Post by skylark on Apr 5, 2024 6:44:42 GMT -5
There once was a proverb about how one's fortunes could change in the blink of an eye. For the man known as Skylark, he couldn't be half-assed to think about it at this moment. It had been a week, but that week had been eventful. Meetings. Partings. Changes. Regrets. Resolutions.
The events of Shangri-la had changed them all. The old guard, the new generation, those guarding the gateway, and even those left behind… and for some, had proven to be the final straw.
Skylark did not regret what he did. Somebody had to take command when 'others' were unwilling. Especially not when their so-called leader was no longer fit to do his job. Yes, he had stumbled more than once, but he had led them through the crisis. And once the legendary heroes of the age were gathered once more in safety…
Skylark was rewarded with decommissioning and exile. Their leader had apparently never forgiven him for events surrounding the latter's son, and Shangri-la had proven itself the final breaking point. The judgement was near unanimous, with only Zero and Techno choosing to abstain. Lark absentmindedly scratched at the nearly healed tear-shaped scar that once held the source of Strength as he remembered being stripped of his fabled weapon and armor, as though the fates that guided him to them were finally finished with him and tossed him away like a used rag.
Well, to hell with all of it, then. To hell with them… and to hell with 'him'. Skylark still had options… except…
The Reybrandt Triumvirate had dissolved during his time in Shangri-la. Skylark was met with charges of abuse of power and nepotism as justification, but he could read between the lines. Having a hero such as him had led to the kingdom being labeled as a target countless times during the various crises that had gone on for the past 30 or so years, and the people had finally had enough, wanting only to step off the galactic stage and fade into obscurity. They just did so in the most dickish way possible without his or his wife's consent, and Monica (who they had considered one of their closest confidants) had not batted an eye.
Skylark was sure Richter had laughed his ass off about it in private.
Regardless, it was not as though the Tsukoyamo family was without allies. Rune, Solana, Aryn, and many others that had fought alongside Lark had been livid with the order of heroes and had all but cut off direct contact with them in solidarity with the seraph. And then… there was the colony. In Shangri-la, Lark had met them. Seraphs. Survivors of the dark goddess' purge. They made him an offer.
'Become our new Elder.'
Skylark had a condition.
'I want to see my daughter get married.'
And so, here he was on his future son-in-law's home planet, in the capital city of Rassid, watching his beloved Kalia (in one of the most beautiful wedding dresses he had ever seen) holding hands with her husband-to-be.
“Do you, Grey Tornan, take Kalia Tsukoyamo to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
Ouroboros was no more. Despite Kalia being in Shangri-la (and in a coma at that) she and Grey had found a way to work together across realities, with Grey finally destroying the 'God Eater' in the real world and Kalia expelling the creature from her soul. With the Beast's destruction, Grey's home world of Anseria had finally begun to recover from its desertification. Already, there were more signs of green on the planet's surface than there were previous.
But Skylark had never been more proud of Kalia, not only for taking control of her fate, but for being able to reconcile with her oldest friend, his own opportunity to do the same now forever lost.
“Kalia Tsukoyamo, do you take Grey Tornan as your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me by the will of Anseria and the Sacred Oasis, I now pronounce thee, Man and Wife.”
Naturally, Lark was the first to stand and applaud as the church erupted into raucous joy as the newlyweds' lips met. He looked to his left. His wife, reserved but still joyful of their daughter's union. Reika, struggling not to cry. Murdoch, his first true battle comrade, who always found a way to answer during his time of need. Zero's son Caesar, who had refused to take sides and give his well-wishes for one of his oldest friends, not just for himself… but also for those who couldn't make it.
He looked to his right. Rune, who had no objections taking him in when he had lost everything. Solana, Aryn, and Eziban, all whom have proven more trusted comrades than those heroes of legend. Ambrienne and her family, welcome additions to the Tsukoyamo family tree.
Behind him. Heroes of different worlds, of different shapes, all who considered him friend, all whom Lark had once fought beside.
He was going to miss them. He was going to miss all of them
Soon enough, it was time to go. He could not keep his people waiting, especially considering the time dilation between realities.
Before him stood the four seraphs he had chosen as his honor guard. Behind them, the vessel that would take him to Shangri-la and his final destiny faded into view.
“Dad!”
And Lark thought he had been stealthy enough. Kalia was leading the small crowd that had followed him to Rassid's outskirts. For a moment, his heart broke, as Kalia clearly had an expression that said 'You're leaving now?' And it hit him. With the exception of his wife (who walked past him with a pat on the arm before entering the vessel), this was it.
He was never going to see any of them again.
He wondered how old he looked. Should he make a speech? One about how sorry he is that it has to end this way? That he was grateful to them after all these years?
Skylark… wasn't that kind of guy. Instead, he gives a two-fingered salute.
“You guys. Take it easy.”
And as the seraph vessel shot into the starry skies, one can't help but think of many things.
Meetings.
Partings.
Regrets.
Resolutions.
But the one known as Skylark couldn't be half-assed to think about that stuff. He didn't need to. Despite all the ups and downs, it had been a good run.
He didn't need anything more than that.
The events of Shangri-la had changed them all. The old guard, the new generation, those guarding the gateway, and even those left behind… and for some, had proven to be the final straw.
Skylark did not regret what he did. Somebody had to take command when 'others' were unwilling. Especially not when their so-called leader was no longer fit to do his job. Yes, he had stumbled more than once, but he had led them through the crisis. And once the legendary heroes of the age were gathered once more in safety…
Skylark was rewarded with decommissioning and exile. Their leader had apparently never forgiven him for events surrounding the latter's son, and Shangri-la had proven itself the final breaking point. The judgement was near unanimous, with only Zero and Techno choosing to abstain. Lark absentmindedly scratched at the nearly healed tear-shaped scar that once held the source of Strength as he remembered being stripped of his fabled weapon and armor, as though the fates that guided him to them were finally finished with him and tossed him away like a used rag.
Well, to hell with all of it, then. To hell with them… and to hell with 'him'. Skylark still had options… except…
The Reybrandt Triumvirate had dissolved during his time in Shangri-la. Skylark was met with charges of abuse of power and nepotism as justification, but he could read between the lines. Having a hero such as him had led to the kingdom being labeled as a target countless times during the various crises that had gone on for the past 30 or so years, and the people had finally had enough, wanting only to step off the galactic stage and fade into obscurity. They just did so in the most dickish way possible without his or his wife's consent, and Monica (who they had considered one of their closest confidants) had not batted an eye.
Skylark was sure Richter had laughed his ass off about it in private.
Regardless, it was not as though the Tsukoyamo family was without allies. Rune, Solana, Aryn, and many others that had fought alongside Lark had been livid with the order of heroes and had all but cut off direct contact with them in solidarity with the seraph. And then… there was the colony. In Shangri-la, Lark had met them. Seraphs. Survivors of the dark goddess' purge. They made him an offer.
'Become our new Elder.'
Skylark had a condition.
'I want to see my daughter get married.'
And so, here he was on his future son-in-law's home planet, in the capital city of Rassid, watching his beloved Kalia (in one of the most beautiful wedding dresses he had ever seen) holding hands with her husband-to-be.
“Do you, Grey Tornan, take Kalia Tsukoyamo to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
Ouroboros was no more. Despite Kalia being in Shangri-la (and in a coma at that) she and Grey had found a way to work together across realities, with Grey finally destroying the 'God Eater' in the real world and Kalia expelling the creature from her soul. With the Beast's destruction, Grey's home world of Anseria had finally begun to recover from its desertification. Already, there were more signs of green on the planet's surface than there were previous.
But Skylark had never been more proud of Kalia, not only for taking control of her fate, but for being able to reconcile with her oldest friend, his own opportunity to do the same now forever lost.
“Kalia Tsukoyamo, do you take Grey Tornan as your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me by the will of Anseria and the Sacred Oasis, I now pronounce thee, Man and Wife.”
Naturally, Lark was the first to stand and applaud as the church erupted into raucous joy as the newlyweds' lips met. He looked to his left. His wife, reserved but still joyful of their daughter's union. Reika, struggling not to cry. Murdoch, his first true battle comrade, who always found a way to answer during his time of need. Zero's son Caesar, who had refused to take sides and give his well-wishes for one of his oldest friends, not just for himself… but also for those who couldn't make it.
He looked to his right. Rune, who had no objections taking him in when he had lost everything. Solana, Aryn, and Eziban, all whom have proven more trusted comrades than those heroes of legend. Ambrienne and her family, welcome additions to the Tsukoyamo family tree.
Behind him. Heroes of different worlds, of different shapes, all who considered him friend, all whom Lark had once fought beside.
He was going to miss them. He was going to miss all of them
Soon enough, it was time to go. He could not keep his people waiting, especially considering the time dilation between realities.
Before him stood the four seraphs he had chosen as his honor guard. Behind them, the vessel that would take him to Shangri-la and his final destiny faded into view.
“Dad!”
And Lark thought he had been stealthy enough. Kalia was leading the small crowd that had followed him to Rassid's outskirts. For a moment, his heart broke, as Kalia clearly had an expression that said 'You're leaving now?' And it hit him. With the exception of his wife (who walked past him with a pat on the arm before entering the vessel), this was it.
He was never going to see any of them again.
He wondered how old he looked. Should he make a speech? One about how sorry he is that it has to end this way? That he was grateful to them after all these years?
Skylark… wasn't that kind of guy. Instead, he gives a two-fingered salute.
“You guys. Take it easy.”
And as the seraph vessel shot into the starry skies, one can't help but think of many things.
Meetings.
Partings.
Regrets.
Resolutions.
But the one known as Skylark couldn't be half-assed to think about that stuff. He didn't need to. Despite all the ups and downs, it had been a good run.
He didn't need anything more than that.