Chapter Text
Lights! Like a feather, floating, free falling; alighting to the ground, its own gravity and rules. Rising down to the sound, the music, the grace and feeling.
Camera! You know they watch, and so be it. Untouchable, impermeable, determined and persistent. Hear the silence, it calls out for you. Take its hand, rule your world.
Action! Sing your silent song, hear the air-swept bass that turns the ground into your valley. Understand, realize, and make it you.
Unseen, unnoticed, everlasting and ever present. Why make yourself known? Who is there that would know you?
The mind is simple: The rhythm, each beat, the ringing of imaginary bells through your soul. Have you not heard it all before? You still fight today, searching for a song that you’ll never hear.
What you must find will be in the last place you look.
Yet you’ll keep looking, your greed and disdain tainting the beauty upon your face.
Look back, see forward, for the future is all that we have left.
It’s a life that loves you, but you hate it regardless. Where is your peace? Is it in your war? This endless bloodshed is unnecessary. Why are you?
A black morning. The dark sun hung high in the sky, casting light upon nothing. My gentle breathing, cold in the air yet warm in my mind. That night, that fateful night so long ago, lingers in my head and soul. My heartbeat found its rhythm, so dissonant yet so clear.
That dance. A dance covered in razors and knives, spun so rapidly that even a glance could cut your consciousness in two. I’d been searching for it within myself, within these stones that compose my world. This mosque is my morgue, with life gently dangling just outside the walls.
Break out, turn around, flip out, roll over
Rhyme like the dark of night, your cover
Hold on, hold out, hold in and slip off
You, the freak, out, see the world’s love.
The spike with a mind, the bleeding design, the “bring it on, burn it down,” and all according lines. It’s what I needed to hate, yet wanted to love, and find myself among the rubble and debris. Out in the city, for just one day, until forced back into this sheltered life. I’ve tasted the forbidden fruit of what could be, and I craved for more.
Strange people, strange sights, weird tastes and smells.
All brand new, all beautiful in their own right.
Even the black-green alleys, at least they weren’t grey.
Our world, my world, come take a gander
You’ve got potential, break out from your slander
My life was designed by words, only words, no voice. Grown and raised by the books, yet the books grew old faster. From a young age, boredom had set in with my life. But I did not understand boredom, so it was called dissent, and I was trained in “complacency”
Too young for the world, they always said, and even the eon-old skeletons in the crypts were yet immature. I was stuck here. Forever. And so my escapism lied in that dance, the dance I only saw for one night in a life.
Are you ready? Come one, come all!
For in the ring, we’ve got a hell of a brawl!
You in the red corner, and the world in the blue.
Can’t you see? We hold what’s true.
My colossus, that coliseum. One night, my fight, a dance of daggers, a tango of light, dark, and the dawn in between. The world was a stage, I played my role. My mind was free, free to feel. Joy, rage, pain, and all that lies within. My rule was my own, just mine, and all me. The announcer called, its strange, affirmative voice informing my fists of what and why they were here. I followed its scheme. I only knew how to listen, after all. I could not speak.
… And for our next participant! Never seen anything like her before… Should be easy for a warrior like… Cmon, let’s get this show on the road!
Heartbeat. Heartbeat. The music of the soul, the fuel for the fire, the emotion-burning coal. I could hear it, feel it, coursed through my bones. It was my time, my time to shine, my time, I knew I was alive. It was not a matter of strength, it was a matter of the song’s pattern.
It had a melody, one of simplistic notes and long, pitiful rests. How was it a “warrior” in their eyes? It was no fighter, just already dead. A song with no passion, only motoristic movement and soulless divisions. No underlying harmonies, simply one beat after another. And so I replied with my bass, with my own beatings. One after another.
… Down! Unimaginable! Who can believe it… Brought to his knees in mere instants! Are you seeing this? Incredible, I tell you. This kid’s got some spunk… ADVANCEMENT TO ROUND TWO!
Piercing noise! Through my brain, too loud. But I loved it! It was new, this unpleasant sensation. I welcomed the ringing of my ears with open arms. This pain was incredible, brand new to me. New emotions sprouted within me, I understood the world a little bit better.
I twitched as I perceived the next opponent. It had an almost identical rhythm, but it hit a few downbeats and had fewer gaps in between the notes. Still, it amounted to nothing in the end.
My heart began to sink. I came here to find the song that burned my soul, the noise that called me like a siren to travel down into the darkness into this strange tournament. The erratic, spinning sound, it had to be here somewhere. I needed to find it.
And I was found
And I found you
For only a split second, and then split back apart yet again. But I heard you. You heard me. The all-too-familiar sense of senselessness came over me, tearing my mind to bits. So close, so far.
Do you recall what happens beyond this? You were a beast, a savage on the field. Sick and wicked, which mean good things.
Before you, I couldn’t recall anything.
And now our hearts beat in time. Together.
“Folks, we’ve witnessed some real radical stuff tonight, haven’t we? Well, we’ve got just one more! And I’m sure it’s gonna rock your socks off! The undisputed and undefeated champions of the tournament so far, pitted against each other! And, lady and gentlemen, this is the first time in the tournament’s history that we’ve got two gals in the finals! Crazy, huh?
Listen up, you two. Set a good example for the only girl, my daughter, in the crowd. Show her what y’all can do.”
This was the closest that she had gotten to the rhythm. Everything clicked into place, the world grew clear to her, it all made sense. The poetry of the soul, cast into her mind and heart, brought her to life.
Still, she couldn’t speak. But it was unnecessary, why taint the sound of this perfect tune?
Her surroundings were taken in for the first time. The duel stage was beige and simple, with tiki torches lighting up edges of the ring. A large floodlight was on the ceiling, casting a bright glare down upon the contestants. Metal bleachers lined the walls around, seating a wide variety of people. All men, apparently, except for a cottonee sitting in a special area below the announcer’s booth.
She was a Mienshao. Her song lied within the one that stood across from her. Lurantis. The pink mantis shifted erratically on her heels, bouncing and effervescent. She wore an unserious, goofy, and overall inviting grin on her bug-like face. Light on her feet, with her sharp implements twirling around her as she grooved around.
She was a Lurantis. She knew the music written within her heart, but she could only conduct it. She needed a performer, and she knew that Mienshao could bring out her symphony. The slender weasel did not reciprocate Lurantis’ mood, instead keeping a serious face and keeping her guard up.
Could either of us even understand what we were doing? Why we were here? Not in that moment, no, but now, we can see that the world brought us here.
“Alright! On your mark, get set…”
A dance without any choreography. Everything was improvised, yet connected perfectly. I understood her rhythm, and she knew that I understood. We were equals, yet she was greater, and yet I was stronger. In that fight, fates were crossed and we became one and the same.
Lurantis brought the overture, legs flashing in the light as she whipped out her limbs in an earnest attempt to provide a taste of blunt force trauma to her opponent. Mienshao bobbed and weaved carefully out of the way, watching her opponent spin in a way that could make both sides feel dizzy. Lurantis’ energy seemed nearly infinite, never letting up for a beat of rest and leaving Mienshao without an opening to act.
Mienshao blocked a kick with her wrist, wrapping one of her whips around Lurantis’ leg. It forced her off balance, but Lurantis pivoted off the ground and brought her other leg up, forcing Mienshao to let go and duck to avoid the overhead kick. Lurantis innocently smiled, beckoning her for a little bit more effort.
“C’mon, it’s time to get down!”
The music shifted. Instead of a somewhat calm yet steady march, a wild metal hum emanated from the mantis. The noise was that of a rapid shaking, a new kind of dance. Mienshao’s eyes widened, the song tore apart her concentration. She froze in panic, her thoughts muddied by the sound of the strange tune.
Lurantis crouched into a squat, and the music picked up. She murmured under her breath, counting out the beats in the measure. She stuck out a leg, and swung herself around her arm, swinging in place. She swiftly flipped back onto her feet, bouncing off her heels and cartwheeling through the air, with her scythes flailing gracefully. Strange confusion struck through Mienshao’s whole being.
I was lost. Desynchronized. It didn’t make sense, she spun for no reason to her new rhythm. This isn’t the one I heard, this current one tastes of insanity and energy. I’ve got neither, how would I adapt?
Her blades screamed like banshees
Slicing through the lonely air
Could she no longer hear?
Let the rhythm through her heart
I had blanked out. I knew nothing, I was nothing, I was alone, I was…
Slowed down, can you hear me now?
Isn’t this cute: the violin, you know it.
C’mon, strike a chord with me
And dance
My mind is clear, I will play your song
The music grew quieter, and Mienshao focused on the harmony. It was sharp, the plucks of a bow on a low violin. It was fluid, solid, and lifted her up. She latched onto it, and pulled it close for dear life.
Satisfied that her prey would put up a fight, Lurantis got into a strange stance. Leaned down to the ground with her elbows on the floor, but back up and legs up. She twitched her arms invitingly, taunting Mienshao to approach her.
The weasel strode towards her, confident and ready. While she could hear that the strange mechanical music began to overshadow her violin, her pace did not slow down. She flung out her whips, attempting to strike at Lurantis’ exposed face. The mantis didn’t retaliate, but covered the front of her head with her scythes, deflecting Mienshao’s assault.
Under her breath, yet just loud enough for Mienshao to hear, she whispered. “Closer…”
I ran towards her. My plan was to get too close for her to swing her scythes at me with enough force, and to pick at her head from the position she was in. Unfortunately, her song only became more beautiful.
Lurantis pulled herself up by her blades, somersaulting and wrapping her legs around Mienshao’s slender neck. Mienshao tried to shake her off, but she only gave Lurantis momentum. Lurantis’ feet locked into each other, and she spun around the weasel. The plant slowly inched up Mienshao’s body until her crotch was practically in Mienshao’s face, and then she planted her scythes back on the ground and flung the two of them backwards, sending the weasel straight into the side of the ring. “Hey! Give it all you’ve got!” Encouragement, or taunting, perhaps. Mienshao pulled herself off the ground and brushed off her legs.
She looked to be having the time of her life. Her bouncing, prancing, cheerful apathy was indicative of something seriously messed up with her. This strange woman was making me feel strange, almost making me smile. Could I put my guard down? No, this was life or death, and I had not yet begun to really live. I would live before I died. I would fight before I lost. Let my song reverberate across my new world.
Mienshao seemed to be taking a page straight out of Lurantis’ book, showing off her own interpretation of the mantis’ dance. Mienshao’s body seemed to twist and blur as she stretched her body. She leaned out, hands behind her back, showing off her limber frame. It was a display that showed her purity, her beauty, and her underlying strength. Her arms flew up, and she fluidly flung herself forward. It was a roll for distance, putting herself just outside of the range of Lurantis’ scythes.
I had my confidence. I had my soul. It was my mind, my body, my own rules. It was a strikingly simple matter, I just needed to show off to her. To appeal to the noise that connected us both, to let the music flow freely through my veins. I didn’t know if it was or wasn’t working, but that was fine. No matter what happened in the future, at least I lived tonight. This bubbly demon versus my smooth, sharpened soul.
Lurantis leaned forward and swung one of her blades at Mienshao, putting herself in a severely unbalanced position. Her opponent ducked, and flipped out from a crab-walking position to bat the back of her scythe further. Lurantis was spinning, her center of gravity taken away from her body and stuck in her sharp appendages. Mienshao pivoted to lean back on her arms, and kicked Lurantis’ arm like a tetherball. Lurantis’ spinning was without rhyme or reason, and began to get detached from her own music. Mienshao had stolen her dance, and was smiling like a mad dog as she laid down the beat.
I could feel it! Our separation through our connection, it put me in the lead. I could crush her here. I could show her who’s boss. I could rule her world, so empty and bleak. Devoid of her music, she posed no threat to me.
But I would not, could not.
It takes two to tango, but both must know the dance.
Alone you just live, but together, you thrive.
And despite my rage, I had to make her alive.
It was a fool, knew nothing
Empty as a broken
But not as sharp as a shard
Ears necessary to see,
Eyes necessary to hear,
Clouded glasses, couldn’t look through
Look into my eyes, listen to my phrase
Connection. Infection. Red, Blue, Black
Why worry? All fires burn out
For our sky must set,
The sun must fall
What are the colors to you?
That you hear, only you can hear them
Take my hand, test your luck
Flaying whips, drawn-out tale,
For my yarn was knotted, the scissors fell down
Sliced down the middle.
Perforation
Isolation.
Yet the flaming mace held out her hand,
Held out her mind
And you must hold on tight
No matter what
And wake up! For every day, when things fall apart
Leave your mark, bright blue-blazing scar
On the world. Our world, haven’t you heard?
It’s here forever, so you’ve gotta stake your claim
The ends, my extremes, you deserve no blame
Hold on tight! I yell, can she not hear?
I know you’re in there, come on out
Let’s share the world, make music from the heart
I know you know the colors. Let me hear them, too
Lurantis shook her head. Awake, aware, in the zone. All alone; No longer, she’s now stronger. C’mon, little lady, show off your blades. C’mon, show the crowd, you’re here, you’re amazing.
On balance, with poise. All knowing, her choice. Fell to the sky, burnt in the ocean, flying through the ground with the eyes of slow motion
Lurantis flung herself from the dirt, landing perfectly on her feet. She kicked out her legs, and Mienshao sidestepped effortlessly. Mienshao had such an artistic face on her, so beautiful, that it had to be painted by her blades.
Mienshao’s smug grin dissipated as Lurantis detached one of her scythes, popping it right off her wrist. The leaf that composed her foot stretched out to catch it in the air, and it attached itself to her leg. She swung it around, catching Mienshao by the neck. Mienshao scrabbled at the newly-bladed foot, but to no avail. The whips connected to her arms began to get twisted in the blade, and she found herself stuck, choking between the scythe and Lurantis’ calf. Lurantis turned over onto her side, and flung the blade off of her leg with Mienshao still twisted in it. She turned away from her sky-bound foe, and raised her arms towards the crowd, smiling cheerfully the whole time.
Cheers emanated throughout the room as Mienshao plummeted to the floor.
I go the extra mile, I’m a force of nature.
The spirit of life, the night’s firelight.
Wax from a candle, flowing yet stable
Burn my dread, it’s in my bag
Hurry up, princess.
Whole lotta anger, isn’t it?
Bring it to a close
Bring it close
Bring me to you
I fell from the sky, with an utter lack of grace.
Like a dead mallard, taken buckshot from the hunter
Who was braver?
The hunter in their woods,
Fighting for their next meal,
Or the prey? Who must fight
There’s no bravery in useless sacrifice
So I’ll make myself useful
Held up, on top, live my life
Tough it out, she’ll be my
Mienshao got back up. Her defense had to be perfect, her offense had to be better, and her mind had to be the best. She had to block the mantis’ onslaught, to exhaust her opponent and strike her weakness. It was only natural to become exhausted, as everyone grew tired eventually. Lurantis never seemed to slow down, always kept her beat.
Mienshao needed to change the tune, change the collective mind, change the world. She latched onto the heaviest beats of Lurantis’ song, where she would put all her force into the tip of her blades. A single hit from one of these attacks would put her to the ground and put her right out of commission, but she held faith that she’d make it.
She’d no longer sidestep, as that meant failure, and began to focus on just staying out of her opponent’s range.
When the heavy swings came, she used her reverse momentum to push forward and throw out her whips. They struck their target, causing Lurantis to flinch. It was a direct hit to the eyes, meant to gouge them out and cripple her. But Lurantis just shook her head, for her bug-like eyes had a nearly impenetrable shell over them. The song would not shift, and Mienshao questioned her strategies.
It wasn’t working. That was obvious, that was clear
I couldn’t change anything. The song continued
It was her song, after all. I was only borrowing it.
It was unfair! I should be able to bring in my own composition.
To reveal my own destiny,
To soar into the sky
Soar, I can take it higher
My fall from grace, all for face,
On the mount of the gods, let me take my place.
It was beautiful… the birth of a star
Like the nebula, like andromeda, like a meteor from Orion’s
She thought it made me weaker?
Nonsense, it was perfect.
Perfect for me, perfect for us.
And the fight could continue.
Mienshao dug in her heels, tearing apart the fear that clutched her heart.
She rolled towards Lurantis, ducking below the range of her scythes. Mienshao was short, but could rise to the occasion. From below, she struck Lurantis with a rising punch that sent her flying backwards
I can keep going.
She flung out her whips, wrapping around Lurantis’ legs. She retracted them and clutched her victim tightly, throwing her to the floor and spinning her by her feet. Back into the sky she flew, like a dandelion reaching its final phase of life.
I can keep going!
Whips flung out again, but this time with a different purpose. Lurantis tucked in her legs to avoid the whips, but that wasn’t the intended target. They latched on, instead, to her shoulders. She came flying back to Mienshao, like a hot pink comet. Mienshao turned her around, stomach facing skyward.
And down came her elbow, crushing the poor plant’s gut.
Lurantis laid still on the floor, recreating Mienshao’s shadow. Yet, instead of gurgles of pain or perhaps cries of distress, she childishly giggled. “That’s not enough! C’mon, try a little harder!”
Spinning. It was how she found peace.
Spinning. So that your head felt so far away from your body, your mind living somewhere happy, somewhere free
It’s how she understood
It’s how she made them understand.
She flipped backwards and posed herself into a handstand, blades now detached from her arms. Both legs sported her signature weapons, and she appeared delighted. She pulled away her arms and began to twirl herself around her head, spinning towards Mienshao like a living beyblade.
Mienshao dashed away, waiting for Lurantis to stop her dance. Lurantis’ mobility was greatly lessened in this pose, so Mienshao could force her to return back to a neutral pose.
And so, it went
Mienshao. Grappling with fate, she was the chariot. pulling her destiny closer to her by the reins, her whips..
Lurantis. Spinning with the wheel of fate, her own fortune on display for all to see. She was diamond, unbreakable, even with how bizarre her movement was.
Hours. Maybe more
Fighting, war, rot, at its core
But the soldiers, they were at peace
Filled with bliss, hope, nothing was out of place
The song was beautiful, it was theirs
It was fair, all unaware, no pain or misery
Sadly, reality came back just to screw everything over.
My people, how did they find me?
I don’t even know how I got here, so how did they?
I don’t want to leave
I don’t want to leave you
I will come back.
I promise, ok?
“Zoe! Are you ok?”
I was! I WAS! Don’t bring me back
The “match” ended in a tie. They disqualified me.
To this panopticon of blindness, rock and stone
But still. The elders knew best, they always said.
Took me aw ay. Away from the source of the music.
Away from being complete. Away…
What’s wrong? You lived.
Wasn’t that what you wanted?
Just one night? And you’d stop thinking
But you just want more
More, and more, and more,
Your greed has enveloped you.
You require discipline.
My discipline involved no pain
It involved nothing
It involved the same silence I had known for all of eternity
Taken away. Taken away forever.
I longed for that sound to come back. To come back to me.
From then on, she gazed at the stars every night.
Praying to any god that would listen, just wishing that one of them didn’t hate her.
The memory of the music was all that kept her moving. That noise, she was so close… the world at her fingertips. Pulled away.
Her hope lied in the future,
And so it came
SOMEWHERE ELSE—SOMEONE ELSE