Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lance contiued to watch the sky turned bright, butting his hand over his eyes to to get some of the glare from infront and looking up... "When did Roy get so energied?" He asked with a concerned look on his face..

(Well, I'm back. I hope. Once I realized how stupid it is to sit and mope about things, I realized I owed you guys. Now, I'm back...Let's kick this off (again) and hope it stays in the air.



As a side note, this is a speech I spent three years writing. Yeah...I'll be honest, it's long, dull, and utterly boring to both the reader and the writer. Sadly, it is also necessary and is perhaps the most important thing ever in terms of plot (To date, that is.)


So, I highly recommend reading all of it and understanding it. But I also understand if you don't want to, and want a cliff-notes version of it...Inferno will happily provide it to anyone who asks, as he has a thorough understanding of this speech and full realization of everything that has happened in it, and will happen because of it.


I, on the other hand, will not comment further on the speech as after three years of plotting, planning, and writing, I am quite sick of it and want to get on to the more exciting stuff.


O, and tonight's theme is Handlebars.


This is continuing where I left off, on page 763 for those who care.)






Sera adjusted his mic, knowing that he needed to capture every word he was about to say. Today was the most important day for Cruxis, the day he would announce Rom's death, Steed's ascension, and most importantly, declare war on Haven and Hell. All things considering, once missed word could and probably would lead to utter catastrophe.



"It has been a while since I last stood before you, in this capacity." Hesitantly, he spoke,
"It has been 3 months according to my count-3 months since my last sermon, and what a three months it has been." His intro was slow and quiet, masterfully drawing every ear nearer to the podium.


"I spent the first month in speculation, hoping against all hope that Heaven and Hell would not need the guidance and dedication of Cruxis. I hoped. I hoped, and I will even admit to this fault, my kin-I prayed to both Kikyo and Kite, the leaders of Heaven and Hell respectively, that they would stop their feuding and pay attention to their chosen planet.

But look around, did our prayers go answered and our concerns be taken care of? NO! Never has such a resounding answer been given, as they continue to fight over, under, through, and against us-Always about us, but not for or with us! I spent this first month speculating that they would improve-b ut nay, they did not. I knew this because they have ignored our prayers, ignored our hope shared, our wishes; and, they have shown that they do not care about us!

We are the planet most ripe with souls, both in quality and quantity; we are the planet to be first created; we are the planet who was first populated with their chosen and model in their image; we are the ones who support their wars, worshopping their gods and goddess, empowering their angels and demons, and provind them with our souls!


Yet, I find myself asking the same question as all of you-Why are we treated like the least most important pressing factor in their lives? They do not have an answer! We do not have an answer! From them or from ourselves. And I know that you all gathered her, you who are watching on the screens, have come to Cruxis for an answer. And as Cruxis' leader, I can only say we do not have an answer to that question. Yet, I do offer this conclusion." He paused for a few minutes, taking a drink of water from a service boy and downing it quickly. At his guess, he had just spent 10-15 minutes worth of speaking. It was going to be a long day.




"I spent my second month in meditation-questioning myself why they would want to treat us as they would treat as: As trash, insects, just mere dots on the widespreading grid that is the universe? I meditated for a month on that question, and I came to a very startling conclusion..." He paused for a moment, settling the crowd down with a hand gesture while simultaneously drawing their attention even closer and preparing them for the oncoming onslaught.

His voice calmed,
"It's because we are bugs to them. Just mere play things that must exist to please them!" His voice returned to the indignant roar it was before, assuring that he had the crowd's interest.
"And in my meditation, I had found the solution to our problems. The solution to Heaven and Hell's ignorance and our crumbling world-Nay, universe, because of that ignorance. They have decided that to everything, war must be the answer. They have decided, that instead of peace prevailing, war we will wage-That is their decision.



We have lost too much to their deathly decision. We have suffered to many idignaties, to much vileness, and too many lives lossed-lives of our father, brothers, sons, daughters, sisters, mothers and spouses! Even I, Sera, leader of Cruxis, have lost" After speaking in an outraged, loud, indignant tone-that of some old, outraged black preacher-his tone softened again.
"I have lost emissaries, friends, comrades, and blood-brothers to both Heaven and Hell. I blame myself for their losses, for it was I who had asked them to go where I couldn't-To the very realms of Heaven and Hell-and deliver my messages and treaties of peace to both of the leaders. I blame myself for their deaths, because when I sent them to the realms, the never came back. "


On the last line, he looked up from his sorrowful mourning, and allowed the crowd to see his trembling, fully hear the sorrow in his voice, and to completely and totally empathize with him. The end result was everyone who was watching, in person or on TV, experience some form of emotion ranging from rage and grief. After an appropriate amount of time, Sera silence them with his hand,
"Nay, rage and grief shall get us no where at this point. For that will only fuel what they want. I do have a solution fo this problem, however, I warn you that it is unconventional.


I spent my third month in preparation. Preparation for this day, the day after today, and the oncoming storm that shall be the many coming days; all that we must endure. I prepared for many things, many possibilities-even and including Heaven and Hell coming to their senses. As we know, that did not happen. " On this mark, many grumbles and complaints could be heard throughout the pilgrimers. Sera quickly silenced them,
"I spent one month preparing for this day, for this exact moment in history. Our history. I readied and rallied, called and gather you all here. And I did it for one reason: War."

The crowd went deathly silent, as Sera let his proclamation sink in. Up until now, Cruxis had been about peace. This sudden twist, sudden charge;this magnificent proclamation had stunned the crowd-Cruxis, war? It just did not make sense. Here was all their hopes, all their dreams about a peaceful universe: Squashed. Ruined. All by a guy proclaiming to be a man of peace. In that instant, every observer, both crowd and TV audience, erupted in an outrage of sorts.

Sera begged for their attention, and after several minutes, he had it; but only tentatively.
"I know what you are thinking, and I understand why. However, the war I want to wage is not a war of violence-for that would be what they want. Nay, it is a new form of war-one that Heaven and Hell has never encountered before. This war, when waged, will befuddle Hell and Shame Heaven; for it is a war that can not be answered in outcries and bloodshed. This war, upon wagin, will not cost you any money, any strife, grief, or any souls at all. This war, when it is over, will not leave behind bodies or raze lands.

No, this is a new type of war to both Heaven and Hell, one that we are very familiar with, but they have never encountered on their scale. This war will be an ideological war." Dead silence. Not absolutely a bad thing, but not a good thing either.
"They live as we live, off of your very ideas and thoughts. They breath, eat, and sleep as Cruxis does-with your support. As long as tokens of worship to them exist, so hsall they. Even the very notion of talking about em generates power for them. So tonight, we shall end this!
" "


More silence. Proposing radical change can never be easy, and could only be polarizing. Sera could only hope that he was polarizing them in the right direction.
"We begin when you go home. Burn all crucifixes and pentagrams that you find. Destroy any mortal made symbols of dedication to them and establish more to us! Speak not of the demon, the angel, the great Gods and devious Devils and praise only us! This will weaken them and empower us-your ideas, hopes, and dream dae flesh-even further! Then, when we are on level with the Old Divines, we shall show them that mortal ideas made flesh are more than substantial enough to save this earth!" Mass cheering, as the 1/3 of the remaining of earth's population grasped what Sera wanted. They all knew, in their own way, that he bringing about what Cruxis promised: Salvation. It was here at least. After the broadcast reached the rest of the world, cheering was all that could be heard from any mortal.



A smug smile slipped on Sera's lips. Good thing the wore a mask, else the population would misunderstand his intentions. Just as planned, now for the overture. Sera put his hands up and calmed the crowd,


"This does come with some unfortunate news" Sera nodded to Steed, and merely watched as Steed layed the body of Morik on the Grand Stage. Sera walked over and put on Morik's mask, so that crowd could see on the screens and understand.
"One of our members has fallen, and we have had to replace him. Rom, our creativity made flesh. Yes, I lament that he has fallen due to the intentions of Heaven's Assassins. But despite his death, two good things sprung forth."

Sera removed Morik's mask, as to make the point clear.
"Morik Draven, the malignant emperor of the Shadow Realms, was impersonating as one your emissaries. Although the death of creativity made flesh shall be mourned by all, the potential tragedy made reality has been removed-And that, by itself is cause for celebration."

The confused looks of the front row was all Sera needed to see.
"The most important thing to happen, however, was the birth of this man-"Sera gestured to Steed
"An idea made flesh, like me and perhaps the greatest of us yet, for he represent the most powerful idea mortal have: Love." The crowd erupted in cheers. Although Rom was creativity made flesh, Steed being love made flesh meant only one thing: That everything, absolutely, positively, would be ok. Salvation was most definitively here.


"Yes, love itself has been given a form and that is a true cause for celebration in and of itself, but I have one more!" The cheers were deafening.
"Before I hand the mic to Steed, I share a request with you. tonight, I am going to liberate your brother's and sisters in the Shadow Realm from Morik's hypnotic devices." Loud cheering. By now, noise to Sera-His ears had long since stopped processing information.


"And free the Shadow Realm. My request is that those brave enough, in this very crowd, come with me to assist those poor, damned souls of the Shadow Realm. It will not be easy, and I will only accept those who understand the risk and willingly volunteer. I will not press anyone into service, as that is what heaven and Hell would do; and, all are free to leave at any point should they feel uncomfortable. If you desire to help me, for I shall go no matter what, meet me over there " With that, Sera gestured to stage right and allowed Steed to dominate the stage.




(Ok, it's official. that is the longest post in the history of HVh. No, I don't care what you say, I KNOW THAT IS THE LONGEST POST. And I am going to ******** kill Inferno. I don't care what the repercussions are, but that is too ******** long to do....I mean, it's ******** longer than the introduction to ALL OF THE HVH COMBINED, including this one. That's it, I'm not doing commissions again for a long, long, long time. He ******** owes me cookies or something. I don't care how, but I want to be paid. And now.


Ok, I feel better now.)

When Sera was done rousing Volenteers, he made his way back to the podium. On his way there, he whispered into Steed's ear,
"I have 10,000 able body and minded volenteers. They are to meet us in the back of the tower at dusk. Then, then we march onto the Shadow Realm."


He quickly gave a summary speech and sermon, praising Salvation, before retreating back into the tower.



---


1 hour past dusk, 1 mile from the Shadow Realms back gate.


"The plan that I gave those volenteers is simple: They are to assault the front gate and attract the attention of Morik's Shadow Marines. They do not know it, but most likely, every last man will be slaughtered by those Marines.


Still, it will be a sufficient enough distraction. We sneak in the back gate, creep up Morik's tower, and destroy his Shadow Throne. It's what's controlling the whole area. Once we do that, the area will be free. Any questions?" Only a slight rattle from Sera's mask gave away Sera's direction to Steed , as his with the rest of him, his voice blended in with the night. This was a Night Op, and so Sera was appropriately dressed for it: Black Wolf Mask, black Cruxis coat, and even both of his guns where black-as always. The only Sera was waiting for in order to begin was Steed's confirmation and the sounds of battle ringing off in the distance.