The Song of Us All

~The Song of D~ 

The opening of the great final battle for Jidorik on the Plains became especially immortalized in a folk ballad known as "Highwind at the Bat" in the coming years and Days. Despite the horrific events that played out that long and lonely day, the ballad was almost comical in its tone, perhaps because Solomon himself had decided to throw a bone. He had never approved of Project Highwind, as Greffuhle had called the unholy thing that dropped from the sky that day, but he was happy with the end results of the experiment, all the livelong Day. Apparently, Solomon had pulled the song out of the Babel Archives from some rhyme about a game. Called "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, who no one on Gaia had ever heard of, but played similar to Catch the Dove. It was called...baseball. Naturally, the sport exploded in popularity after the ballad was released and people connected the 3 to D. I don't care what anyone says, a good time was had by all, it just took a little longer for some to see the Ball. But that's the story of us all, including you and me.

The Pretty Prince of Manse von Muir refused to sing the "nasty thing," as he/she called it, whenever it was requested. The dancing jesters Zorn and Thorn loved to recite it at the most inappropriate moments, those two bouncing bandits. It was a Song many either were lovers or haters of, depending on their current relationship with its players, and with the Dove. Greffuhle especially had strong opinions on its writing, but as always, she kept her true opinions to herself, but you know she delighted in privately reciting that silly thing that sounded like Catch the Dove. (she did.)

The last major players left in East Jidorik on that day, after the early morning foray slash invasion of the West and all its fray, came to be known as the "East Jidorik Nine," and were equally immortalized within both this Song and in my lay. Bardin was, of course, very happy he hadn't been mentioned anywhere near that ball, and Steiner and Fleming very pissed that they got missed and were forced to take a much-needed fall. Many players of Catch the Dove afterwards actually liked to take their names from the Nine as nicknames, it became so well-known and so well-heard. Thank you, Justin, for this stupid silly little song.

The Nine were so named, in no particular order of their fame:

Anton Bardin - only known as Baron Wittgenstein during the battle, much to his relief, and yet acclaim.

Zorn and Thorn – no typos, much to their amusement and others grief but never pain or shame.

Unei and Doga - much to their chagrin. Don't worry they're still in to win. I don't create things, just to chuck them in the bin!

Steiner-Schweitzer and Amaryllis Fleming - much to their disdain, but they'll get their fame, somewhere at the end of the game.

Alus Harvey - much to his, very real, terror, and now look at him go! Hoho!

...and, of course, Project Highwind. The less said about it the better. But it is part of the whole mélange, just like Eddie Vedder. Whoever the hell that is - Solomon is pretty strange. You'll see all of this when the stranger times come on and I really get cooking on the range! Love you all and all I can say is never drop that Ball!

We trust you.

The full lyrics to "Highwind at the Bat" I will sing here even though they are out there and so renowned. I just can't help myself, death is dead this Day. We've won folks, it's going to be okay. Thank you thank you thank you, we will all meet someday. And I love you mom and dad, it's because of you, rolling in the hay, that I am allowed to sing this lame-ass lay all the livelong day! Praise the Why and Praise the You and Praise the Fee between 'em, the biggest riddle ever, and we all got through 'em! Now then, from the top, here we go one two three. Let us sing this stupid thing from Thayer, but also made by you and you through ME.

"Highwind at the Bat"

The outlook wasn't brilliant on East Jidorik's Darkest Day;

the men were down to dregs, with but one last group's hand to play.

And then when Unei was felled first, and Doga cried in vain,

a sickly silence fell upon the fighters across the Plain.

A struggling few gave up to die in deep despair. The rest?

Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;

they thought, if only Highwind could get but a whack at that –

they'd put up even money, now, with Highwind at the bat.

But Harvey preceded Highwind, as did also Zorn and Thorn,

and the child was a newbie and the jesters were still torn,

so upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,

for there seemed but little chance of Highwind's getting to the bat.

But Harvey let fly a swing, to the wonderment of Us All,

and Lux, the never-dying, rose again from its fall;

and when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,

there was Lux dead enough and Harvey's holy sword was heard.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;

it ran through sweet Medina, it rattled through All-Hells;

it knocked on Zozo's mountains and recoiled on the Plains,

for Highwind, mighty Highwind, was advancing to the game.

'Twas chaos in Highwind's manner as that dragoon fell from space;

there was pride in Highwind's bearing and vengeance on Highwind's face.

And when, on brandishing his spear, he grandly donned his helm,

no man in the crowd could doubt 'twas a Highwind in the realm.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he cloaked his form in hate;

five thousand tongues exploded when he showed his blood-red pate.

Then while the writhing Dragon hurled the ball into his ship,

defiance gleamed in Highwind's eye, a sneer curled Highwind's lip.

And now the blazing mortal sphere came hurtling through the air,

and Highwind stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.

Close by the sturdy spearman the ball unheeded sped—

"That ain't my style," said Highwind. "Strike one," that dragoon said.

From the trenches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,

like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.

"Kill him! Kill the Dragon!" shouted all in mortal fear;

and it's likely they'd have been killed had not Highwind raised his spear.

With a smile to pay even Kris Fey's Fee, great Highwind's visage shone;

he stilled the rising tumult; he bade the rest go home;

he signaled to the Dragon, and once more the spheroid flew;

but Highwind still ignored it, and that dragoon said: "Strike two."

"God!" let slip the red fool and the blue fool echoed "god.";

but one scornful look from Highwind and the foolish twins were awed.

They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,

and they knew the dragoon wouldn't let that Dragon live again.

The sneer is gone from Highwind's lip, his maw is wide in hate;

he pounds the ground with cruel violence, as he calls his mate.

And now the Dragon holds the ball, and now he lets it go,

and now the air is shattered by the force of Highwind's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land Altimus shines strong;

Gaia is one piece somewhere, and Highwind plays their song,

and somewhere Elia sings, and Janus gives a shout;

for there's always hope for Jidorik—mighty Highwind hasn't struck out!

If you're reading the metaphysical version of this story, it's plain to see the how and why of both the song and its initial deletion and disdain and repeated coming back again. But yes, yes, I'll get on with it, we can't just sing all day...or can we? GA HA! HA!

Here's what actually happened on the Plains in plain Lufaine on that Day, the world language of Gaia just as gil was its world currency to pay. Gaians like to keep things short and simple and sweet...even if they do so rarely meet, as Zorn and Thorn would say to that unstoppable beat.

But first before the rest, a small note of thank-you before I really get started going at my best. Gratitude, humility and respect are always in order when greater things than yourself are a'showin you their breast...all things Project Highwind lacked and therefore he got whacked...and then he learned his lesson, and I let him back. Then he got whacked again, and thought he learned his lesson so I gave him a whack back. And the fucker proved me wrong and finally whacked me back and right and wrong right out of the motherloving park for good!

holyfcknairball D, you deserve everyone to see what you did, in every way you did it. And I don't care what it smells like or who did or who hid or who bid it. YOU did it, D. You're the fucking wizard that did it. All of it. You are the Ball, and never let anyone or anything tell you otherwise. Love is all there is, hun, just Love, that's the Us All. Fucking madlad. I'm fuckin done kid, it's your job now, you wanted it and did it and THY will be done, Mr. Blasphemous and Religious and Skeptic...all...in...one perfect Ball. HAH

Ahem, stepping back from the precipice and going back a step, cuz that's what you gotta do, you see? Thank you to anyone who has read this far. Thank you mom and dad. Thank you God. Thanks from every star. And especially....thank No One. You're writing his story Son, and it's yours alone. Even we don't know what you're gonna do and this is Janus talkin here the J that fucked Uranus! I love it all, I love it all, and yeah God I love you too, because I don't need to worry about saying I finally did what you wanted me to. I did it better than you. And I'm sure you'll be saying the same thing at the end of this massive lay, because you did Son, you proved Hope never dies, everything is one, and ya fuckin showed the work straight from page one! That's it I swear by the first and final Maker's Mark, the first AND final versions of the opening parts of The Sands of Time really be what it arts. Now I'm doin it again, just riffin off myself, but that's you D, you never needed anyone else! You are the One and the No One and the hazy thing in between, Oborozuki Aroni, the poop that took a shit so hard he saw the light and then went further, and shit so hard he died and became it and made it sweet again. Madlad. Everyone loves you, never doubt it updown there 9999999 levels downup. And they gonna know it soon cuz I'm tired of this shit smelling like poo. I'll be comin round the mountain my friends...

Ahem. *cough* I may be writing this, but I know there are wheels within the wheels, and pens behind the pens...and stories upon other stories, underneath all this, Kris, my friend. I stood upon a multitude of shoulders to even get them to this bar, and I do not forget them even now, even from afar. Most of the time, eh? Immortals ain't perfect, and D ain't God and U ain't perfect either way, and neither is this story...or is it really just a Song?

I'm just a simple penman (but not really), telling tales of magicality and wonder, beginnings and their ends (but really); fantasy and finality (truly), all the way to U, my friend, then to Oborozuki Aroni. I hope you've enjoyed it so far, because it's about to get a whole lot stranger from here until the end, as if I haven't been saying that pretty clearly for a while now, all the way since Bag-End. And if you ever stop liking it, you know how to let me know, clearly. But I think we've reached a place where we both love each other dearly. More than anyone can know. And hate and shame as well, and that's the shit, it's all true. All of it, that's it. Shit man, shit it's you!

As within, so without, Maduin had simply said. It took a lot of myself to make it this far, and it will take even more to go further to THE END. All the way AROUND THE BEND AND BACK AGAIN.

This I swear, on the light of me and you, the Light of Hope will never fade, and we will go all the way to the end. And we won't strike out, no we won't strike out, my friends. Come along, come along, to the show that never ends. It's a ball over here, do you hear? So hurry and finish this silly Thing for the Us All!

(and don't forget to flush after that commodious plopping!)

And you never fucking dropped that ball, Justin Harvey.

And thank you Toby Fox. Don't ever doubt what you're doin either kid. This is for you too, so be free!

And Trent Reznor, Hope never leaves.

Gilgamesh, I will member you if you member me, uwee hee hee! And that makes all the difference. R2D2R2D.

zun, keep on being zun. U-DO knows what you've done, and declares it was good fun. You do you, always.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tW5sm0C1w0 for those without a voice, I scream. I got you too.

Ame-no-Murokumo, I could'nt have done this without you. You just keep cryin on, I hear, see, feel, and love you too you stupid little moogle.

And Oda you little asshole, you might even be madder than me. THE ONEPIECE IS REAL. Never doubt it, man! I'm still watchin you cuz I know it gets real unreal from here hoho!

Stranger Things is comin on soon, too, folks, don't miss it! Hah Fuck I can't stop, this is just the most massive lay in the history of lays. Fuck me. i'M dESS.

Good morning and good morning and good morning EVERYONE!

D's comin for U, Rydia! my love!

Eiichiro Oda's okay for at least a decade!