Author's Note: Man, it's been a while since I updated this one...

"She doesn't have to be dead... You can save her..."

"How!?" Noel said harshly. He'd thought he could save Serah before, and she died. Died in his arms. Died so everyone else wouldn't have to. But... it didn't matter. When Caius died, so did the goddess. The timeline changed. Serah was forced to see it, and... and it killed her. Chaos infected the world. Once again, Noel failed, once again, he watched someone he cared about die. And this time, he couldn't just sit and wait for death's sweet release.

He heard the sound of boots on stone, then felt a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off. No one else knew how he felt. No one else had watched Serah die, felt the life go out of her. He didn't need their sympathy.

"Noel..." Hope's voice was kind, as always. And right now, that rubbed Noel the wrong way. He felt a sudden urge to swing at the man, but had enough self-control not to. None of this was Hope's fault.

"There was something I learned from Lightning a long time ago." Hope said, "She told me, 'It isn't a question of can or can't. There are some things in life, you just do.'" he stepped up to stand beside Noel, "And you know what? She was right. No matter how impossible this might seem, we will bring Serah back, and ressurect the goddess. Don't question it. Just do it."

"Easy for you to say." Noel returned, "You got what you wanted."

"After leaving behind everything I knew and half working myself to death for thirteen years."

"Yeah, well you had something waiting for you on the other side. Something that would make all that work worth it." Noel hung his head, "I got another dead girl in my arms."

Vanille stepped in front of Noel, and gave him a smile, "You heard Lightning, it doesn't have to be that way. We can fix this."

"I'd like to believe that. But it seems a little impossible."

"Impossible?" Fang shook her head, "Look who's talking. You time-traveled!"

"That has an explination. But bringing Serah back... she's dead."

"You time-traveled." Fang repeated, "Vanille and I came out of crystal stasis twice, and Hope over there used to be a c'eith. I don't think impossible applies to us."

"This is a world that gives birth to infinite possibilities. But that's all there are, possibilities."

Could this be one of those possibilities?

Just entertaining the idea gave Noel hope. They were right, he had to believe that. If he didn't at least try, then Serah would have died for nothing.

"So, Noel, can you or can't you...?"

"It's not a question of can or can't."

Hope chuckled.

Vanille saw her first. A girl with short blond hair, wearing an outfit very similar to Hope's. She appeared out of nowhere; she stood like she had been there the whole time. She looked at Vanille like a hunter surveying her prey. Vanille felt very vulnerable, and like the girl had it out for her. She'd never even seen this girl before, what did she do to get a look like that? Hope and Fang were too busy teasing Noel, they didn't notice her until she spoke.

"Long time no see, huh Director?"

The rest of the group turned to her. Hope's expression was somewhere between anger and suprise. He stepped forward, "Alyssa?"

She gave a laugh that sent chills down everyone's spines, "Of course. I'm glad you remember who I am, I was starting to think you forgot."

"Who the hell are you?" Fang looked like she felt uncomfortable too.

"She was my assistant, back at the Academy." There was something in Hope's voice... disgust?

"Yeah, until she dissappeared." Noel added.

"I didn't dissappear. I just went back to my own time. You see," she began to pace around them, "in the correct version of history, I died during the Purge. Just like your mom, Director." she smirked.

"Maybe you should have stayed there."

"Ooh, Director." she said seductively, "You don't really mean that, do you? Where would you be without me?" She went to touch his face, but he recoiled.

"He wouldn't have been killed by the AI, for one." Noel said.

Alyssa crossed her arms, "Come on, Noel. That wasn't my fault."

"The proto fal'Cie took control of the AI. The proto fal'Cie was your idea. You do the math."

"Hm." she looked at Vanille again, "So that's what you look like, I've always wondered." she stepped closer to the redhead, "The Director told me a lot about you. But it's what he didn't say that I find interesting."

Vanille took a step back, "What do you mean?"

"Leave her alone." Fang snarled.

Alyssa ignored her, "You know how he is. It's so easy to read between the lines." she examined her fingernails as if she was bored, "He can't hide anything. He cares for you, you know, more than he wants to admit." she chuckled.

Noel changed the subject, "What are you even doing here?"

She continued to examine her fingernails, "Does there have to be a reason? Maybe I just wanted to say hi."

"Alyssa, we're not as stupid as you seem to think we are." Hope said.

"Really? Because you don't even know that the answers are right in front of you."

"What are you talking about?"

Alyssa began to laugh. A creepy, demonic laugh that wasn't her own. And as she laughed, Chaos surrounded her, and piece by piece, she dissolved.