24th moon [video]

[puppet_paladin]

[The room is dark, as befitting the middle of the night. The soft sounds of sleeping Pokémon can be heard, undisturbed. A shadow that appears to be an Eevee can be seen sleeping on a pillow at the head of the bed. Cecil is in the middle of it, sitting up, his skin so pale it almost glows. The sheets around him are rumpled, twisted by an uneasy

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[Video]

[for_cosmos]

[With how sensible and even-headed the warrior is, you would expect him to be asleep at this time of night, right?

Except that he's awake to answer this. And there's a pokemon pile on the bed in the spot where a person would usually sleep. He also looks just as tired as Cecil does.]

You dreamed of the Conflict?

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

[The sight of that poképile makes him smile a little, not happily but not sadly either. He pets the sleeping Eevee softly.]

Of the Conflict, of my best friend, of my brother... Smiling faces upon smiling faces upon smiling faces whose names I cannot remember. So many smiles, yet upon waking I felt nothing but sadness.

[Video]

[for_cosmos]

[If the poképile were awake they might try to cheer him up, but they aren't, and the warrior isn't willing to disturb them.]

The faces... whose are they? Do you know them?

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

I think... I think I saw Tifa and Lightning, briefly. Kain, too, wearing his old armor. But the others... I cannot recall their names.

video.

[reimprovise]

[What is sleep?]

It sounds like there's a lot on your mind.

[video]

[puppet_paladin]

There must be, for me to be so unable to sleep.

[video]

[reimprovise]

Homesickness?

[video]

[puppet_paladin]

Perhaps the equivalent of it for worlds you've only visited. The rest of it was not quite associated directly to the world.

[Video]

[radiantxsmile]

Cecil? [She looks really worried after listening to those words.] Is something wrong?

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

I'm fine. I simply... dreamed about events from a long time ago. It brought a wave of nostalgia with it.

[Video]

[radiantxsmile]

It sounded like you were having...a nightmare. [Pauses.] Do you want to talk about it?

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

...It was not truly a nightmare. It was more like... It was more like dreaming of old friends, except I could remember who they were. Their dream selves were smiling and laughing, but I could only feel confusion and guilt.

[video]

[usedsubstitute]

M-Mr. Harvey. Are you alright? [Iris gives her friend a concerned look.] It sounds as if you past is weighing heavily on your heart.

Y-You don't have to, but if you have the desire, you can talk to me. Sometimes telling others about your past helps.

[video]

[puppet_paladin]

I'm fine, Sister Iris. I was merely thinking of a dream I had, and of the date. Neither would be very interesting to hear about, I assure you.

[video]

[usedsubstitute]

A-Are you sure? I-I wouldn't want to pressure you, but I'd had to stand by if you were suffering...

[video]

[puppet_paladin]

It's not that, it's merely...

...I might be turning thirty-eight today.

[Video]

[mimicofthewind]

Don't say that, Cecil! We can still do something about it!

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

Unless you know a way to remember forgotten names, especially ones that were possibly deliberately erased, that might be complicated. And the other issue... only Golbez could tell me the truth. Anything else would be mere guesswork.

[Video]

[mimicofthewind]

Give it time, man. It always seemed to be the best answer to this kind of questions.

[Video]

[puppet_paladin]

Perhaps that would be for the best... Still, it feels... unfair, being unable to remember their names, or even more than their faces and smiles.