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Mcmolly"Oooh, scary." Lola raised both her hands in the air, shifting back into her usual, purple suited self. "I wasn't expecting Zodiark to get involved again. If I knew that, I would have taken an entirely different approach." She sighed, putting Emiri's bow and quivers down.
Emiri looked down at her duplicate, who looked right back up at her. Deciding not to take a chance, Emiri stabbed her. Much like the duplicates in the illusions, the fake turned into a dark cloud substance, but instead of just disappearing, the darkness instead flooded the room. Nadeline let out a yell of alarm, thinking they would be pulled into the nightmare again, but it seemed this was just an extremely effective smokescreen.
Emiri looked around, though the darkness was thick. She heard someone behind her, and without a moment's hesitation, she swung her dagger. To her surprise, it clashed with another blade, and she saw that she had swung at Nadeline. "Emi! What are you doing?" The blonde exclaimed, clearly displeased at nearly getting sliced open. The brunette's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "You need to be careful." Nadeline reprimanded her.
"You're so eager to use that dagger. I wouldn't go swinging it around so easily." She heard Lola say.
She looked around, but she couldn't see her. Nadeline raised her rapier and it glowed white. Its magic pierced through the darkness, illuminating the room in its entirety and dispelling the darkness, and Lola was gone. Emiri let out a yell, clearly frustrated. After a few seconds of just venting out her anger, she was calmer, but still very much annoyed. Meanwhile Nadeline narrowed her eyes at Jaakuna. How exactly had he been able to tell the difference so easily? And what was with Lola mentioning Zodiark?
"Well that happened." Grant stated, looking at Emiri. So Lola was a shapeshifter? Fantastic."What's wrong with you?"
The brunette picked up her bow, slinging her quiver on. "Nothing." She muttered, inspecting her bow and making sure the nutjob did nothing to it.
As expected, Francis deflected her attack, and she found herself pushed back a distance. Good, he wasn't made of glass. She watched him, her amber eyes studying him. At that moment, however, Lola was reaching out to her. Great. Once he approached, she raised her katana as if to defend herself, though as soon as both blades made contact, she lifted her katana upwards. Of course, she was well aware his attack was much stronger, the result being that the force would knock her down. As she fell, however, one hand held his armor, pulling the judge with her to the ground.
"Oops. I surrender." Shion told him, lightly tapping his nose. "Looks like you win."
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Darkness. What had happened? Grant opened his eyes and saw Savayna. They were no longer in his mother's room. He got up, scratching his head. How did he get out? All he remembered was Savayna, and he realized she was right and...now they were back? "Well...that was embarrassing." He stated, his voice slightly wavering, and it was then he realized he still had tears on his face. "Heh...I'm pathetic." He murmured. After quickly wiping them away, he took in a deep breath and then exhaled. He looked at Savayna, and without waiting for a reaction, quickly pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."
Emiri halted her dagger at Jaakuna's request. As the real Emiri opened her mouth to explain, Duplicate Emiri beat her to it. "Jaakuna--it's me--" She told him, reaching out for him. Emiri glared at her, and the urge to just knife her right there and then grew. She shouldn't have stopped, she could have erased her and only had Lola to deal with, and in the position they were in, things weren't looking good for her."They're duplicates--copies of me."
"Jaakuna, please, I don't know what's going on, but you have to believe me." Lola told him, looking at him. "Why would I lie to you?"
"No! Jaakuna, don't listen to them!" Emiri herself called out.
Lola shot a glare at Emiri. "You're obviously the fakes, you were apparently too lazy to copy my bow." She waved the Artemis Bow around.
"That's because you stole it from me!" Duplicate Emiri yelled.
"Jaakuna, neither of them are real!" Emiri said.
"Jaakuna!"
"Jaakuna!"
"Jaakuna!"
Nadeline smiled, hugging Wesley tighter. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what had happened, but she managed to get through to him. She held onto him tightly, her heart hurting for him. She didn't recognize the look of this place, but she was sure some of the dead bodies may have belonged to his. Still, she was sure the illusion should have ended, but it didn't yet. "It's okay. Everything is going to be alright now." She assured him gently. "We're going to get out of here, and everything will be alright. You have nothing to fear anymore, I will protect you. No harm will come to you, not as long as I'm around."
"Something so trivial...but alright." Shion stated, shaking her head, though she regained her composure. His stance was rather sturdy, getting the first hit wouldn't be easy, but she was sure in her own skill. She stared right at him, still for a moment, though standing around would get her nowhere. Still, this was the first time in a very long time that a fight was just a spar, so she would have to hold back, if only to avoid outright killing him. She wanted to see his physical strength and after brandishing her katana, she went in for the first strike with a very simple, quick horizontal strike.
Emiri halted her dagger at Jaakuna's request. As the real Emiri opened her mouth to explain, Duplicate Emiri beat her to it. "Jaakuna--it's me--" She told him, reaching out for him. Emiri glared at her, and the urge to just knife her right there and then grew. She shouldn't have stopped, she could have erased her and only had Lola to deal with, and in the position they were in, things weren't looking good for her."They're duplicates--copies of me."
"Jaakuna, please, I don't know what's going on, but you have to believe me." Lola told him, looking at him. "Why would I lie to you?"
"No! Jaakuna, don't listen to them!" Emiri herself called out.
Lola shot a glare at Emiri. "You're obviously the fakes, you were apparently too lazy to copy my bow." She waved the Artemis Bow around.
"That's because you stole it from me!" Duplicate Emiri yelled.
"Jaakuna, neither of them are real!" Emiri said.
"Jaakuna!"
"Jaakuna!"
"Jaakuna!"
Nadeline smiled, hugging Wesley tighter. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what had happened, but she managed to get through to him. She held onto him tightly, her heart hurting for him. She didn't recognize the look of this place, but she was sure some of the dead bodies may have belonged to his. Still, she was sure the illusion should have ended, but it didn't yet. "It's okay. Everything is going to be alright now." She assured him gently. "We're going to get out of here, and everything will be alright. You have nothing to fear anymore, I will protect you. No harm will come to you, not as long as I'm around."
"Something so trivial...but alright." Shion stated, shaking her head, though she regained her composure. His stance was rather sturdy, getting the first hit wouldn't be easy, but she was sure in her own skill. She stared right at him, still for a moment, though standing around would get her nowhere. Still, this was the first time in a very long time that a fight was just a spar, so she would have to hold back, if only to avoid outright killing him. She wanted to see his physical strength and after brandishing her katana, she went in for the first strike with a very simple, quick horizontal strike.
Emiri huffed and puffed, straining to free her wrists from her binding. She hated to admit it, but that goddamned Lola was good at her magic. At this rate, she would never get out of this place. She didn't think that Lola would be able to trick everyone, but still, her mannerisms were outright perfect, she could fool them long enough to get a preemptive strike. She pulled and pulled, desperate to get free. When she got out of this, she swore she was going to choke that skank. She wished she could at least reach her dagger, but that was a lost cause. Pausing for a moment, she found herself somewhat short of breath, her chest breathing in and out. She looked up at her wrists, then at the wall around her. She didn't have a choice, and she wasn't going to wait until someone got stabbed.
Concentrating intently, she stared at her binds. Despite her better judgement, she used her power on her hands. She managed to undo the binds, their magicks dispelling, and she let out a great sigh of relief. She rubbed her wrists, somewhat hurting from tugging so much. The brunette then ran out of the room, looking down both halls. To her left she spotted her duplicate, also looking around. When she spotted her, Emiri felt a rage like no other, and immediately began running to her. Duplicate Emiri let out a gasp and began running away. "GET BACK HERE!" She roared, clearly furious as she quickly bent down and whipped out her knife.
Savayna. It was Savayna.
Grant gave her a rather small smile. "I know." He replied quietly, gently stroking his mother's hair. "I know. Isn't that pathetic? I know this isn't real...I know that. Yet here I am...indulging in it, reveling in it, over and over and over...Nothing I do can change it, nothing I do can prevent it...I know all this already, yet here I am." He lifting his hand over his mother as she disappeared, leaving the two of them alone. He placed his head in his hands. "Gods know how pathetic I am. I know none of this is real, I shouldn't let it affect me...but I can't. All it does it remind me of how goddamn pathetic I am. I don't deserve to be with you guys. I don't deserve anyone's friendship...or your love, no matter how much I want it." He spoke, clearly on the verge of tears as the scene around them changed once more.
Had he suspected her already? Lola mentally admitted herself impressed. Still, it was just a little too early for him to find her out. Not yet, anyway. Lola-as-Emiri feigned a concerned expression, looking at him. " Jaakuna, calm down, the entire thing was an illusion." She told him, not getting any closer but reaching out to him. "Everyone else was trapped in one too--you, me, Savayna, Grant, Wesley, Nadeline...but Nadeline managed to break free, and she broke me and Savayna out. They're helping Wesley and Grant, and I came to help you, too." She smiled at him. "I know it's hard to believe, but please--"
Her little speech was interrupted by a rather savage battle cry. She looked at the door to the room behind Jaakuna, and they would both see two Emiris having burst in. One had clearly tackled the other. Lola had to restrain herself from laughing, she wanted the duplicate to lead her here, but apparently Emiri was angry. Emiri sat on top of the duplicate, one hand on her shoulder, the other brandishing her knife. The duplicate would see Jaakuna, and with her free arm, reached out for him. "Jaakuna! Help me!" Duplicate Emiri cried, clearly terrified of the real Emiri on top of her and with tears in her eyes.
Well, this is interesting.
At the mention of Jaakuna's name, Emiri looked to see Jaakuna was indeed there. Not only that, but Lola was too, still disguised as her. Lola looked shocked at her. "What the...?" She acted confused. Emiri shot a glare at her, and once she was done with this fake, she was going after Lola next. Emiri narrowed her eyes, looking at the fake beneath her. She raised her dagger above her head, and brought it down.
"No! Wesley, listen to--" Nadeline started, but Grant's bullet cut her off. Damn it, with these two around, she wasn't going to get a chance to properly persuade him. She needed to take care of the fake Nadeline first. Because of that, she had to think of her weaknesses. She wasn't physically strong, she relied more on magic than anything, and she relied on her wits. Great. Except it was like fighting a mirror. The Other Nadeline smirked, raising her rapier. She was preparing a Holy spell. In that moment, she knew what to do. Nadeline held her hand out, also casting a spell--but this one had a faster casting time then the Holy. "Sleepga!" She called out.
The spell managed to hit the fake, sending her to the ground, but Grant was too fast for that. He shot at her several times, and once he got closer, he brought down his gun. She blocked it, though he fired a blast that sliced through her cheek. She winced, but she managed to knock Grant to the ground. He aimed her gun and shot, missing her neck by several inches, and Nadeline at that point sliced through his head. To her surprise, this Grant would become a black, cloud-like substance and fade away. Breathing heavily, Nadeline then stood, walking over to Wesley. With a few strikes she managed to free him from his chains, and as he fell forward, she caught him, hugging onto him tightly. "You haven't done anything wrong." She told him gently, hugging him tightly. "You've done nothing but be wonderful since the moment we met. If anything I should apologize...I came far too late." She said. "Please believe in me. Trust in me. You and I are the only real things here."
He thought he had a chance. That was adorable. Still, Shion admitted herself rather impressed at Francis' strength, easily lifting up his sword. "It's not the size that counts, it's how you use it." She told him gently, unhooking her sheath from her belt. She unsheathed her blade, lightly tossing the sheath to the side, and got into a battle stance, sword at the ready. "I can't say I won't go easy, I wouldn't want to hurt that handsome face of yours. First one to land a hit wins." She told him. "How about a wager? If I win, you'll stop looking for information on Utena...what would you like?"
Concentrating intently, she stared at her binds. Despite her better judgement, she used her power on her hands. She managed to undo the binds, their magicks dispelling, and she let out a great sigh of relief. She rubbed her wrists, somewhat hurting from tugging so much. The brunette then ran out of the room, looking down both halls. To her left she spotted her duplicate, also looking around. When she spotted her, Emiri felt a rage like no other, and immediately began running to her. Duplicate Emiri let out a gasp and began running away. "GET BACK HERE!" She roared, clearly furious as she quickly bent down and whipped out her knife.
Savayna. It was Savayna.
Grant gave her a rather small smile. "I know." He replied quietly, gently stroking his mother's hair. "I know. Isn't that pathetic? I know this isn't real...I know that. Yet here I am...indulging in it, reveling in it, over and over and over...Nothing I do can change it, nothing I do can prevent it...I know all this already, yet here I am." He lifting his hand over his mother as she disappeared, leaving the two of them alone. He placed his head in his hands. "Gods know how pathetic I am. I know none of this is real, I shouldn't let it affect me...but I can't. All it does it remind me of how goddamn pathetic I am. I don't deserve to be with you guys. I don't deserve anyone's friendship...or your love, no matter how much I want it." He spoke, clearly on the verge of tears as the scene around them changed once more.
Had he suspected her already? Lola mentally admitted herself impressed. Still, it was just a little too early for him to find her out. Not yet, anyway. Lola-as-Emiri feigned a concerned expression, looking at him. " Jaakuna, calm down, the entire thing was an illusion." She told him, not getting any closer but reaching out to him. "Everyone else was trapped in one too--you, me, Savayna, Grant, Wesley, Nadeline...but Nadeline managed to break free, and she broke me and Savayna out. They're helping Wesley and Grant, and I came to help you, too." She smiled at him. "I know it's hard to believe, but please--"
Her little speech was interrupted by a rather savage battle cry. She looked at the door to the room behind Jaakuna, and they would both see two Emiris having burst in. One had clearly tackled the other. Lola had to restrain herself from laughing, she wanted the duplicate to lead her here, but apparently Emiri was angry. Emiri sat on top of the duplicate, one hand on her shoulder, the other brandishing her knife. The duplicate would see Jaakuna, and with her free arm, reached out for him. "Jaakuna! Help me!" Duplicate Emiri cried, clearly terrified of the real Emiri on top of her and with tears in her eyes.
Well, this is interesting.
At the mention of Jaakuna's name, Emiri looked to see Jaakuna was indeed there. Not only that, but Lola was too, still disguised as her. Lola looked shocked at her. "What the...?" She acted confused. Emiri shot a glare at her, and once she was done with this fake, she was going after Lola next. Emiri narrowed her eyes, looking at the fake beneath her. She raised her dagger above her head, and brought it down.
"No! Wesley, listen to--" Nadeline started, but Grant's bullet cut her off. Damn it, with these two around, she wasn't going to get a chance to properly persuade him. She needed to take care of the fake Nadeline first. Because of that, she had to think of her weaknesses. She wasn't physically strong, she relied more on magic than anything, and she relied on her wits. Great. Except it was like fighting a mirror. The Other Nadeline smirked, raising her rapier. She was preparing a Holy spell. In that moment, she knew what to do. Nadeline held her hand out, also casting a spell--but this one had a faster casting time then the Holy. "Sleepga!" She called out.
The spell managed to hit the fake, sending her to the ground, but Grant was too fast for that. He shot at her several times, and once he got closer, he brought down his gun. She blocked it, though he fired a blast that sliced through her cheek. She winced, but she managed to knock Grant to the ground. He aimed her gun and shot, missing her neck by several inches, and Nadeline at that point sliced through his head. To her surprise, this Grant would become a black, cloud-like substance and fade away. Breathing heavily, Nadeline then stood, walking over to Wesley. With a few strikes she managed to free him from his chains, and as he fell forward, she caught him, hugging onto him tightly. "You haven't done anything wrong." She told him gently, hugging him tightly. "You've done nothing but be wonderful since the moment we met. If anything I should apologize...I came far too late." She said. "Please believe in me. Trust in me. You and I are the only real things here."
He thought he had a chance. That was adorable. Still, Shion admitted herself rather impressed at Francis' strength, easily lifting up his sword. "It's not the size that counts, it's how you use it." She told him gently, unhooking her sheath from her belt. She unsheathed her blade, lightly tossing the sheath to the side, and got into a battle stance, sword at the ready. "I can't say I won't go easy, I wouldn't want to hurt that handsome face of yours. First one to land a hit wins." She told him. "How about a wager? If I win, you'll stop looking for information on Utena...what would you like?"
Nadeline couldn't help but sigh at relief. She was actually glad to be back in Nabudis. She didn't think it would work, but apparently slapping Savayna and setting off her temper was exactly what snapped her out of it. "You said it earlier: I'm a spoiled princess." Nadeline explained, unsheathing her rapier. "I don't have a troubled past, I haven't been traumatized, the worst thing I have to fear is drowning because I can't swim. It didn't affect me...not the same way it's affecting everyone else." She looked around, taking Savayna's arm and dragging her out of the room. "Follow me, and stay on the lookout, these monsters are vicious.' She said, letting go of the blonde and running down the halls. As the pair went forward, she thought she heard something. No, actually it was silence.
She walked forward slowly to the corner, and spotted another one of those pools. She beckoned Savayna to follow, and the pair would approach it. No crying, yelling, screaming...just silence. She didn't know why, but she was certain for some reason that this would be Grant. She looked at Savayna, pointing to it. "Grant is in there. Go get him." She instructed, turning and continuing further into the place without waiting for a response.
The princess kept on running through the halls, choosing instead to flee from the monsters rather than fighting. Savayna's nightmare was truly horrible, just as she had expected. Except it was far, far worse than anything she had imagined, which meant that she needed to hurry and help everyone else. Savayna would (hopefully) help Grant, maybe she could find Wesley or Jaakuna or Emiri, and together they could confront whoever it was that was behind all this. Another sound stopped her in her tracks, but it was a more familiar one. Arrows. Emiri's arrows. She had made it out? Nadeline hurried, and sure enough the brunette was sending arrows through some Baknamy's skull. She let out a small sigh, though when Nadeline approached, she offered a weak smile.
"Emi...oh thank the gods..." She sighed in relief.
"Naddie, how did you escape?" She asked her, approaching her.
"Being a spoiled princess has its perks." She shrugged. "But how did you escape?"
"I...I killed Jaakuna in my dream. I knew I could never do that." Emiri replied. "But then, does that mean...?"
"Savayna is helping Grant, you and I need to find Wesley and Jaakuna."
Emiri looked behind them. "I thought I saw one of those things that dragged us in in the first place, but I avoided it...wait, is that--"
"Exactly where they are. Show me."
The brunette nodded, leading her down the hall and by a doorway. Sure enough, there it was. Nadeline listened carefully, trying to determine who it belonged to. She thought she heard some mumbling, and after a moment, looked at Emiri. "I think...I think this is Jaakuna, but..." She told her, raising an eyebrow. She recognized that Mist. It was Zodiark...but that wasn't possible. Perhaps he had been behind all this? No, she would have definitely noticed it sooner. Before she could question it, Emiri immediately ran into the pool, ending the conversation. Nadeline shook her head at the girl's impulsiveness, though she continued running down the halls. Eventually, she found another dark room, and without hesitating, she jumped in.
To her surprise, she saw many bodies at her feet, and not only that, Grant and...herself? They stood above Wesley, who had been chained. She watched as the other her summoned her rapier in front of her, raising it. Recognizing that stance, Nadeline rushed forward, and just as the other Nadeline was about to strike, she sliced her first. Her blood splattered everywhere, the other Nadeline letting out a gasp as she fell. Grant looked at her, raising his gun. "Protect!" She called, her barrier protecting her from Grant's bullets. Once it faded Grant went in for the attack. Despite being the illusion, he was just as skilled as the real Grant. When that thought crossed her mind, however, she realized that the Other Nadeline was probably the same.
As if on cue, she stood up, a Curaga healing her wound. She turned her attention to her, and Nadeline parried Grant's attack. The Other Nadeline rushed in with a kick, sending Nadeline flying backwards. She landed on her back, and quickly rolled out of the way for Grant's gunblade to miss her face by inches. She pointed her rapier at the pair. "Holy!" She called, summoning a pillar of light. It illuminated the entire room, but sadly missed, as Other Nadeline threw up a Shell. She grimaced, getting up and pointing her weapon at the other two. "Wesley! You must snap out of it!" She called out to him, keeping her eyes on the duplicates in front of her. "This scenario is simply an illusion, I am the real Nadeline!"
The first thing Emiri noticed was the water at her feet. She stood before a very large gate, though through the darkness, she saw him. She approached the gate. "Jaakuna!" She called out to him, putting her bow on her back. This ominous feeling...it was him. She would fix that. Placing her hands on the bars, they literally melted away at her touch, and she stepped through and knelt down to Jaakuna. "It's okay...I'm here, I'm right here!" She told him, placing both her hands on his head. The scene around them faded away, revealing Nabudis once more. Still, that did not mean her work was done. It was not much, but it seemed Zodiark had once possessed him, and so some of his Mist lingered. She closed her eyes, focusing, and after a moment, the darkness in him cleared. "Jaakuna..." She released him, looking at him worriedly.
Shion raised her eyebrow at his proclamation. He was good at flattering, she now understood where Michel had gotten his talents from, so to speak. "Oh? That I'd like to see." She admitted, crossing her arms. She paused for a moment, eyeing his weapon, and her smile returned. "What say you show me?" She asked, a rather mischievous look on her face. "A friendly spar, of course. Sword on sword. If you're interested." She backed away, one hand on the hilt of her katana.
She walked forward slowly to the corner, and spotted another one of those pools. She beckoned Savayna to follow, and the pair would approach it. No crying, yelling, screaming...just silence. She didn't know why, but she was certain for some reason that this would be Grant. She looked at Savayna, pointing to it. "Grant is in there. Go get him." She instructed, turning and continuing further into the place without waiting for a response.
The princess kept on running through the halls, choosing instead to flee from the monsters rather than fighting. Savayna's nightmare was truly horrible, just as she had expected. Except it was far, far worse than anything she had imagined, which meant that she needed to hurry and help everyone else. Savayna would (hopefully) help Grant, maybe she could find Wesley or Jaakuna or Emiri, and together they could confront whoever it was that was behind all this. Another sound stopped her in her tracks, but it was a more familiar one. Arrows. Emiri's arrows. She had made it out? Nadeline hurried, and sure enough the brunette was sending arrows through some Baknamy's skull. She let out a small sigh, though when Nadeline approached, she offered a weak smile.
"Emi...oh thank the gods..." She sighed in relief.
"Naddie, how did you escape?" She asked her, approaching her.
"Being a spoiled princess has its perks." She shrugged. "But how did you escape?"
"I...I killed Jaakuna in my dream. I knew I could never do that." Emiri replied. "But then, does that mean...?"
"Savayna is helping Grant, you and I need to find Wesley and Jaakuna."
Emiri looked behind them. "I thought I saw one of those things that dragged us in in the first place, but I avoided it...wait, is that--"
"Exactly where they are. Show me."
The brunette nodded, leading her down the hall and by a doorway. Sure enough, there it was. Nadeline listened carefully, trying to determine who it belonged to. She thought she heard some mumbling, and after a moment, looked at Emiri. "I think...I think this is Jaakuna, but..." She told her, raising an eyebrow. She recognized that Mist. It was Zodiark...but that wasn't possible. Perhaps he had been behind all this? No, she would have definitely noticed it sooner. Before she could question it, Emiri immediately ran into the pool, ending the conversation. Nadeline shook her head at the girl's impulsiveness, though she continued running down the halls. Eventually, she found another dark room, and without hesitating, she jumped in.
To her surprise, she saw many bodies at her feet, and not only that, Grant and...herself? They stood above Wesley, who had been chained. She watched as the other her summoned her rapier in front of her, raising it. Recognizing that stance, Nadeline rushed forward, and just as the other Nadeline was about to strike, she sliced her first. Her blood splattered everywhere, the other Nadeline letting out a gasp as she fell. Grant looked at her, raising his gun. "Protect!" She called, her barrier protecting her from Grant's bullets. Once it faded Grant went in for the attack. Despite being the illusion, he was just as skilled as the real Grant. When that thought crossed her mind, however, she realized that the Other Nadeline was probably the same.
As if on cue, she stood up, a Curaga healing her wound. She turned her attention to her, and Nadeline parried Grant's attack. The Other Nadeline rushed in with a kick, sending Nadeline flying backwards. She landed on her back, and quickly rolled out of the way for Grant's gunblade to miss her face by inches. She pointed her rapier at the pair. "Holy!" She called, summoning a pillar of light. It illuminated the entire room, but sadly missed, as Other Nadeline threw up a Shell. She grimaced, getting up and pointing her weapon at the other two. "Wesley! You must snap out of it!" She called out to him, keeping her eyes on the duplicates in front of her. "This scenario is simply an illusion, I am the real Nadeline!"
The first thing Emiri noticed was the water at her feet. She stood before a very large gate, though through the darkness, she saw him. She approached the gate. "Jaakuna!" She called out to him, putting her bow on her back. This ominous feeling...it was him. She would fix that. Placing her hands on the bars, they literally melted away at her touch, and she stepped through and knelt down to Jaakuna. "It's okay...I'm here, I'm right here!" She told him, placing both her hands on his head. The scene around them faded away, revealing Nabudis once more. Still, that did not mean her work was done. It was not much, but it seemed Zodiark had once possessed him, and so some of his Mist lingered. She closed her eyes, focusing, and after a moment, the darkness in him cleared. "Jaakuna..." She released him, looking at him worriedly.
Shion raised her eyebrow at his proclamation. He was good at flattering, she now understood where Michel had gotten his talents from, so to speak. "Oh? That I'd like to see." She admitted, crossing her arms. She paused for a moment, eyeing his weapon, and her smile returned. "What say you show me?" She asked, a rather mischievous look on her face. "A friendly spar, of course. Sword on sword. If you're interested." She backed away, one hand on the hilt of her katana.
Nadeline's patience wore thin. Dangerously thin. She couldn't stand seeing Savayna like this for various reasons, though anger was starting to overcome the more virtuous emotions she had. She marched up to Savayna, grabbing her by the shoulders to make her turn to her. Once she did, she slapping her straight across the face. As Nadeline was, well, Nadeline, it certainly wouldn't hurt, but it would surely get her attention. She then pulled Savayna to her, grabbing her face with both hands and basically forcing the other blonde woman to look at her.
"Look at me--at ME." She ordered her. "Gods, how much longer will you continue this idiotic pity party of yours?! What happened to you working for everything you have?! What happened to abandoning all of that just to help us?! You said you had no regrets about it. You told me you hated how I had everything handed to me--but I'm not the one falling for the enemy's mind tricks! I am the truth in this madness you have succumbed to, and if you don't snap out of this, Grant and Jaakuna and Wesley and Emi will stay just like you are!" She was practically yelling, if only to drown out the other Savayna's noises. "This is not the future you wanted, you told me Grant told you that he didn't care. He wasn't lying, and he needs you right now! We all need you!"
Shion listened to Francis, though she would take out a small seed from her pocket, showing it to him. "I like power. But power tends to draw attention, something that obviously goes against my way of thinking. So instead, I look for potential. I find them, recruit them, and then grow them. Just like a plant." She explained, the seed blossoming into a small, white flower. "I have eyes and ears all cross Ivalice." She chuckled lightly, the flower wilting to dust in her hand. "As for your second question, I reiterate myself. I like power. I have yet to find a man who can impress me. Even your leader, Hamut doesn't quite fit the cut. That and...I am sure he is inferior to me."
"Look at me--at ME." She ordered her. "Gods, how much longer will you continue this idiotic pity party of yours?! What happened to you working for everything you have?! What happened to abandoning all of that just to help us?! You said you had no regrets about it. You told me you hated how I had everything handed to me--but I'm not the one falling for the enemy's mind tricks! I am the truth in this madness you have succumbed to, and if you don't snap out of this, Grant and Jaakuna and Wesley and Emi will stay just like you are!" She was practically yelling, if only to drown out the other Savayna's noises. "This is not the future you wanted, you told me Grant told you that he didn't care. He wasn't lying, and he needs you right now! We all need you!"
Shion listened to Francis, though she would take out a small seed from her pocket, showing it to him. "I like power. But power tends to draw attention, something that obviously goes against my way of thinking. So instead, I look for potential. I find them, recruit them, and then grow them. Just like a plant." She explained, the seed blossoming into a small, white flower. "I have eyes and ears all cross Ivalice." She chuckled lightly, the flower wilting to dust in her hand. "As for your second question, I reiterate myself. I like power. I have yet to find a man who can impress me. Even your leader, Hamut doesn't quite fit the cut. That and...I am sure he is inferior to me."
Boy oh boy was this awkward. Nadeline tried very hard to ignore the other Savayna and Vincent, but it was admittedly distracting. Concentrate, the real Savayna is right in front of you. She scolded herself, though it seemed Savayna believed her to be an illusion as well. Rationality helped her, but she was not sure the same thing would work with Savayna. She was much more emotional then she was. Perhaps she needed to put her own rationality to the side and reach down for her own heart. If she could. No, she would. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she really did think of Savayna as a friend. As much as they bump heads, she knew Savayna was better than all of this.
"Why would I ever reject you, Savayna? We're friends, aren't we?" She tried to assure her. "I told you before, that girl isn't you. Maybe that's your past, but that isn't the girl my uncle loves. Grant needs us, everyone needs us, Savayna, everyone's going through the same thing you are--their fears, insecurities, and nightmares all coming to life in front of them. I beg of you, believe me, I would never lie to you. This isn't real, this isn't who you are!" She grasped her hands tightly. "I need you. We all need you--Grant needs you too! So please, snap out of it!"
This one was certainly interesting. Shion admitted that she was expecting a fight when Mtra summoned her, but it seemed the Wolf had decent intentions. She looked right at Francis, a slight smirk on her face. "So tell me, what do you really want?" She asked him very softly. "Your son means a lot to you. Are you letting the rumors of my little group frighten you? Although I wholeheartedly admit some one them do have truth to them." She laughed a little. "Go on, ask me anything. I can only answer you in truths. Haven't told a lie in all my years. Try me."
"Why would I ever reject you, Savayna? We're friends, aren't we?" She tried to assure her. "I told you before, that girl isn't you. Maybe that's your past, but that isn't the girl my uncle loves. Grant needs us, everyone needs us, Savayna, everyone's going through the same thing you are--their fears, insecurities, and nightmares all coming to life in front of them. I beg of you, believe me, I would never lie to you. This isn't real, this isn't who you are!" She grasped her hands tightly. "I need you. We all need you--Grant needs you too! So please, snap out of it!"
This one was certainly interesting. Shion admitted that she was expecting a fight when Mtra summoned her, but it seemed the Wolf had decent intentions. She looked right at Francis, a slight smirk on her face. "So tell me, what do you really want?" She asked him very softly. "Your son means a lot to you. Are you letting the rumors of my little group frighten you? Although I wholeheartedly admit some one them do have truth to them." She laughed a little. "Go on, ask me anything. I can only answer you in truths. Haven't told a lie in all my years. Try me."
The princess walked through the halls, her only company being her own footsteps bouncing off the walls. Her rapier was at the ready, and she already had her fair share of monsters to deal with. It was overly difficult in all honesty, they were as tough as Justine and the rumors had said. One monster at a time was alright, but often when she found several of them at a time was where she found the true difficulty. Nonetheless she pressed on, knowing that the others were trapped in those illusionist nightmares she had been in. She didn't know why, but she was also positive that they would be having a much, much worse time then she had. At this point, she found herself slightly winded, having been ambushed by several Baknamys that seemed to multiply every time she turned around.
"I need a sign, a clue...I need to know where they are..." She said quietly to herself, looking around. "Come on guys...tell me where you are...Emi...Jaakuna...Savayna...Grant...Wesley...anyone, just tell me, I'm right here." She kept talking, though it was more to comfort herself more than anything. As she turned the corner, she spotted another pool of darkness. She immediately pointed her rapier at it, but noticed that no arms came out at her. Instead she heard something very soft, like...someone crying. She recognized the voice. "Savayna? Savayna!" She called out, approaching the darkness. "Savayna! Is that you?! Can you hear me?!"
Nadeline looked at the pool of darkness, realizing what it was. What concerned her slightly more was who was behind this. This was definitely not some old magic lying around to trap them, someone created these. But who? No, she didn't have time to wonder, she needed to get Savayna out. Apparently, so long as she remained rational, she should be fine. Theoretically speaking, of course. Oh this idea of hers was crazy, but she needed to try, no, they needed her. Taking in a deep breath, she walked right into it, and was met with a rather disturbing view. She quickly diverted her eyes at the scene with Savayna and Vincent, only to see another Savayna.
"Savayna!" Nadeline called, approaching her. She was so glad to see her until she saw her expression. She wondered if the scene at hand was her past. "Savayna, look at me--listen to me." She sheathed her rapier and grasped the blonde's arms. "This isn't real, none of this is. You have to snap out of this, the others are in trouble, too." She spoke, her voice wavering ever so slightly as she couldn't begin to imagine what everyone else was going through.
When she opened her eyes again, she was still in Jaakuna's arms. "You...you're alive..." Emiri said, sitting up. She saw Jaakuna offer his hand to hers, and he pulled her up to her feet. She couldn't believe it, they were back in Nabudis. Was it all a dream? No, it had to have been more than that. As she looked around, she noticed Jaakuna staring at her. Did he...know what happened? She raised an eyebrow at him. "What is it?" She asked, gently touching his arm.
Jaakuna closed his eyes for a moment, though he ended up opening them and smiling. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. She blinked at him in slight confusion, though it was then that he kissed her. She wanted to leave it as one of those 'happy to be alive' things, but something wasn't right. She felt the wall behind her, pressed between it and his body, and he took her wrists in his hands, pinning them above her head. Once he finally broke the kiss he licked his lips lightly, a rather hungry expression on his face. He let out a small sigh, and she felt one of his hands lightly touching her face. "I want you to be all mine." He whispered.
"What? Jaakuna--" Emiri gasped as he started kissing her neck. What in the world was wrong with him? She felt his hands tracing down her curves, and only then did she realized her hands were still stuck above her head. "Stop! Stop it!" She cried, struggling to get free. "Who--Who are you--ah?!" He question was interrupted by an accidental moan as he reached a particularly sensitive spot.
He finally backed away, though not without squeezing her butt, earning a squeal from her. He laughed a little shaking his head, and slowly he began to morph in front of her. Blonde hair became brown, his height differed, but the biggest change had to be from 'he' to 'she'--and to her absolute horror (and slight discomfort) Lola was now smiling at her, lightly licking her lips. "Aww, I couldn't help it, I just could not resist having a little taste." She guiltily admitted, retaking her place on pressing her against the wall. "I promised I'd keep you as my pet, remember? Gods know I can't help myself around you." She stated, bringing her hands under her dress.
"Stop!" She told her, though all that did was earn her another kiss. This woman was truly crazy. Once their lips parted, Emiri found herself getting angrier. "Cut it out!" She yelled at her.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right, I still have a job to do." She backed off with a small sigh, lightly twirling her finger around. Once again she transformed and this time it was a familiar face: she was staring at a virtual clone of herself. She coughed slightly, smiling at her. "I need to get rid of the rest...how will Jaakuna react when his own love kills him, I wonder?" She matched her voice perfectly, down to her mannerisms and movements. She twirled her finger again, and from the shadows another Emiri popped up. How the hell was she doing all this? "Information, my pet. You would be amazed what you can do with some knowledge." She told her, perfectly copying her sing song tone that she used. "I told you, didn't I? I know everything about you, your insecurities, your hopes, your dreams...you and all your little friends, too."
"What have you done with them?!"
"I had to go easy on you, I didn't really want to break you." She told her, pulling up her dress and running her hands over her hips. "Can't say the same for the rest. Poor Wesley...I think between him and Grant going insane, there's very little hope for any of them. Funny I thought Wesley would be the hardest to crack, but it seems this place has...an interesting affect on him. Must be hard, seeing the love of your life getting...played with like that." She stopped for a moment, smiling at Emiri. "I should have done that to Jaakuna, but it would have been much too easy. He's so emotional...regretful one, he is. Savayna's terrified of rejection from you guys, she actually likes you all. Which leaves the little princess to be dealt with...despite her knack for magic, she is firm with that stubborn head. She's already snapped out of it and is about to bring Savayna back, so I need to go take care of that." Lola told Emiri with a small sigh, lightly fondling her under her clothes as she spoke.
"Don't--Don't you dare hurt them--!" Her threat came off as rather weak, her body shifting under Lola's hands. "I swear if--if you even--!"
"I promise I will save Jaakuna for last. It seems my power has unlocked something rather nasty in the depths of his mind." She said, finally taking her hands off her and picking up her equipment. "Tell you what, I'll occupy the princess, bring Jaakuna here, tie him down. then I'll let you watch me kill him. Maybe play with you in front of him, we'll see." She sighed dreamily, pulling back an arrow. She even had her battle style down perfectly. Emiri struggled against her bonds, but to no avail.
"Get back here!" She yelled at Lola.
"Behave, or I'll have to put you back in the Nightmare, okay?" Lola-as-Emiri winked, and she and the duplicate left.
"NO!" Emiri screamed, though it was pointless. As long as everyone was trapped, no one would hear her. She looked up at her hands, bound by Lola's magic. "That--stupid skank!" She yelled out in frusteration.
Oh? Shion's expression broke into that of a very small smile. "I don't know about that, Golden Wolf. You and I are opposites...you are an upholder of the law, your blade is mighty and true. I play by my own rules, do as I please from within the shadows, my own blade is blood soaked and has no regards for others." She told him, though she did move closer to him. She was only slightly shorter than he was, though they were just about even on both intimidation and power--and Shion was well aware he was going to get his answer one way or another. "Though I do have to ask...is that a threat?" Her tone was rather curious at this point. "Or is that a promise?"
"I need a sign, a clue...I need to know where they are..." She said quietly to herself, looking around. "Come on guys...tell me where you are...Emi...Jaakuna...Savayna...Grant...Wesley...anyone, just tell me, I'm right here." She kept talking, though it was more to comfort herself more than anything. As she turned the corner, she spotted another pool of darkness. She immediately pointed her rapier at it, but noticed that no arms came out at her. Instead she heard something very soft, like...someone crying. She recognized the voice. "Savayna? Savayna!" She called out, approaching the darkness. "Savayna! Is that you?! Can you hear me?!"
Nadeline looked at the pool of darkness, realizing what it was. What concerned her slightly more was who was behind this. This was definitely not some old magic lying around to trap them, someone created these. But who? No, she didn't have time to wonder, she needed to get Savayna out. Apparently, so long as she remained rational, she should be fine. Theoretically speaking, of course. Oh this idea of hers was crazy, but she needed to try, no, they needed her. Taking in a deep breath, she walked right into it, and was met with a rather disturbing view. She quickly diverted her eyes at the scene with Savayna and Vincent, only to see another Savayna.
"Savayna!" Nadeline called, approaching her. She was so glad to see her until she saw her expression. She wondered if the scene at hand was her past. "Savayna, look at me--listen to me." She sheathed her rapier and grasped the blonde's arms. "This isn't real, none of this is. You have to snap out of this, the others are in trouble, too." She spoke, her voice wavering ever so slightly as she couldn't begin to imagine what everyone else was going through.
When she opened her eyes again, she was still in Jaakuna's arms. "You...you're alive..." Emiri said, sitting up. She saw Jaakuna offer his hand to hers, and he pulled her up to her feet. She couldn't believe it, they were back in Nabudis. Was it all a dream? No, it had to have been more than that. As she looked around, she noticed Jaakuna staring at her. Did he...know what happened? She raised an eyebrow at him. "What is it?" She asked, gently touching his arm.
Jaakuna closed his eyes for a moment, though he ended up opening them and smiling. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. She blinked at him in slight confusion, though it was then that he kissed her. She wanted to leave it as one of those 'happy to be alive' things, but something wasn't right. She felt the wall behind her, pressed between it and his body, and he took her wrists in his hands, pinning them above her head. Once he finally broke the kiss he licked his lips lightly, a rather hungry expression on his face. He let out a small sigh, and she felt one of his hands lightly touching her face. "I want you to be all mine." He whispered.
"What? Jaakuna--" Emiri gasped as he started kissing her neck. What in the world was wrong with him? She felt his hands tracing down her curves, and only then did she realized her hands were still stuck above her head. "Stop! Stop it!" She cried, struggling to get free. "Who--Who are you--ah?!" He question was interrupted by an accidental moan as he reached a particularly sensitive spot.
He finally backed away, though not without squeezing her butt, earning a squeal from her. He laughed a little shaking his head, and slowly he began to morph in front of her. Blonde hair became brown, his height differed, but the biggest change had to be from 'he' to 'she'--and to her absolute horror (and slight discomfort) Lola was now smiling at her, lightly licking her lips. "Aww, I couldn't help it, I just could not resist having a little taste." She guiltily admitted, retaking her place on pressing her against the wall. "I promised I'd keep you as my pet, remember? Gods know I can't help myself around you." She stated, bringing her hands under her dress.
"Stop!" She told her, though all that did was earn her another kiss. This woman was truly crazy. Once their lips parted, Emiri found herself getting angrier. "Cut it out!" She yelled at her.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right, I still have a job to do." She backed off with a small sigh, lightly twirling her finger around. Once again she transformed and this time it was a familiar face: she was staring at a virtual clone of herself. She coughed slightly, smiling at her. "I need to get rid of the rest...how will Jaakuna react when his own love kills him, I wonder?" She matched her voice perfectly, down to her mannerisms and movements. She twirled her finger again, and from the shadows another Emiri popped up. How the hell was she doing all this? "Information, my pet. You would be amazed what you can do with some knowledge." She told her, perfectly copying her sing song tone that she used. "I told you, didn't I? I know everything about you, your insecurities, your hopes, your dreams...you and all your little friends, too."
"What have you done with them?!"
"I had to go easy on you, I didn't really want to break you." She told her, pulling up her dress and running her hands over her hips. "Can't say the same for the rest. Poor Wesley...I think between him and Grant going insane, there's very little hope for any of them. Funny I thought Wesley would be the hardest to crack, but it seems this place has...an interesting affect on him. Must be hard, seeing the love of your life getting...played with like that." She stopped for a moment, smiling at Emiri. "I should have done that to Jaakuna, but it would have been much too easy. He's so emotional...regretful one, he is. Savayna's terrified of rejection from you guys, she actually likes you all. Which leaves the little princess to be dealt with...despite her knack for magic, she is firm with that stubborn head. She's already snapped out of it and is about to bring Savayna back, so I need to go take care of that." Lola told Emiri with a small sigh, lightly fondling her under her clothes as she spoke.
"Don't--Don't you dare hurt them--!" Her threat came off as rather weak, her body shifting under Lola's hands. "I swear if--if you even--!"
"I promise I will save Jaakuna for last. It seems my power has unlocked something rather nasty in the depths of his mind." She said, finally taking her hands off her and picking up her equipment. "Tell you what, I'll occupy the princess, bring Jaakuna here, tie him down. then I'll let you watch me kill him. Maybe play with you in front of him, we'll see." She sighed dreamily, pulling back an arrow. She even had her battle style down perfectly. Emiri struggled against her bonds, but to no avail.
"Get back here!" She yelled at Lola.
"Behave, or I'll have to put you back in the Nightmare, okay?" Lola-as-Emiri winked, and she and the duplicate left.
"NO!" Emiri screamed, though it was pointless. As long as everyone was trapped, no one would hear her. She looked up at her hands, bound by Lola's magic. "That--stupid skank!" She yelled out in frusteration.
Oh? Shion's expression broke into that of a very small smile. "I don't know about that, Golden Wolf. You and I are opposites...you are an upholder of the law, your blade is mighty and true. I play by my own rules, do as I please from within the shadows, my own blade is blood soaked and has no regards for others." She told him, though she did move closer to him. She was only slightly shorter than he was, though they were just about even on both intimidation and power--and Shion was well aware he was going to get his answer one way or another. "Though I do have to ask...is that a threat?" Her tone was rather curious at this point. "Or is that a promise?"
Less bowing, more posting, hop to it!
What's wrong? All you have to do is move forward. Grant asked.
It's heavy isn't it? That weight is on us every day.
Not that a spoiled girl like you would know.
Poor little princess, better hurry or you'll drown!
All their voiced were distracting, much more so as they were literally the cause of the weight on her dress. Nadeline felt like it was pointless. The water was getting closer and closer, and although she didn't want to admit it, she was just about starting to panic. She was more afraid of the water than the voices, but they were driving her crazy. The waves were around her waist. At least if they were in front of her, she could smack every single one of them so they would shut up. But she couldn't give up yet. She didn't know why or how, but she knew if she gave up it'd all be over.
"Nadeline."
The voice was physical, she heard it. She stopped struggling long enough to see her looking at herself. She stood on the shallow part, staring right back at her, though she did not wear a wedding dress. Instead she had her usual clothes. What in the world was going on?
"And you are the manifestation of my sins?" She asked her rhetorically. "Spare me the stories, I just need to get out of here."
"No...I don't think I am. I am rather unsure about my purpose here." She admitted rather wholeheartedly with a small shrug.
"Well then, other me, if you could offer me any advice on how to get the voices out of my head and his stupid dress off, I would be more than happy to hear it, please."
The other Nadeline thought to herself for a moment. "You could...always just drown. What's the worst that will happen?"
She nearly tripped. "Are you insane?! I could DIE. I...I cannot swim, and even if I could this stupid dress would probably make me sink to the bottom of the ocean."
"How do you know that?"
"Anyone with a brain could figure that out, dear."
"Anyone with a brain would probably have taken off the dress when it started getting heavy."
Wow, was she really this annoying? Despite her earlier threats, she couldn't quite hit the other Nadeline. "You are not helping."
"Why should I help you? You can help yourself. You're not like the others. This isn't affecting you like it is them."
"Them? You...You mean everyone else is going through things like this?!" She asked, rather alarmed.
She nodded. "Don't you hear the voices? They sound cruel, but they're speaking logically. Everything here is logical, even if it doesn't seem to make sense." She told her, pointing to the dress. "Your burdens being the dress, your unwillingness to let them go is why it's heavy, the voices are your own mind speaking your insecurities...The worst thing that you're afraid of is drowning. Which...is perfectly rational considering you cannot swim, so that's why we are on the beach. But you're also wearing a wedding dress. So...you tell me, Smart One."
Nadeline stopped moving, the waves crashing onto the two of them. "Then...that makes you my rationality."
"Bingo~" She winked. "Trust me. Trust yourself. Go to the sea...your friends need you."
Nadeline finished moving, letting the ocean take her. She simply looked up at the sky. The water covered her torso, slowly rising more and more. Soon it reached her neck, and at this point, she closed her eyes. Soon she was underneath the water, but as she opened her eyes, she was met with the view of a ceiling. This one was rather familiar looking, and as she looked around, she realized she was back in the Necrohol of Nabudis. Still, she was alone. Where had everyone gone? It was then that she remembered being pulled into darkness by the shadows. Obviously someone had been manipulating them, managing to turn their worst nightmares against them. Might have worked on her too, though as the voices had confirmed, she had no trauma, no struggle. For the first time in a while, however, she was thankful.
The blonde princess placed her hands by her head and jumped to her feet, brandishing her rapier. She needed to find the others.
Emiri was so close to Jaakuna, but at this point she was on all fours, one hand reaching out for his. Jaakuna reached out for her as well. They were so close, she should have just gotten up and grabbed him. Yet she let her fear get to her. Her fingers brushed his, and she forced herself to move forward. She grasped his hand firmly, finally being successful. As if on cue, Jaakuna slipped. He let out a small yell as he fell, still grabbing onto her hand and pulling her with him. The pair fell in a rush of blue, white, and several other colors before she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was on the Ifrit.
Sitting up, she looked around. Had it been a dream? She was so confused, she didn't understand what was going on. The door then opened, and as she moved forward she realized it was Vincent. What was he doing here? As she was about to ask, she realized he had climbed onto the bed, and on all fours he crawled over to her. The look on his face was one she recognized. “It’s no wonder my brother likes you so much." He said, repeating his exact words from when he had kidnapped her. He got on top of her, running his hand through her ponytail.
She froze as he forced her on her back, though she let out a scream as he began touching her. What the hell was going on?! "Stop!" She cried, trying to push him off. He laughed a little, his lips on her neck. Despite her struggle, she couldn't get him off, and the more his hands roamed she noticed how he managed to kiss and touch her was the exact way Jaakuna did. But once his hand went between her legs, all thoughts flew out of the window. A glint showed her dagger still in her boot. She withdrew it, slashing at him. She didn't care if he was Jaakuna's brother, he had no right to be touching her! He backed away, somewhat surprised, and he opened his mouth as if to ask something. Taking the opening, she kicked him down, managing to get on top of him. Raising the dagger above her head, she brought it down, stabbing him. He let out a rather choked yell of pain, though something else happened. Now he was blonde, now she found green eyes looking at her, a face full of surprise and an expression of someone who had just been betrayed.
It was Jaakuna. Emiri had just stabbed Jaakuna.
"Dear gods..." She whispered, dropping the dagger. What had she done? No, she knew what she had done. She just plunged a dagger into the love of her life.
Over and over and over. Each moment came and went, and when he thought there weren't any moments left, they started over from the beginning. His mother dying, his father's murder, Emiri's departure, the disaster of a date he had first with Savayna, her mentioning Jaakuna, letting her go to Archades...each moment replayed in front of him. Each moment, over and over and over. He didn't know how many times he had watched these moments, but at this point he was just sitting there, watching them. If he closed his eyes, they'd play in his head. If he tried to block the sound out, the noises would get louder. He could not interact or change them. They just kept playing, over and over and over. Every moment, every regret, every one of his fears.
Over and over and over.
"You may call me Shion." The blue haired woman informed him, though she did raise an eyebrow. "And that is not what you told Mtra. You wanted information on my garden. You wanted to know if your son was a member...I don't appreciate being lied to, Golden Wolf. I'm going to assume you did not mean it and that you simply didn't know better." She spoke rather airily, lightly twirling a lock of her extremely long hair in her fingers. "I will confirm that yes, your son is one of my best. Now, why would you be concerned? Strength is what gets you around in this cruel world. He is strong, he has a secure position...and he's rather handsome. At least I can see where he gets it from." She said, releasing her hair.
It's heavy isn't it? That weight is on us every day.
Not that a spoiled girl like you would know.
Poor little princess, better hurry or you'll drown!
All their voiced were distracting, much more so as they were literally the cause of the weight on her dress. Nadeline felt like it was pointless. The water was getting closer and closer, and although she didn't want to admit it, she was just about starting to panic. She was more afraid of the water than the voices, but they were driving her crazy. The waves were around her waist. At least if they were in front of her, she could smack every single one of them so they would shut up. But she couldn't give up yet. She didn't know why or how, but she knew if she gave up it'd all be over.
"Nadeline."
The voice was physical, she heard it. She stopped struggling long enough to see her looking at herself. She stood on the shallow part, staring right back at her, though she did not wear a wedding dress. Instead she had her usual clothes. What in the world was going on?
"And you are the manifestation of my sins?" She asked her rhetorically. "Spare me the stories, I just need to get out of here."
"No...I don't think I am. I am rather unsure about my purpose here." She admitted rather wholeheartedly with a small shrug.
"Well then, other me, if you could offer me any advice on how to get the voices out of my head and his stupid dress off, I would be more than happy to hear it, please."
The other Nadeline thought to herself for a moment. "You could...always just drown. What's the worst that will happen?"
She nearly tripped. "Are you insane?! I could DIE. I...I cannot swim, and even if I could this stupid dress would probably make me sink to the bottom of the ocean."
"How do you know that?"
"Anyone with a brain could figure that out, dear."
"Anyone with a brain would probably have taken off the dress when it started getting heavy."
Wow, was she really this annoying? Despite her earlier threats, she couldn't quite hit the other Nadeline. "You are not helping."
"Why should I help you? You can help yourself. You're not like the others. This isn't affecting you like it is them."
"Them? You...You mean everyone else is going through things like this?!" She asked, rather alarmed.
She nodded. "Don't you hear the voices? They sound cruel, but they're speaking logically. Everything here is logical, even if it doesn't seem to make sense." She told her, pointing to the dress. "Your burdens being the dress, your unwillingness to let them go is why it's heavy, the voices are your own mind speaking your insecurities...The worst thing that you're afraid of is drowning. Which...is perfectly rational considering you cannot swim, so that's why we are on the beach. But you're also wearing a wedding dress. So...you tell me, Smart One."
Nadeline stopped moving, the waves crashing onto the two of them. "Then...that makes you my rationality."
"Bingo~" She winked. "Trust me. Trust yourself. Go to the sea...your friends need you."
Nadeline finished moving, letting the ocean take her. She simply looked up at the sky. The water covered her torso, slowly rising more and more. Soon it reached her neck, and at this point, she closed her eyes. Soon she was underneath the water, but as she opened her eyes, she was met with the view of a ceiling. This one was rather familiar looking, and as she looked around, she realized she was back in the Necrohol of Nabudis. Still, she was alone. Where had everyone gone? It was then that she remembered being pulled into darkness by the shadows. Obviously someone had been manipulating them, managing to turn their worst nightmares against them. Might have worked on her too, though as the voices had confirmed, she had no trauma, no struggle. For the first time in a while, however, she was thankful.
The blonde princess placed her hands by her head and jumped to her feet, brandishing her rapier. She needed to find the others.
Emiri was so close to Jaakuna, but at this point she was on all fours, one hand reaching out for his. Jaakuna reached out for her as well. They were so close, she should have just gotten up and grabbed him. Yet she let her fear get to her. Her fingers brushed his, and she forced herself to move forward. She grasped his hand firmly, finally being successful. As if on cue, Jaakuna slipped. He let out a small yell as he fell, still grabbing onto her hand and pulling her with him. The pair fell in a rush of blue, white, and several other colors before she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was on the Ifrit.
Sitting up, she looked around. Had it been a dream? She was so confused, she didn't understand what was going on. The door then opened, and as she moved forward she realized it was Vincent. What was he doing here? As she was about to ask, she realized he had climbed onto the bed, and on all fours he crawled over to her. The look on his face was one she recognized. “It’s no wonder my brother likes you so much." He said, repeating his exact words from when he had kidnapped her. He got on top of her, running his hand through her ponytail.
She froze as he forced her on her back, though she let out a scream as he began touching her. What the hell was going on?! "Stop!" She cried, trying to push him off. He laughed a little, his lips on her neck. Despite her struggle, she couldn't get him off, and the more his hands roamed she noticed how he managed to kiss and touch her was the exact way Jaakuna did. But once his hand went between her legs, all thoughts flew out of the window. A glint showed her dagger still in her boot. She withdrew it, slashing at him. She didn't care if he was Jaakuna's brother, he had no right to be touching her! He backed away, somewhat surprised, and he opened his mouth as if to ask something. Taking the opening, she kicked him down, managing to get on top of him. Raising the dagger above her head, she brought it down, stabbing him. He let out a rather choked yell of pain, though something else happened. Now he was blonde, now she found green eyes looking at her, a face full of surprise and an expression of someone who had just been betrayed.
It was Jaakuna. Emiri had just stabbed Jaakuna.
"Dear gods..." She whispered, dropping the dagger. What had she done? No, she knew what she had done. She just plunged a dagger into the love of her life.
Over and over and over. Each moment came and went, and when he thought there weren't any moments left, they started over from the beginning. His mother dying, his father's murder, Emiri's departure, the disaster of a date he had first with Savayna, her mentioning Jaakuna, letting her go to Archades...each moment replayed in front of him. Each moment, over and over and over. He didn't know how many times he had watched these moments, but at this point he was just sitting there, watching them. If he closed his eyes, they'd play in his head. If he tried to block the sound out, the noises would get louder. He could not interact or change them. They just kept playing, over and over and over. Every moment, every regret, every one of his fears.
Over and over and over.
"You may call me Shion." The blue haired woman informed him, though she did raise an eyebrow. "And that is not what you told Mtra. You wanted information on my garden. You wanted to know if your son was a member...I don't appreciate being lied to, Golden Wolf. I'm going to assume you did not mean it and that you simply didn't know better." She spoke rather airily, lightly twirling a lock of her extremely long hair in her fingers. "I will confirm that yes, your son is one of my best. Now, why would you be concerned? Strength is what gets you around in this cruel world. He is strong, he has a secure position...and he's rather handsome. At least I can see where he gets it from." She said, releasing her hair.
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