New world (Lightning Returns)

The New World is a minor location in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Mostly only referred to through the game, it is finally seen during the final cinematic. It acts as the main drive and crux of Lightning's quest, since her duty as the savior is to save the souls of the current, dying world of Nova Chrysalia and ensure their safe rebirth in the new world. It is not given any formal title beyond "new world".

Profile
Very little is known about the new world, as it is only referred to by the characters through the majority of the game and seen very briefly during the final sections of the game. When it is seen, it appears to bear multiple similarities to Earth: during the ending FMV, its continents closely mirror those of the real world, a town seen during the epilogue FMV features modern buildings, roads and cars, and a modern train is seen pulling into a modern country station. It also has a moon, and during the epilogue, a plane can be seen in the sky creating a contrail. It appears to have familiar plant life, as ordinary grass, wheat and Flanders poppies are seen growing there.

Story
The origins of the new world spring from the will of the deity Bhunivelze: he wishes to create a world free of darkness, for which reason he makes Lightning his savior, a guide for the souls of humanity, and manipulates his human devotees, the Order, to destroy the souls of the dead and free the remainder of humanity from their sorrow. Lightning specifically mentions the new world after her battle with Noel: when asked whether the world would be a paradise for gods, she replied that it would be one where humanity could decide its own fate.

After Lightning enables the souls of the dead to be freed in preparation for rebirth, Bhunivelze decides to purge them himself, destroying the new world he had crafted and begin anew with the souls Lightning has saved. He also reveals his plan to mold Lightning into a replacement for the deceased Goddess Etro, who had sustained the universal balance until her death: she rejects her assigned role and resolves to save all of humanity. After Bhunivelze is defeated, the seeress Paddra Nsu-Yeul and her guardian Caius Ballad choose to sustain the universal balance and act as guides for the souls of the dead in place of both Etro and Lightning. Lightning, along with her allies and friends, witness the creation of a universe free of deities and the power of Chaos and travel there with the souls of humanity. During the game's epilogue, Lightning, dressed in normal clothes, steps off a train, apparently on a peaceful journey to reunite with her friends.

Development
During an interview in the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega, Motomu Toriyama stated that he did not have a solid idea about what the new world should look like, and requested his design staff to draw inspiration from "anywhere in South Europe", and to have Lightning appear in ordinary clothes. When asked whether the new world and the real world were connected, he said he "wasn't sure". The original idea for the Epilogue FMV was to have Lightning be met by all her friends and allies, or to hear them via a smart phone but it was ultimately scrapped: in Toriyama's words, the story started with Lightning, so he felt it should end with her.

Music
"A New World" is the fourth track on the fourth disc of the game's soundtrack. It plays during the scene in the Luxerion cathedral when Fang and Vanille release the souls of the dead so they can be reborn. A different tune plays during the final FMV, simply titled "Epilogue", which is the last track on the fourth disc.

Trivia

 * During the epilogue FMV, a sign at the station can be seen written in French. It reads "Blanc-Château" ("White Castle").
 * The concept of a new world born when the old one dies is a recurring theme in many mythologies, including in Egypt, India, China and Shinto Japan.