Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 269: Through the Darkness
Date: April 15th, 2006.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers are in the big room. Metal is at his table; it is possible to hear crews repairing the damage Vlad caused.
Digifanatic: "Sorry I took off on the last one, but I'm not one to multitask things like these."
Aribar yawns, having just woken up from a nap. "What happened while I was sleeping? Repair crews everywhere..."
The Ninja: "Fictional character did a bit of damage. I hope they don't mind repairing it."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, right now, I just want Meier Link outta here, so..."
Metal Man: "Back in the old days, we did the damage instead of imaginary people, so the crews probably are used to it."
Julian: "Yo! We gonna get this mission on or what?"
Charles: "For a while, Vladimir *wasn't* imaginary."
Digifanatic: "Julian's right. Let's finish this up."
Charles has the scars to prove it.
Metal Man: "Well, I pinpointed the location of Meier Link." *brings up a sort of map, showing what appears to be... Saturn Valley.*
Julian: "...Not that place again..."
Metal Man: "His crypt is buried where an ancient relic once stood. The relic was destroyed quite a while ago, and his coffin was put there instead."
Charles: "The land of Earthbound."
Metal Man: "The darkest reaches of evil now haunt the valley."
Digifanatic: "Oh boy..."
The Ninja: "What's so bad about it? Are there Zombie-pirates around?"
Metal Man: "Not even master barf could stand the evil of the place."
Digifanatic: "It's quite amazing how many places we return to all the time... and how many times we return to those places."
Metal Man: "So then. Your goal is to unseal Meier's crypt and reduce him to dust."
Julian: "Easy."
Digifanatic: "Alright... Well?"
Metal Man: "I have a warp tile set up, as usual."
Digifanatic: "Anything else? Eh, guess not."
Aribar: "We're doing this already? Okay..." *leaves to his room to get that Deku Tree branch... So much for turning it into a weapon. The elf then heads to the warp room and steps onto the tile after the others arrive.*
Digifanatic starts to head towards the warp...
Charles heads on over to Ivan's office for one moment, as to be punctual in his meeting he said he would do earlier.
Julian: *Warp Room Walkin'.*
Garrick moves into the Big Room, I suppose. He got a call on his Dex about needing the Questers for something, so he moves that way in time to catch Ari walking into the Warp Room. He shrugs and follows.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers all reach the warp room and are soon on their way. The final mission of this commander begins. *Insert dramatic Castlevania music.* Oh, right.
Ivan Robotnik: "...Hello Charles. What shall we discuss?"
Charles: "You have device?"
Ivan Robotnik: "Yes I do. It is complete, though I haven't picked up much on it."
Charles: "Please specify quickly so I do not hold out the others for long. What it does, of course."
Ivan Robotnik: "The device I made? It tracks allies. Unless you mean a different one?"
Metal Man (GM): He points at a big ol' map. There are some dots now.
Ivan Robotnik: "It takes a while to scan who it is, but we can tell there are some allies in the... south pole."
Charles: "Are there any in the Saturn Valley region?"
Ivan Robotnik: "None. That's a dead zone. It has been sealed by a magical hex."
Charles: "We shall discuss later. I thank you, Professor Ivan." *Charles walks very briskly.*
Ivan Robotnik: *Nod.* "Good luck."
Charles is now warped/in the warp room/whatever.
Metal Man (GM): *WARP.* The Questers appear in a small field of brown dirt. To the South is that huge sea they saw once or twice before.
Julian: "...This is just startin' off great..."
Metal Man (GM): To the north is an ominous mountain range. There's a big door in the way.
Aribar: "... What's that door doing there?"
The Ninja: "At least there's no pirate zombies around."
Digifanatic: "Good question." *walks up to it to see what's up with it.*
Julian: "...If this is anything like the book I read..." *walks over to the door.*
Metal Man (GM): The door has three engravings.
Charles: "So... where do we begin?"
Julian: "The friggin' door."
Metal Man (GM): The Ruby, the Emerald, and the Sapphire.
Aetos: "Then... you insert the three jewels?"
Digifanatic: "Well... yeah."
Julian: "...That solves that..." *Julian jams the Sapphire in the appropriate slot.*
Garrick: "...that sounds familiar."
Aetos: "Charles?"
Metal Man (GM): It clicks on in.
Julian: "Who's got the Emerald?"
Charles inserts the Ruby in its slot.
Digifanatic: "I know I don't... I think Charles has the Emerald as well. It's not me, or else I would have taken care of it already. I would not have waited."
Aribar hrms and checks his pockets. "Oh, here it is... Didn't know it was in my possession."
Digifanatic: "Ah, no problem."
Aribar walks over and places the emerald in the slots with the others.*
Digifanatic: "As long as we have all three, that's all that matters."
Garrick: "Who are we after again?"
Digifanatic: "Meier Link." *stands back to give the door some space in case it opens at us...*
Aribar: "He's a vampire who will soon be killed... Permanately."
Aetos: "Recall him possessing me?"
Garrick: "...hm."
Julian: "Mo' like he hypnotised you."
Metal Man (GM): The door glows, and then opens up, floating upwards.
Digifanatic: "And Garrick, remember that crazy enigmatic guy that interrupted the Platinum Challenge?"
Aetos: "Yes, that sounds more correct."
Julian: *ONWARD.*
Metal Man (GM): A dark mist pours out of the cave as it opens. It's a sort of tunnel.
Digifanatic walks on...
Charles wheezes.
Aetos: "That looks comforting, shall we?"
Charles: "Lord, that's some fierce dead evil smell coming outta there."
Digifanatic: "Certainly strange."
Charles enters, holding his nose.
Julian: *Entrance.*
Digifanatic: "And anyways, Garrick, we got rid of him, too."
Aribar has shudders go down his spine... The elf would like nothing better than to run home right now.
Metal Man (GM): Walking on in, there is a tunnel with white, glowing words appearing on it. They light up the tunnel somewhat.
Digifanatic: "Ooh... this is interesting." *reads.*
Aribar unsheathes Moonlight and follows the others in...
Metal Man (GM): The say various deadly phrases. 'Die' 'Destruction' 'Annihilation Doom.' Some of them babble on in a language it is possible to understand.
Garrick: "...whatever. We kill him."
Digifanatic: (very sarcastically) "Nice..."
Charles: "Great Bahamut this is spine-chilling for me."
Metal Man (GM): Then the Questers reach what appears to be an altar room.
Julian: "Blahblahblahblahbblah..."
Metal Man (GM): It's an altar to the evil Meier Link. Blood covers it. Dark mist fizzes from it.
Garrick: "...hey, I've got a question. What happened to Link? I mean, regular Link. Master Sword Link."
Digifanatic: "Exiled to Turion like all the other Smashers, I believe."
Metal Man (GM): It is possible to walk ahead. The tunnels continue on.
Charles: "There's been little word of the Smashers since we've arrived here."
Digifanatic: "Well, not exiled, but they all stayed there after we returned."
Aribar: "C-can we just turn b-back and leave M-meier Link be? This place is a b-bit creepy..."
Garrick: "I could care less, at the moment."
Charles: "Mind giving us the holy branch then, Aribar?"
Digifanatic: "Oh, come on, Ari. We've dealt with worse. Like the Void."
Garrick examines the altar, getting a bit closer...
Aetos seems attracted to something Digi said... and yet doesn't know why.
Digifanatic: "I take it you want to know what the Void was..."
Aribar: "N-nevermind..." *The elf just stands there, waiting for Garrick to be done so they can be done and out of this evil place. He's also muttering something under his breath repeatedly. .*
Julian: "Psh. Nothin' worse than a haunted house or a horror flick. Now you guys just gonna stand 'round and get scared or we gonna do this?!" *keeps going down the tunnel.*
Aetos raises his eyebrow at Digi. "I know well what The Void is..."
Garrick: "Then shut up, Aetos."
Digifanatic: "Oh, sorry. I forgot if you did or didn't."
Metal Man (GM): The altar has a variety of unholy symbols on it.
Digifanatic continues on...
Metal Man (GM): The blood is apparently used to power it. Digi goes to continue on, and hits an invisible wall.
Garrick: "...hm."
Digifanatic: *bonk.* "Whoa..." *takes a step back.*
Charles: "Have found out anything, Sir Garrick?"
Garrick searches the altar for clues about anything. Something that might stand out.
Charles will take his silence as a no.
Julian: "...That ain't good."
Metal Man (GM): The altar appears to be powering the barrier Digi ran into.
Aribar gives a quick glance over to Digi. W-what's wrong?"
Julian feels around the invisible wall for a hole or somethin'.
Metal Man (GM): It feels solid. No holes or anything.
Julian: "Apparently we got an invisible wall set up..."
Metal Man (GM): The altar is made out of a soft stone.
Garrick: "...hm."
Digifanatic: "Nothing wrong, Ari--Just bumped into something. No harm."
Garrick cocks his head to the side, then brings back his right leg and smashes it into the altar.
Charles: "Julian, you look at a titan and raise your fists. You come across a barrier and say 'it ain't good'? My my... how we differentiate on circumstances."
Metal Man (GM): *SMASH.* The altar crumbles, and the barrier disappears too.
Charles: "Oh Holy Crap that surprised me!"
Julian: "Well yeah, you can't get past a barrier... or can you." *moves on.*
Garrick: "Hm."
Digifanatic continues...
Garrick moves on as well.
Aribar jumps as he hears the stone crash down. "Give a bit of warning n-next time..."
Charles moves along.
Metal Man (GM): Walking on, you enter a new room. This one appears to be a gothic chapel.
Aribar starts following the others again.
Aetos: "I think it's the spooky-ness getting to him."
Metal Man (GM): The only problem is that it's entirely evil. With symbols and pictures of villains everywhere.
Julian: "...Great..."
Metal Man (GM): There are the following stained glass windows:
Digifanatic: "This is screwed up."
Metal Man (GM): At the top, a circular one with Kuja's arms outstretched over everything. The left, three windows: Zio killing Alys with Dark Energy Wave, Ganondorf hitting Link with a cone of Darkness, and Denon using his 'Reidz' attack.
Digifanatic: "Let's get out of here... this is not right."
Julian: "Too bad, we got a mission..." *looks for a path onwards.*
Metal Man (GM): The right, three more; The evil Jeff Maxwell, clenching his fist; Smithy, his armies destroying their way through Nintendus; and an image of Gerald destroying the Earth.
Charles: "As far as it concerns the forces of malevolent darkness, it is right to them."
Digifanatic: "Sadly."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers may walk right down the middle, with pews to your left and right.
Julian: *Aisle walkin'.*
Metal Man (GM): Up one step is a raised stage which has an organ and a door to the left, and a door to the right.
Charles walks a steady pace down the aisle.
Aetos stands before Smithy's picture.
Digifanatic just looks for a way onward, unless the Meier is hidden on some other level in this place.
Aetos: "This guy looks familiar... but I can't grasp it..."
Julian: *Door Number Right.*
Charles looks left and right, wondering if a picture of him is in this chapel.
Metal Man (GM): Julian walks up to the right door; it slams shut. Aetos would feel... watched. Just then, the piano begins playing Kuja's theme.
Aribar keeps his eyes directly on the floor in front of him. When he hears the door slam shut the elf looks up, wondering what happened.
Digifanatic: *hears the slam.* "I bet we're close."
Aetos: "Hmm..??"
Julian: "...Goddaamnit."
Charles: "That... music." -_-#
Metal Man (GM): A ghost would rise from the floor. It looks like... Sha'fol.
Aetos looks into Smithy's eyes... then turns to the ghost.
Julian: "...Who's this joker again? "
Digifanatic: "It's more annoying than--oh great."
Garrick: "...well, would you look at that..."
Aribar: "Sh-sha'fol... A powerful So-solarian. ."
Sha'Fol: "See before you, the portraits of EVIL!"
Metal Man (GM): The organ rings out.
Sha'Fol: "I have been trapped in this chapel for many years... alone... and stared upon by the villains of your world."
Julian: "Yeah yeah yeah, big deal. Where's Meier Link?"
Sha'Fol: "..." He stares at Julian, and Julian suddenly flies backwards through a couple pews.
Charles: "Show respect to The Creator."
Aetos looks back into Smithy's eyes... "Who are you??"
Metal Man (GM): Damage to him.
Julian: *WHOA!*
Digifanatic: .oO(Yikes.)
Sha'Fol: "I am Sha'fol. I begin to wonder who I am some times, but I still have some memory. I was the ruler of the original Atlanteans... and it was my city which Kuja took over."
Aribar: "I do not think we can d-defeat him..."
Julian: "Oh, sorry 'bout that. Our bad."
Charles: "...So you aren't the Creator of Nintendus like I thought?"
Sha'Fol: "I am a part of the cycle of Nintendus. There is more to it than just me."
Garrick: "I thought he had something to do with the Solarians."
Charles: "Very good."
Metal Man (GM): He rises up some more, pointing at the piano.
Sha'Fol: "This is the sound of Kuja's mockery. It plays whenever I rise from the nothingness of sleep."
Charles opens his dex and modifies the information of Sha'Fol.
Sha'Fol: "I have been tortured by it for countless years. But it was made with some of my own magic; I cannot destroy it."
Charles: "Ah, well then. Since I despise that song whenever I hear it, allow me the honors of crashing it."
Sha'Fol: "It plays... it plays... the Three Powers were for nothing because of this. The only escape from this room... is to destroy that infernal organ."
Garrick: "...excuse me?" *moves closer to Sha'Fol..*
Sha'Fol: "Kuja has made the Three Powers's last sacrifice worthless by taking it over."
Julian: "So all we gotta do is smash the organ?"
Garrick then remembers he has nothing to do with the Three Powers, so nevermind...
Sha'Fol: "He has turned my greatest relic of peace into a bringer of death. Destroy the organ."
Charles: "Wai--wait a darn tootin' moment."
Sha'Fol: *Turns to Garrick.* "Your three powers and the ones to do with me, all are null thanks to this joker."
Julian: "...That sounds too easy. What's the catch?"
Sha'Fol: "I cannot destroy the organ. The organ itself is... magical."
Charles senses the motive of this 'Sha'Fol'.
Metal Man (GM): Charles senses he wishes to escape this room.
Julian: "So we gotta smash it for ya?"
Garrick: "Julian, wait..."
Charles: "...Don't buy into it."
Sha'Fol: "Smash it into pieces and burn them. It is an unholy artifact which tortures me."
Metal Man (GM): He makes a show of levitating pews into it; they all bounce off of it like it's rubber.
Garrick moves over to the organ, looking it over.
Charles: "You would want that wouldn't you... Meier Link."
Sha'Fol: "Meier Link? They buried him nearby to taunt me. For I want him dead."
Julian: "Hubba-wha?"
Metal Man (GM): The organ is a normal organ. Juuust the type Ganondorf would use, even. It plays on its own and doesn't seem to stop.
Aetos: "Wait..."
Charles: "My accusation skills are a bit misplaced."
Sha'Fol: "I wouldn't make this up. Meier would just destroy you."
Aetos smacks his head gently, and his eyes glow bright blue, he glares at the ghost... *Truth Seer.*
Sha'Fol: "Remember... in all history, he is the one who survived everything."
Metal Man (GM): There is a tortured soul who wants to escape the room, and who loathes Kuja, Meier Link, and the whole bunch worse than anything. Aetos also sees Sha'Fol's body, just as it is.
Charles: "He telling the truth, Aetos?"
Garrick doesn't really pay attention to any of this. He just duplicates what he did to the altar.
Sha'Fol: "If you do not believe me, you are free to leave."
Aetos: "Nope, that's no vampire."
Garrick: *KICK.*
Charles: "Very well. CHOP!"
Metal Man (GM): *SMASH* The organ falls apart. It plays slowly and then disintegrates. Sha'Fol appears visibly happy at this. He sets down on the floor, and turns to normal.
Julian: "...Well, that's that."
Charles: "...Thank goodness for getting rid of that."
Sha'Fol: "Yes... free again... Kuja shall never imprison me again."
Julian: "See? The direct path's almost always the best."
Sha'Fol: "I... am in your debt. Those doors... they block your way."
Metal Man (GM): He gets up, and glows.
Charles: "So then. What will you do now that you're free?"
Julian: "So which one goes where? "
Metal Man (GM): The stained glass windows explode; wind rushes in, as well as light. He holds his hands out, one for each door. Huge pillars of flame incinerate the doors.
Julian: "Whoa!"
Metal Man (GM): Then he holds his hands out to his side; all the pews float up. He points at the ceiling: They fly into there and destroy it.
Aribar cowers back a bit from the might of the Solarian.
Metal Man (GM): Then he puts his right hand into a fist, and whatever remains of the place, sans the organ, is sucked into a portal to the X-zone. The Questers are now in an open area in-between two caves. There's a tunnel to the left, and a tunnel to the right, in place of the doors.
Julian: "...Huh. So which leads where?"
Sha'Fol: "Free again... take your path. I have never been through them before."
Charles: "So then. What will you do now that you're free?"
Garrick: "...Sha."
Sha'Fol: "I will join your cause... as a history advisor."
Garrick makes to call his attention, then desides otherwise and remains silent.
Julian: "...Great..." *Always pick the Right!*
Metal Man (GM): Down the right Julian goes.
Garrick follows.
Aribar heads to catch up with Julian...
Metal Man (GM): Down the right path is another word-covered tunnel. Here is a dead end, with a puzzle. There is a square-shaped slot in the wall, with an inscription.
Julian: *Reads it.*
Metal Man (GM): Down on the floor is a pyramid block, a square block, and a sphere.
The inscription: 'Thou who wishes to awaken me from eternal slumber... take your infinite calculations and use them to decide what should go here. Beware... failure is painful.'
Julian: "...Yeah, I ain't to good with puzzles."
Aetos picks up the sphere and tosses it in.
Julian: *backs the *censored.* up.*
Metal Man (GM): Aetos tosses it in. It glows, and you hear a rumbling back in the chapel-ruins area. The inscription changes.
Aribar: "It doesn't sound l-like he wants awaken--What's that?!"
'The inscription: 'Ye have picked the object with infinite sides, and know the master well. Proceed to your other test."
Julian: "...Spheres don't HAVE sides!"
Aetos nods and walks back, "It said... take your infinite calculations..."
Charles: "Sooo uhhh..." *Is still in the former chapel area, dazed out.*
Julian: "Jeez..." *heads back and down the left path.*
Sha'Fol: "Lunarian. What fazes you?"
Metal Man (GM): Julian walks on into the chapel and to the right, down yet another tunnel. This one has a switch at the dead end which says 'Open Inner Sanctum.'
Aribar follow Julian back to the main cave and beyond.
Charles: "...I began thinking of what is to happen when we are greeted by Sardis Mongul. What he will say to me about the X-zone shield I created when Smithy first arrived."
Metal Man (GM): A weird aura is on the floor, walls, and ceiling leading to it.
Sha'Fol: "Sardis... Mongul..."
Metal Man (GM): Sha'Fol stares at Charles oddly.
Sha'Fol: "... .... . ."
Charles: "Yyyeeaahhhh?"
Sha'Fol: "Us Solarians know the names of all who have ever existed of our race. And I know no Sardis Mongul."
Metal Man (GM): No enscription on this area here; just the aura, and the switch beyond it.
Charles brings out the Sardis Mongul journal.
Aetos will just be wherever Julian is.
Metal Man (GM): He stares at it again.
Julian: "I ain't touchin' that switch."
Aetos scratches his chin. "I do like switches..."
Charles: "In all 18 pages, and one of my own, he says about your people, what has happened, and what---" *just gives Sha'fol the journal for him to read.* "You just read it and figure it out on your own."
Aribar chuckles nervously. "What are the chances of it being this simple?"
Sha'Fol: *Looks at it.* "This is not Solarian. It cannot be. It speaks with the tone of something else."
Julian: "You go ahead then, crazy-boy."
Aetos goes back to the chapel room and searches for some debris from the pews that were smashed into the organ.
Charles: "Then why does he speak as he is one of you?"
Metal Man (GM): Aetos find a small chunk of wood that was left alone.
Aetos picks it up.
Sha'Fol: "I don't know. He may be delusional, or insane, but clearly not Solarian."
Aribar hesitantly starts towards the switch. .*
Metal Man (GM): Aribar touches a foot on the aura, and that foot becomes covered in a dark aura. It feels like the Sword of Darkness.
Aetos: "Maybe he's a piece of The Void." he starts back for the path Julian and Aribar are in... and throws the chunk of wood on the floor in the aura... but too late since Ari went in it.
Charles: "...Right. Could I have the journal back?"
Metal Man (GM): The wood flies into the aura and turns completely dark. It comes out, spikey and evil-looking.
Sha'Fol: "Yes." *He passes the journal back.* "He is... something else."
Julian: "..."
Charles takes it back.
Aribar: "Gah!" *The elf jumps back from the aura and dashes a good ten feet back.*
Julian: "Yeah... Aetos, go ahead and flip the switch."
Charles: "I best see what the others are doing."
Aetos nods, and starts to lean and pick it up.
Metal Man (GM): Aribar leaps back; the darkness does not stick to him. Aetos would pick it up; it'd be all pointy and sharp, almost like a knife.
Charles looks to see what is going on.
Metal Man (GM): Charles would see Aetos confronting a weird aura-covered hallway, and a switch just beyond that hallway. In his hand, he has what looks like a Dark World piece of wood.
Aetos: "This should be handy." he says that as he eyes Julian... and he walks on through the aura after pocketing the dark-wood thing.
Julian: "..."
Charles: "...Aetos again?"
Aetos stops mid-way through. "Wait..."
Metal Man (GM): Aetos walks into the aura. Dark energy is enfused into his body. At least, it would seem to take it over, but then the crystal on his hand would glow. The appearance of an X-zone aura would then suddenly burn away the darkness, corrupting it.
Charles nods. "Aetos again."
Aribar puts his back to an untainted wall and slides down it, shivering from his contact with the dark energy.
Metal Man (GM): The aura remains, but Aetos is protected by an aura of X-zone chaos. He can walk right to the switch.
Aetos nods once more, and continues to walk through it.
Julian: *facepalm.*
Metal Man (GM): He reaches the switch; a rusted lever-switch.
Aetos: "Ok, well, here goes." *pulls the lever down, or up, whatever way it isn't currently.*
Metal Man (GM): *SNAP* Some sort of entrance opens.
Aribar takes a few deep breaths and starts calming down. He shakily gets up from the floor and looks to see what's going on.* "... How can Aetos be there?"
Julian: "Can' believe this..." *heads back into the main sanctuary.*
Charles: "Yes. I've been around Skyhigh."
Metal Man (GM): He would see the aura of the X-zone corrupting any darkness which touched him. It appears his fascination with the chaos protects him from other effects.
Charles leaves for the main cavern way.
Metal Man (GM): Back in the sanctuary, Sha'fol stands, pointing at a newly appeared door. It has red paint on it, and a golden knob. It has, in gothic script, "INNER SANCTUM" written on it.
Charles: "...You're still here?"
Julian: "He joined the team, remember?"
Sha'Fol: "Of course. I will wait for you and make sure no vampires attack you."
Aribar starts back to the former chapel, his steps a bit uncertain and the elf having a bit of a distracted air about him.*
Charles: "While you're out here, make sure Metal Man doesn't come here."
Sha'Fol: "...Odd request, but sure."
Julian: *heads to the door.*
Charles: "If he comes, you will know why." *heads to the door as well.*
Sha'Fol: "It is strange... the being you refer to, an evil one... sounds familiar to me."
Julian: "Everybody ready?"
Metal Man (GM): There is the door, which is unlocked.
Charles puts a finger up. He looks to the Solarian. "...Ehh, nevermind." *turns his head back to the door.*
Aribar: "Nope. Let's go on in..."
Charles opens the door.
Metal Man (GM): Charles opens the door; a cavernous area awaits. This one has stone steps and smells of old parchment.
Aetos looks at the Solarian... the new one... Sha'fol.
Julian: "Here it goes..." *heads down.*
Aribar takes a deep breath, grips Moonlight a bit more firmly, and tries to keep his fear mastered as he follows Julian down the steps.
Charles: "Best to ask now." *turns to Sha'fol again.* "Which being do you refer to as evil?"
Sha'Fol: "...An evil... Metal Man."
Aetos snarls.
Charles: "Which is why I requested it. There IS one lurking out there." *he goes down.*
Aetos shrugs... and follows behind Charles.
Metal Man (GM): Downstairs, the Questers walk, to the bottom, which is a basic crypt. The walls are made of stone, and down here, in total darkness, lies the coffin with Meier Link in it. The room has a clock on the three walls besides the South, where the Questers came from.
Aetos: "Aribar, Dark World?"
Aribar: "W-what about it?"
Metal Man (GM): it is possible to all see; light from chapel leaks in.
Aetos: "You."
Julian: "Anyone got a stake?"
Metal Man (GM): It seems too easy. Meier Link is still asleep, and the room is lightly defended.
Charles: "We have a branch that's holy."
Aetos pulls the dark-enfused plank.
Julian: "Branch'll work."
Aribar sheaths Moonlight and takes the Holy Deku Tree branch out. .*
Aetos: "Dark World, Aribar!" he shoves the wood into Aribar's hands.
Metal Man (GM): Aetos shoves it into Aribar's hands. It's sorta creepy.
Julian: "Stabbin' him with DARKNESS? Whatchu thinkin' Aetos?"
Aetos: "DARK WORLD!!"
Charles: "...I'm thinking he's trying to say that Meier Link is in the Dark World."
Aetos scratches his head.
Aribar: "Gah!" *The elf goes to kick Aetos's shins.*
Julian: "We aint' gonna know unless we open the coffin. Who wants to do the honors?"
Charles: "Yes." *he approaches the coffin.*
Aetos watches his foot..
Metal Man (GM): The coffin's lid has a hinge. It can be easily opened... though it has a holy seal on it. Strange.
Aetos: "Grr... GO to the Dark world, Aribar! Then stab Meier!"
Aribar: "D-d-do that again... And I sh-shall Terrorb-bolt you..."
Metal Man (GM): Opening it will break the seal.
Julian: "...Huh... Maybe we have to try stabbin' him though the coffin."
Charles: "You know... I think Aetos has a point."
Aetos points to the dark powered plank of wood.
Aribar: "I ag-gree with Julian..."
Julian: "What point? What would goin' into the Dark World have to do with stabbin' a being OF DARKNESS?"
Aribar holds out the branch for someone else to take.
Charles: "The being might be hiding in the dark."
Aetos points to the plank of darkness with more emphasis.
Julian: "So?"
Aetos sighs and lies down on the ground, giving up.
Metal Man (GM): The coffin is rather ornate.
Charles: "Opening THIS coffin might strengthen him."
Aribar: "J-just shove this branch through the c-c-coffin where his h-heart would b-be!"
Charles: "The alternative is to knock the damn black branch outta Aetos's grasp."
Julian: "It's your stick! You do it!"
Aribar: "... Ten thousand coins if you do it."
Garrick: "I'LL do it."
Julian: "Psh. 10k ain't nothin-...A'ight, you go ahead."
Charles: "Yes, THANK you for someone competant."
Aetos closes his eyes and remains holding the plank of darkness.
Metal Man (GM): It's like an evil teddy bear that's razor sharp.
Aribar gives the branch to Garrick.
Metal Man (GM): The branch radiates with holy light. Garrick could try stabbing through the lid, though it looks thick.
Garrick sighs gently, then looks at the stick... then the lid. "...nope." *gets his toe under the lid and kicks it off."
Metal Man (GM): The lid is about 3 inches thick. It has a silver foil seal with a holy star. Which is then kicked off.
Aetos wonders if he could pry into Aribar's mind, and mimic the ability to enter the Dark World... but he assumes Aribar is too smart to let him intrude like that..
Julian: "..."
Metal Man (GM): Dark energy glows, and Meier Link can be seen. He steps right on out of the coffin.
Julian: "STUPID MOTHERFU*************!"
Garrick: "Oh, shut up."
Julian: "DO IT NOW!"
Charles: "I prefer this than the suspense of two moments ago."
Metal Man (GM): The ground rumbles, and the Questers hear... his speech.
Aetos slaps his forehead, while lying on the ground.
Garrick just punctuates that sentance by jaming the branch in his heart.
Metal Man (GM): Garrick goes to stab him in the heart, but he doesn't quite make it. A dark sword is kind of stuck in Garrick's arm.
Aribar shudders as he sees that Vampiric menace that once cursed him so many years ago...
Meier Link: "Step back, Quester. I cannot be killed that easily."
Garrick: "...okay, stop right there."
Julian: "GodDAMNIT! No one *censored* listens!"
Metal Man (GM): He laughs, and then, using some freaky sword technique, he takes it out of Garrick's arm and knocks him back, but dealing no damage. The Questers hear the sounds of... undead rising.
Aetos nods in agreement with Julian. "But then again, you don't either."
Charles: "For once, I agree with Julian."
Meier Link: "You have awakened my legions of undead and myself. Now rested, we shall take the realm we left unrequited."
Julian: "Ari! Try the Dark World thingy!"
Garrick: "Oh, that IS IT!"
Aetos holds up the evil plank of wood.
Meier Link: "This was planned from the beginning. You would have killed them to get to me, but now I will kill you before you can hurt them."
Aribar: "I-it just transports me t-to another r-realm! Nothing e-else!"
Julian: "JUST DO IT!"
Meier Link: "None have defeated me, you fools. Stop trying to think and face me."
Metal Man (GM): He raises his sword; it glints with the evil only of a Sword of Darkness.
Aribar closes his eyes tight and mutters the incantation to transport to the Dark World.
Meier Link: "This is the last Sword of Darkness to exist... and it shall be your death."
Garrick grips the branch like a spear... then spinsit around and grips it like a sword. "I'll take you on."
Metal Man (GM): Aribar vanishes into the Dark World. There, he finds something entirely different. He sees no coffin room, no Meier Link; just a cave full of... heartless.
Aetos: "He forgot the plank of evil..."
Metal Man (GM): The heartless haven't detected him yet, but it's clear that this cave isn't safe.
Charles: "Hey uhh... Meier. Think you could do something about the sputter man over there?" *He points to Aetos.*
Aribar quickly teleports back.
Meier Link: "You? Take me on? Very well. Who else wishes to fight to the death?"
Metal Man (GM): Aribar reappears quickly.
Garrick: "I want to face him. Alone."
Julian: "...Take the plank this time!"
Aribar: "H-h-heartless! E-everywhere!"
Julian: "Garrick! Already been established the stick doesn't work! Give it to Ari!"
Charles: "WHAT!??!"
Aetos jumps up, the Keyblade shimmers into his left hand.
Charles: "...That means... That Dark Metal Man is around!!"
Aetos: "Huh, where??" *examines his marking.*
Meier Link: "..." He stares at all of the Questers talking.
Metal Man (GM): The marking looks normal.
Charles looks to Meier Link, with panic on his face.
Aetos: "I don't think he is... not here... not yet."
Aribar takes a few more deep breaths and unsheathes Moonlight.*
Charles: "Meier Link, ALL of us have to get outta here."
Meier Link: "If you refuse to pay attention to me, then I can merely walk out of here and seal you in my grave."
Julian: "God..." *facepalms.*
Garrick is paying plenty of attention to Meier Link..
Meier Link: "Foolish. I am at my highest power now. No one can survive me. Why would I be afraid of a ghost, when I am the foremost of evil undead?"
Aetos: "Highest power?"
Charles: "Dammit, man! We can't argue, the HEARTLESS are coming! Not even your undead heart can protect you from them if they turn YOU into a Heartless. I've seen what they can do. Believe me... now is not the time to against one another."
Meier Link: "I have no heart to steal."
Metal Man (GM): He laughs evily.
Julian: "...A'ight, so that plan woulda failed anyway..."
Meier Link: "Where did you go, fool?" *Points at Aribar.* "The heartless pale in comparison to my undead legions. Let them come. We shall steal their lives."
Charles: "They... have no lives."
Aetos: "Hrm... they are connected... but how?"
Aribar: "...G-go away! Life!" *The elf casts his weak healing spell on Meier Link.*
Meier Link: "You fear them instead of me? I will just have to prove to you that I am the foremost of death."
Metal Man (GM): He seems to almost teleport out of the way.
Aetos walks up the stairs and looks around for Sha'fol.
Charles: "Allow me to be blunt."
Metal Man (GM): Aetos would see Sha'fol standing there.
Charles: "If the Heartless get to us first, then YOU won't have a chance of revenge."
Aetos: "Tell me how heartless are connected to this cave."
Julian: *tries Dexing him. Just for a laugh.*
Aribar quickly looks about to spot Meier Link.
Metal Man (GM): Aribar would see Meier Link in a corner, scowling.
Charles: "The heartless are in the Dark World."
Dex: "...analyzing data..."
Charles: "Aribar saw them with his own eyes."
Meier Link: "The dark world... hmmm... well then. I know something about the dark world. Ganondorf rules that realm. Not Kuja."
Sha'Fol: "...I don't know anything about these heartless. This cave is perfectly empty... at least, until you awakened him."
Aetos: "Hey well, it wasn't my idea to open the coffin... in this realm."
Charles: "Maybe if you got rid of that damn wood of darkness, you would start to think straight again."
Aetos: "Anyways, how did they beat Meier Link before? You said you would be our History guy."
Sha'Fol: "...Meier Link has never been defeated."
Aetos: "Screw it..."
Meier Link: "Enough of this Heartless nonsense. Fight me like you came here to do."
Aetos walks back down. Aetos then walks over to the coffin.
Charles equips the power of the Star Rod.
Aribar takes a few more deep breaths to compose himself...
Julian: "Still waiting..."
Metal Man (GM): The coffin is empty; Meier Link has his sword out, and is now near the center of the room.
Aribar: "Aetos... S-stop screwing around. This shall be a d-difficult fight."
Aetos tries to pick up the lid of the coffin.
Aribar: "We will need y-your help..."
Metal Man (GM): The lid is a lid. With a broken seal on it.
Charles: "Do you want another wave of Revive? If you don't, then listen to reason than listen to your own goddamn petty volitions."
Meier Link: "I can dodge anything you throw at me, Quester."
Metal Man (GM): COMMANDER BATTLE. Questers vs. Meier Link the Undefeated Undead.
Julian: "Waiting..."
Garrick: "Julian, SHUT UP!"
Dex: "...DING! Meier Link. HP: 918/3950. LeveL: 158. STR: 30. END: 40. AGI: 36. MNT: 40. EVD: 23. DEF: 15."
Aetos bug-eyes at his Dex.
Metal Man (GM): Meier Link walks right up to Charles and tries to slash a box into his chest, with four big and fast sword swipes.
Meier Link: "Feel that pain? Whatever you speak of would die against me."
Charles has only three slices on his chest.
Metal Man (GM): Meier Link has a lithe stance; he stares at the Questers with cold hatred. His face is wrinkled and he looks visibly old.
Meier Link: "I didn't even need a legion of undead to stop you from getting here. I knew you'd come. I just left out a nice doormat for you."
Charles sees that Meier Link only has his head stuck up his own dark heart, and proceeds with a standard jab.
Metal Man (GM): He is stabbed clear through; but he doesn't wince.
Meier Link: "It feels good to fight again."
Charles passes the rest of his turn.
Aetos: "Meier, do you enjoy the power of darkness?"
Meier Link: "I am nothing without it; nay, I am dead without it. I went so far as betraying a master of it to usurp his place. Zio's death brings half of his power to me."
Aetos waits for his turn, his keyblade is gone and he holds the plank of wood.
Garrick continues to hold that branch that belonged to Ari... he has no idea what to do. He knows that any attack he makes will be null... he sighs to himself, knowing that once again he'll be useless in this fight... so he does the one thing he can think of doing: He takes the branch and slashes it like a sword across his body.
Metal Man (GM): He leaps off to the side like a circus performer.
Aetos: "...Do you CRAVE darkness?"
Meier Link: "I AM darkness."
Garrick: "Aetos, shut up."
Aetos sends a cold stare at Garrick.
Julian: "Aetos, have you noticed a pattern?"
Aetos looks back to Link.
Julian: "Every time you ask stupid questions like these, you wind up getting yourself killed."
Meier Link: "I think he should be allowed to ask some questions before he dies."
Charles thinks Aetos is either going to be Skyhigh... or doing something very ingenious.
Metal Man (GM): *TWHAP* *Miss.*
Meier Link: "You know, if I knew you were going to smack me with tree branches, I'd have brought some matches."
Metal Man (GM): The tree branch adds to damage. Nothing special, though, because it ain't sharp.
Charles: "Well what do you know. A rare lapse of logic."
Metal Man (GM): It works well as a bludgeoning tool, I guess. The Questers hear the sound of undead being hit by fireballs outside.
Garrick: "I thought this was supposed to be holy..."
Charles: "It has to be made sharp first."
Meier Link: "It is. However, it cannot do much when it can't even break the skin. Because there is no smithery in this room, I feel perfectly confident to tell you this."
Garrick: "...smi..thy... heh... heh heh... why not?" *looks down at the branch...*
Julian ponders if he could carve the stick with Vendetta...*
Metal Man (GM): Needs to be cut with something sharp, for sure.
Aribar figures that after seeing Charles be slashed like that the only way for the elf to survive this battle is with a fair bit of luck and magical protections... So the elf calls up a magical force field to absorb some of the damage that may be delt by the elf.
Aetos walks up to Meier calmely. "Do you crave more power?" he brandishes the dark-enfused plank.
Garrick: "...idiot."
Meier Link: "I am the power. That was corrupted by an aura I made. You feel vaguely like The Void to me. Odd."
Julian: "Idiot."
Aribar: "Aetos, I will be s-seriously tempted to hurt you if y-you stab him with that a-and it makes him a-all powerful."
Aetos: "Then take it back." he tries to merely stab the plank into Meier's chest.
Julian: "Stupid moron!"
Metal Man (GM): He misses.
Meier Link: "Even if you hit me with that, it would merely energize me."
Aetos growls. "Why do you insist on evading, then?"
Charles: "So... you missed on purpose. Genius!"
Julian: "Stupid moron!"
Aetos: "Even my comrades insult me... why wouldn't you trust me?"
Charles: "Because that trust has been broken enough times that it hasn't been rebuilt as of yet."
Aetos makes for another stab to the chest. "Let me bring you your power!"
Julian: "Stupid moron!"
Meier Link: "When would I trust a relative of The Void. Answer: If he was dead and in several pieces, scattered across three miles of field."
Metal Man (GM): He sits there as Aetos jousts with the walls.
Meier Link: "And now, to wound the person who tried to out-evil me but is now a coward."
Metal Man (GM): He runs up and slashes up Aribar, trying to make a QH symbol... DOUBLE CRITICALS. He may have cut a little more than just skin with that move. Dark damage, too.
Aribar falls to the ground... Dead.
Julian: "A'ight... Think I got a pattern offa you... Les' see if this works!" *Julian tries... MIMIC!*
Garrick: "...that seems like a bad idea to me."
Metal Man (GM): Julian mimics... all-powerful sword slashing attack!
Aetos: "Dooo..."
Metal Man (GM): ...Except he has the sword.
Julian quickly flips Vendetta out of his back pocket, grabbing it in midair and igniting it all cool-like. "Les' see if you'se like the guy that was in my head!" *Julian rushes, attacking Meier Link with a flurry of slashes, trying to spell out JS...
Metal Man (GM): Miss hit miss miss hit miss hit miss miss hit. Julian creates some random arrangement of lines as Meier Link parries most of them with his sword.
Meier Link: "You're just a little bit too weak to hit me more than I can block."
Metal Man (GM): Damage. HP: 355/3950.
Meier Link: "But it is a breath of fresh air compared to the people who attacked me with tree stumps, evil tree stumps, and then died from one round of attacks."
Aetos: "I only wish to help you."
Julian: *But wait...*
Meier Link: "Then do so by chopping off your own head."
Julian: *THERE'S MORE!* *Two More Slashes!*
Metal Man (GM): *Hit hit.* *Blork.*
Julian: *Ova.* "That was pretty sweet... Seems like you got some trouble, boy."
Meier Link: "Perhaps, but you won't live to see me defeated."
Julian: "Says you." *Julian seems to be juking and jiving a bit, like he's gotten himself into a rhythm...*
Charles feels helpless against this great vampire. He calls upon the power of the Star Rod of Power Up. He faces Julian and fires the power on him. He is given an attack boost for several rounds.
Aribar comes back to life, groaning from the pain of that dark assault. The elf decides to try and unleash another little bit of holy magic onto Meier.
Metal Man (GM): He is burnt, as usual. But it doesn't deal too much to him.
Aribar: "Take that, foul perversion of life!"
Aetos: "Now that you've taken damage, allow me to heal you?.. grr..." He makes another stab at the chest using the dark-plank.
Metal Man (GM): He leaps to the side.
Julian: "You aren't very good at this..." *Julian's voice has taken on a bit of a monotone.*
Meier Link: "Touch me with that and die."
Aetos: "Why do you resist your own powers?"
Meier Link: "Being stabbed deals residual damage."
Aetos begins muttering to himself.
Meier Link: "You wish to kill me with my advanced sword technique... but you have not experienced true pain until you have felt Zio's trademark technique."
Aetos: "I have, several times... and survived."
Charles: "Dark Energy Blast??"
Metal Man (GM): He begins charging. Nothing happens yet.
Julian: "We'll just wait and see!" *Julian rushes again, his movements a little more smoother as he slashes up Meier Link again.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit hit hit crit hit.
Julian: *PAKACHOW! Julian ain't done yet as he fires off 4 more slashes!* *Julian's really boppin' along now, the rhthym in his head seemingly doubled...*
Metal Man (GM): Meier Link seems visibly damaged by Julian's attack, but refuses to be stilled.
Julian: "SP heal. Now."
Charles shakes his head. "I cannot do that, Julian." He tries to cast Heal on the vampire by sending a healing light towards Meier Link.
Aribar tosses Julian a Green Potion before casting Bolt on Meier.
Metal Man (GM): He barely fails to dodge it.
Aetos pouts. "Fine. Don't let me trick you with this purely evil plank of wood. But I'll still try..." *tries for one more stab.*
Metal Man (GM): He leaps off to the left.
Aribar: "Aetos, poke at him one more time and I WILL hurt you!"
Meier Link: "And now... to give you true pain... DARK ENERGY WAVE!"
Metal Man (GM): He fires off an endless rippling wave of darkness at Julian. *Counts up damage.*
Meier Link: "That is the attack which killed Zio." *Evil laugh.*
Aetos: "Hmph."
Charles: "...A variation of his Dark Energy Blast..."
Julian's blasted backwards into a wall, embedding himself in it for a few moments...
Aribar: "...I fear this foe is too far beyond us."
Julian's eyes flash open as he peels himself from the wall. "I ain't dead YET, motha-*censored.*!" *Julian boosts back towards the group, Vendetta still at the ready...*
Charles begins to feel that despair of hopelessness again. Even IF the Heartless weren't here, there's still no chance of defeating this incarnation head on. What are we missing? *He looks around for something that might be of use.*
Meier Link: "I will defeat you once and for all. See? The Heartless are not here. If they were, I would kill them."
Metal Man (GM): There is the clocks, and a branch of holy wood on the ground. Garrick musta dropped it.
Charles: "...Now I remember. Even IF the Heartless come here, it's all a matter of what puzzle will help us defeat you this time."
Meier Link: "If you thought all the time you were being paranoid, you may have avoided so much death."
Charles: .oO(Time... that must be the key here.) *He looks at the clock.*
Metal Man (GM): The clock ticks endlessly. It shows the current time. My my, it's late.
Charles dexes the clock.
Dex: "...DING! Grandfather clock. An old-style clock which displays the time. Doesn't appear to do much other than that, but vampires are tricky..."
Charles tries to jab at it.
Metal Man (GM): Charles punches da clock. It breaks.
Meier Link: "Are you so desperate as to attack furnishings?"
Aribar decides to fire a few magical missiles at Meier, hoping they're somewhat effective...
Aetos raises his arms, and squeezes his eyes shut. He brings his marked hand down and points it at Meier. His other hand comes down and he kneels, touching the ground. "The chaos dispels the darkness. You said yourself, without darkness, you are dead." Aetos is trying to cause a beam of chaos to flow through the ground and seep onto the body of Meier Link.
Metal Man (GM): He leers at the chaos and dissipates it from himself.
Meier Link: "You cannot remove darkness from itself."
Aetos: "You are but a soul, inside a shell. Your soul is the darkness and your life. If the chaos removes you from your body, your soul will roam free, and no longer be a threat."