Been thinking about the Traveler being reminded of Inazumas War during Natlan, and an Open Arms Reprise I saw/Heard that sparked an idea about Teppei and Vichamas deaths, so i’m about to make it everyone else’s problem.
With every scrape of blood off the sole of her once gleaming white boots, the sound of every solider and innocent lost being counted in the rest area, she was reminded of flashing lightning.
Of Gorou returning from unsuccessful search and rescues. Of Kokomis deep eye bags, Of….him. He who never got to try on his uniform.
A dash of moonlight reflected on Paimons hair, now drained from all the tears she had shed, wrapped in the blondes scarf.
She had really been with her through everything. The one constant Lumine could always count on.
The once familiar voice had the outlander turning immediately.
Smiling in his Watasumi uniform, the apparition waved happily . As if he had never died. The friendship bracelet made from his first broken dummy still tied neatly as he stood by a crackling blaze.
“Thats me! It’s been awhile, huh? You look pretty tired, you can rest here by my fire, if you want.”
As if in a haze, she moved forward, an in a foolish leap of faith, jumped to hug her fallen friend, silent tears staining his uniform as he returned the embrace.
When she pulled back, the reality came in.
Rubbing the back of his neck, the former soldier looked off to the side.
“Night…uh…Kingdom stuff? I won’t be here for long, but I met this guy in the afterlife, and he mentioned you made it here, so I wanted to check on you! He helped me out.”
Another figure fizzled into view. One she had seen only days ago. But this form was mutilated, ripped apart. He couldn’t have….not after..
“Rifthounds are the worst, aren’t they?”
Prodding the small flame with a stick, the fallen sighed.
“Once this flame goes out, we’ll be gone for good. You can have my stuff if it’s not too destroyed when….if…you get back. I doubt anyone else will want it.”
“The Captain of Swordfish || will definitely make it out! You haven’t seen what she can do! She’s amazing!”
“You’re weirdly positive for someone who died a long and agonizing death, y’know.”
Eyes of gold welled, the onyx haired patting the log next to him.
“You can let it all out while we wait, Captain. The dead tell no tales, right?”
And so, Lumine did just that. Told him everything. Sumeru, Fontaine, and what had happened so far in Natlan. Desperately, she didn’t wish for this moment to end. If only she had obtained Pyro from the Statue, she would have made Vichamas Fire burn eternally.
As it began to fade, Teppei rose from his seat, holding out his hand toward her.
“It’s time to keep moving on Captain.”
Wind was his only response as she took it all in. He was right, and she knew it. As she took his hand, Vichama cut in.
“I….I know you’re probably tired of all this war and bloodshed, but you’ve got the chance to have a life to live. Someone once told me to Keep them in their heart to bring them home.”
“He’s right! And give all the kindness you can, well, if you can.”
Carefully handing Paimon into her arms, the Inazumian smiled weakly.
“Remember how even during the war, our friendship still made us both feel happy and warm? Don’t give up on making friends like me again.”
The Verdette now stood, his ripped canopy outfit getting stuck on a twig for a moment before he was able to respond.
“And I know from..you know..that you probably might feel like we like we blame you for not being able to save us, but we don’t. Atleast I don’t.”
He faded away first, tossing her a dog-tag necklace with a key attached, leaving just Lumine and Teppei, who admired the mountain view, even in the pitch darkness.
“Y’know, life really is amazing. Everyone takes it for granted until they lose it, so…”
Slipping off his identification tag from around his neck, the deceased pressed it into her hand.
“Even after all this, try to greet the world with Open arms, ok? It’s going to be hard, but I think you’re capable of anything, I really do.”
Just like Vichamas, his visage began to fade, ruffling her hair as he disappeared.
“Thanks for everything, Traveler. I couldn’t have asked for a better Captain, or a better friend.”
One final time, he smiled.
The fire flickered to nothingness as he vanished.
Paimon stirred, yawning as she shifted around in the swaddle Lumine had made with scarf as the outlander began to prepare the hot air balloon.
“Paimon had this dream about Teppei and Vichama, and a huge war in….”
As she floated to oversee the region from above, the cheeriness in her voice all but faded.
“Oh…Guess Paimon wasn’t dreaming about the war then…is…is it really not over?”
“Not yet Paimon. Soon. Open arms.”
“Open arms? Whats that supposed to mean?”
Link to the Open Arms Reprise that gave me this idea!:
