Hey guys, new update in this fic.

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Chapter Twenty Nine

Memories

Éclair was standing alone once more.

She couldn't understand how she had gotten here, since she doesn't remember any even from before that. But she can feel the burning of her brand that was on her chest and it was burning painfully causing the young woman to fall down upon her knees.

W…What is going on? She thought.

Then dark shadows was appearing all around her body going forward as she felt the very world around her was crumbling. She glanced at the sky and she can see Cocoon, the floating Planet that she was tasked to destroy.

The Planet was cracked.

The cracks were running all around its bronze surface making her wonder what could be happening inside. Then it started to fall as fire started to appear underneath it. Éclair simply stood there, horrified with what she was seeing powerless to do anything…

Then the burn of her brand burned even more forcing her to her knees.

Her skin started to turn purple causing Éclair to look at it her hands in shock.

No…this can't be happening…

The purplish color grew all over her body engulfing her into it and she felt the place around her shook terribly as Cocoon landed upon Pulse, creating the large blast of power as flames cursed through the Planet's surface….

Cries started to echo within Éclair's mind causing the girl to put her hands against her head, trapped within this hellish nightmare she can't escape from.

Stop…it…

But it didn't end here as she felt the world turn dark around her, darkness that seemingly taking over Pulse…

Stop it…someone, anyone help me…

Then she felt a presence around her. Éclair couldn't explain it but she knew someone was there as the light started to appear around her body forcing her to look up once more. A figure she could see, there was figure there floating weightlessly in front of her, the robes falling around the form like ribbons of lights.

Éclair…wake up.

Then she snapped her eyes open.

Éclair quickly seated up from her position her hands instantly going for her sword but the crackling of the fire appease her senses. She glanced around herself, noticing that Zack was asleep on a patch of grass.

It was a dream, she thought, putting a hand against her head.

She glanced around herself once more, finding Vaan sleeping beside Paine and Tifa. The trio had been talking before they went to sleep. She was glad that she had them as friends thought, they had risked a lot to be here with her and she didn't even know how she will be able to repay them.

The woman stood up from where she had fallen asleep, careful not to wake any of the occupants before walking toward the forest. They had found a small stream nearby and they had used it to freshen up and Éclair was glad to be able to clean herself after such a long time without a shower. She walked through the trees until she can hear the water rushing through the rocks causing her to grin slightly.

She arrived by the stream and removed her gloves so that she can wash her face and as she did so, she can feel the brand burning against her skin. The burn caused Éclair to think back on these dreams she kept having. Why does she keep seeing Cocoon destruction? Was that the only future that awaits them at the end of the journey?

Without Orphan, Cocoon will fall and the millions of people that live upon it will die. Do you wish to be responsible for the extinction of the Human race?

That was what Sephiroth had told her since her Focus is to destroy Cocoon. She will have to kill the Fal'Cie Orphan, the one whose power is being used to keep the planet afloat. Éclair sighed, looking up toward the sky.

Is this really what awaits me?

The woman thought back to the voice that she had heard. There was a hint of familiarity within it and that glowing figure. She knew she had seeing it somewhere before but where could that be she had no idea.

It couldn't have been a memory, she thought, So what was it? Why have I seen a face of my past in my dream?

Éclair sighed softly feeling her brand's burn and she put a hand upon where it was situated. She removed the top of her armor and put it on the ground beside her. She then moved closer to the water so that she can see her brand's reflection.

It was filled with thick black arrows and in the middle of it a quarter way opened was a glowing red eye. Éclair had never seen her brand, not even since she was branded back on Cocoon. She had never stopped to check it.

But seeing it now, it made her realize that her time was running short.

The brand doesn't stay here forever, she thought, Mine and Lightning's Focus is getting closer to be realized. This is probably why the dreams are becoming more frequents…

"Can't sleep?" a voice said.

Éclair glanced around at the voice and in the darkness, she noticed the twin blue lines of Lightning's shoulder pads and it caused her to relax a little. The pink haired soldier approached her and took a seat beside her.

"You were on guard duty?" Éclair asked.

The woman nodded.

"I just woke Zack up to take the next shift," the soldier told her, "Tell me Éclair, what had been bothering you?"

The Pulsian sighed.

"Dreams," she said, her voice low, "Dreams about Cocoon's destruction. I can't close my eyes without seeing it happens. I keep seeing what will happen if everyone died…and it chills me to the bones."

Lightning give her a glance.

"Isn't that why we're out here?" she asked, "To look for another way…to save Cocoon."

Éclair give her a glance.

"What if we're wrong?" she said, "What if there is no other way?"

Lightning shook her head.

"Don't starts thinking like that," she said, "For Etro's sake don't."

Éclair was taken aback by the strong reaction. She didn't think that Lightning would have gotten so angry at her for that. The soldier had changed a lot since they had faced Sephiroth and Lightning's Eidolon and the two had gotten closer to each other.

"We're still fighting because you give us hope Éclair," she said to her, "Didn't you told me once that together we might make a difference? Isn't that what you told me, Éclair?"

The Pulsian woman looked down.

"I want to see my sister again after all of this," Lightning said, "Serah is the only family member I have left. I will do anything to keep Cocoon safe…just to save her."

The soldier eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

"Don't take away that glimmer of hope you have given me," she whispered.

Éclair stood silently watching her. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to dampen hope, but those dreams she keep having are starting to have their toll upon her head.

"I'm sorry," she said, "It's just those dreams…"

"That's all they are Éclair," Lightning said, "Just dreams…nothing more, nothing else. Just keep your chin up and you'll do fine."

Éclair chuckled a little.

"You're treating me like a kid," she said.

The soldier looked away for an instant before looking toward her again.

"You've helped me with my Eidolon," she told her, "That's all I can do for you."

Éclair nodded.

"I'm going back to camp," the soldier said standing up, "And you need some rest also."

"I'll be there in just a second," Éclair told her.

Lightning nodded before walking off, leaving Éclair standing beside the water. The woman took the armor that was on the ground and put it back on. She hoped that Lightning had been right and that those dreams she kept having were just dreams.

Even thought, she never fully believed her own thoughts.

Their road through Pulse continued the following days as they passed the large plains that were around them. The group used Vaan's journal to get their leads and it seems that his grandfather was using the book as a map as he drew some of the designs of the place they can see from where they were.

Then they saw it.

It was the sea in front of them, and they can see floating pieces of things in it. The water was clear mostly but they can see the broken buildings in the distance. Probably before it was an impressive sight to see, and even the ruins seems to be impressive.

Paine and Tifa walked in front amazed at the sight of the ruins, so did Lightning but Éclair stayed still in place, looking at the ruins on the other side of the waters. It was like her entire body was frozen stiff…

This location…

She had been here before…

A long time ago…

"This is such a great view," a voice said.

The woman blinked.

The place around her was no longer desolated but trees were filled with life and the water was free of debris. Boats were floating upon the sea water…

"Why are you standing around for Éclair?"

She found the speaker. It was a man a navy blue haired young man. He was dressed entirely in black, looking at her with a smile.

"It's strange knowing we might not see it for a long time," Éclair hear herself said.

The dark clothed young man chuckled.

"Zanarkand won't change," he said, "It will stay the same for a long time, as long as we do our duties as l'Cie."

"How is the Fal'Cie that had chosen you?" she asked him.

The young man stayed silent.

"She is different than the others," he told her, "but she is also quite charming in her own way, for a young Fal'Cie that is."

"You'll do great," Éclair told him, "You are a great warrior Noctis."

The young man seems to blush a little at her words.

"Thank you for the compliment," he said, "But this is our duty to protect the Fal'Cie as they have protected us ever since our birth. This is our duty as Protectors."

Éclair feel her brand become warm against her skin and she knew she was being summoned.

"Seraphelim is calling me," she said.

"Go on," Noctis told her, "I want to reflect a little."

Éclair was back upon the real world blinking and glancing around. The young man who was standing next to her a few minutes ago it seemed was no longer there and at the base of the slope she can see her companions looking through the materials.

A memory? She thought.

The young man Noctis, had been a friend a Protector like she had been before. As she thought about it, she can remember that in that memory had just been chosen by a Fal'Cie, a young one. Éclair put a hand upon her chest, feeling her brand there.

"Éclair, are you alright?" Zack asked.

The woman nodded at him.

"It's nothing," she said.

At least I hope it's nothing, she thought inwardly.

The group approached the large stone bridge that leads them straight toward the large ruins of the city that was in front of them. Even in the distance, Éclair can see the tall buildings that were partly destroyed…

Then she started to hear some strange echoes causing her to glance around herself. The group was walking toward the city.

"Is…Is this the city that your great grandfather found?" Tifa asked Vaan.

"Probably," he said, glancing at the journals, "He did say that it was filled with large towers. It must be what Dr. Cid had found nearly a century before him…and the location where the Crystalis was found."

"Man, it must have been one hell of a sight at its prime," Paine said.

"It was," Éclair said.

That caused them to look at her.

"What is it Éclair?"

The armored woman didn't even answer them as she continued to walk forward, until she was standing in front of the group. Her blue eyes were filled with raw emotions as she watched them.

"It was a city built by the Fal'Cie," she said, "and we…we were their faithful servants."

"Éclair…," Lightning said approaching the woman.

Then Éclair's brand flashed a bright pink forcing the woman to yell out in pain as she falls down to her knees.

"Éclair," she said, falling beside her.

But Éclair couldn't hear her…for her head was filled images…memories…

"Fang is Ragnarok…"

"Let go of her…"

"He…He is powerful…"

"You have chosen to be a Protector Eclair…,"

"Éclair, snap out of it," a voice said, shaking her shoulder.

"Seifer…"

"Your Focus is to protect Seraphelim…"

"Let's finish this…once and for all…"

Then the images started to come faster and faster and her brand was glowing even brighter as the shield of magic was starting to appear around Éclair's form forcing the others to step back from her.

"What is going on…?" Tifa yelled.

"ÉCLAIR," Lightning yelled.

A young woman with dark hair was standing beside her, holding her hand as she petted a Chocobo. Her bright green eyes softly looking at her.

"See it's easy," the dark haired girl said, "and I think it likes you."

FLASH

"Fang…is closer to us than we think," Serah told her.

She can only feel confusion at that.

FLASH

More images started to fly through Éclair's mind and it was too much for her brain to handle at once, and she passed out on the ground as the light receded from her brand.

Lightning quickly ran forward toward the fallen Pulsian and instantly checked for a pulse which to her relief was still there. But what was that back there? What had happened to Éclair to causes her brand to react so violently?

The only time those things happened was when her Eidolon was coming out. She didn't think it could have happened at other times.

"Is she alright?" Tifa asked, the worry evident in her voice.

"She is fine," Lightning said, "She only passed out. We will have to wait for her to wake up."

The soldier picked up her would be twin from the ground.

"Let's find some shelter for the night," she said, giving the group a glance, "Those old ruins must still be in good shape if they can stand for at least a thousand of years. We can wait for Éclair to get back up on her feet there."

Vaan watched Lightning carry Éclair away.

"What just happened back there?" Zack asked.

"As if any of us can even make sense at what happen around crazy girl," Paine said shaking her head.

Vaan gives her a glance but then decided to follow after the soldier.

What could be happening to Eclair?

The group reaches Zanarkand...at least what`s left of it.

Next time: Truth behind the dreams

R&R.