They sailed through the gate between Cocoon and Gran Pulse with everyone feeling tense. What would they find on the other side? It wasn't too long before they came out into a sunny sky. They were relieved for a moment before a huge snake-like creature flew past them with a roar. The ship shook, tossing the passengers around.
"Playful little critter, isn't he?" Fang joked.
"Yeah, well, play with someone else," Lightning responded.
Vanille giggled and looked out the window.
"Happens all the time."
Rayne raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Vanille sounded like she was having fun. Everyone else was just hoping the creature would back off.
"He thinks we're lunch," Fang announced, as the creature turned and came toward them with an open maw.
Rayne ignored the conversations as she grabbed onto the side of the ship as the creature dived at the ship. With the sound of shattering glass, Hope and Vanille were sucked from the ship. Vanille grabbed the edge of some broken metal from the ship. She was just able to grab Hope with her other hand. The ship started rolling, sending Rayne out the window. Hope tried to grab her hand, but missed. As he screamed her name, she did her best not to panic as she tumbled through the air. Taking a deep breath, she remembered her Eidolon. A purple crystal appeared in her hand when she placed it over her chest. She let it go before swiftly striking it with one of her knives. In a burst of light, Valefor soared down from the sky. She landed on its back with a yelp escaping her lips. The Eidolon slowed so she saw the ship crash. Looking up, she saw that everyone was aboard Bahamut. Sighing with relief, she clung on to Valefor as it sailed down to travel along beside Fang's Eidolon. They were finally able to look around and take in the landscape. The part they flew over was like a desert, yet before she knew it they were in a grassy, jungle area with tons of greenery.
They landed in a canyon area and let the Eidolons go back to crystal. Rayne collapsed on the soft grass and looked around at the others.
"Everyone okay?" she asked.
Hope groaned, signaling he wasn't pleased with what just happened, but the others either nodded or murmured their health. Fang looked around the area before putting her hands on her hips.
"Well, we'll need to set up camp at least. We'll go off in pairs or groups. Lightning, Sazh, and Snow will go check out the surrounding area to make sure there aren't too many big baddies around. Rayne and Hope go find us something to eat and drink. Vanille and I will stick around the camp site to keep it safe."
With everyone assigned a different task, they all parted ways. Sazh's baby chocobo chose to follow along with them. Rayne followed Hope up a small incline along the canyon while the baby chocobo floated along by her head. They were surrounded by rock, but there was lots of water and grass. They eventually reached a few trees with what could be coconuts growing from them. Hope looked back at her.
"How about we get some of these?"
Looking up, she squinted in the sunlight.
"How?"
Hope hesitated for a moment while the baby chocobo flew around Rayne's head, making her laugh. She and the chocobo both started in surprise and Hope ran up to the tree and rammed into it with his shoulder.
"Don't! You could hurt yourself!" Rayne scolded, just before a coconut fell to the ground at her feet, making her shriek.
Hope chuckled bashfully.
"Sorry."
She stared at him with wide eyes before bending down and picking up the coconut. Shrugging, she moved away from the tree.
"Give me a few more and I will start walking them to the camp."
Hope nodded. After they had packed her arms full with about five coconuts, she made her way back to the camp. Just as she made it back and dropped her load off with everyone who was talking, she turned to see that the chocobo had followed her back. It was overly excited and flew into Sazh's hands.
"Followed after Rayne all by yourself?" he asked it.
It flew out of his hands and began jumping between Vanille and Fang. Suddenly, Vanille somehow seemed to manage to understand what it was trying to tell them.
"His brand!" she exclaimed.
Everyone looked shocked and also extremely worried. Rayne instantly took off running back to where they had been.
"This way!" she told the others, who followed after her.
They found the boy lying face down on the ground by the creek.
"Hope!" Snow called to him.
The boy stirred a bit at the sound of his name before lying completely still.
"We need to get him back to camp," Fang said, urgently," It'll be dark soon and you don't want to have that around with Hope incapacitated."
Snow easily lifted the boy into his arms and they made their way back to the camp. Everyone was quiet as they laid Hope down on some padding from an abandoned airship. They were all spread out around the fire, but Rayne sat with Hope's head in her lap. Vanille frequently came over to check if the boy had moved, but he never did.
"So this is how it ends!" Snow exclaimed suddenly standing up.
"Just wait. Now how long has it been since we left Cocoon? Hm?" Sazh asked," Not a single soul for miles around. Not a single clue about this whole l'Cie mess! What I'm saying is, we did well just getting this far."
Vanille stepped out toward the fire.
"But...we could go a little further."
"Meaning?" Sazh asked.
"There's still one place..."
"Vanille!"
Fang cut the girl off, standing up.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"You know, if we don't find anything this time, we won't get another chance," Lightning added.
"Oerba-the place it all began."
Rayne had almost jumped out of her skin. She had been paying so much attention to the others, she hadn't noticed that Hope was up until he spoke. Everyone but Fang came over to check on him. Apparently, he was not ready to get up despite his head being on Rayne's lap.
"The place where the Pulse fal'Cie lay dreaming."
He reached a hand up toward the skies above.
"Vanille and Fang's home. Just maybe...it will be the place where we find the answers we're looking for."
He was obviously looking at the brand on his arm now.
"Yeah, right," Fang said from her spot," If we can get there."
Hope laughed bitterly.
"Go without me."
It was then he chose to get up. Both Rayne and Vanille grabbed an arm to help him.
"We can't just leave you!" Vanille announced.
"I'll be fine," he interjected, continuing to get up," You've all taught me so much- showed me how to fight."
He tried walking forward, only to be caught by Snow as he fell forward. Rayne quickly stood up and stood beside Vanille.
"What did I tell you? Leave the fighting to me," the blonde male told him, hugging him slightly.
"I'm scared," Hope almost cried.
Lightning went over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"We understand. You're not gonna go through this ordeal alone, you know."
Hope began to really cry then.
"But that's what scares me! I don't...I don't want to see you get hurt because of me. It would be better for everyone if I just stayed behind."
His brand began to glow blindingly, making everyone back away and shield their eyes. As hope screamed, the bright light spread out into shapes all around Hope. Four pillars of light burst from the symbol and shot into the air, combining. Then, before Hope, a massive Eidolon landed. Snow, Sazh, Vanielle, and Rayne were sent flying into a patch of tall grass. Lightning and Fang were able to jump out of the way before running to Hope's side.
"Mention ordeals, and look what comes along," Fang quipped.
"This is not an ordeal. This is a gift!" Lightning protested," Hope! This is the kind of power you've got inside. And it's telling you not to give up. Trust me."
Hope hesitated as Fang spoke up.
"Oh, I get it. It's here to show you the way. Show you that you've got what it takes to get back on your feet and do this thing!"
"You mean, that came from me?" Hope asked, softly.
Rayne took a good look at the face of the Eidolon. It seemed to nod to Hope's question. She couldn't help but smile. It seemed almost cute despite its immense size, like he wore a gold mustache and a gentle heart.
"You can do it, Hope! Just look at how strong your heart is!" Rayne called out, unable to stop herself.
Hope stared at his brand for a moment before taking out his boomerang. With Fang and Lightning's help, he was able to defeat his Eidolan. After the fight, the boy stared at his brand in wonder. As the group moved over to him, Sazh put his hands on his waist.
"That's some beat you tamed, I'll tell you that."
Hope nodded, still staring at his brand.
"Yeah. I always though the Eidolons appeared to set us free through death. But now…I think maybe they're here to snap us out of our slumps."
Snow walked over and put his hand on Hope's back.
"Oh. Like the one you were just in?"
Hope laughed awkwardly.
"I'll ask for help earlier next time around."
Vanille ran up and gave the kid a hug.
"I told you. On Gran Pulse, we're all family. You can moan all you like, but you're stuck with us."
Sazh laughed as Rayne crossed her arms from her spot beside Lightning.
"You're never alone in hell," he informed the boy.
Fang moved toward Sazh and got in his face.
"Listen, Funnyman, don't call this place hell, all right?"
Lightning looked around at the group.
"So, we're all decided then?" she asked.
Everyone in the group nodded or spoke in agreement. As the older males teased Hope, the girls went back to their small camping area. Fang slung her arms around both Vanille and Rayne's shoulders.
"We should get all the sleep we can. We have a long trek ahead of us tomorrow."