A New Chapter (Open!)

[Serah Farron]

( Gah, first post here, I hope its acceptable! ^^; )

Death wasn’t as terrifying as most may think, at least, that wasn’t the case for Serah Farron. She had spent the past few years: frozen in a crystal sleep, in which she was forced to keep her mind alive, wishing for her loved ones to save her from this fate. Then losing Lightning, then Snow soon after. She then went on a huge adventure with Noel Kreiss. They defeated Caius, and as far as she knew, saved her world. All of the worrying and stress and… even the hopes and wishes that had filled her mind were finally laid to rest and allowed her to finally, peacefully sleep. The last thing that she would remember was the embrace of her sister, whom Serah loved more then anyone.

However, Serah’s “luck” was still not out. The Goddess seemed to really care about her, and her sister… and soon, Serah would be reborn again. And hopefully, this time for good.

Serah’s body lay on some darkened side street of Traverse Town. She was not yet conscious, but her body was starting to wake up, as well as her mind. Serah’s hands started to fidget slightly before she regained her sense of self awareness. She soon rolled over onto her stomach, as if she was simply having a nap before anything really clicked in her head.
She opened her eyes and blinked a few times before staring at the pavement just below her face.
What the…. Serah managed to push herself up so that she was sitting, her body still rather weak. She looked around, still rather confused. “Where am I?” She mumbled to herself quietly, rubbing her head. Serah continued to look around, as more of her former habits started to surface.
“Noel?” She called out, almost expecting to hear the young hunter’s voice call back with his location… but there was nothing. “Hey, this isn’t funny, where are you?” She called again. She lifted herself to her feet and stood rather shakily, her legs quickly becoming used to her weight again.
She still received no answer from the shadows. She could see the sides of different buildings, and a street light could be seen up ahead… but no one was around. Serah crossed her arms, a little concerned. “Where could he have-“ The realization suddenly hit her… the end of their journey together. Noel probably wasn’t here at all. Who knows how long it had been since then…
Serah glanced down at the ground, her crossed arms wrapped slightly tighter around one another. If Noel wasn’t here… then the chances of anyone else being around was very slim. She took a few steps forward as her thoughts swelled up in her mind. She really didn’t want to be here, where ever this was, all alone. From what she could tell already, this probably wasn’t Pulse, or at least, anywhere remotely near her time. Everything was to dark… and quiet for that, that is exept for the stars in the sky, which she could clearly see as much as she could back on New Bodhum.
Serah shut her eyes tightly. I can’t give up hope already. If I was reborn… there must be a reason... And I'm going to find it.” she thought. Serah glanced again towards the streetlight. It probably lead to a more civilized area, or, at least she hoped that it would. She uncurled her arms from around her, and took a few more steps towards it, before hearing a familiar, higher pitched voice.
“Serah…” the voice called shakily.
She knew the voice right away. “Mog!?” she called back to him. “Mog where are you!? she added, spinning around and scanning for her Moogle companion.
Mog’s crystal glowed dully as he brought himself up to groggily float towards Serah. “Here I am kupo~”
Serah immediately latched onto him, and buried her face into the top of Mog head, squeezing him rather tightly. “Oh thank goodness, you’re here too.” Serah shut her eyes tightly again, trying to hold back tears for how happy she was that she wouldn’t be entirely alone.
“S-serah you’re hurting me Kupo!” Mog giggled lightly, and attempted to wiggle out of her arms.
“I’m sorry Mog, I didn’t mean too…”
Mog floated in front of her, obviously regaining his previous amounts of energy rather quickly. “Its ok Kupo! I’m happy to see you’re alright Serah! Kupo Kupo!”
Serah nodded, glancing down at her hands. “Yeah. I’m alright.” a slight smile appeared on her face. “Lets figure out where we are, ok?”
“Good idea! Kupo! This place feels strange… I can’t name why though, Kupo…
Serah nodded in agreement, and started walking again towards the lights, which got progressively brighter as the road she was on progressively turned into an entrance for the main courtyard of Traverse Town. She could see a few shops, a café, and some stairs, which she expected lead to more area’s of this town.
“Where should we go?” Serah asked, turning to Mog.
“Maybe there is someone in one of the shops that could answer our questions Kupo?” Mog answered.
Serah looked around, and didn’t see anyone else at the moment. “Good idea.” She said and started to walk up the main stairs, Mog floating close by her shoulder.
“Do you think anyone we know will be here, Kupo?”
Serah looked back a little sadly. “I sure hope so… but I honestly don’t know.” she sighed, looking ahead, up the stairs, again.

[oncefognowrain]

It was over now. Rain should have been happy that she had fulfilled her side of the bargain, and that they would just go on each other's way. He helped her, she paid him back, simple as that. She should not have been feeling this sense of loss, like a missed opportunity. She knew what she wanted to ask, but would he even answer? He had no reason to. He would probably just get up and leave. Just like the others.

Where had they even gone? Vanished, Maybe to other worlds for all she knew. It made sense, really, they had come just for the battle, and once that was over, there was no reason to stay. Except for her, of course. At least she was clean, now. She had washed up in the fountain, her loose sweater very slightly damp, drying at a slow rate because of the cool night air. But at least she did not have to worry about temperature. No, she was more concerned about them. What were they?

She shifted the single strap bag on her shoulder, then froze on the spot. It was almost like a joke, really. or Maybe a miracle? Rain had intended to go back to the relief effort, and debate with herself on letting everything go. But when she got into the main square, there was a flash of color that seemed to play tricks on her. A girl, with iridescent hair that was a color she had only seen on one person.

Lightning?

Rain followed her. She only saw the girl from behind when she came out the broken doorway from the fourth district, but it was enough to make her suspect. She walked, not wanting to get her hopes up, but hurrying along anyway to see if this was who she thought it was. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped. "Um, excuse me?"

[Serah Farron]

Serah and mog had just about reached the top of the stairs when suddenly Serah heard a voice come from behind her. There hadn’t really been anyone around so Serah turned her head to see if, who ever it was was trying to get her attention.
She saw a girl looking up at her from the bottom of the stairs. The stranger didn’t look as if she was from her world in the first place, so no reorganization there… Who was she?
Serah still smiled at the strange girl, as was her nature.
“ Hello, is something wrong?” Serah asked, tilting her head to the side slightly, her ponytail slipping back over her shoulder.
Mog hovered close by Serah’s shoulder. This girl didn’t seem as if she would be a threat, but he had to be prepared to change to her weapon, just in case.
Serah stepped down a few stairs to be closer to the strange girl. Maybe I can ask her my questions…. She thought and waited to see what she wanted.

[oncefognowrain]

This was the wrong person. Rain had stood with baited breath, hand on the rail as the girl turned at her call. But the moment she spoke, Rain knew it was the wrong person. Her voice did not match Lightning's at all. Rain balked slightly, embarrassed at the mistake. For a second, she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. there was a splotch of white that seemed to be hovering by the girl's shoulder. Was it the light? Rain blinked quickly.

"No, I'm sorry." She looked down and tucked her short hair behind her ear, and fidgeted with her bag. "I confused you for someone, for a second. Sorry."

She stepped to the side, and climbed a few more steps to get around the girl, keeping her eyes down and wanting to get out. Well, now she was embarrassed and disappointed. She seemed to be feeling that a lot, lately. Duh, hair color did not mean anything. She should have actually waited for a moment to take a good look at the girl before rushing after her. She just had to go back to the second district and get back to helping. Working with the guys would help her forget about this whole thing.

Ha. Ha ha. The irony was not lost on her for that.

[Serah Farron]

Serah shook her head at the girls response. “It’s alright, I understand” She responded, but looked a little disappointed as well. It would have been a lot more interesting if the girl had actually been looking for her…. After all, Lightning seemed to know a lot of people so maybe. She had kind of hoped that maybe this girl new something, like Noel had in the beginning of her last journey. Not that she wanted to start that over again.
Serah watched as the girl started to walk on, seeming rather embarrassed.
“Hey, wait a second.” Serah called to her again. “I’m really sorry to bother you…” She was really hoping the girl was listening.
“I just arrived here… and I know absolutely nothing about this place… would you mind helping me?” Serah looked up hopefully at her. She had been nice enough to talk to her in the first place, so she hoped that she would accept.
“My name is Serah Farron, by the way. Who are you?” She said, trying to be polite and as non threatening as possible as to not scare off this girl…
Not Serah had a history of doing so.
Mog still stayed close, and silent by Serah’s side. They had learned previously that people generally thought it strange that Mog spoke English pretty well, aside from his Moogle Kupos. Best not to confuse new people….

[oncefognowrain]

Rain paused, turning around to listen, and more than surprised to hear her wanting to talk more. Most people that passed by Rain rarely gave her a second glance, let alone tried to start a conversation. Then again, Rain had spoken first. And when she learned what the girl was asking for, she could not blame her. Of course she would want to talk to the first person she saw. But if she had just arrive and had no idea how she got here... was she a lost survivor?

Rain looked at her, suddenly worried, and sympathetic. If this girl was a survivor, she might have been completely confused and lost. She did not even know where she was. Then her world might have been gone completely. But Rain thought that had stopped a year ago.

Then again, with the Emperor's declaration...

Rain forced herself to smile, not wanting to let her pity show. The girl's features were too blurred for her to tell her age, but the girl sounded young. Innocent. She did not want to worry her.

"Nice to meet you, Serah Farron. I'm Rain. Let's go to the cafe so we can talk. After all, what kind of person would I be to just let a poor girl wander all by herself?" She winked before she turned around completely to hop down the stairs.

The role was so easy to fall back into. She did not even have to think about it. A smile, a nod, a wink, little motions that had started out as a mask, but became almost second nature. though when she passed by the girl again, her eyes honed in on the hovering blur of color by Serah's side. Why were her eyes doing-

Only when she focus on it, did she feel the presence of a heart inside of it. Oh... it was alive! A... bird? Animal?

"Who's your friend?" She asked lightly as she landed on the bottom step and spun on the spot to face her again. "Hope he doesn't bite," she teased, but had an apologetic smile. "Animals don't really like me."

Despite her joking nature, it was an understatement. Animals almost despised her with a passion. They sensed the darkness inside her, her unnatural presence, and usually responded by growling or raising their hackles. For both of their sakes, Rain really hoped it would stay quiet. So long as she kept her distance, maybe it would be fine.

[Serah Farron]

Serah smiled very happily, and gratefully when the girl turned back to Serah and agreed to help her. “Nice to meet you as well Rain!” Serah responded. Her comment made her giggle a bit. With the way things seemed like they were going, wondering around by herself, or more so her and Mog, was probably going to be her life until she found someone… if they were still even alive.
Serah followed Rain’s lead. Rain’s attitude seemed to have changed rather quickly. In a way she kind of reminded Serah of Vanille. She hadn’t even been conscious that long, and already she was starting to miss everyone….

Serah glanced towards Mog, and nodded to him after Rain asked about him.
Mog giggled in his typical Moogle way before answering. “I’m Mog, Kupo! I’m Serah’s good luck charm!” He said, and floated too, and around Rain, checking her over crystal glowing brighter with curiousity.
“I don’t bite people, just that’s silly Kupo.” he said, and floated back over to Serah again.
Serah giggled lightly. “ Mog is a Moogle, I wouldn’t really classify them as an animal, although I guess that works.” Serah added to Mog’s introduction.
“Luckily I have him, or I would be completely alone…”
Serah said, then glanced around. Simply just by looking around she only confirmed her suspicious that either a lot of time had past, maybe even a hundred or so years… or this wasn’t her home it just didn’t seem to her like New Bodum, or especially Academia, could evolve into this. She also thought of Bhunivelze, this could be Hope’s new world… but somehow, she just didn’t feel like it was. The sky was to open for it.

Walking in the direction to what was predicting was the Café mentioned, Serah asked: “Soo… Where are we exactly? What’s this town called?” she figured that this was a good place to start.

[oncefognowrain]

For a split second, Rain was completely flabbergasted. Where was this new voice coming from? She leaned back instinctively, then followed the strange creature's progress, head darting back and forth as he circled her. She blinked wide-eyed, staring at the tiny light radiating from the creature. She blinked at the pair when he retreated back his companion, then Rain finally linked two and two together.

"You talk!" She realized with a gasp, and then she grinned excitedly and clapped her hands together. "No way, that's so cool! What a cute name! Hi, Mog!" She waved excitedly. "Oh, you're so lucky. Wish I had someone like him. Are there a lot of them where you come from? Oh, wait, don't answer that-" she waved off the question. "We should sit down first, you're probably tired."

She laughed lightly and spun about on her heel again, laughing both at herself and the circumstances. It was like finding a parrot that could talk. It was an amusing anomaly. She pulled out a chair for the table, but did not sit down yet. She looked up at the questioning girl, then stepped back from the table, extending her arms out as she spun on the spot.

"You're in Traverse Town! The city that never sleeps!" She let her arms down, never loosing her smile. "Well, actually, they do sleep, but the sun never comes up. Kinda threw me off when I first got here. Ended up working 20 hours without even realizing it. Whoops." She rapped her knuckles against her own skull with a guilty shrug. "Kind of dug myself into that one."

Which made it sound like she had been here for a while, which was not the case at all, but the girl did not need to know that. If Rain had stopped to think about it, she would have realized where this sudden cheer and familiarity came from, but she did not. All she knew was that this girl was relying on her for answers, if nothing else. Really, if Rain stopped to think about Mani at all, it would have made the act more difficult. But she could forget about the younger girl, and focus instead on Serahfarron.

"I think it's because this world is special." Rain did not lose her smile, but it weakened, as she knew the news she would have to give was more somber. She spoke a little more carefully now, afraid of saying anything that might overwhelm her. "It's a place for people who have no where else to go. People who lost their homes... whose worlds were overrun... they come here, and make new lives. Some people returned home a while ago, but some stayed, and they made this town. Everyone who lives here came from another world. What about you?" She tilted her head, hoping that the girl would at least be encouraged to tell about how she got here. "Which world do you come from?"

[Serah Farron]

Serah rolled her eyes as the praises from Rain were obviously affecting the Moogle’s ego. She was about to answer Rains questions, but she informed her not too.
“Oh, I’m fine Rain.” Serah said with a smile. She had just woken up, and from being dead none the less, Serah wasn’t tired at all… Not that she would like to explain that to Rain. It could scare her off.
Serah decided that it was best to listen to her and sat down at the table anyways. She rested an elbow on the table, then her chin on the back of her hand and listened to what Rain had to say. She really did remind her of Vanille because of how upbeat and smiley she was. The thought both gave her a bit of comfort… and concern.
Mog had decided to float about around the Café, simply exploring the area, as was practically his job on their last adventure.
So… this time has some sort of eclipse... I wonder if it is similar to what happened to Yaschas Massif around 10AF. Serah thought.
Serah was however noticing that Rain using the term world, instead of time. She lifted her head up, and started to twirl the end of her ponytail around her finger, still thinking.
How can there be other worlds? Surely if there had been before; Hope would have found them before trying to create Bhunivelze…. And If this is another world…Then why am I here? Could Pulse be gone too? Serah was very confused by all of this.
Serah sighed. She glanced back up to focus on Rain again when asked about her world. “It’s a little complicated, but I’m was from a “world” named Cocoon. That is where I grew up. It was suspended over another world called Gran Pulse, which is where I moved to later with a group of friends, after Cocoon started having some problems.” Serah paused, glancing up at rain again too see if she was following at all. “I don’t know what’s happened them though…. Or even why I’m here to be honest.” Serah was trying to figure out the best way to explain without having to say that she had been dead this entire time.
“I haven’t been around that long and as I mentioned before, Mog is really all I have at the moment, and he’s just as unsure about everything as I am. Serah’s expressing had since changed from her normal happier expression. Serah was rather scared, she couldn’t hide it. She didn’t want to be without anyone in this time or world, or whatever the new terms were. She could only hope that everyone else was still around… somewhere. She would just have to find them again.
There was still something that she really needed to know… but she was almost scared to ask… she didn’t want to sound crazy.
Mog floated back over to Serah, and hovered by her again. “Serah ok? Kupo?” Mog asked.
She nodded at him. “I’m fine Mog.”
Mog could still tell that Serah was a little upset. “Everything will be ok! You’ll see! Kupo!” he said happily and patted her head with his tiny Moogle hand.
Serah smiled up at him. “Thanks” She said, then looked back to Rain again to see how she would respond.

[oncefognowrain]

So it was called "cocoon". Rain kept her head tilted expectantly as the girl spoke, trying to remember and understand everything... two worlds? Like a... "You mean like an island? In the sky?"

It was the only way Rain could picture it. Islands were like their own little worlds. And if "Cocoon" was suspended above "Gran Pulse", how else could it be done? She knew first hand travel between worlds was not easy. They had to be a part of the same planet, at least. But the girl was not describing a battle, or the heartless, just how she had lived while she was there. She talked like her world was still around. Did she not know? How else had she wound up here? Was there some other way that Rain had not learned about yet?

Rain considered asking the girl more to try to get an answer, but she held back. The girl, though had started out cheerfully enough, was obviously concerned, and maybe even frightened. Of course, she woke up in a new place with no idea where she was. How could she not be? Mog's questioning only reaffirmed her decision.

"You're very lucky. It's nice to have a friend always with you." She said. She finally took the seat across from her, and settled down. "And you're also lucky you came when you did. If it had been any earlier, it might have been a problem." she paused, trying to see how she could brace the girl for this in anyway she could. "We're in the first district of town right now, so it's hard to tell, but there was an attack recently. The second district was almost completely destroyed, and even part of the third district was burned down. Right now there's a relief effort going on, but it's going to take a while to fix. I'm sorry," she said, all form of cheer gone. "I... it might be a lot to take in, but you were going to find out sooner or later. Everyone's been a little... down about everything."

[Serah Farron]

Serah shook her head. “No Cocoon wasn’t like an island.” She paused for a moment, a perfect way of describing it to her suddenly hit her. Serah lightly lifted her pendant away from her chest, and showed it to Rain. “Cocoon looked a lot like this.” she pointed to the sphere of her pendant.

Once Rain sat down, the way that she was now talking worried her a bit. Maybe that’s why I’m here… It could have something to do with this attack… I wouldn’t be surprised. Serah looked concerned. She had been through enough attacks and battles to know that these things were serious. What worried her more however was What could have attacked here. Rain didn’t seem to have ever heard of Cocoon or Pulse… So the L’cie probably weren’t the problem, plus a Fal’cie was needed for that. Also, since Noel and her had fixed the timeline, paradoxes probably weren’t the problem either…
I guess that doesn’t matter that much though, as long as whatever it was doesn’t come back. Serah thought, then glanced at Mog, who seemed to know what Serah was going to suggest to Rain. He nodded to her with a quiet Kupo.
Serah turned back to rain again.
“Do you guys need more help? “I don’t exactly know how much either of us could help with, but I know what it’s like when a town has something like that happen...” This whole situation almost reminded her about the start of her journey with Noel. He had come to find her while that meteor had hit New Bodhum… he was out of place there…. Was she in the same kind of situation? Was she supposed to be doing something? Noel had at least had Lightning’s direction. Serah had absolutely nothing to go on exept for what she thought was right.
I wish Lightning was here… She always seems to know what to do. Serah thought.

[oncefognowrain]

In the moment Serahfarron had her moment of inspiration, Rain was drawing a blank. The girl was showing her... something? A trinket? Toy? Picture? Rain doubted it was a picture, but could not figure out how else the girl could have demonstrated what her home world looked like. All Rain could see was the blurred outline of her hands, and something glinting in the light. But Rain just nodded and smiled, humoring the girl. "I see." It probably was not that important.

Rain watched the girl, waiting for her reaction. She was tempted to Read the girl a little bit, but decided against it. She did not want her to start feeling uneasy right away. In the quiet moment, Rain wondered vaguely if there were a lot of people out here with pink hair. So Mani was not the only one.

Mani... she wondered how the girl was doing. She must have heard about me by now. She's probably horrified.

But the pink-haired girl actually sitting across the table brought her back to the present, and Rain was admittedly a little surprised. The girl was a little bit like Mani. Always wanting to help. Although, Serahfarron wasn't quite as shy as the younger girl. She smiled a little, repeating the same answer she had been given when she asked if the citizens needed help.

"You kidding? Those guys need all the help they can get." She stood from the chair. "I guess I'll have to show you first, though. The others would probably direct you better."

She did not move right away, frowning in worry as a thought struck her. This girl probably did not have any munny with her. And the damage had taken down a lot of houses. People had already started arguing over room and sleeping quarters. But where was Serah going to go? Rain looked at her in contemplation. The girl sounded pretty nice. And if she was cute, people would be nicer to her... The Rain got an idea as she looked at her hair. It was a long shot, but maybe...

"Say... are you good at acting, by any chance? We'd probably have a better chance of finding you a place to stay if we told them you were Lightning's sister or something. Oh, she was one of the fighters that helped defeat the monster," she explained quickly. "You have the same hair."

[Serah Farron]

“Well we’d be glad to help then!” Serah followed Rain and stood up as well. At least this would give her something to do, and give her time to figure out what she was doing here. More people meant more possible answers.
Serah nodded to Rain, and her saying that the others would be better at direction.
“Well I don’t know know my way around here… so I’ll take any direction I can get!” Serah moved herself away from the table. She had expected to start walking on again… but Rain spoke to her again, with probably the last thing that she would have ever expected.

For a second Serah wasn’t quite sure how she was going to even react. She just stood there, wide-eyed and almost frozen in place. This girl wanted her to pretend She was Lightning’s sister? Well Serah was about to be one hell of an “actress”

“Y-you-you know Lightning!?” Serah almost yelled. She couldn’t help it. There wasn’t even a doubt in Serah’s mind that Rain was talking about her sister. That name, for one, uncommon. And She was a fighter and “had the same hair”.
Serah covered her mouth with her hand as her breath became a little shaky. She was honestly trying her best to stay calm, but Lightning was the one person… Serah would give up anything to see again… and it looked to her as if this might be her chance.
“Rain I don’t have to act.” Serah managed to respond moments later when she calmed down slightly. Lightning is my older sister.” She paused again, glancing at Mog, who seemed just about as shocked to hear Lightning mentioned as Serah was.
“Please, if you know where she is, tell me… We got separated a long time ago, and I’ve been looking everywhere for her.” Serah closed her eyes tightly for a moment, trying her best not to just let herself cry.
Forget her other theories. This had to be why she came back. If Lightning was still around… and even here, then there was all the reason Serah needed.
Serah looked back very hopefully at Rain.

[oncefognowrain]

Rain jumped. She blinked. that was... a response she had not intended. Maybe a "who's Lightning" or "why on earth would you want me to do that"? But not the sheer excited exclamation of surprise that Serahfarron had displayed. Rain did not need to look into her eyes to feel her excitement. Any normal person might have just taken that as proof right on the spot, but Rain had been blessed with the experience of a trickster in a case like this.

"Wow." she said in awe. "You're really good. Do you act for a living?"

And she meant it as a response too. But that changed once the girl started speaking. Wait, she... wasn't acting? She was Lightning's sister? Dear heavens, she was on the right track the first time she saw her!

"You're kidding." she breathed in awe. She brought her hand up quickly to her mouth, her heart fluttering in a sudden excitement, as she looked away, her mind whirring. Lightning's sister? Lightning's sister? No way! This was great! She could ask her, and maybe get her to meet-

“Please, if you know where she is, tell me…"

Rain stopped, her little flutter of excitement extinguishing almost as quickly as it came. She looked back at Serah, her brown eyes blinking almost unseeing at her. She was looking for her sister. She obviously loved her and cared about her more than anything. Here in Traverse Town. It made sense. She followed her here to this town, and now-

-Now she had just missed her.

Rain's throat constricted, and a wave of guilt threatened to overwhelm her. The brunette was looking right at Serah, she did not mean to make eye contact, but the girl was practically radiating desperation, all but forcing it onto Rain. She couldn't meet her eyes. She looked away quickly, hating herself, despising herself for saying anything at all. Because she had gotten her hopes up. And now she would have to bring them down again.

"I... I'm sorry..."

Because she knew that pain, of holding someone so dear to her heart and wanting nothing more than a reunion.

"After the fight, she... she left. All the fighters did. I don't know if... if she's even still here."

Rain said "if" to lessen the blow, but truthfully, she doubted it, and was not one to get her hopes up. She could have left this world already. Rain had long ago figured she had. She felt tears prick her eyes, the bitter lost memories and empathy making this a lot harder than it might normally have been for anyone else.

"If I knew where she was, I'd tell you, but I..." She sighed and hung her head hopelessly, her voice lowering to barely a whisper. "I'm sorry."

She couldn't bring herself to say "sorry, but you'll be better off looking else where". She couldn't even say "don't lose hope yet, we'll find her"! Because Rain did not want to be responsible for that wave of disappointment too. Because there was nothing else she could do.

[lightning]

It hadn't been long since she had visited this world.. A week, maybe? Tops? Honestly, she hadn't gotten use to time flowing again with her. She was still synced with looking at time as a whole and simply visiting points in the timeline. So getting use to living life as it was definitely took some getting use to....

Gloved hands pushed open the oversized doors that led into Traverse Town and into the square stepped a young woman, garbed in shining silver plated armor and a waterfall of snow white feathers attached to her hip. Light pink hair tossed over one shoulder and icy blue eyes fierce with determination.. She was a hard person to miss. Several locals rushed over to thank the armored warrior for her previous assistance, but she simply nodded and waved them off. She wasn't here for fun. Nor was she here for praise. She didn't do it for the fame and glory. She had done her job and that was that.

And she was simply here to make her rounds. To make sure the peace was still established and that no more ruckus had bothered this small town. So far, things seemed.. rather calm. People were busily going from district to district.. Probably to help fix the damage caused by the fight. But other than that, things seemed rather normal and quiet. No massive monsters hailing from the sky declaring death to the entire area. And no Strife foolishly launching himself into harm's way.

She continued to walk through, a small glimpse of pink catching her eye. From the back the style seemed... familiar... No. It couldn't be.. Serah... She had died.. and it had been all her fault.. And now her mind was playing horrible tricks on her eyes. She knew better than to trust everything she saw. She'd only hurt herself more by walking over, hope high, only to discover that it wasn't her sister... No. That it was some stranger she had never met. Why bring such pain upon yourself...

"Tch..." She scoffed lightly as she continued her stride up the steps to continue her patrol, doing her best to forget the girl she had thought she had seen. The best she could do was carry on with her life. And to atone for the past mistakes she had made that had cost Serah her life.