Crescendo

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

The voice was back, taunting as Aria ran down the streets.

“Running away again? You really can’t do anything else but run, can you? This is why they came to detest you- you would have done nothing but drag them down in the long run.”

The Pride, the group of accomplished and kind and goal-driven people that she had come to know- How stupid had she been to think she would ever fit in? They would be better out without her, just as the voice said they would be. Their scornful gazes were burned into the back of her mind, and yet she couldn’t blame them for what they had said. Not when it was all true.

“What even made you think you could succeed as a guilder, anyways? Oh that’s right, you followed in your dear, loving parents’ footsteps because you were too ignorant and lazy to find your own job. Really, your childhood was way too easy.”The voice paused, before giving an excited giggle. “Oh yes, how about we go ahead and give you a tragic backstory? Maybe people will even pity you enough to not leave you!

Screaming filled the streets as the sky blackened with smoke. Aria jumped back as a large black shadow darted past her, crumbling a nearby building with a single touch as more shadows rushed past.

“Once upon a time, the city of Altkey attacked. By what, you ask? Who cares? The real question is, are you going to fight or not?”

Her decision was made before the sentence was over, the familiar weight of a pair of fans settling into her hands as she darted forward with a cry, shadow melting under the blades as she sliced through one of the figures. The scene froze, before melting into one that had the illusionist reeling back and gagging as the thick scent of blood filled the air.

“She chose to fight, but to no avail. She only managed to get in the way of those who were trying to protect their homes- Everyone here dies.”

Piles of bodies littered the streets, the faces of her friends and neighbours twisted into screams and terror. A sob tore its way out of Aria’s throat as she backed up against a crumbled wall, eyes clenched as to block out the sight.

The voice merely tittered as if it had merely seen something amusing. “Should’ve stayed out of the way, pet. Now, onto the rest of the story~”

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

A regenerating fungus monster that blended in with the giant mushrooms in the cave. Wonderful. It really was their lucky day, meeting a Funguy in this part of the caves.

Zephy sat on one of the higher ledges of the cavern above the battle, wincing and measuring out another length of bandages from her bag as Harper skidded across the floor. A small pile of already folded bandages sat next to her, ready to be used when the battle was over. She peered down at where the humans were trying to avoid the mushroom’s flailing tendrils while simultaneously trying to attack. Most of them were sporting scrapes and bruises by now, while fire girl had a hurt wrist and tall glasses man potentially having bruised ribs. She hoped the other group was faring somewhat better.

“Oooh.” She watched as the pale looking archer girl stabbed an arrow into the monster’s glowing eye, before being squashed roughly between the mushroom cap and the cavern wall before collapsing against the rock for support. Now that wouldn’t do- not only could was she in danger of being attacked by the mushroom in that position, she was close enough to the edge of the caves that a scavenging monster might just sneak out and carry the girl off before anyone noticed.

The messenger straightened her cap, before standing up and jumping down to the ground from her perch via a series of blue crystals that stuck out from the walls, serving like a set of disjointed stairs. With a running leap, she jumped in front of the fallen archer just as the mushroom struck out blindly, sharp claws bouncing off the glowing amber shield that formed instinctively around the small girl.

"Don't worry, I've got her!" She waved, before frowning at the hulking Funguy before her. "Alright, off you go now!” She demanded, darting back to her feet before presenting it with a flying kick to its face. The kick itself didn’t do much damage but did send the mushroom reeling off balance, back towards boobie girl and the pond in the middle of the cave. Trusting the other to keep the monster at bay, she checked over Leila quickly. No breaks or gaping wounds- that was good. Still, she was rather out of it and with good reason, so Zephy merely carefully lifted the girl to her feet and somehow managed with a bit of maneuvering brought the poor girl to the ledge where her bags were to recover for a while, out of the reach of the mushroom man.

“C’mon, guys! You can do it!” She cheered from the ledge down to the regrouped hummons. Maybe they were tougher than they looked after all. “Show him what you’ve got!”

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

I'm trying to write a post but it just isn't coming out ; v ;

I'll try again later and hope I have more ideas sorry- *rolls out into the sun in shame*

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

*incoherent screeches at Bun's drawing*
That is the best thing ever Syed's face and moIRA-

I'll get a post up soon once my free block starts yay for APs being over /o/

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

“You’re wrong!” Aria cried out, hands clamped over her ears but to no avail. The voice as clear as ever. “I-I’m not like that-“

“Not like that, she says! Well, how about this.” The voice chuckled sinisterly. “I’ll bring the city back- if you die. Simple, right?”

It was a simple choice, with the right answer being painfully obvious. It was obvious, yet the girl just stood there frozen. ‘If they’ll really come back then I’m willing!’, she wanted to shout, and yet her lips remained still, unable to form the words.

“See? SEE? You actually have the audacity to think your life outweighs those of thousands!” It shrieked victoriously.

Aria jumped as two figures walked out of the guild. “Who- Xan, Lute!” Had they escaped? They would know what's going on, right? But why were they laughing? They were both smiling about something, each looking happier than Aria could remember. About to run towards them, she paused when bits of their conversation floated by her despite the distance.

“Yeah, I’m glad she’s gone. I can’t believe they stuck me with that sorry excuse for a guilder for so long. I wanted to missions and get stronger, not be forced into babysitting someone older than me.”

“Right? I only endured her presence was because I had no choice. If I had a choice I would have left long ago. Luckily she went before I had to!”

They… They couldn’t be talking about her right? They would never-
“Aria wasn’t worthy of being called a Guilder. At least she was smart enough to quit before we ended kicking her out!”

Their voices were joined by a cacophony of others, and she whipped around, eyesight blurred only to see the Pride standing there, staring at her scornfully.

“I can’t believe we thought having you in our group would be a good idea.” Estelle shook her head, ponytail swinging.

“You couldn’t even take care of a single enemy. We didn’t need something so weak.” Marcus looked upon her with a hard glare as Selan stared her down, mouth twisted in a grimace.

“You’re crying? You think you deserve to cry when there are people suffering through more than you’ve ever faced?”

Their voices rose as they each starting talking, each word stabbing into her.

“Useless-”

“Weak-”

“Self-centered little-”

“Just get out of here already!”

They screamed and Aria fled, sprinting away from the Guild as their cackles followed.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

I'm done with APs *screams for the rest of the school year until school exams and provincials come*

Everyone's posts are just stabbing me right in the feels ; v ;

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

Heart pounding, she stared up at the empty guild in despair. The usually bustling square was eerily silent, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to prickle as she tried to catch her breath. The shopkeepers’ stands stood unattended, and nobody stood next to the pillar where she and Xan had agreed to meet. Against her wishes her body quivered, hands clenched into shaking fists.

“What’s this? Is the girlie feeling looonely?”

Aria jumped, whipping around wildly and trying to find the source of the screeching laughter.
“Who’s there? Who are you? Where is everyone?!” She demanded frantically. No matter where she looked, the town was as still as ever save the wind rippling over the trees. “Are you the one behind all this-”

“Slow down, sweetheart!” The voice cackled, a sound not unlike a combination of a blackboard being scraped and crunching gravel. “So many questions, too many questions. I’m nobody important, so we won’t talk too much about me. I was the one who took away all your friends though, I’ll admit to that at least. Aww, don’t make that face! I did it for your sake, after all.” The voice softened into what Aria thought was its version of a croon, and she gritted her teeth, glaring up to the sky

“What do you mean, for my sake? What did you do to them? If you’ve hurt them in any way-”

“Now, now, my dear,” it interrupted once again, crooning in a manner as if it pitied her. “I hardly need to explain this to you. You know, don’t you? That everyone will scorn and leave you when they finally realize what kind of person you truly are! Yes, see, you do know this!” The voice laughed gleefully as Aria trembled, shrinking back with narrowed eyes. Before she could manage an answer the voice shrilled on. “I know everything about you, darling. I've explored every nook and cranny of your silly little mind-And you’re absolutely right! Those little late night reflections and doubts are aaabsolutely justified, Aria. You are just a horrible, cowardly, wretched little girl who nobody could ever love, hiding under a façade of confidence as to fool the people you don't deserve to love. One day you’ll be forced to drop that silly little mask, and when your ‘friends’ see you then, there’ll be nobody left.

In the end, I’m just saving you copious amounts of shame and heartbreak, love.”

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

Aria stretched lazily, pushing aside her quilt cocoon to sit up and drawing aside the cheerful yellow curtains of her room in her parents’ house to blink up blearily at the sun. It was a nice day What a weird dream, with all that food coming to life and trying to eat her and… Who were with her again? Ah well, faces in dreams were always hard to recall.

Still, it was rather strange for her to have woken up so early without having to have been dragged out of bed. Maybe she’d even give Xan a shock and arrive on time for their mission today. She grinned, visualizing the look of surprise that would be on the girl’s face. Downstairs the table still had food on the table and one steaming mug of cup of coffee, no doubt belonging to her dad. But where were her parents?

She blinked, suddenly realize what had been nagging at her mind. It was quiet, and not just inside the house. No birds were singing as they were wont to do at this time of morning, her neighbour’s herd of yappy dogs were silent and no sound of people talking rose from the streets. She darted the windows and hurriedly pushed open the shutters and stared down at the empty sun lit streets. Clothes flapped on the clothesline stretching between houses and a fruit-filled cart stood abandoned in the street, yet there were no people to be seen.

It was as if all signs of life, from the people of the city to the songbirds in the trees had disappeared. Feeling rather panicked and slightly scared, Aria turned to dash out the door, running towards the Altkey Guild. Where had everyone gone? If there was going to be anyone anywhere, they would have to be at the guild. Heart pounding, she sped up and raced up series after series of stairs, towards the top of the city where the guild was located.

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

Thaum Square???

Aria meeped as the pavement beneath the group’s feet turned into a treadmill, forcing them to run in place as the various food jeered on. She tugged her arm away from Lucien’s hold with a quick thank you for saving her from those dastardly ice cream cones- Was this all punishment for having been such a glutton?

“Aria? You can pull of illusions or something, can't you? Do you think you could scare them away somehow?”

The illusionist turned to Amy, nodding with a small frown. “The only problem is whether they work on inanimate objects or not. Though these aren’t exactly inanimate anymore, are they?” She sighed, before giving a determined smile, being careful not to raise her voice too loudly. “I’ll try, and if it works then we push through and run! If we stay here any longer I’m pretty sure we’re gonna get skewered- okay enough talking sorry.”

She took a deep breath, before whipping out her fans dramatically, causing a few of the vegetables to take a step back.

“Like the ancient saying goes- If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em! I SUMMON THEE, THE GREAT CHOPPING BOARD!”

Maybe it was a little bit over the top, but these foods were trying to eat them and rather violently too.

She waved her fans for more dramatic effect. Luckily the foodstuffs were crowded together, making it easier to create the illusion and they screamed as what seemed to be a giant wooden board rose from the ground, dripping with juices from various vegetables and wielding a spattered knife in one hand and a bag full of various chopped up foods in the other.

“Not the chopping board!”

“I lost my grandma to one of these!”

As the crowd around them were too busy freaking about what would be the equivalent of a mass murderer to their edible eyes, Aria quickly motioned for them to run, quickly tugging Lisette along as the girl still looked a little but sick to the stomach.

“Come on!”

The Legend of Heroes: Tales of the World

I couldn't type up a post yesterday night because I was sorting out my art portfolio and my english AP this morning, sorry! I'll type up a post when I get home /o/

*gets ready for those lovely early morning timed essays in a few minutes*