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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]
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