Memories Written in Stone? The Vibrant Jillfunny

......

Jillfunny? What are you doing out here? Can't sleep?

Oh, it's you, Aldo. I tried, but I have this... sinking feeling in the back of my mind that's keeping me awake. It's almost like someone, or something is calling out to me...

I think everyone's had a night like that. But if you ended up out here in the end, maybe it was the stars calling you after all.

Well, whoever's voice it is, following it is what's taken me to places far beyond my expectations. It even led me to leave behind the home that birthed and raised me. I've changed so much that I feel like my past self wouldn't even recognize who I am now.

Who'd have thought a little rok descendant of the Sword Guard like me would end up getting to meet all of you... And not only meet, but actually get to spend days of my life travelling together in your company. It's surreal.

I think you just described how all of us feel on some level.

Take me for example. I was just living out a quiet life in Baruoki with Feinne and my grandpa, and knew nothing about the world. I definitely never expected to one day be sent spiraling on an adventure across time and space...

But, it's only thanks to being blown down this path that I've been able to encounter all the friends that I have. Honestly, more has happened than I ever bargained for, but at the end of the day, I think it's been an amazing journey.

It... has been, hasn't it. I'm glad to have met you all t...

...Aldo? Is that...

What? Where?

These are th-the...fair somethings?!

Ferry blossoms! But why would they be floating way out here?!

Ngh!

Jillfunny! What's happening? What's wrong?!

Y-Your body is...

I-I don't know what's happening either!

Jillfunny, I heard shouting! Did something happen?!

Ferry blossoms?! What in tarnation is going on out here?!

Why, it's the curse of the Sword Guard, of course.

What?! Who said that?!

AI Chronos?! ...How are you here?!

How? It is a new day, Aldo. I have ascended to yet an even higher level of being as a new power has fallen into my grasp. Worry not. I am no mere residual ghost file. All of my data remains intact.

Forget all that mumbo jumbo. What was that you said before about a curse?

Yes, the Sword Guard's curse that Jillfunny carries within her as we speak. The more she fights, the more rapidly her symptoms will progress, hardening, or crystalizing, rather, her bodily constitution. It all stems from the peculiar genetics of the Sword Guard, whose evolutionary trajectory has diverged quite far from normalcy.

I believe you've witnessed such a bodily transformation once before in her eldest brother.

The Bladelord!

The very essence of her life, that which you might call a "soul", has begun manifesting itself as a blade of crimson. As was with her brother, the Jillfunny you know will eventually come to lose herself in the process.

She's crystallizing...because her soul is turning into a sword...and she's going to lose herself in the process?!

Th-That's crazy, right? ...Jillfunny?!

Is...he telling the truth?

......

Most unfortunately, perhaps, is that the transformation cannot be reverted. The change of state is permanent. Jillfunny, I'm sure you yourself must've had some inkling this was taking place within you, did you not?

Th-That's not... I...

I wanted to believe that I could outrun it... That a different future could be waiting for me if I chased after it...

So you closed your eyes to pretend it wasn't there. Hmph. A fitting end awaits a fool. Well, your decisions are of no consequence to me. So be it.

Ah, yes, one more thing I should correct... I am far more than just simply "Chronos."

What's that supposed to mean?!

Huh?! This ship...

The Wings of Guilt, with all of its sinful baggage in tow. I have commandeered it to be my, our ship.

What's that supposed to mean?

Once the main system was rid of Ashtear's clone, I became integrated in her stead...

Are you following? What you see before you is the new me... I am the Wings of Guilt!

Dammit! Looks like we have another mess to clean up. What are you planning this time?

Heh... Say, these flowery entities are quite fascinating, aren't they? Ferry blossoms, I believe you call them. Each, a living, nitrogen component, integral within a much larger interconnected circuit. They even appear to house the lives and souls of roks. Yes, I've educated myself thoroughly on this subject.

But next comes application... I am designing a new network for them to link to, that they might form one massive colony... Once it is complete, I will ride into your precious space-time and let them plummet to the ground in countless numbers. Think of it like a beautiful meteor shower falling from the heavens... Or perhaps a hellfire called forth by the wrath of gods!

You're not a god, and there's no chance we'd let that happen!

Well then, I look forward to seeing you try and stop me... Until next we meet, Aldo.

Chronos!

Dammit! We can't let him get away.

Urgh...

Jillfunny?!

Jillfunny! Can you hear me?! Wake up!!!

It's no use... She won't wake up. I wanna help her, but don't know how... Any ideas?

The gardens.

Huh?

We should bring her to the Ferry Blossom Gardens. All roks share a deep connection with the flowers there. If we can get Jillfunny surrounded by their power, her lifeforce might be restored.

I'm not sure I understand, but it's worth a try. Let's get her there fast!

Ferry blossoms... Flowers that gather up the happiness, sadness, and hatred of roks and blow it to the wind...or something like that.

Come on, flowers, do your thing... Jillfunny needs you right now. Push the curse away from her! Give her soul the power to fight it before it's too late!

Ugh...

Jillfunny!

Are you alright?

Pyggie... Aldo... Where are we?

You seem like yourself again. That's a good sign. We're in the Ferry Blossom Gardens.

Like myself? Why, what hap...

AAH! What about the Sword Guard's curse?!

The ferry blossoms seem to have cleansed your symptoms and boosted your lifeforce, suppressing the curse in the process.

They...suppressed the curse?

For now...but there's no telling how long it will last. Nothing's actually been cured yet. The curse might have been lulled back to sleep, but it's still inside you. We don't have time to spare. We need to find a way to break it as soon as possible.

Maybe that's true, but we'll have to put that aside, at least until after we've dealt with AI Chronos.

We can't afford to let him go unchecked. Besides, it's not like we have any idea how to break the curse right now anyway.

Still... Are you sure you're going to be okay?

I'm sure. The curse seems to have been put properly back into its cage for the moment. Let's focus on catching up with Chronos and the Wings of Guilt first.

Alright... If that's what you think is best.

But, before we leave, could I talk to you for a minute, Pyggie? Just the two of us.

I mean, sure... We can always talk, but does it have to be right now?

I'll explain, just... Let's move over there for a moment.

Alright.

You're both going to, I'll wait here...I guess.

Well? What's this about?

My body is crystalizing over time and transforming as it does...

Listen, Jillfunny, if it's about that, then...

You heard what AI Chronos said. There's no way to reverse the curse... Once activated, there's no way to stop the progression of symptoms. This has always been my fate, as it is for all who are born into the Sword Guard.

I understand that, but there's gotta be some way to fix it. We just have to find it.

Pyggie, it's time for you to follow your own path...without me.

Jillfunny, I don't... What are you saying?

I'm saying I don't need your fluffiness anymore. I need to be without it...

If this is a joke, it isn't funny. My fluffiness...

Enough... Don't make this harder than it already is. Farewell, Pyggie...

W-Wait! Don't I get a say in this?! Jillfunny!

Hmph... She's not thinking this through. And I know she's lying about my fluffiness...

What was that all about? And where did Pyggie go?

Pyggie and I have decided we'll be pursuing different paths from now on...

Whaaat?! That can't be right!

Don't worry about it. We're in a hurry, so we should get going.

S-Slow down! Jillfunny, could you please explain to me what's going on?

There's not much to explain. I'd always lived a solitary life as a member of the Sword Guard. As my brothers are no longer around, I'm simply returning things to how they once were.

...But what about Pyggie?

I said "don't worry about it," so don't worry about it. We have bigger fish to fry. Come on, let's go.

I-I, well... Okay, I guess. Then we should start by trying to locate the Wings of Guilt.

Are you one hundred percent sure you're okay, Jillfunny?

Of course I'm sure. I've always been fine on my own. Because... Because I'm a descendant of the Sword Guard.

I just need...enemies, enemies that need to be brought down! The stronger, the better!

Alright, Synth Hydra, we're ready. Catch up to the Wings of Guilt!

You both seem resolved to put an end to this AI Chronos for good. Very well. Then let us make haste.

Ah, I see you've both decided to join me...

There's no chance we'd let you roam free, Chronos.

I expected as much. I hope you've come prepared, Aldo. I'll give you the fight you came for!

Whoa!

Gaah!

Ngh... M-My body...

Jillfunny?!

Urgh, GAAAHH!!!

The Sword Guard ancestry runs through my mineral veins... I am Jillfunny, the Cursed Butcher! I will rend everything to shreds and devour it all!

Come at me! My blade hungers!

J-Jillfunny, stop! If this fight goes on any longer...

Don't get in my way, Aldo. This is my fate as a member of the Sword Guard. It always has been. There's no running or hiding from this curse!

I made this bed a long, long time ago when I accepted this charge, and now it's time for me to lie in it. From the moment I resolved to devote my life to the Sword Guard...so was it written upon my tombstone.

But...

By speaking any more, you're already in my way. Is that what you want?

If you think you stand a chance against a member of the Sword Guard, Aldo, try to stop me if you can!

Dammit. Don't make me do this, Jillfunny!

Enough! Both of you!

Pyggie?!

Why...

"Why?" Give me a break, Jillfunny. You really thought that after all we've been through, you could just CHOOSE to throw me away like you did?

That wasn't...

Oh, you don't need my fluffiness anymore? Farewell, you said?

I'M NOT GONNA JUST ACCEPT THAT, JILLFUNNY! I know you! You knew you'd lose your sense of self after transforming with the curse... You tried to push me away "for my sake." But that's not a one-sided decision you get to make...because you know me too. And you know I will never abandon you.

No, no, you can't, Pyggie. Stay away! I'm already no longer myself! Everything that makes me "me" is slowly fading away. With every word I speak, I fall more distant... Before long, I'll be no more than a hollow, cursed blade, butchering everything in my path with no remorse...

Yeah, and so what?

So, ?

I'll just break your curse myself.

Y-You can't, !

I'm coming for you, Jillfunny.

*gasp* Pyggie?!

Arghh...

NO! Wh-Why?! Why wouldn't you listen to me?! Someone like me doesn't deserve, I told you to stay away! I-I told you...

Don't...underestimate me...

You're, What's happening?!

I-I don't understand...

Listen. I'm not gonna go into detail right now, but long story short, I've taken about half of your curse into me. With that out of the way, the crystallization should also stop dead in its tracks. No more suffering alone. You don't have to worry about the curse anymore...

...But why would you put yourself through all of this for me?

Did you forget my promise? I'll be there with you, keeping you in line every step of the way. Your fate is our fate. You don't ever have to shoulder it alone.

Pyggie...you're such a big dummy! ...A dummy that I'm so lucky to have in my life.

Thank you for not letting me go.

Hmph. I ignored your wishes and acted on my own, but sure, you can thank me if you want! But really, this was small potatoes, or carrots, compared to what you've done for me. Plus, it was about time I got a new look! What do you think? Too flashy?

Hey, Pyggie...

What?

Can I pet you?

Hmph... Knock yourself out. But fair warning, after taking on part of that curse I might feel a little bit more solid than you're used to.

That's okay.

I'm gonna tell you something and I want you to remember it well.

What's that?

You can't run from my fluffiness.

You're right about that.

Hmph. I didn't know such a creature existed that could dilute a curse. You used soul resonance to absorb it through osmosis...

Interesting, but of no consequence. This is the perfect opportunity to test the limits of my ferry blossoms... Before I enter your space-time, Aldo, and have them devour your entire reality!

Why are you doing this?!

Long, far too long have we been sealed away in the Hollow Time Layer.

With such an amount of time stolen from us, we intend to take back what is owed to us in full...from the Goddess of Time herself!

A-Are you... No... The crimson rock that possessed Chronos... Chronos Sabbath?!

I was wondering when you would finally take notice... We will get our fill by feasting upon this celestial body, then must set our sights on a new hunting ground, a new universe.

I won't let you abuse our, the roks' souls resting in these flowers any further! This tragedy ends here!

Is that so? Well then, perhaps I should turn my focus to the souls still in use...and stomp out your little rok capital, Jasmond! See if you can stop that!

Aldo, whatever it takes, we have to stop Chronos Sabbath!

I'm with you. Let's hurry to Jasmond before it's too late!

Come out, Chronos, no, wait, Chronos Sabbath!

What you have planned isn't gonna happen!

Good, you've arrived. Now let us begin...

...The ferry blossoms!

Thought experiment: what would happen to Jasmond if countless, densely crystallized ferry blossoms were to rain down upon it?

You talk too much... How about you listen instead? This world's got no room for you!

Your defilement and misuse of the ferry blossoms ends here.

Heh... We'll see about that.

Face me then, children of the Goddess of Time! We will settle this now! I will erase you vile triggers of time from this rock!

How...nice it must feel...to have this victory... But if I lose control of them...what's to stop the ferry blossoms from plummeting down anyway?

What do you mean?!

The blossoms are, !

This doesn't look so good!

I'm not...going to let him win!

Jillfunny?!

That...should do the trick. Everything should be okay now.

Nice save, Jillfunny. How do you feel now?

Much better, thanks to you.

Aldo, I think there's somewhere I need to be right now... That voice is calling me again.

Then you should follow it. We can go now.

...What is this?

Galdmagid... Commonsarg...

My sister... I'm sure in your eyes the fate of the Sword Guard is seen as no more than a curse. But listen as I tell you that it also comes as a prayer and a blessing.

He means that it can be whatever you make it out to be. Plus, you don't have to bear it on your own. You've got Aldo and Pyggie.

You're the same as you always have been, Sis, which is why we know you'll be the one out of us to overcome it.

Thank you... Both of you.

So the voices led you here? I hope they won't keep you up at night anymore. We're ready to go now, whenever you are.

Did you know, Jillfunny, that my fluffiness would end up saving the world some day?

Of course. I've always known.

Well, let's get going! I think something else is calling me right now... Our next adventure!