Should have been more specific. I meant post-Void suits. I still kind of default it to White Comet since I rarely use Prayer beyond her occasional physical debuff zap.
It's Kiana's, but it's not "canon" if you're going by story. It's also a "free" suit that you can farm for. It's the ONLY suit that i'm aware of that actually performs party heals as its ultimate. Everything else is either through a skill or through Stigma's sub stuff.
Should have been more specific. I meant post-Void suits. I still kind of default it to White Comet since I rarely use Prayer beyond her occasional physical debuff zap.
It's Kiana's, but it's not "canon" if you're going by story. It's also a "free" suit that you can farm for. It's the ONLY suit that i'm aware of that actually performs party heals as its ultimate. Everything else is either through a skill or through Stigma's sub stuff.
Just a short update fueled by a lack of sleep and dopamine from a goal reached.
Part 4 will be released within the next week. I am still waiting for something for it, but the draft is done and will be refined till then. It will be about 11k Words long, making this offiically over 100k Words long!
Just a short update fueled by a lack of sleep and dopamine from a goal reached.
Part 4 will be released within the next week. I am still waiting for something for it, but the draft is done and will be refined till then. It will be about 11k Words long, making this offiically over 100k Words long!
Dinah´s eyes squeezed together, hurting from the bright light that shined upon them. Where was she ? She could not recall, her head feeling as if it was made of clouds. Yet, despite the bright light, it felt… good. It felt so good. It felt safe, it felt warm, it felt like home.
Her head was laying on something, something soft, but firm. It brought up the memories she had of her mother, being on the couch together, cuddling, watching a movie together. Yet, her back felt as if was laying on the ground.
It was, overall, surprisingly comfy.
But… she wanted to figure out where she was, turning her head to the side and Opening her eyes, her eyes became dinner plate-wide.
A white city in the sky? Was she in Heaven? Did she have an aneurysm from her headaches? Was she dead ? Thousands of questions filled her head, yet..
Yet, her brain chose to focus on the fact that was so blatantly contradictory to her limited life experience. There was no sun. If there was no sun, what had been so bright ? She felt a hand on her head, softly gliding through her hair.
She froze. She slowly turned her head.
"Do not be afraid, Dinah Alcott."
Radiant. There was no other way to put it. Dinah had only ever visited churches with her father, popularities stunts, not signs of true faith, but she recalled the depiction of the virgin Mary. Framed by light, demure, yet majestic. So much like this woman. She also literally glowed, producing light from her own body in a way that should have caused her headaches, but it felt just good to feel it upon her skin.
Dinah knew that this strange woman should have induced fear into her, that this whole situation should have terrified her. Yet, she felt no fear. Her head still swimming, she ignored the sound of static, the brief flashes of darkness before her eyes, and of other, stranger colors.
"Who are you ?"
The woman continued to pat her head, it felt nice, feeling the slender fingers glide through her hair, massaging a mind numbing, pleasant warmth into her scalp.
"You can call me … Aponia. I am quite happy to meet you, Dinah." Strange, she could have sworn that the calm, steely eyes of the woman had just been glowing red. Yet, the kind smile distracted her, pulling her attention like a sign.
"How do you know my name?" That was something that caught the focus of her brain. She was fairly sure she had never encountered the woman, so striking, so beautiful that she almost looked like an Alien.
A soft hum echoed through the strange place, almost like a hymn. "I know many things, much like you. Although our means are slightly different."
"You know the future ?"
"I have seen it, yes. I saw the end of it."
Feeling… contend, the frustrations of her daily life slipping away, Dinah asked carelessly a question to her power.
`Will the future end?`
She had never asked a question reaching so far into the future, so beyond the scope of human understanding, that she was surprised that she didn´t die on the spot… again. It didn´t even hurt.
99.99%
Well, that sucked.
"...What does it look like ? The end ?" She asked softly. A strange acceptance overcoming her. She was still not afraid. More resigned. It was, after all, the end result of these stupid physics. Still, she wondered if it all would go out with a bang, or with a pop, or anything awesome that would make it worth it.
The motions on her scalp ceased, and she wanted to whine for them to resume, but before she could, they did and instead, she felt tempted to almost purr in happiness.
"I am not sure such a sight is suitable for a child."
Dinah paused, her childish nature manifesting in a bout of petulance. She had dealt with her headaches, she could deal with whatever Aponia had in store.
"Show me."
Apoina sighed sadly, and Dinah felt a pang of guilt, before nodding. "I will. I had hoped to spare you the sight, but if you want it that much... Close your eyes."
Dinah cuddled herself against Apoina, letting her beautiful voice lull her into closing her eyes, then she saw.
The world, Earth, was still. Not silent, though it was that as well, but still as in the cessation of movement. It was eerie, the sun itself having lost its luster, throwing a pale light upon a world crumbled into dust, it's surface scorched clean by solar winds and the sheer pressure of the stop leaving no human or animal standing, bloody smears all across, the broken bodies, if not turned to ash, crushed into paste against the few remaining buildings.
She saw Brockton Bay, its skyscrapers trapped in horrific twisted bubbles, frozen in time just as they were about to fall down, or up, or apart, or together. Streets flowed into each other from above and beneath, into loops that didn't make sense. The city, if taken in from afar, looked like a lotus flower of broken reality, and at the very top of the shattered carcass of her city was... Abyss Flower, sword in hand, dripping with golden blood.
Her eyes, so friendly before, were downcast, empty, apathetic, yet burning like galaxies, shining even through the warped reality of the city with a cold fire. Behind her back, six wings of green fire, the tip of which each reaching parts of the most horrific halo Dinah had ever witnessed.
The heroes of the world, Alexandria, Legend, Dragon, Eidolon, and so many more, each as if they have moved to strike Flower, only to be stopped in time and in space.
Flower moved, bringing up her sword, and reality truly shattered, splintering as the universe ended, falling apart into an endless sea.
"There, there. Calm down. Focus on my voice."
Dinah realized that Aponia had moved to restrain her arms, they quivered, their fingers moved into claws. She then became aware of the trails of tears running from her eyes. A wave of calmness went over her as she realized that it had been just a vision, not actually an ongoing event, taken back from the edge of it all by the delightful voice of the Angel before her.
"...I- saw..."
"The end of the future, yes. Or I suppose, the end of time." Aponia´s voice was sorrowful, but still had grace to it.Once again, the finger started to move through her hair, slowly beginning to massage the calming warmth into her mind.
"Sad as it is, I have been shown that it is too foolish to think that there is something you can do about it."
Something caused revulsion in Dinah at these words, the sheer idea that it was set in stone, bound to happen, not sitting well with her. Her power showed her this, after all. It had always shown her the potential of change in the future, that it wasn´t purely preordained. Even in this future, that the future will end, there was a chance to escape it.
Still shook, but focused, she opened her mouth to speak, but Aponia hushed her.
"I already saw what you want to say. You want to save the world from this Abyss Flower, don´t you?"
Dinah nodded her head silently, receiving a sigh in response from Apoina. "I can not forbid you from trying, nor will I disapprove. I can not do much to aid you, but if I can advise, I will."
Feeling thankful to this strange but wonderful woman, Dinah gave her a hug. She then paused.
"How will I get back ? How did I even get here ?"
Aponia looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow, resembling more a gesture of slight indulgence rather than confusion.
"I am sure you can remember if you try."
Leaning back, willing to indulge the matron, Dinah closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth of the hands on her scalp in an attempt to meditate, just as one of her teachers explained it.
How did she land here ? What was the last thing she recalled ?
She had been in Roy´s car, talking to him after he confronted her about her powers. It felt good to just talk about them to someone who knew surprisingly much about such things. Then, the conversations had moved towards the cause of it. Abyss Flower. Roy was suspicious of her, something that Dinah couldn´t quite compute. She was scary, but was she not a hero ? They got into a bit of a fight over that, her defending Flower, while Roy tried to explain himself.
She had been fed up, her headache getting worse, and so, she had decided to ask a question.
´Will Abyss Flower harm me ?´
And the answer she got, burning in her head was- was- was-
why do i feel like Dinah was just blatantly lied to but will believe the lies because beautiful woman cant surely be evil and that she will now do her darndest to get the world to turn on Taylor, namely by proving how accurate her predictions are otherwise?
tbh i dont know much about the crossover source (ie, none), but Taylors powers came from a source that appears to want to actually save the world this time because scion be big threat apparently.
so who is this woman and why is she showing this future and not the, you know, scion wanting to destroy a large enough number of realities your brain cant even comprehend the number? is she evil in the crossover source material, or does she just have a raging hate-on for the source of taylors powers enough to just not care about the consequences of what is effectively helping scion by getting the world to turn on his biggest threat?
so who is this woman and why is she showing this future and not the, you know, scion wanting to destroy a large enough number of realities your brain cant even comprehend the number? is she evil in the crossover source material, or does she just have a raging hate-on for the source of taylors powers enough to just not care about the consequences of what is effectively helping scion by getting the world to turn on his biggest threat?
It's hard to say whether it's actually Aponia (who does have a bone to pick with Honkai), or WoH masquerading as her. In any case - the visage could come from post-Scion. Herrschers are, overall, hostile to humanity and considering all of the bullshit happening on Earth Bet - Taylor snapping isn't too impossible.
It's hard to say whether it's actually Aponia (who does have a bone to pick with Honkai), or WoH masquerading as her. In any case - the visage could come from post-Scion. Herrschers are, overall, hostile to humanity and considering all of the bullshit happening on Earth Bet - Taylor snapping isn't too impossible.
i went and checked wiki, and based on what i read. i wouldn't think this is Aponia, as wiki suggests Aponia quickly realized she cant actually change the future and has stopped trying, so unless shes getting involved because she thinks she can reduce the damage at the end, i dont see her going in direct opposition, seeing it as futile.
that said, if it is Aponia, then i wonder if the PRTs M/S protocols can maybe realize somethings up? wiki says she doesnt do any direct sorta mindcontrol but based on what i can gleam she would still be very much considered a master on bet, a social based master most likely but enough that the PRT might notice the influence?
EDIT: i wonder if the reason she cant change the future is because she inevitably causes the future she sees, like i can imagine her getting involved is exactly what will cause taylor to snap at the end unironically, wiki also seems to hint at this when Aponias actions to get some soldiers to increase their hope led to them directly attacking and awakeing a herscher who did a crap load of destruction in response. (this is why people dont like farseers of any flavor, they cant stop meddling and making things worse).
also begs the question of how accurate her precog actually is, what if the source of her visions themselves is lying to her in order to invoke the actions from her that leads to those futures?
I think I can address this one safely without giving away the tension by noting that this is actually not the narrative path that I plan to presue with Dinah. She will play a significant role, but not that of a total antagonist.
There are some hints to what is going on in the chapter, directly in their interactions and one in the description of her. I don´t want to give up the gig totally as of now, want to see if someone can catch it. If it is mentioned, I will confirm it.
that said, if it is Aponia, then i wonder if the PRTs M/S protocols can maybe realize somethings up? wiki says she doesnt do any direct sorta mindcontrol but based on what i can gleam she would still be very much considered a master on bet, a social based master most likely but enough that the PRT might notice the influence?
That is a difficult question, honestly. Her 'Disciplines' are not something that is 'noticeable', considering will and desires of the people takes everything into account. The best example I can give (technically Honkai spoiler but you've looked at the wiki) is this - hiding it for those that plan on playing the game at free time.
Aponia placed the discipline of 'you will not kill the innocent/harm humans' on Kalpas as a means of controlling his destructive urges. Yet when those soldiers killed RIN (un-awakened Herrscher at the time), Kalpas admits that he would've killed them without a second thought, since they aren't innocent in his eyes. As in, disciplines can be twisted, thus being neigh-undetectable.
Considering the fact that this interaction seems to have happened after Dinah used her powers on AF and got poked back by what I presume to be the will, same as Lisa, my money's on Aponia being either the product of the Herscherr of Sentience, or the Herscherr disguised as Aponia, sent by the will to fuck with her.
I think I can address this one safely without giving away the tension by noting that this is actually not the narrative path that I plan to presue with Dinah. She will play a significant role, but not that of a total antagonist.
There are some hints to what is going on in the chapter, directly in their interactions and one in the description of her. I don´t want to give up the gig totally as of now, want to see if someone can catch it. If it is mentioned, I will confirm it.
First let's say the obvious : it's not Dinah's shard because there is no way for it to use Aponia likedness. There, done.
Second, i, right now have four possibilities in mind :
1) it's Really Aponia : It's stated that Aponia can act cruelly (in my eyes at least) based on her vision. So I would not be surprised if she was misleading Dinah to attain this future in the way she prefer.
2) It's Elysia who is a certain something who we don't know the power and motivation behind her actions
The 13th herscherr of the previous era
3) It's Vill-V for reasons, because spoiler... that i will not even put in spoiler because i'm ordering you to play the game to know ^^
4) The Honkai God who want to nudge thing in a certain direction.
I think I can address this one safely without giving away the tension by noting that this is actually not the narrative path that I plan to presue with Dinah. She will play a significant role, but not that of a total antagonist.
It might be just me, but these words are highlighted, I think.
Also, Dinah noticed that Aponia's eyes glowed red.
Considering the fact that this interaction seems to have happened after Dinah used her powers on AF and got poked back by what I presume to be the will, same as Lisa, my money's on Aponia being either the product of the Herscherr of Sentience, or the Herscherr disguised as Aponia, sent by the will to fuck with her.
see based on what little wiki diving i did, this doesnt seem to be Aponia, yet.... i cant imagine its a herscher, atleast not sent by the Will, as the will seemed pretty adamant at getting rid of scion, and this would appear to be counter to that goal (unless the idea is to try to push Taylor to hurry up at getting things done?) plus, i could be wrong as i know nothing of the source, but isnt the Will, like, what herschers come from? why would it want to go against their own agents? is there another faction or like a counter to the will that may have gotten involved?
see based on what little wiki diving i did, this doesnt seem to be Aponia, yet.... i cant imagine its a herscher, atleast not sent by the Will, as the will seemed pretty adamant at getting rid of scion, and this would appear to be counter to that goal (unless the idea is to try to push Taylor to hurry up at getting things done?) plus, i could be wrong as i know nothing of the source, but isnt the Will, like, what herschers come from? why would it want to go against their own agents? is there another faction or like a counter to the will that may have gotten involved?
I wondered about that too, and the best I could come up with is that, if it is a plan to push Taylor, then it isn't a plan to push Taylor herself but rather Sirin and Kiana, assuming that they have knowledge of who Aponia is and what she is capable of and that her presence is revealed to them. A bit of a stretch though, I admit.
why do i feel like Dinah was just blatantly lied to but will believe the lies because beautiful woman cant surely be evil and that she will now do her darndest to get the world to turn on Taylor, namely by proving how accurate her predictions are otherwise?
She was probably not lied to, but her knowing about that future was the reason it started existing; had aponia not shown her she would have had probably a positive predisposition to AF, but just like Costessa decades prior she will just think the solution is to either kill her or reveal her being dangerous to the people, thus having that future come to pass
that said, if it is Aponia, then i wonder if the PRTs M/S protocols can maybe realize somethings up? wiki says she doesnt do any direct sorta mindcontrol but based on what i can gleam she would still be very much considered a master on bet, a social based master most likely but enough that the PRT might notice the influence?
That's probably not Aponia. The Elysian Realm isn't exactly an easy place to get to, and the Will of the Honkai seems to be the only point of contact Earth Bet has with the greater Honkai multiverse.
So, that's either the Will, or a Herrscher playing games. Or the Will sent Dinah to the Realm for whatever reason, but I don't think that's very likely.
If it is a Herrscher, it seems to be aware of Aponia's personality and unique abilities, so that would probably make it Sentience. Yatta has Fu Hua's memories, and might be able to replicate Aponia's Discipline. I just don't know why she'd bother.
I wondered about that too, and the best I could come up with is that, if it is a plan to push Taylor, then it isn't a plan to push Taylor herself but rather Sirin and Kiana, assuming that they have knowledge of who Aponia is and what she is capable of and that her presence is revealed to them. A bit of a stretch though, I admit.
this could be a mega plot twist and scion actually knows all about the will and the world honkai comes from but finds them too dangerous to work against directly so is attempting to use information gleaned from the history of that world to cause chaos among them lol but that would be a big brain plot twist to the point i cant imagine is the case (suppose its feasible since scions apparently strong enough to block the will out of dimensions, enough that the will has to use local agents).
on another note, i also dont think its another herscher because iirc in chapter 1 didnt the will basically admit the reason its turning taylor into a herscher is because the will doesnt have enough power to open into the dimension enough to send actual agents in? if they could send herschers in directly they wouldnt need taylor..... though its been awhile since I read this so there may have been a statement that as taylor grows stronger the will gets more access? i do remember a story, dunno if it was this one, but had a similar start but taylor basically needed to increase hope or worship or something to send more power to the source (actually i may have read a few stories with that premise).
EDIT: also i forgot, what is Taylors herscher type? i keep hearing those like Herscher of destruction and sentience etc... but i cant remember what taylor/her head mates are. best i can think is void? or was that a different fic? (i read hundreds of fics per week unironically, cant remember details at all)
Her eyes, so friendly before, were downcast, empty, apathetic, yet burning like galaxies, shining even through the warped reality of the city with a cold fire. Behind her back, six wings of green fire, the tip of which each reaching parts of the most horrific halo Dinah had ever witnessed.
There are some hints to what is going on in the chapter, directly in their interactions and one in the description of her. I don´t want to give up the gig totally as of now, want to see if someone can catch it. If it is mentioned, I will confirm it.
*pauses*
*goes to rearead the chapter a couple of times*
I..really want to say it's YATTA , though I have no effin clue why she'd do that...
Red eyes.
Multiple references on Dinah feeling mind-numbed/relaxed/calm immediately after 'Aponia' did something.
The slight emphasis on some sentences
Also...she said 'You can call me Aponia' . Not 'I am Aponia' or 'My name is Aponia'