Why Final Fantasy XIII-3 Should Happen (An Open Letter to Square Enix)

(Note: I am holding off on my review of XIII-2 until the Lightning DLC that's supposed to tie up the story comes out.) (I'm not sure I'm using the open letter thing correctly. Whatever.)

Ok, so, if you read my other, personal blog (which I swear I will start updating again), and you read between the lines (and not so in between), you'll know that I have a history of (undiagnosed; come-and-go) depression. (This ties in to why XIII-3 should happen, though it's not the only reason.)

(I will keep it as vague as possible to avoid spoilers.)

The ending to XIII was great. Bittersweet because of Fang and Vanille, but great. It left it open for a XIII-2. I had (almost) no problems with XIII (aside from F/V, only a minor gameplay aspect, levelling, irritated me).

XIII-2 had the potential to give us the (really) happy ending that I personally wanted (in any way), though it wasn't necessary. It really didn't.

Here's why:

The main story (Lightning's/Serah's) wasn't truly resolved. I mean, in a way, Serah's was, but Lightning's, the whole reason Serah went on the journey that was XIII-2, was not in any way.

And then there's the Fang/Vanille aspect.
**spoiler** At the end of XIII, they sacrificed themselves to save Cocoon. While this left me sad, I was ok with it because they did it to save their new family and home. **end spoiler**
Their XIII ending had their fate beyond XIII up in the air, which is where XIII-2 could have come in. Instead, they were really only a minor side story that got no conclusion. Which leaves it open for XIII-3.

Back on why XIII-3 should happen.

XIII-2's ending...well, let's just say it left me incredibly sad/angry (not a good thing, even when I'm in a good place). I was ok with Serah (even though it made me sad); she knew what the consequences might be and went on to do what was necessary to save the world.

But Lightning's ending? That just pissed me off.

Post-XIII Lightning wouldn't have ended things the way she did. She would have kept pushing. Remember? She said: "We live to make the impossible. That is our Focus."

There are many ways that XIII-3 could resolve everything in a neat, orderly, fantastic way.

Here's what I thought:
***MINOR XIII-2 AND MYTHOLOGY SPOILERS***
Ok, so, at the end, Lightning turned herself to crystal with one wish in her heart (whatever that was, we can work with it).

Here's where I was thinking we take that: the original goddess, Mwynn, who died according to the mythology, did not die and instead hid herself away until the end of time (ie: XIII-2), comes back, sees Lightning and Noel (who, following the events of XIII-2, went out in search of Lightning, found her in crystal stasis and then turned himself to crystal) and, with the last of her strength, brings them, Fang, and Vanille, (they'll come in later) out of their crystal stasis to destroy Bhunivelze, her son, who was brought back to life by Lindzei following the end of XIII-2, as he instructed her.

Light and Noel go out in search of Fang and Vanille, finding them in what used to be Oerba, waiting for them. The four then go on to destroy the fal'Cie (known as gods by the people) Pulse, Bhunivelze's protector, Lindzei, and Bhunivelze himself, thus bringing balance back into the universe. (Obviously, there'll be conflicts, side stories, etc.)

In doing this, the quad are flung back to after Cocoon fell (after XIII-2 and XIII-3, but before the actual time happened?), Fang and Vanille along with Noel waiting for Lightning and the others to wake from their crystal stasis. The crystal pillar is still intact, though without F/V in it and Noel, having changed the future and the past, should no longer exist but does as a gift for having brought balance back (or whatever) is waiting to start his new life with the others.

The trio go to Lightning and the others' crystals and tells them to wake up. They do and they all remember what happened in XIII-2 and XIII-3. Life goes on.
***END SPOILERS***

It's good, right???

Everything resolved, balance restored, everyone happy.

Come on, Square Enix. PLEASE I am BEGGING you, PLEASE make Final Fantasy XIII-3. You can even use my story, free of charge!! (Ok, well, not free of charge, but, honestly, I'm not asking for much. I want the limited/collectors editions of the game and guide for the 360 and the soundtrack for this and XIII, I've got XIII-2. And maybe a job as a writer for you? DREAM JOB right there!!)

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton (Forever Girl series, Volume 1)

Here's my short review: GO BUY IT!

Now, for the details.

Right off, I felt this deep connection to Sophia, the main character.

Growing up gay, I know what it's like to be isolated and ostracised. You see, Sophia practices Wicca and has the unfortunate chance of living in a small town. She has to continually contend with those looks and comments from the whole town, and from one citizen in particular. Nothing like an ultra-Conservative bigot to help you learn who Sophia really is.

Sophia is confident in who she is and who she wants to be, while at the same time being completely unsure of both (due to her ostracisation from her family and townmates), which makes her a very real, very relatable person.

She is not afraid to share her views, but rarely does so to avoid being further isolated. She's the kind of person who would rather take the harrassment and slights than bring them up to stop them, which would only cause more harrassment.

Now, enough of Sophia. On to the plot!
(I'm not going to get too detailed because this is the first (and only) book in the series and to get incredibly detailed would unravel the book.)

From the beginning, you don't really know what's going to happen and that continues on throughout the whole book. This keeps you drawn in, wondering, waiting for what happens next.

We meet her mentor, friends, mother, and love interest fairly early in the book (think Night Huntress series, my review of which is pending), which leaves space for story-telling and world-building.

The world is slow to build on at first, but soon after meeting her love interest, it gains speed. From then on it alternates between story-telling and world-building, both being incredibly tied together. Sophia starts off clueless, but is then thrown into this other world. It's remarkably well-writ in it's simple complexity.

About mid-book (or maybe just past), we start learning that Sophia is not at all what she seems. She starts off as a Wicca-practicing human, slowly making the transition into Forever Girl Witch. A Forever Girl is a witch who is a reincarnation of their past lives.
(That's all I'm saying on the subject of Forever Girls. Go read it and you'll find out.)

Even though, at the beginning and throughout the book, you've no clue what's going to happen, there's a very subtle background that only just ties into the plot in the beginning and middle, but, in fact, turns out to be the plot! (I didn't see it coming at all, which is very surprising. I rarely don't see what's going to happen, even for a first reading.)

And then, at the end, when you think you know what's going to happen and what's been happening, twist!, it turns on you.

It is truly a testament to Rebecca Hamilton's (follow her on Twitter) abilities that it surprised me. I didn't even have a vague idea where it was going until I got there (which doesn't often happen), which left me with a fierce satisfaction that I didn't know where it was going.

So, to conclude right back where I started: GO BUY IT! You will not regret it at all.

(Here! I'll even put links for you!)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble