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P A R T Y:
(Chris)
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-Visitant Point 0 (Coronado Beach).-
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[Chris awakens to see that he has returned to his home realm, home world even. He is on his back on a beach of white sand... He can hear waves crashing very close by.]...
Chris: [Sits up with his legs out in front of him. He looks at his hands.] (Human again...) [He places his hands on his legs and simply watches the waves roll into shore.] (Looks like home... doesn't really feel it though.) 'The heck is all this...? [Looks around.] No one here... Well this sucks. Just when I though I was finally on track, another thing takes me to some other world so that I have more crap to do. Awesome. [As he speaks, he stands.] Now, to find out where I am... And why everything is kinda lacking in... color? [He looks to the stone-built lifeguard tower near him.] ...(I think this is Earth... I've probably been here once or twice.) [He conjures a quick dark corridor to take him to the top of the tower. Within a second, he is taken to the roof of it, though it does not rise very high.] (Yeah... I can see the Coronado Bridge from here. I'm home physically... but I think this is all in my head, nonetheless... Hm...)
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[A voice calls out. It can be heard as it echoes loudly across the entire beach... it cannot be seen.]
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BlackWitch: Oh my, what have we here...?
Chris: [Looks to the sky.] Hey!! You witch, you brought me here, now how do I get back to Soren!?
BlackWitch: Not so fast, human! Hehehe. We have sent many to the world of Hellspawned, but only once have we had a case where... hehehe... a human is sent to Earth.
Chris: The world of Hellspawned...? What now...?
BlackWitch: It is a world which the Leader created... Our leader may do anything he desires, and he has worked with another fearsome character to set up a realm which we may convert poor souls into clusters of BlackMatter, just like our Leader... Hellspawned has set a series of Trials for your friends... Those who pass... ehehehehe, are lucky. Those who do not... Well, we are lucky! Hehehehehe!
Chris: ...What!?
BlackWitch: Aww, does the little human not understand?
Chris: ...WELL. FROM WHAT I GATHER... you're trying to be ANNOYING.
BlackWitch: It seems we are not doing our job! Ehehehe, we must turn things up a notch then! But... I cannot blame you, Believer... Hehehe... After all, you are the one who shares the most qualities with our Leader.
Chris: (Their Leader... isn't that BlackMatter?) I'm nothing like your demon of a leader!
BlackWitch: Yes, yes... you are... You cannot deny how you were created. Our Leader's creator shaped both of you the same way... And though you will want to say that you are not the same person, you cannot escape the truth, Cruce.
Cruce: Look, I know who I am, and I am not--...Cruce...?
BlackWitch: Ehehehehe! ...It seems you don't know who you are, Cruce Ifai...
Cruce: ...Cruce Ifai? That's not my name... Fourth isn't my name... I... don't even know anymore...
BlackWitch: I will say... I am quite surprised our Leader's creator would unleash you from his world so soon... I did not expect this... Hehe, if you ask me, I believe this plan backfired!
Cruce: ...[Looks off to the side.]
BlackWitch: [At this moment, she finally decides to make an appearance in front of Cruce. She sits on her broom, a small white grin across her pitch black face.] Hehehe....
Cruce: [Looks ahead, frowning.] ...Can you please just tell me who you guys are...?
BlackWitch: [She motions with her finger for Cruce to come closer.]
Cruce: [Walks forward until he is at the edge of the tower. He sighs, and sits with his legs over the edge and his head lowered.] If anything... I can't stand knowing that there's now even more to me to get. Can't I just... like... I don't know, be done?
BlackWitch: [With the same pointed finger, she strokes under Cruce's chin, causing him to look up at her.] You are but a lost child of Hellspawned, Cruce... The lies that Light and Darkness have left you with have done far worse than blind you.
Cruce: [Instead of resisting, he becomes interested.] So first Darkness tells me Light is lying... then an even eviler force tells me Darkness is lying.
BlackWitch: Well, I cannot tell you everything. Only our Leader's creator and others from his world know about you and your purpose in this dimension... I can tell you one thing, however... One question you must have asked yourself time and time again is this: What is the Connection?
Cruce: ...I have.
BlackWitch: You have your little Eclipse friends, which I have tried to capture... though I know it is impossible.
Cruce: ...You mean... capture them in this world?
BlackWicth: Yes, yes. They escaped with such ease because of that Connection... The Connection will be the downfall of Darkness... it was bestowed upon only two human boys. You... and another who was never meant to exist.
Cruce: Another... Hmm... But what is it? What is the Connection? Why do I have it?
[In the blink of an eye, the witch is suddenly sitting beside Cruce.]
BlackWitch: [She points out to the ocean.] Do you see the waves? They crash upon the sands... They will always crash... Do you see the point at which these waves form? ...Yes... The ocean beyond that is Light... The ocean is vast. And the beach is but a tiny strand... That, the sand, is Darkness. But you see, the waves of the ocean, of Light, carry grains of Darkness as they break... Yet, they also take away from Darkness and bring that back to Light. These waves... Are a shade of gray between the lines of Light and Darkness. This truly controls both sides...
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[Cruce simply stares at the ocean and listens...]
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BlackWitch: The waves, or the Grayness, is the connector of Light and Darkness. Without it, the two would rip each other apart... Now, there are some grains of sand trapped inside the connector's eternal waves. That sand will stay with the connector forever. They are the Eclipses... They are eternal as well.
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Cruce: So... I really do connect Light and Darkness...
BlackWitch: You aid in connecting the two forces... You could not do such a thing without the Eclipses.
Cruce: Is that where the emotional ties come into place?
BlackWitch: Yes. They exist so that the connector and the Eclipses do not do anything... let's say, reckless, to each other. They shape Grayness into a large family; a family which holds all order.
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Cruce: ...You know, Naught and Hideaki have both explained this to me... I thought it'd be a little different, but you've helped me understand it better... Now I have to ask you, why are you trying to destroy their worlds?
BlackWitch: So that we may complete our own world! Ehehehe, the world you see before you... is ours. Keep in mind, we have no intention of harming the Grayness... The Grayness is our ally, but they wish to destroy us because their resolve is with Light.
Cruce: So, if we didn't attack you... you wouldn't fight us? Then why did you try to harm us back at Wingspear?
BlackWitch: Hehehe, I did not try to harm you. Is this harm, little friend?
Cruce: ...I dunno, it doesn't add up. We fight to defend the Ecliptic Worlds, but Hellspawned fights to destroy them. What makes us allies?
BlackWitch: Silly little human. We destroy those worlds and recreate them here. If your Eclipses bring their Scripts to our worlds, they may be brought back to life! Hehehe.
Cruce: But you just said a minute ago that those who fall into this world for good become black matter...
BlackWitch: Hehehe, the Scripts can fix that! They can change everything back to normal! And there will be no signs of Light or Darkness in our way! Ehehehehe!
Cruce: ...But then that would destroy them... if the Grayness were to vanish...
BlackWitch: My little friend, do not worry... It is for the best. Believe in me... I am asking you kindly... Please?
Cruce: ...
[Suddenly, a luster gateway comes into solidity just behind Cruce and BlackWitch.]
???: I thought I felt your presence again, you liar!! [Points ahead.]
[BlackWitch warps into the air, now on her broom once again. Cruce stands and turns around...He is shocked to see this face again.]
Cruce: No way... How are you still alive!?
BlackWitch: Ergghh... Not such great timing, you pest!! Shoo, go!!
~Danithan~ [Danithan has aged as much as Cruce has, though he doesn't look much different. He is wearing a dark red T-shirt with a black collar and jet black jeans. His red hat is missing, but he still wears his sunglasses and his light brown hair over his forehead to covers his light blue Ecliptix.]
Danithan: Chris? Or should I say Cruce? Yeah, it's me Danithan! Listen, that witch is lying to you about Grayness and Hellspawned being allies! There is no way that works out, trust me!!
Cruce: ...Wh-wha...?
Danithan: I'll explain everything once I get this hag off our tails. [His fists begin simmering with heat.]
BlackWitch: Oh no! No no no! I will not let you get anywhere else, you little bug! [She breaks apart, giggling. After a few seconds, she is gone. Only her giggle echoes.]
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Danithan: ...Ugh... what a drag...
Cruce: ...DANITHAN! ...You're ALIVE! ...[Staring in awe.]
Danithan: Yeah yeah. I'm alive. I've been alive for... some amount of time now.
Cruce: I can't believe it... I thought your time... Wasn't...
Danithan: Don't rub it in. Sure, my time wasn't real and Grayness was sent to this hellhole...
Cruce: But why? Why only Grayness?
Danithan: Because! ...Erk, I'm sure she gave you the whole talk about Grayness connecting Light and Darkness and being one big family, right?
Cruce: Right?
Danithan: Well, from all that I've gathered in Hell, Grayness has some sort of family bond with Hellspawned and their Leader. And don't take it directly from me here, 'cause Hellspawned's new. Their Leader's "creator" is the one we should be really worried about.
Cruce: [Holds both of his hands to his head.] Aaaahhhhh, what's going on...?
Danithan: I guess it's kinda hard to get right now, huh?
Cruce: I'm not even gonna answer that!
Danithan: I thought you wouldn't...
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P A R T Y:
(Cruce - Danithan)
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[The two head off the tower and catch up on what has happened. They sit in the white sand, watching the ocean.]
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Cruce: [With his knees pulled into his chest.] ...So she lied...
Danithan: She lied about Grayness and Hellspawned being allies, not about the Connection. But that's how she pulls you in, man.
Cruce: ...Huh...Grayness and Hellspawned aren't close friends?
Danithan: Picture us being Light. They're the Darkness. They are evil evil evil, and they are liars liars liars.
Cruce: [Turns his head to Danithan.] How do you know all of this...? What have you even been up to?
Danithan: Tch, dude... I've been here for about three years now. I think like... 10 months after you dropped off the face of existence, stuff was still happening. Apparently, whatever happened to you began happening to unsuspecting innocents all across Fantasy. They became this black stuff... At first, we thought it was Darkness playing with our heads, then it started to creep up on us. They began looking like living things, and eventually evolved into powerful beings capable of doing... well this... [Motions out to the sea with an arm.] ...Don't ask me how... Recently, they've been doing the trial things more often, which got me here in the first place.
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Cruce: ...This'll have to be explained to me over time... I don't think I can take it all at once...
Danithan: Bud, I hear you... [He pats Cruce's shoulder.] 'Ey. Let's get to my hideout. 'S not too far from here, but I guess that doesn't matter with teleportation an' all. [He stands.]
Cruce: ...Bud...? [Looks up to Danithan.] ...Since... when? I thought you hated me...
Danithan: Heh... [He offers to help Cruce up.]
[Cruce takes the help, standing.]
Danithan: I... I guess I did hate you at a point. Then this whole thing happened and it really changed how I thought about'cha. I can tell you... I feel bad mistreating my bro. Heh.
Cruce: Brother...? ...Oh... I get it now.
Danithan: Let's talk about this back at my place... I'm a little nervous here. Don't blink! [He summons a luster gateway right under himself and Cruce. It takes the two...]
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--To Be Continued...--
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DANITHAN!!
