melodiesoflife | Prelude || The Festival Of Light

Prelude || The Festival Of Light

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light."
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 3rd of August, final day of the Festival of Light. The Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and optionally participate in activities provided by the Festival of Light.
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, 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 knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:

"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up, Kupo!" Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be any citizens aside from Moogles in the vicinity. Indeed, the population of Aqures Ixen seems to be busy elsewhere in the city-- The Moogle will tell you there currently an event named the Festival of Light, which most people are attending. But you are not alone! It probably will not be long before you realize there are plenty of people like you all around, and if somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. Maybe with their help, you will be able to find out what is happening to you.

— Final Day —
The Festival of Light is a yearly event held at Aqures Ixen to celebrate the victory of the "Heroes of Light" over the "Calamity from the Skies" two thousands years ago, or so do the legends say. Whether people believe in the legends or not, this is an occasion for them to have fun and spend time with family and friends. The Festival is held from the 28th of July to the 3rd of August.

Unfortunately, most attractions and events are over by the third of August. Yet, there is enough to do, should the newly arrived Heroes of Light favor spending time looking at the attractions rather than panicking about their situation. The festival ends at midnight.

Theater Play
— Ninth District || 14:00 —

There is a large theater stage installed in the 9th district-- It is probably only temporary by the look of it. There is quite a crowd seated to watch the play about to unfold, as well as numerous people standing beneath the seats or sitting on the ceilings because they couldn't get a seat. After the audience grows quiet, a woman with long silver hair and green-ish skin steps onto the stage to address the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago! At the time when the Ancients reigned over the planet, when the Calamities from the Skies landed on this world and waged war against all forms of life. When our story begins, the Ancients are on the brink of extinction and gathering the last of their forces to fight. And now people of Aqures Ixen and visitors from distant lands, we proudly present 'The 4 Heroes of Light'!"

After this, the play starts and will last for roughly one hour and a half. The main characters appear to be four Heroes of Light, respectively dressed as a Warrior, Monk, Black Mage and White Mage. Other characters include the Calamity from the Skies played by the silver-haired woman, an Ancient scientist and the Princess of Crystallis. The story appears to be a highly romanticized version of the tale the Moogles told the characters earlier. As the play unfolds, there is a love story between one of the Heroes of Light, the Warrior, and the Princess of Crystallis. At the end of the play, the Heroes of Light successfully defeat the Calamity from the Skies, but the Warrior has to sacrifice himself and die in order to protect the Princess of Crystallis.

Culinary Attractions
— Fourteenth District || Anytime —
What would a festival be without free food and banquets? Not really a festival. In the fourteenth district, there is a banquet and many stands held by people from all over the world-- People from Balicea, Aerilon, Esdham, Flence, etc. There is even a stand held by former inhabitants of the Empire. All kind of food from all over the world can be found here-- Refined food, pastries, cakes, cooked meals, etc. It's virtually impossible not to find something to like in all of this, and it's all free until midnight!

Competitions
— Tenth & Eight District || 18:00 —

At 18:00, there will be a Blitzball match opposing the teams of Aqures Ixen and Balicea in the Blitzball Stadium. It is more of an exposition match, with nothing to be won aside from glory. Anyone is free to enter the stadium to watch the match. Following this, people - playable characters included - will be allowed to play some Blitzball Match on their own, if they want to try.

At the same time, a Triple Triad competition will be taking place in the eight district, in the campus of the university. Characters are free to enter the Triple Triad tournament, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. With low level cards and whatsoever no experience, odds are that they may lose to much more experienced and competitive players, but what matters is trying, right? Whilst no characters may recognize him yet, it is notable that one of the NPCs, Wedge, is taking part in the competition. It's just a shame knowing he will lose in the semi-finals.

Trano Golsaucia's Stands
— Eleventh District || Anytime —
Specially for the occasions, stallholders from Trano Golsaucia traveled to Aqures Ixen and brought a few attractions to display what they can do. Noticeably, they brought Chocobos and will organize numerous races throughout the day, on an improvised tracks running around the houses. The Heroes of Light are more than welcome to try and bet, should they want to lose (or multiply) what few Gils they have. If they feel adventurous, they may even try to enter one of the races and ride a Chocobo-- At their own risks.

Aside from this, there are some more attractions worthy of attention. There is a shooting stand-- Coincidentally, all the targets are vaguely similar to the main antagonists of numbered Final Fantasy games. There is a treasure chest game, where characters are presented with ten chests and can open only one-- Prizes range from one Gils to gigantic plushie. There is also a fortune teller Moogle, it is notable that his predictions will always include either the character suffering hell or dying soon, in one form or another. Hopefully this moogle is just a scam.

Fireworks
— First District || 23:00 —

What better way to conclude a festival than fireworks? Fireworks will be launched from the Castle of Aqures Ixen starting 23:00, and will end at midnight, at the same time than the festival. No matter where you are in the city, anyone should be able to watch them easilly if they so wish. Unfortunately, it means falling asleep before midnight may be a bit hard with all the noise.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Prelude

Genesis. This had to be his doing. Just another surprise that he'd orchestrated for Sephiroth to be led into. To think he had been so naive to take the bait, in the first place, was bitter indeed; that he had hoped Genesis would still be inside the scope of redemption, even risked his own reputation on the same, drowned his spirit even further.

The walls of the corridors of the 25th Floor of the Shinra HQ, where Sephiroth had been working down from his rendezvous with Angeal and Zack, shook menacingly. He paused as another winged, semi-degraded Genesis-copy fell at his feet. Sephiroth could feel the unmistakable charging of energy in the air that told him a summon was being used nearby. The walls shook again, more vibrantly then-

-shattered.

Except it wasn't only his surroundings that appeared to shatter like glass - but the whole of reality itself. Instinctively Sephiroth had thrown an arm up to shield his eyes from fragments that, it soon came to be realized, never sprayed him. As he peered out over the top of his forearm whilst lowering said guard, the void that he suddenly was sinking into at an alarming rate seemed to grow chillier by the second, more completely engulfing in its darkness in time with the racing pulse inside Sephiroth's chest. As the seconds ticked by, he could feel strength leaking from him somehow-

Had the building collapsed or something and he was bleeding out somewhere in the rubble? Now wouldn't that be an anti-climatic end for Shinra's top SOLDIER? Is this what unconsciousness, in the moments before death, felt like?

A red light generated for itself a form before him and as Sephiroth watched it swirled and grew itself into a jagged shape, not too dissimilar to how he had read that materia appeared in its natural form. The warmth from it, in the chilled abyss was a veritable beacon-

Warmth that was verified as gloved fingers closed around it.

Arrival - 3rd District: Crystal of Fire
"Wake up"

Was that a voice, or just the thrum of some distant machinery in the background? Sephiroth had been listening for something like that after all, if his hazy theory about being buried by a collapsing building held any weight to it at all, so it wasn't any surprise that the first soothing tones weren't registered. Lain out on his back on the pavement by the Crystal of Fire, Sephiroth did stir a little though. Albeit only to minutely roll shoulders backwards and turn his face away from the heat he could feel starting to prickle uncomfortably at the end of his nose; was that sunlight? or torchlight behind closed eyes? He'd be out of here soon enough.

"Wake up, Kupo!"

That voice registered. Kupo. Wha-

Eyebrows drew together as if to protest, eyelids squinted open next as the world at first burned like white fire into retinas. Sephiroth blinked, finally focusing on the details nearest him - the concrete that ran out away from underneath him before meeting with housing he didn't recognize. One more blink and then he slid eyes to the other extreme of his field of vision- a red shape swam within a larger white-

"Kup-oooo!"

One moogle that had climbed up onto Sephiroth's chest and was leaning over his head whilst trying to stir him, was promptly removed with a reactive sweep of a forearm as Sephiroth instantly sat up and peered around. Pushing up against both hands he found a crystal he had been clutching tightly and he spent a few heavy moments studying the shard. Eyes lowered to his palm, flicked up and around the other small white, red pom-pom topped moogles gathered around, and finally down onto light-armor that Sephiroth was certain he'd never be seen dead in ever, before shaking his head as if to dismiss the hallucination. It had to be, after all.

"...Hero of Light..."

Sephiroth hadn't been listening to the small, almost timid moogle that had been knocked off of him a moment before. Too wound up in his own thoughts. Reality doesn't shatter like that, there was no such powerful magic even if Genesis was mad enough to use it. Moogles aren't real. Just as Sephiroth would never be seen to wield-

Masamune was lain out alongside him, it's hilt just an arms extension away. Lightly greaved -with purple armor trimmed with silver edging- legs bent up and with more of an effort than Sephiroth preferred he swung his weight forwards and got to his feet. Lying in the sun too long, caused this lethargy, no doubt. The armor he was clad in probably did no favors to that point, underneath it already felt much too warm and sticky.

But I've never had a problem with overheating-

The moogle, whom he would come later to know as Spencer, had given up trying to communicate verbally -at least for the time being- to a man that wasn't listening to him. Instead it wrapped its stubby front paws around the pommel of Masamune as best he could and a few flurried wing-flaps later did manage to lift the great sword into the air. Only about half a foot or so, but by the scrape of the sharpened steel on the concrete, it was enough for Sephiroth to notice the gesture. It felt strange taking his sword from the small, supposed to be fictional, creature but Sephiroth did flash a grateful smile before turning his attention back to everything else going on around him.

Spencer, the smaller than average, bespectacled moogle followed at a cautious distance. Unable to figure out just yet how best to approach the intimidatingly taller Hero of Light. There were a lot of things to be explained but it seemed Sephiroth was determined to figure it out on his own rather than asking.

Festival of Light Activities

i) Theater Play
It seemed a rather popular attraction out of what was left of the Festival of Light. Impossible to miss within the 9th District, it was Spencer who had finally plucked up some courage to flutter up to Sephiroth's shoulder height while he regarded the theater that a vast number of other people (not all of them human either) were congregating towards. The moogle had already learned not to touch, poke or pull at any part of Sephiroth directly; just watching him had taught Spencer how quickly irritated he got by just the odd strand of his long silver hair getting caught between armor plates at his back. He knew that he could help Sephiroth by affording him clothing he was more suited to, but the moogle wanted this 'Hero' to learn that he needed to ask, first.

"I'm not one for poetry and plays." He commented gruffly, affording his small companion a carefully guarded glance. Sephiroth still firmly believed this had to some trauma-induced dream, probably a side-effect of the medical treatment he had to be receiving. But knowing his regeneration- it wouldn't be long.

"Then drop the preconception, kupo." Spencer matter-of-factly rolled his small voice back at Sephiroth from the side. "I guarantee its not a waste of time."

With a restrained sigh, Sephiroth advanced towards the Theater with Spencer doing a better job, than before, of keeping up to his height and long strides.

He watched the play from quite high up in the stands, arms folded loosely about waist height and leant with a shoulder against a wooden pillar. Spencer, finally, had been permitted a seat on the opposite plate of armor. There were lacking seats for moogles, after all, being so packed in.

At their basest, all epic plays told the same story. Good vs Evil, the hero (or heroes, in multiple) saving the world, even the tragic sacrifice of the Warrior-hero could have earned an eye roll in it's predictability. As an enactment of the legend his moogle kept going on about, though, Sephiroth knew it couldn't be all that accurate. Being a Hero was a lot less clean, and certainly less romantic than all that; he should know. A line from LOVELESS came to mind though;

Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at World's end

By the end of the play a deep, concerned frown had scored its way into Sephiroth's features. Drilled into his head or what? But of course Genesis would play on his unconscious mind now, considering that latest stab in the back.

ii) Fireworks
It had been a long day. Sephiroth already felt a tiredness, like no other in recent memory, that had begun to work its way deeper into all the tendons holding his frame together. Throbbing dully ever since he had finally asked Spencer to swap out his Warrior-class armor into clothing that he was much more comfortable wearing. Leather with silver pauldrons was his signature look after all, even if Sephiroth was sure he'd never quite felt so wet in places beneath it. Details that weren't worth pondering over; at least his hair wasn't getting caught in plating anymore.

As the first flurry of fireworks lit up the sky Sephiroth figured there would be little point attempting to retire to his -apparently free- house with such festivities going on.

So instead, still with Spencer at a shoulder-height small distance behind him, Sephiroth stood silently on the outskirts of the crowd in the 1st District, similarly observing the display. He'd dropped the folded arms a short while ago out of discomfort than anything else and again wiped at a sheen of sweat on his forehead, between chin-length bangs, with the back of a hand.

It'd all be over soon, he had to be really waking up now.

It had certainly been a long day. Lugging the huge Moomba was also a pain but Monty insisted that she would be able to put it away soon enough. Evidently, there was housing just for the Heroes of Light. She wasn't a Hero, she had reminder him but he ignored it in favor of sitting on the Moomba's head.

"Can you not make this any more difficult, Monty? I already feel like it's far too heavy for a stuffed toy."

"But I am as light as a feather, kupo!"

"Keep telling yourself that."

Her moogle huffed at her and stayed just where he was. Genesis rolled her eyes and continued on. It was as she passed a man with long silver hair that she paused and looked over her shoulder. And jumped.

"Sephiroth?"

Now clad in his 'correct' attire, as opposed to the purple light armor he'd spent the day in - of course he was much more recognizable. But then- within his own dream surely everyone already knew him? Right? Sephiroth wasn't usually such a vivid dreamer, or if he was he never recalled details or logical thought within one before.

As such, any reaction that Genesis may have been expecting from Sephiroth was flattened in the split seconds before he turned his head to peer behind him over a silver pauldron. Between the odd shadows cast by the fireworks, and the alien attire that the girl was wearing, Sephiroth squinted a little trying to identify her.

After all, he didn't really know this woman at all. Despite how she might sound like she knows him.

"Yes." He acknowledged, expecting her to continue to say what it was she caught his attention for.

Well, she supposed she shouldn't have expected anything than that. It wasn't like Sephiroth liked her anymore. They weren't friends, as far as she knew. Not anymore. But the way he scrutinized her a bit, not entirely reacting like he normally did around her, made her own brows furrow. Was he that mad at her that he was going to act like he hardly knew her?

"I just... didn't expect to see you here," She finally said. She honestly hadn't expected much of a reaction so much as what words he would have said, so for him to just use that one word confused her. "Angeal is here too, you know."

"I know. I came across him earlier."

Another bright set of fireworks screeched up into the night sky just then and Sephiroth turned his head up immediately to look at them. Same old way that he'd have to be the first to notice anything, the first ever to react to any situation that might present itself. It seemed his tired, slightly-irritable mood was starting to make him look for the sequence of events that needed to lead him out of this dream now.

After the crackling settled down, and with an uncomfortable ringing in his ears Sephiroth turned once more to the female. As if it had taken him that long to phrase the question, there was an extended pause as he glanced all over the girl before him now as if trying to identify her as someone he should know, but doesn't. Aside from a similar shade of hair perhaps-

"What's it to you? It's not like you know either of us."

"...what?" Genesis almost dropped the plushie. Did Sephiroth really just ask...?

Genesis opened her mouth again, but wasn't able to form words quite yet. Sephiroth was really that mad at her that he decided to erase her from memory? She couldn't decide if she was upset or mad. How could Sephiroth just act like this?

She didn't care for the fireworks anymore, outright ignoring them actually.

"Are you serious, Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth

Fireworks

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Arrival - Response

OMF it's been a long time since Luffy-CR

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theater

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theater

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Fireworks

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The play's the thing

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