Fly On, Bluebird

✧₊⁺

“Did you enjoy your journey? Was it satisfying, despite the losses you’ve suffered? I’ve contemplated eternity for some time, but watching you has dulled the sting of oblivion…….has made it all…………………so much more…………………………………………………………….”

. . .

“Come near, Jiro.” The Songbird gestured for me to join by her bedside. “And kneel, please.”

I did as she said and knelt down beside her. By the tone and inflection of her voice, I could tell that she was struggling to speak out of weakness. The mood around the room was grave, and yet Autumn still wore the same smile she typically did.

“What happened, miss?”

“I was… overcome with grief the moment I felt my connection to Blackheart… to Winter sever.” Autumn began. “I knew Barnes was the one who dealt the final blow, but after you all had been spirited away, his drones invaded the control tower en masse. I no longer had the power to keep up the field of interference around my nest. I had to flee, but I did not do so unscathed...”

Autumn pushed her blanket down to reveal a large chest wound with blue particles emanating from the area. My eyes widened before I nodded with solemn understanding. She had most of her power to preserve our lives in the battle before, leaving little for herself.

“Credit where it is due, those drones pack a punch if one is not properly shielded.” Autumn chuckled dryly. “You and others have done well to start the Eternal migration. I have already seen some make their ascent into the skies above Memoria.”

“Ascent?” I followed Autumn’s gaze outside the window and saw several blue lights shooting into the sky. “So that’s how it happens.”

“By my calculations, they are being summoned in the romanized alphabetic order by first name, which is why Miss Yuna and Shizuka still find themselves with us,” Archie explained further.

“Though they will need to rebuild again, the Eternals will find themselves in a far better world when they awaken.” The Songbird said.

“Autumn told us everything…” Yuna said. “About what the Director plans, and how you’ve worked to put a stop to it all. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing up for us, Jiro-bo.”

“It’s the least I could do. If I hadn’t met you and Shizuka, I don’t know that I’d have involved myself so heavily in all this, but…” I nodded to myself. “That being said, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“I admit that the quaint little stage play I put on was about you, Jiro. Winter played the role of the princess, and—as I’m sure you’ve already guessed—the role of the evil king is duly filled as well. Which leads me to ask, do you remember what came next?”

“The Outlaw stormed the castle, and overthrew the evil king, right?” I said.

“Correct. Director Barnes is nearly complete with backing up the test data. You’ll need to enter the control tower and cancel the download, starting the process of scrubbing the server with your own admin key. But I don’t expect Barnes to let you do so undeterred.”

“Definitely not.” I echoed her sentiment.

“Which is why, I’m entrusting you with this, and with the fate of the world.” Autumn reached over, placing her crystal key fragment in my hand. “You’ve proven yourself as Aki’s chosen champion, but more than that, a redeemed man… and a good one. While I won’t be there to save you this time, Jiro, I will be in spirit.”

“Thank you, Autumn.” I closed my fingers around the key as I felt an intense power and desire burning up within my soul. “I won’t let you down.”

“One final word, if I may, for all of you...”

Autumn began glowing with an ethereal light.

“Though the road through life may be fraught with regrets and despair, it is my opinion that the beauty of the journey trumps that which you fear. Cherish those you love with as much time as you have.”

Yuna and Shizuka exchanged sad smiles, and the mother placed her arm around her daughter’s shoulder.

“May you find pleasure and joy in all things, both large and small. And… may the light of Memoria guide… you…” She breathed her last, bursting into a cloud of white mist that gave off a sound like windchimes in the breeze.

“Momma, the Songbird…”

“I know, sweetie…”

Yuna and Shizuka both stifled their cries, sniffling, and I came close to doing the same. An iridescent butterfly floated where Autumn once was, floating outside the open window and into the night sky.

“…for all eternity,” I whispered.

After taking a moment of silence for the departed, we all composed ourselves and Yuna turned to me with a serious look.

“I guess this means you have to go off and save the world now. You… feeling alright?” She asked, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

“I mean, I could’ve used a meal before all this, but I’m feeling good.” I chuckled lightly, staring at the keys in my hand. My own and Autumn’s crystal fragment sat in opposite hands. “She gave me a chance. Listen, I don’t know when the next I see you both will be, but… but I…”

“I’ll just stop you there, Jiro-bo. I can tell you’re terrible at goodbyes. Just go take care of business, and we can talk until the cows come home the next time I see you in our new world. Yeah?”

“Hah. You got it, Yuna.” I smiled. “And Shizuka-chan, take care of your mom, especially when she’s had a few drinks.”

Yuna scoffed.

“Yep!” Shizuka nodded. “See you, Mister Jiro. Come visit soon, Archie!”

After waving them goodbye, we left the residential district. Archie and I snuck our way through the city, our disguises coming in handy to deter unwanted attention. All the way Eternals were in a panic as they began to slowly disappear, one after another. One day, hopefully soon, they would come to find out the necessity of today’s events.

We finally came to stand in front of the massive crystal spire, the site of the final confrontation, as its highest point stretched out of view.

“Archie, just curious here, but now that I have the key fragment, what chance do I stand of facing Barnes on equal footing and winning?”

“I would place your odds of victory at around 15 percent as things are. His combat prowess exceeds yours, and your long-range weaponry is a bad match for his scythe attacks. His handle will be far better than what Yamamoto was capable of as Thresh as well.”

Only that much!?

“So it’s hopeless then?”

“Not exactly. His admin powers are mostly moot since you have matched him in executive privilege. He cannot remove you from the fray unless he does so by his own hand, and also… you now are eligible for a class upgrade.”

“A class upgrade? The hell is that?”

“The ability to wield your weaponry is now self-contained, and not dependent on Autumn’s power. I can change your class into one that can better match up against the Director and activate your latent abilities, raising your win probability to around forty percent.” Archie said. “Would you like me to facilitate this process now?”

“Still not 50-50, but it sure beats 15-85.” I sighed, shrugging. “Let’s do it.”

Archie’s interface flashed with a blue web that scanned me over, and my appearance changed with a burst of light. My beige trench coat became porcelain white, as did the rest of my ensemble, and a matching cowboy hat appeared on my head.

At one hip was my revolver, but at the other, a hilt appeared with an officer’s rapier. It was the natural answer to my short-range combat woes. Though the all-white look was a little flashy for my taste.

“Now you look the part. Kururu-chan would like the wardrobe change.” Archie sounded mildly impressed. “Now shall we go and end this, Jiro?”

I glared up at the tower.

“Let’s go kick this guy's ass.”