Santa's l'Cie

by Yukito097

Lightning wakes up in the North Pole, branded a l'Cie, and dressed in an embarassing Santa outfit. Can she, Fang and Vanille find out what's going on, and complete their Focus, before it's too late? Set post-Lightning Returns.

When Lightning woke up, she was expecting to find herself at home, in her bedroom, with the morning sunlight trickling through her curtains. She was not expecting to find herself outside, in a field of ice, staring up at the night sky illuminated by the aurora borealis.

She shivered as she climbed to her feet, looking around to determine where she was, but unfortunately, there was nothing. It almost looked like Lake Bresha, but there was no way that could be true. After all, Lake Bresha existed on Cocoon, back in the 'Old World'. But the life she led now was in the 'New World', and there was no Cocoon there.

Lightning tried to recall what she had learned about this world's geography. There were two regions that were nothing but icy wastelands – the North Pole and the South Pole. Perhaps she was in one of those two areas? But how did she get there? And how was she not already frozen to death, sleeping in such a cold place, almost completely exposed?

As Lightning wondered that last question, she looked down to find that she was not in her underwear, as she usually was when she went to bed. Instead, she was wearing a red suit of some sort. A fluffy, red jacket without sleeves, but it did come with a warm, red cape to cover her arms, and a matching skirt that ended just above the knees, though her legs were covered by red-and-white striped socks that travelled to halfway up her upper thighs. The red suit had white trimmings, and as she felt her head, she found that she was also wearing a red hat with a white pom-pom at the end.

She blushed as she realised what she was wearing. It was a Santa outfit. In the New World, there was a holiday celebrated at this time of year. A festive one known as Christmas, and this 'Santa Claus' was essentially the holiday's mascot. She had seen many people dressed as the jolly old man, and vowed that she would never be caught dead wearing something so embarrassing. After her fourteen days on Nova Chrysalia, she had worn enough embarrassing costumes to last a lifetime.

"Well, at least it'll keep me warm… Oh! Fang! Vanille!" Lightning called out to the two, but she received no answer. After her days journeying the New World, Lightning eventually decided to settle down. Though staying with Fang and Vanille was only meant to be a temporary arrangement, the three of them had grown close, and developed an intimate bond. Back on Cocoon, Lightning had sworn off of love entirely in order to focus her efforts on protecting Serah, so it was a surprise when she found herself with not just one, but two girlfriends! And now that they were so close, she found herself worrying about them the same way she used to worry about Serah.

As Lightning called out to them, she sensed danger approaching. It was her instincts from her time as a soldier, but despite catching the ambush, there was nothing that Lightning could do as she found herself surrounded on all sides by gremlins. "Monsters? I thought this world didn't have any."

The gremlins began closing in on her from every direction. Lightning instinctually reached for her gunblade, forgetting that she had put it away the very day she arrived in the New World. However, it was there, in the sheath attached to her waist. She drew the weapon and stood in a combative stance, daring the gremlins to just try attacking her. One of them did, and she gave him no time to regret it as she cut him down.

Another tried, and Lightning swiftly dodged the attack and countered. More of them started charging together, but Lightning was fast enough to dance around the monsters, reducing their numbers gradually, one-by-one. Or so she thought, but just as the horde began to thin-out, more gremlins began to arrive, filling the places of those she had previously defeated.

"I don't have time for this! Get out of my way!" Lightning had only meant to threaten the gremlins, but as she waved her hand, light shot out, forming a large cluster in the air that scattered, raining down on the monsters and decimating their ranks. Lightning stared at her hand in shock. She had just casted the Ruinga spell, something that should have been impossible, given she was no longer Bhunivelze's champion, nor was she a-

Looking down at her chest, Lightning saw it. It was the mark of Pulse, the symbol that had branded her a l'Cie once before. Its eye was completely closed, so she was in no immediate danger of becoming a Cie'th, but how was this possible? The fal'Cie don't exist in the New World, nor do the gods. Who could have branded her, and for what reason?

Distracted by these thoughts, Lightning didn't notice as the remaining gremlins swarmed her. She didn't have enough time to respond. At least, she didn't, until she felt a wave of magic washing over her, and suddenly, her entire body felt lighter. This was the Haste spell, a Synergist magic that made her faster. She leapt back, putting distance between herself and the gremlins, and that was when Fang descended from above, taking the full brunt of the gremlins' attacks. "Fang!"

"Heh, that all ya got?" Fang asked, taunting the angry monsters as they slammed into her, and barraged her with magic. Her body was glowing with a yellow aura. Lightning realised that she was using Sentinel magic to strengthen her defences, making her body as tough as a tank. More than that, she was absorbing the blows, gathering more and more power until… "HI-YAAAAAH!" Fang unleashed all of that power in one, powerful attack, blowing away all of the enemies at once. Many of them died, but some were still moving. "Vanille!"

"Got it!" Vanille appeared behind the gremlins, her body glowing with a blue aura. She cast a powerful Firaga spell on the remaining monsters, enveloping the area in an intense ball of flames that finished them off. As the flames died down, Vanille ran over to Fang and Lightning. "Light, thank goodness we found you!"

"We heard you callin' out to us," Fang said, turning to Lightning. "Not like you to get caught off-guard like that."

"Yeah, I just got a little… distracted." Lightning saw that Fang and Vanille's clothes were different, too. They weren't wearing Santa outfits like her, though. Instead, their clothes were green. Fang was wearing a pair of long trousers, and a short-sleeved shirt that revealed the whited-out l'Cie brand on her right upper arm. Vanille, meanwhile, was wearing a buttoned-up jacket and a skirt, one that was slightly short than Lightning's.

"What's wrong?" Vanille asked. Lightning stepped forwards and leaned down, lifting Vanille's skirt just enough to confirm that her brand was there, on her thigh. What she wasn't expecting was for Vanille's brand to also be white. "Um, Light?"

"Oh, uh…" Lightning dropped the skirt, blushing. "Sorry. So you guys are branded, too?"

"Looks like it," Fang said, circling Lightning and pulling her top down just a little to see her brand. "Yours is different, though."

Lightning pulled back, only nodding as Fang laughed. "What are you two wearing?"

"We could ask you the same thing," Vanille said. "We woke up like this. Kinda cute, don't you think?"

"Cute? If you say so." Lightning noticed that the two of them were wearing green, pointed hats, with bells attached to the ends, causing a jingle-jangle to follow wherever they moved. "If I'm supposed to be Santa, does that make you two my elves?"

"Hey, you got it!" Lightning, Fang and Vanille turned to the new voice approaching them. It was a girl with short, blonde hair, dressed in a similar outfit to Fang and Vanille. She felt familiar, but Lightning wasn't sure how… "It's nice to meet you. I'm Alyssa Zaidelle."

And with that, Lightning remembered. She was the girl that arrived with Hope at Serah and Snow's wedding, several months ago. She was someone like them; she had memories of the Old World. She apologised to Serah and Noel upon meeting them, but for what, Lightning never found out. All she knew was that the two forgave her for whatever she'd done, and treated her as a friend. But even if Lightning barely remembered her, they had met, so then why did she…

"What do you mean, 'nice to meet you'? We've met before, right?"

Alyssa tilted her head. "Have we? But you've only just arrived here, so this should be the first time we've met."

Lightning looked at Fang and Vanille, who simply shrugged. "Alright, fine, it's the first time we've met. So, how about you explain where we are and why we're here? And also, why we're l'Cie again?"

"All in good time, but first, we should get to the workshop, before more of those monsters show up."

"Workshop?" Fang asked, but Alyssa simply went on ahead without another word. "Guess we'll just have to follow her for now."

With nowhere else to go, the three followed Alyssa through the tundra, fighting off monsters that they recognised from Cocoon and Gran Pulse along the way. Flans, goblins, ochus, lobos, stikinis and skata'nae, even cactuars, dressed in little Santa outfits. Lightning was afraid they might encounter Cie'th, but thankfully, they hadn't, nor did they have to contend with any Pulse mechs. When they sighted the workshop in the distance, a large behemoth suddenly stood in their way.

"Find somewhere to hide," Lightning told Alyssa as she and Fang approached the beast. It was currently on all-fours, meaning it wasn't as dangerous yet. If they could dispatch it fast enough, then they could avoid a potentially fatal battle. "Vanille, Synergist! Fang, Saboteur!"

"Right!" Fang channelled her Saboteur magic and casted debilitating spells on the behemoth, slowing its movements and weakening its defences. Meanwhile, Vanille enchanted Lightning and Fang with Synergist magic, making them faster, and their attacks stronger. Whilst the two worked, Lightning used her Sentinel magic to charm the behemoth, drawing all of its focus onto her and away from the others.

Lightning blocked as the behemoth swung its large foreleg, and then again as it swung the other. Even through her defensive magic, the blows still stung, but Vanille was ready with a Cure spell to soothe any damage she had taken.

Now that they were ready to strike, Lightning took point, blasting the behemoth with a flurry of shots from her gunblade. As she did that, Fang enhanced her spear with elemental magic and struck at the beast's legs, whilst Vanille barraged it with elemental attacks from a distance.

The behemoth roared, moving to stand on its hind legs. "Oh no you don't! NOW!" At once, Lightning and Fang delivered upward strikes, launching the behemoth into the air.

Fang leapt high, and delivered a powerful blow with her spear, creating a large gash down the behemoth's front. As she descended, Lightning launched a volley of Ruin spells directly at the wound, keeping the behemoth airborne. "Vanille!"

Vanille, who had been channelling her magic, unleashed the powerful Death spell at the behemoth. The three watched as the monster crashed back down to the ground, drawing its last breath as its eyes slowly closed. And just like that, the battle was over.

"That was amazing!" Alyssa cheered, emerging from her hiding place and applauding the trio. Lightning ignored the praise as she put away her gunblade. Fang and Vanille, however, seemed to enjoy it.

"Eh, nothing we haven't dealt with before," Fang said, standing tall and proud. "You should see the monsters we had to face back on Gran Pulse!"

"'Gran Pulse'?" Alyssa asked, tilting her head. "What's that?"

"What? I thought you remembered," Lightning said.

"Remembered what?"

Lightning wasn't sure what game Alyssa was playing, but there was no doubt she remembered she the Old World. Given her interactions with Hope, Serah and Noel, there was no other explanation. "Never mind," she said. She didn't really care either way, since she had more pressing matters to address.

Alyssa led the three the rest of the way to the workshop. As they entered, they found a factory run by men and women wearing similar outfits to Fang and Vanille, producing toys, games, and sweets. Elves, Lightning guessed, which meant that this really was Santa's workshop, as she had guessed.

The three followed Alyssa to a room in the back, where several large computers were set up. There was a white-haired man at one of them, looking back-and-forth between the monitors, occasionally typing something. "Director! I brought them!"

Hope turned and faced them. He was dressed as an elf, as well, only his outfit more resembled a suit, complete with a tie. "So, Hope's here, too," Lightning said, walking to meet him.

"Alyssa must have told you about me. I'm Hope Estheim, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"I didn't tell them your name," Alyssa said, looking as confused as Hope. "Oh well. It makes introductions easier, at least."

'So Hope doesn't recognise us, either? What's going on?' Lightning looked down at Hope's wrist to see if his brand was there, but his clothes were in the way. "Are you a l'Cie, too?"

Hope laughed. "Of course not. Only one person is chosen to be a l'Cie each year. I'm just one of Santa's elves."

"I was chosen? By who?"

"By Father Christmas, of course."

"So Santa Claus is… a fal'Cie?"

"That's right. How else could he use magic to observe all the world's inhabitants, and prepare everything he needs in time for Christmas?"

Lightning crossed her arms. That almost made sense, but it was still a tough pill to swallow. "If he's so great, why does he need me?"

"Santa can't leave the North Pole. He needs a l'Cie to deliver presents all over the world in his place."

"And what about Vanille and Fang?"

"They'll help you. It'll be dangerous out there, can't let you go it alone, even if you are a l'Cie."

"And if I refuse?"

Hope and Alyssa seemed taken aback by this, and a tense silence filled the room. Lightning suspected she knew what would happen, but she wanted to hear it directly. "That is an option, but I would advise against it. If you refuse to fulfil your Focus, you'll be turned into a Cie'th, and I'll have no choice but to kill you."

'Hope's threatening me. This really isn't the same kid I know, is it?'

"Well, what've we got to lose?" Fang asked, pulling Lightning into a headlock. "'Sides, might be kinda fun, seeing the whole world in one night!"

"Yeah, and think of all the children we'll make smile on Christmas Day!" Vanille added. Lightning couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Of the three of them, Vanille was the one who bought into this holiday the most. She had even written a letter for Santa, before Lightning and Fang broke the news to her that he wasn't real. Apparently, they were wrong about that.

"Alright," Lightning said, and Fang, Vanille and Alyssa all cheered. Hope simply nodded, and escorted them to a door that led outside. "Still, the whole world in one night sounds like a tall order."

"Don't worry. You'll have the best reindeer in the North Pole guiding you."

As they stepped outside, Lightning saw a huge airship, similar to the ones they used on Cocoon, waiting for her. Outside was a man dressed in a reindeer onesie, with a glowing, red afro. He waved them over. "Hey, this the l'Cie?"

"Yes. Please take good care of her."

Sazh looked the girls over, humming. "Just a buncha kids, but hey, so long as they can get the job done. Welcome aboard! Name's Sazh, and I'll be your Rudolph this fine Christmas night!"

"We're using this? Isn't Santa supposed to deliver presents on a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer?"

Sazh looked at Lightning like she was stupid, and if the man wasn't one of her dearest friends, she would have been tempted to slug him. "You wanna deliver presents all over the world, in one night, by sleigh?"

Lightning's face turned red as Fang, Vanille and Alyssa laughed behind her. Even Hope couldn't hold back a small chuckle. 'Yeah, 'cause that's the part that's crazy about all this.'

"C'mon now, time's a-wasting." Sazh boarded the ship, and Lightning followed.

"Be careful out there," Hope warned. "Monsters will be coming after you, to try to ruin the holidays."

"Oh, don't worry," Fang reassured him, "The three of us can handle anything. Right, girls?"

"Yep!" Vanille agreed.

Inside the ship, Lightning watched as Sazh entered the cockpit. Dajh was in there, too, sitting in the co-pilot's seat in his own reindeer onesie. She wasn't sure how to feel about a kid being Sazh's co-pilot, but it was nice to see the father and son together like this.

"Choco-boco! Please don't dawdle, dear!"

The scantily-clad chocobo girl, Chocolina, ushered Lightning into the ship, directing her to the seating in the back. Lightning went further inside, finding more familiar faces waiting for her. Snow Villiers, along with the NORA gang, all dressed in the same reindeer onesie that Sazh and Dajh wore. Lightning sighed. "You're here, too."

"Hey there!" Snow greeted, friendly as ever. "So you're our Santa this year! Well don't worry, you're in good hands with us around!"

"Yeah, thanks," Lightning said, not really interested in what he had to say. Instead, she was more focussed on seeing if there was anybody else onboard. After all, if the whole NORA crew was here, then surely… "Is Serah here, too?"

Snow folded his arms and tilted his head. "Serah? Doesn't ring a bell."

Lightning had to double take at Snow's response. "You mean you don't know if she's coming?"

"I mean I've never heard of her. Sorry, don't know any Serahs."

Lighting couldn't believe this. Snow and Serah were devoted to each other. Even when she had initially objected to them dating and getting married, they stood in defiance to her. Snow was the one who believed in her to the bitter end, even when Lightning herself had her doubts. Their wedding had been delayed by a thousand years, and they were finally able to marry once they reached the New World, but now Snow is saying he doesn't even know Serah?!

"If that's a joke, I'm not laughing."

Snow held up his hands. "Sorry, but I'm being serious here! You guys know who she's talking about?"

The NORA crew shook their heads. "Nope."

"Uh-uh."

"No clue."

"Sorry."

Even Chocolina didn't know. "Doesn't ring a choco-bell!"

"Hey, we're takin' off! Everyone to your seats!" Sazh called from the cockpit.

"Hold on!" Snow called back. "Aren't we waiting for one more? Someone called Serah?"

"Not accordin' to my list," Sazh replied.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it," Lightning said as she took her seat. Vanille and Fang, looking concerned, sat to either side of her. Vanille held her hand, while Fang gave her a pat on the shoulder, and a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure Serah's here, somewhere," Vanille said.

"We'll find her," Fang said.

"I'll be happy just knowing she's safe, and as far away from all this as possible," Lightning said, but that was only half-true. Besides Fang and Vanille, none of Lightning's friends seemed to know anything. Had their memories of the Old World faded over time? If so, were her memories in danger of leaving, too? Or was this the fal'Cie's doing?

Lightning had so many questions, but before she knew it, they had already arrived at their first destination. The three leapt out of the ship together with NORA, landing in the empty streets below. Monsters appeared to try to stop them, but Lightning, Fang and Vanille made quick work of them with their magic.

"Let's split up to cover the area! We gotta deliver these presents quickly to stay on schedule!" Snow said. "Lebreau and Godot, go with Vanille. Yuj and Maqui, with Fang." Snow approached Lightning. "And I'll stick with you, Sis."

Lightning turned to Vanille and Fang. Seeing as Snow wasn't a l'Cie anymore, she understood his reasoning; one l'Cie per group was far more secure. But she felt uneasy splitting off from the only two people who seemed to remember her right now.

"We'll rendezvous later," Fang said, sensing Lightning's worry. "Don't worry, love. Vanille and I can handle ourselves, you know that."

"I know you can, but-"

"Then how 'bout a kiss for good luck?" Without even waiting for an answer, Fang approached Lightning and held her chin, lifting up her face. Lightning closed her eyes as Fang kissed her, and then Vanille skipped over, giggling.

"You two… seriously…" Lightning sighed, and kissed Vanille next. "Alright, let's do this quick and meet back here. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

With that, the three went their separate ways. Lightning and Snow ran along the rooves of houses, dropping presents down each chimney that they passed. They encountered monsters along the way, but they weren't much to worry about. At least, not until they reached the town square, where they found an Aster Protoflorian waiting for them.

"That one looks tough," Snow said.

"Just gotta know how to fight it," Lightning replied, casting the Libra spell form afar. "It's weak to fire."

"Fire, huh? Then I've got just the thing!" Snow ran on ahead before Lightning could give him any instructions.

"Wait! Damnit, he's always been like this!" Chasing after Snow, Lightning prepared an Esuna spell. Snow threw an incendiary grenade at the Aster Protoflorian, and to Snow's credit, it did seem to do some damage, but the large monster retaliated by spraying him with spores, knocking him onto his back and poisoning him. Lightning cast her spell to remove the poison, and then helped him to his feet. "I'm the l'Cie, remember? Follow my lead."

"Ow… Heh, sorry 'bout that. Hey, not gonna ask if I'm okay?"

"Don't need to; you're too stubborn to hurt by an attack like that."

"Sounds like you've got my number."

Lightning used her Synergist magic to cast Haste, Shell and Bravery on Snow. "That should help you fight it on a level playing field, but let me get its attention first."

"It's all yours."

Lightning rushed into the battle, dodging and weaving between the Aster Protoflorian's attacks as she shot it with her gunblade. When she was closer, she unleashed a Fira spell, followed by several fires, and then circled around the monster, causing it to turn its back to Snow.

"Guess that's my cue!" Snow prepared another grenade and ran in.

As he did so, however, Lightning noticed the Aster Protoflorian's bulb opening up, and its body began to glow. "Snow, wait!" But she was too late; Snow threw his grenade, but rather than damaging the enemy, it seemed to make it stronger.

"What happened?!"

"It's changed its physiology!" Lightning cast her Libra spell again. "Ice! Use ice attacks now!" Lightning cast a Blizzaga spell, stopping the Aster Protoflorian in its tracks as it moved to attack her.

"I don't have anything like that! But, if you can freeze it in place, then…" Snow ran under the frozen monster, pulling back his fist. With a cry, he drove it directly upwards, launching the Aster Protoflorian into the air.

"Nice!" Lightning said, and she leapt up after it, using her Army of One attack to strike it multiple times in succession. She finished with a downwards strike that sent it crashing back down to the ground.

The Aster Protoflorian's body glowed again, and after using another Libra, Lightning grinned. "Sorry, but that's my element." As she landed next to the recovering monster, she channelled Thunder magic through her gunblade, and delivered a powerful blow that sent it staggering backwards.

Snow followed by jumping high and driving his fists down, and with one final Thundaga from Lightning, the Aster Protoflorian fell. "Not bad, for a human," Lightning said as she sheathed her gunblade.

"What, you're not also human?"

"I'm a l'Cie. We both know that means-"

"That doesn't mean anything. Human, l'Cie, what does it matter?" Snow pounded his fist over his chest. "It's what we got in here that counts."

Lightning turned away. "You're as embarrassing as ever." 'But I guess that's one of your better qualities. It's that side of you that Serah loves…' "Let's go. Can't keep the others waiting."

With the big monster gone, the smaller ones seemed to retreat. After delivering the remaining presents, Lightning and Snow reunited with the rest of the group, and Sazh came down to pick them up.

"This is kinda fun!" Vanille sang, clapping her hands together. "It would be nice if all the monsters would just go away, though."

"You kiddin'? That's the best part!" Fang laughed. "Reminds me of our days back on Gran Pulse."

"Can't say it doesn't feel nostalgic," Lightning admitted, "But I can't wait for this to be done so we can go home. I enjoy our peaceful life, where we don't have to worry about fal'Cie or gods." Lightning held a hand over her chest, where her brand was.

After being dropped off at more locations and delivering presents, and fighting monsters along the way, the night seemed to fly by. It wasn't long before they had reached the final location, but before they could worry about making the final delivery, they had to do something about the Adamantoise stomping through the town.

"That one might be a problem," Snow said.

"Good thing Lady Luck's on our side," Fang said. "Light, I'll take point here."

"Sure thing." Even though Lightning had fought this type of beast before, Fang was the expert, so she was happy to defer to her judgement on this one.

"I'll draw its attention. You hit it with every Saboteur spell you've got. Vanille, you hang back and be our Medic, in case things go south. You girls ready?"

"Ready!"

"Ready!"

Fang jumped out of the ship, followed by Lightning and Vanille. As she descended, she pointed her spear down at the Adamantoise, driving it into the monster's back from above. The Adamantoise cried out and thrashed around, throwing her off, but she landed safely behind it. Feeling the benefits of Vanille's Synergist spells, Fang rushed one of the Adamantoise's legs and began attacking it with elemental strikes.

Meanwhile, Lightning was throwing Saboteur spells to slow down the Adamantoise, and to weaken the legs, making it easier for Fang to topple it. As the Adamantoise turned, it raised its forelegs up, and Fang jumped back in retreat. "Get ready!" she shouted. All three of them used their Sentinel magic to toughen their defences, just as the Adamantoise crashed its legs down, causing a massive earthquake that would have knocked them to their butts were they not prepared. "Vanille!"

"Right!" Vanille began throwing Cure spells at Fang, who went back into the fray. She then focussed on Lightning, who backed Fang up by throwing Ruin spells at the legs she was attacking. Eventually, the first leg buckled, followed soon after by the next.

"Okay, all together now!" Fang called. She led the assault as the Adamantoise kneeled, jumping up to strike at its head. Lightning and Vanille barraged it with elemental spells, dazing the monster and preventing it from fighting back.

Eventually, though, the Adamantoise did manage to recover, and started to rise. "Even with all that?" Lightning asked, backing away cautiously.

"Damn," Fang spat as she landed. "Just a little more, and we'd have had it!"

"Hey! Anyone call for a hero?!" The three looked up, to find Snow coming down from above. As the Adamantoise tried to stand, Snow drove both of his fists down onto its head, toppling it back down and dazing it again. Snow landed on the icy ground, slipping and falling onto his back. "Ow! Er, she's all yours, Sis!"

"What an idiot," Lightning laughed, "But at least he gets the job done!"

"Okay, let's end this!" Fang called. All three girls stood side-by-side, and launched a volley of Ruinga spells. The Adamantoise let out one final cry as its head crashed onto the ground, before falling silent. "Whew! She put up a fight, but we got her!"

"Yay us!" Vanille cheered, high-fiving Fang and Lightning.

"And hey, now the townsfolk have enough meat to last the winter," Lightning joked. "But more importantly, now we can finally finish our job."

"You guys go on without me," Snow said, still laying on the ice. "I think I might need a minute." Sighing, Lightning cast a Cure spell on him, and Snow sprang up. "Hey, thanks! That feels way bett-"

Lightning kicked Snow gently to push him back onto his back. "You sit this one out. We've got this."

Snow simply chuckled. "If you say so."

With the threat defeated, Lightning, Fang and Vanille entered the town, visiting each house to deliver their presents. After delivering the last one, they returned to the site of the battle, where Sazh was landing his ship. "So, what now?" Lightning asked Snow.

"Now, we return to the North Pole and celebrate a job well done!"

Lightning nodded. 'And hopefully get some answers. Like why none of you recognise us… or remember Serah.'

Upon returning to Santa's Workshop, the trio were met with celebrations from Hope, Alyssa, and the rest of the elves. "Congratulations," Hope said as he clapped. "You've completed your Focus, and now everyone on Earth will have a Merry Christmas!"

"You guys are the best!" Alyssa sang.

"You know it!" Fang replied.

"She means, 'You're welcome'," Vanille giggled.

"Hope, there's something I wanna ask," Lightning said, refusing to join the festive mood until her questions were answered.

"Of course. What is it, Light?"

"Where is Serah? No, first off, do you even remember her?"

Hope smiled, and to her surprise, he replied, "Of course I do. As for where, I can take you to her, if you want me to."

"Yes. Please."

Hope nodded, and motioned for the three to follow. "Okay, this way." Lightning followed Hope through the workshop, to a large pair of double doors in the back. Alyssa opened the doors, revealing a large, dark room on the other side. Hope motioned for Lightning to go on ahead, and she did so, keeping one hand gripped on her gunblade. As she walked, Hope, Fang and Vanille followed.

Wandering through the darkness, Lightning noticed something to one side. It was a line of statues made of crystal, and as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she saw that she recognised them. Noel Kreiss, Yeul, and Caius Ballad. She heard Vanille gasp, and turned to find more statues on the other side. Cid Raines, Rygdea, and Lieutenant Amodar. They were all frozen in crystal. "What's going on here?"

"They were the l'Cie that came before you," Hope explained. "They completed their Focus, and were rewarded. There's one more."

Lightning turned to the statue in the centre of the room, illuminated by a spotlight. Her hand loosed on her gunblade and her heart pounded in her chest. "Serah…"

"Yes. She was the l'Cie last year, and you failed to protect her."

Lightning shook her head. "No… I did all I could."

"But it wasn't enough. What could you have done, though? You are only human, after all."

Lightning gasped. The voice behind her now was no longer Hope's. She hesitated to turn and confirm her suspicions, but as a chill descended down her spine, she knew that she didn't have to look. The man standing behind her now was fal'Cie Barthandelus. "I tried to save her, but I was too late."

"Admit it: you gave up on her. In the end, it was Snow who believed in Serah, and it was the goddess Etro who freed her. All you ever did was push your sister away, and when you had a chance to redeem yourself, you dragged her back into your world. You failed your duty yet again, and because of that, your sister had to pay the price."

Lightning's voice caught in her throat, and all she could was stare into her sister's vacant eyes as her brand illuminated the area. Crystals began to form from her brand, spreading over her body. "Serah…"

"Did you really think she would forgive you, after everything that you did?"

Lightning closed her eyes, recalling when she had reunited with Serah after defeating Bhunivelze. "She did forgive me! Serah, she never once blamed me for what happened! The only ones at fault, were you and God!" Lightning turned to face Barthandelus, gripping her gunblade. However, the crystals forming around her froze her hand in-place, and as she struggled to move, Barthandelus laughed.

"How you stand in defiance of your fate, despite the futility of it all. In the end, you were always somebody's pawn. The Sanctum's, then mine, and then the gods'. Where do you belong in a world that has no need of you?"

"Shut up! I've found my place! Fang, and Vanille!" Lightning watched as Fang and Vanille, standing to either side of Barthandelus, turned and began to walk away. "Wait! Where are you-" Barthandelus' mocking laughter echoed through the room as the crystals reached Lightning's face, and then Lighting's vision began to darken. "No, don't go! Fang! Vanille! Don't leave me! Don't-"

---

"Don't go!" Lightning shot up suddenly, falling off of the couch and crashing to the ground. It took her a few moments to fully wake up, but when she did, she quickly realised what was happening. She, Fang and Vanille had fallen asleep while watching Christmas movies – there were so many that they decided to marathon them all in one night – and everything that happened since then was just a dream.

In order to confirm her suspicions, Lightning checked her chest. Her brand was gone, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Turning back to Fang and Vanille, she saw that the two were still asleep. Vanille was slumped on one end of the couch, resting against Fang's shoulder and clutching her moomba plushie, a toy she had received from Sazh for her birthday. Meanwhile, Fang occupied the middle of the couch, her head thrown back and chewing a few loose strands of her own hair. She did have each of her arms around Lightning and Vanille, but it seems at some point her grip on Lightning had loosened.

"What a nightmare. There's no such thing as l'Cie or fal'Cie anymore, so why am I still haunted by them?" Despite their trials in the Old World being a thing of the past, Lightning still found herself experiencing restless nights, thinking back on all her failings, and the times she had been used by higher beings. If it wasn't for Fang and Vanille, she was convinced she would have gone crazy long ago. "I'm thankful I have them in my life."

Checking the clock, Lightning saw that it was still far too early. She wrapped a blanket around her girlfriends, planting a gentle kiss on Vanille's forehead, followed by Fang's, and then climbed in with them, laying back against the couch's headrest.

As she drifted off to sleep, Fang pulled her in closer with a smirk.