[Final Fantasy XIII] Crystal Dreams of Eternity

Chapter 1: (III.1) Prologue - End of an Age
A Final Fantasy XIII Fanfic
By jen-chan

January 19 - January 20, 2011

DISCLAIMER: This fanfic was written with knowledge of FFXIII derived from the game, as well as fan-translations of episodes zero, one and the Fabula Nova Crystallis Mythology, and that totally delicious teaser trailer of FFXIII-2 that was recently released.

The characters from the FFXIII universe that appear in this fanfic do not belong to the author and are being used without permission from their owners, who include Square Enix.

SPOILER WARNING: Spoilers for the game and light novels exist for this fanfic.

STORY SYNOPSIS: The Door of Souls was meant not to be opened by hands fal cie, but by wills, human. And if opening that door is the only way that Lightning Ferron gets her family back, then Maker help anyone in her way. A post-game fanfic. Eventually, Lightning x Fang.

Comments and Criticisms are greatly appreciated!

In a world that was not quite here and not quite there, three siblings met. 'Sibling' is perhaps not the best term to describe their relationship, for these three had neither mother nor father, but they were created by a common maker, and so perhaps 'sibling' is the most appropriate term for human comprehension.

They did not meet often. Indeed, they had only met once before. Their maker had tasked two of them, brothers, with momentous charges while shunning the third, the sister. The two brothers each knew the purpose of his existence, and so laboured tirelessly towards his Focus, but to no avail. It was not until the brothers came together, seeking counsel with one another, did they come to realize how they could complete their Focus.

For eons they had tasked, expanding the world, protecting their sleeping maker, and searching, forever searching for that which eluded them: the Door of Souls. Eventually, the brothers realized that they could only accomplish their goal together.

And so, they put their plan into motion over the course of many, many human generations, while the sister could only watch, contemplate and lament. She lamented for humanity, for her brothers were foolish, as she herself once had been.

For eons, she watched, and wept.

But today was different.

Today, the sister had not only watched, but interfered. Had interfered, and destroyed the work of her brothers.

Lindzei was coming to an end. He was not dying; death was not a phenomenon meant for by such beings as the siblings, but none the less, soon, he, and everything that sprung from him, would be no more.

With his brother's help, Lindzei had orchestrated his own end over the course of millennia. He had come to the conclusion that the only way for him to fulfill his Focus, was to end himself, and all that he supported - his world: Cocoon. This, he had reasoned, would allow him to finally complete the task he was given: to open the Door of Souls.

And yet, the Door of Souls had not opened, for Etro had intervened, as she had done once before, had waved her hand and lent her support to the saving of those who should have ended with him.

And so, Lindzei ended. For naught. His last look, before crystal rest claimed him, was directly at Etro.

I charge you, dear sister. I know not the reason for your interference, but I trust that wisdom rather than foolishness guided your actions, for you have been through that which we sought to open. And so I charge you to complete my focus in my stead. Open the Door of Souls, and awaken our master, Buniberzei.

Etro did not answer her brother, but bowed her head in solemn respect.

Lindzei closed his eyes, and knew no more.

Pulse also bowed his head. He did not grieve; grief, like death, and all other emotion, was not a phenomenon meant for him. But Lindzei had been his brother, and something had irrevocably changed with his end.

An eternity passed in a moment, and then Pulse left the meeting place of his siblings.

Etro looked at him, even as he faded away from her.

Would you too, follow Lindzei's path, Brother?

Pulse didn't answer.

There was too much work to do.

Author's notes:

Hi! Thanks for reading! Please consider visiting my profile page for an overview of how this fanfic is expected to work; it's probably not as straight forward as it could be! ^_^

The next chapter, Chapter 2, is also part II.1. It is set during the game.