[center][abbr=Ace Cadet][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img][/abbr]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 2905[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 234/90
[b]Location:[/b] Edinburgh MagicaPolis[/color][/center]
On the snowy night streets of Edinburgh MagicaPolis, a small group long split off from the Seekers of Light fought their way through skeletal mobs until they had reached a dark and lonely [url=https://i.imgur.com/Qyp8cKc.png]plaza.[/url] Though they'd lost a couple of allies in the process, with their detective leading the charge the group led [url=https://i.imgur.com/AO27EQn.png]two[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/EM0SD3p.png]threats[/url] into the makeshift arena in order to take them down away from the city's vulnerable populace.

On one end of the courtyard, Big Band and Lucia [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5468156]took on the Revenant[/url], as well as a host of other skeletal horrors. On the other, Ace and Albedo faced off against the monstrous Darkbeast Paarl.

A monster hunter by trade, the Ace Cadet had originally taken the initiative against the lightning-wreathed horror by drawing its attention to himself, setting up the separate fights for as little crossfire as possible. As the beast took the lure and stalked toward him, its head creaked to the side slightly to note Albedo moving to stand together with the hunter. The alchemist was not as heavily armored or equipped as his counterpart, but he was no less determined to defeat this nightmare in order to find his lost friend. It was part of the whole reason they were out here in the first place: locating Linkle, the latest Skullgirl. 

"As I use my skills, my Geo will react with its Electro," Albedo told Ace as the gaunt horror approached. The hunter didn't look his way, but nodded to let the alchemist know he was listening. "Pick up the purple crystals to gain shields. They'll help immunize you against lightning but are too weak to take physical blows." He could spare no further time for explanation, as Paarl attacked. It lunged forward at its chosen target, jaw wide open in order to crush the Ace Cadet between its hard yellowed teeth. Fortunately the hunter was ready for it. 

[color=salmon]"Got it!"[/color] he told Albedo as he stepped in to meet the beast's lunge. In one motion he twisted and slammed the shield of the Master Bang up into its chin. It was a solid hit, but only part way to a true Shoryugeki on account of the unliving beast reacting far less than either swordsman would have liked.

Albedo slammed his palm to the ground, creating a Solar Isotoma to send out pulses of Geo energy as Paarl reared up on its hind legs. It came down with a double overhead slash, deceptively quick. The trail of electricity left behind as its claws raked through the air made the slashes themselves harder to see, even under pale moonlight. Its attack scattered the two Seekers, nicking the both of them as they tried to get out of the way. Even the relatively small hit carried with it the darkbeast's full weight, letting them know just how deadly the skeletal monstrosity was. Albedo strafed the beast, moving around to its backside. It twisted its neck around to watch him until the clanging of the Cadet's sword beating against his shield drew its attention back to him. [color=salmon]"Let's do this."[/color]

Darkbeast Paarl's main form of attack was its claws, which was immediately obvious. Sometimes it would snap its teeth at the Geo construct that continued to send waves of energy out, or raise a back leg and stomp to try and dissuade the attack at his back, but it preferred to use its long front limbs to slash. This suited the Cadet just fine. Paarl was powerful, but he was fairly confident he could withstand glancing blows, and probably a few direct strikes too. He tried to keep all damage he took from glancing blows though, relying heavily on his shield for both offense and defense at this point.

The crackling of electricity joined the harsh, breathless wails Paarl let out with every swipe of its claws. The lightning covering its body seemed to keep increasing, the scraps of hair left clinging to its bones rising up from the static. Where his shield had the physical damage mostly covered, the elemental shield created from the crystals Albedo's Isotoma created handled the electric damage. After feeling the first jolt of electricity from the beast, the Cadet tried to pick up the purple gems as often as he could get away with while under attack. 

Things were progressing slowly but steadily when Paarl suddenly turned away from him, spinning almost 180 degrees to tear its claws into the pest slashing its back legs. The surprise attack landed, knocking Albedo to the ground. He rolled with it, managing to come back up to a kneeling position while he felt over his front, assessing the damage.

The Cadet covered him, stepping back and then jumping in to stab its radial bone and kick up off of it for a slightly higher vantage point. He smashed his shield into its ribs, regaining Paarl's attention.

[color=salmon]"You good, Albedo?"[/color] the Cadet asked from behind the shield, withstanding the beast's ire as turned to slash at him.

"Still within my threshold," he replied, which wasn't really a [i]yes[/i] but also wasn't a no. To his credit, Albedo recovered quickly. He retaliated with a series of wide, swift strokes of his sword, punctuated with a thrust that buckled the monster's leg. It screeched and struck out wildly, turning on a dime to swing at either swordsman. 

It alternated between its right and leg arms, striking quickly as it crawled over the area, crushing marble monuments underfoot.

[color=salmon]"This thing's a real one trick bony, huh?"[/color] the Cadet said. He was getting into a decent flow now, 

Albedo's brow furrowed slightly. [i]I wouldn't be so sure,[/i] he thought, noting the gathering of electricity in the darkbeast's core. Sure enough, the darkbeast paused its relentless attacks so it could turn and back away from its assailants. It was still close enough that with one movement it could cleave either one of the two of them, but if they wanted to return the favor they'd have to get closer. 

Both of them knew it was baiting them. While Albedo kept his distance the Cadet dashed in, surprising the alchemist. The growing pulses of electricity hadn't gone unnoticed by the Cadet, and he had a good idea of what they were building up to. 

He was too slow to stop the blast; lightning burst violently out of the darkbeast's center in an area around it. The Cadet's shield had been raised but the electric eruption still pushed back, his feet sliding over stone while the electricity not absorbed by the elemental shield crackling around his form. He grit his teeth, glad he hadn't taken the full force of that. He also wasn't surprised to see that Paarl looked to be in an even more super charged state. It's body was covered in constantly moving bolts of lightning, and its ragged fur stood on end, making it look even more ghastly. 

There was no further warning before Paarl was back on the attack. It still relied primarily on its claws, and its swings were no less visceral than before, but now they discharged a lot more electricity. Every swipe sent arcs of lightning running over the ground in several directions, furthering threatening the fighters even if they gave the claws themselves a wide berth. As the lightning rushed between the cracks in the stone courtyard, one could almost swear that they veered towards Ace and Albedo as though they were alive. It was a much too dangerous situation to leave unchecked for long, but if the burst and charging up were within the monster hunter's expectations, it stood to reason that a hard enough hit to knock it out of its charged state would work too.

[color=salmon]"Get ready!"[/color] the Cadet called over to his ally somewhat cryptically. Thankfully, Albedo was versed in interpreting such call outs. The hunter moved, taking Paarl's attention with him. The field shifted so that now the Cadet and Albedo were nearer to each other, and the alchemist stepped onto the Isotoma and was lifted up into the air where he awaited his cue. The Cadet veered then, rushing in toward Paarl and leaping over a bolt of lightning as he did. This time he followed through with his Shoryugeki properly, bashing his shield up into the beast and forcing its head to snap back. The hunter jumped up for the downward slam portion ad the same time that Albedo jumped from his platform with a plunging attack, the double hit knocking Paarl to the ground and prematurely ending its charged state. Static discharged from the beast entirely, leaving it dark and empty looking.

The Ace Cadet and Albedo looked at each other, a little hopeful that that would be the end of it. Unfortunately the darkbeast began to rouse, standing back up more quickly than they'd expected. It screamed that high pitched ghostly wail and slashed at the two men with fervor, splitting them up once more. The Cadet dutifully kept close to the monster, taking the most of its offense. 

Albedo's eyes flickered from the darkbeast to his Isotoma. By his calculation, the construct would be fading away in a few moments. While he had the energy, and the Ace Cadet had the beast's attention, it would be prudent to use his elemental burst.

The alchemist banished his sword for a moment, gathering the power of Geo in his hand. With a wave of his arm he produced his Tectonic Tide, causing Geo crystals to surge forward and burst out of the ground. Though they disappeared just as quickly as they'd formed, each one that struck Paarl dealt a heavy blow to its bones. The beast screeched as it staggered, left with an opening that the monster hunter was all too eager to take advantage of. The Cadet transitioned from his shield-focused fighting style into a Sword Dance, incorporating the blades on his rigging for even more cutting ability. Being a technique designed for attack hard body parts, the sword cut chunks into Paarl. At the same time, the second part of Albedo's Tectonic Tide went off; Fatal Blossoms of Geo energy shimmered and burst in mid-air around the Isotoma, ensuring that the undead monster was taking damage from all angles.

Under the assault, Paarl vibrated with energy. The space between its ribs began to glow again, signalling its impending explosion of lightning. Albedo distanced himself quickly before it went off, snagging some elemental crystals as he went - then the beast arching its back and letting out a violent screech as the electricity erupted in a wave around it. This time unprepared for the surge, the force sent the Cadet flying until he landed on his back a little ways away. 

Darkbeast Paarl turned to Albedo then, its posture low and menacing. To the alchemist it evoked the image of a grim feline about to pounce, which meant he anticipated what came next. Paarl jumped, not high into the air but forward fast. It leapt at Albedo with both of its claws outstretched to try and catch him, covering the distance between them near instantly. He thought he'd avoided it entirely by dodging to the side, but Paarl had already demonstrated that its strikes were faster than they appeared. The elemental shield protected him from the electricity, but shallow slices appeared on the edge of his shoulder and abdomen. When the darkbeast's next swipe came down it seemed even faster; the large skeletal paw slammed down on Albedo, sending him to the ground and pinning him between its claws.

He winced, wounded, as the beast let its jaw hang open. Fortunately he didn't have to think of any quick escapes from its teeth; in the next moment the monster hunter's clutch claw wrapped around Paarl's face, and then the Cadet followed it. He used his full weight to slam into the side of Paarl's head, knocking it off balance enough for Albedo to squeeze out of its loosened grip. 

Paarl thrashed for a few seconds before it seemed to realize its hanger-on wouldn't be shaken off so easily. Lightning ran from its fur and around its bones, arcing off the hunter too. He glanced down at Albedo, catching the other swordsman's eye and evaluating his well being. The alchemist was much more fragile than the Cadet - most people were. If he took any more heavy blows it wouldn't be good. 

The Cadet may not have fought this particular beast before, but he had a plethora of experience to draw on. Paarl didn't fight desperately like a normal, living monster would before death, but even so its body language had been slowly shifting as an animal's would the more the swordsmen wore it down. And after Albedo's Geo light show, he deduced that it couldn't be far from collapsing. He could handle the rest. He'd be an embarrassment of a hunter if he couldn't.

[color=salmon]"I'll take it from here!"[/color] the Cadet called while clinging to its head. With his legs holding on and his rigging's blades sunk as deep into the bone as they could get, the hunter used his strength to yank its face away from Albedo, forcing its body to follow. [color=salmon]"Don't worry - I'm - a professional!"[/color] he followed up with, his words punctuated by grunts of exertion as he wrestled with it.

Albedo lingered, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of leaving the Cadet to face it alone. Eventually he acquiesced after summoning a Solar Isotoma to leave behind, retreating to a much safer distance. Just after he did, Paarl threw its head back and then smashed it directly into the ground, cracking the stone under the impact. This finally dislodged the Cadet; he'd braced himself for it, but damn did that [i]hurt.[/i] Especially without his sturdier armor on.

The blow seemed to have affected Paarl as well, as the skeletal monster swayed for a moment before finding its feet again. Unwilling to let it completely recover, the Cadet found his own feet and sprung up into attacking. He came at the beast by swinging his shield arm forward, the motion similar to a right hook. The edge of the shield slammed into Paarl's jaw, hardly enough to even turn the monster's head - but the Cadet continued undaunted. He pressed forward, driving the shield's face head on into Paarl's. He heard something splinter and kept going, bringing his arm back again to strike with an even harder bash against the side of its skull. 

The darkbeast wailed, scooting backwards to avoid the finishing round slash from the hunter's sword. Then it came right back, reaching in with its quick and brutal claw swipes. Now the hunter was back on the defensive, fending off the physical slashes and relying on the dwindling elemental shield to prevent the worst of the lightning from affecting him. Throughout the fight the Cadet had been getting more used to the speed of Paarl's slashing, making them easier for him to block. What was really worrying was that electricity was starting to flash in its chest cavity again already, putting the Cadet on alert. If he wanted to prevent it from charging itself up any more, which he very much did, he'd have to act fast.

The Cadet raised his shield up to stop an overhead slash and slipped out from under the darkbeast's claws, sprinting underneath its body toward the Isotoma on the other side of it. Paarl shifted, lowering itself to spin around in a flash. It dragged lightning through the air with its claws as it lashed out, this time managing to catch its prey. Blood splashed over the ground, ripped from the Cadet's arm and back. It was all he could do to keep upright and not go sprawling to the ground. When he made it to the Isotoma he stepped onto it like he'd seen Albedo do before, and a flower-like construct ferried him up into the air. Paarl's eyeless gaze followed him, and from the new vantage point the Cadet could really see the number he and Albedo had done on the beast. Splinters and fractures littered the bones of its skeleton, especially in areas where entire pieces had been broken off. The sight encouraged the Cadet, and he leapt off the small platform. He practically dove toward Paarl with a helm breaker, his sword held overhead in both of his hands. When the blade struck it shook the monster enough to knock it back out of its charged state, and the hunter drove it down toward the ground. Its skull cracked against the stone, rattling its whole body. 

Paarl fell, collapsing into a heap. It didn't move even as the Cadet, who had landed on top of it, climbed off of the pile of bones. It didn't move, but neither did it disintegrate, keeping the Cadet on edge. [i]Is it dead? Re-dead?[/i]

A chill ran down the red head's spine. Slowly, the beast started to rise. It dragged its head up off of the ground, the whole skull titled at the wrong angle on its neck. Its body made a horrible grinding sound as it tried to stand, not that the hunter was going to let it. The Cadet raised his shield, bringing it down hard on the split that was starting to spread through its skull thanks to the continued abuse from Albedo and himself. The steel acted like a hammer and wedge in one, crumbling the bone.


[center][h2]Dead of Night[/h2]
Ace Cadet’s [@Yankee], Big Band’s [@Lugubrious], Albedo, Lucia
[b]Word Count:[/b] 5044 [/center]
At great length, the Darkbeast Paarl hit the ground for the final time, the horrendous creaking of its fractured bones falling silent as its uncanny electric aura sparked its last. That monstrosity had just refused to die, a far more dogged nightmare than its Revenant counterpart despite the other terror’s high-tech equipment. Band, Lucia, and Albedo looked on warily from a distance, waiting to make sure that the undead werewolf would actually stay down this time. All three were beat, tired and sore from fighting with no dedicated healer to take the edge off. It had been only hours since the not-so-silent night had fallen over Edinburgh MagicaPolis, but with no end to the skeletal hordes, it felt like forever. Even Ace was feeling it by now, and if he wanted to prioritize his own well-being with what minor healing he possessed, Big Band couldn’t blame him. The Cadet was not that kind of man however; he was happy to share what he had with others, even in dire straits. Maybe especially in those times.

[color=salmon]"Nothin' to it,"[/color] the Cadet joked, his voice cracked and quieter than normal, as he wiped the blood from the side of his face. After collecting the mighty beast's spirit and grouping back up with the others, he offered them the last of his potion stock before indulging himself. Band graciously declined, as did Albedo, and though Lucia’s denial was less believable, she did the same.

Of course, the four didn’t believe for a moment that their opposition ended with Paarl. As their battles raged within the circular monument plaza, more skeletons had trickled in. Rather than interfere with the fights, they watched eerily from afar, forming a scattered perimeter around the plaza’s edges. With them around, the place seemed even more bleak and lifeless. This area seemed like a historical district, unpopulated but preserved for its religious or other ceremonial significance. What few workers or residents remained couldn’t possibly be sleeping after all this commotion, but none dared to poke their heads out their doors or peer through their shutters. The Seekers were surrounded and, except for one another, alone. When it became clear that Paarl was well and truly defeated, however, the skeletons recoiled. They remained at a respectful distance, giving the fighters who’d just felled some of their strongest brethren a wide berth. In that uneasy moment, everyone could hear subtle whispers swelling against the background noise of polar winds, whistling across the faces of buildings and through the wrought-iron fences.

“Hmph,” Band grunted after a moment, easing up just a touch. With his heart rate slowing, the cold was setting in, and with each breath he took his instruments gave off puffs of warm mist. “Looks like they know what’s good for ‘em, after seein’ all that.” He wasn’t about to let his guard down though. These skeletons weren’t attacking, but they weren’t retreating, either. In fact, it seemed to him as if they were waiting. Probably for reinforcements. Hopefully for the Skullgirl.

It wasn’t long before Band got his answer. One of the buildings attached to the plaza, antiquarian enough in design to be anything from a museum to a temple, gave out a loud creak as its front doors pushed open. Barely illuminated in the feeble light of magic lamps, a very small [url=https://i.imgur.com/aaBH3Wd.png]skeleton[/url] sidled through the gap, his little purple cape fluttering in the frigid breeze. He jogged down the steps and took hold of the wrought iron gate at the bottom, which he pulled ajar with great effort. Some of the nearby skeletons came over to help, and after their combined efforts opened the gate, the little one waved to the Seekers, beckoning. 

Band pursed his lips, his nose wrinkled and his eyes narrowed. “Much as I don’t like the look of that, it seems like someone wants to meet us.” He slowly looked over at the others out of the corner of his eye.

“A truce, maybe? They mighta realized they can’t drive us oahff with brute foahce,” Lucia reasoned. As much as they’d worked to earn a little satisfaction, Band hoped her boast wasn’t pre-emptive.

Albedo remained deadpan. “Or, for the same reason, it could be a trap.”

[color=salmon]"I don't think so,"[/color] the Ace Cadet said. His gaze was on the dark passageway beyond the gate, focused, apprehensive. [color=salmon]"This is [i]Linkle[/i], remember?"[/color]

Cursed or not, there was no way the monster hunter believed that Linkle would set a trap for them. She'd been helping them out too, or trying to, despite her affliction. Albedo had traveled with her, surely he knew that too and was just trying to be objective. It was a good thing, because the Cadet couldn't be. He wanted to help their friend. His hands closed into tight fists.

Regardless, they wouldn’t achieve anything backing down now. This was the best chance the Seekers had to do what they came for, and walking headfirst into dangerous territory was nothing new. The four readied themselves and heeded the little skeleton’s summons, advancing toward the building. As they approached, the other skeletons shrank back to let the team pass, and the little one turned to guide them onward. After ascending the stairs, they entered the [url=https://i.imgur.com/8Zw7XME.png]cathedral[/url].

It was quiet. Ominous. Every wall was a gallery of recesses separated by pillars, most with eerie, larger-than-life statues of unified material and theme, if not composition. Though the darkness in here made it tantalizingly difficult to make out the details, Band felt sure that none of those marble figures, no matter their forms or postures, were quite human. He tried not to let his eyes rove through the huge interior space too much, though the vaulted ceilings invited him to turn his gaze to the balconies high above, where many more empty sockets stared down at him. He kept his focus on the very front of the cathedral, where in place of an altar, there sat the statue of a hooded woman with a bronze, mechanical figure sprawled across her lap. Moonlight poured through the tall glass window behind her, as well as from the domed skylight above, and snowflakes drifted through the broken glass. There, sitting on the marble curve of the saintess’s robe, nestled between the limp arm of the bronze machine and the side of his torso, sat the Skullgirl.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/8AUVbIq.png[/img][/center]

She wore a tattered cloak of dark green, its hood over her milk-pale face. The hair that lined her face and spilled from her hood in twin braids blazed a bright blue, like frozen flame. From two holes on either side extended plumes of the same icy inferno, resembling rabbit ears. She wore a faded burgundy suit of what might be leather, with sleeves and legs that flared out over metal gloves and greaves. Beneath her choker, what little skin would’ve been visible seemed to be blue-tinged and transparent, allowing the newcomers to see her spinal cord and collarbone. This gave her face the unsettling appearance of a mask, a false shred of humanity worn on a lifeless body.

“She’s too far gone,” Band whispered beneath his breath, almost imperceptibly.

The Skullgirl’s [url=https://i.imgur.com/pol5VUj.png]eyes[/url] slid open. They were a radiant, nightmarish scarlet, each iris containing half of a skull. For a moment her face tightened in an expression of instinctual annoyance, as if she’d just been awoken from a pleasant slumber. Then her eyes filled with sorrow. Misery. Regret. When she spoke, her voice was slightly hollow. Resonant. As if fathomless masses backed her voice with the faintest of whispers.

[b]“Why… are you here?”[/b]

It was a few moments before anyone spoke. It wasn't easy to reconcile the visage of the person in front of them with that of their lost friend. The Skullgirl was uncanny, and the haunting, almost mystical look about her unnerved the Cadet. He could feel his palms perspiring and his throat tighten. At his hip, the scoutflies that would normally remain their neutral green while safe in their cage slowly began to emit a reddish glow in the presence of the Skullgirl - though it was already obvious that she was dangerous. But underneath the eerie blue and bone motif, there was a heroic girl hurting. Her eyes said as much. Linkle was still in there.

Wasn't she?
 
The Cadet swallowed the lump in his throat and took a step forward.

[color=salmon]"Linkle... Long time no Ceadeus, huh?"[/color] he started, though even he could barely spare a smile at his icebreaker. He continued then, spreading his hands in front of him. [color=salmon]"We're here to help you."[/color]

A certain party member had alternative reasons for seeking her out, though the Cadet remained ignorant to them for the moment, the optimistic spark in his heart a little too bright to see them.

[color=salmon]"We've been looking for you since you disappeared from the Dead Zone. Nadia... Ms. Fortune told me what happened there, and Albedo filled us in on the rest. You've been fighting that curse alone, right? But you don't have to! We'll find a way to break it together. Okay?"[/color]

[i]Before it's too late. Before more people get hurt.[/i]

Linkle turned her downcast eyes to the floor. “I’d like that. I really would. But…”

Lucia and Band kept quiet, whether out of apprehension or deference. As Ace spoke, though, Albedo stepped forward to throw his support behind the hunter’s words. “Linkle. I only had the pleasure of meeting you after whatever happened,” he began. “But I’ve seen your courage and kindness for myself. Even in this state, you went out of your way to help people. Like Treat, Tuley, and Skadi. It doesn’t matter what you look like. You have the spirit of a hero. But saving the world is too great a burden for any one hero. Please, don’t give up on us.”

[i]Well said.[/i] To Band, it sounded rather like he’d been workshopping this speech. Once he finished, Band finally spoke up. “Don’t let the Skull Heart win,” he urged, holding out a faint hope that there was anything left but the Skull Heart to address.

“I don’t want to!” Suddenly Linkle looked up, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed as she stared at her four visitors. “I’m fighting back as hard as I can, I really am. Every single day. But I’m only human. The voices…they’re wearing me down. Like sandpaper on my soul. And the more they strip away, the more I understand.” She paused, her expression one of pity. “Listen. At first, I was convinced that I had to run away. That I would only hurt you if I lost myself. But maybe that was the Skull Heart talking, because things got so much worse so fast…I realized it was my friends who were keeping me, well, me. And I want you back. Even if the old me is gone, I think I can keep from sinking any deeper as long as I have friends.”

Despite her hollow timbre, Band could hear the powerful emotion in her voice. He got the sense she’d been wanting to say this for a while. As for why she’d been so hesitant to do so, he suspected that she was about to say.

The detective’s guess was right on the money. “But I don’t want to lie to you, so there’s something you need to know. About how bad things really are. I was planning to take it to my grave, since I figured it’d be too much for anyone else. But if you really want to help me… I can tell you.” As she prepared herself to ask a question she already knew the answer to, Linkle put on a wry smile. “Will you listen?”

[color=salmon]"Of course!"[/color]

The Cadet knew they were far from out of the woods yet regarding Linkle's condition, but the fact that she was still herself in part - that she wanted help and was willing to let them do what they could for her - came as a real relief. He was glad that Albedo had come with them and spoken up, agreeing with all of the alchemist's words. Now he didn't know what Linkle was going to tell them, she made it sound grim and heavy, but he was more than willing to hear out anything she had to say. If she wanted her friends back she'd have them. [color=salmon]"What else are friends for, right?"[/color]

Linkle took a deep breath in through her nose. “Well…alrighty, if you insist.” Then gathered herself up and jumped down from the statue, animated by a trace of hopeful energy. Despite the long shadow she cast, Albedo noticed that the Skullgirl was actually the shortest person here now that she stood before him. Her slight smile turned wry, a little sheepish even, which was an odd expression for an undead abomination to make. “This is…well, it’s gonna sound creepy no matter what, so there’s no avoiding it. I can sort of…sense…the dead. All around me. I don’t hear their voices or anything, but still, it’s almost like they’re calling me. Begging me to be revived. As to why that’s a problem, beyond the obvious I mean, well…”

After fidgeting uncomfortably for a moment, she crossed her arms. “I guess I should start at the beginning, since none of you were there. The first thing I remember is about a week ago, showing up on this hillside way, way south of here. I was still brainwashed, and for whatever reason I was attacking this poor little guy named Kirby. There were others, too. Bowser, Blazermate, Courier 6, Michael, Tora, Geno. At first I thought that’s when the World of Light got made, but the farther we went, the more people we found with memories that went back longer. Like Peach, she said she’d been cooped up while the Rabbids and the robots were fighting for…months, I think?”

That matched up with what the Cadet knew. He had spent more than a few weeks living in Lumbridge until the Seekers had swept through. Before that things were fuzzy, and before [i]that[/i] all he recalled were memories from his original, home world. He nodded at Linkle, encouraging her to continue, but... well, he had sort of braced himself for some awful revelation regarding her curse. It had started like that, but he didn't know what her tangent had to do with it. The hunter realized that he must have misinterpreted what she meant when she said "how bad things really are."

Linkle ran her hand over her head, slicking back her own rabbit ears, which popped up again the moment she let them go. “So…what I’m saying is, memories aside, there’s no telling how long the World of Light’s been around. Except that…you know, as time goes by, more and more people die. A city’s population might stay the same, but the dead just pile up, and up, and up…” She narrowed her eyes. “You…you see what I mean, right? Even while constantly trying to suppress my power, I’ve been raising the dead without even meaning to. There’s just so many of them. I can feel them, everywhere. You don’t get that many dead people in a week or two. Or in months. Or years.” She swallowed. “Or…decades. To me, it feels like people have been living, fighting, and dying in this world for…for centuries.”

For several long moments, no one in the cathedral spoke. Even the muted bone rattling of the undead around them quieted down in the face of the Skullgirl's confession. Ace's eyebrows shot up in surprise. That was the last thing he had expected her to say, and it took him a bit to process it.

[color=salmon]"[i]Centuries?[/i] That can't be, I mean- that's... that's crazy, right?"[/color] Though he said that, at face value he believed Linkle's words. He had no reason not to, and with her curse giving her special insight into the dead, what she'd said was just about the only theory that made sense if there were really that many souls calling out to her.

He cast a look at Band, Lucia, and Albedo. [color=salmon]"That Galeem thing has been abducting people- whole planets- for hundreds of years...?!"[/color]

The others were having as much trouble grappling with it as he was. Lucia had one hand on her hat, a dismayed look on her face. Albedo kept his expression impassive as he wrote in his notebook, noting down every detail but saying nothing. Big Band was shaking his head, his wide eyes showing just how flabbergasted he was. After a moment he swallowed, and opened his dry mouth to speak. “It’s crazy alright. I wanna say it ain’t possible, but to tell the truth, I got nothin’ to back that up. Just lemme think…” He scrunched his brows together at Linkle. “You said the first thing you remember’s a week ago?” As she nodded, he took a long, slow breath. “Well, for me…let’s see. One thing at a time. I joined y’all back in the Sandswept Sky in Al Mamoon. Peacock and I arrived by train ‘bout a week before that. Took the Owl Express outta the Forbidden Kingdom, veerin’ south past the Valley o’ Ruin. Before that we spent a couple months in Snowbelle City. Before that…” He paused, uncertain. “Anythin’ further back than a year, and it’s hard to say.”

“At least ya got that fah, I can’t even remembah back a full yeah,” Lucia chimed in, looking a little horrified. “That’s supah weahd. The hell’s wruong with me?”

Albedo lowered his notebook, thinking. “So the working theory is that Galeem is attacking different worlds and pulling their people into the World of Light over time?” He crossed his arms. “We would need to corroborate a shared timeframe with two freed individuals from the same world. Before that, though, there’s something to consider. Galeem itself.” From inside this cathedral he couldn’t see the night sky, but when the clouds had parted earlier, he’d seen the World of Light’s architect. “I haven’t been watching constantly, but whenever I look toward the continent’s center, I can see Galeem there. I believed it to be inactive. However, it could also be a fake.” He put his hand on his chest. “As for me, I can remember events over a year in the past. Plenty of people have come and gone during that time, but I didn’t think anything of it.” He shook his head. “There’s too much we don’t know.”

“You know who probably does, though?” Band interjected suddenly. “Those damn Consuls, L and N. We get our hands on one, and we can grill ‘em for all they’re worth. Forget all this worryin’ and fussin’, so what if the world’s been around a long time? Our goal’s the same.”

[i]Centuries.[/i] The Cadet's mind was still reeling even as he processed what Band said. Missing persons case, tales of people being spirited away, ships and caravans that vanished and never reached their destination... could it have been the result of "this"? Being brought to a weirdo patchwork world? Or maybe it was possible this was some kind of shared after life? The hunter absolutely did not want to consider those kinds of implications. He shook his head subtly, then put on his best determined face.

[color=salmon]"Big Band's right. There's still a bunch of people and places to set free from Galeem's mind control. So whether that ball of light up there's a fake, or it's been kidnapping people for hundreds of years... we can get the answers as we go.

"And the Consuls trying to stop us from getting those answers? We'll deal with 'em. It'll be better with you fighting with us again, Linkle. And it’ll be easier to help you when we’re with you."[/color]

The Cadet looked at her again. Her appearance, and the feel of her overall presence, was still surreal. He smiled though, an expression that read [i]everything is gonna be okay.[/i] They'd find a way to purge her curse as part of the answers they sought. He extended his hand toward the Skullgirl. 

It was the monster hunter’s bright smile that seemed to shine through the last of Linkle’s doubt. Her dreadful news clearly hadn’t been the deathblow to the heroes’ morale that she thought it would be. Ace, Band, Albedo, and even a new face like Lucia all appeared to be as determined as ever to right the world of light’s wrongs. Linkle took a deep breath. “Now I feel bad for doubting you guys.” She leaned forward to reach down and accept Ace’s hand, then hopped down from the statue, landing among the others. 

Compared to all of them, even Albedo and Lucia, Linkle was surprisingly short face-to-face. Too young and too kind a girl to bear such a heavy burden, Band reckoned. Right now though, it wasn't melancholy that the detective felt. How could it be, when they’d managed to get through to Linkle, and bring her back from the brink and into the fold? It almost surprised him to realize that for a moment, he’d forgotten all about the monster she was destined to become. In that moment he’d seen only the poor girl who’d nearly lost herself, but refused to succumb. Their eyes met briefly, and a flicker of knowing passed between them. Linkle had no future. That was an inescapable fact, and she knew it. Yet somehow she resolved to carry on, and fight for a brighter tomorrow that she’d never see for herself.

“You’re strong,” he told her, his voice low and his respect clear. “A whole lot stronger than me.”

Despite everything, Linkle smiled. “A hero never gives up. If I’m gonna be one someday, neither can I.”

The Cadet chuckled incredulously at the girl's humility and patted her on the shoulder. As far as he was concerned anyone that had been part of the campaign so far was one, especially Linkle, despite her present condition. He withdrew his hand from the Skullgirl's cool frame and crossed his arms, the metal pieces on his coat and gauntlets clinking together softly.

He was immensely glad that they didn't have to do battle with Linkle, and even more so that she decided to give herself a fighting chance. Or so he thought; it was impossible for the monster hunter to know the inescapable consequences of accepting the Skull Heart. Still, after getting separated from Nadia and the rest of the Seekers, learning the fate of Smash City Alcamoth and the allies they'd left there, and challenging Consul N and losing... the good guys really needed a win. Linkle did too, after what she'd been through. Coming together like this was that win - and it was only the first part. Together, they'd tackle the Consuls and her curse.

[color=salmon]"Gargwawesome. We should all probably rest and plan our next move. But..."[/color] The Ace Cadet glanced up and around at the skeletons that still lined the cathedral before looking back at Linkle. [color=salmon]"What can we do about all the boneheads skull-king around? You said you can't help raising them?"[/color]

Linkle pursed her lip and inhaled, nodding. “Yes, but they’re loyal. Mostly. I’ve been trying to keep them out of trouble, but this isn’t a good power, and plenty of bad things have died around here. They’re not all bad though.” As she spoke, the short skeleton with the purple cape came over to stand next to her, his presence -small but determined- reassuring. Linkle patted him on the skull, which seemed to please him. “They’ll help us when it’s time to fight. I need to avoid using my powers if I can, I think they’re tainted the Skull Heart now. So it’s skeletons and crossbows for me.”

While Band wasn’t sure that he bought the idea that any of these reanimated monstrosities could be good, he knew that he and the others needed all the help they could get. If Linkle had an idea of what did and didn’t worsen her condition, that was a good start. [i]An Anti-Skullgirl soldier workin’ with a Skullgirl, huh?[/i] he thought with a sigh. [i]Really is rainin’ cats and dogs.[/i] “Right, y’all. We made ourselves an unlikely friend. What’s next?”

Albedo stood with his arms crossed, clearly already thinking about the team’s next course of action. “Our current goal is the Consuls. It stands to reason that they pose the greatest threat to our overall mission, and they also possess critical information. Given N’s demonstrated might, we must assume that L is at least as powerful. Fighting them one at a time would be our best course of action. We’ve already been to what I assume is L’s home, but I highly doubt she’ll be waiting there for us to challenge her.”

Furrowing his brow, Band recalled a couple choice words. “The Flame Clock. Sounded important to L at least. Ring any bells?”

“Flame Clock…” Linkle repeated beneath her breath, thinking. “Sorry, I haven’t seen anything like that.” Her eyebrows rose suddenly. “But my skeletons might. I’ll have them search the city. Uh… as quietly and not-scarily as possible.”

“That wahks,” Lucia remarked. As much as these skeletons sent shivers down her spine, she’d rather them be working for her than against her.

Band nodded. “She’s probably long gone by now, but if the Flame Clock’s where they go when the goin’ gets tough, we’ll know where to find ‘em.”

“One other thing,” Linkle piped up. “Last night, I fought N. We ran into each other after nightfall at the magic library. I guess we were both looking for you. His power’s nasty, but…well, to keep things brief, it was a stalemate.” She forced herself to smile. “So when we do find him, I’m sure we can defeat him together!”

Unfortunately, her confidence did not leave Band reassured. If the Skullgirl could hold off the man who took his team four-on-one, she might already be too strong. But for now, he had to trust her. Or at least in the fellow heroes that trusted her. “...Right.”

[color=salmon]"[i]Definitely,[/i]"[/color] the Cadet said, agreeing with Linkle. He clapped the detective on his broad back, hoping to instill some of the optimism he currently felt. Especially since the last day or two had been nearly devoid of it. [color=salmon]"If we can get through that weird power of his."[/color]

In general the Cadet was of the same mind as Lucia - the skeletons creeped him out, but he would let Linkle handle them as best she could. He put his focus back onto the Flame Clock that Band brought up, seeing as that was the best lead they had at the moment.

[color=salmon]"I hope that Flame Clock's a 'we'll know it when we see it' kind of thing."[/color] The hunter could only really conjure an image in his mind of a regular old clock on fire. Or one that was filled with fire. Actually, that reminded him of something... After a brief moment of thought, the Cadet turned to Lucia with raised eyebrows. [color=salmon]"Hey, didn't you say there was a big yellow clock at the top of the pumpkin? It couldn't be that, could it?"[/color]

Linkle’s own brows shot up as she whirled to face Lucia, followed by the gaze of everyone else.

For a moment, the policewoman just blinked at them, her eyes wide. Then she let out a breathless chuckle. “Well, I’ll be dahned. That’s proabably the one. In Edinburgh it don’t get moah high an’ mighty than that.” She scratched her neck, slightly mortified.

“On top…?” Band’s eyes widened as he peered through the church’s frosted window toward the snowbound city’s most incredible landmark. With the Eiffel Tower forming just the peak of the witch’s hat atop the pumpkin that contained the whole Nyakuza Metro, its size was astronomical to the point of absurdity. Despite everyone’s relative proximity to it, it towered to such heights that the pinnacle would’ve still been visible above the hat’s gear-shaped brim if not for the cloudy sky. He whistled. “Hate to say it, but that’s a high note I don’t think I can hit.”

Albedo crossed his arms. “I’m sure there are other ways up. But they could conceivably take so long that if we attempt to pursue a Consul there, he or she may finish with the Flame Clock long before we get there.”

“If only we had a choppah oah somethin’,” Lucia remarked, nodding sadly.

“Well, that’s one problem solved!” Linkle piped up. The irony of the Skullgirl being the ray of positivity alongside Ace was not lost on Band. “Once we figure out a way up there, all that’s left is to take the fight to the Consuls.”

Once again Albedo stepped in to help. “We can use their overconfidence against them. They believe they have all the power, and may not hesitate to step into a trap.”

Band snapped his metal fingers. “What about L’s ‘collection’? She said she ‘curated’ those poor folks from all over in order to keep ‘em forever. I bet she wouldn’t sit idly by if we went and smashed the place up. And N said he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her stuff, too.” His eyes narrowed. “It’ll leave a bad aftertaste, I know, but in the end there ain’t anythin’ there but frozen ash.”

“And when we defeat her, we can get the secret of the Highland’s Guardian out of her,” Albedo said, skirting around the issue of L’s ‘specimens’. 

Ace Cadet looked back and forth between the small gathered group, smiling at the newfound energy. After a long and harrowing night it was impossible not to feel the weariness really starting to set in, but one goal completed and a new one to work towards kept the worst of it at bay. 

[color=salmon]"Alright, this is sounding like a plan!"[/color] he said, bringing his hands together in one enthusiastic clap. If they pulled this off, the catharsis alone would be worth it in his opinion, not to mention everything they stood to gain by succeeding. [color=salmon]"And now we know where to start."[/color]

Of course step one of investigating the massive pumpkin's clock and securing a quick way up would have to wait until after some rest. Still, progress was progress, and it was about time things swung back in the heroes' favor.