Characters

Seamstress/Messiah/in place of Miku - Mikoto aka MikotoHoshizora2003

Leader/in place of Kaito - Loann aka _licht

Swordswoman/in place of Meiko - Aki aka sleepykuroX3

Older sister/in place of IA - Jenny (author)

Younger sister/in place of Mayu - Kapo aka KawaiiPatootOwO

Monk/in place of Gakupo - Mellow aka MellowMelodyMoon

Poet/in place of GUMI - Ame aka Freboredom

Dancer/ in place of Luka - Riyu aka AhoRiyu

Older twin/in place of Rin - Emi aka @AkimiNya

Younger twin/in place of Len - Tou (author 2) aka Ariga_Tou

Legend of a dead person - Mia aka mysteryjessica

—

The small girl tried to keep on walking, already at her limit. She couldn't take another step and fell on the ground, hurting her knees. The land was in ruin, and so was she.

"I suppose I will die here..." - she let the sad thought run through her head before closing her eyes. But surprisingly, her life didn't end at that moment. Mikoto heard a lot of sounds. The blowing of the wind, the singing of birds, and the quiet trembling of the ground. Afterward, she heard voices.

"Is she alive?"

"Gah, the girl looks exhausted"

"What will we do, Loann-nii?"

"We can't just leave her here.."

"She can come with us, can't she?"

"I suppose so.."

"Hey, you. Do you hear us?"

She heard hope. She could go with them, or die here miserably. With a raspy voice, she said

"Y-yes.."

"Oh she's alive. Try standing up, the ground can infect the cuts on your knees. And seeing as we're the only ones in the area, we should all stick together." - the girl silently obeyed, getting on her feet and opened her eyes just to meet with nine curious gazes. She looked around at the nine small children. All of them were of different ages and appearances. She made a couple of careful steps towards them. The boy who seemed to be the leader of the group walked towards her, helping the girl to control her movements and stay conscious.

"What's your name?" - she already walked for a while with the boy's help, still surrounded by the children.

"I'm M-mikoto. What about all of you?

"Loann" 

"I'm Ame. And these children are Aki, Riyu, Mellow, Jenny, Kapo, Emi, and Tou."  - Mikoto laughed and almost forgot about her tiredness.

"You all are so nice, I want to be friends with you forever!" - she softly smiled at the children

"Let's make a promise then" - said Loann seriously. Everyone nodded and started saying a promise

"In sickness..  and in health, we share joy and pain!"

From the aftermath of the "judgement". The whole kingdom was left in ruin. In exchange for all their wrongdoings, the kingdom was falling apart. It was told that only one person could save them, by atoning for everyone's sins.

Years Later

"Hey Miko-chan! Come out! Today is the day when the messenger is coming to our village. They said that he is bringing us very important news, so maybe you can delay your sewing and listen to him?" - a very happy voice rang near Mikoto's window. Shifting her eyes she noticed her friends, Mellow and Riyu, waving to get her attention.

"Sorry, but this work is really important to me. Maybe, you will go and then tell me how it was?" - Mikoto didn't miss the opportunity to stay at home, to spend another day sewing. She was excited to prepare a lot of presents for her friends. She remembered how Jenny's and Tou's eyes sparkled when she gave them a scarf, and how even Loann let himself get excited from her present.

"You are so lazy, Miko-chan! How do you even live like that? You should enjoy nature!" - said Riyu, playfully scolding her friend.

"Let's go, Mellow-chan, and search for everyone else!" - with those words Riyu and Mellow went somewhere far from Mikoto's window, leaving the girl to smile alone. She knew that her friends aren't really mad at her, but they would be happy if she joined, so maybe she would finish all her duties earlier.

They gathered everyone in front of the messenger.

"If you go to the Tower of Ai, and light the kingdom's lifespan at the top of the tower, we can be saved. Before doing this, you need to make it through the challenges of the tower. In order to get a flame, you need to get all the "glories", or blessings that only the chosen one, also known as the Messiah, can get . There are nine "glories" that you need in order to save this kingdom. The Messiah is Mikoto Hoshizora. I trust that you guys will help her get through all the challenges. Unfortunately there is one more thing you must know..."

They all listened to the messenger intently. Knowing what they must do, they smiled. They're doing this for their kingdom! Now they just need to inform Mikoto. They will obey their duties at all costs.

There is no way they would lose. That's why, after informing Mikoto, they decided to go to the Tower the next morning. Mikoto was happy. She could help the country along with her friends. They went through many challenges, the current one being the last. They were on a cliff, climbing the Tower, almost at the top.

"Uwaa be careful!" Emi helped Tou up as she was tripping over the smallest rocks.

"At least I'm not as clumsy as Mia who died during this, the previous year. It is as a legend, you know?"
"Why did you have to remember it now?"Jenny almost fell down after that phrase.

"Jenny-chan you might as well be just as clumsy as her." Kapo sighed as she helped her up.

"You guys should hurry up! Miko and Sunshine are already at the top!" Aki scolded the four for lagging behind.

"We're coming~ Come on we can't take too long!" Mellow helped them take a shortcut by pulling them up a ledge of the cliff, instead of walking.

"We can't wait for you for an hour! We need to save the world, if you've forgotten" Loann sarcastically remarked, already standing at the top of the slope. Although, he fell down in the process. Tou, who had just climbed, decided to repay the boy for all the teasing.
"What, do you think, you're doing?!" - he shouted as he noticed what the girl was doing.

"I'm assisting you~ What else?~" She said as she held Loann right above the cliff's point of falling.

"Tou you psychopath! Help him up properly!" Emi scolded her. Tou finally aided the boy, and later got harshly reprimanded by everyone, to not do it again. Except for Jenny, who came to her after everyone's shouting and whispered "It was great" in her ear, turning around afterward to not make anyone notice.

They were now all at the top. Right in front of the grand gates of the tower.

"This is where we'll get the blessings for you, Mikoto." Ame said confidently. Unbeknownst to Mikoto, they all shared a grim look as they saw the Tower.

"Let's try our best everyone~!" - Riyu-nee danced in excitement. It seemed that her mood was contagious, as everyone had cheered up a bit. After all, they didn't know what they would be going through. They also didn't know that they would never come back the same. But what happened then?

"Miko and I will get the first blessing, so you guys should stay here okay?"

Loann was leading Mikoto, the Messiah, to the first blessing: "Blooming Wave". They opened the door and walked silently. Mikoto was about to grab the blessing, before Loann started saying nostalgically.

"You remember when we first met right?"

"Of course I do! I'm still really grateful to you guys for saving me! Speaking of that I have something for you." She pulled a long-sleeve shirt out of her bag. She had sewed it the night before.

"Here! For you!" He took the shirt and put it on over the shirt he was already wearing.

"Thank you Miko, it's really nice!~" He smiled fondly at the girl. "Since you remember the day we all met.. You also remember our promise.. Don't you?" Unexpectedly he pulled her in a hug, but then pushed her out of the doorway, while saying:

"We share joy and pain!"

He took the blessing known as "Blooming Wave" and gained the power of the sea. The doorway closed, as the blessing was stolen. Mikoto looked around, into the eyes of her 8 remaining friends. They seemed to be clouded with greed.

Mikoto stood on her knees, trying to catch her breath. She was betrayed, betrayed by her dear friend, whom she could call a brother. The girl didn't understand why Loann did that to her, and the only explanation she had was greed, or the need to have power. The feeling of having power to destroy everything. Mikoto didn't notice how her eyes started to wet, and her tears started to fall down to the ground.

"Miko?" - she heard a voice calling to her.  The girl couldn't let someone see her in that state, so she tried to wipe her tears, trying to make her hysterics less obvious.

"Yes?" - a weak attempt not to reveal her tired voice was failed, but Mikoto still didn't give up and put on a weak smile to pretend that she didn't feel hurt.

"I understand that it is very hard to live after such a betrayal" - the steps were getting louder, as the speaking person was getting closer to her, until the girl met her eyes with Aki's. The swordswoman was looking at her with a worried expression. "But you know, you shouldn't give up after that. We still are here and have a mission to complete in order to save our world. Everyone is counting on us, so get yourself together and do your Messiah duties" - despite the rude way it was said, Mikoto knew that Aki wanted to brighten her mood. So she let out  a smile, not a fake one this time.

"Thank you, Nee-san!" - as she said it, Mikoto was sure that she wouldn't give up.

—

The doors to the second blessing's room were opened, and Mikoto, with Aki hurried to go inside. The Messiah was about to touch and receive the blessing "Fire Banquet", until she felt something cold on her neck.. Turning her head, she noticed her friend, aiming the sword at her, to stop her from moving, one accidental move would be enough to end her life. Mikoto was fearfully watching how Aki looked at her hostilely. There wasn't a piece of the sisterly love that she always saw when she met Aki's eyes.

"We made a promise, right?" - Aki said the similar words to Loann's before he received a blessing, still aiming her sword to Mikoto and making her leave the room in fear of the death, while the swordsman followed Loann's fate.

She promised that she wouldn't give up, but watching her dear friend's eyes filled with unfamiliar anger and greed, she didn't have another choice, than to leave the room and the blessing to Aki: the person she once considered a faithful and dear friend.

Mikoto was looking around the building, trying to distract her thoughts. She had already been betrayed twice, betrayed by people who once saved her, whom she considered her friends. It might be more logical not to allow the others to follow her, while she was receiving other blessings; but Mikoto still trusted them a lot. The girl decided to find someone and have a small conversation with them to make herself less nervous. Lucky for her, she didn't have to walk around for long, as she almost immediately saw Kapo and Jenny, sitting at the ground and talking about something. Mikoto got closer and sat near them.

"What are you two doing?" - she asked. The girls jumped, seemingly scared by her sudden appearance.

"Mikoto-san! We didn't notice you!"- exclaimed Jenny, while Kapo silently continued doing something in her notebook. Mikoto leaned closer and saw that the girls were drawing the walls of the building.

"It's different here.. I like this calm atmosphere." - it seemed that Kapo noticed her surprised expression, so she explained it to her. Jenny just nodded, fully concentrating on her drawing. Mikoto lowered her head, remembering the chaos that was outside.

"Hey, cheer up! We'll definitely complete our mission and the whole world will change. I'm sure that there will be a lot of scenery you will want to draw!" - Mikoto smiled as brightly as she could. Jenny laughed, while Kapo just smirked, imagining all the possibilities the Messiah was talking about. The sad mood was forgotten, and all girls started another talk just to kill time before searching for blessings. Everyone enjoyed each other's company and it really distracted Mikoto greatly.

—

Once again, the doors were opened. Mikoto wasn't sure whether she should take a step forward and grab the blessing "Grace of the Sunlight." The girl couldn't go forward. Memories of the previous betrayals were running through her head, making the girl stay in the same place.

'This time it will be different!' - she thought and decided to enter the room. But she suddenly was stopped by a kick in her stomach, making the girl wince and take a step back to face the wall. Once she opened her eyes, she stopped wincing in pain. Mikoto noticed Jenny, heading towards the blessing. 'It's happening again...' - Mikoto couldn't stop the bitter thought, appearing in her head. It seemed that the girl felt her glare, as she turned around and waved them goodbye with a haughty smirk. Staring in her eyes, where there was only emptiness, Mikoto heard how the doors started to close. Quickly moving, she made a few steps back.

The Messiah turned her head to Kapo, worrying about her mental state. It was obvious that Jenny's betrayal might cause a huge effect on that girl. They were sisters, after all.

"Hey, Kapo, are you okay?" - Mikoto decided to ask the girl. Kapo didn't pay attention to her words as she stood up, shaking from anger and then ran away as fast as she could, muttering the words: "I will get it! I will surely get it!". Mikoto stood up in shock, it was painful to know that today, she was betrayed by four of her dear friends.

It wasn't surprising to her to find that the blessing of "Peaceful Darkness" was stolen, too.

The Messiah heard mumbling that consisted of "I am the one.. I was chosen!.. You can't keep it all to yourself.. We won't let you.. Unforgivable..!

"It's okay Miko-san there's still the fifth blessing!" Mellow helped Mikoto get to the fifth blessing's doorway and it opened. Mikoto was glad that someone was still on her side.

"Can I give a piece of advice to you, Miko-san? I understand how hard it's for you to keep up, during those betrayals... But when it's hard for me, I remember the prayers I was learning in the church. Maybe, it will help you, too?" - Mellow asked Mikoto, looking in her eyes, as if she was seeing into her soul.

"Thanks for the help Mellow, but I guess I feel calmer when you stay by my side, thank you."

"Anytime Miko-san! I'll stay here until you're ready to collect the next blessing!" She knew that Mellow probably had the same intentions as the others, but seeing her smile, she thought it couldn't be true.

"I think I'm ready now. Will you come with me? I'm still a bit uneasy after that."

"Of course!" The two girls made their way to the doorway of the fifth blessing.

'I have to at least get this one' the Messiah reached out to the blessing.

However her earlier suspicions were confirmed when Mellow desperately ran to the altar of the fifth blessing "Trembling Ground". She quickly mumbled a prayer to it, and grabbed the blessing harshly. Before the door closed, she looked Mikoto in the eye and weakly smiled.

Mikoto ran out of there hastily, not wanting to be trapped in the room as Mellow made the ground crack, making it dance like an intoxicated street dancer.

The Messiah was in denial and confusion 'Does "greed" change a person?'

Night was falling. Everyone was already exhausted from the previous challenges so they quickly fell into dreamless slumbers.

Mikoto wasn't able to sleep. She was restless after the previous occurrences, after all.

It was a rare occurrence, usually Mikoto was asleep once the sky started to turn dark and everything was gone quiet, a sign that "night" had come.

She had always wanted to spend a night quickly just to have fun with her friends the next day. Friends... Memories about the betrayals were still fresh in her head. The girl hummed solemnly, standing up. It seemed that she wouldn't fall asleep, so Mikoto decided to have a quick walk across the tower. Maybe, she would be lucky and find another blessing, and maybe, this time it wouldn't be taken away from her by her friends. Friends... Are they even friends anymore?

Unfortunately, fate didn't allow the girl to be alone, as she bumped into someone almost after leaving the place where she was trying to sleep.

"I'm sorry!" - she quickly apologized. A second after, Mikoto recognized that person as Ame, another friend, who was very dear to her.

"What are you doing here, Ame-san?" - Mikoto decided to ask the question to the girl. Despite being friends with her for so long, the Messiah still didn't know how to deal with the awkwardness in their conversations. Ame was older than her and also had a noble post in their village, so Mikoto couldn't help but want to bow her head down every time they talked.

"I just wanted to read somewhere in the quiet place, because I wasn't able to go to sleep. Same goes to you, I suppose?" - replied Ame. Only now Mikoto noticed that the girl had a small book in her arms. She nodded.

"Yeah, it's hard to sleep in this.. new place" - the Messiah successfully lied. Ame then furrowed her brows, thinking about something.

"I can read you to help you sleep well. It helped me a lot in my childhood, so how about it?" - she suggested. Mikoto was taken aback by her sudden kindness and smiled sincerely.

"If you wouldn't mind." - Mikoto said and grabbed Ame's hand, showing her the way to the place where she decided to take a nap.

Mikoto laid on the ground, while Ame sat near her. The messiah closed her eyes and got ready to hear a fairytale.

"Once upon a time..." - Ame was telling a story so calmly, that Mikoto fell asleep shortly after Ame said a few words. After she was finished reading, Ame smiled softly at the sleeping girl. She was happy that she managed to help the Messiah, and her dear friend. To be honest, she felt bad for the things Mikoto had to experience. But she couldn't help it, and the only thing the girl left to do was to support the Messiah in any way she could.

She wished that they would have more friendship moments like that, but she had a feeling that it was the last time when they were meeting in such a calm atmosphere. As she hummed in the agreement with her thoughts, Ame quietly left Mikoto's sleeping place.

—

Mikoto had woken up once the sun rose up. She hadn't slept that peacefully in a while, so she had no problems with getting up. Humming an unknown melody, Mikoto walked through the corridors with hopes to find Ame and thank her for helping her sleep.

Once she almost gave up with her search, Mikoto heard a quiet melodic voice only in a pair of steps away from her. She turned around and noticed the doors she had already seen six times. It took a second for Mikoto to realize that Ame's voice was sounding from the doors. Not wanting to believe it, the messiah opened the doors just to see Ame and the "Rumble of Thunder" - the girl was reading something to the blessing, and it was beating in the rhythm of her words. Mikoto ran away in shock, the tears were in her eyes. After running, she sat on the floor, regaining her breath and covering her face with her hands. Does she even have things to believe in? Can she even trust someone without getting her heart broken?

To be blessed.. To be the chosen one.. Grab a "glory" as fast as you can! In order to save the kingdom which has to be "judged".

The Messiah was betrayed by almost all her friends. As much as she would like to believe the rest won't do the same, it was hard, given the situation. She just wanted to slump onto the ground and give in to despair.

Two girls had just woken up, and saw Mikoto looking dejected. They guessed that she had been betrayed yet again.

"Miko-chan, over here! It's okay! You shouldn't dwell on that too much.. If you can get the others, I'm sure you can still save the kingdom with only a few blessings!"

"That's right Mikoto! We can still make it!"

That flash of hope was enough for Mikoto to believe in her friends once again.

"I guess you're right Riyu, Emi.. I shouldn't give up yet!" She got off the ground, despite being pushed away so many times. She saw the door suddenly open. She turned to the door, determined to get the 7th blessing, only to trip in the process. When she looked up, she saw Riyu swaying in a captivating dance to capture the "Rondo of Whirlwind". She was caught in complete shock. What happened to the Riyu that was comforting her just now?

'Are they all against me?'

In a desperate attempt to not lose all hope, she frantically turned her head to where Emi was supposed to be. She wasn't there. She didn't want to believe it. She slowly turned her head, and saw what she feared.

While she was drowned in her own thoughts, the 8th blessing's door had opened. She saw Tou walk towards the "Garden of Silver Snow" warily. Before Emi pushed her away and grabbed it for herself. Tou was furious and in shock, as Emi looked back one last time before the door closed. You could see the tears of joy froze as she smiled  at both of them. Where had all her friends gone?

Just when she found hope again, it was snatched away, only leaving traces of despair to prove it was there in the first place. As fragile as a snowflake. Just one touch could completely melt it forever. She looked over to Tou, who was still mad that Emi had gotten to the blessing before her.

She noticed Tou's slight grim smile, as she turned to her.

"I guess you wouldn't really trust me anymore, Miko-san..." It's true. She saw Tou as she walked towards the blessing. She knew she was gonna steal it just as the others had.

"In return.. I could at least give you the last blessing. It's really the only one you need to light the "lifespan" of the kingdom atop the tower." Mikoto saw the guilt in the girl's eyes and couldn't help but forgive her.

It's only natural for her to get hurt for being so naive right?

She let Tou lead her to the last blessing, "Fetal Movement of Magma" Apparently the others had found the rest of the blessings before looking for her. She was finally going to receive a blessing. Is what she thought before getting deceived once more.

Tou glanced at Mikoto and proudly smiled. The magma was overflowing, so the Messiah had no choice but to run out of the room. She wouldn't want to be hurt more than she already has after all.

Mikoto cried, not feeling any reason to restrain herself anymore. Everyone, whom she doesn't want to see her seem weak, was gone. Tears were flowing down her cheeks, making her feel even more pathetic than she already was. Betrayals... why were all her friends blinded by greed? The Messiah really didn't believe in it. She didn't want to, either.

The girl could've given up already, but there was something that bothered her. Despite how they ended up, she still heard her friends' voices in her head, telling her not to give up and save the world. That was why Mikoto took an unlit torch in her hands and grabbed all her strength to continue walking. She felt that all her answers were atop the summit of the Tower. She shakily walked up to the altar. It read:

Congratulations, you, the chosen one have made it. You have passed your "atonement" and have been granted the power to relieve your Kingdom of their sins.

Drowned in rough sea, Dancing in hellfire, Decaying in drought, Trapped in darkness, Swallowed by the earth, Struck by thunder, Torn up by a hurricane, Frozen to the bone, Sinking in the lava.

With the sacrifices being made, save your Kingdom.

And that's when the Messiah realized. In order to make sure the kingdom was saved, her friends had sacrificed themselves. Being taken by the wrong person, they were dead. They didn't betray her at all. They had kept their promise to the end. Originally, the Messiah was supposed to kill someone with each blessing. Her friends had saved her the trouble.

She carefully lit the "lifespan" of their Kingdom atop the tower with her newfound power that her friends had helped her gain. The sound of glory resonated throughout the Tower, having accepted the sacrifices. Mikoto smiled madly and reached her hands to the altar.

"I guess you found out the truth..." Mikoto looked around feverishly as she swore she heard the voices of her beloved friends.

"Why did you guys do that!? I would've been completely fine with suffering by myself..." She slowly quieted as she realized her friends would never allow that, and that's why they kept it from her.

"Www, silly Mikoto-chan. We haven't disappeared. We're still here, in your heart, with you. It was worth suffering if it's for the Kingdom" - the voice Aki sounded in her head so familiar and friendly, not hostile as she pretended earlier. Mikoto was glad they hadn't truly betrayed her.

"But... You died because of me! I won't forgive myself!" - tears were about to start falling down again, until Mikoto felt a familiar handkerchief in her hand.

"Mikoto-nee, stress affects your health a lot, so try to move on, okay? We are not mad at you" - Jenny smiled, handing Mikoto a handkerchief.

"You are our friend, after all" - Kapo continued

"And you always will be" Mellow replied.

"Remember our promise? Please carry on our last wish then" - Ame spoke afterward, remembering about their promise, that during all the betrayals, seemed like the worst thing to Mikoto. But then, it felt as something important and dear to her.

"We all wish that you will live a long and happy life" Riyu spoke surprisingly seriously, comparing to how she behaved during her life.

"And don't be very sad about us, okay?" Emi asked, smiling through her tears

"Because we're sure you will experience a lot of new and great things during your life. You will still need to restore villages and life. You're the hero now, so enjoy it and be happy..." Tou hugged Emi, trying to calm her down.

"Because someday we will walk together again" - they said that line in unison and disappeared, leaving Mikoto to cry. But not in pain or guilt. Those were tears of wishing them good luck in the world there they were now. Suddenly, she remembered her talk with Mellow. It was a great thing to do now and it felt as if she must do that. That's why Mikoto stood up and started stating words in the sky.

"...And please, welcome my friends as your own children, because they deserve a lot of happiness there. Let their souls rest in peace. Amen" - maybe, it helped Mellow feel better, but Mikoto only broke down, knowing that she was the one to blame for it. She was a murderer of her dearest people: the only one who really deserved punishment.

"I'm sorry... it seems that I won't be able to make your last wish come true" Mikoto said, overwhelmed with those strange and new feelings. In her head was only a mess. And then.. she laughed. She laughed hysterically, ironically, madly, as nothing had happened there. As the girl finished, she laid on the ground, glaring at the annoyingly blue sky.

It seemed that it was possible for her to save the world... but she couldn't save the nine people dearest to her. Unfortunately, she couldn't even save herself and was forced to die in madness. No one knew that story, no one knew about that heroism and who really saved their world. Except.. the ten friends who wouldn't be together even after their deaths.

They had truly.. shared joy and pain.

———

Tou's A/N

Ahem- this oneshot was based off of a Vocaloid song : Blessed Messiah and Tower of Ai. We had lots of fun writing it and we're very proud of it! We hope you enjoyed this angst~

Jenny's A/N

If you think that Tou-chan is forcing me to write collabs with her, you're probably right-

But actually, I agree with her, it was very fun to write~!

I hope you liked it, because we put much effort into it! Feel free to leave comments or requests on what I can write next~ Thank you for your attention, bye!