#flame chasers

♱ aponia as aglaea!

aglaea never looked like her, but they had similarities that made you hesitate. aglaea was the second person the three of you’ve met, and at first, you wondered why she felt to familiar. her strings and influence on them were what made you remember aponia.

“why are you standing so far away?” aglaea turned around, her eyes causing you get nervous all over again, “sorry…” she just smiled before approaching you, offering her hand up to you, “i know you’re not them but,” when you placed your hand onto hers, she tugged you closer and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear.

“you’re so similar.“ you blinked and looked off to the side, a troublesome look on your face. why was she being this way to you? though, you can’t blame her, this… variation of you had died, and you were acting the same way with phainon. maybe you were being hypocritical.

“what… happened?” aglaea paused for second, releasing her hold on you. did you touch nerve? aglaea watched the way your eyes widened slightly, in fear of wondering if you asked something wrong. even after death, you were still the same. always getting to the point with such haste but regretting it later as soon as it leaves your mouth.

aglaea sighed and crossed her arms, “you… really are the same but for your question,” the small, soft look on her face was gone, being replaced with her usual expression, “i’m not the one you want to ask.” aglaea turned around, the walls around her heart being built up again.

even for a moment, even when she missed you… aglaea knew you weren’t them, but she really wish it was.

“i’ll see you soon, ms. aglaea!” — “don’t strand so far away.”

♱ vill-v as tribbie!

tribbie was a hard one to distinguish, that was before meeting trianne and trinnon did you realize she mirrored vill-v in a way. they were adorable to be one, and you got closer to trinnon more than the others, it’s not like you weren’t close with them! it’s just, you connected more with trinnon.

that’s what made you approach her first.

“trinnon, why aren’t you with the rest?” the girl looked over at you, seeing how you sat yourself down beside her on the grass as she her body was staring up at the sky, “i could ask you the same question.” you smiled, bringing her head over for lay on your lap.

“i got overwhelmed by the amount of attention phainon was giving me.” trinnon just laughed, holding onto your pinky before the moment of silence was disturbed. “found ‘ya!” trianne jumped onto your back, making you jolt forward with a yelp, “trainne, don’t just scare them like that.” tribbie lightly scolded, following after trianne who just giggled.

“don’t you get it, [name]? he’s in love with you!” trianne pointed out, a hand on her hip as a confident look was on her face. you just sweatdropped, though deep down inside, you knew it was because of your resemblance towards the old you.

tribbie noticed the way your face seemed to drop, holding onto your left hand with a comforting smile, “snowy knows you may not be them, but even if you’re not, you still managed to weave into his heart.” her words made a light flush of pink appear on your face, suddenly getting shy.

“i know that but tribbie,” you swallowed your nervousness back, wondering if ruining this good mood would be bad, “i have a question…” the three girls stilled, already sharing the same thought, “[name]…” trinnon grabbed your attention, “we’re not the right ones to ask about this.”

you hummed, brushing her bangs away, “okay…”

maybe for just a while, you could’ve been them.

“you made me a flower crown?” — “you deserve it, clem!”

♱ pardofelis as cipher!

you already saw it from a mile away, what’d you expect? as soon as you saw her, you immediately knew how similar she was to pardofelis it almost made you laugh. cipher even managed to swipe a few credits from your pocket, reminding you how pardofelis stole a hair accessory right off your hair.

cipher tugged you across the rooftops of okhema, grinning when she heard you whine about the hard grip she had on your wrist, “cipher, is this really necessary?” cipher just laughed, hiding behind a chimney and making herself relax by laying against it with a leg tossed over the other and arms behind her head.

you just sighed, sitting down beside her as the both of you watched the sky. children’s laughter around the market down below, chatters about different things being heard as well, some of them being bargains.

cipher did enjoy watching the sky, but every time she turned to look at you, heart ached. you looked the exact same, down to the same mole below your right eye. you were a goody-two shoes back then, always scolding her when she took something off your outfit but somehow being just as bad as her.

noticing the stare from you, you flicked her forehead, “what’s that look for?” you swore everyone just had a staring problem when it came to you, even caelus questioned about it — quite literally asking it outloud, which made you slap the back of his head in embarrassment.

“do you wanna know how you died?”

great…

you nodded slowly, a bit too eager because when she saw the sparkle in your eyes, she faltered, not like her usual self. just seeing how alive you were in this moment made her chest churn, she couldn’t even voice the answer even if she wanted too.

“just joking! i’m not someone you should ask. i don’t even know how you died!” your shoulder slumped, the facade she put on disappearing when you looked off to the distance, realizing your hopes were snatched as soon as they appeared. did she really have to joke about that?

that was lie… she swore to never lie to you ever again, but… maybe no one else believed it, neither did she.

“cipher, do you always have to steal my stuff?” — “so what? you have the good shit.”

♱ su as anaxa!

you saw this one too, they looked like eachother but didn’t have the same personality which made you curse lightly. unlike the others, the both of you had kept a distance, but you still worried for the professor, even going ahead and catching him when the flame reaver disappeared.

you were just looking for aglaea, wondering if she can sew a hole in your outfit before you spotted him, seeing how troubled he look as he stared down onto a scripture. you looked around, trying to find anyone else to ask him about what was wrong until you found yourself peering over his shoulder to see.

“do you always invade my space?” anaxa sighed rather aggressively, looking over his shoulders to see a familiar pout and crossed arms. for just a mere second, he saw ‘you,’ scoffing when realized what he said.

“why are you so rude?” you mumbled, backing away when he rolled the scripture up and turned to you with a frown, “i don’t have time to mess around with you.” anaxa retorted, his attitude making your eye twitch, “you say that like i’m such an inconvenience for you..”

“that’s because you are.”

crossing your arms, you looked away from, “asshole.” the professor scoffed, already annoyed by your presence but made no move to leave so soon. anaxa was never close to the old you, neither were you, but still…

when he made eye contact with you again, he saw a look of worry so clear onto your face that he realized why he felt so much pain when you had died, “ask someone else.” you gapped at his abrupt answer, “i wasn’t even going to ask you!” anaxa didn’t bother to turn around, hiding a small smile on his face.

despite not having no personal relationship with you, he does remember how much concerned scolding he’ll get.

“you’re sick, professor. let hyacine help you.” — “i’m not. leave me alone.”

♱ sakura as hyacine!

pink hair? you already know it. again, they didn’t have to have certain aspects from them, but you could already guess. they were nothing alike, you already knew that, and you didn’t care. hyacine was a lovely girl, and even though she held no similarities, did that really matter?

you followed after hyacine, watching how she took care of the citizens with such passion. you giggled when she turned over to look at you when someone was praising her a bit too much. now, the both of you were heading back to the hero’s bath after caelus had texted a very, odd text message.

“he’s an odd one, huh?” hyacine smiled behind her hand, seeing the way you sighed a cloud out of your mouth and a tired expression coming onto your face, “you won’t believe it.” hyacine kept a close eye on you, like everyone else, she noticed that you were the same.

it’s getting repetitive but, it was true.

the same speck in your eyes, the same way your bangs were styled, and the same way where you’d be tired by someone but still have a heart full of worry. no wonder phainon had fallen in love with you so easily, twice now.

she giggled at the thought of it, making you hum in curiosity, “what are laughing at?” hyacine tried waving it off but she remembers the amount of times phainon had tripped over his words around you, mydei laughing behind his hands whenever phainon had embarrassed himself.

you continued to stare at her as she calmed down, staring up at you with a closed smile, “you’re such a pure person, [name]. it’s a shame that you’ll have to leave one day.” just hearing her tone made you stiffen, you had forgotten that you weren’t from here. it was so easy to slip in the role they all had for you that it felt like home again.

“i won’t leave you all without goodbyes.” hyacine returned your smile, watching you walk again as she stood there, hand clenching onto her clothes. she could remember the pained voices from everyone, including herself. you were right there, in front of her, the same person as always.

“hyacine?” she snapped out of her thoughts, catching up to you when she heard her name, “do you know how i died?” hyacine knew this was going to be asked, after all, aglaea had warned her about it. hyacine shook her head, “i wish i knew but i was away that day.” she could see how your patience were running thin, covering it up with just a simple — ‘it’s okay.’

but it wasn’t. she had lost you, and that day proved how little her healing can do.

“let me take care of you one day.” — “you’re too sweet!”

♱ eden as castorice!

castorice and eden were both composed and soft-spoken, they were also eager to help lots of times. so the connection wasn’t hard to make. when you first met castorice, you had accidentally placed a shoulder on her hand, making her flinch away in shock. you just stared back in confusion, caelus’s face gone white while phainon had already have a hand latched out before seeing nothing happening to you.

so in the end, you became sort of physically beacon for her. holding her hand whenever it was just the two of you, bringing her into a hug whenever you saw caelus whip out march 7th’s camera. every time you initiated physically touch, her world seemed to brighten up, taking every chance to just feel warmth.

both you and castorice were on the balcony, caelus and dan heng out with phainon, leaving the two of you. castorice held your hand up, toying with your fingers as she listened onto your rant about the astral expression and its journey.

she had noticed you stopped, looking up with a blink, “i’m listening.” you just shook your with with a grin, pulling a strand of her to you, “was the me you knew unaffected by your touch?” castorice nodded her head, making you confused. you thought it had something to do with your powers, but maybe not.

“why’s that?”

castorice tried to answer, equally as confused as you, “i don’t know either, but i remember them saying it had something to do with their prophecy.” that made you even more confused, pulling a face. you didn’t know you had a prophecy but you also didn’t know there was another planet with variations of your dead friends.

castorice reached up, running her hand over your cheek. ever since you died, she’s always missed how you were unaffected by her hold, being someone she turned to whenever she needed comfort; a hug most of the time.

“do you know their prophecy and how i died?” castorice shook her head, feeling down when she heard your sigh, thinking that she might let you dow. “it’s fine. why worry about it now? i’m not them so it shouldn’t matter.” castorice nodded, the weight of your words making it difficult for her to stay any longer. did you know much that hurts?

‘i’m not them.’ but you are, and it hurts so bad.

“you’re so warm, cas.” — “and you’re burning up. are you sick?”

♱ kosma as mydei!

mydei had the same hair as kosma, although a bit longer, it was the same. it was a stretch but so was everything else, so who actually cares? mydei kept lingering near you, pulling you back by the collar of your outfit and letting you complain about how hard he tugged you back.

in a way, he filled in the role of a big brother even when you were probably older than him. mydei kept scolding you whenever you made a dumb decision, shooing you off whenever danger seemed to arrive, and carrying you like a sack of potatoes when you seemed to protest against him.

mydei watched you look over the books at the library, smiling to himself when you turned to him with a book you seemed to be interested by before putting it back. simple things like these made him reminisce about your old times together, teasing him about opening a book club which earned you a slap on the back.

“pick a book and let’s go. you spent more time rambling about the book instead of actually reading it.” mydei pulled you back from trying to grab another book, seeing you empty handed, “gosh, mydei. you know, you didn’t have to come.” you pouted but still left the library with him, “if i didn’t, you’d be in there all day.” rolling your eyes, you covered your ears.

“whatever!”

you were still as childish. mydei remembers how you cracked a joke with your final breath, wondering how you were able to be so stupid at a time like that. but with you here now, mydei realized that it’ll always be in your nature, no matter who or where you came from.

“i can hear you thinking.”

“i’m surprised you can hear at all.” you gasped in offence, seeing how he bit back a cheeky smile, “what were you thinking about anyway? was it my death? matter of fact, how did i die?” you rambled off, knowing what you just asked before mydei covered your mouth to stop you.

“…ask phainon.” he sent you a look of guilt before leaving you there, patience finally snapping.

“mydeimos, do you ever cut your hair?” — “no, i don’t. let go of the scissors.”

♱ kevin as phainon!

you heart had actually stopped when you made eye contact with him. his hand on your shoulder as he quickly took away your weapon, also staring back at you in surprise yet with such sadness. seeing him again made you almost stumble into him for a hug, restraining yourself when you remembered that wasn’t actually him.

phainon stared at you like it’ll be the last, smiling at you like you were the sun itself, holding you close like you were the most fragile thing in the world. it hurt knowing that the both of you weren’t actually them, but having a second chance wouldn’t be so bad.

phainon had gotten the warning that you were asking every one of the heirs how you’d die, even planning on not telling you before mydei just had to tell him that you’ll be coming to him next, and that he better give you an answer. he was hesitating on which one he wanted to do, but it felt best to tell you.

phainon entered your room the next day, stopping your conversation with caelus and dan heng, “can i talk to you?” he was staring directly at you, feeling the hair on the back of yiur neck standing up. please don’t tell me you hate me now, please don’t, you’re so gorgeous—

you nodded, following after him and sending the two nameless a ‘pray for me’ look as caelus quite literally clasped his hands together and kneeled down, making you snort before looking back at phainon who led you to a private area. the look on his face said it all.

“you deserve to know…” phainon started off, eyes off to the side and hand rubbing the back of his nape, “since you’ve been asking everyone how you originally died.” you stared up at him with such a determined look, he faltered and sighed, taking your hands in his.

“everyone’s answer was; “it’s not me to ask,” or that “they don’t know,” and in some way, they’re right.” your heart dropped, feeling your body weaken, “even i don’t know who killed you.” phainon’s memory flickered to seeing your body lay there in the garden of life, your blood staining the grass red.

“you had called us there and when we came, you were already stabbed, barely holding on. hyacine tried healing you, but whatever killed you resisted hyacine’s abilities.” you stared at ground, realizing your question was just a pointless one.

acheron had said you died, now you died here too? there has to be more layers to this. why were there so many variants of you? why did they all seemed to have died? what was happening to you?

phainon pulled you into a hug, chin resting on the top of your head. the warmth that slipped away from him that day was infront of him, arms wrapped around him aswell. phainon was basking in the warmth, a shaky exhale leaving his mouth. he missed you so much, seeing you that day when you crashed brought him back to the memories that were buried so deep.

you meant a lot to everyone, even the professor who seemed to be distant with everyone. that day caused a lot of open wounds to be reopened.

“phainon, keep me close to your heart, okay?” — “you already are, [name].”

YOUR PROPHECY HAD SAID; you shall bare many faces and fates, yet you will always return to death.

She's a writer just like me.

A writer who is just so full of love for the people around her. So full of love for the story that has been created. A girl who just wants to tell stories. And all she wants is her stories to save people Also the scene where they are all saying goodbye and writing their final words, WHAT THE FUCK!! I cried so much. Each of them hold so much love for everyone.

BUT HOLY FUCK WE SAW THE ASCENSION OF AN AEON!!! Cyrene was Fuli. She is alone at the end of time keeping everyone's memories safe. BUT OH MY GODS OH MY GODS!!! I did NOOTTTT think we would ever see the Ascension of an Aeon.

Also Also Every time Mydei speaks about Phainon he says it with so much admiration and love. He knew he was suffering but he just wanted his friend back. DOOMED YAOI MY BELOVED.

Also I was SO fucking scared for Herta as she connected with Nous. I was TERRIFIED that we would get a Madoka Magica scenario, and the scenario we saw in the Myriad trailer. I was TERRFIED for her.

Also I love Screwllem. He's quite literally just a guy. But he also cares so much. ALSO PLANET SCREWLEMMM

Also I cannot believe that we got more of the Geniuses.

ALSO RUAN MEI AND HERTA LESBIANISM!!! I love it when we get lesbianism between these two.

ALSO!! BOOTHILL AND RAPPA CAME BACK!!! It was so good to hear Andrew Russel and Kendyll Bird come back for just a little bit. It seems we will be heading to Edo next and we will be learning more about Boothill as well. Also we will probably see La Mancha because Boothill says his Boss.

HOYO!!! GIVE BOOTHILLS DAUGHTER THE NAME CLEMENTINE AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!! I also hope to see more Galaxy Rangers.

My Theory is that Oswaldo is going to be a foil for Himeko because it does seem more and more likely that Himeko was a former IPC member, maybe Ruby. And she left to join the Nameless, and Oswaldo left the Nameless to become an IPC member. SO we will probably see this foil in Edo. Also I wonder how Boothill will react to Oswaldo being a former Nameless. But also Himeko maybe being one of them and working with them. Because The Marketing Department came up A LOT in this short interlude. I am SO excited.

Also the fact that The Galaxy Rangers were fighting on the Frontlines and Boothill was the one to find Dan Heng and Stelle/Caelus and bring them home. I want Boothill to find comfort on the Astral Express.

I am still gathering my thoughts but Holy shit the entirety of Amphoreus.

But anyways.

Glory to the 13 Flame Chasers, May their names ever be etched into the Poem of creation. May We See You Tomorrow and say Hello to the world Once again. This truly was a romantic story unlike any other.

May Our Journey ever Lead us starward.