corruption au meme

[kbcctv]

CORRUPTION AU MEME

The Sword Army pursues the Retrograding Army through history, encountering familiar settings and reliving old memories. Though strong, with every change in time and setting, the swords dread the old memories. As they fight to preserve history as it is meant to be, the Sword Army must steel their hearts and resist temptation lest they come to fight themselves…

A popular fan theory is that the enemy swords you fight are actually your swords from an alternate universe who wished to change history. For this meme, feel free to make up your own starters or use one of the prompts below. Remember to state if your character is corrupted, not, or if you have no preference.

PROMPT IDEAS 1. How could you let this happen? They wanted to be left alone, their mood was poor, and maybe you should have noticed the signs but now that you have, it’s too late. They can’t stop these thoughts in their head and something in their soul has turned dark and ugly. Is it too late? Maybe you can get through to them… if not, are you ready to draw your sword? 2. Possession. Even the smallest trace of doubt can attract them— evil spirits. Once the dark spirit has latched on to your soul, it takes over and consumes you. Maybe the possession is gradual or maybe it happens suddenly. All you know is that everyone has regrets and anyone can doubt… this could happen to anyone. 3. Cry Wolf. We fought the same battles and shared the same meals together so it was only natural that we would be considered allies and friends. The fateful moment approaches and suddenly it is revealed: One of you is not a true friend. There is a traitor among you. 4. Becoming your own enemy. Your mission is to go back in time and let things happen as they were meant to be but their fall into despair was never supposed to happen, right? And so you went back in time to prevent their misfortunes but you keep failing again and again until, this time, you think you’ve got it. This time, you’ll be able to save your friend - but will you be able to save yourself too? 5. Reborn again. When destroyed in battle, the sword disappears only to return again anew. You can’t choose the fate you’re born with though and this time, someone has returned… from the wrong side.

INSPIRATIONS There are some corruption fanart floating around Pixiv, as well as a FST made by Aki (fletrir). Other canons with similar themes to this meme are first and foremost Puella Magi Madoka Magica, as well as Shin Megami Tensei and other demonic-theme heavy series.

Original premise and coding was done by eskimo, image taken from here.

Comments

THE ENEMY IS AT-

[heiancrescent]

Cry Wolf. (Uncorrupted)

To live for centuries is to see ages go by. To see today's banners fall tomorrow and new ones springing up in their place like grass. To see children take on the seat of honour in the council rooms behind the family crest until their last breath is stolen by illness or blade. It's surprisingly fast, how fire can turn ornate gold-leaf paintings and wooden foundations to ashes. How Sanjou Munechika places his body in the water and smiles, and just like water, years flow like river water.

He is born again from the fires, and the saniwa smiles. He is looked upon as a sword, one of the most beautiful, but still a weapon.

It was how the saniwa saw the rest as well. A zealous person dedicated to fighting the war of time. Mikazuki's comrades never forgot the fact that they were fighting a war, as per the words of the one that gave them life.

When squads of six left, it was not often when four or three would return. Repairing was a necessity, rather than affection. The same faces would die and are remade fast, and only a few figures amongst the squads know the cycle.

The few figures dwindle, when one of the few would turn against their master. One-man rebellions start and end fast and violently, like a bolt of lightning. They would see a monster, and a few slashes turns steel bone to dust.

The next sortie was to Atsukashiyama. Only the most experienced were chosen, and Mikazuki is prepared. Advice saying that it was too risky was ignored, and his fellow squad members were prepared to bid farewell to their friends in the citadel.

That's when he realizes his mind had managed to stay somewhat sharp with time. A single unthinkable idea comes to his head. Being the leader, he arranges the time for a war council. An hour after the saniwa sleeps.

You can find him on the porch, looking up at a sharp crescent moon.

WILD CARD

Hit me with anything!

[havocking]

Against all odds, Midare hasn't broken once since being forged for the first time by their master. It's mostly luck (though he would say it's skill), but he's lasted long enough and proven himself good enough at scouting without being detected that to his surprise, the saniwa chooses for him to go on this particular mission.

(There's a nagging sort of doubt - is he trying to get him killed? He can be reforged, but will it really be him when that happens? He's seen his brothers come, and go, and come again. He doesn't want to forget everything that's happened up until now.)

But dwelling on it isn't going to do anything to quell the butterflies in his stomach, and so when the arranged time comes, he seeks Mikazuki out.

"It's unusual for us to stay up so late before a sortie." That's his greeting, and he smiles a little as he takes a seat on the couch next to him. "So what you have to say... it must be very important, huh?"

[heiancrescent]

He turns to greet Midare with a thin, curled smile. "Ah, good evening Midare. Nice to see that you made it."

Momentarily he turns back to the sight of the yard. Beautiful, but such a usual sight that some may have overlooked its value.

"There's still the other four, but you're the first here. So let's have a chat while we wait. How do you feel so far?"

*porch... not couch... how sleepy was i when i tagged jfc

[havocking]

"How I feel..~?"

Midare hums. That's something... to think about, now isn't it. He was expecting an "Are you nervous," perhaps, but not such an open-ended question; it makes him think the answer won't be as simple as "I'm a little concerned." Maybe he'll want to know the reason for his concern.

(He hopes not - that nagging doubt isn't something he wants to give voice to. If he begins to truly become suspicious of his master, then he is really and truly lost.)

"There's a lot of things I feel. Right now, it's all mixed up at once, so it's hard to say."

CLOSE ENOUGH

[heiancrescent]

Worries of how one's friends and brothers would cope if they didn't make it back. The possibility of the sortie going wrong. The pain of seeing others die. Fear of one's own death. How they cannot defy the orders handed down to them.

Understandable fears, but the worst is how they seemed so helpless. Disposable. Yet they had to fight to protect the present and future.

"Hrmmm... Let's start with a simple question then. If you could choose, do you still want to go?"

[oneblade]

Ichigo isn't sure what to think of it all anymore. Things had seemed simple enough to begin with, though not exactly perfect. Like other swords he's managed to avoid being shattered and that has granted him the time to watch the cycle as it starts to become obvious. At first he simply couldn't believe he was even thinking it. Injuries and casualties would happen, that was an inevitable thing when it came down to battles and war, the dirty truth that people didn't like to acknowledge. Yet this? This was much more than that, and the truth had been slow to sink in.

Swords came and went quickly for the most part and not one squad would come back unscathed or in good spirits. It was almost as if they would head out knowing their fate was already sealed, though there wasn't exactly proof on that one before today. Their saniwa was a soldier, of course there would be casualties. It's only when Atsukashiyama comes up and even Ichigo is feeling aghast at that one. Going there would be certain death and when he's chosen to go along with Mikazuki he can't help but start to wonder again over the whole thing. Were they really being sent to their deaths, or was there some purpose to it all? Not one angle that Ichigo looked at it from made any kind of sense other than that final fate. Yes, swords could be reforged, but it was the thought process behind it that quietly disturbed Ichigo. Were they so easily cast away or sent into battle without a second thought?

So when Ichigo catches word of a war council, he doesn't hesitate or tell anyone that didn't need to know. Just the fact that Mikazuki was thinking of holding one spoke more volumes than anything else and it's a quiet and thoughtful Ichigo that shows up at the arranged time, standing behind the other sword as he glances up at the moon.

"Tomorrow will be a long day."

[heiancrescent]

"It is. Funny how some days seem to be longer or fly like an arrow, even though they are all equally long."

Mikazuki turns his crescent moon eyes to Ichigo, with that same placid smile as if tomorrow was just another day.

The Battle of Atsukashiyama was a deciding battle that sealed the fate of the Oushuu Fujiwara clan. When their armies fell, the Minamoto would go on to take Hiraizumi, asserting their dominance with the Kamakura Shogunate. The Retrogading Forces would take up arms with the Fujiwara army, and attempt to rout the Minamoto troops. To be able to go that far back in time would require significant spiritual power, power fueled by hate, regret and grief. Reports said that they burn blood red with anger.

"Are you afraid?" He asks with the mildest touch of concern.

[oneblade]

Their next day would be the longest of their lives, yet Mikazuki was correct. In reality it would be no longer or shorter than the rest of them yet somehow they would fit everything within that time span or they would fall trying. Golden eyes peer down to meet Mikazuki's, and in that instant Ichigo suspects they're both on the same page, or something similar at the very least. The saniwa was not right, the Battle of Atsukashiyama would be a bloody, fatal mess for all of them and the mere idea their master was sending them spoke volumes without words.

Was he afraid? Ichigo stares impassively at the other as he thinks that one through. He was afraid of leaving the others behind and the possibility of not coming back to them. It isn't up to him to be reforged; that was down to the saniwa, the same one who was wholly intent on sending them to their deaths to begin with. The tanto especially may not have picked up on the actions of their saniwa, and there were few swords left who hadn't been reforged that could watch over them.

"Perhaps. It may be that I return to the flames after all." There's a moment of rare hesitation, brief yet enough to say everything Ichigo needed to in its action. "The others won't understand what will happen tomorrow."

[heiancrescent]

Only the survivors will live to tell the tale. Those who are gone are gone until they are reborn, while those that remained can only grieve. A human feeling, and a painful one.

It is true, that they can be called back. It is when they received a blessing (or curse) of flesh when they realize the value of their own lives.

"Ichigo. What is it that you wish for now? Please tell me honestly."

WILD CARD - CORRUPTED

[mikazuki_munechika]

Years, decades, centuries, a millenium. Fields changing to farmland and villages to cities. Castles being build and burning to ashes and leaders dying and new ones rising and falling.

Mikazuki has lived for so long and saw it all happen.

Over and over again the memories emerged from his unconscious whenever they were sent to a mission. One after another shattering into pieces and fragments, brought back to life for the cycle to start anew.

The only one who was always there was him. Watching the misery, despair, suffering and sorrow during this long life of his.

And it had become too painful to endure for any longer.

The heart and mind of the crescent moon sword had been engulfed by darkness, betrayed his comrades and left his timeline to end things once and for all.

Eventually he crossed paths with himself - his old self. A grim smile appeared on his face.

"Such irony, isn't it...?"

[heiancrescent]

It was like looking into a mirror. Mikazuki knows his own fears, doubts and insecurities. Centuries pass, and he sees them melded with the changing of the seasons. Broken leaves flowing down a river.

There was another saying, wasn't it? That the greatest enemy is one self.

To survive and grow stronger, or to be consumed. He draws his blade to face himself.

"Not at all. Share with me your troubles, won't you?"

[mikazuki_munechika]

It was like a mirror but the reflection was a that of a shattered one, twisted and broken. The greatest enemy is indeed one self. And this one is even more dangerous because this is what they could become.

What he has become at a different point of time.

Mikazuki chuckles darkly and draws his sword as well.

"Very well..."

[heiancrescent]

When one changes history, one will become the enemy themselves. All the ghosts of his past had risen from their metaphorical graves, and the him me before him is the embodiment.

Where does his story start?

Mikazuki circles his counterpart, blade drawn.

"Why did you choose to become like this?"

[helmsplitter]

A war council was something Dotanuki both loved and loathed at the same time. He was never one for much talk even in the best of times, but when a battle waited on the dawn, he was restless and sitting down to talk about it only made the feeling worse. He knew the merits, of course, but as long as someone pointed him at the enemy, he was happy. He didn't like to think about the rest - the intricate strategy prepared by the saniwa or the minor adjustments that the leader had to give. It was a pain to be the leader and it was why he was happy when it was passed to the old man.

Despite his reservations about attending a war council after their master was asleep, when he himself should have been resting so he could smash into the enemy and crush them, he went. He didn't bother to change out of his armor since he knew he'd probably sleep sitting up in it tonight anyway. It wasn't hard to hear him coming, but he paused as he drew close enough for Mikazuki to receive him. Even a warrior had manners, after all.

"So? Where's everyone else?"

[heiancrescent]

A delicate nod greets Doutanuki. "You're the first one to come, I'm just waiting here, admiring the moon."

Tomorrow might be a godsend to Doutanuki. There were plenty of enemies to crush amongst the ranks of the Oushuu Fujiwara. The battlefield was wide, and this sortie was akin to fighting in a full-scale war. The Battle of Atsukashiyama was a page in the chapter of the Kamakura era to Mikazuki, it was why the saniwa had chosen him to lead this skirmish.

"Are you excited about tomorrow? You already have your armour on." He chuckles.

Being the leader meant being concerned for the welfare of the squad.

[helmsplitter]

"The moon?" He couldn't hide the incredulity in his voice as he craned his neck to look up at the sky. It was a sliver of light against a dark background, barely enough to see by but not enough to hide troop movements. He never really understood the fascination with that stuff some of the other swords had. They were all poetry and ceremony and...

He clicked his tongue against his teeth softly when Mikazuki commented on his armor. Was there anything wrong with being prepared? Excited, maybe, but that was a given for any true warrior. Dotanuki had seen the battle maps. It was going to be a good fight and he planned on crushing the best of it with his own blade.

"Just glad I'm not leading," he muttered as he clunked himself down on the edge of the veranda. He preferred being sent as a forward troop, clashing with the heavies as needed. Being leader meant he had to stay back, give directions, and where the hell was the fun in that? Dotanuki settled himself and arranged his sword to where he'd be able to draw it at a moment's notice. It made him feel safe knowing that the heavy folded steel was as ready as he was, especially with the way things had been going lately. "So what're you lookin' at the moon for? Is it going to help you strategise any better?"

[heiancrescent]

"It's a beautiful moon tonight, so I thought I might as well get drunk on the sight of it while I can still enjoy it." His eyelids close and open slowly, taking in the bright curved crescent.

Sometimes he admired the recklessness of youth, to be able to be so single-minded that one just simply threw fear and insecurity aside. Doutanuki didn't seem to be afraid of anything ahead, a slice and what lies ahead just falls.

"I admire your spirit. You don't seem to be afraid of anything, even when the opponents we are meant to face are going to be our toughest. Maybe I am overthinking."

Or is he?

[reprizesal]

Like a few other swords, Sayo haven't been shattered once since he was summoned from the forge. There were many close calls, far too close, but the bloodlust behind his short blade and his squadmates (both shattered and still exists) kept him alive. He have watched as their numbers slowly dwindled, and using them as a motivation for himself to follow each and every one of the saniwa's orders.

The saniwa may not have any desire for revenge, just simply intent on using all of them as weapons - tools - but Sayo, at least, can try to repay the enemy for each sword that broke out on the battlefield. But even he have his...doubts about this mission and his role in it.

When Mikazuchi called for a war council, Sayo said nothing at the time outside of his acknowledgement. As the hour drew near, he makes his way towards the meeting place. Once he's there, Sayo briefly follows Mikazuchi's gaze towards the moon. And then looks back at the other sword.

"...I'm here." Sayo says, softly to announce his attendance. Then he walks over and sits down on the porch with Mikazuchi. Whatever Mikazuchi want to discuss at the war council, it must be very important. Sayo can wait for everyone to hear it.

(Small talk is always his weakness. Never the most social of them all, and there's the uncertainty behind each and every one of them. Who might be broken next?)

[heiancrescent]

"Good evening Sayo. I'm happy that you came. Here." From his sleeve, he takes out a small cloth parcel. Unwrapping it, he hands a sakura mochi over to Sayo. He was lucky to be able to find some on an expedition, admittedly he was not the one who wrapped it up (his ineptitude at domestic matters is horrifying).

Sayo's inclusion in the team was a choice that even Mikazuki found questionable. He does not doubt Sayo's strength or experience, but rather the sortie to Atsukashiyama would be similar to fighting an all-out war. Tantos were not an optimal weapon for such skirmishes, and for him needing to be deployed implied desperation.

"Do you feel prepared for tomorrow?"

[reprizesal]

"Thank you." He accepts the sakura mochi and quietly eats it, savouring the soft, sweet flavour in his mouth. Sayo knows his spot for this mission is unfavourable and there is a chance he may face the risk of breaking again. But he haven't voice his doubts and worries to the saniwa about it.

Maybe there's a reason for this. All of his previous masters have their reasons for their actions, so the saniwa seems to be no different to him. But that doesn't mean he harbour any sense of trust or faith in their master. Sayo finishes the mochi in his mouth, the flavour seems to be lingering a longer than he thought tonight, and is quiet for a moment.

Is he prepared? He would have some troops to aid and protect him, but they're not enough to dispel his uncertainty. He slowly shakes his head.

"...No. I feel worried."

[heiancrescent]

Mikazuki nods slowly. In addition to the prospect of a long, drawn-out battle, their opponents are going to be stronger than those that fell before. Essentially, it is do or die.

The night wind blows towards them. They make the windchime sing, but it does not make the situation any more comforting. It is a headwind.

"The battle before us is going to be the most difficult one, it's understandable. You're strong though, Sayo."

[aslyfox]

The saniwa had always taken good care of him and his fellow swords. On occasion, there was a scratch or something slightly more threatening, but the repair room was always ready and resources prepared accordingly. But it was inevitable; the faces were the same yet not the same. The cycle. Just like the fighting and the loss. Inevitable.

Kogitsune firmly believed the saniwa had his and his companions well-being in mind, and he could trust those decisions; the same ones that brought everyone home and safe. Choices that minimized casualties. Strategic ones. Smart ones. The unavoidable felt more palatable.

But this time, he didn't feel as secure in that belief as he should have--- and it worried him.

Six swords being sent to Atsukashiyama. So dangerous. It made Kogitsune's fur stand on end and his tail curl, and no amount of grooming would relax him. He was thankful for Mikazuki calling a war council, already feeling a little anxious and impatient for the following day and not to mention, he was sick of brushing. Getting other thoughts would be invaluable at this point.

So, at the arranged time, he creeps out to the porch and takes a seat. Ruby red eyes looking up to the moon, then down to the old man watching it.

"Stargazing, Jiji? Is this what passes for strategizing nowadays?"

He tries his best to inject humor into his words.

[heiancrescent]

Affectionate as always, Kogitsunemaru. It sounds a little odd when he was about as old as him, but that nickname is contagious.

"Kogitsunemaru, I was waiting for you. I'm glad you're here now."

Cheery as always, but there seemed to be more out-of-place curls here and there. Maybe he'll help brush it later, right before they sleep.

"Are you excited for tomorrow? We can start a little earlier if you want to."

[aslyfox]

The sound of Mikazuki's voice relieves the growing tension in his heart.

"Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting for too long." Kogitsunemaru's words are warm and gentle and his eyes are smiling, even after his friend asks the question. But excited? For tomorrow? He idly grabs a long white strand of fur, bringing it to his chest, and rubs it between his thumb and index finger.

He knew he should have brought his brush.

"Earlier? No, that's alright. Say, Mikazuki, what does the moon tell you?"

[heiancrescent]

"Not at all. With the view of the yard in the night, I can never get bored of waiting." Shining crescent moon eyes that reflected the one in the night sky look warmly at the little fox.

Hearing his question, he turns to take a good, long gaze at the dark sky, at the shining moon that he was made in mind with.

"Soon, the moon will darken again the day after tomorrow. A shame the night sky will not be as bright as before."

If they can see it again.