#this is from when i kidnapped him (and erend) from the final battle

[robo-dino-puppy]

seekers of lost knowledge

[aloyxtilda]

A Love Beyond Space and Time

FANFIC: ALOY/LIS & TILDA

Author: GingerAnne aka @aloyxtilda

Author Notes: Taking place at the end of Horizon Forbidden West, Tilda Returns from the dead in a more enigmatic, “angelic”, youthful form. How is Tilda still alive? What has she done to herself to make it possible? Based off data points I've found across the 2 games and Zenith lore, I decided to write about my theory on how she may return for Horizon 3. Of course, turning it into a fun fan fic due to my love for this mysterious character filled with tons of secrets.

SUMMARY: Taking place at the very end of Horizon Forbidden West. The moment Aloy is forced to defeat Tilda in battle, she struggles to cope with the fact she killed the last person connected to Elizabet and the old ones -- Tilda. Aloy drowns her sorrows in constant machine battles and more bad ale than she can handle. But as our hero tries to calm the machines of a raging Hephaestus, a cloaked, white and gold hooded, mysterious being is found watching Aloy from a distance. Could it possibly be.....

CHAPTER 1 : The Beginning of The End

After the battle with Tilda, Aloy felt this sense of deep regret. Did she do the right thing? Was there any other way this could have ended differently? Why didn't Tilda just let her choose or stay and fight along-side her? The red headed huntress' thoughts raced in circles as she flew upon her sunwing. Aloy took a long ride to clear her head while the others stayed behind to gather anything they could from the space traveler's base.

Sylens poked around for any useful data. While Erend checked a few cabinets in the the desperate hope of discovering Zenith alcohol. Alva was scanning the area, incredibly fascinated with the nano technology within the walls of the structure. But Beta couldn't wait to get out of there. The poor girl sat on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chest. Her traumatized gaze was soon shook when her sister came flying in from above. A look of relief and joy spread over her face.

“Sis!” Beta waved to Aloy. “Thank goodness, I was getting bored. Can we leave now?” She begged.

“Of course we can.” Aloy smiled gently to Beta, hiding her pain. “I just have a few things I need to clear up before I head back to base. Erend just called me on my focus and told me he was packing up." The huntress gently touched her sister's shoulder. "You can go back with him. It'll be alright. I'll meet up.”

“Okay, I'll wait for you there.” Beta replied, a little disappointed that her sister wasn't going back with her.

“Hey!” Erend shouted in excitement. “They got fancy bottles of something here!” He held one up for the gang to see. “Looks like we're celebrating tonight.” He cheered as Sylens gave a light chuckle and shook his head. Beta ran over to Erend as she helped him load up some bags of Zenith salvage.

However, Aloy wasn't feeling any joy to celebrate. Her stomach was in knots and her heart sank deeper with each drop of light fading from the sunset. She walked over to the smoking pod that Tilda's hands continued to lay limp from. She gazed at them in some desperate hope they would move. 

“You coming with us?” Sylens interrupted.

“No, I'll catch up with you all soon. I got a few things I want to do first.” She replied, withholding her emotions.

“Very well. See you at the base.” Sylens responded with a gentle tone as the redhead nodded, keeping her face turned away from him. He walked slowly to the exit then stopped and looked back at her. “Aloy” He continued. “Don't let it get you upset. She did try to kidnap you – remember that.”

“I-I know Sylens.” She whispered, doubting he even heard her.

When everyone was finally out of the base, the sun had almost set. The stars began to twinkle beyond the soft, rose colored clouds as Aloy dropped to her knees before Tilda. She punched the ground and let out a long cry. An entire barrel of emotions streamed out of her. Anger for Tilda tossing her life away so foolishly. Anger for trying to kidnap her and force her to leave Earth to a terrible fate. And extreme regret for killing her. Did she have a choice? Aloy questioned her own morals as she sat and mourned Elizabet's ex lover who claimed to love her more than anything in the world. Then why? Why do this if you love someone? None of it made any sense to the brave Nora.

“I don't get it, Tilda. Why? This was such a waste!” Aloy began mumbling to herself as she struggled to get the blonde haired woman free from the pod. “If you were going to give your life, you could have done so helping me!” Her voice rose in frustration. Prying open the shaft and slowly sliding the corpse out, Aloy gasped at the lifeless, beautiful woman in her arms. Her light golden strands slipped through Aloy's fingers as she held Tilda's head. “I wish you just wanted to stay by my side...here – on Earth.” She whispered in Tilda’s ear as tears dropped down her cheek. “I would have given you that second chance.” She fought every nerve in her body not to break down as she laid a soft kiss on the woman’s cold forehead.

Aloy picked up the lifeless Zenith into her arms and carried her to a peaceful spot near the base. The ground was soft and easy for her to dig a grave. The red head couldn't just leave her in that pod to rot. Bad enough her conscious was killing her for taking Tilda’s life. And though she didn't know Tilda long, Aloy felt a deep connection to her. Perhaps because Elizabet was her lover or maybe the way Tilda had so much to offer. Her connection to the old ones. Her beauty? Her intelligence and incredible knowledge. All of it was attractive and inviting. She accepted her into her life so easily. If she had kept her word and didn't lie, they could have done great things together. Aloy thought of all the possibilities Tilda could've had with her. The stories and aid she could've provided in rebuilding Earth. Now gone – forever.

The Nora girl placed Tilda into the grave and said her goodbyes as she covered it with the last bits of dirt. After leaving some flowers on a piece of metal from Specter Prime she used as a tombstone, Aloy was finally ready to head back to base.

***

A couple weeks passed while Sylens worked hard to find any knowledge on what he could about Nemesis. Meanwhile, Hephaestus' creations were getting out of control. They began terrorizing the people of the Forbidden West. Aloy found herself having to help out fellow tribes from rogue machines that got stronger by the day. Gaia was only able to provide knowledge when she could but time felt like it was running out and still nothing on how to take down Nemesis.

Many things challenged our hero's mental state. The dread that Nemesis was on it's way caused deep anxiety in her heart. At times, Tilda's death crept back into her memory, haunting her conscious. Nightmares tormented her each evening. She needed a drink! Bad! A nice ale, maybe even a hot bath at an inn to clear her head. She deserved a break from being a hero for once. Aloy decided to head to Chainescrape. From there, she'd go to the tavern and meet up with her good friend, Petra.

When she arrived it was around dinner. She parked her sunwing on a nearby cliff and glided her way down into town.

“Wow look! It's the savior!” She heard someone shout out. Aloy rolled her eyes.

She made her way to the tavern where the music got louder, the crowd got rowdier and the entire place smelled like bad ale and the flesh of roasted boar. Aloy smiled knowing she was exactly where she needed to be.

“Hey, machine hunter! Over here!” Petra called out and waved down her red headed friend.

“Petra! So good to see you!” Aloy replied with a big smile and a touch of blush in her cheeks.

“Looks like you need a drink.” The inventor laughed and nudged her elbow into Aloy's old injured rib.  

“Shit, is it that obvious?” The huntress grinned and chuckled, trying to hide her pain from the nudge.

“Maybe. But don’t worry! The ale is on the house! So drink up!” The inventor slammed a mug in front of the Nora girl.

“Thanks Petra!”

They talked for what seemed hours as Aloy began feeling tipsy and soon very drunk. Petra continued to ask if the Nora was okay but she hid her sorrows well and drank more. However, a person caught her attention. A white hooded, cloaked figure sat in the corner across the tavern, staring at Aloy. The huntress squinted her eyes in the hopes of seeing more details through her blurry sight.

“Hey Petra, who's that?” Aloy subtly tilted her head in the direction of the enigmatic being.  

“I have no idea.” She whispered back. “Never seen them around here before. Looks like they traveled from a far away land.”

“Hm. Interesting.”

Aloy eventually got up. Petra offered to help her walk but the stubborn Sobeck refused it. She wished her friend goodnight and stumbled out of the tavern. The air was a bit cool as the stars glimmered beyond the passing clouds. She took in a big deep breath of fresh air and stretched, followed by a long, dramatic yawn.

“I should get to the Inn and call it a night.” She spoke to herself.

When the Nora girl made her way inside, the innkeeper greeted her.

“Ah! The savior of Meridian! Need a room? On the house!”

“N-No reallyyy, thatiss's not necessary – at all.” Aloy slurred. “I-I...I can pay!”

“Don't be ridiculous! It's not everyday you see a true hero walk among us!” They insisted and handed the girl a key.

“Can I-I gett a baath too?” She asked as best she could, struggling to hold herself up.

“Of course! I'll prepare the hot water for you. It’ll take a bit. Just head to your room and I'll assist you shortly.”

“Grr-eatt!” Aloy raised her hand in the air in a silly fist pump. She felt herself getting dizzier by the minute.

***

Aloy took the longest bath she's had in weeks. Letting the warm water heal any wounds, scratches and scrapes from her battles. Her muscles relaxed as her mind cleared of all negativity. This is what she needed more than anything.

The hooded figure came to mind. Who were they? Why were they starring at her in the tavern? Could it have been a member of the Quen? They wore a hooded cloak that was white with gold details. The colors almost resembled Zenith attire but could blend in well with the crowd. The huntress pondered if it could've been an immortal survivor but that made no sense. All the Zeniths were dead. Including one in particular who's face she couldn't remove from her thoughts.

“Tilda...” Aloy lowered her head and dipped herself under the water to drown her tears.

That’s it for now. I plan to write chapter 2 tomorrow. Let me know what you all think. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy it so far.