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Keeping his head down, Cerdic tried to make quick work of moving the rock, tossing them off to the side, barely paying enough attention to make sure that they didn't hit anyone else. If they could get this dealt with sooner rather than later, he would be happy, the threat of heartless or Ria showing up making him rather nervous. As everyone jumped into help, Cerdic had hoped one would have stood watch, but without anyone doing that he just figured they needed to work faster.

A small grunt and then a thump, Cerdic turned around just to see Mora try to pull herself back on top of the cliff. He dropped the rock he was holding and ran towards the girl as quick as he could. "Hold on Mora, I've got you." Nearing her he dropped to the ground beside the cliffs edge and reached a hand for Mora. Cerdic for a moment looked over the cliff, paling at the sight of the long fall down before turning away and closing his eyes, trying to grab Mora's hand to pull her away from the cliff to safety. ​

Auburn was just reaching for the side door when she heard a voice and spun around to see Lazuli standing there, the guy who had tried to talk to her on the ride here. At that point their conversation was short lived, not really having time to talk to the boy. Why would he care now though? Just as she was trying to leave now she was worth talking more to apparently. Slowly Auburn turned to look at the other boy, her fingers fidgeting, intertwining with her shirt as she looked at him quietly for a moment, clueless on how to approach this.

"I-I was just leaving... getting out of your way before I could make another amateur mistake and put more people in danger with it." She informed him in her small quiet voice, barely looking up at the boy. She kept her eyes down turned, like she did most of the time she had been there, confidence clearly wasn't her strong suite. "I was just going to find a way home, leave the hero work to my father. He is the real hero, not me." She added turning back to the door. She wondered what her father would think of her leaving. Would he be upset with her? He had always supported her, more than she could ever repay him for. He was her biggest idol, and she always wanted to be like him, but now...now she thought she could never be good enough, never live up to that legacy, so why even try?

Returning to the Pridelands, they met up with Nala again and started to formulate a plan. The plan that they were formulating however didn't sound like a good one. Live bait... as in all of those who were prey, not predators. She looked over at one of her teammates, and Kaida, who she had grown quite fond of. Timon and Pumbaa were also dragged into this crazy scheme, and while it wasn't going to be fun, they had to at least try. If this is what it took to get Simba to do what he needed to do, then so be it.

As they got ready to do some spur of the moment, impromptu baiting, Aux and Hikaru seemed to be a bit concerned about the plan and Kaida, the latter more than the former. Meanwhile Aux was making some snide comments towards her. While Aislinn would have loved to ram him in the face, she knew that it wasn't the most ideal thing to do at the time, instead being the better person and turning towards Kaida."If you want to sit on my back, we can watch out for each other after this mess is done with." Aislinn suggested, perhaps it would make Hikaru feel a little better about things. If they hyena's caught them, Aux would get his wish and she would buy Kaida a bit more time to escape.

"So are you ready to dance the hula?"​

After saying her name Torrin began to pepper her with questions, searching her face for something he recognized. Tinarah's head was spinning as it was as she nodded to confirm that she was indeed Chrono's sister. However he said only two days had passed, Tinarah would have found it weird if she hadn't had her fill of time travel already. She had been to the past, and what she assumed the future, as well as existing in another realm. For it to have been only two days in this world shouldn't have surprised her at all, but it still did, slightly.

As soon as Torrin started questioning her, Master Atmos walked up, deactivating her armour so that Tinarah could see her face. "Master Atmos... You're... here..." Tinarah nearly said alive, but she had to remember where she was, what time she was in. There was another pain in her stomach and Tinarah curled up on her side, holding it. She hadn't thought of how painful starving herself would be. She had gone maybe a few days while eating minimal amounts of food but a month eating next to nothing, followed by a week of nothing, that was something she never wished to do again, though she had no regrets on doing it.

The longer they were there, the more Torrin's tone changed, the more he started to question her, wanting her to prove who she was. The other man, one she remembered as Torrin's right hand man, from the other realm, walked up also looking down at her. With all three facing her, and Tinarah in such bad shape, she grew uncomfortable. At least Boreas this time was helping her slightly, trying to get Torrin to settle for less. Tinarah would prefer none of this questioning, but she supposed after being gone for two days and coming back as 18 when she left at the age of 12, was something that would concern many.

"Master Stamatis." It slipped out before she could realize what she was saying. She should have known that he wasn't looking for the Master she trained with while she was gone, but the one she trained with before. "No... Sorry, Master Choma trained me when we met." She cleared up before turning to the next question. Her mind flashed to the second time meeting Torrin, same place as the first time, but it held a different sense of fear, one that made her realize she had to keep talking, keep moving before that Torrin managed to find her, laying here on the beach she would be easy target, she wouldn't be able to catch Torrin by surprise again and escape. "The mansion.... In Eventide..." She told him closing her eyes for a moment. She didn't seem to be doing too well, she wasn't holding much of a conversation and she seemed to be losing energy and fast. ​

I am so signing up!

Another man jumped in the water and went to help Gero, meanwhile that meant that Torrin was coming her way. Tinarah tried not to seem to uncomfortable with that thought as he grabbed her and helped drag her from the water. When they were in shallow enough water that she could stand, Tinarah tried to help Torrin a bit, putting some weight on her own two feet. It was clear however that she wasn't going to be walking very far very fast as she shivered, dragging her feet along.

The moment they reached the shore, she let Torrin put her down, and Tinarah laid on her back looking up at the sky. Warmth came from a fire spell and Tinarah found herself moving closer to it, trying to gather the warmth, sitting up only slightly. She put a hand to her head trying to make the fuzzy dizziness go away long enough to interact. Instead she was forced to push her way through it to talk. The woman spoke first however and Tinarah found herself a little shocked to recognize the voice of the armoured woman, if vaguely.

"Master... Atmos?" Tinarah questioned, feeling a little more confident that she was in her own timeline. Master Atmos however was more preoccupied with Gero, meanwhile Torrin was more interested in her. Apparently Gero seemed very important and Tinarah was a little surprised. She knew he was formerly a keyblade Master, but the way Atmos spoke, it seemed like he was more than that. She looked over to the unconscious man as Torrin asked who she was and what they had come through. It gave her a little confidence that this Torrin wouldn't hurt her, at least not yet.

Tinarah looked up at him wiping some dirt from her face as it ran down with the water. She didn't want to imagine how horrible she looked right now. She could feel her stomach twist, and make sounds. "I know who you are...." She said quietly as she looked away for a moment. "I know... I have met you before." She admitted. She had no clue how long she had been gone, not even sure if she was in the right realm, but she had to hope she was. "Tinarah... As for what we came through though, I don't know. Gero created it using my keyblade." She informed him trying to be at least a little helpful. ​

The heartless like things were cleared out enough that they were able to start moving forward, following Mora, but keeping close in case any heartless decided to show up and make their lives even more of a living hell. As they ran, Cerdic took a quick assessment of everyone there, they all seemed to be doing fine still, all safe, though he had caused Daeni to lose her scarf thing, he didn't think that was a big deal. He merely shrugged it off as they continued to go.

Soon they managed to make it to a cave that had caved in. Apparently the extractor was in there, meaning they had to get to work. Cerdic was more than glad for his keyblade armour, it would keep his clothes from getting dirty and his hands from getting scratched up. He could polish the armour later, when they were safe. For now however Cerdic just worried about getting out of the open and into that cave before Ria managed to catch up with them. The heartless had taken no time to find them last time, it was likely that it was going to be the same this time. ​

Stepping out the other side of the portal Tinarah instantly found herself falling, unable to keep hold on Gero as they hit the water. The cold of the water shocked her for a moment, enough that she could somewhat register that she needed to do something or else she would drown. Glancing around she tried to see if Gero managed to swim, before she noticed someone run into the water, likely to help them. Tinarah tried to swim towards him a bit but after only swimming forward a couple feet she found herself shaky and too weak to keep going, she focused more on keeping her head above water as she scanned the shore to see two more people standing there as well.

"Help him... please." She was at least floating for now but Gero was barely able to walk when they had left, there was no way that he could swim in. As the figure got closer however, Tinarah recognized who it was. She panicked for a moment that he had found her too soon, but then after a second look she realized he was younger, her realms Torrin probably, and while she didn't trust him, she hoped he wouldn't hurt her. Tinarah didn't know what lay beneath the kind facade that he had when they had brought him with them to safety, but he might be her only way of not drowning. The realm thing still didn't make much sense to Tinarah, she didn't know if this realms Torrin would have the same heart or ambitions as the other realms, but at least he likely wouldn't be as powerful at this age, there was still time to stop it, though they had the Light Chaser to stop first.

As Tinarah floated however waiting for help to come her head started to spin again and she found herself sinking slightly. Her head went under a couple times but she manage to get it back up. How much longer she could keep that up though, Tinarah didn't know, long enough to get to shore she hoped.​

Little Miss HotHead, Kiara wanted to deny it, but well it wasn't worth it at that point. "You might have got the jump on me, but you know I thought I would shake things up and trust my team. Apparently that was too much to ask though." She said rolling her eyes. Kiara knew it wasn't Arctus' fault and she was as much to blame for it, but she wasn't one to just admit that outright. Arctus then suggested a rematch. Kiara smiled a little bit. "I would like that, but this time a fair match, no sneaking up and attacking from behind." She warned him as her attention turned back to Finlay.

Soon they headed out and came across those standing guard at the front. The sight of Uniform instantly got Kiara worked up a little, sparks coming to her finger tips, but she didn't bother taking the attack. Instead she turned to Arctus. "Little Miss HotHead won't act out this time, be by guest Arctus." Kiara made a dramatic bow to him waving him forward so that he had nothing to complain about her. ​

Teliana was the first one to respond when Dayla had come down. Apparently their plan was to wait for the witchers and then see what they were doing since they were going after a witcher, which brought up another question, one that Alyse asked her, why were they doing this? Dayla shrugged and let out a sigh in response. "I don't know, you asked, being a barmaid never has been my speed. I don't know, lets just make sure we get away with it, okay? If we get arrested, who will run the bar?" It wasn't a big deal who would run the bar, Dayla didn't actually care. In the end what she cared about was repercussions of getting caught for her personally. Dayla didn't even care that much for her bar, it was a cover life that she began to get bored of.

Soon one of the witchers showed up and Dayla was a little weary as he eyed her up, commenting on how well prepared she was. He asked what she did before and Dayla didn't feel comfortable sharing that information, not yet anyways. Flashing him a fake smile she responded to him "Oh nothing. I have always run a bar, but you know being a little ol' girl in a big city, one needs to protect themselves." Dayla said clearly not telling the truth but the glare she gave Derrick was a clear enough indication she didn't want to be questioned on it, and she knew how to use the weapons that she wielded. She then walked over a leaned against the wall to her tavern, glancing at the window above to try and see if anyone was watching, when satisfied she grabbed out one of her knives and started just playing with it while they waited to go. ​

Lucian rolled his eyes. "I know the area." He had to work in that area enough that it was hard to not be familiar with it. It brought about enough trouble that he was shipped of there to deal with situations every now and then. The man then offered to tell him why, and while Lucian normally didn't care, it would be good for his job to know what was going on. "Sure you can fill me in on the way. If I am going to save your sorry butts, I would at least like to know why." He stated flashing a smile in Kara's direction as she made a comment of Dylan not wanting his pretty face cut.

He couldn't help but laugh a little bit at that. "I am sure his face will be fine. I am pretty damn good at hitting things after all." Lucian stated as he glanced quickly at Kara's mechanical arm. He didn't mind the arm thing, after all he had a mechanical eye. "I think I can manage that, and I will be sure to make the fighting an evil legion thing more interesting, because as much as you like to think it. I know you aren't that helpless girly. If you were you wouldn't have been able to keep up with me back at the bar." Lucian pointed out before turning to the door. "Are we don't with the chit chat then? Lets go."​

The other guide would be Renza, that had Everette a little worried. He didn't know if he should be taking this little girl around with them, but at the same time, the fresh air might be good compared to being inside helping the sick people. Everette rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Conrad asking if they should split up. It wasn't Conrad that he worried about but he still had to take a moment to consider. Conrad made a good point on how they should split up and how it would be quicker, and that could work to their advantage, however experience had told him to never split the party.

"We will split up for now, but we meet back here in an hour, no longer. If there is still stuff to collect after that then we will talk about it then." Everette instructed before turning towards Sam. "That goes for you too, I want to see you out here taking a break in an hour, we will regroup and reassess then." He told the other boy before turning back to the chieftain. "Up to you who takes who." Everette shrugged letting the chief decide if Renza should stick with him or go outside the city walls with Conrad to see the cattle.


Thea listened to the man when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up a little surprised she saw Maliel shake her head as a warning against her playing with the flame. Thea pouted a little bit as she let the ribbon of flame drift back into the fire place. Thea rocked on her feet getting kind of bored of the conversation but there wasn't that much she could do as she knew that part of missions were just sitting there finding out information. "So basically we need to wait until night and then I can go see if I can find where the guy is. I mean I am not an adult so I won't fall asleep right? When I find him I can send up a small flame so Zephyr and Gavin would know where to find me." Thea stated thinking her plan was genus. Never mind it was super dangerous to do but she thought it was a good idea. ​

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»Lloyd wasn't the first person that Arian had thought would help him when Noire got pissed, but he did and Arian took a step back putting his hands up like to surrender."Chill out, I mean no harm. Yes I care that it is in trouble or I wouldn't be here. I don't have to be here you know. If I didn't care I would have taken the path my parents preferred, but here I am. Now can I go get ready?" Arian snapped back at her. He wasn't impressed at how Noire handled things, he was rather annoyed when his jokes were turned into violence when that was not the intent.​

»Turning away, Arian stormed back towards the inn, while he seemed mad, his ears were flat on his head, almost like he was more worried than anything, the tail tucked close to his legs. The boy walked back to the inn without a word, collecting his stuff from his room trying not to let the emotions show, though what he kept hidden from his face couldn't be hidden from his animal like features. By the time he left his room to rejoin the others, he had forced a goofy smile back on his face, his ears perked up a bit, but his tail still tucked ever so slightly. ​

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Heading back to the inn, Auburn really didn't have much stuff to collect, she just needed the space. They had sent two people home, two people they didn't need. If they didn't need those two, then they clearly didn't need the man power. If they didn't need the man power, then why was she even there? She didn't fit in, she didn't belong. Everyone seemed to be starting to get along, but no one took a second look at her. She faded into the background like she was nothing. Perhaps she could fight, but only after years of training with an actual Huntsmen, this other kids, they were like naturals. She could never keep up as soon as they trained more. She wasn't ever going to make it that far. She had already failed as a grimm managed snatch her and she had to be saved by some other woman. It was proof enough that she wasn't good enough.

Entering her room she threw the few items she had into her backpack, looking down at the last message from her father. "I am sorry dad. I can't do this anymore." She said softly shoving her phone in her pocket, making sure that her weapons were secured properly, before turning around and walking out of her room. Auburn kept her head down while she shuffled towards a side door out of the inn, not planning on even going close to the main party of she could help it. At least she wasn't going to walk straight passed them on her way out, though Auburn wasn't trying to hide the fact she was leaving. Her head was down as she walked, letting her hair hide her face a little bit. Only once did she look over her shoulder before reaching for the door. She was convinced no one would notice though, it was hopeful that someone cared, but she knew they didn't. Why would they? She hadn't done anything that would be worth caring about.

If anyone is interested in having all of Episode Tinarah all in one place. Here is a google doc with the entire thing!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GixCiu97lVj12zVv6gIdZn-8TvWSltL1ZzlkrV7l2r8/edit

Episode Tinarah: Part 19
Last Stand
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The routine was the same over the weeks that followed. Occasionally the man, who had given his name as Gero, made conversation with Tinarah and pointed her in the direction in which she would be able to find her own inner strength. But the old man was tired and malnourished so he often slept more than he spoke.

Tinarah did her best facing her new resolve. She wanted to turn her fear into something useful, but the battle was not easily won. Tinarah would often share whatever she thought she could toss over to Gero, mostly bread, unable to offer much else. As time went on however Tinarah realized meditation was not enough to change her heart. It was one thing to say she would do something g different, another to actually do it.

During her time in prison she never finished a meal brought to her, and it was starting to show. In the last week or she had begun refusing to eat anything. She wanted to draw Torrin down, face her fear and see if she could, or at least die trying. It had been over a month, if her keyblade hadn't come by now through meditation, it never would.

That day when meal time had come the guard did not show up. An hour passed without the usual guard coming strolling in. And then, the dungeon's door creaked open and footsteps approached.

"So what's this I hear about you not eating?" Torrin had arrived, adjusting the gloves on his hands while he spoke casually towards Tinarah. They were bloodied. No doubt he had seen battle recently but other than that his clothes were completely pristine. "I suppose anyone would grow tired of the same meal day after day but beggars can't be choosers." He sniffed the air and shook his head. "Perhaps you could do with a bath. Prison life does not suit you but this was the only way I could keep you out of my hair until the war was over. A war that, by the way, is going well. Thallasa and Chrys have been taken care of and now all that's left is to round up the last of the resistance. Once that's over...well, I have plans for you."

Tinarah was sitting in her cell. She had not noticed the time difference when the door opened. She had really lost track of time since being down there. When the door opened, she tried to sit quietly and meditate like she had been to avoid looking at the guards, but the voice that spoke to her, wasn't the guards. Tinarah's heart pounded as she tried to keep control before opening her eyes, forcing herself to stare directly at Torrin, silent at first. Tinarah didn't trust her voice not to give away her fear, but eventually she had to get over it.

"Your plans won't work if I die first." Tinarah spoke softly, but honestly to Torrin. She refused to turn her gaze away, even if she wanted to turn around and cower in a corner. She was afraid of the punishment for her actions, but she would face it, because she couldn't let him use her. She was more afraid of what he would do to her than of death and that is what she used to get her to keep staring Torrin down. She had done this to help her face her fear, now she had to do it, or starving herself was for nothing.

Torrin blinked upon hearing the defiance in Tinarah's voice. "Ah...I see." He leaned closer, placing his hands on the bars of the cell, his yellow eyes gazing at her intently. A small smile began to form on his lips. "Allowing you to starve yourself out would be far too easy." He looked down at the melted lock of the cell then towards Tinarah. "Mind if I..."

In an instant he was now standing in front of her no longer separated between bars of metal. "Come in?" He finished his sentence, now staring down at the girl before him.


A small "eep" Escaped Tinarah's lips as Torrin entered her cell. She scooted back a little bit as she looked at him. She tried to stand up to face him at least, she didn't like feeling so small, but as she started to get her feet under her, her vision went black, her head spinning, likely a side effect of not eating for several days. Tinarah eased herself back into a more comfortable position. Her eyes darted around the cell and then back to Torrin, swallowing hard. She didn't talk this time, she knew better, but she kept her eyes on him. I won't let him defeat me. I promise. He doesn't own me, he doesn't own my fear. I can control it. Just... don't look away.

He tilted his head and frowned on seeing Tinarah's reaction to his little parlor trick. "So that's how it is, huh? Thought you were going to be more feisty than that. A bit of a let down, really." He stepped closer and grabbed Tinarah by her arm to force her onto her feet. "But I suppose that just about sums you up, doesn't it? You're nothing but a product of failures."

"But I can fix that. I've grown tired of waiting anyway." His grip on her arm tightened and with his free hand a dark orb formed and shot out blasting the door out from its hinges.


Torrin grabbed Tinarah and she was ready to fight. He pulled her to her feet and Tinarah knew that this was it, it was likely the last chance she got. If things go further like this there wasn't much chance for her. She still had some energy now, but it was quickly draining. As his grip tightened, Tinarah went to her natural reaction and tried to pull back. When he didn't let go she went to stop on his foot. "I am not letting you take my light! I won't let you take that part of me." Tinarah struggled against him far more than when he was throwing him in here.

"Last chance" Tinarah thought to herself as her free hand gripped the air. "please" She dug deep into her heart looking for the place that was locked away long ago. Suddenly a warm metal object appeared in her hand. It was silver with a heart shaped blade at the end. This one was hers. She let the fear of what Torrin was going to do to her drive her as she took the object in her hand and brought it around at Torrins legs, trying to knock him off his feet as she pulled away once more. As soon as he let go she took a leaf out of his book as she cast Blizzard at him. Turning she stumbled slightly as she made her way out of the cell, turning towards Gero's and pointing her keyblade at it. Hopefully she could free him and maybe they stood a chance at escaping.

"What!? How?!" Torrin growled in pain, surprised by Tinarah's sudden attack. Her Blizzard spell caused him to smash into the wall, freezing his torso against it. "Damn you!" There was a click heard from the cell where the old man had been kept. She had unlocked Gero's cell.

"You can't get away. I won't let you escape my grasp!" Even as he shouted the old man stepped out from his cell and took hold of Tinarah's hand, the hand that held her newly regained keyblade.

"You hold nothing over this young woman." Gero's condition seemed to be worse than Tinarah's but even still he seemed to have no trouble standing. "Are you ready to leave this place, Tinarah?"


Tinarah was actually surprised that her attacks worked, but she managed to buy herself enough time for Gero to get out of his cell. Torrin was still yelling at her and part of her heart believed they wouldn't get far, but she had to try. She locked eyes with Gero as he spoke, they would do their best. "Yes... And if we can't make it... Gero, I want you to put an end to me before he can turn me into something other than myself." Tinarah didn't know how they would get away. Neither of them were in great shape and Tinarah didn't know if her spell would hold for long, but she put some trust into Gero, ready for him to help lead her out.

"None of that will be necessary." Gero spoke as he lifted her hand to point her keyblade down the hall. A beam of light shot out from it opening a shimmering rift that was unlike any portal or light or darkness Tinarah had ever seen. Gero staggered forward and lost his footing, losing his breath from the effort of using his magic through her keyblade. "It...it is done..."

"It doesn't matter how far you go or whatever realm you hide in! I will find you!"

"Come...before it closes. I do not have the strength to do this again."

Tinarah gave a slight nod, not quite convinced with what he was saying but went with it anyways. However as he lifted her hand that held the keyblade, something happened, almost like he was channeling his magic through her keyblade, creating a portal at the end of the hall. When it was done however he seemed to be struggling to walk. Tinarah draped his arm over her shoulder, knowing she wouldn't be able to support him for long, but unwilling to leave him behind.

"If you manage to find me again, I will be ready. You won't take me again." Tinarah said softly before turning to the portal and helping Gero get through it as quick as possible while supporting him in the state she already was in.

The two walked through the portal, leaving behind the realm in which the two had been trapped in for years. Gero's weight pressed on Tinarah as he began to lose consciousness. The area they found themselves in appeared to be a tunnel of some kind surrounded in an ethereal gray energy. Behind them was a dull red glow representing the realm they had exited and up ahead were streams of light and darkness emanating from the other end.

After having not taken more than just a few steps forward a voice called out behind them. "Wait."

Spoiler

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"You're...leaving me? I gave my life for yours and you're just going to leave..?"

Tinarah stepped through the portal, the area they entered was a strange one, and with Gero's weight mostly on her, it was hard to continue walking, but the light ahead beckoned her. She hardly made it more than a few steps when a voice called out to her, and Tinarah turned to face the boy. He looked the exact same since the last time she had seen him. "I-I have to. I am sorry A, if I could have stayed with Master Stamatis and trained longer, I would have. But I don't belong here. There are dangers in my own realm that I need to help with. I don't wish your sacrifice to be without cause, and perhaps... perhaps once my own realm is safe, I can return and help yours, but this is the only way to keep what is mine. He wanted to take away my light, and I couldn't let that happen. I have to leave. I am sorry A. I will see you again." Tinarah spoke the the boy, grief filled her voice but there was a resolve there as well as she turned back to the light and pressed on once more, she couldn't give herself time for the weight of Gero to wear on her enough that she didn't make it out. She would get them out... then... then she could rest.

"But Tinarah...please..." The boy reappeared in front of her, his eyes watery and his cheeks tear-stained. "Don't leave me." He pleaded.

"Do not listen to him..." Gero spoke, his eyes briefly catching sight of A. "He...he's..."

"You!" The boy growled, a golden aura flaring up around him. A keyblade materialized in his hand. "Don't listen to the old man! He's the one who started this! He wants to take you away from me!"

A appeared in front of her and Tinarah started to wonder what in the world was going on here. "A... I am sorry." Tinarah tried to tell him when Gero spoke up and A got defensive. "He isn't the one who sent me here. A... listen.... he was going to hurt me. Torrin was going to hurt me. It is the only way I can be safe. If I stayed I would be no help to anyone. This way I can come back and help. And I will come back, I promise." Tinarah tried to argue walking towards the exit again. If she was forced to stop once more, Tinarah wondered if she would be able to push on again, she could already feel her knees shake.

"No...don't leave me..." A's voice began to grow more distant as Tinarah pushed onward. The two were nearly upon the end of the tunnel. Everything that had tormented Tinarah would be left behind, trapped in another realm.

Tinarah knew better than to think the boy in front of her was actually A. She knew he died the day Fost rescued her, so for him to be here was impossible. That being said Tinarah still felt guilty for leaving. Not only had A sacrificed himself, but but Fost and Stamatis had sacrificed so much for her. She owed them a lot but couldn't show her gratitude from another time and realm. That being said she couldn't do anything if of she had been made into a puppet of Torrins.

Stopping Tinarah turned back to the boy one last time, repeating herself once more. "I promise I will be back. All the sacrifices for me... You... Mika... Fost and Stamatis, they won't be for nothing. I will grow stronger and learn to bring myself back there. I will finish my training with Master Stamatis. I will warn them, they can stop Torrin before he becomes too powerful. Things will be right and... Perhaps I will remain there, if allowed. But I can't do anything as long as Torrin has me. This is the only escape for us. Besides... I have to get Gero home. I have to save him... I couldn't save anyone else but maybe..." A wave of dizziness hit Tinarah and she almost dropped Gero. Tinarah struggled to stay standing for a moment.

"Come, let's get you home. We are almost there." It was difficult, Tinarah was barely shuffling forward, but they started moving again. The light at the end of a tunnel. A home that she stopped believing was her home. And her brother waited their. She still didn't know what to think of him, still believed he tried to kill her, but at least he wouldn't be a dark creature enslaved to Torrin. Her heart ached at the thought of all she would have to face on that side, but as the dizziness from before refused to subside, she knew she didn't have time to hesitate. With one last push onward, Tinarah stepped into the light, Gero at her side.

The Chieftain showed them the rash that he was developing, and Everette shifted uncomfortably, looking at his companions. He couldn't believe that Samuel actually wanted to be in there to study and rest between healings. It made Everette a little uncomfortable and worried. It just meant that they had to get things done fast. Samuel could handle himself, but consistently being that close to the sick, Everette worried about something happening to his best friend. "I think you are on to a good idea Conrad, perhaps we should go look at some of the common things and grab samples. I honestly don't know how much we can help with studying patience and knowing what is going on, but I think I can manage collecting stuff." Everette suggested giving Conrad a bit of an encouraging smile.

"Just point us in the right direction and we will get to work. I would like to see both the well, and the place you hold rain water, as well crops and store houses. Take small samples from there and then we can meet back and take a closer look at them perhaps. See if we can figure out what is causing this before it gets worse." Everette suggested. Perhaps he and Conrad should split up and look. Conrad after all was a reliable member of the guild and if he did run into trouble, Everette didn't think he would be too reckless about it.


They were quickly ushered to keep moving and Thea followed, still sticking pretty close to Zephyr not liking it when people gave her weird looks. She knew she was young for being in a guild, but a lot of people hid their surprise better than this. Thea could deal with it however, even if it was annoying, and was a bit relieved when Maliel announced they had arrived. The house they arrived at however didn't feel the most welcoming, and Thea was not a fan of the crows that were on the gate. Shifting a bit uncomfortably, she walked passed and waited for Maliel to gain the entrance to see the mayor.

Once inside, Thea calmed down a little bit. When the door to the office opened however she was a bit taken aback by the bear skin carpet. Thea wrinkled her nose a it as she made a point to step far around it's head, taking a place close to the fire instead. She folded her hands behind her back, calling small flames to come from the fire, just touching her fingers, but not burning them, not when she was in control of the fire. "Nice to meet you Mister Mayor Sir. Yes she has. It is horrible. But don't worry, us, from the Divine Rose guild will handle it no problem." As The started to get a bit excited, the flame she was playing with behind her back flared a little bit. ​

Episode Tinarah: Episode 18
The Darkest Dungeon
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Early the next morning Tinarah would have heard the sound of a guard stepping down into the dungeon to carefully place Tinarah a tray of fresh-basked bread and some hot stew for her to eat. The steps continued down a little farther into the dungeon to the cell placed in the darkest corner of the dungeon. The guard nonchalantly dropped a half-eaten piece of bread onto the floor and chuckled before leaving, sealing the exit shut behind him. An aged hand reached out to grasp the bread and slowly pulled the food within the cell.

Tinarah had spent most of the night crying, however by the morning there was some sort of peace in a way. "I said I wanted to fight because you guys did. I didn't realized I was on the wrong side. Would it be too late to change?" Tinarah touched her necklace softly. It might have seemed like a silly question, but Tinarah didn't want to just sit around and do nothing, not anymore. She had enough of crying that she needed to do something.

By the time the guards dropped off food for her, Tinarah was meditating. Every now and then as she breathed in she tried to summon her own keyblade, when it didn't work, she tried to relax a bit. Tinarah knew that she couldn't panic anymore but was finding it hard the longer she was in the dark. "Stamatis, give me strength." The only reason that Tinarah bothered to touch her food was that if she wanted to go forward and finish whatever short life she had left in a way that would make Stamatis and Fost proud, she was not going to starve herself like when she had first arrived.

Even as she ate, she saw there was another prisoner at the end of the hall, reaching for half eaten bread. Clearly she was getting special treatment, which brought Tinarah to wonder, why did Torrin want her. Clearly he didn't bring her out of that war because of Mika, not when he was so willing to kill Mika and keep her, so why was she here? Tinarah's panic started to set in again, her appetite lessening as she pushed her half eaten bowl of stew away. Maybe... maybe she couldn't be as strong as she wanted

Another day passes...​

The guard ignored Tinarah once again as her plate was replaced with fresh food and drink. This day the other occupant from the corner cell did not receive food. Tinarah could hear the other prisoner cough. "Another day, perhaps." Came a weak voice from the cell. The voice belonged to an elderly man but in the darkness Tinarah could not perceive any of his features.

Everything told Tinarah she should be thankful for the food she was getting, eat everything provided. However as meal time came around and meditation was failing her, Tinarah sat in the dark staring at her food. She had only half her meal the day before, and yet, she still didn't want to eat. Tinarah took one bite of stew, not really wanting to eat, but was forcing herself, when she heard a voice in the silence. Slowly crawling towards the bars of her cell, she peered out and down the short hall, noticing no food was dropped that day. Tinarah looked back at the bread she had received, then grabbed all that was there.

"H-here.... I am not hungry." She said a little scared of getting in trouble but tossing the bread as close to his cell as she could possibly get it. Tinarah had no desire to interact with the other prisoners, but he was suffering it seemed, and she couldn't just not do anything, especially when she couldn't even eat all the food provided.

"Thank you child..." The man whispered, taking the bread that was just within his reach. A set of brown eyes flashed in the darkness as they looked upon Tinarah. "You...you are not from this world are you?" He spoke once more, inching closer towards the cell door so that his outline was just barely visible. "No...you are not from this time either? Or this realm..."

"I never imagined he would bring anyone to this realm of pain..." The old man trailed off and went silent as he began to eat his bread.

With the man's eyes on her, Tinarah backed away from the door, uncomfortable. Though the things he was saying caught her attention. "N-no I am not from this time... I have been displaced from my own time for quite a while now..." Tinarah offered, not going into detail, but however be was telling that something was off about her, perhaps that information would be helpful. "What do you mean realm. Masters Stamatis talked about other time periods like where I was from but not other realms. How would I end up in another realm." Panic laced Tinarahs voice as she questioned what had happened to her.

"Who.... Who brought me here? The spell Stamatis helped me with was supposed to bring me to my own time. How did I end up here." Tinarah peered at the man through the darkness trying to figure out who he was, if she should know, though in the darkness of the dungeon there was no telling.

"Displaced from your own time for quite a while, eh?" The old man nodded and gulped loudly as he swallowed his bread. "It sounds like you've met this realm's Stamatis...I suppose your journey to this point has been quite different than my own..." The old man reached his hand out of his cell as if grasping for something beyond his reach. "I cannot age, nor can I summon my key in this place...such is my curse." He withdrew his hand.

"I cannot fathom why a child such as yourself would be placed here but my being here is a result of my failures as a master." He sighed. "This is my punishment."

"This realms Stamatis?" Tinarah started to worry. "Does that mean Uncle Fost.... Master Stamatis.... They wouldn't be waiting for me in my own time? If I am not from this realm?" Tinarah asked as she watched him try and fail to summon a keyblade. She in turn did the same, stretching her hand in front of her trying to will her keyblade to come to her.

"I- I don't fully understand how I got here myself but... I think it had to do with a man called the Light Chaser. He was supposed to send me back to my brother, but for some reason my brother tried to kill me and it started a series of strange events. I couldn't summon my keyblade. It took nearly two years of training with Stamatis to get it back and almost three more to be strong enough to send myself home... But I ended up here instead. When Mika tried to free me...." Tinarah was nearly choking on her words as tears ran anew. "Torrin shattered my keyblade and killed Mika... Now here I am... I guess it doesn't matter if the Stamatis and Fost of my realm remember me... I am never getting back, am I?"

"Perhaps they might not remember you but the bonds of the heart are stronger than the links made from memories." The man responded. "But the Light Chaser is not a name that is familiar to me...perhaps my former student and this Light Chaser are one and the same. Or perhaps they are not..." He paused for a moment, a wrinkled hand gripping onto one of the cell's bars.

"You say your keyblade was broken? Sure you've been taught better to know that a keyblade can never truly be destroyed. Unless...." He scratched his chin. "Was the blade not yours? If it belonged to another that would explain why you cannot call upon it now. What happened to your own keyblade, child? With it we could be free of this place."

"I wouldn't be able to say. I never truly understood what was happening. I know one of his students took me to him, and despite the fact that we were trying to stop him, he seemed nice. He healed me, but he had my friend as well. He was going to let me go and no her... I promised to bring help... But never had the chance." The entire story really meant nothing, she had only started to tell what she knew of the Light Chaser, which wasn't much.

"The blade... It was my brothers. After my brother threw me off a bridge I was unable to summon it. I don't know why, but it has never returned. I have been using a borrowed blade for years." Tinarah admitted almost sounding ashamed of that fact.

"I see...the from the sound of it, your heart was too weak to call your own keyblade." He simply stated. "From the moment you were allowed to leave, you were made to enter this realm. I place I have had to endure for many years as its prisoner." His voice grew dry and weary. "Determination is not something that can be taught. It is found from within. Unless you can summon the resolve to call your own blade, you will have to resign to your fate." The man spoke grimly.

"But I have been trying! For a while Chrono's was the best I got, but.... I have been trying, since his broke I tried to use Master Stamatis' techniques for meditation and trying to call it to me when I can... But... Calming the mind is hard when someone wants to purge your light and use you for something important enough he is willing to kill his wife... " Tinarah said what had been distracting her from her meditation. "The keyblade first came to me when I needed it most but was too weak to know how to use. Now that I know how I can't summon it. I don't think it was ever my Destiny to wield it, but I tried, and I will keep trying, but at this rate... Who know what will happen to me by the time I learn to use it."

"If it was not your destiny to wield it then why not simply change your destiny? Your efforts have been in vain because somewhere in your heart you have already given up." The man moved back farther into his cell, disappearing into the shadows. "Meditate if you wish. But know that the keyblade will only respond to a strong heart. There is no other way. There are no shortcuts and no amount of pleading will change this."

After five years of failure, it was hard not to have lost hope in it. Tinarah didn't even know what it meant to have a strong heart, what she needed to do. It seemed as though nothing she had tried was good enough and the only thing still pushing her to try was fear. She watched as the man moved into the shadows, it seemed as though he was done talking. Tinarah pushed her bowl of stew aside, once more hardly eating. Moving back in her cell herself she tried to meditate again. It occurred to her the only time she wasn't driven by fear to get her keyblade back she had given up. She either fell into depression or she accepted her fate. It was near impossible to forget her fear, she didn't think it would be natural not to fear her fate in this place. But perhaps she should take what Torrin told her to do and make it her own. He had wanted her to get angry and turn that anger into something useful, but what if she learned to turn her fear into a goal. It wasn't going to be easy, but given the situation she had time to teach herself.

Forty days and forty nights pass...​

The video has been completed and posted. Find it here!

It was a strange feeling. One moment he was fighting for his life on a boat, and the next, forest. What happened between was rather foggy, but looking around there was the man who had captured him, and the man who had helped him. Looking down he was still chained. Something told Aaron this wasn't to do with the weather mage beside him, not when there was a so called, new owner who had been waiting on the dock for him before Aaron tried to escape. So then what was going on?

Picking himself up Aaron studied the chains on his wrists still. He had no weapons thanks to the whole, being held prisoner thing and there was enough of a rumble in his necklace to know that they wouldn't be safe for long. This forest, he didn't know exactly where ti was but he got a feeling it would be the type of place he would usually get contracts for, it was a place he best be prepared in, and he wasn't.

"You guys might want to be on your guard. I don't think we will be alone for long." Aaron warned the other two as he glanced around trying to figure out something, anything to use as a weapon until he could manage to get his hands on a sword, any old sword. His silver sword would have to wait. ​