Shadows of the Past

Azuma: "Do we intervene?"

Monu:<Indeed. She may return.>
---
<Dunno.>
===
*Artexi gets the fuck out of there, while continuing to fire*

As the Prince exists Mortal can't help but ask, "So, had any bad dreams lately?"

--

Noct switches back to offense, and attempts to slam into the Hunter again.

Philip<Certainly not. In fact, I met the Princess once upon a dreamtime.>

"What? So you've never met in real life?"

Philip<Once, when she was being hidden from Maleficent as a peasant girl by the name of Briar Rose. We were going to tell eachabout our arranged marriages, not knowing the other's identity, but then Maleficent struck.>

*The passage back to the castle is going much easier. The Unversed are gone, & many of the foreboding plants have wilted away in Maleficent's absence.*
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L"We have more important things to do. We can take care of whoever wins this fight later."
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*Noctis knocks another leg off. With the Hunter literally on its last leg, it starts to flee deeper into the asteroid belt, causing most of Nero's shots to miss. This would also put it closer to the remaining Gummi Ships.*

"Wonderful," Mortal said, more at ease.

--

Noct leaned back in her glider, "Well, I'm not getting it."

Safian:<Alright.>

*So she continues on*
===
*Artexi fires after it*
---
Monu:<Well, she should be fine once you kiss her.>

Azuma: "Right."

They presumably carry on.

*They cross the bridge, enter the castle, climb the stairs, & all of that jazz, before they're finally standing at Aurora's bedside. Philip hesitates.*

T"What's the matter? Do you have stage fright, or something?"

Philip<She's not here.>

T"What are you talking about? She's right there."

Philip<Her body is here. Her heart is somewhere else. Somewhere far away.>

T"How could you possibly know that?"

Philip<True love.>

*Thiera sighs & approaches the Princess, summoning the Oathkeeper & touching it to her chest.*

T"Wha--he's right! The heart really ISN'T here!"
=====================================
*It weaves through the asteroids to avoid being hit, so Nero follows it. Noctis sees another group of Gliders speeding away across the asteroid belt.*
=====================================
L"I don't see the others. They're probably still held up in the Enchanted Dominion."

Monu:<Maleficant!>
---
*As does Artexi*
---
Safian:<Should we wait or go help?>

Azuma: "That could mean passing through that dogfight back there."

"Maybe that is what she meant by never waking from nightmares," Mortal said.

--

"There are some other people over there," Noct called out, "Just so you know."

OOC: I'm not sitting around all day waiting for Harley to edit.

*Nero glances back & narrows his eyes at the Gliders before continuing on his way.*

N"No friends of mine."

*Nero is able to shoot some of the asteroids in the Hunter's general direction, forcing it to stop & use laser rings to shoot them back at Nero & Artexi like some kind of retarded game of ping pong. Unfortunately, it is now backed by several Dragonflies, whose blasts break apart the rocks, resulting in several flaming meteors & lasers flying at the duo.*
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T"No. There is darkness here, but it is not Maleficent's. Senthose came here long before we did."

*She turns around, looking shocked.*

T"There should have been a woman nearby with the surname Aakin. Do you know of her?"

Philip<Yes, but she hasn't been seen in weeks. I wouldn't be too concerned. She has always traveled to other lands on short notice.>

*Thiera bites her lip with worry.*

T"It's the same case as Dawn...."

Philip<Dawn? You mean Aurora? If Senthose has stolen her heart, then we will simply take it back, & vanquish him if necessary.>

T"I'm sorry, but you can't come with us to fight Senthose...be...cause someone needs to stay here to watch over the Princess! I'm sorry, but we must leave now. We will find & return Aurora's heart, rest assured."
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L"We might as well go. We could be waiting for hours. Worst case scenario, we run into them while they're on their way out."

Noct shrugged, and waited for Nero and Artexi to finish that off.

--

Mortal patted Philip on the shoulder, not really sure what to say to a guy who just found out his future wife was a heartless shell of a woman.

*Monu stares at the ground, his shoulders shrinking*

<You must leave this to us.>
===
*Artexi dodges to the best of her ability then fires at the Hunter's remaining limb*
===
*Safian looks at Lilith, then Azuma*

*Artexi & Nero eventually destroy it & the Dragonflies, but sustain heavy damage.*
=====================================
*On their way, they meet up with the others & head to the Land of Departure.*