Lightning's PoV:

After our narrow escape from Academia Hall, I realized I didn't even know where to start looking for Paddra. Nightfall was upon us, but we needed to get as far away as possible. Odin gracefully soared over logs, boulders, and bushes as we rode through the grim forest.

"Mind telling me how you escaped?" she questioned.

"You wouldn't believe me," I said a little harsher than I intended.

"Why would you say that?" she cupped my face in her hands. "I love you. Why wouldn't I believe you?"

Her words cut like a razor. I closed the small gap between our lips. "Forgive me. You're right," I admitted, so I told her everything about being in Fang's holding cell and my talk with Serah.

"You're . . . the Chosen One? But, what does that mean?"

"I have no idea. But Paddra might have answers for us."

Vanille leaned back against my chest, resting her head on my shoulder. I kept my sight in front of me. "We'll be lucky if we've an hour of sunlight. We need to get far away from Academia before it's too dark."

"Hardly," Vanille stifled a giggle.

I shot her a quizzical look. "You know something I don't?"

She nodded. "The forests on Pulse are dangerous at night. Fang knows that. She'd be crazy to send a search party before morning. It's impractical."

She is crazy.

"Dangerous? Why dangerous?"

"Other than the obvious predators and poor vision? Hmm, there's an old Oerban legend about Pulsian forests. When I was little, my grandfather told me that, at night, no hunter who entered the Pulsian woods ever came out."

"Interesting," I stirred. "Did he say why?"

Vanille thought hard for a moment. "Something to do with nymphs."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Nymphs?"

"Yes," she replied. "If I remember correctly, they are l'Cie who failed their focuses, and they're beautiful. So beautiful that the Fal'Cie gods saw turning them into Ci'eth as a waste. So they gain eternal life, but rather than turning to crystal, their beauty is amplified, and they're tied to the woodlands, never to leave. They're temptresses who lure people into their homes and change them into ferocious beasts."

"Amusing," I hummed. "Anything else?"

Vanille shrugged. "As the story goes, nymphs who find their prey attractive will lure them to bed, and keep them as slaves."

Poor bastards, I thought.

"What do you make of these stories?" I asked seriously.

"I'm not sure," Vanille shrugged. "It's just a story, but it could still be revealing. I guess we'll just have to be careful."

The thought of bringing Vanille into danger suddenly struck me. "Forgive me for bringing you to this forsaken place. If I would've known it was dangerous—"

"—You would've still rescued me. Nothing could be more dangerous than being apart from you," Vanille asserted.

I kissed her forehead tenderly. "You believe that?" I whispered.

"It's hard to decide who or what to believe in anymore, but I believe in us."

Vanille's PoV:

An hour went by, and the darkness was nearly absolute. We both surveyed the landscape for a reasonable place to rest.

This'll be a struggle.

I hadn't slept on the bare ground since our first adventure.

Desperate times. Desperate measures.

"Woah—Odin, slow there," Lightning patted Odin's long neck, signaling him to stop. "Do you hear that?" she asked me.

I sat up in her arms and listened carefully. It was faint, but unmistakably, I detected the sound of flowing water.

"I do. It's coming from over there," I pointed to our immediate left.

Odin trotted off in the appropriate direction. Moments later, we arrived at a small clearing. Though difficult to see the details of the location, Lightning seemed satisfied. She scooped me in her arms and dismounted us from Odin, smoothly setting me on my feet before facing her Eidelon. She petted Odin's nose as she said, "I can never thank you enough, old friend."

Something was different about Lightning, ever since Academia. She practically broke those sentry guards in half because she had powers . . . Fang even said so, unrealistic speed, strength, coordination, and apparently she could summon Eidelons even though she wasn't l'Cie anymore. Should I be concerned? This so-called Force . . . whatever it was, could it corrupt Lightning too? Just the thought of it terrified me.

Odin took a moment before dissolving into thin air. Lightning turned to me with comforting eyes.

"You okay?" she asked concerned.

"Of course," I forged a smile. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

I don't know why I tried deceiving her. She always knew when something was bothering me. She stepped a little closer. I could see the extent of her fatigue. Her eyes looked glossy, and she was slouching compared to her normally stoic posture.

"You must be exhausted. Come on, let's find some firewood and relax," I urged.

Lightning smiled and turned sideways, offering me her arm. I took a few steps forward and gladly accepted it. We steadily paced through the dirt, twigs, stones, and brush until we stood at the edge of the stream.

"It doesn't look too deep. Just let me—woahh," Before I could finish my sentence, Lightning had already picked me up and began trekking through the shin-high water.

"I swear, you find excuses just to carry me," I joked, kissing her cheek.

"You caught me," she teased, stopping mid-stream to kiss my lips passionately.

"I wish we had clean clothes," I stuttered between kissing her.

Lightning continued wadding through the water. "Maybe we'll find a town or village where we can buy some supplies," she said.

"I don't know, Light. Maybe it's best we stay off the radar. Any potential traders might be loyal to the Republic. They might try to turn us in," I cautioned.

"We'll think of something," she responded.

Once arriving at the opposite side, Lightning set me down on my feet.

"I know we will, and thank you for the help, Captain," I teased.

Lightning smirked. "Reckon I'm not a Captain anymore . . . Fang's got everyone believing I'm the terrorist,"

She was amused, but I didn't find her comment funny.

"Please don't joke about that. You've worked so hard for that title, and for her to just strip it away from you—"

Lightning leaned in to kiss me, stopping me mid-sentence. I lightly bit her bottom lip and then grazed it slowly with my tongue. "You win," I giggled. "I'll calm down," I whispered on her lips. "But you'll always be my Captain," I said seductively.

The darkness made it difficult to make-out her facial expressions, but I managed to visualize her smirking.

"Okay, you nymph, just help me get some wood," she said hoarsely.

The perverse idea of reaching out to grab her private area struck my mind, but to my surprise, she softly held my wrist before I had a chance to do so.

"Nice try, but I'm a little tired tonight. I'll make it up to you tomorrow," she pleaded.

How did she know what I was planning to do? She stopped me before I even did anything?

"You better," I mumbled, pretending to be disappointed.

Lightning's PoV:

Utter darkness. We had to rely on our other senses at this point. Vanille sat beside me as I arranged the kindling around the firewood we gathered.

"You don't have a lighter, do you?" Vanille asked as I placed the last few twigs.

"Afraid not, Milady," I responded plainly.

"Then, how are we going to light this?" Vanille questioned.

Without thinking to answer, I extended my hand to the formation of firewood. I focused intently, and in a matter of seconds, bolts of lightning emitted from my fingertips. The electrical heat produced from the Force energy easily caught the kindling on fire. Satisfied, I reclined back on my palms for support. I glanced over at Vanille who was mesmerized by the flames.

Shifting my weight to my right arm, I encircled my left arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me, and then I placed my left palm on the ground beside her. She remained quiet but cuddled into my shoulder.

"You're a little afraid of me," I whispered. "Aren't you?"

Vanille shot me a quizzical look. She shook her head before replying, "Of course not?"

"These powers are still hard for me to control . . . I'm moving at unnatural speeds and possess unnatural strength. I can push and grip things without touching them. I can cast lightning from my fingertips. I can see some things just before they happen . . . You're skeptical, Van," I swallowed. "You've been skeptical since Academia Hall. You won't admit it, but I see it in your eyes. Talk to me."

Vanille averted my gaze. "It's not that simple," she looked back up at me. "It's just, I've seen Fang do the same things. I was afraid she'd overreact someday. The closest it got was the day I caught Fang having an affair. I was so hurt. I just remember crying, screaming, yelling—eventually, I made her so angry that she shoved me against a wall. But . . . she was on the other side of the room. I was so confused, so afraid of what else she might do."

"She did what?" I grit my teeth. My heart rate spiked.

Fucking bastard.

"Lightning," she said soothingly, placing a hand on my chest. The contact managed to slow my racing heart.

"It's okay. I mean, I was a little out of line by all the screaming—"

I leaned down and pressed my forehead against hers. "Stop," I looked her dead in the eyes. "Don't you make excuses for her. I don't care what you said, or how you said it. Nothing could be bad enough to justify physically hurting you. Do you understand me? NOTHING, and when I see that motherfucker—"

I stopped speaking when I noticed Vanille smiling. It was small, but it was enough to calm me yet again. With my forehead still against hers, I sighed softly. "Look, Van," she perked up, "I could never bring myself to cause you harm. You have my honest word. I can't hurt you like that."

She brushed the hair from my eyes before kissing me chastely. She grabbed my shirt collar, and then whispered on my lips, "I already knew that," she breathed. "I could never be afraid of you."

Vanille's PoV:

A few minutes passed, and Lightning looked more than ready to turn in.

"You should rest," I urged.

Lightning nodded and yawned. She untied her red cape and handed it to me. "Use this as a blanket."

With her cape wrapped around me, I followed Lightning to the ground. I laid on her right side, cuddling up to her and putting my head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around me, resting her hand firmly on my hip.

She fell asleep right away. I didn't blame her. The poor thing deserved her rest after the pod ride from Sunleth, fighting in Academia, and then supporting my weight for an hour on horseback. Unlike her, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts had been wandering ever since my encounter with Lightning the previous night. The pleasure, the sounds, the smells burned in my memory. I couldn't explain why . . . but I had to touch her. I timidly rolled my fingers along her abdomen.

I just need to slide her hand off me. If I can sit up, it'd be easier.

Slowly, I clasped over her fingers. I was determined to lift it, but it proved exceedingly difficult. With every pry, Lightning would unconsciously hold my waist more firmly.

Resolving to stay in the position I was, I lowered my hand to the hem of her trousers. To my advantage, the zipper possessed a long trail. I unzipped her pants and suddenly realized why the zipper trail was so long: it provided her extra room to conceal the massive bulge that her boxer briefs could barely contain.

Provided with the extra lighting from the fire, I clearly saw more of what I couldn't last night.

Why can't I control myself? I'm never like this.

With some reluctance, I timidly positioned my hand against the front of her pelvis. I paused for a moment to make sure I didn't wake her. Reassuring myself that she was asleep, I started delicately caressing her package.

I want to take it out . . . but I shouldn't.

I continued to rub it gently, but I started to get frustrated with not being able to see it. My ministrations grew a little more vigorous.

That was a mistake.

Before I could stop, she started growing, her dick tenting up. I quickly withdrew my hand, hesitant to rouse her.

Stop. Stop. Why can't you stop yourself?

I was startled when Lightning let out a low groan. My eyes returned to her groin. I was mortified to discover that her cock was prodding out from the top of her briefs. Consequently, her erect member freed itself from the confinement of the fabric.

Fuck.

It was so much bigger than I remembered. My once innocent intentions took a turn for the worst when I noticed the special place between my legs was soaked.

Damnit.

Every section of my brain coaxed me to touch Lightning's throbbing dick, and for some strange reason, I was feeling bold. Despite yet another low groan from the sleeping soldier, I hesitantly reached out and wrapped my hand around the thick base. I no longer felt in control of myself as I started stroking it from the base to its beautifully portioned head. My actions earned an even louder groan from Lightning.

She's going to kill me. Why couldn't I just let her sleep?

Lightning's PoV:

Snozzberries taste like snozzberries.

I woke prematurely to a pleasurable sensation in my briefs. As I groggily opened my eyes, I was startled to find Vanille with my hard dick in her hand.

What the—?!

I groaned intensely from the onset of her squeezing and stroking me. Now alerted, Vanille abruptly stopped her handwork to look at me. Her angelic face was saturated a bright crimson color, made visible by the reflection of the roaring fire in front of us.

With her hand still firmly squeezing the middle of my shaft, Vanille looked wide-eyed and guilty. "—Light, I'm so sorry!" she stuttered. "I know you're exhausted. I-I-I.. didn't mean to wake you. It's just, I wanted to see it again—"

I raised an eyebrow. Vanille couldn't respond. She was clearly still flustered and embarrassed that I had caught her. "Keep going," I whispered. "It feels really good."

My encouragement made her smile. She continued stroking my length as my head rolled back. I loosened my hold around her waist, giving her more room to spread out and continue her work.

Using her left arm, she supported herself upright. I admired her exposed collar bones. Just the sight of Vanille—her face, her body, her voice.. she drove me insane. I lowered my eyes a little more, stopping when I noticed the generous view of her cleavage. The fact that she was leaning to the side inappropriately exposed her chest.

Would she be upset if I touched them?

I propped myself up on my right elbow and extended my left hand to her breasts. She caught my gesture just before I could touch. A playful smile danced on her lips. I took that as her approval and proceeded to cup her right breast gently. I kneaded it firmly for a few moments and then I reached into the fabric and freed it. I cupped her breast and started to thumb her sensitive nipple. Vanille moaned softly and bit her lip.

She was stroking my dick so hard, forcing me to let out a throaty groan. I repeated my actions for her left breast, so I had a clear view of them exposed over her dress. She was totally flawless in every way.

The increased recurrence of my grunts and groans were inevitable from the efforts of Vanille's handjob. Her perfect breasts were now bouncing profusely with each stroke. I couldn't hold it much longer.

I'm so close.

"Vanille—FUCK. I'm almost there," I panted.

She bit her lip coyingly. "Cum for me," she demanded.

I gasped a final time, "—Ready?"

I replaced her hand around my swollen member and held my breath as she quickly leaned herself over my groin. As soon as I felt her lips pressed to my tip, I released everything I had, spilling entirely into her warm, welcoming mouth, gasping and grunting at how incredible this perfect girl made me feel.

I willed myself to open my eyes, so I could watch Vanille stroking any remaining drops of cum onto her tongue. With my cock in her hand, she lowered it away from her mouth. The sight of it was too much, causing me to accidentally ejaculate the last cumshot on her chest. She grinned at me, letting go of my recovering member to sit back on her knees. She toyingly spread the bits of cum on her nipples. I could only watch as she played with them, teasing me, making me smile. I ran shaky fingers through her beautiful locks of red hair.

I was so unbelievably spent. I physically couldn't stay awake for another moment. "I'll return the favor tomorrow, sweetheart."

I zipped myself up, and then, I completely passed out from exhaustion.

Vanille's PoV:

The next morning, I was happy to see the woodlands illuminated, but I was alarmed at the absence of Lightning's arm. I shot around to check for her presence, but instead, a wild rose laid in her place.

Pretty.

I carefully picked it up and examined it thoroughly. I brought it up to my nose to inhale its wild, sweet scent but was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps.

"Good morning, beautiful," came a familiar voice.

I turned around to see Lightning descending down the dirt ramp of the stone wall, carrying arms full of rare meat on a makeshift tray of palm leaflets.

"Good morning," I smiled.

"Sleep okay?" she asked.

"As good as one can for sleeping on the ground," I joked.

I sat up and crawled over to the fire. Lightning set her leaf trays on the ground, and then she removed what seemed to be a handmade hunting bow that was slung across her body.

"You made that?" I asked, extending my hand, expressing my interest in examining the bow.

Lightning nodded as she proceeded to hang a piece of bloody meat on a fishing line over the fire. She handed me the bow.

"Where did you learn to make one?"

"Basic training," she responded.

I turned the bow over in my hands. "You cut the notches too deep," I observed.

Lightning smirked at me. "Pardon my incompetence."

"No," I giggled, "I'm sorry. Cutting too deep weakens the strength of the tips, but its not so bad."

She raised an eyebrow. "And where did you learn all of this?"

"You do realize I'm from Pulse right?" I countered.

"Of course," she chuckled, "I should've known."

She hung the last scraps of meat over the fire. "Show me how it's really done then," she suggested.

I stood up and scavenged the area for materials to make a proper bow.

Lightning's PoV:

After eating breakfast, we rode for hours into the mysterious woodlands. The deeper we went, the more restless I had become—ever since Vanille's story about the nymphs.

I shouldn't worry. They're just stories. Plus, we haven't had any trouble yet.

"We need to find some traders," I said.

Vanille's dress prevented her from riding English style on the back of Odin. I looked down at her in my arms. Her bow slung over her body and a makeshift back quiver held a collection of arrows that she skillfully carved herself. Vanille was constantly full of surprises. I loved that about her.

"You're just getting tired of supporting me, aren't you?" she teased.

"Never, I just—I can't imagine riding through a dirty forest in a dress is comfortable?" I remarked.

"I'm okay, just a little irritated. We've been traveling for hours and not even a glimmer of open land."

I understood her despair. In an attempt to cheer her up, I tickled her side. She jolted upwards and squealed in a way that reminded me of the old Vanille.

"St—stop, Lightning. I hate that!" she cried out in joy.

I laughed. "Sorry," I said. "I couldn't resist."

She put her arms around my shoulders and buried her face into my neck. "Can we take a break?" she murmured.

If it were anyone else asking, I would've said no, but I couldn't deny her.

Odin stopped trotting. "Yes," I agreed.

Vanille's PoV:

We left Odin a few paces back as we strode over to a gigantic rock structure amid the trees. It was invested with strange hallowed indents. The largest one appeared cavernous.

I tugged on Lightning's arm. "Do you think something lives in there?"

"Let's have a look," she gallantly replied.

"O-Okay," I responded timidly.

We meandered to the entrance of the hollow. Lightning put a finger to her lips and whispered, "Wait here."

You better not leave me.

"Are you really going in?" I whispered disbelievingly.

She didn't respond, instead, she started walking backwards with a pompous smirk plastered to her face.

"This isn't funny," I implied, but Lightning didn't stop. She unfalteringly reverse gaited into the cave, where the darkness quickly shrouded her.

What in Etro's name does she think she's doing?!

My heart rate spiked. I waited anxiously for several seconds.

Something isn't right.

"Lightning?!" I called tremulously.

Moments later, a deep perilous voice echoed, "Vanille!"

Oh no! What if something's happened to her?!

Without hesitation, I bravely stormed the cave in pursuit of my lover. Unfortunately, my mettle was demolished from the onset of black obscurity. I halted abruptly in my tracks, clasping my hands over my chest.

"Lightning?" I uttered.

I can't see.

The depth of my fear only worsened as I felt rough, deliberate hands grabbing my hips. I went to scream, but I was silenced by familiar lips crashing against mine. I was absolutely fuming with anger. I desperately tried to push her off me, but my limbs were futilely trapped against her torso. I panted violently as she released my lips, but my rage didn't subside as I felt her calloused hands groping my ass.

"Stop! How dare you worry me like th—ahh" My intended scolding turned into a soft moan as I felt her tonguing the pulsing artery on my neck.

"Stop! I'm pissed at you!" I spat.

"Try harder," came Lightning's gruff voice. By the gods, her deep voice made me so wet.

I felt her slide down my body and savagely seize the hem of my dress. She mercilessly pulled the fabric over my hipbones, leaving my lower half exposed to the murky cave. Her rough hands gripped the backs of my thighs as she lifted my bare legs around her waist.

I don't know if I should be more offended or turned on?

Lightning started walking, and I gripped the tops of her shoulders for stability.

"Put me down—" but I was muted by the sensation of a cold, damp stone wall against my back.

I could tell that the pressure between my legs and Lightning's waist was enough smear my lust all over her pants, despite that I couldn't see her at all, not even an outline of her body, but I no longer protested her actions as I brutishly grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her.

"I knew you'd come around," she said gruffly between kisses.

"I hate you," I responded with serious affection, biting down hard on her lower lip.

"Not yet you don't," she replied. Suddenly, she boosted me higher on the stone wall as she manipulated my legs over her shoulders and based her palms on the tops of my thighs. I felt her hot breath dangerously close to my slit. "But you will," she finished.

Before I could think of a clever response, I felt her eagerly biting the front of my laced panties, yanking it to the side. I ran my fingers through her hair in response to the exposure of my pussy to the humid air. My next thought was interrupted from the contact of Lightning's skilled tongue slowly licking from my entrance to my clit.

"Oh, fuck," I moaned.

She continued her assault, spitting directly on my cunt, followed by her sucking my clit firmly with her lips. I panted harder now. My hands were roaming wildly through her hair.

"I told you I'd make it up to you," she grumbled as she shallowly plunged her tongue into my soaked hole.

I didn't have the strength to respond. My moans echoed off the damp cavern walls. I couldn't see what she was doing. All I knew was that I didn't want her to stop. She plunged her tongue in and out, faster and faster, and I moaned louder and louder.

I grabbed the back of her head, and forced her tongue deeper inside of me. "I'm so close," I declared raggedly.

She gripped the tops of my hips firmly and forced them further apart, allowing herself better access. She receded her tongue to my clit, causing me to moan obnoxiously with pleasure.

"You will scream my name," she commanded, as she vigorously swirled her godly tongue.

I whined her name with intense satisfaction, "L—Lightning—"

When I thought she couldn't possibly move her tongue any faster, she quickened the pace. "You'll have to do better than that," she ordered.

I inhaled sharply and reached for her right hand on top of my left thigh. I dug my nails piercingly into the side of her palm as I arched back on the wall.

I could no longer contain myself as she began sucking vigorously on my swollen clit. I grabbed the back of her neck with my other hand and let out a devastating scream, "LIIIIGHHHHTTTNNNIIINNNGG!"

My internal walls contracted powerfully and forced my juices into Lightning's warm mouth. I recovered as she cleaned my mess thoroughly. Shortly after my climax, I could feel Lightning re-positioning my panties and lowering my legs over her shoulders. With her hands firmly around my waist, she gently lowered my feet to the ground.

My balance was meager due to the intense orgasm. I blindly clung to Lightning's tunic as she gently shifted my dress down to its original place.

"You taste like heaven," she uttered.

I felt my way up to her jaw and pulled her down to my lips to taste the lingering juices, but before anything else could happen, we were disturbed by the sound of an alarming horse's neigh.

Lightning's PoV:

With Vanille's hand in mine, I hurriedly led her out of the dark cavern. We turned the corner to find Odin staring at an odd-looking, tattered caravan ushered by an elderly man. I swiftly turned to Vanille, and she nodded. I jogged my way over to the scene.

Once reaching Odin, I assessed the man thoroughly. He wore a shabby straw hat and possessed a bald head with a full, rusty-colored beard. He looked average in height but frail in size. He also wore a green flannel shirt with faded khaki overalls. His eyes were sky blue and faded. His horse rivaled his age. Its light gray coat was splotched with random, black dots.

"'Afternoon, soldier," greeted the man with a thick accent.

I nodded respectfully. "I didn't think anyone traveled on these parts," I commented.

"Nor did I," he said calmly.

"Have you been journeying long?" I inquired.

"Not at all, friend. My people be dwellin' up there a' piece," he indicted to the Southwest.

I looked at him suspiciously. "You live in these woods?"

"Just passin' through. We's nomads, see—"

A familiar hand pressed against my back, and Vanille appeared next to me. The elder man promptly perked up at the sight of her.

"Good'ay there, miss," He said, tipping his straw hat.

"And to you, Sir," she responded politely.

"—Do your people trade?" I interrupted.

"Wouldn't be mucha' nomads if we's didn', but whatcha' interestin' in buyin'?"

"Clothes and maybe a little food," I said tersely.

"Well, soldier, 'yer in luck."

The elder man kicked his leg back and hit the wood compartment behind him. The side doors swung readily ajar, "Have a look, see," he coaxed.

Vanille and I cautiously rounded the caravan to explore the compartment. We were both pleasantly surprised to find a plethora of rich fabrics. Vanille's eyes gleamed with delight.

Typical girl.

After careful consideration, I presented our choices to the elderly man.

"What forms of payment do you accept, Sir?" Vanille inquired.

"No charge, Miss," the elder explained.

"I'm afraid we must insist," I urged.

He scratched his beard, "—Look youngin', I know two lost pups when I see 'em. Tell ya' what, take these here parcels, get 'yerselves together, and come on down to our camp—see if we's can help ya' find 'yer way."

I briefly glanced at the ground before peering back at him. "Well, if you won't accept payment now, I guess I have no choice but to see that you get it later."

Vanille and I backed away as the man steered his caravan in the direction of his camp. As he and his horse trotted off, he called over his shoulder, "Don't forget. It's just a straight shot to the Southwest!"

I turned to Vanille and found her already staring at me intently. "Do you think we can trust him?"

I sighed. "I don't know."

The forest is said to be dangerous, yet there's an old man just wandering around alone? Something's off.

After the man disappeared from sight, I escorted Vanille to a nearby barricade of tall bushes. Odin and I stood watchfully as Vanille changed her attire behind our backs.

"Why do I have to keep a look out for people in the middle of a forest?" I asked sarcastically.

"Just in case another old man with a traveling closet decides to pass on by, I'd rather not show him the goods," she cheekily replied.

I laughed. "I think that was a once in a lifetime thing."

"—Okay, well, maybe I just don't want to show you the goods then," she teased.

"Now that you've mentioned it," I went to turn around but was disappointed to find Vanille fully garbed.

She wore a very light blue midriff dress with silver embroidery. The top was wrapped around her, with wide, loose sleeves that became a cape behind her. The hem of the cape was decorated with silver motifs. The bottom was accessorized with a tightly-drawn, sash-like top at the waist that was decorated in the center with a silver beaded pendant—a sash hung from it. The pants were wide and loose.

"You were saying?" she said playfully.

"Well, I was about to say that your outfit is missing something," I responded.

Vanille's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

I reached into my trousers pocket and revealed a necklace. Her facial expressions softened. She marveled at me as I tenderly placed the durable leather chain over her head to rest on her shoulders. She delicately touched the handcrafted ornament now adorning her chest.

"I carved it out of a japor snippet . . . It'll bring you good fortune," I said looking at the ground.

Flustered, she asked, "When did you make this?"

I began to explain, "When I went hunting this morning, I found a japor ivory tree, and I always keep some leather string in my pouch, so that's how I made the chain—" but Vanille put a finger to my lips.

"—And they say," she said as she pulled me down by my collar, "that I talk too much."

She smiled as she kissed me, and I couldn't help but smile back. "So you'll wear it?" I gasped between kisses.

"Are you kidding?" she kissed my nose. "It's beautiful."

My face turned crimson from her continuous kisses to my cheeks, "Thank you," she whispered lovingly.

We placed Vanille's dress as well as our new clothes in a knapsack given to us by the elderly man. As we prepared to search for the nomadic camp, I tied our belongings to Odin, and then helped Vanille get situated behind me. She wrapped her arms securely around the middle of my torso and laid her head against my back.

"Hang on tight," I advised as Odin dashed off into the Southwest direction.

It took bit of travel until we came to an unnatural clearing. "I'll bet it's up ahead," I whispered.

Odin halted so I could dismount. Once on the ground, I extended my hand to help Vanille. She gladly accepted and gracefully disembarked from the horse's back. We started walking as Odin dissipated behind us. Vanille unslung her bow, pulled an arrow from her quiver, and nocked it.

"You okay?" I asked.

She maintained our pace, but glanced up at me. "I just have this eerie feeling," she admitted.

I sense it too.

Suddenly, the sound of low, beastly growls alarmed us. I promptly drew my gunblade. We passed a small patch of wild trees and stood in the presence of yet another gigantic rock structure, similar to the one explored at our last stop. The continual gnarls kept me on guard. Moments later, 3 Silver Lobos, 2 Tonberries, and a Feral Behemoth dispersed from the camouflage of the hallowed boulder. I looked to Vanille, who was in position, bow up, and ready to fight.

The monsters diverged on us, but we stood confidently and alert.

Great. I was starting to get bored anyway.

Before I could launch a preemptive strike, an unknown yet unmistakable voice bellowed from the stone cavern, "Stop!"

To my bewilderment, a staunch woman emerged from the cave in my left field of vision. When she turned, my athletic stance faltered and my mouth fell agape.

"Is this a Jedi I sense in my forest?"

"Jihl Nabaat?" Vanille stuttered.

"My name is Jihl, but who's this Nabaat?" Jihl snapped.

What the hell?

The phantom woman marched closer to us, pushing up her glasses as she assessed us from head to toe. No joke, she was a mirror of image of Jihl Nabaat. There appeared to be a mystical silhouette cloaking her body. She wore a very raunchy and revealing sheer kimono, robe-like, lingerie dress, which looked more like a over-sized, see-through shirt.

Some things don't change.

"I'm Jihl Nymph," the shade stated. "And you possess something I desire," Jihl addressed to Vanille.

"What?" Vanille said, confused.

"You possess this Jedi's adoration," Jihl removed her glasses and stored them into her robe pocket. She removed her signature rod and tapped it into her hand, "There's a problem with that, see. I wish to claim her, so I must dispose of you."

I shielded Vanille away from Jihl's glare. I turned angrily and said, "I'm nobody's slave. Do you understand me? Leave us."

Jihl smirked. "You'll change your mind when you realize you've been fondling the wrong equipment."

She opened the top of her cream colored kimono to reveal her huge breasts. She hussily positioned her long rod between her bosoms and started pretending to slowly jerk it off.

This is fucking weird.

Before I had a chance to think clearly, Vanille side-stepped me, aiming her arrow right between Jihl's eyes. "You touch her, I kill you."

Jihl laughed wickedly. "Foolish girl," she brushed her hair to the side. "I always get what I want. But I find your spirit amusing, so I'll make you a deal. I'll give you 1 hour to complete the focus I failed. Succeed and my soul will be freed—I'll fall dead to the ground, and you'll both be able to leave this section of the woods unscathed."

Vanille and I glanced at each other.

"Should you fail," Jihl continued, "my beasts will rip you to pieces. And then," she took a step forward, "I'll keep this one for myself," she indicated to Lightning.

I half-turned around and barred Vanille from Jihl with my arm. "No deal."

"You don't have a choice, Jedi. Accept my generous offer or watch her die in the jaws of my feral army!"

I felt Vanille grip my protectively outstretched arm. She grabbed my face and pulled me down for a passionate kiss, and then she leaned her forehead against mine.

"If the situation were reversed, you'd expect me to trust you. I must ask you for the same courtesy. I need you to believe in me. I'll finish this task, and when I come back, we'll go together," she whispered.

The thought of leaving her to face the forest alone was a horrible contingency. I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her, but I sensed her determination and her inner strength. She was right. I would expect her to trust me, so it was only right for me to trust her too.

A small grin spread on my lips. "Please hurry," I joked.

Vanille kissed me for what could have been the last time. I could feel the intensity of her feelings, I could feel everything she had ever felt for me in this one kiss. She brushed my cheek with her thumb. I gently took her hand from my face and placed it over my heart. "Take this. He'll help you."

I willed Odin's sphere from my chest. Reluctantly, she walked backwards from the scene clutching the crystal in her hand.

"What am I to do?" she asked Jihl.

"I'll only tell you that you're to find an object. It's here, in the forest. Bring it before me, and my focus will be complete."

"1 hour then, Jihl," Vanille declared. And then, she turned to jog, her bow tight in her hand as she disappeared among into the trees.

"You better keep your word, or else—"

"—Or else what?" Jihl interjected. "You're in no position to negotiate."

Suddenly, Jihl waved her rod like a wand. A strange glowing rope shot up from the earth. The blue projections wrapped constrictingly around me. I stood rigid and upright, fighting it was useless. With her robe still open, Jihl strutted over to me, clearly pleased with her work.

"This wasn't part of the arrangement," I spat.

Jihl jabbed her baton just under my neck. "It is now," she grinned sadistically.

She slowly trailed her weapon down my chest. I was fuming with anger as she bit her lip and started gently tapping my dick with her baton.

"Finally, something capable of adequately filling me—"

"Tch. Probably need 20 of these to fill something that loose," I retorted.

Jihl smacked me across the face. I clenched my jaw tightly to prevent saying anything else, but I glared at her with an intimidating intensity.

"Bring this fine specimen to the chamber below, my lovelies," she ordered her beasts.

Vanille's PoV:

After disappearing from sight, my jog turned into a full-out sprint.

Where do I even start?! I have absolutely no idea.

I threw Lightning's sphere against a tree to shatter it. In an instant, Odin sprang out before me in gestalt mode. He lowered himself so I could mount. As soon as I settled, he dashed off with a conscious of his own.

Where's he going?!

Lightning's PoV:

After being dragged inside the stone cave, Jihl's bewitched Tonberries brought me down a cold winding, torch-lit stairwell. Once at the bottom, they led me into a bizarre bedroom chamber.

More like a sex chamber.

There were large, unoccupied cages at the northern wall. To my immediate left there was a massive king-sized bed with 4 posts. Her comforter was plush and made of fine, red-velvet silk. The monsters continued dragging me to the right of the room, where walled shackles, whips, and chains laid scattered everywhere.

I don't like this one bit.

"Don't use the conventional chains," Jihl's sultry voice came from behind us. "Jedi break them."

"—I'm not a Jedi," I corrected irritably.

"Silence!" Jihl reprimanded. "Use these."

Suddenly, the enchanted, glowing blue projections that Jihl used for the rope emerged from the wall as charmed shackles. The Tonberries roughly shoved my back against it. The enchanted shackles locked my hands and feet tightly against the chamber barrier.

"Leave us," Jihl commanded over the hideous monsters. They dutifully returned up the stairs and back to the forest. It was just me and her. My eyes pierced through Jihl's, my attention bitterly focused on her.

She had changed into a black and red, leather and lace corset, with a small white bow tucked just beneath her breasts. Her lace garter-set clung snugly to her long legs. Her black heels clicked the floor ominously as she approached me with the baton behind her back.

"Stay away," I warned.

Jihl stopped a few feet in front of me and smiled. "I'll try my best to keep my hands off of you until your little girlfriend fails."

"My lady won't fail," I replied venomously.

"Lady, did you say? She's a girl," she taunted. "You need a woman." I gazed coldly into Jihl's eyes.

"Come to bed with me. I'll show you what a real woman feels like," she coaxed.

"You're nothing but a shade," I objected. "You'll never know what it's like to have someone love you as much as I love her."

"Touching—I can see your power of will is equally as strong as your body," Jihl said huskily, as she extended her baton out to my obi and pulled it loose.

"Fucking whore," I muttered.

"Save it for later, sweetie," Jihl taunted.

She prodded her baton into the folds of my tunic and pulled them aside, just enough to expose my abdomen. Her eyes gleamed with desire as she dragged her baton down my stomach to the top of my trousers.

"How did you get that scar?" she questioned, indicating to the long, diagonal scar along my diaphragm.

"Is this your pitiful attempt at normal conversation?" I retaliated.

She slapped me across the face. I kept my gaze to the side, "When I was a cadet," I said through gritted teeth, "I cornered 3 perps. I cut 2 down, but the last one sliced me . . . just moments before severed his head."

"Impressive," Jihl remarked. "A soldier and a Jedi?"

I didn't respond, which earned me another slap across the face. "When I ask questions, you give answers. Got it?" She roughly grabbed my jaw, getting dangerously close to my face. "If you don't, I'll have her killed right now. How does that sound?" Jihl smiled.

I clenched my jaw, steeling myself to respond in a non-provoking way. "I'm a Captain in the Guard Corp," I muttered.

She pushed my head away as she released her grip on my jaw. "So what are an officer and her young lady doing out in my forest anyway?" she asked suspiciously.

"We're looking for a place called Paddra."

Her eyes flickered. "What a shame. Twenty miles West of here, and you would've arrived at the Pass of Paddra instead of my bedroom."

Jihl winked at me, inching herself even closer. "I've taken a lot of people, you know," she whispered in a husky undertone. "It wasn't hard. All I did was show them these." She pulled her large breasts out over her corset, but I wasn't looking. All I could do was stare in her eyes, the anger and intensity was too real.

Jihl chortled as she leaned in to my ear. I felt her icy lips brushing against my skin. "Do you desire me?" she whispered.

"—No," I responded sternly.

The temptress pulled back. "Hmm," she hummed. "Well," she unexpectedly grabbed my dick, holding it firmly in her hand, causing me to grimace, "I guess it doesn't matter if you desire me," Jihl squeezed harder, "just as long as I desire you," she breathed before letting go, smiling a sadistic smile.

Author's EndNote: If you paid close attention, I described the exact description of Padme's blue Tatooine Attire (worn just before Anakin went to find his mother) as the one Vanille is wearing towards the end. I also described the necklace Lightning gave to Vanille as the necklace Anakin gave to Padme.