Chapter Text
Kravitz had been around many lifetimes. He’d met his fair share of bards, each a storyteller in their own right. But there was something about Lucretia that made her the most talented storyteller he’d ever encountered. Even though she’d been heavily summarizing one hundred years of deeply personal history, Kravitz was entranced by her words and felt almost as if he lived them as she spoke.
Lucretia told the tale of seven passengers on a lonely voyage through the Planes of Existence. She somehow knew which memories to include—which ones were the most vital in this moment—and which to exclude.
She started with a press release, reminding those around her of the jobs they were assigned and the mission that was supposed to only last for two months. She spoke of the after-party and the bar fight that earned Magnus black eye. She sighed before telling of the color sapped from the world as an unnatural storm descended and ate the world as they escaped.
Lucretia told of their first cycle, of the mongoose family that the Twins and Barry befriended. She spoke of Magnus’ attempt to fight the Power Bear for access to the Light of Creation and how he stayed behind and died protecting the animals. And how he manifested on the ship moments later with a black eye.
Next she told of The Mushroom Kingdom and the poisonous fumes that coated the planet, with cities as the only refuge. She spoke of Taako’s plan to fool the Hunger, and of Magnus’ expedition to find the Light of Creation that was successful despite his life being lost once again. Finally, she told of Merle’s church, how he gave the inhabitants of the city hope and a light of their own. She told of how he stayed behind to lead them in one last sermon as the world came crashing down around them.
Then Lucretia told of a city that was seemingly uninhabited until they came upon a population of robots—or rather, souls that inhabited robots. As they explored, they came across a crystal that held the souls of every being that had been saved from a plague. They couldn’t find the Light of Creation, but they couldn’t let the Hunger know of this power. An argument broke out. The IPRE wanted to destroy the crystal, but Lup stood her ground against them and swore that she’d never destroy a world just so the Hunger wouldn’t take it. In the end, her words and passion inspired the others to take the same vow and the souls that didn’t want to stay behind in their now permanent robot bodies stayed in the crystal, which Taako had transmuted and they’d brought with them on the Starblaster. Lucretia spoke of the terror when they realized they almost destroyed the last of this civilization.
Then, Lucretia told of the calm after the storm. Of a peaceful world, where they were the only inhabitants, and they lived on a beach for a year. She told of how Merle made gifts that were—she didn’t say terrible, but gave a hint that they maybe weren’t the nicest things one could pick up on a beach. She told of Magnus’ attempt to keep the IPRE on their toes, by jumping out in front of them and yelling his own name. She told of Taako inventing surfing, and in his spare time, teaching Barry to swim—and to be more honest with himself about his feelings. Then Lucretia spoke of her contribution that year—a painting of the seven of them that she’d keep with her once they’d been separated.
After the beach came Tesseralia, a world filled with culture, and they agreed to give up the Light if Merle studied with them and learned the art of Parley, culminating in an audience with the Hunger. She told of Magnus’ child sports team, how he dedicated everything to ensure that the newly-dubbed Tesseralia Winners would win the championship. And she told of Taako and Lup’s journey around the culinary arts, the new techniques they learned, and how Taako made it his goal to recreate the first dish he tasted.
Lucretia gazed at the baby Voidfish as she told of The Legato Conservatory. How the seven of them spent a year learning skills that culminated in a performance that they hoped would grant them access to the Light. That there was a chance that their works would not only be rejected, but also be erased from the memory of anyone who had witnessed it. Lucretia told of the performances. Her painting. Davenport’s opera. Merle’s interpretive jazz dance. Taako’s book of aphorisms. Magnus’ wooden duck, not the most beautiful, but made with care. Finally, she told of Barry and Lup’s composition, a beautiful piano and violin duet that was a testament to their love for each other, finally requited after forty-seven years of pining. Then she spoke of disaster, of the frantic but futile search for the Light. She told of Magnus’ walks, which he eventually invited her on, and she saw the Voidfish for the first time—many of them, in fact. Magnus showed her the smallest one, surrounded by wooden ducks he’d carved for this purpose. She told of how she’d been splashed by the water they resided in, and as a result, remembered everything she’d witnessed but had forgotten. Then she spoke of the final day, how Magnus disappeared just before the Hunger hit, but came back with the Voidfish in his seconds before the Starblaster took off.
Then, Lucretia spoke of a year of loneliness. She was the only one of the IPRE that wasn’t taken by the Judges. The Starblaster was shot down, and Lucretia spent the next year running, trying to repair the ship, and learning to fly it. She knew if she didn’t make it, there would be no hope for the rest of them. So she fought and survived, bringing the Starblaster to the next plane, where she learned that the six that disappeared were judged for their sins of the past, present, and future. They were found guilty and immediately turned to stone.
Then Lucretia spoke of an empty world where the Plane of Magic collided with the Prime Material Plane. She spoke of events that she didn’t hear until years after they’d taken place. This was the year where Lup and Barry became liches, where they could do it without endangering anyone, aided by the Plane of Magic’s vicinity and the books left behind by the previous inhabitants. She said that Barry and Lup had given each other a “perfect day,” and how Taako also gave Lup one. The ritual was completed successfully, giving them an edge on the Hunger.
Then Lucretia told of The Hanging Arcaneum. She spoke of artifacing, a craft that they’d all become well versed in by the end of the year. She spoke of the different things they’d made—Magnus’ bear helmet, Merle’s symbol, and Taako’s KrEbStAr. But the most unique thing that had been created was Lup’s Umbrastaff that swallowed other arcane focuses of defeated magic users, a feat of arcane engineering that was impossible to understand by anyone except her.
Then she spoke of the meeting, where Barry and Lup spoke of a plan to split the Light of Creation and put it inside artifaced items, hiding them in the world to starve the Hunger. She told of her own plan to cut the next plane off from the Hunger with her specially crafted shield spell, keeping the Hunger from getting the Light. She was overruled, however, and despite the dangers, Lup and Barry’s plan would be set into motion once the circumstances were right.
Finally, Lucretia came to the final Plane they’d visited—Abeir-Toril, the one they currently resided on. The Light had practically been handed to them, and they got to work on their artifacts. Lup’s gauntlet. Davenport’s eyepiece. Merle’s sash. Taako’s stone. Magnus’ cup. Barry’s bell. And finally, Lucretia’s staff, the very same one she was holding. She spoke of the success of their plan, how a year after they’d been on the plane, the Hunger hadn’t arrived. But she also spoke of the pain their relics had caused. She told of how Lup was the one who was hit hardest, and one day she disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a note that was signed with a kiss. They spent months looking for her, nobody searching harder than Taako and Barry, until Lucretia put her second plan into action. She’d spent months holed up in her room, reading through all her journals as she put together a new one, one that had been heavily edited with careful wording. Then, when she couldn’t bear to see the pain on her friends’ faces any longer, she fed the journal to the Voidfish and sent them to their new homes—except for Barry, who had disappeared from the ship immediately after.
Lucretia was sobbing on the floor at this point, apologizing profusely, her face in her hands, staff forgotten by her side.
Magnus and Merle slowly blinked back to consciousness after hearing their past. They hadn’t fully recovered their memories—Taako hadn’t either, even though he drank the ichor days before—but the memories would come back with time. What was important was that they’d remembered enough to work with.
Merle was the first to move. He stood up and slowly walked to Lucretia.
Lucretia glanced up, saw Merle was coming toward her, and she braced herself, closing her eyes. She flinched when Merle gently placed a hand on her arm. She opened her eyes and Merle gave her a soft smile before wrapping her in a hug. Lucretia’s eyes widened in shock, and then she clutched onto Merle, sobbing into his shoulder as he held her.
“It’s okay, ‘Creesh,” Merle said. “I forgive you.”
Kravitz felt his hand being crushed—the one that Taako was holding. Then, Taako let go. Through gritted teeth, Taako said, “Well I don’t.”
Lucretia and Merle separated from their embrace and looked up at Taako.
“Now Taako,” Merle started, before being interrupted.
“No—“ Taako told Merle, standing his ground. “Whatever you’re going to say, don’t.” He turned to Lucretia and said, “If it was up to me, you’d be dead right now.”
“Holy shit Koko,” Lup said. Taako held up a finger in her direction, cutting her off, not taking his eyes off of Lucretia.
“You took everything from me,” Taako said, not raising his voice but putting energy into his words. “You took my memories. My friends. My sister, my whole heart. And I thought that was all you could take from me.” Taako laughed without humor. “But I was wrong. Once I finally remembered what you’d taken,” He said, swallowing the tears that were threatening to come out, “You fucking took me away from Angus.”
Taako took a deep breath and looked down, his eyes closed. Kravitz reached over to Taako, lightly touching his hand. I’m here for you, he wanted to say. Taako’s shaking hand grasped Kravitz’ hand as an anchor.
Taako sighed once more. Then he said, “I can’t do this right now. Lup, Barry, someone—tell her the plan. I just need to go.”
Taako turned to leave, and Kravitz didn’t hesitate to follow him, knowing that Taako would need someone to comfort him.
Once they were back in Lucretia’s office and away from everyone, Taako fell to the floor. Kravitz knelt beside to him, enveloping Taako in his embrace. Taako buried his face into Kravitz’ neck and finally let himself sob.
Kravitz gently rubbed Taako’s back with one hand as he used the other to cradle the back of Taako’s head. Kravitz gently kissed the top of Taako’s head and just let him process everything that had just happened.
At some point—it could have been seconds or days later—Angus arrived. Taako lifted his head and opened his arms. “Come join the cuddle pile, Ango,” Taako said, a shaky but loving smile on his face.
Angus didn’t hesitate. Within seconds, Taako was holding Angus, and Kravitz had his arms around both of them.
“I missed you so much, Taako,” Angus whispered, his voice barely audible as his face was pressed into Taako’s chest. “Even when I didn’t know it, I missed you.”
Taako smiled and held Angus closer. “I know, Angus,” he said. “I missed you too.”