The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

[chocobosnap]

"I'd to anything for Noct, really." Prompto said cheerfully. "So don't worry, if he wants to marry Lady Lunafreya, we'll get him there."

He meant that, Noctis was his first and best friend. What wouldn't he do for him?

[happyends]

...

Some people's hearts are won over so simply, aren't they.

Not that Madoka is offended. Of course Ken would be better at getting Wormmon to change his mind - they're best friends, after all! Or they seem like it whenever she encounters the two, anyway. So Madoka just smiles before turning back to the girl.

"See? Ken-san and Wormmon are friends too, because Wormmon is really sweet! Do you want to shake his.."

What.. do you call.. Wormmon's.. thingies. Claws? Madoka sure doesn't know what the proper and polite way to call them in this case would be!

".. hand?"

[10billionpercent]

Senku sighed a little heavily. "You heard about the villagers and how they thought everything was fine? The demons were gone and all of that?"

He frowned. "Same illusion. I believed the mission was done, the demons were gone and we'd decided to move here. I didn't remember much besides the train and the fact we'd all settled on this world."

It was horrible, honestly, well and truly horrible. "And it took days to break out of it, once my SCA was back on. I was also convinced since we were no longer traveling, I didn't need it."

[fivemilesdeep]

"Mort, please." Normally, Mort is helpful; today, evidently, not so much.

"You were floating. I just...pulled you." It sounds a bit ridiculous, but when it comes to godly matters, Ryo has long since realized that a bit ridiculous is the baseline. He sets the tea and cookie down in front of Thanatos. "Drink this. It doesn't taste great, but it should help."

[miseris_socios]

"I got healed. It's just..."

The monster with its hand outstretched, ready to bring its fist down in a brutal slam against anything nearby -

"At... at the end. Wh... where it picked me up." He sniffs and takes a deep breath. "... M... my mother was killed. L... like that. A monster... I thought it was a monster. It was that guy's Persona. Just... the fist slamming down, rolling across the floor... but... she didn't have... a spell to get her back up again."

He looks away, too ashamed to look his team leader in the face.

[happyends]

She laughs a little, shaking her head.

"No, it's okay! I mean, it's a good thing in the end, right?"

Even just calling it a good thing feels like it isn't enough. It feels like too much of an understatement for just what exactly Persephone did for that world. For what she started. Madoka may still be pretty young, but she can understand it. Especially after how many of these mission worlds she's seen.

"I think you've given those people a bit of hope, you know."

[10billionpercent]

"I'm not sure it's just the ICPs. If it's sentient it could just be everywhere in that kind of sense, like some deity." He sniffed a bit. "I don't know. I don't particularly care, it's not like I have much private business anyway." Not even with his fiancé.

Senku sighed a little bit. "That, surprisingly, has been made clear to me when I wanted to test the mechanic and I had people screaming at me a lot. I've agreed to avoid it, if no other reason because I don't know how it will affect the psychic bond I have with Eva." He hummed a little bit.

"I really did intend to assist with the mission." He admitted sheepishly. "I thought I'd be occupied for no more than five minutes." Senku groaned. "Anyway, Gen is..not going to let me do that again, he'd rather go first, because he figures I can do something about whatever happens, but I...this...I couldn't have. There would've been nothing I could do."

[averyusefultray]

"How much do you know about what your magic can do?" THere are so many people out there with potential that just never get a chance. Never meet the right people.

[irrationally]

"Well, you told me that you abhor fighting."

She remembers that - very clearly. Because it's not something you hear every day on a train full of warriors, with so many people who are used to battle, like it's just a daily habit. So Merwen's whole thing stands out to Alice.

She sits down on the grass.

"It makes sense then that you wouldn't want to be out there. Fighting is all that happened there for days on end."

[10billionpercent]

"You're right." Senku breathed a moment, murmuring. "I didn't really mean to..."

He was a bit more on the distraught side, emotionally.

"Usually Gen puts up with this kind of thing from me. Not..anyone else." He had to be the strong one, leading the charge.

[miseris_socios]

"... I don't know." He's just... lost, and not sure how to get back - or if he even wants to.

Deep breaths. "I don't know what I want to do now. Just... surviving itself is hard."

[averyusefultray]

"He has as many legs as he needs to get around." Sure, there weren't really any other beings like him around, but he was a friendly little guy.

"There was a lot of fighting, and now we can start fixing things up. It'll be a lot of work, but if everyone works together we can do it."

[foxyou]

It's not like he's totally unfamiliar with being an outcast, but also, he totally agrees with this spider. He might even have said something to that effect, if it weren't for the fact that she's suddenly petting him.

If he weren't so exhausted he totally could have dodged, okay...anyway his ears twitch a bit at her touch, and he opens his mouth to complain--only to close it again. If he was gonna complain he probably should have said something the first time she did this, and besides, he only just got comfy here, he's not gonna get himself kicked out over her (admittedly very soothing) scritches.

After that short confused pause he finally reaches for the snacks, keeping an admirably straight face despite the sudden lack of eye contact. "....You....have certainly made yourself comfortable out here." If he leans into the pets at all please don't say anything.

[miseris_socios]

Yeah he wasn't believing that one, Demyx. Buut whatever.

"I guess? It's a little hard to fully explain." And he was not summoning her, given how drained he felt. "I know they're convenient, but you and Vexen shouldn't use them, either. Since they're so dangerous..."

[thawed_pride]

"Aha, I was wondering which of you busybodies was doing that."

He points at the sandwich accusingly.

"I suspected it was either you or Lea."

[miseris_socios]

"Look, I know you're strong, but you have to eat. And I'm gonna keep doing it until you remember to do it yourself."

He folds his arms, not quite hiding a smile.

[cureofmanyworlds]

“Most I know is to transform, summon a weapon and a powerful finishing attack.” Nozomi said. “I know what I use is purification, but...”

She thinks a moment.

“I could use it for healing, but...”

[controlsthedie]

Wherever Zagreus is, there's a sleepy Thanatos nearby. He's not completely lost to the waking world, but his floating bobs up and down like he's at risk of falling asleep. He wants to help out with the recovery. He's in no condition to.

It's a little amusing that when an especially strong urge to pass out again comes, the first thing out of Thanatos's mouth is some version of "Hypnos, stop." Some habits are hard to break.

[happyends]

"No, I don't think it's your fault for not realising it right away.."

Madoka can only imagine how horrible it'd be to suddenly see everyone being dead. It must have been so scary.. If anything, it's surprising to her that Nozomi made it out as relatively well as she ended up doing, really.

"It must have been a little like the people inside of the city.. In there all the people there, and us too, kept seeing things that weren't actually there."

[cureofmanyworlds]

“So, we were both under the same kind of spell...” Nozomi said, letting out a sigh. “A lie’s a lie. I just fell for mine a little easier...”

She groaned at that. “I can’t be too mad, can I?”

City

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks is, likewise, happy to help with rebuilding or clearing out debris. He's taken time to change, so he's now in his Voidtrecker's uniform rather than his armor, but otherwise he's been pushing himself still to help. He can sleep when they're back on the train.

Certainly the townsfolk seem to like him as he's strong, and seems to know what he's doing basically.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"That's what happens when you die, while on a mission. You reappear in a piece of luggage back here on the train, in the luggage car." Giving him the facts. "I'm sorry you were panicked at first. How can I help?"

[irrationally]

[ With some people Alice may have made a snide remark in response to that question.

But she realises it's this girl asking her that, and that instead makes Alice smile just a little bit. ]

Well, she isn't the most interesting conversation partner, but it'll do.

[ In other words, no, it totally isn't talking back to her. But that's exactly why it's so easy to talk to the cow.

She looks over towards the girl. ]

How are you doing?

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Bit of both? Mostly I have a future project in mind to try and help people on the train sleep. Well, a lot of projects actually. What I wanted to know was if you'd donate a skein or 3 of spider-silk, about as half as thick as a finger, for weaving with. One of my projects is going to involve hanging something--probably a crystal--from the doors of each sleeper cabin. I'd use the silk to weave a small net bag or basket."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Soon enough." Raven said, with a hint of tired smile. "Especially since with the city-wards active, I can't get in."