Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a cold and snowy day.

After all the death and fighting, it came down to this. Minutes ticked down as each offense and defense was torn away from "Morgan". The test aircraft with wings swept against the wind was meant to be the last word in fighter jet technology still painted in test bed black and white, except for a single red wing as it’s pilot’s hallmark. The last card the king had to play was loosed. 

"You and I are opposite sides of the same coin. When we face each other, we can finally see our true selves. There may be a resemblance, but we never face the same direction." Both aircraft charges and chased, biding time one of them didn't have. Seconds ticked by, closer and closer to the victory of the new ideology, one that had brought former enemies together. The Belkan War might have ended months ago but there was plenty in this rebellion who thought something more was to be done for peace.

The last, best and only thing that could stop them was right there. A blur of blue contrasting to the low visibility fading into the dim skies of Avalon. This man was his buddy.

"Come shoot me down!" the brother in arms said, almost taunting the Demon Lord, "Fire away Coward!" 

The two planes turned towards each other, with guns and smoke clearing up for but a second. That was all it took as the Eagle got it's shots off fast enough, bore sight passing over the intakes and missiles guiding right in to shatter the engines of the Morgan. Passing by each other, almost like a last farewell never to see each other.

The Morgan's systems were tied to it's large intake providing much needed power were starving for it. Without power everything from the controls to the V2 Fail-safe tripped, leading to the self destruction of the final card in A World with no Boundaries grand plan. Despite it being minutes from leaving the skies the ballistic missile engulfed the skies in the shimmering light of nuclear hellfire. With the threat resolved, Cipher took his leave of Avalon.

Larry Foulke however was not in as advantageous position, with no controls the only thing his plane could do was force him to eject. This was not his intention more the South Belkan munitions company having the final back up to retrieve battle data, stored behind the pilot. With no concern he was flung out, watching the shattered air frame of the Morgan leave him under the light of V2. His will and focus finally giving out before he could hit the ground, falling though the snow, the shine of V2 and his failing consciousness. Before he faded, he was aware just enough to see everything fade from white to a deep dark purple. Soothing and encompassing, despite feeling wrong somehow. He though there was nothing the famed 'Solo Wing Pixy' could do with no wings at all.

The last hope to rebuild the world from the fires of destruction would be forgotten quickly, and like many things that get forgotten in the world of science. Passing from the world, the King of Avalon faded from records faster than most. The post war rebellions was swept under the rug even while Cipher was fighting the other members of the group over the round table. Powerful people seeing the whole scenario as an embarrassment sealed the fate of Larry Foulke.

}~{

Taking the long path around the temple grounds flew a Karakasa, a possessed umbrella in the shape of a young woman. Her thick blue caplet and long sleeve shirt being her main defense against the winter chill. Kogasa Tatara and her deep purple umbrella wanted to make sure nothing messed with the graveyard she worked. It was one of the three jobs she had to try and endear herself to the mostly human villagers. Seen as more of an annoyance than a flesh eater, Kogasa was one of the few Yokai that had unrestricted access to much of the Human Village.

On this day she wanted to do a light check in despite it being too early for her shift as a graveyard watch-person. She remember being told that the temple higher ups would be out shopping for supplies, making it a perfect time for someone to make a move. Between the wicked shaman and the hell cat, there was more than enough attempts to cause issues. And if it wasn't either of them, the would be grave robber would make for a nice snack for the rest of her day.

~SLAM! CRASH! SHATTER!~

The Karakasa's train of thought was stopped by the sound of something huge slamming into the ground in the temple cemetery. Not wasting time, she floated over. in the middle of the walkway she saw something unusual. A large metal throne was there, seemingly embedded in the rocky path. At the base of the chrome and green seat was a person. He were slumped down, almost trying to crawl away from the metal wreckage.

The young woman landed next to the green clothed figure, finding him to be alive. "Hey...are you doing okay?" She asked as the figure fought to get the large helmet off their head. Once freed of his helmet, the man just gave up on moving away, almost wanting the metal throne to be his grave stone.

This would not stand Kogasa thought. If there was a lesson she gleamed from the temple and it's host was to try and save people, even if they don't look like they need help. She stowed away her umbrella, and attempted to pick the much larger man.

"I'm surprised..." He said not looking at her, but at a place farther than the sunset." Of the people to meet on the path of hell...He was going to propose...Even got flowers." This caused Kogasa to jump a little, not knowing if he was talking to her or though her. None the less she and her quarry started slowly walking to the temple's back door. Hopefully the Buddhist would have return from their restocking. "He...He's gone now. Shielded him from the attack. But it would be fair for his Fiancé to get the first shot." The Surprise he gave her wasnot helping but all this talk was getting a little cryptic to the Umbrella. The man being taller and heavier didn't help, neither did his unhelpful walking limp. "Don't worry. You are not close to hell, and I'm going to get you help. There are nice people just a little further."

She grunted all but carrying the man right up to the back door and started to knock on it. "Hello? I hope they are back soon." The man wheezed out, "None of it matters. The world refused to change." This didn't help Kogasa who was getting more concerned.

The door opened and looking upon them was the head of the temple, Byakuren Hijiri. The tall head monk of the temple dressed simply in her dress and coat of black and white. Her smile from the conversation she was having with someone inside stopped when she turned to face her visitors. She was about to give Kogasa a stern but fair talking to until she saw her eyes went to the man she was holding up.

It was like time had stopped for just her. The world weary eyes under a mess of brunette hair seemed to have given up first. "Miss Byakuren?" Kogasa asked, as another member of the temple walked by, confused at the commotion, or the lack there of. "Byakuren? are you okay?" She asked at both former and current Brunette had a stare going past each other. It took a bit for Byakuren could even stay something.

"Myouren?" 

Chapter Text

“Myouren?!?” 

The name said rippled into the temple. The disciples looked at each other before rushing to the back. Byakuren had just taken over holding the injured man from Kogasa and started walking him into the temple proper. Looking at each member, she gave a quick instruction. 

To Shou, a slender woman with blonde hair, considered to be the second after Byakuren herself, “Please inform everyone that the temple will be closing early and for the rest of the day. Can you also inform Kyoko to not allow new comers until this has been resolved? Thank you.” 

To Ichirin, a robed woman and guardian of the temple, “Please go to Eintei and get a hold of the Doctor there. She may have something to help our guest here. Thank you.”

To Minamitsu, the Youngest looking of the three clad in a seafaring outfit, “Please check out the graveyard for anything that could help us with our guest. Thank you.”

Polite to a fault, Byakuren smiled as her disciples all gave acknowledgments and headed to the request given to them. All that left was Kogasa, not a member of the temple so she could not be given a task, but friendly enough to take request. “Won’t you kindly help set up one of the spare rooms for our guest. Down this hall and to the left. Thank you for your assistance.” She asked the Umbrella who nodded.

With no one else in the hall, Byakuren started carrying the man along. “I don’t know how...is this who you reincarnated into? What life caused you to return to the look of someone not wanting to be here?” She murmured while bringing the man over to the room. The two pass by Kogasa in order to put the man in the futon laid out. Not long the man closes his eyes and drifts into a seemingly restless sleep.

After moments of silence, Kogasa ask, “Do you know him?” a question that takes Byakuren by surprise despite how relevant. “I...I don’t know. I think I do, but I want to be sure.” not wanting to come out with who she wishes it to be. A wish like that is dangerous, and this man only looks like him.

     }~{

Captain Minamitsu Murasa was in the graveyard. Ironically as a ghost she didn’t feel too comfortable back here. But her feelings had to be put aside when she looked at it. Large and metallic unlike anything seen in Gensokyo before. Fluttering in the wind was a large sheet of fabric held on to the metal obelisk with strings. “A puppet? No…” She ruled out the only person she heard of using strings. With a few steps more she noticed the paving stones under foot not just crushed but singed. Between it’s chair like appearance, the sheet that was just not getting caught in the trees and the unknown writing, not much made sense to the captain. Walking back to the temple had her walk past the odd bit of metal. The pilot helmet made little sense to the middle ages mindset of the ghost girl. She brought it with her anywise.

    }~{

It took Ichirin a bit to get though the bamboo forest of the lost. The members of the Myouren temple tend to not get sick often, and usually wait for the medicine seller in the village. But if this is what Miss Byakuren wanted, and with how out of it that person was being brought in…

Walking into the front room of Eientei she was greeted by the doctors assistant and medicine seller before being lead to the doctor herself. Sitting at the desk was the doctor from the moon Eirin Yagakoro, her dual color dress was filling out paperwork at her desk when she was interrupted. The Silver haired doctor was caught off guard by the Buddist Monk at her door, but when she was informed by someone being spirited to the graveyard of the temple and how this was a personal request from the Head monk, Eirin thought it could be an interesting trip. She agreed to help and brought along her assistant, Reisen U Inaba. 

The three started making their way though the skies to the temple. Landing in front, they are almost turned away by Shou and Kyoko, a monk in training, Before being let though by Ichirin.As they reach the main doors of the temple aominous sound started emmiting from the medical bad Reisen carried for them.

Click click click click.
Eirin and Reien looked at each other with a greater level of concern. “Udongein my dear, if that is what I fear it is, I need you to head to old hell. We need the assistance of the Hell Raven.” She stated as she wrote a note, a request for the boss of old hell to allow use of the hell raven for her other skill set. “I’ll see if I can keep this contained here.” she said taking the medical bad from Reisin and seeing her off. After pulling out a meter with a metal rod attached she turned to Ichirin waving the rod around her, with a few clicks. The two made their way closer to the extra room the meter clicked more.

Looking into the room with three people in it got her even more concerned. “I would wish for you all to stay away from that person until we can get the specialist in.” The two ladies did what was asked, and waited for this specialist. “Has anyone else been in contact with him, or anything else he had?” the doctor asked, unfortunately in time for Captain Murasa to walk in holding the pilot helmet. The Meter got excited as Eiren turned to Murasa. “I would suggest you return that to where you got it until Ms Reiuji gets here. We are going to need her to clean this up.” 

Taking less time than was feared, Reisen returned with the Hell raven Utsuho Reiuji. Her towering body looked over the very placid temple hall until she sensed it. The red eye like gem in her chest lit up as she equipped her control rod. The Long orange device started to faintly glow, absorbing the Radiation their new guest had accidentally and latently dragged in with him. Something about this tasted different from her own reactors in old hell. 
Utsuho started more eagerly following the trails around those coated until they were safe, and heading back to the metal throne that was giving off some of the most interesting particles around. After cleaning up the radiation contamination from the temple, and it’s people, she excused herself to return to her place, but not before looking at their guest, someone who was dripping with charged particles before she got there. 

After the radiation was dealt with, the two doctors could finally see their patient. Eiren got a closer look at the pilot “Now, what is his story? If there was an atomic battle outside the barrier, it would not even get close to here…” Looking at the emblems and flags on his uniform, “Ustio? Galm? Where are you from?”

Chapter Text

Snow.

It was a cold and snowy day. That was the last thing in Larry’s mind. He was trying to piece everything together. He felt like he could replay everything of this never ending day. But every time he thought about it he came to one conclusion. The world refused to change. All of the goals of the organization was there. Of the waves of planes nothing got though except for someone who was never suppose to be there.

“Join with me...One innocent plea…”

Six months.

Six months since he last seen him on the same side. Six days since he last sent a communication. Six minutes since the replacement was torn form him. One on one for the fate of the systems that control the world. But there was something wrong with how this is playing out in his head.

“Rise above and you’ll have found it – pause and look around it”

Singing, a song he never heard before, but he feels like he felt a need to do just that. He stopped and looked, He can see he was not over that dam, he was not fighting his buddy. He was in that graveyard, snow softly falling. If he didn’t know better, maybe that was the afterlife? No, for everything he was witness to, everything he did, that was not where he was going. But something was pulling him forward.

“This world is filled with light, and surly there’s more to see”

He had his hand on t he door, hesitating. He he deserve this?

“Imagine a land with no bordering!”

}~{

Larry’s eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the dim lights around him. It didn’t take him long to figure out that yes, he was still alive. His body ached as he sat up, taking a moment to look around. He was not in a jail, and he was not restrained. It looked more like a storeroom with the sacks around. His mind got drawn to the sound of footsteps from behind him. “Oh good, you are awake. We were concerned for you after you dropped in on us.” It was the singing voice he heard in his dream. Before he could get a word in, he was handed a cup of much needed water. “Don’t worry, you are safe here. Though we do not get people who make the entrance you have.”

“Do you remember anything? Your name perhaps? I, We do not know what you went though to get here. I am Byakuren Hijiri, the head priest of this temple.” He responded almost automatically, trained in case of capture, “Laurence Foulke, Lieutenant, 66^th Air force unit.” He stopped himself, as he knew he gave that life up. “Though I prefer Larry.” turning to look at his attendant. Gold eyes meet Brown with the pilot having to do a mental double take. The Priest had to look away to not get caught in the unusually intense stair from the guest. “Well then Larry, I will go prepare something. What ever journey you have been on, you are probably famished as well as parched.” She stood up and left in a hurry. Larry, lightly confused at the reaction marks it up to landing in her backyard.

}~{

Byakuren’s mind was not on how late it was, or how simply she prepared the unadorned Rice. Her mind was on Reincarnation. This man who fell in their temple was very much an outlander, from his cloths to his name. But there was something about him. If he knew enough to have a title, she could ask him more. If he was a new take on her Dearest brother, some of his traits might have impressed this life? But that’s not how that works she recalled her teachings.

She was so caught up in her thinking that she was startled by the hands plopped on her shoulders, and the large red eye next to her. “Oh, Kogasa. Sorry I was somewhere else.” Kogasa was more than happy to get the quick charge of emotional energy from shocking the monk. “I mean, I have to get where I can. And the last two surprises didn’t sit right with me.” Kogasa stated looking at Byakuren. Between her and the guest something tasted wrong with the surprise she tasted, something alleviated with this more traditional scare. “So, two bowls means he’s awake?” Kogasa inquired, “How is he?” Byakuren took the bowls and pointed with a nod, “He talks, if you want to say something as his savior.” as the two went to their guest.

}~{

Larry wanted to think about what his next move is, but with how sore he was and how kind the priest is being, he figured he can stay here for a bit longer, before they figure out what he did to their skies. His planning was interrupted by the storeroom door opening. The purple and brown hair of the lead came in first, followed by someone new...ish. Something about the new person seemed familiar, and even with the low candle light how blue she was did stand out. Byakuren placed the tray with the bown of rice next to Larry, pair of chopstick next to it. “Thank you…” he said looking at the bowl, “hold on, I have something for this.” He said patting his suit, before finding a multi tool, and folded out a spork. “Sorry, I never learned how to eat like a Usean. Thank you regardless.”

“Usean?” the Bluenette asked. Kogasa was mostly there making sure she didn’t need to fight the foul spirit to keep him safe in the temple graveyard. She was also not familiar with the outside world. Before she could ask Larry continued, “Yeah, Usea. Eastern continent? Come to think of it, this temple doesn't look very Belkan. Are we near Waldreich? Mund?” Both women looked confused, the younger asked “Where are those?” Larry returned the confused look, “Well, if we are not in Belka, then Ustio? Would be a far drive just to get away from the battle.” Confusion still filled the room. Byakuren tried to cut though it, “We are in Gensokyo, not in any of those locations. Maybe things changed but I never heard of those places. No matter, you are safe here at the Myouren Temple.” hoping that the man might react to the name given to the temple. But instead Larry got up and went to a window, though part way he was assisted by Ms Hijiri. Getting to the window he saw dense, but very not familiar trees, and a landscape that match nothing with what he knew of the Osean continent. He was very lost at this information.