Lucas swiftly turns around so that Nui will end up kicking him from behind. A rather stupid battle plan in most circumstances, but the cloak will absorb some of the damage.
Still, the kicks themselves are more than strong enough to deal some nasty damage, basically scoring a critical hit on Lucas and having him harshly hit the ground. His scepter slips out of his hand, but Lucas, once on the ground, quickly catches it with telekinesis and has it rush back swiftly, aiming to have it hit Nui in her head. It seems to be all he can do at the immediate moment since he took too much damage at once to just jump back up immediately.
Of course, this, as well as his previous Paralysis plan, had been a ruse for his real attack (though he wouldn't have complained if the Paralysis had been successful). His real plan was to keep Nui's attention on him and his weapon, having his Keyblade sneakily fly up behind her and unleash a torrent of frost strong enough to potentially freeze her (or parts of her) solid.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.The scepter hits Nui's head with a resounding bonk, but barely even causes it to so much as bob sideways. The child of the Primordial Life Fiber raises her scythe for the finishing blow.
"And that takes care of- wait, is it getting cold here or is it just me..?"
Welp, she can't move. Beneath the ice coating turning her into a triumphantly posing statue, Lucas can see her normally unimposing-looking muscles bulge with glowing red threads breaking through her skin as she summons the full strength of her chimeric body in an attempt to shatter the trap she has found herself in.
Lucas does indeed see that, and he knows he has to act quickly now. He gets up as fast as he can, turns to look at Nui again, puts two fingers on his forehead and holds out his hand.
"Auctori!"
Lucas fires a massive, point-blank-range psychic wave of destruction right at Nui, attempting to put an end to this fight right here and now. Regardless of how well Nui takes the attack, the landscape behind her, including some of the smaller mountains, will be utterly decimated by the attack.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Being in a bit of a bind right now, there is no way for her to avoid this. And while the Life Fibers she's made of are sturdy, this kind of annihilation is a little too much even for her. Her thin layer of skin is swiftly vaporized, revealing a body that seems more Fiber than human - masses of threads in lieu and place of muscles, clusters of writhing red wires permeating her organs. It's almost like ripping apart a child's stuffed doll.
The Other Side Of The Coin (Nui Harime Music Box)
"I can't believe it... to a kid... to a... damn... kid..." Nui's voice, spoken through gritted teeth, can barely be heard over the roar of PK Auctori. "There's no way... right..? This can't... be happening... Maman... somebody..."
A glistening wet spot appears beneath her sole good eye, or what remains of it, even as the beam continuously turns even the tears to nothing but steaming vapor. She raises her arm, perhaps in a last-ditch attempt to grab Lucas, but it looks almost as if she's trying to reach out to someone unseen.
"N-Nunire... I... I..."
"..."
I HATE YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GOT ME INTO THIS STUPID MESS! IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU AND THAT STUPID FEELING, MAMAN AND I WOULD STILL- at this point, her strength fails her, and she is carried away into the distance by the roaring beam, still gradually disintegrating along the way. This time around, there doesn't seem to be enough left of either her or the mountains to make a thud.
The day is won.
Edited by Arachnos on Mar 19th 2023 at 5:10:52 AM
Once Nui is obliterated, PK Auctori peters out. Lucas stays in his stance with his hand out, though his arm begins to tremble and his expression begins to change. Claus runs over to him.
"Lucas! Are you okay?"
Lucas doesn't immediately answer him, instead now looking at his hand as he starts to look distraught.
"... I'm... I'm okay... but she's not..."
"Huh?"
"I wanted to help her, Claus. Instead, I..."
He takes off his cloak, looking at it. It's still half soaked with blood from earlier, and while Lucas can't see it himself, parts of his face are too. As is his entire right arm.
"... she didn't give you much of a choice.", Claus says. "It's as you said, it was gonna be her or you."
Lucas can't help but let out a sniffle once. He quickly wipes underneath his nose with his clean arm.
"I... I know..."
Claus softly pats him on his back.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Lucas doesn't answer this time, but he does speak.
"I always did wonder if we'd meet again. I... I know I should just put it behind me now, but..."
Claus gives him another brotherly pat and shows him a supportive smile.
"You should do that at your own pace. Let's go back to the base and wash that stuff off of you, okay? Then you can take a rest, and maybe talk to Kuma and Duster afterwards."
Lucas nods. He unsummons his Keyblade and has his scepter fly back into his hand.
"But won't Pseudo be upset if we don't investigate the Mirage sighting?"
"Pseudo'll understand. We'll come back here when you're feeling better."
Lucas now shows a small smile as well. He's not fully alright just yet, but at least that's a good sign.
"I hope Nui will have the same luck I had... that some deity will take pity on her and give her a second chance. To come back as a stronger, happier person. Someone who'll have experienced enough love to know the difference between it and hate."
Claus ruffles Lucas' hair.
"I think you'll be okay again soon enough if you can still be all cheesy like that, Luke.", he smirks. That elicits a soft chuckle from Lucas, and they grab each other's hands.
"You just hang on tight, I'll fly us back."
Lucas nods and Claus activates the thrusters on his wings, after which he starts to fly off with Lucas. Inside some nearby bushes in the forest, a certain someone narrows their eyes and hisses before sliding back into the darkness of the woods. Those two kids... looked familiar somehow...
If they'll be coming back, then they'll be waiting for them here. Waiting to obtain some answers.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Taro is still at a power disadvantage, so after a moment his arm buckles and he's sent shooting backwards. It's not as insanely drastic as the jump between a Super Saiyan 2 and Blue, though, so he's able to stay oriented as he's blown away, quickly grinding himself to a stop against the ground.
Once the shards of space-time and ki clear, it becomes clear that they are in West City. Various little people turn to look, in addition to... [aliens and others which seem a bit out of place. They don't seem too shocked, or keen to intervene. Just as well.
Blasting off the street back towards Callis, he only moves a foot or so before quantum leaping right behind her and trying to elbow her in the small of the back.
Zoms PREV
"Blaurgh!"
Tae tries to glomp onto Saki's back and forcefully take a piggy back ride.
Thursday NEXT
"Blurrrrrshgha..." Tae moans, drooling right on cue with a splat. It... yuck. Bad color.
"Gonna be real, I forgot I could do that."
–
"Michael Afton?"
"Don't worry guys we got this," he says deadpan. The flaming rabbit? He's seen too many memes. Might come back to bite him idk.
/\。。/\Burning Springtrap approaches the group and pulls out a metal, spiked endoskeleton wire out of his body. This wire suddenly increases in size and is lit aflame, and Burning Springtrap proceeds to whip it at the nearby group, trying to do some serious damage to them.
Evan isn't targeted because he's on the ground. While he's not all that hurt, he needs a moment to recover from the shock. Mike just... hurt him. Again. It's clear from his expression that he does not know how to deal with that. And it's unclear whether or not his reaction in a few moments will be distress or rage. If it's the latter...
Well, Charlie already knows what Evan's like when he loses his self-control.
"NO! NOOOOOOOOOO! GET YOUR GREAAASY SLOBBER AWAY FROM ME!" , Zim screeches like a banshee. He quickly brings out his PAK's metal spider legs and jumps over Saki and Tae's body, landing on the other end and beginning to run like a little bitch.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Geo intercepts and catches the wire - big mistake. Ouchie ouch. He gets burned, zapped, cut, all sorts of nastiness, and falls back, but he does prevent it from hitting the others.
Rey looks down at the Helix Super Soaker
hanging off his waist. Would it be that effective...? No, right? Surely when his dart guns are powered up to hit like real guns, his water guns won't spray with the force of a hose.
Charlie looks troubled, unsure of what to do between Evan and what may or may not be Michael. Erma, seeing that Geo is getting in harm's way to give them an opening, attempts to use her psychokinesis to turn the endoskeleton wire around and stab Burning Springtrap with it.
Saki watches him go.
"Pfeuh. What a riot."
She tosses Tae's head up in the air so it lands vaguely "on" her neck.
—
Meanwhile, as Zim is running away, he may bump into a man in a suit, sunglasses and a bowtie,
◊ currently swishing around a glass of alcohol with his back turned. If they do collide, he'll fall on his face and drop the glass.
Callis gets whacked in a rather sensitive spot, falling forwards before flipping onto her feet some distance away.
She turns around and charges a red-and-black Galick Beam Cannon, a Chunky Updraft tearing up the road around her.
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."Hawnt looks at the Gaping Dragon and observes the arc of its weapon.
Then he takes a few steps back and crosses his arms, closibg his eyes. When he reopens them, the lilac light from them has intensifyied enough that it actually shines and he swings his left arms multiple times, a small blade like a laser sweeeping out. Interestingly enough, this attack does not do any kind of damage directly. Then he zooms towards the monster and begins to attack the areas he has marked with his sword - any time his sword intersects the line it has the same effect as if he had just plunged the sword into the body up to the hilt.
ok callis but have you considered. being attacked while charging
Taro extends his quantum leap, ending up right in front of Callis in a crouching position, before shooting up with an serrated ki-charged uppercut akin to a Shoryuken.
plop
Tae gives Saki a peace sign once she's back together. Thanks, buddy dude gal pal!
I don't know man, those Super Soakers already pack a punch. Could probably be compared to an industrial water cutter at this point.
In any case, Rbade jukes backwards, and tries to catch the falling back Geo with an arm. "You good, man?"
His other hand aims the Longshot at not-Burntrap and tries to nail him with a headshot.
Edited by Rbade on Jun 15th 2022 at 3:42:22 AM
/\。。/\Erma's attempt is successful, and so is Rbade's. Burning Springtrap gets stabbed by his own endoskeleton wire, as well as shot in the head, which makes him stagger back a few steps.
... and that's the only result of those attacks.
With the bullet still in his head and the wire still in his chest, Burning Springtrap just slowly starts to look back at them, groaning in a pained and eerie, zombie-like manner, and takes those steps forward again.
He then spreads his arms, and the Phantom Animatronics
suddenly appear from behind him, leaping at everyone.
Phantom Chica charges at Rbade.
Phantom Freddy charges at Charlie.
Phantom Mangle charges at Erma.
Phantom Balloon Boy charges at Geo.
Phantom Puppet charges at Rey.
And Phantom Foxy leaps straight at Evan.
Of course, the Phantom Animatronics aren't real and can't hurt them, but only Charlie knows that. Getting jumpscared by them may still cause some temporary vision problems though, and they may slightly hyperventilate.
Evan will definitely be the most affected though. Not because of his fear of frightening animatronics, but because the one going for him is specifically Foxy. If that doesn't confirm to Charlie that this Springtrap really is Michael Afton...
Still, that doesn't answer what's going on and why he's doing such a thing.
As for Evan, he outright shrieks in fear as Phantom Foxy leaps towards him. He scurries away from his spot, hiding behind a broken pillar and having a panic attack, laying down in his trademark fetal position as he begins to cry. He was so panicked that he even forgot to take his Fredbear plush with him.
Burning Springtrap pulls out the endoskeleton wire while the Phantoms are likely buying him some time. He doesn't immediately have the chance to attack though.
Zim, being the hyperactive panicked gremlin he is, not only bumps into the guy, but will somehow get stuck on the man's suit and squirm around rapidly like a rabid squirrel.
"GIR! Where are you!? They got me! GIR!"
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.William backpedals to the best he can from his spot, not being enough to dodge the attack completely. Cleaving his right arm open as it dangles from there. The literal lack of insides this man has making itself clear as moonlight to Gascoigne. Painful as it is, accustoming isn't too difficult to him.
"Huh- I don't have any blood?!"
He seems equally perplexed
from this fact. Planting the sword on the ground and using his freehand to reach into the inside of his body. No blood for sure. Connecting the dots, he realizes that the Father is only after his blood.
"Oh well- Er- AH- I'm sorry for this misunderstanding! I... Don't have blood- Like the kind modeled after me-"
Mustering up the reserves he still has left, he reaches his functioning palm out to the man. The hand glowing as faint trails of light travel to Gascoigne, healing the lateral stab he caused seeing how it's the most damaging. Collapsing on the ground — still conscious albeit unable to move — after using up most of his energy to heal Gascoigne.
realPhilip seems to consider both sides, but ultimately decides...
"We'll go right, then. If a confrontation can be avoided, it should be."
He turns right, and begins to go down the corridor, cautiously sweeping the light of his flashlight up and down the long hallway. A fair ways down the hallway is a set of doors leading to a room labeled "docking bay 1" in big, glowing letters. What looks to be some kind of elevator is opposite to this door in the hallway. The doors themselves are decorated ornately with carvings of strange figures armed with spears and swords, all gilded with... uh, well, gold.
Philip, who has only a vague idea what an elevator is, takes the doors to docking bay 1 without hesitation. The doors are unpowered and open via doorknob, subverting what may have been a moderately troublesome obstruction.
Within this "docking bay", the remains of two spacefaring vessels lay almost entirely buried in dirt. Actually, the whole bay is nearly totally submerged in it, and what is exposed is, for the most part, totally destroyed...
However, what is visible is worth a mention. There are objects of all kinds, mostly just mundane items from a variety of unknown cultures- pots and plates and utensils, mundane weapons made from wood and stone and other equivalent materials.
"Well, if trinkets were what you came here for, then this should all provide... if there is anything left to salvage from this wreckage."
A fair point- it doesn't look like there's anything to find here- but a lot of stuff still remains in boxes or half-concealed by dirt, so maybe there's something in all this to find?
Who knows.
Yatta!Wherever the Varre scene is idk I can't remember
Sitting atop a rock and watching the events unfold is a man in shining armor, a sword bigger than himself planted in the ground.
He looked to have been here the entire time, somehow remaining unseen until this very moment as he spoke up.
"An interesting collection of fools you've gathered here, sir." He spoke with a clear superiority complex, standing from the stone and drawing the sword from the ground as he eyed each and every person there, while walking towards Varre. "Fools, the lot of you. Unable even to process the concept of a sneak attack, or pre-fight preparation. It's a miracle you grubs are still alive. Somebody must aid you sad, pathetic fools!" He every word dripped with narcissism, as if he had never heard of the term humility. Now he stood before Varre, greatsword on his shoulder and hand extended, palm open and up. "A finger, if you'll please. I will give you all the proof of warriordom you nerd and more."
FOOL COUNT: 3
———
Hub Centralis
Gascoigne did nothing but stand and watched as his prey (no longer) suddenly became passive, before using up the very last of his energy to heal Gascoigne, before falling to the ground.
Well, now he just felt like an asshole.
Gascoigne knelt down besides William, speaking softly.
"Nameless prey, you have fought well. But the hunt continues, and the sweet blood beckons to me still. May you rise safely in the morning, and if not, may you find peace in another life." He gave his condolences, before dragging William into the same alleyway to hide him from other would-be hunters who'd take advantage of his weakened state. Father Gascoigne had come to respect this foe now, and though he couldn't aid him directly he could at least put him somewhere he'd be safe until he recovered. "Rest now, warrior. Rise when you are able, and find your way home." Father Gascoigne stood, turned his back to William, and wandered back off into the night.
With great power…you know the rest."God damn it," mutters Rey upon seeing the result of their attacks.
Fortunately, having time to see Phantom Puppet appear and leap instead of it suddenly teleporting right at him means he isn't completely spooked senseless, but it still reaches him and blinds him. "God DAMN it!" he snaps.
Erma and Geo dodge the respective Phantom Animatronics headed at them, though Charlie gets proper spooked by Phantom Freddy. The initial jumpscare causes her to fall down, and the subsequent vision problems have her writhing and kicking blindly on her back. Erma rushes to her side protectively while Geo tries to just wallop Burning Springtrap with a Megaton Punch.
"AAAIIEEEGHEGFAONTIBGAEBGHEIRJFGUJKO"
The sunglasses man goes just as wild as Zim, screaming unintelligibly as he thrashes like a second rabid animal to try and pry off the alien.
—
Saki stares.
"... I think that's Shades."
yes i have
Callis pulls out her uno reverse card, warping behind Taro as soon as he warps in front of her to blast him in the back with a mighty fully-charged beam!
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."This isn't UNO - this is a god damn YuGiOh match of wits; and you've activated his trap card. The space around the uppercutting Taro's whorling ki goes timey-wimey, sucking up the beam into nothingness... before a quantum portal forms just overhead, spitting it right back out at Callis!
"Gheheh..."
Tae chuckles at the mental image of Zim and Kotaro flailing around because of each other. We should like. Like. Go and check on them. But not stop them yet.
"SCHEIßE"
Rbade's reactionary response is more fight than flight, so he ends up taking a wild and vicious pistol-whip at Phantom Chica. This does nothing to offset the vision problems or hyperventilation, though.
He ends up firing Longshot blind, though he still does have an okay handle on Burning Springtraps' location.
/\。。/\Rbade's attack phases through Phantom Chica. However, it does cause it to disappear, but Phantom Freddy now goes for him instead, seeing as his former target is temporarily neutralized.
Longshot happens to strike Burning Springtrap in the shoulder, but aside from making him flinch for a moment it doesn't do anything. How is he this tough?
Phantom Puppet tries to stay right in Rey's face to fully obscure his vision.
Phantom Mangle tries to take advantage of the situation to sneak up on Erma, attempting to unleash an ear-piercing metallic screech that'll temporarily deafen Erma, as well as potentially Charlie due to her close proximity.
Burning Springtrap gets punched in the face by Geo, staggering back much further this time, and part of his costume flies off of him. Despite his outward appearance suggesting that there's an endoskeleton and a corpse underneath, there is only pure darkness visible on his now exposed cheek.
Phantom Balloon Boy now tries to jumpscare Geo.
Burning Springtrap suddenly rushes forward, swinging his endo wire like a whip, attempting to strike as many people with it as possible. The flames on the wire become more severe, making it even more dangerous to get hit by this attack. The further away someone is from Burning Springtrap as they get hit, the more damage the attack will do.
Evan is the only one out of reach by default due to him hiding, but his Fredbear plush will get hit and become slightly burnt and more tattered from the flames. It'll also be sent flying up in the air.
Phantom Foxy starts heading for the broken pillar that Evan is hiding behind.
—
Evan is still hiding in fear. He's trying to calm himself down though. He knows he can't just abandon his friends. But this whole situation... Mike hurting him again... Foxy scaring him again... it's triggered some serious PTSD.
Zim gets pried off, now wildly squirming in the guy's hands.
"Let go of me, human! Let go or face my wrath!"
He tries to poke at Shades with his metal PAK legs. They won't really hurt him if they connect, but they may cause him to drop Zim.
If successfully dropped, Zim will start scurrying away again.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.Rey's vision gets covered up and he swats at the air wildly. "Get out of my... fucking...!"
Realizing he can't get rid of the Phantom Puppet, he grabs the Helix Super Soaker and tosses it on the ground, letting someone else grab it... right before getting rekt by Burning Springtrap's whip.
That someone ends up being Geo, who rolls away from Phantom Balloon Boy to grab it. He jumps over Burning Springtrap's wire and pulls back the pump on the Super Soaker, launching a spiraling cyclone spray of water!
Erma seems unfazed by Phantom Mangle's screech, less bothered by the illusion than by Springtrap himself. She grabs Charlie and rushes with her over to Evan's location.
"GAPGPGBBBLGBGBLAAAAAAAAAA"
"Shades," or as he is better known, Kotaro Tatsumi, flails about wildly, unwittingly tossing Zim into the air.
Saki and Tae, meanwhile, are catching up.
Callis's brain isn't galaxy enough to keep up, and she gets blasted by her own redirected beam, blowing her down into the ground.
However, she unleashes a second, one-handed energy wave up at Taro from below, Frieza-style!
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."More background NPCs are starting to show up, looking at the fight in consternation. ... Holy shit is that Raditz?
The beam plows into Taro and carries him a ways into the air, with the Super Saiyan 3 struggling to get a handle on it. He does eventually, though, and throws it off into a random other direction.
Into Raditz. R.I.P. Raditz.
After taking a second to cool down he suddenly flickers out of view for a vanish attack, reappearing right next to Callis and lunging for her head! He might not quite be at the level where he can shatter spatial barriers just by punching, but given his inherent space-breaking powers... well, he tries to take her and just drag her through reality itself into another layer. Like that one scene where Broly mashed Goku against a wall of ice? Imagine that but instead of an icy mountain, it's the fabric of space-time itself.
Tae catch up.
She stays on the sidelines and laughs at Kotaro's predicament. She may or may not be considering chasing after Zim like a dog, too.
Rbade is more properly jumpstarted by Phantom Freddy, but once again in his panic lashes out instead of falling back, letting put a warbling war-cry.
Edited by Rbade on Jun 16th 2022 at 2:14:23 AM
/\。。/\Callis seems oddly bothered by Raditz's sudden death, leaving her wide open to get dragged across the fabric of reality and into Penguin Village.
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."The water from Geo's Helix Super Soaker connects. Burning Springtrap shudders a bit as some of his flames grow weaker, then he screeches loudly as some of the springlocks inside move due to the water. The pain is great enough to ensure that he can't immediately attack again. He trashes around a little, but nothing more than that right now.
Phantom Freddy also phases through Rbade's attack, but once more, it also makes him dissipate. Four Phantoms remain.
Phantom Balloon Boy still tries to get to Geo. Curse those stubby ghost legs.
Phantom Puppet is being a bitch and continues to swarm Rey's vision with its presence.
—
Charlie and Erma will find Evan quivering behind the broken pillar. Phantom Mangle pursues them, joining up with Phantom Foxy as they get ready to jump at the poor child.
Speaking of Evan, in his panic he doesn't even seem to notice Charlie and Erma. Right now he seems to be in the same kind of state as when Charlie had to beat him with her Nightmarionne form.
He does flinch though when something falls out of the sky right next to him. He opens his eyes a little and sees the damaged Fredbear doll. Somehow, the shock seems to calm him down just a bit, perhaps enough for Charlie to snap him out of his fear-induced state.
Zim gets yeeted up into the air, and after a few more seconds he crashes into the pavement below.
He groans a little before slowly getting back up on his feet, but once he does he immediately hops around and points at Kotaro.
"How DARE you throw me around like I'm a common human baby! You'll rueeeeee making a fool out of Zim! PREPARE FOR COMBAT!"
He dramatically jumps at Kotaro, but if he just takes one step to the left or right Zim will miss him and smash into a brick wall.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.

Vs. Gaping Dragon
Amandine looks expecting at Meteora's freezing arrows. And then, she fires another Shadow Ball at the dragon.
Zombies
Well, then. Nice to meet you.
Both Insect Ladies greet the zombies, then pay Min Min for their meals, and leave the place.
Three freaking ghosts!