Waking Up (Open)

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

It had been 500 years since Vanille was crystalized. 500 years could change almost everything. The past tension between Gran Pulse and Cocoon, or...it could change nothing. In this place and time, things were both different yet similar. Cocoon hated and feared Gran Pulse, the world below, filled with beasts of many kinds and dangers around every rock and hill. Vanille lived there, she became a l'cie there, and became crystalized along with her best friend Fang. Now waking up from a long crystalized sleep, she was no longer on Gran Pulse. This was Cocoon, the enemy world.

"Huh?!" Vanille whispered sitting up as she laid across the floor of an unfamiliar room. She didn't understand...why was she back? Didn't her and Fang complete their focus? Was this...supposed to happen? She got to her feet, everything still seemed to be as she remembered it. Her weapon was there, her bear sash, everything. She walked over to a window in the great stone wall of the room she was in and looked around before a fearful gasp escaped her lips followed by some sounds of cries. "Oh no no no no!" Her high pitched voice squeaked with the realization that she was on Cocoon. Was this some kind of joke?! And where was Fang?! Was Fang back on Gran Pulse?

Vanille stared out the window almost tears in her eyes as she thought of the horror of being on enemy turf. She was alone. With a heavy sigh she started for the exit, the only noise being the clicking of her heals against the stone floor. "Oh why...Why is this happening?" She moaned obviously stressed. How would she get back to Gran Pulse? And...why had she woken up?

((remember the timeline for FFXIII if before Serah turned into a l'cie))

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
”I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!”

Fang walked around the ruins she appeared to be in. She had been in the furthermost corner when she had awoken from crystal status. She had been severely shocked when she had awoken from being unconscious on the floor. She had figured out she was in cocoon and had almost fainted again. That’s when she had noticed the man that had been standing there staring at her. She had been very close to hitting him with her spear before he had explained that he wasn’t from Cocoon.

Now she was on her way to find Vanille some time later. She had awoken hours before, after talking to Noctis for some time he had told her that he had to go, and here she was, trying to find her way out of the ruins that she had found herself woken up in. She was going crazy with worry for Vanille, was she alright? Was she here? Had she been found out by the Vipers in Cocoon?!

She was trying to find her, would she today? The ruins were confusing, but soon she thought she had found out where the entrance was. And that was when she heard the light clicking of heels. She had heard them so many times…Vanille! When she finally spotted the red haired girl. Her best friend, her sister! She felt a huge sigh escape her lips and she knew things would be better. “Vanille!” She spoke out, her lance held behind her back.

She put her arms up and ran toward her friend. “I was so worried!” She almost gasped out as she folded her in a hug. She couldn’t believe her friend was here, and looking at her she saw that she seemed fine. Forgetting about her brand she was just glad Vanille was alive. But one thing remained…why were they here? Out of crystal status? And why were they in Cocoon?

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Vanille was so flustered and worried about everything going on now. So much was running through her mind! Why she was back from being crystalized, why she was on Cocoon, where was fang? What about her brand? it was still active and what not. Was she given a new focus? Oh! Stress build up! Vanille's head started to hurt, almost to the point where she thought she was going to explode! How could she come about living on Cocoon? Getting back home...was that even an option these days? Vanille sighed as tears welled up in her eyes before she heard someone yell her name. Vanille spun around, her curly pigtails bouncing as a gasp and a huge smile crossed her face.

"FANG!!!" Vanille cried out as she ran to meet Fang halfway into a hug. Well at least this answered one of her many questions...and at least fang seemed to be alright. "Oh! Fang! We're on...Cocoon." Vanille whispered out the word cocoon because it was well...enemy territory and the vipers might come out any minute and attack them! Vanille stepped back from Fang a small smile still on her face. "Im glad you are okay...." She sighed as her smile completely faded and she turned away, the memories of before...before they had become crystalized...Vanille remembered. "How...are we going to get back to Gran Pulse? to Oerba..." her voice was soft and almost a whimper.

She didn't try to be whiney but sometimes...there was just moments where you couldn't help yourself. "Do you think...everything is still there?" Vanille said remembering the vast open fields, the creatures lurking about and Oerba...their home...which she would be horrified to see now. But the thought of everything being in tact made vanille happy and have motivation to get back home.

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
”I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!”

Fang herself was very worried about why they were even alive, in human form. She was even more worried over the fact that they were in Cocoon. If they had woken up in Gran Pulse she would be less concerned…but why Cocoon!? Of all places why would the fal’cie curse them into having to be here? They were in the heart of enemy territory and well she knew it. She wouldn’t be able to let her guard down for a minute, because if she did, and the people of Cocoon figured out who and what she was, they would all be after her and Vanille. Not that they would successfully destroy them. She would destroy them all before she would let them touch Vanille.

She smiled, feeling a moment of happiness and relief wash over her when Vanille turned and shouted out her name. Vanille seemed to be alright as she pushed her back and held her at arms length to check and see if she was alright. She seemed fine, but then she whispered about Cocoon. She nodded slowly, thoughtfully. It didn’t do to worry Vanille anymore, but she herself was very worried about why the hell they were on Cocoon. They had been granted eternal slumber, as she could tell by her brand was frozen over, so why were they awake? And why were they on Cocoon?! Maybe later she could figure it out, but right now, the memory she needed most just wasn’t there.

An empty page. “I know, I know, but you know what? We’re together and we’re alive right? Lets just think about it and study it some before we get to worked up.” She put her hand on Vanille’s arm and gave her an encouraging smile even if she didn’t feel like it. She heard her whimper slightly and put a hand under her chin, her own lips turned up into a smile. “Hey! Don’t worry now alright? We’ll get back, I just need to think about how for a little while.” She herself wished she was in Oerba, but they were not, and she was going to stay strong for Vanille.

Glancing around she cocked her eyebrow, “Vanille do you…remember anything about our previous focus? I can’t see to remember it at all…which is odd. But I know we were put in Crystal Status.” But for how long?! She asked herself, but couldn’t find the answer. “We’re gonna have to figure out how long we’ve been asleep before we do anything else.” She shrugged her shoulders a bit, “I guess I don’t really know, I suppose when we get there we’ll find out hmm?”

With that suddenly she remembered she had wanted to check Vanille’s brand. Her own was scorched over, did that mean Vanille’s was as well? “Vanille…I need to check your brand!” She said before leaning over and looking at where it had been before. Her heart basically stopped and started again when she saw that it was still active. “Oh no.” She muttered out, she was going to have to think fast…REALLY fast!

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

Vanille remembered everything. She didn't want to Remember the pain of leaving fang to do everything on her own last time. Becoming Ragnarok...Vanille wanted to forget her focus...she didn't want to hurt anyone else. She's rather go Ceith than put others in the line of danger...but...her choosing to ignore her focus, would bring more l'cie into the world...and she didn't know it yet.

"Yeah...we're alive...and together..." She sighed heavilly hoping she could pass this attitude off as depression for her home of Oerba and wanting to be home. Could she hide this from Fang? their past? Vanille decided to...play dumb, act as if she didn't remember either. Forget her focus and be done with it already...go cieth and leave well enough alone. Vanille looked at Fang and shook her head no. "I....can't remember either...." she said softly looking down and away folding her hands together.

Vanille then looked out at Cocoon, it looked very...civilized. Nothing like the stories had said about these...vipers waiting to attack Gran Pulse. "Fang? You don't suppose...we've been gone so long that...things have changed between Cocoon and Pulse? Maybe they are no longer enemies..." and she sighed shaking the thought out of her head. "I could just be talking crazy though-!" Then fang said something about Vanille's brand, which made Vanille look at Fang's brand on her arm.

A gasp came to Vanille's lips for a second as she analyzed Fang's brand. "Fang? Your brand is....frozen over...." Which worried her seeing as her own brand was active. Maybe it was because Fang had tried to become Ragnarok and failed. Vanille just hoped...no, she prayed that whatever the future would bring for these two l'cie....that no one else was harmed and that Fang....remained safe and didn't learn of the truth of their past. It was an awful thing to hide...but to protect Fang...Vanille kept her mouth shut.

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
”I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!”

Fang was just thankful she had Vanille with her now. With Vanille now she had to stop thinking about her own doubts and worries and focus on being strong for her. She needed a fight…something to keep her on her toes, this just standing around and having time to think was making her go crazy. Not that she didn’t have a few screws loose anyway, but now it was making her really over the edge. She felt all trapped in and not able to move, or breathe until she figured this out. Black hair waved as she looked around the ruins they were in. Something warned her they shouldn’t stay here, but…she felt apprehension about going out amongst the vipers of Cocoon.

Not that she was actually scared of them, she was mainly scared of how Vanille would take it. She hated Cocoon…ok she didn’t hate Cocoon, but she would very much rather be in Gran Pulse with landmarks she knew and had grown up with rather then this horrid place, floating in the air above her beloved Gran Pulse. She wished she could see it one more time at least.

When Vanille told her she didn’t remember either Fang was even more puzzled. Why had they both forgotten?! She wished they hadn’t awoken…but at least her brand was scorched over…did that mean they didn’t have a focus this time? If they got back to Gran Pulse could they live normal lives again? Were the people she knew even there yet? She herself didn’t have any family but her and Vanille had friends there…or did they? “If we both can’t remember…I’m going to have to remember. I’ll try to come up with a plan to jump start out memories. Somehow I will.”

She shook her head, “No Vanille, you know how much Gran Pulse and Cocoon hated each other…we can’t have been asleep long enough for them to be allies, personally I don’t think one will ever like or allow the other’s existence peacefully.” She glanced up when Vanille gasped out that her brand was frozen over, her face wrought up with worry at what she had seen. Vanille’s brand was still active…why?! Why was Vanille’s brand active and her own was not?! It didn’t make any sense. “I have to remember fast Vanille! Your brand is still active! That means…you…we have a new focus. I have…to remember…” She said, and this time her voice held much worry in it. Glancing around she felt this odd feeling. “but first things first, lets get out of these ruins…I feel like something bad is going to happen if we stay here…”

But glancing around she didn’t want to leave. If they left they would be right in the heart of Cocoon…the enemy’s fortress. She felt anger, anger at the fal’cie, but she knew better then to go against them. They had to be good little l’cie, grin and bear it, even if they didn’t want to do their new focus. She knew Vanille wouldn’t want to go through with it. Vanille was too good of a person, always worried and thinking of others. Fang would do anything to protect her best friend, no matter what their new focus might be…

[Oerba Dia Vanille]

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

Vanille sighed. She didn't want to do this L'cie thing anymore...even if it ment becoming a Ceith. Vanille looked at Fang with sad eyes, her heart was in the right place, but she knew what Vanille was about to suggest, Fang would never go for. "Fang...Can't we just...forget our focus and move on? I really don't like you worrying about all this...besides! We...don't remember anything, who knows what may happen." Vanille squeaked trying to ease their way out of the lcie thing...Vanille didn't want to go through everything all over again...she just wanted to forget...and go back to a crystal sleep.

Vanille shrugged some, talking of Cocoon and Pulse being at eachothers throats...well they probably were, Fang was most likely right about that one. "Why can't we all just get along? Cocoon doesn't seem as bad as everyone told us...I see no vipers...." She looked around and sighed. This would be a long trip back to Gran Pulse...if they could ever get there. Maybe there was a way.

Vanille started wandering her way out, her eyes rolled some as Fang wanted to complete their focus, just like last time, but Vanille was just going to follow along, continue to play dumb, and just keep trying to talk her way out of it. "So what if my brand is active? We have no idea what our- my focus is...don't worry about it!" Vanille almost yelled a little flustered at all this. Something bad was going to happen, she knew it, but the smile she always kept on had to stay there, she didn't want to let anyone know she was afraid...a fake smile and a good laugh kept anyone happy, but deep inside Vanille was terrified.

"Fang..." Vanille sighed and decided to give up for awhile. "Lets go..." Vanille walked out of the ruins and looked around. No vipers here either. Maybe Cocoon was more civilized than people on Pulse had told her. Would anyone know they were from Gran Pulse anyway? Maybe just weird dressers or something...but if they were caught, Vanille wouldn't hold back, even if she were to go ceith, she didn't want Fang hurt or dragged into this.

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
”I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!”

Fang tried not to let Vanillle’s sad eyes tear out her heart. The only person in the entire universe that could make her change her mind or feel any adoration or love. She was the only family she had, the only person that meant anything to her. She tried to harden her heart against Vanille’s eyes, she wouldn’t let Vanille become a Cei’th, no matter what Vanille said. She just shook her head stubbornly when Vanille suggested that they just forget it. “no Vanille, no mater what, we’re l’cie, nothing will change that. No matter how much we hate it, we’re they’re slaves, now we have to be good l’cie, grin and bare it. Being a crystal is better then being a mindless beast wandering around eternally.”

“I’ll remember, somehow I’ll find out what our focus was, and then we’ll complete it the right way this time.” She sighed a bit, wishing the war between Gran Pulse and Cocoon hadn’t ever happened too. “I know Vanille…I know, someday they might get a long, but probably not for a long time more. You know how much Gran Pulse citizens hate Cocoon, I doubt its any better in Cocoon. No Vipers…well we haven’t seen every sort of person, just the good ones so far, just wait till the government shows up…”

She knew Vanille didn’t want to do their focus, something was the matter, but she had no idea what. “Vanille I won’t stop, I’m…were going to figure this out, even if you don’t mind turning into a cei’th I do, I couldn’t stand my best friend, my sister being one.” With that she caught Vanille’s shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. “Don’t worry Vanille, things will all turn out good in the end.”

She followed Vanille with a heavy heart as she said that they should go. She didn’t want Vanille to be a cie’th, but she also knew Vanille’s heavy conscience was probably making her hurt. She didn’t exactly know what to do, but she had to keep fighting for what she thought was right. “Hey!” She said catching up with her and grabbing her hand, “It’ll be alright, I promise!” She said, her compassionate side coming out, something good was bound to happen, the world couldn’t always be so dark for them. As they stepped outside her eyes caught site of what appeared to be in a big city surrounding them. She sighed, of course they would be right in the city…

[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 didn’t want to argue with Fang over this. But she had to do something, even if it meant…getting herself out of the picture. Maybe Fang wanted to figure this focus out, even though Vanille knew exactly what it was, and the amount of lives that would be lost…well Vanille just couldn’t handle that kind of slaughter, even if it was to a world that hated everything about her. She just sighed and mumbled something along the lines of “Stupid focus” and “Doesn’t matter”, but what she said really wasn’t loud of clear, she was just, frustrated and starting to feel guilty. Why not just tell Fang what their focus was and maybe she would give up? Highly unlikely. Fang was never one to give up, and if she knew the truth…it’d make matters worse. So Vanille, kept her mouth shut about it.

“Maybe…instead of causing trouble around here, us being Pulse L’Cie and all…maybe we can find a way back to Gran Pulse, leaving everyone here unharmed…? Then we can figure out our focus from the safety of Oerba…our home.” The thought was comforting and just in reach, but somehow Vanille figured that wouldn’t happen, why would Cocoon have a way to get to Gran Pulse if they hated it so much? Maybe there was a way though, it’d just take some good looking to find a way. “I mean…if there is a way to get back…” Vanille sighed, her mind racing through different ideas on how to get out of all this.

Fang was Vanille’s best friend…her sister practically. She knew where Fang was coming from here, if it were Fang on the path to Cei’th city…well Vanille would be doing the same thing. “Fang…how do you know it’ll all be okay in the end? What if our focus was to….destroy Cocoon or something? Think of the lives lost! We should just drop it and live out the rest of my brand’s progression instead of worrying about it…that’s not what I want.” Vanille lowered her eyes as they had stepped out into the city. Great. She made sure her brand was covered and she didn’t look suspicious or anything. “Fang….I know you’re my best friend and all but really…I want to forget this focus.” And if fang didn’t drop it like Vanille wanted to, well she’d come up with something to stop it all….

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
”I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!”

Fang tried to stay strong and not show she had heard Vanille’s muttering. She walked steadily, eyes tortured. When Vanille mentioned they should just go to Oerba and forget about this entirely she didn’t say anything, to angry with herself to reply. She wished she could do that. So much she wished to just forget this and go back to their home. She wished Vanille and herself could have a normal life. She wished Vanille could have fun like she never really had been able to do before. Date some guys, that deserved her of course, get married and live a normal life. But that wasn’t reality.

Reality…

She hated that word so much! She remembered their times growing up in the orphanage, they had had so much fun before they had been made L’cie. After that it wasn’t fun, everything was hard and they were on the run to much to have any fun. Plus they never even joked around anymore, she hated it! She had always had to be the one to face reality, take responsibility. She wished she could be like Vanille more, cheerful and happy, but she couldn’t. She knew though, even sometimes when Vanille was happy she was just covering up her fear or her sadness.

She wished she could see Gran Pulse again, as well as act and laugh like she had before becoming a l’cie. She remembered sneaking out at night with Vanille and doing crazy things, like the time they had stolen the chocobo’s and raced around on them, or swimming, or the ice cream. She would give anything to be back there and not be a l’cie. She looked off into the distance, beyond the city when Vanille asked how she knew. She didn’t know, but she had a feeling, somehow she would make sure they would be alright. She would keep them safe, Vanille safe. “I just have a feeling everything will be alright.” When Vanille mentioned what if their focus would be to destroy Cocoon her eyebrows furrowed. Could that be it…? Gran Pulse hated Cocoon, so that very well could be, but how could any human; even if they were l’cie fulfill that focus?! That was some task.

As they had been walking they had made it to a sandy beach. She cursed herself up one side and down the other in her mind when Vanille said she just wanted to forget it. ‘I KNOW!! I know you do, but its just not an option! I can’t let you give up, I have to face reality and go on, as much as I hate it!!’ she thought to herself as she wished more then anything she could do what Vanille asked and just leave. Her own brand was scorched…but for how long? And how long would Vanille last before she turned into a cei’th?! She couldn’t live with the knowledge she’d let her best friend become a cei’th! She didn’t want to say anything of what she was thinking out loud, why? It would only succed in getting Vanille even more worried, this was something she would have to face herself. She just wished she could complete the focus and give Vanille her wish, to forget about it. If she could do that she would!

Stopping for a moment on the sand she took in a deep breath, she had led them very near the water. She longed to be able to act her age and laugh again. Deciding quickly that if this was their last day of happiness she wouldn’t ruin it. Since they didn’t know what was happening she thought it should be a happy day…they were alive again right? Forcing a smile on her face she went up to Vanille and put her arm around her shoulders. “Hey, remember that place we used to go swimming at in Oerba?” She thought about pushing Vanille in and a mischievous smile crossed her face. Maybe Vanille wouldn't think she was such a mean pushy person if she tried to laugh and joke more with her. It was just so hard...facing reality...

[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 and Fang were thinking alike at the moment. Wishing to be back on Pulse, to be able to joke around again, to be…well normal. If anything, figure out this L’Cie thing, overcome the focus, and get on with life. That sounded like the best idea in the world right now. Anything to get out of completing her focus…was golden to Vanille. But, there wasn’t that much hope for anything like that to happen, it would take a miracle for such a thing to occur, And Vanille…continuously wished for a miracle. “Well I hope you’re right Fang. You usually are, so it’s a comforting thought.” Yes, most of Vanille’s sadness and fear was masked by fake happiness, and as of now, no one could really tell the difference, the way she acted after becoming a L’Cie was the same, masking it all to keep everyone out, even Fang.

Upon coming to the sand Vanille decided to drop the subject of her focus, or anything to do with being a L’Cie, maybe they could have a few normal moments before…whatever happened to Vanille, whether it was turn to crystal or Cei’th, happened. She stepped on the sand softly trying not to get any in her shoes and she smiled, a real one too. It reminded her of Pulse, no longer the awful city smell lurking in the distance, but the smell of salt water and nature, it was comforting for the time being and it eased down her nerves and worries. When Fang came over and put an arm around her shoulder, reminiscing about the good old days, Vanille nodded some and looked up at Fang a few seconds later. “Of course, how could I forget? Ha. Those were fun days. Oh! Oh! Do you remember the late night Chocobo races we used to have? Whenever we’d sneak out….” Vanille sighed heavily. “I miss those days…I haven’t seen a chocobo here yet, and I’m really getting homesick.”

Thinking back of Gran Pulse made Vanille only miss it more, but it also made her mind forget about the L’Cie thing and what not, it was a great distraction. And as Vanille looked out at the water, she smiled and looked back at Fang before her face fell into a mock horror worry look. Fang was up to something. “Okay, I’m not liking the look on your face right now Fang, that mischievous smile of yours, makes me think you are…up to something.” Vanille smiled a smug and sly smile of her own as she raised an eyebrow at her friend, wondering what she was up to, her eyes flickered to the water, and how close they were to it. “Ohhhhh, no!” Vanille said with a slight laugh backing away a bit. “No way you’re getting me in the water.” Something about this moment, brought back the great feeling of being friends again, sisters. A normal moment, yes, this was it.

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!

She was overcome with the desire to return home to Gran Pulse. Trying to push it out of her mind, she shook it off, but it kept resurfacing. She found her own courage waning as she focused on the negative instead of the positive thoughts floating around her mind. Her problem was that she thought to much. Now if she could just not think this would all be much easier. It was way to blasted hard though., especially when she faced the thought of never getting to go back home, and never again having a normal life. It was hard...that knowledge killed her that she might never get to see the stunning landscape of Oerba, or the places she had known very well ever since she was a little child. Still she had to keep her chin up and just think maybe there was a chance. Somehow she would get Vanille back there, even if they failed at their focus just seeing it once more might put her own mind at ease.

She laughed a little bit, but it was almost fake, she right? She wasn't right all that much, and if she was it was luck. Maybe if she would stop over thinking things she could be able to just chill out and have fun. Maybe? Hopefully, she was tired of being a crab all the time, who wouldn't tire of it? She herself loved to joke around and do thrilling things, be a little bad and so some crazy things with friends. Were any of her and Vanille's friends still alive? They had kind of lost contact with them after becoming l'cie, but how long ago was that really? Had it been a long time? a few years? a few centuries?

She was glad that the subject was dropped for an altogether happier one. She could sense the change in Vanille as they stopped focusing on their focus and started reminiscing about their past. An actual smile split across her attractive features as her eyes softened in remembrance of those times. Ahh they had been good, and the memories even better. For two orphans they sure had made the best of their life...why the fal'cie had to pick them and ruin it all was beyond her, and yet she did not voice that thought. When Vanille got into it and excitedly reminded her of the late night chocobo races she laughed and glanced down at her. “Do I ever! Sneaking out was the best, especially when my chococo won...as always.” She said winking down at Vanille, she was teasing her of course. The chocobo's Vanille had picked had won a good half of the time, it all depended on the night and what chocobo's they had, never having their own, they had simply 'borrowed' them.When Vanille sighed and said she was homesick Fang nodded in a more serious note, “Me too Nille, me too.” Hugging her arm around her tighter once more Fang smiled encouragingly, “But don't you worry your pretty little head, we'll get back there again!”

She threw her head back and laughed when Vanille said she didn't like her smile and that she was up to something. Forcing an innocent look on her face she shrugged her shoulders, ]Who me?! now what makes you think I would ever do such a thing?” She said, trying to keep a strait face. They were awefuly close to the water, a few steps away really...it would be so easy to...Sure you are!” She said before laughing and quickly pushing on Vanille's back, sending her toward the water...oh boy would she be mad! Now this was the life...she was glad she had decided not to bring up the fal'cie thing anymore, they both needed a rest from thinking about it, maybe things would just fall into place...? It was a nice thought, and in the meantime she could remember how good of friends they both were to each other.

[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 looked around, seems some of the tension was dying down as the memories flooded her mind of all the crazy fun things her and Fang used to do. Those memories could keep her going, to hope for a day when things could go back to normal, though that little sliver of hope would be hard to stick with for now, Fang at least wasn’t going to turn into a Cei’th, that was an important factor. Now if only they could figure out how to scorch Vanille’s brand, that would be very helpful. But as for now, the subject had to die and Vanille was happy that Fang was smiling now, for real. She could tell.

She had to protest some. All in good fun though. “oh that’s so not true Fang and you know it! It just seemed that most nights I got the gimpy chocobo…or the one that didn’t like me.” She said wrinkling her nose a bit before a laugh escaped her lips. “I think chocobos just like you more.” She shrugged a bit looking back at the water which they were so very close to. “How much do you think Pulse has changed? I’m sure it’s changed some but hopefully…not dramatically. Bad chocobos or not, there better be some there, ready to be ridden.” She grinned. At the thought, chocobo races and late nights out. It was all something she longed for now. “I believe you. We’ll get back…someday.”

When Fang was up to something it was best you try not to be the target of interest. So Vanille just laughed nervously and tried to scoot away some. “I know that smile! It means you are plotting. I’ve fallen for it before and I don’t plan on doing it agai-“ She was cut off. Apparently she had fallen for it again, literally. As Fang pushed her forward Vanille lost her balance and fell into the water, at least landing on her hands and knees. Oh was she in for it. A mischievous smile of her own, crossed Vanille’s face as she turned her head to look back at Fang and got up. Her arms and legs covered in wet sand. Vanille grinned even wider as she walked up to Fang and hugged her in all this…sandy mess. “No hard feelings?” She giggled hoping some of the wet sand would stick just to irritate Fang some…it was all in good fun.

[Oerba Yun Fang]

[~Lithe Dragoon~]
I'll tear down the sky if it'll save her!

Really what kept her going was the memories of the days before all the crap in their life had happened. She could imagine sometimes that they were back in Oerba, sneaking out and doing crazy things. While in the orphanage they had gotten caught a few times, but hardly ever. A happy smile was on her face as she thought about it. It didn’t make her quite so happy as Vanille, but she stopped being hard and callused when she thought about that.

Vanille got in the teasing spirit and told her she got the gimpy chocobos, or the ones that didn’t like her. She laughed outright to that. “Gimpy ones? When did we ever ‘borrow’ and gimpy chocobos??” They had always taken the best to ride. “hmmm well I hope it didn’t change to much. It might have gone either way, more advanced or it could have gotten a little bit more run down. I’m just hoping I’ll still be able to recognize my favorite spots…” She said, her voice trailing off in the end. Better not think about it right now…she wanted to be happy.

“Ok the first time we get back to Gran Pulse we’re gonna find some chocobo’s to ride! Sure thing. Maybe we should start raising chocobo’s!” She said enthusiastically. What was wrong with her? They weren’t going to get to do any of that…maybe Vanille’s bright outlook on the future was rubbing off on her. Either way she was going to get them both back to Gran Pulse and figure out what to do after that. Sounded like a good plan to her, but getting there might not be so easy.

She still found herself smiling while she looked at Vanille there in the water. She eyed her sandy body as she walked back up to her. “Hey, what are you gonna d-" She said before a sandy hug engulfed her. “Oh man!!!” She yelped, sand all over her body before she just started laughing. What other reaction could she show?? She half hugged Vanille again before tipping her head up, “Thanks for the laugh Nille.” Eyes sparkled as she said that. “I needed it…we both did.”

[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 just kept smiling. A few escaped giggles as well as she remembered the good old days and continued to joke around with Fang. “Okay okay, so maybe we didn’t get gimpy chocobos…but it’s a good enough excuse to use when I lose…just blame the chocobo.” She shrugged, her grin widening a little, it was probably one of the last few times her and Fang could have playful moments like this. She knew sooner or later Fang was going to get really serious about her focus…or Vanille herself would just have to run off and go Cei’th by herself. It was a hard choice but one of the two was going to come…focus or Cei’th, and frankly…Vanille didn’t want any part of either.

“I’m sure it’ll still be the same…not too many changes. I just can’t wait to see the flowers…its much better than all this stone and sand.” She said looking around at Cocoon’s lack of nature. “haha, we’ll find the flowers and raise chocobos…well at least we have some sort of idea of the future.” Not that it would happen. Vanille just shrugged that thought off and continued to play along. “Being away all this time…who are we kidding? Obera’s probably really different…500 years doesn’t pass by with little change.” She sighed, her smile fading some but she continued to keep a happy optimistic tone to her voice, it was easy for her.

After Vanille had given her sandy hug to Fang she joined in a small laugh. “A good laugh…that’s all we needed.” She grinned looking back out at the ocean, that was one thing Cocoon had that was nice. The pretty beach. “We’ll find a way to work this all out. There’s nothing we can’t do.” She said smiling while looking at Fang hoping all this was cheering her up some, and getting her to relax for a moment or two away from this L’Cie stuff. “We’ll show those Fal’Cie…and Cocoon...just what us Pul’se L’Cie are made of!”