"This really has been a waste of time," came a voice from behind the group. Billy spun around to find Tommy standing before them.
"Tommy?" Billy asked, but after a second of thought, he shook his head.
"No, I don't know how I missed it before, but you're not Tommy."
The young man masquerading as Tommy sighed.
"Seriously took you long enough..." He gave a shrug and began to transform. Tommy disappeared, only to be replaced by someone with a long black coat and a mask that obscured his identity.
"You guys sure are persistent. Guess keeping hold of the Scarlet Witch was never going to be easy."
"Of course..." Wanda murmured.
"I should've realized they would've kept my handler close."
"Who the heck is this guy...?" Touma blinked, his body tensing up as though beginning to get ready for another battle if it wasn't going to be with Nightmare.
"It's like one thing after another!"
Claire took a staggering step back.
"He... looks almost familiar..."
"Who are you now?!" Elliot demanded. He held a hand out to the masked boy as if meaning to attack.
"You guys do know Revan's on to you, right?" the boy asked casually.
"It was a bit touch and go at first, but this little venture ends here."
"I'd like to see you try!" Billy challenged angrily.
"We'll defeat you, just like the rest!"
"Ahuh. Sure. Except not, actually. In exchange for your fear, Nightmare has actually done us a little favor."
Nightmare sighed.
"Here I was hoping you would've kept your head down. I wasn't done with my playthings just yet..."
Suddenly, the boy swung his blade through the air, causing ripples to flow around the group. The world around them began to shimmer and a cold chill started to permeate all around.
"Fall-- into darkness!"
The ground gave way and the void consumed them all.
"W-Wait! Oh no you don--!" Touma began to exclaim, attempting to get the drop on the boy, but sinking into the darkness, and just like with everyone, his vision faded into complete black.
***
Chapter Four
"Carnival of Awakening"
Falling. That's all it was. Falling endlessly. Time slowed and senses dulled. No one could barely breathe.
Soon, a dark wind picked up, buffering against the falling group. Elliot felt himself being pulled away, so he grabbed on to Nathan's arm. He reached out with his other hand and grabbed hold of Billy as well. In turn, Billy took hold of Bridgette, who managed to grasp Touma's hand. The chain continued on and on, the group holding each other together to avoid being flung away by the rising storm.
Not everyone was so lucky.
Cullen was the first to fall away. His Glartrox parasite exploded from his back and reached out to someone, but it was too late. As he floated away into the void, so did Claire. She desperately reached out but fell short of Senna, who was tossed into the void as well. Spike fell away next, followed by Triss. All five disappeared into the avoid as the rest of the group hurtled into the eye of the storm.
Everything stopped.
...
In an indeterminate time later, everyone's senses returned. It was not entirely clear what had happened between the storm and the moment after, but now the group was on solid ground. If they opened their eyes, they would find a surrounding of trees, shrubs, and a gentle river.
Billy groaned and put a hand to his forehead.
"I feel... sick. Like I've been hit by a truck."
"What is happening?" Elliot said, shaking. He hugged himself out of discomfort.
"Another new location...? Where are we this time?" Touma groaned as he stood up and looked around, unable to make heads or tails of what their new setting was.
He struggled to remember what just happened with the masked boy from earlier, as well as the meaning behind his words. In a way, it was both good and bad that they had Revan's attention now as the boy had told the group. Whatever they were doing was working, but on the other hand, things would probably get even harder than they already were from here on out.
"Nngh... Actually, more importantly, is everyone okay?" Touma asked in the meantime. First things first.
Character List
@Takumi as
Azura [Fire Emblem]
@mintyy as
Azure Kite [.hack]
@Jeremi as
Biscuit Krueger [Hunter x Hunter]
@Gummi Bunnies as
Blake Dormi [OC]
@Josh as
Clark Kent [Smallville]
@Indigo Al as
Doctor Langa [OC]
@York as
Emily Hayes [Amulet]
@Capri as
Gentaro Kisaragi [Kamen Rider]
@Crunch as
Giorno Giovanna [JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]
@Yun Lee as
Jianyu [Street Fighter]
@Lucky as
Lucifer Morningstar [Lucifer]
@Alex Azure as
Mason Moretti [OC]
@Kaykay as
Mebuki Kusunoki [Kusunoki Mebuki is a Hero]
@Space_Candy as
Nathan Prescott [Life is Strange]
@Sark as
Thaal Sinestro [DC Comics]
@Ver as
Touma Kamijou [A Certain Magical Index]
