thenightmarebegins

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[Voice]

A chance to return...

[A pause, along with the sound of water rushing behind him. Vincent has been coming to the Battle Dome ever since that announcement to go to the simulation of the place he wants to truly return to.]

I cannot help but still wonder what price will be paid for such a chance... and whether it's worth the potential risk.

[Not to himself, of course, but to the people and worlds involved.]

I suppose only time will tell for certain.

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Then despite what could go wrong... perhaps it's for the best, that this opportunity becomes possible.

[To give someone like Giles--and perhaps, though she is still not certain, Fenimore--another chance would be wonderful. But....]

...We can only hope the cost will not be too high.

For all of their sakes, I hope not.

[A pause. None of the threats from his world are here now, but they HAVE been in the past.]

I also hope that this doesn't cause another kind of damage to the worlds. There are dead madmen and... other entities... in my world which could destroy another unsuspecting world if they ended up there.

It seems our worlds have something in common. [In her case, it's a misguided goddess who truly believes she's helping the world by making it as if it had never existed.]

Let us hope they will not be drawn here by the interference of the Malnosso.

No world deserves to be subjected to such corrupt power, especially not within the bounds of this enclosure.

[He's seen what it's like when the Remnants of Sephiroth are let loose in this place, he'd prefer not to again.]

On the chance that such an eventuality were to occur, is there any way in which we could prepare for what you describe?

Ensuring that everyone is aware of who they are and their capabilities.

[He was here during the days of villain filters... it seems so long ago now.]

Would you be willing to share that information with me? Soon, I doubt I will understand the significance of what you tell me, or even recall it at all, but there is a chance it will remain in my subconscious mind.

I could.

[Now he just has to wonder.]

What is it that's changed in you? Something is... different.

The Malnosso saw fit earlier this week to remove the seal from my memories.

[Though she doubts Vincent of all people will be much troubled by her change, she adds:] I assume it is only temporary.

I didn't realize... [Vincent had simply assumed Grune was normally meant to be like she is.] Do you know why they sealed your memories in the first place?

It was not the Malnosso that sealed my memories. I voluntarily accepted the seal prior to being taken to Luceti.

...Why voluntarily?

[This is very interesting, and unusual... Vincent understands if she'd rather not say, but at the same time... he wonders.]

[Actually, this is the part that Grune is willing to share. The partial truth is better than nothing--or so it seems to her.]

A woman named Schwartz recently descended to the world of Melfes. Her strength was such that both she and I could not remain in the world with all of our powers without causing it great harm, and so I made the choice to seal myself until I could drive her away.

I can see why they would honor that request... [If only for the sake of keeping their experimental subjects at lower strength, as is their habit.]

Then... you were able to drive her away?

I do not know. I have yet to confront her. I can only hope I will be eventually victorious.

[Otherwise, she and Schwartz will be the only people to know Melfes had ever existed.]

A formidable task... but I assume you know what you must do to battle her when the time comes.

I do. [It is what she has done countless times before.]

But I will be unable to carry out my duty if I remain here.

I understand... Many have left duties unfinished by being taken here.

Indeed. Though it seems that does not matter to our captors.

The preservation of their own interests always comes first to them.

I have not noticed any instance wherein our own interests have been anything other than the most minor of considerations. I doubt I would be able to recall such a case even had I been able to retain my memory for the duration of my stay in Luceti.

That's right. If they ever did anything for us... it would always be to their benefit above ours.

[And pure coincidence if it somehow did benefit them somehow.]

...Meaning we should take extreme care with this supposedly upcoming visit.

[If this turns out to be yet another trick, she will be particularly displeased, given how hopeful some are becoming.]

We should. I cannot see it going according to plan... whether they intentionally alter what happens, or it's ruined through their incompetence.

[Vincent really wants it to work out right, for his own reasons, but he knows too well what could happen.]