Kingdom Hearts : Heartfelt Adventure {Day 8 ; Invite Only}

[Psalm Grasshopper]

[Amy : Train : Lounge Car]

"Well, if it's anything at all like the books, there's a courtyard full of stone statues. They're victims of the White Witch, Jadis. Edmund had to step around them to get in. He even drew a mustache on one. The timeline would be important there, though; if it's after the witch was defeated, then there wouldn't be any stone statues anymore. I'm hoping she's been defeated already... if we have to deal with her, too, chances are someone will be turned to stone.

Otherwise, there was a gate to get into the courtyard. A tall one. The whole thing is surrounded by a wall. Aslan had to jump it; it was kind of an epic part of the book.

That's just going off of the books, though. I read them at least a dozen times when I was a kid."

 

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle ; Riku ; Sora ; Noelle : Train : Lounge Car ]

Riku continued to relay Amy's speech across the charms for all to hear, though once again keeping it out of her own head to keep from startling her.

"When we were there, we were helping out Prince Cor and Archenland," Noelle chimed in, sitting quietly near the main group. She'd read them, as well, so getting to live the experience etched it in her mind. "And when I talked to Aslan around then, he helped confirm the time period--it's been about 14 years since they fought Jadis, so she was defeated. But with this dark magic surrounding her castle, we can't really say for sure whether that's still true."

"More and more variables," Kyle said, sighing mostly to himself--something he didn't bother projecting over the charms. "Anything else immediately on the agenda?"  

[fractalJester]

[ Narration ]

When no one immediately piped up with more concerning information, the rest of the Earthlings began to describe their abilities in brief detail:

Matthew, the Blue Mage Chemist combo-man;
Sayrike, another Blue Mage with a penchant for mirror magic,
Jenny, the flutist who could manipulate both Time and Space;
Dawn, the wind-elemental dancing support;
Dani, the swift assassin and friend of Leviathan,
Anthony, the thunder-loving brawler,
and John, the self-proclaimed Thor tank.

Some canons chose not to speak up; they were acquainted enough with the fact that these strangers knew their skills.

Enough time passed that, while Joe couldn't have gotten 'close' with anyone, he--and the others in the dark--would at least be able to say they knew one another's basic abilities. They'd also had enough time to eat up whatever was being cooked, assuming it took no more than half an hour.

That's when they approached the domain.  

[RhikoDemson]

[[Narration - It Begins]]

The domain was unmistakable. Even from the windows of the train looking sideways, anyone could see the massive wall of storm clouds rising like a tornado from the ground to the sky before arcing back and forming a massive dome that spanned more miles than one could count. Despite the gigantic obstruction, the air was conveniently still and calm, a calmness offset by the scene below their flying train. Lining the earth, beneath a canopy of trees, was an army- no... a hoard of heartless, not marching, but slowly and surly moving over the landscape like a river towards the storm. Millions of yellow eyes shimmered like golden starlight, watching the train fly safely overhead. Flying heartless that stuck the treetops did not move to attack them. No, this procession of darkness would not stop for them, did not care for their existence. Whatever lied beyond those borders, was more important than what petty hunger that drove these creatures to devour hearts.

[[Cue: Charming Dominion by Tutti Sound]]

As the train reached the event horizon of the vortex and the mountainous walls of the storm collided with the vessel, the sun, seated just in the cusp where the horizon of earth met the horizon of clouds, watched on with a diminishing brilliance, the tiniest tear of light glittering out of sight. Opposite to that, the evening sky, a blue-black pit devoid of familiar stars in the absence of the other. And in that instant of frozen duality, the wall of storm greedily devoured the train and whisked them away on their passage into the unknown. The windows went dark and the floor began to tremble. Over the intercom the conductor's voice rang true, "Don't worry ladies and gentleman, we're just experiencing some minor turbulence. Nothing my baby can't handle."

For minutes they sat in the dark, lights flickering with no view of the outside world. It wasn't like night, just dark. A feeling of being absolutely trapped within the cylindrical vehicle sunk into the passengers one by one as the minutes passed. The floor boards creaked, the chandeliers rocked, the tableware clattered, the windows shuttered. The whole train seemed to quiver in fright.

The sounds intensified, groaning and wailing from the winds outside grew louder. Soon the passengers were bracing themselves or falling to the floor as the entire train shifted beneath their feet to one side, "Everything is under control -Damn it. Stupid thing, listen when I tell you to keep straight!"

Soon it felt like an earthquake, lights barely holding to the ceiling, every bounce knocking lights out for seconds then suddenly back on again. This continued for a few more frightening moments before one last jostle rocked the train and knocked the lights out entirely.

At last they emerged, black peeling away bit by bit, like clumps falling from the windows, only to be replaced by a thin frost around the edges.

--------------

Upon the battlements of a castle, Atir stood, dark ruby eyes glimmering for a moment as she stared out over a snow covered landscape. Moving swiftly she strolled with crystalline footsteps, scratching and crying like nails on a chalkboard as her stiletto heels dug against frozen stone walkway.

--------------

"Ladies and gentlemen, looks like we're in the clear," Zell's voice echoed again.

--------------

Atir put a foot up on the railing, bracing her back foot, digging it into the ice. Behind her she was joined by a soldier. A spike erupted from her back, stabbing into its chest, cannibalizing its form. In moments, red crystal formed a massive crossbow in her arms with a glass bolt loaded the size of a large horse. With a click the bolt flew, ripping the air around her with a thunderous crack shattering the ice at her feet.

---------------

"To your right you can see the wonderful narnian countryside blanketed in the winter season," Zell continued on, "and to you le- HOLY s**t!" suddenly the world outside thier windows was dotted by hundreds of shimmering red-purple lights. Like a meteor shower in reverse, falling stars blinking past and vanishing just as quickly. It was mesmerizing at first, before a shards of razor sharp, maroon glass pierced the floor of the train with thier sharp, jagged edges glimmering with hunger. Another joined the first, and another, they were swiftly turning the floor into a pincussion or unfortuate spike trap.

"Hold on! Evasive manuv-" His words cut short as Atir's giant arrow pierced the side of the train, lodging itself between the engine and the rest of the cars.

The locomotive lurched and took a sharp downward turn. The intercom jumbled and turned to static, "Ma-! -ayday! -go- -own! BRACE YOURSELVES!"

It was only a second later that the train came to a sudden and abrupt deceleration. The world was in turmoil, the lights were out, gravity shifted to the side of the car, screaching, shattering glass, cracking wood and numerous other sounds boomed over all else with deafening prejudice.

When they finally came to a halt and a moment to breathe seemed to reveal itself, there was a loud crack and gurgling. Water seeped through the was-wall-now-floor. Upon touching the rising waters anyone would realize this water was not from the baths or sinks but freezing, biting the skin and numbing the senses to all but a burning only bitter cold could offer.

"Abandon ship! We're taking on water," Zell yelled from outside upon escaping out the upper windows and doors from the swiftly rising waters. the adventurers would come to the quick realization that they were in fact, not out of the water yet. They had landed on a frozen lake that spanned three fourths of a mile in one direction, and a quarter towards shore. At the far end was the White Queen's castle looming over them, walls climbing countless stories up. They stood upon a gigantic moat... and the weight of the train was breaking through, spreading splinters in all directions.

The only escape was the land surrounding the castle which had been cleared of trees. A small enough feat for a group with magical powers to get across the frozen lake that was quickly breaking and reach land safely... right? However, upon grasping a look behind at the castle's silhouette, with the sun set and an odd light at its back outlining the towers and battlements, it became filled with red dots, a thousand red eyes staring down at them.

With the light of their eyes like lasers and spotlights, each glaring down upon a different point, dying the lake's waters blood red. It began with one, then another, the soldier's of the battlements eyes shifted skyward in exponential quantities.

"Run!"

The air filled with whistles in the wind, short red glimmers shot up and vanished... crystalline arrows taking flight, arcing high above, dotting the swiftly dimming, starlit sky with a prismatic aurora before that aurora rained all across the lake surface a hailstorm of spikes, each shaft ready and willing to pierce the heart and limbs of the weakest link.

[[Cue: United We Stand, Divided We Fall by Two Steps From Hell]]

---------------------------------------------------------

((OOC: First off, let me officially welcome everyone to the "Louis Arc." I look forward to being the psudo-DM for this part of the story and I sincerely hope everyone will enjoy what I have planned for you all. I've put a lot of time and effort, years in fact, into hopefully making this as epic and awesome for everyone as possible. I'll be posting some DM notes in the Discussions thread in a few moments, so please read that when you get the chance. It will include important rules & factors that will play a part in this arc. With that said, let the games begin!))  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle ; Sora ; Jenny ; Riku : Narnia : Sinking Rubble ]

"Nothing my baby can't handle."

It's fine, the train is protected...

If you were so sure of that, you wouldn't be clenching your fists.

"Damn it. Stupid thing, listen when I tell you to keep straight!"

The train felt as if it were falling apart.

It's protected, Merlin, Yen Sid, best mages in the world...

... or charging your mana preemptively...

And then it suddenly wasn't.

"Ladies and gentlemen, looks like we're in the clear."

Kyle stared out the window, glancing back at the maelstrom they'd passed before trying to steal a look forward. His sense of unease hadn't dissipated, but then again, it's likely nobody's had.

That had to be the domain line... so, the eye of the storm?

He didn't let go his fist or his magic.

I've been through enough hurricanes to know how that goes.

"Everyone, stay on guard," Kyle grumbled over the charms as Zell acted the tour guide. "We're he--"

"HOLY s**t!"

So much for protected!

Kyle pulled his feet up onto the lounge seat, curling up as the floor suddenly became laced with wave after wave of piercing needle. Zell was still talking over the intercom, but at this point, Kyle didn't care, he backed away from the window, steadied himself on the cushion, did what he could to stabilize--

--and then they began to plummet.

Not yet, not yet, not yet--

---

{ Personal Cue : Run!! }

The first couple seconds before and after impact were a blank for Kyle, much like a car wreck. And just like the car wreck, the moment he came to, he immediately got to his feet, looking for an escape, for freedom, anything--

--they were sideways? Fantastic.

Kyle looked up at the only viable exit. Luckily, it had already been cleanly opened--emergency protocols, perhaps?--but due to the train's increased width (from accommodating everybody aboard), it wasn't exactly a jump most could make. And when his boots suddenly grew cold, Kyle realized too harshly that the jump was even worse than expected.

They were sinking, just as Zell then shouted. Kyle wasted no time, immediately leaping up and out of the train and onto its side. He needed to help them get out, he needed to figure out what was going on--

"Here!"

Kyle bent over and pulled Jenny up without even thinking as Riku pushed her up and away, the Keyblade Master looking then to get as many others out as possible. He watched as Sora leapt up as well, his athleticism never failing him.

"Were those arrows?!" Sora asked, though it came out more as an exclamation than anything. "From where?!"

"The castle!" Jenny shouted, pointing toward the White Witch's massive property, now commandeered by Louis and a host of red eyes... which then all turned up and away from them.

"They're not through!"

"We need more time!" Jenny said, defiantly summoning her flute and a flash of light--she was already ready to act, preparing what she needed.

Kyle growled, mind racing, arms beginning to glow--she wouldn't hold it alone. "Sora! Jenny! Charms open! SpaceJoe--" he started, looking down into the train only briefly and seeing only Riku at the moment. "Tell'im we could use his help!"

The two looked over at Kyle, nodding in instant understanding, and Sora summoned his Keyblade in a flourish as Kyle leapt to the ground beside the train, opposite the castle, doing the same with his spear.

Jenny brought the flute to her lips and began to play a tense melody, the holes of her flute beginning to glow a soft violet; Kyle lodged the more elegant side of his spear diagonally into the ground, up until the two side edges, essentially steadying it in the thick-but-slowly-breaking ice. Sora pointed the tip of his blade at the sky, a cerulean blue light beginning to swirl in front of it; Kyle twisted around, knelt down facing the castle, and slid the spear just above his shoulder, gripping it in both hands now like a mortar tube, the pale green glow of his arms now sinking into the spear itself.

The arrows were fast approaching, and were blatantly visible--

"Fire!"

Jenny was the first to let loose, her mystic caesura rocketing off into the sky in the form of a spiraling musical bars. A dozen or so meters in the air, it finally erupted, exploding outward to create a large, translucent dome of Stop magic--the dome covered the Lounge Car, Dining Car, and more, spreading even further out, if only slightly. A soft hum filled the air, creating a slight harmony with the music of her flute.

Sora then fired his own Stop spell, striking the center of Jenny's dome, and the time mage's soft violet mixed with his own bright cerulean, fusing together and creating a stronger defensive barrier the color of the mid-day sky, compounding, multiplying--

Kyle fired last, and due to the amount of charged mana, the release let loose a concussive shockwave that lodged the spear ever-deeper into the ice; his magical addition appeared as raw energy, flickering with static, and when it collided with Jenny and Sora's spellthreads, the soft hum grew into a mighty reverberation. The dome became nigh-invisible and white, fusing together the three sources of magic, strengthening and reinforcing, various runes and symbols relevant to all three appearing and vanishing along its surface with every second--

Not a moment later, the arrows made impact--hundreds of small impacts, sending countless ripples along the weave of magic that was holding them in place. The magic thundered, the sky sparked, the air itself began to crackle under the conflicting forces, energy pulsing and quaking around them with every shot, every crash; Kyle and Sora grunted but braced themselves further, powering through, as Jenny instead began to play with more vivacity, the furor and passion in her notes reverberating throughout the dome.

They had to hold the line.

"Come on, everybody up!" Riku shouted, helping out how he could by boosting people out of the car door and into Zell's grasp if they couldn't make the jump. He'd only been briefly informed by Sora what was going on, but regardless, they were running out of time--whether it was the arrows above or the waters below. "Worry about healing when we're home free! New Joe, you're needed up top!"  

[AldrickZearse]

[Joe: Train -> Narnia: Sky above Narnia -> Frozen Moat]

The monk sighed as he leaned back against his seat in the lounge car. The talking had finished, he had eaten, and now he was just waiting. Even though he was leaned back, arms out on the top of the seats, head turned to somewhat look out the windows behind him...his leg was bouncing, the heel bouncing up and down with the ball of his foot staying against the floor.

They hit the cloud, and Joe couldn't help but be reminded of the 'nightmare' from Little Nemo. Except instead of Slumberland on the other side of this nightmare, it was likely just going to be more nightmares....which pretty much explained why his entire body seemed to tense up as if to prepare himself for whatever lay on the other side.

They pulled out of the cloud, and Joe let out another sigh. They'd have to take care of this mess eventually. But, he still felt like making this a 'rescue mission' just wasn't a smart move. Not that he had that long to think on it, considering Zell's yell over the intercom snapped him to attention. Joe had fully turned in his seat to look at the 'reverse rain' of lights, only to hear the crack of wood splitting near him. Looking back at the floor, where his foot was now had a shard of reddish glass piercing through. Suddenly there were more and more, with Joe thankful that he had gotten onto the seat.

Joe was swearing as the train shifted and fell, swearing even more when he got up on the 'wall-floor' and reaching under the pauldrons(and the fur cloak that had appeared from the dress sphere in an attempt to keep him warm) to rub the shoulder that he had landed on with the sudden turn. What in the hell had actually attacked them? Not that he had that long to ponder, considering the train was suddenly taking on water. Had they crashed onto the water? No, frozen moat would make more sense, considering-

He shook his head, clearing out the thoughts. He had to focus. People already seemed to be leaving the train, Riku and Zell helping. Kyle, Jenny, and Sora seemed to be protecting them He needed to help out, not just evacuate. So he started helping out Riku and Zell. He had the strength to help get the others out of the train, speeding up the evacuation process for those that would struggle with it.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Train- Bed chamber Car>midsection>Bottomside]

Kyla had moved to the window of her cabin when they began their approach to the dark horizon. The artist paused by a window of joining cars when they began to enter the storm. Peeking down through the glass at the heartless horde below that took little interest in their presence was astounding!
As much as she was relieved they didn’t assail them, that lack of interest didn’t bode well at all. With quivering fingers she felt her hand unconsciously hold fast to her chest where she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
At Zells warning she instantly stepped back and braced herself against the wall beside her, gripping the ornate wall ornaments of curved brass.

Kyla watched the windows wide eyed, mesmerized, frozen between fear and awe. Despite the terror and danger Kyla never ceased to be stricken speechless by the sights this journey continuously assaulted her with. The storm was massive, like a super storm from some apocalyptic natural disaster movie, only this one was real! She could feel a shriek bubbling up her throat but she clamps her lips shut and held on tight. As the world began to quake around her she held tight to the wall, not daring to move less he hit her head on something.

But things only got worse!
Light creaked and flickered, the walls groaned and roared, the train felt it was ground to be torn apart!

~Hang on!~


‘ Carbuncle!’

The train suddenly flipped it’s gravity and this time she finally screamed as she fell forward against the window wall. Which shattered by her head.
Suddenly she was doused in ice cold water! Water so cold she felt she’d go into shock. She flailed her arms trying to find her center of gravity again.
She could hear somewhere above her where the door which was now her ceiling swung above her head that they were taking on water. No s**t!! In mere moments she was up to her knees in it! Not good! Not good! Kyla reached for the door knob that swung over her head- she had to get out, into the middle, and out through the second car room above that to the other broken window!

“Carbuncle h-elp m-me out!!!”

She could hear people calling to get out further down the train. She tried not to panic, there was NO way she was going to die in this tin can! With her summons help she felt weightless again, and this time was able propelled herself upwards to grab the door. Her fingers felt numb, but despite that she could feel the dressphere shifting, compensating for the cold, the fabric thickening, it’s nature changing.

The steel cage around her gave a horrifying groan as it began to sink- or was that the cracking of the ice?
She could hear fighting, they needed her- she had to help!! This time she wasn’t going to fail!

With a frustrated yell she yanked herself up as more water rushed down below her feet. It was thankfully still horizontal for now, but that could easily change.

“C-carbuncle if this thing suddenly gives out beneath us I need you to make a shield if we go down!” Maybe they could cover the entire thing fi they had to? Meh- cross that bridge when it came.
If that happened she could try and blast her way out, but only if she was sure she wouldn’t hit anybody above her- what Kyla needed was a visual of the topside.

[Could anyone out there - send me a glimpse please?! If I b-
-bust out instead I don't want to h-hit anyone out there- whats going on?!]

“Is anyone else in here too!!?” she called down in the other direction.she didn't recall anyone else coming into the bed cars, but she'd rather be safe then sorry and leave someone behind.
 

[Jeimuzu Kuro]

{James ; Auron ; Leon : Narnia : In the Sky -> In the moat}

The corsair had fallen silent again after all of the talking had been concluded. His eyes closed as he relaxed, anticipating that they would soon arrive in their destination. His eyes opened and his right hand clenched into a fist as they approached. He could sense the darkness that filled the land, and it only became more intense as they approached the cloud. The sensation had become a familiar though still unpleasant one to the corsair, like a cold wind snaking down his spine.

His nerves did not lessen as they hit the cloud that surrounded the Castle boundary. The impact caused the train to shake and rattle not unlike what would happen when an airplane experienced turbulence aside from the flickering lights. However, the turbulence only seemed to intensify as they headed deeper in, again not unexpected as they were fighting against some very powerful forces. The corsair focused a small amount of Lunar Energy into his hand causing it to glow and give off a faint constant light, preparing the energy for anything, James tensely gazed around at the other occupants of the car, noting Kyle at least had done the same.

As Zell finally called over the intercom that they were in the clear and began commentating on the scenery the corsair looked at Kyle as he told them to stay on guard, which he definitely was. The corsair was startled, grabbing for something, anything to brace himself as their "conductor" began his evasive maneuvers to avoid the sudden barrage of blood red needles that pierced the floor of the train. The corsair pulled his feet up into the cushion, his free hand that wasn't holding onto the back of his seat clutching his legs tightly to his chest.

'What I wouldn't give for an Oh-s**t Handle right now!!!'

"Stay calm and focus, we'll get through this," Fenrir responded doing what he could to keep his summoner calm.

'That's easy for you to say! You're not the one who may get skewered!"

The cacophony of the crash and a few moments that followed were nothing more than a haze to the corsair as his eyes opened to find himself lying on his side. His right side ached, especially his arm which he had landed with most of his weight due to the ball-like form he had taken. His left arm notably was in agony from the fore-arm down, it had been the one that was holding onto the chair and he was willing to venture he had hit it on something and hard. The gunner had no time to dwell on pain though as he realized the train was taking on water, ice cold liquid was pooling around him, seeping into his clothes and chilling him to the bone.

"On your feet now! You need to get up and get the train is sinking!"Fenrir bellowed mentally at the corsair to spur him into action.

The corsair slowly rose to his feet and made his way to just below the way out, he couldn't waste anymore time and with his left arm battered he wouldn't be of much help in the strength department. He focused some of his energy into his legs and pushed off, using the same power as he did in a "dash" to propel himself up and out of the train to the relative safety of the outside.

"Guys give a shout when you're out! If you need help call out as well!" He called out over the charms.

Leon wasn't much worse for wears as he recovered from the crash. He made his way to the exit and climbed out of the train with a little help. He then stood on the other side of the exit and remained there to help other people up to quicken their evacuation.

"Keep it moving guys! Once you're outside stay alert. We don't know what else might be coming!"

After Auron righted himself he remained silent, and despite the situation calm. He was unsent, he wouldn't drown in the water. He would stay in the car until the last person was out, helping in anyway that he could. The news that Kyla was in the sleeping car was troublesome. However, he was sure that she would be able to get out alright.

The corsair turned his focus towards the sleeping car as he heard Kyla call out. He tried to quickly think if anyone else had been down on that part of the train. He was fairly certain there wasn't. He quickly sent the mental image of the side of the car that was outside to Kyla.

'You're clear do what you have to do to get out!" the corsair called out to her.

The corsair's focus turned away from the train to the frozen moat that it was sinking into, scanning for the way out. They had to get to land, the sooner the better. However, the cracks were spreading and rapidly.

"Oh not good...," he stated as he pulled out his hexagun, The time dome that had been created was holding off the barrage of arrows. However, there was another problem. The ice, their only safe path to land was cracking. Something had to be done or they would be swimming through freezing water to safety which was not a wise option with all of the projectiles coming at them.

Without hesitating he manifested his hexagun in his right and with a great deal of effort due to his battered left arm pulled out the Ice card from his pocket. He focused his energy into the card, manifesting it's elemental power into his weapon with as much power as he felt he could afford to give it.

"Mizu! When you get out here I'm going to need your help! Our way to safety is crumbling! I will do what I can but you're the real ice user here!" he called out to the archer over the charms as he pulled the trigger.

Energy emitted from three of the six barrels as a ball of ice energy erupted from the hexagun. It moved slowly, it's aim not at an enemy but at a large area of cracks in the ice. Upon impact the Grenado exploded into ice. The corsair hoped that it would help to hold the ice together for them to cross if not start to build another safer layer for them.

{{James has unlocked the ability: Grenado}}  

[fractalJester]

[ Mathy : Narnia : Sinking Rubble ]

Suddenly, the door above Kyla--across the 'hall' from the one she'd fallen into--opened up. There, crouching down on the floor/wall with his Shy Guy mask on, was Mathy, giving a sheepish wave.

"Girly, there is a window," he said, his tone simple, though the raised brow could be felt from behind the mask. "You don't need to bust out of anything--but you need to get up here now!"

Without another word--or even her consent--he grabbed her arm, hoisted her up, and lightly tossed her straight up and out of the open window above him so that she'd land on the topside. Mathy crawled up and out shortly thereafter.

"They're buying us time, but this thing's just a tad bit heavier than a log so the sinking is--"

The train rumbled, falling deeper down.

"--faster. Go!"  

[Gentleman Knives]

[[Joe : Narnia : Sinking Rubble ]]

Joe picked himself off the back side of the train, or wherever it was they had landed. Eyes shut, having flashbacks to other wrecks he had been.

'Get Up!' He heard Atomos shout inside his head 'You can't just lie here like a lout while being attacked'

"So much for the element of surprise..." Joe muttered to himself, still dazed.

'Move, or do you want to be known as a useless coward your first time doing anything for these people?'

That did it.

In a flash of light, Joe summoned his blade from nothing and bolted towards where the opening was. He hardly even noticed the cold or the fact that they were sinking. All he could think about was getting up top as quickly as possible.

Without even thinking about it, Joe leaped through the exit, out of the train and onto the ice, catching his footing before looking up at the barrier that Kyle, Sora, and Jenny were holding up to block the arrows. He could feel the magical energy coursing through the air, sending goosebumps up his skin.

He didn't know what to add to it, didn't even know what the barrier was, but he did know one thing: stronger mages equals stronger barrier.

Joe concentrated for a moment, took a deep breath in, and exhaled. As he did so, a grey mist drifted out from his person and around himself and the three mages mages, casting faith on the four of them.

"I'm here! What should I add? Reflect? Shell?he said, bracing to add his own enhanced magic to the dome.  

[Psalm Grasshopper]

[Amy : Narnia : Sky -> Sinking Rubble / Frozen Moat]

The dome was ominous, and larger than Amy thought it would be. There were hoards of heartless heading toward it, drawn to it; even the flying heartless ignored the train. Whatever was calling them had more of an influence then the instinct to grab hearts. That was disturbing.

Zell's commentary didn't help ease her mind. The feeling of being trapped began to weigh down on her as the train grew darker and the jostling increased. She gripped the table in front of her for support as everything shifted.

Then it ended, the shaking stopped, and the darkness cleared, replaced by ice. Amy let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in. It was short lived relief. Spikes erupted from the floor, which Amy narrowly avoided by pulling her feet up on the seat, a popular choice it seemed. She would have climbed onto the table, too, but time didn't permit as the train lurched down.

Her grip didn't hold, and in a panic, upon instinct rather than thought, she cast Protega on herself. She felt her body slam against the side of the train, and then fell to the floor. The world came to a halt, and she pushed herself up on all fours, feeling a bitter coldness on her knees and hands. They were sinking, she realized numbly, still shocked by the crash.

She wasn't hurt... Others were getting up as well, gathering themselves and leaving the train. Had they been hurt? Were they limping? She hadn't cast Protect on them, and the thought left a her feeling like a Grade A d**k. Injured or not, everyone was alive, and with Mathy helping Kyla out, everyone would be outside soon. She wasn't gonna stick around a sinking train.

She climbed out, accepting Joe's help, onto a frozen lake. Moat? Castle. Arrows. Shield. She stood there, considering the Stop Shield being powered by Kyle, Jenny, and Sora. Joseph, "New Joe", was asking how he could help. James was reinforcing the ice, and she had no doubt Bobbi would be helping with that momentarily.

She watched, seeing if the barrage of arrows would stop. The shield was all well and good, but they needed to get off the ice. If those arrows were constant, she didn't know how they could do that... unless a constant shield could be held around them as they moved toward land.  

[Je suis a toi]

[ Noelle .:. Prote ~ Sinking Rubble]

Noelle found herself holding her breath each time the train tremored, eyes dancing from the windows to the flickering lights. The situation almost felt surreal, like she'd been placed in a movie where the ship sinks. When she wasn't holding her breath, it became rapid and shallow as she felt the tingle of panic coming on. They'd be safe, right? The train was magic, it was well protected. But the way it shook . . . Noelle's stomach churned. Even after Zell told them they were in the clear, she was trying to reassure herself. If anyone looked, they'd see her trembling ever so slightly, but more from tension than anything else. Then came the dazzling light show outside the windows.

"That can't be g--"

The agromancer heard herself scream and saw her feet recoil from the floor after the impact was made. Several moments passed before her self awareness even returned. The top of her right boot was punctured and the black leather looked slick. When the pain registered, Noelle realized the puncture wasn't just the top of her boot, but all the way through it, courtesy of the crimson needles piercing the bottom of the train. She stupidly moved her feet away from the floor, her stressed mind struggling to keep up with the perilous situation they were in. Before she knew it, she could feel the floating sensation of falling. Her knuckles turned white as she dug her fingers into the cushion she sat on. She was pretty sure she might have even broken through the fabric with her nails. This was all before she was ripped away by impact.

The only thing Noelle registered for a while was a ringing in her ears. She fumbled a bit, trying just to figure out where her arms and legs were. The pain in her pierced foot seemed to be magnified by the ache of the rest of her body. A sudden rush of cold sent her sprawling and finally staggering to her feet. As her mind cleared she realized the train was on its side and beginning to flood with icy water. Her dressphere changed suddenly, drying in an instant and providing her with warmer layers of clothing.

'Move, human, move. You must get out of here.'

Titan's voice seemed to break away the haze and kick her body back into gear. Immediately she started to move, limping her way toward Riku and leaving plumes of red in the water with her right foot. She grabbed onto Riku shakily and held her hands up as he lifted her with what seemed like ease. Joe's was the next face she saw, hoisting her out of the train and letting her down on the train's now-horizontal side. She stumbled away, still leaving little red spots, but not for much longer. All it took was a small cure spell for her foot and the pain was gone.

Now all she had to do was actually get her bearings. As her eyes met the barrier being put up by Kyle, Jenny, and Sora, she was silently thanking the gods that they had been able to respond faster than she did. Then she realized that even if she had responded with more speed, she would still have been useless. This was not an environment she would find success in. She was far from earth, and her plants would more than likely die in the frozen moat. She shook her head and returned her attention to her comrades.

"Who needs me or Amy?!" She called.



Prote tumbled around like the rest of the earthlings, but was able to get back to his feet much faster. He wanted to aid in the evacuation, but the cold environment was sending his heat seeking nature into overdrive. He vacated the train on his own and observed the barrier the earthlings were creating. Unfortunately he was of little use, his greatest strength was hand-to-hand combat.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Train>Mote]

She was thinking about making a door and just going through the wall,- making hole with practical pictomancy wasn’t difficult- but just then Mathy came down through an adjacent door like spiderman. For a brief second she raised a brow at him, sensing his expression behind that mask he insisted on using, when he grabbed her arm and sent her flying upwards!

Still he didn’t have to ask her twice, and with her weightless still assisting she was able to move around and through the window like an astronaut in space. She still worried about those in the train. But the more pressing matter were the arrows. Thanks to James she had seen what was going on now and had a good plan how to help.

“Here allow me, please, sorry-“ she said apologetically hoping she wasn't overstepping.

With her book out the artist mage drew a large lotus, and the image began to reflect in the air. In seconds a wide shape was blooming and flattening, widening and spreading, till it stretched as wide as a dome over not just their group but the train. It slid into place behind the one already charged by Jenny, Sora and Joe.

It shifted and became clear as glass so they could still see, and Kyla held the shield fast like a translucent canopy above and between them and the enemy.


“With this one can move, if it can be reinforced by another," she looked in Joe(2)'s direction, "-we can keep cover for an escape once we’re ready to go.” Kyla's book glowed with the emblazed picture and the shield resonated strong, she turned back waiting for the next order to be issued once everyone was out.
As she looked around, eyes narrowing to try and see as far she could she blinked red out of her eyes. It stung. Her free arm rubbed something wet away and it was crimson on her sleeve. It must have been from when she smashed head first into the wall when it turned over and the window broke. For now it wasn't serious just annoying.

Meanwhile, A smash from further down the cars, and a red chakram came spinning out of another unshattered window. It’s redheaded owner followed a moment after. “Jeeez! Well any landing you can walk away from right? I didn’t see anyone else back where I was.” Axel waved jumping down onto the ice beside James and Bobbi looking around, "still- Hey Demyx! you out here or what?!"  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle ; Sora ; Jenny ; Riku ; Earthlings : Narnia : Sinking Rubble ]

Kyle grimaced under the drain of the barriers--the arrows were near constant, so the dome needed constant replenishing from all three of them. But when Space-Joe came out and immediately released an empowering mist, he could feel the pressure immediately lighten; the dome barely seemed to shake now, their combined strength doing rather well.

"Nothing yet!" Kyle replied from below, the ice slowly cracking around him. Even now, though, he could see the train sinking--the Training Car was gone, the Chocobo Car with it, and the Resting Car would soon follow. The Dining and Lounge Cars had little time left themselves, and the Engine had already slipped under.

Before he could articulate what he wanted, Kyla ran up to the three still on the Lounge Car and preemptively launched a mobile barrier to cover their tracks. He smiled.

"Perfect!" he shouted. "Joe, you and Sora start preparing some Reflect magic--make Kyla's barrier a giant mirror."

"Can you two handle this?" Sora asked, looking mostly to Jenny next to him. She nodded.

"Joe's boost was more than enough, just get it ready!"

With a nod in return, Sora drew his Keyblade down, pulling his magic from the dome--and it turned from translucent white into an odd spectrum from violet to green. Instead, he stood by Joe and started charging the next spell, waiting for the cue to cast.

"We should get off the train's side before it drags us down," he said, watching as some of the last Earthlings crawled out of the Rest windows and the Lounge car, each hopping down onto the ice. Dawn, Mathy, Anthony, Sayrike, John, Dani were accounted for.

"Joe, where to?" Riku asked, popping out of the Lounge Car beside the air acolyte. "Don't think we can hit the castle directly from here--to the mainland?"  

[AldrickZearse]

[Joe: Narnia: Sinking Rubble]

As Joe helped others out, he chewed the insides of his cheeks, trying to think of what he...what everyone should do next. Dash for the castle? Head to shore? Staying wasn't an option. The ice was going to be too unstable, especially with the onslaught of arrows coming at them.

"Joe, where to? Don't think we can hit the castle directly from here--to the mainland?"

Joe gritted his teeth and hopped off of the train, onto the cracking ice. "Alright everyone! Head for shore! We need the stable ground!" He gave a quick look at who was around, mind spinning at what everyone could do and what needed to be done.

"Once that shield gets fully up we move! Bobbi, James,keep reinforcing the ice as best you can! Dani, anything that does break, try to keep it together with the water underneath! Amy and Noelle can patch up anyone hit by stray attacks! Anyone with the speed, aid the slow ones! The sooner we get off this ice, the better!"

The fighter grunted, annoyed at the current conditions they were under. "Everyone clear on that?! And try not to stick too close together, or you'll risk breaking the ice even faster with the combined weight!"