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This article is in need of a few pictures. Perhaps you can help by uploading a picture of other years' appearances, and maps from the following time periods:
  • 000 AF (FFXIII map).

This forest, abundant with water and wildlife, was once a nature reserve managed by the Sanctum. The crystal pillar shimmers through the gaps between the twisted tree trunks that are spread across the land.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 online description

The Sunleth Waterscape is a location in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. Located in the Riparian Corridor valley in Cocoon, it is a nature reserve where many types of rare monsters run rampant, including edible Flan. It is maintained by a fal'Cie capable of changing the weather. Rain affects some of the creatures, making them either stronger or weaker in battle.

In Final Fantasy XIII, the Sunleth Waterscape is an unrevisitable location that comprises the sixth chapter.

In Final Fantasy XIII-2, the Sunleth Waterscape has lost its lush green and become more "autumnal." New species of giant monsters have moved in, and they can be used as transportation, along with the vines hanging throughout the area.

Datalog[]

Off-limits to civilians, this unusual nature reservation is often visited by Sanctum officials engaged in ecological field studies. Research into the local ecosystem is conducted via climate-control mechanisms installed in the area. These mechanisms provide direct access to the fal'Cie in charge of manipulating weather conditions.

Fragments[]

Area Information

The Sunleth Waterscape is a nature preserve located inside Cocoon. After the catastrophe, the various fal'Cie that controlled the weather became dormant and the light of the fal'Cie Phoenix, which once served as Cocoon's sun, dimmed considerably.

For these reasons, the native biosystem has broken down and the site is now a haven for monsters.

From the Editor's Desk

Jars of concentrated miniflan mucus are sold exclusively at the local Academy branch office. Known as Firaga for the Tongue, the spice is wildly popular with chefs who need to give their dishes an extra dash of hellish heat.

Story[]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise-[]

When Hope Estheim was eight years old, he and his close friends Kai and Elida went on a school field trip to the Sunleth Waterscape.[1] With Sazh as the pilot of their airship, Hope, Kai, and Elida and their class landed at a temporary landing facility near Lake Shayra. Their teacher told the class they would walk from Lake Shayra through Rainbow Pass and along the forest trail before turning back. Guided by a researcher, the class went along the lake's edge and up a hill to Rainbow Pass, all the while taking pictures with their toy cameras and learning about the scenery and wildlife. Trekking through the slippery Tree-Shaded Path, Hope and Elida were fatigued but Kai was still full of energy despite being covered in dirt. The class returned to the lake's shore for lunch. Hope recovered from his fatigue and wondered what to do now that his camera was full. Kai sought to climb a tree and take a picture for his younger brother Hal, but Hope had a bad feeling about it. Kai had dropped his camera, so the three searched the area but found nothing.

Kai thought he lost his camera somewhere between Rainbow Pass and Lake Shela but the path had been closed off. Thinking about Hal and how disappointed he would be, Hope suggested they sneak back onto the path and look for Kai's camera. The trio took a side path to slip past the researchers cleaning up the main route. They encountered a Flandragora that chased them until they escaped and got themselves lost. Following advice from his father, Hope used a sharp rock to mark a boulder with an 'X' to designate their starting position, and he, Elida, and Kai continued onward.

Around noon they found a machine panel which Elida activated. After failing to use it and call for help, the trio continued along a rocky path and came across a climate control orb Elida touched against Kai and Hope's protest, causing rainfall. They retreated in a rock tunnel for shelter but Hope recalled a researcher saying certain monsters enjoy rain. He made a run for the orb to shut off the rain but several Mud Frogs and Hedge Frogs appeared near him and Elida. The monsters advanced towards them but turned away as someone stopped the rain. Thanks to Elida tampering with the panel, their airship found them and they were taken back aboard. Kai's camera was returned to him as a researcher had found it while cleaning up the path and brought it back to the airship. Hope regretted suggesting to go look for it, causing the misadventure, and putting himself and his friends in danger. After returning to their seats Hope wanted to apologize to Kai but the latter enjoyed himself and was not angry. In the evening the airship prepared to leave Sunleth. At Elida's insistence, Kai took a picture for Hal as he promised: a night view of Sunleth.

Final Fantasy XIII[]

L'Cie Dad

Vanille tells Sazh he shouldn't give up.

Following the fresh smell, Vanille leads Sazh to the Sunleth Waterscape after the pair leaves the Vile Peaks. After they spot PSICOM ships flying overhead heading in the direction of Palumpolum, Sazh comments that Lightning and Hope could be in trouble. Vanille doesn't think there is anything they can do to help, and suggests running in the opposite direction—towards the city of Nautilus.

Vanille Sazh Sunleth Port

Vanille and Sazh sneak onto the port.

Sazh recounts the story of how his son Dajh became a l'Cie for the Sanctum during the Euride Gorge incident, and how he joined the Purge to save Dajh from his Focus. They come across the port to Nautilus, and wait to catch a boat in the pouring rain. Vanille asks if Sazh hates Gran Pulse, to which he replies he did not use to. He claims to have suspected the Sanctum's motives for their propaganda until he got sucked into their stories about Pulse. Sazh believes the Purge and everything after it happened because Dajh sensed a Pulse fal'Cie in the Pulse Vestige back in Bodhum. Vanille tells him Dajh wasn't at fault and Sazh turns the blame onto the Pulse l'Cie who caused the Euride incident. Vanille seems to be hiding something as she runs out into the rain to hide her tears.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Fragments After[]

After the fal'Cie Cactuar and Snow get caught in a temporal distortion the two witness many events, including Serah's death. Snow requests to be made a l'Cie and Cactuar gives him the Focus of fighting alongside Serah during the final battle. They arrive at the Sunleth Waterscape in the year 300 AF where they are confronted by Royal Ripeness, and Cactuar is driven away while Snow stays to fight the beast.

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

FFXIII-2 Royal Ripeness Battle

Serah, Snow, and Noel battle the Royal Ripeness.

While in search of Lightning three years later, Serah Farron, Noel Kreiss, and Mog travel to Sunleth Waterscape at 300 AF. Since Cocoon's fall, the fal'Cie that used to maintain the Sunleth Waterscape have become dormant. In 300 AF, Noel and Serah find Snow overcome by Miniflan constituting Royal Ripeness, a monster threatening Cocoon's crystal pillar. Concluding this event to be a paradox, Serah and Noel use a giant Enlil to reach an artefact that leads them to the Archylte Steppe of another era where they find the anomaly: a Faeryl that ingested a Black Hole Gem that caused devoured Miniflan to be sent to the 300 AF Sunleth Waterscape.

Yurukaias

Caius and Yeul.

Defeating the monster, the number of flan in the Sunleth Waterscape decreases and they find Snow fighting the reduced Mutantomato. Having told him not to exert himself, Noel berates Snow for believing himself to be everyone's hero and protector, asking if he had ever really saved anyone, and if he realizes how his recklessness affects the people around him, namely the ones he is supposed to protect. Snow entrusts Serah under Noel's protection and disappears as the paradox affecting the area has been corrected. Noel, Mog, and Serah leave through a Time Gate and Caius Ballad and Paddra Nsu-Yeul appear, the former asking if their actions in this time are acceptable.

FFXIII-2 Meanie Serah

Serah scolds the miniflans.

In 400 AF, the Academy has made Sunleth Waterscape a protected observatory as they find the young Miniflan have begun to form communities called "Flan Schools." Serah, Noel, and Mog help the Miniflan find their missing friends, but once the flan are reunited they threaten to take out the crystal pillar with their rough housing. Being a teacher, and having experience with troublemaking kids, Serah scares the Miniflan into promising to behave themselves.

Spoilers end here.

Areas[]

In Final Fantasy XIII, the Sunleth Waterscape is a mountainous area covered with lakes, large trees and cliffs. It's connected with the Vile Peaks and has a seabus transportation service to Nautilus. Gazing into the skies reveals distant landmasses beyond the clouds. The area is lush in vegetation and has many flowers and butterflies.

In Final Fantasy XIII-2, the area seen in the first installment is not available for exploration, and the new area is located near the crystal pillar and its surroundings are explorable on various tree branches. The area appears autumnal and the party can move via vines hanging from the trees, and use large tree trunks and branches to navigate to different locations.

Final Fantasy XIII[]

  • The Old Growth
  • Sun-dappled Trail
  • A Shimmering Sky
  • Lake Shayra
  • Rain-spotted Vale
  • Hemmed in Stone
  • Seabus Docks

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

  • Lush Woodland Path
  • Forest Crossroads
  • Assembly Area
  • Base of the Crystal
  • Undergrown Path
  • Overgrown Forest
  • Animal Trail
  • Warpwood
  • Hidden Woodland Area
  • Bow Isle
  • Bumply Bough
  • Isle of Arboreal Embrace
Castle Cornelia PSThis section about a location is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Treasure[]

Final Fantasy XIII[]

Item Location
Mysterious Fluid x8 The Old Growth
Belladonna Wand Sun-dappled Trail
Procyons Sun-dappled Trail
Doctor's Code Sun-dappled Trail
Iron Shell x15 A Shimmering Sky
Librascope A Shimmering Sky
Scaled Wing x10 A Shimmering Sky
Metal Armband Rain-spotted Vale
Aqua Ring Rain-spotted Vale

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

300 AF[]

Item Location Requirements
625 gil Base of the Crystal None
Spark Ring Animal Trail Moogle Throw
Librascope Animal Trail Moogle Throw
Silver Bangle Animal Trail Moogle Throw
Mana Chip x8 Animal Trail Moogle Throw
Wild Artefact Animal Trail Moogle Throw
Vitality Chips x7 Warpwood Moogle Throw
Frost Ring Hidden Woodland Area Moogle Hunt
Unicorn Horn Hidden Woodland Area Moogle Hunt
Zephyr Ring Bow Isle None
Ember Ring Island of Arboreal Embrace Moogle Throw
960 gil Overgrown Forest None
Blue Flower Overgrown Forest None
Thundering Artefact Overgrown Forest None
Combat Artefact Isle of Arboreal Embrace None
Extraordinary Egg Overgrown Forest Moogle Throw
Mysterious Artefact Assembly Area Moogle Throw
Leyak Animal Trail Improved Moogle Throw
Vitality Droplets x8 Lush Woodland Path None

400 AF[]

Item Location Requirements
Graviton Core Eta Assembly Area Moogle Hunt

Enemies[]

Final Fantasy XIII[]

The Old Growth
Sun-dappled Trail
A Shimmering Sky
Rain spotted Vale (Dry)
Rain spotted Vale (Wet)
Hemmed in Stone

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

300 AF – Before Faeryl[]

300 AF – After Faeryl[]

400 AF[]

Creation and development[]

FFXIII-Lightning encounter

Lightning in the Sunleth Waterscape.

Lightning travels through the Sunleth Waterscape in the E3 2006 trailer, but she does not visit the area in the final game. It is likely she was simply used as a placeholder, as she was the first character unveiled for the game. The area in Final Fantasy XIII where Sazh and Vanille board the boat to Nautilus is only seen in a cutscene, but can be made playable via hacks.

When asked why Sunleth Waterscape is populated by flan in Final Fantasy XIII-2 the lead scenario writer Daisuke Watanabe answered: "We are aware that most episodes in the game are very serious. So we thought that the Sunleth Waterscape location offered an opportunity to introduce a humorous note and the flan creatures are perfect for this purpose."[2]

Musical themes[]

Final Fantasy XIII[]

The eponymous theme, "The Sunleth Waterscape", plays as the background music. It is one of the few location themes in the series to have distinct English lyrics. The song is performed by Frances Maya, alternating with a piano melody and background percussion and violin. The theme is an arrangement of the main theme, "FINAL FANTASY XIII - The Promise".

The theme appears on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Compilation Album and in the Final Fantasy XV music player as a default track.

The official lyrics for the Japanese version were released on the Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack.

Japanese version[]

Step into the rainbow, find another view
Chase the tender light, borders let's cross over
Ready to define the mists inside your heart?
Take a breath and start your life
Waves of a new day
Clear all the gloom away
Hope is what we simply need to proceed

Overseas version[]

Step into the rainbow, world you never knew
Chase the arcs of light, soar beyond your sorrows
Dance among the colors, let them be your dreams
Close your eyes and see anew
Dawn of the new day
Clears all our gloom away
This is the hope that we need to go on

Final Fantasy XIII-2[]

In the year 300 AF, "Starting Over" (スターティングオーバー, Sutātingu Ōbā?) plays as the location theme. It was composed and arranged by Naoshi Mizuta, sung by Joelle, and mixed by GOH HOTODA. The lyrics were written by DAGMUSIC. An alternate version, "Starting Over -Aggressive Mix-" plays whenever monsters appear, and unlike the original version, it is not mixed by GOH HOTODA. At 400 AF and 300 AF in the southern parts, the original theme from Final Fantasy XIII returns as the background theme, but the lyrics are from the Japanese version instead of the overseas English version.

Lyrics[]

The official lyrics were released on the Final Fantasy XIII-2: Original Soundtrack.

Losing ground losing myself
Darkness comes alive
I find myself at night, and in daytime I hold on
With the leaves, I keep swirling 'round around around
What can make me feel alive?
A new feeling
A new place oh
Starting over
Over
Over
Together we can turn this 'round around around
Together we might feel love
A new feeling
A new place oh
Starting over
Over
Over
(Chorus)
"Fill me up with brand new feeling"

Other appearances[]

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]

The Sunleth Waterscape appears as the FMS for its eponymous theme.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]

The Sunleth Waterscape returns as the FMS for several Final Fantasy XIII themes:

  • "The Sunleth Waterscape"*(from Final Fantasy XIII)
  • "Groovy Chocobo"*(from Final Fantasy XIII-2)


Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

Castle Cornelia PSThis section about a location in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

FFRK Sunleth Waterscape FFXIII

Sazh and Vanille split from Lightning and flee through an uninhabited valley.

Castle Cornelia PSThis section about a location in Final Fantasy Record Keeper is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Gallery[]

Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII-2 300 AF
Final Fantasy XIII-2 400 AF
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII


References[]

  1. Quote: Hope visited Sunleth Waterscape on a field trip with his school six years ago... (ホープは6年前、通っていた学校ぐるみでサンレス本郷の見学会に参加した...). Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania, pp.082.
  2. http://finalfantasy-xiii.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-15139.html
Castle Cornelia PSThis section about a location is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.
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