AEON BREAKER
By Twisted Eternal Wolvetta
And Harmonium-Kruger


Starting Theme: Nightwish — I Have To Let You Go (Instrumental)


Unable to focus on Miss Maria's commentary, Natsuki stared aimlessly towards the far wall. She felt terrible. Any other day she'd conclude it's because she hadn't slept the entire night. But something didn't feel right. Were the others aware of this? Surely they should be? The Gakuenchou's anxious gaze swept across the conference hall. The others were completely fixated upon the meeting at hand. They weren't, were they? What is this feeling? Threading her fingers, Natsuki unhooked them moments later. The process continued a dozen times until a hand rested atop hers.

"Natsuki, is something wrong?" The Archmeister leaned close to whisper quietly. "You look petrified." Watching the Gakuenchou silently, Shizuru's worry increased when she didn't receive an immediate answer. "Nats—"

"—Sorry." Natsuki grumbled. "I'm not feeling well, I think."

She hadn't spoken loudly, yet all eyes at the table were on her. She cleared her throat, waving her hand to allow the meeting to proceed. It was like she had forgotten something, or perhaps, remembered it. What had she remembered? Infuriatingly enough, she instantly forgot. Her mind was a haze of its own creation, and she was awfully confused. What's going on?

Absent-mindedly, Natsuki glanced down at the empty cup her hand had been circling. No, Shizuru had prepared her tea. There was no way the elder would harm her in any manner such as that. She hadn't been… drugged. Wracking her brain, the Gakuenchou closed her eyes. Try as she might, she could not ward off the impending migraine threatening to burst through.

Abruptly standing, her chair scraped along the tiled floor harshly. It reverberated across the hall, silencing the meeting once again. Evidently self-conscious, Natsuki quickly excused herself. "I need to leave." Giving Shizuru and Maria apologetic looks, she fled from the chamber. Now inside the long corridor, she leaned against the closed double doors and sighed. The strained atmosphere which had been growing dissipated suddenly. The confusion however, did not.

Mai had been in that meeting. But wasn't she…? Brow furrowing, the sense of unease reeled back. The Fourth Column? But she's missing? Hands resting behind her against the door, Natsuki's gaze slowly rose from the marbled floor.

What was happening?

"Natsuki?"

Bolting against the door to the sound of her name, the Gakuenchou sought the source. Mai. Mai, who was standing down the corridor. Mai, who should have still been in the conference hall. The bafflement only spiked as she tried to understand how Mai was here. The conference hall only had one set of doors, and she was leaning against them.

Was she going insane?

"What are you doing here? Don't you remember we had a Trias meeting with Meister Shizuru?"

Natsuki suddenly realised that Mai was in her old Pearl uniform. Gaze lowering, she discovered that she was as well. Flinching backwards, the doors rattled against their hinges as she stared at her. What? "M-Mai? But you were in the conference hall?"

"What are you talking about?" Approaching her, the Zipangese royal leaned forward to inspect her oddly. "Natsuki? Are you alright?"

She was quite far from alright. A sharp glint of pain flashed within her mind, and suddenly she was… back? Her coat fell around her as she shoved herself away from the doors, searching the corridor.

No one.

There hadn't been anyone there to begin with. Surely not, not with her own body barring the entrance and exit to the room. What the hell had that been?! Was this stress-induced? Should she go to the infirmary or keep this to herself? Rumours of the Gakuenchou hallucinating or worse would not do in this sensitive political climate.

No, she would have to deal with this herself. Question is, where should she go? Her quarters?

Hesitantly heading down the corridor, her paranoia swiftly grew. There's no one here. Though the more she reminded herself of this, the worse the unsettling sensation surged. Reaching the exit, she grasped the cold handles. Natsuki paused. What if something else happened if she left this building? A flood of scenarios engulfed her migraine-stricken mind. Was something causing this? Were her memories jumbling? Were they connected to Mai? Fingers whitening against bronze, she couldn't shift that fear.

She had to turn her thoughts off. Unsettled, and by what? An odd memory, or hallucination? Surely there were explanations?

"I need to relax." Yes, that was the answer to seeing ghosts. Were they ghosts? The ghost of a memory? The whisper of a maybe?

Natsuki almost tore the door off its hinges when she opened it: Thrusting her body through the invisible barrier that separated her from the outside world. She had to shut her mind down. Too many thoughts raced, and they were playing tricks on her. Correct, that was it. ...Right?

A few students stared after her in confusion. Why was their Gakuenchou sprinting full-pelt towards her quarters? That was strange.

Arriving at the quarters in record time, her chest heaved. It was late afternoon, but it didn't add up. When she had exited the conference hall it had been the morning. Ugh. Leaning her shoulder against the wall, she peered down to the academy. Nothing looked out of place. Apart from the fact it was far later into the day. Fingers slowly lifting to her GEM, she initiated its intercom. "...Send… send me through to the Fourth Column."

"The Fourth Column is yet to be appointed. Did you me—"

What in Founder's hell is going on?!

"The Gakuenchou's stress levels are nearing dangerous proportions—"

"Shut down." Natsuki switched the intercom off. Running her hands down her face, her mind went wild. Then… Mai hadn't been in the conference hall? At all? What was happening to her? She was starting to get scared.

So, to recount: She had experienced an hallucination of someone that wasn't there. Another potentially from a memory, and somehow she had lost time?

Wait—

"Send me through to Tokiha Mai." Anxiety brimming, her stomach lunged when the call went through.

"I thought I told you to stop calling me? We're through."

"Ma—"

"No means no!"

Oh, her head. Pressing the heel of her palm against her temple, Natsuki winced. This Mai hated her for some reason. We're through…? Whatever did she mean by th—Natsuki's mouth gaped slightly in quiet realisation. Is she dating this Mai? Hesitantly peering downwards, she checked her clothing. She was still in her current outfit. Gaze wandering aimlessly across the academy, she brushed her fingers back to her GEM. "Link me through to the Archmeister."

"Natsuki? Are you feeling alright? She has not contacted anyone since the meeting..."

At least Shizuru sounded normal.

Natsuki swallowed roughly, sighing as she moved to the front door. Taking a seat on the step, she rubbed her temple as she tried to focus. "I'm not sure, Shizuru." She was being honest, but not trying to tell the elder everything. Perhaps she should?

"Shizuru… Is… Is Mai here?"

There was silence for a brief moment; the Archmeister evidently thought the question through first. "...She is still missing. Natsuki, where are you?"

So, she's missing like before this mess. Before, after, during? Her expression scrunched up in confusion. Was she truly mad, or was something supernatural ensuing? Avoiding the question, she asked: "Fuuka Castle burned down fourteen years ago, didn't it?" Perhaps if she asked this again, she could begin to trace a pattern. But, Natsuki sighed. She was well over her head, wasn't she? "Zipang is still locked to foreigners as well, correct?"

"Whyes?"

"I'm at the office." Natsuki answered her first question. "I think something's wrong, Shizuru. Are you free?" Entering the quarters, she opened the door into the office.

"Stay there. I shall arrive shortly."

Why did that sound so ominous? Natsuki took off her coat to hang it over the back of her chair. Sitting down, she tried to relax. Just what was happening here? Perhaps someone had dosed her? Where has she been recently… Who had she met with? Someone, somewhere, had done this. A trance? Public transport…

Anyone?

No… the only contact she had today had been with the Columns and Miss Maria. She had only drank a single cup of tea, neither had she eaten. Unless…? No, no, no. Shizuru would never do such a thing.

"Natsuki?"

Jumping mildly in her seat, Natsuki's eyes flew to the open door. Rather than be greeted by Shizuru, Mai was here instead.

"You have more paperwork." Heading over to her desk—fully illuminated by daylight—Mai placed down the documentation before her. "Miss Maria said something about… ah! She told me to tell you that you need to go to the conference hall later. Shizuru Viola's going to be appointed to the Fourth Column."

'I, what, where?' Natsuki stared through her, realising that this Mai was the Archmeister. Then, before her eyes Mai vanished. Instead an increasingly worried Shizuru knelt close to her. "O-oh thank God." She sighed with relief, wrapping her arms around her.

"...Natsuki?" Shizuru's hands hovered behind her, not sure whether she should touch her. "What's… what is the matter?"

"I…" Natsuki didn't know how to even explain it. Resting her chin to her Archmeister's shoulder, she stared towards the doors. "...Mai keeps showing up."

"Natsuki… but she has been missing for—

"—Years, I know." Pulling away, Natsuki released a tense breath of frustration. Rubbing her brow, she vainly attempted to remove the pressure building up there. "I don't get what's going on. She was there earlier, at the conference meeting. I went into the hallway, and she was there again… except…" Natsuki frowned, her gaze falling to Shizuru's lap.

The Archmeister could only await her answer silently: Hands drawing near to capture Natsuki's own.

"...She was there too." Natsuki refused to look at her, staring at their entwined hands. "But we were both wearing our student uniforms. I didn't know what to do, so I came here, but it was somehow already the afternoon. She's… I tried calling her, it was a different Mai or something. I think I broke up with that one." Stealing a glance at Shizuru, she caught an uncharacteristic expression from her. The Archmeister's lips were slightly parted, clear speechlessness cast upon her face. "I-I—She was the Archmeister, and you were about to be appointed the Fourth Colu—Shizuru?"

Warranted confoundation overwhelmed Natsuki. Proceeding herself, was the office expanding in length. On one side was Shizuru—the other, Natsuki. Calling out to the elder Meister Otome, it was too late, for outworldly illumination blinded them. "Shizu—?!"

"—tsuki?!" But this wasn't Shizuru's voice which called out to her.

Surrounded by darkness, Natsuki remained deadly still. Then, unto her, vision returned. The office resumed back to normal, but rather than Shizuru, it was Mai once again.

"Thank Gods'!" Mai cried, wrapping her arms around the Gakuenchou desperately. "I thought you had died!"

"I—w-what? Mai?"

"You need to help me. I've been trying to reach you for hours."

"W-wait, slow down." Grasping the younger Otome's arms, Natsuki eased her away. "Help you with what?"

"In the future. Next month everyone will die. It's a super-weapon—the Harmonium of the Wind Weavers—"

"—S-stop." This was still way too fast! "What is the Harmonium?" Isn't that a type of piano? Natsuki stared into violet eyes, unaware that behind her, moonlight shone outside. Time had already sped along; who knows how long has already passed?

"During the Twelve Nation War, the Harmonium was used as a defensive weapon by Windbloom. It was built by Garderobe—a Weaver, Otome and an old song is needed. But…"

"But…?"

"Natsuki, you need to stop Altai. They will use Nina Wáng against you. She has all three of those things."

Nina Wáng? Natsuki stared at a loss, then it clicked. Nina Wáng is the missing Princess? She thought back to the previous monarchs of Windbloom, adding one and two together. She was the spitting image of Bruce and Sifr. How hadn't anyone noticed…? "She has an appointment tomorrow morning with the Grand Duke—" She twisted around, expression transforming into horror as she stared outside.

It was already morning.

Scrambling to her feet, she returned her attention to Mai. "We need to hurry—" Alas, for the royal was no longer there. Instead, her gaze drifted to the sitting area. There Shizuru lay asleep. Rushing over, she gently shook the Archmeister's shoulder. Has she been here all night? "Shizuru! Wake up!"

"N-hm…" Shizuru wearily awoke, blinking tiredly at Natsuki. It took a few moments for her to realise she had returned. Quickly she prised herself upwards, making a motion to stand. "Natsuki! What hap—"

"—Listen to me." The Gakuenchou stooped closer, hands latching Shizuru's forearms. "We don't have the time. We need to stop Nina Wáng's appointment with the Grand Duke. In a month we'll all die because of the Harmonium." The further she explained the situation, the more Shizuru's demeanour shifted. "She's King Bruce and Queen Sifr's missing daughter. Altai will force her to use the Harmonium, Windbloom's forgotten super-weap—"

"—The meeting is already underway."

Darkness consumed Natsuki's vision as those dreadful words were spoken to her. Swiftly standing her full height, Natsuki whirled around apprehensively. Her surroundings were nothing but stygian. There's just… nothing. No sight. Neither words. Merely void.

Her body was sinking; like her soul was drowning within ethereal waves. She knew of such impossible things: Of matters not belonging to herself. Shizuru had stopped the appointment but chaos had ensued. All-out war had broken out between Altai and Windbloom. One sought regicide. The other total control.

Windbloom had attempted to assassinate Nina Wáng.

Rage welled within the Gakuenchou's being. They dared harm one of her students?!

It didn't end. Foreign memories burned into Natsuki. Soldiers had apprehended Garderobe but Meister—students included—fought back. Ruin, desolation and smouldering flames enveloped her senses. Then, an image of the Harmonium blasted before her.

Slamming to the stone floor, the wind was smashed from Natsuki's lungs.

"G-Gakuenchou?!" A familiar voice shouted in disbelief.

…Is that Nina Wáng? Natsuki lifted her head, clearly stunned. A large group of Meister surrounded her… wherever this was. It was a grand subterranean chamber littered with gothic architecture. Beside her was a shocked Nina who stood beside Mai. Both were materialised in Robes she hadn't seen before. Stumbling upwards, Natsuki heaved for air, attempting to grasp the situation swiftly. "W-what… happened?"

"Garderobe has been besieged. This is the last of us—" Mai quickly updated her. "—We need to destroy the Harmonium, but it's too dangerous. The explosion would destroy the entire Castle."

"C-astle…? W-hat… do you mean?"

"The Harmonium was sealed beneath Wind Castle—" An ardent explosion interrupted their hurried conversation. All around her, the chamber warped unexplainably; pillars collapsed, rubble and debris scattering and billowing. Until again… nothing. Next, mayhem, carnage and death.

She saw the worst sights. Old friends, acquaintances and students were cut down by bullet fire. This is… not happening! Knees weakened, they hit the brittle floor as reality returned. W-where's… where is… Shizuru? Natsuki was enclosed by carrion—

"—Natsuki. I can fix this." Mai's hand squeezed her shoulder. S-she's alive! Natsuki made an attempt to stand, but froze as she peered up at her. Behind them were the burning corpses of Altai soldiers. The Zipangese Princess meanwhile, was bloody and torn. She forced a smile at Natsuki, her free arm covering a brutal torso wound. Blood sickeningly oozed from behind the Meister's hand, staining orange into dark crimson.

What does she mean? Wait. No! Natsuki helplessly watched Mai head towards the sealed Harmonium. Fingers slotting into the doors' crevices, Mai heaved it open. The full grandeur of the weaponised organ was revealed to them and it was massive. But, Natsuki still didn't understand: How does this thing manipulate time? There's so many questions spiralling out of control. Is this a dream? A nightmare? Everyone around them is dead. How was Mai not responding to this? Why isn't she reacting to it either? "I—Mai!"

The younger Meister paused, looking at her. She smiled sadly, turning her back on the Harmonium to speak. "It's felt like years trying to stop this." Mai looked to the piano momentarily, gaze settling back onto the stunned Gakuenchou. "It probably has been. Listen Natsuki. This cursed thing is doing this because of me. I don't know why, and I don't care anymore, I…" Her eyes downcast, staring at the stone steps. "You must—"

"No!" Natsuki vehemently declined her, knowing precisely what she was about to declare. "I'm not killing you?!" How could Mai even insinuate that?! "How do you expect me to do that?! For Natsuki, twenty minutes hasn't even passed since reuniting with Mai. How does someone go from that to this? Alas, a rumble reverberated through her very soul, spooking her.

The ground was shaking—it's the Harmonium.

"Do it!" Mai yelled above the organ, dematerialising her Robe.

S-she—no! Natsuki couldn't, wh—a crown of argent light blasted her senses. Turmoil and bedlam tormented this mortal plane. Their surroundings were crooked; gothic architecture twisting and churning nauseatingly. It was too much to handle—far more—

"—A-ah?!" Natsuki stumbled backwards, pieces of the floor disintegrating beneath her feet. Gaze shooting to the Harmonium, she fearfully watched their environment be erased. Mai never disappeared, yelling out at her. Yet… Natsuki didn't hear a thing escape her lips.

Her old friend whom she dearly missed must be shot down.

An icy missile bolted through the distorted pandemonium and blasted through the Otome and Harmonium. An explosion sent shrapnel in all directions. All was eerily silent as the now materialised Natsuki held her breath.

"Tell everyone I'm sorry."

The disembodied voice invaded Natsuki's mind who covered her head from the detonation. What? "Mai?!" She cried out, trying to find her. Unfortunately, there was nothing but an empty chamber… Where have the bodies gone? Then, the impossible was witnessed.

Time was reversing at inconceivable speed.

The bodies returned into existence, a crown of emerald light engulfing them from above: The glimmer entered these bodies. Hopelessness was transformed into triumph as her Meister and students were resurrected. It didn't stop here.

Weary and confused, they—Altain soldiers included—looked at each other. What had just happened?

Time halted, Natsuki's surroundings changing entirely.

Back to crouching within her office, Natsuki's gaze slowly rose to Shizuru's. She had… been sent back?

"N-Natsuki?" Her Archmeister whispered with amazement. "I-I thought you had died!" Wrapping her arms tightly around her, Shizuru sobbed.

W-what?

Tokiha Mai does not yet exist… for she is Time itself: A false God of manufactured concept.


Ending Theme: Nightwish — Heart Lying Still (Instrumental)


A/N: Harmonium-Kruger and I started this story at some point last year. We were never able to finish it together, so I wrote its conclusion alone. I was worried that the mystery and suspense would be broken, but it turned out perfect. I've left Aeon Breaker wide open in case we ever resume writing together.