Ark ( Lightning Returns ) The Ark is a location in " " . It was built by Hope Estheim inside Bhunivelze , his " new Cocoon " . It is a timeless zone where Lightning can rest and interact with Hope . The location is key in prolonging the life of the world : inside the Ark is Yggdrasil , the " holy tree of life " , and completing in Nova Chrysalia strengthens the tree , enabling it to prolong the life of the world . Lightning returns to the Ark every day at 6 AM to rest , talk to Hope , give Eradia to Yggdrasil , and restock her items . An object within the Ark called the ' Book of Conquests ' records Battle Scores from bosses and Last One s . It allows the player to challenge defeated enemies in their most powerful forms . These battles offer no rewards and are purely for sport and practice . In New Game + , a blue hourglass , the Crystal of Atonement , appears in the Ark from the second day onward . Examining the hourglass and confirming the player ' s choice twice will immediately suspend their current game progression and rewind time back to the first day , keeping equipment , stats and certain items , but sacrificing memories of all quests completed , functioning as a New Game + + . Story . Following the creation of Nova Chrysalia , the planetoid Bhunivelze remained afloat in the planet ' s atmosphere , gaining a ring , with the Ark being an area within it . 169 years prior to the events of " Lightning Returns " , the God Bhunivelze took Hope Estheim , regressed his body to when he was 14 years old , and used him as a vessel . He then implanted " Hope " within the Ark where time doesn ' t flow . In " " it is revealed Antimatter Manipulation Principle technology can control Chaos , but research into this use was never completed as the researchers disappeared one by one . Though not directly stated , it may be that the Ark was where the research took place , and that it utilizes AMP technology to control Chaos and halt the flow of time . Upon awakening from her crystal slumber and failing to apprehend Snow Villiers in Yusnaan , Lightning is teleported back up to the Ark where Hope introduces her to the world and her role as savior . After talking with Hope she is teleported down to Luxerion . Periodically , Lightning encounters visions of Serah Farron in the Ark , reminding her of what her reward will be should she be successful in saving souls , though she notes she doesn ' t feel the connection with Serah that she had expected . Sometimes when Lightning is teleporting in or out of the Ark she is taken to a place said to reside inside her heart where she can talk to Lumina without Hope overhearing them . On the , Lightning discovers the truth about Hope , realizing his soul wasn ' t entirely in his body , and that the Hope she was relaying with was half - possessed by God in order to monitor her . When she returns to the Ark , Mog greets her instead of Hope and offers to help her with the final battle by selling her items . Locations . The Ark is a large circular area contained within the artificial moon of Bhunivelze , which has a circular hole with a view of the sky , similar to Cocoon , after which it is shaped . Within it is Hope ' s computer , which he uses to monitor Nova Chrysalia , the Chaos , and most importantly , Lightning . Yggdrasil , the tree of life , lies beyond the circular platform . Treasures . Every day at least one new treasure chest appears in the Ark , containing different objects depending on the day and the playthrough . Shops . The Ark is the only place where EP can be exchanged for items . Musical themes . " The Ark " is the sixth track on the first disc of the and acts as the location theme for the Ark . The track contains soft , angelic , lullaby - fashion vocals , alluding to the rest the area serves as and its connection to God . " Meeting You " , the twenty second track on the third disc , contains elements of " The Ark " , and replaces the vocals with a soft violin tone . The track is also featured in the final boss theme , " Almighty Bhunivelze " , and in the game ' s . " The Ark ( Soundtrack Exclusive Ver . ) " is an arrangement of " The Ark " exclusive to the version of the game ' s soundtrack which prominently features a ticking clock , an allusion to the game ' s story aspect . " The Ark " is a rearrangement of " Hope ' s Theme " in " Final Fantasy XIII - 2 " , which at the same time was of his theme in " Final Fantasy XIII " . It acts , therefore , as Hope ' s musical theme and his leifmotif throughout " Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII " . Other appearances . " Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call " . The exterior of the Ark appears as a part of the background element of the Field Music Sequence " The Dead Dunes " for " Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII " . Etymology . Similarly , the Ark guards Lightning from the flow of time and the world ' s coming destruction . Within " Final Fantasy XIII " and " Final Fantasy XIII - 2 " , the Arks are said to contain hordes of beasts to act as training grounds for the l ' Cie . They are rumored to have been created by Bhunivelze to store weapons for the battle with his mother , Mwynn , likely alluding to how Lightning and Hope are also , in a way , his " weapons " .