The MULTIVERSE of the TRAVELER and the TRAILBLAZER

Pick It Up (Part 1)

An old idea of mine after seeing the character of Death in the 2nd Puss in Boots movie and it got me thinking...

Since Aether has defied death many times now, wouldn't Death himself be mad as hell?

[The scene begins in Puspa Café in Sumeru City where Aether was seen drinking some coffee, in deep thought]

Aether:A Descender? What does that mean...? At least now I have a lead... Maybe it's because I keep forgetting the question...

Aether just blinked, now realizing something. Why is it when he gets the chance to ask an Archon something, he always forgets the question about his sister? He's beyond glad that Nahida reminded him of his sister.

[Aether sighs]

Aether:Lumine... Where are you...?

[Suddenly, some of the lights in the café went out..... Before a menacing whistle was heard around the room...]

The temperature around the theater dropped all of sudden. Everyone felt their hairs raise up upon hearing that haunting tune, the Harbingers included as everyone's hearts (save for the Wanderer) began to beat at a fast rate.

Miko saw her hair began to rise up as a dreadful feeling churned in her stomach. She has never been afraid of anything, save for losing sales, but hearing that tune alone is enough to send her knees shaking.

"K-Kaeya, Klee is scared..."Klee grabbed ahold of Kaeya's wrist in fear as the Cavalry Captain immediately wrapped his arms around the Spark Knight.

Nahida also grabbed ahold of Wanderer's wrist, much to the puppet's chagrin.

[Aether looks around the café, trying to find the source of the whistle before looking beside him and seeing a hooded man sitting next to him as Aether's heart began to beat faster]

???:Well, well. If it isn't the famous Traveler, himself... In the flesh.

Aether:Um... Hello?

???:There's the blonde hair, the otherworldly outfit... And where's the flying rat?

"Uh! Hey! Paimon is not a flying rat! Paimon is Paimon!"Paimon shouted in protest. First there is emergency food, now there's flying rat?! What's next? Floating sticky honey roast?

Paimon licked her lips upon the thought of a sticky honey roast...

Aether:Um... She's not here...

???:My compliments to your cobbler.

Aether:Thanks.... I guess?

???:Hey, I never do this, but, can I get your autograph? Been following you for a loooong time. Sign right here.

[He pulls out a notebook and opens it to a page full of Aether related stuff and points at a red inscribed "DEAD" on the page]

"I don't like this..."Thoma said, as a sense of dread began to build up upon seeing the word DEAD on the page.

"It seems this guy wants him dead... What for, I wonder?"Amber questioned, wondering if there was ever a person who wanted Aether dead for something...

Aether:You sent by the Fatui?

[The man laughs]

???:No.

Aether:You will find your reward does not come easily. This I tell you.

[Aether places a hand over his dull blade and the man chuckles once more and lowers his hood, revealing the man's pale skin, pitch black hair and crimson red eyes]

???:Everyone thinks they'll be the one to defeat me. But no one's escaped me yet.

Everyone was now speculating on who the man could be. And what history does he have with Aether?

[Aether sighs and shakes his head]

Aether:Let's just get this over with...

[He then points his sword at the man]

Aether:Come at m-!

[The man just simply smacks Aether's blade of his hand and hit the wall, much to the Traveler's surprise as the man's eyes just rolled elsewhere]

Aether:Okay... No games...

[Aether retrieves his sword and launches himself at the man and tried to stab him, only for the man to swiftly dodge all his attacks]

???:Slow. Sloppy. Sad!

[Aether shouted and thrusted his sword again, which was stopped by the man's sickles before kicking him to the other side of the café]

Aether:What the hell....?

[Aether runs at the man once more and jumps in the air and raises his blade, ready to strike him only for the man to grab him by the neck]

???:You're not living up to the rumors I've heard... Traveler.

Everyone was surprised. Aether has been known to take on his adversaries head on, but this man was making it look like it's the unestablished Clown College of Sumeru™.

"Okay... It appears Comrade is getting his ass owned."Childe aimlessly said, not even having the chance to do such a thing during their sparring sessions.

[The man then dragged Aether all over the table before throwing him to a chair. He then tried to slash Aether, who merely dodged his attack in time as the man then managed to land a cut Aether's head, who was sent backwards. Blood began to spill out of his head as Aether places a hand on his forehead...]

???:I just LOVE the smell of fear!

[The man began to drag his sickles on the floor as Aether's breath began to grow with each passing second before segments of his previous adventures were shown]

???:What's the matter? Life flashing before your eyes?

[The man kicks his sword towards him]

???:Pick it up. Pick. It. Up!

Klee placed her hands on her ears," Please! Make it stop! Klee doesn't want to hear from the bad man anymore!"

The Archons, however, somehow knew who this man is but they can't quite put a finger on it yet....

[Instead of picking it up, Aether made a run for it outside the Café. The man licks his lips and began to whistle once more and walks outside. He then sees Aether running out on the streets of Sumeru...]

???:Run, run, Traveler.