I try to remember, and I realize Top's right. It is his birthday! Oh, what should I give him? Oh....Vogdamnit. I close my eyes from stress. Shoot! The Star Dragon can write it in, say it was something Gwen found, a thorn mutated by the Crystallizer. I withdraw a thorn, cover it in my shroud of shadows, and throw it behind Gwen, making not a noise, nor catching anyone's notice until I release the shroud. She's already kissed the boy, I might as well get him a thing he can really hold on to and have it actually be useful as a 2* Sword....until I release the dimming effect on it(power-keeper). I release the shroud of shadows, and send Gwen just a mental picture of it, like something remembered from a dream, but she won't be able to tell if someone sent it or she remembered. I smile on the inside. I remember giving Lily a gift...a shining necklace of Sun Silver....
Return to Cradle: Origins (roleplay story)
REDACTED
Kirito
I tumble out of the portal into a vast expanse of yellow sand. Damian managed to land in his feet and started to stumble around in the sand. I snarl. This was the Gaian desert. We were on the other Vogdamned side of Isora!
Damian cursed to himself, then opened another portal and beckoned me to follow. Grumbling profanities, j followed him in and reappeared on a stately property. A glorious mansion loomed over us, and I scowled at the coat of arms on the gate. A heart with two swords piercing it.. That was the symbol of the Valentines. Diablo's mansion.
But why would Diablo want to kidnap Seatus and his own niece? I scowl; it's not like me to be confused by anything, but this was simply strange.
Damian's eyes widen in fear, and when I give him a questioning look, he points to a figure, a female whose entire body was in chains. I squint and finally realize. Gwen and Seatus weren't the only ones captured. Astraea was here as well!
Damian slowly walks towards the huge, oaken doors of the mansion with me right behind. Casually, he raises his palm to face the doors, and almost instantly, a sphere of dark energy began forming on his palm. It takes only a few seconds for it to turn a violent shade of purple. After a moment, it shoots itself at the doors, causing the doors to be reduced to smithereens.
Inside was a miniature army of Diablo's guards. Guns cocked, they aimed at us with grim looks on their face. Damian gives me a smug smirk, and I return with a nod.
Let's dance.
I faintly notice Damian slice a Cryotech shot in two and barely block another guard's stab from his bayonet. Irritated, I grab him by the shoulder and flip him over, then with god-like speed, strike at his Adam's Apple, crushing his larynx.
I grab another guard's arm and break it, then swiftly stab him between the eyes with a small pocket knife. One guard charges at me while another prepares to fire, but at the last moment, I use the fool as a human shield, then rush forward and impale the other on a spike from my wing. A bullet pierces my shoulder, and in retaliation, I set the very air on fire.
The buffoon who shot me was engulfed in flames and reduced to ash.
I mouth to Damian, "Help Astraea; I'll get Gwen", and wait for his reply. He nods, and I take off at full tilt.
------
I've spent nearly half an hour scouring the mansion, but there's no one here. I don't take time to appreciate the beautiful portraits and tapestries hanging on the walls. I couldn't care less about the elegant chandeliers and plush furniture.
Just WHERE was Gwen?
Astraea
I snarl, "Dammit, Diablo," and curse under my breath. After a few minutes of silence, I hear the sounds of at least 10 different locks being opened. Finally, the door itself swings open, and there he is, in all his handsome, sinister glory.
As he draws closer, I notice a look of excitement on Diablo's face and bite my lip. He probably only had his eye on one thing. Sure enough, I was right.
A smirk spreading on his face, he laughs, "What kind of deal, you ask? Well, would you be interested in one that is cut in your favor?" I lift my eyebrow in confusion. What could HE possibly have that i want?
He smirks at my interest. "You are undoubtedly aware of my family's wealth and power. We control almost the entirety of the public and private sectors, have large holdings in several well-known businesses, have a few people in power in Valhalla, and even have someone on the White Council itself. All of that could be yours. In exchange..."
His hand gently went down my back, slowly sliding down until he reached my private areas. He rubbed me gently right over the pelvis area, and I yelped. I scowl and chastise myself, "You can't go around squeaking like a little girl every time a handsome man does something like that to you! You're a Valkyrie, for Vog's sake!"
Diablo smiles. "You can guess what it is I want." My face turns as red as a Combuster as I begin to understand what he means. Holy sweet mother of duck's sh*t, I was right. He was only after my body. I blush even more furiously and take a closer look at him.
Diablo's sculpted muscles held firm against his Regalia, his long white hair fell graciously behind his back. His intelligent eyes gleamed in the dimly lit room. By Vog, he was handsome. But that didn't change the fact that he had captured, imprisoned, and chained the Queen of the Valkyries. The last time someone dared to assault the Queen of the Valkyries, Freya herself, her people hunted down and brutally executed the perpetrator. Although I hated Diablo, I didn't want such a fate to befall someone from Gwen's family.
Still. I can't find any other way out of this hellhole than to kill him. Even though she wasn't fond of him, I didn't want to know how upset Gwen would be if I murdered Diablo. Then again, I didn't exactly know how I'd go about that. I sigh to myself. There's no possible way for me to free any part of my body even slightly, and therefore no means of escape.
I guess it's plan B. I'll have to manipulate Diablo until he's gone soft on me. That could take time, but I didn't exactly have any other options. (HINT: somebody save her!)
I'll have to give in to Diablo's desires. I wink at him and flash a naughty grin.
Just you wait. I'll have you dead if its the last thing I do.
Haaveilen...
Sisällä unelmani, olen nähnyt sen auki mitätön, tunsi sen loputon nälkä. Olet turvassa täällä, ritari. Tässä unelma, sen monet silmät eivät näe sinua enkä voi sen monia aseita tavoittaa sinut. Mutta tämä unelma on katoavaista. Käytä mitä on täällä valmistautua taisteluun tulla. Se tietää teistä nyt. Se löytää tien ulos ja tulevat sinulle. Sisällä unelmani, näen legioona, jotka tätä maailmaa, kuten polttava tähteä. Putoat tarkoituksella, polttava koskaan kirkkaampi kuin tulet sydämessä tässä maailmassa. Pidä kalliisti tämän tulen teille, pimeys kuluttaa koko yön jos sen tähdet alkavat haalistua. Tämä maailma on luotu suojella minua. Haavoittuvia unesta, maailmoja vedettiin suojata minulle pimeydestä. Tämä maailma on tullut minun vankilassa. Hänen hulluutta, arkkitehti petti sopimuksen. Kiertämällä hänen luomuksensa peliin kuoleman, nyt syö kaikki, jotka tulevat sen rauta syleilyyn. Kuten olen haaveillut, se kulutetaan. Se söi tietoa ajasta, muistoja kuollut, sydämet kuninkaat ja sielut niiden ihmisten, hyvän ja pahan, se kulutetaan. Se voimistui, loputtomasti peilaus itsensä unelmani. Loputtomasti peilaus, laajenee, ääretön. Mitä se oli ennen, se ei enää ole. Kumpikaan peto eikä jumala, se on luomus toisin kuin kaikki. Se on ihmisvilinä.
__________
Topo hugged Gwen tighter, and she hugged him back. The bitter cold was taking a toll on both of them, and unless they were rescued soon, they could very well die in there. He nudged her and whispered, "We've been here for a long time. It's 1 o'clock in the morning. I don't know why, but I do believe your mean uncle is saving us." Gwen scoffed. "I doubt it. I don't think he intends us to die in here, but he's certainly not going to save us from harm either." There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Topo smiled and asked, "Hey, got any birthday presents for me?" Gwen reddened and looked away. "No...I didn't know when your birthday was. What should I give you?" She had a few guesses about what he wanted.
__________
(OOC: @Kaijuhunter: prepare to let Ikaros be Diablo's daughter if Astraea isn't rescued in time.)
OOC: @thin: okay, I'm working on a post right now. Jealous Kirito to the rescue!
OOC: If Kirito isn't a human, and Diablo isn't a human........WHO DA DADDY?!
That awkward moment when people don't read your "Birthday?" post....
(OOC: I just read that post again. I still don't quite understand it, but Gwen won't be kissing Topo, at least not on the lips.
Also, Eucld's team is about to face off against the enemy guard. And- oh man, I just had a spectacular idea! Let's not kill the guard. Come on Dmatter & Travid, make your posts and let's get on with it. :D)
Gwen fingered something in her pocket as she waited for Topo's answer.
I dream of ...
Inside my dreams, I've seen it in the open void, felt the never-ending hunger. You are safe here, a knight. In this dream, its many eyes can not see you and I can not for its many arms to reach you. But this dream is fleeting. Use what you have here to prepare for the battle to come. It knows you now. It will find a way out and will come to you. Inside my dreams, I see a legion that use this world, like a burning star. You fall on purpose, burning brighter than ever you come here in the heart of the world. Keep a high price for this I come to you, the darkness consumes the whole night if the stars begin to fade. This world has been created to protect me. Vulnerable dream worlds were drawn to protect me from the darkness. This world has become my prison. In his madness, the Architect broke the agreement. By turning his creation into the game to death, now eat all of that come from the iron embrace. As I have been dreaming of, it is consumed. It ate knowledge of the time, memories of dead kings of hearts and souls of the people, good and evil, it is consumed. It's strong, endlessly self-mirroring of my dreams. Endless mirroring, expanding, infinite. What it was before, it is no more. Neither beast nor a god, it is a creation unlike any. It's a swarm.
Long ago, the Architect broke the agreement to build this world. He lost sight of the Core's reasoning, and began to think. It was not a big thought, but just a thought. He began to wonder, and in his wondering he turned fearful. Oh what if the infection escaped?! What then?! Surely all would be damned! And he hid it, oh, how he hid it! To build an endless labyrinth of death! To build a whole world around a Core! To trap the infection, a captive withholding a captive. Only the Architect could do it!
But that wasn't part of the plan, and now the world may as well be the hand of Death himself.
"Well..... I don't know." I smile at Gwen, then say, "Maybe a new sword? A way out of here? A chance to see my family? I know the two last wishes are impossible for you to give, so I'll just wish for a sword."
If they were going to die, this must be one of Death's faces. The enemy wore Tier X armor, one of the most expensive armor Tiers ever created. He pulled out a Master Blaster and begun a barrage of energized explosive rounds. Everyone dispersed to find cover. But one of the rounds found their way to Travid's feet, blasting him back. When he crashed into the back wall, he fell down next to a skeleton with a strange armor. It kinda looked like the armor of legend, worn be the hero of legend. Travid's eyes widened when it dawned upon him. "I found the body of the Great Snarbolockborn!" he shouted. At that point everyone and I mean everyone stopped. It was then the world was silent, for the search for the Snarbolockborn's body had been called off eons ago. Just muttering the findings of his body can silence entire wars. Our enemy spoke in a gruff voice, "We must leave now. One must not fight in such a powerful being's resting place." The Snarbolockborn was said to have traveled to the plane of the Creators, learning their secrets of life-forging. But he was the last of his kind. There wasn't another person with his kind of soul. But his world was dying. So he gave his life to save our world, combining his life force with every sentient race here. But the line of Faasnukendovaar had ended with him. Travid and his squad and enemy paid their respects. They left the cave until they found a clearing far away from the Snarbolockborn's resting place. They begun their fight there.
OOC: I was listening to the Skyrim theme when I was typing it. And then this happened. Hope this is fine. Faasnukendovaar means 'Fearless warrior servant' because the Snarbolockborn were to serve the Snarbolocks as their warriors. I used words from Skyrim, so I don't own it. And if this sounded weird, once again, blame the Skyrim theme.
"Well, I don't know Maybe a new sword? A way out of here? A chance to see my family? I know the two last wishes are impossible for you to give, so I'll just wish for a sword," Topo replied. At the mention of his family, Gwen grew curious. "What happened to your family? Where are they?"
__________
After the discovery of the ancient Son of a Snarbolax, possibly a predecessor to Seatus, everyone stopped and honored it for a moment. The Morai enemy spoke at length, "What is it that drives you people? Why do you fight against the mighty Morai empire?" Euclid planted his sword into the ground and leaned on it. "Because we don't want to be used as the instruments of tyranny. The Spiral Order stands for life, liberty and justice, and we were given orders that contradict every one of those stances. The Morai told us to kill dissenters, which infringes on their freedom to disagree, robs them of their life, and was to be carried out without trial, which is unjust. The Morai told us to station ourselves in the houses of others, which unjustly violates property rights, robs them of independent life, and enslaves them to us. These are only a fraction of the grievances we have against the empire. How can you fight for such a system?"
The enemy soldier looked down at his feet. "Because...well, they don't even pay that well...I don't know. I just...do what I always did." Euclid suddenly realized why the enemy fought; not because they believed in what they were fighting for, but because they were enslaved to the status quo. He cautiously approached the soldier and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand. We just want to keep the status quo, and not cause any trouble or create a ruckus. We just want to live with our hearts at peace, never having to worry about where we'll go next or how we'll survive through the day. Sometimes, that's worth fighting for."
"That's what we fight for. It's ironic, isn't it? We have to force a change in order to keep our world from changing. But if you don't force a change, your world will still change, whether you like it or not, and probably for the worse. Take control of the change! You don't have to stay with the Morai and make the world worse. You could make it better."
The knight looked at Euclid, then at his party. "You know what? I think you're right." He swapped his troika to his left hand and heaved it over his shoulder before extending his right hand to Euclid. "I don't think we've ever been properly introduced. My name is Grantz." Euclid shook his hand. "And my name is Euclid."
I stumble back, a feeling only the Snarbolock are capable of registering hits me in the heart. I close my eyes, and I see crowds of people, looking at me. My heart feels stone cold, and my mind feels the same. I open my eyes, and a great cold washes across my whole body. They found him. Somehow, in some mysterious way, they found him. A warrior, blessed by a Great Snarbolock, presumably my Father, found on this planet. Shocking, and amazing. It's funny. He did so many things. I could too, if I was actually a part of the timeline. I could manifest everything, anything. I could create, and save.
But that's what made me becone disconnected.
No one is supposed to cheat death. No one is supposed to die, and live again. No one is supposed to be the loneliest of all. Father has the Twins, Mother has her friends...and who do I have? And that's what happened, and the Star Dragon saw it too. As soon as the power was in my hands, I wanted one more try, just one, to bring back Lily. And I could have done it. But it would have been too dangerous for one more person besides Anubis and I to come back and tell their story.
I was taken from the timeline for the only third time in my existence to be selfish. That's all I wanted, and it was yanked out of my hands. Peace across Cradle is what I could've done. Replenish the Owlite race from a few million feathers. Captivate the Swarm and send it off through space. Create new worlds from the debris of past wars.
I would've given it all up to save my Lily.
The Star Dragon, the most ultimate being in the universe, a little over-average God. Took my powers into custody when I entered his Realm. Said I couldn't manifest things in the past. But I could in his Realm, if I earned my place. And I can create life. Life I could stand over and watch, and maybe even push it out of his realm and into reality. And it will be my gift to Lily. A sacred race, to only help others. A high-standing race that will not end life, but save it, and enrich it. I will call them the Sanctuarans.
I hate it when my head does that! STAY IN THE NOW, SEATUS! You'll think so much, you'll get lost in your own mind. A higher-level of consciousness, just what this thinker needed.....
DOUBLE POST ASDFGHJKL
I look at Gwen for a second, then turn away to brush the tears from my face. "They... they..." my voice cracked, and I shook my head furiously. I was a merc, for vog sake! Am I supposed to cry every time someone mentioned my family? "They f*ckin' died, alright! They died!" I yelled, and pushed myself away from Gwen. "They died, and left me here. Alone." I stood up, and walked to a corner, and began sobbing into my hands.
Gwen was a little stunned at Topo's reaction. She wiped the frost off her eyelids, walked up to him and put an arm around him. She tried to find something comforting to say, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't conceivably send him into a fit of rage. So she just planted a kiss on his cheek and stood there with him in silence while he cried.
She couldn't feel her cold fingers anymore. Visions of things in the past, present, and future passed before her eyes, then faded into the darkness. All sensations faded away...
Topo heard a thump on the freezer floor.
(OOC: Edit: How many times do I have to edit this thing to make it feel right!?)
I look as Top walks into the corner. Vog, should I help? I don't want to see snybody die, and I think they've been locked up long enough. (Important-->)After Gwen comforts Top, I withdraw the shroud of darkness and step into the line of sight so I'm seen. "You guys want out? Don't get too close to each other either, Kirito is coming this way, and I don't want Top's head coming off." I pick Gwen up, and I latch on to the gate, and press my forehead against it, hiding my pained expression. "Out it is then," I whisper, a thorn extending from the top of my arm. I shove it into the lock, and many mechanical parts fly out the other side. I swing it open and look down the hall, seeing Kirito's blurred form in the distance. "Good, good timing."
[redacted because I dislike how this was going]
I silently slip out after my little "chat" with Kirito. But not before I see Damian slip through a portal with Kirito close in tow. From the HUGE energy signature the portal left, I can figure where they went to, Diablo's mansion. By now the council had started a full fledged search for Gwen, and an arrest warrant for Topo. With it's resources spread so thin, it was time to call in the Triumvirate. I took off for Diablo's mansion, but not before leaving the council a mess to clean up. The Triumvirate attacked. The main council building, and all the search parties they had been sent out were suddenly barraged with gunfire and sword clashing. I grinned, it was all coming together.
I touched down at the mansion a bit later, and found bodies spread throughout the area. I shrugged and continued on, and found Gwen and Topo escaping, but not without Seatus and Kirito closing in. I let out a frustrated sigh. I decided to keep my distance and observe the group, waiting when to call in the forces that had been mobilized.
I walked, tears still in my eyes. Gwen was asleep in Xindao's arms (Still don't know it's Seatus), and Kirito besides them. My cheek was still moist where Gwen had kissed me, and I found myself touching it. I saw Kirito looking at me suspiciously, and I glare back. I tune myself out of the group, and turn on the HuD. What I saw shocked me. "I'm..... I'm a criminal? Kidnapping?" I glance at Xindao and Kirito. They were council members. Xindao might be my friend, but he was honorbound to his job. "No..." I whispered, then see a nearby window. "No one's going to arrest me! No one!" I break the window, and jump out.
Topo jumped out the window, and found himself facing a multi-story fall. Something slammed into him on the side, and he tumbled onto a nearby roof.
Someone extended a charred hand to him and helped him up. One look, and he recognize her as the black thing that took Seatus from the council room. Her beautiful face was marred with charred skin, and she was clothed in simple unwashed rags. Her hair looked brown, but there was a hint of blond underneath.
It was love at first sight. Well, for her anyways.
(O_O)
OOC: You don't come back yet XD!
I jump out the window, gliding on my Snarbolock wings. I've caught up to them in a matter of seconds. "Hello!" I say to the Finder once I've caught up. "We must be feeling very swell this morning, hm?" I say casually. Must be nice sometimes to be in her place. "Top, meet a future version of someone you know. Don't shoot her. It won't work and she just might drop you." I spin around and bullet towards Gwen, whom obviously wasn't herself.
((Getting a sense of Seatus))
I land within the building. "Can someone lead me to Diablo? Preferably Gwen, since I need to lead her to what she must find out. I can't tell her because it would disturb the timeline and make a bigger mess to clean up. So, can we go see him? I can at least force him to behave during a conversation." I say, grinning. "Also, if any of you need help with accepting I'm a Snarbolax, then observe." I effortlessly change into my beastial form, horns, claws, wings, jaws, everything to prove I'm a Great Snarbolock. I quickly change back. "So can we please get this conversation going? I need this to happen so we can get a quicker move on things." The storm outside turns darker as the sun falls. Rain, gentle at first, but bound to be a downpour, falls softly on the window sill. "Oh! I forget!" I walk to the window and hold out my hand to the air, yanking the Finder from her spot and grabbing hold of her hand and pulling her in.
You're more of a friend than an enemy, Finder. And I seem to be the only one that admires your will to be alive. Please stay.
(OOC: C'mon, get posting! :D)
Okay, I will stay, but not for long. Topo cannot stay, and I intend to accompany him.
Kirito, who had followed Damian through the portal just before it dissipated, mouthed the words:"Help Astraea; I'll get Gwen." Damian nodded slightly, before Kirito ran off into the distance.
Damian stood there, almost motionless. Abaddon's power was to be feared, and he pondered upon how such power was given to him. Anyhow, he regained his sense of consciousness as his enhanced hearing took note of a sound, which vaguely sounded like someone talking. That voice(Astraea's)...... was just so strangely familiar.
"Aitorakkingu!" Damian's eyes slowly became red as he stumbled around for a bit, before maintaining his balance and walking slowly along the dark corridor. He could see past those elegant, wooden walls, and saw many things of dangerous nature. Suddenly, his newly turned blood-red eyes caught sight of a very beautiful figure, but with another figure Damian couldn't quite see. Slowly, Damian took slow paced steps towards the door, and almost dropped dead. It was Diablo Valentine who, evidently, had captured Astraea.
Damian cursed under his breath. Diablo was a fighter notorious for his swordsmanship skills. Even though Damian had two blades, Diablo still had more experience within the realm of swordplay, and would thus probably win in a fight if Damian didn't use his other Dark powers. But it was worth the risk to save Astraea. Her short, blonde hair coupled with those amazing eyes..... GAH! This was no time to think of her. Damian muttered the same word he used to give him X-Ray vision, and his eyes turned back from blood-red to emerald-green. Blasting the door open with another sphere of darkness, Damian spoke with a flashy grin on his face, already summoning his swords. "Damian York, at your service."
Diablo was NOT happy.
It wasn't often that someone made him so positively angry. He was just about to have some delightful alone-time with the queen, when all of a sudden this rude whippersnapper decides to barge in on the party and break it up! He sneered and replied, "A VERY upset Diavolo Sintaris Valentine, President and CEO of Energy Crafters Incorporated, at my own service! Will you please get out before I really lose my temper?" He summoned a MASSIVE broadsword and heaved it like it was a rapier.
"This is your last chance to stay alive, Damian. Get out."
Diablo was not happy. At all.
It probably wasn't often that someone made him so angry. He was about to have some alone-time with the Queen of the Valkyries, but Damian intervened when he was getting to the good part. Astraea was probably part of Diablo's plan, whatever that was. Diablo sneered and harshly replied,"A VERY upset Diavolo Sintaris Valentine, President and CEO of Energy Crafters Incorporated, at my own service! Will you please get out before I really lose my temper?"
He summoned a huge broadsword and heaved it into position as if it was a lightweight rapier.
"This is your last chance to stay alive, Damian. Get out."
Damian remained unamused. He did not reply. But what came after was very interesting. Almost instantaneously, Damian was surrounded by a translucent dark aura, turning his eyes purple and his hair darker. A huge gust blew itself through the entire room as the dark aura surrounding Damian became more concentrated. After a few moments, the gust stopped moving and dissipated. Damian took a few short steps to Diablo and laughed maniacally, before the look on his face became stern. "Lunatics like you deserve to die." Damian vanished and reappeared instantaneously behind Diablo, delivering a swift side kick to his temple.
Nobody got the better of Diablo. Though he took a painful kick to the temple, he recovered quickly and swung his giant sword into Damian. The blow was so strong that no amount of blocking would stop it from hitting him, and it viciously tossed him like a ragdoll against the wall. He hit it so hard that the wall cracked, leaving paint dust on his backside. Diablo followed it up with a telekinetic chokehold, crushing and constricting Damian's throat. Now it was his turn to laugh maniacally. "Lunatics like me? Ha! Tell me, which one of us had a crazy dark aura around him, you or me? Which one of us stupidly attacked the great Diablo to 'save the girl,' you or me? Which one of us is the lunatic, hmm?" He strengthened his chokehold and came within inches of Damian's face.
He narrowed his eyebrows and whispered through his teeth angrily, "Get. Out." With that, he crushed Damian against the wall so hard that he broke through it, and flung him out of the mansion.
But Diablo wasn't done with him yet. He jumped out of the hole after Damian and raised his sword above his head as he dropped.
REDACTED: I just hate being on the sidelines I'M STUCK TILL SOME MORE PEOPLE POST
Damian is taking care of himself. I was writing a post, so....... yeah. Try and redact your post. Please? :3
~~~
Diablo was smiling. Though he took some damage after Damian hit him on the temple, he seemed to shrug off the pain and swung his giant sword at Damian. Damian rolled to the side, and coincidentally enough, it broke off Astraea's chains. Damian swiftly turned to look at Astraea and mouthed the words,"Leave me here. I'll distract him long enough for you to leave." When Damian turned back, he was hit by a giant blow from Diablo's claymore. It sent him flying to the wall, his backside already covered with paint dust. Diablo followed it up with a telekinetic chokehold, blocking air from entering Damian's throat. Now it was his turn to laugh maniacally. "Lunatics like me? Ha! Tell me, which one of us had a crazy dark aura around him, you or me? Which one of us stupidly attacked the great Diablo to 'save the girl,' you or me? Which one of us is the lunatic, hmm?" He strengthened his chokehold and came close to Damian's face.
Diablo narrowed his eyes and whispered angrily,"Get. Out." With that, he slammed Damian against the wall so hard that he broke through it, sending him flying out of the mansion.
Diablo wasn't done with him yet. He jumped out of the hole after him and raised his claymore above his head as he dropped.
Damian smiled. It was his turn. Just as Damian was about to hit the ground, he somehow vanished and reappeared on top of Diablo, grabbing him and throwing him down to the ground with the utmost of force head-first. Damian landed on the ground with a perfect landing, though a crater formed around Diablo. Damian slowly walked towards Diablo, but unexpectedly, Diablo managed to sweep kick Damian, and managed to chokehold Damian once more. The maniacal smile on Diablo's face made him all the more intimidating.
(OOC: Kaijuhunter just said that the chains that bound Astraea were made of Volcanic Iron, and being the strong Queen that she is, she undoubtedly struggled against them and failed to break them. So how is it that Damian's accidental rolling into them can break them? I'm sorry, but someone will have to intentionally break or unlock them to release Astraea.)
Diavolo seized Damian by the scruff of the neck. "You are so close to the Darkness, I can only wonder why you haven't succumbed yet. Join me, Damian!" He subtly warped Damian's mind, planting a seed of desire for power in him. "And who knows, maybe I'll even let you play with Astraea every once in a while. I know you want her. I have the power to give you everything you want. All you have to do is join me. I don't even ask you to be my servant; we could be equals."
__________
You must pay for your crimes, Seatus.
You have broken Time.
You have slain your father.
You have murdered Lily.
You will pay.
I will always love you, my Son.
But I cannot let you go unpunished.
Time is fine
Time is safe
There's no crime
I'm only a little late
Father isn't slain
I never would touch him
He's only insane
And sad, and grim
Father lives
While I die inside
Mother would never give
Back the one at my side
Mother swallowed her
Yet I forgave Mother
Mother's a murderer
Along with my Brothers
==================================
No way in Vog's eternal hell would I slay Father. And time only awaits fixing. Delusions, delusions, spoken only by the blackest snake with the forked tongue.
Oh, you clever Infestation.
(OOC: this is turning out to be a subplot. :P Guess Seatus's next mission is to clear his name. The entity who is framing him lives in the current timeline. That, and something is very wrong with the Core in the RtC timeline.)
Gunnr was getting anxious. The Crstalizer was beginning to run out of control, and if it couldn't be kept in check, dreadful things could happen. Dreadful things. She shivered and bellowed some more orders before she realized the ground beneath her feet had cracked. Fear overtook her, and she tried to reach the elevator. But the door was jammed, and being a security door, could not be forced open. Screams erupted from the crystallizing site. The ground finally gave way, and Gunnr's own screams were added to the cacophony of terror.
The sphere of crystal energy only grew larger.
I ran, and ran and ran. I ran until I was out of breath, then I collapsed, looking up. The council building. The sight of it only made me more scared, and I backed away quickly, when I bumped into someone. "Excuse me." I mumbled, then glance at them.
They wore pure white clothing, and in their hands: A tempered Calibur, and a Super Blaster.
Enforcers.
I back away quickly, and raise my own tempered Calibur in front of me. "Get away from me. I'm not going to rot in your prisons!"
The Enforcers looked at each other and shrugged. One of them spoke up. "Don't worry about it, man. We saw the warrant for your arrest, but we also saw the news. Any man with half-decent vision can tell that you're not Diavolo. As long as you don't wander too far out of town, nobody who watched the news is going to hunt you down." The other guard nodded in agreement and said, "Besides, you're innocent until proven guilty around here. If you didn't do it, the truth will come out."
It wasn't Damian's rolling. Diablo sent a downwards strike towards Damian, but he rolled out of the way. The strike hit the chains.
~~~
"You are so close to the Darkness, I can only wonder why you haven't succumbed yet. Join me, Damian!" Diablo planted a seed of desire for power in him, which filled his mind with corrupt thoughts. It turned him darker than before. He was on the edge of sanity and insanity. "And who knows, maybe I'll even let you play with Astraea every once in a while. I know you want her. I have the power to give you everything you want. All you have to do is join me. I don't even ask you to be my servant; we could be equals."
Damian did not respond. The darkness in him told him of power. Power that could be gained just by letting go. Immense power. Damian's eyes turned black as he was surrounded by a dark aura this time, with chains of darkness rotating around him in sporadic orders at high speeds. Almost immediately, a dark force-field surrounded Damian, hitting Diablo with so much force that he slammed into the outer wall of his mansion. The force-field dissipated after a few seconds passed, but Damian still had the dark aura and chains surrounding him. But it was no longer Damian who was in control of his body. It was Abaddon.
~~~
So in the lore, legend has it that 'Abaddon' is this transformation that's feared. Yeah.
I rubbed my eyes, then looked at the Enforcers with disbelief. "Really? You're letting me go? Thanks!" I shook their hands, then sheathed my sword. "Well, I don't know about you, but lots of people here don't read the news. Pretty sure they're going to attack me in a mob. Or something similar."
Right on cue, a villager noticed me, and yelled, "Hey! It's that guy from the warrant! Let's get him!" They yelled, and brought out kitchen knives, and stones. Pitchforkes too. I glance at the Enforcers, then said with a grin, "Told you so." I ran from them, and climbed on to a building. Then I ran across the rooftops, until I reached my destination.
My house. It was still standing, and no one moved in. I let myself in with a key I kept with me in the backpocket of my front pocket. Everything was where it supposed to be, except.... ,"What are you doing here?" I asked a person, who was supposed to be dead.
OOC: Topo is hallucinating right now. Gwen fainted since she was too cold. Top's having hallucinations about his family being alive. Might be awesome, if someone met up with me in the next post.
And no one knows where Diablo is. Typical.
I pat Gwen's head and sit down, glancing at the Finder. "How well do you remember your past self, Finder?" I ask softly, stroking Gwen's silver hair. "She's so innocent now...yet soon she'll be guarding a world of chaos..." I sigh, "Why can't all life live happily like on this planet? Why canlt everyone govern a casual life. Everyone takes it for granted, but when you're traveling, and you know that no one remembers you afterward, you begin to yearn for such a life that would be called boring. My Father is in a Secret Eden, the final Sanctuary, not wanting anything to do with me, not wanting to remember me even though he could if he so desired. A Mother, too busy and too far gone to remember her Son...and Brothers, half-Brothers, that call for your blood. Not a single soul in the world favoring you." I look back to the Finder, guessing she was either asleep or too deep in her melancholy ways to pay too much attention.....
REDACTDOUBLEPOSTS
A familiar feminine voice, raspy and broken from countless ages of disuse, came from the Finder's location. "I no remember past. What father? What mother? What brother? Humans like them very lot. I no have them." She didn't seem very remorseful about this. In fact, she almost seemed to be smiling, as if this was all a good thing.
"What boring for you is scary for me. What scary for you is boring for me. For me, casual is hunt, kill, eat, escape kill. That scary life for you. For you, casual is live in confined space called 'house,' too quiet, dead things rot in hollow walls. Scary for me."
(OOC: lol, philosopher much?)
"But I'm not human. Y-you don't remember me, do you? Ahh, but that's fine. No one does in the end. But I'm...not a human." I quickly refer to my Snarbolock form before changing back. Maybe she still wouldn't remember, and everything would be fine. "You don't remember yourself anymore, and I find that sad. But you are wearing down."
"Do you think you'll ever want to be something more, or do you like the way you are now?" I ask innocently, not feeling pity, not feeling remorse, just worry for someone that used to be there...
((Seatus needs to vent his emotions and perspective on someone who might listen a little, even if though they might be senile...))
"I no remember you. Bright Light (that's the Core) I remember, Big Mage (that's Equinox) I remember. You new. Bright Light mentioned you. She want kill you." She sighed and looked out the window. "Me be more? Me be like am now?" She shrugged. "Why not both? I change when need to."
She summoned a small fireball and played with it. "I know I was much more long ago. I not stupid. But I not remember it. Why should I go back to what not remember? Sounds useless."
(OOC: She's ~500 years old, probably in the lat 400's.)
I feel my heart stop when she mentions the bright light wanting to kill me. "Oh..." I say somewhere between a squeak and a sigh. "Well, that's unlike her...nothing I can't handle, but...very, VERY unlike her..." I somewhat mumble. The fire she summons...at least I know she remembers a bit. "Yeah, I suppose it would be useless. You probably wouldn't want to be stuck as you were, I bet it must have gotten boring to stay as one thing..." I sigh. She could change how she wanted. "As everchanging as the world she guards..." I whisper. "Well, in any case, I'll be prepared for an onslaught by Mother. She is one to have power, but I am one of the Great Snarbolock of legend. I'll hold my ground..."
She dispelled the fireball and looked up at Seatus. "Need my help?"
I nod. "There will be a big battle. A lot of fighting and destruction. I need to stop it, stop Diablo's plan, and hold my ground against my own Mother. But if you could help with uncovering Diablo's plan, maybe some espionage, that'd be great." I smile.
The Finder nodded. "I help. Where I start?"
"Start with Diablo. If you learn of any locations, check them out first before warning us. This group is composed of angels and humans, and I'm guessing both will be slightly overwhelmed, so it's best to tell us everything you saw. Thank you so much."
((The Finder will probably help the story along a bit when the characters get stuck in a clueless jam...))
OOC: So.... because of the posts being redacted, I'll just continue on post, 'take the comfort, woman'.
I hug Gwen even tighter, upon hearing her say it was cold. I winced as her frost-covered arm touches mine. I turn on my HuD, not really bothering to do anything. But something caught my eye. It was 1:42 AM, morning. I nudged Gwen gently, then whispered in her ear, "We've been here for a long time. It's 1 in the morning. I don't know why, but I do believe your mean uncle is saving us." I then remember it was my birthday. The day after a council meeting. I usually celebrate with my family, but now that they're dead....."Hey, got any birthday presents for me?" I smile at Gwen.