007: And Then The Walls Fell Down [Action/Video]

[redsnowangel]

[Action]

[It was not difficult to notice that the bay had mysteriously disappeared, as he walked past it fairly regularly on his way to work. Normally, Zelos would avoid something odd like this entirely, dismissing it as too much effort to investigate, or just 'someone else's problem'. However...it looked harmless enough, and soon his curiosity got the better of him.

Wandering over to the where the old bay was, he slipped off his shoes and socks, pulled up his trousers past his knees, and headed into the cool water. He wasn't stupid enough to stray into the giant hole in the middle, of course, for now focusing on the small lights glittering around him.

Huh.

Tentatively, he reached into the water and scooped two of them into his hands to get a closer look. Before he could work out what they were, the two stars shattered, one after the other...]

---

[First Memory, Semi-open*]





A flurry of snow fell steadily past the windows of the Wilder mansion. Zelos - only a young child of 10 or so - bounced on the balls of his feet, staring up with wide eyes at the sky and across the city rooftops, the city square and the trees, all covered in a steadily growing blanket of white. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Of course, when he finally tore his eyes away from the strange sight, the first person he ran to was his mother, racing past the family butler as he did so. To say the least, the friendly warnings of "Master Zelos, please do not race around the halls in such a manner..." were left entirely unheard by the excited child.

He found her drinking tea in the drawing room, dressed in an ornate, pale red gown fit for the noblewoman she was, long blonde hair done up in a tidy bun. She gave Zelos a tired look, a small, despairing sigh escaping her that he did not notice as he ran to her side, pestering his mother to come out and play in the snow with him.

To his absolute delight and surprise, she finally got to her feet, following her son as he dragged her as fast as he could into the gardens. Zelos was barely able to hide the bright smile filling his face and spring in his step.

The feeling of snow under his feet, the crunching sound that came with it, the little twinges of cold as the flakes melted onto his outstretched hands fascinated him. For a while, his mother just waited by the wide doorway, watching her son play with a bored disinterest. Eventually, though, she walked over to him and crouched down, starting to roll a large ball of snow. Zelos soon got the hint, starting on one of his own until it was big enough to make a snowman's head. Together, they carefully rolled the head onto the body, and Zelos gathered some twigs and stones to give it arms and a face, before standing on his tiptoes to drape his own scarf around it's shoulders.

But then, in a flash, the snowman fell apart. A deep red splatter hit what remained of it's body.

Zelos froze, only able to stare as his mother staggered from the spell's impact. She fell, grabbing onto her son's shoulder to try and support herself. The boy couldn't find his voice, his mouth just forming the word 'Mother' but no words escaped him. With her last, rasping breaths, she spoke to him for the last time:

"You should never have been born,"

Her hand slipped from his shoulder, and she fell to the ground. The snow around them slowly turned red with blood.


[*OOC: Because of how much of an impact this memory has on Zelos, I'd rather not too many people see it. If you're curious though and we haven't discussed it already, feel free to drop me a PM!]


[Second Memory, OPEN]





So, the group were getting ready to fight the angel Yggdrasil once and for all. Despite the tension and drive that filled the air that morning, Zelos felt strangely…empty. He released a long breath, that formed into mist in the cold air. He kept a bit of a distance from the others - just enough so that it wouldn't look suspicious. Knowing them, they'd assume he was mentally preparing himself for the fight.

Despite his efforts, though, Lloyd caught him as they prepared to leave town, brow furrowed as concern wrote itself into his usually kind and sure expresson.

"…Zelos, can I really trust you?"

That was it, then. Of all the people he hoped might, somehow learn to believe in him…in the end, it was all for nothing? Lloyd, the most forgiving, open-hearted person he'd ever met, even he couldn't bring himself to put his faith in him?

"What are you saying?" he replied, a fake smile and lighthearted tone easily slipping into place once again, "Of course you can trust me! I’m the type that responds to people’s trust."

"Really?" Lloyd still wasn't convinced? That only twisted the knife deeper. He really wasn't worthy of anyone's trust, he knew that.

"Really! Really, really, come on, let's go!" Zelos replied. He just wanted out of this talk.

Luckily, Lloyd was soon distracted by the others, and that gave him plenty of time to excuse himself. The journey to the Tower of Salvation was a quiet one, each member of the party lost in their respective thoughts. Soon enough… the massive building grew closer. Their journey was nearly over. Just as they ran to the entrance, it became apparent that the angels - winged beings with expressionless faces, armour and wings, were ready to get in their way. The lifeless beings kept coming, threatening to block both their route in and their route out.

"Lloyd! This way!" Huh. So Yuan had come to help them after all. Before the angels could make their strike, their former enemy ushered the small party into a secret passage.

"Why are you helping us?" Lloyd asked.

Yuan shrugged off the question, focusing on the path ahead. "Now that the truth about me is known to Yggdrasil, the only way left to save Martel is to work with you. Don’t think that I want to be your friend or anything."

Wow, talk about sour, but at least he was honest.

"You have a real negative attitude, you know that?" Lloyd said with a sigh, "Well, whatever. Thanks for helping us. Let’s go everyone!"

It wouldn't be long now. As Lloyd and Yuan chatted, Zelos hung at the back of the party, focusing on Colette. This shouldn't be too hard. At least he'd finally, finally get out of this nightmare.

[The betrayal, part 1]
[The betrayal, part 2 - if you want to skip the fight, jump to 8:15]

---

[Zelos staggered back, hand clasped over his mouth as all the colour drained from his face. For now, he just focused on swallowing back the nausea rising up his throat, he had to make sure he didn't throw up right in the middle of this place. Don't be sick. Don't be sick.

His other hand clutched at his stomach and his side, just to make sure the wounds hadn't somehow returned. It was all so painfully real. As if he was right there, fighting his former friends again, dying a second time.

And his mother...That memory was somehow worst of all.]


[Video, a few hours after the memory-sharing mess, OPEN]

[Zelos wouldn't normally give a PSA to help everyone else in town, but for now…he really didn't want to chance anyone else finding out about his history.

Those who had spoken to Zelos before might notice that he looked a little agitated - something he tried to mask with a bored expression.]

…Guys, quick word of advice. Might want to avoid where the Bay used to be. It's pulling some really screwy stuff right now.

[With the message out the way, the feed abruptly ends.]

Comments

action; memory #2

[ferels]

[Zelos isn't the only one checking out the Bay today.

Normally, Arietta prefers to keep her distance from people, living a nomadic life within the woods rather than find housing within the city itself. It's not necessarily her first choice of living arrangements- she doesn't want to be alone- but at the same time, she doesn't trust people; the two that she did are long gone.

Still, eventually, news of the missing Bay catches her attention, and curiously, cautiously, Arietta sets out to investigate, wanting to see for herself what's going on. The glittering stars in the water fascinate her, leading her to try to catch one for herself. Zelos' memory catches her offguard, though, and she drops the star with a startled yelp, confused as to the scene she had just witnessed. It isn't until she picks up another star that she begins to regret the decision- it's the memory of her duel with Anise, of her death (from ~15:31-21:20), playing for her as strongly and vividly as if it were happening all over again.

It's too much to handle. The emotions from both of the memories combined are completely overwhelming and upsetting for Arietta as she backs away from the water, unaware of the presence of anyone else in the area.]

Ion...!

action;

[redsnowangel]

[Zelos didn't even notice Arietta approach the bay. He was still reeling from his own memories, just focusing on trying not settle his stomach. Of course, that meant that soon enough he stumbled backward, stopping his fall but grabbing onto another star in the process.

This time, it's not one of his own memories.

Zelos didn't recognise the people he could see as he watched the duel play out before him, and a chill ran up his spine. That girl had to be near his little sister's age, and her red hair reminded him of her as well. Perhaps he just couldn't get his own past out of his mind, but watching his own death followed by that girl's? Where to even start handling that?

He didn't have time to think though, gasping and snapping from his thoughts as he heard Arietta call out that name from the memory. He'd seen her past? How was that possible?

Shakily, he approached her, voice coming out far smaller than he wanted: ]

Hey...

action;

[ferels]

[Instinctively, she backs away, holding her doll up as if it were a shield.

Even if she recognizes Zelos from the memory she saw, this is not someone she knows. Everything is confusing, all too confusing right now. He is a stranger, someone whose intentions are unknown, and Arietta isn't in a state of mind to be dealing with it right now.]

Who are you!? Don't get any closer...!

action;

[redsnowangel]

[Zelos stopped dead in his tracks as she started to back off. Dammit...that just made the horrible feelings of self-loathing and nausea bubble through him stronger, still.

She really felt the need to shield herself from him like that? If she didn't look so much like his little sister this wouldn't shake him so much but--but--

He couldn't think, he could barely speak or even work out how to approach the girl he just saw die, so instead he just sat down in the water, not trusting his own legs to support him.]

action;

[ferels]

[When she realizes he isn't getting any closer, she eventually lowers the doll, though she still keeps it close, still holds it tight. Maybe... he isn't a threat, but Arietta isn't too sure yet. At the very least, he is sitting, which counts as an act of non-aggression to her.

There's a long, awkward moment of silence, as Arietta doesn't run, but also doesn't approach him herself. Finally, after what very well may feel like an eternity, she hesitantly speaks up.]

... Who are you? What was... what was... [That scene that played out for her, that memory that didn't belong to her?]

[action]

[skirtcladgunner]

[...what had she just witnessed? That poor boy. Tori knows what it's like to not be wanted by a parent, but that... that's even worse than what she's experienced, and she doesn't need the feelings the foreign memory has given her to tell her that.

Still, Tori feels like she's invaded someone's privacy, and unfortunately she has a pretty damn good idea of whose privacy that may have been.

It's a good thing that when she picks up two stars of her own, that invasion will be set up to be returned, isn't it? ...not for her, of course.

"...this is it," Satania says. "This has to be where he's hiding."

Tori looks around--for someone who's apparently been trying to lay low and send others to do his dirty work, this place is insanely extravagant. Almost like a palace, a place that definitely stuck out in this day and age. She's surprised that this place had been so well hidden.

The interior is just as fancy, gold decorations to be found everywhere one looks. She's impressed by how good it all looks, but still manages to be disgusted, remembering who this place belongs to.

Donovan Kairos. Aero of Wind. They're finally going to get to the bottom of this.

Their group consists of herself, Satania, Alade and the Parmalee triplets. Tori keeps close to Jeb, taking his hand and squeezing it. She can tell he's anxious. The six of them enter a large ballroom, a place just as beautiful as the rest of what they've seen so far. They don't get to enjoy it for too long, because Donovan is standing in the exact middle of the room.

"Ah, Flamma," he smiles pleasantly. "How good of you to bring Terare's reincarnations here."

"Please," Satania snorts, "They're not here for you."

That's all that gets to be said before Donovan calls forth his children--Thanatos and Andrite--to handle Alade, before engaging in battle with Satania. Tori manages to get the Parmalee triplets to a safe place to hide, watching the chaos in front of her.

Even against two people, Alade manages to overpower both Thanatos and Andrite, and even Satania has a good upperhand against Donovan eventually. He orders Thanatos and Andrite to retreat, looking over to Tori. He... he knew where they were hiding the entire time?

Their eyes meet. Tori narrows hers. She could never forgive him for hurting people close to her, she could never--

"I'm so glad she brought you here, Fragment."

...what?

No. No, she can't be the fragment that's been mentioned over and over all this time. She can't be a part of the man who's caused so much damage. That's why she's been denying it could be her up until this point. She's been able to, with it not being explicitly said. But now...

She can feel her stomach getting upset, and she resists the urge to get sick right then and there.

"Hm?" Donovan raises an eyebrow, looking over to Satania. "Did you really not tell her?"

What previously felt sick now just feels cold in Tori. Satania knew. Satania knew, and she never said anything.

She's barely aware of Alade and Satania fighting Donovan after that. She's barely aware of Jeb's arms wrapping around her in comfort. She's the fragment. She's part of the man who has caused so much trouble for the people she loves.

Eventually, Donovan is able to successfully gain the upperhand against Satania and Alade, using wind magic to blast them against the wall furthest away from them. Tori comes back to her senses then, and for a moment she's terrified that he'll come for her and the triplets, moreso them than herself.

He doesn't.

"The reincarnation process is a tricky thing," he says. "To think that Terare of Earth would be reborn as three individuals..."

The triplets. Terare, Jeb, Jebbi. Tori glares at Donovan, moving in front of all three protectively while ignoring Jebbi's claims that she could take this asshole on. This simply makes Donovan laugh.

"You believe you can protect them?" he asks, mockingly. "Please, Fragment. Flamma may be unwilling to tell you the truth, but I will. You're nothing but an inferior extension of myself, an incomplete soul I've been trying to wipe out for millennia. And yet, you continue to be reborn."

No. That isn't true. That isn't... can't...

"But this time, I will be successful. You may wish to simply give yourself up now. From the moment you were born, you were marked to die at an early age. Your life holds no purpose aside from me to end it. I will not allow you to see the day that would mark two decades of your life... and should you not come quietly, I will make sure everyone you care for suffers until you breathe your last breath."

She's unable to block any of this out. Her life hasn't meant anything? Never will? No, the bastard has to be lying. Has to be. She can still fight him. But what if he's right about making the people she cares about suffer? She already knows she can't fight him, so...

Fortunately, she doesn't get to make a choice. Satania and Alade not only manage to recover, but also to fight Donovan off. He escapes, leaving the six of them to deal with the aftermath.

Tori couldn't help but send a glare toward Satania. That woman... she's known all along. About the Parmalees, about her being the fragment, everything. And she put them in danger anyway. She withheld information from them... why?!

But that isn't what hurts the most, is it? It's the fact that she's the fragment. She's connected to the man who's caused so much hurt. It's her fault.

It's all her fault.

Tori holds herself, bending over slightly and allowing her hair to spill over her. A protective veil that doesn't truly protect her at all.

Damnit, she's gotten over this. She knows it's not her fault. It's Donovan's. It's Donovan's...

But reliving all of that has quickly taken its toll, and her legs are shaking so badly that she doesn't know if she can move without falling over. She can certainly relate to the concept of being someone who should never have been born, can't she...?]

[action]

[redsnowangel]

[Right now, Zelos was just trying to pull himself back to his senses after having his own memories come back to haunt him. Nightmares were one thing, but reliving it all over again was something else entirely. He felt those words sear themselves in his mind like they had so long ago when he was a child, reminding him that his life was a mistake.

He barely even realised someone else had entered the bay when his vision was suddenly assaulted by another memory. This time one he did not recognise - a small mercy, perhaps. But this wasn't a pleasant memory, either.

Fragment...born only to become a sacrifice? That sounded a little too much like the Chosen system back in his world for his liking. Heh. Someone's existence causing others to suffer? That was definitely a feeling he knew far, far too well. Tethe'alla was better now he'd died, wasn't it?

...But what about her? Was she still alive, in her world?

When the vision cleared, Zelos felt numb. Numb and sick and-- he saw Tori nearby, but right now, he didn't have the strength to do much. He managed to find his voice, even though it was shakier than he would've liked.]

...H-hey. Tori.

[action]

[skirtcladgunner]

[She hears his voice, but she isn't sure she has it in her to even lift her head at the moment, not... not after what she had been forced to relive.

"I will make sure everyone you care for suffers until you breathe your last breath."

She's... done so well to not believe that anymore. That she isn't Donovan's fragment, that she's not the cause of everyone's pain. For the most part, anyway. It's been so easy, when Jeb's been there to reassure her and when she could find other ways to shove it down. She had even gotten better at not dwelling on it so much, but now--

It's all back. It's all back, and she feels like she's back at square one. Why, why...

Oh, right. She... she should probably reply to Zelos, right?]

...Zelos. [Her own voice is shaky, and she feels like she might throw up if she uses it much more than that. She does anyway, despite still not lifting her head.] Fancy... fancy running into you here, eh?

[action]

[redsnowangel]

[Dammit, he didn't want her - or anyone, really - seeing him this worked up. Unlike Tori, who'd at least managed to not believe that, Zelos had never quite managed. He always knew his Mother was right about him but right now it felt more raw than it had been for a long, long time.

He barely even let her reply sink in. He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he couldn't take in too much. His head was swimming he couldn't think.]

Yeah... weird huh...

[Video]

[swordprincess]

...What's happening at the Bay?

[Someone's out of the loop, as usual.]

[Video]

[redsnowangel]

Let's...just say it's causing people to see things that aren't really there.

[He doesn't want to explain this. Then again, he should've expected people to ask.]

[Video]

[swordprincess]

Really? That's strange...

What are they seeing?

[It ought to be easy to come up with a cover story...or at least easy enough to fool her with it.]

[Video]

[redsnowangel]

[He tries to make his reply sound as bored as possible. As if this was no big deal at all, but he spoke a little too quickly to entirely make that convincing.]

Weird stuff that doesn't make any sense.

... You know, people and creatures who aren't actually in Genessia, that sort of thing.

[Sadly, Zelos is a little shaken up from everything he saw, so the best he can manage right now is just being as vague as possible and hoping the problem goes away. He's doing a poor job of it.]

[video, filtered to everyone but Zelos]

[turbowaitress]

[...she had seen it. Zelos' betrayal, and the death that followed. A memory that felt like it had really been her own. She felt everything Zelos had felt, including the pain of his wounds and the sensation of death grasping and taking hold.

So... it is true, then. Colette's been spending her entire visit here hoping the events leading to her arrival here had just been a bad dream. That Zelos hadn't really betrayed them.

But even if it is true... Zelos is a good person. Colette still believes that. Through those memories, she had felt Zelos' pain, how hurt he felt when Lloyd hadn't trust him (but why hadn't Lloyd trusted him? That confuses Colette. It doesn't sound like Lloyd at all...), the despair Zelos felt throughout that entire battle.

And... there's also the fact that despite everything, Zelos had told Lloyd and there others where she was being taken. If Zelos had never been their friend--never been her friend, there would be no reason to have done that. He wouldn't have told them to save her.

But then... why had Zelos betrayed them to begin with? Why did he fight Lloyd and the others, only to lose his life?

"I was getting pretty sick of living anyway."

...he threw his life away.

Colette can't help but feel a little anger at that, as uncharacteristic for her as it is. Not really at him, but at herself. Ever since getting her soul back, she's wanted to make sure that no one else made the mistakes she did. And yet...

And yet, she let Zelos do exactly that. What kind of friend is she? What kind of Chosen is she? She has to make this right. She has to talk to Zelos.

And if she saw all of that... that means he's here, right? Just because she didn't see him at the bay doesn't mean he wasn't.

She gets her answer later, when Zelos makes a video addressing everyone in Genessia. It takes her a little while, but she manages to make a filter so they can have their privacy.

Please let it work...]

Ah... [For a few moments, she can't find her voice. Is it really right of her to do this? Zelos hadn't contacted her for a reason. ...no. She has to do this. She can't let Zelos suffer along like this. She isn't even considering that maybe he saw something of hers as well, she's so concerned for him. She finally manages to find her voice.] Zelos? Zelos, it's me, Colette. Please... we need to talk.

[video, filtered to Colette]

[redsnowangel]

[...Dammit. As soon as Zelos heard her voice over the communicator, he realised that in his panic to just get that message out the way and protect himself, he'd forgotten to lock her out of it, and thus revealed to the one person he was trying to avoid that he was here.

He couldn't just hang up on her, tempting as it was. What good would that even do? She knew he was here. Metaphorically putting his fingers in his ears and ignoring the issue wouldn't work...hell, if he just didn't respond, she could easily ask Genessia about him and hunt him down that way. He was cornered.

...Truth be told, though? What made him finally pick up his communicator to talk was that, just after he had seen his own memories play out before him, he'd seen it all over again. Their group getting ready to move out to the Tower of Salvation, Yuan helping them, all of it... but this time, it was through the eyes of Colette herself.

Her shock and denial as he handed her over to Pronyma. Her fear. Did she really see him as a good person, in all that...?

"It’s not true, is it? Please say that she’s lying…"]

...looks like I got careless, huh?

[Even though he had the feed set to video, all she'd get for the time being is a view of Zelos' ceiling. He didn't want her to see his face. The usual carefree act was completely gone from his voice. He just sounded tired.]

[video, filtered to Zelos]

[turbowaitress]

...do you really feel that way?

[She couldn't blame him if he did. She's failed him, both as a fellow chosen and as a friend. She never even saw how much he'd been suffering...]

I'm sorry, Zelos.

[She says that all the time, doesn't she? She's constantly apologizing. But she always means it, and she means it even more now. She never meant for anything to happen the way she did. Zelos was--is--her friend. Certainly, things would have gone differently if she had just...]

It's okay if you don't want to see me. I just want to talk to you.

[She means it. She doesn't mind it if she has to look at the ceiling the entire time they talk. She just wants to talk to him. She wants to assure him that she doesn't blame him for what happen. She wants him to know that they're still friends. She wants him to know how sorry she is.]

[video, filtered to Colette]

[redsnowangel]

[It hurt, hearing her talk to him again after all this time. After spending so long trying to run away from anything and everything connected to his world, after disconnecting himself from that life completely and starting a new one here... he couldn't just ignore all of it with that painfully familiar voice talking to him again. Apologising like she always used to. Dammit... he squeezed his eyes shut, as if that would really help block out the voice.]

Pretty sure you've got that the wrong way around. I did hand you over to Cruxis, remember?

[What did she even want? He had no idea how much she'd seen. For all he knew, she could be contacting him because she saw his message to the whole of Genessia. There was a chance she hadn't seen his memories, after all?

Why did she want to talk to him?]

action; memory 1

[behindthefakesmile]

[Fai had to admit he was a little bit curious about this new thing where the Bay use to be. He wanted to know what it was all about and when he reached the place in question, he was more than happy to play around, sitting down and his hand lightly playing in the water, touching one star like thing and see a memory of his own that he never wanted to remember again. It was enough to make him move his hand and accidentally touch another and this time, he knew very well that it wasn't his.

But he felt like he knew that person. At least they seemed awfully familiar. The hair, the look... They kind of looked like a young Zelos, a worker of his he had become friends with, but didn't admit to it. As he closed his eyes, he knew already that it wasn't a memory of his and he just wanted to shake it off. This place was being quite mean if he did say so himself. First showing him a memory of his childhood to then accidentally seeing another's. But as he paused, he realized there was a sentence he was all to familiar with.]

You should have never been born. [He looked over, trying his best to find the other. Maybe if he could see him they could talk. Maybe even admit that well they weren't that different.]

Zelos' Are you here? I would like to talk to you.

action; memory 1

[redsnowangel]

[OOC: If you were still thinking about letting Zelos see Fai's past, do you mind sending me a link/summary? I've read the rough details a while ago but I haven't got that far in the series yet. If so, I'll have Zelos see it next reply. If not, then don't worry and we can just have Fai see Zelos' :) ]

[After reliving memories like that, Zelos just stood a little way off in the bay, shaken to his core. Right now, he just had to focus on keeping his stomach settled, just avoid being sick long enough he could get away before anyone could see him like this--

But then he heard Fai's voice from somewhere nearby. He wasn't sure just at this minute if he was reassured by that or not...but Fai was probably one of the only two people in Genessia he considered a close friend. At least, for now, Zelos had no idea that he'd been able to see into his past. If he had, he'd have been more inclined to get out of this situation as quickly as he could

As it was, though, he tried to call over to him, but his voice just wouldn't come out. Soon enough at least, he caught sight of him, and managed a wave instead.]

action; memory 1

[behindthefakesmile]

[OOC: I wrote up the memory on his journal if that helps..]

[He could see him at least and well... he could honestly say he could understand him to an extent, but he knew he could come right out and say it. No, that just didn't seem right. Instead he made his way over, wading through the water and trying to best to at least try and be helpful.]

Hey, you know if something is bothering you, I'm more than happy to be of help.

action; memory 1

[redsnowangel]

[OOC: Ah! Thank you, I didn't see that there.]

Uh...yeah, word of advice, don't touch--

[He gave a small gesture to the little balls of light around them, but in the careless sweep of his hand another had got itself caught in his fingers, shattering.

At which point he found himself lost in another memory. More snow...just what he really didn't want to see right now. But this time, it wasn't one of his own. He knew that straight off, just from the large tower, the falling body...who's was this? That blonde hair, though, it didn't take him long to guess.

'Is simply being alive... a crime?'

...That was a feeling he could relate to. When the vision finally cleared and settled on his friend, it took him a moment to find his voice again.]

Fai.

[What could he even say to that?]

action: #1 Memory

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Maybe it was best if she didn't have to see that. Ishtar flinched a bit at the fluctuating visions that entered her mind. Maybe it was better if she didn't try to go to the bay the ways he did. She shouldn't have tried to investigate the abnormalities like the curious idiot she was. She probably shouldn't have caught that star either.

Now the images plagued her mind for a long moment, having her frozen in place,and wondering what the hell she just saw. Of course, she recognized the child, due to her encounter with him not too long ago. There's no doubt that it was Zelos. Ishtar frowned, feeling a bit worried for the other. He probably wouldn't have wanted her to see this but gave her a stronger grasp on what he meant when they talked a while ago.

She knew she wasn't suppose to see all of that, but even so, she didn't mind it as much. She wasn't sure what kind of family he came from, but the woman that appeared to be Zelos' mother was far beyond cruel with such words. It's no wonder the boy was traumatized. Ishtar wasn't a free of her own insecurities and fights, but nothing nearly as bad as listening to someone's parent say that their kid shouldn't be born.

The star disappeared, leaving Ishtar a bit dazed. Ishtar's finger tapped onto one of the stars as well, and whoever had managed to touch that star triggered a memory that was quite vivid, if not disturbing. As for her, she had touched something before that. She wasn't sure of it was a star but there are flashes of things that Ishtar thought about and memories that were ingrained into her brain.

---

The scene itself started out with Ishtar shouting. She's shouting at someone who had stepped through the charmed doors, leaving a trace of holy magic as he did, destroying the winged creatures that were trying to stop him from escaping. The man across from him smirked, seemingly pleased that he had experienced something unique.

"I didn't know vampires could use Holy Magic," he mused.

"Neither did it," the white haired man replied, his vivid red eyes bore into the other man's blue one. He already knew that he couldn't stop the man with simply holy magic. Humans weren't weak against that.

"That's great to know, but Holy Magic is wholly useless against a human like me," he mused, spreading his arms.

"There is one spell."

The other man replied, his eyes ingrained with exhaustion but he was not letting his guard down. The field around him emanated a strong discharge of magical energy.

"You're kidding right?" he mused almost about to hysterically laugh at the vampire, "You can't possibly--"

Duzell's mouth continued to recite the words one at a time.

"DUZELL NO STOP1" Ishtar's face was strangled in pain as she screamed at him, "It's not worth it!"

The man that continued to recite the spell did not respond to her, instead, a sincere smile curved on his lips, as if he was was grateful for a chance to do what he was about to do.

"Duzell!!!!!"

There's a huge flashing blind light and the memory cuts there.

---

Ishar almost fell into the sea of stars but stopped herself. Tears were suddenly welling atthe corner of her eyes as if something slapped her in the face. She curled up, because it was too much. She didn't need to see that gain, or be reminded of his death. She didn't want ot think about it, yet it came in her mind. It was back...

She was breaking out in cold swear. ]

Wh-Wha--

...

action: #1 Memory

[redsnowangel]

[The next memory was a firm slap in the face. Zelos had been attempting to catch his breath, to push those memories as far back as he could, but the feelings were just too raw right now. He didn't even notice when he accidentally touched another of the stars, sending him into...wait, this one wasn't his?

He recognised Ishtar's voice immediately. And he recognised Duzell...but not the other person in the vision. Whoever they were, he could tell immediately they weren't an ally. That spell though, what was it? Why would Ishtar get so upset?

The memory faded before he could get an answer, but he could make a guess. Had Duzell died, as well?

When he finally came to his senses, he slowly wondered across the bay, moving very carefully around the stars this time. If Ishtar was here, then...

Zelos saw her soon enough, and just made his way over to her. She was probably the only one he didn't feel the need to hide how shaken up he was around. Instead, he just pulled Ishtar into a hug. It looked as if she'd seen something horrible here as well. His voice, when it finally emerged, was smaller than he hoped.]

...Hey.

action: #1 Memory

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Ishtar was caught off guard by the arms that threw themselves around her in a hug. She didn't move for a moment, uncertain of what to say. Her eyes were still welled up with tears, and everything felt suffocating. She didn't expect that. She didn't want to ask about what she just saw of the person that hugged her.

She didn't want to think about the horrible death that Duzell had to face due to her own carelessness and the reminder that she was unable to protect the things that were precious to her. It was hard to stop herself from crying again. She felt like she had no tears to cry before, but now, it seemed like they were endless. ]

...Z-Zelos...?

[ After a few minutes, she snapped out of her daze, acknowledging the person's quiet voice that emerged. He was shaking, just as she was shaking. That kind of feeling that people with mutual understanding would know. Somehow, she was relieved it was him and not someone else. ]

...Ah...

action: #1 Memory

[redsnowangel]

Yeah, just me, Ishtar...

[Words didn't feel right, just now. She was crying, shaking in his arms, so for now he just held her - like she had done for him not too long ago. Truth be told, he probably needed this as much as she did right now. Just holding onto someone else for stability was...that was enough to drive away the nausea.

What was this place doing? Why was it dragging up all these memories?

...What had happened to Duzell, back in her world? From that reaction, he got the sneaking suspicion that he may've died back there, just as he'd done.]