This chapter took a while! I apologize. I've been working simultaneously on this fic and another one based off Final Fantasy XV (if you haven't played, please do yourself a favor and do it). I actually started and completed a series in XV and started another long fic all the while writing this one, so updating and finishing this chapter took a little bit. It's shorter, but I wanted to highlight Snow's story too and underline his motives that will carry him through the rest of the series. Thanks for reading! Please drop a comment if you like :)
Summary: Snow is finally ready to tell his story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XIII
Nova Chrysalia – 500AF (Nine Days after the Chaos)
"Are you sure about this?" Hope asked. "It's not too late to say no, you know."
Snow cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, I'm sure." The two friends stayed silent for a moment, letting the wind blow through their hair and against their faces as the airship sped toward Nova Chrysalia. Sensing that he had more to say, the Academy Director didn't speak up, allowing him to take his time to gather his thoughts, and Sazh, able to hear their conversation from the cockpit, also stayed quiet. It stretched on, even after they left Bhunivelze airspace and followed the landscape of Nova Chrysalia.
The fresh air did them all good; Hope had either been cornered in meetings or locked up in the Chaos lab, researching alongside Stacks and the others, trying to get to the bottom of the question of time. Snow and Noel had been cooped up in the Academy library, helping them research in any way they could, the former attending some meetings alongside Hope. He was a surprisingly good politician, holding his own and a calm demeanor in dealing with both the board members and stress in this time when none of them had answers. Noel, thankfully already fluent in reading both Pulse and Cocoon script, took the time of research as an opportunity to further his education. Although the world was quite literally drowning in Chaos, this small ambition of his in the grand scheme of things made Hope extremely proud of his friend, and helped in any way he could when he could spare time.
The evening was beginning to set in; it would be another few minutes until they reached Pandaemonium. The view of the sunset, no matter in which era, never failed to bring out the nostalgia in the young scientist, reminding him of the color of Vanille's hair, the color of the sunsets back home in Palumpolum five hundred years ago. His teal eyes took in each small detail; the angle of the sun rays, the birds making their way back to their nests, until Snow finally spoke again.
"I never told you how I became a l'Cie again, did I."
Statement, not question. Hope's aquamarine eyes looked into his friend's bright blue ones, giving him his undivided attention. If Snow was ready to open up, he would listen.
The big man let out a breath, breathing in again before starting his story. "Back in New Bodhum, around 1AF, Serah kept telling me, kept trying to convince us Lightning was still out there, was with us that day and not in the crystal pillar with Fang and Vanille. I…" he rubbed the back of his neck. "It took a while for me to believe her completely, but the more I thought about it, I got an uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Like something just didn't sit right with me. I remember, right before setting out, I had that meeting with you and Sazh." He nodded at Hope. "You both felt the same way."
"Yeah," the silverette affirmed. "I finished high school a couple of years early, you remember. Back then, I told you that my instincts were telling me something was way off."
"After what happened, you learned to trust your gut." Snow gave him a small smile, slapping a hand onto his back. "And I could see you, you know. In the Historia Crux, sometimes, I wound up in an era that coincided with everyone growing up. Never said hello, timelines and all," he added hastily at seeing both the surprise and narrowing of Hope's eyes. "It wasn't much, but I saw snippets of you in college and beginning your career at the Academy. Just so you know, Hope," a large hand clasped his shoulder. "You did good. I have no doubt that Fang, Vanille, and Light could see you from where they were. You've done us all proud."
Not accustomed to the sentiment from him, the young scientist shuffled his feet, a sure sign of his embarrassment. Snow laughed, continuing with his story. "Anyway, I set out from New Bodhum, trying to track down some clues to see what I could find out about the Chaos and Sis. I met up with Rygdea and the Calvary, and when we got to the Archylte Steppe, I found this cactuar that turned out to be a fal'Cie. Got the hell out of there before the thing could brand me though. But later, I found out that it lost its memories. The thing had no idea it was a fal'Cie. I thought that, you know, I might need its help. A bunch of monsters attacked us on an airship after that. Remember the ones from the Fifth Ark? Cactuar and I lured them away, back to the Ark, where all this Chaos had converged. I didn't know it at the time, so I went in anyway, and got stuck in an incomplete Time Gate."
"That was right after you met up with me briefly in Palumpolum," Hope murmured in realization.
His friend nodded. "Yeah. Anyway, incomplete Time Gate. We got sucked into the Historia Crux and then spit out at this place called the Coliseum. That was when Cactuar got all his memories back, like a switched ha flipped. It tried to brand me then, but I refused. I think after everything we went through, it had a soft spot for me," Snow said with a grin. "The Arbiter of Time threw us out, but we ended up in a looped time distortion, and it was like all of history playing in front of my eyes at the same time. Most of it's a blur, really. But I…" he faltered, looking at the ground. Hope put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder, gently urging him to continue.
"I saw it, you know. I saw that last battle with Serah and Noel and Caius. I saw Serah die and all that we had worked for in New Bodhum in ruins. So I asked Cactuar to make me a l'Cie, that I would have the Focus of finding Serah and fighting by her side."
The silverette's heart broke all over again for him, thinking of the pink-haired woman lying in one of the rooms in his lab. To have known all of this was to happen and know you were going to lose the one you loved…how did Snow live with that? With the dread of knowing Serah was gone by the time he got them message they sent from Bhunivelze? He couldn't begin to imagine the guilt that must plague him every day, every moment knowing he couldn't save his fiancé. Hope waited for him until he took a deep breath, ready to keep telling his story.
"We got out of the distortion and appeared next to a complete Time Gate at the Fifth Ark. So we went in, traveling in the Historia Crux. I saw Sazh, you know," he choked out a chuckle. "Couldn't stop to say hi; the most we had time for was a wave before I got out to the Sunleth Waterscape in 300AF. That was where Lightning came to me in a dream, and then Noel and Serah found me."
"So…you were made a l'Cie to help Serah," Hope said. "But Snow-" he started, his eyes suddenly wide and alert. "What's going to happen now? Your brand is still there. Your Focus-"
"I'll keep going," Snow replied firmly. "I know that we'll figure it out. I'll keep fighting to bring Serah back. And even if…even if we can't, the world still needs a hero." He tried hiding his pain with a confident smile. Hope knew better, but went along with it anyway, wanting to support his friend in any way he could. "I'll do whatever I can to help you keep the world running. Noel will too. Besides, Pandaemonium is going to give me a new Focus anyway."
That didn't assuage Hope's worries, but he didn't say another word.
The two men were quiet then, both trying to absorb the information that had passed between them. The airship began a slight descent when Pandemonium could be seen in the distance. Already, they could see what looked like the outskirts of a city, the foundations laid and ready to be built on. Hope turned to Snow one more time.
"Seriously, big guy. Not too late to reconsider."
The blonde barked out a laugh. "Hope. I literally just said I'd do whatever I can to help you keep the world running."
Conversation ended there as they approached the marble-made fal'Cie, Sazh bringing the airship to a hover right in front of it. Pandaemonium's jade-green eyes looked at the humans before it, making no move to harm them. Snow let out a breath. It was time.
"Fal'Cie Pandaemonium! I will accept a new Focus to protect you! I will help in distributing the supplies created to the world!" The blond called out. Pandaemonium lifted one enormous hand in his direction, and a beam of light shot from him to Snow, outlining his form for a moment before disappearing. It was like a bucket of water had been dumped on him, but instead of being soaked, Snow knew that both his brand and his Focus had been renewed.
"Go forth, l'Cie," Pandaemonium boomed. "Fulfill your Focus."