Finale

[avalonmods]

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION This is the event log post! Ask questions in response to this comment HERE and plot on the same post after reading the full post. Click here to view top-level comments only.

 

POST TYPE: Game Finale

DATES: Early October
PROMPT BRIEFS

• To the End of the World: Everyone heads to the End of the World and gets juiced up on magic to protect them from space.
• A Horse, Of Course: Mayonnaise helps save the universe by powering Astral Horses to help Otherworlders reach the Calamity via Time Glitch Jumps through Space.
• Leaps and Lights: The horses have survival instincts so they won't take people all the way. Time for platforming with magical slipperiness and magic light.
• Excaliburn: Excalibur is calling you to touch it. Touch option results in your soul getting sucked out into a puzzle room, no touch results in final boss fighting Excalibur's cursed and fractured soul.
• Home: It's time to say goodbyes, time to unfreeze, and you to go home. Or don't. Your choice.

TO THE END OF THE WORLD

As the start of October approaches, a quiet calm takes over the land. Nerves and anxiety wrack just about everyone, as this expedition spells the last chance for not just Avalon, but everything and everyone. Everyone is urged to go participate, as they will need everyone's accumulated magic to overcome the Calamity and pull Excalibur from the heart of the world's end. Everyone is urged to step into the waters of the Lake of Avalon at some point during the day to get to the mission take-off point. Doing so will teleport anyone to the End of the World using the Lady of the Lake's magic she usually reserves for bringing in new heroes-- it's a lot to move everyone all on the same day, so she'll be taking a long rest after everyone is transported. If you've arrived early, you have time to explore the End of the World. (See locations page for more info if you’re interested.)
Once enough people have arrived to perform the ritual, Merlin and Queen Elphame will lead the group to a large cauldron, at least 6-feet tall and 6-feet in diameter. The liquid within glows as if the potion were made of the fire of the phoenix itself. Merlin explains that he and Queen Elphame had worked together to create a massive potion out of the Lapis Exillis and the Ring of Dispell. Because it will be disseminated among so many people, it will grant complete immortality (the heart) and immunity to time magic (the ring) for only three hours, enough time for them to travel outside of Avalon's barrier without being immediately stuck in the time freeze or suffocating from lack of oxygen or gravity. "Space travel is such a bitch." -Merlin, Fall 2022.   The potion itself is incredibly strong, and it's recommended that each person find a partner. By holding that person's hand and only one hand reaching into the cauldron, the magic will spread between the two of them rapidly. While this will cause a rapid share of emotions, feelings, and thoughts between the two people as they are connected through the force of life itself now, it is better than the alternative side-effects as the bond will protect both individuals from experiencing an uncontrolled response. Reaching into the cauldron on your own will give you a longer lasting effect (6 hours), but will cause you to absorb emotions, feelings, and thoughts from anyone and everything you so much as brush against the entire time you're under the effect of the potion. It could be overwhelming and potentially make it difficult to concentrate or even function, depending on the severity of the sudden magical empathic state. Reaching in with more than two people, on the other hand, will cause the same bond but will make the potion effective for a shorter period of time-- don't get stuck suffocating in the vacuum of space in an hour because you wanted a three-way emotional bond!   A HORSE, OF COURSE   As for transport, that explains why Archimedes has been grumping about at the end of the world. Once everyone's well-juiced up, he blows through a special horn that summons ghostly-looking horses and feeds each of them a piece of what seems to be the Serpent's Egg, hard boiled and scrambled up into the most magical egg salad ever known to anykind. (What? It makes it spread easier and astral horses love mayonnaise.) This allows these astral horses, or spirit horses, to obtain the knowledge to see and leap from tiny faults to tiny faults in the time freeze for rapid transportation. Think of it like hitting the boost pads on Mario Kart, but at lightspeed. Their nature as horses from the spiritual plane allows them to operate outside of gravity, so if ridden by our Otherworlder heroes, will be able to take them to the Heart of Caliburn's Collision in around 30 minutes. Those who get motion sick should probably find a healer to travel with.   It should be noted that there aren’t enough horses for everyone, so it’s two people to a horse– partner up, and make sure to hold onto each other tight. The horses are definitely not tamed, and you don’t want to get thrown off in space. While the horses will wait if they lose a passenger, it is up to your partner to “swim” through space to try to pull you back so you don’t get lost. LEAPS AND LIGHTS Once you're close enough to the Black Hole, you'll see one planet already having fallen to its gravity field, crumbling pieces of rock and fire leading up to the calamity for thousands of kilometers. Water is being pulled up from another nearby planet in a titanic spire, frozen in time. The astral horses won't enter the heart of the black hole, but instead land on a large piece of fractured stone just before the light disappears. This is where everyone is let off and must go by foot into the heart of the Calamity. With time frozen at least, your movements won't be subject to the intense pull of the black hole because of residual energy from the astral horses. However, you'll have to deal with the strange sensation of "time slippage." Not to be confused with time slips, time slippage refers to the phenomenon of gravity being held in place by a time freeze in which surfaces become repellent and sticky at the same time when a time frozen and a time immune person meet. (tl;dr: it's magic side-effects.) So while you don't float off into space unless you lose contact with something to hold onto, you may find that as you hop from debris to debris, the surface feels a little bit like it's covered in an invisible sheet of ice. You'll want to work together to cross from debris to debris to get to the heart of the black hole so no one goes tumbling off into space.   To make things further challenging, black holes absorb light so you'll need to have your own source of it. Various kinds of magic can help with this task, with light magic being the most obvious. Elemental magic can make fire, alchemy can create chemical reactions that result in a source of light, an animal mage can turn into a bioluminescent creature, and so on. Even the right familiar can help you out with this. Get creative, any way you can think of to make light will work alongside the lights of others. If you can't figure it out, maybe try partnering with someone who can.   EXCALIBURN Everything seems to be going as planned for anyone who didn't fall off and get lost in space. That is until Excalibur is visible in the glimmer of your light, a strange energy emanating from it despite the time freeze. You'll feel a strange compulsion to touch it, and one of two things will happen based on your character's choice and ability to control themselves against a very strong compulsion: 1. Touch it. The energy is the soul of Excalibur, fragmented by the Hadron collider and corrupted by the Fisher King's corpse's curse. Its very essence is magically strong enough to flicker in and out of the time freeze, and because of its fragmented state, it seeks to be whole. To this end, the curse has caused it to pull the soul out of anyone who touches it into the sword, hiding the bodies surrounding it with illusion magic to lure more people in to try over and over again.   Souls in here are stuck together in what seems to be the original hall of King Arthur in its hay day-- Excalibur's memory. Excalibur is personified, sitting on the throne as a zombie-esque Arthur. It won't speak, it won't move unless interfered with (in which case it will subdue your character before returning to its spot). The only people in this room are those whose souls have been sucked in, and there doesn't appear to be a way out-- the windows and doors are sealed, and what's more? Magic doesn't appear to be working.   You can interact with anything in the hall you want, but you can't leave. Maybe spend some time solving the stone plate puzzle embedded in the floor. You might want to work together with others to solve the room, honestly. Open hidden compartments, find keys to open boxes, find buttons under the throne chair that lead to a new clue, align pieces of stained glass with each other to make the light shining through the window the color a clue you found gave you-- all kinds of things will be possible to complete this puzzle, as though there are only 50 pieces, all but the central piece is hidden. This puzzle may be the only way out of the room, after all.   2. Don't touch it. Resist the compulsion without doubt and the illusion hiding the bodies of those who did fall for it will break, revealing them to you. Now would be a good time to break out some totems and transport their bodies back to Avalon for safekeeping so they don't accidentally slip off into the black hole, don't you think? Rescue as many of your friends as you can, and you'll notice as you start taking them away, the energy from the sword turns into a giant beast formed of angry energy. It starts with forming two eyes and a wicked smile before moving to swallow any of those who didn't fall for its tricks.   Not a fighter? Don't worry, the spirit of Excalibur isn't interested in a non-consensual fight. One touch from it will instantly teleport your character back to the Isle of Avalon if it senses your character doesn't want to try-- away from it and away from the fight. If your character has any will to fight it, whether they have talent or not, it will engage in an epic battle.   Excalibur's Corrupt Soul has the following moves beyond physical attempts to squish or eat your character: In its initial Giant form, it can send out a screeching sound that will lock your character's target onto another character. They cannot attack until an attack is made on the targeted character. It takes a large amount of damage to break this mode, but once you do, it will break into a hundred life-size replicas of Excalibur, made of cursed energy. Once in Sword form, each sword is able to move on its own without a wielder. The swords can bypass immortality, meaning your character can be damaged just like it was a normal sword with a normal person. Fatally, if the case may be.   HOME
	Once everyone has worked together and the last sword has dissipated, a huge crack will form in the original Excalibur sword and the energy will start to dissipate, the souls of those trapped floating off like little fae to return to their bodies, wherever they have gone. This is where the puzzle of those who were trapped comes in, as the souls would have wandered around space aimlessly unless the puzzle was solved to give them Excalibur's knowledge of where their bodies are... or death mages capture the souls to bring them back to the bodies they belong to, but remember, the immortality spell only lasts for so long and though Excalibur is no longer powering the creation of that multiverse-reaching black hole, this battle did take place in space. Either way, at this point, it's time to race home on those astral horses before your ability to survive in space runs out. Once the spell runs out, Morganna will assume any who didn't make it in time dead and finally break the time freeze
magic. Characters will be able to watch the Calamity disappear in a matter of seconds, a sonic boom echoing across the land and seemingly causing Avalon to experience all four seasons at once: rain, snow, the heat of summer, fog, and of course glorious rainbows scattered all throughout the land. It is at this point that everyone is invited to a final goodbye in Camelot and instructions for their familiar to break their bond and return them home should they wish to go.   This will give you ample time to say goodbye to friends or complete any unfinished business before going, or maintaining the bond for those who wish to stay in Avalon with their current Avalonian magic forever… or it can result in some sudden goodbyes if your familiar is an asshole, but as the Fairy Queen said (I’ll paraphrase): any who wish to return to Avalon will find a pathway open to them when they need it.

Comments

Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama (Prismatica CRAU)

[mayoninofukucho]

1) To the End of the World (with extra much flavour text once more)

[Autumn is here: the leaves are golden, the wind carries a chill, the chestnuts cover the ground in the Brocéliande, and Hijikata's camp by the lakeside is emptied out and securely wrapped up for the cold seasons. He spent a week and a half after the not-death ball harvesting the last vegetables, giving away some things he didn't need anymore, and finally removing the flasks and other containers his ghost subordinates used to sleep in from the trees and bushes. With the Yuureisengumi set to disband after September a few ghosts started planning their patrols of Camelot's streets under their own new banner, a few made arrangements for their future "civilian" un-lives and found themselves old buildings to inhabit, and yet a few more decided to stay at Loch Manor until the next proper autumn equinox that'll send them on to their afterlives.

For the first days of October, now, he's been living with Shoto in his little hut in the Brocéliande - coincidentally since the day Shoto was knighted. Hijikata can barely remember ever having felt prouder in his life, except maybe when he and his rag-tag gang of fellow countryside samurai received their Shinsengumi uniforms. It was all the more meaningful that Shoto, when pressed to voice a knighthood wish, asked for a uniform of his own, which Hijikata got him from his trusted tailor. They'll be able to face the final challenge as equal knights of the kingdom!

And sure enough, the day comes when they're all asked to enter Lake Avalon. Hijikata uses the opportunity for a final visit to his campsite to ensure he didn't forget or overlook anything (he didn't), then he takes off his shoes and socks, pulls up his trouser legs, and steps into the cold water. Within a blink he finds himself transported to an unknown area. He looks around while redressing his feet, seeing empty cliffside expanse, a gift shop (yeah), and far beyond in the distance... more empty expanse, with the mountain housing Mab's Cavern and the northernmost Ash Mountain peaking up to the side. In the other direction, looking at the northern sky, there's a clear and terrifying view of Caliburn's Collision.]

So in the end I made it here after all... figures that I wouldn't be spared an up-close view of this shitshow after I agreed to help handle it.

[Cecelia will be pleased to hear about this - if he survives to tell her. He can't tear his eyes away from the universes being frayed and torn and shredded where Excalibur emerges from the pitch black hole. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out how things will go if time restarts and the sword maintains its devastating trajectory. Hijikata shies away from the telescope at the edge of the cliff, not wanting to spot what might be his Earth in the path of destructions. Instead he turns to the enormous cauldron guarded by Merlin and Queen Elphame as they wait for more volunteers to arrive. If nothing else, he thinks, the outworlders' actions improved relations between the two kingdoms to the point where they're doing this together.]


2) A Horse, of course

[When Archimedes summons the astral horses with his horn and feeds them what looks like egg salad with mayonnaise Hijikata is delighted. Take that, haters!! Praise mayonnaise! But then comes the time to mount the unearthly steeds and ride out there into the cold, empty vastness of space. Hijikata would be lying if he said he was ready, but what choice do they have? He's a Knight of the Round Table, the former Yuureisengumi's Commander, and the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander; he'll set a good example! He swings himself onto the back of a horse that seems curious about him.]

Who wants to ride with me?


3) Leaps and Lights

[The ride through space is truly something else. The astral horses move from fault to fault in the frozen time, and their lightspeed pace is so much to take in, Hijikata feels beyond wobbly when his mount finally stops in the last light that reaches the area around the black hole. He unmounts and immediately staggers before he manages to catch himself. The scenery is one of despair-inducing calamity, with the nearest planet breaking like a marble, elements soaring through space and frozen in gargantuan fountains of fire, water, and soil.]

So from here on out we've got to go on foot, huh?

[This is absolute madness. He feels a strong urge to look back at Avalon, but the sight of the tiny island in the endless darkness might just sink his heart, so he keeps facing forward and makes multiple little flames spring to life around him. If they have to go into the black hole he'll light the way at least!]

Let's go.


4) Excaliburn

[Hijikata is thankful that most of the expeditioners had a "practice run" for this when they all scaled the volcano to obtain the Ring of Dispell. One wrong step could mean death, there and now here! But he's made it to the target: Excalibur. It looks like a normal sword, but its aura tells a different story. He can feel it beckoning him, calling for him so strongly that it resonates in every fibre of his being. He's going to need a second opinion!]

We... probably shouldn't touch it, right? Wasn't the story that only King Arthur can wield it?

[He's not going to do anything that could be interpreted as a usurpation attempt, be it by the sword or by the king he's served for so long! Regardless, the situation leaves him uncertain how to proceed. His grip on the handle of his own sword Muramasha tightens.]


5) Home

A ⦿ Soul Express

[God, what a boss battle that was!! Hijikata didn't come out of the storm of swords unscathed, but a mix of healing charms and some personally administered healing magic kept him alive. When a resounding crack runs through Excalibur - the last sword left now - his eyes light up with relief, all the more as the souls of those who were entrapped in hammerspace are released. He addresses any spirit he sees.]

Do you need a ride?

[His perhaps greatest accomplishment as a death mage was the permanent deactivation of the stone giant, but that doesn't mean that he'll stop looking out for the dead now!]

B ⦿ Farewell Avalon

[Once back on the surface of Avalon Hijikata, much like everyone else, keeps his eyes on the sky. Once Morganna finally, after almost 2 years, lifts the time freeze spell the calamity simply... disappears. While he's still blinking in disbelief an intense shockwave speeds across the island, bringing with it all sorts of weather phenomena: snowflakes intermingled with warm rays of sunlight, gales of wind and rainfall, thunder that comes as fast as it goes... and rainbows, so many rainbows. While Hijikata is busy checking on other outworlders and being checked on in turn Arashi approaches him.]

You did well, Hijikata-san. Once you are ready to return home do let me know, and I will undo our bond.

There's never a perfect moment, but we can't drag this out, can we? The idiots back home would wreck Edo if I stayed away too long!

[But there is still time to say goodbye for anyone who hasn't yet! And he'll return here, no question. After all he promised that.]


[OOC: Thank you, Avalon!!! ❤️ If you'd like to plot please hit up my plotting post or send me a PM!]

5B

[rustyhonesty]

Sure feels good to see the normal sky again, huh?

[Jean approaches Hijikata. He's definitely relieved to see the man still here. He was worried he'd miss his chance to say a proper goodbye since he hadn't seen Hijikata when they got back to Camelot proper. But here he was, still.]

[locked to Minako]

[peninhand]

[ So much had happened during their time on this world. To Monika, most of it had felt like a dream. A wonderful dream after the nightmare her existence had devolved into following her epiphany. Most important of all, she had found love. True love and not just an illusion she'd convinced herself was the real deal. She didn't want to imagine what life would be like without Minako.

But of late, she'd been even more worried what Minako's life would be like without her. If somehow they couldn't go to the same world and stay together after all of this... What would happen to her? Would she go back to the way she had been before? Would she give up on her dreams and lock herself into being just a soldier with no life of her own? This thought... It was horrifying. The idea that Minako may end up prisoner of a loveless existence was a nightmare in itself. No one should go through a life devoid of love, especially not her.

And now... It was all over. As they'd landed back in Camelot, she looked up at the Calamity in the sky as it vanished. She was next to Minako, holding her hand. Monika was exhausted, she'd given it her all, but it still felt unreal. ]

Wow... It's really over.

[ They'd down. It was nearly time to choose what happened next. Stay or go in another world. First thing she had asked was whether going back with someone to their world was possible and the answer had been a vague "probably." It wasn't much to go on with, but it was better than nothing.

And if somehow fate kept them separate... She needed to make sure Minako wouldn't renounce on love, not now or ever. ]

Another victory for the greatest of all magical girls~! [She closed an eye.] Though I bet it's not even your first time saving all of existence, ahaha!

[reloves]

[ That last line of Monika's - it definitely rings true. Technically none of this is new to Minako. After all, just how many times had she already saved the planet back home, if not just the entire universe? Never something she did all by herself, sure, but it's something she's taken part in very often. Just like in this place.

.. and yet.. it feels different. Maybe it's because this is something so many more people participated in. People who have nothing to do with her and the rest of the sailor soldiers back home.

Or maybe it's just that this means something more. The end of something.

It makes the girl glance around them before returning her gaze to Monika herself. ]

It's not, but.. it kind of felt like this moment would never come, right..?

[ It's a bit of an honest admission. Not something Minako would admit to just anyone - but she's learned. Maybe she hasn't learned the lesson fully, not enough to be honest with everyone, but she can at least be honest with Monika about most things.

She's so important to her, after all. Why else would they be standing here, after all that, at the end of everything, still holding each other's hands? ]

We were in this place for so long, and it never seemed like we were ever getting closer to finding a way back home, and yet..

[ Here they are.

Not quite home yet, but with the road about to be wide open. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

You can say that again!

[Hijikata, usually not the most physical person, momentarily slings an arm around Jean's shoulder, elated to see him alive and well. Arashi modestly steps aside; he'll let the two of them talk and find some familiar friends to say goodbye to.]

It almost doesn't feel right, huh? I got so used to that mess hanging over our heads! How'd it go for you out there?

[He, for his part, is so glad he became a decent rider during his time here! That skill probably greatly aided Jean as well.]

Floyd Leech | Twisted-Wonderland | OTA

[over_the_sea]

I – To the end of the world
Eehh~, this was so much fuss, but that just meant this was going to be a lot of fun, right? Yeah, yeah, it’s serious and all that, but still… sounds fun. Cauldrons and potions are nothing new to Floyd, not coming from a world when magic was a thing and potion making and alchemy were classes at school. But he also knows how bad potions can go if you muck around with them.

Floyd’s also ready to just solo this whole thing, he’s curious to know what will happen, even after all his time here and warnings from others not to test the limits. Or maybe it would be funnier to make people think he would, “Can’t be that bad to do it by myself, right?” Stop him or not, he’ll do whatever he thinks is more fun.

II – A horse, of course!
He’s never been on a horse before. Sure, Night Raven had an Equestrian Club, but that’s not Floyd’s thing. Really, does anyone want him around their animal? Have they seen how he treats Squishy? But this was the only way. Plus it looks entertaining.

So there’s no hesitation for Floyd to jump on one of the special horses, even if he has no clue how to ride on, and maybe is a bit too casual and not concerned considering the consequences of falling off, which no doubt is an irritation to whoever he’s paired up with. “Ahh, it’s so fast! Think I can make it go faster with my magic?"

III – Leap and lights
This is so cool! Like, serious, sure… but cool!

It doesn’t take that long for Floyd to realize his movement was off here, that mixture of sliding but also kind of sticking, he’s such a motion based person that he’s completely confident in how he moves normally. And even more so with learning kinetic magic here.

So there’s barely a moment of hesitation before Floyd throws himself into jumping across that debris, using the sliding to his advantage to throw himself further and further forward, using his magic here and there to slow down or speed up if needed. And even with that oncoming darkness, he was confident. He’s from the Coral Sea, you know how dark it gets under the water there?

Then again… this is super, super dark. Darker than even he expected it to be, but still able to laugh it off. “Eeh~, it’s so dark~! I thought it would be no trouble.” Guess he was wrong!

IV – Excaliburn – touch it
Of course Floyd touched the sword! You mean he wasn’t supposed to? Why have it there if it’s not supposed to be? Either way, Floyd is one of the people sucked into that memory with no clue how to get out.

Not that it stops him. Floyd is the type to push the big red button that tells you not to push it, so of course he’s going to poke around everywhere and at anything that catches his eye. Though he’s going to be more of a hassle than help, as he’s doing it out of boredom rather than to find an exit. So don’t expect much help in solving puzzles by him. Unless he just happens to come up with the right answer seemingly out of nowhere.

V – Home
The day saved! Everyone safe, or, well, most safe, depending if any were lost to the void. But most were back and everything cleaned up.

And they could go home.

As fun as this all was, Floyd was ready to go back. He’s going to miss his time here though, he met a lot of fun people, and got to do a lot of fun stuff, and play with new magic. And of course Squishy. He’s going to miss Squishy. Over the time he had left here Floyd gets a few things done he hadn’t managed to, picking up potions in case he could take them back with him and play with them back at school, getting lots of good food and snacks, hanging out with the friends he made here, and making sure to spoil Squishy before they parted.

But in the end… he’s ready to go back.

VI – Wildcard

[OOC: Thank you all, it was a wild ride.]

[peninhand]

Mhm. [She nodded.] Things had slowed down to a crawl... I was starting to think we were going to spend the remainder of our lives here. And now it's like we've been rushed to the finish line with no warning.

[ If they'd been in a video game... She'd say they were stuck in side quest hell for the better part of last year and the player suddenly rushed the storyline to the final boss after getting bored of all the side quests. It could apply to any medium really... It all felt so much like a story some invisible power was writing for them sometimes. But that idea which had always lingered in her mind didn't seem so scary any more. Not long as she wasn't alone. ]

I'll miss this world. But... It's not really the end, is it?

[ She looked at the other girl and smiled. She was glad Minako was being so honest all the time now... And she had made a lot of progress, too. But they both still had so much more progress to make.

And she hoped they'd keep walking that road together. ]

There are so many things I want to do with you. [She squeezed her hand.] I hope you won't mind a stowaway on your trip home.

[ If it even worked. If not... Well, she was going to touch on that in just a bit. Just in case she couldn't follow Minako, she wanted to tell her something first... Even if she felt confident this would work.

The "power of love" was such a silly concept. One that had no basis in reality. But somehow, it had worked so far for them, right? ]

V

[mushroomaficionado]

It's finally time to go home. Jade does feel a little sad, more so than he would have thought. He'd become a bit too comfortable here it seemed, a bit too used to how everything worked.

But it was also time to go back. Back to their schoolmates and friends, to the Monstro Lounge, to the Coral Sea and the mountains he loved best of all. Though of course there are a few loose ends he has to work out, like closing up Azul's restaurant one less time.

"Are you ready, Floyd?" And who better to do it with than his brother?

[over_the_sea]

Floyd can't believe they're about to do this... but he's so glad they are. This is going to be so much fun! They could never do this any other time or at any other place.

"Yeah I am. This is going to be great." He grinning away as he holds a baseball bat over one shoulder. Who knows where he got it from, no doubt some place is now missing one. He'll return it... if it survives. And if it doesn't, who cares? He won't have to deal with the consequences.

Though, one adjustment, "Hold on." He's not alone after all, not until he has to be, Squishy still riding on Floyd's free shoulder. "It might not be safe for you," Floyd talking to his little kraken before tugging Squishy free from him and moving to place it off to the side. "You watch there." Squishy for its part doesn't seem to care at all, though as normal tried to hold on from being removed from Floyd, but then just latches onto the next closest surface.

"Okay~!" Floyd announces, bouncing back towards Jade. "I can't wait to start!"

[reloves]

Of course not!

[ The answer is said so quickly, but.. it's just since Minako doesn't have to even think about it. Instead she just smiles as she looks at the other. Not releasing Monika's hands, but her gaze also not moving away from the other's eyes in the slightest, like she's getting lost in them in this moment.

Like she's truly realising just how much she would like for Monika to remain by her side. It's something she's already known for a long time, she's always already wanted to take the other home with her after they were done here, but.. seeing the look in the other's eyes, seeing Monika's pretty eyes in the first place.. it only confirms that desire. ]

As long as you want to be with me, I don't want you to be anywhere other than by my side.

[ Whether that's here, or back home. ]

I'll make it work for sure. [ Since they're so vague about whether it'll work or not when you try to go back to someone else's home, rather than your own-- ] No matter what happens. I'll make sure you can come with me.

[peninhand]

[ Monika remained silent a moment, just smiling brightly. Just being like that with her- That was all she wanted. Staring into each other's eyes, holding their hands, speaking so affectionately to one another. If someone was to step in, they'd find that so cheesy...! But neither of them cared about that. It made her think, what were the odds she would find that one girl as fond as her of super romantic stuff, across countless worlds? It made it sound like their meeting had been the work of fate.

And unlikely though it was... Maybe it was to be their last time together like that. She didn't even want to think about it. She could only hope Minako was right. But if fate saw to separate them-- Then this would only make this moment even more special. ]

You've really turned my life around, you know? I was so desperate... I think I'd have accepted just about anyone. So long as they pretended to love me and lulled me in an illusion, it'd have been good enough. I would have lied to myself just to feel something resembling love. [She marked a pause.] I may even have fallen the way I did in my reality.

[ She looked down. That was really embarrassing to admit... Maybe bordering on pathetic. But that she could see so clearly now meant she had grown as a person. That she could say this so openly to Minako was proof of how much she trusted her. No one else in Avalon had seen so much of her heart. ]

But then, you came into my life. A girl so pretty and fun. Brave and so full of energy, filled with love and affection. [She canted her head to the side, her smile growing more fond and loving.] With you, what I feel isn't something resembling love. It isn't an illusion. It's real. I can't imagine finding happiness anywhere else than by your side.

[ She laughed and shook her head. ]

Gosh, I'm being over-dramatic again, aren't I? [She looked away.] But... As unlikely as it is— It may be our last time seeing each other... [A pause.] And if it works as planned, you got full authorization to tease me endlessly about it later.

Harry Potter | Harry Potter (OTA)

[phoenixwiz]

To the End of the World
(Harry has been both looking forward and dreading this moment for months. It is time to get to the End of the World and pull out Excalibur from it. If they succeed, the multiverse is going to be saved, and if they didn’t, it could spell the end for everything. The young man has come in very early to prepare for it and await for everyone to arrive before the final adventure begins.

As soon as more people gathered and arrived, things begin to roll as he, along with everyone else, is escorted to the large cauldron with Merlin and Queen Elphame waiting for them to explain about how to go outside of Avalon’s barrier through the potion they both made. Eventually once the explanation is over, he is told to find a partner to join him, so Harry is off looking for one when he sees the first person he can find and approaches them.)

Hey, do you want to team up with me for this part of the trip?

Leaps and Lights
(After a long travel into the depths of space and riding on astral horses, it is time to get off to find Excalibur among the debris floating across space. It was just about then when he soon learns that the rock’s surface is starting to feel more slippery than usual akin to trying to stand on thin ice.)

Whoa, this is very slippery, very slippery.

(Then he looks up to see that the black hole is sucking up the light and that’s when he immediately conjures up fire from his hand to help out. He could also see that he can try to move things through kinetic magic to allow for easier travel too if he could. Help him out with getting to the black hole’s heart.)

Excaliburn
(As tempting as it is to touch Excalibur with the energy emanating from it, Harry knows a thing or two not to touch anything cursed and a lot more about fragmented souls as he resists the idea of touching the fabled sword. Which means the sword’s illusion finally breaks and he begins to send everyone back to Avalon for safety with his remaining totems. But as he takes the last person to back to Camelot through his totem, he could hear an angry roar to find that Excalibur has turned into an angry fierce beast.

Even with the training he has gotten as a Knight and how prepared he is, Excalibur still manages to leave him uncertain and caught off guard. Sword on hand and the polearm strapped against his back, Harry still makes a brave stand against the curssed sword of legend.)

Home
(Immediately after Excalibur breaks and many of the souls return to their bodies, Harry is hanging onto his astral horse with his partner as tightly as he could as everyone escapes back to Avalon before the Calamity and the time freeze eventually end. Once he returns with the rest of the group and Morganna ends the spell, he could see the Calamity disappearing from the sky and the four seasons can be seen and felt at once across the land.

And now here comes the time to say farewell and return home. A part of him is feeling very sad that he may not see Rose, his dear familiar, and anyone he has made friends with in Avalon to some extent. Not to mention not being able to use kinetic and elemental magic as much as he did. But at the same time, he has a world in need of healing, a school that needs to be rebuilt and friends who are missing him. Harry has to return home soon but he couldn’t fight back the tears as he tries to compose himself to say goodbye. This is going to be the hardest and most bittersweet goodbye he will ever muster.)

Wildcard
(Want something else different? You can comment down below or find me on mariscorner or on Discord at Mariposa21 #4257. I can match your style, brackets or prose, as needed.)

Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (and Gizmoduck) | DuckTales 2017 | OTA

[doctorintern]

To the End of The World

[ This is definitely much bigger than anything he's ever done before. And Fenton had always known that, to some degree, and even facing that last big adventure back home feels small compared to all this. But it's really hitting him now that it's finally happening, as he joins others in stepping into the Lake of Avalon.

The fate of the multiverses is in their hands. They couldn't fail.

He has his duffel bag with him, the parts of the Gizmosuit safely tucked inside as they make one final preparation before heading off. At first he's tempted to touch the cauldron himself, despite the warnings, in order to preserve his secret. But what would be the point anymore? What would it matter if his identity as Gizmoduck is revealed now? In the face of all this, it seemed like such a petty thing to be concerned about.

So instead he goes to find a partner. Three hours doesn't seem like enough, but it's all they have. ]

Leaps and Lights

[ It's only after they arrive and dismount the horses that Fenton finally puts the suit on, speaking the familiar code phrase so the suit locks in place around him.

And while the unicycle does make it a bit more difficult to land on the slippery surfaces, he feels a little better protected in the armor. The suit is also modified for his magic enough that he's able to use one of the blasters to produce a large flame instead, to help light the way for others nearby. ]

Excaliburn

[ Somehow Fenton manages to keep himself from touching Excalibur, and after seeing the bodies of others who weren't as lucky, things start happening very quickly.

And despite just the slightest bit of hesitation, he's quick to defend others that are transporting the fallen bodies back to Avalon. As the bodies are being taken away, Excalibur begins to turn into a giant beast.

This is it. No turning back now. ]

Home

[ And just like that, it was all over.

The end of the battle and getting back to Avalon happen in a blur, but suddenly Fenton finds himself back in Camelot, being told that they could go home. For a while, he isn't really sure what to do. He knew that ultimately he would need to get back home; with time being able to continue now, his absence was likely to be noticed if he were just to remain.

But even after everything, he had a lot of fond memories of this place. He had made a lot of friends here, and learned and discovered so many things. And having to leave all that, and even to break his connection with Meadowbell, broke his heart.

So as he holds the Pixie in his arms, he offers her as best a smile as he could manage. ]

...I'll be back. I think...I think we can come and visit, right? So I'll be back.

Wildcard

(( Thank you, everyone! It was a blast! ))

Amy Rose | Sonic the Hedgehog | OTA

[pricklybloom]

To the End of The World

[ So this is it. This is what they had all been working, and studying, and building up to all this time. It's finally happening.

It all feels a bit surreal to Amy. Even though she hadn't been here for a while, a lot really had happened during her time here. And knowing that it was going to be over soon...it was hard to imagine.

But there would be time for all that later. First they actually had to get there, and stop the Calamity once and for all. For now, she has to find a partner in order to receive the potion. She considers a moment taking it herself, but she isn't sure she'd be able to handle so much emotion on her own. And she refused to be a liability in all this.

Not now. ]

Leaps and Lights

[ Jumping from debris to debris isn't too difficult for Amy, honestly, even with how slippery it is. She's used to doing this kind of thing back home anyway, so she has no trouble helping out others who are having a bit more difficulty.

The darkness around them is a different matter, though. She knows her healing magic probably won't help all too much, and her only other one is dark magic. Although... ]

I could...probably jinx someone to glow for a while? I've never done that before, but it feels like something I could do?

[ She thinks for another moment. ] The only other thing I have is that one fireworks spell, and this. [ She tugs at the vial hanging from her neck. ] This only works to light up flowers, though.

Excaliburn

[ It's so tempting to reach out for the legendary sword, but Amy manages to shake away the feeling. When she does, she sees the bodies of others fallen around the sword. She knows she doesn't have anything to help transport them back to Avalon, so she remains to help out as Excalibur suddenly transforms.

She stands, Piko Piko hammer in hand, ready to fight. ]

Home

[ Finally, the threat was over. The worlds - this world, their homes, and so many others - were saved.

Amy wants to be happier about it. And she is, to an extent. But she's also a little...unsure now. She has to go home, there's no question about that. But would she remember her time here? She'd seen people leave and come back, not remembering anything. Would she forget about the things she accomplished here too?

She doesn't want to forget. Not after everything.

She swallows the lump in her throat as she hugs Lily to her. ]

I'll never forget you.

[ She can only hope she means it. ]

Wildcard

(( Thank you, everyone! It was a blast! ))

[mushroomaficionado]

Jade's own Ophi seems to have also sensed the danger and was hiding in a little nook, head poking out like a Moray. Taking on his master's habits it seemed despite his dislike of him.

"First we should clear some space in the dining room, especially if we're going to be playing baseball," Jade said with a look of approval at the bat. Glancing at a table Jade causally kicked upwards on it, causing it to flip over, the cutlery and unlit candles toppling with a clang and a crack of the glass candle holder. "That did go nicely," He said as he picked up a chair and then tossed it at the wall, one of the legs splintering off.

closed to walter; home

[hor]

[ With everything said and done, Horus is emotionally exhausted. Physically, too, but physical exhaustion is something he's more than used to. There's one person he knows he needs to see after he has his conversation with Pt. There are others he wants to say bye to, of course, but there's one in particular who he needs to see before it's back to fighting a fate written by everyone but him without his new best friend.

Well, at this point it doesn't even feel new. He considers calling him, but instead gets out his phone to send something for Walter to interpret for old time's sake. ]

😭🏠🐫

[reloves]

[ It may be our last time seeing each other.

Monika is entirely right to point that out, but it's something Minako desperately wants to ignore here. Maybe it's her perfectionism, or her protectiveness, but she doesn't even want to entertain the notion of the two of them not arriving back in Minako's world together. There's nothing she wouldn't do to make sure Monika stays with her, to make sure Monika doesn't go back to..

.. well, nothingness. The other did tell her about that, after all, and the idea threatens to make Minako sick.

So she shoves it aside, allowing herself to not focus on it for a few more moments. Instead she thinks about the other things Monika is telling her here, and it makes Minako let go of the other's hands, just so she can instead draw the girl into her arms.

It feels better that way - Minako's arms tightly holding Monika against her. Like she could never lose her, just as long as she could keep Monika in her arms. ]

You should never have to pretend.

[ Ignoring the issue at the end there.. this is what Minako wants to say right now.

More than anything. ]

Someone as precious as you should always have real love, Monika. You deserve nothing less, you know..? [ Regardless of the things Monika did. Minako knows about those, and yet - she fully believes in what she's saying here, saying it without even the tiniest bit of hesitation. ]

[angel_of_death]

[Likewise exhausted from the endeavour, Walter is awoken mid-doze by the buzzing of his phone. He sees the little bird pictogram in the message sender field and automatically knows who it is; Horus.

From his resting spot beneath a tree, he opens the message. Three pictures show in a little row. A crying face. A house. A camel. Crying. Home. Desert animal.

Horus has to return home. To play his role, or to steer his future to a course not planned for him.

Walter's fingers hit the button to reply, he at first almost texting to ask where he is. But that would cause an unnecessary delay. Instead, he drops a little image of a map of Avalon, a pin placed where he is.]

Come to me.

[over_the_sea]

"Haaaaa~" Floyd sighs out a laughter as Jade's actions. He always loved it when Jade let loose and has some fun. He's far too reserved too much of the time. This side of him is super fun. "I can't believe we get to finally do this." No, of course he hasn't considered doing this before... totally not... here or at the Lounge... not at all...

But he can't just let his brother have all the fun, Floyd kicking out a leg to send the closest chair off to the side and out of the way, quickly followed by a kick to topple over a table to go along with it. "Oh, we should get those plates Azul made us replace. They would make great throwing targets."

[peninhand]

I... I'm starting to believe it. [That she deserved love. That she didn't have to pretend. It was still hard at times, of course. But it was so much easier with her.] I still have a long way to go, but when I'm at your side... I feel better about myself. I feel like those words may be true.

[ Monika remained silent a moment, just resting comfortably in Minako's embrace. Arms wrapped tightly around her as if she was afraid of losing her. Afraid that any second now, they'd be torn apart. Maybe the probability of this happening was low... But it was terrifying. ]

And you know... That counts for you too.

[ She took a deep breath, putting herself together and closing her eyes. If that was their last moment together, she needed to speak now. While she was still calm. If she waited any more... She felt like she might just explode and cry. ]

If somehow this doesn't work... You are going to close your heart once again, aren't you? You'll think of it as yet another proof that your fate is to renounce love, to give up on your personal dreams. [She smiled sadly.] It hurts so much to think of you living a life devoid of love. It's unfair. If such a fate is really written for you, then you should fight it. Delete it and write your own happy ending.

[ She felt like she was starting to know Minako really well. She'd closed her heart after past heartaches, after this "fate" had been spelled out for her. And this would be even worse now if she lost someone she'd been with for nearly a full year, wouldn't it? That was what Monika feared, at any rate. ]

I'm here today because I fought my fate. So it can be done, right? Well, I lost my way when doing so... But an amazing girl helped me. Minako Aino, Sailor Venus, the Goddess of Love... Many names, but only one you.

[ She pulled slightly from the embrace, just enough so she could look directly in Minako's eyes. ]

I love you. [She marked a pause and smiled sweetly, lingering on those three simple words for a moment.] That's why I want you to keep going even if we're separated, alright? I want you to keep striving for love, to keep going after your dreams. Even if I can't be the one by your side... You deserve all the love in the world. You deserve to see your dreams come true.

[ It hurt so much, thinking of Minako being in love with someone else... But thinking of her spending her entire life lying to herself, renouncing love altogether? It was even worse. Nobody should live such a life. And especially not her. ]

[reloves]

[ .. maybe Minako should have seen this coming.

After all, it's often how things go down. She tries to say nice stuff for Monika, completely ignoring herself, and it's Monika's own little talent to somehow drag the topic back to Minako all the same - and in this sort of way too. The sort of way where Monika knows her way too well, perhaps even in the sort of way that no one else knows her.

She understands just a little too well how Minako works. How she shuts down her heart, just to keep the hurt out. Focusing on her duty, because it's easier, because at least there she isn't cursed.

(And it would be easier, especially this time around. If she finally tried to love again, sticking with Monika for so long, and then to suddenly lose that again -- Minako doesn't know if she could handle that.

No matter what Monika tells her she wishes for Minako here.)

It leaves her quiet for a good moment, and Minako shifts in the hug so her face isn't visible to the other girl, instead hovering over Monika's shoulder as she bites her lower lip lightly.

She didn't want to think about this - but right now, she can't not think about it, with the way it's being laid out right in front of her so plainly. ]

.. don't say that. [ Her voice is soft as she says it. There's no bite in it, no anger.

There's just hurt. Because the very thought of this, of losing Monika, of it somehow not working out-- it's too much. Minako has lost love too often.

Despite her face not being visible to the other girl, Minako's tone gives away everything all the same. Because as she speaks on, her voice is outright trembling while the next words leave her throat. ]

How could I do that without you, Monika..?

1/2

[peninhand]

Minako...

[ She wanted to tell her she had the strength to do it. She was so strong... Them being together had just given her the push she'd needed to tackle her issues. The push she'd needed to believe in love again. And yet, that was all it had ever been: a push. Everything else had been in her all along.

But what would saying those words accomplish? If the other girl said something similar to Monika, she would struggle to believe it. She couldn't imagine having the strength to go on without Minako. So really, she knew it would be hypocritical to say those things and hope they'd make her girlfriend feel any better.

For a moment, Monika remained silent, confused and lost. She didn't know what to say. She shouldn't have said a word about this, huh...? It was going to be so painful if it didn't work...? So why bring it up while they were still together then? God, she felt so stupid. ]

2/2

[peninhand]

[ ... No. She needed to be strong for her. Ultimately, if things went wrong Monika was the one who would have it easy. She'd just cease existing altogether, right? To her, that was infinitely easier than dealing with the pain of losing a loved one. It was better than living a loveless life.

But Minako...? She would have to deal with it all. The pain, the sorrow, the loneliness. For years, maybe even her entire life. Some fates were worse than death and it was not even a question that this was such a fate. ]

I... [She hesitated a second before continuing.] No way I'm letting you do that alone. You believe in the power of love, right?

[ It had taken them so far... Was it an empty promise? No. She'd survived her reality's deletion. She'd survived Avalon. If that was for Minako... She'd find a way. She had no clue how, but she knew she would do it. She had to. ]

If this doesn't work, I'll rewrite the laws of our realities to make it work. [A pause.] We'll find each other, no matter what it takes.

[ Monika ran a hand through her girlfriend's hair and closed her eyes. It took her everything not to cry right now. But she had to remain strong and confident. And if it was for her, she could do it. ]

[hor]

[ He doesn't bother with a response, instead simply heading for the location Walter has pinned for him. It's funny in a sense. One would normally think that the future King of Gods would have people come to him, but Horus has never hesitated to come to someone else he wants to be with. Power games are for professional situations. He'll happily follow outside of them, if it means spending time with someone he likes. 
It's not long before he sees Walter in the distance, yelling out for him regardless of who he bothers with the noise. ]

Walter!

[angel_of_death]

[The same can be said for Walter, for he had also come at Horus' behest once before; had taken a break from a days' long attempt at tracking to join him for an evening because Horus had desired his company, and he had desired Horus'.

He feels the same now, yearning for the company of his love yet not yet lover, his heart responding immediately upon hearing his voice call through the air to him. He rises, going out to meet him, their 'child' left slumbering in the greater branches of the tree, still small enough to squeeze in amongst the boughs.

He greets the god not with words, but by encircling him in his arms and drawing him into a fervent kiss.]