First fanfiction, but not the first publication on my part. This chapter opens at the end of Orphan's battle taking a different approach to the story from a much darker opinion of Final Fantasy XIII after the chaos of Cocoon's Fall…
Disclaimer: I do not have rights to the wonderful Square Enix creation
POST-APOCALYPTIC COCOON
The quicksilver pool was all that remained of Orphan the Abandoned, the martyred Fal'cie who sacrificed himself for the greater good: a desire to bring back the Maker and right all the wrongs in the universe. As Lightning and company were blown out of Orphan's Cradle and the crystalysis of Cocoon ensued, a lone figure stood before Orphan's Throne, white cape billowing out behind him.
"Oh Barthandelus, I can do much more to summon the Maker without your eccentric methods. It is my turn now. The dawning of my age. I am Cid Raines no more."
The fallen L'cie descended into the depths of the quicksilver, breathing in as he walked lower and lower. Slowly the quicksilver condensed to one point above Raines; at the apex of his breathing the fluid funneled down his throat. Every memory ever belonging to the Fal'cie Barthandelus was now at Raines' disposal.
"I shall now be known as Myriad, the Fal'cie of New Eden."
FFVK…
Lightning Farron, Snow Villiers, Hope Estheim, and Sazh Katzroy stood on the Archylte Steppe frozen in crystalysis on the surface of Gran Pulse as Oerba Yun Fang and Oerba Dia Vanille sacrificed themselves to save the floating world of Cocoon. The transformation into Ragnarok proved to trigger their crystalysis, however the magic of their love proved to be just enough to hold up Cocoon in the sky. They would be gone forever. The final blast of magic, as a result, knocked the remaining party back into reality as Serah Farron and Dajh Katzroy appeared on the horizon.
Lightning and Snow ran to Serah in joy, and Sazh picked up Dajh twirling his son around. Hope however, had no one. His jubilant smile faded as reality set in for the fourteen year old: his mother was gone forever, his father was most likely dead, if not in the possession of some very upset C'ieth, and his first crush in Vanille was gone for good. His jealousy for Fang burned hot, as the new adolescent hormones raged through his system, almost as if his jolt back to life jump started his feelings.
FFVK…
As night fell Cocoon began to light up slowly. The group stared mystified at the dwarf planet confused as to how order had been restored so quickly. The group paused as they were setting up camp on the trail heading towards Oerba. Although there may possibly be other settlements on Pulse, Oerba is the closest and with a little clean-up operation, the houses could become a decent place to live until Cocoon accepts her saviors.
Hope became a recluse, removing himself from all conversation where he only spoke at meal times and spent his time suffering in his misery. Snow had spent every minute with Serah, informing her of their journey and planning their wedding. Sazh told Dajh of the wild chocobos and all the sights of Pulse, and Lightning stood guard to keep the wild beasts away. As they stood around the fire staring up at Cocoon, ships blotted out the newly glowing sphere.
An intercom blared across the sky "L'cie! We know you are down there, do not try to run. There is someone rather eager to make your acquaintance."
Everyone stood, ready to flee at Lightning's command. Snow covered Serah protectively, Sazh slowly upholstered his pistols while standing over the sleeping Dajh, and Hope opened his boomerang. Lightning however had learned much in her travels and simply holstered her gunblade.
"Hope, Sazh lower your weapons. I'm curious as to who wants to meet us."
FFVK…
A shimmer of light wavered in front of Lightning, and a very familiar face stepped forward. Lightning stepped back slowly, inhaling sharply. Cid Raines was as breathtaking as ever, his pearl white shoes shone with an ethereal light, his gray under-robe radiated with power, and the silver stripes in the fabric imitated the quicksilver of Orphan. The white gloves that encased his hands had an aura of limitless energy. His shoulder guard marked with the glow of the Cavalry had changed, marked now by the silver of Orphan. The white cape was also changed, covered now with ancient symbols depicting a Fal'cie order that only higher beings could understand. His black hair was now bright silver, but still encased his face in the familiar manner as the last time she had seen him. The last thing she noticed were his eyes… instead of the intoxicating blue she had fallen for when she first met him aboard the Lindblum, his eyes were replaced with a raptor gaze of silver.
"All living things… every being that walks and breathes... each has its own star. When a life is born, a new star appears: that is the guardian star. The star that warms this planet is someone's guardian star as well. The red star you see overhead… and when a life ends, the star falls and disappears. His star is about to fall... I have dreamt it. Do not fear death. Death is always at our side. When we show fear, it jumps at us faster than light. But if we do not show fear, it casts its eye upon us gently… and then guides us into infinity. The Maker has truly abandoned us. It is now the time to raise the bar. If the destruction of Cocoon meant nothing to our Maker, perhaps Pulse may hold a place in His heart."
"Raines!" Lightning had finally found her voice. "You look... different."
"The being you once knew as Cid Raines is no longer. I am Myriad, Fal'cie of New Eden. I am not here for pleasantries. You will do my bidding." The being spoke in a surrounding tone, ominous and deadly, yet his voice never rose above a whisper.
"Well then, Myriad, I refuse." Lightning flicked her gunblade back out, however hundreds of red dots pinpointed all over her body, threatening her to move.
"Lightning Farron... do not defy me. I am much more powerful than any Fal'cie you have faced before. I see you are no longer branded by Anima. I can change that." Myriad threw his arms out wide, and suddenly all went black. A monstrous creature surrounded in shadow loomed over the group. Light shot out and silver tendrils bound all members of the party, the difference between Anima's attack and Myriad's was that the tendrils were less primal, the need less demanding, almost civilized in a way. Ironically enough, the branding occured in exactly the same place on each of their bodies as last time. Lightning's brand was on her breast, Sazh on his chest, Hope on his left wrist, Serah on her upper left arm, Snow on his right hand, and finally Dajh on his right hand, too. A nostalgic experience flashes through all of their minds, a mere glimpse of their Focus. A flaming giant flashes across their minds, the death cries of billions echo in their ears, an enormous tremor vibrates across the emptiness, and everyone blacks out.