Event || In Your Worst Memory

[0301120113092025]

Characters: All Heroes of Light. Only those who signed-up can start a memory.
Where: Interdimensional Rift
When: May 27th - May 30th
Summary: The Heroes of Light relive some of their worst memories, with a twist. All characters participating in this will be physically missing from Crystallis for the duration of the event.
Warning: It depends on the memory.

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Everything around you freezes, nearly as if time itself stopped, as if the world was frozen in time. And before you have a chance to understand what is happening, you can hear a voice right behind you.

"Kali Shashidhwaja."

Should you turn around, you may see a child who seems to be the only one aside from you unaffected by what is happening. And as she stares right at you, it makes no doubt these strange words are aimed at you. But before you can reply to her, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you know it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, Crystallis vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see.

And once again you feel different: all the powers from your Jobs are fading. Not only that, but you might find that your Crystal is gone and your clothes back to what they were before you woke up in Crystallis. It is silent, cold and before long it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you... And yet, slowly the world reforms around you. The darkness fades away and a new world appears, yet at the same time this is not a world.

This is a memory. The question is, is it yours or that of someone else?

Comments

ou!YUNA: THE PALACE OF ST. BEVELLE.

[grandsummon]

          The bells rung loudly to signify the beginning of the celebration, as from each side of the cathedral bride and groom walk with their entourage of escorts, meeting in the middle. Those in attendance are all armed to the teeth, forbidden machina, just the sort the teachings forbade, clenched tightly in the hands of the faithful -- they were expecting a disturbance, from the looks of it.

ooc notes! ; yuna is likely to mistake the first five visitors as her various guardians from spira. multiple threads will be the way to go here, but i can work with whatever! this scene takes place from the start to 10:25 of the fmv found here for a better visual! the memory is completely interactive and further ooc notes are over here.

CLIMBING THE STEPS.

[grandsummon]

          The sun was bright that day, she remembered. But stepping out into it did nothing to relieve the chills Yuna felt. Each chime those bells made deepened the hollowed out feeling she had in her stomach as she looked over, her expression blank, to watch as Seymour advanced to the centre, the same as she. Forward, she turned, and kept walking -- the pilgrimage, her capture, the war... it had always been about moving forward.

She'd underestimated he number of guards that were in attendance, almost as badly as she had underestimated the use of machina. But there wasn't much of an opportunity to worry about that, as she walked down the aisle now, side by side with the guado maester. The priests around them bowed in prayer and she looked up, ascending the stairs to the altar where they would be joined. Her heart beat louder and faster with each step she took, it was hard to imagine that it wasn't about to just burst from her chest. Her face betrayed no sign of that uncertainty however, except for a slight flicker in her eyes as they climbed.

And from above -- a cloud of pyreflies sang their unearthly wails, catching her attention. What could have caused...? But one of the heavily robed priests was already reacting to whatever had happened, waving an arm as guards took their positions. "Fire!" she heard Maester Kinoc cry, then a hail of bullets and blasts. "Come!" Seymour ordered, taking hold of her and pulling her to the top.

When she looked up, the sight of the large machina in the sky would have been a shock to anyone -- but somehow... she knew what it meant. The gust of wind it created as it swung in close lifted the veil on her head up and away, cables with what looked like anchors shooting outwards into the great stone floor of the palace, and down them -- six figures in the distance.

[victorix]

Rikku came into the memory mid action, hunched down against the drag of the wind. The cable grinds beneath the tread on her booths as she deftly maneuvers, surfing down the metallic line. And... he was grinning at her.

Tidus?!

That had been their thing, make everything a game. It made things to easier face. You could chase away fear with a grin sometimes. She could not smile now though - not the second time around, not when the youngest guardian knew what lay ahead. Her stomach flipped in revulsion as she looked down at the growing specks of people on the blood colored alter of Bevelle. Yunie no!

Rikku watches the back of the blitzer's yellow shirt flap as he pulls ahead. With a rush of determination - the race is on once again. Crouching ever lower, the small Al Bhed zips forwards, taking a reckless dive down a coil of the cable, slamming down dangerously lower with a jolt, she barley manages to rgain her balance and pull ahead. When the pugilist steadies, she turns to slide the remainder of the journey backwards, looking up accusingly at the blond.

Angry...she's so angry! He left them both on their own. Where was he! He should have been there, they all should have! How could they have left her to guard Yuna by herself? All the awful things that happened! It's undeserved, illogical, overly emotional...and she doesn't care! Besides...she has to make sure this is a memory she can interact with somehow. Not just one of those awful repeats. Please don't let it be one of those. Let her...be able to do something.

Yelling at the top of her lungs so their fast momentum does not carry the sound away,

"Tidus! You Big Jerk!"

[tozanarkand]

"Wha-- hey! What's that for?" Tidus leaned down into the wind, making himself smaller and gaining speed. "I told you, we're gonna rescue Yuna, no matter what!" He was apparenty clueless to any grievances other than that, as they quickly approached the stone walls. "We're closing in! Looks like they were expecting us!" the number of armed men and machina coming into view spoke plainly enough of that.

[victorix]

He could hear her...He could hear her! That meant, she could do something! Her own smile appeared, a mirror image of the one she'd worn in this memory, not long past, "Yeah we are!" She knew what was coming. Do things differently...she could make it right this time. Rikku let herself believe it.

She gave the Yevon soldiers the stink eye from afar. "Betcha they won't be expecting anything like what we're gonna give them!"


Hang on Yunie! We're coming!

[highbridge]

Their weapons were aimed high, firing round after round at the group that made their quick descent to the ground, Kinoc shouting orders in the distance, and safety of the altar.

The machina weapons didn't seem to discriminate against Yevon for prohibiting their use, as two large cannons moved in behind the shoulders, gearing up to fire.

[tozanarkand]

"Wha-- what're they doing..." Wakka muttered from behind, though it was more of a groan than an exclamation of surprise by now. Yevon's claws seemed to extend with every place they found themselves lately...

"Yeah, yeah!" Tidus didn't seem to have heard him, twisting into one last flip as he jumped, landing on the ground.

THE ALTAR.

[grandsummon]

          From her place at the top, Yuna stood bound by the wrist to Seymour. Her other hand balled into a fist as she watched her friends fighting their way through. Finally, when they made it to the highest tier, a rain of bullets awaited them at the hands of Maester Kinoc, a round faced, plump man, pointing a gun straight at... you. "This has gone far enough!" Guns cocked all around them, the number of guards seemingly overwhelming once again despite how many they'd already taken down.

"Stop." comes the voice of one of guardians. There was no way to make a move at this close of range.

But in that hesitation, Yuna found her chance to act. Slowly, carefully, from behind her back she withdrew her staff, swiftly stepping sideways out of the maester's grasp, and once again finding her resolve. She faced Seymour defiantly, raising it horizontally between them as though to further separate them in the small space. "You would play at marriage, just for a chance to send me? ... Your resolve is admirable. All the more fitting to be my lovely wife," Seymour sneered, apparently unphased by the events.

Feeling her breath catch in her throat, it didn't stop Yuna as positioned herself ready, her eyes following his every movement defiantly as the pyreflies started to react. "Stop!" a decorated, elderly man proclaimed, raising an arm. The Grand Maester, Mika. "Do you not value your friends' lives?"

It was as though he knew exactly what to say. Yuna stopped, turning to see everyone. "Your actions determine their fate." More words that hit straight on their mark. "Protect them... or throw them away... The choice is yours." Cringing, the summoner looked down, that sureness she had felt just moments ago slipping through her fingertips... just like her staff. The muffled clang on the carpeted steps as it fell down, down... bumping your foot.

"You are wise."

Re: THE ALTAR.

[neverfirstclass]

The sunlight was blinding as Cloud came into this memory, and it was the sound of gunfire which pulled him to focus. The training the young soldier received didn't go to waste as he quickly moved into action, pulling his rifle from his back and scanning the crowd. He wasn't sure who to pick out as friend or foe, not immediately. He thought he caught familiar faces in the crowd but he didn't want to shoot until he knew what was happening.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Kinoc's words brought a halt to everything and he pulled up his aim. The guards surged around him and he found himself pushed up to the altar, his eyes going wide as he recognized Yuna. A wedding? What was happening here?

He watched in silence, but the tension built up in his body. If she needed help he wasn't about to stand by. Maybe...maybe since he didn't belong here he'd go unnoticed...

[grandsummon]

She knew. In her heart, Yuna knew that they would all come -- that he would. It had been the thing she wanted most, and least, to happen... and here they were. Only moments ago she'd been so sure of her plan, to ready to send Seymour to the Farplane where he belonged, but... not at the expense of her guardians' lives. It was with the same frevor and stubbornness that placed her own life on the line -- that refused to endanger theirs.

There was nothing that could be done. In order to make sure they were safe... she would go through with it. See it through to the very end...

[highbridge]

Seymour wasted no time. Raising a hand to her face, he seemed to enjoy the discomfort that the guardians around Cloud reacted with, lingering in the tension... as he leaned in closer and closer, placing his lips on the thin line that Yuna had pressed hers into.

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud didn't know what Yuna was seeing, that he was taking the place of someone very important to her standing on those steps. What he did start to realize was how wrong this situation was. Wedding it may be, but it wasn't a happy one.

He struggled in the grasps of the guards around him, trying to shake himself free even at risk of the rifles pointed at him.

[grandsummon]

There was a sickening sort of feeling in her stomach from the moment their lips met, and finally, when the kiss broke, she turned away from the crowd below. Why... why did they all have to see that?

She swallowed hard, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to find her resolve again, her knees threatening to give out beneath her, before the harsh reality of the maester's words froze her in place.

"Kill them." she heard Seymour say, her eyes going wide again with a gasp.

THE ALTAR.

[thegreatninja]

She was running forward only to be stopped by the gun pointing at the group. She didn't know the other's with her but that didn't matter. Her eyes were on Yuna and the scene playing out before her.

Yuffie didn't know what was going on but it was clear that Yuna didn't want to be there. Her eyes narrowed at the gross looking man standing next to her and then at the old geezer. He didn't sound very nice. Her fingers curled into fists. What sort of sick joke is this?

"Hey! Shot me then!" Yuffie jumped forward her materia glowing as she jumped towards Seymour.

[tozanarkand]

"Be quiet!" the dark-clad woman chastised, as though she had expertly done so many times in the past. She moved to grab Yuffie by the wrist to pull her back before the thief could jump into the fray. "Do you want to get yourself killed? Can't you see what she's trying to..." But Lulu trailed off, a disgusted noise getting the best of her as she looked onto the scene ahead of them.

[grandsummon]

Yuna was stiff, looking dejected by the turn of events. While she felt an overwhelming happiness that her guardians had come to her aid, she knew that they were once again in danger because of her. This whole charade, the entire wedding... it had been her doing in order to try and fix the situation she'd gotten them all into... But here it was, backfiring in the worst way possible -- with all of them at gunpoint.

There was no where to run when Seymour took hold of her shoulders, standing face to face -- no, surely he didn't mean to...! In front of everyone, how could -- !

She was frozen in place, as his long fingers moved to brush the few errant strands of hair from her face, as he leaned closer and closer still -- pressing his lips against hers.

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie turned to look at Lulu her eyes glaring at the older woman. "She shouldn't be doing it alone then. What are friends if not to protect each other?" Yuffie didn't care if she got shot. She struggled from Lulu's grasp trying to stop Yuna from going through with his.

Then she watched him kiss her and the bells ring. Her anger only rose until she felt like it might burst forth from her chest. This was so stupid! If any of these people cared about Yuna they'd ignore her wishes and help her anyway. That's what she did. She didn't care if it was selfish or if she was reckless.

Yuffie would help because they were friends. Her life meant nothing as long as Yuna was safe.

[jadethenecromancer]

This had been one of the more hectic memories Jade had stumbled into -- first finding himself sliding down a cable, hundreds of feet in the air, then fighting in the thick of armed soldiers, surrounded by gunfire. He had adapted quickly (not that there had been any choice) and moved along the memory. Having his fonic artes back was refreshing; the guards never knew what hit them.

It wasn't until they had made it to what Jade realized was an altar that he could get a good look at the situation. It wasn't looking good. With guns trained at them and their lives held above the bride's head--

The bride. Yuna? Jade's eyes narrowed as the unknown man by her side rubbed his victory in her face. He might not know the context to this memory, but if what he had witnessed so far was any indication, it was a bad one for her. "Holding hostages for a lady's hand?" he said, hoping to buy some time. "So much for the sanctity of marriage."

[grandsummon]

With her head down, Yuna could only glance his way by the time he'd made it to the altar. That expertise in battle, the air of confidence around the experienced soldier... Auron. But the sight of the guns pointed at her guardians was more than enough to stay the summoner's hand, while that hollow feeling in her stomach festered.

Her eyes shifted uncomfortably, dreading what she knew was coming next. This was the only way for all of them to make it out alive, and so... Seymour reached out, framing Yuna's face with his long-nailed fingers as he stepped forward. Leaning in close the maester leaned down, their lips meeting, though Yuna's were pressed hard together...

The altar fell into silence, so quiet the tightening of her hand could be heard as the fabric of her gloves scrunched together... if you were listening closely.

[jadethenecromancer]

Thinking of a plan was difficult when he had nothing to work with. Why Yuna? She had said she was used to being the center of attention, but Jade hadn't thought that would include being forced into marriage under the threat of having her friends murdered. There had to be a political side to this he wasn't aware of -- and without knowing what these people wanted, he had little in the way of negotiating even if they were willing.

So what now? He might be able to survive a few gunshots with his Magic Guard, but the people with him were a different story. Did it even matter? This was a memory, not reality. These people weren't really there. Getting Yuna through the memory alive took priority. Jade had his spear hidden; if he could just get to one of those important-looking men, he'd have an effective meat shield...

It would have been helpful if the group he had come with had a plan beyond just rushing the altar. As it was, Jade had no choice but to wait for the right moment.

[tozanarkand]

"Rrrrrr," the sound alongside of Jade likely started off low at first, but as Tidus' obvious frustration grew, so too did his sound level. Making a fist, he turned to the older man, speaking through clenched teeth. "You gonna tell me this is a summoner's 'privilege' too?" He spat.

THE ALTAR.

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia looked down as the staff knocked her foot. "No!" Thinking back to her own wedding day, how joyous she had felt, how bright and full of hope she'd been - it made her all the more angry, seeing Yuna's day ruined as such. It was a bold tactic, faking marriage to get close enough to send the man (whatever that meant) but it looked like it hadn't paid off.

"Find your resolve, Yuna! You did this for a reason - send him!"

[grandsummon]

She winced hearing that. Someone that always supported her, no matter what it meant for themselves... someone that was always encouraging her, even if her decisions weren't always sound. Lulu. "I'm sorry..." Yuna mouthed, turning away, just as Seymour's hands reached to clasp at her shoulders.

The summoner couldn't look at them, any of them. She knew that Seymour probably meant to do, and she couldn't stop it... lest the lives of her guardians be brought into question. All along the road to Zanarkand, her own life had always been expendable... but the lives of her friends, as long as she had a say in it -- their safety was non-negotiable.

Closer and closer the guado drew -- and Yuna finally looked up, squeezing her eyes shut, her lips pressed tightly together in a thin white line... as he kissed her, the bells ringing all around them.

The only defiance she showed -- was her hand that curled into a shaking fist.

[tozanarkand]

Alongside Ashelia, the blond man stepped forward, poised ready for a fight as he watched what was happening. His sword was in one hand while the other one made a fist, much like Yuna's. His anger was like a damn about to burst -- a furious expression crossing his face as he turned to the queen. "We have to do something! We can't just let him get away with this!"

Which was promptly met with a gun shoved further in Tidus' face.

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia clenched her jaw. The young man was right. Even uneducated about her apparent role in the memory, Ashelia was fiercely protective of all the Heroes; especially Yuna, having fought by her side several times. Whether this already happened or not, she wasn't going to let this continue. She moved her fingers slightly - if she concentrated, she could hear the whisper in the back of her mind. The High Seraph... Dare she?

She narrowed her eyes, looking at the guns pointed at them. There wouldn't be enough time. "On my mark..." she mumbled, flexing her fingers once more. Lightning crackled between them, and she grinned. This was power.

"NOW!" she yelled, extending her hands forward. "Thundaga!" Her area of effect Thundaga spell arced outwards, traveling all around the group of guardians.