I do not own Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XIII, the Final Fantasy series or any official characters featured within this project. The Final Fantasy series is owned by Square-Enix, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Tetsuya Nomura. Please support the official release.
Lightning could sense the all-encompassing light around her, dousing her in a warmth as though she had sunk into a hot bath. But as quickly as it had come, it slowly began to dull, until all had faded. Easing her eyes open, the pink-haired warrior gazed to either side of her; Snow and Hope stood exchanging looks of shock and confusion. Shifting Pale Aqua eyes towards their surroundings, what she saw caused her jaw to drop.
They were in an enormous, circular, room with high stone walls, lined with three beautiful and intricate stained-glass windows (each covered by translucent white veils), culminating in a large, domed, skylight. On the opposite side of the room, a winding marble staircase led up to a raised dais. Regaining control of her senses, something even more concerning rose to the forefront of her mind.
Wherever they were, they were alone.
Drawing her weapon, Lightning raised Blaze Edge and opened fire. Bullets ripped into the stained-glass, but no sooner had the cracks finished spreading, they began to shrink before her eyes, before sealing altogether, depositing several flattened bullets onto the ground before her feet. Forgoing all poise and restraint, the pink haired warrior launched into a furious assault; but as her blade flashed wildly against the glass, the deep gashes upon its face merely sealed as quickly as they appeared. But Lightning was not deterred, frantically swinging her weapon, in the desperate but fruitless effort to escape. She had to get out, she needed to get back to Cloud and save him, before…
"Lightning! Lightning!"
She barely heard Snow's voice but felt a pair of hands attempt to grab her wrists. Wrenching her left free, she drove back her elbow and heard a grunt of pain as they staggered away. Her swings became more manic, doing her best to stave off the fear as she gnashed down harder on her teeth.
A gentleness touched her shoulder, sending her mind into overload, wheeling around and holding Blaze Edge ready for the attack. But young Hope stood with his arms up in surrender (Snow massaging his bruised cheek) and a piteous look on his face. Heaving several deep breaths, she could feel the air coursing through her and slowly sense and reason came flooding back into her mind. Her eyes widened in shock as a wave of horror washed over the pink-haired warrior, her gunblade tumbling onto the stone floor.
However, the young l'Cie scooped the weapon up, and gingerly reached forward and gently took her trembling hand into his own, placing the sword back into it. For a long time, he said nothing, but when he turned his gray eyes up to look at her, she was shocked to find that he was smiling.
"I know you're scared, I am too. You, me, and Cloud, we're all partners, right? But we've got to stay calm and rational. We can't help him if we don't help ourselves first."
The sense in his words were comforting, and a small smile broke through the humiliation in renewed composure. With a small flick of her wrist, Blaze Edge snapped back into his gun-mode and she placed him back into his holster, offering her young friend an approving nod.
"So" said Snow slowly "Where are we?"
"Not sure" said Lightning, folding her arms as she glanced around the stone chamber "how did we get here?"
Hope placed a thoughtful finger to his lips "Well, we were fighting Aker in the glade. Then there was a flash of light…"
"Man, this is too weird" said Snow, frowning "do you think it's some kind of magic?"
Lightning shot her brother-in-law an incredulous look, but Hope rushed to his aid.
"Look, standing around guessing isn't going to solve anything. C'mon, let's go check the dais out."
The pinkette nodded to her young comrade's logic; after all, it was the only place that stood out. Making their way up the marble staircase, Lightning let out a small gasp of surprise as, atop the dais, was a white, marble sarcophagus. Elegant arcs and columns were carved into its body, depicting a variety of images that she couldn't quite make out. However, sitting atop it was an ornately carved effigy of a sleeping angel, clad in flowing robes.
Snow, taking one look at the sight, rubbed the back of his head awkwardly "Alright, this just went from weird to freaky. Seriously, where are we?"
"If there's a sarcophagus" said Lightning, putting a thoughtful finger to her lips "then this a tomb."
"In the middle of the Archylte?" asked an amazed Hope, having stooped low to inquisitively inspect the carvings on the side. However, no sooner had his fingers touched the stone did a loud, lurching sound draw their attention upward. The trio watched a panel of the stained-glass roof split open, their ears assailed by the deafening clanking as a heavy golden chain descended to the center of the room.
"Okay" said Lightning, folding her arms sardonically, "that is a pretty elaborate way to open a box."
"So, wait, we're actually going to open the coffin?"
"Unless you have a better suggestion" said Hope, returning to his feet "No doors out of here. The windows can't be opened. I don't think we really have much choice."
"Alright then," Snow grinned as he intertwined his fingers to crack his knuckles "Hang on, I got this."
Before Lightning could turn to question him further, there was a great blur on her right, and she watched as Snow took off at a run and made a powerful leap. He hung in the air for the briefest of moments before curling his arms around the chain. However, the blond fighter let out a shout of surprise as it dropped sharply, his boots slammed heavily onto the stone floor, and collapsed onto his rump before all settled again.
A deafening 'DOOM' echoed throughout the room and further clanks began to rise as two of the stained-glass windows slid out of place to reveal two long and narrow corridors.
"Nice work Snow!" laughed Hope, racing down the marble staircase.
"Yeah" said Lightning, slapping him genially on the back "finally putting that thick head of yours to work."
"Eh" replied Snow playfully, tapping his temple "Serah always believed that I had a brain in-WHOA!"
A yelp of surprise escaped the toe-headed fighter as, quick as a flash, the chain gave a nasty tug, lurching him forward. But as his boots skidded across the floor with an earsplitting squeal, he finally caught his footing, his muscles going rigid to keep himself from being pulled into the air.
"WHAT-IS-THIS?!" grunted Snow, his teeth gnashed together "IT'S-LIKE-ATOMOS-IS-PULLING!"
Lightning's heart missed a beat as he slipped, the chain nearly wrenching out of his hand. But the tall man quickly recovered, throwing out his hand and catching himself, managing his way back to his feet. However, Lightning and Hope turned sharply as a screeching from behind garnered their attention. The two stained-glass windows slid back into place ever so slightly. It then occurred to the pinkette: if they didn't move fast, if they lost the chain, they'd lose their way out.
"Hope, let's move!" she roared, taking off at breakneck speed, ignoring Snow's confused outcry. Sparing a glance towards her young friend she gestured towards the right-hand corridor "you check that one. I'll look down here."
They split off into the long dark corridors, Lightning staring around for another window or door. To her immense disappointment, all that awaited her at the end, was a lonely switch. She stared at it for a moment before bellowing:
"Hope! I've got a weird looking switch over here. How about you?"
"Yeah, I've got one too!" rang the young mage's voice "I'm going to try pulling it."
There was a very pregnant pause, Lightning held her breath in anticipation but nothing appeared to happen. After a few moments, Hope called out:
"Anything?"
"Not that I can see!" called Lightning, "Hold on, I'm going to try mine."
Curling her fingers around the mechanism, she gave it a sharp tug downward; nothing happened. Lightning dragged a frustrated hand over her face, this was getting them nowhere.
"HEY!" Snow's voice rang out from behind "ARE YOU TWO ALMOST DONE?! WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?!"
"We've got another puzzle Snow!" Hope called back "it's not too hard, but I need a minute to crack it. Think you can hold out a little longer?"
"Yeah," grunted Snow sarcastically, his face reddening from the exertion "yeah, all good. You guys just…take your time."
Lightning turned back to the switch with a renewed sense of urgency; they were running out of time. She inspected the lever again, raising it up and down, and even stopping part way through. Nothing worked. Just then, Hope's voice called out
"I've got something! When it's pulled down, my lever twists to the right."
Without hesitation, Lightning yanked the lever back down to the bottom. However, try as she might, she could not turn it. As she was about to throw up her hands in frustration, the small lever finally rotated…a few degrees in the opposite direction.
"Mine turns too. But it goes left."
Hope did not respond immediately but soon called back: "I think these are on some kind of spring mechanism. It depresses when I push on it. Let's try pushing them in."
Twisting the lever so that it rotated a full ninety degrees, Lightning pressed the flat of her hand against it and easily pushed the lever deep into the very gap from which it slid. But no sooner had she pulled her hand back, the lever shot back out, zipping back into its original horizontal position, and rose back to sit at the height of the switch before finally coming to a halt. Lightning watched in open mouthed disbelief, but quickly sent her eyes zooming around the room, her ears trained on even the slightest indication that something had changed.
Nothing.
"Anything?!" called Hope.
"Other than my switch resetting, nothing."
"Mine just reset too" Hope's voice trailed off before returning with a resounding sense of eureka. "Maybe we have to pull them together?"
Lightning shrugged. It wouldn't hurt to try, though she hoped that Snow could endure a little longer. Curling her fingers around the mechanism again, she called out:
"Alright, each step one at a time. Here we go…one!"
She pulled the lever straight down.
"Two"
She pulled the mechanism outward, rotating it ninety degrees, anticipation coursed through her.
"Three!"
She pushed the mechanism in so that it lay flat against the wall. Immediately, she jabbed a victorious fist through the air as a series of loud crunching sounds rang throughout the room. However, a great cry of pain rang out from behind and Lightning turned just in time to watch as Snow collapsed to the ground, the golden chain flying skyward, and the stained-glass window slid back into place, sealing her inside. The pinkette charged forward, reaching for her weapon but stopped short; she knew all too well the outcome of trying to force these windows open. She couldn't afford to risk losing her composure again.
"Snow!" she roared, pounding the glass with her fist, watching as her brother-in-law got back to his feet, shaking his hands vigorously.
"Sorry" he called, blowing onto his hands "the damn thing got hot out of nowhere!"
Just then, before she could question him further a loud 'CRACK' stole their attention. A great, deep gash had formed in the marble sarcophagus and a burst of flame erupted from within. There was an earsplitting cry as, from within the flames, emerged a large, swan-like bird with magnificent red and gold plumage and a sweeping, peacock-like tail burst forth from the cage. It circled the room three times before pulling into a deep nosedive and burst into another great fireball at the foot of the dais.
As the flames died down, Lightning felt her jaw drop as a figure clad in marble white armor appeared. It had no face, being shrouded behind a bird-like helmet, from which cascaded a brilliant mane of fiery-orange and gold feathers; crown-like appendages sprouted from its shoulders, and several cords connected across the torso, where more feathers combined into a magnificent flowing cape. The figure silently rose to its feet, its hulking figure towering over Snow; it raised a clawed hand, where another burp of flame conjured a menacing looking lance.
"Whoa, hold on there!" stammered Snow, taking several steps backward.
The armored figure appeared unimpressed, making two, striding steps forward, holding its weapon at the ready. Desperate, Snow blurted out:
"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! WHY WON'T ANYONE JUST TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
At this, the hulking figure finally froze. Lightning could not make out a face beneath the helmet, but it could tell that it was heavily considering Snow's words. It stared the tall man down hard, before planting the tip of its lance into the ground. A red ring formed by its feet and Snow leapt back with a shout of surprise as a towering inferno burst forth from the ground. But the flames began to contort and transform before opening like the petals of a flower.
However, instead of the hulking, armored figure, what emerged from the flames was a beautiful, fair-skinned woman with long, slightly curled brown hair. She was dressed in traditional martial arts garb, though her left arm was covered by a large metal glove; she appeared to be asleep.
But as she touched down to the ground, the flames encircling her form began to die and six more burst up around the circular room in massive braziers. The room began to darken, the sunlight swallowed up by the raging bluebell flames. But the woman's figure underwent a disconcerting change; her skin turned ashen and blue, her hair becoming lank, and a shadow seemed to persevere across her body. The woman's eyes flew open, revealing a pair of shining white orbs, and she assumed a fighting stance, though the tall fighter raised his arms pacifyingly.
"Wha—no, that's not what I meant! Ma'am, I'm sorry but there's been a mistake, I'm not going to—OUCH!"
The woman shot her foot forward, driving it hard onto Snow's knee. Bouncing like a boxer, she kicked at his leg again, then a third time. Watching as her brother-in-law danced around the woman, doing his best to remain neutral, Lightning could hear Hope's low, painful groan when the woman suddenly dropped low, extending her leg, and sweeping Snow's out from under him, his back slamming hard onto the ground.
"Okay" wheezed Snow "okay, good move. Maybe we can-WHOA!"
The tall fighter never finished his sentence as the brunette repeated the motion, sending Snow crashing down again. Snow swore under his breath, kipping up, he turned blazing eyes upon the woman.
"Alright, let's see you try that when I'm ready!"
The woman twisted on her hips, making to repeat the attack a third time; Snow tucked his knees into his chest as he leapt skyward. But the shadowy woman merely smiled, and Lightning immediately understood why. As Snow moved upward, her own posture had not changed. She had feigned, easily leading her opponent to do what she wanted, because as Snow's boots touched back down, she twisted her hips, left extended, and swept the tall man again, sending him crashing onto his back for a third time.
But the woman didn't stop, pulling all of her momentum forward as she rolled onto her shoulders and bringing her foot over in a powerful heel kick. The tall fighter, however, saw the incoming attack and deftly threw himself out of the way.
Both fighters were back on their feet. The shadowy woman moved first, twisting on her heel and pulling her right into her chest, she launched upward into a powerful tornado kick. Snow easily dodged, but in a surprising move, threw himself forward and twisted on his right with his left leg extended. Snow curled it around her midriff and used the full weight of his body to drag the shadowy woman off her feet, pinning her to the ground.
"Now will you listen?" grunted Snow, his face turning red from the exertion against the struggling woman, who violently wrestled to free herself from the tall fighter's vice-like grip
No sooner had the words left him had Lightning noticed that the room had darkened slightly, one of the three blue-flamed torches went out; even the woman had gone still at this. Snow let out a shocked shout, scrambling back to his feet as the woman became outlined in an aura of pink energy, and began to sink into the floor. However, no sooner had her form vanished that it began to rise again, now on her feet, her long hair shrouding her face and her eyes glinting demonically. Snow raised his fists like a shield as the woman assumed her own stance.
Lightning watched as her brother-in-law moved first, shooting out his right foot, then followed by a furious flurry of blows as his fists became a blur. But the shadowy woman was a deft fighter herself, easily swatting away his attacks, before delivering another sharp kick to Snow's left leg.
The two circled each other, watching and waiting for the other to move. The pinkette saw the tall fighter's first mistake, his eyes constantly dipping downwards towards her constantly moving feet. Whoever this woman was, she was a brilliant fighter and even better tactician, knowing exactly how to distract her opponent as she swiftly angled her hip upward, delivering her next kick to his right cheek. She repeated the action, though Snow easily batted it away. Lightning could only stare, why would she go for a move that he was not only ready for, but could easily counter? Unless…
WHAM!
Shifting all momentum onto her batted leg, the woman dragged her opposing leg around and slammed the heel of her foot hard onto Snow's chin. As the man staggered backward, the woman leapt forward, her leg like lightning as she barraged Snow with a series of kicks. The tall fighter staggered again, blinking past the livid bruise spreading on the right side of his face, his nose beginning to bleed. Planting his right, he shot out his massive boot in a powerful side kick. But the woman stepped out of the way and slammed her foot down on his leg again, sending Snow crashing onto his knees.
Lightning watched as Snow pounded his fist, frustratedly, onto the ground. His body flashed in a trio of white rings and the pinkette watched as her brother-in-law's gloved hand radiated with a greenish-black smoke. Pushing to his feet, Snow bound towards his foe with a great war cry! As he shot his fist forth, the shadowy fighter dragged both of her hands, fingers splayed wide, across her face.
Lightning blinked hard to make sure that her eyes weren't lying to her. But sure enough, she watched as, what she could only describe as, a flaming orange hole appeared in the air before her. It swallowed Snow's fist, his arm sinking all the way up to the elbow, whose fearsome expression faded almost immediately. The air rippled next to his head and Lightning could only watch as a second hole (this one a flaming blue) tore into the air and a painful shout echoed throughout the chamber as Snow's own fist came barreling out the second hole and smashed heavily onto his own face! The tall fighter staggered backward, before collapsing on his rump.
From the chamber over, Lightning could hear Hope call out Snow's name in anguish, pounding his fists against the ghostly wall separating them. The tall fighter rolled onto his hands and knees and attempted to push himself up but quickly fell down again. Lightning dropped onto one knee and immediately saw what was wrong; Snow's eyes were coated in a thick black sludge, which oozed down his face in terrible, imitation tears and he was taking short, shallow breaths.
"Are you okay?"
"I've been better" Snow grumbled, wiping the black film from his eyes, his lids fruitlessly attempting to open. "It's no good. I can't see!"
"Here she comes" came Hope again. Lightning's gaze snapped upward, watching as the woman paced back and forth, looking very much like a lion ready to take down its prey. Snow flopped over, flailing his arms crazily before him, unknowing how useless the effort was.
"Stay calm" barked the Pinkette "You still have a chance to beat her."
"Beat her?!" cried Snow incredulously "if you haven't noticed sis, she has been kicking my ass all over this place. How exactly do you expect me to beat her? I can't take her in a straight one-on-one."
"You don't have to. All you need is to land a decisive blow."
Snow opened his mouth to argue back, but immediately shut it again. A meditative look swept over his face, his fist clenching tightly as he seemed to understand. Slowly, he began to push himself back onto his feet, leaning against the back wall for support.
"That's gonna be tough" he said, assuming his form "how am I gonna get the timing if I can't see her?"
"You can't see her," corrected Hope, "but we can. Light and I can guide you, but you haveto trust us for this to work."
Snow turned towards the silver-haired boy's voice and flashed him the cocky grin that had long been absent from his face "You know it pal. Lead on."
Lightning turned her gaze back to the shadowy woman, who also lowered herself into a ready stance. She bounced on the ball of her heels like a boxer, but that's when she saw it! The woman had drawn her fists up towards her head, but it was her right that hovered like a shield before her face.
"The attack is going to come from the left" she whispered so that only Snow could hear.
"What?! How do you-?"
"Just trust me!" Lightning snapped impatiently "When we tell you to, dodge right."
Snow shrugged as he flashed in the trio of blazing red rings, his right-hand glowing with a familiar golden light.
The shadowy fighter's move came without warning as she bolted forward. She pitched herself forward, her leg extended, she began to roll, faster and faster until she moved like a vertical top barreling towards her foe. Lightning's guess had been right on the money: she was leading with her left!
"Not yet" grunted Hope huskily, watching as she drew ever closer "almost."
Closer and closer the woman came, her roll slowing until she was mere feet from her enemy, her left leg raised high in a violent axe kick.
"NOW!"
Their voices rang out in unison, and Lightning and Hope watched as their toe-headed compatriot pushed off with his left, sliding to the right and out of the way as the woman's foot came crashing down where he had been only moments before! The heel of her foot tore into the stone floor with a resounding 'CRACK' as a deep crater formed in its wake. Snow, meanwhile, lithely pushed himself into the air, his shoulder reared back for the counter as he drove his fist forth.
WHAM!
It was a dead-on hit, landing squarely on the woman's jaw. The force of the blow sent her rocketing off her feet; she sailed through the air for a moment before smashing, heavily onto the floor. She rolled several times before finally coming to a halt, where she lay motionlessly in defeat.
Almost in an answer, the very room began to change again. The light of the braziers fizzled out and sunlight once more flooded into the burial chamber. The stained-glass barriers that had separated them from their comrade slid out of the way with a dull 'flump', and Lightning joined her silver-haired comrade in charging to her brother-in-law's side.
"You did it!" cried Hope as Snow laughed victoriously.
"See what happens when you listen?" she snorted, lightly punching Snow on the shoulder.
But before he could answer, Hope let out a shout of surprise. Turning quickly, the pink-haired l'Cie watched as the shadowy woman was lifted high off the ground, like a puppet on a string, before landing lithely back on her feet. At once, the three of them readied themselves for battle, but immediately she began to undergo another transformation. Her blue skin returned to its original fair complexion, her hair becoming a beautiful brown, and her eyes (once shining white orbs) blazed a bright emerald green that somehow seemed familiar.
She looked around the room several times, stooping low to inspect the very crater where her foot had barely missed cracking Snow's head like an egg. She turned to face the three of them and smiled gently. When she spoke, her voice was mellow and even:
"You must be quite something, for Suzaku to allow us to meet."
"Er, Suzaku?" asked Snow, but before the words had barely left his mouth, both he and Hope let out shouts of surprise as a burst of flame erupted from behind her. However, the brown-haired woman hardly flinched as the hulking, armored figure reappeared at her side. It was then that Lightning understood
"Your Eidolon."
"Our Eidolons" explained the woman, who regarded her summon with a polite nod (who knelt down onto one knee) "do not only aid us in life, they guard us in death as well."
"Who are you?" the words tumbled from Lightning's mouth before she could stop them. But the woman's polite smile never faltered as she turned to face the pinkette.
"Forgive my lack of decorum. I am Canaan of House Aker. High Counselor of the esteemed Ministry of Defense for the Sanctum of Cocoon."
Lightning could feel her eyes widen in total disbelief. Aker? It wasn't possible, but the chances of a coincidence were…
"You're," spluttered Hope, collecting himself "you're related to Ak…er, I mean: Sam?"
Aker's eyebrows shot upward, her expression calculating "There was a time I knew the names and faces of every soldier my son fought beside during the War of Transgression. I do not recall your faces, which leads me to wonder: how do you know my Samuel?"
At her words, Lightning's mouth fell open in disbelief and given the stunned reactions of the two beside her, she wasn't the only one. This woman was Aker's mother!
"What are you doing here?"
She smiled patiently, mischief dancing in her eyes "Shouldn't a person who is dead be in the place that they fell?"
Dead. Lightning could barely wrap her mind around the word when realization crashed into her. The crevice where they found Aker, Fang's certainty that he would be there, it hadn't been sheer coincidence. He was visiting his mother's grave, and they had ambushed him there.
"Now," said Aker, folding her arms shrewdly, "I can't help but notice, you have not answered my question. So, it leads into my next question: why are you here?"
"I wish we had an answer," said Hope, "one minute we're fighting Sam for our lives, the next we're…"
Aker's eyes blazed dangerously "You were fighting with my son?"
As Hope seemed to shrink from the woman's gaze, Lightning rushed to his aid "We didn't have a choice. Your son attacked us. And if we don't stop him, neither will he."
The brown-haired woman stared her down contemplatively. But Lightning didn't back down, the tips of her fingers brushing Blaze Edge's handle, ready for the fight. After a long pause, Pale Aqua eyes widened slightly as Emerald Green cast downward, her expression turning solemn.
"I see," she said at last "then this is what it has come to"
Suddenly she turned towards Snow, who jumped as she regarded him, and said sternly "Young man, you have quite the potential as a warrior. You're sharp, strong, and, by no small means, stubborn."
The blond fighter rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, a self-satisfied grin forming on his face. However, the smile vanished the moment he saw her expression turn fierce.
"But you're sloppy and so is your technique. Do you realize that if it hadn't been for your friends to guide you, you very well would have lost against me?"
"I mean, I guess so" stammered Snow awkwardly "But when in a straight up fight I..."
"In this room," she said coldly "you stand on a field of battle not in some tavern room brawl! You focus too much energy on fighting a single opponent, so when you become surrounded, your stance crumbles."
Quick as a flash, she thrust her foot between his legs; but as Snow's eyes shot downward, Aker thrust a monkey's paw onto his chest, hard. Lightning watched as her brother-in-law flailed his arms uselessly before collapsing onto his back. As Aker took a step forward, Lightning made to reach for her weapon, but stopped as she merely reached out a hand to help Snow back onto his feet.
"You lack patience, and you lack diligence. Fortunately for you, both of those things can be learned. I offer you this wisdom, young man: consider the very room you stand in." She made a wide, sweeping gesture towards the intricately designed windows and the beautifully carved stone around them.
"I am told that each of these things were crafted from me, directly. My ambitions, my accomplishments…my legacy. Do you think these things happened simply because I willed them into existence? Patience. Diligence. Tenacity. Resolve. These are the cornerstones of everything I spent a lifetime trying to achieve, all memorialized in beauty and splendor. And things don't just happen simply because we want them to."
Snow stared at her in open-mouthed silence; Lightning could his mind racing a mile-a-minute as Aker placed a hand over her heart. Gently, crackling flames burst from under her fingers and, as she withdrew her hand, the pink-haired l'Cie could see a jewel the size of her fist now sitting placidly in the palm of her hand. Taking Snow hand with her left, she gently pressed her Eidolith into it:
"Take this, and reflect on what I have said."
Lightning's gaze turned from Snow, who looked confusedly between her and his hand, to the crystal. It reminded her of the one Aker had pulled during their battle, but where his was blue, this one was a bright red; but there was something else, something she hadn't noticed before. Deep in the heart of the crystal orb shone a brilliant white light, almost like a star. However, a massive shudder rocked throughout the stone chamber, making the four of them stagger. Aker recovered first, glancing around the room and said grimly
"It seems our time together has come to a close."
"But, how will we-?" stammered Hope, but the brown-haired woman held up her hand to silence him.
"You found your way here without knowing how you got here. I trust you will find your way back in a similar manner. But before you go…young lady?"
Lightning turned, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise, as the woman regarded her. For the first time, she had a real chance to look at her. They were the same height, but her green eyes were exactly the same as her son's. But in a surprising move, the woman took a step forward and gently wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
"You have suffered and you have lost much" Aker's voice was no more than a whisper "I see my own family when I look at you. Protect what family that you have left, because if you don't, the pain you feel, the one you hide from everyone else, will only grow. Don't let it consume you, like it did me."
Lightning gasped, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn't realized it until that very moment, but she had gotten what it was she had been needing. The one thing that she hadn't had since she was fifteen-years-old…a mother's comfort. But before she could even form a response, Aker's form shimmered before flashing brightly and Lightning once more became lost in a wave of light.
~o0o~
For a second time, the all-encompassing light around her began to dull and fade. Easing her eyes open, a gasp escaped the pink-haired warrior. They were back in the glade, downed comrades still lying prone on the ground, and the sight of Cloud charging Aker down. She exchanged startled looks with Snow and Hope; it was as if nothing had happened.
However, none of them had time to dwell on the strange occurrence, as the figure of Cloud and his phantom shadow moved in a flash, appearing behind him with both of his swords extended on either side. Lightning had to blink to make sure her eyes were not deceiving her; Aker had flipped his sword so that it sat reverse in his hand, moving at his impossible speed, the sound of ringing steel echoing loudly through the clearing. Flinging out his arms, catching himself as he landed, Aker turned sun-sparkled blue eyes towards cat-like green. Pushing himself up into a squatting position, placing his left hand against the flat of his blade, he drew back his right and readied for the next blow.
They launched towards each other: Cloud's massive blade tucked tightly across his chest as the specter reared back its ghostly blade above its head. Aker, however, had launched from a hurried crouch, right arm drawn back and the left resting against the top of the blade. Lightning could feel the blood drain from her face; it was that stance again; the same one he had used to defeat Odin!
She could only watch as the two drew nearer, but instead of thrusting his weapon forth as he had done before, the blue-haired l'Cie twisted on his right, pulling himself low. The pinkette felt her jaw drop as he spun harmlessly out of the way as Cloud's blades went sailing over his opponent's head. Aker shot back onto his feet, pulling his weapon with all of his strength into a powerful upper slash across Cloud's fully exposed torso…
BAM!
The strike connected, the blade tearing upward across her husband's body, from hip to shoulder, blood flying out in a massive geyser. The mere force of the strike rocketed him backward, off his feet and high into the air! Watching as Cloud fell back towards the ground, Aker twirled his blade again. Lightning let out a gasp of open-mouthed horror as, quick as a flash, there was the sickening ring of steel on flesh and the blue-haired l'Cie jammed six inches of sterling white steel into her husband's chest.
Lightning's brain seemed to freeze with a fresh layer of ice, the image before her slowing down to almost a snail's crawl, intent on searing the image into her mind. There was a look of terrible pain and surprise on his face as he screamed. The phantom shadow above Cloud's skewered form clutched at its own chest, an otherworldly sound escaping from its form. The image flickered before fading like dust on the wind. As the boy mercilessly ripped his sword away, Cloud crumpled to the ground, bleeding profusely, and did not move again.
For the longest moment, Lightning stood rooted to the spot, horror paralyzing her at the sight of her husband's limp form. No, it couldn't be, it just couldn't…the images of Cloud's torturous duel against Sephiroth in the Archylte two years ago swimming to mind.
She didn't remember making the conscious decision, but Lightning soon found herself running, the sound of ringing metal on earth resounding in her ears as she abandoned her weapon. She barely registered Aker turning his blade (now glowing the same green light as Cloud's shadow) on her, or his confusion as she bolted passed him, skidding to a halt as she hovered over Cloud's body, autonomously pressing her hands on top of his massive wound, blood leaking out at an alarming rate.
A second pair of hands covered her own, and she turned to find Hope, nodding readily at her. The pair flashed in a trio of emerald rings, Lightning could feel the gentle energy surge through her arms and onto her husband's form, escaping in a pulse of soft white light.
They repeated the action again. Then a third time. Over and over, Lightning poured her healing energy into him with almost single-minded obsession, ignoring the thunderous gunshots that rang out around her, as Vincent resumed the attack. She glanced down at his unmoving form, the image of Palumpolum swimming to the forefront of her mind: his form spread eagle, lying in a pool of his own blood from the numerous gunshot wounds, and a bloody hole in his temple…
No! She thought to herself, redoubling her efforts and sending more light onto Cloud's body, feeling the wound seal beneath her fingers. She refused to let it happen again, she would not lose him a second time!
BANG! BANG!
Two cacophonous gunshots snapped her attention forward, and she watched as Vincent's red cloak fluttered in the wind as he threw his momentum backwards, his body a deadly tornado as his leg flew around from behind into a masterful roundhouse! Aker attempted to raise his sword in an attempt to defend himself, but his wrist was at too awkward of an angle to correct as Vincent's armored boot smashed into the weapon. Lightning could only watch as Aker's sword was sent flying out of his hand and careening onto the ground several feet away. But the teenage warrior's eyebrows furrowed as he glared the raven-haired gunman down. Aker gave a short hop into the air, pulling his knees as tightly into his chest as he could, before shooting both legs out, which collided hard with Vincent's chest.
Lightning stared, watching as both of them crumpled to the ground. Vincent may not have won their encounter, but for the first time that day, Aker was defenseless and completely open on both sides! A fact that was not easily missed as a flash of blue scorched into the corner of her eye. Fang shot forward, gripping her spear tightly. Pushing off with all of her strength, she leapt high, higher than naturally possible, into the air. With a twirl of her weapon, now high above her head, she came crashing down on her downed nemesis. Weaponless, Aker could only reach out his gauntleted arm as a shield.
There was a flash of purple light and Lightning watched as a new sword suddenly materialized in Aker's hand, catching Fang's spear. However, looking past the rising dark streams and fat, ugly, dark feathers emanating from the weapon, Lightning's eyes widened as terrified realization hit her. She had seen that weapon before, felt the cold, merciless steel of its unnaturally long blade cut into her body, the very sword that had been used against the blue-haired l'Cie only moments prior. It was Sephiroth's sword, the Masamune.
"Okay" said Aker, looking just as confused as the rest of them "that's new."
It was Fang who recovered first, gnashing her teeth together furiously and throwing her weight behind her spear. But Aker used the superior length of his new weapon to fling her away. However, as she skidded to a halt, Lightning saw the look of horror on her face at the realization that she had slid into something…something that hadn't been there moments before. Fang gripped her weapon, shooting back to her feet and readied her to attack.
CRACK!
She had barely raised her arms when her spear shattered, the shaft cut cleanly in half. Lightning watched as the fearsome expression on her face melted into one of total shock; he had done it again, having moved at his impossible speed yet again.
Aker turned to face his foe, raising Sephiroth's long sword ready to make the final blow. But as he lunged forward, a flash of beige in the corner of her eye shot forward as well. She watched as Snow stood between Aker and Fang, flashing a trio of golden rings, and assumed a defensive posture. However, the long-bladed sword came crashing towards her brother-in-law's face nonetheless.
Suddenly, a flaming orange hole ripped through the air before Snow's face, swallowing the length of the massive katana. The air rippled next to Aker's head and Lightning could feel Hope cut his eyes to avoid seeing what was to come next. But the pink-haired l'Cie couldn't turn away, her eyes transfixed on the sight as the second, blue flaming hole had burst through into the air. Aker appeared to realize what was happening, skidding to a halt, his throat inches from the edge of his own blade.
Green eyes widened in total shock, darting between the sword, the portals, and Snow (who looked just as stunned) "What is…I don't…where did you get that?"
However, the blue-haired l'Cie's eyes became transfixed on Snow's hand, the sun gleaming off the scarlet orb. Snow stared from it to his opponent, at an apparent loss for words. Pushing off, Aker launched himself backward, the portals vanishing with a slurping sound. Shifting his gaze, he watched as Sephiroth's sword vanished as suddenly as it appeared (in a flash of purple light and ugly black feathers).
Lightning and Hope exchanged looks as Aker glanced around the glade, watching as his attackers stirred feebly, either too injured or too tired to continue. There was no mistaking it this time, pity filled his green eyes. Stooping down to pick up his sword, his eyes now hidden by his mop of hair, he called out so that they could all hear him.
"Today could have ended much worse for you! Consider yourselves fortunate. But it is not a mercy I will grant you a second time. Come for me again, and you will die."
Without another word, Aker slowly held his sword aloft and, once more, the same golden aura burned around him. A gentle rain of sparkles fell from the glowing star of blue light over his head; growing fainter and fainter, the blue-haired l'Cie faded away into the gentle, pulsing waves of energy. The star rose high into the air out of the crevice and then vanished from sight.
Once more, a deafening silence rang out all around them; for a long time, Lightning was still, hardly able to process what had just happened. Just then, groans began to rise up all around as if in some haunting song. She watched as Yuffie, Cait, and Red sat up looking very confused; Snow rushing over to Serah, who clutched her head; all around, their comrades were rousing feebly.
A groan from below quickly garnered her attention; a breath she had not realized she had been holding escaped her as she realized Cloud was beginning to stir, her hands sticky from blood from a wound that had long since been healed. Mako blue made contact with Pale Aqua, and Lightning smiled as she gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
However, Lightning's gaze slowly drifted skywards, staring after the spot Aker had escaped. Reflecting on their battle, Aker's mother, and his ominous last words to them. They had thrown everything they had at him and, at every turn, he just continued to walk through them! To best an Eidolon in battle, even match Sephiroth, and all the while feeling like he was just toying with them. The horrifying realization began to sink in: they had no hope of matching him, let alone beating him. At that moment, the burning question plagued her: who was he…what was he?
Hey everyone/anyone still reading this. So yeah, this chapter happened. Truth be told, I think I'm going to write one more chapter before putting this fic on hiatus for a while. The lack of community interest, combined with general burnout fueling my depression have created a mentally unhealthy space where I am not wanting to write this story. Hopefully, I can pull myself together and rally to come back to this story, but (for now) I think I need to just set it down for a while. Like I said, I think I have one more left in me before I need to step away. Anyway, I hope you guys liked the chapter, don't forget to leave me a review.
