[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 24)

Title: To Learn Something New

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K+
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: high-school AU, but read A/N below for more info

remember /re·mem·ber/ v to have or keep an image or idea in your mind of (something or someone from the past)

It was almost strange, if not downright ridiculous. You know, there was this slight pull at his heartstrings at the mere sight of the new student. She was pretty, yeah, especially that rare rose-blonde hair, but come on, Hope Estheim did not value girls based on their looks alone. He's sure he was different than the boys currently leering at her, but this nagging feeling deep inside his chest made him wonder, maybe he's not so different after all? Maybe he's also attracted to the pretty face and was experiencing a subtle sexual response?

“Hey, Hope,” Anthony, his seatmate, elbowed him on the rib. Hope cried out lowly in pain. “Watch the eyes, buddy. You're staring. She's gonna eat you alive like she did those guys there.”

Hope whipped his head to the aforementioned group of guys. Sure enough, the new student was giving them the meanest, iciest, scariest glare of the year that it sent the jocks teetering away from her immediate vicinity. Now that's something. Hope was sure no one would dare to as much as look at her anymore. Jab. Anthony shook his head. Ugh, maybe 'no one' did not include him necessarily. How embarrassing.

To make matter worse, the girl seemed to notice him staring this time.

The weird thing, she didn't give him a death glare—and for his part, the incessant tugs became stronger as he suddenly felt nostalgia. He didn't exactly remember per say, but he just knew this meeting was long overdue. This meeting was planned, was promised, since before he was born into this life. Maybe somewhere between life and death, between one lifetime and another.

A/N: To tell you the truth, the idea for this piece stemmed from a fanfic called "Love, Hope" by Advocaat. I hate crying so much each time I finish reading it so I made a selfish attempt envisioning how Hope and Lightning meet again in their next lives. I want a happy ending for the babies, thank you very much. But now I'm crying because I can't write as beautifully as Advocaat so yeah. I'm so sorry.

[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 23)

Title: To Learn Something New

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: set during the ending of LR.

understand /un·der·stand/ v to know the meaning of (something, such as the words that someone is saying or a language); to know how (something) works or happens; to know how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves

The crystal shattered into waves of light, afloat and swimming into the lifestream. The group of saviors laughed and tried to follow the current with their eyes, mesmerized. It was when Mog turned his body and said sadly, “I'm going with them, Kupo,” that they broke out from the daze.

The eidolons, the trustworthy ally who had fought with them right until the end, materialized then. Hope was able to flash a smile to his big friend—one so full of gratitude and perhaps melancholy because he knew this meant farewell—as Alexander drifted further from his body. Each of the eidolons gave a curt nod to their respective master before dispersing into the lifestream as well. Suddenly there was an odd relief, a hollow space inside Hope's body, the place Alexander just left open. It's sad, but farewells were necessary for embracing the new world.

The last eidolon to vanish was Odin. The white knight spent more time to bow respectfully before Lightning. They were comrades, fighting arm in arm for a distinctly longer time after all, Hope thought. As Odin stepped back, Hope watched Lightning close her eyes in deep reminiscence. There were tears cascading her cheek, and he stared in wonder. This Lightning was not afraid to show her soft side, and for him, she looked a million times stronger than before. Something bursted in his chest—and then he saw Lightning turning to them, her eyes still glassy but her lips curled up into the slightest smile. She was so beautiful.

"It's time," she said. With gentle movement, she beckoned the others to her—which, of course, Snow responded by poking Serah forward first. They floated upwards, in a way that made the rest of the group believe that yes, they were finally going to the new world after years of endless battles. Sazh and Dajh, Yeul and Noel, Snow and Hope, and Fang and Vanille—they all followed the Farron sisters.

Hope was surprised, also a bit annoyed, when Snow also gave him a push while flashing a knowing grin before taking off himself. Hope couldn't deduce right then what that smirk meant. Only when he turned his head did he realize that while Serah was obviously reaching out for Snow, Lightning was opening her arms for him. So that's why Snow was grinning that much. Hope wanted to say some rebuttal to him but well, Lightning was waiting and there's not really any time left, so he decided to just ignore Snow and focused his eyes to the rose-haired savior.

She was smiling, ever so slightly, when Hope's hand touched hers. Somehow, if he were to describe her smile then, it was one of nostalgia. It made Hope choke back, his chest twisting in a lovely feeling of finally reuniting with the one he missed all these years, and he just needed to say something to find his sanity again.

Their surrounding was quickly dissipating into light particles. He knew he needed to be quick, before they too leave the old world. But he couldn't find his voice. It was like all feelings suddenly came back crashing to him, sweetly overwhelming his not-yet adult form. In his struggle, suddenly Lightning clenched his hands, not hard enough to hurt yet enough to halt the thousand gears running inside his brain. She flickered her eyes. Just like that, he calmed down instantly.

She understood.

And then, their souls were swept away, embracing the brand new world.

A/N: I have actually wrote something about this quite a while ago, and when I saw this prompt I just thought the idea would match well. But I didn't remember, like at all, where I put that scrap of paper from the while back so I had to start from a scratch. It was annoying, lol, so I got kinda held back. In the end I still think the (lost) original version is better! /sobs

[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 22)

Title: To Learn Something New

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: M
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: Glorious smut ahead. Go back if you're underage.

chapter /chap·ter/ n one of the main sections of a book; a period of time that is very different from the period of time before it