Complete - Griefful Reunion

Griefful Reunion

Crystal tunnels, red drenched caverns, dark ruins, alternate planes of existence and even the mysterious vortexes between them all.

Tenebris Cordis had been through a lot since her birth. She was no longer a underdeveloped consequence of a Demonic Rose. At least not in her mind. Magi Heart, who she once was, and still was, was much less of just something to forget and hate. Tenebris allowed Magi to continue to exist. Whether through her faux acting, her illusions, or simply the memories. By allowing herself to accept that she was Magi even now...

It made everything she did so much more terrible. Which was what she wanted. For Magi Heart, who believed in hope, bonds, justice, love and dreams. Silly fantasies that were not accepted nor needed in the real world. Tenebris found her power in what the world WAS about, grief, rejection, hate, and failure. The one thing... the one thing that she was the unable to separate from what she once was.

Was her desire to help.

It was funny, sad, and contrary to many of her other beliefs now. Yet, Tenebris really did want to help people, help those she considered her friends most of all. Magi simply couldn't do it. Tenebris could! She even has on multiple occasions! She had to give them all love, love that mattered, love that made them cry and scream in agony! Then, she had to give them the ultimate gift. A dark, and abysmal death! If she could only keep them in that state forever. She couldn't be happier.

For someone who can only feel grief. Tenebris felt happiness in her own way when she felt she was close to accomplishing that. ....But they all just come right on back to life. Gee whiz, what a shame. Regardless, this was who she was. Tenebris, Magi, Wendy... this was what THEY wanted. It could not be anything different could it?

"Eldhi... I came back here again. So I could tell you how grateful I am. I hope you enjoy your place too. Hehehehe.... "

Tenebris stood in the deep grass filled pit that she had fallen down several months ago. The blue door that had sucked her through and the old weird temple place that Eldhi had stabbed her so mercilessly in. In this game, she was truly her best friend. Even now...

Tenebris hoisted herself up and sat on a old jagged rock. Flowers were growing on the stone. A sign that winter was becoming spring at last. If the greening of the pit generally didn't tell enough of that. Beautiful weather was meaningless to her,though. There was a time she enjoyed it, looked forward to it. Now it just showed her lies. Lies of happiness and other crap. It was Magi's white to Tenebris' black.

She hovered a black gloved hand over a patch of flowers next to her. Her youthful face, one that had so effortlessly shown many warm and generally overly adorable emotions. Instead showed a cold smile as her deep crimson eyes grinned with far more emotion than her face did. Her hand glowed with a black aura. Deeper than any of the purplish magic she had been using even a month ago,

The flowers decayed and in a matter of seconds were nothing but melted green muck. Black magic really was pretty kewl beans. It allowed her to heal better than anything! She simply was tingling inside every time she used it!

So many people to still help, so many to save, so much love to spread....

It was too bad...

There was one person, who not only rivaled Eldhi in friendship points, but actually far surpassed her when it came to the life Tenebris once had even before Magi.

Wendy's best friend, her closest and nearly sister like friend.

"Raina..."

Tenebris was shocked to even remember her but she did. If only the fact that she was her friend. What kind of person was she? What did they do together? Why were they friends? Nope, that was extremely vague.

It was then that Tenebris heard something. The sound of boots crashing onto the ground from higher up. Someone descending into the pit? By jumping? A adventurer then for sure.

Well, she was more in the mood to just think right now, but her desire to help this person took precedence!

@Seigi

[OOC: This is the last thread in Tenebris' timeline up to this point. Set a bit before spring. This is it Sky. Enjoy!]

 

It wasn't enough. But what did she expect anyway?
She needed more power. But could she still hold her head high?
A game was supposed to be fun. But what if it turned into so much more?

Seigi had to put more effort into this. Simple as that. With the now always present fear in the back of her mind of 'What if...?' the crimson-hair couldn't take things as simple anymore. It wasn't just about overplaying her worries with some overzealous gusto anymore. Even if Seigi liked to have things simple, she couldn't allow herself to anymore.

The girl had started this game for fun, but now? After getting over her initial breakdown, Seigi knew that she still wanted to have fun. Needed to have fun to function properly. Sure, Seigi was rich enough to probably lay off for a while but... even when she had faced great despair, the girl absolutely refused to lose sight of her ideals. If she lost herself she could as well just die anyway. 'What if...'

Shaking her head, Seigi continued on. How could something simple as 'I Just want to be a Hero and do good!' turn into so much more? Stupid bugs, hmpf.

At the very least, for the time being, she didn't need to worry about Sebastian or her father anymore. Heck, she didn't even have much of a choice when it came to escaping reality. The biggest regret was, in fact, 'What if Wendy woke up in the meantime?'. Raina couldn't even be at her side if that were to happen. Unless...


No. The game was illegal in the first place - obviously, it could have some 'dangerous bug' like that. Seigi didn't need to provoke the worst situation, but she could still make the best out of it. Quite some time passed anyway, it was probably just a matter of days! In the meantime, she'd do what one was supposed to do in a game.

"Gaming is supposed to be fun!" Seigi said out aloud. Of course, nobody was around. It had been way easier to enjoy herself with others, keep her mind off herself. But like this? Inside this... cave place? Right. "Right..." She was here to get stronger. Way stronger. This would prepare her for the real world as well. She did not believe in Gods or Fate but maybe this was part of her trial.

She wanted to become a Legend. Someone who could call forth countless Miracles. A True Hero. For that, she had to be more like a Hero in reality, too!

Maybe it was a miracle in itself that Seigi Ling Ling had betrayed herself times and times again in the past, yet could still keep walking. With her head held high and honestly believe in what she wanted to believe. Even in the aftermath of the Eldritch monstrosity, she had managed to climb out of that deep pit again.

She'd continue on walking, just like before. The red-hair was at a point willing to acknowledge her past mistakes and learn from it, but that didn't mean she'd let herself be chained. The here-and-now, as well as the future, was what mattered the most. Nobody had the power to turn back time... .

Raina Raythean knew that she wasn't naive anymore but head-strong.

"GAAAHHH!" The apparent head-strong girl cried out. Too much thinking. Too many clouds! Her path was clear: She simply had to carve it herself. The fact she stomped annoyingly on the ground which promptly gave away didn't he- "Huh???!!"

No time for panic. Instincts taking over, the Martial Artist caught her balance mid-air, allowing for a smooth landing on all four. Luckily it wasn't THAT high up. "Huh?" The next thing Seigi noticed, however, was @Magi Heart simply being... there!

In this godforsaken place, where she was supposed to venture alone, another one?! Somehow, she looked familiar but... remember, Seigi, gotta make a good first impression! Her heroic Journey had just started!

Starting to make a silly pose like some Sentai Ranger, Seigi Ling Ling declared loud and clear. "Hero of JUSTICE, Sunset Sage of Seven Strikes: Seigi Ling Ling, has arrived! With Guts and Effort!" She... she nailed it! Even the landing went kind of smooth, like a true professional!

"What are YOU doing here? All alone. Are you lost and need help back?!" Seigi asked as her standard heroism took over. But what was this weird feeling of a deja-vu? And just where had Seigi seen this girl before anyways? She... looked so familiar, yet somehow different. It seemed important, even life-dependent, to remember.

 

Upon first sight of this red headed girl. Tenebris felt like throwing up on the spot. She was lean, rough looking, like someone who definitely could hold their own in a fight. Those who actively sought to fight for enjoyment at least understood that much. Since bringing as much pain to another was a great token of love but... this person's speech... pose...

"H-Help? ...Me? I'm usually the one doing the helping❤. The right way."

This person was... the worst type of human being. A hero wannabe. A complete doofus that ran around screaming about justice and thinking they actually can accomplish anything meaningful. Tenebris twitched. Her hands clenched together. These kinds of people persons... they pissed her off so bad. They disgusted her. They didn't even deserve to be saved, they deserved complete eradication!

The pinkette had not felt this way in a long time. Not many were like this in her neck of the woods anymore. Cain had evolved into a pretty fun and good source of grief. Yep, like a true friend should be! This ultra super rare turd of turds was going to have to get flushed!

"Are you lost?"

She mimicked Seigi's words mockingly.

*Snicker* I don't know, are you lost? Hero of Justi-"

It was strange really. How this moment played out. Saying it with her own mouth and looking into the intense hero inspired gaze with her own shattered one. Two pairs of vastly different red eyes set transfixed on eachother.... and then somehow it felt nostalgic. Curiosity came to Tenebris and she decided to not just shoot her repeatedly and laugh at her miserable failings.

"...Have I met you before? Hehehehe. Gee whiz, I'd think I would remember someone *cough* like you❤. Then again I have some trouble remembering every noob I meet."

The dark magical girl took a few steps towards the martial artist. Rubbing her chin in thought with her black gloved hand as her head cocked to the side. She already despised this person regardless, but she did want to know who she would be teaching a valuable Tenebris says lesson to if they were someone she knew.

@Seigi

 

"Eh...?" So familiar. Was it just her or was this person kinda... weird? She looked way too-out-of-place to be an NPC! Especially after being called 'Noob.' But where?

"A Hero is never lost! Just... searching?!" Seigi couldn't deny she felt a little bit annoyed being called a 'noob.' Gee whiz, wasn't that kinda rude? "Gee whiz...?" The crimson-hair whispered to herself in confusion.

And then it hit her like a ton of bricks.
Too sudden, too fast. All at once.

"Wha...?" Hope. First, there was hope. Is this... for real? Can she be?
"R-Really...?" Happiness. Simple, pure bliss. I found her! This is the greatest day of my life! Her dress, gee-whiz, it all makes sense! Success!
"But..." Doubt - like a slow-killing poison. It's a video-game! That's not how life works. Is some dark force playing with my mind?

Seigi Ling Ling Raina Raythean was hit by a myriad of thoughts. At first clear, now a muddy mess. Countless feelings surging up and down like an ocean storm. She wanted this to be true. She wanted this to happen. But she had her reservations. Rational argumentation. Fear. This only happens in Anime.

This wasn't about beating up giant creatures of darkness just because of JUSTICE.
This wasn't about being the hero and having a good time.
This wasn't about fooling herself into who she wanted to be.

This was about Wendy Ann Quinn, a girl apparently kept alive by a VR headset.
This was about Wendy Ann Quinn, one of the dearest people to the blonde girl.
This was about life and death.

Raina knew that Wendy was playing this game. Raina knew that it somehow made sense, even if it didn't, for her to be here. But it also didn't. No, it made perfect sense, maybe she was in a similar situation as Seigi. But acknowledging this possibility was horrible.
Ultimately, she was simply confused, afraid, and relieved.

"Huh...?" Were those tears flowing down her cheeks? But... "No..." Seigi Ling Ling could not accept this. Seigi Ling Ling was an awesome Hero that people looked up to. Seigi Ling Ling wasn't the kind of person to cry - ever!

Think this through! Balls to the walls. Head through the wall. Guts and Effort! Head-strong, not stupid. If this was truly an evil ploy - after all there was this super fancy door further back that looked like an entrance to a super awesome dungeon - then Seigi would not fall for it!

After what felt like countless minutes of the crimson-hair simply stuttering, and starting to tear up, she finally asked: A simple question.

"Wendy, is that you?" But... was that actually enough? There were a lot of Wendy's out here, after all! "It's me, Raina! Raina Raythean."

Saying just these few words brought up all the emotions she had just bottled up inside again. The slightly-off dress. The way of speech! This question was stupid!

Raina wanted that question to be stupid.
Raina wanted to find comfort in this dream.
A Hero deserved a break once a while, too.
A Hero deserved some great success after failing over and over again, too.

Wasn't she a horrible friend that somewhere, deep inside, Raina wished for Wendy to be in the same situation so she wouldn't be all alone?

"I missed you so, so, so much!" Tears broke out again as she clung to Magi like a scared child hugging her teddy-bear. Afraid that - if she let go - the Monsters would get her. Tight, firm, and with passion.

@Magi Heart

 

[THEME]​

"It's me, Raina! Raina Raythean."

Huh? So what? Tenebris then realized this weirdo had just uttered her real life name... the only one in game she told it to was Cain. So then this was...

"R-Raina? S-S-Seriously?"

Unfortunately before Tenebris could get another word or thought in. Seigi, or so it seemed to be... Raina, had already wrapped her arms around Tenebris torso and was hugging hard up against her. The dark magical girl's cheek squished and made her voice sound distorted as she struggled to break free. Even though she was much more powerful technically than this noob. As far as non magically enhanced strength was concerned... Seigi was a wrestler compared to her small frame.

Urgh...

The hatred...

The growing intolerance of this....

So much false love...

This person was everything Tenebris despised all wrapped in a disgusting reddish package...

She was Magi's kind, a idiot, a dreamer, a hero wannabe with no real means to accomplish anything but blab about love and justice and world peace that lives only in their delusional heads. So much worse than even Eldhi... so much worse...

The memories flowed into her like a waterfall. Raina was the one she ate sweets with, and Tenebris always won. She was the one that watched anime with her while they cosplayed their favorite heroines. They played sports together and Wendy always lost. Wendy? Yeah Tenebris WAS Magi... and Wendy. Raina was their best friend. When Wendy would be picked on by her peers in school for being immature or not caring enough about things like boys. Wendy would find Raina as a rare person to understand and find consolation with. Even that Sebastian guy. Wendy would be there for Raina too. She tried so hard to understand someone so much richer, with so much more responsibility in their future, so different from herself... but also so similar in their hearts.

And yet...

It was so stupid. So pointless. Raina needed to be helped out of her problems more than anyone. Tenebris owed her that much. She was her best friend after all. To think she was here in this game. To think the one that motivated Wendy Ann Quinn to play Terrasphere and get to experience all the wonderful things she had gone through. To allow her to wake up and become who she was today. No one... no one deserved Tenebris' fullest and most heart wrenchingly griefful love than Raina Raythean!

So she stopped struggling. Closed her shaking red eyes. Wrapped her own arms around Raina, her best friend. And smiled with a rare softness rarely seen on Wendy's face anymore. This was not a faux smile either.

"Raina... it's been awhile. You chose a avatar that's pretty kewl. I... missed you."

[THEME]​

She squeezed Raina tightly as her black gloved hands began to glow on Raina's back. Dark purplish energy was wrapping itself around their feet like a ring. However it was slow, quiet... not at all forceful or hostile or filled with madness like usual. It was like a gentle lullaby to send Raina away with. To give her what she wanted, what she needed, in the realest way Wendy could.

"Terrasphere is pretty fun isn't it? I have to thank you... you gave me so much grief. I.... want to give you what you deserve for that. I want to help my best friend find happiness and escape. No more Sebastian... just stay here with me. Okay?"

No snickering, no mocking, no lapses into madness, no she felt clearer than ever. Somehow all of them felt the same way....or did they?

A sharp pain shot from Tenebris' chest and ran throughout her body. Then the throbbing in her chest and... her head. So much glorious pain and agony! But...what was...

"Urgh... Uuuuuurgh... what's going on... stop.... stop it....GET OFF ME!!!"

A force of arcana blasted Raina away from Tenebris as she stood staring at her hands the ring of darkness fading. The pain in her head was so strong... it felt like her brain was splitting open! She grasped her head and shook it. Her rose on her chest began to shed it's petals one after another. Her knees buckled together as her wide eyes glared at Raina. Tears fell from them and finally the tears from her right eye turned red.. as if something inside her broke, perhaps even something fatal.

"R-R-Raina.... let me save you... c-come here... okay?"

She covered her face with her hands and shook her head hard before falling to the ground and panting. Uncovering her face she looked back up, half her face stained by blood but her eyes... were pinkish. They were the eyes of that would look at Raina and smile every time they had Skittles smoothies together. Yet they were tired and in terrible pain.

"Raina... Raina you need to run away or... I might hurt you. Please... I... what am I doing? I killed people!"

She continued to weep and looked down at the grass beneath her. Grass that had died from the black magic that had swept over it not to long ago. Her own black magic... black magic given from a man with powers she couldn't even begin to understand.

A pile of rose petals was also there as if waiting to rejoin with her.

"...*Sob*"

@Seigi

 

It was Wendy! It was truly Wendy! Her cute, little, pink, and precious friend. Stopping her tears of joy was now unthinkable.

For this single moment of happiness, Seigi stopped thinking about the bad thoughts. Wendy being here, and what it meant for Seigi herself. The likely possibility of them both being in the same situation.

Seigi just kept hugging the Mahou Shoujo without saying any more words. This single moment, those few precious seconds, they stood intertwined together, felt like an eternity to Raina. Unaware of the creepy darkness that Tenebris conjured behind her.

At least until, suddenly, Magi started acting weird. "Wendy?" Seigi now asked, a little bit confused, as she still clung to her best friend. So much grief? No more Sebastian?

"Wendy?!" Seigi finally distanced her head from Magi's shoulder to take a better look at her face. "Wendy!" She seemed to be in intense pain. Going so far as even crying... blood? Before the crimson-hair could react further, however, a force of magic pushed the girl against the stone-muddy cave-wall with great force.

"Urgh..." Coughing up some blood herself, Seigi looked up to Wendy in confusion. This... this was her, right? But... something seemed wrong. Standing up, Seigi muttered her friend's name again. Were those... traces of black magic?

Think. Think. Think. It has been over a month now since Seigi couldn't log out, it only made sense that the same happened to Wendy. All these months, all alone. She had been here, yet so far. Raina had been completely oblivious. Somehow, something must have happened.

Her cheerful, lovely pure smile. Her bright, shiny eyes. Seigi could clearly see them. Yet, there was more. The crimson-hair could only keep guessing. But did it even matter? No matter what, or how, Magi changed. Wendy was always her bestest friend.

Running away was not an option.

Despite treating her own virtual life more careful now, in this situation, Seigi Ling Ling did not even think about it.

Think. Think. Think. Magi was struggling, with herself? Why? Would she hurt Seigi? Possibly kill her? But, again, did it even matter? "Tzch..." How many precious seconds did the supposed-to-be-Hero waste again? The answer was right in front of her: A friend suffered incredibly. Easy as that. Seigi would bleed as much as she had to...

"Wendy-chan!" Fearless, Seigi walked with purposeful steps forward again to kneel besides Magi. Holding Wendy firm, but gently, on her shoulders before softly pulling her into another, lighter, hug. "How can you say that? I won't leave you! No matter what. Ever. I have been worried sick. Your family is worried sick! I... I don't know what happened to you - or what's happening - but it's alright now! I'm with you! Together, we're getting through this!"

Together, they could Conquer the entire World! "You hear me Wendy? Whatever you did, whatever bad you have done! It doesn't matter." She did mention something about hurting people after all. "You're Wendy Ann Quinn. My beloved, sweet, innocent, cute anime-nerd! The Queen of Sweets! My Ally of Justice! A very precious person! So, just kick this edgy shit out and let's eat lots of ice-cream together after, alright?"

@Magi Heart

 

Wendy or rather the distorted avatar that she was stuck playing as. Stared blankly as Seigi held her yet again. Of course she would not run, of course she would be there for her. That's what not just being a heroine was about, but what being a friend too. No... being a human was about that.

So much pain. What in the world was wrong with her? Wendy blinked and clenched her black gloved fists. Her eyes shifting to Seigi, no Raina's. How crazy this was to see her again here in this world. This fantasy gone wrong.

"Haha... kick the edgy...out. Yeah... that's what I should do..."

She said that but she really wasn't even sure she wanted too. These feelings. Some were hers some weren't. One thing was certain though, she grieved. Even if she fought it off would it matter? Memories flowed into her that were once vague and distorted. Magi Heart was a failure. Wendy was a failure. Her family was worried sick?

Of course they were now that she was gone! They ignored her for work any other time!

No! That's not how she felt at all! ...Was it?

"Urgh. Love and justice is... a little harder... than I .......thought."

Bracing herself against the pain she felt. Magi Heart, or rather some variant of her that was left tried her best to stand. To be lifted by Seigi's own strangely bandaged arms.It somehow felt that there was more to it than just being a martial arts look. Even in this state. Wnedy worried about another enough to feel that something was not right. And.. if this nightmare game was hurting Raina... then Wendy was only adding salt to her wounds.

Wasn't that what she wanted though? To bring the joy of grief to a good friend? Her closest friend?

"Heheheheahaha... Raina-chan... why do I hate that so much? It's such a nerdy stupid thing... I'm serious. My parents, My brother... my dog.... urgh. I want them back but... the reasons are not right. I'm not right Raina..."

Her pinkish eyes flashed red for a moment before she tried to wipe the drying blood from her face. Magi breathed heavy but seemed to be stabilizing... in some way. She shook her head one last time and looked to the rose petals then the large scar on her chest.

Finally she grabbed the hands of Raina's avatar and offered a extremely tired smile. One of someone who felt they had little time left to live.

"Raina.I don't think I'm really free but I don't even know if... ugh. I remember now. A light. A voice was talking to me right around here!"

She quickly turned towards the bluish door, and pulled Seigi with her, pointing at it.

"That's where this happened.. no... where it started. Eldhi... urgh. Vermillion...."

She closed her eyes and chose to stop. It was better to focus instead on her friend now. On figuring out what was going on. She could feel it. Some kind of miasma in her body. No matter what she did it tried to change her thoughts to something else. The worst part though was just how much of that darkness she knew was her own creation. All the failing she had gone through. The crushed ideals. This darkness was feeding into that along with whatever of it's own evils it contained.

Evil... probably wasn't even the right word.

"You look... Wowzers what have I been doing? ... I'm sorry for hurting you Raina. I'm sorry honorifics really turn my stomach. Sit down with me please... I will try to heal you."

She opened her UI for the first time in weeks... and was dumbfounded. She could not read any of it. It was all written in some foreign scrambled mumbo jumbo! She pressed a ton of buttons but found nothing that said anything like 'Heal'/

Oh yeah.. now she remembered. Her way of healing now probably would not be very helpful.

"Or not. I don't think I'm one to ask for help anymore. ...hahahehehe... actually don't ever ask me for help, EVER Raina..."

It was then that the blue door once again opened.

@Seigi

 

...? Somehow, Wendy was suddenly all normal again? More-or-less at least. But, just like that? Well, the crimson-hair had hoped for that. This was exactly how it was supposed to go! For once something went right, yay for her!

With things having calmed down, save their wounds, and the initial shock over. The hero-girl could actually take more notice of Wendy's rose thing? Or what was left of it. It looked quite nasty. But only strengthened her belief that the Mahou Shoujo had gone through a similar experience as herself. Her arms were after all... not to mention the ever-present whispers in the back of her mind, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

But what now? While Magi, apparently, 'kicked her edge out' - or at the very least suppressed it - and got back her to her senses, it was clear she wasn't quite herself yet.

Was this how people could change when they grew up? "Nonsense!" Seigi interjected as Magi talked like she had given up her justice schtick! She wouldn't let this lovely girl turn into some stupid Edgelord that thought it was now cool to turn all evil instead! That was a thing pseudo-heroes did.

Holding Magi's frail hands in her own, she tried to be even stronger for her. Telling her about 'her own problems' was out of the question.

"Doing Love and Justice isn't that easy as I thought either! But that's precisely why we shouldn't give up! No challenge is too hard for us! To do the undoable! To stand unbreakable against what would break us! To call forth a Miracle. Isn't that exactly what Magical Girls and Heroes do?! If you fall down, just stand up again! One step backward and two forward."

Seigi tried to be supportive for Magi, less of a scolding. Get her back on the right track. Pep-talk and all that.

"Wrong reasons?" The red-hair asked in slight confusion though. It took Raina not even two weeks to realize how much she missed even her dad. She knew that Wendy's family was quite busy but... "Sometimes it's okay to be selfish! You love your family and they love you, what's so wrong about wanting to see them again?!"

As Seigi then got pulled towards the fancy looking door through surprising strength by the roughed up Wendy, she kept talking more things that Seigi herself couldn't quite understand. Eldhi? Vermillion? But something about a voice!

Just another hint that they both shared the same 'fate'?! Maybe it was actually right to tell Wendy right now about Seigi's own bug. Sure, she'd just worry more, but ultimately she would find solace in the fact they both were in the same situation? Comfort each other more...

"Huh?" But then, Seigi's eyes blanked out a bit.

Seigi could recognize this anywhere.
Wendy's hand motion.
Open your UI.
It seemed to work.

"..."

She had done this over and over again. At first, a hundred times. Then two hundred. Until despair had started to take seed and grow. Then, she had lost count. It had taken Seigi quite a while to take steps forward again after this but even now she could feel the tingling sensation of pain from trying out the motion over and over again.

"..." So, they weren't quite in the same situation? Well, it didn't matter. In the grand scheme of things, saving Wendy was more important than her current situation.

Now, she felt kind of lost. The fact Magi Heart could clearly access her UI meant whatever theories Seigi had come up with earlier was wrong.

She needed more information. Focus.

"Wendy-CHAN! Now that we're finally together again... how about you tell me what happened? From the beginning. Don't worry about me! I am perfectly super duper good." The Martial Artist took notice of the door opening but, as curious as she was, it could go screw itself a hundred times over!

Her best friend was more important than some stupid adventure. No, in a sense, being friends didn't even matter! It was more personal, yes, but reigniting a lost soul was another thing a Hero was supposed to do!

@Magi Heart

 

Wendy blinked slowly as Raina went through a great deal of effort to encourage her. To tell her not to let this darkness, this grief consume her. Even though, there was no way Raina could know about this could she? Did she really know what was going on? For that matter, did Wendy?

She felt a strong urge to pull her hands away from Raina and tell her how wrong she was but Wendy refused to do that. She was, after so long... months of black isolation deep inside her own self. She was finally able to think, to feel again... and it felt...

Horrible.

But maybe that was not entirely bad. Not because of the twisted reasoning she had for feeling griefful before but because maybe it was important to feel this way. It was exactly that reason that she tried to make others not feel the same. Gee whiz... now was a weird time for a epiphany.

She wanted to tell her it was alright. That she would just go back to normal and they could log out together and never look back at this nightmare game again ever. Oh... now she remembered something else. Yeah... everything was so much more complicated then she ever had imagined. It was likely going to only get worse too.

After finally having closed her UI in frustration. She looked again at Raina.

She had not changed that much besides the avatar. If Wendy had been around Seigi for even ten minutes she would have figured out who she was. It was a personality she only used around close friends. That spirit was something they both shared although it came out a bit different for Wendy. Just being around her made Wendy nostalgic.

"Wowzers, you are so much taller than me now. *Giggle*, now I really must look like a kid."

Wendy thought about days were how tall she was actually ranked as one of her biggest concerns. Boy that seemed like ages ago. Her pink eyes shifted to her own clothes. She had a magic that might be good for this. But... yeah it was worth it.

"Hold on. I don't want you to see me looking so wrong."

She stood up and took a few steps away from Seigi. After a few moments of casting. Her illusion spell finished and her outfit's color faded to white and pink. The only thing remaining being the massive scar on her chest. She turned back and smiled.

"This is my actual outfit. I... worked really hard to get it as close to what I always wanted. You chose a big bad fighter. Here I am the little princess.. gee whiz."

She winced as the throbbing agony in her body suddenly worsened. She refused to let it ruin this though. This one chance. Maybe her last for all she knew.

"I called myself Magi Heart here... urgh... You know... cause magic and love?"

Raina wanted to know what had happened... everything. Wendy really had her own questions but she had to focus on herself first because their time was running out. Her hand went to her chest.

"There are a lot of really horrible things in this world. In all worlds... but sigh."

She remembered. She remembered the light, the knowledge that light gave her. The stabbing by Eldhi, the last burst of effort and conviction to change things in that manor of blood. The monster... Vermillion.

"I'm carrying a lot of grief. A lot of it is mine but not all of... urgh.... it."

There went the pain again. Her illusion fluctuated a little but remained.

"Roses... they are... filled with something.. they convert... uuuuurgh..."

Her knees buckled.

"Vermillion, stay away from her. Stay away from those roses... from..."

Taking a deep breath she shook her head again and stood up straight. Her pink eyes shifted to the door.

"Raina-chan... in there was a statue of a legendary heroine. I wanted to see it. The Star Maiden. But it was..."

She placed a hand over her face and grimaced again. Before turning away.

"Let's talk and walk. Staying put is hard... I need to keep moving to keep in control."

She looked back and smiled stiffly. Obviously concealing whatever real pain she was going through.

"I want to know your experiences too Raina-c-chan... Okay? Gosh... so much catching up to do. Are you sure that you are okay? In Terrasphere? You should leave here. as soon as you can and never come back. I don't want anything bad to happen to you too."

She walked on holding her face with one hand and clenching her fist with the other.

@Seigi

 

Wendy had indeed quite a lot to say! "Of course you'd call yourself Magi Heart." The crimson-hair giggled before adding. "You look sweet!" She gave Magi a thumbs up. "And big, bad fighter? It's a Martial Artist! Handwraps and all. You know, the full name is Seigi Ling Ling!" Just that nobody ever bothered with the Ling part. "Seigi means Justice! You should know that." That was such a big hint to the crimson-hair being a closet weeb, oh my.

"And Ling Ling, urm, because Martial Artists are Asian and all! And Ling Ling is a cool name! I can even crush stones with my bare fist!" Thinking about it, hopefully, she hadn't hugged Magi too hard? Petting the little girl's head the 'big bad fighter' continued on. "Looks like this hero was just in time to start rescuing the little princess, eh?" If not for the 'everything else going on' it was indeed quite like how it used to be.

As much as Raina might have wished for that, the situation became more serious as Magi finally started to talk about herself. "Roses?" The thing on her chest? "Vermillion?" It... wasn't too far stretched to connect the few dots Seigi had, right? She watched enough edgy anime to know this!

"So these roses do something evil with you and that Vermillion person is like, the big bad?! Just tear the rose out...?!" Alright. Beat up this Vermillion-person to save Magi? Gotcha. "So... you're not cured yet, right? That means- huh, Star Maiden? I... I know of that Legend!" The crimson-hair now called out as they kept moving towards the door, just as Magi wanted.

"I did a quest thing a while ago! Beating up some creepy Dissonance thing in the name of Love and Justice! ... That kind of quest would totally fit you!" Seigi tried to cheer her on. "We should do the next one together!" What they should do was, indeed, get out of this game and never touch it again.

"Look, I don't mind quitting, but only when you do, okay? You... haven't logged out in quite a while, right?" Seigi just kept talking, about the fun things, about the good things. Somehow, this had to help Magi, no?

"I had a lot of fun playing so far. I... I'm not as strong as I wish it'd be, but it doesn't stop me from trying to do the right thing. Trying to get stronger! Though I already died a bunch of times! There was this Skull goblin dude who whooped my ass! A-And it's not like that Goblin was weak either! It was like a super-Goblin! Yeah. One day I'll deliver sweet Justice! Another time, just recently... I was in a group that freed some Eldritch Deity, or something. The place itself tried to keep it down. So I thought: this is our best shot at keeping it down!" She gave now a more wry smile.

"Turns out trying to punch an ancient monstrosity didn't turn out to go well... BUT... even there... I stood up again. Even in that pitch black place, I heard someone. I KNOW that someone is in need of help." But before Seigi would attend to THAT adventure, she had to get stronger first.

"And then... I don't even remember anymore, but I think I died a third time, too. A-Anyways, a lot of death, eh? I used to take it pretty lightly, being a game and all, but now... now I don't think I should be as reckless in the future... that doesn't mean I'll stop trying to do good, just not stupid, y'know? But you know me! When was a game ever fun in easy modo? Full Lunatic with lots of Guts and Effort!" While that was only half the truth, it felt good actually telling someone more about her honest feelings. Especially if it was her best friend.

Regardless of that, now in front of the open(?) door, Seigi actually wanted to take a peek!

@Magi Heart

 

Magi Heart, and Seigi Ling Ling.

Two heroine wannabes that have not yet found whatever they need to do to fulfill the role they want so badly. Or wanted, perhaps. One died over and over and over always failing to reach the peak they sought so hard. While one had lost their way throughout all the trials they faced. Both also had their souls damaged and altered in one way or another. If not by the frequent deaths, then by outside unknown influences.

Yet somehow they were here now. Still alive in whatever odd way they may be. So, was it truly over?

"The hero saving the princess? R-Raina... you know I am supposed to be a heroine too. If I need rescuing, that would be wrong. Hahaha..."

Magi blushed as she lowered her hand from her face. Her leye had reddened and there was 'something' wrong with the pupil but overall she seemed still to be normal. Her form shifted a little as her illusion magic worked to keep her looking as much like she did months ago as possible. The EN drain was worth it, even in the pain she was in. She wanted to be Magi Heart for Seigi, not whatever Vermillion made her into.

She reached out her hand to her and took it as they walked down the thin corridor of a cavern. A cavern she remembered being where everything really changed for her.

"No, If I was cured.. I wouldn't have to use illusions to look this way. I feel something in me. It's me but also not me. It doesn't like us holding hands. Doesn't like anything I wanted in my life. It wants to hurt my family, my friends, it wants you to suffer... it thinks that's a good thing. Then it..."

She stopped as shooting pains bolted through her.

"I think the roses... are not the real cause. I'm not sure. I feel like even if someone ...you know, actually went that far and tore the vines out... I don't think that would work."

She grimaced at the thought of Seigi potentially doing that to her. If that was a solution, she would happily let her though. She had gone through enough pain by now where it really was just normal.

Seigi then mentioned something Magi was surprised to hear.

"Wowzers. Seriously?"

She turned to look at Seigi her soft features tightened by her pain and the contrast of the reddish eye. Her face was showing curiosity, and a sparked interest that she had not had in a long time.

"This place has the statue of that person maybe... but in pieces. Someone ruined this place. You'll see. I-It's so sad why someone would do that to a hero."

Dissonance... gee whiz that did sound pretty Mahou Shoujo like. Like the Noise in Symphogear or the Vertex in Yuki Yuna! Sigh, it doesn't sound as fun as it does to just sit and watch at home though. When that stuff is real, it's scary. Yet Seigi was pumped about it even as Magi began to notice a few things. ...Why was she giving up? If this was the realest version of such things... then why was the Bringer of Love and Justice so down? Where was the hope? This stuff in her or whatever it was... how could she let it ruin her dreams? No... her passion. Even if she couldn't be a great heroine. She was stuck here anyway so...

"I'd like to. I'd... love to Seigi. That sounds cool beans. If I could hear the complete version of that legend and find a way. That's the hope I was looking for right here."

They stepped into a large carved out chamber. The floor and walls were metallic in nature. Large cracks and chunks of the strange material were littered about. Underneath was normal earth. A pedestal in the center held what might have been the Star Maiden. Except it was only to what looked like the bottom of boots. The rest of the statue was a pile of rubble completely unrecognizable. A massive statue of a angel or goddess was in the back. It was split down the middle and both sides were leaning on their single wing.

"If we went on adventures together back when this was still just a normal game. Before I knew.... before everything went wrong. Gee whiz it would have been fun. No, I have not logged out in months. I can't... I've tried. Something is keeping me here. Something wants me, I don't know how to explain it."

Seigi didn't seem afraid of Vermillion or roses at all. In fact it looked like it motivated her... boy, that was just like her. Magi let that enthusiasm flow over her just like it used too. It was that which helped motivate her to become Magi Heart in the first place... yeah. She would never have even played... no. She wouldn't bring that up. She couldn't be that cruel. She knew that Seigi would blame herself. If she truly died that many times...

Seigi can't be telling the truth. The more she talked the more Wendy's caring intuition kicked in. When someone died here, it was not a lite experience. Some people shrugged it off. Others could not. Not only that but... Magi now remembered what the light had given her... how serious all of this was. Tenebris... never remembered funny enough. It may have changed her mindset as well.

"Vermillion isn't fun to fight... none of this is fun. Everything is a lie. You died so many times. Are your really okay? Please tell me the truth."

She went on ahead and stood by the crumpled statue. Last time she did that. Eldhi appeared and... a lot of truth came to light. She needed to do the same.

"Thank you Raina-chan. I never had a lot of friends. You've been a great one. My best friend. You've given me back something I almost lost. My hope. How can I not have hope and just die here? How can anyone? I will NEVER not hope again. Even as...her. Raina, help me not spread love and justice but hope. We have to hope that this won't end bad. That there can be a happy ending, even if there can't be. Is that what the light was telling me? It was such a dark message..."

Raina needed to know what this really was about. Magi spun around and cried out what she had to tell Raina before anything else happened.

"T-This is a...!"

@Seigi

 

"So..." Seigi opened her mouth, thinking. Magi said she didn't need rescuing but. "You know something is wrong with you! So help me make it right. Let me assist you!" Was that so hard to understand? "Help me to help you!" Wendy wasn't thinking they'd just part ways after this again, did she?

As Wendy continued talking, this idea, this worry, that Seigi had just kept growing and growing. Not to mention her tired smile from earlier. Was this like a 'last goodbye' or something? Even now, after she seemed one way or another normal again, she hadn't really regained her will to fight, huh?

Just what really had happened to Magi Heart in all this time Seigi wasn't around for her? In fact, wasn't it Seigi herself who animated Wendy to try out the USB. To try out this game. Urgh... but the past was the past... .

Seigi took a good look at this... chamber-like place? It was kinda-out-of-place in comparison to everything else, with the bit of metal here and there. Though Wendy was right, the statue... two statues? Seemed destroyed. Heck, Seigi couldn't even compare their looks to the people who supported her in fighting the Dissonance!

But she could always take Magi to the others. Urgh, how was she even supposed to contact them? Maybe through Roland?

As Seigi kept thinking, concerned about what to do, Wendy however apparently regained part of her 'Guts'. It took a while, but she was now hopeful again? Yes. Love and Justice could come later if Wendy was willing to fight with her. They could surely beat this dumb Vermillion person and free Wendy from this apparent curse!

She wouldn't let that 'something inside Wendy' stand between their friendship. Never.

"T-This is a...!"
​

It was purely instinctively however as Seigi moved forward. Her bandaged hand covering Magi's mouth before she could speak any further. "Stop..." She whispered in a shaky voice.

She knew.

They both did. The signs had been there but...

"Tzch..." This was annoying. Complicated. She knew a possible truth she did not want to hear. To not confirm. For Hope would be an emotion even harder to maintain.

"Alright..." It also seemed out of place. For all Wendy knew Raina just died three-times inside a game ala no problem. Why would she make her stop speaking?

"You won..." If Wendy started trusting, hoping, with Raina, then she'd had to return the favor, no? Both were long enough friends anyways that Seigi could feel that Wendy didn't completely buy her pseudo-lie anyways.

Seigi never lied, sometimes, she'd just tell half-truths.

Taking a step back from her best friend now, the crimson-hair bowed. "I didn't lie but forgive me for leaving some things out." She could only hope this wouldn't make her best friend to revert to that 'other her'.

"Don't freak out, alright? I already dealt with it." She gave Wendy a wry smile. "Ever since that death I can't even remember, I have a certain craving for...alcohol, I guess. Kinda ironic, isn't it?" Raina did preach sometimes about how she hated it when some colleagues of her dad reeked after this stuff and acted funny. "But I'm a connoisseur! Not an addict. Totally-under-control. Drinking the same stuff too much is like bllueeeergh!" Seigi gave her a thumbs-up, genuine.

"Then, ever since the Goblin killed me, I have been hearing these voices. This whispers. At the back of my head. Always present. They... they promise me great power for..." How was she even supposed to explain this? The thought alone put a light, terrified expression on her face. "Doing something unthinkable. Hmpf. They're just waiting for my Willpower to crumble but GUESS WHAT, I'm a badass super-hero! I don't even know how to spell despair." A mocking smile directed more towards her conscious than Magi.

"And then... when I wrestled that Eldritch being..." Seigi now unwrapped part of her bandages to reveal the pitch-black skin under. Black wasn't even the correct color to describe it, as it was more like staring into a bottomless abyss. "This happened to my arms. BUT it's still a-okay touching it and all! Just... creepy, I guess?" Poor, naive, Seigi, if only she started starving more... . "Guess it gave me an intense tan, huh?" Another try to make it not look that bad.

"A-Anyways, every time I died, something changed inside me. But I dealt with it. Y'know, I went with the mindset of being immortal! It's kinda unsightly for a Hero to die over and over again BUT I won't turn my back on those that need aid either. I'm still good ol' Raina Raythean! Little defiant daughter of the Raythean Corporate! Hehe... I even showed that Sebastian just recently that he can screw off for real!" She had to get way stronger to not just die again.

With that out of the way, Seigi closed her eyes for a second. This wasn't even the main-point the red-hair tried to make. "Now... Here's the thing. Ever since I respawned after my third death, I can't access my UI anymore." Even now, Seigi didn't dare to spell the truth beyond, for it was something she didn't want to accept.

"Which means I haven't been able to log out for a while now! Just like you, crazy, right? BUT no need to worry. You see, you're currently in a coma in a hospital." The fact Wendy knew that Raina detested lies was reason enough to not doubt her about that. "And so should I" No lies, only half-truths.

With that out of the way. Seigi breathed in relief. "With that off my chest, I feel now even better to beat up that Vermthing and help you become awesomer again!" Maybe they should investigate the statue or something?

@Magi Heart

 

Seigi's hand over her mouth was enough. Scared yet knowing looks passed between the two one time dreamers. Now faced with a reality far more extreme than they ever imagined possible. Magi nodded and grabbed Seigi's hand listening to her as she told her her story. Seigi's story of repeated failures and grief.

"Y-You... can't leave either? Raina...!"

She trembled.To be a hero and do it right. Did they even still want to be such a thing?

Yes.

Magi could tell, Seigi was never going to give up. It just was not something she would do. All the distortions this game threw at her would not stop her. Magi, in all her grief had to remember that too. Even after hearing that she was in a coma like state. That her family was beside themselves. If she did want to leave, if she wanted to bring Seigi back and for them to take the experiences they gained here into a new life in their world. Then she had to not give up either. She pulled away and glanced down the hall they had come from. Her eyes gleamed strangely as she stayed focused on something.

"Every death brings more hurt. I've seen it. People changing after they come back to life. They don't always know why, but I know. I saw how scary death was. Even if you pretend it isn't bad... your heart will tell you in it's own way. Gee whiz Raina, you've been through so much too."

Magi was wiser now, more experienced, carrying the knowledge she had, the experience of a player, and the experience of being a monster that called mass murder saving people. Talk about being forced to grow up. Still, she knew that soon she'd be gone again. Yet she tried to promise otherwise.

"Raina, we have to just stick it out okay? No matter what happens. We need to leave this place together... I have hope that we can. We'll find a.... way to... make this.... right. I... promise."

The red eyed side of her face flinched as she grasped it. Her illusion fading and her black garbed self was once again out in the open. Her other hand rose to the side and the black obsidian bow, Gertrud materialized. She gripped it tightly as the pain, pain she was so accustomed to now ran through her. On her chest was a vine that was protruding forth. Her face was one of pain as she gritted her teeth and stared at the interloper to this long awaited reunion.

Trizzaldi the Tyrant Witch.

"TENEBRIS! YOU USELESS PEON! Why are you down here again? Overwatcher sent me to find you! Do you have any idea how much I HATE looking for trash like you?!"

​

@Seigi

 

Well, it seemed like Wendy had taken these news way better than Seigi expected. Or at the very least the Mahou Shoujo learned a thing or two about hiding how she truly felt. Or, maybe, she did some growing in the right direction?

It would be terrible for Seigi to assume that Wendy just grew to be more evil and edgy rather than some positive things, too.

The crimson-hair's smile didn't fade as her best friend encouraged herself, and Seigi, even more. A way to make it right. A way to leave this place. Though, to be honest, Seigi wouldn't hesitate to... No. They weren't even anywhere close to that yet. And even if it happened all the time in Anime, this wasn't an Anime! This was real.

Giving Wendy another thumbs-up, Seigi agreed.

"Together, we'll achieve our Happy E-"

The girl stopped mid-sentence as something was suddenly wrong with Magi and, not shortly after, an uninvited guest appeared.

Even if Seigi had never seen her before. It was pretty obvious she wasn't one of the good guys. Calling... Tenebris?... a useless peon and trash and all that! But who the hell was Tenebris? Either Wendy aka Magi Heart had somehow even a third name OR they got the wrong person. But the wrong person route was kinda anti-climatic, huh?

Maybe, just maybe, this was actually the Verm person?! Maybe she noticed through some weird magical connection how Magi was more-or-less normal again and... either way, it was obvious that this mean woman wasn't the friendly kind!

Positioning herself in a protective manner between the rude person and Magi, Seigi stared directly into Trizzaldi's eyes. Full of determination and a Spirit that showed her she wouldn't just back off. "Can't you see we're having some serious bonding time here, Headphones?! Read the mood!"

Headphones? Why was she wearing those anyways? They were in the future medieval-ages or something, no? "So how about YOU back off? And apologize to my friend for calling her trash, you villain!" Someone with a mean temper as this mean girl clearly wouldn't do it. BUT a hero had to try, no?

Worried, Seigi now addressed Wendy. Was she 'fighting it' again? Looked like it. "Remember, Wendy! Fight the stupid Edge! It's not cool succumbing to this lame stuff at all! I'm right here with you."

@Magi Heart

 

Trizzaldi was not someone who took being challenged very well. She was the greatest thing since sliced bread after all. Vermillion only ruled over her because she was busy improving he incredible magics on trips throughout the land!

The fact she called her Lady Verm was out of respect for someone who understood her power. Yes, exactly that.

Here was some sniveling, scrawny red head telling her to back off? From her and Lady Verm's minion? This insubordination was intolerable!

"....W-What? WHAT DID YOU SAY? Are you opposing me? The TYRANT WITCH?! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" This is hilarious! H-Head fonez? Is that the thing Tensai told me about? FOOL! This is my awesome head piece! WAY COOLER than your... arms that look like someone dumped ink on them! You.... Tenebris what the hell is wrong with you? Do you want to ANGER Lady Verm?"

Her yellow eyes began to glow with a golden hue as she glared menacingly at Tenebris from the entrance to chamber. She took a few steps before sweeping her cape over both of her shoulders and the flaring it out behind her. In her hand's was a long rod with a spiked circular end. Slamming the bottom onto the hard floor she placed her other hand to her hip.

"Come here NOW! I will be beating the crap out of this.. WEAK, IGNORANT, RED HEADED LOSER!"

A sneer appeared on her face.

"Lady Verm may have been interested in you, but I would rather put you in your place myself...."

"...Stop."

"What? ME...? Tenebr-"

"SHUT UP!"

Wendy's voice echoed throughout the chamber as she cut off Trizzaldi. Her hand remained on her face as she stood up straight and glared with her pink eye shaking with a fury that was completely unlike her.

"I .... hate that name. It means darkness. I hate darkness. I hate suffering, I hate grief, I hate despair, I hate... hate... HATE THEM!"

Blood seeped past her glove down her chin but she didn't seem to even notice or flinch.

"Don't call Raina those things! She's been through enough! She needs to be... helped, and... saved."

It was then that a a rose bud developed on the end of the vine on Magi's chest. Trizzaldi made a shocked look as a bead of sweat fell down her face. How was this even happening? Defying the Tyrant Witch meant defying the Crimson Overlord... and that hurt!

"What? F-Fine then! HAHAHAHAHA! You will pay for this betrayal! I will enjoy reporting this and watching the same fate befall you as it did Saber!"

Saber.? Saber?! Eldhi!.Magi's other friend. Her best friend in TS while Raina was her best outside... she would not lose them both.

"Raina... help me."

She released her eye and ignored the blood and pain. A pink and red stare went to Seigi as a arrow generated in her hand. It was a dark arrow, nothing like what Raina may have expected from her, or perhaps considering how she looked now. Very expected.

"I want to see what we can do.. for the Happy Ending."

A look of excitement was in her eyes as she shifted sideways and readied her arrow. It became difficult to know just who Seigi was about to fight alongside...

Magi?

Tenebris?

Regardless if she wanted to live she may not have a choice.

TRIZZALDI
(B O S S)
[THEME]

• ? ? ? ? HP
• Zone Chamber of the Unknown Hero

Conditions:
Magic Overflow: Magic Offense and Defense Up
Lightning Strike: All Physical Attacks carry Lightning Effects
Triz Cape: All Roll Results below 30 Are Evaded
Earth Blessing: Health Regen on Rocky Terrain

"YOU WILL BE SORRY FOR OPPOSING THE TYRANT WITCH!"
@Seigi
​