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

[ambitiousblond]

[Rufus's gaze hardened at the indirect mention of Jenova. He no regrets about having Kilmister shot when the scientist had proposed a new Sephiroth project.

He wasn't going to repeat the same mistakes his father had made. He was putting an end to the vicious cycle.]

That is over. I destroyed Jenova once and for all. Those experiments will never happen again.

[At least, as long as he was alive. He needed to do everything he could to prevent that in the future during that time.]

[earlylight]

[She doesn't care for Jenova. The devotion she had been shown had been based on a delusion. Once a mind breaks, it is easy to manipulate. Aerith has no interest in lies.

She nods towards Midgar, assuming that is where he will want to go.]

I don't want to be trapped either. I like some of your Turks, but no one is content being a prisoner for life.

[ambitiousblond]

They won't come for you anymore.

[Rufus could promise her that much at least. At least, they wouldn't come to her in order to use her for what she was. He followed her gaze towards Midgar- what he assumed was Midgar anyway- and nodded.]

We should start walking.

[earlylight]

Thank you. [For that, she wraps an arm around his waist, making his steps easier. See? They are moving together. He isn't alone in this new world.]

Have you seen many of them? [She can't help worrying about the nice ones.]

[ambitiousblond]

No, I haven't seen any of them yet. I'm sure we'll see them soon.

[Somehow his Turks always managed to find him no matter where he was. Even when everyone thought he was dead after Diamond Weapon's attack on the Shinra building they had gone looking for him in the rubble.

He looked at her as they walked, still trying to together why she was helping him like this.]

You have no obligation to help me. You owe me nothing.