Torrin nodded when both Take and Boreas showed concern for him. "Yeah...just tired is all." Torrin took a deep breath, unsure of how he could even explain what he had just seen. He had almost forgotten that they were still in a tunnel and needed to get out before another cave in sealed them in again. He took off after the other two. "I'm not dropping anytime soon." He assured the others as they hurried to the exit. "I'm tired of all these dead ends and setbacks." Torrin muttered in annoyance as soon as they exited the tunnel. He slowed down and took a moment to catch his breath. The fresh air did him some good and calmed him down. Torrin looked over at Take. "Nice moves back there, kid. You seem to know what you're doing. Keep it up and I might give you Boreas's rank." Avra placed her hand on Chrys's shoulder. "It's okay. It's good that you've let it out." She patted Chrys's shoulder. "Just let those memories motivate you and there'll be nothing that can stop us." "Talk about a tragic backstory. I'm just here because I don't want Heartless in the Realm of Light." Dentro chimed in. "My world was falling to darkness when the Master found me." Pagos muttered, looking down. "I want to bring it back." He spoke quietly. "As was mine. Though I never cared for it, the people on it never deserved that kind of fate." Zeno sighed. "Yeah...I'm not even sure what to say about it...but things will work out. We're already got three Princesses and I'm sure in no time we'll be led to the fourth. We'll fix everything. It'll just take time." Koa assured her, giving Chrys a small smile. "You'll find your brother someday. For now, just keep him in your heart." His hand rested on Chrys's other shoulder. "He may not be around but you have us! Right guys?" "Mmmm..." Avra smacked Dentro across the back of his head for that response. He yelped and held the back of his head, chuckling. "H-hey! I was kidding. Of course! We're a team. Team's gotta stick together and stuff. Go team. Team Chasers."
Torrin nodded when both Take and Boreas showed concern for him. "Yeah...just tired is all." Torrin took a deep breath, unsure of how he could even explain what he had just seen. He had almost forgotten that they were still in a tunnel and needed to get out before another cave in sealed them in again. He took off after the other two. "I'm not dropping anytime soon." He assured the others as they hurried to the exit. "I'm tired of all these dead ends and setbacks." Torrin muttered in annoyance as soon as they exited the tunnel. He slowed down and took a moment to catch his breath. The fresh air did him some good and calmed him down. Torrin looked over at Take. "Nice moves back there, kid. You seem to know what you're doing. Keep it up and I might give you Boreas's rank."
Avra placed her hand on Chrys's shoulder. "It's okay. It's good that you've let it out." She patted Chrys's shoulder. "Just let those memories motivate you and there'll be nothing that can stop us." "Talk about a tragic backstory. I'm just here because I don't want Heartless in the Realm of Light." Dentro chimed in. "My world was falling to darkness when the Master found me." Pagos muttered, looking down. "I want to bring it back." He spoke quietly. "As was mine. Though I never cared for it, the people on it never deserved that kind of fate." Zeno sighed. "Yeah...I'm not even sure what to say about it...but things will work out. We're already got three Princesses and I'm sure in no time we'll be led to the fourth. We'll fix everything. It'll just take time." Koa assured her, giving Chrys a small smile. "You'll find your brother someday. For now, just keep him in your heart." His hand rested on Chrys's other shoulder. "He may not be around but you have us! Right guys?" "Mmmm..." Avra smacked Dentro across the back of his head for that response. He yelped and held the back of his head, chuckling. "H-hey! I was kidding. Of course! We're a team. Team's gotta stick together and stuff. Go team. Team Chasers."
When the dust settled Edna Mode stepped out into the room, glass crunching underneath her shoes. She shook her head and walked over to the shattered window to stare out. "This is terrible...this is terrible!" She exclaimed. "With Mr. Incredible gone the city will be at their mercy! And if no one stops these villains now they'll plot for world domination! I must tell the other supers what's happened!" She pulled a phone out and held still for a moment, looking at the group of keyblade wielders, her eyes examining the bunch from behind her glasses. "Hm...yes...yes. But we have no other choice. I have a lot of work ahead if I'm going to turn you from heroes to superheroes." Without another word she rushed out of the room. "Quite sprightly for someone of her stature." Master Thallasa commented on Edna's speed. "I like her." Her keyblade vanished from her hand. "Well done with handling yourselves, everyone. You have just as much fight in you as I expected. I believe we should be safe enough to rest, now. From what I've been told, you lot have had a very long day." She ran her hands through her hair and sighed softly. "Hm...The others should be checking in soon." Takehiko went through. Adalric went through. Boreas stayed back for a second longer, telling him that he would help stabilize the portal from the other side. It was a good thing too because if Torrin had been made to hold it for even a moment longer he would not have been able to keep it open himself. Torrin's vision faded, his strength continued to leave him as he approached the unstable portal. He dragged his legs forward feeling that his entire body was fighting his every movement. "I am not letting my body tell me when to stop." Torrin gritted his teeth and as he reached the portal his vision momentarily went black. It came back as quickly as it faded but just for an instant as he crossed the threshold, he could feel the embrace of sleep take him. Spoiler Torrin stepped onto the other side of the portal. The world he stood on was not the same he had just been on. He stood atop a roof but the city skyline was different with towers that rose higher than those in the previous world. He stepped towards the edge, looked up at the night sky as dark clouds swirled overhead. Thunder rumbled and bolts of lightning struck down cracking entire buildings in half. He knew this world. "So it's true then..." A voice came from behind Torrin. "What?" Torrin turned to find himself staring at a man with gray hair and yellow eyes. His facial structure greatly resembled his and the black uniform he wore was identical to that of his uncle's. He did not need someone to spell it out for him who it was he was now facing. "What the...this can't be real. There's no way I breached into another dimension." He spoke quietly in disbelief. "Dreams have a funny way of closing the gap between realms." The man spoke coolly. In the distance a group of buildings collapsed and fell into the crumbling earth as the world shook itself apart. "Tell me, Torrin. What's so special about this world that we've appeared here?" He looked over at the destruction that surrounded them. "The world I trained at in the Realm of Light was destroyed...and this was the first world I tried to save from the same fate. I had just been named keyblade master, I had survived what should have been a fatal wound, and I knew I was strong. In my arrogance I thought that I could face the Heartless alone right on the brink of a world's destruction." Torrin's eyes followed the skyline towards the two yellow eyes, as large as a moon would have been in the sky, stared down at the world from beyond the dark clouds. Another cluster of buildings plummeted to the darkness below as others were ripped from the ground and sucked into the void above. "I should have evacuated whoever I could..." Torrin turned towards his other self. "What does any of this matter to you?" "It doesn't." The man said dismissively with a small smile. "You, however, do. See, it'll take me some time to wipe out the rest of the stragglers on my end, to snuff out the last little torches of light. I need to see what kind of stuff my other-dimensional self is made of." He mused. "What does that even mean?" "Honestly I don't think it's even worth mounting your skull above my second throne. Can't afford to have weakness around me. I'll have to torch your Boreas as well. If you're so soft I can't imagine how pathetic he is." The older Torrin shook his head in disappointment. Torrin summoned his keyblade and leapt at his elder self. The blade came down. It phased right through the older Torrin as if he wasn't even there. "Oh? You thought that'd hurt me? Don't you think I would have killed you by now if I had the chance?" He chuckled. "I suppose I should give you a little gift to celebrate this occasion. It isn't every day that I get to talk to myself." "How about I cross over and run my blade through your-" The elder Torrin snapped his fingers causing the scenery to shift to melt away. Torrin's vision went white and when his eyes finally adjusted he vaguely recognized the new location. He found that he was sitting down in a long hallway. Torrin blinked and looked around, finally remembering where he had seen this place before. It was the west wing of the Council's castle. As he stood up Torrin looked around for his other self but saw nothing. "Show yourself!" His voice echoed on through the hall but was met with no response. There was a soft thud that came from beyond a closed door beside him. Seeing nothing else for him to do but to check it out he walked over and tugged at the door handle. It didn't budge. "Why is it locked? Isn't this a dream?" He tugged again. Still no change. Torrin held out his hand trying to call for his keyblade but even that did not come to him. He sighed in frustration and resorted to kicking the door which cracked open in a single swift blow. The room was pitch black and, even though it should not have been possible, he could not see through the heavy darkness that obscured the room. Torrin stepped forward slowly. Squelch. There was some resistance, his boot sticking to the floor, as he pulled back immediately and stepped back into the hallway leaving bloody prints on the white marble floor. A sick stench of burnt hair and flesh permeated the air making him cough and gag. He took another step back to catch his breath but the castle air was stale and dried his throat. "H-help..." Torrin's stomach churned and a chill ran up his spine. "No." He rushed forward, ignoring the sounds of his boots slapping against the wet floor, stumbling when they squeaked and slipped. He regained his balance only to nearly trip again when he kicked something soft. He cursed under his breath and looked down in vain. Whoever it was, he just couldn't tell. He stepped over "obstacle". "Make it stop!" He held his hands out in front of him, stumbling in the darkness and trying to feel his way through the room. His foot fell onto something that crunched and gave way to his weight. "Dammit!" He took another step and it landed on something soft. Something that squished and gave off a foul odor when disturbed. He could hear fluids drain out from whatever he had stepped on and covered his nose. The stench made his eyes water nonetheless. "Enjoying my work of art so far?" Somewhere in the darkness came his other's voice. Torrin turned quickly looking for the source of his voice. "Oh that's right. This is a darkness you're not used to looking through, is it?" Torrin spun around, feeling a cold rush of air behind him but saw nothing. "Have you ever felt the rush from getting your hands bloody? I have. There's a primal power that comes with it. Something older, something blacker, than darkness." "You're never crossing over. You're nothing more than a guilt-induced hallucination!" Torrin's keyblade flashed into his left hand. "I'm not you. No one will hear of you ever again. You're going to be forgotten and be left to fade away in your own hell." Two slanted red eyes on the opposite end of the room. They could not have belonged to anything human. They began to draw closer towards Torrin. He could hear a heavy deep breathing coming. A heavy weight of power enveloped him paralyzing Torrin. "I'm going to butcher them all. I will find you. NO ONE ESCAPES ME." Torrin emerged on the other end of the portal and it closed the instant he crossed over. He heaved and hunched over, his eyes dilated and his face covered in a cold sweat. He looked up to see Boreas. "G-good." He panted. "Let's...let's get out of here. We need to get to the others!" He motioned for everyone to get moving. "Come on!"
When the dust settled Edna Mode stepped out into the room, glass crunching underneath her shoes. She shook her head and walked over to the shattered window to stare out. "This is terrible...this is terrible!" She exclaimed. "With Mr. Incredible gone the city will be at their mercy! And if no one stops these villains now they'll plot for world domination! I must tell the other supers what's happened!" She pulled a phone out and held still for a moment, looking at the group of keyblade wielders, her eyes examining the bunch from behind her glasses. "Hm...yes...yes. But we have no other choice. I have a lot of work ahead if I'm going to turn you from heroes to superheroes." Without another word she rushed out of the room.
"Quite sprightly for someone of her stature." Master Thallasa commented on Edna's speed. "I like her." Her keyblade vanished from her hand. "Well done with handling yourselves, everyone. You have just as much fight in you as I expected. I believe we should be safe enough to rest, now. From what I've been told, you lot have had a very long day." She ran her hands through her hair and sighed softly. "Hm...The others should be checking in soon."
Takehiko went through. Adalric went through. Boreas stayed back for a second longer, telling him that he would help stabilize the portal from the other side. It was a good thing too because if Torrin had been made to hold it for even a moment longer he would not have been able to keep it open himself. Torrin's vision faded, his strength continued to leave him as he approached the unstable portal. He dragged his legs forward feeling that his entire body was fighting his every movement. "I am not letting my body tell me when to stop." Torrin gritted his teeth and as he reached the portal his vision momentarily went black. It came back as quickly as it faded but just for an instant as he crossed the threshold, he could feel the embrace of sleep take him.
YES TO PIZZA.
CUT MY LIFE IN TWO PIZZAS THIS IS MY LAST SLICE
...I googled it to find out that it was a song. Hm.
The Helping Hats began to zoom around in the house, their metal claws spinning about and cutting the group as they flew by. Thallasa charged forth and began to systematically destroy several of them, destroying each she manage to catch with her keyblade in a single blow. Aria took 6 Damage! (40/65HP, 0/20MP) Chrono took 5 Damage! (10/65HP, 2/20MP) Tinarah took 10 Damage! (25/55HP, 0/20MP) Glyde took 3 Damage! (2/50HP, 0/20MP) Qamar took 8 Damage! (22/50HP, 20/30MP) Illiana took 10 Damage! (32/45HP, 20/20MP) Thallasa took 12 Damage! (228/240HP, 0/60MP)Enemies Remaining: 15 Helping Hats (6 AP) Party Status: Takehiko: 17/75HP, 5/20MP Boreas: 35/80HP, 11/30MP Torrin: 92/155HP, 0/50MP Adalric: 103/150HP, 15/30MP Torrin chuckled at the mention of his and Boreas's eyes. It wasn't too often that someone from the Realm of Light wasn't creeped out by it. Most of the time people assumed they were Heartless. "Thanks." Torrin pushed himself back to his feet and thought for a moment, not having considered using a portal to get out of there. He scratched his chin and shrugged. "You know what? I don't know. Might as well give it a shot since there's nothing else to do other than try blasting our way out...and I don't want to be buried alive today." Torrin summoned his keyblade and held it out. A beam of light shot forward and a column of light was created. As soon as it was created the portal began to distort and quickly lose its shape, becoming unstable. "That's not supposed to happen. It must be the Magitek." The portal shrank a few inches. Torrin raised his keyblade and held his concentration on the portal to keep it from disappearing. "Hurry and get out! It should take you to the other side of the debris but I can't hold it open forever!"
The Helping Hats began to zoom around in the house, their metal claws spinning about and cutting the group as they flew by. Thallasa charged forth and began to systematically destroy several of them, destroying each she manage to catch with her keyblade in a single blow.
Torrin chuckled at the mention of his and Boreas's eyes. It wasn't too often that someone from the Realm of Light wasn't creeped out by it. Most of the time people assumed they were Heartless. "Thanks." Torrin pushed himself back to his feet and thought for a moment, not having considered using a portal to get out of there. He scratched his chin and shrugged. "You know what? I don't know. Might as well give it a shot since there's nothing else to do other than try blasting our way out...and I don't want to be buried alive today." Torrin summoned his keyblade and held it out. A beam of light shot forward and a column of light was created. As soon as it was created the portal began to distort and quickly lose its shape, becoming unstable. "That's not supposed to happen. It must be the Magitek." The portal shrank a few inches. Torrin raised his keyblade and held his concentration on the portal to keep it from disappearing. "Hurry and get out! It should take you to the other side of the debris but I can't hold it open forever!"
???
After having avoided a barrage of spells from the robots, more than a little annoyed that they had not faced the real Nequa, Arctus narrowed his eyes on the last two scrapheads standing. "Alright, I think I've seen enough of these robots for the day." Arctus tossed his sword up and caught it on weak of the blade right after the hilt. Using his magic to accelerate the sword he launched it like a javelin, impaling and bursting through one Nequabot's chest. Without losing any momentum the sword curved in the air changing its trajectory to pierce through the back of a second robot's head. As the Nequabot collapsed Arctus walked over and planted his shoe on its back and pried his weapon from its chassis. "That takes care of that." He kicked the wrecked Nequabot as he spoke. "I've got a feeling we're gonna be seeing more of these in the future." 0 Nequabots Remaining
After having avoided a barrage of spells from the robots, more than a little annoyed that they had not faced the real Nequa, Arctus narrowed his eyes on the last two scrapheads standing. "Alright, I think I've seen enough of these robots for the day." Arctus tossed his sword up and caught it on weak of the blade right after the hilt. Using his magic to accelerate the sword he launched it like a javelin, impaling and bursting through one Nequabot's chest. Without losing any momentum the sword curved in the air changing its trajectory to pierce through the back of a second robot's head. As the Nequabot collapsed Arctus walked over and planted his shoe on its back and pried his weapon from its chassis. "That takes care of that." He kicked the wrecked Nequabot as he spoke. "I've got a feeling we're gonna be seeing more of these in the future." 0 Nequabots Remaining
~1000 Posts Reached~ Rewards: One Spell One Spell Upgrade (Up to -ra level) Three Levels *Redeemable after completion of current battle
The Darkside smashed its fist into the ground, creating a dark pool of darkest dark darkness. Shadows jumped forth in defense of the larger Heartless but were all immediately destroyed by the group as their attacks pushed on and knocked the Darkside back. Streams of darkness began to pour from it as if it struggled to even maintain its form. The Darkside used what strength left in it to swing its arm at the group, knocking them against the wall. "Ah! That smarts!" Torrin stood back up after recovering from the attack and retaliated with a jumping Blitz attack follow by a powerful upwards strike, finishing off the Darkside with the blow. Takehiko took 22 Damage! (7/75HP) Takehiko gained 5 MP from MP Rage! (15/20MP) Boreas took 19 Damage! (35/80HP) Torrin took 17 Damage! (92/155HP) Adalric took 38 Damage! (103/150HP) "Everyone good?" Torrin went to sit down with his back against the wall, eyeing the collapsed entrance. His keyblade vanished from his hand leaving the others in total darkness. Torrin placed his head in his hands and breathed in deep, combing his hair back before leaning his head back and looking at the others. His strength was already beginning to leave him after that last encounter. "We need to get out of here...we can't leave the others to fend for themselves." His eyes glowed yellow in the pitch black room as did his friend's. "I don't...uh...have the juice to keep lighting this place up. So if anyone wants to shine some light then be my guest." Mezmerella knocked one of the pillows Aria tossed her way with her hand, stunned that the girl was even trying to defeat her with pillows. "Seriously!?" She caught the second pillow. "The only one taking a nap here is you!" She knocked away the third pillow using the one she was holding as a shield. "And. I. Am. Not. CHEE-oh no." In her anger she hadn't realized that the girl had been closing in on her and stumbled back, still trying to use the pillow as a shield to defend herself. Mezmerella fell over, the pillow's stuffing flying everywhere, with a new gash in her costume. "How DARE you! You little brat!" Incognitus had assumed after Incredible had begun attacking the others Tinarah would just stay down. He began to approach Aria to assist Mezmerella when the blonde's tenacity surprised him. He did not have time to anticipate and counter her attack and instead conjured up a green barrier to stop Tinarah's attacks. "Not good enough." Just then a shard of ice broke through his barrier and knocked Incognitus right out of the building. The Blizzard spell had come from Thallasa, the woman's eyes cold and now set on Mezmerella. The villainess laughed nervously and tapped a button on the side of her goggles. "Alright! Show's over. We've had our fun. Enjoy our parting gift! Courtesy of a man with an outdated taste in hats! See ya!" She ran for the broken window and snapped her fingers. "Oh and I'm taking my new toy with me!" Both she and Mr. Incredible leapt out of the window and almost instantaneously as they did so several floating black bowler hats came into view. "Is...is that supposed to be a joke? Because I'm not laughing. She wasn't the clown, right?" Thallasa spoke up, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh well. Guess there's no harm in destroying them all." She aimed her keyblade at them. The hats were not happy. Enemies Remaining: 40 Helping Hats (6 AP)
The Darkside smashed its fist into the ground, creating a dark pool of darkest dark darkness. Shadows jumped forth in defense of the larger Heartless but were all immediately destroyed by the group as their attacks pushed on and knocked the Darkside back. Streams of darkness began to pour from it as if it struggled to even maintain its form. The Darkside used what strength left in it to swing its arm at the group, knocking them against the wall. "Ah! That smarts!" Torrin stood back up after recovering from the attack and retaliated with a jumping Blitz attack follow by a powerful upwards strike, finishing off the Darkside with the blow.
"Everyone good?" Torrin went to sit down with his back against the wall, eyeing the collapsed entrance. His keyblade vanished from his hand leaving the others in total darkness. Torrin placed his head in his hands and breathed in deep, combing his hair back before leaning his head back and looking at the others. His strength was already beginning to leave him after that last encounter. "We need to get out of here...we can't leave the others to fend for themselves." His eyes glowed yellow in the pitch black room as did his friend's. "I don't...uh...have the juice to keep lighting this place up. So if anyone wants to shine some light then be my guest." Mezmerella knocked one of the pillows Aria tossed her way with her hand, stunned that the girl was even trying to defeat her with pillows. "Seriously!?" She caught the second pillow. "The only one taking a nap here is you!" She knocked away the third pillow using the one she was holding as a shield. "And. I. Am. Not. CHEE-oh no." In her anger she hadn't realized that the girl had been closing in on her and stumbled back, still trying to use the pillow as a shield to defend herself. Mezmerella fell over, the pillow's stuffing flying everywhere, with a new gash in her costume. "How DARE you! You little brat!" Incognitus had assumed after Incredible had begun attacking the others Tinarah would just stay down. He began to approach Aria to assist Mezmerella when the blonde's tenacity surprised him. He did not have time to anticipate and counter her attack and instead conjured up a green barrier to stop Tinarah's attacks. "Not good enough." Just then a shard of ice broke through his barrier and knocked Incognitus right out of the building. The Blizzard spell had come from Thallasa, the woman's eyes cold and now set on Mezmerella. The villainess laughed nervously and tapped a button on the side of her goggles. "Alright! Show's over. We've had our fun. Enjoy our parting gift! Courtesy of a man with an outdated taste in hats! See ya!" She ran for the broken window and snapped her fingers. "Oh and I'm taking my new toy with me!" Both she and Mr. Incredible leapt out of the window and almost instantaneously as they did so several floating black bowler hats came into view. "Is...is that supposed to be a joke? Because I'm not laughing. She wasn't the clown, right?" Thallasa spoke up, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh well. Guess there's no harm in destroying them all." She aimed her keyblade at them. The hats were not happy. Enemies Remaining: 40 Helping Hats (6 AP)
"Dammit...seems like I'm close. K. C. M. X. D. A. C. R. C. A." He repeated the letters out loud again and rearranged the numbers mentally. Alder tried again. "1. 2. 9. 5. 6. 4. 0. 8. 3. 7."
"Dammit...seems like I'm close. K. C. M. X. D. A. C. R. C. A." He repeated the letters out loud again and rearranged the numbers mentally. Alder tried again. "1. 2. 9. 5. 6. 4. 0. 8. 3. 7."
"Good!" He called out once the Core was in place. Alder typed in the username Chrono had said earlier. A person named Chrono. It must have been why that was the name Aevum remembered--there was a hero named Chrono known to his world. Alder thought back to the numbers they were each assigned and sighed, knowing he would have to make a guess. "The password should be our numbers in some arrangement. The hint gave the first letters of our names in what I'm sure was a random order. Aevum being one of them instead of Chrono." Knowing he'd likely get it wrong on the first try he typed out the password, pausing when he realized 10 wasn't a single digit, panicking for a second, then substituting it with a 0. "1. 0. 9. 5. 6. 7. 3. 8. 2. 4"
"Good!" He called out once the Core was in place. Alder typed in the username Chrono had said earlier. A person named Chrono. It must have been why that was the name Aevum remembered--there was a hero named Chrono known to his world. Alder thought back to the numbers they were each assigned and sighed, knowing he would have to make a guess. "The password should be our numbers in some arrangement. The hint gave the first letters of our names in what I'm sure was a random order. Aevum being one of them instead of Chrono." Knowing he'd likely get it wrong on the first try he typed out the password, pausing when he realized 10 wasn't a single digit, panicking for a second, then substituting it with a 0. "1. 0. 9. 5. 6. 7. 3. 8. 2. 4"
Incognitus watched as Tinarah went after him, crouching as he prepared for her attack. "Good." He spoke softly, using one blade to fend off her attacks and parrying her second strike aimed at his legs to guide her keyblade farther down to scratch against the floor, barely missing his feet. He stepped on Tinarah's keyblade and vaulted over her, avoiding Qamar's attack as he did so before kicking the blonde into Qamar. "Kill them! Kill them all!" Mezmerella commanded. Mr. Incredible eyes followed Chrono after he avoided his punch and edged him on to keep attacking. He may have been under Mezmerella's control but he was not mindless and he had years of experience heroing under his belt to draw from. Rather than take the bait, Mr. Incredible stepped over towards the smashed stone table and grinned menacingly. He picked up a piece and tossed it up in his hand and catch it. Mr. Incredible then began to pelt the group with the shattered remains of the table at incredible speeds, tearing through walls when the missed. One of the stones stuck Glyde, knocking him clear across the room. Chrono: 15/65HP, 2/20MP Glyde: 5/50HP, 0/20MP Aria: 46/65HP, 0/20MP Tinarah: 35/55HP, 0/20MP Illiana: 42/45HP, 20/20MP Qamar: 30/50HP, 20/30MP
Incognitus watched as Tinarah went after him, crouching as he prepared for her attack. "Good." He spoke softly, using one blade to fend off her attacks and parrying her second strike aimed at his legs to guide her keyblade farther down to scratch against the floor, barely missing his feet. He stepped on Tinarah's keyblade and vaulted over her, avoiding Qamar's attack as he did so before kicking the blonde into Qamar. "Kill them! Kill them all!" Mezmerella commanded. Mr. Incredible eyes followed Chrono after he avoided his punch and edged him on to keep attacking. He may have been under Mezmerella's control but he was not mindless and he had years of experience heroing under his belt to draw from. Rather than take the bait, Mr. Incredible stepped over towards the smashed stone table and grinned menacingly. He picked up a piece and tossed it up in his hand and catch it. Mr. Incredible then began to pelt the group with the shattered remains of the table at incredible speeds, tearing through walls when the missed. One of the stones stuck Glyde, knocking him clear across the room.
"You know, I never asked about why you're doing this. I mean, I know you have a good reason, obviously but..." Koa scratched the back of his head and folded his arms, leaning back in his chair as he eyed Chrys. "Yeah. It never really came up with you. Funny considering that you've been here longer than us." Avra added. "Well I suppose you've got me curious as well." Zeno stated. "So what's up with you? I mean, I got in this mess because my own world was nearly destroyed by darkness. So many people I cared for nearly died and I didn't want to feel that powerless ever again. I didn't want to worry that the next time it happens, we won't be so lucky and everything would be lost to darkness." Torrin raised an eyebrow and breathed out in relief. No one was harmed and other than getting showered in bear stuffing, nothing had happened. There was a note that came from the destruction of the bear that contained a rather poor joke that Take read aloud, causing Torrin to roll his eyes. No one would laugh at that kind of joke. ...Except for the fact that Take found the whole thing amusing enough to burst out into a wild laughter. Something he hadn't anticipated was in the boy's personality. The kid seemed to be less serious than he initially thought. "Seriously?" Torrin shook his head. "I really didn't think you were one to fall for a bad pun." Torrin mused. "Glad you're still in...one...piece." His eyes widened on coming to the realization of what he could just see, shocked that he had not seen it sooner. 'Damn...Not you too.' "Alright, you've had your fun. Let's get out of here." He flicked a piece of cotton stuck to his coat and turned around, intending to head out when the tunnels shook. Pebbles dropped from the ceiling causing Torrin to look up and stop in his tracks. "You didn't reeeeaaaally think we'd leave it here did you?" The clown's voice echoed through the tunnels. "How do you feel about a little game? Hm? A race sounds fun! Get out of these tunnels before my toys kill your friends and you can watch them die!" "No!" Torrin threw his keyblade in front of him making it transform into a glider which was almost immediately smashed by the tunnel collapsing before them. Torrin backed off to keep from getting crushed by the falling debris, summoning his keyblade back into his hand to light the area back up once they were sealed in. "Nonono..." He growled and stepped back several more steps before extending his palm but he felt nothing come when he called for his magic. The light from his keyblade began to dim. "Dammit you stupid clown! If you wanted a fight you should've come after me!" He shouted into the air. His challenge was met with silence. Torrin's frustration at being caved in was soon directed elsewhere when a sudden influx of darkness came from behind the group towards the opposite end of their former exit. Out from a large pool of darkness came a large hand. Then another. Then tendrils. A Darkside pulled itself from the ground, its head bumping against the ceiling making the Heartless hunch over towards the group. "I am not in the mood!" Darkside: 160/160HP Adalric: 141/145HP, 15/30MP Boreas: 54/80HP, 11/30MP Torrin: 109/155HP, 0/50MP Takehiko: 29/75HP, 10/20MP, 0/3DP Mezmerella jumped backwards, flipping in the air, to avoid Aria's attack and proving to be just as agile as the keyblade wielders. She ducked under one of Tinarah's attacks and jumped back again, putting herself at the edge where the window used to be. She rolled to the side to get some distance from the girls attacking her so she wouldn't be pushed off the edge of the mansion floor. "Incognitus! A little help here!" She shouted towards the masked man in white. Just as she called out for assistance, another brat came charging at her but she had gotten fed up of being pushed around by that point and decided to step into action herself, leaping high into the air and delivering a spinning downward kick onto Glyde as he ran at her. Incognitus deflected Qamar's attack with one of his blades and, using the other, stabbed at Qamar. Without giving any indication of preparing another attack, two blue blades comprised of some kind of magic appeared at Incognitus's waist pointing outwards and begun spinning around him to cut at Qamar if she remained close to him. The man turned his head towards Aria and Tinarah and launched the two magical blades at the two girls. Mr. Incredible kicked one of Edna's chairs into the path of Illiana with such speed and power that it broke through the wall it crashed through. The super then picked up another, tossing it at Chrono before charging at the white haired boy with more speed than one would have expected from such a large man, throwing a punch right at him.
"You know, I never asked about why you're doing this. I mean, I know you have a good reason, obviously but..." Koa scratched the back of his head and folded his arms, leaning back in his chair as he eyed Chrys. "Yeah. It never really came up with you. Funny considering that you've been here longer than us." Avra added. "Well I suppose you've got me curious as well." Zeno stated. "So what's up with you? I mean, I got in this mess because my own world was nearly destroyed by darkness. So many people I cared for nearly died and I didn't want to feel that powerless ever again. I didn't want to worry that the next time it happens, we won't be so lucky and everything would be lost to darkness."
Torrin raised an eyebrow and breathed out in relief. No one was harmed and other than getting showered in bear stuffing, nothing had happened. There was a note that came from the destruction of the bear that contained a rather poor joke that Take read aloud, causing Torrin to roll his eyes. No one would laugh at that kind of joke. ...Except for the fact that Take found the whole thing amusing enough to burst out into a wild laughter. Something he hadn't anticipated was in the boy's personality. The kid seemed to be less serious than he initially thought. "Seriously?" Torrin shook his head. "I really didn't think you were one to fall for a bad pun." Torrin mused. "Glad you're still in...one...piece." His eyes widened on coming to the realization of what he could just see, shocked that he had not seen it sooner. 'Damn...Not you too.' "Alright, you've had your fun. Let's get out of here." He flicked a piece of cotton stuck to his coat and turned around, intending to head out when the tunnels shook. Pebbles dropped from the ceiling causing Torrin to look up and stop in his tracks. "You didn't reeeeaaaally think we'd leave it here did you?" The clown's voice echoed through the tunnels. "How do you feel about a little game? Hm? A race sounds fun! Get out of these tunnels before my toys kill your friends and you can watch them die!" "No!" Torrin threw his keyblade in front of him making it transform into a glider which was almost immediately smashed by the tunnel collapsing before them. Torrin backed off to keep from getting crushed by the falling debris, summoning his keyblade back into his hand to light the area back up once they were sealed in. "Nonono..." He growled and stepped back several more steps before extending his palm but he felt nothing come when he called for his magic. The light from his keyblade began to dim. "Dammit you stupid clown! If you wanted a fight you should've come after me!" He shouted into the air. His challenge was met with silence. Torrin's frustration at being caved in was soon directed elsewhere when a sudden influx of darkness came from behind the group towards the opposite end of their former exit. Out from a large pool of darkness came a large hand. Then another. Then tendrils. A Darkside pulled itself from the ground, its head bumping against the ceiling making the Heartless hunch over towards the group. "I am not in the mood!"
Suddenly the music stopped. "I think you should step back, Take. Before somethi-" A sinister sound mimicking laughter came from the bear. Before Torrin could pull Take away it was already too late. The bear exploded...in a poof of stuffing harmlessly showering the group of four in its white fluff. "Um...that is not what I expected at all..." Torrin pulled a piece of cotton from his coat and stared at it for a long moment, not even sure what to make of it. The large window overlooking the city shattered suddenly. In jumped the man in the mask and a costumed woman wearing goggles. Immediately Mr. Incredible called out the woman's name by shouting, "Mezmerella!" "Long time no see, Mr. Incredible! Did you enjoy the party favors we left for you earlier?" The woman spoke with a grin on her face. "So you were involved as well! Looks like you missed the point of getting the drop on someone. You're outnumbered eight to two! It's jail time for you, Mezmerella. The same goes for everyone you're working with!" Mr. Incredible spoke smugly. "Find cover, Ms. Mode. This will be over before you know it." "Gah! You've brought villains into my home, Incredible! I knew should have had those security measures installed!" Edna shouted angrily as she took off leaving the room. "Actually, it's three against seven." The masked man spoke calmly, his blades already out in his hands. Mr. Incredible laughed. "See kids? This is what happens when you don't stay in school. Not only do you succumb to a life of crime you also become bad at counting!" "Oh are you so sure about that?" Mezmerella extended her hand and the spirals on her goggles started to spin. A wave of energy was released from her hand and struck Mr. Incredible but it did not even cause him to move a muscle. He appeared unfazed. Mr. Incredible turned stepped forward slowly and picked up the marble table sitting in the center as if it was nothing more than a paper weight. He then spun and threw it in the direction of the keyblade wielders.
Suddenly the music stopped. "I think you should step back, Take. Before somethi-" A sinister sound mimicking laughter came from the bear. Before Torrin could pull Take away it was already too late. The bear exploded...in a poof of stuffing harmlessly showering the group of four in its white fluff. "Um...that is not what I expected at all..." Torrin pulled a piece of cotton from his coat and stared at it for a long moment, not even sure what to make of it. The large window overlooking the city shattered suddenly. In jumped the man in the mask and a costumed woman wearing goggles. Immediately Mr. Incredible called out the woman's name by shouting, "Mezmerella!" "Long time no see, Mr. Incredible! Did you enjoy the party favors we left for you earlier?" The woman spoke with a grin on her face. "So you were involved as well! Looks like you missed the point of getting the drop on someone. You're outnumbered eight to two! It's jail time for you, Mezmerella. The same goes for everyone you're working with!" Mr. Incredible spoke smugly. "Find cover, Ms. Mode. This will be over before you know it." "Gah! You've brought villains into my home, Incredible! I knew should have had those security measures installed!" Edna shouted angrily as she took off leaving the room. "Actually, it's three against seven." The masked man spoke calmly, his blades already out in his hands. Mr. Incredible laughed. "See kids? This is what happens when you don't stay in school. Not only do you succumb to a life of crime you also become bad at counting!" "Oh are you so sure about that?" Mezmerella extended her hand and the spirals on her goggles started to spin. A wave of energy was released from her hand and struck Mr. Incredible but it did not even cause him to move a muscle. He appeared unfazed. Mr. Incredible turned stepped forward slowly and picked up the marble table sitting in the center as if it was nothing more than a paper weight. He then spun and threw it in the direction of the keyblade wielders.
Torrin nodded at Adalric's response. He wasn't too happy with the answer he got but it was a good one nonetheless. It just came down to a difference of opinion at this point. The light from Torrin's keyblade dimmed slightly. Soon they came across another junction where the paths diverged, this time splitting into three separate tunnels. Torrin narrowed his eyes and glared at the paths before them feeling that it would be next to impossible to find the inhibitor at this point. He stopped and listened to Take's comment on Torrin's own lack of transparency before being questioned on his whereabouts after dropping Aria off. "I made a short return trip to the edge of the Realm of Darkness to recover my strength. After one of my last battles with the Light Chaser left me injured and drained of a significant portion of my power, going back was the only way I could heal properly." He answered, touched a hand to his forehead to and closing his eyes for a moment to refocus. Just stay awake. The second the Magitek device is destroyed everything will go back to normal. He brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes and motioned towards the leftmost tunnel. "When I started this fight, I thought a war of attrition would have done the job but that strategy failed and by the time I realized it wouldn't work..." He trailed off. "If I could have done things over, I would have urged every keyblade master and their students to wage an all out assault against the Light Chaser. One battle. Quick and easy." As they walked a distant echo of gears being cranked could be heard down the tunnel. Torrin picked up his pace. The sound suddenly stopped. Then came ticking. And then...music. The path ahead was caved in and sitting in front of the rubble was a human-sized stuffed teddy bear with a wind-up key turning slowly in its back. Torrin blinked. He looked at the others then at the bear, raising an eyebrow. "Uh...that's...uh...okay?"
Torrin nodded at Adalric's response. He wasn't too happy with the answer he got but it was a good one nonetheless. It just came down to a difference of opinion at this point. The light from Torrin's keyblade dimmed slightly. Soon they came across another junction where the paths diverged, this time splitting into three separate tunnels. Torrin narrowed his eyes and glared at the paths before them feeling that it would be next to impossible to find the inhibitor at this point. He stopped and listened to Take's comment on Torrin's own lack of transparency before being questioned on his whereabouts after dropping Aria off. "I made a short return trip to the edge of the Realm of Darkness to recover my strength. After one of my last battles with the Light Chaser left me injured and drained of a significant portion of my power, going back was the only way I could heal properly." He answered, touched a hand to his forehead to and closing his eyes for a moment to refocus. Just stay awake. The second the Magitek device is destroyed everything will go back to normal. He brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes and motioned towards the leftmost tunnel. "When I started this fight, I thought a war of attrition would have done the job but that strategy failed and by the time I realized it wouldn't work..." He trailed off. "If I could have done things over, I would have urged every keyblade master and their students to wage an all out assault against the Light Chaser. One battle. Quick and easy." As they walked a distant echo of gears being cranked could be heard down the tunnel. Torrin picked up his pace. The sound suddenly stopped. Then came ticking. And then...music. The path ahead was caved in and sitting in front of the rubble was a human-sized stuffed teddy bear with a wind-up key turning slowly in its back. Torrin blinked. He looked at the others then at the bear, raising an eyebrow. "Uh...that's...uh...okay?"
Alder had done his best to reconstruct the Extractor from the broken parts lying around. The frame that held the core was something difficult to piece together but from the schematics he at least had an idea of how to put everything together. The pipes that made up the "throat" were still dented and just barely fit together to hook up with the console by the time he reconnected them and it looked more like a disaster than a functioning piece of equipment but...from what he knew it would work. Barely. But it would work. "The core should be placed in here. Hurry!" He gestured to the newly constructed frame for Chrono to come over. "Once we've got power to the console we can start making guesses to the password." He looked over at Mora, having not paid attention to what was going on around them at that time. Something was off about her. Whatever was going on he could not pay it any attention. He wanted to help but every second spent doing something else was a second away from the Extractor that they could not afford to lose.
Alder had done his best to reconstruct the Extractor from the broken parts lying around. The frame that held the core was something difficult to piece together but from the schematics he at least had an idea of how to put everything together. The pipes that made up the "throat" were still dented and just barely fit together to hook up with the console by the time he reconnected them and it looked more like a disaster than a functioning piece of equipment but...from what he knew it would work. Barely. But it would work. "The core should be placed in here. Hurry!" He gestured to the newly constructed frame for Chrono to come over. "Once we've got power to the console we can start making guesses to the password." He looked over at Mora, having not paid attention to what was going on around them at that time. Something was off about her. Whatever was going on he could not pay it any attention. He wanted to help but every second spent doing something else was a second away from the Extractor that they could not afford to lose.
"If there are mines down here, let's make sure not to set them off. Last thing we need is to get caved in." He raised his keyblade higher to light the way farther ahead as the group walked on. "I don't even know if it was that clown who set up the device. It could've been someone else who wasn't on the rooftops. My guess is that whatever device they have set up isn't small considering the radius of effect it must have. I'm sure we won't miss it once we're in the same area." After another minute of walking they reached a fork in the tunnels, the tracks splitting left and right. Torrin stopped and sighed, first pointing his keyblade in the direction of the tunnel on the left then on the right to light. Neither seemed to be a dead end. Who knew how far these tunnels went? How long would it take for them to search them all? "Left. We're not splitting up now." He started walking again and glanced over at the others, eyeing the student from the Council that came along with them. "Adalric, right?" Torrin looked forward once more. "I'm not a fan of the roundabout way your people are having us go to reach the next Princess. I'm used to masters being a bit more...direct. This kind of scheming feels too much like what I've seen when facing against the Light Chaser. Too many secrets." "Thank you darling." Edna spoke with a small smile on her face, walking forward quickly before she turned to get a good look at the rest of the group. "And what are their abilities?" She questioned. "They..." Master Thallasa stepped forward to answer for the students and looked over at them before returning her attention to Edna. "They can use magic." "Magicians?" Edna sounded unimpressed, likely conjuring up images of performers pulling out rabbits from oversized top hats. "Not quite. They each can harness the power of the elements." Thallasa explained, purposefully leaving out the detail of the keyblade from the brief description. "I see..." Edna narrowed her eyes and held her hands up, using her fingers to frame each of the students in the rectangular space between her fingers. "Hm...yes..." She picked up a sketchbook and began to jot down notes on each of them, speaking aloud to herself with no regard to what the others thought. "The cloaked one...too timid! Soft! Lanky! We must make you bolder! And you! Boy with white hair...too boring! If your hair did not stick out everyone would have forgotten you by now! Yes! A majestic cape would go well with you." She scribbled down the notes quickly, making measurements of the bunch with just her eyes as they darted up at the group and back down at her sketchbook rapidly. "Too sweet. No one will take you seriously. What did you dye your hair with to get it to look so natural, darling? You must tell me what you used. Ah! Black. Yes..." Her eyes then shifted over towards Illiana. "Hm..." She paused and tapped her finger against her chin then glanced at Tinarah then Qamar. "Quite girl heavy, your group. I appreciate that but where are the dynamics?" On her paper, she jotted down 'the blonde is a musician' hastily. "Something green for the brunette...and for the one in purple...so much purple...whoever designed that outfit really should throw themselves into a fire I'm sure that would be more artful." She lowered her voice and mumbled to herself. "Uh. Don't worry about her. She always gets like this when designing new costumes." Mr. Incredible laughed nervously upon hearing how harsh Edna was being.
"If there are mines down here, let's make sure not to set them off. Last thing we need is to get caved in." He raised his keyblade higher to light the way farther ahead as the group walked on. "I don't even know if it was that clown who set up the device. It could've been someone else who wasn't on the rooftops. My guess is that whatever device they have set up isn't small considering the radius of effect it must have. I'm sure we won't miss it once we're in the same area." After another minute of walking they reached a fork in the tunnels, the tracks splitting left and right. Torrin stopped and sighed, first pointing his keyblade in the direction of the tunnel on the left then on the right to light. Neither seemed to be a dead end. Who knew how far these tunnels went? How long would it take for them to search them all? "Left. We're not splitting up now." He started walking again and glanced over at the others, eyeing the student from the Council that came along with them. "Adalric, right?" Torrin looked forward once more. "I'm not a fan of the roundabout way your people are having us go to reach the next Princess. I'm used to masters being a bit more...direct. This kind of scheming feels too much like what I've seen when facing against the Light Chaser. Too many secrets." "Thank you darling." Edna spoke with a small smile on her face, walking forward quickly before she turned to get a good look at the rest of the group. "And what are their abilities?" She questioned. "They..." Master Thallasa stepped forward to answer for the students and looked over at them before returning her attention to Edna. "They can use magic." "Magicians?" Edna sounded unimpressed, likely conjuring up images of performers pulling out rabbits from oversized top hats. "Not quite. They each can harness the power of the elements." Thallasa explained, purposefully leaving out the detail of the keyblade from the brief description. "I see..." Edna narrowed her eyes and held her hands up, using her fingers to frame each of the students in the rectangular space between her fingers. "Hm...yes..." She picked up a sketchbook and began to jot down notes on each of them, speaking aloud to herself with no regard to what the others thought. "The cloaked one...too timid! Soft! Lanky! We must make you bolder! And you! Boy with white hair...too boring! If your hair did not stick out everyone would have forgotten you by now! Yes! A majestic cape would go well with you." She scribbled down the notes quickly, making measurements of the bunch with just her eyes as they darted up at the group and back down at her sketchbook rapidly. "Too sweet. No one will take you seriously. What did you dye your hair with to get it to look so natural, darling? You must tell me what you used. Ah! Black. Yes..." Her eyes then shifted over towards Illiana. "Hm..." She paused and tapped her finger against her chin then glanced at Tinarah then Qamar. "Quite girl heavy, your group. I appreciate that but where are the dynamics?" On her paper, she jotted down 'the blonde is a musician' hastily. "Something green for the brunette...and for the one in purple...so much purple...whoever designed that outfit really should throw themselves into a fire I'm sure that would be more artful." She lowered her voice and mumbled to herself. "Uh. Don't worry about her. She always gets like this when designing new costumes." Mr. Incredible laughed nervously upon hearing how harsh Edna was being.
Torrin raised an eyebrow at Take's comments, smirking at the thought of the villains playing a game at a retirement home. "Really? That's quite an imagination you've got there." They stopped in front of a sealed doorway that lead to the tunnels below. Torrin summoned his keyblade and casually tapped it against the door hearing a faint click from within the locking mechanism as he did so before making his keyblade disappear. "The way things have played out so far, I'd be surprised if there was any moves we could make that wouldn't lead to a trap." Torrin commented as he headed down the tunnel and into the darkness below. Realizing the two from the Realm of Light would have trouble seeing Torrin once more summoned his keyblade and used what little magical reserves he had to light the tip of it. Even doing that much strained him. "Alright...now if I was a magical inhibitor...where would I be?" There were only two ways to go. Left and right. "Reminds me of the tunnels back home." Torrin commented. "The only reason battles were ever put on hold were to retreat underground when the Heartless came. Nothing like growing up with living hazards." He mused. "Well...if it is a trap, I don't think we should be splitting up into groups of two. Strength in numbers, right Boreas?" "Nonsense! You kids were great out there!" Mr. Incredible responded towards Tinarah on her comment about them not being heroes. "With some more practice, I'm sure you kids will be real heroes someday." The man turned towards Illiana and raised an eyebrow. "So you guys really haven't heard of Edna Mode? The Edna Mode? Well she's only the most recognized name in all of superhero fashion! Where do you think these incredible threads came from? Edna of course." He chuckled. "Look, you guys will love her. She's the best." Finally the group arrived at the entrance to her mansion. The door opened and out stepped the black haired woman known as Edna Mode looking to be even shorter than she did onscreen. "Incredible! Darling it's good to see you. Come come. Bring your friends." The woman motioned for everyone to enter. Once the group passed through the entrance hall they were greeted with a wide open space. Large windows gave everyone a view of the outside from atop the hill the mansion was situated. Behind them a white stone wall had been embossed with imagery of great ancient heroes.
Torrin raised an eyebrow at Take's comments, smirking at the thought of the villains playing a game at a retirement home. "Really? That's quite an imagination you've got there." They stopped in front of a sealed doorway that lead to the tunnels below. Torrin summoned his keyblade and casually tapped it against the door hearing a faint click from within the locking mechanism as he did so before making his keyblade disappear. "The way things have played out so far, I'd be surprised if there was any moves we could make that wouldn't lead to a trap." Torrin commented as he headed down the tunnel and into the darkness below. Realizing the two from the Realm of Light would have trouble seeing Torrin once more summoned his keyblade and used what little magical reserves he had to light the tip of it. Even doing that much strained him. "Alright...now if I was a magical inhibitor...where would I be?" There were only two ways to go. Left and right. "Reminds me of the tunnels back home." Torrin commented. "The only reason battles were ever put on hold were to retreat underground when the Heartless came. Nothing like growing up with living hazards." He mused. "Well...if it is a trap, I don't think we should be splitting up into groups of two. Strength in numbers, right Boreas?" "Nonsense! You kids were great out there!" Mr. Incredible responded towards Tinarah on her comment about them not being heroes. "With some more practice, I'm sure you kids will be real heroes someday." The man turned towards Illiana and raised an eyebrow. "So you guys really haven't heard of Edna Mode? The Edna Mode? Well she's only the most recognized name in all of superhero fashion! Where do you think these incredible threads came from? Edna of course." He chuckled. "Look, you guys will love her. She's the best." Finally the group arrived at the entrance to her mansion. The door opened and out stepped the black haired woman known as Edna Mode looking to be even shorter than she did onscreen. "Incredible! Darling it's good to see you. Come come. Bring your friends." The woman motioned for everyone to enter. Once the group passed through the entrance hall they were greeted with a wide open space. Large windows gave everyone a view of the outside from atop the hill the mansion was situated. Behind them a white stone wall had been embossed with imagery of great ancient heroes.
I knew Stiers mostly from MASH since I grew up watching it. Alongside Hawkeye, his "MAJOR CHARLES EMERSON WINCHESTER THE THIRD" was my favorite character and the seasons he was in the show were easily MASH's best seasons. He even made an appearance in Star Trek The Next Generation where his character had a tragic fate. Rest in peace, David Ogden Stiers.
