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

[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]

[Now, those faces will be illuminated one by one, the hatred filling those steady gazes seeming to spread and fill those pale, motionless bodies and giving them substance.

Two, a man and a woman, seem to appear in finer detail than the others, the names "Orochi" and "Kuchinawa" attached to them by the soft echoing voice of Sheena Fujibayashi, the word "parents" following somewhat guiltily behind.

They remain unflinching, their stares of silent accusation locking on to his until the words came echoing from their unmoving lips in a harsh whisper.]

You killed us.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh. This isn't about him, it's not about him at all. It's about...Sheena. He takes a moment to realise what's happening, because he definitely didn't kill anyone. Not directly, anyway]

...What. [Does that mean Sheena...oh]

[ninjainviolet]

It's your fault we're dead.

[The couple in front of him speak first, the rest of the crowd coming into bright focus as each person repeats the phrase, until it becomes a chant, deafening in its echoing monotone.

The noise is abruptly cut off by the appearance of a small creature, eyes narrowed in anger. "Corrine!" comes Sheena's cheerful and hopeful thought at the sight of her best friend.

A thought made in vain for things aren't always as they appear as his tiny voice seems to cut through everything--silence and soul alike.]

I was your best friend, but you laughed at me! You didn't have faith in me! I had faith in you, but it's your fault I'm dead!

[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.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh wow it's a small furry orangey sort of thing and it's mad at him. Where has he seen this before? Oh right. THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF HIS LIFE. It touches something of a raw nerve. It seems his Lorax wound is still far too fresh to be reminded of the guardian in such a way]

Okay no. Sorry, you're getting ragey at the wrong person. I've already got my own furry creature to deal with, and you're not him.

[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]

[That's the problem with some dreams; they don't always listen to what's being said.

And these memories go back much, much further. Twelve years have passed since the initial execution, and not a day has gone by that those who had perished because of her failed to visit her in her dreams and remind her of her failure.

The small creature known as Corrine, however, is a more recent addition, a fresh victim to add to her long list. A best friend ridiculed for wanting to help her, for promising to protect her; but his size made that notion impossible--until he proved otherwise in the most spectacular way possible.

And that is exactly what is shown again and again as the voices once more begin chanting: A series of Lightning Bolts come forward, the last fatal one stopped by Corrine just before it reaches its intended victim, the sound of the small body hitting the floor loud in the vast room.]

You're not allowed to forget! You are responsible! If you weren't alive, this would never have happened!

[wilder]

[he groans as he's on the ground, ouch did he get hit bad. But he'll still get out snark]

Yeah...think I'll finally agree there.

[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?]

[ninjainviolet]

[Tears are in her eyes as she confronts him.]

NOW you agree with me?!

[Starts throttling him.]

Why?! Why would you do that, Zelos?! [Save her, not agree with her.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yep. He is SO done with this place now. So very done. He'll be stalking off, he'll find a way out of here if he has to come back to the same spot over and over again. He doesn't care. He needs to LEAVE]

Yeah. Thanks for that happy reminder.

[shrugs_a_lot]

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

[ninjainviolet]

[Have another one, Once-ler, as you take that step, everything goes dark. The only spot of illumination is centered on a familiar figure in profile as she kneels, despair and extreme sadness making her shoulders sag as she looks down at the figure in her lap, tear glistening in the dim light.]

No! Don't die!

[Who is she speaking to? Does he dare to move closer and find out?]

[ninjainviolet]

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

[whichwayyoulean]

[And there she is. The Once-ler considers his options, before reluctantly heading towards her]

Sheena?

[shrugs_a_lot]

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

[ninjainviolet]

[The Spirit can grant that request for death if this human truly desires it or doesn't care.

He sends bolt after bolt towards the man, tormenting him with near-hits as he takes his time to create a spell. If the Spirit could tilt his head, he would have as he feels the power behind this latest incantation. Instead, he retreats up, the edge of the spell catching him underneath and actually spinning the Spirit in place.

Not a good thing to do, and as soon as Volt recovers, the human will learn that lesson.]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke remains down, using all his focus on the next spell rather than remaining upright. He thinks he could possibly have found the rhythm to this.

This one is Splash, a jug of water erupting from the ground then pouring its contents - and it itself - over the spirit. ]

[ninjainviolet]

[At first, it seems like she doesn't hear him, then she looks up at him, dark eyes still shining with unshed tears.]

Why?! Why did this have to happen again?!

[If he looks, he'll see the person she holds change and become a series of familiar faces. One by one, those who had recently flung accusations once more became the victim of her failure, losing their lives in rapid succession as she could only sit helplessly by and watch as those faces evolved into those both in the dream knew.

The pain of losing Corrine is only the beginning of this new torture as, with the fear of failing to protect others fills the air, those she called friends--both from home and Paradisa--began appearing, some Once-ler would recognize: Raine, Ino, Zelos,

Once-ler...]

[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]

[Volt's had enough of this. As the effects of the third spell disappear, the Spirit rises and hovers over the prone figure of the man below him.

His gaze boring into him, he speaks in that language only the half-elf woman understands, but he doesn't care.]

"..."

"My pact is broken, and I seek no more with such an untrustworthy race. Your hearts aren't strong enough."

[With that, he moves off, gathering his power to unleash a final barrage.]