Lumiere, The New Lantern

For some time, the Pumpkin Town, which was where many of the Scarecrows and their Spirits, the Lanterns, lived, remained in a fixed superposition that prevented outside beings from entering their territory. It was hidden away somewhere, and the Ruler of this land, St. Troix, rested in one of the finest luxury pumpkins that there were. He had taken to keeping to himself after messing around with strange women in other dimensions for a short time. Sometimes, he thought of the union between his son and his son's wife that happened some time ago as he rested, reflecting on the many good times and wondering when the kids would come visit him back at home.

He lived in the Pumpkin Town, because that was where his people, the Lanterns and Scarecrows lived, and it was hidden within Pan Dimensia, which was rooted where the original Dimensia was, which he was the ruler of as PumpKing before Kairo Tigen succeeded the throne. He hadn't heard from any of them in some time, Pumki inclusive. Tigen and Pumpkinhead were occupied with whatever they did, and Troix's wife no longer had an embodiment, so she wasn't around. He was pretty much by himself all of the time, and grew lonely. So he sought out other women in other dimensions for a short time, though they all reminded him of his late wife -- whom he also believed had embodied any he was attracted to, since she wasn't a single embodiment anymore.

He wondered if he was chasing after her, trying to get her back.

Sparking before Troix in his languor was a newborn Lantern of his own lineage, which was never before seen after his initial children, Pumpkinhead, Tigen, and Pumki. Even Chroma, who was now a Lantern because of ascension, was not a natural-born Lantern, so even though she existed and was technically first, it didn't have the same sentimentality as a natural-born, like Pumpkinhead and Tigen and Pumki were. She had yet to be shaped or formed, but existed before him, awaiting his own approval of her. She was Lumiere, the Lantern form of Triere, Khrona's youngest daughter from the future. This counted as her birth point in history that eventually led to who Triere was today, and with that also came the history of Signis, which was being created just right now for Triere in her future. All of her Thirteen Restrictions hadn't been created yet due to the circumstances of her existence, coming from the future, and all. So they were being created in the process. However, out of all of them, none of them were an actual Lantern, the Primordial Race of the Veritas Dimension. So in addition to being a first natural-born Lantern, she was also the first Lantern within Triere.

Lumiere was conscious and aware of her grandfather, the PumpKing, who was the Spirit of St. Troix. She appeared here for his blessing of her coming into the world.

Troix's eyes opened wide when the new presence spontaneously came into existence, wondering if it was possible that the inevitable had already occurred. He rose from his easy chair, priestly robes flowing, as he stood before the newly forming Lantern. "... Child...?" he uttered, inspecting it. "... A Granddaughter...?" He inspected its essence thoroughly, seeing that it was rather fractal, and that it existed in split timelines that were coming together as they progressed, but already began at a farther period ahead than where they were now. So it existed as a paradox that both existed and didn't exist yet simultaneously, and was coming closer to resolving itself. "... I See..." Troix extended his palm into the Spirit, molding it with his own. Her situation was unique, as chronologically, she bore precedence to Chroma, though Chroma was technically already a Lantern now. Yet, because in chronological order, without Lumiere's existence, Chroma wouldn't be able to be a Lantern at all, Lumiere's being born right now is what stabilized Chroma as a Lantern, and not Chroma, herself.

"..." Troix was silent, but his eyes became sharp. He anticipated that Chroma would soon appear, since through the birth of Lumiere, she would come into her own existence as a Lantern, and not just an extension of her father. Chroma could be vengeful, especially since she was usually classified as the firstborn, and Troix only knew this because he was able to experience certain things through the Twelfth and Thirteenth Restriction beings, despite being a Zeroth Restriction. Once she became a Twelfth Restriction at all, she was able to be more acutely experienced by the PumpKing, like Pumpkinhead, Tigen, Pumki, and Friday. Yet the circumstances of her birth wouldn't allow her to actually be classified as being a 'firstborn' as a Lantern because her birth originated here with Lumiere and would eventually evolve into Chroma later on, making Lumiere the senior of Chroma, despite Lumiere just being born right now and Chroma having already existed for a very long time. All of this could be seen clearly by Troix, who bore the Spirit of the PumpKing.

Soon enough, the Twelfth Restriction being known as Chroma started to fade into existence from beyond, right before St. Troix, and as a colorful apparition bearing a very strange black and white mask. Her existence seemed shaky, but she was drawn to the birth of Lumiere, because it meant the establishment of her existence in the future and in the present. Though she was older and had been a Twelfth Restriction being longer, with chronology being as it was, Lumiere will have existed before Triere and Chroma, who was originally the flesh offspring of Khrona Tensei. Therefore, her birth was as a being of flesh, not a Free Will, as Lumiere, so, as it was known, her birth was not natural, like Lumiere's was. It was only because she was here now that Chroma had the capability of being a Lantern, but she'd always be second, regardless of if she was technically the firstborn of the direct lineage that birthed the one that bore her, and to whom she was the elder sister to.

Still, Chroma was somewhat displeased, because of the fact that she'd lost her seniority as the firstborn and eldest child, even though she was Khrona's first child. She wasn't the first purebred natural-born Lantern, and her existence couldn't be without Lumiere now, nor Triere in the future, despite the two of them both being sisters and separate entities entirely. It frustrated her a lot that she was no longer her own independent existence, but was now seen as second to the actual youngest of the trio. Lumiere was born now as a Lantern, and would eventually in the future spawn Triere, who was the one that spawned her now, but because all of this happened long before Chroma due to how old Signis is canonically, and her existence preceding Khrona's existence, Lumiere, who is Signis, is older than Chroma, so she came first.

Chroma was compelled to raise her hand to Lumiere as well, just as the PumpKing, where she would merge their two existences together so that he would recognize them both, since they were actually proven to be the same being in two separate periods of time intersecting in both the past and the future as well as right now as a singularity in the present, where she was born. Chroma and Lumiere were bound forever both as sisters and also the same being, and now Chroma was asking for acceptance as a Lantern now that Lumiere was born, thus establishing her properly as a Lantern. The black and white mask that Chroma adorned usually would be removed from her face and she'd look to St. Troix with her signature monochromatic heterochromatic eyes.

"Twins!" Troix exclaimed with joy, "Not Only Am I Today Blessed With Grandchildren, I Am Having Twins!" He could see that Chroma had been waiting a very long time to receive the blessing of the PumpKing, but was forced to wait because of the circumstances of both her existence and also the period. But here and now? He could welcome them both. "You Two Will Always Be Bound Together In Sisterhood By Your Spirits, And Also Directly Connected To Me As My Granddaughters. The Rite Of Firstborn Belongs To You Both, Because You Are Both Twins, And Yet You Also Both Precede And Succeed Each Other In Two Alternate Fashions Without Creating A Paradox. Through This, You Two Will Always Share The Bond Of Firstborn In Spirit." The unifying words of Troix would bind the two Lanterns, establishing both of them together.

"Lumiere!" Troix shouted to the Spirit, "From Henceforth, You Are Going To Be Under The Identity Of Signis, Archangel Of Bloodshed. Obtain The Memories Of The Original Signis From Triere's Being And Take Form Based On Those Elements As Well As Those Which Are Now In Play."

Lumiere drew power from Triere, Signis, the PumpKing, and Chroma simultaneously, establishing a new form for Signis through herself that preceded Signis' form when she first met Triere when she was just born as Priere. Her eyes were a fiery bloody red, and her body was garb in a white unitard with a flowing white cape, all of that with blood red decal. When she was within Priere, she was weakened, but back as her own being, she was in her Origin Form, which was much stronger than when she was with Priere.

Eight bloodred wings spurted from her back at once, glowing with an iridescent flame whilst maintaining their red coloration. Her eyes were as fierce as Troix's, and also as insane as Chroma's.

Chroma grabbed her sister's hand, holding it tightly. She was very pleased to receive their grandfather's blessing and to acquire a sister as well as still retain her birthright. She rather liked her wings, and was very impressed by their coloration. As possessive as Chroma was, she wanted to play with her sister immediately, and had thoughts of taking her up to the Twelfth Moon to let her live there. But she was also worried about her grandfather, who seemed like he was lonely, like Chroma was. Chroma was conflicted, not wanting to have to choose between her own loneliness on the Twelfth Moon and her grandfather's loneliness in the Pumpkin Town.

Being directly bound to Chroma as her progenitor, The Phantom, which was Khrona's Free Will Spirit that she also adopted, manifested beside her when she felt the strong feelings between herself and her temporal twin. The Phantom was completely shadowy, the glitching void-like wraith flickering a bit like an unstable program or spirit, with a strangely well-stabilized white mask. A black glove materialized over Chroma's head, patting her. "Daughter." He didn't say anything else, since he knew that she would be able to feel him, being directly connected to him through himself as her host. She would know that she had him for company on the Twelfth Moon, and grandpa Troix didn't have anyone here in the Pumpkin Town. "... This Is A Very Special Moment For Us All, Isn't It?" The Phantom asked her. "... I Think That It's Safe To Say That." His hand moved to her shoulder, and he pat that. "... But This Is Really Special For Grandpa, And I Think We Should Let Him Enjoy It For As Long As He Likes."

After addressing his first daughter, he looked up to Troix, smirking with the slit smile on his mask. "Right, Father?"

Troix chuckled. "Ah, What A Rarity To See You Here, My Son." With Lumiere fully formed now and taking on the identity of Signis, Troix could lower his hand. "Perhaps You Can Sense That I Am Feeling Somewhat Lonely Here All By My Lonesome. Likewise, I Can Sense That Someone Else Is Feeling Rather Lonely, As Well..." He turned to face Chroma, who was still clutching her sister's hand. "... It Isn't Good To Separate Children Haphazardly. They Are Bound More Closely In Their Souls To Each Other Than To Myself. Do Not Act As If I, Of All People, Would Not Understand, My Son." Troix placed his hands on either shoulder of Chroma and The Phantom, sighing heavily. "We Will See What Lumiere Wishes, And That Will Be What Goes. It Is Obvious That The Three Of Us Will Conflict, So It Is Best That She Makes The Ultimate Decision."

Signis remained silent for a short while with unblinking eyes, almost like she was in deep concentration about something. Attention was given over to her by the group so that she may deliver the final verdict. Carefully thinking things through, she spoke up with her decision. "... Though I was only just created a short time ago, I harbor memories of a past life... Yet, at the same time, I believe that this present is also my past. I have a strange lapse in memory from before the short period of time before meeting with Triere... And I feel as though this type of involvement with my ancestor will help me regain that part of my life as an independent being of Triere." The memories of them together bled through the memories of time before their fusion as an Insangel, so though Signis did recall certain things from history, others were covered by memories with Triere.

Standing by her decision to know herself and her people better, Signis stepped forward to stand beside St. Troix, turning now to face The Phantom and Chroma. "... I hope that you understand, sister."

Reluctant to let Signis go, Chroma accepted her decision and released her hand when she started moving, coddling up to her father, The Phantom, for support. "... I Understand," Chroma muttered to the family, "... It Is Best For Everyone This Way..." She didn't get to spend much time with her own family much at all. Though Chroma was a being that liked her independence as the eldest of the children, she also had a childish side to her that could be somewhat possessive. Even so, she knew better, and also what was best. "... If You Ever Miss Us, Sister, Then You May Come Visit On The Twelfth Moon... It Isn't Too Far Away From Here, Since We Are In The Realm Of The Thirteenth Moon."

"How Very Mature, Chroma," The Phantom responded, "... But You Needn't Worry About Going Back To The Twelfth Moon Right Now. We're Actually Going To Head Back To The Dusk. Time Has Been Frozen Down There For A While, But With The Events Happening As They Have, The Dusk Will Be Waking Up Again, And They Need The Protection Of Their Oversoul." The Phantom rested his head upon Chroma's own, sharing a sentiment with her. "After All, You Took Over My Position As Oversoul Of The Dusk For A Reason, Right? You've Been Off-Duty For Quite Some Time, Young Lady." The Phantom chuckled a bit, then looked back to St. Troix. "Namaste, Father. Take Care Of Your Granddaughter. Show Her The Way Of The Flames Of Eternity."

After giving his own blessing to his father and his other daughter, The Phantom wrapped his cosmic cape around Chroma and himself, warping them to the Dusk and leaving this fading echo with Troix: "We'll Be Back Next Time With Our Pumpkin Heads, Dad!"

"You Have Surely Pleased An Old Man's Soul Today, My Children..." Troix blessed them all, closing his eyes humbly. "Go In Peace, My Son." When he bid The Phantom and Chroma off, he took a moment before directing himself to Lumiere. "... Signis," St. Troix called out, opening his eyes to look at her with sharpness from the corner of his eyes, "... If You Wish To Learn More, You Will First Need To Understand Your People. Though You Are Given The Form Of An Angel, Your Spirit Is First And Foremost A Lantern -- A Free Will. We Lanterns Live Here In The Pumpkin Town, Which Is Like The Pumpkingdom That I Used To Rule Over In The Original Dimension Of Dimensia." Troix stepped forward, signalling for Lumiere to follow him. "Lanterns Generally Inhabit A Body That They Create For Themselves, Though In The Times Of Origin, They Looked Like Myself, Donning Pumpkins For Heads. These Were Their 'Scarecrow' Forms, Which Was Made Of Physical Material, As Opposed To The Immaterial Spirits That They Were."

Troix guided Lumiere to the door, then opened it up so that she could lay her eyes on the Pumpkin Town, which was his new home within his original home. "... Our Family, The Royal Family, Are Known As The Flames Of Eternity. We Will Not Die Like Regular Lanterns. Even So, Regular Lanterns Often Inhabit Scarecrows In Order To Interact With Physical Entities. This Is Nothing Different From Any Flesh That Bears A Spirit, However There Is No Biology Concerned At Base Form." Troix raised his hand up to the sky, and the Pumpkin Town's bright autumn atmosphere darkened, almost like the very sun itself dimmed. Now, the sun's face was more clear, and it was shaped like a Jack O' Lantern.

"That Is Our Sun, The Great Pumpkin. Under A Certain Light, Lanterns Can Be Seen Or Unseen." Before her eyes, many different types of Lanterns should have become apparent, and would stay that way, even if the light changed again. "Go And Interact With Your People, Signis. Come Back To Me After You Believe You Have Done Enough."

Signis instantly felt a resounding connection to the Lanterns that appeared that was stronger than anything that she'd felt before, with exception to her relationship between Blue and Triere. A plethora of feelings and thoughts came over her as she looked upon her people, yet she was rather sure that she remembered being amongst the ranks of the Angels. She was even known as Archangel Of Bloodshed, so it was only natural that she should be amongst Angels... And not just these Free Wills.

Signis thought to question Troix, but felt something about his foreknowing. Deciding to trust him and find out for herself what these thoughts and feelings were, she walked out into the Pumpkin Town to speak to the Lanterns that appeared.

Upon closer inspection to one of the nearby Lanterns, Signis would be able to make out the light image of an angel... And as she approached, that Angel would be able to lay eyes upon her, as if for the first time in a very long while. "My heavens!" the angelic will spoke, "Archangel Signis, is that you?! Did you also fall in combat?!" This angel woman was ambiguous, so Signis shouldn't have been able to recognize her immediately -- not without focusing. Yet Signis was easily deciphered. "But... You don't look like you're a spirit... You have your flesh still! Well... How could you have gotten here unless...?"

Clearly, there was some key difference between the will of this Angel and Signis the Archangel, though they existed in the same area and could interact on the same plane. The Angel suddenly gasped, then she humbly took at knee. "... Many pardons, Milady! If you survived and now you're here in your flesh, you must have been promoted to being next to our Most High God! Any Angel would respect you for this feat."

Signis initially was confused when the Angel spoke, but as she continued to listen, the memories flashed through her head, almost like this Lantern was holding on to them. Zoning out temporarily as the memories flooded to the forefront of her consciousness, Signis instantly recalled her times with this lost soul before the Angel was strike down in combat. It seemed like the Will of that Angel was sent here as an Afterlife... But, unlike this Angel, Signis wasn't in this place as an Afterlife... She was actually born here. This Angel was sent here.

The sudden realization was jarring to Signis, but she kept a cool and calculative head as she processed all of the information. Her personality was steeled even further once she solidified her ambiguous memories from the past, when she was leading an army of Angels. She wasn't dead. She was alive.

"... Blessed be..." Signis finally blessed the Angel, bowing her head slightly, "... So this is where you ended up..." Closing her eyes, Signis began to pray. "... Blessed be..." she'd say again once she ended her very brief prayer, opening her eyes and raising her head. "... Rise, brethren. I suppose that it is only destiny that has brought us together today." Speaking to this Lantern gave Signis the very insight she needed to understand what St. Troix's purpose was, as well as the reasoning behind her ending up with him. "... Whether you are correct or not, I still do not know, but I am sure that I will soon find out." Signis turned her head back to the nearby house that she'd just come from, as if to note sentiment to Troix.

A passing breeze sent a visible colored wavelength before Signis' very eyes, and at the door of the house, she would see a pumpkin-headed figure whose body was like a woman, and who wore large, baggy pants, but no shirt. She stood with her head down, quite ominously, but there was an orange light aglow within the pumpkin's head.

The Angel rose to her feet, yet kept a salute to her superior with resilient respect. Their past relationship retained its sentiment in her Will in the Afterlife, though she was killed in combat. She was still loyal to her commanding officer, even in death. "It has been a blessing serving under you, Archangel!" the Angel cried out.

As the breeze passed, a strange looking orange light like that of a pumpkin's flame flickered in between Signis and the pumpkin-headed woman standing on the other side of the road. Around this flame would appear a fiery looking floating 'Jack O' Lantern', resembling a 'Wisp'.

Signis was smitten by the appearance of the woman, feeling an intense connection between the two of them; one that didn't allow for her to return her attention to her comrade. She was frozen looking at this mysterious woman, and remained in a daze, puzzled by the strange feelings.

Soon enough, the Jack O' Lantern appeared in between her and the mystery woman, which finally drew Signis' attention from the woman. Before going to inspect, she would bid her Angel comrade goodbye before she departed. They could catch up later, especially if she lived here in the Pumpkin Town now as an Afterlife. Signis walked directly up to the orange wispy pumpkin flame and checked it out.

As Signis approached, the tribal-looking pumpkin-headed woman turned to face her. She watched from the sidelines to see how she interacted with the Will which was forming before her. Unlike the one that was of a fallen comrade that she knew, this one was a completely new being that was formed just that instant. The curious incident made the woman interested in what Signis would do, and how this would play out with the fresh Will that was created.

Signis' approach warranted caution from the newly formed orange wisp, though it didn't detect any hostility from her -- more so, curiosity. The same level of curiosity was in this wisp, so it allowed her to approach and also interacted with her, though remained on guard. "... Who are you?" it asked her. "I am Pumpkin Fire." The identity of the wisp seemed to be feminine, along with the voice, but it was hard to tell because it didn't have a body; it was only a fiery pumpkin.

"Pumpkin Fire..." Signis repeated thoughtfully, committing the name to memory. "... Fascinating name..." She inspected Pumpkin Fire a bit more thoroughly, trying to understand just what caused the spontaneous creation. "I am Signis. It is a pleasure to meet you, Pumpkin Fire." Signis still seemed a bit stiff, but she continued to interact. "I hope that we can be comrades."

The way Lumiere decided to interact with the freshly spawned Will did the Pumpkin-headed woman's heart well. She was pleased to see that the Archangel was still as righteous as she was in her previous life, for she was the one that kept the record of it -- she was the Magna Signis, which was Signis' previous life, as the greater existence over her own. Something like a mother, yet also still a portion of herself, the Magna Signis could see when Signis was following the path correctly.

Pumpkin Fire was confused, but not afraid. In fact, she seemed to be more pleased than anything, even in her confusion. "... Yeah, I hope so, too!" she'd still say, referencing the things she understood. "I just got here, so I don't know anything, but I do know a little bit about myself." As a Will, it was customary to be something that was aware of its own existence more than anything outside of it. That let a Will know about itself, as opposed to it knowing about its surroundings. "I don't know my way around this place, but it feels comfortable, so I want to relax here." It didn't seem like this Will actually had much of a direction, but was acting on whims and pleasures.

Compassion overcame Signis for this lost Will, and she felt insistent upon Pumpkin Fire joining her company. "I also do not know anything about this place. Perhaps it will be beneficial for us to explore this town together, and learn about it together?" Signis was still concerned about the pumpkin-headed woman, but her focus was now on Pumpkin Fire.