What It Truly Means

Everything was pitch black.

After a few moments... a voice? No, voices?

Lightning groaned and opened his eyes. Lilac was lifting one of his arms over her back, and Milla at the other one. They decided to carry him to safety.

"You're awake! We were able to distract Brevon and help you and Torque. We'll get you out of here." Lilac spoke. It would normally be nice to see her...

Lightning was slowly coming to, and when he did, his eyes shot wide.

"No, no! Put me down! Go and save yourselves!" Fear was deep in his eyes, it was scaring the girls a little. "You don't understand, he's crazy. His idea of torture... I wouldn't wish it on anyone I hate. You need to leave, NOW!"

It was too late. No one heard Brevon approach from behind them.

"Crazy, am I?" The warlords voice behind them made his heart race and forced a hard swallow. "Your distraction was admirable, but I'll be taking them back now."

Lightning stumbled forward and fell on his face, he turned and saw Brevon coming, for a second, he heard a voice, it told him to charge his body, if he made a large enough charge, he could get away. Heeding the voice, electricity began crackling on and around Lightning, slowly, it grew more and more.

"Ah yes... I'll make sure to cut you open and see how you work. After your little trick here is done." Brevon smiled. He truly believed nothing would happen. But as fate would have it...

Lightning closed his eyes, and for a moment, saw Lilac injured, almost in the same situation, that's why this all felt strange, he wasn't supposed to be here. Well, he didn't care, he was here now. He opened his eyes and slowly hugged himself, he swung his arms out and created a small explosion. It sent everyone flying away from the ship, and Lightning into a different direction.

"Ahhhhhhh!!" Lightning yelled as he was sent flying through a wall, he landed in front of a pair of feet, he looked up and saw the Magister. He was really glad to see a friendly face. He didn't get a good look at anyone else yet.

"What... what happened to you?" The Magister asked, summoning for aid. "Who did this to you..." Lightning passed out again. The Magister in his eyes became hazy, as did the voice.

1 hour later...

Lightning woke up to a sweet smell. Roses? He found himself in a odd bath, before his eyes, his wounds were healed and his strength, along with his courage, returned.

"..." he took a moment to enjoy the bath, but soon there was knocking at the door. "Just a moment! I need to- change...?" Weirdly, the bath repaired his clothing too. He climbed out of the bath and dried himself off before going to the door, it was Lilac.

"Its you! Thank god!" She pulled him into a hug, Light felt his heart pick up speed. "What you did was interesting. We might not have made it if it wasn't for that... whatever it was. Thank you. I'm sorry we had to leave you alone with him for so long." The concern on her face made any anger Lightning had simply vanish.

"Lilac, I've got no idea what's next. So I want to tell you something important." He slowly reached and held her hands, and added a smile for good measure. "It hasn't been long, but... you're amazing, heroic, a natural leader... as crazy as it may sound, I'm in love with you. I... don't expect... Er..." he felt really embarrassed now. "...I wanted you to know how I feel incase he got me again."

The silence was broken when Neera walked in.

"His excellency wishes to see you all. Please come with me." She turned and walked away. The fox and dragon both had a slight blush, they decided to continue this subject later. Brevon had the Kingdom Stone, and the fate of Avalice in his hands.

The Magister as always had a kind aura about him, fair to a fault, and friendly to those that deserve it. Light noticed the hole in his wall behind him, the others did too, and looked at him.

"Uh... heh heh... I'll pay for that later... When I escaped, I didn't get a chance to aim. Sorry." He smiled sheepishly, but the Magister placed a hand on his arm.

"What you all are trying to do for us will work. We are very grateful. But it seems this may be over soon. I've heard that his ship, his fortress, is in sea. You 5 have to stop him." Before anyone said anything, Lilac looked at Lightning with a confident smile.

"Don't worry, your excellency." Lilac started. "We won't let him get away with this."

"Do not do anything extreme. If he fights, be prepared to fight back, do not sink to his level and... kill." When the Magister said the word, everyone felt a chill and shook.

"We can do it! Yeah!" Milla cheered. Her positive attitude was a morale boost.

"I'm still a bit unsure... we're j-" Carol stopped when Lilac placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, along with a reassuring smile.

Another thought. No, this wasn't right. What about Pangu? The robot that looked like Syntax? And lack of word about Mayor Zao and his army? Just how much was changed due to Lightning interfering? Getting involved? For just a moment, he saw everything.

"I have to go. Lilac, I need you with me." He said out of nowhere. "I can't explain it, but I need you to trust me, alright? We've come this far, if you want to stop Brevon for good, come with me." The pleading in his voice was not something she could just ignore. It sounded far too serious. "Please."

Lilac only nodded. She had no idea what was going on, but she was curious. The two left towards the north.

A few hours later and a certain batch of events occur...

Lilac and Lightning found themselves on a giant dragon, flying towards what looked like 2 armies amassed. Some of the events didn't change.

"My kingdom needs WAY more than half the energy!" Zao yelled.

"Be glad you're even being offered any!" Gong returned.

Back on the dragon, Lilac was told about things that were supposed to happen, but they of course didn't.

"Wait, I was supposed to be tortured? Not you?" She asked, confused and a bit worried. She felt a pain in her heart. While she was glad she didn't get hurt, she felt awful knowing he took her place. She kicked herself a little, all because she argued with Carol about biting off more than she could chew.

"Yes. I hate to say it, but yes. You get sent off to find Pangu here and bring the last battle to Brevon, which is what we're still doing. Some events are where you and your friends are safer, I'm glad, but I've gotten a bit hurt instead. I don't mind it." Lightning was watching for a spot to land.

"Lightning... I'm sorry. You... this... it's confusing, but I'm really glad you're helping us. Wait, was the sword necessary?" She pointed at a weapon he had found in the cave where Pangu resided.

"It's... strange, but I know how to use this, like, REALLY use this. So... if it's fine, I'd like to have it." He then focused ahead, not giving her a chance to respond. "Look! It's Carol and the others! Let's go meet them!

A little later...

A plan was in motion. They all split up before entering the Final Dreadnought. But before he went in, Lilac stopped Lightning. She gave him a hug and again sorry that some things happened to him.

"It's ok, really... I'm better now. Let's go stop Brevon and save Avalice." He said with a soft chuckle. Hoping that if she was nervous, it took some of the weight off her shoulders.

The alarms blared in the ship as Lightning made his way around. He followed whatever path looked right, and hoped that the others would be ok.

"Oh no, Intruders in my ship, whatever will I do? Activate the air locks!" Right as it's said, many windows open, forcing everyone to be careful. Lightning, holding his breath, leaped for a pole to shimmy across, he carried on like this for a while and kept bumping into air bubbles so he didn't suffocate.

When Lightning reached a room where a boss is supposed to be, he finds a machine with his picture on it.

"...why is this here?" He looked at the other little screens, it seemed as if someone has been studying him, his movement and all. "Wait... not of this world?" He took a step back and looked down, it was horribly confusing. He knew that certain events were different, yet, he couldn't remember much about himself. But why?

"Isn't it obvious by now?" Brevon mentioned. "You're like me. We both do what we must to help others, we don't belong here." The warlord didn't bother stepping forward, he merely watched as the fox looked at him with a glare. "I see you've gotten some fire since we last met. You'll need it for what's ahead."

"I may not be from here, Brevon, and I'll always help others, but if we are similar, that's where it ends. I don't kill people!" With anger in his voice, he drew his sword. But as he did, Brevon only chuckled and walked away. Absolutely confused, Lightning took his anger on the computer, slashing and hacking at it until he tired himself out. The machine was in pieces, and the sword didn't have a single scratch. "I don't care where I came from. If I'm here, then I must not've been welcome. Avalice is my home now, and I'll protect it. I swear it." He sheathed his sword and ran for the door, he stopped and looked back at the console one last time.

"...You're like me..."

That wasn't true. He wasn't anything like Brevon, not even remotely. The only thing was that he too came from another world. He liked this one better.

After spending more time running around Final Dreadnought 2 and 3, Lightning reached the room with the Kingdom Stone first.

"Good, now to stop this." He was a bit surprised to be the first there, but as he was about to start the machine, he heard a sound, he looked over and saw Brevon with his blade against Milla's throat.

"No, step away from the machine, or else." He gave Milla a tiny scratch as a warning.

Lightning slapped the card out of the machine, Brevon tossed Milla aside and left the room. Lightning watched her stand.

"Thank god... are you ok? Where's the others?" After a moment, her eyes opened and were a blood red. "M-Milla...?"

Her mind was blank. Her heart raced. Before she or Lightning knew it, she had become a monster of some kind. She stomped her way over to Lightning, he kept his sword sheathed, and focused on light hits, she was out to kill, even if she wasn't herself. He was atleast going to defend himself. Her energy blocks and blasts were fired upon him whenever she was able. Despite her monstrous size, she retained her fluttering, the hovering she did with her ears. After a couple minutes, Lightning ended the fight with one more blow to her head. It wasn't a hard punch, but she'd probably feel it.

He stood bent over, hands on his knees, panting, he didn't want to do it. Before his eyes, she reverted and dropped.

"Milla...?" Lilac asked, she finally got to the room herself. She looked at Lightning. It looked like he had done it, but she knew better. After a careful explanation, Lilac was in tears. "M-Milla!" She was about to scream and charge off, but she was given a hug.

"Lilac... it's ok... take Milla and get her to safety. I'm going for Brevon." Lightning looked at her in the eyes and wiped her tears away. "No tears. We both know she's gonna be alright. But she needs to get out of here. Ok? I'll stop him, I promise."

Lightning didn't give her a chance to respond, he ran out the door to the final area. Lilac sat there, and looked at her friend.

"Thank you. You better be careful..." She said to herself, she began on helping her friend.

Not long after...

This was it. Lightning entered alone and looked at the warlord above.

"This ends right now, Brevon. There's no help coming for either of us." He drew his sword and watched Brevon hop down, he drew his own blade.

"I don't need help for you. I will defeat you and make you watch as I take this world and kill your friends." Brevon said, the same wicked smile on his face. He charged at Lightning and swung his weapon, but Lightning kept calm and parried the attack.

The sounds of metal clashing, and the occasional sounds of flesh being cut filled the room. After minutes, both were watching each other, panting.

"My blade should've infected you... yet you're still the same. How...?" The Warlord asked. Lightning showed no sign of transforming, but that doesn't mean he wasn't infected.

"You hurt me, my friends, and many who didn't deserve it. Maybe I'm immune to whatever crap is on your weapon. Either way, this is done." Lightning, tired and angry, walked over to Brevon, he dropped his sword and kicked Brevon back, and he did it again and again. Finally, he picked up and tossed the warlord into the console, neither one of them expected the self-destruct would activate.

"Looks like we both lost, boy. We will meet again." Brevon said, making a run for his escape pod. As the door closed, he watched Lightning with a glare, until he was out of sight.

"Ah nuts... it's hard to move..." Lightning grabbed his sword and looked at the wound that burned the worst, he gritted his teeth as he cut the poison out of his chest. "Eeaagh!! Dammit!" He panted, but his movement quickly returned.

It was time to go.

Below, Lilac and her friends were treating Milla. She recovered slowly, when she awoke, she took one look at Lilac and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry!" She cried. Lilac kept her in the hug and gently shushed her.

"It's ok, Milla. You're safe and that's what matters." Lilac smiled, but it was interrupted by sounds of explosions, the girls and Torque watched the base explode until nothing was left.

"Lightning! No!" Lilac yelled, she felt a horrible weight on her heart. She shouldn't have left him behind.

"Lilac, look!" Carol pointed at the sky, the Kingdom Stone had exploded into a beautiful vortex in the sky, spreading power equally everywhere. The sight was amazing.

Lilac sat and huddled her knees to her head.

"He's gone. I should've stayed and helped him... I'm so sorry..." Lilac began to sob a little, everyone had no words, they felt guilty too.

It was quiet for a moment...

"How would you have saved Milla?" Lilac knew that voice, she turned and smiled, tears in her eyes, she ran towards her dear friend. They caught each other in a hug and didn't let go. Soon, everyone turned it into a group hug.

Lilac couldn't stop her tears. Two friends dodged death. She felt so grateful.

"I'm sorry I left you beh-" she was cut off with a kiss. It was her first, and Lightning's, neither could've been happier.

"It's ok, Lilac... I'm a bit beat up, but... you were able to make sure Milla made it out. I'm proud of everyone. Brevon got away, but... I have a feeling we'll see him someday. We'll be ready."

A while later, Torque stood in front of his rocket.

"You've all been an amazing help to me. I can't begin to thank you." He smiled "next time I have vacation built up, I know where I'm going." Torque looked at a datapad he had and at his ship.

"Time to go?" Lightning asked, he was covered in quite a few wraps and bandages.

"Yes. Thank you all so much again." Torque was about to speak again, but the girls gave him a big hug.

"Just don't let trouble follow, huh?" Lightning chuckled and smiled.

"I try not to, first thing I'll do is combat training. Well, I must be going, thank you all." Everyone kept saying bye to Torque as he left.

While his ship was taking off, Lightning and Lilac blushed and kept each other in a loving hug.

"Do we gotta watch you both do this a lot?" Carol asked, it only got laughter as a response.

Lightning was far away and very near to home. There and then, he swore that Avalice is his home, and he'd protect it with his life. He and the girls started for Lilac's treehouse.

Where tomorrow is a new day.

The End.

-

20)ta2#9:

INCOMING TRANSMISSION

VERIFIED USER

A. BREVON

The warlord sat in the escape hatch and looked at Avalice below.

"I swear I'll be back, Lightning. And when I do, the end of your life will follow. I'll kill everyone you hold dear first."

The escape pod was filled with evil laughter. For Brevon, this was only a bumpy start...

END OF TRANSMISSION

Editors Note: phew! Heya! I admit I wasn't planning on doing this much, it was originally a short story, one and done. When I played Freedom Planet for the first time years ago, the torture scene had me thinking "that's not really fair, is it." So, fast forward to now and boom. I wanted to do a self-insert. For those that like these kind of stories, don't worry, this adventure is just beginning. There will be fics that tie into Freedom Planet 2 as well as new and original stories. For those that like following OC adventures, plenty of that too. Thank you,so much for reading. Sorry if it's at all cringe, but I mean, it's just harmless fun.

See you next adventure!

(Totally not a Metroid reference.)