Whew...writing angst is really draining, but I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out. Also, this is the last preliminary chapter before our heroes set out to really explore Nova Chrysalis for the first time ever! The next chapter is already under way, and it'll be an exciting one :) Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Summary: Serah's passing broke the hearts of those who loved her, but at the same time, strengthened their resolve to keep fighting. As Noel, Snow, Hope, Sazh, and Mog mourn her death, they devise a plan to find Lightning, who may be waiting for them in the newly-terraformed world.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Final Fantasy XIII series

Bhunivelze – 500AF (One Day after the Chaos)

The sound of the Shiva sisters' motorbike had been a source of comfort for Hope in the past, but this time, all he felt were heartbreak and dread. When he heard the engine cut off, signaling the moment Snow dismissed Nix and Shiva, the rock in his stomach only grew heavier. Next to him, Noel took a deep breath. The two of them braced themselves as Snow walked through the door of the lab, blond mane flying behind him. He sported his traditional cocky grin when he greeted them, but Hope noticed a missing spark in his eyes, and that was when the young man felt the floor drop from beneath his feet- Snow knew.

"Hero's here," the man in question said, punching his fists together. "What's going on?"

"Snow…" Noel stepped forward, unsure of what to say. The look on his face only confirmed the blonde's thoughts, and Hope could do nothing but watch the two men's hearts break in front of him.

"It's Serah, isn't it."

It wasn't a question; Snow's tone left no room for doubt. The young hunter looked down at his feet as tears built in his blue eyes; he couldn't face Snow, not after promising that he would protect Serah. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable breakdown, the angry outburst, the fist to his jaw that he very much deserved (and more). Much to his surprise, the bigger man only put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Noel. I know it wasn't your fault. I know you did your best to protect her."

Noel's head snapped up at his words, his tears spilling over despite his best efforts to hold them in. Snow's eyes were also misted over, but even now, there was a small smile on his face. The two of them shared a moment, both mourning the girl who had touched their hearts, who they loved in very different ways. After a couple of minutes, Hope wiped away the tears on his cheeks as he cleared his throat, wordlessly gesturing with one hand to another door in the lab and beckoning them to follow. The hardest part was still to come. With a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, Snow forced himself after Hope, who led them to another room- this one wasn't nearly as big as the main lab; it was a small living space with a small bed pushed against the wall and a desk against the opposite wall. The lights were dimmed, but the window blinds were open, allowing the natural light to filter in, illuminating the too-still figure on the bed.

Serah Farron looked like she was just sleeping, about to wake up at any moment. Snow swallowed hard, forcing himself to steady his breaths. She should not look like this- Serah always had a warm smile on her face; she wasn't as energetic as Vanille, but her spark was unmistakable. Her blue eyes should be open, should be running up to hug him…Sazh, who was sitting in the chair next to the bed, gently put her hand down onto her stomach before standing up, wiping his tears away. The chocobo chick still living in his afro flew out to land on Snow's shoulder, rubbing its tiny yellow head against his stubble cheek. The blond gently patted the small bird as the older man approached him and put a hand on his arm, sniffling with Snow returning the gesture. He ambled slowly out of the room, leaving Snow to see his fiancé for the first time in, according to their timeline, two hundred years.

Numbly, he walked over to the chair Sazh had occupied earlier and slowly lowered himself into it. He reached for her hand, doing his best not to flinch when he felt how cold she was through both of their gloves.

"Hey, Serah," he said in a broken whisper. "Sorry I'm late." Snow squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to think of the words to say. Serah would not want to hear an apology.

"I know…I couldn't have prevented this. And I know I'll be kicking myself for it each moment onward. But I promise," he whispered, putting her gloved hand to his lips. "I promise I'll keep going. I'll keep fighting. I'll find Sis. Then we'll all find a way to save you." He wrapped her hand in both of his, resting his forehead against them.

"Snow, we were thinking," Hope spoke up from the side of the room. He was the only person there aside from Snow himself; it was too much for Sazh and Noel, and they had to grieve outside. "It may take us a long time to figure out how to bring Serah back. I suggested putting her-" he had trouble saying this word, tripping over it. Hope covered it up so well that if Snow hadn't known him since he was a kid, he would have missed it. "-Body in an AMP field so she'll stay in pristine shape while she waits. I didn't want to do anything until you gave the okay."

The blond took one last look at Serah before looking to the silver-haired man, nodding in affirmation. Hope approached the bed then, pulling out a small controller and putting it on the younger Farron's stomach. Snow kissed her hand one more time, placing it gently by her side. A few beeps were heard as the scientist programmed the machine, and then a blue force field appeared around Serah. With that finished, Hope put a comforting hand on Snow's shoulder, showing his silent support as they mourned.

Where am I? I don't really know. I can't hear anything. I can't feel anything. It's cold. It's dark. And I'm alone. This place seems completely empty. But I have no regrets. I fought right until the end. I fought, and I didn't run. I know that someone somewhere will carry on what we've started…they have to.

Hey there, Noel. This might be hard to believe- but this is you from the future. I'm just a little bit further along the timeline. This is a warning to my past self. There's a serious trial ahead of you. I know we're pretty tough, but this almost broke me. Just don't give up, and don't give in. I know it's weird coming from yourself, but trust me. I know you can do it.

Those words played over and over in Noel's mind, tears still coming as he watched Sazh talk to Dajh about why his auntie Serah wasn't around anymore. Finally, he understood the messages in those fragments that they found in New Bodhum, seven hundred years into the future. This moment, Serah's death, is what they were referring to. The messages replayed one more time, and he almost scoffed. Yeul was dead. Caius was dead. Serah was-

Sniffling, the hunter wiped away the rivers on his cheeks, forcing himself instead to look forward. They needed to find out exactly what the Chaos did to Pluse, and they still had to find Lightning.

Lightning. His blue eyes snapped wide open, momentarily forgetting to breathe. He had met Lightning in Valhalla, on top of Etro's Temple where she caught him freefalling from the Gate. If the Chaos had indeed merged the two worlds when Etro's Gate was flung open, then maybe she was still there. Maybe she was lost and confused, in a world she no longer recognized.

Noel thanked the goddess for Hope's impeccable timing, which he had shown both him and Serah time and time again throughout their journey, as he and Snow walked back into the main lab.

"Snow, Hope, I had a thought," he said, practically ambushing the two men. He didn't miss the redness in either of their eyes, but he pressed on. "When I first met Lightning in Valhalla, it was at Etro's Temple. If Valhalla and Pulse had really come together-"

"Maybe we'll find Sis there," Snow finished, bringing his fists together. A watery smile appeared on his face. "Now that's what I call a plan-"

CRASH! The noise coming from Serah's room cut his sentence short, causing everyone's heart rate to spike and rush back into the small room, where upon wrenching open the door, Snow, Hope, and Noel found an overturned lamp that fell from the desk and a weak Mog hovering next to it.

"I'm sorry, kupo!" the moogle said quickly. The three men took a moment for the adrenaline to leave their system; Serah was safe.

"When did you wake up, Mog?" Hope asked gently. "I'm impressed you found your way here from my room. You were supposed to be resting."

The fluffy creature hovered over toward them, eventually bobbing up and down in front of Noel and then plopping into his arms. Thanks to his quick reflexes, he didn't drop the moogle.

"Mog stays with Serah, kupo," he then replied, nestling a little bit more comfortably. "I heard what you said about finding Lightning, kupo. Lightning told me to stay with Serah, and I have to do what Lightning says, kupo. Besides, Serah and Mog have been through so much together, kupo. She will be lonely, kupo. I don't want Serah to be lonely, kupo."

Warm smiles appeared on their faces then, and Noel gave the moogle a squeeze, holding him there for a moment before letting go.

"All right, Mog. You stay with Serah and keep her company, you hear?" the brunet said, glad to be given a reminder of comradery through their journey together. The moogle nodded, and the door was pulled to the frame, but not shut all the way.

"Ready?" Noel asked back in the main lab. Hope chuckled, looking over to Sazh, who was holding onto Dajh's hand. They had both missed the talk with Mog, but he could see that it was for a good reason. As the older man nodded in response to the question, he was stopped in his tracks by Snow, who had noticed that the boy was crying when he knelt in front of his son.

"Hey Dajh, you okay?" The blond asked gently.

Dajh tried to wipe his tears away, but sniffled as he said in a small voice, "I miss auntie Serah."

The three men standing couldn't help but smile; Snow put a hand on his afro affectionately. "I miss her too, buddy, and I'm sure she misses us. But we're going to find a way to bring her back, right after we find auntie Lightning, okay?"

Another sniffle. "Uh-huh."

At Dajh's nod, Snow stood up, clearing his throat. "Ready to go, old man?" He teased, looking at Sazh. Sazh, Noel, and Hope chuckled as they made their way to the hangar. Silently, Hope prayed to whatever god was listening that they would find Lightning and bring her back. They needed a bit of good news right now, and with the world turning upside down, quite literally, they needed her more than ever. Hope knew that no matter how tough his mentor was, when dealing with Serah's death, she would need them too.