melodiesoflife | Event || The Enemy Within

Entry tags:

Event || The Enemy Within

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luffy turns to look at the Emergency Food ration, Sonic, as his knuckles crack from a simple clench of his fists.

"Good luck trying to knock a Rubber-man's head."

He steps closer to the small gathering, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the crystal coffins as he speaks.

"Talking only goes so far. If we're going to get out point across, we're going to do so with our fists and our weapons. Words won't save these heroes. Action. Taking risks. Fighting for what we believe is right. That'll decide whether we're strong enough, whether we deserve to protect the people we care about."

He shoots the talking creature another stare. It isn't one of malice or hate, but one of concern. While his words seem cold, the pirate genuinely doesn't wish for any bloodshed.

"It's stupid to think that we can solve this with negotiations. People die, and if we can save even a few lives from joining them, then we need to stand and fight. You can run. Find a safe place to stay. No one is making you do this. You might be a hedge-thingie, but that doesn't mean you can't be a man and stand with us.."

Whatever response Luffy's words might have garnered was cut off by the sound of slow clapping, echoing in the otherwise silent ruins.

"My, my. Such passion. Such fervor." Jade stepped into the room. "Pardon me while I vomit."

Jade wasn't even trying to hide his disdain. The fate of the world hung in the balance and they were still spouting this idealistic nonsense? The lack of logic in people like these was truly astounding.

He regarded the so-called Heroes with a cold smile.

"Do tell. How are you planning on 'protecting the people you care about' once the Calamity reaches them? By punching it to death?"

Surprise sur-fucking-prise. Jack's scowl is right back when he watches Jade approach. A man he didn't used to know that well, but lately he's become all too familiar with what the man is capable of doing to achieve his goals. "Well, damn. We haven't tried that yet. Think it'd work?"

Jack folds his arms and stares at the man tightly. "Better than trying to protect them by feeding other people to the Calamity. You know this is wrong. No, I don't have an alternative for you, but better for us all to die than to sacrifice people who don't get a say in the matter." Jack spreads his arms out to the sides. "Some noble soul gets to pick and choose who dies, and doom their entire worlds for the sake of one person that you don't like."

Jack points with one finger. "Because I notice. That nobody in your faction is stepping up and suggesting that their own worlds be the one on the chopping block. What could be a noble sacrifice is turning into cowardice."

A thought that's been percolating in Jack's head for too long makes its way to the forefront. "Because that's the damn secret, isn't it? The original Heroes. Sacrificed themselves and their worlds to the Calamity, to push the reset button. But at least they did it by choice. This isn't a new solution. We're just playing out the same scene over and over again, aren't we?"

Jade. Hard to believe that was the man beside him in the lab, fighting the Interdimensional Rift with technology while the others fought those manikins it released. Seeing him now, hearing that sneer, made Reno's stomach turn. A dagger was ready in his hand in a flash -- just in case.

Ideals or not, Reno was going to be pragmatic.

" 'S a good point," he murmured, glancing at Jack. "Why don't you volunteer, Jade?"

He didn't want to just lay down and die, but he'd done enough of slaughtering others. It didn't end well for anyone.

"Yeah. I mean, we could always start with you, then move on to the Calamity if that doesn't work. I'll consider it a warm-up."

Sparks steps forward, equipping his robot fists that whir to life with power.

"Where's yer posse? I doubt ya came to do this on yer own."

He wasn't by himself, Fai soon walked in, hands behind his head, bright blue eyes looking over to the side, if only for a brief moment. All this talk was in all honesty, rather boring. 'Why don't you sacrifice yourself' If you didn't have the balls to do it, sure seemed stupid.

"I find it funny that people suggest such a thing and people who no doubt are fighting so that doesn't happen, right?" He kept a smile firmly on his face as he stood there. "Besides, for all you know there are people who are more than willing to do such a thing if necessary. Especially if they have no world to go back to."

"Coming alone would be foolish, I'm sure you all know that." Tear followed in shortly after Fai, the look in her eyes hard as she looked to the group gathered before them. A stalling technique? Perhaps, given what she remembered of some of these people when she still stood at their side rather than Jade's.

"... If it's a 'noble sacrifice' you're looking for, then I accept. Is that enough for you, or do you want to rid of us by offering ourselves first?" The melodist's voice was resolute in her declaration, even if she punctuated it with a quiet and undoubtedly tired sigh before continuing.

"Is this still cowardice? Whatever it is you have to say, the fact remains that we are out of time and you've shot down every alternative solution offered."

By this point Luffy had crossed his arms over his chest, looking to the small club of wrong-doers that do little to sway or impress him by their entrance. To think that years ago he had once stood this close to Sparks, in hand cuffs no less. Now the two men, with their heads and their hearts focused on the goal of protecting those without the ability to protect themselves, felt more familiar than standing on opposing sides of the law.

A single finger encircles the flared nostrils of Luffy's nose, his mind turning to concern over things far more important than the useless words that come from Jade and his lackeys. A flick sends his findings into the wind, eyes still holding to their severity despite his current bad habit being displayed. There's more white in his eyes than usual, wide open from the rush of anger which stokes his body and soul. His vision, now glued to the sight of the spectacle-wearing coward who stands across from him, almost twitches as his impatience and indignation rise like a volcanic eruption.

"Can I just kick your ass now?! The more you talk, the hungrier I get, and there's probably going to be a big meal for us once we wipe the floor with you!!"

The accusations had little effect. Jade had never really cared whether anyone saw him as noble or cowardly. Such things had long since ceased to have any importance. What use was honor when the entirety of existence was about be erased? If sacrificing his morals was what it took to preserve humanity, then he had no qualms about going forward.

"That suits me just fine. After all..." Jade let out a low chuckle that had none of his old humor in it. "I see no reason to explain myself to you lot."

With no further warning, Jade called upon his magic.

"Meteor."

No holding back, no starting off easy. The barrage of smoldering meteorites came raining down on the people who had once been his comrades, crashing into the ground and sending tremors through the ancient earth. Jade had never been one for idle chatter when there was work to be done.

Why? At what cost, preservation? Jack had told Chiaki that he wanted to find hope, but what hope is there if they're just playing out what keeps happening every cycle? But if Jack has been standing in this space hundreds of times, he'll do it again.

Fire and earth crashes down on all their heads, and Jack can only throw an arm over his face. Blindly, he draws his sword. Jack's greatsword flashes, but the light from it encapsulates Jack, himself, instead of striking out in an attack. Sentinel. With any amount of luck, that was enough for him to take some of the damage for everyone else. The spell increases Jack's defense, but also makes it easier for him to take the hits in place of his allies.

"Damn you!"

"Fuck!" Reno threw an arm up to attempt cover, but it wasn't much. The falling rocks slammed against him, scorched his coat. He was lucky to block any direct blows to the head.

Gods, he hated Meteor, in any damn world.

"You bastard!" Was Jade insane? Well, maybe Reno didn't really have to ask. After all, if he smashed any heroes this way, the loss would probably still be counted toward whatever final collection of souls was needed. Reno hated it. He couldn't be everywhere at once!

Shit! He barely blocked one of the larger meteorites from hitting one of the crystal heroes, but there was nothing he could do about the smaller ones. His heart pounded with anxiety and anger to see the helpless figures wobble, watch the tiny rocks ricochet off them. And the more nervous he got, the more his rage grew. Fine, Jade -- you want to go after his friends? He'd go after yours. Everyone alive knew he and Tear Grants were a package deal and no stretch of Jade's power went without his little shadow.

So instead of retaliating directly, Reno's next attack was aimed at her.

"Borrowed Time!" Thirty seconds out of commission could be bad for one's health, after all.

"What the hell!?"

Anise had ended up their of her own accord. Her original plan was to try and talk Jade and Tear out of taking the Crystallized Heroes, but she wasn't sure how to approach. She'd taken too long, and before she knew it, the rest of the heroes had showed up.

When she finally jumped out of hiding, she rushed to Tear, taking a defensive stance. She had enough magic to do a decent bit of damage, if nothing else. But she didn't want to, and that was the problem.

"We shouldn't be fighting!"

She would probably need a stronger argument than that, but in the midst of everything going on, she couldn't actually manage to think of one, despite the sheer number of conversations she'd had with Yuna and Yuri on the subject before.

The moment Jade began his assault was also Tear's cue to start singing, delivering the melody she had embraced so reluctantly but had turned out to be one of their most effective tools in fighting any opposition.

> Dancing Mad. Doubling the stats and attack power when fighting other Heroes of Light.

Except her attempt would only go so far when Reno's unleashed his own spell. Grimacing, she continued to sing what she could until she saw the familiar outline of a certain guardian attempting to shield her.

"Anise!" Whatever chastising tones her voice held, she was nonetheless grateful for the other girl's help for the time being as she froze in place, eyes narrowed at those trying to stop them. It was a sound plan to go after her, but she had no intentions of standing idly or allowing that to happen again.

Fai was amused that Jade used that spell so quickly, however he wasn't going to be so amused if one of those rocks hit something he didn't want them to hit. However he knew what he was planning on doing, so going to pull out his bow, he grabbed an arrow and aimed at Reno. After all he was the one trying to attack first.

He used aimed to increase his accuracy and then used Venomous Shot. If he could he was going to make sure someone got poisoned. Firing the arrow all he could hope was that it would hit before he turned toward the others, as he started to fire more arrows.

Sparks had his armor ready to go, but nothing fast enough to shield himself or his allies from the Meteor spell. Muttering some colorful words regarding Jade and his allies, he figured he better do something to help himself and his own pending another one of those spells. Metal Kick gave Luffy, Jack, Reno and himself a boost against magic attacks. After that, his sights were focused on Jade. There would be some beams with his name on them coming up shortly.

As expected, the Heroes wouldn't go down with just one spell, no matter how strong. Jade hadn't expected them to. If these idiots had one thing in their favor, it was their tenacity.

That was fine, though. Tear's singing gave his already high magic power a significant boost. It should make up for the defense given by Sparks' buff. With a nasty smirk, Jade proceeded to assist Fai with his poisoning attempts, casting Mega Bio on all of their enemies.

The smirk faded quickly when he heard Anise.

"We've been over this, Anise. If you can't fight, go back to the airship. You'll just be a burden." There was no anger in his voice -- just cold dismissal. If she didn't make herself useful, he didn't care to have her around.

Don't worry, Reno, Jack's got your back. Or, your front, as the case may be. He dodges into the way of the Venom Shot, taking the bonuses and absorbing the raw damage, for taking a hit for an ally...

...but he's poisoned now.

Jack's grip tightens on his sword, ready to lash back out, until Anise appears in the way, and Jack stops cold. They shouldn't be fighting. These are their friends. The Mega Bio washes over Jack and he drops to one knee, although he isn't badly hurt yet.

Caster. Bard. Take out the Archer. Jack lets go of his sword to extend one hand towards Fai. Blind. A burst of shadow wraps around Fai's head, attempting to obscure his vision, but whether or not the spell will take hold is questionable.

Thanks to Jack's sacrifice, Reno had enough time to see Team Jade's goal -- continue to poison them until they just wore down. He just barely got to use Transcience to dodge Jade's Mega Bio, the poisonous attack passing him by close enough to make him gag. Thank Leviathan for the crazy agility of his jobs, or he'd be screwed. His counterattack came next, moving smoothly into an offensive position to hurl a dagger at Jade's face.

"We shouldn't be fighting?" he barked out at Anise. "Tell that to your friends! Pretty sure they started it!"

Considering Fai had no way of getting rid of blind, which had affected him, Fai knew to lower to bow and arrows and put the bow on his back. Instead he was going to use his scholar job in order to use Mad Scientist and Enlightenment on his own allies. That should help them a little bit after all, right?

That's all I can do right now while I currently can't see. So I will entrust you both to keep it up until I can fix this. If I can of course."

"You're all a bunch of idiots!" Sonic roared out. Things escalated way too quickly, even for him. Leaping down from his perch, Sonic quickly went into a Sonic Spin, intending smashing into the downed Jack and kick him away.

"Didn't even last five seconds before you start throwing the big guns! No wonder things went to heck!"

"Gotta fight fire with fire." Or in this case, poison with poison. Sparks couldn't cure himself or his allies of that effect, but he could use Bio Blast to try and deal the same effect to his enemies. If he needed to, he had some healing spells that would at least keep him, Jack and Reno on their feet later.

It took a few more seconds for Anise to come to her senses, but once she did, she was angry.

The worst part was that Reno was right and she couldn't do anything to change that. Her friends were the ones who started it, even if the heroes on the other side were making things worse. Jade's words were only really adding fuel to the fire, even if they stung more than she'd like to admit. She turned to address Jade and Tear first, trying her best to stay calm. It very much wasn't working.

"I don't care if I'm a burden! I'm not going to just sit on the airship while you guys make a mistake that you can't fix!"

And then, she turned to the rest of the group, still considerably not calm.

"Sonic is right, you're all being stupid! You can't waste all your energy fighting each other like this when we have bigger things to worry about!"

Evens she said it, she was still on the side of the antagonists, prepping some low-level healing spells to help deal with bio blast.

As harsh as Jade's words had been, they were also correct and necessary—for the time being Tear was more than grateful for Anise's assistance, but her uncertainty was not something they could afford to deal with right now, not when they were so close to retrieving what they had come here for, and in turn, fulfilling their goal.

Not when they could still ensure a future of sorts for this world.

The moment she feels the effects of the spell wear off she takes a breath, but instead of wasting it on arguing with Anise she allows her voice to carry the Troubadour melody. With it, the effects of her first song would still carry on as she prepared for her next one, determined to put in place all the support she could before going into the offense herself.

Jade ducked to avoid Reno'd dagger and casually threw an Esuna in Fai's direction without turning to look at his ally. Nor did he immediately acknowledge Anise's outburst. Their combined buffs were plenty to keep them going, for the time being... but if Anise couldn't be relied on, the tide might turn very quickly.

The best course of action, then, was to go all out on his strongest attacks while the support spells and Tear's songs were still in effect. Healing the poison could wait.

"Anise. Am I to understand you intend to interfere with us?"

Jade remained behind the girls, trusting them to defend him while he was casting. If no one managed to stop him in time, the opposing Heroes would soon be at the receiving end of an Ultima.

The attack from the supposed neutral party catches Jack by surprise, but he doesn't have time to follow it up. Damn. Their damage dealer is also their healer; there's got to be a way to exploit that!

But when Jade pulls back, Jack knows what that spell is. Area of affect attacks are the best way to neutralize Jack's bonuses from Crystal Knight. He can't eat all the damage, himself. If Jade gets Ultima off...

No. Wait. There's a way this can work. One hand extends towards Sparks, casts Cura on him. It'll only work if Sparks is still standing. "Don't heal me! This'll only work if I'm at low health!"

Edited (.) 2016-02-18 02:18 (UTC)

Event || The Enemy Within

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Let me know if anything needs changed! o7

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