Ray of Hope

[holdthefuture]

1. (Lenore)

[Not long after the mission is over, Lenore is by an untouched patch of land on Gloster Foundation property, burying what looks like parts of the Gatekeeper that she had retrieved from the battle in the fashion of graves. She even places tombstones on each buried piece.

Carina had finally been defeated, and Seta had returned. But to Lenore, this was the most important matter that she had to settle immediately.]

It's over... It's finally over, everyone. Carina isn't going to trouble anyone anymore.

This is the most that I can do for you now, but I'll get them to make it official for you. So, rest well.

-

2. (Seta)



[The Empress of The Kijin Realm - that is what Seta referred to herself as. It's no lie.

For those looking for an explanation, she stands by the tree that holds her last message outside Alhambra Base - the shadow she casts on the ground looks like her new, dragon-like Craft instead of a human. Speaking of ominous things, the armor she was in is no longer there, at least - she instead wears a flowing, regal-looking dark blue coat.]

You wish to know what happened...so I will tell you.

I survived because of Madame's intervention...even though she was already gone. The keepsake she gave to me drew in Invicta's soul, and that is what you destroyed on that day. Invicta is no more, and you were the ones who finished it.

When I awoke, I was alone, with no way to return. My real form had been crippled by the battles I fought, and the only way I could survive was to fuse it with the remains of RB. The result of that is Union.

I eventually recovered through the Kijin Realm's influence, and as I traveled, I discovered that it was in a state of chaos after Invicta's death.

Following your examples, I made new allies, new friends - my own Unity Group - and I continued to fight...this time to unite my kin.

[She falls silent for a while. And one can tell that while she appears the same physically, there is something very different about her - she seems very tired, aged.]

I do not know how long it has been since the last time I saw Earth. Time passes differently in the Kijin Realm, but the amount was not small.

After all, even on Earth, cities and civilizations do not become what they are overnight.

As for Lenore...

[She crouches down to touch some flowers that are growing.]



She came to me in a dream. I heard her calling for help...for power that she could use to right what was wrong; I could not say no to that. And in time, it became clear that she met all of you. She was my only link to Earth, until the Gate opened again. Through her, I could sometimes hear your voices...and that reassured me.

...I do not understand how it happened, but I know that I am one of her genetic templates.

Perhaps... I was communicating with part of myself, through the boundary of dimensions.

-

3. - (Both)

[Some time later, Seta and Lenore are on one of the docks by Sakihama City, looking out at the ocean.

There's no conversation at first. It's more like the two are awkwardly standing there together. No one can blame them given the circumstances they met in...for Lenore, it's like finding out your fairy godmother is real, and not just stories told by others.

But Lenore is the one who eventually breaks the silence.]


You know...I've been thinking about something.


Y-yes...?


It's something Astara said to me - to not look at the past anymore. I couldn't do it back then, but now...


You can finally put it aside, is that right?


...Yeah. All I've been doing is fighting ever since I escaped Carina. Fighting for that...it almost made me go against everything I stood for.

That's why...I want to stop for a while. I want to go out there and see... no, remind myself why I'm really doing this- Erk!

[Despite being taller, Lenore suddenly finds the other Kijin's hand resting atop her head.]


I agree. You are a good person, Lenore. But all you have ever known is fighting.

If you truly feel that way...that fighting is what you want to do...then I will not stop you. But you should experience the world first, and then decide.

My teacher would not have agreed with me - yet I feel that this is necessary for all of us.


...But what about them? The Unity Group's fight isn't over yet...I can't just...


Do not worry about the Unity Group. I will stay until their battles are done.

The Kijin Realm is in good hands. I have informed those in charge - my most trusted friends - and they were already prepared. They know how much this means to me.

Moreover, I started our relationship as a species with the Unity Group. So it is only right that I see it through to the end.

[While they speak to each other, neither seem to have noticed you yet. But if you have anything to say about this, now is the best time.]

Comments

2

[herodrawing]

[A familiar red AHSMB lands nearby, its Jaeger armor strained from repeated awakenings in a short period of time.

And its pilot has no idea what to say now.]








That's one heck of an explanation...

[caressedthedarkness]

I-Is it...?

It was the best way I could describe my experience...and I was thinking of it throughout the fight...

[herodrawing]

That's a really Seta-like thing to do... you know. So much has changed while you were gone. And...

And I really thought you were...

[Izuru won't cry again. But he will come up close and give Seta a large hug - almost trying to lift her up, but he abandons the idea before the two of them collapse into a flailing mess.]

I missed you so much.

1

[herodrawing]

Lenore?

[That's right. It was more than just the Gatekeeper. For Lenore, these were...]

...

[holdthefuture]

[Lenore does not turn around.]

...It's done, Izuru.

I didn't think I would see it happen. But here I am.

[herodrawing]

Yeah. You had to go through so much bad stuff and suffering...

But it's done. It's all over now.

2

[rekindletheflame]

Seta...

[She does not know what to say in response, instead she merely pulls her friend in for a hug. Perhaps it was selfish but...]

I thought you really...when I...

[Astara is attempting to keep it together but tears start to stream down from her face.]

[caressedthedarkness]

...You did what had to be done.

[Headpats for Astara.]

I was prepared for it as well...the possibility that I would no longer be able to see anyone I care about.

If I was not destroyed there and then...I might have perished from the injuries I received leading up to that last battle.

But now, I am here again...

1

[rekindletheflame]

So by them...do you mean me?

[holdthefuture]

...You don't mind, do you?

My brothers and sisters...they weren't real Kijin like you. Carina hammered that into us enough.

But, because of what was needed to activate that sword that she used, each of them really believed in what Shahryar stood for. What you stand for now.

2

[pulledplug]

Hey.

[Up comes the Wagner, dragging along a more sizable chunk of the Gatekeeper. Too big for Lenore to have brought herself easily, but not as difficult for the mech.]

You know you don't gotta do this alone.

[holdthefuture]

Roy...

Well...this is something I felt I should do on my own. But, thank you.

Not just for this...but for everything else too.

2

[majestic_keiki]

A year passed here. I don't know how much did it in the Kijin world, it sounds like a lot more...But it's good to have you back. We all missed you.

[caressedthedarkness]

I missed everyone...and everything here as well.

You should know that while I was there, I even made sure that the Unity Group's tales were heard of.

There is no Kijin on that side who does not know of your names now.

1

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei was waiting a bit away, not interrupting Lenore until she was done before approaching.]

So...It's over.

[holdthefuture]

I actually wasn't sure if I'd make it out alive. Astara wasn't the only one who messed up before. I did too.

And now we're here. It's like a dream.

2

[actuallyselfish]

"So..." Dido asks Seta softly, "is the Kijin Realm at piece under your Iron Rule?"

Re: 2

[caressedthedarkness]

...Iron Rule?

2)

[mistaken_for_monster]

[Well Seta, there was one very dumbfounded and shocked Russian kid looking at you with one rather unfamiliar face next to him. He didn't know what to say after that explanation, but the tears were already building up in his eyes. He tried to speak but his voice was filled with choked sobs and hiccups.]

S.. Seta... y...you..

[Volya's companion on the other hand was a bit more louder and unrestrained as she launched herself at the Kijin in a maneuver that Astara probably would have found familiar during her first reappearance.]



"SEEETAAAAAAAA!"

Ah! T- Teritus you goof-*hic*! D... Don't simply *hic* just...... just....

[And then he just gives up and runs over to hug Seta tightly too.]

1/2

[caressedthedarkness]

Ah... Volya, please do not cry...

[Seta is trying to figure out who the girl is, but she notices her movement...]

Miss, wait...

2/2

[caressedthedarkness]

Oof!

[Unfortunately, it's a bit too late. With Volya joining in after, the Kijin can only do her best to console both the glompers with a hand on each head.]

Please calm down...I am not going anywhere.

And...did you mention Interitus?

2

[brought_it_back]

[Eva is fidgety as she approaches, unsteady. How should she conduct herself? It's like seeing a ghost in the flesh...]

Um...welcome back. You were gone for a long time...

Many things have changed, not all of them good...

[Right, that would be the wrong way to do it. Great job, Eva, she thinks to herself as she clutches a manilla folder to her chest.]

[caressedthedarkness]

Unity Group faced hardships even while I was here. So, I understand that.

...Is that what you are carrying with you? A list?

3

[rekindletheflame]

I guess my jobs are almost done here also then.

[Astara rudely interupts her friend and partial clone, arriving at the dock holding a massive object covered in layers of cloth. The outline of the cloth clearly shows that it is some kind of sword.]

I can't wait get back to my own pace soon enough

[Because she totally wasn't doing that when she was acting as leader for the Kijins.]

Although I'm not sure why you wanted me to retrieve this sword Seta. Shouldn't you have handled it, it wasn't as hard to catch it as you made it out to be...and it was your dad's...

[She waves around the covered blade a few more times, hoping that a prank wasn't played on her.]

[caressedthedarkness]

That's...


The Sword of Shahryar...yes.

As the leader of the Kijin here, I believe you should be the one to wield it, Astara.