Final Fantasy XIII is unique in the Final Fantasy franchise in that it follows the characters through an entire trilogy. The benefit of a trilogy is that fans get to see and experience their favorite characters as they grow and develop throughout each game, rather than saying goodbye once one game ends.
But something that Final Fantasy XIII fans don't get to experience and may not know is what happens to these characters between games. A surprising amount occurs between the first and second games, and the second and third games, respectively. This list details some of the significant experiences of the characters between games, ranging from a failed pact to a very unlikely duo.
10 Lightning's Incomplete Plans
Of the six Final Fantasy XIII playable characters, Lightning underwent the most between-game changes, having been erased between the first two games, and then revived and rendered a savior between the second and third (she is, however, the only character playable throughout all three games).
Due to a paradox created by the Goddess Etro, Lightning was dragged to Valhalla due to the presence of Chaos, and was subsequently wiped from history. Players of Final Fantasy XIII-2 know that Lightning's disappearance is Serah's motivation for her journey. However, some might not know of Lightning's plans to release Fang and Vanille. She had opted to take on this task alone, after seeing Serah and Snow happily reunite. Unfortunately, she did not get to pursue this before getting erased.
9 The Never-ending Struggles For Father & Son
A big part of Sazh's first-game development was the relationship between him and his son Dajh, who had crystallized after being unable to complete his focus. With their victory in the final battle, father and son reunited, in what would be the peak before their eventual downfall.
Sazh acquired work as an airship pilot between the first games, flying a Gran Pulse-Coccoon commuter route. Dajh joined him at work, and the pair enjoyed their time together. However, the events of the second game saw them sucked into a paradox vortex. Their luck only dwindled further between the second and third game. Dajh succumbed to a random coma, and Sazh, who had initially been aiding Hope, Snow, and Noel in protecting the populace, isolated himself out of sadness.
8 Serah's Teaching Career & Training
Serah played an unintentionally big role in the first game as incentive for Lightning and Snow to fulfill their goals. Before her own story began in the second game, Serah enjoyed some downtime while learning combat and magic alongside Snow. She participated in establishing New Bodhum and moved into the NORA House.
Inspired by Lightning's influence, Serah becomes a school teacher on Cocoon's Fall. She educates children, and teaches them how to protect and think for themselves. Her discontent with Lightning's disappearance initially inspired her to join Snow on his search, but she remained behind for her students. This occurred a year before Final Fantasy XIII-2's main plot began.
7 Snow's Adventures With... A Cactuar?
Perhaps one of the weirder occurrences between games is Snow's journey to find Lightning between the first and second games. Having built New Bodhum on Gran Pulse, Snow's previous inclinations about Lightning's disappearance change, and he goes on a quest to find her.
Snow sought aid from many of his allies, but unexpectedly found companionship in a lone Cactuar who had been abandoned by his herd. Following myriad misadventures, Snow discovered that his Cactuar accomplice was in fact a Gran Pulse Fal'Cie. With the goal to save Serah after a premonition, Snow asked his friend to make him a l'Cie. The two are last seen together protecting the pillar (where the player later finds Snow) until Cactuar gets knocked away, never seen by Snow again.
6 Why Hope Joined The Academy
When Final Fantasy XIII players began their second-game adventures, they may have noticed many characters went through minimal physical changes. The same could not be said for Hope, who had grown significantly taller and became the youngest Academy leader before the second game.
After the first game's events, Hope reunited with his father, Bartholomew, who commended Hope for his newfound maturity. His selflessness and growth contributed to his work in aiding relief efforts and his eventual decision to join the Academy. A major motivator for him was uncovering a way to save Fang and Vanille and a desire to help rebuild society.
5 Vanille's Descent Into Sainthood
Vanille's presence between the first two games was minimal, due to being in crystal stasis alongside Fang in the pillar. It wasn't until the end of Final Fantasy XIII-2 she was freed, and was then brought before the newfound Order of Salvation.
Because of Vanille's ability to hear the dead, the Order deemed her a saint, and sequestered her within Luxerion Cathedral. Riddled with guilt for the deaths she caused, Vanille complied with the Order's requests. She remained loyal to them for years in preparation of the Soulsong. Despite knowing the ritual's consequences, Vanille continued her duties, waiting to atone for her actions.
4 Fang Vs. The Order
Like Vanille, Fang spent the time between the first games in crystal stasis. She did not experience much until being released from stasis before Lightning Returns
Unlike Vanille, who felt obligated to support the Order, Fang was skeptical of the Order's fixation with Vanille's ability. After uncovering the truth of the Soulsong, Fang abandoned the Order and fell into leadership over thieves known as the Monoculus. To stop the Soulsong, Fang began searching for the holy clavis, which the Order needed for the ritual. Players later join Fang and Lightning to finally complete her search.
3 Snow, Hope, Noel, and Sazh's Pact
Following Final Fantasy XIII-2's conclusion and Serah's death, Chaos was unleashed onto the world and everything was thrust into disarray. Humans gained immortality, and the mortal and unseen realms merged. Snow, Hope, and Noel forged a pact to protect the people and save their world. Sazh was initially part of this pact, but rescinded his duties after Dajh's sudden coma.
Hope stood as a beacon, while Snow worked to support monster elimination. After Hope's disappearance and the subsequent decline of faith and increase in the Order's influence, Snow became the Patron of Yusnaan to deter the Order from becoming too powerful. While Noel had initially opted to help people, he lost contact with Snow after Hope's disappearance and opposed Snow's patronage, thus ending the pact.
2 Noel The Shadow Hunter
Noel was unable to forgive himself for Serah's death. He was further burdened because Snow never blamed him for being unable to protect her. While initially dedicated to helping after Chaos' arrival, Noel's suspicions of the Order of Salvation took him down a new path.
With the epithet "Shadow Hunter", Noel became known as a vigilante and major opposer of the Order. Consumed with guilt, he sought solace for his sins and fought back against the Order, unintentionally becoming a figurehead for the Children of Etros.
1 Bhunivelze's Influence & The Beacon Of Hope
Hope was a major player in keeping people motivated during the Chaotic Era. With his self-appointed mission to support life in the dying world, he worked alongside his companions to preserve peace. After years of attempting to solve mankind's issues, Hope suddenly disappeared, causing many to turn to the Order.
In truth, Bhunivelze, the god responsible for the Fal'Cie and a villain with endless power, had tricked Hope into being trapped within the Ark (the central hub for Lightning Returns). For years Bhunivelze tortured Hope, molding him into the perfect image of innocence. To accomplish this, Bhunivelze aged Hope backwards before the start of the third game. This was all in an attempt to understand human emotions.