Lightning/Claire Farron

Lightning, real name Claire Farron, is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy XIII as well as the narrator and a playable character in Final Fantasy XIII-2. She is initially shown to be a cold person, often distancing from her companions; however, later on in the story, she is shown to have a caring side. She fights to survive and see her sister Serah come out of crystal stasis.

Lightning has the distinction of being one of the few female main protagonists of games in the mainstream Final Fantasy series, the others being Terra Branford and Celes Chere from Final Fantasy VI.

Appearance and Personality

“Lightning. It flashes bright, then fades away. It can’t protect. It only destroys.“

—Lightning

Lightning is a fit young woman with long, light pink hair, pale aqua-colored eyes and a heart-shaped face. In Final Fantasy XIII,she wears a uniform for the Guardian Corps, based around a sleeveless white overcoat over a brown turtleneck-like shirt and a green metallic pauldron with yellow stripes symbolizing her rank as a sergeant. Notably, she also wears a red cape attached to her back on the left side, a long black sleeve over her left arm, knee-high leather boots, and a brown mini-skirt over high-topped black shorts. Her gunblade is carried behind her in a black case which hangs off her belt, along with a red pack strapped to her left leg. In addition, she also has a necklace with a lightning bolt pendant, two black bands around her right bicep, and a silver navel piercing. Her l’Cie brand is located slightly above her left breast.

Lightning is determined, concentrated and independent. Initially, she is cold and standoffish to others, which stems primarily from her irritation over her refusal to believe her sister Serah’s plight, as well as becoming a l’Cie just as Serah did. Much of her motivation is fueled from what she perceives as failing to properly protect Serah and wanting to make things right, which leads her to lash out at those she believes are responsible for that and the subsequent Purge: namely, the Sanctum, its fal’Cie and, to a point, Snow Villiers, due to his relationship with Serah. Lightning’s early solution to things that annoy or upset her is to distance herself, either emotionally or physically.

Over time, however, Lightning does begin to show compassion and see the errors in her approach. Although she is annoyed with him at first, she eventually takes Hope Estheim under her wing and then slowly begins to forgive Snow when she realizes he, too, cares deeply for Serah. By the time Lightning meets Fang, her rage at those who are not fal’Cie slaves has dissipated, and her anger, despite finding out the woman’s unwilling involvement in the situation, is short-lived.

In Final Fantasy XIII-2, Lightning wears a silver Valkyrie-like suit of armor with a shield on her left arm. She also wears thigh-high armor boots, and over her left leg is a long sash made of white feathers, symbolizing a connection with the gods. She also has a new gunblade modified to look more like a traditional sword.

Story

Early Life

Lightning’s father died when she was young, and her mother died from an unknown sickness when she was fifteen. With no other family to turn to, Lightning was given the job of raising her younger sister, Serah. In an attempt to get over the pain her parents’ deaths caused and become an adult as quickly as possible, she decided to change her name from Claire Farron to simply “Lightning”. After graduating from high school, Lightning decided to join the Guardian Corps Bodhum Security Regiment under Lieutenant Amodar, where she attained the rank of sergeant, and was scheduled for officer training before the events of the game. However, she slowly began to lose sight of her goals, and worked many hours while spending little time with Serah.

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise-

“This is ridiculous. Worst birthday ever.“

—Lightning

Lightning’s 21st birthday.

 

Even after they rescued her from an aquatic ambush, Lightning has always held a disdain for the Bodhum monster-fighting group NORA. Snow Villiers, their leader and Serah’s boyfriend, is a particular point of annoyance for her, and after a forced encounter with him, Lightning vows to have nothing to do them as well as dissuade her sister’s affections for the exuberant man.

As Lightning’s twenty-first birthday approaches, she begins to feel guilty for her lack of attention to Serah, feeling that she likely only got involved with Snow in order to quell her feeling of loneliness. Browsing the mall, she overhears a conversation between two tourists, Nora Estheim and her son, Hope, inspiring her to plan a vacation away from Bodhum for her birthday with Serah. She notices two fugitive l’Cie, Oerba Dia Vanille and Oerba Yun Fang, but believes they must be from Eden before she leaves the mall with her superior officer.

A few days later, the Cavalry are trying to hunt down Vanille. Though they do not explain the intention behind their investigation, Captain Rygdea asks Lightning to brief him on areas in Bodhum that teenagers are likely to visit in hopes of finding her. Regardless, she suspects it may have something to do with the “incident” at Euride Gorge.

Lightning volunteers to be Purged.

 

While attending the Bodhum fireworks festival, Lightning learns of a Pulse-related incident at the nearby Vestige being kept under wraps by the Sanctum. Amodar warns her not to investigate, as it would only lead to trouble.

The next day on Lightning’s birthday, Serah reveals her fate as a Pulse l’Cie, as well as her engagement to Snow. Lightning refuses to believe either claim, driving Serah away and demanding Snow to leave as well, leaving her alone to open Serah’s birthday present by herself: a survival knife. It is only when the Sanctum announces a Pulse fal’Cie is residing within the Vestige that she is forced to believe them, though by then it is too late: after learning the Sanctum plans to Purge the entire town, Lightning immediately tries to find Serah, but Snow reveals she is being held captive inside of the Vestige.

Although military personnel are exempt from the Purge, Lightning resigns from her job in the Guardian Corps without hesitation and boards the Purge train. As she waits in line, she is approached by a pilot, Sazh Katzroy, who is also a voluntary Purgee. As allies of circumstance, they are forced to work together as Lightning tries to rescue her sister before she is taken out of reach.

Final Fantasy XIII -Episode i-

“You know it’s not in us to just leave you behind.“

—Lightning to Fang and Vanille

Immediately after the ending, Lightning decides to find a way to save Vanille and Fang from the crystal pillar. She believes they will be able to find the answer hidden away somewhere on Gran Pulse, and perhaps discover other Pulsian survivors in the process. Lightning worries about the fact they are no longer l’Cie, and believes it will be a long and difficult journey. She decides to take up the task on her own, after coming to the conclusion that Snow, Hope and Sazh would all be tied down with other responsibilities and would not be able to accompany her.

Feeling the need to depart quickly, Lightning quietly leaves the others behind, and suddenly feels a strange force driving her forwards. She then disappears into a warp of some sort, and finds herself in a mysterious empty dimension devoid of life and dislodged from time. Asking herself where she is trying to go, she slowly walks forward into the darkness.

Final Fantasy XIII-2

“Sleep in peace, divine Etro. I will stand guard over your legacy.“

—Lightning

Lightning’s new appearance.

 

Five years after the events of -Episode i-, Lightning is presumed dead to most, though only Serah refused to accept that truth. But in reality, Lightning ended up in another world dislodged from time, now donning a suit of armor with what appears to be a new gunblade. Lightning still commands Odin and can summon him to her aid. She is seen falling from the sky and landing on Odin in midair. While riding Odin, she battles a dark form of Fang’s former Eidolon known as Chaos Bahamut on a dark crystal-laden beach by a mysterious city. Lightning and Odin enter the city, scaling buildings to evade Chaos Bahamut’s attacks. Then she flips above it and delivers the finishing blow from behind.