Crescendo

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

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Poor, poor, Lute. Aria chortled as she steadied the dizzy Virtuoso, handing over a black kitten she had scooped up from pile of fuzziness and happiness by her feet so she could free up her arms to help him. The grand finale was certainly grand, for a lack of better words to describe it. The sky was still swirling with rainbows, and the sunshine on her face was certainly welcome after a long period of darkness. The kittens and puppies were a welcome bonus as well.

“Now, now it’s time for us all to wake up.”

Yes, it was time for them to leave. They still had to deal with the good doctor in the real world, though Aria assumed that he wouldn’t be too much of a threat now without the Dream Eater to help him.

She shifted her grip on Lute, giving him a squeeze before closing her eyes and feeling the world fade away around her. Time to go back to the waking world, where there were no Don Mechas nor giant blobfishes, and yet after this mission she was sure that the normality of the real world would be a welcome feeling.

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Lest threatening antagonists ever, eh? MUAHAHAHA *evil laughter* Just you all wait and seeeeee >8D

...

Nah they're pretty harmless tbh. Or at least they usually are :'D

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

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“Woah…”

The small exhale of wonder could barely be heard over the rumblings of the Don Mech. Aria looked on, mouth hanging open at the coolness and sleekness of the whole thing. When the pompadour converted with a series of whirrs and bangs and copious amounts of gratuitous sparks into a giant Gatling gun- the illusionist had to physically repress from breaking out into excited squeals from the sheer amount of awesome.

The Dream Eater itself looked stricken by either awe at the amazing coolness, or was trying to comprehend the levels of ridiculousness this was all coming to. Before it could make a decision it was promptly weighed down by the frilliest and pinkest dress Aria had ever had the honor of seeing, and she snapped out of her mini fangirling session to clench a fist determinedly.

“I too, shall be cool.” She declared, glaring up at the Dream Eater’s shield. That would have to be taken care of first. Desisting her attacks for the moment, she raised both hands, brows furrowing in concentration as what looked to be a giant and very cool looking funnel slowly materialized in the air above her, wider end glowing and starting absorb all the attacks the various members of the Pride were directing towards the Dream Eater. With every attack, a small meter began to fill up on the side of the machine, and Syed’s railgun cannon blast pushed it over the edge. The funnel let out a loud clank, various gears and wires burning bright hot as a ball of energy appeared on the other end, growing bright and brighter before shooting out a beam of super compressed energy towards the dress-clad monster with a roar.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

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“We just need to believe... let's take back our dreams!”

Aria watched in wonder, an amazed smile spreading across her face as bridges sprang up between each platform courtesy of Dylan, while the others’ weapons shifted into more powerful forms. To think defeating the Dream Eater had been something so simple.

The Pride’s newly found hope and confidence seemed to make the demon panic as it screamed and blew up some of the bridges, only to have new ones take their place almost immediately. The tides had turned and they all knew it, with the Demon growing more enraged by the second.

"THIS WORLD IS MINE!"

“Not anymore it isn’t,” she grinned, not faltering when it managed to shatter the beams of light keeping it in place and charged towards them. It barely managed to take a few steps before it tripped over the striped and strangely colorful ropes that had wound themselves around the monster’s legs, tripping almost comically and landing with a resounding thud on its face that made the clocktower rock slightly.

Aria’s smile widened- as much as illusions were fun, to have them be able to physically affect something for once was quite exhilarating too. A fluffy top hat appeared on the thing’s head too, strapped on tightly and obscuring its sight. It was a little unnecessary but the thing had made her doubt both her friends and herself- a little over the top theatrics to embarrass the dear doctor was to be expected.

While it struggled, a whirlwind of blades surrounded her as she leapt forward with the rest of her friends, ready to end this demon once and for all, no longer cloaked in fear but in determination and just a little bit of exhilaration.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

Okies! Posted! ^o^; Was a bit stuck there for a while- guess that happens when you try to post at 3am :'D

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

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A golden glow enveloped the gash on her arm, the pain numbing and the wound not disappearing completely but enough that she could ignore it now. Aria mumbled a quiet thanks to Amy, noting to treat the cleric to a drink the next time they had the chance.

“I’ll distract him, okay? Just run or something,”

Before Aria would protest how there was no way she was leaving him to deal with Largo himself, he had emitted a large soundwave at the Dream Eater Largo, sending the large man’s form momentarily quivering back into the consistency of the oily black fluid. A streak of red landed beside her and she turned, gripped by a sudden sense of relief to see a determined and angry looking Estelle glaring at the false Largo in front of them, burning sword held firmly before her.

She could see the rest of the guilders starting to make their way towards the clocktower platform, and she couldn’t help but smile, lifting a boot to squash the oozing face that had risen up again to whisper nonsense by her foot, before drawing out two more knives and launching them at the false Lion who had recovered from Lute’s distraction and was starting to lift his axe again. The blades sank into the man’s right wrist, causing black ooze to dribble out from the cut and causing his hold to weaken, grip slipping on the handle of the lion shaped axe whose blade thudded into the brick heavily.

Trixie and Dylan had reached the tower now as well, and the others were quickly approaching. Largo’s wounds were already starting to heal, oily liquid coalescing at the gashes as he stooped down to heft up the axe.

"We are gonna whip this guy all the way back to Los Paraisos! You don't mess with the Pride!"

Aria couldn’t help but smile, moving over to support Lute who’s attack had left him a bit wobbly. With everyone together- She was starting to see hope.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

I'm also almost done with my post :'D might end up posting before you is that ok Tae or do you want me to wait? /o;/

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Dat clam @v@

Also last call I think for questions for hooded figures <33 I think Michi's coming back today(?) so we'll be answering them later hehe ^o^

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

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The clocktower slammed into the oily black ooze, Aria nearly falling over if not for Lute’s death grip on her arm for support. A wave of relief hit her as she saw Selan, Xan and Lucien safe and unharmed bobbing in the sea of pitch darkness. The clockwork debris around them were starting to sink down along with the clocktower they were standing on, and yet what caught her eye was the trail of ooze creeping onto the ground behind Estelle, twisting as it shaped itself into the form of a large and imposing man wielding an axe in the shape of a lion.

“Largo-“ She breathed, having heard stories of the Guilder deemed ‘The Lion’- and his death. Before she could properly react his axe had swung down, Estelle barely deflecting the blow and flying past her and Lute.

“Disappointment attracts disappointment, I see.”

Aria took a step back as Largo turned on them, gaze cold as he took in the pair. The clocktower was still sinking, black waves lapping at the brick and stone and bringing with it a half formed figure that rose up besides the illusionst.

“Just die already!” It shrieked through oily lips, a cacophony of the Pride’s voices merged into one. It was enough to divert her concentration for a few seconds as Largo swung his axe once again despite the distance. The illusionist barely reacted in time to tackle Lute out of the way, feeling the very edge of the shockwave bite into her left arm as they skidded to the very edge of the tower. For what was supposed to be a nightmare, the wound sure hurt.

She staggered up to her feet quickly, resisting the urge to press down on the gash and instead whipping out a jagged knife and launching it at Largo’s hulking figure. The unsteady footing and pain made her miss, steel barely brushing past the man’s face as she drew out another, crouching down defensively as she flicked her eyes to Lute and then to the murky blackness that was starting to reach the tips of her boots. She couldn’t possibly block a hit from him, and if she and Lute tried to swim away and Dream Eater Largo attacked they would be no more than sitting ducks.

She cursed, glaring down the mountain of a man and ready to either leap to the side and into the liquid or to attack as a distraction as needed.

“Is there anywhere to run?” She gritted out, glancing over to Lute before back at Largo. She didn't dare risk taking her eye off the Lion to see if help was coming.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

I'll be posting in a bit /o/

Edit: Posteeeeed /o\ And thanks everyone! ^o^