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| #Post#: 15461-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Truespire | |
| By: AuroraDash Date: December 22, 2013, 9:59 am | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| [font=verdana]DISCLAIMER: I did not actually read Dragon Riders. | |
| This fanfic was instead inspired by Erinadia: World of Sorrow, | |
| Homestuck, Taylor's Team Dragon Rise recurring dream, and some | |
| of my own ideas I've wanted to write about for a while. I think | |
| this is close enough to qualify as a Dragon Riders fanfic, but | |
| if it isn't, just tell me and I'll move it to the other fanfic | |
| board.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Truespire[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Chapter One[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Connected to chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Logged in as | |
| ElementalHero_HopeSummon[/font][font=verdana][EH_HS][/font][font | |
| =verdana].[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Room Status: 2/7 Online[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Okay, FINALLY somebody's here. I was | |
| worried for a moment that I transitioned incorrectly... I take | |
| it we got scattered?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: ANYWAY, welcome to Encounter.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: I'm here~ Was a little worried myself, | |
| just woke up in this weird underground field... Luckily, I still | |
| have all my stuff, and yeah, it seems we did :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Yeah, I'm in a weird underground field | |
| TOO... This place is REALLY different. It's pretty though, I | |
| think I'll like it here.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: I agree :) It's good that Encounter is so | |
| nice... I mean, we won't be coming back :3[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User ElementalHero_GaiaHito[EH_GH] has logged | |
| in.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: guys, i think i just transitioned[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: where is everyone[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: I THINK we got scattered.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: whoa[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Didn't IH and PM warn you that it WAS a | |
| possibility?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: oh yeah, right[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Wwwait... Where are IH and PM~? Wouldn't | |
| it make sense for them to transition first? :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Maybe they held back so they could make | |
| sure everything was going smoothly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: I hope they get here SOON, though. | |
| THEY'RE the ones who know what's going on, afterall.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User ElementalHero_SerpentinePaper[EH_SP] has | |
| logged in.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: hi there[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]:Heyyyy![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Welcome, SP ^-^ Nice to see you made it | |
| here in one piece :) [/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]:Thanks, nice to be here! (: I can't | |
| believe this, we're really going to make it![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Well, we don't KNOW we will yet.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]:Don't be pessimistic, dude! Of course | |
| nothing's for sure, but successfully transitioning into | |
| Encounter is a huuuuge step![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: That's true.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: So... Where did you guys end up? | |
| :3[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: can't tell, it's too dark[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]: Mee? I think I'm in some kind of giant | |
| cave system! There's glowy stuff on the ceiling wayyyy above me, | |
| and there's this cool underground grass everywhere![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: That SOUNDS pretty much the same as HS | |
| and I.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Yep... maybe we're close together! :) | |
| [/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: where i am there's no glowy stuff or | |
| grass... it's cold, stony, and pitch black >_<[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: so i guess i'm probably underground | |
| too[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Hmm.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: ...what do we do now[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: I'd say just wait until the others | |
| appear. HOPEFULLY they'll be here soon. They understand the | |
| whole encounter thing WAY better than us.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Not much else we can do :( [/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]: I wanna go exploring![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: Wait a second, something's | |
| coming![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: ??? [/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: What's happened? D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: I'm probably thescariest thing in this | |
| plsce, BUT I'm 100% CERTAIN I heard footsteps o_o[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: oh god[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED]: bye[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User ElementalHero_EarthData[EH_ED] has | |
| disconnected.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]: Footsteps! So maybe we're not alone | |
| here?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: I'm fairly sure there are supposed to be | |
| people in Encounter... Still, it's creepy, and you wouldn't | |
| expect them to be underground... :|[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: ikr[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP]: Maybe someone followed us here![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: i hope not :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: That's... very possible D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: I'm going to find somewhere safer | |
| 3:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: good idea, i'll do that too i | |
| guess[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Cya~[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Disconnected from chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Somewhere, a brown-haired girl was laying | |
| face-down on a stony floor.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Gggghhhhhh...", she groaned weakly, and faded out | |
| of sleep. Her entire body ached with discomfort. Slowly opening | |
| her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the bright but oddly | |
| calming blue light which flooded the room she had found herself | |
| in.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She sat up with effort, and stared with stunned | |
| interest at her surroundings.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The floor was made of smooth, white stone, which | |
| nicely reflected the room's blue light, emanating from what | |
| seemed to be some kind of crystal. About nine or ten of them | |
| were stuck to the ceiling in no particular pattern. [/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The walls consisted of an unfamiliar transparent | |
| material, which had a similar appearance to ice, but obviously | |
| wasn't. This also reflected the light, causing a very | |
| disorienting effect for the girl.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]This room bordered other, similar ones on two | |
| sides, and some kind of hallway along a third, but the outside | |
| world could be seen through the remaining wall. It was dark | |
| outside, but other buildings with similar appearance were easily | |
| visible, although some were not lit.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]There seemed to be no doors in this place; she had | |
| no idea how anyone could get out or in.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"What is this place...?", she said in confusion to | |
| nobody in particular, and desperately tried to recall how she | |
| had come to this place. No thoughts came up.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Oh good... you're awake!", a familiar voice said | |
| from somewhere behind her.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She turned herself around in mild alarm. "Y-you | |
| guys...?", she said, bemused. In an untidy group at the other | |
| end of the room sat Dianke, Julio, Erin, and Charlotte, all | |
| looking at her with concerned expressions.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She felt extremely relieved at their presence, and | |
| relaxed somewhat. "Where... are we?", she breathed after a | |
| moment.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"That's what we've been trying to figure out!", | |
| Charlotte responded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"All I know is... we were found, one by one, | |
| somewhere out there, and got dragged to this place, some sort of | |
| town I guess, where someone named Ron decided we're going to | |
| stay here. You got brought here only about ten or twenty minutes | |
| ago.", Erin added.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well, we /do/ know what this place is called...", | |
| began Charlotte again. "it's Dolouk Hey Yarau or-", she | |
| continued before being interrupted by a loud grinding | |
| noise.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The wall leading to the hallway was opening up. A | |
| short boy dressed in very dark black clothes was pushing on the | |
| transparent sheet which made up the wall, and sliding it out of | |
| the way.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Actually, it's... umm... dolPc hB yirP...", he | |
| said quietly, before stepping through the opening. However, he | |
| seemed wary of the other five people in the room, and didn't | |
| move any closer.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It means 'valley of the dead end' in Erga'al...", | |
| he continued timidly. "One more thing... I'm Ron Aliac, do you | |
| have a name?", he went on to ask.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yes...", the girl responded. "I am Taylor | |
| Smith."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Oh okay then.", Ron said awkwardly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor got to her feet and turned to face Ron | |
| properly. "Will we... be able to go back home soon? We're just | |
| really confused."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Ron shrugged. "Depends where 'home' is I | |
| guess."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We're from Surfacia.", Dianke said quietly from | |
| across the room.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]At this, Ron broke into a smile. "Well, you're | |
| already there!".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"This doesn't... look like anywhere in Surfacia | |
| that I know of...", Taylor then said in bemusement.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Really? Most of it's like this... Or at least, | |
| all the nice parts are.", Ron responded cheerfully.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I've never seen anywhere like this!", she | |
| objected.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Ron stepped backwards, out of the room, and | |
| suddenly lowered his voice. "Wait, so... you people... actually | |
| lived on Overworld?".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor blinked. "Is that what you're calling it | |
| now?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It's a place far above here, where there are no | |
| ceilings. Very hostile place... I'll be going there in four | |
| days.", he explained, then sighed loudly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"In that case, yes, we do! Can we get back up | |
| there?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well, there's one way... but seriously, why would | |
| you want to return to such a place?", Ron asked, | |
| bewildered.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It's where we belong!", Taylor insisted. "Now | |
| tell us how to get there."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Okay... In the center of town, there's a tunnel | |
| leading downwards to a place called 'iliL uw iz' -- that means | |
| 'the one sanctuary' -- where there's a portal, which will take | |
| you to Overworld. Everybody must go to Overworld for one month | |
| starting on their seventeenth birthday, which is why I'm going | |
| there...".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He shuddered, before continuing.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It's kind of an initiation trial here in | |
| Underworld. There's another problem though...".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]All five people stared at Ron in concern.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Which is...?", Charlotte prompted after about | |
| five seconds.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It's illegal to use that particular portal for | |
| almost any other reason.", Ron stated.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor sighed grumpily. "I guess we'll have to | |
| break into this ilill aw is place or whatever... because there's | |
| no way we're staying in this weird Underworld any longer than we | |
| need to. It's amazing that such a place exists, but... I want | |
| out!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Oh no, if you do that you'll get banished!", Ron | |
| said in alarm.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Banished to where...?", she asked in | |
| return.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Meh. Not sure. It varies... maybe you'll get | |
| warped to the fields outside town... or maybe you'll get warped | |
| to the Sixth Antarctic Plane. You can't know...".[/font] | |
| #Post#: 15524-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Truespire: Chapter 2 | |
| By: AuroraDash Date: December 25, 2013, 10:52 am | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| [font=verdana]Truespire[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Chapter Two[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Connected to chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Logged in as | |
| ElementalHero_HopeSummon[/font][font=verdana][EH_HS][/font][font | |
| =verdana].[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Room Status: 5/7 Online[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: It might be tricky getting in though | |
| because it seems to be pretty heavily guarded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: i really need some water right now | |
| :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: i thought there was some with my stuff, | |
| but i can't find it[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: Thats not good. Ill give you some when we | |
| meet up in that case.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: What are you trying to get into?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: We found a way out. All we need to do is | |
| break into a room which Ive marked on all your maps.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: Once we get to the surface itll be game | |
| over for anyone trying to stop us.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH]: No, not game over. More like game | |
| on.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: How's that~?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH]: I have a feeling that things will be even | |
| more complicated than we thought they'd be... I can't be sure | |
| though.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: Guys, I can't find my gas mask D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: Dont worry about it because lost stuff | |
| can be replaced easily.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: Yeah, I guess you're right~[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: wouldn't it be possible to just | |
| bruteforce our way in[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: i mean, IH has magic resistance, you have | |
| your cool guns[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: I think itd work. I like the idea of just | |
| blasting our way through and we should save our mental effort | |
| for things that need it.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH]: Sure... you can do that. I don't want | |
| anybody dying on me though.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM]: That's not very likely so dont worry. | |
| Have you seen these people? They seem to have very few weapons | |
| and they only have defensive magics.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH]: Alright then. I've marked a second set of | |
| coordinates, this will be our meeting point. Head there | |
| now.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: got it[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User | |
| ElementalHero_PoisonMetal[/font][font=verdana][EH_PM][/font][fon | |
| t=verdana] | |
| has disconnected.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Umm... this is bad! Like, really bad D: | |
| There's this girl and she's following me... ;~;[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Seriously, she's getting closer | |
| fast!![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: that's creepy![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: The worst part is, I... recognise her!!! | |
| :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH]: D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH]: I was right.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Disconnected from chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Yui was stumbling around directionlessly in the | |
| creepy almost-darkness. Somewhere in front of her, a tiny white | |
| light appeared.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Is anyone there?", she shouted halfheartedly, | |
| taking a few steps towards the point of light.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]There was no response.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I know you're there!", she followed up with, and | |
| broke into a run, stumbling on the rough ground a few times, | |
| until the light revealed itself to be coming from the screen of | |
| a strange device held by a purple-haired girl with glinting | |
| green eyes.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I-it's you! I remember you!".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The girl, in a panic, typed something into the | |
| glowy device, before roughly turning it off, eliminating the | |
| light, and glared at Yui before taking several steps | |
| backwards.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I remember you too! Get away from me!", the | |
| purple-haired girl shrieked angrily[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Who ARE you?", Yui persisted, and continued to | |
| move closer, confused by this girl's behaviour.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Th-that's not important! Leave me alone!!", she | |
| said, before turning around and beginning to run away through | |
| the subterranean fields.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Wait, no, don't leave!", Yui shouted in reponse, | |
| and began to chase after her, in search of answers.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Don't you dare take one step closer!!", screamed | |
| the girl, who then pulled out a deck of cards. "PHOENIX | |
| FLOWER!!!", she added, in an impossibly loud, piercing voice | |
| which eerily echoed off the ceiling. | |
| [/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Yui stared in alarm as a stream of burning | |
| particles started flying from the purple-haired girl. They moved | |
| with the soft grace one would expect of flower petals at first, | |
| but quickly accelerated towards her.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She leaped out of the path of most of the burning | |
| petals. A few still managed to hit her, but were deflected by | |
| her clothes. She grabbed her bag, reached into it, and pulled | |
| out a shiny cross-shaped boomerang with sharp edges.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Haha...~", the purple-haired girl said. "You | |
| going to fight me with that thing?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yes!!", shouted Yui in reply. Without thinking, | |
| she threw it into the air at an angle, causing it to twist | |
| around in the air, until it was flying directly at the | |
| mysterious girl.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"FETCH~", the girl said with satisfaction, | |
| flicking a card away with her other hand. The boomerang suddenly | |
| changed path, as if it had bounced off of something invisible, | |
| and it landed with a thud a few metres in front of Yui.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"You're a...!?", she began, but the purple-haired | |
| girl interrupted.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yes, I'm a Sourcecaster, now just go away and | |
| never bother me again! ICE NEEDLE!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A number of pointed, acicular ice crystals formed | |
| around the girl, then suddenly launched into the air with crazy | |
| speed, moving in a perfectly straight line towards Yui.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She threw herself aside, but was not fast enough; | |
| she felt a stabbing pain as one ice needle struck her left arm, | |
| and two more hit her stomach only milliseconds later.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"AGH...!!!", she shouted, getting back to her | |
| feet. "That hurt!".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The mysterious Sourcecaster girl didn't respond. | |
| She was already running away, much faster and more desperately | |
| than before.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Ugh...", Yui groaned, getting to her feet. It | |
| only took a few seconds for the fragile ice needles to melt and | |
| fall away. Blood immediately began to leak out onto her | |
| clothes.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She turned to roughly the direction the girl had | |
| run too, and decided that since she seemed to be in a hurry, she | |
| must be going somewhere. That meant that there was something | |
| noteworthy in this bizarre dark landscape.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She then cautiously stepped forward, and began | |
| making her way forward in the same direction.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Indeed, there was a faint blue light somewhere in | |
| the distance. It was dim, but appeared to be quite large. Maybe, | |
| she thought, she could find someone there and ask a few | |
| questions about this place. Perhaps she might even find her | |
| friends.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I guess I'll leave you alone now...", Ron said, | |
| then turned away and began to shift the moving wall back to its | |
| original position. "I think they fond somebody else out there -- | |
| I'm going to go check."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]With that, he walked away down the hallway. | |
| Rather urgent, unrecognisable voices began bubbling up from | |
| somewhere outside.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]It was several minutes before anyone | |
| spoke.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I think it's worth the risk!", Erin said | |
| eventually.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We're going to get separated if they catch | |
| us...", Dianke objected. "Also... What if the rest of the team's | |
| still down here? They'd get left behind..."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Julio frowned.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well, I for one like the idea of getting out | |
| fast.", Taylor began. "We could ask Ron to tell anyone else who | |
| shows up where we went, and then we could come back for them, | |
| better equipped and prepared for a search."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well, when you put it that way...", Dianke | |
| replied.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I guess I'm fine with that...", Charlotte agreed | |
| shortly afterwards.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Let's go now, then!", Erin said | |
| enthusiastically, standing up as well and taking two steps | |
| towards the room's equivalent to a door.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Wait, didn't Ron say they might've found someone | |
| else? Shouldn't we wait to see who it is?", Charlotte | |
| said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I guess we'll find out when we get out there, | |
| anyway.", Taylor responded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin was already sliding the wall aside in the | |
| manner Ron had done.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Gh... I definitely wouldn't want to live | |
| somewhere with such strange doors!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I agree!", Taylor said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Now let's get out of here!". Erin immediately | |
| dashed off down the hallway.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor turned to the other three, who stood up as | |
| well. "You ready?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yes.", replied Charlotte, who began to move to | |
| follow Erin.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The others soon did the same.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor broke into a run and left the room. | |
| "Erin!? Where are you?", she shouted, although not too loudly, | |
| as she ran.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The walls, floor, and ceiling were similar in | |
| appearance to the room she had just left, but it was less | |
| brightly lit. She didn't bother to look at it too | |
| closely.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She turned a corner, and found Erin talking in a | |
| hushed voice to Ron and a third person, who was slumped against | |
| a wall with his head turned away from her.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We have no choice. Please, tell everyone else | |
| you find where we've gone, but don't try to stop us.", Erin | |
| said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Alright...", Ron sighed. "I suppose I can do | |
| that. Will you be bringing him with you?". He gestured towards | |
| the dazed-looking person.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The rest of the group had quickly caught up, and | |
| had now gathered next to Taylor.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Of course."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Okay then."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]At this point, Erin turned to face the other | |
| four. "It's Alex. We're going to bring him with us.", she | |
| explained.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"By the way... thank you.", Charlotte said to | |
| Ron.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Ron nodded in acknoledgement. "I guess you guys | |
| are free to leave whenever. Your stuff is in the front room, | |
| you'll see it on your way out."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Alex straightened himself out. "Where are we | |
| going?", he asked.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin briefly explained their plan to him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"But...", he began to reply, "I don't think it's | |
| a good idea to leave the others here, if they are here that | |
| is."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We'll be coming back for them, though!", she | |
| said loudly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Besides, I feel weak right now... You can leave, | |
| but I'd like to stay here, at least for now... to continue the | |
| search myself, you know? There must be others out there.", Alex | |
| said in response. "Sorry."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin sighed. "Fine...", she said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor listened silently with a mildly confused | |
| expression. "I guess... we're still going?", she asked.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yep!", Erin responded. "And don't worry, Alex. | |
| We'll be back just as soon as we've gotten some more | |
| supplies."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Alright.". Taylor felt reassured at this, and | |
| strode down the hallway to some kind of entrance room. This | |
| room, unlike the others she had seen, was cluttered with various | |
| pieces of furniture. A pile of bags, holding their things, sat | |
| untidily in a corner.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin and Taylor quickly grabbed theirs up, the | |
| other three not far behind.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]One after the other, they all left the | |
| building.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The air was perfectly still. It was fairly dark | |
| out here, but with the lights from the various other buildings | |
| which surrounded them, as well as a number of odd, moderately | |
| brightly glowing patches somewhere above them, they were able to | |
| see.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"So... which way do you think it is?", Charlotte | |
| asked, more cheerfully than before.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well... If it's in the center of this town, if | |
| you could call it one... Maybe this way?", Taylor answered. She | |
| turned to the left, where the buildings seemed to be | |
| densest.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Okay then... Hopefully this place isn't too | |
| big.".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Their pace slowed to a restless walk as they | |
| moved in a line in that direction.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Indeed, there were more and larger buildings over | |
| here; many were brightly lit, and people could be seen in some | |
| of them. They soon came to a cluster of them, which encircled a | |
| square of the same glowing crystals used for lighting in the | |
| buildings, embedded in the stony ground.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor cautiously moved up to it. "I think this | |
| must be it!", she said, a little more loudly than she had | |
| intended to.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Before them was a large, roughly square pit, | |
| leading straight down a considerable distance. As they moved | |
| closer, it was revealed that a huge, jagged groove had been | |
| intentionally smashed away in a deep spiral around the pit, | |
| forming something close to a set of stairs leading | |
| downwards.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yep, you're right!", Erin responded. Observing | |
| the path downwards, she added, "And look, getting down won't be | |
| an issue either!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte shuddered a little and moved forward. | |
| "I think we should go down there single-file... That would make | |
| it safer perhaps?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yeah, that could work...". Erin moved right up | |
| to the edge and began to clamber down the notch which formed the | |
| path. The stone surfaces were all quite solid and rough, which | |
| made this process a little easier.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte went next, then Taylor, Julio, and | |
| finally Dianke.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The path was fairly steep, but didn't twist at | |
| all and was not difficult to climb down[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"How much further do you think it is?", Charlotte | |
| asked after about ten minutes.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Julio awkwardly peered over the precipice and | |
| down the pit.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It can't be that far!", Erin said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Indeed, the bottom of the pit grew nearer and | |
| nearer, and only a few minutes later they had reached the | |
| bottom.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Here, it opened up into a huge, open chamber; the | |
| walls and floor were made of identical-looking grey stone, but | |
| seemed smoothed down. It was also square in shape, about fifty | |
| metres on a side, and in most places was about four metres high, | |
| although it sloped downwards near the edges. Light crystals | |
| dotted the floors and ceiling.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]They, however, were pretty much in the | |
| center.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]As Dianke made the final downwards step, joining | |
| the others, Julio placed his bag of things on the ground and | |
| withdrew a shiny metal sabre which was jutting out from it, and | |
| a soft, smooth cloak made of some strange material which seemed | |
| to collect the colour of the rocks of the chamber and take it | |
| on. "Something's amiss...", he spoke darkly, and pointed the | |
| sabre out in front of himself to nothing in particular.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"He's right!", Erin remarked. Taylor surveyed | |
| their surroundings. There was an atmosphere of peace to the | |
| place, but an uneasy peace, as if they weren't wanted here. | |
| Every movement, every noise, and every word produced a great | |
| echo in the empty chamber.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Shouldn't there be a portal somewhere...?", | |
| asked Dianke after a moment.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Yeah, there should...", Taylor replied, still | |
| running her gaze along the walls and ceiling. "But there's | |
| nothing here."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Maybe...", began Charlotte. "Maybe the portal is | |
| invisible? It could be some kind of security mechanism, and this | |
| seems to be a magical place..."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Possibly.", replied Erin.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor sat on the ground and rested her hands on | |
| the cool rock floor. "I'll check...".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I will too.", Dianke said, and sat down next to | |
| Taylor, mimicking her posture.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Julio stood behind them with Erin and Charlotte, | |
| looking on-edge but saying nothing.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor let her thoughts all fade away to nothing, | |
| and slowly felt a sense of serenity. There was no noise but | |
| their breathing.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Her peace soon turned to panic. She closed her | |
| eyes, just for a few seconds, but when she opened them, she was | |
| surrounded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"EEP!", shrieked Dianke, scrambling backwards | |
| with an alarmed expression. Taylor instantly spun around and | |
| stood up. A group of tall men -- about eleven or twelve in all | |
| -- had encircled them. Their faces were cast into shadow by the | |
| identical grey hooded robes they wore. Each one held a thick, | |
| heavy-looking quarterstaff, and several had them raised as if | |
| ready to strike.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Who a-ARE y-you??", Taylor growled in | |
| bemusement. Her right hand wandered to her bag and pulled out a | |
| stunningly sharp poisoned dagger, which she then, with hand | |
| shaking, waved defensively in front of herself.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte and Erin both took a step back in shock | |
| and confusion.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We are the keepers of iliL uw iz.", they spoke | |
| hauntingly in perfect unison, completely unfazed by Taylor's | |
| threatening gestures.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Somewhere behind them, marking each corner and | |
| face of the walls, stood eight identical portals.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The others had certainly heard this, and looked | |
| around for the source of the sound. Even Julio seemed freaked | |
| out. Dianke sat back up and stared unresponsively at the | |
| ground.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Tell us... which portal are you looking for?", | |
| the keepers asked, again in unison, their gazes seeming to look | |
| into Taylor's soul.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Wait... there's more than one portal?", Erin | |
| asked nobody in particular.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte momentarily spasmed. "Yes.", she spoke | |
| with a sudden certainty, standing up straighter than ever. | |
| "There are eight. Ours is that one.". She pointed towards a | |
| corner of the room in front of herself, which still appeared to | |
| be devoid of anything to Erin and Julio, before collapsing on | |
| the floor in a heap.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Damnit, you used the Eye of Truth again, didn't | |
| you!?", Dianke demanded, darting to Charlotte's side.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte groaned in pain, and said nothing | |
| else.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]All eleven keepers tensed up, and shifted their | |
| staves menacingly, and flickered into vision.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin immediately grabbed her twin keyblades, and | |
| launched herself forward, shoving two keepers to the ground | |
| using them. As she raced towards the portal's location, her feet | |
| seemed to barely touch the ground.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor, as soon as she could comprehend what had | |
| happened, dived through the brief gap Erin created, following | |
| her with heart racing.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The stunned keepers were on their feet in an | |
| instant. They broke formation, and, with an anguished gasp, | |
| streaked after the two girls, with speed none in the group | |
| thought possible.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor let out a cry. A keeper, with a powerful | |
| blow from its staff, had swept her legs out from underneath her, | |
| and she crashed to the ground.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Only milliseconds later, a second one hurled its | |
| great staff at Erin; it struck her in the back and knocked the | |
| air out of her, causing her to fall as well, only metres from | |
| the portal. "Ugghhh...", she moaned.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We cannot allow that. You will instead be | |
| banished.", the keepers all said as one, in the same steady, | |
| ominous manner as before.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The ten keepers who will still holding theirs all | |
| raised their staves and pointed them at Taylor and Erin. The | |
| other one raised its hands instead, in a threatening claw | |
| gesture at them. "SPACE JUSTICE BANISHMENT.", they said, their | |
| combined voice becoming louder, booming and commanding with a | |
| hint of anger.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A bolt of purple-black energy formed at the tip | |
| of each staff pointed at them. All of them quickly converged | |
| into a large, pulsating, bloblike mass, which flew at Taylor and | |
| Erin.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"NO!!!", Erin shrieked in horror. The dark energy | |
| engulfed first Taylor, then her, before dissipating against the | |
| stone floor just in front of the portal, with no sign of either | |
| girl.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"You.. can't... do that!", Charlotte groaned | |
| weakly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The keepers all turned their attention to | |
| Charlotte. "You are to be banished as well."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Julio suddenly lunged at a keeper, furiously | |
| lashing out with his sabre. Sliced by the blade, the keeper | |
| crumpled to the ground. However, it showed no sign of being | |
| injured at all, apart from a tear in its robe.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Three more keepers immediately leaped on Julio | |
| and pinned him to the ground. He glared at them with pure | |
| rage.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Charlotte was on the verge of passing out, and | |
| Dianke was nearly hysterical; within seconds, they too were | |
| pinned in place.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A group of keepers grabbed Julio and half-pushed, | |
| half-threw him at the other two. He was sprawled on the floor, | |
| making mumbling noises.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"SPACE JUSTICE BANISHMENT."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A second clump of purple-black energy coalesced, | |
| and cleanly swept up all three of them.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]They, too, vanished without a trace.[/font] | |
| #Post#: 15853-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Truespire: Chapter 3 | |
| By: AuroraDash Date: January 19, 2014, 12:49 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Truespire | |
| Chapter Three | |
| [font=verdana]Connected to chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Logged in as | |
| ElementalHero_HopeSummon[EH_HS].[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Room Status: 2/7 Online[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_ED] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_GH] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_IH] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_PM] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM] Status ONLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SP] Status OFFLINE[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: YES :D Finally, SM :3 Where are you?~ | |
| The six of us are already waiting at the meeting point | |
| >_<[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Respond to her and I'll kill him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: NO YOU WON'T, D*** YOU B****!![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: ??? :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Oh yes I will.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: He's here with me.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: He's under my perfect control.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: You'll never get him back.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: I'LL F****** MURDER YOU![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Not likely.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: WTF, SM? 3:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: And what's with these weird gaps in the | |
| chatlog...?[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: STOP TORMENTING ME, D*** | |
| YOU!!!!!!![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: I don't feel like it.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Are you talking to someone? ??? | |
| :/[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Besides, I have a right to.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: I'm special.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: You're not.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: I'LL CUT YOU INTO A BILLION PIECES | |
| D********[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: ...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: F*** OFF[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Meh.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: SM, calm down... you're scaring me | |
| D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: ...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Ignore HS.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Or you know what happens.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: YOU ARE SICK[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: B**** YOU'RE F****** GOING TO PAY FOR | |
| EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO ME[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Your worthless allcaps is beginning to | |
| irritate me.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: D:[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: I think you should log off now.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: NO WAY IN HELL NOW GO DIE![/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: You don't want me to hurt him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Now log off.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_SM]: GRRRRR[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User ElementalHero_StarMythic[EH_SM] has | |
| disconnected.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: o_o[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]:Hey there HS.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: Who are you? O_O[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: It's not important.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: I just had to take care of something.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][V]: Forget I was here please.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: oWo[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]User Veladoth[V] has disconnected.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana][EH_HS]: o_o I am officially freaked out now | |
| O_o[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Disconnected from chatroom | |
| "[/font][font=verdana]☼≡[/font][font=verdana]d.r.a.g | |
| .o.n[/font][font=verdana]≡≈≈≡[/font][fon | |
| t=verdana]f.a.l.l[/font][font=verdana]≡☼[/font][font | |
| =verdana]".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Aghhh... HELP! SOMEBODY", a voice shrieked from | |
| out of the darkness.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana] | |
| The voice was distorted, as if it was coming from something that | |
| wasn't quite human. However, it was strangely familiar.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Kushagra turned his head. On closer examination, | |
| the sound seemed to be coming from a giant rock wall a decent | |
| distance in front of him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]So this place had edges, or at least walls of | |
| some description.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He shook his head in confusion. Randomly waking | |
| up in this huge, perpetually dusky place hadn't really worried | |
| him, just... bewildered him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He immediately strode towards the source of the | |
| voice. "Who's there?", he shouted as he drew closer.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"My name's Polaris!", came the unusual voice | |
| again. "Help me!".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He looked around to reorient himself. Along the | |
| base of the wall, many untidy piles of boulders slumped against | |
| it. "Where are you?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I'm trapped by rocks, I have no idea how I got | |
| here!", Polaris replied.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Kushagra turned in a slightly different direction | |
| in attempt to pinpoint Polaris' location.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Are there any gaps anywhere you can see out | |
| of?", he called out.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"...Yeah, there are.", came the reply. "How'll | |
| that help? I can't move any of these rocks..."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Maybe you could use some of your magic-element | |
| power through it?", Kushagra began slowly. "Then I'll be able to | |
| tell where you are."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Um.. sure, I guess I could do that.", Polaris | |
| responded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]There was a short silence. A bright sparkle of | |
| multicoloured energy was briefly visible, causing all the rocks | |
| to cast shadows.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Kushagra ran to its source.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Polaris was trapped by several large, rounded | |
| stones, which were partially covered by smaller rubble. | |
| Fortunately, he did not appear to actually be being crushed by | |
| anything; he was simply caught in the empty space between the | |
| boulders with no way out.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I know the magic element is strong against | |
| earth...", Polaris began again, "but it's so violent and | |
| unpredictable! I don't want to use too much in this small | |
| space..."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Good thinking!", responded Kushagra seriously. | |
| "I know your magic is easily strong enough to break these, but | |
| then you'd just be crushed by the pieces... Good thing you | |
| didn't do that."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He looked to examine the pile. "This top one, | |
| here.". He lightly slapped one rock with his hand. "It's not | |
| supporting anything at all... If I could move it without | |
| breaking it, you could get out."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Mhm... but how do you plan to do that?", asked | |
| Polaris.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Well...", Kushagra began again. "Quintessence is | |
| also strong against earth, remember? It's softer and easier to | |
| contol."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Okay... Do you think you can manage it though?", | |
| Polaris asked, more shakily this time.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I hope I can.", Kushagra replied. Standing on a | |
| lower, adjacent stone, he held out his hands, with fingers | |
| spaced out, in front of himself, and concentrated hard.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A blob of pale silver energy popped into | |
| existence. Within moments, it formed itself into a gently | |
| rotating pentagon. Its light was dim at first, but steadily | |
| began to grow. Kushagra's hands began to shiver slightly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]It slowly began to extend into a beam and pressed | |
| against the rock, a manifestation of the quintessence element | |
| being used.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Nn...", Kushagra said slowly. The rock began to | |
| shift uneasily, and he moved a little closer to it, his hands | |
| almost touching his surface.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A soft flickery white glow was lighting up the | |
| area, highlighting every surface of the dark, cold, grey rocks | |
| which belonged to the stony wall to the side of him.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]With a loud grinding noise, the stone moved; just | |
| a little at first, before tumbling away from the others and | |
| smashing into the ground with a loud, echoing crash.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Th-there...", he breathed, sitting down and | |
| peering into the gap he had created.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Polaris slowly stood up, then slowly floated | |
| upwards until he was next to Kushagra. "Thank you... that was | |
| weird and scary.", he said, coming to rest on a rock beside him, | |
| before adding "Ugh, where are we, anyway?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I have no idea and I don't remember anything!", | |
| Kushagra responded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]There was a shout from somewhere behind | |
| them.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]They both turned.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Three people stood in a line, somewhere out | |
| there.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor's eyes flew open again. A billow of dry | |
| leaves flew past. It was very bright and very windy wherever she | |
| was. She quickly regained her breath.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She became aware that the ground was not stone or | |
| any kind of strange subterranean plant, but resembled ordinary | |
| grass more than anything else. Sitting up and glancing around, | |
| she saw Erin doing the same in a confused manner next to | |
| her.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She felt a vague relief; at least this time, they | |
| hadn't been scattered.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Around the area were a number of magnificently | |
| large trees of various species. The area of nature they were in, | |
| however, didn't seem to go on for very long; less than a hundred | |
| metres in every direction, a black wall was visible.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin stared upwards. "Wow...", she breathed after | |
| a few moments.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor quickly did the same out of curiosity, | |
| realising with sudden disappointment that there was a ceiling | |
| here, although it was even higher than Underworld's, arcing over | |
| the topmost branches of the enormous trees.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The shadows blurred disorientingly around them. | |
| The brilliant light in this place was predominantly coming from | |
| a glittery globe of brightness, which was energetically floating | |
| about.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I'm not even going to ask where we are...", | |
| Taylor sighed, her voice almost swallowed by the rustling of the | |
| trees by the intense wind.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I can tell you."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin and Taylor stood up and spun around, finding | |
| themselves facing a short, bald man wearing a red robe much too | |
| large for himself while grinning like a maniac.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Welcome to the Hall of Seasons! I hope you find | |
| it as wonderfully inspiring as I do! I'm Zarromat, I work here. | |
| Feel free to stay as long as you like."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A flying leaf struck Erin's face. She instantly | |
| batted it away.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor, by this point willing to accept pretty | |
| much anything, nodded. "I guess it is kind of inspiring...", she | |
| conceded, before adding "but we really need to get home."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"But you just got here!", responded Zarromat. | |
| "Don't you think you could stay for a while, after you've gone | |
| to all the trouble of getting here?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"We... got banished here.", Erin cut in, sounding | |
| more cheerful than she probably should've.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat took a step back, his eyes opening wide | |
| and his grin vanishing. "Ugh, those sanctuary Keepers. So | |
| thoughtless and rude.", he muttered, staring at Erin as the | |
| enthusiasm disappeared from his dark green eyes. "You're not... | |
| troublemakers, are you?", he asked in a hushed voice so that the | |
| wind almost drowned him out.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor shrugged. "Not really.".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It's just...", Zarromat began with a sigh. "The | |
| last person who got banished here is still making a nuisance of | |
| himself..."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Who is he?", Erin asked. "Is he dangerous? And | |
| where?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Only a little bit.", Zarromat replied. "He must | |
| be asleep. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so quiet in here."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"It doesn't seem to be a particualrly sane time | |
| for sleeping...", she responded.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"That's true, but it's always this bright here. | |
| We call this Dellin's Time. It'll be Arcinus' Time in less than | |
| an hour, though... that's a much more sensible time to | |
| sleep."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Why's that?", Erin asked.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor stared at the trees, their branches | |
| swaying wildly, before focusing her gaze back to Zarromat, and | |
| interrupted just as he was about to respond to Erin. "We really | |
| need to find a way home. Where's the way out of here?"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Oh, right.", Zarromat said, turning to Taylor. | |
| "I won't keep you here if you don't want to be here! I'll show | |
| you."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat spun around, his robe looking very | |
| silly, and began walking in the direction of the most distant | |
| wall. Taylor immediately began to follow. Erin looked | |
| disappointed for a moment, then fell into step beside | |
| Taylor.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The wall wasn't directly adjacent to the grassy | |
| area. Instead, there was a narrow, dark brick path running | |
| alongside it. The wall itself was made of the same bricks, and | |
| it contained doorway-shaped openings every so often.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Reaching the path, Zarromat turned and led the | |
| two girls along it in silence. After less than a minute of | |
| walking, they came to an opening much larger than the others. It | |
| was about four metres wide. Zarromat froze the moment he stepped | |
| in front of it.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He sighed a little. "Well this is | |
| annoying."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"What's wrong?", Taylor and Erin asked at the | |
| exact same time.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat didn't immediately reply, and stared | |
| down the tunnel in silence. The two circled around him to do the | |
| same.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A few metres into the tunnel, a shiny metal gate, | |
| closed but unlocked, stretched across it.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Some distance behind it, a teenage boy stood, | |
| glaring at the three. He was dressed in fluffy pale blue | |
| clothes, and he held a shortsword which glowed erratically in | |
| the same pale blue.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]He stomped agitatedly up to the gate.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I need something!", the boy announced.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Is this that 'troublemaker' you mentioned?", | |
| Erin asked quietly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat sighed again. "Nope. This is a | |
| larmhezan. To be exact, it's a cRsa hB hezan.", he responded | |
| just as quietly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor didn't understand anything of this; she | |
| guessed that the word that sounded like "hay" probably meant | |
| "of", but that offered no clues.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The boy in front of them pushed aside the gate. | |
| "Don't call me an 'it'!", he said, raising his voice even | |
| further. "My brother requires a Book of Immunity.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I can't help you.", Zarromat stated | |
| grumpily.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Look, mister-Hall-of-Seasons-wizard, this is | |
| important!", the boy pouted. "And don't you dare tell me you | |
| don't have the book.", he added, narrowing his eyes at Zarromat, | |
| who stared with irritation in response but said nothing.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin looked at Taylor, who took a step | |
| backwards.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]There was a tense silence.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A panicky voice yelled from somewhere behind | |
| them. "I told you!! I told you he was coming! You wanted me | |
| thrown out, but see!? I was right!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor spun around, feeling overwhelmed.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The source of the noise was a second mysterious | |
| boy, who dashed down the tunnel and whooshed indignantly up to | |
| the shouty larmhezan.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat shook his head. "Ugh...looks like the | |
| entire circus is here today...", he mumbled under his | |
| breath.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]This person had red hair and blazing yellow eyes. | |
| He had deeper blue clothes which looked a lot more practical | |
| than the other boy's, and was also wearing simple but menacing | |
| clawed gloves.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I knew you'd be here, Shine-hezan Skymaze, and | |
| I'm here to stop you!", he said.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"And I knew you'd be here too, Matt Viridian. | |
| This has nothing to do with you. Get out of my way!", Shine | |
| demanded, and held his glowy sword in front of himself, pointing | |
| it threateningly at the other boy's neck.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat looked upwards and called out to someone | |
| out of sight. "Arcinus... help!".[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Make me!", Matt growled.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Shine smirked, and glared even harder than | |
| before. A beam of hot yellow energy suddenly shot out from his | |
| sparkly sword. Matt yelled in panic, and clumsily dodged. The | |
| beam continued on its path with dazzling speed, and glanced | |
| Erin's side with a little sizzling sound. She squeaked in pain | |
| for a moment, almost losing her balance, before turning to | |
| Shine, her confusion turning to rage. She grabbed her two | |
| keyblades, and hurled herself towards him. "Die, you!"[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor watched the scene with wide eyes.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Shine moved to defend himself with his sword, and | |
| their weapons met. Unprepared for the force, he stumbled | |
| backwards into the gate, before grinning and holding his left | |
| hand in front of himself in a clawlike gesture.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Less than a second later, a mighty pulse of | |
| intense yellow light blasted every surface of the brick tunnel | |
| and lit the Hall of Seasons even more brightly than it already | |
| was.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor shielded her face by reflex, but Erin and | |
| Matt had no time to do so and were dazed by the light, stumbling | |
| in temporary blindness.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Shine rushed past first them, then Taylor, | |
| ignoring her existence entirely. He glanced around himself, | |
| clearly unfamiliar with his surroundings.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"GET OUT! YOU'RE DESTROYING THE SANCTITY OF MY | |
| HALL! GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!!", bellowed a voice.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A furious man, tall and pale and wearing a white | |
| robe even more pale than he was, now stood in front of Shine. | |
| His mere presence made the air much colder.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"GO AWAY AND DON'T COME BACK!", he boomed, and | |
| effortlessly emitted a huge blast of ice energy. Zarromat ducked | |
| away from the tunnel, while Taylor, Shine, Matt, and Erin were | |
| all caught up in the blast and were carried out far past the | |
| silver gate in an inexorable rush.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Zarromat stood back up and dusted himself off. | |
| "Thank you, Arcinus.", he said, much more calmly than | |
| before.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The white-robed man named Arcinus ran up to the | |
| gate and slammed it shut, grinning victoriously at the four | |
| people he had just thrown out.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The first to stand up was Shine, who carelessly | |
| brushed the ice crystals off of himself and prompty ran down the | |
| tunnel, away from the hall.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor got to her feet as well, feeling shaken | |
| and nervous but otherwise okay.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Erin was still laying on the ground. She had | |
| dropped her keyblades in the confusion when she had been hid by | |
| the ice blast, and they were a short distance behind them, | |
| nearer the gate. She was pressing one hand against the place she | |
| had been burned by Shine's laser, and was rummaging through her | |
| bag, still on her back, with the other.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Matt slowly sat up, and nervously stared up at | |
| the tunnel's ceiling, which was much lower than that of the Hall | |
| of Seasons.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Taylor shivered, panting slightly, and irritably | |
| removed the ice from her clothes before moving over to | |
| Erin.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Are... are you okay?" she asked softly.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I'm fine...", responded Erin. "I think I've got | |
| some supplies right here, and it's not that bad anyway."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]...[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]A girl gazed fearlessly around the apparently | |
| empty chamber. She wore a gas mask, but it was more to hide her | |
| face than for any practical reason. Without a second thought, | |
| she strode across the cool, smooth grey stone wall towards a | |
| corner of the square chamber.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Halt.", a voice said in a haunting | |
| monotone.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The girl turned around. Eleven shadowed figures | |
| wearing grey robes flickered into view, revealing themselves to | |
| be surrounding her in a half-circle.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"That portal is off-limits."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The portal, now behind her, flickered into vision | |
| as well.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]She thought it was kind of impressive how they | |
| were able to say everything they wanted to say at the precise | |
| same moment. Maybe they were all psychic, or perhaps they | |
| weren't even human.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Oh, is it now~?", she asked with an invisible | |
| smirk.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"Step away.", came the voice composed of | |
| many.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"I don't feel like it.", the girl replied, and | |
| took two large steps closer to the portal instead.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"This is a crime. You are to be banished.", the | |
| hooded figures said, all their eyes fixed on the girl.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"SPACE JUSTICE BANISHMENT."[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]Yet another blast of dark purple energy formed, | |
| each one of the Keepers contributing some of the space | |
| distorting energy.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]The mass of energy rushed towards her, but the | |
| girl stood calmly. It struck her whole body cleanly, then | |
| immediately lost its force, broke apart, and dissipated, the | |
| girl still standing exactly where she was.[/font] | |
| [font=verdana]"That's cute.", she said coolly, before stepping | |
| into the shiny portal.[/font] | |
| ***************************************************** |