act i. cycle xi.i.

"Did you eat anything?" Noel leaned over where Cloud was sitting atop the rampart of the ancient fortress, tilting his head. "I found a melon. Want some?"

Cloud shook his head, but when Noel settled next to him and set a tray of carved fruit in between, he gingerly reached for a slice.

Noel smiled, feeding bits of melon to Mogki. The fingers of dawn barely touched the horizon, as the rocky fields below their dangling feet stirred faintly in sleep. The three ate in silence as the pale light flushed color into their world.

"How'd you find me?" Cloud asked after the last piece of fruit was eaten, wiping sticky fingers on his pants.

"Kuja," Noel replied. "He said you've been hiding out here."

Cloud frowned at the word 'hiding.'

"It seems like a nice place," Noel continued, swinging his legs, "if you need to think."

The blond nodded.

"Something you want to talk about?"

"No," Cloud said. "Yes."

Noel laughed. "What is it?"

Cloud shook his head. "That boy you're stalking… the warrior of Cosmos."

"I'm not exactly stalking him, but what about him?"

"Have you met him again yet?"

"Not yet," Noel said. "It's still a little early."

"How do you know him?"

Noel tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Rosy light stained Cloud's delicate features as he turned to watch the sun slowly crest the faraway hills. "From your homeworld. Is he a friend there?"

"It's a little hard to explain." Noel scratched the back of his head. "I don't actually know him—more like, we meet in his future." He gestured vaguely.

"Then… he wouldn't know you, even if he remembered everything."

"Exactly." Noel raised a brow at the blond. "So what's eating you? I know this isn't about me and Hope."

"Just thinking. If I ever meet my other and we were once friends, how I'd handle it."

"Why would you need a special way of handling it?"

"They won't remember me. They'll want to fight me… And even if they don't want to fight me, I'll have to fight them…"

"You don't have to do any of that." Noel lightly slapped Cloud on the back. "It's not like you participate in the war anyway."

"Hm…"

"I wouldn't worry too much on it," said Noel, smiling encouragingly. "It's nothing you can control. Anyway, if it ever happens, I'm sure you'll figure out what to do."

Even though Noel didn't quite know what to do himself.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

Noel didn't find the manikins particularly threatening. They were more of a nuisance, especially since they were inferior copies of actual warriors Noel may have faced in previous cycles. He paid them no mind unless they got in his way.

But lately, it seemed like there were more roaming over the land, often in packs. Their danger went up exponentially in larger groups. They felt no pain and were utterly mindless; because of that, they had to be completely annihilated to be stopped. Several manikins encountered together could cross over from irritation to severe hindrance for even the battle-hardened.

Still, Noel totally had this under control. He had already downed two of the dolls and just because he had been busy with a third didn't mean that he hadn't known the fourth was there, giant sword raised.

Either way, the thunder and fire dualcast that had taken out the final two manikins was a bit excessive, in his honest opinion.

Coughing and waving smoke from his face, Noel scowled at the heavy bramble flanking his left. "Okay, you busybody, come on out. You know, it's pretty rude to butt in on someone else's fight."

"Oh, really?" A slim, pale-haired boy carefully pried himself out of the thicket, shaking free a persistent vine from his shoe. "I guess next time I'll just let you get cut in two."

Noel's eyes widened in delight, and the boy smiled a bit pertly at the Guardian's astonished expression.

[Ho-po!] Mogki flung himself at Hope, smooshing its cheek against the mage's. [Ho-po remember Mogki?]

"Mogki!" Hope laughed, cradling the moogling and tickling its belly. "Of course I do."

"So… you remember me too?" Noel had a hard time keeping the excitement out of his voice.

Hope looked him over, tapping his cheek with a finger. "Hmmm… yeah, I think so." Lips curled into a smile and Noel could swear he saw the face of a devil. "You're my stalker."

With an exasperated sigh, Noel hung his head. "I was hoping more for a name…"

Hope laughed, hugging Mogki close. His eyes sparkled. Noel had never seen him look so happy. "I remember you, Noel."

The Guardian flushed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. It was hard to deny the pleasure it gave him that Hope had remembered him so quickly.

"Are you doing okay?" Hope asked as he released Mogki and the moogling flopped down atop his usual perch.

"Yeah, same as ever." Noel steadied the moogling on his head, flashing a grin at Hope.

Hope's smile faded. "I was a little worried. I thought you'd come find me sooner."

"What, you like me being a stalker?" Noel asked in mock-surprise.

Hope punched him in the arm. "It's because you're a stalker that I expected you to be there the moment I remembered you."

"I have my off days. So how much do you remember?"

"I remember you," Hope said, "and Mogki, and a few of the warriors. I remember I'm a l'Cie, and my mother, and a few other things about our homeworld. I can't remember why I forgot though."

Noel nodded. Few remembered their defeat or death. It was how the secret of the cycles was maintained.

"And I can't remember… " Hope pinched the bridge of his nose, face scrunching. "Something important."

"It'll come to you." Noel mussed the boy's hair, pleased that Hope retained this much. "Don't force yourself."

"I guess… I had hoped if I saw you, I'd remember." Shaking his head, Hope waved a hand in dismissal. "But like you said, it'll come." He smiled again. Noel thought that he wouldn't mind getting used to this unreserved Hope and those precious smiles. "Either way, I'm glad to see you."

If Noel's heart fluttered a bit at that, he certainly couldn't be blamed for it.

"Mind if we travel together?"

Noel's back straightened at the question, pleased. But then he remembered just where he was going. "I'm heading somewhere a bit dangerous…"

"You think I can't take care of myself? That I'm more helpless than Mogki?" Noel wasn't sure if Hope was serious or not.

"Kupo!" Mogki shook a paw at Hope, insulted. [Mogki going to get strong too, kupo!]

"No, just—" Noel made a face. "I actually don't know what I'll find there."

"So it's better I come along," Hope replied, reaching up to placate the irate moogling.

"It's useless arguing with you." Noel spread his hands in defeat, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "I'm headed deep north. There's something I want to investigate."

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

"May I speak with you, Guardian?"

Noel slid the whetstone along his gladius one more time before glancing up. Golbez loomed over him, the breeze ghosting over the rooftop dancing through his cape. The Guardian was a bit surprised to see Golbez; both had been too busy with their own ends to see each other often. It seemed like the thaumaturge had aged despite the impossibility of such a thing in this world, an invisible burden heavy on his back.

"What is it?" Noel motioned for Golbez to sit by him.

Golbez did not move. "Have you noticed any peculiarities in the manikins of late?"

"Hmmm," Noel rubbed his chin. "I've been running into them more often. Less monsters too."

"I see." Golbez gazed far away. Sanctuary was a beacon on the horizon, easily seen from atop the ruins of the Chaos Shrine. "I fear that the light of Cosmos will soon be extinguished. There is a stillness to the land, like the calm before a storm."

"What do you mean?"

"Guardian, will you grant me a favor? I am too closely watched, but you may move freely…"

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

They moved swiftly through the lands, steadily heading toward the northern continent. They spoke little during their trek; Noel was too focused on tracking what Golbez had requested and Hope seemed to pick up on that. But Noel found comfort in Hope's company and during times of rest, they'd sit together and just talk of little things or memories of their lives back home.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you remembered me so well," Noel commented during one of those times.

Hope shrugged, tossing pebbles into the air as he practiced the game Noel taught him. "I remember thinking, 'I can't forget, I can't forget.'" He frowned as he failed to catch all of the falling pebbles on the back of his hand and tried again. "Though I don't remember why I thought I would forget."

Noel watched him play, silent.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

"That manikin looked like the Onion Knight," Hope said, wiping at his forehead with an arm after they had defeated a number of the crystalline dolls. "That's the first time I've seen that."

"About as impressive as the real one too," Noel replied with a broad smirk.

Hope rolled his eyes at the sarcastic remark. "Are there usually so many manikins this far north?"

"No," and Noel knew they were near.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

The two crouched low, peering over the ridgeline.

"What is that?" Hope whispered in awe, large eyes mirroring the blue hues washing over the field before them. A gaping wound bled a violet aurora in the empty sky above the clearing.

Noel waved for him to be quiet, watching several silhouettes spill from the rift. The light reflected off crystal bodies. Suddenly the rift pinched closed, sucking away the otherworldly radiance until only night and starlight remained. The manikins stood motionlessly, gleaming statues waiting for a call.

(Golbez was right… the manikins originate from here.) Noel pulled Hope down. The boy glanced at him but Noel shook his head and motioned that they needed to leave.

They crawled back the way they came, carefully moving among the rocks until they reached the foot of the mountain. Noel glanced back up; the eerie halo that had crested the mountain peak was gone. It looked like any other mountain in the range.

"Noel, those were manikins," Hope said.

Noel snagged his hand, pulling the boy along. "We need to keep moving."

"Is this where they're coming from?"

"Yeah."

"How'd you know? What's summoning them here?" Curiosity and concern spilled out of Hope's voice with every word. "What's going—?"

"I don't actually know," Noel cut in, more to stop the flood of questions than out of irritation. "You saw the same thing I did."

Hope's lips pressed shut, lost in thought as he blindly followed the Guardian.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

"If we stop Exdeath, could we stop the rift?"

Golbez shook his head. "The rift has already been made. There is no halting its progress and in time it will widen as the space-time around it frays. We do not know how many manikins lay upon the other side, but it does not forebode well."

Noel paced back and forth in front of Golbez, arms folded and head bowed in thought. "How much time is left?"

"That is why I need you to observe it. I cannot approach it. I feel the others have begun to suspect me."

"And because they already think of me as Cosmos in Chaos clothing, I'm the best one to send instead."

"They cannot harm you."

"Right."

"Guardian, if the manikins spiral out of control, we cannot say what the outcome will be. They are not of this world nor were they summoned by its gods. A death by manikin will be a death not sanctioned for purification."

Noel stopped. "You know that for sure?"

"It is only a theory, but I believe it sound—as do others, for the manikins are being manipulated to eliminate Cosmos."

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

The trickle of water falling over the edge of the rocks was a blessed relief after his battle with a team of manikins. Noel cupped his hands under the flow and drank. He had taken to hunting manikins after the discovery of the rift, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up. There were just so many and he was only one person. He splashed water onto his face. Maybe if he talked with some of the others… This was something which affected everyone—couldn't they work together to stop it?

"Kupo?" Mogki chirped, pompom at attention. With an excited chitter, it spun in a circle, weaving away. [Ho-po!] The moogling bobbed over to the approaching boy, nose wiggling in excitement. Hope strode past the moogling, not even sparing it a glance. [Ho-po?]

Noel glanced up, surprised. After the discovery of the rift, Hope had grown broodingly silent during the trip back to the southern continents. And then, one night, he had slipped away without telling Noel. The Guardian had not seen him since.

"Hey there, Hope," Noel smiled widely, but when he received a solemn, stone-faced stare in return, the good cheer faded. "Something wrong?"

Hope breathed deeply and looked him square in the eye. "As a representative of Cosmos, I'm challenging you."

Blinking, Noel tilted his head. He wasn't sure how to take that. "Er..." Did Hope understand the significance of asking that? That Noel only fought when challenged? Mogki chirped, echoing his confusion.

The boy continued, as if from a rehearsed speech. "I know you don't take me seriously and that you think I'm weak. But I'm going to give it my all for this fight." His face was determined, but his fists were white-knuckled, shoulders stiff.

"Any ... special reason you suddenly want to do this?" Noel always knew at back of his mind that they'd fight someday, but he never dreamed it'd be after they come so far together. He always thought it'd be at the beginning of a cycle, when Hope wouldn't remember him, like their first encounter. Definitely not now, when Hope had been so happy to see him at the start...

But the Hope before him now was silent, thin-lipped and expectant.

Noel exhaled slowly; perhaps Hope didn't actually recall everything about him. "You do... remember about me—what I am? You know you can't win, right?"

"I know I can't lose," Hope replied, his voice calm. "So one of us is wrong." Wisps of freezing air solidified into javelins circling around him. Their points gleamed wickedly.

Noel rubbed the back of his head. "Hope, this is crazy. Why do you suddenly want to figh—" A javelin shot past his ear, shredding strands of his hair. Mogki squeaked, diving away in fear.

Hope lowered his arm, another lance reforming to replace the one lost. "Right now we're standing on opposite sides. Isn't that reason enough?"

"No." Noel summoned his lance and flipped up his polearm, leveling the point at the other. "You said we were standing beside each other, but I guess you've forgotten that."

Three bolts of ice in rapid succession fired off at the Guardian, but he easily brushed them aside.

"I haven't forgotten. I remember everything about you—and I remember that you're a warrior of Chaos and my other. So face me, as my other, to the end. Or am I really that weak to you? That I have to be pitied by the enemy?"

"Hope…" Noel grit his teeth. If he chose not to fight Hope, then it was just proving Hope's erroneous belief. But if he fought him…

He swung his lance to the side, poising to attack. "I've never considered you weak." He'd just have to be careful.

"Then don't hold back."

"Your wish is my command," Noel retorted, rushing the mage. His lance speared through an ice javelin before slamming against a magic barrier inches from Hope's face.

Hope reversed the barrier energy with explosive force, wind sending Noel flying back. The Guardian dropped the butt of his lance into the ground, dragging it through dirt to slow his flight, before swinging around it to charge at Hope again. The lance split into gladius and twin-bladed sword as he closed in, shattering through the frozen missiles hurtling his way.

The opening attack had been a feint; the plan was to pressure Hope into exhaustion. Noel knew his own advantage lay in his agility, and he knew Hope—as a mage with a weak physical offense and defense—would work to keep him locked down at a distance. As long as Noel kept advancing aggressively, Hope wouldn't have time to do much but defend himself or attack recklessly. Once the boy exhausted his mana, Noel figured he could tie him up or something and they could argue without the magic bombardment.

But he was careful. He never drove in too deeply and his attacks were calculated to never strike Hope. He just wanted the boy to react. He took hits he could've easily avoided to encourage Hope to attack him again and he ignored opportunities where he could've easily defeated or killed Hope for the win.

And as the fight wore on, Hope caught onto his ploy.

With a snarl, Hope jumped back, crouching low; balls of fire orbited around him in a defensive shield. He was angry—Noel had never seen him angry like this. It surprised the Guardian to see this kind of passion consuming Hope; the Hope from the future was so composed and even the younger's previous bouts of temper were nothing like this emotion twisting his face. "I thought you said you don't consider me weak! Why are you holding back?"

"Just because I don't think you're weak doesn't mean I want to hurt you." Noel couldn't keep the frustration out of his voice. This was like Caius all over again.

"Then take this seriously!" The hairs rose up on the back of Noel's neck and he dodged to the side, avoiding a direct lightning strike. The heat of the bolt seared through his armor; he gritted his teeth against the burning pain in his leg and reversed his direction, propelling himself directly into Hope's defenses.

Scorching flames licked at him but he didn't hesitate, drawing back an arm to punch Hope right in the face. Nothing too hard—he was terrified of Hope being harmed beyond purification—but hard enough to maybe knock some sense into him. The fires vanished as Hope staggered back.

"Just stop!" Noel's shoulders drooped, arms dangling low. "I could die a million times, but it's only once for you."

But the other just wiped at his mouth with back of his hand, lashing out with a wave of renewed fire. "What does it matter? Then I won't be purified! That's one less for Cosmos, one more for the Chaos you serve."

Noel leapt back to avoid being singed. So Hope had found out the nature of the cycles. Was this why he was suddenly attacking Noel? He growled. "If you don't make it through purification, then you're lost in the Void forever! You don't come back, you don't go home, you just wander in nothingness forever while Time moves on. Don't you get it? I can't lose you like that!"

Hope stiffened, eyes widening in shock. Glancing away as if weighing this new information, the muscles in his jaw worked. Finally he looked at Noel under pale lashes, even more determined. "I won't lose," he whispered in a low voice. "I made a promise. This is something I have to do."

What promise was worth this? Noel was silent for a moment. "You're really serious about this..." What happened to the Hope that was so unsure of his own path? The Hope standing before him—was it something like this that formed the Hope of the future?

There was no hesitation in Hope's reply. "I said I was. Fight me, Noel." His face was hard but his large eyes pleaded.

Noel swore to himself, breaking apart his lance into its components. "If this is what you want..." He pointed the tip of the gladius at the boy. "Then I'm ending it quickly. Be sure to remember it next cycle so we don't have to do this again."

"I don't plan on losing." Peaks of rock thrust from earth at Noel's feet, but the Guardian spun away, gladius slicing through the rock and sword swinging at it to send the chunks flying at the mage.

The earth smashed through Hope's barrier, but Noel didn't stop, no longer on the defensive. Dark tendrils trailed after him as he rushed at the boy, body enhanced by the power of chaos; he tore easily through Hope's defenses, driving a shoulder deep into the boy's gut. Even as the boy flew backwards, Noel was there behind him with blinding speed, smashing an elbow into his back.

Hope hit the ground with a choked sound and Noel's heart lurched, but his face was grim as he stared down at the coughing boy. Wasn't this what Hope wanted? Noel was just respecting that, right?

It was like this with Caius. Something he had to do.

(But I don't want to do it!)

Hope stumbled to feet, spitting blood to the side. His breath came in heaves—Noel could tell he was hitting his limit in every way—but his gaze was just as fierce as ever. Despite his exhaustion, the boy conjured more ice spears.

Noel's face tightened. He had to finish it quickly; if Hope kept casting magic past his limit, he'd suffer from manaburn—the resulting drain on his body would assuredly ruin his survival of purification. This may be something he had to do, but he wouldn't let it end like that.

With a gesture, Noel's weapons disappeared, reforming beside him as his lance, crackling with chaotic energy. The darkness ate at the weapon until nothing remained but an energy bolt, so black it glowed white.

(I'm sorry, Hope.) The bolt of shadow-light leveled itself at Hope.

With final desperation, Hope flung the spears at Noel, propelled by a gust of magic wind, but they crashed headlong into the energy bolt, shattering into crystalline fragments refracting the not-light of the bolt of chaos as it sped through them toward Hope.

There was a flash of light as the chaotic energy engulfed the boy, before suddenly dispersing into fragments of darklight. Noel blinked, half-stepping back in surprise. A four-walled barrier of golden crystal rose in an encapsulating tower around Hope, refracting the image of a just-as-surprised boy within.

(What the….?!) Noel caught Hope's gaze just before the barrier shattered into rays of light, a seal blazing into life on the ground all around them. The light solidified into several looming white towers, an enclosing wall about them crackling with magic.

"Hope!" Noel's first concern was the boy, wondering if this was some attack by a third party. He started forward, the fight forgotten. "Are you all right?"

The boy pressed a hand against the central tower behind him, smiling brilliantly at Noel. The Guardian slowed and stopped, confused.

"Noel!" The tower rumbled; it was like a machine, the bulging center opening wide to reveal many glassy eyes within. "This is my promise!" The eyes flickered white.

A new seal opened under Noel's feet, fiery script—Etro's script, he realized belatedly—tracing after him even as he leapt back. A low hum reached his ears and the ground within the seal boiled. He had only enough time to compact a shield of chaos around him before the world erupted into brilliant holy light.

It was raining earth, dust billowing everywhere when the light finally faded. Noel was on his knees, coughing. He squinted through the haze; it seemed the towers were gone, but Hope was no longer there. Did the explosion catch the boy as well? Panic rose in him.

A fist flew out of the smoke, smashing into his jaw. His head whiplashed and Noel briefly saw stars.

With a petulant cry, his hand flew to his face, glaring up the huffing boy who was glaring back down.

The two stared off for a few moments before Hope sighed in exhaustion, bending over to put one hand on a knee and shake the other in pain. He swallowed hard, trying to catch his breath. "You really are strong." A slight pause, followed by a wry look as he flexed his fingers. "And hard-headed."

Noel blinked at the apparent cease-fire, working his jaw carefully. "Aren't those my lines?" What was that thing? He had heard legends about the eidolons of Etro... Did Hope, a l'Cie according to history, manage to summon one here? "Wanna fill me on what you're thinking?"

"I..." Hope trailed off, brows furrowed, staring at the ground. He seemed to be trying to find the right words, so Noel just watched him patiently. "I had to fight you. I needed to prove something."

"If you're trying to prove how strong you are, can we just arm wrestle next time?"

A brief, tired smile crossed Hope's face. "Yeah." He held out a hand to help Noel to his feet. "And thanks."

Noel gingerly took the help, eyeing Hope's wounds. Most were minor. "You really had me worried. I thought you really… you know, considered us enemies. That you were challenging me for real."

"We are enemies and I was challenging you seriously," Hope said quietly. "I told you, I had made a promise. I couldn't lose. Didn't you have something similar? Something you had to do? People you have to save?"

Then Hope smiled faintly at him, grasping his hands and squeezing them. "But," he added almost shyly, "I'm glad it ended like this, because it also means we're friends."

A weight settled on Noel's head and he glanced up to see Mogki waggling a scolding paw at Hope. [Then why is Ho-po hurting Noel?] The moogling hid its face behind pawfuls of Noel's hair.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Mogki." Wincing, Hope reached up to rub Mogki behind an ear. "Noel was the only one who could help me. I didn't want to hurt him, but it was something I had to do."

Mogki peeked at Hope. [Mmm… Mogki guess it's okay if it's helping Ho-po.]

"Hey," Noel poked at the moogling, "you're not the one who got beat up here."

[Noel probably deserved it, kupo.]

"Ouch, this love I'm feeling."

Gloved palms suddenly cradled Noel's face and he blinked down at Hope, startled. The warmth of healing magic kissed his cheeks and he quickly snagged Hope's wrists. "Hold on there—you don't have a lot of energy left. Take care of yourself. I'm fine." He offered the boy a reassuring grin. "Immortal, remember?"

Hope pulled himself free with an irritated sound, shooting Noel that familiar grumpy look. "And you can still feel pain, so be quiet. I can get Bartz to heal me." With a slight roll of his eyes, Noel let Hope do as he wanted.

"You look awful though," Noel said after he felt the healing magic recede.

"Isn't that your fault?"

"As if I don't feel horrible enough. But I was just doing what you asked." Noel paused. "You didn't have to punch me though."

"No," Hope said casually, before he smiled angelically. "But I wanted to, because you didn't have to punch me either."

"How the hell can you look so innocent when you say things like that..." Noel sulked.

Hope was quiet, before he suddenly pulled Noel's head down and pressed their lips together clumsily. Noel's eyes widened at that naked brush of skin, the ghosting taste of blood and ash and something unfamiliar but not unpleasant.

He just stared blankly as Hope drew back, hardly able to breathe. Mogki chirped, knocking on Noel's skull.

Hope's fingers curled against his face; his gaze dropped at Noel's silence, flushing. "Noel, I just..." He trailed off in a huff, frustration screwing his jaw. "I—I believe in you, all right?" Hope suddenly lifted his eyes, full of steel. "Please don't forget that."

A voice was calling Hope's name from afar. Bartz.

Hope's hands twitched, as if he had more to say, but he just exhaled noisily. A soft brush of gloved fingertips trailed down Noel's cheeks as the boy turned away to leave.

"Hope!" Noel blurted out. "...I'll see you later?" and he didn't mean to hook it as a question and maybe that really wasn't what he wanted to say, but at the moment his brain and his tongue seemed to be operating on two different levels.

Pausing, Hope looked over his shoulder for a long moment. A ghost of a smile flickered over his lips and he nodded once before hurrying on.

Still bemused, Noel watched him disappear into a line of trees, pressing a hand to his mouth. After a moment, his shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"Kuuuupo?" Mogki peered down at him. [What's so funny, kupo?]

Noel swept the moogling off his head, dropping a loud smooch on the big nose with a chuckle. "I think I can forgive him for punching me."

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

Noel didn't see Hope again for a long while, though not without trying. He wandered the lands freely, relying on their magnetism as others to meet the boy again.

He saw Bartz and Squall and Kain and the Onion Knight, sometimes with others but never with Hope.

Noel worried that maybe Hope fell again in battle, despite growing so much in strength, so he finally confronted Bartz.

The mime just shrugged. The last time he saw Hope was after Hope's fight against Noel—the two returned to Sanctuary and that's where Hope had remained. Then Bartz nudged Noel with a knowing wink and smirk, and the Guardian was so relieved by the news that he endured the mime's teasing for a little while.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

"Kupo?"

Noel straightened, staring at the sky. The clouds glowed yellow and expansive wings eclipsed the sun. Night flickered briefly and then the dragon was gone, leaving renewal in its wake.

"Another cycle…" This would be the fourth since Hope had joined him in this place.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

Noel curiously watched the black-armored man clap Kain on the shoulder before leaping down and running ahead. That kind of familiar camaraderie was unusual for Kain, and Noel smirked when the dragoon lifted his head toward him.

Jumping down, he held up his hands as the dragoon stalked toward him. "I'm not here to fight."

"Yes, I know who you are, Guardian."

Noel grinned, relieved. New cycles were always chancy with Kain. Pursing his lips, he glanced around the dragoon, tilting his chin at the shadowy figure moving into the distance. "You know him too?"

Kain suddenly went still. "What do you want?" he asked abruptly.

Noel made a face, acknowledging Kain's reluctance to discuss the black-armored man. "I'm looking for someone. Short, skinny kid, pale-haired, huge green eyes." Noel's fingers made circles around his own eyes to illustrate. "Have you seen him?"

Kain's head bowed in thought, arms folding over his chest. "One of ours?"

"Yeah." A knot of worry twisted itself in Noel's stomach. "You haven't seen him? I've been looking everywhere and I usually find him by now."

The dragoon shook his head. "I don't recall any such boy at the gathering."

"He probably got lost," Noel said, and though it was a light-hearted remark, the knot in his stomach rolled. So Kain didn't remember Hope. No big deal. It was a cycle refresh and depending on the extent of purification, more memories may have been sacrificed. The lesser ones usually went first.

Kain was silent for a moment, watching the nervousness play over Noel's face. "… I had heard that one of us had fallen."

Noel's stomach dropped.

"Perhaps the one you're searching for?"

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

He strode through the winged arches of Sanctuary and did not pause when the Goddess' Guardian stepped out to block his path. The Warrior of Light drew his blade with a ring, extending it to halt Noel's advance.

He stopped, turning his head to stare holes into the nameless Guardian's face. The other did not flinch, staring calmly back. Noel had defeated this Guardian in four other cycles, not including their first charged meeting, and he had rapidly learned that words were wasted on the single-minded warrior. But he was not in the mood for a protracted fight against the powerful Guardian of the Goddess.

"Get out of my way," Noel ordered in measured tones. "I must speak with the Goddess."

"I will not allow you entry," the Warrior replied.

Noel face darkened. "I'm not here to fight you or harm your Goddess. But if you don't move, I will cut you down where you stand."

The Warrior of Light did not flinch from the power behind Noel's words and he gripped the hilt of his sword tight.

[Allow him entry, my Guardian.]

He hesitated for a moment, but then his sword lowered and Noel stalked by him without another glance.

Cosmos was waiting for him in the heart of the tower, seated upon her divan in the middle of a clear shallows. Her pale hands were folded in her lap and her face composed; the soft radiance of the enormous chamber formed a halo about her golden hair.

Water blessed his feet as he bore down upon her with cold intensity; she met his glare with ancient eyes. The Warrior of Light followed behind him, ready to protect his Goddess, but Noel didn't break his stare with Cosmos.

"Where is he?" Noel demanded, fists balled tight at his sides. "He's here, right?"

Finally the Goddess lowered her gaze. Mogki whimpered and Noel knew that his fear was true. "I am sorry."

The apology was a punch to the gut; Noel's breath exhaled in short bursts. "You're sorry?" he spat out. His eyes burned. What had he been doing all this time? He wanted to protect his friend, but what had he been doing?

'I believe in you, all right?'

What was there to believe in? How many times will he have to lose someone?

"You called him here," Noel accused, voice rising. Mogki kneaded his scalp to placate him, but he wanted to blame someone; he staggered forward, each step staining the water under his feet dark with chaotic energy. Her Guardian moved to protect her, but Cosmos stayed him with a shake of her head. Her pity enraged Noel more.

"You hide behind the bodies of those who believe in your false cause," and he was gasping for air, tears blinding him. His heart—Heart—thudded in his chest. "You throw them again and again at death and sacrifice their souls for life and all you have to say is that you're sorry?"

'Please don't forget that.'

"You," his voice was strained, "called him here and you took him away from me and that's it? You're sorry?"

Cosmos' ageless eyes wore a mantle of lament. "There is naught I can say that would relieve your pain. For that, I am sorry."

Water exploded around them, bursting upwards into dark, spraying fountains as chaos indulged in the emotional turmoil Noel struggled to lock tight. Crystal droplets streamed down, shining white as they fell. Noel's chest heaved and his head bowed at the lethargic release, water and tears trailing down his cheeks.

The sweet trills of trickling rain echoed through the silent Sanctuary.

"Guardian of Chaos," Cosmos began and stopped. "No, Noel," she began again, rich voice compassionate. "You and I have both grown complacent in our idleness. Inaction has led us to our doom." She reached out and touched his shoulder. "Hope realized this and sought to save us through his sacrifice."

Noel chuckled bitterly. "Sacrifice? That idiot…"

"Hope asked me to give this to you." Cosmos held out her hand. Swirls of light condensed into a star above her palm, solidifying into crystal with a burst of sparks.

He lifted his head, staring tiredly at the faceted, many-pointed star, pale green like Hope's eyes. "What is it?"

"His wish." Cosmos reached out, gently lifting one of Noel's hands and setting the crystal upon it. "As a chosen of Chaos, you cannot bear a crystal. Therefore he wished to give you his own. This is what he gave his life for."

"... a crystal…?" Its light was warm and gentle, like the pyreflies shed by Hope's body in the last cycle. (Was this… the promise he kept talking about? To stop the war?)

"No longer will I idly stand by, Noel. I have watched my warriors fall for cycles, at the order of the Great Will. I have let some become forever lost in the Void, trapped in eternal nightmare. I have sinned greatly, and this will be my atonement." Her shoulders straightened, the sorrow on her face sharp. "I ask for your help. Hope asks for your help. Bear his crystal and, with your strength, fulfill the wishes contained within."

Noel's fingers snapped shut over the star; it disappeared into streams of mist. He whirled around, shouldering past the Warrior of Light, leaving the Goddess and her Guardian without a word.

+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+

As he walked through the arches, he saw a woman approaching. When they passed each other, the woman spared him a single appraising glance and he met her pale gaze coolly. She wouldn't recognize him but he recognized her, even clothed as she was.

(Was this also your wish?)

He didn't look back as Lightning disappeared under the arches.

oh noes drama!1

Thanks to JapanManiac again for your review.

As always, commentary is welcome. Thanks for reading.