I've been gone over a month and have no good excuse other than the fact that this chapter was terribly difficult to write. I'm so sorry!

But I am also very encouraged by the feedback I've gotten from multiple people, so thank you guys so much for keeping me on my feet and helping me see this through :) this chapter is the SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER! And then it'll be the first completed work in this series of three. I'm beyond excited to start exploring what happens in the second arc as more time progresses and changes Nova Chrysalia into the world we see in Lightning Returns. I hope you all enjoy this second-to-last, and to know that this sets up a precipice that our characters will be thrown over as we move on in the 500 years of Chaos.

Meyneth24: Alyssa's an interesting character, and I think she definitely has some great motivations behind her actions, making both her character development and backstory interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of her when I was playing through the game =\ she was really whiny and clingy. I couldn't handle it =\ I do love that she has so much dimension though, it makes the story so much more interesting! Heh, my Vanihopu is ALWAYS showing ;) I love them so much, the world needs more.
Chundercat: Thank you so much for reviewing! And for supporting this story :)

Again, thank you SO MUCH, and I hope y'all enjoy!

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

Yusnaan – 505 AF (One Thousand Six Hundred and Eleven Days After the Chaos)

Dajh's glittering eyes, his innocent aura, was something that made their hearts ache, an ache that grew as they continued to walk through the streets of Yusnaan. Innocence just wasn't something anyone saw much of anymore, bringing them back to the comparatively clear-cut days, no matter how difficult, of journeying through the wild Pulsian plains, fighting their way through and around the Archylte Steppe. Sometimes, Hope wondered if any of it was worth it. Sometimes, Sazh wondered how long Dajh would keep that childish innocence, wondering and then reprimanding himself, asking his conscience whether he would leave his son in crystal stasis if he was honest with himself and answered 'yes' just to keep that smile on his face.

As Snow continued to lead them through the city, Plaza after Plaza of colors and sights and sounds, he kept watching Dajh's eyes grow wider and wider, his excitement building as the boy fired off question after question at him about the city and its inhabitants, its attractions and culture. He patiently answered each one, knowing that Dajh spent most of his time on Bhunivelze, and that the boy rarely had the chance to experience the bustling city that was quickly becoming an enormous tourist attraction.

No longer was it just the shipping city from where Snow sent out supplies to the rest of Nova Chrysalia, but a hub that had a marketplace that sold all kinds of goods, restaurants that served exotic foods from all regions of the world, and top-notch architectural designs that Pandaemonium mashed together to create something altogether new and invigorating. It was a bright spot in the rapidly-darkening world, and to have a place such as this for something as trifle as entertainment, Hope knew, would do wonders for people's spirits. It was especially important at this time. He told Snow as much when Dajh excitedly ran back to his father, grabbing his hand, and pulling him towards one of the brightly-colored kiosk stands that sold cactuar merchandise, leaving the two men to walk slowly as they talked.

Right then, a street performer set off a series of mini-fireworks that attracted a small crowd, drawing gasps and 'oohs' and 'aahs' as the lights and explosions went off. Sazh put Dajh on his shoulders then, walking over to see the show after purchasing a cactuar balloon for his son, which he held tightly in his little fist. They couldn't even begin to be compared to the fireworks in Eden, and especially not the ones in Bodhum, but they were just the thing to put smiles on the crowd's faces.

"I like what you did with the place," the silveret murmured, taking a deep breath as he meandered, looking around and drinking in the details of the brightly-lit avenue. Snow chuckled.

"It wasn't my idea. It was actually Noel's," he admitted. "We were talking about it one day. Serendipity. He was telling me about all the amazing sights he and Serah saw there, all the odd bits and pieces that seemed to come from everywhere else and just seemed to merge into this one place, out of reach of time and space. He's had so little experience with fun, not like what we were used to back on Cocoon…" he shrugged. "I thought it might be good. It's a city of distribution, but that doesn't mean that it can't be one that provides a distraction as well."

Hope took another long look around, his aquamarine eyes sweeping over the entirety of the Plaza they were standing in. There were so many people milling around, people who were selling and purchasing things as if it was just another day.

He jolted as he came to the realization. It was just another day. Time was frozen and Valhalla merged with and terraformed Gran Pulse, sure, but people were still alive. They were still thriving. They weren't searching for answers every day, not like he was, and granted, his work was important, yes, but here they were, having all the time in the world and it was just another ordinary day. He took in Sazh and Dajh's smiles in the afternoon light, drinking in the fact that even in this wacked-up world that gave them more questions than answers, people could still live. That was the only thing they could do.

Rubbing a gloved hand over his face, Hope's lips parted in a soft smile. Vanille would have been there to remind him of that, he knew, if she were there. Fang and Lightning would have encouraged him with his work, would have given Snow the affirmation he needed that this was a good idea, this was good in the world they were in. That in the middle of all they were doing, they needed to stop and breathe in their relentless search.

Dajh and Sazh made their way back to the two men, the boy proudly showing off his new balloon.

"Uncle Snow, this place is so fun!" he exclaimed happily. Snow grinned, ruffling his mini-afro.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it, kiddo," the blond replied affectionately. Dajh's brown eyes gleamed.

"Papa, can we come here more often?" he asked as he tugged Sazh's hand. His father nodded with a smile.

"Of course! But, uh, Dajh, a lot of this is just walking and shopping. You okay with that?"

"Uh-huh!" The boy nodded enthusiastically. "It's got so much food an', an' animals an', an' sounds an' music, Yus-nan should be the city of fun!"

The three men laughed at his adorable declaration until Snow put a hand on his hips and the other under his chin in thought.

"You know," he said slowly, blue eyes brightening with the beginnings of an idea. Hope had learned long ago to take them with a grain of salt, and merely teasingly sighed, putting his hands on his hips and waiting for the punchline. "That's not a bad idea, Dajh. Anything specific you think would be fun?"

Dajh's eyes blew wide, immediately letting go of his father's hand to hang onto Snow's, excitedly scrambling to him. "Chocobos! Fireworks!" he almost yelled in his excitement. "Like the ones in, in, um…" He looked at Snow for help, little eyebrows scrunching as he tried to remember.

"Bodhum?" Snow asked, amused. The boy nodded.

"Bodhum! An' an' a biiiiiiiiiiiiig cactuar statue! Lots of food! An' an' those music shows…"

His voice faded out a little, drowned by the other sounds around them. Sazh shook his head, Hope smiling fondly at Dajh and Snow's retreating backs. "I hope he doesn't get carried away," the father said, rubbing the back of his afro.

"I don't know," Hope murmured. "Maybe this is exactly what this world needs."