4-14 Two-Faced Village

Calm, Relaxing, Collective, Reminiscing, Reprising

A peaceful village with friendly inhabitants, there are children abundant and houses look more like huts, it seems to be an old age village but the children all seem to be in rags, as soon as you enter they surround you with curious eyes, they seem to be blurry at first glance making this area just like all the others. A shrine can be seen in the distance, a trail of gravel and rocks leads to a flight of marble stairs before it. The statue in the middle of the shrine is gigantic and seems to be watching over the village.

Everyone in the current party arrives in the zone, and are immediately swarmed with happy children.

Travis looks around and feels a bit uncomfortable by the show of children, trying to put on a smile for something he know couldn't possibly be there

"Certainly not used to this kind of welcoming party."

Sirocco flips in and immediately feels tense...

"... This ominous aura... Just like when I fought the past with Travis..."

Sirocco smiles watching the young children having fun...

Bey skips in and freezes, not used to being swamped with attention from so many people at once. "U-uh.. guys? What the heck..?"

"Ch-Children? You are all still alive!? Oh thank the gods!" She proceeds to hug the girl gripping her shoulder in a motherly embrace. "It is you...I am so happy to see you alive~!"

Sirocco smiles and looks at how happy she is... Then immediately realizes the imminent danger...

"Travis... Bey... Prepare for the worst..."

She spots Tsuzune, who is (happily) being mobbed by children as well. "Wait they don't have...? They're not..?" She looks at her paws, and then at the children, then to her paws again. 

"Prepare for the worst? I don't understand.. She looks happy but.. I'm really lost!" Her tail finds its way between her legs as she backs away a little.

Travis looks around soon noticing the statue that looms over the village, then inspecting and recalling bits from his memory while readying his launcher

"I think he means prepare to fight and i'm sure that he's not far off from that assumption. Everything about this place seems wrong."

The blonde girl talks to her in a concerned voice. "Mommy you were gone so long...I thought the wolves had got you..."

"There there child, I am here now, I would never let any wolves end my life, then how would I take care of you all~?"

They stand there nuzzling each other for a minute.

"Let us be getting back to the shrine shall we~" She looks over at the others. "Since you all are in this world, why not have a look at the shrine~"

This warm feeling... Watching these children... That blonde girl... She reminds me of...

Sirocco shakes his head and starts walking towards the crowd of children...

"Is this a dream? Is this real? ..... I really hope it is..."

"W-Wrong..? I guess so." She notes the odd feeling swirling around in her chest. Danger, a new feeling she had not had the chance to feel before. Her ears splay as she grits her teeth and follows Sirrocco cautiously.

She turns to look at Sirocco with a huge smile on her face. "Sirocco can you believe it? The children are all alive and well, we can live here together! And Bey you can play with the children instead of being alone in the other world! Children, let us celebrate at the shrine~"


"Mommy...you were gone...for so long...I, I never want you to leave again..."


"Do not fret child, I shall never leave you again, I swear it..." She looks over to Sirocco. "Will you live with me, hear at the shrine my love?"

Sirocco looks at her solemnly and frowns... He walks up and holds her hand...

"Tsuzu... This isn't real... It's a mirage, we must leave before... bad things happen..."

He looks at the little girl with blonde hair and cringes...

She pouts a little, obviously used to being mistaken for a child, but decides to leave that for another time. Her ears flick up at the word 'Mommy'. This sounded like what Tsuzune had told her; about the children in the shrine she cared for. She puts her paw on one of the children to test what Sirrocco said.. only to find that they were... real? No, they were touchable but not real. They gave off an odd vibe.

"I'm not alone, Tsuzune. I have everyone. I- I think we should head back.. these kids are kinda freaking me out." She pushes the kid she had her paw on away from her with a scowl.

"No do yo not see? The children, they are my children!" She grips his hand tightly and pulls him towards the shrine.

"Mommy you're not leaving us again are you...?"

"No child I would never dream of it~" She gives her a quick hug and a kiss on the head of reassurance and guides them all to the shrine.

The child that Bey pushed away comes back and attaches himself to her leg, another child hops on Sirocco's shoulder. "Hey mister, are you gonna be our daddy!?" He says curiously after seeing them hold hands.

"Of course we were not alone, but here we can truly enjoy peace, why do you all reject it so?"

"H-hey what the-!?" She wiggles, shaking the child off her leg. "Tsuzune wait! Rgh.." The 'Mommy' thing was throwing her off.. along with the child that kept attaching itself to her leg. "Give it up, will you?" She pushes it back again and hurries after Tsuzune. 

"Tsuzune listen, this place is really freaky. I don't think there's any sort of 'peace' here! Not with these-" the child once again finds its way on her leg again "these kids! AGH! Quit it!!" She shakes it off and wraps her tail around her leg this time to protect it.

He looks down and frowns... She's so happy here...

"Tsuzune, this is an illusion, please! We must go back!"

She ignores Sirocco and grips his hand tightly in one hand, and the blonde girl's in the other. As they approach the shrine gates the area around them starts to morph, the scene becomes much darker and the children disappear one by one, leaving only the blonde girl there, in front of them lies the shrine, still standing but dark and eerie, like something horrible could happen at any moment.

"What...what in goddess' name is this!? What happened!? Where did the children go!?" Her eyes widen and she starts to panic. "Child, what is going on!?"


"Mommy I'm scared...can we go back...I don't like it here..."


"Do not worry child, I shall never let anything harm you." She looks over to Sirocco. "Will you stay with me here, to face this darkness?"

"... I'll fight it, but then we must go back... Tsuzune, this is a flashback... The veil of death... The black knight approaches... Please promise me you'll stay protected..."

Sirocco sets up his shield spell in case of an attack

"... Tsuzu... Forgive me for shattering this dream... Bey! Get ready... It's going to happen really soon."

The feeling in her chest grows stronger.. "Tsuzune!" She watches as the children disappear around her, all but one. She stares at the tall and looming shrine. Darkness ebbs out of every corner in the area, and her tail once again finds its way between her legs. 

She swallows her fear and approaches the blond child, placing her paw on its head. She looks at Tsuzune, and then to the child, squinting. "I don't think things are as they seem." She vaguely remembers hearing Tsuzune say something about a knight.. Sirrocco's words only confirm this.  She backs away, preparing herself for whatever is to come.

Suddenly I gigantic menacing armored arm comes out of nowhere and grabs the child by her hair and pulls her away into the darkness.

"MOMMY HELP! MOMMY!"


"NO, GIVE HER BACK, I KNOW IT IS YOU, DARK KNIGHT VASHTOR, SHOW YOURSELF!" She yells, distraught and enraged.

"So the weak maiden has returned to meet her end again, once again you have failed to protect this village, and you have failed to protect the ones you love!" A powerful shockwave destroys the shrine and sets it ablaze, revealing the bodies of the slaughtered children in a horrific scene.


"No...NOOOOOOOOOO, STOP THIS!" She breaks out in tears and the figure presents himself before her, holding the child by her hair as she struggles to break his grip.



"Mommy I don't want to die! Please help!"

"Aurora!!! Tsuzune!!!"

...Sirocco jumps next to her and holds his blade ready with a growl...

"E-Eeep!" She stumbles over on her bottom, not expecting anything of the sort. She cowers in fear, unsure of what to do. The Knight exudes a violent presence, freezing her for the moment. "T-Tsuzune..!" 

The child squirms in the Knight's grip. She stares on in fear... and then stands, moving next to Sirrocco. 'Alright.. I don't think this will work but...' 


Suddenly she pulls out her Viola and chucks it at the Knight. "Drop the kid!" She growls, baring her teeth.

Vashtor takes the Viola and crushes it in his grip. "What measly attempt is this?"


"VASHTOR, LET HER GO!" She pulls her chakram of light out. "I HAVE PREPARED MYSELF FOR THIS DAY, THE DAY I WILL DEFEAT YOU!"


Dark Knight Vashtor: 50,000/50,000
Vericade(weapon): 250(2)
Dark
Attacks hit all party members
Pro: -5


"You are all so weak and pathetic, if you wish to fight I shall not mind giving you all an untimely end!" He tosses the girl to the side, knocking her unconscious and reveals a very large claymore with a dark aura emanating from it. "You failed once and you shall fail again like the weak maiden you are!"


"No...you are wrong...I have been preparing myself since that day for the chance that I may meet you again, I shall defeat you even if I must die in the process!"


"Mommy...Daddy...I...believe in you..."

Heh, now that's the Tsuzune I know... I can't falter... I will end this battle...

"Engarde demon! You'll win when you remove your dark blade from my heart... Too bad that won't happen!"

"..!" She watches in horror as her viola is crushed. Her eyes turn dark as she grips the remaining part of her viola: the bow. She looks to Tsuzune "Tsu, don't worry. We got this guy. He's not going to hurt anyone or anything ever again once we're done with him!" 

"You're going down, buddy." She launches herself at him, swinging the bow wildly.

Dark Knight Vashtor: 50,000/50,000
Vericade(weapon): 250(2)
Dark
Attacks hit all party members
Pro: -5

Tsuzune: 365/365
103/207/385(437 if first)LIGHT
MP: 77/77 +1 a turn
Dark-base

"DARK KNIGHT VASHTOR, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE THE DAY I FIRST SAW YOU, NOW DIE!" She lunges at the knight with bloodlust in her eyes, slashing at him with a [Flurry] of merciless slashes. "DIE DIE DIE DIE!"

The member 'Tsuzune Suikage' has done the following action : Roll Die

'Attack Dice (-2)' : 14, 18, 3, 3, 17

"Is that all you can muster, weak maiden of the shrine? His blade glows and even more evil aura!

Dark Knight Vashtor: 44,114/50,000
Vericade(weapon): 250(2)
Dark
Attacks hit all party members
Pro: -5

Every Turn: [Dark Purge] Removes any reflect/absorb/damage prevention buffs

This isn't good... Just need a little time!

"TSUZUNE!!"

Sirocco jumps in front of Tsuzune holding his sword up in an attempt to parry - "return"

She flies back, hitting a nearby tree. "Ngh.. w-why did I.." She remains there, unable to move. "Tsuzune.." She struggles to speak. Pain flows through her body freely and her vision falters. "You gotta get him. M-mo.." 

She slumps over, lifeless, unconscious for the moment.

The knight cuts Sirocco down and shockwaves Bey into the distance, pointing his sword at Tsuzune for his next attack. "Your foolish comardes are slain, is this all you have to offer, pathetic shrine maiden?


"No...No this can not be...all the preparations for this day..." She takes Sirocco's bloody body in her arms. "Sirocco! Please do not leave me! I...I can not face him alone!"


The knight laughs in the background as she approaches her slowly.

... It's... Getting dark........

"Tsuzune...... This... Is not your fault....... Just run...... Promise me.... You live...."

....... Ha...... I still wanted one more cigarette.... *closes his eyes*

(Unconscious)

Inverted and twisted visions dance across her eyelids. She tries to come back, only to be met with more vivid visions. She can feel her self moving... but in what direction? Slowly she mouths "Mom.." as she crawls in Tsuzune's general direction. Her words are getting louder and louder as she crawls; soon they become frightened screams. 

She manages to move herself somewhere near Tsuzune but lacks the strength to move anymore. She slumps over, whimpering.

'No one... touches.. my mom..'

"Sirocco!? SIROCCOOOOOOOOOO!? DO NOT LEAVE ME!" Suddenly the knight pierces her chest with the claymore. "B...Bey...I..."

"Cease your pointless chatter and die."


"S...Sirocco...please...wake up..." She coughs a bit of blood on his shirt.

"...... Tsuzune...... I'm so glad.... I met you...... Thank you...... For giving a sinner like me..... One more chance to be happy......."

*his body slumps into her arms*

She stands, slowly and carefully, wobbling. Her vision is incredibly blurry. She hobbles over to the Knight and attaches herself to him. "L-leave... her alone" her wheezing peppers her speech. "She may be crazy.. and does stupid things... but she's.. like my mom.." She weakly hits him with her fists. "Mom's.. the best there is.. better.. than the real thing..! So leave.. her alone!!"

She slides down a little, eyes half open half closed.

"Girl, she is no mother, she could not even protect you, or anyone!" She slices down her chest with his claymore and throws her beside the two.


"Sirocco...Bey" She sets Sirocco's body on the ground gently and barely manages to stand up. "You dare to take everything I hold dear away from me again?! I SHALL NOT HAVE IT!" 


"GODDESS, GRANT ME THE STRENGTH TO VANQUISH THIS EVIL, AND AVENGE MY LOVED ONES!"



"ETERNAL DIVINITY!"


Her kimono shines a holy aura and grows, becoming too large for her but she floats in the air, glaring at the the knight with glowing eyes. At the end of the transformation she grows 6 large angel wings, holy feathers slowly falling off.


"What the hell...why are you not dead!? TIS TOO LATE TO SAVE YOUR LOVED ONES!"


"Tis you who shall pay this day, for what you have done to the children, what you have done to my loved ones, what you have done to this world, you shall be vanquished this day, Dark Knight Vashtor!"


She becomes invincible for two turns and has 50% extra tech damage.

"NOW PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"

The member 'Tsuzune Suikage' has done the following action : Roll Die

'Status Effect Lvl4' :

... Heh... What a great idea... *he opens his eyes and rests on his left knee....*

"Tsu...zu...."

*casts competence giving Tsuzune +53 GUL and SP.*

A brilliant white light shines, rising slowly in the sky. To her it is just a floating orb of light. She rubs her eyes, now noticing that it is Tsuzune, engulfed in a bright light.. and with wings! She watches (with slightly blurry vision) send flurries of light toward the Knight. 

"T-Tsuzune..!" She manages to sit up, too weak at this point to do much else. 'Whoa, lots of light..!' 


"You can do it.. I know you can!"

"Sir-Sirocco!? Thank you...I shall end this now, once and for all, now perish dark knight!"


She mercilessly launches orbs of light at the dark knight.


"THIS IS FOR ALL MY LOVED ONES YOU HAVE SLAUGHTERED!"

The member 'Tsuzune Suikage' has done the following action : Roll Die

'Status Effect Lvl4' :

"NOT YET, NOT YET!"


She continues barraging the knight with orbs of light!