middleofsomewhere | Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

Ritual

The jellyfish is no more and as red team take stock of their injuries, or collapse from exhaustion the lights zip around them, singing their song of joy. They gather around the light that had been inside the jellyfish and now that it has been released it is obvious this light is different. Stronger. They surround it and the song gets even louder as they begin to move towards the plinth.

In the caverns where the purple and orange team are there is a stillness. For those in orange team still in the cavern they can only hope that the instructions they gave out had been followed. Luckily for them they have been, Purple team have done a remarkable job of defeating the crabs and cleaning the temple. The priests gather around the shell on the alter, arms linked together in prayer as they seek to re-sanctify their temple. As their prayer begins they will invite the voidtreckers to join them, though no one is forced into taking part in the ritual. They suggest that they use their strange wrist jewellery to open communication with their friends in Bui.

The monster on the beach is defeated and though the fight is still raging against the crabs, a beacon has been built and lit. The islanders who are not fighting gather around it, linking arms, drawing any voidtreckers who don't object to joining them into the circle.

The song begins hesitantly, almost as if everyone has forgotten the words and only half remembers the tune. The SCA translates, the prayer is simple, a blessing on the land and its people, deliverance from the darkness and hope for the future.

The light from the jellyfish reaches the plinth and is set upon it. The song heightens and the light shoots upwards, blinding in its brilliance.

Through the dark storm clouds a light streams towards the island, most of it towards the beacon on the island though there is a break away light that goes towards the train, where some of orange team have set up a second beacon. It swirls around those on the train roof, singing a song of happiness and bounces back towards the island.

The light reaches the main beacon and hits it with a strength that lights up the whole sky. The light splits more solidly into two and speeds off over the ocean. Light pours into the underground caverns, not caring about the ocean and rock in the way, the light pools into the shells, the caverns glow warmly.

Outside the storm calms, clouds roll back, the sun shines. The sea stills. The wind stops. The sun is rising, a beautiful dawn. Any monsters left scuttle away, vanishing into the ocean, away from Bui.

Those with any powers that they couldn't reach before find them returned in a rush. Those who can sense life find this world teeming with it. A song that dances between every plant and creature.

Some of red may have evacuated to the train but those who stayed to see the ritual through, the world around them seems to melt away and they find themselves back next to the rock pools. Among their number there are some confused looking islanders who intrinsically draw closer to those who helped free the lights.

Orange and Purple

Down underwater there's noise and a babble of voices as the citizens of Bui wake up. There's a shimmering around the city now, like a shield though they can pass through easily. Parents scramble to locate their children and all check on loved ones and friends.

The familiar voice of train announcements is heard through Orange team's SCAs. Orange return to the VoidTrecker Express. Once everyone is on board it flies low over the ocean, skimming the waves.

In the underwater temple the priests finish sealing the ritual and then it is time to begin the return trek. There are no monsters this time and after a few hours, as they emerge onto the first of the sandbanks they will find the VoidTrecker Express is waiting for them.

Red and Blue

The monsters gone, those of the island gather everyone from the rock pools and for a few hours everyone sleeps.

At about noon the islanders begin to stir, begin putting things to rights. Wood is moved from the strategic points to more communal campfires on the beach. Any dead monsters that haven't been gathered for food have been washed out to sea, disappeared into the depths. They begin to prepare food and won't turn away any helpers. Though those who have been fighting are encouraged to rest.

The islanders bring blankets and start to gather. Everyone is exhausted but the children, in the way of children find the energy to play in the sea and the sand.

Beach Day

Early afternoon the train lands on the beach and everyone gets a holographic message to their SCA.

Mission successful. Well done Voidtreckers. Enjoy the rest of your day. You will find suitable clothing in the dressing room. A new recipe has been added to the kitchen information points.

The dressing room is indeed open once more, this time it holds swimsuits of every style, shorts, t shirts, wraps and beach skirts. Sun hats and sunglasses can also be found. It's a bit of a mush mash but they should be able to cobble together something other than their uniform wet suits.

Time to laze around on the beach or for those who still have energy swim or play. A few hours later a ripple across the water brings some of those from Bui and they swim or lounge on rocks to talk.

Food and stories

Food is cooked and shared, the islanders will happily try the voidtreckers' offerings and share their own. As the sun begins to set they gather around the fires. Stories and songs are shared and there's even some dancing for the brave.

Voidtreckers can choose whether to sleep in their own beds or spend one last night on the island before the train flies off into the sunrise and into the void.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, I can see how that would work, yes! But Feanaro would be hurt if I wore things not from his hands. I'll keep to using them in my art, I think."

"You mean like making paint with them?" Because that she could understand at least. she knew of shells that could be made into some paint that her Mother would get her. It was actually what she asked her to get for her birthday if she could recall.

"Oh that's an idea I had not considered! But no, I was thinking more of using them in a mosaic... not my normally preferred method but these truly would suit ..."

"Mo.sa.ic? Mosaic... What is that?" It was a new thing for her anyway, so she was admitted curious as to what one of those was and how could shells be used in such things.

"Oh, well, it's an art form that uses small pieces to make a larger picture. You could use broken colored glass, or pottery, or stones or in this case, shells!"

"Oh, so you are like...recycling something that is broken and making it into art?" That actually sounded really good and something if she could would probably try. After all art was fun and creative.

"Recycling?" She tests the word. "I don't that word - but art can be made from all sorts of things! And broken things no less than whole ones"

"I know of a few ways of making art, but I never really thought to use things that were broken to make something." Considering how much time Rapunzel had at home, she had to get a bit creative sometimes.

"Well, you can get custom made mosaic pices too, of course! But I find it more satisfying to use broken pieces. More natural, that way. And there's all sorts of art you can do with broken things! Why, one of my favourite gifts was a vase my boys broke once. My husband helped them repair it using gold to glue the pieces back together, and I rather think it looks even better, now."

"One can use gold as glue?" Maybe in other worlds but it had been a first to hear for her. Then again there was still so much about places that she still had to learn.

"When it is melted, if one is careful, yes. When it hardens, if it is done right, it will hold everything together!"

"That's amazing~" She was learning a lot about various things and it involved art. It just made the other wonder if she could try more in her art when she could.

"I mean I don't think I would use gold, but it's amazing to know it's possible."

"Oh, I suppose you could use any melted metal, really - Gold, silver, bronze... It would depend on what sort of look you wanted at the end. If you want to learn how it's done, I'd suggest asking my son Curufin, or my husband Feanaro - I don't work much with metal, although I can certainly help with the basics."

"They are both here, right? I think you mentioned that before." So she was making a mental note to maybe look for them later if she ever found herself interested. Though she also made a not that it might not even be possible to do such things here.

"Yes! You'll find Feanaro most often in the company of young Tony Stark, but Curufin can be harder to track down, as he's quite sociable."

"I will remember that. But for now, I think I'm going to find a nice little place to maybe sketch the view or something."

"Have fun." She smiles at her.

"I look forwards to seeing what you will create!"

Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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