More than a Myth

Nothing Else Matters

Four pairs of eyes gawked at Lightning. She was from where? She was a what?
Prompto was the first to speak. "Wait, wait, wait a minute." He shook his head, "L'Cie aren't real. They're just a myth," He looked to all of his friends, "right?"
Ignis answered, "If it was just a myth, then why does all of this make sense?"
Gladiolus jumped in, "That's true. With that piece, the puzzle fits together perfectly."
Noctis didn't say anything. He hated that it all fell into place. All those times he said he'd take her home, how he promised he find her a way to get back, it all sounded impossible now. He had made her sadder. When he made that promise, he reminded her that she had little chance of going home. Every time he brought it up he would only make her feel worse.
"Okay," Gladiolus said. "But how did you get here? And how are you from Cocoon? Aren't Pulse L'Cie from Pulse?"
Lightning clarified, "That's not necessarily true. In fact, it's completely wrong."
Prompto held his head, "Ugh! I'm getting confused!"
Noctis finally spoke. "Lightning," his voice was soft, "Can you explain?"
Lightning looked down. "It may take a while. That myth of yours doesn't sound accurate."
Ignis said, "You can trust us. Just take as much time as you need." Lightning never understood how Ignis knew how she wasn't quite ready to tell them her life story.

She looked to each one of them. She sighed, "Alright. But you better keep up. It will get a little complicated."

So she explained. She started with her parent's deaths. Then to when she became Guardian Corps member. From Serah becoming a L'Cie, to meeting Sazh on the Purge train. Meeting Snow, Hope, and Vanille in the Hanging Edge, to fighting the Fal'Cie, Anima, that changed them into L'Cie. Splitting up at Lake Bresha to rejoining her fellow L'Cie in Palumpolum, with an addition of Fang this time. Invading the Palamecia to discovering Dysley's true identity, and what their Focus really was. Arriving on Pulse to fighting Barthandelus in Oerba. Leaving Pulse to running through Eden's hectic streets during the "Pulse Invasion." Finally, traveling through Orphan's Cradle before destroying Orphan itself, thwarting its plans of bringing back the Maker. Fang and Vanille's sacrifice were the last events of that year. She told them of Fang and Vanille's revival three years later, then Fang's establishment of the Pulse Life Restoration. She finished with her mission to the Mah'habara, where she found the portal. She told her story in great detail, including getting her eidolon, Odin, fighting Dahaka at Taejin's Tower, seeing Serah after Cocoon's fall, and beginning to train Hope in combat.
She stared at her friends. "That's it."
The men were silent. Prompto sat down on one of the nearby beds. He held his head, letting his shotgun fall to the floor. Good thing the safety was on or one of them could have had a nasty wound on their hands. He yelled, "Ooow! Talk about information overload!"
Gladiolus agreed, "You can say that again. That was quite an earful."
Ignis pushed up his glasses. "That was far more than a bedtime story like most say it is."
Lightning nodded.
Noctis said, "So...you all were supposed to destroy the world?"
She nodded again.
"Aw man," Prompto said, "That's pretty depressing... Did all of that really happen?"
She nodded a third time.
Gladiolus recalled, "But Noctis' power harmed you. The myth said it was meant to ward off L'Cie. But you're not one anymore."
Lightning said, "I still have the powers though. We all guessed it was because we were turned to crystal, but couldn't be given another focus, so we figured they stayed with us because there was no Fal'Cie to make us Cie'th or Crystal. We are practically focusless L'Cie, I guess."
Prompto added, "And you have a myth in your world that is about the crystal kingdoms and Noctis' family like we have one about Pulse and Cocoon?"
"Yes, but, like yours, it isn't very correct. And it isn't popular on Cocoon. I heard it from Fang. She was told the stories when she was a kid on Pulse."
Ignis pointed out, "You mentioned how the places where your brands were burned the most. Is that why when Noctis uses his power you clutch your..."
Prompto was lost. "Wait, does that mean your brand used to be..."
Noctis blushed. He was starting to have dirty thoughts.
Lighting glared. "Yes. And I suggest you don't bring it up if you value your life."
Gladiolus said, "Also, Noct used his power on you earlier, but you didn't faint like the first time you were exposed to it."
Ignis said, "That's right. Do the effects wear off after some time?"
Noctis said, "Looks like it. But that's sort of a good thing."