We have our title drop

[empress_without_a_throne]

1.

[When the DuskBird returns to Sakihama Base and is dispelled back into Mizuki's shadow, the woman's limping and wincing.  And also in strange, regal apparel.  Black silks with gold embroidery, necklaces, a sash... lots of fancy stuff she didn't go out in.  And Sara's standing there, looking shocked and running to her friend's side.]



Mizuki...!  My god, with what happened out there.  You and Ken and... and everyone!  Don't... scare me like that!  Please!



I'm fine, I'm fine... just got a little taste of what some of my predecessors had to deal with.  And believe me... I'm glad to see a Sara who ISN'T trying to kill me.

[So have a friendly hug... just a noisy one because, again, all that jewelry.]

2.



[Some time later though...]

[Video]

So... I was thinking...

... How do people feel about the word "Savior"?  Like the "Savior Team"... or "SolSavior".

Comments

1

[a_linear_mind]

[Willis descends from Strahlend, the machine once again in almost pristine condition despite the damage it took during the mission.]

That's an interesting outfit to go out to a fight in.

1

[caressthedarkness]

Thank goodness...

[Oh hey look, it's that new person from the mission.]

...I was told that this assignment would be difficult, but I never expected so much to happen at once...

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Oh boy, it's him again. And telling the whole truth about this won't exactly-]



Well... as a matter of fact, it's a byproduct of what happens when Mizuki uses the power of the Abyss Sanction. Drawing her full strength to the surface has this effect on her clothes.

[She gives her friend a pat on the back.]

It looks nice and it means she's always ready for formal occasions, but unfortunately we can't sell off the material. Not honestly, at any rate.



It all changes back to normal after a while. And yes... it's a holdover from what I was meant to be; the mark that I'm the Abyss Empress.

Re: 1

[empress_without_a_throne]

Well, that's the world we live in, for better or for worse. Crazies come and crazies come, and there's always more threats to worry about.

[She offers Seta her hand.]

Welcome aboard. This is Mizuki and I'm Sara. Not the same Sarah that you had to deal with out there, fortunately.

1

[mistaken_for_monster]

Mizuki?

[Volya's going to wander over to you, rubbing his aching arm and biting his lip.]

Thank you!

Thank you...

Re: 2

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya sends a private response via message to Mizuki.]

Well having grown up in a christian home there's always that interpretation to go by but that probably wouldn't be too useful given the way you phrased that question.

I think that "Savior" is a word that has an emergency feel to it. I mean think about how the word "saved" is used in the context of a conflict. If you evacuate or protect the people of an area they aren't directly involved in the battle but if you've "saved" them then there was a very real and immediate threat to their lives that you had to stop.

SolSavior or the "Savior Team" strike me much more like a name or title than a "Savior" in the sense I just mentioned. They protected people and aggressively pursued opponents as they were able to keep battle away from the populace. I don't know if that helps answer your question though because if you were asking that so broadly then I think there was a more specific question at heart you were hoping someone might touch on.

THE PBs MEET! END OF THE WORLD! JORMUNGANDR ACTIVATES!

[empress_without_a_throne]

And you must be Volya. I'm glad to see you're doing okay!



Same here!

[She takes Volya's hand, giving it an affirming squeeze of camaraderie.]

I'm sorry the circumstances aren't the best for you, but hopefully at least now that you're here they'll be able to improve.

[caressthedarkness]

[Cue nervous handshake.]

Seta...Albreich.

I'm fortunate that I did not engage her myself...

[mistaken_for_monster]

[He smiles brightly now. He doesn't have to worry much... he's safe here.]

Yeah...

You really are my Savior aren't you?

[Because everything she said out there... it gave him hope that there was a chance the Knights would figure out they were wrong eventually, and maybe he can go back to his life.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Count yourself lucky.

The Tiankui... it's piloted by a veteran of the older battles, battles from before I was born. Her name's Sarah Daniels; she helped out Solaris a few times... and the fact she's still active doesn't bode well for Volya.

[She winces.]

... Or me, judging by how much of a punch she packs. Age hasn't slowed her down one bit.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Providing solid counterexamples is always a good way of proving someone wrong. And I'm a walking, talking counter to everyone saying you just living'll destroy the world.

And yeah... "Savior" is a really great word, isn't it Sara?



I suppose it is. And come to think of it, I know Walt called Ken that after the incident with that black dome too.

[empress_without_a_throne]

But that's the beauty of the term.

It's a term not directly tied to ideas like fighting or hurting. Solaris has been trying to get by when its enemy, the reason it was formed, has long been destroyed. And Sara, Ken, and myself aren't here to pick fights with any particular enemy, or really any enemies at all.

We came to protect lives. And that can mean fighting, sure. But it doesn't have to. I'm Volya's savior because I've given him faith in himself, something that couldn't have been done just by killing the Knights.

[caressthedarkness]

She was a hero, then. Was she not...? Having to become enemies with someone like that...

[She shakes her head, clearly not wanting to think about it.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Unfortunately, that's life for you. She and her partner had to deal with the Dark Empire, and now that it's a thing of the past that's what she's wound up doing. Not exactly the same as what happened to Solaris but...

... But not far off either.



The difference is Solaris isn't in the business of killing innocent thirteen-year-olds.

[mistaken_for_monster]

...Black dome?

[Volya looks genuinely confused.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Just other stuff we need to worry about. Don't be concerned with it right now; just focus on getting settled in.

[caressthedarkness]

[Seta nods. Still...]

The Tapestry they spoke of...do you know of it?

They called you The Abyss Empress, too...

[empress_without_a_throne]

I know a little of it. Although the Knights had their own enemies they fought, they still had a few battles with the creations of the Great Black Void, an "anti-Sun" that wanted to purge the Earth of all life and replace it with twisted imitations.

I'm the last of its creations, intended to be the leader of its eleventh, stillborn organization known as the Abyss Empire. And that makes me the empress of a whole lot of nothing.

[caressthedarkness]

And...you can still be so open about that...

[There's a feeling of admiration the midst of her shock. You're even DRESSED for the part, after all, Mizuki.]

Don't most people hunt down demonic and dark creatures...?

[empress_without_a_throne]

I grew up around a lot of people who were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. It's usually not something I bring out but SOMEONE-

[Cue death glare at Sarah.]

-Up and made a big stink and said it like first thing when I got here. The people who bring it up most are the ones being silly about it.

2

[tiger_ken]

...Is there a particular reason for it? I mean, it seems... important.

[a_linear_mind]

Here I was thinking that you arrived late to the fight because you were putting on all of that.

[Well at least that trolling route was nipped in the bud.]

I didn't notice it earlier but it looks like they did quite the number on you.

[mistaken_for_monster]

Right... I don't have...well.. anything. So should be easy and-

Ah! Right your umbrella! I.. wanted to give it back but...

[Back at the hangar, Interitus was engaging in a mock swordfight using the aformentioned umbrella - admittedly with a single vine. As to who would entertain the huge and playful creature nobody can say?]

I'm kinda having trouble getting Interitus to give it back. He really likes it.

[caressthedarkness]

I...see...

No one here has tried to harm you because of that...?

2

[keep_your_dignity]

PRETENTIOUS, MOSTLY. AND SETTING YOURSELVES UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT.

[And then there is Kagura with the no-poetry-in-the-soul viewpoint]