Welcome to Gaia! ::

[ ??? : Tortuga ]

The woman sighed somewhat, a bittersweet feeling overcoming her. She wished the path of Darkness on nobody, and yet, by choosing this path...

"You have chosen the path that my Master has taken, as well," she explained, walking toward the middle of the room. A Corridor of Darkness appeared to her side. "As such, by choosing this side, you and I will be able to stay in contact. My master did not wish for you to know this, lest it affect your decision. If you come with me, we will make our way to his base of operations."

{James : HT/BC : Outside Train -> Train}

James didn't really know what part shook him more... the fact that Rae, the white mage who had kept their entire group maintained health wise as best she could was gone... Or the fact that Noelle, his first true friend from the group aside from those he knew before all of this had happened, had followed after her replica, possibly to meet the same fate. Though he certainly hoped not. He opened his eyes slowly as he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the words of his friend Dawn and he looked up at her.

'She is right James, as is Kyle. It isn't safe here, I know you are worried but you need to make sure you are safe... Get in the train.'

James slowly nodded his head in understanding as he picked up his hexagun from the ground, returning it to it's holster at his side as he slowly got onto his feet. He looked at Dawn, placing a hand on her shoulder and gave her a wisp of a smile before it faded away.

"Right."

He said in an almost numb and hollow voice as he turned his attention back to the train and slowly made his toward it with a slight limp due to his injuries and the blast. As he entered the train, he saw Joe, sitting on the floor beside Rae's body and the corsair couldn't help but gently place a hand on the bo-wielders shoulder as he walked by.

'Comfort those who stand in need of comfort...'

He then let out a heavy sigh as he took a seat a small distance from the rest of them, without even realizing it, his left hand had balled up into a fist. He looked down at the ring on his left hand middle finger. The titanium band engraved with the Roman numerals one through twelve. It was the engagement/wedding ring Michelle had given him. His right hand reached up to latch around the coin that was always around his neck.

'I am so glad you weren't here to see this love...'

[Alan :: LoD :: Throne Room]

Alan was deeply irritated. For the first time in a long while, it looked like he was poised to get some answers, but it looks like any potential Q&A session had been derailed by this homicidal armored jerk who had just murdered the guards Alan had traveled with for the past while. Yes, they were there to take him prisoner, and yes, they were basically uselessly unforthcoming with regards to information, but for the most part they were perfectly decent people - and, appearing as they did in the middle of the wilderness, offered to Alan the first chance at human companionship he'd had in a while.

The fact that he didn't know where the sides lay was the icing on the cake, so to speak. Alan had been taken captive by these people. Maybe the attacker was here to bust him out for some reason? Still, Jon was among those who stood opposed to the armored man. Alan briefly entertained the idea that Jon was an illusion or being mind controlled or something, but dismissed that as paranoid. Jon felt like Jon, and Alan was prepared to act on that.

Besides, that armored man did just kill the guards whom Alan had come to think of as friends. Even if he was here to offer salvation, Alan had no desire for freedom at such a price, given by such an individual.

Wordlessly, Alan extended his left arm, conjuring Jehuti.

Fire and lighting melt ice, Alan reflected, but I don't want to risk damaging this area further or hurting the boy with the hammer. Water might be a good option. If he gets wet, it might freeze around his joints due to the cold and impede his mobility. "Watera!" A spike of high-pressure water erupted from the ground beneath the armored man.

(( What about, "Appearing in the rafters hidden in the shadows away from view" or killing the guards also stationed out of view in the rafters... makes everyone think it was done out in the open and involving all of the guards in the main hall? D: ))

"Tsk Tsk..." Louis bent back, lifting up his lower half a moment later, to kick the hammer from underneath as it passed overhead. Louis rolled back, back to his feet, drawing a line across the floor sending a paper thin ripple right in-between the unbalanced fighter. The water gushed forth, splitting after impacting the ice, shooting out around the close ranged fighter's limbs, but keeping his neck and head dry. A second later, the water flash froze, turning into two pillars of ice encasing most of the fighter's body.

"Attacking without even an introduction? What a shame. This is the legacy of earth? How pathetic." Louis stood to his feet and looking in Alan's direction, "Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you all. Only to deliver a message."

Keep it short... but make it notable. Anything that would be brought up in conversation. Don't care what it is, just think theatrical. A memory ran through his mind.

"Your time... is short. All those who associate and ally themselves with Ultima shall perish. ALL who stand in my way... shall die. Pain, Torment, and a slow death is all that awaits you. And when I'm through... your hearts and souls shall be mine for eternity to torment. But none shall be worse than the one who is one with the traitor. I give you this, but one chance to redeem yourselves. Ultima's fate does not need be yours."

Louis extended a hand to them, not to any person in particular, but to all of them, "Choose. Stay sided with Ultima, and you will only face betrayal." His head seemed to shift eve so slight towards Kichi, "Side with me, and you will always receive what's promised."

[Mulan & Mushu : LoD : Throne Room]

Mushu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when Kichi broke into a fit of laughter.

"Talk about Strange...." was all the dragon said before the next thing he knew two of the Earthlings unleashed two attacks in a random direction, "What the-?"

Mushu jumped onto the closest shoulder, Alan's, and glared at the armored person.

"Talk about jerk. What kind of deal is that?" he shouted from Alan's shoulder, "I mean seriously. He thinks he is all big and bad cause he has all those powers and fancy armor... And who the heck is this Ultima?"

Mulan watched the strange person in confusion. She didn't know what to make of him. He seemed powerful. The Chinese woman took no chances and stood protectively in front of the Emperor. There was no way she was letting this stranger or anyone else near him.

[ ??? : Tortuga -> Jadis' Castle ]

The portal led them both into the chilled castle that once belonged to the infamous White Witch of Narnia. While it was not frozen or 'cold', as it was during her reign, there was still a slight chill in the air, almost mystical in origin.

They were, specifically, in the throne room. A few feet in front of the throne was a massive, spherical machina that (if Nicholas had played the game) would be recognized as the machina used by the Al Bhed's mass observation system.

In front of this, however, at the bottom of the few stairs that led to the throne and Machina, was a single old Guado servant, who held a small pillow in his hands. On the pillow was a blue, baseball-shaped sphere. As she and Nicholas entered the throne room, the servant walked forward, bowing lightly.

"The Maester wishes you greetings. He cannot be here right now, but left a message for you," he explained, his voice old and weary.

[ ??? : Jadis' Castle ]

"Take it into your hand," she explained, watching as he did so. "Feel the small amount of magic energy inside the sphere and focus on it. An image should appear-"

Her voice was cut off by the appearance of Seymour's form appearing above the sphere, much like a hologram of sorts.

"Good afternoon, Nicholas. Or perhaps it is evening as you are getting this?" he asked, not waiting on any sort of response. "My name, as you may or may not know, is Seymour Guado, a Maester of Yevon and the man who has been helping you along your path these past days. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you into our fold."

"As my friend has likely informed you, this path will put heavy strain on your heart. However, due to the strength of your heart, I am confident you will not falter under the pressure of Darkness, and as such, you will be able to help us bring peace to this world."

"I am currently with a group of fellow Earthlings- the first group that my 'friend' likely informed you of. However, since I have last spoken to your teacher, this group has split in two- I have gone with one group, while my ally, Kuja, has gone with the other. We are attempting to gain their trust so that we might steer them in a more peaceful direction."

"Your ally, Louis, may stop by shortly. You may find a sort of familial relationship with him, as his Esper will be familiar with your own. His power will, for now, be greater than your own. The woman who has helped you thusfar will grant you additional power, but not on the same scale- I would rather be there personally to assess your heart before granting you the power to reach your full potential."

"Until your teacher receives my orders otherwise, you will remain here to become accustomed to your new gifts. This shouldn't be long- likely just overnight. If you have any questions, then simply ask our friend and she will wait for my next response."

"Oh, and there is one, simple rule that you must follow- unless speaking to someone that you know for a fact is with me as my ally, you do not know me, you do not know Louis, and we do not know you. I must emphasize the importance of this rule- those who are not with us would do all they can to unravel us. We must remain covert."

The Maester produced the symbol of prayer with his arms before the image vanished entirely, the sphere growing somewhat dim. The Guado servant took a step back, glancing between the two.

"Would the young master like a potion to heal those wounds?" the Guado asked, looking somewhat concerned. "Or perhaps a meal?"