Upon a Star

by vanishingtwin

Four young people lost their world as children. Three of them have made a new life on an asteroid in the depths of space with other refugees, while one set out alone. After almost a decade, it's time to return to what's left of their home. But the scars haven't healed, and what appears to be reality can't always be trusted.

1. Chapter 1: Introlude With Tortoise

"Excuse me? Excuse me sir, it's time to go home now."

The haggard old tortoise jerks awake and spins around in his barstool with cartoon surprise. His small red hat is left spinning in the air after he comes to a stop, and he stretches his neck up to get it back on his head. He squints at the figure in front of him, whom he can only see as a pillar of pink.

"Who? Huh—who?"

"Mr. Tortoise?" The figure becomes clearer.

"Yuh? Yeah, that's me. How can I—uhhh…" He dozes off again, and collapses against the bar. A shotglass that stands in his path is pushed off, and shatters on the floor. A man rushes from the back room, looks at the broken glass, mutters "Dammit Toby, not again…," and goes back through the swinging doors..

"Oh no, oh no. Mr. Tortoise, look what you did. Someone will have to clean this up now…"

The tortoise opens his bleary eyes, and the figure comes into focus. A severe but gentle-looking girl draped in pink.

"I was in…a race once…young lady."

"I know you were, Mr. Tortoise. You've told me many times. Now come on, it's time for you to go home." She bends to pick him up. His limbs and head retract into his shell as she grasps it. She hears retching echoing from inside. She sighs.

"What's your name, young lady? I've…seen you before."

"All these times I've taken you back to your house in the second district and you still can't remember my name?"

His head emerges again. His eyes are bloodshot. "I…ran a race once."

"You poor thing. My name is—"

"Aerith?" The door opens, and another girl leans into the bar. "Aerith, we're getting ready to leave. What are you doing?"

"Making sure no one is left behind, Yuffie. I'll be right there."

Yuffie nods, and leaves. Aerith hoists Toby Tortoise under her arm, and flicks her hand toward the broken glass. The debris collects into a pile, which floats up and deposits itself in a trash can. The bartender emerges from the back holding a dustpan as Aerith drops a handful of golden orbs into a nearby ashtray.

"Munny's on the counter, Biggs."

She leaves the bar and steps out into the dusk.