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Lt. Raspite

His return to the castle had come without fanfare. Heck, it had come without many even noticing his return. Not that he had, in anyway, expected anything more than this. He was simply a Lt. and a new one at that. but, as he stood there in the back of the group, behind his general and fellow Lt., he felt a sense of pride as Metalia praised them for their efforts in the missions. They had done well. "they" as a whole and that was a comfort more than anyone really knew.

He watched as the rite took place before his eyes. Watched as the items they had worked so hard to gather, floated in the air and spun about the pillar of chaos. It was a spectacle, that much was certain, and as the rite came to it's conclusion and Laurellite stood there before them in her newly healed and stronger form, Raspite found himself falling to one knee before her.

"My Queen.." He kept his eyes on the ground, knowing that being of the rank he was that he did not dare look upon her directly. It was respect for her rank, and knowing his place in the ranks that kept him on that knee. That, and the power he felt coming from Metalia was enough to make his skin crawl, so much Chaos was in this room, he nearly drowned him.

Corrupt Fulgurite of Springs

Ever since the summons, Fulgurite had been silent and sullen. He'd arrived when called, but had slunk to the outskirts of the gathering, avoiding a few curious gazes. He'd seen Benitoite in the crowd, but the teen wasn't interested in joining the General he'd been assigned to. He wasn't even interested in being here, and if he could have gotten out of it, he would have.

Life had gotten a thousand times harder since Christmas and it left precious little of him left to deal with the bullshit that was the Negaverse. He didn't want to fight a war he had never even known about before Bischofite had stuck his hand into his chest. He didn't want to accost innocent strangers for a tiny orb of energy. But he didn't have much choice in the matter, did he? The choice had been taken away from him from the very start... force corrupted and then forced to serve.

Once, he had dealt with it, even sort of come to enjoy some of the perks that came with a powered person. But that had been before his sister disappeared and took with her the light from his and his father's lives. All he wanted now was to be left alone to brood. ******** school, ******** this city, and especially ******** the Negaverse, long and hard.

The cave had been his best bet for doing as little as possible, and it had turned out to be a good choice. Beyond some dust and scratches when it had collapsed, he was unscathed and had returned with the rest to the meeting chamber. Once more tucked off to the side and in the back of the gathering, Fulgurite watched as the burned husk of the woman who had corrupted him was transformed. The power from her made him want to wretch, and not because he found it disgusting... but because it called to him and he hated it. Others bowed to him, but the teen just shrank back further, his green eyes dark and angry.

This was what they had been sent out to collect pieces for? It seemed stupid, but whatever. The sooner it was over, the sooner he could return home and forget all of this existed until it came time to turn in his quota again.

General Aurostibite


While Bloodstone checked Hydra's injuries, Aurostibite let his gaze move around the chamber, glancing at those around them. He recognized some faces better than others, almost all of them looking more than a little worse for the wear after their trek into the Rift, or the other parts of Negaspace. He did not know what had happened in the other groups that had left Metallia's presence, only that they had returned with items as well that had been set alongside the crystal Hydra had acquired.

And now - now, he saw their leader contort and twist into a human shaped form. Now he saw Metallia - and, to his surprise, though he concealed it well - Laurelite alongside her. The air itself seemed to be charged, frizzing with energy, building alongside the Chaos -

And then, there she was. Their new queen, stepping out with her head held high, haughty, calm, and proud, and Aurostibite stared at her, at the golden leafed scythe, at the impression of power. Even as the others around him began to lower themselves to her, so did he, Aurostibite's gloved fingers curling around Kainite's wrist most notably, dragging him down with him. He set himself on one knee, head bowed in respect towards their newest queen.

Your dog of the Negaverse, he thought, a little sardonically, but he remained kneeling beside the others.

Captain Titanlåvenite


Laurelite.

His heart ached to see her physically ruined as she approached the attention space of Metallia. It screamed 'Don't do it!' A heart that would bid the woman flee the other way, or take a blade and end it with some semblance still of her own freedom and agency. The last freedom of life sacrificed before even that was taken away. If it could be. More than suspicion, all proofs of the power they served pointed to personal agency as a fallacy. It is better to die. Who is she, beneath Laurelite? Or was. This will make an end of it, whatever Metallia does, if it wasn't already when she became a Sovereign.

Chaos whorled, and the woman stepped away in a hale and physical body. She stepped away named a Queen. Alive and whole at what cost? She was the last faith I had in this. Is it like any promotion? Painful but steady? Or was it like conversions, where so much is lost that they become someone else? Does she remember us? Is she still a person?

The depths of the definition of personhood could be plumbed another time. As it were, others seemed to understand at last the ceremony or statures of what they'd all been dealing with and started to kneel. He didn't know why they hadn't in the first place. Metallia was enough to require it, a physical Queen or no made anew in Laurelite. Maybe it had something to do with why he'd always stuck on how empty the throne was. Or why Metallia bothered to take a human shape at all when the feel of her was already plain.

What will come of this now?





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Haüyne, Corrupted Super Senshi of Execution


A 'Queen'? The corrupted super didn't know what to even make of this. How could there be two 'Queens' in one throne? Queen Metallia was queen. 'Queen' Laurelite should have some other title, really, she wasn't queen over anything more than she had been as a General Queen. General Queen clearly spoke of the military, and just queen spoke of overlordship of all. This made absolutely no sense in the hierarchy. What were they supposed to do with it?

Well, at least she's alive, right? Apatite's all deadified, and I haven't heard hide or hair of the other sovereigns that are supposedly kicking about. So now we got Laurelite back. She'll probably be just as busy. Just as unapproachable or more. So woohoo...s**t isn't going to fall completely into the Warring States Period between all the Generals.

People started kneeling here and there and Haüyne fidgeted nervously. Didn't kneel, but took to as close to a dress salute that military types seemed to do as a heretofore observer could imitate. If she's a queen great, but what ARE people doing? We're a military right? We're supposed to 'atten-hut!' or parade rest or something? People don't kneel to Q.E.2. Do they? Man...who IS my immediate superior? Or superiors?

Picking Cinnabar out from the crowd was easy. And other Generals in blue, green and blacks with small packs of captains, lieutenants and corrupted around them. They had directions and explanations. Maybe they all had some answers ahead of time of what was expected? Maybe. Some of them look surprised, though. Nothing for it but to stay attentive. If there's some proper way to be doing this, then ... someone will tell us straight.





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General Schörl



Ceraskia's hand was accepted and not removed or glared at. With the amount of build up in energy and supposed tension, Schörl expected having some grounding element would help the corrupted. Metallia's presence was already stifling, not counting whatever she was going to Do. Fear was a tool, and so was camaraderie, and they could be used in tandem to shore up obedience and ambition. Fear the overlord, seek to emulate it, love the regiment.

Queen Beryl.
Not three years ago wasn't it these same, Laurelite and Apatite, with others? Wasn't it Howlite speaking to us, Former Queen Beryl has been relieved of her duty. And questions offered to be taken but tersely answered. Three years, and some of those missing, but not all. Not far from all. And we feel Beryl here anew, bodied in Laurelite. And is that energy supposed to do any better this time around? Why wasn't it re-purposed to something better, different, anything other than stuck in a body again to repeat exactly what it did before? Or are we taking the same actions, like madmen, and expecting them to have a different outcome?
We may, I suppose. Human expectations may seem as mad to what is deathless. As much as human playthings at all seems mad to need. The green General's mouth was a hard, motionless line while she stared at the proceedings and the unveiled Queen Laurelite.

When it comes down to it, it was the Sovereigns- Tanzanite, Marthozite, Laurelite, Apatite, Howlite, Zinkenite- it was they who found the door to the Rift. It was they who led with orders. It was they who put down the last Queen when she was no better than a show on the twisted foot limping this effort along. It will be the same now. Other General Sovereigns will rise. And they are as equal to this 'Queen' and can remove her as much as the last. Bread and Circuses, until it shows better. Schörl stood at attention. No more, no less. They'd all been brought together to accomplish this and then to see it. There was likely reason behind it, and more to come in some form of an order or an expectation to be carried out now. It was more efficient to pay closest scrutiny, than waste time with pageantry, in this case. Expecting more pomp was ridiculous anyway, since the lot was battered, bloody, painty and wet.

Corrupted Valeria.

While Ate saw potential in her...Valeria did not, she saw many things in herself but that was not one of them. It was why she was perhaps so hesitant and shy around other officers but also why once someone spoke to her, such as Ate, she clung to them and stayed close to them. She kept close to the others side even as she headed toward the officers she knew, they had helped her during the invasion and one of them had power despite being rather tiny.

"They are nice..." She whispered softly even as Ate was telling Lyssa to behave with the other cat, who was in the petite Generals arms. What could a cat do? Sight of fire...what could Lyssa do? How could she create a fire, as she assumed Ate was hinting that the guardian cat could do just that and had. "She lights fires?" She asked nodding her head to Lyssa, questioning pink eyes watching the red furred cat. It seemed impossible, even though Lyssa was a talking cat, it didn't seem possible she could light a fire. She was still a cat, even if she did talk.

When she was pulled to the ground she had already been moving to get to the ground. Pink eyes wide and staring at the newly made Queen. "A Queen..." She breathed out in surprise. She hadn't had a clue what this was all about, what would happen, but this was certainly not something she'd imagined. She hadn't known they'd once had a Queen even.

"We were...that's.." Trailing off her eyes on her fellow corrupted senshi. "Is that what she is?" She whispered in a low voice, not wanting to be heard.

Sailor Ate and Guardian Lyssa

The question of if Lyssa could start fires was left unanswered as even the Guardian had stopped rubbing herself across the floor to light the sticks caught in her matted fur. Just as Ate was held in astonishment at what had happened so too was the cat, her eyes wide pupils big she gasped and mewed aloud at the transformation before her. She couldn't bow at the new Queen like the others, and if she could it wouldn't have been for the Queen herself. But for Metallia's powers.

The others could question the purpose of the new Queen, they could worship or curse this momentous occasion but it would live on as a stark reminder. A reminder that their Goddess could reshape their very lives. That she could twists the fabric of the universe and take something broken and lost and give it a new purpose. Lyssa spent every moment of her waking life in devotion to Metallia. Every prayer, every act was done with her in mind. She dedicated the very breath she took in their true Queen's glory. And she was instilling that reverence into Ate.

"Yes-s she is the New Queen, but nevER forgeT the onE who givEs her the power. Bow low, but bow LOw for the gift The Goddess has BestoweD upon us and Worship her for it, for we are NothiNg without Her."

Ate nodded slowly at the cat, her head dropping lower even as Valeria asked her question and positioned herself slightly more to the shadowy figure behind the new Queen, never letting go of the Corrupted arm.

"Yes, she is. Metallia knows our mistakes, our failures and she has given us a Queen, more powerful than Beryl ever was. We would be fools not to take any advantage, even if it others don't see its worth, berate it and consider it worthless. We are too quick to forget that the Goddess is weakened, even when she can do miracles like this, she is not whole, she can only help so much. There are those that would spit in the face of such a boon, do not be one of them Valeria. "

Ate arose, standing close once more as Lyssa began wrapping herself around and around their legs. "Like a whaLE young ones, powerful in water, at its full strEngth, but BeaChed she is weakENed. That poWer does not go awAy but the access to it is brOken. We are helPIng to give it back. This is our goal ChilD. You Will help in this, yes?"

Laurelite's eyes were half lidded, and she wore the same, gentle smile she always seemed to be wearing. She scanned the room, innocently enough, but her gaze seemed to linger on those that still stood. She had not asked anyone to bow to her, but she could, at any moment. She had already had immense power as a General Sovereign, but this was different.

She did not need to demand they drop to a knee for her.

There were other ways they could prove their loyalty to the Negaverse. Instead, she gestured to the group. "Rise," she commanded. "And stand tall. Your gesture is appreciated, but the Negaverse will bow for no one."

Her gaze lingered on a few—on Obsidian who seemed to try to stare her down, she just smiled. A slightly more real, amused smile went to Typhon, and though she did not say anything, she shifted positions a bit. It did little to hide her skin but she didn't see ashamed.

Her soft smile went to Haymitch, perhaps amused with the cat's enthusiasm.

And then, she saw Aluminite. Her hand curled at her side and she looked down at it, almost questioningly, and then back at the lieutenant.

"It seems I have missed quite a lot in my absence. There are new faces, and old. Faces I am so glad to see. I should not be the only one to benefit from Metallia's graciousness. The trials have made you all stronger. That strength should be rewarded."

Her hand raised just a bit and held her palm upright. A dark orb formed there, dense and slick with Chaos. She closed her hand into a fist around it, and though the action was gentle, it sent another wave of Chaos throughout the group.

Only, it was soothing, reassuring. Mostly.

The Chaos brushed over the starseeds of those not yet ready to accept more strength, but it gave them a burst of energy—a second wind.

For those ready to accept the strength, it clung to them. Like any other upgrade, it slammed into them and twisted like thorns in the heart. It hurt, but there was a strange, sweet burn to it.

Laurelite watched as the Chaos sank into them, and she seemed proud—excited.

But there was much more to be said. She cleared her throat.

"…I am sure you all have many questions, of which I will be happy to answer. But there are a few things I'd like to take care of, first. Starting with the invasion."

There was a heaviness to her words; she was bitter about the invasion—and had good reason to be.

"I know we tried our hardest. I have spent what time I could poring over weaknesses in our defenses. Struggling to understand how they got in. How we let ourselves get so weak. I will continue to do so. I won't let that happen again. We should be safe here. But we should never forget what those monsters are capable of. They will pay, for all the damage they caused. For all the lives they took."

She gripped the shaft of her scythe a little tighter.

"…But you are all survivors. And though it isn't much, I want you to have a token, to remember the invasion by. I want you to keep it, and to reflect on it. Know that you survived, and you drove them out before they could claim this place for their own."

Before every single person (and Mauvian) in the room, the air in front of them rippled, and a tiny medal appeared before them.



Laurelite watched, but she was not finished.

"Wear it proudly, if you will. So that all will know what you have lived through, and that we cannot be defeated. I have something else, though."

She shifted positions once more, and dismissed her scythe.

"When we were invaded, I suffered a terrible loss. I was overwhelmed by their numbers. I fought, as well as I could. But we are all capable of defeat. I would not be here, were it not for the Agents that saved me." Her breathing was calm, but emotion was heavy in her voice. "I will not forget that. And I will not let the Negaverse forget what you have done for me, either."

Before Ochre, Cinnabar, and Dia, a second medal appeared.



Laurelite offered them all a sincere smile—but then glanced to four others.

"And of course. Metallia would give her gratitude, and I mine, for those of you who worked so hard to make any of this possible. I will not squander the power you worked so hard to obtain. A token for you as well, to commemorate your success in the face of such hardships."

Another medal appeared before Amethyst, Serandite, Moonstone, and Hydra.



Laurelite understood that this was a lot to ask them to take in, and she was not rushing things. She expected questions, or that they would want to retire soon. She had no intention of keeping them for much longer, but even she had to prepare herself before going on.