#broken phantasm

It’s a beautiful day outside...

The man in green sprinted across the forest, lit by the twin lights of the rising sun and the fire that raged from the castle. His legs were writing cheques his body couldnt possibly cash, but still he kept going. A bit of pain was nothing, compared to the unknown that awaited him if he ever stopped....

Birds are Singing, Flowers are blooming...

The bulwark of the castle had been blown apart. Stones had melted and fused together, anihilatted by the blast that had churned up the ground in front of the giant curtain wall. But there was no alternative. Hands screaming, flesh sizzling, he placed his hands on the stone and started to climb.

On days like this, Kids like you...

Robin Hood stood, and looked out into the abyss. The courtyard of the castle had been ripped to shreds. The mountainous Berserker stood, the unquenchable rage that drove his body flickering as two glowing embers in his dim eyes...barely alive... but in there... And amongst that scene... That scene of destruction, death... stood one man who’d seen it all... Who never wanted to see this again but was forced... time and time again to re-live it...

SHOULD BE BURNING IN HELL

His home was in ruins. The one thing that was stable, always in this war... torn to the ground... And his Master looked shattered, physically, emotionally...

As always, the cavernous maw of the church basement was as welcoming as gallows are to the lethally accused. But, in many ways, the stifling impression it gives is actually more telling of its nature than the simple name implies. Even a being such as the counter guardian Emiya - whose existence calls for emotionless efficiency - could not shake off the nagging discomfort at the back of his mind each time he immersed himself in the foreboding space.

tap.... tap.... tap...

The sound of light footsteps on stone, soft at first, gradually grew louder as the servant neared the bottom of the staircase.

His eyes, though far superior to most, still had to adjust to the sudden dip in light. It was high noon outside - a wonderful, bright day. But down here the darkness easily makes losing a sense of time possible. It could be morning, afternoon, or midnight and one wouldn't know. The moment anyone sleeps in here is the moment they get imprisoned in their own imbalance.

And indeed, that could be said for the one staying in here - a young man whose suffering had perhaps gone on long enough. Someone who's outlived his usefulness and purpose in the grand scheme of things.

Someone unnecessary... Someone expendable...

Someone to be spared?

TAP.

With a light rustle of cloth and barely audible dampened footsteps on earthy stone, the corrupted servant approached his captive.

He knelt on one knee and looked at the barely moving form, unsure whether the boy was simply asleep...or pretending to be.

Regardless, he shall talk.

Allicit cor honoribus… “The devil speaks expertly, tempting the honorable heart.” ___________________________________________________________

Bright...                                                                    Warm...                                                                                                                                                  Serene... On marbled tiles, in front of the gleaming metals and pristine shrouds of the church altar stood the contrasting figure that was EMIYA. His skin blending with the noon sunlight that streamed from stained glass in its stark palor, outlined by the wispy blackness that seemed to seep from him and into his surroundings. A silent attack... The wordless condemnation in one gaze... And vicious retaliation pushed by unbridled rage... The corrupted archer closed his eyes in contemplation and sought to determine which act was most significant. His head bowed in solemn thought as he weighed the pain that each consequence bore and how much they affected him and his convictions. Indeed, being rendered helpless by attacks that almost proved fatal tore through body and mind. The immense physical strain and destruction all but ripped his sanity away and would have ended his life if not for his link to an omnipotent... being. If not for that advantage, he wouldn't even be here, capable of considering what had just happened to him. Yet despite all that, neither bullet nor blood truly stood out as much as Kiritsugu's quick...betrayal? "No. It wasn't... It wasn't a betrayal. The man acted accordingly." His mind sought to smile at the logic but his lips declined to agree with the emotion. "He merely did what I would have done." Honest reason coursed through his thoughts, unhindered by denial and self-serving pride. Somehow, something allowed him sincerity of emotion that he would never have entertained under normal circumstances. I was as if the inner workings of his being started to unravel and have now reached a point of exposing the rawest of motivations. "Yes... his choice was valid... as well as everyone else's..." ... ...... Indeed. Their choices were valid. But you expected something else, yes? Yes, you sought to end his life...but you also sought answers to questions. Questions you barely understand, much less have words for. Each time,  you've failed to hear what you wanted to hear. Each time, your doubts have been laid unsatisfied... "..." It doesn't matter though, does it? You do have an answer. You always have. It's about time you faced it. "..." Slowly he opened his eyes and let his gaze linger on the most sacred and significant article in the hallowed ground. Perhaps it was cruel coincidence that he found resolution and a merciless conviction in a place where people often lament over their confusion and seek divine answers to their pleas. Here he found his own - albeit his being a twisted sort of salvation. His shoulders shook as he chuckled, quietly at first, then erupting into banal laughter. Howls of manic amusement echoed in the tall, empty halls as light seemed to wane and flicker in the wake of renewed malice that flowed from the servant. Corruption took form and wafted around the chamber, coating each pew, column, and window in inky blackness. Blood has since stopped flowing from his wounds. Each gash and laceration now healed without leaving any sign of injury - his once torn limb included. Archer flexed his hand, and smiled. Why had he ever hesitated? He had always been on the right path all along. Well, as long as doubts were placated, he couldn't ask for more. He has a goal to fulfill.

If I do not hear anything from you by Friday (16th), I will choose a picture from official art to use.

Thank you!

Listen up motherfuckers!

I’m sure many of you are confused about the whole “Broken Phantasm” that is going on, and would like to read about it and the RPs that have been done, or just want to re-read everything. 

Due to requests in skype, I have created an archive blog for this act that is going on currently. It is still heavily under constructions, so don’t expect to find everything from it just yet.

To help me in this project, I would greatly appreciate it if you would either message me to this blog, or the archive blog (motherfuckingbrokenphantasm) the days that your character(s) have appeared in, and links to said RPs and/or interludes via submission or fanmail.

Thank you, and have a great day!

Broken Phantasm: The Final Days

“Julius... are you okay?” A sweet feminine voice graced the young boy’s ears. Julius looked up to see a kind, heart warming smile looking at him. 

“A...Alicia...” Tears ran down the young boy’s face. “T..They made me kill again today. I am sick of hurting people.” Alicia looked back at the boy with sad eyes. 

“Don’t worry Julius, it will get better.”

“I... I feel like I am losing myself more and more every day. I want to help Leo, and help the Harweys....” Alicia hugged the boy, and stroked his head. She then took in a breath of air and began to sing.

Ever on and on I continue circling With nothing but my hate in a carousel of agony Till slowly I forget and my heart starts vanishing

Julius felt his mind begin to calm. The light notes of the song relaxed his mind, even with the dark lyrics that were laced throughout the song. The song itself calmed his mind down. He relaxed back into the hug and closed his eyes. 

And suddenly I see that I can't break free--I'm Slipping through the cracks of a dark eternity With nothing but my pain and the paralyzing agony To tell me who I am, who I was Uncertainty enveloping my mind

Till I can't break free... Julius rested against a nearby wall, he was sure he felt it. His presence. The presence of the man who had forced his hand. 

“Ar....cher...” Muffled words escaped the man’s lips. He grinned at the idea of tearing the man apart... but he knew deep down his end would be found there. He was facing an opponent who had managed to defeat him with a Servant, and now he was facing this alone. “I....I will.... kill you.....”

If I make another move, if I take another step Then it all would fall apart. There'd be nothing of me left If I'm crying in the wind, if I'm crying in the night Will there ever be a way? Will my heart return to white?

Julius stumbled forward out of the alleyway and into the open street. His teeth ground against one another, his rage was unbridled. A mind slowly fading, losing its individuality and no longer being Julius. He was a Berserker.  

Can you tell me who you are? Can you tell me where I am? I've forgotten how to see; I've forgotten if I can If I opened up my eyes there'd be no more going back 'Cause I'd throw it all away, and it all would fade to black