The Celestial Chronicles - Tricolor Story -

[Sayara]

Greetings one and all, come take a seat I have a story to tell. Well perhaps it is not just me who has this story, but rather it is a collective tale. The writings and thoughts of multiple individuals developing a story together form a bond stronger than text on a keyboard, or ink on a sheet.

Anyway, the following tale is composed by the minds of:
Dnd
Horo the Wise Wolf
and myself.

Chapter List
1. Introduction: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...70&postcount=2
2. Meeting Ms. Tingle: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...72&postcount=3
2-2. Meeting Ms. Tingle part II: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...88&postcount=4
Bonus A: Dinner Appointment: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...93&postcount=5
3. Extreme Tower: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...1&postcount=16
3-1. Extreme Tower B: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...6&postcount=29
4. Beach: http://www.pso-world.com/forums/show...28#post3281028

[Sayara]

Chapter 1: Introduction

Spoiler!

I departed from my campship and entered into the main arks lobby, I stood to one side and looked around the arks lobby with my hands on my hips, taking in the new sights. This place was certainly much busier then my previous ship, huge clusters of people stood around chatting and arranging mission groups. 'Well then' I muttered to myself 'Lets see what awaits me here....'

My name is Nina, I am a 24 year-old Newman hunter who has been working for the ARKS organisation for the last 5 years. We are a group of capable hunters working together to restore the natural order of the planets that have been infected by the darkers, foul creatures that crave only corruption and destruction. I had been ordered to move to this new ship by the ARKS command, on the basis it would be beneficial to me. Given my past, I had concluded they only moved me to keep a closer eye on me, much to my.. objections.

I was told to meet a Newman named Meji when I arrived, but they didn't even tell me Meji's gender or how to get in contact with them; I could be searching for just about anyone! As I looked around the lobby I had noticed there was only a single male newman in this area, he was wearing a white ARKS uniform, a white cap and had a blonde ponytail. I took another glance around the lobby quickly but found no-one else, so I waited a moment until he wasnt busy and walked up to him. If he wasn't Meji, I was sure he could point me towards the person I was looking for.

I walked up to the Newman, who was oblivious to my advance until I started speaking 'Um, excuse me, i'm look-' he turned around to face me while replying 'Hm? Did you say something?' he then took a second look at me, studying me from head to toe before continuing 'Oh! Right! You must be Nina!' 'Uhh, yes, you must be Meji then.... right?' He flashed a grin back at me while clapping his hands once 'Yes! that's me alright!'

So Meji is a male then, I thought to myself. 'Come Nina, we have a few things to discuss.' He first handed me a keycard. 'You might need this first. Now follow me and don't get lost!' I followed him into a teleporter nearby. 'I'll go first, Nina.' He stepped in and activated the console; it looked like he was teleporting to a team room and in an instant, he was gone. 'I wish he'd tell me just how to get there myself.' I muttered. After staring at the console for a good 5 minutes, I ended up finding the same button as he pressed. I then placed my keycard over what looked to be a scanner and in an instant, I found myself in a completely new area, with Meji looking back at me.

'Ah! Glad to see you made it here!' He proudly boasted. 'Welcome to our team, Nina. This is our team room, where you will probably end up spending most of your time outside of missions.' I took a look around, it wasn't overly impressive to me. It was a fairly small room consisting of several rows of seats facing a small podium. There was also a small tree near the windows looking into space. Aside from the counter to my right, a small drinks dispenser on the left and the tree, the entire room was a dull gray in colour....

I wasn't too thrilled with spending alot of time in here either, socialising wasn't my strong point, after all. I bowed towards Meji. 'Thank you for accepting me into your team...... Sir.' I had felt awkward saying that, another thing I wasn't used to, but Meji just laughed at me 'Nina, there is no need to call me sir. We are not that formal around here so just Meji will do.' A wave of relief washed over me. 'Meji, if this is your team room then uhh.. where is the team?' I asked him, for it was only natural to expect team members in the team room, surely?

'Most of the team are out on missions, a few are helping to make arrangements for tonight!' Tonight? I pondered quickly before asking 'Meji, what is special about tonight?'. He looked surprised 'Oh? don't you know?' How would I know, I just got here after all... I thought, a little irritated by this remark. 'Tonight is our monthly team party! One night a month the entire team has a night off, so we have a small party in our team room to relax and guess what?' I kind of dreaded what was coming next, after all I wasn't good at parties at all. 'Um, what Meji?' 'As the newest member of the team, you are also invited. We couldn't leave you out, right?'

As I feared, I looked uneasy at this proposal, which he obviously picked up on. 'But, of course, we can't force you to join, after all im sure you'll probably be busy right?' I nodded yes to Meji 'Ah, yes. I'd like to sort out my belongings and get used to where everything is. I'll promise i will make the next one, however.' Suddenly I heard a small buzzing sound. It was Meji's communicator going off. All I heard were quiet noises and mumbling. After he had finished, Meji turned to me and bowed. 'Ah, excuse me Nina, but I have something to take care of. You are welcome to join us in the evening, if you find yourself having the time, of course.' He then turned and ran out to the teleporter before I could even reply....
I looked around the room once more 'So, this is where it all happens around here. eh?' I said aloud to myself 'Oh well, best get out of here before someone else appears' I sighed to myself as I headed to the teleporter. I decided to return to the ARKS lobby to explore the rest of the ship before heading to my room for the night to unpack, according to what I was told, my stuff should be waiting for me there by now. I appeared out onto the shop floor, various different shops were here, ranging from selling weapons and new armour, items to even strengthening your weapons. However I skipped all of these and proceeded to go left towards the 'Blue room', back on my old ship, it was always empty so I took it as my own room to relax in-between missions...

I nervously approached the entrance, hoping it would be empty like it always was. I opened the door and to my delight, not a single sound was coming from inside the room, I walked inside and sat down. The room was identical even down to the plants inside, which was pretty impressive to me. That Meji person is pretty unique for a team master, he seems pretty young and too laid back compared to all the others I've heard of, and he's kind of cute... I wonder how everyone's doing back at home.... I shut my eyes as my thoughts wondered to the people I left behind on the other ship and how they where doing.....

'.... cuse me miss? hello?' I heard a faint voice, before opening my eyes again to see an ARKS security guard staring right at me. 'You know, you shouldn't fall asleep here, you do have a room, right?' he said bluntly at me 'Ah, yes.. I just came here to relax... I guess today's been more busy then I thought... Sorry' He held his hand out and gestured for me to take it. 'Come on, it's getting late' late? but i haven't been here long at all, right? 'Lets get you back to your room, ok?' I took his hand 'T-thanks....' and so we walked out of the blue room towards the ARKS living block, it was much quieter now then when I walked in, maybe I did sleep awhile?

We arrived at the entrance, he bowed to me and left without saying a word. I followed the directions to my room and shortly arrived at the entrance of room 108, my new home.... I opened the door and I was greeted by a rather bland room, the walls were painted with a skyblue colour, it had a sofa and a plain looking worn table in the middle. The main room had a door either side. I walked through the left door which contained the kitchen which, to my surprise looked brand-new and had everything already in place. Did they already unpack everything for me?
After rearranging a couple of things, I moved to the other side and opened the right-hand door, I was taken back by what was awaiting me on my bed. Two red packages remained with a letter resting in between them both. I grabbed the letter and opened it, confused to who it might be from...

'To Nina,
We hope this letter reaches you well, Both your father and I are very proud of you for moving onto a new ship and new team, we know it must of been hard for you to do this especially after that incident effected us all so much. Now you have a new start, a new chance in life to be you again. Nothing would make us more happy to see our daughter flourish and be happy as you once were.....
By now you are probably wondering what the other two packages were accompanying this letter. Remember that promise we made when you first entered the training academy? 'When the time is right, both your father and myself will give you something you've always wanted, so work hard, ok?'. We feel that now, the time is right to make good on that promise. The box on your left contains your fathers 'Imperial pick' and the other one contains my 'Nei claw'.

We hope that you find these weapons as useful as we had back when we were hunters, but please remember, no matter where you are, you will always have people who will love you and care for you. If this new team gets too much for you, I'm always only a call or mail away if you need to talk. But by now You're probably sick of reading the ramblings of a mother now, so I shall leave you to settle into your new room. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
With love,
Mother'

A small tear formed out of my right eye once I'd finished reading this; they had just entrusted me with their most prized weapons I had only dreamed of wielding many times when I was younger. I picked up the partisan and walked outside and swung it around, it was light and easy to control, the pickaxe style head was very powerful. After a few minutes I went back inside and sat back on the bed briefly.

I checked the time to my left, the clock read back '19:55', I decided to cook a light dinner and start my reply to the letter, however as soon as I entered the main room, I heard a small *thud* in the hallway, I didn't think of it much until the thudding slowly got louder, stopped for a moment, then *Thud Thud Thud* smashing down on my door. I walked towards the door 'Um, hello? who's there?' I asked, but all I heard was a quiet sniggering on the other-side.

I opened the door slightly, but as soon as I did, the person on the other-side barged through and knocked me backwards onto the floor, spilling what I believed to be some wine all over me. As I looked up, I saw a young girl, roughly the same size as me. She had long flowing brown hair, a cap on her head and she was wearing a combination of a white corset, smart trousers with a black jacket. The girl had a puzzled look on her face, like I should be at fault for this incident, her first words, not even I expected...

'Have you no wine!' She barked at me, to which my only reply was pulling a confused face, but this just seemed to irritate her more 'Do you have any wine?' she barked again.

'Um.. Just who are you?' I questioned, still very confused at what just happened. She got off me and stood with her hands on her hips and proudly boasted 'I am Horo the wise! and you owe me some wine!' I stood up and looked at her briefly 'You know, it is rather rude to burst through someone's door and spill wine on them. Besides, I don't really drink, so I don't have any wine'

'How can you not drink wine!' she demanded 'It is too good to not drink!' She sighed, probably at the sudden realization of not getting any wine. So much for a peaceful first night here.. While still soaked with wine, I turned to her, I noticed her deep red eyes and her rosy cheeks. 'Horo, if you just promise to.. be quieter, I might have some left over from cooking that got se-' She jumped closer towards me and grasped my hands 'Really? you have some wine!' I found her annoying to deal with by now. 'Just... sit down and wait here.....' She then stepped back and sat on the sofa. I shut the front door and proceeded to the kitchen, praying I did have some, somewhere.

Much to my luck, I managed to find half a bottle of red wine hidden away in the cupboard. I opened and took a sniff. 'Cherries eh? I hope she isn't too demanding' i muttered, then again, she certainly gives off that impression. I picked out two clean glasses and brought them into the main room. Horo's eyes lit up at the sight of the wine bottle as I walked towards the sofa and poured out two glasses. 'I found this in the back of the cupboard, it's all I have so just... don't be too demanding for more.... please'
I lent back on the sofa and watched her drink it carefully, I imagined the fact Horo didn't complain or shout yet was a good thing. I looked into my glass and pondered just why she was here in the first place, that is, until I saw her face leaning over my sholder 'Heeeeeey, are you going to drink that?'. I turned to face her and handed her the glass 'Nah.. i don't really drink unless its with a meal.' At least she is somewhat calmer and easier to deal with now. 'Say, Horo, just why are you here, anyway?'

She finished the glass (and bottle) of wine and looked at me directly in the face 'Meji told me to go to room 108 to check up on the new girl, that would be you, no?' She then poked me in the side, which caused me to jump slightly 'H-hey! don't do that!' I had raised my voice in shock, which caused her to look sheepish back at me. I felt guilty almost instantly...

'Sorry.. you just took me by surprise. A-anyway, yes. I transfered over here today so I suppose I am the new girl. My name is Nina, by the way, it's nice to meet you Horo' I held out my hand towards her, but instead she lept into my chest and hugged me.
'Nina! I like that name... I think we will get along just fine!' She proudly boasted, still clinging to my chest which I found awkward. I started to gently pat her head 'Well, I'm sure we will Horo' I said reassuringly. Something tells me you won't quite leave me alone, anyway was the only thought going through my head at the time. She continued to nuzzle into my chest, obviously more comfortable with the situation then I was. After afew minutes, she suddenly let out a huge yawn and stretched out her entire body 'Oh my.. It appears I have grown quite tired' She got up and stared at me. 'We shall meet again, Nina' She then bolted out the room before I could even say goodbye....

I got up and locked the door.. 'Don't want any more interruptions tonight, besides why does everyone in this team just vanish so suddenly?' I mumbled to myself. I glanced at the clock again to see it was almost 10PM at night 'Great' i uttered out aloud, looking at the mess on the floor from where Horo made her grand entrance, I decided to skip dinner and cleaning the floor and just go to sleep instead.

I walked into the bedroom and threw my clothes into the corner and climbed into my new bed... I'll deal with those tomorrow aswell, besides its not like anyone else will see them. As I shut my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep my thoughts turned to the days events... Everyone I met seemed nice enough, if a little different then I was used to dealing with. Meji seemed a little absent-minded, but I imagined it was down to what was happening today. Horo on the otherhand, I had a bad feeling she will be a handful to deal with, but she was acting really cute when not shouting at me. After awhile the warmth of the dovet overcame me and I dropped off into a deep slumber, ready for whatever tomorrow brings me....

[Sayara]

Chapter 2: Meeting Ms. Tingle

Spoiler!

It was a simple mission they told me... The words triggered in my head for a while as I walked to he counter.

"Ah, hello Nina. Your mission today is to explore the forest areas c-1 through c-3 and give back information regarding the state of the natives and the current darker influence." The teller Rebecca reminded me. I replied bluntly, "Anything else?"

"There is one more thing, an unknown person has been located in your first area, be on guard as we have no reliable information on who or what it might be"

"Understood...." As I boarded the campship towards my destination, those words kept repeating in my mind. 'No reliable information on who or what it might be'...... I've heard rumors of a darker man known only has 'Persona' but... we have information on him and they wouldn’t send someone like me alone to fight him... surely? But the time for doubts is over, as the campship portal opened up and showed the forest under me.

'Only one way to find out what is it I guess....' I thought as I jumped down the portal, appearing in the forest moments later. Ordinarily it would take a moment to recuperate being transported in such a matter, but I grew quite use to it. It was raining hard as I took a scope around the luscious forest. Nothing appears to be out of the ordinary here, looks like it’s been abandoned here for
months. I heard a loud blast in the distance. I jumped in initial shock but smirked afterward

"It couldn't stay quiet for too long... excellent!" The noise came from the west, possibly quite a few sectors away. As it was raining quite heavily, it would aid my approach to get closer to the source of the noise, but it wasn’t long until I stumbled upon what caused it. I hid behind a rock and peered over and I couldn’t quite believe what I saw a young girl? Curious of this situation, I decided to stay back to see how she acted, while she didn’t look like an arks member, that explosion I heard earlier was too powerful to approach her unguarded. The girl patted a dead fangulf's body lightly, was she expecting it to have a pulse?

"Something’s creepin out these animals here." She spoke out loud. Getting a better look at her, I noticed she had a rather frail body and long flowing purple hair that looks like it almost touched the ground. It looks next to the beast and notices something on the ground.

"What a shame. Who would drop this?" She was holding a large blue umbrella; I guess one of the creatures down there had stolen it from an older hunter... "It's so pretty! What do you think Hybert?"

Hybert? I didn't see anyone around her. Who could she have meant?

"Yeah! I thought so too Hybert! I’m so glad you're my friend. Oh? Are you hungry? Here ya go!" The girl sticks a loose gunslash out of her bag and the mag above her devoured it. I concluded Hybert was her mag. She must be all alone down here to be talking to her mag. I wondered if she was the unknown person Meji and Rebecca mentioned about. I tried to get a bit closer to get more information but a lone twig went under my foot... CRUNNNCH Shit. I stopped moving as the girl jumps and turns her head around.

"Huh? What was that?" She looks around before looking back at her mag. "Yeah, you're probably right, it was nothing."

I don’t know how I got away with it, but she didn’t seem to notice me. now with her back turned, focused more on talking with her mag instead of what could have caused that noise, she doesn’t seem that threatening. just very. timid..... I decided to approach her, and introduce myself. Being this open was... different for me but the best thing to work in this situation, I decided. I stepped out from behind the rock and called out to her.....

"Hello there!"
"Guah! wwwwwho are you?" Clearly startled by my 'sudden' appearance, the girl I was facing was shaking in fear. I tried the best to put a reassuring voice across to her.

"Hey, hey, calm down there. I was on a mission down here and was told to meet up with a second person already down here, I assume they are talking about you?" She looked horribly confused.
"h-h-h-h....huh?" Perhaps if I just told her my name we could get things moving along more smoothly.

"Ah, my apologies, my name is Nina...."
"Oh!" She pats her hands together, "Nina! I remember now."

Clearly she must have been told about me, or at least heard about me. It was odd that I’ve not been told about her when she’s going to be joining up with me. She creeps up close to me sniffing my body. I keep calm, but I easily wanted to push her away.

"They told us something, but we forget." We? I shrugged it off for the time being
"Oh, well that doesn't matter too much right now. We ought to get moving."
"It’s no sense to go alone right? Why don't we go together? Hybert likes to meet new people, isn't that right?"
"I guess... Sure." She nods and then bows towards me, I returned the favor.

She turned and bowed towards me, I of course returned the gesture...
"Oh I'm sorry. My name is Teinkuru, but you can call me.... Tingle, ok?"
"Tingle..." I thought about the name briefly, "Nice to meet you...Tingle" She smiled dumbly. She has quite the air of absentmindedness to her...

"Mr. Meji told me that I need to get some fresh air so... here I am!" I perked at hearing Meji's name. It all makes sense now. Meji told me about this new recruit Tingle. Apparently she was found aimlessly walking in the shopping area. Though this was my first time actually seeing her. Interesting.

"It’s raining. And the air smells nice you see." She spoke to me aimlessly, like she had a full concurrent thought left unanswered. "I’m really... not too fond of the rain myself...well how about we get going then?" The girl nodded but looked confused again.

"I’m not too sure about which way we should go but... I got this really cool umbrella!" She shows it off to me, with a look as proud as a kid with a shiny toy. She swung it aimlessly around the area. Her swings were capable of creating photon shockwaves. She learned how to perform the Sonic Arrow.

"That is... certainly some umbrella you got there." She nods.
"Hybert agrees!" Her words stop dead in the tracks. She has a slight look of horror in her face. "Maybe you should go on ahead. You look like a busy lady."
"Well, part of my mission was to find you."
"Find me?" She asks
"More precisely, To find you and then find about the increased darkers influence in this area."
"Ah! Does that mean you're an arks member?" I was just as surprised as her reaction to this fact, the arks training uniform isn’t really... subtle in hiding this fact, everyone knows what it looks like. just who was she?

"Yes. I am indeed an arks" I replied rather irritated by her ignorance.
"I always heard such cool things about your Arks! Like there was this one time 12 or so Arkers took down this giant dragon! It ate spiders and screamed very loudly! It was super cool!” She seemed to be almost... too excited at this fact which threw me off balance. The creature she could only be referring to would be known as a Chrome Dragon. A huge dragon that towers over even the tallest of us, using corrupted photon energies to attack. just thinking about it makes me both angry and upset at the same time. She looked back at me with her hot crimson eyes and smiled. "You look like someone who could fight those giant monsters!"
...we'd like to see that, yes yes yes...

I could hear faintly under her breath. I ignored it for now; I would not put talking to herself past her oddities. "It isn't all fun and games you know." I shot back coldly, trying to get to the mission. Sitting talking to this girl in the rain was not exactly on my agenda, "Anyway I believe this should be the right way."

"I'll follow you if you lead the way! I can do this!" The girl waved her hands. Her eyes shrunk a tiny bit as she reviled a large explosion out in the distance. It was a Rafoie spell. It kind of disappointed me it wasn't from a hostile source. She seemed to remain very close to me when leading the way, but she once again was focusing more on Hybert then anything else, not that I minded. I was never one for conversation... The heavy rain was the only sound in the area, interrupted only by quiet murmurs from tingle now and again. We spent a good ten minutes walking before the first real sign of life other than ourselves made it known. Gulfs. They eyed at us
mischievously we were their next pray.

"Be careful." I prompted, grabbing my blade, "These gulfs are known to be tricky." While these were easily dispatched, I noticed tingle not taking a single action. was she just observing me, or maybe testing me in her own way? after the last was killed and I put away my wired lance, I motioned her to carry on walking with me.

"You're pretty strong!" She commented sheepishly.
"Are you injured at all?"
"No.... but my shoes are untied though." I sighed and continued to walk. She finished lacing her shoe back up and followed me. We continued walking for a short while, the sound of the rain easing up somewhat, but it was already too late to be dry, my clothes were soaked through which made it uncomfortable to say the least, tingle however didn’t seem to notice this at all. In the distance I saw more gulfs and agnis... natives that normally are never seen together suddenly are together? the darker influence in this area must be stronger than I thought. These were dispatched without problems either, my wired lance was having no issues and neither was I. As I
turned around however, I noticed tingle crouching on the floor, holding out a hand to a rag rappy... did she want to... pet it? It bit at her hands. She squeaked in initial pain before smacking it with her hand.

"Nyr! That hurt!"
"They were never this aggressive before... You have to keep your guard up at all times. Even to the smallest creatures." I scolded her. She looked at the blood on her hand before licking it. Acquiring a taste of the liquid coming from her body. Before jumping up and waving
her arms to the air. She showered herself in a healing photon aura... resta.

"Babuuuu! All better! The air is nice and clean." We continued to walk through the forest. The rain finally eased away and the sun began to shine. Desperately I was in need for the sun as my clothing was horribly drenched.

"Ah! The rain is gone." She commented bluntly.
"The sunshine and warmth is just wonderful!" I commented. I stretched and tried to wring out some of the excess water from my uniform. The girl walked ahead of me climbing on the rocks above.

"Rawr! I am a Koltova!" She growls to nobody in particular. I wasn't exactly sure what a "koltova" was, nor did I really care I guess.
"Oh, where did she go?"
"I’m just down here looking around." She jumped down from the top of the rocks and bound over to me, which was quite a feat considering it must have been a 35 foot drop...
"Hihi!" I looked at her with a serious face, pointing towards the north. "Let’s go." I could hear a roar I was not too familiar with hearing in this area. A mass of dark photons massed into the towering monster Wolhgada!

"This is urgent, powerful darker readings detected, defeat it asap!" I could hear my communicator go off. I gritted my teeth and grabbed my wired lance

"Hahaha! This may pose a problem, Tingle! Stay close!” A wolgahda appeared, right in front of us, but it didn’t seem to faze tingle at all. If I wasn’t mistaken, she didn’t seem threatened by it at all it was more like it was her friend. However, thinking about this right now won’t solve anything, more pressing matters awaited.

"Wolgy! He always comes to visit me! Play with me Wolgy!" She kept trying to get into its field of vision. My wired lances didn’t even seem to be scratching it, this was a far more powerful one then I’ve ever faced, so much so it was breaking through my guards like it was tissue paper. Tingle seemed to be helping me attack it now at least, throwing zondes out now and again but it still seemed to make no difference. There was only one option for me and it could backfire quite easily.

"Baooo! So cute!" She commented clinging onto its leg. I didn’t know what she was referring to, was it my seemingly useless attempts to damage the beast, or something else completely, however this momentary lapse of focus was about to hit me, in more ways than one. That
hit was my limit... as I flew backwards from the force of that punch, my mind became clear, I was angry... my rage became the only emotion left. This had to end here, or I would be ended here instead. I couldn’t let that happen, he would be very disappointed with me.

Just go to the forest they said, it was an easy mission, they said. My face grew a bit red in anger as I pulled out my Ruined Charm from my transbag. I swung 3 sharp violent blows at the beast.

"THIS... ENDS.... NOW!" it screams in pain as my sword cleaved into it. A huge cut kept into its body from its left shoulder. Tingle had since jumped off of its leg and admired the liquid coming out of the dark creature. It disappeared into a red ball of photons and vanishes.
...coward... I continued to breathe heavily as my communicator went off again.
"Strong darker readings still detected. Finish it off!" A rockbear infected by the darkness jumped at us. A rockbear was far easier to overcome in combat but I was still injured greatly from the previous fight. Tingles eyes glowed a darker red. She looked disgusted at the rockbears appearance.
"Disgusting..." she commented. I was distracted. That last hit broke my guard wide open, for a second my already damaged body was wide open to another attack and, unfortunately for me, the rockbear was more than willing to take advantage of this...

"No.... not here..." Another punch perfectly hit me, this time I wasn’t so lucky, I flew backwards and as I hit the rocks behind me, I heard a bone break. My mag triggered a healing aura around me, which temporary stopped the intense feeling of pain allowing me to fight on. The rockbear's stamina was lower than the wolgahdas, allowing for a quicker kill at least.

"The darker readings have come negative. Lifting martial law."
I panted heavily, holding my chest in pain. "I apologize. I did not expect this to happen at all like this." The girl shook her head absentmindingly.

"Wolgy was always kind of a brute. Rose told me not to hang out with them at all." She tossed into the air a Star Atomizer. An aura of healing photons fills my body numbing away the pain I currently experienced.

"Baboooo! all better! You're really strong!" She was very excited about clinging back to my side. I sighed and continued to walk onward. As we were walking deeper into the forest, I couldn’t help but continue to wonder what she was talking about, with that wolgahda and this
rose person just where did she live, why is she here now? My rib was still giving me a great deal of pain, but the only way to fix it was to have this mission done quickly. The rain came back... just as began to dry up. The creatures around us all showed signs of darker infections all over them.

"What foolish creatures." She murmured. "Are all of them going to become darkers?" I could hear her murmur to herself some more. "Let they all become darkness; it’s an easier...yes yes. Dark... Kught..." She stopped in her tracks holding her head in frustration

"The fog... it smells like death out here this fog." The more I speak with this girl, the more questions I get and the less answers I receive, although I’m not being direct at all, she really is an... interesting character.

"I don’t understand it all, but, my job is pretty simple really. Preserve the natural wildlife, using hostile actions where necessarily. Darker infestation, natives being corrupted or turned on each other... or a new threat completely...

"I see... yes. Perhaps this will clean the air. It’s disgustingly dirty down here. Brings us such sorrow." Her answers grew more and more offbeat and wear as she continued to speak, "We would wish a refresh. Start it all over again..."

Trying to break that topic I spoke up about the photons that we used to defeat the darker menace, but she seemed too content with muttering weird things to herself. So I just shrugged it off.

"Sorry. I have a headache again. I've been very distracted."
"It's okay." I replied, "Just let me know if it happens again. It'd be no good if you got that way during combat now would it?" In fact, this rest did me a lot of good, but I wasn’t going to admit that up-front.

"I'll do my best!" We continued walking north, although it appeared to be a dead-end, we backtracked and went west this time, where, it appears, something else was waiting for our arrival. What... was that?

“Unknown readings detected, Nina please be on guard and dispatch the target asap!" My communicator shouted out, freaking out about what lied ahead of us. "Stand back! I yelled at Tingle, "I'll handle this!"

Out of the purple mist, a man formed, wearing almost entirely black gear, with purple hair. He said nothing, his weapon was a purple version of a coat edge... could it be a corrupted version I wondered. He went for tingle straight away, I had to act and do something... I have no idea how strong he is, but even in my weakened state I could beat him. I hoped, anyway.

"YOU! get away from her!" I flung a few sonic arrows, as well as shouting to get its attention, after they hit, he turned and faced me. This is what I was hoping for, I didn’t know how well she would do in direct melee combat as, well, forces are not known for their resilience to blades and I figured I stood the best chance at taking him down. As our swords continued parrying and exchanging glancing blows, we both went in for a chest blow, our swords locked, this was it, the winner would take the fight, the loser would lose their life. I was using all my rage and energy to try and overpower him but... I was losing, until crystalized light photons started raining down on his face, it made him flinch just slightly, which gave me the opportunity to finish the strike. He flew backwards with the impact of the blow. He disappeared back into the purple cloud he came from just a few moments ago.

"W.. who was that? Someone... you know?"
"I.... I don’t know.”

"Readings confirmed, darker codename [Persona] repelled. Good work!"

"Ah! someone like that... chased me away earlier....They... they called me a witch just because I talk to Hybert! 'Freak! Witch! Murderer!' is what they screamed so... I ran away. Then I meet you!" She blurted to me, rather unphased by the Persona attack just now. First she claimed it was because of Meji she was out here, now it was because someone chased her away? Just... who is she? I knew precisely what just attacked us, but I wasn’t going to tell her, something tells me it would just make the entire situation more confusing... first the wolgadha, then persona. Just what the hell is actually going on down here and why did they just send me and an air headed force who with her severe headaches that can’t really be relied on in combat too much to this area? This is a job for an entire party of experienced arks dammit! It stopped raining again, so I took this opportunity to sit-down... although my companion seems to be suffering more than me.

"I apologize for interrupting you, but it’s not safe down here, we should proceed and get out of here quickly" I patted Tingle's shoulder as she sat rubbing her temple with her hands. She had lost her positive attitude for just a moment

"I don’t know if I DO want to go back up there. Nobody has really been.... this friendly with us..."
"We should at least, finish up here before deciding what to do then." I wanted to get this mission finished with already. Having to stay down here with this girl any longer would finally get on my last nerves. She nodded before inhaling. Holding back her tears. Before casting another blast of rafoie.

"Kazoom! The filthy creatures’ burn!"

I admit, I was staying back more in combat then I’m used to, I’ve already hit my limit as far as combat goes, while tingle seems.. to be enjoying herself in her own ways I suppose... however, this mission was just about to get harder. A funji has appeared in the local area. This darker trap seeks out arks and traps them in a far-away sector. Uh oh... Of course, it would be after me. The trap grabbed ahold of me and I vanished into is darkness web multiple sectors away from Tingle. I was lucky that I could at least see the girl in the distance to shout at her.

"W- where did you go???" I heard her scream.

I lost my weapons as it took me; this kind of funji was the worst. Knowing I had to wait for a while, without any backup or weapons in this state was a worst-case situation, but I had to survive.
"Tingle! Don’t panic, just go back the way we came and you'll get to m..." A pair of Dagan legs took a slice at my leg *slice* "Gah! ...soon enough. Come, quickly!"

As I was fighting off both the Dagan that appeared inside in some sort of cage match, while trying but failing to break the funji, my previous injuries where beginning to surface at the worst possible time as well. Tingle had not arrived yet.

"Tingle! I could really... use your help right about now. Focus your techniques on this dome and avoid being hit by anything else!" I shouted again, breathing heavily from the pain. She arrived shortly after, her light-based techs made short-work of the funji and it broke apart relatively quickly. The only thing I could do was collapse on the floor in pain. Phew... its finally over. I panted hard while the girl begins to scream slamming her rod into the muddy ground. Head pains again? This didn’t seem natural... but without her saying anything, who am I to ask about it? besides, my first and foremost focus was getting recovered quickly. I pulled a trimate out of my bag and consumed it, it tasted of nothing and its very slow acting but it certainly does the trick in a pinch. She continued to scream at herself now clutching to her head bizarrely.

"I keep hearing things in my head. That I don't want to do!"
"What? What are you saying?"
"My head... said that I should have let the darkness eat you in that web, but you're a good person! Not like anyone else!"
"OH, well you shouldn't worry too much. This kind of trap couldn't finish me off." I smirked; being cocky was in my nature but during this conversation it looked like Tingle was in a lot of pain. I didn't see anything actually hit her during that fight. Could it perhaps be that her head pain is really this bad? She hunched over spitting something questionable out of her mouth before calming down. She breathed heavily coughing from the pain of the vomit.

"Maybe we should take a quick break; you don't look too well..." Was the only thing I could think of saying.
"Maybe you should go on ahead without me. I've just been holding you up now." She whimpered. She certainly seems very flip flopped about her emotions I walked closer to her, patting her on the back as she continued to cough.

"Doing so would mean I haven't finished my mission. Besides when I tell them what happened here, I am going to need someone to prove it."
"Are you sure they would even believe me? The witch?" I’m not sure who she even talked to first but I guess it was possible she had wandered into one of the more shadier areas of the ship. I heard district BTwenZero was the worst of the worst but before I could comment any further...

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD" She screamed violently. I jumped back as she began to flail her arms around her. Her pain seemed far more serious looking than before. It almost felt like she was fighting something inside of her. Whatever the case I couldn't do anything to help her
but boy I sure get dumped with the most interesting cases. This girl who seems like a bipolar, a forest that has attracted so much darker energy around her. This kind of mission would need 12 arks units here not just myself. And worst of all? It was raining and the pain around me is unbearable. Ugh...

Her egg-shaped mag looked down at her with concern before spitting out another aura of healing. Her struggling stopped instantly.

"Hybert! I... I love you Hybert! You always know how to cheer me up!" I turned away looking back at the darker cave ahead of us.

"Well! If you're feeling better why don't we keep moving." She nods. We got to the location where the funji took me, it was a peaceful rest of the forest, after that. We approached the final area and, shockingly nothing bad happened, tingles head didn’t even play up once.

We got close to the heart of the forest. The rockbear nesting grounds. "Alright tingle, the final targets in here. Let’s go." I grabbed my wirelance and she clutched onto her umbrella as we moved through the brush. And not too surprisingly two rockbears ambushed at us. They were both carrying an infected core. Their breeding would only spread the darkness further in this forest.

I went after the one on the right while tingle went to the one of the left, something about her seemed different this time, much more focused on the combat. I didn’t pay it any mind however. My rockbear was dispatched with ease, and soon after the second fell. Tingle was on top of the body. She was licking her fingers again like she did when she was bit by the rappies. This has been an interesting mission for sure.

"Their blood it tastes good." I could hear her say; I decided it was best not ask. "The air here is beautiful. Why don't I stay here? I can sleep in the bushes over there!" She changed her topic very quickly. I sighed and shook my head.

"It isn't safe here. What if more of those Rockbears came in here? Or even the Banthers?"

"What if a greater force wanted it that way? What if my purpose was to be Banther chow?" A greater force? They said a lot of people believed in higher forces but I was not one of those people.

"Why would anyone want such a creature like myself back up there? To be called a witch and be hated..." I thought about my words carefully to hopefully not say anything to upset her any further

"Because firstly, I would be failing my mission if I knew you weren’t safe and secondly I know people like meji and others in our team who'd welcome you up there with open arms."
"R. Really?"
"Of course, I wouldn’t say it otherwise." I would say so between that one girl who often got drunk on wine and Meji being as interesting as he is. She would fit right in. On hearing this, she started crying, she clung onto my chest again. I reluctantly returned the hug rubbing her hair. It was an awkward moment.

"I've been... selfish, I’m... sorry...”
"It’s... ok... Now then, shall we depart?"
"Yes.”

[Sayara]

Chapter 2-2: Meeting Ms. Tingle part II

Spoiler!

It didn't take long till we arrived back to the campship. Tingle held close to my arm in fright of being transported in such an abrupt fashion.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get use to this." She shivered grinding her fingers across my arms. I wasn't too keen on her grip on me, but getting bothered by it now would only cause for more problems. I smiled awkwardly while patting her head with my free arm.

"Its fine that I told you stay close to me...but perhaps not THIS close?" Tingle released her grasp on me blushing at her strong grip. We headed to the medical ward to look at my wounds on my chest.

"It was nothing too serious. You were lucky." The nurse comments wrapping the bandages around me.
"What were you doing down there that caused such a violent injury? And with such a young girl?" The nurse looked over observing Tingle sitting on a chair talking and giggling at her floating Egg-shaped MAG unit. I sighed; to go into such detail about what happened with the medical units would probably go right over her head. Therefore I shrugged it off and replied, "It’s a long story." before getting out of the chair. With a nod and a smile, I left with Tingle right behind me. I had to meet up with Meji at the Team Room. After every mission I was told to report there to Meji, but especially in this case with Tingle going missing like that.

Before them, lied a vast ocean in the distance. The sounds of waves and tranquility filled their ears. It was pleasent but the fakeness of the atmosphere left me unamused. "Meji, are you around?" A taller man jumped out of his reclined chair. Was he perhaps asleep waiting for us? He coughs with a tint of blush on his beautiful face.

"Yes-yes I’m here." He spoke pleasantly observing both of us in one piece. "Ah! You found her I see." I nodded as Tingle gawked walking around the beach area.

"It was... certainly quite the mission..." I told him everything about the mission. I replied to him everything that had happened in a droll voice as if it were a class presentation. Meji smiled and nodded taking note of key things.
"though. I would like to say one thing..." I waited on those words as I looked over at Tingle who was too busy burying her friend in the sand giggling. She was completely ignorant of everyone else around her.

"I think there is something wrong with that girl."

"Hmm, what do you mean?" Meji replied back lowering his note panel.
"Well, I feel like she has to be bipolar or something. As we were going through the mission she spent most of her time talking with her mag. I mean, I don't generally care for pointless chatter but that doesn't seem right. There’s also this case where she constantly struggles with her head. Screaming at herself and stuff..." Meji nods, Absent mindedly acknowledging my words.

"Hmm right you remember me telling you I found her aimlessly wandering around the shopping district? Maybe she just doesn't have all her... screws in her head in place. Don't think it’s going to cause any problems." I looked back at Tingle who now was sleeping on one of the chairs and sighed.

"Understood."
"I'll look into finding her somewhere to setup but for right now could you keep an eye on her?" Meji asks as he already headed towards the exit documents in hand. He didn't really give me a chance to answer before exiting with a quick thanks. I sighed again. I was getting irritated with having to baby sit this child once again. I sat down next to her and tried to stretch out, though being careful not to reinjure my tender ribs. I could hear her murmur incoherently, but on a few occassions i could hear a word or two i could understand, and the sounds of her whimpering. I didn't bother to try and comfort the girl the silence was peaceful to me. That and sometimes you need to be able to handle yourself without having people help you up. Thats how i learned anyway.

"HAI." Words were shouted across the empty hall. Startling me and disorienting Tingle onto the floor, she squeaks as she hits the wooden planks. it was her again. Horo, wearing her usual jacket, corset and pants combo. She held a cup in her hand... probably more wine as it was her favorite drink after all. Though she still had capability of controlling her body unlike some other times she had encountered her. Horo had a huge grin on her face as she gazed eyes back at me. She skips down to the dock and sits on the chair previously owned by Tingle. Still on the floor at the time regaining herself.

"Don't you tire of wine? All I ever see you drink is wine..."
"To tire of wine would be the greatest sin I could commit." She laughs, "You should have some with me sometime." She very openly invites a somewhat stranger to drinking.

"I generally don't drink wine without a meal, remember?"
"Oh? Do you cook? That is splendid!" Before Horo could continue to talk. A faint moan was heard from the floor. It was Tingle regaining her composure at last.

"Uuuu, what’s what’s going on?" She got herself up and dusted the sand out of her robes. we looked back at Tingle. Horo realizes who it is and comments, "Oh! Aren't you the new girl Meji picked up?"

"Oh, um... yes. Mr. Meji found me." The girls innocent response made Horo laugh. Or perhaps it was the wine talking at this point.
"Mr. Meji?? That's rich! I don't think anyone ever called him that." She continued to laugh before snorting a bit. She covered her face with a heavy blush. I couldn't help but be amused by her drunken antics.

"I guess that wine has gotten to you after all."
All the while, Tingle was still talking about something else, but it was ignored by the actions of a drunken lady. She smiles blissfully seeing the two of them being somewhat friendly with each other. Horo looks back at Tingle again.

"Your name is Tingle right?" she nods.
"I like you kid. You've got this 'I’m a little puppy and I need friends' look to ya..." She pulls out a communicator.
"Meji. It's Horo. I’m taking Nina and the new kid Tingle with me." I twitched at hearing my name being volunteered so readily.
"Splendid!" She hangs off the communicator "The three of us? We're now working buddies!"
"Buddies?? Great! Did you hear that Hyubert?? We got some friends!" Tingle had a giant goofy grin on her face. I groaned for a moment. Having to take care of these two would definitly be a bundle but it would defintily make things alot more exciting. I sighed and listened to the two talk again.

"Tingle! My name is Horo! Have some of this drink!" Horo hands the drink to Tingle who looks at it in trance.
"it smells like apples!" I jumped in grabbing the cup from Tingle
"Wait a minute! She's definitely underaged!!"
"She must be at least 22!" Horo grins, the little girl nods. The two laugh together. Could the girl be absorbing the drunk atmosphere from Horo as well? I sighed before drinking from the cup i had just taken from Horo. She gasped as i downed a good amount of the wine. It was infact apple tasting. I sighed once again. It was on this day the story of the three of us began.

[Sayara]

Bonus A: The Dinner Appointment

Spoiler!

"Home made dinner!" Horo chants pounding her fists with glee on Nina's table. After constant begging from Horo, Nina decided (reluctantly) to make the two girls dinner after their mission.

"I didn't know you can cook!" Tingle commented, dusting her fingers quietly across the table. Nina poked her head out of the kitchen. "What? Doesn't everyone know how to cook? It’s a rather basic skill that anyone should know..." Nina at least felt proud of her abilities in cooking, but felt as though it was a requirement for anyone to survive though to her surprise both girls just shook their heads.

'Well then what? Did you guys even do for food?" Nina replied rather annoyed with her two team mates. Horo, the older one chirps up, "Well Meji usually has food for us in the team room, so I never bothered."

"Wait, there was food there? I often just bite on some of the animals I find dead on the ground..."
"TINGLE." Nina growls, the little girl flinches from the outburst. She sighs and scratches her head, "Well... I can see it being a problem to let you cook Tingle, but you Horo, I’m a bit disappointed. You're a grown lady!" Horo pouts a moment and responds, "Why should I bother learn when I can just ask you to make me meals? I mean a culinary master as yourself wouldn't mind some test dummies for your dishes... Am I right Tingle?" Horo winks her eye at Tingle, the girl stares at Horo with a confused look on her face before whispering to her, "is there something in your eye?" She shakes her head annoyed with the girl’s ignorance.

"Well... this time I'll do it, but I'm going to want some kind of payment in return."
"What? My presence isn't enough for you?"
"No. Not at the slightest." Tingle giggled at their interaction, even if she was already a part of it. Nina stops her dish for a moment coming to the realization.

"Shit, I’m missing something." She sighs before calling in Tingle to the kitchen. "Tingle, I want you to keep stirring this pot I need to go pick up something for the soup..."

"Soup? I can stir the soup!" The girl proudly jumps up and grabs onto Nina's wooden ladle. Nina took pride in her almost archaic cooking tools in such a futuristic atmosphere.

"It should not be any longer than 10 minutes so ... um just keep each other company." Nina responds grabbing her gear bag from the wall and headed towards the teleporter.

"Bring some more wine!" Horo chimes as Nina teleported through the door. The two girls found themselves alone for the first time together. Tingle remained content at stirring the soup laughing and talking with herself, while Horo found herself dreadfully bored. She lied on the fancy carpet Nina had sprawled out for the guest room. She groaned and cried about how bored she was but was getting no feedback from Tingle what so ever. She was too content with talking with her mag than to speak to Horo.

"Hey! I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Horo shouts causing Tingle to squeak in the other room. She luckily did not drop her spoon. The girl recollected herself before peeking her head out of the kitchen.
"Horoooooo, Nina told me to stir her souppppp!" Tingle whined, she took Nina's mission to heart. The older scoffed, rubbing her finger across her nose, "It'll be alright! If you don't stir it, and... I’m bored." Tingle looked back at the soup, and then back at Horo before stirring the soup some more.

"I can talk to you in here! And I can stir the soup. I think I win for the winning fight!" She proclaimed proudly wanting to do both things at once and to come with such a quick solution.

"You’re unbelievable." Horo sulks before turning her seat towards the kitchen. The small girl inside stirred the soup contently, "So Tingle .. Was it? What’s your deal? Being like homeless and stuff don't you got a family or something?"

"Well. I'm kind of like a foreign exchange student! I've come from a different galaxy!"
"Don't give me that crap! Who are you!" The girl’s goofy voice changed slightly upon hearing Horo shout that back at her. She sighed continuing to stir the broth

"What, do you not believe me? I had to transfer over here from the pioneer project on the galaxy Ragol."

"Ragol... you say?" She hadn't a clue where that was but she believed the girls story enough, "But why? Why come all the way this side of the galaxy?"

"Um it’s kind of an interesting story... Some time ago my best friend died because of this nasty disease. So they took me out of that program because they feared I was infected with the same disease. Which is weird cuz It was an internal virus and I aint never touched her body without clothing or nothing!" She blushed thinking about what Horo would even think about a girl touching the body of another girl. Horo didn't think any of it at the time and just nodded

"Um. Anyway I got sent to another project with a different ship. Gurhal I think. I had some fights and they transferred me here. And I didn’t know anybody so I just wandered around the ship before Mr. Meji found me and... Well here I am."

"I find it hard to believe you can get into fights with anyone." Horo thought, "You don't seem like much of a fighter."
"I'm a Force."
"... err no, I meant like go out picking fights." Tingle nodded and rubbed her head with her free hand

"I honestly don't remember. We tell ourselves- I mean, I don't seem to remember much about those fights except they said I did something super bad and deserved to be punished. Or something."

"You don't remember... any of it? You really are a strange girl aren't you?"
"But it’s true though! I am a space alien! Well at least I didn’t come from here." Horo nods before hearing the door open again. Nina had come back.

"Nina! You're back at laaaaast!" She glee'd shooting straight up. Nina nods holding the carcass of a few beasts in her hands.

"If you want oodion meat, you need to get it fresh. Is what I truly believe." Nina replied calmly. The sight of the fresh slain creatures in her hands made Horo promptly silence up and sit back down., "Tingle! You've done a great job stirring the soup" She patted the girls head with a clean hand, but Tingle's eyes fixated to the naberius creatures in her hands. She muttered "delicious" but it was a bit too feint for Nina to hear her. She then smiles contently of her job well done. As the time passes, Nina makes her meal and the three shares the meal together. Tingle stayed closer to Nina's side than Horo who took the entire other side of the table to herself. As it turned out, Nina was actually quite skilled at cooking, more so than her character would have been put to consideration. That fresh meat she had caught was prepared quite properly to make a very thick Oodion meat soup that would even counter that of Franka’s caliber. Needless to say, Horo was greatly impressed.

“Oh gods, this is so GOOD.” Horo shouts, as broth slowly drools out of her mouth. She slurps the rest of the contents into her bowl. Nina smiled feeling a bit accomplished with herself.

“I am so glad I’m going to have you as a wife!” Horo laughs with a huge grin on her face.
“Hey! No fair! I want to have her as a wife too!” Tingle pouts, grabbing onto Nina’s arm.

“D…don’t I get some sort of say in this, guys?” Nina replied rather annoyed by the two girls’ actions. She sighed and smiled, patting Tingle’s head again. The girl purred and nuzzled her head into Nina some more. Puzzled, Nina just continued to smile and continued to mess with her hair. Horo looked at the two and spoke up.

“Hey Nina. Did you know that girl is weird?” Nina stopped and looked back at Horo.
“What exactly do you mean weird?”
“I’m a space alien!” Tingle chimed up looking up at Nina.
“She came from some galaxy named Ragol. Said they had her leave for something or another.” Horo made short work of the revelations Tingle had told her. Was it perhaps she was becoming tired from the soup consumption? Or a lack of care perhaps? In any case Nina looked back down at Tingle who had fallen asleep in her lap.

It may be this case. Nina thought, she definitely is certainly a weird girl. At this point it didn’t really bother her too much about Tingle, or Horo, or any of that she was just content enough with how things were going.

[yoshiblue]

The story we've all been waiting for.

[Vintasticvin]

Lol I like this hopefully these stories will remain fun and enjoyable and wont get royally sloppy and too confusing or makes no sense to understand like this one group Im a part of.

[Sayara]

Te fact that it has taken us like, 3-4 months of just getting this far hopefully will not come to this conclusion.

[Zorafim]

This doesn't sound right. I know your fanfic has other elements that don't match with this one. And Tingle is in her 40s. Is this a compromise? Fitting in your backstory with several others, in exchange for changing a few details?

Anyway, I'm glad to finally get some details. I wish I had this when writing Captivating Madness.

[Sayara]

20s is what I thought I wrote. And the juicy bit comes later.