As the heavy slumber in her mind wore off, Dende turned to her side with a shudder as a strong sweep of cool air brushed her skin. She opened her eyes unwillingly, though what greeted her was no usual sight. Skies a deep void littered with thick clouds fell heavily apon the barren mass of crumbled foundations and twisted metal, whilst small orbs of light drifted around calmly, unaware of her alien presence. Streams of liquidy colour ran their way through the air, twisting and winding around wrecked buildings as if there was no tax in their actions.
Dende stood and dusted herself off. She was not the least bit amazed, except maybe the fact that for once in a few years, she was dreaming again. She was adorned in simple military gear, although perhaps a little unorthadox, shorts and a black singlet set were not the usual service garments. Rested not too far from her position was a large black sniper rifle, so glossy in its coat that the colours which pranced around the detrimental wrecks bounced off its surface. Apon picking this up, she realised that two relatively large hand gun's were strapped to each hip. The air brushed at her again, this time much more crisp than before. As she moved to passively place her hands in her pockets, she felt something warm react to her fingertips. Removing the sphere with shaking hands, the reality of the situation hit her so hard it almost threw her off her feet.
She ran her hand through her hair. She took a deep breath. Swallowed her heart. Gripped the sphere as though it was the key to her life. As if it was the reason that she had escaped from a world of which was so devestationally destroying and inescapable. Something snapped. She began to laugh. A powerful feeling rose to her chest. She bent over, and retched. Wiping a tear from her eye, she strapped the large sniper to her back, and moved to walk.
Being so involved in her current situation she failed to realise the small crowd of others, asleep and unaware like she had been before. Her instincts kicked her instantly, and she stopped. Taking a seat nearby a Pyrefly which drifted away slowly, she waited for the rest of her troop to awake. The first to stir was a petite girl with sliky lavender locks. She looked around stunned for a few moments, tried to gather her bearings, then noticed the weapons mounting her.
"These...look like Rikku's blades in the game." she watched as the light danced on their sharp surface.
"That's becuase they are" Dende murmured to herself. She didn't seem to notice.
"This looks just like Zanarkand Ruins!" she cried, a note of distress in her voice. "This has to be a dream, but it feels soo real. Wait..." she felt for something in her pocket. She too, pulled out a dressphere and marvelled at its wonders.
"This is Zanarkand. Or former Zanarkand, if you will. Check out the Pyreflies" Dende smirked, nodding over to one of the floating wonders. This time, she noticed her presence. Dende looked into her bewildered eyes for a moment or two, before smirking.
"If you still think this is a dream, you better wake up now" she chuckled as some sort of mangled creature cried its deadly roar off in the far distance.