Hi everyone, on an unrelated note, I hope you've checked out the updated version of Chapter 3: Travelling! Thanks to Ultimate Blazer'sPRs (Private Reviews), I managed to update it properly, as I then knew where the weak part of the chapter was. Furthermore, I would like to thank The Jingo for his reviews and comments too, both private and public. Nevertheless, thank you all followers and readers, I really appreciate it! And now, may I present to you: Chapter 4: Serah!

Chapter 4

Flashback

They were running. Running relentlessly.

The thick forest around them was not much help—the tall trees all looked identical, and there was no sign of an empty clearing just yet.

"What was that thing?" Serah panted as her legs strained, darting trees and grasping Hope's hand tightly. She tried to keep her pace. Time was running out, and fast.

"It's trouble," Hope replied grimly. "We have to keep moving," he added as Serah started to slow down, holding her sides with one arm. He pulled Serah as gently as he could towards the river. "Go, go, go!" Serah almost tripped on her own two feet, but Hope had a firm hold on her hand. "Hurry up!" Serah reluctantly continued running.

The familiar bestial roar from behind them warned that the mechanical monstronomy was drawing close. Hope gritted his teeth. They needed to get out of here—the only way was to cross the river. Machines were vulnerable to water—it really was the only way.

Hope tried to keep his breathing and running stance in check. "Serah, we have to swim across!"

Serah was staring at the oncoming fast-flowing river in fear. "I ... I won't be able to swim in those currents!" Her face was frozen in shock and fright.

"You have to!" Hope cried. "Or would you rather die here?"

The mood instantly changed—Serah snapped back to life, her eyes flashing. "No way am I leaving Lightning and Snow and the rest!" With that, she released Hope's hand as she took a lungful of air and jumped purposefully into the water, swimmming breaststroke. Hope allowed a tired smile before taking a breath and diving in himself. They swam like never before—the river was deep, the currents and damp clothing threatened to separate them and take them down the cliff—it ended in a waterfall.

Unfortunately, it could end their lives as well.

With much required effort, Hope and Serah made it to the end. They struggled to regain balance on foot and started running yet again.

"We're almost there," Hope said, pointing to a clearing.

"Almost," Serah muttered. "There. Finally ..."

As if in slow-motion, slowly but surely, their lives at stake, they made it into the clearing—one decent enough to be called a meadow. There they stopped, panting. Serah fell to the grassy plains, clutching her strained waist.

(Meanwhile, the deranged machine had finally made its way to the river, and when it had realised its victims had escaped by using its weakest point, it let one final roar of outrage before it retreated into the depths of the forest.)

"That ... was one ... insane adventure," Hope stated breathlessly, hands on his knees.

Serah just stared up at the sky. A few seconds of silence passed before she glanced at Hope and said exhaustedly, "Goddess, Hope, what are you doing here anyway? One moment that monster spotted me in that part of the forest, and I was going to make a run for it, and the next moment, you were right next to me!"

Hope laughed, though it sounded wheezy. "I guess I'll just go straight to the point—I've been looking for you for ages, Serah! I've reunited with Sazh and Dajh, and am planning to find the rest of our friends, so that we can be together again. I've been running around, looking for every one of you!"

Serah stared, wide-eyed. "Really? But Hope, even though you've found me, it'll take forever to find the others! And what if you get lost? You do know we're actually lost right now, right?"

"Not if I keep on searching," Hope said, grinning faintly. "And about the "lost" part ... Sazh gave me a tracker." He pointed to his tie clip. "Right there. If I press the emergency button on it, Sazh will send help. As long as we're in range, that is ..." he trailed off.

"Press it," Serah insisted. "There's nothing wrong with trying. It's been so long, and I've got so much to say to everyone once you've found them! I need to get back home. I've been wandering here for almost a month, feeding on wild fruits and fresh stream water! I'm getting sick of it all!"

Hope smiled faintly as he fingered the tracker. He sighed and pressed it.

What came next made Hope's smile really wide. "Emergency button triggered. Sazh Katzroy alerted. Remain calm—help is now on the way," the tracker beeped monotonously. Hope glanced at Serah, and she gave a tired smile.

"Home time, Serah," he murmured.

"And more travelling for you after this, I guess," she replied with a weak laugh.

Hope nodded. "I'll find all of them. Snow, Fang, Vanille, Noel, Yeul, and your sister. All of them. I promise."

"Don't go dying on me while searching, Estheim," Serah giggled. Hope rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I know."

"And you'd better have a plan," she added.

Hope snorted. "Clearly you don't believe Snow's sentiment of "Heroes don't need plans!", do you?"

Serah laughed, the sound coming out fuller this time. "But heroes do need brains once in a while, you know?" Hope laughed along with her.

Suddenly, the sunlight shining on them was blocked out. A dark shadow loomed over them. They both looked up, fearful of what to expect.

The machine ...?

To their utter surprise, a big airship was hovering over them.

One that was Sazh Katzroy's.

The side door opened and Sazh poked his head out. "Yo, down there!" he called cheerfully. "Someone called?" Chocolina flew out, reaching Hope in an instant and pecking him on the head. Hope chuckled. "Thanks Sazh!" he called back up. Sazh saluted. "No problem, li'l man! Happy to help!"

The airship landed beautifully onto the plains. "Serah! Long time no see," Sazh grinned.

At the same moment, Dajh entered the room via another door. "Sorry Dad, was in the wa—" His eyes bulged at the people in front of the entrance. Serah!" He ran to give the girl a hug, then turned to Hope. "You found her!"

Hope smiled. "Yeah, hi-five!" The sound echoed as the two shared a laugh.

Serah smiled, then addressed Sazh. "Thanks for coming, Sazh."

"Like I said, no problem. Now hop in and let this baby bring us home." Sazh patted the metal of the airship. Hope and Serah shared a knowing look, then climbed aboard.

"Well, son, you took your time searchin'," Sazh said as they took their respective seats. The airship's door closed tight.

Hope snorted as they took off and Sazh began piloting expertedly through the air. "Tell me about it—a week in the forest and grassy plains, plus monsters lurking everywhere. And I'm actually taking leave for this."

Serah gasped. "You're taking time off work just to search for all of our friends?"

Hope nodded sheepishly. "I needed a break from paper work, anyway ..."

Sazh chuckled. "Not a break, yet better than paper work ... what kids are up to these days ..."

"Are we headin' back home?" Dajh asked. "I'm kinda tired."

"Yeah, Dajh, headin' back home," Sazh replied. "Get some shut-eye for now—we'll reach there faster than you can dream of a speed train!"

"Wait ... where's home again?" Serah put in uncertainly.

"Palumpolum," Hope answered. "We live there. Unless you want to go to New Bodhum to stay for now? But we'll be pretty far from each other."

Serah shook her head. "It's okay. Once everything has settled, all our friends with us, then we'll think about moving to Bodhum and the likes. Let's just go home first. Boy am I dying for some real homemade cooked food!" Everyone laughed.

And just like that, the sunset clearly visible from Serah's window, the quartet made their way back to Palumpolum.

To home.

End Flashback

"That was really what happened?" Light asked, curiosity piquing.

"Yeah ... why? Do you doubt me?" Hope teased.

She scoffed, all curiosity vanishing from her tone. "You wish. I doubt you could've come up with such a story. But Serah actually landed in a forest?"

Hope snickered. "Yeah, I get the feeling. I found some info online the internet, recording her "last seen" places and stuff. How I ended up with that forest, ask my subconsciousness. I have no idea what I did to come up with that conclusion for the location."

Light rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, I won't bother. Where are we now, anyway? You used up quite some time reminiscing."

Hope scrutinised the map, only half-noticing the looming shadow that had suddenly blocked the light from reaching them. "We're around ... Rimton Woods. All we have to do is stick to this path and—" He was cut off.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Lady Good Luck had gotten tired of Light and Hope and was now busy spreading all her love for everyone else on the planet while Lady Bad Luck took her place. The looming shadow was definitely not Sazh's airship, like the previous time.

It was worse.

"Hope, look out!" Light shouted suddenly, pushing him sideways. Hope stumbled, landing on his back. She unsheathed her gunblade, preparing to strike.

"Get up!" Light screamed at him.

Hope looked up. What he saw shook him to the core.

For Etro's sake ...

It was a Behemoth.

"Hope! Keep that map and unsheath that gunblade of yours right now!" Hope did as he was told, stuffing the map into his storage packs and gripping the hilt of his blade. A small grin made its way across his face as he stared up at the gigantic beast.

"Just like the old times," he murmured. He looked defiantly at the creature in the eye.

"Behemoth, here we come."

Hi guys! I did it! I'm extra tired now, but I uploaded it earlier just for you! But now since I have extra time, I'll be working on the other fanfic for tomorrow. Will see if I have enough time for both fanfics tomorrow. Enjoy!

LBE9