T̃ͯ̃ͦ̐ͥ̀h̸̿̿͒̄͋̈́e̛ͥͫͧ͐͊̃ͨOͥͤ͗͞the̸̿͂̂r ͪ̑̂ͣ̊ͣSͭͪͭi̧d̍ͭ̓ͧe͑͗ͪͭ̄

[dramatispersonae]

[Many of Aather's Alumni elsewhere will notice their candles suddenly light, and the Legacies who did not heed the Call from earlier will notice their keys light up. Through the light of both, Snow White's voice can be heard, desperate and weak, as she urgently pleads for their help:]

The Darkness found its way through the tears in the Story and is running a game of it's own, and your friends are in grave danger! I— I tried to help, but it's captured me here and my power is waning.

I can open the door so that you may fight it head-on, but I'm afraid that will be the limit of what I can do. Please, Heroes, help—!

Comments

A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[dramatispersonae]

[As you cross the barrier, you feel a moment of weightless -- but it lasts only a second before your feet land on torn paper and you feel a distinct pressure in the air all around, pushing down on you as though trying to drag you down to your knees. Everything around you has the distinct feeling of wrongness as you look around and see the torn paper all around you with dark ink splattered all around; as though you're looking at something that shouldn't be seen…]

[As if in response to your sudden arrival, the ink begins to pulls itself off the pages, taking entire words with it, and pools around on the floor before you. With all the ink collected, you find yourself staring at a shapeless mass of shifting feathery tendrils...and you realize you're not looking at mere ink at all.]

[For those of you who look for her, you find Snow White is collapsed on the ground before the small bonfire that brought you here, and you see that she has grey colorless patches all over her body, something that looks quite like stone. You can also see a small iridescent seed in her hand, but you may need to focus on the matter at hand first…]

[virtuallyroyalty]

... I didn't think coming back was going to be like this.

[ Kazuki stares at the ink-creature warily! Before looking around, taking a note of other alumni and legacies and Snow White too, trying to make sense of the situation and not cave to the pressure. ]

[mirroredvalue]

[Being a shapeless mass of tendrils is rude, don't you dare try impersonating Saya any more.]

Guess that's the form the darkness is taking this time, then?

Still, ink...? Is that how the Darkness managed to get placed into the story?

[blackjacked]

[aaaaah, it's been a while. . . this song and dance is familiar]

Whoa-- hey!

[FIRST THINGS FIRST: TEND TO UNFAMILIAR PERSONA. he rushes towards Snow White's side, his hand resting on his healing materia]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[isfet]

Hohhh? Is this how weak everyone's gotten since I left?

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[knockingdowndeathsdoor]

--seriously?

[ but first things first is tending to the new persona! ]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[aberdevine]

What the hell is this--?

[no, I'm pretty sure I want to focus on the seed. is it, in fact, a hope seed?]

[dramatispersonae]

[The healing materia seems to slow the petrification somewhat, but Snow White remains unconscious. :(]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[dramatispersonae]

[That's very kind of you, though the new Personae seems to remain unconscious for the time being.]

[blackjacked]

[well at least it is doing something!1 casting one more spell to make sure the petrification doesn't spread any more quickly, before he stands up to see who else is here with him]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[blackjacked]

[. . .!!!!]

[GUESS WHO ELSE IS HERE. gosh does he look. . . older? since the last time you saw him? perhaps it's just the way he carries himself.]

Raccoon! Hey!

[floorcandy]

Oh hi welcome back.

Don't die, Dragonfly needs to murder you first.

[blackjacked]

[there's a familiar Coral crouched down next to Snow White, casting a few healing spells on her]

[after a moment, he glances up at waves]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[floorcandy]

Helping's what we're here to do.

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[knockingdowndeathsdoor]

[ takes off his jacket to make it into a makeshift pillow so she's comfy before looking around ]

[blackjacked]

[. . .]

[oh god]

Note to self: wear safety equipment when next greeting Dragonfly. Right! Got it.

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[knockingdowndeathsdoor]

--Kit!

[ walks towards him ]

I didn't imagine we'd meet again like this.

[floorcandy]

Be brave.

[blackjacked]

I am brave. I'm the bravest person I know.

[ah yes it seems his ego is the same as it's always been]

[virtuallyroyalty]

[ !!! Going to go over to, naturally. Bumping shoulders. ]

Hey! Long time no see.

[blackjacked]

[reaches out to grab him by the arm and pull him in for a brief (but tight) hug]

You're telling me, but I s'pose we never expected to meet in the first place.

[he pulls away and gives his teammate a lopsided smile]

Re: A̵n҉d wh̸at wa͡s̴ ̶fou̵n͢d͡ ͜t͏her͘e̢

[threadspinner]

Of course it is. I find that seems to be what we do best nowadays.

[virtuallyroyalty]

That seems to be the case, huh.

[blackjacked]

[returns that bump, clearly pleased to see him]

Heh, yeah, no kidding! I wish we had more time to catch up.

[but considering the churning darkness ink around them. . .]

[threadspinner]

[ a familiar peridot is alighting in the area, clutching her key angrily, though her expression is quite neutral ]

And we all reunite to save the day....