Shadows of the Past

*As they fly over the city, the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

R"Hey, what's up with the music?"

Tron<What music?>

R"...The music I've been hearing ever since we got here?"

*He turns to Hitomi.*

R"You've heard it too, right? I'm not going crazy."

Tron<Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that you're not from The Grid. We usually consider that background noise because, as you said, it plays constantly. I can only speculate as to why Users like yourselves programmed it in the first place, but we programs use it for various warnings. Avici uses it to tell everyone when they're under his control, or he's on the hunt for dissenters.>
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L"It doesn't matter. If the others haven't found us yet, that means that they must have found something at Radiant Garden. Maybe even Senthose himself. They need us more."

*She dons her armor, summons her Keyblade, & opens a hole into the Lanes Between.*
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N"...I was actually going to suggest we follow him. But who would be helping him?"

Mortal dons her armor as well, then hops onto her Glider, ready to go.

--

Noctis lets out a sigh, "I don't know, an evil sorceress to go along with the evil vizier."

Azuma: "I just tune it out. Distracts from important things like trying to not die."

Hitomi nods in agreement.

Hitomi: "Likewise."

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Taiyo armor and gliders up, following after whomever takes the lead.

*Monu and Safian summon their armor and gliders, then head into the portal*
---
*Artexi shrugs*

<Someone with knowledge of the Order and other worlds.>

*Since they apparently went back in the Recognizer at some point, Tron takes the controls, & steers them down into a back alley.*

R"Why are there no people in this city?"

Tron<We're too close to the Central Computer Mesa. No one wants to be that close to Avici's goons.>

R"So, how do they keep him from invading further?"

Tron<Well, there is a resistance, but since most Programs are afraid to fight back, we mostly reformat the city so that it's full of obstacles. Mazelike streets that are all dead ends, sections that sink into the sea of simulation, that sort of thing. But we won't have to deal with any of that, because my Identity Disc serves as a key.>

R"Huh. You'd think Avici would want that."

Tron<He does. But he hasn't yet acquired the functions to read its code. So he's had me fighting on the Game Grid, to analyze my technical specs.>
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N"That sounds like it can only really be a Keyblade Master."
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*Much like the previous group, they also land in the Great Maw, near a canyon filled with crystals. Lilith dismisses her glider & armor, & examines the ground.*

"The dust has been blown away & there are faint scorch marks. Probably from a thruster."

*She then looks around, pointing.*

L"I count 3, so they did all make contact."

Artexi:<It can't have been anyone in the Order.>
---
*Monu and Safian land as well*

Monu:<We should keep moving.>

Azuma: "And that's what? Some kind of gladiator arena?"

===================================

Taiyo dismisses her glider and armor then follows the tracks.

"Given that they were just battling each other that seems like a safe bet," Noctis said, "So, is he actually on our side?"

--

Mortal follows Taiyo, because it looks like she knows where she is going.

N"Dunno. Senthose never said anything. But why would he let us fight the Unversed if they were actually working for us?"
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*There are no tracks, it's not like they marched through a foot of snow.*

L"Yeah. Only...I think we've put off ensuring the safety of the Enchanted Dominion for too long. Monu, you should take a couple of the others & go check it out. Three of us should be enough to find out what happened to the others."
============================
Tron<Basically. Sark has the Programs who still believe in the Users imprisoned there to fight for his amusement, & for Avici to run experiments on.>

R"'Believe in the Users'? What are you, a religious zealot?"

Tron<That's what he would say. Come on, we have to go into the city.>

<How could you fucking say that?!>

*Artexi glares at Noct*
---
*Monu nods*

<Any volunteers?>

If they flew down some alley, I imagine they landed, so they disembark. If not they wait for the ship to land.

===================================

Taiyo: "I'd like to stay here."

Noct looks at Artexi perplexed, then back to Nero, "What did I do?"

--

"I'll go with Monu," Mortal said, "I don't want our home to go unprotected. Come back with the others soon."

N"I think she's all pissed because Jafar turned her into a Heartless, or something."

*Nero shrugs.*
===========================
L"Right. Thank you. Good luck. Thiera, you go too."

T"Okay. Good luck to you, too."

*Lilith sets off toward the castle as Thiera reopens the portal to the Lanes Between. Her Keyblade then changes into her glider, & she dons her armor.*
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*Tron leads them down a few twisting alleys. He stops at an apparent dead end & holds his disc up to the gridline on the wall. The lights on the wall & the disc glow brightly, arcs of electricity sparking between them. The wall then slides away, revealing a busier street beyond it.*

R"Okay, so once we escape, & we're in the city, then what do we do?"

Tron<I will take you to an I/O Tower. That should be able to take you home. Avici is our enemy.>

R"I think he already became ours. Besides, I'm not going to just abandon you. But maybe we will have a better chance of destroying him from the outside."

Tron<We will all be in your debt if you succeed.>

<I'm pissed because he ruined my life.>
---
*Safian rubs against Mortal's leg*

<Stay safe!>

*Monu summons his glider and dons his armor, then heads through the portal to Enchanted Domain*

Azuma: "You intend on questioning Braig about what all this is about? And the whole dropping us in here."

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Taiyo follows Lilith.

*Nero turns to look at light from Glider thrusters streaking through the sky, back in the direction of the Land of Departure.*

N"Could always go see what they know."
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*Regardless of how Mortal responds to Safian, they eventually fly through space & touch down in a grassland, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Behind them is a river, while maybe half of a mile in front of them is a series of tiered cliffs, starting about 9 feet tall, but gradually raising to mountainous size, each topped with more short grass. The music, by contrast, is coming from their sides, far off in the distance. Far off in one direction is a bridge of polished off-white stone terminating at a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] on the other side of a river. The music is faint in this direction, but much louder in the other, where the grassland eventually gives way to a thick forest of twisted, dead trees & heavy, dark brambles. This way is blocked off by a very conspicuous green fire which blazes, perfectly controlled, just high enough to bar entry. The smoke is purple-black, clearly infected with darkness, especially because the flames do not burn the landscape. Thiera glances at the castle, then stares off to the dark forest.*

T"There's something very wrong with this place, isn't there?"
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R"Also probably a good idea."

*As they walk through the city, a crowd of people dressed in similar muted clothes with glowing lines gathers around them. Most have their heads covered to some extent, some with completely concealing helmets, but others sport strange 80's hairdos. A female Program dressed very similarly to Tron steps forward.*

<Tron, is that you? How did you manage to escape? It's so good to see you again.>

Tron<Yes, Yori, it's me. It's great to see you again.>

*As they smile awkwardly at each other, their gridlines briefly flash purple.*

R"Okay, I'm noticing some subtext here, & it's kinda making me feel like a 3rd wheel."

*Tron jerks his head, turns, & gestures to the group.*

Tron<Oh, yes. They have strange functions, including weapons that seem to be able to open any lock, even those placed by Avici himself, even though they are not identity discs.>

Yori<But...how is that possible?>

Tron<Because they are Users.>

*A hushed murmur goes around the crowd. If they listen carefully, they can hear a few utterances of "hail the Users!"*

R"...Creepy, but flattering. Anyway, Tron's supposed to take us back to our world so that we can kill your Big Bad & go beat up on the guy who tricked us into getting computerized & thrown in jail."
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*As the other group approaches the Radiant Garden, the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] There are no guards at the gate, but a pulse of white energy forms on the ground & moves to Lilith. She just barely jumps out of the way as a sparking, crystalline blade forms below her, shooting up in just about a second. More of these lights are moving towards the group from various directions.*

*Monu nods slowly, his eyes filled with sadness*

<Indeed.>
---
<I kinda doubt they know anything.>

"They just fought with him," Noct said, "Maybe they know where he ran off to, or have some idea about it. That said, I'd rather we don't follow after them regardless. We're not exactly friends, your lover not withstanding."

--

Mortal nodded, "It appears that way." She walked off towards the fire, "What do you think that fire is protecting?"

Azuma: "We can't fight that orange guy here?"

===================================

Taiyo moves on out of the way of the white lights beneath her.

N"What the Hell are you talking about? Nevermind, point is, we can't hang out in space all day."
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*Thiera follows Mortal.*

T"Something evil."
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R"Why would we? It'd be much easier just to highlight his name & click 'delete.'"

*The programs look confused, but don't inquire.*

Tron<The nearest I/O Tower is in the next district, just a few blocks away. We haven't gotten any answer from the Users for many cycles, but we are still able to transmit messages. We should be able to send you back.>
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*Lilith keeps dodging. Realizing this is not working, she jumps & forms her glider, taking off for the castle. The lights continue to attack the others who stayed down below.*

Mortal drew her keyblades, "Then we should destroy it."

--

"I know," Noct said, "So, where to, oh fearless leader?"

*Safian follows Lilith, firing at any orbs that come near her*
---
*Monu sighs, following*

<I believe that is the domain of the one who caused all the problems here, Maleficent. Anyway, let me catch you up on the problems here.>

*He takes a deep breath*

<16 years ago, a baby girl was born to the king and queen of the realm. On the day of her birth, the king and queen threw a celebration, inviting many, including the three good fairies. Two of the good fairies blessed the baby princess before the evil fairy Maleficant, angry at not being invited to the event, curses her to die on her 16th birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. The last good fairy managed to change the curse from death to sleep until the princess is kissed by her true love. According to my mother, the good fairies then smuggled her away. I assume Aurora, the princess, is still asleep, waiting for her true love's kiss.>
---
*Artexi crosses her arms*

<Fine, but we're murdering Jafar the next chance we get.>

Azuma: "If you say so. I doubt it'll be that easy."

===================================

Taiyo follows suit.

T"Well, then what can we even do here? Unless...."

*She looks at Mortal. Specifically, her lips.*
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*As it turns out, the things are not affected by attacks until they're in sword form, but can't follow them off of the ground. Lilith attempts to land on the roof of the castle, but is forced to jerk up as a Claymore almost runs her Glider through.*

L"Gah, this is impossible! How are we going to find anything out if we can't even walk on the ground?!"
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N"Fine. I guess we might as well go ask Senthose what's up about all of this."
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*As they walk through the city, their view of a cylindrical tower shooting a beam of white light into the sky becomes clearer. They turn a corner down an alley & see, standing in front of the open entrance to the tower; Sark, 6 black guards, & Senthose. His hair is silver, his irises red, with a faint glow. However, his color is not red, unlike Sark's. The metal portions of his Organization cloak are entirely lit by a purple glow.*

Tron<Sark! Avici! How did you get past the city's defenses?!>

R"Senthose must have brought them here using a Dark Corridor!"

*He points to Senthose.*

Senthose/Avici<You are half correct. But I am not Senthose.>

Azuma: "So we don't have far to go to beat this guy up."

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Taiyo: "Same thing we always do?"

Taiyo sets to ramming the Claymore.