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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:28 pm
Finally, finally, all of his hard work was going to be put to the test. As he wandered the Tower, Haumea brushed long fingers against the repairs he'd made. He wanted this place to look the best it possibly could under the circumstances. He desperately wanted and needed General-King Zinkenite's approval in this endeavor. And he would hardly inspire confidence if the Tower looked as if a hobo convention had come through.
"Mother Metallia," he whispered a prayer, "I have managed to overcome so much. Please let my work here have been good enough to keep this place from crumbling around my ears."
Finally, he couldn't help himself. He went up the spiral stairs, eyes fixed on the domed ceiling and the wonderous map of the heavens it contained. He was certain that it was not his imagination when one lone, little star flared brightly in his presence. And so close to where he stood was a podium. The last of the gears had been fitted ever-so-carefully into it's base. So much depended on the Tower's mechanics...
"So many died to see this quest completed," he murmured, talked to the thing and letting his thoughts coalesce. "So many died to give us this amazing chance to prove ourselves. May Metallia keep their memories safe."
For a moment, Haumea looked as if he was ready to mount the podium and be damned to patience. He'd waited so long, he couldn't bear to wait any longer! But no. He had to wait because the General King needed to witness this. The tall eternal needed the General King to understand the work and the sacrifice... just in case.
Lost in thought, he thought he heard the faint scrape of a boot against rock and smiled.
"I'm up here," he called softly, not wanting to take his eyes from the heavenly map for even a moment.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:41 pm
“I thought you might be.” He said softly. “I’ll assume from your demeanor, among other things… “He said and glanced meaningfully around the tower. “Yau’re ready, and of course I’m obligated to point out there are always risks with such an endeavor.” He glanced at the platform for a long moment, before turning back. “But, I am ready when you are.” He said with a small nod. “though for such a moment, it can hardly be rushed, can it.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:58 pm
With a smile bordering on the fanatical, Haumea turned to give the General King a deep bow of respect. After all, this was the man who'd helped him to find his feet within the Dark Kingdom. It was fitting that he should be here for this.
"But are there not risks involved with any great endeavor?" Haumea countered, the barest hint of a chuckle in his voice. "In this case, I think the gains far, far outweigh the risks."
Feeling at complete peace with his choices, Haumea answered Zinkenite's nod with one of his own. How well the General King understood!
"Ever since the dreams, I have been moving to this moment," he answered quietly. "My only regret is that Alkaid is not here to see that her teachings were not in vain."
Giving himself a shake, Haumea pulled himself uptight and moved onto the podium. His eyes closed for a moment, hands hovering over the podium grips as the map above began to spin and twirl, desperate to point him 'home'. When his eyes opened, they were resolute.
"My faith in Metallia is unquestioning, but should I not prove strong enough for Her gift, you must take the tale back. Make sure this place is not forgotten again."
Then, wrapping his hands around the grips, feeling the Chaos that now powered this place, Haumea knew that there was no retreating from this. The magic had locked him into place and for now, all he need do was to focus on Metallia and the brilliant little 'star' in the map that was his.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:25 pm
He watched at the star map swung, it seemed wild in its movements, flitting from place to place searching so quickly there was no way he could have mapped it’s progress, but when it found the star, the place that this one of the sensei took his strength from, it locked into place as though it had found it’s prey, and would not risk loosing it. “Strength is what we make of it though, isn’t it.” he said quietly. “We find strength when most we need it, or we do not, and we perish.” The words were quiet but focused, he would do his best to record every detail of this process, and whatever he could of the mechanics of this place as well.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 7:03 pm
Zinkenite's words were a vague whisper on the wind as Haumea went still, staring at a swirling, mesmerizing cloud that his planet hid behind. But it wasn't right that it should hide. As the eternal corrupt gave himself up fully to Metallia's will, trusting in Her will, the shroud obscuring his planet lifted.
And that was when Metallia acted, sending a lance of pure Chaos through Haumea.
Haumea had known pain before, but never quite on this level. Yet, he welcomed it, knew it was essential if he were ever to become more than a simple corrupt senshi of the Dark Kingdom. He would give Metallia a world's starseed to place within Her crown.
"Anything you will," he thought he heard himself murmur as the Chaos and tower's combined power slingshot the senshi through space. And when his 'feet' touched a rocky surface, he found himself looking around curiously. Moved to touch the remains of a tree and then realized that that he could see through his own hand. He was here on his planet, but... removed.
As it should be, he thought fiercely. His world belonged to his Goddess. He belonged to Metallia. Now and always and forever.
Heart and soul pulsing with Chaos as Metallia used him as the conduit with which to consume his ancient homeworld, Haumea laughed gleefully through the pain. As he walked across his planet, he could see the effects of Metallia's corruption spreading.
Haumea was nothing more than a speck at the center of the most beautiful, consuming fire in existence. And he reveled in the flames. Reveled in the burning, cleansing touch of his Goddess, his Queen, his Mother.
"More," he whispered. "Take it all, I give this place to you as a gift. I give you my soul, my unswerving loyalty. Take the heart of this world and let it burn."
As his planet shriveled and died around him, Haumea laughed. And when the pain of being a conduit grew to a level almost too much to bear, Haumea forced himself to laugh on. This was his sacrifice. This was his atonement. Never again would be be beguiled and tricked by the folk of the White Moon. Never again would he battle against the only true goddess he'd ever encountered.
Hail Metallia, full of beauty, full of grace, he thought, giving his soul forever into Her keeping.
Haumea wasn't sure when the flow of Chaos began to trickle away. Was only vaguely aware of seeing a dead, charred husk of a world spinning away as he was drawn back to the Tower.
And when he was suddenly in his own body, the magic that had kept him locked to the podium released and he collapsed, panting and shrouded by a dark cloud of Chaos.
Unable to stand and feeling very much as if he'd personally flapped his arms and carried himself to his planet, Haumea lay where he'd fallen. Only when he felt certain that the earth of the Dark Kingdom was truly supporting him did he dare to crack open one tangerine eye.
And he was witness to the change that he'd only ever seen before in his dreams. The crackled and Chaos seeping skin of an Ascended. Laughter burbling up from his throat, Haumea crowed to the Heavens. His gift had been deemed worthy. He was what he had been meant to be.
"Oh Mother," his voice crackled and grated. "I will make you so proud!"
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