Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise-



Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero: Promise is a series of web novellas written by Jun Eishima, depicting the thirteen days leading up to the events of Final Fantasy XIII. New chapters involving Snow, Fang, and Vanille were released in a published Light Novel.

The first part of the series, titled "Encounter", is about how Serah became a l'Cie and her relationship with Snow and her sister, Lightning.

The second part of the series, titled "Stranger", is about Fang and Vanille after they awake from their crystallized state, trying to adjust to Cocoon life, and their arrival to Euride.

Part three, titled "Treasure", is depicting the story of Sazh and his son Dajh on being a l'Cie.

Part four is titled "Search", is about Fang and Vanille after they are separated in the Euride Plant, though it's told from Fang's point of view. It is about Fang worrying about Vanille, meeting Cid Raines and Rygdea, and joining them in order to find Vanille.

Part five, titled "Friends". It is a small story about Hope, his friends, and family before his mother died.

Part six, titled "Present", is about Snow and Serah

The seventh and final part of the series is titled "Tomorrow",

Drama CD
A special edition drama CD was released on January 27, 2010, a CD that is only available through buying/ordering the limited edition version of the soundtrack. This special drama CD, written by Motomu Toriyama features Part 1 of the web novellas.

The CD consists of 7 chapters with characters including, Serah, Lightning, Snow, Hope, Nora Estheim, the members of NORA, Lightning's former superior in command, Amodar, as well as Lightning's and Serah's mother.

Chapters
Each chapter lasts around 1~6 minutes approximately.

Chapter 1: Lightning meets the members of NORA, including Snow, Serah's fiancee. (5:50)

Chapter 2: Serah and Snow have a brief talk about Lightning and her birthday. (5:25)

Chapter 3: Lightning remembers conversations she's had with her mother and Serah, before their mother died. (1:47)

Chapter 4: This chapter is possibly the highlight of Part 1 of the drama CD/web novellas. Serah goes into the Pulse Vestige ruins to explore. It is also the setting of where all the troubles began for Final Fantasy XIII, where Serah became an l'Cie. (4:05)

Chapter 5: Lightning walks around town, with Serah in mind. Here, she encounters Hope and Nora Estheim at a store, looking at chocobos. (1:43)

Chapter 6: Serah wakes up finding a strange mark on her upper left arm, her l'Cie mark. She recalls the old legends about l'Cie and fal'Cie and realizes what she has become. (2:29)

Chapter 7: General Amodar and Lightning briefly talks about two strangely dressed woman (most likely a reference to Oerba Yun Fang and Oerba Dia Vanille), and the fireworks festival. Lightning also thinks about Serah. (2:26)

Translation
There are quite a few people on the web that are translating Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero, a link here. http://dilly-shilly.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-fantasy-xiii-episode-zero.html