and the clock strikes Zero

[BlackestOfMages]

“...and the recent spate of unusual weather will continue for the next few days, with an unseasonal run of sunshine until saturday, with hights 0f 73 degrees, and not a sign of a cloud in the sky.” the voice of Lilly Cross crackled out from the television set atop the waiting room wall, next to a bright bloom of roses in a faded yellow and blue pot, both recent additions to the traditional, Japanese-style rooms. “So be sure to dress nice and cool, and don;t forget to take advantage of this turn of luck. This is Lilly Cross, your official Miss Autum, inviting you to a fun day on the shimmering sandes of sunnyshore beach. Talk to you all again soon. Tata”

Six years can be a long time, and looking around this room, a place you likely have not had a reason to visit in that time, makes it all sink in; The foyer to the Kabuto Miyazaki Children's School of Martial Arts, once the entranceway into the Miyazaki estate before much of the place was damaged during the war, leaving only the old gatehouse standing. This place, that was once the headquarters of the resistance to the Shadowqueen, gathered by old Mr Miyazaki himself, now instead used to teach children. The old maps, mounted demon heads and mystic scrolls that once hung on the wall have been replaced with photo's of children, posing with a kindly old man in a crinkled white gi, of certificates certifying a second place in a national competition, or the amount raised during a charity jumble sale last year, aged weapons of long tradition replaced with wooden blades and training swords. The painted portraits of Kabuto Miyazaki, with his silver-black hair still long in that picture, his eyes hard and a confident smile, and his granddaughter Sharon Miyazaki, a pretty teenager with her black hair bound back in twin pigtails when this was made, but in her mid-twenties today, still hung in the same place, but above them was a sign simply reading 'instructors'. Next to the two portraits was a photograph of an older teenager, with his bright red hair styled into wild spikes, listed as student instructor, Simon King. Three people form the past, now different.

The once grand air of the estate is gone, a rock of normality even as the Shadowqueens touch began to be apparent in the world itself now... missing.

A piece of the world is missing.

Recently, be it by post, by email, a phone call or means more magical, you received a summons to this place after what the news dubbed red tuesday, when the sky split open – and a familiar face from the past collapsed into the gardens in the back of this very estate. The hour is almost dawning, the balance has been disrupted once more, and you heroes have been summoned...

into a smallish room that once felt huge when you where still children, lined with out of place sofa-seating and a random assortment of chairs in varying shades, with small tables bedecked with magazines about gardening, current events or martial arts, and a sign on the door into the estate proper reading 'class is in session. A gathering place for heroes returning to the world real life made them leave six years ago, people that may not have seen one another in years, save awkward reunions at weddings or other gathering, or passing on the street, people who's lives took separate paths, now brought back together by circumstance and disaster

Sorry for the time this took to get up. I've rewritten it like thirteen times (you know when you know what you want to say but not how? Not a good reason, but my heads terrible for letting me move on) and I'm still not fully satisfied, but it'll do

so the call was sent out to you all, you've gathered; feel free to decide whether you've been waiting a while or just arrived; chances are that Kamui has been around a while, this being the place she landed.

Red Tuesday – it was called a bizarre weather phenomenon of just the east coast city of Sunnyshore, where for a few minutes on the day, light refraction made the entire sky seem red and gold, accompanied by technology all across the city going on the fritz. Though it lasted for just a few seconds, many people reported feeling trapped for hours, and many have checked themselves into psychiatrists, reporting seeing things during and since.
For those who possessed the Sight, the ability to see past the veil of normality and witness the abnormal, however, the event was something far worse. For but a moment, the veil between the three worlds vanished, making the world of the fae, the devils and mortals as one, and time stopped – not the people, not those aware, but time itself; anything you touched worked fine, but anything you let go, froze, and the amount of magic in the air crackled and fizzed stronger than ever, threatening to overwhelm everything, and just as quickly it all... vanished. Restarted, like it had never happened, with none of the usual reprocussions such a thing would expect, no damage, nothing, save an overwhelming sense that something was wrong, something was missing, but no-one could say what.

known colloquially by Sunnyshore' magical crowd as the old man, the old blade, or the silver swordsman, Kabuto Miyazaki is the oldest living resident of Sunnyshore, being present at its founding and hanging around since – though often posing as his own descendants. A swordsman 'gifted' with immortality by the Everqueen of the Seelie in ancient Japan, he was the one that gathered the defenders the first time, a mentor or advisor for almost every mage, inheritor of an ancient art or other supernatural sort in Sunnyshore for generations. Firm, stern but kind and understanding, with a soft sport for small animals and children, he lost almost everything during the war; his family, his fortune the magic that halted his ageing, and one of his legs, but his level head and knowledge of magic and the fae where instrumental in helping repel the shadowqueen. After the end of the war, and seeing his own mortality, he chose to convert the remains of his estate into a school and pass on his secrets, both the the children of his allies, and to the general populace of the city, one of the main voices that urged the supernatural to no longer hold themselves apart, and for peoples lives to continue

Kabuto's great descendant, many generations removed, and currently posing as his granddaughter. A healer and master of iado, for much of the war she was possessed by a fragment of the queen as her vessel in the real world, to let her move around freely without loosing power or risking her true self, during which time she was a spoilt, bratty and callous girl. Once exorcised of the queens influence, Sharon remained just as spoilt, but a fair bit nicer and highly supportive of the defenders, though she'd never admit it. She tried to keep tabs with everyone after the war, and maintained a contact web, as well as helping look after her Grandfather now age is finally catching up to him

Just thirteen years old during the war with the Shadowqueen, Simon was one of the worlds pillars, a target of a dream-twisting fae called Jakobon, before being rescued. The ordeal awakened in him a natural afinity for fire magic, and he assisted the Defenders how he could, but his youth and inexperience kept him out of most major battles. Formerly a quiet and polite child with a bit of a hero-worship complex for the Defenders, it seems he has since grown into a much different direction, as rumours abound of him leading a biker gang, and he has been seen actively hunting devils and fae in the street, almost openly showing off his powers, though he still seems to have the trust of Kabuto and Sharon.

[Johnny America]

A familiar figure stands in the corner, one most haven't seen in six years. Wearing the same armored duster he wore six years ago; the wide brimmed hat obscuring his face just as much as it had the last time the heroes had seen him; massive sword held in front of him, point resting on the ground; and no doubt smoking a cigarette just like he did six years ago if the soft line of smoke rising from beneath direction was anything to judge by. The whole getup glowed ever so slightly, something most wouldn't even notice unless they stared at him for a good amount of time.

There stood the man most still knew as the Knight of Light, and he'd felt out of place. Maleck hadn't talked to the heroes since before he'd left Sunnyshore six years ago. He'd never revealed his identity, though he was sure some had figured it out what with the fact he'd disappeared right along with the leader of the Knights. Those who really knew Maleck would notice all this, most in the room probably hadn't known him outside of school, unless they'd been in the Kendo club, most of their experiences would be with the Knight himself and he looked the same as ever.

He'd decided to play things by ear. He'd been contacted after one of his night time fights. He'd tried to keep those activities rather discreet, ending them as fast as he could but it seems that more and more creatures of the dark were coming out of the woodwork these days and after a particularly drawn out battle he'd found the messenger waiting for him at his bike. He'd almost dropped back into costume when she'd told him about the meetup, that he should come because things were looking like they were going to get bad again, that the queen was probably going to return. He'd nodded his head and told her he'd be there, then driven off. Perhaps the Aer he'd known and loved was still in there, perhaps she'd never existed from the beginning, or perhaps he just needed to redeem himself and he saw this as a the very path he needed to walk for redemption. Even he didn't know the reason that he'd accepted the invitation but he knew he couldn't afford to miss it.

The costume had been a necessity, Maleck wasn't sure if any of the heroes still held a grudge and he'd rather be safe than be in a fight without a means to defend himself, especially from one Ms. Ayers. He'd seen what she'd done to some of the Knights of Winter, he'd often wondered if the original hadn't accepted because he knew what his fate would be. On the whole though, he doubted that there would be a fight with one of the heroes, now wasn't a good time, the Shadow Queen was free as was their friend, they'd want to spend time with latter and be ready for the former. Still...

And so Maleck stood there like he once had at the side of his former love, the Queen.

[Merilan]

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The minute hand drew near.

The last remnants of the Many-worlds spell dissipated around Kamui, distending her towards the back of the garden. As her faltering feet touched the grassy patches of Mr. Miyazaki's garden, time began to resume around the localised disturbance. The discolouration of the singularity began to evaporate, and demarcate, to her, what may very well be her final chance.

With a faintly choked breath, Kamui gripped onto the meditation bracelet on her left wrist, closing her eyes.

Think back upon your memories, your sentiments... your emotions...
Think back upon childhood times...

Images started to flash through her mind. The best and most prominent of what she could still recall.

Introducing herself on the day to the class. Having to correct the homeroom teacher of her name.
Being encouraged to find her inner light with Surume, and to never let 'Determination' waver...
Being given a fascinating pendant-clock that they both found interesting, with... Nick.
Holding onto that deputy's badge, as a sign of friendship, with... Maleck.
Being entrusted with a small fragment of the Deep, with... Cecilia...
Having her caliper be fixed and improved by Yusagi... and...

...and...

They drift away from you, even now.

She paused, and frowned at the blade by her side.

How much memory is slipping away now, Kamui?
Do you have it in you to make another jump, past this point? Huhu...
You're no closer to solving this mystery than you were at the start.

She had no answer for that, save that she couldn't give up. Until she was completely absorbed into the singularity of the compression of time... she would keep fighting. For their sake. For their happiness.

The 16-year old hadn't aged a single day, and likely never will; she was dressed like she usually was, in a light white dress with black leggings and arm-warmers. She was hurt, damage she clearly had sustained from the battle she'd freshly failed from. Caked in blood, with gashes throughout her torso and arms, and a spike going through one of her shoulders. She didn't look like she was going to fall over, though. She needed to meet them first. Healing could come later... her life was not a priority.

She stepped through the gatehouse and entered the foyer. Quiet, as always...

"You've come early," she spoke to Maleck. Rarely speaking above sotto voce, but with a quiet, unbreakable determination within her.

[Lord Raziere]

Surume walked in, silent in sorrow. It had not always been like this. Six years ago, before the final battle, she had yellow eyes and shorter, orange hair. Her eyes had the fires of passion, courage, determination, fighting spirit burning within her, all the the things that made a warrior great. She fought every foe with a smile on her face and a will to never give up protecting this world.

But then the battle with the Shadow Queen happened. In her final moments, the Queen placed a curse of despair upon her mind and soul out of spite. Everything that she was, was wracked with a terrible agony as the curse brutally murdered her passions, then filled her being with the inky miasmic blackness of despair. A martial artists passions and emotions were key to their ability to fight. If you could not harness your passion, you could not harness any of your strength. She had spent the past six years just trying to find a way to dispel it but to no avail, the curse being an old primeval thing so ancient that no one knew what it was.

So instead she figured out a way to fight by releasing the sorrow through her strikes, instead of using the flames of passion as a generator, she used the sorrow as fuel to be spent, it always seemed to come back anyways. Now her hair was long and blue, and her eyes were blue and distant. She wore her ring, and magical trench coat once again and her twin swords were sheathed at her waist: Sacarivar her magical blade, and Durgendalt her adamantine one. Between trying to hunt for demons she had only managed to get a bad apartment and bad low paying jobs in her time after the school, unable find the passion or the will to even try to do better or move her way up in the world. The fact that Kamui had died as well, didn't help matters.

However there is still a candle of determination within her. A little flame keeping her going that stands against the tide of darkness oozing throughout her being. Whatever this strange rift was, she needed to investigate. She was no longer good at inspiring or anything like that, but she was good at noticing things and looking into things. Maybe if these heroes worked together again, together they'd find a way to cure her? Who knows? All she knew is that she must fight this battle, no matter how hopeless it seemed. She looked at Maleck. She remembered being in Kendo club, as she wielded swords she thought it'd be a good way to practice at the time. He looked familiar for some reason. She tried to puzzle out why. Oh. Thats why. Curious. She decides to tell a joke.
"Hey. Maleck. How many knights does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"
Real answer: Six. Five to fail. One to betray.
"One. But only for night-lights."
She turns to Kamui in disbelief.
"......Your alive?....Y...you.....Your alive."

[DoctorFaust]

With an enormous bang, the door to the main hall is thrown open, and Nick strides through in an enormous flowing jacket. In the two years since he was last in Sunnyshore, he's put on at least ten pounds, all of it muscle from the look of it, and has grown another three inches. However, he also looks incredibly disheveled, his hair having grown down to his shoulders and sporting a weeks worth of stubble. And, despite the muscle he's added, he looks incredibly gaunt, with his skin pulled tight over his face and his eyes sunk deep into sockets ringed in mottled purple.

"I'm sorry if I'm late. I was in Russia when the summons ca-" He stops in the middle of his sentence, and stares in shock at the girl he had been trying for six years to bring back.

"Kamui," he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're...alive."

[Johnny America]

Had it not been for the reoccuring dreams that had drawn him back to Sunnyshore, Maleck would have been surprised by Kamui's sudden experience. It was her response that caused him to raise an eyebrow though.

"You've come early"

It was like she had expected him and that comforted him in a way, it hadn't been the accusatory response he'd expected.

The sudden arrival of Surume broke his train of thought and her joke put him on edge. It didn't sound right, not like the girl he'd once known. The girl who'd been a font of positivity. This sounded forced, like she was trying to show emotion. There were barbs hidden in it, he was sure, and something more...she knew who he was which didn't bode well. The others certainly had to have figured it out, hopefully there wouldn't be a fight, there were more pressing things at hand now.

He dropped that thought as somebody else arrived, best to figure that out later. It was Nick. From what he'd gathered, Nick had taken their Pyrrhic victory the hardest. He'd apparently left Sunnyshore not long after Maleck. Others would also no doubt be here shortly, he had to make his move fast before somebody showed some hostility towards him. He reached over and stubbed out his cigarrette in the nearby ash tray.

"And its a good thing I did come early deputy" Maleck nodded at the star still pinned to Kamui's clothes. "You look like ****."

Maleck raised his sword slightly and then brought it down gently against the tiled floor instead of the metal clink one would expect the faint sound of chimes echoed through the room as light pulsed out from where the tip of his sword impacted the tile like a ripple on the surface of a pond. It was the kind of light that streams through a window on a warm spring day. The kind of light a cat or dog might lay in and nap. It was gentle and relaxing, yet it was almost an impossible sort of thing, more of an idea of what light could be than what it usually was. As the light washed over Kamui her wounds begun to heal the injuries and cuts disappearing like she'd never even had them at all. Then it slowly faded lingering just at the corners of your memory like a pleasant dream. After a minute the effect was gone, then he brought his sword down again and the process repeated itself.

[Triskavanski]

"I'm Late! I'm Late!" she cries out running through the streets. She was good at running, this one. Always running, always late. "I'm late for a very important date!" It was about now she crashes finally into the scene with the others, panting hard.

On the outside, one would hardly know she was practically a robot at this point. However, one note she wasn't quite human any more. Both legs ended in digigrade paws, her eye color quite unnatural and her ears were that of a rabbits. A soft pink glow from the inside of her eyes and ears, indicated something more mechanical.

Of course, most of this cybertech she had meant she wasn't panting because of normal reasons, but attempting to simulate the more fleshy people around. Glancing around at the group she blinks, "Not time to say hello good bye! I'm La.. No wait.. I'm here! No need to fear! Your number one bunny Idol is here!" she says grinning widely as she poses, pausing for a moment before she scurries right up to Kamui, and pokes her with a finger. Then glances back up to her. "You! Wow You're not a robbit too.. something else.. Something.. I don't know. Not robbity!"

[Tuvarkz]

"I apologize for being late, but there was a distraction in the way," commented Cecilia as she entered the room. She appeared to be wearing a fashionable outfit, a crystalline belt around her waist. While her features had changed very little in the last years, a budding sense of maturity was starting to be felt alongside the noble appearance the half-elf had always kept.

A smile gracing her lips, Cecilia said: "Kamui, it's good to see you again." Giving a look around the gathered members, she noticed that the Knight of Light was armed for battle. Oh, naturally. He must still remember the fourth Winter, she thought. Of course, she had no reason to hunt down Light herself, however; as the former knight of the Unseelie Queen hadn't gone back to engaging in evil behaviour ever since.

The paladin then opened her mind, attempting to open a mental link with the rest.
((Attempting to add the whole group to the Collective. Willing people are automatically added, unwilling aren't.))
As she felt the mental links to the group form again, she then sent telepathically: "You all felt it, didn't you?"

[Lord Raziere]

Surume joins the mental link willingly, but you feel everything she communicates likes her thoughts are covered in black tar, dripping with listlessness. She needed to act as if she was useful. If she didn't accept the link, they might think her too broken to help. Surume knew the curse, and keeping herself sharp and on task was a way to fight against it.
Hi Cecilia. Yes. It is quite strange. An anomaly I have never seen before. The veil fell. Time stopped. Then it went back to normal. Except for the feeling of something missing. Whatever it is. But why feel this? Why stop time and break the boundaries? Why then make things go back to normal without any affected?

My theory is....this was a heist. Some supernatural thing wanted something. For some reason, they thought the best way to steal it was to cause Red Tuesday. Take it while people were distracted. That is why there is a feeling of something missing, because it was taken from this world. By either Fae or Demons.
There was no reason for a human to break boundaries like that. For the simple reason that it would be completely unnecessary.

[Merilan]

Kamui's internal clock ticked, her mind pacing with the recollection of what was to happen. Surume and Nick would walk through the door next... there they are. And then Yusagi, followed by Cecillia... yes, it was going well thus far. At least everyone made it here, unlike some other unfortunate timelines.

She closed her eyes and tucked her head down, perhaps apologetically, perhaps in deference to their moment of shock. She flinched a little as Maleck's light magic washed over her skin for a moment; some ebb of darkness within her flickered, ribbon-like tendrils protesting out of some fae-sense of defiance... and then faded, as her wounds did. She nodded to the Knight of Light, in gratitude. The spike on her shoulder simply burnt into light-consumed embers, and then to nothing.

Yes, I am... here, Kamui echoed into Cecilia's Collective, her voice as calm and familiar as it ever was, a throwback to six years ago. She carefully didn't respond with the word 'alive'. She winced a little as Yusagi poked her, but managed a small smile back towards the rabbit who'd been such a good friend during school.

Just a spectre. An imitation of light.

She glanced up towards the ceiling and the fan for a moment, then off towards the nearest window. It is curious that the veil shattered between all three worlds. If either the fae or demons desired theft, they wouldn't have to go through so much trouble.

Trying, are you?

Kamui shut her eyes and tried to gel her rapidly ailing memory, trying to pull details of the incident from the fog-banked folds of her mind... Red Tuesday...

[Johnny America]

As he was treating Kamui's wounds, two more arrived. First was Yusagi. She seemed out of breath but that was more than likely just an act, Maleck had been in enough fights with the bunny girl to know that she was switching out the organic for the robotic, she'd stopped bleeding altogether a while before they'd teamed up. By now he doubted very much that there was much human left there at all, at least physically; mentally she seemed to be just the same as ever, something that just added to his theory that the idea that cybernetics ate your soul was just a load of ****.

The final hero to arrive was Cecilia Ayers. Her arrival didn't start with violence so he could only imagine that perhaps she wasn't interested. Maleck had always been a bit cautious with Cecilia, her outward appearance and calmness belied a truly vicious fighter and he still carried the scars to prove it. When he'd fought the group he'd always made it a point to take her out of the fight as soon as possible. Now though she was here, offering to let him in on that mental link they'd always shared something she hadn't even done when he'd helped them face the queen. Now he could feel their tendrils as they probed at his mind. At first he hesitated, denied them entry, then with a sigh he joined in on the mental link.

I have to agree with Kamui. I doubt the devils or the fae would need to do something so brazen to steal something. The devils would simply get it through a mortal they had a contract with, stealing just isn't their style. The fae on the other hand are experts on the subject, if they wanted to steal something they'd just do it, they wouldn't show there hand though.

[Triskavanski]

Yusagi blinked tilting her head as she looked around, "What are you talking about? Who did what? Do I need to get out Mcsmashertons? He'll be very happy to smash something again! I'm not suppose to hit normal bad people with Mcsmashertons, only reaaally bad people." her ears twitch a little as she pulls out a small little bag from under her clothing.

[DoctorFaust]

Nick slowly hold up a hand, motioning for everyone to slow down even as he slips his other hand into a pocket of his jacket. As much as I really hate to be the one to say this, how do we actually know that that's the real Kamui? We've all had enough dealings with the Fae to know that they're capable of disguising who they are pretty much flawlessly.

[Tuvarkz]

"Although I'd rather not doubt her, even if a detection spell could be fooled, they can't fool a spell that will inherently not work on someone with evil in their selves. Luckily for us, I have prepared one such spell this morning. If it's truly Kamui, the spell will work. Otherwise, it will inevitably fail. Now, Kamui, if you would allow me to." sent Cecilia telepathically, approaching Kamui as she chanted a few words and gestured with one of her hands, the charge of a spell forming in the other one, before she placed her spell-charged hand in contact with the girl.

((OoC: Cecilia is casting Bestow Grace (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/bestow-grace) on Kamui))

[Merilan]

It always begins this way, does it not? And as they doubt, so much as you doubt... can you really trust who you are anymore?

Kamui's eyes narrowed a little as Nick brought up his perfectly valid point; she turned around gently towards the group, and then closed her eyes entirely. Cecilia's spell washed over her and emanated in the way she'd expect, from a creature who believed in the greater good, shimmering with the faint nimbus that her psionic radiance often did over her.

I do not blame you for doubting me... she echoed momentarily, before drawing a familiar bronzed watch-pendant from her neck. She opened her eyes, the resolution within her red eyes the same as it ever was six years ago. But I am here to aid you against what's to come. I shall not let harm come to pass upon any of you.
That is... what I truly desire.

[Tuvarkz]

Cecilia smiled at Kamui, and pulled the girl into a hug, whispering: "...really, I'm glad you're back." A moment after, she released the younger girl, and then said telepathically: "Now then, we can go back to discussing the situation at hand, or do we need to doublecheck everyone's identity? I'd rather not have to examine the Knight here for the scars of the wounds I once inflicted on him."

[Lord Raziere]

I disagree. If not a demon or Fae, it would have to be a mortal, and a mortal would have no reason to do such an act either, they would just steal without going across worlds. So. If its not mortal, not fae, and not Demon, what is it? What would have a motive for doing this, what would their means be? It must be someone desperate. Perhaps...an entity sealed away somewhere in this, decided to break out in the city? and didn't have any option to be stealthy or subtle, so they had to settle for something distracting while they escaped into the demon world or the Fae world? And I did not doubt that Kamui was real for a second. I do not see any point in mindless paranoia.
She already knew that Kamui was the real one. The real Kamui always acted as if she was experiencing Deja Vu, an unmistakable sign that she found that barely anyone could replicate.

[Johnny America]

"Hmph!" This whole thing was starting to piss him off.

"This is pointless. Of course the fae are experts at disguising themselves, but aren't any where near as good at acting the part. That's why the whole concept of changelings came about. Any one of us could be a disguised fae. I'm not sure about the rest of you but I haven't exactly been keeping tabs on anyone here. How can I be certain your not somebody else Nick? And its not just that who's to say that this isn't some poor deluded soul tricked by the fae, disguised as Kamui or that it is Kamui but under a form of mind control. Your spell would have worked if either of those things were true."

"The fae are magnificent con artists but if you doubt your friends at step one, well then we've already lost. Don't you know? That's the reason-" he sighed "that was the reason we lost, was because you guys couldn't be shaken. You always trusted in each other."

Maleck stepped back and looked at Kamui's haggered form, he could heal her wounds but if his dreams were anything to go by then she must be exhausted emotionally and physically.

"What we need to do right now is plan for the future, if Kamui is back I wouldn't be surprised if the Queen followed her and I'd be willing to bet that the events of Red Tuesday had something to do with that. And you" he put a hand on Kamui's shoulder "you should get some rest, you've been gone for six years and it doesn't look like you've slept during that time."

He was sorry to have to break that kind of news to her. He wasn't sure if she'd known how long she'd been gone but now she certainly did and he couldn't imagine how hard that would hit her.


The DC for a sense motive check to see if somebody is under an enchantment effect is 25 the DC if they are under the effect of Dominate person is 15. I make those on a -11 and a -21 respectively. If you would like me to roll though I can.

[Merilan]

Your presence can only create rifts between them, now. The scar of six years is large.

Kamui pointedly ignored the weapon speaking to her, through their own telepathic link, and glanced back towards the group. She smiled faintly at Cecilia, and reached her sleeved hand up to pat her on the back. "It feels good to be in your Collective again."

She glanced to Maleck as he patted her shoulder, and shook her head. I can explain how I arrived here. But right now, we do not have enough information to make anything but educated guesses about the situation.

She shifted towards the door, slowly. Then she moved her lips to speak in person: "Let's investigate, like old times. Each of your powers and Essence could only have grown stronger since. We can do this, together."

[DoctorFaust]

"You don't," Nick replies. "I've been in Sunnyshore, what, a grand total of about three days in the past six years? I could be anyone."

Shaking his head ruefully, he draws his sword and, with a small gesture, brings a floating orb of light into being above his shoulder. "God knows, I wanted her to really be Kamui more than... heck, probably more than just about anyone in this room. But she still has my necklace, and that's good enough for me."

As he walks past the rest of the group to get to the door, he stops and wraps Kamui in a hug. "I missed you," he whispers. "Thank you for coming back."

[Tuvarkz]

Cecilia nodded at Kamui's words, moving her right hand to her waist and pulling her belt, which crackled with lightning as her swordwhip took its usual form. The half-elf then spoke a command word, and her dress shone for a moment, morphing into her black armor, that while keeping the overall same somber tones, had been slightly modified if only to appear a bit more regal.

[Merilan]

Kamui paused as Nick gave his own hug to her, and she lowered her head with a quiet nod.

Can you tell him? The longer you wait, the more cruel the false hope you've given all of them will be, fufu...

"I am here," Kamui answered resolutely in turn, patting Nick on the hand. "I am here, Nicholas."

[Lord Raziere]

Let us go then.
Surume said, turning to the way out and beginning to walk away.
If we need to investigate the scene of the crime, then let us go to Sunnyshore where Red Tuesday occurred. And find evidence. Pretty speeches are useless for getting anything actually done.
She once would've made them herself, but she didn't have the energy to do that anymore. Or the energy to argue in Kamui's defense. Or even the energy to be angry or to feel anything at the Traitor-knight. It was all useless to do anyways. Maybe the Shadow Queen was returning, and their efforts six years ago were useless to? Would figure, in this world the fight against evil was endless anyways. Why bother hoping for victory if demons would always be there? Yet she continued on anyways, trying to hope, trying to care even through she lost both long ago.

[Johnny America]

The lack of a response to what he'd said surprised Maleck. He'd at least expected some sort of objection, some anger that he of all people was calling them out on this. Had things really been so bad after their fight with the Shadow Queen?

He hadn't stuck around to find out what happened with any of them after the battle so he was in the dark for the most part. Nick had left the city, he didn't want to know what Ayers had been up to, the Bunny Girl was remaining strangely quiet, and what was with Surume? Back in school she'd always been so vibrant and full of life, but now...

He sighed, slung his sword across his back and followed them out the door, obviously things were different than what he'd expected...

[BlackestOfMages]

"What, mr Miyazaki invites you guys here, and you're gonna split before even saying hello to him? rude much. No manners these days" asked a voice from the dojo's main entrance jokingly. Looking there, you see a young man dressed in a rather worn looking gi, underneath a leather jacket, a motorcycle helmet held in his hands, Simon King, now grown up a bit from the little kid you met before, and looking just as much a punk as his new reputation, rows of piercings and all "hey guys. it has been too long... we the only ones mad enough to actually turn up? guess everyone else had to....grow...up... Miss Kamui, and knighty lighty? dang, I musta missed something, when did you get back, how did you get back, why's this jerk invited, that why you're frowning, miss Surume? Want me to throw him out?" the questions where coming a mile a minute a tinge of excitement and admiration in the younger man's voice "sorry, sorry, getting ahead of myself. Miss Sharon sent me to pick you up. The old geezer'll be down when he's done with his class."

Simon walked up to the two portraits on the wall, before making a show of stretching out, cracking his knuckles, and setting his hands aflame as he pushed into the space between the two; with the heady rush of magic, the wall seemed to stretch, at once everything appearing in the same place, yet a new distance between them, a doorway leading into a shimmering tunnel; the mild aroma of fresh cut flowers and the sweet scent of honey greeted your senses at it opened

"tada; had to hide the entrance in case some of the kids got lost and wandered in. Miss Sharon's in the secret garden. Said she has something important to tell you all about that red tuesday ****storm"

"but before I let you see Miss Sharon, I gotta ask, do you really trust this *******, because the shadow-bitch and her servants hurt her enough already, and I aint letting one of her lackeys near her again if these even a chance he's still with her" Simon turned back to ask, blocking the door; his smile remained, but it had an edge of aggression to it, his eyes having changed, and the air around him was hotter, his fiery red hair taking a literal turn.

[Tuvarkz]

"Simon, you seem to be faring...well, I see" the piercings clearly weren't a welcome sight in Cecilia's eyes. "Don't worry about the Knight over here, he's on our side now. And you know that had he been back to nefarious activity, I would've hunted him down personally. So, keep your cool, will you?" The half-elf's last words had accompanied a smile of hers, as her weapon's electricity led way to a chilling cold that also seemed to envelop the knight's armor. Cecilia hadn't faced a particularly challenging fight in the past six years, and while she wasn't intent on permanently harming Simon, she'd probably enjoy sparring with him.

[Lord Raziere]

Surume turned to Simon.
"I observed the Knight of Light was Maleck Castor since six years ago. It was not hard to figure out. If he was planning anything, like revenge. He would've done it long before now. No, he betrayed. Whatever his reasons, he is not on the Shadow Queens side. Its not as if I can muster the energy to hate him all that much, even if I wanted to."
Why is everyone so pointlessly suspicious and paranoid of each other? When clearly there was no reason to be. Kamui was acting like Kamui always had been. Maleck betrayed the Queen so Occam's Razor tells her that he isn't doing some insane scheme or whatever. I mean who betrays his own Queen then six years later decides to take his revenge on the people who defeated her, even though he helped them? That would be a level of hypocritical insanity that even comic book villains would find nonsensical. That and he wasn't the Shadow Queen, therefore not the person who cursed her, therefore hating him was pointless and useless.

Why was everyone else so bad at seeing these things? How depressing. The really odd thing to her was if everyone was being suspicious why no one was calling herself out as an imposter due to how contrary she was acting to the Surume of six years ago, but she didn't care enough to point it out. Why bother? It would only make things more complicated.
"I did not realize you and other two were here. Very well. Let us hear from her again. I see you have not changed one bit, Simon. Also: How many students does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One assistant teacher."

[Johnny America]

A chuckle escaped from Maleck, which eventually turned into a full out laugh. There it was, that was the other shoe dropping. Add that to the list of things that went wrong, Surume had outed him. It wasn't something he hadn't expected, he was fairly certain she'd figure it out, hell she'd trained under him when he was captain of the team, also there was the little fact that she'd mentioned it earlier. The Surume he'd known would have probably slapped him in the face and asked him why, but this wasn't her and he'd definitely have to ask her later the trust in this room could be measured in a thimble.

And then there was Kamui, he'd finally put together what was bothering him about her. It was so tragic he couldn't help but laugh, it'd turned what would have been a rueful chuckle into a full out laugh. Again something for later, especially the voice oh he couldn't wait for that conversation that'd really burst it's bubble, its so easy to whisper lies into somebody's ear when you don't think anybody else is listening his gaze fell Kamui, a knowing look in his eye.

"Well" he shook off his coat in one motion, dispersing the cold air that was surrounding him and plucked the hat from his head "I guess the cat's outta the bag, isn't it?" the face of Maleck Castor smiled back at the group no longer obscured by the wide brimmed hat he usually wore nor the small tricks of light he played with his costume. "Maleck Castor at your service." He put his hat over his heart and bowed to the group. "Mal to my friends, and The Knight of Light to my enemies." Then he stood up from the bow and placed the hat back on his head.

"Surume's right though, why would I come back six years later for a revenge I don't want? If I'd wanted to take you out I would have done as the Shadow Queen ordered six years ago and killed you while we were in school, when you were separated and unarmed." He pulled a cigarette our of nowhere and lit it with a match that seemed to fall out of his sleeve. "I came back to this town because I was called to by a light in the darkness. I came to this meeting because Sharon invited me." He took a drag on his cigarette then blew it in Simon's direction "so lets stop with the posturing and get down to business shall we?"

[DoctorFaust]

"A guy in an antique sheriff's outfit fights for the queen, one suddenly shows up to fight for our side, and the Knights turn up missing one more of their number. It wasn't hard to figure out, Maleck. Honestly, it was kind of obvious. I didn't care then, and I don't care now."

[Triskavanski]

Yusagi glances from person to person, "Wait what? What is going on? Revenge? Why would you even want revenge? Do we have any sweets to eats? We should see what Miyazaki wants. He's kinda important isn't he?"

The bunny girl's ears twitched gently as she stood shuffling her feet.

[Lord Raziere]

"Wait.....People didn't know you were Maleck? I thought that everyone already knew since you are Maleck Castor and everyone kept referring to you as the Knight of Light. Aaaw, Sorry everyone.....I got which identity was supposed to be secret and which wasn't secret mixed up...."
She droops a little at the mistake.

[Johnny America]

"That's alright, we're working together now. It was bound to come out sooner or later and its easier if its sooner. This just makes things easier." He sighed a warmer smile crossing his face. "Besides I was fairly certain some of you would have figured it out when I skipped town."

[Merilan]

Kamui paused, with a slight look of surprise to her for the first time, as if she hadn't been expecting Simon. Like perhaps the expectation of what's to happen is slightly off. But there was a quiet smile in return, as she nodded. "It's fine, yes..." Other people had reasoned it out better than she would have. She proceeded towards the entranceway, standing by it to look back towards the group. Everything had been going better than it had in other timelines. It's good... it's good.

"I may not be in a position to speak, but I trust him as well. Shall we see Sharon?" She glanced to Simon.

[Triskavanski]

Yeah! Lets go, maybe they'll have some carrot cake!" Yusagi bounces slightly, stretching her legs, even if they were robotic and needed no real exercise from the cyberbunny. She didn't really understand, or care, what they were going on about. There were bad people she could hit with her hammer and that was good enough for her.

[BlackestOfMages]

“Fair enough then. My apologies, I guess, Castor” Simon said, still seeming disgruntled, but the heat and flames died down. “This way then, c'mon. We haven't got all day, y'know”

Snapping his fingers, the tunnel seemed to stretch further, then shrank down to just a single step. Ahead of you is a traditional Japanese garden, far to spacious to be part of the estate, and especially the building. A serene air fills the place, the sky above seemingly kept in perpetual twilight, an ephemerally silver moon reflecting of a wide koi pond. To the side of the doorway, stand several buzzing honey hives. The garden seems to stretch far into the distance, though after some time it just seems to stop

In the shadow of a large cherry blossom tree besides the pond, sits a young woman. Dressed in simple pair of faded red jeans, a tight t-shirt emblazoned with a trio of stars, and a simple flower headband holding back her long black hair, was Sharon Miyazaki, a far cry from the flashier styles and gaudy colours she sported during the war. Gently humming to herself, not noticing your entry, she swirls her hand over the pond as the water dances and follows it.

“Ahem, Mrs Sharon. Sharon... Oy, Airhead.... Wake up, Princess!” Simon interjected, starting off polite but soon switching into hotblooded agitation when she didn't respond “Our Guests are here! Wake up”

“Huh, what... Geez Simon, I told you not to call me that, you ass...” Sharon said, snapping out of her daydreaming, and flicking her wrist to splash the dancing water at simon. “Hiya guys, I'm glad you could answer my summons. You're all looking... well, to be fair, a bunch of you look like crap, but its the thought that counts, right? So take a seat and get comfortable, the news isn't bright, but it'll be better when we're all comfortable.” she added brightly

“So, I'm sure you're all aware why I called you all here, and though I had hoped a few more people would answer our summons, the situations still important; I can't say exactly what Red Tuesday was, but me and my grandfather know enough to know it was bad. The flows of magic are all messed the hell up, not to mention it was creepy as hell” She added, shuddering a little and seeming reluctant to continue “It caused panic across all the magic comunities, but a lot of those old fogies responded by locking themselves away, with the pillow over their head and hoping it all goes away; y'know, the same way they did when I was off dancing with the queen... or she was making me dance”

“But back on topic There's been some growing magical imbalances since then, most of em small enough they should blow over, but there's two major ones that threaten to go full disco-show on us... or blow up in all of our faces. One's at City Hall, strong enough even people without magic can feel a crushing despair, near the old seals that where set up to push back the Queen. The other, well, it's at Sunnyshore High, a place I'm sure you can all remember – and its had demons swarming it since it opened. Me, Simon and his friends have been helping to keep people round there safe, but we've had next to no success with anything more, and we're getting worn down quickly.”

“Miss SHaron's Right. Damn, but that's been frustrating – I can crack the heads of any regular punk-ass demon, but these bastards have been tough enough to give me a run for my money.” Simon replied, rubbing his arm tenderly underneath his jacket “And I wish that was all, but it never rain, it pours! Me and the Fire Dragons have also had our hands full trying to keep Sunnyshore's fae population calm and rational, as those fairy freaks seems to have gone hyper in the past few days.... ummm, no offence, Cecilia. I didn't mean... y'know." he coughed, biting his tongue and gesturing wildly with his hands, as if trying to clear away the air with energy "Silversand Bay's been buzzing with activity since then, and we've been getting a lot of mixed messages from it. A new queen, the return of an old one, heck, we're even seeing some Seelie and Unseelie side by side, which I'll admit freaked me out. Course, we couldn't get close without getting pelted by magic and sand. Sorry to pass the buck to you, you've done more than enough for the world, and its damn unfair for us to force you to save our asses again, but think you could help me check it out some time?”

Sharon sighed, seeming uncomfortable with the question, before continuing further “As Simon said, we have three major things we need to look into, and it's too much for just the two of us to deal with. I dunno if it'd be best to tackle them one at a time, or split up, but I know its too much for the two of us." With that, she stood up, and bowed down towards the six of you "So, from myself, Simon, my father and all the people of this city who are threatened by this new crisis, we're asking you to help. Sorry for dragging you away from your normal lives, but... I honestly don't know anyone else to turn too” Sharon ended, sounding much more down and defeated than before, almost a hint apologetic.

“But before we head off, can I offer anyone a drink or something to eat. We do have a few snacks here, some I baked myself, not for when you came or anything... just, because I felt like it. Stop grinning, Simon!”

[Merilan]

Aah, see? Right on time. Pardon the pun. The usual garden assortment of calamities are here. And I'm so glad my Unseelie cohorts are causing so much havoc! Really, I'm so proud of how much they've grown.

"Crushing despair at City Hall, with overwhelming magic to pierce the Sight, possibly related to the seals...
Sunnyshore High becoming overwhelmed with demons...
And Silversand Bay pouring forth full of both Seelie and Unseelie fae."

Kamui made a little face, deep in thought in the moment as she usually is -- terribly serious, and not about to stop for snacks or relax for a moment like how her habit's gone. She paced to one side of the cherry blossom, bowing in respect to Sharon, but then glancing up towards the air. As Surume noted -- like she were experiencing deja vu...

"I would suggest we move quickly and concentrate efforts on either Sunnyshore High or Silversand Bay, then the other. Though I am concerned that the seals may be weakening, an outpouring of demons and fae have much more urgency to them."

[Johnny America]

They were right things were bad, worse than he'd expected actually. The seals were coming loose, demons were threatening high schoolers, and wouldn't you know it there was a surge in fae activity. Well the seals coming loose was bad news, and he wouldn't stand for seeing kids in danger plus the Queen liked to recruit from the youth, the surge in fae though might not be as big as they were making it. The Seelie and Unseelie hated each other though, so whatever was bringing them together should probably be investigated.

"I'm gonna have to agree at least partially with Kamui, I think the school should be one of our top priorities. The queen liked to recruit from the young and vulnerable and I wouldn't be surprised to see Demons making similar moves. Plus while the Demons have your attention who's to say the fae aren't using the comotion to sneak something behind the scenes. On the other hand I don't think we have enough information on whats happening in Silver Sands, perhaps we should send some Fae of our own to check it out. Then again I don't like the idea of those seals being threatened."

He thought for a second and sighed, he had an idea of how they could tackle these problems all at once but he didn't like it.

"There's enough of us that we could split into groups and each tackle something different. We send some combat heavies over to the school with Simon and some people he thinks can handle it. All of us would be good choices for this, we're all fairly good in a scrap. The Fae should be handled by somebody who won't draw their suspicion. Cecilia, you'd be great for that and Yusagi or Nick would make for good back up if things went south. I would also be good back up but I'm pretty sure I'm persona non grata among unseelie fae" He paused.

Oh ****...he was doing it again, but it'd be weird if he stopped now.

"City hall is something our most steadfast and focused members should handle, somebody who can handle stress. If I remember from our fights Surume and Nick were the rocks of your group, though Cecilia could work in a pinch as well. I would be useless here I know almost nothing about magic. Also I would suggest we keep Kamui away from the Seals or the Unseelie, it hasn't been so long since they've had their hooks in her. For us its been six years for her" He looked at the girl, when she had arrived she'd looked like she'd just gotten through a fight with the Queen herself "well when she arrived it looked like it had been only been minutes."

"My suggestion for teams would be..." he could feel their eyes boring into him, what was he doing? He wasn't the leader of the Knights anymore. He continued "Cecilia and Yusagi check out things in Silver Sands. Surume and Nick see if they can figure out whats going on with City Hall and the Seals. Kamui and I, along with Simon and any others he can round up go and clear the Demons out of the school."

He sat there for a second, there was silence in the room. He suddenly felt very out of place, well more so than he had a second ago. This was something he'd been used to when he'd been the head of the Knights, giving out orders and delegating jobs, but was it right for him to just fall into that habit again? "Or there's always the safe option of tackling each of these issues one at a time, but we also don't know how pressed for time we are so that might not be an option."

[Merilan]

It's true that splitting up should be considered, but Sharon and Simon both admitted the situation was far out of their control. If they couldn't handle it, and she trusted them to be capable warriors and spellcasters, it's not a certainty that they could handle it with their forces divided, either.

"I worry we run the risk of not being able to handle the situations with our powers split up," Kamui reasoned to Maleck. She honestly wasn't keen on seeing those Seals weaken, if only because of what it'd mean for all of her struggle. Or what it meant to her existence, period. "But I otherwise have no objections to those assignments. Sharon, do you believe the situation is of a dire enough scale that we should concert our efforts one at a time? I admit, I prefer that approach myself. We may find ourselves saving time through effectiveness, if not efficiency."

[Lord Raziere]

"Crushing despair.....Hm....makes no sense."
She thought that the despair was just some last resort spell. Some final act of spite from the Shadow Queen. Was she more connected to despair than she first thought?
"Though Kamui could be right. We will have to move quickly to dispatch both. But then again, we could split into two groups of three, or three groups of two. I'll want to investigate City Hall regardless, though if it has to done after the demons are taken care of, I'll accept that..."
Her hands wander to the handles of Sacarivar and Durgendalt. She would need to investigate City Hall to maybe figure out how her despair curse worked, but protecting the innocent took priority, and her blades hungered for demon blood.

[Tuvarkz]

As the situation defused, Cecilia's face returned to normal, the whipsword once more crackling before a movement of the lady's hands made it return to taking the shape of a belt at her waist.

The situation was indeed dire, apparently, but the half-elf, if not entirely disagreeing with the Knight's comments, argued: "While indeed the situation at Silversand Bay is a source for concern, I believe it would be better to wait for the situation to calm down first; as my presence wouldn't be entirely welcome, particularly amongst the unseelie. Add the fact that fey politics tend to be rather unstable, and any information we gathered this early on could become unreliable in a matter of hours. Thus, I suggest we leave Silversand Bay for last, and instead tackle the two actual issues first. I should go help with the City Hall, and Yusagi should perform her best at fighting the demons at school."

[Triskavanski]

"Demons at school? Are you sure they aren't just teachers? I had this one teacher who was pretty demonic too. But if they need my hammer, I've got lots of hammer to hammer! But you know not everything is a nail. There was this one time I pulled a screw out of a box of nails. You couldn't nail it in! You had to screw it! Can you believe it? And if we went to silversand, we've gotta watch out for un-Brennan too. Sometimes she carries guns, and likes to have a reaaaally big one. I think she's overcompensating for something sometimes, but I've got a big hammer too for bigger bang. So maybe she just likes the noise? Yusagi tilts her head as she rambles on trying to think of what she could do to assist. Truth be told though she was very much a one trick pony once she left her laboratory.

[DoctorFaust]

"Let's not split the party," Nick says, sheathing his sword. "That's why things ended up the way they did...last time."

[Johnny America]

"Hmm, I don't the idea of somebody taking the mantle of not knowing whats going on with the Fae but if you think they won't welcome you so be it, it could just as easily turn out to be nothing and just blow over. If your not going to run recon on the fae then city hall is the next best option and we'll take Yusagi with us. There's sure to be plenty of nails for her to hammer in at school."

He turned to Nick. "Maybe I missed something last time, or maybe this happened before I joined up, you know like most of your adventures. But wasn't what happened last time not due to us splitting up but due to the fact we were fighting the Queen? Maybe I'm missing something but I think we did pretty well for fighting her. I believe we were split forcibly because of the fight with the queen."

He put his feet up on the table "we have at the very least two major problems, and we can form two teams perfectly suited to go and deal with those problems." He took a long drag from his cigarette turning it into nothing but a stub, then blew the acrid smoke straight up.

"If this is because you want to catch up with Kamui, I can understand, but that can wait till after we take care of the emergencies. She'll be safe with Yusagi and I, not that she can't handle a fight herself or anything." He nodded at Kamui.

"I'm sure she'll be around after this mission, its not like we're facing the Queen again."

[DoctorFaust]

"I meant when half of us had to leave the fight with the Queen because our rear guard got overrun, which resulted in...what happened."

[Tuvarkz]

"My apologies for my failure back then, my stamina couldn't hold much longer than that. But indeed, we're not currently facing something on the level of the Queen, and we shouldn't have any troubles." argued Cecilia.

[DoctorFaust]

"It wasn't your fault, Ceclia. No one could've known the Queen had that many to reinforce her. Regardless, we're going to be stronger together than we will be separately, and if Simon and Sharon can't handle it, we probably don't want to fragment our strength."

[Tuvarkz]

"Well, if you're insistent on it, we should then go deal with the demons first. An active source of danger should take precedence over the insofar largely inactive presence in the City Hall, which we'll have to go to next. We can still go to Silversand Bay afterwards."

[Merilan]

Kamui nodded to Cecilia, turning towards her and Nick both, then to the Knight of Light. "I suggest we follow Nicholas' advice on this matter, Maleck," she responded, before concentrating momentarily to drift towards the entranceway to the garden on ebbs of ribbon-like shadows made manifest, dissipating into dissolving motes of negative light. "We'll be quicker as a whole group, our strength undivided. Let us go to where it all began: Sunnyshore High."

[Triskavanski]

"I agree.. Besides, we don't know anything that is going on right now. If we knew, then we could. But we don't. So best to prepare for multiple situations! Who knows, maybe the demons are friendly and just are trying to get a good education but all the schools in the demon world are terrible! And little Goorthgalakik still can't read! So he's always being picked on by the other demons that can read! So we should help him learn how to read!"

[Johnny America]

"I don't like it, we don't know how urgent those two things could be" Maleck sighed "for all we know they could both be ticking time bombs set to go off at who knows when. We aren't dealing with the Dark Queen and her whole army here, we're dealing with the forces of hell making a power play and the degradation of some seals. While I agree that we're obviously better in a group but there's enough of us here that we can afford to split up if we take Simon and Sharon with us for back up and I'm not sure if we have enough time to take everything on one at a time."

[Triskavanski]

"Well whatever that means! I'm going to the school, better to go now than stay here." Yusagi comments before heading out pulling her hammer out of her bag. It was a massive thing, and she was wielding it with ease. Black metal, adamantine, with a few technological upgrades to it. Namely a small ring around the base of its head that manipulated gravity.

[Lord Raziere]

For some reason Surume doubted Yusagi's improbable scenario of a demon only wanting to read was going to happen. She didn't bother to destroy her hopes though. Why try? Best that she hold onto that attitude as long as she can, the world will destroy it without Surume's help just fine.
"Very well. I will go with you to the school. Demons always need killing. However I will be investigating the city hall right after. The seal weakening is a long term threat that cannot be ignored."
She turns and begins heading towards the school with Yusagi. She keeps her swords sheathed. No reason to draw them until they get to the fight.