Welcome to my nightmare

[ninjainviolet]

Who: Sheena Fujibayashi and YOU!
What: Nightmare!
When: During the Nightmare Plot (backdated to the 5th)
Where: Her mind
Rating: PG?

[Sheena had planned to go back to Lloyd's house as soon as she could, but that plan was changed without her permission as she succumbed to whatever malevolent force decided to infiltrate the castle and put its residents to sleep.

Like many others, she now sleeps deeply, no movement or sound except the occasional protest as her slumber is interrupted by memories and nightmares she had long ago buried.

Memories that are now alive and well and waiting to share themselves with whoever crosses their paths.

Sleep well.]

Sections: Corrine's Replacement || Friendly Advice? || Left Behind

Comments

Left Behind

[ninjainviolet]

[This dream starts off pleasant, in the castle garden. You and your friends are playing with an adorable fox-like creature that part of you knows shouldn't be there, but your heart is glad he is.

You turn away for a moment to get something, and when you turn back, everyone is suddenly gone, leaving you feeling abandoned and utterly alone...]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Well... isn't this feeling bit familiar? Thing is he's not sure of why it is so.

Where did everybody go, anyway?]

... Hello?

[ninjainviolet]

[No one answers, but they can't be too far away, since you can hear the murmur or their voices coming from nearby somewhere.

Perhaps you should take a look?]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Maybe he should... In fact he does. He starts walking towards the murmur, hoping to find someone soon because it really feels kind of lonely here. Since when does he care about something like that?]

[ninjainviolet]

[Maybe he should also hurry. The murmuring continues, but it's also moving away quickly, the occasional bursts of laughter that punctuates it seeming farther ahead each time.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[As the voices move away, he can't help but nearly start running towards them.]

Wait! [Don't leave me...]

[ninjainviolet]

[Oh, but they're much faster than he can ever hope to be, and suddenly, they disappear.

Only to reappear far behind him--almost where the dream began.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[... Part of him wants to get back and try to reach them again, but the other part is telling him that he doesn't need them. They are idiots for running away from him... He didn't want friends anyway, mercenaries didn't need them...


Did they?]

[ninjainviolet]

[If he goes back, he'll see the group gathering as it had earlier, preparing to enjoy the day in the garden.

Does he dare approach them?]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[He does, yet he stops several steps away, unsure if they'll just get away again.]

[ninjainviolet]

[No, they stay right where they are, but they say nothing to him--no greeting, no invitation.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Maybe they haven't seen him... He attempts to approach a little more.]

[ninjainviolet]

[They've seen him, but they're ignoring him--even when he steps closer.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[This hurts more than he's showing, but he can deal with it, right? It wasn't the first time he was ignored like this, and it wouldn't be the last.

How long does it pass before he starts moving away? He's not sure.]

[ninjainviolet]

[And suddenly, the scene changes, becoming a strange mix of Paradisa and a small village filled with what looks like ninjas.

Children run by, happily playing and chattering, but a feeling of longing fills the air around him.

He may have better luck this time approaching.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Was he dreaming? Because that sudden scene change isn't normal. Or maybe it's just the castle messing with them.

He does approach to the children.]

Hey... Where is this place? [Maybe it's one of those worlds changes, yet it wouldn't explain the feelings he's experiencing...]

[ninjainviolet]

[Welcome to Sheena's dream, Cloud--a nightmare of loneliness and abandonment.

The children look up from their play--which resembles combat training. One looks angry as he replies.]

This is Mizuho, dummy! Geez!

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Kids, somehow, had always had a soft spot on Cloud's heart, so he doesn't really get any kind of offense from the angry reply.]

Heh, sorry, should've known. What are you doing?

[ninjainviolet]

[The one who replied looks at Cloud in shock.]

Whatcha do? Hit your head at the temple and forget? We're practicing the Ig- Iga--

The Chief's style!

[shrugs_a_lot]

I'm new around here, I guess. It looks pretty cool. [ it was a little sad, he was so used to people talking to him that was that he truly didn't feel mad anymore. ]

Who's the Chief?

[ninjainviolet]

Geez, you musta hit your head! You ain't new around here, stupid!

And the Chief? [The boy's face twists into one of rage.]

He's the one who broughtcha here, and the one you hurt!

[A shove.]

Now, do ya remember?

[shrugs_a_lot]

[All right, that was weird... And hew as finally getting confused. Where in the world...?]

... Me? Sorry, kid, you got the wrong person.

[ninjainviolet]

[If he looks, he'll see a familiar figure watching the scene with a sad expression, but does nothing to interfere, having lived through it far too many times. Cloud has taken the part of seven-year-old Sheena, and that's all anyone will see until he somehow breaks the spell.

Maybe by approaching her?]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Sheena? Yes, that's Sheena! At last, someone familiar. He doesn't quite run to her, but approaches quickly, hoping she's not as lost as he is right now.]

Hey! [He had never been so glad to see her before.]

[ninjainviolet]

[She turns, her expression blank for a second before her brows knit in confusion.]

Cloud? What are you doing here?