Date: April 1st, 2020
Time: 08:00
Location: Aiki Hasta Facility for Biomedical Research, Huah-Huah, FiHami

"Kirifi, my friends of FiHami. I am Dr. Annette Hatt, a medical researcher of infectious diseases from University of Antarcha, Aesthwinter, Antarcha, working here due to free labor transferrance between our two nations. I was one of the leading researchers in front of the Bovine Flu, 2007. I also played key roles in studying several other severe infectious disease outbreaks, like CVRVID-2009, CVHVID-2015, and GIVID-2017. Needless to say, I have a bit of experience in studying viral infections.

I would like to begin by stating what I have observed so far in the novel Firivirus found in FiHami, and having had a team of researchers swab the airports, the market, and more.

The Firivirus strain we found in the current patients of the Hospital of Ha'Hani seems to be remarkably stable for a virus. We only have discovered 2 strands of the virus, with not much genetic variability on them. NCVRGIVID-2020, as we are labeling it, is composed of both DNA and RNA strands, which attack various cells in the body. The original strand seems fairly less severe in its symptoms, whereas type 2 NCVRGIVID-2020 is much more acute. Of the current patients, 38 of them had type II, but the vast majority of people have the original, less fatal strand.

Difference between these two strands is the recovery time between recovery time. To illustrate what I mean, I will give two examples. Patient T.H. and patient K.S. are two relatively young men, between 20-25. No prior health concerns, healthy diets, healthy weight, healthy lifestyle. T.H. was diagnosed with type 1, K.S. with type 2. K.S. was very quickly stricken with a harder to manage fever, sufferimg from seizures as well as dehydration from vo... er, gastrointestinal upset. T.H. didn't suffer the symptoms very acutely, just the typical flu. K.S. quickly recovered after 4 days, while T.H. is still recovering.

However, 10 people with type 2 NCVRGIVID-2020 have died.

As far as where this virus began, incubation period, and more, we found that several fish in the family Magnadorsalis species Alapiscis luteus, the Fi'ae Fi'ai, as the fish is natively called here, appears to be a carrier of the virus, related to the increased amount of dead fish found on the shores. More research needs to be done on the current phenomenon. It appears to incubate very quickly, within three days, which supports the theory of FiHami-originated disease, due to patient 0 having been here for a week or two before the market incident. Once symptoms disappear, infectivity via direct contact has shown to persist for 2 weeks with type 1, 1 week for type 2.

We are still working on a cure. The general public is advised to stay away from eating fish caught in FiHami waters, specifically the fi'ae fi'ae. If you experience symptoms of any disease in general, please stay at home, if you must go out, stay away from others."

-Dr. Annette Hatt

---

Time: 15:00
Location: Hospital of Ha'Hani, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Hello, ki Ha'Coron', here's the news briefing for tje past week, as per your request."

The person in the full hazmat suit dropped several files onto Finix' bed, and quickly walked away.

The past week had been very confusing. Last Monday, she was at the market, and on Tuesday she was in the hospital having the worst time in her life. When she was truly conscious once again, one week later, she was gently scolded for not maintaining a healthy weight, with one doctor sarcastically saying "it wouldn't kill ya to eat more than once a week, you know."

She had learned that the doctor was fired not one hour later for "poor bedside manner".

Well, time to catch up with the news from this last week...

---

Time: 18:00
Location: ???, FiHami(?)

"Hello, Josh."

"Ms. Kuri, you know why I asked you to meet me here?"

"I assume to have the government downplay the infection of the fi'ae fi'ae fish?"

"Yes. The findings of that Antarchi doctor will crush my business. Do you want the FiHami economy to become worse than what it is rather than better?"

"Yes, I was wanting to make an announcement of a similar vein, Josh. There's nothing wrong with the waters in FiHami, there's no reason to freak out about the fish kills or anything."

"The fish kills is very clearly linked to global warming. It's very obvious, the fi'ae fi'ae is very sensitive to the temperature in water, and the weather has been hotter than normal."

"Exactly."

---

Time: 20:00
Location: Huah'Huah, FiHami

The next target for the Men's Rights Activists: Haisa Law Firm. The field was very steeped in sexism already, women working in the field would belittle any mam who managed to get hired by the firm, asked to do much of the heavy lifting of files, searching through papers, and more. Recently, the firm has been hiring lawyers. They, however, had been rejecting the better qualified men for poorly-qualified women, with nothing more than the traditional "sorry, you are not what we're looking for" letter in the mail.

Tutoma had been quarantined after he caught the new virus in the market protest. That left orgsnizing protests to Kai, a 24 year old man born in Anunaxai Village, north of where Teti' used to be.

He was raised just as any other boy would be raised in any Finixi village: learning to defend the village from a young age. He was quickly recruited by the Hani Uprising when that happened, and he fought for 7 long years.

"Alright boys, lets move out. Haisa's Law Firm is our target. I have the brochures printing."

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"Fight me. Don't hold back, no weapons. Agreed?"

"Hai, ki Ha'Coron'."

The small female merely nodded briefly, quickly hopping right into a fighting stance. She waited for the larger woman to get into position, immediately going for a lunge as soon as the larger woman nodded. The larger woman quickly sidestepped, watching the Chief of the small island nation stop herself short of hitting the palm tree.

Before Finix could swivel back around to face her sparring partner once more, she was on the ground.

One... two... three...

Finix quickly threw her sparring partner off, rolling over and jumping to her feet once again, only to narrowly dodge a swift kick to her abdomen. She used the larger woman's momentum to roundhouse her, landing a solid kick to the larger woman's shoulders.

"Were you even trying?" The larger woman scorned.

"Yes, yes I was, Kaitana." Finix lunged again, catching the larger woman off-guard, sending the pair into a tree.

"Your kicks are a lot weaker than I remember, then. I told you for years that your self-sacrificial attitude would come back and bite you in the rear."

"I do what is necessary for my people-"

"Finix, 'your people' need their Chief strong. Now tell me the real reason you're talking to me again after three years."

"Because-"

"No, don't bother. I already know. You tried to abandon everyone who chased you because you can't deal with your inner demons, like a game. Except now Eti and Sikupa are dead, so now you're forced to face them again." Without warning, Kaitana knocked Finix off of her, resuming the fight. "And the only reason you even allowed them into your life like you did was because they borderline forced themselves in."

"You're wrong." Finix got back up to her feet once again, dusting off her shoulder. "Being Ha'Coron' is tough-"

The larger woman used her size advantage to slam Finix into another tree on the edge of their clearing. Finix kicked her feet out in an attempt to sweep the larger woman, who jumped away in time. Finix jumped to her feet, going for another sweep, only to be thrown down once again, and pinned. She struggled to force Kaitana off, until exhaustion set in like a rock. Finix allowed herself to go limp, gasping for air in spite of the woman's weight on top of her own petite frame.

"Done squirming yet?" Kaitana chuckled, standing up triumphantly. After a few seconds, Kaitana sighed, lowering herself once again to kneel besides Finix.

"I'm fine, you're just heavy."

"I won't forcibly invade your space, but please, three years is a long time. Reach out to me a bit in between, will ya?"

"Fine."

"And please, for the sake of this whole nation, take care of yourself, face your inner demons, whatever they are. And talk to people more."

"Do you always have to nag?" Finix couldn't help but smile, as she dragged herself up to a sitting position.

"While I have your attention... have you been sleeping properly? Seeing a doctor about your squirrel* syndrome-"

"Oh, would you look at the time, it's time to go, it was nice talking to you Kaitana, I'll see you later-"

"See you in another three years I guess.. " Kaitana shook her head, watching the Chief of FiHami stand up and walk away.


* "squirrel syndrome" (Iki'ikaitu Sitona) is the expression for that trope in movies where women will faint at shocking news etc. The name stems from a small mammal creature that is known to drop from the trees at sudden loud noises, hence the name. In FiHami culture, women who exhibit this are generally thought to have medical issues and are often encouraged to see a doctor if they have it, or, if particularily thin, are seen as "too pure for the world" essentially (because thinness in this case is associated with suffering and/or a self-sacrificial attitude). Men are often mocked as weak for it no matter their size.

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"Thank you for calling Haisa Law Firm, our offices are currently closed. We thank you for your patience."

Is my case just going to be left in the air because of a stupid protest?

Ski'ikana Ha'anai was a relatively well-off Finixi woman, from tribe Ha'anai, a tribe that fractured off from Hastodi in the 1800's. She was relatively tall, muscular, and fairly light-skinned, though she wouldn't be able to pass for Antarchi. Ski'ikana prided herself over her sense of fashion, running a fairly successful shoppe in Ha'Hani's famous Pa'Unafu'ele, which became a very popular high-scale shopping district, with notable food places like the upscale Ri'Shi'Ai, known as being a newer tea house, but very fine, and highly popular with tourists. FiHami Omaina, a restauraunt that serves the finest Finixi cuisine the island offers, and more. Her typical dress would include items from her latest collection, which she always paired with shoes her friend down the road in Finixi Footwear, bags from another friend a little further down in Fasi Ha, and jewelery from her sister's shoppe, Fifi's jewelery shop.

Her family was very well-off too. Her mate often worked hard during the day at the large fishery in Huah-Huah and came home to take care of any housework that needed doing. He earned a modest income too, perfect to buy all the supplies he needed to take care of any repairs around the house that needed a man's brute strength. Ski'ikana took care of anything that required a woman's intelligence and precision such as the garden, and interior decorations, which was always kept in a modern-Finixi style, so as to support her friends' and family's businesses in FiHami. Her 7 year old daughter was showing promise in school already, despite average grades. Ski'ikana was positive that Aitua would grow up to be a marvelous business owner, with how she deals with her classmates. Her 11 year old son seemed to be interested in science, though Ski'ikana tried to encourage him to forget about hurting himself with that much study, but to develop skill in fishing, as that is always a lucrative job that requires a lot of strength. But, the Men's Rights Activists were filling the children's minds with unrealistic garbage, and it was becoming quite clear that they've had their way with Matalo.

And now, Ski'ikana's case was closed probably, because the Men's Rights Activists decided to make it so the best law firm in FiHami wouldn't be able to get any work done. The people who stole a few of her inspired designs would be sble to get away with it without crediting her at all, because men wanted jobs in a competitive market.

---

Let's see... where's the Safira?

Texumo paced down the grocery isle looking for the long, leafy vegetable he was looking for, gazing at the various fresh-cuts this particular store had in its various leaves, roots, stems, and flowers. He had a bit of trouble spotting the stunning orange and blue leaves amongst the sea of color, but once he did, he put a few bundles in his basket, checking for leaf rot as he did so. He then moved on to the next item on his list, grabbing the deep red roots of the kaikofiria, the blazing aifi leaves with the brightest scarlet flowers he could find, and the calm greens of various other foliage he sought.

That's all the vegetables, time for the fruits.

The fruit sections were at their best in this time of year, as most fruits would be going in season if they weren't already. They were at their most flavorful, their most pungeant, and their juiciest. Texumo especially loved to grab a bunch of everything and use what he didn't eat into various Cordillian confections, as he saw on TV. He would use whatever remained of that as preserves, to use in his and his mate's breakfasts, as well as in desserts in the future.

He had nearly cleaned out the fruits, when he decided to go to the next section, and purchase a few fish filets for the week, then waltzed into the next section, picking up specialty herbs and spices that his mate didn't grow in her garden, and then finally stopped and bought a few bags of various flours in bulk. Texumo was just about to go theck out when he remembered to buy some various cheeses and milks.

FiHami cheeses and milks do not come from animals like in other countries, bit from various nuts and grains. Made to satisfy many culinary tastes around the islands in antiquity, even ancient Antarchi logs dating from the 1600s and 1700s noted that the Finixi products were a suitable replacement for bovine products, which the Antarchi were very fond of.

The fresh eggs produced by Finixi fowl farms across FiHami caught his eye, and he snagged some cartons from the shelf, as well as the various dairy products.

Texumo only had to step outside in order to be caught in what seemed to be a tense stand-off between a group of women and a group of men, which he desperately tried to avoid. He heard both groups flaming each other, knowing a particularily bad scene would unfold quickly.

He made it to his bike, loaded everything in, and peddled off, just before he heard the gunshots, followed by police sirens rushing to the scene. When he made it home, his mate rushed to hug him, sobbing loudly

"Eris, what's wrong?" Texumo asked, returning his mate's hug with a reassuring squeeze.

"There was a shootout at the market, so many died... I was so worried!" The woman spoke, trying to calm herself down some, moving her light blonde hair out of her petite, angular face. She opened her eyes, which were still red from crying, but Texumo only saw the ocean that called to him for 10 years now.

"I'm here now, we should make dinner." Was all he could manage to say, feelimg himself moved to tears when he processed what his mate has just told him versus the tense scene he witnessed before he sped out of the way.

---

"Hello FiHami, and welcome to your 1700 news hour. First, a small farmer's market by Pa'Kikunai and Pa'Amiani was the scene of a deadly conflict by a small group of Matriarchy Fundamentalists and civic protestors. Eyewitness reports claim that the Fundamentalists began taunting the protestors, until a man pulled a gun and began firing. We bring you live to Kikona's Market with Eva Hartworth, Ha'Hani Times Post."

"Thank you studio, I am reporter Eva Hartworth, I am here with an eyewitness today who agreed to talk on the scene. Ali'a Manamana, what did you see?"

"Hello Ms. Hartworth. It was very clear that a man on the protestors' side fired first. The MF's were egging him on, though, and it was clear that they all were armed compared to the one man. After that, it was difficult to tell."

"What were you doing?"

"Well, I was shopping for sprouts to transplant into my garden, specifically some rosebushes. When they started firing I ducked into a corner until a peacekeeper came and asked if I was injured."

"Thank you for your time, ma'am. I'm kicking it back to the studios. Kacy Evergreen?"

"Thank you for your hard work, Eva. Next, we have reports that the viral infection is "just another Finixi virus", which became overblown due to GID-20 fears. Those who fell into critical condition were proven to have severely compromised immune systems or other health issues. The public is being told not to worry."

"And, in politics, Parliament has disbanded itself, after a final bill was passed, which abolished the legislative branch in favor of returning power to the chiefdom, 'where it belongs.' Ha'Coron' Finix Fi'Shi has addressed the nation in response, many are taking this as an admission to defeat. A clip of the Chief's address can be found here."

"My dear siblings, I got word that the parliament dissolved itself, officially leaving me with the absolute legislative power in FiHami. And, fine. I guess we can be an authoritarian nation if the people want it."

"Later on, ki Ha'Coron' stated that she will appoint several citizens in FiHami to represent the voice of the people, in a new ministry position titled the Ministry of Citizen Affairs. She has announced that the current ministers enlisted are to remain."

"We will return with more news after this short commercial break."

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Date: 20 June 2020
Time: 05:00
Location: FiHami's capital building, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"The situation with the MFs is getting out of hand."

Finix looked at the room, with every appointed minister and the Prime Minister. She could feel the 18 other heads nodding their heads in agreement. One of the 4 men in the room, Toa'a Kaio, stood up, laying a map of the city of Ha'Hani across the tabletop. On it, he marked out a zone around the University of Ha'Hani in red, a few blue zones, and red and blue arrows on the map.

"Ki Ha'Coron', the red areas I've marked out are where the Matriarchy Fundamentalists are holding. The blue is where our militia's placed. And this orange marker," Toa'a poked the orange Hibiscus flower on Finix' head with an orange marker, "Is you, Puani, Kilaui, and myself."

Toa'a drew a line along the streets, starting from the capital building, and ending right in front of the militias, right along the border between militia and MF-held territory.

"This seems very dangerous." The Minister of Fishing sighed.

"It may be, but they're demanding our Chiefs, the two of them." Toa'a replied, turning to face the woman who entered into the room calmly, being careful with her nails. "There's the other Chief."

"Heh, sorry I was late, I was getting my nails done." Puani held out her hand, showing the fancy work from the salon. Finix only rolled her eyes, glaring at Toa'a to continue.

"Ok. So, you and Ha'Coron' Puani will march over here, and try to stand the Matriarchy Fundamentalists down. If that doesn't happen, Kilaui and I will be on the ground, as well as General Finixi Hastofi and the Rainbow Feathers." Toa'a sat back down, looking at everyone else in the room.

"So, we march in and hope for the best, essentially." Finix sighed. "I'm not opposed, but if they were to attack and manage to kill me, Puani, and Kilaui, we don't have a line of succession for the government, and the Chiefdom can only be succeeded by Ha'Finix itself. We'd be left with a power vaccuum in FiHami that anyone may instill themselves as the leader of FiHami, even the Antarchi, if they manage to end back up in Finixi soil."

"No, I'm going." Kilaui shook her head. "Toa'a and I are acting as your personal bodyguards for this."

"No. Puani and I go alone." Finix shook her head. We do not need to lose the Prime Minister. I would prefer to go alone, but perhaps with Puani they'd be willing to reason."

"Ki Ha'Coron', This is something I insist on." Kilaui moved her right hand over her heart, staring at the Chief determined. "Your 18th birthday is tomorrow, I'm here to see to it that you survive to see it."

All Finix did was nod, staring at the map a few seconds more.

"Let's go."

---

Time: 08:00
Location: University of Ha'Hani, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Official sources say that the Chiefs are coming."

An older woman in "borrowed" riot gear set her phone down, taking another bite of the sandwich on the plate in front of her. Another woman stood up, pointing at the two older ladies in the corner.

"Aisa, Leifi you keep your snipers trained on Finix. If she moves to attack, take her out. As unlikely as it is, if Puani tries to attack, you take her out as well. Understood?"

The two women with the sniper rifles nodded, leaving the area quickly. The rest of the women sat still, keeping their positions. The police officers continued to hold the militias and the Men's Rights protesters at bay, shooting into the crowds, throwing smoke bombs and tear gas at them as they could.

---

Finix and Puani made their 2 hour march, followed by Toa'a and Kilaui. The entire march was tense, no one spoke a word.

"Before we go up, Fi, my mate and I got you a little gift for your birthday, I was gonna wait for tomorrow, but seeing that we could very well die today, I might as well give it to you now." Puani stopped, digging through her purse, extracting a card from the bag. She handed it over to Finix with a smile.

"Oh. Uh, Thank you, Puani." Finix looked at the card, then back at Puani, unable to resist a smile on her face. "If we do live, then I hope I get to use this. Perhaps tomorrow morning, even?"

"If the nail salon's even open!" Puani chuckled a bit.

"Come on, let's not waste more time. The sooner we're out of this, the better."  Finix nodded, shoving the card unceremoniously into her pocket and marching forwards once again.

---

Everyone seemed to pause what they were doing as soon as Finix and Puani made their way to the frontlines, all the way up to a woman with an unnaturally wide smile on her face.

"Ah, ki Ha'Coron'! It is good to see that the two of you made it." She said, eliciting no response from either chief. "Ah, the silent type I know you to be."

"I demand you stand your protests down now and go home, as your Chief-" Finix began, interrupted by a loud bang, followed by another. Suddenly, Toa'a was on the ground, clenching an arm in agonizing pain. Kilaui quickly trained her rifle where the second gun was, firing it where the second sniper was sitting.

"I see you came prepared." The woman growled, drawing out her own gun, only to be met with a round to her face.  Finix lowered her arm, glancing to her side as she saw one of the Matriarchy Fundamentalists take aim at Puani.

"Puani, get out of here. Take the gift card with you." Finix hissed, pushing Puani away before one of the protesters could shoot her, hitting the ground instead. Finix trained her pistol to a random protester, and ran in, firing at will, switching to her dagger when the pistol ran out of bullets. She then slipped the card that Puani had given her earlier into Puani's hand before leaping back into the fight.

---

Time: 14:00

The fighting seemed to continue for hours, as both sides took on heavy casualties. Finix had been hacking and slashing for hours now, and she had grown tired in the relentless FiHami sun.

The next second she could recall, she had fallen to the ground. She felt a sudden, searing pain in her chest, causing her to curl up, gasping for breath. She threw her dagger at her assailant with all the force she could gather, killing them with a very lucky strike. She felt someone run up to her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Mother...?" Finix muttered, feeling another burst of pain, this time in her abdomen.  

The shouting grew very distant, and the feeling of being dragged away felt less real by the second.

"I still have so much to do..."

---

"Finix come ON!" Puani yelled, trying to shake Finix' limp body awake as she lost consciousness. Paramedics, who had been working all day long, ran up to the pair of Chiefs, taking the wounded one into their care.

Puani glared at the bloodbath, and the rifle next to her on the dead soldier. She grabbed the gun, checking to make sure it had bullets, then began shooting at the Matriarchy Fundamentalists, whose zone was shrinking by the second.

---

Time: 16:00

"I didn't know you could shoot." Toa'a glanced at Puani, slightly concerned about the young woman's sudden seriousness, all traces of the old aloofness gone for the moment."

"I saw Finix get shot twice, there's no time to be chicken-brained."

Toa'a shook his head in disbelief, realizing what was just said.

"Wait, is Finix alive???"

"I don't know. Keep shooting!!!"

---

Time: 17:00

The militia finally broke through, and officers that had sided with the Men's Rights protesters and the militia quickly began arresting the surviving fundamentalists. Kilaui wiped her forehead in relief, looking around to see Toa'a and Puani walking away rather quickly. She ran up to the two.

"Toa'a, your arm." Kilaui pointed to the makeshift bandage on Toa'a's arm, which had turned red.

"It's fine, the snipers had the aim of a drunk hummingbird." Toa'a shrugged. "My main concern is the Chief."

"Finix told me long ago that if anything were to happen to her, that I would succeed her as Chief and enact the constitution she drafted up into law." Puani sighed. "Hopefully we don't need to do that quite yet."

"What do you mean...?" Kilaui asked, eyeing the two with suspicion.

"Finix has been shot, she was barely there when the paramedics took her." Puani explained. "I guess we find out later if she lived or not."

---

Time: 20:00
Location: Hospital of Ha'Hani, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Puani..."

The sudden, hoarse voice startled Puani out of her day-mare, her focus back on the wounded Chief in front of her. Instantly, Puani relaxed, the relief flooded her mind, and she ran up closer to the bedside.

"I don't have very long left..." Finix struggled to speak, looking over to her side with a tired expression.

"Don't say that, ki Ha'Coron'. You have plenty of time left. Don't speak, just rest."

"No, Puani. I'm dying. Please, listen."

Puani only nodded, keeping herself quiet to hear the last words of the great Chief.

"Please, forgive me for being too harsh... I was never happy, I longed for my own path selfishly... I didn't want the life I lived, I wanted a normal one...but I was never meant for that. Ha'Finix chose me... for this. And now my job is done, it is your turn. To pick up the flame... carry it... farther than I could ever... That's been my dream... for FiHami..."

"Ki Ha'Coron'-"

"Shut up Puani this is important."

After a few more moments, Benjamin Owens and Kilaui Kuri walked into the room quietly. They were extremely somber, staying quiet as the realization grew on them. About 5 minutes later, Kaitana walked into the room, her face twisted with guilt, sorrow, and anger.

"Fi! You WILL stay alive, fight for Ha'Finix' sake!!!"

"Kaitana...I've finished my portion of the battle. FiHami no longer needs me."

"You're my cousin, Kaitama, the last Finixi person with Fi'Shi blood. But your mission is elsewhere."

"Finix, enough of this. Don't you dare die."

"Many Finixi priests are saying that you are Ha'Finix yourself." Benjamin sighed, laying a gentle hand on the tall, grieving woman, addressing Finix.

"I am not Ha'Finix. I only did what I could... for FiHami." Finix seemed to slowly fade out, completely silent. After the next hour, the doctors pronounced her dead.

"She was strong, but it seems that she could not fight this last battle." Benjamin sighed, looking out the window to hide his tears.

---

Finix awoke to find herself in a dark room, her physical body curled up, completely lifeless.

No...

A woman walked up to her, looking to be just a bit older than her. The woman seemed to resemble Finix plenty, from the fairly lean body shape, to the wild, curly hair. She seemed tearful, resting her hand on Finix' shoulder. She seemed teary-eyed, like a million worries had etched themselves on her face over the years.  Without warning, the woman wrapped her arms protectively around the dead Chief, gently weeping.

It felt too familiar to Finix, like a long-lost memory from her infancy. Another woman appeared in the room, this time being someone she easily recognized.

"Eti!" Finix cried, looking at the third figure to appear. This time a man, a bit older than the first woman, but with that same sense of vague familiarity. He seemed proud, albeit tearful. A fourth figure soon appeared, easily recognized as her mate Sikupa, who stood aside, shaking his head sorrowfully.

"Fi, you stubborn child." Was all he said.

"Sikupa!!!"

"Finix, you grew up to be so brave." The unknown man sighed. "I'm so sorry we couldn't have been there for you."

"Oh, my child. I truly wish you could have been born in better times." The woman hugging her wept. "I didn't want this to have been your fate, I wanted a happy, quiet life for you... But, I can't fight the destiny of Ha'Finix now, can I?"

"I'm not Ha'Finix." Finix shook her head, vaguely comforted by the hug. Though, deep down, she had the sense that she was very, very wrong.

"Ha'Finix always is born as a human when it deems its presence on Earth necessary. You of all people should know, though I would assume that you haven't fully recovered your memory." Eti said, gently laying a hand on Finix' head. "I suppose your mission on Earth is now done once again."

"Until the next time you're needed, at least." The man chimed in.

"I... guess you're right." Ha'Finix replied, feeling itself begin to emerge from the young woman's spirit, as pulses of fire. As its vision began clearing up, it saw the humans present slowly fade to become stars, shining brightly in the night sky. It found itself in an impossibly bright area now, watching the Earth from its perch in the center of the solar system, replaying its memories as Finix Fi'Shi, from the beginning to the end.

The words "Thank you, Ha'Finix" echoed in the Great Bird's mind, as the sense of peace and newfound freedom settled into its mind.

Empress of Fire 
Current Minister of Military Affairs
Chair Perch of the Assembly (February to June 2020)
SPSF Soldier
MoRA Fellow
Ambassador to Forest and Lazarus

Reply

Date: 19 July 2020
Time: 13:00
Location: Asitufa's Tea Shop, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Ah, good day, ki Ha'Coron', what can I get you today?"

"I'll have your Sayasir Special."

"Of course. One Sayasir Special coming right up."

The young woman darted away into the back area, leaving Puani alone. She very quickly retreated into her mind, glazing over the events of the past couple weeks. There was the MF revolution on the 20th, then the mourning and the funeral, then the pyre and ashes scattering, on top of everyone suddenly going to Puani for every little thing. It all felt like an unrealistic dream, and she was an unwilling participant, unable to wake up.

"Ki Ha'Coron', we would like to offer you Huahafi fali kilau ki Saiseni on the house, if you like." The waitress interrupted Puani's thoughts, eliciting a briefly-annoyed look from Puani.

"Oh. Sure. That is very kind of you."

"Thank you, ki Ha'Coron'."

The intense arguing over the constitution of FiHami had been more than enough to deal with, and then the incredibly disrespectful replies from another nation amongst the sea of foreign support for their tragedy, and every minister fighting to get Puani's attention for trivial matters had been way too much.

And poor Finix dealt with this daily...

The gentle vibration from her phone snapped her back into reality, which she lifted, opening the stream notification that popped up on screen. Puani smiled, typing up the light-hearted reply.

"You have 64 unopened texts from your Minister of Ecology, are you seriously going to ignore that for a post your friend sent you about puppies?" A familiar voice echoed from behind her, and she whipped excitedly around, only to be met with nothing.

With a sigh, Puani turned back to the table, switching from the stream app to her texts, and began reading the massive wall before her.
 

... So as you know, the sunscreen ban is being applied gradually. Now, there were some other proposals Ha'Coron' Finix had made but never made them official. With the death of the Chief, I am going to run these by you...

...Wind Farms out on the ocean is something ki Ha'Coron' was searching to implement, with help from the University. Now, the University seems to be in a lot of trouble now, but with international help, like, say, Antarcha or Huawan, we could very well see to it that these farms are made as effectively as possible. Ki Ha'Coron' had also been toying with the idea of making solar panels mandatory across the island. We have also toyed woth the idea for a public biking network to replace travel around Ha'Hani, and using the idea of high-speed rails to make travel between Ha'Hani and Huah-Huah more efficient in general...

Puani set her phone down just as the woman from before approached with a platter full of different finger foods, and the plate of fish and assorted vegetables on the corner.

"Kufir, kufir." Puani dipped her head, placing her hand over her heart. The lady crossed her arms, her demeanor suddenly changing from the happy, friendly person she was just a few short seconds ago.

"If that was an attempt to say 'thank you' in Finixi, you did it very wrong. That is how you make many Finixis mad, Ehana*."

Before Puani could apologize, the lady stormed away, leaving Puani alone once again.  Puani could hear the waitress ranting incomprehensibly from the kitchen, her words peppered with curses even Puani could recognize.

From: Government Person I Don't Know: You really should make an effort to attend the Prime Minister Debates happening right now, Puani.  Finix always made it a point to show up in a ceremonial fashion.

Puani looked at the text message that had come in her phone, and set it down with a sigh to partake of her meal in relative silence. 

---

"Hello FiHami, welcome to your Prime Minister candidate debates, I am Josh Hart, your debate moderator.  Now, I'm sure you all have already heard the news, but 4 of the 6 candidates in this election had been disqualified after being busted for an illegal international puppy smuggling ring, leaving only two candidates.  Those two are Kilaui Kuri, of the Finixli-i Parti who has made her claim after couping the Parliament, and Texeteti'..."  The young man spoke into the microphone, trailing away as he came to the realization that he was about to have to deal with Texeteti'.  

"Either way, I'll let the candidates introduce themselves.  First up we have Kilaui Kuri."

The camera suddenly cut to the stage, where a spotlight on the young woman appeared.  She gave a friendly smile and wave, adjusting her microphone.

"Kirifi, FiHami.  I am Kilaui Kuri, a veteran of the Hani Uprising and your current Prime Minister.  I am once again asking for your support in this election to help keep FiHami moving forwards."

"And... Texeteti'."

The spotlight shifted to the tall man who looked like he just crawled through a pit filled with rabid raccoons, glaring angrily at Kilaui.

"Kilaui is a Valkyrian plant into FiHami's government!  She killed common sense!"

"Alright..."  Josh rolled his eyes, flipping through his cards.  So, first off, we know that there is a lot of question still about the government in the wake of Ha'Finix' death.  What are your thoughts on this?"

Kilaui spoke up first, a hint of emotion on her voice carried over as she began.

"Fi's death was really tough on us all.  She definitely worked hard day in and day out to keep the country running smoothly and I feel that none of us ever truly appreciated what she did and what she was trying to do.  But I know what she had in mind for the government, she wanted a strong, solid democracy, a government that is for the people, by the people.  Which is what I plan to make sure happens, if I'm re-elected."

"Finix, or should I say, VALKYRIAN PLANT, was killed by the Anserisa, GI-Land, and Huawan treaty!  DOWN with Valkyria, and I will declare war on Anserisa, GI-Land, and Huawan if the people are smart enough to elect me!"

"Texeteti', that is really disrespectful to say, as someone who knew Fi well.  And you very clearly don't realize that, even if these countries you listed were truly our enemies, we definitely do not have the resources to fight them all, let alone one."

"That is what the Besernian mind control plants are telling you!"

Kilaui shook her head, rolling her eyes dramatically.  She leaned into her microphone to speak, only to be met with Texeteti' throwing baggies of white powder into the audience.

"AND AS AN EXTRA BONUS, I'll make sure this mind-freeing powder is fully legal to all!"

Fairly soon after, police came and collected the baggies and escorted Texeteti' from the premises, ending the debate as quickly as it had started.

Empress of Fire 
Current Minister of Military Affairs
Chair Perch of the Assembly (February to June 2020)
SPSF Soldier
MoRA Fellow
Ambassador to Forest and Lazarus

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(Tell me if this isn't ok)


At 7:40 in the morning. HIA 912, a CKJ900S jetliner and the first flight going out from Huawan to FiHami. Landing at the airstrip unto terminal 1. Passengers exited the plane, masks on along with their belongings and the GID-20 test results.

It was a bright day in Ha'Hani and a hot one. Normally Peonic tourists would flock to FiHami, and it would be so if not due to the ongoing pandemic.

As the plane was cleaned and the paperwork made, the pilot and the flight attendant exited the plane unto the terminal. They went through special immigration and handed over their passports. Every one of them passed through easily, although there were some discussion regarding one of the attendants, they kept silent.

The Flight attendants and the pilot of the Huawan Intercontinental wheeled their suitcases and are viewed with envy and interest. Though masked, they are certainly attractive, the criteria needed to be met by applicants. The attendants entered the limousine except for one, which took a jeep.

As the jeep diverged away from the limousine, it made its way outside the city of Ha'Hani, passing through rough roads. FiHami is not a large country, with a dense population. So there wasn't as much highway as Huawan, nor an extensive train line. Nevertheless, the jeep made its way to Ri-Ha'Fi-Nix, the most important place of FiHami, passing through tourist and jeep busses.

FiHami has its own state religion, a belief rooted from years of tradition and ancestral link. The community centres around the Ri-Ha'Fi-Nix in which sacrifices were made to appease great harvest and good tidings for its tribesmen. The tribe leader-led its people to prosperity through adversity, never once being complacent and resting their laurels. They were met with high tides at times, scandal, challenges and so on. Ha'Finix's journey as the leader of her tribe was not an easy one, and certainly, the internal problems that run amok along with the constant tests the outside world imposed upon her are not unique to a head of state, although she managed all of it at such a young age.


As the driver rode on, the flight attendant in the back pulled out her Quran and continued to pray. She had her tablet on and was silent, but placed it away when informed that they are close to the destination. She continued to recite her prayers until she eventually arrived. The volcanic mountain towers over the small jeep and the community of those that would like to see the volcano. A modern and ancient path was there, unused unless given explicit permission to climb, making its way towards the mouth of the volcano.


The flight attendant had saw in it once the last time she visited FiHami. Though she didn't have any intention to go there. instead, standing near Ri-Ha'Fi-Nix is the Cenotaph. A memorial erected in her honor since her physical form was dropped to the scorching lavas to be released unto the Great Bird's alms. One with the world, one with the universe. Scientifically speaking, the combustion of her body would break and burn her molecules, causing it to evaporate through space. In essence, it is truly a way to release her form to the world. In Tengriism, be released to the arms of Father sky instead of Mother earth.

Her Cenotaph had some visitors, those mourning for their beloved tribe leader. It has been a month and yet the great strides she made is still instilled as a memory to feed the sorrow of her mourners. Parking close, the flight attendant switched her shoes and skirt to something better to walk unto the volcano, yet enveloped enough to respect the deceased.

As she made her way there were others that came and still stood there in the cenotaph. They were doing their ritual and provided offerings to their deceased Ha'Coron, an offer of dedication, love and fortune to the deceased. Little boats of banana leaves with food, flowers and so forth.

She waited as the mourners leave, and she was alone. The masked Huawan Intercontinental Flight attendant with her basketball sneakers and a longer skirt. She took off her red flight attendant's jacket and encircled it on the cenotaph.

"You must be cold from the mountain air" she muttered, placing her flight attendant blazer around the small cenotaph. She took her compass from her pocket, and circled around the cenotaph until she faced west.

"West." She muttered under her breath. She was devout enough in her beliefs to do what's needed in these things.

She took off her mask, she was alone. She placed her hand unto the cenotaph, rubbed it to feel the magma rock and obsidian. Covered in gems. It was simple, traditional, tropical. She sighed as she rubbed the cenotaph.

"I am sorry I wasn't able to attend to you, my friend." The Peony said, "Had I been there to attend to your wounds, I might have done something... Years of the hospital never makes it easier." She continues to remember the day she met the Ha'Coron, a private invitation for tea and biscuit in Cafe Sonata in Government Island, when the Ha'Coron mentioned that she'd like to see Huawan, in which the both of them travelled through the green rice fields unto the tallest mountains in the span of two days, and spending another two exploring FiHami. She was a flighty girl, reminded The Peony more on her older sister Shizuka.

"The day we met you gifted to me such a beautiful golden necklace with a symbol of the FiNix. Exclaiming to me that it would give me luck and protection." She held the bird hanging from the necklace encircled around her neck, "that the flames of the torch bird is a sign for prosperity, peace and good tidings. On that day I gave you a cannister of our finest tea, silk and the preserved Peony flower."

"When the day I left FiHami on our adventure, you gave me a flower grown only in your soil, the Scorching Talons the Flaming Finix, one of the rarest and most beautiful plants in FiHami. That night I planted the flower in my garden and surprisingly it bloomed. Although the original plant was orange and grey, fed with Peonic soil, its children was Orange and a redder shade of beige. A shiny form I think?"

The Peony then took off the Huawan Intercontinental bun, the hat that helped fix the silk hijab on her head. Her hair tied on with a flower.

"The flower that grew I had made unto a jewelry item. A hairpiece that I wear at home. The comb itself was jade, but the flower was preserved as its shining piece. I was going to show you..."
The Peony took off her comb and let through her jet black wavy hair out, and placed the cob unto the cenotaph. Right on top of her blazer.

She then sat down, facing west and prayed a bit more.

“Assalaamu ‘alaykum ahl al-diyaar min al-mu’mineen, in sha Allaah bikum laahiqoon, as’al Allaaha lana wa lakum al-‘aafiyah. Aamiin."

Spoiler

"peace be upon you O people of the dwellings, believers, Insha Allaah we will join you, I ask Allah to keep us and you safe and sound. Aamiin."

She stood up after her prayer, and heard a commotion going to enter the cenotaph. She placed on her bun, and leaned her temple on the cenotaph once. Closing her eyes, pausing a minute, before making her way. She left silently and passed through the mourners. A Finix bird perched on top of the pillars surrounding the cenotaph. Looking at the mourners that are entering the area. Looking down on the comb, before heading west and gazed for a prey, only to be heading the other way.


And as Huawan Intercontinental Flight HIA 913 flew the second and final service that day to Lian, The Peony served her unknowing passengers with food and drink. And as she took a stainless steel cup to serve the gentleman in economy class an orange juice, she was alerted by a boy shouting and pointing at the window. Only seeing a flock of the Torch Bird making an arrow shape path, flying next to the jet and gazed upon by the passengers. Heading South.

The Peony looked at the birds and the sundown, she gave a slight chuckle.

"Waa'salamualaikum, 再见..... Goodbye, My friend." She muttered under her breath and gazed unto her track only to realize she nearly overfilled the cup with too much juice.

"毎日の小さな努力の積み重ねが歴史を作っていくんだよ。"

---

Put a little effort everyday and it will stack up and create a foundation for you.

- Doraemon


Treasure Island Awards Best Roleplay 2020
Treasure Island Awards Best Roleplayer 2020
Cocos Winner for Best Character Writer 2017
Cocos Winner for Best International Event 2017
Cocos Winner for Best Overall RP 2017

Things to know: Medical Intern and Biomedical Scientist from Indonesia, Muslim, 188 metres tall, loves trains

(This post was last modified: 07-21-2020, 08:02 AM by Hammerstar.)

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Date: October 8th, 2010
Time: 12:00
Location: Finixi-held territory around Ofani Village (near present-day Huah-Huah, FiHami)

"Kirifi, Skai!"  A young, lively girl hopped through the window, carrying a couple fish and crackers in her scarred arm.  She looked no older than 10, but her eyes betrayed a life that no child should ever had had to go through.  

"Sara, what are you doing here?"  Skai asked, turning to face the sudden intruder in his room, eyeing the little girl with the mischevious smile.

"I just thought you needed some food, knowing that you don't know how to cook.  Sal told me the Priestesses don't like to have to cook for silly boys who can't pull their weight in jobs that should be for girls."

"The priestesses are nice enough, thanks, besides, I need to finish getting ready."  Skai sighed, biting down on the charred fish meat that his little sister handed over to him.  "Coming out this way is way too dangerous, who let you out again?"

"Oh, I snuck out!"  Sara beamed, the childish pride erasing any trace of pain in her face.  "You wouldn't believe how easy it is to sneak out of the base!"

At his sister's words, Skai sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.  Sara laughed, throwing a cracker into her older brother's hair, seemingly oblivious to her older brother's worry.

"That isn't good, they need to tighten security around the base.  If a clumsy 10 year old can escape, then how many Antarchis can come in and kill you all?"

The door swung open suddenly to reveal a woman clad in the dark brown shawls, the golden seashell crown circling her head, with the sodalite gemstone hanging in between her eyes, blue as the deep oceans surrounding the Finixi Islands.  The seashells around her neck, wrists, waist, and ankles clanked loudly with her every movement.  Her palm tree-trunk colored eyes glared at the two children in the room.

"Skai Ofiri, you're supposed to join us at the spring in 5 minutes.  Why is this girl in your room?"  The woman scolded.

"Oh, Skai needs to eat breakfast.  I know you guys don't feed him because he's just a dumb boy."  Sara replied, her voice unfathomed by the important-looking woman in the room.

"Boys should learn to be more responsible and more useful for things that actually matter, little girl.  Coddling this boy will only make him just as mindless as the rest."  The woman replied, unable to hide a smile from her face.  "Now, go home, because this boy needs to come with me so we can attempt to commune with Ha'Finix."

Sara nodded, slipping once again out of the window, leaving Skai and the woman in the room.  The woman turned to Skai, raised up three fingers, and left the room.  Skai took the opportunity to fit his own crown on his head, taking no time to admire the obsidian stone dangling in between his eyes before running out of the room along the familiar path he went down every morning, leaving the almost-whole fish on the table in his room.

The familiar old woman stood at the center of the room, an evil smirk on her face as she watched Skai run in.  She grabbed a cup as soon as Skai sat down properly, grabbing water from the spring and sprinkling in some crushed leaves.

"Thank you, Ha'Finix for giving us this fountain to drink from and these leaves, which are given your blessing so that we may see what the future may hold."  She began.  "May you come talk to us today and tell us what we need to hear, and what we need to tell our friends.  And thank you for the discipline you give us in our daily rituals."

The old woman kissed the cup she held, and took a sip of the cup.  When she was done, she passed the cup around to the priests in the room.  She sat back, closing her eyes, muttering incoherently after a minute.  The other priestesses soon joined the old woman.

Skai took a sip of the cup, setting it down next to him as he was the last to take a sip.  He sat back, waiting for his mind to wander as the drink scrambled his brain around.

Before he knew it, Skai could see the old woman who led the ritual on top of Ri'Ha-Fi-nix, standing cruelly over the people.  In her arms was a giant fire falcon, the size of a fully-grown human, bound in rope and its beak shut.  The High Priestess proceeded to laugh as she chucked the giant bird into the volcano, though the old woman's joy was short-lived when the bird rose up, coated in flames, and tore her apart.

His mind then went to the base, and he stood, watching the place burn as he held onto his little sister's shawl.  The words echoed around his mind loudly, overwhelmingly.

I need to grab my dolly, I'll be back!

Skai had no control of his body as his dream-self threw down his sister's shawl and ran into the flames, which began distorting as he approached.  Suddenly, he became unable to move, as the giant fire falcon from earlier came into view.  It took one long look at the boy, then hopped towards him curiously.  Skai could feel the flames burning his skin, as the bird put its beak against his face.  He could hear the bird speak, but couldn't understand a word it was saying.
 

---

Date: October 9th, 2020
Time: 09:00
Location: Residence of the Priests, Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Skai, you seem distracted."  Sara poked her brother's shoulder as he poured over his papers, causing him to jump from fright.  He relaxed when he saw his sister, putting one of the feathers on his desk in her hair.

"Sara, you shouldn't be here."

"I know, but hear me out."  Sara surprised Skai once again with a briefcase filled with old sketches from their childhood.  "I found these while cleaning out what remained from our home, before mom and dad... ya'know."

"Sara, I said I'm busy, and you're technically not supposed to be here."

"Relax, Skai.  I know your job isn't easy, especially when they think you're just a dumb boy who shouldn't be there.  But, take it easy.  Ha'Finix wouldn't have chosen you if it didn't think you were the right person for this."

"Thanks, Sara.  Now, can you please let me focus?"

"Fine."  Sara sighed, tossing a char-grilled fish at Skai's face before climbing out of the window once again.  Skai only watched his sister slip away with a smirk on his face, comforted by the sense of routine Sara brought into his life.

Some things never change.
 

---

Time: 10:00
Location: Base of Ri-Ha'Fi-nix, Ha'Hani, FiHami

The monument stood after the rains of the season still, and it continued plopping all over the place as Puani walked up to the monument left behind in Finix' honor.

She tried to avoid it at first, uncomfortable with the idea of that the girl who used to command entire rooms, who had become like a teacher to her, who also carried a more relaxed, childish side at times, was now part of the volcano that towered overhead.  Despite the months that had passed since the last major protest that claimed several lives, it still felt like yesterday when the most powerful person in FiHami was brought down by a single bullet.  However, time had a way of healing those wounds, and now Puani tasked herself with maintaining the cenotaph.  She would water the flowers around the area, dust off the various gifts, and then just aimlessly rant to the monument about the stresses of her job.

"Hey, Fi.  The priestesses are all saying that you are that giant bird.  If that's true, why the [CENSORED] would you choose to attack me?  I don't even believe in all this Ha'Finix tomfoolery."  Puani complained.  "Why?  All I ever wanted was to just do my own thing with fashion but you took that away from me."

The rain continued on as if the world had ignored Puani's frustrations, hiding the tears that fell down her cheeks.

"I'm terrible at this job.  I don't like it.  No one listens to me.  There's so much going on, to take care of.  Everyone is too busy at each other's throats to do anything now, and it's ten times worse since you died.  I don't know what to do.  I don't think I can even do anything.  Why me?!?"

Puani sat in silence for a few minutes, feeling a familiar hand rest on her shoulder.

You're here for a reason, Puani.  Whatever that reason is, I don't know.  But you're here for a reason.

When Puani turned around, her heart sank when all she saw was one of the island's many fire falcons flying around the area rather than Finix herself standing behind her, in one of those rare moments where Finix would appear soft and compassionate even.
 

---

Location: South Ha'Hani, FiHami

"Those of Tribe Kilaweioni and related tribes, stand with me!  THEY ARE ALL HERE TO DESTROY OUR TRIBE AND STAMP US OUT OF EXISTENCE!"  Texeteti' shouted, his growing amount of followers chanting loudly around him.  "PICK UP YOUR SIGNS AND SAY NO MORE TO KILAWEIONI SUPPRESSION!"

People passing by mostly groaned, ignoring the hoarde of crazy people on their day-to-day escapades.  They turned away, took alternative routes to their destinations, did anything they could to avoid the crazy people in the streets.

"WE NEED TO OVERTHROW THE OTHER TRIBES!  WE WILL MAKE THEM ALL BOW DOWN TO US!  WE WILL MAKE THE WORLD FEEL OUR FURY!"

Empress of Fire 
Current Minister of Military Affairs
Chair Perch of the Assembly (February to June 2020)
SPSF Soldier
MoRA Fellow
Ambassador to Forest and Lazarus

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Date: December 20th, 2010
Time: 19:00
Location: Unknown location of the Rebellion's base, FiHami

"Did you disarm the child?  Remove all sharp objects from the room?"  Benjamin asked the Finixi woman in front of him.  

"She is disarmed, and the room is completely empty, and the glass is practically unbreakable.  I plan to also be in the room to attempt to make sure the child doesn't hurt herself."  

"Alright, lets get her in then."  Benjamin Owens sat some ways away from the glass barrier that was installed.  He recalled the first encounter with the child in question, the Sami Spirit as many called her, and records managed to trace the child down to the Sami village, identifying her as Finix Fi'Shi, the one body not accounted for several years ago.  Benjamin had thought he would be killed by the young child, he could see the rage in her eyes, the pain and misery that his mere presence evoked in the young child's mind.  They said that she has been best in isolation, and she couldn't be around other kids without lashing out.  In fact, the only human that the child seemed to tolerate was Eti herself.  And even then, it was very iffy, depending on her mood.

"Alright, we're going into a room, there is one human in there but he will not try to hurt you.  Do you understand?"  Benjamin could hear Eti say slowly, smoothly.  There was no reply, but he could hear Eti speaking once again, "Don't be scared, you are ok."  

And the door opened, and in came Eti, closely holding on to the child, directing her to look out of the window and into the ocean first.  Eti closed the door quickly, keeping the child's attention on the curious ocean.

"Ben, could you move in a little closer?  Not too much, but juuuust a little."  Eti said, bracing herself when Benjamin audibly shuffled himself just hair-length closer to the glass barrier, causing the little girl to face the strange man.  The air hung tense for what seemed to be an eternity, Benjamin doing his best to appear calm and unassuming, friendly even, and the girl glaring back, a sudden furious screech as she barreled right into the glass barrier, flailing and screaming when she found no weapons on her person.

"You're ok, settle down now."  Eti softly commanded, attempting to rest a hand on Finix' head.  However, her gentle words fell on deaf ears, as the child continued her rage-filled assault on the barrier in order to eliminate her perceived threat.  
 

---

PRESENT DAY
November 12th, 2020
21:00
Benjamin Owens' Home, Ha'Hani, FiHami

Memories ran through Benjamin's mind while he sat calmly in his home while his daughter slept.  He was just across the room from his new dog's kennel, where the dog, sweet as could be to his daughter, was now an angry, aggressive dog, who was now growling angrily at him from the kennel.

"Nixi, she's... special.  She's wonderful around kids.  Very overprotective of them.  But around adults, especially those of Antarchi descent..." The owner explained in Benjamin's recollection.  "We picked her off the streets around the ruins of Tikiri'i, where she desperately tried to attack us, and later found out that the dog was protecting a baby doll.  She's very old, but seems like she still has time left.  Though at this point I was gonna have to put the old girl down, as she is aggressive to adults and no one wants to adopt an old dog."

The decision to adopt the dog wasn't his, however.  His 2 year old daughter, Lilly, made the decision.  She had been adamant that Benjamin took home that dog, while Owens had wanted to avoid taking home a pet entirely.  The day was just supposed to be a small excursion to the park, where Lilly would play in the sand by herself for a few hours then beg for ice cream when it was lunchtime.  

But instead, there was an adoption event at the park, and for some inexplicable reason, the owner of the shelter hosting the event allowed the volunteers to take the most aggressive dog they had to the event.  And between Lilly's crying and screaming, the owner's explanation, and the judgemental faces from everyone else at the park, he now owned an elderly dog.  An elderly dog that had it out for him.

However, the same panic, the same fear, the anger the dog exhibited, was almost a carbon-copy of 10 years ago or so.

I haven't actually talked to Finix in a while, she has a soft spot for golden retrievers, the kid deserves some sort of break from whatever she's up to these days  I'll see if she and Sikupa wants to come and relax here and meet the dog.  

Benjamin pulled out his cellphone, and dialed the phone number he remembered, only to be met with an unfamiliar voice.

"Hello?"  The voice was very clearly a male's voice, and totally unfamiliar to Benjamin.

"Uh, who is this?  Is Finix there...?"

"No one named Finix lives here, you got the wrong number at the bar, sucks to be you."

Benjamin apologized, hanging up quickly.  He then dialed the number for Sikupa, to try to get ahold of them.  

"Hello?"  The woman on the other side of the line responded.  

"Uh... Who is this?"  Benjamin asked in disbelief, sighing when the person on the other end hung up.

With a sigh, Benjamin made his way to the blocked numbers tab, unblocking one number with a heavy heart, and dialing the number.

"Oh, Benjamin!  Hey, how've you been, it's been a good while?"  The voice on the other end was cheery, excited even.

"Don't think I've forgotten what you've done to me, Kuri."  Benjamin growled.  "I just want to know, do you have Finix' current number?"

Kilaui audibly sighed, and stayed silent for a few seconds.  Benjamin found himself holding his breath, bracing for Kilaui's next words.

"She's dead, Ben."  Kilaui's tone of voice changed, suddenly much quieter.  "She died pretty much doing what she does, that stubborn child..."

"Oh.  And Si-"

"Dead as well."

Benjamin stayed silent, trying to process the news.

"When?"  Benjamin broke the silence after a few awkward minutes.  "How?"

"Sikupa was killed in a Men's Rights protest back in March.  Finix was shot and killed back in a situation between Men's Rights activists and Matriarchy Fundamentalists in June."

"I've been away for too long."  Benjamin sighed, hanging up the phone.  Nixi seemed to have settled down in the meantime, though she tensed up and growled when Benjamin stood up and walked to the other room.
 

---

---

November 12th, 2020
14:00
International Port, Huah-Huah, FiHami

"RECOUNT THE ELECTION!  RECOUNT THE ELECTION!"

The resounding shouts roared over the chaos and destruction occurring around the area.  Everyone was riled up, destroying the various shops and cars and stuff.  Police were called in to try to deal with the threat, but reinforcements were needed, for the wave of rioters drowned the officers.

"KILAWEIONI SUPERIORITY!"  Shouted the familiar, crazed, drunken voice of Texeteti'.  "RISE UP, TRIBE KILAWEIONI!  LET US FEAST ON THE FEARS OF THOSE WHO HAVE KEPT US DOWN FOR SO LONG!"

The crowd roared their support, a massive wall of sound of celebration as others fueled rioters with alcohol and drugs.

"Oh Ha'Finix what is this..."  Muttered one police officer as she tried to fight off 2 drunk men who decided to attack her.

"DON'T LET THEM BRAINWASH YOU!  FIGHT AGAINST THE MASS BRAINWASHING!!!"

Empress of Fire 
Current Minister of Military Affairs
Chair Perch of the Assembly (February to June 2020)
SPSF Soldier
MoRA Fellow
Ambassador to Forest and Lazarus

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Lots have happened in the days since the mass protests in Huah-Huah have commenced. The siege continues with no end in sight despite the hit to the economy, the High Priest has officially fired Puani from the Chiefdom, and a literal newborn was selected to replace her.

Puani couldn't care less though. She could finally focus full-time on design, and her fame from her time as Chief has propelled her company to international fame. She could live comfortably with her wife, and they adopted an orphaned child, renamed him Kukui Hope Kokostali, and gave the 6 year old a new chance at life, away from the impoverished conditions of FiHami's overloaded adoption agencies. The kid was bright as a whip, and learned very quickly, and even surpassed his new classmates on the curriculum materials within weeks.

Benjamin Owens continues working on raising his daughter as a single father, trying to work with the dog he adopted a while back.

Kilaui Kuri, in the meantime, has been doing her best to work with the circumstances she has, and with Puani no longer as the Ha'Coron', she has passed an executive order deliniating how the country's government will work, in a more efficient, democratic manner than ever. She has appointed her cabinet, created a Speaker role over the Parliament, which is now unicameral. Bills are written in the Parliament, then passed to Kilaui to sign into law, veto, or suggest amendments. It is the achievement Kilaui is most proud of so far, though the glaring civil unrest remains. The endless protests in Huah-Huah and the suffering economy are making things more difficult and putting a strain on her Minister of Civics, Shaun Brady, and the ministry he oversees. Kilaui's Minister of the Economy, Dorian Mitchell, has worrying nonstop about future impacts on the Finixi people.

---

December 21th, 2011

The girl no longer went on a rampage at the mere sight of people, and even spoke short sentences to Finixi women. However, she still held light-skinned men in serious contempt, glaring profusely at the Antarchi people on the base during her time out to socialize. She wasn't armed ever, but she certainly made sure you knew that she could still cause serious harm if you pushed her boundaries.

This would be the first meeting where Benjamin would actually see Finix without the protection of the glass room.

Speaking of the devil...

"Hello, sir." Finix said, her voice quiet, warbling just a little. She entered the room behind Eti, walking over the pillow in the farthest corner of the room and sitting down.

"She is greeting you." Eti said quietly, providing translation services while she set the table nearby, though she kept her eye on Finix, ready to jump in in case the tension were to suddenly snap.

"Oh." Benjamin tried to smile, trying to hide the nervousness he felt. "Hello, Finix."

"He is saying hello to you." Eti explained, setting down the last plate, then making her way to the center of the room near Benjamin, where the smaller table with a steaming hot kettle and 3 wooden cups sat, surrounded by the straw seating as per tradition. "Come sit over here, and I can tell you the story of the Feast of the Sun."

The child looked at the older woman, her eyes wide with equal parts fear and curiosity. The child sat frozen for a few seconds, then slowly crawled over to sit right next to Eti.

"Alright. The Feast of the Sun is a traditional festival that occurs at the beginning of the Dry Season. The weather is cooler, the rains have stopped, and the Songbird River begins to shrink. It began when the first Finixi people landed on the islands so long ago. Now, The Great Fire Falcon throughout the rainy season taught the first people to build shelters, how to make different patterns, and showed the Finixi people what they could eat, how to farm, and how to fish. The First Matriarch decided that she wanted to show the Great Fire Falcon her appreciation for how it helped her and her family, and so the Matriarch told the men in her family to go fishing for the finest fish in the seas, and told the women to bake the best foods known to mankind. Meanwhile, the Matriarch would wander into the jungle for a day with the Great Fire Falcon, and they would climb up the volcano, the home of the fire falcons, watching the flocks of falcons burn the drying jungles down. When the sun started going down, the Matriarch led the Great Fire Falcon back to the village, where the entire family bowed to the great bird, thanking it for eveything that year. The Great Fire Falcon was so moved, it decided to give the Finixi people a blessing. So long as the Finixi people remember that the relationships they had with others were the most important thing in life, the Finixi people would be blessed with great joy even when things are bad. And that is why we celebrate this feast."

Eti began pouring hot tea into a wooden cup, passing it first to Finix.

"Children are very important, and we are to teach by example. We are to teach children yo love deeply by loving them deeply, and giving them the first cup of tea." She explained. She then poured out a second cup, passing it to Benjamin. And finally, Eti poured out her own cup, and began drinking.

---

21 December 2020

Lilly was rapidly growing up, she would soon be three years old.  And she was certainly a very adventurous child.  And by her side, guarding her from all harm, was the old golden retriever dog that her father adopted so long ago.  The dog had gone from threatening to attack Benjamin at any opportunity to tolerating his presence, so long as he didn't get too close.  

"Puppy!"  Lilly shrieked, throwing her arms around the dog, laying down on top of the dog as she did so.  Nixi responded by licking the toddler's arms happily, seemingly relaxed, almost happy.  That was, until Benjamin walked in.  Nixi immediately stood on guard, though the dog made no sound whatsoever.

"It's ok Nixi, it's ok."  Benjamin said softly, sitting down nearby, just close enough so that Benjamin could stretch out his hand to Nixi if he wanted to, but far enough away to respect Nixi's boundaries.

Benjamin laid his hand down, and to his surprise, Nixi inched closer, though she was still apprehensive.  Benjamin stretched his hand out a little more, until he realized that Nixi was smelling his hand.

And in the next second, right before he was about pet his dog, Benjamin's phone rang.

With a sigh, Benjamin grabbed his cellphone, answering with a blunt "Hello?"

"Hey Ben, it's Kilaui.  How've you been?"  Kilaui asked over the phone.  Benjamin had half the mind to just hang up, but one look at the dog nearby compelled him to entertain Kilaui.

"I'm fine, you?"

"Oh that's good to hear!"  Kilaui replied awkwardly.  "Hey look, I needed to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"I need someone to oversee something important.  I need help with the protests.  Would you like to be my temporary Minister of Protest Management?"

Benjamin stood silently for a second, feeling some anger rise up within.  But he chose to instead suppress the emotions.

"OK."
 

---

December 31st, 2020

The hopes for a new year grew within Skai's thoughts, but also the infant, and the child's parents brought concern.

"Aisele needs to come home with us."  The woman said.  Her features were Finixi, though she had no knowledge of the language or culture in favor of the ones at home.  "She is my child!"

"It is a complicated scenario."  Skai said.  "But your child is destined for this.  Aisele will be Ha'Coron' Aisele and there's nothing anyone can do to stop the hands of time."

Empress of Fire 
Current Minister of Military Affairs
Chair Perch of the Assembly (February to June 2020)
SPSF Soldier
MoRA Fellow
Ambassador to Forest and Lazarus

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