The Second Archon War: Carmen Dei 29

Carmen Dei 29: The Rabbit and the Owl 

“Hey, it’s me again! Your friend, Amber! It’s been 187 days since I last saw you, best buddy! So, I’m making another daily vlog, just for you! Come on, I’ll show you!” 

Amber flipped her camcorder around from taking a video of herself to a video of her workshop slash bedroom. It wasn’t a jail cell, she told herself. She could go outside whenever she wanted! She had a nice garden, a kitchen, and all kinds of stuff! She just…couldn’t leave. The ankle monitor rubbing against her skin reminded her of that as she walked. 

“Here’s Favonian Wing MKII! I’ve made a ton of upgrades, but, well, I told you all about most of those, I guess I’m just tinkering. How do you like the new paint job? Bright red! My favorite! Oooh, next up, is the newest Baron Bunny! Check it out!” 

Amber hastily set the camcorder down, then posed next to the doll that came up to her waist, and pressed a button. Music began to play, and Amber waggled her hips and moved her arms to the beat, spinning back and forth in sync with her Baron Bunny. After a minute, she laughed breathlessly and picked up the camera. “And that’s my dance! Totally cool, right? Ha! No way, I look like a total dork!” 

“Pfff, got that right. Super lame.”

Amber screamed and picked up Baron Bunny, spinning around, closing her eyes as she held her doll between her and the intruder. It wouldn’t explode; they didn’t allow her weapons, but she couldn’t think of what else to do!

“Oh, relax. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. Besides, you were recording yourself. If you were going to be embarrassed, you picked a real fuckin’ weird way to do it,” the acerbic voice said. Wait, that voice was familiar…

Slowly, Amber lowered the doll, hugging it to her chest and peering at the stranger standing in the corner of her room, blowing bubble gum of all things. 

“Z-Ziz?” Amber asked breathlessly. “You…you’re a member of the Tone Deaf Bards, right? Um, hi! I’m Amber Kohlhaas! Sir Amber, actually! Uh, are you here to deliver my food? I, uh, I wasn’t trying to escape again, promise…”

“Really? Well that’s a fuckin’ shame, because I was here to get you out,” Ziz said, standing up from where she’d been standing slouched in the corner with her arms over her chest. She was wearing trendy jeans with holes in the knees and ragged patches on the thighs, and, of all things, a Mr. Owl T-shirt with the caption ‘How Many Licks?’ on it. 

“You’re going to free me?” Amber asked breathlessly, then nervously glanced at one of the many, many cameras they kept on her. She’d tried disabling them at first, but Hospitaliar and a team of other Tinkers were watching her house arrest, and she’d eventually just given up. 

Ziz glanced at the camera, then smirked. “I disabled that shit when I came. Don’t worry, it’s playing a loop of you doing your dumb vlogger routine. You know they haven’t sent a single one of those lame-o vids to your ‘Best Buddy,’ right? No fucking way they let you have contact with Kollei.”

Amber’s shoulders slumped, and a tear trickled down her check as she nodded. “Y-yeah. I know. I just…I hoped…She’s all alone, you know? She’s scared, and trapped, and she’s not a bad person! I just, if I could reach out to her…maybe we could find peace! Maybe there wouldn’t have to be a war! Please, you have to give her my videos, I, I have to try!” 

Ziz regarded Amber, then shrugged. “Nah.”

“No?! But, then, why, why are you even here!” Amber burst out, tears flooding out of her eyes now as she dropped the Baron Bunny and stormed over to Ziz, who was about her height. 

The white haired girl examined Amber’s face, then her expression softened. “Sorry it took me so long, Amber. I was…busy. But, Boss Man and I agree: You should be free. Even if you make a mistake, and I sure as shit think you will, that’s your mistake to make. You’re not mind-controlled, and if you were, I could break that by humming a few bars. So, I’m letting you out.”

“You, you are?” Amber gasped, then wrapped Ziz in a hug, her tears turning to laughter. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” 

“Sheesh, you’re overreacting,” Ziz mumbled, then gave Amber a firm hug. “Like I said, I’m sorry. There was a war and shit. But Venti reminded me you were here, so…here I am.”

“Wait, Lord Barbados sent you?!” Amber gasped, jerking back in shock. “But, he’s asleep!”

“That old bastard isn’t so asleep as to not offload work on me,” Ziz grumbled, her blasphemy drawing a sharp gasp of shock from the pious Amber. “Look, he heard your prayers, and I’m here to answer him as his…fuck, what would you even call it? Ombudsman? Whatever. Look, I’m his bandmate, so I do stuff for him. Come on, grab your shit and let’s boogie.”

Amber hastily grabbed up a few supplies: clothing, toiletries, and copies of every single vlog she’d made for Kollei. Then she folded her glider into its backpack and slung that on, and turned to Ziz. “Ready!” 

“Good, c’mer.” Ziz stooped and touched Amber’s ankle, and the enchanted monitor fell away. “Right. Out to the back.”

Amber hastened out to the garden, where her carrots and lettuce were doing excellently. A sudden wind kicked up, and Ziz nodded to the sky. “There you go. The wild blue yonder. Come on, I think you’re going the same place I am, so I might as well give you a ride.”

“I, but…” Amber swallowed, then forced a nervous grin. “Um, I’m going to Russia, to see Kollei. They…they’ll capture me. You…you don’t want that, do you?”

“Kollei isn’t in Russia. Guess you haven’t been paying attention to the news. She’s in Kazakhstan, or will be, shortly. I’m heading that direction myself. Some asshole thinks they can cut in line for my rematch? Fat fucking chance of that! Oh, and I owe that son of a bitch the Prince a bruisin’ too! Thinks he can take me!? Let’s see how tough that motherfucker is when I bring my REAL body!” 

Amber had no idea what that meant for the most part, but Kazakhstan?!

“I’m too late! She’s already attacking somewhere else!” Amber wailed. “Finland fell!? No one told me!” 

Ziz blushed. “Let’s not talk about that shit. Round two is MINE, bitches. Now are you going to complain about the rescue you don’t like, or are we gonna fly!?” 

Amber hastily pulled her goggles on, then activated her glider, spreading her wings. Ziz nodded her approval, and a gust of wind blew them both into the sky as Ziz turned into a rather small owl, with a wingspan of only about 50cm. They lifted off into the sky, heading to the East.

“We’re taking the long way!” the owl called in Ziz’s voice as they flew. “Don’t wanna fly over Russia and blow our cover. So, we’re going south, through Austria, Hungary, and Romania, then over the Black Sea, over Turkey and Iran, into Turkmenistan, then up past where the Aral Sea used to be, to our destination. Don’t know why the fuck we’re going there, but I got a tip off in my group chat that that’ll be where Kollei ends up.”

“Ok!” Amber agreed. “That’s thousands of kilometers, though! How fast can you fly?”

“Bitch, I’m the mother fucking Sim-uh, I mean, I’m pretty fucking fast, OK? How fast can you go?!” 

“As fast as the wind! This is just a glider, sorry! No power,” Amber said apologetically. 

“Meh, you’re with the Wind itself, it’s fine. We got about a week and we’re going the stealth route, so we only need to cover about 800 or so kilometers a day. I figure I set the wind to about 100 kph, and it’ll be fine. Just a strong gust for most people that blows through.”

Amber nodded and peered forward into the wind, determination filling her heart!

Then, well, she had to fly for a few hours. And Amber wasn’t very good at just flying quietly. 

“So, um, where are you from? I’m from Frankfurt! Which, um, we just left, so, you know where I lived! That wasn’t too far from my mom; she visits almost every day! Oh! She’s gonna be so worried, I forgot to leave her a note!” 

“You’re worried about telling your fucking mom where you’re going? What, are you five?” Ziz demanded.

“Hey, you should always tell your friends and family when you travel! It’s polite! If you just vanish, they’ll be super worried! Didn’t you tell anyone?”

The owl glared at Amber, then transformed back into Ziz, who coasted along on the breeze, an extra set of wings sprouting from her back like an angel's! 

“Wow, so pretty!” Amber gasped. 

Ziz blushed, looking rather embarrassed. “It’s nothing fancy, OK? Look, shut up, I gotta…fuck. I’m calling someone, OK?”

Pulling out a phone, Ziz put it to her ear. After a moment, she sighed. “Hey, Naomi, I- huh? Yeah, no I did just disappear! I’m not a little kid! Capri’s doing what? Well, then, when I’m done talking with you, tell her I didn’t just charge the Fatui on my own and to get her ass back to the front lines! No, fuck, fine, I’ll call her! Look, I, uh…I’m going to see…my mom. Fuck you, my other mom! And you’re not my mom anyway! Ugh, yes, it’s…yeah, it’s Nahida. Yes, Venti knows! He’s not my dad! I- why the fuck do you care if I brought extra undies?! And for your information, yes, I did! I’m not fucking stupid! No, you wash your mouth out with soap! I, yeah. I’ll take care of myself. I…I love you too. Yeah. Stay safe. Bye.”

Ziz was still blushing furiously when she hastily dialed another number and put it to her ear. “MOM, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!? Look, I’m doing something! Yeah, I disappeared in the middle of the night! That doesn’t fucking mean I tried to retake Finland on my own, Capri, so get your ass back to the front lines! Yes, I called Naomi! Well, maybe I just wanted In-N-Out Burger or some shit! What, no! Look, I…I’m going to see…my other mom. I mean Nahida! Fuck you, you’re not my mom either, I told Naomi that! I, yes, I have a toothbrush! And my weapons! Ok, ugh, fine. Yes, I’ll keep Nahida safe. Look, you and Naomi- no, you’re supposed to stay and keep the Dancer in check! What if she comes across the border! I’m not a little kid, I can take care of myself! I…fuck you too! Yeah, love you. Yes, I’ll bring mom, I mean, Naomi a gift! Fuck you! Yes. Love you. Bye.”

Slowly, Ziz lowered the phone and glared at Amber. “Pretend you didn’t hear that bullshit. Also, uh, we’re landing at the nearest Aldi. I…I need some…stuff.”

Fortunately, they didn’t have to fly very far before they found an Aldi, and they landed in the parking lot. Ziz gave Amber her phone so she could call her own mother, and then went inside. Amber had a tearful and joyous conversation, then had to tell her mother she was going to find Kollei.

“Yes, I know it’s dangerous, Mom! I know I could die! But, I gave my word! And she’s a lost little girl, just like I was! How could I set aside that duty, how could I let her-”

No matter how the world attempts to clip your wings, your heart is unchained and Free. 

Amber’s heart did a flip-flop. “M-mom, I…I think Lord…”

Though all others would keep this burden from you, you freely pick it up, for your Vision is of Honor and Obligation. 

“Mom, mom! It’s Lord Barbados! He-”

Let your Vision Guide you, Child of the Winds. Fly free, Amber. 

And never let anyone prevent you from doing what you believe is right. 

But instead of a Vision appearing in her hands, a swearing Ziz stormed up, juggling plastic bags as something formed in her palm. “You asshole! It’s YOUR job to- FINE! Ugh, HERE! You’re like, recognized by Heaven for your Ambition and shit.”

A green Vision appeared in Ziz’s right hand, which she shoved into Amber’s grasp. “There! Now come on, I got the underwear and toothbrush.”

Amber could only gape at Ziz as she pulled out a new pack of panties, rather cute ones with little pink bows, and shoved them along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, a warm jacket, and a lot of junk food into a newly purchased backpack. 

“There! Now I wasn’t lying,” Ziz said triumphantly, planting her hands on her hips. 

“Mom, I gotta go. God just gave me a Vision, and I am going to save Kollei,” Amber said firmly, and hung up on her still weeping mother. Then she hastily knelt. “Um, are you…are you an angel?”

“No, I’m a fucking dragon.  Get up! I do NOT want anyone bowing to me! You know the shit I’ve done? I’m the LAST person you should ever worship,” Ziz snarled, and hauled Amber up before adjusting her backpack. The wind returned, and Ziz spread her wings, reforming them from her back. “Ugh, come on. I…I’ll tell you what’s up on the way. But you CANNOT tell anyone.”

Amber hastily tucked her Vision into her own jacket, feeling its warmth against her chest, then summoned her own breeze, and took off after Ziz, laughing in delight as for the first time, she was truly able to fly. 

Ziz seemed to catch the mood, whooping and doing loop de loops with Amber as they soared over Germany, the wind guiding them ever South and East. After about thirty minutes, they both leveled out, grinning like idiots. At last, Amber said, “So, um, you can give out Visions? You’re a dragon, like, uh, Mushu and Keiga?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m just gonna message them and ask them if they ever have to give out Visions,” Ziz said, pulling out her phone and tapping away with her thumbs. “No one fucking told me that was part of the job when I took it! But I bet Venti’s just being a freeloading asshole again.”

Amber winced at the profanity. “Um, isn’t it a sin to, you know, take the Lord’s name in vain? Or at least, the names of His Archons?”

“I’m not a fucking Christian,” Ziz said with a snort, glancing at the screen. “Ugh, they’re probably asleep or some shit. I’ll check the group chat later.” She shoved the phone into her bra, which was pretty funny to see on an angel. 

“But, you’re a divine…dragon? Not an angel?” Amber prompted. 

Ziz flew along quietly, and Amber thought she wouldn’t say anything at first. Then, Ziz said in a small, frightened voice. “You…you have to promise not to tell anyone, OK? I…I’ll trust your honor as a Knight.”

“I swear by the Blood of Christ and the Blessings of the Anemo Archon, I shall not reveal any secret you share with me, this day or any other,” Amber said solemnly. 

Ziz’s eyes flashed green, and Amber felt a familiar weight settle on your soul. “Hope you meant that, because you can’t take back oaths you make to me. Alright, look, I…I’m…” Ziz’s face contorted, and a few tears trickled out of her eyes, blown away by the wind. She finally closed her eyes, then blurted, “I’m the Simurgh.”

Amber blinked a few times. That…that didn’t sound possible. But everything about Ziz, from her body language to her tone, to the dire implications of her words, said she was speaking the truth. 

“So…you’re an Endbringer? Did…did Nahida redeem you, or something? Is that why you called her mom?”

Ziz’s eyes snapped open. “Please, please, please, do NOT tell her I said that! I would just…I would die, alright?” 

“Uh, OK. Though you did call Capri and Naomi mom too…”

“It just…it slipped out, OK? They…they look after me, alright? I’m not a kid! But…but I don’t really…I’m bad at being human, OK? Really, they’re more like big sisters!” 

“Sure,” Amber said, though she had to fight back a smile. Then she sobered. “So, if you’re the Simurgh…”

“I…I’ve killed millions,” Ziz admitted, looking away from Amber. “I…I didn’t…fuck. I won’t lie. I wanted to kill them. But I didn’t understand! They were just data! Numbers! But…but then Nahida showed me…you’re all real. You’re all…people. And…and you matter. You just want to be Free. Like me. So…so I switched sides, OK? I…I know I’ll never really be forgiven, but…”

“I think you were. Jesus can forgive anyone, and if He sent Nahida and Venti both to you, they probably forgave you, too, didn’t they?” Amber pointed out. 

“How do you even know Jesus was a real person!?” Ziz snapped. Amber gave her an incredulous look, and Ziz sighed and slumped her shoulders, though her wings kept beating. “Ok, fine, yes, he was real. Probably the Son of God or something, too. Nahida would skewer me with sources or something if I tried to deny that. I just, look. I don’t know about all this stuff! Nahida said she paid for my sins and I was forgiven it’s just…I had…I have…a lot of sin, you know? I…I make fucking Hitler look like a saint in comparison.”

“Don’t say that! Are you really even the Simurgh anymore?” Amber demanded, and Ziz gave her a confused look. “The Simurgh, she was just a monster, right? A servant of the King of Demons! But you? You’re a person! You have moms that love you, and, well, a dad in Venti, and friends, like me! You-”

“Wait, you did hear me say I was the Simurgh, right?” Ziz demanded. 

“Uh, yeah?”

“Well, then, believe me!” 

“I do?”

“Well, then, why, you…why would you even want to be friends with me!” 

“Well, I’m already friends with Kollei, right? If I can be friends with the Princess of Russia, well, then I can be friends with an ex-Endbringer too!” 

Ziz blinked at Amber a few times, then tears filled her eyes. She suddenly darted over, tackling Amber in a mid-air hug. Amber nearly panicked and thought they’d fall, but Ziz seemed capable of keeping them aloft no matter what, so she just hugged her new friend back.

“...thank you. You…you’re a pretty cool person, you know that, Amber?”

“Well, everyone else thinks I’m a crazy traitor, so I’m glad to have at least one friend who doesn’t hate me,” Amber said, her voice catching as she had to fight off the depression and bitterness that were always creeping in. Only, now, it was a little easier. Her Vision gave her strength, and its pulse reminded her that God Himself saw her heart and found it good and worthy. She would continue on, no matter what!

They spent the next week flying together, soaring over sea and land, the wind at their backs. They landed in various wildernesses, camping under the stars and eating potato chips, sausages, candy, and other unhealthy foods that Ziz had purchased. Amber got to know Ziz extremely well, from her love of Punk Rock and Dr. House, to how much she struggled with her past, to her drive to bring freedom to everyone, and just how much she felt personally responsible for Finland suffering under the bondage of the Tsaritsa. 

In turn, Amber poured her own heart out. Her own fears and failures, her desperation to get back to Kollei, and the lingering suspicion that all this was her fault. Unlike most people, Ziz didn’t just tell her it wasn’t her fault. Instead, her friend said, “Well, then let’s go make it right. Fuck the past. Face the future. And kick Fate in the dick.”

After a week of travel, they left the Caspian Sea, Ziz landed with Amber in Turkmenistan, near the border of Kazakhstan. They hugged one another, and Ziz laughed nervously. “Look, I…I gotta go. Do some stuff. Dragon stuff. I’m not really supposed to be here, but, well, I’m Emancipation, so I do what I want. So long as it means Freedom for Mankind.”

“It’s OK, I’ll miss you. You take care of yourself, OK, Ziz?” Amber said, squeezing her newest bestest friend. 

“Yeah, I’ll try. Just, stay safe, OK? Kollei…she’s kinda fucked in the head, you know?” 

“I…yeah. I do. But that just means she needs her Knight to help save her more, right?” Amber said, forcing her bright and cheery grin back on. 

“I guess. I’ll see you around. Just…if it comes to it…I might have to fight Kollei to keep Nahida safe. You…you understand that, right?”

Though it pained her, Amber nodded, dashing away her tears. “I do. It’s alright! I…I won’t fight for the Tsaritsa, no matter what. But I will fight for Kollei. Not to help her invade somewhere, but so she can be the good person I just know she is. That she can remember who she was before the Tsaritsa and her toxic love got its hooks in her. I know what it’s like to love a monster. I loved my own dad, after all.”

“Yeah, well, fuck him, you did the right thing. He can rot in prison forever.”

“And here I thought you freed people.”

“I free people. Not monsters. Take care, Amber.  You…you’re a really good person. I hope you know that.”

“Thanks. I think you’re a good person too, Ziz. And don’t tell me you’re not a person! You are. Just…you’re still figuring it out. We all were teenagers once.”

“Not a fucking teenager,” the teenager muttered, then, with one last hug, Ziz kissed Amber on the forehead, and power rushed into her. “Go now, with the blessing of Emancipation. This will let you speak the local lingo, at least for a few days. After that…well, you’re on your own. Fly free, Amber.”

Amber watched Ziz go for a moment, then lowered her goggles, and set her face towards the Aral Sea. “Alright! I just need to figure out where Kollei is, and we’re set!” 

Using her Vision, Amber was able to leap into the air and glide on the wind currents, though not as quickly as she had before. She flew on, over the desert, drying riverbeds, and the salt flats where the shores of the Aral Sea had once been. She found the waters, but even high in the air she could smell the stench and made a face. “Sheesh. Hopefully, the Hydro Archon pays this place a visit or something one day.”

Still, she flew gamely on, though she was growing increasingly tired. She’d only barely gained her Vision, and while there was plenty of Anemo energy, channeling this much for this long was putting a great strain on her body. 

After hours of flying, Vision growing dim, Amber thought she spotted something that looked inviting in the red light of the setting sun. Her entire body ached and burned, and Ziz wasn’t there to help soothe away her pains like she had for the past few days. Amber pointed her glider towards the green, and tried not to look too hard at the all too familiar dark storm clouds on the horizon. 

Despite her best efforts, Amber’s landing was a rather clumsy one. She managed to avoid crashing into the fields of crops, but she did hit the dirt a bit too fast, and ended up in a tangle of limbs and bent glider parts, unable to even move. She struggled for a bit, but couldn’t manage to free herself, as she was far too exhausted. Face down in the earth, Amber panted and struggled for breath.

Then, she heard the sound of heavy boot tread. She couldn’t really see who it was, only that it was a pair of heavy work boots and the bottoms of jeans that were approaching her crash site.

“Um, hello? Sir? Uh, I, um, I’m kinda stuck? Help, please?” Amber said, her voice muffled from her glider’s wings. 

The boots paused, then their owner slowly knelt, and Amber felt a brief rush of fear. She was fairly helpless, and if this person had ill intent…

Her fears were magnified when she saw a knife drawn from its sheath, and she yelped in fear when flames suddenly licked out. To her immense relief, however, her savior only cut away the glider to free Amber. To her shock, a darkly tanned woman’s face, eyes with red X’s for pupils, looked down at her. They were dressed in men’s clothing, but the obvious bust and softer features contrasted that. 

“Oh! Sorry, um, I thought you were-”

“You were correct in your assessment of my gender,” the…man? Said, sheathing his knife and then helping Amber to struggle out of her prison. She was so weak, she couldn’t even stand and ended up in a bridal carry, blushing slightly as she was lifted into the air. 

“Now, who and what are you? American? Iraqi? Fatui?” The last was said with a vicious spit to the side and a glare, so Amber hastily clarified. 

“Um, Sir Amber Kohlhaas, of the Knights of Favonius! I, um, well, I er…I came to…to try to find a way to have some peace talks. There’s been enough death! The fighting needs to end!”

The man’s expression, previously rather hostile, softened greatly. “Ah. An idealist, then. And you think you can bring peace on your own, little rabbit?” 

“Um, well, not really. But…but I made a promise to a friend…to…to the Princess, Kollei. She…she captured me, once, and, um…I sort of accidentally ran away. So…so I came back, to be her prisoner, and hope…hope she’s willing to take me, and…I don’t know…”

Tears of frustration filled Amber’s eyes. She really didn’t have a plan here. Her whole goal had been to get to Kollei, but now…now the Blizzard was almost here!

“Please, I just…I need a little rest, then I’m going to go find the Princess, and try to convince her to stop!” Amber begged, pawing rather weakly at the man in an effort to get him to set her down. 

Even if he did have…well, a rather impressive bust. That made Amber a little jealous. She was too tired for this, she wasn’t thinking sense. 

“I think not. I am Arlan, known as the Spider, Örmekşi. This is my orphanage, where I live with my children. You can stay here, little rabbit, for a time. But I fear the Fatui will soon come to us. I hope that, perhaps…well. I want nothing of this war. Or any war. Only to live in peace with my children.”

“That’s…that’s a good dream. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, too,” Amber said, resting her head against Arlan’s chest. Her eyes drifted to the side, and she blinked. “Um, h-hello. M-Mr. Aranara.”

“Rest now, Saśakā-Nara. Arabalika will watch Father-Nara and Small-Nara. Cold Nara will not trouble this place,” the forest spirit said. 

“You can see it?” Arlan gasped, looking around, but not seeing the fairy that was hovering beside them. 

“I...I guess? S-sorry, I…I think I’m going…going to pass out now…if that’s…that’s OK…”

Amber closed her eyes, and drifted away in the strong arms of her rescuer. Some knight she was. She didn’t know who this strange parahuman was, but she could only pray that he and his children would be safe. That he could keep Amber safe while she slept.

And that she could somehow stop Kollei before she killed them all, or worse.