I will go all across time just to see you again...

   ➳ “ Me, slow? Never. ”

He did envy her energy. No matter what happened, she always seemed to have the energy to continue going. They just handled things differently, he supposed, as it was a bit hard to find the energy when she wasn’t around. Being stuck on the island had proven to be a predicament with the shoddy conditions and lack of anything to remind them of home, but having each other for company was enough to make it bearable. After thinking he would never get a chance to see her again, to have a conversation with her, this was all he could have asked for. Now, if it wasn’t under such circumstances, that would be even better, but beggars couldn’t be choosers in the end.

Asmodeus cast his gaze to his brother, smiling a sly smile. His master was very fond of the pinkette, it seemed, so why not help them out a bit? Noel wasn’t so fun to be around when he was alone, so if he had to be around Serah all the time, so be it.

[Well, I can't say that I disagree. My master's a bit more energetic when he's around too and I much prefer her smiling face than anything else. But I'm telling you, whatever you're actually planning is probably going to take a lot of work. So if you're just treating this as a game or a way to fulfill your cravings for love, you shouldn't mess around too much.]

As much as he loved his brother, he wouldn't just let his master get caught up in a crazy plan that might just hurt her in the end. If it came down to it, he'd sabotage all of the other stake's plans. However if it was genuine, then he could be persuaded to help out...

Meanwhile, Noel and Serah had reached the beach.

Silly him, though. Serah didn’t take no for an answer on these things.

Nodding, Noel returned her slight smile, not out of necessity, but because he meant it.

   ➳ “ Sounds like a plan. We’ve got some catching up to do, I think. ”

As he gestured in the direction of the living areas and fell into step with her, he couldn’t help but think. All of this felt surprisingly normal, despite the circumstances, despite the unfamiliar landscape, despite everything. The hurt he felt watching the light leave her eyes would never fade, he feared, and it was still quite prominent, but walking side by side with her was enough to keep everything else other than complacency at bay.

Asmodeus, who had taken to walking near Leviathan behind the two friends, glanced over, somewhat eager to attempt small talk.

Thus despite the protests he had given her, eventually her perseverance paid off and he let her do as she pleased. It worked out for them both, his shoulder felt better and she was able to repay him just a little bit for all he's done.

❦"We really do! Hmm... I wonder where we should start..."❦

Her voice seemed to trail off as the two walked towards their new destination. It was a great reunion for the two and anyone who saw them could see that they were quite good friends. In fact, it was more than apparent to their two stakes who had opted to move at a more leisure pace behind their masters.

[Heh... I guess they do.] Leviathan has a light tone to his words, already understanding what his sibling might be trying to get at here.

Noel had to keep back a chuckle of his own. He knew it was pointless to ask how all of this had happened, how it was possible, but he couldn’t help himself. There was some things in their world, throughout all of time, that couldn’t be explained—so why would this one be any different? It had been foolish to think so, but for once, getting some solid answers would be a nice change of pace. For now, he would try to not expect anything too much (after all, their living conditions were less than satisfactory, among other things) and focus on what he had in front of him: a reason to keep going.

Maybe this stake of hers knew about how she had come to be there. His own stake had done enough explaining so far, but if it was the same for everyone, he didn’t know.

   ➳ “ Leviathan, huh? ”

It seemed a little bit misplaced; after all, Serah wasn’t a very envious person, but then again, looking at the stake he had…Well, maybe it was random. Rolling his shoulder, which had started to ache a bit, he gestured back to his own stake, the younger boy who had started to walk up to them.

   ➳ “ This is Asmodeus. He already told me about this place, but something just doesn’t           seem right about it all. Doesn’t seem like there’s much we can do about it for now, but           there has to be something. ”

But that's right, these two have traveled all across time, discovering many different futures, and universes, while those futures might have been what caused her end... Serah hadn't regretted it one bit. And so, it had steeled her for the events that were now happening, or at least softened the confusion. Perhaps her fuzzy memory had something to do with that though, well it didn't matter too much for the time-being. Right here and now, she was with an ally that she could count on. It made the whole ordeal seem a little less threatening.

❦"Yeah! Though, he doesn't really seem all that envious to me..."❦ Looking at her stake for a moment, he only shrugged as if there was just no explaining it. Well, it didn't really matter too much at the moment anyway. As her stake moved to speak, the action that Noel had just committed didn't escape her eyes.

[I'll have to agree with Asmodeus on this one. Seeing as how we don't have a lot of information, it's best to just stay at where you'll be living for a bit and get a lay of the land.]

❦"I think I'm with these two on this."❦It was quite the smart plan after all, better to be safe than sorry. With a nod, she gave Noel a small smile.❦"So let's get a move on, it'll be like ol' times! I'll even give you a shoulder massage once we get to our houses."❦

One of the more coherent thoughts made its way to him and he did as he’d instructed himself. Taking a few steps back, he let his arms fall back to his side, letting out the breath he’d been holding for a few moments. The intake of fresh air had done him some good, but his heart still pounded rapidly in his chest, an odd feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

What had been a pain deeply rooted inside him diminished slightly, though he still felt apprehensive. This place was unfamiliar; for all he knew, there was still time for this to turn out badly. Yet…everything about her counteracted that unfamiliarity, making the right there and now feel more comfortable. What it was about her that made her so easy to be around, he didn’t know, but he was grateful for it.

   ➳ “ So, what you’re saying is that you’re from the future? How is that even possible? ”

But there wasn't more reassurance that she could give except the fact that she was here, right in front of him. And knowing him, Serah knew that he'd be able to regain his bearings if given some time, so she waited. She took the moment to give him a once over, yup, still looked the same as always. When she woke up on this island, she had to see if she was the same as well. It didn't look like being brought here did much to anyone, so it baffled her that her memories might be a bit fuzzy. But that thought had to be put away for the moment seeing as how Noel spoke to her.

❦"You're asking how?"❦

She knew this wasn't the time nor place, so Serah had to refrain from letting out a laugh.

❦"You would think after we'd spent so long time traveling that you wouldn't be asking that question."❦A light smile before she continued.❦"But, I don't really know myself... I mean, Leviathan tried to explain a bit of what's going on here.." At the mention of his name, the stake broke from the conversation he seemed to be having with Noel's stake, floating over to them.

Thinking back on it, he could still feel the ache in his throat from screaming her name to the sky.

Now, though… Now, Noel could care less about her stake, or his own for that matter, who was trailing behind warily. All that he could focus on now was her entirety; she was human, warm, alive, and real. In this new world, could people really so easily cheat death…? Clenching his eyes shut against the burning threat of tears, he ducked his head against hers gently, pink hair against his chin.

What are you talking about? Of course, I’m safe!

Did she not remember it? Or was it something else?

Swallowing hard, he found it in himself to pull away, though his hands remained on her shoulders; it was almost as if he was afraid to let her go, afraid that if he did, he would lose her again.

The look on his face looked like someone who was both broken and relieved. It was then that a possibility of why this would be came to her mind. And when he spoke it became perfectly clear.

❦"Lost me... are you, are you talking about when..."❦her tone had lowered and his hurt expression was all the answer she needed. That's right, he must have been remembering when she had died.

❦"Noel... I'm okay, see? I mean... after what happened, I remember being able to meet Lightning again, but I don't know what happened after that. It looks like my memory is a bit fuzzy."❦

The hunter had been doing what he had been doing his entire life—adapting

Until he saw Her.

It had been nothing short of disorienting to wake up in an unknown place, that was to be said for certain. Unfortunately, he was all too used to all that was confusing, all that made him feel slightly vulnerable, so Noel did the only thing he knew he could do—keep moving forward. It would have been the perfect time to remember the words passed down to him by his father—Never give up, for the goddess Etro watches always, and helps those who help themselves—and remember them he did, only to recoil as a barrage of unpleasant memories surfaced.

The goddess. Chaos. Caius. The fate of a Seeress… Serah.

All of it was his fault. The recollection of this, of these visions he did not want to relive, swarmed his thoughts. He knew the sadness was plain on his face as he walked. So far, no one had been around to see him.

Even so, the torment was replaced by surprise as soon as he saw her face. It was her. There was no mistaking her. It was Serah.

Before he could stop himself, Noel was running to her, feet carrying him at a speed he didn’t know he was capable of. This was too good to be true, right? This was just some trick? He wasn’t sure he would be able to deal with an illusion this cruel.

It would take her by surprise no doubt, but he had to make sure she was real. He had always been hesitant to touch her in the past, always apprehensive unless necessary. But now… this was not only out of necessity, but out of personal want. No—personal need.

Pulling her close to his chest, he held her like he would never let go, arms encircling her.

   ➳ “ Serah. ”

Voice soft, yet urgent, filled with deep emotion.

[Yo, are you okay there? You seem to be a little out of it.] He floated beside her, with what looked like a worried expression on his face. Ah that's right, she wasn't alone here, not by a long shot. Apparently in coming here, people were given something called stakes and this one was hers. She didn't really get it, but he reminded her a bit of Mog so maybe it was like that. After all, he even transformed into a weapon to protect her so it was about the same situation.

❦"Yes, I'm fine! Sorry for worrying you. I was just... thinking about some things. Anyway, where were we headed to again?"❦

He didn't look too convinced, but if his master said she was fine then that was that.

[Well, we're just going to walk straight ahead and-Master! Watch out! Incoming!] But before he could move a figure had already reached his master. However, it only took a few seconds for the stake to realize that they meant no harm. A new confused but lax look on his face as he looked at Serah. [A friend of yours?]

Just like the stake did Serah also catch sight of the figure, but her eyes had flashed with recognition and surprise instead. A gasp as she tried to say his name before she was suddenly enveloped in a tight embrace.

Welcome to Rokkenjima, Serah the Saboteur!

You’ll be given the Stake of Envy, Leviathan.You’ll be housed in Samigina.