Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

[voidtreckermods]

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.

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Well, around here you're apparently allowed to ignore someone if you decide they're just trying to seduce a girl." Specifically referencing the train's leadership was a great way to make Edge scowl. "Or if they haven't done any specific leading themselves, never mind the lack of opportunities to do so."

[loveandduty]

"the first part makes no sense. I mean you can decide to ignore someone for reasons, that is up to the individual, but at the same time things like that aren't really...anyone business." Say the girl who has been rather nosey about peoples love lives, but that is a different matter.

At least to her.

"Okay the latter I will actually agree with you on. How do we know someone is capable or not without at least giving them a try. Sometimes a leader has to learn how to actually be one." Again says the girl who had to do exactly that and still got worried sometimes about it.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Depends on if you trust people, don't you?" Edge folded his arm, watching the sea without really seeing it. "If someone told you they were a good leader back home, would you immediately doubt them? Would you insist they were terrible? Or would you take what they say as true? In other words, without proof either way, do you doubt or do you believe?"

[loveandduty]

"I guess so." Minako for whatever reason had decided to not stand and watch the sea, but instead to move a little bit back to the shore so she could at least sit down while thinking about it.

"One doesn't have any way of knowing if one is telling the truth or not honestly. Actions though speak a lot louder than words and that's how I would trust if someone is actually saying the truth. Saying one was a good leader could mean they were being over confident and they are lying to make themselves look good. They could be telling the truth or they want to be a gpood leader but always have doubts. But as I said no way of knowing until they put it into action."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Well, if she wanted to sit down... Edge obliged, taking a seat next to her. Looming over her didn't seem like a great way to have a fair and equal conversation, and she was proving to be more than a pretty face as this went on.

"Suppose they have a history, though. True, someone could lie about being a king or a ruler, but how many people have the confidence to pull that off? And another matter is when people believe it's true, but immediately assume that's a bad thing..."

[loveandduty]

"Someone who has a lot of confidence could easily say so. Plus really good actors." Whicdh was at least two types she could see easily pulling it off anyway. Could she? Probably not even if her past life she technically had been someone of high rank.

"For the whole matter of people believing it's true but assume it's a bad thing can I have an example of what you mean?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh, I get that all the time. First thing people say when I mention I'm a king is that I'm a horrible person whose kingdom is hell." And don't even get him started on how people assume literally all monarchies are evil.

[loveandduty]

"So you just told people you were a king and they jumped to that conclusion without knowing more facts? I get that some people think people like that are bad, but... they aren't always." She knew not to get into detail,. but she knew at least Usagi as Queen did a decent job and well people live there much longer because of her.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"And yet, that's what people say -- that all monarchies are bad, and all monarchs are terrible people." She can see the total illogic of that, right?

[loveandduty]

"I guess I never noticed, mostly because that subject never really has a reason to come up." Which was probably why she never would have thought about it before until now. But it made her wonder why people would think that. It could be because that's how come are shown in stories, maybe they have lived through a bad king or queen or they just don't know anything and just assume.

She honestly had no way of knowing.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Ha, well, for people who apparently don't live in monarchies, they all sure have strong opinions about them!" Edge laughed, a little forced, and folded his hands behind his head. Still bothered him, quite a bit, no matter how he might try to make light of the subject.

What kind of a horrible place was this train, that put him in the presence of a cute girl and yet left him full of such dark thoughts? Man. He wasn't himself at all, here.

[loveandduty]

"I like to think experience with those who live in them though will be a great teacher. I mean people are meant to grow and learn after all from different experiences." Not that Minako really has much to grow and develop, her choices were set she knew back home what it was she was going to be doing.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"...Well. Now you've got me wondering if we're all part of the train's general deal." As incoherently as he might have said that, the theory was sound: the idea that they'd all been chosen not just to help others, but to help them directly as well.

[loveandduty]

"We have no way of knowing. I think the train brought me because there is so many love problems that they needed me to come in and help." That was not correct at all, but let a girl dream.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh yeah? How many you run across so far?" How many could there be, honestly?

[loveandduty]

"A few, some I actually managed to help." Which was still more than she actually did back home.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Really? I wouldn't have thought." Edge turned to look at her, curious now. "Anything good to tell?"

[loveandduty]

"Everyone always has some kind of problem, being not sure how to,tell someone how they feel to not even realizing they feel a certain way about someone," but she soon shook her head slightly.

"No, I wouldn't want to say anything because that is for those I help only and myself."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Edge shrugged, quite unable to imagine such a scenario. On the one hand, he'd had no problems with Yuffie. On the other, his past problems had no easy answer -- not when you can't just make someone like you. "Aww, if you ever helped me I'd give you permission! Success stories are a great way to build a reputation after all!"

[loveandduty]

"I'll keep that in mind, but at the same time I always think it's better told by the actual people."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Fair enough, but I don't know who to ask!" Not that it really mattered, in the long run, but this was better and more fun banter than talking about Serious Things.

[loveandduty]

"Well that's the fun part. Figuring it out, but that's also hard mode too because it's hard to tell." All given with a cheek smile. But she was serious about not talking about it if she didn't know if the p[person would be okay with that, so she was content just her knowing that she helped in her own way.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"So it's a grand quest, huh? I'll have to try that sometime!" He was on board with her not telling; he could respect principles, especially ones developed for good cause.