A/N: This is the follow up story to the Mother's Day themed tale in the Paying it Forward universe. Featured pairings: Fangrai (dating), Celes/Locke (married) & Snow/Serah (engaged)
A Mirror of Sis
Under most circumstances, Fang would sit next to her girlfriend Lightning while Snow sits next to Serah, his fiancée on trips outside Neo Oerba, but for reasons unknown, Serah wanted to sit next to Lightning. Why? The two couples, plus Celes and Locke, are all headed to Gran Pulse. More specifically, Oerba. Snow, Serah, Celes & Locke are meeting Fang's parents, Lucien and Enya, for the first time. In Serah's case, she'll have a face for Enya, thanks to the video call she had with Fang's mother round Mother's Day. Having Little Farron being next to Sunshine might be the best move if I have to be honest here, that way Serah can get some insight about the clans from a fellow Cocoonian. I just hope that Serah doesn't freak out like Light did... Fang mused to herself with a surprising amount of concern in her heart, clearly recalling Lightning's first visit to Oerba on Gran Pulse. Normally, Fang would refer to Cocoonians as vipers, but after meeting both of the Farron sisters, Snow & Hope - plus knowing that Celes and Locke are from Vector - Fang has had to bite her tongue when conversing with those from Cocoon ever since. Snow couldn't stop smiling as the Farron sisters held onto to stuffed Moogle, something that was allowed on this trip to Oerba, as that stuffed Moogle, which is named Mog, was something that reminded the sisters of their parents.
Fang, Snow, Celes & Locke made quiet talk throughout the trip to Oerba, so that everyone is prepared and in the know when they arrive to Oerba proper. In the meantime, Light was patient yet firm with teaching Serah what she was able to recall from her first time in Oerba, as there are varying customs that Serah would be an idiot NOT to know, when one considers that Lucien and Enya lead the clans on Gran Pulse. Granted, it took a while for Serah to get the gist of everything, but if there is something that one needs to know about Little Farron, it's that Serah isn't a pushover when it comes to learning new things. It was after Lightning's teachings that the Farron sisters took a well-earned nap for the remainder of the trip to Oerba. It was moments after their nap started that the rest of the group followed suit with nap of their own, knowing that the trip to Oerba would be a long one. For the most part, the trip had no drama or flare ups as far as Fang was concerned. It was a while later that the group made it safely to Oerba, and that there weren't any additional issues after the group left the initial transport so that they could board the second transport to get to the part of Oerba where Oerba Yun Lucien & Enya both reside. It was to Fang's surprise that of everyone in the group, it was both Snow and Locke that were the most nervous about meeting Fang's parents.
In a twist of events, it was revealed that Celes had met both of Fang's parents by chance through their visit to Vector when the blonde was younger with one Terra Branford, meaning that the Vector native has a solid idea of what to expect when in the same vicinity as the leaders of the Oerban clans. Without delay, Snow and Locke would make it their personal mission to follow Celes' lead at a time like this. This was an action that Celes was more than willing to help the lads out as neither one of them has had any clue on the customs when it comes to the clans. Lightning had her hands full, so teaching only Serah was the best option for the older Farron to take, as Light only had one visit to Oerba and that visit was quite recent, meaning that there is a high chance that the older Farron sister still has things to learn.
It would be Lucien and Enya that would be crying happy tears.
XXX
"Snaggletooth... Claire! Is that... Serah...?!" Enya cheered when Fang and the Farron sisters arrived to the area where Lucien and Enya live at. "Hi Dad..." was all Celes said to have Fang's dad laughing his arse off, remembering that the Vector native calls everyone's fathers dad out of respect. What made this exchange more hilarious was that both Snow and Locke followed Celes' lead by calling Lucien 'Dad', as neither lad has any clue on the customs the clans have on Oerba. Mission accomplished for Snow the Giant Idiot and Locke the Sneaky... I should have done that when I first met Fang's parents by calling Lucien dad. At least I made Enya's day when I called her Mum... Lightning mused to herself in a way that concerned Fang in ways that not many outside of (maybe) Celes would be able to spot. To help ease things for Lightning, Fang quietly held Light's hand as a means to comfort her girlfriend. Both Lucien and Enya couldn't stop smiling at each person in the group, as they show solidarity regarding the relationship between Fang and Lightning. After pleasantries were exchanged, the group made it to the part of the Yun household where their rooms would be for them to rest during the length of their stay, all of which bieng free of charge to them (thank you, Fang).
The arrangements would be that each couple would share the room they are in. This made it MUCH easier for Snow to be with Serah without Lightning having to get involved with whatever went on behind closed doors. It was after each couple got into their night clothes and went to sleep, it was Enya who made sure that everyone was safely tucked in. Mog, the stuffed Moogle Serah brought with her on the trip, was placed in the younger Farron sister's arms. I am so happy that we finally meet face to face, Little Farron. Amaya would so proud of me that I met both of her daughters in my lifetime... Enya mused to herself with the pride that is almost never seen by anyone on the planet. In Enya's eyes, Serah is a mirror of both Lightning and Amaya, the mother of the Farron sisters. Fortunately for everyone, they all would have a wonderful first night of sleep, as the trip to Oerba was a long one to put it kindly according to Celes. Speaking of the Vector native, the blonde is beyond grateful that not only she met Fang's parents as an adult, but Locke accompanying her on this trip made her year thus far. Everyone would wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever Fang and Lightning had in their itinerary, something Serah wasn't a fan of.
Little did Serah realise that the itinerary has activities that she would truly enjoy.
XXX
Serah and Snow couldn't stop laughing and smiling the entire time they were with the Clans of Oerba. Enya clearly saw Lightning in Serah, who embraced the ways of the clans to the letter, just like sis. As for Snow, Lucien took on varying Cocoon customs that the people of Oerba can use in their lives, perhaps one item that impressed Lightning the most, which was a major factor in the older Farron giving Snow her blessing to marry Serah. The activities the group took part in varied, but also kept everyone's illnesses, allergies and injuries in mind. It was during one activity that Serah called both Lucien and Enya her parents by calling them Dad and Mum. Arguments and disagreements set aside, everyone in the group had a great time. One can argue that it was this trip that Lightning became Claire towards both Snow and Serah as opposed to Lightning being... well, Lightning. If there was one thing that surprised everyone during their time in Oerba, it was when Serah visited the orphanage and gave one of the kids there her beloved Mog, the stuffed Moogle. The kid who inherited Mog was the one who really wanted Mog for themselves, and Serah felt that no kid should be without a toy of their own. The kid was next to their sister, who was given a toy of their own from Lightning during her and Fang's visit to Oerbaa couple of months before (a stuffed white chocobo with green eyes). Both kids were beyond happy to get a toy each from the Farron sisters.
Upon finding out that a kid in the orphanage inherited Mog the (stuffed) Moggle, Lucien and Enya would make it their mission to get a new stuffed moogle for Serah and a new stuffed white chocobo with green eyes for Lightning.
Enya saw Lightning's selflessness in Serah.
A mirror of Sis, in other words.
FIN
A/N #2: Next story is in the Second Time Around universe, and it's an early birthday party for Seven. Why does Sice want the birthday party earlier than usual?
