Hope was drifting. Through the darkness.

He smiled to himself.

'At least I saved Cocoon.'

'But...'

His smile faded.

'Vanille.'

{EARLIER}

Everyone was falling. Falling toward Pulse. They had beaten Orphan.

Snow quickly grabbed Hope's Hand who in turn tried to grab Vanille's, but was astonished when she was not there, smiling,

reaching her hand out to his, instead he grabbed Sazh's. He closed his eyes, and slowly looked down, to only find Vanille and

Fang, holding hands, their brands glowing.

'No...No!' Hope thought, his face contorted in anguish, realizing what they planned to do.

Vanille nodded at Fang, and then slowly looked up, her bright green cheerful eyes meeting Hope's stormy gray ones. She

smiled, and mouthed one word.

Ciao!

"NO! NO! NO!" Hope screamed, as the Gran Pulsians burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, finally becoming Ragnarok.

Tears ran down Hope's cheeks.

{PRESENT}

A bright light shined onto Hope, lighting up the darkness. He shielded his eyes with his hand.

'Wait...that's the sun!' He thought.

He looked down.

He was on Gran Pulse.

"Hey! You're awake!"

Hope turned to find Snow, Sazh, and Lightning standing in front of him, grins on all of their faces.

Hope smiled back at them, then finally spotted it.

The crystal pillar.

His eyes' widened.

Walking toward the group was Serah, accompanied by Dahj, smiles on both of their faces.

"Serah!" Snow exclaimed.

As Sazh and his son embraced, and Snow ran to Serah, Hope ran forward, eagerness on his face.

Then his footsteps faltered.

In the very heart of the crystal pillar.

He could see Vanille and Fang, curled around each other.

In their final crystal slumber.

Hope fell to his knees.

'Why...please...bring her back!' He thought fiercely.

He pounded the ground with his fists, screaming in agony, over his lost love.

Serah and Snow watched from a distance, in each other's arms. Sazh sighed, with Lightning beside him.

Hope finally gave up, his head in his hands. Even now, he could hear her giggling, he could see her sweet smile that always filled him with joy.

"I...love you...Vanille."