Princess: The Hopeful - Garden of Despair

Adrian sighed and accepted the situation as it was now, facts being facts the idea was soundly placed in logic, even if the odds were against it playing out how they wanted. "Just Wizard, or Wiz for short if you need to. Not that I don't trust any of you, but if one of us is captured by the Dark...well I have family that that my name would lead them right back too." if they all managed to survive this he would consider giving his name out to the others, but for now it was simply too risky to hand that out.

The Apartment

Elise immediately turned to look at Quinn, a surprised expression on her face.

"Oh! You're Quinn? Guinevere has spoken much about you. I am her cousin. If you've ever heard of mon petit Gwen complain about "Sissy", she is talking about me."

She smiled. "What are the odds. Still, Quinn, I do not want you anywhere near the battlefield. You may have the potential, but you have not Blossomed yet. I would rather not let l'ami de ma petite soeur be hurt."

A moment's pause. "I propose that our Champions be the assault team, myself, Loke and Tsubaki. We will lure him here, while our Seekers prepare traps and obstacles. Then we will converge on him and take le monstre back to the darkness from whence he came."

"....We have but one last thing to discuss. When. When do we attack?"

Warren nods. 'Ok, I suppose that sounds like a plan.'

He takes a step forward. 'Warren Walker. Mender of the crystal. I'll make sure everyone here make it home safely. Even if I have to cut you open and pump your heart myself.' He grins. 'Call me Nomad when transformed.'

'Even though I hate to say it ... tonight is our best bet. It's Sunday, so the streets should be quiet. He doesn't know that we've gathered for combat, yet. And you did say we should act early.' He flips through his notebook. 'The only problem is that we don't have a huge amount of time to prepare. But it's more than nothing.'

edited 31st Aug '17 12:16:44 AM by AbsentMinded

Apartment

Vanessa fumed quietly at her suggestion being ignored but perked back up at the question of when. "Well....do we have enough time to wait until New Year's Eve? The outpouring of hope people feel around that time may weaken a despair powered being if I understand the theory of how this all works correctly. Further more it would give us additional time to plan and train as a team. Because trying to force a strategy without any practice isn't going to go very well."

Apartment

Quinn was slightly excited to find out that this was the person he had heard mentioned so much by his friend Gwen, but as she told him to sit this out, he felt a sulking feeling come across him. And it very much showed on his face as he began to pout. "So I'm just supposed to sit back and do nothing even though I know that if were to... blossom or whatever the hell that is, I could do something? That sounds like a pretty raw deal to me. Aren't I supposed to be able to do something?"

The Apartment

"You may be forgetting", Alissandra started, "the Cataphract always has the option to go straight for Miss Amélie." She wasn't sure if they could pressure it hard enough so that cover would be its highest priority, she hoped that the Champions could do well enough to distract it but there had to be a plan if the worst were to happen.

It was true, they needed to know each other's abilities to work effectively. Then came Vanessa's suggestion. "It's a good idea but the time we will spend is too long. Two days, maybe, at most. Besides, most of you have already worked as a team for some time now so the only problem on that front will be the new members... myself included."

Taking a deep breath, she introduced herself, "Alissandra Cathasaigh. I was a noble in the Kingdom when it fell but I've only blossomed for a few weeks, Troubadour in the Court of Swords."

APARTMENT

"I'll wait with Amelie, I'll join the melee, but until then, I'll make sure she's unhurt." Loke said, before looking at Quinn. "You will not die, and that is enough."

She turned into her princess form. She grew bigger, her hair more wild, her back and arms covered with tattoo. She seemed unbothered from the fact that she was naked outside of a loincloth and a cape covering her left side as she hefted her massive warclub, though since her body was covered with horrific scars, including one that looked like a shark bit her? It was hardly a beautiful sight. "The newest will run point-leave the up close fighting to the champions. Alright? I will not let any of us die this night. Warren? I know you've patched me up a thousand times..." She always felt like she was insulting him by telling him to stay back from the combat.

edited 31st Aug '17 1:51:49 PM by TroyandHawk

Warren let out a small chuckle.

‘Loke, relax. I’m going to need my head to patch you up a few thousand more times. I’ll lay low nearby and get to work when someone comes back.’ He gave her a composed smile. 'You've got a cataphract to fight and a hospital to save.'

He gave her a once over. Well, let's hope the weather doesn't get too cold. Or that she isn't taken in for indecent exposure.

Apartment

Vanessa shot a glare at Loke. "Would you shut up and save your power? We're not going anywhere yet, we only have the most basic outline of a plan, have no contingencies for what to do if the Cataphract does not act as expected and if we rush in there without any practice we'll get in each other's way more then we'll help each other."

She took a deep breath and re-composed herself. "Look, I get you're all very gung-ho about going to save the day but we need to actually know what we each can and can't do before we engage. Take myself for instance." She said, putting a hand to her chest. "I have absolutely no direct combat spells. And saying class and court to each other does not suddenly convey all we need to know."

The Apartment

"Sit down and detransform, Loke! Do you want to die so badly?! Sacre bleu!" Elise snapped, more than done with Loke's blatant idiocy.

A heavy sigh. "Vanessa is right. We need to prepare, and train and practice until working together is second nature. But Alissandra is also right. We do not have until New Year's Eve. Someone could die, and the longer we delay, the target becomes stronger."

A pause. "Let me suggest a compromise. Christmas Eve. It is far closer, and it is quite sufficiently hopeful for the reasons Vanessa stated. We will train and prepare until then. Objections?"

She then turned to Quinn. "I understand your feelings, however, without Blossoming, you are completely defenseless and quite frankly, will be a liability in battle. I ask you for patience, please, mon petit."

APARTMENT

"I do!" Loke said, her tone was as sweet as ever, but she was clearly not pleased with her elder's descision. "We need to do this tuesday at the latest-would you have this thing kill all it wants for five days?"

"Our job is to die so others don't have to-how many people do you want to lose a loved one for christmas? Christmas!" Loke didn't care how mad she made Elise, though she had to control herself lest Terra express its fury. "Elise, I understand your concern, but are you truly willing to sacrifice people to the Halimaw? Don't they try to replicate themselves too? We need to kill this thing as soon as possible! I am not about to sit on my hands while this thing gorges itself!"

However, more importantly, Loke needed to take Uncle Kekoa to the hospital soon, and to expose him to that kind of danger?

edited 31st Aug '17 8:17:44 PM by TroyandHawk

Apartment

"Christmas Eve? I get why it's a hopeful time, obviously, but I'm gonna have to seriously figure out how to meet up with you guys and still be around for my family's Christmas gathering and all...", Tsubaki said. She was still in high school, after all, she didn't have full freedom quite yet.

"If Spade has put a claim down on you it might be best for me to instruct our newest member, as both Seeker and Spade teaching other is an important part of my vow," he looked around at the various royals and waited to hear any objections to his stated desires. "i have some combat ability, but most of my abilities find their use in long term planning and information gathering. I can assist with the planning and set up training scheduled to best operate with everyone."

Apartment

Quinn looked pretty sour by this point. "And just how in the hell am I supposed to 'blossom'? I get wanting to be safe, but if you're proposing by Christmas Eve, shouldn't I be able to awaken this power or whatever?"

The Apartment

Amélie blinked twice at Quinn but otherwise remained composed.

"My mistake, monsieur Yuukihana. If something happens by Christmas Eve and you Blossom, even accidentally, perhaps we can use this as a learning experience for you." — she pulled out her phone — "Here is my number. Contact me if you have questions, or something happens. Wizard will also, as a fellow Spade, be able to offer advice."

Amélie cleared her throat as she noticed the time on her phone. She glanced at the face of her watch, on the underside of her wrist as well.

"It's getting late. I have no objections to the plan. Loke, those of us who die now will not be able to fight in the future, which will result in more deaths," she said. "Tomorrow, I'll head to the city and fetch anything we need. Please make a list."

edited 31st Aug '17 10:28:25 PM by opnerf

Apartment

Accepting Amelie's phone number, Quinn gave a shrug of defeat. "Fair enough, I guess this is just the way it will have to be. Still didn't get an answer of just HOW this 'blossoming' works... Oh well. I should probably get home and start cooking. Don't want these ingredients to go to waste... Oh dear, I hadn't even thought of how long I've been here."

The Apartment

Alissandra fidgeted while she listened to the conversation. She didn't particularly like the idea of delaying it for a week but it seemed to be the best option, thus far. "Fine. Christmas Eve," she said, "let's all hope this is worth it."

She then turned to Wiz, taking Vanessa's remark sourly, "By the way, I'm more of a supporting-type combatant. Descriptions won't get us far, really. We'll see what we'll need to see on the day of the training" Alissandra said as she glared at the magical girl which she instantly regretted as she felt the Queen of Hearts disapprove of her actions - thankfully, not entirely. She stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke up again, "Nothing from the city for me," seemingly towards the ground.

An Apartment

Warren stares back and forth between Loke and Elise. He rubs his forehead and sighs. 'I don't .... haaah ....' He throws his hands up in the air. 'I mean, not everyone in the hospital is going to collapse dead ... and we sure as hell can't save everyone ...'

He sits down against a wall and begins rapidly scribbling on his notepad. 'Stupid fucking cataphract ... damn it....'

The Apartment

Elise let out a long breath. There was a sense of purpose now. A feeling that they had started really coming together. Still, Elise was worried about Loke. If she did something rash now...

Elise shook her head.

"Alright. I think we have a plan. We take this thing down in six days. We'll meet her to train and prepare every night at eight. If there's nothing else, let us adjourn. I have to get back to my daughter. Let us meet again tonight."

She stood up and started packing her law books.

She turned to look at Quinn. "Quinn, I'll walk you home if you wish, it's on the way to our house and I wish to speak with you a bit more, mon petit."

Town of Domremy, 4:15 PM, Statue of Jeanne D'Arc

Turns out, they barely made it out of the building before things went to hell in a handbasket.

As the Nobles stepped out of the abandoned apartment and towards the monument, the world seemed to shatter.

Elise felt extreme vertigo as the very fabric of reality seemed to twist and turn, space itself warping.

"Qu'est-ce qui se passe?!"

As everything shifted back into focus, Elise felt a chill down her spine. Everything was wrong.

They were still in the same place, the monument in Domremy, but horribly altered. The pavement they were standing on was cracked and crumbling, holes punched through the streets, weeds and grass breaking through the stone.

The apartment behind them and the hospital to the front looked like ancient ruins, choked with vines and weeds, looking like they could give out at anytime. The monument itself was gone, looking like it was forcibly wrenched out.

The sky was an unnatural shade of black and green, silent bolts of emerald lightning briefly lighting out the sky.

The buildings in the distance seemed like they had toppled over, and a thick mist hung on the air.

....Elise had no idea what was going on. This...in all her years, she had never seen anything like this happen. She could feel the opressive aura of the Enemy, but it didn't feel like the crushing wave in a Tainted Place, but more like a..presence, like something was passing by.

"Transform. Now. Now! Ring around Quinn, protect him!" Elise yelled, obeying her own command as she once more called on the Light.

"By the Queen of Swords, my heart ignites! Burn, Fuoco!"

Elise purposelly used her full chant, steeling herself, trying to feel as confident as possible.

"Je fais mon serment ici! Je protégerai ceux qui ne peuvent se protéger!"

"Knight Princess, La Pucelle! Manifest, Regalia!"

With the last word, Elise's sword, burning brightly, ablaze with magical flame, and her shield with the Queen of Swords's heraldry appeared in tge armored princess's hands.

La Pucelle clapsed it tightly and prepared for a fight.

Warren taps a pencil to his chin and stares at the sky as he wanders out into the street. 'What the .... uhhhhh .... oh dear.' He stops dead mid-stride and shakes his head. His brow creases as he struggles to comprehend what was going on. 'Is it just me ... or ...' he muttered before Elise transforms in front of him. 'Ah, not just me. That's ... a positive. I guess...' He takes a few steps back towards the building, surveying the area around and above him. 'Transform ... ok, breathe ... and transform ...'

He wrapped a hand around the crystal around his neck. 'Let's do this.' Thrusting the crystal to the sky, he bellows 'Flowing sea, calming shore! Light my heart and fill my wings! Radiant Form!'

A light pulses from within the crystal, gradually flowing over his body. It wrapping his arms and legs in a soft blanket of light. As the light recedes, his t-shirt is covered by a black and white jacket and his pants shrink into white shorts. He tips his head back as long blue hair flows from his scalp. A calm smile spreads across his face. 'Ahh ... Ready!'

'The soft light of the moon helps soothe the soul.' he intones, as a soft light covers his hands. He walks up to Quinn and pats him on the back. 'Quinn, sit pretty and stay calm. Everything's cool.' The light brightens, sending a soothing cool into Quinn.

Warren's head snaps back, eyes dancing between searching the chaotic surroundings and watching the the other hopeful. 'Does anyone know what the hell is going on?'

Outside

Vanessa blinked and took a step back as she looked around at the suddenly changed world. "Well that really is something. Has to be a dimensional shift? Or maybe we time traveled? I thought the Princess thing was weird but the is a whole other level."

She took out her phone in response to Elise's order. "Sure, can't be missing out on any data for this place. By the power of the crystal sphere! From within the eye of the oracle all secrets shall be revealed! Open to me the path of the occult." With the invocation the transform option of her app became available and Vanessa pressed it. A purple, diamond shaped energy construct appeared in front of her an she eagerly stepped through, coming out the side in her princess form, her tentacles trailing behind her. "Seeker Princess, Elpha." She finished smugly as she set her lens to begin recording the record of this world in her phone.

"I have a charm that should allow me to see past any illusions. I'm going to activated it now and keep scanning for any sign of an enemy." She explained to the others as her tentacles raised her slightly off the ground so she could have a better view

OUTSIDE

Loke looked around, not with any sort of fear, but with a pure unbridled joy. "Nang dumating ang inosenteng sigaw, dumating ang mandirigma." She said the incantation quietly, her only little mantra before beating her chest with her hand, shrieking the second half; "Ke leleʻia ke koko, hele mai ka manō! She punctuated each word by pounding her chest-not quite a haka, but it was still an act of intimidation towards the darkness.

It was clear, rather than any sort of fear, or apprehension, Loke was clearly happy to be fighting, in fact, she was silently praying that it was the Cataphract itself, cutting its own hunt short!

Outside

Quinn looked around, wide eyed as he saw the distortion around him. "Wha-what's going on?" He was shaking a bit, as he felt hints of fear gnawing at his mind.

Noticing the others transforming around him, he began to shrink back a bit, becoming more and more afraid.

Statue of Jeanne d'Arc

As the world shifted, Alissandra felt a surge of dread rise within her. A curse escaped her lips as her eyes looked wildly around, her hand reaching for her fountain pen. They were wholly unprepared for this; the enemy was three steps ahead. Taking her pen into her right hand, she started to draw a circle, a faint light trailing its path as chanted the words, "Queen of Swords, give life to my resolve. Let fire guide my hand, let duty guide my sword. Etch into my heart the passion to set their hopes ablaze". With that, she finished her insigniaand with one deep breath, she boomed, "Hengka!"

As she said the final word, her whole body came ablaze, fire consuming every part of her for a moment. The flames died down as fast as it had come, revealing Alissandra in her Regalia. With sword in one hand, she took out her notebook with the other, lips pursed and ready to say the incantation.

edited 2nd Sep '17 8:45:26 PM by DemKimochis

Adrian felt the cold darkness creep forward and sighed to himself. It would be easy to simply run, but doing so would put Quinn in danger and busy their strongest with protecting him. "Oh wizard," he pushed his glasses up, converting his clothing into a long blue robe with various stars and planets that seemed to move with a life of their own, dancing and moving seemingly at random. A hat had also taken a spot on his head, but a random blow of air knocked it away seemingly as soon as it arrived, bringing a sigh out of him as he simply pulled the hood over his head.

Once the transformation was complete he pulled forth a tome bound with police caution tape, ripping it open and summoning forth a number of small bright lights around him, hanging around and occasionally shifting. After a normal human they were nothing but warm and pleasant lights, against a being of the dark they were miniature bombs of positive emotion, easily being able to stun and distract. "Stay behind me," he told Quinn, summoning the Wisps into his coat to activate his protective charm, fusing it with his element and causing small sparks of energy to bounce off it.