Noel's Rebirth

This time it will be different. I know it will. I'll build the life we, Yuel and I, always wanted. I know that we will meet again in this new world. All those other Yuels, they gave us this chance, this new life, and I don't plan on wasting it. We will do all we always dreamed, what we wished we could have done if I had managed to change the future all those year ago. But this future, this life, will be brighter then I ever imagined it would be and the others will be there beside me. Not just Yuel but Snow and Hope and Serah too. It feels like so long since I've last seen them I can't wait to see them all again.

Serah's room had become the temporary medic room, hopefully her little sister wouldn't mind. Lightning stood behind Hope's door, caressing her brow, trying to clear her thoughts. What Hope had just told her, she had no doubt it was the truth. That he knew from before it had happened that Serah would be taken. It was a difficult concept to digest. Then there was what Yuel had told her…

For some unknown reason Hope himself caused her stomach to churn. Serah had told Lightning that Hope was older then her, that he was no longer the 14 year old boy from her past. However seeing him now, a man who was even older then herself… she didn't even know how she felt about that, yet.

She shook her head, she'd deal with that stuff later, there were more pressing matters to deal with. Taking a deep steadying breath she walked to the kitchen where her companions were waiting. Lightning doubted that Serah's small kitchen had ever held so many people at once before. Dazj, Sazh and Yuel were sitting around the kitchen table. Yuel was telling Dajz some story about a fire-breathing cat a past life of her had once encountered.

The young boy was looking up at her, his eyes wide. He was drinking in every word the teenager. Sazh looked out of the opposite window as small flakes of snow began to fall again. Noel was leaning against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed and looking anxious. The a few people were missing from their old gang; Serah (for obvious reasons), Snow who was late (as per usual) and Fang and Vanille, who had had to be contacted via snail mail and wouldn't probably receive their letters until the day after tomorrow. Who knows what could happen by then.

As Lightning walked in she allowed herself to take in the scene before her, it all seemed so bizarre but also so familiar. Her companions all looked the same as she remembered them, Sazh with his nest of hair, Yuel with her mysterious voice and Noel with his curious smile. In many ways they were the same group of people she remembered but in many ways they were not. They may have appeared and acted the same, for they did possess their past memories, the hardships of that same past hadn't followed them here. They had learnt their lessons and they were determined not to repeat their past mistakes.

Now they all lived relatively normal, happy lives. Lightning, Yuel and Noel all had parents that worried and fussed about them while Sazh had a wife and son he fussed over endlessly. Even their attitude, in the face of this impending mystery was more relaxed. They had all slacked off in the years they lived here and Lighting didn't like it. Her sister was missing and time was surely not in their favour.

"How's Hope?" Noel instantly asked as he saw her walking into the warm kitchen. How Lightning wished he had first offered her a cup of coffee instead. After all that had happened, she really needed a pick-me-up.

"He's awake." She said, and Noel didn't even try to hide the relief that washed over his face, neither could any of the others. Even Lightning noted that her voice sounded more certain, now that she had spoken to Hope.

"Thank the heavens." Said Yuel, putting her hands together in the same hand gesture Vanille had so often done back on Cacoon.

"Did you find out what happened though?" asked Sazh, "The lad was pretty beaten up."

"That's an understatement." Noel said. "He was shot at."

"But Lightning fixed him up all, good as new, right?" said Dazj, smiling up at Lightning, who gave the little boy a faint, tired smile.

"I wouldn't say new, but he will recover." Said Lightning, another wave of relief and exhaustion washing over her.

"So?" prompted Noel, "what happened to him?"

Lightning walked into the kitchen to prepare herself a pot of coffee as she told the others what Hope had just told her.

"But that's not right…" said Sazh, looking at his companions, "that cannot be exactly what happened."

"It doesn't fit in with actual events." Agreed Yuel.

"Yes I know." Agreed Lightning pouring herself a cup and turning, her eyes finally falling at what lay on the table- the green crystal Hope had been clutching when they found him. "How could he have known that Serah would be taken before that actually happened?"

"What!?" croaked a surprised voice from the kitchen doorway causing all 5 heads instantly to turn in that direction. Lightning gave a frustrated groan.

"Stubborn as always I see." She scolded as she walked up to Hope who had somehow managed to drag himself into the kitchen. The way he put on his clothing looked haphazard. Blood still stained his shirt where the bullet had cut and it was buttoned up all wrongly. Under the white material, Lightning's keen eyes could make out the deepening bruises and scratches. Although she tried to look disapprovingly at him, it was harder then she expected as he was actually taller then her, another disturbing reminder that he was now older then her.

"What do you mean, before she was taken?" he asked as, reluctantly putting one hand around Lightning's shoulder, he allowed her to lead him to the remaining empty chair around the table. Dazj gave Hope a broad happy smile that Hope couldn't help send back. Where she stood Lightning couldn't help smile too, there's the Hope she remembered.

"You said you received a note from Nora saying Serah had been taken right?" asked Noel, walking to stand across from him.

"Yes." Hope answered with all certainty. "I still have the letter to prove it. It's in my backpack."

Ready to help, Dazj jumped from his seat to retrieve said backpack and Hope retrieved the letter, handing it to the younger man.

"Well that checks out, clear as day. Though how did you know it's from Nora? It's not signed by anyone in the gang." Noticed Noel.

"Yeah it's on the return address." Explained Hope.

Noel turned the letter round. "Erm Hope, there isn't one."

"What?" Hope was about to protest but Noel showed him the letter. There really wasn't any form of identification of the sender. The handwriting was neat and familiar but why was he so certain it was from Nora?

"So not only did you receive a letter about Serah's kidnapping from an unknown sender," began Sazh, "you also received it hours before it actually happened."

"Serah was abducted at 11 p.m yesterday evening." Informed him Lightning.

"I was already on the train here." Said Hope thoughtfully.

"And an hour later I received this." Continued Lightning pulling from her pocket an identical letter Hope had received. She tossed it to him and he caught it without much effort.

A single line was written in the neat, familiar handwriting.

Hope has been taken.

Again no signature or return address.

"Now that is creepy." Breathed Hope.

"Tell me about it." laughed Sazh half-heartedly. "Me and Dajz rushed all the way here after we received your e-mail. Drove for an hour straight to get here, we did, only to find Serah fine and well and totally here, and making tea for Noel and Yuel no less!"

"Yes, we had our own reasons for coming here." Admitted Noel.

Hope raised a quizzical eyebrow at him. Dajz clapped his hands as if something had finally made sense.

"What's wrong son?" asked Sazh, worried.

"Dad don't you see what's happening? Someone is leaving letters before people are going missing so we'd know who is going missing next! Hope received a letter that Serah was gone and now she's poof!"

"But we received a letter saying Hope was missing but he's still here." Observed Sazh.

"Could it be why those robots soldiers were sent after me?" said Hope, also putting the pieces together.

"I believe them to be the same creatures that stole Serah." Agreed Yuel. "I was with her when they took her, they match your description." Yuel sounded bitter at the memory, if that were possible. "And that's what brought me and Noel here."

"Serah disappearing?"

"Not exactly." She answered thoughtfully, "a prophecy that concerned her, and you, Hope, and the rest of us."

"But I thought you didn't have the power of the Seeress in this world?!" he exclaimed his worried eyes already falling on Noel.

"Don't worry Hope." Reassured him Noel. "A past Yuel passed her the prophecy in a dream."

"One by one those of Pulsian crystal shall return to crystal. At the hands of a vanquished hope and a hope that is true, the soul harvester his army will set forth." Yuel recited perfectly.

"One of these days I'd like a life without prophecies." Commented Sazh, shaking his head.

Hope's mind was reeling as carefully he recited the prophecy again and again in his head, having already memorised it.

"Those robots mentioned the Harvester when they came after me." he said, although it sounded more like he was talking to himself. " Whatever he is, he's the thing they work for."

"And the Pulsian crystals, it can only be referring to our time as L'Cie and when we turned to crystal." Added Lightning.

"Yes that makes sense. So that means only us who were Pulse L'Cie are being targeted." Sazh couldn't help look relieved as his eyes fell on his son who had been a Sanctum L'Cie in his past life.

"The question is why you particular L'Cie are being targetted." Added Noel.

"And why they mentioned me twice." Added Hope. "Though they could have been referring to the usual hope and not my name. That can cause some confusion at times."

"Possibly." Said Yuel, deep in thought. "So the targets are you seven past Pulse L'Cie. They've already taken Serah but failed to steal Hope."

"So the question is." Lightning finally said." Will they come again for Hope, or should we be expecting another letter soon?"

There was a moment of dreaded silence when finally Hope broke it. "Guys, has anyone heard from Snow in the last few hours?"

There you go! Another chapter up and with a bit of mystery no less. Sorry for the delay in the updates have exams right now so not finding that much time to write. Hope you liked the chapter. Remember comments, suggestion and improvements are always welcome Juntil next time- LunaPendragon