[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[the video feed clicks on with the sound of a moogle mid-sentence, a sky covered with pyreflies only being visible at this moment in time.] - you understand all that, kupo?

Yes. Thank you.

[there's a soft crunching sound as the moogle totters off, mumbling something about the recipient of the sky phone being a fast learner. after a couple of seconds of silence, the holder of the phone moves a few paces, the sky being replaced by the ruins of Zanarkand behind her, before holding it up so she is finally being recorded.]

It feels like I've been asleep for a long time.

[it takes Serah a few seconds to build up the strength to ask. this is her one shot.] .... Snow? Lightning? Are you there?

Comments

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Sorry for- [but then the phone is dead.] ..... Lightning....

Action spam okay? :D?

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ It's a few hours before Lightning arrives; finding transportation to the Forgotten Continent on short notice was tricky, at best, and even then she still had to hoof it from Alfitaria. Luckily, she could do that literally -- once she was out of the city gates, she summoned Odin and rode him across the continent towards the ruins on Zanarkand.

She stops on the edge, surveying the ruins for any sign of her sister, and when she spots that pink head of hair, she's off towards it in a flash, jumping off Odin and ending up running towards Serah on foot. ]

SERAH!

yessss i love action spam. <3

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[Serah's been half expecting and wondering what lengths her sister has been going to, which has stopped her from really moving very far, ending up just sitting on the ground, hugging her knees, staring at the pyreflies floating in the sky, at the ruins beyond, which would usually grasp her attention, but today... no, today she was stuck in thought. Not just about Lightning, but other things, too. Other things she'd talked about since getting here.

And then- that voice. She jumps immediately to her feet, spinning around to look for her.]

Lightning!

HURRAH!

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

Serah! [ And then Serah is caught up in Lightning's arms, held tight. ] Serah.. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Sis... [she squeezes Lightning back. There's a lot she wants to say or to ask, but for now, there's only one thing.] ... it's alright. It's alright.

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

Please, forgive me. [ She finally releases Serah, but doesn't let go. For once, Lightning is completely vulnerable. She even looks like she might cry. ] It's all my fault. If I hadn't..

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[she smiles reassuringly, looking her straight in the eye.] I already have. A long time ago. [and then she shakes her head a little.] No. Please... don't blame yourself. What matters is that... you came for me. You came to save me. Here and there.

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

I won't let you go, Serah. [ She's smiling back, a little hesitantly. ] From now on, I'll always be there to save you, no matter what.

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Okay. I know. I know you will. You and Snow, you'll always be there for me.

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ She frowns a little at the mention of Snow's name -- but not for reasons Serah may think at first. ] He's not here. He was-- but then he vanished, and hasn't come back.

1/2

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[At that, Serah's face visably falls a little. The fact he was here, and now the fact he's not. Just... she...]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[.... but she steels herself. It's alright. Lightning's here. If it were Snow here and not Lightning, she'd have the same reaction. And... she's waited this long, for her hero. She can wait a bit longer, right?

... still, her voice is a bit shaky.] I-I... see. I guess that's how things work, here...

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ Lightning puts a hand on Serah's shoulder, and shakes her head. ] He'll come back. He's the hero, right? Now that you're here, he'll come.

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[She nods, attempting a small smile.] Can't have one without the other, right?

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ She smiles a little brighter. ] Right.

[ A noise in the distance makes glance to the side and frown, drawing Serah closer to her. ] Come on, let's get out of here. It's not safe. I'll take you to Luca.. At the very least, you can get a better explanation of this place at Tifa's.

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Alright. I'll have to remember this place, though... it makes me curious. [Serah nods once again. Part of her wants to stay, to look around, since this kind of place is what just piques her curiousity, but... now's really not the time.] Tifa?

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

She's a friend. [ Lightning puts her hand over her heart and pulls out her summoning crystal. A bright flash of pink light, and Odin stands, in his horse form. Lightning reaches down for Serah, pulling her onto his back. ] Hold on tight!

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[She blinks at the summon, and- was that- no, it can't be, can it? Not a Brand? ... But she doesn't have time to ask, as the next thing she knows she is actually holding on for dear life in fear of being thrown off, holding Lightning tight around the middle.] O-Okay!

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ And off they go! Light keeps Odin from going too fast; he has a tendency to jostle people not used to him. ] Serah, this is Odin. I should probably let you know.. I'm a l'Cie, too. [ She's not looking at Serah as she speaks, keeping her eyes straight ahead. ]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[She knows that, from her crystal. Somewhat distantly, but she knew, and, she may have said that. But- that wasn't what she expected to hear, for many reasons. For a moment, her mouth goes dry. And she looks at her arm, where the Brand... well, where it used to be. She came back because... Lightning, Snow, and everyone, they saved Cocoon, they saved the world, and-

Then, her gaze becomes fixated on Lightning's back, her voice half a whisper. Her chest pulls as she says it.] I'm... I'm not a l'Cie anymore. My Brand... my Brand is gone.

[fulminous.livejournal.com]

[ Lightning relaxes as she breaths an audible sigh of relief. ] I'm glad, Serah. I'm so glad.. Our brands.. [ Lightning grits her teeth a little, finally looking over her shoulder at her sister. ] They're still evolving here. Before Fang vanished, she noticed it.. I still have a Focus to complete, and I don't know what it is.

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

But you're...! It's... it's not fair that I'm fine, and you aren't.

[and at the part they're still advancing? she feels even worse.] Back on Cocoon, and on Pulse... I know you finished your Focus. That's the reason I'm here now, as... just me. [But even though she's confused, there's one thing that doesn't change.] I'll.. do everything I can to help you figure out what it is here.