A shooting star soaring across the sky just now

[ninjainviolet]

Characters: Albel, Nanami, Sheena, and Twilight Sparkle
Where: Stiltzkin Castle
When: March 5th, Five years later.
Summary: It's been five years and our heroes have woken up, and there's a castle! A castle! Did I mention there's a castle?

After the initial confusion of awakening where they hadn't been "just moments before" and definitely not in the hospital in Aqures Ixen, the four Heroes had decided to take a trip to the nearby castle that seemed to loom over them in the dark and desolate landscape. Yeah, nothing bad could happen there, right?

Besides, they needed some answers.

Like, where were they, how much time had passed (hair growth really isn't a clue), just how exactly had they survived, and most importantly: where were the other Heroes and Ramzki?

Now, looking at the building before them, Sheena turned to the others.

"So...should we knock?"

Comments

[nomorecowbell]

"I want a bath and a haircut." Nanami had been complaining for most of the trip. She'd also put on some height and filled out a bit, looking older: time had passed for her, even if none of them were sure how much had passed outside. She also had reported what she had felt in the abyss, the last message from Queen Sara.

[wickedone]

"Shut up, wench!" Even with months of practicing acting like a civil person, Nanami's constant complaining had worn Albel down until he finally snapped.

"You want a bath, you want a haircut, you want a nice meal and probably some make-up, some new clothes," he sneered. "You know what I want? I would like two functioning arms. But we can not always get what we want, can we?"

The heavy metal gauntlet hung limp at his side, the joints stiff and rusted after years of disuse. It was simply weight strapped to what was actually left of his flesh.

"So get it together, and keep walking!" He stalked on ahead, not caring to hear her response or whatever reaction the pony might have. He'd fight as best he could for them, he'd protect them while they were togeher, but he did not have to be friendly.

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena really couldn't blame Albel for getting angry. Nanami's constant complaining had also been getting on the ninja's nerves, too. It had only been a matter of time before one of them blew their top.

Perhaps Sheena having a guess as to why the young woman was complaining was the reason she hadn't.

Catching up to her lover, she spoke quietly. "Albel," she said gently. "Listen to me. I know this is hard for you, but just listen." She paused a moment, waiting. "She's scared-and I think I know why. You, me, Twilight--the three of us had basically already become adults before this happened. Nanami hadn't. She was still a young girl." She glanced back quickly.

"Now, though, she's grown up--and hasn't had the chance to deal with it like the rest of us had. As it happened. So while, she may look older," they all do, actually. She can see some maturity in Albel's features, the change in Twilight, and she can only guess how she looked, "she's still mentally a girl. A girl who wants to make sure she is who she is." She reached over to gently cup his cheek and have him look at her.

"That doesn't mean that what you said doesn't count. It does, and as soon as we can, we'll fix it, okay?" She looked at his gauntlet, then back up, concern clear in her eyes. "Are you in pain right now?" She didn't know what she could do to ease it if he was, but she'd try something.

Once he answered, she went to Nanami and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nanami, it's okay. You're scared. You were one person what seemed like just hours ago, and then suddenly you're someone else. But you know what? Here's a secret." she leaned in close. "No matter what you look like on the outside, you are still the same person on the inside. And that's all that matters, okay?"

Sheena: Team Stiltzkin Mom.

[im_pancake]

Twilight smiled at how Sheena defused the situation. To be honest, she's still a little confused and worried about her own change, but that had to come later. They had other things to deal with right now and seeing it being taken care of made Twilight feel better.

"You said it much better than I ever could, Sheena." Twilight admitted. "It is quite scary, but I hope we can get all of our answers very soon."

[nomorecowbell]

"Just... we won. We should have been able to go home." It was easier to focus on that, or focus on things like her hair and wanting a bath and a nice meal and to be in a city with actual people than to worry about the bigger picture. No one knew how long they'd been out, besides that it had to be years. Nanami didn't know if Santa or Lydia or Hari or anyone else was still alive.

Having something settled would just... make her feel better. So would Abel not yelling at her. So would feeling like she was being a drag on the group because she wasn't being the stoic hero everyone wanted her to be. Well, right now, she wanted to be even more petulant to Abel, but Sheena and Twilight actually seemed sympathetic. She didn't want their pity.

[wickedone]

"It's fine," Albel murmured to Sheena, shaking his head. It didn't hurt; no more than usual, anyway. It was an old discomfort and he was used to it. More than anything, it was frustrating that it was so cumbersome. The way it just hung there, heavy and useless, just got in his way. He could still feel the runes, he could feel the metal appendage from within, which made it worse that he could feel it half-paralyzed.

"I'll fix it when I can." He just hoped they didn't have to fight anything any time soon. He felt like half a man.

After a moment more, he closed his eyes and sighed. "Sorry," he said, only marginally louder, to Nanami. He'd had to "grow up" quickly himself, after his father's death, but it wasn't the same. It was emotional. Poor Nanami woke up in an entirely different physical state. Albel couldn't even imagine becoming a physical adult in an instant. It was hard enough normally.

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena couldn't know exactly what he was feeling--how could she? But, given their similar personalities and what she knew about Albel, she could guess. He was angry because he was frustrated and probably feeling useless. A feeling she didn't share with him, and she squeezed his free hand to let him know that.

That she trusted him when the chips were down.

"Hopefully, it'll be soon. Sometimes places like this have things that can be used, so we might be able to find something in there," she said, nodding towards the Castle before going over to Nanami.

"That's just it, Nanami, we really didn't win. Garland wasn't our true enemy--Kalki was. And she'd been hiding among us the entire time in disguise." A fact that really stuck in Sheena's craw. But before she could say more, they were at the door, the intact corpses of three dragons nearby.

"Ummm...these aren't fresh kills," Sheena said, looking at the others. "So, is this because of the Castle, or Kalki?" Looking at the door, she sighed. "Only one way to find out." And she knocked on the door before pushing it open and stepping inside. "Come on."

Hey, she never said anything about not just walking inside.

[cockblocker]

Something was wrong.

Hisui looked up, sensing that these grounds were being encroached upon. This wasn't necessarily his home base, but he needed to get out of that water temple at some point. Of course, the heroes were awakening; it had been a while, and it's not like they could sleep forever. Not in that kind of crystal stasis, if you could call it that. But he spent all this time honing his strength and plotting with the others. There was no turning back.

He wouldn't see them, but he could sense them. There were.. four.

If they were taken out now, there would be that many fewer heroes to stumble upon the elemental temples.

It felt a bit odd. He thought he'd prepare himself to go against his former comrades, but when it came down to it, it wasn't something that was easy to do.

All he could do now was await them in the shadows, and perhaps catch them off guard. Four against one wasn't very fair, but he had spent the last five years becoming something more. But the real show had to be staged elsewhere.

He made his way to high ground, making certain not to be seen. The Calamity monsters would probably make a good distraction as any.

[im_pancake]

Unaware of Hisui being around, Twilight was more focused on noticing the corpses of the dragons. The princess looked down in curiosity, trying to examine them.

"I'm not sure. If I knew exactly where we were, I'd have a better idea of what could have caused all of this." Twilight said, before following Sheena.

[nomorecowbell]

"I don't know where we are either," Nanami said. Just because someone was hostile to the dragons, didn't make that friendly to them. "Besides that it looks creepy."

[ninjainviolet]

Entering the castle, Sheena paused to give her eyes time to adjust to the light. She couldn't argue with Nanami about it being creepy-looking, but the ninja's been in far creepier places in her lifetime.

"Can't always tell a book by its cover," she said over her shoulder to the young woman. Although, this time might be that one time you could as a faint sound of movement could be heard ahead. Murmuring to herself about needing supplies for Albel's arm, she began glancing about as she spoke to Twilight.

"Hey, Twilight? How's your memory? Can you remember the map of Crystallis? Maybe that will help tell us where we are."

[wickedone]

Albel got a bad feeling about this place deep in his gut. He wore that emotion openly as he scowled at the dragon corpses, lip curling to bare his teeth.

Not just anyone killed dragons, and definitely not more than one dragon. It was a big deal to kill multiple dragons, not to mention leave their bodies on your doorstep. "I don't like this," he growled, resting his hand on the hilt of his katana as he entered, already on edge. "It's unnatural."

And, as far as Albel was concerned, disrespectful. Dragons were majestic beasts and demanded respect and dignity as befitting their strength and grace. Leaving their bodies to rot out in the open, for decoration, was disgusting.

[nomorecowbell]

"Nothing about this whole trip is natural, but it has gotten worse," Nanami added. "Where are we?"

[cockblocker]

Hisui found dragon corpses distasteful, but given that their focus was on them instead of him was always a plus. After shooting a silent shot at the ceiling, boulders came crashing down, covering the main entrance of the dungeon.

Yup. This is happening.

Hisui debated as he watched from the shadows if he would make his escape then, or first let loose some calamity monsters to ensure that the job got finished.

[ninjainviolet]

Having ridden a dragon herself, Sheena wasn't too thrilled about seeing the corpses, either--despite appearances. She was actually furious under her calm demeanor, and had an idea. If they could find the cause of their being left like that, perhaps they could change it and give the creatures the respect they deserve.

And then let loose an angry rant against whoever did it.

As she waited for Twilight to answer, the sudden rumbling set off alarms, and she looked up.

"Everyone! Get away from the door!" she yelled, pulling and pushing those around her to safety.

[im_pancake]

"Sadly, not really. I didn't get to explore much before it was lost to the crystallization." Twilight admitted. However, she was cut off from further clarification as she was knocked away from the trap, landing safely away. "Woah! Close one!"

[wickedone]

"Damn!" Albel grabbed Nanami with his good arm and leaped forward, twisting to shield her body with his own as he was knocked to the ground. He grimaced and hissed as his gauntlet scraped the stone floor.

"Falling stones?" he grunted once he'd caught his breath, releasing the young woman. "Really?"

He thought the castle looked decently sturdy from the outside.