Having left his conversation with Reveul, Shizuka quickly made his way over to the temple’s quarters, where he again sensed Dinah’s chi signature growing fainter. He also sensed the others were making their way toward her. Upon arriving, he would see Dinah sitting on her bed, seeming to fade away.
”...Dinah…” He managed to say. He attempted to help prolong her presence here by lieu of his own chi, but even knew it would only be temporary.
”Were…were you just going to sit there?”"
What else would I do,” Dinah asks.
Shizuka narrowed his eyes.
”You could’ve…at least said something! I mean, what of the others?””Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!” A tiny voice called out before divebombing Dinah’s shoulder, hugging her neck.
”Don’t go yet! Not yet!””Don’t you fucking dare!”, another voice, charged with furious defiance, shouted as Kerry marched in, joining Liliana in invade Dinah’s personal space as she took the fused woman’s face into her hands and made her look into the hornet’s hazel eyes.
”You look me in the eyes and tell me right now this is how you want this to end!”Between being choked by Liliana, and having her personal bubble further pushed into by Kerry, Dinah would just heave a heavy sigh, before looking up, as she pulled herself stiffer - ceasing to melt by burning more colonies, more of her past self, and erasing Alices to stay alive.
"
And what would you have me do,” she asks plainly.
Beside herself with uncertainty, Liliana would ease up on her stranglehug.
"I-I don’t know! But I know a lot of what you both have gone through now, and you too, Dinah! So…don’t give up! Happiness WILL come! It always comes to those that try their hardest!" Liliana promised, swore, and begged all at once, tears welling in her eyes.
”What. She. Said.”, added Kerry, her voice firm and unyielding even as her eyes welled with tears of their own.
”You’ve known more hardship and pain than all of us, before we were even concepts. So wouldn’t you, out of all of us, deserve to be happy the most? Not for me, not for Lili, not for Eula, not even for Gwen! But for yourself! Fight for your happiness, dammit!”"
I'm just a Pawn in the grand scheme of things, barely a Queen, now," Dinah says"
It’s time to face the music... and leave the board."
"Nuh-uh! We’re playing checkers now!" Liliana said, grabbing Dinah’s cheek as if to pinch it, barely managing to budge her cheek at all.
"So don’t go saying goodbye forever. Its just…um…wait, Kerry, what’s that word they use in checkers?"”The word you’re looking for is resign, Lili. And she’s right. You CAN’T give up on yourself, Dinah. We sure as hell…won’t?”A quick check of her surroundings would inform Kerry that one vital member was missing.
”Wait, where the hell is Eula? She should be here.”There was a subtle stillness in the air that was centered behind a wall…focused on one point. One point that would give most present pause, save for the Swordsman with a body count. The plain and simple feeling of bloodlust, followed by a tremendous welling of “chi”As if on cue, there was a sudden gathering of mana emanating from outside the quarters. Shizuka recognized it as Eula’s signature, but he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why she wanted to blow them all to smithereens. He didn’t have time to think, however, as soon the beam blasted through the wall.
In a flash, Shizuka phased in front of the beam and deflected it on a vertical trajectory via a parry with his blade’s tsuka. A purple stream of energy rushed through the roof of the room, jetting off into the sky above. The light lit up the area surrounding the structure a bit until it finally dissipated.
With a sigh of relief, Shizuka fully sheathed his blade and turned to the newly made hole in the wall. He would see Eula standing there, with her hand fuming and eyes filled with ire fitting for someone after blood.
”Covert strike failed. Reassessing primary threat,” Eula said, not a hint of emotion in her voice as she looked in from the hole she’d blasted.
”Primary threat: Human male. Danger Class A. Auxillary threats: Monster Type: Hornet. Danger Class C. Monster Type: Fairy. Danger Class E.” "W-What’s going on…?” Liliana asked, picking up her sword in confusion.
…Perhaps, in hindsight, Kerry should’ve brought Dusk with her at least.
”That’s what I wanna know!”, exclaimed the hornet, putting herself in front of Dinah as she raised her right hand off to the side in beckoning gesture, damage to the interior be damned.
”Eula, what is your malfunction!? This is SO not the time for this!” ”Incorrect. Combined subject of Cursed Sword and Mad Hatter is incapable of movement. Now is the optimal time for enacting judgement,” Eula said before starting to charge another beam.
”Threat Level: Immeasurable.””Threat levels?” Shizuka responded to Eula’s analysis.
”The only one presenting themselves as a threat is you!”He didn’t want to fight another taskforce member, having already had his fill of it. This circumstance was even more extraneous, however, as the conflict no longer just involved just two individuals. Seeing her prepare another blast, he wasn’t going to let the room be completely destroyed.
He flashed to Eula from the side, and attempted to bludgeon her with his sheathed weapon, he was worried it would have a negative effect on her, but he would also attempt to add a small electric current to his sheath. Hopefully this would aid in subduing her without causing serious damage.
The sound of a large object punching through walls could be heard before a black metal spear jettisoned into the room through a final hole and slapped into Kerry’s hand as she closed in to assist Shizuka in pacifying Eula. Not wanting to hurt the automaton as well, she went low and swiped with Dusk, using the flat of the blade to take Eula’s legs out from under her.
"
So..." Dinah gathered to her feet, as she cranked time; in an instant, time was frozen. ““
...the other mother wants to play, does she?”
As she stood, Dinah would look at Shizuka and Kerry - experts in their crafts - as the rōnin’s scabbard was inches from Eula's temple, and the sellsword’s staff was inches from her ankles. By timing their attacks, and approaching from both sides, they would assure that either would hit, and knock Eula to the ground by battering her head or sweeping her feet out.
Unfortunately, Dinah wasn't having it. It was her place to take the damage of war, and shield her people from it with her own body.
Stepping forward, Dinah would suddenly palm Eula's entire face, and use her as a battering ram to break out of the barracks - the healing properties of her spell mending the damaged building back to normal.
Dinah would slam into a familiar clearing, and release her hold on her party, allowing time to resume.
Gritting her teeth, Dinah would heave a sign, as her right arm separated at the shoulder, and sloughed off; splattering into a puddle of itself in the ground. "
That took more energy than I thought it would,” she confessed, squatting down to retrieve her melting arm. "
Normally, I offer parlay before combat. It's a habit I picked up.” Dinah held the skeleton of her right arm, and jammed it back into place, "
...but, you don't seem like the talking type.”
Dinah flashed power, as she regenerated her arm and manifested her tuning fork sword in the same flourish.
"
Let this chat be as brief as possible, mother-in-law,” Dinah says, narrowing her eyes.
"...You, the half that has said that…is unfit to say that. You have made Eula into the one thing she was never meant to be. I have seen your path, mired in blood. You will lead everyone, and everything around you to death. Unless I stop you now," Eula said, reaching an arm up, before it went limp, her eyes darkening.
”Error encountered in Laguna 30 Backup. Parsing. Eula 039 RAM has been re-enabled in central memory unit. Loading...” Eula said, before seeming to go unconscious.
"
Well, that was dickish..." Dinah groaned, as she dropped her sword. "
Numb. Fun." It wasn’t. "
Eula, you alive in there?"
No words came from that hollow shell, eyes vacant as it stared at the distance.
"
Joy... I broke her... I think..." Dinah says, before forcing her hand to clench. "
Nothing a little rewind won’t fix... just back up the clock, fix the problem, and everything will be right as rain..." she grit her teeth, trying to force her hand closed, "
C’mon, body work!"
"...Dinah…" Liliana said, flying over.
"
A little busy trying to fix everything, as usual," Dinah says, using her left hand to push her fingers. "
Everything is so stiff. Running out of fuel to body... not enough Alices left to sacrifice..."
"Dinah," Liliana said, before starting to heal Dinah, slowly.
"Everything is fine now," the fairy said.
”And maybe you should stop sacrificing.”Audible buzzing was heard before Kerry landed, standing off to Dinah’s side.
”Gods know you’ve already given enough.”"
And I will keep giving, until nothing remains," Dinah says, "
Alices are Pawns, to live and to die, to be promoted and sacrifice for the greater good of those they stand before," she says, "
I am no different. I am no better. A Queen is still a Pawn, she only wears a crown."
”In case you’re behind on current events…”A chitin hand gently laid upon Dinah’s cheek and turned her gaze toward Kerry.
”...you’re not in that hellhole anymore. You are NOT a Pawn anymore. You are so important to those around you. Surely, you see that.”With a single step, Shizuka appeared before the group, standing with them in the clearing.
”You should listen to your loved ones.” He said.
”Believe me, living your life as a tool is no way to live. My time here has helped me see that.”"
I am what I was born to be. A piece on someone else’s board, in someone else’s wars, for someone else’s gain," Dinah says, "
To convince me elsewise to ask the sun to stay set..." she looked to Eula, "
I’ll just restart, start over, and go back to before I fell asleep. My past is not your burden."
”People are more than the circumstances of their birth. Are you truly so little that you lock yourself into your own little world of suffering?” Shizuka responded.
”Are you being honest with yourself right now?”"Being dumb is my job, so stop being that!" Liliana protested.
"Dumb, I mean."”If Lili has to say that, then you know we give shit!”, Kerry added.
”All that shit you’re about yourself is all in your head! It doesn’t matter the station of one’s birth, it never did! You are here, now! You are free to live your life however you want! Fuck what anyone says otherwise!”"
Tch!"
It was a simple, yet profound sound. A mark of utter contempt. Shadowed by the pain of falling apart at the seam, there was an expressed mark of disdain for the notion. Salvarisonians were born to purpose, created to entertain and to gain. There was no freedom. There was only service; bitter, brutal, and equal - the Noble called no attention to color, creed, or voice.
All Pawns where expendable.
All Key Pieces were valuable.
Only the King mattered in the end.
Cecilia... Alice... Dinah... they were no King. They did not matter in the long run.
Not to Salvarsion. Not to Lescatie. Not to Shizuyama. Not to Wonderland.
"
...hrm."
Dinah looked up, as her body stiffened and loosened; different colonies attempting different acts of salvage. All trying to save a sinking ship by purging the water while setting it aflame.
Her body, a pyrrhic victory.
"
Honesty is a tall ask..." Dinah says, "
You’ve seen my story... no... their story. I am no-one. I am no-one, twenty-times over... a failure, twenty-times strong..." she laughed bitterly, "
Imagine that... failing... over and over... again and again... war after war... battle after battle..." Dinah looked at her assembly, "
...body after body... friend... foe... family..."
"
Who am I to tell them... they didn’t matter," Dinah asks. "
The lost. The dead, Those that trusted me to stand before them, sword and shield, yet died all the same... because... before the Queen, all are Pawns... sacrifices."
Dinah clawed at her face, raking fingers through melting flesh. "
I wanted more out of this! I wanted success! I wanted freedom from this! I wanted to win! I wanted, and I wanted, and I waited, and I lost, and I failed, and you ask me to forget!? To forgive!? To surrender!? To cease to be who and what I am!? A sword! A shield! A Queen! A Pawn! The Queen of Diamonds! The one that will ascend, and kill the Lilim that rules Wonderland, my home, while I play savior of yours!?"
"
I have... no, I had... children... sons... daughters... by the score... lives I’ve led... lives I’ve lost... lives I’ve forgotten... lives I remember... the trepidation... elation... tragedy... mourning... numbness..." Dinah sighed. "
...fear... of doing it again... for the twenty-first time in earnest..." she says, manifesting a simple dagger, ornate but functional. "
...losing everything... then sleeping until the next."
"How can you all ask me to forsake it all and move on, so flippant and cruel?"
”Flippant and cruel?” Shizuka snapped.
”You said it yourself, Dinah-san. We’ve all seen your past: All the loss, pain, fear, anger, and sadness. You think we would be standing here in front of you if none of it mattered?! Look around you, everyone here wants to give you a reason to keep living. Do their feelings and hope not matter to you? You gave one of them a child, does that not matter?”Shizuka walked over to Dinah and grabbed her hands with his, stopping her from further scratching her face. His channeled more of his chi into her, attempting again to ease her deteriorating body.
”We’re not asking you to be a savior, having to suffer through the burden of putting everyone’s dreams on your shoulders. We’re getting you to understand that there are people here right now that care about you, and you need to respect that. Believe me, I’ve put the weight of an entire nation on my shoulders in the past, and I was taught a painful lesson for my arrogance and naivety.”Perhaps, if she allowed herself too, Dinah would see the pain and honesty in the swordsman’s eyes. It had been quite a long time since he was this open with someone else.
”You don’t have to suffer alone. We are a team, are we not? If you need a light, we can be that for you. If you need a pillar of support, you can lean on us. Don’t make the same mistake I did, and give up on yourself…”"Yeah!" Liliana said, before darting back over.
"And I’m sure Eula would be reassuring you too if she didn’t go crazy evil for no reason all of a sudden. Maybe she needed a nap…"”She needs a good few things.”, Kerry joined in, standing with the group.
”One of them being you, Dinah. If it takes the rest of our lives to convince you that you are irreplaceable, then so be it. You are Cecilia. You are Carroll. You are Alice. You are Dinah. And we love you, you idiot.”"
People talk big. I've heard it all before, Dinah spoke bitterly, "
Things change. People change. I'm not looking for promises anymore. Just results. I have a war to win..."Yeah, and that’s why we’re gonna win it!" Liliana said.
"
Win? We? What nonsense," Dinah says. "
You speak with such confidence, like it’s a foregone conclusion," she says, "
This isn’t fate. This is real."
”You’re right. This isn’t fate. Because that would imply you not having control over your life, wouldn’t it?”, replied Kerry.
”Everything up to this point has been your decision, just like it had been for me, Shizuka, Lili, Eula and the others. Would a ‘pawn’ have such a right?”"
What is a Pawn, if not a piece moved by the hand of another, by the whims and whiles of an omnipotent player," Dinah asks, "
If not my keepers, than the needs of others, their wants and desires," she says, "
Even now, I go where I am sent, and choices are made for me. Perhaps, the live of a mercenary is free, and the ideals of a pretend knight are careless, and even the hopeful musing of a former tool of war..." Dinah narrowed her eyes, "
It doesn’t matter to someone born to be used and sacrificed."
”But you aren’t. That’s what we’re trying to tell you. Because despite the centuries you have lived and the great powers you wield, you’re still a person. Do you not bleed? Do you not cry? Do you not dream? It’s a simple truth: People hate being used. YOU hate being used. You know it even if you don’t want to say it.”Dinah started to speak, before falling silent... uncharacteristically so.
A part of her knew what to say, but her mouth failed to work. Instead, her eyes took over, as her walls were crumbling away, and tears spilled forth.
"
It hurts... It hurts so much... We are dying... I can't hold us together..." Dinah sobbed. "
We need to be strong, but We are no longer Legion... We... are just Me... One, alone..." she squeezed her eyes shut, "
I don't know what to do!"
"Well…you do the only thing you can when you’re stuck, and all alone. You ask for help," Liliana said, eyeing the distance as a few familiar figures started to become visible on the horizon.
Heavy boots tromped forward, eating into the ground as the High Orc moved into view. His head tilted to the sides, and one hand scratched his head. The armor now clanked as droplets of rain clung to it. Once he came closer, Gringor head nodded forward.
”You look terrible, feeling sick?”Dinah straightened up, as she started sensing presences. Immediately, her guard was erected, and her defenses were back. There was a time and place for displaying weakness, and more over, a sense of trust in those that weakness was displayed to. Between Dinah, and more importantly, her component parts of Cecilia and Carroll, where was no trust towards the High Orc, as he encroached upon her bubble, and broke through.
Drying her eyes, Dinah reached down, and retrieved her sword, as she started to leave, "
I’m fine. Thanks for asking..."
"Liar," Liliana said before flying over and standing in her way.
"You couldn’t fine your way out of a toll road, Lady Dinah! So why not accept some help?""
Because, I don't need your help," Dinah says, sharply, "
And, even if I did, you couldn't give it in any meaningful way. You spout nonsense without even knowing the consequences of -- ugh! Nevermind!"
”So youz prefer losing?” Gringor bluntly said as he shook his greaves, making it squeaked noisily.
Certain concepts were beyond his understanding but life was simple in Gringor view, you fight everyday for what you want. Or just roll down, stay in the ground and never rise again. Didn’t matter if it was a dumb reason, or a good reason. Even if its brief, living was fun. Because if someone was dead, they can’t fight anymore. Where’s the fun in that, he reckoned.
”Or you gonna keep fightin till the end?” ”It’s not about fighting, you idiot.”A hand grabbed latched onto Dinah’s arm, preventing her from taking another step.
”And you…”, spoke Kerry in a voice that was rising with emotion.
”You need to realize something.”"
Do tell," Dinah says, dryly. There was little keeping her here. If she wanted to leave, she would. To where, she hadn’t decided that much, but anywhere was better by a long shot, if all she would get here was emotional turmoil.
And it would be that same turmoil that would let Dinah be pulled to face Kerry, where she would see glistening hazel eyes. Tears yet to fall, yet a fierce determination burning behind them.
”...You’re my last stop.”"
Eh?” Dinah was puzzled, as she mulled that over. It was typically dramatic of the Hornet, yet... there was a conviction that didn't escape her.
That statement wasn't meant to be taken lightly, as it was t spoken lightly.
"
Explain.”
”I…”, the hornet began, her hand slowly trailing down Dinah’s arm.
”...I don’t know how to explain this, but…Ever since I first set out on my journey, from the very first day, there’s been this…sensation. Deep within my being. Back then, it was such a…small thing, easy to dismiss. But it never went away. It felt like…there was something I needed to get to. A goal to reach…””...A destination.”Dinah started to speak, but stopped. It wasn't a complete understanding, but an emotional sense. A piece of her religion, made manifest before her.
"
You're speaking of The Journey. It's a deterministic religion, shared by Salvarision and by Wonderland - a viewpoint that all things - people, animal, element - have a set path, a Journey, with an ending, the Destination, and that nothing can stray them,"
Dinah says, "
merely delay and depart them from Path to Path, until they reach the end.”
Dinah frowned, "
Most people despise the concept of such a thing. The thought that freedom, free will, is a sham, and you're meant for one thing without a choice to avoid it, or die trying..."
"
Why would someone like you ascribe to something so restricting to your freedoms? And, moreover, believe that someone like me -- or, Cecilia, I guess? Alice, maybe? -- ” Dinah shook her head. "
Whatever. I'm beyond you in years. Far beyond. Your Destination should be someone worthier than Cecilia, Alice, or I.”
”Heh…you have a point there. I should hate the idea of me not having total control of my life. And yet…”Kerry’s hand fell to Dinah’s, their finger touching.
”Why is it…that this sensation…tells me that you’re the one thing… the one person I was meant to find?”"
I don't... know...” Dinah says, "
It’s just how it works. Everything moves on a grand chess board. Purposefully. Efficiently. Nobody makes the rules. Everyone follows them..." she clenched her fists, inadvertently holding Kerry's hand, "
That's why I was born, imperfect as I am, to become Reformation, the sun of Rebellion and Revolution."
Dinah looked at Kerry, before looking to Liliana, and Shizuka, and even sparing the briefest glance at Gringor, before she sighed, "
I can't ask you to lose your freedoms in my war. You have lives here. I don't. I'm not even real. I'm just the best that Cecilia and Carroll can do."
”And that’s good enough for me.”A tug had Dinah stumble into Kerry, who wrapped her arms around the fused being in a strong embrace.
”Cecilia, Alice, Dinah. It doesn’t matter. To me and to the lives you have touched, you are everything. I’ll follow you wherever you go. Any war you fight, you bet your ass I’m right there beside. You fall, I’ll catch you. You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily.”The hornet looked over to Liliana.
”Ain’t that right, Lili?”"
Oi, oi, don't go dragging the Fairy with one and half brain cells into this," Dinah says, as she reached back, before poking Kerry squarely in the forehead with her right pointer and middle finger, tipping her head back, "
You have more responsibilities than my war. Even she would tell you that."
Ironically, Dinah had dragged Liliana into their premarital tiff by scolding Kerry for doing the same. It just wasn't as apparent.
"Y’know. I think I got lost at the chess metaphor," Liliana admitted, before patting Gringor’s shoulder.
"But, you’re both right, and both wrong, and also, Gringor was trying to help motivate you. I got it," she said, nodding sagely, resonating with her fellow lower IQ mamono from another pro bono.
"
I could find better motivation staring at the walls, just drinking a cup of coffee while sitting on the toilet,” Dinah says. "
I'm rather curious how you think I'm wrong, however, considering all the thinking you can muster couldn't warm an ice cube into melting.”
"Well, that’s easy. Also, rude. Its because true love doesn’t work off of logic, but you’re trying to logic her into being safer. Well, tough luck! We’re all knuckleheads, including you," Liliana said, pointing to Dinah.
"
Strangling you would take, like, negative effort, dear,” Dinah says, "
Nothing you just said makes sen -- ” Dinah's eyes widened, as she clenched her chest, and fell to her knee. "
Shit! Shit! Shit!” she grit her teeth, "
Not now! Not now!”
”You sick?” Gringor approached, watching over her warily as he looked closely at her and knelt down to her level. This wasn’t anything he had seen before.
”We need to get you to medicine girl, or shaman.” "Gringor’s right, Dinah…" Liliana said, worried. She was plainly aware that her healing wasn’t going to cut it…they needed an expert.
‘"
I’m. Fine." Dinah grit her teeth, and stood. "
I don’t need a healer. I can manage on my own," she says, pushing her fingers into her chest, "
Just like I always do..."
Dinah squeezed her hand around her heart, and forced the rhythm to be altered from the desperately tachycardic pace to one slower - just in an incredibly painful fashion.
As Dinah recoiled and winced at the sudden pain in her chest, she would feel a sudden bit of relief along with a familiar magic. A pleasant cooling breeze along with a scent of cherry blossoms washed over her, and with it a recognizable voice.
”By the Gods… And here I thought that MY burdens were heavy…” Atsuha slowly skittered over to the wayward queen, upon inching closer she placed her hand on the one Dinah was using to hold her chest. Hinami was behind her, standing a few feet away from them and with the others.
”I arrived to hear a little of your earlier discussion.” The jorogumo continued.
”Your story is a tragic one; It’s a wonder you still continue to go on. Is it really just an inconvenience to allow others to bear your pain? You will soon be crushed by your own weight.”Sensing Dinah’s chi, she could tell her body was straining to keep itself together, along with the fact that it was literally falling apart in front of everyone.
”She should’ve given out before even this point. I imagine the captain’s gentle heart is what kept the clock ticking.” She said, turning to Shizuka for a moment, who chose to remain silent currently.
The sakura blossoms on the tree on Atsuha’s back rustled and the branches swayed a bit as they channeled powerful healing magic onto Dinah’s crumbling body.
”As it stands, this is just a flimsy bandage on a gaping wound. It’s alarming how much it takes for you to maintain yourself like this. For now, this will take the burden from you at least.”Hinami looked at her older sibling with concern.
”Sister, you…””It’s alright, Nee-chan.” Atsuha said, cutting her off.
Hinami realized that she wasn’t just easing Dinah’s pain, she began to take bit after bit of the burden from Dinah. The Jiangshi was the first to notice the strain her sister was placing on herself, even if she seemed to be ignoring it at first.
"
Ease off!" Dinah snapped, ripping her hand out of her chest, and slashing at Atsuha; green blood splattering her, hiss as the spore dissolved in the air. It wasn’t a powerful dose of her paralytic, but it was enough to break her connection over time. "
You... talking about shouldering burdens... that’s rich..." she grit her teeth, "
You really are suited for the role of a wife, coddling comes easy to you. Too bad, she’s never going to grow up, as a result."
”Ah!” Atsuha stumbled back a bit at Dinah’s show of forceful reprehension, a bit of her blood spilling on her breasts and making stains in her kimono. She felt a bit of unease as the liquid’s effect began to weaken her, along with her spellcasting.
Hinami ran over to her sister, attempting to wipe the blood off of her. She looked at Dinah with a bit of resentment in her eyes.
”I’m fine Hinami.” Atsuha said, quickly calming her sister. With a bit of wind magic she blew away the rest of the green ichor that stained her skin.
”Dinah-san, correct? You speak of growing up, yet you are the one acting like a child.”Dinah rolled her eyes. "
Everyone’s so quick with these judgments and lectures," she says, "
Go ahead. Speak your piece. Tell me everything you think I should know." Dinah turned her eyes to Hinami, "
Keep looking at me like that, little girl, and you’ll wind up scattered to the wind with her spidery legs pinning your limbs to the breeze..."
At first, the anger in Hinami’s eyes grew at the threats of the deteriorating queen. However, upon a closer look, her anger began to be replaced by a different feeling. Was it sadness or pity?
Perhaps the best way one could describe it was empathy.
Her ire dying down, Hinami would be looking on at Dinah the way a child would while looking at a wounded animal. Atusha, on the other hand, ignored Dinah’s threats and began walking over to her again.
”I think enough talking’s been done at this point.” She said firmly.
With that, she began healing Dinah using her nature magic once again, a gentle breeze rustling her blossoms and washing over Dinah. But this time, she added a calming effect that she hoped would at least make Dinah a bit more reasonable.
"
I agree," Dinah says, extending her right hand, summoning her sword, "
I’m through talking to people that don’t even know me!" she spun her sword, and planted the blade, vine snaring out of the ground, like the bracelet that Kerry wore, but on a much larger scale. Around then, the fallen logs were rapidly decaying and falling apart; bei ng consuming for energy for the large-scale growth. "
First, the High Orc tromps over here with the graceful of a stuck boar, and then, Little Miss Spider comes along, missing her other half. Ironically, BOTH of you are," she says, "
The little Goblin’s as much your Husband as he might as well be the High Orc’s. Never not around one of your sides. So faithful, it’s pathetic!"
Dinah swept her hands into the air, calling the vines to follow. "
I told you, if you kept looking at me like that, little girl..." she clenching her fists, as the vines stiffened around, and angled at Hinami, "
To the winds with you...Oddly, despite the fact that the situation was escalating quickly, Shizuka did not place his hand on his sword. Instead, he remained but a bystander.
As the vines prepared themselves to descend toward Hinami, the jiangshi summoned a large shield to her side. The shield was shaped oddly like a gong, and an elaborate design reminiscent of a tortoise’s shell. Hinami would hit the center of the shield with a powerful smack that echoed throughout the vicinity, causing a large sound wave to jet out.
Atusha, however, hoped that the distraction would work as she used the large shield to hide her spell weaving. She was preparing a powerful ice spell, once that would bind Dinah’s limbs.
Dinah flinched for a moment, as the sound waves battered against her; part of her face shattered, breaking off like a mask, as her body grew more and more fragile. Crimson hair splayed out around the violet, as darker skin scarred the doll-like porcelain - a single icy-blue eye glared out from within.
A moment for Shizuka, more than anyone, as he knew first-hand, the depths of hatred that boiled under the false surface of both Dinah and Alice.
A version of Cecilia that even Kerry didn’t know.
He’d met the Forever Pawn of Salvarsion.
It would seem, Hatter’s grudges ran as deep.
As the revealed Cecilia glared at the group, a gentle breeze caressed against her cheek. Soothing. Nurturing. Comforting. Obvious to all from whom the winds came from.
”You are scared, my dear.”, Kerry spoke in a soft tone as she began walking toward her lover, her hand on her stomach.
"
Kerry... move..." Dinah ordered, voice breaking, as
she spoke.
”You’re the most scared person here. And in more pain than I thought anyone could ever be in.”Kerry’s stride did not stop or alter its course.
”How could I NOT want to soothe away that anguish?”"
Shut up. Stop... being..." Dinah growled, raising her arms to attack, "
Stop... stopping me... or I’ll stop you!"
Kerry smiled at the love of her life as tears rolled down her cheeks.
”...Then stop me.”With that final phrase, the hornet spread her arms wide as she closed in on Dinah/Cecilia, leaving herself wide open.
Herself…and Gwen.
"
RAAAHHH!" Dinah yelled, before sending her arms down - slamming vines into the ground, and tearing off her own arms, as she panted; the overgrowth withering away.
Looking around, she squeezed her eyes shut.
"
Too much. Too many. Stop telling me what to do. Stop using me. I don’t want to move... I’m just a Pawn... just a Pawn... forever..."
"Move. Forward." A simple, half distorted voice said, the automaton on the ground sparking to life for the briefest of moments, a limp hand extending out to lay upon Dinah’s back, easier to reach as she had torn her arms off in the ground.
Then, the hand would go limp, but not before giving the faintest, tiniest spark of demonic energy from the puniest blast she could manage. All to force a single step forward.
A step forward…into Kerry’s embrace. And as the hornet held her, Dinah would feel it.
A pulse.
That wonderful…beautiful…precious pulse.
"
Why?"
The other side of Dinah’s face cracked, crumbling away; silver hair spilling out, as a cerulean-blue eye matched the gaze, but not the hatred, of the other. From deep within their bond of hatred, Cecilia and Carroll stared out at Kerry and Eula.
"
Why would you..."
”Come on, you two. What have we been trying to tell you?”, responded Kerry with a soft chuckle.
"
...” Dinah held her silence, unable to retreat with Kerry at her front and Eula at her back.
The Hangai Sisters breathed a sigh of relief, with Kerry and Eula having successfully gotten through to Dinah - now seeming to have separated into Cecilia and Carroll. Atsuha disengaged her ice spell and Hinami put away her shield.
”It’s like I said, sometimes words aren’t enough, and one must stand firm.” Atsuha said with a rather “I told you so” tone of voice.
”Kerry-san sure is brave!” Hinami said.
Atsuha would go over to the trio of mamono, and begin channeling more healing winds to soothe them all. Hinami looked on at her sister, who was noticeably sweating at this point.
”Nee-sama, if you keep this up, you’ll be the one that needs healing y’know…” "Then let me help!" Liliana interjected, raising Whimsy.
"Super Duper Pretty Please with Sugar on Top and Sprinkles and a Bananaaaaaaaaa…" Liliana said, before pointing Whimsy at Dinah.
"Spliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!"Channeling as much magic as she could, Liliana would do her best to help Atsuha keep Dinah stable enough.
Dinah sighed, as she opened her eyes, and bounced the healing magicks in a radius around her- Chaos resigned supreme, after all; Order was not entertained.
As she did, Dinah would fall back and sit, sidesaddle upon the ground, as she looked towards the sky, before closing her eyes once more.
"
I'm too tired to be annoyed..." she says, "
I need to sleep... I've been awake for too long..."
Slowly, Dinah was reforming and sealing the cracked sections of her body, before her body started to petrify and leave her as a statue; like someone sat down the Venus de Milo.
However, she was smiling.
It would seem she found peace, and decided to rest at long last.
”I think…she’s gonna be alright for now.”, Kerry spoke, kneeling down and touching the petrified cheek of Dinah with her fingertips.
”Just give her time to rest and she should split back intooooooooookay, what was that!?”A sudden stirring in her stomach caused the hornet to look down and see her belly had swelled significantly. The little egg/baby bump was now easily noticeable to all present.
”....Oh.”, muttered Kerry, eyes wide with shock as she laid both hands on her stomach.
”If I had to hazard a guess, all this healing magic in the air must have sped up my egg’s development. This…definitely shifted my delivery date.”"Halfway to the happy ending, then! …I need another nap…" Liliana groaned, before her wings slowed their beating, the pink fairy needing to take a breather on Atsuha’s shoulder.
Shizuka looked at Kerry’s stomach, a bit of shock on his face. Atsuha put up a hand to hide her gaping mouth, while Hinami’s face wore a beaming cheeriness.
”Oh my!” Atsuha said.
”I wasn’t expecting to have assisted in the incubation process.””Does this mean that my sister will be Gwen’s godmother now?” Hinami hymned.
While they took in Kerry’s new appearance, Liliana had decided to rest on the jorōgumo’s shoulder. This caused Atsuha to stare curiously at the sprite for a moment.
”Oh, you cute little thing.” She said.
”With those adorable little wings of yours, you look like a small butterfly.” Atsuha began to inch her face closer to Lili’s, while she maintained a gentle smile, Lili may have felt a bit of unease in the air.
”The animal kingdom is a very capricious and often unforgiving world. A cute little butterfly like you should be more cautious when approaching a spider like me.” Atsuha continued, gently stroking Lili’s cheek with her index finger. After she moved her finger, Lili would likely feel a small bit of web left on her cheek. Atusha’s dexterity allowed her to place silk so small on the fairy that she could peel it all off with just her hand.
”If you’re not careful, you might get caught in one of my webs~”There was a sense of irony in the casually threatening statement of the spider-woman; the notion of butterflies, of creatures that pupate, and evolved into something more than their base self. Inside the shell of Dinah, the essence that was Cecilia Lewis and Carrollynn Wunderland, the woman known solely as Alice, had melted into its component parts, and further distilled into the primordial slime that created the Cursed Sword and a decayed mycelia slime that seeped through a Mad Hatter.
In a sense, Cecilia and Carroll had ceased to exist as they were - cutting all ties with their former reality, burning all bridges to escape. They had become stranded upon an island, alone.
However, there was some lighting along the way...
This is the last crossing of the board. A final promotion.A crack would save Liliana from the untowardness, as Dinah cracked open. As her form shattered, crumbling away, two women would spill forward and back; naked, lying in the rotten ichor of sacrifices and last chances. Neither was moving, before one coughed - as if being reborn, kicking without screaming, as she writhed to her elbows, and vomited plant matter and slime from her lungs.
Kerry could easily tell it was Cecilia, her dark skin uncommon in the land that resided in.
It stood to reason the second was Carroll, though, she was a far cry from the last known image. Yet there was little to admire in her beauty, as it was married with slime and decay, dust from the prison they had broken free of it. Though, she did not need to breath, her lungs ached to expel the goo within, and did so with hacking coughs.
As they struggled to regain control, and sit up, the grime would cling to their skin; offering little in the way of modesty, and all in the pursuit of humiliation.
There were plenty of questions, chief among them, what had becomes of Dinah, and why Cecilia wasn’t in her Alicization, but that likely wasn’t the primary concern for most of those gathered.
"Nakey!" Liliana said, darting away as fast as she could from Atsuha, unaware of the silk on her cheek as she dove to cover Shizuka’s eyes with her entire body.
"Wait! Crud! Gringor! Look away!" she pleaded, all while Shizuka would have the most annoying view of pink and nothing else he’d ever seen.
”I doubt seeing naked women is gonna do anything to him. He’s too bull-headed to be a pervert about it.”, commented Kerry as she quickly knelt between Cecilia and Carroll to check on them.
”Still…”Her eyes narrowed with concern as she gazed upon her lover.
”The fact that you’re not ‘Alice’ right now…”Cecilia grit her teeth, and just collapsed. All she could do was cough, at the moment.
Shizuka’s attention had been on Dinah since she passed out on the ground, encasing herself in a cocoon of sorts, like some kind of pupa. After Atsuha teased Lili a bit, the case began to crack until it collapsed open entirely. Revealing two women covered in bile and decayed plant matter.
Shizuka realized immediately that the women were Cecilia and Carroll respectively.
Before he could respond, however, their fairy companion darted from Atsuha and threw herself on Shizuka’s face. A small grunt escaped his mouth as he felt Lili’s soft flesh suddenly block his view, along with the bit of Atsuha’s silk that she left on the little sprite.
”Well, that was something.” Skarsneek, pretty much a nonexistent and quiet presence. Finally emerged, twirling and unlatching both of his clubs into two before resting both at their sides.
”Almost had to step in myself.””Also, how uncalled for.” He said to Dinah,cecilia…Whoever it was. He had lost track throughout the previous weeks.
”This husband have to work hard every day, you know.””Gringor also find it dumb. Gringor is married to multiple wives. Not goblin.” The High Orc grunted in annoyance.
Atusha looked and smiled at the sight of her lover, where Hinami made a friendly wave toward her brother-in-law. Shizuka, on the other hand, attempted to remove Lili from his face in his new found annoyance. At first, he found difficulties due to the web acting as an adhesive, adding further to his chagrin. Using some of his water magic, he diluted the adhesiveness of the silk, thereby allowing him to finally pry his small teammate off of him.
”Ugh, Lili-chan, I’ve told you to work on that impulsivity of yours!” He snapped.
”Besides, I’m fairly certain that this isn’t even the first time I’ve seen either of them naked…” Shizuka paused for a moment, realizing what he just said. The Hangai Sisters busted out a giggle at the statement.
”Apologies for the web, Dear Taichou.” Atsuha mused
”I would also add that you should be more mindful of how you speak of a woman, especially right in front of her pregnant spouse.” She said, looking at Kerry briefly.
”Hi Nii-sama!” Hinami said. Hinami looked over at Cecilia and Carroll, then beamed as if something popped in her head. She summoned a large, rounded shield, similar to the one she had earlier. Walking over to the lying pair, she placed the shield over them, which was big enough to cover both of their extremities.
”There, problem solved!” She said with a thumbs up and confident smile, which she gestured towards Liliana.
"
Suzumebachi.”
A coughed command, but nevertheless, a command answered, as Carroll exploded into slime, and reformed into a large rifle, before Cecilia caught it - her icy-blue eyes locked on Skarsneek, his weapons drawn and ready.
It was such a familiar scene.
A redux of an old misunderstanding.
All that held back the bullet was the dropping of the large shield. For the moment, as the Mad Hatter drew to her feet, "
Nozarashi.” and clashed a massive, broad axe through it.
Cecilia gauged the scene, planting her feet, before she split her attention, "
Suzumebachi," between Hinami and Skarsneek, leveling a pistol at each. However, her aim drifted from the armed Goblin to the armored High Orc and from the beaming Jiangshi to the teasing Jorōgumo, before she stepped back.
"
Kamishini no Yari.”
Cecilia extended her right hand, but nothing came off the command, as Carroll formed into her normal sword, Benihime.
"
The connection is severed...” Cecilia drew the blade, and evaluated her options.
...before sheathing her sword, and raising her hands in surrender. There was no forward path that was safe. Yet.
Cecilia locked eyes with Shizuka, and the visual exchange told him all he needed to know:
she would rabbit, the second she could.Cecilia was living in a different time. Captain to Soldier, it was Shizuka's task to diffuse and bring her back to theirs.
A
”Honestly, I’m starting to wonder who’s more triggerhappy, her or the Varjans…” Atsuha groaned, as the sisters again braced themselves for more combat. However, they and everyone else present, was made to stand down with a gesture from Shizuka.
”This isn’t crazed lashing out. I know what she wants.” He said, fastening his sword to his side and entering into an iaijutsu stance. Small bits of gravel began to upheave as the ronin channeled his chi, sharpening it until it was honed to a satisfactory point.
”I believe you are Cecilia, no? I’d say that there’s no one here to levy your blade at, but if you won’t listen to reason then I’m more than happy to be your opponent.” He said as he placed a firm grasp on his blade’s tuska.
”I will only say it once: Stand down.”“Cecilia Lewis, 42nd Queen Piece of the Krumpet Family,” Cecilia barked, the response was clear autonomic, drilled into her, as she leveled Suzumebachi, Rifle form, at Shizuka, “This isn't Salvarision, is it...”
”Certainly not.” Shizuka responded. It seemed that as she was now, Cecilia had no recollection of who her allies were or where she was at the moment. Wonderful…
”However, no one here is your enemy. Lower your weapon, and we will speak peacefully.”“Name! Rank! Piece! Family!” Cecilia barked, shoulders her rifle; Carroll chambering a round, and radiating energy. “Until I know, you are my enemy!”
Shizuka gave Cecilia a look, noting her militaristic origins. But, if obliging can get her to see reason.
”Kannazuki Shizuka. Before I left service, I was a commoner who was hired as an assassin by the noble leaders of the Anti-Shogunate militia. My family is that of the Kannazuki bloodline, one that prefers to avoid the public eye. Does that satisfy you?”Cecilia narrowed her eyes, before bringing her rifle to rest, "
This isn't Salvarision. Your people aren't common," she kept her guard up, as she eyed everyone, "
Who -- No, that's not important. Where am I? What board is this? What Family am I playing for?"
”You are in the eastern isles of Zipangu. Within it, you are in the isolated lands of Shizuyama, and you have been requested by the ruling family of these lands to defend it from violent invaders. They being the noble Oda clan, of which the heir Takeshi Oda is the one we’re protecting and assisting.”‘She lowered her weapon, good. That’s a start.’ He thought. So long as he answered her questions honestly and directly, Shizuka hoped that it would eventually lead to a peaceful outcome.
Hope being the key word…
"
Nobles? Tch!" Cecilia sucked her teeth, grimacing at the notions. "
Nobles don't give a shit about us, the Pawns in play. That's all they see. Pawns and Profit..." she stepped forward, before stepping back, rocking, "
Assassin. Fast, then. You'd be a Knight... and then," Cecilia pointed at Atsuha, "
Bishop," then Hinami, "
Rook," then Gringor, "
Rook," then Skarsneek, "
Knight," then Liliana, "
Pawn," before settling in Kerry, "
You... Knight... but... something... familiar..."
Cecilia frowned, before shaking her head, "
Nevermind. Oh," she caught sight of Eula, just off to her side, "
Bishop."
Suddenly, she looked back to Kerry, "
Wait... no... you can't be a Knight... so... Queen?"
Shizuka could likely tell Cecilia was trying to put things in terms that suited her current situation, but not everything could be made so simple.
Yet... it could give him an in, since Alice fancied herself a King, and Kerry her Queen. It could give him something to anchor her with.
Shizuka glanced at Kerry for a moment. ‘A part of her still remembers. Yes, that could…’
”Indeed, but she’s more than just a queen, Cecilia.” He said.
”Her name is Kerry. The woman whose hand you agreed to take in marriage, and if you look closer you’ll see that you gave her the greatest gift of all.” Shizuka then gestured at Kerry’s swollen belly.
”Kerry is YOUR queen, Cecilia.”"
Oh, Kerry, that's an interesting name for a Insect-type. Rather Human, and -- wait, what?" Cecilia had to really process what was actually said, "
I think I misheard you. I'm a woman, a Human woman. Well, as Human as you can be in Salvarision. Point is: biology."
‘Damn’, Shizuka thought to himself. ‘She must not remember her unique biology as a mamono.’ That made Shizuka think that Carroll wouldn’t likely remember him either. Still…
”Look at her and try to recall. It makes no sense, I agree, but your unique biology found a way. Remember who you are, who we were to you. It may sound even stranger, but I’m willing to bet that weapon you have has a mind of its own. A mind that might recall who I am.”"
I... my unique biology? I don't...” Cecilia looked down, before shrieking, and covering herself downstairs. "
What the hell?!”
At the same time, her motion had thrown Carroll, allowing the weapon to transform, and land on her feet, “
...” she looked at Shizuka, before her foot was suddenly in his face, a kick mere inches from his cheek, “
Hrm...”
In a split instant, Shizuka both sensed Carroll’s attack and remembered that her blade and body are one in the same. That mattered due to the fact her blades are vorpal. Managing to dodge the attack in the nick of time, although a small cut was left on his cheek following the evasion.
”Well, well, I see you’re still as fast as ever, Carroll.” Shizuka said in a light chuckle.
”I don’t suppose in the mood to speak either?”“
I don't remember you. Slime comes and goes, memories fade with time, but steel... vorpal steel never forgets,” Carroll says, pressing a hand to her belly, “
The taste of your chi is smelted into my core. You've been inside me. We have mated,” she says, “
Judging from your evasive measure... this isn't the first time I've forgotten you...”
"
If that's true...” Cecilia looked to Kerry, before approaching her, and palming her belly. Closing her eyes, she would glow for a moment - Chaos Magic filling the air - before she opened her eyes again. "
...I have a Pawn...” she says, her voice filled with adoration and fear in equal measure. "
I... I'm so sorry... I've forgotten you... again.”
The hornet sniffled, wiping away tears at the fear of her lover losing her memories again.
”...Yeah.”, Kerry replied, showing a small smile as her laid her hand atop of Cecilia's.
”Its starting to become a bad habit, love.”"
I must be insufferable...” Cecilia says. "
Don't forgive me... I mustn't be worth it.”
"You were the last time you forgot everything. So, you still are," Liliana logic’d out, before patting Cecilia’s head.
"
And you are?”
Sticking a thumb against her chest, Liliana would proudly say:
"I’m Liliana, Sixth Bladeflower, coolest fairy in Shizuyama by default, and your bestie. Nice to meet you, again.""
Lame." Cecilia smirked, smug as hell, suddenly, as she thumbed her nose, "
Mad Hatters are far cooler Fairies than you.”
"...This Alice is rude," Liliana said, crossing her arms.
"
Alice? Who? My name is Cecilia. Not Alice,” Cecilia says, before furrowing her brow, "
I called myself a Fairy... no, a Mad Hatter... Am I... a Mamono? Have I failed as a Human?"
Shrugging, Liliana would fly over and land on Cecilia’s shoulder.
"Beats me. You were though. Are you not, now?""
No!” Cecilia exploded. "
I was a Human! I was Salvarision! I -- We can filter Demon Energy, turn it into Magic, and use it to... to convert other Humans... kill Succubi...” she looked at her hands, "
I'm... I'm Human... I can't be a Mamono... because... that means... I failed them... Henrietta, Millicent, Mother McGee... my Mother..." Cecilia jerked her head to Liliana, "
I can be a monster like you! If I am, then they died for nothing! Everything was for nothing! Don't tell me my life amounted to nothing, and I can't even remember what happened!"
"
How old am I? I'm not... I was 42... I've... Alice... I don't know what that is... who that is... I am Cecilia, Cecilia Lewis, 42nd Queen Piece of the Krumpet Family, Nobles of Salvarision, Lascatie. I kill Mamono and convert Humans in a never-ending game of chess for profit, power, and pleasure, and I just wanted the power to stop it!” Cecilia screamed, "
...and I failed. I fucking failed. What kind of person am I?"
"
McGee...” Carroll murmured, standing off to the side; her stride internalized and quiet. It was unbecoming of the Third Princess of Wonderland to be violent and expressive with her emotions.
Though, she, too, wondered what life she'd led. Everything was a blank, save for errant pieces of memory smelted into her core - feelings, positive and negative, unclear, if she didn't hammer at them.
"
Who was I...”
"Well..a lot happened to you. But what matters…is that no matter what, you’re still you. Right?" Liliana asked, patting her head.
"
Tell me... about me... who is “Alice”."
“
I wish to know, as well.”
If anyone could tell them, it would, crazily enough, be the only Mamono to have put her faith and trust in Cecilia, Carroll, Alice, and Dinah without wavering for a moment.
Liliana, of all present, had the most important job.
"Well, I only really know what I know, but I can tell you all of that," Liliana said, sitting down on Cecilia’s shoulder.
"So, it all began back when I met you when I joined the task force…" Liliana said, before giving her most honest account of the friendship she’d had with Alice, as well as how she’d left, lost her memories, come back…and, told the two about Dinah. And how Carroll was dating the automaton that was shut down behind them.
Cecilia looked up at the sky, "
So, I didn’t fail. I just stumbled..." Smirking, she would stand up, "
Fine, then! Seems that tyrant was right, Carroll. This," she flicked her right hand across her head, and snapped, "
is our last hat!"
Cecilia would glow for a second, before snapping her fingers, and swiping the brim of her hat, as she manifested clothes from her mycelium. "
So, we better make it count!"
“
I concur,” Carroll says, slime swirling around.
As she stood, Carroll would straighten out her jacket, and fluff her hair. “
As the Third Princess of Wonderland, I refuse to strike out for a third time. Twice is shameful enough,” she huffed, “
Excuse me, but, apparently, I have someone of my own to tend to.”
"
Feel free," Cecilia nod, before Carroll blinked over to Eula, and her arm change into Eula’s. "
Seems I’m not the only one that took a Queen, huh," she asks, appearing behind Kerry, and setting her hat over her rounded belly, "
Hang tight, little one. I’ve a party to throw, just for you. Can’t have you getting in danger while Mommy and Daddy save the world you stand to inherit."
”Huh!?”, stammered the hornet, shocked.
”Cecilia, w-wait! What are you-”"
My duty, in a sense,” Cecilia says, "
When a Queen Piece is close to Monsterization, she offloads that critical energy into a Pawn, a future piece," she says, "
However, I'm already Monsterized, so this little one is a being of pure innocence,"Cecilia says. "
As such, I'll make...” Pausing, Cecilia would place her hand upon Kerry's belly, and smirked, "
...sure Gwendolyn is safe."
”...Oh.”Kerry looked down to her stomach, seeing Cecilia’s hat positioned on top. Logically speaking, this is the right call to make. As things stand right now, current conditions are far from ideal and they’re likely going to intensify in the coming days. Better to send Gwen to a safe location until all the fighting is over and done with. The choice was obvious…
…
and yet…”...Will…”, Kerry spoke, her voice trembling.
”W-Will…we be able to…s-see her?”"
What kind of party would deny the Hosts access,” Cecilia asks, before adjusting her hat, as she set it back on. "
However, there is a catch. But, it's nothing troublesome. Just a little Illogical Engineering," she smirked, before raising her arms above her head, lacing her fingers, and stretching, "
I just need a Co-Host, in case I die to transfer party rights to," Cecilia says, too casually, "
Anyone in mind?"
For a moment, Kerry nearly volunteered but stopped herself when she realized she SHOULDN’T. Because what would happen if
she herself died out on the field? Then Gwen would be stuck, forever frozen and unable to be born proper. No, she can’t be a Co-Host…
…but there is one who is far removed from this entire war.
”Yeah…my mother.”"
Sounds like a plan,” Cecilia says, "
I'd like to meet her. See if she's worth my daughter's time, but... I'd like something else first," she slid a finger up Kerry’s spine, "
If I'm not mistaken, Hornets lay their eggs in nests. It would seem I have some catching up to do. So... let's get you building, before you pop.”
Kerry shivered as a pleasant jolt trailed up her spine alongside Cecilia’s finger.
”Ooooooo…”, the hornet cooed.
”Well…we better not wait any longer. My delivery date has moved up the timetable and the nest needs a few finishing touches.”"
Sounds like a plan,” Cecilia says, before scooping Kerry off her feet, "
Time to hit the ground running."
Sensing, essentially, stains of her Mana, Cecilia would take off towards Terauchi Temple; beelining for the room she and Kerry shared.
If…If she really has forgotten this time…then I’ll make her remember. And if I can’t do that…then we’ll make new memories. The three of us…A reassuring pulse resonated from within the hornet.
...Together.With a mechanical whirr, Eula’s neck would stiffen before her eyes light up once more. Booting up, she would look around suddenly in worry, before gazing up at the cursed sword she knew. Or…had known. Eula knew the look of someone working on base memories. Of pretending you belonged. Carroll…had she forgotten her? Maybe that was for the best.
Eula would carefully rise to a knee to meet Carroll’s gaze, asking:
"How do you feel?"Eula would feel the cold, yet warm caress of their shared connection through her arm, as Carroll cupped her cheek, "
You saved me, and for that, I feel blessed and pathetic.” Even with a different face, Carroll's trademark smirk was baked in. "
What kind of loser King is saved by her Queen, after all,” she says, "
I’ve failed you. How I feel is unimportant to how you feel. So, how do you feel?”
"...I feel…defective. I…attacked you, and Alice…Cecilia now, it seems," Eula said, averting her eyes.
"
Defective, or... developing?”
It was a challenge of philosophy against logic; the nemesis of cold, hard programming. Asking Eula if acting as she had was not a “defective action” but a “developmental action” would put into question her own autonomy, and how much of her actions were those of her mothers’ and those of herself.
It was also chess terminology, meaning Carroll was speaking in metaphor as well - attempting to bridge the missing gap with her inherited culture from Cecilia and Eula's own outlook.
How the gamble paid off was to be seen, after all: a Bishop could move forwards AND backwards.
"I don’t know. Perhaps I never did know. …I realized it. Once my mind switched…Eula 039…isn’t real. I wasn’t burned into these circuits with the life automatons are granted. I was cobbled together. …A sum. Not anything more," Eula said, rising to her feet.
"I’m a danger. To you, Cecilia…everyone.""
Are you? Are you any more dangerous than anyone else, or is your perception of your threat... mired in fear of misunderstanding and unknowing,” Carroll asks, pulling Eula into a hug, "
I was cobbled together, too - the sum of multiple parts, designed to be a toy to create toys...” she says, "
I might not have the full picture, but I can tell, you weren't just thrown together in a day. You're a labor of love that was never allowed to grow up with those that gave their all to love you.”
Carroll pulled back, "
We’re misfit toys, you and I. And, this is our island.”
Silence overtook Eula as she was embraced, her arms going slack before returning the hug.
"...I will…need to fix the roof of the temple. But after that…could I take you somewhere that we’ve been before?"Dinah had already mended the damage done, as they were leaving, but neither knew that, as Carroll nodded, "
I will aid you in that endeavor. After all, my Queen shouldn't do manual labor alone.”
A silent nod would follow from Eula, before she looked to those assembled.
"I apologize for my disgraceful behavior. And, I am honored to fight beside you all.""No offense taken," Liliana admitted.
"Dinah said like, way worse things to me than you saying I was an E class threat. …That’s higher than an F though, right?""
Hrm...” Carroll studied Liliana for a moment, giving the Fairy the feeling that she was fit to pull her wings off. However, Carroll was processing the feeling that stained her blade - whatever Alice left behind, whatever that was... whoever that was... she had a bond with the airhead.
Liliana was the first and only person to accept Alice, Lady Alice, each and every time, and was there to help bring her back.
"
Liliana, was it,” Carroll asks. "
I’d like to speak with you, another time, about Alice,” she says, "
And, what she means to you.”
"Okay Carroll!" Liliana chirped, with all the eagerness due of a friend. Even if said friend forgot everything.
Carroll nodded, and then scooped Eula off her feet, before kissing her cheek - testing the waters, and putting forward her desire to demonstrate her commitment; memories by damned.
"
Wherever you're taking me,” she whispered, "
let's make some new memories, and maybe some mistakes, too.”
Eula gave a brief nod, before laying her hand across Carroll’s.
"In time, Carroll. In time." "
Ara ara...~ Naughty, naughty, little Queen, going straight to the gutter, when we haven't made it to the bed,” Carroll purred.
As she was, Carroll was a blend of herself and the form she'd taken upon bonding with Eula - less exaggerated perfection, and more of a natural conclusion to it. She looked believably regal, yet had the aura of a villainess.
Unleashing a flick to Carroll’s forehead, Eula was content to leave it at that, unflinching in disciplining even royalty.
Carroll giggled, before lacing her fingers with Eula’s, and taking off for the destination in her mind; a place where they shared memories, and would make new ones.
"Ahh…lovey dovey endings really are the best! True love conquers all, and no more bad guys- wait, I forgot, we’re in a war," Liliana said, before scowling as menacingly as she could, her hand poised under her chin.
"We still gotta job to do…and I gotta show the Varjans my war face! Aahhaaahhaaaaahh!" Liliana said, pounding her chest like a gorilla, before panting not even a few seconds after.
"...But first. Naptime. Gringor, everyone, good job today!"Waving goodbye, goodnight, and good evening to her compatriots, Liliana would go back to her sleeping spot inside a potted flower inside her room, instead of the bed.
With that, the dust would settle, leaving everyone left to sort out their own feelings on the matters that had transpired.
