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

[ninjainviolet]

[The voices are coming from all around; above, below, behind, never in the same place, yet always there.

A new phrase can be heard, soft at first, until it becomes a cacophony of sound clashing with itself.]

It's your fault. It's your fault! IT'S YOUR FAULT!

["Your fault" echoes in the air and through the body, repeating endlessly through the mind and soul.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Okay no. This is not cool. His own personal guilt is enough of a burden, and this extra is an overload to the system. He winces, closing his eyes and covering his ears with his hands, even if neither of those actions do anything to stop that endless tirade]

Okay, I get it. Just quit it!

[ninjainviolet]

[Oh, but the voices are far from finished with their accusations. The punishment has merely begun as the volume continues to rise and fall--an ear-splitting crescendo one second, and a barely heard lover's whisper the next. Until there was nothing more than an eerie silence and a pitch blackness that envelops everything.

Enjoy this brief intermission in this dream there's no escape from.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yeah, he so wants to go back to his crappy Lerkim now. At least there he knows the only voices hating him are the ones in his own head. And most of them take the form of his mothers voice anyway. Nothing like this.

He turns, looking about the darkness when silence finally returns]

Okay. Right. Finding a way outta here.

[ninjainviolet]

[Want and desire have no effect here. Every step taken returns to this very spot of inquisition--this memory of fault and failure.

A memory that takes on a new life as the darkness is suddenly pierced by a lightning strike, revealing that voices and darkness aren't the only things surrounding the area.

Faces appear in that brief illumination--men and women both--all with eyes filled with an indescribable hatred. A loathing so strong that it can be seen and felt as the brightness fades, leaving only the eyes shining in the darkness, unblinking and forever judging.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh, well that's not pleasant. Of course, he's dealt with angry people. His family. His workers. The people of the town he poisoned. But this is new. This is...pretty gosh darn uncomfortable.

He backs up a little, frowning when it gets him nowhere]

Great. Now what.

[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!

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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?]

[whichwayyoulean]

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

Sheena?

[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...]

[whichwayyoulean]

[You know, seeing yourself dead is pretty damn harrowing, but nothing compared to seeing his friends cradled in her arms. Lost forever. It was like a stab to the heart, really.

The Once-ler takes a breath, before stepping forward, shaking Sheena's shoulders]

Sheena, seriously, we have to get out of here now.

[ninjainviolet]

[She knows about that stab, and has lived through those stabs every night for over twelve years; the piercing pain of her failure--past and possible--forever haunting her.

The body disappears in a glowing light, and she looks up at him, her expression confused.]

Once-ler? Wha- What are you doing here?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He lets out a relieved breath when she responds to him]

I have no idea, but this place is a pretty big head-tip. I think that's sign enough we need to get out of here.

[ninjainviolet]

[She shakes her head.]

It's not that easy, Once-ler. There's still more.

[whichwayyoulean]

...More? More insanity? Are you kidding me?

[ninjainviolet]

No.

We have to fight him.

[whichwayyoulean]

Fight who? The furry guy?

[ninjainviolet]

Furry guy? Corrine?! [Easy, Sheena, he doesn't know.]

No. Not him.

[She points behind him.]

Him.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler turns to look and - oh]

...Oh goodie. This is just great.

[ninjainviolet]

[At that moment, Once-ler will once again see others that he knows, alive and well and getting ready to go into battle with the Spirit.

Lloyd, Colette, Raine, Genis, Zelos, Regal, Presea--all waiting for their chance and for Sheena to join them.]

I have to prove myself to him--no matter how much I'm hurting inside.