Author's Note: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII-2 or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.
Notice: Sorry for the late update. My internet is acting up and I need to call someone. Nonetheless I shall persevere and keep trying. Man though , it seems you all like the last chapter, huh? Thank you for all of the reviews, and so I shall reply to each of them!
G.S. Phoenix: Thanks for the support, and I agree that the way the dreamworld does that is flat out not cool.
Rsdk525: No problem. And to answer your question, it was simply because Uried did it, and really didn't want Deiru to get out.
X-Ranger1: Thanks, and I hope you do well with your classes.
StorSpeaker: Hey, nice to see you again! And thanks for the kind words.
DustierKestrel: It was indeed meant to. On the subject of Lightning Returns though, let me just say that I have more than a few things up my sleeve.
And finally, Jeff: Wow. I really don't know what to say expect... thank you, Thanks for being a long supporter, and for liking the Lightning/Deiru relationship I've built. Funny, I never really saw myself as a "hero" for... well, anyone. But do tell me your actual pen name, so I can read this fic you've made.
And now that that's done, onto the next chapter! (By the way, the one narrating in this chapter will be Noel, for those of you who haven't played the game.)
Ch.36 From One Fantasy to Another
I stared at Fang in disbelief, wondering I should believe it was really her. She smirked and said "Been a moment, Spiky. How've you been?" "Is that really you?" I asked in way of reply. Fang chuckled. She still looked and sounded the way she did when we were in Augusta Tower. "Well, I can't quite say that I am, or I'm not," she said. I blinked, before frowning in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked. Fang was silent for a second, before frowning. "Well, it's kind of complicated, and… Dammit, I'm not good at explaining this kind of stuff," she said, before turning around looking at the sky. "Hey Vanille! Help me out here!" she yelled. I looked up, and after a moment not Vanille, but Sofia appeared in a burst of light.
I jaw dropped and she dropped to the ground, dusting herself off. "Where's Vanille?" Fang asked. "Oh, she's still talking with Serah. So she sent me instead," Sofia replied, smiling. Fang grunted and shrugged. "Anyway, can you explain how it is that we're here to Deiru?" she requested, jerking her thumb back at me. The ravenette nodded. "Basically, this is the real us, but we're still inside your dream. Remember, my body is still in the crystal pillar along with Fang's and Vanille's. So it's like we almost communicating through thought," she explained. I blinked. "Like when I talk with Lightning in my other dreams?" I asked. Fang nodded. "Exactly. Although my guess is the two of you do more than just talk," she said, smirking.
My face burned crimson and I yelled "Fang!" The two of them laughed. Trying to change the subject, I said "So what are you two doing here?" That worked, and they looked at me. "Don't you remember? You're stuck in the Void Beyond. And we've come to pull you out," Fang said. Sofia nodded. "Yep. And with that, allow me to…" she said, stepping forward. She raised her hands above her head an orb of golden flames appeared between them. Sofia held it in one hand and threw the fireball. It hit the ground a short distance away and exploded, the blast resolving itself into a temporal rift. Fang nodded. "Nice," she complimented. "Thanks," Sofia replied. I looked at the both of them. "Thanks, guys," I said.
"Don't thank us. As you yourself put it, it's time for you to 'wake up'. It would have been extra hard for you; Uried wanted the credibility of your dreamworld to be completely airtight. Even Serah had an easier time of figuring it out," Fang said. I gasped. "That's right; Serah, Noel! Are they okay?" I asked. "Serah's fine. She figured out that she was in a dream too, and I'm about to go help her out with Vanille. Noel, on the other hand though, has yet to wake up. So we're sending both of you to his dreamworld to try and wake him up," Sofia told me. I was silent for a second, before nodding. "Got it," I said, my eye gleaming with determination. Both of them nodded, before suddenly their bodies began glowing. "Guys?" I asked. Fang frowned and scowled. "Looks like we have to go now, huh?" she said. "Looks like," Sofia said.
I didn't want them to go, but I knew that now that I was leaving my dreamworld I wouldn't get everything I desired. "That's at least twice you guys have saved me so far," I said. "Yeah," Fang said. Then she smirked. "So do us a favor and not make us have to do it a third time, huh?" she said. I smiled and nodded, and the two of them faded away. I felt a pang of remorse before shaking my head; we'd all be able to be together someday. I turned to the temporal rift and walked through. Even though I had just pretty much just had everything I had desired taken from me, at least now I had a new goal.
I would do more than just save Lightning. More than just correct history. I would take my dream, and make it a reality.
A Dying World 700 AF
When I pass through the rift it closed behind me, leaving me in a whole new area. I was standing in the middle of a desert filled and ashen sand, jagged black mountains around the edges. I could barely see in front of me from how dark it was, but in the sky I could see clouds of black and red. So this was Noel's dreamworld. Quickly I started running to find him, there was no time to lose. Luckily I didn't have to go far, a few hundred yards ahead I could see something on the ground. When I came close I saw that red was actually the chest of a slaughtered Behemoth, and standing in front of it was... Noel. He had his hands on his knees and was panting. "Boy oh boy, this one sure put up a fight," he said. "Noel?! Deiru?!" I heard a voice say. I spun around and saw Serah standing there.
"Serah! So you made it out too!" I said, smiling. I had known she would, but it was good to see her all the same. Behind us Noel stretched. "But this should do it for the birthday feast," he said, before running at us. "Wait!" I yelled, while Serah called "Noel!" But when he collided into us he moved right through, as if we were an illusion. I blinked. "What in the-?" I began. "He must not be able to see us. Come on, we have to follow!" Serah said. I nodded and we both chased after Noel. He was a fast runner, and whatever he had us his mind was keeping him in a hurry. Despite that we kept going, and eventually we neared what looked like the ruins of a village. Someone was standing in front of it, and Noel smiled.
"Caius!" he called. I nearly tripped, and Serah did the same when saw that the person standing there was indeed him. "Did you get one?" he asked. "Yeah. All by myself," Noel said proudly. Caius nodded, smiling. "You're improving. It must have been a difficult hunt. Noel scoffed. "Nah, it was as easy as anything. No problem. Too easy, in fact. I got bored," he said. I was astounded, never had I seen Noel try to act cocky. Caius chuckled. "Yes. You are ready to become the one true Guardian," he said. At that Noel's smile faded. "Why does there have to one true Guardian. I don't get why I have to replace you," he said. "Because, Noel, that is the way. You are ready to challenge me to a duel. If you defeat me, the sacred pact passes on to you. Just as I defeated my predecessor," Caius explained.
"What happened to him, anyway?" Noel asked out of curiosity. Caius looked at him straight in the eye. "I killed him. That is the law of the Guardians. There can only be one. Noel, if you wish to succeed, you must kill me," he stated. Noel gasped, before taking a step back and shaking his head. "There's no way, Caius. I want to fight you, not kill you," he said. Caius sighed and looked away, before suddenly vanishing in a cloud of shadows. Noel made a sound of shock and stepped forward, before hanging his head. "You can't do this. I need more time before I can beat you. You can't just... leave like that," he said.
I wanted to get stronger than Caius, so I began training with swords. I'd never beat him at his own style, so I went with two blades. If I didn't kill Caius, I couldn't become the next Guardian. But there was no way I was following some musty old rule like that. Problem was, I wanted the power of chaos that all Guardians were given. Caius Ballad, I wanted to stand at your side, and help protect Yeul. But you, Caius...you left before I had the chance.
Noel ran off into the village, while Serah and I stood there. "So Noel did know Caius before all of this," Serah remarked. I sighed and nodded. "Looks like," I said. "I don't understand though. From the way they were talking, it was almost as if Noel looked up to Caius. What could have driven them apart?" Serah though aloud. I knew, but I kept my mouth shut. She would see eventually. "Let's keep following and find out," I said. She nodded and we ran through the gates, entering what must have been Noel's home village. It was in complete shambles; the houses constructs of stone and metal that were barely sound. What was left of a few windmills towered over them, and when I looked down a well near the center I could see that it was completely empty.
Another thing I had noticed was that the village was completely empty. I looked around, saddened. Noel said that he had been the last human alive, and as such he had lived in the finals stages of humanity. It was sad to see that this was all we had been reduced to. Then I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. But that was why Noel had fought so hard on a journey. To change things for the better. And now we had to find him. We found Noel standing in front of a house near the edge of the village, and out of it walked... Yeul. "Hey, I'm back!" Noel said. "Hi Noel. How was the hunt?" she asked. "I bagged a huge one. I wanted something special for tonight," he said, spreading his arm for emphasis.
Yeul smiled hugely. "You mean for my birthday? So you remembered!" she said happily. I was again surprised; this was the happiest I had ever seen any of the Yeuls. "How could I forget? Tonight's feast will be the best yet! Although I wish we could have more people, like the old days. Maybe a party with just three people will be mind of depressing," Noel said, now guilty once he thought of that. But Yeul shook her head. "No it won't. It'll be lots of fun. As long as you and Caius come, it'll be great," she told him. "Well, okay. If you say so," he replied.
I was nothing but a disappointment. In the end, I couldn't save you. I couldn't accept her fate, or forgive Caius for leaving. But more than that, what I truly couldn't forgive... was myself, and my own helplessness.
Noel walked away, possibly to start carrying back the Behemoth he had caught. But once he neared the entrance, we saw Caius again. "Well? Are you ready to kill me?" he asked. Noel frowned, starting to get frustrated. "No, I'm not. Today's Yeul's birthday, Caius. Look, I will fight you. But not to the death, and not until tomorrow. After I defeat you, I'll receive the power of the Guardian. Then we can leave this place, and protect Yeul together," he said. "Leave and go where?" Caius asked. "To wherever other people are living, of course. I know. I know that are other people out there. If we find them, Yeul won't have to feel so lonely anymore. She'll be happy again," Noel said. "That is a vain hope and you, of all people, should know it," Caius told him. "But, there must be something we can do," Noel said. "There is one thing," Caius said.
He looked at him hopefully, and Caius said "Kill me." "Not this again," Noel said, his frustration really starting to show. Caius placed a hand over his heart. "The Heart of Chaos beats in my chest- a manifestation of Etro. Should this heart stop beating, the goddess will die once again. When the goddess dies the Chaos of Valhalla will be unleashed. The Chaos has the power to warp the timeline and destroy the past," he explained. My eye widened, and Serah muttered "No..." Noel turned away. "I don't know what your talking about. No matter how many times you ask, I'm not killing you!" he said angrily. There was silence for a second, until Caius said "If you cannot kill me..." Suddenly he drew his sword, and charged. "You must die instead!" he said.
Noel spun around and saw Caius raising his sword. Hurriedly he drew both of his blades and blocked, sparks flying. Caius jumped back and moved into a battle position, while Noel did the same. Hurriedly he cast Protect, Shell, Vigilance and Veil on himself, while Caius used Body and Soul. Both of them charged again and Noel tried to cast Deprotect, but Caius stopped him with Blast Wave. Noel leaped over it and successfully cast Deshell, which he followed up with Fira and Blizzara. Caius dodged the fireball but was hit with the ice, causing him to grunt in pain. He used Graviton and sent Noel back with several shots of energy, followed by Giga-Graviton. Noel was able to move out of the way of the blast and cast Deprotect and Dispel, getting rid of Caius's Protect and Haste statuses.
"You must fight!" Caius said, charging and swinging at him again. He blocked it and shoved him away, and I called "Get him, Noel!" "Yeah!" Serah said beside me. Although he still couldn't hear us Noel did cast Thundaga, raining bolts of lightning down from the sky. Caius sidestepped them and used Blast Wave again, sending it across the ground. Noel couldn't jump over it quickly enough, and was sent flying. He landed on his back with a cry of pain, and Caius ran towards him. Quickly he stood and cast Curasa, before jumping into the air. "Come on, then!" he called, and he cast Deprotect again before using Meteor Javelin. Each time his lance hit the ground and exploded Caius cried out.
Noel landed back down and slashed both of his swords in an X, and this time it was Caius who blocked. Noel cast Fira and channeled it through his blades, causing them to turn red with heat. The spark grew even larger in number, and Caius grunted as they sting his face. He shoved Noel away and cast Body and Soul again, before attacking with increased speed. Over and over they traded blows, and from the side Serah and I watched. Noel cast Dispel and got rid of his Haste before stabbing with his larger sword, knocking Caius's sword aside. Now that he was open he slashed with his smaller sword, giving Caius a long cut across the chest. Caius yelled in pain and leaped back, using Chain Break.
"Fool!" he called, and he jumped into the air before using Inferno. He shot a massive fireball that hit the ground and exploded, burning Noel. "Noel!" Serah and I called. He gritted his teeth and cast Cure repeatedly, healing himself of his burns. Caius landed back down and cast Giga-Graviton again, this time sending him to the ground from the force of the blast. Caius stood over him and stabbed his sword down, but Noel rolled out of the way and cast Aeroga. A small tornado appeared and buffeted Caius with winds, giving Noel time to stand. He jumped through the twister and swung, their blades locking. "To become a Guardian you must defeat me. To defeat me, you have to kill me!" Caius yelled. "Not a chance!" Noel yelled back, before leaping back and drawing forth his eidolith.
"Anubis, come!" he called. The eidolith burst into flames and the area around in erupted in a pillar of that. It faded away to reveal Anubis standing there, scimitar already drawn. They both ran at Caius and he dodged Anubis's strike, kicking Noel away. "An Eidolon will not defeat me!" he called, and cast Giga-Graviton at Anubis. The blast caused the beast to falter slightly, before it recovered and cast Firaga. The fireball burst into waves of heat that hit Caius and caused him to stop, holding his sword in front of him to block the flames. While he was occupied Noel recast Protect and Veil on himself, before casting Aeroga again. While the twister appeared it sucked up the flames of Anubis's Firaga, bursting into fire itself.
Noel willed the burning twister to surround Caius and it did, battering him from all sides with intense winds and heat. I smiled, ready to believe that Noel had this in. Just then though, Caius called "Enough!" and the twister suddenly blew apart, destroyed by a Giga-Graviton. Just as quickly Caius hit Anubis with an Inferno before stabbing it in the heart. The Eidolon howled before fading away. Noel was shocked at having his Eidolon defeated so soon, and Caius took that lapse in focus to knock his swords of his hands. Noel looked at him, before Caius lowered his sword and brought his leg around. His boots connected with the side of Noel's knee with a sickening crack, and Noel cried out in agony before dropping to the ground.
Caius stood over him, and looked down sadly. "It's as I feared. You are too weak," he said. Noel looked up. "I don't understand you, Caius. This talk about killing you, and destroying the past. Do you think any of that will make Yeul happy? Do you really?" he asked. "I don't want to please her. I want to save her," Caius replied simply, before turning and walking away. Noel cast Cure on his knee and it healed him enough to stand. "Where are you going? You're going to leave us, just like that?" he said. Caius looked back. "I shall go to Valhalla. I will kill the goddess, and set Yeul free," he declared, before vanishing.
And that was how Caius came to abandon us, and made Yeul and I the last two humans left in the world.
Caius has gone and left, and Noel's dream still goes on! Will Deiru and Serah be able to break him free? And at what cost?
Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am ?)