Welcome to Gaia! ::

The time he had spent in the game was beginning to blur together. Had he been here for hours? Days? Years? He remembered the Alice AI saying it had been five days- but how long had it been now? Time stretched on seamlessly before him, twisting and spiraling but never ending. Was his family worried? Was anyone? This caused a sigh from the teddy bear boy as he toddled forward, paws squeaking as he went, until he came to a great cage.

And the great creature spoke to him.

It promised him thoughts of chaos and destruction. And a world of no more secrets and lies. In a way, it sounded nice. The bear boy smiled to himself, finding he liked the idea of a world without such things. It would be happier. Friendlier. As he daydreamed, he almost missed the great monster's first question.

First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.

"Me?" he asked incredulously, confirming his little ears had heard correctly. When the monster did not stop him, he flopped to sit over, humming slightly as he thought.

"Well. My name is Ulka Ursa. I am not the very best scarer, but I do believe I should like to be. I'm not a very strong person either, but I have met a very good many friends since coming here. And they seem to like me, which very much makes me happy, too. Maybe I wasn't meant to be scary at all." He paused, then waved his arms. "That is not to say I am not scary at all! I am! I have just been very confused lately, your majesty. Do queens have these worries? I most certainly hope not."

Really, he hoped nobody had these worries. They would all be much happier for it, from what he had experienced. They could just... Play this game together. Have fun. Not be worried about waking up to find nobody there.


Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey here.

"Oh, miss queen! It has been most exciting!" Teddomination hopped up from the seated position, excited to tell his story.

"I came here, and I got the most strange outfit! And there were so many talking trees, everywhere! All of them! Some of them were very kind, but between you and me, trees do not give the best of hugs." This last part was whispered, as though he were confessing a great and terrible secret to her.

"And we explored. I met friends who go to the school I want to, and they are so great and fun! I love them all! We ran through dungeons together, and made a team- me! I made a team and organized it! It was so very exciting! I was important! And then we went to the mad tea party, and..." The enthusiasm slipped just a bit, here.

"I... I married one of my friends. Till wake do us part. And it was fun, but it kind of hurt, because he is very special to me but I do not think I will ever see him again. But he explored with me, and fought along side me, and... And I am very much going to miss this place. Scary Alice AI and all."


Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.
"Oh, there is the most amazing school, your majesty! It is a great academy, where monsters live together! And they learn to be scary! And I want to go so very badly!!!" Teddomination hopped up and down excitedly, happy to tell someone about his most favorite school ever. It was so exciting!

"There are classes and professors and you take field trips! And learn to harvest fear! Oh, it is the very best place! Especially for someone who needs to learn how to be scary, like me!!!" Teddomination nodded before continuing.

"You see, I live with my papa. He is very scary, and is very good at getting fear. So is my older sister. But because I chose a stupid body, I am not very good at it at all. And this is why I must get better! And must get into that school!!! And I'll see all of my friends again!"

Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?

"Yes..." He admitted with defeat, staring at the floor.

"My older sister laughs at me a lot, because she thinks I am stupid and not very scary. And she can get very mean," he said very quietly, still not looking at the queen.

"I know we are meant to be kind to our families... But I do not know why I must always be the kind one. Why can she not be the bigger, better person sometimes? I get very tired of it. And very sad."

What are you afraid of?

"I used to think, your majesty, I was very much scared of not being scary. But now I realize... I am very much scared of being unliked and alone." It was a hard admission to make aloud, but... In a way, it was freeing. Particularly because the queen existed only in the game, and Teddomination knew he would not be judged for such a confession.

Tell me a secret about yourself.

"I will tell you one secret! But you must promise not to tell anyone else!!!" He held out a claw, in order to initiate a pinkie promise, then flushed when he realized that was altogether impossible. Instead, he let his paws drop to his sides, and stared at the caged queen.

"I... Do not wish to wake up. I just want to stay here with my friends, and eat cakes and be happy. That is my secret, your majesty."

What is it that you wish for the most?

"To be strong, and scary, and... Most importantly, happy. So that I will be able to be with my friends and protect them from all things." He turned to the cage with a smile, and gave the trapped queen a smile.

"This conversation has been very helpful, your majesty. However, I believe my team- and my friends- need me. I am ever so thankful for your listening." He gave a short bow to the cage, then took off to explore the rest of the queen's castle.

He may have wanted his friends to stay, yes. But they had friends and families and lives, too. And Teddomination would never forgive himself if he didn't do everything in his power to get them home, and happy.

He wasn’t sure what to say, but the castle can pass off as breathtaking if he ignored the giant thorns which could very well pose as dangerous to everyone’s wellbeing if shoved into it. However, no one or no NPC is doing that so everything should be okay. Possibly.

Mitfael entered the complex with a soft sigh, taking note of the interior: what was he here for? A question quickly answered by the sighting of the staircase, and he went down.
Down

Down

Down

Until he reached the exit.

Exit? Mitfael mentally shook his head. This was no exit, this was an entrance to a dungeon! Narrowing his eyes at the torch lite location, a voice hisses and draws his attention. Who…?

The Red Queen.

…Oh great, now they’re playing interviewer and interviewee.

[Q] First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.
With a pause and a sigh, the Gryphon answered, “ An apathetic human who’s a hunter that goes by the name of Cahir. I work in the Mist division.”

[Q] Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey.
A small grimace as the memory of the Jabberwork returned, “It was relatively peaceful. Land in Tulgey woods, get fragments, get attacked by a demonic thing that can disappear, went to a place with a table that’s over twice my size and food that’s just as ridiculous in size…” He trailed off before trying to figure out what else he had done up to this point, “…that should be it. Unless you count appearing here something you did not know.”

[Q] Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.
“It depends on the circumstances. You can describe the world I live in as comfortable, or it could be hell. It’s all a manner of interpretation.” Mitfael paused looking towards the side, “Can’t really answer this in detail since the human world is so big and really depends on your own personal experiences with it.”

[Q] Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?
“No,” A pause as he tries to remember anytime he was ever truly hurt, “I am not emotionally attached enough to be hurt physically or mentally by anyone I love…I don’t really have anyone I care for outside of my family at the current moment.”

[Q] What are you afraid of?
“Trivial question, but obviously death to the people closest to me.”

[Q] Tell me a secret about yourself.
The only answer Mitfael wanted to give was silence, but it doesn’t seem like that was good enough an answer to keep the Red Queen’s questions going. Reluctantly, he cleared his throat before letting out the quietest reply of, “I get embarrassed easily.”

[Q] What is it that you wish for most?
“Debatable, but I’m currently really kin on To have the ability to protect , and To get out of here.”

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

…wait what. Mitfael went to question the Red Queen on her words but she was already gone.

Well, this woman was a creeper.

She was pretty sure she didn't like destruction. She would be happy to raid this castle and destroy it. ... Perhaps that was a little ironic, but... Maybe this queen would stop talking high and mighty and creepy and she wouldn't have to answer her damn questions. What if Knotted didn't want to let her know? Why did she need to know anything?

Hrrumph.

"First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self."

Like this question. She really didn't want to answer this. It was a dream, of course, how could her influence really reach outside of the game? Of course, she knew that it could. Seven Kings, one of them was Destruction. Was this related?

"Serafina Arai," answered Knotted, tersely. When she was pressed, she added, "I'm a ghost."

That seemed to be enough, because the Red Queen continued on.

"Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey."

Journey? This chaos was definitely an adventure, that was certain. Knotted pursed her lips. "There were some talking trees, and big desserts, and cheshire cats with riddles. And a giant caterpillar. And a lot of places where I could eat or look into stuff and experience memories that I already had? That was interesting."

It was also another clue that not everything here was a game-- why did it know her so well?

Probably because this was her dream.

"Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy."

Again, another uncomfortable question she wasn't sure she wanted to answer. But then, if this was a dream, wouldn't the Destruction already know? "I'm from Halloween. We're a big world that sustains itself on the FEAR of humans. Some of us are former humans, others of us are born from humans FEARing us."

"Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?"

-- Wow, that was a personal question. Knotted blinked. How was she supposed to answer that? The longer she took, the angrier the air felt, and she knew she needed to start talking.

"Yes. Though some of that may be my own fault." She attached too quickly, didn't she?

Why was she being honest anyway?

"What are you afraid of?"

"Being alone and unloved."

That was easy for her to be honest about ... probably because it was obvious anyway.

"Tell me a secret about yourself."

A secret?

Knotted wore the mask, but no one really knew why. Most times, it seemed like she was just wearing it for decoration. Knotted never took the surgical mask off, but it wasn't like she was performing an operation, nor was she sick with some kind of FEAR disease. She just never took it off.

Of course, she didn't have it on here. It felt nice to be able to leave her mouth free, and to not fear what someone may think of her lips when she took it off.

"In the real world, I have a terrible disfigurement."

That was that.

"What do you wish for the most?"

Knotted sighed.

"Honestly, that I was something else."

She could be a reaper! Or a different type of ghost! Or anything but what she was! Maybe then, she wouldn't be so terrified about what others would think of herself.

The Red Queen was silent. Was it over?

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

Uh...

"Sure."

Knotted decided it was time to get the Jack out of there.

[Enter]

He moved carefully down the path, it seemed to wend onward forever, no end in site for what seemed like forever. He wondered as he walked where the other people he had met in his travels were, what they were doing, how they faired. How many of them might have already traveled this road, how many might be coming behind him.

The gates gave him pause, tall and thorny twisting things that locked their bramble fingers together and ominous in their nature.

Not that ominous always bothered him, but this did. It gave him a vague sense of unease as though he might expect there to be blood or ichor dripping off those points like hungry teeth.

Moving onward he found the stairs, and following the direction his feet pointed he wended down them, step by step his ears straining to catch even the hint of an echo in his passing. Listening to hear if there was more than he descending, or ascending the stairs, they opened at last into the dungeon. It almost appeared a hallway at first until you saw the recessed doors that marked it as a narrow corridor of entrapment and potential pain. The torches, bright red in color cast an eerie bloody light, but there was a whisper, a hiss that called him forward like a whisper of a secret.

“STAY” boomed the voice, it made fear crawl down his spine like someone rubbing his scales the wrong way, a twist in his belly like he’d knotted his tail in too tight a curl.

"Stay, visitor, and listen. I am [ Destruction ] contained. As long as I remain sealed, I will not destroy, and you cannot destroy me. The cage can only be unsealed with the purest of red crystals, infused with Destruction. There will be a time, but not right now. For now, you are a guest. For now, you are invited as a guest. Stay, a little longer guest, and let me ask a little more about you."

There was no –logical- reason to answer, but he knew he would. That moment felt again like a dream but he knew it wasn’t He knew that it was something far stranger and unsettling.

“First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.”

He shifted from foot to foot, unsettled by the question before he finally spoke. Everything he had experienced, and everyone that he had met up to this point giving him more courage to answer. He fed on fear, he would not let it feed from him.

“I am… a Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent, I come from the deep jungles and I am learning to be a frightening thing like those whom have gone before me.” He shifted from foot to foot again and added, feeling an all too literal chill of displeasure at the idea that his answer might be a short one. “I go to a school, where they teach monsters, they make us better so we can BE better, so we’ll be who we need to be when the moment is right. I am not very good at being frightening. I am very proud of my feathers, I used to be ashamed of my size and my colors but I’m not anymore. I know far more people now than I ever thought I would, and I hope that I can do the same when I’m not… in your very strange world as well. I hope that I will not only be everything I have seen in the mirrors, but that I’ll be better than what I see as better now.

She made a sound, or it made a sound, it was a queen by title yes but… it was unsettling.

“Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey.”



“I… I fell asleep, I fell asleep and I woke up in these strange woods, and in those woods I was told to search the trees for fragments. I didn’t find any… but I found a lot of talking trees and tree stumps. I kept going and…there were other people, other people with these strange puppet…avatars like my own. I thought the whole time it was a dream. We fought other puppets, and sometimes I swear we fought the same puppets several times but Its hard to say.

he shook his head

“… Some were far stronger than others, and this whole time I’ve been a MOUSE. It’s very silly to be a mouse, but It’s not so bad because I can heal people, so I worked with people who were stronger than me and at least this time I wasn’t ashamed to be so overshadowed. I think… other players have probably been around more, talked to more people… done braver things but… the people I traveled with, we did things.

I saw a…woods that was all glitches, I saw…secret doors that weren’t very secret at all, though I have no idea how to enter most of them, or why some opened. For a while I was very brave too though, except that I talked rather ridiculously, I sort of…babbled about the strangest things but I think it helped me give the bats the tea that the hatter wanted them to have. I also met a very friendly bunny that was excellent at it too, especially since she was tiny.

“Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.”

That made him frown, he didn’t like that she knew that he wasn’t from this world, or that she was so curious.

“Well, we’re… monsters or well, I am, we are born from pumpkins, and…we fall into different kinds. There are…Ghosts, who should be pretty obvious what they are, Monsters like me whom are some of the most diverse, undead, which are closer to ghosts but they can be monstrous too, so they are pretty interesting even if they tend to be on the cold side. Witches and Reapers who can look almost human, but witches have familiars, which are like small friends that travel with them. Umm… Demons obviously.” He shrugged, casually.

She changed topics then, sudden and enough to catch him off guard with the question.

“Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?”

When he answered No… She then asked him why not.

His head dipped down in shame for a moment and then back up as he answered. “ “I guess… I just haven’t loved.”

“What are you afraid of?”

He just knew she’d know if he lied…

“… Being alone.” He realized it was the first time he’d admitted that to himself as well. He was afraid of many things, loosing his ability to fly, to be unable to become his true form. But He didn’t like being alone, the idea of never being able to speak to some of the people he knew, that he had met made him… afraid.

“…being unable to fly… but that’s another kind of fear.” He added. “At least with friends I could probably be carried, but if I am alone, then who could I share the joy of flying with?”


“Tell me a secret about yourself.”
He made a growling sound deep in his chest and then hissed air between his teeth. He didn’t like these questions. He didn’t like feeling so open and exposed. He didn’t want these things shared but he did it anyhow.


“…I’m the smallest of my family, I was a runt. So not only was I born odd, white, and ‘pretty’ rather than beautiful, bright, and inspiring…I was SMALL.” HE spat the words in frustration. “It took ages for them to even start to teach me to fly because they all assumed that I’d just gotten my flight feathers earlier than most…that I was too small… all kinds of reasons. So I’ve tried as best I can to learn better on my own. But for as much as I love it…I’m still rather bad at it.”

“What is it that you wish for the most?”

“…I could only answer what I wish for right now, wishes are dangerous at the best of times. But I –HOPE-, I hope that the people who have lives beyond this world can go back to their proper homes, safe and sound, safe and sound the way they know their lives.”

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favored then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."


He wasn’t sure he liked what she wanted… wouldn’t that kill everyone? What about the creatures that lived here? As strange and terrible as some of them were, didn’t they have a say? It was a game yes but, what happened to game sprites when they died? What if they were like monsters for this world and…

He wasn’t sure where the thought wanted to carry him but he cut it short, wrapping his arms around him and then swapping to grip his tail, the mouse-tail that he’d hated so much now serving as a slender pink reminder of his natural form that he rather wished for. That he hoped he’d be back in eventually.

He wondered how…his friends were doing.

The cages swung open as the voice faded, either dismissing, or forgetting about him. Maybe it had never cared at all. After all…he was just one small, feathered serpent of no real influence or special nature.

He let go of the tail, squared his shoulders and chose a direction to go.

Was this really a smart idea? They knew from Alice that this was the only way to leave the game. To beat both queens and move forward. So when the new area opened and opened the path to the castle Boi was ecstatic. It was time to finish this game!

Standing on the pathway, with the tall, dark lifeless trees lining a thorn covered castle, any happiness that Boi had felt was totally gone. Instead he felt... Terrified of what was before him. What sort of monster could be inside? He really wished, from the bottom of his heart, that he had gone with Teddy or someone else from the guild.

Sighing softly, he pressed forward. It was a dungeon inside. No glamour or anything even remotely equal. Only a pulsating red vine that gave Boi the terrible feeling of dread. It was called [ DESTRUCTION ]. Not the Red Queen, but this very well COULD be the Red Queen.

It wanted to ask him questions... Well, an interview wasn't so bad, really. Nodding very slowly he took a deep breath and began to answer them as best he could.

"Tell me about yourself."

It made no sense to turn around now, but it was a little nerve wracking that the NPC would ask this. It felt like they were collecting information. Boi worried his lower lip for a few moments before he felt goosebumps on his skin. The whole room had grew a few temperatures cooler. Once more the Red Queen asked the question. She was obviously not used to waiting.

"My name is Alexis, Alexis Zephyr. I'm a first year student at Amity Ville. I'm stupid, worthless, and have no real friends to note. Nothing I do is good and my family doesn't care much for me." He shrugged limply and waited, hoping that was enough information for the queen.

"I want to hear about your journey."

"My journey, huh?" Well, Boi wasn't sure what sort of journey she meant. The game journey, or the real life one? Sitting down beside the bars of the cell, he sighed and got comfy before starting,

"I don't know how I got here, and I don't think I'll ever really learn. I think that's part of this game. We'll just wake up and not get what happened or why it even happened. But the truth is this has been one of the best experiences of my life. I met some really wonderful friends and people, and we explored all over this land. I'm actually a leader in a guild... Of people who are amazing. It's so weird I feel... I feel like a totally different person here. I might not be the brightest bulb, but at least I feel worthy of respect and kindness in this world. And I can be kinder and more respectful of others! I uhm, also made a really great friend."

Taking a deep breath he started again, "So specifically I've done almost everything that's been offered here, and it's all been amazing, or terrifying. None of it's made a lot of sense, but that's the purpose. It's not supposed to be real." Looking at the rough palm of his leathery hand, Boi continued, "Most of the time when we're in real life we focus on silly things like meanings and actions, but here we really get to see ourselves and focus on others without worrying about petty consequences."

"Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real body occupies."

How did you tell her about the world? For a long time he waited, trying to figure out to answer the question. Apparently too long, as Boi started to shudder from the coldness of the room.

"I live in a world that's huge and there's lots of different creatures. We're all different and not everyone gets along. It's hard sometimes to get used to it... My family carries messages back and forth between the stronger entities. We're harpies, message carriers. It's a really great honor, but the truth is I'm a terrible terrible message carrier."

"Have you ever been hurt by someone you loved?"

Instantly he responded, "Yes." There was a numbness in his limbs that had nothing to do with the frigid temperature of the room.

"How and when?"

"My parents... When they sent me to the school... because they told me I needed to get better... They thought and think I'm worthless."

"What are you afraid of?"

"Proving them right," BoiisonFIYAH laughed bitterly. The Queen did not seem satisfied with the response so he elaborated, "By being worthless. That I will always be worthless."

Still the queen remained silent. No... Swallowing hard, he tried not to shake from the words that crept into his mind and oozed down to fill his mouth. They gathered there, trying to escape the confines. "I.. I'm afraid that I will never be happy with myself... That I won't figure out if I AM worthy and if I am... what I am good at..."

"Tell me a secret about yourself."

A secret? He'd divulged those before, but there was a new one that came to mind. "I'm in love with someone I've never even met face to face."

"What is it that you wish for the most?"

That was so painfully obvious. "I want Teddy, Teddomination, to be a student in my school... I want to go to school with him more than anything ever."

For a long moment the Queen was quiet before responding.

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

With a loud shriek, many of the gates opened and the Red Queen disappeared. That was it, huh? Standing up, Boi collected his prize and left the area.

OOC

My character's username: BoiisonFIYAH
My character's level: 35
Character's HP: 30
Current party:
Current Guild: Raiders of the Lost Arc
Location:
Small IC description of character:
A tall, thin guy with orange-blonde hair in a pony, two large brown wings, in the red and orange Rabbit outfit with gray fluff.


Character journal: here

She had had enough of the table, and so had hopped off the edge and onto a pathway that lead away from it. Thankfully it didn't lead into another set of woods, but instead to a great castle, the gates that surrounded it made out of sharp thorns. They were open, which saved Jack_Blue the trouble of trying not to get stabbed by the thorns, and so walked into the courtyard. There was a stairway that lead downwards, and so she took this pathway inside.

Where she ended up looked surprisingly like a dungeon, and at the end of the dungeon was-

"...!" She managed not to shout in alarm at the presence she felt in the room. The voice that called to her was filled with fury that threatened to spill out at any moment. The gryphon was glad that the owner of the voice was behind bars, for she doubted she could do anything if the being wanted to take her anger out on her.

The owner had then introduced themselves as destruction, and Jack_Blue was reminded of the place of ruin that had been in the tear. Did that mean that this game and the tear were linked?

When asked to stay and tell a story, she slowly nodded. "Alright..." Though destruction had said they were sealed, she was still quite wary.

"Who am I?" She was pretty sure she didn't mean her alias. "Pokerus. I am a water dragon who resides in the land of halloween." How much should she reveal about halloween? Would the queen destroy it if she told to much?

Then the next question was asked. "Well I began my journey in a very confusing set of woods. Signs pointed everywhere, there were lakes that made me recall past memories, and a giant a** monster which ate me about ten times. I then came to a giant table, ate some good dessert, shot some bats with tea. Got M....married, then I came here."

"I come from a place called halloween." She then said. "It's a place where scary creatures. live. We then travel to the human world, scare humans...a little bit...then harvest their FEAR. Their FEAR is what keeps us alive."

The next question asked was a little more difficult to answer. "Well...not really," Had she been hurt? When pressed as to why not, she shrugged. "I guess I haven't given anyone the chance to hurt me" Yet.

"I aint scared of anything." She first replied, then thought more of it. "Well...I'm not afraid for myself, I'm afraid for my friends." Because she wasn't sure if she had the strength to protect them.

And then she was asked a secret. "Ugh...." She looked the other way with a blush. "When I was a scareling I tried to become an vegetarian." There, Now she hoped the queen wasn't going to blurt that out to anyone she knew.

The last question she had to answer was easy. "I wish to become powerful. Stronger."

With her answers given, she was privileged to learn that if the queen was let out, she would destroy everything and build a new world. That...wasn't good. Or was it?

Not wanting to stick around, Jack_Blue made a hasty exit through one of the open cages.

It was a strange sensation, to finally walk the halls of the Red Queen's Castle. The Gryphon stepped carefully, first past the gate of thorns that had held his attention for quite a while, curious if they would come to life and attack him. Down the single staircase, amused at the linear progression of the quest. He could see no guards, no soldiers. No one to block his way. A long hall greeted him at the base of the stairs, and it took a moment for his eye to adjust to the dim lighting, taking note of the details of the room. He bristled. Not an empty hall. A dungeon. A prison. For what? His footsteps echoed, hollow and a warning to his own ears. A voice edged each footstep, whispered and hissed along with each echo. Something waited, though if it was head of him or alongside him he wasn't sure. He reached the door at the end of the hall, and wondered if a monster was to erupt from it or rear up behind him as he turned from a dead end.

"Stay."

The voice caught him off guard, tensing and waiting for a battle the rage promised. Instead, the booming voice continued, "Stay, visitor, and listen. I am [ Destruction ] contained. As long as I remain sealed, I will not destroy, and you cannot destroy me. The cage can only be unsealed with the purest of red crystals, infused with Destruction. There will be a time, but not right now. For now, you are a guest. For now, you are invited as a guest. Stay, a little longer guest, and let me ask a little more about you." Something in him boiled, rebelled against the booming voice and its twisting words. Destruction? Destruction it calls itself? He stood straighter, golden eye glaring out from dark skin and pale locks. Pride kept his back straight, chin forward, gaze steady. Pride made his lip curl and brogue thicken as he growled back, "Ask yer questions then, o great Destruction. Then I will pass."

"First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self."

Silence met the Red Queen. So many questions about who he was, what he was. It was annoying. Useless. He stood before them, alive, breathing. What else mattered? "I'm a balrog. Fire's my life blood, heat of the earth all I need tae know." It was his turn to be met with silence, expecting his answer to be enough. Seemed such was not the case. Snarling, he continued. "I'm a student of Amityville Academy. I attend classes. My favorite is P.E.," he added tersely, and for a moment he felt as if the air itself was filled with the Queen's distaste to such treatment. "Keep a skull pin on me at near all hours, tae keep my natural form in check. Large demon of flame disnae do much good in wee halls." It was only after speaking of the pin aloud did he notice he'd yet to see it on his attire since entering the dream. His pause at least seemed to signify to the Queen he was done speaking on the subject, enough that she was willing to move onward.

"Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey."

"What is there tae speak of?" He shrugged his broad shoulders, distrustful for the Queen's curiosity. "Wandered through the Tulgey Woods, then the Mad Tea Party. Fulfilled quests as I went." His thoughts went to the strange foods, the stranger creatures. "One player, I know her from outside my dream. We battled mobs together for a time." His expression did not soften--he wasn't sure if it could be used against him to mention Lute. "Did fight 'longside some of yer own Red soldiers. A White Rabbit and a Mad Hatter. Skilled fighters. Unfortunate we weren't in the same faction." True statement, really. He could have enjoyed spending more time with them, taking down more mobs. Yet far as he was concerned, they chose the wrong faction.

"Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy."

This question confused him for a while. Why did she care? What purpose did she have, asking such questions? He was disinclined to tell her much. That he had to answer her at all disturbed him. "Halloween's as fine place as any. Bit cold at times for me, but cannae complain much." Should he make the world appeal to her? Or keep it bland, tell little? "Academy teaches all kinds. Demons like myself, monsters that come in all shapes and sizes, ghosts and undead--different, even if they always strike me as similar. Reapers, as well. Not a bad lot if... strange at times." He couldn't find it in him to elaborate. Not to her. Not without knowing why she wanted to know the answers to these questions. His answer at least seemed to suffice as she continued onward.

"Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?"

To this, he stared at her, brow furrowed and the corners of his mouth down turned in a sharp frown. "No," he barked simply, waiting for her to continue onward in her questions. She didn't.

"Why not?"

He grit his teeth, glaring at her from his one good eye. "None tae love," he managed to growl out, feeling as if he were chewing glass the whole time. Personal information was not something he was keen to share. That he couldn't fathom why she was interested also wore his patience thin. Thinner than usual, in fact.

"What are you afraid of?"

Again only silence met the Queen for a time, both for his unease to even answer... but his difficulty putting to voice part of the nagging that had haunted him not long after he'd started... being aware. "Not knowing if I've forgotten someone important or not." Someone, something. He simply walked through the streets of Halloween Town, aware of nothing before that moment. Had he simply not existed before that moment, or was there something he'd got remembered? It was impossible to know or say. He was bothered by this, though he tried each day to dwell on it less and less.

"Tell me a secret about yourself."

"You've a lot of questions," he growled, giving the cage a rather skeptical look. No one else had joined them as he'd answered her questions. Was she trying to distract him before something came out at him? Or before she broke out? It certainly felt like a trap to him. "First time I remember flying, I fell repeatedly due tae being scared out of my heid." He growled his way through the words, giving her a minor "secret" of his as opposed to something of actual weight. He didn't know what could be used against him, or how. Or when, even. He wanted to give her as little ammunition as possible.

"What is it that you wish for the most?"

The Gryphon gave a snort, eyeing what he thought might be the Queen. "Tae wake from this blasted dream and be on with my life." He was a simple boil of simple desires at that point. There was nothing else he wanted than to be back to his dorm, back out of this dream. Well. That was a lie. There was one other thing. His eye unfocused for a moment, gaze distant. "Aye... there's another I want. Far more. I doubt even you can give it tae me." He was no a practitioner in meaningless wishes or dreamy sighs. He gave the wish that he deemed most likely to come true by the Queen, were she capable of such a thing.

He didn't wake up though.

"Soon," was all she said at first, and again he tensed, waiting for what would happen next. "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favored then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

"Luck to ye on that. All's got their secrets. Willing tae bet even ye."

He spoke no more. Didn't say how he somewhat fancied this world, but would not weep for it. The cage doors swung open, and he didn't hesitate before walking through one. He had purpose, tasks to do. He had purpose still in this world before he returned to his own.

[ Enter ]

Having not known she had just spammed a random player with nonsense warnings and emotes, Usagi continued on her merry journey, leaving behind the land of treats and sweets and came across a palace. Ooh, a palace meant there were princesses, right? She really wanted to meet a princess!

Or, so she thought. The gate that stood before her spoke nothing of the sort, of the kinda of fairytale castle she had in mind. The thorns loomed ominously above her, and she frowned, unable to hide a slight chill that ran down her spine. Still, she wouldn't be an adventurer if she didn't explore every single place she came across, despite how unpleasant it seemed. And so, when the gates opened and a single staircase stood before her, she took a deep breath, and climbed the steps down.

Upon reaching the door, the voice spoke out startled her, making her let out a surprised cry as it resonated off the walls. Still, she did as asked, and stood quite still. Why... why would she want to destroy it? She would never...
But, she felt some pity towards the voice. Being caged in such a place. That wasn't very pleasant. So perhaps, if she helped gather these fragments it asked of, she'd be able to set it free?

The voice seemed less hostile, and with that, Usagi found that it was a little easier to relax. And so, when the queen asked a bit more about her, she was more than happy to answer, to the best of her abilities.

"My name is Mimi Magloire! I like cute stuff and sweets, and I like to help others when I can! I believe kindness will make the world a much better place." Not that it wasn't already awesome, but being kind and helpful went a long way, and she always wanted everyone to stay happy.

"My journey was a lot of fun! I did my best to finish the main quests, and I got a little sidetracked with side quests, but there's just so much to explore, and there's so many treats! Yummy yummy treats! I wish snacks were ALWAYS this big!!"

"Mmm, the real world? Well, I live on earth, and I'm a human! I don't usually have these cute floppy ears." She tugged on them and let out a giggle. "And the snacks and teacups aren't this big. We also don't have talking cats, or trees, but I think it'd be really neat if we did! And scary creatures..." She trembled at the memory of the jabberwocky. "I think the biggest scary thing we have are wolves. Or bears. Maybe lions..."

She gave a quizzical look as the voice asked if she had ever been hurt by someone she loved.
"No... I don't think so. I love mama and papa very much, and they never hurt me. They're really nice to me, and love me a lot!"
She didn't understand why they would hurt her. Why would anyone be hurt by someone they loved? If they loved them a lot, then didn't that mean the other person loved them back too? Wasn't that how it worked?

"I'm... afraid of the dark."
She said it in a low voice, not quite ashamed of admitting it, but knew it was something she'd have to learn to grow out of. "But I think... it's because... I'm scared of being alone..."
Just the thought made her want to cry. It was so scary being alone. She didn't want to be alone.

... a secret?
She pressed her lips together, and thought hard.
"Well, sometimes... I like to pretend that I have magical powers. Mama says it's because I watch too much anime, but sometimes... I can see these things... that mama and papa can't see. They say I'm just imagining it, but I don't think that's it. I think... it's a special power hidden deep inside, and I just have to look really really hard inside myself, and find it, and then I can control these magic powers!"
She said this with confidence, beaming as she brandished the little dagger and pocket watch. That was why she was having this dream, right? It was like... premonition, preparing her for her fated journey into the land of magic and spells.

... what she wished for most? This was... a really hard question.
There was so much she wanted, so much to ask for, but perhaps, if she asked herself really really hard what her heart desired most, there was only one thing that came to mind.

"I wish... for a world with no pain or sorrow. I want everyone to be happy and enjoy life. It's too short... to worry about silly things."
Not that the things people worried about were silly or meaningless, but just imagine, how wonderful would it be if everyone was always happy? What a wonderful world it would be...