Private - Darker Than Black (Eclipsing the White Pt. 2)

"Ugggghhhh...." Megan moaned as she leaned over the side of the boat. It seemed that seafaring did not bode well when combined with rum. Well actually it had been the first time she had tried the drink, not wanting to disappoint the team of fishermen she had hired, so she wasn't exactly sure what was making the room spin, but it was unpleasant. "Just hold on there princess," one of the boat hands snickered, as Megan continued to hang her head overboard. Had Megan had the capacity to put up a fight she'd send a chill wind his way (even though the bare-chested men in this game made her heart throb) but resigned to a guttural grumble as they slowly approached their destination, Skull Island.

She had heard a lot of rumors regarding the place. Apparently, it had been abandoned twice since the game had launched leading several to believe the place was haunted. Megan thought it was possible considering the other crazy events she had experienced in terrasphere, but it didn't explain why a group of prominent bad men would get scared off. Unless it was some super ghost thing, that could raise the dead as that one goblin could. Megan shivered at the memory still fresh in her mind. Regardless she'd have to stick it out and investigate the ruins that were left, as one of the NPCs back in town indicated she might find a powerful magic artifact somewhere hidden within. Now, that the massive mountain that resembled a skull was in sight, Megan began to regret her choice.

"Its ok..." she whispered to herself, "Worst case scenario, you die, and you get resurrected at the temple in Druuk...." the words did little to still her beating heart as the boat sailed to the ruined dock. "It's no good." The captain suddenly announced, "That dock is decaying like its been there a hundred years, we'll have to take her all the way in." Megan, gulped knowing that would mean using the paddle boat, but complied with the fisherman's orders and got in. Several minutes later, however, as she was standing in the sand watching as the paddle boat slowly drifted back to the main vessel, "They better be here when I get back..." Megan growled, wishing she hadn't even paid them half up front. Regardless she didn't have time to think of such things; she had after all planned on spending no more than three hours investigating the ruins, she'd have to move quickly if she had any chance of finding that artifact. With a quick spell, Megan empowered her speed and glided further heading into the skull's gaping mouth.

What she found inside was a complicated set of tunnels dug into the surface of the mountain, most of which had been looted, leaving behind only scraps of useless wood, and metal. Megan grumbled as she pressed onwards distressed that this entire adventure had been for not. "I guess nothing is better than ghosts..." she mused out loud in an attempt at being optimistic about things. Empty tunnel, after empty tunnel, however, had made even her best attempts at optimism falter flat, giving way to anger. "Raggh! There's nothing here at all! No monsters, no treasure, no magical artifacts! Whose idea was this!" Megan flipped through her quest log, checking the originating source of the quest, and immediately understood her failure. She had received the request over two months ago. Likely when she was given it, the item was still here, but two months worth of looting had proven to clear out everything including the object.

Dejected, Megan turned back in a slow amble, the good news was she had another hour before the ship would leave the bay, allowing her plenty of time to walk all the way back. Too bad it was empty-handed. A couple of minutes within the winding corridors, however, left Megan lost and confused eventually leading to a large open area she hadn't seen before. Even from within the tunnel she could see the devastation, some magic ability had seemingly ripped it apart. Whatever magic that was still left behind an odor, something that should have dissipated a couple of minutes after the fact. Knowing better, Megan plowed forward to curious to turn back. She was after all a mage, and one of her responsibilities was to investigate powerful magic right? As she approached the destruction, she could tell, however, that whatever had done this couldn't have been recent. Likely whatever clue had been left behind, was either destroyed in the explosion, or taken by looters. "This is so weird though..." she said out loud, "I've never seen magic at this level..." Now finally content she moved to find the exit, only to be met with the gaping wormhole that had opened up beneath her.

She barely had any time to scream as she fell downwards, into the unknown abyss. Consumed by darkness, it seemed she fell for an eternity before she entered an area lit by some unknown cosmic entiy. All she could see were various shades of purple and blue as she somehow managed to fall forward, tumbling into a giant mess of clothes and hair. After a few panicked moments, she managed to untangle herself to observe her surroundings only to feel the pace of her heart increase even further. She was somewhere unlike she had ever seen, like some pocket dimension, where gravity ignored the ordinary laws of physics causing several collections of rock and debris to gently float all around here. "Wha-what- is this-this place?!" Megan asked trembling, gripping her staff for safety. The only answer came in a large hole appearing above her.
@Magi Heart

?̶̡͘͜ ͝͠͡?҉͏ ̵͞҉͜͏?͏͠͏͏ ̢̕?̸͢҉ ̡̀͠?̴̡ ͏̶̶͝?̷̴͏͢͠

 

Tenebris' feet touched the ground, once again without any feeling. Red eyes zipped around trying to see if this was any different then before. The reverse Magi had honestly expected that last rip to plop her out somewhere back on the Island. Or at least somewhere other than more of this!

"Urgh! This is getting annoying! Stupid warp drivey thingy!"

A furious look and a slight facial twitch that truly was unfit for her face, twisted it in a growing rage. She did not want to stay here! She had people persons to take care of! They needed love! Stupid useless place! Maybe she should just kill herself next? That would get her out wouldn't it? The thought was enticing, she had to admit.

"Wha-what- is this-this place?!"

The furious look faded as the first human sound that was not herself since she had rescued Zelly reached her ears. That voice was familiar. Wait... oh yeah! That person... uh... whatsername!

"...Meggy? Hehehe, naw that wasn't it. Oh there you are! Hi!"

Tenebris' blood red eyes settled on the familiar form of a certain one time dark mage wannabe. It was hard to tell if she truly had left it behind but none of that mattered now anyway. Tenebris still could not grasp her name but knew it would come soon enough. This noob was a total loser though! That was definitely something she remembered very clearly! The dark magical girl waved and leaped onto the rock the mage was on without much effort. Her black and red outfit very similar to what Megan would have known. Of course, Magi Heart would have never had a darkly colored anything on her pastel magical girl uniform. If this old friend of hers was here. Then... she must have also been sucked into this place. Which meant... Tenebris could help her out!

"Hey, kewl beans you got stuck in here too? Hehehehe... guess we both are now❤! Welcome to um... hehehehe... the boring nothing place! Yep, that's what we should call it okies? M...Meg... "

Then her eyes widened and made a eureka look.

"Megan! That's your name! *Snicker*, Wowzers sorry, it's been awhile❤. I've been through a lot and can't remember every single one of my many best friends names. You do know mine right? Magi?"

The memory of how much Magi worked to make Megan want to be a dopey magical girl of love and crap also came to her. Was it even worth putting up any fronts here? Yes, probably. Tenebris was not going to save Megan yet. She still was more focused on getting out of here. Which meant... that Tenebris had to actually too...? Uh, nope! She was going to do her Magi act but there was only so many of her old self's stupid quirks she was going to tolerate! No 'chans' and 'kuns' for Tenebris! No waaaaay, not in a million years!

"I'm surprised you still play this awesome game... all the wars and crazy stuff that's happened... you have any fun without me❤? We're friends... right?"

Tenebris closed her insanity glazed eyes and smiled in the most Magi like way she could offer anymore, as she waited for her friend to respond. Magi's friends were still Tenebris' as well after all.

It was only shortly after this that Megan would feel a finger tap rapidly on her shoulder. However if she were to look behind her. There would be nothing but the endless vortex.

@Megan Tritor

 

Megan's words echoed throughout the vastness of the pocket dimension in an odd warbling manner. "It's almost as if-" her thoughts were cut off as her question received a response! Quickly Megan turned her head to see, where the voice had come from straining her vision to pick out a girl and red and black dress. Though she did look familiar, Megan couldn't put her finger and precisely who it was until she spoke again. Cool beans? The only person she knew who talked like that was that Magical Girl from that one time, Magi Heart!

"Magi!" She squealed with enthusiasm, as she jogged over to her one-time friend. "I almost didn't recognize you in your new outfit! It's awesome! And did you manage to change the color of your eyes to red! Why are you closing them? Are you trying to hide it! But that's so cool, how'd you do that? I want to do that!" Of course, Megan approved of the girl's new look, after all, it was very similar to her get-up, minus the frilly lace, but Megan wouldn't fault the girl for not wanting to give that up. The excitement of being with her friend made the creepy null zone they were in, a lot more bearable giving Megan the ability to think again.

Of course, thinking clearly, reminded Megan she was in some weird place that she didn't even know how she entered, much less did she know how to get out of it. Megan began to rub her chin while Magi continued. "Uh, o-of c-c-" Megan's reply was cut off as someone poked her from behind. Wheeling Megan spun around, staff in-hand, ready for a fight. However, a quick investigation proved that there was no one there, after all, just more of the same empty void. Well, empty minus the random flying debris and flooring tiles. In fact the closer Megan looked at the tiles, the more they looked like the floor from the arena.

Such thoughts, however, would have to wait, as she felt someone poke her. She scanned the immediate area some "M-m-m-magi" she said with her back still facing the magical girl, "D-d-did you see something just now?" Silently Megan began to grind her teeth feeling more angry about her stutter than she was afraid of the situation. She had done so well at concealing it during the fight with the goblin, and they were in such a worse situation! Why was stuttering now? In fact, why was her entire body trembling as if the enemy boss was right on top of her, the only ones here were her, magi, and that hand that tried to grope her. But, if the hand was the boss enemy, why not attack her? It didn't make any sense.

Megan forced herself to take a deep breath, and she couldn't afford to look so afraid around Magi, she probably looked up to Megan as a source of inspiration. Why else would she have accepted the darker dark path as she did? "Wait..." Megan thought, "Wasn't Magi always trying to talk me out of the darker path?" Megan suddenly snorted, losing most of her tension, "I bet she slept on it and realized I was right after all!" The minor thought restored her confidence to the point that she raised her staff calling out, "I'm not sure whose out there, but you're not going to grope either me or Magi! For I am the infamous Icemancer of the dark! Megan the Dark Ice Princess of Oblivion Duex Two! And you shall taste my power!"

Speech completed without any errors Megan smiled as she began to summon forth her magic, "Come forth Shiva and hear my call, aid your disciples in crystalline armor so that the defilers would know your touch should they dare approach us! Ice armor!" As she shouted a pale blue magical circle appeared below both herself and Magi, from which a blue liquid rose, wrapping around each girl's clothes before adhering to the fabric and covering it in a thick layer of ice. While the ice would restrict movement slightly, it wasn't quite as cold as her previous spells, in fact in the right environments it was warmer with it on that off, after all no wind was going to get through the ice! Megan smiled, sure her teamate behind her was preparing in her own way, whatever was thier foe, with Magi's help Megan was sure they could defeat them, "Get ready Magi, I think it's comming this way..." Of course she saw nothing but the emptiness of the abyss.

 

@Magi Heart

 

Her eyes slowly reopened as Megan spammed questions and seemed... legitimately excited by Tenebris persona. The reverse Magi was a bit taken aback, for a few reasons. First she hated praise, Secondly she hated Magi and held a deep seated existential crises inside, since she was not necessary not Magi. No matter how much she wanted to not be. Nor was she enough of her to not be Tenebris. It was so complicated compared to the other Vermillion victims. So this existential crisis was always there.

"...*Snicker*. You like this better? Kewl... yeah the old colors just kinda poofed into these after I had a very hehehe... intimate moment with another friend❤."

The thoughts of the sword stuck into her and the last few moments of memories from Magi's perspective lingered. A tear rolled down her face even though she looked creepily happy. Tenebris fiddled with the rose on her chest and generated her bow in her other. The black of Gertrud shown in the odd lighting of the vortex. The colors reflecting off of the cursed bow. she lifted it a little.

"I changed my bow too! It was a gift from someone❤. Maybe you cou-"

Tenebris wanted to offer her friend a chance to hold the pain inducing weapon for the giggles. Unfortunately, Megan turned around to look at something just then. Red eyes followed where she looked but Tenebris saw nothing. Oh well, not important! Megan the Dark Ice Princess of Oblivion Duex Two.... So Megan had swapped right back to oblivion stuff? Dummy was still in dreamland regardless if it was magical girl or dark mage.

"Gee whizzzzz... Princess of Oblivion... oooh and it's Duex Two! Yaaaaay...."

Tenebris' voice, a voice that was just as prepubescent as Wendy and Magi Heart's. Mocked Megan's title with more sarcasm and venom than would be thought possible. Honestly these types of people were the most irritating to Tenebris. Full of delusions and dreams. Thinking they could just play their way to being a somebody. Cain was like that when she first met him and was still annoying as hell but at least he stopped pushing it in her face. Instead going for delightfully poking jibes at her. That was what Tenebris liked... being given grief.

This though? Wowzers no. Tenebris was annoyed enough by where they were. She was not going to keep up her act if this dummy was going to do this! With a quickly darkening look on her face. Tenebris was ready to say some very unsettling and cruel things... until. A black feather blew past.

Huh?

Tenebris looked to see and saw what was likely the source.

The back shadow appeared again. It was just two rocks over and... the dark magical girl's eyes glared with interest. Were those... wings? Where was the last time she saw wings? That dream. Was it... no, probably not. Tenebris would rather it not be as well actually. Now was the time to go after them though!

"Megan! Look, that people person's been jumping around like that since I got here! Hehehehe! Let's go, it might get us out!"

Sounding almost normal for once. Tenebris went leaping after the shadow. Ignoring the spell Megan had been charging. As for Megan...

...Megan.

..... Megan.

...................Megan!

A barely audible voice was seeping into her mind. Once again from behind her. This time should she turn around. She would she something that, well, was so out of place it was almost comical.

The vague image of a girl of indistinguishable age, other than being quite thin. She was transparent and her facial features blurry. Light lavender hair hung down around her head. Her entire body glowed in such a way Megan felt blinded by the light. She wore what looked like clothes that were made of light. Making it very difficult to tell exactly what she may be wearing that shone so brilliantly. The girl was shouting to Megan it looked like. Yet no sound came from her blurry face. Again and again until she was leaping up and down and waving her arms frantically. Then she gestured towards her right. A small bright rip had appeared again right where she was gesturing.

She thrust her thumb side ways. She pointed her finger. She made double pistol finger guns towards, complete with firing motions. Basically, she made it quite clear that whoever she was... she really wanted Megan and possibly Tenebris to go through that portal instead of whatever Tenebris had chosen to go after.

As she continued to wildly point, she started to slowly fade away...

Meanwhile Tenebris reached the rock with the shadowy figure. even this close they were doused in blackness. Two wings burst from it's back and a hand reached out above it's head spreading it's claw like fingers as black swirls of mana began to converge above it.. Tenebris could not help but grin as her eyes flashed with excitement. Did this thing want to fight? That was kewl too! Tenebris was dying to save another after being in here so long!


@Megan Tritor

 

Megan gripped her staff tightly, as she almost finished her spell, summoning the shard-like crystals upon her clothing, luckily the enemy still had not shown themselves. "Where are they hiding?" Megan pondered as she turned a sparing glance over her shoulder just in time to see Magi motioning towards something a few rocks away. "Huh, is it the enemy?!" she called out as Magi jumped before her spell could take effect. "W-Wait I'm-" but it was too late Magi was out of range, and the spell finished, giving only Megan the buff. A bit peeved, Megan, let out an annoyed grunt and yelled, "You shouldn't just run off like that!" Despite this, Magi did not seem to react, instead was keen on moving forward after whatever she saw.

Didn't she know better? They were in an unknown place, facing an unknown enemy, it would only make sense to be a little bit cautious and stick together. Was this the same girl she had met all those weeks ago? Granted she didn't seem timid then, but she also didn't see this.. cool. Megan shook her head, maybe she gained some cool gear, or managed to grind to some high off level. Yea that makes sense, she's just a bit more confident that before. Meanwhile Megan... well... if anything her recent encounters had caused her to doubt her abilities. Maybe she wasn't the best Ice Mage in the game after all...

"Megan! Look, that people person's been jumping around like that since I got here! Hehehehe! Let's go; it might get us out!"


Magi's words kicked Megan out of her depressing thoughts, forcing her to scream "No!" defiantly to herself, "You are the best! You can do this! I'll be right there Magi!" Feeling a surge of confidence once more Megan prepared another spell so that she could catch up with her friend! As she began to do so, however, she heard something. It was soft at first, like a leaf bristling in the wind, but quickly grew louder pounding at her head in a manner that could not be ignored. Unable to finish her spell, Megan turned to the source only to pause at the bizarre scene before her.

What stood behind her seemed like a short human girl, with a translucent body, surrounded by a bright light. Megan had not seen angels in the game, but she very much would have thought that this was something they'd be like. Beyond the illumination, however, the girl did not seem very angelic, however, as it jumped to and fro, dramatically pointing to something nearby her. The thing she was pointing towards, was something that Megan struggled to see. It seemed like a line producing pure light, was that where all the illumination was coming from? Or was it, a tear like the one she saw before, like what she had fallen into before being taken here?

Of course! An exit! The girl must have been an angel after all! Megan smiled waving at the spirit as it began to disappear, "Thanks, Angel-Kun! I'm going to get my friend and be right back!" Turning, Megan tried to scan the rocks where Magi had jumped towards, only to notice the magical girl had practically vanished. "Tct!, If she had just waited, she would have seen the angel too!" she said to herself as she cast a quick aeromancy spell to increase her mobility. Gripping her staff tightly, she eye'd the next platform as she prepared to jump. She wasn't exactly sure what would happen here if she missed the jump, and wasn't exactly ready to prepare to find out. So instead she hesitated, calling out to her friend again, "MAGI!" She yelled as loud as she could, causing her voice to reverberated oddly in the weird space, "COME BACK I FOUND AN EXIT!"

Straining Megan tried to listen to a response, she thought she heard something, but her chattering teeth prevented her from recognizing what it was. Why were they chattering anyway? She had found an exit, and knew her friend was really powerful and probably okay. What was with this sense of dread that filled her so completely, threating to smother her confidence at every turn? She didn't know, but she tried to choke it back, and leap upwards towards the next platform, hoping that everything would turn out fine. "Magi, I'm comming!"

 

​

Seeing the energy gathering over the shadowy winged person's head. Tenebris pulled back her bowstring and her own arcanamancy gathered into her hand forming a arrow. Just then Megan appeared screaming about a exit or something. Tenebris was too into the moment to care. This was going to be fun! Blasting each other in Terrasphere was the best!

"Who are you? Move, foolish children. How is it even possible for you to be here?"

The voice was ice cold and was not someone recognizable to neither Tenebris nor Magi's memories. Then came the realization. Just as a unknown blast hit the rock that Tenebris and Megan were on. The black shadow leaped into the air and sheds of it's blackness fell behind it. Like a liquid of darkness.

They had been staring at it's back this entire time. Yep... she had never turned around after all. The black winged woman that now soared over the two and landed elegantly on a high rock.

Tenebris grabbed Megan by the cape as she leaped off the rock in the nick of time to escape the blast. Why? ...Megan was her friend. Her life was dedicated to saving her friends first and foremost. Regardless what her 'mistress' might think. Everyone else came second... but they all would get a turn.

"Dummy! Don't just sit around with your mouth open *snicker*."
​

Tenebris said as she landed on her feet, not caring in the slightest that Megan slammed headfirst into the rock. Kneeling next to her, she said quietly.

"Sorry about the rough treatment.. hehehe, just easier and hey, that felt good right❤?"

Standing back up and looking up at what was happening. The dark magical girl saw more blasts slamming into rocks. They shattered over and over again. Who was firing all those shots? It was similar to her arrows. She had never seen anyone else do that before? The black winged woman continued to sway in the shots as more and more rocks vanished from the vortex. If this continued... they would run out of floor.

"Interesting sight is it not? This is but one of the many reasons to play. To experience such sights and perhaps... someday perform such feats yourself?"

Tenebris spun around and shot her bow. Tired of all the surprises and nothing for her to do. The arrow shot into nothingness as no one was there. And then someone literally dropped out of the sky between her and Megan.

"Siiiiiiigh. I am so bored of this old master. You really should just give up? You aren't even a real character anymore so just drop dead already would you? Pretty please?"

A young woman in a flowing black dress strolled leisurely past. A single visible eye glanced at Tenebris.

"Nice outfit kid. You play with editors huh?"

A shift to Megan.

"Feeling un-involved?"

With a shift of her head she dodged a black spear that was hurled past. The force causing all of their clothes to blow. In a instant she drew two guns(?) from her dress and ran the barrel over her cheek.

"I do love these weapons Master Narth.... It's like playing a shooter...but damn it Elly? Can I call you that? C'mon! Hitomi can and I can't?! Let me call you that before you die?!"

With a shrug of 'can you believe that' to the two sorta just there girls. She added.

"I mean I'm not even using my all anymore. This is just dull now....meh. The new avatar is great though!"

She shot into the air after the dark winged woman. Thus more outlandish destruction ensues all around. Quite frankly... Tenebris was pissed off and lost. What the hell was happening...? She did not know and was tired of it, but her desire to stick arrows in both of those flying weirdos was growing by the second. They were having a whole lot of fun without her!

"Best to stay out of matters that do not concern you, young lady. You have a lot of your own problems I am sure."

Huh? That voice again?

A hand fell on both her and Megan's shoulder. It was stern and almost... fatherly? Tenebris was not sure she even remembered what a fatherly touch felt like anymore actually. It wasn't something that gave grief so it was not important!

Looking over her shoulder she saw... some guy? Wowzers. Tenebris gave up. This was just beyond her now. Maybe she could just shoot him then? That would be nice.

"Now now. I know you are lost. ... I must say it is interesting to see you here. No wonder she is so distraught."

Tenebris turned to face him and wanted to shoot him a lot. To demand he tell her what was going on and then save him... but... but... what was this feeling? Her eyes met with his. And Magi, no Wendy could feel him looking at her! The fear... what was he looking at? Magi was gone! Just look at Tenebris! PLEASE!

"I see, Vermillion caught a big fish. You are not her unfortunately. Mother still has more waiting to do. Ah... she does like a challenge after all. Would not want a boring short story would we?"

Tenebris shivered. She felt... violated by this man. It was not even grief it was just... horror. Her brain felt scrambled. What was even happening again?

"To that maiden however you are important. Not many that meet that criteria. Of course, you would not like that role anymore, would you... Tenebris is it? The name given by Vermillion. You dislike it, yes?"

Unable to talk she simply nodded. Every fabric of her being wanting to break free of this stare and mutilate this creepy people person!

"How rare to not simply be a disharmonious soul but to be a whole other aspect of your ego. This is Descardia's is it now? Becoming a new being within another. The fullness of her dissonance ended with you more than any other of those rose bearers. I am curious how she would respond to you and if there will be others that receive such a direct impact. Alas... for now I'll simply help keep you on this interesting path. Mother too, loves a good plot twist."

His hand glowed a deep black on the reverse Magi's chin. It spread all over her body with great speed. Her twin tails blew upward as the darkness swept over her. Tenebris... Magi... Wendy screamed from her bed in the hospital. Tenebris fell to her knees. Her head hurt, her chest hurt, her soul hurt. What did he do?

"As for you Megan. I do believe you are even more lost than this lass? In a different way. Do you... feel useless? Search carefully and you will know that everyone is useless my dear. The purpose of life is to have no purpose. To simply thrive and to listen to what your true self wants. Of course there is one person that loves all equally. No matter what they choose to do. All things have purpose in the chaos."

He patted Megan's shoulder gently.

"To perpetuate chaos. I'm sure Vermillion could help you with that. She had become quite the perpetrator herself."

A massive black beam almost destroyed the rock the three were on.

"Time to take you two elsewhere. Why not send you home Wendy? and you can take your friend here along as well? Yes? Farewell!"

And then... there was black...
​

@Megan Tritor

[OOC: Hope you enjoyed that lol. Next post from me will be Vermillion's Manor. You can even end it with them waking up there if you want.]​

 

Megan leaped into the air, effortlessly bounding off the first platform, before continuing forward and bouncing up to the next. Even with her 'Swift' aeromancy spell enhancing her movements, it shouldn't have been this easy. It seemed that the physics of this place indeed was distorted in more ways than one. Megan didn't have time to process this, however, as once she caught up to Magi he attention was focused on the winged person enshrouded in blackness. Whatever the thing was, it had to have been bad, because Magi wasn't holding back at all as she fired a powerful shot in its direction.

"Wow!" Megan exclaimed, "You powered up!" It was true, the last time she had seen Magi, she used similar attacks but not nearly at that level. It made Megan excited, she had not been slacking... and Magi hadn't stuck around for her last spell. It was time to show her what the ice princess was truly capable of. "Lady shiva Urk-" Megan's chant was suddenly interrupted as Magi ripped her backward, choking the words out of her.

The duo fell back to the rock that Megan had been on before. Magi did so gracefully, while Megan tumbled backward, tangled in her cloak and hair. She quickly set to untangling herself as Magi made some rather rude comments, "Hey!" Megan yelled in her defense, but her speech was shortened by an incoming blast. Megan scrambled, bouncing out of the way, thankful that both her speed and defense buffs were still active.

Even after avoiding the last attack, Megan was still left scrambling to avoid yet another blast, and another, and another, as the various platforms in the odd dimension began to grow more and more scarce. Throughout the conflict Megan tried to stick close to Magi, she was useless in a fight this quick paced, her spells took time, well her good ones at least. Luckily Magi didn't seem to have such issues, as she quickly turned around firing off a magic-enhanced arrow.

"Now my chance!" Megan cried as she tried to summon forth a spell of her own. Her efforts were almost immediately thwarted, however, as a girl suddenly appeared before them. "Eep!" Megan cried backing away ready to use her staff like a bat. The girl seemed unconcerned, as she carried on what seemed to be a casual conversation. Was the girl the one attacking them? She didn't have wings though, what did that mean? As Megan tried to connect the dots, the black haired girl drew two guns and began to fire into the darkness, destroying even more of the small platforms that floated around the place. "Wh-wh-what" Megan stammered as she stood paralyzed in confusion.

Before she could make any sense of the turn of events, another hand landed on her shoulder, "EEEEK!" She screamed turning and swinging her staff in a moment of pure instinct. Her attack faltered once she saw her target though, her strength draining from her arms as she dropped the weapon. Megan fell to the ground, trying to fish for it, but her finger, no both of her hands, had gone completely numb making the chore near impossible. The guy with the creepy eyes continued to talk, at length to Magi. None of it made sense, like the ramblings of some madman. Eventually, he turned his attention to Megan. Her hands froze, as his words cut through her removing her heart like a skilled surgeon. Was she really this weak? "Yes..." she whispered, "I really am..." she fell into despair first, and then into darkness.

@Magi Heart

 

Vermillion Manor

"Another night of eternal red in this place...."

Vermillion stood on one of many balconies of the Mansion of Mirages, Vermillion Manor. In her delicate crimson eyes reflected the red moon that loomed so huge and close, it could be hovering only inches from the ground if one did not know better. A cup raised from a dish in her hand and a light wind blew past. Carrying ancient scents that were unknown to those who never stepped foot here. This land... has been forever dead and will forever continue to be.

A small smile of knowing as she finished sipping her crimson nourishment.

"Lest there be many more. How many more are for me alone I wonder? Soon.... I will have what I have been craving for so long. You won't keep me from it. Hmhmhm..."

A feeling swept over her. Ah, what did he want? Filthy male swine... regardless what he was, it was all the same. A man was a man....Pure filth. Putting her drink down, she centered her gaze straight up and behind her. Turning slowly and placing her finger to her lips in a small bit of interest at who was dropping out of the black rip in space in the sky.

First came Tenebris Cordis. The treasure whom Vermillion was keeping a close eye on. She was also one of hte most amusing and fulfilling to blacken If only because by some strange play by fate... That Magi Heart girl was simply uncanny. It felt so good to watch her fall.

"Dropping in are we? Hmhmhm... I see that man had something to do with this. I do want him out of my business and away from my treasures. He did not do anything unsightly did he?"

The delicate Arch Vampire slowly made her way over as the other fell from the sky and landed hard. A calm look would meet this witch girl's gaze if she were to stare into the eyes of the Crimson Noble. Vermillion was relaxed and barely looked any different from a pale human at the moment.

"Greetings... I apologize for whatever poor manners that man may have shown you. Please take my hand, I'll help you up."

Lifting up the girl with surprising strength, she looked her over as Tenebris had already gotten to her feet and was now focused on something else. Her hands glowing a dark purple.. How cute, was that... black magic? So he helped her along had he? It was not necessary. Vermillion wanted all the pleasure of the corruption and dis-harmonization... it was her joy! How dare he take that from her! She would deal with it soon enough. For now... this new one.

"Are you shaken? Do not be afraid, I am Vermillion Romanov. I'm a good friend of Magi here. She was the one who had that dream to be a magical girl? Hmhmhm... then are you also seeking that? I must say that is interesting. Perhaps I could help? You look like you good use a rest. My manor is good source of respite from the harshness of the outside world."

Although she was not showing aggression. The manor and the sky were not at all miraged. so it was obvious that this was a very strange setting.

"That's Megan... my friend. She doesn't want to be a dumb magical girl. She wanted dark powers or something hehehe... Cronos blah blah. Does it matter? Are you...going to, do 'that'?"

Tenebris sounded odd, almost nervous, afraid... uncertain? Her black glove touching the rose protruding from her chest.

"Either that or be supper❤...hehehe, I guess it's not that bad. I wouldn't have had it any other way myself."

That was partly a lie. Tenebris was happy to be born, but not happy to be in quite the situation she was in right now.

"Would you like to chat some, Megan? I'll take you on a tour? You can see my rose garden? Hmhmhmhm.... supper can be right after. If dark power is what you want... hmhmhm. I am sure I could point you in the right direction. I know many things."

Vermillion shot a glance of slight annoyance at Tenebris bringing up eating now. That was not her intention for this one at all. This one was another that fit many of her tastes. Especially the outfit. How very long it had been since she saw a 'witch girl'. These precious innocent girls... all so needing to be cherished. She would give them their place. A purpose far greater than anything... to be hers.

@Megan Tritor

 

The air was pushed out of Megan as she landed on the cold stone floor in a place she did not recognize. "Uggh.." she moaned as she struggled to sit upright once more. What exactly had happened? What was with that guy? And how did she even get here? The questions swam around inside her head in a sluggish manner, leaving her unable to fully grasp the situation she was in. Luckily it seemed she wasn't in any immediate danger as Magi held a short conversation with someone nearby. Megan turned to see that the person she was speaking with was a petite, light-haired girl, and apparently not a monster. Where were they again? If Magi knew she didn't outright say anything, instead shifting the conversation to Megan.

Did she call Megan supper? No, she must have misheard her, she must have said super. After a deep breath, Megan slowly began to regain her wits. "Chronos!" Megan corrected, "Chronos is the dark lord, forever trapped in the shadow realm, this is where he twists men's desires..." Clearly intending to say more, Megan trailed off as she gazed at Vermilion's noble attire, her cheeks growing crimson, before ending the statement with a meek, "..and stuff.."

Luckily it didn't seem like the lady was very off-put by Megan's small diatribe, instead kindly offering a tour of a rose garden along with a meal. Megan's stomach grumbled in compliance for doing whatever she needed to do to get it fed. Megan though was far more interested in what she said after, however. The lady had offered her power, and not just any type, but the dark variety. Megan couldn't help but giggle greedily at the offer, her eye's growing wide in anticipation.

"Is this how Magi got all super cool and stuff?" she asked in an excited tone as she purposefully pushed back the events that had just happened from her mind. "Does that mean I'll get a super cool outfit, and like a power up and stuff?!" Megan asked bouncing from joy as she turned to Magi, "This means I can add a new title to my name! What do you think it should be? I think Black Megan sounds cool! Or maybe just Black!" She giggled a bit before turning serious for a moment, pulling her hat down to cover her eyes. "Fu~ Fu~ Fu~ How dare you impede on the path of she who is simply known as.... Black!" Within a moment she broke the act with a happy laugh, before turning back to Vermilion, and again feeling embarrassed by her playful shenanigans, which in turn colored her cheeks vermilion.

"Ah-ha..ha..ha." She feigned trying to play off her exuberance, "Sorry, I got a little carried away there, it just sounds so exciting! Of course, I'd be happy to go on a tour...and eat....and get a power-up!" Staff in hand Megan skipped ahead a few steps before turning back to Magi. "Come on Magi! Let's go to this rose garden!" She stopped for a moment, looking at the rose suspended from Magi's chest for a moment. Had that been there before? It almost looked real, the way it hung in the air. As if it was actually sprouting from her very chest itself. "Odd..." Megan thought, before banishing the thought. She was going to get a power up!

@Vermillion (XIII)

 

"Shifting desires?"

Tenebris looked again at Vermillion, there was no smile on the reverse Magi's face, only a twitch of the mouth and then a slight cock of the head to the right. The thoughts the distorted magical girl had were anyone's guess at this point.

"Chronos, cronos... whatever, hehehe."

When Megan turned and started to talk about a new title and how cool Magi was now. Tenebris suddenly winced and walked up to her. A tear ran down her face as she smiled. Although she truly did love failure and hated the lies and positive foolishness of praising. The look of the insane Magi made it difficult to tell what she meant by the following.

"Megan, I hate being praised❤. I'm not kewl. Hehehe... okies, Vermy here can definitely get you a name change.. mine's Tenebris Cordissss."

The way she said the last few words were surprisingly malicious. With a extra purposely used hiss that Megan would surely not understand. Whether towards Megan or Vermillion was unknown, possibly both. Vermillion just pushed her aside gently and wrapped her arms around Megan's.

"Yes, Tenebris is so much more fitting don't you think Megan? Or Black? Hmmm... I will have to consider it. I usually enjoy coming up with nicknames for new friends. Hmhmhm."

The door to the manor opened as the trio strolled through, Megan and Vermillion in front. Tenebris following distantly behind and half of her face covered by the shadow of her bangs. If one looked back, they would see she was not smiling, although the corner of her lip did twitch upward occasionally.

The hallway, compared to outside was not at all the same. It was now bright and filled elegant paintings and gorgeous statues. The hall seemed to go on forever as door after door passed. The elegant red carpet was trimmed in gold.

"Each of these doors harbors another wonder!"

Vermillion said with pride.

"Look here for example."

She opened a door and within was a enormous ballroom. A grand piano sat in the corner and golden chandeliers hung from the high ceiling. Closing the door without allowing the girl to step in. Vermillion ushered her on.

"But how silly of me! Of course that isn't what you want to see... is it Megan?

She reached another door. This time what lied beyond was a gorgeous and vast rose garden. White fences lined the cobblestone pathways. and a beautiful sun shone down upon the field... even though just moments ago on the balcony, it was a black sky with a crimson moon hovering overhead. Of course... this girl was somewhat of the dense variety. Vermillion did not feel a need to concern herself with details.

It will be interesting to see how her 'adjustments' effect her mental capacity. If it doesn't she can always just be a source of amusement like Trizzaldi or ABC. There was more than one way to enjoy her handiwork.

"Come seeker of dark power. Right this way. You will be amazed at hmhmhm... what I have to offer you."

Tenebris stopped at the entrance and finally spoke after quite some time.

"Hey Megan?"

Her head rose up and her red eyes became more visible again. They did not reflect the light of the sun.

"I exist to save people persons. It 's what I want to...*snicker* what I need to do. Do you want to change? That isn't being saved.... you're my friend no matter what you do. No matter what or who I am. That won't change❤."

Tenebris then turned and left the rose garden. Leaving Megan and Vermillion alone. The vampire ignored the dark magical girl. Instead focusing on her roses. Petting one gently and running a finger along the thorny brambles. She glanced to Megan and gestured her to come nearer.

"Do you like flowers my dear? I think most fine young maidens look much more elegant with one... they are simply, hmhmhm... better."

The sun seemed to dim slightly. A glint of something... dangerous, shimmered in Vermillion's red eyes.

"For one to come here and openly be seeking dark power. I must say... it does ruin a bit of the fun. Hmhmhmhm, I much prefer a more aggressive improvement. However, I am still in need of good friends and you seem absolutely delightful with that ambition and enthusiasm of yours. First a wannabe Sta- ah magical girl, they are called are they not? And now a wannabe of a different sort. Hmhmhm... let us see how much I can blacken your soul."

By the end of the last word. The garden was a writhing mass of sentient roses and vines. All reaching for Megan. The Arch Vampire, now with demonic bat like wings expanding from her back. Vermillion stood in front of her and Ooh'd and ah'd as the vines surrounded her. Her fangs obvious. Yet not her complete Shin form.

"Once I give you one of these roses... a small touch of one upon your skin. Heheheheh.... you will evolve into a new sense of self. You will feel different, you will be better. You will be able to get what you want. Now..."

Vermillion held a rose, and gifted Megan with the darkness she so very badly thought she wanted...


@Megan Tritor

 

Megan cocked her head to the side as Magi replied. Was it just her, or was Magi acting strange? Megan shook her head with an innocent smile; she was probably just looking to much into things. Gleefully, she accepted Vermilions embrace, thankful the lady had not taken offense to her earlier tirades. "Oh. Well. I mean.. if you came up with a name... I'd like that... it d-doesn't have to be Black." Megan stuttered as she walked hand in hand with Vermilion. Megan wasn't sure why Vermilion was making her so nervous, maybe it was the clothes or the cool mansion. It was almost as if Vermilion was some princess! Megan stifled a gasp of realization as Vermilion pointed out the room with the fancy piano.

"Oooooh." Megan cooed respectfully while thinking, "She's some princess!" Quickly Vermilion moved on mentioning the next room was what she came to see! Megan's stomach growled in response, even louder than before. Annoyingly buzzing in her stomach. Ignoring it they pressed forward, into a beautiful rose garden which was illuminated so brightly by the sun, Megan was forced to shield her eyes. Something seemed off, but more so, Megan was bothered by the fact that Roses wasn't exactly her favorite thing in the world. Why did Vermilion think she wanted to see this. "Oh...This is cool..." Megan said dejectedly as she tried not to hurt the princess' feelings. For all she knew this was what princesses did for fun, smelling roses and stuff.

Vermilions next words, however, perked up the girl considerably. So this is where she'd get her power up!? Well, she didn't want any flower related abilities, but if it came with Magi's cool costume maybe it'd be worth it! As she followed Vermilion, she listened to Magi's kind words with a smile, "Awww..." Megan cooed in reply, "You'll always be my friend too Mag- Er.. uhm Tenebris!" Despite the, honestly out of nowhere, words of encouragement, Magi soon left leaving Megan alone with Vermilion. Megan forced herself to shrug it off as she moved to join Vermilion near one of the roses, suddenly at a loss for words, "Uhh they're are cool, and stuff I guess? I don't see myself wearing one though; I don't think I'm that kind of girl if you get what I mean hehe."

As she talked Megan thought back to the Flower protruding from Magi's chest, was that the source of the power? Her thought process was suddenly cut off by Vermilions words, however. Blacken her soul? It sounded cool....but.. something about this situation seemed wrong. "Well..uhm. I mean uh." She stammered as she saw something moving out of the corner of her eye. Something was hiding in the rose bushes, no, the roses themselves were suddenly moving. "Eep! Look out!" Megan yelled as she pulled her staff before her preparing a spell. However, as soon as she moved a vine snapped forward, ripping her staff from her hands. "Wh-" Megan yelled before yet another vine wrapped around her right arm painfully pulling it back and up into the air behind her. "Aghh!" She yelped in pain as the vine managed to immobilize her with its hold. Trapped she desperately shot a glance at Vermilion to see her unperturbed by the plant growth. Frantically Megan called out to her, only to finally see the 'princess' for what she truly was.

Floating before her, the demon had taken her correct form haughtily laughing as she moved forward with a rose the color of blood. Megan, full of terror, screamed wordlessly into the night. She could hear Vermilion talking, but it didn't matter, she wanted out. Log out! Log out! It's just a game! It's a game! She thought desperately to herself, but her right arm was pinned! She couldn't activate her UI with it; she'd have to use her left! Vermilion moved closer, while Megan furiously flapped her left arm in the air ineffectively. Why? Why wouldn't the menu come up?! She didn't want to play anymore. The demon slowly pushed a rose close to her face. Instinctively Megan tried to slap it away, but the rose bit into her hand, its vine wrapping around her wrist. She felt it, piercing into her, magic flowing from each thorn, her thoughts becoming hazy, her head feeling heavy. With the last remnants of her strength, she screamed once more, "MAGI! HELP ME!" and then The Darkness came.

Megan's vision faded as the darkness overwhelmed her, drowning out her cries as she grew limp in the vines grasp. She could feel a power coursing through her, paralyzing her, but her mind had stopped turning. For the first time that she could remember, she thought of nothing, not fear, no anxiety. Nothing. It was bliss. After some time the magic seemingly faded into the back of her mind, and slowly she began to think once more. Thoughts began to trickle into her, she knew was was in a compromised position, and understood that she had just gained an odd mental affliction, and yet, she felt no fear. Slowly the vines released her, allowing her to walk free once more. She slowly massaged her right arm, while staring at the thorny bracelet on her left wrist. "I don't..." she said in an apathetic tone, "I don't feel anything." As the words left her mouth, she realized it wasn't true. She did feel something, just one thing. A desire for power that burned in her stomach like never before. Her eyes turned to Vermilion with a hungry gaze, a smile involuntarily growing on her lips, "I think someone said something about supper earlier..."

 

@Vermillion (XIII)

 

[OOC: Wonderful place to close!]


@Megan Tritor
Demon Rose (Soul Bound) Special variation of the rare Demon Rose that can only be found in Vermillion Manor. Contains a tremendous amount of evil and vile intent within it's stem. Having this item is a tell tale sign of being involved with the Vermillion XIII. Effects: Exclusive RP / Quest opportunities / Manor Warp Gate Success.

@Theorigin