Her Journey Part 1

[King Edgar]

"Perhaps the best way to ask her is to--"

"EVERYONE!"

Interrupted by Agrias, Edgar turned away from the random Merry Men who'd been asking how to woo a girl and drew out Longinus, having learned to brace himself when that tone of voice cried out.

"What's all this, then?" It was then he noticed that, above the forest's thick branches the sky had blackened almost instantly, and he suddenly began shivering.

"Terra! Where is Terra!? Terra!"

[Secondary Characters]

Robin, too, took notice of the suddenly darker woods and watched as Agrias bounded skyward to scout the cause. He walked over to the tree, calling up to it when she disappeared from sight. "What do you see, Miss Agrias??" he called, only to be answered with a loud "EVERYONE!"

Robin grunted slightly, not knowing what to expect next, but knowing it could not be any good. The townsfolk were looking more worried, and Friar Tuck (who had been tending to Terra) stopped what he was doing to take observance.

"What's goin' on??" Little John called out, seeming worried. "Who turned off the lights??"

[terra]

"It's not that Robin,........ It's the darkness."Terra said as she walked back into the clearing with the rest of the group. Terra was looking up at the sky, her eyes had lost it's color and have gone all white. "Edgar. I don't like this..............This is going "she said staring at the sky

Luna pulled up next to little john."I'm with her , this isn't right, best stay on our toes Fuzzy Bear" she said as she put a hand on his arm

[Agrias Oaks]

Agrias walked slowly to Robin, a look of worry in her eyes and tone of voice as she muttered, "If my suspicions are true, Prince of Loxley, the gates of light have been opened-- In short, great peril is to come of this and we must all be at our greatest guard." she made a fist, now truly worried for the Sister's of Light which she was unable to help in her condition and location, "... Let us go and free the others-- Pray tell of what we are up against along the way to the castle?"

For a moment, the archer sighed and looked up with longing-- not for Lionel Castle... but for Beatrix, Abigail, and the soldiers.

"We must hurry before things turn for the worst."

[Secondary Characters]

Robin Hood nodded, waving everyone together so that he may outline his plan. "It looks like we'll have to expedite our excursion, ladies and gentlemen..." he said, knealing down to draw a picture in the sand. The others began to gather, though Friar Tuck instructed the townspeople to stay put. They'd be remaining in hiding during the operation. Little John would nod to Luna for her comment, then put a hand around her shoulders and lead her over to where Robin was collecting them.

"If our information about King Richard's castle is correct, this will be the basic layout..." Robin explained, drawing a large box and outlining it within another. Inside the first, he drew a few rooms and circled a few towers. "We know from what our dear Maid Marian has told us, that they're keeping those still captured in the rightmost tower, guarded by hordes of Elephants and Rhinos..." he tapped the corner where the prisoners were.

"Also..." Robin said, pointing to the opposite tower. "We know this is Prince John's bedroom, where he's hording the majority of the tax surplus. I will personally head there to liberate the monies he's unjustly taken from these people to be redisbursed upon our arrival..."

"But Robin!" Little John protested, towering over the rest. "That's a suicide mission, man... Just you??"

"I'll be fine, Little John!" Robin said, waving a hand over his shoulder. "I'm far stealthier on my own, and you forget I am a master of disguise..." With this, Robin looked up to Agrias, nodding firmly.

"This is where you come in, my lady... We need a plan to get into the tower, transfer the bags of gold from my position to the people, and make an escape... What can you tell us?" he said, now turning the floor over to her...

She was his tactician. He'd listen to her opinion.

[Agrias Oaks]

Watching the map being drawn by Robin, she calculated and schemed in her mind the set of actions she would first take. The tactician-skilled Archer and thief blinked a moment when she heard the threat of "elephants" and she grinned widely, almost darkly. One would think that Aeur Grauss was rearing her Heartless head with the look Agrias carried.

"Elephants you say...?" She would ask, taking a nearby stick and pointing to their location, "Right here, you say? Speak no more-- I know how to take care of them."

The grin still remained as she knelt down next to the Prince, and she began to whisper her plan to the others, making sure that prying ears from the forest could not hear... just in case.

[King Edgar]

With Longinus in hand Edgar took a glance around the Hood's safe haven; Agrias in sight he moved close to Terra and leaned in to speak exclusively to she and Luna.

"I want you to keep safe, alright? Mister Tuck, please escort Miss Terra and Lady Luna somewhere out-of-sight; I must speak to your prince and the bardess--er, archer."

With that he turned and strode over to where the two were discussing how best to work out their plan. When he stepped before them he bowed low and nodded to each in turn.

"The shadows are multiplying in the distance and I fear that soon we may be dealing with something much larger--more dangerous--than even them." Still Edgar believed Kefka, alone, was behind this string of events and would be sure to make people aware.

"I fear that Kefka--a monster of a man--will be making his way here to capture my comrade Terra...I've asked your bear friend Tuck to keep an eye on her, as well as the fox-girl. What can I do to assist you and your men?"

[The Heartless Army]

As though summoned by the very name of their archetect, a haunting laughter would ring out in the forests surrounding the Hood's hideout...

"Keeheeeheheeeheheee...." it echoed, announcing the arrival of a hunting force that had hounded Edgar and Terra since they lift Cosmos. The Jesterz were back.

They appeared in the trees first, giggling madly as their numbers began to grow. Oddly, most of them seemed more solid than others, the result of the recent descent into darkness of all worlds. There were enough to surround the entire encampment, all giggling crazily before they began to leap forward and attack!

Oddly, only one would be waiting... before disappearing completely... but to where?

[kefka]

[glow=Yellow,2,300]***From DESCENT INTO DARKNESS, in The World that Never Was***

Somewhere near where the brunt of the Jesterz came crawling out of a pool of darkness so too would another rift appear. This one was an erratic whirlpool of a Corridor, and sparks ran around all sides of it while fire billowed out from the center, followed by a chilly mist. The Jesterz that were nearby froze in place upon the arrival of their master, the Dancing Madman what seemed to ooze from its door in a snake-like manner, his wings spreading--all six of them--upon crossing the threshold of the Heartless throng.

Above the chatter they seemed to make, as well as their ear-splitting cackles, his seemed to be the worst of them all.

"Kwee-hee-hee!" he bellowed, standing on the heads of his lesser brethren as he closed in on the Hood's hideout.

Between his wings flared more electricity and in both open palms he held two bright orbs of seering hot blue fire. He began tossing them at the wooden fort in a clumsy fashion, cackling the whole time as he took to the sky, gazing down into the soon-to-be ruins in search of his prey.

"Oh Terra!" he called rather loudly, with a hint of playfulness in his voice. "I've been looking for you, my dear! Gahahahahahaha!"[/glow]

[terra]

Eyes already fully white, the cackle of the mad man would send other parts of her body into motion, Her hair became greater in length turning white in the process. her skin became a bit paler but but not all the way it was like she stopped halfway into morphing.

"EDGAR!!! He's here Edgar, "Terra said as she balled her hands into fists. One of the clowns wild throws came in their direction, Terra threw her hands up "BARRIER" she yelled out as the ball of light would hit a wall of light and dissipate away. she clasped her hands together and pointed them in the direction of the clown, getting ready to cast a powerful spell "stupid clown"she said as she took aim.

[luna]

Instantly Luna jumped into action swinging her bow out in front of her , she let an arrow fly be fore Terra said her first word. It looked to Luna that Terra was ignoring the small clown like things, but Luna was not , as more and more came into sight Luna was letting arrow after arrow loose, each finding it's mark in a heartless. Before she knew it she was up behind Terra protecting her backside. She stopped for a moment "Did.....did her hair just turn white?" she asked

[Agrias Oaks]

Agrias turned to hear King Edgar's explanation, frowning at the hearing of that abhorred name, "Kefka," she growled a little, gripping somewhat at the bow within her grasp before nodding to him, "I swear to do everything in my power to assist ye, King Edgar... for I, too, have crossed path with that Harlequin and wish nothing but a swift befalling of him-- but pray tell, why does he want Lady Terra so badly?"

The archer turned her attention toward the woman being attended to with a raised eyebrow, "She looks a little flushed, nay, she shines the color of a mother... ah! She is to have child yes? Does that creature have something to do with--"

Then a pause, and she looked toward the forest, her eyes narrowing as her bow was brought into attack position, an arrow poised on the string, "Heartless!" she gasped, watching the first one strike would be the first one she would hit, "CHARGE + 2!" she growled, prepping another arrow, "I was not followed-- these are different from those archer ones!"

...then that familiar, ominous laugh...

"No...!" She muttered, an arrow pointed at the corridor-- Kefka had arrived, the leader of these clown-like Heartless which stopped their actions at his arrival. She spoke over her shoulder, "Ser Edgar, please tend to Terra-- that is your priority yes? Stay by her side... no matter what happens!" she then looked back to the creature.

"Prince of Loxley... I'm sorry... but the rescue will have to wait... we need to get everyone out of here ... but with assist of warriors... can you arrange that?" she stepped a bit forward, arrow pointed at the clowns head. Noticing this new form of his she speculated he now fully belonged to the darkness, she felt outmatched-- while he increased in power, she decreased to her basic arts... this was going to be a handicap battle.

"Beatrix..." she whispered to the air, "... will I...see you again?"

Her eyes narrowed again, "HARLEQUIN!" she called him out and let lose the arrow with a bit more power, "CHARGE + 10!!" and ZOOM the arrow went, and mid way it sparked with a bit of light as it directed itself to the clown's heart!

[kefka]

Edgar moved back into position nearest Terra, his one strong free arm wrapping gently-yet-firmly around his future sister-in-law's two shoulders and pulled her in close, holding Longinus out before both of them to ward off any attack what may come next.

"He..." was all he could whisper, staring wide-eyed in terror at the one who had destroyed his world only a couple years prior. When the Dancing Madman advanced, his outstretched wings flapping against a calm breeze, his pronounced Heartless Emblem blazing with blood-red light, Edgar backed away with Terra, calling out all manner of defensive spells he could think of, from Ptotega all the way to Shellga and Barrier. He knew that this wouldn't be enough and soon both the King of Figaro and the former Witch of the Empire would be responsible for even more deaths in the near future.

Thinking quickly back to Cornelia, staring at those who had transformed into hideous beasts at the whim of Kefka's new servants...had been almost as bad as watching them burn and die at the hands of their master long before. Edgar felt a pain in his chest, guilt, as the harlequin drew in closer, spraying the field before the Hood's hideout with flames while firing lighting bolts at the posts holding up the structure.

"Lady Agrias and Prince of Loxley!" he called out, his voice shaking as he pulled Terra closer again. "Please, get everyone away as quick as you can! Terra and I will deal with and lead him away!"

Raising Longinus he spun it slowly in a horizontal clockwise motion, keeping his eyes trained on the clown only three meters away now and coming on them fast.

I've made the mistake before...perhaps it can happen again...

"Evil spawn, begone! Banish!" roared the Machinist King of Figaro, watching the results spawn from the spear's tip a moment later. Another familiar, black inky rift tore open in the air above he and Terra, and began growing rather slowly, pulsing like one mammoth heart made of space-time and darkness.

The maddening cackle sounded just feet away in a sort of mocking way, basically telling them to resign to their fate for there was no escape. Edgar pressed his eyes closed and held them shut tight, clasped to Terra with careful-yet-tight-clenched hands. "Ready to jump," he whispered. "One, two...three! Jump!"

He didn't really have to order his charge to leap, for he did the work for the both of them, vaulting into the inky void which apparently worked as both a powerful offensive spell and a good Corridor of Darkness emulation.

"Whaaaa!!!" cried the king, holding on still to Terra as they plummeted into the void, completely unaware of their next destination.

[glow=Yellow,2,300]When Edgar whisked Terra off with him into the bowels of the Void of Banishment, more or less utilizing that spell as their own makeshift Corridor of Darkness, Kefka's eyes burned with an intense rage at allowing them to escape once more, and from his palms lightning, fire and cold energy leapt about, racing up and down the length of his arms.

A single magic arrow zoomed close to him, nearly striking his chest before he batted it away as if it were and insect. His rage growing, he went back to concentrating on his drawing of magic.

"Pathetic worms, resign yourself to death!"

Soon the three elemental powers molded together, changing from their multicolored glow to a single, white light and, from one arm it completely dissolved, transferring over to his other, stacking onto this arm's light.

Raising it high above his head he glared down at the anthropomorphic secret population and cackled brightly, and after a full charge threw down his arm, calling out his powerful, signature attack.

"Light of Judgement!!!" From his outstretched index finger was produced a beam of white light no thicker than a round shoe lace, but as it raced down to strike its maker's target it expanded, transforming from a minor beam to a massive ray of monumental, destructive power which would shatter this place and all inhabitants if they couldn't make it away safely.[/glow]

[Secondary Characters]

So much happening all at once... Thank goodness Robin Hood was a master of handling chaotic situations. As the clowns began their assault, he began the work of picking them off with his bow and arrows, instructing Friar Tuck to take the innocents deeper into the forest, away from this madness. Thankfully, the Heartless only seemed interested in the newcomers, so it was easy for them to get free.

As Kefka made his appearance, Robin scanned the area for his comrades. Luna had her back to Terra, and Edgar was putting up some kind of shield. So far so good. "Little John! Secure an escape!!" Robin called, after running over to grab a rope and throw it to the bear.

As Robin ran off to handle more dangers, Little John would already be setting to work, having Alan O'Dale aid him. The two formed a few lassos with the rope and prepared for Robin to make his call. The Clown King of Chaos prepared his attack and Robin Hood would be signalling to his men. Around that time, the King and Pregnant Woman were swept up into nothingness, prompting a much more powerful move from Kefka.

This... was actually beneficial! As the beam came crashing towards them, Robin gave the signal and his compatriots made their miraculous rescue. Little John threw TWO lassos, catching Lady Agrias and Luna about the waist while Alan O'Dale got Robin. A sharp tug from both parties and the effect was an amazing and swift disappearance! Because of the light, Kefka would not see the motion and the overall illusion...

Would be that the Clown had managed to destroy them! However, the truth of the matter would be that all the heroes were hidden just beyond the blastwave's edge, out of sight and out of mind. With a little smile, Robin would give the signal to the others to remain silent and wait while Kefka came to his own conclusions.

Once they were safe, THEN they could formulate a new plan. Until then... Shhhh.

[kefka]

[glow=Yellow,2,300]"Egh..."

Kefka stood mid-air, heaving with his shoulders slumped, staring down the multicolored length of his arm when the blast from his judgemental light had faded, gazing with wicked eyes at the destruction caused by his mighty power, enhanced with the ultimate powers of darkness. There was nothing left of the hideout save for burning wreckage and scattering animals. He grinned.

"Eh? That was it?" he commented, chuckling wildly and tipping back his head. "Really! I wanted to play some more before going back to my dearest...but, in that case, since they were so weak...I'll go."

Another chuckle, and he faded away through darkness, black inky tentacles wrapping completely around his body and whisking him off after Edgar and Terra.[/glow]