The Darkest Day

[Sai]

Sai nodded softly when Daphne finished speaking, and when she rested her head on his chest... he found himself closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around her...

Tha-thump...

The devil was that? Sai blinked a little, confused...

Tha-thump...

Glancing down, Sai put two and two together. While that sound was familiar... it wasn't his own. It belonged to the woman in his arms. It... was strangely soothing, like being enveloped in warmth and being told it was going to be okay after a long, trying day... "Of course I will..." he reassured her softly...

Tha-thump...

Sai shook his head a little. He had to focus. He didn't want to hurt this woman, because the one thing he wanted to give her... he did not possess. The music was mercifully reaching an end, and he would slowly let her go. Looking into her eyes one last moment, he took a step back and clapped politely to her for her part.

A firm nod would remind her that they needed to focus on the coming storm. He would bow softly, then sink backward into the crowd, pulling his hat off to avoid standing out. Amidst the shadows of people bustling this way and that... Sai would simply disappear...

*returning to the opera house*

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail blinked when she heard music, and looked up a little. "Oh! Miss Bea must have gotten someone to play! How nice!" she giggled softly. With a sigh, she swayed softly to the music, enjoying it a little, though it did make her a little sad. Yes, she was proud of herself. No, she didn't doubt herself any more... but she felt... strangely lonely. She could picture people dancing with lovely partners, but when she thought of herself... it was odd how she saw herself alone while the one she wanted to dance with was off with Bea somewhere...

Then she heard Beatrix's voice and she jumped a little. She gasped and held a hand over her heart, sighing a little with a smile. "Oh! Beatrix! Sorry, I just needed a moment-"

And then Agrias showed up just behind her. This pretty much reaffirmed that they were together... but Abigail put a brave face on and simply giggled. "No-no! I'm fine! I just needed a moment away from the crowd, is all! It got very hectic and I couldn't keep track of everything. Just uhm... reorganizing my thoughts is all."

She smiled softly, then looked to the two with a curious expression. "Shouldn't you two be enjoying the party?" she said, holding her hands in front of herself. Her head tilted cutely. "Or was there something you needed to ask me?"

[Lilith]

Lilith woke to unfamiliar surroundings, her hands went to her holsters instinctively only to find her pistols weren't there.

she took a deep breath as she sat up, she rubbed her eyes as they focused, she looked around the room and found herself in a medical room, she eyed her pistols grabbed them and left as fast as she could.

she ran into the foyer and found no one.
"typical, they leave me behind... this is becoming an all to regular occurrence."

Lilith left through the castle doors and it wasn't hard to hear the festivities... or maybe that was just her...
but something was off the air felt... different.

she didn't like it.

the vampire ran towards the noise in the distance.

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]"Actually, Miss Abigail, I came looking for you to see how you were; I hadn't seen you since the story-telling. Oh, Abigail..."

She leaned up against the wall beside the White Mage and put a hand on her head. "Methinks...you are missing something. What do you think, Lady Agrias? Perhaps...Miss Abigail, is it that you wish to study with this Teddy Tutor of yours? Is that what has been nibbling at you for such a while? Because...well, Agrias, what do you think?"

She scratched her head before moving on. "Personally...we'll be busy setting up the castle fortifications and replenishing our military before we set out against Maleficent and her crew. If you were to train with this person, then perhaps what you learn from it can be hugely important for our cause. Look, I will not make your decision, and neither will Lady Agrias, but don't throw your chances of growing more powerful away simply out of...well, matters of your breaking heart."

She moved in and hugged the White Mage. "Perhaps when you return we shall take an actual vacation, simply the three of us, once this is all over, hm? Anyway...think of your options. Agrias? What say you?"[/glow]

[Agrias Oaks]

The knight sighed, thinking of what Beatrix was saying, and leaned in opposite side to Abigail, since the general took the other. She rested a finger under her chin in thought, before speaking, "This Teddy Bear sought ye' out, Lady Abigail, and mayhaps 'tis for the pure heart bestowed upon you by Cosmos." she smiled, turning her head to give her a sweet look, "Mayhaps sees the same potential as Beatrix and myself see upon you at being a great mage, still..."

Agrias folded her arms in front of her, "We know naught of this Teddy Bear's intentions... if to make ye' stronger for either good, or for its own mischievous causes... things must be taken into consideration. Alas, Lady Beatrix and myself have never seen the Teddy Bear, or spoken to it... in the end, 'tis your decision to trust or naught this new creature, but know this..."

She smiled to her, when seeing Beatrix hug her, she stood straight up, and went to hug her as well... a group hug of the sisters, "We will support your decisions, Abigail." she smirked a little, winking to the mage, " Be warned, though, lest this little critter lay a hand upon you, or hurts you in any way, I will put the teddy to The Question, and Lady Beatrix shall show it no mercy, am I right Lady Beatrix?" she chuckled.

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail was a little surprised when Beatrix spoke of breaking hearts. She felt a little shy about the fact that the woman could read her so well, but smiled despite herself. Then, she was being hugged! She blinked, but smiled and hugged back. First Beatrix then Agrias. She giggled a bit then nodded.

"I think I've made my decision..." she said, giggling softly when Agrias spoke of striking out against the teddy bear should she be unkind. She reached under her dress to produce the crystal from her hidden satchel. She held it in front of her and smiled a bit.

"I'm going to do it. I want to be stronger still..." she looked between the two of them before hugging them both at once. She took a step back, then threw the crystal down, shattering it as she was instructed to do to summon Shantoto!

[Lilith]

the vampire hugged the shadows staying out off sight.
her ears perked up, she tried to filter out all the background noise but there was just so much. the lights and smells blared, the vampire was disorientated.
"I hate parties"

Lilith slid through the shadows and found a quiet dark spot to sit and listen.
she brought a hand up to her face and dragged it down stretching her skin.
"and the isolation returns..."

[nexus]

Nexus turned himself sideways on top of Airinose to see Lilith running out the front of the castle.

Thinking Lilith was running to catch up with everyone else, he had the dragon lean down a bit so that her wing wasn't in the way of another rider.

Nexus extended his hand out to Lilith "You look like your in a hurry, could we offer you a ride?" he asked while Airinose puffed out a bit of smoke from her mouth.

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]"Excellent news!" she declared, watching as the White Mage threw down the pretty crystal handed to her by the enchanted Teddy Bear.

"I am positive, Miss Abigail, that you will not regret your endeavors, and mayhaps you'll come back to us even greater."

Nodding, she watched the mist spring forth from the broken gemstone and, with her Sisters, eagerly awaited the arrival of Shantotto, as well as the departure of one road block in her path.[/glow]

[Agrias Oaks]

The knight watched as the mage tossed the crystal down, wondering what was to come from this... was this going to be like the appearance of the Lucavi? All sparkles and bright lights before seeing something hideous?

She looked suspiciously, backing a safe distance, and resting a hand on the hilt of her blade...just in case.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]As said ... A purplish warp rift would open before the shattered magicite. Once again out came the short stature tarutaru, although this time her Cardian would follow.

Upon stepping through the rift her Cardian would roll fourth to protect Shantotto. "*De%^f#En$d%Do@$mIn&*a%Sh*#anT#oTt%o" Was all the contraption would say before smashing a hole in the ground with his staff. "O~hohohoho Such a wonderful servant these Cardians are, but these three are nothing to fear." She would tap a system on the Cardian to have it retreat to her back and stand at ease. "I see the magicite you have destroyed, you have made the decision to enter my void?" As she spoke she picked up a small spherical gem from the shattered glass. It was a translucent milky white pearl, with a perfect spherical shape. "Only you can follow through, as for you ..." turning to the other two standing near, "...you're presence with us in no longer needed, for the Shantotto empire shall shine forever more, if it's not to your taste than I'll show you the door."[/glow]

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail gasped at the strange other thing with Shantoto, feeling a tad threatened. However, when she made it back down, she released a sigh of relief. Knealing down, she nodded to the much shorter woman, her hands in her lap. "Yes, I've reached a decision. You said you could teach me to be a better mage... well... I think I'm ready."

Abigail looked up to her companions, smiling a little shyly. She hoped for a little support before she would go with this new friend of hers. She looked again to the Tarutaru and giggled a bit sheepishly. "I'm afraid I don't even know your name..." she said softly.

Standing up, she set a determined look on her face. She looked to the others and waved once. "I'll be back soon... I promise..." she said before anything else happened....

[Agrias Oaks]

Agrias winced a little when the figure took form, and was slightly alert at the Cardinal's action, but relaxed when it was called off.

She looked again to the Tarutaru , reaching the height of her knees-- was a small creature! She gasped a little, bending down slightly to try and see it eye to eye, "... what a strange-- it looks like a stuffed animal... I never thought it would literally look like one!" her eyes widened, standing up to look to Abigail, feeling slightly worried to let her go with this rather pompous being.

"Please, take care of our Sister of Light Abigail. Or know, that if anything should ail her, we shall personally come after ye' with hellish fury. Thank ye." she spoke to the midget.

She still made a strong, confident expression before the knight set eyes on the mage, "Thoust will do wondrous, Lady Abigail! Best of luck on your studies!" she gave her a light bow, and a sweet smile like always, "Thoust can do it!"

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix stepped away from the wall and semi-circled around Abby for a moment, folding her arms together and suddenly feeling--for reasons unbeknownst to her--uncomfortable with the situation.

"Lady Abigail," she said softly, a forlorn expression on her face. "Take care, and you...Teddy of the Shantotto Empire, you will honor this White Mage with the best protection you offer, else you'll be receiving a visit from my blade. Is that understood?"

Motherly. That is how she felt right now. Extending an arm she grabbed Abigail's shoulder and pulled her in for a tight embrace. "Good luck and we hope to see you again soon."

She backed away and folded her arms together once more, taking her place back against the brick wall. She stared at Shantotto with a suspicious eye and narrowed on her.

"Heed my words, Teddy Mage."[/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto stared at Agrias and Beatrix as they both talked to her in such a condescending manner. "O~hohohoh try as might through blood and sweat to the very last drip, this tarutaru you shall never hit. Calm temperament I may appear to be, if pushed over the edge, it will be red I see ... so death by cane! or death by curse! it will be for you to decide which one is worse! O~hohohohohohoh." Shantotto would then turn to her young ignorant apprentice. "As for you our journey is long but short trifle gift, you will end at my castle within this rift!" Shantotto began to cast and shout "Warp II" and a purplish vortex would engulf Abigail sending her to a secret room within Castle Oblivion.

"I turn to you know Agrias, this is a scroll that I had made which will transcend ones sell only a moment to my study. Use it wisely for you will only get one with my gracious generosity." Shantotto would toss a scroll of a strange parchment to Agrias and turn to her Cardian. "Now off we go to have some fun ...." Another rift would open and Shantotto would walk through with her Cardian follow after. All that could be left in the distance was her infamous laugh "O~ohohohoho"

*Off too Castle Oblivion > Shantotto's Study*[/glow]