A whole new world had beckoned the survivng members of Cocoon after what was being labeled "the Fall from the Heavens". Few had imagined the catastrophe that would result from the dependence upon Eden and the rage of Barthandelus. Hope was one of the few who knew the true story behind the Fall. He had never dreamed his journey would lead him through the streets of Cocoon to the depths of Pulse to the top of Eden, and then again, he hadn't expected his mother to die either. Or to be friends with the one whom he had originally felt to be responsible for her tragic death.

But now the survivors had begun what should have been a slow process to rebuilding what had once been their civilization. The only problem? It would have to be built on Gran Pulse; the land of roaming monsters and giants capable of demolishing them in an instance. Fortunately, many aircrafts had been saved and with the slow movement to what had once been the crystallized Vanille's home Oerba, they had begun to rebuild. Not everyone had escaped Cocoon, and on the most restless of nights he had nightmares of the people trapped in the prison that had once been their home.

The nightmares still haunted him even after three years had passed. At his current age, he was considered an adult, and his added height over the years and muscle mass, made him seem even older. He was taller than Light, who had been his mentor through his journey, and someone who he idolized. Lightning could only be described as ferocious with a side of loyalty. Not many would dare cross her path, even her brother in law Snow was a little cautious at times. Being the lone soldier that she was most likely meant to be, she had built her own home on the icy slopes outside of Oerba, but not too far away. She kept to herself, except on the rare occasions she went to visit friends or family. It was a day like this that Hope had bumped into her when traveling through the now livable Oerba. The walkway was filled with children playing, and she, wearing ash gray pants, a white jacket, and pair of combat boots, skillfully maneuvered through them without interrupting their games. Hope met her with a warm smile, and she looked him over once over. His hair was the same, his eyes big and round, but his jaw was more refined, his biceps nearly bulging out his white t-shirt, and his black and yellow short reached his ankles. He stretched back with one hand behind his head and gave her a lopsided grin. "I'm really happy to see you," he managed to say while holding his grin.

She cocked her head sideways to look at him. "Sure you are. Any reason why?"

"It's been months since you went on your mission. How did everything go? Are you okay?"

With a shrug, she walked by him, "What do you think?"

"I think you have no intention of telling me."

"You're right." Turning slightly to look at him, she said, "And what have you been up to?"

"Perfecting my skills with this," he motioned to his hand, which was holding a steel boomerang with a bladed edge. "Every day I get better."

"Good work. Maybe I'll have to test you in a fight. It'll be a good workout." She smiled her radiant smile. It was a rare occurrence to see it from the girl who preferred a stony exterior. Maybe time had changed her, like it had changed Hope, but then just as quickly as it had come, the smile vanished, and it was back to business. "I've got to go talk to Snow. Don't accidently cut down any trees with that thing while I'm gone."

"I think it may already be too late," he grinned. He watched her walk away towards one of the houses when he yelled, "I have a question."

"Hmm?"

"Do you ever plan on letting anyone inside?"

"Inside where?"

"Your heart, your head, your inner being. You can't be closed off forever can you?"

She shrugged, "I guess I realize that my heart is only mine to have. It makes fighting easier. No hesitations." With those words she left him, with only his thoughts and the sound of children playing carefree in the background.

A breeze rolled through the valley, as it so often did, carrying along with it the whispers of humans. Devlin refused to grow accustomed to the sound of the mortals that insisted on making their new home on Gran Pulse. He often wondered how the Eidolons slumbered with the pathetic mortals making incessant noise. Once upon a time he had been a mortal like them, but he had reached a whole new level of being. With a quick flick of the wrist he summoned, as if from air, his heavy diamond blade Leviathan. More often than not, he had quickly murdered the creatures of Pulse. His next conquest was meant to be the Fal'cie Titan, who was taller than any mountain, and whose silhouette alone could eclipse the earth below.

Now his plan to kill Titan, the being who recycled life, and kept Gran Pulse alive, would have to wait. Longing for the thrill of the fight, had twisted his thoughts throughout the centuries, but one thing had never failed him, and that was his ability to sense a worthy opponent. What drew him to this particular one was the way it could move in synch with its Eidolon. Having an Eidolon alone made it more appealing than the rest of the herd of pathetic humans. An eidolon could present a moderate thrill to the fight. Even more so, his new opponent, or more appropriately labeled, prey, was a female. Beautiful, and deadly all in one, and a reminder of someone he once knew, she would be the perfect pre-battle to his fight with Titan. He could barely contain his amusement as he effortlessly tossed his diamond blade in the air and caught it one handedly. This would be one of his best games yet...