EC 1 is coming to an end very soon, but that doesn't necessarily mean what you might think it does.
For now, all I can tell you is that there is going to be an Ethereal Cross Saga 2. The sagas are not really crosses as much as they are little transitions where the plot temporarily returns to earthly bounds. What that means is that Fantasy is excluded. In the sagas, we're gonna see lots more of the Circle.
For now, let's get to EC, shall we?
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The First Cross:
The Crystalline Genesis
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[Safiri and Cruce hold their kiss for ten seconds until Safiri opens her eyes. She spots Rilia watching them.]
Safiri: [Immediately pulls back.] Oh--hi Rilia.
Cruce: [His eyes go wide. He jumps into the air and spins around, now floating.]
Rilia: ... [Her tail droops and her ears go flat.] ...Cruce... and... Safiri?
Cruce: Rilia, listen... I--
Rilia: [Shakes her head.] N-no! I want to hear this from Safiri, not you!
Safiri: Don't get mad at Cruce, Riri...
Rilia: [She inches forward a little.] Wh-why?! Why is it okay for you to get mad at him but not me? Why is it okay for him to just kiss everyone we know? You told him not to get "wild" with Danny, and now that Danny's gone it's suddenly okay for you two to make out?
Safiri: Just listen to me, Rilia!
Rilia: Why?! So far, everything you've done has just been for self gain! You've wanted revenge all this time for some stupid reasons and nearly got us all killed.
Safiri: I know! I'm aware of that! And I promise, I'll stop... I'll... I'll stop... I'm sorry... [She hides her face, sniffling. Her voice begins breaking.] I-I almost got... y-you killed...
Cruce: Rilia, please calm down. Don't get angry about Safiri getting angry... That's not going to do us any good now that she realizes it...
Rilia: ...[She blinks, then sighs.] ...Sorry... I guess I snapped there.
Cruce: It's okay. All that's happened up to this point is your excuse, really. You too, Safiri. [He faces Safiri.] You two have been away from home, put on this mad world just to be associated with huge problems I can't even begin to understand. It's easy to see how that can drive anyone a little crazy.
Rilia: ...Mhmm... An-and... was that kiss... o-o-out of craziness?
[Safiri and Cruce look at each other, blushing...]
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Safiri: ...Rilia, there's something we need to tell you... a-and everyone... back inside.
Cruce: [He nods in agreement.] Yeah...
Rilia: Well... okay...
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[They return to the classroom. Nic has left to support Riolu and Lavender.]
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[By now, Slianna, Al, Pachi, and Nuvlora have awakened in this short time. It seems as if Grovyle and Celebi are just beginning to wake up. Leafeon and the cousins' family are still out.]
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Slianna: [She raises her head, looking around the room.] Is this the school...?
Topher: Oh, you're up! Hi!
Slianna: Topher? Is that you?
Al: Sounds like 'im.
Topher: It's me!
Slianna: Abso-surely? [Turns to Al.] Oh, Al! You're okay!
Al: Yup. Looks like you are too. [Smiles at Slianna.]
Slianna: [Suddenly, she lunges under and around Al, constricting him softy in a sort of hug.] Ooooh, I was worried we might've all been pushing up daisies, abso-certainly.
Al: [Squirms a little.] Waah! Sl-Slianna, what're you--what's this about? Heheh.
Pachi: It looks like we've returned... Ah, I... couldn't keep up with what happened at the Ancient Growth, and now this... [Closes his eyes and rubs his cheeks.] Mmrgh...
Nuvlora: [She struggles to stand, looking down at her paws, which have changed in color.] I--...Wh-...What happened to me...?
Pachi: [Opens his eyes, facing Nuvlora.] Holy Phaze, Nuvis?
Nuvlora: [Looks to Pachi.] Pachi...? (Pachi seems fine... Did Maaya... do what I think she did to me...?)
Pachi: N-N-Nuvis, what on Chronic happened to you?!
[This attracts the attention of Topher, Slianna, and Al.]
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[Grovyle and Celebi awaken.]
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Slianna: [Unwraps herself and approaches Nuvlora and Pachi with Al.] Great Growth...
Al: Whassup?
Nuvlora: Slianna... Al... ...How do I look...?
Slianna: ...Like Safiri... almost... [She encircles Nuvlora, examining her as she does.] With a little difference in color, you could be her exact twin...
Nuvlora: ...Maaya must've disturbed my secret with Supernova...
Al: Super-who-now?
Slianna: Supernova is the Phaze of Safa... Phazes have, well... a complicated role to play. Since Nuvis is an Eclipse, it looks like his, or her, fate is tied to Supernova's.
Nuvlora: My name is Nuvlora... [At this point, Safiri, Cruce, and Rilia have approached them.] I was born this way, a girl. Safiri's sister... We were separated at birth, and... for years, Supernova has been watching over her for me. She told me all sorts of things, but one in particular was that Safiri constantly begged for a sibling; a brother... Being who I was, Supernova and I both wanted the best for her... so she granted me with a guise held by this pendant...
Safiri: Nuvis...
Nuvlora: [Turns around.] ...Safie...
Safiri: [She comes closer to Nuvlora before her legs begin to shake... She breaks down, falling to the ground and crying.] Nu--...[Sniffles.] v-vis...
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[Silence... The only thing that can be heard is the hum of the three Time Gears secured in the room.]
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Nuvlora: [She places a paw on Safiri's head and strokes her hair a bit.] ...I'm sorry about this... about all of this...
Safiri: Nuvis... I c-can't take this anymore... All these secrets... a-all of this madness... I feel like I know nothing anymore.
Nuvlora: [Touches her nose to Safiri's head.] Sh-sh-sh... As long as you're among friends and family... at least know you're safe.
Rilia: [Standing by Sianna's side, frowning.] ... [She looks at Slianna.]
Slianna: [Looks back at Rilia with the same expression.]
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Celebi: [Moves closer to Grovyle...]
Grovyle: [He holds Celebi close with one arm...]
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Cruce: (Hmmm... Nuvis was a disguise in order to make Safiri happy... Nuvlora really cares about her... but, in a way... this makes me feel more complete. An Eclipse being who he or she really is... It's refreshing to me... why...? That feeling... it's so strong right now. When I'm around the Eclipses... It feels like it's at its strongest.)
Pachi: Hm? [He looks to the door to see Nic re-entering the room.]
Nic: [Having done his day's work for now, he was allowed to return to the classroom.] 'Guess I'm done for today... Hm? [He looks up at the scene unfolding before him. He sees Al and Cruce and decides to join them.]
Cruce: [He looks to his right to see Al... then to his left to see Nic.] ...Nic...
Nic: ...Cruce... [Smirks at him.]
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Safiri: I'm so sorry I behaved like a baby, Nuv...lora... Sister...
Nuvlora: [She lifts her paw and nose from Safiri. Safiri looks up at her.] Safie, you had every right to be upset... It was a big secret, you know. [She smiles.] I understand if you're still mad.
Safiri: [Slowly, she stands.] I'm not... I promise. [She smiles back.] But I have a secret for everyone here... [She turns to face the rest of the group. Safiri walks out to a more open space to face everyone, stopping to kiss Cruce's cheek on the way. This causes those who don't already know, which is all but Rilia, to act in a bit of surprise. Cruce follows her to the open of the room.]
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Leafeon: [In the background, he opens his eyes, unsure of what is going on... All he does is faces Safiri and Cruce.]
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Cruce: [He turns his head to see Lavender and Riolu entering the room.] ...Good, everyone's here.
Safiri: The more the merrier. Alright everyone... At the Ancient Growth, I had a bit of a meltdown when I learned that my brother... I'm sorry, my sister... was the Eclipse. I kinda turned to Cruce with that anger. In our fight, he did something to take control of my body...
Cruce: [Looks at Safiri.] Our feelings, in essence, clashed. we felt each other's pain, each other's heart... And when Danny was lost, it hit both of us.
Safiri: ...I realized I was so wrong about Cruce. When I felt his love die... I felt so much regret, and I had to make it up to him in some way. [Looks at Cruce.] And you could say it was just a little apology...
Cruce: [Chuckles a little.] A little apology in the form of strong feelings, I'd say.
Slianna: S-Safiri?
Rilia: [She sighs.] ...It's totally what you're thinking, Slianna. I saw them.
Al: Oh God, what did he do to her?
Nic: ...
Safiri: We both chose this, Al... We kissed... alright...?
Celebi: ... [Her eye twitches.] ...They kissed? ...And they at one point hated each other... and they already kissed? [Looks at Grovyle, irritated.]
Grovyle: [Sweatdrop.] ...Er--...
Topher: Cousin Cruce! Stop making out with everybody!
Cruce: Sorry Tophs...
Lavender: Well well! Looks like they've kissed and made up, I'd say.
Riolu: Hmhm, clever. [Smiles at Lavender.]
Leafeon: ...Wha'd I miss...?
Rilia: [Looks back at Leafeon.] Not as much as you think.
Nuvlora: So, Safie... You and Cruce are getting along now?
Safiri: ...A lot... a lot better, yeah... [Nods.]
Cruce: Don't worry, Nuvlora. I'll protect her.
Nuvlora: Heh, I trust you, Cruce... More than you know...
Cruce: [Smiles.] Thanks... Both of you... ...All of you... Thanks for being here. I still don't really know what's been going on this whole time. I've been going with whatever I feel is right... I'm sure you two have also. [He walks to Nic and Al.] Only a few days ago, we were all sitting in this classroom, listening to our teacher talk about something we probably didn't even care about at the time. And I was probably daydreaming about how life would be awesome if it were like V... like this... The truth is... I'm homesick now, but I've met so many cool people. [He looks around the room.] And when this is all over...
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"Will we see each other still...?"
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"Will we be able to?"
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"Will life return to normal for all of us?"
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[Cruce, Al, and Nic, three Circle members, stand together in the center of their classroom...]
--E n d i n g--
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A fair heads up: the next episode will probably jump a little bit. We're going to see one of the Phazes for the first time though!
OOOOOOOOOH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW CLOSE I AM TO THE ENDING!
