Apple's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

Your arrival is marked by the feel of sand under your feet, with the sound and smell of the ocean wafting in from behind you. A dampness hangs in the air and the sky is overcast. Directly in front of you the sand fades into a grassy hill, on top of which a white castle rests. To the left, a little ways off, you can see tall sandstone cliffs. Off to the right is a large field of sunflowers that stretches out into the distance. There are no paths or signs anywhere to be seen.

((#applecore))

Comments

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is no response, and the laughter seems just as faint.

You step into a small section of withered sunflowers. They are standing tall, facing towards the sky. But over half of the petals are missing and the stalks are a sad brown. The ground beneath you is tile rather than soil. A heavy mist covers the area.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

What is this? [kneeling to look at the ground!]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The tile is checkered, and it's sticky. You'll have a hard time moving.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Ahh! [WELL NOW I'M KNEELING WITH MY LEGS AND HANDS ON IT . . . OOPS]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

If you struggle a bit you can get out of it. But there's an unpleasant feeling like you've just rolled in something disgusting.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Euuugh, Apple! My doll . . .

[can I keep walking?]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

You can! It looks like there is a clearing up ahead.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

[headed to it, trying to brush herself and the doll off]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The doll is clean fairly quickly. It looks a little less happy though.

You reach a small clearing big enough to fit 3 people comfortably. All of the sunflowers around it are healthy and facing towards the sky. The mist grows heavier to the right. To the left there is a path so small that you’ll overlook it if you’re not paying attention. Straight ahead you can faintly hear the sound of laughter.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

[the laughter is more distracting than TINY PATHS! so headed straight ahead, hugging the doll more. be happy!]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The doll does look happier that you're picking this direction. The laughter gets a tad bit louder, but the sunflowers get thicker.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

[I AM DETERMINED!]

Hello?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

Suddenly the sunflowers stop, and you enter a much larger clearing. You are at a large open air stage made of polished wood. There are a bunch of children running around, but there is something off about them. Their laughter is faint and you can see right through them; they are all blurry and transparent, with no identifiable features.
The stage looks rather run down. Off to the side there is a rack of instruments, a wardrobe, and a big box full of toys.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Ghosts . . . ?

[checking out this wardrobe!] Hey, is this a play? There's a stage . . . it looks like a drama club room! Outside.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Hey, it's a person!"
The children crowd around you as soon as they spot you.
“Play with us, play with us!”
“Tell us a story!”
“No, do a play!”
“Swordfight!”
“Dance!”
“Play some music!”
“No, a game, a game!”
“Something fun!”

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Hey, let's all do a play together!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Okay!"
"Yeah!"
"A play, a play!"
"What kind of play?"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Let's all pick a costume we like and make up a story to match them all!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Oh, that's a good one!"
"Me first, me first!"
"I wanna be a knight!"

The children all run for the wardrobe.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

[YAAAAAAAY! GOING WITH THEM!

and after a few minutes . . .

ta-da!]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The children are all dressed in similarly awesome clothes. They look more solid, and you can hear their voices more clearly.
"So pretty!"
"You're so cool, you should be the main heroine!"
"Yeah!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

Ehhhhh?! You're making me blush! But I'm definitely not a main heroine at all . . . I'll be someone's bodyguard!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"But then we need an important person."
"Who wants to be the prince? Or the princess?"
"Or the king!"
"I want to be a bodyguard too!"

A little girl with pinkish hair steps forward. "I...I can be the princess..."

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[sirenes]

[Madoka pings . . . ]

Yeah, you can be the princess! You'd be a good princess. I'll definitely protect you with my life!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

She does, in fact, look a lot like Madoka. She blushes. "Thank you...! I'll be a good princess that you'll be proud to protect."

The other kids crowd around her.
"Awww, I'm so jealous, you get to have such a cool knight!"
"I'll protect you too!"
"Me too!"
"And I'll be your sister!"
"I can be the king!"