"Ragnarok the beast shall bring down Cocoon. After the War of Transgression, two girls from the far north shall come to Cocoon, the nest of Lindzei, and transform into the beast that destroys it. Until the end of time, this day shall be known as the Day of Ragnarok."

—Sword of Lachesis Fragment

Catastrophe (カタストロフィ, Katasutorofi^?), also known as the Day of Ragnarok (ラグナロクの日, Ragunaroku no Hi^?) from 0 AF onwards, is an important event at the end of Final Fantasy XIII, and is a key event in its sequel, Final Fantasy XIII-2.

DatalogEdit

See also: Datalog/Society.

Three years ago, mankind stared into the face of extinction when Cocoon almost crashed onto the surface of Pulse.

The sphere's fall was halted by Lightning's companions, Fang and Vanille. Their desperate sacrifice summoned a massive pillar that cradled the plummeting Cocoon in its crystalline branches, averting an unimaginable disaster. The two l'Cie now sleep within the pillar in crystal form, and there are some who believe Lightning slumbers alongside them.

A new age began from that day forth, with each subsequent year marked by the letters AF, or 'After the Fall.'

StoryEdit

Final Fantasy XIIIEdit

When Lightning, Sazh Katzroy, Snow Villiers, Hope Estheim, Oerba Dia Vanille and Oerba Yun Fang defeat Orphan in its true form, Eden loses its power source and the Cocoon fal'Cie shut down. Cocoon begins to descend but Vanille and Fang become Ragnarok to prevent Cocoon from crashing onto Pulse, encasing the sphere in crystal and forming a crystal pillar between it and Gran Pulse.

Their action, technically fulfilling their Focus, crystallizes the pair within the pillar's core while the others are crystallized on the Archylte Steppe. As revealed in Final Fantasy XIII-2, goddess Etro bore witness to the Catastrophe and took pity on Lightning's group, restoring not only them but her sister Serah Farron and Sazh's son Dajh Katzroy as well. After giving her blessing to Serah and Snow's marriage, Lightning was the first of many to suffer the consequences of Etro's intervention.

Final Fantasy XIII-2Edit

As Etro released the l'Cie from crystal stasis chaos from Valhalla flooded into Gran Pulse. Sucked into the Unseen Realm with most of the chaos, the rest seeping in the land's soil, Lightning was removed from that point in time. All but Serah believe Lightning to have died or sacrificed herself alongside Fang and Vanille. The event caused a time disturbance that claimed the life of Paddra Nsu-Yeul and her various incarnations, causing her protector Caius Ballad to embark on a quest to destroy both Etro and reality itself. As for Fang and Vanille, they continued their role as Cocoon's pillar for 500 years until being safely removed prior to the structure's destruction due to erosion of the pillar's crystal over the centuries.

Another side effect of Etro's intervention caused two hours to disappear from the length of a day, reducing it from a twenty-six hour day to a twenty-four hour day.^[1]

ReferencesEdit