( Okay, word of warning. This is gonna be kinda weird..)
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Where am I?
All around him, all he could see were trees. This forest, if that's what it was, stretched almost as far as he could see in every direction. And it was dark. The twisted branches of the trees grew together, blocking out any daylight, and the roots of the trees were gnarled and tangled, making walking difficult.
And how the hell did I get here?
Neo sighed, and sat down on a treestump, running his hands through his long blonde hair. Okay, time to backtrack. The last thing he remembered was bidding goodnight to the Captain, and settling down in his quarters aboard the Archangel.
And unless something really drastic had happened, that's where he still should be. So where was this? Was he dreaming again?
It's possible. My dreams have been really weird lately...
As his eyes became used to the dimness of this forest, Neo was able to make out a glimmer of light to his left. Deciding that wherever that was must be more cheerful than this petrified spider-web of trees, Neo began to climb over the twisted roots, pushing branches aside as he made his way towards the light. The source of light became stronger as he clambered, and the trees seemed to become less twisted, and more like real trees, tall and leafy.
This is one strange place I'm in...
As he finally reached the source of the light, Neo was able to see that it was a clearing in the forest. This clearing was carpeted with soft green grass dotted with a few flowers, and a gentle breeze blew. The light was bright, but didn't seem to be coming from any particular place. And in the middle of this clearing, a man lay on his back on the ground, chewing a blade of grass.
As Neo approached, the man sat up in surprise.
But his shock was nothing compared to Neo's. The man in the clearing wore a white Alliance uniform, which was creased and wrinkled, with the collar undone to show a blue undershirt, and the sleeves were rolled up. But it was the man's face that caused the most shock. It was a mirror image of his own, same hair colour, eye colour, everything. The only differences were that the other man's hair was shorter, and he possessed no scar.
Neo had no doubt that he was looking at Mwu La Fllaga. The man he was so often compared to, even now. Looking at the man, he could understand why a little now. But if he was looking at him, did that mean that he wasn't Mwu? Or, if this really was a dream, as he suspected, did that mean that he was Mwu? Shaking his head, Neo sat down in the grass.
What's my mind trying to tell me? This is so confusing...
Mwu smiled. "This is the first time I've everseen anyone else here..."
Neo looked over at him. "How come you're here? How did you get here?"
The other man shrugged. "No idea. The last thing I remember is blocking that shot headed for Archangel, my ship. Then I woke up here, wherever here is..."
"That must have been that battle two years ago. You saved the ship...they still talk about you." mused Neo, looking rather sad.
"I was able to save it? Save...her...hey, are you on Archangel now?"
Neo nodded. Mwu frowned. "Isn't the war over yet?"
"It did end, then started again two years later..."
"Is the Archangel...is the captain still..."
Neo laughed softly. "You mean, is Captain Ramius still in command? Yes, she is."
"She had to fight again...and I hoped that she'd never have to anymore...my poor Murrue..."
Mwu's voice sounded faraway and wistful, and Neo looked thoughtfully at him. "You still love her."
"I always will." replied the other man, a soft smile on his face. "I could never forget her."
"You're very lucky then. I'd give anything to be able to remember her..."
Mwu looked up at Neo curiously, seeming to notice his appearance for the first time. "Hey, who are you, anyway? And how come we look so alike?"
"I'm...I think...we might be the same person. I think this is a dream..and you...you might be my memories."
Mwu frowned in confusion. "Your memories? Why? Don't you have any?"
"None from before the last two years or so. Until just recently, I didn't really care. But now I know what I'm missing..."
Neo laughed in irony. "Or maybe I just want to be you. All everyone could say was how much I looked like you, and almost everyone's convinced that I am you. Maybe I am...but...I guess I'm jealous. Because everyone still mentions you, and because...because the Captain still loves you so much..."
Mwu's face lit up in sheer delight. "She does? Really?" Then his happy smile faded as he saw Neo's expression.
"You love her too..." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, I do. But I always seem to make her sad. Because I'm not you."
Mwu lay back in the grass again. "I think...that you are me. But you haven't accepted that yet. Maybe that's why you don't remember anything." Then he laughed.
"Or maybe. I was never good at this metaphysical stuff. But I do know that I'm jealous of you."
"Me? Why? You remember everything..."
"That's true. But you get to be by my Murrue's side. And I'd give anything for that."
Neo was about to answer, when a shrill alarm ripped through the forest, and the next thing he knew, he was back in his quarters aboard Archangel. He was vaguely aware of dreaming about something important, but he couldn't remember what it was. But there was no time to ponder. Instead, it was time to fight.
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( Random weirdness XD.
I don't know why I chose to write about this...hope it's not too odd. I wrote it to be set before the final battle started at the end of GSD.
Please read and review...)
