I in no shape or form own the settings or characters of Devil May Cry or Final Fantasy XIII-2

To Raging Berseker: Actually with the amount of writing I'm doing now, I think it will be way longer..so I decided to write a little more compared to the normal 3,000+ words for a chapter..I'm gonna make each chapter consist of 5,000+ words from now on since the journey is long lol. Thank you for the review! hope you continue to read! :D

To RevolverBobCat: Doesn't matter what you think on the matter of Nero being Vergil's son, until and if capcom makes a true Devil May Cry 5; his origins won't be set in stone. Right now the only proof that nero is Vergil's son is the DMC4 novel: Deadly fortune..go read the summary on devils-lair . org ..it's already established that he is Vergil's son, and also a capcom unity worker confirmed it at an event.

To LightningPanda: Thanks! hope you continue to read! :D

Chapter 5: Revealing Resolves

New Bodhum, 3AF

"Is that a meteor?"

Serah's voice rang out in the shoreline of the new Bodhum village, currently she and Nero slowly stood up as they watched the fiery form of the meteor crashed behind the jagged edges of the cliffs that stood adjacent to her small town, Nero slowly got up to his feet and Serah did the same. His eyes widened as a feeling of dread passed over him. And he drew out his beloved red queen and deflected a projectile away from the two of them. Serah let out a gasp as the sky above them turned into the confines of night and creatures moved to attack the town.

"What...what's happening?" questioned Serah, panic settled in her voice and Nero glanced back to her.

"You tell me..." he crashed red queen into the ground and Serah watched as his right hand rotated to a semi-circle, she watched as red liquid drained into the blade and the sound of one starting up the motorcycle could be heard, she unconsciously glanced to the sword that he held onto. He glanced back to her "Stay close..."...Serah unconsciously nodded her head and slowly looked to the bow that her sister had gifted her with. She looked up and her eyes widened as a nekton moved to attack Nero.

"Look out!"

Nero blinked and then with a slash from his blade sliced the small insect like creature in half. he looked back to Serah and sent a smirk her way while placing red queen over his right shoulder "Don't worry, keep calm will ya?..I can handle these bugs"...Serah blinked and pulled him out of the way as a larger form of the same insect moved to plough him down to the ground. Nero looked to Serah and his eyes widened to see a mark appear on the surface of her right eye and his devil bringer grew bright blue and died down at the same time. He bkinked and then it was gone, moving it off as nothign; he turned towards the meonekton and smirked "Heh...it looks like a bugfest...alright then"

Serah watched as he drew out a two barrel gun from his holster and started firing away at the nektons, effortlessly taking them down, he looked back to Serah "Hey, if your not gonna use that fancy bow of yours, find somewhere safe to hide..."

"But..."

Nero dodged an impalement from a meonekton and jumped onto it, Serah held up her right arm into a fist and placed it in front of her chest as she looked to Nero who rode the insect. However, Nero's idea of fun cost him as a horde of nekton's moved to attack Serah, she staggered back in panic and she hit the ground on her backside. A small amount of pain seered through her waist as she looked up "No..please no..." a nekton moved to attack her and Serah cowered in fear and brought up her right arm in defense,

"Lightning! help me!"

Her desperate plea was answered as a barrage of bullets and a battlecry rang out from a female's voice. She looked back to see a woman all too familiar to her race towards her with a rifle and then subduing her enemies, she grabbed onto Serah's right arm in concern.

"Get a hold of yourself! Lightning's dead! get that through your head! you need to look after yourself now!"

Serah stagged back and then in a moment of weakness held her gaze away from the woman, that cost the woman however as she was thrust aside by a meonnekton. "Lebreau!" Serah's call of concern was attributed and nullified as another nekton moved to take her down. She closed her eyes awaiting her end and then a slash of metal could be heard.

"You want her? you got to go through me first!"

The voice was unfamiliar to her but as she opened her eyes, she looked to see a young man with brown wavy hair holding onto a reddish shapeless blade He glanced back to her and offered his arm. She didn't hesitate as she latched onto his right arm, her gaze wandered to his light brown eyes, it wandered to a bow that she held onto and then he looked up to her once more. "Get up, Serah..."

"You...I saw you in my dream" stated an awe struck Serah.

The stranger looked back, determination flashing in his eyes "Save it for later..you have a bow, can you fight?"

Serah blinked and looked to the bow that she held onto in her right hand "If I have to..." her wavering voice caught his ears and he looked back to the opponents in front of him "Your gonna have to..."

He slowly took out his sheathed blade and began to speak once more "One more thing...don't ever lay down and wait to die!"

She didn't know why, but Serah felt a sense of renewed strength flowing into her and then she clutched the gifted bow tightly within her grasp and moved to fight alongside her mysterious savior.

Nero, on the other hand rode through the sky of Pulse on the meonnekton. He grinned and smirked "Heh..heh." and then slashed away at the insect. he jumped off the insect and then landed on the sandy ground below him. A small explosion occured behind him as he slowly drew out red queen and placed it on his back once more.

"You!"

A voice of aggression caught his ears as he turned to his right to see the well built man from before glaring at him. Nero's lip twirled into a smirk as he looked to the orange haired man "Hey..looks like you got your hands full there, need some help?"

Before Gadot could answer, Nero's attention turned to his north, his coat fluttered backwards as a huge force of wind hit him. He looked up to see a circular distortion with blue edges appearing before him. His eyes momentarily widened in surprise as a demon or what appeared to him as a demon appeared through the portal. It roared out in frustration and struggled to break free of it's portal. Nero's eyes narrowed as he looked to the monster, a tingling sensation shone on his right hand or more specifically to his devil bringer; Nero looked on as his devil bringer shone with a blue light. And a familiar voice caught his ears. "I don't see how yoru helping us when your just standing there!"

Nero looked to see an angered Gadot shouting at him and at the same time firing at the monster in front of him. He let out a muffled scoff "That ain't gonna work, why don't you get back and leave the fightin' to the experts huh?"

Gadot, Yuj and Maqui gritted their teeth as they looked to them, Nero then ran towards the monster and jumped up into the air. His devil bringer shone out and Gadot watched in awe as a blue arm materialised to the right of Nero. "See you later, you jackass!" With a battle cry, Nero plunged the devil bringer towards the monster and watched as the devil bringer grabbed the monster's face and pushed it into the portal. With a loud roar once more, the monster disappeared and Nero landed onto the ground, his coat fluttered in the small gust of air that erupted from his landing and he looked on as his devil bringer shone with a blue light and then died down altogether. He raised an eyebrow in surprise

"Well..that's a new one..."

Serah's mysterious savior slowly picked up the injured form of Lebreau, their battles had been fierce but it had ended. He glanced back to Serah who examined the ruins of her once beloved village. Their small city had taken a lot of damage and Serah was left to see the fiery damage of their small town. The sound of footsteps caught their attention and a yellow spikey haired boy ran up to her with a rifle in his arms along with his trademark goggles.

"Hey..Serah, are you alright?"

"Huh?...yeah, thanks for asking" she smiled

"Maqui, come on" called out Yuj, The young boy now identified as Maqui nodded his head and looked to Serah "Gotta go.."

"Right..." confirmned Serah, she looked on as the young boy ran towards a small group near the exit of their town. Serah's eyes however turned back to the stranger who had saved her. She quickly ran towards him as he tended to an injured Lebreau. She slowly knelt down and looked to the fallen woman.

"She's going to be fine, she just needs some rest" came his voice.

Serah nodded her head and whispered a small 'thank goodness" and after checking up on her friend, she slowly got up and looked to the young man before her "Thank you...whoever you are."

The stranger just smirked and tilted his head bringing up his right thumb and pointing it to himself, he introduced himself "Noel, Noel Kreiss.."

Serah looked unsure and her eyes held wavering doubt as she looked to the younger man once more "Okay..."

"And before I forget, it wasn't just me; you should thank this little guy too" added Nora. Serah blinked in surprise as a small glow erupted from Noel's right hand and siphoned itself into Serah's bow. With a small flash she looked up to see a cute but tiny angel like creature with a wand.

"Wow...is that a toy moogle?"

"He's supposed to be your lucky charm, your sister gave him to me" answered Noel, he slowly walked away from her but was stopped as her excited voice stopped him in his place "Wait..you know Lightning?"

Noel was momentarily startled as he looked to her and nodded his head "She's the one who told me to come here"

"What?...where? where did you see her? was it Valhalla? " questioned a now hopeful Serah.

Noel's eyes held doubt and his tone was light in concern as he answered her "Yeah..how'd you guess?!"

"I...I saw it in a dream and Nero told me as well" came her answer. Noel blinked at her in surprise, he drew his neck forward in a questioning figure "Nero?...wait, where is he?"

Nero slowly looked on as Gadot formed a small search party near the exit of the town. He watched as the civilian soldiers said their goodbyes along with words of caution to their friends and family. He let out an audible sigh and placed his barrel gun, the blue rose into the holster in hs coat. He looked around and his eyes fell onto the calm ocean in front of him. It was peaceful, a small smile made it's way onto his face as he gazed upon the ocean and the crystallized form of Cocoon above it.

"Kyrie would really like it here..." thought a joyful Nero "The sooner I finish this, the faster I can get back...let's hope Dante's alright for the time being; that Lightning lady looked tough but I don't know if she can keep that jackass in line if he comes here..."

"Nero!"

He blinked and turned around to see Serah running towards him with another man, he looked to be the same age as him. He slowly folded his arms over his chest as they came to him and stopped in front of him. Nero looked to her and pursed his lips beginning to speak "Glad to see your alright.."

"Yeah..no thanks to you" cut in Noel. Serah blinked as she looked to him in worry "Noel...it's alright, he didn't know.."

Nero blinked as he looked to Noel in surprise "Hey...what's your problem?"

"My problem? didn't Lightning ask you to take care of her sister? " stated an irritated Noel. Nero jsut blinked at him in surprise "Lightning?...yeah she did, mind explaining' how you know her?"

"Right after you tell me why you left Serah alone..she could have been hurt!"

Nero just shook his head in surprise and looked to Noel "Listen, I told her to go take cover alright?..I thought she knew how to use that bow". Nero glanced to Serah who looked away from him and Noel and bowed her head down in what he perceived as shame.

"Fault? yeah..so maybe you should go and explain it to Lightning how you were going to let her only sister get killed!" stated an angered Noel. Nero's rage grew in size as he stepped forward "Remind me, who are you again? cause if you didn't notice...I'm not her boyfriend!"

"Why you!" muttered an angry Noel

Nero looked to him and then to Serah, his gaze softened as he let out another audibe sigh "Fine..listen? I'm sorry; I didn't know you couldn't use that bow...I should have payed more attention"

Serah looked to him and her demeanor slowly changed to that of an understanding calmness. "It's alright..."...As Nero slowly turned around to leave them, Noel let out an audible sigh and looked to him "I guess we got off on the wrong foot..."

Nero blinked and turned around and looked to him "Don't sweat it, I shouldn't have pissed you off"

"Heh...pissed me off huh? your Nero right?" questioned Noel. Nero blinked once more and his upper body moved forward in a questioning matter "How'd you know?...lemme guess? Lightning told you huh?"

"Yeah...she told me to find the both of you and bring you back to her" answered Noel, Nero wastched as Noel placed his arms on his waist and looked to Nero.

"Back?...alright then since you have all the answers, how do we get back to her?" questioned Nero.

"You saw that meteor didn't you?" questioned Noel once more. Nero and Serah both nodded their heads as she looked to the two men besides her. "Wait...did you ride on it Noel?"

"Damned if I know, maybe we should go check it out huh?" questioned Noel. Nero looked to Serah and then glanced back to brown haired individual "Lead the way, we'll follow..."

"Right" confirmed Noel, he looked to Serah and then proceeded to move in front of the two of them. Nero's gaze remained on him and then he too followed behind Noel. Serah however was left to confusion as she watched the two of them walked ahead of her.

Serah's POV

Both of them say they met Lightning but...how can it be? all I can see...all I can remember is her last smile and then everyone says she's dead.

But these two, they're so alike each other and they tell me a different tale...Lightning? what do I have to believe...are you really alive?..Both of them say the same thing and it alludes to you sending me a message. Nero...Vergil's son is here along with Noel...how can Nero be here; I have faith that I will see you again..but..

Why am I so afraid to believe?"

Normal POV

She shook her head as both Nero and Noel stopped and looked back to her awaiting her arrival. Noel called out to her as Nero stood impatiently and then she nodded her head and watched as her toy moogle erupted from the bow and danced around her. "Alright..let's get going.." she smiled and prepared to walk towards them.

Nero's eyes however narrowed at the small moogle that floated around Serah "What the hell is that? looks like a plushie cushion.."

Noel just rolled his eyes and looked to him "It's not, it was a good luck charm from Lightning...it gives Serah more access to her bow...by the way."

"Huh? yeah?" questioned Nero as he looked to the individual.

"Lightning told me to tell you that Sparda's younger son was there too, he was fighting two other guys" explained Noel. Nero just smirked and shook his head "Heh...knew he was gonna come lookin' for me...just hope he doesn't get killed trying."

"That's why we need to go back and find Lightning, we can change everything if we reach her" answered a defiant Noel. Nero just blinked in surprise and looked to him "Everything huh?...what's your story anyway? you just showed up out of nowhere.."

"I...I don't think you wanna know." stuttered Noel. Nero looked on as Noel bowed down his head and tore his gaze away from him "Alright...whatever floats your boat." and then silence erupted between them as Serah walked up to the two of them. Noel gazed back to Serah and then to Nero once more "Let's get going"

Nero and Serah proceeded to follow the wayward youth as they too walked forward. Serah snuck small glances at Nero as they walked forward "Nero?"

Nero and Noel blinked as they glanced back to her "Yeah?"

"How is Dante? is he alright?" questioned Serah. Nero just smirked and let out an amused grunt "That old fart?...last time I saw him, he was alright; right now though? I don't know.."

Serah blinked at him in surprise and tilted her head to the right "What do you mean?"

Nero let out an audible sigh, he nodded his head to Noel, the brown haired individual on understanding looked to Serah and walked forward while simultaneously speaking with them "I'll explain...before I came here from Valhalla; Lightning told me that." he looked to Nero in doubt "Dante? that's his name right?"...Nero nodded his head and then looked to Serah as Noel spoke once more "Lightning told me that he's fighting some guys over there along with her..."

Serah's eyes widened in surprise as he looked to the both of them "So Dante's with Lightning now?"

"Yeah...I guess" answered Noel, he shrugged his shoulders unsure of why the girl in front of him was overjoyed. They both watched as she let out an audible sigh. "Well that's a relief..."

At this Nero just raised an eyebrow at her "You seem kinda relaxed? what's the matter?"

"Yeah..I'd like to know too" asked a curious Noel. Serah just looked to them both and smiled at them "Let's just say that those two won't have a tough time if they're together. ..."

At this Nero just raised an eyebrow "Wait, wait, wait...so your tellin' me that Dante loves Lightning? well, there's a surprise..."

"What do you mean?" questioned a curious Noel. Nero just looked to him as he began to answer "Heh..I never pegged that lazy ass for all this romantic stuff, he's a goofball" ..Noel smirked at him as Serah just scolded him for his berating "Nero, that's no way to talk about your uncle..."

At this, Nero' mind lit up like a fuse "Uncle?...what the hell are you talking about? I'm not related to Dante..."

Noel looked back to Serah and then to Nero in surprise "So wait...your not Sparda's grandson?"

Nero just looked back at him in surprise "Grandson? who the hell comes up with this crap?...I was just told that I have a little bit of his blood..that's how I have this arm." explained Nero, for emphasis he just brought up his devil bringer and showed it to the two of them. Serah felt her heart sink and she placed her right clenched fist infront of her chest and looked to Nero in concern.

"Nero...do you know who your father is?" questioned a weary Serah.

"Father?...I have no father; I was bought up in an orphanage on an island...some people adopted me" answered a now angered Nero. Serah blinked and then looked to Noel who stood in shock, sparing him another glance she looked to Nero who stood in confusion. "You don't know...do you?"

"Know what?...what do you know that I don't huh? if you know something, tell me then" pleaded Nero. "I don't give a damn about my father but I care about Dante even if he is an asshole at times, I feel like I know him but I just-damn it, just can't remember..."

"I don't know if I should" murmured Serah. Nero let out a defeated sigh and looked to Noel. The latter who in turn decided to act and placed a hand on Serah's right shoulder "It'll be good if you tell him now...he has a right to know if these thing's were kept from him."

Hearing his reassured voice, Serah nodded her head and looked back to Nero and Noel did the same. Serah's determined gaze met Nero and she began to speak "You know that Dante had a twin brother right?"

Fortuna Island (Flashback)

"That sword was originally my brother's...it was used to separate the demon world from the human world; I can't have something of that kinda power floating around now can I?" stated Dante, he pointed a thumb at himself as he began to speak once more "It's got to stay in the family..."

"That's the only kind of gift worth giving...I want to entrust it to you so I am, take care of yourself.."

End Flashback..

"No..no" murmured Nero, the weight of what Dante had told him began to hit him harder; realization slowly brewing into him; he looked upwards as Serah gave him a moment to let it sink in.

"The reason why Dante helped out Lightning and the others three years ago was because he was really worried about you and wanted to take you back" explained Serah "I don't know why he didn't tell you all this..

"It's because" began Nero, he looked to both Noel and Serah who stood in front of him "He couldn't..."

"What do you mean 'he couldn't' ?" questioned a now curious Noel "You said you met him, didn't you?"

"It's not that...it's..."

Valhalla (Flashback)

"You weren't born on Earth, you were born on Cocoon...you were just a child when all of this happened, Dante and I...we were too late and before we could intervene, you were sent back to Earth" explained Lightning.

"So...Dante knew me when I was just a baby? then when I met him, why the hell didn't he say anything? huh?" questioned a now hurt Nero.

"His memories were erased by Etro" answered Lightning.

"Erased? why the hell did this 'Etro' do that?...hell, he could have found me if I was just a kid on an island, couldn't he?

End Flashback...

"She told you that?" questioned Noel. Nero nodded his head as he looked to them "Yeah..."

"Nero..." began a concerned Serah. Her voice held that of anguish; she could feel his pain as did Noel, not knowing from where one came from but she looked on in surprise as Nero suddenly began laughing; Noel stepped back in concern as well as Serah. Nero let out a full blown laugh and looked to the blue sky that held Cocoon.

"You alright?" questioned a concerned Noel.

Nero's laugh died down and he looked to the two of them and smirked "Hell yeah, never better"

"Nero...are you sure? I know I shouldn't ha-" began Serah. Nero however stopped her in her statement and his gaze softened "No..thanks for telling me; now I can kick Dante's ass even harder when I see him again..."

Noel looked to Serah unable to know whether he should laugh or he should be worried, they watched as Nero turned around and began walking ahead of him "We should catch up with him" proposed Noel. Serah nodded her head "Right...I'm beginning to worry about him.."

"That makes the two of us, and I just met him" muttered Noel.

Nero walked forward with determination etched in his eyes "You better not die on me, Dante...there's too much ass kicking I need to give you when this is over..."

Serah's POV

Lightning, I told Nero about who his father was...I don't know if I should have but he doesn't care about who he was. I don't know if Vergil really loved him as a son. But the least I could do was tell him the truth...

He cares more about Dante than any of us, I guess it's a given when you find out that someone risked their llife for you and you didn't know he was family. I'm sure it would have hurt him but...I see Dante in him more than Vergil.

I suppose only time will tell if he learns to care for us as well, you, me..Noel, Snow and the others...I hope we can all see you again..

Soon..

Normal POV

"Alright..here we are; there's the meteor"

Noel's voice rang out to the two of them and Nero blinked as his devil bringer started flashing with ferocity. Serah backed away in concern and looked to the young demon slayer "Nero? what's happening?"

"I..I don't know.." answered an honest Nero. Noel blinked as he looked to Nero's devil bringer and then to the meteor that was stranded in the abysmal crater in front of them and then back to Nero "I think it's resonating to that meteor over there..."

Serah panted and a small yelp of panic erupted form her, Nero and Noel looked to her in concern and then around them to see distortions of barren wastelands around them. "What the?!" muttered a shocked Nero. Noel's eyes widened as well as he looked to where Nero gazed "Cocoon!? it's gone!?"

"Ahh!"

Their musings were interrupted as Nero and Noel both looked to her, she slowly got up and the distortions died down. Noel knelt down and slowly helped Serah up "Are you alright?"

"Yeah..I'm fine, it was nothing" explained Serah, she lured them into a false sense of happiness, Noel glanced back to Nero; he nodded his head and then proceeded to jump down towards the fallen meteor followed both by Noel and Serah. Nero stayed back with Serah while Noel examined the meteor.

"Lightning must have-hey!"

His statement was interrupted as Gadot grabbed onto his collar and looked to him in anger. Nero as well was caught when Yuj and Maqui caught him. He shoved them off and then moved ahead to Gadot. "Let him go!"

"You stay out of this way!" called out Gadot. Serah called out in concern and worry "Gadot! please let him go!"

"Lightning's dead! get that through your head! quit your lies!" shouted Gadot. Noel struggled to break free and then Nero came to his rescue and pulled on Gadot's jacket. He let go off Noel who fell to thee ground. Nero bent down and avoided a full swing from the man's arm and then with the small opening given to him, he punched him with his devil bringer sending him skidding away from him. Nero grunted as Gadot glared at him and held onto his gut in pain. He walked back to a fallen Noel and offered him his arm. Noel slowly looked up to him and smirked "Thanks for that..."

"Don't sweat it..." muttered Nero and he slowly helped the individual up. Noe walked past Nero and looked to Gadot and the rest of the original NORA members "Trust me alright? we're not here to cause you guys any trouble..I just need to get these guys back to Lightning..."

Noel took their silence as an agreement and then he went to the meteorite. Serah walked to Nero in concern "What is he doing?"

"Hell if I know...let's see" muttered Nero.

They watched as Noel placed his arms on the meteor and it flared up, "Tch.." he let out a grunt and then looked back to Serah and Nero "Serah...help me out, come here.."

"Okay?" Serah stated and came next to Noel, she slowly placed her arms on the meteor and watched up as a golden shining light flared up even more "It's still not enough?" muttered a shocked Noel. Nero slowly placed his devil bringer on the meteor much to his two companions surprise. He smirked and then they watched as the blue light from his devil bringer shattered the golden light. They staggered back as the meteor shattered before them and a white light shot up into the air.

"A time gate...just like the one in Valhalla" muttered Noel.

"This was the same thing Lightning used to send me here; looks like she really did send you" chuckled Nero. Noel just looked to him in surprise "You didn't believe me?"

"I had my doubts..." chuckled Nero. Noel just smirked back at him and then nodded his head at him "Guess we can't go through without finding that artefact yet..."

Serah slowly came up to him and questioned him "Artefact?"

"Yeah...let's head back, this gate isn't going anywhere for the time being...I owe your friends an explanation" muttered Noel, he looked to Nero and smirked "And an apology.."

"Hey...I saved your ass back there; don't go asking me to apologize that Gadot guy had it coming..." stated an irritated Nero. Noel just rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders and looked to Serah who just smiled back at him and then looked to the time gate in front of her.

"Could this really open a pathway to you, Lightning? are you waiting for us?" she questioned in her own mind and then she along with the rest of her group retired back to new Bodhum. Noel held a burden on his shoulders as he struggled to come to gripes with his situation. He wondered whether it was necessary for him to tell them about who he was, or where he was from...for that matter.

Nero's own thoughts went back to Dante and then to his beloved Kyrie, he was worried but he knew he shouldn't be. Kyrie was strong or so he hoped.

3 Hours later, New Bodhum

Noel had explained to NORA about the timegate's and Lightning's disappearance. Nero had decided to hang back near the entrance of the door and listen to his explanation. Once done, they're minds were filled with confusion but each doubt was addressed by Noel who cleared it up for them. Once cleared, they decided to rest for the night. Noel let out an audible and looked to Serah who sat on a small steel stool with Mog, her pet moogle in her embrace.

"Well...that was fun" muttered Noel, weariness evident in his voice.

"So...where can we find this artefact?" questioned Serah. Noel rubbed the back of his head and then turned back his gaze on her "Only we can use it, so it should be somewhere around here...best we get some rest before we head out, I guess you want to say goodbye to them as well..."

"Yeah...alright then, see you in the morni-wait, where's Nero?"

Noel blinked in surprise as he looked around himself in the NORA house, his lips curled inwards and his eyebrow furrowed in confusion "He was here...just a second ago, I'll go find hi-"

"No..I will, I guess I need to talk to him a little more..." offered Serah, she slowly got up and Noel watched as she went into the open night sky. He let out an audible sigh and placed his arms to his waist "Wonder what's on his mind..."

"Probably nothing..." ame a feminine voice

Noel blinked in surprise and turned around to see Lebreau looking to him with a smirk on her face. Her arms were folded over her chest.. "Oh..er, I see your doing alright now.."

"Yeah..thanks for the help back there...I guess we all owe you an apology" smiled Lebreau.

"Oh..it's nothing, you had a right to be doubtful...anyway I was hoping if you could tell me something" requested a hopeful Noel. Lebreau' gaze softened as she looked to the younger man,, her arms dropped to her side as she looked to him "Yeah?"

"Could you tell me about how Cocoon was crystallised?...I just want to make sure if I have all my facts right" answered Noel. A moment of silence passed between them and Lebreau nodded her head in agreement "Sure...why not? I don't see the harm, pay attention though..."

New Bodhum town square

Serah walked to a stop and stood in the middle fo the town square along with Mog who floated around her. She brought her right hand and helf it near her chest, her fist clenched; she looked around as residents passed by them.

"Kupo?"

"I don't know where he went off to..." whispered Serah "Maybe..I shouldn't have told him"

She looked up once more to the night sky and the crystallized pillar of Cocoon in the horizon. Mog however decided to intervene and his wand flashed a bright yellow glow "Kupo! kupo!"

Serah blinked and then looked up to the moogle who floated away from her in quickness "What?...wait! hold on!" she called out and followed the moogle to the far end of their small thriving town. She ran by passing the stares of the residents and then looked on as the moogle exited the village. Serah ran up the bridge that connected the coast to the upper hills of the area and followed the moogle. She stopped as she found Nero sitting near the edge of a cliff near a palm tree, his back rested to the trunk of the tree and he looked the crystallised Cocoon in the background.

"Father huh?...what a load of crap." muttered Nero. His musings were interrupted as Mog came rushing towards him and let out it's trademark cry "Kupo!"

Nero blinked and looked to it, his eyes rolled as he let out a scoff "Oh great...what do you want?"

He watched as Mog's shoulder slumped and his wand's yellow flash dimmed down in sadness "Kupo..."

"Hmph..." grunted Nero as he looked back to scenery in front of him. He shook his head as the sound of footsteps caught his attention.

"So there you are...I was beginning to get worried" came Serah's voice. Nero just looked to her and then back to the night sky above him "Don't be..not like I'm going anywhere anyway..."

Serah's gaze softened as she looked to the younger man "Nero...I-"

"Save it, I know what your going to say, it isn't your fault; who'd thought that I had a father of all people and Dante's my uncle, it makes me want to laugh..." muttered Nero. Serah's gaze softened and her heart dropped at his saddened voice.

"It must have been hard living as an orphan.." murmured Serah. Nero just glanced back to her and grunted in amusement "Naah, some people took me in; they were nice too, had two kids...but they died early; killed by some demons..."

"I see...I'm sorry.." whispered Serah.

"Yeah..well, all I want right now is to get back there; I got someone waiting back at home for me..." stated Nero. At this Serah blinked in surprise and a sly smirk appeared on her face "Who?...Nero, do you have a girlfriend?

"Erm..well, I guess you can call her that" muttered a now embarrassed Nero, his cheeks reddened as he looked away from the younger Farron. Serah giggled as she looked to him "You don't have to be embarrassed I have someone special too.."

At this, Nero blinked in surprise and looked to her "You do?...so where's this guy of yours anyway?"

"He left a year ago...we were going to get married but I was so distraught about Lightning that he went ahead and decided to search for her...I haven't seen him since then" explained a saddened Serah. Nero's gaze softened and he looked to the night sky above them.

"Heh...maybe, you'll get to see him on our lil' adventure...who knows?..." chuckled Nero. Serah nodded her head as a smile came onto her face "Yeah..I guess we will.."

They both looked to the starry night sky above them, unsure of where their journey would lead them. One thing however they were sure off...they would meet their loved ones. Their hearts now set on that lone hope. Their resolves were clear to face whatever lied in front of them.

AN: Whew and done lol...hope you like the chapter! I'm really diggin ff 13-2...really like it more than ff 13 lol...it's very beautiful. Hopefully I can finish this story before Lightning returns..lol wait, of course I can..hopefully. So Nero knows now...hmm, wonder how that will pan out if they meet Vergil or Caius along the way. I'm really in a bind of introducing Hope to Nero lol..it's sure to be confusing and funny but the very least emotional. Till then adios! tc!