ARRIVAL.

[insusurromods]

𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑼𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑹𝑶: 𝑨 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝒀

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.

You're free.

But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.

You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.

Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.

The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.

Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.

𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐑 is within a few hours walking distance. 𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐌 lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓?

Comments

[earlylight]

Here. [She takes one of Shelke's hands and places it against her wrist, letting her feel her pulse beating steadily under her skin.] Can you feel it?

[Things are about to get weird that's for sure! But maybe in a good way? It's time they were all free from ShinRa, Hojo and all the rest.]

I can't imagine not being weak sometimes. Who decided you had to be strong all of the time?

[The emotionless tone makes her quite suspicious. It sounds like brainwashing to her. ShinRa is well-known for using that tactic. Aerith isn't sure if she can break the hold, but she will oppose it until she re-enters the Lifestream.]

You're more than a Tsviet.

[thelasttsviet]

[Shelke let her hand be moved easily enough, and for a brief moment her eyes went wide as she felt Aerith's pulse. So she was alive. What did that mean? And how...? The records Shelke had read said the woman would have been absorbed into the lifestream years ago. So why...hm.]

Yes.

[She said as she drew her hand away. As to the Tsviet thing, well...Aerith was right. Probably. Even Shelke knew that. But knowing it, and coming to terms with it, those were very different things.]

I suppose we'll see.

[She said, looking out at the rain, which seemed to finally be slowing.]

How are you alive?

[She asked suddenly, looking up at her again. Even her usual flat tone couldn't hide her curiosity at that.]

[earlylight]

[Absorbed isn't exactly the right word. Aerith had become a guardian of sorts of the Lifestream. But ShinRa can't know everything, can it? ...can it. Frankly she thinks it needs to end. It's time for a re-haul, Rufus! Are you listening?]

So I'm not dead anymore.

[Or...for now, rather. She smiles faintly, mysteriously, unafraid of either outcome. She has already experienced the worst of it, right?]

I don't know. I wasn't expecting it or working on it. I was fine in the Lifestream.

[Anyone would be curious!]

I'm not sure I will be the only one who is brought back.

[thelasttsviet]

Hm. [Shelke's normally impassive, child-life face settled into one of uncertain apprehension, as she found herself mentally running through the list of people who were better off dead. It was...fairly long. And full of explosions.]

That's an unpleasant thought.

[She finally deadpanned. Ah the joys of understatement. After that though, she drew in a breath and rose to her feet. Still unsteady, but at least she didn't have to grab Aerith just to remain upright.]

We probably should not remain here.