First off, it is set in FFVII: AC. I know! But there are Kingdom Hearts characters throughout and more will come in the future! Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

The Other Side, The Other Story

"How does it look, Laysi?"

Memories...pieces of pictures which purposefully place peculiar fingers upon the replay button. Mere

 

fragments, both good and bad, transform from sole images into videos, moving as concisely as the

 

Lifestream. Unfortunately, the mind constantly works...treasured troves are lost. But, stories told through

 

forgotten bits are heard in a person's heart. Lingering wills, like stubborn yet helpful weeds, refuse to

 

become detached from this source of life. Sadness is relentless now more than ever...geostigma--

 

"Laysi?"

 

I close my worn journal, placing it near the coral fragment which lays temporarily on Katie's antiquated

 

nightstand. Since fascination for this light pink formation resides within me, I hold onto the memory of pain.

 

Of paradise. Of promise. Of privacy. When my gleaming sky blue eyes turn away from the obsession and

 

meet with Katie's dark brown ones, I notice her pale, weak arm is nearly blanketed with geostigma, a

 

terrifying disease which has altered into various dull earth tones. Pictures from my past slowly fade away

 

when I attempt to answer the questioning child. Are questions meant to live within the young forever? Will

 

they consume hopes, dreams, and fantasies?

 

"It looks better than it did," I kindly lie, brushing my long blonde locks of hair behind my small ears.

 

Poisoning poor innocents with the terrible truth leads to unimaginable circumstances...problems more

 

dreadful than the ones I faced at my dearly beloved Destiny Islands. Katie would become a hopeless,

 

hectic, hellish wreck, her mighty existence horribly haunted. Looking towards this world's beautiful sky,

 

faded fragments from my past resurface immediately since each single, shining star reminds me of the fruit

 

I shared...the destiny connected with...the broken promise made...to him. Photographs I treasure have

 

changed over time; his marvelous face, forever crystal clear, remains--with a blurred and unreadable name.

 

A creak from Katie's cot startles my past reality which gives sadness and happiness combined

 

harmoniously. Unfortunately, she notices my lie since her depressed demeanor shines like the moon.

 

"You're lying! It's worse, isn't it?"

 

"No--it looks as incredible as a shooting star." Truths still remain difficult to keep; they are harder to

 

lock away in a tower where eternal moments with him dwindle away quickly--faster than the time needed for

 

Shinra to rob Jenova of her precious energy. Suddenly, Katie's sweet, sullen sadness, which typically

 

maintains itself as a regular constant in this world, becomes replaced by a thought rushing into her naive,

 

emotional mind. Simple and curious eyes, lost in mental work, scan across my toned figure. What does

 

she think of me?

 

Thinking's a thought that shouldn't be thought, my best friend once said. He believed in immediate

 

action rather than peaceful negotiations--a stubborn weed, growing and thriving without reason. But, I was

 

the one who hated bloodshed and violence since I attempted to avoid it whenever possible. Both of these

 

unique thoughts made him and I different--yet, those distinctions never harmed our friendship. However...is

 

there still a friendship? Is he even alive? Why did that day ever happen? I lost everything--Cloud, the

 

island, and him...forever trapped in a tower of unanswered questions. Answers are the only key...and my

 

exhausted mind cannot bring solutios, but shows me faces. Theirs...it...him. Then, the past reality

 

disappears with a child's insight.

 

"Laysi...you think too much," the minute yet amazingly intelligent girl elucidates. Katie's brunette

 

pigtails begin moving like a bird's wings in flight. She giggles about my puzzled expression, this bewildered

 

face shall remain for some time. How is it Katie notices my lie--and sees problems that I struggle with? "I

 

know the geostigma's worse."

 

I turn to face her; she takes my hand in hers and smiles. "It's okay--I'm sure a cure will show up

 

somewhere." Now, Katie studies my mask--a disguise I wear to shade dark truths. She understands my

 

struggle. My fight. My problem. Somehow--she can aid me in retrieving the key to my tower of hidden

 

memories. And then, I realize one truth--Katie has no fear. Instead, this wonderful little girl still has hope--

 

for herself, her friends, and her home. Once, I had hope...a fragile feeling I believed could be mine

 

forever...until Shinra ruined everything.

 

"Three years...that's how long you've been here." Katie's very soul enters with my own when she

 

notices I am battling demons...memories which beg for release. Gradually, I release my pain; throwing the

 

coral fragment across a silent, dusty orphanage leads to Ms. Kisaragi smacking the floor in anger. In

 

immediate instinct, warmth surges through me when I realize these children have dealt with her pointless

 

punishments for too long. I sat at my desk writing about fighting darkness while evil itself existed around

 

me.

 

"Remember--this is a gift that must be used to keep balance between light and darkness." My master's

 

words flow through me when I summon my beautiful Keyblade and make its presence known to the

 

children. A glowing Keyhole appears upon the only door to this quaint room. As the key locks away good

 

from evil, a painful memory of Master Eraqus, Aqua, and Terra surfaces. Pain is all I know; I avoided

 

contact with help and rescue for three years. Now, I feel astoundingly assured that Katie can rescue me

 

from my suffering. She gives me needed comfort as this childish seventeen-year-old sobs hysterically into

 

the arms of a motherly child.

 

All of the orphans sit on cots; some are frightened of my "new" power, while others are shocked by the

 

"new" Laysi Strife...the Keyblade Master, the protective mother, the suffering child. "It's okay...everyone

 

here knows what you're dealing with." With a simple wave, Katie gestures towards these amazing orphans

 

and their cruel pasts. Their unknown present. Their hopeful future. Hope, like an invincible and powerful

 

wave, engulfs me in unending radiance. I slowly look down at the creaky floor; a huge, jagged scar that

 

reached from the back of my foot to my kneecap stays hidden behind a black stocking. Disappear--that's

 

all I wanted everything to do. And one day, it did.

 

A soft, gentle chuckle from Katie startles the sadness within. "I used to live in this HUGE castle, and I

 

was very happy there...but--my grandfather wanted me out of there...for my own safety. I know he'll come

 

back for me. He said he would." Does she know I was told that once? I guess hope and pain shall conflict

 

in my heart untio one tells its story forever...through my actions.

 

"Laysi...let us help you. Tell us what you want off your chest. Please! I want to know the real Laysi!"

 

Becoming aggravated by Katie's pleads, I ask, "Why does it matter to you?"

 

"Because...because I want to know why my brother fell in love with you."

 

End Part One

 

Part Two coming soon if people are interested! Special thanks to my little sister...MiyazakiM&M for being my first reader and my first fan! If you guys have any requests for characters or any musical pieces from Kingdom Hearts that go with this story (I love my music!!!) please share.

THANKS4READING

Wow, that was beautifully written. Can't wait for chapter2 http://kh13.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/happy.png

Nice job! I can't wait for chapter 2!

For the two people that I know appreciate the well-being of this story...thank you.

 

 

 

 

CAUTION: SOME LANGUAGE IN THIS PORTION!

 

 

The Other Side, The Other Story

 

 

Awe, frightening yet interesting, floods over me when I hear these words. “You don't mean—you're...”

“Yeah. I'm Reno's sister, Katie Nomura. It's a pleasure to meet you, Laysi.” She slowly bows her head to me in greeting while I sit like a depressed schoolgirl who just heard a terrible rumor about herself. Reno—Reno Nomura. Blurred. Broken. Beautiful. An untamed lingering will, hidden in wait, has finally been pulled from my heart. And the promise. Pain. Paradise. Everything lays shattered in front of me...all because of Katie Nomura's outburst.

“Reno was right—you do space out! I don't know why I never got up the courage to talk to you until now. Sorry, Laysi—”

Secret whispers—that's what reality sounds like when I decide to visit my tower of queries. Wait... “I'm spacey?”

“As if!” a black-haired teenager named Braig explains. “You're beyond that! Zoning out and going to a special world where everything is just peachy—while you leave us to deal with the old lady and...”

Three years...doing what exactly? Writing. Hoping. Dreaming. And no rebelling against Ms. Kisaragi. Until today. Now, the true Laysi Strife, loving and protective, steps forward to obtain answers. I have found the key to my tower; these orphans can help me.

“There she goes again!” The strident words from an adolescent named Even bring me away from my 'special world.' “Honestly, my dear—these spells you have do occur repeatedly. Would you mind if I—”

“No, thanks.” A kind smile will hopefully prevent Even from asking to perform tests on me; to tell the truth, Even is a brilliant young man, but I am going to solve this issue on my own. Me. Myself. Misery. It took three years for destiny's force to pull me away from sadness and bring me to a light brighter than the sun. “I really do appreciate it, Even, but I'm going to try and control this. And if everyone helps me—”

“What is it you expect us to do?” a secretive boy named Dilan asks.

Suddenly, the creaky door handle rattles, sending the orphans sprinting to their cots for refuge. “What's going on in here! Open the damn door!”

My decision to end terror pops into mind immediately; I summon my Keyblade and transform the door into rubble. Ms. Kisaragi, dirty and disheveled, glares at me with heated anger. “You bitch! After all these years I've taken care of you, this is the respect I get!?”

“This isn't for anything you did to me, ma'am. It's what you did to them.” I spin in a complete circle, pointing the Keyblade at the children; then, I shove it in front of Ms. Kisaragi. “Get your paddle, whip, and all your other means of torture—then, leave.”

“But I—”

“I don't want to harm you, but the darkness within keeps good and evil here unbalanced. This is the easiest way, Ms. Kisaragi.”

“I know your kind, Laysi! Those damn Keyblade people think they know everything about the darkness, but they don't! I'll come and find you! I'll end all good-willing Keyblade wielders if it's the last thing I do!”

Her departure, cherished yet spooky, brings cheers from the brave orphans who survived her cruel punishments. Katie lovingly wraps her arms around me, bringing tears of sadness. Joy. Amazement. Sadness may be relentless now more than it ever was, but hope from Reno's beautiful, kind sister fills me with the happiness to move on with my duty to save all worlds and return to Master Eraqus, Terra, and Aqua once more.

As I lower myself to look into Katie's eyes, sadness floods over me. “What's wrong?”

“Laysi...I—I'm sorry I didn't say anything before.” Her grieved and apologetic tone cuts deep into my skin. “Reno told me to be brave. When he left the island, I came here and...I vowed to find you as soon as I could. And then—when you actually showed up—I got scared and...I...I didn't think you would know who I was and...”

“Not know who YOU are!?” My cry brings Katie to look at me in astonishment. “Reno told me everything about you! And from what I've heard, you're the brightest girl ever!”

“Really? Reno said that—about me?”

Words. Wishes. Worlds. All in existence eternally and always. I glance at my gray summer dress, black stockings, and brown combat boots; thinking about Reno brings back his words about Katie. I state them, clearly and truthfully, for her to hear. “Smart kid—could be a doctor or a lawyer someday.” And that's when he told me how Shinra planned to use intelligent children for his research. Lab rats being experimented on—the thought disgusted me.

“Wow—and all these years, I thought he didn't like me.”

“What? But—Reno told me...wait...you believe he didn't like you because he ran away all the time. Is that it?”

Jail. Justice. One thing they had—the other forgotten forever in the night of tragedy. The play button is pressed. Clicked. Released. Cloud takes my hand and leads me into the deep jungle of the island. He repeats, over and over, “Jenova cells. Jenova cells.” As we reach the other side of the island, Reno stands on the dock, ashamed and doomed, surrounded by Shinra's SOLDIERs. My only opportunity for freedom was gone. And my brother's best friend had no choice but to betray us. Eventually, Cloud became one of them.

“Yeah—but how do you...”

“Let's just say I was a runaway like him. And...it's my fault he was captured. Katie—you don't have to apologize. My actions brought you here—and I'm sorry...for ignoring everybody, for letting Ms. Kisaragi hurt you, for zoning out, for—”

I look up to see Katie smiling at me. Her eyes—why didn't I notice them before? “It's okay—and it's an honor to meet you, Laysi. Reno told me everything about you! He showed me a picture of you and—”

“Then you already know who I am, so I don't have to...”

“Okay...he didn't tell me everything...so just tell me who you are.”

Who am I? What am I...here for? These kids...can my story help them?

End Part Two

 

 

Part Three is written and shall be up shortly! Special thanks to MiyazakiM&M! And thank you to the readers who appreciate this story! If you have any requests for characters or any musical pieces that go with parts of this story (I love my music!!!) let me know.

THANKS4READING

I will forever stare in awe at your story

More awaits...the other side, the other story...sorry it took so long...darn homework!

 

“Let's start with telling Even about other worlds.” A grin, mischievous yet kind, forms on Katie's face when

she hears the seventeen-year-old boy's protest.

“It cannot be true! One does not simply believe in stories they hear! I need evidence! Proof! Verification!”

“Is this enough proof for you, Even?” a voice as silent as a mouse speaks from the opposite side of the room. Ienzo, a child with short gray hair, holds up the coral fragment of promise. Pain. Paradise...

“Absolutely not! I refuse to believe in anything just because I see a...a rock!” Then, like an unexpected bomb, I remember my conversation with Reno about the coral which gave me my simple and clean wound on my leg.

“So...this is what hurt my leg?”

“Yeah...hold onto it.”

“Why?”

“To remind ya of how much you need me around to save you 24/7.” His satiric sarcasm made me laugh...now, it brings tears to my eyes.

A light touch on my shoulder brings me back to the children. “What is it, Laysi?” a timid Ienzo asks.

“It's coral...from the ocean,” I quietly whisper.

“Ocean? Man, Laysi...you're crazier than I thought!”

“Braig...it's true. And whether you choose to believe me or not...well, that's up to you. But there are other worlds...”

“It is true.” Gasps are heard when Dilan says these words. “I've been to a castle like Katie...and I remember seeing—”

“As if, Dilan! There are no castles here or anywhere!”

“Are you sure of that, Braig? I question your reasoning.”

While this bitter argument persists, I notice Katie seems as happy as a clam...seeing me for what I truly am at last.

“Katie...”I begin to ask for a very small wish from her. “Can you tell me—”

“Not until you say what you've been doing for three years.” Her grin, merciful and mischievous, asks me the question. Three terrible, troubling years...hoping. Dreaming. Wishing. For a prince to rescue me from my tower.

“Katie...for three years, I thought of ways to try and stop the darkness. I never realized what my Keyblade was for until the Keyhole appeared. Now, I'm going to protect you and the others from—the bad guys.” Master Eraqus was right—I have to fight. Even though I dread violence, this is the only way I can balance good and evil. What did I believe I was training for six years ago? Sheesh...

“All right. Well, at least you're talking now—and you're not as spacey!” Reno's—Katie's green eyes light up as she readies to tell me something. “And as your reward, I'll tell you what Reno told me at the island—he said he was in love with the most sweetest, beautiful, intelligent girl ever! I know he was talking about you, Laysi! He has to be...I just know it!”

While Katie's exhilaration and Braig and Dilan's argument slowly fade away like the end of a lullaby, I enter another blissful world which has, to my surprise, overflowing happiness and pleasure. Love's lasting life fills my heart and soul completely, enveloping me in its joys. Reno loves me. I had always wondered why he chose to hang out with me instead o f my brothers and his friends. Cloud. Tifa. Zack. Aerith. Reno. I miss them terribly—why does my heart sense this loss?

Katie's personality reminds me of him...and for some reason...me. If I found Reno...I would get solutions about why this child is like Reno and me combined. Now, I must tell a story that shall be told through the forgotten bits.

“Hee hee...you really zoned out that time!” Her laughter manages to pull me away from the blissful world. Sometimes, I can see the red-haired boy through Katie's eyes. I look towards the night sky and feel my legs moving me to the window. I see the city's fountain, the abandoned streets, and the stunning stars.

“Reno's on one of those stars, Katie,” I softly whisper.

Katie's laughter and the Braig versus Dilan fight in the middle of the room silences. “Stars?” Ienzo asks. “Each one of them is a world?”

“Yeah...beautiful, aren't they?” I whisper, my mind set on both stars and Reno.

“My home's on one of those stars,” Dilan states quietly.

“No way! They can't be worlds!” Braig argues. For some strange reason, he keeps fighting against this even though three people stand against him.

“It isn't logical. There's no sense behind it!” Even shouts.

“There doesn't have to be any sense behind it! Yes, it is impossible—but sometimes, I think of six impossible things before breakfast.” Alice Kingsleigh...a young woman brought to the Shinra Orphanage for being “mentally handicapped.” While I spoke to the orphans a little bit in three years, she had never said a word...until today.

Then, like birds singing, Katie and the others say, “Alice?”

“Braig, there are other worlds...I came here after I faded. After I disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Ienzo says.

“Yeah...I left my world somehow. I became see-thorough and then...I was here.”

“That's how it was for me!” Dilan exclaims.

This is a promising beginning—will the imaginative woman conquer the pigheaded child? “Do you want to know what was there?” she asks Braig. “Card soldiers, queens, smiling cats—”

“I didn't know cats could smile,” Katie says. Curious. Brave. This what both Katie and Alice are.

Alice's giggle releases her own lingering will—a story. “Neither did I.”

“I won't believe it—especially when it comes from a little girl, two spacey and insane women, and a boy that still wets the bed!”

“Hey!” Dilan shouts. What else can we do to convince him?

“Braig!” Katie screams resonantly—a fire treasure to the orphans with names I know and possibly to those who stay unfamiliar to me. “Will you stop?”

“Elementary...electives...elephants...” Even mutters under his breath.

“What the hell are you talking about? Are you losing your mind?” Braig asks. Losing, sometimes necessary, reaches my mind. I can hardly remember my past—mere fragments survive.

“No—I just don't understand. How can there be other worlds?”

“Does there have to be an explanation?” Alice protests. “Underland exists—and so do all the others. And you—” She grabs Braig firmly by the shoulders. “--cannot tell me different.”

Anger. Fear. His seventeen-year-old face is very readable. But—now that I think of it—why are the orange eyes so familiar?

“Hey hey! I ain't tryin' to tell you! I'm tryin' to convince you against it, that's all!”

“Laysi—what else can we say?” Katie's angelic green eyes look towards me for aid.

“Tell your story. Remember—three's always answers there. Get that memorized and you're set.” He helped me—now, it's time I help her.

“Right.” The nine-year-old's smile warms my heart. “Reno told you that, didn't he?”

“Yeah.” I laugh at a memory of his numerous lines that involve thinking, even though he's against the idea. “Typical of him, right?”

“I guess—” I notice Katie's smile disappear; it almost appears as if her pigtails wilt like flowers. “I barely ever saw him.”

“I know.” In fact, his mysterious life was what kept me intrigued. “So—” I say loudly, “what worlds have you been to?”

“Well...” she says with a smile as stunning as the sun, “as I told you, I used to live in a HUGE castle. The world was so beautiful...I think its name was Radiant Garden.”

Questions. Memories. Reno never mentioned staying anywhere before the islands. How many secrets did he keep from me? Mystery's magnificence sweeps through me when pieces of pictures appear in my mind. My scar begins to scream at the thought of red hair.

“After I faded from the island, I came here.” Katie watches me for approval; I have spaced once again. “That clears things up, right?”

“As if!” Braig obnoxiously shouts. “There's only one world, and it's this one! You get that memorized, Laysi, and you'll be set for sure!”

His attitude irritates me; even though fragments are all I have, is it enough to tell my story? I decide to say what they want to hear.

“All right—this is my final resort,” I say in an unforgettable tone. “I'll have to tell my story.”

“You will!?” Katie says like a schoolgirl ready to learn. Her eyes, warm and somehow mysterious, brighten at this news.

“Yeah—I will. Excitement. Laughter. Smiles. All because of me. Then, I choose to ask the question. “Why do you guys want to hear my story?”

“Because anything's better than hearing Braig's voice,” Dilan says. His black eyebrows raise when, amazingly, Braig does not defend himself. Instead, he stares at me longingly.

“Okay. Well—I used to live at Destiny Islands. That's where Reno and Katie lived, too.” Anger. Anxiety. That's what I felt at first—at first... “At first, I hated Reno.”

“Why?” Ienzo questions shyly.

“Well—there was a cave...a secret place with—with flowers...” My voice fades with relentless sadness. “He threatened to destroy them if I left because—he had to protect me.”

“Protect you from what?” Katie asks.

“From the darkness.” I remember it almost consuming me after I— “Since I didn't have the Keyblade, he was my protector...even though he was mysterious and—sometimes—mean...I betrayed him.”

“Hah! Knew you'd do something bad!” Braig shouts randomly.

“After Reno and I met, we shared a star-shaped fruit.” I repeat the poem he taught me: “Share with another, be together. Separate paths, unjoined wrath, connect and cease...with a promise. A promise to protect and respect.”

“You both made a promise,” Alice quietly whispers.

“Yeah...and I broke it.” My voice quivers; a tremor from an earthquake of betrayal erupts inside me. “It's my fault Reno left. It's my fault Cloud's gone. It's my fault!”

Katie puts a hand on my shoulder; it is the music of my sadness. Somehow, in strange ways, I connect with her. “Tell me, Laysi.”

Green. Red. Yellow. All the colors and pictures play in my mind when I look into Katie's—Reno's—eyes. “I...I promised Reno I'd protect him...but—I wanted so much. I longed for change—something new. And—I got it. Reno's gone...he could be getting tortured right now—and I'm not there to protect him!” Tears roll down my face; feelings are very complicated...a drunken roller coaster.

“Laysi!” Katie stamps her foot on the floor; Ms. Kisaragi's screams are not, and never will be, heard. “You think you have it hard!? All of us are hurting! Not just you! You help us...we help you! Where's your hope? I—”

Reno—those words. He's...she's right. I have been selfish and apprehensive. It's time for a change. Time to move on. And time to become the Keyblade Master I am meant to be—I recognize that awful noise.

“Good. You're still as I left you. Emotional and spacey. Plans are going as I wish.”

This is getting pretty good http://kh13.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/happy.png

In irritation and instinct, I summon my Keyblade, ready for a war. A battle. A fight. With the enemy. With the evil. “You!” His mere presence reminds me of pain...sadness...and Sephiroth.

 

“Yes, Laysi. How did you know?” His voice...other than that, he's unrecognizable...nothing but wheelchair and blankets now. I thought he was...well, he survived. I observe his hand; he has the stigma, too.

 

“Why wouldn't I know!? After what you did to Cloud...how could I forget?”

 

“Careful, Laysi. I'm not the one who hurt Reno.”

 

In defeat, I lower my Keyblade. He's right...like a wounded animal, I bring myself to the floor. But... “You know where he is, don't you? Can you tell me?”

 

I sense the smile, warm, and menacing, on his face. “Why should I say?”

 

“Then why are you here!?” Fragments of sorrow assemble inside me; the memories play once more.

 

“I'm the new caretaker of this facility since Ms. Kisaragi's gone. She said...something about a bitch shoving a Keyblade in her face.” The menacing smile appears again. “She sounded VERY upset.”

 

“Sounds like me, right? You know me too well,” I say sarcastically.

 

“Laysi...who is this guy? What did he do to Cloud?” Katie questions.

 

“That's IT!” Even shouts. “Laysi—you're spacey because of him! That's Rufus Shinra! He and his father experimented on many people, including you. He did something to you! It all makes sense!”

 

“Smart boy...just how I made you,” Shinra slyly says.

 

“But...I—no! I've never met you! It isn't possible!”

 

“It is possible...since I was the one who saved you before your world faded. What was your mother's name? Rapunzel, I believe?” Shinra's experiments...Even and I are both lab rats.

 

“What? But...” Even gives up...a warrior surrendering. “What did you do to us!?”

 

“Shall I elucidate this, Miss Strife?” The grin. Cold. Cruel.

 

“As long as you don't screw the story up,” I say as my gray summer dress blows in the breeze of terror. The mystic moon, menacing and magical, reminds me of the sun—the tree—the promise.

 

“Very well. My father created two companies—one being here, the other at Destiny Islands. We experimented on Cloud and hundreds of young men in Midgar; the island facility was strictly for children.”

 

“But—why would you do something like that? Turn kids into something they're not!?” Katie asks.

 

“Because the young are the worlds' futures. The test showed many results—some worlds reacted to the personality changes...and faded. Miraculously, the islands remain untouched. And here...well, the planet has enough troubles as it is—worrying about kids is the least of its problems.”

 

“So—you made me what I am,” Katie unhappily sighs. Is it true?

 

“Yes. This orphanage is designed solely for the tested children—and those whose worlds faded when the experiment was performed.” The smile emerges like a disease...ugly and sick.

 

“Ha!” Braig shouts. “I almost forgot about the SOLDIER program! Cloud thought he was one of them, thought he was even in 1^st Class, but his memory was as wrecked as a drowning goldfish!”

 

“Goldfish can't drown, Braig,” Dilan says. “Who's the insane one now!?”

 

“Shut up! I was trying to make a point!” Insane. Incredibly, inconceivably insane. What is his point? “All I'm saying is Cloud's memory's a train wreck! And, ever since that flower girl and SOLDIER boy were killed, he's done absolutely nothing to rebuild Midgar!” That's not true, Braig! My brother—

 

“Wait—” Flowers...SOLDIER...it can't be! I grab him by the shoulders. “What were their names!?”

 

Braig grins as if he's having a wild time. “Aerith and Zack.”

 

“No!” I scream. My brother's—no...my friends. Their smiles. Their kindness. Black and brunette hair almost mix together, concisely...like the Lifestream. “Zack! Aerith!” Why them!?

 

“Their deaths were unforeseen,” Shinra says with actual sorrow. “Zack was an excellent SOLDIER, and Aerith was the last of the Cetra, a spiritual group. I'm sorry you're just finding out now, Laysi.”

 

“Laysi—I'm so sorry.” Katie's green eyes gleam with tears.

 

I turn with wet eyes to see Even and Ienzo comforting Alice. I hear her say, “I miss him so much.”

 

“It's okay, Alice,” Ienzo whispers. “We're here for you.”

 

Even walks over to me and whispers, “Her father passed away when she was very young.”

 

I nod and decide to ask for an answer. “Cloud, Tifa, and Reno? Are they—”

 

“Fine. Cloud and Tifa are running a delivery service. And Reno works for me.”

 

That's right—he's a Turk. “He's still working for you!?”

 

“Of course. He wants to rebuild Shinra...so he can find you.” Cold. Cruel. I summon my Keyblade once again.

 

“What did you tell him!?” My shimmering leather combat boots seem to stomp on the floor when I go to Alice and grab her. “We're going to do whatever it takes to get straight answers from you!” Like those who fight, I tire of being treated like nothing. And I sense Alice does, too.

 

“Nothing. Reno believes my technologies will be able to find you.”

 

“Really? Is your technology finally improving!? Maybe you would’ve saved Aerith and Zack, but...I think that's below you! Why didn't you just tell him where I was!?” I have to be careful; my anger is almost conducting darkness.

 

“It's called...opportune moments. And Laysi...I don't remember you being so aggressive,” he states sarcastically. “Oh wait...you gave Reno those scars, didn't you?” His cheekbones...the mistakes I can't take back...

 

“You know that was an accident!” That day, horrendous and terrible, is one that cannot disappear in forgotten bits. “Just tell me where he is!” I sprint forward to get the answer, but...

 

A dark-skinned man in a suit and shades blocks my way. “Sorry...but I can't let you do that.”

“Rude. Looking sharp, as usual.” I recognize him—he is one of the many lingering wills. A

shy boy Reno introduced me to...I had never been as close to him, but all three of us always hung out...wait. What? Why? What am I talking about!? Why did I never think of him until now!?

“Huh? We've never met...” he says. Then who am I thinking of!?

“Sorry...Shinra screwed over my memory and my life,” I say. I swivel to see the man with no face—hidden like the sun at nighttime. “That, and he took everything away from me!”

“Fine. I guess waiting for the Rebellion wasn't good enough.” Shinra...what have you done!?

“What are you—”

The words, terrible and truthful, finally appear. “Unlike all the others I experimented on, Laysi...you—well, you were like a puppet from the start. I gave you your personality, your life—I made you what you are. And as for your beloved Reno...his family has worked with mine for decades—he gave up memories...to give you a base to live off of. In simplest terms, you're a part of Reno that has a terrible memory.”

“No! I am me! Nobody else! These are my memories!” Am I sure?

“No...you're an experiment.” His sinister laugh makes my skin crawl. “Why don't you ask Reno yourself?”

“What?” I turn and run to the window; the red hair greets me. Reno...

I don't want to look in his eyes...not yet. But—the protests begin.

“Laysi's not a puppet! She's a person!” Ienzo and Katie yell.

“That's the only impossible thing in life!” Alice and Dilan say together.

“She isn't...and can't be!” Shockingly, Braig and Even defend me.

“She is a puppet and a person...it is possible...and it is and always will be.” Shinra's grin reminds me of a deadly viper ready to strike. Deadly. Destructive. “When the geostigma appeared in Midgar, I knew you would finally open up—and Katie, my brave little toy, helped with that. It's funny how much Reno has done for me...giving up his memories and sister...for my tests.” He's still my friend! I think of all my lights as I keep my anger at bay.

This is enough. The Keyblade appears in my hands—and I feel the air whistle around me as I rush forward. Rude grabs my weapon with his gloved hands and twirls me out of the building. The precious stars in the sky twinkle with their own forgotten stories. I sense myself connecting with these lights; a bright portal appears and brings me back to the battle. My Rebellion may have been predicted...but I shall be the one to control it.

“What the—” These were the words Rude said before he sailed through the window.

“Impressive. As a reward for your skills, you shall get the opportunity to speak with Reno about his...'projects.' But first, I think you should complete your story.”

Katie's green eyes sparkle with wonder and bewilderment. Is she scared of me? What did Shinra do to her and the others? What else can I say about my story?

I gaze at the base of Shinra's wheelchair, unsure and unprepared, as I think of what to say.

“Laysi...” a timid Ienzo states. Quiet. Strong. Frightened. “Your brother is Cloud Strife, right?”

My up-down adventure stops; Cloud—SOLDIER, hero, brother. “Yeah...he is.”

“So he's the one who stopped Sephiroth, correct?” Even questions.

“So I've heard...” My only connections to Cloud are through pieces of pictures I have heard.

“Yes. Your brother delivered us from the nightmare.” Shinra's words sting like a bee.

“The nightmare your family created!” I say. “Look what all his destruction caused!”

“Yeah—that flower girl would still be living if Sephiroth hadn't killed her,” Braig states truthfully. So that's how Aerith died? Her smile...her kindness...her flowers...I miss it all now more than ever.

“Cloud's amazing...he saved Midgar out of compassion and love!” Katie yells randomly yet cheerfully.

“I need to learn to stay strong...like him,” Alice whispers.

“He...is a—hero.” The ghost-like words from Katie's brother whip through the air. Wait...

“Michael...you're awake.” Katie's satisfied sigh says it all as she walks to her brother's cot.

Reno never said anything about Michael! In curiosity, I go to him and notice his geostigma—it has to be the worst case I've seen. Even though Katie is sick, she still manages to take care of him.

“Hey...Laysi, right?” the weary voice of the boy whispers to me. “Reno...said a lot about...you.”

“Michael...it's nice to meet you.” I have to say something! “Reno said you were a strong kid—and could do anything you set your mind to!” He needs those words; they are not Reno's...they are mine.

“Really?” I begin to cradle him in my arms...a perfect image of the world I live in.

“Laysi...” Dilan interrupts. “What is SOLDIER?” I decide to let Shinra answer.

“A group of young men with Jenova cells inside them.” Shinra is as baffled as a squirrel who has forgotten to hibernate. “Simple as that.”

“As if, Shinra! They're people with superhuman abilities!” Braig's retort brings the sadness; my whole life...is a sham. Every night, at dusk, I thought of them...the choice. The promise. The relationships. The tragedies.

“All right...I guess you could say they are,” Shinra replies. I stop cradling Micheal and walk to a sky full of hope and forgotten tales. When my eyes meet with the street, I notice Reno looks up as well. And that's when everything falls apart.

I collapse to the floor; my scar singes in secrecy. Why did Aerith and Zack have to die? Why did Cloud, Tifa, and Reno have to leave? Why did Shinra do this? Why...did I WANT change!?

A ten-year-old Ienzo comforts me. His sparkling blue eyes feel for my sadness. I notice a book he is holding; the avid reader observes my stare and says, “It's a journal. You can read it sometime, okay?”

I not and take Ienzo's hand; somehow, I can feel Shinra's guilt. That's when I see Michael...and notice the black hair and twinkling eyes. It can't be! Is it him!?