uccellodifuoco | 6th Rise of the Phoenix ஜ Action (Fourth Wall Event)

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6th Rise of the Phoenix ஜ Action (Fourth Wall Event)

[Like many, Ikki isn't really a happy camper right now. The sudden influx of people was obvious for him from the very start, mostly because of his habit of reaching out with his Cosmo everyday upon waking up. It's basically just a reflex, a way to know if anything important is happening or if someone he knows has gone missing... Or even if someone he knows has appeared. Even if the cycle for arrivals hasn't started yet, Ikki has heard enough times already that the cycles like to change.

Still, it's one thing for it to start early and another to get this many people. It requires a visual investigation and soon enough the Phoenix Saint will be walking around the village to check what's going on. He's wearing his Cloth instead of just carry the Pandora Box, he may come to need it after all.]

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[A flash white light had met her eyes as the ship the carried the Saints and herself into the Lost Canvas. She had felt the stirring cold-warm winds in the clouds they had sailed through. And suddenly, it was as if the ship had stopped -- and disappeared.

Instead of the aged wood of the prow, she felt cold sand beneath her feet; instead of gales was the icy sting of snowflakes. Gradually, the sea-salt scent registered in her senses.

Her Cosmo had been initially at full charge, until the ensuing confusion bade her to lower it. She sensed the presence of people -- ones gentle as would civilians, and ones with certain potency. There was one, however, that felt oddly familiar -- something close to home, as opposed to the stranger ones present. Almost subconsciously, she zeroed in on that one Cosmo, and might just decide to trace it.

... Now if only it wasn't so difficult to move in a white gown while holding her staff...]

[It's easy to spot it, Athena's Cosmo will always be pretty unique, or at least it was until now. He feels her Cosmo, being clearly Athena, but at the same time he can see that it's not Saori's Cosmo, and that confuses him. It almost feels as if it's another person despite being Athena. Just like Hades' Cosmo had felt when he was possessing Shun, different from when they faced him directly. Had Athena got a new human host? Why? Had something happened to Saori while he was gone?

The Cosmo lowers its strength, forcing Ikki to burn his own more, reaching out further, zeroing in that Cosmo, telling Athena that he's there. He doesn't just sit and wait though, he can notice it, she's far from the village, beyond the mountains, where the desert was supposed to be. He starts moving towards where he feels her, she's alone and that's no good even in Luceti.]

[Despite the mental turmoil, she focused. Her own heart called, gentle, searching, Where are you? As his Cosmo burned --]

Could it be...?

[-- she found that it stood out strongly amongst the others, the distinct core of a Saint. But it was so far...

She paused in her steps, gripping her staff and summoned her power to send it within the other Cosmo's vicinity. She had chosen to take this gamble. Shortly, the Saint might sense the Cosmo of Athena within his vicinity -- somewhere amongst the trees perhaps -- as the glowing golden staff struck the Earth, waiting for its owner...]

[He feels her call, gentle as only Athena's call could be. He answers it with his Cosmo, readying himself to go where she is, he really has no patience or time to waste by going there by foot. He doesn't get far though, feeling her Cosmo suddenly nearby. Did she teleport herself instead of wait for him?

It's a worrying though, that she wouldn't wait, but he won't complain. It makes things easier after all and the last he knows of her was that she didn't have time to waste either. And if she has had to find another host... If something happened to Saori while he was gone... He's not expecting good news at all.

What about Shun? He left him with her, he left her in his care. Nothing could have happened to Saori without it going through Shun first. Honestly, the idea clutches his heart heavily upon wondering about his little brother. But he has to focus on his priorities. He moves through the forest, directing his steps to where he feels Athena's Cosmo.]

[Shortly after the staff had landed, a short burst of Cosmo signaled Athena's arrival. Her eyes studied the area, and her vision looked within the general direction of where that other Cosmo was coming from.

He was looking for her, just as she was looking for him. Regaining some of her mind, she idly wondered if this wasn't a trick of Hades, to separate her from her Saints. But... why this Cosmo?

Gradually she recognizes its form -- the bird of flames. There had been one in the war she was fighting but this one was not like the Bennu that steadfastly stood by Hades. No. This one was of hers.

And not one to make the other wait, she walks through the barren trees, the quiet call of her Cosmo reaching out to him.]

[Them both are looking for each other. Both feeling the familiar and yet different Cosmo of each other. Wondering if the other won't be a fake, a trap of sorts from their enemy. Ikki doesn't know who his enemy is right now, he was brought to Luceti when he had started the search, but it's obvious there is one. Soldiers don't attack without being ordered to after all.

Shun had defeated them and he had made their commander flee... Could they have returned after that when he was brought to Luceti? In larger numbers or by getting them by surprise? But Shun wouldn't fall that easily, neither would Athena. There's no way they would be defeated by such low rank soldiers.

His Cosmo keeps calling. Determined and confident, almost demanding and with little patient, so much unlike her quiet and gentle call. She will without doubt feel the anger and hate, deep at the core of his Cosmo, but she should also feel that there's no harm intended to her or anyone. The Cosmo of a warrior of justice. Ikki walks through the trees, looking around to try to spot her. Was that the edge of her gown what slipped through the ground a few trees away?]

[... Was that a feather of the Phoenix?

At this point she was zeroing in on him -- there was only so much error one can commit at the intensity and force his Cosmo was projecting. There was an urgency like Scorpio Kardia's, force like Taurus Aldebaran's and yes, anger... like of that one Specter.

Finding him was a priority, and once she had a glimpse of movement, she turned in that direction. Gathering her skirts in one hand, she picked up her pace -- from strides to a brisk walk -- such as that in a few moments, she might just see him...

... and those white-gold wings, making her stop in her tracks, catching her breath.]

[It's the problem of being searching for each other, the end going in almost circles as he follows what he thinks was her gown, all he manages is to get her behind him. But it doesn't matter as they finally meet once he turns.]

Athena.

[Definitively a different host. This girl isn't Saori, though there are some similarities there are many differences as well, their eyes for example are of a different color. But it's still Athena, without any doubt. He gives her a serious and studying look, taking notice of all the different details and similarities.]

Who are you? The girl Athena's incarnated now.

[She felt a sense of relief at his acknowledging her. She had many questions but she had to take them one at a time.]

My name is Sasha.

May I know your name, Saint of the Phoenix?

[He arches an eyebrow at that.]

My name? Doesn't the knowledge of the current Saints active pass down between incarnations?

[Blink.] That is true. However, the Phoenix Cloth that I know of has yet to find its Saint. You would be the first that I meet to bear that Cloth.

[The Phoenix Cloth she knows... It takes a moment to click in his mind and then the relief is evident even in him. This Athena is either a future one of the distant future or a past one. Seeing how she talks about the Cloth having yet to find its Saint and that he would be the first she meets, he will bet it on her being a past Athena.

Either way this means that Saori is fine, and Shun is probably fine as well.]

I see. I thought you were a new incarnation from the one I've fought with.

[She gives him a warm smile.] I am glad to find that the Phoenix Cloth did not choose to completely isolate itself and that it had found someone worthy.

[Now something more pressing comes up.] By the by, would you know where we are?

[Well, Ikki isolates himself pretty much as well. Maybe the Phoenix Cloth saw that they had many things in common somehow.

Ikki nods seriously.]

I've been trapped in this world for around eight months now, it's known as Luceti. It seems to be a world that pulls people from other worlds into it, how that happens is still a mystery, just as how one can get out.

[He studies her for a moment.]

However I wouldn't worry about yourself, I don't think you'll remain trapped here for long.

Luceti...

[Oh well that wasn't too much of a good news...]

You cannot leave? How can that be?

Some kind of force blocks the exit apparently. It's not a Cosmo, but I can't beat it no matter what I try, neither find its source.

[She ponders her options -- at the moment, things were looking like a stalemate. Almost like the Lost Canvas, even -- get inside, and seal Hades to get out. Need more time to think it over...] I see...

[She closes her eyes briefly --] I sense that there are many people here...

[-- and when she reopens them, she takes a look at the environs of Ikki's shoulders, distracted.] A-are those wings?

The number of people trapped here has suddenly grown overnight, but like you, I don't think they will stay here for long.

[He blinks at the question and turns around, letting her see them. They even flutter for a moment.]

They are a 'gift' of the people who control this place. Without them we die.

A strange occurrence it is. But I will take your word with regards to our eventual departure...

[And wings they are indeed and not some costume. Hearing of their sensitive nature, she refrains from wanting to touch them. Her voice then takes a hint of sadness in them, as her eyes settled on the wings.

She was still thinking of how she can help Ikki leave.]

Would not that be a poisoned gift then? [It was a non-question. But the next one however --] Do you not miss home?

You don't have wings, it seems that the wings are key for our survival here, if that's true the one who control this place will send you all back to your worlds soon. A village full of corpses isn't among their plans as far as we're aware of.

[It's indeed a poisoned gift. Or maybe just a safety lock to keep them trapped there unable to leave.

He turns a bit at her next question, an unreadable expression in his face.]

There's a mission that I must complete waiting in my world. It's said that time doesn't flow while we're here, but I'm not one to gamble on such a convenient theory.

[Here she takes a deep breath -- as if she had been holding it in for so long.] I see.

[Ikki's answer came to her as a subtle reminder as to why she had to keep a poker face at all times.] It is the same for me... while I am not keen on gambling myself, I would like to hold on to the hope that I will be there for my Saints on time.

You will. If you weren't I wouldn't have come to exist.

[It's pretty simple after all, for someone from the future to exist there must be a future for the past it was born from.]

Until then, though, I'll escort you.

[She gives him a fond smile.] Thank you, um... am afraid I did not get your name...?

Uhm?

[That's right, he didn't gave her his name. He had been too worried about her being a new Athena and not a past one that he just... Ignored that fact.]

Ikki. Phoenix Ikki.

You can stay with me for as long as you remain here, I don't think Smoker will have problems with that.

Ikki. It is good to meet you.

[She had been quite stressed when she had arrived but she is gradually relaxing...]

Thank you. I will do so. I appreciate it very much.

Is Smoker your friend?

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6th Rise of the Phoenix ஜ Action (Fourth Wall Event)

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