Heartfelt Adventure : Active Time Event Thread

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 22}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

So she's not as stupid as she seems," Ultimecia mused as the window shattered, thus allowing the world of the illusion to shatter as well. She hardly felt peeved at the fact the illusion was already over, it was a relatively simple one to cast. The sorceress could always go a level higher and continue toying with little agromancer. She knew she had the time to do so, but she was a little bored to tell the truth.

"So, shall we get serious with things? Or do you want to play around some more?" Ultimecia asked with a light shrug as she played with the purple smoke in her hands. It took on miniature forms of her siblings, one by one, each time being wisped away by smoke. The sorceress smirked, side glancing at Noelle, as the spear wielder caught up on her breath.  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike 23

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

The water disappeared a little too fast for it to all have just drained out of the chapel. It all just vanished, leaving Noelle to fall backwards and gasp for air. Within a short period of time she had been knocked back and fallen over three or four times. It hurt a little more each time. Her head swam as she tried to recover, the sudden rush of air making her dizzy. Her fear and panic began to reside a little, but she was clearly shaken. The agromancer had given up on trying to kick her feet free of Ultimecia's crystal vines, but in her attempts at cracking the stone beneath them while the chapel was flooded she had managed to get a little wiggle room and could now pull her ankles away. Noelle steadied herself and staggered to her feet as a sign that she wasn't giving up.

"What . . . are you playing at?!" She demanded, panting and beginning to shake with exhaustion. Her eyes caught the whisps of smoke in Ultimecia's hand and her heart began to ache. "I'm tired of these stupid games! Quit messing around!"  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 24}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

"Very well then," Ultimecia smiled, more than happy to oblige. She idly reassembled the broken window, still twirling the smoke in her hand. The poor agromancer probably didn't understand what she was asking for. No matter. All scum of the earth was going to be wiped from existence sooner or later. Ultimecia closed her fist, extinguishing all the smoke from the palm of her hand.

The sorceress turned her golden eyes on Noelle, as if looking deep into her mind. Any mental barrier thrown up in defense would be easily knocked away. She was taking hold on Noelle's mind, as if pushing away the spear wielder's will to fight back, creating an almost numbing sensation in Noelle's mind as memories and thoughts flickered by.  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike 25

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel]

The agromancer watched her captor tentatively, expecting more trickery. There was none. The moment their eyes locked, Noelle was unable to look away. It was like experiencing sleep paralysis without previously having been in slumber. There was no command that her body would answer, no matter how hard she tried. Even speech seemed impossible.

Oh, what the hell now?! Titan! Titan, can you hear me?

There was no response, the connection between her conscious and her heart becoming muddled with images, thoughts, and memories. The blonde tried to keep her head on straight, but there was nothing she could do to combat the confusion. It felt like some invasive force was throwing things around in her head so that nothing would make sense. Noelle stood frozen, soon unable to comprehend any of what was happening.  

[LavenderSakura]

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 26}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel}

The numbing sensation would only continue to spread across Noelle's mind as Ultimecia grasped at the agromancer's mind. Possession was a tricky thing, she would have to find the girl's magic source to tap into, to get a feel for how Noelle's magic worked with her own. She would have to take control of every remote sensory feeling to make movements natural and to make things less strained. Total control meant less magic strain, not that the time witch's mana pool wasn't big enough but such things had to be taken into consideration.

Noelle would slowly feel herself falling into a comatose state as if she was looking out her eyes through a murky glass window. As if things were fogged over and slowed down, her own actions not her own. Even her thoughts seemed to be in coexistence with someone else's.

As Ultimecia continued to sift through Noelle's mind, she took mental notes on the other Earthlings. Their powers, their attributes, their relationships. All things were in a fragile state of balance within time and all things could be easily tampered with. So easily, all it required was a flick of her finger. She relished in Noelle's knowledge, however limited it was, knowledge was knowledge. Plus, the agromancer had been present since the beginning, having met King Mickey... the deal with Hades... the rise of the replicas... all of those memories went into the sorceress' archive.

Then, she reached her heart. It was pulsing, giving off a warm glow of light, no matter how many dark feelings wove themselves around it. It was unmistakable where Noelle's allegiance lay, even if the answer was muddled to the spear-wielder herself. Ultimecia tried curling her fingers around it, the last thing to possess. To have the heart was to have the entire being. It was burning to the touch though, strong and defiant even though Noelle's mind itself was now numbed. The sorceress frowned, releasing her metaphysical hold on the child's heart. Were all so-called "Earthlings" that way? There had to be a way to break through the barrier. Perhaps she wasn't putting enough of her magic into it, having underestimated the strength of her heart.

What lies in the hearts of you children?  

[Je suis a toi]

The Possessor's Strike 27

[Ultimecia's Castle ~ Chapel ~ Deep Dive]

It wasn't long before Noelle was completely gone. She couldn't speak, move, or even think. There was no escape, and little hope. Or at least that's what Ultimecia thought. The agromancer's vision went dark, before turning to a blinding white. It was suddenly like she had regained her ability to move and cognise. This, however, was not in the physical world. Her heart, in self defense, had sent her into a deep dive. The blonde looked about, seeing nothing but a vast expanse of darkness beyond the large pillar of stained glass she stood upon.

"Turn yourself, human." A low, gravelly voice said, echoing slightly.

Noelle turned over her shoulder and nearly gasped in surprise. Titan stood a few yards away from her, arms crossed over his chest. Though, this was not the Titan she was used to seeing. There stood no man-mountain before her, but Titan in a human form. He was still large and maintained the same features, but in flesh, with a shock of white hair atop his head.

Momentarily forgetting her situation, Noelle threw a hand up before her eyes. "Dear lord, put a shirt on!"

"Now is not the time for jokes, human!" Titan barked, face turning slightly red.

"Okay, okay! Geez, simma down now." The girl cowered, placing her palms flat in front of her and motioning downward, as if it would lower his anger. "What's going on, why am I here?"

Titan's cool complexion returned, "I do not know. You are unable to control your physical manifestation, so your heart must have drawn you to a Deep Dive . . . I'm not aware if there's anything we can do for you."

Noelle's voice jumped up a few pitches as she immediately went into hysterics, "What do you mean there's nothing we can do for me?! WHAT THE HELL IS CRAZY LADY DOING?!"

"I'm not quite sure," Titan replied, "But I've felt her probing your mind, your memories. I can see each one she looks through. I've also felt her lingering around your heart. I do not believe she is trying to take it, though, not in the sense that you are probably thinking of. It seems like she is trying to . . . manifest it in some way."

"Whoa, whoa, wait. Manifest? As in, like . . . posess? She's trying to posess me or something?"

Titan looked a bit uneasy, which made Noelle begin to feel terrified. She scrambled for an idea, something she could do to get rid of Ultimecia. But nothing came to her. She was quickly beginning to understand why Titan had said that there was little they could do for her.

"No. No! There has to be something we can do! There has to be some way to . . ." Noelle's voice trailed as something caught her eye. Near the far edge of the great stained-glass platform, there was a black puddle on the ground, visibly swirling and ebbing.

"What is that?"

"That is your darkness. The darkness that lies in your heart." Her summon said darkly, watching her as she cautiously approached it. "It is somewhat small, but it exists. It grows and shrinks from time to time, but mostly stays a consistant size because you chose to supress and maintain it."

The agromancer drew closer to the puddle, watching as it seemed to writhe like it had breath, like it had life. She quieted, under the impression that it was saying things. If she was still enough, she could hear the whispers in her own voice.

"Useless . . . weak . . . disappointment . . ."

Noelle scowled and pulled herself away, "Why is this here? I don't want it here."

"There is no way you can escape it, human. It will forever remain a part of you. Everyone has darkness in their heart, but you have chosen to awaken it, and there is no going back on that decision. But you musn't fear it, for so long as you exercise control, it will just remain a primal part of you as it is in all hearts."

The girl continued to back away as Titan spoke, sighing in frustration. She tried to think of why that strange looking puddle seemed so familiar, like she had seen it before. It was because she had. It dawned on her that she had seen it after Hades attacked her, and cast something on her that plagued her mind with terror to the point that she was completely hysterical. During that time, she had gone into a Deep Dive in a strange way, and that puddle was there, spreading black on her hands so that she couldn't get it off. Titan had told her not to fear it, but it was hard for her not to. That mysterious puddle was dangerous.

"What about the light in my heart?" Noelle said softly, not taking her eyes from the manifestation of darkness in her heart.

"It's on the other side."

Noelle glanced back begind Titan and saw a large pillar of light, streaching up into the black nothingness above them. It surprised her because she hadn't seen it before for some reason. Maybe her heart chose for her to be unaware of it until that point. The spear wielder walked over to it and ran her fingers through it slightly. The light seemed to sparkle, small bits of it flying from the pillar and floating about her. The light seemed to call to her, urging her to go towards it, go into it.

She looked at Titan over her shoulder. "Titan . . . if this is the last time we meet . . ."

"I'm proud to have been your guide." Titan said, losing some of the gruff undertones in his voice. His face softened for a moment.

Noelle smiled. "I'm glad to have met you."

Turning back to the pillar, Noelle closed her eyes, and stepped into it.  

[LavenderSakura]

((Blah post is blah ;n; I couldn't think of anything ><))

{ATE: The Possessor's Strike 28}
{Ultimecia :: Ultimecia's Castle :: Chapel -> Dark Space 8D;;}

It burned her palms, this attempt to possess the girl's heart. The light flared, fluctuating in strength despite the mental stasis Noelle was in. No matter how much magic flowed forth, Ultimecia remained unable to grasp the heart.

The sorceress pursed her lips, attempting different forms of magic all to the same result. Ultimecia could see that even if she left Noelle in a comatose state, the heart would remain the same. From whichever angle the sorceress looked at, nothing had changed and the heart still pulsed and glowed.

A low growl ripped from her throat as she retreated from the innermost sanctum of Noelle's mind. Her power still gripped the agromancer's mind but to the time witch, it was a lost cause.

The chapel began to disintegrate around the two, with hardly a blink from Ultimecia. It was replaced with a pitch black void, a space that seemed nearly endless and just as empty. There was a bemused look painted in the witch's golden eyes. Let her escape from here if she can, I have no further use of her. She could just rot here like all other scum. Ultimecia loosened her claw like grip from Noelle's mind and disappeared in a wash of purple smoke and in a few minutes the agromancer would come to and find herself trapped in Ultmecia's world. Was this what being possessed was like? Seeing nothing and running in endless circles? Was this death? Had she lost the battle? Whatever Noelle thought in a state of panic, Ultimecia knew she would smile at.  

[Je suis a toi]

((It's okay XD; It's about time we brought this thing to a close anyway. ^^ ))

The Possessor's Strike 29

[Dark Space]

Noelle opened her eyes and blinked wearily. She had been lying face down on the ground, much of her energy spent. But where was she? All she could see around her was black, though it wasn't just darkness. It was an impossible phenomenon where she could see herself, but all else was shrouded. Had she returned to a Deep Dive? No, it wasn't like what she knew a Deep Dive to be. But what if this was it? What if Ultimecia had managed to take her heart, and all she could do was take a back seat? Her mind raced along with her heart. All she could think of was her friends.

I've failed . . . haven't I? Is this it?
'No human! Rise, Ultimecia has left you. I am still here in your heart, it has been left intact.'
What? But how?
'There's no time for that! You must escape, you never know if she will be back, or if she's even left.'
But, where am I?! How am I supposed to leave?
'There is a way . . . you must summon a dark portal and use it.'

What the hell?! I don't know how to--
'You act like there isn't someone trying to KILL you, just do it! You've summoned heartless before, you know how to use the darkness, now USE IT!'

The girl pushed through her exhaustion, harder than she ever had possibly in her life. It was a matter of survival this time. She didn't know if her enemy was out for the count, ready for more, or even still there, but sure as hell she wasn't going to stick around to find out. Will power, all it took was will power, and if she didn't have any, well, she wouldn't still be alive. She concentrated on manifesting her darkness, recalling her anger and troubles to strengthen it. She had promised herself that she wouldn't use it again, just let it sleep and stay hidden. She didn't want to be that way. But this time she had no choice.

Noelle could feel it working more than she could see it. The portal wasn't ready yet, just a little more and she would have it.

'Keep going, you--'
Got it!

The portal opened and she jumped at it without hesitation, mustering as much energy as she had left to get her through. For a moment all she could see was black, hearing her own pounding heart and ragged breath. Suddenly she was out . . . and falling.

~*~ End ~*~

 

[Kaegoe]

{ ATE : Two to Tango : 1 }
{ Dawn : Port Royal : Training Car }

Dawn walked into the Training Car, holding the door open as she let Joe join her, then let the door shut behind them. She walked over to the center of the dojo like car and summoned her weapons. She stood staring at the dummies as she felt the time magic in the car start to take effect.

Okay, she was there for training, and Joe was with her, but what was she to do? It wasn't as if she had a plan before hand when she was coming here alone. She was just going to practice with her combat. Though the knowledge she was not alone really added to the pressure to think of something. This was her idea after all.

Dawn's eye's glanced back at Joe, she had no idea if he had any ideas in his head for training. She asked for his help, but she was sure there had to be some sort of techniques that Joe wished to work on as well without worrying about her.

"Uhhh..." Dawn said with a little stutter and nervousness to her voice as she looked at the dummies once more, "What should we do? Do you want to start by beating these things up? Or do you have any other suggestions of what we should do?"  

[AldrickZearse]

{ ATE : Two to Tango : 2 }
{ Joe : Port Royal : Training Car }

Joe stood next to Dawn, hands behind his head and one leg bent as it lightly stood on the toe of that foot. He looked at her out of the side of his eye, mentally frowning.

He had noticed something had bothered her, but didn't know how to approach it. And didn't know how to approach the training, as well.

"I...yeah, don't really know. How about we do a small tesst run and see what you can do, and figure out what you might need any help with?" He shrugged. Really, that was more than likely the best option. "Stationary targets...give us about four for now."

And suddenly there were four wooden training dummies in front of them, sitting motionless. Joe charged his magic at his fingertips, flicking a finger at one of the dummies and creating a small gash in it's torso area from the wind blade he sent at it. It made him smile a little.

The little things always made life seem better.  

[Kaegoe]

{ ATE : Two To Tango : 3 }
{ Dawn : Port Royal : Training Car }

Dawn nodded in silent response to Joe's suggestion. Her head tilting to the side as she blinked at the wind blade and cut through the the chest of one of the dummies. She glanced over at Joe then at the dummies.

She raised her tessen in her right hand. She stood there for a couple of moments like that as if she was thinking. After a few moments moved that fan outwards and summoned a gust of wind at the two dummies in the center. The gust was powerful enough to knock the two back, one of which fell onto his back while the one on the right tilted back slightly only to come back up and remain standing.

Dawn appeared to ignore it for the most part as she raised the fan in her left, her more dominate hand. She took aim at the fan at the dummy on the far left. She threw tessen at it's head, where it cut in and remained stuck in the solid wood.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly started to move several steps away from the dummies and Joe. Dawn stopped about 10 feet away from where she was, putting herself at an angle from her targets. She raised her fan in her right hand. With a larger sweep than she used for throwing the first fan, this time charging it with wind for a more powerful attack.

~'You really need to learn how to aim.'~

Dawn's eyes widened at the same time she heard Garuda's voice, for the fan she threw didn't go flying in the direction she intended.

Oh, of course not. No, it had to have a mind of it's own and go in the direction of Joe....

'CRAP!!!' Dawn yelled mentally.  

[AldrickZearse]

{ ATE : Two To Tango : 4 }
{ Joe : Port Royal : Training Car }

Joe watched the girl, mentally noting things. How she started with a blast of wind. Threw with her left hand(was she left-handed, perhaps?). And sent a stronger fan toss out.

In his direction.

Aw, s**t.

Joe spun back, hand thrusting out at the fan as it grazed past him, wind shooting out of his palm. Not to push, though, but to guide. His wind wrapped around the fan and the air strengthening it, and forced it to turn, curve back to the dummies and cleaning slice off the head of the one he had flicked a wind blade at.

Joe had a blank face on, but his breathing was slightly heavier. "Well...let's not throw our weapons, yet, yes? Save that for sparring or something...you know, when I'm ready for it?"

Holy Hell that was close.  

[Kaegoe]

{ ATE : Two To Tango : 5 }
{ Dawn : Port Royal : Training Car }

Dawn stood there her mouth hanging in silent worry and her eyes widened as well, even moments after Joe had spoke to her. She was trembling slightly.

"I am really sorry," she mumbled after several moments of just standing there, "I honestly didn't mean for it to go at you. I was aiming for the dummies. I am so sorry!" Dawn let out a sigh looking down biting her lip, "I guess that is what I get for throwing with my right hand."

Dawn planted her left hand, rather hard against her forehead. As she whispered the word, 'baka' to herself.  

[AldrickZearse]

{ ATE : Two To Tango : 6 }
{ Joe : Port Royal : Training Car }

The fighter calmed his breathing as Dawn apologized, and smiled. "It's fine, dear. Really. We'll just work on something else for now. You have your wind, and your fan tossing. What else can you do?"

Yes, change the subject, get her off the topic of her nearly hitting you and maybe she'll stop apologizing. ...I have the feeling there's going to be a lot of apologies by the end of this.  

[Kaegoe]

{ ATE : Two To Tango : 7 }
{ Dawn : Port Royal : Training Car }

Dawn looked back up at Joe, "Not much else. Sides jumping. Though I did heal Sayrike earlier."

She shook her head slightly sighing mentally as she thought. She knew she wasn't a fighter, most fighting she ever did was when she was younger wrestling with James and Robert in her tomboy years. But for something like this, she hadn't the slightest clue.

~'What are you talking about? That is all you can do? Of course you can do more. And before you say, 'I don't know what you are talking about.' You do. You have just been burying yourself too much in your emotions that you haven't seen them.'~

'What are you talking about, Garuda? I seriously have no clue of what you are talking about.'

~'Darn you, Airhead, I told you already! Yes you do!'~

'Seriously, Garuda. Stop yelling at me and give me some sort of clue, you darn Birdbrain!

~'You know, Dancing. Seriously, I am surprised you hadn't used any of those abilities already.'~

Dawn twitched outwardly, before she started to yell at her summon, "Dancing? You've got to be kidding me, Garuda! If you know my head as well as you say you do, you should know that I don't dance. I trip over my feet."

~'That is a lie and you know it! You do too dance.'~

"Hah! If you'd call that dancing. I have only a couple times danced at group dances and the rest of the times, I have been alone. And I sucked. Sides, I hardly call the battlefield a place for me to be dancing."