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Post by Unknown on Jun 23, 2020 19:58:57 GMT -8
The coordinates within the BBS Message were easy enough to follow, but would immediately raise a number of concerns - what had they done to get it to the very top of the highest point within Creamland? Who could be so bold as to climb the famous and royal property, the Pride Castle?
It was hardly discernible, whatever it was that the strange message had requested that they retrieve, but it was noticeably spherical in shape from a distance, and as the shape rotated, a myriad of colors came into view with each new angle. It was, based on size, perhaps no larger than the average basketball, and, yet, a foreboding presence was carried with it - what could their strange benefactor want, and what could they possess, in return for simply moving this object to where they were requested to move it?
There was only one way to learn.
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Post by Warrior on Jun 27, 2020 13:53:31 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/U4Xclbh~png
" ... "
Feint stood silently atop the castle staring at the artifact described in the BBS Message. She had originally come here to investigate the cause of the Dark Colony's invasion of Netopia, but thus far had not seen any signs of the Dark Colony's influence like she had expected.
The BBS Message notified her of this spot and she came here without any competition; investigating the mysterious message could possibly lead to further clues, but she still wasn't certain on the matter. Still though, it was more informative than anything else she'd found here so far.
- - - - - - - -
Off in the distance, a concealed presence observes...
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Post by Regis on Jun 27, 2020 14:02:38 GMT -8
Was this where he was supposed to be coming to? The message board had said that this was where this mysterious 'person' was going to be. Less of the promise, but more of the knowledge was desirable. Given all that had gone in around the world lately, knowing what was going on would probably help out more than anything else in a sense. Especially... Holding a hand up to his chest, he shook his head, before continuing to move. Hopefully something would make sense here. Maybe even find Genesis here; after the encounter at the lake, he hadn't seen the Navi in a while.
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Post by Unknown on Jun 27, 2020 19:50:33 GMT -8
Surrounding the castle, marching across the patios and awnings sprawling from the royal network, were the elite royal guard of Creamland. A small army easily fit to destroy almost any invasion, they seemed somewhat at odds, and equally curious, at the presence of the strange orb atop their castle.
It was immediately noticeable that the orb wasn't a danger to anyone - at least, not in its current state. The beach-ball sized artifact continued to rotate, balanced precariously upon the large steeple of the castle. The artifact seemed to radiate a soft glow of the scintillating colors that it reflected as it rotated. As beautiful as it was to gaze upon from even a distance, the Creamland Knights still moved carefully, uncertain, as there was no easy way to that balancing point. Move too quickly or too carelessly, and the artifact falls, discarded and at risk, and it may cause it to set off whatever sinister purpose it had too soon.
The strange benefactor did not describe the object in detail, but it was obvious that this was it. Their only request was to retrieve it - surrounded by the Creamland Knights, that seemed very difficult. Still, its observers were just out of reach, and it seemed to almost call across the expanse for them to dare to come closer . . .
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 28, 2020 11:16:22 GMT -8
A figure beamed down from the Overnet, following a set of coordinates from the Global BBS. He had been running around in circles for a while now, so taking another detour woudln't hurt him aside from the prospect of wasting time.
Nightshade yawned and stretched right then and there in the middle of the road, fresh of a new look and a new armor. "Whoo boy. It's been a while. Not bad for my first trip around here. I'll pick a postcard or two." He looked around the area for a moment, getting his bearings. Well, the coordinates were correct and precise enough. There was nothing special about it one way or another. Then again, he couldn't be skittish. He was after one very specific thing, so he needed to check up all possible avenues. If he wanted his Beast Powers back, well, that cryptic message sounded just like the kind of shady thing that could lead to fun stuff.
"Now then..." He mused, the grey haired navi turning around to face the Creamland knights all over and whatever contraption they were surrounding. In a flash, the cat navi was leaning on a wall, besides a small group of Creamland Knights still in a tight formation. "Can any of you explain to me what exactly is that ball up there?" He asked, looking at each of the armored entities briefly and pointing up at the thing atop the castle. "Cause I need that. Actually, I need to take that to the ruins of Element City, of all things. Would you believe it? Some people really have the weirdest requests."
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Post by Warrior on Jun 28, 2020 13:02:07 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/U4Xclbh~png
Feint looked around at the surrounding guards as she continued standing just out of reach of the artifact, displeasure worn on her face as she mumbled to herself.
" Damn... "
These weren't the same soldiers that she had seen during the Netopian invasion. Creamland was more of a dead end than she expected: the Dark Colony was neither here nor showed any evidence of coming, like she had gambled on.
* poof! *
In an almost comedic puff of smoke, the mysterious presence from before appeared next to her now: a blue haired, red masked girl in an almost-as-tight bodysuit as hers.
" Oh, of course you're here. "
Feint's complaint was ignored by the girl however, who seemed much more interested in their first guest: Regis.
" Another job, another chance for my saboteur to foil it, I see! "
Shine and Regis had a tendency to cross paths in the most ironic of cases. She'd go about doing something mischievous, and he'd normally arrive as a passerby but end up getting caught in the mess as she'd jump to the conclusion that he, in fact, came to stop her.
Needless to say, the Round Shiny on the castle's crest checked all the boxes of something she'd love to get her sticky fingers on, so it was almost typical that Regis would arrive to complicate things. Well, from her perspective at least.
She took a bit longer to register that they were surrounded, but it was very visually obvious when it donned on her as the girl's eyes went wide in surprise.
" Oh... and you brought the boys this time, I see... "
-- -- -- -- --
Meanwhile, Feint had long left that spot and made her way closer to the orb, figuring they'd at least start with warning shots if the 'Knights really didn't want her touching it.
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Post by Regis on Jun 28, 2020 14:54:19 GMT -8
Whatever it was that was the pivot point for this all was, of course, attracting all sorts of attention. Though... He was a bit dumbfounded with how one of them was approaching the situation. After all, in a case liek this- That train of thought cut off abruptly as he heard a familiar voice yell. "Ah. Here we go again I suppose." Shaking his head he turned to the source of the larger bit of commotion, atleast the one that was more directly aimed at himself.
"Good seeing you again. Though I can't say I brought 'the boys.' Not really a knight y'see." One question was the ability to reach such a designation. The second one... Well, he was too much of a free spirit to want to be tied down to such a position. But he didn't really take a move, more just watching. In particular, one who was a lot closer to it all than everyone else.
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Post by Unknown on Jun 28, 2020 19:02:30 GMT -8
As the different people gathered started approaching the orb, their efforts bore different fruits.
As Nightshade suddenly sped past the entry guards and made his way up to the castle proper, he may have pointedly stood next to a Creamland Knight, but it did not take long before he was surrounded by them. One of them held up their shield before him, eying him through their visor, but still kept a careful eye on the orb. "Careful there, citizen. You tread on royal grounds. I will request you leave only once: The next request will instead be your compliance in your arrest."
As Feint moved her way carefully towards the castle proper, but did not quite make as bold of an entrance as Nightshade did, some of the Creamland guards recircled and made a point of blocking the path. They did not fire at her, but made it clear they did not want her coming any closer. The orb atop their castle represented a stark breach in security that they wanted to ensure did not become any worse.
Shine and Regis did not make any advances towards the castle, but, this was all the better, as simply by watching and waiting they got results.
Feint and Nightshade, now closer than any of the rest, could get a better look at the rotating orb, and realized that it wasn't quite balanced on the tip as much as it was just barely floating a little ways above it. Surrounding it, in its shell of scintillating hues, were rings of purple energy, as though it were in some sort of cage. What was inside the cage, however, was the more interesting piece . . .
It looked like it was a sort of trapped replica of the planet Earth, with magnificent continents seeming to sprawl in between the continents that they could recognize from afar. These additional land masses were not of grass and sand, however, and instead seemed to be a collection of some strange substance that covered the Earth's airway and waters with hues of reds, golds, and purples. It was like being caught in a trance, for the longer they stared at the globe, so different from their own and yet still similar, the longer they felt pulled in by its gravity.
That, however, was when the voice emitted from the sphere. It wasn't exactly alien, but it surely had a sort of appeal to it that wasn't human nor navi: It seemed to carry with it a sense of dread and foreboding, like a voice tarnished and exposed to awfulness over years, and as though it carried with it the news of a terrible catastrophe. It seemed to make them feel as though they should flee from this place, leave the disembodied voice behind, and, yet, at the same time, they couldn't help but feel sorry for it.
Is it one of you, gathered down below, who believes that they have the worth necessary to carry this monumental burden I have provided? Do you believe yourself in a place to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? Did you come to save your planet, or to destroy it?
Do any of you believe it is your duty to come and claim the power that I promised? Do you have the strength to carry this token?
The voice finally stopped its booming call, everyone gathered hearing its resounding pressure. The knights shifted uneasily where they stood, but did not relent on their defense of the castle, standing firmly against the would-be intruders and standing carefully around the peak upon which the orb was balanced.
There is only one here who possesses the strength to carry this burden. Only one here who is strong enough. Their strength is their own, and it is not a burden they can share with another. Prove your strength: Declare your worth. Stand tall as the only one remaining . . . then, will I bestow the power to reshape your world upon you.
This last call really moved the knights, causing them to stand tall. Instantly, a small shield wall was formed. "You all need to leave the castle proper, immediately. Those are the words of a terrorist looking to stir up trouble: You cannot possibly believe that it has anything of worth to give to you. Leave now, or you will have the Creamland Knights to deal with!"
. . . Was this the knights trying to stop any violence from occurring? Or was this the knights carefully trying to assert themselves as the strongest force present?
How would everyone else gathered take the speech?
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Post by Warrior on Jun 28, 2020 21:12:01 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/Rsjiv1H~png Shine shrugged at Regis' response -- couldn't really disprove that. She seemed a little more at ease that the guards weren't really paying her any mind, though she wasn't exactly sure how she should respond to God's Voice and all given the circumstances.
-
Feint initially wasn't too interested in the object or the proposition, but there was a certain detail on the orb that did draw her attention: she squinted her eyes at the new continents that populated the miniature planet, jumping to quite some conclusions as she was prone to doing on these things.
" ... "
The Dark Colony was its own continent as well, but one that wasn't naturally from their world. No, the stories went that it came from an entirely different plane and stood in Creamland's spot for a time before inexplicably vanishing indefinitely. Until recently, that is.
While she never saw the continent with her own eyes (likely leading to her delusion here), she heard enough about it to know a thing or two, and when its denizens attacked Netopia there was no doubting where they had come from.
She drew her own lines to connect the dots: if this thing couldn't get her to the Dark Colony, then it must have still been somehow related. At the very least, one of those new continents on the globe had to be it, she figured. Though her train of thought was rather abruptly interrupted by the guards before her.
"You all need to leave the castle proper, immediately. Those are the words of a terrorist looking to stir up trouble: You cannot possibly believe that it has anything of worth to give to you. Leave now, or you will have the Creamland Knights to deal with!"
An almost-evil grin came over her countenance at the order: she never liked the Creamland Knights that much, with their world view being in complete contrast to NIA's and her own, and to compound that, she was a type of force that became much more threatening when opposed by multiple foes and especially powerful ones -- it may have just been her lucky day after getting blue-balled by "Xion" and Joker back in Netopia: there was a great deal of frustration that she was still looking to vent
" And here I was, worried I'd have to fire you up myself. This is like having my cake and eating it too. "
She was actually worried they'd be as pacifist as her last encounter, but perhaps that was just a Dark Colonist thing rather than a Creamland one. While she was technically sent here in secret, her affiliation with NIA wasn't a publicly known one, and in fact the opposite was public knowledge. Grom couldn't be upset if she had to do whatever means it took to defend herself (even if that involved a bit of her own prejudices having a say on the matter), but it wasn't above her to stoke the flames that had been so kindly kindled by "God's Voice" just a moment ago.
" Keep your relic. If I were looking for some balls, I wouldn't have come to the Creamland Knights, anyway. "
An electric surge encapsulated her body like a barrier, signifying she was bolstered to take some hits, but she didn't draw her weapon nor attack just yet, rather standing her ground firmly before the guards as if to let them take the first offense. Whether it was out of courtesy or arrogance was anyone's guess, but her crooked smile should have made it plainly obvious.
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Post by Regis on Jun 28, 2020 23:28:19 GMT -8
He couldn't help but give a small smirk at her response. It was in line with how she generally acted. Atleast he could rely on her consistency for that. But that voice was quite unexpected. A light frown crossed his face, thinking on the words. Did he particularly think he was part of that answer. Not entirely, if he was to be honest. It questioned his strength though. And as loathe as he was to admit it, that part struck at him like no other, as it oft did with his mindset. He gave a sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Overall, he was a really simple person, so perhaps this was not the best way to go about it. Especially with hearing the warning from the knights next. But... A bit of a grin crossed his face. He didn't have a heavy stake in it, in a sense, one way or another. Though he didn't see himself as being 'worth', he was a battle junkie. "Well, what do you feel up to doing?" He couldn't help but ask the masked woman.
One of his hands twitched, itching to pull out his weapon. And it seemed like he wasn't the only one, hearing the words of the woman who had pressed closer. He could admit to liking her response, though he figured it was for a different reason. While his was all about the test and understanding strength in and of itself, hers sounded a bit more... personal. But he wasn't really in a position to judge. The Navi started walking forward, slowly and for the moment more intent on watching. But really, he was wanting to...
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 29, 2020 0:37:42 GMT -8
"Alright people. This can really go out two ways." Nightshade addressed the guards around him, taking note of the number and position.
"It's rather simple really. We can all be fighting eachother over that orb, which might actually be what the terrorist or whatever you call him want... This doesn't really inspire me any good guy vibes to be honest." He squinted at the orb to examine it further, trying to piece if he had seen that kind of stuff around before. Not the he remembered.
"At least it doesn't sound like Forte, which is definitely a plus." He mumbled. Who could it be though?
"However hear this: You let me take that ball off your hands and off Creamland completely. It's honestly a win win. You guys don't need to bother about it and I can go see what is it all about. If its a trap for you people, then look at that. An idiot took your bait instead."
He kinda knew that the knight were going to be stubborn, it was basically a granted, but it was always good to try and reason with people. He had been around for a while and the message the world had gave him was clear. If you want something you have to take it with violence. He always hoped it would not be the case, but it didn't seem like the world wanted to change.
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Post by Warrior on Jun 29, 2020 3:36:24 GMT -8
#s://yt3.ggpht.com/dzs1pRFP3cjjp3b41Q4Gud413Sp_7bEb70E073QA9yMNLK0A-eR6wHDTui4kk9cSvXPvpZfRsiYfEPM=s800-nd " Hmm... "
Shine paused for a moment before responding to Regis, almost as if to consider her words, as uncharacteristic as that was.
" I'm really just an info-junkie, so the call to arms isn't that compelling to me. Buuut, I also like money. And our little trapped Earth probably sells for a nice wad of cash. "
She pointed to Feint's scene as she continued with a mischief in her eyes that the mask couldn't hide.
" If sugar tits keeps the guards busy, maybe we can snatch it and bounce. I'm sure the ominous voice won't object to it too heavily. "
Before she could continue, she noticed the cat navi and had a sudden flashback of where she had seen him before. Without a warning, she sprang from her spot and approached him head on, stopping abruptly in front of him by the time he had finished his proposal.
" A-ha! We meet at last, Nightcat! "
This endeavor was worth money as well, so she was fine with abandoning the notion of going for the globe in this case. Her scarf flowed in the wind like a would-be cape while her hands rested on her hips, her chest pumped out like a child impersonating a superhero that was confronting their nemesis.
" I've been tasked to prevent you from spreading your virus to other nations and persuade you to make up for your actions properly! "
Incidentally, she didn't have any deadly force or anything, but the good news was that if he wanted the world to change, he didn't have to take the violent route with her -- be the change you want to see and all that, lest his own thoughts were ones of hypocrisy just a moment prior.
She wanted him, so now was a matter of whether he'd give himself over without any violence.
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 29, 2020 4:16:28 GMT -8
Nightshade had to look around for the voice yapping about before he would drop his eyes and see blue hair and a red mask. Even though the only exposed features of his face were his eyes, everyone around him could see him clearly drawing a blank and just stare at the girl with the most deadpan of looks for a few moments, before asking a simple question: "Who are you again?"
He turned around towards the knights "Is this someone's squire or something? No? Alright." He added. Well then, one after the other today. He couldn't catch a breath eh?
"Uuuh okay...you..." He was still confused as to who that would be wondergirl was, but whatever. He could manage. "First, my name isn't Nightcat. Second, if I were to be a virus, I think I'd be somewhere eating bugfrags or do what virus do. Third, if you are on a mission or something, you should start by stating who you are and who sent you. Finally, I don't think you have any kind of jusristiction here for whatever you're trying to accomplish. Pretty sure these guys right here-" he pointed at one of the knights "-are the people doing the police thingamabob. Now, if you would be so kind as to be a good kid, I have important things to do okay? I'm sure you can find someone else to play heroes and villains with you."
Having said that, the feline simply walked past the girl giving her a playful tap on the head before facing the knights. "So, have you guys decided?"
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Post by Unknown on Jun 29, 2020 8:55:22 GMT -8
The artifact depicting a strange Earth seemed to wait in the deliverance of its judgment, even as those surrounding it made their decisions. The Creamland Knights stood strong and proud, a veritable wall between those outside and the sphere itself, intent on keeping the situation in check. Perhaps, some may be lead to believe, the Creamland Knights wanted the honor of taking the globe for themselves. They would stand as a stark wall against whatever forces came forward. Even as the woman provoked them, they held their shield wall, glaring back at her stoutly, as if daring her to make the first move. The tension in the air was palpable at this point, and seemed to be rising.
This displeased it. A slight pulse of purple energy radiated from the globe, causing its cage to grow more prominent.
The woman in the suit also responded to "God's Voice," shoring up her defenses and making it clear she was ready for a brawl. Misunderstanding though she was of the globe's purpose, she was still intent on going through what was necessary to obtain it. She would not strike back until they struck first, a clear defender's tactic, but, ultimately, she, too, was ready for combat. A guerilla tactic, it was, to provoke the enemy into swinging the first blow - she would simply be defending herself.
This, too, displeased it. The purple glow emanated farther, a malevolent presence carried with it.
The man with the sword carried with him an obvious twinge, a sort of eargerness, but his intentions were very plain: He was not here for the globe. He cared even less for what it might be able to accomplish. He heard the call to arms and simply roared up, immediately. A combatant eager to join the fray, caring little for the spoils and only for the experience.
This not only displeased it. This disgusted it. The purple glow fluctuated and pulsed, until a maelstrom of energy surrounded the globe.
The girl in the mask flitted along the edges, seeming to change her desires at a moment's notice, but her ultimate desires lined up with someone that was willing to allow the catastrophe to unfold, and then pick up the tattered remains of what was left behind. In the confusion, she would slip away with the treasure. An old but tried and true tactic.
This also displeased it. Strange sigils and glyphs of an unknown language appeared around its violet glow, slowing encompassing the globe in a sheen of darkness that made it impossible to view any longer.
The rising tension seemed to peak as the sphere glowed and suddenly caused the very air around it to quake, sending a pulsing wave of energy that everyone felt, but harmed no one. The sphere was gone, from its perch upon the castle. As everyone looked around, confused, they would find where the sphere had went.
It rested squarely in the outstretched paws of the only Navi to not immediately leap to violence, or to even voice violent intentions. There was but one who passed the test, just as it had predicted. The world that Nightshade stared into, held in his paws, was a beautiful world wrought with color and life, but just holding it he could hear a sad song depicting an arms race that led to its own people's destruction. A catastrophe brought on by discord and malignant intent forced the people to fend for themselves - and they did just that, rather than stand for one another.
This one alone has the strength to carry my burden. This one alone considered not himself, nor his strength, nor even his own hopes - he considered only his ability to stop the slaughter I commanded.
You alone pass the test. You alone have prevented the Ruination.
The Creamland Knights stare squarely at Nightshade, but a small circle seemed to have carved itself in the ground between him and them. They seemed unable to get any closer, some of them evidently struggling against some unseen force that prevented them from stepping any closer. He had a small breathing space from which the rest of the world seemed exempt, surrounded by nothing but the purest of air and most serene of peace that was wrought by his small space of solitude.
"Citizen! The Creamland Knights demand that you drop the artifact at once! We must ensure it is not a harm to you, to Creamland, or to the Net!" Even as they said this, the Creamland Knights surrounding Nightshade turned about and look at one another, some of them still visibly struggling. It seemed obvious that not everyone present had their commander's zeal - they could see a lost struggle.
So long as you maintain your intentions, none present will harm you. Betray the test that I have set, and this boon I have provided will instead destroy you, and search anew.
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 29, 2020 10:59:51 GMT -8
"Uuuh guys? The thing is doing a weird thing up there I don't think it's happy...oh woah woah woah!!" The cat deftly took a step back as the ball sphere thing started flashing a light show of purple, plus a not so friendly attitude to the people around. He quickly pulled his hands forward over his face bracing for impact. Was it a bomb? Did it wait for the right number of people to blow up?
A moment passed.
A moment passed.
Nothing.
Nothing?
Nightshade opened his eyes. Well his body was still there. He didn't feel any different. He couldn't really tell if he was dead or not. Well, isn't the point of being dead not feeling? He was feeling a bunch of things right about now. Confusion, for example.
The feline dropped his guard, his nose pretty much a few inches from the sphere. It had shrunk a little or something. Maybe it was just a perception thing, but it looked no bigger than a coconut. Most of all, it was just...floating there. For some reason, now that he could look at it from close up, it was of a mesmerizing beauty. A pristine world. An eden. A paradise.
It almost beckoned to him to get closer.
Slowly, Nightshade raised one of his hands towards it...grasping at the weird ball thingy he never really understood or seen before. He watched as the thing hovered just a hair from his palm until he properly grabbed it and felt its weight. As soon as he did get a hold of the artifact and brought it down to chest height, the same voice from before echoed inside his very being, images of death and catastrophe flashing before his eyes. Were these memories? Certainly weren't his own. He could relate to them though. He had seen his fair share of pain and loss.
The cat navi had to lean onto the wall with one hand, as more images overwhelmed his mind and the thing spoke again. He cursed becoming accustomed to the bugged data that had been forming inside him since Gregar first bit his arm off. It had made his senses way too sensitive. It was like the thing resonated with his code or something. Had he been poisoned? Well if the above answer is yes, then that was one hell of an acid trip. Not even Thorn had stuff that potent and he was basically made of poison data.
"Great. I have a spirit in my head now, how am I supposed to call you?" He mumbled, stumbling back on his own two clawed feet, just in time for what he supposed was a high ranking officer to snap him out of his contemplation of the sphere. The green and black navi waved a hand up at the captain.
"Easy, easy there mister Captain man." He beckoned. The ball was clear on one thing. Anyone started attacking, they were all dead. He really didn't want to see what the "ruination" was. He didn't really want to fight there, really. He gently raised the orb for all to see.
"Whatever this thing is, it speaks. I don't know if you can hear it, but it speaks." He stated, noting the uneasiness of the knights around him. "L-look, I am just as clueless as you all are! I don't know why this thing chose me, I am not really a hero or anything. Hell I had my own series of flip ups BUT..." Nightshade stared into the sphere once again.
"There is no reason to fight here. Killing eachother over something we don't understand in full is a waste of time and a waste of our lives. Hasn't there been enough death lately? Can we try something else? I'm tired of running or fighting people." He would quickly add, turning around to gauge people's faces, before returning his focus to the captain of the knights. "I...don't really think it wants to harm me." Nightshade mumbled to himself, not too sure about it but still trying to analyze the moment logically... even though logic had little to do with the weird world-in-a-sphere. "I mean, if it wanted, it could have killed us all earlier with the big purply thingy no? If you want to make sure this thing does not harm Creamland or the net, then you could escort me to the Electopian border. The BBS message said to take it there, so maybe the sender knows more about it than we do. There's no reason to panic right now."
That was the only information he could really follow to that point. Man, he really did get himself in the most weird of situations...
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