Intro Log || Third Time's the Charm

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of November. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and be welcomed by the former batches of Heroes of Light. For the first time since it all began, it seems they are the first batch not to have any sort of problems: small miracles?
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:


"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up Kupo." Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

The only people around you are like you-- There are quite a few of them, all clothed in their Job garbs and most likely wondering what is happening. If somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. In fact, there are other Heroes who arrived these past months too and they will come soon! Like you, they had Jobs and a Crystal-- And you do have your Crystal too, great news!

If asked, the Moogles will mention some "disastrophic" event that happened last month and involved disappearing crystals, heroes of light falling sick and killing each other. Sure sounds like a lovely place to be in! Thankfully it's all over now. Right?


The Other Heroes
— Shortly Thereafter —
Thanks to the efficiency of Mognet, it does not take long for the other Heroes to come around: those who arrived in this world months ago. You may have imagined heroic and charismatic figures when your Moogle told you that there were other Heroes of Light in this city. You may have imagined persons with fearsome powers when they told you about how they fiercely battled each other past month. And more importantly, you may have imagined them as people who would have all the answers to your, doubtlessly, numerous questions.

If so, you may be up for a minor disappointment. Still, for the most part they know more than you on the situation and may be more than happy to fill you in, especially if your Moogle didn't tell you much.


Celebrations
— Anytime —
The 'Halloween' decorations are long gone now, but given the impending death threat that floated over the city a couple days ago, the celebrations for the Night of the Thirteen Moogles were all cancelled. Fear not, for people have decided to hold mini-celebrations over the city today to compensate for what's been missed. It's not that much, but there are stands and banquets, especially by the 9nth and 11th District where you can find all sort of food and especially candies: tons of candies that were, unfortunately, not used on the 31st of October. But at least it's a paradise for children who come and go with their hands full of candies.

Oh, and there are a lot of Kupo Nuts as well. Though, most Moogles do not seem to be in particularly high spirits, so they're pretty neglected, for the first and probably last time.


The City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
There are a lot of things left to do in the city, especially for newcomers. A 20:00, a BLitzball game will take place at the stadium located in the tenth district, opposing the Teams of Esdham and Aqures. Earlier at 16:00, a few groups of Triple Triad players are playing: one before Mognet Office in the ninth district next to the celebrations, another near the Blitzball Stadium in the 10th District. And of course, they are more than happy to teach the rule to anyone passing by. Characters are free to enter and play games of Triple Triad, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. This may be the start of a promising career!

Characters are also free to visit the city-- Mognet Office just behind the Triple Triad games is filled with very busy Moogles, especially now that Mognet just started again after a closed down period. They can also visit Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline. It's in the process of re-opening after having been closed for most of past month, and the next airship departing from Aqures Ixen will do so on the 9th.

Or maybe you could visit your new house in the 11th District, and get to know your new neighbors and housemate. Hopefully your neighbors are people you will get along with.

Comments

[fusedshadows]

"It's not the same thing at all," Midna was quick to retort, shaking her head as though she was disappointed in the other girl, despite not even knowing her. The mention of the crystal drew her attention back to it again, as she swiped in the air to retrieve it... then toss it over her shoulder again, this time even further.

"There. Now I'll be able to ignore it even easier." With that, she was content to go on her way, pumping her ankles against Kulupa's sides to indicate the direction she wanted to head. But she was hardly any further when suddenly the crystal materialized in her hand again with a quick zup, leaving the imp staring down at it. "This stupid thing..." she growled, baring a fang as she squeezed it.

[nankurunaisa]

It's the exact same thing, but Hibiki is feeling a little too defeated right now to correct Midna on that. Really, she's ready to go on her own way, too, except what happens next.

"Why're you so determined to get rid of that thing, anyways? I mean, I don't really want it either, but the Moogles are saying it's really important." She has her own reasons, so...she sort of steps after Midna, still curious, still kind of terrified because she's equating imps to some sort of monster.

[fusedshadows]

"Because it's for some hero of light!" she snapped, turning to Hibiki with a glare. As she searched the girl's face, and realized that she was of course innocent in these happenings too, which reeled Midna back in again. She turned away with a frown, and crossed her arms over her chest, crystal still in hand.

"I'm not... anything like that. Not even close." She paused, in reflection of who and what she was -- a creature of shadow, a twili. Imagine some sort of title like a 'hero of light' being thrust upon her... Clearing her throat suddenly, Midna donned a neutral look again, eye wandering back to Hibiki. "Why? Are you so ready to just do everything they say?"

[nankurunaisa]

"No, I'm not ready to do everything they say! I just feel like something bad'd happen if I lost the crystal or something."

And that's the honest truth. She's been told about it, so she clearly thinks she's going to need it if she's going to go home. But being a hero of light? Hibiki rubs the back of her neck and looks away, confidence vanishing from her composure as she tries to explain it.

"I'm not a hero of light, either. I'm just a performer. I sing, and I dance...I used to say I could do it all, nankurunaisa! But being a hero?" She gestures to the quiver on her back. "I'm nothing like that...they really picked the wrong person for this when they chose me. It sounds like we might have that in common, huh."

She smiles, but it's a bit empty.

[fusedshadows]

The change in the girl's demeanor didn't go unnoticed. "Hm?" Midna voiced quietly as she listened to what Hibiki had to say. After a moment or two of silence, her yellow eyes flicked downward, as though regarding her for a final time, something akin to pity creeping up on her as she did.

With a frown, she crossed her arms, "Regardless of what we think of it... the reality is that we're stuck here, now. You're going to have to learn to survive and fight, from the sounds of it," the imp wasn't exactly a stranger to something like this... once she had been struck with the curse, she had to learn quickly how to live in a cruel, unfamiliar world... "Do you think you're going to be able to do that?" she was serious as she asked, lowering her gaze beneath the fused shadow she wore on her head.

[nankurunaisa]

There are a lot of things that Hibiki is capable of. The can-do idol with the can-do attitude—she's done everything from dance in front of thousands of people to performing in serious television specials and everything in between. But fighting? That's completely off the radar for a celebrity. If she fought, it'd be some kind of scandal.

But that's not the answer she's going to give Midna, not right now. Even if her voice is a bit unsure, she thinks it over and replies like she always would. "There's nothing I can't do, so...I'll figure it out! That's what I'll do." It's a lot easier to say that, to think about that, than to admit she's scared of what's going on. "What about you? Can you do that?"

[fusedshadows]

Good, she thought. Even if the other girl didn't really feel like it was true, it was a good first step to not crumbling under the weight of helplessness. Midna had known that feeling before, and seeing it in others, well, it sort of struck a chord.

She narrowed her eye as the question came back at her. This was just one more obstacle, just one more task to overcome before she could free the Twilight people... "Definitely," she answered in a calm voice, staring off into the distance.

After a moment, she glanced back at the girl again. "You can call me Midna, by the way..."

[nankurunaisa]

Unfortunately, for as carefully as Hibiki picked her words just a moment ago, the next few that slip out are right from the tip of her tongue. She doesn't think about them at all.

"Eh? You can?" Midna is...small. "Oh, but you're an Imp, and you have a crystal, so that's why, right? And I'm Hibiki! Back home, I'm a performer, but here I guess I'm...an archer or something."

[fusedshadows]

"Having this stupid crystal has nothing to do with it!" She was insistent on that, apparently. "Even being an imp, or... someone incapable of these things otherwise," Midna added flatly, obviously meaning Hibiki herself, "if you hold yourself back because of something like that, then you only have yourself to blame, do you hear me?" It was as good as a pep talk got from her, it seemed.

What was she thinking, considering taking this girl under her wing? She must really be getting soft... "I'm going to the residential district," she changed the subject, turning, "if you don't know the way, I don't care if you follow me. At least there we'll be able to find a place to rest."

[nankurunaisa]

For the first time arriving, Hibiki decided that there was something that she wanted to see. She couldn't help it! She was curious about how an imp fought. And it wasn't like she was comparing Midna to an animal in her head, as much as she loved those, she was just really curious, like it was something out of storybook or legend.

She has enough tact not to say that.

"I'm gonna catch up with my Moogle...I kind of left in the middle of her explanation." What else was she supposed to say? "Take care, then! And thanks."