So Familiar a Gleam: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

Time to leave!

There is not much of the city left, but the park is holding together as those anchoring help those who are not voidtreckers through back to where they belong. Monsters continue to attack and a little further out there is a battle of hearts and minds being fought with the mass of colours and chaos.

Eventually, after the bulk of citizens had been evacuated everyone with SCA's on would hear Jin-Roh's voice after a few frantic beeps, as Chiff aligned everyone's SCA's. "We are almost done here, if you are with anyone not tethered to a voidcraft get them to the evacuation point, as quickly as possible."

Anan pulls out of the anchoring point to call out to any defenders in the park. "Come on! Anyone who isn't a voidtrecker! It's time to go."

Luckily those off fighting the entity headed the message and made their way to the park as Jin Roh spoke again.

"Everyone else get ready. When we call it you need to leave. If you don't have your SCA on then get to someone who does."

As the last people rushed to the park Anan calls out again, through her SCA and outloud to the park. "You need to unanchor, before you can evacuate. Everyone be ready."

She goes in again though, because there are some last people, those from the large battle, getting through as another message was called.

"Almost there. Be ready. On my command..."

Anan unanchored again. "Quick everyone unanchor."

"NOW" Jin Roh's voice came through strong on their SCA's. Hopefully those with SCA's would grab those without.

There is some outside help as well, the train pulls anyone who is unconscious or still under the entity's control, forcibly evacuating them. This includes Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Zagreus.

Luggage Carriage

There has been a mass evacuation before and that was crazy enough but since then the population of the train has almost doubled and now it is an extremely tight squeeze as everyone crashes into the luggage carriage at the same time.

The train jerks and rolls as they enter into the void at breakneck speed and again as they seem to slow, rather than speeding off though the void.

There's a crackling from their SCA's. "Voidtreckers? Voidtreckers come in!" Anan's voice. "Please tell me you made it..."

There's only a few moments of signal and soon they are flying though the void again, away from the strange non-world, the entity sealed for now. To new adventures, but first hopefully some time to recover from all that has happened.

Comments

[redmeguca]

I guess I got off light compared to some people. Salamander's life wasn't much different from mine, just with less magic involved. Didn't get a family to make things complicated, so my biggest real problem was having to keep things subtle.

[another_moon]

I had a sister. Rapunzel, but that was it. You did get lucky.

I think the real thing that got me was getting caught fighting one of the team. I… feel bad doing so. She helped get around the train when I first came here and…

[redmeguca]

Yeah, it always sucks when you've got to fight a friend, even if it's for their own good. Heh, Mami could probably talk your ear off about how I was "such an unruly kouhai."

[another_moon]

[Usagi chuckled at that.]

Well, so far, you’re not that bad with me, so there’s that!

[redmeguca]

Yeah, well, I kinda had some life lessons beat into me. I was seriously a mess for a while, probably the kind of person you would have fought.

[another_moon]

I probably would have. I think I would have been a terrible partner then myself.

[redmeguca]

...No, seriously. Full disclosure, I've let people die for my own benefit. I'm not proud of what I did in that part of my life, but back then I only really cared about myself.

[another_moon]

[Usagi’s eyes went wide at that. Kyoko really acted like that?]

I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know…

[Curiosity gets the better of her, reaching out to touch Kyoko, wanting to show her some reassuring affection.]

[redmeguca]

[Kyoko leans into it, not quite noticing she's doing so.]

I'll be the first to admit that I was a mess back then. "Survival of the fittest" was the name of the game for Magical Girls back home, and I embraced it completely. It took finding out some awful truths about being one to shock me out of it.

[another_moon]

That’s terrible. I’m glad you understand your errors, though. I don’t know if I would have the strength to do such a thing before…

[She’s just affectionately brushing her cheek, an idle action as she talks to Kyoko.]

How are you now?

[redmeguca]

Better, for sure. I've got actual connections that I haven't broken, and I've mended a few I did. Got a whole bunch of self-loathing, s'why I don't get along with the other me, but that's more or less to be expected. It's fine as long as I let it drive me to improve instead of wallowing in it.

[another_moon]

Is that why you came to me? For more connections? Because I’m glad you did. I guess I would have been cooped up in this lab by my lonesome if I hadn’t met you and a few others…

[redmeguca]

I can't really say. I just saw you looking confused and on guard and thought you could use a hand from someone who's used to this.

[another_moon]

I appreciate it even now. Thank you.

[Still hasn’t pulled away yet, either. It feels nice.]

1/2

[redmeguca]

Hey, what was I supposed to do? Just leave you there all confused? That's not my style, not anymore. If there's something I can do, I will.

2/2

[redmeguca]

[Kyoko stands up, removing herself somewhat from Usagi.]

Which brings me to a question I had. When we first met, you offered to adjust my Soul Gem. Make it more "optimal." Could you do that for Mami? She has more to worry about than I do.

[another_moon]

[Usagi briefly pulled her hand back once she was asked the question to think it over.]

Of course I could. [she pushes over her brooch to try and explain what she does, showing the insides] My brooch, for example, wasn't tailored for prolonged combat. In fact, I dare say a pervert designed it - hit it the wrong way and I'm wearing nothing but ribbons. Replace the insides with something sturdier and you can increase almost everything.

You and Mami use a ring, right? A little harder to adjust, but I can certainly work with it.

[redmeguca]

Oh... That's... not quite it.

[Kyoko holds her hand out and the ring glows, transforming into an egg shaped jewel.]

This is my Soul Gem, and it's exactly what it says on the tin. My actual soul, torn from my body and turned into a crystal.

[another_moon]

Oh, wow... [Usagi looks at it in curiosity] ...and... you use that for your powers...

[Usagi pondered it over a bit]

I would need a new housing. Keep the ring, but have the Soul Gem transfer to a new item when it's needed.

[redmeguca]

I was wondering if you could make some bind of brace for it. Something to keep it from breaking when it fills with corruption. If that happens, our type of Magical Girl turns into the same monsters we fight. I've got something to prevent that, but she doesn't.

[another_moon]

Corruption, huh?

[She does a quick little sketch of said brace, resembling an extra layer over the Soul Gem]

Like this? Give me a little more time and I could figure out a way to help purify it, but that may take some of my power.

[redmeguca]

Ah, nah, she's already got that part covered. Her Shaymin, Rosetta, can take care of that. But if you have something that prevents you from turning into a Witch you can get a neat power called a Doppel. I ought to show you mine next time we spar. Fair warning though, she likes to throw fire around.

[another_moon]

[Scratching that out...]

I can fight fire with fire myself. I can't wait to see what your Doppel does, then.

Ah, when should I have the brace ready?

[redmeguca]

Well, by the next mission would be nice, but I'm not about to rush you. Take whatever you need to make sure it's quality. Meantime, I'll talk to Mami about it.

[another_moon]

Gotcha! I'll make sure it's ready and in good condition!

[A brief silence before...]

You're not leaving now, are ya?