Time's Hall

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Time's Hall. A octagon shaped intersection of doors that intertwines Castle Oblivion's rooms. Among one of these, Shantotto's Study.

A purple and green rift had opened in the center of the room. Within this room's center, an orb similar to the orb in Rift of Time it to could be used to see into the worlds. Out stepped from this rift Shantotto and Terra. "O~hoho what a mess you have all made..." Was all the taru said before walking over to the orb.

Shantotto pulled a stool that was within the room to the stand, that had a single clear orb floating on top. She climbed the stool and began flipping through images of Cornelia's, My Kingdom for a Horse.[/glow]

[terra]

Terra walked out of the rift rubbing her elbow in a bit of nervousness. Her stomach had settled for now, but still she looked around , just in case. she surveyed the room staring at the books and the strange objects hanging, and just ....floating in midair.

She was worried about Edgar and the others that were left behind while she came here. "I'm sorry but I've forgotten your name, and could you tell me whats going on in that castle that we left?" she asked the teddy bear as she followed it to the middle of the room and looked over her shoulder into the orb as well.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Looking though the images hordes of Heartless were still swarming. As she scanned through she noticed Ultimecia was a bit flustered at the fact Shantotto left the Heartless there to run amok.

"Hmm." Shantotto sighed. Not a moment later an outburst came forth. "Ohohoho O~hohohohohohoho! While introductions are utterly unnecessary on my part, I shall do so out of courtesy and goodness of my heart. I am your new professor Domina Shantotto, this is my name and my occupation is thus; The first and eternal empress of the Shantotto Empire; in effect, it's sturdy truss. Terra you will stay here as your told, disobey this order and my power shall you experience 100 fold!"

Once her words were spoke she pointed to a seat across from her stool. "There you can seat and watch fight unfold, my unparalleled might you shall behold! O~hohohoho" Shantotto climbed down from her stool. She walked to Terra and began to poke her over to the chair. "Such a feeble mage I've seen thus far, to tough you up is my plan thus far. Off I must go, and clean this mess from head to toe."

With this, Shantotto opened her warp rift, the purple colors flashed about the room in a dazzling display. She stepped through taking one of her Cardians that had been sitting to the corner of the room. Off to Cornelia's, My Kingdom for a Horse to finish this attack on those who challenged such immaculte power!

*Off to Cornelia > My Kingdom for a Horse*[/glow]

[terra]

Terra sat in the chair that Shantotto had poked her into. She stared at the orb watching all that was commencing back where Edgar was. She pulled out another vial and drank the contents while picking at a tray of food sitting next to her chair.

Within minutes the tray was empty, and so was the glass sitting next to it. Her stomach had settled back to normal and now that she had gotten some food in her she felt a lot better. She looked into a nearby mirror and noticed that she had more color in her cheeks then before. Terra leaned back into the chair and decided to get a little nap while she waited on the little teddy bear.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]A purple light began to flood Time's Hall. Shantotto stepping from her rift still laughing at the minor amusement. That however, soon faded upon seeing her future student napping!

"O~hoho what is this! A student of mine sleeping at ease!? You had better wake up, less you see need to feel my freeze!" As she spoke she quickly turn to her staff and waked the sleeping Terra over the head!

She stood arms crossed, head tilted and in a very frustrated mood. Waiting for Terra to come around.[/glow]

[terra]

Terra stirred a bit and rubbed he head. She looked down at the teddy bear. She yawned a bit before straightening herself in the chair. "Ah Shatato i see that your back." she said while rubbing an eye with her hand" I trust my friend Edgar is well now?" she asked before picking up what little was left on the tray of food beside her. "So, just what is it that you need of me, i mean what is it that I should be doing?" Terra was still unsure of this little ones intentions but in the meantime she decided that she was strong enough to be around. Terra noticed that she was being hunted by these things, and she didn't want to put anyone in danger.

[ultimecia]

[glow=purple,2,800]"What you are to be doing..." echoed the sultry voice of a woman around them, before a ripple of purple mist began to form just several feet away, the voice now coming from the female figure stepping out of it, "Is going back to your friends."

Shantotto could see Ultimecia was rather angry that Terra was here, even though her expression was of a calm woman. Her wings would flex a certain way before relaxing to her sides. She looked down upon Terra's stomach and her eyes narrowed, looking up again into the green haired woman's eyes, " This is no place for expectant mothers. Begone." and with a flick of the wrist, a warp opened around Terra and swallowed her up to take her back to one of the now safe hallways of Cornelia Castle, near the Judge, the King, and Her. Right on time, since they were about to look for her.

** Time Warps Terra to Cornelia Castle, My Kingdom for a Horse**

Slowly but surely, she turned to look to Shantotto with a look of displeasure before speaking, "You are not to involve that woman in your plans until that child is born..." Her eyes seemed to glow a serious and menacing gold, "If bringing her here has jeopardized the child in any way... you will not hear the end of this!"

It was strange, something about Ultimecia seemed almost frightened at this subject. The witch shook her head a little, starring at the Taru with that calm expression of hers once again, "This place, to an unborn child, can either speed up the process, or reverse it... and its time needs to be--... " she paused, "--let us just say... It is very important to me, Shantotto, that the child is born healthy... and as time planned. She cannot be born too soon, if anything."

Ultimecia turned in place, and began walking, assuming the midget would follow, " You noticed what only mere hours did for that mage you were training... let us hope... this little mishap did not ruin this particular time line." she spoke softly now, "This is... the only chance I have, and there cannot be any mistakes... is that clear?"[/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto's eyes widened. She jumped back a bit shocked at the fact Ultimecia had just come from now where, and warped her student back to those plebeians. She became infuriated that her student was no longer about, and turned her attention to Ultimecia. "How dare you take MY student from my intellectual place of study! Watch your hand Ultimecia, or your plans I shall muddy!"

She stood there pointing at the time witch, knowing far to well how much of a upper hand she had to Ultimecias plans. "My plans will come to flourish in all due time, until that child is born, Terra's will is to be mine O~hohoho!" She spoke in such a demeaning and arrogant tone, it was clear Ultimecia was becoming more and more infuriated.

As she began to relax a little, she put her little taru hand to her chin out of curiosity. She walked past Ultimecia's side, and in a sly fashion had plucked a feather. She examined it as she walked to the orb in the room. It was seemingly lackluster in color and shine than usual. This gave Shantotto a big grin. Which could only mean ideas and theories were beginning to form within her tarutaru head. Waving Ultimecia away, "O~hohoho Don't worry the child will be at ease. Now, I have work to do so move along and take your leave!"[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=purple,2,800]Ultimecia stood in place, her back turned to the small creature as she continued on her supposed teacher's fit. What a child; how a simple flick of the wrist would anger the Tarutaru, taking something that she wanted, but did not belong to her. The witch sighed, her breaths quiet through the silence of the hallways.

"Ouch." she would merely state, her body twitching at the sudden pluck at her wings. Her eyes darted, following Shantotto, seeing her run away with one of her feathers to examine it, and began to threaten her, the GUARDIAN of time itself!

"Child, know your place." She spoke in a condescending tone now, walking forward to be next to the minuscule being. Her head would tilt slightly, chin up, but her eyes would angle down, a soft, yet menacing gold glow seeming to look into the midget's very soul, " I, for now, am more powerful than you."

For once, Ultimecia believed they had share more than just a paragraph to one another. How long has it been since they had these sorts of long conversation? This was a serious conversation, and perhaps the old, yet beautiful woman, looking no older than 26, was just nervous.

"Threaten me, or my plans... and I'll reverse time on your head-- you will lose all knowledge of which has brought you this far. Many freedoms I have granted..." she made a pause, her wings wrapping around herself, she looked exhausted, " ... all I ask, is for this one request. No threats ... no blackmails."

The witch of time closed her eyes, and opened them to reveal they had softened towards Shantotto, her voice calmer seeming almost pleading when she whispered the next word, "please...?" [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto still standing with the feather in hand, stood straight upon her stool. "O~hohoho you are such a tease! Conversations of times past your vocabulary was void of please." She stood still for a moment, she whispered something to herself. Her left hand extended with feather in place. She simply turned it over and the feather fell, eventually disappearing into nothing.

Something felt heavy to Shantotto. She was still unaware of what Ultimecia's plan was with this child. However, even Shantotto, Ultimecia's rival, she had to carry out the favor that was asked. Such a plea from Ultimecia said more to her than anything the halls which they had spent so much time could give her. "Terra will remain under watchful eyes so long as I remain alive. If the child is to transcend to your hand, it is Terra that I shall command." She spoke this with a direct and unwaivering tone.

Turning to Utimecia, she looked within her eyes. Her arms crossed, and foot tapping on the stool pondering what her plan was for this child. After a few moments she began to descend the stool. She had walked a few steps over to face Ultimecia stopping but a foot away. She looked up at the Witch of Time, "Your plan ...?" was all she would say with her arms crossed staring at Ultimecia.[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=purple,2,800]A sigh of wanted relief left the woman to relax, her wings stretching back before falling to either of her sides. She watched the Taru ponder and ponder away, possibly speculating and rising theories to the Witch's plan. Ultimecia felt a bit frightened at this, to see someone pay note to this frigid form of the almighty time guardian. To the untrained eye, she would seem undisturbed, secure and calm, but to someone like Shantotto, there was much fear there... hidden behind that mysterious gaze.

She looked down upon the curious midget, after she asked of her intentions, and who was she to deny the inevitable truth?

Ultimecia blinked once, and opened her eyes to look away, the ornaments dangling from her horn-like hairstyle singing in chimes that calmed the soul. She opened her lips at first, but no sound would come from then, until she took a break and with heavy heart, she spoke, " I am a dying, Shantotto..." the witch swallowed here, preventing eye contact at first, trying to collect her thoughts before looking down upon the Taru, " This... -- all of this that I am doing... will be my final performance in this life, for time and myself... and I only have one chance for it to succeed."

Her eyes, those golden coins had gotten rather misty with her little speech, and she would close her eyes and a single stream of tears went down them; one in each.

"To live so long... only to have this one chance... do you now understand why this child must be kept safe?" She looked serious now, or at least trying to put her frights aside, "... that which forms within Terra... the soul it waits for is mine to spring to life. If it is born too early... before I die, it will be still born."

She paused, " My powers are being transfered to a substitute in case that happens..." she whispered, " A part of my old past has resurrected to take my place. Time will continue to have a Guardian, in case something goes wrong... and I am nothing but a memory." she smiled a bit weakly here, "... She will know what to do... when the time comes. She will know all." [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]"I am a dying, Shantotto..."

When Shantotto heard this, her eyes had widened vastly. In her mind she thought of how if Ultimecia would be out of the picture. She would be free to control and transcend her plight to it's peak! Once accomplished she could ... her thoughts suddenly stopped as quick as they began. After a moment the taru still in her daze, let her eyes grow weary with slight disapproving look. If Ultimecia would happen to vanish and her plight take it's place, what fun would there be after? She would indeed be the most intellectual and unmatched mage in any world. Her fun would be ruined, even if her powers were transferred, they would be unrefined and lack control, hardly a match for Shantotto.

Shantotto suddenly drop her hands to her hips, tilted her head to the side and began to tap her foot. "What of this Jenova substitute? I see no reason for such a plebeian to be used unless this form volute?" She stood still pondering of an answer to this equation of sorts.

After a moment she turn fourty five degrees to her left and pointed at Ultimecia."HA!"she said with a grin from ear to ear, "Reincarnation! Your plans are as I thought! Though if this is to flourish, your plans must not be known for aught!"[/glow]

[ultimecia]

[glow=purple,2,800]The witch stood silently for a while, her worries leaving her. Having said the future to a fellow mage such as Shantotto was lifting to the guardian's spirit. She watched the Taru still, as she tried to make sense of her entire plan, and that is when Jenova was brought to the question; she, who with the observatory's omnipotence, granted her memory and more.

"I and Time... have chosen Jenova to be the next guardian." she waved a clothed hand to the area in front of her, and the orb hovered over to midway height so the midget bellow her could see without the use of her stool. Through it they saw the woman who was to be the substitute, with the man in armor, and king. Terra had also returned to them, which was perfect. Ultimecia turned slowly, eyes making contact with the Tartaru once more, " The guardian is set... now I only need a teacher."

Could the old witch be talking about Shantotto instructing her new form to control her powers? Well, Shantotto was indeed the most powerful black mage in existence. Ultimecia did not count because she lived outside of existence.

"Of course..." she paused, turning to the orb, a small grin appearing, " Some of the mischievous plans you concoct will be stopped by the Guardian... hm... the offer is still there, if you wish it... I shall leave you to your work, as I have my own waltz to deal with."

Ultimecia glanced onward to the never ending hallways of the time rift, filled with many common and strange doors that lead to somewhere, or nowhere, and set out. This was her world after all, and she knew it far better than anyone else. She walked over to a random door out of thousands, and opened it to reveal it was the Observatory. Stepping in, she closed the door behind her, and set off to assure of time.

She watched now the Heroes, Dark Heroes, and Villains... thinking of where she was needed the most... [/glow]

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Shantotto continued to listen intently to Ultimecia's offer. She had followed behind her through the series of doors. Ultimecia had said something of an instructor, this made an eyebrow rise ever so slowly on the tarutaru's head. An offer had been made to teach Ultimecia's new form!? Shantotto standing there her mind began to wonder.

As Ultimecia was talking, Shantotto was imagining just what she could do with this offer. She thought of how convenient it would be to meld the Time Witch into something Shantotto could manipulate. A fresh start, a new mind ... a untaught mind. This could bode oh so well for Shantotto's plight. However she would keep that to herself. "Oh Oldmecia, I see you have finally come to sense of rest. You speak of wanting the best. You want I Shantotto, to teach your new form? This is something I must adorn..." Shantotto spoke to Ultimecia with the same mischievous tone as she does. She was most excited to become a teacher of this new form.

That said, Shantotto had to think of Jenova. What exactly would she know. If her powers are to be transferred, surely she wouldn't know of the minor issues of her plights in the past. This too, may work in Shantotto's favor. "Jenova, I trust your choice was not made in haste for heir? This woman best know her place, and not muddy my hair." Now, she would set fourth to her study, to began her preperations once again to continue her plight.

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