➤The ✭ Perfect ✫ World ➧➧➤

[Okami Ameras]

I floated above the battlefield and had another black arrow held within my fingers. I heard it's whistle, and looked at the warhead, initially drawing bead on it. No. Wait. That would just kill us all, wouldn't it? I lowered the weapon, and then dropped it, shedding the great bow and the two katars upon my thighs. They landed upon the ground with a great thud next to Lukas. I was aware of him looking at the warhead, then at me.

I took a deep breath.

THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, GIVE ME A HELL YEAH! I roared across the battlefield, over scared humans and robotic battles. Every conscious human left on the battlefield stirred and looked up at me; the Northwesteners woke even to look up at my floating figure over the battlefield. They smiled, as their voices rose in a deafening roar; HELL YEAH! The scared humans were the second ones to react, for even in their confusion and fear some instinctively knew to answer back. HELL YEAH!

~~~

It was not merely humans who responded as such. Those with the human spirit responded in kind as the humans. Nova, with sparks flying from her left arm and plasma jets shooting from her fingers, looked up at the great mech and started shouting the words as loud as her Automated voice could muster.

~~~

Lyra arrived to help Lara, Kiros, and Chris too late. She stood staring at them all, tears streaming from her eyes as she made her way over to Lara. Her orb, which was still that glowing golden green, flared as she tried to heal her fallen sister... but to no avail. Tears flowed down her face more as she looked to the body of Kiros. The light in her orb died as tears came down her face more. Her body shook and shuddered as she too was wracked with the pain of their passing. She fell to her knees, her white clawed hands digging into the soil, feeling every ounce of pain and agony now written into the fabric of the bloodstained battlefield. Blood shot from her nose as she fell, it pooling under her.

She barely remained conscious long enough for the Mech in the sky to shout to the bearers of the human spirit. She looked up, vision bluured with tears, as she threw back her head and screeched the answering call.

~~~

Lukas stood right neither Morning Star, and bellowed the loudest of all on the battlefield. He could be heard beyond North, beyond the fallen Faction cities, and his voice resonated with the nearby simulation tower to make a gigantic speaker that echoed not just his voice but everyone's voice- everyone's, no matter how far away they were, heard and felt the massive soul vibrating sound.

HELL YEAH! HELL YEAH!! HELL YEAH!!!!

He smiled a massive slasher smile and looked up at the Mech as with a beat of it's great incorporeal wings shot off after the nuclear warhead.

Oh goody. Ah geit tea do et ahl over again.

~~~

I reached the warhead and wrapped my arms around it, hugging the thing to me as I hurtled with it in the air. I entwined my fingers with each other with my arms wrapped around the nuke...

((At this moment, for Scarlet, this music is appropriate.))

Time suddenly seemed to stop. I saw the explosive force just waiting to manifest, ready to start slipping and oozing through the cracks of the warhead's shell. Then the world went black, and I knew I was myself, curled in the fetal position in the womb-like cockpit of Morning Star. I suddenly felt very alone, in the darkness, with this massive torrent of energy just a few feet away on the outside of a hard metal shell. I was still aware of it, the energy equivalent of a multiheaded hydra just waiting to let loose it's reign of destruction upon the land, upon everyone, friend and foe alike.

I thought of my father. He had protected me so much over my life. I wanted to protect him, at least once. Then I aw my sister, Odessa, in my mind's eye. She would have been so happy just making video games... oh, what she could have done with Virtual reality if it hadn't been for the simulation? She could have crafted wonderful stories and massive worlds... My mother... I saw her smiling happily and in the diver's seat of a sleek sports car from before the War... My dad, Lukas... He had Isabella and Odessa in his arms, smiling in a way that made all his sharp teeth show, though it was a genuine smile of joy. Then came a picture of Eva, then Layla, then Chris. Nova, Lyra, Lara, Kiros, appeared as they flashed before my eyes. Then the people of Northwest, a multitude of faces all smiling happy, and alive. I heard them say my name, in a multifaceted voice that was so many individual voices and yet one deep thrumming one. Then the cheering crowds of North, all looking up at me with hope and happiness in their eyes. I saw a bustling marketplace in what was once Southwest from the one time I visited as a child, with vibrant silks and velvets-- Southwest lived the most decadent lifestyle out of all of the factions. I saw the hardworking Westeners, the grumpy and gloomy Easteners, the workhorses that had once been Southeast before they turned against us, South, and Northeast. The I remembered every face I had ever seen in the simulation, and they were all calling my name.

I slowly uncurled, my legs extending straight out, my toes pointed, my arms out.

Time resumed.

I love you all. The Mech said those words almost like a whisper... but yet it was heard all across the battlefield, or maybe was it felt?

((As for everyone else... I wold think this works.))

Morning Star crushed the nuke to itself.

The explosion lit, and out poured white hot flames. The flames shot outward, forming and extending into a massive pillar of pale golden flame. The flames shot up towards the heavens and down towards the earth, hitting the ground and the sky with a thunderous crash before spreading outward. Morning Star was engulfed and hidden in the flames as the golden flames spread out, covering the land and filling it with heat, flames, and ash.

It was a group of Northerners escorting some still weak Northwesteners that got hit with the flames first. The Northerners screamed, but the flames passed right by them and through them, not scorching a hair on their heads. They stopped and looked at themselves and eachother through the golden flames, before looking back up at the mech in the sky.

The pillar was gone now. In it's place was a massive being made of flame, appearing humanoid with six great firey wings spread from horizon to horizon. The wings were clearer to see now, and their size was truly massive. The being's head was thrown back, it's arms out from it's body.

It was not long before the fire spread to the simulation tower. Normal caretakers, both broken and still running, who ran on nuclear radiation energy exploded with golden fire. The simulation tower erupted like a volcano with more golden fire, spreading into the atmosphere again. Soon the world, from horizon to horizon, was sheathed in flames...

~~~

In my mech, I screamed. I was aware of flames around me in my cockpit, inside me, blood leaking from my nose...

~~~

If someone had been watching from the moon at that moment, looking dwn at the Americas, they would see, somewhere in the upper northern Americas a tiny blimp of light. The light then starts to spread across the grey continent, covering it like a glowing blanket. The flames reach the coasts in a matter of moments, leaving the water glowing gold. The flames spread all the way down towards what had once been Mexico, through central America, and into South America where it spreads even further. It was as if the Americas was on fire...

~~~

Lyra had immediately tried to get up to see what had happened, but the golden flames obscured her vision, and she flapped her wings, rising above them. She glanced around to see if the humans and Chris were all right. She could not see the warrior woman with the gold-red armor, but she saw Eva and Devon holding Chris still. She flew closer, and blinked at the unconscious boy. He had been badly torn up and hurt before. Why was he not now?

She analyzed her own health, and what she had identified in her own mind as a brain aneurism was gone. She flapped upward, rising above the pale flames, as she looked around, her mind in a state of shock and confusion...

~~~

Odessa found herself hurriedly perched ontop of a blue mecha's head. She looked down at the golden flames with much disdain. She held her side, which had a half-closed gash which had stopped bleeding already.

Odessa, come down from there. Isabella called from somewhere below in the fire.

Mother, you know I'm burned more easily then most.

This isn't normal fire, Odessa. Isaella called to her daughter. It will heal you.

... What kind of fire is it?

It's Holy Fire.  

[Hiddochi wolf]

((I really like how you incorporated the music in that post! It really set the scene. 3nodding
Relevant music for Eva and Devon at the moment: Yay for soundtracks ))

Eva set Chris down carefully against her lap, with Devon right beside her staring down at his friend. He looked troubled.
"It's kinda bittersweet, ya know? They saved us all... I just wish it didn't cause him such misery, and that they had to die trying." Devon's eyes strayed from the boy's unlit orb to his fallen comrades, and the grief-stricken Lyra. The sight of her pain made his stomach turn.
"He doesn't want to lose you," Eva shook her head, "They did what they felt they had to... As twisted as this sounds, they were made for this day. They died fulfilling their purpose."
The man's brow furrowed, "...How do you know all of this, Eva?"
She swallowed back her doubts and fear, half-turning to look at him directly in the eyes, "I saw, heard, felt and thought everything contained in the system's databases. I'm not human by nature, Devon. I am a computer born into flesh, made human by those I've had the pleasure of meeting these past few months." Eva watched as the shock set into his features, "Hate me if you must, but the system was never our enemy... We were. We expected it to magically solve all of our problems, to make us eternally happy and protect us from our own failures. Desperate for our love and approval, the system did its damndest to please us, to make a better future for humanity in any way it could. And it sincerely thought the only way to do so would be to re-engineer the human race."
They fell into contemplative silence.
Devon's hand slipped over hers in reassurance, "I can't hate you."
A small smile crept across Eva's bloodied face.
The missile's cry resounded overhead.
"What's that?" She tensed, seriousness returning.
He stood, cupping a hand above his line of sight to block out the sky's sickly light, "I think it's... It's a NUKE!"
Eva inhaled sharply, "Oh, my god..."
She watched in horror as the grand mech rose, her voice responded to the being's warcry in spite of her own terror. The machine wrapped itself around the bomb, releasing and cradling its destructive power. She felt Scarlet's presence in that moment.
"S-Scarlet! No!" Eva choked out in between stifled sobs.

• • •

((The tone of urgency and conflict in this song fits Nemesis and Genesis right now...))

Genesis's voice sung out with the rest of the soldiers, sending the mech onto her destiny. He beheld the eruption of flames, spreading outward and reaching for him and Nemesis. He heard the click of her gun just as the bullet flew to him, his hand shooting up to catch it in time. Genesis crushed it in his palm, "You won't succeed a second time, Caretaker." His eyes now shimmered with an ethereal blueish-pink aura.
Nemesis screamed with rage, charging straight into a fist-fight with her sibling. Anger drove the fembot into a total berserk; she moved so fast and violently that it was straining her own body. Genesis met each blow with calm control, accepting the damage and dealing his own. Then the fire cascaded over them.
The Caretaker sputtered, a glitch rendering her slow and unstable. She raised her fist for one last strike...
Genesis swatted aside her attack, completely ripping off the limb. His sword gleamed like a flash of lightning as it arched upward through open air, plunging into Nemesis's chest and exiting from the back of her skull. For the first time, fear flashed across the fembot's face in her final moment. Electricity danced down Genesis's weapon from her black box. The Caretaker's eyes went dark, its body fell limp. He removed his blade, returning it to his side. With a final glance and a sigh, he turned his back to the fallen machine and headed in the direction of Northwest.
Man and machine, he now had the closure he had sought for years.

• • •

Eva screamed as the fire rained over them, feeling Devon crouched over her and Chris to shield them both. But nothing happened. She held out her hand, observing how the flames merely phased through her flesh without harm. She looked down to Chris, noticing how his cuts were gone and his dormant orb now glowed with a faint blue luminescence.
"This... can't be happening." Devon reasoned with himself, shaking his head incredulously.
Eva let out a nervous chuckle, "But it is!"
She set Chris down on the ground, then stood up with her arms spread wide, "Scarlet did it! She saved us!" She chimed with excitement, twirling in the fire as a child would in snow.  

[Okami Ameras]

The fire didn't last long. It burned for a few moments before the golden flame died the way it came, extinguishing like a great wave. I found myself floating in the sky, my fiery aura gone.

I looked up at the sky above me and saw that the flames and smoke had changed into something different -- a great rolling thunderstorm that streached from horizon to horizon, and with a sudden thunderus crash rain started to fall in sheets. The rain lashed at my eyes and poured into my mouth in buckets.

Then... I was in the womb - like cockpit once again. Fleshy tendrils were reaching out of the walls and reaching towards me and starting to burrow into my flesh.

I understood the rain now. It was a warning.

I screamed as my own mech started to consume me alive.

~~~

The great mech's wings faltered, and then they vanished altogether, sending the great being made of flesh and machine hurtling towards the earth. It fell like a falling star, crashing into the ashen ground and leaving a great crater where it landed.

Eva and Devon were close enough to hear screams coming from the mech... but it was not of the mech's voice. It was Scarlet, screaming inside!

The mechine rose, rising to it's feet quickly as it turned to the nearest group of nearby Northwesterners. It had a crazy, scary smile on it's face, like it was looking at a highly anticipated lunch. The Northwesteners saw this and actually screamed, before scattering in an attempt to flee.

The great mech took a step forward to go after them, but stopped. It turned to look at it's left foot, where it found that growing out of the soggy ashen earth was an ironwood tree that had not been there before -- and it was wrapping around the mech's left foot. Sprouting around it was grasses and vines and plants that were too restraining the left foot of the great mech.

OY! Ye mechanical and fleshy piece o' shyte! Give Meh back mah daughter! I made ye, ahn ah cahn rip ye limb from limb! Roared Lukas, as more plants started to entwine themselves up the mech's leg. He lifted his hand and pulled off his last ring, and dropped it. It vanished. He slid off his gold vine armband, and it vanished. Then his big prayer beads and his kilt, till he stood stark naked before the mech.

It stared at him before emitting an ear rending hiss, baring it's teeth at him. The feral mech lunged forward and swiped at him with it's massive metallic hands, and he easily leapt backward out of the way of the attack. His skin glistened with sweat as he landed, slamming his hand into the wet ashy earth. When he pulled his hand out of the ashes, he held in his hand a big double sided axe of iron wood, decorated with complex Celtic symbols etched into the blades in a deep green. He looked it over.

Whel, I don't normally go for deforestation, but some things just need to be chopped down.

He gave the mech a massive slasher smile of his own, before leaping at the mech faster then the human eye can see. He soared straight up to the mech's face before slamming his axe hard into the left side of the mech's face. There was a great ringing sound as the mech was not able to move out of the way and the blow sent it falling backward to the ground.

CHOP EM' DOWN!!!  

[Hiddochi wolf]

Genesis found Layla, curled up on the ground near the forest's edge, drenched in a pool of her own blood. The holy fire had sealed her wounds, but it did not restore her missing limb. He grimaced, kneeling beside the woman to gingerly lift her from where she lay. He carried her into Northwest's territory, listening as the torrent of rain smacked against the leaves of the canopy above them.
She stirred, her hazy eyes fluttering open and resting on the robot's face. His expression revealed every bit of the regret he felt.
"I'm so sorry, Layla. I failed to protect you as I had promised..."
She tried to flex her leg muscles in testing, only to find most of them missing. She did the same with her broken arm, feeling the bone whole and strong beneath her skin. Her eyes grew wide with surprise, "I survived that?"
He nodded.
Layla stared off into the web of branches moving overhead, "Did you kill her? Nemesis, I mean."
Genesis diverted his eyes to the path ahead, as if trying to avoid the real question being asked. His answer came out as a whisper, "It had to be done."
She nodded once, turning her face away from him to watch where they were heading, "Then I was wrong; you're not Aerilo..."
The robot tensed with discomfort.
"...You're you, Genesis. You may house his soul, but you're a unique being all your own." She glanced to him, smiling, "And I love you just the same."
They stopped in the clearing just outside of the cavern entrance. Genesis carefully set Layla down onto her good leg, his arms remaining firmly around her waist for support. She turned to face him, their eyes meeting for a moment that seemed to last forever. Then they kissed. Her fingers tangled themselves lovingly in his wet, matted hair. Her soft, warm skin felt like heaven against his metallic face.
Something blipped at the back of his mind, alerting the robot of a growing threat outside of the forest. Genesis gently pulled himself away from her.
"What's wrong?" Layla asked.
"Scarlet's in trouble, the mech has gone rogue. Eva is dangerously close to the site..." He explained, navigating the woman into the cavern. A Northwesterner met them just inside, moving to help Layla as Genesis turned to leave.

• • •

Eva's celebration was short-lived. She heard Scarlet's screams as the mech crashed to the ground, the shockwaves of its impact throwing her off her feet. She scrambled to stand, rushing toward the mech, "Scarlet!"
Devon caught her by the arm before she could go too far, pulling her back, "Are you crazy?! That thing will murder you with one kick!"
"B-But Scarlet's in trouble! Something went wrong!" Eva cried out in desperation, fighting against his iron grip.
"So?! You're not all-powerful and invincible in this world, unlike the simulation! You can't do a damn thing to that beast!"
She stomped on his foot, slipping from his arms as he recoiled in pain.
"Dammit! Eva!!" Devon chased after her, though the heavy rain obscured his vision and made it difficult to see her.
She stopped just underneath the gigantic machine, taking in its massive size as she tried to think of how to act. It was stuck in some new growth, and Lukas flew up to strike it in the head. The mech toppled backward, caving in over her slowly, threatening to crush her. She screamed.
Eva felt like she became weightless, her legs no longer supporting her, the world rushed by at hyperspeed. She became aware of something strong and hard holding her, something made of metal. When they came to a stop, she realized it was Genesis. The mech's fall resounded behind them, shaking the earth. Devon was standing next to the robot, newly released from the arm that wasn't clamped around Eva.
"G-Genesis! We have to help Scarlet! She's in trouble!" She sobbed into the robot's chest.
Genesis hugged her, "I'm sorry, Eva. We cannot interfere with this battle; it is Lukas's to fight."
"That's what I was trying to tell her!" Devon interjected.
"Everything will be alright." Genesis added. Something about his tone really conveyed the idea of what he just said; it made her feel like everything already was "alright." She looked up to him and saw that his eyes glowed with color.
"Take her to the forest, seek refuge there until someone finds you and leads you to the cavern. I will take Christopher and will be there shortly. Don't turn back." He instructed Devon, releasing Eva. The man nodded.
Devon immediately latched onto her arm, unwilling to take the risk of her running again.
He led her through the rain and into the looming forest, following the worn path deeper into the lush greenery. It didn't take long for Genesis to catch up with them, carrying the comatose Chris.  

[Okami Ameras]

The mech landed, slamming hard into the ashen ground as it's leg twisted. The unyielding metal that made up it's armor and bones caused the Mech to fall backward at an awkward angle, landing on it's back with one of it's feet still planted in the earth. It went to push itself up, but it found that more ironwood trees had grown around it, wrapping around it's other leg and it's arms, and around it's torso.

Lukas stood where he had landed, staring hard at the Mech, before jumping to land on the thing's chest. The mech lifted it's head to look at him, and he stared back into it's color shifting eyes.

Hello, Morning Star. Lukas spoke. He spoke quietly, and his thick Scottish accent was suddenly gone. Give me back Scarlet. I know you do not wish to let her go, as she is a part of you and you are a part of her. But she is important to this life. She is important to many lives. Give her back.

The Mech just stared at him, and he stared back. Their gazes were locked for what felt like forever to the man. But finally the mech gave in. It flexed one of it's arms, and the Ironwood retreated from it's arm. It reached down to the entrance Scarlet uses to get in and out, and it curled it's hand into a fist. it lifted it's hand and looked at it, before bringing it down to Lukas and opening it's massive metal hand-- to see a tiny little girl curled up in it's palm, wrapped in 6 feet of long crimson hair.

Lukas smiled and reached forward, picking up the toddler. He held her closely. He turned away from the mech and jumped off, walking back to the forest.

The growth around the mech released it from it's grip, and the mech stood and followed Lukas. The two walked through the pouring rain, Lukas saying nothing while sheltering the now barely toddler Scarlet from the rain.

As Lukas reached the treeline, he continued walking. The Mech stopped, looked up at the thundering sky, and sat down, falling easily into the Lotus position and closed it's eyes.

It would not wake for a very long time.

~~~

I stirred to the sound of rain, and the feel of strong arms and what felt like hair wrapped around me. I opened my eyes to find I was half buried in my father's beard, while also... wrapped in my own hair? I've heard of Godiva Hair, but this is ridiculous!

Wait.

I pulled a hand out of his beard which was in the process of half hiding and supporting me at the same time, and I found it was tiny.

I took both of my tiny hands and covered my eyes. Oh god, I absorbed too much fire.

Lukas's steps changed, and I peered out of his beard to find that he was now striding down the path into the Northwest caves. He stepped in and was instantaneously greeted by a crowed of Northwestern Medics. They tried to pry me from his grasp but found that the combination of his beard and his grip kept them from even touching me.

He simply stood against a wall and closed his eyes. His head nodded down, and he slid down against the wall, and drifted off to sleep sitting upright against the cold stone wall.

My eyes flickered as fatigue hit me like a hammer hard. I peered out of his beard as the Medics finally just gave up and got someone to lift the man up and put him on a nearby hospital bed that had been rolled out into the main cavern.  

[Hiddochi wolf]

The forest and caverns were packed, filling with survivors from all of the wrecked factions. Northerners huddled together in tight groups, small and fragile and pale in complexion; Southerners surveyed their surroundings with unease, tall and rugged and militant. The scarce few remaining Easterners were easily identified by their sullen attitudes and smog-stained clothes. Westerners welcomed in the other factions, friendly faces lighting up as they spotted old friends. Southwesterners looked about with curiosity, clad in rich silks and colorful jewelry. Northeasterners were mostly found in the forest, examining the plantlife with great interest. Simulation occupants tried to take it all in piece by piece, some of them more curious than others, some trying to overcome the fear they felt for this vast new world. Here, under these leaves and within these stone halls, did all of the factions unite for the first time in decades. All feuds and disagreements were set aside.
Eva saw as Lukas's hulking form appeared through the entryway, wading through the crowds without struggle. In his arms was... a mass of red hair? She shoved her way around a portly Southwestern man with a poofy blue cape, straining her eyes to get a glance of young Scarlet. She was a toddler! Before she could even think of how it had happened, someone guided her by the arm out of the madness and into a quiet hallway.
"Sheesh! It's a madhouse out there, huh?" Devon commented, "At least it's all over now, though."
"Yeah..." Eva responded halfheartedly. Her mind was still reeling with the day's events.
"Things are gonna be a lot different now. Cultures are going to clash and change, opinions are going to unite or divide us all over again. Society will be rebuilt. The simulation's population will either dissolve into the cliques of the existing faction cultures, or they'll go off and create their own. Maybe they'll even try to rebuild a virtual world to live in, to remain where they're most comfortable." He mused, glancing to Eva with seriousness, "You're kind of responsible for them, you know. You understand them better than we do; you know what they fear, what they're used to, how well they can adapt. You know how to help them transition."
She swallowed back her doubt, took a deep breath and nodded resolutely, "You're right. I need to help them through this..."
They wandered down the long hallway, then entered a small medical bay to the right. Chris was sprawled on the hospital bed, still unconscious. Layla was reclining back in an old wheelchair, while Genesis worked in the corner on crafting a mechanical prosthetic for her. Nanobots were repairing the robot as he worked.
Devon pulled a chair up next to the bed, sitting down to watch over his friend. The blue glow of the boy's orb swirled randomly within the glassy sphere.
"I wonder what he dreams about..."

• • •

He was inside of the system, a part of it; he was aware of its every action and thought. He felt empty but whole, always connected but also so alone. He watched as the system made its decisions, beginning with the creation of the original "Angels," followed by the shower of bombs. There was no war at all. He saw Shane rise to power, and he knew the AI as well as he knew himself. The simulation was just a distraction, a promise of hope to gain the people's trust. The factions were an enemy to evolution.
As the world degenerated to its current state, Chris became aware of a growing system not on this continent. It was GAOSA, but it was also something else. It was self-aware, sentient. It was evolving.
He saw the Americas bathed in flames, cleansed of the system's influence. He was set free as everything went dark around him, but a part of himself was destroyed in the process. He was a hollow existence. The growing system would soon swallow up what little remained of him...

Chris's eyes blinked open. He could not see, hear or speak. He felt the body-heat radiating off of someone standing next to him, but that was the extent of his senses. Not even his mind could formulate a coherent thought, and his orb was dead to him. He closed his eyes and drifted back into sleep. His sight wouldn't return until the next day, followed by his hearing. He would not attempt to communicate in any manner for over a week.


((W00T! 800th post~!
Also, I can foresee more than one dispute occurring between the Northerners and Southwesterners about whose sense of style is more extravagant. xd ))  

[Okami Ameras]

Eva, Layla, Genesis, Devon, and Chris had been all assigned to the same quarters area in the caves. One day, a couple weeks later, they woke one morning to hear a massive hustle and bustle of people passing by. It was the gentle Northwesteners herding the people up to the forest above.

In the process, the group got swept up, pressed together, and one or two lost in the crowed. They were all eventually channeled up to the forest, and found the clearing around the entrance to Northwest was lined with stalls, with Northwesteners tending them.

Some stalls had ovens, stoves, or fires set up behind them, baking and cooking and roasting. Others were blacksmiths at their forges, showing off their wares of not only weapons but jewelry and fine sculptures. Others had crafts, such as paintings, wire wrapped stones, wood, preserved flowers, even fungus.

Music was playing. Each song would play, and then a different song would play. First it was this song playing, the music playing through the background. The music faded after it finished.

On the other side of the clearing, a stage had been set up. A new band was setting up their instruments as the other ones packed their stuff up and left the stage. Above the stage was a massive silk banner blowing in the breeze with the words inscribed upon it Festival of Hope.

If the group was looking carefully, they would see Lukas with Scarlet perched on his shoulder heading towards the stage...  

[Hiddochi wolf]

Over the past few weeks, Eva had taken on the role as a counselor for those newly awakened from the simulation. She explained to them exactly what had happened over the past twenty years and why it all occurred in the first place. Most of them were adapting well to these changes. Some became reclusive, choosing to remain locked in their rooms. She tried to help each of them regardless.
Layla had learned shortly after the battle of her cousin's death, the head of Rey's mech now in her possession. She went into mourning, though she also understood and respected Rey's heroism by not lingering on her sorrow for too long. Genesis finished constructing her prosthetic in a matter of days, allowing her to move freely on her own once more.
Devon spent most of his time watching over Chris or helping Eva with her endeavors. He developed an interest in watching the Northwesterners work on their various projects alongside many studious Southwesterners. Until the war had united all of the factions, Southwest had remained ultimately a mystery; only now did he learn of their advanced educational system and flourishing local economy. They were masters of trade, looking for any chance they could get to outsmart someone in a deal -- Devon discovered this the hard way.
Chris was slowly recovering, though he knew he could never be the same again. Even after his senses had returned, the boy lived mostly in silence, giving only the most concise answers when prompted. His temperament changed greatly; he was brooding, reclusive, unwilling to talk about what he felt. He avoided sleep at all costs, because every time he dreamt he saw visions of doom, of a growing system on a distant land. He told no one about what he saw, shielding his mind from Lyra and any other mind-reader around.

• • •

Eva's face lit up with excitement when they reached the festival, eyes bouncing from booth to booth, "How wonderful! I haven't been to a festival since, well...the simulation."
"Ha! You think that's a long time? The last festival I was at happened over twenty-five years ago!" Devon crowed. His stomach growled at the heavenly smells emanating from the ovens.
Genesis was already chatting with one of the artisans, a woodworker, inquiring on the techniques used to craft such pieces. He had resolved to learn a craft to keep himself busy.
Layla was more of a people-watcher. She found a nice shady spot underneath a tree near the stage, listening to the tune of music as she observed her own people. They were an upbeat, cheerful bunch. A couple of young Northern girls danced in a circle and giggled. She smiled. As Lukas stepped onto the stage, her eyes lit up with mirth, "This should be interesting..."

((I'm going to start setting up the thread for the sequel now; I won't open it until after this one has completely finished, but I want to get the organization aspect out of the way. ))  

[Okami Ameras]

Lukas jumped onto the stage, dropping young scarlet onto the stage.

She was dressed in a gold and white dress with a silver hem. Over the front of the dress was a teardrop of golden cloth, and over it she wears a golden and white sash. Her sleeves were tucked into a pair of white gloves which were belted up around her upper arms with big gold belt buckles. A pale golden cloth descended from her back and shoulders like a short cape. Around her wrists are thin golden bangles. Her boots were snowy white with a golden line up the front of each, and were high heels that were so high she was nearly walking on the balls of her feet. On the front of each foot where the top of the foot met the ankle, she had a sun symbol. On her outer ankle she had a white fluttering wing that moved like it was alive when she moved. On her head was a set of white and golden laurels that had a matching pair of white wings attached right behind the temples. On the right temple was another golden sun symbol. On her forehead was a white jewel. Her shape under her clothes was lithe and lean. Her hair had been cut to her ankles and came down in shimmering silky waves.

She smiled, and stepped forward, raising her arms, allowing her short pale golden cape to billow out behind her. She then smiled at the audience, smiled and tilted her hips, as Lukas picked up a Trumpet behind her...

~~~

((The music the band and Lukas starts playing is Let's Dance Boys!))

I smiled and stepped forward towards the edge of the stage where a shoot of bamboo which had been growing beneath the stage. I walked with an exaggerated catwalk. As Lukas started playing with smooth jazzy staccato notes as he himself started moon-walking and doing a spin, the Bamboo shoot started growing at an incredible rate, bursting through the stage. When it got to my height I grabbed the tip as it continued the grow.

I was pulled up into the air as it grew, spinning at the top shoot, wrapping one leg around it as the shoot was now 6 feet, 9, 12, 16 feet into the air!

I spun down it, entwining one leg with the bamboo plant as I slid down upside down. I landed on my hands and leapt off of it, spinning on my hands as I landed on one foot, the other in the air-- meaning I was folded neatly with my back pressed against my leg that was firmly planted on the ground. With a single undulating movement, I unfolded, the other touching the ground as I stood with my arms in the air. I started to spin before dropping low into a spinning kick, before rising, still spinning, and bringing my leg up so hard into a hard flip kick, which sent me flipping over and over.

I landed smoothly, spinning on one leg before planting both legs firmly onto the ground and dramatically swayed my hips, shifting onto one leg and lifting the other into the air. I ran a hand down my leg while winking at the audience.

Meanwhile, a young boy, about 5, jumped onto stage. He approached with a big smile, and a familiar shiny glimmer in his deep emerald green eyes, and silken bronze hair. He wore a fine emerald colored silken shirt, with a pair of black slacks, and silver tipped shoes. He wore a velvet forest green cloak, lined with black fur and emeralds.

He ran, then slid across the stage, hunching over as he did so. I turned away and met him back to back, rolling over him with my legs outstretched over me. This was as Lukas’s playing got higher and more complex.

My dance continued as I was joined by the young boy, dancing together as if we choreographed it the whole time. There would be points where we would pause in exactly the same pose, as we twirled and danced around eachother.

At some point, her grabbed my hand and wrapped his other around my hip. I put my other hand on his shoulder as we started to tango to the music, and as the music started to climax, he spun me around with my arm over my head, before putting his hand to my back and leaning me back with one hand as one of my legs went up into the air as the final note finished with a bang.

There was silence. The audience stared, jaws agape as they looked on at us. I stared into the boys eyes and I smiled. I knew that glimmer. He righted me and smiled, bushing before glancing away then jumping off the stage and vanishing into the crowed.

I looked out among them. A moment later they bust into cheers. While the dance would be one that might have been sexy if it had been performed by an adult, the dance I had done had been more impressive then perverted. It was more of a feat of physical prowess that was extremely impressive. I smiled, blushed, and leaned on my left foot as I put my right infront of it while lifting my arms up from my sides in a fluid motion, while bowing halfway. Then I stood, lifted up and arm, waved, before suddenly jumping off of the stage and vanishing into the crowed.

Lukas stood and laughed deeply. He then put the trumpet away and pulled out a pan flute as he stood on the stage…

I suddenly seemed to pop up behind Eva.

Hey. Long time no see!  

[Hiddochi wolf]

Eva watched the entire performance, applauding with the rest of the audience at its conclusion. She turned to face the young girl, "Hello, Scarlet! That was a fantastic performance out there. Even after that battle, you still haven't lost your athletic talent." She smiled.

* * *

Chris sat down on a large rock at the clearing's edge, his head propped up by his hand. A splitting headache roiled inside of his skull. He watched the growing crowd hazily, brief images and sounds and thoughts popped into his mind as non-Northwesterners walked by. They weren't guarding their minds like the mystics did, and he had lost the ability to filter out the white noise of others' thoughts ever since he awoke. Something had been taken away from him when he was connected with GAOSA; he had lost control of himself and his powers. Even his temper was unpredictable.
Devon approached him, carrying two plates full of some kind of roasted meat. He handed one to Chris, "Figured you'd be hungry. Is...everything alright? You don't look so well."
The man's thoughts cascaded over him. He was seeing himself from Devon's eyes, sensing the man's concern and feeling certain keywords of his thoughts. Sane? Changed. Unpredictable. Unsafe. Might attack...
"Get away from me!" Chris growled, the plate of meat suddenly burst out of Devon's hand as the telekinetic energy whipped around him.
Fear. Can't control himself. Not the same. Dangerous. Get out of here.
"Okay, sorry..." Devon backed away, hands raised in surrender.
The noise of his mind faded. Chris glared at the dirt beneath him, his vision becoming blurred with tears. His friend was scared of him; he thought he was insane. He didn't mean to strike out at Devon as he had. He didn't know why he was so angry. He hated himself.
The boy became aware of someone watching him. His eyes met with the curious gaze of a young Southwestern woman. She was leaning against the exterior wall of the cavern, a large book rested in her arms. Physical books still existed? He looked away from her, grimacing as he realized the only thoughts he was having were his own. Her mind was guarded. But how could that be? Only Northwesterners could do that, and she wore Southwestern clothes. Even her facial features had matched those of Southwesterners...
"How does it feel when that happens -- when you lose control?" The woman asked.
Chris flinched. He disliked her voice; it was cold and smooth, reminding him of liquid silver. It was the kind of voice that could convince someone to tell it everything, even the most arcane of secrets.
"Awful. I feel helpless against myself, because I can't stop it even if I want to. It's like my mind isn't even my own. I become my own worst enemy."
She nodded, remaining silent for a moment as she considered this. Her eyes were trained on him the entire time, deeply focused and highly intelligent, "The next time that happens, think of nothing but the people most important to you. Your parents, that man over there, your faction. Think of them as an anchor holding you down, keeping you away from the chaos swirling all around them."
The young woman righted herself, letting the book hang loosely at her side in one hand, turning to leave. It was a prewar psychology textbook.
"Wait," Chris called out after her, "Who are you, anyway?"
"Ramund Heinline. It was nice meeting you, Christopher."
His brow furrowed, "How did you know my name?"
Ramund smiled, humor twinkling in her green eyes, "You just told me."
She disappeared into the crowd.

(( [/introducesequelcharacter] ))  

[Okami Ameras]

Lukas started to play on his pan flute, the music floating through the festival. Things seemed to get quieter around as people stopped to listen to the man play.

~~~

I grinned.

Thank you. It was quite fun! I practiced hard for that. That's what I've been doing all this time. I would have stopped in to say hi, but I had to work harder now that I'm, well...

I looked down at myself.

4.

I perked up when I heard someone behind me. I turned and looked around.

It was the boy from before who had jumped on the stage with me. He was peering at me out of the crowed. I leaned on one leg and with a gesture. Come here.

The boy shyly stepped out from behind a random Westener. He approached Eva and I with a small smile.

And you are? I wasn't expecting anyone to jump onto stage with me.

I'm Alexander. Alexander Vyne. B-but you can call me Alex! He smiled. He looked up at Eva. A-Are you her sister?

I gave Eva a long look with a sly smile. Ya' know... you kinda like a sister Eva. I then turned to the boy. I haven't properly introduced myself. I am Scarlet. Scarlet Ameras. This is my friend, Eva Annalyse.

I passively noticed that Lukas had stopped playing. I tried to suppress a smile.

Alex was about to say something else when Lukas picked him up by the back of his forest green cloak, and looked the boy in the eye as the child's feet dangled about 5 ft off the ground.

You. Boy.... You'll be dating my daughter nou.

B-But isn't that a l-little preemptive?

The big man laughed hard.

I-I mean, the boy squeaked. She's so much older then me!

Lukas winked at the boy and whispered into his ear: You'll learn to like older women.  

[Hiddochi wolf]

Eva chuckled at the sister remark, "Yeah, except I'm the youngest sibling in mentality. Perhaps I should've reverted back to a child's body."
She greeted the young boy just before he was lifted by Lukas. His gruffness with the child humored her; it reminded her of the stereotypical, overprotective father depicted in nearly every sitcom that played on simulation televisions.
A buzzing noise drew her attention toward the wood-worker's booth. She wandered over to join the growing crowd.

Genesis spun around the upright log with enthusiasm, rapidly cutting and shaping the wood with the many tools installed in his fingertips. In his vision, every surface of the log was already mapped out with precise guidelines for the design he was making; to the audience, it all appeared as raw artistic talent. Cut. Shape. Sand. When the top half started taking form, he moved downward to begin the process all over again. His robotic agility and speed made craftsmanship into a performing art.
He made the final cut just as his internal timer struck three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. After a moment of examination, the robot smiled and stepped away from his creation for the audience to see.
Before them now stood a sculpture of Scarlet as she appeared during the battle; tall, confident, elegant, powerful. She was holding Morning Star's bow, aimed skyward for an unseen opponent. Three sets of wings extended from her back. The sculpture was standing upon an ornate base, engraved with the title "Protector of Our Freedom."
The Northwestern artisan gave it a nod of approval. Genesis beamed.  

[Okami Ameras]

I laughed.

Maybe that would have been appropriate. But I was the one who was juggling nukes. I'm just glad I didn't revert to a fetus from all that.

Eva wandered off to the noise of buzzing. I approached the crowed and tried to move through to see what was going on, but they had pressed themselves so tightly together that I couldn't make my way through.

I ran back to my father, who was still 'discussing' the dating thing with Alex, and he turned and smiled. He held out his free hand and I grabbed. With a heave he sent me flipping up into the air and I landed on his shoulder. He laughed, then looked to Alex.

Boy. Do you have parents?

The boy shook his head. Lukas gave him a long hard look, before looking up into the distance. He smiled.

Whel then. Welcome tew the Ameras family. Weh won't be able tew replace yer parents... but ye have ah family nou. He set the boy on his other shoulder and patted his head. Welcome home, lad.

He looked at Lukas stunned. He looked to me, and I held out a hand. He smiled weakly and shook it. I closed my eyes and yanked on his hand, and he lurched towards me, now half leaning on my dad's head. I was leaning on my father's head too, with my head pressed against the boy's chest, listening to his heartbeat through the boy's silk shirt. I smiled when I felt his half-exited heartbeat.

I let out a deep breath, and I felt my heart sync up with his. I leaned back and held his hand, and he smiled weakly, unsure what to do. When I let out hands rest on my dad's head, he didn't protest.

Cheers came from the crowed.

Lukas meanwhile was striding through the crowed. It parted like water for him, till he was standing before the stature that Genesis had created. He nodded, then glanced up at me.

My mouth was open. I slid down my dad's arm like a slide before running up to the statue and circling around it. I touched it. It was still warm, and the wood was perfectly smooth..

I looked up at Genesis, my face turning a bright pink in a intense blush. Thank you... I did the signature Northwest bow.

Speaking of Thank Yous... It was the young Northener with the blue armor who had helped given me my coronation pin.

He knelt before me, opening up a box. In it was a solid diamond pendent of my mech with it's legs together and arms wide with fiery ruby and topaz wings.

From North. He said with a smile. I put it on as he stepped backwards into the crowed.

The teacher, a tall man in white, the teacher of the students, stepped up after the man in blue. He was sill wearing the long flowing silken robes, and his hair was a snowy white, though his hair had black tips. He stepped forward and offered a hard silvery white gauntlet, made of a familiar silvery white metal. On the wrist and elbow was golden stars. I took it and slid it on, adjusting straps here and straps there, and I had a gauntlet that came up to my shoulder. It even fitted with my current outfit. I flexed. It fit me perfectly.

Thank you, From Northwest. He bowed then stepped away.  

[Hiddochi wolf]

Genesis smiled widely and returned her gesture with a half-bow of his own.

As the Northwestern representative stepped away, two Southwesterners approached the girl. It was a man and a woman, both well into their mid-forties in age. The man was tall and portly, with a friendly, round face framed by greying brown hair and a bushy beard. Thin, silvery glasses rested on his wide nose in front of two curious hazel eyes. The woman had the strong, elegant physique of the Northwesterners, with forest green eyes and reddish-brown hair that cascaded down to her thighs in an ornamented braid. Both of them were dressed in rich silks decorated with intricate patterns and varying shades of blue; rings, bracelets and other pieces of jewelry in silver and sapphire trailed up each of them. They were Brennir and Alandra Heinline, two high-ranking officials of the Southwestern government.
Alandra carried a large wrapped package in her arms, which she presented to young Scarlet with the Northwestern bow, "From Southwest."
When the girl opened it, she would find a wide variety of robes and other garments in silks and cashmere in nearly every color. They came in different sizes, allowing her to wear them at each stage in her life. There was at least one robe in Northern red of each size.
Brennir stepped beside Lukas, eyeing the man with a warm smile on his face, "Well, if it isn't the mighty Lukas! How are you lately?" His gaze wandered back to Scarlet amidst the growing crowd, "You must be so proud; she's a truly special girl. It seems like just yesterday that you brought her into our city for the first time, a tiny little thing. I remembered that she liked our fabrics the best."
The man waved over several other Southwesterners, each carrying a large barrel of alcohol, "Whaddya prefer nowadays, Ameras? Ale? Beer? Perhaps a fine brandy? I brought a wide selection to choose from."

After Alandra presented her gift to Scarlet, a small line started forming behind her from each of the other factions. All except Southeast.

((When do you want to end this? Also, where are Lyra and Nova? They just kinda disappeared in the battle...
And I can foresee Brennir and Lukas becoming drinking buddies. xd ))  

[Okami Ameras]

Aye. Lukas agreed. He smiled big, showing off his mouth full of sharp shark-like teeth. She has grown so much. I look forward to watching her grow up again!

Then Lukas looked and eyed the men with the barrels of alcohol. He raised an eyebrow and stroked his thick full beard (of which he was immensely proud of).

The Scotsman in me says whiskey or a nice fine Scotch. Then he shrugged and shook his head. But fer the benefit o' mah nature, ah still prefer water. Yer still outta luck Brennier.

The big man was then struck with a thought that to him was immensely funny. He started to laugh so hard that he doubled over and tears came to his eyes. When he righted himself, he gave Brennir a friendly pat on the back that nearly knocked the Southwestener off his feet.

Ye want ah drinkin' buddeh? Try mah daughter! She'll drink ye under the table anyday! O' course, you'll havta wait till she's 16 first, she's 4 right nou!

~~~

I bowed back to Alandra, before opening the package. My face lit up with surprise at the fine silks and cashmeres of the package. I ran my fingers through the silks before turning and running out of the clearing. A few moments I returned, now wearing a fine red and gold robe in North's colors. I still wore the North pendent and the gauntlet from Northwest.

The next faction to approach was a large group of Northeasteners. They carried between them a large object draped in a large burlap cloth. They hauled it up to me, and set it down on the ground before pulling off the burlap cloth with a flourish.

It was a large and very healthy weeping cherry tree! Pale pink blooms, almost a snowy white, were in full blossom. It had taken a great many Northeasteners to slowly transport it here, with a large carefully wrapped burlap sack around it's roots.

The leading Northeastener, a old but strong looking farmer with golden hair, a long golden beard, sparkling green eyes with a stalk of wheat stuck between his teeth. He winked at me, and I knew him to be Northwestener who now lived in another faction. Once you were a Northwestener, you were always one at heart.

Whel little lady! He clapped me on the back. We found the seeds for this lil' treasure in the remnants of the fields when we first started farming in Northeastern territory. I followed him under the shade of the tree, where he fondly ran his fingers over the bark of the tree. Even' with mah expertise, we couldn't get this little beauty to grow more then three feet tall. Then you did yer lil' stunt with the holy fire! This tree, as well as the orchards and our other crops went bonkers! We went back to our fields to find that our fields were overgrown in three days! I noticed how big the Northwestern forest had gotten when we were first brought here, but I wasn't expecting it to affect our farms so much! You not only saved our hides, but caused us to have a overabundance of crops and food! Ah am proud ta say that half of the food supplied to this festival was supplied by Northeast!

With a Northwestern bow he stepped away from me.

From Northeast!

The other Northeasteners produced shovels, before starting to dig a large hole right behind the statue that Genesis had made. With the golden haired farmer's help, it was not long before the tree had been planted so it looked like the statue was aiming it's arrow out from between a gap in the hanging branches.

I smiled as I watched. I held the package that Alandra had gave me as I watched them frame the statue with the tree's branches.

Next stepped a man who was tall and rugged, wearing the silver and blue uniform of South. His head was shaved and he had a thick 5 o'clock shadow. On his heard was a silver and blue military cap with a old style winged eagle with an olive branch in one talon and a bunch of arrows in the other. He had slightly slanted eyes which indicated traces of oriental blood. He walked with discipline and stood infront of me while holding what looked like a finely carved box.

I opened and found a beautiful silver and gold crystal chess set. I smiled and looked up at him.

He scratched his head, clearly uncomfortable for a moment. He obviously wasn't used to talking to non-soldiers. I carved the box myself. The pieces and board me and my men collected from searching the ruins in our spare time... We, ah... want you to have it.

He saluted with his fingers at the brim of his military cap. From South. He then stepped away to allow the next faction to offer their gifts.

~~~

Meanwhile, Nova had gotten onto stage. She was wearing her black cloak, and the silver and blue colors that Northwest had offered her. She was playing with a pair of sparklers, bright blue sparks flying everywhere on the stage as she danced and twirled with them gracefully.

~~~

Lyra was peering at a meat vendor's stall, blinking cutely up at the vendor. He smiled and offered her a kabob of steak, green red and yellow peppers, and pineapple. she then snatched it out of his hand with her teeth before tearing the meat off the stick.

The vendor pulled back hurriedly, before relaxing and laughing. He patted the little mutant ontop of her head, who enjoyed the physical affection. It made her tail wave around happily and her wings flare, and her orb to glow a brighter green. Her orb hadn't changed color since her encounter with Lukas.

The Vendor kept offering her food, and after eating 3 more kabobs she took an extra three and looked around. She wandered into the crowed until she found Chris.

She approached him with a shark-toothed smile, emitting friendliness and happiness as she offered him the kabobs which, even in his depressed and moody state, smelled extremely good. And somehow, the boy registered that the emotion in the food was that of... love.

~~~

After Nova finished her act of fiery play, a pair of Northwesteners got onto the stage and started to dance. They danced, they chanted, as some sort of ritual took place. They were wearing bare minimum as they danced, wearing only a loincloth for the boy, and a loincloth and a bra for the woman. While it was interesting, the dance and chants wan't the most interesting thing about what they were doing.

All of the other Northwesteners had gone still. Lukas had closed his eyes. Isabella had stopped in her tracks where she had a fork in her mouth while eating a cheescake.

Slowly, the light of the sun started to darken. Clouds started to gather, and people could see steam coming from their breath. The lighter dressed people started to shiver as the temperature dropped.

~~~

I closed my eyes as I felt something welling up inside me. The trees rustled as with a unconscious call I summoned my half woken Mech.

The Mech approached to stand behind the weeping cherry tree. I stood infront of it, infront of the stature of myself with the arrow, framed by the tree. The mech stood silent, as I felt itself start to sync with me half way.

That was all I needed. I lifted my head to the sky as the feeling got stronger.

I needed to sing.

The music of the chanting dancers got louder, and this is what played.

And I started to sing. My voice did not sound like that of a child, but it was the beautiful voice of a grown woman.

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name

"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain

I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow

I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice

I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice, I am the voice
I am the voice, I am the voice

As I started to sing the first words, tiny white flakes started to drift down through the trees to the clearing. It was something that no one-- not even the eldest of the people there had ever seen before. Pure white flakes of delicately spun ice drifted downward towards the clearing floor. They landed in the grass, in people's hair, on clothing and on skin.

The flakes fell faster, and within moments the ground was covered in a crunchy white blanket. Northwesteners still stood stock still. The mech stood there with it's eyes closed.

An old man, who even as a child had only heard stories of this stuff, lifted his head and stuck out his tongue. a tiny white flake landed on it and melted instantly. He smiled, his eyes glittering with a childlike glee and surprise.

Children held out their hands and tried to catch them playfully.

It was snowing.

((Well, I wanted to do that bit, as all of Northwest basically gives the seasons a defibrillator zap. CLEAR! Starting with Winter.

There's Lyra and Nova.

And for the life of me, I can't come up with what West or East would give Scarlet...))