A/N: Why hello there! Um… this is the beginning of the end, or the beginning of something great. (Wow. Corny much?)

This is my first FF13 fanfiction, so here goes nothing.

Oh, a quick little detail before we begin. I cannot update until I progress through the game. And I'm still in Lake Bresha, unable to beat that big ass scorpion PSICOM thing. Yeah.

And thanks to Lexicer for beta reading!!!! :D

Disclaimer! I do not own FF13 or any songs I may use, (and you better believe I will) but I shall be making separate disclaimers for those. All rights go to their respective parties.

They're doomed.

That's the conclusion Hope has come to.

Of course, most people would think the same thing if they were the ones who had been dragged into the Pulse fal'Cie by a bubbly pig-tailed girl.

Stupid Vanille, he thought bitterly as he watched her skip around the vestige.

But he couldn't really complain. He did kind of owe the girl his life and his sanity. She had been there when that "hero" let Hope's mother die. She had stood next to Hope, watching his mother, Nora, plummet to her death.

First, his mother's death, and now he's in the company of a strange girl who didn't seem to have any knowledge of personal boundaries.

This is going to be a long day.

"Well, since we're here, let's look around," Vanille suggests, perky as ever.

Hope simply shrugs in response.

She grins, but just as she turns on one heel, something crosses their path.

A pantheron.

But this isn't just any pantheron. This one, unlike the others who flash red, glows a bright green. The beast drools as its beady eyes focus on its unsuspecting prey. The pantheron unleashes a roar, and Vanille falls backwards, unarmed. Before Hope can pull his Airwing from his pocket, a flash falls down from the ledges above.

Hope stumbles to the ground, shielding his face.

He winces when he hears a loud smack.

Assuming that the creature has just eaten a perky-red-head sandwich, Hope gingerly opens his eyes.

But instead of seeing Vanille's pulpy, bloodstained body, he sees the pantheron's.

It's attacker?

A girl.

Although Hope can't see her well between the cracks of his fingers, he can tell that she's a skilled fighter. Not only does she wield two blades, but she knows how to use them well.

She slashes at the monster once again, and kicks the monster hard with her boot. The pantheron lunges, but she skillfully hops out of the way, puncturing its shoulder simultaneously.

Her attacks work in perfect sync with the pantheron's, which almost—almost—makes Hope jealous. He wants to see her features, but a royal blue hood covers her head and face.

With one final swipe, the strange breed of pantheron falls to the ground with a yelp.

The girl stares at her handiwork for a moment before nodding. Folding her swords, she slides them into two loops on either side of her shorts so that they hang at her sides.

While Hope picks himself off the floor, she wipes her hands on the front of her shirt. He shuffles over to Vanille and sheepishly helps her up.

The girl turns around to look at them.

She's definitely not someone Hope or Vanille have ever met before.

Her eyes are the color of candy apples. Light brown, layered hair cascades down her back, except for her bangs, which are clipped back with a pin. She wears a deep blue vest over a cream tank top and tan boots that reach up her thighs.

She's pale, but flush from exertion.

"Wow, that thing was a weird color!" she exclaims. Grinning, she pulls the hood away from her face.

"What was that?" Vanille asks, hands on her hips.

Hope rolls his eyes. She doesn't seem the least bit affected by the fact that she almost got killed. She's probably forgotten it happened already, he thought.

"I don't know for sure. I just woke up here."

Vanille's shimmering jade eyes widen as Hope rolls his. This girl is clearly a joke. Probably a l'Cie ordered to kill them. "Do you remember anything?" Vanille asked.

"I remember everything up to coming here. Yeah. That sounds about right."

Hope glares at her, and she tilts her head in confusion.

Great, Hope moans inwardly. Someone else to annoy me.

"I'm Lily," she states cheerfully, and sticks out her hand.

Vanille shakes it happily and says, "Vanille."

Hope glares at the girl's thin hand. He doesn't want another girl saving his life. He can do that on his own. Hope knows he has to take care of himself now that his mother is gone.

Gone. The word seems so foreign, so odd.

"Who are you?" Lily smirks at him.

"Hope."

She smirks slightly. "Nice name. My friend's actually." Her grin grows wider. "She's 14, like me."

Hope bares his teeth and clenches his fists. How dare she? He does get remarks like that a lot, but never from a complete stranger. She's crossing the line.

"Why are you here?" she asks directly to Vanille, ignoring Hope's annoyed curses.

Vanille simply shrugs. "Looking for someone."

"Mind if I tag along?"

Hope groans. It really is gonna be a long day.