"A hero is living in everyone's heart. Embrace it, and chase after the Sun."
An innocuous knock at the door could be something to be concerned about when you had as many enemies as the people under this roof did. But when that knock came, those gathered weren't the type to simply ignore it. Cloud was the one to answer the door, and on the other side he would see a rather magnificently-dressed young man with a friendly smile and his hand on his hip. Magnificently-dressed though he was, he certainly wasn't the one to thank for that... "Hello there. I've heard this is the place where the heroes of this world gather."
Cloud glanced over his shoulder at the scene unfolding behind him in the living room area. "Hey! You snot-nosed little punk, just because I let you steal my materia when you were a little kid doesn't mean you can keep doing it! WHERE IS MY COSTLY PUNCH MATERIA? Cough it up!!"
Cloud glanced back at the man at the door. "Depends on your definition." He said flatly.
"Haha, this is exactly the sort of hero group I was hoping for." Seeing such chaos reminded him of days long past.
"You're another off-worlder I'm guessing. Well, you can come stay. Not like anyone else has needed an invitation."
"I appreciate the thought, but I have something else to ask. I need your help. May I come in?" That was an unusual thing to hear, and Cloud motioned for him to follow him into the living area.
"This another prince from some fairy-tale world? Can't wait to see all the girls fighting over him next." Zack said sarcastically. He was a committed man now, of course... but how come HE never got that kind of attention from girls back in the day?
"Well, it was a fun trip, but now I'm off to-" Kiana stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening at the man who appeared in the doorway, between her and her intended exit. "...Kevin?" She asked softly in shock.
"What?..." Phainon paused a moment, before chuckling awkwardly. "Haha, I think you're mistaking me for someone else. My apologies. Please, just call me... Phainon."
"...R-right... My bad, heh." Now that she looked closer, this man certainly had differencees in his appearance. But... he felt so much... like him. "Well, maybe I'll stay a little longer after all." She muttered. If this man needed help, it was something well worth her time.
Phainon glanced around to all the unfamiliar faces in the room. There was a sizable gathering here, and from the noises upstairs he assumed there were even more. "Well... I thank you all for hearing me out. As I said, my name is Phainon. I've come to understand the world I occupy isn't the one I originally came from, though... it would be hard to make that mistake. My tale would take far too much explanation. Suffice it to say... I shouldn't exist right now. Not in the way you all do. As I came into this world, my mind was foggy, but I quickly began to remember things. Things about my life prior to coming here... and things that transpired after. Things I shouldn't know, but I do. Maybe because of my close connection to a reliable partner of mine--I can't say. But..."
"Hold on a second. You said you shouldn't exist--do you mean that you died in the world you came from? If that's what you're worried about, you aren't the only one. I'm proof of that, too."
"...It isn't that simple. I promise to answer all your questions later, but for now, I have a request. For ages, I've been trapped in a cycle of constant suffering. Over 33 million agonizing cycles... I finally broke free. We saved our world. But I didn't know the cost. My... I have a dear friend who suffered like I did. We both suffered to delay the birth of a being of pure Destruction. Forever, if need be. But though that being has been stopped, the only way to keep it from ever returning was for my childhood friend to return to those cycles. She did it with a smile on her face, just as I would have expected. Though the rest of us escaped that prison, she must remain there for what may be eternity. If only I could have taken her place, I wouldn't have hesitated to... but I didn't even know. And I couldn't. But there may be something I can do now."
"Definitely sounds tough... but if you're hoping we can take you there, I doubt it. We can't really control what ends up here or doesn't."
"Not exactly. She chose this fate for herself, but I--I won't just let her suffer alone. I will never accept that. That entity, born from Destruction--its name is Irontomb. And I housed it within my body. All it knows is Destruction. Were it to be unleashed again in the space I "come from", it may destroy that entire universe, as it almost did. Right now, it's trapped within some kind of prison of memory, reliving those 33 million cycles over and over along with Cyrene. But with my power... I may be able to draw it here. To resonate with that Destruction again is something I would never want, but I'll do whatever it takes to save her. Yet, there are limits to my power. Irontomb has the power to destroy entire universes. I don't think I can stop it alone, even with..." He paused momentarily. "...I can draw it here. I will draw it here. I will destroy the prison caging it and Cyrene. But I can't destroy Irontomb alone. If there's any chance we can kill Irontomb permanently--there would be no more need for that prison. Cyrene could live, as she deserves to... alongside us. As we always wanted."
A short silence fell over the room--it was in their nature to help people, but a foe who could destroy entire universes? It would be alarming if it didn't give them pause. Still, the moment was short, as the white-haired young woman stepped forward, gritting her teeth. "There's no discussion to be had. We're saving your friend--galaxy-destroying foe be damned. Making sacrifices for so-called victories..." She grunted, her fist clenching. Her mind drifted to Fu Hua. She would NEVER let herself be a bystander when she saw smiles with tears. "I'll fight this thing alone if I have to!"
"You won't be alone." Ephraim said, standing. "I agree. I won't just stand by and let your friend sacrifice herself. Death would be bad enough, but suffering alone for the rest of eternity--I'll do everything in my power to help you free her, Phainon. Still, a foe this powerful... we can't take this Irontomb lightly. We'll only have one shot at this. We need to make sure we're ready."
"Count me in too! All that talk of wanting to be a hero would be pretty empty if I turned tail at something like this. And more than that... I don't even want to think about that kind of suffering. The odds don't scare me. Most of the people in this mansion have achieved the so-called impossible before. What's one more time?"
Phainon was left briefly speechless. He had expected SOME hesitation--perhaps to be laughed out, or to be labeled a threat himself for his intention to draw this vessel of Destruction here. Yet all he was met with was bravery and certainty that almost made the Flame-Chase itself seem ordinary. After a moment, he smiled, moving a hand over his chest, where even now, he still felt the burning... "...I don't know what to say. Thank you, everyone who even considers helping me... your bravery and selflessness is overwhelming. Please, lend me your strength. Cyrene has suffered far too long. We must save her from this accursed fate. Whatever it takes... Stand with me, and become heroes!"
(( OOC: ))
