Your first battle is a standard fare tutorial battle. You will first be asked if you want to take the Active Time Battle Tutorial. If you’re a FFXIII vet, or just tend to catch on to turn-based battle systems quickly, then it’s probably best to skip this. In fact, there’s no reason to not skip this tutorial, unless you’re a total noob or video game derp.
The Auto-battle command is more than sufficient for the whole thing. The AI knows exactly when to attack using Snipe or Lightning Strike, and when to heal with Ullr’s Shield (which fully restores your HP and bestows Protect and Shell). When Chaos Bahamut’s HP reaches the halfway point, there will be another brief cutscene, but this doesn’t affect the battle. Just keep on pressing X!
After the battle, some more cutscenes will roll, and soon you’re introduced to your first Cinematic Action segment. The most important thing to do during Cinematic Action is PAY ATTENTION! (So if you’re reading this, and your screen says “Cinematic Action” in the top left corner, either STOP READING or PAUSE!!)
You will be given button command prompts which are timed. The gray meter encircling the command tells you how much time you have to input the command. There are also some that require you to tap the requested button repeatedly, filling a multicolored meter encircling the command. Every time you successfully input a command in time, you will see an onscreen message saying “Success!”, and when you fail, a message saying “Fail!” Sometimes, as you will see here, there will be two different commands to choose from, and you can only choose one. This is an echo of another game mechanic called a Live Trigger, which will be introduced later, after the prologue concludes. Completing Cinematic Action sequences successfully will often get you a reward (though this time is an exception).
After yet more cutscenes, you will fight Chaos Bahamut again – this time airborne!
Chaos Bahamut (Airborne)
Whoa! Who knew Odin could fly, right? But I digress.This is really a lot like the first battle – Bahamut’s stats haven’t even changed. Just press X repeatedly, using the Auto-Battle command. AI will handle offense with Focused Bolts and Graviton Mines, and defense and restoration with War’s Benediction, which is for all intents and purposes, the airborne equivalent of Ullr’s Shield.When Chaos Bahamut’s HP is at about three quarters, there will be another brief interlude, again with no especial consequence to the battle.At the end of this battle, you should get a Battle Rating. Whether you’ve chosen to play the game in Normal or Easy mode, you should get five stars for this simple battle.
Autosave: FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 will automatically save your progress.
During autosave, an icon will appear in the top left corner, and the HDD access indicator will blink.
You can also save your game manually. Press Start to open the Pause menu and select Save. (You cannot save at points in the game when this option is not displayed.)
Do not turn off the power while the save icon is being displayed.
Lighting: That time was lost; yet time continued onward. Divine Etro. Go peacefully to your rest. I will stand guard over your legacy.
(We see Lightning, in armor, kneeling and praying before a crystal throne, white feathers falling all around. She gets up, turns. We next see her looking out on the realm from a high balcony of a castle.)
Lightning: This endless realm is awash with sadness. Life and death lose all meaning under the rolling waves of chaos. Valhalla. The currents of time do not touch its shores.
(We see a brief glimpse of a young brunette man floating, unconscious, through a strange mechanical, golden tunnel.)
Lightning: In this world of lost moments, I begin my life anew.
(Outside the castle where Lightning is, a man walks down the shore into the sea, carrying a young girl in his arms. When he carries her into the water, it becomes apparent she is dead, as she dissolves into particles of light.)
Caius: This eternity – it was never your desire. Is that not so, Yeul?
(He clenches his hand into a fist. Visions of Ragnarok and Cocoon’s fall appear, followed by the man turning, a stream of insectlike monsters suddenly flying out from the depths of the ocean. He faces Lightning and seems to lock eyes with her despite the distance.)
Caius: Warrior goddess. Now we cross swords.
(He draws a sword seeping dark matter; Lightning reaches out with one arm, and with a flourish of feathers, a gunblade appears in her hand.)
Caius: Lose yourself in battle, and rejoice!
(Shiva and Nix charge toward Caius. He grabs Nix around her neck effortlessly.)
Caius: Embrace the terror.
(Caius tosses Nix and her sister aside to see Lightning riding in with her army of monsters on Odin. He raises his sword.)
Caius: Husk of the wandering comet… I summon thee!
(A beam of light from his sword pierces the sky, and comets rain down on Valhalla. Lightning charges in across the raining debris.)
Lightning: Caius Ballad!
(Lightning deflects his attack so that it hits the massive purple glyph that he has summoned above them. It shatters like glass, breaking the spell that summons the comets. Lightning and Caius land back to back.)
Caius: Impressive.
Lightning: Save it.
(They turn to each other and clash swords. The title appears before returning to their swordfight.)
Lightning: Damn you…
Caius. Enough. Let’s end this.
(A red glow emanates from his chest.)
Lightning: That glow…!!?
Caius: Cast your shadow over all. Wings of night!
(Caius summons Chaos Bahamut, who Lightning now clashes with. He knocks her back. As she is falling, she calls for her own Eidolon.)
Lightning: Odin!
[During battle…]
Lightning: Not kidding around, huh?
[After battle…]
Lightning: What’s he up to?
(Chaos Bahamut comes out from behind a pillar with laser ready, blindsiding Lightning. Odin shields her and sets her safely on the ground before disappearing. Caius appears beside her.)
Caius: Let’s not waste time.
[If your Cinematic Action is unsuccessful…]
Caius: So weak.
Caius: The goddess made a wise choice. Powers of chaos, bend to my will!
(Caius causes the falling debris to freeze in midair.)
Caius: Keeping up?
Lightning: So you want to destroy everything?
Caius: Oblivion is the fate of all things.
Cinematic Action: □ for Attack, O for Magic
[Magic…]
Caius: Predictable.
Caius: Now it’s my turn.
Cinematic Action: □ for Melee, O for Gun
[Melee…]
Lightning: Come and die.
Caius: We shall see.
[Gun…]
Caius: Pathetic.
Cinematic Action: □ for Ruinga, O for Gravity
[Ruinga…]
Lightning: Let’s end this. You’re done!
Caius: Not today!
[Gravity…]
Lighting: We’re done here. Say goodbye!
Caius: I must thank you. In these final moments, I have met my finest opponent.
Lightning: You’re finished, Caius!
(Lightning pounds Caius into the ground, at which point his powers fail and the debris begins falling again, this time piling on him. As Lightning watches, she notices something from the glowing gate above the castle.)
Lightning: Etro’s Gate?
(The young brunette man falls from the gate.)
Lightning: Of course. The one from the vision. I know your name. Noel Kreiss.
(The man stirs as he hears his name.)
Noel: What?
(This time Lightning summons an airborne version of Odin, and flies for the falling man.)
Lightning: Quickly!
(As he begins to panic, he notices Lightning flying toward him.)
Noel: What in the…?
Lightning: (reaching out for him) I’m here!
(He too reaches out. They collide, and next we see Lightning has caught him.)
Noel: Where am I?
Lightning: Valhalla. You prayed for a miracle, and that brought you here. Or am I wrong?
Noel: How did you know?
Lightning: From Valhalla, I can see everything.
Noel: But, who are you?
Lightning: Lightning.
[During battle…]
Noel: Look out! Here it comes!
Noel: What now?
Lightning: Gonna get worse.
[After battle…]
(Lightning jumps off Odin’s back onto the castle balcony, followed by Noel.)
Noel: How do we fight him?
Lightning: This is not your battle. There’s something else I need you to do.
Noel: What?
Lightning: Bring my sister to me. Her name is Serah.
(She looks to a glowing gate a level below them.)
Lightning: You’ll need to use the portal. Your time-gazing friend should have told you how it works.
Noel: That’s a gate? But, why me?
Lightning: Because you’re the only one who can. You crossed the Void and made it to Valhalla. You can find Serah, and together you can change the future.
Noel: I can change the future?
Lightning: Yes.
(In a pop and a shower of sparkles, Lightning summons a Moogle, which floats toward Noel, then suddenly turns into a purple bow imbued with red crystal that falls bluntly into Noel’s hands.)
Lightning: A good luck charm. Give him to Serah.
Noel: You got it. I’ll track her down.
(The sky turns dark.)
Noel: What’s happening?
Caius: Enjoying your little chat?
(Caius appears in a purple cloud.)
Noel: Caius?
(Caius once again summons the giant purple glyph in the sky.)
Lightning: Get to the gate! I’m counting on you.
Noel: Okay!
(Chaos Bahamut appears.)
Lightning: Go!
(Noel jumps from the balcony.)
Lightning: Not this again!
(Lightning summons Odin.)
Lightning: Odin!
Lightning: Do it.
(He swings her around and throws her up toward the comet. She speeds toward it, shield in front of her.)
Noel: What the…?
Lightning: Serah.
Noel: Lightning!
(Noel notices the debris falling toward him.)
Noel: Gotta go.
(He jumps off the balcony and toward the glowing gate.)
Lightning: My hopes go with you, Noel Kreiss. Become an arrow through time, and speed your way to Serah. Be there for her, because… I no longer can.
