now"
"So, I just abandon her, and save myself?"
"What about your Focus?" Lightning asked coldly.
Snow looked at her, trapping by his own promise as he looked down onto the ground in moment of thought, "What happened to banding together and saving the world? Isn't that what you promised? Now you want to forget it all and die right here?" said the pinkette as she glared at the bulky blonde, causing him to keep silence over the matter.
"Snow" she sighed, "You're nothing but talk" and walked past him as he frozen in his place. Neither did the rest of us. I for my opinion agree with her but she's a little harsh to the poor man.
"Lightning!"
She stopped but didn't turn around as she waited for him to continue, "I'll do whatever it takes" Snow said, "I'll finish this Focus… and keep Serah safe. That's my promise"
Lightning's next words were cold and indifferent, "Great job so far" and continued walking away from him. Sazh was next, walking up to him as he patted his shoulder, "Stay out of trouble" Snow said with a smile to the older which he returned with his own, "You too" and went to join her.
The youngsters stood there for a moment in hesitation, "Get going" encouraged Snow to them and pointed over his shoulder. Vanille went first but stopped when she reached him, "later" he said.
"Okay!" and followed Sazh and Lightning which quickly followed by Hope but stopped as well just passed him, turning to face him, "Snow…" He began but couldn't continue. Hope seemed stammered for a bit before Snow snapped him from his daze, saying "Save it for next time, kiddo. You'll get left behind"
Hope again began to move before turning back to Snow, "But…"
"It's okay, Hope. Light will take care of you. We'll meet again" He grinned.
"Yeah… Count on it" and hurried after Vanille in the distance.
Snow turned his gaze to me and smirked as I grinned, "Take care of yourself, Snow" I said, "And kick the PSICOM dog butt for me"
"Hahaha… will do, Kid! Take care of yourself"
I winked and shook my head as we laughed for the last time, shaking our hand before giving him a quick pat on the pack as I passed him, "Good luck, mate!" then went to catch up with the others ahead of me. Hope glanced back at Snow and I placed my hand on his silvery locks affectionately, "Don't worry, he'll be fine" I whispered gently to assure him as I give him my warm smile, "We'll see him soon enough!"
"Ok"
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"Lightning… its flashes bright then its fade away. It can't protect but only destroy… that's what I thought my name was, but unlike what you called me. You called me Light, Éclair… the light that will always shine in the depth of your shadow heart… and I would anything to keep that way. I'll be your light in the darkness"
*Lightning Farron*
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A/N: One word. Review!