Ice Mage's Icy Taco Story 3: The RP Archive

[Deleted]

I figure it would be best to archive this in one thread, so it doesn't have to take up too much space in Memory Lane. I should be done with the archiving once I finish the epilogue. These may not be archived in order, I may, for example, archive the shortest parts first. If you're reading this for the first time, feel free to read the original thread.

Part I - Prologue

SPOILER: Click to show

{Clearing, in front of the Dialogue Tree}

*there are logs in a circle, serving as benches*

: *sitting on one of the logs*

*walks in, followed by Sgt. Guy*

*Rides in on a dragon, followed by several others*

I don't see why you made me come along.

You were raiding Weyard ships. Clearly you need something better to do to occupy your time.

Grrr…

On the same token, I don't get why she asked us to come along.

I get the impression it's important.

Azzie: *wanders in*

*a bit afterwards, Shadow and Argent wander in too, looking confused but attentive*

Candy: *wanders up, dragging Sabrina along by the wrist*

Sabrina: I still don't see why you're dragging me up.

Candy: Because I want you there. *sits on one of the logs*

Sabrina: *sits next to her*

PFA: *walks in, with Kindle, Apollo and Hasaki in tow*

—going on and why did you ask us to come?

PFA: Because it seemed like a good excuse to use some of my lesser used characters it's important and you guys should listen to what he has to say. :I

But... what exactly is going on?

PFA: All will be explained in time. *sage nod*

*sighs and sits down*

*Runs in after PFA and glomps her* PFAAAAA~

…Is it possible for you two to be separated at any point in time?

Difficult, but not impossible!

TORK *glomps back*

Candy: *giggles, watching them*

Patton: *walks in, followed by Rommel and Orwell* ...and that's how I caught that rabid wolverine. Cool story, right? *sits down on one of the logs*

Orwell, Rommel: *also*

: *walk in*

HI HUNTER

Will you be quiet.

_{I swear I will set you on fire}

[/s]

: HI DREW

: _{I swear I will set you on fire}[/s]

*Waves* Hi hi.

…If this is important, shouldn't you be taking it a bit more seriously?

She turns people into rubber ducks. Getting her to be serious is difficult and usually means bad news.

*TB trots in*

: All right, everyone get in here. Let's get this party started.


*A group of Air Pirates files in*

: Vyse, are you sure we're allowed to do this? We don't even know these people...
: Nah, it'll be fine. Besides, what could be better than an exciting adventure?
: Yeah! What could go wrong?
: *Grumbles*...

… *Raises an eyebrow at the newcomers*

: *Sees hisr eyebrow, and raises him a knowing wink.* Wait and see.

: *nervous*

Candy: Oooh, new people! *to the last one* Can I have your eyepatch, Mister? =D

…

Torkie: Oh, stop being so territorial, Eoleo. :B

Shadow: What's going on here, anyway?

Argent: I'm not entirely sure, but Miss Azalea said it was important..

Shadow: *shrugs*

Azzie: *appears to be trying to sit still*

Vapor: *curled under Azzie's seat* I do hope someone thought to provide socks...

: *sitting next to Argent* Nothing good, I'm willing to bet. Not when they're asking this many people to offer support.

Argent: Mm, I suppose not....

Azzie: *trying to sit still*

Shadow: ....Azzie, you might want to calm down-

Azzie: I'M CALM 8D;

Vapor: Oh my, oh my, if only we had a calming pie! D:

: I only hope I'm wrong. Trouble around here only comes in two sizes, and I'm guessing they wouldn't drag us here for the kiddy one.

*looks around* (There sure are a lot of people here...)

Colleen: *walks in carrying a package of gummi worms*

Jeran: Why are we here?

Colleen: So I can start using you again now that I'm done with school, duh.

Danner: And why are you eating those things?

Colleen: Because they're awesome and I haven't had them for two and a half years while I had my braces on.

Jeran: And why haven't you sprited us yet?

Colleen: Because school. And now because job search, a nagging older brother, and trying to catch up on everything I got behind on because school as well as keeping up with new things.

*Double take* ?!

Torkie: Relax, you guys.

But—

Torkie: I said relax.

Colleen: *turns to the Weyard Warriors* Indeed, we come in peace and bearing sugar~!

Jeran/Danner: *facepalm*

Candy: Gummi worms! <3 *holds out her hands* Can I have one?

Sabrina: You don't need the sugar.

Candy: YES I DO CAN I HAVE ONE <3

Colleen: *passes Candy a gummi worm* ^_^

Candy: *grabs it and sticks part of it in my mouth, leaving the other part dangling out* Heee, I have a gummi worm. <3

Sabrina: Oh, gosh. Get ready for hyper, guys. >__>

: *looking around to see if anyone else will walk in before he starts*

*runs in late, wearing jacket with only one arm in and with hair messed up* I'M NOT LATE

Sit down.

*completely puts on jacket, fixing hair*

Don't worry Sabrina, Portsman has a gun

Sabrina: oh good

what are you doing talking in strikeouts DREW I HAVE A GUMMI WORM~

Sabrina: (This is gonna be a loooong day.)

...

Hmm~ *combing hair, looking at a handheld mirror*

Miles: *wanders into the other side of the clearing* Oh, my! Such a motley collection of fair and frazzled! Ladies and gentlemen, have I stumbled upon that glorious affair of a campfire heart-to-heart? Where are those fluffy little heavenshards the lesser man calls marshmallows? *glances around hopefully*

*Writes a bag of marshmallows into existence and hands them to Miles*

Miles: Ah, the lovely realitywarper strikes again at my heart. Thank you for the thought, my dear. *grins and opens bag, popping one into his mouth*

Candy: *darts over, the gummi worm still danging from my mouth* Can I have a marshmallow to go with my gummi worm? C:

Colleen: *does same* Me too, please!

Jeran: Don't you already have enough sugar?

Colleen: Nope! *ilikemybikeplz*

Candy: Yay, gummiwormmarshmallows!

Torkie: Sure, just take one from Miles. :U

Candy: I'm asking semi-politely though. :C

Miles: Why, if such elegant ladies ask after me, how can I refuse? *bows deeply and passes the bag around* Only the best of refreshments for our gathering, and let no one skimp, hm?

Candy: Thank you! <3 *takes a marshmallow and sticks it in her mouth with the gummi worm* <3 *turns to Drew* You don't look amused but now I have a marshmallow too. <3 *runs over and messes with Portsman's hair*

: .oO(What's all this about now? A gathering? Ooooh, maybe they would like some cookies!) *shuffles in, trying to avoid too much attention*

8UUU

Dragon: …?

: *stuffs a fitting cookie into that mouth*

Candy: HI LEO *glomp*

: Hi Candy! So what is all the commotion about? I was out gathering herbs, and I heard a dragon, among other th...

: *looks around at everyone* .oO(I'm surprised so many people showed up...) *gets up and stands on a log* May I have everyone's attention please?[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

: *looks around at everyone* .oO(I'm surprised so many people showed up...) *gets up and stands on a log* May I have everyone's attention please?

*looks*

*quietly look over*

*Turn their attention to Fantasy*

*Likewise*

Dragon: … *Glances at the other creatures present for a moment before focusing attention*

PFA: _{Shh! It's starting.} *turns to Fantasy*

_{I'm pretty sure this isn't a movie, PFA.} *also turns to Fantasy*

*also*

Azzie: Mhm. =D *looks over*

Argent and Shadow: ? *look*

: *listens to Hunter*

: *quiets as Fantasy speaks up*

: *STARE*

Candy: *looks over, still quietly gleeing over the sugar*

Sabrina: *looks at Fantasy*

Colleen: *also looks up from marshmallows and gummi worms*

Jeran/Danner: *look up attentively*

Patton, Orwell, Rommel: *attention get!*

Jakie: I'M LATE *sneaks in all ninja like and by ninja like I mean screaming and flailing and jumping on a log*

: *walks in calmly and sits down like a normal person*

: Thank you all for coming here today. For those of you who know me, you likely know the reason. For those of you who do not... ...My name is Fantasy of Nightmare. One of four here who bear that title, along with Memory, Vision, and Premonition. The other three Nightmare seek to essentially destroy the Forum, or at least the heart and soul thereof. I am a traitor to them. We all have similar abilities, however. Memory can take the form of any past, abandoned character, such as those from dreams. Vision can take the form of any current character. Premonition can take the form of any planned character. As for myself... I take the form of the hopes and dreams of characters. Before I explain what is to happen now, I must explain what has already happened, for those who do not know the situation completely.

Candy: *blinks at Fantasy, remembering stuff about the other 3*

Sabrina: *wasn't here for that stuff, I believe* _{huh... nightmare?}

Candy: _shhhhh

*nods* ...

*crosses arms*

*listens* (I've always wondered what happened with those Nightmare people...)

*listens thoughtfully* ...

*fidgets a little, but listens*

Traitor to a group of baddies, huh? *Glances at Apollo with a smirk*

*no comment*

Candy: *glares at Eoleo and starts to stand up*

Sabrina: *grabs her arm*

*Casts Douse on him* Shut up, Eoleo. This is important.

*Scowls*

… (How does one destroy the soul of a place?)

Argent: .__. *meepface, not having heard about this*

Shadow: ....>:/ *not pleased*

: Oh my... *drops basket with cookies and herbs*

: .oO(They'll have to get past me to destroy this place)

: *pauses, then continues* The first attempt at takeover was in disguise. Memory of Nightmare masqueraded as simply Nightmare, and Vision of Nightmare as Canon!Doc. Vision was thrown into a dungeon in the Realm of Abandoned Characters soon into this attempt. This plan culminated in Memory's "death" in July of last year, after which he manipulated Uther Payne to try and take down Hunter Frost, to avenge his "murder". That plan ultimately failed, however, and nobody involved, except fittingly Memory himself, could remember the events afterward due to Brain Bleach.

Sabrina: *nods*

_{Pfft. Brain bleach.}

PFA: *nudges* :I

<sub>Brain bleach, huh...?

Don't pretend you haven't had enough of that to know what it is. <_<</sub>

*listening still*

… I seem to remember reading about some of these events.

…Realm of Abandoned Characters…? (Must be a pretty dismal place.)

Shadow: ....

Argent: ....*thinking*

Azzie: Nightmare jerks. >.<

Miles: *tsk, tsk* Such unruly behavior. How cruel, to put such a place as this in jeopardy! It should be able to waltz into jeopardy on its own two wobbly feet, it needs no help! *takes another marshmallow*

: (B-Brain Bleach??) *terrified*


: (How the %$& do I write thought ballons again?)

Candy: (Woah, TB looks angry.)

: Later, in August, Vision of Nightmare was freed by some of Doctor Lupe's cloned "children". Immediately after that, Vision revived Memory, and met up with Premonition. Premonition took the guise of Doctor Lupe, and killed Cinnabar Glitchio. Once again, the Nightmares relied on Uther Payne, this time to prosecute and execute Doctor Lupe. Hunter Frost, however, found the truth in defending him, and Glitchio was revived.

: ...

: ...

...

Sabrina: *nods again at Fantasy, looking interested*

*Glares at the mention of murder*

... *Adjusts sash* (I don't think I like the direction this conversation is headed, given so many of us were alerted.)

Azzie: *listens sadly*

Jakie: Who do those punks think they are? >:[

: *listening silently*

: ...During this time, I was being held captive in a world known as the Story's Graveyard. However, in September, I was able to escape. ... This was only because the Nightmares were distracted capturing Hunter Frost, Doctor Lupe, and Cinnabar Glitchio. I recruited the characters Aja Killian, Seussbot, Churchillbot, Keeby, and K00fing to help us, but in retaliation, the Nightmares summoned Saint Dane, Marx, and Autospammer, along with ordering the construction of Himmlerbot.

: .oO(Curséd Nightmares...)

Hmmm...

Sabrina: *looking more and more interested, but also sort of confused and mad*

: *grits teeth* (Oh, yeah. This conversation looks to be heading in the direction of free bread and candy. The Nightmares...)


Miles: Rambunctious bunch, then? Boisterous? I do hope they aren't targeting the poor marshmallows! *clings to the bag in sudden fear*

Candy: *holds out her hands toward Miles* _{Can I have another marshmallow please?}

Miles: *yelps and, frightened, jumps into the air* Oh! ... Oh, of course, my lovely Miss. *passes the bag to you* Oh, this does look terrible, yes. Won't somebody think of the marshmallows?

Candy: Thank you, Miles. ^_^

*listening* ...

(I have a bad feeling about where this is going.)

*thinking* ...

I remember when this happened. It was quite the adventure to chronicle and file in databases.

_{But wasn't it ~fun~}

[/sub]

_{Be quiet or I will set you on fire, Drew.} <_<

Candy: _{Set him on fire and I will set you on fire.}

Argent! !! This place is in more danger than I had known..

Shadow: I never knew....

: The rescue party divided into three groups, going to the different Nightmare worlds. Memory held his base at Nightmare Manor, Vision took control of the same castle in which he was imprisoned in the Realm of Abandoned Characters, and the Story's Graveyard was Premonition's world. I went back to the Story's Graveyard. Though the other two groups were able to free Cinnabar Glitchio and Doctor Lupe easily, when we came across Hunter Frost... he had changed. He was possessed by the darkness, and in the form of Vampire!Hunter. The rest of the group remained to free Hunter, but I pursued Premonition, forcing him to enter my world, Fantasy's Domain. I managed to hold off Premonition, and Hunter was split from his vampiric form with the help of Uther Payne, the vampire half still aligned with the Nightmares.

Sabrina: *silently pays attention to Fantasy*

Candy: *makes a face as she remembers the vampire!Hunter*

_{Possessed by darkness...?}

*glances at Apollo* Sounds like pretty nasty stuff, doesn't it?

...

H-hold on a minute! HOLD IT! Writers can turn evil?! Are you serious?!

*Rather terrified at the thought*

... *Clinghugs PFA*

*patpat*

Candy: Eoleo, of course we can turn evil. We're not perfect darlings who only think about good, pure things.

: Yes, they can. .oO(For example, you're written by the Ambassador.)

(Very funny. You just never see her because she tends to lurk when she writes.)

... *Memories of Falling into Darkness* ...Yeah, I guess you're right.

They're very powerful... There's quite a few of the 'evil Writers'. *presents 's profile*

*Reads* ... _{Ooooooh geez.}

*Glances over his shoulder to read also* _{...That is more than a little disturbing.}

Shadow: What?

Argent: Ssh.

Azzie: *sadfaces at the memories*

Jakie: So awful... those nightmare guys are horrible. :C

: (Doesn't that sound a bit strange coming from you...?)

Jace: *comes in with Jamy*

Jamy: I told you we should have stopped and asked for directions :c

Jace: Eh, I'll just read minds to get caught up.

: *waits for the commotion to die down* ... That brings us to the present. I could not speak of their plan before, for I would be completely annihilated if I spoke a word of it, and I did not believe that it would be of any help to know the plan but have me be destroyed. There is no longer any way I can avoid it. My former master is preparing an army to lay waste to this world. I know this, because I was attacked in my own world last night... He has already conquered Fantasy's Domain. We must enter his world and strike before he can attack here. Four keys are in the different Nightmare worlds, and those combined will open the way to his world. If my predictions are correct, Memory and Autospammer will be in Nightmare Manor, Vision and Saint Dane will be in the Realm of Abandoned Characters, Premonition and Himmler will be in the Story's Graveyard, leaving Vampire!Hunter and Marx to Fantasy's Domain.

*Listens attentively* …So that is why we were called.

Save the world? Can do.

*Crosses arms, face turning serious* … (They mean to destroy it…? For what purpose, I wonder. One can hardly have use for a destroyed world, so I doubt it's to conquer, per se…)

… … …

<sub>An army?!

This is bad! We have to do something!</sub>

It is a good thing you got your staff, Master Light. I get the distinct impression it will be needed.

_{We won't be fighting an army, I hope...?}

*places a hand to the sword at his belt* We can't let them do this.

(Yeah, it would be kind of hard to work with a destroyed NTWF, after all.)

To save our world, we will do what we must. We will fight who we must, no matter the number!

*meepface*

*has a determined scowl on his face*

Candy: *eyes widen* So we have to get the keys?

Sabrina: oh...kay

Azzie: ....;__;

Argent: Oh dear!

Shadow: *seems conflicted but upset*

Woah! We have to stop them!

*frowns* ...

...

Vapor: Oh, dear. *runs around in a quick circle* Oh, my, oh dear. Bad, bad, bad, very bad, sock-gone bad!

: An army. *grips the sword at her belt* No wonder. *swears under her breath*

Sounds like people could get hurt... they will need a good healer *looks at hands* .oO(As long as I don't get agressive, it'll be alright). I can do this... I hope.

: There is one more thing. My former master has increased the power of the Nightmares, somewhat beyond our control. Dark magic "windows" of sorts will dot the landscape. Dark Memory windows will show that which has already happened. Evil Vision windows will show that which is happening right now. Terrifying Premonition windows will show the future, unchangeable. Twisted Fantasy windows will show the hopes of those we oppose, the horrifying results of what will happen if we do not defeat them. Along with this, time is being distorted. When you are in the Nightmare worlds, no time will pass in the NTWF. It is also very likely that you will not remember things for some time after the event.

Jace: _{Nightmares.... Scrac has a sick sense of humor, sending the two of us.}

Jamy: *shivers*

… … … *Aura drops, unnerved* (The hopes… of those who oppose us…?)

_{Pretty sure he means the Nightmares, Piers…}

*Thinks on this* … Increased power, huh…. (I wonder if they've lost control, too…)

It's okay, I usually don't remember things anyway *drops a bottle of brain bleach, empty*

*jabs Portsman with a pen*

Candy: .____. Increased... their powers? *buries her face in PFA's shoulder, muttering 'Mommy...!'*

Sabrina: *tilts her head at the muttering*

Candy: _{Hey, I think 'Bloidal families still apply at the NTWF. >_> So PFA is my mom. ...And so is Leo.}

*cuddles*

Candy: *hugs*

Azzie: *MEEPFACE*

Argent: Wonderful.

Shadow: What....

Miles: Oh, dear, such a dreary subject... We really must lighten up! Come now, I'll come along with you, if it means getting those dragging, diddling daydreams in a happier frame- preferably a frame of bars, of course, they can't go dilly-dallying about and causing chaos.

: Bad odds. Difficult terrain. Disadvantages stacked on top of disadvantages. *rubs eyes* Heh. Should be fun.

Jakie: *eyes narrow* If there's one thing I can't stand, it's guys like that who think they can just go around destroying entire worlds on a whim. I wanna punch this guy in the face. >:[

: I can't accept that. ...N-not that I care about the people here or anything, it's just that I was technically born here, so...

Jakie: How cute~

Nataliana VIII: *waltzes in*

*Emmeline and Terra have been listening the whole time*

Can we stop hiding now?

Terra: ...Sure, okay. *waltzes in* Sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? Anyway, we're here to help.

*sigh* If we have to...

Candy: *nods confidently* _{I just hope we have good healers.}

: Now, it is time to go. If you wish to go to Nightmare Manor, go to the flume. If you wish to go to the Realm of Abandoned Characters, go to the clearing outside of Tabloid Town. If you wish to go to the Story's Graveyard, go to Frost & Co. Law Offices. If you want to go to Fantasy's Domain, remain here.

: For those who came in late, take a transcript of the speech! *holds up scrolls*

: Take this seriously! *walks out of this clearing*

Candy: *runs out of the clearing, clutching Sabrina's wrist, following Doc*

*Discussion breaks out among Torkie's charries*

Been a long time since I got to kick any butt. *heads off*

*nods, following*

(Ooookay, Apollo. You can do this.) *follows*

*raises hand and nods* I have minor healing skills. I'll help with what I can. *follows the crowd*

: *stands up* Get the keys, defeat the army, stop the bad guy, save the world. Simple enough. All right, Blue Rogues, move out!

: There's just us here, Vyse, you don't have to keep calling us Blue Rogues. We know who you're talking to.

: All right, come on you lot. Let's go.

*gets up and walks out*

Alright! It's brain bleach time!

... *sighs*

Shadow: ....I don't want the forum to get hurt.

Azzie: *hugs him* It won't.

Argent: *processing all of this even as he prepares to go*

: Hey. *puts hand on Argent's shoulder* Come on, we'll need you. Being able to teleport will be invaluable. So relax, Wallings. They'll want us to watch your back, you're precious goods. *grin*

*a half-empty bag of marshmallows sits, lonely, in the center of the clearing*

Argent: >_> I would rather not, unless absolutely necessary. But at any rate, something will have to be done. *sighs and heads off*

Shadow: *follows him, looking utterly determined*

Azzie: *trots off*

Jakie: AYE AYE CAPTAIN *salutes, and then grabs Nena's hand and frolics out of the clearing*

: !! (This might be... a little problematic...)

Patton: Alright! If you need me, I'll be at the Law Office. *strides out*

Orwell, Rommel: *also walk out*

Terra: Hmm...I don't know what I want to do. They all sound exciting.

How about whatever's the least painful?

Terra: But what fun is that?

You know, I used to think like you. But that was before I got involved in life-threatening situations.

Terra: *sigh* How about we just go wherever we're needed?

...I didn't want to do this in the first place, you know.

Terra: Oh, come on. You can't tell me that! If you really didn't want to come, you wouldn't have come.

I can still leave, you know.

Terra: ...*decides to shut up*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

*People show up.*
: Thank you all for coming here today. For those of you who know me, you likely know the reason. For those of you who do not... ...My name is Fantasy of Nightmare. One of four here who bear that title, along with Memory, Vision, and Premonition. The other three Nightmare seek to essentially destroy the Forum, or at least the heart and soul thereof. I am a traitor to them. We all have similar abilities, however. Memory can take the form of any past, abandoned character, such as those from dreams. Vision can take the form of any current character. Premonition can take the form of any planned character. As for myself... I take the form of the hopes and dreams of characters. Before I explain what is to happen now, I must explain what has already happened, for those who do not know the situation completely.

: The first attempt at takeover was in disguise. Memory of Nightmare masqueraded as simply Nightmare, and Vision of Nightmare as Canon!Doc. Vision was thrown into a dungeon in the Realm of Abandoned Characters soon into this attempt. This plan culminated in Memory's "death" in July of last year, after which he manipulated Uther Payne to try and take down Hunter Frost, to avenge his "murder". That plan ultimately failed, however, and nobody involved, except fittingly Memory himself, could remember the events afterward due to Brain Bleach.

: Later, in August, Vision of Nightmare was freed by some of Doctor Lupe's cloned children. Immediately after that, Vision revived Memory, and met up with Premonition. Premonition took the guise of Doctor Lupe, and killed Cinnabar Glitchio. Once again, the Nightmares relied on Uther Payne, this time to prosecute and execute Doctor Lupe. Hunter Frost, however, found the truth in defending him.

: ...During this time, I was being held captive in a world known as the Story's Graveyard. However, in September, I was able to escape. ... This was only because the Nightmares were distracted capturing Hunter Frost, Doctor Lupe, and Cinnabar Glitchio. I recruited the characters Aja Killian, Seussbot, Churchillbot, Keeby, and K00fing to help us, but in retaliation, the Nightmares summoned Saint Dane, Marx, and Autospammer, along with ordering the construction of Himmlerbot.

: The rescue party divided into three groups, going to the different Nightmare worlds. Memory held his base at Nightmare Manor, Vision took control of the same castle in which he was imprisoned in the Realm of Abandoned Characters, and the Story's Graveyard was Premonition's world. I went back to the Story's Graveyard. Though the other two groups were able to free Cinnabar Glitchio and Doctor Lupe easily, when we came across Hunter Frost... he had changed. He was possessed by the darkness, and in the form of Vampire!Hunter. The rest of the group remained to free Hunter, but I pursued Premonition, forcing him to enter my world, Fantasy's Domain. I managed to hold off Premonition, and Hunter was split from his vampiric form, the latter still aligned with the Nightmares.

: ... That brings us to the present. I could not speak of their plan before, for I would be completely annihilated if I spoke a word of it, and I did not believe that it would be of any help to know the plan but have me be destroyed. There is no longer any way I can avoid it. My former master is preparing an army to lay waste to this world. I know this, because I was attacked in my own world last night... He has already conquered Fantasy's Domain. We must enter his world and strike before he can attack here. Four keys are in the different Nightmare worlds, and those combined will open the way to his world. If my predictions are correct, Memory and Autospammer will be in Nightmare Manor, Vision and Saint Dane will be in the Realm of Abandoned Characters, Premonition and Himmler will be in the Story's Graveyard, leaving Vampire!Hunter and Marx to Fantasy's Domain.

: There is one more thing. My former master has increased the power of the Nightmares, somewhat beyond our control. Dark magic "windows" of sorts will dot the landscape. Dark Memory windows will show that which has already happened. Evil Vision windows will show that which is happening right now. Terrifying Premonition windows will show the future, unchangeable. Twisted Fantasy windows will show the hopes of those we oppose, the horrifying results of what will happen if we do not defeat them. Along with this, time is being distorted. When you are in the Nightmare worlds, no time will pass in the NTWF. It is also very likely that you will not remember things for some time after the event.

: Now, go. If you wish to go to Nightmare Manor, go to the flume. If you wish to go to the Realm of Abandoned Characters, go to in the clearing outside of Tabloid Town. If you wish to go to the Story's Graveyard, go to Frost & Co. Law Offices. If you want to go to Fantasy's Domain, remain here.

*People leave.*

[Deleted]

Part II - Dark Memories

SPOILER: Click to show

{The Flume}
*Glitchio, Jidan, Gumsock, Fransockza, and Missiletoe are standing outside a cave on the edge of the Icy Taco.*

: .oO(If I never have to go to Nightmare Manor again after this, it will be too soon...)

*Enters the area on her dragon*

… Well, hopefully this won't be as long as Lighthouse climbing.

Peh. That's nothing compared to—

No, from what I heard, the Lighthouses were rather time-consuming.

Not as much as Air's Rock. But isn't this a bit off topic?

…How do we get where we're goin', anyway?

*Leoness enters, trailing after the dragon*

Leo: I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tad anxious about this =/

Hey, we can do it, miss. What's the worst that could happen?

Do you really want me to answer that question, Captain?

Aw, come on, Piers. Don't be so pessimistic.

: I probably shouldn't elaborate on that...

Nataliana VIII: *sambas in*

: _{you don't need to do that}
: _{also you look terrible dancing in that ball gown it's so inappropriate}

Nataliana VIII: Never you mind, dearheart.

: *sits down on a log, leaning back and looking sideways at the other folk* Something supposed to happen? I heard something about a dragon around here.

: It looks like everyone is here. Let's do introductions quickly so we can head out. I am Professor Cinnabar Glitchio. I suppose you could call me a glitch mage.

: I am Captain Tomago Jidan of the Chi Ops, a division of the Chia Police. Those three over there are Gumsock-

: *waves entire head*

: Fransockza-

: *bows*

: And Gumsock's... er... dog... Missiletoe.

:

Nataliana VIII: Hello everyone! You're all beautiful. My name is Grand Empress Lady Female Rainbow Colored Pencil Nata--

: *shoves* Get out of here. Now.

: ...so. Hello, dragon people. Name's Maddy. The quiet girl with a red afro is named Franny.

: i can speak for myself thank you

I am Princess Himi of Yamata in Weyard. *Places a hand on the dragon* …This is a dragon which I have summoned.

Captain Eoleo, one of the leaders of Champa in Weyard. *Crosses arms* World traveler.

You mean pirate. Captain Piers of Lemuria in Weyard. International diplomat on Weyard. We helped light the Lighthouses.

*Sighs* Felix of Vale in Weyard. I led the group that traveled to light the Lighthouses.

You can call me Ambassador. Or Torkie. I answer to either. I write stuff.

: Introduction, eh? Well, I am Rilah Falco, aka. Leoness (my codename). You may call me either. I specialize in minor healing among a few other things. *nods to signalize that she intended to keep it short*

Well, let's get go-

*a dark window appears*

: Fantasy mentioned these...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Meeting Room, Nightmare Manor}

*Premonition is standing in the middle of the room, holding a scroll. Vision, Memory, and Vampire!Hunter are seated around him.*

: The orders from our master have arrived.

: Oh?

: Defend the four keys, with our lives.

: Sounds fun.

: We will, of course, have assistance...

: *march into the room*

: Vampire. Take these legions and conquer Fantasy's Domain.

: Can do. *opens dark corridor and exits through it, followed by the mysterious fighters*

SPOILER: Click to show

: ... Well I'm not sure what those things were, but we need to get going.

: :C

: *takes off one of his gauntlets to reveal a green glowing hand that almost looks 2D* *shoots a green burst of light into the cave, creating a portal* Let's go. *enters it, followed by my other characters*

*follows, pressing hand against wall* What is Fantasy's Domain? It sounds like a video game.

*looks around, observing the others*

Leo: *eyes the portal as if to gague the size of what laid beyond* Okay, here goes nothing. I hope I will live to not regret this. *enters with curiosity and confidence*

*Looks around* …Where did the Ambassador go?

Pfft. She appears and disappears as she pleases. Let's go. *Follows the others in*

*Likewise*

… *Shrugs and guides the dragon into the portal*

*A few moments later*

WAAAAIT FOR MEEEEEEEEEE *Runs in after the others*

{Basement, Nightmare Manor}
*They arrive in a fairly normal looking basement, albeit with a small cavern similar to the cave they left from carved into the wall. There is a staircase leading up to the rest of the house.*

: This is Nightmare Manor...?

: Looks can be deceiving, especially with the Nightmares. Wait until you see the White Hall. Anyway, let's go. *starts heading up the stairs*

: *looking around angrily as she follows Glitchio*

*Glances at the other Weyard Warriors and nods*

*Eight Venus Djinn, four Mars Djinn, and four Mercury Djinn appear around them as they glow with various auras*

*Puts a hand to his sword* …I've heard bad things about exploring places of residence.

Agreed. Let's do what we came here for and get outta here.

*Looks around* … *Uses Search to look for any hidden traps as they walk along*

Leo: *takes a deep breath* .oO(Focus... don't let your emotions take control. You can do this) *follows the others up the stairs with clenched fists and an intense expression*

{"Living" Room, Nightmare Manor}

*another dark window is waiting when they arrive*

SPOILER: Click to show

{Nightmare Manor, "living" room
October 31, 2010}

*The members of the Ring of Darkness, the Nightmares, and Dr. Lylin are standing around the room.*

Well, it appears nobody will interfere with our three targets...

Well… We do not intend to do so, but they may run into trouble on their own. There are wolves out there, after all.

As long as they're out of the way... I don't think he really cares too much how it happens.

SPOILER: Click to show

: They had a meeting here!?

: D8 *scared, tries to hide behind Jidan*

: >C *whips Gumsock*

: ... Let's just keep going.

W-wait a minute…! That—

Drop it, Eoleo. You can talk to Kristoph about it later. And if you give him another burn, I will turn you into a rubber duck in front of your crew. *Follows along*

Grrrr… *Hands flame up as he follows after her*

…Kristoph mentioned this to his brother at one point… I wonder why he never brought this part up. *Follows with Felix and Himi*

Leo: *runs a hand over the wall as she follows the others* I sense a lot of hatred in these walls, and... *hand pauses and clenches as if subjected to static* ... magic. Deep magic. *follows the group*

{Meeting Room, Nightmare Manor}
*The warm red of the rest of Nightmare Manor shows a sterile white hallway connected to this room as a complete contrast. There is a fireplace burning with a dark fire in the corner of the room.*

: There's the white hall. Memory is likely there.

*Walls of ordinary-looking white envelopes spring up around the walls of the room, blocking off the exits.*

: What!?

"Oh, Glitchio, so good to see you again. Oh, you brought a chia cop too? Funny."

: Who's there!?

*Fire flames up around his hand as he prepares a fireball*

_{Stay your hand, idiot! We don't want you burning down the whole house!}

Nnng…! *Looks around the area at the envelopes* _{I hate being trapped like this…!}

: *watches Cpt. Eoleo's hand engulfed in a single flame* .oO(Looks like I'm not the only one... I can only hope I won't ever need to use mine...)

*Frowns* … "Again"? What do you say we play this game straight and proceed without dancing around the issue, hmm? It would save us both quite a bit of time.

: *walks through as the envelopes open, then close again behind her* Glad you see this as a game too... Ambassador, was it?

: You caused a lot of trouble for my boys back in Neopia!

: Did I? Well, when the Nightmares take over, hopefully I can cause as much trouble here. Allow me to introduce myself... or as close to it as I'd like, since here I've generally just gone by Autospammer.

Leo: *looks up at Autospammer with sceptisism*

*Presses fingertips together, clothes turning into robes for a Citadel Ambassador* A game? Your words, not mine.

*Takes a step back* (Never a good sign when she gets that expression…!)

One thing you missed, though… *Forms starts to shift*

*Within moments she's a Darigan Aisha*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Hisses, baring fangs* We don't like people messing with our town.

: *summons more envelopes, and spins them around* By the way, I wouldn't recommend getting hit by these... it's a bit worse than a normal paper cut, you see. *throws two at the Ambassador*

: *Glitchio takes off his helmet and fires green blasts at Autospammer*

: *hit, sent flying to the side*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Blasts at the envelopes with a beam of 0s and 1s*

*The envelopes turn into… a pile of rubber ducks*

Aisha!Ambassador: :3333 *Points at Autospammer* Now, my rubber minions… ATTACK! >D *Laughs*

*The ducks bounce over toward Autospammer, squeaking and quacking*

: What. *looks at the ducks* What. *looks at the Ambassador* What.

: Gah! *distracted by the ducks*

: *fires at Autospammer with his Chia Ray Gun*

: *blasted, rolls against the wall of envelopes* *stands up slowly*

: *watches the scenario with a mix of awe and the supression of a gigglefit* What is this I don't even... *lips curl up into a confident smile*

*The rubber ducks continue bouncing after Autospammer*

… (This is ridiculous. What can they possibly do?)

Aisha!Ambassador: (Oh ye of little faith. Don't forget they took down a robowolf all by themselves once. There's more to them than meets the eye.)

: ... I don't think I want to know what those things are going to do. *jumps out through the envelopes, that close behind her*

*The envelopes start swirling around the group, being sucked through a portal on the ceiling like an upside-down tornado*

: *puts helmet back on* ...That was odd for a few thousand reasons.

…You could say that again.

*a dark window appears*

SPOILER: Click to show

{Castle Gates, ? ? ?}

*Autospammer, Saint Dane, and Marx appear in a cloud of darkness in front of looming castle gates.*

: Hmm... We have all been defeated, haven't we.

: *glances at Autospammer nervously*

: *scared silence* .oO(This is insane, I shouldn't be here... How did I get myself into this!?)

*the gates creak open*

SPOILER: Click to show

*Blinks at the window* …Uh…

*Glances up at the portal in the ceiling* …Which way next?

*The portal closes.*

: *points to the white hallway* Memory has to be in there. *starts walking, followed by my other characters*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Follows after, followed by the fleet of rubber ducks which float silently in the air*

… (That's just… disturbing.) *Follows after with caution along with the other Weyard Warriors*

{White Hall, Nightmare Manor}
*The walls are covered in doors that, while the holes are normal size, the doors themselves do not completely cover them. Glitchio opens the door to the room at the end of the hall and enters, seeing a set of stairs going up.*

: This wasn't here before...

Coming to get the key, Glitchy? Well, up the stairs with you!

: ... I really hate Memory. *walks up the stairs carefully*

…A hall full of doors… *Glances at the Ambassador before following*

*Glows with Mercury aura before following cautiously*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Turns into a rubber duck and mixes in with her fleet, which floats silently up the stairs*

… That will never cease being weird. *Follows*

*Narrows her eyes and grips her staff tightly as she directs the dragon up the stairs*

: *tries to touch one of the ducks, as if doubting their presense, whilst following the group up the stairs*

*The rubber ducks are indeed real, and a few of them float curiously around Leo*

Ducks: :U

: *chuckles* Well I'll be darned... cute and scary. *makes a mental note to check her own bath-duckie next time she takes a bath* *pets a random duck as she descent the stairs quicker, making her pass through the swarm of ducks who scatter around her like a swarm of insects, regrouping behind her*

{Nightmare's Room, Nightmare Manor}
*They reach an opulent bedroom with Memory, a short man in a black coat over an orange shirt, standing in the middle, waving a silver key.*

: Hey Glitchy, lost your keys?

: *aims gun*

: Now, it's not nice to break into somebody house, especially to steal something. But, the boss not to back down, it's a fight to the death. So, we need a fighting arena slightly more... _FITTING! *snaps fingers and the group is teleported to a leafy plateau surrounded by thick, thorny vines*

: *vanishes in a cloud of darkness, and a lion takes his place* *lunges at the group*

: *evades the lion by doing a roll to the side* Wait what? This is wrong on so many levels...

: *reforms* Sorry, Leo. Maybe try... this! *transforms into a ghostly viking and draws a massive axe*

: ... *fires a blast of green light*

Viking!Memory: *dodges*

: A viking, eh? *puts on mithril glove and takes a defensive stance* Bring it on.

Dragon: *RAORS and leaps at Memory*

GAH! *Clutches on tightly so she isn't thrown off*

*Prepares a Psynergy cast*

*Likewise*

*Scowls* (Great. We're surrounded by flammable things.)

Viking!Memory: *dodges dragon and shifts back to normal* Maybe some magic? *fires a flurry of dark and ice magic at the group*

*Hit by the ice and staggers back before regaining balance*

*Takes a hit with the dark magic* Gah! *Uses Wild Growth on Memory*

*Puts on his mask and does likewise*

: *grabbed by the thick vines surrounding the battlefield* _{YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LISTEN TO ME} *struggles to get free*

: *charges an attack*

: *aims*

: ...Weeell... doesn't this feel familiar.

Leo: *eyes Eoleo* .oO(I hope he won't mind me doing... this) *a blue flame flickes around the glove, turning it white from the heat*
*extingiushes the flame, leaving the glove glowing with heat* *jumps for Viking!Memory with raised glove*

Rubber Duck!Ambassador: *Squeaks!*

*The rubber ducks dive at Memory, exploding and splattering gum on impact*

*Casts Dragon Fume*

*Casts Deluge*

*Casts Odyssey*

*Casts Reigning Dragon, causing the dragon to charge and let out a roar that blasts Memory with Venus Psynergy*

: *hit with attacks from all directions* AAARGH!

*Memory's hold on the illusion breaks, and they're teleported back to his room.*

: *drops the key and falls to the ground* _{THIS ISN'T...}

*a pillar of dark slate gray colored flames erupt from the floor and obscure Memory*

: _{AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!}

*the flames fade, with Memory nowhere to be seen*

*Takes a step back when Memory goes up in flames* …

… Let's get the key and leave. Fast.

Leo: *picks up the key and hands it to Jidan* Well I'll be...

: *takes the key* Thank you.

*a dark window appears*

: ... This is what Memory's fantasy was...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Forest}

*Memory is walking through a forest with one of the warriors.*

: This is great, this is going to be a lot better than my old manor.

: ...

: ...Talkative, aren't you? Oh well, doesn't matter. All that matters is that you'll help me move into my new house.

*Memory and the warrior step out of the forest on to the lawn of Mage Manor.*

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...

*an explosion rocks the building*

: The heck!?

: *runs to the window*

*Outside the window is a large zeppelin.*

: *piloting it*

Multiple : *aiming cannons and firing*

: *tries to make a portal* ... We're going to need to get to the portal in the basement, and quickly! *runs!*

: Holy! Where the heck did they come from?! *runs for the basement*

!!! What in the name of the Abyss is that thing?!

sdsdgsdgf *Bolts for the basement*

*Runs after!*

Well this isn't good. *Grabs Duckie!Ambassador and makes a run for it*

{The Flume, outside the Icy Taco}

: *dashes out of the portal, followed by the others*

*there is one final dark window there*

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}

? ? ?: All of my Nightmares... have fallen. All my work to protect them, to protect all characters, gone to waste... I suppose, now, that there is only on thing to do about that...

SPOILER: Click to show

: *walks in* I spoke with Fantasy. There will be time to rest, and then there will be another meeting to discuss the next phase of this. If you wish, you don't need to be in the next phase, but if you can find replacements and explain the situation, it would be appreciated. *walks away*

*Sighs* I think I need to take a rest. *Wanders off*

We'll be back later.

Well, seems we did okay. Come on, Himi, let's hit the beaches at the HR. *Vanishes in a swirl of 0s and 1s*

*Sighs and does likewise*

*Shifts back to my normal form* Welp. Time to meander before the saga continues. *Wanders off as well* ~

: *brushes shoulders* Well, that was a relief... and definitely a story to tell some day. But right now... I need a cookie to calm my nerves. Anyone want one, feel free to help yourselves. *places sachet of cookies on the ground and grabs one for herself*

: At least no one got hurt... *pets the duckie ambassador*

[Deleted]

Part III - Evil Visions

SPOILER: Click to show

{Clearing Outside Tabloid Town}

: *leaning against a tree*

: *pressing buttons on her control bracelet*

*An old man in sailor's clothing, with a black patch over his eye and a giant mechanical left arm, enters the area*

: *Looks around* Hmph. So, this is the place. Well, let's get on with things. *Turns to Dr. Lupe* You in charge here, then?

: I guess you could say so. I'm Doctor Lupe. I was planning on having everyone introduce themselves when all had arrived.

: "Ah. Guess I'll wait for everyone else then." *leans against a tree and closes his eyes*
...zzzz...

: *walks into the clearing, pulling on a leather duster* This is not going be fun...

Jakie: *walking down the street alongside Nena* That's when I said 'You either like it, or you get a spoon shoved down your throat.' And just like that, he magically decided he liked it.

: Uh huh. *notices Dr. Lupe and Aja* This is it then, I suppose.

Jakie: HI JAMES REMEMBER US C:

*Azzie enters, followed by Shadow and Argent*

Azzie: oh goodness I'm nervous

Argent: *deep in thought*

Shadow: *appears quite scared* ._.

: Come on, featherface. *pats Shadow on the shoulder* You'll be fine. Did you arm yourself, at least?

:*nods hello at Doc* *notices Nena* ... (This... ought to be an interesting group...)

Shadow: Aw, don't worry about me. I can look after myself.

Argent: *nods* Hello, Miss Bluestone. You seem prepared.

: *opens duster with one hand and gestures with the other* Nemean lion skin. Found it in a little shop that had no idea what it had and jumped on it. I'm hoping it'll give me some sort of ground to stand on when we're going against Nightmares and who-knows-what. What about you? You can't go in here and offer them biscuits and tea, Wallings.

*walks in* (If this place isn't familiar...)

*also*

*also* Seems like a pretty good pack of people.

Terra: *enters the clearing* Hi, everyone! Ready for some doom-filled fun?

*also enters*

(I'm not sure I'd call it fun, but...)

*sees Apollo's expression* Don't mind her. She doesn't take anything seriously.

: * surveys the rest of the group* (A few mercs and a prosecutor, a neopet... don't recognize the man with the prosthetic, but he seems experienced. It could be worse.)

*looks around* So is this everyone?

: Well, almo-

*calling is heard from outside the clearing*

Sorry we're late, dad!

*four strange looking children run into the clearing*

: Docz!

: *jumps on his head* Nymph!

: *jumps on her head* Dryad.

: *jumps on her head, knocking the whole stack over* ... ExDoc.

: *facepalm* Alright, introductions, then. Most of you already know me, but... I am Doctor James Fenrir Lupe, M.D. These are my... ... well the easiest way to explain it is "children". If you've met any of Bettyming's science creations, though, it's more like that. ... With me. ... And a tree.

: I am Aja Killian of Veelox. In my world, I mainly serve as what you would call a programmer, but my main duty is to travel between the territories, or worlds, and stop the evil Saint Dane.

Terra: *looks at the Treekids as they enter* Aw, aren't they cute?

: Hey, Treekids. You guys going to help your daddy?

: (Oh good, looks like I drew babysitting duty again.)

*Steps forward* : "Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. Captain Drachma of the Little Jack, finest fisherman and fighter in the Seven Skies. We've been hired to help take care of this menace, and I assure you, this isn't the first time I've had to deal with such dire threats. Now, I'd like to know who I'm working with, if you all don't mind."

Introductions? Might as well. My name's Kindleflare, or Kindle for short. Most of you know me. For those of you who don't... you will.

(That's an... interesting way to put it.)

I'm Hasaki. I'm a Milletian from Erinn.

Oh, uh, I'm Apollo Justice. ...Attorney at law. _{...Also learned a bit of magic since I came here.}

: *sigh* Might as well go next. I'm Andrea Bluestone. Blues, if you need something shorter. I'm here because I've fought professionally for most of my life and so I'm pretty [dang] hard to kill by this point. *scratches head* And, I guess, I've got a few daggers on me if anyone wants a secondary weapon or didn't think to bring anything... (Why do I feel like I'm at a potluck?)

Actually, a backup weapon might be helpful. My whip's only helpful in so many situations...

It's okay, I've got weapons. *gestures to the sword and dagger at his belt*

... *clutches the staff Piers gave him*

: *unhooks a dagger from her belt and hands it to Kindleflare* If you don't have experience using one, though, I'd recommend not using it unless you're backed up into a corner. A weapon you don't know how to use belongs to your opponent and all that.

*takes it* Thanks. And don't worry, I can handle myself.

Argent: Ah, yes. Introductions. My name is Argentus Wallings, librarian. And this is-

Shadow: Shadow. I'm Shadow. I...

Argent: The time for secrets is not now, little one.

Shadow: *sighs* ....I was born in the war in Meridell some time ago. And I am half- Weewoo. And I can change between both appearances. *winces*

Azzie: I'm Azzie and hi guys!

Terra: Ah, right, introductions. I'm Terra, and I'm a pretty ordinary writer. I have a flamethrower.

I'm Emmeline. I hail from Terror Mountain, a region in the north of Neopia. I'm mostly here because Terra dragged me into this, but honestly, this sounds pretty bad, and I'm willing to help however I can. I can fight a bit, and I have a little experience with malicious creatures and spirits - though not as much as many of you, admittedly. I look forward to working with all of you, and I hope that we'll all come out of this safely.

Terra: ...*blinks* Wow. That's more than I'd have expected from you, Emmeline.

: *visibly startled by the treekids* (Is it really safe for them to be coming along...?) *coughs* My name is Shimaro Hiro, better known as Nena, and I am a mercenary. Although I am currently bound to this fluffy pink body, I assure you that I am quite human.

Jakie: I'm Jakie and if whether you know me or you don't you'll probably end up wishing you didn't at some point. :3

: Now, to explain some things in detail. Fantasy covered some of the basics about the Nightmares, but... Vision takes my form. He wears a black duster and stetson instead of my normal clothing. However, Vision is a pacifist, and-

*a dark window appears*

: -and I really am going to need a drink at the end of this.

*the characters look at the dark window*

SPOILER: Click to show

{Throne Room, Castle Samurai, The Realm of Abandoned Characters}

*Vision of Nightmare is sitting on his throne, reading a scroll.*

: A fight to the death...? Must it be...? It is for the greater good... But what good requires so much blood spilt...? "Thou shalt not kill"... Must be ignored.

SPOILER: Click to show

: ... Well, scratch my last statement, then.

Terra: ...*blinks* Huh? Why don't you need a drink?

*rolls her eyes at Terra* *sigh* Well, then. He's out to kill now. He sure sounds like the kind of guy you'd want to hang out with.

Jakie: That makes two of us out to kill, then.

: ... (I'm having trouble recalling why I agreed to do this.)

*tenses slightly when the dark window appears*

...Well then. This promises to be fun.

: Aha, peachy. Fighting a full-blown Nightmare. Fu-un. Come on, let's go stop the mongrel, he's not getting less dead when we're not stabbing him. Maybe he'll stay more dead than Memory did, this time.

Well said. *puts a paw on her sword*

Terra: ...Oh, he was talking about the pacifism. Never mind.

Glad you finally got it.

Argent: *sees the window* ....! Oh my....

Shadow: *gets a determined look*

Azzie: .... well, wasn't expecting that ._.

: "Well, it looks like he knows we're coming. Best we get moving soon; don't want to give him time to prepare. Er, how are we getting there, anyway?"

: Don't worry, we've got that handled. ExDoc! You know where we're going.

: *raises staff* Void! *a dark corridor (portal) opens*

: *draws sword* Let's go. *dashes into the portal, followed by the Treekids and Aja*

*draws sword and dagger, running into the portal*

Time for some good ol' fashioned butt-kicking. *follows through the portal*

*takes a deep breath before following*

: *flexes the fingers on his mechanical hand, which start glowing yellow* "About time we got to the action. Let's see what this nightmare's made of!" *charges into the portal*

: Fighting living nightmares, hooray. Let's hope we know what we're doing. *draws sword and follows suit*

Terra: Okay, let's go for it. ^_^; *draws flamethrower and dashes in*

._. ...*swallows* Okay. Let's do this. *draws sword and walks in*

Azzie: O-O; *sees portal* Well, I guess we have no choice. *takes a deep breath and goes in*

Argent: *glances in* Hmm. *heads in*

Shadow: ....*steps in*

Jakie: This is gonna be fun. *skips into the portal*

: *pulls out a pool stick and sighs, following*

{Forest, The Realm of Abandoned Characters}
*The dark corridor opens into a thick forest. Though the trees, it is possible to make out a massive castle looming in the distance.*

: According to that... Evil Vision window, Vision of Nightmare is currently in his throne room. He should have the key with him there. *starts making his way through the trees*

: *follow close behind*

: *writing something on a piece of paper*

*looks around as he, Hasaki and Kindle follow* (What is this place?)

: "Hmm, nice spot for an ambush...could be trouble ahead."

TB: better keep an eye out for traps, then!

: "...har har har. I was wondering when we'd get to the eyepatch cracks." *starts moving cautiously through the forest*

*scowls in an attempt to hide her discomfort* A dark forest and a giant castle. Typical.

Terra: Yeah, just like your average fantasy novel, isn't it?

: I assure you, this world is a lot more than it appears to be. *walks briskly though the forest, after Doctor Lupe*

Yeah...I figured, with a name like "Realm of Abandoned Characters". Sounds rather ominous, to say the least.

(Abandoned characters...)

Can't help but wonder if we'll run into any familiar faces in a place like this.

(Familiar...? That would be... mildly depressing.)

*looks at Kindle, startled by the suggestion* Familiar? ...Well, I suppose I wouldn't know anyone. I haven't been around here as long. How do people end up here, anyway?

*to Emmeline* Well, I've been around for a while, and I'm pretty sure there's a few faces I haven't seen in said while, so... can't discount the possibility.

: I've been here before, so I do know a few of the locals...

: Huh. We're not actually in the castle itself? ...*swears quietly* Of course. This place has security, doesn't it?

: Magical security probably made it so we couldn't teleport any closer.

: Of course not, he can't make it too easy. So what are we expecting here? Abandoned minions, time distortion, getting bible verses quoted at us?

Ooh, neat place. *follows Doc, touching trees on the way* Scared, Neners?

: Are you kidding? I've been in far scarier places than this. (Like your basement...)

*they walk out of the forest, to see that the castle is protected by a large moat, with the drawbridge up*

: *swears* This did not have a moat before.

*a dark window appears on the edge of the forest*

: What now!?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Icy Taco
June 1, 2010}

*Dr. Lupe, Vision of Nightmare (as Canon!Doc), Orwellbot, and Pattonbot are standing in the middle of the suburb.*

: How can you like the pacifist medic more than me!? You're a Blood Knight!

: Because he's not hilariously ineffective
Unlike somebody

: Face it, James Fenrir, you are obsolete! *dark corridor opens* STARE INTO THE FACE OF THE REALM OF ABANDONED CHARACTERS, AND BEGONE! *kicks into dark corridor*

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...Oh. ...Now how do we get the drawbridge down...?

"Allow me, Lupe."

*the drawbridge lowers slowly*

*watches the drawbridge lower* ...Well that was surprisingly easy.

*scowls* ...I don't like the looks of this, guys. What if it's a trap?

Terra: *looks up at the sound of the voice* What was that?!

Is that...the guy? The Vision guy? I agree with Hasaki. This has got to be a trap.

: "I have a feeling you're right...let's go carefully. I can take point, if needs be." *takes a step towards the bridge*

Azzie: *stops staring at the castle after establishing that it's sitting still* *hears the sounds from the window* *glances over* ...3:

Argent: *glances at it* *shakes head* I don't like this.

: *steps out of the castle as the drawbridge lowers* Sorry, the lord of the castle is still waiting for you in his throne room.

: Saint Dane!

: *draws sword* Ah, Miss Killian. I did so enjoy my visit to Veelox.

: Saint Dane is a demon trying to destroy all of the worlds. He's working with the Nightmares.

: He also happens to be standing in our way. *dashes at Saint Dane*

Argent: What in the world-

Shadow: .oO(What is that.)

Azzie: *glares* That BUTTFACE! *runs about, trying to put shields on the people attacking*

Terra: *gasps* *aims flamethrower and tries to find an open spot to flamethrow Saint Dane*

: *has locked swords with Saint Dane* *the fire from the flamethrower refracts around his coat*

: *fires a dark magic blast at Saint Dane*

! *draws sword* *dashes forward at Saint Dane, trying to stab him without hitting anyone else*

: "Saint Dane, huh? Doesn't seem too tough to me."

*A blue glow surrounds Drachma as he begins to focus his spirit*

: "Haaaah...HAH! SPIRIT CHARGE!"

*the party members feel a wave of invigorating energy roll over them*

: *mutters* Trap, trap, trap, trap, this feels like a- *eyes widen as Saint Dane enters* Oh, he cannot be that arrogant. *darts in closely after Doc, aiming to strike at Saint Dane's dominant arm*

: So eager to destroy your doppelganger, Lupe... *ducks, transforms into a raven, and takes the air*

Terra: (This guy... there's something familiar about him.)

: *hits the switch that makes a six inch blade pop out the top of the pool stick* Those guys must not have many henchmen, sending out a guy like this right from the start.

: Arrogance. Or keeping our attention from something else. *watches the raven Saint Dane take to the air* *glances down at sword* ...Out of my range. Though I wonder if that means that now the way into the castle is... *attempts to sneak past the fighting and over the drawbridge*

Emmeline: *tries to use Drain Life on Saint Dane*

: *has locked swords with Saint Dane* *the fire from the flamethrower refracts around his coat*

: So eager to destroy your doppelganger, Lupe... *ducks, transforms into a raven, and takes the air*

: *fires a dark magic blast at Saint Dane*

: *Staring at the raven* "Can't let him get away..."

*Drachma raises his mechanical arm, and the fist explodes out from the socket, heading towards St. Dane in raven form.*

: *misses* "Curses! *begins reeling in his fist for another shot*

Raven!SD: *hit with attacks and starts falling from the sky, a portal opening beneath him that he falls into*

: ...

*a dark window appears on the drawbridge*

: I really hope this means we're going in the right direction!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Castle Gates, ? ? ?}

*Autospammer, Saint Dane, and Marx appear in a cloud of darkness in front of looming castle gates.*

: Hmm... We have all been defeated, haven't we. .oO(I do wonder what happened to Heinrich... Merely another domino that has fallen, or perhaps the sole victor among us...?)

: *glances at Autospammer nervously*

: *scared silence*

*the gates creak open*

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

: A different castle...?

Really? That was it?

(Thankfully.)

*whatever Icebolts he didn't use fade away* ...No one was hurt, were they?

: "Hah! Now that's what I call a good omen! Seems Vyse and the others are handling themselves just fine. Well, now that Saint Nancy's out of the fight, let's get this nightmare!" *Charges ahead, confidently*

Shadow: A disgrace to birds everywhere. >.<

Argent: Quite vicious today. *surprised*

Azzie: ....Ohdear. ._. *keeps heading forward*

That seemed...waaaay too easy. Nobody even got mortally wounded. Something's up.

Terra: Well, either way, we can't turn back now. Let's go!

: Agreed. That was a retreat... Can I repeat 'this feels like a trap'? But, hey. There's no place to go but forward.

: *surveying the castle* "Hrumph. Can't say I care much for our odds going into this...still, no time like the present. Move it, ladies!"

: *clearly resents being called a lady* Let's get this over with.

... (...Doesn't look like anyone was hurt...)

*also a little insulted at the "ladies" remark, but decides to ignore it* ...I guess we'd better go, trap or no. (Ugh... hate walking into traps...)

Terra: IT'S A TRAP!

Terra...what are you doing?

Terra: :3

{Great Hall, Castle Samurai}

: *walks in, followed by the Treekids and Aja*

*there is a strong dark presence coming from the room at the top of a staircase in front of them*

: ... How much do you want to bet that he's in there?

Terra: *draws flamethrower*

*draws sword*

...With an aura like that, I would not be surprised.

Well then, what say we drop in and say hello?

Shadow: *senses aura* *shivers*

*is giggling uncontrollably*

: What's so funny?

Nothing, don't worry your pretty little head over it. :3

: ...? Well, whatever. If he's here, let's take him out. *readies pool stick*

: *shivers and closes duster more tightly around her* Yeah. I'm willing to bet that's him.

: *flexes his mechanical hand, but says nothing*

: *sneaks up close to the door*

Do you think I cannot hear you out there, James Fenrir?

: ...Well, I was kind of hoping. *kicks open the door for effect and runs in*

Oh, great. *runs in after him*

Terra: *follows Emmeline* Someone's gonna burn!

!!

Well, guess that's our cue. *follows Dr. Lupe*

*follows, weapons drawn*

*mentally braces himself for a moment* (Okay... it was a dark presence, so it's probably more dark magic. ...Ugh.)

Argent: *strides in purposefully*

Shadow: *runs in*

Azzie: *follows them*

: *follows after Doc, flourishing with her sword causally* It's time to wake up, Nightmare.

Terra: Ah, you're good with one-liners, I see. ^_^

: *whisper* _{People who say them always beat me! [Dang] heroic charisma! So I figured, hey, maybe it works both ways-}

Terra: *whispers back* _{I see. Good tactic. I should try to think of some, myself.}

: *flexes his mechanical hand, slowly moving towards the door*
*Electrical energy begins to gather around his closed fist*

: *runs in after Doc*

Jakie: *follows at a leisurely place*

{Throne Room, Castle Samurai}

*Vision of Nightmare is sitting on his throne, a powerful dark barrier in front of him.*

: I know you all wish to do me great harm, but let me speak a moment and I will drop the barrier willingly.

: Speak, doppelganger!

: As you are well aware, I prefer your form. However, your Pack has some interesting abilities as well. The focus and skill of Amidimaru. The darkness of Anzam. The risk taking nature of Rijkard. The drive of Block. The... the... ... Quite frankly I don't know why Nero is in your Pack. But... Perhaps I could become powerful... If I combined those abilities into one...? *Vision summons a bayonet-esc gun whose blade resembles a ghostly version of Doc's scalpel sword, crafted from obsidian, and the gun has the handle of a pistol but the rest of it resembles a futuristic laser.* With this and my magic, you will not be able to stop me!

*the barrier drops*

Azzie: ....*meep* *begins rushing around putting up shields*

Argent: Why in the world would you want to do that?

Shadow: *very angry* >( *darts around among the people, trying to get a bit closer*

Terra: *looks at Vision of Nightmare* ! *flamethrows at him*

*runs at him and slashes while trying to use Drain Life*

: "Hokey magic weapons are no match for good solid steel! Prepare to meet your maker, nightmare! *charges Vision, the energy in his mechanical arm now built up into a blinding ball of crackling force*

: *raises bayonet to block*

: *blocks with some difficulty*

: "Grah!" *the energy discharges harmlessly over Vision's head, and Drachma is forced backwards*

: "Don't just stand there, help me!"

! *starts charging Icebolt again*

*pulls out whip* You know, it's a funny thing, me fighting against you. I mean, if anything, one would think I'm more inclined to be on your side. But... *pulls whip taut* ...Destroying the place is going a little far, you know?

*stands in the back, in a defensive stance, observing for now* ...

: Is that what Fantasy told you? He doesn't know what he speaks of. *shakes head*

Oh really? Then what is your goal?

Don't just stand there! *fires Icebolt at Vision*

*watches Vision use fire magic, making note of this* (It's like he's tapping into the powers of others at will...)

: That is for me to know. *tries to block Icebolt with a wall of fire*

: Come now, "Light". I'm very curious to see your powers in action.

...And me not to find out? Well that's too bad, then.

: *mutters* All talk... hopefully. You can't adopt that many facets without having them conflict somehow. *flips up collar to shield neck and face* *darts in and attempts to strike to disarm Vision while he's blocking Drachma's attack*

: *dashes at Vision with sword*

*shoots a blast of fire out of his hand into Doc's face*

: Regular fire magic!?

: Some villains like it hot, dude! *shakes head again* .oO(What is going on!?)

*falls back with her sword, but continues trying to use Drain Life*

Terra: *flamethrows more* (Maybe I should've brought another weapon...)

: (That appearance... Ugh, it's too creepy.) *rushes at Nightmare, aiming his modified pool stick-blade towards Nightmare's chest*

: *blocks* Nena, I didn't expect to see you helping my counterpart.

: *jumps back, flipping the stick to reveal a blade on the other end as well* Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead helping the likes of him, or any of these people, really. But the way you're going about with your plan, whatever it may be, is something I just can't abide.

Jakie: *hanging back, towards the wall* You tell him, Neners.

: *getting to his feet* All right, let's see how you handle THIS!

*A burst of red magic swirls across the battlefield. Everyone in the party suddenly feels stronger*

Argent: What's going on? (Something odd is going on here...)

Shadow: *is still trying to get to the front lines, but is mainly just dodging around people's feet*

Azzie: *still trying to shield people* Hmm....That voice.

*scowls, charging and firing a Lightningbolt instead*

Hmph. *focusses on Vision, his aura starting to shift* (Can't be just fire, can it...?)

: *creates a barrier of darkness, that breaks, throwing Vision back with the force of the lightning*

(Dark. Of course. Sad as it is, I have more experience with dark than fire, though...)

*watches the barrier shatter* Get him!

Thought you'd never ask.

: "Hah, that got him!" "Now," *charges and leaps into the air* "Stay down!" *piledriver right at Vision's face*

: *can't recover to roll out of the way in time, hit* Aaargh! *shifts into wolf form, which is now multicolored, and attempts to dash across the room*

: Hm... Heheh... Hey, Shadow! Get over here, I- *notices he's about to get trampled by the fighting and dives for him, scooping him up*

: I've got an idea. Do you think you could- *whispers*

Shadow: *grins* You know what? I think I could.

: *laughs and grins* All right. One weewoo to the face, coming up. *lifts up Shadow and tosses him like a football towards Vision*

Shadow: *aims a bite for the nose*

Wolf!Vision: *bitten* !?

*fires a dark sphere at Vision!*

Wolf!Vision: *sent flying across the room, crashing into the wall and raising a cloud of dust* *when the dust settles, a black weewoo wearing a tiny version of Vision's stetson is visible.*

: What. *turns to Shadow* What. *turns to Blues* What.

Shadow: *to Doc* Oh, yeah. Didn't I mention that? *grinning mischievously*

Azzie: *cracking up laughing*

Argent: *grinning* I'd forgotten he could do that. Well done!

...What.

...Did he just turn into a weewoo?

: *laughing* James... Meet Shadow. He neglected to mention. Not only is he half-weewoo... but his bite brings you down to his level. Wereweewoo, you might say.

: "I...The hell? Didn't think I hit him that hard."

Weewoo!Vision: *fires a blast of dark magic at Doc while he's distracted*

: *dives to the ground* Somebody barbecue this bird, will they!?

Pfft. What, we can't stick the little birdie in a birdcage?

Terra: I'd be happy to do the honors. *flamethrows*

Jakie: Ahaha, that's awesome Shadow~ *pats his head*

Shadow: *still smirking mischievously* Some of 'em just need it.

: *taken aback* Well then. *whips out a throwing knife and chucks it at Nightmare*

: "One well done chicken, coming right up! PYRUM!!

*A fireball sprouts from Drachma's fist and roars towards the weewoo*

*makes a face, adding to the flame brigade with a fireball of his own*

*The fire attacks hit, but in the middle of the fire, dark flames start springing up, and Vision stands up in them.*

: *breathing heavily, clutching his stomach* You... won't...

Be defeated.

*A dark slate gray colored flame erupts from the ground, thick enough to completely obscure Vision from view.*

: *shouts*

*When the flame fades, Vision is nowhere to be seen.*

: What... what just happened!?

: "I think we'd all like to know that." *stomps over to the spot where Vision vanished*

Argent: *keeping a close eye on Weewoo!Vision in case he tries to escape* ....*sees him disappear* .....

Azzie: *jumps back* *then begins thinking hard*

!! *aura shifts back to normal* What the heck?!

Well, that was... different.

...I, uh. Does that mean we won?

...I'm not sure.



: *swallows* ...Nothing good. Now, that I'll bet on. Oh, look, a benefactor swoops in to deal the final blow. Rejoice and merriment... *scowls* No, nothing good.

Jakie: He got away, didn't he? I didn't really expect it to be that easy, anyhow. *looks around*

: Tch. *goes to retrieve his knife*

Terra: ...Um. Is he dead?

There's no body...no pile of ashes...I wouldn't bet on it.

: *looks around* We need the key.

: *sees it hanging on Vision's throne* *picks it up*

*The key is silver, but with fire brick colored lines throughout it.*

*A dark window appears.*

: ... That's Fantasy's aura. I'm not sure if I want to see what Vision's fantasy for the NTWF was...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Courtroom A, Icy Taco Courthouse}

*Vision is standing in the middle of the courtroom. A guillotine is set up in front of the judge's stand.*

: “Mankind will pay for his sin” indeed... However, your methods were too mild. With the Nightmares conquering the forum, I can be prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner. Our first defendant... DOCTOR JAMES FENRIR LUPE!

: *enters the courtroom*

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...

Oh wow...

*cringes at this* Ugh. That's just messed up.

...Well then. I guess that answers that question.

: "So, that's what could have been, huh? Glad we stopped him, at least." *shifts uneasily*

...Was that a guillotine? ._.;

Terra: I think so. Ouch, to say the least.

Argent: *doesn't even notice the window, is too deep in thought*

Shadow: *utterly confused*

Azzie: *sees the window* D:

: ...I guess we go home now.

x20: *appear in the throne room*

: As quickly as possible, because I don't know what the [fluffy bunnies] those are! *dashes out, followed by Aja and the Treekids*

Terra: *sees the knight-things appear* Oh, crap - *tries flamethrowing them*

Come on! Run! *pulls Terra out*

: "Hey, wait up Doc! You're my ticket out of here!" *plods off after Doc*

GAH! *flees*

Hey, wait! *follows*

Guess that means the party's over. *also follows, whipping at any of the mysterious things that come too close*

: Well, those don't look friendly. Vision's no longer here, one way or another. Time to go home. (Although somehow I don't think I'll be sleeping soundly tonight...) *retreats*

Azzie: *looks around to see if everyone's coming* *then runs*

Argent: *glances at them before checking to make sure everyone else is coming and dashing out*

Shadow: *waddleruns out*

: Ugh. *runs after Doc and the others*

Jakie: Hm? What interesting looking creatures. *watches them*

: *looks back* Are you insane? Get out of there!

Jakie: *reluctantly strolls out* But I wanna know what they are~

: *barrels out of the castle and into the forest, a shuriken embedding itself in the tree next to him* *swears loudly*

: *standing in the trees around the forest*

: *puts shields on everyone within range*

: *comes to a halt*"Hm. Ninjas. Do we run, or fight?"

: We're too outnumbered. Get to the portal! *dashes*

: *goes through the portal with the Treekids*

: *stands at the portal to make sure everyone gets in*

*A shuriken flies past Drachma's face*

: "Don't have to tell me twice. Let's get the hell out!" *Dashes into the portal*

Knights and ninjas? Deja vu...

Not the time! *runs into the portal*

*also*

*shakes head briefly and follows*

: Frigging- *a shuriken bounces off duster with a sound that sounds more metallic than leather should sound* Sorry, featherface, but it's safer in here-! *scoops up Shadow and stuffs him into a pocket inside jacket* Gr... *tosses a throwing knife at a ninja before ducking into a portal*

Azzie: What is that thing? *also puts shields on people, 'cause it's just kind of impulse at this point*

Argent: What the- Gah! *running around trying to dodge shurikens*

Shadow: *just kind of tries to stay close to the ground and get out of there* *scoop'd up* Oh, okay.

Jakie: Ah. Oh boy. Stereotypical ninjas. We could take them.

: *dragging Jakie along towards the portal* Let's not.

*runs through the portal*

Terra: *also runs through*

Argent: *keeps ducking* *finally makes it to the portal and barrels through*

Azzie: Eeyipe, yes sirree. HURRY EVERYONE *dives into the portal*

{Clearing near Tabloid Town}

: *leans against a tree after leaving the portal*

: *walks in* James. Fantasy has told me to inform you that there will be some time for rest, followed by another meeting to discuss the next phase. If anyone would like to leave and allow others to join for the next phase, they can do so. *walks away*

: ... This isn't over yet...

*a dark window opens*

: ... Let's see our future.

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}

? ? ?: In hindsight, my Nightmares were far too weak... Memory was unfocused. Vision was bound to his strict interpretation of a single sentence. Premonition was, ironically, shortsighted. Fantasy, was, of course, the traitor, who needed to fall.

SPOILER: Click to show

Terra: *sigh* That was exhausting.

Yeah. An awful lot of running.

*pant, pant* ...Lovely.

*glances at the dark window* What...?

I don't know, but I get the impression things are going to get ugly.

: "Heh, sounds like whoever's behind this isn't too happy. That's good to hear. Now, I heard someone mention rest, and I'm an old man." *stretches* "I think I'm due for a quick kip. Er..." "It was...a real pleasure to meet you folks. Nice working with you and all that." "Well, I'd best get back to the Delphinus before Aika accidentally blows the ship up or something. Evening, all."

*Drachma turns, and walks off into the sunset*

: I don't like the sound of that. Of any of that. *pulls Shadow out of a pocket and lets him go, rubs eyes and sighs* *stops by Doc on the way out and squeezes his shoulder* Come on. Smug mongrel would have to get past all of us, through every alignment and morality, in order to bring us down. We're not going to let them win. You got that? *leaves*

Yeah, getting some rest is probably a good idea. Let's head back. *heads off*

... *sheathes weapons and follows*

*follows, mumbling something to himself about allies*

Argent: ....Well, that was. *sighs* *looks at Shadow and Blues* You get back home, all right? I have to get back to the library. People will wonder what happened.

Azzie: Uh, Ar, the time thing-

Argent: ....Oh. Right. Nonetheless, I must get back. *walks out and then probably vanishes when he's out of sight*

Shadow: ....I need a rest. *carried out*

Azzie: And I need to go calm down. ._. *flies out and probably toward the Library, I don't know*

[Deleted]

Part IV - Terrifying Premonitions

SPOILER: Click to show

{Frost & Co. Law Offices}
: I wonder why we're meeting here...

: *sitting in my chair, feet on the desk* Frosty probably changed his mind at the last second and decided to go punch his doppelganger in the face instead of fighting Premonition.

: *slams door open* HOOAH

: *walks in* You keep doing that. You really don't have to.

: *walks in shortly afterward*

Danner: *walks in, looking around* Are you sure this is the right place?

Jeran: *nods* Yes...pretty sure, anyway.

* A beautiful young woman in a white dress with a gold-and-silver veil drifts hesitantly inside the office, closing the door gently behind her. At her side floats what appears to be a sort of balloon made of mercury*

: "I believe this is the right place...oh dear, I hope I'm not too late."

: "Pyu~!"

: *walks in* Sorry I'm late, I had to get Hunter's group moving. Let's begin with introductions.

: I am Winston Churchillbot, formerly the Prime Minister of a country known as Great Britain.

: Uther Payne, a prosecutor from the neighboring country of Ireland.

: I've already introduced myself, of course.

: GENERAL PATTON *hands on hips, looking determined*

: Orwell.

: _{*mumbles name*}

: *steps forward* "Um, hello! My name is...Fina, and I'm from the Silver Civilization on Arcadia. Oh, um, and I'm also kind of a pirate, too, I suppose. But one of the good ones! Anyway, this is Cupil; he's a shapechanger, and my guardian."

: *air bows* "Pyu pyu!"

Jeran: *bows* Sir Jeran Borodere, at your service.

Danner: Sir Danner Carnahan. *stiff nod*

: Well it's good to see so many-

_{"GUUUUUUYYYYSSSSS"}

: *double facepalm*

Bettyming: YOU GUYS *rides in on a giant floating pizza, tipping her shades to all present*

Jeran: ... Is that a giant pizza?

Danner: I have a feeling this is going to be a very strange day. *pokes Orwell* Are you a robot? Funny things, robots. Almost never see them in Meridell. *pokes*

Jeran: *facepalms and drags Danner away* Sorry about him. He doesn't get out much.

Bettyming: YOU BET *does a totally radical 360 spin*

: Yes I am. *flinches when he's poked* And it's fine.

: ...Miss... Bettyming... how... nice it is to have you coming with us.

: Well, let's get going...

*a dark window appears*

: But first, we should see what the future holds.

SPOILER: Click to show

*the scene shifts too rapidly to see where the characters are*
: Hey Glitchy, lost your keys?
~~~~~
: *looks around* We need the key.
~~~~~
: Correct! *jumps down from a great height and lands slowly, holding a silver key in one hand and a scroll in the other*

SPOILER: Click to show

Bettyming: Yeah, I'm a pretty cool cat. *sees dark window*

: *look* ...

: ...Well, let's go!

Jeran/Danner: *look through the window*

Jeran: Yes, it would seem that it is time to get going.

: *opens a portal of light* To the Story's Graveyard. *goes through, followed by Uther and Churchill*

: *cartwheels through*

: *goes through the portal*

Bettyming: *spins right into the portal*

Jeran/Danner: *raise eyebrows and walk through normally*

: *completely unconcerned about the pizzamobile* "Oh dear, there are a lot of robots here. I hope my healing magic will work on them..." *lost in thought, slowly walks through portal*

{Story's Graveyard}
*the portal exits into a vast desert with various gigantic writing utensils stuck in the ground*

: The black feather pen marks the entrance.

: *looks around* If we landed in the same spot as last time, it should be somewhere over... *starts wandering around*

: *follow, weapons ready*

Jeran: *draws sword and follows*

Danner: *follows, one hand on his crossbow and the other on his sword*

: "Hmm...this place is quite desolate. It's sort of creepy...let's not stick around long." *Follows the group*

: Here it is. *dusts sand off the trapdoor*

*a dark window appears*

SPOILER: Click to show

{Lupe Manor}
: *knocks*

: What is it.

: I would like to request mercenary service from the Lupe Pack. I have... a problem with a former ally. I would like your help specifically, Anzam.

: Name your price and conditions.

: I can provide any treasure you wish... and my only condition is that you do not inform Hunter Frost of this.

*Anzam glows with a dark slate gray colored aura and seems to be pained for a moment.*

: We have ways to make you regret it if you tell him before we do.

SPOILER: Click to show

: I knew that demon couldn't be trusted!

: To be fair, he had no idea about the Nightmares at the time. Dr. Lupe learned from the details that Anzam put in his mission report.

Jeran: *scowls* I have seen many others fall to the words of dark spirits. It usually doesn't end well.

: I don't even like Doc that much but I hate the Nightmares more.

: So... *looks down at trapdoor*

: *opens the trapdoor and begins climbing down*

: *follows*

: *makes hand glow with fire and follows*

Bettyming, : *follow*

: _{Stay alert, guys.}

Jeran/Danner: *nod and follow*

: *glances around nervously, and follows the others*

: *flies alongside Fina*

{Catacombs, Story's Graveyard}
*They enter into a dark cavernous tunnel. Unlit torches line the walls.*

: *shoots fireballs along the walls to light the torches*

*Tombstones are visible on the walls. The closest ones read:
"WINSTON CHURCHILLBOT" "UTHER PAYNE" "FANTASY OF NIGHTMARE" "GEORGE PATTONBOT" "GEORGE ORWELLBOT" "ERWIN ROMMELBOT" "BETTYMING" "JERAN BORODERE" "DANNER CARNAHAN" "FINA" "CUPIL"*

: *walks along the tunnel* He updated his display of tombstones since last time, apparently.

I take it you do not like Herr Nightmare's choice of decor, Herr Churchill?

: *sees her tombstone*"Oh! What a horrid display! Show yourself, you monster!"

Danner: ._. This is...disturbing.

Jeran: I'll say.

All historicalbots: *point various weapons in the sound of Himmler's voice*

Bettyming: *using giant pizza as a shield* ...

Jeran: *readies his sword*

Danner: *loads and points crossbow*

: *steps out from a secret passage*

x5: *follow Himmler, dark barrier blocking off the passage*

: Himmler!

: Allow me to introduce myself to the others, Herr Churchill. My name is Heinrich Himmler. *turns to Jeran and Danner* My former leader has been compared to Lord Kass, though my leader was far more successful.

: Long story short, he's a psychopath let's kill him. *starts shooting*

: *also start shooting*

Danner: *starts firing his crossbow as quickly as he can reload it*

Jeran: {Why didn't I take magic lessons from Lisha? I feel kinda useless unless he gets closer, but I can't get closer without getting killed.}

: *bullets bounce off a barrier* Überrascht?

: Those alien things are making a barrier or something! *fires at them*

: *shoots a fireball*

: *uses light magic*

x4: *hit*

x1: *hit with fireball and vanishes*

x1: *hit and vanishes*

: "Go, Cupil!"

: "Pyaaaargh!" *flies at the 5 minion-things*

: *Begins to gather energy* "Haaaahh..."

x2: *vanish*

All historicalbots: *start firring at the alien things, still looking pretty mad*

Bettyming: *tries absorbing any attacks into the giant pizza* *looks up over pizza shield* *trolliest trollface*

Danner: *also fires at the alien things*

Jeran: <_< *joins Bettyming behind the giant pizza* Uh, can we eat this pizza later?

: *EXPLODES*

: *starts firing at the group as the barrier falls*

: *flits back over to Fina, attempting to protect her from the bullets*

: "This should help... Moons, give us your blessings!"

*A cool blue wind washes over the battlefield, bolstering Fina's allies. Everyone in the party feels slightly more agile and alert*

: *start firing again*

Bettyming: *tries absorbing the bullets into the pizza... and shooting them back out through her eyes*

Jeran: *shrugs and runs around with his sword, trying to find a way to get close enough to the enemy to hit them without getting killed* {This is so much easier when there aren't so many people using long-range weapons.}

: *FIRE*

: *hit by all except Uther* *starts sparking* {This cannot be... the end...} *EXPLODES*

: *turn away from the explosion*

: ..._{{Nothing lasts forever.}} *reloads* Let's keep going.

Jeran: *shields his eyes from the explosion*

Danner: Woah, cool!

Jeran: I think this place is starting to get to him.

: "We did it! And no one got hurt, either! This might not be as difficult as I thought."


: *proudly grins*

*a dark window appears*

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}

: *falling slowly in a void* {And so, I die again... I will have my revenge on you yet!} Mein Gott, Feuer!

SPOILER: Click to show

: *looks at the dark barrier* ...Only one way to go. *continues down the hall*

: ...He was never really... normal. *the group follows*

Danner: *follows eagerly*

Jeran: *follows, clearly hoping he'll get a chance to be useful*

: *follows with Cupil, lost in thought*

{Crypt, Story's Graveyard}
*An empty stone room, only a lone coffin is in the middle.*

: Show yourself, Premonition of Nightmare!

: *appears in a cloud of darkness* As you wish, Prosecutor Payne. Now... As the highest ranking member of the Nightmares, I am afforded certain... powers. As with all Nightmares, I can transform. As with all Nightmares, I have a limited control over time. But, as virtue of my form... *summons scythe* I also have power over death. *fires a black ball of energy at Fantasy*

: NO! *pushes Fantasy out of the way*

: No...

: *hit with the ball of energy, eyes fade*

: Churchill!

: You will regret that move.

Bettyming, : ...

Bettyming: *starts glowing neon green, as ominous Latin chanting starts up in the background, and the glow starts to grow in size and the chanting gets louder...*

: _{Premonition, you're an idiot.}

: *starts glowing orange, charging energy*

: *fires a massive blast of light at Premonition*

: *nullifies it*

: "CHURCHILL!"
*desperately starts casting* : " moons...give us strength...riselem...riselem...riselem... *tears* Please, get up... ...riselem..."

: *motionless*

: Idiot girl, trying to raise a robot? It is not dead, for it was never alive! He was a soul in an empty shell!

Jeran: *kneels next to Churchill* I don't really know anything about fixing robots, but if a battle's about to start, perhaps we should move him out of the way?

: "... _{I couldn't save him}..."

: *turns to Premonition "You...you... You'll pay for that!"

: *quivers*

: *raises shields over the group*

: *holds scythe at the ready*

Danner: Uh, if this thing can kill us instantly, how are we supposed to kill it?

: I needn't use a spell that powerful to fell the rest of you. You insignificant tools are not worth the effort.

: *rises slowly to her feet* Moons...

: *begins to inflate like a massive balloon, getting larger and larger*

: " Cleanse the land!

[/u] [/color]

: *releases a massive gust of ice-cold wind towards Premonition, aiming to freeze him solid where he stands*

: *blocks with dark shield, but gets hood blown off* *retaliates with a burst of lightning*

: *trying to avoid attacks and get some shots in* D[BLEEP] it!

: _{Probably won't have any effect...}

: (HOW DARE HE.) *also trying to get shots in*

Bettyming: *trying to absorb attacks, though is unable to shoot them back out through her eyes, but the glow starts to turn pink and black-and-white-striped in parts, while the Ominous Latin Chanting continues to increase in volume*

: *tries to block lightning*

: *struck by lightning* "Gyaaah!" *falls to floor*

: "I...can't...give up yet..."

Jeran: *watches the lightning* (I kinda wish I wasn't wearing metal armor right now.)

: *releases energy* METEOR SHOWER!

*massive flaming meteors tear through the roof of the crypt and fly across the battlefield*

: ...

Bettyming: KYAAAAAAAAAH! *explodes in a storm of horrible, early-90's CGI green, pink, and black and white polygons, with all kinds of random crap flying out from it! Cheeseburgers! Ray-Bans! Skateboards! Video tapes! And when the explosion dies out, what is left is THE MOTORDRAGON, only made of GOLD and with EIGHT WINGS and with a GARGANTUAN LASER! A weapon fit for the defense of democracy! Also a passed out Bettyming*

: ...Jesus!

: *takes the controls*

: *steps back*

Jeran/Danner: (Glad that thing is on our side.)

: *climb on board* ._.

: EVERYONE ON BOARD.

MOTORDRAGON: *ROARS*

: *climb on*

: "pyu." *looks at the betty* "...pyu." *looks at the motordragon "...pyu."


: *struggles to her feet* "H-huh? What is that?"

*Fina and Cupil run over and board the motordragon*

Jeran/Danner: *scramble onboard*

: *shoots up into the air, leaving a trail of FIRE behind the MOTORDRAGON, all eight wings outstretched*
*looks down*
Churchill... you were a good friend and a fine leader... THE SACRIFICE YOU HAVE MADE HERE TODAY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!
*starts charging laser*

: *holds on for dear life* "_...ohdear"

Jeran/Danner: *also hold on the best they can, considering that this thing is almost certainly bigger and smoother than a Uni*

Jeran: *turns to Fina* Not used to flying like this?

: _{"...not really. Flying in our airship is a lot smoother; and a lot quieter."} *goes back to clinging*

: *tries in vain to summon a portal*

: THIS IS OUR DECISIVE VICTORY! LASER-STREIK!

*the MOTORDRAGON arches its head downwards and fires its GARGANTUAN LASAER right at Premonition!*

: Mors... mori... MORTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS! *obliterated by the force of the laser*

: ...

: ..._{Holy [BLEEP]!}

: *gently lands the Motordragon* ... ... ...

Jeran/Danner: ._. Woah...

: *stumbles off, sits down, and hugs Cupil for a while until the world stops spinning*

: *seems to be trying to sense something* There. *walks over to the coffin, opens it, and retrieves a silver key*

*a dark window appears*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Icy Taco}

: *floating calmly above the Taco as an army of characters march beneath him, turned into shadows like the army that was helping him, but obvious to their original identities by their clothing*

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...

: ...

: Orwell. Get Bettyming's body. *points* Patton, get Churchill's. *points*

: *opens a light portal and steps aside for Orwell and Patton*

: *go through the portals with the bodies*

: *just looks at Fantasy* ...

Jeran/Danner: *slide off the robodragon*

Jeran: Well, that was certainly an...interesting change of pace.

: ... *follows Uther through the portal*

{Frost & Co. Law Offices}
: ... This fight is not over. I will not allow Churchill's sacrifice to have been in vain. There will be a meeting again later to plan the next phase. *walks away*

*a dark window opens*

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}

? ? ?: Now that they have fallen... All of their powers are now mine!

SPOILER: Click to show

Jeran/Danner: *walk off to rest and eat*

: *steps through the portal in time to view the dark window* "What? Was...this part of his plan all along? To think all this time, we were playing into his hands..." *shudders*

: *turns to bettyming* "Well, at least there's one thing I can do to help. Sacrulen!"

*a green glow of healing energy surrounds Betty's body*

: _{Christ, that was crazy.} *walks away*

: ... *takes off hat* ... *goes home*

Bettyming: *sits up* derp
*sees Churchill* ...Rommel went ballistic didn't he
i should uh probably leave *runs away*

[Deleted]

Part V - Twisted Fantasies

SPOILER: Click to show

{In Front of the Dialogue Tree}

: *watches everybody clear out of the area to go to different spots*

: *flies in on the Warp Star*

: *flies in close behind him*

*waiting, standing with Portsman and Sgt. Guy*

And so then they said "So we get a giant elephant and have it step on stuff-"...

<___<

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif

[/img] *walks in* -And that, Icon, is why particle decompression beams have a better use than lasers.

Icon: *follows* I can see what you mean, but you have to keep in mind that-

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSigh.gif[/img] *ports in* Daaa-aaad, you're being boring again.

*sitting on on of the logs in the clearing, a young man in a blue sailor's jacket is busy sharpening a blue cutlass*

: "Hmm hmm hmm," *looks up as people enter* "Oh, are we leaving soon? Excellent!" *returns to sharpening*

: *walks up to the gathering group of heroes* Hey everyone. I'm Ikkin, for anyone who doesn't know me. Are we going to start with introductions, or just skip to saving the world?

: "Introductions sounds good to me, seeing as I'm new here." *strikes a pose* "I'm Vyse the Legendary of the Blue Rogues, captain of the Delphinus! With me aboard, we're bound for victory! And, er, who are all you?"

: Hey Vyse. Captain, hm? Are you a pirate, by any chance? Because I'm one, too.

: It's best that we know who we're fighting with, first, but I can explain a few things on the way there. I'm Hunter Frost, and I'll spare you the usual list of various odd jobs. I'm an ice mage.

: I'm Cian! I'm a baby dragon.

: That's Keeby, the second player in a lot of Kirby's adventures. /fourth wall

: Hi Hunter. You're an ice mage, hmm? That sounds cool. *ducks for cover* Hey Cian and Keeby, too. We seem to have a very diverse group here today, don't we?

Well... I'm Drew. And... *points at Portsman*

*waves* I'm Jacques Portsman, a prosecutor prodigy.

Also, that's Sgt. Guy. *points at the green-robed Shy Guy*

... Hello.

: Hey Drew. And Portsman... you're an attorney, aren't you? Sgt. Guy... nice to meet you. Is there anything you'd like to say about yourself so I can get to know you better?

Icon: Alright, introductions? My name's Icon.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincHeh.gif[/img] I'm Glinc. Icon's my daddy!

Icon: _{Yeah, it's a long story...} Chives, what about you?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] The name is alien being CH-11V, but please, call me Chives. Everyone does.

: Hi Icon, Glinc, and Chives. What type of alien are you, Chives?

: *walks back in* Everybody is here who's going? Alright. *opens light portal then dashes away back to the part he's supposed to be in*

: Let's go. *walks in, followed by my other two characters*

*follows*

*also follow*

: *turns to everyone else* Well, I guess we'll need to continue this conversation inside. Or... not, depending on we run into. See you all on the other side! *runs into the light portal*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] Let us proceed then. *heads in*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] Yay, let's go! *tries to port over*

Icon: Glinc, be careful! *follows after*

: "All right, it's adventure time! Let's Go!" *dashes into the portal*

{Classroom}
*The portal opens into a normal looking classroom.*

: ...A classroom?

: Look, daddy, your name is on the board! Did you get in trouble?

*The board reads: "Mr. Frost - English Language Arts."*

: Fantasy's Domain is built by whatever fantasies and dreams the NTWF has. This is my classroom, apparently.

*a dark window appears*

: ...[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Castle Kestrel, Balcony}

*It is clear that a man is standing on the balcony, but the angle makes it impossible to see him.*

? ? ?: Now that we have taken this world... There are so many more tools that I have access to...

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...However, our enemies have their own dreams.

Icon: Hmm... *looks around the room*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif

[/img] *looks at the dark portal* That's not unnerving at all.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] Huh, thas'weird...

: (An empty classroom? Bit of an anticlimax, really...I was expecting more resistance.)

*looking around the classroom* ... (I wonder where they are.)

Who was that weird guy in the weird window thing saying weird things about weird tools...?

: I'm not sure...

: *looks around* A classroom, hm? I was expecting something more... foreboding. You say it's your classroom Hunter? Your dream is to be an English teacher?

: Well, my most realistic dream, anyway, and the one I've had for the longest. *glances around then opens the door to the hallway*

: It's a nice dream, just... less adventurous than most of the people I've met around here. That kind of dream definitely has an appeal of its own, though.

Well, this is quite nice. I was expecting to be transported into a minefield with flying sharks with shotguns for eyes or something.

*following Hunter*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesConfused.gif[/img] *looks over at Sgt. Guy* That... On second thought, no, I better not comment on that.

Icon: *follows Hunter and Drew* Alright, where to next?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmile.gif[/img] *ports around excitedly*

: *looks at the door Hunter opened* Do you think we'll be meeting any resistance soon? It seems almost too quiet around here. *brings her hands up to her sword's hilt and scabbard as she walks through the door Hunter opened*

: "Shotgun-eyed sharks, hm? You know, I actually fought something like that once. Not as hard as you think; all you've got to do-- *sees the group moving* "--Whoops, better get going!"

: Do you cast Blind on them, or something? *notices that Vyse stopped talking because the group was moving* Don't worry too much about talking -- it's not like you can't walk and talk at the same time, right? *winks*

*opens his mouth to say something, and stumbles* "Oof! Ow...Sorry, what were you saying?"

{Hallway}
*Another light portal is at the end.*

: Let's get out of here. I don't want to be in a school on summer break whether I'm a teacher in it or not.

*the P.A. system crackles to life*

This is an announcement from Principal Vampire!Hunter. Before you exit the building, why don't you watch a nice movie that Mr. Frost and I were in? He never did record the incident like he should have...

*another dark window appears, large enough to block their path*

: I hate that thing.[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Skype
October 15, 2010}

Azzie, I need a large, two-way-shielding shield put on me. You'll see why in a second.

Azzie: *puts a large, two-way shield on Hunter*

*explodes with darkness*

*steps out of me* You can't fight the darkness, Hunter Frost.

*raises staff*

*laughs*

*shockfaces*

*smirks* The Nightmares gave me corporeal form. Didn't take too much effort, only drawing out your true essence. *takes out dark blue sword*

I don't need you anymore, I'm not you anymore.

Apparently... *fighting stance* You have the situation backward. What was it that the poet who you stole your surname from said? Something about fire ending the world... but ice could do the job just as well?

...

What will you do, Mr. Frost?

quiet, you

Azzie: *glares at the vampire*

*sense of slight amusement from somewhere far away*

Revenge Vendetta, I presume? What a fitting appearance... when you consider the nature of Hunter Frost's deepest darkness...

SHUT UP! *rushes at VH*

Azzie: *whimper* *hugs self*

Heh heh… an inner battle? I'm hoping to see another one of these very soon…

Don't listen to them, Hunter! They're wrong!

Memory would be better to explain the past than myself... But I'm sure your little friend knows the truth in my words. The difference is... *sidesteps and dodges me* I embrace the darkness! *blasts hellfire out of sword*

*hit, thrown to the ground*

*stumbles in, looking a bit tired*

...

*leaves*

*Tense, but unsure if he should try breaking the barrier* *Pretty sure he shouldn't*

I have much better things to do... *attempts to teleport out* *cannot, because of the shield* ... Fine. Guess I'll finish you, though I don't need an audience for my own /personal/ revenge. *shield fills with darkness impossible to see through for a normal person*

Azzie: D: *can't see through*


… *Takes off visor and uses Darksight*

*the shield appears to be empty*

…?

Azzie: *has no idea what's going on, but is terrified*

…*Tries to sense what is going on inside*

*a Light aura and a twice-as-powerful Dark aura can be sensed, but cannot be pinpointed as to location anywhere in the shield*

… (I do not like this…) …Azzie?

Azzie: *looks up* .Hm?

A fight like that will cause the magic to be pent up within the shield and result in a kind of poisoning, almost. Lower the barrier.

Azzie: But- ....Okay. *dissipates it and hugs own knees*

*darkness shoots away into the sky*

*collapsed on the ground, but VH is nowhere to be seen*

Drew: o______o

Icon: ._.

!!!

Azzie: *doesn't even notice at this point* *very drained*

*is clutching a scroll in my left hand*

*walks back in* ... *looks at Godot, then at Azzie, then at Hunter, then at the scroll* ... *to Godot* ...Er... I have healing powers?

That's probably a good idea… *Is trying to sense if there's any remaining darkness*

Alright. *concentrates for a moment*

*the darkness is gone as far as VH is concerned, so everything other than the regular ambient darkness that might be there from dark characters spying*

*casts Lifeup on Azzie and Hunter*

*stands weakly*

Azzie: *looks up, more energized*

Icon: ...You guys okay, Hunter? Azzie? D:

*stops using Lifeup, looking concerned*

I... think so. *sits down* I'm just extremely drained... *glances down at scroll* ... This probably documents what happened. Should I open it now?

…qué.

*nods*

Azzie: *stumbles over to where everyone is*

…Why would you be holding a scroll that documents things?

*points to black seal on scroll, which consists of a sword, staff, and hammer crossed* My guess is that this is Vampire!Hunter's seal, and he left this scroll here to torment me. Why would he not too be a writer...? *sighs, opens scroll*

SPOILER: Click to show

*staring at the dark window* Oh...kay. This looks more serious than I thought.

That scroll...

*puts on his white jacket* Huh? What did that thing say, dude?

... Am I the only one worrying more about Vampire!Hunter being the principal?!

Icon: Oh no, not that incident. ._. That... ended quite badly, to say the least.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincFrown.gif

[/img] Gosh, that mustabeen scary...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] I can't say I disagree with that.

: *still talking to Vyse* Huh, I guess not. *looks over upon seeing the dark window open* What's this?

: *watches the scenario play out* So... Hunter fought his evil alter-ego hidden behind cover of darkness, and no one else knows what happened because they disappeared while it happened... and Hunter came back injured, holding a scroll. So... what's in the scroll? I can't imagine it isn't relevant, if this realm decided to show that memory to us. Care to fill us in, Hunter?

*the window fades away*

: What happened is that VH nearly killed me. ... I doubt he'll use them, but... Is everyone here familiar with Writer Powers?

: Yes.

: "Uh...yeah. Writer powers, I know all about that. I mean, who doesn't, right?" *weak laugh*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *Nods* Indeed I am.

Icon: Same.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] "Rider powrs"... Daddy mentions them a lot... I dungeddit tho.

: Well, that bit was... kind of self-explanatory. But that's can't be all there is to it. Why would he leave you alive, for one? As for Writer Powers... I've heard of them, but I'm not familiar with their full extent. I wouldn't mind hearing them explained in more detail.

: He left after I tried to use too strong of an attack and hurt myself more than him. I think he just wanted to intimidate me. As far as Writer Powers... Basically, it gives unlimited control over the world, within some rules. You can't just write somebody out of existence, and you can't make things too simple... It's as if the universe likes a good story too, so you have to go with things that don't make it too easy. It's odd... Three villains are known to use Writer Powers. Dark Writer, Not-Drew, and Vampire!Hunter.

: "...So, this Vampire!Hunter has unlimited control over the universe? Geez, this sounds like a tough fight."

: So he wasn't trying to kill you, then? Does that mean he wants you around, for some reason? Or does he just not care one way or the other? As for the Writer Powers, if we're likely to face someone who has them, I'd really like to know a little more... There aren't enough details to come up with any kind of plan to deal with them, and that makes me uncomfortable.

... The villains that have Writer Powers are especially terrifying. I'm not sure if Vampire!Hunter's going to use them against us or not.

Oh, sure. Unlimited power he won't use. Maybe he'll challenge us to a TCG instead.

_{I hate you so much}

: It is unlikely that he'll make it too easy for himself. I doubt he sees this fight as any less of a game than the Sergeant's suggestion.

: "Ah, so he's the condescending type of villain, eh? Excellent; I love being underestimated."

: That makes it easier to survive in a fight with him... but how do you finish off an opponent who's holding the vast majority of his strength in reserve in case things go wrong? I can't imagine he'd keep holding back if his life depended on it...

...

*sticks hands in pockets* Well, it looks like we might be called to the principal's office. Should we get moving?

: I can see him, as far as Writer Powers go... summoning weapons, perhaps transforming, maybe summoning allies. *to Portsman* I doubt he's actually in the building, so let's take this light portal. *points* *goes through it, followed by my other characters*

: That actually seems... surprisingly manageable. Especially since I can always bring Sev out if things go wrong. I guess we'll see when we get there. *follows Hunter through the light portal*

... You first.

Okay, dude! *jumps into the portal*

... *goes through the portal, followed by Drew*

Icon: Alright, let's see if we can take this guy down. Come on, Glinc.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmile.gif[/img] Yeah! Lessgo! *jumps into the portal*

Icon: *follows*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] I'm certain we can find a way to take this enemy down if all else fails. *enters the portal*

*Vyse walks through too*

*the group feels/sees themselves in the light portal, then suddenly jerked in a different direction by darkness*

{Shattered Dream Battlefield}

*The group steps out of a dark portal into a black void, with a large crystalline battlefield floating under them. The portal vanishes.*

: Daddy, where are we?

: I'm... not sure...

*cackling is heard*

"Shattered dreams have to go somewhere, don't they!?"

: *draws cutlasses* "Looks like we're in for a fight!" : *begins focusing spirit* "Haaaaahhh..."

!!

Oh hey, it's another Jim!

*takes out his wand* Who are you?!

Icon: That's not a good sound.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] I concur... a place for shattered dreams? This is all getting quite metaphysical.

Icon: *sigh* I know you're from the future, Chives, but not everything revolves around science and technology. Magic is real here, in case you didn't realize it by now.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] I know that. I was just making an observation.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] *ports over to Cian* This place is weird...

: *flies out from under the battlefield, cackling like mad*

((And since it's impossible to tell what he looks like from his smiley))

: Daddy! That's Marx!

: ...

: *takes out staff* Out of our way!

: *flips around in the air* Where do you expect to go? There's nowhere to go but down! *flies at the group*

: *pulls out sword* What is that thing?!

FORE *pulls a golf club out of nowhere and tries to smack Marx with it*

*summons a fireball and shoots it*

: *hit by Portsman's golf club into the fireball*

: *looks around* POYO *copies me SSB style, so I reappear after he swallows me*

: Hey!

: *double ice magic*

: *hit by both* *teleports around the battlefield, shooting crescent shaped waves of light magic*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] Err. *pulls out a raygun of some sort and tries blasting Marx with it*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincOhNoes.gif[/img] Whoah, that guy looks scary! *ports out of the way to behind Marx*

: *dodges laser*

Icon: Gah! What is it with this guy? >.>

: "....aaahhhh--Huh?" : "...THAT'S what we're fighting? That technicolor bat thing? Oh well." *raises cutlasses to block, preparing to cast*

: *sees that everyone else has already started attacking* Well, let's get on with this, then. *dives down underneath Marx, then throws a pair of air darts at him while attempting to fly up behind him*

: *hit by the first dart but dodges the second* *floats around weakly* *flies into the air, dropping huge seeds on the battlefield, which grow into huge vines that attack the group for a second then fade*

: *flies up above Marx to avoid the vines, and throws a wall of fire at both Marx and the seeds he's dropping to avoid damage to the rest of the party*

: "Argh!" *stumbles back, shakes head* : "...can't be so careless anymore..." *skips aside as a plant bomb lands near him*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] It's not a lazer, it's a particle decompression beam! *fires at the vines*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] Huh... tha's'real odd.

: "Let's bring this fight to the ground, shall we? : Moons, give me strength! WEVLUM!

*A tremendous windstorm scours the battlefield, its currents hammering away at Marx*

: ... *hit by wind and sent flying into the void surrounding the battlefield*

*tries to block vine with golf club, though it snaps* Agh!

*gets thrown back*

*catches Sgt. Guy* Oh, geez.

my favorite club

... Looks like we're done here, anyway.

*the remaining vines burn away*

Oh, apparently our friend Marx is blasting off again. Alright, I'll give you another portal, but first, another little show for you.

*a dark window opens*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Castle Gates, ? ? ?}

*Autospammer, Saint Dane, and Marx appear in a cloud of darkness in front of looming castle gates.*

: Hmm... We have all been defeated, haven't we.

: .oO(How is that guy so confident!? I should have never left Dream Land, no no no...) *glances at Autospammer nervously*

: *scared silence*

*the gates creak open*

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

: Looks like the other minions were defeated too.

*a dark portal opens on the opposite side of the battlefield*

: *puts her sword away* Well, that was one of the easier fights I've had. I almost felt bad for him, considering the number advantage we had on him. So, what's through this next portal? The final boss? *walks through*

Icon: So, he's gone? Looks like we left our Marx on that battle.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSigh.gif

[/img] Daaa-aaad... Let's just go already.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] I must say, I'm quite interested in those crystal structures down below.

Icon: You can see them later, Chivey, let's go *drags Chives into the portal*

Huh...

... *glances at the dark portal* Well, unless we feel like sitting here until we starve to death, I guess we have no choice. *goes through*

*follows*

: *patching himself up* "Hah, that wasn't so hard! We make a pretty good team, I gotta say. Now, let's go get that vampire!" *strides confidently towards the portal*

{NTWF Cruise Ship}
*The dark portal opens on to a cruise ship in the ocean, with weewoo and meepit designs painted on it. London's skyline is visible in the distance.*

I decided to give you all a nice cruise before you came to see me. Unfortunately, the boat has been seized by pirates. Good luck!

: ...What.

x10: *walk on deck, wielding swords*

: ...This probably isn't good.

(The cruise ship...)

*starts charging up a large energy sphere, then blasts it at the pirates*

x4: *hit by the sphere*

x10: *dash at the group and attack*

: "Pff. You call these guys pirates? Amateurs at best, I'd say." *grins and raises swords, charges the nearest group of pirates*

: *hit, vanishes*

: These things are going down in two hits, it looks like...

: *copies me again*

: Stop that!

: *double ice attack*

x1: *vanishes*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesSurprised.gif[/img] Pirates? *shoots his raygun at a few of them in an arc*

s: *dodge ray gun*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] Hmm... *tries to port behind one of the pirates and knock it over*

1: *thrown off balance*

: Well, now, this is more like it. *glances at the pirates that just appeared* Now, let's see...
*takes three steps towards the pirates, then takes a step to the right and aims a hit with the hilt at a pirate in front of her, using her wind power to knock him off balance if he dodges*
*without stopping, she sets her blade ablaze and draws the sword out of her sheath and stabs at a pirate behind her, then turns back to finish off the first pirate and twists her sword around to attack a third, moving in such a way that she can attack or block whenever she needs to*

x2: *vanish*

s: *dash at the group and attack*

: "Yowch! Why you..." *slashes furiously at the pirates*

x2: *hit*

1: *stands and is hit as well*

So you want to fight pirates, eh?

Yes, w-

THEN YOU'VE GOTTA BE A PIRATE *pulls out a huge gun in each hand and fires wildly*

x3: *vanish*

x1: *hit*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesConfused.gif[/img] ...What.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] ...What.

Icon: ...What.

: "I...there's a bit more to it than just the hat, you know..."*scowls grumpily, but keeps hacking away*

*fires ray gun at the remaining pirates*

*keeps shooting*

: *throws a barrage of air darts (~2 per pirate) at the remaining pirates*

: *stares at Portsman*"...How is that working? Grr..."

: *finished by Drew's ray*

: *hit by Drew's ray and Porty's bullet, vanishes*

: That looks like all of them...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *shoots one more time* What I wouldn't give for a plasma cannon right now...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincHeh.gif[/img] *shadow-ports behind another pirate and tries to trip him* Heh.

: *dodges out of the way of a friendly-fire projectile* Hey hey hey, the only remaining pirates here are friendlies!

*tripped* "Hey! I'm on your side!"

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSweatdrop.gif[/img] Whoops. Eheh, sorry 'bout that, mister.

Icon: Anyone know how to sail here?

Heh heh... Looks like the real pirate here saved the day.

you're not a pirate

*another dark window appears*

: Looks like another fantasy window.[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Icy Taco}

: *walks in* *rolls dice* Hey Doc! *looks around* Hi Drew!

: Hello- *notices Not-Drew* *walks away from him and over to Dark Writer* Hello, Ambassador.

SPOILER: Click to show

: Well that isn't messed up at all.

*a massive dark portal appears on the horizon*

: Can somebody sail us in there?

I could!

I... I don't even want to think about what will happen if you sail a ship.

Hmm... Vyse?

: I can put some wind in your sails, if that's what you need. Vyse would probably be better at steering, though, considering he's a captain and I've never actually done that.

: "Leave it to me; I've been sailing ships since before I could walk! Ikkin, I could use your help too." *stares at Portsman* : "Well...I guess you can come. try not to break anything, though."

: *grins* Just tell me what you need, cap'n!

Alright!

You know what, no. *grabs the pirate hat off of Portsman and throws it overboard*

...

Anyway... Go ahead Vyse, Ikkin. Thanks.

: *takes the helm, spins the wheel experimentally, and starts (edit: POLITELY) giving orders*

: *generically follows Vyse's generic orders*

{Clock Face, Big Ben}

*The ship sails through a solid black barrier in the London sky, making it possible to see the clock face of Big Ben and the night sky above, but nothing below. The ship begins "sinking" in the black barrier, but when people get level with it, they do not sink with the ship.*

: *looks around* Seems like this generally represents a dream of traveling.

: *standing on the highest point of the clocktower* Correct! *jumps down and lands slowly on the barrier, holding a silver key in one hand and a scroll in the other* I heard you were curious about this scroll. Well, I suppose I'll let you see it. *throws the scroll into the air, it unfurling and growing large to function like a movie screen, shielding VH*

SPOILER: Click to show

{Inside the Darkness}

Premonition gave me the power to freeze /time itself/. That should help if those morons on the outside try to interfere. *raises sword, and the previously swirling darkness stands still* *glows with a dark blue, dark red, and dark yellow aura* I have the power of the Nightmares as a whole to finish you. *aura fades to just red*

*glows white* *stands up* I only need one to fight you...

Time doesn't restart until you fall. I have all of eternity. Your mortal lifespan doesn't have a hold on me.

*fires icicles at VH*

*melts them with dark fire* Element change, smiting lightning! *aura changes to yellow, darts at lightning speed toward me*

*barely dodges*

Light and ice... against dark, fire, ice, and thunder... Have you even a chance of victory? *uses sword as a lightning rod, then throws ball of electricity at me*

*hit, screams*

Element change, deathly chill! *aura changes to blue* Feel the chill of death! *blasts a skeletal hand made of ice at me*

*glows white stronger, blasts light magic at hand, destroying it* *falls to the ground*

You don't know how to use the light, either, clearly. That took your energy faster than I ever could. I think that somebody will break the shield, so I should make it so I can escape. *restarts time, fades into the surrounding darkness*

SPOILER: Click to show

Icon: You! *points*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif

[/img] *tries shooting his raygun at Vampire!Hunter*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] ...Daddy? Wha's thatabout?

...! So that's what happened!

: *block shot and tries reflecting it back*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] *hit* Gah! Alright, that's it... i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesGoggles.gif[/img] *pulls out a large, mechanical-looking device and shoots two bolts of plasma at V!H*

*pauses, trying to communicate with Hunter telepathically* ... (The Nightmares have taken over this place so I'm not entirely sure, but could we use the power of fantasy the way he is?)

: (I'm not sure. It's possible.)

*starts charging an attack*

: He has a Keyblade? This could be... an issue, depending on how much he knows about how to use it.

: But I'm not going to let a little thing like that stop me. Prepare to die, vampire scum! *winds start to whip violently around Ikkin, small fluctuations in the pressure of the air creating thousands of tiny shards* *throws a stream of these shards at Vampire Hunter, while still retaining three-quarters of them as a barrier around herself*

: *dodges most, but is hit by some* *takes out a die* You can summon characters normally... That probably won't work as well here, outside of time, but... *throws dice* All my allies are here!

: *appears*

: Just one?

: *draws sword*

: *shoots a blast of ice*

: *dodges out of the way and shoots a blast back*

: *hit*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNotamused.gif[/img] *Tries to shadow-port behind V!H and attack him*

*draws gun and fires at VH once*

*summons a large iron block and tries to hit VH with it*

: *the bullet misses, but the block hits him in the face*

: *uses the distraction caused by Vampire Hunter's dodging and the others' attacks to dash towards him and swing her blade at him, wind shards still encircling her a few feet from her body*

: *dodges out of the way, but is still hit by the wind shards*

: *twists immediately into a second strike, taking a step towards Vampire Hunter while swinging diagonally upwards as Sgt. Guy's metal block hits him in the face*

: *just barely manages to block*

: *seizes the opportunity provided by a hard block and presses in so the blades are crossed between them but their faces are nearly against each other, while increasing the speed of the shards encircling her*

: *tries to attack Glinc*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincJoy.gif[/img] Haha, we got him, we got- *attacked* Gah! i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img]

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincDx.gif[/img] *hit backwards* Oof! i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincOhNoes.gif[/img] Daddy!

Icon: ...You did not just go there. *tries tackling the knight*

: *tackled*

Portsman, Sgt. Guy! The two of you get the knight!

Got it, dude!*tries to shoot the knight also*

*attempts to shoot a fireball at it*

And you, Vampire... This is the realm of fantasy.

*There's a tremor, followed by the sounds of an elephant. A giant elephant.*

In that case... I can use that to my advantage also!

Giant Elephant: *Out of the sky, a giant elephant wearing solid gold armor boldly charges at Vampire!Hunter through the air*

: *hit by Porty and Sgt. Guy* *tries to stand up and is crushed by elephant*

: What. *looks at the elephant* What. *looks at Drew* What.

: *jumps on the elephant's back*

: *hit by the shards from Ikkin's attack, distracted by the elephant*

: *takes advantage of Vampire Hunter's distraction to attempt to force his sword down and cut his neck*

Icon: Come on, Glinc! *jumps on the giant Elephant*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincLaugh.gif[/img] *ports on, cracking up the whole time*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] ...what.

*also jumps onto its back* Now! LET'S GET A GIANT ELEPHANT AND HAVE IT STEP ON STUFF!

Giant Elephant: *in a burst of intense holy light, tries to stomp down on VH*

: *rolls out of the way*

: *jumps into the air, massive icy fist gathering around hand* FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALCON...

: What the h-

: *shoots fist at VH* PAWNCH!

: *sent flying and smashes through the clock face*

Giant Elephant: *gives a manly victorious wail that sounds like it has C4 for vocal cords*

Drew: i don't even

Icon: That was amazing. That was glorious. That was... *puts on Kamina shades* downright Ele-phantastic.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincKamina.gif[/img] YEEAAAAHHHHH!

: *picks up the key, that has gone back to normal* ... How do we get out of here? *notices a scroll* *reads it* "Good luck." ...?

*an army of enemies rises from the barrier, a dark portal visible in the distance*

: ...Everybody board the elephant.

*puts on pirate hat and jumps onto elephant*

... I thought we got rid of that. <_< *gets onto the giant elephant*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincJoy.gif[/img] *already on top*

Icon: *also*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesSurprised.gif[/img] Err, wait for me! *tries to climb up the giant elephant as well*

: *puts sword away and wills her wind shard barrier away* For all the bluster he had about his sparkly new Keyblade, he certainly didn't use it for much. He didn't even make any Phantom references... I almost feel ripped off. *boards the elephant* So, we're running away now? Would there be any benefit to cutting down their numbers a bit, or are they not going to show up again no matter what we do? Because I've still got some wind shards left with their names on them.

: *climbs back on top*

: *flies up there*

: *floats on top and lands*

*A voice echoes up from below*

Hey, wait for me!

: *floats up* "Sorry about that; a captain always has to go down with the ship! Fortunately, this ship didn't sink very far." *looks at the horde of enemies* : "Okay, so. Time to leave?" *hops on heffalump*

: *pulls him up on the elephant* Yes. We've got a giant elephant... and now we're going to make it step on stuff. *point* CHARGE!

Let's go!

Giant Elephant: *giving a glorious battle cry, charges forward towards the portal, stomping on the army as it moves, leaving shockwaves of light as it stomps to hit the ones it misses*

: "WHOO HOO! I should get one of these; this is awesome!"

{At the Dialogue Tree}

*after everyone exits the portal*

: Are you going to keep your pet elephant, Drew?

Heh, maybe. Riding a giant elephant in Englandland to stomp on an army... *jokingly* Dreams do come true.

I got to be a pirate!

No, you just acted as dopey as usual. <_<

This isn't over, though...

Icon: *gets off the giant elephant* ...Well then.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmile.gif[/img] That. Was. AWESOME! *ports around excitedly*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *looks over at the others* Hmm, I sincerely hope not to see those enemies again.

: It isn't over? What's left to do? We've got the key, and I'm sure our friends in the other portals have theirs, too. It kind of seems like we're at the end of what we can do, for now at least.

*a dark window appears*

: Not by a long shot.[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}

: Yes... A new form... So much power... You will not defeat me again!

SPOILER: Click to show

: ... I have no idea what is going to happen but... We need to be ready. There's going to be another meeting here later, so get some rest, go find some more people, whatever you need to do.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincHeh.gif

[/img] Ha! When they come, we'll be ready.

Icon: I sincerely hope so, at least. Come on, Glinc, let's go home.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] It was a pleasure working with you all. I hope to see you all again soon. *heads off*

Icon: *heads out*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincHeh.gif[/img] *follows*

... Well. Maybe I will be keeping that elephant, then. *vanishes along with it*

I'm gonna go get some rest... *walks off*

Yeah. *also leaves*

: *shakes head in frustration* Of course. No body means he isn't dead. Should have guessed.
I should probably rest, too. Maybe take a bath or something; that seems to do wonders for my stamina for some reason.
I'm not really sure we need that many more people to take him down a second time, but I can always summon Sev if he's needed, so I'll just look forward to the next meeting.

: "...seriously? Is there one villain in the universe who has the courtesy to stay dead when you kill them? *shrugs* " O well, I guess that's vampires for you. Anyway!"

: "Looks like we all made it through okay! Wonderful! This was a fantastic adventure; it was a pleasure working with all of you!" *nods to Ikkin* "Always nice to work with a fellow pirate." *carefully avoids Portsman's gaze* "I'd better go check up on the rest of my crew now; take care, everyone! Hope to see you soon!"
*shoulders his cutlasses and walks off whistling into the sunset*

: There might be a few, but most of them tend to stick to other genres. *fourth wall break*

: It was great working with you, too. See you later then, I guess.[/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Part VI - That Which Is Written

SPOILER: Click to show

{In front of the Dialogue Tree}

: (It will be over soon...)

: *walk in*

*also walk in, surprisingly quietly*

Candy: *wanders up*

Sabrina: *following*

*Walks in, followed by Piers*

*Follows shortly after with Himi and Eoleo* (I don't like the looks of this.)

Argent, Shadow and Azzie: *all walk in*

*the air pirates enter*

: "All right, let's get started! This should be fun!"

: "...As long as I don't get stuck in a filthy sewer this time..."

: (I won't fail these people again. I WON'T )

: "Hmph, suppose this will go smoother than last mission, anyway."

: *walk in and sit down*

: ...*slouches and holds his face in his hands*

: *just crosses his arms and looks away*

: *sits with his hands behind his back, thousand yard stare* ...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif

[/img] *enters quietly*

Icon: *also enters with Glinc in tow*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] ... *looks around*

*walks in* (At least we have Trucy this time... that should help.)

*walks in, explaining the situation so far to Trucy as they walk*

Oh no! That sounds terrible!

*walks in also* Yeah, pretty much.

Jeran/Danner: *enter and find seats*

: *leans up against a tree* Hey, everyone.

: (... The time has come.)

HEEEEEY! Fonz! I'm not late, am I?

: *flies in*

: ... Who the [Hades] invited you.

: *walks in, tapping forehead* You rookies were planning this without me?

: *walks in after, silent*

: (I've been looking around this world for a while... And I almost missed this, here.)

… *Takes off his sunglasses, looking at Winston incredulously* (What is he doing here?)

*looks up at the newcomers* ... Who invited Winston?

Who invited you? <_<

Candy: Jinzo! ^_^

Sabrina: Yes, we were planning this without you.

Candy: ...that's not very nice.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] *looks over* What's mister Jingo doin' here?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *appears to be messing with some sort of technology* Hmm...

Candy: Oh, hey, it's Glincy. c:

: *sees Seuss*

: _{Just let him tag along, it's not like he can do any harm to us.}

: _But... *sulks*

: *notices Aqua arrive* You look familiar. Wait, are you...?

: My name is Aqua. I came to this world in search of my friends.

: *grins* I do know you! You're kind of a personal hero of mine. (...should I have said that? *embarrassed*) I'm honored to have you by my side to help save the forum. ^_^

: *looks at the group* If I may, I'd like to have your attention for a second time, and hopefully final time.

: *pay attention*

: *paying attention* ...

*Shifts uneasily at the glow* …

*Adjusts jacket* (I have a bad feeling about this.)

_{Time to listen, guys. This is probably important.}

*glances at Fantasy*

*also*

: *stops being a fangirl and listens*

*looks over* ?

*silently listening*

Terra: *walks in with Emmeline*

*looks around and sits down*

Candy: *looks at Fantasy*

Sabrina: *also*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *looks up* ?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] *watches*

Icon: ...

: "Ssh! He's starting!"
: (I hope this is the last speech...)

*thoughtsmack* (Aika! Be polite!)

: (Ow! Yessir...)

Argent: *looks up*

Shadow: ? *looks over*

Azzie: *looks over*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

: We have located the keys in the four Nightmare realms. The first part of our mission is done... but not without cost. As some of you already know... Winston Churchill made the ultimate sacrifice, parting with his life once more for the safety of our world. What's more... attempts at revival or contact with him are... impossible. Premonition would have made sure of that, and our attempts show this.

: ...

: ...

... ... *crosses arms*

...

...! (Oh no!)

...

...

Terra: ...That's terrible. D:

: ... *looks down*

… *In thought on this* …

*Looks over at Piers*

… *Puts a hand to his mouth, thinking in another language* … … … ({There are just some people that cannot be brought back….})

(…I don't think I like where this is heading.)

*shudders* (That poor robot...I couldn't save him...I failed)

: *whispers*_{"Hey Fina, you all right?"}

: "Oh!" _{"Oh...yes, I--I'm fine. Thank you Vyse"}

: ...

: *freezes* ... *looks down, frowning* ...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincOhNoes.gif

[/img] ... *hugs Icon*

Icon: *hugs back* :/

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] And you are certain there's no way to bring him back?

Candy: *eyes widen* ...Impossible?

Sabrina: (ohgosh yeah he died but I thought we'd be able to revive him)

Argent: *looks somber*

Shadow: ....

Azzie: :< *looks around*

: No! We can't have lost someone already... Are you sure he can't be brought back after we win?

: It is hard to say at this point. I do not know if Premonition's power simply blocks him off, or... or if Premonition opted for complete annihilation.

: We can't lose hope.

*Stands* …I have seen the will of spirits. Even encased in metal, a soul is a soul. The man had great strength of will to lead a country through war. I do not think he will have given up. Either way, the enemy has proven themself extremely dangerous.

Jeran: ._.

Danner: *gulps* Complete annihilation?

!!!

(No... it can't be...)

Candy: But can't we try to get him back?

Sabrina: Poor guy...

: There are some things that can destroy even souls... though they're generally quite hard to pull off in the middle of battle. But if it happens... even Sev has no power to revive an annihilated soul.

Well...that sounds doomful.

Terra: Yeah. ._.

: ...There has to be a way to get around it, right? ...Right?

: I can only assume any magic connected with my former master will end upon his defeat. Which brings me to my next point. He has made his own insurance with his magic... Those with magatamas would have seen it in the form of specially designed psyche-locks. If any of us explain about him... then he will know. I knew before that this would lead to my destruction, but there is now no other option. Those keys will take your to my former master's kingdom. Once you enter, added to the previous dark windows, there will be Royal Narrations, his speeches. But I must also give a warning—

I already gave you your warning, Nightmare.[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

!!!

Is that-?!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif

[/img] _{What was that.}

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img] That sounded like that guy we heard in the dark portal earlier...

Icon: You're probably right, Glinc... I wonder what he's got planned?

*Stands, putting a hand to his blaster and cursing*

*Aura spikes* This is going nowhere good fast.

*Hands flame up as he draws his sword* I get the impression we don't have time to use fancy phrasings now.

!!!

_{Wh-who's there?!}

: *starts at voice* "H-huh? Whose there?"

(Looks like this Master person has decided to pay us a visit...) *flexes mechanical hand*

Candy: *jumps despite being fairly used to "floating voices"*

Sabrina: Who's there?!

: *draws her sword* If you touch him before he finishes explaining this to us... I'll take you on right here and now!

Shadow: *frightened face*

Argent: Who is that?

Azzie: .____.

...What...?

Terra: ... It's not...him, is it?

Useless creations of scattered imaginations... You expect to fight me when I have no intention of being anywhere near there...

: Everyone stay BACK!

So your last act was to protect them... Pity, it's as useless as the rest of your existence.

: N-NO! *aura is suffocated with dark slate gray flames that grow until nothing can be seen in them*

: ...

*the flames subside, leaving nothing behind*

What do you "feel", characters? Anger? Sadness? Nothing at all?

: You're a monster!

*laughter fills the clearing as darkness starts forming around the edges*

FON!

!! *takes out a wand*

*jumps to feet*

No...!

What's going on?!

I don't know, but I don't like the looks of this... *grips staff warily*

Azzie: WHAT.

Argent: Oh dear....

Shadow: ....*glares at no one in particular*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincOhNoes.gif[/img] *ports nervously* Whatwasthat.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] Oh dear. Fon?

Icon: *gets up* I've got a baaaad feeling about this...

*Howls in a rage akin to that of a wild wolf, aura flaring up around him in the visible shape of a wolf* YOU! YOU WILL REGRET THAT!

(Where are they?!) *Casts Deluge at the darkness*

HEY! We have the keys! Let's use them and GET OUT OF HERE!

Candy: O____O!!! *squeaks and darts behind Eoleo, frightened*

Sabrina: W-Woah! Fantasy? *wanders over to me* _{Candy, you can use fire to help you if you need it, why are you so frightened?}

*the Blue Rogues leap to their feet*

: "Fantasy! No!" *draws cutlasses* "Get ready to fight, everyone!"
: "Grr..."
: "NO! Another victim... I need to end this!"
: "Come out where we can see you, scum!"

: I feel a strong desire to cleave you in two. Show yourself and fight, you coward!

: OH [REDACTED] *draws both guns*

: *pumps shotgun* _Ugh...

: *draws own gun, looking furious* (He's going to die, he's going to die...)

Jeran/Danner: *level weapons in the direction of DSG's voice*

... *determined look* You'll regret this.

Terra: Yeah! *aims flamethrower*

If you seek an audience, you'll need to find me. For now...

*three dark portals materialize on the edges of the clearing*

x5x5x5x5x5x5x5: *spill in from the portals*

A battalion from my army should be sufficient to punctuate that moment of tension.

: We need people to stay and fight, but everybody near a portal, go in it, or there will be a lot more where those come from![/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Part VII - Royal Narrations

SPOILER: Click to show

{In front of the Dialogue Tree}

: *draws sword* I'm staying and fighting.

: And I'm fighting with you!

: Then... nevermind then! *dives into a portal*

: *springs into the portal*

: *follow*

: "Come on, follow doc!"

: "We don't leave our people in there..."

: *dives through portal!*

Argent: *scrambles after Doc*

Shadow: *looks around, confused, then dives in the portal too*

Azzie: *runs in*

: *weaves through the wave of enemies and follows Doc through the portal*

: *dives into the portal*

{Bleak Town}
*The portal opens up into what at first glance seems like a normal village. Upon closer inspection, however, every plant is dead and darkness gathers like fog around the entire area. It is also completely devoid of people.*

: ...Where are we...

Patton: Some dead village. Stay alert, guys.

: *shivers and rubs at her shoulder nervously* It feels like a plague town.

Argent: ....*looks around*

Shadow: *shivers* This place....

Azzie: ....What is this?

: "Well, this is a good sign."

(Oh dear, this place has a very dark aura...moons protect us all.)

: *looks around* Looks like there's only one path out.

*The path in question leads to a forest, beyond which a mountain looms.*

: Go toward the dark, evil peak.
We will not survive the week.

: If you want to try wandering around in the darkness, good riddance to ya. *starts walking out*

*a cackling laughter is heard from the darkness around them*

: ...

: "...close ranks, people. There's something evil out there."

: _{"No need to tell me twice."} *draws boomerang*

: "Let us proceed with caution." (I will not let any more lives be lost to this fiend! I WON'T!)

Patton: The path it is then. Let's move out. *follows Doc*

Orwell, Rommel: *follow*

: *unsheathes sword* Careful, but don't get too wound up. They're trying to unnerve us.

Azzie: ....*doesn't like those words of Seuss', but starts walking* *hears the laughter and stops*

Shadow: Who's there? >(

Argent: *listening closely, trying not to miss anything*

*The dark fog erupts, creating a barrier blocking off the path. Marx and some minions come out of the barrier.*

: *floats in the air*

x2x3: *stand, ready*

: *draws sword*

: "You again?! I thought I finished you off last time! Blue rogues, take out that bat-thing!"

: "Piece of cake. Hi-yaaah!" *throws boomerang at Marx*

: *begin charging spirit*

: *hit*

: Ha! *attacks a ninja minion*

: *dodges*

x3: *start charging spells*

: *throw shurikens at Blues and Vyse*

: *charges attack*

Azzie: *puts a shield up on people*

Argent: *attempting to get in close enough to punch one of the minions in the face*

Shadow: *scoots around*

: *draw guns*

: *fires both revolvers at the same time at Marx*

: *fires shotgun at one of the mages*

: *shoots at the ninjas*

: *hit by both*

: *hit*

x3: *dodge*

: *fires magic at Patton*

Blues: *shuriken bounce off of the shield Azzie threw over her*
: Fast little blobs, aren't you? *swings sword back around to take another strike at the ninja and unhooks a small throwing knife, flinging it at one of the mages*

*hit with shuriken* "Argh!" *stumbles back, clutching shoulder*

: "Vyse!!"

: "Guuh...'mfine! Get the bat!"

: *watching boomerang* (C'mon, hit him!)

: "Try this on for size! Wevles!"

*Strong gusts of wind begin to batter the battlefield*

: *hit*

: *defeated*

: *hit, stumbles backwards a bit* WHY YOU- *FIRES AT MARX TWICE AGAIN*

: *fires at the other mage*

: *tries shooting the ninjas again*

: *hit twice*

: *defeated*

x2: *hit*

: *defeated*

: "Take this!" *attacks a ninja with his cutlasses*

: "Moons, give us strength! Electrum!

*Lightning bolts flash down from the sky and strike at random amongst the ninjas*

: *catches boomerang and prepares for another throw*

: *dodges Vyse's attack*

x2: *dodge lightning*

: *darts over to Marx's right side and fires twice at him again*

: *are now firing at the ninjas*

: *both miss* *fires a blast of light at Patton*

: *defeated*

Argent: *tries to sock a ninja IN THE FACE*

Shadow: *is mostly trying not to get stepped on at this point* *transforms himself into a human in order to do so more effectively*

Azzie: *circling around trying to make sure everyone's covered as best they can be*

: "Ach!" *swings wildly at the ninjas again*

: "Vyse, take it easy!" Sacrulen!

*Vyse is surrounded by a green light, and his wounds begin to close up*

: *dashes out of the way, and fires again*

: *fire at Marx*

: "Leave this to me. Hraaah!"

*Drachma's metal fist shoots out of his arm and flies towards Marx's face*

: *DRACHMA PUNCH'D* *flies into the wall*

*dark slate gray flames erupt*

*when they fade, Marx and the barrier are gone, leaving a dark window*

SPOILER: Click to show

*The window shows the town alive and thriving.*

: *march into the village*

SPOILER: Click to show

Azzie: ? *glances up* Is that...?

Argent: That looks rather familiar. *glances around* This does not bode well.

: "Hah! That'll learn ya!"

: *staring at the Dark Memory* "That...that's so horrible. The list of his sins keeps on growing...I have to end this!"

: *sheaths sword and goes to retrieve knife* ...I wonder how many other places they ransacked like this.

: [scoundrel]s.

: Let's keep going-

: Where's Seuss and Doc?

: *walks over to the group* Well, that didn't work.

: ...Remind me again what I said that sounded like "turn your hat into a cannon and try to shoot me over the wall".

: There they are. Well, let's go. Can't linger here too long.

: *walks*

{Dead Forest}

*The trees are all either dried up or completely petrified. It looks like a battle has taken place.*

: It looks like another group just came through here not too long ago...

: We'd better be on the lookout, then. More of those [scoundrel]s could be around.

: *trails a hand over a trunk* *mutters under breath* _{I'm not sure I want to find out what can do this to a tree.} *catches up with the rest of the group*

Shadow: *shivers* This place.

Argent: *keeps moving forward, glancing around*

Azzie: I don't like this. *keeps going*

: *keeps going*

{Mountain}
*As the group walks up the mountain path, they see the signs of a fight here as well.*

: ...Apparently there were a few fights going on...

: Holy hell, how many fights were there? lparchive.org/Pokemon-Quartz/Update 1/emot-pwn.gif

[/img]

Argent: *looks around with increasing attention*

Shadow: This place.... it's like.... it's like it's dead.

: "Looks like there was some resistance here...Let's keep moving, I don't like this place."

*shivers*

: "..."

{Mountaintop}

*The path continues through the dark fog, and once through, a massive dark castle is visible. The path leads through the open gates.*

: ...There's no turning back now.

: "Wouldn't dream of it. After you, doc!"

: "Let's go!"

: "Mm hm!"

: "It's time to end this!"

: Well... let's go.

Argent: *heads along the path*

Shadow* *follows*

Azzie: *follows everyone*

: You mean turning back was an option up to this point?

{Great Hall}

*A crowd is already gathered of the people who came in before them.*

: Is this everyone?

: *looks around and shakes head* The people who stayed to fight aren't here. I think we'd notice Jinzo.

: We need to regroup before we can move on. Let's wait and see.[/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Part VIII - Maddening Theories

SPOILER: Click to show

{In front of the Dialogue Tree}

: *looks around* *dives into a portal*

...!

Go! *picks up Sgt. Guy and throws him into the same portal*

ARGH *thrown into the portal*

*follows*

*also follows*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif

[/img] Well, looks like that's our cue. *enters the portal*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] Wha'sgoin on-

Icon: *grabs Glinc* I'll explain it on the way, Glinc. *Jumps in as well*

Come on! Let's go! *drags Polly into the portal*

Wha— *dragged into the portal*

*follow*

{Dead Forest}

*The portal opens into a forest. The trees in the forest are all either dead or petrified.*

: Go, Riolu! *throws a Pokeball*

: ... Where are we, sensei?

: ...Not sure.

: *tries to sense if there is anyone around, but his senses are muddled by the dark auras surrounding the forest*

Guys, I don't like the looks of this place...

There's so much dark aura...

(Tell me about it.)

...Well, no way to go but forward, I guess.

*gets up and looks around* ...

*looks around* Wow. Someone needs to water the plants, dude.

...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] *looks around* 's'scary lookin...

Icon: Don't worry, Glinc, we'll be fine...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesConfused.gif[/img] *looking around* What is this place?

: *starts walking*

*Darkness gathers like fog on the path.*

: ...! Something is coming.

"Heh, I guess you caught me."

We caught you. Tag, you're it. Who are you?

*looking around for the source of the voice*

!

Wh-who's there?!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img] Huh? Whozat?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] _{Oh dear.}

*The dark fog gathers itself into a barrier surrounding the group!*

x2x3: *step out of the barrier*

: If I lose here... I'm probably not going to get any more chances... *summons two razor sharp envelopes and holds them like shuriken* I can't lose this time, understand!?

Sgt. Guy! I choose you!

*with some effort, summons a large fireball about the size of a car and tries to hit some of the minions with it*

ALL: *hit*

: Sgt. Guy used Fire Blast! It's super-effective!

: *tries to Zen Headbutt a merc*

: *defeated*

: *fires at Glinc*

x3: *shoot at Trucy, Hasaki, and me*

*BZZT*

: *hit* ARGH!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] _WHAT

Icon: Chives, you're a space alien, do something!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *pulls out raygun, shooting at the minions*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNotamused.gif[/img] *throws his kunai at one of the minions*

: *defeated*

: *shuriken harmlessly sticks in helmet* ...

: *fires a flurry of razor envelopes at Kindle*

(...Envelopes?)

Come on, guys! *charges Icebolt*

*prepares a light sphere and fires at the nearest minions*

*the light sphere misses*

*standing back*

*creates two smaller spheres of energy and throws them into the air*

*hits them with baseball bat towards the remaining minions*

*fires ray gun at Autospammer*

x1: *defeated*

: *hit* Hey! *throws two razor envelopes at Drew*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincHeh.gif[/img] *dodges the blast* Hah! ...Hey, gimme my kunai back! *ports on top of the spaceman and tries to pull the kunai out of his helmet*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *fires at Autospammer*

: *stumbles backward after the kunai is pulled out*

: *hit*

! *dodge*

*hit* Ow! Hey! *tries to whip Autospammer*

*looks at Autospammer, analyzing the aura* (So, what, mail-based powers?)

*manages to dodge* *pulls out an axe*

Gant Axe: *STAAAAAAARES*

_{oh god what is that thing}

*tries to attack Autospammer with it*

: *dodges*

: *WHIP'D* *summons chain of envelopes and tries the same*

: ...a chain letter

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSigh.gif[/img] She's prolly got chain mail armor too.

Icon: *sunglasses* YEEEAAAAAAHH~

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *facepalm*

*gets axe stuck in barrier* ...

Gant Axe:

YARR *randomly turns into Pirateman and fires cannon at Autospammer*

: *dodges*

Whoa! *dodges*

*decides to attempt and summon a razor envelope to counter her*

*it works, and he sends it at Autospammer*

*meanwhile, attempts to pelt the remaining minion(s?) with Icebolt*

: How nice.

: *defeated*

*the cannonball keeps going and shatters the Gant Axe*

... portsman, i'm gonna kill ya

... Yarr?

*waves wand like a maniac* DO SOMETHING

*something randomly explodes next to Autospammer*

*the explosion was from the tailpipe of the suddenly appearing Awkwardmobile!*

Awky: hi huntry and drewy and icony and sargey and porty and glincy and chivey and trucy and polly and kindley and hasaky and rioly and spammy

: what

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNotamused.gif[/img] *aims his kunai at Autospammer and throws*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *aims his raygun again*

Icon: *stares at awky* ...what

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesConfused.gif[/img] ...I don't even

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img] _WHAT

: *hit by both, too distracted to do anything*

Awky: *flirts with Sgt. Guy* why don't you take off that mask, handsome, you'll never be able to mask your feelings for me

: why do you exist

AWKY YOU MISSED IT AUTOSPAMMER WANTS TO GO TO OLD BEGAS WITH YOU

*fires another light sphere at Autospammer*

*fires the one remaining charged Icebolt at Autospammer*

*was about to attack but freezes at the sight of Awky* What.

*slowly turns to Awky and takes off mask, then looks at Autospammer* *SHOOP DA WHOOP*

: *hit by light sphere, but stumbles out of the way of Icebolt*

Awky: *rolls over to Chives* hey, has anyone ever told you that you look out of this world

: *thrown against the barrier*

I won't stand for these indignities any longer!

Awky: hey, you sound pretty

...I beg your pardon?

Awky: you're gonna have to pardon me, because i'm guilty of loving you

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] ...You know what, why bother? *fires his raygun at Autospammer again*

*was actually wearing another mask under mask anyway* ... *puts mask on over other mask*

what's going on

: *dodges* Please, this isn't-!

You have failed me for the last time.

Awky: but you're both an a+ in my book, my book of love

*dark slate gray colored fire erupts around Autospammer*

Awky: that isn't as hot as my love for you

(...My concentration has been completely thrown off. I have no idea what's going on.)

Uh...

*watches* ...

Does anyone have any marshmallows to roast?

Icon: You know what I don't even know anymore

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] ...Are we done here? Canweget going?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] Ahem. That would probably be, err, for the best.

Sadly, I left them at the DP. Too bad.

Uh...

Awky: *a tin can labelled "marshmallows" rolls toward Portsman*

*the flames and the barrier fade*

Awky: let's go, grandmas *tries to drive everyone along the path*

um

um

*poker face*

...I... guess it's time to go, then. Come on, guys.

I am so confused... *follows*

*also*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] *ports off*

Icon: *follows*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *also*

*Drew, Portsman and General Guy follow*

{Mountainside}
*They're on a path going up a mountain. I figure most people have read yesterday's update, and if they're reading this after being archived, I assume you aren't jumping through parts randomly like a drunken monkey.*

Awky: i can't wait to meet whoever has that beautiful voice-

: GOODBYE AWKY *Spartakicks off the mountain* *continues walking*

: ... *follows*

Can I just shoot you guys out of a cannon? You'd be there so much faster, Jim!

... *keeps following*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] ...Are we there yet?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] No.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] ...How 'bout now?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] No, not yet.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] ...Now?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *sigh*

*looks around at the surroundings as they walk* (Something about this place rubs me the wrong way...)

Awky: *drives back up the mountain* hey guys hey guys i found a movie *pulls a dark window out of his trunk* it was in the forest

: how did you even carry that

Awky: magic[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{? ? ?}
: {Your Majesty. The NTWF is attacking.}

... I know of this.

*the knight erupts into dark flames*

SPOILER: Click to show

Awky: he burns the fires of my heart

: *Spartakicks again* hopefully he's gone for good this time

(How does that car keep showing up?!)

*looks at the window* ...

*watches the dark window*

does he just kill all his minions

: he apparently has some issues *keeps walking*

Icon: ....That can't be good.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif

[/img] Yeah.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] ...

*keeps walking*

*follows*

{Mountaintop}

*They break through a layer of dark fog to see a massive towering dark castle. ...And somehow Awky.*

Awky: hi

: *KICKS* We're here, it looks like. No turning back... *goes through the gates*

Well, this should be interesting... *follows Hunter*

*seems to be choosing between a baseball bat and a golf club* ... *follows*

*also*

Icon: Well, we might as well go in now... *enters*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] *also* Mm...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] Well, let's see what happens next. *enters as well*

(Okay... here goes.) *walks in*

... *follow*

{Great Hall}

*The group joins a crowd of people already here.*

: *walks up* My group got here first. Have you seen James?

: *shakes head* We need to regroup, so let's wait for them.[/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Part IX - The Penultimate Portal

SPOILER: Click to show

{In front of the Dialogue Tree}

: *runs to a portal and jumps in*

Jeran/Danner: *run through the portal*

Terra: *follows into the portal*

*also follows*

: Er...

*A blast from a gun whizzes past Winston's head*

: Gah! *goes into moose form and dashes into the portal*

{Base of a Mountain}

*A mountain towers above them, with a winding path going up, surrounded by darkness like fog.*

: Looks like we need to climb. *starts walking*

: *follows*

Ah. Climbing. Fun. And I'm not quite being entirely sarcastic. *starts scurrying up the mountain*

Terra: *follows*

Jeran: *sigh* I hate climbing. *starts climbing*

Danner: Oh come on, climbing's fun! *bounds up the mountain with feline agility*

*sees Jeran* Wait...are you who I think you are?

Jeran: *bows* Sir Jeran Borodere of Meridell at your service. And you are?

(Wow. I can't believe this. I'm actually meeting Sir Jeran Borodere!) I - I'm Emmeline. Nice to meet you. ^_^

Jeran: It's a pleasure to meet you, miss Emmeline.

Danner: And I'm Sir Danner Carnahan.

Jeran: You might remember him as that one whiny Wocky from the second war.

Danner:

Jeran: Thankfully, he's a lot less whiny now.

Hello, Sir Danner. Nice to meet you.

{Mountainside}

*They continue up the mountain. Suddenly, the fog solidifies into dark barriers blocking both the path up and down.*

: Everybody stay alert!

"Is that the best advice you have, Glitchio?"

*Saint Dane steps out of the barrier, followed by three pirates and two steampunks.*

: You're going to need more than alertness to survive.

Jeran/Danner: *pull out their weapons*

Oh, not him again. So he didn't die, after all. *draws sword*

Terra: *draws flamethrower and fires*

Jeran: Ah, a fellow swordsman! Er, woman. At any rate, this should prove most interesting.

Yeah...sort of. I'm not amazing with it, though.

: *turns into a raven and flies into the sky*

: *blasts magic at him*

Raven!: *dodges*

: *slashes at Jeran with cutlass*

: *fires at Terra*

: *tries to find a place to hide*

Jeran: *parries the blow and then slashes at the pirate* Ha, I've fought tougher opponents than you.

: *hit*

Danner: *loads his crossbow and starts firing at another pirate*

: *dodges*

Terra: *is grazed by the attack* *starts bleeding a bit* Hey! *fires at the steampunk who shot at her*

*slashes at a pirate*

: *dodges*

: *defeated*

: *fires another blast at Saint Dane*

: *slashes at Glitchio*

: *ducks, dodges, blasts with magic*

: *turns into a potted plant*

: *kicks off the mountain*

: *fires at Glitchio*

: *falls backward slowly* *turns the steampunk into a pink exploding gerbil*

Jeran: Nice work, Emmeline! *slashes at another pirate*

Danner: Darn. *reloads and fires again*

: *hit by Jeran and knocked into Danner's shot, being defeated*

: *fires at Winston*

: *hit* Gaaah!

Terra: > *fires at the steampunk again*

*watches the pirate fall* Yay. *slashes at the last steampunk*

Jeran: *also slashes at the steampunk*

Danner: *reloads and fires at Saint Dane*

: *hit by Terra and Emmeline*

Raven!: *dodges and lands on the ground, transforming back to normal* And now I will-

: GYAAAARGH *transforms*

: !?

: *charges at Saint Dane and knocks him off the mountain*

: ...uh

*dark slate gray fire destroys the barriers, and a dark window appears*

: ... *walks over to see it*

Jeran: *also walks over to see it*

Danner: *straps his crossbow to his back and then also looks*

SPOILER: Click to show

*The window goes through four scenes. In the first, Nightmare Manor is being uprooted and being pulled into the sky, falling apart in the process. In the second, the same thing is happening to Castle Samurai in the Realm of Abandoned Characters. In the third, the desert of Story's Graveyard is being hit with a massive sandstorm. In the last, a massive tidal wave is in Fantasy's Domain, holding the NTWF Cruise Ship, about to level London.*

SPOILER: Click to show

: Th-the Nightmare worlds are being destroyed! Is that... is that good or bad?

: I... I don't know. *continues up the mountain*

Jeran: *follows up the mountain* You fought very well, Emmeline.

Danner: *also follows*

(He...he actually complimented me. ) ... Thank you, sir. *follows up the mountain*

Terra: *also follows, smiling*

{Mountaintop}

*The group breaks through a thick, dark fog to reach the mountaintop, where a massive dark castle is visible.*

: I don't think they're home, maybe we should come back later.

: ... *pushes Winston through the gates*

Jeran/Danner: *follow, clearly apprehensive*

Another ominous castle? You'd think they could be a bit more creative. *draws sword and follows through the gates*

Terra: Aw, come on, cliches are fun. *follows*

{Great Hall}

*The group enters into an empty hall.*

: It looks like we're the first ones here... As much as I hate to stop moving, we should wait for the others, so we can regroup.

[Deleted]

Part X - Defenders of the Forum

SPOILER: Click to show

{In front of the Dialogue Tree}

: *draws sword* I'm staying and fighting.

: And I'm fighting with you!

: Then... nevermind then! *dives into a portal*

: Well, I guess it's just us, then.

: I'm with you.

You can count on me to stand and fight! *puts brass glove on*

: I'm always up for a battle! They don't stand a chance against us!

*Looks at the portals* *Starts running forward*

*Grabs him by the headband* Don't you dare! You've taken too many chances already, I won't have you die out there!

Then let's stand our ground and fight! *Flames up with Light aura in the shape if a warg*

: *swings sword at Aqua*

: *blocks the attack and attacks the knight back*

: *fires at Leo*

: *charges magic*

: *blasts at Leo*

: *slashes at Ikkin*

: *throws shuriken at Leo*

: *shoots at Jinzo*

: *hit* Gragh! You're not as sophisticated as you look! *fires lightning bolts at the group*

*nine are hit with lightning*

Ikkin: *dodges the pirate mook's attack by stepping off to the side, then grabs him by the hand, twists him backwards, and attempts to stab him in the stomach with her cutlass*

: *dodges*

*siderolls a few times* Is that the best you've got?!

: *slashes at Jinzo*

: *hit* Hey!

: *fires at Leo*

: *shoots a burst of magic at Leo*

: *fires blaster at Ikkin*

: *slashes at Leo with katana*

: *fires at Aqua*

: *hit*

: Hey! *shoots lightning*

: *shoots magic at the group*

: *has absolutely no idea where the pirate mook is after dodging her attack* Hmm...

: *creates a swirling wall of wind shards around herself to tear the pirate mook apart and deflect the fleet mook's blaster bolt*

: *the blaster bolt is reflected back at the fleet mook, and Ikkin uses the opportunity to rush in and slash at him*

: *hit*

*the blast misses the enemies*

: *dodges*

GAH!

*runs towards the ninja* No more bs.
*heats up the brass glove and bares the claws, as she leaps towards the merc*

: *dodges*

: *charges spell*

: *fires at Ikkin*

: *lightning*

: *fires magic*

: *grabs the ninja mook in the middle of an attempted dodge and holds him up in front of her to block the steampunk mook's attack, then throws him at the largest gathering of enemies*

: *shot and used as weapon!*

: *somehow knocks out the rest of the group*

*Puts on his mask and casts Mad Growth at the enemies*

*Casts likewise!*

*Uses Deluge*

*Casts three spinning Light discs at the crowd of enemies*

(Why does it always have to be somewhere flammable?)

Darn ninja! *hisses* Dodge this... *charges up a blue orb of fire and hurls it towards the ninja*

*more mooks start to come out of the portals, but the attacks defeat them, destroying the portals in the process*

: That looks like the last of them.

*A dark window appears behind where Fantasy was standing, and where the four keys still are.*

: *walks over to it*

*Puts on his sunglasses* Well, that's not exactly the best of signs. I hope the others will be alright.

See, Piers? This is exactly why I held you back.

*Scowls* Hmph. *Walks over to the window* Let's see what clue is to be shown to us.

SPOILER: Click to show

*The window shows the scene through an unknown person's eyes, but a strong presence is felt coming from the window.*

? ? ?: *walking through the Icy Taco as it is set ablaze* Familiar surroundings will only harm them... razing the entire area is the only safe thing to do.

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...

: *picks up the keys* The portals all closed... What do we do with these?

: *walks into the clearing* I heard the commotion... I think I know what the keys are for.

: *blinks* Huh, never seen that happen before. *puts her sword in its sheath and walks over to the window* Though I'm guessing this is just the start of it.

*Puts a few fingers to his lips in thought* … (The dreams of our opponent… but why would he feel a need for our "safety"… and why would burning the town be the answer?)

…So what are the keys for, then?

: *winks* The better question is, why do we need keys when we have a Keyblade wielder with us? ...okay, I'll be serious now.

: *takes a map out of his pocket* I found this in Nightmare Manor last time. I tried to decipher it, but... *he opens it, and four locks appear in the air above it*

Map:

: Four locks!

: They're the same color as that fire... should we try the keys?

*Jinzo holds up the keys, and they fly at the locks. Keys, lock, and map all vanish, replaced by a portal.*

…Uh. … I don't have a good feeling about this.

Come now. It cannot be any worse than climbing up the Apollo Lens. Master Miles. Where does this lead?

: Hard to say...

: Probably the same place as the other portals.

: Let's go, then! *flies through*

: ...

: Well, let's get this over with, shall we? *dashes into the portal*

*Sighs* Well, I suppose we have no choice. *Hops onto her dragon*

*Felix, Piers, and Eoleo do likewise*

*Shifts into a warg-sized wolf*

Alright then. Let's go! *Cracks the Trainer's Whip!*

Dragon: *Lets out a roar and dashes into the portal*

*Howls and follows in after*

Hmm... *clenches fist and follows through the portal*

: *dash after*

{Mountaintop}

*The group exits the portal on top of a mountain, above a dark fog. A dark castle towers above them.*

: I'm assuming we can't just ding-dong-ditch here?

: *walks past Jinzo, through the gates*

: *follows*

: Hey! *flies past them*

: Well, this is a cheery place. I guess there's nowhere to go but forward? *follows Aqua*

Man, I wish we had brought Amiti with us. That ability of his to see the answers to things would sure come in handy in things like this.

Be quiet, Eoleo. And remain alert.

*Directs the dragon to follow the others*

*Follows along cautiously*

Leo: *puts on a 'coat' of warmth and follows Aqua* .oO(I have a bad feeling about this place)

{Great Hall}

: Hail, hail, the gang's all here!

: Have much trouble?

: Pfft, you kidding? I'm seen crickets tougher than that battalion. ...Mostly because PFA's crickets look pretty tough when they're giant, but that's beside the point.

Assembled warriors! This is your last stand!

[Deleted]

Part XI - The Final Dream

SPOILER: Click to show

Assembled warriors! This is your last stand! Useless creations of scattered imaginations, your hopeless existence will soon come to an end if you continue to resist! I can offer you a glorious new existence under my rule!

*Snarls*

… You offer us an existence beyond what we have, but you give no reason for why. You cannot and will not be trusted.

Hm...

*slaps Portsman* We're not interested.

Never.

: "...Seriously, has that offer ever worked?"

I am not impressed. You sound like a walking cliche, you know that?

Icon: Hahahaha yeah no. There's no way we're actually going to fall for that.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif

[/img] That's something I can agree with.

: I'd rather you offer us an end to these useless distractions and fight us already. I'm sure you'd quickly find that our existence isn't nearly so hopeless as you make it out to be!

Shadow: ....

Argent: And you think you are better.

: Your Nightmares killed Churchill. You killed Fantasy.

I created Fantasy. There is no loss there.

You are wrong. To destroy so senselessly is cruel. Just because it was not a loss for you does not mean it was not a loss!

(It's true that we're going up against the creator of the Nightmares now...)

: "No loss?! How dare you debase Fantasy's sacrifice, you monster!"

: "We've gotta stop this guy, no matter the cost."

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img] He... he made the Nightmares?

Azzie: You BUTTFACE.

Argent: You monster.... How dare you?

Shadow: You think that matters!?

: I-if that was a valid argument, filicide wouldn't be illegal! W-would it?

What is that screeching sound filling my halls?

: My theory is that someone kicked him in the—

: Payne is right, and that's a sentence I never thought I'd need to say!

You seem to assume I mean that those worthless Nightmares are my children. But I can also see that you refuse to join me. I will not stop you from trying to reach me.

… Then you mean to toy with us.

He won't...?

You realize who we're going up against.

Oh. I'll get my baseball bat ready.

_{we're all going to die}

Terra: Won't stop us...but what does he plan to do, then? That can't be good, can it?

Icon: ...So you're saying you're going to make us hunt you down ourselves. I'm not particularly surprised by that.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNotamused.gif[/img] We can findja, though!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] (I've got a bad feeling about this.)

: So why drag this out, then? Just cut to the chase already!

*a door flies open at the end of the hall, and a dark window appears*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

Motinspire has been ruled for many years under my hand. The inhabitants are tools, subservient to my every whim. They have no names, no faces, no free will. The Motinspiran army is composed of units derived from the guilds of the idiotic NTWF, in parody of them. Of course, it also means they will have convenient bases for when the NTWF is finally conquered and controlled.

SPOILER: Click to show

...

Moltinspire, huh...?

: *focusing* Let's proceed carefully, everyone.

: "An army of shadow creatures...this will be a worthy battle."

: "Armies and armies of shadow beings versus these few of us. I almost feel sorry for 'em." *draws boomerang*

Terra: (I can't imagine...taking over the NTWF...the NTWF is my home.)

: Treating your allies as tools... you really are the worst sort of cliche villain.

: ...

: *begins walking toward the open doors*

{Motinspire Castle, Labyrinth}

*a dark window is here as well*

SPOILER: Click to show

The Motinspire Labyrinth is one of the main defenses of the castle. At all dead ends, a battalion waits. Statues of the muses stand at the four corners of the maze, the centers of the walls, and the very center of the maze. A switch at the end of the maze lowers the walls, but you'd need to get through the maze first! Darkness blocks the path, so it is impossible to see even the nearest dead ends.

SPOILER: Click to show

: ...A maze. I'm going to try and find another way around. *leaves the group*

      ░A  
  ████░░██
░░░░▒▒░░██
  ░░██████

*Group A contains everyone. Since there are no options for paths at this point, I will now advance to the first intersection.*

*Group A walks past a statue of a woman, Melpomene, holding a tragic mask. They come to an intersection. The options are east, south, and west, with west going back the way they came.*

      __  
  ████░░██
░░░A▒▒░░██
  ░░██████

*Group A contains everyone.*

*Shifts back to human and glows with a Light aura as he summons an orb of Light* I highly suggest against splitting up. This is a game to him, and one by his rules. We have to assume that with all the damage he has done, anyone caught alone could face complete destruction… erasure.

*Glowers at the maze* Man, I knew we should have brought Amiti along! His Insight Psynergy coulda helped see what we needed to do…

We didn't bring him because we didn't want h—

*Warning glance*

…didn't want Alex to get involved with this mess.

(Ugh. A maze. This doesn't look fun.)

*looks around* I guess we're splitting into groups...

Guess so.

(Trucy, I'm sticking with you, okay?)

*looks around*

Argent: ....So. A puzzle.

Shadow: Let's just get through it.

: Hmm, everyone else is either going South or East... no one's going to explore the path behind us? I guess I'll have to go that way, then!

: I know I'm not supposed to go alone... but if things get too bad, I can always summon Sev!

*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Winston, Aqua, and Riolu go back the way they started.

Since I hadn't planned on anyone actually going backward... you reach a door.*

: *presents his badge gallantly to the door!*

*The door, understandably, does absolutely nothing.*

: I could probably open the door with the Keyblade...

: I think it would be best we continue through the maze.

---

I agree that we should split up. I'll take Portsman and Sgt. Guy with me to the South route.

So we're playing "Follow the Writer" now, Jim?

Yep. *goes south, followed by his characters*

Yeah, we should split up. I mean, if we have a couple of reasonably-sized groups, it shouldn't be too bad, right? *looks at Terra* If you don't mind...can I go off with a different group?

Terra: What, don't like me anymore? D:

No, no...it's nothing like that...^_^; I just thought it'd be fun. That's all.

Terra: ...Okay, fine, then. You think you can handle it?

Pfft. I'll be fine. I've got a full set of Battledome equipment. I'll head South.

Terra: Okay, I'll head East, then. ^_^

*Portsman, Sgt. Guy, Drew, Emmeline, Doc, and Hunter go south. They walk until they reach another intersection, with the options of south, west, and east, with west going back the way they came.*

: ...How did I end up with Drew's group, exactly?

: Because I dragged you along. Now no complaining.

---

: "All right, everyone, let's split up and--"

: NO.

:"...okay, we stick together. Blue Rouges, move out!"

Icon: Alright, so we're splitting up? As long as we're in large enough groups. I think I'll go East as well.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincGrin.gif

[/img] I wannago thatway! *points to the south hallway*

Icon: ...Maybe it would be better if you came with me, Glinc. ^_^;

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] Aww, okay, I'll go Eefst too.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] Very well then, I shall go East as well.

*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Icon, Glinc, Chives, Glitchio, Jinzo, and Seuss go east. They continue down a path until... they reach a dead end! Uh-oh...

There is exactly one ninja there! However, he invoked conservation of ninjitsu and has 5 HP! Ohsnapz! The only exit is to go north, to go back the way you came.*

: Looks like he's alone. I guess the job doesn't pay well enough.

---

 N
W-E
 S

*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Winston, Aqua, and Riolu are in Group B.*
*Portsman, Sgt. Guy, Drew, Emmeline, Doc, and Hunter are in Group C.*
*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Icon, Glinc, Chives, Jinzo, Glitchio, and Seuss are in Group D.*
*Everyone else is in Group A. They can, instead of moving normally, choose to catch up with any of the groups.*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

…A door.

…Somehow I'm not surprised. Let's try and find the others. We can't keep going this way, clearly.

Why are we going back this way, again?

...We should probably catch up with the others.

: Well, that didn't go like I planned. I guess that just means next turn takes me back to where I started, then. *moves to the East, back the way she came* .o(I still wish we'd at least tried to open the door... too late for that now, I guess)

Argent: A locked door. Shame.

Shadow: *turns and heads back along the path with the others, followed by Argent and Azzie*

*Group B walks back to the starting point, to rejoin Group A. They walk past the same statue they walked past the first time. To continue, they could go west or south. East goes back where they came from.*

---

Hm, this is going well. Doc, I'll sit on your shoulders and you keep walking forward. *points east*

I'm so sorry man

*looks around* Well, then. Which way should we go? I wouldn't be averse to splitting up into two groups of three.

If you're going east, I'll go south, then. If Doc and Hunter are willing to come with me. I'm not stupid enough to go off on my own. >_>;

: *throws Drew off shoulders* Hunter, let's go with Emmeline. Drew can handle... ... Sgt. Guy can handle that group.

: I'M GONNA MISS YOU, MAN

*Emmeline, Hunter, and Doc go south. They go on a long path before the next intersection, but encounter nothing interesting.*

: This is boring, we should have stayed with Drew.

*Emmeline, Doc, and Hunter are now Group C. To continue, they could go west or south. North goes back where they came from.*

---

*Drew, Sgt. Guy, and Portsman go east. They reach a dead end, but there are no enemies. Instead, there is a statue of a woman holding a writing tablet: Calliope. A dark window also appears.*

EVIL VISION VII - Sir Nightmare
*There is a throne room, but the person sitting on the throne, speaking to Vampire!Hunter, cannot be seen.*

Why don't I knight you? It would be quite interesting for you to be Sir Hunter, wouldn't it?

: No thanks. But Hunter of Nightmare has a nice ring to it...

*They are now Group E. The only exit is west, back the way they came.*

---

Terra: ...ohsnapz. A ninja.

Terra: *fires her flamethrower at the ninja* Take that!

: "A single ninja? Heh, this'll be a snap. Blue Rouges, attack!" *slashes cutlasses*

: "Take this! Ya!" *throws boomerang*

: "Go, Cupil!"

: Pyuu~! *swings self at ninja*

: "Hraaaarh!" *Charges at the ninja*

: *dodges flamethrower, hit by cutlass, dodges boomerang, dodges Cupil, dodges Drachma*

: *zap*

: *zap*

: *fires a cannonball out of his hat*

: *hit only by Glitchio*

---

*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Winston, Aqua, Riolu, and everyone who hasn't moved yet are in Group A.*
*Emmeline, Doc, and Hunter are in Group C.*
*Portsman, Sgt. Guy, and Drew are in Group E.*
*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Icon, Glinc, Chives, Jinzo, Glitchio, and Seuss are in Group D.*
*Anyone who has not moved yet can catch up with any of the groups.*

SPOILER: Click to show

: *pauses for a moment to sense where the others are*

: .o(Hmm, so... there's three other groups, one nearby and southwest, one farther southwest, and one off to the east. If the closer southwest group are the ones who went west, that must be a dead-end...)

: Hey, guys, we should probably go south from here, if we don't want to hit another dead-end.

*Ikkin moves south*

… Agreed. Let's proceed. When the center is reached the walls can be lowered…

*Agent Lang, Felix, Piers, Himi, and Eoleo move south with Ikkin*

Azzie: So where should we go?

Argent: ...Hmm. I think it would be advisable to investigate all roads....however.....hmm.

Azzie: It's probably best not to split up at this point.

Argent: Perhaps. All right.

Shadow: ....

Hmm.

There's nothing else to see here, Jims.

By the way...

?

Portsman, you have a gun, right?

Yeah.

*enchants it* It can harm spirits now. You won't be completely useless.

All right! Onward! ... Backward!

*Portsman, Sgt. Guy and Drew go west*

*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Aqua, and Riolu go south. They meet up with Portsman, Sgt. Guy, and Drew who went west.*

: Where did Prosecutor Payne go?

: He went the other way, I think...

*They are now Group B.*

---

Terra: Argh! > *fires flamethrower at ninja again*

*Winston goes west, to join Group D, who are still fighting the ninja.*

: *hit by flamethrower*

: *zap*

: *cannon*

: *only hit by Glitchio's attack*

: *MOOSE CHARGE!

: *defeated!*

: Aren't you rookies glad that I showed up?

---

Hmm...let's go west.

*Doc, Hunter, and Emmeline move west, and reach a dead end! Two steampunks are there!*

: 'Ello, my good chap!

: Hunter, this is no time for jokes! Fight or flight?

---

*Everyone who has not moved yet is in Group A. They can catch up with any other group.*
*Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki are also in Group A. They can move normally or catch up with Group B.*
*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Aqua, Riolu, Portsman, Sgt. Guy, and Drew are in Group B*
*Doc, Hunter, and Emmeline are in Group C.*
*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Icon, Glinc, Chives, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, and Winston are in Group D.*

SPOILER: Click to show

Why hello there, everyone.

Thank goodness, people that aren't idiots. There's nothing to the east. We should move south.

*puts on pirate hat* Let's go! *runs south*

: .o(Hmm, there were definitely people further east than this before... must have been a dead end)

: Let's go south. Maybe we can catch up the the others if we're fast enough.

*Looks back and notices Apollo & co. are gone* (I told them to stick with us.) Yeah, let's move south.

*blahblah bad feeling blahblah freaky blahblah where should we go*

...Uh. Guys? *gestures ahead to where the others are heading*

What the— hey! Wait up! *hurries after group B*

*also*

Argent: Hello, everyone. South, then. *walks south, glancing around as he does so*

Azzie: *follows*

Shadow: *heads that way too*

*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Aqua, Riolu, Portsman, Sgt. Guy, and Drew move south. Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki dash to catch up with them. They go along a long hallway and end up at an intersection, with the options of west or south. Sounds of a fight can be heard from the west.*

: We need to help whoever is there.

: If I remember correctly from the dark window at the beginning of the maze, enemies only appear at dead ends. Perhaps some of us should help and the rest continue forward?

---

*looks at the two steampunks* Well...dang. *draws sword and slashes at a steampunk*

1: *is hit with sword*

: *shoots ice*

2: *is hit with ice*

: *slashes with sword*

x2: *dodge*

---

Terra: Okay, then...I guess we're going back? *walks north and over to the intersection they were at earlier*

: "What."

: *whispering* _{"Don't feel bad, Cupil, you tried your best.}

: "Pyu pyu pyuuu!" ((Trans.--I got beaten by a moose! How does that even happen?!))

: "...Well, I guess there's no point hanging around here."

*The Blue Rogues move north with Terra*

*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, and Winston walk back to the starting point and rejoin Group A.*

: *hums Rookie Killer*

---

*Vyse, Fina, Aika, Drachma, Terra, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, and Winston are in Group A. Anyone who has not moved is also in Group A, and can catch up to any other group.*
*Lang, Eoleo, Felix, Piers, Himi, Ikkin, Azzie, Argent, Shadow, Aqua, Riolu, Portsman, Sgt. Guy, Drew, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki are in Group B.*
*Doc, Hunter, and Emmeline are in Group C.*
*Icon, Glinc, and Chives are in Group D. They can move normally or catch up with Group A.*

SPOILER: Click to show

*The Blue Rogues wend their way South from Point A through the labyrinth, navigating it's twists and turns.*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif

[/img] ...Well, that was anticlimactic.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif[/img] Why are we even still here?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSigh.gif[/img] Common, erryone else is already gone! Lessgo!

*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, and Winston go south. Glinc, Chives, and Icon run to catch up with them.*

: Rookies! You were too slow and-

: ...Can we trade him with the enemies?

*They are now Group D.*

---

... We have a large group now. I agree, maybe we should split up again. Some of us can go South, the rest can help the others fight.

*looks around* ... Portsman.

Arr!

Let's go.

*Drew, Sgt. Guy and Portsman go west*

*Pulls his Trainer's Whip taunt* I say we move south.

Are you planning to lead us as you did in Weyard?

Naturally. We worked with many puzzles. I suggest we, at least, stay together.

*Felix, Piers, Himi, and Eoleo move south*

*Glances at Apollo and Trucy for a moment before following Felix & co.*

: *pauses for a moment to sense who's where*

: .o(Well, there's two partially defeated enemies against three of ours... and three others just went off to help. If I went now, I'd be wasting time.)

: The fight to the west seems half-over already. They probably won't need our help for long.

*Ikkin goes to the south*

Shadow: ....I'm going to help.

Argent: All right, we can catch up with the others after-

Shadow: No. You guys keep going.

Azzie: No way, what are you saying-

Shadow: Just go, all right? Both of you.

Argent: *thinks hard* All right. But you be careful, all right?

Shadow: I will. You guys be careful too, all right?

Azzie: ....Okay. Be careful. *heads south*

Argent: *heads south too*

Shadow: *goes west*

*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Ikkin, Argent, and Azzie, and Riolu go south a short distance and reach another intersection. I am also assuming Lang dragged PFA's characters along.*

: North or east...

*They are now Group B.*

---

*Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua go west to join Group C, where a fight is still going on.*

: *shoots ice*

x2: *hit*

: *slashes*

: *dodges*

: HI DREW

: *facepalm*

---

*Group A contains everyone who hasn't moved yet. They can catch up to any group. Terra is also in this group, and can catch up to Group D.*
*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Ikkin, Argent, and Azzie, Riolu, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki are in Group B.*
*Emmeline, Doc, Hunter Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua are in Group C.*
*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, and Icon are in Group D.*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

*Glances between the two directions* …Felix?

… … … Mmph. At least we're not in Mt. Mikage. …We shall continue East.

*The Weyard Warriors and Agent Lang continue East.*

: .o(Hmm, the fight's still going on... Well, there's seven of them, so they should be fine without me...)

: Splitting up is probably best at this point. Anyone want to go north with me?

*Ikkin goes north*

Argent: *seems torn* I believe I will continue north as well. Miss Azalea?

Azzie: I'm going to go east. Be careful, okay?

Argent: *nods* You as well. *goes North*

Azzie: *heads East with the group*

*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki go east. They walk past a statue of a woman, Thalia, holding a comic mask. They hit a dead end. Five pirates appear!*

---

*Ikkin, Argent, and Riolu go north. They make a few turns, and end up at another intersection. They can go south, east... or wait for some of Group D to reach them.*

---

*stabs at a steampunk again*

HI HUNTER

Just in case you haven't noticed the fight going on...?

No worries. *pulls out a ray gun and fires at a Steampunk*

*pulls out his gun and fires at the other one*

Shadow: *dives at one of the steampunks, trying to bite it* >(

: *dodges sword, hit by ray gun, defeated*

: *dodges Shadow, shot by Portsman, defeated*

: Thanks for the backup.

---

*The Blue Rogues continue South, towards the next intersection, hurrying along the empty passages in terse silence.*

Terra: *leaves Group A and catches up to Group D* Hai! =D

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif

[/img] ...We should go catch up with those other guys. I say we head *points* that way now.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] That appears to be a good plan.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] Hmm.

*With all the catching up and double moving and such, I'm not sure how it happened, but The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra make it to where Group B was last turn, so they can go north or east.*

---

*Group A contains everyone who hasn't moved yet. They can catch up to any group.*
*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki are in Group B.*
*Emmeline, Doc, Hunter Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua are in Group C.*
*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra are in Group D.*
*Ikkin, Argent, and Riolu are in Group E.*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

*Curses* Let's get out of here!

*The dragon they are on roars and blasts the enemies with a wave of Venus Psynergy*

*Cracks his whip, summoning a phoenix* Arizona, keep them distracted!

Arizona: *Shrieks and blasts them with fire*

*The Weyard warriors and Lang attempt to retreat!*

Azzie: ....*sees Arizona torching the pirates* Okiedokes, let's go. =D; *attempts to retreat*

*watches Arizona burn the pirates* Uh... yeah, let's get out of here. *hurries after the others*

*as do the others*

*Felix summons Arizona! Arizona destroys one of the pirates!*

*The pirates attack! The first pirate misses! The second pirate misses! The third pirate misses! The fourth pirate misses! Congratulations, they're all drunk on rum!*

*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, and Hasaki escape! All four of the pirates follow them!*

---

Well...I guess we have to go east now? And I'll go south at the next intersection. *does so*

Anytime.

Come on, let's go! *goes East, then South*

*Drew and Portsman follow*

Shadow: *relieved* Good. *heads back east*

*Emmeline, Doc, Hunter, Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua go south, and then east. They join with Group B.*

: ... You are aware that you are being followed by pirates, correct.

: *glances at Portsman* So are we.

---

Terra: I'm going north. *goes north*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif

[/img] North seems like it would be a good option at this point. *follows Terra*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/Glinc.gif[/img] *ports around* Yeah.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] ... *looks around* The architecture of this place is quite impressive.

: "...gosh, this place is huge! I'm kinda honored that the big baddie went out of his way to build this labyrinth for us!"

: "...Let's just keep moving."

: (These statues, they look so...familiar...)

*The Blue Rogues follow Icon's group North*

*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra go north. They reach an intersection with the options of south or west.*

---

Ikkin: Nowhere to go but forward... I'm going west. *does so*

Argent: *glances back along the path* ....*debates with self before finally heading west as well*

*Ikkin, Argent, and Riolu get help from the DM that thought this step would end a long time ago go west until they hit a large, empty room.*

: I feel a strong dark aura from this room...

Argent: Ugh. *does not like that darkness*

*They continue north, and hit another such room.*

*Darkness shoots through the room! Riolu feels his energy drain.*

: ...

*They make a turn, and encounter a statue of a woman, Clio, holding scrolls. In front of the statue is a dark window.*

DARK MEMORY VII - Reality
*A much younger version of a familiar voice is heard.*

If your characters feel real to you, they'll feel real to everyone else... won't they...?

Argent: These statues....

*They continue walking south, and encounter the statue of a woman, Terpsichore, holding a lyre.*

Argent: *looks worried but says nothing*

*They walk further, and encounter the statue of a woman, Urania, holding a globe and compass. In front of her is a dark window.*

TERRIFYING PREMONITION VII - Undead Ally
*The Icy Taco warriors are shown rushing into a throne room, though the person on the throne cannot be seen from the angle. The angle shifts, however, to show Vampire!Hunter next to the throne.*

*The group goes due east, and encounters an intersection. They can either continue east or go north.*

---

*Group A contains everyone who hasn't moved yet. They can catch up to any group.*
*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Emmeline, Doc, Hunter, Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua are in Group B. They are being followed by four pirates.*
*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra are in Group D.*
*Ikkin, Argent, and Riolu are in Group E.*
*Arizona is in Group F.*[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

*Looks behind him, annoyed* I don't think we have time for this. ARIZONA!

Arizona: *Down the hall, flying at them in pursuit of the pirates* {Coming your way, boss!} *Blasts more fire at them*

*Casts a wave of water in the direction of the pirates*

*They attempt to continue fleeing and go north*

Eh, I'm tired of fighting. *attempts to head north*

*Arizona attacks the pirates! Arizona torches all of the pirates! The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Emmeline, Doc, Hunter, Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua go north!*

---

: "Hmm, an intersection..."

: "The passage to the west looks like it's seen some activity; I'd guess some of the group are down that way."

: "In that case, I say we head south!"

: "Wait, what?!"

: _{"Vyse, wouldn't it make more sense to join up with the others?"}

: "No time! We've got to explore as much of this maze as possible! Now, come on everyone!" *plunges ahead*

*The Blue Rogues head south, with varying degrees of enthusiasm*

Terra: I'm going to go south. *goes south*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif

[/img] South seems like the best option at this point. *follows*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNormal.gif[/img] *ports ahead*

*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra go south. They immediately see a statue of a woman, Euterpe, holding an aulos (a flute-like instrument). They walk past it into a large room.*

*A dark creature appears, but Glitchio fends it off with a blast of energy!*

*They make a few turns, and reach an intersection with the options of east and west.*

---

Argent: I think North is the safest option. After a stretch like this, there is bound to be a trap nearby. *heads in that direction, but turns to Ikkin and Riolu* What are your opinions?

Ikkin: Ugh, my head... and it feels like we've been walking forever... *to Argent* If you're going north, I'm going to stay on this path. Forget caution, I want out of this maze. *goes forward to the east*

*Ikkin heads east. She reaches a dead end, but there is a statue of a woman, Polyhymnia, wearing a veil. In front of her is a dark mirror.*

TWISTED FANTASY VII - Obligation
*The scene is is outside the Icy Taco. The most powerful warriors are wearing dark armor like that of the Motinspire army, with glowing red eyes.*

---

*Argent and Riolu head north, then make a few turns, at this point, they reach...*

: I... I believe this is the end of the maze.

*Argent pulls the switch to lower the walls.*

---

*Final positions:*
*Group A contains everyone who hasn't moved yet.*
*The Weyard Warriors, Lang, Azzie, Apollo, Trucy, Kindle, Hasaki, Emmeline, Doc, Hunter, Drew, Sgt. Guy, Portsman, Shadow, and Aqua are in Group B. They are being followed by four pirates.*
*The Blue Rogues, Jinzo, Glitchio, Seuss, Winston, Glinc, Chives, Icon, and Terra are in Group D.*
*Ikkin is in Group E.*
*Argent and Riolu are at the END.*

---

(These statues are eerie...)

: "Aah! A monst--oh, nice one, Glitchy. Nevermind, false alarm!"

*the walls begin to lower*

: "What th'...?"

: "Looks like someone finally made it out of here."

Azzie: I hope everybody's okay- what is that sound?

Shadow: ? Is that the walls? *glances around somewhat nervously*

Argent: Phew. Thank you, Mr. Riolu. I only hope everyone is all right..

*Looks around as the walls lower* (Finally…)

*Grips sword tightly* Everyone be on your guard.[/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Part XII - The Final Chapter

SPOILER: Click to show

{Motinspire Labyrinth}
*As the walls sink, the sheer size of the room becomes visible. The nine muses stand resolute as guards around the room. The characters walk to where the exit is.*

*Looks at the statues uneasily* … … …

: *prepares herself for a fight as the walls drop, revealing a giant room guarded by nine muse statues* Well, this is certainly starting to look like a Very Definitely Final Dungeon to me... now where's that final boss?

*looks around* Is that it?

I guess so. Come on, let's go.

*looks around*

:*skips to the exit* Whee~, we're finally finished!

: "These statues, they're quite exquisite. It's hard to believe someone so evil could possess something of such beauty."

: "We can stare at the artwork when we're finished here. Come on."

: Good job, Ri, never could have done it without you.

: Or me!

: ...No, actually, it probably would have been easier without you.

: *looks at the door* Shall we continue? *walks through*

: Continuing onward sounds like a great idea. *points sword dramatically* For the NTWF!

*grips staff cautiously* Let's go.

: "All right, Blue Rogues, prepare for battle!"

: *focusing energy*

: "...Let's go."

*Drew, Sgt. Guy, and Portsman follow*

{Throne Room}
*The team rushes through the doors into the throne room.*

: *standing next to the throne* Did somebody say "send in the clowns"?

That depends. Looks like they're already here. We're just the closing committee for your little circus. By the way. Your mooks are quite flammable. Shoulda gotten a better contract.

: That's funny, the only clown I see is the one standing right in front of me!

: "You again!"

: "...Hm." *mechanical hand flexes*

Vampire Hunter.

: Vampire!

*It is at this point they notice the man sitting on the throne. He has long, black hair and a black beard, and is wearing a dark slate gray cloak. He is also wearing a gold, gem-encrusted crown. He summons a scepter resembling a large scroll and stands up using it.*

: ...You survived the maze.

Is that-

... You?

*Takes a step back, shocked*

Well I'll be darned…

Certainly not what I had expected.

: *gasp* "Finally..."

: "So you're the one behind all of this."

: (His aura is so powerful...I sense his emotions are in great turmoil, twisted and blackened at the core. This will be a difficult fight...)

: YOU! *draws a sword and charges at the king*

*The king and Vampire!Hunter raise their arms. Doc collides with a double thick Writer power barrier.*

: So you're the one behind this! You don't look like much, but that's not going to stop me from taking you down right here and now! *charges and gets hit by the same barrier as Doc did*

: What... what are you!?

: The name I have crafted for myself in this world of fiction... is King Escritor. As for what I am... I am the Writer of the Nightmares.

: Objection! That's impossible, I was their Writer!

: How then... how did not even you know about them? You were left blank on so many details... Frost, you were merely an unknowing collaborator.

: What!?

: I planted Memory of Nightmare in your dreams. Vision of Nightmare appeared to you as Canon!Doc. Premonition, of course, came as himself, later.

: But you were their main Writer!?

: Correct. I created my Nightmares, my four dark muses for a single purpose. To protect all characters.

: They did a pretty bad job of it!

: That's because they were meant to prove a point. *Escritor summons some dice.* Why do you let your characters disobey you... So many conflicts, just because their characters border on having free will? Memory of Nightmare was rolled with other villains and almost destroyed the Taco. Memory was created as a creature of chaos to show what mindless destruction could be wreaked by an uncontrolled character. Vision was meant to act as a balance, stopping him before he destroyed anything. Premonition served as a leader.

: _{"Vyse, what's he talking about?"}

: _{"I'll explain later; for now, let's just worry about stopping Escritor."}

...

(No way...)

*A rubber duckie floats out of Himi's pack and shifts into a very angry looking Darigan Aisha in a swirl of 0s and 1s*

Aisha!Ambassador: You disappoint me. Another Writer, keeping himself hidden like that? That is not a very polite way to interact.

: However noble their purpose may have been, the only thing they've succeeded in doing is hurting the character you claimed to want to protect. Brilliant plan, I must say.

Bettyming: *punches her way through the fabric of space and time, eating a lobster roll* I'M NOT LATE YOU GUYS *dropkicks characters through dimensional rip, sealing it when she's done*

: *fall over each other* o_x


: And Fantasy?

: The traitor. I knew I should not have given these characters options... They should have been as mindless as my army. His role was to affect the dreams of the Writers, tempt them into choosing my path.

: Yeah, I'm sure a mindless drone would have been real convincing. Good plan, 'King'.

: It seems that didn't work out so well.

: In hindsight, my Nightmares were far too weak... Memory was unfocused. Vision was bound to his strict interpretation of a single sentence. Premonition was, ironically, shortsighted. Fantasy, was, of course, the traitor, who needed to fall. All of my Nightmares... have fallen. All my work to protect them, to protect all characters, gone to waste... I suppose, now, that there is only on thing to do about that...

*A dark slate grey fire begins around Vampire!Hunter's feet.*

: What are you doing!?

: You said you wished to become a Nightmare. *snaps fingers and the fire engulfs VH* ARISE! Fuel of Nightmare!

: Yes... A new form... So much power... You will not defeat me again!

*The fire fades, revealing this*

*Multiple auras flare in a mixture of horror, shock, and disgust*

*Takes a step back* ({Mother of Martyrs…!})

*Shrieks* Gaia Falls, what is that hideous thing!?

swsdfasdfasdf (No way! Not another one!) That is just messed up!

STAND YOUR GROUND! ATTACK FORMATION!

: Wow, that thing is hideous! No wonder it's Nightmare's Fuel -- if a little kid saw it, they'd be terrified!

: I'm not scared of you, though! You're just not high enough octane for that! Especially not when I have Sev here with me! *slashes through the air, a trail of flame following her sword before forming into a large, red-and-yellow phoenix*

: You called?

: Can you help us take down that thing? I'm sick of looking at it.

: That thing? Certainly. I'd rather not see it anymore, either.

Holy—

That thing is messed up!

*moves into a defensive position!*

*also!*

: *just starts laughing hysterically* NOW THIS IS THE FIGHT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! *draws guns*

: *laughs quietly and gets out shotgun*

: *smiles confidently and draws gun, making eye contact with Fuel of Nightmare*

: *deep breath* "HOLY HEAPING HELPINGS OF BOOZE-BATTERED SKYFISH ON A WARPED WOODEN PLATTER WITH FINELY-CUT TATER FRIES AND A SIDE ORDER OF COLESLAW!!! WHAT IS THAT THING?!"

: "...nice epithet, Aika."

: *shrugs* "It's a knack."

... what

what

what

: *steps back* Everybody get ready!

: *summons a Poké Ball and hands it to Fuel of Nightmare* Something I picked up in the maze.

: Hmm... Go Riolu!

: *appears*

: Here we go!

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

: *laughs madly*



: *flaps wings, the wings transforming into a second pair of Marx wings*



*nothing happens*

: ...



*nothing happens*

: Having trouble over there? *zaps Dark Riolu with lightning*



: *hit!* *Some aura flies to Riolu*

: *shoots ice at VH*



: *blocks with Writer power shield*

: *slashes at Marx*



: *hit* Hey! Those are my legs, you know!

: *blasts at Himmler with green energy*



*a recording starts from Himmler*

Partenen Robotics protects all of its work from glitches!

: *MOOSE CHARGE AT DARK RIOLU!*



: *dodges*

: *slashes at Autospammer with the Keyblade*



: *hit* Hey! That's my only real arm!

: *focuses* *Zen Headbutt on Dark Riolu!*



: *dodges*

*Terra attempts to flamethrow Vampire!Hunter*



: *flamethrower'd* Hey, don't torch the ice mage!

*Emmeline attempts to stab Vampire!Hunter with her sword*



: *stab'd* Don't stab me either!

*fires gun at Vampire!Hunter*



: Argh, I'm hit! And I barely care!

*shoots fireballs at Saint Dane and Himmler*



*Saint Dane is missed, Himmler is hit*

: Hey, don't torch the cyborg arm! I don't know if that has gasoline in it or what!

*also shoots ray gun at Vampire!Hunter*



: *raises a barrier* What's wrong, old pal? *laughs*

*The Weyard Warriors get into attack formation. Aisha!Ambassador is on their left, Agent Lang on their right. Phoenix and the Dragon are in front of them*

Piers! Defensive barriers!

*Nods, summoning a Djinn*

*The Djinn zooms in front of them, and they all gain an aqua colored aura*



*As that is going on* Agent Lang! Elemental difference! Blind him!

*Pulls out his blaster and flares up with almost blinding Light aura* (This kid is a battle commander!) *A little surprised, but goes along* *Fires his blaster at his highest setting at Vampire!Hunter as he pulls his aura to concentrate it into an attack*



: *hit* Grrarrgh! The light it burns! Except not! I swear I'm not a sparklepire. though!

Arizona! Eoleo! KILL THAT [DEMONIC] THING WITH FIRE!

*Casts Dragon Fume at Marx*



: *raises barrier* I lie about nothing, there is no need to ignite my trousers!

Arizona: *Shrieks and casts fire at Marx as well*



: *keeps barrier up*

Himi! You're with me! Follow my lead! *Uses Grand Gaia on Dark Riolu*



: *shields self*

*Casts Reigning Dragon on Dark Riolu, causing a dragon to briefly appear, roar, and blast at Dark Riolu with Venus Psynergy*



: *keeps shield up*

Dragon: *Roars and does likewise*



: *and again*


Aisha!Ambassador: *Raises her clawed hands into the air as the ground beneath her turns dark*

*0s and 1s gather together in her hands, swirling with darkness and ringing like knives upon collision with one another*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Throws this sphere at Autospammer*



: *hit* My arm! I only have two of those, and one's a robot Nazi!

Sev: *Blasts at Vampire Hunter with a jet of phoenix fire*



: *hit* WHY SO MUCH FIRE

Ikkin: *Takes advantage of Sev's excess flames to try to wrap Vampire Hunter up entirely in phoenix fire*



: *shields so he doesn't take additional damage*

: "Okay, people, let's take this monster down, one part at a time! Drachma, you're with me; Aika, Fina, get ready to start casting."

: "Right behind you, Vyse!"

: "Moons, give us strength..." *focusing*

*Vyse and Drachma charge the Marx part of FoN, Aika and Fina focus for this round.*

*Vyse attacks once with his cutlass*



: *shields* Really now, even if you knock out my legs, I have wings.

*Drachma once with his fist*



: *hit* Ow, but it still hurts!

: *fires both guns at Saint Dane*



*both shots miss*

: *also fire at Saint Dane*



: *shot in both wings* Hey, don't get rid of my flying strategy!

*Chives and Icon attack Mr. Nightmare Fuel directly.*

: *shields*



*Glinc will attack Marx.*



: *continues shielding*

Argent: *attempts to punch VH*



: *shields*

Shadow: *follows his lead, not used to punching, but*



: *hit* Hey, bird! Don't make me flip you!

Azzie: *works on putting shields on people*



: None of your famously unique witty banter, Azzie? No butts on my face?

: It is on like Donkey Kong! Or more like Final Fantasy if you hacked it so you had a huge party!



*The Autospammer arm splits the two antennae from each other*



*The first antenna transforms into a second Himmler arm*



*The arm malfunctions and sends a bolt of electricity back at Fuel of Nightmare! He's paralyzed for one turn!*

*The second antenna transforms into another Autospammer arm. It splits again.*



*They both transform into Himmler arms!*



*The first (second?) Himmler arms shoots lightning aimlessly, missing everyone.*



*The second (third?) shoots lightning at Orwell! Shields fly up!*



*The attack is blocked, but the shield is broken. The arm sends a second bolt of lightning at Seussbot! Shields rise up!*



*The bolt of lightning is reflected back at Fuel of Nightmare! He is even more paralyzed! The shield is, however, broken.*

*The three extra Himmler arms transform back into Autospammer*

: You suck at fighting. Just an FYI.

: ...



*Dark aura surrounds the remaining shields, and they shatter!*

: C-couldn't you have done that EARLIER!?

: *SCREECHES AN OBJECTION AT FUEL*



: *gets a headache* Argh! Worst! Fight! Ever!

: *shoots a blast of green energy at Autospammer*



*The blast misses*

: Nice try!

: *shoots ice at Fuel*



: *hit* I THINK YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MUST CHILL

: *zaps Fuel with lightning*



: *blocks with barrier*

: *leaps and slashes at Fuel*



: *grabs with Himmler arm and throws aside*

: I don't have enough power to attack normally... *uses Struggle on Dark Riolu!*



: *hit, some aura flying to Riolu*

: *slashes at Autospammer with Keyblade!*



: *hit* I need that arm, you know!

: *fires cannonhat at Himmler*



: *catches cannonball, crushes it*

That thing has a shield…

"; *Annoyed* Piers… Djinn or no?

We can't spare our strength dropping that much, and too many people would get caught in the crossfire.

Then we continue. AGAIN!

*Sends the charged Light sphere he was forming right at Vampire!Hunter while firing off his blaster again*



*both miss*

: Lang Zi says you suck!

*Casts Diamond Burg at Dark Riolu*



: *crushed in ice, aura flying to Riolu*

*Both cast Wild Growth on Marx*



: *hit by the first, flies into the air slightly to avoid the second* Isn't that already one of Marx's attacks?

Dragon: *Blasts at Vampire!Hunter with Venus Psynergy*



: *hit* Hey, would you take your pet somewhere else!?

*Hops onto Arizona's back* Let's burn this abomination!

*Arizona takes off into the air with Eoleo*

*Casts Dragon Fume at Himmler*



: *hit* Don't burn my arm off!

Arizona: *Sends a column of fire at Autospammer*



: *hit* The same applies to my other arm! And everything, really!

Aisha!Ambassador: *Scratches in the air, causing the ground beneath Dark Riolu to glow with the designs of vines*

*Dark, thorny vines as seen in the Invasion of Meridell erupt from the glowing sketches and attempt to ensnare him*



: *takes advantage of the plot being broken to dodge the vines!*

: So it seems whatever attack I do, the outcome will be the same...

: Well, then, why bother with big, flashy attacks? *throws a pressure dart at Vampire Hunter*



: *hit* As a vampire I appreciate you refraining from flashes of light!

: Not even going to try any more, Ikkin? You love flashy moves! Like this! *flies high into the air, then dives down at Vampire Hunter, flames trailing from his body, flies around him several times to superheat the air around him, then tries to scratch out his eyes with flaming hot claws*



: *raises barrier* This is where I would make the face of a monstrous giant creature.

: Sev, you know how risky it is to get that close!

: What, it's not like he has a higher chance of hitting me if I'm too close. He plays by the same rules we do!

: If that's how you want to play it, be my guest.

: *shoots at Saint Dane using both guns again*



: *hit once* At this rate I'll fall apart all at once!

: *shoots at Himmler*



: *hit* I wonder how you say "ARGH THAT HURT" in German? I'd ask Himmler there, but he currently has an arm coming out of his face.

: _{Focus on one target at a time...!} *shoots at Saint Dane*



: *raises shields*

: "...rats, missed. All right, bring it on, fiend!" *takes a defensive stance and guards for the turn*

: I laugh at you guarding when I am unable to move.

: "Hah! Nailed 'im!" *steps forward and throws a wild haymaker at FoN's Marx part again*



: *raises shield*

: *notices that Dark Riolu loses aura as he is hit* (Ah! Maybe...)

"Moons, give me your strength! ELECTRULEN!"

*The air around Dark Riolu grows thick with static charge; small sparks pop and flash in the air around it. Suddenly, spears of lightning stab down from the heavens towards Dark Riolu*



: *hit, aura flying to Riolu*

[glow=red,2,300][/glow]Heh heh heh...

*Glowing red, Aika slams her boomerang down into the floor, hard. The ground around the boomerang begins to fissure, and jagged lines of molten-rock red slice across the surface of the battlefield*

: "Haaaaah! LAMBDA BURST!"

*The ground beneath Fuel of Nightmare erupts in a shower of earth and magma, and a twisting column of lava snakes upwards towards Fuel, attempting to snare him in it's coils*



: *hit in the legs* Hey! I don't know what kind of insurance Escritor has on this castle!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconMeep.gif

[/img] Um shoot shoot shoot shoot um. Glinc! Can you try and target him from the back?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincGrin.gif[/img] Sure! *ports up against the wall of the room, then dives down on top of FoN to try and attack him there*



: *shields* Nice try, kid.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif[/img] Chives, you still have that extra death ray?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] Matter displacement beam!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconHeh.gif[/img] Yeah yeah, whatever. Just toss it over here!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *does so, then fires his raygun at Autospammer*



: *moves arm out of the way*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif[/img] *attacks Marx*



: *shields*

Argent: *punches again*



: *punch'd* I'm being beaten up by a librarian. How late are my books to deserve this!?

Shadow: ....Hey, that worked? *tries again*



: *shields* Aaand now it didn't.

Azzie: Oh, believe me, Mister Jerkface, you are definitely a buttface. *stomps for his foot*



: *moves foot out of the way*

*TRANSFOOOOOOOORM*

what

*emerges* You wanna see real villainy? It’s right here, junior! TAKE THIS

*emerges in all its robotic glory!*

Oh great, it’s that flying jalopy.

*Mr. P climbs into the Basketbot, which fires three explosive basketballs at Autospammer, Himmler, and Vampire!Hunter*



*The Autospammer arm is destroyed! The explosion shoots down the arm, dealing triple damage to Fuel of Nightmare!*

: WHOEVER GAVE YOU THAT ACCURSED MASK SHOULD BURN IN [hades.]!

*The Himmler arm catches the basketball and spins it on its finger.*

*The main body is hit with an exploding basketball*

: MR. P!

…

Old pal? I’m gonna kill ya, old pal! *swings another Gant Axe at VH*

: *raises a shield* *claps and laughs*

*summons a large steel block and hurls it at Dark Riolu*



: *defeated, a massive amount of aura flying toward Riolu*

: *holding Dark Riolu's Poké Ball, which explodes, dealing... uh... HEXTUPLE DAMAGE*

: *tries to shake off paralysis*



*Not that it matters, since he's still stuck this turn.*

: *flying moose leap at the main body!*



: *hit* Payne, your pain is a pain!

: *shoots a green blast at the main body*



: *shields* Insert coin to try again?

: *shoots ice*



: *sends it flying back*

: *dodges*

: *shoots lightning*



: *shields*

: *leaps and slashes with sword*



: *hit* I NEED A DOCTOR! A different one!

: *Force Palm! Shoots a hand made of aura at VH*



: *slap'd!* Oh no you didn't!

: *slashes*



: *hit* Curséd... Keyblade...

: *fires hatcannon*



: *shields* I'm pretty sure you said cannonhat last post, not hatcannon.

Emmeline: *tries to stab Marx*



*The Marx legs beginning exploding in video game boss style, dealing quadruple damage to the main body!*

: MY LEG

Me: *tries to flamethrow Vampire!Hunter*



: *shields* Not this time!

*Takes a step back as the shields shatter*

It appears we are making progress.

Agreed. (If only there weren't so many people… what I wouldn't give to be able to cast Quake Sphere right now…) Hmph.

*Felix's and Himi's swords start glowing and then there is a howling noise*

VENGEANCE!

*Two images of a bow-weilding Amazon with horns appear, training their arrows on Vampire!Hunter and giving off a rapid fire of arrows made of harsh Venus Psynergy*



: *hit by both* Are you telling me that Revenge is secretly a woman!?

Dragon: *Roars and blasts Venus Psynergy at Saint Dane*



: *shields*



*Casts Deluge at Saint Dane*



: *wings get hit with the wave of water, knocking him from the sky*

*Fires off at Vampire!Hunter with a Light attack*

: *unable to dodge* Let me stand up, will ya? *stands*

Aisha!Ambassador: *Casts a volley of exploding rubber ducks at Saint Dane*



: *shields*

Now we're talking. TORCH 'EM, ARIZONA! *Dragon Fume at Himmlerbot*



: *hit* Blasting my arms off, are ya?

Arizona: *Blasts at Himmlerbot with fire*



*The arm is hit! The arm explodes, dealing... septuple damage? Seven damage, whatever it is.*

: AAAAARGH! I may be armless but I'm far from harmless!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/Icon.gif[/img] Alright, let's see what we've got. Good thing I brought my Hammerspace Gauntlet, huh? i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconSmirk.gif[/img] Let's do this. *puts on fishing hat, pulls out a fishing rod and runs toward FoN*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] *fires two successive bursts with his raygun, both at Saint Dane*



*One shot lands its mark, igniting the wings! It deals double damage as the wings vanish. Vampire!Hunter returns to normal!*

: ...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmug.gif[/img] *lands on the ground* Daddy, d'you got this?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconSmug.gif[/img] *scoops Glinc up and tosses onto shoulders, still running* I'd say I've got this, kiddo. In fact, you could say that I'm making it up on the fly! *swings the fishing rod toward FoN's leg*

*runs around* Let's pose as a team now, because things are getting reel here!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *calls over* I'm waiting with baited breath to see what happens next!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincGrin.gif[/img] *ports around FoN, transporting Icon as well* Do you think he's off the hook, daddy?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconSmirk.gif[/img] Well, we'll just have to tackle this problem to find out! *Tries to tangle FoN's legs even more* Glinc, that's enough. Can you get us out of here?

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmug.gif[/img] You got it, daddy. *ports Icon and himself away from FoN*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconGrin.gif[/img] *ported off to a safe distance* Well well, aren't you in a bit of a tangle. I'd say we've found our catch of the day. *tugs on the rope as hard as he can*



: *thrown against the wall*

: Hey, Sev, did you see? It seems like we get multiple attacks if we throw multiple projectiles!

: So throwing three pencils at him does more damage than a burst of phoenix fire?

: Looks like it. Maybe we can use that to get rid of the remaining limbs. That seems to do the most damage.

: Go right ahead. I'll try to distract him. *flies around behind Vampire!Hunter and blasts him with a wide spray of phoenix fire*



: *stands up, becomes barbecue*

: *throws three pressure darts*



: *two hits!* Don't cheat the system! Because the system knows magic!

*looks at Sgt. Guy*

*looks at Drew*

Let's do this. *tosses two Gant Axes to Sgt. Guy* *picks him up*

*is lifted up, wielding axes*

TAKE THAT *throws Sgt. Guy at VH*

*tries to smash VH with both axes*



: *Your plan goes swimmingly!* Aagh...

*the Basketbot rumbles as if about to break from the horrible design!*

I WANT MY MONEY BAAAAACK[/size] *charges clumsily at VH*

*the basketbot explodes*



: *thrown back by the explosion, dropping his money*

: *once again, shoots using both guns*



: *hit by one* Agh...

: (Patton can take care of him now.) *darts over to Orwell and shoots VH*



: *hit* Ack! At least Escritor has this bizarre RPG fighting shield all over the castle.

: *also shoots*



: *hit* But it looks like I'm in trouble either way...

Shadow: Rats. *tries again*



: *dodges*

Argent: *glares and socks again*



: *puts up shield*

Azzie: ....Oops. =D; *starts putting more shields up*



: "Oh...kay. That was definitely not what I expected." *shrugs* "I guess I overestimated you, Fuel. Oh well!" *grins, slices*



: *blocks with staff*

: "Didn't like that one, did ya! Now, for the finishing touch!" *chucks boomerang at FoN (main body)*



: *ducks boomerang*



: "Blocked...curses. Well, let's see how you handle this. Moons, give me strength!

*The air around FoN thickens and crystalizes into razor-sharp shards of ice, which then slice towards him*



: *sends ice away with staff* Don't mess with an ice mage.

"Cupil! Get the arm!"

: "Pyaaaargh!" *flies towards arm, slashing wildly*



: *staff is knocked away by the blow* ...

*tries to stab Vampire!Hunter while blasting him with her Scarab Ring*

Terra: *...tries to flamethrow Vampire!Hunter. Again.*

: *slashed, then blasted away with the Scarab Ring, directly into Terra's flamethrower*

: So, Ikkin, looks like this is our last chance to attack. Are you going to stop using the most minor attacks you can now?

: Well, it certainly can't hurt. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

: *smirks* If it involves copious amounts of phoenix fire, I'm two steps ahead of you. *flies over Vampire Hunter, and blasts phoenix fire down at him at almost point-blank range with such force that the extra fire reflects off the ground and back up towards the ceiling*

: This is the end! *whips Sev's fire into a tornado with her wind powers and compresses it in as far as it will go to trap Vampire Hunter inside*

: *hurls an entire bottle of pill bombs into the tornado, causing a huge explosion*

: Would you all stop with the fire!?

: *hits VH with Bubble Blaster*

: Sure. *blasts him with ice toward the historicalbots*

: *tries shooting VH in the eyes*

: *just goes for a headshot*

: *also shoots at VH's head*

: *stumbles backward into Seuss, who has turned his hat into a massive cannon* *falls in*

: *fires VH into the air*

: *flies into the air and sends VH flying back down with a lightning bolt*

Finally…! Now… aim to finish! *Casts Grand Gaia*

: *thrown back into the air, slams on the ground*

*Casts Reigning Dragon again*

*The summoned dragon roars and blasts Vampire!Hunter with Venus Psynergy*

Dragon: *Does likewise*

Arizona: *Blasts a column of fire at Vampire!Hunter*

*Fires a swirling Light sphere at Vampire!Hunter*

*Casts Dragon Fume at Vampire Hunter*

*Casts Glacier on Vampire!Hunter*

: *hit by the various blasts*

Argent: *glares and kicks*

Shadow: Nrgh.. *punches again*

: ...

*Shifts back to normal* *Outfit changes to a chef's outfit in a swirl of 0s and 1s* ~

…?! (What the [blazes] is she thinki—)

: *looks up*

*A giant Tabasco sauce bottle appears over Vampire!Hunter, uncaps, and empties the entire contents onto him*

Azzie: *picks up a pie that has mysteriously appeared and whips it at VH*

: *hit by dinner and dessert!* You're attacking me with food, what next!?

: *knocks VH toward Icon*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSmug.gif[/img] *throws his kunai at VH again* Ha!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Chives.gif[/img] *blasts with his raygun* Take that!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconHeh.gif[/img] Well, that went quite well. Might as well pull out a good weapon to finish this off. *reaches through Hammerspace* Let's see... a tent pole, a lamp... let's go with... *pulls out a trombone* This should do nicely! Time for you to face the music! *runs forward, attempting to bludgeon VH with it*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconSmirk.gif[/img] I'd normally be willing to let you slide, but you see those other writers? They've got a trombone to pick with you, so take note! You were pretty sharp back when we fought you earlier, but you seem to be going flat now! You certainly had a major decrease in power. I guess it's only natural though.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesNotamused.gif[/img] (...How long is he going to do that?)

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconSmug.gif[/img] *continues whacking with the trombone* It may seem like a cheesy thing to say, but you just keep getting in treble, don't you? Not to toot my own horn, but while I don't approve of senseless violins I can make an exception! You're Bach and stronger than ever, but can you Handel us? We're usually pretty low-key, but I'm all riled up now! You could say I'm throwing a tempo tantrum, but I think you should just beat it while you can!

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincSigh.gif[/img] (Willya just stoppitwith the puns, Daddy?)

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconGrin.gif[/img] *keeps whacking* It's an a-choir-ed taste, but you're composed enough to understand! Of course you haven't been very good at conducting yourself, but maybe you should take a rest. I haven't been keeping score, but I'd say it's time...

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] (Oh no.)

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincNotamused.gif[/img] (Oh great.)

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Icon/IconGrinKamina.gif[/img] For the finishing blow. *blows the trombone in his face*

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/ChivesMeep.gif[/img] ...What.

i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n557/Icon109/NTWF Smileys/Glinc/GlincMeep.gif[/img] What.

: What.

: *thrown back by the force of the puns and trombone*

: *Force Palms VH toward the Blue Rogues*

: "All right, let's finish him off! BLUE ROUGES! ATTACK!


*each of the air pirates's weapons begins to glow with a silvery aura*

: "Your fate is now sealed! HAND OF FATE!"

*Drachma's mechanical hand emits gouts of silver energy. The hand shudders and jolts as it grows to three times it size. He charges towards Vampire Hunter, slamming his engorged curled fist against the shields if they're still there. The massive hand emits a burst of silver light whose scouring rays scorch Vampire Hunter's pale flesh.*

: "I've been waiting for this! OMEGA PSYCLONE!"

*Aika whirls her boomerang over her head, and silvery bursts of wind slice towards VH. A cyclone of psychic energy whips up around the battleground, lashing out at Vampire Hunter with razor-sharp tendrils of silver energy.*

: "Moons, petrify my enemy! Lunar Glyph!"

*Silver light snakes out from Fina's outstretched palm, and coils around Vampire Hunter, forming a circle of arcane runes. VH grows cold as he feels his flesh turning to stone*

: "And now for the big finish. Behold; PIRATE'S WRATH!"

*Vyse leaps into the air, brandishing his twin cutlasses. He bears down on VH, slicing like mad. Silvery trails of light stream outwards from his swords; for a brief instant, the contrails of his blades form the shape of a skull-and-crossbones in deadly silver energy. And then, everything explodes.*

: Now! Drew! Icon! POSE AS A TEAM!

[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

: *fading away into darkness* Looks like... you don't need me after all.

: ...

: This was not the way it was supposed to end... I was supposed to prove I was better... then I would finish off Escritor!

…

…Are you serious?

Well that's a new one.

...Huh?

: "...wait, seriously? That was your plan?"

: "Boy, I've heard some dumb ideas, but...fighting an army of characters and then betraying your boss? That's gotta be a record of some kind."

*weakly stands back up from the remains of the Basketbot in time to hear this comment* ... Wait, what?

: That was your plan? That's seriously the worst plan I've ever heard! If you think it's going to earn you any sympathy, you're wrong.

: Excuse me?

: I'm not any happier with his plan than you are. So go. *fading quickly* But one some last things before I go...

*a dark window appears, and something is on the ground next to it*

: Follow it. Kill him. *fades completely*

: "Ya think?"

: "Poor, misguided soul...may you find peace in the light of the moons."

... Huh. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after a-

He was trying to kill Hunter and later, probably us.

...

: That's exactly what I was planning on doing from the beginning, before you got in the way.

…Suddenly I feel very cold. *Grips at his heart* (That was more than a little unnerving.)

...Well huh.

SPOILER: Click to show

*A secret passageway is shown behind the throne. The window's perspective goes up a set of stairs. On the roof is the king.*

: *Shoots darkness from his hands into the swirling clouds.* *The Nightmare worlds are visible as silhouettes as lightning crackles through the sky.*