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Well it wasn't a formal invite, but it was good enough. After one last swig, Lucian put the bottle of booze back in the drawer where Kara hid it before he exited the room, sauntering down the stairs. Lucian's metal eye seemed to be focusing in on the man at the bottom, the one Kara was likely talking it. Lucian had a sneaking suspicion that he wouldn't like this guy, but then again that could make things interesting. Besides whatever operation he was running here might be interesting. It wasn't that Lucian wanted to take part, it was that gathering some details about it might help him keep his real job after he walked out on it earlier that day.

"Hi, I am the guy that hits stuff." Lucian sounded a bit unimpressed as he stated what Kara had used to explain him. He then glanced down at his swords at his side. "I can also stab and slash stuff." He added. Without his Constabulary jacket he hoped that Dylan wouldn't know who he was, not that it mattered that much but the Constabulary wasn't always welcome around certain people, and while Kara clearly knew, she hadn't said anything yet so he hoped that was a good sign. "So why am I needed to 'hit things?'" The shirtless male asked crossing his arms, taking time to take in the rest of the house, letting the metal eye do most of the work given his mind was a little fuzzy from the alcohol.​

You trusted me, so I'll trust you too. That's what being friends means, doesn't it?

As they climbed Daeni offered him a rope and Cerdic shook his head. "No way! I can do it. I am not going to be shown up by two little girls." It was a pride thing, but the way Cerdic spoke there was a bit a laugh with his words, clearly not trying to offend Daeni or Mora, he just didn't want to be that one guy that needed help. He wasn't that pathetic after all he could do some stuff on his own, and he would prove it.

Scaling the cliff was difficult, but he was managing, when he heard Mora yell at them to hurry up, looking up he saw what seemed to be another form of heartless at the top. "Hang on kid. I will be there in a second." He assured her, finally grabbing onto the fabric that Daeni offered earlier to help him speed up his climb and get to the top faster. When they were both at the top he paused for a moment ruffling Daeni's hair. "Thanks for the hand, now time to pay it forward."

Summoning his keyblade back to him Cerdic faced the heartless near the edge of the cliff, stepping in front of Mora a bit. "Stay behind me with Daeni, we got this." He stated as he stepped out stashing at a couple of the heartless as they seemed to divide into more. He was going to need some help, but he could hold them back for the time being, buying time to make sure Chrys got Kara out of there safely before this darkness found them as well. ​

"That would be nice." Everette responded to the girl offering to go get them the Chief. In the end it turned out there was no need for such things, as he had come out to check on the girl himself, asking her to go deliver the water while they spoke. "It was nice meeting you too Renza." Everette echoed the name that he had heard the Chief call the small child. Smiling he watched her run inside before turning back to the man.

The man explained the situation, but Everette was still left wondering about how him and the child were in with the sick people but weren't getting sick themselves. Perhaps the Chief had a good immune system, but the child? "We need to figure out the source of the illness before we can actually do too much to help. Samuel here specializes in healing magic, but unless we find the source we can't guarantee that it will stay away if he manages to heal it." Everette explained. "Though I have noticed that you and Renza don't seem to be sick but you are around those who are, caring for them. Is there any reason you can think of why you don't get sick? If it is so far spread you would think it would be passed on through a simple means, airborne, even just contact with others. But you two are doing that already. Is there anything you do differently?" There was no use just pondering this to himself, it was much more efficient to ask up front than to make vague promises to look in to it without having a starting place.


Zephyr questioned Thea on her own attendance of school and Thea shrugged. "I had private tutors. Though they never did stick around long. Sometimes their face turned funny shades of red when I told them I accidentally burnt my homework. They never believed me and would yell, so daddy would fire them.... or... well I might have accidentally burnt one. She wasn't happy. But she was being so loud and I didn't like it. I was just trying to get her to calm down." Thea explained. With her powers the way they were her parents couldn't afford the risk of sending her to an actual school.

The teen stopped and explained to them about why they kept the kids there. At least the children seemed happy from what she could tell, so Thea wasn't too worried about it. "If you on'y hear the flute at night, couldn't they go out during the day? Would that be dangerous too?" Thea didn't even think about the fact that she was just in the age range that the flute effected. They would take care of the situation before it was an issue she was sure of it.
​

Episode Tinarah: Part 17
It Ends Here
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"Torrin wait! We don't need to do this to her. It's Tinarah." Mikaela spun around, her eyes darting around and panicked.

"All the more reason to cleanse her of the light within her." He stepped forward towards them and Mikaela stepped back motioning for Tinarah to stay behind her. Torrin shook his head and looked down. "So it's treason, then..." A dark energy swirled around his left hand. "I've been too soft on you it seems. I can't trust you anymore, can I?" As he spoke the darkness in his hand began to coalesce.

"Torrin please!"

"You've proven yourself to be disloyal. I cannot stand for that. Even from you." Out of the darkness came his keyblade.

As she thought about Torrin finding them, the fear came true. His voice rang out and Mika pushed her behind to protect her, begging Torrin to stop. If course Torrin didn't, instead speaking about why he needed to cleanse her of the light. Things were quickly turning bad, she could tell Mika loved Torrin, she couldn't let her be the cause of any happiness they had, even if she didn't agree with what they were doing, Tnarah was convinced that they were mislead, that something happened that caused them not to see clearly. She wouldn't stand by and let someone else destroy their life for her. As Torrin summoned his keyblade, Tinarah pushed in front of Mika.

"Don't do this to her. It isn't her fault, she just wanted to help. Mika is a good person and you know that, you love that about her, don't you? Don't punish her for it." Tinarah begged as she summoned her keyblade, or rather Chrono's to her side ready to protect Mika. "Please, don't hurt her. Let me leave and I won't bother you again. Just don't hurt Mika." Tinarah had trained enough with Torrin to know where her own strength ended, and knew how he could best her with a sword, she didn't think a keyblade would go any better, still she had to at least try.

"You're acting awfully brave for someone so weak." Torrin stated, raising an eyebrow when Tinarah stepped forward. He continued to approach them making no sign of reconsidering his actions.

Tinarah was trembling. She knew she was weak and didn't stand a chance, but she couldn't let him hurt her friend, not after Mika was just trying to help her. She wasn't going to watch a friend get hurt for her, she couldn't. Lifting her free hand to her necklace, she touched it lightly. "I'm scared, Master Stamatis, lend me strength." She whispered before gripping her keyblade with both hands and moving into a fighting stance.

Torrin was coming closer now. "Are you...are you asking for someone else's help? No wonder you've been so weak. You can't even rely on yourself." He aimed his keyblade at Tinarah. "Don't worry. I have other plans for you. Even if I have to beat you into the ground you'll still be breathing by the end of this. But it won't come to that. You don't have that much fight in you." He lowered the aim of his blade slightly and immediately a Blizzard spell launched at her legs, Torrin intending to freeze Tinarah in place.

As the keyblade was aimed at her, Tinarah tried to move quickly, just barely getting out of the way of the spell. Tinarah turned around and then cast a fire spell at Torrin before turning around and slashing at him quickly. Tinarah hoped it would be enough for Torrin to back up. It was clear that she was still a little out of it from being knocked out and locked up. She hadn't eaten for over a day either so she was not in good shape to fight, still she had to try, even if it was just barely an attempt she wasn't going down without a fight.

Torrin caught the fire spell with his bare hand, appearing to be unfazed by the magic as it blasted outwards as if hitting a wall. "As I said," Torrin spoke as he spun his keyblade to parry Tinarah's. "You're weak!" He swung his blade downwards, streams of darkness swirling about his blade as he attacked and when it collided with Tinarah's borrowed keyblade, a sound akin to glass shattering pierced the air. Her keyblade was broken and disappeared from her grasp.

Torrin shoved Tinarah down towards the ground with his free hand and shook his head. "Maybe if you had been a worthy opponent I would have granted you the release of death."

​

Mikaela stepped back but did not run, too frightened to do anything. "Stay still, this will be over in an instant. I will give you at least that much despite your betrayal." Mikaela opened her mouth to respond to Torrin, possibly to plea for him to stop but it was too late. She fell to the ground clutching a bloodied chest. Torrin's keyblade disappeared from his hand.

"Farewell, Mika."

Everything she did had no effect, Torrin was too strong and simply dealt with her attacks like they were child's play. The training that she had done with Stamatis was for nothing. Torrin turned around and swung his keyblade at her, screaming something she already knew as his keyblade collided with Chrono's, shattering it. Tinarah was left stunned by the shear power that it took to do such a thing as he shoved her to the ground. Tinarah was at a loss for words or strength to fight back. She was helpless.

Torrin turned his attention to Mika and at first the words he said didn't click, not until he said farewell. Tinarah looked up to see Mika clutching her chest. "Mika! No!" She screamed suddenly trying to struggle her way out from Torrin's grasp. "Why...." Her voice came back barely a rasp as tears streaked down her face, soon giving up her struggles. There was no point in trying and she could see that, she was hopeless.

Torrin closed his eyes for a long moment and sighed. He made his peace with what had to be done but that did not make it hurt any less. He looked down at Tinarah. "You wanted no more lies, did you? Well," He began to drag Tinarah by her collar, ignoring her squirming before continuing to speak, "Those experiments of mine? They were successful...but only after the first year of trials. Take challenged me and, for some reason, could not survive the attempt to remove the light from his heart. Illiana and Koa survived but...they weren't themselves afterward. They had to be put down. And Chrono? Well..." He stopped. Torrin looked to the sky and whistled.

"It's time you learned your place, Tinarah. You're weak but perhaps by removing your light I can remove that weakness. Maybe then you will be...serviceable. So I suppose it's time you reunite with your brother." The sound of leathery wings flapping could be heard overhead. "Come here Chrono!" In a blur of black something landed in front of them. It was a hooded figure.

"Ss..." It hissed. "Errr..." It slowly began to rise, stretching its wings. Glowing yellow eyes illuminated its black skin. "Sisss...terrrr..." The Heartless spoke through broken language.

"These...things are called Darklings. A little more intelligent than Heartless. More...loyal to those of the dark such as myself. I would have preferred Chrono to retain his human form but this...this I can live with."

Tinarah didn't fight back and Torrin dragged her like some sort of broken doll. She felt empty inside, unable to react at all as he started to speak of what he was doing, what the experiments were. "Y-you killed your friends... your wife..." She whispered, unable to complete the thought as he whistled. Illiana, Koa, he said they survived, he didn't mention he killed them after. Chrono... what did he do to her brother? Tinarah thought she had stopped caring about him years ago, but now, she couldn't help but worry.

The sound of wings echoed around them and soon a heartless like creature came for them. It was speaking and Torrin claimed it to be her brother. That was not her brother, even as it called her sister. Tinarah looked away from the creature, the thing. This wasn't Chrono, he wouldn't have wanted that, he was probably suffering somewhere in there, but unable to summon a broken keyblade she could not do anything about it.

"So that's it? You are going to turn me into one of those?" Tinarah sounded broken, defeated. "Is that, worth the cost of your wife's life?" Tinarah almost hoped that he would kill her at this point, she would rather that then to be turned into one of those creatures that stood in front of her.

"Friends would not have betrayed me. A good wife would not have disobeyed me." Torrin yanked Tinarah to her feet, holding her up by her collar if he had to. "I'm not turning you into a Darkling. No, you'll still hold that pretty little frame of yours instead of that wretched thing."

"Sissssss...ter!" The Darkling croaked.

"I don't see any use for you as a fighter. No...I think I'll keep you locked in your cell until I have use of you in...another capacity."

Betrayed him? Tinarah had a feeling it was Torrin who had betrayed everyone else. There was no point in speaking up about that though, he would never accept that as an answer. Torrin yanked at Tinarah's collar, lifting her to her feet. Tinarah struggled to get her feet under her as she started coughing at the sudden pressure on her throat. Her knees shook and she sagged against his grip trying to catch her breath, even though his grip on her collar and her posture made it harder to breath, than it would be if she managed to stand up straight.

He wasn't going to turn her into the creature he turned her brother into, but Tinarah was frightened what he meant by "another capacity." "Please..." She pleaded with him even though she knew that it wouldn't get her anywhere. Closing her eyes she sagged fully against Torrins grasp, not even trying, at least it would make things a little harder on him, even if it was harder on her as well. If she couldn't fight, she certainly wouldn't make things easy either.

Torrin dragged Tinarah back towards the mansion, ignoring her pleas. He did not even speak to her as he did so, treating her no better than a rag doll. Eventually they returned to the dungeon where Torrin shoved her into a cell and sealed the door shut. He melted the lock shut with magic, his eyes glowing yellow in the darkness. He gazed at Tinarah for a brief moment and turned away, his red cloak whipping about as he left the girl alone in the darkness.

As Torrin dragged Tinarah, she didn't put up much of a fight, occasionally lashing out in attempts to catch Torrin off guard. Maybe if she managed to, then she would be able to run. It wasn't much of a chance that she could outrun him, especially when she didn't know where to go, and he was in his own element, but it was better than doing nothing. Unfortunately for Tinarah Torrin was much stronger than her, barely taking much in order to keep her in line. He dragged her back to the cell, and by the time they arrived and Tinarah was tossed in, she was sucking in breaths trying to breath properly. The force on her neck from being dragged by the collar had left her out of breath.

As she sat there Tinarah looked up when she heard the sound of something happening. She saw Torrin staring in at her as he finished whatever he was doing. The yellow eye were what scared her the most. Fear struck her deep in the heart before Torrin turned around to leave. Left in silence Tinarah brought her knees up to her chest, and rested her head on her knees as she began to sob. In the back of her mind she was apologizing to Stamatis and Fost for her foolishness, but the words couldn't seem to make it out of her mouth, just a sobbing, gasping sound.

One day passes...​

Episode Tinarah: Part 16
The Great Escape
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The screech from a swinging metal door would have been enough to wake Tinarah. She would find herself laying on a mattress on a stone floor in a dimly lit cell. The squeaking of the door echoed against the walls as the door shut closed. Mikaela was standing over Tinarah with her eyes reddened and puffy. She had been crying. "Why? Why did you do it?" She whispered. "You could have had a good home here..."

Torrin turned to her and Tinarah knew she made a mistake questioning him as she did. Pain echoed through her and everything fell black, Tinarah's hand falling from her necklace as she passed out.

As Tinarah came to consciousness, the screech of metal pounded in her head, hurting as she slowly sat up. Mika was standing over her and speaking. It took a moment for Tinarah to figure out what she was saying. "I... I needed to know. I though we were returning the balance.... I... you tricked me. You both... Just... just leave me! Why did you have to lie like that!" Tinarah asked trying to get the answers. She was barely sitting up, her head was still spinning, but she needed to know. Why didn't they tell her that they were removing light from the world, everything good, everything her Master, her Uncle wanted to protect. "How are you okay with this future Mika? How? What about Aria? What about what Master Choma would have wanted?"

"We didn't cause her death! They did!" Mikaela shouted in return. "Choma would have wanted peace! Not death but Torrin's right. We didn't start this war. I wouldn't have changed sides if I didn't believe in this. The darkness isn't evil." Mikaela stared sadly at Tinarah and looked down to the ground. "Torrin even left the field of battle to carry you all the way here so you wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. The only reason you're in a cell is because he didn't want you running out into the dangers out there. His men lost the battle without him. There were no survivors...Our enemies got away and now the war may go one for several more years."

Mikaela sighed and leaned against the cell door. "Even after you became a distraction he sacrificed so much to keep you safe. I don't know why. Maybe for my sake. I...I don't know what comes next but maybe I can get you out of here so you can live away from all of this..."


Tinarah cringed and shied away as Mika yelled. Maybe Choma would have wanted peace, but at the expense of purging all the light? That wasn't balanced, that wasn't right, Tinarah knew better than to just believe that. Mika then continued to talk about how Torrin carried her here and left the battle, letting the so-called rebels escape. Tinarah didn't know how to respond, she felt the weight if the deaths was on her shoulders, she may as well been the one swinging the blade. However part of her still wasn't sure.

"Answer me this.... What experiments? What did Torrin do to our friends?" Tinarah asked softly. Depending on the answer really could make a difference on what help Tinarah was willing to accept. Even know the danger she summoned her keyblade, Chrono's keyblade holding it across her lap, staring at it for the moment. "What did he do to my brother?" she may not have wanted to see Chrono, might have thought he hated her, but she still cared enough to want to know.

Mikaela went quiet and turned around, opening the door. She motioned for Tinarah to follow after her. Without saying a word Mikaela carefully walked forth leading the way out of the dungeon and out onto the mansion grounds in the dead of the night. Along the way Mikaela pickup a lantern to light their path forward.

It worried Tinarah, Mikas silence. Mika opened the door, but Tinarah almost didn't want to go. If it was simply more ways that she had been mislead, more lies revealed or truths hidden, Tinarah almost didn't want to know. At the same time however she had asked and this could be her answer... Or her punishment.

Slowly Tinarah stood, trying to push away the dizziness from her mind. She wrapped her arms around herself as they stepped out into the chilly night air. She didn't know where they were going, nor did she try to ask, it was too much work. Instead she simply followed in silence, and tense wondering of what lay ahead.

Mikaela continued to walk forward in silence, occasionally looking back to make sure Tinarah had not run away. She wrapped an arm around herself in an attempt to keep herself warm. She sighed, her breath visible in the cold night air. "Just...a little farther..." Mikaela whispered when she stopped to lift the lantern higher and look around for where to head to next.

"Just a little more and you can leave..."


Tinarah walked quietly, her head down, following a short distance behind Mika. Tinarah couldn't understand why Mika was being so quiet, didn't know where she was taking her. It was worrisome, but Tinarah didn't really have much of a choice, after all her other option was being left in a dark cell for the foreseeable future. This was not what she had expected when leaving Fost and Stamatis, she didn't understand how her world could be turned so upside down in a matter of a month. It had happened a few times before but she hadn't expected it again. She had expected to walk into something she was a little more prepared for.

"Leave?" Tinarah was now wondering if Mika wasn't answering her question at all but helping her escape, the problem was, she didn't know where to go or what to do, not when everyone she cared for was dead or... this. "And go where?" Tinarah questioned. "... actually, never mind, it doesn't matter." Mika might have been trying to get her out, but she was sure Torrin wouldn't be pleased about it, and thus she couldn't afford to question too much.

"What are you doing?" Torrin's voice rang out in the forest.

Picking through her clothes, Dayla pulled out a dark outfit. It was mostly fabric but there was stiff leather reinforcing the chest, her forearms, her back and parts of her legs. It was designed to allow free movement while still providing some extra protection to the essential area's. "First I drug a guy, then I am doing this, I am not doing too well at laying low tonight. Why in the world did I agree to do this?" She mumbled to herself, pulling the outfit on. She had gotten someone to help her carry the drunk man to a room not long before, and she hoped that he didn't realize what she had done.

Suited up she then strapped two small blades to her side and grabbed her bow. So much for the city elf persona, not too many innocent regular city folk came this well prepared to anything, but she would rather be over prepared then dead. After a quick check of her arrow's Dayla finally strolled out of her room and down stairs to the back of the tavern, where Teliana and Alyse awaited. "So what is the plan? Are we waiting on anyone else?" Dayla asked as she double checked the straps holding her knives and tested her bow string again, clearly not unfamiliar with this sort of preparation for possible combat. ​

​

Lucian snorted a laugh as he listened in to the conversation below. It crossed his mind that maybe he should go down there at some point, but the purple haired one had yet to invite him down, and besides there was booze where he was at. It might be a little unwelcome for him to just go striding downstairs, drink in hand announcing he was there to hit people, as they so graciously put it. At this point though at least he didn't have to be as quiet, they knew he was there, it was just a matter of when to show himself.

Lucian still didn't have a shirt but he looked over to his jacket that lay on Kara's bed. Sauntering over he put it on, quickly deciding it was too itchy and taking it off right after. He made sure his constabulary badge was shoved in his pant pocket and checked the jacket for any other spare items he might need before throwing it back on the bed.If all went well enough he should be allowed to come back and get it after he.... well punched people, so it seemed. ​

​

Mirela looked around in amazement, feeling less out of place in her own slightly greasy work clothing, that she was rarely seen without. It wasn't that Mirela didn't own anything that wasn't stained in grease, it was just that she was more comfortable in her greasy work clothes than the nicer ones she bought for those rare special occasions. Special occasions that she rarely liked to attend.

Lunaji mentioned that Mr Gallahowe was upstairs if she wanted to talk to him and Mirela smiled. "Oh can I really? Is that okay? I would love to talk to him, oh and thank him for the invite of course.... And for paying me a personal visit to my shop. In can't believe that he actually came to my shop. My shop of all places, it isn't even that nice! Oh wow!" Mirela ranted as she moved out of the way of a clock work butler, snagging a little bit of food it was carrying. This place really was a dream come true for her. ​

​

Mora unlocked the door for them and Cerdic stared out at the beach beyond. It was beautiful. He found himself staring for a moment, enjoying the view, almost forgetting about the dire situation that was before them. As Kara got ready to run however he snapped his mind back in place and focused himself again. "Good luck you two. Stay safe. We will handle things here." He gave a small salute to the two that were heading for an escape. He knew that they needed to go and wouldn't question it at all as they turned to listen to the rest of Mora's instructions as they began to run.

Running against the cliff, he was given permission to use his keyblade amour, and Cerdic was certainly not giving up his chance to show off. Giving a wink to Alder he laughed. "Bet you can't do this." He taunted as he hit his belt buckle and a flash of light enveloped him. Suddenly grey keyblade amour fit his body as even his face was hidden from view. "Climbing? Well here goes nothing?" Cerdic said, all the while whispering to himself "Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down." As he started to attempt to climb the cliff.

Episode Tinarah: Part 15
A Change of Heart
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During the time Tinarah had been staying in the mansion she had been made to join a patrol of soldiers, their armor dirtied and scratched so much that one could barely even tell that it used to be black. She had been given a chestplate, greaves, and a set of gauntlets to protect her along with a sword. Due to a shortage of armor that was all that could be spared for her. Patrols were straightforward, head to an area and clear out any Heartless. There was often a small amount of small talk within the group of five. The soldiers were tough but respectful towards Tinarah and willing to teach her whenever she had questions. When Tinarah was not on patrol Torrin had her going through training drills with the rest of the young soldiers and sparring with him in the mornings. Torrin never edged her on again like he had done previously.

On the day of Tinarah's last patrol, Torrin was waiting for the group to return. Upon bowing to greet him they were dismissed and told to return to their posts at the mansion. "It went well, I assume. If you're still up for joining the battle we're leaving in a few minutes. I just received word that the enemy forces have been cornered."

The minimal knowledge known about what happened to what Fost was protecting didn't sit well with Tinarah. It had clearly been very important, and not knowing where it was, she didn't like that. She wished that they had some idea at least, hopefully it wasn't lost with a world, she hoped Xine hid it well. After all it was her uncles legacy in a way and she didn't want it to go to waste.

Over the month it had been though on Tinarah. The constant training and patrolling had her always exhausted. She didn't have the energy to talk much with Mika after it all, often, eating and sleeping the moment that Torrin let her off patrol or training sessions. Tinarah didn't enjoy this kind of training, but it had kept her from crying herself to sleep past the first couple of nights. She just didn't have the energy. Her mood never really improved however, she was still quiet and withdrawn, still upset and lost. The training was structure much like the chores were, it helped get her through the days.

Finally after a month of training she was coming back from patrol, expecting to be shipped off to training shortly after, when Torrin stopped them. Unlike most there, Tinarah never felt the need to bow to Torrin or Mika. She often felt awkward when everyone else did it and she was just standing there, but the Torrin and Mika she used to know, they weren't a king or queen, they were her friends.

"Yeah, it went fine..." Tinarah responded quietly when Torrin continued to ask if she still willing to fight. "Yeah... I... Nothing has changed in the past month, I am a little more prepared maybe but I can't say that anything else is different." Referring to her sentiment on going to war, and not expecting to return. She was ready for whatever lay ahead of her, she just hoped in the end she could see her mom, Stamatis, and Fost on the other side.

"Well it'll have to be enough." Torrin stated, placed his hand on the sword strapped to his right side. Unlike the soldiers he refused to wear armor. He led Tinarah to the mansion courtyard where soldiers were starting to line up in formation equipped in full plate armor wielding swords, shields, bows, and spears. "No turning back." Torrin glanced at Tinarah before turning to speak to his men.

Two hours pass...​

The march from the mansion had been silent and tense. According to their information the enemy had been preparing an attack by stationing themselves nearby Torrin's headquarters, likely wishing to make an attempt on his life. That was, until they were found out and cornered. They reached a distant corner of Eventide, more ruined buildings littered the area and the only structure that remained to be still standing was what appeared to be an old stone clock tower. The clock itself seemed to have ceased working years ago, both of its hands now missing as well as most of the numbers. Torrin's soldiers, those who had found the location had surrounded the area and stood guard waiting for backup.

"If all goes well, there won't be a battle at all. Capture the leaders, force their side to surrender, then that's it. It's all over. I almost pity them...to lose with such a quiet end."

Tinarah followed Torrin, taking up place in the line of soldiers. She felt out of place and uncomfortable among them, but remained for her own sake. She felt like she needed to be there, so while having so many people there with her made her nervous, she wasn't able to do much about it. Torrin warned her there was no turning back, but Tinarah only managed to offer him a nod. She knew that, the moment she started her training she knew there was no turning back. Gripping on to her necklace for strength she turned and listened to Torrin speak.

The march there gave Tinarah time to think, to regret, to wonder. The silence was driving her insane due to the silence coming from many and not just her. She could feel the tension in the air, it weighed heavy on her, convincing her now more than ever she wouldn't return. Tinarah had wished she had a chance to say goodbye to Mika.

As they approached the clock tower, Torrin told them he believed that a big battle wouldn't be necessary if they caught the leader, and an odd sense of disappointment washed over Tinarah. Was she even needed here then? That that training, all the mental preparation for a simple task? She didn't know what to think of that. Tinarah offered a nod of understanding however as she touched her necklace once more before placing a hand on the pommel of her sword ready, just in case.

Torrin stepped forth, drawing his sword. Just then several people began to step out of the clock tower. Torrin stopped walking and raised an eyebrow. There was at least twenty people facing them now. They were being led by a young woman with black hair wielding a keyblade. Another young woman, a blonde, standing beside her wielded a keyblade with a heart-shaped guard.

"Master Thallasa, it is good to finally meet face to face. I've heard a great deal about you. Your mastery of battle strategy has kept me on the ropes for years." Torrin looked over at the blonde. "You must be Master Chrysanthemum. Your people call you Chrys, correct? And I suppose this ragtag bunch compose your strike force? Impressive. Masters Pagos, Dentro, Zeno, and Avra. It's a shame that your last leader, Gero never accepted my terms of surrender. I didn't enjoy putting him down. Even with all those keyblade, you don't think you can fight your way out of here, do you? Please, let us put an end to this now."

"Are you stupid? We fought this war because you gave us no other option! It was either fight or have our light purged from our hearts! You once wielded the keyblade, you fool. You should understand the balance of realms just as well as any of us!" Thallasa shouted at him readying herself for battle.

"You honestly think I give a damn about the light? How many of my people died because of it? Ages ago your people started a war with mine, I'm merely finishing what they started. Even Mikaela saw I was right."

"You disgust me!" Chrys spat at the floor, hate in her eyes. "What of the others you forced to be like you? Did they all survive your experiments!?"

"Am I supposed to feel sorry for them? Illiana, Koa, Take...and the others, they all came after me when they learned I wasn't one of them. Once again, your realm incited another war with mine and now you're trying to guilt trip me just because you're losing? The citizens of the Realm of Darkness have suffered long enough and it's time to snuff out the light. Surrender or so help me we'll strike you all down."


Master Thallasa? Wasn't that the master that had gone missing in her time line? And Chrys, that was the girl with Aria.What was going on here? Why was this all happening? What exactly was going on here? Tinarah, seeing a somewhat familiar face backed up a step, trying to blend in whith the other soldiers there. She wasn't convinced she wanted to fight these people anymore.

Chrys spat at him, something about experiments and Tinarah looked worried. He said there were things she needed to be prepared for before she saw her brother, but he never went into detail about that since she didn't want to see her brother. However this conversation, Tinarah gripped her necklace hard and nearly summoned her keyblade. There was no more heartless with these masters wielding a keyblade, hers shouldn't make a difference. However there was an issue with how Torrin might react.

Tinarah had a small voice as she looked to Torrin then to the Masters. "Torrin what are you guys talking about. What experiments? I thought you were restoring the balance. What are you doing? Snuff out the light? Is that why Aria didn't make it because she was a heart of light.... or something like that?" Tinarah asked biting her lower lip a littler scared that Torrin would turn around and attack her. She knew if that happened she wouldn't be able to defend herself, after training in the morning, patrol, and the march here, she was drained.

Torrin's intense stare down was interrupted by the sound of a meek voice beside him. He turned his head towards Tinarah. "A new balance, yes. Without the light persecuting the dark, there won't be any more deaths. The Heartless are perversions of the dark, once the war is over there will be nothing but peace."

Torrin's grip tightened on his blade as he returned to face the keyblade masters before him. The soldiers behind him readied their weapons for battle. "Aria's death was not by my hands. In fact, it was the enemy who tried to utilize her heart as a weapon. A move that failed. Now get ready to fight. They're not going to go down without a struggle."


Peace... in darkness? That was not what Master Stamatis would have wanted. Not what Uncle Fost would have wanted. The Masters who were preparing for battle, wasn't to fight with Torrin was it? It was to fight against it. Tinarah looked frightened as she looked back and forth for a moment, as Torrin gave the command to get ready to fight. Tinarah drew her sword but was not ready for the fight ahead of her. She stared at the other Masters, hoping they would talk her out of fighting before she started, but she didn't know if that would happen. "Tell me this... Uncle Fost... Master Stamatis... did they fight with you, or against you?"

Torrin's eyes flashed and for a moment he remained dead silent. He took in a deep breath and sighed out before finally speaking. "So this is how it is...Mikaela was wrong to convince me to trust you. I knew you were too soft." Before she could react Torrin struck Tinarah and everything went black.

As they stood outside Everette felt a small tug on his jacket. Looking down he saw a young girl standing their asking about them. Everette smiled at her but it was Conrad who answered for them. Meanwhile Everette ducked down to the girls level. "Yes we came to talk to the chief but heard there was lots of sick people in there. We were just trying to decide if we should go in or talk to him out here. What do you think. Will it disturb the sick people if we go in? We don't want to bother them while figuring out how to help." Perhaps the girl would have some insight on how they should go forward. She was young but she did live here and he had learned not to underestimate what the young picked up on, he had seen it enough in younger members of the guild that he never wrote them off as being possibly helpful. If she didn't have anything useful, then he didn't mind wasting the whole three minutes it took him to talk to her.


Thea didn't like being compared to some commoners little sister. She was a proud Strive and a Divine Rose wizard, not some local village kid. That being said she still just smiled at the girl and acted as though it didn't bother her at all. "Alright lets go!" She let Gavin do all the questioning as she marched forward slightly behind the young woman who was guiding them. Thea's eyes drifted around to some of the stalls but as soon as she noticed the peoples stares, she turned her attention straight ahead once more and kept walking with the group. She didn't like the looks she was getting.

As they approached a large building she started to hear children's laughter. Perhaps this was a school? Was everyone confused that she was out instead of at school perhaps? A ball came flying over the wall, and Gavin was nice enough to return it. Thea had considered grabbing the ball herself and tossing it over, but didn't know if she was strong enough that it would have actually made it over. "Maybe they are in school. Peasants do that don't they?" Thea suggested as a possible explanation. ​

The situation was ever getting worse as the crazy woman who saved then knocked down one of the students, holding her weapon to her neck, then dismissed two of their teammates. Auburn watched in tense silence, what the hell were they getting into with this woman? Why was Qrow trusting her when she was acting in such a way, yet he was trusting her regardless and it didn't sit well with Auburn. At least the woman had some useful information.

So they were to travel to temples, defeat sub guardian's and bring back relics to the correct temple it seemed. That wasn't too hard of a task she didn't think. Would they really need all of them there to do it? Two teachers and eight students against one person seemed a little much, but if they were to split up, perhaps they would get things done faster? Auburn wondered if that was Qrow's idea, but it hadn't been stated yet. She opened her mouth like she was about to talk but stopped herself. It was a simple enough plan, if Qrow hadn't said it he probably thought of it and dismissed it as a bad plan anyways, there was no need to embarrass herself like that. She was already embarrassed enough as it was. Thumbing her phone, once more she considered heading back to her father. She still didn't really know what to do here, but she had stayed so far, they couldn't afford to lose yet another person.

​

╔════​

»"Remind me to never get on her bad side." Arian mused as he watched how Noire responded to Lloyd questioning him. Arian walked up and offered Lloyd a hand up as soon as Noire backed off to explain everything else they were to do. "Are the Sub-Guardians hot? Please tell me at least one is hot. I mean if you are taking away two of our attractive party members you got to provide more." Arian stated as he looked at Noire, she would do fine too, but still he would like to know about such simple things. Answer or no though he wandered off soon after to collect his supplies, not that he had much to collect, but he could use a break. ​

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Episode Tinarah: Part 14
Your Training Intensifies
​

Early that morning there came a knock at Tinarah's door. A dim light filtered through the windows. Dusk was as bright as it was going to get on this world. "Get ready." Torrin left a simple one-handed sword by her door. "You'll get fitted with some armor today too. But I think we have something already in your size."

Tinarah had still been in bed but was easily awoken by the knock on the door. Tinarah made quick work of getting ready, however still struggled a little bit with her new clothes, making sure the shirt was on right, and fretting over if it didn't fir well enough. After wasting too much time on this she grabbed the coat also given to her and slung it over her shoulder as she picked up the sword. She could put it on in a moment when they were getting ready to do something, but she didn't want to keep Torrin waiting any longer than she had to.

Tinarah emerged and followed Torrin. She shouldn't have been surprised that armour was involved, however she was never required to wear it in any other training, so to have to wear it now was odd. "Oh... Okay." Tinarah responded quietly. The conversation the previous night had Tinarah in an off mood again and she was struggling but making an effort to function like a regular person, or at least enough to start her training.

Torrin walked slowly, intending use the time to bring up something he thought about last night. "Adopting would be nice, to be honest. Though...there are some things they just wouldn't be able to inherit." He kept his eyes forward as he led her on. "But there were some names I liked. If I ever had a son I'd name him after my uncle, Joch. Or perhaps my father, Errin."

They soon reached the courtyard and the sounds of metal clashing against metal rang out in the distance due to the training exercises of his soldiers. Torrin kept walking until they reached a dirt circle outlined with rocks. Leaning against the nearby mansion wall were dulled swords set on a rack. Torrin picked one up and spun it in his hand. "If it were a girl...perhaps Emilee would suit her well. I understand that it's the name of your own mother, correct?"

Tinarah followed Torrin, the sound of the battle in the distance made her nervous. While she knew it was all just training, Tinarah also had not had to train alongside anyone else in a very long time. Her training had always been done with Stamatis in the solitude of the castle. No one was there to witness when she made a mistake or failed. This however was a different story.

Torrin spoke of their conversation the previous night, probably trying to be friendly and keep her from shutting out completely. Tinarah listened politely as they walked offering small nods as he explained... That was until he reached the name for a girl. Tinarah froze for a moment. She looked at Torrin at first surprised that he knew that, however then she remembered her brother was around, and likely spoke of it at some point. Tinarah hoped he wasn't in the mansion, she had been trying to avoid that subject for a while now.

"Yeah... It was. Though I don't know if you want to name your child after someone so whimsical and reckless as my mother." Tinarah said thinking to when her mother had sat her under a set of stairs, despite the blaring fire alarms and told her to wait until she returned... though she never did, Tinarah sooner found her brother sitting with her mothers corpse. It was just the start of people promising her things and then leaving her. And while Tinarah did love her mother, when she had a trait like that, she might not have been the ideal person to be naming your child after.

"Hm. Well Chrono never spoke much of her. Just about how you enjoyed his card tricks and this or that. He missed you a great deal." Torrin motioned towards Tinarah's sword. "Keep it raised, tip towards me." He instructed though he had a feeling she had some experience in this regard. He stepped into the circle, ready to spar though not making any advances.

"Do you resent your mother?" He questioned as he slowly began to circle Tinarah. "For being reckless? Or for something else?"

Tinarah had trained with a sword for a decent amount of time while trying to get her keyblade back, so she was no stranger to how it worked as got into fighting position, matching Torrin's steps.

"I don't.... I don't fully resent her... But the day she died, well it was the start of a lot of things wrong with me." Tinarah tried to explain, not quite sure how. "When I was little she left me under the stairs at an office building while fire alarms were going off. Soon the building was clear but she had not returned and I went looking. I found my brother hovering over her body trying to save her. I still get nightmares, and still don't understand why whatever she was searching for there was worth that danger. So in some ways I resent her, but I do love her. " Tinarah tried to explain before taking lead and advancing on the offense.

Torrin casually swatted Tinarah's sword away and pointed the tip of his sword at Tinarah's throat. "What kinds of things would you say are wrong with you?" Torrin asked before stepping back towards the edge of the circle to give the girl her space to form her next plan of attack. "Before I ever lost my family I had no confidence of my own. It was only until things looked their bleakest when I stepped up and rose to where I am. I may have grown colder because of it but I am stronger than I have ever been." Torrin motioned for Tinarah to come at him again.

Tinarah had thought she was doing well with her training, but the way she was casually swatted away made Tinarah question herself. However Torrin had more questions for her, questions that made her hesitate. "I um...." Tinarah wasn't sure she wanted to answer but finally she spoke more, lowering her sword as she did, at least for the time being. "I am so damn terrified every time someone leaves me, even for a short amount of time. All I can think of is how they are going to die... And they do! My mom did it. Then last time I saw Choma, he said it would be alright and he would be back... Next time I really heard of him again, he was dead. Master Stamatis and Uncle Fost promised I would be okay and they would see me in the future. They are gone too! When... When Chrono left to train I thought the same would happen to him, so I tried to follow. I can't get close to people anymore. The first time I tried since her death was with Stamatis and Fost and that back fired on me too!" It turned into more of a venting session rather than why her mom caused so many problems. "Sometimes I feel all she has taught me to do is hide while other people protect me. I don't know how to fight for myself. I am not strong like she was..." Tinarah expressed before raising her sword though she seemed less confident that before as she launched another attack on Torrin.

"Then why haven't you gotten angry about it? Why do you continue to look for ways to run? You seem to know exactly what the problem is yet you have done nothing. Are you going to stand there and continue to be the weak girl you have always been or are you going to do something about it?" He spoke, trying to get under her skin.

"You could be channeling that pain into something useful instead of using it as an excuse for your weaknesses." He began to approach her, stabbing at the air beside Tinarah's face almost grazing her with the edge of his sword before she would have even been able to react. "Why don't you fight? Prove to yourself that the sacrifices of everyone who came before you were not in vain!"

"I can't... I am not that kind of person. I am not the kind to get angry, I hate people getting angry." Tinarah continued trying to make excuses as he spoke. He continued to speak and she began to really hate the way he spoke to her, he seemed angry as he got closer to her and as she said she hated it. Tinarah took a step back and then another.

"I'm trying!" Tinarah attempted to defend herself as he stuck near her face and she was near ready to run from the ring. "Why do you think I offered to train! I am trying but I don't know how to just change who I am! My father was gentle, Master Stamatis was gentle, so am I! I can't just redirect anger that I don't have, or not in the form you seem to think it takes. So what do you want from me?!" Tinarah asked as she tried once more to strike him, trying to force Torrin back. With him being so close, trying to harm her, she couldn't take it. She had to at least do something.

Torrin tilted his head to the side and said nothing as Tinarah spoke first softly then she began to raise her voice. She lost her cool and struck at him again only for him to parry the blow just as quickly as he did the first time, stepping in closer to take hold of her right wrist with his free hand. He raised the sleeve of her sweater to reveal faded scars on her wrist. "And how did you get these? By accident? Or because you didn't have the power to defend yourself?" He pushed her back, releasing his grip on her wrist.

"Your teachers were wrong to be soft. Were the hardships you faced so kind to you? No. Of course not." His eyes narrowed at Tinarah. "No enemy will ever be soft on you. Somewhere within you is anger yet untapped. You do not know it but I see it in your eyes. So don't just sit there and wait for death. Seize your life!"

Torrin grabbed her wrist and Tinarah tried to yank back, however he was much stronger than she was. He pulled back her sleeve and she was left looking at the scars that remained from when Choma had to save her. "I was twelve. You know the first thing I asked Master Stamatis to train me in was? I asked to learn how to defend myself. It has been nearly six years and this is as far as I got. It isn't from lack of trying." Tears stung her eyes at Torrin continued to yell at her.

Finally something in Tinarah snapped, but it wasn't necessarily in the way that Torrin wanted. "I am not sitting there waiting for death.... I... I am seeking it. Look I know I am not strong, and I am useless. Maybe I should have died like Chrono wanted me to all those years ago, but I didn't. I don't think I can rebuild a life but I am not going to wait for death either, I will die doing something I can be proud of myself for doing." She retorted as the tears steamed down her face freely as she stepped back away from Torrin pulling her sleeve back over her wrist. "Are we done here?"

Torrin raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly on seeing Tinarah snap. "Good. It takes a certain kind of person to admit something like that. Don't sell yourself short, Tinarah. I'll have use of you yet." He held up his sword, yet again motioning for her to continue. He was not willing to just let her go and give up. "Stamatis likely could not have taught you anymore. It wasn't your failing, it was his. Some teaching styles simply aren't compatible with certain students. Tell me, was there any sudden progress you made when he attempted switching teaching styles? Surely he would have tried something had he seen you struggling."

Torrin smiled at her a second Tinarah hated it, hate the look of success on his face. It didn't feel like a win for her, simply and other large gash, a wound opening up in her heart, tormenting her more.

Any big change in style? Tinarah had to think, until she remembered when she got her keyblade. She was frightened to tell Torrin about it. That training session had scared her more than anything else she had done with him. She didn't want to go through it again, and yet... She didn't think she could lie. "y-yes... Just for the day though. After two and a half years I still couldn't summon my keyblade. He took me... We were close to the darkness, and he let the heartless attack, hurt me, until I was so desperate I would even fall back to my old ways and called for Chronos help to survive.... His keyblade came to me then and I have been forced to use it ever since." Tinarah admitted.

Torrin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this story Tinarah had told him. "So you're not even using your own keyblade. That's unexpected." He scratched his chin and thought for a moment. "Perhaps going that far was a mistake but you never made any real progress by someone being soft on you." He spoke his thought aloud.

"Mikaela used to be as...squishy on the inside as you. Nearly as much. Time in a rough place and understanding the importance of a heavy hand lessened that weakness so that may be all you need. You will spar against me every morning, even if it means ignoring the pain of a few cuts and bruises, and you're going to spend the rest of your free time on patrol with my knights clearing out Heartless without the help of your keyblade." He paused for a moment. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused you but you're going to need to toughen up. Nothing around here is going to stop at leaving a few scratches on you. Just about everything and everyone left out there wants to kill you. Getting yourself killed in a stupid way is a dishonor to everyone who ever cared about you."

She knew she couldn't use her keyblade... But the thought of being without it. It scared her quite a bit. She was used to routine and hard work, Stamatis always gave her routine, but it was never fighting, he had her doing chores and tasks for him. Being on patrol... Being on patrol with complete strangers bothered her.

"I- I guess." She stammered feeling small under Torrins gaze. "But if I do it... Can you do me a favour? I just need to know..." she started asking. It was the say before Tinarah thought of Fost's own student. She hadn't the courage to hear the answer no, but she was walking into a situation which she didn't know if she would survive through, so perhaps she had to try. "Check that list for a master named Xine please. He should have been a master at least, he was Uncle Fost's student, when Master Stamatis was training me. If he isn't dead I want to talk to him." Tinarah blurted out with a surprising amount of confidence for her.

"Xine? That's a name I recognize. He's alive but...barely. He fell into a deep sleep after being wounded in battle. His condition is stable as far as I know but if you wish to see him, that can be easily arranged. It will have to wait until after the battle, however. We can't bring him here without harming him and we can't take you to him without drawing Heartless to the hospital he's at. Who knows? Perhaps by then he'll have awoken and fully recovered by then. But for now, you will need to train. And train hard."

"So even if we went to see him now... I can't talk to him?" Tinarah sounded disappointed. She clearly wanted to talk to him. "I guess it can wait then... but what about the thing he was supposed to be protecting. Master Stamatis said when the time came it would help bring balance between light and darkness. Isn't that what is needed now? Was Xine able to use it? Or perhaps Uncle Fost. I don't really know what it was, but it was apparently the reason that Fost was unable to train me and sent me to Stamatis." Tinarah continued on to try and explain what little she knew of the situation. "I just... I just need to know if Uncle Fost was okay when I didn't show up. If he was worried or if he had forgotten all about me... I am sorry. I just need to know." Tinarah argued, continuing to show just how soft she was, compared to how most people seemed around here. She wasn't nearly the fighter that she needed to be to help fight, and yet, still she wanted to try.

"I'm surprised you know of it. Whatever power it holds doesn't really matter right now. Xine was wounded before he could use it and I believe his last act before we found him was to hide it away. Perhaps for good measure. I don't know what kind of damage items of such power could do in the wrong hands. I'm sorry. Rest assured, he's in the best care. So please, get some rest. These next few weeks are going to be tough on you and you will need to be focusing on yourself more than anything else."

One month passes...
​

Setting off on the mission, it was a long journey to their destination, but nothing Everette wasn't used to. Lengthy journey's were normal when taking on high paying missions, and the high paying missions were usually the ones that needed his attention most. S-class ranking or not, it was rare that Midarah needed him to help with one of the simpler missions, like baby sitting a pet, those were saved for the new members. Now arriving at the village at last, something didn't sit well with Everette, he didn't like the feeling of this area, how quiet it was. Just how far spread was this illness?

Approaching the gate, a guard stopped them. Samuel, surprisingly handled the talking, after just helping himself to reaching into the his bag to get the job slip. "You know you could have asked... or let me do it." Everette scowled over at Samuel. It wasn't that he was totally mad at the boy, he just would rather someone didn't reach into his bag. Sam did however manage to get them entrance, so it wasn't such a bad thing. Pulling down the collar of his shirt slightly more, Everette showed off his own guild mark, gaining entrance himself, following behind Conrad and Samuel into the village.

The chief was apparently taking care of the sick people, however he wasn't sick himself. He understood Conrad's concern and agreed completely, but that got Everette thinking. "You are probably right, we should talk to him out here. That being said, if he has been in there with all the sick people, caring for them and keeping an eye over them, but is healthy still, perhaps it isn't contagious. Do you think it is possible they are getting sick from somewhere else? We should look into that when we have time, but first lets go see if we can get the chief out here." Everette responded, looking at the building, lingering outside however trying to see who was around or if there was any way of grabbing the attention of the chief without having to enter the building.

Thea was getting tired of the talking and the questioning whether or not she should be going on the mission, she just wanted to go. Soon enough however they were able to agree to some extent about them leaving and the mission was approved by Midarah. While their guild master didn't look the most pleased with the idea, at least she still had agreed, and that was good enough for Thea as they set off. Thea was talking for most of their journey to the town, telling stories about home. She spoke of the dress she wanted to buy with the money from the mission. Thea spoke about anything and everything that she could think to talk about until they finally arrived at their destination, only then did she quiet down.

Getting down from the carriage, Thea was already enthralled by the various smells and sounds around the market. Fresh baked bread, there was a sweet smell in the air, and she could see a vendor that seemed to be selling clothing. Thea was ready to run off and check it all out, when she suddenly noticed something. A lot of people were looking at her with rather odd expressions. Thea took a step back, hiding behind Zephyr ever so slightly. "Why are they all looking at me?" She asked, knowing the boy probably didn't have the answer, but this was making her uncomfortable.

A teenager approached them, ready to take them to the person they needed to meet about the mission, but even they got distracted by her. At least this girl wasn't giving her odd looks. "I am Thea... And... I am twelve." Thea wasn't sure she wanted to reveal her age, but she didn't think she could lie well enough to get away with being much older. "But don't think just because I am young I can't do the mission. I am just as strong as anyone else in the guild.... well except the S-class and Master Midarah. But no one is as strong as them." Thea pointed out thinking the girl was only asking because she doubted her ability. ​

Episode Tinarah: Part 13
All You Need is a Change

During the time Tinarah spent in her room food was brought in to her and other than that both Mikaela and Torrin left her to her own devices to take in the situation. On the second day Tinarah would have heard shouting outside through her window. The mansion grounds were relatively well-lit so if Tinarah decided to look outside she would have seen Torrin and his soldiers standing in front of several other figures that were kneeling down. Prisoners.

"Take them away. I'll deal with them tomorrow night. They're too stubborn for their own good." Torrin spoke to one of his men with great exasperation. "Don't harm them. We can't rebuild if we start killing off our prisoners. Give them something to eat. Perhaps some food will change their minds."

A knock came at Tinarah's door. "Hey, can we talk?" Came Mikaela's voice on the other side of the door.


While the food was appreciated, most plates came back barely eaten. The food was spread around from Tinarah picking at her plate, but in the end she could never force herself to eat more than a few bites and ultimately gave up. Tinarah spent a lot of time staring out the window or sleeping, not having too much else to do after locking herself in a room without either of her violins. She didn't know if she could play if she tried. The first night she could hardly stop her hands from shaking, and only slept when she was too exhausted to stay awake any longer.

Hearing something of interest out the window, Tinarah paced to it and looked out. She could hear Torrin talking, and while he didn't seem to mean the people any harm, the idea of prisoners didn't sit well with Tinarah. Aside from the guards they had been the only other sign of non-heartless life that she had seen here and there was something off putting about the fact it was prisoners. Wasn't there anyone else who lived in this area just to live here. It seemed to only safe haven, she didn't want to believe Torrin and Mika might have not left it open for others to take refuge.

There was a soft knock and Tinarah turned away from the window, going to take a seat on her bed once more, pulling her knees up to her chest as she did. "I suppose... You can come in." Tinarah replied softly. She didn't feel like talking, but she couldn't push them away forever, not when she was a guest in their house with nowhere else to go. Tinarah at this time did not look put together at all. Though she had been sleeping, she still looked tired, her hair messy, and her clothes disheveled. She had put no effort into personal care the past couple days and it was evident, however more than that there was a noticeable empty look on her face, like she had been drained of life and spirit and was simply barely existing.
​

Mikaela opened the door and frowned upon seeing her friend once more after two days of isolation. She did not appear well. "Look, I know this isn't where you wanted to end up and we've only given you bad news but...there's more to that here. There's still good left in this world. Even if it needs to be rebuilt after the war there are a few places, cities, worlds, that have already begun standing on their own legs. If anything, this world is probably the worst example for you to show up in since it's so close to the current front lines. Which is why you've seen nothing but soldiers around here." Mikaela went over to sit beside TInarah on the bed.

"Hm...I know this place looks nice and all but we really don't have that much. Though I'd be happy to share with you a change of clothes. Come on, if nothing else it'd be nice for you to change into something else. Those clothes you're in are a little...small? You haven't had a fresh change of clothes in a while, huh?"


Tinarah watched her friend as she spoke from the door. Tinarah seemed tired but still was intently listening as Mika spoke. "I still.... Mika have you ever been promised that someone will see you again, and you that is the only think you can hold on to. Then after that have them die before you see them again? Now have you had that happen twice in a life time tearing apart any semblance of a family you thought you had, both times and being forced to try and build anew? I don't care how good or bad the situation here, compared to other worlds is, no offense, but I don't know.... I can't build a life again. I need to at least go back to where one is waiting for me. I can't do it, trying to create a new life and waiting for it to fall apart again... I just I can't." Tinarah admitted finally able to speak what was on her mind after two full days of going over what she might say and how to say it.

Mika offered her a change of clothes and Tinarah looked down at how warn hers were, not having noticed until it was pointed out to her. She looked slightly embarrassed, knowing of how it may have seemed now looking at her. "I um.... Master Stamatis and I didn't leave the castle much.... sometimes Uncle Fost would bring us stuff though on his short visits." Her voice fell more hollow again, speaking the names seemed to hurt her as she looked away again, trying to keep a hold of herself. After brushing back a few tears Tinarah stood up from where she had been sitting, indicating she was ready to go get that change of clothes that was offered, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything at that time.

"I think I do understand, actually." Mikaela said after a moment of thought. "I found my family, Tinarah. My memory came back and I was able to come back home. But that was taken from me during the war. My new family, you, Aria, and all the others I met along the way were lost years later. It wasn't until I reunited with Torrin that I was able to start yet again. Third chances don't come very often and I held onto mine with whatever strength I had and here we are now." She sighed and laid back against the bed. "I thought I lost everything time and time again but no matter how bad things got, I always found something to keep going on. It just took time."

She glanced at Tinarah who was already standing and smiled. "So...I take it you're ready for a change of clothes. Great!" She sat back up and stood up beside Tinarah before heading out the door and in the direction of her own room.



"Third... fourth.... fifth. I don't even know what to count as a loss anymore... I just I don't think I can rebuild. I am not strong like you Mika, never have been." She said quietly as she turned to follow Mika for the change of clothes. She had not counted getting kidnapped and sent back in time as a loss. Hadn't thought of her brothers betrayal, but she supposed they all fell in the same category as death when it came to the way it had an effect on Tinarah's soul. While physically she looked perfectly normal and healthy, in her heart there were too many wounds, she still bared scars from physical torment, but the emotional one scarred her far more. Never the less, she made at least a small attempt to be normal, socialize, and it started with being agreeable and following Mika to get a change of clothes.

Mikaela led Tinarah into her room which was not much larger than the one the girl had been staying in. The most obvious difference was the larger bed that filled the room's space. "Well, here it is." Mikaela moved towards the other end of the room, passing by a framed picture that stood on drawer. It was a faded picture showing the students of Masters Choma and Atmos standing together. Tinarah was not present in this picture. Beside it was a new frame with a picture of Mikaela and Torrin, the latter looking to be trying hard to keep a serious face while Mikaela smiled brightly. In the background of the second picture was a castle unlike any used by keyblade masters to train students.

"You can take a few things and use the bathroom to change." Mikaela said, motioning towards the dresser that belonged to her before sitting down on her bed.



Tinarah stopped and lingered at the picture of all the students, most noticeably so looking at her brother in the picture. Anger and betrayal started to flood her heart as she looked, her hand clenched at her side. Tinarah looked like she was ready to punch the picture, but she turned away before she could do damage to it, instead turning towards the dresser pointed out to her. Tinarah approached, a little unsure as pulled open a drawer. She felt awkward going through someone else's stuff, but it was offered and she needed it. Slowly she poked through the clothing pulling out one of many tight looking shirts. "Is everything this.... tight?" She asked always dressing rather conservatively. Tinarah finally just picked something out that looked rather pretty despite how tight it was and grabbed a regular pair of jeans. With that she walked into the bathroom to get changed, however didn't come up right away. "Is this.... suppose to go under something?" She asked again as she stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a red plaid corset type shirt, and skinny black jeans, looking around the room to see if Mika might have had somewhere else where she kept coats.

Mikaela blinked and chuckled upon seeing how uncomfortable Tinarah was in her clothes. "No, that's just how it is. No need to be modest. You've definitely grown. In uh more ways than one." She cleared her throat and laughed a little more upon saying it. "But if you're really that uncomfortable you can take a sweater or get a change of clothes or...something. Sorry it's not like there's places to shop around here."



"I... I don't think I have ever worn anything this... tight... revealing... whatever you want to call this." Tinarah commented thinking about how much Fost would hate it but unable to even say anything on it. It hurt enough thinking about. The last time she even tried to say his name.... It hurt far too much to do again. "Um.. I will take a sweater though..." Tinarah added desperately feeling the need to cover up. When Mika showed her where the sweaters were kept, Tinarah chose one that was more like a coat and put it on, she felt slightly more comfortable now, but there was a faint blush on her face as she stood there awkwardly, trying to adjust the shirt underneath again in order to make it sit lower... That wasn't going to happen.

"You don't need to be so modest." Mikaela teased. Footsteps could be heard outside in the hall. "I think we're about to have company."

"Good to hear, Boreas. Keep up the good work and we may just see an end to this war. I know I'll be glad to see peace at last." It was Torrin's voice on the other side. A set of footsteps echoed in the hall and faded away as the door opened and Torrin stepped through, raising an eyebrow when he saw that Tinarah had come in. He turned his head towards Mikaela and then looked back at Tinarah once more.

"Yes. She is wearing my clothes. Don't stare. It's rude."

"Jealous?" Torrin mused, taking a step into the room. "Hm. I think bright colors suit her better."

"Well she's wearing red underneath that sweater but she's shy."

"Oh? I would be too with you judging her like that."

"I'm not judging!" Mikaela frowned.

"Sure. You look good, Tinarah. Just relax." Torrin reassured Tinarah.

"Hmph. Well is there any news?"

"Judging by the current tide of things, once a few of our forces regroup I'll be joining their ranks to lead them into battle. Once we force a surrender, that should be it."

"Can't you just send Boreas instead? Why send the king when your best knight could do the job just as well?" Mikaela sounded concerned.

"True, I have no doubt he could handle himself but this is more for morale than anything...and also because I want to see an end to this myself. You know how I feel about war. I won't send anyone to do anything I am unwilling to do." He cleared his throat realizing he had gotten lost in the conversation with Mikaela and returned his attention back towards Tinarah. "Sorry about that. Hm. Since you're staying for the foreseeable future, is there anything you need to make yourself more comfortable here? I know it's been tough on you but being king gives me a certain amount of leverage."



Tinarah shifted uncomfortably under Mika's gaze, especially as footsteps were heard heading towards them. Tinarah pulled the sweater tight so no one could see her shirt underneath. Soon Torrin appeared in the room.

Tinarah listened to the banter and she looked away for a moment. There was a small part of Tinarah that wished she had someone special like that to be with, banter and such. The conversation however quickly moved on to something a little more serious. She could tell that Mika didn't want him to go, but there was value in leaders being amongst the troops.

Speaking of troops Torrin tried asking her if there was something he could do to make her more comfortable and something popped into Tinarahs mind. "I... I want to go with you and help fight.... I missed the war but I can't sit by and watch. My uncle... My master died for this. I won't sit by and let it be for nothing." Tinarah insisted.

Torrin tilted his head, surprised as Tinarah's response. "Really? This isn't the same as fighting Heartless acting on instinct, Tinarah." Torrin folded his arms and looked over at Mikaela who still seemed concerned though now for the two of them. "But if you're going through with this, then you'll need some more training. You won't be able to use a keyblade so you'll have to use a sword. From now until the battle my hands are free so I'd be more than willing to train you."

"I'd do it but the last battle I was in I..." Mikaela looked away. "I lost more than my ability to put up a fight." She spoke solemnly.

"But we won't have to do this for much longer. There won't be any need to keep fighting once this is all over. Even the Heartless will not be a threat any longer." He spoke with confidence.



"I cant.... Use it at all? I worked so hard to get it back. Isn't it important to defeat the heartless?" Tinarah asked quite confused about this new development in the situation. "But yes... I don't think I can ever.... Be okay... If I keep hiding." Tears still stung her eyes, it was clear she wasn't okay still. She hadn't moved in or got over it. She was barely holding in. However at least she was making an attempt to do something beside sitting in the room.

Mika mentioned something about not being able to help and Tinarah turned around and looked at Mika. "Oh what happened? Why?" Tinarah sounded concerned like, scared for her friend.

"The Heartless don't pay so much attention to us these days. Especially since we abandoned our keyblades. Clearing those perversions of darkness will actually be easy once we're in peacetime." Torrin placed his hand on Tinarah's shoulder. "It will be alright." He looked over at Mikaela and the two locked eyes for a moment before she looked down and shook her head upon hearing Tinarah's question.

"The doctor was blunt when he said it. So much so that I had him thrown in a dungeon for the night. How did he put it? She will never have your heir." He sighed. "Even my magic could not undo the damage." He took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "We can start training tomorrow. When the time comes I'll be sure you're ready to fight."



So what they were fighting... It wasn't even the heartless that were causing the problem, but another dark creature even greater? The thought of that troubled Tinarah deeply, she started to wonder if she could accomplish what she said she would help with. Would this be the time line when her life ended? It seemed every timeline that she had been in, it was possible that she would die, her life was headed that way many times before someone stepped in to save her. Chrono, Choma, Fost, they all came for her, but what about here? Would that still hold?

Torrin continued to explain what Mika was referring too, and it was quite unfortunate, but Tinarah turned around and tried her best to think it positive. "Well... have you ever considered adopting? With all that has happened I am sure there are lots of children without family, and I think you would be a great mother. It don't have to be your child to make a family feel complete." Once again she began thinking of how Stamatis willingly took her in and loved her, trained her, him and Fost had grown to be her family when she didn't have one. A few tears managed to escape down her face this time before Tinarah turned away from them. "Anyways thanks for the clothes. I will see you tomorrow." Tinarah's tone changed to one that was darker, sadder as she turned around and let herself out of the room, heading for her own.

One day passes...
​

Aislinn sat next to Simba and she didn't speak, she just listened. He had learned for himself and she thought it was best that she was simply someone that he could talk things out too, he didn't need her input on anything. Simba had come to realization on his own... with help from a lion in the sky and a crazy baboon. She smiled as Simba tried to deal with Rafiki's stick before Simba turned back towards the others, claiming he was going back. She smiled at him and took stride beside him. "I know what it is like to lose parents... but doesn't that mean you should hold on to the family you have more? Just remember that when you return home. It will be hard, but we will have your back." She told him as they joined back up with the group, Aux making an off hand comment about what had happened.

Aislinn chuckled at AJ's comment about the lion. She liked that. Aislinn looked over at Aux. "So are you ready to stick your nose where it doesn't belong and help these people? It might be meddling, but it seems we have gotten pretty good at that. Even AJ and I, and we are the newer ones here. I am sure nothing could go wrong." She gave AJ a bit of an apologetic smile, perhaps she shouldn't have ran off on her partner earlier, but there was nothing to do about it now but move forward and leave the past in the past. ​

Episode Tinarah: Part 12
Shattered

"Hm...that doesn't ring a bell to me." He scratched his chin and looked over at Mika who shook her head. "I'm sorry you had to be introduced to this world in such a manner but the realities of war are harsh and lying to you to spare your feelings would only hurt you more in the long run. Death still pains me but over time you just learn how to deal with it when you've lost as many as I have. It sounds cold but it is simply the way things are."

The footsteps returned and a guard in black armor approached Torrin with a small leather-bound book in his hand. "You may leave us." The guard bowed and left after handing Torrin the list as commanded. "Stamatis? Fost?"

"Yes, those are the names she gave you." Mika looked down at her crumb-filled plate, frowning at it.

"Alright...Aster...no...Kaio? ..No... Selene..." He flipped through the pages, skimming through the names and using his index finger to keep track of where he was on the list. Suddenly, he stopped and frowned. "Tinarah, I'm so sorry..." He whispered. "Both of their names are here right next to each other. It's likely they died in battle together. Same as what happened with Atmos and Choma...this war has taken so many lives and I promise you that it will not take any more."

"No!" Tinarah shot to her feet. "No! No! Not again... No..." She backed up from the table tears streaming down her face. "why... Why me? Not again." she hit the back wall without realizing it, then slumped down the wall. Sitting on the floor seeming to be shaking. "No.... Everyone I love. They leave me. They always leave me. I can't...." she held her head not taking the news well at all. Maybe if one survived, but, her heart broke, again. "You promised... You both promised me." Tinarah sobbed gripping hard to her necklace trying to draw comfort from it.

"I'm sorry, Tinarah. Truly, I am. But perhaps you can take some solace that they must be at peace wherever they are. I am sure they died honorably."

"Torrin!" Mikaela elbowed him. "That's not what she needs to hear." She rose from her seat and went to the other side of the table to hug Tinarah tightly. "It'll be alright. The two of us can look after you. We're not going anywhere, Tinarah. I always looked after you back when Choma was our master, remember? As long as you're one of us, we'll always take care of you." She squeezed the girl tighter.

"I'm sorry but I need to check the status of the latest mission. The scouts should be back by now. Will you two be okay?" Mikaela nodded towards Torrin when he stood. The two silently mouthed words of affection towards each other as Torrin left the room leaving Tinarah to Mikaela's care.

Honorable death meant nothing. They had promised to be waiting for her on the other side. They promised her they weren't going anywhere. It was like how her mom promised to come back for her and yet... When Tinarah caught she was dead. And now here....

Mika was at her side hugging her but the words that were said went through one ear and out the other. They were just words and didn't mean anything to her. Tinarah leaned into Mika's embrace. She closed her eyes and sobbed, letting Mika hold her. It was better than nothing after all. "I- I didn't want to leave... I had to go back to my time. What did I do wrong?! Why am I here?!" she would rather be in the time she left or back with Stamatis and Fost however where she ended up, she had no interest in staying.. Tinarah started to focus her magic on her necklace again, while all she thought was, take me back. Take me back. Take me back.​

"It'll be alright. Don't worry, I've got you." She held onto Tinarah and looked over towards the direction Torrin had gone off in, hearing distant voices from the conversation between him and the scout commander. "Maybe you were drawn here for a reason. Such strong darkness might have pulled you further into the future than you wanted. I don't know. There has to be a reason." She pulled back slightly to look at the necklace Tinarah held onto. She sensed magic within but barely any. Whatever power had brought her here must have been a one time deal.

"We have a place here for you to stay. As long as you wish, you can remain with us."

Tinarah tried to get a hold of herself just long enough to speak. It was not really working too well but she was starting trying to speak back, resting in Mika's arms. "I-I can't stay. I have to go back." She tried to tell Mika. "I will stay until I figure out how to get back, but I have to return to my time or where I was. I want to at least be with Master Stamatis and Uncle Fost. I am sorry." She felt bad for seeing her friend again and immediately wanting to leave, but she didn't want to stay. "I just... I don't belong here." She tried to justify. It was hard to talk about it though. Tinarah was terrified to offend Mika but what else could she do? Stay in the future where things had gone wrong? If she could go back in time again she could be stronger and maybe help prevent this. Maybe she could make sure everyone was prepared more.

"I don't know how that'd be possible, Tinarah. No offense but I'm sure you don't have the power to do it. I know I don't. And Torrin? He's focusing on finishing the war so we can rebuild the worlds." She spoke softly. "I know things don't look good right now, but give it a few years. I know everything will be looking better than they ever did before!" Mikaela spoke with such positivity in her voice that she nearly jumped.

"Sometimes you can't run and you have to stick it out and fight." She placed her hand on Tinarah's shoulder. "You can't run every time things get hard."

"I am not running!" Tinarah snapped in her sorrow. "I don't want to wait out this future to see if it gets better. I have lost everything Mika! Everything! Not just once either. Over and over again. I was happy but I didn't want to push Stamatis' gift back in his face. I was going to go to my own time, make him proud, make Uncle Fost proud. But they are dead because I couldn't get be there to help. If I didn't try to go home I could have become strong enough to make a bit of a difference. I could have done something, not just skip the entire war just to find out that anyone who still cared for me is dead! I can't do it Mika! I can't." Tinarah pushed herself out of Mika's arms, running from the dining room. She had no idea where anything was but she just had to get out, stop with the stupid empty words. She just needed to be alone, needed to grieve and figure out how she was going to get back home, but to Stamatis and Fost, where her heart still lay. She had stopped thinking of her real time line as home a few years before, when she realized no one would likely care she was gone. She wanted to be back where she believed she belonged.

"Tinarah wait!" Mikaela reached out, but it was too late and Tinarah was out of sight before she could even follow her.

Torrin stepped in front of Tinarah, taking hold of her arm. "Hey what's going on? Running around like that is a surefire way to get yourself hurt. Especially if you plan on heading outside. That keyblade of yours is going to attract the wrong kind of attention." Behind him stood a man in a black uniform, one of the only other people Tinarah would have seen not wearing full armor. Torrin glanced over at the man, the commander bowing his head and turning to leave them immediately.

"Look, I get that this is all overwhelming for you but if you need a place to clear your head and be alone, go upstairs, make a left down the hall, and at the end should be a few empty rooms. Just pick whichever you want and, if you're not ready now, we can talk later when you are."

Tinarah stormed around in a grief driven anger, not really noticing Torrin until he had a hold of her arm. Head shot up looking up at Torrin, her eyes red from crying, and her distress was written all over her face. She had not known where she was heading but Torrin warned her again about going outside and her keyblade. "I know. You told me that already. I just want to be alone." She snapped at him trying to pull away from his grip. She wasn't fond of people grabbing her.

Torrin gave Tinarah instructions to where empty rooms were and Tinarah without a word turned away and rushed up the stairs, following his directions to where she found a room at the end of a hallway. Tinarah found herself a spot on the bed, looking out the window for only a moment before burying her face into her knees and continuing to cry, taking some solace in the fact she was now alone. "You promised. You both promised me you would wait. Why did you have to leave me? Please Master Stamatis, lend me the strength to return, to train more until I am ready to help stop this future."

Two days pass...​

​

We would have rocked it as a team!

As Thea waved the paper around, first no one came, but Samuel did tell her that she had to eat. She had kind of forgotten about that, though as it was mentioned her stomach growled, right on cue. "Okay Samuel! I will! Just after I get a team to come with me on this mission. I promise!" She shouted back at the older boy who often seemed to look after her when he could. Thea did appreciate his concern for her even though at times it could feel a bit much. Soon after Zephyr then came up, actually acknowledging her request for a team. Thea beamed as he asked if he could tag along. "Of course! I would love to have you along Zephyr!" Thea exclaimed. There really wasn't many people in the guild that she wouldn't want coming with her.

Gavin approached soon after Zephyr offered to tag along, asking if Zephyr was bringing her along. "Bringing me along? You would be tagging along. See I got the quest, I am making the team. Not that I mind though. I would love to have you join us." Thea declared completely oblivious to the fact that they could have been talking about the mission without taking the slip with them, and she wasn't necessarily the first to look at it. Gavin proceeded to express concern for her going and Thea didn't look too impressed. "I can take care of myself. I am not a child. Besides I have been practicing, watch!" Thea summoned a ribbon of fire to her hand and started weaving the red flames between her finger tips, before sending it up into a small firework like explosion. "See I have been getting better!" She pointed out before her stomach growled again.

"Lets head out soon... but first Samuel said I had to eat. I will be right back!" The ran off and grabbed herself an apple and a muffin from the breakfast table, running back to the two boys as she ate the muffin as fast as she could, getting crumbs everywhere. She wanted to leave soon, so she had to eat fast.


"Fine, agreed." Everette crossed his arms. He knew what Samuel was saying was logical. They couldn't run away too fast, that would just be stupid and not helpful to anyone, but he was still concerned with the safety of his guild mates. Thea started to call out for partners for her mission and Everette smiled. She never did change. Always the same enthusiasm and she never liked to go choose her own team mates, she always let them come to her. It was something he didn't see often and he loved it, just brought some life into the guild.... not that this place wasn't lively enough as it was. Everette laughed as Samuel lectured her about breakfast. "Look who is talking, if I remember correctly, I had to drag you out here to get a proper breakfast."

The topic quickly changed back to their mission on hand and a suggestion of bringing their own supplies. "That isn't a bad idea. There is a good chance that it isn't someone strong out to harm them, or else they wouldn't resort to making people sick, meaning we are probably no better indoors than out in our own tent. May as well make ourselves low impact while we are there." Everette agreed. As time to go was drawing near Conrad mentioned going to collect stuff and clear the mission. "I will let you and Sam handle basic supplies. I clear us to go on the mission but I will go tell Midarah where we are since I won't be around the guild hall today. We head out in fifteen." Everette instructed as he turned and made his way over to Midarah to inform her of the plan. ​