Prologus I

Summary

Even through the destruction of Nova Chrysalia the previous world has a lingering presence in the New World. Tales of a cracked moon in the sky and those entrapped by God's servants have yet to be told.

For the Goddess is dead and those memories cannot be left to fade.

Notes

And so Noel witnessed the New World...

When Noel woke he felt as if his head was stuffed with cotton. The ceiling he opened his eyes to felt familiar but yet he couldn't really place where he was. The sunlight wasn't hindered curtains, illuminating the room in a soft orange glow. He sat up, one hand pushing away the thin duvet and looked around the room.

This is his room, he knows this. He knows there are photo frames and various souvenirs on the windowsill if he pushes the curtains away. He knows that if he were to open the bedroom door it would lead right into a hallway and on the right there would be a door leading to the bathroom. He knows that he lives on an island away from everyone he once knew.

That didn't make sense. How could he know that he lives away from everyone when he doesn't know who 'everyone' is?

Noel sighed and walked over to draw back the curtains. He frowned looking at the pictures adorned in simple frames. Picking up the furthest frame on his left he tried to place the memory of the event. Noel was in the centre, his arms slung around the shoulders of two other people. The boy on his right was grinning widely whilst pressing his head to Noel's, while a girl on his left was suspended in laughter, eyes crinkled with delight.

'Hope?' He questioned.

Noel gasped as he dropped the frame, his hands shaking. Why did he say that? Who was Hope? He felt something bubble up in his throat and clenched his fists trying to get a grip of himself. Sliding down against the wall he fisted the fabric of his pyjamas, clutching his chest.

The strength of the sun seemed burn him rather than warm him it was suffocating and relentless. He remembers trying to keep potted plants in the house. Without fail the flowers always died even in his pursuit of trying to grow bellflowers. The blue ones were always the first to die. He remembers a friend asking him why he was so obsessed with them but he doesn't remember his answer.

The second night he remembers everything, his old life in two different times, his new life on the island seized from the Almighty Bhunivelze and the achingly long lifetime spent in a world without time. It's well into the night when he awakens, distraught as to why he had forgotten. Did he bury those memories away? Or had he convinced himself enough that he didn't remember anything from his past life? Noel shifted in his bed trying to recall the events of the final days. He was in the New World. Everyone that had their soul collected by Lightning was here. Caius and Yeul wished to take Etro's place in the Unseen Realm but that didn't happen. Instead they were able to rest, they had found their salvation. The many Yeuls who wanted to live and the many who wanted to die are together with Caius in the Unseen Realm, at peace.

Noel sat up, letting out a shaky breath. Hope took their place, took Etro's place. He remembered trying to grasp his hand, how small it looked, the way it didn't hesitate. Hope never reached back. Serah and Lightning had taken hold of his hands then guiding him back to the group.

Noel decided Hope was stupid.

Noel dressed lightly and made his way down to the beach. It appeared that in his new life he still held a fondness for the sea, so much so that he owned a small boat and fishing equipment. He hummed to himself thinking about how Serah would scold him for even thinking about doing something so reckless. She didn't know that even Snow had vaguely thought about it once upon a time.

Noel knew what he was going to do was selfish. Selfish for the sacrifice that Hope and others made so they could all live in this New World. He decided that Hope needs to be selfish and told him rightly so during a trip to Academia. Hope then had brushed him off, telling him he didn't have time to be selfish any more. When he pushed further, Hope retold stories from the aftermath of his time as a L'Cie. Everyone around him had quickly disappeared and when he heard that Snow had gone off to find Lightning, Hope ran away from home to conduct his own search. His father had found him not long after, battered and bruised from fighting the inhabitants of Pulse without his L'Cie strength. He had made his father worry, the one person who had stuck by his side after he was released from stasis.

During that time the world didn't need to be saved any longer. Lightning was gone but Snow was searching for her. Sazh was finally reunited with Dajh, and he was helping rebuild the world with his skills as a pilot. Even Serah who was worried about Lightning stayed in New Bodhum to teach the children there. NORA, along with Serah had created New Bodhum a place the people of Cocoon could call home. Vanille and Fang were trapped in crystal, they needed saving. His father, who was helping build a new life for everyone, needed him.

Noel had then asked if it was selfish to save everyone even if it meant you'd be killed in the process. Hope had responded with a swift, 'there are something things in life you just do,' and turned his head to sky.

He pulled the boat from its place in the sand dragging it towards the shore. Once he was close enough he counted to three and pushed the boat further into the water before wading in himself and boarding the boat. Noel began to paddle, maintaining a steady pace as he leaves the island behind. He deems himself to be out far enough when the lights emitting from the island appeared to turn into fuzzy blobs.

Placing down the paddle he perches himself on the edge of the boat looking down into the water.

'It's not a matter of can or can't, right Hope?'

He dives.

End Notes

Will the island Noel lives on ever have a name? Tune in next time same ba-
Who knows?

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