While the drama of the interaction between Dirk and Ouroboros swirled about Alba Cavanich, a very similar encounter of sorts was occurring on an entirely different continent.

Within Makna Forest — situated within its own isolated landmass now, atop the back of the former Bionis; such an intimidating appearance from afar, being a rainforest spanning so wide and deep that it might as well be its own country — Joran quietly watched as Nikol fiddled with Nopon-style rifles. "I can't believe Dadapon's the one who actually invented those," murmured Joran.

"Riki is surprisingly insightful, despite his demeanor," remarked Nikol. Despite being two years older than Joran, there was still a youthful vigor with how he examined the way gunberries absorbed and expelled ether. "Growing up, I noticed that he always liked to play the fool whenever our families hung out, if it meant other people would smile. I...like that kind of attitude, to life."

"Yeah..." Joran quietly looked down at the little whittling knife in his hand, which was idly working on a small little chunk of wood from the bluesky tree. There was a strange impulse to follow certain motions, as though practiced. (Even though he had never whittled wood before this year.) "...say, Nikol. Do you...have memories of that other world...?"

The blond blinked, looking at him with a confusion that was somehow knowing. "Erm...well..." He nervously rubbed at the mechanical gauntlets of his own making, which included numerous widgets for scanning; the ether throughput of a rather plump gunberry was being analyzed at the moment. "...sort of? I can't really say for sure..."

"...right." Joran looked out from where they were sitting, just outside the housing of Riki's extended family. The Nopon had always been fantastic hosts, despite the disparity in sizes between humanoid species and the native Nopon. The greatest tree of Maktha loomed high, filled with the dwellings of untold numbers of Nopon: it was straight out of a fairy tale, fitting for halcyon times...and far removed from a world of eternal war. "My siblings...Lanz, Noah, and Eunie...they all seem like they've been changing, lately...in little ways. Just like me..."

Nikol frowned, pausing in his analysis of the gunberry. "...it's strange. My father, Shulk...ever since the worlds became one again, he's been warning me and my older brother Crys that our memories and personalities might be affected. A 'Somatic Feedback Resonance Loop', is what he's taken to calling it. Something about how our experiences in Aionios left an imprint upon everyone who lived there...so even though our worlds reset before such events ever 'occurred'...we're retaining that reality within us." The older boy nervously chuckled, as one embarrassed. "Well, he used much more technical language when he was talking with Melia and Vanea about it..."

"...I see." Joran wondered just what had happened to him in Aionios, to make him feel so bloody miserable from time to time. "Is it bad to say that I hate it?"

Nikol smiled sadly. "I think that's a perfectly normal feeling to have."

Joran nodded, feeling a private bit of relief...even as, inwardly, he dreaded the niggling feeling that his siblings didn't hate it as much as he did.

(This feeling would only be confirmed once Noah, Eunie, and Lanz returned days later: not different to the point they were unrecognizable, but transformed nonetheless.)

xxxx

/Four Years after the Rejoining/

Argentum Trade Guild - Intelligence Division
Summary of Recent Findings (INFORMATION RANK: HIDEY-HIDEY)

Chairman Niranira,

Matters of interest regarding current affairs, per your request:

- Partnership with Kevesi Nopon "Riku" bearing fruit; much interest he has in ensuring stable relations between Keves and Agnus. Has indicated ongoing discussions with third nation (see prior correspondence under heading [CITY]) that is present far away, well beyond all territory within current reach of Guild. High-level diplomatic discussion ongoing, not for public eye (apparently by request of third party?). Efforts at scouting this new region aided greatly by help of native Nopon named "Niranira" (no relation to Chairman beyond name), who is interested in maps.

- New shipping service started by Kevesi Homs "Triton" and Agnian Ardainian "Irma"; focus on monster bashing, exploration, and salvaging (first part real important, given presence of great monsters roaming the skies and seas of this new world). Contact established with Nopon on crew named "Api"; confirmed that both Triton and Irma are both former members of Moebius from Aionios. Yet they operate with sanction of both Queen Nia and Queen Melia. Possibly confirm that they have leeway to go into zones quarantined from public access, including those belonging to third nation, and even beyond? Personality profiles indicate they surprisingly amiable; possibly open for future contracts with Argentum?

- Mapping of New Elysium surface now considered complete. Due to presence of monsters and beasts, exploration of caverns, caves, and other underground geographic features will be more time-consuming. Prior attempt at hiring Blade "Azami" of Master Driver unsuccessful, as mineral typing underground appear to be interfering with her Clairvoyant Eye. (Speculation that since disappearance of Cloud Sea, way by which her Clairvoyant Eye work has been reduced in effectiveness. Would make sense of why she need to be in proximity of Queen Nia to provide proper protection detail.) Recommend use of bounties to entice mercenaries for task.

- Salvaging of oceans continue to bear much fruit (see prior correspondence under heading [OLD WORLD FINDINGS]). Seas around Morytha have difficulties with procurement due to presence of Indoline Remnant. Recommend letting Agnus and Keves handle any diplomatic overtures to Indoline Remnant, due to their...sensitivity.

For fun and profit of Argentum,

Pupunin
Director of Agnus Salvaging Ops
Intelligence Liaison for Kevesi Agents

xxxx

At the boundary line between where the Gormotti Titan and the Leftherian Titan's territory touched on New Elysium, the city of White Chair — named after the former capital that had been destroyed decades before, when Gormott had been annexed by Mor Ardain — loomed as a definitive landmark. It was here where Echell Palace stood as the ruling seat of Queen Nia, and where Gormott — in the years before the Intersection — had formally became independent as a result of a treaty with Mor Ardain, signed by both Nia and Emperor Niall Ardanach, with Queen Raqura of Uraya and Prince Ozychlyrus of Tantal serving as witnesses.

It was here where Pyra and Mythra had founded an academy to serve as a means of educating the youths that were the future of their people; not only providing them the means to make their own way in life, but also aiming to stop the fear and ignorance that had led to many tragedies in the past.

It was here, within Pyra's office, where a student was being disciplined...to an extent.

"Dirk...I understand your frustration," said the red-haired matron, her eyes glimmering with empathy. "I understand why you felt compelled to hit the boy who touched Glimmer-"

"I've always told 'em to treat girls well," growled Dirk, his hands stuck underneath his armpits. "I told 'em. Mio and Glim always scoffed at my line about training the boys to be gentlemen, but I was serious. I meant what I said."

Pyra's inner flame — sparking at the thought of a randy student trying to get fresh with Glimmer, even if it had been done as a prank gone horribly wrong — dimmed because of the consequences. "You knocked out two of his teeth. You sent him to the hospital with a concussion."

"Like Dad wouldn't have done worse-"

"Like Glimmer couldn't have done worse," interrupted Pyra, not letting Dirk derail the importance of the conversation. "You know very well that your sisters are no pushovers, and that they can take care of themselves. You know that. So why go to such lengths?" Dirk didn't answer, save for a stern frown; it had become a more common expression, in recent months. "Your classmates can't help but gossip; they're not ignorant about Aionios, not when they have family members who are struggling with the same issues. But you seem to go out of your way to make them think the worst of you. All of your old friends want nothing to do with you anymore."

"Fine by me. They're losers," he hissed.

"You don't believe that."

"And why shouldn't I?" he retorted, looking downward with a grimace. "Talking about silly stuff, day in and day out; blathering about stupid drama and crap that doesn't even matter in the grand scheme of things. It's all so pointless."

"...that seems like an excuse, to me," said Pyra, with a solemnity that was both nostalgic yet sad in equal measure. "Your mother and I have...experience...when it comes to excuses that mask the truth of what we're really after." With a somber smile, she added, "You can't hide anything from me, young man."

Dirk's jaw clenched, as he bit down on an impulsive response.

That by itself was sign enough, so Pyra took an educated guess. "I think you're trying to push everyone away. I think you believe that you're going to 'become D' eventually, and that you're priming everyone for that eventuality. That way, instead of being a tragedy...it'll be something that people can celebrate." It was a horrible thing to ponder, yet she could not help but think that this is what Dirk was after.

And by the Architect, she was right on the money; the boy looked stricken. "People cheer, when monsters get put down; if I have to be stopped, I don't want anyone to feel sad."

"Dirk, you're not a monster-"

"Then why isn't anything working?!" He suddenly stood up, eyes wide with desperation. "All those sessions with Oleg, trying out all the other therapists...all that effort, and for what?! I can still hear the bastard's voice!" Throwing out his hands, Dirk began listing names. "Foots, Kyrie, Namuki, Chickadee, Nico, Hildemarie, Whitby, Juniper...they've all had to go through this sort of thing, and they're all showing progress! They're all learning how to manage! But I ain't improvin'! It only feels like it's getting worse!"

"Therapy doesn't go at the same rate for everyone...and those students each had their own particular problems." Pyra knew for a fact that the aftereffects of resonance had varied between those students Dirk had just named; Juniper had dealt with a brief bout of fatalism, while Nico had gotten into the habit of referring to herself in the third-person exclusively, just to provide some relatively lighthearted examples. "It isn't fair to compare yourself to anyone else-"

Dirk slammed his fists onto Pyra's desk, causing various effects to rattle. "Mom...I know it's not fair. I know nothin' about this is fair. But people are looking at me and wondering what's wrong with our family. I can hear every person whispering about whether or not my sisters are also gonna snap one day, because siblings are always the same, right?" he growled with bitter sarcasm. "Even if Mio and Glim hide it well, I know they're getting frustrated. And it's my fault. They're gettin' dragged down into the mud with me, and I hate it."

Pyra didn't respond, not immediately; how could she, in the face of such raw, heartfelt sentiment? Looking out the window, she watched as the dimming sunlight cast a warm glow over the forested mountains of New Elysium, dotted with the artificial lights of numerous settlements that had been founded since the Cloud Sea had vanished. She listened to the harsh breathing of her sister's son — of her son by right if not by blood — and pondered the discordant harmony of his ragged voice. Finally, with a tone that evoked acquiescence, she asked, "What do you want?"

"I need to get out of this school; it ain't helping anyone," Dirk insisted. "Dad was working on his own for years by my age, and he became a bloody Driver at fifteen; before long, I'll be as old as Dad was when he went on his big adventure with you, Mum, and Mother. I just...need to do something worthwhile, something that doesn't involve just sitting amidst all this...noise..."

Pyra wanted to refute his idea; Rex had been an orphan, selflessly working from a young age to pay back those who had taken him in, to support a bunch of Leftherian orphans that had been too young to provide for themselves; Rex had also been swept along in events well beyond what any young man should have had to deal with, even though he had risen to the occasion. Dirk had parents; a loving family, with people who would have done anything for him...and yet, that reality, instead of liberating Dirk, was weighing him down because of his own self-perceived failures...and it seemed that no one could tell him otherwise. "Dirk...we'll talk with Mythra and Rex about it. They're the ones who will have the final say...but I'll try to convince them,"

The sheer gratitude on his face was painful to witness. "Thanks, Mom."

Pyra looked down at her desk, staring at framed photos detailing the history of the academy she and her sister had founded; one, in particular, portrayed her three children from when they had been much younger. Because it had been the very first year of the school's existence, they had gone with a full-blown 'graduation' ceremony to mark the advancement of their first class from one educational grade to the next. They had pulled back on the pomp and circumstance going forward, but that first time had nonetheless been special; seeing Glimmer, Dirk, and Mio sporting white graduation caps — oversized, naturally — with cheeky grins had not only become a fond memory, but a reminder of just how bright the future was for them.

Now, in the midst of Dirk effectively running away from his problems, that happiness seemed to have burned away like ash. Then again...we're not strangers to running away either, Pyra mused, thinking of how she, Rex, Mythra, and Nia had all run from their problems in some form or another before rising up to finally get past them.

She could only hope that the trend would hold.

xxxx

/Five Years after the Rejoining/

Argentum Trade Guild - Intelligence Division
Summary of Recent Findings (INFORMATION RANK: SNEAKY-SNEAKY)

Chairman Niranira,

Matters of interest regarding current affairs, per your request:

- Agnians who get Blade features because of Intersection and Rejoining still subject of much interest. Official term still pending debate (Pseudo-Blades, Hybrid Blades, Blademen, Bladeypon, etcetera). Research ongoing alongside Kevesi teams under direct command of "Monadopon Shulk", due to potential link with 'Somatic Feedback Resonance Loop' phenomenon (see prior correspondence under heading [AIONIOS]). Recommend Nopon still play up cutesy-cutesy angle, to stave off suspicion as to why Nopon seem to have no problem with memories. (Not Nopon's fault we unchanged by Aionios. Maybe humans should instead 'get goody-good', as littlepon say!) Also recommend that attention instead be directed to Kevesi individuals who are classified as "Face Units" (see prior correspondence under heading [MECHON]), since they appear to have fewer issues with Aionios memories relative to their fellows.

- Former Chairman Bana, and his father Don Dondon, have been found after their breakout from imprisonment following the Rejoining. They have teamed up with Kevesi Nopon also named Bana (why so many Nopon with similar names?), seeking to monopolize share of black market and piracy. Strong suspicion that they are ones bankrolling Gulkin raids on legal shipping vessels. Unsure if they intend to compete or ally selves with other leading force in piracy, led by Kevesi woman by name of Rana (whose disdain for Nopon in her crews has made information-grabbing difficult).

- Preliminary attempts at establishing Guild branch in "City" (proper name under deliberation by natives, per most recent chatter) unsuccessful; correspondence from local Nopon "Samon" and "Burrburr" indicate that inhabitants collectively unwilling to establish full relations with Keves and Agnus due to concerns with tensions from time in Aionios (though this subject to change). Also indication that they are ones who come into possession of unknown object that was logged by Guild agents shortly after Rejoining, which might explain reluctance more proper-like (see all prior correspondence under heading [BLUE LIGHT]).

- Guild branch in Makna Forest fully established. Still no success in finding out reason for reputation of "Legendary Heropon". Recommend not crossing, lest he crush all of us in with fury of Burninating Tantrum! (Liaison Riku think we overplaying danger; Intelligence Division think he trying to downplay power of his dadapon.)

For fun and profit of Argentum,

Pupunin
Head of Salvaging Operations
Intelligence Liaison for Foreign Agents

xxxx

Within the depths of New Elysium, in the territory just beyond the established borders of Gormott and Leftheria, Rex was running as fast as he could; by his side were three of his Blades: Roc, Wulfric, and Azami. "Do you see him?!" exclaimed Rex, his hands gripping tightly onto the avian Blade's dual scythes.

Azami, lightly skipping forward along the forest growth, inhaled deeply as her left eye once again glowed with her clairvoyant power. "Four hundred peds and closing."

"YOUNG LORD STILL FIGHTING BIG GOGOL?" loudly asked Wulfric.

"Yes. Provincial Barbarossa is still standing." With an unnerving giggle, Azami added, "Not quite as big as Territorial Rotbart was. Still packs a wallop...ooh, Dirk just got smashed into a tree." Her Clairvoyant Eye gleamed."That's going to smart~"

"Roc!" yelled Rex, transmitting his intentions through their affinity.

"On it, Rex!" exclaimed Roc, squawking loudly as he burst above the treeline; with a great cry, he unleashed a storm of razor-sharp feathers that burst downward in a furious tunnel of wind. Moments passed before a pained roar echoed out; they had hit their mark.

It was just enough to distract Barbarossa from his former target, and barely long enough for Rex, Azami, and Wulfric to burst from the forest into the clearing; the corpses of smaller Gogols could be seen dotting the ground, even as a red-furred Gogol — at least ten times Rex's height when standing on all fours — swatted futilely at Roc. Off in the distance, near a deciduous tree that had been nearly cracked in half from an impact, Dirk was groaning: in pain, but alive.

That was all Rex needed to see to focus his attention on the monster. "Come on, you big oaf! Think you can take me?!" Barbarossa roared, engaging in battle with Rex and his Blades. However, it was a decidedly one-sided affair; the Master Driver's bond with his Blades was seamless, as he switched between weapons in an instant as required. With Roc and Azami striking from a distance, Rex and Wulfric were able to get up close and personal, the latter utilizing his overwhelming strength to great effect. With a blistering chain of attacks, Barbarossa was all but obliterated in a torrent of Wind, Darkness, and Earth ether. "YER DONE!" roared Rex as the immense Gogol tumbled to the ground for the last time; the Master Driver looked at the edge of the clearing, where smaller Gogols from Barbarossa's band were quickly fleeing in terror. "AND DON'T FORGET ME!" he howled, with emphasis.

"...I MISS PADRAIG," deeply grumbled the hulking Wulfric.

"After working with Mòrag for so many years, he's more than earned his retirement," remarked Roc as he set down on the ground. "But that doesn't stop him from doing a spot of work with the Garfont boys every now and then, just to stretch his legs."

Azami huffed, snobbily crossing her arms. "I don't get the appeal; he's nothing next to my sweetie-pie Driver and his darling family..."

Roc squawked derisively. "You'd understand if you actually took the time to listen to him..."

The banter of the Blade trio faded from Rex's ears as he stomped over towards Dirk; the young man had a rather surly look on his face, which would have made it difficult to tell how injured he was...in most cases.

However, Rex wasn't in the mood to play nice. "Can you get on your feet?"

"...yeah," muttered Dirk, slowly rising. He didn't wince from the movement, which was a good sign. "...that was pretty cool, Dad."

"Don't try and sweet-talk me," Rex growled, leveraging every bit of paternal authority he could muster. "What possessed you to go so far beyond your established patrol route?"

Dirk frowned, looking somewhere between defiant and contrite. "...some Gogol scouts attacked Broggywood earlier this morning. I sent the signal for backup, and then I chased 'em off."

"And instead of waiting, you decided to charge ahead after them like an idiot."

"I thought I could handle it-!"

"Don't try and play that angle with me," interrupted Rex, not buying Dirk's excuse for a second. "You knew damn well that Barbarossa was known for traversing this far deep into the woods...and the honking bastard had already rejected diplomacy before." (As Wulfric had found out the hard way a few months back.) "But you decided to ignore that inconvenient fact." (What irony, that he was treading upon familiar ground as he had once with Glimmer in an entirely different situation, world, and life...but Titan's foot, no one had ever credited Rex for being creative when he was angry.)

Dirk scowled, his hands trembling: from pain, from frustration, from anguish...!

"So how about you tell me what you were really thinking. Straight up; no lies." Rex looked straight into Dirk's eyes (even as some of the boy's recent growth really hit him; his hair had become a tad duller, more of an ashy blond than Mythra's vibrant color he'd had as a child; his face had also lost most of its baby fat, becoming harder, more angular; Dirk was on the verge of becoming a man...but he feared his son would only see the growing similarities with Consul D all the more starkly).

Dirk bit his lip, eyes looking about in a haphazard manner: the telltale signs of a child, caught doing something naughty, trying to fabricate something that wouldn't get him into trouble...until, at last, he stopped trying. "Dad..." He let his chin droop. "...I'm tired."

"Hm?" Rex replied.

"...I go on patrols. I fight monsters. I'm doing whatever I can to prove my worth; that I belong." Dirk raised his hands, looking truly conflicted. "But no matter what I do, it doesn't stop the nightmares...and even as I get stronger, he doesn't go away. It's like, no matter what I do, I can't win..."

Rex recognized this tone; it was that of defeat, of someone convinced that there was nothing to do but call it quits. (It was damn near a perfect match for when he had about thrown in the towel after Torna captured Pyra, all those years ago...until Nia, Brighid, and Poppi had slapped some sense into him. Literally, for the most part.) "...so because you can't win, you decided to bite off more than you could chew?" he asked with a heavy sigh. "Kiddo...when Mythra and I agreed to pull you out of the academy and let you take this job...it wasn't so you could indulge a death wish."

"THEN WHAT THE SPARK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" yelled Dirk with sudden rage, grabbing at the lapels of Rex's jacket. "What's the point of fighting if you can't win? What's the point of trying when it's hopeless?!"

"Do you really believe that?" asked Rex, matter-of-factly. He slightly bent his knees, getting onto eye level with his son (because cripes, the lad was shooting up like a weed). "I've known people who have struggled with problems for a long time, seemingly without hope until they finally surmounted them...both within and without our family. And there were untold people who toiled in Aionios for countless years, living over and over again until they could accomplish the change they wanted to make in that world...and for those outside of Moebius's cycle, who lived and died never knowing if what they fought for would come to pass...they still believed in passing something on, so that their hopes and dreams could be carried into the future. Even if we can't see it in the moment, even if the world around us seems dark and dreary for a spell...that grit — that will — to keep carrying on, to keep moving forward...that's something I know you've got."

"...how can you possibly know that?" he whispered, wiping at his nose to stop sniffling.

"Simple: I never thought anything would make me smile more than Pyra, Mythra, or Nia. Then you and your sisters were born," he said, with the sort of cheesy confidence that only a father — stupidly fond of his children — could pull off. "Not a day goes by when I think of you, and not smile. And that gives me the strength to help other people smile." Rex patted Dirk roughly on the shoulders, ensuring that they were looking eye-to-eye. "You're stronger than you think are, Diederik. Trust your old man; after all..." he trailed off, waiting for Dirk to pick up the slack.

"...you know a thing or three," he replied with a tired smile, in spite of himself.

"That's my boy," Rex said, ruffling Dirk's hair until it was all messy. Looking over his shoulder, he glanced over at his Blades: Wulfric was blubbering with manly emotion, Roc was nodding with approval, and Azami's Clairvoyant Eye was gleaming (doubtless having witnessed their entire conversation from up close, down to every last microscopic detail). "Okay you lot, that's enough lollygagging! Pattern Delta; Dirk and I are gonna take it slow on the way back."

The trio of Blades nodded, darting into the woods to patrol in a rotating pattern at a fixed distance of about a hundred peds from where father and son were.

Rex bumped his elbow affectionately into Dirk's shoulder. "Come on; let's head home. Mio's trying her hand at dinner tonight."

"...Glim's not helping, is she?"

"Only as an assistant." After a few seconds, Rex amended, "Dromarch will be watching to make sure she doesn't get creative."

Dirk snorted. "Good. Glim takes a bit too much after Mother, in that regard..."

The men both chuckled at that old bit of humor; alas, as they walked onward, there was a burning question in Rex's mind, due to a particular accessory that was missing. "You lose your earring?"

Dirk impulsively reached up for his left ear, which was bare of the bauble that had been hanging from it for years. "...I didn't lose it. I threw it away."

"How come?"

"...memory of a reflection. D was admiring himself in a mirror; I saw his helmet for the first time. The bits dangling from his horns...looked just like the earring." Dirk stared straight ahead, looking and sounding somewhat stiff. "...I don't want nothing to do with him."

"...fair enough," relented Rex, sighing inwardly at just how conflicted his boy was. "...it's a shame. I always thought you looked kind of cool with it."

After several seconds of silence, Dirk quietly replied, "Same here..."

xxxx

/Six Years after the Rejoining/

Argentum Trade Guild - Intelligence Division
Summary of Recent Findings (INFORMATION RANK: HIDEY-SNEAKY)

Chairman Niranira,

Matters of interest regarding current affairs, per your request:

- Rumors abound that Dunban of Keves intend to court Mòrag Ladair of Mor Ardain. Very auspicious occasion. Recommend production of merchandise in preparation for announcement so that we can go to market moment it become public. (Still unable to confirm rumors that Blade Princess Sena and Lanz of Keves will likewise be courting. "Will they or won't they?" is common question amongst gossip rags.)

- Agents from "Polis" (that just another word for "City" in ancient human language!) have confirmed residency of Kevesi Homs "Crys" and Lady Astelle of Tantal for diplomatic purposes. Rumor has it, is that Crys actually a former Moebius, which was somehow a positive factor(?) when combined with fact that his father is the Monadopon. Speculation that Astelle allowed only because her cousin, Zeke von Genbu, is the Driver of Blade "KOS-MOS" (see all prior correspondence under heading [BLUE LIGHT]).

- "Old World Reclamation Team" finally allowed permanent access to World Tree going forward, after tense negotiations with the Indoline Remnant. Adenine, Blade of Master Driver, thoroughly pleased with development. Word is that Nopon Riku will be Queen Melia's delegate on the Reclamation Team; will see if any useful information can be obtained.

- Son of Master Driver spotted making deeper and deeper patrols into monster realms past territory of Gormott and Leftheria. Deemed volatile after public controversy two years ago with injuries caused at "Aegis Academy for the Arts and Sciences"; given stability of behavior as of late, potential present to recruit as agent for Guild. (Always good to have positive inroads with important families.)

On unrelated note, wish to offer happy-happy felicitations to Melolo in taking over old role as Head of Salvaging Operations. (Also wish to offer condolences to her sonnypon Bipopo for being designated as assistant to Head of Salvaging Operations.)

For fun and profit of Argentum,

Pupunin
Head of Intelligence Division

xxxx

It was twilight over Gormott.

Glimmer had just been about to finally ask a question — one that had been bugging her for the longest time — when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her brother walk into the house. "You okay, Dirk?" asked Glimmer.

Dirk blinked, looking over his shoulder as he was heading up the stairs. "Eh? I'm fine."

"...you sure?" He was home later than usual. "You seem...tired." Sometimes, Glimmer was unsure as to his brother's mood; there were some times where being around him seemed like living next to an active landmine with a sensitive trigger; alas, most days, he was simply...existing, in a state of weary languor. Even so, he always mustered a grin whenever he sensed anyone watching.

Like now. "Long day with monster patrols," he said in a dismissive way. "You were about to ask Dad and Mum about your life in Aionios, right?" he asked, changing the subject.

Glimmer frowned. "You heard?"

Dirk shrugged; even though it was a sensitive topic, he seemed resigned to it. "Surprised you've waited this long, to be honest."

"Well..." She had held back precisely because of Dirk...though she didn't say this out loud. He had been dealt a rotten enough hand as it was. "...I had my reasons."

The blond — his hair's color now a good mixture of Dad's and Mother's, ever since puberty had had its way with him — chuckled. "I'm sure, Glim. I'm turning in," he said, waving offhandedly at her. "Already ate dinner on the way back from patrol; don't wait on my account."

For some reason, Glimmer felt a strange compulsion to keep talking with him, to stop him (but why?)...yet, before she could come to a decision, he was already atop the stairs and entering his room. "Well...good night," she trailed off, huffing with annoyance. Ugh. Even when I'm trying to be considerate, he still gets on my nerves. Not that it had stopped her from viciously defending him every chance she got whenever someone talked bad about him at school. Those idiots don't know anything...nothing at all. Still, that was then; now was the time for answers.

Thus, Glimmer promptly walked into the kitchen, where Rex and Nia were waiting. Mio was on a date with Noah (with Dromarch serving as their chaperone from afar, because of course), Mom and Mother were working a late shift at the academy to catch up on paperwork, and Mum had actually gotten a free moment away from the Palace; now was the time. "Well..." she mumbled, rubbing at her right arm. "...let's do this?"

"Was wondering when you'd actually ask about your life in Aionios," murmured Nia, sipping from a cup of tea. "You've always come across as...intensely curious."

"I mean...who wouldn't?" honestly admitted Glimmer. "Just the bits I've gleaned from my own spotty memories say a lot by themselves."

Rex, taking a big gulp of coffee, said, "I can give you the details I was there for. Anything after that may seem a bit hazy by comparison, since they were either witnessed by me as part of the world's avatar...or by Nia via Poppi's databases."

Thus began a long conversation that lasted nearly two hours: the tale of the Agnian soldier named Glimmer, who had been freed from the Flame Clock by Mio's great-grandson (which was still weird to think about) Matthew and A; Glimmer, who had toiled alongside the Liberators and the survivors of the first City; Glimmer, who had been the Ouroboros partner of Nikol, son of Shulk and Fiora (so that's who Nikol was...no wonder Dad had always seemed cagey about his identity, the smart aleck); Glimmer, who had become the founder of House Rhodes; Glimmer, who had gotten married, had children to carry on her legacy into the future of Aionios, and lived into her eighties.

It was all rather heavy. So much so, that Glimmer looked down at her hands at the end. So...these hands did all that...

"...so, do you want to set up a meeting? With Nikol, I mean?" asked Rex.

...but even if those were my hands...it wasn't me. Not truly. "...no. I'm fine." It was a liberating admission.

Rex and Nia looked surprised. "Mind explaining your reasoning?" asked Mum.

"...it sounds like the Founder of House Rhodes was an amazing person. A bit of a brat to you," she added, much to Dad's amusement, "but someone who grew into her own. And it's great that I was capable of that...but that Glimmer? That version of me? Our circumstances are so different that we might as well be two different people...and although I'd be honored to have even a fraction of her accomplishments, I'm not her, and she's not me. Even though we're both Glimmer, her achievements were hers; I want to make my own. And to just have that Glimmer...come back, as though nothing had changed? It'd be like giving her a second chance, even though she never asked for it...and at the cost of me having a chance to do something with my life." Ugh, she was starting to ramble. "Sorry if I'm not making sense-"

"Nah, I get what you're saying," said Rex, looking rather prideful. "You want to walk your own path, and reach the future in your own way..."

"That's what Ouroboros fought for," said Nia, gently taking Glimmer's hand in her own. "And Mio would tell you the same. I'm proud of you."

"We both are," added Rex. "And you can bet your little ponytail that Pyra, Mythra, and Dirk are as well."

Glimmer smiled, resisting the urge to cry (because bleh, there was no reason to cry!). "Thanks...thanks for understanding." She reached over the table, giving Dad and Mum a hearty embrace around the neck.

Rex couldn't help but chuckle as the hug ended. "I'm honestly glad you're not pushing it; Shulk's told me that his boy doesn't have much interest in his Aionios life either." With a cheeky grin, he added, "Two peas in a pod, eh?"

Nia and Glimmer both rolled their eyes.

After saying her farewells for the evening, Glimmer quietly crept up the stairs, only to stop by the closed door to Dirk's room. Sighing, she leaned against the door, letting her head bump against the wooden surface. "...I know you're still awake, bro," she said aloud, not bothering to let him answer. "...after being told about Aionios, I made a decision." Looking down at her hands, she kept on talking, because she needed to get all of this off her chest. "Even if Nikol sounds like a cool guy, I'm fine with not meeting him if it means I don't... just become the person I was in that world." Smiling wryly, she said, "It's weird; my memories of that time were all I thought about, for a while. And even though Mio seemed different...she was still herself. For the most part. But your struggle with everything involving Moebius D...it made me think about it; about what I actually wanted. And...I realized that I'd just be piggybacking off of the accomplishments of someone who already lived life, who got her shot, and made the most of it...and just bringing her back to live again, in a world she'd barely recognize? Without her City? Without her family? It'd be pretty awful...if she were anything like me, she'd tell me to shove off and do something with myself." With a sweet tone, she rested her palms on the door. "And...I gotta thank you for that. Even if the life you had in Aionios was, like, way worse than mine...seeing you fight, and struggle, and try so snuffing hard..." (Bah! Even now, the Aionios slang refused to go away.) "...it gave me the courage...to decide for myself. So...thanks bro. That's all I wanted to say."

She had spoken loud enough that she knew he could hear her; they'd gotten in enough trouble as kids to know just how much volume would get through the doors and the walls of their rooms.

So when he didn't answer, she pouted. "Ugh, come on. You could at least be a jerk and make fun of me for acting like a big baby," she growled, reaching for the doorknob. "At least then I'd know you listened..." She trailed off as she stepped into her brother's room. "Dirk?" The window was open; he wasn't there; there was a note lying on the nightstand, and he wasn't there. Impulsively, she grabbed for the sheet of paper, and read line after line; her eyes went wide, and she impulsively screamed. "MUM! DAD! DIRK'S GONE!"

xx

Hey.

Not exactly sure how to start this sort of thing off. Seems kind of sappy. But...it'd be a dick move to just leave without saying goodbye. (Even though leaving like this is a pretty dick move on its own, but no one's perfect.)

It's only because I know you'd try and stop me. And I can't afford you stopping me.

I've thought about it, you know? Thought about how Mio has fully settled with being who her memories turned her into; about how much I hear Glim pace in her room through my wall, muttering about whether or not to ask about her life in that old world. Bit indecisive; but I bet it won't even take two more months before she finally decides to pop the question...and then she'll end up having a little meet-and-greet with whoever her Ouroboros partner is, I reckon.

And why not? I don't blame her, or Mio. For however much Aionios sucked, they came out on top compared to everyone else; so wanting a shot in a world without an unending war is pretty reasonable.

Just my luck that I'm the defect of the family, eh?

But trying to live a normal life didn't work. Tried to stick through therapy, and I couldn't hack it. (No offense to Oleg, but he always struck me as an arsehole. There, I said it!) I even tried a life focusing only on patrol duty: stopping monsters, protecting people, with the strength in my arms...and for a while, I thought it would do the trick.

But fighting to live? Living to fight? It rings too close to home to Aionios. And I think he knows that, too.

That's why I've got to go.

I've been preparing for this moment for a while, now. This letter will probably be at least a couple of weeks old, by the time I make my break for it. (P.S. Turns out it took me eight tries to write this letter without messing up what I wanted to say. Tell me Glim, how do those Tantalese romantic authors make the 'maudlin goodbye letter' seem like something you can do in one take? What rubbish!)

I have to take a chance...so if you have any love for me at all, you won't follow me.

As far as I'm concerned, getting out of your hair is the best thing I can do for you. No need for you lot to deal with my Ardunshit while I'm trying to figure stuff out.

If I can actually get a handle on the hot mess that's my mind...I promise I'll come home. But if I can't...well, that's one less hassle on your hands, eh?

Even so...Mio? Glimmer? Mom? Mum? (Too many damn people to list if I want to stay on one page.)

Thanks for giving me one hell of a life, however little it ended up being worth.

Dad...Mother...

I'm sorry I couldn't be better.

Sorry I couldn't be the son you deserved.

- Diederik

xx

Noah and Mio had not expected to return from their outing to a scene of utter bedlam.

Glimmer was such a sobbing mess — "-such a stupid jerk, assuming he knew what I was going to decide, that idiot-!" — that Nia was barely able to comfort the girl herself.

Rex was talking on a handheld terminal, apparently with one of his Blades. "What do you mean, your Eye can't find him? Does that mean...?!" There was a burst of chatter from the other caller, prompting him to retort, "No Azami, I know you'd be able to find a dead body," and didn't that just alarm them to no end, "but the fact you can't even track his ether signature leaves only a few options of where he might have gone, and none of 'em good-!"

Dromarch, their chaperone for the evening, suddenly went alert. "The young lord!" he muttered, immediately bounding for the stairs.

Mio looked downright shocked. "What...what's going on?!"

"I don't know," murmured Noah, instinctively reaching for the piece of paper by Glimmer and Nia's feet. As he began reading, his eyes widened. "Oh no..."

Mio read along with him, breath drawing shorter with each line. "Dirk...you fool..." She quickly ducked down by her sister's side, whispering reassuring words to her.

Noah kept a tight hold of the letter, compelled to reread it. Fighting to live...living to fight...? The echo to his past self's own words would have been serendipitous in a more pleasant time; as it was, it only came across as a cruel joke.

A feline's stifled sneezing caught his attention; looking towards the stairs, Noah watched as Dromarch all but stumbled down the steps, his expression looking rather pinched. "The y-young lord...laced his room...with herbs...lemon scent...and citrus peels...!" Rubbing at his snout, the feline Blade whined, "I won't be able to track anything for some time...my apologies..."

The amount of forethought Dirk had put into his departure was impressive, which only made the fact it had even happened all the more somber. Looking towards Nia, Noah asked, "Queen Nia, ma'am...where are Lady Pyra and Lady Mythra?"

With a glum look, Nia replied, "It's been about five minutes since I called them at the school...so not long, I reckon..."

Rex was speaking with someone else over the terminal. "Roc, head towards the mainland; tell me if you catch any sight of Dirk...he's gone AWOL, that's why! I'll be calling the patrol next..." He trailed off, in response to rather panicked squawking. "...ah, you see a streak of light, eh-?"

CRASH!

The wall separating the kitchen from the outside suddenly collapsed on itself, courtesy of a burst of Light ether; a glowing blonde walked through, clad in a professional woman's suit colored a light gray. Mythra's platform heels clacked with emphasis, echoing through the sudden silence of the house; her golden eyes trailed over everyone, taking everything in with a glance.

Rex, bearing a complicated grimace, said, "Mythra-"

Mythra ignored him. Noah paled as the woman's wrathful gaze whipped towards him, particularly to the paper in his grasp. She held her hand out with expectation; Noah gave her the letter without hesitation.

The blonde read through the whole letter. Then again. And again.

By the third time through, Pyra had run into the house through the front door; her suit looking like a mirror of Mythra's, save for the choice of deep blue color. "Mythra..." she murmured.

Mythra's hair was curling upward from the sheer force of ether her body was emitting, to the point where it looked like she was going to explode-!

"Mythra," snapped Nia, speaking with the authoritative tone of a Queen. When the woman's golden eyes turned towards her, Nia met her fearsome gaze without hesitation. "Your son's not here: blowing your top won't accomplish anything good for anyone."

Those words, however blunt they were, managed to cut through nonetheless. "...my son..." whispered Mythra, her aura flickering down to nothing. The sheer force of emotion and will that had animated her departed just as quickly; without it, her face curdled in on itself as all strength left her. Before she could collapse to the floor, Pyra was there, slowly lowering her downward. "He's...gone..." Before she knew it, Rex was there as well, holding her from the other side. "...Rex..."

"We'll find him," he vowed.

As water began to stream from her eyes, Mythra — voice already becoming hoarse with sorrow — mourned, "Where...where did we go wrong...?" She could say nothing else, as she buried her face into her husband's shoulder, weeping openly.

Nia and Mio crowded around Rex and Mythra to offer their support; Pyra, having grabbed the letter from her sister's hands, was taking the time to not only read it, but to comfort her disconsolate daughter. ("You had no way of knowing, Glimmer; it's not your fault," she murmured into the girl's ears, even as Glimmer kept on crying.)

Noah, standing shakily, was still in disbelief over how events had come to such a horrid turn. Taking in everyone's expressions, he quietly looked upward, as one trying to seek answers from above. Dirk...I can only hope this path you've chosen...will be worth it...

In the end, that was all Noah could hope for...at least, for the time being.

(That night, a family would mourn. Come the morning, their search would continue in earnest.)

(But they would not find him.)

xxxx

"So this is what the passage of fate has brought them to," murmured Z, staring at his equal and opposite in a realm lying betwixt dream, reality, mind, and matter.

"Indeed," remarked Alvis. "I cannot wait to see what their choices will bring them to next: despair...salvation...or something in-between?"

"...only time will tell..." relented Z.

xxxx

Author's Note: So. That was a thing.

/Dirk aged from 13 to 16 over the course of one chapter
/and we still have another time skip coming :V