Chapter Nine: Together
When Lightning awoke next, it wasn't because of Caius bringing her back to the real world. On the contrary, she looked over at him right away and saw his face clearly in the wake of the rising sun. He had fallen asleep sometime in the middle of the night without awakening her to keep guard while he rested.
"I guess this is a safe place," she murmured to herself as she pushed herself up to her feet. When she had created the rift to bring them both to this place, it had been because she desired to come to a place that was safe. Caius couldn't have known that since he didn't know what motives she used to create the rift, but it was clear enough in the air that there were no monsters or other threats in this area.
This was New Bodhum 620 AF. The two of them had arrived in this place after fleeing a battle in New Paddra. Lightning had been wounded and they stopped to rest and speak here. They actually had a conversation without either of them bickering or losing their tempers. Considering that they both could be a little hotheaded, it was surprising that they were able to have a decent conversation. More than decent, actually. Caius Ballad actually opened up to her about his past because he respected her for more than just her battle abilities. She wasn't sure what exactly changed his mind, but it didn't matter. Just as long as they could continue being civil as they moved on then she would be happy.
The soldier glanced down at Caius, who was leaning against the tree with his arms folded over his chest, one more time before she walked to the water that still lapped the shores of the beach. The town was desolate and abandoned, but at least it was still a place that was inhabitable. She wished she knew what had happened to make everyone leave this place, but at the same time, she didn't. Knowing all the tragedies of the timeline was devastating.
Eventually, Lightning coaxed herself out of her clothes and into the water to get cleaned up. The water was chilling even with the sun shining down, so she didn't take long to wash off the dirt, grime, and blood before she got back out of the water and put her uniform on again. Trusting that Caius would be fine sleeping on his own for a while, she walked further away from the abandoned village in order to find some food for the both of them to eat. They were both warriors, trained to be able to go a long time without food, but they still needed food if they were going to have the strength to carry on.
Lightning walked past the tree to head out of the area. "Where are you going?" a low voice asked from beside her.
Caius, she thought instantly, looking down to see that his eyes were now open. Tired, but open. "I figured I'd go get some breakfast," she said with a small nod. "The area's pretty tame."
"We should go together anyway," Caius said, setting a hand on the ground as if to get up.
But Lightning shook her head. "You still look tired," she responded bluntly. "Go ahead and rest for a little while. I'll be back."
Caius's eyebrows furrowed more deeply when he was told what to do. Of course he didn't like taking orders, even if he and Lightning were on good—or at least, better—terms now. But instead of arguing, he leaned back against the tree and folded his arms over his chest again. "As you wish."
"Good," Lightning said after a moment of recovery. I can't believe he just stopped himself from antagonizing me, just like that. Wish he would have done that a long time ago… Regardless, Lightning looked away from Caius and started walking the way that she had been going before.
It didn't take long for her to find a monster that they could eat. There were dog-like creatures [insert proper name here] that were easy to kill in this area, even for one person fighting alone. Clearly it wasn't monster infestation that caused the town to rot. Instead of dwelling on those thoughts, she draped the animal's legs over her shoulders and carried it behind her head as she returned back to the town.
Caius was there with a roaring fire waiting for her. "I thought I told you to rest," she stated, plopping the animal down on the ground as she gave Caius an arched brow.
"I did rest," he said evenly. "It was much easier to build a fire and get water than to go hunting as you did."
Lightning blinked. "You got water too?"
"Yes," he said with a slight smirk. "Are you glad now that I didn't laze around and do nothing?"
"Hmph," she hummed. A small smirk formed on her lips as well, knowing this was a less offensive way of antagonism than what Caius did in the past. This was more…friendly. "Only if you brought some water back for me and didn't drink it all for yourself."
"I'm a bit more considerate than that," Caius said as he rolled his eyes. Down by his side, Lightning noticed that he was holding a pouch. He wordlessly tossed it to her and she caught it with ease. She glanced down at it, seeing that it was old. Where'd you get it? she asked through her eyes. "I found it inside the old house," he answered upon seeing her eyes.
Lightning hummed a brief response before lifting it to her lips and taking a sip. The cool water slid down her throat, soothing dryness that she had learned to ignore so well that she hadn't even noticed it. Realizing her true thirst, she drank the water more quickly. While she did, Caius started working on the animal and cutting it so that they could roast it over the fire. He was no stranger to hunting and cooking food in the wilderness, that was for sure.
While Caius cooked the meat on a stick, Lightning went to refill the pouch of water. The food was done by the time that she returned. She and Caius ate in silence for a little while, both wrapped up in their own thoughts.
At the same time, they spoke each other's names.
"Lightning."
"Caius."
They both did a double take, unsure of who should speak first. Being in sync was awkward. Fortunately for her, Caius was willing to break that brief tension. "What are our plans from this point on?" he asked after a moment, gazing at Lightning before taking a bit into the meat he still held on a stick.
"Honestly?" she said aloud. "I think that if we're serious about going after Etro, we need to stop running around to random times and getting into trouble. We need to be a higher-functioning team before we find Etro."
"Good point," he agreed easily. "So, where can we train together?"
"I only have one place in mind. The Coliseum."
"The Coliseum," Caius repeated in thought. That was a world in some sort of Realm that Lightning didn't know much about at all. All that she knew was that warriors from different times—even different universes—could be summoned to the Coliseum by the Arbiter of Time. If they could battle monsters together at the Coliseum, they could get a battle feel of how they could work together. "Very well. We can go there. I don't believe that it will take us too long to get a feel for working together though."
"Really?" Lightning asked curiously. "Why's that?"
"Because, we've fought against each other and observed each other for a very long time. You know my strengths and I know yours. But since we also know each other's weaknesses, we can easily form a strategy that best utilizes our strengths and covers our weaknesses."
"Good logic," the impressed young woman said. "It sounds like you've had training in the art of strategy."
Caius merely shrugged. "I have been to many times and seen many wars. I have only adopted knowledge from that."
"Well, you're about to adopt more of that from me," she said with a smirk. "Let's clean up here and then get going. We've got a Coliseum to crash."
*…*…*…*…*…*
"No."
"Oh come on," Lightning said in exasperation, eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the man before her. She and Caius had, by some miracle, arrived in the Coliseum. Just when the rifts actually worked in their favor, the Arbiter of time decided not to be so favorable. He just told them that they could not battle here in the Coliseum! But they had to train here; this was where they could face the strongest opponents and get a strategy down. This place was their only hope…
"The time for all warriors to come to this Coliseum has not yet arrived," The Arbiter of Time said to the two. "I do not welcome even you here. Leave immediately."
"And what if we linger anyway?" Caius challenged. "Would you fight us?"
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction," he responded smoothly. "I would leave and you would as well since your purpose cannot be accomplished here."
"Listen, we need to train here," Lightning said lowly. "The world will end if we're not strong enough to kill Etro."
"Etro is the goddess of time. The time for the Coliseum to begin is decided by her."
"So if we were to kill her, your time would never come," Caius guessed.
"Yes. My time comes at the end of time. And that day continues to draw nearer so long as you stay away from the goddess."
"So we actually have the possibility of being a threat to her," Lightning realized.
The Arbiter of Time said nothing.
"Well fine," she spat. "You want the end of the world just so that you can finally run this coliseum. All you care about is having people pitted against each other. Don't you get it? Life is so much more than just fighting—life is about what you're fighting for. But I wouldn't expect you to understand that." Lightning turned to look at Caius, whose expression was as unreadable as always. "Come on, Caius, we're leaving."
Lightning turned and started walking away, though she wasn't sure where they were going but the top of the stairs. They could make a rift there and then move onto their newest location. Obviously nothing good was going to be accomplished here. Even Caius realized that when he followed behind her.
"Wait."
The two both stopped halfway up the stairs, turning around to face the man who had spoken.
"I do not desire the end of the world," he declared. "But I do not desire to openly oppose Etro either. Still, I believe we can assist each other today. There are two monsters in this realm that were uninvited here yet still wreak havoc. If you can rid me of those two pests, I will find some way to repay you."
Lightning and Caius shared a brief look. As if they were going to turn down that offer. They came here to fight anyone, even pests. If they made it to this realm uninvited, then they were strong beings. "We'll do it," they said at the same time.
"Very well," the man said. "Wait here. They will come."
And just like that, the Arbiter of Time vanished from his spot in the center of the coliseum.
Lightning chuckled to herself, shaking her head as she started down the steps once more. "That was unexpected," she stated, though she was pleased.
"I suppose your rant about fighting and life touched him somehow," Caius said stoically. "Perhaps he is more human than he appears to be."
"And what about you, Caius?" she asked, looking over at him. "Are you more human than appear to be?"
"No."
"Mhm," Lightning hummed with a smug, disbelieving smile. She knew that Caius was lying to her. Whether he realized it or not, he started showing his humanity to her when he first protected her in the temple. He covered her head with his hands, which was completely unnecessary and showed added care. Then his protectiveness of her when she had the arrow in her stomach, and the care he took in removing it and making sure she didn't pass out. But perhaps the greatest example of his humanity was how he trusted her in seeing his memories of Averia.
"What?" Caius said, shooting her a faint glare.
She turned around to face him. "Whether you realize it or not, Caius, your actions speak a lot more loudly than your words. You are human, whether you want to admit it or not. And you're not a bad one either."
"Is that some kind of compliment?"
"Take it how you want it," she said, waving a hand through the air absently. "But I guess I don't have to tell you that. You'll do what you want either way."
"Hmph," Caius hummed as the faintest of smirks appeared on his lips. "That I will."
Before the conversation could continue any further, maniacal laughter filled the round coliseum and echoed throughout the area. Both Lightning and Caius became serious as they put a hand on the hilt of their weapons and looked around the area for the source.
Who—or what—appeared was a surprise to both of them. A purple octopus-like creature jumped out of the stands of the Coliseum and plopped down right in the middle, the slime of its tentacles actually seen sputtering within the radius of where he landed. "What the?" Lightning muttered, her eyes curious and confused. What is this thing?
The octopus was larger than she and Caius, purple, and very slimy. His eyes were red and sharp fangs were dangling from his upper mouth. Those red eyes creeped Lightning out a little, though it wasn't because he seemed like a threat. He was just plain creepy. Especially when those red eyes of his landed on her and he jumped in excitement.
"Oh my!" the creature, Ultros, cried in excitement. "What a beautiful woman!"
"What?" Lightning grunted. He was flirting with her!
"Don't act so surprised, lady!" Ultros laughed as he again jumped up and down. "The Great Ultros knows beauty when he sees it!" His red eyes went over to Caius then, and his cheeks turned as red as his eyes at that moment. "I just hope this handsome man hasn't claimed you yet!"
"He hasn't," Lightning said awkwardly, lifting a hand and ruffling her hair. Creep.
"Oh good!" Ultros cried in excitement. "That means I can have him all for myself! So happy, so happy!"
This time, it was Caius who grunted "what" in shock. "You vile, worthless, lecherous-"
"Oh, what's this?" Ultros interrupted in a saddened tone. "Has Uncle Ultros made you two angry? You don't wish to befriend Uncle Ulty?"
"No," the two said simultaneously.
"Well, that's a pity," the octopus sighed sadly. "Well, if I can't have Caius 'Fabulous' Ballad-"
Caius had his sword out before Lightning could do anything. A purple mist surrounded it as he pulled it back behind his head and then swung it, energy flowing across the ground in a bolt and shattering against Ultros.
Ultros cried out in pain, slithering back a few feet to get away from Caius. But apparently the pain wasn't too extreme; the lecherous creature managed to find his voice again. "You didn't even let me finish!" he cried in anger. "I was going to say that if I can't have Mr. Fabulous with the headband and the matching scarf, then nobody can!"
"Yeah, we assumed you were going to say something like that," Lightning said in aggravation. Now she could see why the Arbiter of Time was so eager to get Ultros out of this place. He was a pain in the butt.
"Oh, you're no fun. But I'm still going to have fun with this. Oh Mr. Typhon!" he called up to the sky. "I could use your assistance!"
Lightning grunted, seeing a creature appear out of a black fog. It was absolutely hideous, pink, and flying. He roared into the air, flexing its ugly claws at both her and Caius. She finally pulled out her gunblade, wincing when the air of the roar actually felt like it would blow her backwards.
"His might will blow you away!" Ultros cried with a laugh. He squirmed closer to both Lightning and Caius, smacking his tentacle against the ground as he reached out to both of them. They jumped backwards skillfully, though they nearly lose their balance when they felt a blast of wind come from Typhon.
"How are we going to do this?" Caius grunted, sword stabbed into the ground before him as he was braced against the mighty wind.
"Leave 'Mr. Typon' to me," Lightning responded through her teeth. She kept her arms lifted before her face, but the still felt her feet sliding back a few inches every second that the wind was directed at her. "I've got a plan."
"Divide and conquer? That's not going to help us when we're facing one opponent," he stated.
"Yeah, well, we're not facing one enemy right now," she stated obviously. "So we'll have to do what we can in this situation."
Caius only grunted his agreement. "Fine. Though I have a feeling that you're only pitting me against Ultros to spite me."
Was that a joke? In battle? And from Caius Ballad? She smirked faintly, shaking her head. "Soon enough, you'll see my plan in action."
The wind suddenly stopped and both of them knew that there couldn't be a moment's delay. "Now!" she cried. She and Caius crossed paths, heading towards their respective opponents and striking both with the skill and speed of true warriors. Though Lightning knew that Caius would have his hands full with Ultros, she knew that he could handle that overgrown squid. Hopefully Typohon wouldn't be too much of a problem, not with the strategy that Lightning had in mind.
The creature swung its claw at her, which she narrowly avoided by jumping backwards. Then the next thing she knew, Typhon opened his mouth and sucked in a mighty breath so that he could blow her away. "Now or never," she muttered. She snapped her fingers to activate her Grav Con device, a device that altered her gravity. The blue streaks flowed over her body like an electric charge, making her feel lighter on her feet.
Typhon blew a mighty wind at her to try and knock her back. She didn't budge an inch or even feel the air affect her. "Ha!" she cried, victorious. The Grav Con device altered her gravity so that the wind couldn't affect her. She ran forward unaffected, dishing out combo after combo while Typhon was confused about why his wind wasn't affecting her. As long as she had the device turned out, this was going to be an insanely easy battle.
Or so she thought. After dealing many mighty blows to Typhon, she heard Ultros's obnoxious voice. "Mr. Typhon!" he cried. "I'll help you!"
And then Lightning felt one of the slimy tentacles wrap around her ankle. She grunted roughly as Ultros yanked her off the ground and tossed her up into the air, high enough that she actually hit the ceiling of the Coliseum.
Lightning fell down to the ground again like a rock, landing on her stomach before she rolled backwards to get onto her feet again. Miraculously, her device was still working. She had to get back to the fight against Typhon.
But Typhon and Ultros were both occupied. They were unleashing a combo on Caius, who looked worse for wear than Lightning did. He was swinging his sword and unleashing energy waves at Typhon and Ultros, but the wind of Typhon sent his own attack back at him.
"Caius!" Lightning cried hoarsely, seeing him get knocked into the stands onto his back. She furrowed her eyebrows in fury, not liking to see somebody so strong get toyed with. She used her enhanced jumping abilities to jump right over Typhon and Ultros and land right beside Caius.
"I'm fine," Caius said, though he winced as he sat up.
Time for a new approach. Really together this time. "Can you fly?" she asked lowly, hearing Ultros laughing about something and speaking to his friend Mr. Typhon.
"Fly?" Caius asked in confusion. "If I turn into Bahamut and fly, I'll be that much more vulnerable to Typhon's wind attacks."
"No you won't," Lightning said, snapping off her Grav Con device for a moment.
"How?"
"Do you trust me?" she asked, extending a hand to help him up.
"Somewhat."
"Then trust me now." She had another plan that she was ready to put into motion.
Caius glanced up at her eyes for a moment, considering what she had to say. All the while, Ultros's voice came from the ground floor of the Coliseum. "Hurry up, lovebirds!"
That comment was enough to infuriate Caius and get him to follow whatever plan Lightning had in her mind. He accepted her hand and rose to his feet, nodding faintly to her in acceptance. Good; he was willing to follow through even without all the details. Maybe their partnership in battle was going to work out after all.
Caius grasped Ragnarok tightly, the gem in the center glowing as he began to gather his power. But at the same time, Typhon gathered his. "Incoming!" Lightning cried in warning.
He didn't need to be told twice. He started running another direction, away from Lightning. When his energy was gathered, he leapt into the air and transformed in a dark cloud and reappeared as Chaos Bahamut, a beast so large and intimidating that even Lightning had been afraid to face it in the past.
Lightning shot bullets at Typhon while he blew wind at her, not turning on her device again. Not yet. "Caius, give me a lift!"
He flew over in her direction, low enough that she could jump onto his back. He clearly struggled against the wind of Typhon, but that wouldn't be a problem too much longer. Lightning jumped onto his back, grunting when she knelt down on one knee and grasped onto him with her free hand. I hope this works… she thought, putting her sword away for just a moment. She snapped her fingers once again and activated the device, though the blue aura didn't just glow around her body anymore. Since she was in contact with Caius when she turned it on, he was also altered by it.
"There," she breathed in satisfaction. Now they were practically invincible.
"What! What are you doing up there?" Ultros cried. "Mr. Typhon, teach them a lesson!"
But when Mr. Typhon blew wind at them, they weren't even affected. Caius immediately caught onto this fact and swooped down, swinging a claw at both their enemies and inflicting critical blows. He kept swooping down as Lightning kept balanced on his back and shot off bullets from her gun to keep inflicting damage of her own.
Eventually Caius got tired of all the swooping down. He pulled back into the higher skies, charging up his most fatal attack: Megaflair.
"Uh-oh!" Ultros cried. "Time for me to go!"
Lightning sent fireballs his way, forcing him to retreat back into the area where Caius was going to shoot his beam at. Ultros continued to cry out, clearly afraid now. And he had a right to be.
Caius unleashed Megaflair and both Ultros and Typhon were burned to a crisp. "Ha," Lightning laughed, snapping her fingers and turning off her device wordlessly. There was no longer a need for it. Ultros and Typhon crumpled into piles of ash before disappearing, never again to return to this arena.
"We did it, Caius," Lightning said, giving him a brief pat as he flew closer to the ground. She jumped off of his back, landing gracefully on her feet with a satisfied smirk on her face. When Caius transformed back into himself, he wore a very similar expression and gave her a smirk of approval.
The two of them actually made a good team after all.
*…*…*…*…*…*
Author: This chapter was a ton of fun to write. ;3 Especially Ultros. He was a riot in FFVI, and from I watched online of his downloadable content in XIII-2, he's still hilarious. But anywho, thanks for reading, and now onto the personal stuff…Looking at the reviews, I don't see any questions I need to answer. xD So there ya go! Thanks to MaroonAngle of Darkness, Hannah Abby, Davewik, i, Riku91, Darkis0777, jchongmeeluk , and arth for reviewing.
Until next time!