To: All Heroes of Light (Backdated to Post-Event)

[chondriosome]

To Everyone:

My name is Aya Brea. I don't know many of you, and I don't expect many of you to know me. I can't imagine that I've made that great of an impression on some of those of you who do, but I should say this.

That person that many of you saw me as was not me. I am not the commander of an army - I don't even consider myself to be that much of a leader. Back home I was a special agent of the FBI just trying to survive, and here I suppose I'm finding myself trying to do the same thing. I have family and friends back home that I care about deeply, and would do anything to try and protect them. This is all I want. I'm sure some of you may feel the same way about the lives they've left behind.

It is easy for people to trust their friends after what happened, but I understand that not many of you know me well enough to say that I can expect the same. After all, I just got here. On one hand it's only been a few weeks since I arrived, and on the other it sometimes feels that I've lived those two years, but again, that is not me. That is not who I will choose to become.

Whether you believe me or not is up to you.

Regards,

Comments

[rialynn]

Dear Aya,

Of course I believe you! What we saw was just a story, after all. It didn't really happen. People's destinies can change very quickly, so nothing's set in stone just yet.

You got to lead an army? I'm jealous, all I got to do was die. :(

Sincerely,
Rialynn K.

[chondriosome]

Rialynn,

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

I'm sorry. You died? When did that happen? Was it before or during the [you can bet that there was a pause when she tried to write this:] event?

[rialynn]

Dear Aya,

You're very welcome. And no need to apologize, you weren't even there when it happened. There was some sort of peace treaty that went sour, and that was pretty much the end of it for me. I'm a little disappointed, and I know that's weird to say. I'd just hoped to see a little more of the rest of how things turned out. It wasn't real, but it would have made for a really good story, you know? Something to draw inspiration for, a good old-fashioned tale of caution. After that event, I really doubt anyone who experienced it is going to develop those kinds of questionable morals, but it might be useful if someone else shows up who didn't have that experience.

If that makes sense.

-Rialynn

[chondriosome]

Rialynn,

I might've heard about that treaty. There are parts where some of my memories of the vision are clearer than others, but I do remember an attempt being made. I didn't know that you were a part of it, though. That's unfortunate. At least you're alive now, and maybe this means we know how to change things to prevent that from happening.

Do you like writing stories?

[rialynn]

Hello, Aya!

In a sense? Truth be told, I'm not all that creative, so I don't think I could create my own story from scratch. I'm more interested in recording other people's stories. They're more interesting to me, because they really happened. The heroes that I'm rooting for existed in truth. I think they're much more inspiring than some perfect paragon that another person just made up. Not that I don't have respect for those types of story tellers, of course. The men and women here, who strive so hard to protect this world and the people in it, are the stuff of real legends. I want to make sure future generations remember and love them, even after we're gone.

~Rialynn

[pole_position]

Aya,

You fought bravely for what you believed in. I don't feel that I can hold that against you, especially since we've never actually met one another. I'm taking what we saw as a challenge to become stronger and do better for this world and its people than we did in that vision.

Becoming suspicious of each other does us no good - that will accomplish nothing more than splintering ourselves in the same way. I hope that we can all work together to build the bonds of trust that will prevent such a future from happening. If you would like, I'd be happy to try to get to know you.

Best regards,
Pyrrha Nikos

[chondriosome]

Pyrrha,

You're not so bad yourself. I appreciate it, and I think I would like to get to know you too.

But thanks for giving me a chance. I'm really not someone who can see myself ever wanting to sacrifice the lives of others, even if it's to survive. I can't really say what would happen to make me become that person, if it's even possible at all.

All I know is that I am going to try to stay myself, which I guess is no different than many others in my shoes. [She's seen the flood of mognet letters. She knows what's up.]

[pole_position]

Aya,

I judge people according to their actions. The vision we saw was disturbing, but I can't hold anything anyone did in it against them. At least, not until they've actually chosen that path themselves. I can't say I won't be cautious, but it won't be at the expense of fairness.

-Pyrrha

[chondriosome]

Pyrrha,

It would seem that we have that much in common. Regardless of what I saw, I can promise that I won't be going war-mongering and try to take over any cities anytime soon.

Or, you know, ever.

[pole_position]

Aya,

That's good to know. I think it's much more useful for all of us to work together, and to discuss our differences rather than resorting to violence. I may be trained as a combatant, but I'd prefer to use fighting as a last resort to solve problems.

-Pyrrha

[umslay]

Aya Brea:

This will be have the second time we have met, but the first time chronologically. I'm the Teensie that commanded the entire fleet beside you. I can't say I've ever lead an invasion against a city, but let me assure you that I did no such thing in my homeworld. You looked like a decent person back there, even as you were one of the most important people in the army.

I'll risk it and trust you. Pleasure to properly meet you, Aya.

-Ales Mansay

[chondriosome]

Ales,

Yes, I remember you.

I can certainly say that it was my first (and hopefully last) whole city invasion like that. I've done more defending of my own world than a full out assault, and I would prefer that the odds stay that way.

Nice to properly meet you too, Ales. I suppose now is a good time as any to try and start over.

[umslay]

Aya Brea:

It's a pleasure to formally meet you as well, Ms. Brea. I didn't know you were a hero of your world, thought I can't say I saved mine before. I was more of an assistant to the land's heroes, so I look forward to hearing about your adventures and helping with anything during your stay here.

As for myself, I keep busy working in the lab and developing new inventions and machines, and other than that, I'm a airship captain, and I can pilot you wherever you want, whenever you want! (As long as it doesn't conflict with my scheduled flights for Shoopuff Airlines, of course.)

Normally, we don't have these...visions while living here. Those that seek to do us harm have the power to send us to alternate dimensions, but with them, you have full control over what you're doing. The Sage was a terrible person to give you a first impression of the world, hm?

-Ales

[chondriosome]

Ales,

I wouldn't necessarily say that I was a hero, though I guess some people back home might think so. I couldn't have done it alone and without help.

I'll think about your offer if/when I ever decide I need to go somewhere again. I'm sure I'd like to broaden my horizons sometime and see what else is out there.

All things considered it could probably have been worse. I guess I could count my blessings that it was just a vision and nothing more. That means that something can actually be done about it. I'd rather think that it's more of a warning of what path not to take than anything else, and that's not always a bad thing to know.

[umslay]

Aya Brea:

Well, it was a culmination of a specific series of events, so I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially as the major turning point was the Sage telling us whatever about the truth of this world. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're seriously considering launching an attack on a major city.

I hope I'll get to see you sometime in Aqures Ixen. Everything going alright there?

-Ales

[not_most_days]

Miss Brea,

By your confession, may I assume that you were involved in the invasion and attack on Mysidia? I will not hold you to blame or accountability to crimes carried out within a dream. I'd prefer to see that as a warning of what could come and I do not know the circumstances that lead to make the choices that you did.

I would like to consider you an ally, but I press upon you the importance of what we witnessed. For whatever reason, you came to the conclusion that attacking a civilian populous with a fleet of airships was the "right" thing to do.

Trying to survive is an admirable drive, but be careful of what you sacrifice to do so. It doesn't mean that we have to stop being human.

Here and now, we must be sure to not let that future come to pass.

Yours,
James Kidd

[chondriosome]

Kidd,

You would assume correctly. I was. I'm still a little fuzzy on some of the details, but that part I remember clearly enough that I know what I was doing and why, I just can't bring myself to understand.

Trust me, nothing is more important to me than being human. No matter what happens, I won't let anything, fear or otherwise, change who I am. Just know that I am not someone who would lead an entire army over a city. That goes against everything that I believe in.

Thank you for your understanding.

[not_most_days]

Miss Brea,

That is good to hear and I am glad my assessment of you is in the right so far. Should you in the future come to a choice similar to this, I pray you seek the counsel of the rest of us and better weigh your options.

As I said, I do not know what lead you to make your choices in the vision and I trust you had your reasons, but given our roles that this world has chosen for us we must needs be certain of our convictions.

But in the interests of a clean slate and a clear future ahead, next week meet the first pint is on me.

Yours,
James Kidd

[chondriosome]

Kidd,

Global domination - or domination of any kind - really isn't my style. I'll be happy if I can just live a somewhat simple life for a change, and that was a far cry from the kind of lifestyle I want.

I'm more than certain.

I just might have to take you up on that offer. Though I'll probably have something other than a pint.

[victorix]

Hello Aya,

I don't know what an FBI is. I'm not going to decide what you're like based on some memories of what may or may not have been. Please feel free to come up to me, smile -- and say hello.

--Rikku

[chondriosome]

Rikku,

I'll be sure to remember that, and thank you.

FBI is an intelligence agency in my country. Think of it as something a little higher up from your average law enforcement.

[blackmoonreaper]

Aya,

That whole thing was rough as hell. I don't think I've met you before, or know what side you were on, but it doesn't matter. Beating yourself up over it doesn't help. It felt real enough to me too and there were a lot of things I wished I did differently so people wouldn't get hurt or get killed.

I think it was more of a wake-up call than anything. A lot of people aren't going to be able to forget what they saw either but at least now we have time to try to stop those decisions from happening.

- Ichigo

P.S: Are you serious about the FBI?

[chondriosome]

Ichigo,

If nothing else, it's set me on a different track since coming here. Besides, I'm sure we all have better things to fuss over than only one possible if - not unlikely - outcome.



Impersonating a federal agent is a crime. So yes, I'm serious.

[blackmoonreaper]

Aya,

You're probably right.

Can't say I've met someone from the FBI before though. Closest I've been to seeing one is in some movies.

- Ichigo

[chondriosome]

Ichigo,

Judging by your name, I take it you're Japanese? Did you live in Japan?

My branch usually stayed within the United States, so that's not surprising. If you have any questions about what I do, I'm happy to answer them.