First Blood Shed

*Eve summons her glider and armor, diving away from the boulder. She then lands on another plateau and dismisses her glider. She then casts Stop on Jafar. Meanwhile, Artexi flies around the boulder flung at her, then sends some acid at Jafar in an attempt to poison him*
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*Safian looks from Euryale to Taiyo, then swims off after Thiera*
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*Monu lands and summons his keyblade. He then casts tornado to send the pirates flying back*

Frowning quickly, Kyohaku shook his head. "At least I'm sure that you know I wouldn't make fun of someone like that." He did plenty of things that were rough around the edges, but that wasn't really his game at all. While he might have had some major hydrophobia to overcome, he certainly wasn't Cuttlephobic as she had put it. Soon enough, though, he found himself swimming after Thiera and Safian. It had looked like they had ended up with somewhere they had needed to go in a hurry.

*Euryale glances at everyone leaving, then grabs Taiyo by the wrist & swims after them.*

E"Hey, be careful, this is Glut's territory!"

Th"What exactly is a Glut?"

*She turns around to ask that as they pass around a mountain, arriving at a small valley with rock walls on all sides & a large shipwreck at the center. The answer comes in the form of a massive Great White shooting out of a nearby cave & chomping down on her, creating a trail of crimson clouds as he starts to swim away, shaking his head with Thiera screaming bloody murder.*

Th"Ahhhhh! Oh God, there's so much blood, I must be dying! Heeeeeelp!"

E"You won't die that easily! Besides, you have magic! Pull yourself together, woman!"

*Letting go of Taiyo, she tucks her arms to her side & flattens out, shooting at the shark like a tornado before decking him right in the eye. The shark opens its mouth in shock &, using her forward momentum, Euryale flips & brings her tail down on the side of its snout. True to her claim, they see several pearly whites drift from his mouth & sink to the sea floor below. Euryale grabs Thiera under the arms & flicks the end of her tail rapidly to drift away from Glut. Gasping, Thiera reigns herself in long enough to start healing the huge, raw chunk that the beast took out of her torso.*

E"Watch out, he won't give up that easily!"
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*The Stop spell starts to form around Jafar, but then abruptly shatters. With a hollow "ping," Xyukuse is deflected off of Jafar's tail & falls towards the lava. Nero swerves out of the way of the boulders &, after some hesitation, casts Magnet to keep him from falling in as the Glider slams into Jafar & is destroyed. The acid similarly falls right off of Jafar, who holds a hand out to block the Organization's attacks &, instead of casting magic at them, casually push the plateau until it breaks. Spinning, Xaldin collects them all in a large whirlwind.*

Vexen<Perhaps an armor-piercing attack would break his defenses.>

Zexion<I have my own plans!>

*He sucks up some of the lightning into 1 of his Lexicons, then points the Road to Dawn at Jafar, firing the same lightning at him. Jafar recoils & roars in pain, the 1st attack to actually hurt him. As he lacks any armor-piercing attacks, Roatha is reduced to pretty much just flying around.*
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*The Pirates are flung away, but not destroyed. Azuma crashes into the ocean, his Glider shattering on impact, & after Ruler of the Sky crashes into Lilith, she meets the same fate. Her first instinct is to swim towards the ship, but the massive Heartless spins around & flies towards it, so she stops & shouts for Monu to look out.*

Smee<Cap'n, it's coming in too low! It'll ram us for sure!>

Hook<G-g-get to the l-lifeboat!>

*The pair run, stumbling, towards an oared wooden canoe sort of deal lashed to the side of the ship.*

When the shark makes a come back, Taiyo blasts it with Water Intoxication which still would have been funnier if it could be called Water Sports.

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The two swim around the ship or so to where the life boat is to board it when it lowers.

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Xyukuse pulls himself up and attacks with Demon Fang, the lot of good a ground based attack is gonna do against something not on the ground.

While he was still learning how to control the form that he was now in, Kyohaku figured that some of his old techniques would probably have still worked. Figuring that the fact that they were under the water made people less resistant to light, he spun about with the new body that he had and immediately used his Star Formation technique. It created a powerful flash of light that most surely would have blinded the shark in turn. At least, he figured that it would considering the depth that all of these creatures lived at. He couldn't have imagined that it wouldn't have.

*Monu resummons his glider and soars away from the ship, then heads around to pick up Lilith*

Monu:<Azuma, Hitomi, get away from the ship! I'll get you!>
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*Safian summons her keyblade and clamps it in her new shark mouth. She then sends a blast of darkness at the Glut*
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*Eve uses Void Flare on Jafar, while Artexi goes to pick up Nero on her glider*

Artexi:<Shit, shit, shit! We should have killed him when we had the chance. I'm such an idiot!>

OOC: That's not funny, it's just disgusting.

*As Xyukuse has already observed, the attack is pointless, as even if there WERE ground to slash, Jafar isn't on it. Nero, wondering why he's being followed, once again reluctantly saves Xylophone from dropping his dumb ass into the lava, using Collision Magnet to fling him over to Xaldin & Friends. He then flies around Jafar, shooting him full of crystals in a vain attempt to weigh him down.*

N"And how exactly would we have done that?!"

*Meanwhile, Jafar raises a hand, causing lava to erupt out of the ground towards Xaldin & Friends. Fortunately, the ice & water users are able to cool it before it gets too far. Zexion keeps blasting the Genie, which causes him to start shrinking.*
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*The shark may have been blinded, had it not shut its eyes after being punched right in Leftie. Opening them weakly, it charges after the other shark that attacked it. Supporting Thiera with 1 arm, Euryale summons her Keyblade & brings it down hard on Glut's gills. Glut looks around in confusion, apparently doesn't like its odds, & turns about, swimming for the ship.*
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*Might as well follow his advice, as after Hook & Smee land in the water & start rowing, it becomes clear they will not catch up. The Ruler of the Sky proves surprisingly agile in its dive, adjusting to Monu's new trajectory so as to only damage the bow of the boat. Once it stops, it turns, heading after him again.*

Artexi:<I don't know! We should've thought of someone.>

*Eve crosses her arms, keyblade in hand*

Eve:<I thought this would be over in seconds, but you actually seem to be getting somewhere.>
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*Assuming Monu did pick up Lilith, he continues away from the boat to protect Hitomi and Azuma*

Monu:<Lilith, can you attack it while I fly us?>
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*Safian had been about to swim away from the Glut, however she stops when the Glut retreats*

Safian:<Hey, that wasn't so bad!>

Looking back to follow the shark as it had fled, Kyohaku nodded a bit and exhaled. "Well, I figure that what I was saying before was true then. I mean, internally anyway. It looks like creatures here get a bit shy when they're shown too much light." Blinking in his own right, he looked toward the ship and tilted his head as he figured they were going to have to head for something soon as much as he would have liked to just stick around and explore for now.

The two move away from the ship as Monu apparently has the biggest glider ever to be able to carry four people.

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Taiyo sets to aiding Thiera in the healing process however she's supposed to make it rain underwater.

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As the only one with an attack for breaking through armor, Xyukuse hurls his Keyblade at Jafar's face.

Vega gliders up and takes to the sky, circling around Jafar, firing at it with the gliders guns.

*Basically bubbles drifting down. Thiera flinches at the movement, eyes darting about to make sure there are no other sharks. She keeps tensing every time she sees Safian.*

Th"Th--thanks."

*Meanwhile, Euryale looks at Hinode.*

E"It couldn't see you...I punched it in the eye. Sharks go into a frenzy when there's blood in the water, but even Glut can tell when he's beat. Not much point in getting a meal if you die in the process. Speaking of, I bet we can find some food in Ariel's grotto. It's right through this cave that Glut came out of."
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*She tries shooting seeds at the Ruler of the Sky, but they just bounce off of its carapace. Monu is rammed & now they're all in the water. Their armor protected them from the worst of the damage, but now it's in pieces. The Ruler of the Sky is now diving right for them.*

L"Under the boat!"

*And so, taking a deep breath, that is where Lilith goes.*
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*The attacks, save Zexion's lightning, largely continue to ping off of Jafar, who spreads his arms, summoning a firewhirl to blast away those attacking him. Seeing them falling, Lexeaus uses his petrification spell on the lava so they won't burn once they hit it.*

Jafar<ENOUGH!>

*Jafar then dives into a mountain, which takes on his face. Raising huge stone fists out of the ground, he swings at Zexion, Xaldin, & Friends while also breathing fire at them.*

N"Maybe we should just admit that we lost!"

R"And you say we could kill the genie if we had its lamp, right?"

N"Or release him, I don't know how genies work!"

*Eve gliders up and flies away from the incoming fist*

Artexi:<Does it matter? Senthose won't give us the lamp!>
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*Monu dismisses his armor and glider before diving after Lilith, taking a deep breath as well*
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*Safian looks innocently at Thiera*

<Huh?>

"I know it couldn't see me, that's what I was saying, but if there's food I'm in anyway so let's head that way." Kyohaku was finally starting to learn the value of enjoying food, considering that for the longest time he considered it a weakness of an organic body. Now, though, he was starting to actually understand what all of these organics saw in food and why they had ultimately seemed to like it. Apparently he didn't exactly fear heading right back into Glut's cave either, despite the obvious threat that they had just faced out of there.

They dive making this trip worse than The Grid.

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Taiyo: "Isn't that where the shark came from?"

Taiyo begins to wonder if this trip was worth it and what kind of horror show awaits.

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They make a run for it to avoid gettin' crushed, Vega moving with the speed of a centipede thanks to his Shaolin Style.

E"Yes, that's what I said, but he's out here now. If there were other sharks nearby, you'd know it. Now come along, Glut's prob'ly waiting to get 1 of us alone."

*Thiera approaches the cave, trembling. Euryale pushes her through in a manner she likely believes is supportive.*
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*Once they're under the ship, there's a thumping noise & a wave of bubbles & driftwood as the Ruler of the Sky plows into it. They can see it moving around to face them, but it's not all that maneuverable in the water, so Lilith wastes no time in pursuing the wake of Captain Hook's life boat, in the direction of the nearest shore.*
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*Zexion blasts the hands with the lightning he's copied, but Jafar makes more, which eventually overwhelm the combined attacks of the Organization, knocking everyone down to the ground. Jafar opens his mouth, spewing out more lava, which they do their best to hold off by either cooling it or erecting walls of their respective elements as Zexion blasts the mountain, but it eventually forms a wave that threatens to consume them all before abruptly stopping in midair. A Dark Corridor opens beneath the wave, Senthose walking out.*

S<I trust you see the need for preparation now?>

Jafar<You...how have you stopped my attack?>

*Senthose grins over his shoulder at the genie-mountain.*

S<Wouldn't you like to know?>

Naturally Kyohaku wasn't going to countermand that, and instead just continued to follow along for the time being. He ducked inside with Euryale, which was probably for the best. It wasn't doubtful to him either that Glut would have wanted to get them alone. While he might not have been used to the water yet, he did understand strategy and tactics. You needed both in a world based on video games.

*Eve flies over to Senthose and dismisses her armor before crossing her arms*

Eve:<I, for one, accept the futility of this.>

*Artexi looks over to Nero, then back to Senthose*
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*Monu swims after Lilith*
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*Safian swims up in front of Thiera and Euryale so Thiera won't worry about having a shark behind her*

Taiyo swims in to what will likely be a horror show.

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They swim, the day getting worse and worse.

S<Right then. Back to the lamp with you.>

*Senthose produces it from his pocket & jiggles it. In a red flash, Jafar exits the mountain, which crumbles into giant boulders. He glares down at Senthose, eyes glowing as the clouds around him swirl & storm.*

Jafar<One day soon, "Master," you will spend all of your wishes, & I will kill you & take everything that was once yours.>

S"Yeah, yeah, just do it."

*So Jafar twirls, spinning faster & faster, becoming a tornado, which shrinks into the lamp's spout. Once he's inside, Senthose puts it back into his pocket.*

N"Hey...Jafar had a talking parrot, it went with him into the lamp. Where is it?"

S<Dunno. Maybe it escaped.>
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*Thiera jolts as Safian passes her. The cave is simply a small tunnel that leads to another [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. Euryale puts her left arm around Thiera & her right around Taiyo, directing them to the seaweed, which she rips a piece off & eats. As she's slapping her tail on rocks, a dolphin swims by behind them, chirping excitedly. Euryale points to a cave behind the whirlpool, a large stone rolled in front of it.*

E"Ariel keeps her human junk in there. The stone is to keep out unwanted visitors like Glut. After breakfast, we'll swing by & see if she's there."
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*Lilith emerges for air, at which point the Ruler of the Sky explodes out of the water behind them, screeching angrily.*

Hook<Row faster, Smee, FASTER!>

Taiyo looks at the dolphin as it is the first thing to not be horrifying. Assuming Euryale doesn't ruin that for her.

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When they surface, Hitomi casts Maelstrom on the Ruler of the Sky.

*Safian looks from the sea weed to Euryale*

Safian:<Uh, I think I better go hunt. I should be back before you're done.>
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*When they surface, Monu casts Hawk's Dive on himself to increase his speed. He then grab's Lilith's hand and takes off towards the light boat*
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Artexi:<Iago...damn, he probably did get away.>

Blinking a bit at Safian's comments, Kyohaku turned about and sighed. "What exactly were you planning on hunting anyway? Oh, I guess because you're a shark in some way that might work I suppose." One more he shrugged and continued to follow, of course keeping as close to Thiera and Euryale as possible. "You've told me a couple of times about Ariel, but I don't know who she is exactly yet." He smiled for a moment and looked toward her as he shifted his weight buoyantly in the water. "I hope I'm showing all the wonder toward your world that you had to mine."

E"I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves--"

Th"I'm not."

E"You'll feel better soon. And hopefully you'll get a chance to meet Ariel while you're here. But seriously, this fish-eating joke isn't funny. If you want meat, there's coral & tunicates in the garden next to the grotto."

*She swims around the whirlpool, past the cavern, Thiera darting after her. Assuming the others follow, she heads into a kind of hole in the mountain, which has formed in such a way to filter sunlight down so that it's brighter in here. All along the walls & floors are branches & reefs of coral & colorful bell-like structures that look almost like undersea flowers, but appear to be gently sucking in & expelling water. There are smaller, finger-sized cuttlefish that float up to Taiyo & peer curiously at her, as well as fish of various shades of yellow, blue, & red, but they all dart for cover once they see Safian.*
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*It's unclear if the spell does any damage, however the Ruler's head snaps to look at them. Opening its mouth, which is a treasure chest, it promptly shoots munny at them like a machinegun. Eventually, the boat hits the shore, & the pirates abandon it, fleeing for the cover of the jungle without even noticing Lilith & Monu climbing up behind them.*

L"We can't beat that thing until our Gliders are restored--if we can even beat it then!"
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S"No matter. For now, we must return to the Castle That Never Was. Rest. Prepare. Before the end of the day, the Land of Departure will be ours, & what's left of the Order will be on the run."

*Xigbar begins to chuckle, soon joined by Zexion & Luxord. Soon, half of the Organization is laughing, none more audible than Vexen's mad cackle. Nero looks around at each of the laughing members, frowning. He glances over when Senthose walks up & claps Ira on the shoulder.*

S"Let me know if you have any worries before the attack begins."

*Senthose smiles at each of them, Nero forcing himself to smile back.*

Keter<I will have to return to the Land of Departure. Psyche has been pestering me to meet for the last hour.>

S"Of course."

*Safian looks at Kyouhaku*

Safian:<How else would I find food?>

*She swims after Euryale, looking around for something edible*

<What's a tunicate?>
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*Artexi states at the laughing assholes, looking both confused and angry. She hits the ground with one of her keyblades*

<Someday Jafar...someday...>

*Eve awkwardly similes back at Senthose, but quickly looks away*
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*When he reaches the shore, Monu struggles up out of the water, still holding onto Lilith. He makes for cover before looking back*

Monu:<Where are...they didn't.>

"I never planned on eating fish, Euryale. Actually, I still haven't figured out the value of all this food stuff, but I guess I need it." Kyohaku, though, was starting to honestly understand the value of having a meal he just didn't know how to enjoy it as of yet. Following along slowly, he looked back to Thiera if he could have caught up to her.

"Why did you say you're not enjoying yourself? Is something? If anything, then I'm the one who should be miserable, and I'm not." Honestly, he was surprised that he had overcome his massive fear of water and seemed to be doing well at least relatively the moment.