Memories of Happier days (Fate/Closed)

[Fate Lingod]

"Don't worry. I'm not going to try anything stupid," Fate reassured her, "I won't have to. We're going to get rid of that brand in Oerba, right?" He hoped that it was true. That they could find a way to get rid of Vanille's brand. If not, then Fate was pretty sure he was going to do something stupid to save Vanille. Maybe I can take Vanille's brand for her! Ya serious? What's the point of taking her brand and focus if we're just goin' to destroy Cocoon or attempt to? We'd take her brand so she won't turn into a monster... We become the monster. Alrighty... Ima let ya think 'bout this one.

Truthfully, there was nothing to think about. Vanille didn't want to destroy Cocoon so if there was a way to get rid of her brand completely or for her to transfer it to Fate, that would be great. Of course Fate wouldn't destroy Cocoon, but it's better for him to turn into a monster than Vanille. The worlds would be a much better place with Vanille here. Besides, no one would miss Fate except for Sonuske and Vanille. But he was sure they would understand. Better idea! We take her away from Cocoon and Gran Pulse! Maybe this whole focus thing won't like disappear if we leave this place and get far away from these Fal'Cie.

Fate highly doubted that idea would work. Vanille's home was Gran Pulse. There was no way that Fate was going to take her away from here. "Awww man. I've heard riding in these creatures stomaches was the best way to travel," Fate said jokingly, "But I'll be careful... If you be careful too." Honestly, Fate truly wanted to jump on one of those large dinosaur-like creatures back, but he had a feeling that wouldn't go well with Vanille. It wouldn't go well with the creature either.

So now it was time for them to be on their way again. Destination: Oerba! But then there was a giant squawk sound. Fate instantly knew it was a chocobo. But whenn he turned Fate stumbled back. He didn't expect the yellow bird to be that close. Then Vanille asked the boy what should they do... But she didn't even wait for him to answer before she was petting the bird. "I guess we're not walking after all," Fate smiled, "If that's alright with our new friend here."

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

Oerba, the only hope she had was there. “Oerba….” She sighed a bit. “Well I hope there’s someway to get rid of this brand once we get there…all we can do is hope.” Soon that hope would be crushed at the sight of Oerba, but for now, that little bit of hope Vanille clinged to…was all she had to keep her motivated to go on. Otherwise she’d probably just sit around and wait to turn into a Cie’th without even trying, but she knew that if she did go Cie’th…some people wouldn’t be very happy. Vanille didn’t want to turn into a monster either, but truly, destroying Cocoon would make her an even bigger monster than a Cie’th could portray her as, so fulfilling her focus was out of the question.

Where was Fang now? Was she worried about Vanille at all? Probably…that was Fang, always concerned with her friend and wanting to figure out the focus she had forgotten. Lucky her. With all these depressing thoughts Vanille tried to brighten them up. Maybe there was hope in Oerba to get rid of this brand, and if not, at least if she was going to go Cie’th it would be here, and Fate would be around then right? That was a good way to go. Surrounded by people you love, well…even if it was just one person, that was okay with her. “Hm…Gran Pulse isn’t all that I remember it to be…” Vanille sighed looking around as some of newly formed ridges around the Steppe. “Ah yeah, I’m always careful. I grew up here remember? I’ll be fine. Tough as nails…” She smiled at her small attempt at humor. “We should be fine so long as we don’t provoke anything…”

While petting the feathery yellow chocobo Vanille smiled at the bird. “I don’t think he’ll mind…the chocobos here on Pulse are used to people riding them around.” She grinned hoisting herself onto the chocobo and scooting towards the front before looking back at Fate. “Ever ridden one before? It’s fun really. Although sometimes they can throw you off, but hopefully we’re lucky.” And with that she had one hand on the feathers of the birds neck and the other stretched out to help Fate up.

[Fate Lingod]

”All we can do is hope, but no matter what happens remember…” Fate paused, ”We’re the coolest two people on Pulse right now.” If only he knew that they were the only two people period. ”All jokes aside, you have my support no matter.” He rubbed the back of his head slightly. The thought of losing Vanille still lingered in the back of his head. Someone great had walked into his life and now there was a chance she would be taken away. Why does things have to be complicated… Really it isn’t that complicated. Complete the focus or turn to a monster. That’s pretty straight forward. Hey, maybe we can find a time machine and just prevent this from happening. … THAT’S IT! Dude, that last part was me bein’ sarcastic. Time machines don’t exist.

Fate’s idea didn’t exactly have much to do with a time machine. It had more to do with a person or a sorceress; Ultimecia. She was the time witch so maybe Fate could talk to her about changing the past. There had to be something that Ultimecia could help him with. But to rely on Ultimecia’s help wasn’t something that Fate wanted to do. This idea would be a last resort. ”Well, it’s been 500 years. Besides, this isn’t Oerba. I’m sure Oerba is the same…” Well, that was a bit of a lie. It’s been five hundred years so of course Oerba would have changed. He just hoped it wasn’t much. ”Tough as nails… Alright, let’s hope we don’t run into any hammers then,” He said, ”And my friend says my face provokes everything because I’m so… Not pretty.”

”Well, all the chocobos I ran into aren’t exactly human friendly.” The chocobos would either run away or just attack you. Maybe this Chocobo sensed how generous Vanille. ”Nope. This will be a first. Hopefully, I won’t get thrown… That just sounds like it would hurt.” Fate took Vanille’s hand to help him up, sitting behind her on the chocobo. Okay, where was he suppose to put his hands? The hips? Should he wrap his arms around her waist? After a moment of thinking, Fate placed his hands on her shoulders. Weak dude. So weak. Ya better place those arms ‘round her waist and snuggle up!

”Okay! I’m ready t ride boss.”

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

Always with the jokes, but if it kept Vanille laughing, it was a good thing then. It lightened her spirit a bit to know there was still time to joke around even in the most serious of situations, but then again, even if Fate wasn’t joking around, he could make her smile. There was an accomplishment. “Well I’m glad…it’s nice to have someone on my side for once.” Fang was always locked onto the idea of completing the focus, that she didn’t really support Vanille for what she believed, this was a turn around and something different than what her best friend would show. It was nice.

Things always changed, it didn’t matter how long you were gone, it could’ve been a week and something was bound to change. “Well. I’m sure Oerba has changed, at least a little, or a lot, I just hope I still recognize it…” Enough thoughts about all this change, why not just shut up and see for it herself? And declare change or not once she saw her old hometown. Onto a new subject, instead of dragging this Oerba stuff on and on. “Wow…your friend sounds so…uh...nice?” That was sarcasm, but a little subtle the way she said it. This friend and Fate must’ve had that kind of friendship where you could insult one another or make sarcastic remarks and everything as okay with them, Vanille and Fang were different than that. Besides, it was sure that Vanille didn’t have one unkind bone in her body so she just couldn’t insult anyone…sure she could fight off soldiers and not care but that was out of self defense, even then sometimes she didn’t fight, unable to take on the guilt of watching others fall.

After climbing onto the chocobo, and helping Fate up, Vanille smiled as she stroked the bird’s feathers. “These chocobos are more friendly, they love people, but if put in a dangerous situation, although they are brave creatures, they will buck you off...and yes, it hurts quite a bit.” Experience never lies. Well ready to go! Or…almost. Vanille at least was ready to go, holding onto the giant feathers of the chocobo and Fate…well that was another story. When he placed his hands on Vanille’s shoulders she rolled her eyes a bit with a sigh and a giggle. “You’re going to fall off if you hold on that way, I guarantee it.” She said with a smile though she was not facing Fate. Then she reached up to her shoulders and took Fate’s hands away from them, locking them around her waist like a seatbelt. “Don’t be afraid to hold on. I don’t bite…” She giggled before giving the chocobo a nudge in the side with her heals and it took off across the Steppe.

[Fate Lingod]

”I’m sure Fang’s on your side. I think she’s just scared. She doesn’t want anything to happen to you.” Fang was just doing what she could do to save Vanille. Maybe Fang realized that there was no way to get rid of your brand and that’s why she was pushing Vanille to destroy Cocoon. She wanted to protect Vanille, but Vanille didn’t want to destroy Cocoon.

”If it’s changed a lot we’ll just change it back,” Fate smiled, ”I bet those sandwiches are still the same.” But Fate was sure that the people of Oerba didn’t allow Oerba to change that much… If they were actually still there. But they were here on Gran Pulse so they might as well headed to Oerba. Vanille needed this. They were going to find a way to get rid of her brand, a way to save her from becoming a Cie’th. ”Yeah, he’s pretty cool. Lazy, but pretty cool. Joking around with each other is how we show our brotherly love… Mention that to anyone and I’ll deny it to the very end.” It was nice to have a friend like Sonuske though, someone that he could count on.

”Well, you have nothing to worry about. If we’re thrown I’m pretty sure I’ll end up breaking your fall since I am behind you. Let’s just hope this chocobo decides not to buck us up.” Ya did not just make that pun! Ya such a loser! Vanille didn’t look like she weight a lot, but he was pretty sure that would still hurt. Not to mention hitting the ground would hurt also. As Vanille locked his arms around her waist which made the boy blush. ”I was more afraid that you might hit me with that rod of yours and then feed me to the chocobo,” He said, smiling, ”But this is nice, very nice. We should ride chocobos more often.”

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

Vanille nodded a bit with her next response. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right about Fang…She just…needs to worry about herself instead of me. Frankly I feel bad enough dragging you into this whole mess, but hey, who could blame you for tagging along?” She started to grin and giggle a bit. “Cute girl like me…it’s hard to stay away huh?” seems like Vanille could pop out a joke or two herself. Being in Pulse, was…nice, it brought back a sense of acceptance and a feeling of being home, yet, something deep down wasn’t right, like this wasn’t the place she was expecting, and down the road she would discover, it wasn’t.

Speaking about Fate’s friend made Vanille somewhat interested. She didn’t know many people, in fact, all she really knew was Fang, now Fate. “Well he sounds like a good friend. You should be glad you have him.” Her and Fang had a more sisterly relationship. Always there for one another and always respecting one’s feelings, there was time to joke around but not since this whole L’Cie thing started. Then it was all serious and all about focuses and stupid stuff like that, that’s what really drilled their friendship into the ground, at least the fun part about it. “I don’t think this chocobo will buck us off…but it’s good to know I’ll have something to land on…sorry if I crush you to death.” She said in a happy almost musical tone as she dug her hands into the feathers of the chocobo.

A giggle escaped Vanille as her cheeks turned a pinkish color. “I thought you said too much Fate was bad for one’s health or something like that?” The chocobo was mostly trotting across the Steppe, sometimes wandering in a random direction but then heading off towards the direction of a path, more stone walls, that led…someplace. “I would never feed you to a chocobo…I don’t think they eat meat, besides…then I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to…except the chocobos…which as I did said earlier, I’m not a fan of Squawk responses ” She said with a sigh and a smile. “Told you riding chocobos was fun.” Indeed it was…it took half the time of walking and…well now it just made a good moment.

[Fate Lingod]

”Very hard to stay away. Cute isn’t the word to describe you though,” Fate said, ”Amazing, beautiful, stunning, marvelous… Yeah, I can keep going with this list if you like…” Fate would have to admit when he first saw Vanille it was her appearance that did draw him to her. He wasn’t shallow or anything like that. But when he looked into her eyes he saw something. He didn’t know what it was at the time, but now he did. He saw a future. The more he learned about Vanille the more he liked.

”I guess he is a good friend. He could try sleeping less though.” Sonuske was a great friend. Fate was the reason why they were away from their home world. Fate honestly didn’t expect Sonuske to follow him through that portal, but he did. Going through that portal was turning out to be one of the best choices Fate had ever made for himself. ”Great… First you threaten to hug me to death and now there’s a chance you might crush me. Well, just remember to tell everyone I died protecting those kids from those monsters.”

Too much Fate is bad for your health? He did say that. He would have to watch what he said since it seemed she remembered everything. ”It’s never really be proven yet… And my Instructor who says she’s sick of me and my pranks doesn’t count,” Fate said, ”I think she’s just jealous because I’m way more cool then she’ll ever be… Or she just really hates me.” Fate was loving every minute of this chocobo ride. He could do this all day and everyday. ”Okay. I’m going to hold you to your word. I trust you, Vanille. Besides, if the chocobo tries to eat me I’ll just tell my Instructor on him. It’s a win-win. I don’t get ate and I get my Instructor of my back.”

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

Vanille giggled a bit as Fate continued to go on about her. “Well thanks for all that, and I’ll say this, your friend was wrong. Your face couldn’t provoke anything because you are…well I won’t say pretty, how about handsome?” She asked almost as a question seeing as the word pretty was more used for girls, though it made her giggle a bit if she were to say it to Fate. “Well at least he’s your friend right? I’m glad to have Fang around…well when she’s around, even if she is bent on completing my focus for me…though I disagree with her about that…” Vanille knew, deep down, if the roles were reversed, she’d be doing the same thing for Fang, she couldn’t bear to lose her best friend like that. So she understood why Fang acted the way she did.

“Well…hugs are probably the best way to go if you are going to die by me…” Vanille shrugged a bit as the Chocobo slowed down its run. Must be getting close to the end of the Steppe. “but if you do die, ill spread that story around, don’t worry. You’ll get that parade.” One thing entered her mind just then. If she became a Cie’th…bad things could happen. She would be mindless and unable to gain control of her actions. What if she did become a monster and hurt Fate! Or Fang! That would be bad. So she had to ask a horrible favor, but she would wait until the silence came into play once again. “Your instructor needs to lighten up I think…” She said a little monotone as that thought from before sank in deeper. Worrying her more and more.

Vanille watched as the chocobo came to a halt and squawked fluttering its wings a bit. “Oh well, you won’t have to worry about getting eaten by this chocobo…seems he wants us off…” She looked forward at another pair of stone walls leading down to a dirty old mining area. The Mah’habara Subterra to be exact. Vanille slid off the chocobo and almost fell over but caught herself a bit against the yellow bird. “See…that would’ve taken us a long time to walk across.” She pointed out before sighing and deciding to bring up…that horrible favor she had to ask. “Fate…I know this is an awful lot of me to ask…but…if I should become a Cie’th…..I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore. My point is…if I become that horrible monster, I want you to…destroy me. Don’t let my mindless monster self roam and harm others…please. Can you do that for me?” It was an awful thing to even think about, but…it had to be done. Vanille couldn’t risk anyone else…so the monster had to be taken care of.

[Fate Lingod]

"...Handsome. That works. You're not just saying that to see me blush, are you?" That was the first time someone had ever called him handsome. It was actually the first time someone complimented him. Unless you consider being called annoying a compliment. Fang... She just wanted to protect Vanille and Fate could completely understand that. Maybe completing Vanille's focus was the only way? Chances were if she were to turn Cie'th the Fal'Cie would just make another L'Cie to complete her focus. He just hoped it didn't come to that. "Yeah, he's my best friend, a bro.... Fang will come around. I just think she needs a little time to think instead of worrying about this whole focus thing."

"Oh yeah. Hugs and... Kisses is the best way to die," Fate smiled, "The Great Fate Parade... Okay, so i'll have to work on the name." Vanille was right, Fate's instructor needed to lighten up. But maybe Fate should have took things more seriously. How do you expect people to take you seriously when you take nothing seriously? She would always asked. Fate is serious and always had been. He just preferred to be humorous and enjoy like while he could. "Yeah... She's a jerk, but I have learn quite a few things from her."

"Awww, and I thought that he was just opening up to us." Fate jumped off of the chocobo looking toward the mining area. Dude! Ask her if we can walk 'round. That looks scary! No, it would have been quicker going through this place. They had a time limit and had to hurry. Fate turned back to the chocobo, rubbing his hand against its feather. But what Vanille said next didn't sit well with Fate at all. There was no way he was going to kill her even if she became a Cie'th. He walked over to her and gently pulled her into a hug. "Sorry, but no. I won't do it... You're not going to become a monster. We're going to get to Oerba and figure this whole thing out, alright?"

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

“Nope, I fully mean what I say…not that it’s not amusing to watch you blush or anything, it’s just a bonus.” Vanille grinned as she looked back at Fate a bit with a smile before facing forward again. This was probably the second person to care about her this much, it was nice to know at least she had someone around, instead of being alone. Fang and Fate…those were her priorities. Not some stupid focus that she didn’t care about, no, that was at the bottom of her list of things to care about. “Eh. I don’t blame her for worrying. I mean, her brand isn’t progressing. Mine is…besides…if I were her, I would probably be doing the same thing. I wouldn’t want to lose my family like that.” She shook her head some thinking of how silly she had been acting towards Fang with this whole focus thing, trying to get her to forget about it wasn’t going to work, and she knew it. It was a worthless effort.

“Yeah…it sounds like a good way to go…better than-“ She didn’t even finish her statement on that one. Why get back into a bad conversation? Though it was bound to come up eventually. “The great Fate parade? Will people be throwing candy to kids and stuff?” This was probably the one time Vanille could take it easy, not be totally serious with things and try to be happy, But when it came to the end progression on her brand, she didn’t know what she would do, depression? No probably not. Try to be happy? Maybe…highly unlikely…who knew? “Well she was an instructor, she was supposed to instruct you so of course you learned something from her.”

That’s when Vanille had jumped down from the chocobo, it squawked and walked off to join a group of chocobos…possibly a family or something. Lucky little guy. Vanille sighed a bit as the answer she knew was bound to come back at her was said. Fate declined her request, she knew it would happen but she had to try. Of course, one way or another, something was going to have to stop her Cie’th self. Clouded with thoughts Vanille was pulled into a hug, though the words Fate spoke didn’t reassure her of any hope she once held. But, there was no time for doubt right now. Thankfully this time no tears were shed but her motivation started to decline as the idea of nothing more than becoming a Cie’th settled down on her. Maybe they were just wasting time. Vanille was the one person…who didn’t have time to waste. So as she hugged Fate back she rested her forehead against his shoulder and sighed. “What if…going to Oerba can’t help me? What if this is just a big waste of time…no L’Cie can be lucky enough to get rid of their brand…”

[Fate Lingod]

"Awww. Well, I can't let you see me blush often. I totally got to keep up my tough, bad boy act." If that was true then Fate was failing horribly. He was pretty sure he was one of the most sensitive guys that Vanille would ever meet. But it seemed to be working in his favor. Now Fate was getting all these ideas! Why not just bring all the people of Cocoon to Pulse and then destroy Cocoon? That was a nearly impossible task, but they was a chance. They could make new homes on Pulse. It definitely was big enough. "I see. So Fang completed her focus... Don't worry about it. You're not going to lose Fang nor is she going to lose you."

She didn't have to finish her statement for Fate to know where she was going with it. It was better than turning into a monster which was true. But it was best to leave that alone. Vanille didn't want to talk about it and Fate didn't have the answers. "No candy for the kids. There's only going to be healthy food being thrown like carrots, celery, and nasty stuff like that." Fate gave Vanille a crazy look. "No, no, no. You were suppose to say that my Instructor is just plain mean and that I shouldn't get her anything for her birthday which i'm going to end up getting her something anyway."

Seeing her like this made Fate upset. He continued to hold her in his arms as she placed her forehead against his shoulders, trying to think of something to say. "Honestly, I don't know if going to Oerba is going to help, but it doesn't hurt to try... You're not just a L'Cie. You're my girlfriend and more importantly you're Vanille. If it comes down to it... I'd become a monster too. I'll become a L'Cie and share the same fate as you." Truthfully, if it came down to it Fate was going to try and destroy this Orphan, try to destroy Cocoon. He knew that would make Vanille happy. Maybe Fang was on the right path... Destroying Cocoon might be the only way to save Vanille.

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

Why was Vanille so nice? It was something that was kind of a downside sometimes. Like, now for instance, if she had the will power to destroy Cocoon for her own well being, she probably would. But being her, caring for others and their lives, just wouldn’t let that option even linger in her mind, though it would be the easiest way to solve all this wouldn’t it? Vanille didn’t want all those lives on her conscience. When Fate mentioned Fang completing her focus, Vanille’s mind clicked back to the last day she remembered before waking up from becoming a crystal. Fang didn’t complete her focus, Vanille didn’t take part in it so she couldn’t do it alone, and there, Fang got her brand scorched over, her memory taken, and now…she was somewhere on enemy turf searching for a way to figure out her focus. “Yeah…I hope so.” Vanille sighed a bit hoping Fate was right.

If anything Vanille had to work up that fake happiness again, to try and lighten the mood she had brought down. “They’re going to throw vegetables at the kids? I’m not sure they’ll like that. I’d say go with the candy, it’s always a crowd pleaser.” And sure enough, a fake smile made its way to her face, out of habit from before, always trying to keep a positive look on things, it just came natural anymore. “Oh. Sorry. Next time prepare me a script ahead of time please.” It was a light humored joke on her part, not much really, but it kept her positive, optimistic, cheery and very fake act on track…not only for her sake…but for Fate’s as well. If she truly wanted to release her emotions, it would be a scary sight, seeing Vanille, a normally happy girl, fall to the floor and bawl. Not pretty.

The comforting words helped some, about trying. It really was all they could do, and hey, who knew? Maybe miracles do happen sometimes. But when Fate said he would become a L’Cie, Vanille went into defense mode. She stepped back and held Fate’s shoulders in her hands and looked at him with a dead serious look. “No Way. There is no way you will become a L’Cie, stay away from the Fal’Cie…you don’t want the same…heh Fate as I have. It just might be worse living with a focus, knowing you can save yourself…and not doing so…ending up a monster.” She didn’t want Fate running off to become a L’Cie, it would only make matters worse, for him. Maybe destroying Orphan would be best, just get it done, over with, and move on. “Whatever you do…whatever may become of me whether I really do turn Cie’th or turn into a mushroom! Stay, away from the Fal’Cie.” Vanille pleaded not wishing this L’Cie crap on anyone else. Especially Fate.

After Vanille's plea she sighed and looked down at the Mah'habara then looked back at Fate. "We should probably get moving...no time to waste remember?" She shrugged a bit before slowly turning and walking towards the entrance of the abandoned mine.

[Fate Lingod]

She hoped so... Fate had a strange feeling that the two of them were going to end up back on Cocoon. "But I was going to save the candy for us. I'd was totally going to fake my death and we were going to run of with all the candy!" He smiled as she smiled at him. Honestly, his smile was pretty fake now too. He was too upset and concern about what was going to happen to Vanille. Why did this always happen to him? He get close to someone only to lose them... No, he wasn't going to let that happen again.

"Prepare a script!? I can barely read yet alone write!" Fate said jokingly. As she put her hands on his shoulders and stared into his eyes Fate stared back. Apparently Fate becoming a monster also didn't sit well with Vanille. It didn't sit well with him either, but it was better than he becoming a monster alone. "It wouldn't be nowhere near as worst as not being with you. I don't want to save myself if I can't save you, Vanille." That was the thing about Fate... Once you walked into his life he wasn't just going to let you walk out of it. Sonuske, Angeal, and now Vanille were here to stay.

"Fine... I won't become a L'Cie... Yet. But if you're going to become a monster than so will I." Yes, Fate was pretty stubborn. No matter what Vanille said it wasn't going to change Fate's mind. It was set. This was what he was going to do because he wanted to. "Yeah, we should get moving. If it's any consolation, I think you'd make a sexy murshroom." He took a deep breath and started to walk along with Vanille. The Fal'Cie.... The cause of this problem. But getting rid of them would cause even more problems.

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Hopeful Dreamer
Wishes can come true. But not if you just wait for miracles. Miracles are things we make for ourselves. Here, and now.

It seemed that Fate and Vanille were feeling the same thing. Vanille had the idea that she would return to Cocoon sometime, to find Fang and take care of…her focus or something. Someway, somehow, Vanille and Fate were bound to end up on Cocoon once again, the only thing to wonder about, was why? “Fake your death and run off with candy…Hm..Sounds like a plan.” Vanille shrugged trying to avoid subjects that would bring down the mood. As of now she was game for talking about anything, from candy and vegetables, to chocobos. But what was there to talk about in a time like this? How much time was left anyways? Vanille hated to think of her time ticking away, every second she was closer to the monster she feared to be.

“Well…I’ll help you write the script if that makes you feel better. That why I’ll know what to say.” A distraction! That’s what she needed, but traveling to Oerba was hardly a distraction, in fact it was part of the problem. If Vanille could think of something to keep her mind busy, then maybe she wouldn’t be so glum? Thought too soon. She sighed and frowned a bit. “Fate, I’d much rather fulfill my focus then know you are going to go around the Fal’Cie to become…a L’Cie. If that’s the case…then I WILL complete my focus…if you stay away from the Fal’Cie. Please…” Once Fate had said he wouldn’t become a L’Cie, but something told her, that…he was determined. “I won’t become a monster…I’ll…overcome my focus…that’s what Oerba’s all about!” Vanille said brightening the mood some out of desperation.

Walking down into the Mah’habara, Vanille giggled a bit at the comment of the mushroom. Always with the jokes, and yet, they always seemed to make her smile, no matter what. “Well thank you. I’m hoping I don’t turn into a mushroom though, but hey, stranger things have happened.” The view of the sun, and Cocoon had disappeared upon entering the mines, Vanille had her arms folded behind her back and her hands locked with one another as she took longer steps before getting ahead of Fate a bit and turning around, walking backwards a little. “So Fate, I’ve told you about myself, I’m a 519 year old L’Cie who is destined for…uh, greatness? I’ve got Fang as my family and I’m cute, What about you?” He wasn’t from Cocoon or Pulse, now it was her turn to listen about him, if he was willing to open up to Vanille. Which seeing as she did to him, it shouldn’t be a problem.

[Fate Lingod]

"Alright. That will be our back up plan: Fake death, take candy, and run away from it all." It would have been nice if they really could fake their own deaths and run away from it all. Run away from this focus that was forced upon Vanille and not have to worry about her becoming a Cie'th. But that could never happen. "That makes me feel great. And since you're really old you should have lots of experience with writing."

Fate sure did love teasing her about her age. It was fun. But then she said she would complete the focus if that meant him staying away from being a L'Cie. You would think this would make Fate happy, but it didn't. Fate knew she didn't want to do which was the reason behind him wanting to turn L'Cie. If she didn't want to complete the focus and turned into a Cie'th then so would Fate. And even if she completed the focus she would turn crystal and Fate would never really get to see her again. He highly doubt that he would be alive for five hundred years. Still, he rather her turn crystal then live forever even if that meant he wouldn't see her again. The thought of her still being alive would be enough to get Fate by.

"You don't have to complete your focus if you don't want to. I won't become L'Cie. We're going to find another way. It might be hard, but we can do it..." Defy the gods of these worlds. That didn't sound too hard, right? If you replace the word 'gods' with 'regular people' then it doesn't sound hard at all. But there had to be something in Oerba that could help Vanille. There had to be something that could give them a clue. "Yeah, you turn into a mushroom then I don't think our chocobo friend back there is going to have any problem with eating you. And mushrooms don't hug back... Not that I ever hugged a mushroom. It was just an assumption..."

Fate looked around, surveying the enviroment as they walked through the mines. A serial killer is just gonna hop out from behind one of these corners and eat us! Or worst!! What if she's the killer and she brought us here so no one can here us scream!? Ignoring Hope's comment, Fate simply stared at Vanille and she started to walk in front of him now. She wanted to know more about him? That was reasonable. Where to start? "Well, I like long walks on the beach, but only on Tuesdays. My eyes are violet, but I tell everyone they're purple because that sounds more manly..." He rubbed his head for a moment, smiling a bit. Enough jokes. She seriously needed to know what she was getting herself into. "Okay, seriously. I'm way younger than you; 17. I don't have a family. My real parents abandon me when I was young... I guess my abilities were too much for them so they gave me up to become-- I was an experiment...." He lifted his left sleeve to show his bicep, revealing his experiment numbers; ''30/30-150." That was his name, what he had went by before recieving the name Fate. "...But the experimenting helped me to control my abilities. One day they over 'charged' me and I accidently laid waste to the whole project... The scientists and even the other experiments like me."

He lowered his head to look at the ground as he walked. It was something that he was having a hard time forgiving himself for, though it mainly wasn't his fault. Maybe those scientists deserved it, but the other experiment were unfortunate casualties. He kept the tattoo on his arm so he would have something to remember his 'brothers' and 'sisters' by. "13 long years of experimenting had finally came to an end. But I had nowhere to go. Eventually, I found a place to stay at Trabia Garden. It's a place that trains people into becoming SeeDs, a special mercendary unit in my world. It's where I met Sonuske, my best friend... That's it. Basically my life story leading up to this point."