Re: Praise the Sun. (Mind Flayer)
Ichiro found out he was more entangled in this mess then he knew. Thanks to Sola and whatever insight she'd gained, because she was sharing something with him now as he slept.
He was in a dark void, nothing to see, nothing to do, even his voice was stolen, but he could feel energies twisting all around him, and then starbursts of color took shape at random intervals.
No one spoke to him, nothing reached out, but then something caught his attention. Glowing flames about the size of his fist were taking shape in front of him. Two white, one yellow, one blue, one light blue, two black, one red, one a seeming rainbow, one green, and the last was grey, the flames all bouncing and bobbing around. The black flames played together, seeming to twist and spin around eachother, happy that way. Ichiro able to sense the disposition of the flames as they moved around him now, while one white and the yellow flame stayed above them all, looking down, one excited, one peaceful. light blue always seemed to be in pain, but the other white flame was always at it's side, comforting and supporting it, reminding it of good things. Reasons to hope. Red, and Rainbow, and Grey sat in the center of them all, flailing about playfully, grey less so then others, it spent all it's time flailing at it's two partners, chasing them about, keeping them in check. Green and dark blue didn't comfort eachother, but instead seemed to constantly and gently steer eachother into a harmonious dance. and they did this for several long seconds, Ichiro able to see the interplay between them all. If there was a slight misstep in the flames somewhere, the others would guide them back, Grey having the largest hand in this, but Yellow and White above helping in the process of this grand dance.
And then they burst into sparks, and 3 women stood before Ichiro, they looked identicle. Each had silvery white hair, and glowing eyes, lines twisting down their flesh flashing with the colors of the flames. But he could sense the differences.
The one in the center was whole, as it was meant to be, and Ichiro senses a complex but loving soul, balanced and made whole by the love it shared for it's other home, for the people in it's life, and the urge not to better the world, but simply to live her life.
The ones on the side however.... something was wrong with them.
On the right stood a complete woman, but the grey flame was missing. She stood like a puppet, her eyes lacking a soul, her power lacking luster, her entire existence purged of emotion, a dangerous slave and weapon in someone elses hands. He could see the world burning in her eyes.
The one on the left possessed will, but Light blue, one of the Black flames, and Green were gone. It was just the happy ones, and Ichiro felt that while she would live, while her life would go on, have her children, be with her love, that her motivation had been slain. She had no drive to learn or grow, she stagnated, the bright and happy drive that had pushed the dance had died and she would spend eternity simply wondering why the world was wrong, but never having the drive to change it.
Pain is what makes us strong Ichiro Suzuka. Pain is what makes you strong. Remember your lessons, hold your pain close. And stand proud. Sola said, standing behind him.
She made no plee for help, or even suggested that he do so. She simply wished for him to be the man she had sensed he could be. To let the pain in his life make him stronger instead of undermine his confidence and cripple him forever, like the woman on the left had become. You called me strong. See that strength in yourself. she said in passing, before Ichiro woke up.
Vila was still asleep, but it seemed the stress of the night before had bled away from her, and she stretched and yawned as he woke up, smiling up at him and rubbing her eyes. Morning itchy.
