Hope Estheim

Hope Estheim is a playable character in Final Fantasy XIII. He is the son of Nora and Bartholomew Estheim, who works for the Sanctum. In the beginning of the game, he loses his mother in the Hanging Edge during the Purge. He blames Snow Villiers for her death and seeks revenge.

Appearance and Personality
Hope's outfit consists of a short-sleeved, waist-length orange and yellow coat, a detailed green scarf over a low-cut black shirt, black gloves with white palms though the thumbs remain black (the left glove has a yellow wristband over it). He also wears deep green pants with long threads hanging from the back that stop just below his knees, a black storage pack on his left leg hanging from a black belt, and light green shoes with straps and black laces. His l'Cie brand is on his left wrist, mostly covered by his wristband. He has distinctively layered silver hair (comparable to that of Tidus from Final Fantasy X) along with blue-green eyes, and of all the playable characters, he is the shortest and the youngest. In Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero: Promise, when Lightning sees Hope and his mother shopping, she says that Hope's face resembles that of his mother's. Hope also takes after Nora with his eyes and lightly colored hair.

Hope starts off as a sensitive and insecure child, afraid of war and confrontation. When Snow attempts to hand him a gun in the Hanging Edge, Hope crawls back shaking his head in fright. On the other hand, he has a strong resentment towards Snow for the part he played in the death of his mother. Since Snow got her involved in the fight and could not save her (despite his efforts to do so), Hope holds a deep grudge against him. On multiple occasions, he wants to confront Snow about his mother's demise, but he is so grief-stricken that he is never able to form the words that he wants to say. He has a warm side to him as well as a sense of humor, which is briefly seen when he is with Nora in Bodhum, and again late in the game. Hope has always confided in his mother and relied on her for protection, due to having a distant relationship with his father ever since reaching adolescence.

After his mother dies, he starts looking to Vanille for comfort and support, possibly in response to her kindness towards him, despite not knowing her at the time. This is shown when he wants to follow Snow and takes hold of Vanille's arm, indicating that he wishes for her to come with him. When PSICOM attacks the Pulse fal'Cie, Hope grabs Vanille's hand and hides behind her out of fear. Though he is initially dependent on Vanille's friendship, Hope sometimes becomes agitated by her disposition, which often appears to be at odds with the severity of the current situation. Hope's speech is usually reserved, but at times, he tends to let his temper get the best of him, particularly when people make remarks that touch on sensitive issues, something which Snow unwittingly does many times. Another example is in Lake Bresha, when Hope is angry about being dragged into the whole situation because of everyone else's actions. Being an inexperienced fighter compared to the rest of the group, Hope displays fear of the dangers he faces. As the game proceeds, Hope eventually separates from Vanille and becomes more dependent on Lightning for guidance. At the beginning, Hope also relies on Lightning for protection, but soon decides to take the lead on his own and show bravery in order to prevent her from leaving him, after she does so on one occasion and threatens to do so a second time. Whenever Hope has moments of confusion and doubt, he turns to Lightning for answers whether or not she has any. He eventually comes to confide in Lightning as well, especially with his plans for Snow. He tries to follow her example as a former soldier in order to gain experience in battle and survive in the world. Ultimately, Hope matures into a brave young man, partly due to his time under Lightning's tutelage.

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero: Promise
Hope and his mother Nora are in front of a pet shop in the shopping mall. They are looking at something in a transportation container. Hope asks Nora if she likes it and she asks him: "What? But you used to like these too. You’d always stand in front of the store crying, saying ‘I want one, I want one!’" Hope asks her when he used to do that, and she tells him about ten years ago, when he was only four. The pet store owner takes a small bird out of the container and places it into a cage. The bird happens to be a chocobo chick. The owner tells Hope and Nora that chocobos are good with kids, and can become attached to their owners. Then he asks them if they want to buy one, but Nora says that they cannot since they are on vacation, and they would not be able to carry the chick all the way back to Palumpolum. Hope and his mother leave the shop and walk off in a crowd of people. Four days later in the evening, while Hope and Nora stay at a hotel in Bodhum, the phone rings and Hope knows that his father is calling. By the lowered tone in his mother's voice, Hope knows that his dad would not be able to make it because of being called to work. Hope had not been looking forward to the vacation but since his father wouldn't be able to come, he felt a bit relieved. His dad kept breaking his promises for the sake of his work, so the very idea of being with his father upsets Hope. Nora tries to sound happier but Hope does not want her to try so hard. He knows that she would always make excuses for her husband and defend him. Then she tells Hope that they are going to Euride Gorge tomorrow since the fal'Cie Eden declared it safe after the incident three days ago. Nora says that the accident is the reason for Hope's father being busy, and that he will make it to see the fireworks display. After reaching Euride the next day, Hope notices that the plaza was closed off and there are more soldiers than there are tourists. Hope realizes that they are from PSICOM after remembering a picture that his old friend Kai showed him. Hope had not seen Kai in three years because the latter moved away due to his parent's job. They kept in contact through letters and phone calls but slowly grew distant. Some children run past Hope and he figures that they must be on a field trip. One of the children, a young girl, mentions the Sunleth Waterscape. Hope thinks to himself that the only times civilians are allowed to enter there on observational field trips. Nora asks Hope what is wrong and he tells her about the kids talking about Sunleth. She remembers that his school got the chance to go there five years ago, although Hope corrects her by saying six years ago. He remembers his old friends Kai and Elida, and the adventure that he had with them on their own trip to Sunleth.

Hope also remembers the words that the memory brought up: "No matter how small the promise you shouldn’t break it." To Hope, his father, the very man who taught him this had forgotten it. His father no longer keeps the promises he makes to him and his mother, all he cares about now is work. He no longer listens to Hope or Nora anymore either. Hope can only remember how his dad brushed him aside the last time that he started a conversation with him, a conversation that Hope can no longer remember. However, Nora's words about the fal'Cie Kujata bring him back into reality. They had just seen Kujata and are now heading back to the energy plant's entrance. Nora asks Hope if he got to see the fal'Cie in Sunleth but Hope says that he didn't because he had gotten a fever. Then he recounts how he once wanted to be like his father when he was younger, but now that his father had become the type of person that he does not want to become, Hope does not want to be like him anymore. He doesn't want to turn into someone who will ignore those close to him and forget the smallest promises. Then Nora tells Hope that some people passing by talked about a boy who got hurt during the accident, and says that she hopes that he doesn't die. To himself, Hope thinks that whenever a family member dies, it is painful for those left behind. Nora suddenly asks Hope if he is mad at his father. He answers "Not really", his mother tells him that his dad is not good at those sorts of things, but he is still trying and smiles at him. Hope thinks that he should try talking to his dad during the fireworks festival, although his dad probably will not talk much, it won't matter if he could see his mother smile. After seeing many PSICOM soldiers around, a strange feeling crawls up Hope's leg. To ease his pain, Nora says that they should go back to Bodhum. Hope thinks that when he gets back home, he could tell Kai about Euride and Elida about the upcoming fireworks display.

On the night of the fireworks festival three days later, Nora makes a wish and asks Hope if he is also making one, he asks her if she still believes in wishing on fireworks and says that it's for little kids. Nora puts her arm around him and asks him who he is calling a kid. He says that he is calling her one, then asks her what she wished for. As Nora pats Hope's shoulder, she says that she wished for his father to be able to come with them next year. After hearing this, Hope pulls away from her and says that it is better with just her, and that they don't need his dad to be there. The same night, PSICOM discovered the Pulse fal'Cie slumbering within the Bodhum Vestige. The following day, the Sanctum announced the discovery, and sealed off the entire district of Bodhum. Trapped by the quarantine and unable to return home, Hope and Nora were forced to join the other victims of the Purge. The next day, while waiting on line inside Bodhum Station, Nora tells the PSICOM troops that she and Hope are from Palumpolum and begs with them to let Hope go home, even if it means that she has to stay behind. After some time, Nora is bumped into from behind by Vanille. Nora helps her up and asks if she is alright. Vanille nods that she is, much to Nora's relief. Then Nora asks Vanille if she is from Bodhum. Vanille answers no and Nora tells her that she and her son are not from Bodhum either but Palumpolum. She asks Vanille where she came from, but Vanille only says that she came from far away. Nora does not ask anymore questions in order to look after Hope, who is shaking and will not look up.

Hanging Edge
They are among the group saved by Snow Villiers and NORA at the Hanging Edge. When Nora volunteers to fight with Snow, Hope calls out to her. She tells him not to worry and leaves, while Hope wants to stop her but cannot bring himself to do it. When Snow tells someone to take the last gun, Hope crawls back frightened, saying that he can't do it before Vanille takes it in his place. As Nora and the rest of the volunteers are leaving, Hope watches her until Lebreau pulls him off the ground, after which Hope continues to watch his mother leave him behind. Nora loses her life after saving Snow from a cannon blast and then falling off the destroyed motorway as Hope watches from afar screaming alongside Vanille. Frozen from the shock of watching his mother fall to her death, Hope is slapped by Vanille, who tells him to snap out of it and go with her to a safer place. Later, Hope removes his Purge attire as the Palamecia passes carrying the Pulse fal'Cie. He watches a young boy being comforted by his mother, which causes Hope to think about his own. After Vanille removes her Purge robe, Hope turns around and looks at her. She catches Hope doing so, smiles at him and hands him a gun.

Confused, Hope looks at it for a second but drops it when Vanille approaches and hugs him. She asks him if everything going on is too much, tells him to face it later, playfully waves good-bye to him and leaves. Although confused by her cheerful nature, Hope nervously decides to follow her. They find Snow surrounded by the other members of NORA as he is about to go to the Pulse Vestige. Vanille encourages him to follow Snow into the Pulse fal'Cie to let out his repressed anguish, so she asks Hope if he has something to tell Snow. Hope answers yes but hesitates, then Vanille says that she will go with him. She shoves him to make him go, but Hope still hesitates. After Snow leaves, Hope's grudge intensifies when he learns Snow's group bore the same name as his mother. As Vanille checks out Gadot's vehicle, Hope approaches her, says "I wanna tell him, it's just that...", and softly grabs her arm. When Vanille asks him if he knows how to fly the vehicle, he tells her maybe, and she pushes him onto it. She gets on behind him and points towards the Pulse fal'Cie. After Vanille puts her arms around his waist, Hope begins to reconsider as he does not want to be made into a l'Cie, but Vanille reassures him. Then Gadot tries to stop them, but they take off and ride to the fal'Cie.

Pulse Vestige
After they crash-land inside the fal'Cie, Hope slightly regrets going due to the fear of becoming a l'Cie. After coming across Snow's broken aircycle, Hope asks himself what is wrong with Vanille, and asks her not to go looking for trouble. When he asks Vanille if she is scared and she says, "Not so much.", Hope tells her that she does not get it. After she explains the situation to show Hope that she does understand, he tells her that if soldiers find them there they will be Purged. Vanille asks Hope what his problem is, and he yells at her saying that Pulse is hell on Earth. Vanille hugs him again, telling him to calm down but Hope pushes her away and tells her to get off of him. Later they hear Snow's voice and Hope says, "He is here. Calling himself a hero..." Vanille says that he is coming their way. Hope asks her what he should do since telling him about his mother's death will not change anything, and Vanille tells him they can always just run away. Soon Hope and Vanille are surrounded by Cie'th until Snow arrives to help them. After Snow tells them that he is rescuing Serah, a Pulse l'Cie, Hope yells at him for trying to save a Pulse l'Cie since they are the enemy and calls him insane for wanting to help one when he could not help his mother. When Vanille asks Hope if they should wait for Snow, he yells "I'd rather go to Pulse!" Hope kneels on the ground confused as to why all of this is happening to him, since he and his mother were only visiting Bodhum when PSICOM found the fal'Cie in the Vestige and forced them onto the Purge train despite; on top of all that, his mother is now dead thanks to Snow, and now he also wants to help a l'Cie. After Snow returns, Vanille encourages Hope to go with him in order to tell Snow what he needs to, otherwise he will regret it forever. As Hope, Snow, and Vanille find Lightning and Sazh with Serah, he and Vanille witness Serah's crystallization. When PSICOM begins attacking the fal'Cie, Hope grabs Vanille's hand in fright saying that they will be killed if they stay there. Then the doors to Anima's Throne open, causing Hope to hide behind Vanille while clinging to her arm. After everyone enters the chamber containing Anima and Lightning actives it, Hope runs away to escape but gets blocked off and ends up becoming a l'Cie.

Lake Bresha
After the party awake in Lake Bresha and learn they've become l'Cie, Hope kneels on the ground, yells at everyone except Vanille for attacking the fal'Cie and tells them to leave him alone. Once again, he can not find the words to face Snow about his mother, so he yells at Snow for the whole situation being his and Serah's fault. Snow tells him to watch it and Hope crawls back to Lightning's feet. He looks up at her angry expression, backs off and holds his head in fright, until Vanille assures him that everything will be fine and walks off with him. Later, when everyone tries to figure out what their Focus is, Lightning asks Hope if he saw anything from the vision. Hope says that he saw a towering figure which causes Lightning and Snow to recognize it as being Ragnarok. Hope asks what they are supposed to do and Vanille answers that it is up to them. Snow runs off to find Serah with Vanille and Sazh following, Hope takes a few steps and turns to look at Lightning before going after the others though he takes one more look at her while leaving. Later, they are ambushed by a PSICOM squad and Hope rushes to hide behind Sazh. When Sazh thinks whether or not deciding to attack the Pulse fal'Cie, Hope is a distance ahead with Vanille. She begins waving her arm to get their attention; she then takes Hope's wrist and begins waving it as well. Soon afterward, when the party decides to leave Snow behind with Serah, Hope starts to leave after Vanille but stops to talk to Snow. He tells Hope to not get left behind, that Lightning will look after him, and that they will meet again. Before leaving, Hope tells Snow to count on it. Later, Vanille tells Hope to say something to Snow or else he will never get past it. He sullenly says to her, "Words won't change anything. But next time we meet, he'll learn exactly how I feel." A while after leaving Snow behind, Hope and the others learn that PSICOM is looking for survivors of the Purge. After Sazh talks about the Sanctum fearing Pulse, Hope says l'Cie aren't human, causing Vanille to scold him, grab his arm and see his brand. As the party continues forward, they find ancient ruins containing an airship and use it to escape but it gets damaged and crashes down towards the Vile Peaks.

Vile Peaks
After Lightning leaves Vanille and Sazh Katzroy, Hope shyly walks up to Sazh and Vanille then looks in the direction that Lightning went. Sazh tells him that he would be better off with her. Hope tells them, "Later then," and goes off after Lightning. When he catches up with Lightning, Hope asks her if they should wait Sazh and Vanille but Lightning says that they will eventually catch up. After Lightning and Hope stop at what seems to be a dead end, he asks her if she knows where she is going. She tells him that she had been there before on missions, and Hope asks if they were anything like the Purge. When he asks Lightning why she was a part of the Purge, she reveals to him that she got involved with the Purge by quitting the military in order to save Serah. Hope tells her that she was brave in giving up everything for Serah and how he could never do that. Lightning says that it was not a question of can or cannot, because it was something that she had to do. Then after Hope tells her that it was easier for someone like her to say, Lightning scales a wall leaving him behind, Hope feels devastated for her abandoning him like that and sinks into despair. When Sazh and Vanille find him, Sazh asks where Lightning is. Hope nods upward towards the large wall behind him. Sazh jokes about him not keeping up, places his hand on Hope's shoulder, causing the latter to quickly get up feeling agitated. He tells them that it is over for him since he cannot keep up with Lightning or get home. Vanille tells him that it's not over and they will get him home. Hope tells her that he no longer has a home now that his mother is gone. After she asks Hope about his dad, he remembers the night of the fireworks festival in Bodhum with his mother, he reveals how he and his mother were forced onto the Purge train, that his mother was frantic and fought in order to return home. He also says that she is now dead because Snow tricked and used her. When Vanille tells him that his dad would be worried, Hope says that his dad does not care about him. After they find remains of a Pulse ship, Hope tells Vanille that the Pulse fal'Cie could have brought it up from Pulse, though Sazh and Vanille do not think so. Afterward, Lightning returns and continues forward. Later after she resolves to go to Eden and destroy its fal'Cie whether or not Snow gets in her way, Hope joins her as he shares Lightning's hatred for Snow and sees it as an opportunity for him to grow stronger.

When he catches up with Lightning again, Hope tells her that he is going with her but Lightning refuses. After Hope tries to convince her, a PSICOM unit attacks, setting off an explosion behind them therefore separating them from Vanille and Sazh for good. They plan to go through the Gapra Whitewood to Palumpolum, and board a train to Eden. Hope tells Lightning that he lives in Palumpolum and can show her some shortcuts. Lightning tells him not to take any side trips, but Hope assures her that he will not since a l'Cie would not be welcome home. They encounter PSICOM troops and a Dreadnought. Hope examines the Dreadnought to see if it will be of any use. Lightning tells him not to touch it but he does not listen. He uses it to wipe out a few PSICOM units ahead before crashing it. Lightning catches up with him and says that they have to move. Hope says that he feels a little winded from before, but Lightning tells him that he is too soft and they continue on. A while later, when Hope trips on a pipe due to exhaustion, Lightning tells him that he is just getting in her way, slowing her down, and her brand begins to glow. Hope yells at her and demands that she takes him with her. After shouting at Hope to get stronger on his own, Lightning summons Odin for the first time, he prepares to attack Hope, but after Lightning saves him, Hope helps her tame Odin. Lightning kneels in pain and Hope runs around to check on her. He notices that her brand looks different and asks her if they just fought an Eidolon. After Lightning's brand stops glowing, Hope asks her if he was really getting in her way and promises to try harder. She apologizes for the things she said to him prior to summoning Odin, and decides to help toughen him up. After they defeat another PSICOM unit, Hope rests while Lightning checks the area. When she returns, she finds Hope fast asleep. While sleeping, Hope mutters "Mom?" with Lightning telling him "Not by a long shot."

Gapra Whitewood
Afterward, Hope is seen with Lightning about to enter the Gapra Whitewood, asking her to let him take the lead. Lightning asks him if he can handle it but Hope says "It's not a question of can or can't." Lightning smiles at him and gives him the nod to go ahead, telling him to look forward and that she will guard his back. After some time, Lightning asks Hope if he is scared. Afraid that Lightning will decide to leave him again if he shows any fear, he tells her that he is ready to fight when he has to. Then Lightning lets Hope borrow a knife that she received as a birthday present to keep him safe. Then he tells Lightning that he is glad that he had followed her, since he would not have stood a chance alone. Later, Hope hears air vehicles coming their way. He says that they have to hide, grabs Lightning by her wrist, and pulls her out of sight. They see the soldiers pass and Hope says that it appears as though they were not looking for him and Lightning. She says it is due to PSICOM not wanting their failure to be publicized. Then he later asks Lightning about NORA's name, which she explains the acronym's humorous origins and says that living without rules must be fun to them. Angered by the explanation, Hope says that it is irresponsible and walks on. Hope later reveals to Lightning his belief of his mother's death being Snow's fault. He tells Lightning that he followed her in order to get stronger at all costs, so that he will soon be ready to face Snow. He also tells Lightning that Snow dragged him, her, and Serah into that nightmare, so he is not letting Snow get away with it. After Lightning cuts through an obstruction with her Saber, Hope asks if he could use a weapon like it but Lightning tells that it would be too heavy for him. He takes out Lightning's knife and looks at it intently, unknowingly causing Lightning to recall the memory of her birthday. When Hope and Lightning later come across some dead soldiers on the Bioweapons Maintenance level, Hope tries to see if they are alright but Lightning pulls him away to the ground. After Lightning tells him to form a strategy to help him survive, Hope creates Operation Nora in honor of his mother. When Lightning asks him if it is his revenge, Hope answers yes and says he understands that getting revenge against Snow will not bring his mother back, but a simple apology from him will not be enough to make up for it. After she tells him that his mother's death was truly the Sanctum's fault, Hope asks Lightning who's side she is on. When Lightning tells him the side of truth, Hope decides that if that is really the case, he will help her take down the Sanctum as well and learn to survive. After defeating an Aster Protoflorian and exiting the Gapra Whitewood, they see Palumpolum on the coast in the distance. Lightning suggest that they stop by his house, but Hope objects since only his father is there. Lightning tells him that he needs to let his father know what happened to his mother.

Palumpolum
In Palumpolum, Hope says to Lightning that if the train does not go to Eden they will make it move. Lightning tells him that he is now thinking like a Pulse l'Cie. Hope reminds her that Operation Nora is still in effect, and that the Sanctum has to pay for his mother's death as well as Snow. After seeing her irritated expression, he grabs her wrist reminding her she was the one who said that they had to fight, and they are tempting fate with every minute they waste. Hope shows Lightning a path through abandoned drain pipes he used to play in as a kid that will help them sneak past the PSICOM soldiers patrolling the area. While underground in the Nutriculture Complex, Hope shows Lightning the fal'Cie Carbuncle, which provides Cocoon with its food supply. He asks Lightning if they should attack it since it is a Sanctum fal'Cie. Lightning says that cutting of the food supply will make them "popular," but Hope reconsiders since people already hate them enough as it is. Then he suggest that they use the fal'Cie as a sort of landmark, and try to reach it at the center. Later, he tells Lightning that it was strange using a Sanctum fal'Cie to tell them where they were going. After she says that it's not that strange since they have depended on the fal'Cie their whole lives, Hope tells her that since the Cocoon fal'Cie protect and provide for its "normal" people, they possibly view Cocoon citizens as pets. Afterward, Lightning tells him that she previously believed that fighting was the only way to survive when she was actually running away from the harsh truth, and that she now has him doing the same. Hope tells Lightning that he does not understand what she is saying. Then Lightning says to Hope, "Operation Nora is over," much to his dismay and disbelief. Confused and devastated, he tells her no because she told him to fight, only for her to say that she made a mistake. Hope says that she cannot just build something up like that and then abandon him, but Lightning reassures Hope that she will not abandon him.

Later, he asks Lightning what they should do and what battles they should fight if they cannot stick to the plan. Lightning says that she does not know, but there is always hope. Hope tells her that l'Cie have nothing to hope for, but Lightning says that there is him. Hope replies that it is only his name and not who he is. Then he is confided with Lightning's past after she says that she was just like him, but once Lightning mentions Snow, Hope demands her to not say his name as it causes him to picture Snow's smiling face and his mother's death all over again. He says that he knows no matter what he does his mother is not coming back, that there was not any time to think about while fighting, and that it felt good just to give in. He apologizes to Lightning for being all confused ever since she began talking about them needing hope, although she says that it is all her fault. Before getting into an elevator, Lightning tells Hope to go and see his father. He asks her if seeing his father will make anything better, especially since his dad never paid any attention to him. Then he asks Lightning if Snow really believed Serah about becoming a l'Cie, and she answers that he did. After riding the elevator back up to the surface, Hope and Lightning are ambushed by Yaag Rosch and his troops in the Agora. Lightning tells him to run while she keeps them busy, but Hope refuses. When Lightning tells him to survive, Hope steps back in shock and disbelief from how she is willing to sacrifice herself for him. An explosion goes off with Snow and Fang arriving on the scene. They attack the soldiers while riding Shiva along a series of ice paths. At the same time, Hope is surprised to see Snow again but Lightning grabs his hand, pulls him away and protects him as she attacks the soldiers from below.

After he and Lightning are rescued, Lightning gives him to Snow though Hope pushes him away before she goes off followed by Fang. After Snow saves Hope from the remaining soldiers in the Agora, he asks Snow what happened to him. Snow tells him that he was taken in by the Cavalry and that its leader Cid Raines wanted to help them, but Hope says that the army wanting to help them doesn't make any sense. Then Snow tells him that not everybody is like the Sanctum and they go into a secluded area. After Snow notices that Hope has gotten stronger, Hope tells him that he had to being a l'Cie and all. When Snow says that only dumb grown-ups ought to be fighting the army, Hope asks him if he thinks that it is stupid to fight, and Snow answers that it is only if you get killed. This causes Hope's rage to increase, because in a way, Snow was calling his mother dumb and stupid for fighting and dying herself. After Snow turns the corner, Hope is angered further by his smiling and holds Lightning's knife behind his back, waiting for the right moment to take his revenge, but the chance is stolen from him when Snow uses his wireless communicator. While using it to talk to Lightning, he tells her that he has decided to go through with Operation Nora against her wishes and that he is sorry. Then they come across a group of people being escorted by soldiers in the street. Snow knows that they are going to be Purged and Hope says that they will also get killed. Snow tells him that someone can't take the blame for it, but Hope says that someone has to. Then Snow says that he should try to save everyone and that one must only look out for themselves, fueling Hope's rage even further. In order to save the citizens, Snow goes into the crowd and fires a gun into the sky, making everyone scatter. Later in an alley, they are attacked by the same people that Snow saved, now an angry mob. Hope sees a frightened girl with a Carbuncle doll curled up in a corner. He tries to help her but she throws her doll at him in fear. Then she pushes Hope to the ground and runs to her mother in the crowd while leaving her doll behind. Then Snow takes down a structure to block the mob's path. Hope sets the Carbuncle doll on top of the fallen structure and apologizes before Snow uses a PSICOM aerial machine to escape with him to the rooftops of the Rivera Towers. When Snow comments on Palumpolum being a nice place for families to live, Hope tells him that l'Cie do not have families. Then Snow tells Hope about being an orphan and his plan to start a family with Serah after he saves her and Cocoon. Hope asks Snow how he is going to do that but Snow does not know exactly. When he says that they have to hold on to hope, Hope says that they don't have any and that the only hope for a l'Cie is a quick death. Later, as though to justify his goal of revenge, he asks Snow what he would do if his family were taken from him and what if he could not take them back but knew who was to blame. Snow answers if that were the case, then there would be trouble. After Snow asks Hope if he is alright, they are attacked by an Ushumgal Subjugator. Snow stands between him and the machine but Hope pushes Snow out of the way and charges into battle.

After the fight, Hope and Snow take a break by a building's edge. As Snow is drinking a soda, Hope looks up to where Snow is standing and has a vision of his mother from when he was a child. He realizes that he cannot take the pain anymore, and asks Snow what he plans to do with his life. After Snow gives his answer, Hope finally confronts him for all that he has done. Snow says that when someone is dead, words are useless, and Hope questions him for running way whenever people die. When Snow says that all he can do is go forward, and keep fighting until he finds answers, Hope objects to this by saying, "There are no answers! You're running from what you deserve!" Then Snow demands Hope to tell him what he deserves, and Hope says the same fate that his mother suffered: death. He uses his rage-induced l'Cie power to blow Snow off the ledge. Hope then takes out Lightning's knife, stands over the dangling Snow and says, "Nora Estheim. She was my mother. And she died because of you!", causing Snow to realize that Hope was the one she meant. As Hope is about to kill Snow with the knife, a Sanctum airship fires a shot behind him and, just as what happened to his mother, injures him and sends him over the ledge. Snow jumps off after him, catching him in midair and shielding him from the fall. Soon after, Hope awakes to find himself on Snow's back. He asks Snow why he saved him, and Snow says that he promised Lightning as well as his mother. Snow says that everything was his fault and that he will find a way to make it up to Hope. Then Snow gives Lightning's knife back to Hope and reveals that it was a present from Serah to keep her safe. Hope tells Snow that he can take the blame but it will not bring his mother back. Then he says that he always knew that fact but had to put the blame on someone, and give himself a reason to keep on fighting. After the two of them settle their differences and finally become friends, they are suddenly attacked by the Sanctum machine from before, which knocks Snow unconscious. Hope yells at Snow for always trying to be a hero. He asks Snow if he wants to die, and says that he won't let him. Hope decides to fight it alone until Lightning and Fang arrive on the scene. After the battle, he returns Lightning's knife and tells her that Operation Nora didn't work out. While being embraced by her, Hope tells Lightning that if he could, he would try to watch out for her as well after she promised to protect him.

Hope takes Lightning, Fang, and Snow to his house where they meet his father. He tells his dad about his mother's fate and that the party would leave once they were done resting up because he wants his father to be safe, since anyone harboring l'Cie would be Purged; but Hope's father protests, saying that he did not care that Hope was a l'Cie, he was his son, and that was his home. After Lightning and Snow have their moment, Hope tells them that his dad wants to see them. After Snow apologizes to Bartholomew for Nora's death, Hope tells him that if it were not for Snow, he would not even be here. When his dad calls himself a harborer of l'Cie, Hope thinks that coming home was a bad idea but his dad reassures him that he did the right thing. When PSICOM attacks his house, Hope tells Snow to take care of his dad. Then he turns and finds himself aimed at by a soldier but Lightning saves him. Hope hides with his father while Snow stands wounded and bandaged before an entire platoon of soldiers led by Yaag. Afterward, Lightning tells Hope to tie up his dad to spare him from the Purge. After doing so, Hope promises his dad that they will survive somehow and that he will make his own choices from now on. Soon, Rygdea and more of Cid's soldiers arrive and Hope and the rest of the party leave with them, leaving Hope's father behind as he and the others board the Lindblum.

The Palamecia
They learn that Vanille and Sazh are being held on the Palamecia. Hope says that Vanille will be fine since she is tougher than he will ever be. Lightning asks him if he is scared. Hope tells her that he is terrified, but since he has her, Snow (referring to him as "this guy"), and Fang, he will be fine. With help from Rygdea, they are able to board the Palamecia. As they fight through groups of PSICOM soldiers and artillery, the ship's crew announces different color codes. Hope wonders what the colors mean, but Fang says that the colors mean that they are doing their job at making PSICOM scared. Then the party hears a commotion taking place elsewhere on the ship, Hope says that someone is fighting, and Fang says it is Vanille. After they fight a Kalavinka Striker, they are briefly reunited with Sazh and Vanille. After the party defeats Dysley as Barthandelus and escape with an airship en route to Eden, Hope notices that something is coming their way. It turns out to be Yaag Rosch, who begins his onslaught.

The Fifth Ark
After the party crashes into the Fifth Ark, Hope wonders if it is what Dysley wanted them to see. When Vanille asks why a Cocoon fal'Cie wants to destroy Cocoon, Hope answers that it's probably a fal'Cie thing that they are not supposed to understand. Before leaving for Gran Pulse, Hope says that Cocoon is safe for makes a speech about the promise he made to his dad. He says that no one can be sure about what is right or wrong in the world, and that people can easily be tricked if they sit back and do nothing. Then he remembers how the Sanctum fooled everyone into thinking that l'Cie were monsters, and says that he is done with their lies as well as those from the fal'Cie. Hope says that from now on, he will use his eyes, think, then take action. He then says that he will make his own decisions from now on, and that he ultimately won't have any regrets as long as he is the one making them. When Hope calls Gran Pulse hell, Fang asks him if it really is and how many times he has been there. He says none but he still wants to go and find out for himself.

Gran Pulse
After leaving Cocoon, Hope and Vanille get sucked of the airship they were using after it is damaged by a Pulse monster. While falling, Vanille asks Hope if he is okay, and he sarcastically says that he is just great. They are saved by the rest of the party flying Bahamut into Gran Pulse. Later in the Vallis Media, he is seen knocking coconuts off a tree with Sazh's chocobo helping him. The party find him unconscious after the chocobo returns without him. Coming to after losing consciousness at their camp, Hope tells the others to leave him behind as they journey to Oerba to find some answers. He is then comforted by Snow and Lightning, with the latter telling him that they understand that he is scared, that he was not going through the ordeal alone and smiles at him. Hope tells Lightning that he does not want his friends to get hurt because of him and his despair evokes Alexander, which he manages to tame with help from Lightning and Fang after the former reveals the noble purpose behind the Eidolons. He says that he originally thought the Eidolons appeared to free a l'Cie through death, but now believes that they appear to bring one out of their slumps. Then he says that he will ask for help earlier next time. With his renewed resolve, Hope decides to continue on his journey with the others.

In the Yaschas Massif, Hope is approached by Vanille. He tells her that he is just thinking, and she asks if it was something complicated. Hope says that he was taking in the sky, the smells, and other elements of Gran Pulse. He tells her that he never imagined a place like it could ever exist, although he is now on Gran Pulse. Then Hope tells Vanille about how he would not have gotten to see Gran Pulse, if he had not gone through everything that happened to him beginning with the fireworks in Bodhum. She tells him that he would have seen Gran Pulse one way or another since he promised her that they would see it together. Hope asks her when he made that promise, she suggests 'perhaps in another lifetime'. Then he asks her what that means, and Vanille tells him that since she has told so many lies, it's all a blur. Hope tells Vanille that sometimes people have to lie in order to keep themselves going when they're afraid, or to protect someone from harm. He says that what a person does after they lie is what really matters, and that maybe he and Vanille did make a promise to see Gran Pulse together as well as Cocoon. After Vanille tells Hope thanks, he tells her to keep smiling since it makes him happy when she does. When she gets embarrassed, Hope laughs, tells her that they are even now, and runs off to be chased by her. After Snow tells him not to get ahead of himself, Hope tells him that he knows his limits unlike some people. The fal'Cie Dahaka passes them; Vanille says that it resides near Oerba, so Hope suggests that they follow it.

In the Mah'habara Subterra, Hope notices that Gran Pulse fal'Cie act differently from those on Cocoon, as they do not seem to care about what happens to their world and just continue working. He eventually mounts another Dreadnought like he did in the Vile Peaks and falls off into the path of the fal'Cie Atomos. Multiple Dreadnoughts appear to stop the fal'Cie from crushing him, allowing the party to ride it out of the tunnels. In Oerba after the party once again defeat Barthandelus and wonder whether or not they should destroy Orphan, Hope reminds Lightning that back on Cocoon, she told him that it is not a question of can or can't. He says that they should not wait around thinking about it but go and do it. Then he says even if only one person listens to them, it is better than doing nothing.

Back to Cocoon
Upon returning to Cocoon from Gran Pulse, Hope summons Alexander on a highway in Eden in order to block off incoming Sanctum forces during Cid's race on the Grand Prix Circuit. After the party learns that monsters from Gran Pulse are roaming the city, Hope asks if they caused Barthandelus's prediction to come true by coming back. At the end of the circuit track, Hope jumps off the platform after Snow. He lands with aid of Lightning's Gravity Bomb, and tells Fang and Vanille that it is how she gets around. After defeating Yaag Rosch for the last time, Hope asks him if he knew that the fal'Cie were using people all along. Rosch says that he believed that the fal'Cie could maintain Cocoon, but he ultimately misjudged them. Then the party is reunited with NORA, and Hope has a more pleasant reaction to them. NORA assures them that the Purge fugitives are safe and leave to help evacuate the city. Later within Orphan's Cradle, Hope tells the party that Barthandelus is turning innocent people into Cie'th in order to make them feel guilty, lose faith, and become Ragnarok.

After Orphan's defeat, Hope grabs both Sazh and Lightning's hands as the party rises out of Orphan's Cradle. They witness Fang and Vanille stay behind and transform into Ragnarok. After Cocoon's crystallization, Hope and the others are all crystallized and are placed on the surface of Gran Pulse below. Soon afterward, they wake up from their crystal stasis. Hope asks if they completed their Focus and finds out that his brand is gone. He is upset by Fang and Vanille not returning among Serah and Dajh Katzroy, but Lightning puts her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Hope says that Fang and Vanille probably meant this to be good-bye, and besides, they have changed fate before. When Snow announces that they have to plan his wedding to Serah, Hope laughs and tells him that he does not waste any time.

In Battle


Hope fights with boomerangs that work differently from normal boomerangs, and they make him good at dealing long-ranged damage. Thanks to futuristic technology and design, he is able to throw the boomerang once and hit multiple enemies without having to throw it again.

But his true strength lies in his Magic Attack power; he has the highest magic growth out of the six characters. He is the only character to learn all elements spells as a Ravager, but he lacks all of the -strike skills, so he cannot physically attack in the role. Hope's Full ATB Skill, Last Resort, deals non-elemental magic damage to all foes.

Eidolon


His Eidolon, Alexander, has the ability to turn into a fortress that stands on one side of the battlefield.

Weapons
See Hope's Boomerangs

Musical Themes
In Final Fantasy XIII, "Hope's Theme" is a melancholy tune composed with acoustic guitar representing his sensitive and vulnerable nature that plays during the flashback between him and his mother in Bodhum, and after his father accepts Snow's apology. An orchestral variant of his theme, "Sustained by Hate," is heard during his failed attempt at killing Snow, when Snow apologizes for his mother's death, and again when he summons Alexander for the first time. Another variant of "Hope's Theme" is called, "This Is Your Home," which plays in his house after delivering the news to his father about Nora's fate.

Trivia

 * While Hope sometimes refers to Lightning as "Light" in the English version, he calls her "Light-san" for the rest of the game after she tells him to in the Japanese version.
 * Presumably a minor error, Hope will sometimes call Lightning "Light" in battle shortly before the cutscene in which she tells him to do so.
 * Hope's weapons use sky-based names, most being of mythological birds.
 * Hope's crystal is in the shape of a star, almost resembling the crystal in the Final Fantasy IX [[Media:FfixLogo.jpg|logo]].
 * The animation sequence for Hope's full ATB skill, Last Resort, greatly resembles the White Magic spell Holy in Final Fantasy X.
 * Hope is the only member of the main party whose Eidolon is the same gender as its l'Cie partner.
 * Hope initially despises his dad and shows dislike whenever he is mentioned, similar to the relationship between Final Fantasy X's main character Tidus and his own father, Jecht.
 * Hope's weapon is the only one not visible on his person while outside of battle.
 * The missile detonation that sends Hope off the balcony in Palumpolum parallels the blast that mortally wounded his mother.
 * Although in some very dark cutscenes Hope's eyes appear pale green, in his original character poster, his eyes are actually a bright blue-green.