Final Fantasy XIII-2: Fragments After

Prayer & Wish: IV

It looked like a sturdy bow, but when held it was as light as the moogle's body. She nocked an arrow, pointed toward the sky and pulled all the way back on the string. Maybe it was mog's power but it was easy to establish a target. The bow instantly flew through the air set on its target. Shortly after, the arrow split into numerous arrows and rained onto Bahamut. Bahamut's form grew ever more white and the light expelled the darkness. Lightning heard an "Okay" resound in her mind. Lightning let out a huge breath. As if waiting for that, the bow that she held returned back to its moogle form.

"Thanks. You saved me."

She smiled and the decoration on the moogle's head shook back and forth.

"My pom-pom told me that you were in trouble, kupo."

The decoration on the moogle's head, or pom-pom, appears to be some sort of antenna. That's right, when he sensed a strong one, the pom-pom was shining, Lightning felt. When he turned into a bow, it was probably the pom-pom's searching ability that was working to make it instantly lock-on to its target.

"Odin made a scary face, but I felt that I just had to go, kupo. I'm fine with breaking the rules for Lightning-san's sake, kupo!"

She felt her mouth soften when she said "I see." She didn't think she'd be saved when in dire straits by a little creature that she just happened to pick up. She thought that this too had been fated for her. It was just like when Hope, who she deemed a hindrance, changed into a reassuring ally.

She looked around her again and the throne lay right in front of her. It was an empty throne with no one sitting in it. Bahamut protected the throne by enveloping it in darkness.

"I'm fine now. Wait here."

She left the moogle where he was and headed toward the empty throne. The Goddess is here, even though she cannot be seen. Just like bugs who hug the ground cannot see humans, the Goddess cannot be seen by feeble humans. Maybe this thing she recognizes as a throne could possess another form (?). Because, not only one's perception of time but his/her five senses are inaccurate and unreliable.

"Even so. the Goddess is here..."

She felt that she was being beckoned. She felt that Etro was not rejecting her. She had many doubts about whether she could manage to converse with a god but she stepped forward anyway. She outstretched her hand without noticing it. She wanted to touch her hand. She wanted to touch that warm and gentle hand. Her fingertips reached. She felt as if she was getting pulled in. She spontaneously opened her eyes. However, what lay in front of her eyes was no longer the world she had been seeing. These are the Goddess' Eyes. "I'm seeing what the Goddess is seeing...

"In that instant she understood why time was broken in Valhalla and why her five senses were so vague: it was because the Goddess had no use for time or senses. Because she was a human, Lightning could barely differentiate the future or the past, butthe Goddess is probably not differentiating them. She was seeing and hearing everything at the same time. Conversely, the Goddess was just seeing as if it was an accepted routine and felt that there were things that she would never comprehend.

Something like that. Maybe that was the beginning? It was certain that she was seeing it, but she could not interpret it clearly (or "The things that she could not interpret but could see." This part's weird). She knew of its existence. But this did not go with the real image. Yes, the form of the ancient god who created the Fal'Cie Etro.

Possibly because of her memories conforming with those of Etro's, a name she did not know popped into Lightning's mind. The Paternal God (Creator?) Bhunivelze. The one name that Etro called.

Bhunivelze divided his power and created the Fal'Cie Lindzei and Fal'Cie Pulse. Etro just looked on as power, which she didn't not have, was given to Lindzei and Pulse and she saw them, in the same manner as the Paternal God, divide their power and give life to many Fal'Cie. Etro did not know why she had been shunned by Bhunivelze. Why weren't the things given to Pulse and Lindzei given to her as well? She just looked on without cursing them or envying them. Of course... Fal'Cie are different than humans; Fal'Cie do not have emotions. Etro did not understand: Why did humans naturally feel indignation or suffered feelings like alienation or isolation. Etro, who did nothing but serve as a spectator, tried to imitate their birthing of Fal'Cie by harming her own body. She thought, just as their power took on another form and became a new l'Cie, her blood would possibly give birth to something. She felt that maybe if she could bring life to something she could catch Bhunivelze's attention. Maybe if she could do the same thing as them, things would change. Even when Bhunivelze went to sleep and made his form unseen, Etro did not stop harming herself.