XIII A Hopeful Future

With Caius dead, the tragedy of him trying to destroy time and the future was averted, and time returned to normal. Paddra fell, just as history said it would, and the remaining farseers still became wandering nomads. However, Etro wanted to prevent a guardian like Caius from suffering into insanity and then acting on it the way he did.

Yuel, having seen what would have become of the world if Caius hadn't been stopped, pleaded to the goddess that the line of Seeress' would end so that it wouldn't happen again. Understanding her reason, Etro granted her wish. That Yuel had been the last, and her and all of those before her could finally rest in peace.

Aerith, witnessing it all from the lifestream offered to take Yuel's place as a Seeress, while Zack of course would be her eternal guardian. The Goddess hesitated at their request, fearing that seeing Cetra in pain and repeat her death after every vision would drive Zack to repeat what Caius had done. Deciding there was no more need for a Seeress, she denied their request.

Lightning gasped quietly as she opened her eyes and awoke out of her crystallized state. She blinked a few times, then glanced up and saw the Cocoon being held up by the crystal pillar close by. She smiled, now knowing for sure that they had been successful in restoring the true time line.

"It's really over then," Snow commented beside her.

She nodded, and looked around for Hope and Sazh, and saw them beside her as well. It was just like before, but how long had they been asleep? They then saw Serah and Dajh walking towards them from the pillar. Once Serah saw them, she pointed it out to Dajh, and they both quickened their pace into a run.

Sazh ran to his son immediately, while Snow did the same for Serah. She smiled as they embraced happily, having the strong feeling of de ja vu. She then turned to Hope, who looked bothered by something.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Yeah..." he said softly.

She could tell he was lying, and that something was on his mind, but couldn't say anything more because Serah and Snow had come back to them.

"I missed you," Serah said as she hugged her older sister.

Lightning blinked a few times, wondering what she had meant. They had just been together, so why would she say that? Something was wrong...

"Everything's ok now," she told her.

It soon became apparent that Serah actually didn't remember anything at all since the time she had crystallized.

The group began building the village that would soon be named New Bodhum, and Serah asked what all happened when she was asleep. They told her what had happened to make Cocoon fall, but mentioned nothing about their time traveling journey.

"I just don't understanding why she doesn't remember any of that, yet the rest of us do," Snow told Lightning when they were paroling the outskirts of the village one night.

"Maybe it's for the best," she said. "She's lost the twins right now," she reminded him. "As well as Noel..."

Snow nodded, glancing down.

"It would be painful for her to remember then..." he said.

She nodded.

"It could've been Etro's doing, or maybe her mind just blocked it all out," she guessed.

"Something just doesn't feel right..." Serah told her sister on her wedding day.

Lightning blinked in confusion, then finished zipping up Serah's dress.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "Are you worried that you won't be happy with Snow?"

"No it's not that," Serah said as she tied her hair into a tight bun before putting on her veil. "It's just...This day is supposed to be perfect, and it is, but at the same time it feels like someone's missing..."

Lightning frowned, remembering Noel had been there for the wedding last time. Everything else was the same. Serah's dress was a long simple silk strapless dress, with a thin layer of transparent fabric that sparkled in the light over it. Lightning was her maid of honor, and also the one who would walk her down the aisle.

She had once again been forced to wear a slim fitting spaghetti strap dress that matched her hair color, while Lebreau wore the same to be Serah's bridesmaid. If Vanille had been awake, she would have been one too.

Naturally everyone else in NORA were Snow's groomsmen, while young Dahj was the ring bearer. Sazh and Hope were attending too, as well as their other friends in the village. It was all exactly the same, but Noel was no more...

"Does that make sense to you?" Serah asked.

It was apparent to Lightning that subconsciously, Serah knew who Noel was, and that he was gone. She didn't want to see her younger sister hurt, so she decided to lie.

"I think you're just a bit nervous," she told her as she helped her adjust her veil.

There was a knock at the door, and Hope poked his head inside the room.

"Snow wants to know if everything's ok, I think he's getting a bit impatient." he told them.

"I'm just about ready," Serah told him as she made her way to the bathroom, muttering that of course she had to pee after she got dressed.

Nodding, Hope watched her leave the room, then looked at Lightning. He quietly stepped into the room, and closed the door behind him.

"Something wrong?" she asked, still not used to seeing him fourteen years old again, and in a suit of all things.

"It's just..." he began, lowering his eyes to the floor. "We'll we can't be together for at least another four years now..."

Now she understood what had been on his mind since they had woken up–again.

"I'll wait for you," she told him.

"Really?" he asked as he looked up at her.

She nodded with a smile.

"You searched for me for over ten years Hope, in comparison four doesn't sound that bad."

He nodded, looking down once more as he blushed a bit.

"You still joining The Academy?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said. "I wanna help make some preparations to make another Cocoon again, should it be destined to fall still. That and try to safely get Fang and Vanille out of the pillar."

"We'll just wait a while, and I'll be by your side to protect you," she told him.

"I'm ready sis," Serah said as she poked her head back in the room.

"I'll be out in a second," Lightning told her.

Nodding, Serah headed outside, where everyone else was waiting. Turning back to Hope, she smiled, then gently kissed him on the forehead.

"I wouldn't mind having that ring again in a few years," she told him happily as she too went outside.

Author's Notes

So yeah, XIII-2 NEVER FUCKING HAPPENED HERE! As I believe it should have been. Basically this fic was my way of ranting about that awful ending, and I'm updating today because I'm pissed about this whole "Lightning Returns" shit. It sounds awful! I expected XIII-2 to be a train wreck and I got a car crash, but THIS sounds like a train wreck that's going to explode in the middle of town in rush hour or something!

UGH! THANKS FOR RUINING MY BIRTHDAY SQUARE! -_-