Work Text:
This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. He was supposed to be able to see the birds flying in the bright blue sky, living outside the wind walls, not dying on the ground in the rubble of the now destroyed tower.
“This is all my fault” I muttered. Carmen looked up at me with levity. “We did it, Barbatos. We won.” his once bright blue eyes were slowly losing that brightness as he was continuing to bleed out.
“This isn’t fair.” my voice just a little above a whisper. “I’m sorry it worked out this way, little wisp.” Carmen started “Before I leave you alone though I need you to promise me something.” I bobbed up and down in the way that could be considered a nod “Anything” “Explore the world for me, use your wind to reach all corners of Tyvat even though I can’t travel with you and if you start to feel as though all hope is lost remember that I am cheering for you from the heavensbmy little wisp.” Carmen’s voice was shaky from crying and blood loss.
I flew down and nuzzled his cheek hoping to at least give him comfort as he passed on. And in the next few seconds Carmen’s body went limp, his heartbeat no longer there, and the heat that always made me happy went cold.
A wave of emotions ran through me, my thoughts beginning to jumble together, ‘NO! Carmen was meant for so much more! Not just dying on a pile of stupid rocks!’ Memories of our time together started flashing before my eyes, the way that Carmen had looked at me with such joy even when held down by invisible chains and locked away in a city ruled by a tyrant with walls made of wind and storm clouds, so intense that birds couldn’t even fly.
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!!” I yelled in anguish my body now becoming that of a human, as being in an elemental wisps body couldn’t contain all of my emotions and power I was taking in from the wind walls.
Two pairs of big bright white wings sprung from my back as my body took on the form of my now dead friend. I was dressed in pure white and teal clothes that wrapped around my new body in a way that flowed with the wind but didn’t come off.
All of the power that I already had and the power from the wind walls blended together in front of me forming a teal ball of pure power. The ball then condensed itself into the queens piece from a chess board and flew into where a human's heart would be.
I slowly stood up from my crouching position in front of my friend and looked around. All the fighting had stopped and those who were still alive were looking at me in shock and awe. It seemed as if time had stopped.
I then looked up at the sky and my jaw dropped. It was so blue and beautiful with no clouds in sight. Birds that were once grounded had figured out how their wings brought them up into the clear blue skies as the sky was suddenly filled with birds of all types.
My own wings had started to lightly flap subconsciously, as if telling me that they also wanted to be as free as the birds. Fully indulging my subconscious need to fly I started to flap my wings harder, creating mass amounts of wind. I slowly started to lift up but couldn’t seem to go higher. I then thought about that chess piece that was now in my chest. It was made of pure wind energy.
Gathering up some of the power I felt in my being I put it towards the thought of flying high up in the air. I felt myself getting higher in the air and soon enough I was where the tip of the now-gone tower was.
I looked down and fully realized what had just happened. I was in the form of my friend that was lying dead on the ground just below me, Ihad a huge amount of power, and I was floating in the air above the destroyed city that I once called home. I felt the urge to laugh and cry at the same time.
I suddenly started to laugh, knocking me out of my head, I really started to look at everything that was on the ground. Everyone had started to cheer at the sound of my laughter and it sounded bright and relieved and oh so joyous.
I sped down to the ground and picked up Carmen’s lyre that now lay next to him gently. I plucked the strings of the lyre just like I had seen Carmen do and remembered the lessons he had tried to teach me when I was only just an elemental wisp with no actual hands or fingers.
The plucking of the strings evolved into beautiful song, one of victory and freedom, of sadness and mourning. Without even noticing I had started to sing along with the song, subconsciously taking the lessons Carmen had taught me about the different types of songwriting and how they can make you feel emotions.
Soon enough the people gathered around me to better hear my song. The children that were hiding, waiting til it was safe to come out, gathered close to my floating body, singing with me. That had spurred everyone else to also sing along. Soon, the people were laughing and joining hands while singing along.
When I had finished my song everyone was still laughing and having a good time. I looked at all the happy faces and committed it to memory, smiling at how they were able to celebrate even with all the destruction and dead bodies around.
I suddenly felt a tug on my clothing. I looked down and saw a little girl looking up at me. Kneeling down I asked “Yes little one?” “Um what’s your name? I really liked your song and want to tell everyone outside how good of a singer you are!” the little girl explained. She had gotten everyone’s attention with her question and had sparked they’re curiosity.
“You may call me Barbatos!” I exclaimed. “Are you a god Barbatos?” asked a little boy on the opposite side of the little girl. “I’m not quite sure but you can count on me to protect and guide you!” I explained.
A man came up to me and bowed “Thank you Lord Barbatos!” “Please don’t bow to me as you would a ruler as you deserve to be as free as birds flying in the sky.” I said, picking up the man from the ground and pulling him into a hug. Releasing him after a few seconds.
“Lord Barbatos?” a woman said, coming next to the man. “Yes?” “Where will we live now that the place we used to call home is now destroyed?” the woman questioned. “We can go anywhere we wish now so we can wander until we find a place that suits us.” I answered.