Epilogue

Four months later

The radiance of this new land was never lost on Lightning. Each day that she woke up in her home in New Bodhum, she looked to the window to see that the sun was still shining and filling the room with its warmth and light. That Valhalla's shadow wasn't lingering in the distance anymore and threatening to swallow the world in hopelessness again.

There were no signs of chaos coming into their lives again. Finally, she accepted that the peace was going to stay. This new life of hers was going to be a permanent one.

That was perfectly alright with her. She and Caiu- they worked hard to restore the NORA house so that it was actually very comfortable for the two of them to live in. They put no effort into building other houses around them so that New Bodhum could actually be a village again like it had been over 400 years ago. With the technology upgrading daily, most people wanted to live in cities anyway. Lightning certainly didn't mind some seclusion from all the people and hecticness of the lives that they led.

In this small little beach house along the shore, Lightning and Caius kept to themselves, save for the days that all of her friends visited from wherever else they lived.

Hope, Sazh, and Dajh continued to live in Academia. The latter two were doing well in their own little family, though the family may have been increasing in size soon. Sazh had met a lovely woman in the city and was pursuing a romantic relationship with her. From what she heard, Dajh already loved the woman as if she could someday be his mother. As for Hope, he was still single despite all the girls in the city pining over him. Recently he had been more focused on—can you believe it—his presidential campaign. Several of his coworkers put him up to it. He was sure to win the election coming up in the next year.

As for Fang and Vanille, they decided to take a small vacation to visit Oerba soon after everyone went their separate ways. At first they had hoped to restore the village to its former glory, but then they decided against it. They said that pursing the future was more important than preserving the past. So they found a village that was already up and running and took up residence there, along with Noel Kreiss. He was more comfortable with that humble living style than the ways of city folk. And, apparently, he had a small crush on Vanille. Fang had shared this with Lightning in secret, but she noticed it last time they were all together. The two were becoming smitten for each other. It was good for them.

Snow was the only person who really didn't seem to be doing well. The fact that Serah had contacted Lightning, Caius, and Noel and didn't give them any message to pass onto Snow really hurt him. So he was fighting away his frustrations in the most literal sense of the word. He travelled the world and fought monsters to distract himself from his sorrow. Being the hero was all that he knew how to do now. But someday, Lightning knew he would find his way home again. He just needed some time to grow tired of running. When he collapsed, she would be there to support him. She would always be there for him.

Other than Snow's situation, the world was nearly perfect. Everyone was enjoying their lives, but perhaps most importantly, Lightning was finally enjoying hers. She was actually living, not just surviving.

She sat on the beach as she reflected on all of this. Everyone was happy and so was she. She was isolated from all people but one. Not once did she wish away Caius Ballad either. Never did they argue like they used to, egging each other on to make the other snap. They weren't looking for fights anymore, only genuineness. They were two souls who were still wrapped up in their identities—and proud of it—but they were being more true to themselves than they ever allowed in the past. Lightning shared her emotions and Caius was open to reason and asking questions.

It's all going great, she thought as she stared up at the night stars, just as she did at least once a week. Something about them was comforting but also dismaying. Caius noticed this, but he didn't ask. Not until that night.

Footsteps approached her from behind. She didn't bother turning around, or even glancing over at the man as he sat down close beside her in the sand. He followed her gaze directly to the stars.

"Star gazing again, my love?" Caius asked in a soft murmur that made her heart skip a beat.

"I am," she confirmed quietly. "I get lost in them a lot, huh?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him nod gently. His next question came in the same form. "Are you ready to explain why that is?"

"It's…complicated," Lightning said. She lowered her gaze to the ocean in front of them as she tried to think about how to say it. "For one thing, the stars are beautiful. They're so big and there are so many at a distance. It just…makes me feel small. It makes this life feel a little pointless."

Caius's hum told her that he understood. With that encouragement, she continued. "But what's the point of stars anyway? All that they do is float out there in space for God knows how long and then they die out. Is there any point to anything at all?" Stupid questions to be asking now, she realized. After all the fighting that they did to save everything, she was now considering that everything was pointless. Yet it was clear why she was dwelling on this now: now that the fighting was over, she actually had time to think.

"We are truly small compared to the galaxies out there," Caius agreed quietly. "The drama of life here fades when compared to how big everything is. But there is a point to all this. To life and love, happiness and sorrow."

"What's the point?"

Caius looked over at her then, his eyes soft but piercing her with sincerity. "We do not simply exist as the stars do," he said. "We are able to make choices. We are able to feel and enjoy our lives, however small and short they may be in the great scheme of things. The point of the stars is to remind us of that."

Lightning nodded ever so slightly, yet her eyes remained on the stars. Was that their true purpose? To remind them that they were special creations? Her heart began to feel warm as her shoulders slumped. It all fit. Her heart accepted it as truth. They were special, and they couldn't just let that slide. They had to live their lives for things that mattered and not let life just pass them by.

"But you know," Caius continued. "Not all stars just sit there. Shooting stars are the most extravagant stars of all. Streaking across the sky and leaving all who see it in amazement."

"One problem," she said quietly. "That's how the stars die."

"Everything dies, sooner or later. At least shooting stars go out with extravagance."

"Very true," Lightning agreed, smiling ever so slightly.

"Do you know what else is true?"

"What's that?"

"You shine more brightly than any of the stars in the sky."

The smile tugged at her lips again. The only reason that she continued to star upward was because Caius, once again, made her feel shy. Shyness was a normal feeling now for this ex soldier. Having him compliment her and being able to accept those compliments…It was a big step for her. She was beginning to view herself the same way that he viewed her: as a human being, not as a soldier.

Lightning finally looked over at Caius. As her eyes locked onto his, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that his hair was shorter. It had been that way for nearly three months now yet it still was hard for Lightning to get used to. He had cut it so that it was laying the same as before, but now it was shoulder length. When she had asked him about it, he said it was to signify that he was a new person and that the past was behind him.

The new man came with the new day.

"You know what else?" Lightning said after a few moments. "I think you shine brighter than I do."

"Lightning—"

She lifted a hand to interrupt, silently saying she wasn't done yet. "You were like my north star for so long," she said quietly. "You still are. You're guiding me to a place where I finally feel at home."

"And where is this place?"

Lightning smiled softly, lifting a hand and poking Caius's chest lightly. "Your heart."

For once, Caius was the one at loss for words. She was working harder to show her feelings through heartfelt sentiments like this, but it wasn't always easy for somebody like her. Like she told him though, he made her feel at home. Comfortable. Happy.

"You're my home now, Caius," she declared. She moved her hand to lightly rest against his cheek.

Caius smiled softly, setting his hand atop Lightning's. "And you're mine."

The two of them both leaned forward and connected their lips in a kiss. Under the night sky and the shining stars, the two of them stayed sitting together even as the ocean waves continued rolling in and time continued moving forward. Though time would never be halted, they now knew that losing time wasn't what mattered. What mattered was how they used the time that they had. The world could move on without them, yet they could be perfectly content.

The only thing that bound the two of them now was love.

*…*…*…*…*…*

FLUFFFFF. Gotta love it. ;3 I know it wasn't a long epilogue, but I hope you enjoyed it. You've still got one more short tidbit coming up, then this is gonna be complete.

The second epilogue is going to center around Snow. Though I'm not sure where I stand with his character these days, I do believe that I can't just leave him hanging like he is now with his despair. So, the next segment will be about him.

Knightofflight—thanks! I'm afraid I don't know what you mean by my language getting clunky, but I do know that I'm not a perfect writer. Maybe this year I'll get around to reading Lord of the Rings like I've wanted to do most of the summer. (:

OhJay—You DID have a lot to say xD Sorry you didn't agree with how I worked some things out, especially with Serah. It was bittersweet for me to keep her killed, but I felt it was necessary. If everyone came out alive and happy, it just wouldn't be realistic. Thanks for reading even if this wasn't your type of thing, I appreciate the comment!

i-Yup, I'm excited for the book! It's coming along slower than I ever expected, but at least I'm working on it. (: I'm glad Versus wasn't cancelled, even if I don't have a ps3 so I won't be able to play it whenever it comes out. Hope there's a XIII-3 on the horizon! I haven't heard those interviews yet, so feel free to share with me.

Ballad Jr: You wanted the Yuffentine story, right? The one is called Fight for Love. It IS mostly Cloti from what I remember though, so be forewarned!

Darkis0777: Yeah, I was annoyed with Snow in XIII-2. I was annoyed with others being OOC character too, but that's a rant for another day.

NekoCapsule: xD Thanks for not kissing me; that'd be a bit odd. Sorry for making you annoy your mom xD And sorry for thinking it's hilarious and awesome, because it really is super sweet somebody's so excited about my stuff! Anywho, I'm probably the only person in my generation not into Pokemon, so you picked the wrong person to request that from. xP

Keep up the reviewing guys, we're almost to 300! :o I'll see you all again in about a week for the second (and final) epilogue.

Have a great week,

Peanut