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[Kyla: Disney: Hall of the Cornerstone]

"Really?" She had just thanked James when Yen Sid clarified that the offering James gave her wouldn't work, and looked to James if he wanted it back-"so our bodies will still standing here but our hearts will 'drop' into Kyle's then?"

It was good to know so her full arsenal was at the ready, both planned and practical. She glossed over what she had done in the past and things recently added.


After going through her mental checklist she gave a moment to consider what sort of things would be useful while inside- it was impossible to full ascertain everything but it was good to run a few mental simulations before it began.

The whole thing reminded her of those movies of tiny scientists going on epic journeys through the human body. "What will happen to your body after the root is removed?"

[Dawn : Disney : Hall of the Cornerstone]

The dancer remained quiet as Yen Sid explained what was going to happen would be a drop, rather than a dive that she thought it was. But everything of what happened and the explanation didn't add up.

"Wait," Dawn thought in a rough whisper that it was hard to make out what she said, "Then why is it I have no memory of when Louis....?"

~'I wish I could help Sunlight. Remember though, the circumstances of what happened. There was so much darkness involved, from both Ajora and Louis. It might have something to do with it. I can't say.'~

Dawn shook her head, but remained silent.

{James : Disney Castle : Hall of the Cornerstone}

James remained silent as he listened to the conversation primarily between Kyla, Kyle, and Yen Sid. He looked back to Kyla as Yen Sid mentioned the ether he had just given her would not really be necessary and simply held up his hand in silent response telling her to keep it. He had no real need for it right now and he would be able to get more while they were still here he was sure.

It was at that time that Merlin conjured up chairs for them, really comfortable looking arm chairs no less, which Joe confirmed as he plopped down on the one to the right of Kyle who had chosen center seat for obvious reasons.

'This is definitely going to be interesting,' The corsair thought as he made his way over to the chairs, choosing the second seat on Kyle's left side, leaving his immediate left for whoever wanted it.

'Are you prepared?' Fenrir asked stoically, as if assessing the corsair's heart and mental state

'This feels a lot like the Cloister of Trials, maybe that's simply because of who is involved in the seal. Not really a whole lot I can do to prepare having never done anything like this before. All we can do is our best, the corsair replied mentally as he locked his gaze on the brilliant orb of light that was the Cornerstone of light, his eyes focused, determined as he relaxed as best he could in the chair, his elbows resting on the arm rests and his hands in his lap.

[Joe: Disney: Hall of the Cornerstone.]

The smile Joe had seemed to fade into a stony expression, but this time it held less 'holding back' and felt more just like he was deeply thinking everything out.

"I think me and Sora should lead the charge. We seem to be not only the short-ranged, but also the strongest melee people. Followed should probably be Noelle and Dawn. With Noelle's healing and Dawn's dances, they're probably our best supports, and also would make great supporting fire for the front or rear. Which would leave James and Kyla in the rear. Anything in the front would be heavily taken care of by me and Sora, but with supporting artillery from Kyla and James it'd be wiped clean, plus with Kyla's defenses and wall creation, the back would be pretty safely guarded with her magic strength and James' versatility with his gun."

The male's fingers drummed against the arm of his chair. "If we have to split up, don't go alone. We don't know what defenses Seymour might have set up. I get the feeling he'd want his little root to stay, after all." Silence with a bit more drumming. "Splitting up would be reckless, but if it comes to that, don't go alone if you can help it. Our numbers are our strength, after all."

The male let out a sigh. "Of course, this is just if things go well enough to actually stick to that. Anyone else got anything to add?"

[Kyla: Disney Castle: Hall of the Cornerstone]

It seemed like a sound enough plan, so Kyla shook her head having nothing more to and finally took her seat on the opposite side of the rows end by James. Feeling the cushiness beneath her fingers as she griped the sides of the chair, the artist tried to imagine they were about to be plugged into the matrix or get hypnotized. With her eyes towards the cornerstone again she slowly sunk back into the chair and let out a soft sigh.
This seemed as close to sleeping as Kyla would be getting for a while.
At this rate she was sure to go grey.
She was fine just waiting for everything to begin when she realized- this was Seymour right?
“-uuh-“
“-best be careful not to lose direct sight of each other either if we can help it- in a world of mind, thought and heart, there’s no telling how Seymour can try and fool us. It’s true we shouldn’t go on alone. So be careful to make sure the person you’re going with- is the actual person you know. ”
Wasn’t quite sure how you’d know- using a safety word sounded silly- but not without reason. It was best to just keep in mind how they were all connected. Surely Seymour didn’t know everything about them- and in a place like where they were going, there could be a sense of awareness to each other they would have that was stronger in contrast to anywhere else- hard to tell.
“..-probably..won’t be a problem though..” she muttered looking down at her feet.

[ Kyle : Station of Awakening* ]


Before his head had even touched the cushion, Kyle felt the entire atmosphere around him change--and just like that, without noticing any transition or any physical movement on his part, he was standing in the center of his Station, taking in its healed appearance once again.

The surface was flawless. Since his battle against his darkness, since his acceptance, the self-inflicted scars had healed, leaving a perfect stained glass mosaic column, surrounded by endless emptiness. But the darkness no longer filled him with apprehension--it was a comforting embrace, his own blanket of darkness surrounding his own pillar of light. This was his ethereal home, though it had changed somewhat to accommodate the changes to his self.

The outer rims remained as they had been; the two external rings of the platform were two separate shades of emerald, one somewhat brighter than the other, with the third, larger ring having the typical half-diamond pattern traced around. The fourth ring, which held the repeating circles of personal emblems, bore the Seraphic Heart emblem, bright gold on a forest green background, each with a slight glimmer more than the rest of the glowing station.

What lay within, however, was new. The background facade, which had once been the image of the shattered Earth, was now a star-and-moonlit beach, with palms off to the side--not his literal home, but where he'd always felt most at home.

The many individual circles that held the faces of his loved ones, which had once been mostly scarred, was now cleansed, shining brilliantly. Due to the number of circles, they were each much smaller than the standard Station from the games, but were no less clear. The center image was no longer a malicious mask, but the image of his brother. Surrounding that were three images, of his mother, father, and a dark-haired friend who looked to be about Kyle's age. Surrounding them, and ever outward to the edge of the inner boundary, were the rest of his friends and loved ones, including his current allies, some of which were coming even now.

Finally, on top of it all, on the side and leaning diagonally, as one normally did in their own mosaic, was the image of Kyle as he currently was, updated get-up and all, hood down, eyes closed, looking to be in peaceful slumber. Notably, the left arm--which was toward the viewer--was clear of any markings whatsoever.

When he spotted that, he finally looked to his own arm, and realized the same--it was clear. But that was simply due to his state; he was just a manifestation, this was not his true physical form. He could still feel that reaching darkness at the edge of his consciousness, grazing his essence.

He stood tall, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, his arms calmly out to his side.

"They're coming."

"Prepare it."



[ Dawn ; James ; Joe ; Kyla ; Noelle ; Sora : Kyle's Heart : Station of Awaking --> Inner Heartscape ]

As their consciousnesses slipped from reality, they'd immediately recognize the feeling of falling, their bodies upside down.

On opening their eyes, they'd see each other, all six in a ring, quickly descending through darkness, with a dazzling light at the bottom. The seconds passed by, and the light became an image: Kyle's Station of Awakening. Joe and Noelle, having been there before, would have noticed the drastic changes that had occurred pretty easily. To everyone else, it would have simply appeared as a healthy, glowing station, with Kyle standing calmly at the center. They were approaching at a swift pace.

A swift pace that wasn't relenting.

"Do not panic. Brace yourselves."

The ethereal alto seemed to come from within their own minds, Ultima's adult voice attempting to reassure them.

Within seconds of her message, the six of them hit the platform without slowing down--but instead of contact, they phased clear through it, passing Kyle by...

... and into a completely unique world. And at the precise moment that the slipped beyond the barrier, the six of them were forcefully split up, as though they were light beams passing through a concave lens.

This was likely for the best, however; directly beneath their entry point was a large, festering void, like a hole in reality itself the size of a two story house in diameter.

As they spread apart, they each got to gaze at the lands far below. At the center, underneath the void, was a sprawling city filled with skyscrapers. Beyond that, a thick, lively forest surrounded the city. Surrounding the forest ring was vast, hilly grasslands, covered by wildflowers, with the occasional mountain peaking between the two--and surrounding even that layer was a stunning beachfront, with pure white sands and large palm trees.

The heartscape was a massive, circular island, each ring representing something else. The only source of light was locked above them: the station, appearing near like a sun.

A sun that, due to the turbulent void, was being eclipsed near the center.

"--got you. Quickly, come."

Just as they might have reached the seaside-ring, they were each enveloped in golden light--and two thin bursts of light erupted from their shoulders, emitting loud whirring noises. These energy wings halted their movement, held them aloft--and were completely under their own control, though it was obvious where they needed to go.

The wings gave them blurring speed, and before they could count the seconds, they were already back over the city--they would have spotted Ultima, with her six golden wings, hovering high above the city, just underneath the gaping maw of darkness. Near her were two other entities, though--two featureless humanoids, simply hovering in place. One, a snowy white, bright but by no means blinding; the other, a pitch black, much like the void above, but peaceful, not teeming with hostile energies...

... and hosting a plain drama mask, with black eyes and pursed, expressionless lips. Across the forehead, though, was engraved with the golden Seraphic Heart emblem.

"Good, you're all here," Ultima began, nodding curtly--not out of rudeness, but out of a sense of purpose. They were there on a mission, after all. "The path is being blocked--it knows you're here to enter. The only way to get you access is for us to forcefully open it, but we can't do so for too long--lest more get through than we wish."

[[ *-- Note, those are simply Station templates. I describe the station in Kyle's portion of the post. ]]

{James : Kyle's Heart : Inner Heartscape}

James simply nodded his head to Joe's words, his strategy made sense regarding their positions. He looked to Kyla and gave her a reassuring smile and nod and turned to give the same look to Noelle and the others as they prepared. Kyle was the first to go out and upon instruction, the corsair closed his eyes, and leaned his head back as he took one more deep breath and slowly let it out relaxing just as Yen Sid had instructed and focused on the bonds he shared with these people, he considered all of them allies, and the majority of them friends, the ties that bind yet again showing their true strength as suddenly the corsair felt himself falling, as if the chair had been pulled all the way back and turned upside down.

The corsair was hesitant to open his eyes, this felt all too reminiscent of his fall off of the platform in Narnia, which had had of course very painful results. He eventually did though and saw the others that he had dropped in with falling beside him as they fell in a ring formation, approaching Kyle's station of awakening. He had had the dive to gain his weapon, but that was it, he had not been involved in any other sort of dive or drop, this was his first time. He looked down upon the station as they approached it, never slowing down, that was when Ultima told them to brace themselves and the corsair did, preparing for the seemingly inevitable landing...

Only to phase right through the platform and past Kyle and then the six allies were split up it seemed to avoid the black void that had been directly below where they had phased through. Below them was a massive heartscape, of differeing scenery that surely had significance to the person's heart they were within.

Ultima's alto voice snapped his focus back to the task at hand as bursts of light created wings from their shoulders and for the first time the corsair felt the wonder of being able to fly. If he had the time to focus solely on that, he was sure he would have thoroughly enjoyed himself, now wasn't the time nor the place though as the corsair quickly flew in the same direction as the others beneath the dark void above. When they all arrived, still flying, Ultima spoke and explained that they had to force open the pathway, but it had to be quick, just long enough for them all to get through and nothing else. The corsair simply nodded his head in understanding.

"I agree we need to be quick about this, keep your heads on a swivel. We have no idea what form the defense might take, given who we're dealing with though I would expect they will be predominantly Spiran based." the corsair stated.