FireWind Chronicles

[Dr. Strange]

Lovely Flames. Or should I say James?

[flames]

Chapter 8: Maze of Memories
That world, those sights, those people...That was all a long time ago now. It was but the first of an endless stream of new beginnings for me, each one like another nail in my coffin, yet another shattering of my heart, which lies there in The Void still, never beating, colder than the harshest glaciers and cruel, blistering blizzards. It's all quiet now...
Those who know of my constant re-incarnating, my jumping from world to world, don't understand. Nobody ever has and nobody ever will. No one else can even begin to imagine having their very soul broken down over the course of millennia in The Void, wanting nothing more than to be finally erased from existence, for the torture to end...But it continues time and time again as your fragments are forcefully joined once more, helplessness drowning, engulfing and consuming your very being...If I can't free myself, how can I ever save those important to me?
People describe my 'condition' as a form of immortality, basing their conclusion on my ability to resist death and fight on before being 'resurrected' once more, returning to the world of the living. They don't get it, they don't know anything; not about me, not about life, not a thing. They never have to feel each and every emotion flooding your consciousness at once, bringing a sensation far beyond what we know as 'pain' or even 'anguish'. They'll never return to see their loved ones with eyes of hate, memories removed, only realising who they were when you die again, only then realising that you killed the people most important to you in your last incarnation. The guilt, the sorrow, the regret and self-loathing...there is nothing like it in the entire Multiverse...
There is nothing like having memories of a seemingly infinite amount of lifetimes suddenly flood your mind, too many images flashing before your eyes to make sense, simply filling your blood with a burning insanity, poisoning your heart...This is why I'm glad when I don't remember, when I only have a few positive memories from my more significant lives to guide me through the dark, gloomy forest called Life. Whether I remain in the forest, charge confidently through or let crimson fires consume it all depends on my memories and my state of being in whatever world I've been roughly tossed into. My wishes don't matter, nor do my morals, way of life or dreams...Such things hold no importance in the Universes anymore, let alone the vast Multiverse.

But...despite all of this, despite having to bear the shame of killing so many, of ruining my chances for peace...As long as I manage to continue helping people with my own sacrifices, I shall hold the Multiverse in my hand, carry its weight on my shoulders and climb up the mountain of life time and time again, refusing to give in, refusing for my pains to end, refusing to let my special people down...As long as there is darkness, there shall be light. Every time one of The Powers That Be decides to screw around with a Universe, I'll be there, shielding everyone from the storm...
Several millennia may have passed since 24XX and my life with the resistance back home, but my answer hasn't changed:
"I won't hesitate...If an enemy appears before me, I'll destroy it, even if it costs me my life!"
And with that I run on through this maze of memories...

[Somebody]

Another good one, again more insight into the feelings and thoughts of Flames, gives you a better understanding of where he is comming from emotion wise

[flames]

Woah, it's been forever since I added to this. Darn writer's block...

Chapter 9: Rakkashi's Report
<Login successful. Please enter your search query>
   HoKaze no Flames
<Searching...1 Folder found: "Rakkashi's report". Extract files? Y/N?>
   Y
<Windows has completed the operation successfully. Now opening primary .html file...>
If you are reading this report, then either I can no longer pass on information to you due to having died, or this was document was seperated from me. I am willing to bet however, that the first is more likely and I have long since passed away. If you desire to seal your fate, and forever be cursed with chaos by involving yourself with the "subject", then read on.
I, Rakkashi Xiamoto, was given the task of simply observing a certain otherworlder as he entered this world from a great sea. I was a well-feared master of many things, akin in many ways to the Darkness itself. The "subject" entered this plane of existance and inflicted incredible trauma upon an individual known as Ranko before unleashing a frozen Hell upon the planet. I take it that if you are researching the "subject", you have no doubt read about this event, of how two ominous beings watched from above and you may even know about the Aisu no Reikon. I was one of those two beings who continued to observe him as his very core split and fragmented, his soul fighting itself, his mind an impossible jigsaw weaving through a 5D landscape, his spirit a darkened flame in a saltly breeze, forever flickering.
It was not until the Kami intervened that he reverted to something closer to his original state in his world. He ceased to be the cold, conflicted vessel of destruction and transformed before my very eyes into something...very different. All the chaos, the turmoil, the agony, the mighty "9 Unifying Emotions" and eternal emptiness was still there...but it was somehow contained and the "subject" became a warm, honourable, kind and truly incredible person. I saw his entire past in his eyes, the memory of what he had unleashed upon this universe, the death he had brought to the planet, the endless torture of the Void and all the negativity from his original life in his home universe as he watched it perish...
For the first time in the 3000 years I had spent in existence, I was truly afraid. No, I was terrified, immobilised by fear, my spirit fading away in his presence. If all that energy escaped...If he unleashed the ultimate power of the "9 Unifying Emotions" like he had done before his death in his home universe...If he drew upon the vast energy before him, the lifeforce of all things...Not even the Gods themselves could stop him easily and the entire Multiverse would be in grave peril.

As you read this, you may wonder why the Multiverse is not this way and why most universes haven't been tragically changed in any truly significant way. I still, to this day, don't know exactly what happened or why he did it. With all that he had killing him from the inside and the power at his fingertips, obliteration seemed certain. Even had been in a more pure state, free of all that chaos; he should have acted differently. Instead of obtaining ultimate power or ending his agonising existence, he absorbed all that he had unleashed into his being, directly into the core of his existence, viewable only in the 10th Dimension of Space-Time. Such a sacrifice meant effectively cursing each and every existence he would ever have, ensuring that every life he lived, every universe he entered, every eternity in the Void; would become all so much worse for him. Using his Ki and Spirit together as an instrument of his will, he placed a series of locks upon himself, ensuring that as little of the power he could tap into as possible could be used.

The locks were not helpful in aiding the "subject's" declining mental, emotional and spiritual states. The locks have agitated all 3 and no doubt only add further to his suffering. Whilst the locks usually prevent him from using power he shouldn't, they also block several sources of power that on their own are not dangerous and he has every right to use. The condition of his ever-changing abilities has been most intruiging and is something nobody has been able to fathom. There are times when he can exert such great Ki, Spirit and general ability that I almost feel the same presence I felt all that time ago, and yet there are times that even when unleashing everything he has and pushing himself beyond his limits, his power rises only slightly above the norm for anthros of his specific species, ancestry and history...although there isn't exactly a clearly defined norm for such variables, of course...

<Unexpected file end. Please find Rakkashi's report_2.html...>

[flames]

Sorry about the massive delay. I was struggling to write Rakkashi's Report Part 2, so this may not turn out as good as it could have done. Darn writer's block.

Chapter 10: Rakkashi's Report-Part 2
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<Windows is trying to find a solution to the problem...No solutions available. Virus detected in Rakkashi's Report.html and Rakkashi's Report_2.html>
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<Now booting Eternal Linux 3.0...Boot complete. Analysing files...Viruses neutralised>
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<Repairing...File ready for use. Please note that Linux could not find the subfiles "Flames' Plan.sub", "Eternity's End.txt" or "Rakkashi's Report_personal_log.html". Without these files the following document shall remain incomplete...Read anyway? Y/N>
   Y
If you have read this far, I can only assume that you are one who wishes to know a great deal about the “subject” and if you have been studying his history well you may be confused right now as to why I of all people, a feared master of the dark ways, one of a higher plane; has been reduced to a mere shadow of myself. In truth, the analysis of the “subject” is not the most vital part of this report. No…data and observations alone shall never be able to define such a being. He is beyond such limitations. I once was arrogant, a fool really, one who saw those of the lower plane as worthless and insignificant. But after spending all these thousands of years following him, and occasionally her, I realised the true value of all life and my existence gained a purpose. I continued observing him, a new drive pushing me on, I wished to understand this walking contradiction, this being who was light and dark, hero and villain, saviour and destroyer…
He is unique. The “subject” spoke to me from afar not with words or even actions, but through the mind. What I learnt from him as a living being is far more significant than anything I could have learned from him by simply observing him in an analytical manner. What I learnt cannot be expressed in any language, nor pictures, nor even art forms. No, such things are expressed on the deepest level, in the form of thoughts and ideals. Involving yourself with the “subject” may curse you for your entire existence, but if you gain from it what I have: Something that makes any epiphany or any moments of Zen seem like mere basics…well, there are very few pieces of knowledge more valuable then what he has taught me. If you desire to seek him out, either to unleash rebellion or to protect those you love, I beg you to tread carefully and take a while to decide if this is the right thing to do.
A single false move could result in the destruction of a universe and more pain than even most deities can comprehend.

I am uncertain as to what he is planning, but I know that this cycle of him dying, being tortured in the void and then returning to fight again cannot go on much longer. Each time he returns, his skill and memories return to him swifter and are more complete. I fear that it won’t be long until he has access to all of the abilities he has gained throughout all of his lifetimes. I am certain that I shall not live to see it, but I know that it is destined to occur. And when it does nobody, not even Kami-sama, can predict what will happen.
My time is near.
Even I cannot live forever. We of the Higher Planes of Existence are not Gods, despite what many thought in the past. No, we are not even demi-Gods. We live far longer, have far greater powers, but we too are naught but mere mortals. We are ruled over by those of an even higher plane, and they are also ruled by even higher beings. This pattern continues until it boggles the mind and finally reaches the true Gods themselves, who answer only to the Kami; whose existence ensures that the entire Multiverse continues to run and that eternity remains in balance. If this balance was disrupted chaos would consume us all.

One thing that appears to have evaded most about the "subject" is his unusual mental/spiritual gender makeup. Whilst he has spent at least 99% of his many lives as a male, it appears that he has undertook female form on several occasions, often in the form of a curse. And whilst "curse" is the right word at first, over time the odd gender makeup he has comes into action and it is no longer a curse, but a blessing. Why? His mind and spirit both appear to be dual-gendered. In other words: The "subject" is happy as either a male or a female because he is both and neither. "He" may be male most of the time, but "she" has chosen to be reincarnated a few times as a female. This may not seem that important,  but it is certainly a topic of interest because...

<Linux has detected that there is data missing here...Now moving to next readable segment>

...and this is what I believe the one people across time and space call "The Hero Eternal" shall do next. I know that I am on my deathbed now. Perhaps not due to the fact that I am dying, but possibly because I shall be erased from existence soon. It doesn't matter anymore who ends my admittedly quite pathetic existence: The Gods, Kami-sama, The Hero Eternal, a shingami, or even one of my so-called "allies". It is almost amusing how I've changed. I once saw myself as a dark, powerful being who was in control...but I don't miss that life, not one bit. I have faith in the "subject", I have more faith in him than I could have ever imagined. Why would I have faith in the one who may end existence? I honestly don't know, but I believe in him. He'll make the right decision in the end, whatever he may choose to do when he performs his final duty for us all...

<File end: Unable to continue translation of data. Shutting down system now...Enable hibernation mode? Y/N?>
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   Forever.
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[Vince the Dark]

Very interesting chapter nii-san. I can't wait to read more.

[flames]

Here I am again, eh? Well this chapter is the first of several for a sub-story which adds depth and a bit of explanation behind a few things that I won't mention yet, as that would spoil it. I highly advise you read The Hero Eternal: Warrior, otherwise these next few chapters may make little sense to you.

Chapter 11: Untold Tale
What you are about to hear was never meant to be heard, never meant to exist. I’m not even supposed to exist…but the Multiverse is very unpredictable like that.
What I need you to understand is that I never meant for this to happen, I never meant for things to go this far. I did what I thought would best save my people, those that I care for and ultimately, save the future. What a fool I was; time travel is no minor thing to be tampered with. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Please do sit down and get comfortable, this is a long story, set in a world that doesn’t exist, in a timeline I destroyed. This is my story…

The Year is 24XX and an evil tyrant known as Xan has enslaved us all. Sound familiar? I thought it would. Everything you know about that world, that time and that particular hero is more or less correct, at least until one certain mission. HoKaze no Flames, Sakura and Yoh were sent out to investigate some ruins where a fragment of Project X remained. However…

Upon downloading the data on X into Yoh, things went very differently. Although Yoh transformed and attacked the remaining pair and they defeated him, the flash of light was tinged with an ominous, dark aura and the X-Sabre was never formed. Flames and Sakura returned to the base, feeling oddly drained as if afflicted by some disease. It turned out that had both been infected by a special strain of the infamous “X Virus” that doesn’t exist in the standard timeline. This was perhaps the most fearsome variation of Project X: A virus that cannot be cured, that feeds on and corrupts all the body’s cells, easily transferable despite quarantine efforts, resistan to all our methods…truly a fearsome virus, easily capable of killing the entire remaining population. Although Sakura had minimal exposure to the X Virus and thus was able to mostly continue her life normally as soon as we did develop something to restrain the virus, Flames was not so lucky. Whilst eventually all Resistance members had some level of infection, nobody had quite as bad an infection as Flames. His fur quickly became dark grey and his body became damaged beyond repair.
But the fire in his eyes didn’t change. Despite having a fatal level of the virus in his bloodstream, despite the virus specifically damaging Anthros the most, he did not surrender to death.

Ah, I see I now have your interest. Yes, these became dak times for us, and time took a very different path to the one you know. Due to this grave tragedy the Resistance’s efforts were of course concentrated on different things and different missions were issued, which whilst being of utmost importance at the time, bear no real significance today. Hmm, but I’m getting ahead of myself a little. You wish to no more, yes? You wish to no of what became of Flames and Omega, of Xan and Phantom, Leviathan and the Resistance? Buy me another drink and I’ll tell you more stranger…

[Somebody]

Nice story, I particularly like how he tells the story like its a tall tale or myth.

Poor flames he just never catches a break

[Dr. Strange]

Poor flames.... No break, no help, no safe haven from the destruction inside.... Makes me want to cry... :'(

[flames]

Sorry about the wait, I've not felt like writing this lately and I've had the urge to write lots of poetry.

Chapter 12: Untold Tale II - Suffering
Well, I did promise that I would tell you more...Very well, I shall tell you more.
You no doubt recall Omega Zero, Flames' closest friend and partner? And how he died on a mission involving a new droid factory and a confrontation with Phantom, of how he bravely sacrificed himself? Hmph, things were very different back then...I'm going to have to tell you what happened based on what Flames himself reported to have seen in that timeline:

It was a dark day, with clouds as black as Xan's heart engulfing the sky, the air cold and rippling with tension. The droids attacked without warning, with speed and power like we had never seen before. Granted, most of the resistance had been weakened by the X Virus, but the sheer rate at which these new droids tore through our defenses was incredible and brought an intense fear to the normally relaxed humans of the base who almost never ventured onto the front lines. A group of ten a mere half mile away from the base was the first to report these fiends. They were all brave soldiers and could take out groups of droids normally twice that size without breaking a sweat. But these droids...no, they were entirely different. The group had enough time to send a distress signal and take out a few of their foes before they were decimated completely.

Naturally, it fell to Flames and Omega (just like in the timeline you are used to, stranger) to deal with this threat before they reached the base. Flames was suffering badly from the virus and Omega wasn't up to his best either. The fiery Anthro decided to go with Omega to deal with this threat despite the doctor's and Levi's insisting not too. His armour had been corrupted and had been surgically removed after he had first returned to the base infected. The Sabre was hopelessly broken and his entire body was, for lack of a better term, screwed up. His fur and skin was horribly scarred and the humans had to create a skintight suit to be fused with his body in order for him to remain conscious. With only light armour here and there on for various technical reasons, this armour was incredibly lightweight and didn't offer much protection. Forced to wield the badly damaged Crimson Shinigami that had been recently recovered from some ruins, he and Omega ventured out to confront these new super-powered foes. The battle was long and harsh, resulting in much agony for the pair. They persevered despite the sheer impossibility of their task and the last shot from Omega's trusty blaster was fired. Finally sighing in relief, Omega let his guard down and failed to notice the last droid sniping him from behind some debris. Flames noticed and reacted just in time to knock his friend out of the line of fire and, just like in the "normal" timeline, Flames took the shot instead. However...
Flames was in too weak a condition from the virus and the increased difficulty fighting to withstand a direct hit in his chest. Knocked unconscious, he fell to the ground as Omega turned around unleashed a hellish revenge on the sniper who dared harm his friend, releasing a large blast that turned the droid and the debris it had hid behind into dust. Now exhausted from such a large release of energy, the human gunman double-checked that Flames would be okay, concern shining in his war-torn eyes.

However, when Flames awoke, he found himself alone...
Slowly getting up, he walked towards his target destination slowly: The factory at which these new droids were being produced. His mission had been to confront the droids and destroy their source with his partner. But now...
It had begun to rain, the heavens roaring with deep thunder both far and near, lightning flashing far in the distance. Speeding up his pace, the fox-hybrid strengthened his hold on the large katana, his concern growing. The rain began to fall slightly heavier, the pitter-pattering of it impacting the ground gradually increasing in tempo and intensity, like some ominous natural suspense music. Finally clenching his teeth and wincing, he ran towards the factory looming ahead, getting closer and closer until...
He skidded to a halt, the rain suddenly halting as the lightning suddenly illuminated the scene in a blinding flash as his eyes gazed in horror at what lay before him: Omega collapsed on the ground, barely conscious, a small pool of blood before him. A sudden noise made Flames glance up to see none other than Phantom cackling whilst hovering, barely a scratch on him. "Foolish human...Omega Zero. You are no match for me and never will be, especially now that Lord Xan...no, Xan...has completed this new droid technology. Did you really think I wouldn't use it myself!?"
As Flames started growling, the flying foe decided to take notice of him, a brief flash of anger evident on his evil features. "So, you've come to interfere have you!? Hmph...You're lucky I'm too busy right now or I'd crush you, little Anthro." With that he rose up slightly more and relaxed. "With this technology, the resistance overcome by that accursed virus and Xan oblivious...heh heh heh heh ha! Flames...'The hope of the resistance'..." At this he snorted, continuing in a mocking tone. "If you want to try and put a dent in this factory, you had better do it soon, before the self-defense systems mysteriously come back online and vaporize you."
And with that he vanished away in a beam of light.

Flames hastily attempted to do as much as damage as possible to the factory as possible with the explosives they'd been given, but he didn't have enough time to go very deep into the factory, Omega's status and the defense systems cutting sharply into his time. The factory may have remained standing as he carried Omega away, but enough damage had been done to ensure no more attacks from the new droids for a while...

[Vince the Dark]

Very interesting nii-san. This alternate timeline makes a very interesting twist to the story.

[Dr. Strange]

Ouch.. No break still, that's gotta suck.

[flames]

Sorry about the really long wait guys. I'll try not to take quite as long with the next one:

Chapter 13: Untold Tale III - Shock
Ah, back again I see. Ah please do sit down, I assume you're paying again? Good. Now where was I?
Flames had successfully managed to cause some damage on the droid factory and safely return with Omega still barely breathing to the base. Upon seeing several of the doctors take Omega away for heavy treatment, Flames collapsed and was too carried away. As both of our heroes were recovering, trying desperately to bat away the X Virus and heal so that they could return to consciousness, the resistance was suffering heavily. The droid factory may have been damaged and for now might be down for the count but it would be only a matter of time before it was back to being fully functional and everyone was currently struggling enough against Xan's normal minions without having to worry about super-powered droids.
Soon all of the resistance's most elite, the Warriors, had fallen in battle. Some died bitter, bloodstained deaths and others, much like Flames and Omega, were in no state to fight. Si, a powerful Anthro and one of the earliest resistance members as well as being an old friend of Omega's, died but a week afterward, taking a massive chunk of Xan's forces and part of his fortress with him. Needless to say, morale was at an all time low and even Levi, who had remained hopeful for so long, was starting to lose her resolve.

But it was at this point that both the humans in Neo Babylon and the resistance would receive the greatest shock to their systems so far. It was an ordinary morning like any other when the video message was broadcast, showing oddly enough not Xan but Phantom with a maniacal grin on his face. "Attention dear citizens of Neo Babylon! Attention resistance dogs!" He called out, strangely addressing both groups in the same disgusted tone. "I am happy to announce that Xan's reign of tyranny is finally...OVER!" At this everyone was speechless. Had Phantom really...?
"Yes...Xan shall rule no more. I, Phantom, have erased this threat to Reploids and Anthros through my careful planning and research. By getting partially mechanized and stealing some secret data on Project X and the space station Eternal, I gained the power to defeat my former master. A new era has begun!" At this he raised his fist upwards, a dark inferno burning in his eyes. "A new era...of DESTRUCTION!" And with that last note cold laughter echoed over the planet as the broadcast ended and a new, far greater threat emerged from the chaos...

[Vince the Dark]

Talk about mixing things up and then coming out with a completely different result.
Very good nii-san!

[flames]

Chapter 14: Untold Tale IV - Saviours
These were...hellish, terrible, almost unreal times for us. With the Anthro race dwindled down to practically nothing and all of the Warriors out of action, the resistance appeared to be doomed. With Phantom as the new foe and more powerful droids now the norm, the brave reploids and yes, even humans, who went out to face them knew all too well that they would die. Although the humans of Neo Babylon didn't support their new ruler, they dared not go against him or aid the "non-human scum" that made up most of the resistance. Flames and Omega showed no sign of recovery and the measures put into place that halted the X virus' multiplication and spreading were beggining to fail.
But it was then that our hope was rekindled once more. A small group of humans from Neo Babylon, who had been biding their time, managed to escape the city unscathed and somehow bring some of Xan's latest technology with them. Working alongside them, Levi and the other humans at the resistance did the impossible and turned the disaster of the virus incarnation of Project X into their most forbiddable weapon!

Those with very little exposure to X were soon completely cured, having the destructive virus removed from them and used as a source for new weaponry. Eveb those with moderate infections who were stuck in infirmaries (like Omega) had most of the virus removed. Soon defence systems were firing shells containing a modified strain of X that greatly damaged droida and plasma bursts altered by large colonies of the ominous X stored within the turrets. Kelia, Jensu, Samus and Mattoh...they brought us hope and were our saviours...saviours that time has seemed to have forgotten.

I shall never forget the miracles they did for us using Xan's data on Project X. I shall always be eternally grateful to them, despite the timeline changing and their actions never happening. Although we were unable to do anything for those with higher concentrations of X in their bodies, that no longer mattered. Only a few Anthros had caught such large amounts of that dreaded virus, and all had died, leaving behind but two or three who still lived due to only moderate exposure. Of course Flames still somehow clung onto life against all odds, refusing to die, forever fighting despite his condition. I can rememeber it all...the pain and sadness I felt as I sat with him, glancing over at Omega every so often, whenever I had a spare moment, which was almost never sadly. As Omega started to recover, HoKaze no Flames, for so long an inspiration to us all, our beacon, our greatest hope......he remained silent and unmoving in his living death, unable to live but unable to die. Not even our saviours from Neo Babylon could do a thing and as we became all so more busy, preparing to advance towards what was once Xan's fortress; everyone forgot about Flames and Omega, our finest warriors without whom we would have been wiped out so long ago.......