Alpha: enjoy more madness part of the Break from Normalcy mini-series! XD
Disclaimer: same as the tick tocking first ya'll damn!
Many Worlds, One Shot Collections
A Break from Normalcy Mini Series
Never in her wildest dreams had the youngest Farron sister ever think she'll have the chance to see her big sister like this!
Light giggled at her sister's goofy facial expressions, reaching out to pull on Serah's side ponytail.
Claire Farron was the cutest baby she had seen in her life!
And she wasn't just saying that because she was her sister.
No, everyone who saw a glimpse of the solider now would proclaim it the truth! With her cuteness, and the guilty pleasure she felt about dressing the five month old baby in the most adorable outfits ever, Serah was seriously considering entering her sister into those baby pageants.
Or perhaps, Lightning's super cuteness would get her to be the next face of 'Gran Pulse Baby Today' magazine?
First prize was ten thousand gil.
If only her sister was her own child. Claire would never forgive her for finding out what she reduced her to when she was in this state.
None of them could make of what or how her sister came to be this way. So far they didn't have any success in finding something that could prove useful to better understand Lightning's predicament or even how to break this spell. If it was a spell, other than Light morphing back into a baby, she had been growing pretty rapidly from the three month old body they discovered when Hope brought her home that day. Maybe whatever was happening to her sister had its reasons and in due time will run its course.
It was weird, getting to see Claire as a baby when it was the other way around. Now she was the oldest sibling, at least for the time being. There was a guilty part of her that was actually enjoying spending her time with her sister like this.
As a baby, Claire was more approachable, happier, and full of innocent wonder. She wasn't stressed about money, or taking care of her, work or harassing her husband. Carefree, and not afraid to show her true feelings, opening up to her and their friends. Of course she couldn't speak yet and Serah does miss the small moments where she'll try to have 'girl talk' with her sister or get advice, but those moments were a rarity that they didn't have time for anymore.
So spending all the time she could with her sister in this state, she was going to take advantage of it to the fullest. Baby Claire was a small glimpse of nostalgia for her. Of a time when she could remember her sister being happy and spending time with her before she closed herself off after their parent's death.
The youngest Farron sister, smiled down at the sleeping baby in her arms.
It was her turn to take care of Claire now and be the one to take on the burdens of responsibility. For as long as this phenomena lasts, she'll give her sister the childhood she's missed out on.
And there was an added bonus to taking care of Claire like this; it was also good practice for her when she and Snow had their first child.
Claire might get mad, but she was too cute not to dress up and style her head full of growing pink curls.
Yes! A trip to the mall was a good way to begin bonding with Baby Claire, "Don't you think so Claire?"
Her sister started wailing, completely catching her off guard.
A Break from Normalcy IV (Fang/Mini-Light, Sazh)
There were times where little Light could tolerate being watched by Fang.
And there were times when little Light wanted to hurl Dajh's toy soldiers at Fang.
Being stuck in this god awful pink designed girlish high chair of doom to get fed that disgusting mush that was supposed to pass for healthy spinach was one of those times that Light wanted access to Dajh's toy soldiers. And once again, the toddler wished her sister 'Cee-cee' and 'Uncle Goofball' had taste in color coordination!
Honestly, just because she had pink hair and was a girl did not mean she wanted to be surrounded by the color! She had thrown a temper tantrum over the fact those two dressed her up in this pink dress, with the pink socks, with the pink patent-leather shoes, and the pink ribbons in her hair that were camouflaged by said hair! And if that wasn't enough to get the toddler into a crying fit that lasted two hours before coming over Sazh's place, Serah and Snow not only put her in this ugly pink dress, they put on the one with the stupid colored plaid doggies! She hated plaid!
If she had her way, she'll choose red, or black like she seen on that pretty shiny metal toy that none of the adults would let her play with. She cried over it for hours until she fell asleep, missing out on Papa Sazh taking her out for some ice-cream. She would even like colors of blue, or pale yellow, or green, like the color of her Hope's eyes.
"Come on and stop being stubborn!" Fang inwardly sighed for the umpteenth time, trying to get the spoon passed Lightning's mouth.
Seventeen month old Light shook her head, refusing to eat that gooey green stuff, "No want!" It's not that she didn't like spinach, oh she loved it, she just didn't know what the hell Fang was trying to feed her.
That was not spinach! She saw spinach, she knew spinach and that crap that came in that small glass jar with that baby's face on it was not spinach! Speaking of nasty food that came in those same glass jars Fang put on her plate, listening to Vanille's genius advice, was not real food. That wasn't mash potatoes; where was the gravy! That wasn't corn; corn isn't supposed to look like spit up! And where the hell was the meat? Where's the meatloaf? Oh my Cocoon? Did Fang kill the meatloaf again! She wanted some meatloaf with ketchup.
"Eat it, it's good for you!"
"No!" She pushed the spoon and Fang's hand away from her mouth, getting irritated. Where was her Hope? Or better yet, where was 'Cee-cee' when you needed her!
These poor fools can't do anything right! Didn't they know by now their routines in taking care of her? Papa Sazh was the one exception. Little Light slapped her hand to her face.
Serah feeds her, not dresses her up.
Sazh took care of changing her; well he took care of everything when the others couldn't.
Snow was actually quite good at caring for her when she's sick and reading to her or getting her to take a nap. Not the one who should be picking out her essentials.
Hope is the one that buys her things and plays with her.
Fang is supposed to be her interior decorator, her fashion consultant, and fixing things when they broke. The woman had classy tastes in the proficient uses of strollers and best of all she never chose anything pink!
And Vanille was…well she was back-up…like in extreme emergencies kind of back-up. She also made her things. Like Mr. Carbuncle who was sharing in her feeding torment at her side in this uncomfortable and ugly high chair.
"Can't you just take one bite? For me?" Fang had now sorted to pleading with the pink haired baby.
"Not food!" What part of this is she not getting?
"It is food!" The ebony haired woman growled.
Lightning slammed her balled fists on the high chair's feeding table, glaring and pouting her small lips at Fang, "No!"
"I'll prove it is food and good too!"
Light smiled curiously waiting for Fang to try and prove her wrong. Blue eyes watched on as the Pulsian woman took a small bite out of the cold small spinach.
"Mmm! It's a little cold now but it's so good Sunshine! I can't believe you're missing out on this!"
The woman turned baby just laughed. If you like it that much you eat it then!
Like she was going to fall for that one, she preferred what was on Fang's plate. Real spinach, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn on the cob, and that meatloaf! The toddler licked her lips, smacking her mouth together.
Oh! Now that is what she's talking about! Give her some of that!
Especially since Fang was enjoying her food a bit too much, but watching her eat her food was making her more hungry; plus it looked really good too. But she wanted some meatloaf to go with her side dishes.
Fang's purpose was to get Lightning into wanting to eat her dinner, thinking she wouldn't enjoy the baby food she set out for her, "This is—tually pwetty good!" the ebony haired woman said between mouthfuls.
Light stopped laughing, going from a small chuckle to a small smile that turned into a frown as she watched Fang devour her entire plate.
Okay you fed yourself my food, now gimme yours, you greedy pig!
"I eat!" the cherub of gaudy pinkness proclaimed to get Fang's attention.
"Okay, okay just hang on," the raven haired woman replied, realizing she finished the baby's entire dinner plate that had this ridiculous picture of a clown that almost reminded her of Snow.
It's really no wonder, Light got used to it, seeing her reaction to their trip to the circus. Fang wasn't fond of those clowns either, and one of the creepy bastards tried to flirt with her. A mime no less!
The lady in the blue sari walked over to the cabinets in Sazh's home where she knew the baby food was kept for soldier girl sitting there in the ugly high chair Snow brought her. They really have no tastes at all do they?
She almost felt sorry for their first child if they kept up with choosing poor color combinations.
"Eat! I eat!" Lightning was pouting, starting to become none too pleased with waiting.
"I heard you the first time, I'm moving as fast as I— wait?" Fang felt herself go pale suddenly.
"Eat, eat, eat, eat…" Light decided to sing a silly chorus of the same word over to keep herself busy while trying not to have a fit over waiting for Fang to hurry it up. She was moving all around to her song while banging her stuff toy, the infamous Mr. Carbuncle on the table.
Fang's slate colored eyes looked over to the child with slight annoyance and amusement, "Will you knock it off?" She was going to be in so much trouble though. It was only a short amount of time before Lightning went into one of her epic tantrums and it won't even be the child's fault this time.
Light stopped, staring at Fang with a deeper frown, "Not tell me wha' ta do!" she said in all her toddler glory, pointing her finger at Fang and doing her best to make her trademark cold stare, which only succeeded in making her look like a cute, spoiled baby rather than her original twenty-seven year old self.
Fang put her hands on her hips, "Don't you sass me little Miss Sunshine! I'll have you know, I'm in charge here!"
"No ya not!" Light yelled, having a hissy fit, she threw Mr. Carbuncle down on the floor, out of her reach.
Fang shook her head, feeling ridiculous she was arguing with a one year old child. "Think, think, what can she eat?" the cabinets were empty. No small jars of baby food in sight. She turned around where Light was, trying and failing to pick up her stuffed toy and her plate of food she didn't touch still on the table.
"Jackpot!" the Pulsian quickly headed to the table to get the plate of food, warm it up a little in the microwave and then sat down in her seat in front of an annoyed and frustrated looking baby.
"Okay Sunshine! It's eat time!" Fang said with excitement. She was smashing up some parts of her food together to make it easier for Lightning to chew and swallow. This got Light's attention away from her toy for the moment.
She smiled, about time Fang got it right. She eagerly opened her mouth to take in the small spoonful of potatoes and meatloaf before turning back to trying to get Mr. Carbuncle.
She started making whimpering noises, straining herself to reach him but not claiming her toy.
"Sunshine, come on stop that now, I got food," Fang sing-song to Light but it went ignored.
Lightning was beginning to kick up a fit, wriggling around in the high chair, kicking her feet and pulling at her hair. "Ca'bun-key!"
Fang, seeing what the child's dilemma was, set the dish aside to pick up the stuffed toy that somehow got stuck between one of the squared holes in the high chair. Light's blue eyes looked on in curiosity, worried for her one true friend out of all her toys.
What are you doing with Mr. Carbuncle?
Strawberry head of curls and matching ribbons leaned over to see her current baby-sitter trying to free Mr. Carbuncle from his confines. She frowned up again watching the dark haired woman pulled hard on his head but the rest of the body wasn't following.
They both heard a little rip, Fang swore under her breath and Light made a tiny whimpering noise. "Don't worry Sunshine I'll free Mr. Carbuncle for ya!"
The toddler wasn't convinced of Fang's declaration and confident smirk. For crying out loud! She was seeing cotton beginning to come out from the rip in his neck!
Fang, what are you going to do to Mr. Carbuncle!
Light watched on in horror as Fang, frustrated with Mr. Carbuncle not getting freed, yanked really hard on his blue-green head. The loud tear of fabric ripping and stuffed cotton come out of the toy set the poor child off.
She killed him…she killed my one true friend!
Fang looked as horrified, shocked at what she done to Light's favorite stuffed toy. The one Vanille made for her. She looked from the freed head in her hands to the body laying limp to the side on the other side of Light's high chair. She looked up to see the toddler was whimpering before her face scrunched together for a loud wail, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh shit!" the woman cursed, "Shit, shit! Ah! Sunshine, don't cry it was an accident!"
Oh no! Fang killed Mr. Carbuncle!
The baby wasn't hearing any of that, instead crying even louder, very clearly hurt by what Fang has done. The woman in blue was not making her situation better by holding the ripped toy in front of the crying child, looking quite lost for what to do.
"Papa! I wan' ma Papa!"
Light was now calling for Sazh, who was not back yet from running errands with Dajh. Fang groaned. It figures that out of the group, Lightning would choose the old man as her father. Well, if it wasn't for Sazh, all of them would be up shits creek dealing with Lightning in her predicament.
"Papa isn't back yet—"
"PAPA!"
Fang felt like banging her head against the wall. The way Lightning was carrying on, screaming for Sazh, you'll think the Pulsian committed a in the child's eyes, she did. She sighed, "Now I want Sazh to get his arse back here.
Stupid, stupid Fang! I would have eaten my food! Why Mr. Carbuncle? WHY! He didn't deserve to die this way! What did he ever do to you Fang! His sole purpose in life was to give people joy and comfort! That's what Vanille told me and now…now!
Fang murdered him in cold blood right before her eyes! Oh the humanity!
The midnight haired woman put the toy down gently on the table, coming closer to Lightning to pick her up out of the high chair, hold her and try her best to console her.
"There, there Sunshine, Auntie Fang's got ya!"
"BAD FANG!"
Or not.
Lightning hit Fang's hands away from her, still crying, pulling at one of her many pigtails from frustration.
"Hey! I'm not bad, how rude!"
"Ca'bun-key gone!" it was too easy as a baby for Lightning of all people to make her feel like complete shit. The innocence of a child knows no bounds and she would be lying to herself if she didn't think she was suckered in by Lightning's cuteness. How could trying to release the toy Light got caught end up with her being the bad guy here?
She felt really lost, she caused this ruckus but Light was not allowing her to sooth the pain over her lost friend.
"What in the hell you doin' Fang?" the young woman looked up to see Sazh walking in the kitchen with groceries in hand. Sazh had just came in without Fang even realizing. He didn't sound angry, but he had a deep frown on his face, hearing the cherub wailing about something.
"Uh-oh you in trouble now!" Dajh added, before running out of the kitchen, earning a glare from Fang. He enjoyed Light as the next person but her cries often got on his nerves. He didn't want to stick around until someone quieted her. Chocobo chick following after.
"Sazh! Thank Maker you're back, she won't stop crying."
"Why you got my baby girl crying? I can hear her as I'm walking all the way down the street!" he quickly set the bags down on the countertop, freeing his arms to go over to the baby who was still crying for him.
"She's not your real baby!" Fang scowled, crossing her arms. She watched as Sazh took her out of that godforsaken high chair, bouncing her lightly up and down, patting her back to get her to be quiet.
"She sees me as her daddy, don't she?" he said, pleased that the strawberry haired menace was starting to kill the noise, reduced to a blubbering mess of whimpers. Unable to face the killer of her one true friend, she turned her head away from Fang, placing it to rest on Sazh's shoulder as he rocked her.
"Now why don't you answer my question?"
The Pulsian's scowl deepened, but now she was feeling awkward, "I uh, I kind of, sort of…broke Mr. Carbuncle."
"You did what!" Sazh's eyes were popping out of his sockets. Of all the— breaking that toy in any shape or fashion meant instant death! That wasn't just any toy! That was the toy! That toy is Light's equivalent to a security blanket!
And speaking of security blankets…yea, she had one of them too, given to her by Hope. Nobody wanted to know what hell they would go through if you even looked at that green blanket with the rainbows the wrong way.
"Well I didn't do it on purpose! I just sort of snatched it and the head came off!" she said defensively.
"How? How do you manage to do that one!" the older man was shaking his head now, "You ain't take it from her did you?"
"I didn't take it from her! Gods! She dropped it talking her smack at me while I was fixing her dinner and being the good baby-sitter I am, I was trying to free Mr. Carbuncle from a hole he got stuck between in that awful high chair!"
Lightning took this moment to turn her head around to face her enemy, sucking her thumb and making a mean face at the Pulsian, while laying her head down on Sazh.
"Fang bad!"
Fang stuck her tongue out at Light, now annoyed at the way the brat was being very spoiled, "Oh put a behemoth in it!"
"Fang, stop arguing with my baby girl," Sazh reprimanded. She huffed, rolling her eyes, "The only thing we gotta do now is fix the toy, think you can do that?"
"Hmm, yea I can, besides it won't be Sunshine here I'll be hearing it from if I don't, Vanille will tear me a new one if she finds it like this."
Light who was now quiet had been busy opening and closing her eyes, not giving much thought to the situation. She was becoming tired and she didn't fully open her eyes until she heard Fang loudly announce she was back.
Back? Back from where? Fang was holding Mr. Carbuncle's dead remains in one hand while there was a tin box in the other. Oh? What is she going to do to him now that she didn't already do! Leave Mr. Carbuncle alone! He's gotta rest in pieces now!
Seeing the murderer had Mr. Carbuncle again in her clutches made the baby immediately sit up in Sazh's arms.
Papa Sazh tell her to put Mr. Carbuncle down!
"Don't like Fang een'more!" she was on the verge of having a second cry fit.
"Hey now! That really hurts my feelings you know?" Fang shouted. That really did hurt, little brat. She was about to mend the problem she caused.
"Go 'way!"
"Missy, that's not nice to say to Auntie Fang, she said she was sorry about Mr. Carbuncle." Light felt reprimanded by Sazh's words, refusing to say anything else. She instead watched with him as Fang set to work doing something on her toy that hopefully wouldn't end up having Mr. Carbuncle a cripple. Fang might tear an arm off next. She couldn't really see much because Fang was hiding her toy from view.
"All done!" she exclaimed after some minutes of silence. In full view, Mr. Carbuncle was alive! Head nicely attached back to his body by a noticeable thread of dark green.
Light looked to Sazh, to Fang, to her friend alive, back to Fang with a look of astonishment.
Was Fang really giving her Mr. Carbuncle fixed by her own hands?
"Here ya go, Sunshine, Mr. Carbuncle is good as new!" Fang moved the toy forward in Light's face for her to take.
Instead of taking it, she made to move over towards Fang, "Light wan' Fang," she looked to Sazh for confirmation. He smiled, giving her over to Fang to hold and immediately she latched onto the woman.
"Sorwie, Light lubs Fang."
A warm feeling spread over Fang in that moment, she smiled, "Fang loves too." The toddler smiled, getting herself comfortable to fall asleep on Fang's shoulder while sticking the thumb in her mouth and holding Mr. Carbuncle as well.
Sazh chuckled, "This has been a whirlwind with Missy. You think we are ever going to find out how to get her back to normal?"
"There's gotta be some way we haven't found yet," Fang said softly, "You know, I think she would be better off if we didn't spoil her rotten. She demands all of your time, energy, and attention it gets draining after awhile."
"That's how all babies are, heh! I think we're doing fine by Lightning, we spoil her because we want to. Like Serah said, we are all taking advantage of this strange turn of events since we know once she turns back…"
"It'll be back to the same, distant, no nonsense Soldier girl. I complain a lot, but I'm going to really miss her like this," feeling that Lightning was deeply asleep she gave her back over to Sazh who'll do the duty of putting her in bed.
"Me too, but man, that high chair gets uglier the more I see it," he face was full of disdain for the thing.
Fang agreed, crossing her arms once more, "Tell me about it."
"And how many times does someone have to tell Serah not to dress this child in this awful dress? Those puppies are not cute at all, I've seen baby chimeras cuter than this."
The young woman by his side chuckled, "Forget the dress, ya see the way that poor kid's hair is done?"
There was no special style to it, to put it simply it was a pink miasma of chaos. When Lightning turns back out of this mess, Fang has the feeling she was going to begin to hate her natural hair color because of her sister.
"Why is it that when it comes to everything else, Snow and Serah have good tastes but when it comes to baby clothes and necessities they're awful?"
"That's something I want to know the mystery to."
"Wanna break that abomination Snow brought in my house?" he muttered, referring to the high chair that was an insult to color harmony and the color pink in general.
Fang cracked her knuckles with a pleased smirk upon her pretty face, "I won't tell if you won't."
Alpha: …heh delicious crack…hehe…