A.N. Here's Chappy 7!
Time Traveler
Chapter 7: Dream Worlds
„Hey, Serah, look at this.", whispered a male voice. „Aw, she looks so cute, doesn't she, Snow?", giggled Serah. „Yeah, that's the only time she doesn't glare at me."
„Then stop provoking her."
„Shall we wake her up anyway?"
„Yes, why not. She might get a cold when she keeps laying here." Lightning regained consciousness again, opened her eyes and saw that Serah bent over her. „Lightning! Wake up!" She awoke with a start and looked around in confusion. „Where am I...?", she mumbled and noticed that she's in New Bodhum. She sat on the grass outside the small town. „At least not in your bed, sis.", replied Snow and grinned at her while Lightning glared at him. „I'm not your sister!"
„Tell us why you're sleeping out here. You're usually not like this.", said Serah and helped her older sister up. „Where is Caius...?", mumbled Lightning, while looking around, but there's no trace of him. Everything was as peaceful as ever. „Who's Caius? Your new boyfriend?", laughed Snow, while Serah hit him with her elbow on the side. „Don't say that, or he'll hear you.", she said, exhorting, while Snow looked at her apologetically. „What year is it now?", asked Lightning confused while Serah began to giggle. „Well 003AF, silly."
„I was on a journey, right?"
„But our journey ended three years ago.", said Snow. „I don't mean this...I traveled through time..."
„Do you still dreaming, Light?", asked Serah, amused by her sisters behavior. „Maybe I do...", said Lightning and followed them back to the NORA house. „You better hurry, sis. You-know-know-who's waiting.", said Snow and grinned at her broadly, while Lightning looked at him confused. „You-Know-Who?" They all went in and were welcomed by the NORA team. „Where have you been, Light?", asked Lebreau. „She's made a little nap.", said Serah, who's still giggling. „He thought she was attacked.", said Maqui, laughed along with Serah. „Who?", asked Lightning the others. They all stared at her in disbelief at first, before they all laughed. Lightning felt like she's in a bad movie and looked at them annoyed.
Then Hope came out of a room and went to them. „What's so funny?", he asked. Lightning looked at him and noticed that he seemed to be younger...„Lightning took a nap out there and now she behaves really strange.", said Yuj amused and then Hope looked over to her. He smiled at her and went to her. „There you are."
„What are you doing here?", she asked. If this is really 003AF he should have been in school right now...„I have holidays and wanted to visit you.", he replied. Lightning looked at him alarmed when he came closer to her and even more alarmed as he leaned down towards her. Lightning pushed him away and took a step back. „Stop! What are you doing?", she asked, while Hope looked at her confused. „Well, kiss you.", he replied, as if it's the most normal thing in the world. „Why?"
„Well, you do this when you're engaged."
„En-WHAT?!" Then Serah took her right hand and lifted it. „Look." Lightning looked at her hand and saw a gold ring with, a lightning bolt, which is filled with small diamonds, on it. „When did this happen?!", she asked in shock. „Well, a few days ago.", said Hope, while looking at her confused. „But you're seventeen!"
„You said it's okay..." Lightning took a few steps back. Something was wrong here...really REALLY wrong! „What's wrong with you, Light?", asked the silver-haired man anxiously and came closer to her. „I don't understand this...What's going on here? You shouldn't be here! We shouldn't be engaged! And we actually would meet seven years later and travel through time!" Now they all looked at her as if she became insane. „What are you talking about?", asked Hope and wanted to take her shoulder, but Lightning retreated and went out of the house as quickly as possible.
When she was outside, she saw strange waves and all the people disappeared. What's happening here?, she asked herself, and examined everything. The sky was dark and gray, the NORA house suddenly looked as if no one had lived there for ages and was crashed. She went to the pier and saw that there wasn't even water.
She turned back when she heard footsteps behind her and saw that Serah came to her. „What's wrong with you, sis? A few days ago you were so happy..." Lightning said nothing, what should she say? But she had to get out of here! As soon as possible! „Come with me, sis. Your family's waiting.", said Serah and held her hand out to her. On the other hand, thought Lightning, her family was here...Even if she doesn't like Snow and the NORA team that much.
And she found the idea of being engaged with Hope not so bad. She always thought that he's pretty cute and now that she knows how he'll be as an adult, she found him very attractive, too. She was about to raise her hand to take Serahs, but everything in her yelled not to. She just would be stuck in this dream world and live a false reality, and she didn't even had to look through Etros eyes to know this. She still had to save Hope, the future, Vanille and Fang and the new Cocoon! She let her hand fall to the side again and looked Serah into the eyes. „I'm sorry, Serah." After these words she looked at her shocked and hurt and Serah suddenly she was engulfed in darkness. „Serah!", she cried anxiously, but then she remembered that she is not the real Serah, but only a product of her imagination. This isn't Serah. Serah's in the future and helps to change the future, thought Lightning and looked like the false Serah.
„Lightning.", said a familiar female voice. Lightning would recognize that voice anywhere, but it couldn't be her, right? „Come here.", she said and the pink-haired followed her voice, once Serah disappeared. She went to the place where the time gate was, but it was now gone. Instead, there was a Temporal Rift. She went to it and suddenly a girl appeared out of nowhere. She had orange colored hair with two braids and wore exotic Pulse typical clothes. „Vanille?!", said the pink-haired woman in shock, while Vanille turned to her. „Hi Light.", she greeted, as cheerful as ever and smiled at her. This dream became even freakier. „Are you real? How can it be that we meet?", she asked the younger girl, while Vanille put a finger on her chin. „Hm, how can I explain...? First: I am real. And I still sleep in the crystal pillar and you're sleeping too, so it's like we meet in each others heads.", she said and smiled more. „Why are you here?"
„To help you, sunshine!", said another woman with a stronger voice and then a woman appeared with black hair and blue clothes and a red spear. „Fang!", said Lightning surprised. „It's also nice to see you again, Light.", said Fang and walked toward them. „We saw that you're trapped in this dream world, so we wanted to help ya out."
„But if you had gone with the false Serah, we would've never been able to reach you.", said Vanille. „By the way...", began Fang. „You don't have a bad dream. I mean to be engaged with kiddo? But that's honestly not surprising. We always knew that something's going on between you two." Fang laughed, while Lightning glared at her angrily, but blushed bright red. Vanille also giggled, but was silent again, as Lightnings glare met her. „Will you help me or not?", asked the pink-haired woman irritated and impatient. „Always one by one, sunshine.", said Fang before she jumped into the air and produced with her spear a Temporal Rift. „Well done, Fang!", said Vanille and clapped her hands. „So this'll bring you to kiddos dream world. You have to wake him up somehow and then you can escape.", said the black-haired woman, before they began to glitter golden and slowly dissolved. „Fang! Vanille!", said Lightning, while the two sighed. „Guess our time's over.", said Fang. „See ya around."
„Bye.", said the two vanished completely. Lightning stared a moment at the spot where the two stood before, then went into the Temporal Rift.
Then she arrived at a place she knew. „The Vile Peaks...Why am I here?", she wondered and then heard a very familiar voice. „Lightning!" She quickly turned round the corner and saw herself as she climbed up a stone wall and the fourteen-year-old Hope, who sat down on a rock, after she disappeared, and looked down. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes tightly. „She left me...", he muttered to himself and looked as if he would break out in tears any moment. In his dreams, he lives through his memories again..., she thought and went to the boy. „Hope.", she said, but he didn't seem to hear her. „Hope!" She put a hand on his shoulder, but it went through him, as if she's a ghost.
She sighed as she realized that she couldn't do anything and sat down beside him. Fortunately, a few minutes later Sazh and Vanille came and traveled with him until they caught up with Lightning. The real Lightning followed them. Then there was a fight with a monster and Hope stayed in the background all this time. The monster then let the earth open up and they all fell down. Lightning jumped into the hole and listened to herself that she wants to destroy the Sanctum and Eden and may fight against them or Snow if they would stop her.
Then she went away and after a few seconds of silence, Hope said:„Snow deserves it!" and ran after her. The real Lightning followed them and climbed within seconds on this frame, which blocked the way to Palumpolum. Hope climbed up with greatest difficulty and was now completely out of breath. She wanted to help him and wondered when she became so soft, but it could just be her protective instincts. „Lightning! Wait up!", called Hope, as he caught up. The pink-haired woman stopped and didn't even turn to him. „What do you want?"
„I'm coming with you.", he said. „Go back to the others. With me it'll will be fight after fight." Hope just shook his head. „I'm not going back. I can fight! I'm not afraid. And I want to become stronger."
„I have no time to play your babysitter.", she said annoyed. Hope remained stubborn and stayed with her. Then they were surprised by PSIKOM soldiers and had to fight against them. „Not bad.", said Lightning as they defeated them. „Thanks." Then Hope saw that Lightning was bleeding a bit on her arm and went to her. „You're hurt...", he said and before he could touch her arm, she backed away. „Just a scratch.", she said and turned away from him. „Lightning..."
„Call me Light.", said the pink-haired woman and moved on. Hope followed her immediately. After a few fights, they arrived a bridge. Lightning remembered this moment all too well...Hope stumbled and fell down and Lightning lost all her patience. „This isn't working.", she said annoyed and stopped, while Hope they looked confused. „I mean you're a liability. You just slow me down."
„What...?" Hope stood up quickly. The pink-haired woman still didn't turn to him and just wanted to go again. „I'm sorry, but I can't protect you when—ah!" Lightning went on one knee as her l'Cie brand began to glow and burn. „You can't leave me here! You have to take me with you!"
„Enough!" Hope flinched at her tone. „The whole world is against us! Ah! I can barely keep myself alive, let alone a helpless kid! Ah! I don't have time to baby you! You wanna get tough?" Hope stood there scared and shook his head, afraid about what she'll say next. „Do it on your own!", she yelled and then Odin appeared. Hope fell back, as Odin went to him, ready to attack. The silver-haired boy tried to block the attack somehow, as Odin raised his sword and attacked. „Look out!", cried the two Lightnings, while the dream Lightning ran to him and blocked attack. Once Lightning tamed Odin in battle, he disappeared and the pink-haired woman went exhausted to her knees again. „Lightning!", said Hope and knelt down in front of her. He examined her brand and compared it with his own. „Your brand looks different...Was that an Eidolon, like l'Cie can summon?", he asked, while Lightning sighed. „Magic and mambo-jumbo. I must have hit my head on that purge train.", she said and stood up. „Uh...Am I really in your way?", he asked, while looking down sadly. Lightning sighed and looked at him guiltily. Then she put away her gunblade and went past him. Hope quickly turned to her and tried to convince her to let him go with her. „I'll do better! I'll try harder! I'll—"
„Hope.", interrupted Lightning and stopped. She looked over her shoulder to him. „We'll toughen you up.", she said and walked a few steps, before she stopped again. „I'm sorry about before." Hope smiled and continued to follow her. The real Lightning followed them and looked down. She felt pretty bad about how she treated Hope at that time. But by this time she had nothing else in her mind, but to destroy the enemy. Then a sort of time leap came, because moments later she found herself in Gapra Whitewood. Because no one could see her, she didn't have to hide. „Can I take point?", asked Hope, while Lightning raised an eyebrow at him. „Can you handle it?" Hope rushed forward, turned to her again and looked at her determined. „It's not a question of can or can't.", he quoted her words and then Lightning smiled for the first time since they were l'Cie. „Now you're learning.", she said and gave him a sign that he could lead the way.
The real Lightning also had to smile and watched the scenes in silence. She saw that she gave him her survival knife, then found out that Hope wanted to take revenge on Snow and called it "Operation Nora" and then they finally arrived Palumpolum. There must be a way to wake him up..., thought Lightning frustrated and kept watching, as they approached the fal'Cie Carbuncle, that Lightning ended Operation Nora and said Hope to find the hope he was named for and told him to talk to his dad. When the two were surrounded by PSIKOM soldiers, Snow appeared with Fang. The real Lightning followed him and Hope and looked at him with wide eyes as she saw how hateful Hope looked at Snow. She saw that the two saved a few townspeople from the purge and the hurt look in Hope's eyes as the townspeople wanted to attack them, and that they were often attacked by monsters. Lightning was very grateful to Snow, that he took good care of Hope. And she saw that Hope really wanted to strike Snow down, but didn't do it.
Then they were attacked by a big monster. Snow wanted to protect him, but the monster beat him K.O. and was protected by Hope instead. Then Fang and Lightning arrived and helped Hope. After the battle, Hope gave back her survival knife. „Um...Operation Nora didn't work out." Then Lightning came closer and hugged him before he even realized what actually happened. „You'll be okay. I'll keep you safe."
„Lightning...I...Me too. I mean at least I'll try. I'll try to watch out for you too.", he said nervously, while Lightning pulled away to look into his eyes. She giggled briefly and poked his forehead. The real Lightning was leaning against a wall, her arms crossed over her chest and watched everything with a smile. But now it was really time to wake him up. But before she could do something there was the next time leap, and she found herself back on Grand Pulse.
Hope told them that he's afraid that they'll get hurt because of him. Lightning smiled at him again and tried encourage him, but it didn't help and then he summoned Alexander and tamed in battle with Fangs and Lightings help. Then there were several small leaps in time in which they were mostly alone. Finally the time came where Cocoon was saved by Vanille and Fang. Hope was always by Lightnings side the whole time, until the soldiers told him that his father soon arrived Grand Pulse with a cargo airship. Lightning kept trying to wake him up, but she couldn't reach him...Slowly, she wondered whether he would ever wake up...And Mog had also disappeared...The time leaped once again at the time where Hope was in high school. He looked pretty happy. That's how he should've lived, not losing his mother during the purge and travel through the whole world as a l'Cie...
„Say, Hope...", began a guy from his class, perhaps his best friend? „How comes that you don't have a girlfriend?", he asked, while Hope was trying to avoid the question. „Why are you asking?" His friend leaned against his table and grinned at Hope. „Well, I've never seen that you're with a girl." Although Lightning knew that they had to get out of here soon, she was interested why he had no girlfriend. „I'm just not interested. And I don't know what concerns you this.", said Hope and glared at him. At that moment Hope remembered her quite of herself. „You're not gay, aren't you?", he asked quietly. Hopes and Lightning's eyes widened. This could be a possibility...„No, I'm not!"
„Then answer the question." Hope sighed and rolled his eyes and began to explain. „There's already someone, okay? End of story."
„Really? Who is it?", he asked curiously, while Hope sighed in annoyance. „You don't know her.", he replied, but his friend ignored him and asked further. „Is it Alyssa? I mean she's always sticking on you." Alyssa went with him to the same school?, thought Lightning surprised and listened to the conversation. „No, I told you don't know her!"
„Tell me!"
„That's none of your business." Then there was another time leap and showed Hope after graduation. Lightning frowned, she would like to find out more. She doesn't mean to pry, but...she wanted to know who stole Hopes heart. Snow and Sazh were at Hopes place and congratulated him for his graduation, before they told him the bad news. „Light is gone?", he exclaimed in horror. „Yes, for about a year.", added Snow. „A year? Why are you telling me this NOW?!" Lightning looked at him with wide, shocked eyes. She'd never seen him this angry before...
„We didn't want to distract you from school. We know how close you were. We knew that you want to help us to find her, but we couldn't allow that you may end up being thrown out of school.", said Sazh quietly. Then Hope calmed down a bit. „Did you search everywhere for her?"
„We've searched in all places we were four years ago, except on Cocoon of course, but there was no trace of her.", said Sazh thoughtfully. „She just disappeared without a trace."
„That doesn't make sense!", yelled Hope. „Why would she go? She's always written to me that she likes her life in New Bodhum and that she still have to take care of Serah!" The two men were silent. They had no idea why Lightning would just go away. „What's with Serah and Dajh? You can't leave them alone.", said Hope, now quiet again. „Dajh is with Serah and team NORA. And we always come back.", said Sazh, while Hope was silent and looked down. „Does it make sense to search for her?", he murmured. „Maybe she doesn't want to see us again."
„I don't believe that, kiddo. No matter how much she hates me or team NORA, she would never abandon Serah or you.", said Snow and grinned at him and for once he knew what he's talking about. „He's right.", agreed Sazh and nodded. „Even though we don't know what happened, she certainly will return soon." Hope nodded, but still looked sad. Lightning never thought that he would worry about her so much...Then another time leap came and she found herself in Yaschas-Massif again, perhaps it's even the time before she showed up? Lightning watched Hope as he searched for any signs why she left and examined the space-time anomalies, etc. Time is running away! I have to wake him up somehow!, thought Lightning and went to him. Hope had just watched the visions from the Oracle Drive and was still looking into the sky and thought. Lightning was behind him. „Hope!", she shouted as loud as she could, but he didn't hear her.
„Hope! Damn it, can you hear me?" Lightning could have sworn that he winced, but she wasn't sure whether it was because he heard her, so she tried again. „HOPE! For Makers sake, wake up!", she shouted and pushed him as hard as she could. Lightning's eyes widened as she touched him and actually pushed Hope with full force. Hope fell face first to the floor and looked behind him, to find out who had shoved him.
„L-Light?", he exclaimed startled and got up quickly. „Finally!", said Lightning and tried to calm herself down. „Listen, Hope! This is all a dream world!" Hope looked at her in confusion, until he remembered what had happened. „Caius hasn't killed me?" The pink-haired woman shook her head. „No, he's sent us into this dream world, so that we don't stand in his way."
„I see...And how are we going to get out of here? And where's Mog?" Lightning thought for a while. „Maybe we'll come out when we go to the time gate. And we have to take care of Mog later.", she said and went ahead. Hope followed her. When they arrived the time gate, Mog suddenly appeared out of nowhere. „Kupo!", she said cheerfully, and flew to the two. „Where have you been?", asked Hope worried.
„In the Void Beyond, kupo. Once you've been defeated, I thought for a way to get into your dream worlds, kupo. However, you couldn't see me, kupo...Listen up, kupo! I've found the last artifact, kupo. This'll bring us out of here, kupo!", said Mog and handed them the artifact. „Well done, Mog. Now let's get out of here.", said Lightning, as she took the artifact and opened the portal. Hope nodded in agreement and followed her with Mog into the Historia Crux.
Then they came to a place, that reminded them of Orphans Cradle. „We're in Academia 500AF, kupo.", said Mog, while looking around with them. „These must be the preparations so that the new Cocoon can rise. The evacuation has also been completed.", said Hope, and went a few steps. „We need to go to the HQ. But first we must find the right way...", said Hope and looked around thoughtfully. If you look at the place closely, it really looked like Orphans Cradle.
They had to jump over moving platforms and have to make sure to not fall into their deaths. „I know where to go. Come on.", said Hope, and took the lead, while Lightning and Mog followed him. „How do you know?"
„Don't ask, just follow me ." Lightning stopped and looked at him puzzled. She still couldn't believe how he had changed over the years. Hope also stopped and turned to her. „What?", he asked and grinned at her as if he makes fun of her behavior. „Nothing at all. It's weird how much you've changed.", she replied and remained as cool as ever. „I hope for good..."
„Well there are also some bad things.", she said, and passed him. „What's so bad?"
„You've become just like Snow.", she said with a clearly irritated tone in her voice. „No, I'm not!"
„And what about your behavior as we fought against this flan?"
„Yeah, okay, I was a bit careless, but I'm not like him!"
„That's right. You're much smarter than Snow.", she said and smiled at him slightly. Hope grinned back, but the grin turned into a frown, as Lightning added a word. „Mostly." Hopes mock scowl had no effect on Lightning, even though she had to admit that it was not bad. „Come on, director, lead us the way.", she said to come back to the main topic, while Hope nodded and went ahead. Mog flew behind them and giggled softly. Lightning ignored the Moogle and followed Hope in silence.
On their way they had to fight against monsters, but they were no problem for them and then they arrived the HQ of the Academy. The two went along the path to the building, but then Lightning stopped suddenly. „What's wrong, kupo?", asked Mog confused, while Lightning looked around carefully. „...We're being watched.", she said before she saw Caius on a high platform. The violet-haired man and jumped down and during his fall, he turned into a black Bahamuth and flew directly towards them.
„Get ready!", said Lightning, while she took her gunblade. Then Caius attacked them with Bahamuths Megaflare, but they dodge the attack just in time. Then Caius flew into the sky, but his attack summoned a Behemoth, that appeared behind them. „Light! Duck", shouted a female voice. The two couldn't even register what's happening, but she quickly ducked and avoided to be hit from the missile that hit the Behemoth and defeated them.
They looked in the direction where the missiles came from and saw that an entire airship fleet were landing and on one were Serah and Snow. Lightning and Hope ran to them, who jumped from the airship with a few soldiers. „You need to follow him! Get on ad hurry up, sis!", said Snow. Lightning just glared at him briefly, before she climbed on the airship with Hope. Now was no time for arguments. „Good luck! He's our best pilot!", called Serah while winking and waving at them. The airship rose into the air and through the speakers came a very familiar voice. „Hey, Light! Where have you been, soldier girl?"
„Sazh? Is that you?", exclaimed Hope surprised, then they heard him laugh. „Of course it's me, kid! Dajh is here too."
„What are you doing here in the future?", asked Lightning confused. „I'll explain later! We have a world to be saved!", said Sazh and flew to Caius. „Right.", said the pink-haired woman and attacked Caius with magic. Hope it did the same, once Mog transformed into the bow. Caius attacked them too, but the two were able to dodge the attacks. Then they defeated the Bahamuth and Caius turned back into his human form and landed on the airship. „You could've stayed in your dream world.", he said and took the hilt of his sword. „And miss all the fun here?", asked Lightning, who went into their fighting stance with Hope. Caius just snorted and took his sword. The eye on the handle opened and dark magic was bubbling out of it. Caius attacked them with a dark magic wave, but the two were able to dodge the attack. Hope shot arrows at him while Lightning ran to him and attack head-on.
The violet-haired man blocked Lightnings attack and made his counter attack. Although Lightning had to contort herself, she'd managed to evade every attack and went with a handspring at a distance. In the last jump she shot at him a few times and although she was upside down, it didn't affect her accuracy. Hope made his bow to a sword and ran to Caius. Lightning fought with magic from close range.
Caius blocked his attacks with ease and because his sword was so huge he also blocked Lightnings magic. Lightning then developed a tactic so that they could attack by Caius from behind and were able to achieve multiple hits. They fought a few minutes and used this tactic on him and finally defeated him, but then the light and the white feathers appeared again and stood up as if nothing had happened. „You can not defeat me.", he said and attacked Hope with his dark magic. He was hit and thrown back and then Caius attacked Lightning with his huge sword. The ex-soldier blocked the attack and tried with all her strength to push away him, but he didn't move a millimeter. „Hope, Light! Hold on!", called Sazh and steered the ship upwards, so that the nose pointed straight up. Hope and Lightning were clinging to the railing, while Caius jumped off and fell into the depths.
The two watched as he fell down, but then Caius' eyes glowed red. „Wings of night!", he said and in the next moment he turned into a Bahamuth and flew up to them. He attacked one last time before he disappeared in a huge Temporal Rift. „Sazh fly closer to it!", said Lightning. „Sure!", he called back and flew to the Temporal Rift. „Ready?", asked Lightning the silver-haired man. „Yes.", he replied and looked at her determined. „Well then..." Lightning and Hope ran to the edge and jumped off the airship, directly into the Temporal Rift.
A.N. Okay, make yourself ready fort he final showdown! Though, as you saw in my online survey there won't be one, but THREE Endings! You still have the chance to vote which ending shall be the original one^^ You have time till next Sunday, then I'll stop the survey. About the dream worlds: I didn't know for sure if Hopes dream world should really be just his memories, but Lightning shouldn't find out that he likes her. I asked a friend and she said it's fine. I also made a few hints and Light will confront him about this in the next chappy (little spoilerXD)
PLEASE REVIEW! (Update in one week from now)
