Heartfelt Adventure : Active Time Event Thread

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike

[??? --> Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

"You."

Noelle's eyes widened as she stared at her replica. This was bad news, really bad news. So many things were flying through her mind. She wasn't going to get Rae's heart back, and that was a punch in the gut. Alongside the actual punch in the gut. Elleon made it quite clear that she had never really intended for this battle to be about retrieval. The agromancer felt stupid for taking the bait. Now look where she was.

The blonde was down on one knee, trying to catch her breath. Elleon had run her ragged and looked like she was catching her second wind during her monologuing. Noelle's vision was blurring as blood from a nasty cut on her forehead trickled down into it. She tried to blink it away, thinking that she had worse things to think about. Like the fact that her replica had volunteered her for something that was undoubtedly not good for her health.

"W-What?!" She stammered, leaning on her spear to get back to standing.

"Do you need me to repeat myself?! Worthless . . . Elleon approached her with startling speed, grabbing her by the collar of her jacket and shoving her backwards into a portal. "Looks like I'm just going to have to show you."

Noelle fell back onto hard stone, blinking as the light from a stained glass window shone on her. She scrambled to get away from her replica, calming when she realized she wasn't after her any more.

"I have completed my end of the deal. Elleon shouted threateningly. "Here's your damned body. You'd better put it to better use than she does. I expect you have finished your task as well?"  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 2}
{Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

[Cue: Final Fantasy VIII - The Extreme ]

"No wonder it reeks."

The space in front of Elleon and Noelle flickered and twisted, the image of the organ distorted as the space before it seemed to misconstrue and become magled. Finally, a deep purple smoke crept forward and from its midst, the Time Sorceress Ultimecia. She stood right before the organ, a little elevated from the main floor as her striking golden eyes rested on Elleon before flickering to the side, taking in Noelle's scrambling form. Finally, she brought her luminous yellow eyes back to Elleon in which she smiled, not too kindly.

"Watch your words, it would do you well to know exactly who you are speaking to," She glided forth, the tips of her claw like feet barely gracing the floor. The witch floated over to Noelle, and with hardly a beckoning motion of her fingers, she telepathically lifted the agromancer into the air as to get a better view of the worthless mortal. "Is this the best you can do?" Ultimecia asked in mock dismay as she flicked her finger to the left which correspondingly moved Noelle's head as well. "I need sorceress material Elleon, her magic is mediocre at best! Or did you dry up all of it with your senseless games?" The time witch scoffed as she lowered her hand and began to drift away from the spear-wielder, dropping the girl into a heap on the stone floor without so much a warning as she loosened her magic hold.

"Looks like I'll have to make do then," Ultimecia spoke as she once again hovered before the organ, looking down at Elleon with a coy smile. "Of course, I completed the task. I left her at the designated place. Wouldn't want her filth in my presence any longer than necessary." But it's no matter. Time shall compress. And all existence denied.  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

"Of course, my apologies." Elleon replied nonchalantly. She may not have liked the woman, but she wasn't foolish enough to make any sort of challenge.

Noelle looked up at Ultimecia, trying to hide the fear on her face as she backed away a little. Suddenly she felt herself lift in the air, her body responding to Ultimecia's commands. There was no longer any way for her to conceal her terror. The agromancer dropped to the floor, her knees buckling painfully as she hit the stone and fell to her side.

"You must understand," the replica began, trying to seem apologetic but doing a poor job. "There were slim pickings at best. This one is one of their strongest magic users. But don't be too disappointed, her capacity for growth is great. Play your cards right and she'll be up to your 'sorceress' standard in no time."

Elleon turned and walked for her portal, "But I suppose you knew that already. Anyway, I'd hate to bother you too much more. Enjoy."

Noelle watched out of the corner of her eye as Elleon disappeared. She couldn't lie to herself, she almost wished the replica would come back and trade places with the woman she had in front of her now. But there would be no hope of that. She was in Trouble Town.  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 4}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

The sorceress looked to Elleon as the replica spoke, with a look on her face like she didn't believe a word the dark agromancer said. On top of that, there was that false attitude, made all her words ring horribly through the chapel. Ultimecia sneered as Elleon continued on, taking her eyes off of her, she turned them on Noelle who seemed comparable to a shaking mouse, the fear blatantly pronounced in her eyes.

"If you're one of the strongest... then taking all of you out will prove quite simple," Ultimecia smiled, before closing her eyes and diving into Noelle's subconscious. The girl had a decent magic source, different from what Ultimecia needed perhaps. She could see nature, plants, home and darkness amongst other things. But the time witch thought those most noteworthy, hmm... there seemed to be a different conscious dwelling within her as well.

Ultimecia withdrew her mind and opened her eyes, to Noelle it merely would've have seemed like the sorceress closed her eyes for a second or two to gather her thoughts. A sly smile worked its way up her tattooed face as she brought up her hand. Purple smoke formed in the palm of her hand, swirling and taking shape as Ultimecia willed it.

"I see you like plants... nature,"It first took the form of a small sapling before its frail branches slithered upwards, growing into a proud tree. The smoke then crashed in upon itself as it took on a different image, this time, a small scaled model of Titan. Finally, the smoke turned jet black, shattering the picture of titan into wisps of smoke before gathering and hovering as just... black smoke, representing the darkness. "Here I reside within stilled time, nothing grows here, I am the eternal existence. Will you try to flee from me?"  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

Noelle was trying not to let her fear get the best of her. It was time for a change in attitude, and quick. Survival mode was already on, but without confidence she wouldn't have a chance. She probably didn't have a chance anyway, but the blonde wouldn't let her mind go that far.

Have courage, human. Remember your strengths.

The agromancer watched the purple whisps in her hand. It was like Ultimecia was reading what she could do, what she was capable of. When the smoke went black her face grew a little cold. It seemed like that was never going to leave her alone.

"Here I reside within stilled time, nothing grows here, I am the eternal existence. Will you try to flee from me?"

"Uhh, yeah?" Noelle replied flatly, summoning her spear and backing away defensively. She knew it probably wasn't a great idea to irritate this woman, but what else did she have? Showing a little bit of attitude made her feel stronger, and she needed all the strength she could get.  

[RhikoDemson]

LavenderSakura

{ATE: Mourning Respite: 14}
{Jenny : Dining Car}

"I'm not sure, but I'm half expecting gloomy skies... for some reason," Jenny hastily added the latter portion. She only thought overcast because of the way the movies portrayed Port Royal later on. She could be completely wrong though. But if the East India Tradind Company had ensnared the port city she figured the weather would correspond.

She answered his second question first, still unsure whether she should address the first question at all. He did steer away from it, but somehow she didn't mind. She was already thinking about her home, surely speaking aloud of it wouldn't make things worse. Jenny was feeling painfully nostalgic as it was. "Well, if you want to know, I don't mind telling you, I don't think," The flutist replied at last, resting her chin against her arm and gazing into her glass.

{ ATE : Mourning Respite : 15 }
{ Louis : Train : Dining Car }

Louis shifted awkwardly and laughed nervously to himself, "I guess good weather would be too much to ask for then huh?" He paused, then sighed to himself, "Well, if it isn't a bother. I'd love to hear about where you're from. I love hearing about where others are from and what their homes were like, as well as seeing how they differ from my own."  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 6}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

"Of course you will, akkursed mortal. That's what makes you so foolish," Ultimecia replied, not that it mattered. It'd give the witch good reason to throw the doll around the chapel. She eyed Noelle with an amused look as the agromancer summoned forth her weapon, "you will fight me with that? Very well then!"

From her hand, the black smoke took on a crystallized form, in which Ultimecia lazily let drop from her hand. The crystal seemed to shatter onto the floor below, before taking hold of the ground and lurching forward in crystal spikes. The main crystal structure grew upwards, while the rest of the crystal spread across the floor like the plague. Finally, the structure twisted and molded into a life-sized form of Titan at which Ultimecia smiled. "He seems to have quite an impact on your subconcious, let's see how he well he dances."

[[Note: If anyone's confused or hasn't played FFVIII, Ultimecia is capable of manifesting and giving life to subconscious thoughts and inanimate objects. This includes diving into one's subconcious and extracting thoughts, fears and stuff.

Also, in FFVIII Ultimecia had a tencdency towards the beginning to speak with a harsh emphasis on the 'c' sound. Thus making 'accursed' into 'akkursed' >wO"]]  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: Mourning Respite: 16}
{Jenny : Dining Car}

Jenny smiled but otherwise remained quiet as she picked through her memories. Where was she going to start, there was so much to her world and she had only been but a tiny portion of it. Placing a finger on her glass, she slowly spun it, careful as to not tip its delicious chocolate-y contents all across the table.

"Well, there was a pier that stretch out into the ocean. And there were a line of seaside shops you can go to, and a small carnival and there was always a man selling cotton candy," Jenny recalled fondly, feeling the craving for the soft sugar fluff. She then realized that Louis might not even understand what cotton candy was and quickly brought her head up in alarm. "It's spun sugar and it pillowy soft... wait, hold on," Jenny gestured, spinning her fingers in circles to show the process of making the candy. She then rose from her seat and ran to one of the magical food cupboards. She felt foolish for mentally chanting some made up cotton candy chant, but did it anyways before opening the cupboard door. Jenny felt an impish smile build up on her face as she took out the bag of fluffy candy and raced back to the booth. "It's like this," Jenny pointed to the clear bag, showing the soft pink pillowy wisps of sugar within, before opening the bag and offering it to Louis.

"Oh and there were rides and an arcade and a ferris wheel right on the pier," she continued, with her animated hand gestures to show the mechanics of a ferris wheel, not knowing that Louis had all the knowledge already.  

[RhikoDemson]

{ ATE : Mourning Respite : 17 }
{ Louis : Train : Dining Car }

Louis smiled as he pictured her home town, it reminded him of the boardwalk back home, though he didn't live nearly as close to it. He lived more inland, in center of a swamp to be precise, yet still not that far from the coast line, "Sounds like a very fun place to live." He said, as she got up and pulled out a bag of cotton candy. She handed one to him and he smiled, brighter this time, "Thank you very much. Though, candy with breakfast is a interesting choice of nutrition don't you think?" Louis chuckled and opened the bag regardless, "Do you like the ocean? You lived by it right? I imagine you went swimming allot with it right there."  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: Mourning Respite: 18}
{Jenny : Dining Car}

The mage shrugged as she looked around the car, "No one minds unless you do, besides you might not get the time later and who knows if Ivalice has cotton candy," she responded, feeling slightly embarrassed that she didn't take the time into consideration.

"Oh, I love the ocean and yeah, I lived somewhat close to it," Jenny responded before her face fell and she pulled on a strand of stray hair. "Actually, I never learned how to swim. I kind of got traumatized when I was younger after my friends said they'd teach me by sticking my head underwater for prolonged periods of time," she murmured uneasily with a strained smile, feeling ridiculously foolish for not knowing how to swim when she lived by an ocean. "I love playing in the water though," Jenny concluded, trying to justify something in her mind. "Anywhos, how is your home like?"  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike 7

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

~ Cue 160 BPM ~

Noelle backed away, cursing under her breath as a form of Titan appeared before her. Her mind was moving a mile a minute. Getting out of this one was really going to suck. The chapel was constructed out of stone. Stone was good, she could manipulate it well enough, though it took a little more effort because she was less familiar with it. Agromancy was out of the question, which was her greatest strength. Seed Strike would probably be her only option for growing anything, but there was no guarantee that would work. Her back hit the stained glass windows behind her. No more room to retreat.

'Don't let her corner you, get out of there!'
Right--Spring!

The section of stone beneath Noelle's feet lifted with great force, launching her high above Ultimecia's Titan. She balanced herself in the air and prepared to land. As her feet touched the ground, she bent with the force of her downward velocity, tucking her shoulder and rolling over it to lessen the harsh impact on her legs. Landing that thing would always hurt, but it was quite handy for getting out of a tight spot.

Noelle immediately turned back to her foe, tucking her hand in her seed pouch to prepare a few for a Seed Strike. Meanwhile she tried to get a better feel of working with the stone. Ultimecia's Titan dwarfed her easily--it actually terrified her. One swing from his large fist and it was over for her. Hopefully things wouldn't end that way.  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 8}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

Ultimecia watched with mild amusement as Noelle soared high above her manifestation of Titan. She still had some kick in her, despite how worn out she looked when Elleon brought her. So she manipulated the stone of the chapel to launch herself in the air. There was no where to go in her domain, there was no escape no matter how far she would try to launch her pitiful self. So Ultimecia let her, if the agromancer wanted to waste her magic in that manner then so be it. The witch waited until the girl was back on her feet before she mentally gestured for her Titan to go forth.

The manifested Titan raised its two mighty fists before smashing them down onto the stone floor right before Noelle, intent of knocking her off her feet. It shot rubble and shards into the air at such a force that it would cut directly into skin. The shards merely bounced off the crystal-esque skin of Titan however and avoided Ultimecia all-together as if the space around her bent, defying the laws of physics. "Go on, I see what you're about to do with the seeds. Go ahead, I'll even give you a little time."  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike 9

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

Noelle jumped backwards to avoid being too close to the crystal Titan's attack, but couldn't keep on her feet. She fell to her side, getting sliced by stone shards. A few even stuck into her skin, making her cuts particularly painful. Another cut was etched into her forehead, just below the other, adding more of a hinderance to her vision. She wiped the blood from her eye, glaring up at Ultimecia. She'd already seen her plan for Seed Strike, so there was no way that was going to work. Her best bet would be to take down the crystal Titan first.

Without even getting back to her feet, Noelle made another attack. She slammed a fist on the ground and a ripple of stone spikes flew at the crystal Titan. With the attack in motion, Noelle was able to pull herself up and throw something else Titan's way. Moving her body in accordance with her magical commands, the agromancer lifted a large stone tile from the floor and frisbeed it the monster's way, hoping at least one of her attacks would work.  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 10}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

The spikes pierced into Titan's chest, causing finite cracks to slither across the translucent flesh. Titan stumbled back, as if surprised by the strength behind the attack. Finally the discus slammed into its crystal head, easily taking out a portion. Crystal shards rained down on the chapel giving the illusion of glittering rain. Finally, the cracks formed throughout its entire body causing the Titan to shatter into a million pieces.

The pieces of Titan hung suspended in air, as if its travel was halted in time. Ultimecia trailed a clawed finger across the closest crystal portion. "Oh, did I make it too easy?" The witch smiled as the pieces all flew back together, recreating Titan in its flawless form yet again. Did she give the poor girl the illusion that she was winning? The entire world was just an illusion after all. "Apologies."  

[RhikoDemson]

{ ATE : Mourning Respite : 19 }
{ Louis : Train : Dining Car }

Louis ignored her question, though not in a bad way. He was far too stuck on her swimming abilities or lack there of, "That's not how you learn to swim." He commented on her friends, "Jeez... if you'd like, when we arrive at Port Royal, I'll teach you how to swim. At least to some extent. You can't go around not knowing how to swim... besides swimming is such a wonderful experience, the feeling of freedom you get in the water is like nothing else. Remind me when we get there, I'll be sure to show you a thing or two."