Glow of Thousand Wishes [Megathread MPC 3.4]
May 23, 2021 18:34:03 GMT
Post by Mae on May 23, 2021 18:34:03 GMT
"I'm not from around here, no. My daughter and my wife, though, hold family here. So that's mainly why I'm here. For them, even if I feel like a stranger in this place." No matter how much everyone seemed to insist otherwise, the fact remained the same. Mae rarely ever felt welcome anywhere else.
Here was probably not any different, except for right now. The festivities did warm an otherwise cold core the same way her daughters managed to. So, that was probably the one reason she decided to linger with Omen rather than depart immediately. Besides, as far as she was aware, this was a once in a lifetime confluence of fate for many individuals. They would not be found here otherwise.
In a sense, this was probably where the festival even derived it's name from! Light and harmony in unison. "...Sorry for not talking much. I should go find my baby sister--she's probably somewhere around here." Mae dipped her head, before Omen tilted hers. "...Wait, when did I get another aunt?"
There was a lot that had to be answered there, but with that, the two would quickly go off to find another party. Also, this was going to be a bit of a long post, so the author does not really want to melt people's brains too hard with such diatribes as this.
At another part of the festival of a thousand wishes, there was another family coalescing for the first time in a while. There were three humans heading down to the shallows. One with striking blue hair and blue eyes, and accompanied by two Digimon. A...red Tinkermon, with some pretty damn striking purple wings, and a Ranamon that was nearly as tall as she was.
"So, you guys have been at this for how long...?" Toriya Naoko inquired towards the two other humans. Teenagers of around the same age, and similar appearances, but ultimately distinct in their own ways. Naoki had opted to dress formally for this, and brought a suit. Hisato had also opted for...not the same, actually. He was in his usual clothing. It was one way to show how the two approached life.
"You sure that's a good question to ask the amnesiac?" Titania would pipe up. "I mean, he seems to remember a bit now...So it's totally a good question, mom." Nereid would wave that off.
She always was pretty much ready to leap to the defense of Naoko. Or Titania. Or Mizu. Or anyone close to her, really.
"I know Hisato's been at this for only a few months. My own adventure was...a few years ago, right, Xu?" Naoki would explain, rather quickly and in a summarized fashion. Sure, he did remember. "Yep. Back when you and the PZ guys were in school. It...feels so long ago for us, yet it also feels like yesterday."
"Time waits for no one." Filia stated. It could be considered ominous when taken out of context, but with the Lunamon, everyone generally knew she went well, even if she came off as needlessly intimidating sometimes.
She couldn't really help that. "I actually read an article called that once--I think it was about the restoration of Russian monuments that got trashed in the war." Hisato suddenly spoke. There was a period of marked silence from his cousins, before they promptly burst into laughter. "What?"
"That's...That's so specific, dude!" Naoko managed to get that out in fits of laughter, while Naoki was too busy having a giggle over there.
This was all while Xu, Filia, Titania, Nereid, and the otherwise silent group known only as Bad Company, or another name that really can't be repeated here in good taste because this is a classy reply, watched on. Speaking of Bad Company...
"...Hey, Morning Star? Moon-and-Star?" Gyo asked, suddenly. "Hm? What's up?" Xu peered over. "This is your first time here too, right?" The red Veemon inquired, to which Xu shook his head. "No, not exactly. Filia and I have visited in the past--as has Titania."
"Yeah, I did." The Tinkermon scratched the back of her head. "Unfortunately, one of the princesses kept glaring at me and...it kind of put me off. I'm thankful I haven't seen her, though. I know I can trust her not to do anything dumb, but...You can understand where my trepidation comes from, right?"
There was a notable bit of silence from Gyo. Before he nodded. "I think so." He muttered. "...He's still shell shocked about what happened at Golden Week, I think." Caine finally decided to speak up. "...Truth be told, being here does bring me a similar discomfort. It's like neither of us deserve to be allowed to set foot here."
"And yet you stand here right now." Nereid noted. "Despite being manipulated, you still stand here with no maligned intent."
"Because we know the right direction now, Little Mermaid." Scarab nearly hissed that out in irritation. "It doesn't erase what's been done. Nothing short of reincarnation'll do that."
"Woe be unto the guy that tries killing all three of you, then." Filia would note. "You guys are being way too serious during a celebration. There's such a thing as being a moodkiller, and you guys are absolutely killing my vibe."
"Woah, woah, Auntie! Did I just catch you saying modern lingo and using it correctly? I guess my wish came true already." Titania gave a rather shit-eating smirk.
"I for one think this part's what you'd call a vibe check." Nereid noted. "The wishes are the vibes you wish to carry forward. Like how a ship is two people putting their cards on the table and rolling with the punches."
Rolling with the punches...That sort of hit a chord for Gyo. "I think that's what we should do here. Roll with whatever happens from here on out. We're not alone anymore--and...Neither are you, Moon-and-Star."
"Stop fucking calling me that, you filthy simp."
The walk otherwise was rather uneventful aside from three people with three very distinct backgrounds having a nice time making their way there to the shallows. Stories were shared, some about the living and some about the dead, and there was a constant affirmation that even if one strays from the path of what's right?
They still can get back onto that path. Finally, the party of TEN whole souls, three human, seven Digital, would stand at the shallows along with what may well have been countless others. There was silence amongst them for once in a while.
"So...How do we do this?" Hisato found himself being the one to break the veil, however, seeming pensive on how to proceed. An expression that was shared by Naoko and Naoki alike. The bluenette shrugged.
"There's people stating their wishes. I don't know if that's part of the proper procedure, though. Especially when this is...the first time the festival's been held, to my knowledge."
"My beloved branch is correct--In this being the first running of the Lux Harmonia, there is no precedent. Whatever we do becomes procedure." Titania folded her arms, a crystal floating besides her. "...Well said, daughter. If not a little arrogant." Xu sighed. "Hey, Koko, where's that Ryuko girl at?"
"She'll catch up--She said something about wanting to grab some munchies." Naoko tried to recall where Otohime'd be...But, she always did manage to find her way here. "I think I'd wanna wait for mom before we set our wishes down." Nereid said, holding her crystal close.
"Completely understandable." Caine nodded. "Doing something akin to letting the lanterns float away is something best partaken with family and loved ones. Of which I have none. Scarab and Gyo can...probably say the same."
Silence descended on the group, before...
"Caine, that's fucking depressing, man." Hisato found himself saying that. "What am I, chopped liver? You guys seriously can't be clinging onto the 'I have no friends or loved ones' bit forever when you have friends that care about you right here in this city. I mean, come on, Skadi's probably in the crowd cheering everybody on. Eris is probably proud of you especially, Caine, and most of all, Ebi believes in you, Scarab.
And Gyo, the fact you decided to join up with us is a huge step for you from what I know. I'm genuinely glad to have you with us. And I'm sure Xu and Filia are both glad to meet someone who knows of and respects them so much."
Singlehandedly one of the more heartfelt things that Hisato had said on the entire walk. And it was unprecedented enough that Naoki didn't have anything to add onto it. And neither did Naoko.
Well, Naoko didn't. Naoki, though? "And you said you thought you being Chosen was a poor choice on this world's part. Part of what makes a Chosen is the bond they share with the people around them."
"And you have that." Filia said. "You have it in spades. I don't know why you humans wallow in problems that are so inane...Yet, I suppose I will never understand that about humanity. The one thing we can do there is help the best we can."
The time had come to cast the wishes out, however. And in due time, everyone would cast forth their wishes, one after another.
For the fairy queen, her wish was a bit selfish but still...rather selfless.
Good health for her, and good health for all under her rule.
For the one of the Morning Star, his wish was similar to that of his daughter.
I wish that no further harm comes to either of the humans I had the joy of spending time with today.
Moon-and-Star's wish was quite similar.
I demand that these humans be spared from further harm--and I wish for the power to end those who would defile this demand.
The one you may call the Royal Shipper had a genuinely selfless, if not a bit memey wish.
Those who find love in this festival, I sincerely wish that your time together be everlasting, and worthwhile.
The azure bug with a will of steel, and an eye for coin had a wish of his own to make.
His wish was that he wouldn't let down those who had faith in him. That he wouldn't disappoint them.
The red dragon put forth one, too.
His wish was that his friends would be safe--both old, and any new ones he'd make.
Finally, the seer almost didn't want to make a wish. He did not feel as though he had done enough to earn one.
Yet, he did so anyways.
His wish was clear. Precise. His wish was that his allies would hold the clarity needed to uphold justice.
For the one who thought her journey over?
Her wish was that she'd stop losing things close to her. A simple one, if not borne of uneased regrets.
For the one who's journey began anew?
His wish was for the resolve to find the truth of what happened, all those years ago. To him and his sister.
For the one who's journey was in progress?
He wished for the resolve to grow from his mistakes. To learn from those around him.
In the meantime, well, not so much meantime as at the same time as all of this, there was a confluence the likes of which were too catastrophic to properly predict. For near the shallows themselves were seven individuals gathered. One was impossibly cool, impossibly based, impossibly dashing! The other was a green Gigimon, boohoo. Another was one of the Royal Family, taking a moment to relax before the big wishcasting ceremony, and another was the family member's sister.
Another was a tamer who styled herself after a knight-errant. And another was a red-haired woman wearing her uniform.
And finally?
The student council president of Shibuya High, in all of her regal, awe-sucking, and extremely fucking boring glory, in her true form no less!
"You see, villains, my wish will surpass that of everyone here, for it is a wish that nobody would dare to make!" Please, do not ask why Java isn't speaking in all caps today. She learned how to moderate her voice a long time ago. Of course, the Gigimon had to open her mouth at this.
"Burning down the Hardware Den isn't special. You're just a tryhard like most of the other bitches that came here."
"GIHAI!" The knight-errant--Aya, would exclaim! "You can't just call the entire festival bitches!"
"WHO'S GONNA STOP ME, HUH? NOT YOU, YOU USELES-" Before Gihai could finish this utterance, a lapine hand would pick her up by the scarf, the Gigimon wriggling helplessly. "Me." Coolmon said, with a dopey, self-assured smirk.
"Aha! My based protector has struck again! I, Junko Ito- I mean, Java, greatest of all Jazamon, am elated that I have once again been spared the poisonous slap of a slopebrained Gigimon!"
A Dorumon dressed in ceremonial robes, similarly to the Ryudamon next to her, stared on in actually unamused fashion. "...Does she know what half of those words even mean, Bu?" Bu, of course, was half-paying attention and half absentmindedly texting someone over Tamernet. "Huh?" She stared on over towards Coolmon keeping Gihai away from the laughing Jazamon. With Aya helplessly trying to mediate between them.
"Oh, definitely not. She kinda reminds me of one of those edgelords who think wearing out a thesaurus is cool."
"Junko isn't even a good name..." Fuu mused, before a light bonk on the head was applied from a paper fan. "When did you two become high schoolers?" Yui would huff. "Quit making fun of our guests--and...whoever the Jazamon is. I'm not sure where her partner is, if she has one, but mark my words...I'm going to throttle them if they do exist."
"Careful, don't get kicked out." Fuu noted. It was notable that the main reason Gihai had not been ported out by MEMORIA by now was because she legitimately had no malicious intent. It was just that backtalk was the only way she knew how to communicate. Java also did not seem aware of the ruling AI of the place. Eventually, Aya just gave up with the two, walking back over to Yui and the gals. "...I don't know how Coolmon manages to not lose patience with that Gigimon." She confessed. "Nor Leo. She drives me up the wall..."
"Where did you even find her, anyways? It's not like Coolmon to just take on a squire so suddenly." Bu had finally been roused from her texting, while Fuu had taken up the chore of half paying attention, and half texting. Erika'd probably want her to make her wish count. They were pretty important in the context of the Digital World. "Well, we found her in the forest digging through actual trash. I don't know what would bring someone to do it but Coolmon went, I kid you not, 'YOU GOT GUSTO, KID, COME WITH ME AND BE COOL.'"
There was silence from the trio.
"...Just. Just like that?" Bu asked. "Maeda, you are a PISS POOR storyteller, oh my sweet Homeostasis. There's no punchline or anything!" Fuu complained!
Meanwhile, with the Digimon, Gihai was still struggling for the sweet release of freedom! "Lemme go, c'mon! I can't even hit her or anything, why do you have such a fucking ever-present need to grab me like that in front of SO MANY PEOPLE? What's wrong with yooooou?!"
"Well, for one, you're kind of being a jerk! You don't just call Aya useless like that when she's genuinely trying her best for both of us. Also, even if birdbrain's also being a jerk, it doesn't mean you can be a jerk back. Being a knight's all about diligence and self-control. As tempting as it is to call people some of the things I've heard you call them, you need to learn how to curb that if you want to put forth a respectable image. Also, it makes people think you're way cuter, and that always helps when talking to people." Coolmon unloaded an entire paragraph like Scarab shitting up a plot thread, before nodding sagely.
"Valid." Java nodded. "You are not really a Gigimon. You are simply an asshole. And that is sad. The line of Dukemon holds no sanctity nowadays."
"Dukemon?"
"One of the vaunted Royal Knights of Yggdrasil, and a protector of the world told about in legend. It is said that all Guilmon come from him." "Even the gree-" Gihai began, only to be cut off by Java. "All of them. Java is not to be interrupted, slopebrain."
"...I don't even know what a slopebrain is..." Gihai muttered as Coolmon slowly put her down. "It's okay, you're not a slopebrain. Bu's right over there."
At that point, the Ryudamon looked up. "You sure you wanna say that when my dad's on stage, bitch?"
"I mean, am I wrong? Is Coolmon ever wrong?" Coolmon gave a smug, Filia-esque smirk towards Bu, who just levelled a harsh stare her way. "Your mom's disappointed, I can tell you that much."
Simple a retort as that was? It was enough to give Coolmon pause for a moment, much to the amusement of Aya and Yui. Perhaps it was the fact that someone could actually shake Coolmon up that much. Gihai huffed. "Don't do that! You're stooping to Java's level! You're supposed to be a princess and stuff, right?"
"Yeah?" Bu blinked. "So act like one! Besides, when do we do that whole wishing thing? I've been waiting here for so long!" Gihai huffed, and huffed some more. The Gigimon was getting understandably impatient. "If I may offer input. I believe the king, that being the father of the Dorumon and Ryudamon twins--and not Fuu herself, because I said King, not Queen, is supposed to signal when to put down your wishes." Java cut in with the grace of a boulder.
"So is the time spent waiting supposed to be to decide the wishes?" Gihai posited, while Coolmon looked out and noticed someone falling into the water. She quietly uttered, 'oof.' Before turning her attention to Gihai once more. "Yeah. Wishes are pretty important where I come from--So you should think carefully. The best ones are the ones that affect the people around it in a positive way."
Coolmon then glanced to the crystal next to Gihai. She recall she had a tough time dragging it here from the hotel...And she was pretty sure Gihai was old enough now. "...You can hold Rookie form permanently, now, I think. So, if you were saving evolving for something dramatic...Don't."
"Why?" Gihai asked.
"Because I'd rather my squire be safe when she hits that form rather than in danger."
"You call her a squire, yet you treat her as a daughter. Why do you do this, based rabbit?" Java would inquire next. Something about this made no sense to the Jazamon, and one of her self-imposed directives was to understand the nonsensical on an intrinsic level. "She is not family by blood from what I can see. So. Why bother?"
"Well, one, I never asked for any opinions. Two, I am a very unorthodox teacher. Three, Aya and Leo practically adopted her so it's more my niece. Four, it gets the point across easier."
"I see. I see." Java seemed satisfied at this answer. "I realize that I may no longer be a robot. I am also a bit of an ass. But I do hold reasoning for saying most of what I say. I also realize I may have bruised your squire's ego. If she even has one in that slo-"
"Can you FUCKING STOP?" Gihai cut in.
"No, Java does not stop. I am burdened with the purpose of knowing and evolving, yet I require pieces to. Components in the form of other Digimon. It is a strange conundrum that has given me purpose, yet I dread it being taken away. Yet, I also dread it as an experience."
At that rate, Yui and Aya had stopped the idle off-screen conversation they were having, as Fuu and Bu peered Java's way. "...Java, that...might be something that requires therapy." Fuu noted. "Or something psychological. Is...this new?"
"No. It has always been. Ever since I first became aware I was me. All Machine Digimon are likely feeling something similar, if they can even feel. We are otherwise wretched automata in the cog of capitalism."
"Is that why you want to burn it down?"
"Yes. ...I am done now, though. Perhaps I should leave." Java mused. Coolmon shook her head. "Too extreme. Also, you might have overshared a bit. I barely even know you." Yet, at the same time...
"You can't help that, can't you?" Bu noted. "Yeah, that's what I was gonna say!" Gihai chirped! "You don't know how people work cause you're a robot. But that's fine! I'm just a lizard."
This impromptu gathering had gotten a little bit existential, even if it was insightful for a lot of the people here. But, it was at the very least a decent way to pass the time, if not really hazardous for Gihai's ego given she got called a slopebrain at least 4 times. But, regardless, the time for the King's appearance was drawing close.
Gihai would focus, enveloping herself in a verdant light as she would digivolve to Guilmon for the first time without much trouble. Well, not much trouble that Yui and co. could see. Or Java, for that matter. For Aya and Coolmon, though, seeing Gihai be so calm about this rather than desperate to try reaching the next level was much more a source of pride than anything.
They had given her countless words on this. And they were all finally processed properly as a green Guilmon stood before the group. "I...Um. I look silly, don't I?" Gihai stammered, scratching the back of her neck with a claw. Fuu shook her head. "No. You look like Gihai."
Look like...Gihai.
"I look like Gihai..." She murmured. "Of course I look like me." Gihai affirmed. There was a genuinely strange sense of companionship being formed here, and while it was, again, really damn weird, it was also something that the Guilmon found she could appreciate. So, the time to cast forth the wishes had finally come. With the power of actual limbs, Gihai was able to lift her crystal quite easily.
In fact, practically everyone could. Even Java could do this, and Java was a stupid goddamn bird.
"So. For reference. This is just setting the crystals into the shallows, yes?" Java inquired, just as they stood on that precipice. "Correct. Just set them down with your wish." Fuu nodded. It was fairly easy to do, and she did figure she had to explain this to someone once or twice.
And thus, they set their wishes off.
For the Knight-Errant?
A wish to be the bulwark that the world needs.
For the coolest rabbit around?
A wish for her squire to be safe.
For the toxic squire?
A wish for her moms to be okay.
For the KIZNA admin?
...A wish for her grandfather's health. A wish for everyone around her's health in general.
For the sister of the admin?
A quiet hope that nothing here would fall apart. That Ys would forever stand.
And for the woman who had been roped along?
...
Stability.
The definition of goodwill is something that could easily be searched up on the internet and copy and pasted with no real rhyme or reason to it. For the Amayas, Akemi and Shizu, goodwill was being given mandatory time off to go enjoy the festival at Ys and also cement political ties.
It was not as though that was a very tall order or anything. It really was not--it was something that was simple for them when one considered both Amayas held a silver tongue when it came to people, even if neither wished to admit that or anything to do with the charisma they seemed to hold.
So, that's namely what Akemi and Shizu had spent the past week or two in the Digital World doing--loitering around, helping out where they can and taking part in the festivities! In the name of Deeplane!
Oh, yeah, Anzu and Priere were there, too. But they just came because they wanted to come, not because they were actually needed. The more horrifying fact was that MEMORIA had let someone like Anzu into the city.
No. Really.
They let Anzu into the city, and that was a problem to Shizu. But not her problem, really. They had been aiming to kill some time before a particular ceremony that was in an hour or two, so the sisters had been wandering the city with the partner and the mercenaries. When they had run into some familiar faces! Well, familiar to Akemi.
A tall woman with orange hair that Akemi had the dubious pleasure of being made to hang out with sometimes that otherwise considered her a friend, and...one of her classmates. A girl with green hair, a sour look on her face, and a bow at her side most of the time. Not this time though. "Amaya, fancy seeing you here!" Mao Kita ran over without much care in the world. Well, as much care as seeing a friend would warrant, while the sourfaced lady calmly walked over.
"It's...nice to see you too, Mao." Akemi had evidently not expected to speak to anyone right now, but Anzu quickly piped up. "Oh, hey, it's this lady! You're...uh. I think I've seen you around before, you're...uh. Uhm. Who the FUCK ARE YOU? You're that really mean-looking girl that Akemi's always terrified of."
Obviously, Anzu was not talking about Mao. The bean was talking more about the green-haired girl. "...I really don't see what's so scary about me. Or why I should care what a guinea pig says. Anyways, for the critters, my name's Mari. I'm one of Akemi's classmates. I...didn't know you two were also involved in all of whatever the hell this is."
Mari would wave her hand at the surrounding cityscape that was Ys. It was indeed pretty otherworldly. "Well, if you're anything like us, I don't think either of us expected to run into people we knew here. Both here and in general." Shizu nodnodded. "And certainly not the things that've happened to us."
"Yet you guys turned out for the better, right? You still have ways to go with that spirit. And Akemi and Katherine still have a ton of work to do, right?" Anzu piped up once more with more inquiries.
"Wait, Katherine?" "Yeah, Katherine Jasso--she's like, Akemi's best friend." Anzu nodded sagely towards Mari. Who let out a 'hm.' "...That's my cousin. Uh. Small world?"
"THAT COW HAS A COUSIN?" Shizu exclaimed! "Hey, you don't gotta go around calling people COWS, Shizzy!" Monika barked! There was a moment just then and there where Mari would level a bit of a death glare, green eyes flashing an eerie yellow as her spirit sort of made itself known in the form of a venomous stare.
"Oho! That's one way for a spirit to manifest themselves." Mao suddenly piped up, having been a bit quiet for the moment. She had been texting a friend for the most part. "So, three spirit wielders and a tamer walk into a festival. ...I'm fairly certain there's more eccentric pairs out, but I feel like we should at least stick together for the most part. Getting lost in a crowd is pretty terrible and I am of the belief that there may well be one at the thing we want to get to."
Indeed it would. But for the sake of saving time because this part of this post is actually kind of straining to write for the author, we'll just do everybody here, including them a favor by skipping right to the shallows, at least one hour later.
There was a lot to learn about this impromptu gathering that many did not really know about the other. Well, Akemi knew of Shizu's struggles, but that was about it. She certainly would not have expected Mao to hold two spirits who each urged her on the same quest regarding the Digital Breeder.
Or spirits who were so vitriolically homicidal towards monkeys.
Or any missions that had to do with monkeys.
Seriously, screw monkeys. They don't even have thumbs, no.
The struggles that Shizu and Mari held in comparison were rather minuscule compared to Mao's. Even if the taller girl insisted that they still held weight. Shizu wanted to find all the pieces to the Spirit she had so she could know what happened to them--what made them refuse to pass on.
Mari on the other hand wanted to find the tools to allow her spirit to reincarnate properly and be herself again. In short, this was basically a spirit wielder seminar for Akemi, and she was not sure how she felt about that at all outside of 'well, there is a lot more variance in Chosen than she had first thought.'
Regardless, it was a stark reminder that everyone here held their own struggles. A reminder not to be deaf to those and place your own above them.
So, when the time came for the wish casting, Akemi knew what to put.
For the one who wielded Wrath like a hot knife through butter against the Dark Army?
She wished for the ability to put an end to the strife of others.
For the one who cast Wrath aside for the sake of the fondness held towards a Wind Warrior?
She wished for the Wind Warrior's happiness. Above her own.
For the one called Empress?
She wanted the lazy days to continue. Nobody could really blame Priere for that, right?
For the one who was tied to one rooted in poison?
...
She just wanted freedom.
For the one who's seat was that of Eden?
She just wanted truth.
For the Heritor of the God Hand?
She wanted strength.
And for the one who bore magnificence as a mantle?
...
She wished for the final pieces of a puzzle.
Back with the gathering of newfound family, Omen found herself a bit overwhelmed with all of the back and forth going on, so as Mae was speaking to Mantis and Miyako, and also admonishing Robin for being a filthy goddamn simp?
She disengaged. Omen did not hold anything against them, but the conversation was a bit too much for poor her. "Excuse me..." She said intermittently as she wove through the crowd to try finding a relatively isolated spot on the shallows.
Unbeknownst to her, though, Nanashi had the same idea, the Hawkmon smoothly disengaging from Mae and co. to also duck and weave through the crowd. The two found faces both familiar and unfamiliar within the crowd.
Three cousins and their Digimon telling stories--fables with lessons to be learned behind them.
Two people who worked for the good of the city and their partners, enjoying a simple time at the festival.
Two sisters and some friends they ran into along the way.
There were so many more, too. So many stories to tell and be told, yet there was so little time. Of course, both Nanashi and Omen's eyes fell upon a rather weird pair. There was a bronze-furred Renamon who was sitting alone, with a Terriermon lounging around near them. Both had not cast their crystals into the shallows yet, and both had not yet made a wish.
That was rather strange to see, and stranger yet that they seemed to be completely silent towards each other. As if they did not recognize they were there. Nanashi was never the kind of person to approach first. Not without immense amounts of preparation. But, Omen had been hanging out around a certain pink haired girl too much.
She approached with little to no hesitation. "Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting anything--I just wanted to find a less crowded spot to sit at for a bit." The Renamon would look up. "O-Oh! The spot's not taken, no. Feel free to sit, miss...Wispmon?"
"Wispmon, yes! ...Do you know what they are?"
"Yes, I...actually do. I know of the legends and all. It's...well, it's a fun folk tale when you disregard the fact that individual Digimon are all different." The Renamon mused. "Your cloak's blue, though."
"Yeah. It's as formal as I can get for one of these things." Omen nodded, moving over to sit herself down. The Terriermon finally stirred with a yawn. "Well, you look weird in a city of blue while wearing red, too...So of course it's formal." The Terriermon mused, looking at the two.
"Oh, I didn't know people sat here. Sorry." The Terriermon yawned once more. "I took a nap here and suddenly a festival started. I even got a funny crystal and everything. I wonder...Can I eat it-"
"Do NOT eat it!" Nanashi finally cut in. "It is not edible, and you gain no benefits from it. Trust me, for this lowly I have checked!"
"...Crrriiiinnnngggeeeee..." The Terriermon moaned in seemingly palpable mental anguish. Much like the author at this point in the writing. Disregarding the true slopebrain here, at least for the moment, Omen turned her attention to Nanashi and the Renamon. "Aunt Nanashi--I didn't expect you to follow."
"I have a social battery that needs careful attendance. I love my half-sister. She's great. But sometimes she just can't shut up...It's nuts." The Hawkmon looked to the bronze Renamon, who was staring at them still with a doe-like expression of being caught in the headlights. "Um...uh. I am Seido no Miko. It is a pleasure to meeting you."
"My name's Nanashi. It is an honor to meet you, Miko-sama." Nanashi stated, after a moment. She had assumed from the general getup and vibe that this Renamon was more oriented towards the practices of the miko--as strange as it would be in the Digital World, but her name actually being Miko?
Kinda funny. "And my name's Omen. Nanashi is my aunt. It is a pleasure to meet you two." The Terriermon nodded, sitting up and yawning. She had not decided to give a name at all, so you know what? This Terriermon's going to be called Terriermon until the end of time. The actual end, not the album titled Everywhere at the End of Time.
Either way, there was a bit of silence between the four. "...So. Why haven't you put the crystal down yet?" Omen decided to inquire, as the time before her grandpa collected the wishes and made them come true was getting closer and closer.
And time, time waits for no one.
"Well...Um. I think Miss Terriermon is just really, really profoundly lazy. I-" "I'm too cool. The world doesn't need a wish from me, my wish is just fine. I like naps. I want more naps." Terriermon cut in. Miko cast a rather annoyed look at her 'friend,' if such a term could be applied here most generously.
Before she would continue. "I've been having a lot of...thoughts lately. And I don't think I should put a wish down either. Not when my wish is so selfish." The Renamon nodded, running a hand along her gohei.
Nanashi would shut her eyes, and shake her head promptly. "A wish is inherently selfish, I find. You're asking the cosmos to fulfill something that is otherwise impossible to do in your daily life. Isn't that selfish in and of itself?"
"...When you put it like that, Nanashi-san..." Miko mused, before Omen would retort. "Maybe! But the cosmos are probably fine with a wish if they're letting you make it in the first place!"
"Then isn't it better to not make the wish if it's selfish when you don't wanna be selfish?" The Terriermon stated, while Omen and Nanashi had some time to think of that. It really depended on the circumstances behind everything. So many factors existed that were capable of shaping what a wish was, and even with the knowledge it could come true, should it?
"I think I should elaborate a little bit further, if that's okay. We're...We're cool with that, right?" That was how you said, right? Cool? Omen nodded. "I'm fine." Okay. That was the affirmation of one. The silent nod offered by Nanashi was the other.
Because really, the Terriermon did not care. She was just content to stare at the shallows and the crystals. And a part of her thought that these were...genuinely really pretty. And that maybe she should add to the crystals.
Yet, another part of her told her otherwise. That it was better if she didn't.
"I guess my issue is that all of my wishes would be centered around me. I don't necessarily have anyone...close that I'd be able to dedicate a wish towards, since I've got no family here, or there, or anywhere. I'm basically just on my lonesome without any friends. Just people that talk to me on occasion."
"Sounds like you're in denial that you have some friends. How old are you, Miko? Like. What, 15? 17?" The Terriermon yawned. "Seventeen digital world years, yes." And she was just a rookie? Nanashi tilted her head like a parrot would. Like. Damn.
"I'm only a few months old by now, I think. I was lucky enough to grow up fast, but not everyone is the same. Where you would call those friends, I think Miko is wont to refer to them as acquaintances, yes?" Nanashi stated, finally moving to take a seat with the other girls.
"I would assume so." Omen nodded. "It is indeed so." Miko would confirm. "...I feel kind of bad making a wish. Especially since it's the first time this has ever been done. I want to make my mark on history here, however small it could be, but...I can't help but feel selfish doing it."
"Well...Um. Do you have family, Miko?" Omen decided to pose that question. The fox tilted her head, before nodding. "Yes. Two sisters. My family's a sect of miko who worship Ebonwumon. Or Xuanglongmon, as some call him. Really, our lord answers all."
Somehow Miko's act had brightened up just a tad! "Why not make the wish for them, then? I'm sure nobody would admonish that..." Omen would muse. "That's the problem, I don't...I haven't seen them in quite some time, a wish from me would so, so, so out of the blue!"
Preposterous. "How much do you know about this festival, then? Beyond what you know already by being here, Miko-sama?" Nanashi would then inquire, while Omen took a bit of a rest to think on what to tell Miko next.
"Not too much. Just that this was a festival of unity and giving back to the community! I thought it was really sweet so I decided to lend a hand. I also saw some of the photos for that contest! There was this fox and this girl who really looked like they were enjoying themselves in the ones they were in. It kinda made me wish I did more."
...
Omen thought for a moment- Wait, that was her! She never did check to see if she won that contest with Nanami, did she?
That was something for later. For the winding down period, more than likely. There were for once more important things to focus on. Like these two. The tree deserved all the wishes that it could get, and two more would be great, even if they were lost in a sea of other wishes.
"So what's...stopping you then? You have two arms. You have two legs. You can easily do as much as you want to do. And I assume you already did a lot, I mean, you definitely look like somebody I've seen around, Miss Miko!" Omen chirped. Indeed, Miko did look at least a little familiar to the Wispmon.
In fact...
Yeah.
She had seen this Renamon about diligently helping people out, time and time again. Be it with directions, partaking in the activities...She had even lifted the Terriermon off from the middle of a road once so she had a nicer place to sleep.
"I'd dare say someone who has gone out of her way time and time again to help others deserves to treat themselves every once in a while. As a princess of Ys, such is my decree. And you can bet that everyone else in the royal family would agree, too.”
So, there were a couple of things wrong with that sentence right there. Namely, Omen revealing she was of the royal family. Something that neither Miko nor the Terriermon knew, but Nanashi did. Probably because Nanashi had, in fact, been in a conversation that had been occurring around Omen for the past hourish.
“...Wait! You’re a princess? I am so sorry, Omen-sama! I...genuinely did not know of any sort of royal bloodline.” Miko quickly exclaimed and attempted to apologize, where there was, in fact, no apology needed at all. Omen shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I don’t like throwing me being a princess in people’s faces. It’s...I don’t know. It’s like flexing one’s good fortunes over the less fortunate. It’s a gesture that’s ultimately meaningless outside of self-satisfaction and going ‘Look at me, I’m a princess!’ ...Such things...They disgust me to a degree. And I prefer judging based off actions. And I like being judged based on my actions. Does...that make sense? ...And no, you don’t have to call me sama. Please.”
Omen felt like she had enough in her to at least try making a distinction that despite being royalty, there was naught she despised more than...you know. Being put on a pedestal for it. It was downright infuriating because she didn’t do anything to earn that.
Thankfully, Miko seemed to get it. She nodded her head a few times. “I see. Despite the lack of honorifics, though, you are still someone that commands some sort of respect in my eyes. By virtue of being nice. Unlike the Terriermon.”
“Cry harder, furry.” The Terriermon yawned. “So, riddle me this. Even if we do make a wish. Then what do we make it for? Us? Family? People?”
“Yes, actually. And for whoever you want.” Nanashi confirmed. “There still is time before the crystals are gathered and cast up unto the tree. So...If you wish to partake? Now is the time. And who knows when we’ll have another Lux Harmony? ...I mean, there’s always the karaoke bars but...it’s a very different vibe.”
“You’re getting off track.” Omen commented. “Yeah, so?” Nanashi snorted. Either way, the Renamon would finally stand up, gohei in one hand. Crystal in the other, as if it were akin to a lantern. The Terriermon had been content to keep lying there, but Miko would jab her with the gohei as if it were a stick. “Up. We’re doing this.” She directed.
“5 more mi-”
“I said up. Do not make me repeat it again, or I’m throwing you in the shallows.”
“...BASED.”
This was Omen speaking in Miyako’s voice. It was kind of amazing she could just muster that up in the exact inflection that the albino girl used every time she had said the word. Either way, not wishing a watery not grave, the Terriermon stood up and picked up her crystal. Both would proceed over to the shore, and lay their crystals down, stating a final two wishes to conclude this series of…
Well, stories? You could call them stories. The author prefers you call them vignettes. That sounds nicer, wouldn’t you say? They aren’t really the only ones to pay attention to, though. Many others hold their own paths in this festival, and especially within this thread. Paths that entwine and branch out all at once.
For the Miko of Ebonwumon, her wish was very, very simple.
I wish that my sisters, wherever they may be right now, are safe and sound--and that the Sovereign watch over them and everyone else here.
For the Terriermon? She had one after all.
…
I wish that everyone else’s wishes come true.
Here was probably not any different, except for right now. The festivities did warm an otherwise cold core the same way her daughters managed to. So, that was probably the one reason she decided to linger with Omen rather than depart immediately. Besides, as far as she was aware, this was a once in a lifetime confluence of fate for many individuals. They would not be found here otherwise.
In a sense, this was probably where the festival even derived it's name from! Light and harmony in unison. "...Sorry for not talking much. I should go find my baby sister--she's probably somewhere around here." Mae dipped her head, before Omen tilted hers. "...Wait, when did I get another aunt?"
There was a lot that had to be answered there, but with that, the two would quickly go off to find another party. Also, this was going to be a bit of a long post, so the author does not really want to melt people's brains too hard with such diatribes as this.
"I would greatly appreciate it if you got to the point already, you imbecile of an old cretin. Lowly me would like to make the wish already."
"Oh. Okay. Don't fuck up with the wish then."
"Was that so hard? Are all of you this predisposed to talking out of your-"
"Nanashi-san, Mantis, language."
"...You know, I kind of slightly regret coming here--the family dynamic is hilarious, sure! But I also don't know what to tell you people half the time. Plus I don't see Ms. Idol anywhere, she seemed nice."
Not too far from where the veiled Ophanim had been at, a rather youthful Hawkmon with a blade at her side, a disgruntled expression on her face where she could get away with, along with a Kotemon, a Patamon, and the Kotemon's tamer--an eerily pale-skinned girl wearing a fancy robe had not bothered to make their wishes yet. Namely because Mantis--the Kotemon--had to explain in extremely obtuse terms the significance of such a wish.
It was enough to irritate the normally mild-mannered Nanashi. And make Miyako have to actually step in as a voice of reason. Why would anyone want to force an eleven year old to do that? Come on. "All this bickering's cost us valuable time, you know. We could've made our wishes and gone to get some food by now!" Robin piped up, the Patamon huffing in an extremely impatient manner.
"Listen here. You little shit. I am not going to skimp out on explaining the intricacies of a festival to people close to me in blood. Go simp on your own time, you rat." Mantis hissed. It was as if he was going to continue this rant until he was cut off abruptly by someone yelling "OH SHIT, A RAT!"
A ghostly creature wearing a blue hood ran up to the group, followed by a robed Meicrackmon. Who gave Omen a slight nudge. "Language." She quietly reminded. Regardless, Mantis was able to recognize who these people were practically immediately--his daughter from a previous life, and her own daughter. "Fatebreaker-hime! Mide-hime!" Nanashi exclaimed. "It is a joy to finally get to meet you in a sapient form and not over the dreadful social media that we are constrained to at times!"
This was met by a quick pat on the head. "Likewise--Though you coming into the picture was...unprecedented, to say the least. But not unwelcome. Did you put your wishes down ye-" Mae cut herself off. The group was still holding all their crystals. "...Put them down. Now. Hikaru hasn't collected them yet."
Feeling that there had been enough time wasted, the quartet would put their wishes down.
For the one who held no name, her wish was rather simple.
She wished to grow beyond her limits. To help the helpless. For a nascent soul such as hers, it was a rather profound wish.
For the one who was burdened by the world refusing to allow him to rest, his own wish was a no brainer.
He wished for the strength to see what he assumed was the final task allotted to him by the world through.
For the seraphim to be?
He just wanted his friends to be happy.
And for Isa Miyako?
....
She just wanted a nice adventure in another world.
"Oh. Okay. Don't fuck up with the wish then."
"Was that so hard? Are all of you this predisposed to talking out of your-"
"Nanashi-san, Mantis, language."
"...You know, I kind of slightly regret coming here--the family dynamic is hilarious, sure! But I also don't know what to tell you people half the time. Plus I don't see Ms. Idol anywhere, she seemed nice."
Not too far from where the veiled Ophanim had been at, a rather youthful Hawkmon with a blade at her side, a disgruntled expression on her face where she could get away with, along with a Kotemon, a Patamon, and the Kotemon's tamer--an eerily pale-skinned girl wearing a fancy robe had not bothered to make their wishes yet. Namely because Mantis--the Kotemon--had to explain in extremely obtuse terms the significance of such a wish.
It was enough to irritate the normally mild-mannered Nanashi. And make Miyako have to actually step in as a voice of reason. Why would anyone want to force an eleven year old to do that? Come on. "All this bickering's cost us valuable time, you know. We could've made our wishes and gone to get some food by now!" Robin piped up, the Patamon huffing in an extremely impatient manner.
"Listen here. You little shit. I am not going to skimp out on explaining the intricacies of a festival to people close to me in blood. Go simp on your own time, you rat." Mantis hissed. It was as if he was going to continue this rant until he was cut off abruptly by someone yelling "OH SHIT, A RAT!"
A ghostly creature wearing a blue hood ran up to the group, followed by a robed Meicrackmon. Who gave Omen a slight nudge. "Language." She quietly reminded. Regardless, Mantis was able to recognize who these people were practically immediately--his daughter from a previous life, and her own daughter. "Fatebreaker-hime! Mide-hime!" Nanashi exclaimed. "It is a joy to finally get to meet you in a sapient form and not over the dreadful social media that we are constrained to at times!"
This was met by a quick pat on the head. "Likewise--Though you coming into the picture was...unprecedented, to say the least. But not unwelcome. Did you put your wishes down ye-" Mae cut herself off. The group was still holding all their crystals. "...Put them down. Now. Hikaru hasn't collected them yet."
Feeling that there had been enough time wasted, the quartet would put their wishes down.
For the one who held no name, her wish was rather simple.
She wished to grow beyond her limits. To help the helpless. For a nascent soul such as hers, it was a rather profound wish.
For the one who was burdened by the world refusing to allow him to rest, his own wish was a no brainer.
He wished for the strength to see what he assumed was the final task allotted to him by the world through.
For the seraphim to be?
He just wanted his friends to be happy.
And for Isa Miyako?
....
She just wanted a nice adventure in another world.
At another part of the festival of a thousand wishes, there was another family coalescing for the first time in a while. There were three humans heading down to the shallows. One with striking blue hair and blue eyes, and accompanied by two Digimon. A...red Tinkermon, with some pretty damn striking purple wings, and a Ranamon that was nearly as tall as she was.
"So, you guys have been at this for how long...?" Toriya Naoko inquired towards the two other humans. Teenagers of around the same age, and similar appearances, but ultimately distinct in their own ways. Naoki had opted to dress formally for this, and brought a suit. Hisato had also opted for...not the same, actually. He was in his usual clothing. It was one way to show how the two approached life.
"You sure that's a good question to ask the amnesiac?" Titania would pipe up. "I mean, he seems to remember a bit now...So it's totally a good question, mom." Nereid would wave that off.
She always was pretty much ready to leap to the defense of Naoko. Or Titania. Or Mizu. Or anyone close to her, really.
"I know Hisato's been at this for only a few months. My own adventure was...a few years ago, right, Xu?" Naoki would explain, rather quickly and in a summarized fashion. Sure, he did remember. "Yep. Back when you and the PZ guys were in school. It...feels so long ago for us, yet it also feels like yesterday."
"Time waits for no one." Filia stated. It could be considered ominous when taken out of context, but with the Lunamon, everyone generally knew she went well, even if she came off as needlessly intimidating sometimes.
She couldn't really help that. "I actually read an article called that once--I think it was about the restoration of Russian monuments that got trashed in the war." Hisato suddenly spoke. There was a period of marked silence from his cousins, before they promptly burst into laughter. "What?"
"That's...That's so specific, dude!" Naoko managed to get that out in fits of laughter, while Naoki was too busy having a giggle over there.
This was all while Xu, Filia, Titania, Nereid, and the otherwise silent group known only as Bad Company, or another name that really can't be repeated here in good taste because this is a classy reply, watched on. Speaking of Bad Company...
"...Hey, Morning Star? Moon-and-Star?" Gyo asked, suddenly. "Hm? What's up?" Xu peered over. "This is your first time here too, right?" The red Veemon inquired, to which Xu shook his head. "No, not exactly. Filia and I have visited in the past--as has Titania."
"Yeah, I did." The Tinkermon scratched the back of her head. "Unfortunately, one of the princesses kept glaring at me and...it kind of put me off. I'm thankful I haven't seen her, though. I know I can trust her not to do anything dumb, but...You can understand where my trepidation comes from, right?"
There was a notable bit of silence from Gyo. Before he nodded. "I think so." He muttered. "...He's still shell shocked about what happened at Golden Week, I think." Caine finally decided to speak up. "...Truth be told, being here does bring me a similar discomfort. It's like neither of us deserve to be allowed to set foot here."
"And yet you stand here right now." Nereid noted. "Despite being manipulated, you still stand here with no maligned intent."
"Because we know the right direction now, Little Mermaid." Scarab nearly hissed that out in irritation. "It doesn't erase what's been done. Nothing short of reincarnation'll do that."
"Woe be unto the guy that tries killing all three of you, then." Filia would note. "You guys are being way too serious during a celebration. There's such a thing as being a moodkiller, and you guys are absolutely killing my vibe."
"Woah, woah, Auntie! Did I just catch you saying modern lingo and using it correctly? I guess my wish came true already." Titania gave a rather shit-eating smirk.
"I for one think this part's what you'd call a vibe check." Nereid noted. "The wishes are the vibes you wish to carry forward. Like how a ship is two people putting their cards on the table and rolling with the punches."
Rolling with the punches...That sort of hit a chord for Gyo. "I think that's what we should do here. Roll with whatever happens from here on out. We're not alone anymore--and...Neither are you, Moon-and-Star."
"Stop fucking calling me that, you filthy simp."
The walk otherwise was rather uneventful aside from three people with three very distinct backgrounds having a nice time making their way there to the shallows. Stories were shared, some about the living and some about the dead, and there was a constant affirmation that even if one strays from the path of what's right?
They still can get back onto that path. Finally, the party of TEN whole souls, three human, seven Digital, would stand at the shallows along with what may well have been countless others. There was silence amongst them for once in a while.
"So...How do we do this?" Hisato found himself being the one to break the veil, however, seeming pensive on how to proceed. An expression that was shared by Naoko and Naoki alike. The bluenette shrugged.
"There's people stating their wishes. I don't know if that's part of the proper procedure, though. Especially when this is...the first time the festival's been held, to my knowledge."
"My beloved branch is correct--In this being the first running of the Lux Harmonia, there is no precedent. Whatever we do becomes procedure." Titania folded her arms, a crystal floating besides her. "...Well said, daughter. If not a little arrogant." Xu sighed. "Hey, Koko, where's that Ryuko girl at?"
"She'll catch up--She said something about wanting to grab some munchies." Naoko tried to recall where Otohime'd be...But, she always did manage to find her way here. "I think I'd wanna wait for mom before we set our wishes down." Nereid said, holding her crystal close.
"Completely understandable." Caine nodded. "Doing something akin to letting the lanterns float away is something best partaken with family and loved ones. Of which I have none. Scarab and Gyo can...probably say the same."
Silence descended on the group, before...
"Caine, that's fucking depressing, man." Hisato found himself saying that. "What am I, chopped liver? You guys seriously can't be clinging onto the 'I have no friends or loved ones' bit forever when you have friends that care about you right here in this city. I mean, come on, Skadi's probably in the crowd cheering everybody on. Eris is probably proud of you especially, Caine, and most of all, Ebi believes in you, Scarab.
And Gyo, the fact you decided to join up with us is a huge step for you from what I know. I'm genuinely glad to have you with us. And I'm sure Xu and Filia are both glad to meet someone who knows of and respects them so much."
Singlehandedly one of the more heartfelt things that Hisato had said on the entire walk. And it was unprecedented enough that Naoki didn't have anything to add onto it. And neither did Naoko.
Well, Naoko didn't. Naoki, though? "And you said you thought you being Chosen was a poor choice on this world's part. Part of what makes a Chosen is the bond they share with the people around them."
"And you have that." Filia said. "You have it in spades. I don't know why you humans wallow in problems that are so inane...Yet, I suppose I will never understand that about humanity. The one thing we can do there is help the best we can."
The time had come to cast the wishes out, however. And in due time, everyone would cast forth their wishes, one after another.
For the fairy queen, her wish was a bit selfish but still...rather selfless.
Good health for her, and good health for all under her rule.
For the one of the Morning Star, his wish was similar to that of his daughter.
I wish that no further harm comes to either of the humans I had the joy of spending time with today.
Moon-and-Star's wish was quite similar.
I demand that these humans be spared from further harm--and I wish for the power to end those who would defile this demand.
The one you may call the Royal Shipper had a genuinely selfless, if not a bit memey wish.
Those who find love in this festival, I sincerely wish that your time together be everlasting, and worthwhile.
The azure bug with a will of steel, and an eye for coin had a wish of his own to make.
His wish was that he wouldn't let down those who had faith in him. That he wouldn't disappoint them.
The red dragon put forth one, too.
His wish was that his friends would be safe--both old, and any new ones he'd make.
Finally, the seer almost didn't want to make a wish. He did not feel as though he had done enough to earn one.
Yet, he did so anyways.
His wish was clear. Precise. His wish was that his allies would hold the clarity needed to uphold justice.
For the one who thought her journey over?
Her wish was that she'd stop losing things close to her. A simple one, if not borne of uneased regrets.
For the one who's journey began anew?
His wish was for the resolve to find the truth of what happened, all those years ago. To him and his sister.
For the one who's journey was in progress?
He wished for the resolve to grow from his mistakes. To learn from those around him.
In the meantime, well, not so much meantime as at the same time as all of this, there was a confluence the likes of which were too catastrophic to properly predict. For near the shallows themselves were seven individuals gathered. One was impossibly cool, impossibly based, impossibly dashing! The other was a green Gigimon, boohoo. Another was one of the Royal Family, taking a moment to relax before the big wishcasting ceremony, and another was the family member's sister.
Another was a tamer who styled herself after a knight-errant. And another was a red-haired woman wearing her uniform.
And finally?
The student council president of Shibuya High, in all of her regal, awe-sucking, and extremely fucking boring glory, in her true form no less!
"You see, villains, my wish will surpass that of everyone here, for it is a wish that nobody would dare to make!" Please, do not ask why Java isn't speaking in all caps today. She learned how to moderate her voice a long time ago. Of course, the Gigimon had to open her mouth at this.
"Burning down the Hardware Den isn't special. You're just a tryhard like most of the other bitches that came here."
"GIHAI!" The knight-errant--Aya, would exclaim! "You can't just call the entire festival bitches!"
"WHO'S GONNA STOP ME, HUH? NOT YOU, YOU USELES-" Before Gihai could finish this utterance, a lapine hand would pick her up by the scarf, the Gigimon wriggling helplessly. "Me." Coolmon said, with a dopey, self-assured smirk.
"Aha! My based protector has struck again! I, Junko Ito- I mean, Java, greatest of all Jazamon, am elated that I have once again been spared the poisonous slap of a slopebrained Gigimon!"
A Dorumon dressed in ceremonial robes, similarly to the Ryudamon next to her, stared on in actually unamused fashion. "...Does she know what half of those words even mean, Bu?" Bu, of course, was half-paying attention and half absentmindedly texting someone over Tamernet. "Huh?" She stared on over towards Coolmon keeping Gihai away from the laughing Jazamon. With Aya helplessly trying to mediate between them.
"Oh, definitely not. She kinda reminds me of one of those edgelords who think wearing out a thesaurus is cool."
"Junko isn't even a good name..." Fuu mused, before a light bonk on the head was applied from a paper fan. "When did you two become high schoolers?" Yui would huff. "Quit making fun of our guests--and...whoever the Jazamon is. I'm not sure where her partner is, if she has one, but mark my words...I'm going to throttle them if they do exist."
"Careful, don't get kicked out." Fuu noted. It was notable that the main reason Gihai had not been ported out by MEMORIA by now was because she legitimately had no malicious intent. It was just that backtalk was the only way she knew how to communicate. Java also did not seem aware of the ruling AI of the place. Eventually, Aya just gave up with the two, walking back over to Yui and the gals. "...I don't know how Coolmon manages to not lose patience with that Gigimon." She confessed. "Nor Leo. She drives me up the wall..."
"Where did you even find her, anyways? It's not like Coolmon to just take on a squire so suddenly." Bu had finally been roused from her texting, while Fuu had taken up the chore of half paying attention, and half texting. Erika'd probably want her to make her wish count. They were pretty important in the context of the Digital World. "Well, we found her in the forest digging through actual trash. I don't know what would bring someone to do it but Coolmon went, I kid you not, 'YOU GOT GUSTO, KID, COME WITH ME AND BE COOL.'"
There was silence from the trio.
"...Just. Just like that?" Bu asked. "Maeda, you are a PISS POOR storyteller, oh my sweet Homeostasis. There's no punchline or anything!" Fuu complained!
Meanwhile, with the Digimon, Gihai was still struggling for the sweet release of freedom! "Lemme go, c'mon! I can't even hit her or anything, why do you have such a fucking ever-present need to grab me like that in front of SO MANY PEOPLE? What's wrong with yooooou?!"
"Well, for one, you're kind of being a jerk! You don't just call Aya useless like that when she's genuinely trying her best for both of us. Also, even if birdbrain's also being a jerk, it doesn't mean you can be a jerk back. Being a knight's all about diligence and self-control. As tempting as it is to call people some of the things I've heard you call them, you need to learn how to curb that if you want to put forth a respectable image. Also, it makes people think you're way cuter, and that always helps when talking to people." Coolmon unloaded an entire paragraph like Scarab shitting up a plot thread, before nodding sagely.
"Valid." Java nodded. "You are not really a Gigimon. You are simply an asshole. And that is sad. The line of Dukemon holds no sanctity nowadays."
"Dukemon?"
"One of the vaunted Royal Knights of Yggdrasil, and a protector of the world told about in legend. It is said that all Guilmon come from him." "Even the gree-" Gihai began, only to be cut off by Java. "All of them. Java is not to be interrupted, slopebrain."
"...I don't even know what a slopebrain is..." Gihai muttered as Coolmon slowly put her down. "It's okay, you're not a slopebrain. Bu's right over there."
At that point, the Ryudamon looked up. "You sure you wanna say that when my dad's on stage, bitch?"
"I mean, am I wrong? Is Coolmon ever wrong?" Coolmon gave a smug, Filia-esque smirk towards Bu, who just levelled a harsh stare her way. "Your mom's disappointed, I can tell you that much."
Simple a retort as that was? It was enough to give Coolmon pause for a moment, much to the amusement of Aya and Yui. Perhaps it was the fact that someone could actually shake Coolmon up that much. Gihai huffed. "Don't do that! You're stooping to Java's level! You're supposed to be a princess and stuff, right?"
"Yeah?" Bu blinked. "So act like one! Besides, when do we do that whole wishing thing? I've been waiting here for so long!" Gihai huffed, and huffed some more. The Gigimon was getting understandably impatient. "If I may offer input. I believe the king, that being the father of the Dorumon and Ryudamon twins--and not Fuu herself, because I said King, not Queen, is supposed to signal when to put down your wishes." Java cut in with the grace of a boulder.
"So is the time spent waiting supposed to be to decide the wishes?" Gihai posited, while Coolmon looked out and noticed someone falling into the water. She quietly uttered, 'oof.' Before turning her attention to Gihai once more. "Yeah. Wishes are pretty important where I come from--So you should think carefully. The best ones are the ones that affect the people around it in a positive way."
Coolmon then glanced to the crystal next to Gihai. She recall she had a tough time dragging it here from the hotel...And she was pretty sure Gihai was old enough now. "...You can hold Rookie form permanently, now, I think. So, if you were saving evolving for something dramatic...Don't."
"Why?" Gihai asked.
"Because I'd rather my squire be safe when she hits that form rather than in danger."
"You call her a squire, yet you treat her as a daughter. Why do you do this, based rabbit?" Java would inquire next. Something about this made no sense to the Jazamon, and one of her self-imposed directives was to understand the nonsensical on an intrinsic level. "She is not family by blood from what I can see. So. Why bother?"
"Well, one, I never asked for any opinions. Two, I am a very unorthodox teacher. Three, Aya and Leo practically adopted her so it's more my niece. Four, it gets the point across easier."
"I see. I see." Java seemed satisfied at this answer. "I realize that I may no longer be a robot. I am also a bit of an ass. But I do hold reasoning for saying most of what I say. I also realize I may have bruised your squire's ego. If she even has one in that slo-"
"Can you FUCKING STOP?" Gihai cut in.
"No, Java does not stop. I am burdened with the purpose of knowing and evolving, yet I require pieces to. Components in the form of other Digimon. It is a strange conundrum that has given me purpose, yet I dread it being taken away. Yet, I also dread it as an experience."
At that rate, Yui and Aya had stopped the idle off-screen conversation they were having, as Fuu and Bu peered Java's way. "...Java, that...might be something that requires therapy." Fuu noted. "Or something psychological. Is...this new?"
"No. It has always been. Ever since I first became aware I was me. All Machine Digimon are likely feeling something similar, if they can even feel. We are otherwise wretched automata in the cog of capitalism."
"Is that why you want to burn it down?"
"Yes. ...I am done now, though. Perhaps I should leave." Java mused. Coolmon shook her head. "Too extreme. Also, you might have overshared a bit. I barely even know you." Yet, at the same time...
"You can't help that, can't you?" Bu noted. "Yeah, that's what I was gonna say!" Gihai chirped! "You don't know how people work cause you're a robot. But that's fine! I'm just a lizard."
This impromptu gathering had gotten a little bit existential, even if it was insightful for a lot of the people here. But, it was at the very least a decent way to pass the time, if not really hazardous for Gihai's ego given she got called a slopebrain at least 4 times. But, regardless, the time for the King's appearance was drawing close.
Gihai would focus, enveloping herself in a verdant light as she would digivolve to Guilmon for the first time without much trouble. Well, not much trouble that Yui and co. could see. Or Java, for that matter. For Aya and Coolmon, though, seeing Gihai be so calm about this rather than desperate to try reaching the next level was much more a source of pride than anything.
They had given her countless words on this. And they were all finally processed properly as a green Guilmon stood before the group. "I...Um. I look silly, don't I?" Gihai stammered, scratching the back of her neck with a claw. Fuu shook her head. "No. You look like Gihai."
Look like...Gihai.
"I look like Gihai..." She murmured. "Of course I look like me." Gihai affirmed. There was a genuinely strange sense of companionship being formed here, and while it was, again, really damn weird, it was also something that the Guilmon found she could appreciate. So, the time to cast forth the wishes had finally come. With the power of actual limbs, Gihai was able to lift her crystal quite easily.
In fact, practically everyone could. Even Java could do this, and Java was a stupid goddamn bird.
"So. For reference. This is just setting the crystals into the shallows, yes?" Java inquired, just as they stood on that precipice. "Correct. Just set them down with your wish." Fuu nodded. It was fairly easy to do, and she did figure she had to explain this to someone once or twice.
And thus, they set their wishes off.
For the Knight-Errant?
A wish to be the bulwark that the world needs.
For the coolest rabbit around?
A wish for her squire to be safe.
For the toxic squire?
A wish for her moms to be okay.
For the KIZNA admin?
...A wish for her grandfather's health. A wish for everyone around her's health in general.
For the sister of the admin?
A quiet hope that nothing here would fall apart. That Ys would forever stand.
And for the woman who had been roped along?
...
Stability.
The definition of goodwill is something that could easily be searched up on the internet and copy and pasted with no real rhyme or reason to it. For the Amayas, Akemi and Shizu, goodwill was being given mandatory time off to go enjoy the festival at Ys and also cement political ties.
It was not as though that was a very tall order or anything. It really was not--it was something that was simple for them when one considered both Amayas held a silver tongue when it came to people, even if neither wished to admit that or anything to do with the charisma they seemed to hold.
So, that's namely what Akemi and Shizu had spent the past week or two in the Digital World doing--loitering around, helping out where they can and taking part in the festivities! In the name of Deeplane!
Oh, yeah, Anzu and Priere were there, too. But they just came because they wanted to come, not because they were actually needed. The more horrifying fact was that MEMORIA had let someone like Anzu into the city.
No. Really.
They let Anzu into the city, and that was a problem to Shizu. But not her problem, really. They had been aiming to kill some time before a particular ceremony that was in an hour or two, so the sisters had been wandering the city with the partner and the mercenaries. When they had run into some familiar faces! Well, familiar to Akemi.
A tall woman with orange hair that Akemi had the dubious pleasure of being made to hang out with sometimes that otherwise considered her a friend, and...one of her classmates. A girl with green hair, a sour look on her face, and a bow at her side most of the time. Not this time though. "Amaya, fancy seeing you here!" Mao Kita ran over without much care in the world. Well, as much care as seeing a friend would warrant, while the sourfaced lady calmly walked over.
"It's...nice to see you too, Mao." Akemi had evidently not expected to speak to anyone right now, but Anzu quickly piped up. "Oh, hey, it's this lady! You're...uh. I think I've seen you around before, you're...uh. Uhm. Who the FUCK ARE YOU? You're that really mean-looking girl that Akemi's always terrified of."
Obviously, Anzu was not talking about Mao. The bean was talking more about the green-haired girl. "...I really don't see what's so scary about me. Or why I should care what a guinea pig says. Anyways, for the critters, my name's Mari. I'm one of Akemi's classmates. I...didn't know you two were also involved in all of whatever the hell this is."
Mari would wave her hand at the surrounding cityscape that was Ys. It was indeed pretty otherworldly. "Well, if you're anything like us, I don't think either of us expected to run into people we knew here. Both here and in general." Shizu nodnodded. "And certainly not the things that've happened to us."
"Yet you guys turned out for the better, right? You still have ways to go with that spirit. And Akemi and Katherine still have a ton of work to do, right?" Anzu piped up once more with more inquiries.
"Wait, Katherine?" "Yeah, Katherine Jasso--she's like, Akemi's best friend." Anzu nodded sagely towards Mari. Who let out a 'hm.' "...That's my cousin. Uh. Small world?"
"THAT COW HAS A COUSIN?" Shizu exclaimed! "Hey, you don't gotta go around calling people COWS, Shizzy!" Monika barked! There was a moment just then and there where Mari would level a bit of a death glare, green eyes flashing an eerie yellow as her spirit sort of made itself known in the form of a venomous stare.
"Oho! That's one way for a spirit to manifest themselves." Mao suddenly piped up, having been a bit quiet for the moment. She had been texting a friend for the most part. "So, three spirit wielders and a tamer walk into a festival. ...I'm fairly certain there's more eccentric pairs out, but I feel like we should at least stick together for the most part. Getting lost in a crowd is pretty terrible and I am of the belief that there may well be one at the thing we want to get to."
Indeed it would. But for the sake of saving time because this part of this post is actually kind of straining to write for the author, we'll just do everybody here, including them a favor by skipping right to the shallows, at least one hour later.
There was a lot to learn about this impromptu gathering that many did not really know about the other. Well, Akemi knew of Shizu's struggles, but that was about it. She certainly would not have expected Mao to hold two spirits who each urged her on the same quest regarding the Digital Breeder.
Or spirits who were so vitriolically homicidal towards monkeys.
Or any missions that had to do with monkeys.
Seriously, screw monkeys. They don't even have thumbs, no.
The struggles that Shizu and Mari held in comparison were rather minuscule compared to Mao's. Even if the taller girl insisted that they still held weight. Shizu wanted to find all the pieces to the Spirit she had so she could know what happened to them--what made them refuse to pass on.
Mari on the other hand wanted to find the tools to allow her spirit to reincarnate properly and be herself again. In short, this was basically a spirit wielder seminar for Akemi, and she was not sure how she felt about that at all outside of 'well, there is a lot more variance in Chosen than she had first thought.'
Regardless, it was a stark reminder that everyone here held their own struggles. A reminder not to be deaf to those and place your own above them.
So, when the time came for the wish casting, Akemi knew what to put.
For the one who wielded Wrath like a hot knife through butter against the Dark Army?
She wished for the ability to put an end to the strife of others.
For the one who cast Wrath aside for the sake of the fondness held towards a Wind Warrior?
She wished for the Wind Warrior's happiness. Above her own.
For the one called Empress?
She wanted the lazy days to continue. Nobody could really blame Priere for that, right?
For the one who was tied to one rooted in poison?
...
She just wanted freedom.
For the one who's seat was that of Eden?
She just wanted truth.
For the Heritor of the God Hand?
She wanted strength.
And for the one who bore magnificence as a mantle?
...
She wished for the final pieces of a puzzle.
Back with the gathering of newfound family, Omen found herself a bit overwhelmed with all of the back and forth going on, so as Mae was speaking to Mantis and Miyako, and also admonishing Robin for being a filthy goddamn simp?
She disengaged. Omen did not hold anything against them, but the conversation was a bit too much for poor her. "Excuse me..." She said intermittently as she wove through the crowd to try finding a relatively isolated spot on the shallows.
Unbeknownst to her, though, Nanashi had the same idea, the Hawkmon smoothly disengaging from Mae and co. to also duck and weave through the crowd. The two found faces both familiar and unfamiliar within the crowd.
Three cousins and their Digimon telling stories--fables with lessons to be learned behind them.
Two people who worked for the good of the city and their partners, enjoying a simple time at the festival.
Two sisters and some friends they ran into along the way.
There were so many more, too. So many stories to tell and be told, yet there was so little time. Of course, both Nanashi and Omen's eyes fell upon a rather weird pair. There was a bronze-furred Renamon who was sitting alone, with a Terriermon lounging around near them. Both had not cast their crystals into the shallows yet, and both had not yet made a wish.
That was rather strange to see, and stranger yet that they seemed to be completely silent towards each other. As if they did not recognize they were there. Nanashi was never the kind of person to approach first. Not without immense amounts of preparation. But, Omen had been hanging out around a certain pink haired girl too much.
She approached with little to no hesitation. "Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting anything--I just wanted to find a less crowded spot to sit at for a bit." The Renamon would look up. "O-Oh! The spot's not taken, no. Feel free to sit, miss...Wispmon?"
"Wispmon, yes! ...Do you know what they are?"
"Yes, I...actually do. I know of the legends and all. It's...well, it's a fun folk tale when you disregard the fact that individual Digimon are all different." The Renamon mused. "Your cloak's blue, though."
"Yeah. It's as formal as I can get for one of these things." Omen nodded, moving over to sit herself down. The Terriermon finally stirred with a yawn. "Well, you look weird in a city of blue while wearing red, too...So of course it's formal." The Terriermon mused, looking at the two.
"Oh, I didn't know people sat here. Sorry." The Terriermon yawned once more. "I took a nap here and suddenly a festival started. I even got a funny crystal and everything. I wonder...Can I eat it-"
"Do NOT eat it!" Nanashi finally cut in. "It is not edible, and you gain no benefits from it. Trust me, for this lowly I have checked!"
"...Crrriiiinnnngggeeeee..." The Terriermon moaned in seemingly palpable mental anguish. Much like the author at this point in the writing. Disregarding the true slopebrain here, at least for the moment, Omen turned her attention to Nanashi and the Renamon. "Aunt Nanashi--I didn't expect you to follow."
"I have a social battery that needs careful attendance. I love my half-sister. She's great. But sometimes she just can't shut up...It's nuts." The Hawkmon looked to the bronze Renamon, who was staring at them still with a doe-like expression of being caught in the headlights. "Um...uh. I am Seido no Miko. It is a pleasure to meeting you."
"My name's Nanashi. It is an honor to meet you, Miko-sama." Nanashi stated, after a moment. She had assumed from the general getup and vibe that this Renamon was more oriented towards the practices of the miko--as strange as it would be in the Digital World, but her name actually being Miko?
Kinda funny. "And my name's Omen. Nanashi is my aunt. It is a pleasure to meet you two." The Terriermon nodded, sitting up and yawning. She had not decided to give a name at all, so you know what? This Terriermon's going to be called Terriermon until the end of time. The actual end, not the album titled Everywhere at the End of Time.
Either way, there was a bit of silence between the four. "...So. Why haven't you put the crystal down yet?" Omen decided to inquire, as the time before her grandpa collected the wishes and made them come true was getting closer and closer.
And time, time waits for no one.
"Well...Um. I think Miss Terriermon is just really, really profoundly lazy. I-" "I'm too cool. The world doesn't need a wish from me, my wish is just fine. I like naps. I want more naps." Terriermon cut in. Miko cast a rather annoyed look at her 'friend,' if such a term could be applied here most generously.
Before she would continue. "I've been having a lot of...thoughts lately. And I don't think I should put a wish down either. Not when my wish is so selfish." The Renamon nodded, running a hand along her gohei.
Nanashi would shut her eyes, and shake her head promptly. "A wish is inherently selfish, I find. You're asking the cosmos to fulfill something that is otherwise impossible to do in your daily life. Isn't that selfish in and of itself?"
"...When you put it like that, Nanashi-san..." Miko mused, before Omen would retort. "Maybe! But the cosmos are probably fine with a wish if they're letting you make it in the first place!"
"Then isn't it better to not make the wish if it's selfish when you don't wanna be selfish?" The Terriermon stated, while Omen and Nanashi had some time to think of that. It really depended on the circumstances behind everything. So many factors existed that were capable of shaping what a wish was, and even with the knowledge it could come true, should it?
"I think I should elaborate a little bit further, if that's okay. We're...We're cool with that, right?" That was how you said, right? Cool? Omen nodded. "I'm fine." Okay. That was the affirmation of one. The silent nod offered by Nanashi was the other.
Because really, the Terriermon did not care. She was just content to stare at the shallows and the crystals. And a part of her thought that these were...genuinely really pretty. And that maybe she should add to the crystals.
Yet, another part of her told her otherwise. That it was better if she didn't.
"I guess my issue is that all of my wishes would be centered around me. I don't necessarily have anyone...close that I'd be able to dedicate a wish towards, since I've got no family here, or there, or anywhere. I'm basically just on my lonesome without any friends. Just people that talk to me on occasion."
"Sounds like you're in denial that you have some friends. How old are you, Miko? Like. What, 15? 17?" The Terriermon yawned. "Seventeen digital world years, yes." And she was just a rookie? Nanashi tilted her head like a parrot would. Like. Damn.
"I'm only a few months old by now, I think. I was lucky enough to grow up fast, but not everyone is the same. Where you would call those friends, I think Miko is wont to refer to them as acquaintances, yes?" Nanashi stated, finally moving to take a seat with the other girls.
"I would assume so." Omen nodded. "It is indeed so." Miko would confirm. "...I feel kind of bad making a wish. Especially since it's the first time this has ever been done. I want to make my mark on history here, however small it could be, but...I can't help but feel selfish doing it."
"Well...Um. Do you have family, Miko?" Omen decided to pose that question. The fox tilted her head, before nodding. "Yes. Two sisters. My family's a sect of miko who worship Ebonwumon. Or Xuanglongmon, as some call him. Really, our lord answers all."
Somehow Miko's act had brightened up just a tad! "Why not make the wish for them, then? I'm sure nobody would admonish that..." Omen would muse. "That's the problem, I don't...I haven't seen them in quite some time, a wish from me would so, so, so out of the blue!"
Preposterous. "How much do you know about this festival, then? Beyond what you know already by being here, Miko-sama?" Nanashi would then inquire, while Omen took a bit of a rest to think on what to tell Miko next.
"Not too much. Just that this was a festival of unity and giving back to the community! I thought it was really sweet so I decided to lend a hand. I also saw some of the photos for that contest! There was this fox and this girl who really looked like they were enjoying themselves in the ones they were in. It kinda made me wish I did more."
...
Omen thought for a moment- Wait, that was her! She never did check to see if she won that contest with Nanami, did she?
That was something for later. For the winding down period, more than likely. There were for once more important things to focus on. Like these two. The tree deserved all the wishes that it could get, and two more would be great, even if they were lost in a sea of other wishes.
"So what's...stopping you then? You have two arms. You have two legs. You can easily do as much as you want to do. And I assume you already did a lot, I mean, you definitely look like somebody I've seen around, Miss Miko!" Omen chirped. Indeed, Miko did look at least a little familiar to the Wispmon.
In fact...
Yeah.
She had seen this Renamon about diligently helping people out, time and time again. Be it with directions, partaking in the activities...She had even lifted the Terriermon off from the middle of a road once so she had a nicer place to sleep.
"I'd dare say someone who has gone out of her way time and time again to help others deserves to treat themselves every once in a while. As a princess of Ys, such is my decree. And you can bet that everyone else in the royal family would agree, too.”
So, there were a couple of things wrong with that sentence right there. Namely, Omen revealing she was of the royal family. Something that neither Miko nor the Terriermon knew, but Nanashi did. Probably because Nanashi had, in fact, been in a conversation that had been occurring around Omen for the past hourish.
“...Wait! You’re a princess? I am so sorry, Omen-sama! I...genuinely did not know of any sort of royal bloodline.” Miko quickly exclaimed and attempted to apologize, where there was, in fact, no apology needed at all. Omen shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I don’t like throwing me being a princess in people’s faces. It’s...I don’t know. It’s like flexing one’s good fortunes over the less fortunate. It’s a gesture that’s ultimately meaningless outside of self-satisfaction and going ‘Look at me, I’m a princess!’ ...Such things...They disgust me to a degree. And I prefer judging based off actions. And I like being judged based on my actions. Does...that make sense? ...And no, you don’t have to call me sama. Please.”
Omen felt like she had enough in her to at least try making a distinction that despite being royalty, there was naught she despised more than...you know. Being put on a pedestal for it. It was downright infuriating because she didn’t do anything to earn that.
Thankfully, Miko seemed to get it. She nodded her head a few times. “I see. Despite the lack of honorifics, though, you are still someone that commands some sort of respect in my eyes. By virtue of being nice. Unlike the Terriermon.”
“Cry harder, furry.” The Terriermon yawned. “So, riddle me this. Even if we do make a wish. Then what do we make it for? Us? Family? People?”
“Yes, actually. And for whoever you want.” Nanashi confirmed. “There still is time before the crystals are gathered and cast up unto the tree. So...If you wish to partake? Now is the time. And who knows when we’ll have another Lux Harmony? ...I mean, there’s always the karaoke bars but...it’s a very different vibe.”
“You’re getting off track.” Omen commented. “Yeah, so?” Nanashi snorted. Either way, the Renamon would finally stand up, gohei in one hand. Crystal in the other, as if it were akin to a lantern. The Terriermon had been content to keep lying there, but Miko would jab her with the gohei as if it were a stick. “Up. We’re doing this.” She directed.
“5 more mi-”
“I said up. Do not make me repeat it again, or I’m throwing you in the shallows.”
“...BASED.”
This was Omen speaking in Miyako’s voice. It was kind of amazing she could just muster that up in the exact inflection that the albino girl used every time she had said the word. Either way, not wishing a watery not grave, the Terriermon stood up and picked up her crystal. Both would proceed over to the shore, and lay their crystals down, stating a final two wishes to conclude this series of…
Well, stories? You could call them stories. The author prefers you call them vignettes. That sounds nicer, wouldn’t you say? They aren’t really the only ones to pay attention to, though. Many others hold their own paths in this festival, and especially within this thread. Paths that entwine and branch out all at once.
For the Miko of Ebonwumon, her wish was very, very simple.
I wish that my sisters, wherever they may be right now, are safe and sound--and that the Sovereign watch over them and everyone else here.
For the Terriermon? She had one after all.
…
I wish that everyone else’s wishes come true.
Give the bit rewards to the following accounts.
Ayaka and Coolmon
Naoki + Xu + Filia
Toriya Naoko
Akemi & Anzu
Amaya Shizuka
Hisato and Bad Company
Tsugu and Java
Ashikaga Mao
Hazuki Rui (& Inge too)
Yui and the Gals
Miyako + Mantis
Mariko Sasaki
Seido no Miko
Nereid
Mae
Omen, Chaddest of Chads
Ayaka and Coolmon
Naoki + Xu + Filia
Toriya Naoko
Akemi & Anzu
Amaya Shizuka
Hisato and Bad Company
Tsugu and Java
Ashikaga Mao
Hazuki Rui (& Inge too)
Yui and the Gals
Miyako + Mantis
Mariko Sasaki
Seido no Miko
Nereid
Mae
Omen, Chaddest of Chads
