Chapter Text
Before he met his sister, Argalia had nothing. He didn’t remember his mother or his father. From his earliest memories, he’d already been alone, scavenging supplies to be able to barely cling on to life. He was found by researchers working for a wing and brought to a facility. There were other children there that were all like him. Outskirts born. Parentless. A waste of life. Out of them all, one girl approached him and made him welcome. That girl was Angelica. He remembered marvelling at her vibrant silver hair. However, as time went on, he knew it wasn’t natural. As the experiments went on, his hair ended up the same colour. In the end, everyone who was brought to that place ended up the same way. Or they didn’t come back from the operating room at all.
“ How old are you?” Angelica asked him one day.
“ Huh. Uh. I don’t know.” He admitted. “ How about you.”
“ Six. Erm. Seven.” Argalia gave her a disbelieving look. “ What?”
“ OK. When’s your birthday?” She didn’t answer him. After a while, she let out a small cough.
“ W-W-When’s yours?”
“ I don’t know.”
“ Well, you can share mine.” She said. “ I’m nice enough to allow that.”
“ What? Like… twins?”
“ Sure. You’re my age, after all.”
“ But I just said I don’t know my age.”
“ Doesn’t matter. You’re seven.” Angelica said. “ You can’t argue if you don’t know, right?”
“ I guess not. But, when’s our Birthday then?”
“ To… yester… um…” She looked puzzled. “ Today. Obviously.”
“ Huh? You’re sure.”
“ Of course. Today is the day you and I became twins. So today is our Birthday.”
“ But… What day is today?” Angelica just giggled.
“ New Year's Day!” She announced extravagantly. “ Best day of the year.”
“ You can’t just make up what day it is, Angelica.”
“ Sure I can.” She said confidently. And for a moment, Argalia almost believed her. Angelica was always so sure of herself. Even as more of their siblings didn’t come back. No matter how much pain she felt. No matter what was happening outside the room the kids were kept in, she kept a bright smile on her face. She made him feel safe. The others were the same too.
As the days past, less and less of their siblings returned from the operating rooms. In the end, it was just him and Angelica. The scientists had seen it as a victory that two of them had made it out alive as well. They were stronger than any child had any right to be. Their reflexes, speed and strength was far above any regular adult. If it wasn’t for the bands around their ankles, they could probably overpower the wings guards and escape. Angelica had even planned it out. However, they never got the chance. One day, a woman in purple appeared to them.
“ Hello there.” She smiled. “ My name is Iori. I’m here to take you away from here.” Angelica stepped between Iori and him. All this did was cause Iori to giggle softly. “ My. Aren’t you a good sister? But don’t worry. I promise you I mean no harm. These experiments are over as of now. I was just the one who was asked to tell them that.” She drummed her fingers on the end of her katana. “ Forcibly where needed.”
“ What about us?” Argalia asked nervously.
“ What about you? Run off into the streets with all the other kiddies. See how long you last. Unless, of course, you’d like to come with me.”
“ With… you?” Angelica was wary.
“ M Corp has collapsed now. There’s now one here to take you in. You’d be street urchins. At the very least, I can give you a hand in training. Even with some extra strength, you won’t make it very long in this City as young as you both are.” It wasn’t really a choice. Both of them knew it. However, there weren't any other options. If this really was freedom, it was best to take the best offer of it that they could. Argalia placed a hand on Angelica’s arm. She looked at him then back at Iori and nodded. “ Good. Then come along. I’m excited to see just what you children are capable of. But first, I think it’s best if you rest. Life isn’t easy. Nor is it fair. If this ordeal hasn’t taught you that, then something will sooner or later.”
*************************************
The feeling of teleportation via what Argalia could only call magic was an interesting experience. However, with the history of experimentation, Iori’s training and his career as a Fixer, Argalia didn’t even so much as trip as he entered District 9. Pluto gave him a small bow before Argalia looked up. The piano had already stopped. Above him was a hulking corpse, its head and hands missing and lying against a piano that was already falling apart as human corpses that apparently made it up fell off it, creating a new tune that lacked any sort of melody of heavy thuds.
Other than a glance at the strange set piece, even in this City, he moved on and moved towards where he knew his sister’s apartment was. He sped around the piano and that’s where he saw it. The apartment was gone. Rubble. Just like the streets around it. The entire Backstreets of District 9 had become a ruin of bodies and buildings. Barely anyone was still around. Those that were had devolved into a state of delirium, laughing mad or staring blankly at where the Pianist had been. But Argalia’s eyes were drawn to another place. Hanging above her apartment, the corpse caught between the broken remains of the rafters, was his sister. Her silver hair, once vibrant, covered her face as her own blood drained from her. One name entered his mind as he saw her there. “ Roland.”
Argalia had never really liked Roland. He made his sister happy and he really did appreciate that however there was a part of him that could never get over that someone else was trying to take his twin away from him. Still, he gave the man a chance. The two of them had developed a relationship of harmlessly quipping at each other in various degrees of snark. It wasn’t malicious from either of them. Perhaps at first but that time had long since passed. He trusted Roland to keep her safe. He trusted him to make her happy. He had trusted him.
“ Why?” He whispered. “ Why? Why?! WHY?! WHY?!” In a rush of anger, he swung his scythe, cutting through the beams of the building and bringing the place crashing down. However, the body of his dear sister fell into his arms. He placed it gently on the ground. “ Angelica.” He sobbed quietly. He reached for the device in his ear and turned it off. For once, he didn’t want to hear anything. Just this once, he wanted silence. In that silence however, he heard it.
“ To lose a loved one in such a tragic way. I am sorry for your loss.” Argalia looked up. He glanced around but saw no-one.
“ Who are you?”
“ A friend. You’ve lost much tonight.”
“ I have.” Argalia admitted. “ Angelica. She was… my everything. She saved me when I was at my weakest. Brought me to my feet. Declared us twins despite all the contradicting evidence.” Argalia chuckled softly. “ My heart feels so hollow.”
“ She was important to you.”
“ There was a wish she had when she was young. She hoped she could create a world without suffering. It’s a shame that in this city no dreams are destined to flourish.”
“ This city does have a way of devouring hopes and joy.” The woman agreed. “ If you could change that, would you?”
“ In a heartbeat. To suffer like my sister did. If the city can be fixed, I would love to fix it. Tell me. Is there a way?”
“ If I told you there was, would you believe me?” Argalia hummed.
“ I’m listening.” He listened intently to the woman. Her voice seemed to soothe the pain he felt and her ideas had merit. The source of the distortion, of the light that shone a short few weeks ago. If he could find it and claim it for himself, he could create a world of his own desires. Slowly, a smile returned to Argalia’s face. “ I see. So there is a power like that in this world. Well, that sounds… incredible.”
“ Would you like some help? There is much power within you. Perhaps I could help your desires flower.”
“ Maybe someday soon. However, I believe I would like to keep this form for a short bit longer.” Argalia’s smirk twisted into a grin. “ That piano. It was a very interesting song. Such empty sorrow in it’s notes. I suppose that was someone else who fell victim to this city. I have no sympathy for the devil but I can empathise with the plight. But I believe I can make something even greater. I suppose there is much work to be done. My dear. Will you return and speak with me? This chat was quite eye opening. I’d much like to hear more.”
“ Of course. If you need me, I’ll be here.”
“ My thanks.” Argalia resisted the urge to bow to the voice. For now, he had need of allies. He made his way back to where he had left Pluto and was surprised to find him still there.
“ Is everything well?”
“ No. No, not at all. However, it will be. I believe that. I’ve decided to put on a grand performance sometime in the future. But to do that I am indeed of an… orchestra, shall we say? An Ensemble to play with. Tell me, Pluto. Would you like to give me a hand in such an endeavour?”
*************************************
The Library stretched into the sky before them. He spied as Olivier unlocked the door with a special device, invitation in hand, and made his way in. “ Well now. It would seem Hana has made its move.” Argalia announced joyfully. “ The stage is set. The door is able to be reached and unlocked. Which means the time has come.”
“ Right.” Philip said emotionlessly, nodding slowly.
“ I can’t wait, Sir Argalia. We’ll not disappoint. This show will be incredible.” Eileen said happily, bringing her hands into a praying motion. “ May the Gears guide our path.”
“ Gaw Haw Haw. Let the feast begin. I can’t wait to taste the delicacies there. Wonder what these Librarians taste like?” Greta rubbed her chin, many new recipes no doubt already flooding her brain.
“ GRRRRUFF! BAWK-BAWK-BAWWWK! NEIGGGHHH!” The Musicians chorused. Of course, they had a friend in there waiting for them. Argalia had to wonder how Meow would react to her old friends.
“ Let the curtains rise for the ultimate performance!” Oswald said dramatically, making a small pose. “ Ms Mermaid. Mr Knife. Let us make the most of our act.”
“ This is gonna be fun.” Tanya grinned, cracking her knuckles. “ Wonder just how strong those books have made these losers anyway.”
“ Focus on the task at hand.” Jae-Heon said. “ My Magnum Opus is complete, Argalia. Just remember to leave Roland’s body for me.”
“ I want his veins, Jae-Heon.” Elena told him. “ I may not be able to kill either of them, but I wanna make sure to savour his taste all the same.”
“ Calm down, everyone. I’m sure Sir Argalia’s plan has everyone's wishes and desires accounted for. Let us go out and claim this victory. It shall be a most fitting performance for the end of this City.” Pluto declared. Argalia smirked. He had such good allies.
“ Be careful, Argalia. Angela isn’t the type to flinch at a threat. No matter how great that threat may be. Your victory over her will not come easily.”
“ Yes. Of that I am well aware of. Have no fear, my great benefactor. Just take the front row seat and enjoy the performance.” Argalia spun his scythe in hand. “ Let us move. I wouldn’t be surprised if Olivier has already finished his delivery. Everything's in its place quite perfectly. Let the performance commence.”