After leaving Snow behind with Crystalized Serah, Lightning heading toward where Cloud took off followed by Sazh, Hope and Vanille. The four of them passing trought the crystalized ravine by passing trought crashed airship wrecks acted as bridge connected to the other side of the ridge.
"Are sure it's wise to leave him behind?" Vanille said as Lightning continued walking without answering the red haired girl question.
"Not happy about leaving that kid alone on his own. But we need to keep moving before PSICOM catch up with us." Sazh replied.
"I am a little worried about him... he is alone out there on his own." Vanille muttered
"Guess all we can do now is pray that he made it trought alive." Sazh said keeping up his pace following the rose haired Soldier.
After few minutes of walking trought the crystalized ravine, Lightning found Cloud who was already taking cover behind a crytalized rock near ridge revaling a whole battalion of PSICOM armed forces alongside landed Air Cruiser in distance.
Noticed the other's presence, Cloud giving them a hand signal telling the group to get low.
"What do we have here?" Lightning says in low voice as she approched his side.
"It's a whole damm army down there.. must be the clean up crew." Cloud stated
"They must be hunting Purge survivors" Sazh said dropped besides Cloud
"I hope everyone made it out okay" Vanille says.
"So do I…"Sazh replied "…But nowhere is safe for them now. I guess the Fal'Cie think that human's aren't worth the effort, that we'd just kill each other off."
"L'Cie are not human" Hope muttered darkly
"Listen you, that's enough!" Vanille snapped, charging toward the boy and grab hold of his wrist revaling his brand. "We're still alive, that's something" she whispered in dark tone. but then turned into her usual cheery atitude.
Suddenly, a numerous of Aircraft soared above them causing the ground where they standing shaking.
"They haven't notice us yet. We use this chance to slip away from them. We be dead if we stayed here longer." Lightning said as she stand on her feet and Cloud nodded.
"Agreed. They're sealing off the area to trap the stragglers. We better get move on." Cloud nodded. Passing trought the small ravine to avoid the army. They found climbable crystalized wall. Cloud leaped in the air and landed at the top of the wall followed by Lightning who did the same and landed.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Sazh complained. "Man, I'm too old for this shit." and he began to climb immediately followed by Vanille and Hope. It took lot of time and stamina for them to climb but they made it. Cloud noticed that Lightning had been staring at the sky revealing a fleet of airships in distance circeling above the area where they left Snow with Serah.
"Let's make it haste. Soon this place will be Crawled with PSICOM." Lightning said as she satrted take the point followed by the rest of the group. Passing trought a crytalized cave and made trought a high cliff taking a sight of the whole Lake of Bresha in crytalized.
"Whoa. This whole place is crystal!" Vanille taking sight of the view.
"I wonder what it would be like; to turn to crystal I mean" Sazh muttered to himself and Vanille could hear him.
"You're gonna complete your Focus?" Vanille asked
"Maybe, if I knew what it was!" shrugged Sazh, "I probably don't want to know."
Hey Lightning?" Vanille turned to rose-haired woman. "Did Serah say anything to you about her Focus?"
"She didn't say..." Lightning said sadly holding a pendant on her neck remembering the momment at her unpleasant birthday party when she was angry at her sister.
"Oh" Vanille said realizing her question was far to asked. "You know what? She probably didn't want to worry you."
"Or she just didn't think that she could trust me." She said sadly
"If she is your sister, then you should have more faith in her." An unexpected words came from Cloud mouth's causing everyone turned to him. Especially Lightning. "A Motto of my old unit. 'Never doubt your brothers'" Cloud said remembering a word he used to says to a infantryman of Midgar 7th Infantry. "Serah compleated her focus on her will. Or more likely, she didn't have a other choice to do it. But the way I see it, she doesn't want become a burden to you." Cloud said as Lightning pretended didn't listen about what he said. She still think she doesn't deserved to be trusted by her own sister.
The group once again continued their journey with Lightning leading the way. Avoiding any confrontation agaisnt the PSICOM forces. The group had reached to a huge stairs made with stone leading toward an abandoned temple. Theh noticed the enterance was guarded by a huge behemoth wandering around. Lightning raised her hand waving notify everyone to halt.
"What's that? I think I recognized it from sonewhere." Sazh said taking cover behind a stone pillar
"I don't see an opening to passing trought. We have to kill it. We got the element of suprise while it didn't noticed us." Cloud says as he stand on his feet
"You soldier guys are damm crazy..." Sazh groaned
"Going in." Cloud drawed his sword and dashed toward while the Behemoth still look toward other direction launched a suprise attack. Followed by Lightning who also charged toward the Behemoth on the left flank as she slashing her sword toward it's left leg. Sazh also drawed his pistols fired it giving the Behemoth a few bullets on it's horn.
"Heads up!" Lightning barked as the beast attempting charging at both Soldier. Lightning back flipped in the air dodged the beast charging at her as Cloud rolled side on the ground dodging it's attack
"Enough." Cloud growled as the beast still fighting stubornly. The Blonde Swordsman leaped in the air performing Firebolt Blade. Giving the beast a few Slash attack as he Snapped it's horn. The beast was strugling to get up as the blonde warrior approched the grounded behemoth and pierced his blade at it's heart locatted. leaving it lifeless beast lying on the ground.
"I gotta say... with you guys around, things are getting easy." Sazh breathed
"Not sure about that." Cloud replied placing his buster sword on his back.
"You're hurt" Lightning says noticed on his left arm as she pointed her finger on Cloud's left arm revealed a cut wound.
"I live. this is nothing, I dealt worse before." Cloud said casually
"No need act tough. If you keep being reckless. You might get worse than this." Lightning sighed opening her pouch bag giving the blonde a first aid treatment with her the millitary field dressing bandage. At first, she wasn't hesitated to do it, until now, she had a strange feeling coming into her veins when she was about the close with the Blonde man she met few days ago.
"Let's give them some space." Sazh whispered quitely to Hope snd Vanille as they confused.
"Why? We didn't do anything-- Ohhh Right.. I get it!" Vanille laughed realized the situation. "You such a softie." The red haired giggled.
"Yeah yeah whatever... hurry up, you being a third wheel here." Sazh sighed said pulling both kids with him walking passed trought the pairs.
"There, All patched up." Lightning finished dressed the wound.
"It dressed pretty well. Thanks." The blonde said causing the rose-haired soldier blushed.
"Don't mentioned it." She said recovering her steel wall composure after the words came from the blonde's mouth. The pair started move toward the group already waited them at distance.
"You guys done playing doctor?" Sazh teased at the pair. But evantually the pair ignored him and keep continue on the pace leading the group
"Ouch, not a word." Vanille says jokingly as she followed both soldiers leading the group at front, after a few minutes of walk avoiding any small fiends wandering around, they found another huge stair as they climbed they found a huge platform made with stone and anbonded Aircraft at the middle of platform.
"Check it out!" Vanille says excitingly as she running toward the landed aircraft.
"Come on, hop to it, let's go." Sazh said as he followed the red haired who still excited looking at the huge craft leading toward a rail heading to the sky.
Cloud noticed something at top of the temple, at first he tought he was looking a figure of black hodded standing at the temple. But then as he blink the figure was no longer there but instead a bird sitting watching them.
"Hey." Lightning called him snapping him out from his toughts. "What is it? You saw something?"
"It's nothing.. Let's go. I had enough of this place." Cloud said walking toward the other's as Sazh inspecting the ship while Vanille still hyped like a child while Hope still standing tried catches his breath after a long walk.
"This will makes things easier!" Vanille says excitingly.
"Yeah, knowing our luck, it's probably missing an engine." Sazh smirked teasing the young girl.
"You shouldn't be so negative." Vanille groaned
"And you shouldn't get your hopes up." Sazh teased again. The group boarding the ship as they taking the seats inside ship with Sazh piloting the ship ingineted the thrusting engine.
"This going to be rough ride guys, brace yourselves!" Sazh warned the passangers as the ship thruster engine begin inginited loudly and launching in the air.
Suddenly, a four fighter aircraft chasing them from behind as they soaring trought. Giant gate that was about to close.
"We got incoming." Cloud said looking out the window noticed a squadron of fighter chasing them.
"Awww no!" Sazh screamed as bright yellow beams rained down from above.
"Give me that!" Lightning roared took the control stick from the Pilot pressing the trigger with her finger causing a tracers of machine gun fired from the ship shooting down one of the air cruiser that was firing the bright yellow bean from above.
"Did we get 'em?" asked Vanille loudly.
"We got one of them." Lightning shot back still wrestling the controller.
"They're still behind us!" Hope screamed looking out his window.
"No shit." Cloud says still looking out the window as well.
"Hey! I said stop! You trying get us killed!?" Sazh shouted wrestlling the controller from her.
"How are you going to lose them?" Hope asked, holding thr chair front of him.
"You got me kid!" Sazh snapped back then raised the nose of the aircraft into the vertical.
"Then let me!" Lightning shouted as she back to her seat
"No, thank you!" Sazh replied still trying getting away from the PSICOM fighter aircraft. Suddenly the whole cabin of blinded by bright white light revealing a clear sky. But then the tracers of guns still passed from behind.
"They still on us!?" Sazh shouted manuevering the ship accros the skies.
"Get us in there." Cloud who was already besides Sazh pointed at the river as the Pilot changed the course toward the river in canyon.
"Hey kid. You thinkin what I am thinkin?" Sazh says as Cloud nodded.
"Do your thing old man." Cloud smirked.
"Heh, I might starting to liking you after all, Hang on guys!" Sazh changing the direction heading toward the narrowed ravine. The pilot press a trigger on the controller firing the machine gun as the debris from the ceeling off the tunnel collied with the aircraft chasing behind them.
"that showed them." Sazh says as he proceed raise the nose of the ship soared trought the clear sky.
"Oh for the love of all that's good" Sazh groaned slammed his hand at the control panel.
"Next, an update on the status of the Purge" a voice came from the holo-Screen revaled a news brodcast."Just moments ago,Sanctum announced the successful conclusion of the Purge along with the safe arrival of Cocoon migrants to their new homes on Pulse."
"Yes that is correctsaid" the screen changed reveal a eldery man wearing celestial white robe sit on his throne."There's no denying the enormity of the strain the Purge placed on us all.But given the tens of millions of lives at stake there truly was no alternative"
Lightning glared at the elder man in white in disgusted about every words he said.
"Primarch Dysley stood by the move stressing the necessity for the relocation. When asked about the possibility of future Purges the Primarch remained non committal stating only that he would seek council with the Fal'Cie Eden and weigh all options before making a decision."
"Yeah that's right, If it makes the Sanctum look bad then it never even happed." Sazh spat
"In the many centuries since the War of Transgression,Cocoon has been spared Pulse aggression and prospered for it.It is essential that we maintain this peacethatis the Sanctum's Focus.We will continue employing every resource available to combat these threats to the harmony of our society."
"What a lot of crap..." Lightning growled venomously had enough of the misslead the propaganda.
"Who is the old man in white coat?" Cloud said recivied a sigh from the pilot
"I mean, did mercs are really avoid the political stuff these days? He's Galenth Dysley, the Sanctum Primarch… murderer-in-chief" the pilot says as Cloud started raced toward a possibilty. He might get the answer from all this problem if he straight faced to this Galenth Dysley.
"Just another tool for the Fal'Cie." Lightning muttered darkly.
"In other news, we recivied an update from our team accompined by the Special Forces. They belived the special forces found the traces of the Pulse l'Cie in lake of bresha. So far The Special forces managed to capture one of the I'Cie under their custody."
"That kid really get's himself caught by a net huh? Well no much hopes for him now." Sazh sighed already assumed for the wrost about Snow. Suddenly the holo screen changed into sight of Lake Bresha, then the camera men aimed at one of soldier. As Lightning looked at the soldier's uniform, it's another Guardian Corp known as WARB (Wide-Area-Respone-Bridge) using his comm and the camera men eavesdropping at the communication.
"We still have 5 l'Cie on the losse. Two kids and three adults. Among in the adults are GC Operator from Bodhum Regiment and PSICOM's most wanted fugitive armed with Buster Sword." The soldier says in the news screen.
"Well guys guess we be spending our life becoming the enemy of the state." Sazh says tried to crack a joke. But then suddenly the warning sound rings across the cabin
"Oh for the love of... Are you kidding me!?" Sazh screamed in frustrated as the tracers of guns passed from behind and can be seen across the window.
"Hang tight guys." Sazh warned the passangers raise the nose of the ship headed toward the thick clouds rapidly gaining altitude and the whole cabin blinded by the bright floating light right at front of the ship.
"Wow..." Vanille awe struck looking at the bright light in the sky.
"A Sanctum Fal'Cie up close and personal. Cocoon's own light in the sky." Sazh said tried keep his eyes opened from the bright of the Fal'Cie light
"Fly in. We'll lose them in there." Lightning ordered as the pilot push it's thruster of the ship heading toward the Sanctum Fal'Cie at front of them performing evasive manuevers from the energy of the Fal'Cie as the pursuing aircraft that chasing them was collided with the Energy came from the Fal'Cie.
"I like this Fal'Cie whoo!" The pilot screamed in excitement. But then suddenly the ship was hit by the energy from the Fal'Cie causing the engine failure.
"There's more of them." Vanille snapped
"Caution. Engine Fire Left." The ship warning system blaring, losing the thrust on the left engine, the ship went a flat spin and rapidly decend to below rocky ground.
"Shit! we're going down! Hang tight guys" Sazh shouted.
Lightning regained her consiousness after the unpleaseant Crash landing with the heat of burned wreckege felt on her skin. Scanned her surroundings, She found Cloud lying beside her.
"Hey." She said gently shaking Cloud's shoulder but he still hasn't regain conciusness. Suddenly in the corner left of her eyesight. She saw a cannie beast at top of the rock. She draw her Saber and then noticed another pair of beast joined and surrounded her like a pack of wolf.
Vanille also had regain her conciusness and her vision still a blurr. But then when her vision returned to normal, she saw a Lightning fighting the pack of cannie beast on her own.
"Hey! Wake up!" She rushed toward Cloud still unconscious and the blonde opened his eyes slowly. Taking a sight of Rose-haired soldier fighting on her own, Cloud instanlly jumped on his feet picked up his Buster Sword and joined at her left side flank.
"Ready!" Vanille beamed draw out her staff as she joined the fight as well. Cloud dashed in instant slashing the beast in half while Lightning charged toward the other one on left giving the cannie a severe wound on it's leg. Vanille casted out few volley of Ruin at the beast and leaving it lying on the ground. But then the last beast was no where insight. Then suddenly, it was appeard behind Vanille and then a gun shot can be heard from distance revealing it was Sazh the one kill it.
"Glad that's over," Vanille groaned in relief as she and Sazh collapsed to the ground.
"Man I'm beat!" the pilot panted but gasped as Lightning marched forward, "What, no break?"
"They're tracking us" Lightning says even she also tired she had no choice to move on.
"I know that I know that, butwearen't soldiers!" Sazh stated. "We don't have your kind of stamina."
"You've got enough to complain."
"You need to slow down." Cloud says firmily crossed his hands "You have to formulate a new plan first before get a move on." The blonde word causing Lightning grit her teeth.
"Well I do, the plan is I'm not going to sit here like a loser waiting to be killed!" She growled and keep going on her own.
"She can be pain the ass huh?" Sazh says still taking a breath.
"You could say that again." Cloud agrees.
"We be fine here, go after her and make sure she stay out the trouble yeah?" Sazh says
"Suit you self." Cloud says as he went where Lightning heading
"Wait!" Hope shout caused the blonde turned to him. "Do you mind if I come?"
"Sure, If you think can keep up." Cloud said flatly and then leaped toward top of the wall.
Lightning still walking on her own trought the peak and then she felt someone presence and she know that was Cloud.
"Just you?" Lightning says
"Not quite, the kid said he want to come with us." Cloud says pointed at Hope
"Should we wait?" Hope asked as Cloud shrugged
"They fine. They'll will catch up evantually. You be a point man?" Cloud says as she nodded leading the group heading toward the peaks filled with pile of rubble of wreckeges. The trio found no where to go once they find themselves surrounded by the rubbles and wall of rock
"Dead end," Hope who collapsed trying catch the air "Do you think we can get through this way? You...you know where you're going, right?"
"I've been here on missions before," she says looking the surrondings
"Missions? Nothing to do with the Purge, though?"
"The Purge is PSICOM's baby," Lightning explained "I was Guardian Corps, and in no way affiliated with the Purge."
"Speaking of PSICOM, I been wondering... Why they is desperately tried to catch you Cloud?" Hope says looking at the Blonde.
"Not a clue. What ever the reason is, It can't be good. And I don't even want to think about it" Cloud says assuming for the worse things that already happened in his world.
"He was a prisoner when my unit captured him for trespassing in Bodhum. When I heard the word that he was about to be transferred to PSICOM custody, I snuck in and making a deal with him before heading of to purge train and then freed him before PSICOM got their hands on him." Lightning explained makes sure the boy wasn't aware that Blonde Soldier is not from this world.
"Then.. if you both are not PSICOM, why did you guys onboard the train?" Hope asked genuinely earning a stern look from the rose-haired soldier.
"For Serah." She says flatly "I had to rescue Serah before they transported vestige to pulse, and out of my reach. Join the purge was the only my chance to save her." Lightning said lowering her head in regrets unable to saved her sister.
"You're telling me, you got on that train so you could save your sister?" Hope said in mix of impression and incredulousness "That's crazy…I could never do something like that."
"It's not a question of can or can't" Lightning says "There are some things in life, you just do."
"Easy for someone like you to say," Hope still looking at the ground and noticed Lightning already jumped at the top of rock leaving Cloud and Hope behind.
"She left us." Hope said as Cloud crossed his hands sighed.
"You're not going with her?" Hope asked Cloud
"Let her be." Cloud says "the way I see it, she is having a pretty shit day for now, she just want get some fresh air by her own. Besides, I'm starting torn apart now to be frank. This is a good time to take a break while we still can." Cloud says as he leaned at the wall of rock with his hand crossed.
"Aren't you at least you know... Worried about her what might she ran into? She might be a Soldier, but if luck is not on her side, something bad might happend to her." Hope says concerned about Lightning's acting on her own
"Survival can be matter of luck and skill, and you can't rely on luck." Cloud told the boy the same words he used tell to Jessie
"Ah there you are!" A voice belonged to Vanille caught both of them with Sazh followed from behind. "We made it!"
"Where's Grumpy?" Sazh said and earned shrug from Cloud and assumed Lightning keep moving on without them.
"She sure in hurry huh." Sazh said taking a sight of the night sky
"This is Pointless. We are now fugitives, I can't go home. It's over for me" The boy said lowering his head as like he is giving up
"It's not over." Vanille said trying catch the boy's gaze and cheer him up "we'll get you home!"
"I don't have one. Now that mom is-" he stopped unable to continued finish the sentance. Cloud immedealtly knew what this boy had been trought. Just like him he lost his mother.
"What about your dad?" Vanille asked
"He doesn't care about me nor my mom. He didn't do anything when they forced us onto the train." Hope muttered darkly "My mom was frantic, she wanted to get us home, so she tried to fight. She got tricked, by Snow. He used her!" The boy spat viciously.
"Let's get your home, okay?" Vanille says still tried cheer him up "Your dad's got be worried!"
"Let him worry. Why should I care? He doesn't" Hope says Icily
"Any father cares." Sazh muttered causing the kids looked at him.
"The old man is right." Cloud says "even if your dad still treat you like a nothing, he still cares no matter what happend. And you should be grateful that you still have a father to returned to."
"Is that supossed to changed my mind?"
"No, but it's only choice you have left. Like it or not." Cloud says "Break time over people. Let's get move on things get wrost." Cloud leading the group passing trought the scrapyard of warships all over the places.
Suddenly, Cloud heard a foot steps from above at top of wreckege and signaling the group to hold as his other hand reached his sword handhandle. It was Lightning jumped and landed at front of them
"Hey, welcome to the party" Sazh said with a grin.
"You miss us?" Vanille says with cheer tried lighten up the mood. But the rose haired soldier turned back to them ignored them as still keeping on her pace
"Would it kill her to smile?" Sazh ask sarcastically.
"Hey." Cloud said sharply as his hand reached her shoulder causing her to stop "You're not thinkin straight right now, you better have some explenation what are you going up to"
"Don't compare me with Snow!" Lightning hissed. Removed Cloud hand from Her shoulder "The Fal'Cie took Serah from me. They don't give a crap about us and there is no time for us while we are l'Cie."
"You need formulate the next plan before we move on blindly." Cloud said sharply "You're been acting as if you're the only one suffering here."
"What would you know about it?" she snapped
"Don't try be an smart ass with me." Cloud coldly says glare at her aqua eyes "You aren't the only one who loses everything from the begining." Cloud says as his dark memories of his hometown started vividly appear on his vision.
"You and the rest of us aren't lucky people to be born, that's for sure. And I know well the agony of losing someone is painful." Cloud says taking a sight at the sky. Causing the Rose-haired woman looked him in realiziation. To think the hardened Blonde swordsman with the strenght he possed also had someone important in his life but he couldn't saved them. Without another debates the group continued the journey and they found a pulse warship wreck and the group decided to stop and takes a small break.
"Not much of a future for us, huh?" Sazh says taking a seat beside Lightning.
"After all what happend, it's hard to picture a happy ending." Lightning concurred.
"We don't even know where to go."
"I do." She says causing both men looked at her curiously "There" she pointed at the sky revealing a massive light shine bright in night.
"Eden?" Sazh said incredulously "The Sanctum's seat of power? Oh that's a great idea, Just charge right in there and give them a taste of l'Cie terror!" The pilot cried as Lightning didn't stutter still looking st the night sky where Eden at.
"You're serious?" Sazh screeched.
"Keep running its die or turn Cie'th, there's no place for l'Cie to hide. No…they want to fight? Let's take it to the Sanctum's door!"
"This isn't a game!" Sazh snapped angrily,
"No…that's for damn sure... It started with Serah, the Fal'Cie took her now I'm a l'Cie too and the Sanctum's hunting me: An enemy of the state; but who's pulling their strings? A Fal'Cie Eden. Cocoon's sustainer and guiding light. it probably ordered the Purge too Pulse and Sanctum Fal'Cie, they're all the same and we are all the same to them expendable." Lightning explained still holding her emotions that about to burst out.
"I am not dying a Fal'Cie slave!" she says determined.
"Let me guess. You and Spikey planning to blow it up again aren't you?" Sazh says sighed.
"That's actually not a bad idea." Cloud says. "That thing is the reason I'm here right now... if I can kill it, this whole mess will be over." Cloud says taking a sight of Eden.
"You don't get it Son!" Sazh snapped angrily "if something happens to Eden, It's lights out for Cocoon. It will be chaos in across the world!"
"And you really think that's going to changed my mind?" Cloud glared at the Sazh causing him stutter. "I don't give a shit about Cocoon or anything else." Cloud says coldly. "I have my own reasons to want those things dead. I am not going spending my whole life becoming their pet."
"But what about Serah!?" Vanille shouted causing everyone turned to her "she said to saved Cocoon. It might even be our Focus to make sure Cocoon stays--"
"Our Focus doesn't matter!" Lightning roared "I don't take orders from Fal'Cie. How I live is up to me."
"Don't you mean how you die? Sazh inquired
"Think like that and it's already over." she snapped sharply "It's better to pick your path and keep moving." she says taking a deep breath letting out the frustration from her breath
"Don't worry, I'm after the Sanctum, I'm not out to destroy the world. If it did come to that, I wonder if our hero would try to stop us?" she scoffed.
"Wait you want fight Snow now? Just like that and you guys are enemies." Sazh said disbelively
"Snow is blindly becoming it's puppet and I will kill every those things if I must put an end this l'Cie crap. If he get's my way. He paid the price." Cloud explained without an empathy.
"You really mean it do you?" Vanille says terrified in every the words Cloud says but he didn't answer still looking at the Eden i the night sky.
"The next time we meet, we might be too." Lightning says as she walked away tried clearing the anger and frustration inside her
Lightning walking on her own aimlessly tried to figure how she going to end the l'Cie curse. Deep down in her heart she is suffering without anyone able understand her. But her mind started raced toward Cloud when he said he knew the pain of losing somene is devastated. She questioned her self, for how long did Cloud endured his pain before she meet him? She is wondering if he is the same like her.
"Wait for me!" A voice heard from behind her revaling Hope catching up with her "I'm coming with you."
"I can't babysit you anymore." Lightning warned.
"I can fight, I'm not afraid!" the boy said eagerly, tried convinced her. The two turned suddenly heard a heavy footsteps revaling Squad of PSICOM soldiers.
"Oh great, a PSICOM hit squad"Lightning drawed her saber noticing the soldier pulled out something on his pocket and then suddenly an explosion behind them causing the way she and Hope passed before was blocked by the pile of ruble. She charging in taken out PSICOM trackers in her path. After taking out the trackers she noticed a red colored uniform Soldier and she immediately recognized the soldier. It's also one off Guardian Corps from diffreant regiment. Without hesitation, she took down the corps gunner leaving another dead body lying on the ground.
"Lightning! Look out!" Hope shouted noticed her right flank was wide open letting the tracker had an opurtunity to strike her down. but in instant, Hope casted a Ruin at the tracker caused him staggered and with this chance Lightning swing her sword at the tracker and thrusting her sword into his torso causing the Soldier bleeding as she pulled her saber stained with blood leaving the dead soldier lying on the ground.
"Not bad." The rose-haried Soldier praised toward boy about what he is capable of and the recent heads up he give to her before the tracker could finished her off.
"Really?" Hope asked in surprised "Thanks."
Looking behind them Lightning noticed the path she passed was now blocked by pile of rubble on fire. It would be imposibble for Cloud and the other's to catched up.
"There will be more soldiers, we should keep moving" Hope said suggested.
"Hey Lightning? Are you worried about the others? I'm sure they got away okay"
"So can you, if you leave now." Lightning warned "With me it'll be fight after fight, I don't know how it'll end."
"I know that. But I need to be stronger." Hope said went silent for a momment
"Lightning?" Hope called her name once again.
"Call me Light." She says
"What's the plan from here?" Hope asked eagerly to know the next destination
"Trought the Gapra Whitewood to Palumpolum, We'll find transport to Eden." Light briefed the next plan heading to the Sanctum's capital.
"I live in Palumpolum," Hope said recivied a stern look from the soldier. "I can show you all of the shortcuts."
"No side strips."
"No need, I don't think l'Cie are welcome at home" the boy said as Lightning begining take the lead passing trought the valley full of wreck. After few moment, they found an abonded Pulsian Mech being investigated by squad of PSICOM trackers and Rangers. Lightning takes the young boy leading him to a small rubble to stay out of sight from the PSICOM Operators and eavesdropping every conversation they have.
"Any trace of the l'Cie?" The Tracker Squad leader asked
"No Sir, no sign of it's been activated." The soldier said and then Lightning noticed someone on the other side reveal himself boldly walking casually in open field revaling a Blonde Spikey haired man with his hand reached his sword handle. without a doubt it's Cloud who stood there eagerly waiting the PSICOM Soldiers landed an attack.
"It's him! The Fugitive! He's got the Buster Sword!" The PSICOM Officer barked as rest of the Soldiers began surrounding him making sure Cloud had no Chance to fleeing.
"Light! We gonna helped him! He can't take them all by himself!." Hope says panicked
"Right. First, We wait for an opening before we strike, if they see us now, we be dead already." Lightning explained as Hope nodded.
Without hesitation, Cloud back flip at the one of Soldier behind him quickly swing his sword killiing the first Soldier. Noticed one of the tracker charge toward him with his electrifed rod, he parry it's attack and bashed the tracker and swing his massive Sword at the staggered Soldier and killing him.
"Now!" Lightning shouted charged followed by Hope as he casted a few volley of Ruin at the Soldier, Lightning swiftly leap in the air and dashed toward the Tracker Officer and thrusting her sword pierce where his heart located leaving another lifeless body lying on the ground. Satisfied with the sudden help, Cloud returned his Sword back on his back.
"How did you get here anyway?" Lightning said in mix of confused and impressed.
"I have my own ways, besides when I heard an explosion that blocked the way you passed, I figure it out that you ran into these guys." Cloud says pointed at the dead soldiers lying on the ground "What's up with the hunk-of-junk anyway? When I got here, these guys seems tried to activating it or something." Cloud says pointed at the deactivated Mech that was investegated by the Trackers.
"These are Pulse Mech, They probably tought we tried to use this thing and tried to escape." Lightning explained
"Maybe we should try it. what does this do?" Hope says walking toward the Machine tried to figure how it works
"I wouldn't do that if I were you kid." Cloud advised "It could be rigged with bobby trap."
"He's right, you going to hurt yourself, don't touch that." Light agrees with Blonde statement.
"But what if it works?" he says, started climbing on top of it.
"Leave it!" Lightning says not wanting something bad unnecessary happened, The boy screamed as the giant mech started stood up causing the ground shakes violently.
"He's going to get himself killed in a stupid way." Cloud sighed shaking his head.
"Stop! Stop already!" He tried commanded the machine as he began able to make the Mech stand still
"I think I got it! Cloud, Light! I think I can work this!" Hope screamed as he moved the giant machine as Cloud and Lightning leaped away from where they standing watching the giant Mech dashed toward a Junk made Pillar and it fell down and created a way to cross the ravine as a bridge.
"Seems the kid have the way with the machine." Cloud says drly as the duo began following Hope still at the top of the Mech leading the way. But suddenly the Giant Mech started losing balance near the cliff and began fall from the cliff. The both sodliers began rushed as they heard a loud thunderous sound and found the young boy lying on the ground next to the Mech.
"Or not." Cloud says shaking his head finished the early sentance.
"Nice Landing." Lightning teased as she and Cloud leapt from top of the rock landed near Hope.
"For what it's worth, we got a new path to move on." Cloud said pointed at the rubble earlier Hope use as a bridge. "Better keep the pace on before more PSICOM's shows up." Cloud says began marched on
"Just give me a minute, still a bit winded." Hope says trying to back on his feet.
"You're to soft." Lightning says crossing her arms in annoyed about the boy clumsiness.
"Zip it, you guys." Cloud sighed as Lightning huffed stubornly walked passed him. "Next time try not to do something stupid." Cloud says to Hope as the boy sheppishly nodded.
With Lightning taking the lead in a long walk trought the Scrap yards as she and Cloud easily passing trought most of the obstacles in their path. But it took time for Hope to passed trought just one obstacle. This the reason Lightning never wanted Hope tagged along. The boy is lack of Stamina to keep up with her and Cloud. The trio made it into a metal bridge as Cloud and Lightning are walking at top of the bridge, they suddenly heard someone fell down behind them and found Hope who just stumbled tripped into the bridge.
"This isn't working," Lightning huffed
"That's Enough.. save it for later." Cloud sighed.
"I mean, he's a liability and he's only going to slow us down" Lightning stated
"What?" Hope shocked
"What are you getting at?" Cloud said intensely
"I'm sorry, but it would be easier if we didn't have to worry about--ERGH!" She grunted as a sudden pain on her chest causing her collapsed.
"Hey! What's the matter?!" Cloud rushed at front of her noticed her l'Cie brand located on her chest glowing in crimson red.
"You guys can't leave me here! You've got to take me with you!" Hope shouted demanded
"Enough!" She roared "The whole is agaisnt us! I can barely keep my self alive. Let alone some helpless Kid!" The pain on her chest became more intense as it feels like burned by intense flame.
"Get it together! Hey!" Cloud snapped intensely tried to make sure she looked at him.
"You want to get tough? Then do it on your own!" Before anyone else could said another word, suddenly a glyphs of light shine in pink beneth her knees appears. Cloud couldn't believe with his own eyes, is this a Summoning glyphs? Is she actually Summoning a summon without realizing it? Snapped back into reality instantly, he take Lightning back on her feet and letting her arm wrapped around his neck and leapt from the Summoning glyps as the light became shining more intensely. Behind the light revealed a White-Pale Golden armored Giant Warrior armed with S serated Sword on it's right hand and gigantic Shield on it's left hand.
"This can't be happening!" Lightning gasped disbelievly witnessing the giant figure appear before her
"No doubt about it... that's Odin. It looks diffreant but somehow it feels... fammiliar." Cloud tought remembered the time he went into Nibel region venturing Odin's Sanctuary, he could feel the same aura coming from the warrior just like the time when he was at Odin's Sanctuary back in his world.
"Look out!" Lightning screamed tried reached out to Hope as the summoned warrior suddenly leap toward and swing it's sword at the boy that was screaming in terrorized. But thankfully, Cloud who stood betwean Hope and Odin. parrying his blade agaisnt the huge warrior, Cloud could feel the intense force coming from Odin while their sword clashing each other.
"Get outta here now!" Cloud screamed as Lightning arrivied grab the boy from where he was at as Cloud dashed his Sword causing the Warrior recoiled from his attack.
"This is getting out of hand.." Cloud growled "We need think this trought to bring it down."
"You got a plan to take this thing down?" Light asked hoping he had the plan
"I do." He said draw out his sword "I'm going to cripple it down. But to do that, I'm going need you guys buy me some time. And we only have one shot to do this." Cloud brefied as both Lightning and Hope nodded.
"Let's go!" The blonde swordsman roared as Hope casted a few volley of Ruin and Thunder Magic. With Lightning following Cloud from behind, she dashed toward Odin letting their sowrds Clashing each other. With this chance, Cloud slide under betwen the warrior's huge foots and swing his sword it's Huge legs. But his attack was bounced off.
"Shit!" Cloud curses as the Warrior kicked him and threwing in distance hitting the wall of rock.
"Cloud!" Lightning screamed in horror witnessing what just she saw. Her distraction was a mistske as Odin dashed his sword toward her causing her flew in midair without able dodge any incoming attack. Odin was about swing his S Shapped Blade at her, but in instant, Cloud managed dashed shielding Lightning with his Balde against Odin's Blade while in midair then,with his might, he bashed his sword causing Odin to fell down quickly as both Soldier's landed gracefully.
"I had enough of this!" Cloud growled as intense crimson red light began vaporized around him. Pointed his sword toward the Giant Warrior.
"Let's dance asshole!" Cloud instantly warped in speed of light performing one of his signature attack Ascension (Or Climhazzard for those perfear the Japanese localization :P ) toward Odin giving the huge warrior seven severe slash damage causing it staggered as the Blonde Warrior landed in front of it
"Lightning! Now!" Cloud shouted as the Rose-haired soldier rush in and leapt dashed toward Odin thrusting her sword at Summoned warrior who was still having a trouble to back on it's feet.
"Yield." Lightning growled placing her sword at the Warrior's neck still it it's knees. Suddenly, the warrior stand on it's feet throwing away it's sword and leapt on the air. Allowing it self transformed into four legged Horse with four purple glowing eyes galloping in midair and landed next to her. Allowing for Lightning riding it to claim her victory.
Suddenly, Odin vanished slowly returned into a crystal form slowly flew toward Lightning and dissolved into her chest where her brand was locatted. She suddenly collapsed triwd catching air after the fight against the summon. Suddenly she noticed Cloud approched from front offering her his hand.
"Not bad at all." The blonde smirked as she smiled in smug accepting his hand allowing him to pull her up back to her feet.
"Can't take all credits from you tough. It was thanks to you too." She grinned.
"By the way, your brand looks diffreant. Was that an Eidolon? Like l'Cie can Summon?" Hope pointed asked noticed her brand began dissolve
"Magic and mumbo-jumbo. I must've hit my head on that Purge train." She shaking her head.
"Um..." Hope baffled about the words he was about to say. "Am I really in your way?" He asked sheppishly as Cloud looked at her waiting her answer. But instead she put her Blazefire saber back to holster and walked passed the boy.
"I'll do better!" Hope shouted quickly "I'll try harder, I'll--"
"Hope." Lightning cut him off causing him instanlly went quiet.
"We'll toughen you up." She says making the boy confused "I'm sorry about before." The words came our from her mouth making the boy feeling relief and then suprised as he felt Cloud strong hand on his shoulder giving him a slight smirk. The trio once again departinf their journey smoothly without any debates.
A few minutes of walking the trio arrivied at the hidden place surrounded by wall of rock, a perfect place for set camp for tommorow before heading to Palumpolum.
"We set up camp here. For now." Cloud suggested.
"I can still keep up. We can make it tonight."
"Not with your current state, no." Lightning says noticed Hope desperate tried catching his breath "we should rest tonight to regain our strenght. Then tommorow morning, we moving out."
"Sorry." The boy said still forcing himself but evantually he collapsed into ground.
"Don't act tough kid, you still need a rest." Cloud says taking a seat at front of wall of rock.
"I'm going to look around, you guys rest up" Lightning said then made off by her own self heading valley of scrapyard not far from where their set up place to stop she jumped at top of rock noticed a fleet of PSICOM Airship decending in far distance. Feeling a relief the Fleet didn't fly their direction at their campsite but at the same time she feel pitty for abandon Sazh and Vanille and hoping something wrost didn't happened to them.
She decided go back to the camp and find Cloud who already sitting with his Sword stood next to him and across the blonde is Hope who already shut his eyes sleeping peacefully. She decided taking a seat beside Blonde.
"We got a clear path trought the Whitewood. Seems like PSICOM has given up the pursuit for while. We might have a plenty good night sleep tonight." Lightning says
"And umm... I want to say Sorry." She said sheepishly
"About what?
"Everything I said to you." She muttered remembering her small arguement with Blonde. "I don't want that became the last thing you heard between us."
"Don't worry about it. Water under the bridge." Cloud smirked causing Lightning let out a small chuckle. She was grateful to have his company.
"Hey Lightning--"
"Cloud, just call me Light." She intturepted.
"Light, after what happened earlier, are you going to be okay?" He said suprisingly to her he sounded a bit concerned.
"I'm fine, Why do you asked?" She said and presses with a reason why he concerned about her.
"It's nothing. It's just... I never tought Summons was also existed in this world." Cloud said
"You mean Eidolon? They exist too on your world?" Lightning asked in curiosity about Eidolons in his world.
"Yeah. they called Summons on my world. Eidolons on my world were actually the ancient guardians of the planet. on behalf of the Planet's will, they came from from the Lifestream to deal any threats toward the Planet. Then once the Threat are over, they returned to Lifestream and Sealed into Naturally formed Materia. Or at least according to Shinra archive that I read long time ago." Cloud explanied.
"What's Materia?" She presses more question intrested about anything connected to his world.
"You could think them as the power of I'Cie that sealed into crytalized orb. There are lot of variants of type of diffreant Materia depending on how it's use. even everyone on my world these days owned Materia on their own."
"So Magic is a common thing in your world huh? I guess that's explained about your reaction when we faced the Eidolon." Lightning assumed.
"People can use Magic Materia depending on its user's endurance. But Summon Materia is actually quite a different story; they are quite rare things to find and it cost to much energy from the user. But then I met someone who had the technology to make Artificial Materia. even the summons. As long as you have the data gathered to create the Materia you need, you can create the Materia you want." Cloud explained, remembering the time he met Chadley, the Materia Researcher.
"We should get some sleep, the clock's are tickling and we need replenishing our Strenght and Stamina for tommorow Morning." Light suggested as she rolled to other direction begin shutting her eyes.
"Good night Cloud."
"Good night Light." He muttered still unable look away from her Pink locks that caressing on her shoulder. But in just few momments he couldn't keep his eye lids opened for long and decided to sleep as well facing the other direction from the sleaping Rose-Haired beauty.
Author's Note: I didn't think I wrote this chapter so long to be honest. Maybe I was a bit addicated write this Chapter :P
I'm quite satisfied with result of Cloud and Light having a little arguement and then begining open up each other after the Odin's fight.
As always stay tuned for next chapter.