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Post by hoodwink on Jan 30, 2021 13:02:45 GMT -5
Landing and nearly stumbling over due to the mucky footing, Henoke had hardly managed to recover his battle stance when Tori’s Ruinga spell blasted out—illuminating the night. Skooooom! Erupting point blank on the teen’s flimsy and hasty guard, he shouted out as he was blasted back and into the swamp water, submerged in the dark for a moment. "Gyaaah!” Bursting up from the waist-high level he’d been forced into, Henoke shivered for a moment as he hoisted up his Keyblades, the night hardly able to show how red his face had become as he spit out swamp water. ”Yuck! What the hell, Tori?!” Wiping his mouth with a free arm on his jacket sleeve, the teen shook his head as though a dog drying off. ”You really don’t know when to quit, huh?” Something about the girl’s icy tone caused him to stagger in annoyance, stomping a sloshing foot into the murky swamp floor beneath the water. ”So long as you believe you’re in the right, you don’t care for things such as ‘allies’ or ‘friends’…do you?”
Offended by the question, Henoke’s grip tightened on his weapons as he pointed one of his Keyblades at Tori with an angry look. ”You’re one ta talk! You picked a fight with me, remember?!” For a moment the boy’s face darkened as he scowled, lowering his weapons as he glared. ”Tch—I was just gonna beat ya up ‘till ya started makin’ sense…” A faint crackle of energy illuminated around him in the swamp for a brief moment—almost like a current of electricity. "But now…?” Zzzkt! Zap! Bolts of orange lanced off from the teen as his face reddened and the vein on his forehead threatened to burst. ”You’re really startin’ ta piss me off—ya hypocrite!” Water sparked and sizzled as the energy erupted as though an aura, the boy’s eyes becoming white as he illuminated the swamp. Whoosh! Lancing through the water at a powerful speed, Henoke closed the distance between them as both Keyblades began to erupt in flames as he unleashed his Firaga Break! It seemed the boy had lost himself to his Wrath.
”…” Many of the crocodiles watched apprehensively from the darkness of the swamp banks. While the two teens fought each other, many seemed conflicted about not interfering. ”If she is in jeopardy, we will step in.” Reassuring the kin closest to them, the eye-patched crocodile watched Henoke with a steely gaze. One that hardened at the sight of them attacking their newly considered ‘family’. Still, it was that newly forged bond that caused them to temper their want, respecting Jake and Skully’s decision to the best of their abilities. ”Not that you should underestimate her.” Smirking with its crooked maw, the crocodile’s gaze shifted to Tori, brimming with confidence as they recalled the fight with the Demon Tower. Little did many know, but the swamp locals weren't the only eyes watching the battle. Quiet a few pairs poked out from hiding holes between bushes and overgrowth further back on the banks, watching with a mixture of worry and awe at the display of powers showcased in the swamp...
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 30, 2021 15:44:00 GMT -5
Being pointed at by the Keyblade Wielder in front, his anger evident as he lost himself to rage, Tori could only look back, no evident expression in her face. She perked up at the sparks of apparent electricity, and the immediate wrath Henoke displayed —her body tensing up at the sensation.
Had she felt it somewhere, before?
Still, unable to think much on it, and instead readying herself for the onslaught following Henoke’s Wrath, Tori was forced once more to the defensive, blocking with evident difficulty his Firaga Break. Fire and water creating enough distraction, the girl found herself unable to truly escape and create distance —not with Henoke’s anger and dexterity at the moment.
It was almost checkmate —but Tori had yet to reveal her own side of tricks.
Able to at least match the teen’s speed, she would continue to block and parry, all the while mist gathered near her, condensing in her open opposite palm —now fully aiming to use all of her tricks at once. Focusing on two things at once wasn’t as hard as one would think, given Tori’s own trainings and experiences all until that moment. The sudden confidence from the onlookers near them was enough to bring her to smirk.
“Then look at what you’re doing!” she shouted back, “Can you call me hypocrite, when you’re doing the same thing?!”
Finally bursting forth, mist gathered around both of them, blocking particularly the teen’s vision. Wanting to tone the fight down and defuse it once and for all, she hoped the mist would allow her the chance she was after —but she’d be in quite the shock if it didn’t, unsure on what to do otherwise. She could force herself to her limits, but… Wouldn’t that be the worst thing to do?
Focus! If you wanna help him realize it, then do it!
A more than familiar voice echoed in her head, giving her the push she needed. Holding the Keyblade firm as she gritted her teeth, her Keyblade shimmered in light and mist, radiating brightly across the swamp. With a battle-cry, Tori slashed downwards with her Twilight’s Outburst —although the attack was aimed more towards as a distraction than an actual hit, it would be able to cover quite the large area within seconds.
“Realize already —take into account who is in control!” Tori shouted, “You, or your anger —which one will it be!? Which one will guide you, once this ends?!”
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 30, 2021 18:23:20 GMT -5
Clang! Smash! Keyblades sparked and glanced off one another as Henoke’s assault was met with Tori’s speedy defense. Pushing forward with fast and powerful strikes, the dual-wielding teen hardly seemed present—their body moving solely on the emotion overwhelming them. ”Then look at what you’re doing!” The girl’s initial words would fall on closed ears, met with the blank gaze of white as Henoke went for another attack. Whoosh! The sudden mist exploding forth succeeded in obscuring his target as his Keyblades slashed at empty air. ”Grr…” Gritting their teeth, the frothing temper blown youth whipped their head around to no avail—the mist shrouding their vision on all sides as they slashed out at vacant spaces. No matter how much he sliced or hacked, more mist swallowed the gap quick enough. Shiiiing! Hearing Tori’s battlecry, Henoke’s head whipped up to see the girl plummeting towards him with her attack. ”Hrrk!” Taken off-guard from the mist, the hotheaded teen wasn’t able to fully raise a guard in time with the direct above angle. It was a direct hit.
Blasted back and tossed across the swamp from the power of the collision, Henoke lost grip on his Keyblades, which flew through the air before disappearing in a ray of light, ready to return to their wielder when they were ready. Splash! Bubbles frothed as the water rippled where the teen submerged. For a moment, the swamp itself seemed to hold its breath. ”See?” Smirking confidently, the eye-patched crocodile snorted out to its kin with a proud look. Slap! Slap! Dozens of thick tails slapped at the mucky swamp banks, drumming out Tori’s victory as the locals cheered and roared out for their new ‘family’ member. Splash! A loud gasp broke the surface as Henoke emerged violently from the waters, whipping around in all directions in clear disarray. ”Urgh…my head…” Swaying somewhat as he struggled to keep his footing in the muck below, the teen had a thin trickle of blood coming down from his forehead, as well as several tattered scratches and bruises from the hurtle against the elements.
”Tch—that’s right...” Recollection lit up on his face as Henoke’s eyes finally found Tori, who was now far away from him in the shallower sections near the banks where the crocodiles watched. Slosh! Splash! Rushing through the waist-deep water, the teen’s face was scrunched up in frustration as he pointed out a finger at his friend. ”The hell’s yer problem, huh?! Sidin’ with pirates, fightin’ me—what’s your deal?!” Despite having been knocked back into his usual senses, it seemed Henoke didn’t understand what was happening still. ”Daaaaang, you flew far!” A familiar voice caused the teen to jolt in surprise, coming from the darkness of the forest. ”Maybe if he flapped really hard, he wouldn’t’a landed so rough! Ha ha!” Loud guffaws followed the jibe as Henoke turned and squinted his eyes, trying to peer through the night. ”C’mon, ya dingus! It’s now’r never!” Finally managing to make out some of the small figures poking out from the overgrowth towards the edge of the swamp, the teen staggered in surprise.
”You guys?!” Hadn't he told them to wait?! The Lost Boys sneered and snickered, accompanied by the Neverbird that had been guiding them. Glancing back over his shoulder towards Tori and the crocodiles, Henoke’s brows furrowed as he scowled. He wanted answers about Tori’s actions…but at the same time, he was annoyed and irritated with her. In a sense, it almost seemed like the better option to leave her with her lame pirate friends and stick with the Lost Boys to find the Fairies. ”Fine. I’ll go with you guys.” Running through the higher water, Henoke paused once he’d neared the banks where the young boys in furs were. ”This ain’t over, ya hear?!” Shaking a fist out at Tori from across the swamp, the teen disappeared back into the darkness with the Lost Boys and Neverbird, giving one final glare Tori’s way. Swimming out into the swamps and emerging from the banks to reclaim their home, now returned to relative peace, the crocodiles began to resume life once more.
”So, it seems you spared them.” The eye-patched crocodile had lingered near the girl, watching her with a curious gaze. ”We would have made quick work of them, if you and your friends had allowed it.” It seemed the crocodiles weren’t fully aware of the situation, either. ”They told us to ensure you reach your destination. Tick Tock will guide your way.” Gesturing with their large maw, a faint tick-tock! Tick-tock! could indeed be heard as a section of the swamp frothed and bubbled. Emerging from the water was Tick Tock, their grin-like expression always somewhere between endearing and sinister as they nodded enthusiastically. ”He’ll ensure you reach your friends, where the Fairies reside.” It seemed Tori would have her own local to guide her. Gesturing towards their scaly back, Tick Tock swam beside the teen, seemingly offering to act as a mount of sorts as they traversed through the swamps. Surely a crocodile was bound to be faster in the water, after all. It was up to Tori if she'd try to chase after Henoke to clear up the misunderstanding, or regroup with Jake and the others where the Fairies were.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 30, 2021 18:44:09 GMT -5
With her Twilight’s Outburst landing true, and Henoke being blasted back into the swamp waters, Tori backed off, panting a bit as she noticed clear exhaustion settling in. She noticed the Keyblade in the teen’s hands disappear upon defeat. She stepped forward, calmly, trying to close her distance with Henoke as she dismissed both mist and Keyblade. The loud slaps against the water drumming in her victory didn’t matter at the moment —other things did.
”Urgh…my head…” Tori grimaced a bit as she noticed blood in Henoke’s forehead, but held back from doing anything yet. He immediately confronted her again, the questions ones too obvious for the situation. Taking a deep breath, the girl was about to talk —when intruding voices cut her off.
The Lost Boys had apparently followed Henoke all the way towards the swamps, something even the teen hadn’t expected. Caught off-guard and unable to talk, she only looked with a blank and dumbstruck expression, unsure on what else to say.
”This ain’t over, ya hear?!” Flinching, Tori tried to reach —but it was too late. Letting go rather easily with a sigh, she looked down at her gloved hand, noticing no changes so far, but it seemed the crux of her plan would have to wait for a little longer. So much for making it quick…
At least she’d managed to buy Jake and the others time to reach the Fairies. Turning around to the eye-patched crocodile as he spoke and approached her, she shook her head at the first assumption.
“I know what I’m doing, but… I don’t plan on fighting them to actually hurt them” she confessed, “I genuinely want to help, but… Henoke’s not the kind of guy to listen to words most of the time…” Tori added with unease, “So, please —it wouldn’t have been necessary anyways.”
Looking at Tick Tock as the eye-patched crocodile informed her that he’d be her guide, she nodded. Noticing how the peculiarly named crocodile pointed at its back, offering a mount through the swamps, Tori smiled a bit, thankful.
“Right —let’s go.”
Quick to mount over the crocodile and allow him to take the lead, showing her the proper path through the swamp to where the Fairies resided, Tori nodded courteously as they left, showing her gratitude to the crocodiles that had chosen to give her and the pirates the benefit of the doubt. Looking forwards quickly as they crossed the path, Tori’s gaze strengthened a little as she went back through the events she knew thus far.
“…” she hummed, “Odds are they’ll be heading the same way we are…” Tori concluded, before looking at Tick Tock with inquiry, “Say, you wouldn’t happen to be able to out-swim those kids, right?” she asked with a smile, “We gotta make sure we get there before them. Think you’re up to the challenge?”
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 31, 2021 11:01:25 GMT -5
”Right—let’s go.” Taking position on Tick Tock, Tori was whisked through the swamp water as the remaining crocodiles thumped their tails and roared out their farewells. It seemed though they were a bit mistrusting and rough around the edges, once they embraced others, they were there for them. In that sentiment, it seemed the world had some good-hearted locals, despite the odd rumors. ”Say, you wouldn’t happen to be able to out-swim those kids, right?” Listening to the girls request as they sliced through the swampy water, Tick Tock nodded, flashing a toothy grin as they glanced over their shoulder. It seemed they were indeed up for the challenge!
With a bounding leap and splash, the crocodile’s pace would double, lancing through the water at a quickened pace as the swamp around them raced by. It seemed that the local was indeed nearly as fast as Bucky, if not faster! Perched on the crocodile’s back, the sound of its faint tick-tocking! would resound throughout the night under the starry sky. Surely they were bound to catch up to Jake and the others, and beat the Lost Boys (and Henoke) to the Fairies! No way could some kids on foot beat a local of the land at one with the elements, right?
”Still…it’s pretty impressive that someone like you can use magic.” Skunk’s tone immediately irked Henoke, already in a soured mood due to the fight with Tori. ”What’s that s’posed ta mean?!” Flaring up and waving a fist at the youngest in the group, the fiery teen stomped a foot into the marshy forest floor. ”It’s kinda like the Fairies other magic…” Poking at the teen’s arm, Bear seemed perplexed. Henoke had used a Cura spell after regrouping with the boys in the forest, surprising most of them for some reason unknown to him. The group were walking through the thinned out forest after leaving the swamp, guided by the normal sized Neverbird, though they couldn’t see nearly as well at night time.
He’d offered to light a fire with his magic…but considering what had happened the last time he used fire magic in a forest, the Lost Boys and Neverbird had all been very much against it. ”Tch—this’s really takin’ forever, huh?” Rabbit’s tone was sour, noting how much their pace had slowed due to the terrain and time. ”You didn’t think we were goin’ the rest o’ the way on foot, did ya?” Fox gave his friend an incredulous look—though all other than Skunk seemed confused. ”Huh? We ain’t walkin’ there?” Henoke’s confusion was immediately replaced with a scowl as he crossed his arms and gave the boy a skeptical look. ”We ain’t flyin’ again, are we…?” He’d enjoyed the ride the first time around, but after being hurled by the large bird into the swamp, Henoke didn’t mind never seeing the giant Neverbird ever again.
He still had some unsettled business with that feathered jerk. ”We’re getting close!” Shouting out from ahead, the Neverbird appeared flapping its wings excitedly. ”Make sure to be quiet, guys…we don’t wanna scare ‘em off.” Lowering their voice and gesturing to the rest to crouch and move slowly, Fox led the way, stalking as silently as the animal he’d acquired his furs from. What’re we doin’…? Not sure about the plan, Henoke shrugged, trying to be as sneaky as he could manage as he followed along…
Though the swamps were safe from the Tribesmen, it had its own set of worries to attend to. Though the beginning to Tori's venture with Tick Tock had started peaceful, nighttime was never quite as secure as it appeared. Crocodiles indeed commanded respect from most other worldly predators, but now Neverland had a new predator like never before. The Heartless. Along the way, yellow eyes would emerge from the swamp banks, some watching with no clue how to reach the hearts they sensed. Others had their own means. The occasional Air Pirate, Jet Balloon and Missile Diver would emerge from the darkness of the forest on both sides. It'd be up to Tori if she wanted to simply protect Tick Tock while they swam away, or stop to battle!
[[ENEMIES in Pursuit: 2 Jet Balloons, 1 Air Pirate, 1 Missile Diver]]
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 31, 2021 11:12:19 GMT -5
Smirking as the crocodile accepted the challenge, Tori held on firmly as to not fall on the murky waters —not that she would’ve minded. The only inconvenience it would bring would delay their reencounter with Jake and the other pirates, as well as Henoke and the Lost Boys. The girl focused her gaze forward, wary of whatever enemies dared cross their paths.
Sure enough, there was a faction that would take advantage of both night and situation in Neverland.
Calling onto her Keyblade once more, Tori’s gaze turned to a cold one, before imbuing the weapon in flames and throwing it forward, her Fire Toss looking for fend the enemies lurking in the water —the Jet Balloons. Regardless of the damage dealt, the weapon would return to its wielder, who, following the throw, shot a Ruinga spell at the nearest enemy to both her and Tick Tock, wanting to defeat them while stationary.
“Keep going!” she shouted, “No matter what, we can’t lose time! I’ll get rid of any that cross us!”
Wanting the crocodile to continue as swiftly as it could without stopping to offer its maw in assistance on the battle, Tori was ready to jump in for a clash —her eyes firmly locked onto the Heartless. Whatever happened after… She’d be ready for it.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 31, 2021 11:42:45 GMT -5
Skkkooom! Tori’s Fire Toss successfully blasted off of one of the large Jet Balloon Heartless, the other narrowly evading it as it sped after them. Swooping through the air, the Air Pirate would meet the girls Ruinga spell head on—blasted backwards and into the swamp with a splash! and frothing bubble before disappearing in the night. "Keep going! No matter what, we can’t lose time!” Nodding in understanding, Tick Tock’s face was set with determination as they pressed on—leaving the defensive measures to the teen on their back as they focused on swimming with all their might. Though some yellow eyes watched from the banks on each side, it seemed some weren’t able to traverse the mucky swamp.
In that sense, the route was advantageous, despite the Heartless’ having their attention on it after all of the commotion from earlier. Called both by the immense pressure they had sensed, as well as the presence of the Keys that had been near, the swamp river was lively on the outskirts, but less occupied in the water. Racing through the night, only a few Heartless managed to continue chasing after the two, the Missile Diver hopping onto the Jet Balloon to be mounted as well as it twirled a large spear that formed from the water itself. It seemed other than the Lost Boys, Tori was now also racing the Heartless! Though still behind them somewhat, the Heartless were working their hardest to catch up, the Missile Diver hurling its spear before reaching its hand into the splashing water to create a new one.
Tick Tock zig-zagged in the water, though it only cut down their speed a bit as they pressed on. It’d be up to Tori to clear the way for them as the night continued!
[[ENEMIES in Pursuit: 1 Jet Balloon, 1 Missile Diver]]
"W—what the hell?!" Henoke staggered, his eyes wide with surprise as he watched Fox and the other boys begin to mount up on the massive forest critters. He'd never seen any rabbits that size, before! Having grown up in a forested and mountainous land much like this one (well, it hadn't been an island, but still), the teen had indeed at least seen enough rabbits and bunnies to know they shouldn't be this large! "C'mon, Henoke! We're tryin' to get there before mornin'!" Urging him on, Fox was already positioned on the back of a massive brown bunny, currently munching on grass without a care as he and Rabbit sat on its back. "Good thing I was here. You know they're more active at dusk or dawn than night time, right?" The Neverbird sighed, clearly believing themselves to not be getting enough praise or recognition for aiding them in securing their bizarre ride. "Yeah, yeah! Thanks or whatever." Rabbit rolled their eyes while Bear and the Raccoon Twins finished mounting up on another large grey rabbit.
"Why do I have to ride with him?" Skunk rolled their eyes, perched on a spotted rabbit with clear impatience. "You're not gonna set these furry guys on fire, too, are ya?" Giving the teen a skeptical look, the youngest of the Lost Boys crossed their arms. "Tch, shut up!" With a scowl, Henoke finally got over his surprise, stomping over to where Skunk sat on the large rabbit. Hopping up onto the creatures back with ease, thanks to his High Jump, Henoke blinked as he sat and felt the massive creature beneath him breathing rapidly. "Wait...don't these things h—!" Yelling out in surprise as Skunk kicked at the massive rabbits sides, the mount hopped and bounded into motion, lurching both boys with force as they pounded through the forest!
The other Lost Boys hooted and hollered into the night, clearly enjoying the ride more.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 31, 2021 11:57:40 GMT -5
While some enemies had been defeated, a few remained in their chase —with the others unable to follow Tick Tock’s speed across the water. Almost soaring through the waves with ease, it seemed the crocodile had listened to Tori’s plea, leaving her the task to open them a path through the Heartless trying to deter them from the task at hand. It was somewhat of a blessing, traversing through the water, as it made it harder for most Heartless to chase after them.
Tick Tock’s zig-zags made it hard to maintain balance, but Tori managed. Seeing the Missile Driver mount the Jet Balloon in their chase, it meant there was a chance of getting rid of them both. Sparks gathered around Tori’s palm, before snapping her fingers to unleash a powerful Thundaja spell on the combined enemies chasing after the two. It would hopefully be enough to defeat it, or at the very least stop it from chasing.
Whichever it was, Tori wouldn’t let up —using all sorts of tricks while making sure their path wasn’t a rough one.
“Guess I gotta thank them properly if we ever pass by through here…” the girl smirked as she thought, glancing over at Tick Tock, “They seemed tough to approach, but I guess all of the factions can be dealt with if using the right approach…”
The Mermaids and Crocodiles both had different ways to be approached —but so far, they managed to get it done. It only left the girl wondering how the other factions would need to be dealt with —particularly two.
The ones at odds with the territorial crocodiles, and the Lost Boys. Those two were bound to be troublesome.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 31, 2021 12:30:02 GMT -5
Continuing through the swamp, Tick Tock didn’t let up in their speed while Tori continued to defend. Bzzzzt! ZAP! Snapping out her Thundaja spell, the night lit with electricity as the Heartless attempted to dodge the zig-zagging spell. Unable to fully dodge, a loud SPLASH! erupted throughout the swamp as both were blasted aside and toppled into the water, stunned and heavily wounded. Unable to pursue the two any longer, the enemies were soon out of view in the night, leaving Tori and Tick Tock undisturbed.
The remainder of Tori’s journey would prove uneventful as they continued. Steadily changing from murky swamp water and flowing into clearer streams and riverbeds, Tick Tock had led Tori into the thicker section of the forest, traveling through the water at a quick pace still. Night continued to press on, though the position of the waning moon would betray how much time had pressed since the battle at the swamp. Surely dawn was only a handful of hours away by now. Slap! Splash! Tick Tock slapped out with their tail as they swam, signaling the sight ahead. Silhouetted ahead in the river was what looked like a ship, a large sail and flying flat blotting out the stars. A single lantern illuminated it, perched near the steering wheel where surely someone remained navigating.
Closing in on the vessel, it was clear that the ship was indeed Bucky! It seemed Tori had managed to catch up with the others, thanks to the locals speed in the water. ”SQUAWK! It’s Tori! She’s back!” Their shrill voice piercing the night, Skully flapped their wings and soared around from the Crow’s Nest above, alerting the rest of the ship due to the darkness around them. Jolted awake, Cubby and Izzy perked up from their spots on the deck, whereas Jake merely smirked from the wheel, glancing over his shoulder and down towards the dark water below where Tori and Tick Tock would be. ”’Bout time! We thought you’d never show up!” Chuckling in good humor, the young captain shouted out to his somewhat sleepy crew.
”Drop the ladder, Cubby!” Unable to move, as the narrowness of the river required steady steering, Jake would bring the ship to a halt to let Tori board as Bucky shouted out eagerly. ”Oh, welcome back! I’m so glad you’re safe!” Seeing Tick Tock, the boat shivered for only a moment before giving a modest ”Thanks, Tick Tock.” to the crocodile. Groggily shouting out greetings, Cubby managed to lower the rope ladder on the side of the ship, allowing Tori to climb up and join the rest of them on deck. ”Be safe, Tick Tock!” Shouting to the local over the railing, Izzy and the others waved goodbye as the crocodile departed.
”Um...where's your friend?” Cubby seemed hesitant, but clearly worried. Despite the newness of their friendship, it seemed the pirates wanted to make sure Tori’s end had gone well. ”Heh—some friend…” Scowling a bit, Jake puffed up, somewhat irritated. ”He nearly made me lose my head!” Flying down from the Crow’s Nest, Skully squawked and cackled while flapping around Jake’s head. ”That’s your own fault, SQUAWK! If you were stronger, it would’ve been nothin’!” Waving a hand to shoo the parrot away, the young captain scowled and crossed their arms. ”I’m plenty strong! I fought off those monsters on our way here, right?” It seemed Jake’s pride was somewhat wounded.
”So—how did it go?” Izzy asked, curious but hesitant to pry too much as she reeled back in the rope ladder as Bucky began to continue down the river.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 31, 2021 13:18:49 GMT -5
With the Heartless finally taken care of, it seemed the path would be an easy one —calm and silent, with nothing jumping to attack. Still, Tori wasn’t one to drop her guard after that, in a place where, at any given time, something would jump in assault. Having grown up in a world where remaining wary was a must at any given moment, the girl still wasn’t confident to say that the Heartless wouldn’t jump again.
It’d be nice if they didn’t, though…
The night passed by rather pleasantly, surprisingly enough, with the moon lighting the path through the tree leaves and branches —the moon moving accordingly. Into a rather thick part of the forest, now further away from the swamps, Tori noticed the ship and its crew at a distance, followed by the slaps of Tick Tock in order to catch her attention. Smiling faintly as she saw them perk up from apparent sleep with immediate relief, she was quick to grab onto the ladder that dropped from the ship, waving the crocodile goodbye as it left, before jumping up to deck to meet with the crew.
”Um...where's your friend?” Tori only managed to smile with clear unease at the question, with Jake immediately jumping in to bad-mouth Henoke —all with good reasoning. After all, they’d crossed swords almost immediately after meeting, with misunderstandings clouding one’s better judgement. Izzy’s curiosity beckoned a sigh from Tori, although not really exasperated by the question.
In general, it was a tiresome topic. Not to mention that Tori was exhausted. A bit sleepy, even.
“As good as you could expect, really” Tori replied back with a shrug, “We fought, and ended in a tie. I was going to try and explain, but… Those kids showed up, and Henoke followed after them. Odds are that we’ll encounter them sooner or later —all of them, not just Henoke.”
With yet another sigh, Tori frowned a bit, unsure of her following course of action. In a sense, with the previous fight the Keyblade Wielders had unleashed back at the swamps, it was obvious that they’d fight again —the girl shuddering at the thought of the teen’s rage surmounting again. It was raw anger, condensed into power…
Most likely something he was aware of, but unwilling to control it —or perhaps he couldn’t? He was a Replica of the real Wielder, so maybe he couldn’t know any better?
“Not that I’d know for certain —it’s just a thought, at the end of the day. Conjecture…”
Still, it was worth a shot. Until they met again, Tori would focus on the task at hand —her gaze looking as Bucky traversed the river peacefully in the silent night. Crossing her arms calmly, she looked at Jake, an apologetic smile written in her expression as she decided to ask for their current objective, as well as retell the plan from scratch.
“Sorry you had to be at the end of the bout, by the way… Henoke’s like that” she apologized, “He’s not the kind of person to think things through, instead going straight for it. I did mention that he’s been with the Lost Boys —it was bound to happen. Him, thinking you are the bad guys…” Tori’s expression was a bit sullen, before going back to a more serious one to ask what would happen now, “So… We’re going to where the Fairies are at, right? How long ‘till we get there?”
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 31, 2021 13:49:10 GMT -5
”As good as you can expect, really.” Tori’s face and shrug caused Izzy to nod with a mild frown, patting the teen on the shoulder for reassurance. ”I was going to try and explain, but…those kids showed up, and Henoke followed after them.” Hearing mention of ‘those kids’, Jake tsked and shook his head with an annoyed look. ”Those Lost Boys, huh?” It seemed the young captain was still upset at the bad reputation they had unjustly with the group of locals. "Sorry you had to be at the end of the bout, by the way…Henoke’s like that.” Listening to Tori’s explanation of her friends behavior, Jake nodded and sighed, steering the wheel with a thoughtful look. ”Yeah, that’s true…ya did mention that…” Lowering his head and shaking it a bit, the young captain grumbled. ”Still…I thought he’d at least give us a chance to explain.”
Shrugging it off, it seemed he refused to let it keep him down for long. ”So…we’re going to where the Fairies are at, right? How long ‘till we get there?” Izzy smiled while turning to Cubby, clearly relying on the youngest of the pirate crew for all navigation purposes. For a moment, the boy in the vest gazed up at the sky, squinting an eye while holding up a thumb to do an unspoken measurement of sorts. ”At this pace, we should get there right before sun-up!” The idea seemed to please him, as Cubby perked up a bit with a smile, giving Tori a ‘thumbs up’. ”SQUAWK! Unless more of those monsters show up…” Skully chimed in, perched on the railing of the deck with a sour look. ”It died down a bit…but things stayed lively for a while!” Almost as though to confirm the parrots statement, Izzy yawned, unable to fight against it much longer.
”Don’t worry ‘bout that! I’ll keep watch while steerin’.” Jake flashed them all a look from the raised deck, seemingly confidant and hardly exhausted. ”Get some rest, everyone! You’ve all earned it!” It seemed the young captain was more than up for continuing their watch. For now, it seemed that the rest of the team could get their rest before arriving—knowing Jake and Skully would alert them if anything was amiss. While Cubby went and sat against the railing, dozing off nearly instantly, Izzy prepared a more comfortable spot using sacks of food supplies and other assorted items on deck to form a makeshift bed. It seemed Tori could either bunker down with the rest of the crew to get some shut-eye, or stay awake.
Regardless, they were on course, set to see the fairies!
"Can't you do somethin' about them?!" Fox shouted out while their mount hopped and lunged through the forest. All boys bounded through the night on the backs of the large rabbits, terrified of the appearance of enemies that had emerged from the darkness in the trees and overgrowth. "Yeah right! How'm'I s'posed ta fight on this thing?!" Henoke shouted out indignantly, bouncing up and down with each hop and lunge, struggling to hang on. Heartless ran and soared after them, unchallenged due to the method of travel the boys were taking. "Just keep moving! The rabbits should be able to outrun these things!" The Neverbird shouted out encouragement from ahead, soaring between tree thickets and branches while keeping the boys on the right path. "Tch..." Of course they had chosen to strike now of all times. They were never very considerate beings, after all.
Pressing onward, the group of large rabbits hoisting the Lost Boys and Henoke bounded and leapt over obstacles in their path with ease in the forest, forcing the Heartless to slow in their pursuit steadily over time. Eventually, it seemed that they would indeed outrun them...so long as reinforcements didn't show up. Gritting his teeth while trying to maintain balance on the peculiar steed, Henoke couldn't help but eye the Heartless with contempt, wishing for nothing more than to beat them into oblivion. Surely he'd get his chance, if they continued their pursuit towards the heart of the forest, where they were headed, in order to find the Fairies...
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jan 31, 2021 16:37:54 GMT -5
”At this pace, we should get there right before sun-up!”
The news were optimistic enough to cheer everyone, with Cubby’s insight on the matter being the words they needed. Skully’s statement was hardly a worry, if Tori had anything to say on the matter —ensuring a safe travel until sunrise, while allowing the crew to rest, would be easy enough. Everyone was tired by the hectic day, not that the girl could blame them, as she too was tired quite a bit.
Jake ensured the team to rest, promising to keep watch as he steered the path ahead. Whether he was hiding his exhaustion or not was something Tori wanted to test for herself, but not for a bit. While she did desire some rest, it wasn’t like she was about to pass out —she still had enough energy to keep the captain some company.
She would take a break afterwards, ensuring she remained in top-shape to protect them.
Standing by the upper deck’s railing as she looked forward, Tori leaned against it, nonchalant. Wanting to keep Jake some company before simmering down for the day was a good chance to also learn of the things she was unaware of —as well as clear whatever it was the young captain had in mind.
Of course, not before doing her part —focusing her attempts to create an Illusion concealing both ship and crew, to avoid unwanted attention for a bit. Mist gathered in her palm and flickered, swiftly flowing forth to do the girl’s bidding, and hiding the ship from those she deemed a threat —mainly the Heartless. That way, the rest could rest without issues.
“This should be enough, right? It shouldn’t break me too hard…” she thought. Nope —if you don’t force it too much, you'll be okay. You won’t be keeping it for long, anyways, will you? Just until you reach your destination.
The voice echoing in Tori’s head gave a positive answer to the girl’s doubt, as she sighed while dismissing the mist. Glancing over Jake with a confident smirk, she chuckled.
“I’ll be joining them soon-ish, but I kinda want to ask a few more things about Neverland” she explained, “At the same time, you can ask back —let’s make it a fair exchange, shall we?”
“So, if I can start… Do you know anything about the Lost Boys that should be aware of? Aside of what we’ve already discussed.”
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 1, 2021 12:28:00 GMT -5
”I kinda want to ask a few more things about Neverland.” Having decided to keep the young captain company during their voyage, Tori’s question was met with a nod and ‘thumbs up’. ”Sure!” Knowing that the teen hadn’t been to Neverland before, it made sense they’d have more questions about the world they were on. Thankfully, despite his time away, Jake knew Neverland like the back of his hand—at least, when it came to most things. ”Do you know anything about the Lost Boys that I should be aware of? Aside from what we’ve already discussed.” Humming in thought, Jake tapped a boot against the raised deck. ”Hm…well, they’ve always been around—at least, since way back when I first came.” Continuing their course as he talked, he kept a watchful eye out in the dim moonlight, watching for the signature yellow eyes.
”They’re always quick to pick fights with non-locals…but typically they’re harmless. They just play pranks and inconvenience us and the Tribesmen, for the most part.” Sighing a bit, he raised an eyebrow at Tori for a moment. ”Surprised that your friend’s able to hang around ‘em…” It seemed that the boys wariness had always been there—stemming from a place eager to protect their ‘home’. ”Other than that, though, I think that’s everythin’…” For a moment a short silence lapsed over the ship as Jake thought of a question to ask in return. ”Y’know—you and your friend got some pretty crazy powers…” For a moment, the young captain’s gaze seemed somewhat perceptive—scrutinizing the teen accompanying his crew.
”What’s the deal? I’ve never seen anythin’ like it, on any of the adventures I’ve been on.” Glancing down towards the cutlass on his waist, Jake frowned for a moment. ”I always thought I was pretty decent with a sword…but after watching the two of you and fightin’ those monsters…” Briefly, a look of frustration came over him as he gripped the wheel tighter. ”I’m way too weak.” Having regained his composure, the young captain looked at Tori with fire in their eyes—a new determination lit. ”So? How’d you guys get those powers? I want to get stronger, too. To protect my crew.” Below on the main deck, Cubby and Izzy rested without a care in the world. It was clear that Jake’s friends were the most important thing to him—being the drive for his taking on the role of captain and continuing to get stronger as the years and adventures continued beyond Neverland.
Though still night, the sky seemed less dark, the stars slightly less visible as the moonlight seemed to wane. Dawn would be upon them soon—hopefully signaling their destination. While the teens awake chatted, there would be the occasional yellow eyes glaring at them from the shadows in the river bend—though no Heartless able to reach them in the water had emerged yet.
”I think I’m gettin’ the hang o’ this!” Henoke’s Keyblade returned to him as he balanced on the back of the large rabbit. Hopping and lunging through the dark forest, the mounts had indeed been able to outrun most Heartless—what few left that were able to keep up soon meeting an end thanks to the Key-bearer’s Reflect Raid. ”It’s like a boomerang…?” Skunk mumbled while shaking their head, trying to make sense of the bizarre weapon protecting them while the other Lost Boys hooted and hollered in victory. ”Alright! These monsters’re nothin’ for Henoke! Beat ‘em up good!” Rabbit was more than enthused, living vicariously through Henoke—as they weren’t able to fight the monsters with their slingshots and spears.
”Once we’re close, we’ll want to finish any off for good.” The Neverbird spoke in a composed tone, almost chastising. ”It’d be disastrous if we led them to the Fairies…” Keeping his Keyblade in hand and an eye out for more signs of Heartless, Henoke found himself curious. ”So—the Fairies’ve been safe?” He didn’t think anyone could hide from the Heartless—let alone fully defeat them. Why else had the Keyblade brought him here? ”The Fairies hold some of the most powerful magic in all of Neverland.” Eager to council, the Neverbird continued to guide them while lecturing. ”Only those they deem friendly can enter their land—others will simply never find it. Which is why we don't want to show up with unwanted guests, or we'll be missing it, too.” Blinking in confusion, Henoke glanced at the Lost Boys with a shrug.
”They have a powerful spell enchanting their home.” Skunk was the one to clarify—the smartest yet youngest of the group. ”Basically, if they consider you a threat, you won’t find them.” He’d never heard of magic like that before. These Fairies must be pretty amazin’, then… Then again, magic had never been his best area of training. Other than his Cura spell, all other magic had hardly been taught to him, but more awakened due to an affinity after acquiring his Keyblade. ”We’re getting close!” Flying on ahead, the Neverbird gazed up at the waning night, thankful for the signal of the soon to be coming dawn. ”Alright!” Shouting out happily, Bear pumped a fist, nearly losing their balance and falling off of their rabbit mount—though thankfully both Raccoon twins were able to hoist him up in time.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 1, 2021 13:32:23 GMT -5
Humming along as she listened to Jake’s explanation, Tori got a much clearer image of the Lost Boys, learning things that otherwise she couldn’t have guessed. A bunch of kids pranking for fun rather than harm, being a little bit of a nuisance for both pirates and Tribesmen —most likely the faction they had yet to meet. Being honest to herself, though, Tori didn’t see it unusual for Henoke to tag along and hanging out with the group, instead fitting his usual personality.
“I think Henoke getting along with them is the most obvious outcome —I’m shocked he hasn’t picked a fight with them, to be honest” Tori shrugged with amusement. She knew that was a lie, though —having pried just a little during their bout. After all, what Tori had told Henoke about him being the cause of trouble and disaster in Neverland wasn’t completely dishonest —had it been, then it wouldn’t have as much impact. The fact that the teen had actually admitted to it, albeit not directly, only helped her in achieving her goal.
But she wasn’t done with her plan just yet —there was still work to be done.
”Y’know—you and your friend got some pretty crazy powers…” The girl perked up a little as Jake began to ask about Tori and Henoke’s powers, as well as where they came from. He seemed to search for his own powers, admitting to being weak compared to those two —but the statement brought Tori to smile with clear unease. There were years separating them, when it came to experience —and being honest, she had to admit that Jake’s skill was impressive for someone his age. Sure, he could get stronger, but the point he’d reached in the short time was more than a statement to the teen’s determination.
”I want to get stronger, too. To protect my crew.” Chuckling a little, Tori shook her head, dropping down to stand up, having been seated on the railing, all while she smirked with a rather coy appearance.
“I think you’re good for the time being” Tori admitted, “For a kid your age, you can fend yourself surprisingly well —that drive to protect others will only help you in growing stronger.”
Sensing eyes watching at a distance, the girl scoffed, mist in her palm swirling forth before floating to where the Heartless were, aiming to drive them off, or distract them. Even if they were currently in the water, where they wouldn’t reach, Tori wasn’t taking any chances —wanting to protect the crew just as much as Jake wanted.
Good thing Illusions helped with those kinds of things. That, along her powers, would make the voyage easier.
“…Take into consideration that Henoke and I have been training for this —we have a few years of experience under our belt” Tori continued, looking at Jake, “I’ve been training to fight for quite a while —where I’m from, we’re taught early how to fight, in order to protect that which we cherish. Henoke’s in a similar stance, although I’m not really sure just how far he’s gotten…” the girl shook her head a the thought, “Regardless… In your case, I’d say you’re only lacking experience —especially against those monsters. You’re not weak by any means.”
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 1, 2021 20:22:58 GMT -5
”I think you’re good for the time being.” Though Jake made an indignant face and staggered a bit at the ‘kid’ reference, most of what Tori said caused him to swell with pride. It seemed so long as he followed his heart, he’d find strength. In a sense, though vague, it was reassuring. ”Take into consideration that Henoke and I have been training for this—“ Tori’s follow-up statement caused a faint look of surprise to come over the young captain. In a sense, it certainly was a good explanation for the gap, without giving too much away. ”In your case, I’d say you’re only lacking experience—“ For a moment Jake grinned wide, pumping a fist with a determination flaring in his heart. ”Heh—so, I just need ta go on more adventures!” It seemed they were hardly daunted by the journey ahead, regardless of what was in store.
”SQUAWK! We’re almost there, I think!” It seemed though Skully was less confidant in their route than Cubby, they were indeed nearing the heart of the forest. Night was beginning to wane, the sky beginning to brighten somewhat as the stars became pale reflections—the moon dimmed and shrouded though still present in the coming dawn. Swooping down from the Crow’s Nest, Skully perched at the railing near the steering wheel on the raised deck where Tori and Jake talked. ”Ya might wanna check that map again…I can’t remember which stream it was…” Shaking their feathered head, the parrot shrugged with its wings somewhat more carefree than they should have been, for the one on watch. Reaching into their blue captain’s jacket, Jake retrieved the shell with the etched map that Marina had given them.
”Hm…alright. Let’s wake Cubby up!” The younger pirate had had some time to rest—before and after Tori’s arrival. Clearly, Jake was more apt to rely on them than mess up their course. ”Er—can you get ‘em up, Tori?” Jake motioned towards Skully with a nod of his head, eyeing the bird warily. ”Ya can imagine bein’ woken up by Skully ain’t really ‘peachy’…” Chuckling with a somewhat sheepish look, the young captain ignored the protesting squawks of Skully. "What’s that supposed to mean, bucko?!” Flapping their wings indignantly, the parrot puffed up their chest and turned away with a sour look on their beak. ”Ungrateful brat…” It was Jake’s turn to stagger before shouting out a comeback.
It seemed the two were stuck in a usual battle—leaving Tori to wake Cubby and finalize their course!
After having gathered the right coordinates from their trusted and sleepy navigator, the crew would eventually come to a stop. Perched near the forest banks at the edge of the river, a small stream was visible, certainly not wide enough for the large pirate ship named Bucky. ”Alright, crew—we’re gonna go through the air from here on!” With a somewhat excited grin, Jake pointed out at Izzy, who jolted a bit by the sudden gesture. ”Izzy! You’re gonna use your dust on us. We’ll fly the rest of way!” The pirate narrowed her gaze a bit, crossing her arms. ”Uh…is that a good idea? Then we’ll really be out. Especially with an extra head—“ In quick addition, Izzy looked over and Tori and shook her head, waving her hands. ”No offense, Tori…”
Recovering herself, Izzy flashed Jake a doubtful look. ”So? We’re gonna get more!” Rolling his eyes a bit, the young captain hardly seemed to think the worry was well placed. ”’Sides, it’ll be way quicker than goin’ on foot. You know Bucky ain’t fittin’ in that stream…” Glancing over at their path, nearly covered by overgrowth and bushes—it was clear that even on foot, only three of them would be able to walk abreast at a time. Not to mention the shallower water. "He’s got a point, Izzy…” Cubby put a hand on her shoulder, giving a reassuring look and a nod. ”W-wait! I’m gonna be left—alone?!” Bucky’s voice squeaked out, the deck and boat itself quivering a bit in fear at the idea. "O’course not!” Jake patted the nearest railing to him, giving a faint chuckle. ”Skully’ll stay behind. You two should be fine. Just stay more in the center of the river.”
While Skully rolled their eyes a bit, receding with a nod and flying back up to the Crow’s Nest, Bucky merely muttered a half-hearted agreement. ”Alright! Let’s get to it!” Izzy prepared the pouch from around her neck, opening it and glancing down at the remaining dust. Flashing a smile Tori’s way, the girl had a somewhat childish expression. “Well, how about it, Tori? Ready to fly again?” Giggling a bit, it seemed she’d recalled the teens momentary playfulness the first time they had used the dust.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 2, 2021 9:41:41 GMT -5
Nodding along Jake’s newfound enthusiasm, Tori smiled. It helped to see that her words had only fueled him further, rather than dampen his mood. Heck, she wouldn’t have minded if the pirate had asked for a few techniques —if anything, it would make things much more fun. And yet, they had something else to do in the meantime, so maybe those things would have to wait.
”SQUAWK! We’re almost there, I think!” The parrot’s screech with a little optimism despite the open lack of confidence echoed through the night, bringing both Tori and Jake’s attention. The girl looked as the captain took a look at the map in the shell, before mentioning that they might need Cubby. Chuckling as Jake asked if she could wake him up, much for Skully’s indignation, Tori waved her hand, getting it done with no words said.
It was time to continue on in their goal.
With dawn breaking from the horizon, the group was back on the move, on land after dropping from the ship. ”Izzy! You’re gonna use your dust on us. We’ll fly the rest of way!” The sudden order caught even Tori’s attention, and glanced over as Izzy mentioned the issue, waving her head at the attempt to apologize.
“It’s okay —I’m not offended by the obvious” she replied.
It seemed flying would be the quickest path, since Bucky couldn’t fit in the stream they had to go through. With clear orders for both ship and parrot, Jake was confident and eager to continue their journey, while Tori was looking for the final piece in her puzzle —most definitely having into consideration that another confrontation with Henoke was imminent. She just hoped to be ready for it —knowing now most of the teen’s strengths and weaknesses after the last fight. And yet, the same thing went for Henoke —he knew most if not all of Tori’s tricks and approaches.
The next fight would escalate quicker, and would be far more aggressive.
“Well, how about it, Tori? Ready to fly again?” Snapping from the thoughts and focusing on Izzy as she readied to spread the dust evenly on the four of them, the girl nodded back, a confident smirk written in her lips as she relaxed her pose.
“Let’s get to it —the faster we get there, the better” she turned around the others, “I’m sure we’ll find Henoke and the Lost Boys there —and if not, on the way. Leave them to me, while you guys get what we came here for.”
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 2, 2021 13:17:22 GMT -5
”Let’s get to it—“ Hearing how Tori was planning on dealing with Henoke and the Lost Boys, it seemed the crew had a plan for what would come ahead. Reaching into the pouch, Izzy withdrew the Fairy Dust, sprinkling some on Jake, Cubby and Tori before finally using the last bit on herself. ”Alright, crew! Full speed ahead!” Drawing out his cutlass to clear any overhanging branches and other overgrowth that might hinder them, the young captain was the first to fly off from the deck and soar through the air, over the river and smaller stream into the forest. Cubby followed with the ‘map’ in hand, Izzy and Tori taking up the rear. Soaring over the stream yet below the tree line, the group would bask in the warm coming of dawn—the sun beginning to rise once more to signal the day.
Though less powerful as night waned, the Heartless hadn’t simply vanished. Despite the first stretch of their flight going undisturbed as they soared over the lapping stream, eventually the forest around them began to stir—the group of hearts unable to go unnoticed. ”Monsters off the starboard bow!” Jake shouted out, still using naval direction despite not being on the ship. Indeed—ahead in the overgrowth, yellow eyes peered out and stirred as a familiar presence of darkness would wash over the forest momentarily—bringing company. Whoosh! Heartless lunged out from portals of darkness newly conjured as well as from the shadows of the forest itself. Thankfully, Tori and the others were in the air—leaving most ground-based enemies glaring and running after them.
A few Heartless were able to keep up, though—specifically those also able to fly. Bzzzt! Zap! Thunder magic crackled and lanced through the air, causing Cubby to shout out fearfully as they narrowly avoided being fried. Tu—le—ru! A swooping Air Pirate froze mid-flight, crashing down into the stream below thanks to Izzy’s magic spell—though others were still in pursuit. ”Heh, don’t worry, guys!” Turning to fly against the group, Jake soared over their heads with his cutlass drawn, slicing out at the nearest enemy. ”Just keep flyin’!” Changing his position from the lead to slightly above the group, it seemed the young captain was working to defend his friends while they traveled.
Of course, with Tori’s assistance—the small amount of Heartless that had managed to keep up would surely not stick around for too long.
[[ENEMIES: 2 Yellow Operas, 3 Air Pirates, 1 Darkball]]
"Urk..." It was weird, walking on solid ground after all the hopping through the forests they'd done. Still adjusting his balance to the difference, Henoke followed the Neverbird and Lost Boys through a thicker section of the forests than he'd ever seen. Here, the trees were so thick there was no way even two of him could fit their arms around them. Rising high into the sky, the thick green leaves nearly blotted out the bright sunrise illuminating the new day. There was less a path, and more just tall grass and overgrown bushes and snaking roots. At first, Henoke had offered to cut them a path, but the Lost Boys had said the Fairies would take offense to that kind of thing. Just what're these 'Fairies' like, anyway? He'd never seen any Fairies before...though frankly, that wasn't saying much. How many new things had he witnessed, traveling from world to world, that he had never heard of or seen before? "We're almost there!" Flapping their wings eagerly, the Neverbird attempted to hide their impatience, though clearly they were having to slow themselves, able to fly over all of the obstacles on the ground with ease.
"'Bout time!" Fox snickered eagerly, clearly excited with how close they had gotten to their journey. "Hehe, think o' the pranks we'll be able to pull with that dust!" Rabbit seemed more than eager as well, though it wasn't surprising. The Lost Boys had their own determination behind their goal, after all. To protect Neverland, their home. "Just remember to be polite, guys..." Skunk eyed the group of friends warily, giving a particular look Henoke's way last. "And don't set anything on fire." While the other Lost Boys hooted and hollered at the teen's expense, the orange haired boy merely stuck out his tongue before giving Skunk a rather rude gesture that thankfully the young local knew not the meaning behind. "Shh! I hear something ahead." The Neverbird had grown still, perched on a branch above the boys as all quieted down for a moment. Bear and the Raccoon Twins glanced around apprehensively, while Fox and Rabbit ducked behind a nearby tree. Skunk went low to the ground, keeping an ear perked for the sound the bird spoke of.
"Is it the Hear—er, monsters?" Catching himself, Henoke walked below the branch the Neverbird perched on, squinting his eyes and glancing around in focus. A familiar voice rang out, causing the teen to jolt in surprise and stagger back with a scowl. "So, we meet again, boy."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 2, 2021 14:57:56 GMT -5
”Alright, crew! Full speed ahead!”
Thankful for the fairy dust Izzy handed over her head, Tori took after Jake almost immediately and into the air —much like before. It was easier now that she’d gotten the hang of it from before, and keeping up wasn’t hard either, soaring through the sky while looking from a bird’s eye-view to whatever lurked under in the island. Of course, however, Heartless wouldn’t care about things like flying —immediately catching attention to the group flying through the air while avoiding the land for the time being. Not ones to allow something like that to deter them, Heartless capable of hovering or flying followed in their chase. Glancing back to see the magic casting Heartless as they conjured thunderbolts to deter them, Tori didn’t waste a second —immediately calling her Keyblade and tossing it as she imbued it in flames. Her Fire Toss was aimed straight to the pair, before returning to her hand. Following along with a Ruinga spell onto the lone Darkball that had appeared, the girl grimaced at how sudden they seemed to appear.
“Something’s going on… And it’s near for sure…”
They had to press on —especially considering that one of them couldn’t fight back, and they had limited flight power. They had to grab the Fairy Dust, and end the situation before it escalated further. In Tori and Henoke’s side, they had to close the Keyhole.
“Let’s move!” she shouted, “We can’t let them distract us!”
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 2, 2021 15:42:43 GMT -5
Tori’s Fire Toss blazed through the air, colliding with one of the Yellow Operas, causing it to crash into the other. While one was destroyed by the impact, the other was hurled off course, deterred from attacking for now. Unleashing a follow-up Ruinga spell, the teen had succeeded in getting the group some space as the Darkball was blasted into the water by the attack. Swift in the sky, the Air Pirates continued to dart around—though Jake’s sword was able to keep them at bay from above as the young captain swooped and slashed at the airborne Heartless. ”Heh—this ain’t nothin’!” Spinning through the air, the boy’s cutlass gleamed in the rising sunlight as it slashed a finishing blow at a diving enemy.
”Don’t let up! We’re doin’ fine!” Reassuring Izzy and Cubby, the group continued to fly over the stream and further into the forest. The trees were beginning to steadily widen as they continued, the overgrowth more lush and verdant as critters and wildlife scattered, sensing the coming danger that followed. Having regained itself, the Darkball was gnashing its large maw, rushing through the air at an impressive speed for its size as it lunged for Tori!
[[ENEMIES: 2 Air Pirates, 1 Darkball]]
CLANG! Grunting in annoyance, Henoke was bounced back, landing on his feet in a battle stance as the Tribe Leader readied to deflect the next attack. ”Tch—why’re you here!” Glancing around the forest, the teen was relieved to see the Lost Boys gone—similar to last time, he’d instructed them to continue on ahead. ”You won’t escape my vengeance this time.” Cold and calculated, the bear maw that shrouded the leader’s face delivered the warning as their body tensed, holding their spear at the ready. ”Your guys attacked us, ya jerk!” Pointing his Keyblade at the large enemy, Henoke’s face flashed into one of anger—reminded of his argument and battle with Tori.
”What’s with all you hypocrites, lately?!” Fueled by a new fury, Henoke lunged forward, striking out with his large Keyblade with surprising speed. Swish! Evading the vertical strike, the Tribe Leader slashed out with their weapon—a dark aura appearing almost like black fire around the steel tip. Clang! Managing a hasty block, Henoke grunted as he skidded back across the forest floor. Regardless of his opinion of the Tribe Leader, there was one thing for certain he knew to be true. This guy...he’s stronger than last time. Part of his own pride felt wounded, being one who took pride in his own physical strength.
”C’mon! You ain’t gettin’ the best o’ me!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 2, 2021 16:10:16 GMT -5
With Jake’s support in the battle, the Heartless wavered in number, but there wasn’t a need to fight them —instead the option to run away as fast as possible to where they had to go. At the back of the group both to protect them as well as play distraction, Tori noticed the Darkball lunging forward towards her, its maws wide open. The girl clicked her tongue, annoyed by the Heartless’ persistence.
It didn’t mean she’d be caught off-guard, though.
Once it got close enough, Tori’s Keyblade would spin around her, with her Cross-up Magic working perfectly as a defensive maneuver to fend the Heartless off. Grabbing it after it circled for a bit, Tori charged towards the Air Pirates, aiming to strike them down while she still could, but still wary that, at any given moment, her “flying” potential would end, and she’d drop back to the ground with little to hold her.
Even if she knew how to fall, there would still be damage —and Tori couldn’t afford getting injured at a major point.
Another shudder crawled through her spine, a feeling that made her grit her teeth while the grip in her Keyblade strengthened. There was way too much darkness leaking from somewhere —surprisingly close. But she wouldn’t leave the crew alone, she couldn’t. They had to get to where they were going, first.
After that, she could settle whatever came with the darkness that lured the Heartless.
“Henoke, I swear… Don’t make things worse…”
She could only hope so, although it would be rather improbable for the teen to not (by accident) make things worse. They’d fought not long ago —Henoke was most likely still shaken by it, with his anger taking hang of his actions.
Would he lure Heartless to where he was at, if the fight escalated too much? She hoped not…
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