melodiesoflife | Event || In Your Worst Memory

Event || In Your Worst Memory

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?

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On that day, Albel likely wouldn't have noticed, or cared who approached him. He didn't pay much attention to anyone near him. The fact that this was a memory, though, and he was older -- wiser -- more distant from it, that made a difference. He was aware of Zelda, and the fact she didn't belong.

"What are you doing here?" The words weren't said with much surprise -- he'd already been channeled into Fayt's memory, after all. It was more annoyance that his memories should be revealed and shared without his permission, and with a stranger of all people.

Zelda knew that she was a trespasser here and she didn't have a reason to give Albel. She met his gave with a confident stare of her own. Her eyes were unguarded showing him her worry and her strength. "I'm sorry." And he could see that she meant it. "This is your memory. I shouldn't be here. I don't know why."

If only she could help? Zelda wanted to help him but it wasn't her place. If he wanted her there then she would be but he didn't know her and she didn't expected him to trust her so soon.

"Are you alright?" She kept her gaze locked with his to at least show him that she was being earnest.

He hadn't expected that response and his surprise shows in the way his eyebrows rise and his gait slows. In the end, as angry as this all made him, he knew it wasn't Zelda's fault -- just as he hadn't chosen to appear in Fayt's memory, or Vincent's. It simply happened.

Albel shook his head and began walking again. "I'm fine." Lies. "I just... I didn't need to see this again. I don't need to see this again."

Once was enough. If this was some spell to make him relive the memory, Albel would fight it. He kept walking down the side streets, leading Zelda away from the main road, pushing ahead past people who stared in disapproval. Pressing onward, where the bells should start fading, where the alleys should be still, except when they emerged...

The road was full of the mourning, the funeral parade continued to march, and the bells continued to ring. They were back where they started.

Zelda was good at reading people even those who worked to hide how they felt. She knew something about these memories and they were shown them for a reason. She hoped that it would make them all stronger.

She followed her eyes on Albel as they walked. She looked around only as the scene shifted and changed back to where they started. "A..lbel?" She realized that this was what he was meant to see.

"I think you have to face this." Zelda's gaze shifted back to Albel. "I'm so sorry. I know... I'm sure that we are shown these memories for a reason. To face them. I know I shouldn't be here but... maybe I can help?"

Albel froze. Why... why...

It didn't exactly make him especially receptive to Zelda's kindness. "Help? Help?" Albel stared at her, lip curling in derision. "You think you can help?"

He let his cloak fall open to expose his bandaged wounds, waved his stump of an arm emphatically. "Look at me! My arm is gone -- my father is dead! And you think you can help?" He laughed, bitter and indignant, as more of the gathered townsfolk turned to stare.

Zelda looked at the space where his arm should have been and she heard the pain in his voice. She knew what it was like to lose a parent but she had been so young then. She knew what it was like to fight for her home. She knew what it was like to use someone she cared about but she didn't know anything about this.

Her eyes stayed on him even though she wanted to look away. She would stay strong. "I think you've been shown this memory because you haven't accept it. It's true." Her hands were laced together as if in prayer. "I might not be able to help but..."

Zelda's eyes moved from his arm up to his gaze. "Why can't I try? I know you know nothing about me but... I can tell you and you don't have to trust me. And I know it must be hard. But I can at least try..."

She was strong. She wanted to be strong.

Albel continued to stare. She was so... earnest. Her pleas so heartfelt. He almost wished her determination was all it took, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel bitter and insulted. Listening was all well and good, nice on paper, but what did it actually solve? Nothing.

He shook his head. "There is nothing you can change. You can't fix... this." He waved his stump again, then -- embarrassed -- he hid it beneath his cloak.

"I have seen this scene in my nightmares every day since then." Albel stared hollowly at the procession, marching ever closer. "There was no need for... all this." He waved his good hand around, gesturing at the scene -- meaning the strange, magical revival of it.

Zelda felt her heart ache knowing what it was he might have gone through. She didn't know the details of his past and she wasn't going to ask. She could listen but he was right; it would fix nothing.

She stepped up next to him, her gaze never wavering. "You're right. I can't fix anything but I know that holding on to the past and letting it haunt you won't help either. You can't change the past. You can accept it or be crushed by it."

Her voice was soft and it's obvious that she's speaking from experience more than theory. It hurt and she knew it. "It's hard and it sucks but..." She took a deep breath. "You have to try." She wasn't going to let this keep haunting him, even if he hated her for it. Even if she had to say things he didn't want to hear.

Albel sighed and massaged his forehead. If everyone was seeing memories like this, perhaps it was a test. And if that were the case, then he would have to pass it to be a true Hero of Light -- as well as keep his dignity.

"If I must watch it again..."

He glared toward the street. It was hard, but he took a breath and squared his shoulders. If he must... then he would. Even if it hurt. And made him feel ill the closer he walked.

Zelda stayed a step behind him not wanting to leave his side. She watched him curiously wondering what sort of torments must be going through his mind. She wanted to help and yet she knew there was nothing that she could do. She could tell him about herself but he probably didn't want to hear about her own life.

Her own experiences couldn't relate to this anyway.

"Albel?" She stopped herself trying to think of what to say. "I must be here for a reason." She must be able to help but he'd have to want her too.

"I suppose," he said gruffly. But as he thought about it, she had a point. Why would the test include strangers as witnesses to these memories, these vulnerabilities? Certainly he wouldn't have been invited into Vincent's memory. As it was, he was barely welcomed.

And who could blame them for not welcoming strangers into their innermost secrets? It was personal, private -- weakness.

"Perhaps they wanted someone else to force me to watch this," he muttered, not seeing an immediate use for Zelda. "Make sure I play their game."

And as the people in the crowd glared at him for speaking, for existing, he simply glared back until they averted their eyes.

"I don't think this is just a game." Zelda paused her voice soft as to not disrupt those walking passed them. "I think there is something here you must find and honestly, I think I'm suppose to help."

Why else would she be here? It wasn't to be a witness because anyone who knew Zelda knew that the goddess would stand forward in this sort of situation. She wouldn't stand by and do nothing. She won't just be a witness forced to watch someone life out there memories. She would encourage him and do what she couldn't to help.

"I was in a dream before this one. It was someone else from Crystallis. We survived and we talked. We faced his demons and he was stronger because of it."

"Whose dream was that?" The question was dry, disinterested. Why should he care?

Though, the more Albel thought about it, he couldn't help but be curious. What kind of dream was it that necessitated mentioning surviving? What kind of demons were faced?

He didn't want to care, but if there was a clue for how to escape his own memories...

"What... happened?" he asked, dropping some of his guard.

"It was a good friend of mine." She wasn't going to mention who, if only because it was his choice who to tell. She paused for a moment looking out at the scene before turning towards Albel inquisitive gaze.

"We fought his brother and a collection of demons that supported him. It wasn't like this one. They could hurt us and we could fend them off. My friend..." She paused again her hand moving over her heart as if it was in pain. "He had to kill his brother."

It was something that had to be faced because it was part of his life but it was hard and without the other heroes there, it might have had a very different out come.

The warrior's chest felt tight. A memory of killing one's brother... And having to enact it again. Albel wasn't sure what would happen if one died in these memories, but if those demons were corporeal it didn't sound like Zelda and her friend had much of a choice but to fight.

He wondered if he could kill any of these people in the crowd, right now. Even if he could, he knew he shouldn't. Something in the back of his mind told him that if he didn't play along, the memory would simply restart. And he would have to do it again. And again. Until he got it "right."

Whatever that was.

Albel simply clenched the fist that remained, unsure what words would even be appropriate.

Zelda could sense the tension in Alebl at her confession. She had yet to see her own memory though Zelda didn't know it was soon to come as well. Her eyes were reflecting the worry and fears she had for the man she knew almost nothing about.

"We all have to face things in different ways."

The hardest thing for Ramza was that fight and so she could only assume that not being able to fight would be hard for Albel. She could sense the strength in him, the darkness and light raging inside of him. It wasn't her place to say much more but she wanted him to face this and she wanted him to succeed.

Albel was quiet. Even so, Zelda's presence beside him was powerful, just feeling her watching him. Feeling her spirit beside him, strong, unwavering in her support. Slowly his fist relaxed; slower still, hesitantly, he placed it on her shoulder.

"If nothing else... you are persistent. I suppose that is a good trait for a 'hero'. Even if it is annoying." A smirk, though weak, cracked through.

The horses were nearly upon them, then passing, pulling along the funeral carriage. The coffin would be empty, Albel knew, but it was still draped in Airyglyph's colors. It truly did befit a hero. The crowd began to murmur.

"Such a shame..."
"...too soon..."
"Because of his son..."
"...so disappointing..."
"...we're so disappointed in you."

"Enough!" Albel roared, his hand tightening on Zelda's shoulder. The people stared.

"It has been ten years... He has been gone ten years, and I carry this with me. And..." His voice wavered and he stopped, gritting his teeth. It had been a long time -- long enough. He was far from useless, he was far from weak. He'd done the impossible... and had found people he could rely on.

"I am done listening to you!"

Slowly, in stunned silence, the crowd began to fade a few people at a time until the street was empty. A few soft snowflakes began to fall.

She smiled fondly at his comment not willing to argue. She was persistent and she didn’t really mind being annoying. It was nice to see him slowly relaxing even with the horrible image that played in front of them. Her eyes shifted back to their surrounding only in time to hear the crowds whispers grow around them.

Zelda’s brow creased in worry as she looked up at Albel. She wasn’t bother with the tight grip knowing that it might have helped him face those around him.

She said nothing letting Albel come to terms with the horrors of his past. He must have blamed himself, all this time carrying the weight on his heart. It was heavy and there was nothing that could be done until he accepted the past. Zelda knew what that was like which was why she remained silent.

She glanced around at the now empty street, a hand rising in the air to catch a snowflake that had drifted down from the heavens. There was something peaceful about this snow fall. She gently placed a hand over his hoping that he might find some comfort in the gesture.

Once reminded of his uncharacteristic softness, he took his hand away, not wishing to remain sentimental with Zelda. It was awkward and uncomfortable... but he was relieved that the scene was apparently over. With Fayt's help... and Zelda's.

Finally. It was done. He could lay his father's memory to rest.

"I..." He hesitated. "You have my thanks."

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Event || In Your Worst Memory

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Ramza bb! </3

She didn't say who! lol

roommate powers 8D

XD

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