[Thread, Closed]

[heartofheaven]

Characters: Tifa, Ashe, Beatrix
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Three women experience some of their most heart-felt memories.
Location: Memoria
Date: February 1st, 1804
Warnings: This is going to be embarrassing.

Comments

[wavering_blade]

As the scenery changed around her, Beatrix blinked, shook her head, and blinked again, to no avail. For whatever reason, she was now standing in completely unfamiliar territory with no explanation of how she arrived there. Along with her were two other women, one she knew by name--Lady Ashe, being one of several important people from unfamiliar lands--and another she thought she had seen before, but could not quite place. She wasn't sure whether it was a comfort or a frustration that they seemed just as confused as she.

"Where are we?" she asked after a moment, though she expected neither of her companions would be able to give her a satisfactory answer.

[mademyresolve]

Nothing could possibl have prepared Ashe for the sudden revelation that she had once again been cast away, no longer in familiar surroundings, no longer holding her baby - Gods, where was her son? Bordering on panic, her wide, gray eyes seemed to absorb this new environment as the princess spun fully around, desperate to see Rasler or their baby there - if anything had happened to either of them - Disappointment, fear, both set in, gripping her fiercely and yet she maintained her composure, fighting anguish to accomplish what needed to be done. Finding a way out of this... place.

It hadn't escaped Ashe that she wasn't alone, General Beatrix, for one, and someone else, vaguely familiar. Without options, the best thing to do was join them, work to finding a solution together.

"... I don't know," she replied, voice a little strained. "A light, and then..."

[heartofheaven]

"This is my world," said Tifa, feeling light-headed. "That airship... It's the Highwind, and that city... It's Midgar. But this is the wrong time, Midgar was destroyed..."

She felt cheated. She'd wanted to go home for so long, and now she was here, it had all gone wrong. With a sinking feeling, she looked up at the sky. Yes, there it was, huge and ominous.

"Meteor..."

At that moment, Tifa knew instantly which night it was. She remembered it, so clearly-

She and Cloud were the only ones left, the airship silent behind them. Their future had never looked bleaker.

"Hmm," said Cloud. "I wonder? Everyone has an irreplaceable something they're holding onto. But this time, our opponent..."

Tifa stood gazing out at the landscape. She knew what they faced, how unlikely it was that they'd make it, but somehow tonight she felt helpful. She nodded. "Hmm... But that's all right, even if no-one comes back. As long as I'm with you... As long as you're by my side... I won't give up even if I'm scared."

[mademyresolve]

Ashe halted her scrutinisation of her new surroundings to look to Tifa as she spoke. If this was her world, then... then they were no longer on Gaia. Her chest tightened at the knowledge, almost unbearably so and, had she even wanted to, the princess was rendered incapable of speaking any further.

As if mortally wounded, Ashe's hands clasped together against her body which remained completely still. What finally induced her to move, drew her attention, was the sudden declaration from Tifa. Surely, she was responding to someone, when neither she nor Beatrix had spoken but... they were alone.

Who, then, was she addressing? What was happening, and why were Beatrix and herself here, in this place?