Chapter Text
"This is your captain speaking. We'll be arriving in Atlas airspace in 15 minutes. Please ensure tables are in the upright position. Thank you for letting us fly you today Mr. and Mrs. Fall."
Sebastion and Cinthia Fall smile at one another in their respective leather seats. They'd been in the air now for about an hour making their way to the wintery tunda of Atlas. Today was a big day. The 10th annual of the Mistral Grand Ball. It was Atlas' turn to host this time and Sebastion was barely containing his excitement. He smiles through his black moustache as the mountains of Atlas came into view.
"My discoveries will usher in a new wave of medicine Cinth. I just know it." he says peering out the window in full drama mode. Cinthia could only giggle at his words and his courage. He'd been working on this new form of therapy all his life and he'd finally managed a breakthrough in cellular degradation. She was so proud of her husband. She had her own innovations as well, but they were nothing compared to his grand ambition.
"And you will change the world for it. I have complete faith in you my dear." Cinthia says touching her foot to his. He welcomes to the touch and meets her with his. A silent love language only they could cherish between each other. Cinthia's scroll begins to ring. It was their baby girl Cinder Fall, age 7. Cinthia answers with a warm smile as her bundle of black hair appears on screen.
"Mom! Did you make it yet?!" A toothy grin asks with excitement. Cinthia turns the camera towards Sebastion and he makes a silly face back at her. Cinder giggles as she retorts with her own.
"We're almost there Cinder. Shouldn't you be studying?" Cinthia asks turning the camera around.
"I'll have you know I've already read the new biology book for the school year." Cinder says striking a pose of strength.
"My, my Sebastion, she'll be as smart as you one day." Cinthia giggles.
"I sure hope so. Balancing equations is hard on a old man." Sebastion chortles.
"Dad you're only as old as you feel and based on your recent health physical, I'd say your in good health." Cinder says smiling.
"Thank you Doctor Fall." He says says teasing her. As the family laughs, a sudden jolt rocks the plane their on. Then a loud crack as the right wing tears off. Cinthia quickly ends the call and braces herself. She had no idea what was going on. Sebastion meets her gaze and tries to tell her be strong with his eyes, but even he was worried. The plans jolts again and Cinthia's head hits the side of the wall and she goes limp briefly. Sebastion wrestles his belt off and checks her vitals. She was dazed, but blood was already trickling down her right temple.
"Laceration to the head. Partial consciousness. Impact sight: right temple." Sebastion says going through his mental triage to ease his panicking heart. He secures her to her seat with a tight seatbelt and he fights his way to the tussling plane.
"WHAT IN BLAZES HAPPENED?!" Sebastion screams at the pilot.
"I don't know sir the wing just suddenly broke off! I don't have control over out trajectory. We're listing left!" The scared captain says.
"AIM FOR WATER!" Sebastion says jumping into the seat next to the captain."
"MAYDAY CRUISER 112 GOING DOWN IN ATLAS AIRSPACE! DO YOU COPY OVER!?" The captain yells into the headset. He could hear garbled responses from Atlas, but nothing clear. Then a violet roar can be heard as engines 2 and 4 fail on the left side due to the strain of the plane's fall. Then...the plane pitches straight down into the maw of the Atlas mountains.
Explosions...crunching metal...then silence as the wintery winds dust the deadly crash in ice.
(1 week later)
A silent vigil is held for Sebastion and Cinthia and their pilot. Among the mourning mass, is a small girl with watery amber eyes can be seen crying. Another woman with white hair mourns for them as well. A friend. A colleague of business. Another man with dark rimmed glasses bows his head as he leans on his cane. A woman next to him with blonde hair holds his umbrella. A taller man with a dark jacket and brown hair and skin sheds a tear and wipes it quietly. He'd lost his best friend. It was truly a sad day in Remnant.
(15 years later....)