So here's the next part. Just a small warning: My mother's been doing poorly lately so I might be making an international flight soon so... The last few updates might be a bit delayed. Sorry for the problems.

Serah didn't know what to say when she awoke from her vision. A man who was awash in light had been watching her. She wasn't sure of wha that meant. When she had received the first vision she had been scared. After all they'd done to rid her of the eyes of Etro, she honestly didn't want to even entertain the thought. And yet she couldn't help it at first. But the visions never really changed. They also never really changed. A man surround by light and a small boy would often scream in pain.

At times she had glimpsed Hope staring up into an abyss staring idly forward. His eyes were sad. She swallowed hard as she thought about what any of that could mean. She wanted to tell someone but had a feeling that it would cause more trouble then help. The visions much like the one's she'd received from Etro explained nothing and gave her no clues to solve any of their current crisis.

Especially now that Lightning was back. Her increased chaos powers were yes, a cause for worry, but her sister of course had overblown everything yet again. She loved her sister but Lightning could be so over the top worrying about her. She could take care of herself. The one they should be worrying about is Hope.

Because the more she tried to piece together, the more worried she felt for him. He had been through so much. Him and Noel. And she had too but her on the other side, watching as everyone relied on each other. Had someone they could turn to. Noel had no one to turn to. Sure, she was his best friend, but she had Snow and Lightning. She had family.

And she wasn't all too sure that Noel was really ready to accept them as much. Even in doubt Lightning could go to Sazh or Fang. She swallowed down her melancholy thoughts headed for the conference room. As much as she wanted to search her visions. Try to figure out what they wanted to tell her.

Instead she had to go to this meeting about what to do about Luxerion. They were stirring the drums of war. They wanted Snow and more importantly they wanted her. It was no secret that she could harness the powers of chaos. During the rise of Yusnaan she had had to use her powers to help waylay the chaos from the city and from the Fal'cie. The only way to preserve life on this forsaken world. But also to protect Vanille who could speak to the spirits trapped within chaos.

Vanille sat down on the plush bed and looked around at the members of the meeting. Fang was sitting near her, while Noel sat on her other side. Lightning stood near the entrance as if ready to go running off at a moment's notice. Vanille stroked her own hair and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"The end is coming." She murmured softly. "The souls are so restless now. The 'moon' up in the sky is god's great ark to take us to the new world."

"God's ark huh?" Noel asked bitterly. "We all sacrificed to create that Ark he just so graciously has decided to repurpose."

"This world cannot survive the way it is now." Fang pointed out. "Mixed like this with the chaos it's only a matter of time before the chaos turns on it and destroys it too."

"But partitioning the world back to the way it was." Lightning spoke quietly. "To move to a new world requires a sacrifice that I'm not willing to pay. Nor inclined to let anyone else pay. To destroy this planet God would have to destroy the chaos that has invaded. Bhunivelze can not see chaos nor does he care for it. He would destroy all the chaos. Good and bad…"

"Basically taking away all of the souls." Vanille spoke quietly. "And seal them into the void… Lock the key away."

The silence that stretched on after that was long and painful. Finally Lightning spoke. "Then we should start making plans to stop him."

"So no what?" Fang stated as she sat up with interest now that the explanation was over. She was more a woman of action then anything else.

"I will go to Yusnaan and discuss with them what to do about Lexerion. It's obvious to me that they want her more then they care about the Fal'cie. I doubt any of those bastards are willing to sacrifice themselves to keep the world running."

"Vanille and I are staying here. Right now no one knows about her powers and I want to keep it that way. Also, it would probably benefit us to see what else the ruins can tell us about our enemy." She took a deep breath and turned to Noel. "And what will you do?"

"I'm going back to the Wildlands. First I need to update Sazh."

"What about Luxerion. We need to do something about—"

"If I am going to become one of the Children of Etro I can't just show up and claim to be the Shadow Hunter. In the Wildlands I can win over the milder types and then go to Luxerion already hailed as a savior. It'll take time but at this rate we still have what? A hundred years? I need to strike fear into them."

Lightning nodded. "It's a good idea."

Noel shrugged, he couldn't really admit that he was going into the Wildlands to talk to the chaos. He had a feeling that wouldn't go over well at all.

Noel felt a tension that had been in his shoulders and his back relax when he sat foot once again in the Wildlands. After a deep cleansing breath he started towards Sazh's place to update him on everything that had happened so far. Not that it was much. He still felt pangs in his heart to be honest. All the discussion, plotting and planning and not one word was said about Hope. He desperately wanted to believe that the others still cared. That they were not only trying to save the world but save Hope as well.

He looked towards where the Ark was. Everything that they knew about Hope said that he was there. And yet not even Lightning with all her demigoddess powers had even thought to attempt to breech the barrier. It made him angry but he tried to quell that anger. If he went into the chaos like this it would probably consume him. He placed a hand over his heart as he thought about interacting with the chaos. He would go and take the heart if it meant he could have Hope back.

Crazier ideas crossed his mind as he walked towards the humble abode that housed Sazh and Dajh. He knocked on the door and found the older man sitting with his son and a cup of tea. He collapsed next to him and sighed deeply. "The others have started hatching plans. Fang told me to tell you to sit tight around here. That the violence isn't something you should have to deal with it."

"I'm not that old." Sazh grumbled but he still nodded his head in understanding. "I really wouldn't be able to bring myself to go help with Dajh like this. The last time all this mess happened I could do it because Dajh was crystal. Safe but also… motivation."

"In the end we might need you." Noel shook his head. "But I'll try and keep it from getting there."

"And what are you going to do?" Sazh was suddenly looking at him. Looking at him more then he'd had in a century, dark eyes searching for the things that Noel was hiding.

"I'm going to hang around a bit. Fall in with a bad crowd and then head to Luxerion." His smile stretched thin. "I'm going to use the Children of Etro to get Luxerion back in line."

"That's a crazy ass idea. No wonder you don't want this old man involved." Sazh took a deep breath and reached out and took Noel by the shoulders. "Don't go too crazy. I don't want to have to explain to Hope that you went off the deep end."

Noel bit back bitter words and nodded his head. "I'll be back in one piece."

Noel was walking around the Wildlands searching for his old campsite. It had been ridiculously easy to gain favor with the Children of Etro. Not only because of the foretold prophecy but because when he took their proof tests he had passed more then gracefully. His body, still infused with all the crap that Caius had done to him still reacted favorably to the chaos and that appealed to those fanatics greatly.

Thinking of Caius always made him depressed. As he buckled down for the night and made a fire, he found his hand wandering over his heart again. Pressing his hand firmly he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Caius, had betrayed him so greatly that he wasn't sure if he could ever fully recover. Even now with all his memory restored he still felt a bitterness that was hard to contain. He leaned back and stared up into the sky.

"You're heart if fully of chaos." It was Nora again, her gently smiling face as she looked over at him. "You shouldn't dispar so much."

"My whole family is gone. I don't see why I shouldn't grieve." He snapped back. She gave him such a disapproving look in response that it let him know exactly where Hope had gotten that snappy temperament when he was annoyed.

"You have a family if you wish to see it." She stated hotly as she continued to glare him down. "Does your time with Serah mean nothing? Or the others who have extended their care to you? What about my son? Would you abandon him to the fate that that monster has for him?"

Noel felt himself shrivel back from her and the guilt squirm around in his gut. He was being selfish he knew. But losing Caius and Yuel and then… Hope. He looked up at Nora and that gentle smile was surprisingly back on her face. She cupped her hands together and in her hands appeared an image of Hope but not the Hope that he remembered. The small lanky kid with scared eyes didn't seem like it would be his Hope.

"Once a long time ago… My son was in your position. His mother gone and his father unable to be there for him. Those same people that you are rejecting took him in and helped him build a family that I could be proud of. I'll always be his mother. But no one deserves to be alone. Not even you."

"But I have to repent."

"Repent for the things that others have done?" She asked quietly. "Please don't let your guilt take you away from them. You should rest now. Not just your body but your weary soul as well."

"Noel?" The voice was soft as if waking him from a dream. "Wake up. I don't have much time."

Noel's eyes snapped open and he stared up into bright turquoise eyes. "Hope?"

He didn't dare to believe it but as warm arms wrapped around him and pulled him in. Noel found himself scooting forward and leaned his head into the crook of his neck. The warmth that surrounded him was amazing and he found himself relaxing for the first time in so long. He brought a hand up and curled it into his shirt.

"I'm so sorry Noel." The other's breath blew softly against his ear. "I didn't mean to leave you behind."

"I don't care." Noel replied firmly. "Just stay."

The arms around him cradled him almost gently. The silence the fell between them was almost more comfortable then even talking. He could hear his lover, his partner's heartbeat at his pulse. The knowledge that he was alive, was okay was all that Noel could ask for at this point.

"I can't stay." Hope finally spoke. "And when you see me next will be bad."

Noel pulled back and stared into the eyes and then shook his head furiously. "No. Don't say that."

"When you see me next… I could very well be a monster."

"Shut up. Don't tell me these things!"

"Whatever I am… Know that I love you."

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY GOODBYE!" Noel jerked awake with his scream and stared up at the dark sky and the softly glowing stars. The dual moons, one being Hope's Ark shined back at him.

It wasn't real, he told himself as he sat up. Hope had never, would never give up like that. If somehow they could meet Hope wouldn't dare say goodbye. They would figure out a way to do… Something. Anything to be together and save the damn world. And he was going to fight for that. He was going to achieve both those goals.

And to start that path, he was going to Luxerion tomorrow.