#znt1a

[zntanniversary]

September 27th [Day 3] FLIGHT ASKS

1. What do you think of the theme of “flight” in the series?

2. How would you have liked to see the issue between Lisa and her mom be resolved?

[seasaltmemories]

Flight

Rating: T

Summary:  For the first time, Five flies.

She doesn't deserve her wings. Five knows she is evil, a monster raised to be nothing but a tool. She hadn't rebelled from the role given to her like Nine and Twelve, or died before she had the power to fight back like the rest of the children. No she had accepted her fate and been as horrible as the people who had tortured them.

So she can't understand she gained wings like the rest of them. To be honest, she hadn't accepted the fact there was an afterlife til Nine and Twelve had shown up and convinced her she wasn't hallucinating.

The rest of them are so carefree. She has no emotional attachment to any of them. Nine had been the only one to rival her intellect, so she hadn't cared to memorize the others numbers. The fact she remembered Twelve's surprised her. But that was not the point. They had suffered the same torture, and no matter the distance, they all shared a same bond. But still she was not like them. The being in charge of this place must have just gotten mixed up. That was the only way she could have ended up with these wings and in a place so nice like this.

So she spends her time watching the others. The others play and laugh and live the life they deserved, but she does not join in. She has not lost her arrogance. Five survived the horrors by developing it as a shield. She still saw herself as the smartest and most capable of the bunch. But she was in no way a good person, any idiot could tell that. It was logic that kept her from participating in anything but passive observing. Occasionally Nine and Twelve would come to check up on her, both nothing could compel her to move from her spot.

That is, until the last person she expected came to visit her.

In this world, it was hard to describe their physical forms. It was a cross between solid light, crow bodies, and their human forms. They shifted from those form as smooth as silk. You didn't so much recognize someone but sense them. Whatever the case was, finding Lisa Mishima staring at her was a surprise to say the least.

"You're so much younger than I remember. You could be my granddaughter," Lisa laughs and despite the fact she seems the same, Five deduces she must be much older. Strange, she didn't realize she had spent years here.

"Come to push your long lifespan in my face?" Five sniffs.

"No, in the end we all end up here," Her voice trails off as she gazes at the paradise Five seems disinterested in. "It is so great finally reuniting with the boys, but they tell me you haven't done a thing in the decades you've had to yourself." Ugh, the mouse has grown a backbone and thinks she knows so much.

"Why do I concern you!? I used you to hurt the only people that cared about you."

"True, but I forgave you a long time ago."

"That's a foolish thing to do," Purple eyes narrow in disgust. "If I hadn't ran out of time, than I could have hurt you even more."

"You probably could and would have," She laughs again, an annoying sound, so confident and knowing. "Still it takes courage to forgive. I don't know how I could be brave back then and pray for an enemy, but I managed to do it."

"Why do you even want to associate with a monster like me?"

"You're not a monster."

"Don't you dare lie to me!" Five growls. "My hands are stained with blood. I hurt people. Are you just trying to disagree with me to piss me off even more?" She tries to channel any lingering emotions into pure anger, but it doesn't work. She is tired and so weak now. Only a few questions from this bitch that took away Nine and Twelve's attention and she feels like a mess. Ugly sadness claws at her throat, and for the first time since she was ten, she cries.

It comes up in raw, broken gasps, but Lisa doesn't seem to notice, holding her like she's a child and rubbing soothing circles in her back. "There, there. You did do bad things, but you were forced to take on a hard shell because if you didn't, you wouldn't survive. But you don't need the shell anymore. You can change, you're free," Lisa draws back looking over the younger girl. "Come on, there are some people who have been waiting forever to see you again."

This defies the well-constructed logic Five was taught to believe in. It even defies the animal part of herself, friendly as a rabid hound. She wants to do anything but associate with this creature who fails to see the truth, but she doesn't pull back when Lisa takes her hands in her's. The older woman give a gentle squeeze that makes Five trust her for some reason, and soon they are running hand in hand.

"How did you drag me into this?!" It doesn't make sense, her body has betrayed everything that she believes in.

"Don't be scared! Just relax, you're free!"

Free. The word stirs up something inside her, and a smile tugs at the corner of her lips.

For the first time, Five flies.

A.N. Just realized I have never written these two amazing women talking together and that needed to change. While I'm not completely satisfied with the ending, I want to show more Five taking the first step to forgiving herself than Lisa permanently "fixing' her.

[darksora-phoenix]

ZNT1A

September 27th [Day 3] FLIGHT

“Now spread your wings and fly...my child”

[zntanniversary]

September 26th [Day 2] GENDERBEND

1.  How would the ZNT world realistically react to genderbent characters?

[sweetchcolate]

Good Grief

“It’s perfect.”

“It’s too expensive.”

“Aw, c’mon, it’s gonna hurt our wallet, but think of it as a long-term investment.”

“No.”

“It looks good. I like the red highlights and the design. It’s slick and modern.”

“See? Even Lisa agrees.”

“No. Besides, how do you propose to collect such a vast amount of money?” He utters a seven-digit number.

“God, you’re such a cheap jerk. I can’t believe I befriended such a tight-ass.” The tone is not bitter though; more like teasing with a touch of mock annoyance.

“Jerk? I am being reasonable. Unlike you. What are you, twelve?” A pause. He inhales sharply, realizing his mistake. “Wait, don’t―”

“Actually, I am. So are you.”

“Huh? But I thought you were Twelve and,” Lisa turned to the other boy, “You were―”

“I’m Twelve and I’m twelve, and he’s Nine and he’s twelve.”

“… How does even that make sense?”

“Forget this idiot’s rambling.”

“No, no! It all makes sense. I used to be nine, but now I’m Twelve, while Nine used to be nine, but he’s still Nine and twelve.” Twelve snickers at the implied jab.

“Twelve?” Lisa furrows her brow and lands her hand on the boy’s forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

“He’s insane. Been for a while.”

“Insane for a Ducati!”

“It does cost a million and a half. It’s not exactly cheap…”

“Awn,” Twelve pouts. “I really want that bike.”

“Now I understand why you’re the money-keeper, Nine.”

“I’ve always been the more level-headed one.” A smug note creeps in his tone, teasing and serious at the same time.

“You mean the more boring one. Ya know that his voice was this bland red when I first met him?”

“I don’t think red can be bland. It’s a pretty vivid color, Twelve.”

“No, no, it can totally be bland. Like, like…” He furrows his brows in intense concentration. “Like sweet potatoes! It’s that boring, faded orange. Kinda like all the food back then.”

“I’d take if over Lisa’s cook―” A glare from the corner of Twelve’s eyes and Lisa’s expectant expression at the mention of her name cut him short.

“Forget it,” he mumbles, scrolling down the webpage.

“I still want that bike!”

“Good grief, you two, do you ever shut up?” a fourth voice calls from the living room. It’s male and frustrated and rough, like after a smoke.

“Ah!” Lisa stands quickly. “Maybe I should leave. Mr. Shibazaki seems unhappy.”

“He’s in a foul mood because a few files have been lost.”

“He’s always in a grumpy mood.”

“He’s stressed, it’s understandable.” Lisa tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “The MPD’s been converting their archives into computer files, right?”

“Yeah… Hey,you don’t have to leave because of old grumps. Wanna stay over?”

“What? No, no, I don’t want to impose―”

“You wouldn’t be imposing on the old man,” Nine swivels around on his chair. “He gives us a roof over our head, but Twelve and I are independent. We can take care of ourselves.”

“Or of our guest!”

“I… I guess, but I…”

“Great!” Twelve wraps a hand around her wrist, warmth seeping in her skin and bones, and tugs her to his side so she has a clear view of his laptop. “I’ll show you how we mess with the old dude when he’s being a cheeky bastard.”

“You’re going to hack into the MPD servers again?”

“Twelve! Nine!” Lisa wants to scold them, but she isn’t sure how to tell the two genius boys off hacking into delicate and confidential intel. Part of her is scandalized, the law-abiding kid that she is, and the other is curious, the rebellious teenage persona that the boys carefully unearthed from her soul.

“Bah, it’s no big deal.” It’s Nine, which surprises Lisa. His wicked streak is more of the snarky, sarcastic type, not of the nonchalant hacker.

As the boys mess with their computers and coerce Lisa into her very own private hacking lessons, another shout erupts from the living room.

“Good grief, what the hell is going on? Why are those files disapp- YOU TWO BRATS!”

The boys scramble in a hurry, a nervous squeak leaving their mouths. “The window, quick, the window!”

“That’s why a bike would be handy!”

“Shut up, Twelve! C’mon, out before he skins our asses.”

And Lisa is dead with worry when the boys are stuck outside the building, strung on a ledge while Shibazaki’s face boils red in rage. But she quickly starts laughing when the two parties engage in bickering right in front of the neighbors, a shouting match with a few witty lines, courtesy of Nine and Twelve, that has her doubled on the floor, laughing.

Good grief, what a family.

-

A/N: grief was the prompt and I didn’t want to write angst. So AU where papa!Shibazaki adopts Twelve and Nine soon after their escape from the Settlement. They befriend Lisa and happy end! :3

Also, the new otp: twelve x bike

[ranvionist]

Ey, did somebody say genderbender?

anyway, i don’t know a good name for Lisa as a guy. Mishima Liam? is that good? I always though she was a half. I hope i could draw something for tommorow. Art block are really a bummer, yes?

[seasaltmemories]

Grief

When the book comes out, Lisa makes sure to flinch the first copy that is printed. The sight of her words in print is still an unbelievable sight. She can barely stand to touch it, let alone open it. However after a few minutes she finally works up the courage to sneak a peek.

Dear Lord it is actually her book! Someone didn't just accidentally use her cover art.

As she leaves with her exclusive copy, she feels light than air. Years of ink and blood intermixing have finally yielded results. And she did something few could do. Even if sales weren't good, she still had left her unique mark on the world.

The blinding lights that surround her as she weaves through traffic on her motorcycle make her nostalgic. Without realizing she hums a tune from a cold land til she arrives at her destination. With hurried, excited steps she runs up to show them the result of her hard work.

"Can you believe? I finally did it! People are actually looking forward to the what I have to say," There is no response, but Lisa doesn't worry. "I made sure to save a copy just for you. You were my inspiration after all. I hope you enjoy it!"

With hands that she refuse to let shake, she lays down the book at the bottom of the two grave markers. If she lingers too long, the tears will fall, and she can't bare to be sad during such a happy day, so she quickly heads off to her bike and straps on her helmet without faltering,

However before taking off, she can't help but look back and try to memorize the sight.

Von: the story of the 2014 Sphinx Bombings, it looks so out of place on the cold hard ground, but it still manages to warm her heart.

"I hope you enjoy your immortality in these pages, Nine, Twelve." With that Lisa takes off as a warm summer breeze carries her all the way home.

A.N. A sorta sequel to my fic Poet to celebrate the anniversary of the finale, while she still misses them, I kinda wanted to show Lisa channeling that grief into something positive to help fight it.

[liliubel]

September 25th [Day 1] GRIEF

 1. Which character did you mourn for most?

Twelve. From the very beginning Twelve was my favourite character. I always tend to like the ones who look/act silly but deep down are very serious and have several worries. To be honest when the series began I expected it to have an open ending like other series from Shinichiro Watanabe (if you’ve seen Samurai Champloo or Cowboy Bebop you know what I’m referring to) but as the story progressed I started to assume that someone would die. Actually I had already assumed Nine would die due to the symptoms he showed but I never expected Twelve to die too. He had a horrible death. Shot from the back with no chance to protect himself. The final scene, after that glimpse of the happiness they could have enjoyed, completely devastated me. I spent the next several hours crying my heart out and even nowadays whenever I think about the ending it makes me feel really sad. Twelve really grew on me and it’s a character I’ll always keep close to my heart.

2. How do you think the story would have ended had Lisa or Shibazaki died in place of the Sphinx duo?

I don’t think that Lisa or Shibazaki deaths would have affected the ending at all. The boys would meet the same fate, but if any of those deaths had happened I think it would have played an important role in the emotional development of Twelve and Nine.

Personally, I think that Lisa’s death would have been the worst. If Lisa would have died, the guys would carry the extra weight of guilt. Twelve would feel horrible for having dragged Lisa into their activities, for having become so attached to her and for not being able to protect her. In the case of Nine, it would have been a reminder of the kids of the orphanage he couldn’t save. They would die thinking that Lisa died because of their fault.

In the case of Shibazaki I don’t think it would have changed the ending that much. Americans would still behave the way they did and I think the only difference is that no one apart of Twelve and Nine would be aware of the Athena Plan. Feeling like, indeed, no one understood them, since the only person who cared enough to discover the truth was dead.