Endgame: Part 2

[letsplayamod]

The week goes on. A small miracle, how quiet it is. With no motives or attacks to speak of, you can breathe a sigh of relief even when a tension gripes the air. So few of you now, what exactly would you do were Typhon to return and decide the game was over? Was Athena always going to be out of reach? And what exactly did she want you to find in the center of this mountain temple, anyway?

Questions abound, and no answers.

...Until this morning. The sky itself is clear with very few clouds, but something still falls into your home. Not "physically," though, it's more of a feeling. The sensation of some great power entering this space. Everyone will notice it, and the way it passes by, sinking beneath the floors - all the way to the bottom level.

And there it ends up, waiting for someone brave enough to investigate.

Comments

[yourheroine]

Boop boop? In the box?

...do we open it?

[This could be either very good or very bad.]

[brokenhabit]

...I think we ought to, yes.

Whatever's in there.... I think it deserves some freedom too.

[ it's too gentle and familiar to just let go. ]

Shall we do so together then?

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark glances at the two of them, then-]

On three.

[he sucks in a breath, jaw setting]

One.

[yourheroine]

[She hesitates for a moment, then puts a hand on...well, Quark's shoulder since Leb's holding the box.]

Two...

[brokenhabit]

Three.

[ and then she opens the box ]

1/2

[letsplayamod]

[Light.

Golden and brilliant and warm as a summer day bursts from the box to fill the entire chamber. It's blinding, for a moment, in the same way it was when all of them gave their answers and received their symbols of godhood before.

This is what's been held captive and what they've released.

This is hope.]

2/3!

[mygoodbye]

[Hope spills forth. A rushing wave of white light, like a shock wave rippling out from a pond after a pebble was tossed in. It washes over each of you, passing through Quark's bar, the surrounding monsters that start to fade into dust, your downed enemies...

Eventually, it reaches Athena.]

No--!

[The wave rushes straight into her, pushing her back even further, from where she was fighting over herself while looming over Vanity. She had only a moment's notice before the blast struck, and the way it hit her felt far more physical than it was for others.

It's enough. Just enough that you can see her focus inwards, as tinges of olive green hang in the air above her head...]

For the last time, get out of me... Now!

[And a spectral figure is violently expelled from Athena's body. The Goddess wavers slightly, but turns to regard the shape that now hangs there.]

3/3

[mygoodbye]

[There, Athena floats. Her body semi-corporeal, a hazy olive green in colour. Her eyes pricks of light that burn with intensity as she realizes the full force ofwhat just happened.]

What have you done!? It's ruined! That power was meant for me, to build a better world for everyone here! And you ruined it again!

[pariunt]

[...Ugh. He can't drink the blood of some ghostly entity.

What a travesty.]

cw vore

[fillets]

[ WELL SHE'S NOT GONNA GET LUNCH TODAY I GUESS....... ]

[rockymountaindie]

[ EXCUSE ME HE'S A LITTLE TOO BUSY JUST NOTICING RIFUL'S TRUE FORM NOW GIRL WHAT ARE YOU MADE OUT OF FLESH RIBBONS ]

[pariunt]

[Isn't she hot???]

[fillets]

Oh, you woke up...? Marvelous.

[ she has Plans, ]

[atu709]

Doesn't even have the decency to let herself be torn apart by plants. You try to invoke thematic justice on someone and maybe be narrative foils and they go and become a ghost instead.

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark watches as those forms separate]

Athena--! [he takes half a step forward, but then stops. He's not willing to let the bar down yet, eyes narrowing at the one still floating in the air]

[mygoodbye]

[Athena - your Athena - staggers, shifting weight onto the Blade of Olympus still in her hands.

She does manages to look up, eyes unclouded at last.]

Quark.

[latinumsbetter]

[as she stumbles:] Hey, careful--[he's still not leaving the bar, but it's a close thing.

But, the corners of his mouth curl upwards in that friendly, charming grin of his.]

Welcome back.

[tailoredfate]

[Aglaea is there in a moment, sword raised in defense this time, putting both herself and her pair of Garmentmakers between the other Athena and Vanity on the ground. She doesn't attack, but she does smile.]

As I've said. She's far stronger than you could ever hope to be.

[mygoodbye]

From allies, perhaps. This is exactly why I wanted Hope. You just witnessed what it's capable of. And still, you'll insult me?

How... how utterly disappointing this has turned out to be.

[sweetsynergy]

[Slowly, awkwardly, cradling one arm and getting to her knees.]

Oh I'm soooooo fucking sorry.

[mygoodbye]

Vanity.

[It's the other Athena. Your Athena.

She's still got the sword.]

Step out of the way.

[yourheroine]

No we didn't. We just let it out.

Aoi isn't sure how, but...I have a feeling that it isn't ruined. We can still make a better world here, if you really want it.

Aoi meant it. If you believe in me, I'll support you.

[mygoodbye]

[She almost seems to heed Aoi's words. They reach through like static in the air.]

...For too long, I've seen the worst of what man and god can offer. It is relentless, all-destroying, all-consuming.

I can't believe in that. I can only believe in myself.

[literarybehemoth]

You are not the only one who can make a better world, you know. I do not think any one individual is, quite frankly--and you ought to know that, considering you were not even the only god to begin with.

[mygoodbye]

I was the only one who hoped to try! The others consumed themselves, sitting fat on their thrones, while the world suffered! Kratos was the ultimate downfall, but he merely advanced that ruin.