act i. cycle ix.
The infinite clockwork of possibilities stretched from horizon to horizon. Gears endlessly turned, spinning Time's flow from past to future.
Through this he floated in a dream upon wings of chaos.
Drifting along the rivers of time, there was no destination. He had gained his pyrrhic victory and this was his reward: forever lost in eternity, forever wandering in solitude.
Chaos beat inside him and the memories of a hundred timelines consumed him. Pity for the one defeated filled him, followed by a rising despair to be cursed by the same doom. He saw his friends and the fates which awaited them, but he could not reach out, could not call to them. Helplessness rose in him like bile.
Brilliant golden light saturated the vast orange sunset of Time. His eyelids fluttered and he awoke from his dream, drowning in that ethereal radiance.
(You make your own myths, Caius.)
He was but a fraction of the size of the great dragon's head; it stared down at him as Time funneled him toward it. He could see himself reflected in a giant yellow eye, the cat-slit pupil contracting in the shining light.
(But I'm going to save everyone my way.)
His lips curled into an old, familiar smile.
Jaws snapped shut over him.
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The basin was surrounded by jagged escarpments, craggy hands reaching over the calm surface of the deep lagoon. Green vines and purple flora blanketed the grey rock, netting across the branches of the slender willows standing guard over the pool.
A fat, furry quadruped moved quickly under the shadows of trees to escape the afternoon heat, its long tongue lolling out. Shiny black button eyes glanced cautiously about before it waddled to the edge of the still pool. Ripples broke the surface as the beast bent its long neck to drink.
Crawling on his belly to the precipice of a rocky overhang, a predator watched from overhead. He was a young man with skin browned from long days in the sun, sleek in form-fitting leather armor of blue and black, ornamented only with a simple sash and a trail of feathers at his waist. Pinions and beads adorned long dark hair framing an expressive face currently hardened with concentration.
A tiny ursine creature bobbed up into the air beside him; Noel lifted a hand and gently pushed the moogling back low onto the ground. They had to be careful and not be seen; this was dinner on the line and good meat was not always easy to find.
His prey quickly lifted its head to some unheard sound, water dripping from its muzzle. Noel held his breath. The critter's ears twitched and after a pause, it stooped down to drink again.
Exhaling slowly, Noel pushed himself up, fingers gripping the shaft of his spear tight. The muscles in his arm bunched. He had only one chance...
Rocks crunched like a loud shot in the peaceful lagoon.
The beast's head swiftly snapped up and darted to the safety of vine and tree with a loud yip. Muttering a curse, Noel flattened himself as a strange boy popped through a gap of stone, stumbling onto the shore of the pool.
The moogling chirped quietly in surprise and Noel touched it in warning. He peered over the edge of his perch.
The boy crouched at the water's edge, drinking deep and splashing water onto his pale-haired head. Noel pegged him at maybe fourteen or fifteen—not much younger than him—slight in build and height and also naggingly familiar. A white crown of shining stars flickered upon the boy's brow for a moment.
(One of Cosmos.) Noel frowned at the sign. Better to stay quiet until the boy left. Still, he couldn't shake this feeling—he knew this boy from somewhere.
Suddenly the stranger looked up at where Noel was hiding; Noel pressed himself even closer to the rock, thoughts now running a mile a minute. Their eyes had briefly met and while the boy was shorter, younger, and less stately, Noel recognized exactly who he was.
(But how?)
Three seconds later, Noel's world exploded.
Flames, rocks, and dust blinded him; instinctively, Noel tucked his body in to land on hard ground with a roll, before flipping up onto the balls of his feet, sister swords materializing in his hands.
Disoriented, he tried to get his bearings; a kupo resounded from his right and he whirled around in time to intercept a meteor of ice with his larger sword. The missile ricocheted off his blade with jarring force, twisting it from his fingers. Noel cursed, reaching for the hilt, but a bolt of lightning blasted into the sword and it exploded into sparks.
His vision burning with the afterimage of the lightning strike, Noel shot forward to dodge another bolt, weaving across the the rocky shore as elements rained down in succession. Slicing through a wall of water with his short blade, he closed the distance between them; pale green eyes widened in surprise as Noel swung his gladius wide, flat of the blade out.
It crashed hard against a barrier of magic glyphs, sparks flying. Noel shoved at the shield, flipping back, and before the boy could conjure more spells, kicked up gravel and sand. His opponent flinched reactively at the harmless attack and Noel used that split second of distraction to barrel into him, knocking him flat on his back. In a flash he was atop the boy, pinning down an arm and pressing the gladius to his neck.
And a pinprick prodded against his own.
Noel met the boy's green eyes, wide with desperation, small chest heaving with adrenaline. A curved knife was clenched tight in an extended fist, wicked tip ghosting against Noel's exposed skin.
A thin bead of sweat trickled down from Noel's temple. He craned his neck carefully against the quivering knife to better watch the boy beneath him. "...I'm not going to hurt you."
The boy's lip curled. Noel never imagined that such a ferocious look could grace such an innocent face. "Pretty funny coming from the guy with a sword to my neck." The tone was harsh, but Noel could feel the fear in the boy's body.
With obvious deliberateness, Noel loosened his grip on his short sword. Fear could make people act in the most irrational of ways. He had to reassure the boy that he meant no harm. "You attacked me first."
The boy suddenly tensed; the knife's edge scraped against Noel's skin and he quickly tilted his head away but the blade followed. "Why were you watching me? What were you doing?"
Noel grimaced, side-eyeing the steel. "I was getting dinner—and you scared it off."
The knife didn't budge, but the boy was silent. Noel could feel his eyes on him.
They were getting nowhere with this stalemate and Noel realized that he'd have to be the first to give in. He was sure that the boy was simply frightened and had no intent to actually kill. If he didn't feel threatened, he might be easier to reason with.
Decision made, Noel's gladius disappeared in a flash of sparks and he lifted up his hands in a gesture of peace. When the boy didn't press an attack, Noel carefully got to his feet and backed off, rubbing away the feel of the blade on his neck.
The boy quickly sat up, weapon still pointed at him, eyes suspicious.
"No harm, no foul, right?" Noel smiled, extending a hand in an offer to help the boy stand. "Name's Noel. Noel Kreiss. You are…?"
He could tell the boy was parsing the situation; a slight furrow creased between his brows—a habit the older version would continue to carry—and his mouth tightened. Ignoring the question, the boy lowered his arm, sliding the knife shut and scrambling to his feet. Noel tilted his head at the weapon—it looked incredibly similar to the military survival knife Serah had, the one she claimed was her sister's.
Awkwardly, the two stared at each other. Birds chirped from the trees.
Noel rubbed the back of his head. "So," he said, not really sure how to handle this, "you're a warrior of Cosmos, aren't you?"
The boy eyed Noel warily. "What do you mean?"
"What I said." Noel tapped his chin. "How can I put this… You're headed there, right?" He pointed at a shining tower shrouded in clouds, rising in the distance beyond blue mountains. "And you don't remember much, you don't know where you are, but you had some visions. A woman—a goddess—calling you to go there."
The other's expression confirmed Noel's words. "You… seem to know a lot about this…"
Noel grinned. "I've been around. Look, to make up for before, how about I take you there? It's not far but you can get lost easi—"
"No, thank you." A wall dropped down over the boy's face; his voice was cool and reserved. "I don't trust you."
"...That's blunt enough." But Noel wasn't bothered by it. (He was a also little suspicious of me back then, the first time we met.)
[Noel!] His moogling bobbled from past the startled boy to fling itself into Noel's face. [Is Noel okay?!]
"I'm fine," Noel said into a mouthful of fur. He peeled the moogling off him. "What about you?"
[Mogki not hurt!] The moogling suctioned itself to Noel's face again. [But Mogki was scared, kupo!]
"It's—Mogki, stop—it's okay now, you can—Mogki, that tickles…!"
As Noel struggled to calm the agitated moogling, he caught a glimpse of the boy staring, rapt, at the tiny creature. Noel remembered that Serah had a similar expression when he had first brought her Mog; on their world, moogles were toys or, what had she said? A 'theme park mascot.' Noel could tell the boy wanted to ask about it.
Mogki squirmed out of Noel's grip, but finally settled on top of his head much to Noel's relief. The moogling puffed out, shaking a scolding paw at the pale-haired boy. [Hey, kupo! Stupid boy shouldn't attack Noel! Noel's super strong, kupo!]
"Mogki," Noel warned, reaching up to silence the moogling.
But it just fluttered out of his reach, popping up in the boy's face, shoving its berry nose against his. [Huh? Huh?]
The boy stumbled back, flustered. "I wasn't—I thought…" He clutched an arm defensively, staring sullenly at the moogling from beneath pale lashes. "I thought he was a monster."
[Noel's no monster, kupo! Noel's Noel!]
Noel plucked the irate moogling out of the air, smooshing it against his chest when it squirmed. "All right, okay. No need to defend my honor." Noel offered the boy a contrite smile. "Sorry about that."
"Yeah… " The boy rocked on his heels, uncomfortable but he no longer perceived Noel as a threat. "So is that… some kind of toy?"
[Toy!?] The moogling wiggled out of Noel's grip. Offended, it buzzed around the boy's head. [Mogki's Mogki, kupo! And Stupid Boy's stupid!]
"Sorry, I'm sorry," the boy said, ducking away.
[Hmph.] The little moogling seemed somewhat satisfied with the hasty apology. It plopped back on top of Noel's head, folds its arms over its tiny chest. [Mogki guess Mogki can forgive Boy for being stupid, kupo.]
Noel scratched a cheek sheepishly. The boy looked utterly mortified at being chastised and insulted by a baby moogle. "Er, Mogki's a moogle, not a toy. Do you know about them?"
"I think… I remember seeing something like one before… "
"You might see a few around here. They're interdimensional travellers, so some end up here."
The boy's brow crinkled. "Interdimensional—?"
"You'll probably find out more about all that when you reach Sanctuary—that tower." Noel paused. "Are you sure you don't want my help? It's still a few days travel on foot—you know how to make it out in the wild?"
"I'm sure. Thank you. I can manage just fi—" A low growl interrupted the boy, rattling loud from his midsection.. A brief look of annoyance crossed innocent features. "I can mana—" And his tummy rumbled again.
Noel blinked and the boy's cheeks flooded with red. He looked away in irritated embarrassment.
Trying not to smile to spare the boy's pride, Noel nonchalantly folded his hands behind his head and studied the sky. "You know, you did scare off my dinner. And you also attacked me when I didn't do anything wrong. So before you go, you should make up for it with some food."
Mogki agreed with a loud kupo.
The boy scowled, rubbing at his red cheeks. "I don't have any."
"Then get some."
"I don't know how to hunt or cook," he protested and his stomach agreed loudly.
"Good thing I can do both." Noel smirked, walking past him without a second glance; but in a few moments, Noel could hear him trailing behind with unsure steps.
"It's Hope," the boy mumbled suddenly. "I remember that my name is Hope."
Noel wasn't sure if he was relieved or worried by this confirmation. He smiled over his shoulder. "It's nice to meet you, Hope."
Hope nodded, eyes downcast. "Yeah, you too… uh, Noel."
(Most likely he was summoned to counter my presence.) But why Hope? There were far more significant people in Noel's life than the scientist who was working to save Noel's future. And even so, he couldn't imagine the reason his other would be a younger Hope, one that he had never even met.
(Goddess, what are you planning?)
(Have you finally gained the courage to protect all that you've grown to love?)
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He lost track of the cycle count.
He spent his days aimlessly, criss-crossing back and forth over the world. At first it was to search for a way out; then it was just something to keep him occupied. He grew to know the lands well: the flora and the fauna, the bizarre clash of dimensions that would alter the landscape from a forest to the surface of the moon, the preferred haunts of the other warriors.
He was alone most of the time. He had Mogki and he loved the moogling dearly, but there was no comparison to another human voice, another human body. His main human contacts were either battles from opponents or a fleeting visit from the few warriors he was cordial with. These meetings were like water to a parched tongue, but they made the forthcoming solitude more empty.
He tried to make a friend, a lasting comrade. But his opponents only saw him as an enemy and his allies were too vested in their own interests or inaction. And it frustrated him to be disconnected from people when people were right there in front of him, so he shut them out and immersed himself in self-exile.
During those early days, he dreamt often of that other world, of a dark-haired girl cold in his arms, of a blue-eyed woman whose fingers he couldn't grasp. He'd wake up with his face wet with tears, clutching Mogki tight, wondering how he could save them if he couldn't save himself.
Yet as the cycles rolled on, he became accustomed to his isolation and the dreams came less. Some days, when the nights were so bright that it seemed almost like daylight, he could recall their faces or almost hear their voices.
But mostly they were ghosts in his mind and soon he stopped dreaming of them completely.
And he lost track of the cycle count and any sense of purpose. Both the past and the future ceased to have meaning or hope.
It didn't matter. This place existed between moments of time, frozen in eternity.
His days were now a long lonely dream, not much different from a dying world.
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Cupping his hands over his mouth, Noel called down to the tiny figure below. "Tired already?"
Hope didn't have the breath to reply, trudging up the steep incline stubbornly. Spots of bright color splotched his pale cheeks from the effort of scaling the mountainous terrain. He tugged at the blue and orange kerchief around his neck, fanning it to try to cool off.
"Just a little further!" Noel called again encouragingly, trying not to smile when Hope shot him the dirtiest look the boy could manage at the moment. Instead, Hope came off looking like a disgruntled housepet.
Mogki was unimpressed. [Ho-po so slow.]
"I don't think he's used to roughing it," Noel said, somewhat amused. He was having a hard time imagining that this introverted, naive, and delicate teenager would grow up into a visionary leading the world into a bright future.
While Sanctuary wasn't far, their progress the last couple of days had been slow. The terrain was difficult, even for the experienced. To Hope's credit, he never complained, but Noel wondered if it'd just be easier if he piggybacked Hope to Sanctuary.
Not that Noel objected to the slow progress. He still didn't know what to do about Hope.
(Trapped here in the cycles…)
Finally Hope stumbled up to the top of the ridge and flopped down to the ground with a relieved sigh, his arms like lead at his sides. A refreshing breeze ruffled his hair and he turned his sweaty face into it.
"Wow…" The gasp of awe was involuntary.
Noel grinned, folding his arms over his chest. "Nice view, huh?"
The ridge rimmed a verdant valley of mountains and forests, their green hues muted by the overcast sky and a foggy haze. Frothing white waterfalls tumbled down between emerald clefts cut into the sharply pointed peaks, crashing into unseen waters. Far and away the valley wove its tapestry and in the far horizon at its end, Sanctuary shined like a star amid blue, snow-sheathed mountains.
The ache of climbing the ridge forgotten, Hope leaned forward on his hands. "It looks like a fairytale."
"Why don't we take a break?" Noel squinted at sky, the sun a pale disc behind grey clouds in the west. "We still have another day or two of travel. Let's stop for today and start early tomorrow."
"No arguments here." Sitting back and stretching out his sore legs, Hope closed his eyes and let the wind embrace him.
Noel dropped down beside him, leaning back on his hands. "Once you're feeling up to it, we'll climb down a little and set up camp."
"Why not stay here? It's nice up here."
"Out in view like this?" Noel wagged a finger. "Good way to get attacked."
"By monsters?" They had encountered a few ravenous beasts on their journey—and hunted a few more. Fighting monsters felt familiar but not natural to Hope, so he often let Noel handle the bulk of any encounters.
"Not just monsters," Noel said, mouth a hard line. The odds of running into a mankin or a minion of Chaos was slim this close to Sanctuary, but better safe than sorry until Hope had a better understanding of what he was brought into.
Hope's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Noel shook the dark expression off his face. "You'll find out all about that when you arrive at Sanctuary."
"That's been your answer to everything I ask." The boy picked up a rock and chucked far out into the valley.
"It's not my place to tell you." Noel rubbed the back of his neck in mute apology. "Don't worry. I'll get you safely to Sanctuary and then you'll find out everything you need to know."
"But not everything I want to know, huh," Hope muttered under his breath. "Honestly," he continued in a louder voice, "it's hard to trust you when you're so secretive."
Noel tilted his head. "Have I led you astray yet?"
"... it's the 'yet' that worries me."
"I said I'll get you to Sanctuary," Noel's voice was firm, "and I mean it."
Faded green eyes searched Noel's face for deception. He met that gaze resolutely; he never lied.
"Weirdo," Hope mumbled, looking out to the valley.
Noel supposed that was as close to a compliment he was going to get.
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A translucent bridge of light spanned the shining sea below, passing through a pair of soaring arches rising like wings from the waves. Beyond, the tower of Sanctuary rose high to disappear into clouds, gleaming opalescent in the bleached sun.
Noel stopped before the bridge and waved behind him for Hope to hurry up. "You're almost there, Hope! Come on!" Mogki echoed his sentiments with a loud chirp.
Huffing, the boy dragged himself over the crest of the hill, stooping over beside Noel. "This is it?" he asked between breaths. "Cause I don't think I can climb another mountain."
"Yeah," Noel nodded. He pointed. "Cross the bridge and you'll be in Sanctuary."
Straightening, Hope eyed the pass. It was not wide and had no rails. Through it, the ocean could be seen frothing white. "... is it safe to cross?"
"It wouldn't be here if it wasn't."
Hope still had his doubts. He moved to the edge and peered down at the rolling water below before drawing back. "You go firs—" He stopped, glancing around quickly.
"Hope?"
Hope's head shot up. "What's…?"
Noel followed his gaze; a black shape was hurtling at them, glittering in the white sky. He grabbed Hope by the shoulders and jerked them out of the way, landing hard on the rock with Hope atop and Mogki clinging desperately to both. The meteor crashed with a resounding boom, dust and chips of stone frothing into the air.
In an instant, Noel was on his feet with lance in hand. Smoke cleared, revealing a tall man in elaborate armor the color of night crouching in a crater of his own making. He bore a helm carved into the countenance of a fantastical dragon, roaring low over his face. The point of a long, wicked spear was driven deep into the earth; if Noel hadn't moved, he would've been skewered.
Noel relaxed, releasing his weapon. "That's some greeting, Kain," he said, approaching the rising dragoon. He waved away the settling dust as the moogling flopped onto his head with a warbled hello. "Almost made me think you wanted a fight."
"There will be one if you attempt to pass," the dragoon said.
Noel spread his hands. "Wasn't planning on it. I don't really feel like dealing with that Guardian right now anyway." He jerked a thumb at a confused Hope. "I was just showing your latest recruit the way."
Kain's head swiveled toward the boy. Hope shifted under the unseen gaze, but stared back steadily.
"Rather unusual for you to be assisting us so," Kain finally said, turning back to Noel.
Noel shrugged, feeling Hope's questioning look. (He'll find out eventually.) "What I do with my own time is my business."
"Is that so." But Kain dismissed his weapon and motioned Hope toward him. "Come, boy. Cosmos awaits."
Hope hesitated, his eyes still questioning as he glanced back and forth between Noel and the dragoon. "Noel, what's…?"
Noel smiled ruefully. "You better get going. Shouldn't keep a Goddess waiting."
"Oh," was all Hope said and he turned his face toward the tower. But he didn't move. "What about you?"
"Did you start liking my company?" Noel teased, poking Hope in the back. "I'm touched. But I can't go any further."
Shooting Noel a flat look, Hope's hands brushed at where he was poked, as if cleaning away something dirty. But bolstered by Noel's teasing, he quickly moved forward, stopping before the bridge uncertainly.
[Bye-bye, Ho-po!] Mogki waved. [Try to be less stupid, kupo!]
"Hey, Hope!" Noel called after him. Hope turned his head a fraction of an inch. "Don't die, okay? You have to stay alive, no matter what."
"I don't need you to tell me that," Hope muttered. His fists clenched and with a deep breath, he placed a foot on the bridge of light. Despite its insubstantial appearance, it held his weight and he cautiously crossed the span, passing under the arches.
Noel rubbed the back of his head as he watched the boy disappear into white light. He really didn't want to be separated from Hope, but the circumstances made it difficult to remain with the boy who would eventually grow up and become one of Noel's few friends. He shrugged to himself and turned to leave.
But Kain blocked his way, lance in hand once more.
Noel raised a brow. "Are you challenging me?"
"You know him."
Noel studied the dragoon for a moment; the carved helm hid Kain's thoughts. The two had known each other for many cycles; Kain didn't remember all their meetings, but Noel did. He had learned quite a bit from Kain about the lance—and had defeated Kain in several cycles when the dragoon didn't remember him.
"Something like that," Noel sighed, folding his arms over his chest.
"Your other, then."
"Something like that," Noel repeated and made to move past Kain.
The dragoon held out his lance to stop him. "Will you fight that boy?"
Noel glanced at him from the corner of his eyes. "If he challenges me, yeah."
"And will you be able to fight him?"
"What makes you think I can't? What's with all the questions?"
Kain lowered his weapon after a moment, allowing Noel to pass. "A child like that will break easily. Purification will not be easy were he to die."
Noel stopped, snorting. "He's stronger than he looks. On our world, he'll save the future." He held up two fingers over his shoulder. "Twice."
"That amounts for naught here. This place remembers and predicts nothing."
Noel turned, bowing deeply at Kain's back. "Then I'm counting on you to watch over him, Master Kain."
The dragoon didn't reply, leaping high up and disappearing into the white sky.
Noel stared up at the tower of Sanctuary soaring up into wispy clouds. Hope was probably being led to the Goddess by her Guardian right now. She'll tell him of the conflict between the gods, and that he had been recruited to fight in their little war. He'll be informed that his memories will return over time and how to recognize his ally from his enemy.
But he won't be told the true nature of this war, its dirty secret.
"Kupo?" Mogki lightly pinched the tip of Noel's ear. [You're being summoned.]
A portal of shifting darkness yawned open behind him; turning away from the cold light of Sanctuary, he stepped within.
His second step was upon a long stairway leading to a high summit, surmounted by a hulking, foreboding throne. The air stunk of brimstone, the scorched earth belching flames into a sky which wept fire.
Garland was waiting at the top of the stair, his heavy armor reflecting red. The sculpted helm he bore was a tribute to the god he served; its monstrous facade followed Noel as the young man passed him.
Ahead sat the God of Discord on his dark throne; a large fiend born of war and violence, but the eyes were humane as Noel approached.
"It is good of you to come, my Guardian."
(Still hate ffn's formatting...)
Dissidia's "rules" were altered a bit to suit my needs.
Story is complete and chapters will be uploaded daily.
Thanks for reading.