A Memory Of Chaos and Unity (Lumina)

"Don't go..." and yet, she did. "Don't leave me alone!" but it was only her back that she could see."She tried...to kill me..." why was it so easy, to be cast aside?

"But she said... I need you..." these conflicting thoughts swirled around a young girl's mind. Her back was pressed up against the trunk of a tree. Her gaze was cast upwards for just a moment, embracing the light that shone down upon her form, as well as warmth. She wanted to lose herself within that light, to fade away without a trace but she couldn't! So, when familiar words were repeated, "What am I forgetting?" that one was easy, even if it was hard to admit aloud.

"Everything." the young girl began, before looking down. She was high atop the ground, sitting along a firm branch of the same tree a guest leaned against. Her legs dangled for but a moment as she looked down. What an answer to throw at someone, everything, though it wasn't...untrue, now was it? After all, was she herself forgotten for example? Light encapsulated the young girl's form before she reappeared at the base of the tree, right in front of Yeul.

"Tell me, just how much of Paddra Nsu-Yeul are you, anyway? How much of your other selves do you remember, now that you're free?" was it the same for her other self too? Then...why was she here and not...where she really belonged... How long had such existential thoughts plagued her? The better part of a morning? Right through dawn? Time had almost come to a still and before the young girl knew it, she had company.

Of course, if she had to be grateful for anything, it was familiar company at least. Yeul was a friend, at least... the ones left behind in the chaos were friends. Were all Yuel's the same? Certainly...not all Lightnings were the same.

"Serah..." just hearing that name filled her with so much emotions, most of all...despair. Lumina's mind was elsewhere, reflected by the distant look in her eyes. The final inquiry was precisely what she'd been thinking upon from the moment Serah was mentioned. She was an impossible existence, it took both Farron sisters to bring her to life. A heart, fragmented as it was, still needed a soul. She'd merged with a lingering soul whilst her other self slept. Whatever else she lacked and it was clear she was lacking much, was filled by the Chaos.

So...what of her existence now...? Her eyes betrayed her innermost turmoil, portraying how frightened she was.
"This world has been connected." she spoke finally, before turning on the ball of her left foot playfully. "The children can sense it, they've received new friends." She held her right hand up to the side, palm facing upwards.

"What do you suppose your other selves did upon receiving this new, foreign company, Yuel?" she began, feeling her confidence return. She'd been shaken before, things were...hazy...her memories, at least the ones pertaining to her present status...had been lost to darkness. Her fate, was now unknown; left in a state of crisis.

Soon her shoulders slumped, her head tilted down as she could only stare at the earth beneath her feet. "As long as people remember me, as I was...as I could have been. I will not quietly sleep. That's just so...boring!" now this was genuine truth and not her usual evasion. Memories were powerful, for they created bonds and bonds could never be broken, just forgotten... left to slumber. The Claire that she became, wanted to live her life peacefully. No more fighting, so... Nova could keep its saviour. Choosing another, closer person for this venture beyond this world though...

She looked over her shoulder to Yuel, sporting her innocent smile. "So, here I am. Have you made the most out of your new life?" for if her friend was content to stay in this peaceful world, living her days with the one who cherished her most... well, that was fine. Hazy as her purpose was, it was not for the faint of heart.

Lumina knew she could count on Yuel, "Sharp as ever I see, then for a change of pace, I'll make this quick." There was no need for words, Yuel would understand just be sight alone. Lumina's form which seemed to be once opaque and stable, began to shimmer as the wisps of chaos swirled about her form. Her eyes which were downcast, slowly looked up. They were the familiar sea blue irises she always had but only for a moment. It only took a single blink, before Lumina's eyes became a deep yellow, just like those creatures.

"I can't linger around in this world for long because I'm chaos and not human, like you are now. Those creatures, they're called heartless. They seem to be able to get to this world in small quantities but... if they eat at the unseen realm, they'll pour out chaos into this world and things will be just like the old world." her words were alarming and given how direct she was being, Lumina was clearly serious.

She felt so empty at the moment, before she had Serah's soul and that helped to fill in what was missing, make her...nearly human. Now, Lumina was no better than Caius was, barring the small fragments she called her heart. The pieces that had been returned to Lightning and restored, allowing her to live life the way she wanted to. To be roused from that deep sleep within Lightning, it was thanks to Yuel, well her other selves, that she could be here.

"There's only one thing that can stop them and I need to go beyond our world, beyond the unseen realm... to worlds beyond. There, the goddess is confident that I'll find the power I need, as well as the power to exist...without the chaos." she paused now, offering a faint smile as she tilted her head somewhat. "I couldn't just ask you outright, it'd be...unfair to separate you from Noel. Not unless you choose to, just for awhile and...you have, so...thank you."


If only Lumina could say this was all according to plan, it wasn't. This was a gamble, a final gambit and she'd respect it or try to if it turned out differently. Whether she really could have done so...well, no need to worry about that now! Besides, there was bigger problems to worry about. "Ah, don't worry about the other me. I'm...there but I'm not there, confusing I know. I can't remember what the Goddess explained to me but it was very reassuring and she always tells the truth, right?"

Lumina knew that Yuel wouldn't doubt herself, she also knew time was of the essence here. That meant if they wanted to continue this conversation, it was best done elsewhere. Holding up her left hand, she'd point it palm outwards to her side. Suddenly a dark vortex began to manifest, swirling about in a way similar to chaos but unlike it as well. "The new friends travel like this. We'll talk more in the Unseen Realm and you'll see for yourself what trouble's brewing." and with a simple gesture, she encouraged Yuel to go on through first. Lumina would take up the rear and close it behind them.

Yuel trusted her, it made her heart feel so much lighter. It was the strength of a bond, one that was hers, instead of merely being inherited. Her eyes, even with their yellow glint, expressed gratitude. Yuel understood her, in such a way that her words got to the heart of the matter. Such so that, despite her inquiry, it may as well have been rhetorical. Even as Lumina shook her head, indicating she had no choice. The only way for her to come to Nova Chrysalia... was as a whole person. The memories that made her Lumina dwelt in the sea of chaos beyond. That was her home now, away from the others, though not in complete isolation.

Now things could be different, even as Yuel made a playful jab about Noel. Which resulted in Lumina playfully rolling her eyes. Bad influence or not, they were in this together now. In this way, she was briefly reminded of her time with Vanille. Though it was being called a 'hero', which set the infamous personification of chaos into deep thought. As she recalled, the hero was reserved for her other half. The stronger, selfless side, that wanted to grow up fast... to protect their younger sister. It caused Lumina to flinch, recalling how she truly came to be. Piece by piece, denial after denial, soon Claire Farron wasn't even Claire, she was Lightning. Her charm and tact were gone, were words brief...

She had to shake her head for a moment. The Goddess wouldn't lie to her, it was just as Yuel said. Didn't it take a Yuel to know a Yuel? Soon, she'd make her way through the Dark Corridor and so Lumina remained quiet for a moment. When they emerged in the Unseen Realm, the Sea of Chaos surrounded them. The door that took them here, closed in their wake. There was a scarce light within the darkness of the chaos. If Yuel looked closely, in the deepest recesses, there were beady yellow eyes.

"They can sense my doubt. Sense my fear, we talk now...just like the children of Chaos." Lumina began, her hands moved before her chest.

These were the heartless, pureborn in nature, primarily shadows... though some Neo Shadows crept about as well. They did nothing to attack, their interest was in the hearts that lay within the sea. The sorrow, the sadness, and now... their hope. They could be reborn now and as people could bring life anew; one by one, the souls would leave this place. Though many were antsy still, the world had not quite balanced between living and dead. Should the heartless consume them now, they'd be lost...

"I'm no heroine, Yuel... I don't want to be strong, I know what that means, the sacrifice... I don't want to become... like her. Not again..." that's what Lumina feared the most. Would she have to discard part of herself to become strong? To find the strength to protect the souls of the dead, as well as the living? Continuing the cycle of breaking one heart into more pieces...

"Hah!" Lumina suddenly raised her right index finger into the air, calling forth her Chaotic Thundaga, launching red bolts of lightning all around them. Each bolt struck the Heartless that gathered, silencing the whispers, halting the doubt for but a moment's respite. "That won't keep them away forever...they don't fear us or the power we have. Just the light and just one weapon. Some of the souls here, may have given in and become Heartless too. Their hearts not strong enough to wait to be born anew. It's not fair..." and thus it sounded as if she was speaking for the heartless, for the souls that swam in this realm, and maybe others who could not exist.

"We're just...nobodies, while we're here at least."

Light. Lights, the word resonated deep within Lumina's being, to the deepest recesses of what could be considered her 'heart'. Even if she was just a fragmented memory, that such was able to take form in conjunction with darkness and chaos alike, surely it was because of a good foundation? After all, she was Claire once; arguably more Claire than the present day. Though she'd be the first to admit that her 'sis' had come a long way. Accepting herself and letting her friends in, now it was time for Lumina to learn something from ol' Lightning. To prove that she wasn't going to be a rethread,

"Hope. Yes...yes~! That's what I want for all those here. Of course, we already have a Hope~" Lumina replied, feeling an abundance of something she desperately needed. She'd squeeze Yuel's hand, grateful to have a friend by her side. None of this would be easy, maybe it was impossible and Nova simply needed her temporarily. That was fine, her mind was made up after all.

"For my title, I want to be their Light." no matter what darkness came, no matter her moods. Nova's unpredictable, unlikely Light, would bring the weapon needed. If that didn't make a good story to tell, then nothing would! She was at a disadvantage though but that's what friends were for. To make up the difference, so that she wouldn't become cold, so that she'd grow into being a heroine at her own pace.

"Together, we'll protect Nova's future and give the lost their rebirth from sleep." with such embolden words, poetic and graceful, she waved her free hand before chaos and darkness swirled before them. Slowly, it would take on the shape of a door. It loomed before them, tall and imposing, linked to the unknown itself. Lumina's eyes widened, her lips parting before taking on a wide grin.

"This is how the Heartless arrived in our world, they call it the Corridor of Darkness. Be sure to safeguard your heart before we step through. I have no idea where this will take us but I'm sure we'll end up some place that'll help us find what we need." Lumina stated, matter of factly. Doubt didn't seem to resonate in her voice now, instead she was excited, eager and filled with her usual curiosity.

Looking to Yuel for a moment, she gave a smile before taking the first step. The Unknown awaited and their journey was about to unfold. Who knows when they'd see Nova again? Once the doorway closed, their path would be only forward, until the light brought them to their first destination.

Light really did suit her well, it was the purpose of her chosen 'name', a contrast to her other self. Besides, everyone loved light and she desired to be loved most of all. In turn, she opened her heart or what little of it resided in her physical embodiment; to those waiting for their birth by sleep. Which was why she was chosen by the Goddess, for she was the purest part of the saviour. Befitting the requirements for the Keyblade, provided she could strengthen and grow her heart. It all began with their walk through the darkest recesses, corridors that connected all worlds. The darkness did not seem to affect Lumina as they travelled. There were many theories as to why that was, even as her gaze remained focus.

"In here, unless we know where we're going, there isn't a right path." Lumina explained, breaking the silence. "Who knows what world we'll end up in but... if I had a wish, I want to feel at ease wherever we end up." what Lumina meant by that was unclear even to herself. At ease? Perhaps, she didn't want to feel like her presence would disturb the balance of the world? A place where the chaos that comprised her did not impact others. Not like it did back in Nova...

Soon the pathway forked like a crossroad, ceasing their relentless wandering for but a moment. While there may have been no right path, Lumina felt her right hand cradle her cheek, with her left supporting her elbow. North, West, or East. Her gaze befell each path carefully before instinctively choosing a direction."West seems like our starting point, a middle path." one could be mistaken for thinking her decision was entirely random. On the surface it just felt like the 'fun' choice, that's what she'd admit to if pressed. In truth, she felt something, intuition maybe, that reassured her to go this route.

"Tell me something, Yuel? What was the first thing you did upon being brought to the new world? Would you do the exact same thing upon our arrival?" curiosity got the better of her in this instance. Given she lacked the experience directly. Even so, she was excited for this first, one of many that would define her. She briefly considered how she had handled the unknown in the past. Thoughts of her Father, thoughts of her Mother and most of all, thoughts of Serah. "I'm not alone in this, I should share my feelings, make it count."

It was easy to fall into the mindset of worry, given she was dragging Yuel on this journey. That's... what she did with Serah, what did that get her exactly? Before she knew it, she'd lost sight of her goals, lost sight of the person who was most important to her. "I won't make the same mistakes. I told you that you couldn't change... you did and that means... I can change too."