couple of things to keep in mind so you don't get confused:
1. The Aether and Lumine mentioned in the Wall of Time are not the golden-haired siblings we see today. They will be introduced in the next chapter.
2. The Archons and their mortal forms are not the same in this fanfic. Rex Lapis =/= Zhongli and Barbatos =/= Venti
Another AU. Enjoy :)
"Our world, Teyvat, is a beautiful land, home to many diverse people, strange creatures, and dangerous monsters. Hidden in the dense forests, beneath the scorching sands, and frozen within the mountains around the world are secrets that have eluded our comprehension throughout the ages. Few of these secrets have attracted such interest as a select few people who can wield all seven elements freely.
Humans have the ability to wield Visions, which are tokens granted from the gods as a sign of favour. Each nation has its own God, or Archon, and each with its own element. Mondstadt, Anemo. Liyue, Geo. Inazuma, Electro. Sumeru, Dendro. Natlan, Pyro. Fontaine, Hydro. Finally, Snezhnaya with Cryo.
The Seven Nations lived in peace and harmony for centuries. However, at some point, Snezhnaya's desires grew. The Tsaritsa created a force known as the Fatui. The Fatui was a military force that carried out the Tsaritsa's will with extreme precision, never caring about their methods. However, the Tsaritsa targeted Mondstadt first.
Their first mistake.
At the time, Mondstadt had a superior military force. The Knights of Favonius were trained like a well-oiled machine. The Fatui were decimated, and Snezhnaya was banished from the Seven Nations for daring to attack another Nation. However, Snezhnaya was not so easily deterred. They made what, up until now, was probably their biggest mistake. Snezhnaya sent envoys to the Abyss, and created the most powerful alliance ever known. With the help of the Abyss, Snezhnaya conquered everything in its path.
But they were not to remain unchallenged.
The Celestial Guard rode down from above to take on the Abyss. The two opposing realms clashed with a fury of power unrivalled by any except the Archons.
Yet, the Abyss had prepared for this invasion for centuries, and even the legendary Celestial Guard could not stop them.
The Nations continued to fall, until the people called upon the Archons to aid them. The Archons sent their aid in the form of Visions. People wielded these tokens of power once more, and fought back against the Abyss.
And thus began the First Great War.
The Celestial Guard rallied under the Archons and fought the Abyss head-on in a battle of pure force. Humans wielded the Visions granted to them by the Archons, and even mortals who had ascended to godhood came back down to fight.
Despite all this, the Abyss could not be stopped. Snezhnaya had created weapons even more deadly than Visions. They created Delusions, which were more powerful than regular Visions, but they came at a cost. If someone relied on it too much, they would be consumed and killed. However, with every single soldier of the Fatui and the Abyss using one… They were unstoppable. The strongest of the Delusions were referred to as True Delusions. They were given to the best fighters of the Fatui, the Harbingers.
The advantage of this conflict turned when two siblings joined the fight. Aether and Lumine. Two twins, with striking blue eyes and hair dark as night, could wield all seven elements freely. They could work together in perfect coordination and with their leadership, they united all the Celestial Guard and the rest of the Vision wielders. With their leadership, they were able to force the abyssal army back into the Abyss.
With no remaining allies, the Snezhnayan army was forced to retreat back to Mount Elbrus. It was there that the two twins took on all ten of the Fatui Harbingers, and both sides were defeated. Delusions, unlike normal Visions, do not lose their power when their original bearer dies. These ten True Delusions were taken and distributed among the Six remaining Nations for safeguarding. Should the Fatui and Snezhnaya ever return, these must be protecting at all costs, lest the world falls into darkness once more.
Peace and order were restored to Teyvat, and a time for healing and rebuilding began. The wounds caused by the Fatui, however, will be felt forever.
The 1st Wall of Time.
Venti, why exactly did you want to show me this?" Zhongli asked.
"Weellll, seeing as you've been fighting against the Fatui for the past 50 or so years, I thought I might show you this. Your ancestors have been fighting them for even longer. As far as I can tell, no one, not even this accursed Wall of Time, says that the final fight between the two twins and the ten Fatui Harbingers took place at the summit of the mountain. I have sent a couple of scouts there a couple of months ago, to tell me if there's anyone there," Venti replied.
"And… what was their verdict?" Zhongli asked, confused.
"None of the scouts ever returned to me! Why do you think that is?" Venti demanded.
"I don't kn-?" Zhongli began.
"The Fatui, you dumb blockhead, the Fatui!" Venti huffed. "Who else would have stopped them from reporting back to me?"
"You think the Fatui are at Mount Elbrus?" Zhongli asked, surprised. "It's been years since I've lost the trail of the Fatui. Very well. I'll go to Mount Elbrus to investigate. Do you want to come along?"
Venti nodded. "I'd like to investigate. I can support you… and I'd also like to discover the fate of those I sent," Venti admitted. Zhongli nodded.
"Let's go."
They walked outside and took their horse. Spirit was one of the finest mares in all of Teyvat. Zhongli patted the horse's flank.
"You up for another run, Spirit?" The horse neighed affirmatively. It turned around, and Zhongli climbed up. "Come on up, Venti," Zhongli added, proffering a hand to Venti. Venti's slender hand found its way into Zhongli's firm grip, and Zhongli pulled Venti up behind him.
"Why do you have to be so feminine," Zhongli grumbled. "You don't look like a man."
Venti smiled slightly. "As a bard, I can charm both the ladies and the men!" He wrapped his arms around Zhongli's waist. "C'mon, now. Those Fatui won't eliminate themselves."
"You mean those suspected Fatui," Zhongli grumbled. Spirit started galloping away towards the horizon, and towards Mount Elbrus.
As they travelled through the forests, all they encountered were hilichurls and abyss mages. Zhongli and Venti cut all of them down quickly.
"When will they learn," Venti grumbled. "That they stand no chance against us? There's no point in attacking us," he said, gathering sticks.
"Well, they do hate all of us for defeating them the first time in the First Great War, so I guess they do have a grudge," Zhongli said.
Zhongli lit a fire, and the flickering warmth of the flames washed over the two of them. "Hey, Venti?" Zhongli asked.
"Mm?" Venti inquired.
"If another Great War was to break out, who would you worry for the most? And what would you do to protect them?" Zhongli asked.
Venti narrowed his eyes. "Zhongli… Why ask that? Is something the matter?" He was always too good at knowing when something was troubling his friend.
Zhongli sighed. "I'm… not sure. I feel like something big will happen soon. Just answer the question. Who would you worry for the most, and what would you do to protect them?"
Venti sighed. "I would say… the people of Mondstadt. They took me in, accepted me as a bard, accepted what I look like, and listen to my performances. I'd fight with my life to protect them. How about you?"
Zhongli smiled tremulously. "I think you know the answer, don't you, my good friend? You've known me for so long, I'd be surprised if you didn't,"
Venti nodded. "Guizhong, right? You'd fight tooth and nail, life and death, and every single Archon to protect her, wouldn't you?"
Zhongli nodded sadly. "I would. And it seems my time has run out."
Venti was alarmed at his friend's sad tone. He grabbed Zhongli by the shoulders and shook him. "Zhongli. Whatever you are planning, whatever you are thinking, don't. Think of the good times when we were kids. Running around, petting dogs, chasing butterflies. Meeting Guizhong for the first time. Remember when you were head over heels and I teased you relentlessly for it? When you finally asked her out on a date? Don't let it all go to waste. Don't let it be a wasted memory. We'll get through whatever you're going through. Together. Alright?"
Zhongli nodded, eyes closed. "It's late. We have a long journey tomorrow. Get some sleep, Venti. I'll take the first watch."
Venti nodded, troubled. "Don't do anything foolish, alright?"
Zhongli sighed. "Alright. Get some sleep. You'll need it," he finished.
Venti nodded, and his eyes fluttered shut. Zhongli pulled out a small Catalyst. It glowed with a bright yellow light. He stared at it sadly, and even as he watched, the yellow glow faded from it, and it glowed a duller white. Zhongli pressed his eyes close, but he still couldn't suppress the tears that ran down his face. She was gone. Gone forever. He'd failed his duty of protecting her. Zhongli summoned pillars of Geo around them, creating a barrier, lay down on a log, and fell asleep.
The next day, Venti and Zhongli rode as hard as they could to Mount Elbrus. When they reached it, Venti dismounted.
"This is it," Venti said, looking forward. "This is where I sent the scouts to investigate," All that was in front of them was a flat snowy plain with a strange arch off to the side.
"Let's look around," Zhongli said. They spread out, and Zhongli heard Venti's shout.
"Hey, Zhongli! I've found a small camp. And it contains all the gear those scouts went out with," Venti said.
Zhongli came over and inspected the area. Venti walked over, confused. "Why would they leave their stuff where people can find them?"
Zhongli sighed, and his amber eyes darted around.
"Their killers are still here."
Fatui members spread around from smaller caves and crevices.
Zhongli and Venti readied their weapons, and one Fatui stepped forward.
"You must be Zhongli," they said.
Zhongli nodded. "Who might you be?"
"Ah, of course, where are my manners?" the Fatui asked. "I am-"
The Fatui never got to finish his sentence, given that Venti shot him through the heart with an Anemo infused arrow. The rest of the Fatui roared and charged.
Zhongli and Venti held the Fatui, trading blows and strikes. Zhongli shielded both Venti and himself, and Venti gathered all Fatui into an area so Zhongli could do more damage. They quickly began to tire, however and began to slow their attacks. The Fatui, however, seemed to have infinite numbers, more replacing the fallen.
"We have to get out of here," Zhongli said, breathing heavily. More and more Fatui were swarming in the distance.
"I agree," Venti said, panting. "Get to the cliffside. I'll boost us over," he said.
Zhongli and Venti broke ranks and ran, all the way to the cliffside. As they jumped off, Venti shouted, "Wind!" His Anemo Vision glowed brightly, and the winds blew them to the other side of the chasm. Zhongli and Venti looked over to the other side, where the Fatui were gathering. After what seemed like an eternity, the Fatui turned around and left.
Zhongli turned to Venti. "We need to report this to the Knights. They need to know that the Fatui are here.
And that they will return."
Also have a new discord! discord . gg /7Ba8QuAdne