Mystery Continent ~ Northern Pines

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut silently departed. There was nothing left for him in the forest and he needed to clear his mind of dark thoughts in order to approach Maple at his best.

 

[Namohysip]

"If you're ever feeling afraid, how about having a big, strong dragon by your side?" Owen asked, drifting a little closer to Cynthian with a smile.

"Don't push your luck," Cal said. "Nobody thinks you're a true Dragon."

"Egg group," Owen replied automatically.

"Yeah, just like Arbok." Cal smirked.

Owen scowled, but after a moment, his and Cal's expressions melted to a warm smile.

"You're coming back for real, soon, right?" Cal asked.

"I hope so. But... it was nice to finally see you again, even if it's like this. It's not something you usually can do..."

 

[Cresselia92]

"I'm... a bit scared, Icetales. Saying I'd volunteer to stay behind earlier... It was a result of that fear too," she admitted.

[…]

"It already feels a bit lonely now that you've gone back to the other side," Cynthian tried to reach for his face, but her flower only dissolved to wisps upon making contact with his face. She lowered her eyes and gave him a somber smile.

Icetales sighed as he heard Cynthian pouring her heart to him. A part of him already regretted having to part ways so suddenly, but… he couldn’t stay any longer, as much as he hated to admit it. Feeling comfortable to the darkness didn’t make him immune to it, after all.

“I… had to return, I’m afraid,” he responded, sighing again when the flower dissipated into ghostly wisps. No scent, no touch… how utterly heartbreaking.

Keo’Keo walked beside his host, his expression neutral. “We were blending in with the darkness. If we stayed any longer, we would have become,” his voice darkened, just as Owen approached, “a beast.”

“Yes. I… I was going to turn into a daemon. I…” Icetales shook his head. “I could not let that happen! The last thing I would have desired was to hurt anyone!” He lowered his muzzle. “I have yet to learn how to control that side of me. My darkness. I am… not strong enough. Not yet.”

"Just feeling lonely doesn't mean I'm alone though." She held her arms over her chest and said, "Our hearts are still connected, even if we are apart. And the others are still here too. I'll try to be strong and patience. Next time we meet, I hope it will be in the flesh, my love."

At hearing that, Icetales immediately perked up and his tails waved gently. He could feel his heart going faster, while Keo’Keo snickered behind his back.

“O-of course! And I shall do everything I can to bring thee and everyone back.” He reached out with his paw, keeping it just above Cynthian’s ghostly arms. “Just wait for us. We shall reunite soon.”

"If you're ever feeling afraid, how about having a big, strong dragon by your side?" Owen asked, drifting a little closer to Cynthian with a smile.

Keo’Keo eyed Owen cautiously, while his tails burned with more fervor. Big and strong could both be a help… or a threat. Though he didn’t want to voice that out, in order to not give any trouble to his host.

“Hm. Yes. Well, great powers mean great headaches. I sure hope thou shall keep thy cognition intact during thy stay…” He narrowed his eyes. “Because… our comrades need such power, now more than ever. Shall thou try thy best to focus and keep the shadows from infesting thy mind?”

 

[Namohysip]

"I will," Owen said, nodding. "You aren't the only one who has to deal with creeping madness!" He laughed again, the wraith-like shape of his mouth expanding a little too much. "Er, I mean..." He settled down. "Well. I had an episode, but now I know what it feels like. I wasn't expecting it here, too... but the Shadows? I'm fine against them. Wishkeeper and I are getting along, and that whole thing that happened wasn't related to Shadows."

"And that's supposed to make them feel better?" Cal asked, frowning.

"Er, I, uh...."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"If you're ever feeling afraid, how about having a big, strong dragon by your side?" Owen asked, drifting a little closer to Cynthian with a smile.

"Yes, Owen," Cynthian said with a smile if relief. "A strong dragon is a reassuring presence."

“O-of course! And I shall do everything I can to bring thee and everyone back.” He reached out with his paw, keeping it just above Cynthian’s ghostly arms. “Just wait for us. We shall reunite soon.”

"Yes, we shall," Cynthian said as her heart swelled.

"As long as your words stay in my heart, I'll be strong enough to fight my own evils." Cynthian's eyes carried confidence and trust as she smiled.

 

[Cresselia92]

"I will," Owen said, nodding. "You aren't the only one who has to deal with creeping madness!" He laughed again, the wraith-like shape of his mouth expanding a little too much. "Er, I mean..." He settled down. "Well. I had an episode, but now I know what it feels like. I wasn't expecting it here, too... but the Shadows? I'm fine against them. Wishkeeper and I are getting along, and that whole thing that happened wasn't related to Shadows."

"And that's supposed to make them feel better?" Cal asked, frowning.

"Er, I, uh...."

Keo’Keo’s eyes narrowed further while his wisps grew in strength. “Hmph. Our marred blood is not totally tied to the darkness and we had dealt with madness, but that does not make us immune to it nor to the miasma.” He motioned to Owen. “Dost not underestimate that. Cognitive miasma can creep into thy mind, fostering the foulest thoughts from the depth of thy noggin. It is reassuring that thou now know what to expect, but never lower thy guard. Never.”

"Yes, we shall," Cynthian said as her heart swelled.

"As long as your words stay in my heart, I'll be strong enough to fight my own evils." Cynthian's eyes carried confidence and trust as she smiled.

“Good. I do not expect anything less.”

Even if Icetales knew Cynthian couldn’t feel his touch, he still hoped to send the sensation across by nuzzling and dissolving her spectral cheek.

“I shall always be there for thee, even when thou cannot see me physically. Always.”

He took a step back and turned toward his companions. Hm, Bahamut was already gone. The Ninetales grumbled in annoyance.

“Well, of course Sir Bahamut could not wait…”

“It would be ideal if we left, too. As thou said earlier, this is a race against time.”

“Indeed.” Icetales turned once more toward Cynthian. “I shall see thee soon,” he flashed a bright smile, “…love.”

And then, both Ninetales bolted away, ready to carry on their own mission.

 

[Disco]

Mellow, now caught up on the latest... everything, silently turned and walked in the direction Diyem had gone, out of wary curiosity and because it was in the direction of her hut.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Luz cracked her knuckles over and over. Time to go face Maple, she supposed, and to ask her favour in using the tree of life for the benefit of Dark Matter's faction. She could almost hear herself saying No problem, Maple's a reasonable gal! We'll just explain our reasonin', an' she'll see sense!

Good outcomes no longer felt safe. Especially after Brisa . . . never showed.

She didn't ask Diyem to confirm Brisa's wellbeing. Best to focus on what she'd say to Maple. Best to stay on task. Best to stay focused.

She strode away, glancing over her shoulder at Starr and Astrid as she left.

 

[Virgil134]

Both Cabots looked on as Diyem began to walk off, when they suddenly heard a young Lugia speak up behind them.

"So... does this mean you'll be leaving again soon...?"

They turned around and saw Pleo staring at them with a wistful expression and visibly misty eyes. The two briefly exchanged looks, before Cabot spoke up uneasily.

"We should still have a few minutes... but yeah, it does."

"We'll be back before you know it," Dark Cabot reassured. "Once Icetales and the others talk to Maple it won't be long until we're revived. Just try to hang in there until then, okay?"

"I mean, I guess..." Pleo murmured. His head drooped for a moment, before looking back up at both Cabots. "Though what about you? I've heard all these bad things about the Void Lands, and now you're split in two as well!"

"Once Diyem revives us we should merge together again, so this is only temporary. As for the Void Lands, you really don't have to worry about it. The place may look a bit dreary, but it's really not that bad. Getting through the day without getting bored is probably our biggest concern when we're there."

"Well, that and you not being there of course, Pleo," Cabot added.

Pleo looked up and reached out to touch Cabot only to see his wingtips slip through his surface. The Lugia pulled his wing back, before drooping in bitter disappointment as Cabot walked over and pat at his shoulder, carefully stopping his claw just above the shade's surface to not phase it through.

"Once I'm revived I'll be sure to give you a big hug, okay?" the Cranidos said, only to catch himself. "No wait. A super big hug."

Pleo opened his mouth in surprise. "Really?"

"Of course!" Cabot cheered.

Pleo's mood visibly brightened as the Cranidos began to talk about the things they would do after being revived, Dark Cabot letting out a small chuckle as he looked on and occasionally chimed in himself. The three gathered around each other to share their last few minutes together, hoping that their separation wouldn't be for much longer.

 

[Namohysip]

“Dost not underestimate that. Cognitive miasma can creep into thy mind, fostering the foulest thoughts from the depth of thy noggin. It is reassuring that thou now know what to expect, but never lower thy guard. Never.”

Owen nodded, though he didn't talk back. He knew very well, and he also knew that the Shadow was only trying to help. It was relatable, in a way, since he, too, had a Shadow that was more benevolent than not. But he was familiar with this kind of corrosive darkness.

"Good luck," Owen said, then nodded to Cal. "...How about we stick together for a while? While they talk to Maple, let's see if we can investigate Pop's journals."

"Sure!" Cal brightened with her tail. "Okay, let's go now! And, um, maybe I can tell you about some of the new things that have happened here?"

Owen probably already knew. But he smiled anyway. "That sounds great."

<><><>​

 

[Namohysip]

The snow crunched under Cal's amorphous feet. After what had happened at Destiny Tower, Owen's aura had faded so much that he had to return to Diyem. As hasty as it was, Cal was at least able to give him a proper goodbye this time, and maybe he'd be summoned again later. Still, being in Destiny Village was making her depressed. She wound up wandering the outskirts of town before seeing the pine forest again. She wondered how Mellow was doing, though it didn't seem like she was there for now.

But maybe Mellow had the right idea. A short walk in the cold might be nice.

She approached amid a gentle snowfall. Without much of a temperature to her body, the puffy ice collected on the top of her head, sinking into her body over time like a snowglobe.

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut threw a small rubber ball he borrowedswiped from Potluck's resident at a tree opposite him. It banked off the trunk, then the ground. He caught it with his right lower wing and tossed it to his upper wing. The necrozma repeated the process.

Eternatus. The team's leader, who supposedly glimpsed his memories, wed one of those parasites. He should've stopped Bahamut and sent him home, but he didn't. Why? Because he needed someone who'd have no qualms about killing her? Well, Bahamut couldn't do that. His aura was tuned to healing and defenses. And he was really wondering if that had been his conscious choice or if an outside presence had influenced things when this fake body was made.

The two met in some sort of therapy. Was she there for similar reasons? He knew Diyem unsuccessfully tried to destroy his homeworld. But Eternatus was a different story. She could generate energy from nothing. Bahamut was confident she succeeded where Diyem failed. Was she sentient enough to get a guilty conscience? That wouldn't bring whatever world(s) she destroyed back.

He tossed the ball again and caught it. There was a presence drawing closer. Small, but nagging. Which Owens were alive again? No, wait, it had an otherworldy aura to it. Owen Three, then.

Bahamut's head twisted about on his torso. He spotted Owen Three with snow collecting on her. "You look ridiculous."

 

[Namohysip]

Cal flinched, looking herself over, then scowled. "What of it? Not everyone can look cool like you, y'know, mister 'I change forms like humans change clothes.' Like, what is this, your fourth look?" Cal didn't comment on the fact that she, too, could probably change her appearance on a whim if she so desired.

 

[Ambyssin]

It didn't take a genius to tell Owen Three was now in a bad mood. Perhaps it was Bahamut's fault? "You're upset," he mumbled. "I thought you'd be in better spirits since you got to reunite with your doppelganger." He paused. "And also Maple didn't kill us or bar us from the Tree or anything, so perhaps you'll be truly reunited sooner than you think."

 

[Namohysip]

"I know that," Cal said, looking off. "I'm just... ugh, what do you care? Why are you going all psychologist on me, anyway? I..." Her flame grew, but then dimmed. "...Never mind. Sorry." And like that, all the wind had suddenly been taken from her nonexistent wings, like she'd remembered something.

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut lay on his back but continued to toss the ball at the tree. His head was still backwards and looking at Cal. "Never mind? I think the opposite. Something's on your mind. Best not to let it fester, especially if you intend to go to the Tree."

Truthfully, Bahamut wasn't sure it was a good idea to let any shades go. However, he couldn't think of a polite way to bring that point up.

 

[Namohysip]

"Gh..." Cal crossed her arms and looked away. "...Ngh..." she marched to one of the trees and sat down, bringing her tail in front of her to stare at the flame. "...You're just like Dad," she finally muttered. "He literally told me the same thing."

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut crossed his crystal legs. "I think if you said that to your 'dad,' he would take great offense to that." He threw the ball again and raised his lower wing to catch it when it bounced back to him. "Curious how you and the shade with Icetales are the only ones to refer to your partners as parental figures. Not sure if that says more about you... or them."

He threw the ball again. "I'm leaning toward the latter. But what would I know? I never had parents." Bahamut caught it. "And I was robbed of the chance to be one for more than a tiny blip on my life's radar."

 

[Namohysip]

"...It's weird, but I don't really know if he'd take offense," Cal muttered, leaning her back against the tree trunk. "Aside from the doom and gloom you have going on, I think he still looks up to you a little. OR at least, you know, sees your merits and stuff. I was ranting to him about... uh, stuff, and he was saying that maybe I'm supposed to give you a chance." Cal kicked at a nearby pebble. "Then he died and stuff."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Yes. I guess it's too late to tell him people who try and form connections with me have a bad habit of dying." It was unclear from Bahamut's tone whether that was meant to be black humor or a harsh truth. "Perhaps my lack of connections with the team is some sort of subconscious action to avoid such a thing from happening. But of course it failed." He was truly surrounded by death, but couldn't experience it himself.

Sighing, he tossed the ball again. "Enough of my useless prattling. What's bothering you, little one?"