Gale had gotten back onto his feet after that last attack of his with spellbook in hand ready to cast the next spell. Out of the three golems, only two of them had attacked and one of which had hit its mark."That looked like it hurt."A bit on the obvious side, but Raelyn had been the unfortunate one to take a hit from the golems and it didn't look pleasant. With his attention back on his spellbook, the attacks he had previously used were currently grayed out. That must've meant that they were on cooldown. Not the best of times to learn that. Gales eyes then looked towards the third spell listed, still bright and full of color. His had outstretched and the flames surrounded the opposing group of golems. Gale used Blaze Column and prepared to dodge.
They had barely gone anywhere before an ominous voice rang out around them as well as a clown like figure forming before them. The first thing that ran through Chrono's mind was if this was the clown that Bowler hat guy had mentioned. This was nothing like what he had pictured when he was told a clown had given him the idea. That lightning attack had certainly been no joke, but they were in fact still standing afterwards. Following Take's protective magic, Chrono had moved to attack the clown. First he struck with a blitz and followed it up with another slash from his keyblade. Chrono used Blitz (+10 AP) HP: 54/85 AP: 36/56 MP: 17/30
Kel listened carefully to what he was told by his two comrades. He knew that trying to talk it out with everyone back home wouldn't achieve anything, but his father might yield some results. He'd never seemed to care one way or the other what he wanted to do, which reminded Kel that he did technically run away from home when he left to become a part of all this. Perhaps that reunion would be a good time to get this off his chest. "Thanks guys, I appreciate it." He really did and even cracked a smile to further show this. He still had the support of friends, be it old ones or new ones and he would do better at taking their advice to heart. In the back of his mind however, he still was concerned about Luna. Even as they walked back to the waterfall, something seemed to be off with hos she was speaking. He didn't press on it though, after being given advice and encouragement regarding his own troubles, perhaps she would open up to them once again. "Perhaps. Maybe we should've asked what the chief's daughter looked like before we left."
Tinarah's story had surprised Chrono as the first thing that had come to mind when she had said 'Mom's murders aren't there anymore' was that either they had been arrested or maybe they died and the company that hired them went bankrupt. His assumption was close, but not completely right. They had only moved locations. The rest of the story didn't leave him with the best of feelings despite it being one of the few times in which he didn't immediately think 'What if I had done something sooner'. It frustrated him that this happened, but there was nothing he could've done about it. "That's good, for dad's sake at least." Didn't change the fact that they both were still around and his desire to see justice brought down upon them, though apparently their power then they did five years ago. Chrono noticed the nod to his suggestion and was relieved to see it. She was willing to try at least at most he could try to make things easier for him. As much that was actually within his realm of capabilities at least. "Sorry you had to hear all that. Even if you did set it up, it didn't go the way you'd imagined it I guess." Chrono said, addressing Take who had been quiet the whole time. Probably out of either respect or just surprise.
Lazuli had done well about keeping the Grimm in front of him during the battle and as he just pulled out his sword from the chest of a beowulf, one Grimm had managed to sneak around and get behind him while he was unaware. The sudden exclamation from Auburn had grabbed his attention and he ducked as instructed, "Thanks." He'd quickly adjusted his footing before going to strike down another grimm in front of him. The grimm behind it thought that this meant it woud be able to attack now, but Lazuli was one step ahead. His second sword was sheathed, procting the gun form of his weapon and fired off a few shots into the grimms head before it could even take a step closer to him. HP: 16/20 BP: 1/7 Bullets: 03 Grimm Defeated; 2 Beowolves The attacks had been blocked by his weapon and were meant with a counterattack of his own. He spun his weapon around and swung it into the gut of the nearest White Fang member. Said member had been sent flying and right into another one who hadn't been paying attention prior. HP 14/20 BP: 1/7 Bullets: 03 Enemies Defeated; 2 White Fang Members
Chrono hadn't been expecting Take to try and be a therapist for himself and his sister and the latter wasn't quite up to it. He, admittedly, did agree that this wasn't the best of places to do that sort of thing, but another part of him knew that if they didn't talk now then the odds of this happening later down the road were slim. So he did what he was good at and silently listen as Take explained about his brothers and what happened to them. As Tinarah gave a response on how she felt and when it all had seemingly settled, he spoke up. "So that's why you want to so back." Of course he was against it with that being the reason and he would continue to be against it as long as that Torrin was a possibility. What bothered him more so was how it reminded him of his own plans. "Either of us going back would give dad a heart attack. I left with no intentions on going back anytime soon, not until Mom's murderer is brought to justice and the damned company that hired him was brought to the ground!" This would be the first time that either parties would have heard about this and had it not been for Tinarah's own goals being similar to his own, it would've remained unheard. "Especially when said killer has already made it clear that he'd kill you and dad if I were to so much as whisper about the truth on that day." Talking about it allowed memories of that day to resurface and resulted in his fist clenching at himself more than anything. "I know you're not the same Tinarah that I knew when I left and I honestly have mixed feeling about that. Part of me feels like I should be at least happy or proud that your not the same as when I left, but when I had left that day I did it with the intention to not get you involved with anything that'd cause me harm and you know better than anyone how wells that's gone." Letting her get kidnapped and going through all that in a different realm. By sheer comparison aging 5 years was the last thing that bothered him. "If you really don't know who you are, then let's start with that and just start over. You try to find your answers and I'll just support you as your brother. Sounds easy, probably too easy honestly, but what else can I do? This whole other realm incident has left with very little to work with to be of actual help."
Kel had only nodded when Luna had told them what was on her mind. Her concern was understandable, but didn't quite explain why Luna had acted the way she did prior to telling this. Not completely anyway. "With that in mind, I feel even less comfortable leaving John Smith out there to roam about freely." He may not have been inclined to do so, but if he were to harm her then it would be bad on a whole different level. He picked up his pace to keep up with the others and took a moment to think before speaking again. "Sure you will, most of the relationships we have have been a result of the sheer amount of time we've spent together. Your home however I don't think its my place to say. If you ask me you've gotten stronger for sure in the short time you've been with us." Speaking of home, it was his turn to share. "For me its a part of what Kocoum had said. Back home I've always been stuck in my fathers shadow. Yes I do have some friends that see me for who I am, but most others look at me with either expectation in their eyes for me to end up like him or with disappointment given how much of a screw up I am and they typically don't keep that to themselves. Hear that enough times and you slowly start to believe it." He was slowly making progress to not think like this though, least he'd thought he was.
Kel wasn't buying that at all, nor was Aislinn for that matter. "You're going to have to try harder if you want to convince us. Maybe we can help with whatever is bothering you. I can share what's on my mind as well." They did have plenty of time to kill until they got back to where they last say John Smith. He'd ran off after someone before they were separated by the Indians. That made the waterfall as good as a starting place as any for their search.
He'd gotten his answer and it wasn't what he was hoping for, in fact it came as a complete shock. 40,245, that how many people were currently trapped in this game. A Number that was larger than the entire population of Sint Maarten! Was there a natural disaster outside? Was the world ending? Had a terrorist group gone to the extremes and they'd agreed to trap themselves in this game as a way to protect them!? That last one probably was an overreaction if not a plot to a different game, but the point still stood. Something major had to have happened in the real world. Gale made a mental note of what the memory crystals were and how they worked for they had a much more pressing matter. "Maybe this was programmed to happen?" Offering what was hopefully a reasonable suggestion to all this. With spellbook in his hand he turned to the second page in the book and looked at the spells listed. He was a fire user too it seemed, good to know. He skimmed through the name of the first spell and put his fingers in the typical finger guns and spoke the incantation. First a small orb of flames appeared at his finger tips and fired off a torrent of flaming bullets towards the target. Then he spoke the next one and this one was a much larger orb of flames that went fired off had some kick to it that had knocked Gale onto his rear for the first time. Gale used Fire Bullets and Great Fire Blast
Despite Take's demonstration not being completely what he had in mind, it was close as Chrono had thought that the keyblade would appear and literally point towards what they were supposed to be looking. No such luck so far as his keyblade remained at his side, in his hand. "Not that I can think of." Unless it was in one of the books that he hadn't gotten around to reading, there were quite a few of them anyway. Despite what was said prior, Tinarah did bring up an interesting idea. While there was nothing concrete about the idea, it was worth looking into while they were down here. "I agree, last thing we need is this turning into the 'hunters' becoming the 'hunted'." Especially if what they were looking for was something that could fight back.
Some fresh air would serve to help Kel ease up slightly after what had been said, though at this point it was more of an internal thing then anything else. He always did. One sigh later and Kel was avoiding that train of depressing thoughts right before it could even start and looked around them for any signs of the chief's daughter. "Hello, Luna? You okay there?" He didn't think much when Luna had just started walking ahead of them again, but her hugging her shoulders was more on the concerning side of the spectrum.
Gale had been concerned when the turquoise ball had entered. His first thought was that this was some sort of security system sent to corralled them back into their cells. They wouldn't be able to do much about that either, so far only Raelyn would be able to do something about it and that was assuming that it wasn't waterproof in anyway. Then the orb had greeted them, which threw off this entire thought process. The whole part about their bodies being virtual was what had stuck with Gale the most. What about basic things that humans needed to survive. Like sleep, eating and drinking? "What about in the real world, wouldn't people notice that" He paused to count the people currently around. "six people aren't responding to any attempts at communication?" Hearing that something had happened in the real world to have caused all this was one thing, hearing that their bodies were like this as a result of what had happened was another. Whatever help this little orb thought it was providing was doing next to nothing to actual help and causing more concern than anything else.
Just as Chrono had taken a step to adjust himself, the ground around them had violently shaken and a wall of flames had erupted between themselves and Torrin. Said shaking had almost knocked Chrono off his feet, but he managed to keep himself standing. The others seemed to be fine as Tinarah and Take were still standing and Torrin's voice could just barely be hear through the roar of the flames right next to them. With no other information to go off on, walking off from the split was about all they could do. Finding a source of darkness amidst all the darkness that was already around them sounded near impossible. "Maybe our keyblades will react when we get near." Chrono suggested, summoning his keyblade as well. He didn't know how they would react if they even would, but what else were they supposed to do beyond walk around in the darkness.
"Well its all we got right now so why not trust it." He didn't see any harm in it right now. Not counting the two people who had just exited their cell he know knew the names of everyone he's just meet. Gale peer over towards Evie after she had called out to them and briefly glance at her before looking at the marking she was staring at. He didn't look long because there was another one right by him. Still just as creepy as the first time he'd looked at it, but this time he'd taken more of a closer look to it. Quite literally in fact as he'd leaned in closer before actually going to touch it. He didn't think it'd feel any different from the wall it was currently plastered onto and if it did then he would be thoroughly creeped out to say the least.
Well the cell that he had walked up to hadn't gotten a single response. No groaning, no voice from another person, nothing trying to lash out and kill him (and he was appreciative that that hadn't happened) and yet in the direction that Rex had gone, he had already heard three different voices. Two more females and one males was what it sounded like to him. It all still fit in with his kidnapping theory, but the glaring issue was the key that was not only in the cell that he had awoken in, but in the one the two newcomers had just walked out of their cell. "No one's noticed us so far, so it might be safer." Gale had said in a similar hushed tone, literally moments before the steam pipe that sprayed Rex had caused him to jump. The steam had stopped and other than the sounds of the others talking, there wasn't anything else of notice that he heard. If that didn't get someone's attention then they must not have wanted to keep us here. Gale straighten himself out and strode over to Raelyn who was looking at the creepy painting on the wall. "Did you ever learn your name by the way?"
About partway through Tinarah's explanation Chrono had decided that instead of just nodding along in understanding, that maybe he should start taking notes. Ya know, try to put together the pieces of this puzzle for himself with the...limited pieces that they hand. When he'd reached for it, he'd realized a number of things. The big two being that a) he didn't have his journal with him and b) even if he did bring it with him when he'd left, he was still wearing his super hero costume underneath this coat so it wouldn't even be on hand at all. Well that certainly sucks. He could always get a new one, but his had too muhc information for him to simply get a new one. "Possibly, even if they aren't around your age having someone else can provide another perspective with things." Chrono stated. He thought back to how Take's and his first interaction went. Getting food, casually chatting, then ending him with attempt to help Take with summoning his keyblade.
As much as Zephyr had wanted to object, claim that he was ready to travel now, he already knew from experience that Midarah wouldn't be easily swayed by his claims. Just like in those past experiences, he found himself trying anyway. "I can walk at least, which is good enough for us to make a surprise visit." If he really wanted to push things he could run as well, but anything beyond that would not be likely to occur or would not be as effective as it normally would.
Seems like his kidnapping question had sparked mixed results as the other male was doubtful about it where as the two girls seemed to have taken it into consideration as well. One thing for certain and that was that they all were as much the dark as he was. Threats aside Gale had no intentions of 'trying anything' with the girl on his back. He would be much more focused with trying not to drop her. He seemed to have an average amount of strength as there wasn't much troubles in keeping her steady. The kick was a little unneeded, but it wasn't like she'd kicked him hard enough for it to hurt. That'd just bring them both crashing down, a fate that would likely end would himself before the more hurt. Once she was back on the ground, Gale backed away to give her space. "Nice, we have our way out now." With a shake of his head, he'd looked to Evie. "Nothing here either about my name." The assumed kidnappers may have been dumb enough to leave a key for them to take and escape, but as far as the overall feel to the place, it was creepy as hell. Especially that eye marking that was on the wall. Gale had reached into his pocket after seeing Rex doing so, he would've done so without him saying anything as Evie had reached into her pocket as well when she learned her name as well. Sure enough he'd found a book and the first thing he saw written in it was a name. Gale "So my name's Gale, that's odd. Kinda cool too." The book had nothing else helpful or in general for that matter and Gale found himself walking towards one of the cells to take a quick look inside. "Hello, anyone else in here?"
Chrono had given Torrin a thumbs up as his response, still letting his breath catch up to him. Physically he felt relative fine all things considered, despite the unsettling feeling being noticeable again with them not being in the heat of battle. Mid stretch Chrono had spotted the piece of paper that had fallen. Briefly considered the possibility that they were falling from the heartless, each time he'd spotted one of them it had been after any number of heartless had been dealt with. It was a start, but didn't account for where the heartless were getting these pieces in the first place. Especially in the condition they were in. He made his way over to Tinarah as she was reading the paper. "What's this one say?"
To say that Kel was confused as to why he had, again, been singled out was an understatement. It was almost as if there was a higher power at work behind it, something beyond his understanding. Almost as if it was Blackest Magic. That aside, the confusion had from the moment Kocoum had pointed him up until he had explained why. His words had managed to strike a nerve, but on a different level then the one struck by Ratcliffe. "I'm not going to pretend that I understand the kind of suffering that you've been through, but you shouldn't assume that because of my skin. I've gone through my own share of suffering." His fist may have loosened, but the anger that laced his words had remained, anger that was meant for the man who had already left with his men.
