plot The Cosmic Battle to Save the Thread

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star pulled away from Pheo, hands sweaty and shaking. She took a deep breath. "My telepathy confirms that whoever's in trouble is behind there." She sighed. "Here goes nothing, I guess..." With that, she pulled open the door....

@Jaywalk

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by Shard of Thought

[xinoehp512 he/him]

33 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

suspended in midair

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It's also locked.  

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

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*sigh*

Star Narrated and floated upwards next to the door. As she moved to open it, however, she found that it was locked. She tried Narrating it. No luck. She scoffed. "How are we supposed to get in there?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Xino hmmed, then pulled out his sword. "What if we..."

There was a brief hum as the sword activated, then a whoosh as a pulse of flame shot forth from it, blasting through the door. Xino waved, dissipating the smoke, looked through, and saw... the other side of the glade.

"Rats," he muttered.

Even as he gazed through the manufactured peephole, the door began to fix itself. Darkness bled out of the woodwork, forming small streams of smoke that began to coalesce into... well, whatever it was the doorway was made out of.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star glared at the door flatly, frustrated. "I wonder if Ember could bust through this thing," she said. "Should I summon her?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Xino ran his finger along the regenerating edge, frowning. "Blasting it didn't work. I doubt that any other type of brute force attack would, either." 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Author, what does it take to help someone out..." Star mumbled. "Any ideas? I'm a bit out of sorts at the moment."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Suddenly, Pheonix spoke up.

"The doorknob," he said. "There's something about it- I'm not quite sure what..."

He trailed off, running his hand over the star embossed into the metallic surface.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star raised an eyebrow. "Odd that it has a star on it. Seems kinda foreboding to me. Like it knew I was coming." Star thought on this. She really had made herself quite the player in the games of Fate and Destiny. Left her mark on history as a villain. Hopefully she could make a mark doing good as well. And then getting my storming happy ending... 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Xino ran his fingers over the star on the doorknob.

"Hey," he noticed, "it's loose."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, go on, try to pull it out." 

Star inwardly groaned. She was much more comfortable with enemies she could chop apart than mind-bending puzzles like this one.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Xino twisted the star back and forth a couple of times.

"I think it's screwed in," he said after a few tries. "Here, why don't we just..."

He trailed off as a wisp of black smoke escaped from behind the star and dissipated in the light. With unease, he glanced at the hole he'd blasted, black smoke still coalescing.

"Are we sure we want to open this door?" he asked. "Behind this... I think it's the Nightmare Tree."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star regarded the door warily. Her head was still pounding, though it was less painful now. More like a beating drum, pulsing inside of her. Originating from the doorway. "Someone's behind there," Star said pensively. "We can't just leave them." 

Edited February 22, 2020 by Shard of Thought

[BringerofShadows she/her]

@xinoehp512

[xinoehp512 he/him]

On 2/22/2020 at 1:38 PM, Shard of Thought said:

Star regarded the door warily. Her head was still pounding, though it was less painful now. More like a beating drum, pulsing inside of her. Originating from the doorway. "Someone's behind there," Star said pensively. "We can't just leave them." 

Xino sighed, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Somehow I knew you'd say that."

Without further ado, he gave the star a sharp twist and pulled it out entirely.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then the doorway exploded into streamers of black smoke- leaving behind what could only be described as a hole in reality. Xino peered forwards through it, coughing slightly from the smoke, then looked back at Star and Pheonix.

"Shall we?" he said.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star stood tall, the smoke billowing around her, making the skirt of her dress flutter. "Indeed," she said. She walked through without delay. 

@Jaywalk

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Now we need you.  Sorry I tagged you too early a while ago. 

 

[Jaywalk he/him]

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Perfect timing! I'm in Creative Writing right now

A crash. Jaywalk raised his head, vision blurry. A light. Two figures walked through the door-shaped hole. Voices. Was that...no, couldn't be.

He slowly got to his feet and braced himself for the nightmare to begin. Ethereal waves emanated from the doorway--it reminded him of the Void. He couldn't imagine what this world had in store for him next. Another tease of happiness, only to plunge into despair? He wasn't sure his soul could take much more.

But as he raised his fists and the figures stepped ever closer, his vision returned. No, no more. Please! he begged with the nightmare. Not her, anyone but her! How dare it hurt him like this?

"Stay back!" he cried. His veins pulsed, the purple light of the Void flashing in his eyes. He looked down in surprise at his hands. The Void...it was with him again. Euphoria rose within him, then faded to determination. He would not let it take him. His powers had returned.

And he attacked.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

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Hah, perfect! Also, you should probably follow this thread, just 'cause I don't wanna keep taggin' you. 

@Jaywalk

Star blinked, eyes adjusting to the darkness. Blackness swirled here as if it had a mind of its own, shifting through the air like a living thing. Whispers floated around her, calling. She had a chilling feeling that this place knew her. But the sound of the tortured soul had gotten much closer. That door had been the only thing keeping her from fully feeling the pain of whatever poor individual was unfortunate enough to reside here. She put her hand to her head, suddenly pained. 

But then, something rustled in the darkness. The soul she had heard knew she was here. Please! it begged. Not her, anyone but her!

Star's eyes widened. She knew that mind. 

"Stay back!" 

And she knew that voice. A wave of nostalgia hit Star full force. "Jaywalk...?" she whispered. Suddenly, however, the song of Jay's mind changed. He would attack her here. "Jay!" she shouted, reaching out to touch his mind and let him know he was safe.

Edited February 24, 2020 by Shard of Thought

[Jaywalk he/him]

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Done.

He stopped, willing the Void away from his fists. His veins faded to a dim glow, but enough light remained to illuminate the faces of the figures.

"Star?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star's face brightened as her eyes met Jay's. She grinned broadly, sighed with relief. "Jay!" she cried. She ran forward and embraced him. "Oh Author, I haven't seen you in so long!"

[Jaywalk he/him]

Jaywalk was caught off guard by the embrace. "Is it...is it really you?" he asked, slowly coming to embrace her back.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Star nodded, despite the fact that she knew he couldn't see the gesture. "Yes," she said. "Yes. We were in the Dream Branch and then... I heard your mind somehow. Oh, it doesn't matter. We're here to help you." She pulled away, hands on his shoulders, looking him over. "Oh, dear, what's happened to you?"

Edited February 24, 2020 by Shard of Thought

[Jaywalk he/him]

He let out a somber laugh, wincing at the pain in his chest. "Many things, Star. Many things."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Many things have happened here as well." She smiled, tears in her eyes. She didn't know quite what to say. 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Pheonix stepped through the reality warp behind Star, eyes widening as he took in the broken scenery.

"How long have you been in here?" he asked.

Edited February 24, 2020 by xinoehp512