A/N: The PSICOM Vestige was pretty crazy, wasn't it? The ORPHAN Hunter X79 battle event would be quite amusing if it were game played, wouldn't it? Can't you just picture it? We now move on to New Bodhum. This is part I of the story where we now check out the rest of the gang.

Chapter 2: New Bodhum

Snowflake starts walking down the path on the fields of Gran Pulse. It's evening and the sun is nearly beginning to set. I wonder how Serah will react when we return home? By now, she's probably having her New Years feast cooking already. It's not exactly New Year's, the one in Winter. However, it has been exactly one year since Cocoon's Fall. Because of the fall, we now created a new home in a new world. So every year, we've decided to celebrate the fall. And since it involves creating and living in a new world, we've decided to make it New Years.

Snowflake walks into a cave which leads us to the cove. When we step back into the sunlight, we look at New Bodhum, which is a large village, just like how it was back on Cocoon. All protected inside a barrier globe that keeps wildlife out.

Snowflake walks through the barrier, the three of us just goes through it like it was a bubble. When we're inside, me and Lightning dismounts from Snowflake. We look back, to see the monsters have followed us, two beasts and a Behemoth. They leap towards us, but the barrier repels them. The monsters get knocked back, then they charge again and attack the barrier, which has no effect at all to their attacks.

"You'd think they would have learned by now." I say.

"You would think PSICOM would learn a thing or two from Hope and the other researchers." Lightning says.

"No fooling." I say.

Me and Lightning goes for a little stroll around town. We figured a little sight seeing wouldn't hurt. Surely Serah wouldn't mind. We soon went our separate ways. I stopped by the jewelry store to do a little business.

[In most towns, there are going to be vendors where you get your equipment, such as weapons, armors and accessories, and items like you do in Lightning Returns. There well also be a Forge vendor where you could level up your equipment, but that'll be currently locked for a few chapters.

Other thing about these towns. During non-invasion or non-assault events, random monsters would just spawn out of no where, like how they did in the original Final Fantasy XIII-2. You know, just to help people keep their characters worked up and stuff like that.]

Meanwhile, a figure enters the city of New Bodhum. Noel Kreiss.

Noel is wearing a black V-neck top with tribal patterns and a pair of angel wings on the back, along with a simple pendant. A leather bracer on his left arm, a ring on his right hand, and wraps his right arm with cord. Large blue sirwal-style trousers with decorated hems, and low-cut sandal-like leather boots. A green pouch and hunter's knife are attached to his belt in the back, which itself is adorned with small lavender ties made of cloth. Under the angel wings on the back of Noel's top and on his dagger, there are lines of Etro script.

He's also wearing a black hooded cloak.

Noel is right now traveling around Gran Pulse. He has been asleep for hundreds of years in a crystal slumber, along with his friends Yeul and Caius. And now he's goes in search for them. Noel walks up to the NORA cafe, the place is a bit packed. He can hardly find a seat. He sits on the stool by the counter.

Noel just sits there, thinking and looking at the menu that lays on the table in front of him. "Hey buddy!" A man next to Noel gives him a hard slap on the back, which startles the young hunter. The man looks very drunk, and there are over dozens of empty glasses right on his part of the table. "You're not from here, are you?"

"Uh..." Noel just feels a bit weirded out, for the man is very strange looking. Mostly cause of being drunk. "No."

The man wraps an arm around Noel. "Well! Let me tell you something! The waitress who works here! She's very sexy!" Noel feels a bit disturbed about this. If it were me, I'd feel completely disturbed. "Over there!" The man turns Noel's attention to Lebreau, who's serving drinks to everyone else throughout the body. "She looks soooo good. Hmm-hmm. Papa likes."

Lebreau turns to the counter with an empty tray. "Excuse me, waitress!" Lebreau looks up at the drunk man. "I'll have another."

"Sir. You'd already had fifteen glasses." Lebreau says.

"Oh fiddlesticks! If I say I want another glass of wine! Then I'll have another glass of wine!" The man protests.

Lebreau sighs. "All right. If you insist." Lebreau fills a glass with wine and hands it to the man. "Here you go, sir."

The man smiles. He drinks while tiling his head back, but he goes too far and loses conscious. The man falls back and out of his seat. Noel looks back and down at the man, concern, then turns his attention back to Lebreau. "Is he okay?"

Lebreau smiles. "It's fine. This happens a lot. Well, welcome to the NORA cafe. How can I help you?"

Noel looks down at the menu, then holds it up in front of him. Noel looks over the menu, wondering what to get, then made his decision. "I'll...have this Tropical Hawaiian Shake."

"Coming right up, sir." Lebreau moves to the back, getting to work on Noel's order.

Noel just sits by, waiting. While he does, he looks around, just watching all the strange people around him, chatting, laughing and smiling. He hardly seen anything like this during his travels.

Lebreau returns with his drink. "Here you go, sir."

Noel takes a sip of his beverage. "This is really good."

"Thank you. It's our speciality." Lebreau says. "Hey, I've never seen you around here. Where you from?"

Noel was silent at first, then speaks. "Somewhere far away."

"I see. What brings you to New Bodhum?" Lebreau asks.

"I'm just looking for my friends." Noel says.

"Well, I hope you'll find them soon enough." Lebreau starts wiping down the counter. "So, you staying for the New Year's celebration tonight?"

Noel seems confused. To him, it's not really New Years day. Then again, he's completely unaware of what we Cocoon citizens have been through with the fall of Cocoon. So he just goes with it...sort of.

"I can't. I should be moving on." Noel says.

"Well, why don't you stay for the night. Won't hurt yea." Lebreau says. "Oh, you should defiantly stay for the fireworks tonight. You don't want to miss that, especially since their wish granting fireworks."

Noel seems a bit amused. "I'll...consider it." Noel says. "Wait. What do you mean 'Wish granting fireworks'?"

"Well, when you make a wish on a firework, it'll come true." Lebreau says.

Noel was silent, just takes a sip of his drink.

I start walking down the streets, with a bouquet filled with few roses, black-eyed susans, daffodils and lilac. It's New Years and people often place flowers on the memorial fountain for the dead. These four types flowers were my mothers favorite and I decided to place them on the fountain, to honor her sacrifice for my life. Me and Snowflake arrived at the fountain, where we find a bunch of children gathering around it, who are also placing their flowers around the plaque, all though they'd leave the in front of the plaque open for people to stand and read the inscription.

"What are you doing here?" I turn to see Lightning approaching me. "Here to talk to your parents?"

"Not exactly." I hold up the flowers up in front of Lightning. "I'm giving flowers for my mother."

Lightning takes one of the roses, looking right at it. "I see."

"All of these were her favorite." I say.

Lightning takes a look at the whole bouquet. "They all look like the ones you grow around the house. Is that why you make a garden filled with these?" Lightning gives back the one rose she was holding.

When we had our mansion, I had decided to grow these flowers all around the house, just a way of making a memorial for my mother. I guess I would also include my father since he use to do this soon after his wife's death. I decided to do it for the both of them.

"Sort of. You see, my mother was a gardener. She loved to plant flowers, for herself and others. She even ran her own gardening company called 'Grow in Peace'." I say.

Lightning looks at me, surprised. "Grow in Peace? Your mother made that company?" I nodded. "My mother use to buy flowers from them."

Now I'm surprised to hear that. "Really? Huh, what a small world." The line starts moving, and so do I and Lightning. "After my mothers death, my father decided to grow these flowers all over our house, as a memorial for her."

"Your dad was a gardener too?" Lightning asks.

"Not really. He's not fond with gardening...in fact, he's actually allergic to the pollen." Lightning gives a wooden look with a raised eyebrow, like she's thinking. 'why the heck would he do that?'

"Your dad risked allergies just to carry on your mothers memorial garden?" Lightning asks.

"I know. I always thought he's crazy for doing that." I say.

I was now in front of my fountain. I kneel down and lay my flowers down with the others. "Have you always done this memorial garden back on Cocoon?"

I stand back up, me and Lightning move aside so other people can do their offering. "Not really. I was so overwhelmed with guilt and despair, I didn't feel worthy of carrying on my fathers tradition. Even if I did, I wouldn't bother since my place was kind of a dump."

Lightning thinks back to when we went to my place after the fall. Besides the place being trashed from the crystal, she can tell it wasn't a nice place. Just a small house that can only room for two! The only other room there ever was in it was the bathroom.

"Well, you might have a point. Wait, your parents lived in that place? It seemed pretty small for them and you." Lightning says.

"Oh no. That wasn't they house I grew up in." I say. "I left that house cause I couldn't live in it anymore."

"Because of your father?" Lightning says.

"You know me so well, Farron." I say with a smile.

After our small conversation back there, we headed for our home. Behind the fountain, we took the path that leads to the stairs, which leads to the plateau. On the top, we've arrived at the gates. Me and Lightning opens the gates, entering the courtyard of our large mansion.

We both stopped by the stables to place Snowflake in. I take a beg of gysahl greens, pour some right on the floor in her stall. Snowflakes kwehs and starts eating. I smile and give a small chuckle seeing her. I put the beg away so I could give the chocobo and pet on the back.

"You are a good girl, you know that?" I tell Snowflake.

Lightning just stands back, leaning against a pillar that's holding the stables roof, arms crossed. Lightning turns her attention to the front door of the house, then turns back to me. "You coming in?"

"Later. Need to take care a few things first." I say.

"All right, then." Lightning makes her leave from the stables.

As she walks, her pace slows a bit and she looks down at the garden of flowers in front of the mansion walls. Lightning thinks about what I told her about what my father did after my mothers death. She never imagined herself or anyone of doing such a thing for their parents. Then again, she thinks if they would if their parents were gardeners.

Lightning arrives at the door. She opens it then walks right in, closing the door behind her. "Welcome home, Light."

Lightning looks up to see that voice came from Hope Esithem. Hope's outfit are long blue jeans, goes down his ankles this time, black shirt and white long sleeve jacket, a dark green shoulder pauldron with a single yellow highlight on his left shoulder, without gloves, black neckerchief, a satchel resting on his right with its strap hanging from his left shoulder, black boots. With his mothers golden necklace with a rhombus shaped sapphire pendant.

"Hi, Hope." Is all Lightning says to the boy.

Serah comes in from the kitchen. "Lightning!" Serah's outfit, her's is the one she wears in the FFXIII-2 game known as "Summoner's Garb" (Don't really know how to describe it exactly) with her crystal tear within her engaged necklace. The girl is also wearing a messy apron, she's currently working on dinner.

Serah rushes up to her sister and hugs her. "You're home! I missed you."

Lightning's just wide eyed, she's not really shocked nor irritated. "Serah, I was only gone for a few hours."

"I know. I was just worried." Serah disbands the hug. "Where's Patrick?"

"He's outside, just taking care of a few things." Lightning says.

Snow also arrives from where Serah came in. Snow's outfit are black trousers, red shirt, black trench coat that's torn on the end, black and silver boots, black gloves and wearing his old bandana cap.

"Hey, sis." Snow says in a greet.

"I'm not your sister." Lightning says, giving him an irritated tone and stare.

"Hey, take it easy, Light." Snow says.

"I let you marry my sister, didn't I?" Lightning says. There was silence for a moment, then Lightning says and heads for the living room. "I'm sorry. I just had a rough day."

Serah, Hope and Snow follows Lightning. The soldier girl crashes on the chair. "What happened on your mission?" Hope asked.

Lightning groans. "I was knocked off the PSICOM train, had to fight my way through the vestige against PSICOM troopers, robotic creatures, monstrous Cie'th. Don't even get me started on those Huntresses in the Central Sanctum, they're the worst." Hope and Serah are taking in everything Lightning's saying. They, mostly Hope, can really imagine what she's been through. "I'm not even gonna bring up my partner jumping into my arms afraid."

Hope and Serah are confused and disturbed to hear that. They looked at each other, exchanging looks, then back at Lightning. "That doesn't sound like Patrick. What happened?"

"Ah, we killed some researcher in the control and he happened to be holding some beverage that apparently is pineapple." Lightning says.

Hope and Serah are completely shocked to hear that. Both of them even said 'What?' at the same time. "Lightning. You know he's dangerously allergic to pineapples!" Serah says.

"I know he is. But still, it's no reason to be scared like a child and jump into my arms." Lightning says.

Snow on the other hand is confused. "Wait. What happens when Patrick has pineapple?"

"He swells up, breaks down in hives and he can't breath." Serah says. "Even just touching it and he'll go into reaction."

"Yeah, well. It's not as bad as what happened next." Lightning says, earning Hope's and Serah's attention again. "When we activated the self-destruct, some giant war machine came out of no where and attacked us. After we defeated it, it repaired itself and chased after us. We fought that thing several times. Barely made it out with a couple of seconds to spare."

"Wow. Sounds tough." Snow says.

Lightning groans, she moves her hand to the back of her neck, rubbing it wither poor. "You okay?" Hope asks.

"Yeah. Just got this aching feeling." Lightning says.

Hope moves to behind the chair Lightning's sitting on. "Here. Let me help."

"Thanks, Hope. But I don't need any-" Hope starts rubbing his hands on Lightning's neck. Just like that, the girl subdues. "Oh...oh." Lightning starts to relax. "Oh...that does feel good."

"Hey, Serah!" Serah turns to see Fang entering the living room, who's still wearing her Yun clan outfit. Vanille and Sazh are also still wearing their outfits from a year ago. (They're not really in view, but I thought you guys should know) "You gonna help me and Vanille out or are we gonna finish the cooking ourselves?"

"Oh! Right!" Serah hurries back into the kitchen with Fang.

I open the door, walking right in. I make my way to the living room, seeing Hope behind Lightning giving her a neck and shoulder rub. "Well. That's something you don't see everyday." I say.

Hope and Lightning turns to face me. Hope seems nervous then retreats his hands from Lightning. "Nothing...nothing's happening." Hope says.

"Right." I walk to Hope. "Hope. We need a favor from yea." I reach into my beg, taking out the Data COM. "This flash drive was from the control room. We believe it contains valuable data from PSICOM. But it's locked like a bank vault."

"And you want me to decode it?" Hope asks. I nod, and Hope takes the Data COM. "All right. I'll take this to the headquarters tomorrow."

I turn and make my leave. "Hey, Patrick." Snow says.

I just turn my head over my shoulder, looking at him giving him a cold glare. "Snow." My tone was cold as well, but I keep on moving.

Snow turns to Lightning and Hope. "I think he's starting to warm up on me."

"Keep dreaming." Lightning says.

Outside in the city, Noel goes for a walk down the streets. He's still trying to adjust to the sudden new village in Gran Pulse. Noel gets some strange looks from the people he walks by. They have never seen anyone like him around. They even mutter about him. Noel rolls his eyes at the citizens, but still moving.

Noel arrives at the Central Plaza, where he spots the large memorial fountain. "Huh. So this is must be the memorial statue." Noel stands in front of the plaque, just looking up at the statute of the crystalized Cocoon. Noel looks down, seeing the plaque. He kneels down to read it. Noel just mutters through the words, then speaks out loud. "'The heroes of Cocoon' Huh?" Noel stands up, looking up at the pillar statue. "Cocoon...why does that sound familiar?"

"It's so beautiful, isn't it?" Noel turns to see a lady looking up at the statue.

"Uh...sure." Noel says. "Hey, what's with this...statue?"

"It's a memorial for the fall of Cocoon." The lady says. "Last year, a group of l'Cie attacked our home world. We all feared them cause they were made to destroy Cocoon. But instead, they saved it from its own destruction."

"Right...So...you're all...Cocoon people?" Noel asks. The lady nods. "Are there any people who are from Pulse? Anyone?"

The lady thinks for a moment, looking up at the crystal fountain. "Hmm...I think Vanille and Fang are. Other then that...nope." The lady walks off.

Noel was silent. He looks up at the pillar on the fountain. "Yeul...it seems we're the last people on Gran Pulse." Noel turns around, looking at the people walking around. "They don't seem like a threat...can we really trust these Cocoon people?" Noel is silent for a moment, he looks back at the statue as if he's expecting an answer. "I wish Caius was here to help us out." Noel crosses his arms and look down. "What's happening with him?"

Back at the mansion, we all sat on the table, dinning on the feast the girls, minus Lightning, had prepared. Just some Behemoth Meatloaf, Sahagin Stew, fruit salad and pineapple stuffing, and a small bit of just regular stuffing for me. It wasn't easy for Serah to cook for nine people, would have been thirteen, but the NORA gang had to work late at the NORA shop, and they also decided to have dinner there.

In the end, we're all stuffed, sighing in relief at the delicious meal. "Oh Serah. That was delicious." Snow says.

"Indeed it is. You have out done yourself." I say.

Serah smiles, turns her head to facing Vanille and Fang, who's sitting together at the end of the table. "Well. I can't take all the credit."

Vanille giggles, Fang just smirks. "Man, how time flies. I can't believe it's been a whole year." Sazh says.

"I know." Hope says. "It seems just like yesterday, Serah and Dajh were in crystal while the rest of us are wanted fugitives."

"And here we are, all together." Vanille adds.

Hope nods at Vanille. "That's right."

Serah stands up. "Well, time to do the dishes." Serah gathers the empty dishes around the table.

Hope stands up and gathers some as well. "I'll help."

I stand up, heading for the exit. "I'm off to tend the garden." Vanille stands up and heads for the exit with me. The girl didn't say much. I know she's following me but don't bother with it or anything. Everyone else just stayed at the table.

Serah and Hope carries the dishes to the sink. There are two kitchen sinks, side by side with each other. Serah does the dishes on the left sink and Hope does dishes in the right. Hope and Serah does the dishes for a while. Hope stops for a moment then turns his head to face Serah. "Hey, Serah." Serah gives Hope her attention. "Uh...I wanna ask you something?"

Serah sets the dishes down, looking surprised. "Me? ...Why me?"

"What do you mean?" Hope asks.

"It's just that, whenever you need help with anything, you always went to my sister. I'm surprised you came to me." Serah says.

"Well, I don't think Lightning can really help me with this one." Hope says.

"Really? What's it about?" Serah asks.

Hope holds his hands together, looking pretty shy. "Uh...it's about this girl."

Serah gasps. Instantly, she grabs Hopes shoulders and pulls him close to her, she's in his face. "Tell me everything!" Serah's tone was over excited.

Hope is wide eyed, look both shocked and horrified. He's not really scared, but wasn't expecting this reaction from Serah. "Uh...well, she's really nice. And pretty. And...she's also a close friend of mine."

Serah nods at every compliment he makes of this girl, to encourage him to continue. "Well who is she?"

Hope takes a step back. "I-I can't really say who she is."

"Oh? Well, have you told her how you feel?" Serah asks.

Hope looks down and away in shame. "Uh...that's the problem." Serah tilts her head to the side. "I don't really know how to tell...how I feel. I'm afraid...she wouldn't like me back." Hope looks back at Serah. "What should I do?"

Serah chuckles a little. "Oh, Hope. Don't be so shy." Serah gives Hope a playful shove on the shoulder. "Just be honest and tell her."

Hope seems very unsure. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. You're a nice guy." Serah holds her hands behind her back. "So sweet, kind, helpful." Serah blushes a little at her next comment. "Cute too..." Hope can feel himself nervous hearing that, not in a fear way. "You're also very mature for your age. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

"Well...thank you, Serah." Hope says. "But...I'm still not sure."

Serah puts her hands on Hopes shoulder, making him look at her in the eyes. "Trust me, Hope. Just walk up to her and say it. Oh, and maybe bring her some flowers. It's the best way to start up the conversation."

Hope nods and smiles. "Okay. I'll do it."

Meanwhile, I'm standing outside, on my knees taking care of the flowers in the garden. Vanille walks up to me, hands behind her back. She looks at the row of flowers.

"It's all so pretty." Vanille says.

"Yeah. My mother had a unique taste in flowers." I say, earning a giggle from Vanille.

Vanille sits down beside me, knees up and arms wrapped around her legs. She just sits there, watching me. I stand up, getting the water can. I return to the flowers, pour some water in the flowers.

"Hey, Patrick?" I turn to look at Vanille. "Um...I was wondering. What's your mother like?"

I raise an eyebrow hearing that. "My mother?"

"Yep. You hardly ever talked about her." Vanille says. "All I know about her is that necklace your wearing." Vanille points at the necklace around my neck. I grab the diamond heart as she does, then return my attention to the flowers. Vanilles smile disappears, titles her head in confusion. "Your mother...her fate...wasn't as bad as your fathers was it..." Vanille seems horrified. "Or worse."

I chuckled hearing that. "Trust me, Vanille. Nothing's worse then murdering my own father." I say. "Anyways, my mother died during a Purge that happened sixteen years ago. As for your question about her..." I look up, thinking. Nothing came to thought. "I don't really remember much about her. I was too young to remember. I do remember that she was always free-spirited." I look at Vanille with a small smile. "Kind of like you. Only...just not crazy like you."

Vanille smiles, eyes sparkling. "Really..." Then that smile disappears with disappointment. "Hey!"

I chuckled, returning my attention back to the flowers. "So far, all I remember was the stuff my father told me. That she use to be a gardener and all that."

"Is that way you're making a garden for the house? For your mother?" Vanille says.

"Hmm...well, sort of. You see, my father actually did this as a memorial for my mother soon after she died. I'm just carrying on his tradition." I say.

"I think that's very sweet." Vanille says. Vanille helps me out tending to the flowers.

The next two hours have passed. Nothing much has happened, but everyone is getting ready for the New Years Fireworks. There's a small island in the middle of the sea where the fireworks are going to be. People usually sits by the shores, at the edge of the piers or on the cliffs of the cove to watch the fireworks. The one thing that's special about this event is that we Heroes of Cocoon didn't have to do anything particular or special. Usually someone big and power would have to do something special, but not for us. We get to set back and relax like everyone else is on New Years.

We all left the house and went our separate ways. Hope went to the flower shop, one of the "Grow in Peace" stores. Hope bought about a bouquet of roses, in each color there was. Hope leaves the store. He stops by the door, takes a deep breath through the nose then exhales from the mouth.

"Okay. Remember what Serah said. You can do this." Hope walks off.

Fang and I hang out by the NORA cafe. We sit in front of each other on the booth, waiting for our beverages.

"Yeah, well. It's too bad you're no longer a Mercenary." Fang says.

"Why's that?" I ask.

"Ah, well. I could have used an extra hand on my hunting job. We ran into some crazy monsters, nearly turned us into dinner." Fang says.

I was silent for a moment, only raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well sorry to spoil your little request for help. But I'm a member of ORPHAN now."

"I'm well aware of that." Fang leans her head towards me. "Maybe you could use the money to pay me back that Velocycle you stoled from me."

"Yeah. I'll get to that once we start making those things again." I say with a slight sarcasm. "We're probably far beyond that. Even ORPHAN Inc. is still under construction."

"And yet you and Lightning and Hope are using that building." Fang says.

"Only the first ten floors. The rest are still either under construction or too close to the construction." I say.

"What's wrong with the floors that are too close to construction?" Fang asks.

I look irritated hearing that. Isn't the answer obvious enough? "Too loud for thinking or concentrating and half of the researchers and soldiers were sent to the hospital."

Fang sits back and chuckles. "Bunch of crybabies if you ask me."

I give a low growl, looking down. Just then, Lebreau arrives with our drinks. She hands them to us then walks off. I take a quiet sip. Fang just holds her cup. "So. You're doing better at accepting that Serah's marrying Snow."

I give a bit of a bitter look hearing that. "Yeah, well. I'm not proud of it. I'm still surprised that Lightning's accepting that idiot to be her brother."

"Hey. I'm curious." I look at Fang. "Do you...have feelings for Serah?"

"No I don't! Why does everyone keep thinking that?" I say.

"Relax, honey." Fang says.

"I told you to stop calling me that!" I say to Fang.

Fang sits back, slightly turning her head, barely whispering. "Yeesh. Someone's had a rough day on that mission."

"I heard that." I say. Well, she isn't wrong. I blame that ORPHAN Hunter X79.

Sazh and Vanille are just sitting on the pier, watching the ocean view, with Dajh sitting in between them. "It's so beautiful." Vanille says.

"Ha, yeah. It sure does bring back memories." Sazh says.

Vanille faces Sazh. "Hey. You're still not mad at me about...that incident, are yea?"

Sazh smiles and gives a chuckle. "Oh, come on, Vanille. That was a long time ago. Besides, no harm's done." Sazh puts a hand on Dajhs head. "After all, my little boy's right here. Alive and well." Vanille smiles as she watches the old man and the little boy laughing. "Besides, you saved his life when he was suffering pneumonia."

Vanille nods. "Yep."

Sazh lifts Dajh. The kid sits on his shoulders, laughing. The chocobo chick pops out of Sazh's afro and chirps. The chocobo flies out and lands in Dajh's afro. Sazh stands up and walks off. Vanille looks back, watching the two leave, then returns her attention to the ocean view.

Serah and Snow are now walking by the beach shores of New Bodhum, holding hands. Serah smiles as they walk. After walking for a while, they both sit on the soft sand, just by the edge of the shore. The small waves moves in, barely touching their feet, then the waters returns into the ocean.

"Being here reminds me of home." Serah leans to the side, resting her head on Snows shoulder. "Of Bodhum."

Snow wraps an arm around Serah, pulling her close to him. "I'll always remember that special night. When I proposed to you."

Serah looks at Snow. "You know...When you did. I was so happy." Snow looks at Serah. "I was so happy, that all of my worries disappeared. About Lightning...About being a l'Cie."

"Hey. What did I tell yea?" Snow asks. "You and me. We'll always be together."

Serah giggles a little then she rests her head on Snows shoulder. The happy couple just sits here for a while.

Half an hour later, the fireworks are going off. Everything stands in all places to view the exploding colors in the air. The pier, pier grounds, the shore, the cliffs. As for me and the others, we're all standing at the furtherest line of the pier. Watching the fireworks. Well, not all of us are. Hope and Lightning aren't around.

"Wow. It's so pretty." Vanille says.

"Yeah. Just like back on Cocoon." Snow says.

Hope arrives, depressed with the flowers in his hands. We all turn to see the kid coming. Serah and Vanille waves at him. "Hey. You're here!" Vanille says.

Hope looks up, trying hard to hide his disappointment. "Hey guys."

"Hope. You made it." Snow says.

"What's with the flowers?" Sazh asked.

Hope looks surprised and nervous. He looks at the roses he's holding. He didn't realize he was still holding them. Serah doesn't look too confused, she knows what they were for.

Hope quickly holds them behind his back. "Uh. Nothing...it's nothing."

"Okay then..." Snow looks around us. "Has anyone seen Light?" We all look around as well.

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her since dinner." Vanille says.

"I believe I saw her by the fountain on my way here." Hope says.

We're not really surprised to hear that. "That soldier is always spending her time with that fountain. What gives?" Sazh asks.

"What's wrong with that?" Fang asks. "I often see Patrick and Hope around that fountain."

"Yeah, well that's because we have actual reasons to do so. To talk to our parents." I say. I stand up, making my way across from the group. "I'm gonna go talk to her."

I leave the group. Serah stands up as well. She grabs Hope and pulls him away from the group, just to have a private conversation with him.

"Those flowers. We're they for the girl?" Serah asks.

"Yeah...they were." Hope says.

"Did she turn you down?" Serah asks.

Hope shook his head. "No, not really. I was about to tell her, but I choked, then...our moment got interrupted and she left."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that." Serah says. Serah looks at the flowers. "They are very lovely. I sure she would have loved them."

"Yeah." Hope says. Serah and Hope rejoins with the group to watch the fireworks.

Meanwhile, Lightning is in the Central Plaza, seating on the bench looking up at the statue of the Crystal Pillar of Cocoon. She hardly pays any attention to the fireworks behind her. Over the roaring sounds of the explosion and the faded flashing colors, her mind is else where.

"Hey, Farron!" Lightning jumps a little, she turns to see it's only me. "What's up?"

Lightning relaxes. "Oh. It's only you." Lightning returns her attention to the pillar. "Nothing much."

I sigh, making my way past the bench, standing in front of it and beside Lightning. "Okay, Light. What's up with you?" Lightning doesn't answer my question. Just stays silent. "You've been a little distracted lately. Always coming to this statue or visiting the original Cocoon Pillar. Why is that?"

Lightning still doesn't answer. Soon enough, she sighs. "I don't really know." Lightning crosses her arms and legs, looking down a little. "For the past few months...I just have this feeling inside of me. I just feel empty."

I seat next to Lightning. "You mean you're feeling lonely?"

Lightning slowly shook her head. "No...that's not it." Lightning stands up. She walks in front of the statue, looking up at the pillar. "It's just...I don't know...I guess I'm feeling a little home sick." I raise an eyebrow hearing that. "It's been a whole year already since Cocoon fell, and already, I miss home."

"But. You are home." I stand, walking up until I'm next to Lightning. "Your family is here. Our home is here. We built a new life here on Pulse." I take out a piece of Gil, and toss it into the fountain.

"I know. I know." Lightning turns to face me. "Cocoon is done for and we've made a new home on Gran Pulse. New Bodhum is just like how it was back on Cocoon but...It just doesn't feel the same." Lightning turns, looking down. "I wasn't born and raised here. With Serah...and my parents."

Parents. I know how she's feeling. "Must be hard to replace memories, doesn't it?" I say. Lightning doesn't answer. She just say silent. "Hey, Light. I have something for yea?" Lightning turns, facing me to see I'm holding a small gift box. Lightning seems a bit surprised to see it. "Happy New Year, Light."

Lightning's speechless. She's not flattered. If anything, only curious. Lightning takes the gift box. She opens it to find a diamond hearted necklace. Lightning's surprised to see it. Lightning grabs the chain and holds it out.

"Your mom's necklace?" Lightning asks.

I reach into the neck of my shirt, revealing my necklace. "An exact replica of it." I shove the necklace back into my shirt. "Read what it says on the back." Lightning looks at the necklace. She lays the diamond heart on her palm, turning it on its back to read the small engraving on it. 'Got yr back'. Lightning looks at me. Her expression is her usual look, but in her eyes, she's surprised. "Just my way of showing I trust yea, and thanking for the job."

Lightning sighs a little. "Patrick, you didn't really have to do this."

"Hey, we're partners. It's not like I'm proposing." Lightning looks at me, surprised. She remembers how Snow proposed to Serah with that necklace. I could read her thoughts. I cross my arms, looking disappointed. "I'm not proposing. Get that silly idea out of your head."

"Right. Sorry." Lightning says.

I take the necklace, stand behind Lightning and put it around her necklace. When that's done, Lightning takes a moment to take it in. "Huh...it's...actually not so bad." Lightning turns to face me, offering a small smile. "Thank you, Patrick."

I give a slow nod. "How about we return to the others?"

Lightning agrees, and we head back to the pier.

Meanwhile, Noel is watching the fireworks from a cliff. He just sits there, legs crossed, watching the exploding colors from a distance. Noel thinks back to what Lebreau told him back at the cafe.

'when you make a wish on a firework, it'll come true'

"Fireworks that grant wishes, huh?" Noel whispers. Noel thinks carefully for what he wants to wish for. Noel reaches into his pocket. He takes out a white long thin petal flower with a yellow center. Yeul's Flower. Noel holds the flower close to him, and he looks up at the fireworks. "I wish we could be together again, Yeul."

[Flashback]

Noel is riding a red chocobo down the path of the Yaschas Massif. Over 700 years in the past. Noel is on his way to the city, Paddra. Paddra was once a large ancient city where the people lived in peace. Not only that, it's also a well known city for the Farseers, disciples of the Goddess Etro. Noel's friend, Yeul, lives within this city with her guardian, Caius. Yeul is a young lady who is known as a Seeress, a person that wields great wisdom. Some people think the Seeress are descendant of the Goddess: Etro. After her training and studying, she has become a well known leader to the city.

Noel arrives at Paddra, in the area that's later to be known as the Paddraean Archaeopolis. Noel dismounts from his chocobo. He walks down the stairs, entering the city. Noel walks past the towns folk. Few of them greeted Noel, Noel replies with a 'hi' or a wave.

Noel arrives at a large blue teepee tent. This place is where Yeul lives. Noel enters the tent. Yeul's places is quite the set up. Mostly mets, short tables, rugs, glass chimes hanging from the ceiling. Old fashion stuff.

As Noel walks in, a large blade blocks his way. Noel turns to see it's only Caius. "State your business, traveler."

"Caius, it's me." Noel says.

Caius gives Noel a close, squinty eye look. "Me. Who?"

"Knock it off, Caius." Caius turns and Noel looks ahead, to see it's Yeul.

Yeul has green eyes and long dark blue hair, with two long strands that frame her face. She has a lean, petite build. She wears a unique diadem headdress with a semi-transparent veil that partially hides her face, though the veil is barely visible so it's very easy to see her face through it. She wears a white halter-top with an opening in the center and a small crystal above her chest. She wears a short wrap-around pleated white and pastel purple skirt with a fur pelt in the back, along with yellow boots. Her wrists are adorned with numerous bracelets, and she wears armbands on her biceps and beaded necklaces.

Caius retreats his blade. "I'm just doing my job, Yeul." Caius moves aside, sitting on a mat.

Noel approaches to Yeul. Yeul smiles at Noel. "Noel. It's so good to see you. How's training going?"

Noel shrug his shoulders. "Eh, well. Wasn't so bad. Hunted some large beasts. They weren't a challenge, really."

Yeul moves to a short table with a crystal ball in the center. Yeul and Noel take their seats on the mats. "I'm glad to hear training's going well. Listen. I called you here on a serious business." Noel seems curious. "You are aware of Bhunivelze, are you?"

"The Grand Fal'Cie?" Noel asks.

Bhunivelze is the fal'Cie who takes control of all the other fal'Cie. You could say he's a Gran Pulse version of Eden. With his twin sons: Pulse and Lindzel. Yeul nods. "That's right. Ten days ago, Caius has discovered that Bhunivelze is having secret meetings with Lindzel. Whenever Caius encounters with the fal'Cie, he claims that nothing's happening. Ever since that day, he's been real quiet lately. Not a single fal'Cie have been given any orders from him."

"It's all very strange." Caius says. Noel turns to see the man. "We believe that Bhunivelze is up to something. Something bad."

Noel turns back to Yeul. Yeul has her eyes closed, placing her hands on the crystal ball. Yeul is silent and motionless for a moment. After a moment, Yeul opens her eyes. "I can feel Etro's presence. Even the Goddess is suspicious."

"So, what do we do?" Noel asks.

"For now. We lay low." Caius says. "Bhunivelze has requested a summons from Yeul."

"He ask for me to go alone...without Caius." Yeul says.

Noel seems worried. He puts his hands on Yeuls. "Are you going to be okay?"

Yeul smiles and yes. "Of course I will. I have the Goddess and the Maker looking after me." Yeul looks up at Caius. "Caius. While I'm gone. I need you to help Noel complete his training. If anything goes wrong, I'm going to need him."

Caius nods. "As you wish, Yeul."

[Flashback ends]

Noel still looks up at the skies as he thinks back to that moment. Noel sighs, then looks back down at the flower in his hand. "Yeul..." Noel slowly, gently closes his hand. "Where are you?"