Session 446: What Futures Did Come
Location: PAX
Yet another semester and new school year has begun as the kids prepare for things on the PAX and Vesper decides to remain on the ship instead of pursuing her business back on Jarivan. Taiga is recovering from being impaled in Fumoffu recently and is being forced to work in her hospital room while the rest hang out at Katrina's going over school work and just relaxing. While Sabrina tries to cheer up Durt and Si tries to pamper Taiga, the others discuss Vesper and her past some with the club. After a bit Lorelei summons them to a meeting and they find Yuki present despite the Aquarius not being on the PAX, as well as Kaori and Athena. Taiga uses Si to attend the meeting where she informs them that about reality tears have been opening up lately, much like the tears that allowed Cole and the 5th Column to cross over; using a device by Taiga they have been keeping an eye on the situation, but lately it's been getting worse.
Taiga explains the concept of branching paths to the team and how it works, creating multiple realities from major events and so on; as well as those events might have their minor deviations due to time travel and more. It seems they have discovered a tear into a reality/timeline that Athena, Isis, Kellin, and Adult Elwyn came from having opened up and the two seem to think that not much could exist there anymore to investigate. Kaori worries the tears are on her and Taiga assures her that everything is on Destiny - Airell, due to his messing with things back in 10-637. And as for Kaori restarting the multiverse again - look at it like she gave start to a lot of life. Celeste muses that she is not sure what she thinks about that and Thomas notes it is outside their purview as the team gives them looks.
The group takes the Tiger Cruiser where Chibi Taiga, Taiga's datapad AI, is on the ship as the computer AI, leading to Kaori noting Taiga is a narcissist and the others agreeing. While Celeste notes she wouldn't mind having a mini her, Taiga explains she uploaded Chibi Taiga to serve the purpose as a Faux Spirit since they need her to do the Tiger Engines and other systems, though she doesn't know how well it will do. Thena takes over as Captain, much to Yuki's ire, and they jump to where the tears are located. As Kaori is asleep as they arrive, they discuss what to do with the tears when even more begin to open up and Kellin wonders if it is a trap while Moira notes they have nothing to do but ride the storm; Taiga surmises it might be a nexus here as Kaori "tries" to wake up due to the alarms. Thena wiggles Kaori as Celeste orders Kaori to stop opening more tears in space but unfortunately they are pulled into multiple tears even as Valen curses the situation in confusion.
Location: Dark Erevis Timeline
The Tiger cruiser floats in space but finds that the Tareh Kids are MIA along with Durt so Athena, Ako, Taiga, Thena, Si, Kellin, Kaori, Sabrina, and Michiru, try to decide on a course of action while Kaori realizes they must be in another reality. They discuss what this place is like while Kaori tries to keep herself calm and Kellin keeps them informed what to do and keep an eye out. They come across an Earth in a post-war state that never advanced very far without Suisen Empire technology and decide to check it out.
Location: Tareh?
The group wakes up on the Tiger Cruiser nose dived into the sand and there's a Kaori also here, but asleep. Celeste, Moira, Rachael, Durt, Thomas, Valen, Zegretta, Michelle, and Lorelei find themselves on a ship with no Chibi Taiga and no answers. A "famfrit" wearing medieval outfit comes across the group in the ship and begin to treat some of them like beings to worship; while they talk some foreign language, they manage to lead the group to a kingdom of sorts, with only a few words being picked up like "Angel" and "Chosen One". Entering the kingdom of Di'Neer and in the center statues of many of them, the team begins to wonder what is going on while Rachael freaks out and Valen and Moira calm her down. Lorelei notes they might be in some alternate version of Tareh or Tareh itself at some point as they are brought before Queen Mercy, looking all regal unlike the Mercy they know who constantly butts heads with them.
While Mercy studies Valen with an odd look of recognition and confusion, she greets Kaelan and notes that she looks a little younger. Kaelan puts together the pieces and realizes this is the Mercy that her Mercy was reborn from and during all this Rachael seems to be on the verge of some panic attack. Mercy tells them where they are and that this takes place after the heroes were thrown somewhere after beating Gartareh, leading to the people awaiting their heroes every day. When Valen asks what the old him was like, Mercy notes it was not really his fault but the halfling insanity issue. When asked more about it, Mercy describes that after their 21st birthday they begin to display problems with their mentality but have various problems and seem to get stronger. While Moira protests she has never had any problems of that sort, Mercy gives Valen some potions to help stem the insanity on the basis for him, though it seems to be for someone else, especially with how Rachael is clamming up around Moira's questions.
Lorelei notes that maybe Kaori can detect these tears and get them out of this reality, though she seems dubious about it. While Kaori tries to sense it out, she feels another "her", freaking her out, Mercy and Kaelan have a moment as Zegretta watches over them. The team opts to leave the grounded Tiger Cruiser since there is nothing they can do about it and move to the tear that Kaori has detected.
Location: Dark Erevis Timeline
The group finds themselves in a library and researches the history of this world and how some things were not lining up - such as Zephyr's death, supposedly, being much sooner and that means Kellin could not be Zephyr's son. However Kellin notes he was born in a resistance bunker and while Taiga pushes him a little, decides to drop it because it's not important. Michiru notes that a Dark Erevis bothers her and Kellin points out that a good Erevis is the anomaly. Taiga points out that Erevis personality is technically submerged so when it rises up it leads to this Dark Erevis personality, or you could have the Empress type route where she embraces herself but seems to walk this middle ground somehow. Ako conforts Kellin while they download the information and Taiga has Kaori look for a tear to get them out of there.
As the groups emerge from their respective tears on the Tiger Cruiser, there are two Kaoris there somehow and both point at each other comedically. They soon merge and glow and become one Kaori, leading to Sabrina to note that was quite strange. When Moira tries to talk to Rachael, she brushes her off that Valen "will be okay" and leads him away with the potions, while Kaori falls to her knees after the incident.
Session 447: The Ancient's Gift Prologue
Location: PAX
Athena walks through the marketplace with her hood up to hide her face, blanked by her two guards Locket, John's daughter by Key, and Wyrd, along with Jennifer. When Locket asks where they can find a place to eat, Wyrd immediately interjects they find a place where they will not run into Truth, leading to Jennifer and Wyrd having a brief spat about Truth and Wyrd's relationship lately, only broken by Locket just entering Katrina's bar and choosing where they will eat for them all. Inside the bar tensions are already a little high with Rachael staring at one of the potions Valen managed to get and Durt being tense about things as he sits with Cel, and Michiru hides in the corner. As Athena's group gets some food to eat, Moira joins Rachael and tries to pry into what has been going on with her lately, but Rachael just shuts her down and changes the subject. While waiting on their order, Athena notes that she feels like she is in a rut and needs to do something about the situation with the Empress, ending their stalement. Michiru studies Locket oddly, leading to other to compliment her red hair, and the two share a weird moment before there is a loud clap.
As Durt and Cel jump and Jennifer looks around, Zephyr walks into the room with Ako, Erevis, and Cheryl wearing a tight fitting armor piece that Angela claims she designed. While Cheryl claims she is wearing the armor because it is cool, she sits in one of her poses, and fails a bit due to her wobbling and almost falling backwards, while Zephyr states she came looking for Athena, making her tilt her head. During all this, poor Riki sits in the background, ordering food to cheer herself up, as Zephyr tells Athena that she and Ako saw there was a lot of activity on the Empress' side of the PAX and that it seemed to change directions suddenly. They all wonder what could bring the Empress to suddenly have her side bustle with activity and jump the PAX so quickly and Athena notes it's not like she is kept in the loop; when Durt asks Erevis what would cause her to do such a thing, she notes - perhaps jokingly - Ama and Megumi falling down the stairs when Amaterasu herself speaks up behind Erevis, saying it is not her. While the two hug and greet each other, Erevis noting her happiness and surprise at seeing Ama done with her God meetings, Athena notes they should speak with the other side and find out - after trying to act like her old self with a pathetic merowl.
As they walk along, Erevis asks Ama what she thinks about shipping and discusses Jaime's latest attempts at shipping her with Kyouki, leading Ama to agree it is weird Jaime is trying to ship her mother with Kyouki. As they continue, Angela begins to sexually harass Cheryl who acts violently towards her and a bit of confusion, which is strange since Cheryl normally tolerates it with just a few comments, and begins to run from her and hits on her. During this they run into Taiga, who is still injured, who stares at the scene with a stare and Zephyr seems amused at something; at that moment Sabrina and Nicolette exit a resturant nearby and come over, having been drawn by the noise made by Cheryl, leading Sabrina to think a woman was in distress and needed saving. Suddenly Athena's icy tone tells Angela to behave or to get off the PAX as she lifts her gaze up, shocking Angela to the core and she shrinks back from everyone a little; Zephyr promises to explain what is up and whispers in her ear something.
As they reach the security station, the group sees Ao and Leyeah and wonder who should approach them to talk and find out information, leading to a chorus of not knowing either very well. Reikana at that moment walks up to Sabrina and Nicolette and begins to talk to them about various things, such as idol talk, while Taiga moves over to Leyeah. Learning that the PAX caught something on it's sensors around Geyze and the areas around it, they came to check it out. Kaori soon comes over to join in the idol talk and Sabrina shares some of the food they got out of the resturant, leading to the three to relax when Ao shows up and notes to the group that the Empress has invited them to join her; most of the group goes with Ao, while Reikana and Nicolette remain behind to continue their conversation.
As they take the lift up to 1A, Athena takes her hood off and shows her face, which shows a partial scarred handprint on it from hyperspace, perhaps revealing it finally so the Empress will not think it is a weakness to hide it. Ao hands them off to Syiean who takes them to the Empress, who is staring out the viewport, wearing a cloak and having turned 1A into a bridge/home combo since giving up 1B. She gives off an overwhelming power due to how much hyperspace she now wields, though the group seems to stand up to it, but first she greets Kyouki, who joined the group at the last moment, and Amaterasu, having shown interest in them both for some reason, giving them a look over. While Erevis and Athena show their displeasure, they all discuss the course change and activity so the Empress reveals it, though points out it might make them enemies in the long run; as she shows the information she bounces a coin off Ama's ass, making her yelp a little and angering Erevis.
She tells them that massive Spiritial Energies were emitted from Geyze and scattered not only from it, but over Earth and nearby systems as well. And she tells them the level was higher than their Spirits, even if it was somewhat similiar; when asked why no one tied to the Spirits felt it, the Empress notes that the PAX likely had systems that could detect it and that Spirit Energy was on a countdown wave, getting weaker and indicating something will happen very soon. At that very moment, inside everyone's heads, a spike of spirital energy can be felt, or heard; a voice in Ancient speaks to the group, but they hear it translated in their native language. It begins showing Spirit objects that can fit together that have been scattered, 10 in all, about if they are put together, can grant a spirital boon to whoever does so. "A gift from the Ancient ____ word untranslated. To whoever amasses the relics, use it for what they think is proper, this is the final gift of the ___ untranslated."
The group begins to recoil a little, especially those who lived through Gift of the Gods (need to link this when I am done summarizing it), believing it to be a wish since the Ancient's are the mirror universe version of the Progenitor's. They discuss what happened previously and that Chad brought Zephyr back to life with it, making Zephyr grimace a little as she steps out of the room a little in thought and Angela following her. Kyouki notes this reminds her a little of the Runes as people begin to prepare for what is to come; The Empress has them leave to prepare on her end and Durt and Cel leave to get ready, clearly having an eye on the prize. Taiga begins to make up a list of enemies that might want the Gift, adding Cran's name to it and thinking of more. As they meet up with Reikana and the others, they seem to have heard it too, and looking around the market place, it looks like eveyone heard it, which isn't a good thing.
Location: Geyze
Celes asks the team what they want to do about the voice mentioning the Ancient's and their Gift, and the team seems unnerved at it. While Id tries to poke at them and asking "how far will they go to win it?", acting almost like some evil demon, the others seem to be taking it seriously and wanting to minimize the damage this can do. Selena notes she will do what it takes but won't hurt others and Sparkling agrees with her, including Jaime. Celes then nods and states they will look for the pieces then.
Session 448: The Ancient's Gift Part I
Location: Geyze
The team peers at a map of Geyze and Kumen and ponder their course of action since the Spirits did not detect the Ancient event when it began, leading the team to note they likely cannot lead them to the 10 pieces out there of the Gift. While they come up with ideas of how to track them down, Lana wonders if this is all some sort of trick. They decide to use the station above Geyze to see if they can find anything and Lumi then marks down 3 locations giving off Spirit energy for the group to investigate. As the teams split up to take each of the locations: Spiritalist Mountains, Dark Lands, and the ocean, Gwen notes that the ocean is clearly meant for Liana, points out that will be quite the adventure. The team then sets out to deal with their three locations.
Location: Geyze's Ocean
The Mew Mew flies along with Aimée and Mélodie and Cypher, as Selena, Liana, Thena, Bix, Sparkling, and Alita, race Mireille's time as they reach the location. Since the location is deep below them, Alita cheats by summoning Brooke to retrieve it for them, denying Liana a chance to have an adventure, when a Templar Ship arrives on the scene and begins to attack them. The two spirits use the double spirit engines to boost shields to protect them from the attacks and to keep the Mew from exploding, as Alita casts magik on the enemy ship and Bix tries to climb on top of the ship. Liana summons Celsius to aid Brooke who surfaces with the item and is attacked by one of the four Templar Generals.
Selena, Liana, Bix, Celsius, Alita, Sparkling, etc. attack him and Selena is hit by a fire attack and explosion. While he manages to push the team back, he is forced to let Brooke go in the confusion, who escapes into the ship, and Celsius freezes part of the ocean as Thena rescues Selena. Sparkling knocks the Templar off the ship, while Alita takes the Ancient piece from Brooke and has her go back to her temple. The Templar General, having been knocked into the frozen ocean, struggles to free himself, but they all get back onboard and escape due to their superior speed. Unfortunately Selena has burnt most of her hair off and injured herself due to the attack, bleeding and disoriented as she leans on Liana, though it looks like her hair is slowly growing back. The Older Templar General - Titus - watches them go.
Location: Dark Lands
Gwen, Lana, Talia, Asha, Simon, Ellie, Sylph, and Id, walk along and talk about Lana's inner goth girl due to her finding the Dark Lands' landscape soothing. They come across a temple in the forest where Shade's grotto once resided and they discover fighting is going on as they near it. As they come in, Ellie all gung-ho and psyching up Sylph, they find naturalist mercenaries on the ground - dead, as well as lit torches, indicating someone is up ahead. While Gwen finds that some are alive among the bodies, he shakes his head at the rest as they move on after Talia heals those who can be healed. They find an ancient statue that tests if they are worthy of the piece of the Ancient Gift; two tablets glow, one on the left and one the right, where it lets them pick their test - a riddle or to be judged by the question of the spirit - their character.
The majority of the group picks the riddle option and while Id doesn't care either way, since he will survive either way, leading to Gwen to glare, the riddle is presented to them. They are asked to answer: "You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy." Lana answers immediately with Ellie following a moment later with the answer and Asha agreeing with them - all the while Simon musing on the question; a moment or two later a candle appears as one of the options to pick and Sylph immediately picks it without looking at the other choices, trusting Ellie. Asha lights up fire on her palm and the group proceeds after the statue moves aside; they soon arrive up ahead and see Smiling Sun members on the ground, surprised they got this far ahead, but also see pamplets in their hands, stating they wish to bring the Sun back. They realize they want to bring Sunny back with the power of the Gift, they group continues ahead and see Smiling Suns facing Cobalts, who are holding the piece and are preparing to set explosives on a wall and leave the place.
As they make a hole in the temple wall and activate the temple defenses, Simon manages to make an ice wall and keep any from escaping. Even as Id notes that maybe the defenses will do the work for them, one of the defenses destroys Id in one shot. As Simon does a head count as Talia sends cats to do damage, an ancient attack takes out half of the enemies here, leading to Gwen thinking they need to get out of there - now. Talia sends her cats to retrieve the device even as they manage to get outside and are tackled by Simon. As a Cobalt smacks one off of him, Talia mouth blasts one in revenge and Gwen bemoans that he will have grey hair before he retires as Simon gets the gift piece.
Location: Spiritalist Mountain
Erevis, Jaime, Xanatos, Sasha, SpoC, Kyouki, Yuki, Erica, and Chelsea work their way up the mountain as Erevis and Jaime play in the snow. The Aquarius flies ahead, being their scout and eyes as winter in the Spiritalist Kingdom is unusually cold and more snowy than ever; Yuki and Erica detect the piece up ahead, leading the group ahead to see a Tsivrixsh cruiser digging for the piece. While Sasha is annoyed at them violtating the Alliance's sovereignty, Erevis points out she does not think they care all that much, especially since they are low ranking in the Suisen Empire. Shretrav and Kre'trav contact the Aquarius on the sly and note they are trying to pretend to be loyal to the Tsivrixsh, which is hard due to the past incidents and everything they did the past few years, and while they will try to meet with them personally later, they do inform the group that the Tsivrixsh are hoping to get the pieces.
Jaime summons Gnome into the cold, leading the Earth Spirit to shake and freeze, and tells her about her plan to dig for the piece that is located here. While SpoC is surprised they have not attacked the Aquarius yet, Jaime points out that right now all they are doing is illegally parking, but if they attack the Aquarius they will also cross more lines. The group decides to follow Jaime's lead and leave the Aquarius as a big brother back up, figuring it is stronger than the Tsivrixsh Battle Cruiser. The team approaches the temple while Jaime and Gnome dig under the temple. Reaching the temple's entrance, Erevis has Xanatos confront the Tsiv guards and demand they leave. Bonnie comedically translates for Chelsea, getting the words completely wrong, and soon the Tsivrixsh and Xanatos do battle over honor and to see if they will leave. While Bonnie sulks over her rejected translation, only Chelsea joining her, Xanatos actually manages to beat the guards with his superior speed and strength, and the other Tsivrixsh accept him and let him pass, while Jaime reaches the temple.
Gnome notes she cannot get through the temple's walls and that they are made up of the same material as the ones in the Academy. Jaime meanwhile attempts to burn a hole through the temple with her hyperspace, despite the damage it might cause to herself. As Shretrav meets them and informs them that the captain of the ship has the piece and is taking it to her ship, Jaime finally makes a hole and alarms go off and Ancient defenses begin to activate and attack people. Erevis is hit and sent flying from the hit, smoking on the ground, while Kre'trav runs up with the piece, stating she grabbed it in the chaos as the Tsivrixsh forces are being decimated. Kyouki and Xanatos try to help stablize Erevis who seems to have a literal hole inside her, coughing up blood, even as Xanatos' medical pack is barely keeping her together. Jaime and Gnome get inside and are attacked, barely getting away, even as Shretrav and Kre'trav help them get out; Bonnie and Chelsea rush back in and help lead Erevis, Xanatos, and Kyouki back out when a blast slams down near by and hurts Xanatos.
Shretrav notes that it is a shame her cover is blown, since it was already shaky, but what's done is done; the Aquarius lands a moment later and everyone is rushed inside to be treated, even as the Tsivrixsh inside take a pounding as Shretrav escapes with the piece for the team. The team decides to store the pieces in the meantime on the Aquarius for their safety and to try to keep them out of people's reach.
Fumoffu Session 10: The Ancient's Gift (Tie In)
Location: Cheryl's Mansion
Cheryl's place is filled to the brim with food that is not made by Shion, much to her huffiness, and Lemon seems ot be helping out, going back to some of her old ways a little, while Kaori eyes all the food impatiently, wanting to eat it all. While Taiga gives her the go ahead to dig in, Kitty and Shion talk about how much money she could be making over the catering while Kitty tries to figure out what the occassion is for all the food when Cheryl, wearing an oversized coat compared to last time, and Ren storm into the manor. While Cheryl seems excited as she accuses Taiga about something, Ren seems angry, calling her the b-word, causing her to hide behind Kitty as Ren accuses Taiga of having her boss - Alexander Cran - arrested. As Taiga moves to hide behind Kaori next, everyone looks shocked at the information, Taiga tries to justify her actions while they ask why she did it and admits she had nothing concrete, but they all know he is dirty.
As Taiga notes she knows Cran has one of the Ancient pieces and they can't let a man like him have it, that this is a time to look into his operations for anything dirty to shut him down. While Kitty points out that they need evidence first, not the other way around, Ren continues to be furious while the others, except Chad, seem to be all off-put at how this went about, wondering if Taiga has crossed a line. As Cheryl announces she doesn't trust Cran, Kaori and a few others point out that if Cran really is trying to turn over a new leaf, doing things like this might make him go back to an evil path for certain and Chii seems to have believed that as well. It seems like those who remember his old ways, except Chii, find it hard to believe him, while Reikana, Kaori, and the newer ones, along with Angela, believe he should be given a chance, and not be treated like this and be held in a cell.
As they are debating Sabrina arrives with Nicolette into the middle of this nonsense, the two Makas seemingly not happy with how this "justice" is going either and it looks like Taiga is having less and less allies in it. Kitty takes charge and sends Taiga to talk to Cran in the prison along with Ren and Angela, while she, Kaori, Sabrina, and Nicolette, go back to the PAX's club and prepare all the documents they need to go through, and Cheryl will lead Chad, Kaelan, Reikana, and Zegretta to go to Alexandria Corporations and talk to the Reploids and see if they can find any damning information there to see if Cran has gone back to his old ways. While Nicolette and Sabrina are caught up on what is going on, everyone moves their own ways to get started with a 48 hour time limit.
Location: Alexendria Corporation - Reploid Base
Kaelan greets the scowling Blue and Anne (who used to be what's his name), at the gates of the base as Kaelan asks after Alouette. After some struggle with Blue, they begin to search the place beginning with Cran's office, so they head up as they are followed by the two Reploids but along the way they spot someone scaling the building, so Blue heads off to deal with the intruder. While Kaelan takes pictures with various Reploids, the others begin to search for clues in the office while Cheryl knocks over a mini statue of Ariel in the corner. After some searching Reikana finds a safe behind a painting while Blue is seen falling outside the window and grabbing onto the panel, mumbling about bad luck. Cheryl uses a trace amount of her reality powers to crack the safe open to run the various combinations odds; inside they find paperwork on the Reploids, receipts, military contracts regarding them. They hope there is something in them as they all return back to the club.
Location: PAX - The Club
As Sabrina paces in the club she asks about Cran, trying to learn if he was a bad man or what while Thena complains she is bored, having arrived late to the meeting. Nicolette tries to learn more about how a military offical can arrest someone and Shion explains that Taiga turned Cran over to the police using her military position while Celeste notes she doesn't see the problem. Cheryl arrives with the paperwork and they all begin to go through it, especially Kitty, and Cheryl tells them that Cran is working with the military to start a Reploid military project and using that to up in power in the military once again, hoping to restore his old status again. Kaelan shows off Alouette, who she brought along - or nabbed - along with Anyata while they question if this is really a serious charge, or even what Taiga booked him on.
Taiga's group shows up next with Taiga chiding Angela, asking her what was up with letting Cran look at all the Ancient pieces if he turned over his own, while Ren remained pissed off. Taiga fills the group in on what they learned and Angela's deal, making some of the group wince at the idea, and they begin to brainstorm on what to do next. Kitty hands the file over to Taiga with a thawk and the group debates on the merit of evil, and Kaelan seems angry at people assuming evil like with the Dark Ones. Taiga looks ready to cut him loose, especially with people being annoyed at him, and is about to make the call, despite Chad saying they should make him sweat it out, when Cheryl announces she might have found something; having been scanning the base when she was at it earlier, they finally anaylized a hidden room in the base, stopping Taiga in time before the call, causing her to pick up Kitty excitedly and spin her.
Location: Back to Alexanderia Corporations - Reploid Base
Blue scowls at them as they return, and mutters about them bothering her and this female intruder. When asked for more information, Blue notes this intruder kept making her fall somehow with bad luck powers and Taiga wonders if it's Hess' nemesis, Weapon XIII, which leads them to talk about Weapons some for those who do not know about Venerator and Cran, before they all teleport to the hidden room by linking heads, making Nicolette wish they had Sylph. They find an underground lab made to be slept in and made to be comfortable; it seems to have notes on everyone in it and various chambers with experiments and computer terminals. Chibi Taiga and Id begin to work to download information when a lockdown occurs when Chad messes with a datapad, starting a 20 second countdown.
As Id and Chibi Taiga work, they all begin to try to guess the password to unlock the lab, but as the two computer A.I's unlock it at the same time, Chad guesses the password at the exact moment: Family. They find more of the numbered paintings on the walls down here as they look around and begin to download stuff, and Chad talks about Weapons, claiming the man who donated his DNA for the Weapons died long ago. Though the Weapon Project was begun by Cran and Venerator, so both know how to make original Weapons like Weapons I-X. Chibi Taiga begins to through the files and reads: he was looking into the Reploids and the original Dragoons, since they have some flaws. He was also looking into making up with someone called Ariel, but most of all was also worried about Cheryl, since she did something and apparently had no memory of it. But above all he was researching a counter to the Dragoon Virus due to the Shapeshifter stealing it from the Cartel. And finally Cran has been engaging in illegal activites to fund his operations and to keep them off the radar. The piece is supposedly in a safe so they go to check it out while they argue the merits of making dummy corporations and funneling money for good causes, if that is illegal, and what not. They grab the safe and head out back to the PAX.
Location: PAX - The Club Again
The group sits around going over everything they have found, which isn't a lot. Taiga notes she will go into his dummy Corporations but that also not all of them are "clean" either, but if he's really doing them for a good cause to make money for good experiments, then going after him would be wrong. Ren chides Taiga and says she needs to release Cran immediately and Angela notes she will be keeping her promise about the pieces; Cheryl notes she will always find it hard to trust Cran, but she is not against change either. Kitty's sprites open the safe in the meantime and inside they find a note instead of the piece: Bad luck for you - XIII; along with the note is a device that looks like a gun called the D-Gun. It has strange settings labeled D-1 (previous), D-2 (current), D-3 (enhanced) on it. While Sabrina notes she and Nicolette need to show XIII justice for stealing the piece, Chibi Taiga scans the files and learns the D-Gun is called the Dragoon Gun and it is a prototype that needs more testing.
At that moment Alexander Cran steps into the club after having been freed by Taiga due to her calling it in and Ren runs to his side. Due to his unshaven and wrinkled appearance the others give Taiga more of a look and go down hard on her, despite her having been apologizing the entire time. Cran notes he is there to study the pieces but learns it has been taken and after retrieving the D-Gun, and promising to work with Angela in the future, he leaves after indicating Taiga might have set this all up to steal the piece. Due to everyone piling on her, Taiga leaves and lets Ren handle the rest of the meeting as they continue to talk about her; Kitty chases after Taiga and the two talk, with Kitty rubbing her back and offering ice cream before Taiga sets out to track XIII. The rest of the group adjourns the meeting and decide to call it a day after everything.
Session 449: The Ancient's Gift Part II
Location: Cheryl's Mansion
Lemon's team monitors things on the moon where Marcus and Cherry are under cover trying to learn more about the Smiling Suns and she studies the image of Earth, going over the fact there might be another piece on Earth besides the one stolen from Cran's, as well as Spirit sightings on it. While they talk about it being in Japan, an alert goes off on Luna and so the decision is made to split the team two to check out both locations. The first team arrives on Luna, where a college building is burning and they meet up Christina Alder and a moment later a magical beam fires off from inside, sending a college student in a robe landing beside the group, with a smiling sun on the robe. The man seems barely alive from the blast as they decide to brave going inside as Chris calls in ICU for the wounded, then follows inside with them but separately. As Chris moves through and tags bodies to be rescued since they are alive but in pain, probably for life, the team moves onward and sees Marcus and Cherry when they come across Zayne threatening the Sunnyist. Zayne aims her scythe and turns it into a gun, aiming it at one of the pieces, before threatening to destroy it if they do not knock off their nonsense, claiming they do not know "Sunny", even as the cultist need it to bring back Sunny from the dead. Knocking and shattering their bones at their response, much to Christina's confusion, Zayne confronts something in a magical bubble, before having it float out of sight as Tabetha steps forward and asks why she doesn't want Sunny to come back to life.
As Kane asks if he should deal with the cultist or Zayne, Christina steps forward with her gun ready but not aimed, demanding she explain herself. Telling the team that Smiling Suns wished to use the piece to get their wish, she instead offers it to the team, motioning at the Ancient Piece. Tabetha assumes it is the familiar in the bubble, but Zayne is cagey about what is in the buble even as Sparkling Justice arrives on the scene. As the two eye each other, Zayne flies out through the fire and leaves the group to deal with the fire and the remaining Smiling Suns. Cherry and Marcus note that Zayne just came in weapons blazing at the cultist and Lemon notes that Zayne was suppose to be gone for another 13-14 years, wondering why she came back so soon. The team makes note to look into it by asking her later.
Location: Japan
Selena, whose hair is now in a cute shoulder length look and no longer burnt, Taiga, Sylph, Erevis, Kyouki, Jaime, Id, Sylph, Xanatos, Ellie, Reikana, Sparkling Justice, Kane, and Lemon walk along to the meeting spot where Vesta was suppose to have gone wit her team. They soon find her laying face down in a stream, her body cut up with spirit energy, so Sparkling and Jaime treat her. At that moment Sylph begins to feel weak due to the Elder Wind Spirit being near by and so Jaime calls Gnome to her. They soon find what looks like what might be Progenitor Ruins, but are more likely Ancient Ruins, up in the mountains; Reikana claims that there were no such things in the mountains before since she family has vacationed here before, making them wonder when it appeared, or if it was well hidden as Taiga points out due to the overgrowth.
Reikana wonders if this is the Spirit base and they pretending to be kami or some sorts as they begin to explore the base together, moving along the caves and ruins. They soon find Wyrd hanging upside down by the Elder Ice Spirit, Wind Spirit, Fire Spirit, Water Spirit, with the Elder Lightning Spirit and Elder Earth Spirit standing off to the side, wanting no part of messing with Wyrd, one due to being relaxed and not caring, the other due to it being the Earth Spirit and having made friends with them; the Ancient Piece is held by the Elder Ice Spirit, when Xanatos clears his throat and draws their attention. After some banter between the two sides, and Ellie checking on the Elder Spirits, being worried about them, and the Fire Spirit looks ready to burn them all when the Elder Wind Spirit insists on her not touching Ellie. As they talk to themselves and seem to talk to things not there, Reikana asks Id to scan them, much to the annoyance of the Spirits, but it shows something is draining them, or breaking down in them. While this is going on, the Elder Earth Spirit hands over Wyrd to the team; Jaime tries to get them to turn over the pieces to them, while Ellie wonders if this can really heal them, or if it's a trap. In a moment of being lucid, she asks which of them will get healed if the gift is used.
The mountain shakes from something and the Elder Fire Spirit checks it out, announcing that they are being attacked by the Tsivrixsh and Templars battling over the mountain. As it begins to crumble, the Elder Spirits prepare to warp out and the Wind Spirit allows Ellie to touch her as the Elder Spirits warp out, taking the group to Kumen. As Selena is comically crushed under everyone, Sparkling asks if Earth will be okay and Id announces that EarthGov will deal with them being there. The team notices that they are in front of a red colored ship that really stands out and that the Elder Spirits are MIA now. Red Fox emerges from the red ship, greeting them; it seems Red Fox is here on Kumen to try to make a deal with Kumen and Geyze, starting a trade business like she did with the Suisen Empire long ago in TAW5 from around 10-593ish, supplying things like marbles, Red Fruit, major ship components, fighters and other sketchy things that Red had back in the day. Behind her is another figure in a cape, trying to look familiar like Fox, seems to be a daughter of sorts with red hair themselves.
While many do not know her, those who do greet Red Fox and seem surprised to see her after all this time, especially since many thought she did in TAW4: Session 250, and those who know she didn't rarely see her outside her supply stuff. Erevis greets Fox, since she is one of those who does know she was alive, and greets her daughter Charlotte. After greeting her, they decide they should meet Ymir, since maybe she has information on where to go next with the pieces, and Fox has business with her as she is connected to Ylva and is head of the corporations. They decide they need to split up and deal with the pieces and plan for back ups as they get ready. In the meantime, the Templar Ships have Sol System, with Titus being one of them and Leon is the other, worried about what is to come. On the bridge with them is a figure in armor with God like feel and Leon noting he has to warn the team. And on Earth, Chad Winters gets an alert dealing with Aya and her family - a tragedy has struck.
Session 450: The Ancient's Gift Part III
Location: Kumen
Yuki leads the Aquarius while Erica is busy and the team spends some down time talking amongst themselves before the storm. While Rachael is acting more erratic lately, Sabrina talks about her love of space with Michiru as they land in Kumen City next to a large red ship; as Valen and Thena makes fun of the color, and even Hotaru joins in a little, they are joined by Adeline who makes Hotaru think her scythe is alive for a moment as they head further into the city. While this is going on, back at Ymir's office is studying Red Fox curiously while learning about the Ancient pieces. As they are talking Yuki and company arrive and Yuki announces an Ancient piece is somewhere here making Yuki's group wonder if she is up to something while Xanatos' group note that they are not with them. After they sort things out about whoever one is in the group, from Red Fox being there to do a business deal with her, to the fact Yuki likely detected Xanatos' pieces, Ymir announces that she will help them with the pieces.
The various teams have gathered from the PAX and Geyze in Ymir's conference room and have all the Ancient pieces laid out - 3 from Geyze, 1 of Ymir's, and the Luna one, leaving them half-way. That leaves the missing ones out there, XIII's, and the Elder Spirit's. While Alexander Cran studies the pieces like he was promised, Lumi arrives with bad news and informs them Aya Winters' family was attacked. She informs them that Aya, Dawn, and Eve are fine but the children seem to have been killed specifically, shocking everyone. Xanatos notes he wants to go help Chad and Erevis encourages him to do so while Angela fumes wondering what Chad did to get his family attacked.
Selena assumes the leader spot and notes if they can get the piece in Kumen's fields that will bump them up to six and everyone will come after them, allowing them a chance to take their's; during all this her hair has nearly grown back to it's full length, a sign of her Hapian heritage. Yuki has people form a point group and a back up group and Kaelan notes she believes the Templars will try to ambush them all during this, leading Moira to curse out the Templars; Nicolette hopes this plan will work and they don't just send out goons to take the team's. Yuki brings up information that since this has started the pieces that have had a piece have infused them with spirit energy which has led to gain abilities and powers. While Charlotte talks up a big game about how great she is and Kaelan wraps up Valen and Moira to see if she has gotten stronger with all this extra power lately, the team sets out.
They soon arrive at the fields of Kumen where a village is using magik to use it to expand their village and the ancient piece is on an altar in the center of the village. While Celeste just sighs and Thena and Charlotte thinks they should worship her, the team decides to provide a distraction for Valen to steal the piece. While Thena declares Charlotte her rival, Rachael drags Moira to the villagers and declares her to be a descendant of the piece's creators and demands they bow before her, motioning at her pale skin and hair. As Thena uses Moira's chest to distract them, Charlotte snatches the piece before Valen can do so which causes the villagers to do a droning speech about giving it back. As everyone is freaked out they run off and leave the villagers in the dust as Taiga hands a bag for Charlotte to put the piece into and onto her belt.
While some in the group think that she should give it back to Taiga and don't trust her just yet, Charlotte is blasted suddenly across the field. The Elder Spirits land on the field and the group notes this is probably a bad group to face them without any of the summoni to do battle. As Thena nabs the bag from a frustratd Charlotte, Nicolette takes down the Elder Fire Spirit and Valen moves in to stealth steal the piece from the Elder Ice Spirit while the other Spirits do battle with the team. While the Lightning Spirit is powerless against Durt due to his abilities, they are taken down by a combo attack of Moira and Kaelan. After a bit more attacks they take them down and Id advises finishing them off as the Aquarius arrives and lands near the team. Ymir aids those a stablizing the fading spirits from the fight and they soon go solid again. After putting the Elder Spirits on the ship, Selena decides to stay with them since she feels someone should be with them that they know.
Location: Space
Yuki announces she detectec the next piece in space near an asteroid as the Aquarius flies onward but they also have detected the Tsivrixsh and Templars in the area. Although the asteroid has atmosphere, likely due to the piece, the team suits up and exits onto it, joined by Adeline this time. As Charlotte makes vague hints at her powers, they search the asteroid and discover it eventually buried deep down in the asteroid, so Sabrina charges her magik weapon while Jaime softens the ground. They find the last piece and while trying to keep Jaime from floating away due to bad luck, XIII snatches the piece. They hear that the Aquarius has an intruder suddenly before they lose communications. As they arrive at the dark Aquarius, they find Pepper and Cookie searching it with lights.
However, they have some good luck and find XIII stealing the other pieces in a lab along with some of the other Weapons Chad has created over the years, and a battle breaks out between both sides. As it looks like it might get nasty for the Weapons, Durt drops a sound weapon that takes out those with sensitive hearing and the Weapons escape without the pieces, leaving behind their's thanks to Charlotte managing to use her power to yank the bag back at the last second. As Rachael goes completely crazed, her magik begins to go out of control and she leaps at Durt as Hotaru holds her back; as Valen and Kaelan leap forward as well, Kaelan even drawing her weapons to Durt's throat in rage from her Dark One powers, Rachael's magik begins to implify more and more, doubling in damage as she loses her mind until Lorelei appears and touches her, making the halfling pass out. Zegretta also calms Kaelan and Nicolette is left wondering what the hell she stepped into.
As a divide has now occured in the team that might not be repaired, Rachael is moved to medical and Erevis has the pieces put onto a table to put an end to this. As the pieces combine they everyone is hit by an image that brings them to their knees; Geyze appears in their heads as a temple is rising up near Monster Island and it looks like an Ancient Temple is being restored. They don't like how close it is to Autumn and Pepper checks to see if the enemy ships saw the vision, but it doesn't appear to be the case so the Aquarius changes course and begins their flight. As Durt and Jaime argue about what the device does, Valen punches him in the gut and puts restraints on him, leading him off to the cells.
Location: Geyze
As the Aquarius hovers over the temple, the team picks who they want to go inside it and Selena, Jaime, Sabrina, Taiga, Id, Celeste, Sparkling, Nicolette, Marcus, Valen, Thena, Moira, Kaelan, and Charlotte, as well as Simon and Lana, who arrives via Celsius, venture into the temple.
Many in the group are amazed in the tech in the temple, where there are glowing blue walls, unlike the temples of the Academy and strange devices powered by Spirit Energy floating around. The devices peer to look at them, scanning them and the team's bio stats appear and the group gloat at their power to each other as it displays their scans. As they reach a massive door, the sounds of a space battle can be heard and at the same time Dias comes cannon balling down the hallway. After they open the door, the team finds on the other side are more terminals inside a huge cathedral sized room that seems to go on and on where ghost like people move around. As they try to interact with the terminals and people, but they find the ghosts do not react and a lot of the text has been erased, with just a little of it remaining talking about a gift.
What little of the text that remains talks about the gift of a boon of a great spirit and that they worked all day to bring about something and Lana wonders if many they were working on a spirit egg with a Great Spirit. Tthey reach what looks to be a room full of spirit energy water and waterfalls; the spirit energy here is weaker than the Spirit Realm, due to it being sealed for so long, but it still has some power, maybe enough for spirits for a bit - and standing in the center of the room in front of the room with the piece is Chronos. When asked how powerful she is by Dias, Chronos demonstrates by sending back down the hallway by 20 seconds. She promises to fill them in as best as she can due to her limits, even as a God Ping is felt approaching. As Tsukiyomi explodes onto the scene, they think it is Autumn at first but soon realize after she chides Celeste that it is actually Angelus.
As the group prepares for battle with the moon goddess as she brings out moon powers to destroy them as best she can and they note they need to contact Lorelei wherver she is located, Kaelan goes into a battle rage to free Tsukiyomi. Thena teleports off to find Lorelei, but returns when she can't find her. As some of the group keeps Angelus busy, another group heads into the inner chamber with Chronos to the prize. Dias and Marcus do fast bal specials, Celeste strikes with Templar power breaking the moon, Valen and Moira work together as they feel another god approaching, Sabrina magik blasts, and Autumn and her monsters arrive as back up to aid them. As they break the moon, Valen gets the ide to use the mark to call on Lorelei to help drive out Angulus.
In the other room, the group approaches the pedestal and Chronos explains that one person takes the device and power. After Lana asks what they asked for in the last iteration, Chronos notes she is so very close. When pressed, she said she was told the results but could not deny them the journey, either. When asked if she has seen this contest before, Chronos notes this is the first time she has seen it. When asked by Simon if Chronos experienced it second hand through a future version of himself and Chronos notes that he is too clever for his own good. Jaime opts to put all the massive spirit power back into Geyze and power it up with even more spirit energy and Chronos notes that at least none of them became a Spirit. As they exit the room they find it destroyed and wreck, everyone in shambles with their clothes torn to pieces and sitting on Tsukiyomi. As the monsters carry Marcus out to party, Thena chases after them to have fun.
As they all go, Chronos informs them that the temple will collapse in around 10 minutes and casually vanishes, leaving everyone. Everyone hurries out of the temple as it begins to break apart and rushes along to the Aquarius who is waiting for them with the ramp down. Those who went on the journey managed at least to gain scan data and some pieces of the temple before it broke apart, assuming it didn't vanish with the temple, and the Aquarius flies away into the sunset, wondering what all that extra spirit energy will mean for Geyze, the current Spirits, the Elder Spirits, and the near by Planets.
Fumoffu Session 11: Reality Is What You Make It
Location: PAX
Kaori is dreaming in a place that looks like Centerpoint when Wind appears behind her, telling her is is almost time and that she needs to keep practicing. It appears that Wind has been teaching her how to use her reality powers and helping her to restore her lost powers since bringing the Mirror Universe back over to the Prime Universe. And he warns they are coming for her when Kaori wakes up inside Taiga's club, surrounded by food with a dejected Taiga ever since the events of Fumoffu Session 10. As Angela argues about the gators again with Moira, Ren suggests that maybe Kaori is sleeping too much and Kaori wonders if it's due to her eating too much. As Sabrina freaks out about student council presidents, leaving Kitty huffing since she was one long ago, Kaori receives a strange datapad message that reads: Ka#$oi. Da#$nr. Mot#$r. While Ren thinks it is spam, leading Celeste to wondering what spam is, Kaori thinks it means dinner and mothra.
Kitty A.I exits Kitty's AI, created by Taiga A.I to be a companion, offers to take a look at the message for Kaori - leading Kitty baffled at what is going on with her datapad. The message fries Kitty A.I as she tries to read the message and tells them it says: Kaori. Danger. Mother. She also informs them that the message came from no message on the holonet and they wonder if it means her mother is in danger or it came from her mother's. As they discuss Kaori's mother situation, Kaori mentions that she doesn't have a mother in the conventional sense, just Lady Kasha and Lady Miyuki, as well as Centerpoint itself. She tries to contact them and is unable to do so, as well as Ren, so they decide to go to the Nue Household in person.
Location: Earth
They arrive before the mansion and after a bit they approach the doorway where Isis snatches Kaori up in a hug before taking them inside the manison. Along the way the team is stalked by shadows and eyes following them until they meet Miyuki where they realize dozens of kitsune kits had been stalking them. They learn that one of the youngest chewed through a cord and it seems there is no problems here, outside Miyuki breeding an army, but when the two touch each other as Kaori talks about her dreams there is a glowing between them as Kaori activites some of Miyuki's innate reality powers left in her. Sparkling thinks maybe the dream is a prophecy as the house's internal defenses go off and Cobalt ships land to attack, leading to the manor's defenses rising up to protect it.
Adeline notes that maybe they should find a way out of there as not to hurt the children, a surprising concern from her for fox kits, if they are after Kaori. Kaori is guided by the voice of Wind to use her reality powers and she makes a pathway to the Crystal Pathways so they can all escape, leaving Miyuki and Isis to defend the house along with Kitty. Taiga ushers the team through and the pathways vanishes behind them even as Miyuki goes out and begins to beat the crap out of the Cobalt officers. Back on the PAX, Thena, Charlotte, Kaelan, Jaime, and Angela have found themselves abandoned at the club and left behind by everyone.
They follow the message left behind by Sabrina incase Nicolette showed up later, head down to Earth to see if they can find everyone and come across Miyuki battling the Cobalts. Even though she managed to take out the majority of them, she is finally caught and they rush in and aid her, rescuing her and taking out the remaining ones. They ponder where they could have gone after the group regroups and Kaelan thinks they went to the Centerpoint place, even though Isis points out it recombined with Yggdrasil. Miyuki decides the best option is to use her powers and try to reach where Kaori is located, using this connection to manage it.
Location: Crystal Pathways
Kaori's group finds themselves back in the Crystal Pathways, though now it seems dimly lit and barely functional. As they go along Taiga shows Kaori pictures of dark haired men trying to see if she can learn she saw in her dreams while Sparkling notes this place seems like an anime until they come across Miyuki's group. While Miyuki seems exhausted, leaning on Isis for spport, the others seem to have made the trip unscathed. Eventually Taiga gets a hit by showing Wind's face to Kaori and the team informs the group about who he was once. They eventually reach the center of a room where the find the Avatar Airym/Miyuki, nicknamed Cennie, and see that the systems have 35% power, much like how much reality power Kaori has managed to restore.
As Kaori begins to reboot the Avatar's programs, it is clear is running on low power but it talks with the group and converses with Kaori, pleased to see her. While they talk Miyuki has Hess pop out of her tail, carrying her around it seems. Adeline begins to wonder if this place is really a reflection of Kaori's heart as Hess and Kaori are reunited and she takes a look at the pathways. As Miyuki and Avatar Cennie converse about Kaori and that she is a good girl, Wind appears behind Kaori - but if he is the original deal, or a C'en copy, that is left to be seen. Wind informs them that Kaori needs to keep getting stronger because the Serpents are using pawns to try to get at Kaori to use her power and that there might even be traitors within the group. After that he touches Hess and after a painful jolt, makes her bad luck stronger.
Avatar Cennie returns them to the real world and the group appears in Taiga's club room; ice cream is all over the place, due to the fact it was mentioned last. It almost appears as if nothing has changed since they last appeared, except for the fact Kitty greets them. Taiga decides to assign a body guard to protect Kaori and will have Hess do it when that is no viable.
Session 451: Into the Mirror Universe
Location: The Academy
Other than the adventure in Taiga's club the past month, Tsukiyomi's body has been placed in the moon to be healed and there are rumors that Zayne is hanging around Luna these days, Chad has Aya and Dawn move back to the PAX for safety, Chad and Xanatos have gone off to do a buddy duo off somewhere, leaving Kyouki and Erevis alone in the meantime while Erevis has been tasked with helping Rachael's mind by Valen in the hopes of fixing her insanity problems, and the Aquarius has been prepped to go into the Mirror Universe. Erevis sees them off and informs them that she will not join them due to her working with Rachael, but encourages Kyouki to join the team in going to find the Spirit Realm since she is now a Spirit. Nicolette notes to Kyouki that she will help protect her along with Sylph while Celes also notes she will be declining to go due to her duties as Queen, but since Selena is planning to go - who is now fully back to normal as far as hair goes - tasks Liana in joining her to make sure Selena doesn't get into trouble. While Lana volunters to be her escort, leading to Liana eyeing her dubiously, Riki arrives with Ruhi and announces she wishes to see the mirror universe one last time since it is her home.
While Ellie worries about bringing the children on the Aquarius, which they are doing due to how long they might be gone due to the time differences in the mirror universe, Sylph wonders if they should have her sisters join them. She grabs Neekito, who was showering, at the least, but Gnome refuses to come along, worried about leaving Geyze for a long period. While Sylph is lectured about when to teleport people, they all board the Aquarius where they meet up with Asarar and her people. As the kids all get used to each other, Tora informs them that Erica and Yuki will be entering the mirror universe in a few moments. While Kira tells Bella to cut people if they mess with her, leading to the other kids to become afraid of her, Ruhi and Cherie become used to each other once again, having not really hung out that much outside school and being around each other since children.
While Gwen takes the kids off to the play area, the others have the Aquarius get ready and they fly to the Spiritalist Realm with the Spirit Portal; once there Asarar and Chelsea take the ship into the Net, leading the world to go blue. While Sylph complains and Nicolette and those not used to the Net look freaked out, Sylph activates the portal for the ship. The ship is immediately attacked by the monsterous creatures that begin to overwhelm the ship and try to eat it until Erica takes control and flies them through into the Mirror Universe after they shake them off with a slight battle. The monsters seemed to have been going after the Spirit's life energy, forcing the team to put up magic shields to make them feed on that temporarily. The team finds that it looks dark here and before them is the same monestary, only it appears completely ruined, with cracks as if something completely ate away at it in places; the entire area is barren and there is no snow here, despite it being a snowy area. Nicolette notes that it feels like the elements have been drained from this place and Sylph notes she might be correct.
While they hug on the Spirits after the incursion, Id notes this might be a good place for the Spirits to live if such a place needs Spirits and Erica notes that it might not be wise to jump the gun. After studying their scans they learn the creatures appear to some sludge, a void monster; an anti-spirit creature that is the opposite of the spirits. As they do a wide range scan they parts of Geyze has fallen into the ocean, the Dark Lands no longer exist, the Great Forest has been completely decimated, and the Legions are just a lava pool now; though Monster Island exists still. And it appears Kumen is a lifeless rock with just buildings on it. As they begin to fly around, Neekito informs them that the scans state that not only do the nearby planets have damage, but it looks like the universe itself might have suffered damage. However they soon come across a tower at the Academy with a portal on top of it that reminds them of something and upon entering it, they arrive somewhere familiar - Crystal Kumen in the alternate future. While Nicolette's mind is completely blown and many in the group have no idea what is going on, Erica explains that it appears they went through the net, into Dimension 2, then we went through the portal, into Dimension 3. They are suddenly hailed and on the screen is an older looking Cypher, causing Chelsea's ears to stand up. After exchanging pleasantries, Erica gets permission to land from this other Cypher, who says it's been a while, causing the other Cypher to raise an eyebrow.
In the meantime, Gwen has led the kids to their playroom area, where Cherie sizes up Ruhi and Cloé hides behind her older sister. Fae bounces around energically and Terra, the spirit one, builds things with toys, while Ruhi tries to talk with Cherie and build a connection. Nell climbs up Ruhi and startles Cloé until Fae begins to cry and even Terra looks uneasy, due to the Aquarius at that moment entering the Mirror Universe with the lack of spirit energy. Even Cloé looks a little upset, telling Cherie that there is no life wherever they are located. When the ship begins to shake due to the attack by the monsters, Ruhi shields them until it is over, but Cherie loses her gum. However this leads Bella to trying to steal the gum as Ruhi reaches for it, as does Cherie at the same time, and Bella claims she'll cut them. After scaring Cloé at first, Ruhi offers Bella a new piece of gum and gives Cherie her old one back and Bella tells them she wouldn't have cut them and was only repeating what Kira told her to say. As they all begin to make friends - at least a little, Riki comes to get them and notes that they have found a place in this new world.
As they continue Selena begins to act a little weird and notes she is feeling hot all over and as they lift her up to take her to medical, she looks younger - appearing to be six years old. Nicolette freaks out since her cards tell her nothing and has no idea what to do about this while they land and begin to unload; Nicolette says behind to help with the Selena situation while the others go to meet with the alternate future Cypher, leading to the two Cyphers meeting each other. Chelsea makes a threesome joke between the two Cyphers, who glance at her, then each other, and leeds to Asarar boinking her head. While Erica points out that their reality shouldn't exist anymore, the older Cypher tells them she thinks it might be due to them being a pocket reality. The ride up a C'en tower that once was the Macross HQ building, this being the Kumen City on their world, and as they reach the top of the tower, they find the Crystal Kumen Kids, four years older again.
While Chelsea takes measure of Cloé and Cherie of this timeline, who only have vague memories of them since she was a little girl, they discuss Cherie of this world and how she is still a "kid" in the group's eyes. Sylph wonders if children rule the world here as Nell proudly proclaims that she does all the heavy lifting and the Ruhi of this timeline sounds dubious of that claim. Selena is brought in by the others after having her checked out and she seems to have reverted mentality like, stomping her feet and proclaiming how unfair everything is so far. The two groups begin to get to know each other, especially those who have never encountered the kids, or the Makas. Crystal Seniga decides to show them to their rooms so they can get situated and Nicolette worries about how being deaged will work on the brain. Jinx meanwhile tries to get Selena to remember their time on this world and she seems to have no memories of it, so she gives her some mementos of this world to hold onto.
Location: Crystal Kumen, C'en Tower
The group finds themselves in the C'en Tower, which appears to have once been the Macross HQ, that the Crystal Kids live in now. While Chelsea worries about time paradoxes involving the children and the Crystal versions, while Nicolette and others note this is more like other realities. While Chelsea points out this place shouldn't exist and the mirror universe being around, nor even this pocket dimension, is concerning. Some note they could bring the Elder Spirits to this pocket dimension if necessary, due to how they seem to lack spirit energy and mana. While Ruhi and Bix hang out, Yuki shows how the reality signatures are different here, showing how much like the mirror universe people have their own signatures compared to the prime universe people, the people here seem to have their own as well now. And she explains that Selena's deage problem is due to a bunch of chrono/time energy flooding her body, likely at a young age due to the first Crystal Kid incident, and that anytime she encounters chronometric energy will do this to her. The group wonders what to do to reage her but for now leaves her as she is for the time being.
While the team worries if they might have been flooded with the chronometric energy and Selena causes problems, Yuki notes she thinks since they're all older and weren't affected young like she was that it likely won't affect them. After a bit the group goes into the meeting room where the younger versions meet their Crystal versions and all chaoticness breaks out. After a while Seniga sends the kids off to play in a room that Cherie and Jinx used to hang out, fending off kid Nell while doing so, before refocusing the two groups. With the antics now out of the way, the Crystal Cypher brings up a map of Geyze and Kumen and tells them that they have been trying to repair a C'en ship to go to Geyze, but since the team have arrived with the Aquarius, their hope is they can use it to check out Geyze. At the same time some in their group seem interested in c'en ships so the two sides make a deal to do both while Cypher tries to ask Crystal Cherie how she is doing and getting a dubious look; after she embarrasses her with question about her love life and running that version of Cherie off, the teams decide which will go where and split off.
Location: Crystal Geyze
Yuki, Erica, Yurica, Terra, Fae, Pepper, Cookie, Ellie, Gwen, Nicolette, Jinx, Ashe, Simon, Lana, Luci, Jaime, and Id head for Geyze where Ellie worries they are in for a depressing sight while Nicolette wonders why there is a box on the bridge of the ship. She checks under the box and finds Cloé hiding under the box, peeking up at her, who seems to have come to the ship to hide. They find the planet crystalized as they come in and Mireille helps scan the planet where they find the structures under the crystal as they talk about the spirits were likely killed and those that did make it likely faded after a while; the group compares this to the Templar's view of the world. Other than Liana's grandfather being buried deep under the crystal, there is no other sign of life on the planet. They land on the planet and Cloé climbs onto Nicolette as they get off the ship, making a cat scarf around Nicolette.
After some debating and talking they decide to have Sparkling attack the crystal and see what happens, but even though she does damage, it begins to repair itself. And a second attack it seems to adapt to it. While Asha wonders where a lightning mage is located when you need it, Ellie points out that Volt is dead. Nicolette uses her rod and applies a softer touch with her attack and it seems to work; followed by Jaime using a mote move, Kyouki, Jinx with a void attack, and the TK. As they succeed, Yurica hits random buttons on the ship to cause sirens to go off and shock the team as a void is opened up by the team and are almost eaten. As Id is almost pulled inside, the void is closed by Jinx. The crystal begins to break apart and they all, along with the ship, fall down 50 meters to the Aquarius that was once sealed up by it. And crash hard.
Location: Crystal Kumen
Riki, Ruhi, Crystal Ruhi, Id again, Cypher, Talia, Alita, Logan, Bix, Seniga, Chelsea, Kira, Bonnie, Cherie, and Crystal Cypher walk along Crystal Kumen as Riki points out various landsapes that match up with Kumen as she knows it. As they soon walk around the C'en ships that they have on hand, one suddenly powers up and targets the Crystal Ruhi and opens fire. After they repel it, it turns suddenly and flies away toward the C'en Tower, causing the team to take stock even as Bix leaps onto the roof and Talia the side. As Bix does battle with them, the others get into a car and drive for the tower, keeping an eye on the battle as they try to get in touch with the tower to warn them. As Bix and Talia do damage to the shuttle, doing battle with the C'en inside it, the Tower soon comes into sight; after doing damage to the side and engines, Bix and Talia begin to start to bring it down when Talia is blasted off and she is forced to warp back to Alita.
As Asarar takes over driving from Crystal Cypher and begins to rip out controls to go faster, causing Chelsea to note she hasn't gotten better at driving over all these years, Alita and Talia chant with their magic. Ruhi holds onto Cherie's hand in the back since she is terrified, while Crystal Cypher gets in touch with Crystal Bella and warns them about the shuttle getting close in 30 seconds and to reach the defenses. As she rushes to the defenses, Bix is now in range of the tower and uses his boosted rockets to boost to the tower and crashes into the window right as he and Bella destroy the shuttle; during all this it has been clear the shuttle was going after Crystal Cherie and a piece of the shuttle smashes into her window, cracking it, but nothing else. However, the team now knows someone is trying to hurt Crystal Cherie and they drive into the tower to recuperate.
Session 453: What May Be, What Will Be
Location: Crystal Kumen
After the two incidents, the group have returned to the C'en Tower to go over their plans from here on out; the Aquarius group plans to continue investigating Geyze now that they managed to clear the crystal covering the planet while the Crystal Kids plans to look into the C'en who are trying to do harm to Cherie. Since the Aquarius is mostly intact, the Aquarius team believes they may find some information down there that may aid them; Crystal Cypher mentions that the people of Geyze were likely brought to Kumen after the C'en terraformed Kumen in this timeline, unlike Riki who did it in the normal timeline. While Asha and others in the proper timeline feel unnerved about everything, the team grabs supplies and prepares to return back. After Asarar drags Luci out by the ear due to her antics, Crystal Seniga begins start go over how they need more information about what the C'en are up to unless they want more attacks against Crystal Cherie. After dragging Crystal Nell off by the ear for doodling on the second Id, they all set out. (at this point all characters are the kids unless noted otherwise)
They arrive at a broken looking van that looks ready to break down and after some ridicule by the others, Seniga has them all pile inside along with Sparkling Justice, Cypher, and Chelsea. Before they take off, a few stowaways sneak aboard and hide in the back. After everyone is settled in and with Seniga putting a helmet on herself and Cherie, who has her eyes closed nervously with Cloé wrapped around her neck while using their familiar pact to send her calming thoughts, she starts the van up and takes off. As they drive along, they can see the main city has started over the past 8 years to recover from the C'en rule and begun to become more of a normal city with schools and homes for the people without run down orphanages. Ruhi decides to open up the glove box as they drive along and the bracelets spill out that they used long ago, stored there by Seniga to use in an experiment to strengthen them.
They begin to divide the bracelets amongst themselves when Selena sneakily grabs light from under the blanklet she is hiding under. At first they debate taking her back, especially when they discover Fate and Terra are with her as well, when Seniga points out that it would eat up the entire day. As Chelsea chides her for not at least asking, Ruhi is harder on her for putting them in a bad position, making Selena cower a bit in intimidation. Soon they leave the city and things begin to look rough as remnants of the C'en occupation can be seen, with checkpoints and other marks upon the world can be seen; as they near Dosco's Goods, the destination Seniga had Bix drive them to, a fortress made out of junk walls. The two spirits begin to look weak due to a C'en device to drain mana/spirit energy out of the air, which was once used to target any remaining Spirits that might have been around.
After having Bix take the van to a safe distance and leaving the children inside it with Cypher watching over them, Ruhi decides to go inside and confront Dosco while Cloé moves to take out the C'en device. While the device weakens the familiar and causes her some issues, making her weak and faded a little herself, being a creature of spirit/mana herself who draws her strength from Cherie to survive. While Sparkling finds the place revolting once they get inside and Id fascinating, Ruhi and Dosco are on familiar terms with each other due to their encounter long ago and it seems they have been keeping in touch somewhat. While he leers at Cherie, making Bella threaten him, Ruhi notes she will "whip him again" if he behaves, making Seniga have a freak out moment. After some back and forth, Dosco agrees to give up the C'en to the group and informs them that they are located on Priest Island in one of their old strongholds, as well as rumors of them being on the prison island doing experiments. He also mentions that they have been mentioning Cherie a lot lately, noting he's heard that they feel she's the lynch pin of the group and taking her out will bring them all down. Jinx scans him mentally but doesn't find any untruths while Bella freaks out at the tactic, finding it stupid; Ruhi "thanks" Dosco in a way that makes Seniga freak out again. They return to the van and Bix sets off for the docks to go to Prison Island at a snail speed and Seniga vows to use the time it will take to make Cherie a defense master.
Location: The Aquarius / Un-Crystalized Geyze
The Aquarius lands at an Academy era The Duality Wars: Session 135 and find it completely perserved, minus the people, much like it was before the C'en attack in this timeline. Simon points out to Asha the strides Geyze has taken over thr years since at this point the Alliance had not been formed; the team notes it feels like they're in the past and how eerie it feels. As Sylph flies off to investigate the area before Ellie can stop her, she and Neekito how much of a handful the wind spirit can be and that is part of what drew Ellie to her as Kyouki shadowports after her and Jaime hyperports after her with her hyperspace. They arrive in the grotto where it is melting and turning into pure ooze, as if the spirit/mana energy is dying out; the strange stuff tries to grab Kyouki and Jaime as they appear, forcing them to avoid it. During all this the others casually check out the academy, finding clothes and objects still there belonging to the team back in that time period.
Sylph lands on Kyouki covered in the muck after Kyouki calls out to her, so she hands her off to Jaime after tries to stablize the place. However, when Kyouki attempts to do it with her power, the black ooze definitely tries to eat her, seizing her by tying her to the place and reaching out to her, but Kyouki manages to break free. Kyouki, now in loli form due to running low on mana/spirit power in this place and using energy, and Jaime would begin to run low on magical power herself. As Jaime stomps and helps slow it, Nicolette uses light magic to repel the dark mass; it works somewhat - even though it feeds it with magical energy, it slows it, allowing Nicolette to escape with only some magical energy lost. Nicolette and Neekito help clean Sylph as Jaime teleports the group away, burning herself and smelling like burnt hair/flesh while Ellie worries about her Sylph.
While they had to abandon the Aquarius, along with Erica and a few of the crew, they managed to land near a Spirit Portal. As the two spirits rest, getting run down with spirit energy/mana, Id also begins to run out of power since Geyze at this period of time had a draining effect in going on. As he shuts himself off into sleep mode, Sylph and Simon dial the Spirit Portal and open it up. The team step through into a foggy realm where Id slowly begins to power up and the spirits seem to recover. As it clears, they see a beautiful pure lake area, with crystals in the bottom of it, portals all over the landscape in places with one leading to the Crystal Pathways off to the side, there are crystalline structures, and windows into the world. There is even part of the Hapian Castle in the Spirit Realm, which does not fit since the part of the castle was only sealed off after the events of Session 200.
Simon notes this does not look like, or feel like, the Spirit Realm he last visited, the others spread out to check things, with Yuki going inside the castle and the team immediately notices that they seem to move super fast by taking a step. It appears there's areas in the realm suited to each spirit - with forests, lakes, firey places, and so on. Nicolette points out that they should be taking lots of readings in the hopes of finding their realm in all this; after saying this she appears in front of the mirror/windows that look into other parts of the world. Glancing into the mirror, Nicolette sees the Geyze she knows, around late 10-641.3.20 near 4.1. After being called over by Nicolette and saying it looks like their Geyze, the team wonders how that is possible, due to how they got there - going through th mirror universe into an alternate universe into the spirit realm, meaning this should be an alternate timeline spirit realm. However Nicolette puts forth a theory: what if the spirit realm wasn't tied to any other universe and was a sort of metaplane. After they debate seeing if they could reach out to one of their spirits from this place, they all decide on calling one spirit: Chronos.
Location: Spirit Realm?
Now that the team is in the Spirit Realm, or at least what appears to be the Spirit Realm, Sylph plays in the grass and spins about while Yuki uses the datapad to try to reach out to Erica and the Aquarius; Kyouki notes that they are suppose to be bringing another Spirit to see if they can summon spirits. While Lana spies on the Crystal Geyze and notes that the mirrors must be scrying mirrors, since they are showing the Aquarius with Erica preparing the ship for something. As Nicolette has it go back to their Academy and they see spring is in full swing there now, they debate how much time has gone by now. Sylph, along with Ellie and Neekito, go off to explore the area and come across a church structure with spirit cores needed to open the door, this one needing three compared to the lighthouse one the group encountered long ago in The Duality Wars: Session 168 - 169. While they are doing their investigations, with Simon reaching out and seeing he can indeed feel Chronos and could summon her, the Spirit Realm shakes and the Aquarius appears phasing into here using the Phase Engines. Kyouki notes that this feels like Xanatos should be here, the mirror briefly showing Xanatos and Chad together somewhere shady doing things together.
Mireille and Erica join the group as Yuki runs up to them and during this Nicolette asks to what Centerpoint is since it keeps bring brought up; the mirror attempts to do so, showing parts of the spirit realm, Yggdrasil, the Crystal Pathways, and even the Spirits, before the mirrors just seem to shut off, overloaded. Nicolette notes though this supports her idea that this might be a metaplane location if it is connected to Centerpoint in someway. While Nicolette goes over various theories, Jaime attempts to summon Gnome who after a long lag appears, looking exhausted and drained. Id implores Simon to bring Chronos as well while Gnome rests and after some hesitation he does so, which Kyouki notes was the right decision; Chronos appears after a brief time, looking worn out herself, but claims she used time adjustments to help with the burden.
When asked if she can align things, Chronos seems amused at the idea, but tells them with what little time they have left before things get crazy she can inform them with what she knows. Chronos uses her staff to draw an example, showing the Prime Universe and the Mirror Universe, then the Spirit Realm; explaining that the Spirit Realm is still tied to the Mirror Universe and functions here. Despite all the necessary tools transferring over to the Prime Universe when that Kaori did her thing, the Spirit Realm did not come with it, because Yggdrasil took it's spot, so when the team dials with the Spirit Portals over there, the Spirit Realm does not connect. Lana then realizes why it was not working since that meant she was connecting to Yggsrasil. Chronos notes the only way to fix the problem would be to move the Spirit Realm to the Prime Universe or find a way to connect to it in the Mirror Universe, but the problem is the monsters here that might destroy it. When asked what they are, she admits she doesn't know but notes that they to devour any magik or spirit energy left in the universe, making the team and the Spirits prime snacks. Chronos notes they could call the monsters Anti-Spirits.
At that moment the Spirit Realm shudders and the sky darkens a little, so the team hurries to get the Spirit Cores in the various spirit chambers and building while the rest of them hold back the monsters.
Location: Crystal Kumen, Prison Island
The boat the group has used nears the island, with Nell wearing an admiral hat and the kids running around the ship; Ruhi chiding Selena for leaning over the railing as they land on the island in the fog. The two Cloés, who have been playing cards with each other and getting along, stop as the team disembark and head up to the prison, which shows signs of an epic battle from long ago where they once saved their parents. As they enter the prison, they decide to split up, with Sparkling, Id, Seniga, and Nell going upstairs, and Ruhi going left and Bix goes right; Bella, Selena, and Cherie stay near the entrance while Jinx stays behind to watch the other children. Seniga and her group find the prison cells that their parents were once held in when a trap is activated and doors shut down, trapping them, as a gas begins to emit to knock them out. Nell begins to use her bracelet to wail on the door to try to free them, holding her breath during it, while Sparkling and Seniga aid in the door bashing.
Ruhi comes across a tank like weapon that activates and begins to battle her, trying to run her over and take her out. As she is put on the defensive and forced to try to find a weakness, Bix has a powerful Zhen warrior that forces him to battle with everything he has in him. The battle causes him great damge but he eventually manages to defeat the warrior. As he goes off to aid Ruhi as she struggles, Bella and Cherie are ambushed as Bella is tranqed just as they near the trouble for the other groups. While Bella weakly battles the Zhen that appear to go after Cherie, Selena tries to lead Cherie to safety. As Cherie is about to be lifted away as Bella drops, she uses her wind bracelet and slices them up and they drop down, causing Cherie to drop to her knees in panic. Meanwhile upstairs, Sparkling fires magical shots at the door with Nell, the two slowly getting through the layers when Zhen appear with masks on, forcing them to fight them off. As they defeat the Zhen after they injure Seniga's facethey manage to break down the doors.
Meanwhile Ruhi begins to throw things at the tank and leaps onto it as Bix arrives and the two continue their assult. As Cloé arrives to check on Cherie and make sure she is okay, they head to make sure Ruhi is doing okay as Ruhi begins to rip the hatch off the tank. However a manuever by the tank sends Ruhi flying off the tank and in front of Cherie as she arrives and Bix defends her from the tank. Cherie attacks it with the wind attack and leaves a gaping hole revealing the Zhen pilot as the others arrive from upstairs. As Nell and Sparkling do a combo attack, Sparkling using the bracelet, the tank is downed as the Zhen pilot climbs out and Ruhi tackles them. After searching the priest they find that they think Cherie a cataylst of change for something and they wonder what she can do. Cypher can only guess it might have to do with her manifestation perhaps and Chelsea points out that she is a half-breed at best. While this is going Cypher monitors a something, noting the sky darkening and wonders if something is going on with the bad guys they encountered in the mirror universe, but keeps it from the kids for now as they hid for the Priest Island.
Location: Spirit Realm
While Erica and Yuki lead a select few to the Aquarius to throw down with the monsters or "Anti-Spirits", Chronos leads the others to the light house looking building for the spirit cores. As they reach the door, Ellie and Jaime grow discomforted due to what they know is to come as Sylph drives her hand into her chest like she is ripping her heart out and pulls her spirit core out, freaking out even Neekito who has never seen it before. While Lana finds it exciting - at first, Nicolette freaks out with Ellie, as Sylph begins to look faded and see-throughish as Simon puts the core into the door and it turns into a crystal like object. As Kyouki wonders if she would have to do that, Chronos and Id tell her they doubt it would work for her. Neekito follows suit next and puts her core into the door, unlocking it for the team and making Ellie freak out again as Neekito leans against Nicolette.
The room is much the same as it was the last time they entered the area in Session 169 as Ellie kisses Sylph and Neekito before entering the vault. They find spirit shards of memories of people from various various realities in them as well as the giant black core that looks evil. Chronos explains the shards grow larger and can be used as the base line for the spirite cores in Spirits once emerged in the waters here. Kyouki discovers that black core houses the memories of Xevil inside it when Nicolette freaks out at the idea of an evil core and that just means that the memories in here are just that evil. They retrieve 3 cores here and Chronos says they will need at least four for Water, Ice, Earth, and Wind, and to get some of the water in the place for the other two. Simon fills up a canteen and they move out of the place and get Neekito and Sylph's cores back into them.
As Ellie fusses over Sylph they head to the next location and Sylph makes a literal whine at the door and refuses to use her core this time, apparently hating the process. With the enemies getting closer despite the Aquarius' efforts, and needing 3 cores at this church like site, Gnome steps up and puts her's into the door, and Neekito notes that she doesn't think she can manage it since she is not technically a standard spirit; since the new cores are too young according to Chronos, they need to find more spirits since Sylph refuses to step up. Chronos does her's and Alita summons Brooke to them and asks her to use her core, which she complies after some confusion and they finally open the door. Ellie carries Sylph in and leaves Neekito to Nicolette as the group enters and finds a giant spirit chamber; probably once before it was closed off long ago, this was a place for the Spirits to live and commune with each other, perhaps. There's spirit chambers and on the walls are crystals, each spirit has their own area - representing all the elements.
The team finds diaries and other documents written by the Elder Spirits and the team works together between Id and Simon trying to record it due to the nature of the documents. As Jaime and Kyouki rushes off straight to the spirit cores, the others search the area for various things and find that each spirit has a legendary item. Sylph puts a head piece on Ellie that allows her to float while Jaime goes to look for one in the Earth section and finds a glove. However, unable to move it due to how heavy it is she has to rely on Alita and Talia to carry Titan's Glove. Kyouki finds the Cloak of Night in the Dark Section that lets one blend in with the shadows and travel nearl invisible like. Lana makes it out with two more relics with their time running low and the spirits dying outside, grabbing the Light Spear that allows one to gather light power and store it and the Water Ring/Bubble, that allows one to go deep into the ocean. The team sets out back to the Aquarius, with Ellie floating along with Sylph.
Location: PAX
Lorelei holds a meeting with Durt in Katrina's bar where Katrina and Terra, who seems these days to be co-owning the bar with Katrina. Lorelei brings up the subject of Durt to everyone, which causes some tension among the group, but with Rachael and Valen not there it makes it a little easier to discuss the subject, and discusses family situations and makes an appeal to give Durt another chance. After the group makes their piece, Moira points out that Rachael isn't there, so Lorelei motions at Erevis - who remained in the Prime Universe instead of joining the others in the Mirror Universe (See 451 - 454, 459 - 460). She notes to everyone that she will be attempting to help Rachael and see if she can work on her mental issues so she can return to the team soon, which leads to talk about Thena, with Erevis noting that is Thena just putting on a front to throw people off and underestimating her. It leads to talk about how she has not so far come across any issues with half-famfrits before Rachael, though in the alternate future of Tareh it seems they did, so Erevis muses maybe it is a magic thing.
After promising to examine Moira later, she excuses herself from the group while Celeste wonders if there was a her in this other world, and Lorelei studies Charlotte since she is an unknown in the group so far. While Charlotte is evasive and calls herself Thena's rival, it seems that Lorelei so far has not detected Celeste being a possible reborn person from Tareh, due to her questions, and the Angel never encountering her if she was from that world. Lorelei announces to the team that while Rachael is out of commission and Taiga is working on the EarthGov ship for them, some volunteers have stepped up on a case by case basis - Locket, Adeline, Ren, and Charlotte. When something comes up, the team has to scramble out of the bar, some with their food in hand, with Lorelei informing them that Taiga contacted them about chatter about the Serpent group that is trying to revive the Serpent, located near Tsivrixsh/Erusian space.
Arriving on the Tiger Cruiser, Taiga asks who will be Captain with Erica in the Mirror Universe, so the group goes through a routine and decides on Kaelan but then Moira is chosen by the whims of fate and Kaelan handling navigation. The group works on translating, mainly those who know the language like Kaelan or Taiga or Charlotte, etc, and once they learn that it looks like the Serpent Cult might be working with the Tsivrixsh. Charlotte notes that the team has to stop them without causing another grear war so they head out to where the point where all the powers converge in Suisen territory. The team uses ther Tiger Engine and arrives in seconds at a planet, using ther coordinates from the transmission they intercepted, and find that it is mainly a farming planet with Suisen technology and a few major cities.
Since there is not a lot of information on file in their databases they have Thena contact Syiean and it appears to be an older world in the system that didn't come up, so she sends over the information. The Taiga A.I notes that maybe they are on the outs with the Suisen Empire and they are not getting proper updates to files as she loads up the new files, they try to triangulate where it came from the planet. Ren snoozes on Kaori, looking lonely and unhappy - and bored, while they decide to land on the planet to try to figure out how the transmission was sent. Faced with 3 spaceports, they debate where to land and Moira picks the location with the excess teleporters while Lorelei wonders why they picked a world with farmlands. Durt suggests they test the crops while they are there since it goes to Earth and Suisen, as well a little to the Cartel.
As they exit the ramp, and Ren still being needy with Kaori, the Taiga A.I floats and lands on said head, leading them along while Charlotte asks about Dark Ones. As Kaelan, Lorelei, and Charlotte discuss them, Durt sends Thena clones out into the corn to get samples for the team. While Taiga A.I discusses how the tier benefits work in the Suisen Empire, discussing the Tsivrixsh having a tier 1 and is only allies with the Suisen Empire unlike a tier 3 being part of the Suisen Empire and having access to all the benefits, the clones go into corn field. Lorelei points Charlotte to seeking out Andrea if she is intered in Dark Ones, saying she is the leader of them, but during this Thena loses contact with the clones, but doesn't feel any of them being destroyed, confusing her; Durt tells her to send more, however Thena says she sent three and that was already a huge drain on her. Sabrina transforms into her magical girl outfit, proclaiming she will save Thena, but since she drank something that made her a little drunk, she flies off, leaving Lorelei and team to go into the corn to help.
Meanwhile a Ren stays behind, being an emo, to look into the ship logs, sending a duplicate to help out in the farmlands, making Charlotte curious since wants to learn how to copying moves. As they move in the duplicate Ren vanishes as well and the team begins to get paranoid. As Kaori searches for Ren, Sabrina floats overhead and tells the team they are surrounded when men in cloaks move in, one knocking out Ren and engulfs her in an energy ball. They attempt to touch the others and a battle breaks out and it becomes clear they are part of the Serpent cult due to serpents being on their cloaks. After a fierce battle they run the Serpents off and rescue their teammates, using the device the Serpents had to get those caught out of the balls. However one of the Thena's is missing and seems to be being taken away. As they go along they study the weapon they took from the Serpent Cultist, it appears to be twisted and bendy like a serpent itself and might could even have been made by it; Kaori would also see there seems to be made of some sort corrupted version of reality/Yggdrasil attached to it.
Kaelan contacts Zegretta to warn her about the Serpent Cultists on the planet and to contact Syiean. As they catch up to the Cultist rolling Thena along, then retreat and let Thena reclaim her clone. Loerlei notes it was too easy, almost like they were wasting their time, or distracting them. Lorelei has Kaori touch the ball and her power absorbs it, recharging her depleted reality power. Durt reminds them to grab the samples still and they head back to head back to the ship where the Taiga A.I informs them the sample of the crop has been altered affect the body and brain over a long period of time of many years. They decide to leave it up to the Empress and the Suisen Empire to follow up on this for the time being, since it is beyond their resources.
Charlotte meanwhile seeks out Andrea to learn more about Dark Ones and is taken there by Ren. After being tested by Andrea to see what her mettle is like by tempting her, and even messing with her body some, Andrea goes into what the Dark Ones are like and what their powers are like. Charlotte shows interest in their powers and what they can do, to Andrea explains the dark side of the Dark Ones' power. She notes she should meet various Dark Ones and their families, as the run into Thena and Kyouki, the Dark Spirit. Swallowing some of Andrea's power, Charlotte gains a minute amount of Dark One pwoer and Andrea personally begins to train Charlotte on the side about Dark One matters afterwards.
Location: PAX
It is a perfectly ordinary day, with Thena bragging about one of her stories to Katrina, Locket hanging around the bar, Adeline studying, Lenneth chiding Thena, Kaelan drawing, Reikana being baffled by Thena, and Sabrina and Moira eat cake, when an advertisement with Reikana in a Maka outfit plays; Sabrina acts all huffy about it, feeling like it is wrong that someone who isn't a Maka shouldn't be dressing up like them, even as Moira and Charlotte try to explain what cosplay means. Lorelei informs the team that the Erusian Embassy wishes to speak with the group, so they need to cross over to the Empress' side of the PAX to do so. While Kaori wonders why there is an item named after her, which seems to be a special with lots of various foods from the menu added to the plate for those who can eat a lot, the others head over to the Empress side, with Moira wondering if the Maka visited ancient Earh as well as Charlotte and Thena doing their nemesis thing. While Reikana debates doing a unity concert, with Charlotte deciding to help chip in, they arrive at the gate where Ao and Leyeah are guarding.
After Ao gives Durt a glare reserved for Chads, she clears them to go on to the Ambassador Tower where they pass the various major races on their way to the Erusians. Theron greets them and they learn he is the Erusian Ambassador for the PAX and already has Cheryl inside his office, wearing large winter, relaxing winter clothing as well as Angela; as Theron studies Kaori as they enter, making her feel uneasy, as Michiru, Charlotte, Durt, Ren, Reikana, Sabrina, and Moira take their seats and are joined by Myria. While Thena sits on Theron's lap in a power move, Myria and Theron go over the fact that the Ascendency is repairing the damage they received recently and preparing in the case of the Tsivrixsh make a move, so they caught on their sensors several Dark One ships moving into their area of space, threatening all of them. Theron informs the team that they will likely move through their territory toward the Cartel, but it is possible they might shift to the Tsivrixsh or the Suisen Empire. Kaelan warns that they'll try so seed every world they can, populated or not, along the way; Angela offers Myria some Omega Coke and while that plays out, everyone leaving her behind to face the Erusians wrath, the others head off.
*They return to Lorelei's office where Lenneth has joined the group and after informing her of what they have learned, Xeres joins them to be their liason to the Erusian Ascendency. Taiga pulls out the relics they gathered from their trips dagger, pendants two necklaces, and the strande device, and the Templar bible, then brings Chad up into the conference call. She starts with the Soul Dagger and informs them that the dagger can put a person's soul into a Rune to power it; she then goes into the Prime Spirits who look like little Sprites, that flutter about and renames them from the Prime Spirits to the Sprite Spirits. Taiga points out that the Sprite Spirits can attach to anyone in this form, but only the person with the same element will get extra powers, those with opposite elements will get minor boosts. A draw back is the Runes themself are less powerful now and still only attach to the person with the same element. Taiga notes that she believes that Yggdrasil or Centerpoint might can rewrite the Runes or give them a new purpose, or make new ones.
*Taiga then goes over the Templar Bible and shows how the Templars have devices charting and studying how the universe is being overun with what they call too much supernatural/magical energy since the year Dias and Marcus opened the box. And there was no evidence of it before, leading them tobelieve, or theorize, that it will destablize the universe due to the increased rate of how every being is gaining these powers. She even notes they have plans to make a device to make everyone normal by emitting waves and Thomas notes it is just a theory at this point and there is no such a device. As for the two necklaces, Taiga notes she remains unsure of right now but notes they are corrupted with Dark One energy, but might be boosters of some sort.
Kaelan talks about how Makas can help with corruption, surprising Sabrina, and when Durt claims she is talking a big game when Kaelan claims if she goes too far into the corrutive dark energy side, Reikana backs her up saying when Noire when berserk, it was bad. Charlotte looks uneasy at the revelation, due to her looking into Dark Ones with Andrea, and so Lorelei debates who to talk to about all this - the Empress or Andrea. The group decides on talking to Andrea, with Thena noting that Andrea seems to have taken a shine to Charlotte lately, and Charlotte even volunteers to talk to her. Reikana contacts Andrea who appears, but there seems to be something a little off between the two. Andrea listens, while dangling Charlott with a tendril, and notes it would take a lot of her power to scour the galaxy to find them, but goes over what they are likely to do - establish a base and a Soul Well, so they could use anyone who has died and the dead against the team. If they can stop these two things, they'll have stopped the invasion before it's begun. The team splits off and goes to do their thing while Andrea promises to look into it.
Sabrina and Moira discuss the fearsome School President at Katrina's bar, when Noire walks in and freaks her out. Charlotte and Noire talk to each other, while Taiga and Michiru wonder about how much in character Noire always is it seems. While Charlotte probes and tries to learn more about Noire, obviously having a crush on her, Noire makes Charlotte talk about herself - who seems to be clearly uncomfortable about doing so. After a bit Noire leaves when Charlotte asks her own questions and one touches about Reikana, leading to Taiga comforting and saying it might be a touchy subject for her, due to Reikana/Noire sharing a body. While Si hits on Taiga, cuddling her, Locket and Michiru hit it off, the two finding themselves quite alike and discuss their parents.
Date: 10-641.3.1
The next day, Charlotte searches the PAX and finds Reikana in Katrina's bar and the two begin to talk once more while Taiga works on her Taiga A.I some more. Reikana seems to be clueless about what Charlotte is talking about, showing that they do not share memories, so the two discuss Noire. Learning that Reikana has a girlfriend named Madison, who is a lawyer and her agent, and after a bit Reikana heads out.
Later that day while Erevis trains in the training room, Taiga's tails are molested by Si. While Ren and Si joke about Taiga, Taiga notes she will just join Michiru and Cheryl at their table if that's the case, causing Ren to tease Michiru with her tails. As Noire shows up, Ren invites Charlotte to join them at their table, but Charlotte notes she wants to apologize to Noire first.
While Locket and Michiru talk, Noire and Charlotte resume their conversation and Charlotte admits to being interested in becoming one and Noire warns her against it. As they discuss the dangers of it and what it could mean, the darkness and hunger that comes with it, Dias steps in and X arrives. AFter some banter, she invites him out to dinner if he wants, leaving Dias stumped. Alouette arrives as well, looking cute and studying things while they talk about Charlotte's mother and more. When Adeline comes in, when it looks like Charlotte and Adeline might come to blows due to Adeline's past as a Spade and connection to V.I, strangely they seem to get along and Adeline makes note that Charlotte can come by and see her later if she wants to do so. Oh and Fate busts in to beat up on Dias and test him.
Date: 10-641.3.2
Noire scares off Sabrina once again while Ren and Noire chat; Katrina gives Noire the Kaori special for being the 1000 customer and Noire sets out on a quest to finish all the food. Charlotte joins them and the three debate what to do while Ren talks about Suisen Law to Charlotte, going over how it allows a person to have multiple partners if one wishes, which interests her due to her crush on Noire. Charlotte feeds Ren while they talk and she tries to give Noire chocolate in a tsundere way by claiming she has too much, even giving Ren some. Ren and Charlotte head out to the ski resort while Charlotte finishes the food and will join them later; along the way the the two discuss Charlotte's interest in Noire. Ren notes if Charlotte really thinks she is interested that she can go for it, but to understand what Madison means to Reikana. Along the way Ren notes that she likes Charlotte and thinks they can be good friends.
Afterward, Charlotte meets up with Andrea, Kaelan, Sudako, Heaven, Tamara, and Thena and she continues her lessons and training. While she has Charlotte practice and learn how to tiny bits of shape shifting like hair color or height, she has the others train with their powers and focus on keeping their dark side in check while doing a sparring match. Afterward, Charlotte discusses she will have to think seriously about taking the next step after talking to Noire recently and Andrea tells her to take all the time she needs up until her birthday.
Timeline: Flashback: 10-625ish
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Little Reikana, along with Elder Elwyn, Elder Andrea, and Andrea are near Cassandra and Setsuna's manor playing in the backyard where Andrea is playing with the six year old, the two getting along quite well compared to the present day Reikana. Andrea teaches Reikana how to use her powers while playing with her and seems to be playing with her like a playmate while the Elder Andrea watches with Cassandra nearby. As she praises her little daughter, showing her off to the family - clearly proud of her, the Elder Andrea lifts Reikana up and takes over in a more motherly row, to teach her how to study and read, which Andrea notes is boring and even Reikana puffs her cheeks out, but the Elder version promises one day she'll thank her for it. It seems clear that the two Andrea have divided mother duties between them, the one doing reading and teaching studies, home schooling her, while Andrea teaches her how to use her powers and plays with her, spending time with her and showing her the world.
Date: 10-641.3.3 - The Present
Location: PAX
Reikana's latest song is being set up in the Concert Hall while Lorelei is trying to find more information on the Well of Souls, but with the group sitting around talking about the concert admits it might be a good idea to take a break as Ren brings up if anyone has tickets to see it and Kaelan wondering if she is wearing her designs she has been making. Charlotte admits she is too busy to attend, but wants to see video of it later while the rest of the group shows interest in seeing it, so Charlotte hands Ren her ticket. As Locket brings up if singing is really all that great, Charlotte and Kaelan discuss singing versus silence and how each of them enjoy the PAX more compared to the silence, but Locket admits she doesn't get it and just enjoys hitting things; Lorelei excuses herself and heads off, leaving everyone to their own devices, so the group heads to the Concert Hall where it has been set up with Macross like technology to show displays.
As everyone gets settled into their seats, the Empress sitting in the VIP seats with Syiean, Kaori entering and joining Ren, Erevis sitting and watching as well, the concert begins to get started as an unknown kitsune named Zero opens up for Reikana. The attractive kitsune wears a low cut dress, brimming with excitement and getting the crowd excited as she talks about the power of desire, before singing with an unpolished, though talented singing voice and having unparralled showmanship. While Alouette is riled up at the name Zero - and Anyata trying to calm her down, Ren and Kaori talk about some people in the crowd not enjoying the singing. As Zero finishes singing and Reikana steps up, the Kitsune having a rival vibe with her it appears, Reikana begins her concert with flashy lights that makes Kaori cover her eyes due it when a Dark One scream knocks down half the crowd. As two massive Dark Ones rise up in the crowd, Andrea who was among the crowd watching Reikana sing, moves as the Dark Ones begin to behead audience members.
All hell breaks lose as Ren and Kaori are about to lose their heads from one Dark One and Reikana, believing she is the target, runs off and gets another to chase her. Zero moves to find a security console to help get the PAX on alert while those in the audience deal with the one about to kill Ren and Kaori, is hit by Durt as he rips a chair and throws it at them while Jennifer and Sammael help out. As Reikana plays a game of cat and mouse, Durt manages to injure the one in the concert hall as Jennifer and Thena help get everyone out as those knocked out stir and recover. While Zero gets in touch with security and CHIP, Andrea appears and aids Reikana in battle with the second one, and both sides do their battles, soon managing to take down both Dark Ones and destroying them. During the battle it appears that the Dark Ones were after Kaori and CHIP informs them they were shipped on containers that eluded his scans to detect the Dark Ones, but the Empress will find a way to stop that flaw.
As everyone begins to help around the Concert Hell, Andrea drops a bomb shell on Noire and informs her that the Elder Andrea is dying on Noire. Andrea informs the group that the Elder Andrea is from the Dark Timeline that Isis and Athena are from and is much older than Andrea and she has used up a lot of her power of the years. When the wounded Thena makes a joke about saving the Concert Hall and earning a look from Andrea, she informs everyone she is going back to Tokyo to check on things before shadowporting out of the Hall. While Durt notes Kaori needs to be looked after and Ren points out Lorelei has had Kaori under her wing for awhile now, Ren tells Zero they'll have a back up concert later as she goes in to inform Charlotte about the Elder Andrea since she met her the other day. As everyone splits up, many of them heading to Earth to follow Andrea, the Hall is sooned emptied.
Flashback: 10-630ish
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Reikana is now ready to attend high school and is no longer home schooled by Elder Andrea, learns about the history of the Dark Ones and their attacks on Earth despite being taught by Andrea about how great Dark Ones were all her childhood. Being picked on by the children, Andrea scares them off and Reikana is withdrawn compared to the little Andrea seen before. As Andrea takes her back home, not sure what to do, Elder Andrea takes over and talks with her and gives her encouragement, telling her she will always be in her corner, no matter what decision she decides to make.
Date: 10-641.3.3 - The Present
Location: Tokyo, Japan
The group arrives at the Carter Mansion that is located not far from the Arakawa Mansion where Charlotte joins them and complains about PAX Security being so, but keeps her tongue in check. Noire so far remains in this form, due to reasons she only knows as they enter the mansion, Taiga, Erevis, Adeline, Charlotte, Ren, Kaelan, and Durt meets with Andrea inside who is in her adult form and seeming meek, for once, as she leads the group to the Elder Andrea on the bed; while she doesn't appear to be dying, those in tune with dark energy could tell compared to the younger Andrea, her Dark Power is fading fast. As Noire says goodbye to Noire and Reikana and Charlotte stands to the other side of the bed, Elder Andrea states she is proud of both of them, leading to Reikana/Noire turning into an algamation of the two as the talk to her. During all this, Andrea vanishes into the shadows as she detects something outside and watches as the Dark Ones are approaching from Cassandra's area toward their house. While Elder Andrea says her goodbyes and notes that Andrea is proud of her, even if she doesn't say it to them often, she gives one final encouragement before telling them she is getting tired and looks more shadowy and closes her eyes.
While Cassandra spies from her manor and blames Xevil for all this, she grabs her railgun and moves to defend the place with Setsuna. Andrea turns into a giant Dark One like form, looking more like the enemy, while Cassandra sends Setsuna to alert Cheryl or Lemon about the incursion before using her railgun on one of the Dark Ones. As Reikana and Charlotte remain behind to protect Elder Andrea, the others step outside to do battle with the Dark Ones as Andrea launches her attack on them as well. As a battle breaks out, rather brutally, one gets into the house where Charlotte protects Elder Andrea and Reikana uses Noire's abilities to stab the Dark One. Charlotte and Reikana work in tandem to protect Elder Andrea from being absorbed the Dark Ones, while those outside begin to take out the others; Charlotte and Reikana work together and take out the one inside, clearing out the enemy Dark Ones. At that moment the Elder Andrea grabs Reikana's arm and gives her remaining power to her, transferring the Dark One horde energy to her, though it pales to Andrea due to Elder Andrea being depleted. As Elder Andrea dies and Andrea shadowports into the room, Reikana weeps for her other mother. Everyone stares down at the other Andrea and the present day Andrea looks conflicted.
Date: Flashback 10-641.3.2
Location: PAX
Charlotte's journey on learning about Dark Ones takes her to Heaven's ship where she spends time with Heaven, Thena, and Rio. She gets pointers from the three of them on their lifestyle and Dark One related things to help make her decision about becoming a Dark One and over time Charlotte becomes more confident, so they go to the Iron Paw to where Ulieah lives to meet Kaelan. There they run into Zegretta who gives them a cold shoulder when it comes to Dark One related things, especially when Sudako's name comes up. After they meet Sudako, they discuss Dark One things with Sudako and learn her simplistic view on things as Kaelan comes up, seeing Sudako is very white and black on things - take what you want and battle for what you want. Heaven soon brings Kyouki there for Charlotte to meet, being the Avatar of the Dark Ones, and Andrea shows up as well. Despite Kyouki's nick name of "Little Dark One", Andrea seems to not mind it and be fond of Kyouki.
After everything is done Andrea talks with Charlotte about how she will turn her into a Dark One and notes that the quick method is out of the question since Charlotte clearly has a crush on her, despite Andrea's teasing of her. So she borrows the Dark Rune from Kyouki and returns to the manor to think on submerging Charlotte in dark energy from her when the time comes, though it will mean more corruption, but leaves orders for the girls to continue to train Charlotte. After more talking they decide to go to the beach and Erevis keeps an eye on Kyouki to make sure she is okay as they all go to the PAX beach, where they find Taiga and Ren playing on the beach and Ren making sandcases all lonely like. While Si plays with Taiga, trying to get her attention - since it is Si - Charlotte decides to use her shapeshifting powers to see if she can fool Ren and gets close to her, since they hit it off a little on the snow slopes earlier. The two have instant chemistry and walk about the beach and talk and even exchange datapad numbers. That evening she meets up with Andrea, who tells her that she will take samples from the others and get the transformation chamber over the next few weeks and Charlotte looks forward to joining the family, unaware what will happen the next day.
Date: 10-641.3.4
Location: PAX
Andrea is overseeing the funeral details with Cassandra while Reikana is shellshocked at the manor as people check on her and Ren offers hugs. When nothing seems to work, a well dressed woman comes in and sits by Reikana and calls Reikana her baby and offers her sympathies, putting Charlotte's back up at first until Reikana responds and takes her hand. It turns out to be Madison who notes she will stay there then to be with her and make sure she is okay. Setsuna returns finally and notes that Lemon has set up extra security for the manor to help protect it. Charlotte soon sits with Ren and cuddles her a little, as the two hope for the best for Reikana as Cassandra and Andrea return, the latter looking like she is not sure what to think with the other her being gone now. Ren promises to stay around with Charlotte when she asks for company and so the two talk about Charlotte's past and she states she lost her parents and knows how it hurts being alone.
Ren goes over her history with Reikana as well as her own past somewhat for Reikana and even admits she used to have a crush on Reikana, but thinks she and Madison clicks well. As she goes over their history and shows videos of their old days and how far the two have changed over the years from Reikana being shy and Noire being a little crazy, they move onto cosplay and Ren flirts a little and notes she'll look forward to whatever Charlotte picks, even while she supports Charlotte being into Noire. During all this Setsuna and Charlotte light candles for a shrine for Elder Andrea and pray before it at their manor, sending her off in their own way. After Charlotte kisses Ren, sending Ren blushing into overload, she offers to take her out for food and the two go out on the town in Tokyo. Afterward, Ren takes her back to Mega City and back home where she meets Lemon and shows off the secret base under the manor where it all began, the two clearly moving from friends to something more for certain now, as it seems Charlotte no longer has a crush on Noire.
Session 458: Christina Under Fire
Location: PAX
Kaelan's birthday is celebrated at Katrina's bar, a contrast to the events of a few weeks ago, and everyone celebrates it, including Zegretta giving Kaelan a necklace and Lorelei a box with a ring inside it. Lorelei's ring gives her a power up of sorts it feels like while Zegretta's necklace has a heart on it and while Sudako notes her gift would just be to mate Kaelan, earning a whap from Zegretta. As Rachael enters the bar, guided by Erevis, it looks like they all missed her birthday due to being kept away because of her issues, so Kaelan gives her gift of a gothic dress she made and Valen shows up and hands Kaelan a gift as well when an alarm goes off. Lorelei informs the team that Lemon contacted her about a bounty on Christina's life and wants the group to go to Luna to look into it. Erevis remains behind with Rachael as the group heads off to Luna to meet up with Tabetha and Marcus, where the group discusses Marcus and talks about him in front of him. After they are done, Lorelei brings up Christina's address and the team begins to head there and along the way they hear news reports about scientist being afraid of Luna slipping back out of orbit despite Sparkling's punch and people looking into it.
As the group arrives at the apartment, it explodes before them and they have to put up a shield to stop the debris raining down. The group speculates what caused the explosion and they wonder if Sunny's cult group have taken to following Sunny's favorite methods in her honor. Marcus goes to investigate inside and sees a figure of Christina burning inside, so he rescues it, but finds it is a doll made to look like her. However, Marcus spots someone watches the apartment and them with his wolf sight and so they go up to a rooftop across the street and find Christina herself spying on them. As the group notes they are here to bring her in for her protection, Moire points out that by grouping together if someone was watching this place they just led them to Christina when a rocket heads toward the rooftop. Durt commands Kaelan to redirect the rocket with the foxhole, which she does, but not before Ren tackles Charlotte down and the others dive down; but a grenade lands on the roof as well which Chris throws off, but sadly Thena at that exact moment teleports them down to the ground, causing everyone to run from the explosion where Charlotte returns the favor and grabs Ren.
Durt takes the explosion as they all run for it and looks a little damaged, but alive and Lorelei notes they all did a good job despite getting their wires crossed. Thena tries to teleport the group away, however something seems to be jamming their teleports when an armored vehicle begins to approach the team so they have Thena blast holes in the ground to stop it from approaching. It fires a super rail gun from the top of the van and hits the side of Chris as she moves and Marcus and Locket move on on the van to do battle, while the others just try to avoid the attacks. Michiru and Sabrina add their fire power and focus on the rail gun, while Ren and Charlotte patch up Christina. As they damaged it, it begins to fire at Zegretta and Kaelan, but Kaelan uses her tendrils to reaim it and blows up a nearby building instead. Marcus forces the mini guns to fire on the rail gun an Tabetha fires his weapon to add in, the rail gun being severely damaged and as it aims to fire at a building to bring it down on all of them, due to the severe damage it blows itself up.
They destroy the armored car and move on, heading for safety. As the group discusses the amount of investment they are putting into taking out Christina, it seems unbeliveable to them since the Cobalts are likely the culprits. Christina admits she is not a person to mind losing her apartment since she is not a person with attachments anymore as they get away, the destroyed armored car climbs out of the hole it fell in and begins to lose pieces of armor and a more fit vehicle emerges. Kaelan foxholes it as it tries to ram them and it begins to fly toward the team. As the group heads for the destination Christina gave them, the flying vehicle closes in on them so they move into the narrower alleys while Marcus and Durt stay behind to deal with the enemy. While it targets the two, Marcus launches Durt at the enemy while Durt uses his steel form and tears through it and sends it crashing a second time. Even though they mourn Durt's death, he emerges with an arm that belongs to a cobalt agent named Justin.
The team soon arrives at the police safehouse that Christina directed them to and patch up Christina finally and Zegretta looks up who posted the bounty on Christina and soon has an idea. She tells them she thinks it's been made to look like a rich Smiling Sun person, and admits it might be that, but after conferring with Adeline thinks that it might be a set up by the Cobalts and they want her dead. Charlotte agrees with her theory and Ren asks why would they spend the money to do such a thing and Durt notes it's probably a smokescreen and diversion. Zegretta points out that Sunny was their agent at one time, but Durt points out that seems a weak reason to do so. But soon the Smiling Suns themselves find the place and surround it, leading them to demand they turn over Christina. Their response is to kick their butts and soon the Smiling Suns turn to explosive devices when magical beams begin to wreck their members, taking out limbs. As they work together and deal with the bombers along with their helper, who turns out to be Zayne.
A tense stand off begins, with Christina wondering why Zayne is there and Zayne provokes them asking if she was there for the bounty, even as her magical ball is floating behind her. However they learn that Zayne was not happy about them tarnishing Sunny's name with the Smiling Suns and the bounty, as well as everything else. As Marcus has to make Sabrina stand down from acting around her, Zayne notes to Charlotte she has darkness in her, too. However at that moment Marcus senses an assassin sneaking up on Zayne and go for her orb and use a needle on Zayne. The assassin stabs Marcus with a heated blade like Christina uses and stabs Marcus, forcing Sabrina to heal him as the assassin gets away a little, making the team wonder if the plot was to lure out Zayne. They corner him but he uses a suicide pill, but they manage to stop it in time and reveal a Cobalt officer. Patting down the officer, they find a teleporter jammers, a maka tool to fool Zayne, a DNA scanner, a personal teleporter to get away, and a needle to to get DNA from Zayne. They decide to take the officer and will interrogate his mind for as long as it takes.
Thena assumes the magical orb is Zayne's familiar, but Zayne drops the orb's shield to reveal a 1 year old baby floating inside it. The team realizes it is a child between her and Sunny, which makes a few of them feel icky since Zayne looks 16, but Zayne presents the child and tells them her name is Sunny as well. She lets Chris hold her niece, though it's clear she is unsure what to think of the baby. Kaelan naively invites Zayne to hang out with them and due to Christina's discomfort accepts, since she has no problem with Zayne not dropping her quest, which makes Christina twitch in disguist. Lorelei hopes that the bounty on Christina will be dropped if the plot for Zayne has failed as they all prepare to leave.
Date: 10.641.3.15
Location: PAX
Charlotte feels like someone is stalking her and finds Zayne there behind her holding little Sunny. Zayne claims she hopes Charlotte would show her around, since she does not like her and as they walk along the two banter. After Charlotte says Zayne seems calm for a person who slaughtered a bunch of people, she points out she aimed for their limbs only since they are not her type, so Charlotte asks if she asks of Zayne is claiming the team killed them for which Zayne asks if they died after she was done by not giving them medical attention. The two have a stalemate as they enter the bar where they run into Durt and Chad talking to each other and exchanging an item as Chad stands up pocketing something from Durt. As Zayne studies Chad with an odd smile of her own, before offering to let Charlotte hold Sunny. Kaori and Ren observe all this where Kaori feeds Ren for once and murmurs the two should stay out of this, especially since Zayne's smiles are all off since her emotions are dulled and she fakes being expressive a lot of times due to it.
While Charlotte and Zayne banter once again over trusting Charlotte to hold Sunny, while glancing at Kaori and gives a true mysterious smile, she takes Sunny back from Charlotte and shows a genuine smile while holding her child. Right as she is about to leave, Charlotte asks her why does she do what it is she does. All emotionless again, and her little Maka pet coming out as well, she notes that she might just show her, but when Charlotte hesitates and asks if it involves attacking her, Zayne asks why would she attack a teammate and leaves; Charlotte seems baffled and notes that she has no intention of agreeing to some unknown attack, even though the conversation began with wanting to know why Zayne does what it is she does. After Zayne leaves the bar, she joins Kaori and Ren at the counter and calls her a zombie puppet. As Ren pets and comforts her as Charlotte clings to her, Durt notes it is due to Kaelan's savior complex and her hope that Zayne can be saved as the two note that Zayne shouldn't be on the PAX.
Charlotte defends Kaelan somewhat saying that being irrational at times seems common in Dark Ones, which leads to her noting that Andrea is likely what led to Reikana and Noire being as sane as they were and leads to a conversation about Noire. Charlotte admits she prefers Noire since she knows her better and Ren talks about how Reikana was the original personality and something in the past created Noire since Noire has all the memories while Reikana doesn't, indicating Reikana surpresses the memories. As Durt and Charlotte talk about the nuances of human nature and what not, Locket and Michiru arm wrestle in the background and soon Ren comes up with the idea of doing a party for everyone; Kaori comes up with the idea of an anime party. And so the three of them work on the ideas for the anime party while in the medical bay Cuddles and Jennifer talk about "Patient C" being able to leave soon, so Jennifer calls for someone to pick up Patient C. Who seems to be Ceilidh.
Date: 10-641.3.16
Location: PAX
Ren frollics in the snow in the Snow Zone next door to the Beach Zone while news of the Anime Cosplayer Party is being spread; moving onto make a giant snowfox of 10 feet, Charlotte aids her
as the two seem to be on a date of sorts. They go snowboarding for a few hours together and work to master it; after growing closer together and having a brief meal, Ren takes her to the Iron Paw to show her the sister ship to the PAX. They meet up with Ulieah, the captain of the ship, and they talk with her and Kaelan while there. Sudako asks if Charlotte has a twin sister, but Charlotte notes she doesn't remember her family well before Fox. During all this Warren shows up hunting for Thena due to her antics and Ren and Charlotte are clearly getting closer romantically, just one more step needed to be girlfriends and Thena jokes about Ren closing her romantic path with her nemesis. After it is all said and done, they invite Kaelan and Thena to the cosplayer party.
Date: 10-641.3.17
Location: PAX
Cheryl has a Dragoon meeting in the bar where Zephyr, Angela, and Hotaru meet up to chat with her for awhile. The group talks about old times and Ariel, as well as VI times since Hotaru joined during those trying times. Zephyr catches Hotaru up with the old VI being gone and some knock off VI being around these days, made up of the drags of the old VI families or remains. After hopping from topic to topic, Zephyr tries to weedle more information about Michiru's linage out of Hotaru - especially the name Michiru - and wondering if her other mother is really just Em, but Cheryl tells her to back off while telling Hotaru she is proud of how far she has come over the years. They discuss Tabetha getting a kid out of John before he left for the future due to his mind breaking down and Hotaru shows signs of being worried for him. They also discuss what appears to be sightings of a super hero on Luna lately, leading to Angela jokingly calling them Lunar Girl.
Michiru shows up and they all talk about making her a super hero outfit as well as she joins them. Cheryl then shows Michiru her daughter Taiga and and granddaughter Ren as they join the table in fox form, when Si joins and grabs Taiga, dragging her off as Angela introduces her. Ren noms on food while Cheryl makes note to make a device to turn into a fox if someone bonds a Kitsune or an ability that will all transformation. While Cheryl hands off to work on the bracelets that can temporarily use their dragoon powers to make them change into a fox for a little while or use an illusion if that fails.
Date: 10-641.3.18
Location: PAX
Ren works on paperwork for Cran at Katrina's bar beside Taiga who is going through her datapad while talking to Terra when Noire enters the bar. As they discuss the Cosplayer Party, Sabrina works up the courage to approach Noire and sits by her while offering her candy in respect of her position as student council president. Charlotte joins them and the group talks about the rescheduled concert with Reikana and Zero soon when Andrea shows up and they talk about Zayne, making Sabrina shudder at her mention. Charlotte notes she seems like an emotionless zombie and after some talking, Andrea announces she plans to leave the PAX for a while at the end of the month. Andrea notes with the Elder Elwyn gone for the most part, she feels it's time for a change of pace and look for the Dark Ones and see if she can find what they are up to before things get dangerous. Andrea notes she will becareful before vanishing into the shadows to look into Zayne.
Charlotte notes that Andrea began to act weird around the time she confessed, leading Noire and Ren to be confused and Ren asks if Charlotte confessed to Andrea. When Charlotte notes that it began around when she confessed to Noire, she admits it came out a little weird and she just gave both of them chocolate instead. Noire notes she remembers the chocolate but doesn't recall it being a love confession, then notes was that the purpose of asking her out to the Snow Zone. Ren eats her food and tries to pretend she is not listening, but when Charlotte compliments her, Ren's tail wags. They soon move onto a theme for the party when Andrea arrives, looking smoking and announces that Zayne does not like her. Adeline notes Zayne gave her a warning shot after she annoyed her, leading her to be locked down in her room, which Charlotte notes is a good thing since she feels Zayne is subtlely insulting her all the time. The Dark One notes that Zayne could be a powerful ally if one manages it, but that one can never be redeemed due to her twisted sense of justice.
As Andrea leaves again, she is replaced by Ceilidh who Katrina invites her on inside. Ceilidh freaks out at the sight of a Kitsune when she sees Ren, causing her to poof into fox form and fall into Charlotte's cleveage. Ceilidh admits she is a person out of time and not knowing anything, noting she has the nickname of spooky due to her DNA hobby of alien and the unusual, which runs Vyssa off hearing that. Katrina suggests checking with Katrina or the files on the PAX if she is interested on DNA when someone jokes summoning Andrea by saying her name 3 times if she wants her blood. Doing so, Ceilidh grabs a blood sample after some antics and then leaves with Noire. Seeing how Ceilidh is all about the samples, Ren asks if Charlotte wants to leave to do something fun while Katrina sits down to catch the scientist up and tells her about Geyze, Earth, and the past 40 years of history - as well as places she can find DNA samples.
Date: 10-641.3.19
Location: PAX
Katrina makes a new muffin type and has Terra sample it while asking if Terra wants to help be a co-owner of the bar since she is running the place half the time these days. Terra also seems to have Taiga sleeping on her head in fox form, attacted to her hair color, and she notes she must have Inari's blessings. Jaime arrives and introduces little Terra to Terra, making her feel more blessed - the two now named Spirit Terra and Terra Kershaw. While Taiga seems to offer to hang out with Terra Kershaw after she rejects Katrina's offer to try on maid outfits, which would disturb Taiga's sleep on her head, Jaime studies Katrina and Terra K.'s interactions and begins to ship them. Adeline and Charlotte, meanwhile, do rock, paper, scissors for customes for the costume party that is coming up and the two agree to let Charlotte have it, but might both come as the same thing. But the real test of the game is to help Charlotte test her powers and train her to get better at them.
Alouette meanwhile fusses at Noire about Zero, still sore about Zero at the concert and them having another one, and notes that Zero is blonde, hero, and uses a saber. Ironically Angela walks up with her hair in a ponytail and being blonde while Charlotte notes Zero isn't that great of an idol, but Alouette is too busy tackling Angela and hero worshipping Angela due to seeing her Zero in her. The group has some fun, with Angela being teased for being a drug lord due to her Omega Coke thing, and Noire and Charlotte talking about things as well as Andrea/Billy, and the foxes sleep lazily around the room while Alouette and Angela hang out together. And Charlotte reveals she can talk in Ren's mind it, which makes her blink.
Date: 10-641.3.20
Location: PAX
Terra K. is in charge of the bar, with Taiga sleeping on her head, when Noire steps inside Sabrina runs inside and talks to her, the two going over various school president cliches - that must happen on the Maka Homeworld. As the two talk about various things with school presidents, Terra K. asks about Megumi and what she is up to these days. Katrina informs her that Megumi mainly spends time in her lab these days near medical, but that they might can lure her out with food and when Noire notes it sounds like they are trying to lay out trap for her, Terra K. gives an angelic look and says she wouldn't do that to her sister. They lay a trap and capture Megumi, who is so unaware Terra K. returned that she seems unaware that Terra K. has been on the ship for months now, but the two talk as Megumi eats her food.
Ceilidh also enters the bar wearing bunny-eared head bands, leading Ren to eye her. It looks like she installed Gitari DNA and used it to get ears to hear better, while Ren stares at her dubiously. Megumi and Terra K. exchange datapad numbers while Taiga and Ren tackle Ceilidh and tickle her. Also joining them, Zero appears much to Alouette's horror and she talks with Ren and the others while Megumi and Terra K. hit it off after all these years. While Ren, Noire, and Zero talk about things like the previous band Reikana and Ren was in before all this, and soon Ren jams her finger and Ceilidh eagerly rushes over to treat it and maybe get a sample. It looks like Ren is also working on Reploid samples and discusses that with Ceilidh a little while Megumi and Terra K. move off to do their thing.
Date: 10-641.3.21
Location: PAX
Thena is drawn to the bar where she meets up with Heaven and they run into Ceilidh Hughes who introduces herself to the two. Ceilidh realizes Thena is Warren's granddaughter and realizes that isn't as weird as Cassandra having a granddaughter. When Katrina steps out she asks if that makes them McCormicks, as well, making Katrina pause, but she does say that they technically have her genes and she even carried some of Erevis' children when she was having trouble. Katina explains Progenitors to Ceilidh to help her understand as Id arrives and DNA collecting comes up between them. The topics range from VI to the Venerator Intelligence virus that attacks clones, which worries Ceilidh due to how she and the original Kane was rebuilt cell by cell. Erevis steps inside and Id asks if she has heard from Xanatos and she admits she has not heard from him since he went on his adventure with Chad Winters.
Adeline enters the bar herself and after the conversation continues for a bit longer, she exits with Ceilidh following after she learns she is the adopted daughter of Kane. The two discuss Kane and Ceilidh wonders, since she is into the original, would it matter since her Kane is different. Adeline confirms she is a clone as well when asked by Ceilidh and notes she remembers everything about her life since she was born; when Ceilidh indicates she wouldn't mind forgetting her death, Adeline offers to delete that memory, but she can't say how much she might delete, Ceilidh declines the offer. Charlotte and Red cuddle while Erevis scares Id about Xanatos being unpredicable and that means Chad Winters had to worry about him, not Xanatos having to worry about Chad using him as a tool. She also defends Xanatos' honor when flying from all the jokes made by those in the bar. Adeline and Ceilidh surprising seem to bond over Kane and she orders her a drink while Charlotte and Ren enjoy each other's company.
Date: 10-641.3.22
Location: PAX
Andrea calls the Dark Ones together for a meeting of Heaven, Tamara, Sudako, Kaelan, and Reikana, along with Thena and Charlotte observing; Sudako eyes Andrea, always looking uneasy whenever she is around, as if sensing a predator about her. Kaelan notes to Sudako if she is afraid they can combine which surprises Charlotte such a thing is doable and Heaven notes that is probably something unique to them, though Charlotte files that away. Andrea notes that before she goes away, she wants to test everyone one last time in this training session, but before that she informs them about her past and that she is not a normal Dark One. She informs them that female Dark Ones rarely rise up, meant to breed more Dark Ones, so when you see female Overlord Dark Ones like the team has encountered in the past is rare.
However Andrea is a homonculus with Dark One power to house a Dark One lord's power and to entice the original team then destroy them. When that confuses Reikana, she explains it as being a doll made with dark power that, while being a Dark One for the most part, was an extention of the Dark One who made her. So when he died she gained his power and from there had a link to more Dark Ones in his "family" to consume their power. She goes onto teach the group how to control their corruptive powers along with their power versus their dark desires for a middle ground to become something greater, pointing out when she was little she can do anything but was brat that lashed out at everyone with her attitude and ways. Over time Andrea had to find a zen attitude to keep her anger and negative attitude in check, so each of them will have to find their own balances to tap into that power but not be consumed be it.
Reikana mutters she finally understands her childhood and why the two Andreas taught her the way they did. Andrea has the Dark Ones come at her while Charlotte watches and learns; soon an epic battle comes on with Andrea slowly moving from her teenage form to her adult form as the twins, Kaelan combined with Sudako, and Noire battles her, which soon draws Dias to the battle. Ren watches with Charlotte in her fox form as to handle them all Andrea goes into her Dark One form and turns a little nastier with her attitude and words, knocking Noire out and beginning to try to do her best, taking Heaven and Tamara out as she deals with Kaelan and Dias, but soon it becomes clear that dealing with all the foes Andrea has been pushed too far and as Reikana wakes up, she sees Andrea smoking and twitching. As Thena helps in the battle against her, Charlotte and Reikana worry this might take her life down like the Elder Andrea had happen to her when she is finally defeated after doing her best against htem and crashed down.
Andrea is carried over and asks if the Dark Ones learned anything, even as Thena revealed she was a sneak and sent a clone out to do the fighting. As Dias boasts about his Dark One side, Andrea and Reikana both debate eating his arm, since it is clear it'll take Andrea a few days to recover. As Thena tries to bite his arm for real, getting swatted by Ren, Andrea and Reikana head off for the former to recover. As it ends, the CHIP does an announcement for the Super Dias Tournament and as Dias tries to punch his way back to Earth, like Fate has been teaching him to punch through space, Fate does a sneak attack and the two have a moment or two before leaving when the Empress shows up. It seems she knows what he is looking for, pointing at the spot and seems fascinated there is a being that can do such a thing as Dias managed to punch his way back to Earth - even it is painful.
Meanwhile at the bar, Katrina leaves Terra K. in charge once again, but this time in a tiny waitress outfit, while Taiga sleeps on her head. Spirit Terra gives everyone fruit when the group enters and Katrina serves the group some food. Charlotte notes she thinks she learned a lot from the fight and they discuss Dias and his crashing the fight. Ren and Charlotte discuss doing meditation together to help Charlotte in the future while Jaime sizes up the two and approves their ship. They make fun of Jaime shipping everything from Erevis and Kyouki to Terra K. and Katrina and now them and Thena declares her a love goddess. Sylph somehow lands on Charlotte's head, sensing fruit from Spirit Terra and the two talk fruit.
In a day or two, Charlotte meets with Andrea and undergoes the dangerous treatment to become a Dark One.
Location: Spirit Realm
The Anti-Spirits seem to be converging around buildings with cores in them, as well as areas with lots of spirit energy like trees and lakes, and their attacks seem to do nothing as the creatures just reform due to all the spirit energy in the area, leaving Gwen wowing at it all. Yuki notes that they are hurting the creatures, but the damage threshhold isn't higher than what it can regenerate right now. Sylph teleports onto the ship, but looks exhausted as she tries to recharge her spirit powers while the team debates what to do; Mireille leaves the ship via teleport, surprising Erica right as Pepper's attacks draws argo from the enemies onto the Aquarius. As Cookie worries what to do, even going as far as debating using a psychic attack on the creatures, Mireille returns with Lana, Nicolette, Alita, Talia, Ellie, Jaime, Neekito, Gnome, and Simon holding the relics from the spirit buildings. While Cookie increases Pepper's accuracy with future vision, Mireille tells Erica she has an idea how to deal with the enemy (a foreshadowing of things to come?). As Jaime uses hyperpsace to keep the creatures at bay, damaging her hands, warnings begin to appear on Erica's console that the Aquarius is about to accept a Spirit Item above it's capacity; after Erica okays it, the Aquarius begins to draw in the Spirit Realm itself as a power source, having been listening to Nicolette and the others talk about how the place works.
As some of the systems blow out with power, the ship is super charged with Spirit Energy and fires a beam at the creature, blasting a chunk out of it while the team holds on. The group teams up and helps deal with the monster, drawing on the spirit energy to pummel it, and soon it tries to crawl up the ship to escape before Lana uses her magic to cut it off. After getting the data on it, Pepper fires with the charged up power and destroys it completely; Mireille then exits the Spirit Chamber, smoking from accessing a Spirit Item above her ranking. While Mireille speaks in binary and looks a little like her true age, using Spirit Energy to make herself look older, she seems to suffer momentary memory loss before Erica and Kyouki help her up. After recovering, Chronos notes they will need the Spirit Realm back in the Prime Universe to fix things, but before that Nicolette, Asarar, and Luci want to get their children back from the Crystal Kumen. Especially since what Chronos has in mind will cut the Spirit Realm off from the Mirror Universe forever. Some of them decide to head back there to get them before that happens.
Location: Crystal Kumen
- Priest Island
As the sky becomes dark and stormy, the group reaches Priest Island finally, though it does little to do away with the tension the group is feeling. As Cherie holds onto Bella and Ruhi, Seniga looking unnerved, Nell commenting on how the sky feels wrong, Sparkling takling to the kid Selena with food in her mouth, Ruhi comforting Cherie, Cloé meowing, and Bella asking the game plan, they all prepare to tackle how to go ahead. When they get ot the mountains around the island and they debate how to get over, Selena suggests flying and soon the boat begins to shake; when Bella shifts to the edge to figure out what is going on, she sees the boat is floating somehow. Nicolette lands on the boat out of nowhere, but the trip seems to have taken a lot out of her as she is unconscious and hat lands on Sparkling's head, giving her hat power; while this is going on, the wind lifts Cloé up into the air, since she is blue cat form, and she nearly goes over the railing as both Cherie and Bella holds onto her, making her go into her human form as she grasps them.
As Bella tries to work boat controls on the flying boat, it goes falling down, so Fae uses her wind powers to try to help out, making the kids flail comically. Cypher and Chelsea just sit there and relax, not bothered in the least by all this, even as Cloé attempts to confess something to Cherie as they go down. Ruhi and Bella get the boat stablized, with a loud crack, and float near the window; down below on the ground level they see someone on the ground, laying flat on their stomach. While Bella wonders if the fortress is being sieged, those who can jump across do so and Ruhi helps Cherie across while Nell leaps across with the young Spirits. Nicolette recovers and takes her hat as well and introduces herself to the team. Seniga reads some writing on the group and their focus on Bella, Ruhi, Cloé, Nell, and Cherie due to due to their connection and the C'en's belief it the four powerful; Cloé being a familiar and tied to the spirits and of Cherie's bloodline, Bella - her lineage could the Net, Ruhi's parents, who were tied to another reality, and Nell's connections to the Dragons.
Selena wanders off and leads the group to a gathering of the priests around a major machine that has been set up to drain someone of blood as well as crystals all over the place. And the machine appears to be Cherie sized. While Ruhi keeps Cherie from looking at the machine and Nicolette tries to stop Selena, the group is discovered be a Priest. The C'en notes they made it just in time and Nell goads him into making a speech, but he simply stastes he is glad they have come to see reason and offered the girl to them. While Ruhi notes like hell she is handing over Cherie to them, the Priest notes that Cherie has the rare ability of manifestation and is linked to a Familiar and when Bella notes that reality is being invaded by monsters, he simply states that by linking her with this machine it will power all their structures and devices and repel the monsters, reversing the damage the children have done. When the kids reject him, he points out they brought peace to this world and points out how Kumen used to be, but they note the C'en made a lot of orphans and felt like slaves under their rule.
The Priest notes just being near the device is enough to activate it when Ruhi points out if Cherie is the only one who can use it, then testing it and seeing if it works would be too dangerous if it kills her and fails, so the point is moot. As Cherie freaks out and whines, they attack the priest and the machine. As Nicolette asks how it works, since if it's Spirit Based, those creatures will be here soon, Ruhi lifts him up and when that fails, headbutts him, KOing him. Cherie takes Selena's device after Selena fails to activate it and during this the device goes red; during this, Nell has focused her attacks on the floor, so the Sparkling fires a blast at the floor, causing the machine to crash down below, right as Sparkling loses the last of her magical power, losing her pink hair and turns brown haired in a Luna school girl outfit. A moment later they all crash down as well as the rest of the floor gives out and Ruhi and Bella are pulled onto the chair meant for Cherie. Cherie uses her bracelet right as the two are poked with needles and frees the two, shutting the machine down.
There is a knocking on the door and as Selena goes to open it, moving the boards, the team stops her, Ruhi cursing her out. Cloé tells Cherie she believes in her right as the Anti-Spirit monsters break into the room through the boarded up door, they must battle it. Cloé uses her ultimate Familiar power, her life power, and as Cherie uses the wind power to help the others up, Cloé damages it but is seemingly killed. Ruhi is enraged and uses her bracelet as Bella cries out, when Cherie hits it and damages it, chasing her toward the boat. Ruhi and Nell agro it back and Ruhi manages to destroy it with one punch into fine mist. As there no sign of Cloé, they decide to head back to Crystal Kumen's capital.
Location: Crystal Kumen - Capital
A few days later, they arrive at the Tower and the Crystal Cypher scoops up Crystal Cherie and hugs her while Crystal Seniga notes to the team that the C'en are gone finally. The city seems to have taken a hit from the Anti-Spirits that Crystal Ruhi battled and Kira and Asarar helped repel them, having come here to look for the kids. Crystal Bella gives Cherie some tough love and tell her that she needs to try to get Cloé back, being her master, and Kid Cloé tilts her head, wondering how she can be gone. Cloé hugs Crystal Cherie and she and Cherie try to cheer her up, but Crystal Cherie just sobs and cries for her sister, wailing. The two Ruhis get along with each other with Riki standing by and Ruhi notes it was fun to visit this world and Nell tries to get Crystal Seniga to come with them - again. Asarar tells them that with how things are going, it means they can't come back here again, so Riki gives Crystal Ruhi something - an heirloom since this Ruhi won't ever get something like it. Luci does the same thing for Crystal Nell. As Chelsea goes to give Crystal Cherie an old gemstone and some old Sweet tech for her, something lands on Crystal Cherie's head. It appears to be a kitten Crystal Cloé, having survived somehow, making her cry all over again. As they are teleported away, one by one, Sparkling notes she can't wait to feel her magic once again.
Epilogue - Location: Bella's Bar
Ten years have passed since the Aquarius team has left the Crystal Universe and over time the Crystal Kids have drifted apart, but today they are meeting together at a bar Bella has opened up. Seniga has been spending her time the past few years reclaiming more land on Geyze as she enters the bar with Nell joining after flying as a dragon, then turning into a tiger girl. After seeing that Bella looks like her mother even more now, they discuss how Nell is building things these days as Cloé enters, looking young these days, having been growing up since a little one to her early teens. Cherie sneaks in, trying not to be noticed, keeping a low profile these past ten years and mainly hanging out with Cypher and Cloé, raising her little sister, despite her joke about being the world's biggest idol; it is clear she looks a lot like Chelsea these days. While Bella goes to get changed, Ruhi enters the bar finally, now appearing to be a lean willowy figure framed with long hair mixture of white and grey the trails to the knees in bone straight fashion; the easiest tell of who it is being the pale white ears that flick to the sound of chatter as a 'uptown' woman enters with a click of stilleto heels, hose, pencil skirt and matching coat.
While Cherie looks surprised at her appearance as Bella comes out in a less fancy outfit, they all discuss Ruhi and their lives. When Seniga jokes about Ruhi having a sugar daddy, she notes that Dosco keeps her comfortable, to the group's shock. Ruhi notes he likes pretty girls who bully him and when Cloé asks Cherie what a sugar daddy is, she gives a frank answer that makes Seniga spit take again. When asked who all has kids, Cherie notes that Cloé is a kid, making the familiar beam, and Seniga shows a picture of her kids that she adopted with her partner to the group. And so the group ate and continued to hang out, soon planning to use C'en technology to help get Bix back to the Aquarius due to the time difference before the time portal closes.
Session 460: A Dead Reflection
Location: The Mirror Universe
The Aquarius returns to the broken Mirror Universe as the time portal grows smaller behind them; Erica wishes the Crystal Kids farewell as the team plans their next course and the Spirits rest, having been pushed to their limits gathering Spirit Cores and the Mirror Universe having little Spirit Energy. During all this, Selena slowly begins to regain her old age once again, though her memories are a little jumbled from the ordeal. Now their only course of action from Chronos is to move the Spirit Realm from the Mirror Universe to the Prime Universe before she falls asleep, the team goes over various ideas ranging from the Net with Asarar, to speaking about Centerpoint, and more when their scans detect a third planet between Geyze and Kumen that has popped up on the radar. As they fly in that direction, Erica notes it is the Spirit Realm that seems to appear and disappear at will, and a massive number of Anti-Spirits are trying to get into it, but they're being repelled so far. As Lana points out, how do they get rid of so many of them AND move a whole planet, the group agrees it is beyond even their abilities.
As the team goes through various methods to attempt to get rid of the enemies as well as move the Spirit Realm, Simon begins to wonder how to kill a Spirit, leading to the Spirits to eye him. He notes he believes that the Anti-Spirits, since the giant one had a core, it might be the same theory, so Id suggests just cut a spirit to pieces until one gets to it. While Simon muses that the Anti-Spirits might be a sign of a death cry of the universe, it's way of ending it, Nicolette meanwhile tends to the 12 year old Selena while they all debate how to kill the Spirits and apply the theory it to the Anti-Spirits. She also asks why the Spirit Realm is here in the mirror universe and so Yuki shows her that it's in the spot that Yggdrasil is located in the Prime Universe, leading her to assume that Yggdrasil being there meant the Spirit Realm could not cross over when Kaori did her thing. After listening to the explanation, Nicolette notes that maybe they can shift it's location in the dimension.
While they all theorize the Anti-Spirits begin to eat each other and become large versions of themselves until around 30-40 massive ones begin to attack the Spirit Realm Planet. While Mireille notes she can use her phase engines possibily for moving the planet, that won't help with all those Anti-Spirits still attacking it, so the team prepares for battle. Alita, Talia, and Asha, somehow cast magik into space at the Anti-Spirits as one breaks through into the atmopsheres and Pepper aims the weapons and targets it along with Jaime and others, firing away at them and working on decreasing their numbers; it does work on stopping the attack on the Spirit Realm, but draws the agro onto the Aquarius as the enemy senses the Spirits and all the magic users. While they work, Selena and Nicolette work on seeing if they can work out on how to move the Spirit Planet safely into the Prime Universe using the computer systems. While Luci helps to put a barrier up for the Aquarius as best she can and Kyouki powers up the ship with Dark Energy Attacks.
Eventually some Anti-Spirits break onto Aquarius and work their way onto the bridge where they eat Id as they try to get to the Spirits and Magic Users. Asha, Jaime, and Gwen attack it while Luci tries to get another barrier up, even as Simon checks for breaches in the hull; as they destroy the creature and Id is freed, the robot destroys it's core because it is a dumb little thing even as Lana asks did it get any scans from inside it. Sadly however 4 more get inside and slam against the new shield, trying to reach the team as Simon identifies the breaches and closes them down. While all this fighting continues, Nicolette and Selena work on a plan to try to pull the planet through a hole and other ideas, tuning the battle out as Selena continues to get older. Ellie and Sylph combine despite Sylph's exhausted state and Ellie becomes something akin to something like the other Summoni do when they combine, since Slyph and Ellie's combination form - being the first - have always been a higher tier form. However they appear to be a weaker/more normal form as they join the fight with the others.
Outside the remaining 15 Anti-Spirits that Pepper and the other gunners have managed to take out so far begin to eat each other into one massive Anti-Spirit to battle the Aquarius; during this the four smaller ones on the bridge attack those defending it and Ellie and Kyouki are attacked first due to their Spirit nature. The group's combined efforts, as Sparkling and Luci help out, take down two of them, while this is going on Mélodie and Aimée have snuck out with Cypher and Chelsea in the Mew Mew to battle the giant monster with the Aquarius. As Simon joins in with Luci as another one attacks Ellie, due to her having Monster Attracting Armor, when Asha comes in and claws it up and takes it down. Before Kyouki is eaten, Ellie turns her Rending Gale into a bow to stab it while Simon freezes the Anti-Spirit and Jaime shatters it by the core.
While Lana wails that no one has scanned the cores during the battle, Pepper coordinates with the Mew Mew to do battle with the giant Anti-Spirit outside while Lana weaves her own spell to scan. Kyouki helps Mireille by joining with the Spirit Chamber to power up the Aquarius with Dark Power over all while Pepper gives a distraction; Chelsea authorizes the use of the double spirit engines and the Mew Mew goes twice as fast, even faster than the Aquarius, and the attacks reveal the core for Simon and Lana to scan. Before they can deliver the final blow, the Anti-Spirit monster begins to try to eat the Aquarius by covering the front of it and swallowing the ship when another ship arrives out of nowhere to blast the monster off the Aquarius; a C'en ship, a clunker of a ship at this point in time, flies up to aid in destroying it along with the Aquarius and Mew Mew.
The team sees that Bix is flying the ship and realize they left him behind with the Crystal Kids as it lands in the hanger of the Aquarius, soon joined by the Mew Mew. As Aimée and Mélodie are ejected out of their spirit chambers smoking from the double engine useage on the Mew Mew and Mireille and Kyouki are ejected from using the chamber together on the Aquarius, Chelsea notes she hopes they don't need to use the Spirits anytime soon. Bix is joined by Bella, Seniga, Nell, Cloé, and Cherie and they all say their goodbyes to Bix for one final time as Chelsea and Cypher watch off to the side. After a hearfelt goodbye, they convince Cherie to fly them away and back home, where they all plan to use the ship to go on an another adventure once they are there. It seems that BIX has been left there for 10 years - just how much time went by since the team left the portal?
Nicolette outlines a way to help make it work along with Selena, with Sparkling Justice and Simon giving ideas along with Lana, Id, and Yuki. As Sylph, Ellie, Cookie, and Pepper rest after the battle, Mireille tells Erica she will need her as a Captain and someone she trusts to join her in the spirit chamber to make this work and give the ship enough power to control the phase engines. After a makeshift repair job on the Aquarius, and Sylph is so run down her clothes are see-through at this point, the group prepares for the phase engine plan begin. Yuki has Kyouki stand on the spirit item slot to help out as Mireille draws on power and at first things go wrong as consoles blow up, but soon Yggdrasil is seen, but it is in the wrong reality as the Earth is flooded - perhaps a reality where Sparkling failed to punch the moon, or something more dire?
The group aids with their energy trying to help out and soon Aquarius arrives and brings the Spirit Realm Planet into their reality and it becomes a moon around Yggdrasil. Mireille is thrown out, smoking and looking exhausted, but there is no sign of Erica. They soon learn the horrifying truth - Mireille has lost her connection to the ship and Erica has somehow become part of it, taking the role of the computer. Yuki seems to have a breakdown, since this has happened somewhat once before, and begins to talk to the ship and acting like it's Erica, while muttering about getting Tora and Taiga. Sparkling Justice meanwhile suddenly regains her magical girl look and Chronos takes the cores to a safe place.
Date: 10-641.4.7
Location: The Academy
The group has learned how long they have been gone, Yuki has parked the Aquarius close to the Academy, Kyouki has been aiding with Erica since she has some experience with it, and the others are recovering from the ordeal, as the SUPER Dias Tournament is approaching. Chelsea points out she is not sure that Yuki is fit for command in her current state after losing Erica as they brief Lumi and Pepper and the others do actual repair work on the hull. Now that they are back home, Lumi moves to inform them on everthing that has been going on in the Kingdoms and tells them that Celes will no doubt be glad they are back, especially with Selena being back to her normal age.
Session 461: The SUPER Dias Tournament
Location: PAX
After the events of Session 458, things have calmed down and Zayne has been roaming and leaving the PAX a lot (see Session 469 - 470), otherwise things are normal other than Charlotte appearing with a spaded tail like a Dark One. As a few in the bar look surprised, Ren has a surprise birthday party go off for Charlotte to celebrate her birthday and as people file in they see the holonet talk about the Super Dias Tournament. While Reikana sings a birthday song for Charlotte, Adeline and Ren give Charlotte birthday gifts while Durt suggests the Dark Ones sign up as it it'd be a good place to go all out and train.
Date: 10-641.4.10
Location: Earth
The tournament ring is high up in the sky, with pads down below for contestants to be knocked out and land on them; the ring seems to be a giant circle, with audience rings around to observe and in the middle are obstacles of rocks, two broken buildings that are about three stories with no roofs, and other junk to make it so the field is not clear. The tournament this time seems to be a battle royale due to how long the tournaments in the past have been with a timer of an hour. Adeline, Jaime, a ragged Yuki, and Dias sit in the audience stands while Kaelan, Moira, Locket, Celeste (The Mystery Swordswoman), Noire, Thena (Mysterious Thena), X, Michiru, two lame Weapons - XV/XIV, and a superhero with a cape. The prize is for 500,000 credits and when X learns Dias is not competing she throws Dias over the ledge and down to the ground. Stacey tells the contestants to scatter and when the bell dongs, the battle royale begins so most of them head out except for X and Celeste; the bell dongs and the tournament begins.
The first battle is X versus Celeste while Thena bounces around the battlefield like it's a joke and the caped hero poses on lampposts and Moira rushes around the battle field. X and Celeste weave and ripple, throwing holy arrows at each other and probe, attacking each other with swords - X using her Ripple Blade and Celeste her sword, as X continues to try to use ripples to throw Celeste from the ring. Even attempting to poison Celeste, X is knocked away and switches to her Dragoon powers she acquired a few years back, moving through the ripples she set up in the ring to try to get at Celeste, setting up 1000 ripples around the ring. X appears from the 72nd ripple and goes to tackle her over, but Celeste with almost uncanny reaction and prediction turns and countertackles, sending them both over the ring - the two of them the first disqualified as they join the others in the bleachers.
During all this, Locket is hiding out in one of the ruined buildings with the two weapons when Noire begins to lob debris at the building from her building, causing Locket and the two Weapons to dive out of it. Kaelan catches the two Weapons and attacks them with foxfire shields while Moira sneak attacks Locket. As Michiru sneak attacks Moira in return Kaelan goes after the Weapons for a "round 2", referring to the events of Session 450. XIV goes to leave XV to Kaelan while Locket and Michiru team up to battle Moira. The second battle begins in earnest, with Noire lobbing debris occassionally as Kaelan and Weapon XV test their might and Locket and Michiru fight together.
As Locket does John like moves, punching boulders at Moira who cleaves them and causes dust, XV runs from Kaelan toward their fight to escape Kaelan. As Moira runs as well, Locket and Michiru try to sense their opponent while Noire deals with Weapon XIV. Moira sucker blades Locket and the battle begins again as the super hero battles Thena. As Thena and the girl battles, she identifies herself as Lunar Girl as the two while Noire completely destroys the building she is was in previously while dealing with her attacker. After Moira grabs Locket and Michiru and runs with them, dragging them across the field that has been covered in dust, Michiru has to teleport them away while Thena tries to trick Lunar Girl into an autograph then tries to teleport her out of the ring while she does it, but Lunar Girl teleports back inside as well.
While Noire beats up on XIV, Locket and Michiru, having lost sight of Moira, decide to do battle with Lunar Girl. Kaelan then tries to foxhole Noire and XIX out of the ring, but the two decide to team up against her, while Locket rips the cape and mask off Lunar Girl, revealing she looks exactly like Michiru, only a little shorter pudgier. While the two are confused, the timer hits 15 minutes and so Stacey's surprise arrives and Fate appears in the ring with John, having taken him to the future awhile back. While the two Michirus exclaim John as well as Locket calling him Dad, John grabs Thena as she tries to tackle Fate and throws her out of the ring, even as Fate escapes. Tabetha arrives in the crowd, looking shocked to see John back as the bond begins to work again between the two, while Noire uses foxholes to escape Kaelan and makes Kaelan pout in surprise, forgetting her mother was Elder Elwyn.
As Locket and the twin Michirus rush John, confusing him since he thought Hotaru only had one kid, they soon get their house in order with the tournament going on. As Noire fusses at Kaelan ruining her dark versus light battle and she and XIV begin to gang up on her, the McCormick army heads after Moira. Kaelan tries to use Sudako as a partner from her shadow but Dias and Stacey disqualify her, making the Dark One hiss as she leaves. As they all battle Moira, Locket mutters that her middle name is Michiru too, finding all this weird, as John throws the Michirus to keep them in the ring and back at Moira. Kaelan uses foxfire motes for an attack when XIV yields, right as Stacey unveils a cannon to launch Dias at the tournament ring. As Dias flies at the ring and as he crashes onto it, the ring breaks in half, even as the McCormick clan beats Moira into the ring, burying her.
As Kaori and Yuki murmur about the fight and how it looks like they're going to just break the entire area, Kaelan now faces Noire while the McCormick clan moves on after John breaks the half of the ring with Moira buried in it. The McCormick clan splits up, Locket and John fighting Dias while the Michirus go after Noire and Kaelan. As they all beat up on each other, it soon comes down to Noire breaking up the touranament ring to try to take everyone out as Stacey counts down to 1 and hits the bell, but many of them manage to not hit the ground or fly. Stacey tries to claim she keeps the money for all of them losing, acting all most like a Venerator, but Kaelan protests this so she relents and splits the prize money to those who didn't ring out. Tabetha arrives and she and John have a moment, as does John with Locket and even Lunar Girl Michiru. As John is taken back to the future, Adeline looks suspicious and tries to learn more about Lunar Girl, and mentions stuff about a place with reploids like Blue and Cole and so people think she is from their turn. But is she? It feels almost like at times she might be from the Original Universe.
Fumoffu Session 12: Cosplayer Panic!
Location: PAX
Ren and Charlotte decide to hold a cosplaying event involving mechs/gundams that are planet/earth based and not space based and everyone has a good time, even though some like Nicolette are confused at the concept and Kitty and Taiga try to refuse to wear outfits. Eventually though Taiga decides that they should do a mission and that they can use this cosplaying thing to their advantage, either wearing the outfits on the mission or wear school uniforms, due to a high school that has been having people going missing or acting strange, as if they are being programmed. As they arrive at the school, they decide to split up as not to stand out, so Kitty, Taiga, and Celeste check out the inside of the school with Noire, while Shion, Jaime, and Ceilidh try out the shooting range and test their skills there, and the others walk around and try to eavesdrop or ask students for information.
Ren eats some of the food, though Charlotte's Dark One senses, and while Hess gets Kaori some food as well, only Ren strangely is affected by the good and goes to sleep; when a student council member tries to take Ren to the infirmary, the group firmly runs him off. Noire, Kitty, and Taiga question a crying girl in the bathroom while Celeste listens outside the door and they learn about the problems in the school and are directed to the Principal's office to search there after Noire calms the girl down enough to get information out of her. Jaime, Shion, and Ceilidh are scouted out and led to an annex building to be questioned by a teacher while a mascort, a bear/mouse that looks like the FMP Fumoffu mascot walks around scouting the area and acting all cutey spies on them going there. While Taiga, Hess, Noire, and Celeste ripple into the Principal's office to check it out and find documents that show the master mind of the school plans to try to use the kids as next generation test subjects with Weapon DNA and hidden mind slaves, with plans to frame people like Cederaton if caught, Jaime, Shion, and Ceilidah are captured to be brainwashed.
The mascot gets the others after Ren recovers and they break into the building to help free them as Nicolette, Thena, who has been sneaking around, Hess, Kaori, Charlotte, and so on take down the students and teacher and a giant mech crashes the party. As Tagia and company wrap up their file hunding and panic breaks out outside, they hurry out and the team works together to take down the old model mech as the mascot deals with the bad students by shooting them in the butt with a toy gun. After they save the day, the group resumes their cosplay event, putting the information on the back bunner for now.
Session 462: The Coming of Shadows
Location: PAX
The Aquarius is back on the PAX after it's mission in the Mirror Universe so that Taiga, Airym, Id, and Tora can try to solve the problem of Erica being MIA; through Yuki claims that Erica is inside the Aquarius, and evidence does lean toward it with Mireille having lost her access to the computer systems and Yuki being bonded to Erica so she would "know" where Erica is located, the group are hitting roadblocks in their investigations. While Cookie tries to cheer up the rapidly cracking Yuki, who seems to be growing more deranged by the moment, they all theorize various things, from Erica possibily being in other realities, to her being in the ship but unable to communicate, and more. Airym connects to the ship to try to see if there are signs of Erica, scanning through the Aquarius and reaching out to her.
At the same time, Erevis has all but wrapped up her treatment with Rachael when Cuddles finds some old files of Jennifer's that might help connect Erevis' treatment with a cure. Having found documents from 10-583, they see Jennifer was working on cures for the Tareh Rachael and Lucky when they visited from that future. Jennifer notes that is a long time ago and the three go over her notes and compare it to the Rachael of today. While she thinks that Erevis' treatment might help train Rachael to remain calm and help stim her problems, the ultimate problem is in her brain and that Jennifer's treatment of the evolved Famfrits - the elves - is the key.
Meanwhile Reikana and the mysterious kitsune Zero are planning to hold a second concert to make up for their previous one being interrupted, much to the delight of the crowd as Ren, Kaori, Kaelan, Ceilidh, Jaime, Si, Alouette, and Thena attend, with Thena attending as an idol herself. While Aloutte fumes at Zero while she performs and begins to get fans and eyes on her, due to her namesake and not being blonde, Ren and Kaori discuss the situation about Yuki as they discuss how Yuki acted during a family dinner she held to show off Charlotte to the family. As they discuss Yuki, Zero wraps up her performances and Reikana performance starts with a small spotlight on her in an elaborate ballgown, with her voice carrying an operatic soprano. Then there is a flash like lightning and as the stage comes alive with holographic clock works, the ballgown flying apart like shooting stars as the operatic sound becomes a pop-rock number, leading to Zero wonder if Reikana ripped off her number a little.
Kaori notes that while she doesn't know Erica very well, she does care about Yuki and wants her back to normal and Ren admits she wonders if she should take Yurica in until Yuki is herself. The two decide to go and see how it is going with the ship, sneaking out of the concert while Reikana is singing on rising platforms. As the concert winds down and Reikana and Zero get their fans, the fomer having more than the latter, leading to Zero being a little more jealous, the are tied up signing autographs. Taiga greets them and Yuki seems to be holding Yurica's hand while looking out of it as she greets Kaori. At that moment Lorelei summons everyone, so Tora, Airym, and Id remain behind to keep looking for Erica for Yuki while thery go to see what is needed.
Lorelei gathers the team up in the meeting room and Ceilidh asks about how Yuki is doing while Cookie searches for the Frog in the vents bothering everyone. While Ren is suspicious about her asking, she gives an update somewhat while the topic moves onto Rachael and Cuddles announces they have a cure but it'll take Rachael's magical ability away forever. While many in the group note they are unsure if they would be willing to give up their powers, Cuddles notes that Rachael's magic will continue to grow stronger in time and that will lead to her unstability and insanity as she gets more powerful. When Moira points out she is not affected by any such problem, the group theorizes that maybe Rachael is the precursor to the "Tareh Elves" that appeared in 2000 years and led to that little problem, leading to the group to ask Jennifer, Cuddles, and Ceilidh to nip the problem in the bud before it is one.
After going through the recent problems, Lorelei brings up the Tsivrixsh and Erusian incidents and notes that there are rumors they night be pulling out of the Alliance soon. Taiga notes that Shretrav and Kre'trav might be able to shed some light on Tsivrixsh activities but they like Yuki and Erica, and again, they are both out of commition. And there are rumors the Dark Ones are taking over worlds that are closer and closer to known worlds, believed to be in Cartel space now. Ren points out that Yuki is no shape to command the Aquarius with Erica MIA, so they need someone to command it; it is decided on Cookie and she notes that after watching it for years and having parents in command, she believes she can do it. As they arrive, they try to convince Yuki to let them use the Aquarius, which leads to her almost coming to blows with the team and even Airym backs her up on it not being very wise, when Kaori hugs her and leads her off to talk to her in private.
As Cookie sniffs and mutters about moving forward while Kaori and Yuki talk in the other room, they get the Aquarius going; Airym uses the computer while Mireille controls the engines, and they use the Tiger Engines to jump them to Lorelei's destination. As they scan what was once a major Cartel world, they see it now beginning to have Dark One infestations and the people of it are beginning to be killed or transformed; however it doesn't look like the Well World or anything is located here, but it may be somewhere close by, or far away for all the team knows. Cookie decides to pull them out, to the surprise of the team, though Zegretta points out that when Mireille was in control of the ship they only went head to head with the Dark Ones, but Celeste seems advent they should help and half the team is with her, while the other half agrees they are not ready and it might hurt Erica if the ship takes damage. During all this Kaori talks with Yuki about Erica and how she can't bear to lose her a second time, but that she needs to be strong for Yurica, helping to snap her out of it and the two embrace.
They jump away and decide to alert the Cartel once they are in another system, but once they arrive in a new system they find it is blocked with a warble on the line. As they debate what to do due to something listening in and the warble, Yuki comes in and takes the Co-Captain seat, apologizes to Cookie, and resumes her duties. While Mireille notes it feels like she has had one eye blinded, they jump just as Dark One ships arrive behind them. As the Dark Ones follow them into hyperspace, a chase is on as the Dark Ones attempt to destroy them in the hyperspace tunnel. As Cookie uses Ace of Spades to help avoid the attacks, making her nose bleed, they suggest Thena try her nodes in hyperspace but it gets eaten by hyperspace itself. As Cookie uses the ship and Aces of Spades to ram the Dark One Ship, the Aquarius' computer suddenly assists them and they heavily damage it. The Dark One Ship then tries to counter ram them into the wall when the computer then launches a shuttle and slams into it and nearly destroys it, though everyone thinks someone piloted the shuttle it flew so well.
As Thena forms a crystal to deal the final blow, they try to figure out who launched the shuttle and figure out the Aquarius' computer did it, leading them to think Erica had a hand in it. As Yuki renews her vow to get Erica out of the ship, they continue their trip to the PAX. Once they arrive they debate what to do to get out of there, ranging from getting her a new body to finding how to get her conscious out, when Rachael runs up asking what they did - it turns out the Cartel is slandering their name on the HoloNet for allowing the Dark Ones for destroying one of their worlds. As Celeste falls into depression for abandoning the planet and wanders off to decide what to do, she soon will seek out Fate for answers and look into Tareh, leading her to Lenneth as she learns she was once part of Lenneth's Guard in her previous life.
Location: The Academy
Now that they are back home and things are "returning to normal", there is still evidence of manipulation of the Kingdoms behind scenes as they act strangely, but at least the Spirits have recharged since coming back home as the group catches up on their studies after being gone so long. While Chronos and Nicolette converse about time and Jaime trains to lift the Earth Glove one day, Lana goes over the Anti-Spirit data and notices a strange cloaked being that looks super tall and distorted on the Spirit Planet and it is flagged as being observed by Pepper back in Session 425. As Lana converses with Pepper to try to learn more about the figure, feeling like it might hold some key to the Shapeshifters, Dark One, or something else, Chronos talks to Nicolette and Aska about how each Spirit has their own Relic and her's deals with time, jokingly noting if they needed more time to study she could find her's back in the Spirit Realm. While they are talking, all the Spirits begin to head to Lumi's conference room and Chronos and Sylph move off to attend it, drawing the attention of everyone else as well.
As everyone enters the meeting room, they find all the Spirits from Aska, as well as the Spirit Children, to Mireille and those made by Tora, leading to probably the first meeting of every Spirit. Lumi notes this is a meeting on how to deal with the Elder Spirits, leading Void to wonder on what the point is since there is a new generation of Spirits holding their position already; after their talking, Lumi notes she has been keeping an eye on Kumen for hits of them, showing an image of Xanatos and the Elder Earth Spirit going to a dance dance place to practice dancing. While Xanatos' character is attacked mercilessly, since he is gone off with Chad Winters during this time period, they muse on the appearance in Quadrant 1 and dancing; after some back and forth, a small group of the group is selected as well as a few of the Spirits, while the rest stand by if needed.
Location: Kumen, Quadrant 1
Borrowing one of Xanatos' spare shuttles, Jaime flies the group up to Kumen while Lana throws out theories about who is behind it all and goes into the mysterious tall figure until they land at the spaceport, finding signs that Ymir and Ylva have been making major changes on Kumen lately, making it look more like it did in the past but with gardens and lifts going up and down between levels; Gwen, Sabrina, Sylph, Selena, Neekito, Celsius, Shiva, Lana, Jaime, Id, Nicolette, Kyouki, Asha, Talia, Simon, SpoC, Cypher, Bix, and Ellie emerge into the spaceport and Cypher heads off to investigate the changes, worried about Chelsea's visions of the future and when Selena uses her sword, the space port alerts tags Selena's weapon, though it is not taken away. After they finish logging their weapons in, the team sets out to find the Elder Spirits at the dancing place, pondering why Xanatos and Chad would be in this area and meeting the Earth Spirit. After practicing on the machines there, they soon find something to track and it leads to a building at a dead end with a door; all the while the Macross HQ is in sight in the distance.
Simon, after forming an ice wall between himself and the others, knocks on the door and after a moment as he goes to address the team, some of them with keen observation notices movement in the wall observing them. After coaxing the Elder Earth Spirit out to face them, she walks out with a device on her hip and appears ot be much stronger than when she fought them in Session 450. While she shows some signs of insanity still, the group tries to convince the Elder Spirits and mention they have cores now for the group, bringing up the Spirit Realm. Upon learning about the Spirit Realm, Elder Earth notes that might be a bad thing since some of her brethern might have gone there already and in their condition it might not be a good thing for the Realm. Nicolette does a scan with her abilities on the Spirit and sees the device on her would be scattered to pieces - or perhaps turn into something worse, her essense on the verge of absolute corruption. While Nicolette warns them she thinks the Elder Earth might have a point about the Spirit Realm, Jaime and Simon offer one of the cores to the spirit.
Refusing to tell them who gave her the device, the group then tries to get her to focus on them and help them out instead as her mind seems to wander. They finally convince her to take the core and in return expose her own core to them, revealing a core that looks nearly completely black, but at the same time, the core looks cracked and And oozy, like if she dropped it, it might splatter all over the ground. As the Elder Earth Spirit begins to fade out of existence almost instantly after removing her core, Lana comments she is turning into something akin to an Anti-Spirit, Chronos appears with the core and hands it over; while Simon places the corrupted Core away, Jaime places the new one inside, but finds her TOO faded. After the Magi and Summoni use their powers, they are able to place the core and use the water to cure her fractured mind. Ellie and Sylph come up with a plan to track down the Elder Wind Spirit using the mark she placed on Ellie long ago, giving the group a plan of action Jaime hyperspaces the corrupted core and destroys it, but only Nicolette notices a teeny tiny mark is left on the ground, but before anyone can do anything about it Kyouki teleports them to the shuttle due to the other spirits not being there, so they head off to track the Elder Wind Spirit.
Session 464: Spirit of the Matter
Location: Xanatos' Shuttle
The Elder Earth Spirit has been taken back to Geyze to recover while the team follows Ellie and Sylph's plan, believing her to be at least friendly with Ellie enough to listen to her and that she might have insight into where the other Spirits are located. Upon arriving at the shuttle they find Xanatos there due to being on Kumen and so the group prepares for Ellie to touch her mark and bring the Spirit to them. She forms inside the shuttle - looking a bit like Sylph, though her hair only goes to her mid-back and her eyes are more green than amberish. She has a device on her hip like the Earth Spirit did as well and seems stronger, as if she has been stealing Sylph's stuff while Sylph was gone. She shows antagonism toward Sylph still and when everyone gets in her way from tallking to Ellie, she kidnaps her by vanishing from the shuttle with the Summoni, leading Sylph to flip out. When Id makes a flippant comment about the team continuing to the Spirit Realm without Ellie, Sylph uses wind pressure to crush him into tiny pieces. After Xanatos lectures Kyouki and Simon helps Sylph to find Ellie, and Bix mourns Id, the team is warped by Sylph to Ellie and the Elder Wind Spirit's location on a building nearby, where they find her trying to cozy up to her in a romantic sense.
While Ellie tries to head off a fight between Sylph and the Elder Wind Spirit, mentioning the core and water to cure the condition, the others quickly summon the shuttle to their new location since they left it behind in their haste. As if realizing battling Sylph for Ellie's affection would turn her against her, the Elder Wind just gives up and sits while Nicolette notes for an intervention this is pretty tense. They learn that the others took off for the Spirit Realm as soon as they learned ir was back, leaving her and the Elder Earth Spirit behind, but she'll take them there, but doubts they'll listen due to them talking to things that aren't there even more now. Lana questions if that nothing looks like a tall dark figure, leading to a blank stare, but Lana remains convinced it might be the Serpent, even though it's not suppose to have been awakened for another 12-13 years. Asking the Elder Spirit to take them there and to hold off on getting a core for now, Sylph and the Elder Wind Spirit work together to take the team to the location of the other spirits in the spirit realm.
They arrive in front of the Church looking Spirit Building with the Spirit Weapon Relics and some cores inside when it begins to shake due to an attack by the Elder Thunder Spirit, Elder Water Spirit, Elder Fire, and Elder Ice Spirit attacking the wall of the building, trying to get inside. As the Elder Wind Spirit is now weakened and being looked after by Ellie and Xanatos, the others find it weird that they are trying to break their way in and Selena points out they need cores to get inside; Elder Wind notes the doors should only shut during a time of war, otherwise they should be open. A battle breaks out between the team and the Elder Spirits, with Kyouki and Gnome having to serve as the Spirits for the team, stopping their elemental combination attacks due to the Elder Spirit's years of experience. While the team pleads with them, it is clear that a few of them are pretty far along, with the Elder Ice barely holding on and the Elder Water mumbling that she refuses to join their cause and tired of being hunted, referring to something else - namely Chad trying his best to get her to meet with him that he lurked around Kumen for weeks with Xanatos.
The Elder Thunder Spirit moves off to the side as Ellie presents a core that Chronos drops into into her hand to show them, still showing signs of insanity, but due to the previous Thunder Spirit dying has filled the void and grown stronger, clearly not interested in fighting and watching them all battle and the Fire Spirit apparently doesn't need a core, but insane as well. As Simon offers Thunder the water, he notes he enjoys being crazy, but gives in eventually, and while the Elder Water wavers at the sight of the core, the Elder Ice Spirit attacks Ellie, trying to destroy the core. Celsius and Shiva arrive from helping Elder Earth while Sylph helps protect the core; the Spirit Realm would notice the Spirit Realm is being slowly iced and even the Elder Fire has warped to safety for now. Those nearing the Elder Ice Spirit begin to freeze slowly, except those with Ice Elemental or have pacted with Celsius/Shiva, leading to a countdown until they freeze to death; Ellie continuous inches forward despite the danger and Simon moves along with her absorbing as much of the ice as he can for the others and Asha uses her fire to help along with Alita. Nicolette asks the Elder Ice Spirit if she would like to see a magik trick, drawing her attention in multiple directions as Nicolette produces a crystal tulip out of the air with a flourish and offers it to her.
Kyouki attempts to read the Elder Ice's mind at the nudging of Lana to see if there is someone actually there when she talks to no one while the others attempt to reach out to her. Kyouki and anyone else attempting to read the mind detect something perhaps, as there is something there, something so alien it makes their minds scream out in agony as they read it. Eventually the Elder Ice Spirit gives up and drops to her knees, taking the Flower and Water offered to her while Bix bounces over to the Elder Fire Spirit, attempting to make friends by using his own fire attacks. Chronos appears and hands out cores, directing Ellie to the Elder Wind Spirit while the others tend to the Ice and Water Spirits. As the group switches the cores to the Spirits, barely able to hold onto their bodies and Elder Ice bemoaning she failed them and the team wondering about what they felt, Bix offers the water to the Elder Fire Spirit who burns it away and laughs at it all, noting it is a farce and seems crazier than the Elder Lightning Spirit was before.
Chronos apologizes to the others for this being her fault in not detecting fault in the Elder Fire Spirit and tells her to reveal her true form while the others are down for the count due to getting new cores; the Elder Fire Spirit obligies and begins to transform into a bulkier male form, revealing himself to be Pyro/Pyre (male/female form) that was released at the same time as Chronos in Session 169 and last seen in Session 170. She explains he/she can switch back and forth between the two genders easily as Pyro rants about his displeasure about the new world and that Spirits near war like in the old days, but Chronos notes he is insane but Nicolette thinks he just is giving into the voices that might be real and using him. Since it looks like a fight is going to go down, Pyro noting that if they can beat him he will take the water and try to play nice, Xanatos, Shiva, Celsius, Sparkling, Chronos, Ellie, and Sylph and such move the weak Elder Spirits out of range of the battle. The battle begins with Pyro targetting Nicolette due to her words and the team works together to defeat Pyro to make him listen.
Their combined attacks work well against Pyro's power and they manage to score many damaging attacks to keep him/her at bay and even knock him on his his butt, even using the Judge card to hold him down at times. Eventually Chronos returns with the Time Relic to aid them right as Pyro breaks free from Nicolette's Judge Card, noting she can only hard him for a minute at most. At first Asha and the others go for the core when Simon stops them and uses the Ice Relic to get in close and pours the water on him to cure his mind. As Ellie and Sylph return to witness Pyro being taken down, Nicolette checks and sees that Pyro's mind seems to have been cleared, noting while he doesn't agree completely with the world, he notes he went about it wrong, even as the other Elder Spirits return, the Elder Wind Spirit hugging onto Ellie. Chronos lets Nicolette hold onto the Time Relic for now for some strange reason that cannot possibily be about homework while everyone manages to head home.
Date: 10-641.4.22
Location: The Academy
Now that the team is back home, the Elder Spirits stand before the team and all the Spirits and they introduce themselves to the team for the first time formally after thanking them. The Elder Earth Spirit - Gaia, The Elder Lightning Spirit claims his name is Lightning, The Elder Wind Spirit - Gale, The Elder Water Spirit calls herself Lev, short for Leviathan, The Elder Ice Spirit - Frost, and hearing their names Nicolette notes she might have noticed a pattern in the Spirit's names. They promise to help pull their weight around the Academy and help train the newer Spirits with skills and moves that will help make them stronger. The conversation, after Kyouki promising to have a talk with Void, to the Spirits with children and what it means with the Spirit Realm back and excess Spirit Energy in Geyze now; Shade notes she does not think there is a crisis of losing their power like it was before, but still thinks that they will likely turn over their children since it is their birthright, noting Aska is already in the process with Soren, drawing the interest of Nicolette.
Erevis finally returns from the PAX as the meeting breaks up, back from helping out there for the past few months. As they discuss the nature of the Spirits and fluxing, bringing up how Neekito became a Faux Spirit, the group begins to break up and it looks like things are finally back to normal. Even Max and Luci's club is opened with fireworks in the distance and it looks like things are looking up finally.
Fumoffu Session 13: The Planet of Magic
Location: PAX
Taiga sits there as the club members come in and and reveals to them that she has been asked to deliver a package shaped like a grail to the Maka Homeworld, much to the interest of those in the club. As Sabrina muses on returning to the planet she was born, since her parents crashed onto Maka and she was born on it due to that, the other two Makas, Nicolette and Sparkling, talk about the grail and going back to the homeworld for the first time. Celeste muses on it being the Holy Grail and seems awed by the idea of it, apparantly it being something the Templars really would like to have in their hands, while Kaori notes that sounds easy enough. While Ren haggles Kaori into coming along, Taiga pushes the assignment onto Thena due to having a bad experience with Makas and their strange world in the past. As the team nears the ship that will take them, they encounter Zayne holding her toddler, Sunny, asking to come along to show the world to Sunny. Charlotte and Zayne immediately hit it off as Zayne makes some comments disparging Charlotte's Dark One's nature and her becoming one, while the Makas feel a little wary around her.
After settling matters and taking off through space toward the Maka Homeworld, Zayne soon talks to Sparkling Justice, asking her about what she plans to do in the future once she loses her power. When the Maka admits she hasn't thought about what she will do after losing her power, Zayne gives a hallow smile and notes that it is good she has a pure heart and should do all the good she can while she is able to do it, before sitting back down and as the team talks about what their future goals are, Charlotte joking about taking over the PAX, a sore spot for Jaime, Adeline notes some of their comments are creepier than Zayne. As they discuss Lenneth and Jaime's situation with the PAX, leading to Celeste to admit she feels sorry for Lenneth and wanting to do something for her, they arrive at the Maka Homeworld. They find an Earth like planet, but once they land they notice a lot of Japanese anime tropes almost immediately. Zayne hands Sunny over to Kaori, strangely, and asks her to take Sunny around the planet on their journey to deliver the package.
The team decides to head to the leader of the Maka world to drop off the grail shaped package, so they brave the various cliches of the planet to do so with Sabrina as a guide. Charlotte shapeshifters into a Maka like form, getting nudged by Nicolette and the other two Makas, while the others wear various clothes to blend into the anime culture as they set out. As Sabrina looks for the quickest way to their destination, they stop at a shop as Nicolette looks into her hat and pulls out a fat, slobbish rabbit from her hat that seems to be her Maka familiar, however it hops away to a bar with a glare. Before boarding the train to Nio Tokiwo, the capital, the group spends some time in the store and buy some things - even Adeline decides to get a Sparkling like action figure to tease the Maka with later. After they finish they take the high speed train to the capital and they discuss Tokiwo Tower, with all deciding they'd like to see it later.
They reach an oldfashioned part of the city that looks tradtionally Japanese and Jaime comments that she needs to bring Erevis here; Ren jokes that maybe there was a Mirror Universe Erevis and she created this place due to her love of Japanese things, leading to some in the group to seriously consider it. While Kaori grumbles the last time they were here, the team accused her of creating this place, Nicolette just freaks out and mumbles complex theories. The team arrives at a Japanese manor where a magical girl named Shidou Ichiko greets them and Sabrina holds up the grail like package; being ushered inside, they are brought before Emperor Utagawa. Sabrina bows her head and opens the package, revealing a grail that looks much like the one in Sailor Moon, leading to the Maka to exclaim it to be the Holy Grail and Celeste seems to be in complete awe at witnessing it, despite it's appearance. While the Emperor explains that the grail belonged to one of their warriors long ago, it will one day bring a new power to someone else when the time is right. Even Sunny reaches for it and coos a little, as if fascinated by it.
While they try to offer the team money, Sabrina tries to refuse it while Celeste herself notes just witnessing it was enough for her. Sabrina notes that the only reward they need is for Nicolette and Sparkling to know more about their people and to be trained a little more in the way of being a Maka while they are there when suddenly a crisis happens and Daimon attack the city. The group decides to help out and head back to the place where the shop and bar was located, deciding to pull in and help fight the most strange enemies they have ever encountered, ranging from ovens, to fridges, and other strange things. Plus they seem to be after Nicolette's bunny mentor, trying to devour him. Even Zayne shows up to aid them and when they finish off the small fry with the other Maka like Ichiko, the main Daimon shows up, a Yamazaki 12-year whiskey. After a big battle with it, they manage to break it with a combo attack on it from Sabrina and Noire leaves it open to Nicolette to destroy it. A scrap of paper lands and Sparkling picks it up, seeing a girl who looks a lot like Sparkling holding the Holy Grail on the paper. Zayne takes Sunny from Kaori and leaves with her before the Maka hunt her down.
Sabrina takes them to see Tokiwo Tower while Nicolette explains that her familiar is more of a deadbeat uncle and the team notes how similar to Tokyo Tower it is, outside it being blue. After admiring it, Sabrina decides to take them back to her home when she used to live here, since the group has decided to stay here for a few days, especially since Zayne has left the planet with their ship. They find a decent sized house with magical brooms keeping the place clean. As they settle in, they all see a desk and a rather typical Maka house and get ready to relax and have fun.
Session 465: Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt
Location: A Planet In Suisen Territory, Bordering the Cartel
Lorelei's team is in the area of planets along the Cartel border that has been being hit by the Dark Ones' Seed Ship, turning the worlds into Dark Planets and wiping out the populations by making them monsters and creatures similiar found to what was on Session 423-425. Even if they manage to cleanse the corruption afterward, the planet is mostly barren afterward, which is still a win for the Dark Ones, because they managed to take a planet from the Alliance. Lorelei, Cheryl, Hotaru, and Taiga are off doing their own investigation while Sabrina, Thomas, Zegretta, Ren, Charlotte, Durt, Rachael, Celeste, Moira, Valen, and Kellin try to blend in on the planet, with Charlotte practicing her shapeshifting powers she has gained recently, as they try to learn what the people know about the "Shadow People". They muse on the Dark Ones' tactics and how it seems right now they're not out right fighting a true war, but using the seed to waste the governments resources by dealing with the seeded planets. Cheryl and Hotaru return and they note that it's different from their tactics last time and what that could mean and soon they all agree that perhaps they do not have a strong foothold in this quadrant so they are doing these tactics to wear the Alliance down, meaning they'll have to deal with the Dark Ones here and maybe back in the Unknown Regions.
However they are soon interrupted by the God Pings, leading to the group heading out to intercept it. As they near it, there is an explosion with people thinking it is a Dark One attack and run by screaming, however in the center of the explosion is Lenny in medevialish armor - the 16 year old girl looks a lot like Lenneth. As the civilians run away, Kellin and Charlotte help with the evacuation while Taiga pops out and tries to stun shot her but Lenny KOs her and drops Taiga. At that moment the other God ping vanishes as Valen steps in front of Lenny and talks to her as Lorelei emerges from the destroyed building, asking after Taiga. Lenny explains to them that she felt threatened by them and so she disabled them, referring to the God Ping, and when Celeste tries to talk to Lenny about Lenneth to come home, Lorelei notes she isn't sure she can make her.
Due to talking Lenneth about their past connections, Celeste follows her as does Valen and the three meet up away from the others where Lenny touches and disables the Angel Pact on Valen, informing she believes Gartareh is among one of those on the PAX and if she goes back, she will surely end up like Dusk. After releasing and healing him, she hands Valen something, before giving him words for her family; Celeste decides to join Lenneth, much like her past self was once part of Lenneth's Guard. Lorelei relays a little bit about what she heard to the others, since she has fox ears, but doesn't catch everything. They all agree that when they get back, Lenneth though is going to be pissed at them for letting Lenny go.
Date: 10-641.5.5
Location: The Academy
A birthday party is being held for Bella at Luci's bar on the Academy with most of the kids in attendence while the group holds a meeting at the Manor. Erevis notes that it has been ages since she has been able to attend a meeting and even Nicolette admits a lot has happened recently while they all think back over the past few months. They go over the various things on the agenda after catching up together with Celes bringing up that the Naturalist are worried about the Legion and Dark Lands are going to form a super team, especially after Jaime lied to her about their marriage being annulled. It is decided to have Simon talk to Helen and make her understand since he is the smooth talker of the group when Lumi busts in and guzzles Xanatos' drink down before telling them that something is happening at Monster Island and is believed they figured out how to make the device work. Erevis hands Monster Repellent Suit for the women, an armor that covers the entire body, making Nicolette freak out at what sort of monsters they are going to fight, but Selena tells her to ignore Erevis and Asha notes that they can't fight in such an armor, so they all just leave without the armor onto the teleporters.
They arrive on an empty island and so they make their way into the cave deep inside to where the device is located. They come across a stone monster blocking their path that refuses to let them pass and none want to risk being touched with it's stone touch. Bix rips one of the spirit gems out of the wall and hands it to the monster and unable to turn it to stone, it moves to the side, playing with it in fascination, allowing them to continue. At the bottom they see Autumn in a cloned body of Shinobu's sister's body as the last of the monster's enter the portal, at least the last of those with Autumn, since many didn't join her and so Geyze still has a small population of violent monsters. At first Autumn seems to be vague, but then gives them a notebook on the portal after assuring them it won't hurt the Spirit Realm, though admitting it does draw on it's power and that's why it now works, and informs them Chronos helped designed it as a clue - with a final one being even if she leaves, they'll probably catch up to her in mere minutes. After Autumn leaves before the portal closes, the group sees that it dislodges gems like what is found in the cave.
Simon summons Chronos to the group and they ask her what it is really and she informs them that it is indeed a time machine like they believe, that goes between two time periods - 12,000 years ago and now. It's creator built it and put warnings so that it would be used only when the proper time came to use it. She does admit her memories are fractured a lot, compounded by the fact she was sealed, but she know at least that much. She notes that for now it will a one way trip as there is no time machine in the past - yet, coy on that matter, and so they should put the matter out of their minds until they feel it's proper to truly feel it is needed to want to go back into the past, but admits time is fluid. While Selena whines this all makes her head hurt, Nicolette and Id talk about time theories and whatnot above her paygrade.
Date: 10-641.5.6
Location: PAX
Lemon eats cake at Katrina's to celebrate her birthday while Taiga works on things on her datapad and Thomas seems depressed his apprentice has left him for some God. Valen meanwhile seems to have gained a fragment of Dusk in the gem that Lenny gave him and while they are talk and Ceilidh is confused as usual, Lenneth scowls in the corner. Finally Lenneth announces she is going to stop the search for Lenny and begin to focus on reclaiming the Suisen Empire. And with that Lenneth leaves the bar and leaves several people jawdropped.