Chapter Text
There should have been no turning back after the ultimate sacrifice. There was no place for them in a world that wished to move forward. The collective desire of mankind was to let go of regret and the endless now. It was no longer a world for Moebius. Z was no more.
So, how did she get here? As was expected, Aionios ceased to be. In its place, there were two worlds, the origins of Keves and Agnus. Those two worlds in turn collided. A single planet remained after this event. And... That was the extent of what the woman knew.
She had once referred to herself as M. It was obligatory when she was made a Moebius. She was no longer allowed to be Mio. Noah- N never referred to her as such either. This new name saddened her as if divorcing herself from the reality she once knew and forced her into a role she loathed. Yet, she was complicit and allowed Z to do as he pleased. Despite assisting Queen Nia in her rebellion, she fed upon the lives of those trapped within the world. She was no better than her peers in that regard.
The eternity she had with N felt like a prison. She loved him dearly, but he was no longer the man she adored. Still, she stayed by his side until an opportunity presented itself. When she found her other half, she concocted a plan to end her misery and save her hope from an unavoidable fate. In doing so, she supposedly died. Rather than cease to be in Mio’s body, M resided in her being. When N finally found hope again, he followed her fate. The two of them then decided to give everything to stop Z. And in doing so... they should have been erased. That was how it should have happened.
Instead, she was alive. In fact, she had her own body again. She patted herself down and searched all over for any traces of Moebius or her tattoo. Sure enough, there was no sign of either. When she took in her surroundings, she recognized that this was no longer Aionios either. What stood before her now was civilization, unlike any colony or City settlement she observed before.
It was surreal to see something so vibrant. This place was no military base, castle, or hideout. This was a village. She couldn’t help but feel it was too picturesque. It felt like any second now Moebius would arrive to ravage it, deploying a fleet of Levnis to trample it and rout all inhabitants.
Yet, life lived uninterrupted. The people of the village were blissful of any such dangers. There was no Moebius and no Consuls either. Her enemies were likely gone. Though, how was she here? Had Z survived too? She blanched at the thought of him or even Y surviving that final battle.
Considering she was no longer one of them, she could assure herself that maybe it didn’t have to do with her prior affiliation. If it was related to her sacrifice... then maybe Noah was somewhere. She would have to prioritize finding him first and foremost. But for now, she could probably check the village for any information on her location. This world was all so new to her. If she blindly ran in any direction, she would assuredly get herself lost.
Mio still felt hesitant to approach. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind. Did she even belong in this peaceful land? Her eyes went to the young and old on the outskirts. The children played blissfully with their siblings and friends. The elders basked in the rising sun, which had already ascended past the horizon line, the day had only just begun. The adults meanwhile were already hard at work, putting up new homes, tilling the surrounding fields, and hawking their wares.
A sense of serenity hit her as she neared the rickety gates. She felt almost nostalgic upon entering the town. This place felt all too familiar, yet she had no recollection whatsoever. Her existence began within a machine and seemingly ended while facing the oppressive desire. This land reminded her little of the home she built with Noah as well. Her eyes went to one of the residents. He was an older gentleman, likely out on a stroll. “Excuse me,” she called out to him.
Her meek voice did not seem to register with the man at first. He was probably hard of hearing. His glassy eyes and poor posture suggested he probably shouldn’t venture too far from home. “O-Oh! Sorry there. I didn’t quite hear ya,” he haggardly greeted her. He seemed to at least notice her now.
“Sir,” she spoke a bit louder, “I am not from around here. I... And... I am also quite lost.” Her ears lowered while she spoke. She felt out of her element conversing with another person like this. In the years since she was reborn as Moebius, her only company were the other Consuls and Nia the one time. “Could you tell me where I am exactly?”
Perhaps, Mio spoke too softly. The old man looked perplexed. His eyes scanned her twice over. “Eh? Lost you say? That can’t be right.” He scratched his mostly bald head and tried to process what words he heard. Something did not add up right for him.
It was the same for Mio. She didn’t quite understand the source of his confusion. “I just arrived here not long ago. And, well, I don’t know what’s what. I don’t recognize anything, really.” She tried to explain. She raised her volume, hoping that he might catch onto her predicament.
He hummed at her words before something clicked. “Oh! You’re not Nia! Oho, my apologies.” He chuckled at his mistake, rubbing his eyes and getting a better look at her face. His embarrassment hardly fazed her. Rather, it was the name she knew. How could she ever forget about her Queen? As a traitor to Moebius, Queen Nia was almost a goddess to her, a divine being meant to save the world and expunge Z. Could this really be a coincidence?
Mio felt certain that there could be no such coincidences, not when this was where she awoke. This place was special. She felt it deep within her core. Her search for Noah was still an immediate priority, but she had to get to the bottom of this mystery first. “You said Nia? Do I look like her or something...?” She understood that she shared an uncanny resemblance with her savior. They were of the same race or species. Both of them possessed animal-like features, traits unique to them and a handful of others within Agnus. It was likely why she felt a stronger connection to her sovereign. There were a number of other superficial reasons that they resembled one another.
The old man took his time to process her question, doing well to test the woman’s patience. “Ah yes. You look so much like Nia. Thought you were her actually... Oh! If you’re not her, then you really aren’t from around these parts. This is Fonsett Village.”
Fonsett Village? Mio frowned at the name. It did not give her much to go off. Frankly, badgering the man probably wouldn’t do her much good. She had a lead now. Maybe? If the person he knew was her Queen, then she might find some answers or find someone who could at least point her in a direction where Noah might be. It was her best shot at finding her way around this strange land. “I see,” she muttered, “do you know where Nia is? She’s from this town, no?”
“Well, she moved here and settled down. Though, don’t see her often these days. She’s quite popular, y’know? If she is around...” The old man trailed off, tapping a finger to his chin. He probably didn’t know her personally, only interacting with her briefly or seeing her around the area. “Her home is that one over there.”
Mio’s eyes followed his shaking finger to probably the biggest house in town. It probably befitted her Queen to have a mansion, but it was much, much smaller than Agnus Castle. Considerably smaller. She couldn’t help but think it was beneath the royal. In her eyes, Nia was the pinnacle of grace and power. She stood above all of her subjects. Yet, she couldn’t second guess her only lead. “Thank you for the assistance, sir. I will seek her out then.”
He offered her a polite wave as she departed. Her smile grew at his kindness. Such deeds were rare amongst Moebius, even N was reluctant to show her warmth. He was a shell of his former self. It ate away at her that she failed to save him from despair. Z had already broken him before they reunited, both by making him relive his past lives and by making him slaughter his kin. Ghondor... She missed her son dearly. Considering he was born within Aionios, there was no telling if he was around now.
Upon arriving at the estate, she felt her body turn to iron. Every step took considerable effort. She felt unreasonably nervous. What did she have to fear? Was it Nia? When they first met, she was absolutely awestruck. She was at a loss for words on how to talk to the person she revered. But, this was different. She wasn’t afraid to see Nia. Their brief exchange made it clear that the royal treated her almost like a friend. Rather, she surmised this strange feeling had more to do with why this village felt so familiar.
Before her now was a wooden door. It stood between her and maybe her Queen, the last obstacle in her path. If it was not, she could ask the inhabitant for a map or any information on recent events. She needed to at least confirm the state of the world. Has the Intersection already taken place? Her hand gently hit the wood thrice. The knocks probably wouldn’t be enough to rouse the residents. Still, she felt her resolve waver with each passing second.
When there was no prompt response, she took a step back. If no one was home, then she needn’t open Pandora's box. She could ignore all these nagging feelings and focus all her thoughts on her lover. Should Noah be in the exact position as her, then he would be hurt and lonely right this moment. He had only just freed himself from Z’s yoke. He wouldn’t relapse without her, but he would be very distressed.
And yet, fate had other plans for her. Someone answered the door. To her surprise, it wasn’t Nia. Rather, it was a child. The girl couldn’t have been older than her first term, or just younger than ten years old? She possessed long red hair, a far cry from Nia’s silver color. “... Who are you?” The girl asked.
Mio felt somewhat flustered, feeling both disappointed and relieved. She would have liked to reunite with Nia, but... at what cost? She felt uneasy about what came next. She might have been pointed to the wrong home or the old man was simply senile. Either way, she could say she tried. “I’m sorry. I must have the wrong house. I’ll, uh, be on my way now.”
“Wait,” the girl spoke up, causing the former Consul to stop in her tracks. She had thought to escape and wander aimlessly through town for answers, but... the other had more to say. “... why do you look like Mio?”
The question had her tense up. For a long second, the world seemingly froze. How did the child know her name? Her eyes widened at the question. Her mouth hung agape, unable to find her voice. Her words were lost in her throat. A sense of vertigo nearly had her fall forward. Thankfully, she caught herself before stumbling. “... Mio?” Her own name fell through her lips.
“Yes?” The girl frowned at her, unable to understand why the stranger reacted so weirdly. “Why do you look just like her? Who are you?” She carelessly piled on questions. Both of them couldn’t make sense of what was happening. One saw a doppelgänger. The other couldn’t comprehend the notion. Who was she if not Mio?
The former Consul did her no service by blankly staring down at her. There was a clear reason why she resembled Mio because she was Mio. But, she did not know this girl. She also did not know how the child could have known her. When she thought about answering or asking her own questions, she felt a wave of nausea and an overwhelming sense of foreboding. This girl was assuredly connected to it all. “I... don’t know. Do you... know where she is?”
“Mio? Yeah, she’s probably still sleeping upstairs.” She replied carelessly. The girl still hadn’t put together her identity yet. It did not seem smart to have a child answer the door and freely talk about their family. Fonsett Village seemed safe and tight-knit, but still... As a parent herself, Mio wouldn’t want Ghondor talking to strangers on his own without her or Noah’s supervision.
“Oi, Glimmer! Who’s at the door?” A gruff voice called from the other room. Ah, so she wasn’t alone. Mio’s eyes went in the direction of the other person. Her heart pounded with each footstep he took. Much like the girl, she felt something weird within her core. His voice was uncanny.
“I don’t know,” his child snippily answered. “She didn’t tell me. Just, uh, she looks like Mio I guess?” Every time the girl- Glimmer said her name, Mio visibly winced. Her mind raced to make sense of it all. The way she spoke of this other Mio... It made her think back on her other half, her hope. That version of herself became the real Mio and the one to live on in her stead.
But, if that was Mio, then who was she? Was she still M? She loathed the thought of keeping that moniker. The single letter made her no different than the other Consuls. Those monsters paraded around the realm with a new name and identity, pretending to be masters of a world that wasn’t theirs. Once more, she felt a strong bout of dizziness.
She very nearly fell forward into the doorway. Rather than fall head first into the hardwood, two hands caught her. “Easy now, lass. Don’t go and- And, uh... Huh, you weren’t kiddin’, kiddo.” His familiar golden eyes flickered at the redhead before returning to their unexpected company. He looked down at her incredulously, practically doubting the young woman in his arms.
“Stop calling me ‘kiddo’,” the girl huffed before disappearing. Or rather, she retreated into the other room. Her ponytail clearly protruded from around the corner. She was well within earshot, ever curious why the woman resembled someone she knew.
Meanwhile, the man’s attention was on his guest. At first, he hesitated on what he should do, still looking at her in disbelief. It was like he expected her to just vanish before his very eyes. Regaining his senses, he gently guided her to the nearest sofa. He deposited her onto the cushions with the utmost care and precision. “There. All better. Now, if you don’t mind me askin’, why do ya look like my daughter?”
Mio barely grasped the meaning behind his words. Her whole body felt numb at that moment. After passing through the threshold, she took in the rest of the house. No longer did she feel an eerie sense of familiarity, she knew it was somewhere she had been. She could find her way around the house with a blindfold on. But how? That girl, Glimmer, and that man... She should know them. Their identities were just barely out of her reach. “Your daughter?” She parroted his words.
The man looked downright puzzled. “Aye, my daughter. You look just like her, ‘cept, well, yer a bit older.” He tried to clarify himself, but his words went in one ear and out the other. He was surely referring to her other self, was he not? But, how could that be? She and Mio were one and the same, only existing together since one personified her regret and the other personified her hope. In a way, she was no different from Z. She was a concept more than a person. They should have both been erased once the worlds were restored.
But now, she was no longer a representation of regret. She was her own being, with no markings or tattoos to signify otherwise. So then, who was he? “Before I answer, may I ask who you are?” She blurted, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. “I’m... still trying to figure out who, or what I am.”
Her wording did not make things any less confusing for him. However, her host had patience in spades. “Name’s Rex. You’ve met my daughter Glimmer and probably already know my other kiddo, Mio. I take it that it’s no coincidence ya came here, huh?” Rex grinned at her, putting up a cheerful facade. His warm demeanor did a lot to ease her nerves.
“I’m not sure. To be honest, I don’t know how I ended up here in the first place. I woke up outside the village not long ago,” She confessed. He seemed like a good person to her. She wanted more than anything to trust him. She felt like his words had so much power over her. His smile made her forget herself, feeling like how she was before becoming M.
Rex nodded along to her every word. “Ah, I see. What brought you here exactly? I don’t suppose it’s got something to do with the children.” He seemed intent on discerning her relation to his daughter. Though, Mio herself did not know how she arrived at her younger self’s home... Well, there was something. She had a suspicion, a theory that seemed ludicrous at first glance.
Mio bridged her fingers together. Her eyes went to her feet. She had no reason to lie to him, not when she desperately believed in him with all her being. “The reason is... I was hoping to find Quee- Nia. I don’t understand my circumstances, but I heard she lived here. I thought that maybe she knew how I ended up in this world.” Instead of the royal, she found Rex and his family. How were he and the Queen connected? And how was his daughter connected to her?
“... This world, huh? Don’t suppose you’re wrapped up in all this Origin business then?” As he posed the question, he shot a stern gaze at the noisy child. “Glimmer, make yourself scarce for a bit. Stay in your room till I call ya, okay?” His eyes were locked on the corner until he heard the young girl scurry upstairs. He had let out a hearty sigh before devoting all of his attention to the older Mio.
“It does, yeh. I don’t understand it myself, only that I don’t belong here. You... You probably figured it out by now. My name is Mio.” She weakly stated, essentially outing her identity to a man who claimed to be her father. Or rather, the father of the real Mio.
Rex did not visibly react to her words. He kept his composure. Sadly, his smile was far less cheerful. “Yeh, I’d be a real shit father not to recognize m’ own kiddo. I don’t really know what happened, but you’re my Mio, alright.” He affirmed her identity. There was no doubt in her mind that the two of them were one and the same. That meant he was her father, the very one that Z took from her.
Mio still struggled to see him that way. There were no doubts that they were once father and daughter. However, she was an impossible existence now. She never knew his love, only experiencing the memories of another version of herself. That was what her nostalgia was. “I may be Mio, but we’ve never met before. Please, you don’t have to coddle me or act like I am family. I know what I am. The fact that I arrived here... It’s beyond me.” Her words hurt her to say. For while they had only now met, she felt compelled to refer to him as "dad".
Her words stung Rex, but he barely winced. Almost hesitantly, he placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to meet his gaze again. “That’s a real shame then, ‘cause you’re already family to me. Circumstances don’t matter. What matters most is what the heart says. My heart is tellin’ me to give ya one big bear hug, but, well, I probably shouldn’t. Not until you’re ready.” He eagerly showed her the warmth she long since missed. It reminded her of when it was her, Noah, and Ghondor. Her heart ached for both her partner and her child.
“I- I never knew my parents. So, I’m glad you feel that way.” She omitted the fact that she did not have any at all. It was easier if he didn’t know about the sort of life she lived. “You must have questions for me.”
“Yeah, plenty! But, I can tell ya have some for me too. As with Rule 3 of the Salvager’s Code, I can’t go and make a girl cry now. Come, ask away. Your old man knows a thing or three of the world.” He sat himself beside her, preferring to give her some space instead of hovering over her. Mio appreciated all the small gestures and his consideration for her feelings. She was still reeling at the knowledge that this was her home and these people were her family. The girl that greeted her was her sister apparently. Siblings were almost a foreign concept to her.
There were so many questions on her mind. Where to start? Perhaps, she could focus on what brought her to the house in the first place. “I was told Nia lives here. Are you friends with her?” She asked, not entirely ignorant of the truth. It crossed her mind, but... it felt inconceivable.
Rex looked almost hurt by her questions, but he chuckled and forced a smile. “Something like that. Y’see, we happen to be married. We also happen to have a real cute girl together.” He did not state it outright, but his response all but confirmed it. Nia was her mother. The “superficial” similarities they had weren’t that. She inherited most of her features from the woman. Her eyes were a shade closer to Rex’s, but otherwise, it was no wonder why the old man outright assumed they were related.
Mio took her time to think back on all of her time around the Queen. The look in her gaze back when they first met... It was so sorrowful. At the time, M presumed she felt melancholic about neglecting the world while she slept. She knew now that the woman went unrecognized by her own child. If it were her and Ghondor, she would be inconsolable. Her eyes were moist at the thought of what Nia had to go through all those years. “I met her before. I acted like I was beneath her then.”
“That may be so, but Nia always looks out for others. She’d know better and wouldn’t hold it against ya. She’s quite strong, she is. Even if she looks pretty dainty.” His reassurances helped a lot. She didn’t understand her mother well enough. Her perception of the woman was skewed by her years as an Agnian.
“I’d love to know more about her and you, but there’s so much else I need to catch up on. I’m also searching for someone,” Mio set aside her curiosity. She couldn’t forget about Noah. If he didn’t end up in Fonsett Village, then... she had to start searching very soon.
Rex seemed like he would have preferred to talk about family. But, he understood that there was urgency to her requests. “How about I whip us up some tea? Pyra says I make the best Jenerossi tea in all of Alrest.” He took ample pride in the simple craft. It was rather endearing of such a burly and tough-looking man.
Mio couldn’t say no to the beverage. Her throat felt scratchy from the moment she arrived. And, there was something nostalgic too about her father’s tea. Maybe in a previous life, she loved it. She watched him run off into the kitchen and prepare a kettle of water. “I appreciate your hospitality,” she murmured. She was hesitant to talk about herself, but she owed him some answers. “My world wasn’t like this,” she started awkwardly. “We had tea, I mean. I meant people forgot what it meant to be kind to one another. I forgot what it felt to be loved.” Rex’s kindness reminded her of her life before Moebius. After she came back, it was all gone. Noah no longer had the capacity to love, only obsess. All the other Consuls played with human lives like they were toys.
“Aye, I bet it was rough. I can tell you’ve been through a lot, more than you ever deserved. It breaks m’ heart to know I couldn’t protect you. Mio... Ya really don’t have to say anything more. ‘Course, I want to understand, but I imagine you’re holding back on me, yeah? It’s not easy. I’d never wish to push you.” Rex returned with two mugs, both carrying an alluring aroma. He carefully placed one into her hands then he sipped from his own cup as he sat next to her again. Jenerossi tea always did wonders to soothe the soul.
His words did more for her than the tea ever could. She smiled into the mug. “It’s fine. Really. I... think it will help us both if I tell you. I didn’t know much about Origin before it all happened and still don’t completely get it. What I do know is that mankind feared the future. Because of this desire, a being was born. He robbed us, all of us, of our freedom. We were trapped within a never-ending cycle of life and death. Queen Nia... Mother tried to free us, and we eventually succeeded. But, I should have disappeared. You see, Mio and I aren’t really the same person. I died, then let myself be used. I was Mio’s regret.” She couldn’t stop herself from being resurrected, nor could she have saved Noah from Z’s influence. Still, her failure was her own.
Rex remained quiet, but she could tell how her story affected him. He tried desperately to mask his grief. He nonetheless maintained a soft disposition. “It wasn’t all bad,” she added softly. “I had no parents, siblings, or really many friends, but I had a partner. For a time, we were happy.” She cherished those memories. They were all she had while she was M. “We even had a child, a baby boy.”
“I would have loved for you to have met him,” she smiled at the bitter memories. Her Ghondor never existed in this world. His memory only lived within her and her Noah (should he be in this world). “Though, the good times didn’t last. We were made into pawns. And, I...” She couldn’t help but sniffle. Recounting her past took a toll on her. “I didn’t know when it would end. Sometimes, I thought that it couldn’t get better.” She took a few deep breaths. It was a feeble attempt to regain her composure. “But she did it. Mio and her friends saved everyone. You should be so proud of your daughter.”
“I’m already so proud of her,” Her father stated while looking directly at her instead. “I would’ve expected nothing less from my sweet Mio.” It was clear that he thought the world of his children, even the adult in front of him.
Mio couldn’t help but embrace his warmth. She loved this feeling too much to push him away. She didn’t feel like she deserved it, but she couldn’t stop him. “They succeeded, alright. But, my partner- Noah and I had to stay behind. We were born from regret. We lost sight of ourselves and no longer had a right to exist in the future after clinging to the present. We were no better than the desire. We should have perished in that false world.” And yet, she was here. She was allowed the chance to meet her family. Her tea was long forgotten, only keeping her hands warm at this point.
Rex understood the implications behind her words and smiled. For as sorrowful as her tale was, he was glad it had a happy ending. “I don’t really understand Origin m’self, but why question it? You’re home. And, we’ll help you. I’m guessin’ yer looking for that partner of yours. I don’t mind lending a hand.” While he seemed sincere about that sentiment, Mio couldn’t help but sense something more to his words. Reluctance? No, that couldn’t be it.
She truly believed his offer to be genuine. For that, she was beyond grateful. If Noah was truly out there, it would be helpful to have her father and her mother’s assistance. She chuckled to herself, thinking how weird it was to even refer to Queen Nia as her mum. “Thank you.”
“Anything for my precious daughter,” he assured her and returned her smile. His head turned back to the other room. “Oi! I hear you lot. You kiddos can quit the eavesdropping now! I heard you three sneakin’ about.” As he shouted, three heads popped out from around the corner now: one with blonde hair, one with red hair, and one with a familiar silver. Mio found herself staring at her other half.
“Hi, me.”