[A: 6 C: 120] - START AGAIN.
[Featuring characters from @neoncityrain @fungal--wastes @mossyflowers @lavender-tea-dragon and @cyten0 ]
Once upon a time, there was an island.
An island where people lived, sang, and danced. An island of artfully woven gowns and masterpieces of calligraphy. An island with people who gazed towards the stars, and rode upon the seas. It was an island of Wonder, of Wishes, and of course, fish.
Lots and lots of fish.
***
The Hunter yanked her hand back before the metallic snap of her trap claimed it. It was sunset in Poteria, and Eterie Ranieri was just laying down a snare when it happened. It was a strange feeling, really, the feeling that something monumental just occurred. There were flashes of memory, no, facts that played out in her mind, yet instead of confusing, it emboldened. Rani spared but a moment for the memories, for she had work to do. If the Shining One trusted her to keep working despite this interruption, then she would.
Unlike Ranieri’s more withheld memories, Hiroshi Nolastname was permitted to remember just a little bit more. They awoke in their grove, with the image firm in their mind of a young teenager punching them in the gut!! How STUPID and RUDE!!! Don’t they know who they are?!? They’re HIROSHI! GOD of WISHES!!!
And it was about then that Hiroshi realized, with extreme befuddlement, a pomegranate pie was sitting on the stump next to them. How it got there was anybody's guess.
***
One day, two astronomers started arguing. One argued that the stars should be shared with all people, while the other argued the stars are too dangerous to be shared so easily. The two agreed to disagree, and that was it.
But over time, this question turned to debate, which turned to argument, which turned to conflict. Conflict fermented into fear, and from fear, mistakes grow with an unstoppable fervor.
***
Polaris snapped awake with fear gripping his heart tight, before slowly relaxing as his beloved Muenos rises to reassure him. No sooner had the one named after a star relaxed into the other's arms, did the third, Wren, raise his head to complain about his disturbed sleep.
The three varied in their memory of that night. Polaris knew the least, believing the experience on the cliffside was in some parts real, and some ways fictitious. He remembered madame, the saviors, and some of these adventures, but for his own safety, other details he remembered not.
Muenos and Pitch, due to the discovery of the latter, remembered more. The two remembered the caves, and talks, and the innermost struggles they survived. There were other memories, yes, but they were locked away by friends yet to be met, and forces yet to be discovered.
Wren, by contrast, could not have his vision clouded. The mere act of withholding such memories would spur him to seek them out, and in the process, cause more harm than good. It was for this reason he remembered what passed that night, with an understanding of subtlety imparted on him upon his awakening.
***
In an act, regretted by all, fueled by anxiety and fear; the people of the Island wished to be isolated from the outside world. No more careless outsiders prying into their craft. No more contrarian moths trying to corrupt their Guides.
To forget and be forgotten, that was what the people wanted. Or, more truthfully, what some thought all wanted.
***
The city of lights and dreams was abuzz with activity. Despite the efforts of both Twilight and Dreams, such an event as the night of nightmares was impossible to hide from the people of the Sun. The experience was fresh in the gut of each and every follower, even if the memories were wiped clean; forgotten, yes, but the impression remains.
Of these followers, there was one who felt this theological crisis most of all. Widow, judge, jury, and executioner, knelt down in her home and looked upon the twilight sun. Was her guidance wrong? Or her dreams misinterpreted? Was her faith misplaced? Or. . . Or maybe faith had been misplaced in her.
***
In the end, the people of the stars got their wish.
To forget and be forgotten. To throw away the outside world.
A pity, then, that they forgot the stars along with everything else.
***
It was with a cold sweat upon which Eden rose from sleep; the fear gripping his heart strong enough to break bone. But, his hands were now claws no longer, and his fangs were teeth once again. Humanity, it seemed, clung to him even now, despite the innermost feelings of disgust still present.
In spite of this, he was coaxed back to slumber by one who was spared the rod of the One Betwixt, Gina, and returning to his arms quickly settled both to sleep again. The doctor would not remember the night of nightmares, as would many other innocent bystanders. Even though the drug-leiden-Dragon would remember only bits and pieces, the fact that he still had a hopeless crush on a certain historian refused to leave his mind.
***
Once upon a time, there was a king.
A king who cried endlessly for a land lost to history, a home always present at the fringes of his memory. A king who wished to return home, or save another's home from the same fate. A king who refused to forget the stars like his countrymen so carelessly did, and mourned its loss every day.
***
The birth of the Twilight One was a boon to all gods; it was a chance to right wrongs that could not easily be fixed. It was a rare gift, being able to mend one's toys in such a way. But one individual, neither plaything nor player, was simply set aside. She was one that did not and never will belong to this toybox.
Vixul Pollana, the lost soul with no home of her own. She could only watch with a thinly veiled envy as the gods did their work. She shouldn’t be bitter, she knew, since this was just the cycle that she’d long ago surrendered herself to see over and over. A hero, or heroes, save the world from eternal darkness again and again, and she could only watch and wish the same could have happened to her and her home. Instead, she sat here, alone.
But she wasn’t alone, the Universe said, for she’s already done so much and saved so many people. Her journey may be long, and full of dangers yet to pass, but the Universe knew that one day she too would return home.
***
One day, the King got his wish.
As the ground beneath him froze to the touch, he knew not the gift he’d been given. Time was in the palm of his hands; the planet's paralysis within his grasp. He could do so much, and that which he did do was simple. He would save this country from being forgotten as his home was.
What a fool he was. It was only when the chosen Housemaiden of Change reflected his own curse back at him did he realize the true gift he was given.
***
Antoine the beautiful one roused from slumber with a sleepy smile on his face. He did not awaken in the middle of the night, no, they awoke with the morning, after a night most well rested of all in Dormont. They got up, dressed, fed, and walked to the House of Change, where in the highest room of the house, sat a King.
The Universe asked Chiron, for that was his name, if he wanted to live. Chiron answered honestly, with the full truth within his heart; He wished to return to the dream, the stasis, the frozen moment where he remembered his home.
And so, he did.
***
Once upon a time, there was a couple.
One was a historian, tempered by authority and hardened by lies, who rejected the path emplaced to forge one of his own making. A man who could not trust, a man too smart for his own good. But his story is one well told by now.
***
The ones who called themselves Knights were lucky to be returned to the fold almost unchanged. Despite the bitter enemy they had made, a God has to abide by the Rules, even now. Regardless, all memory of that night was stripped from their minds, save for the nightmarish visage of a Knight clad in Crimson. This, the Twilight One reasoned, would help curb the power these Enlightened few were massing.
However, there were two who reside here that recalled that night perfectly.
With a thud, the not-so-late Squire Aptenia fell from her bed onto the floor gasping for air. While the world may have felt numb to her, with the experience of death on her mind, she was lucky. For the full extent of her expiration was withheld for her own sanity.
But that was not all her luck brang, for The One Betwixt had seen the reality, growth, and doubt of one within the Avalon halls, and permitted him to remember these events also. By the time the next bell had rung, a certain Knight held Aptenia close, regrets bleeding from his mouth.
***
The other was an Astronomer, loyal to the stars, yet was tilted by their peers. The words that she spoke would be twisted askew, the warnings; ignored, and faith; tested. A servant most humble, who gives guidance and knowledge, to never want in return. Tasked with Wishing where others could not, tasked with Wishing where others fear not.
Until one day came to pass, on a day ordained by chance. On a day like any other, the Astronomer left to visit a friend far from home. It was then when it struck, it happened, it vanished.
***
In a port town in Poteria, a watchman of the guard was preparing for her nightly patrol, before freezing where she stood. In a blink, Aurola had memories that did not fit before, or. . . No, not that, she had memories from a time that did not happen, a time undone, in a way. She remembered a castle, and a white haired soldier, and mint-infested knights. That memory in particular made her shudder.
One memory stuck out. Less a memory, more a promise. A promise that they would meet again, and this time, properly.
The shadow in her mind raised its head, and she continued her preparations. Aurola would have time to pursue this later. For now, she had a job to do.
Across the border, in a city not too far away, the white haired soldier known as Ark sat wide awake, staring down at her bonded partner with a mix of concern and relief. The horrible nightmare of memories was but a dream to her now, but still, it made her fear the worst for Thai. So to see them alive, safe, and oblivious, was a boon most welcome.
***
Once upon a time, there was a traveler.
A traveler, lost with no home, no memory, no one. A traveler who went from one town to the next, never remembering, always forgetting.
Until one day, one became four, then four became five.
Then five become none.
***
The Siffrin who called themself Loop opened their eyes to white void. They blinked, and looked down at their hands, and then their body. Their body, ever so slightly familiar, with a star mark on their chest. They wore a vest- no-sleeve shirt -and shorts. For a time, they simply stood there in awe and befuddlement. (Where am I?) They thought, (Why do I look like this?).
But their thought process was cut off by a missile in the shape of a worried little kid.
“S-Sif!!!” Squealed the kid. “You’re okay!!!”
The words died in Loops throat, and before they could try to talk again, an older, authoritative voice spoke up. “Now now, Siffrin does not like to be touched, remember?”
“Uh, isn't that the OTHER ‘Frin?”
“No, that's our Siffrin.” Said a third voice. It was familiar, strong, a Housemaidens. “But that's alright!! If you're not okay with being touched please let us know, okay??”
The absolutely befuddled Rogue was frozen like they were caught in a lie. Moments later, the strong figure of a fighter entered their vision. “Uh, Sif? You there? Everything alright?” He was followed soon after by the researcher, housemaiden, and kid.
(Wh- what is going on!?) Thought Loop. [Who-!? Who are these, t-these people?!?] thought Saffron, even though he knew very well who these people are.
“They are in shock. Just give them time.” Said the bespeckled researcher.
The fighter, unassured, tried not to show it. “Yeah but. . . Y'know, they've gone through a lot already.”
(Am I dreaming?) Thought Loop, as saffron wished to ask [What's going on?!?]. Kyros worried <Are we dead?!?>, While Horizon, ever the logical one, spoke through tears soon to flow. “P-please touch us.”
No sooner had the words left its lips than the kid, housemaiden, and fighter embraced them in a hug. They gasped, and flinched, but held tight at the first sign one of them was going to retreat. The tears started to flow, and soon after so did the incoherent babbling. Although the flood of cries was incomprehensible, one question rang clear; are you my family?
“Yes!!” Said the housemaiden, “Oh Change, Siffrin I'm so sorry! If only I noticed what was going on or that you needed help, then--”
“We could spend the rest of our life lamenting things we didn't do,” the researcher sighed from the sidelines, “or we could also; not.”
Loop tried to talk, and after dozens of attempts they gave up, simply surrendering to the embrace of their party. The fighters' strong hand pat their head. “There there, it's aaaaall alright, Sif.”
“Big baby.” Teased the kid, still hugging them. “Big dumb baby.”
The rogue gave up at this point, surrendering to sobs and the comforting embrace of their allies, friends. It was warm and reassuring, solidifying, even. After several moments, Loop tried to talk again.
“. . . H-- how. . . ?”
And the Universe answered. “They are remnants, Siffrin.”
Loop turned to the speaker, ready with a thousand questions more, but they found themself mute at the sight of the Universe. It was all, and nothing, and thus there is no reason to describe it.
“When the star reached your mouth, the Everything that is Anything returned to nothing, and started again. The bodies and minds start their journey anew, with none but gods to remember them.”
“But there was an error; an oversight. You remembered. You remembered your party as they were, not as they became. While their bodies were gone, the selves they are still were. They existed, but only to you, and later, our Bladeheart.”
Loop looked back to their party. THEIR party. The people they wanted to, wanted to, wanted to. . . “
“This was one of hundreds of errors in the Everything that is Anything. With the birth of the Twilight One, we have a chance to right this and many more like it.”
Saffron felt fear, and had to ask. “B-but, are they. . .”
“When this moment has ended, you must let them rest. A life tied to one who remembers only bits and pieces is no life at all. . .”
Is was a weight both lifted, and applied with renewed fevor. Siffrin, tears welling up again, embraced their party, and held onto them for just a little but longer.
Loop won't forget their old family, of course. They would remember the family that no longer is, but with this final goodbye, they could at least let go.
***
Once upon a time, there was a traveler.
A traveler, lost with no home, no memory, no one. A traveler who went from one town to the next, never remembering, always forgetting.
Until one day, one became four, four became five, and then eventually, five became seven. A teen, a housemaiden, a defender, a researcher, a carpenter, a trainee, and a traveler. Allies, friends, and family numbered seven.
Well, seven-ish.
***
Siffrin was roused from sleep by an anxious Suzilla shaking them like crazy.
“YOU'RE OKAY!!!” She exclaimed, before turning to yell into the woods around them. “SIF’RIN’S OKAY!! THEY'RE OKAY!!”
Siffrin was still waking up from the strangest of dreams. In it, he had been torn into pieces. His guts, bones, and muscles were all in a big pile, and a colony of rabbits were picking over it, grabbing their bits and piecing them back together.
The rogue looked at Suzilla with a confused, half-asleep smile. Suzy smiled back, then hugged them tight, as if he was about to disappear.
Not twenty minutes ago, The Bladeheart bolted awake fueled with the terror of not knowing the condition of their family. Despite the twisting in their gut and the bile in their throat, they didn't feel any dangers. The surge of power that felt constant not moments before was now that of a steady stream. Still, Suzy did not have time to dwell on this; she had stars to follow! The first companion I led her to was Odile, then Isabeau, then Siffrin.
As if on cue, Odile and Isabeau appeared, having sprinted to keep up with the anxious teen. The Defender cheered and whooped seeing his darling was still alive, and wasted no time in scooping the rogue up into his arms. Suzy got out of the way just in time.
“Where to next, oh navigation master?” Odile asked, pointedly ignoring the worrying and doting Isabeau in the background.
“Uhm. . .” Suzy closes her eyes, and looks up to the sky, a question on their lips.
“A-are the others okay too?!? Have you seen them?!?” Isabeau asked the rogue as the Bladeheart did their thing.
“I saw Rosmarinus, a-and. . . A, few I didn't recognize.” Siffrin responded awkwardly. “I, I haven't seen Loop, or anyone else from their subsystem.”
“O-oh crab--”
“Oh dear.” Odile winced. “Do you have any idea if they are alright?”
“I think. . .” Despite the evidence clear in their mind, Siffrin had to think about this for a long, long time. “I. . . I think they’re okay.”
“What does that mean-!”
“Got it!” Suzy interrupts. “Follow me!!!”
Without a second thought, they were off.
***
Once upon a time, these stories came to a close.
Not the end, mind you, but a close. Just because this story of lovers, family, and trust has reached its conclusion, doesn’t mean there’s not more to tell; or questions that need answering. I, for one, have many questions. Where am I? Who am I? And am I real at all? Was all this real? Or not? If it’s not real, and simply a story, then how do I talk about it since it was real to me? When did this story turn from fiction, to a memory of fiction? What do we make for dinner? How will we come out to our mum? And why does my back hurt this morning?
I don’t know, and that’s okay. We are all in this together.
***
(Loop) [Saffron] <Kyros> {Horizon}
“. . . -Frin!”
(. . . Huh?)
(You’re awake?)
“Siffrin!”
[And SOMEONE is calling your name! Well, the name you USED to use, anyways. Go on, little guide, open our eyes? Pretty please~?]
(Fine! Fine. You blink open your eyes, and squint to adjust to the light. You’re laying on your back with soft grass against your skin. The sky is clear, with hints of the morning sun lighting clouds above you. You blink, and yawn. Your body is aching, but not as bad as it USUALLY does.)
(All of a sudden, that BLINDING TRAINEE pops their head into your line of vision.) “Siffy!!! You’re awake-!!”
(Without a second thought, you punch them on the nose! O-oh!)
[Whoopse!! Better cover yourself, Loop~]
(Stars above! You sit up.) “Oh Ramos I’m sorry, you scared me!”
(Ramos rubs their jaw, looking a bit hurt for a moment before those silly little eyes light up again.) “. . . L, Loop?!?”
“Yes? What, do you want a medal?!” (You roll your eye.) “Oh look, everyone! Ramos could tell who- oh come on what’s with that face?!”
“Y-you’re back!!!” (Ramos yelped, then scooped you up into a hug.) “Oh crab I was worried you- just, what happened?!?”
(You scrunch your face up, what?!? ACK!! You try to escape.) “Get off me you rat!!!”
(They let go, but still were wearing that stupid smile.) “S-sorry! Sorry! Uh, are you okay?!?”
“Stars above Yes!!” (You get to your feet properly.) “I know I was gone for a minute but really! I’m better than ever~”
(They stared at you, blinking with some expression on their face, before letting out a breath of relief.) “O-okay, okay! If, uh, if you’re sure. Just. . . A-a lot’s happened, so. . .”
“Oh I’m sure it has~!”[What a moron! Ah you wish you could reach out and shake them~ You huff, and look around.] “Now, where is everyone?”
(You’re in a grassy clearing in the middle of the woods, and you can hear ocean waves in the distance. There was another noise, too, one that sounded almost like. . . Is that, sobbing?!?)
“I dunno, uh. . . I, think everyone got scattered around?” (Ramos rubs their head.) “I woke up nearby and found you and uh. . .”
“Me and. . .” (You squint at them.) “Who?”
(They shuffle on the spot, then turn and point across the field. You squint, having some trouble with the further blobs of shades, damn eyes. . . Stars, you can’t make the figures out. You grumble, then set off towards it.)
(As you get closer, the sounds of crying grow louder and clearer, and you start to make out other sounds alongside it; chattering and hushed reassurances. You glance to see Ramos following you, and walk a bit faster.)
<I-is, is it them?!?>
[Oh if it is, you’ll have some WORDS!!]
(You ignore them, fully focused on the source of that obnoxious wailing, until finally, you knew who it was. You grit your teeth, and clench your fists. Of course, it couldn’t have been anyone else! Of course it was Perci who was crying loud enough to wake the dead! What an idiot. He looked as he ever did, vest, dark hair, tailored pants, and. . . And. . .)
(The world shifted slightly as you got closer. The sky a bit clearer, and the ground a bit more full; Percival's body changed, too, as if a veil was lifted. Now he had a body reminiscent of your old one! A lightless body, with a head halfway between a human and stars. Planets floated around his head, and he still had a tail and scythe-like arms. He was taller than a human, but much shorter than he was not too long ago.)
[How do you know that?!]
(The other figure was. . . Was one you never would have thought to see, or remember, ever again. With a white cloak, white hair, and dark skin, the astronomer sat across from Perci, talking to him in a tone reserved for children. You slowed as you approached, halfway between disbelief, bewilderment, and annoyance.)
<S-should you, con- confront?!? N-no no you shouldn’t! Right?!>
[No!! We should let them know who’s boss, obviously! Who knows what could happen with those two around!]
{Oh Saffron dear Saffron, how silly you are! Cycle along cycles, yet you propagate? No!}
(Oh stars above shut up already!! Percival’s burying his head in Merlons arms, still crying hard enough to rival a monsoon. You cross your arms and tap your foot impatiently, and Ramos, awkwardly, waits next to you. Eventually, Percival looks up at you.)
“. . . .” (His face is. . . Surprisingly human as he wipes his tears away with an arm, then embraces Merlon yet again.) “. . . M-mimi. . .”
“It’s alright, Cici.” (Merlons voice is hoarse, distant, and disconnected. Yet, it still carried a care to it that was undeniable.) “Take your time. Loop and Ramos will still be here.”
(You sneer, tch! What does SHE know?! You could’ve been Siffrin! Or Kyros! Or maybe even Null!! Stars, they're not even LOOKING at you! . . But it’s true that you’re not exactly leaving anytime soon.)
“I-I- I need- I-I need to---” (Perci wallows.) “S-sorry I. . . I need to, a-a, ah. . .”
(He quieted down as Merlon rubbed his hair. Or what you assume is hair, anyways. UGH, you were getting frustrated by the mushyness of it all. . . After several more seconds of waiting, Perci slowly looked up at you again.)
“. . . A-alright, okay. . .” (He gulps down a breath, then mumbles his next words.) “Just. . . Just please, a few minutes more, then you can kill me.”
“WHAT?!?”
“H-HUH!?!?”
“PERCIVAL!!!”
“B-but that’s-” (He looks back up, wide-eyed.) “That’s what you want, yes?!? A-and what I, I deserve?!?”
“Stars above can you be any more dense?!?” (You grip your hair.) “After all that work?!?”
“But-”
“I woulda’ thought you'd've gotten the message already!” (Ramos puts a hand to their head.) “Nothing’s gonna get better if we keep trying to kill eachother!”
“But I, I-I, I’ve--”
“Shhhhhh. . .” (Merlon put a finger on his lips, then turned to look at you. Their face was. . . Unchanged. You think. You’re almost sure it’s unchanged, but something about their eyes was. . . Stars you don’t know.) “Thank you, Groundskeepers, Nebulae, and. . . I’m sorry, for all the trouble we have caused.”
“Er. . .” (Nebulae?!? Is that supposed to be you?!? You cross you arms.) “Well, you’re not forgiven! Far from it!”
“Yeah, uh. . .” (Ramos sighed, arms behind their back.) “We’ll, cross that bridge later. Right now I’m just, tired.”
“I expect nothing less. Much has happened, and we have much to be held accountable for, and there are many questions too, I imagine.”
“Well I’ll start with one!” (You squint.) “How are you here?!?”
“Oh.” (Merlon smiled innocently, and closed their eyes.) “I came home.”
“. . .”
“. . .”
“. . . Oh blind it all-!!!”
“THERE THEY ARE!!!” (You jump on the spot and spin around. At the edge of the woods, was a very familiar teen pointing at you.) “I TOLD YA’ I’D FIND ‘EM!!!”
“Alright! Alright! HEY THERE!” [Petronillé follows right after, and waves to you. You wave back. Soon after, the carpenter was followed by Mirabelle, Madame Odile, Isabeau, and--]
(?!?!??!)
<O-oh. . .>
[On, Isabeau’s back, is you. The Rogue. The copycat, second fiddle, replacement. Siffrin. They were tired, yet looked the same as they ever were. He’s looking at you with the same shock you had. A beat later, Odile, Isabeau, Mirabelle, then Petronillé, start looking between the two of you, confused.]
“Ooooh Change.” (Ramos pokes your side.) “That’s- s-stars, Loop uh, are, you. . .”
“Please don’t ask me that.” (You grit your teeth with a very fake smile.) “PLEASE don’t ask me that right now!!”
“Siffrin.” (Odile looked between the two.) “Is this what you mean by ‘Loop’s okay’?”
(Siffrin nods. STARS you want to kill him!!)
“Loop!!” (Mirabelle goes right up to you and takes your hand in hers.) “I-it’s you right?? I’ve been so worried- we’ve all been so worried!!! A-are you okay?!? W-what happened-?!?”
“If I said I’m fine, would you believe me?” (You smirk, she makes a face.) “No? I thought not.”
“Let’s shelve that question, yeah?” [Nille pat Mirabelle's shoulder, then gave Ramos a hug. You try not to be jealous.] “Change it’s good to see you guys alive, though.”
“Y-yeah uh. . . Yeah.” (Ramos awkwardly glances at you, then at the Monets. Suzy’s standing over them.) “. . .”
“. . .”
“. . . You gonna do anything stupid?” (Asks Suzy. Perci shakes his head.) "Good.”
“. . .”
“. . .”
(Isabeau taps you on the shoulder. You glance at him, he’s holding out a hand. You take it. Siffrin’s still gazing at you, smiling like an idiot. After a few more moments, Isabeau speaks up.) “. . . So uh. . . Welcome back, Merlon?”
“Thank you, Isabeau.” (She responds.)
“. . .”
“. . .”
“. . .” (Odile sighs.) “We should get going.”
“Y-yeah.”
“M-mhm.”
“I’m exhausted, let’s go.”
(You could do with a good rest. With a moments hesitation, you turn to go. But you’d only taken a couple steps before Petronillé’s voice cut through the air.)
“Hey! What, gonna just sit around all day?”
(You turn back, as does the rest of your family. Perci and Merlon were both still sitting in the grass, the former looking at Nille, perplexed.) “I. . . W-what?”
“I was bein’ serious, Perci!” (Petronillé laughs.) “C’mon, let’s get some grub and a nap, THEN we can figure all this out.”
[Greeeeat.]
<I-it’s, probably a good idea.>
(As Merlon slowly helps Perci rise, you have to, begrudgingly, agree. You’ve had more than enough fighting for two lifetimes.)
(It’s time to move on.)
