Twisted Landscape (open)

[Deleted]

This journey is becoming stranger, stranger the further I move upon this path, Noctis thought to himself as he continued what appeared to be an infinite fall into darkness and then the strange. And how had the prince ended up here one may wonder as a table would go whizzing by inches from the man’s face. Well, the story to that was a bit complicated, but seeing as the young prince was not going to hit the ground anytime soon it seemed, the young man supposed it would be okay to back track as he continued his strange descent.

This strange adventure had started out basic enough. Shortly after his adventures with Zidane, he had found his way to Radiant Garden and after some misadventures in the town, he had met the quiet young man known as Squall and the even stranger gentleman known as Vincent. While his encounter with them and the one called Saix was indeed brief and strange, in comparison to what was happening now, that trek to the library hidden within the dark castle was quite normal. Even laced with odd things such as Heartless and those strange white creatures with them, Noctis could wrap his mind quite easily around that situation.

Heh. He could even wrap his mind around the strangeness of gummi ships, world travel, and even keybearers. He could understand all this strangeness and he could understand there was a war or something going on that caused strange things to arrive on the Darkness that invade the worlds. He understood all this fantasy material, but when it came to this place. This one place, all of sudden he couldn’t understand what was happening at all.

Sure, the whole arrival in this new world was normal. In fact, he had landed near a lake and hid his ship before exploring the vast landscape of grass and scattered trees. The place was beautiful, homely, and a sight that was more familiar to him than any other scene he had seen thus far. He understood the vast expanse of land, the horses and long fences on it all belonged to the house that rested further down the hill he was upon.

As he stood under the tree upon the hill, he had narrowed his eyes to look at the old fashion home below trying to make out if people were there or not; however, from his distance on the hill, it was hard to say, so shrugging and deciding it best to appear as a lost stranger to whoever owned the properity, Noctis had prepared himself to go down that hill and go to that house; however, before he could do that, the young prince had a little error in his usual graceful way of walking.

As his boot caught onto a raised root of the tree that he did not notice before, the prince had naturally stumbled forward and towards the ground. On instinct, he had thrown his arms out to catch himself and somewhat save himself from the impact that was about to occur; however, as he neared the ground, a strange hole opened up and instead of crashing into the earth, he found himself sailing at incredible speeds down this dark and seemingly infinite hole.

Being slapped by unseen roots and what not, Noctis had tried to stop his fall, but everything he tried to grab either broke in his grasp or pulled itself out his reach. Yes…the roots did move. So he had continued his descent, worrying that he would indeed be in trouble if he did not find a way to stop soon; however, after a few seconds of this strange falling, some force began to slow him down until he was soon drifting slowly downward to some unknown destination below. A fall he was continuing to take currently.

Despite being dark, the prince could make out the strange objects that floated past him. A table here, a fish bowl with a fish in it there, a chair here, a piano there….

All these objects that should’ve crashed quickly into the ground with him were simply floating in the air as he fell passed them. This strange force keeping them more or less in their places as it pulled Noctis downward. On and on, he fell until quite gently the force that had carried him downward placed him upon the strange checker board like flooring.

As Noctis landed on his feet, he thought he was safe until he noticed that something was very wrong with his view. As the young prince looked about, he could see what appeared to be a chandlier, but instead of hanging downward it was right side up, defying gravity with its still burning candles remained in place. On top of this, Noctis could feel pressure building up in his head…like the blood within was rushing up towards it; however, if that was the case then that would mean, he was hanging upside down.

But how can that be. I am clearly standing upright…or am? the prince wondered as he could feel his hair being pulled downward by gravity even if the rest of his body was acting as if it was right side up.

Confused, Noctis tilted his head to look downward (or upward he wasn’t sure anymore) at the area below. He noticed more of the checkered floor below and on that checkered floor was an upside down table and chair, a upside down fireplace, door, and what appeared to be a small bookshelf.

What on earth? Noctis wonder as he frowned only a second before he was gasping as gravity finally pulled him from his upside down position and towards the floor below. Unlike the other fall, this fall was done in real time meaning the prince only had a few precious seconds to change the direction of his fall, so that instead of falling on his head and breaking his neck, he instead crashed painfully on his right side as his body met the solid floor.

Groaning slightly and wincing, Noctis carefully rolled himself to his feet as he tested his body to see if something had gotten broken in the fall. Thankful the only thing broken was his pride, but even that wasn’t broken too badly since it appeared that this strange room he was in now held no one else outside of himself….or at least he hoped that was the case as he dusted himself off and looked upward for the hole he had come through, but not finding it anywhere.

So was that a portal then? And if so….where am I now and how do I get out? Noctis wondered as he scanned the solid ceiling once more before sighing and leveling his sight with the room around him. As stated before the room was quite simple in design in decoration. The only thing that made it feel sinister was the gloom that clung to it allowing only the fireplace and the dim candles above to light the large room, but barely.

Shadows clung to everything and a strange black aura lingered in the air that made the prince uncomfortable in a room that should’ve felt warm instead of cold thanks to the fire in the fireplace; however, this was not the case.

Taking cautious steps further into the room, Noctis’s eyes caught sight of the book shelf and the teddy bear that sat up there. The usually innocent toy was now painted in creepy shadows cast by the fire and candles. The inanimate object became more intimidating in the darkness and the fact that those black shiny eyes seemed to be looking dead at him only made the prince more nervous.

Trying to look at anything except the bear, Noctis’s eyes drifted towards the door mostly hidden by a curtain in the room. Wanting nothing more than to be out of this room so he could focus on his task at hand, Noctis headed over to the curtain and pulled it back. Indeed a door was there and when he reached out for the handle, the door indeed opened; however, instead of finding another room or outside Noctis found another another door there. Frowning, he reached for the handle of this new door and pulled it open to…only to find yet another door. Frowning even deeper and becoming kind of curious, the prince continued to open the doors that were getting smaller and smaller in size until he came to a door that only a mouse could fit through.

Kneeling down, he reached for the tiny handle and twisted it only to find that door was locked. Rocking back in his crouched position, Noctis sighed as he looked around the room moodily wondering why on earth he was trapped in a room with a tiny locked door he could not fit through…

Hmm?!

Noctis’s moodiness stopped as he took note of something gleaming on the table that he had not noticed before. Standing up, he went over to the table to find the object gleaming in the fire light was a small key!

Picking up the small object in his hand, he looked at the strange key before looking back at the door. The key certainly did seem to fit, but even so how was he going to get through that door? He was certainly too big. Hmmm...

Placing the small key in his pocket, Noctis looked around the area to see if maybe there was a different sort of exit around. He couldn't afford to stay stuck here.

If he got stuck, there would be no way to figure out the strange pattern of darkness that had been twisting the worlds he had went to visit earlier. Enchanted Dominion where he had met Vantias, the strange world of Neverland, and now here. All of them had in common a strange presence of darkness and a twistedness to the lands that the young prince was quite sure did not belong to at leas the first two places. With this new world, this darkness and twistedness was questionable. Regardless, he needed to be able to explore to see if this was indeed normal for this world and he could not do that if he remained stuck in this room.

So sighing and trying to remain hopeful the prince continue his search for another exit, so he could continued the investigation of the darkness that had brought him here in the first place.

[Deleted]

Welcome to Wonderland

“You’re obviously new to this.”

---
Minutes before Noctis stepped in, a black portal warped and rippled in the Rabbit’s House. The black void pushed forward as if there was a resisting force or barrier. A silhouette of a man pressed through until he stumbled out; Ienzo inhaled sharply like he just broke free from water. His throat and lungs didn’t burn from lack of oxygen, but his chest burned by the darkness as it tickled his heart to dip further in the rabbit hole. Leaning against the wall, he recuperated wishing her had his cloak; it was long gone when he was restored, but it would’ve been resourceful now. Still it wouldn’t do him good roaming around in that infamous black cloak; he was luck through death, unfortunately, he was stripped from the Organization. With his “clean break”, he should keep those lives separate.

In the back of his mind, he wondered if he was making a progressive transition. He wore a uniform resembling what they had years ago. The charcoal grey top didn’t feel too far from the Organization cloak, but the heart emblem on his fingerless glove brought him closer to home, the one that basked in light with the scent of flowers. He wished he can get back the world he knew, but that would be self-centered; many worlds had fallen and distorted with this assistance. Even if one was to sympathize and tell him his involvement was small, it still wouldn’t erode the guilt he pent up.

“They may not know what I’ve done, but they may see the success I strive for.” That was all he needed to hear for now.

Finally feeling some relief and center, he pushed himself off the wall towards the table to swipe off the familiar vial. It’s been a while since he visited this world, and he recalled loathing it for its ludicrous nature. Even with his fondness for literature, he didn’t appreciate literary nonsense. It was odd how this world functioned with its odd rules; he even wondered how a Princess of Hearts came into a world like this. Turning up the humble bottle, he swallowed down the taste of blueberry. With a clink, it rested on the table and magically refilled itself, while Ienzo shrank. As he downsized, he propped his foot on the chair for he can scale down and stand right on top of it. Jumping towards the table, he gripped on the edge and pulled himself up to check everything out.

Heartless never appeared when anyone was their normal height; it’s as if they were too imposing to attack until they downsized. With his book cradled to his side, he waited and nothing. Was the heartless activity miraculously low, or were they distracted elsewhere? He didn’t sense anything odd or accumulative up ahead. Actually no, there was something, and it was coming his way.

His face frowned at the ungraceful landing; it didn’t twist in imagining the pain, but the discomfort of the quake he caused throughout the room. Being small had it downsized including the disturbances of giants. A cold voice in his head wished that would leave a bruise. He watched him unamused as the short black haired warrior stomped to the door. He began meandering with it, which concluded for Ienzo that he was new to this world. On cue as if the world knew subconsciously what was needed, a key blossomed on the table, but the Shrinking Potion disappeared with a pop. The world enjoyed games, and the former Nobody decided it was his indication to move.

Jumping down from the table to the chair and to the floor, he landed on the ground with a soft thud too soft for the warrior’s ears. As if the warrior’s movement was slow, Ienzo casual moved around to avoid his feet as he ventured to the table to grab the summoned key. Leaning against the door’s threshold, he waited until the man put 1 and 2 together. Unfortunately for him, he may be duller than he presumed; instead of returning to the obvious door, he began looking around for who knows what, help.

With a groan, Ienzo started to move towards the table again. No he didn’t need the other to retrieve the key for the door; the corridors was his mean of travel, and it wouldn’t be excruciating to go from one side of the world to another compared to traveling between worlds. Ienzo reasoned that he didn’t care to see a senseless puppy running in circles to catch his tail. Once on the table, he opened the Book of Knowledge to conjure Red Nocturne; a flare emitted from the book to catch the other’s attention.

It was irritating enough to use a spell for him, but a lost soul was a lost soul, “You’re obviously new to this.”

[Deleted]

Being a giant in a world of tricks and multiple sizes had its good and bad sides. On the one hand, Noctis got to see the room he was in as it was quite clearly as a light haze of darkness linger in the area causing the place's light to be dim in comparison to what it should've been. Something had happened in this world that had caused this darkness, but what that something was Noctis was not entirely sure.

Outside of strange falls, shrinking doors, and magically appearing keys, the young man had not found the source of the darkness and the strange shadows called Heartless that loved to linger in such darkness were no where to be found. It was definitely a strange situation made stranger and stranger as the prince continued to examined the room searching it for an different route out. He found other hidden doors in the room, but they were all locked and the small key he had most certainly would not fit in those doors' keyholes to open them.

So at the end of all that searching Noctis was left once more with the tiny door as his only option out of this room. After all, Noctis already knew that the small key belonged to that door, but he had hoped one of the regular sized doors would provide him with an exit instead, but since they hadn't, the prince supposed opening that small door wouldn't be such a bad thing. Who knew? Maybe unlocking the door would shrink him in the process and he could proceed....provided whatever as on the other side was safe to look upon...

Sighing, Noctis looked back over at the little door with a light frown as he studied it from a distance as he thought. Noctis already felt like he was being herded by some unknown force, but at the moment he had no choice, but to play by its script, so forcing his feet into action, the young man began to walk towards the small door. Digging in his pocket, he fished out the small key. With the key in hand, Noctis kneeled down by the door and carefully inserted the key into the door's keyhole and turned it. He heard a light click before he carefully turned the handle and pushed the small door open with a light tap to the door.

Leaning down further, Noctis tilted his head sideways as he peeked to the scene on the other side of the door. He could see a strange garden shrouded in black fog radiating with danger far greater than the presence that lingered in this room with him. The sensation caused the prince to feel tension through him as his eyes narrowed in agitation.

He needed to find a way over to the garden, so he could explore the garden better, and perhaps find clues as to what was causing the strange darkness both in that garden and the room he stood in. Noctis wasn't sure why, but he was quite sure that if he could get into the garden and out of the current room, then he would find the answers to he sought. However, being large, he would never fit through the door and as far as he was concerned there was nothing in this room to help him get the size he needed to be to get through said door.

It was a silly thought for sure to look for something to shrink him down to size or even hope by opening the door he would shrink, but in this weird place, these odd options were the only things that made sense to him in this odd place he was in. He had to become small to get through a small door...unless he was expected to take down a wall or something. And if that was the case, then wouldn't he just defeat the purpose of trying to explore the garden? The garden was small too right? So if he knocked down the wall or even was able to get over to the garden at his current size, wouldn't he be only hindering himself?

If he didn't smash the garden, examining it closely would be hard from his current point of view and he would also probably miss something important. And to be honest, he couldn't afford to do that. He needed to be able to examine each clue that he could up close in order to find clues to help him get to the bottom of the strangeness in the world...

But even so you still need to be small to do such an investigation here, Noctis reminded himself as he blinked and shook his head.

Sighing lightly, Noctis rose up from his position slightly as he closed the door and took out the key making sure not to lock the door back. Pushing himself to his feet, he looked at the small key in his hand before pocketing it once more. He wasn't sure if he would need it again or not, but it was better safe than sorry.

As he pocketed the key, his blue eyes scanned the room once more to see if anyhing had changed, but he didn't find anything new. A bit distressed at the situation, Noctis was about to sit and think his way out of this problem when a small light from the table caught his eye.

Hmm?

Noctis' blue orbs turned towards the table he had collected the key from before blinking a few times as his eyes found the source of the flame to be... a tiny person with something that appeared to be a tiny book in its hands?

Noctis' blank expression became a puzzled frown as his mind took this strange new fact in.

Was that guy always here? he wondered as he cautiously made his way towards the table. He was curious as to where a tiny person had come from and for that matter the key from earlier, but at the same time a bit concerned. Did the table make things appear, or was this person perhaps a resident of this strange place that had been drawn to the room by his crashing and stomping about? And if that was so, then where were the other residents of this place? The questions went on and on, making the prince more nervous about the little person as he got closer. Still, he did his best to keep calm as he focused his mind upon the facts to shutdown some of the questions whirling in his mind.

Yes. This little person's appearance was indeed strange, but perhaps strange was the rule of this world, dimension, or whatever it was he was in, worked by. Nothing thus far made any sense, so Noctis hoped that this strange little person could help him understand a bit of what was going on. In any case, at least now he had a someone with him even if said someone was small. It was slightly comforting not being alone in this very odd and dark place....even if the company was nonsensical to his logic. He would take any form of company to being isolated in this place, so pushing away any complaints that cropped up in his head, Noctis continued his cautious trek to the table.

Eventually, Noctis came to a stop a safe distance from the table and the small man as he leaned down to bring himself eye level with the other as he observed him careful. Silverish hair, an outfit that suggested the guy may be more of a researcher than a fighter, and eyes....cold blue eyes that seemed to hide much behind their calm stare.

The small fellow remind Noctis of a teacher he once had when he was back home. Quiet, strict, and always with a book near by, the older man had taught the prince the ways of the court and how to handle poltical situations in the kingdom, but that old man's eyes had always been warm rather than unsettling cold like this small person's eyes were.

In fact the more, Noctis studied the small man the more uncomfortable he became. Perhaps it was best to do something about the silence between them to see if they could....

"You’re obviously new to this.”

The small person spoke in a clear voice that carried easily to Noctis' ears despite size differences; however, the reason Noctis blinked in shock was not due to being able to hear the person without trouble, but rather because of what was said. This little person did not question if he was new to the place, but instead stated that he was indeed new as if it were a fact.... meaning this person was either indeed a resident of the place. Or this person did not belong here just as much as Noctis didn't belong, but unlike the young prince the person was revisiting this odd place for whatever reason. If none of these guesses were true, then what made the little man say his strange statement?

Deciding not to pursue that thought any further, Noctis shook himself mentally as he recovered from the slight shock and narrowed blue eyes at the small man suspiciously.

"You're quite confident in that statement, so I am going to assume you are quite familiar with the ways of this place and its rules. If I am correct, tell me who are you and how did you get so small?" Noctis asked in calm and quiet tones as he kept an eye on the suspicious man.

The young prince didn't expect direct answers. Nor did he expect the guy to tell him the truth. For all he knew, this little guy was trouble. He could've been here to harm the young prince even if that idea did seem unlikey at the moment. Or maybe the small man was the source of the strange darkness in the area.

The guy could indeed be many things that were bad, but there was also a chance that maybe the guy was something good also. After all, his earlier statement wasn't an attack and while he did use the light from the book to get the young prince's attention, the man hadn't attacked him in any fashion. So maybe the small man was trying to help him out instead since Noctis was indeed hopeless at a loss as to what to do in this situation. A helping hand would be nice and if they got along well, then maybe they could investigate the strange darkness of the place together, making a relatively long job easier and perhaps even shorter with the extra help.

Yes...

The possibilties of what the man was were endless just like the what-ifs that came along with each of those possibilties; however, for the time being Noctis did his best to push the wandering thoughts out of his head and instead simply focus on what was before him so he could make a better judgement call on whether this little man could be trusted or not.

[Deleted]

Ienzo bit his tongue from being dry and curt; this wasn’t first time he had to direct or teach, yet fighting with annoyance. Normally he would side step away from people; leave them to their own devices. He felt better keeping his distance, since he was a confused and estranged man. No one should bear the backlash of conflicting with two personas.

Observation doesn’t seem to be your strong suit. The thought was tempting, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with the consequences of a sharp tongue nor start his new road with rudeness. After all he went out of his way to assist, so he at least could be hospitable.

“Observant, you are. I’m sure you too noticed that this world like to play games until the point you think so loudly it can hear your thoughts figuratively speaking.”

Yes he could hear the very ticking of his brain, so noisy. He kept on double backing on every thought that it could give Ienzo a headache if he was to follow every waver of uncertainty in his eyes. He’d honestly wished he would blurt out his questions rather than think them. Whatever kind of warrior he was, the researcher wouldn’t be surprise if his military works were small. If anyone was skilled enough they can read him like a book; he wondered just how predictable was he. The idea only made the man seem less threatening.

“I’d advise you to cross this world with a clear mind; in a sense, nearly anything is plausible here; the rules of its magic are a whimsical one. For example,” on cue, a bottle popped up on the table magically waiting for the warrior to drink. If he was daft, he could read the label “Drink Me” tied near on the bottle’s short neck. As if to tickle Ienzo’s point, a small plate of cookies sprouted from the table one by one with “Eat Me” written neatly on them.

“On that note, I wouldn’t blindly eat and drink everything here.” With a snap, his book shut, and Ienzo tucked it near his side,” As for me I’m a researcher of sorts and as you suggested from another world; I learned from experience, so I’ll let you learn that on your own. When you figure it out, everything should be obvious.”

He would’ve left him there to deliberate and head for the door, but there was the odd chance he would crush him. Standing there he waited, but a question came to mind to disturb the silence, “Out of curiosity, why in all the worlds are you here? Not many know of other worlds, so what happened to yours to let you be here?”

Naturally he could envision the worst; optimism wouldn’t let him see anything else. No he needed a confirmation outside of his over-analytical mind. Was his hand involved in a distant strand of darkness to bring forth the revelation and insight of worlds to this man?

Darkness…

His brows scrunched; he could feel it tugging his attentions. From his peripheral, he could see the snoozing door, but the retired scientist wasn’t looking at him but beyond it. It felt like a faint whisper to his ears and a light wisp to his nose. What in the worlds had happened to this place? Thinking along that question, his eyes went back to the warrior. There were no such things as coincidences. Who was he?

[Deleted]

In general, Noctis thought himself to be a pretty patient and tolerant person and he also found that when he was curious about something or lost, he sought out answers in any way possible. His searches often led him to many odd ends and sometimes placed him with some of the strangest….and rudest people imaginable. So despite all the confusion, the small man’s appearance had brought upon Noctis, the prince found it logical to simply ask the most pressing of his questions, but instead of a friendly response, he got a glare that suggested the man wished to say something that was probably much ruder than the actual words that did come out of his mouth when he did speak.

Going from slightly disoriented and lost to a bit peeved at the answer he received from the small man, Noctis frowned at the other as he remained in his slightly hunched position watching the man coolly as he spoke.

While the man’s words weren’t insulting, it did not take a genius to understand that the man while being helpful was struggling to contain something within. Something that seemingly wanted to lash out at the young prince; however, despite that mild danger he felt from the other, Noctis remained more or less calm as he listened to the other speak of the world and how it liked to play games…until one thought too loudly and the world could hear said thoughts.

“And I wonder what thoughts, this world and you can hear from me,” Noctis asked in calm tones that held a slight bite to them as the young man caught onto the double edged meaning behind the other’s words. This little man….he was definitely something to be cautious of, but even so with no other source of information, Noctis would have to learn to simply deal with the other’s rather curt behavior.

The prince wasn’t sure whether the behavior was just a personality trait of the man or if the other simply wasn’t good with others, but whatever the case was, the young prince simply decide to accept it for now as his frown eventually vanished as his expression softened once more. He supposed there was no need to get ruffled if either assumptions were true. A person’s traits were unchangeable unless the owner changed them and lessons in dealing with people were easily taught if one had patience to deal with rudeness or other frustrating traits. Since he did not know this man, he would simply have to teach the other how to treat him and in turn, he would have to learn how to treat the other should they wish to get along.

Deciding to play nice for now, Noctis let the biting nature of the other’s words slide as he allowed the other to size him up and make a judgment call. Noctis did nothing to hide what he felt or thought in this situation. Maybe it was a size difference that made it easy for Noctis to remain open or maybe experiences with other places and people had loosened the prince up over time. After all, before coming to this strange world, he had run into quite the cast of characters with worlds equally as strange as the people he met; however, in all those cases they ran on logic…and logic just wasn’t something that applied here unless you counted the small man before him.

If what the small man had said was true and that was happening was all just a big game to this world, then Noctis wanted to know the rules of the place so he would at least have some chance of surviving whatever was ahead. Thankfully, despite his earlier words, the little man seemed to want to help in laying down some of these rules for him.

To start off, the man suggested he traveled this world with a clear mind. Okay, that would be a bit of challenge considering how the young man’s thoughts ran here or there without any restraint, but if keeping a tight grip on his thoughts is what was needed to survive here then Noctis figured he would somehow be able to manage the feat as he nodded slightly and continued to listen as the man explained that almost everything was possible in this world that was ruled by a magic that was…whimsical?

Well that was not exactly the word that Noctis would’ve used to describe the strange fall and appearance of the key. It was more like this world was manipulative in making one believe things were in their control or that it was simply aiding those lost, when in reality it was probably herding them into danger. Or maybe this world that made no sense seemed that way because Noctis was trying to hold the control instead. What if like the man said this world simply did as it pleased to amuse some unseen audience? And if it was amusing an audience, then who or what was said audience? Were they on a magical stage then?

The possibilities and what-ifs made the prince wonder more about the place he was in as an uncomfortable feeling of being watched settled into him. He didn’t like the idea of an invisible audience, but there was nothing he could do to change that now that he was stuck in this place.

Shaking his head mentally to clear away the thoughts that threatened to pull him down a path he did not wish to travel in this already confusing world, Noctis eyes turned from the man before him as a strange bottle appeared out of nowhere on the table to the man’s right. Blinking at this, Noctis stood up straight from his leaned position as he moved a bit closer to the table and picked up the bottle being careful not to harm or bump the little man in the process.

Once the small yet weighty bottle was in his gloved hand, Noctis took a moment to read the small tag upon it. Narrowing his eyes, he could just make out the words “Drink me” on the tag. Frowning even more, Noctis eyes drifted from the bottle in his hand and back towards the table as a small plate of cookies began to appear with another strange message upon them: “Eat me.”

“What the hell…?” Noctis whispered as he looked between the bottle in his hand and the cookies. He couldn’t help, but to ask the question out loud because this whole situation was simply ludicrous!

The fall, the door, the key, and now this? Was there really no end to the madness of this place?

Noctis wasn’t sure of the answers to this, but he knew one thing for certain. Despite being of different sizes, the small man on the table was the only thing that was making sense right now, so going with his gut, Noctis decided that even if the man was short with him, he would use the guy as an anchor to keep himself centered in this otherwise strange sea.

He wasn’t sure what was going to happen if he ate or drank anything here, so for a moment he hesitated hoping the other would give him directions or some hint that the drink or the food was safe; however, instead of giving him guidance, the guy gave him warning as he snapped the small book in his hands shut and tucked it under his arm.

The little man was telling him not to eat things blindly in this world before moving on to state that he was a researcher of a kind and that he too came from another world; however, despite this the man had wound up here before so due to that he was able to explain…or rather not explain all the rules of this world. This man said that experience had taught him the ways of this world and while the small man could indeed aid Noctis if he chose to, he wasn’t going to do much more assisting at the moment.

In fact, the guy let it be clearly known that Noctis was on his own when it came to decision making in this world…meaning he would have to make the choice of either eating or drinking the items that had appeared out of thin air.

Great….Now I have to take a chance with Lady Etro and pray that neither of these items lead me to her, Noctis thought as a light grimace crossed his face as he eyed the cookies on the table for a moment. He didn’t like the idea at all, let alone the idea of food or drink commanding him to eat or drink it. Still…he supposed he would get nowhere if he continued to hesitate before chance.

With a light sigh, Noctis’s eyes drifted from the cookies to the waiting man and then to the bottle in his hand. He had to make a choice and soon. After all, it was very rude to waste another’s time. Still…which of the two was the right answer?
Noctis continued to debate this for a moment longer and then as clear as a bell the small man’s voice cut through his thought process. Looking up from the bottle in his hand, Noctis reached his free hand up and rubbed the back of his head as a slight smile came to his lips.

“To be honest, I don’t quite understand what happened myself,” he began as he let his mind sink back into the past events. “I was ripped from my home when the creatures called the Heartless attacked it. From there, I was tossed to a different world and then from that world taken to another by strange black portals. From there, I began to seek out information on the Heartless and what had happened back home. I wanted to see what I could learn about these matters. I had hoped that by snooping around I could return home or at least find some way of aiding those stuck in whatever chaos this is; however, the only progress made has been small, but worthwhile I suppose. As for how I ended up here, I chose to come here on my own. Although when I first arrived, the place was quite normal, but after a hole appeared and swallowed me up, the world is now all over the place,” Noctis told the man honestly enough not really concerned about whether or not his somewhat vague summary could be used against him or not.

In any case, after saying what he had to say, he took one last look at the cookies on the table before making his decision. Deciding to test the bottle rather than the food, Noctis gripped the bottle in one hand as he pulled out the small cork with the other. The faint scent of blueberries wafted from the bottle. Not sure if this was a good thing or bad, Noctis hesitated only a second before taking a small sip out of the bottle.

Well, at least whatever it is doesn’t taste bad, Noctis thought a second before he felt his stomach churn at the liquid within it now. Feeling a bit queasy and woozy, Noctis looked over at the small man with an ill expression on his face before quite unexpectedly the room about him began to change.

He could see the small man on the table, but something was horribly wrong. The man was rising upward while he was going downward! On top of that, the bottle he had held on to was beginning to feel heavy, so Noctis let it drop as the table seemed to rush past him and the room around him widened.

All this strangeness happened in a matter of seconds before the world finally stopped moving around the young prince. Feeling dizzy, he stumbled forward catching himself on what he thought was a pillar; however, after letting the intial sickness pass and shaking his head to clear it, Noctis found that what he was leaning against was not a pillar at all. Looking at the strange surface he leaned against Noctis found that it was oddly familiar…meaning….

Noctis pushed himself off of the pillar and took a few steps back as his eyes traveled up and up and up what was now a giant table leg! A bit shocked, Noctis looked up at the glass top of the table where the strange man from earlier still stood, but the distance between them was vast!

Just what has this drink done to me? He wondered as his eyes traveled from the table top to the spot where the bottle he had drank from had hit the ground.

Despite being glass and open, not a single drop of liquid came from the bottle that rested on its side and remained in one piece even after the fall; however, even stranger than that was the size of the bottle. It was…it was a little longer than himself if he were to lay down next to it and it was also super thick. It was like the bottle and table had grown…or rather…

I have been shrunk!

The thought slapped the prince in the face hard causing Noctis to take a few steps back in confusion and a bit of fear. If he had been shrunk..then..then….

Wait a minute. You needed to be small to get through that door right? So what are you complaining for?

His logic cut through the panicky thoughts and grounded the young man once more in reality. Taking a breath to steady himself, Noctis looked back up at the other on the table top and then cupping his hands over his mouth, he shouted.

“I don’t suppose you’d continue to help me out here will you? I didn’t exactly come to this world out of curiosity. I am actually researching some strange patterns I’ve been discovering all over the place during my travels. I think with you being a researcher, you may be able to help me and in turn I can more than likely aid you in whatever it is you need,” he called up to the man and then on second thought. “Say where is it that you come from anyway and how and why did you end up here yourself?”

Noctis asked his questions out of curiosity, but also because he wanted to know more about his strange companion. He didn’t think it was coincidence either that they had met. Something drew them together, but what it was Noctis was not quite sure, but perhaps if he could find that something that drew them together, then maybe he could also figure out why the other had made such an odd face when he had questioned the prince about his current predicament…

[Deleted]

His eyes narrowed sharply for a moment as he replayed the quick words.

And I wonder what thoughts, this world and you can hear from me.

A chuckle snorted out of his nose at the irony. Plenty

He can hear the ticking thoughts and whirling confusion. Either the man was that readable or the nature’s of the world brings it out of people with its nonsensical ways. His previous agitation dissolved in amusement watching him meander his way through the puzzles. From Ienzo’s memory, the world’s antics were playful and light-hearted, so it was amusing to watch the other be bemused by the bottle and deliberating between the two.

The childish tickle in his chest stopped when he mentioned the heartless. He knew there were still out there, and may always be out there. But they took down another world; only so much darkness can attract that large amount to go on their feeding frenzy. It seemed when there was a prominent dark figure about their activity flourished. The first was under Ansem; the second wave was the Organization, who managed to control and utilized some for their advantages. The tides were turning again; Ienzo just wondered when it will come to a head.

The retired scientist nearly tuned the other out, but he picked up a few pieces here and there. It sounded typical enough; when one’s world fell what else could they do other than investigate. Despite all the worlds he been on, he hadn’t learned the mechanics of the universe, of hearts. Everything would be fundamentally simple at that point. Everything boiled down the power and mystery of the hearts, or at least it was for his chapter, the fall of Radiant Garden.

Looking over at warrior, he watched him pick the bottle. Even though he picked the right item, Ienzo personally wanted to see his reaction after eating a cookie. But that amusement could be taxing; he would’ve grown an unreasonable height depending on how much he ate. Over indulge and he’ll be cramped and hunched against the ceiling. With the size he would be less careful, and Ienzo wasn’t fond of the idea of being crushed or fall from the table being knocked in the process. Although he hadn’t physically over-reacted yet, he wouldn’t jeopardize his livelihood if the other miraculously becomes a giant.

As he shrank, Ienzo followed by standing on the edge of the table. Seeing how he didn’t lose his head, the researcher assumed he’ll be fine unless he lost it by the hands of the Queen. He watched him keenly as he shouted; not in the mood to shout back, Ienzo decided to be reasonable and jumped down to land next to him.

“I came for similar reasons, to study, and I foresee we may have our hands full,” he replied before looking onwards towards the door, “you have the key?”

Turning on his toes, he anticipated him to follow, “Like you, I come from a different world, but she’s still intact, Radiant Garden. I don’t suspect you’ve been there…”

He let it hang in the air, since it was more of a question than a statement. With his book tucked under his arm, he learned against the door’s threshold. What was once a light snoring was a loud snort. Being at the proper height, Ienzo can properly see the bob of the knob as the animated door snoozed. The keyhole was a flappy mouth that opened widely with a yawn.

As much as Zexion had come and went amongst the worlds, there were a few things that tickled Ienzo including the ludicrous nature of animate inanimate objects.

“You would have to wake him up; he always sleeping on the job, but I suppose there’s not much for a door to do.”

[Deleted]

龍Dragon Shaman 巫
Are you challenging me!?

---

The pitter patter of footsteps can always be heard in the gardens. Fluffy tailed rabbits and curious little robins searching for worms. Green foliage, flowers sprinkling the landscape with splashes of color as the sun graced the world with light to create these delightful gardens. They were the perfect places to have a spot of tea, or play games. Any would consider that a garden was the warmest place a person could find themselves But in these gardens there were no birds singing beautiful songs, or happy rabbits scampering about looking for vegetables to consume. Visions of red bled from the bushes, twisted by thorns and paid mind to by the corrupt visions of beauty held in this world. White roses splashed red, games played that ended with the beheading of winners, and tea offered by grinning cats were certain to be bitter.

In this garden wandered a monster gripped by the perversion of morality, driven by the selfish desires of a monarch bent on securing her own happiness, tossing aside the needs of her subjects with wild accusations of defiance through disregard. It intrigued him, these games of insanity, the embodiment of the mirror men were forced to face, but fought to hide. It was a wonderful place filled wonderful curiosities and even more wonderful treats that a beast could grow after consuming. The sights, the smells, the sounds that were elicited by this world was proof that depravity could construct progress, even if that progress was twisted by the measure of a few beheadings!

Long live the Mad Red Queen!

Boots crunched against the grass as the beast stood tall, peering over the twisting hedges of the maze. Though his height gave him a considerable advantage, it could have also been the fact he was no ordinary human. Here all manner of creature existed, perhaps the extension of the reality of a person’s heart? Regardless there he stood. Hair like fire and eyes of molten gold. A brilliantly flamboyant manner of dress that exposed skin and paid dear homage to the decorative capacity of feathers and fur. His form was as wild and mad as the residents of this world, but he was a stranger among the red-rose gardens and an intruder among their decadent parties of tea and cake. Sweet diversions, palatable diversions created a means of an escape from the reality that was this world, which was naught but a Nightmare to another. Sunrise and Sunset could very well stand arm in arm, but such chaos would mean good fortune among the twisted architecture and parade of singing flowers.

How long has it been since the beast had found a chance to render a service most fortuitous toward his own goals? His ravenous hunger fed by the Queen’s habits of punishment, but it was not just in terms of food, but also in the face of madness. It fed him knowledge and drew an understanding between the parallels of human societies. No matter if this place had a manner that was much upon the apex of madness than that of another, he could still see how they upheld their own system of order and rule to subjugate their followers and control their soldiers. Questions were met with an ax and obedience met with verbal accosting. Yes it intrigued him and drove the dragon to corrupt it further.

Because with corruption came the destruction of light, and that drew in the darkness. This in turn drew in the light, creating a prominent cycle. It was a destiny determined by the ancestors. To live, to fight, to dive into the darkness or raise into the light. All of it was predestined and there was no way out. But if one fought, if one fought with all their might to reach that high expected by one’s ancestors, they would reward you. This was the reward he sought. He spoke those honest words, not a question of it left in his heart.

“He will do for you, to achieve his own goals, and he will do so until he is met with success, or met with his own end.”

The beast had no qualms running from that which he could not face, for he who ran lived to fight another day.

The feral guard dog drew his lips apart as his amber eyes came to focus on a single spot in the grass, a rustling figure, with a twitchy white pom pom at the end of his hind quarters. The man’s head cocked up as the familiar tick tock sound flowed into his ears. He rolled his shoulders and crouched in front of the maze hedge. His nose twitched as he took in the scents. When he found the one he was looking for, he was now beyond the shadows of any doubt as to who it was. He shuffled back, hands pressed to the ground as his golden eyes narrowed and focused on the wall of shrubbery before him. With a quick motion the brute lurched his body forward before his mighty form surged through the hedge and out through to the other side. He slid to a stop in front of one of the shaking hedge walls, a grey pants-covered rump trying to wiggle for freedom. He lowered his head and pursed his lips in amusement. The beast exhaled over the fluffy tail, causing it to bristle and visibly panic. The monstrous male moved to stand, his arm reaching out for the rabbit’s leg. Standing to his full height he would raise his arm so the captured prey was dangling in front of his face, frantically attempting to keep hold onto his bifocals, but his pocket watch fell from its safe shelf in his vest. After several moments of vying for glasses and pocket watch the white rabbit finally settled to clutching the dear objects to his chest, his entire body shivering in nervousness.

“W-w-what do you want now you big bully?!” He looked away in fear, eyes squeezing close when the guard dog leaned his face in close. “Ahhh-I-I I mean s-s-sir!” He correctly quickly as to not become the hound’s snack.

The Titan’s lips pulled back in an amused smirk at the prey’s struggling. His eyes slowly blinked as his mind wrapped around the fact he had a tasty rabbit hanging for dear life in his hand. His body was slouched slightly, but he still stood with a confidently strong stance as his feet were perfectly pressed to the ground and his back was straight. He snarled at the rabbit and shook it a bit, causing his things to nearly fall once more. When the rabbit successfully caught them the beast grinned again. It was truly intriguing to set the shackles of disturbance onto such a small creature. Watching their face contort and body respond taught him about their fears and strengths. The touch of such things were sensitive to beasts alike. When they spoke of animals who could smell fear and creatures who fed off fear… dragons were the embodiment of the full spectrum of both. Hunting down fear and causing it to swirl fed their combative moods. But all of his actions had just, calculable causes. He would scratch the Bloody Queen’s back if his was in return.

“Rabbit, he wants something to do…” The rabbit was fleeing, he knew something. “He wants to hunt. Since you are the only one in the garden with him, he has to assume the rabbit will play with him a game.” His jaws parted, exhaling a fine plume of smoke with it. “Perhaps we’ll play cat and mouse?” The rabbit bristled at the idea of being chased around by the monster again. It was never fun, at least for the rabbit.

“I-I-I rather not play your games! I have no time! There is--” The rabbit tried to hold out his watch to show him that he has run out of time, but the Titanic beast tossed him up, forcing him to spin around and snatched his ears, holding him up by the long, white ribbons.

A deep growl burbled from his throat, passing his lips, which curled and bore his deadly looking fangs. “Your concept of time does not interest him.” His eyes widened at the realization. “Ooh, the rabbit saw someone. They followed you…” He would churr in his throat.

“N-no!” He was shook, like a doll. “Y-yes! I am not sure who, but they I-I-I don’t have time! Waah! Omph!” The rabbit was dropped on his head.

The white rabbit scurried to his feet and collected his glasses, which he placed on his nose. The red nose gave a wiggle and looked up to the giant. The Titan gave a roar and pounced at the rabbit. The little fellow squeaked out and bounced away. The red guard dog laughed as his fists pound into the ground and gave a reflexive clench and twist. This was a fantastic chance than. He would offer himself a chance to observe new visitors and, if all went well, corrupt them. He was not aware just to how many or few came by this time, but if they were not mindless Heartless than it would provide for an excellent game. The beast would stand and glance over to his side. He took a moment to admire the roses. A deadly beauty assaulted their very nature. All sought to covet them, but the spines that twisted and caressed every inch of their bush were a deadly reminder that they fought back. Even if this prey fought back, it would entertain the Red Hound. The beast fell to all fours before racing off through the garden, making sure to pile through any and all Card Soldiers that got in his way.

---

龍 Fai 'Titan' Jiao-long 巫
46 | Male | Dragon
profile

TAGS: Next~! | NOTES: Red Hound

[Deleted]

((FYI: This is not completely the Wonderland from Disney. I have mixed various aspects of different versions of Alice to make this warp version of Wonderland. If you want to know what I use, I can give you my two main references through a PM. Just asks Kuja. Also Titan already knows this from rping with me as another, but Ienzo feel free add onto things and describe what we find in here since all I really work with is a rough idea to keep us on track. =)))

Noctis took notice of the narrowing of the small man’s eyes when he had made his response to the other’s slightly biting words. Perhaps it was unwise to do such a thing; however, Noctis did not care. While he could get along with most people, the simple fact of the matter was that if one wanted to be treated kindly by the young prince, then one had to first be kind to the prince. If not the prince wouldn’t necessarily be rude back to a person, but he wouldn’t allow them to run over him either. Through words and actions, he had subtle ways to warn people when they stepped out of line or were beginning to work his nerves. Luckily for the little man on the table, the offense towards the prince was minor, so even when the guy snorted lightly in response to his words, the prince did not remain too ruffled as he decided to let the words go as instead the man began to be helpful instead.

As the man spoke and Noctis processed what was said the best way he could, the air in the room that had been quite shaky between them lost most of the tension that was caused by the pair’s rough first round of words. As the small man became amused, Noctis began to do all that he could to understand what was needed to survive in this world; however, no matter how much the young man tried, the world around him refused to make logical sense.

For example, when the bottle and cookies appeared on the table and the small man left Noctis to choose which of the two were right, the young prince’s mind began to whirl and hurt a bit as he tried to push away his every day logic and adapt to the illogicalness of this world. In reality, strange bottles or mysterious foods meant trouble…and if the warning from the little man was anything to go by, then the same could be apply to this world too.

Even so, it would appear to press forward, the young prince would have to choose between drink or cookie and simply pray for the best. So looking between the items as he debated and thought, Noctis had almost forgotten about the little man in the room until the man broke his mind’s train of thoughts by asking him how he had ended up in this situation.

Looking over at the man, Noctis had opened his mouth and began to give the guy a summary of his adventures, but it would appear that the more he spoke, the more the one on the table began to sink into some form of deep thought that made the young prince wonder if he was listening at all anymore.

Noctis wasn’t sure what it was, but as soon as he had mentioned the word Heartless, the light air around the small man vanished and he became tensed the more as he fell into himself and thought. The sudden change in the air made Noctis wonder if perhaps the man also had a bad encounter with the Heartless and perhaps like himself had lost his home. It wouldn’t be unlikely considering the people that the young prince met along his travel had often suffer from this unfortunate fate too.

Whatever it was that made the man fall quiet and think the way he did, Noctis put his questions on hold as he finished what he had to say and turned his mind back to the more pressing matter of choosing which item – the cookies or the whatever was in the bottle – was the correct item to take a chance with.

A few more moments of debate passed before his mind warned him about making people wait. Agreeing inwardly that he should not make another wait any longer than necessary, Noctis took his chance with the strange blueberry liquid in the bottle.

As it passed his lips and entered his system, the young prince most certainly felt something happening within. He had looked up into the small man’s calm and cool blue eyes as a wave of sickness hit him and then quite unexpectedly that man was rushing towards him as the world around Noctis shifted and changed. It took a moment for all the rushing and stretching of the world to finally stop and it took another second for Noctis to realize the drink he had taken a swing of had actually shrunk him to the size of an ant!

A bit panicked at the situation at first, it had taken the young prince a few moments to compose himself before he looked up at the man watching him from the table’s top that was now many feet above him. Shouting his request and his question, Noctis half expected the man to call back to him, but instead of doing that, the small man took a leap right off the table and let himself fall towards the solid ground.

Quite use to people doing what others may have considered impossible thanks to where he came from, Noctis didn’t move as he watched the angle of the other’s fall and knew that unless the guy messed up somewhere along the way, he would not hit him. Regardless of this, Noctis still took a step back to give the guy room for his landing that came a few seconds later.

As the other rose from his landing, Noctis found that the man was not that much older than him and only fell a few inches under his height. Even so those serious blue eyes of the other told the young prince that maybe this guy was more than what his appearance suggested. There was a sort of dark moodiness to those blue orbs that could only come from seeing too much, doing something that blemished one’s reputation or both.

It was a curious thing to note, but Noctis did not make any fuss about it as his face and body remained relaxed and neutral. As he heard the others response to his question, Noctis followed the other’s gaze towards the door from earlier that he had unlocked. Now that he was small, he could definitely get through the door and enter the garden of darkness beyond.

“Right…” Noctis said softly agreeing in his own way that they may indeed have trouble ahead. Even so, he had come here to investigate the strange patterns that his gummi had picked up, so investigate he would.

When he heard the question about the key, he nodded.

“Yeah, I have it right here, um…” Noctis trailed off leaving the question of name to be filled in by the other if he chose to give it. Regardless of if the other gave his name or not, Noctis would follow the guy as he reached into his left pocket and after digging around the few items within it, Noctis fished out the key, he had thankfully stuck in there.

As he pulled the key out and examined it, he realized it was now the right size or rather he was the right size for it. In any case, the key was normal looking now, but it would appear that the door they were heading towards was not so normal anymore. Yes, the door kept its roundish and wooden appearance, but the golden knob upon it that seemed so common before was now a golden plate with a face upon it and the round handle was the nose of the said face.

A bit disturbed by the idea of dealing with a living door knob, Noctis’s attention was diverted from their destination momentarily as the man he followed told him that he was also from a different world and one that Noctis was already well acquainted with. As he heard the name of the world, he smiled slightly.

“I live there currently and enjoy its hospitality towards a stranger,” Noctis said truly meaning what he said. Of the worlds he had visited, so far only Radiant Garden had proven welcoming while everywhere else was either unwelcoming or too strange to settle in.

Much like this world, Noctis thought as a silence fell between them once more and they finished their walk across the large room and finally came to a stop before the door knob that was snoring. Keeping his distance from the animated door knob, Noctis watched as the man with him walked over to the door and then leaned against its surface. Seeming to notice that someone was leaning against it, the dozing knob made a snorting sound as its face scrunched up a bit before it was opening its drooping mouth and yawning widely.

As it did, Noctis took note that the mouth was actually the keyhole itself meaning….

Noctis looked from the yawning door to the key clutched in his hand. Did he really have to stick the key into that beings mouth?

“You would have to wake him up; he always sleeping on the job, but I suppose there’s not much for a door to do.”

The calm voice of the silver haired male he traveled with broke through his thoughts causing Noctis to look up at him calmly before nodding deciding inwardly that as ridiculous as this situation was, he’d simply have to accept the strange facts and do what it was he had to do to press on.

“I suppose you are right,” Noctis said softly and then steadying and bracing himself for anything, Noctis took a step closer to the door and spoke.

“Umm..Excuse me,” he began calmly at first trying to wake the door with the sound of his voice alone; however outside of grumbling its sleep, the door knob did not wake up as it continued to snore. Not exactly pleased with this, Noctis tried to wake the door again.

“Excuse me, I need you to wake up, please,” Noctis said in a voice that was a bit louder than before as he tried to his best to remain polite even if it did seem silly. The door knob on the other hand snorted in its sleep.

“There is no reason to wake up any further. Try another path,” the door knob told him with a yawn as it tilted its nose in its sleep as if it was better than Noctis or the man who leaned against it. That was it.

Noctis folded his arms at he frowned at the door knob moodily as he kept a grip on the key within his hand.

“I unlocked you earlier, so I was trying to be nice and ask permission before turning your nose, but if this is how I am going to be treated, I don’t even know why I bothered with this in the first place,” Noctis told the door knob his voice not hiding his agitation.

With a snort and chuckle the door knob opened its sleepy eyes and looked at Noctis with a smirk.

“While I thank you for being polite, I can assure your threats will have no effect on me. I have relocked the door and with key or not, you shall not pass. Trust me when I say, it is better on this side of the door than the other,” the door knob informed him with a nod.

Noctis sighed at this.

“I understand it is dangerous, but that is exactly why I need to go over there. To undo the danger,” Noctis told the door knob. To this the door opened its mouth to protest, but stopped as a light chuckling filled the air.

“So the fools wishes to go through and become tools? How amusing,” a deep voice said from somewhere behind them. Turning slightly in his spot, Noctis looked back to the way they had come only to find a dark grey cat with black stripes sitting on the floor not too far away. The cat was thin and the eyes mischievous as the strange cat sat watching them with a…a toothy grin that made it seem malicious.

Not sure where the cat had come from Noctis watched it carefully for a moment before his lips parted as he shook his head.

“Fools or not, we need to go through that door. I am not sure what you mean by "tools", but I am not leaving until I get to the bottom of whatever is happening here, Voice,” the prince said as he began to turn back towards the door; however, the cat stopped him as the grin parted and it revealed itself to be the owner of said voice!

“Cheshire is my name and perhaps to help you is game. You should remember the fun should you not, member of the dark cloak?” the cat said as its yellow eyes drifted to the man with Noctis and narrowed with delight and mischief.

A bit confused as to what was going on Noctis looked between the cat and the man with him, but then deciding he had no time for questions at the moment, Noctis spoke.

“If you can help us Cat, then please do,” Noctis told the creature as his patience began to run thin with all this nonsense and stalling.

“Are you sure want that?” the cat asked as it bowed its head lightly as its ears folded to the side of its head as the grin on its face became more malicious. It seemed to be directing the question at the man with him, but the reason why the cat was so bent on the guy was beyond Noctis.

Watching both suspiciously, Noctis chose his next set of words carefully.

“Yes. I need to get into the garden beyond to find the answers I seek,” Noctis said doing his best to remain calm even if a million questions assualted him as the cat kept its eyes upon the silver headed man for a bit.

Then with a light chuckle, the cat got up and stretched as its claws dug into the ground as its barely hidden bones popped a bit.

“The truth plays hide and seek, but I wonder if you have not bitten off more than you can chew, human,” the Cat said as it walked forward and then disappeared right at the door. Uncertain of what was going on, Noctis glanced over at the man he was with to see how he was reacting before he turned to the door who was now watching him with a sleepy frown.

“Now will let me unlock you?” Noctis asked as his voice soften a bit.

“I suppose I could allow it, but don’t come crying to me if you want back over. Once you are on the other side, I am not letting you back over here,” the door said as it eyed the prince with an annoyed glare. With a light smile, Noctis nodded and agreed to the door knobs conditions.

Seeming to be content enough, the door knob opened its mouth just enough to form the perfect keyhole for the key Noctis had. Stepping forward Noctis inserted the key and turned it, hearing the satisfying click that signaled the door was unlock.

Making sure his companion was out of the way, Noctis would turn the knob gently and push the door open as the key still in the keyhole vanished from sight. As the door opened, a dark mist would seep out of the gardens beyond and begin to wrap around the prince and his companion as it gently whispered and beckoned them to enter the garden beyond.

Unafraid, Noctis stepped over the threshold expecting the other to follow as he looked around the place. They were standing in a small open area, the blue sky above tainted with moody blacks and grumbling greys. The grass they stood on might’ve once been green and beautiful, but for the moment it was stained with odd purple and green vines that pulsed with malicious energy as black thorns glistened in the gloom.

Up ahead the heart shaped arch that seemed to lead further into the garden was not any better off. Like the rest of the garden it was blemished by overgrowth, thrones, and blood red roses that seemed to be a warning sign of things to come rather than the flower that welcomed one to smell it. To make matters worse as the door shut behind them and locked, the chill and silence of the area did nothing to sooth nerves as instead the two forces gripped all who entered it in a tight uncomfortable grip allowing the darkness that lingered in the area to sink further into the skin and mind.

The strange force weighed down the one who sat in it. Made that person fear for his or her life and want to flee; however, while Noctis did indeed feel these things, he knew he could not flee. So even as the darkness pulled and tugged at something within him making him feel sick the longer he remained in the area, the prince quickly pushed down the sensations as he focused on his task once more.

“Come on,” was all the prince said to his companion before he was walking forward and towards the arch. As he walked the Cheshire Cat materialized just inside of the entrance way to the garden with its eyes glowing in the dim light of the place. As the pair got close, the cat spoke.

“So you have chosen to dive into Darkness itself, but I wonder just how well you will survive,” the cat said as Noctis stepped within the garden and looked to the left and then to the right….Both paths were the same so which was right?

A chuckle from the cat drew Noctis attention to it once more as he gave it a peeved looked. He felt like the cat was taunting him…but why? However, the cat remained unphased and grinning as it spoke to him as it kept those strange intelligent eyes on him.

“Ponder all you want, you are bound to be lost even with a guide. The Queen’s Garden’s are as twisted as the land itself. And the more lost you become,” the cat begin to slowly fade from view. “The deeper the darkness becomes and the deeper it becomes,” the cat had gone completely out of view leaving behind only that malicious grin, “The more things outside of shadows you’ll have to contend with.”

With those words the mouth vanished leaving Noctis and his companion alone once more.

Glancing back at his companion with slightly raised eyebrows, Noctis spoke.

“How is you were able to handle all this and not snap?” he asked shaking his head as he moved further into the garden and deciding to head down the left path to begin their trek through the twisted gardens. As they walked in silence along the tangled paths, Noctis took note that some of the walls were knocked down or had holes punched in them as if something large had run through them. Not recognizing the holes as anything from the Heartlesss, Noctis felt himself tensing as they rounded the corner and began to go down a path curving to the right. As the pair continued down this path, the walls that were infested with those red rose would begin to glisten as if they were damp and after careful observation, Noctis noticed that some of these roses were dripping red!

On top of that, the scent of death lingered in the area and Etro herself glidded up ahead through the shrubbery, her eyes down cast as she seemed to be looking at something on the ground. Feeling his heart rate quicken, Noctis picked up his speed a bit as he followed the goddess only he could see around more corners until he finally came to a stop within the entrance of an open spot within the garden.

As Noctis blue eyes fell upon the scene before him, his lips became a tight line as he felt his stomach churn. Before him was a mess of red and what appeared to be giant cards either trampled, destroyed, or injured. Some were moaning while others were twitching as the darkness wrapped around them.

“What on earth…?” Noctis muttered before shaking his head moving cautiously towards the nearest card person he saw that still had breath in it. He wanted to know what had happened and how he could help, but those strange holes in the walls surrounding the area bothered him greatly. What could've caused such damage? And was said thing still around?

[Deleted]

Leaning against the threshold, Ienzo was acutely trying to see beyond the door. If he was sensitive, he would’ve convulsed at the stench of darkness. His already fare complexion paled, while his hooded eyes stared in front of him in concentration. The book in his arms was trying to react even with a twitch, but the researcher silenced it quietly. Who had titled this world on its axis? The top people on his list were the key individuals who plotted to wreak havoc with their thirteen pieces of darkness in a specific time phase. Was it coming soon, or did it already happen?

He frowned; the bickering between the door and the young man was grating his nerve when he had important places to go, beyond the door. Ienzo had other means of travel, but he didn’t want to answer unwanted questions or explain himself. But that was wishful thinking. Wonderland had its own way to irate him further, the Cheshire cat. A brow arched at his current predicament ; he surely didn’t look like he had fun, but the world was filled with mad people.

“He likes to talk in riddles,” Ienzo merely replied when Noctis looked at him and the now thin cat. Now the former nobody wondered if he preferred this look or his purple plumpness. Too bad his personality didn’t alter to be more straightforward. Ienzo can enjoy a puzzle or two for mental simulation, but sometimes the cat meanders about too much to drop an actual clue. With his baiting hint, Cheshire faded away. Ienzo’s eyes watched the cat and can feel Nocti’s eyes on him, or predict his confusion, “You can say he has evaporating or vanishing skills; it can get a bit ludicrous. As expected, we’ll have to hunt down what stained this world.”

Regardless of the door’s and cat’s warning, the warrior was adamant; it was surprising, but Ienzo wondered how much he’d seen in his life as a warrior and how much experience he had with darkness.

We shall see.

Stepping through the door, Ienzo was slightly taken back by how much the world took the beating. It was far more colorful his last visit. It gave him a sickening reminder of Hallow Bastion. Darkness didn’t overtook it, but hunger and greed; the world’s beauty was uprooted to build more machinery to manage their experimental advances. Even when he fell to darkness, Ienzo as Zexion traveled too and fro from the world as the Organization built secret stations from Maleficent’s eyes. Now that he saw the full chessboard; they were probably assisted by Ansem, Xehanort’s heartless, too.

His eyes closed with a grimaced; he wished there was another name to call that monstrosity. It was in sick admiration to take their master’s name. It had never bothered him until he was complete to feel guilt and to remember the exact reasons for his decent into darkness. It would’ve been one thing if he’d leaped willingly in foolishness, but another to be stabbed and pushed over the edge unexpectedly.

Hearing Noctis’ voice, he registered that he wasn’t hear alone; Wonderland wasn’t the best place to be absorbed in your thoughts. Too tickle his fancy even more, the Cheshire reappeared. Despite the world’s circumstances and Ienzo’s shift in mood, the researched found amusement between the two, the cat and the warrior. Perhaps he wasn’t the only logical individual; his thin lips stretched unevenly in a smirk. He wasn’t going to adapt fairly easily.

He even snorted a chuckle at his simple question, “I’ve lived with idiots; at the time, they were enough.”

Opening his mouth to speak, Ienzo closed it as the other began to move; he followed behind. The researcher was too casual in his stride; he even opened his book to watch it magically jot down his current experience. Flipping several pages, his eyes roamed over the images and detail of the heartless he captured. Whatever that was lured to the dark mist here could be collected as well. Picking up the sound of Noctis’ pace, he frowned in wonder. He couldn’t keep his nose in his book with the navigator speed walking. With a sigh, he merely held to book open and kept an eye on the other as he quickened.

“What is it?” He called out as the other stopped.

“What on earth…?”

That didn’t entirely answer his question. Rolling his eyes, Ienzo side stepped to be next to him to see the carnage, “Hm, whatever it was, it was big.”

Moving past him, Ienzo delicately stepped around them towards the other side of the garden casually evading limbs and blood. “They’re all not dead, but whatever it was may not be of this world or worst.”

Standing in the center of the chaos, he peered down at his book. In a shimmer of green a project of a beanie bop heartless danced before raining down Cure on a selection of cards. No need to heal the ones that were gone. In the still silence, Ienzo could feel the chills coming from the overcast grey skies; from outside looking it, it seemed the world was depressed. It’s as if someone robbed it of its ‘muchness’.

It cut through the silence, his voice, in a simple question, “What are we dealing with?”

[Deleted]

龍Dragon Shaman 巫
Are you challenging me!?

---

The impure nature of this world is what delighted the beast most of this place. The sounds were offensive, the scents were vile, but the way chaos seemed to rule their lives fed the creature, who further fed corruption into the world. Their measure of punishment and skill toward the outlandish tendencies of greed were what drew him in the first place. Chaos bred progress and he sought to prove that gain could come from even the purest forms of insanity, of which this place exuded. He followed the scent to its source: the Red Queen. Her brutality called to a base nature born of all animals and her loud demands are what churned his rage into a force of chaos. Her actions stirred the corruption born of his nature.

The beast was fond of this twisted landscape. Wherever he went there were things to see. Curling trees and lopsided buildings were marked with bright colors and extravagant designs. His favorite, though, had to be the snap-dragon-flies with their twisted wings and sweet bodies. It was a treat to chase and crunch them. The beast had taken a detour to fill his belly before stalking his new prey. Stalking new prey on an empty stomach caused the mind to unsettle and do things it normally would not. He wanted to enjoy stalking them and causing their minds and bodies distress. Bounding through the the tall grasses, mouth full of the succulent sweetness of plum-pudding he gave pause. Pushing to stand, it was like a tree sprouting from the earth. The fearsome stature of the Red Queen’s hound could easily be spotted in the fields of swaying flowers. The dancing tiger-lilies, daisies and larkspurs drew attention to the still form of the Titanic beast. He raised his arm and brushed the back of his wrist over his mouth, dusting off the bits of leaves and crumbs left behind by his snack.

Looking around the brute would lower himself to a crouch in the field. He was a ways from the gardens at this point, but if need be he would return at a moment’s notice. Hi ears turned toward the whispers of the plants. His prey have entered the queen’s garden. He chuckled and stood to his feet. The corruption must flow. Curling his lips the beast put his mouth and blew. The sharp noise carried, like a bird’s call, across the air. Soon the sound arrived at the ears of the creature he sought to summon. From the skies a soft fluttering sounds would carry to the form of a small bird, but as it drew nearer, so did it’s size become greater. Massive, armor covered claws landed in the fields, talons boring into the dirt. Feathers of speckling black and white covered the monster’s form. A long neck curled back with a proud crown of feathers fanned out in display. The mighty Jubjub bird let out a ferocious call, spreading out his wings to show the might of his health. The Titan smirked and turned to march toward a large stone that lay in the fields, fallen from a nearby rock face. Holding out their hand, a stone was dropped into it from above. The red-haired hound carved a message into the stone. Once satisfied with his message the beast stepped back and discarded his writing tool. Looking to the JubJub Bird, the queen’s red hound gave a confirming nod, holding out his hand toward a large stone before pointing towards the gardens.

“Give our guests a warm welcome.” His order was clear.

The Jubjub bird hopped onto the boulder, its claws grasping over the rock. After a moment of balancing himself the Jubjub bird spread his wings. A flap of its wings would not be enough to take it off the ground with such a sizable package, but a few more beats of the mighty limbs and a strong shift of his body, the bird would manage to take off. Dust was kicked up, blades of grass turned about in the air were churned in the wake of the predator bird’s take off. Once off the ground the predator made its way toward the gardens to deliver the package to the guests. On the stone was a message to the guests.

How many ways can I cut a deck?
Once with an hack, or twice with a tap?
When I shuffle and draw, it will be face up.
Floating along the river like a mouse in a cup.

The beast turned and headed his way out of the field, following the river toward the Hatter’s. Boots crunched against the muddy bank, prints being left behind. The marks looked remarkably similar to a lizard’s: three toes in the front, and two in the back. Boots of a trickster. The beast marched hi way up, occasionally crossing into the water, slipping against the watered stones. He looked off toward his goal. A grin came upon his lips when he saw the tall hedges surrounding Hatter’s home. He could smell the brewing teas and hear the clattering tops of brass and ceramic teapots rattle as they steamed to perfection. Arriving at the dilapidated gate, the beast raised his head and sniffed at the air. With a push of his powerful legs the beast hopped over the fence and marched toward the back to the garden.

No one appeared to be home, but that did not stop the brute from crashing the party. “Knock, knock…” He hissed and cracked his knuckles, but no one seemed to answer. A shaking rattle alerted him to the doormouse’s presence. “Found you!”

“Wah! The Queen’s Red Hound!” An echoing spout escaped one of the tea kettles before the dragon punted it over the hedges.

The kettle rolled and bounced before it dropped into the river, plunking, and floating along its way. Aftrwards the beast proceeded to consume all that was on the table and drink all the tea. The table manners he held suited a dog perfectly as he stamped across the multicolored table cloth with muddied boots and staining the surface with knocked over kettles. Whatever failed to land in his mouth or tay on the table cluttered the floor with a mess. With his belly full, he moved on to stir more chaos and instill more corruption into the world.

---

龍 Fai 'Titan' Jiao-long 巫
46 | Male | Dragon
profile

TAGS: Next~! | NOTES: The Mad Red Hound drops a weight far more than a pound.

[Deleted]

The young prince had taken notice of how his companion leaned against the door as if he was trying to see or hear something; however, before Noctis could question the actions any further, he had been quite distracted by the talking door knob who was refusing to let them pass even with a key in hand. Determined to not be pushed away without completing his mission, Noctis had held his ground against the door’s words as he tried to convince the structure to let them through into the gardens; however, the door would not budge on its decision much to the annoyance of the prince.

As the war between the pair continued, Noctis could see that the fight was getting on the other’s nerves…a sight that only furthered annoyed the prince as some part him wanted to glare back at the other and demand he helped if he wished to bring this silliness to an end. Did he not know this world? So surely he knew how to get pass the door, right?!

Noctis wasn’t sure of the right answer to that those questions, so instead of acting on impulse and taking his frustration out on the man with him, Noctis ignored the annoyed frowned from his companion for the moment as he continued to try to be nice to the door. When the strange and creepy Cheshire Cat appeared and began talking in riddles, the young man found himself becoming quite exhausted with this world and its ways. Nothing made sense here and the world seemed to be design to make him want to ask questions he would not receive answers to. For example, the Cheshire Cat and his companion seemed to know each other, yet when the cat left questions that Noctis silently turned to the man with him, the other had simply stated the obvious as if that was enough to blow the whole mess off.

While this game of secrets was deeply agitating to Noctis, by some miracle the young man let the issues that were cropping up slid as he reminded himself that these questions were for the moment trivial. In time, he would receive his answers this he was sure of, but at this point in time all he needed to do was get pass the door and onto the other side where that darkness resided. He could worry about the many questions in his head later.


Focus, he told himself as tried to shake away the feeling of being lost in this world's confusing ways. As the cat vanished, Noctis had heard his companion’s words that somehow told him the guy knew and in a way understood how he felt about the situation. For without much prompting, the silver headed man explained how it was the cat could just disappear and appear at will before stating how silly it all could get.

“Indeed,” Noctis said as he nodded slightly agreeing that a hunt in this strange world was iwhat they had to do…but they were not going to get anywhere if the door wouldn’t cooperate. So after clearing his head once more, Noctis refocused on negotating with the door, who eventually gave into his words and allowed them to pass. Feeling relieved that the entrance ordeal was finally over, Noctis had stepped through the door and onto the other side with his companion following….and when he did this, all his earlier agitation evaporated as his eyes took in the garden around him that was twisted and sick from the dark air that plagued the area.

It was true that ever since Noctis was whisked away from his home, he had been thrown into some pretty odd situations and it was also true that ever since he started this journey to aid the worlds as he continued to try and find his way home, he had seen a lot of things; however, even with all that under his belt, nothing could’ve prepared him for the sight and feeling this already bizarre land gave off. Even his calmer companion seemed to be bothered by whatever had happened to the world and while this was concerning to the prince, he decided not to pry into whatever thoughts the other was currently trapped in as his eyes drifted across the twisted landscape and up to the grey skies above.

Taking it all in, Noctis swallowed back the nauseating sensation of the area before he had stepped forward only to be confronted by the strange cat once more who left only more riddles to unravel before disappearing again. Noctis wasn’t sure what this talk of the darkness was or even how his companion was connected with all of this like the cat was suggesting earlier; however, he knew that standing around and pondering the situation wouldn’t help anything either, so shaking away the bad vibes that sought to root him to the spot, he turned to his companion and asked his question about remaining sane in such a place.

In response, the other surprisingly gave him a chuckle before saying that he used to live with idiots and for him they were enough. To the words, Noctis shook his head wondering just who the idiots were that made a place like this easier to bear; however, just like before the prince did not pry too much into the matter as he instead focused on the garden and entered it.

Just like the cat had said the garden was indeed twisted and confusing. As Noctis moved about the twists and turns with his companion casually following behind him with the book he carried opened, the young prince found himself becoming increasingly frustrated as what appeared to be perfectly good paths became dead ends decorated with angry flowers and on occasion walls with throbbing red hearts or leering skulls. Pushing his way through the horror and the heavy black mist, Noctis pressed on until Etro appeared and began to wander down a path. Knowing the Goddess of Death’s presence here was not a sign of good things, Noctis had briefly forgotten another was traveling with him as he moved down the path at a brisk pace to follow the goddess to wherever she was drifting off to.

When the path finally ended in the open area that a massacre resided in, Noctis barely heard the words of his companion as he looked from one broken card to the other wondering if whatever had gotten them was the same thing that had knocked down and punched holes in the garden walls they had been passing earlier.

“Yeah big indeed,” Noctis muttered as he heard the comment from his silver headed companion, the other's voice only slightly drawing him from his thoughts as the other moved from his position at Noctis’s side and moved to stand in the midst of the carnage with a calm expression upon his face.

The imagery was disturbing. Even though the man he traveled with did not cause the mess before them, Noctis found himself feeling highly unnerved by the other's lack of emotion in the situation. It was true people could be calm, but as blank as this guy was? Noctis had never seen the likes of this sort of behavior before. It made the other feel almost empty…like he had no Heart.

But that can’t be the case because the guy would be dead otherwise, Noctis's logic scolded him as the young man blinked and shook his head. He was probably thinking way too much in this situation. After all, didn’t his companion tell him he would need to keep a clear head in this place?

Noctis sighed inwardly as he moved further into the bloody mess. A clear head…heh. That won’t be happening any time soon, he thought to himself as his companion used his book to summon some form of a creature that rained down upon the wounded and moaning cards some sort of magical energy that healed them enough that most of them stopped complaining about their wounds, but the dead remained as always silent.

Ignoring how Etro moved through the area collecting the souls she found, Noctis kneeled down next to one of the downed guards who was shaking his head. The card had the head of a man with pale and sunken skin. That head was covered by a cloth hood crimson red in color that stuck to the head like a second skin. The man’s body was large, flat, and bendable yet red colored arms and red booted legs stuck out from the four corners of its rectangulat shape. The card man was indeed strange, but it wasn’t his looks that caused the prince to lean back on his heels and away from the other. It was the eyes and what he saw at the center of the card man.

As the card sat up, it revealed by the mark on its left shoulder that it was indeed the Ace of Hearts, but when the guy looked up at him,the eyes were white and blank as if the card was zombified or the undead. On top of this, the card pushed itself so it fell backwards and sat upon the ground watching him with those blank eyes, revealing the spot where the large heart symbol should’ve been to be show which suit he belonged to, but in its place was a gaping hole in the shape of the symbol that marked its suit.

Frowning, Noctis’s eyes turned from the Ace of Hearts to the other cards moving about, each one while different had the same similarities to them. The sunken faces, blank eyes, and large holes in place of where their symbols should be….

This was definitely not normal. Did the darkness really cause this or….was there something more he was missing here? He wasn’t sure, but he was more determined than ever now to find out the truth. Refocusing on the card before him, he started to open his mouth to break the silence, when his companion beat him to the punch taking the words right out of his mouth as he voiced the question Noctis sought the answer to.

As the question filled the area, the cards who seemed a bit oblivious to them before snapped to attention before they were scrambling to pick up weapons and create a formation of some sort that had half of them pointing spears at Noctis and the other half pointing their weapons at his companion while others blocked all means of escape for the pair. Tensing, Noctis was on the edge of getting up, but quickly found himself pausing in the action as a strange weapon was brought to his neck.

Eying the golden staff that ended in a heavy looking golden heart with a single red jewel in the middle. Noctis’s eyes traveled up the length of the weapon to the Ace of Hearts who held it. It was looking down at him with a cool expression with its lips pulled into a thin line.

Using the staff, the guard gently pressed the flat part of it under Noctis’s chin forcing the young prince to look up at him squarely in the eye before pausing to study him for a moment. Silence lasted for a second, and then the card's dry lips were parting and words were flowing out of that mouth of sharp teeth.

“The Red Queen demands the blood and heads of all who do not bow to her. As servants, it is our duty to fulfill this task for Her Majesty,” the card told the pair in a cold voice before it was removing the staff from under Noctis chin and raising it high into the sky.

“Let the world be painted red!” the ace yelled out to the others that with a war like cry began to surge inward to attack himself and Ienzo. On instinct, Noctis tensed and was prepared to summon his sword and fight when a very strange thing happened.

As the Ace of Hearts moved in to bring its golden staff down upon the prince, the action was suddenly stopped as a shadow passed over the already gloomy area and a large rock fell from the sky and squashed the card right where it stood sending ribbons of red everywhere as the card crumpled under the weight of the rock that sent minor tremors through th ground as debris and dirt flew skyward.

Slightly splattered with red and not complete understanding what had just happened, Noctis heard a loud screech in the distance and looked to the sky for the source, but didn’t find what had caused the sound; however, whatever made the sound caused the remaining cards in the area to freeze up and then in a very disorderly fashion they began to flee in various directions, smacking into each other and tumbling as they made their way away from the opening in fear. Within seconds, the fearful cards had left leaving an eerie silence and tension in the area.

Listening intently to the world for a second, Noctis eventually relaxed slightly as his eyes moved to the spot where his companion was.

“Are you okay, umm…?” he asked the man as he gave him a concerned look and let the issue of filling in a name up to the other. While it was true Noctis didn’t even know the man well, it did not change the fact that the other had chosen to travel with him and in turn the prince felt somewhat responsible for the other’s safety.

In any case, after the question had been asked and a few seconds had been given for an answer shoulf the other choose to fill the silence with words, the prince’s blue eyes turned back to the rock that had been dropped. Wiping a bit of the blood off his face, the prince examined the blood splattered surface of the rock taking note of the strange carvings upon it.

Taking a step towards it, he began to read the strange message upon it out loud.

“How many ways can I cut a deck? Once with an hack, or twice with a tap? When I shuffle and draw, it will be face up. Floating along the river like a mouse in a cup,” Noctis finished reading the words as a frown came upon his face as he shook his head and turned to his companion with the intention of asking his thoughts upon the riddle and in turn planning next steps; however, before he could open his mouth, that strange screech sounded again from the distance again reminding the prince that they were not alone any longer in the gardens.

Moving forward, he pointed to the hole behind the silver headed man.

“Let’s move on before whatever that is comes back and attacks. If you have any idea what that message may be suggesting, then by all means explain along the way. I am not quite sure how cards, rivers, mice, this darkness, and whatever is making that sound connects, but…I have a feeling whoever or whatever is toying with us may be herding us somewhere. Whether this herding is somewhere beneficial or not is questionable. I will admit I do not like this world or its games. Still it looks like we are going to have to continue to play until the truth is found," Noctis said to his companion as he stepped through the gaping hole and then pausing looked left and right to make sure no cards were around before taking a left and moving on.

Whether or not the silver headed man spoke or not, eventually silence would fall between them once more as they continued to make their way forward through the twisting gardens heading towards an unknown and new destination as above them a constant shadow passed and the occasional shriek of the unseen creature would sound out through the area.

Keeping his cool, Noctis kept leading the way only being slowed up when he had to use his sword to cut his way through some areas that had become so choked with overgrowth and thorns that there was no other choice. As they moved and pressed forward, the hidden Cheshire Cat’s voice followed them, seeming to taunt them as it began throw out more riddles in the form of a broken poem.

“Beware the Jubjub bird and shun for should you meet that desperate bird, you shall need all of your strength for the job. As to temper the Jubjub’s a desperate bird, since it lives in perpetual passion…” (source: Lewis Carrol’s Jabberywocky and The Hunting of the Snark) the cat’s voice went on as the pair continued to walk and dive further into the darkness oblivious to the chaos that was continuing to unravel in places ahead of them.
_____________________________________________________

TAGS: Tag! Ienzo, you’re it!
NOTES: Twisted gardens, odd riddles, bizarre and deadly creatures, and chaos at a tea party. Oh, how does it all connect to the darkness and muchness lacking in the land?

[Deleted]

Closing his book, Ienzo looked around how some cards were twitching back to life; his head casually reclined to peer at Noctis awaiting an answer. He couldn’t hear what the man could’ve possibly said to send the cards scrambling. With a secure hold of his book, he began counting their numbers as they spread out to surround them. The Lexicon was brought closer to his chest, while his eyes narrowed at his traveling partner. What in the worlds did they get themselves into?

Glancing at the lot with their heart ended spears pointing at, he contemplated if he should just step back and leave them all. He didn’t delight himself in using corridors extensively, but Ienzo lacked qualms when it’s called for. Cupping the Book of Knowledge in its hand, it flared opened with whipping pages. They chanted their foolishness. The former Nobody merely snorted, “And what servant decided to paint you bloody I-”

C R A S H!

His last word was washed away in carnage and crunches; the cards’ helms were crushed along with their thin bodies. They bent like an old and abused deck under the rock. It actually amazed Ienzo how much blood their delicate thin bodies could carry. He was never that interested in their physiology; the world had enough nonsense to keep the lames busy. Now that their foes were distraught enough to run in a chaotic sprint, a finger went towards Ienzo’s lip in contemplation.

“For warriors so thin, they can be so messy.” He spoke those words flatly, while a nostril flared with a sniff. No, he wasn’t familiar with that. Before his cold eyes can look to the skies, the scent was fading away. The scholar stared aimlessly at the sky as if he could mentally track the beast down. He could hear the concerned voice, but merely hummed in response. “That’s new.”

Turning on his toes, he walked through the open grave not caring what or who he stepped on, “that thing wasn’t here the last time.”

He stood next to him and gazed down at the rock. He was re-reading the verse as the man looked on him.

“How cute,” A finger tapped his chin, thinking, and his eyes moved with the warrior did before returning to the stone, “someone’s being childishly destructive today, so much for a loyal servant. I wonder if someone didn’t learn how to bow properly or there’s new management.”

Neither of them could precisely know the situation; either way they wanted to move forward, “I doubt we have to worry about that any time too soon. If we’re being guided, that means whomever doesn’t want us dead just yet. Right now it seems the Queen is losing control of her lands to be so barbaric, but she was always like that. Yet someone doesn’t care about rules let alone courtesy. It appears the Queen have really gone mad.”

Dismissing his book, it faded from his hands as he walked with his arms crossed over his chest, “Let’s pick up the pace; this place is nauseating.”

Despite how marred the world was getting under its new influence of darkness; Ienzo only noted the changes in his mind. Other than that, he appeared unfazed. There was a lingering scent that was annoying him; he’d wish he would come out already thank lurk around like shadows in the dark realm. Typical, the Cheshire couldn’t stay quiet for long. Ienzo’s blank face shrouded with a frown, “A bird? I’d rather not meet a boulder carrying boulder.”

[Deleted]

龍Dragon Shaman 巫
Are you challenging me!?

---

Reckless destruction was not always unwarranted nor was it always unguided. The absence of chaos proved the absence of life, and within the twists of madness came the apparent lingering of the living, or soon to not be living. Even in a world of madness the rules that seemed normally custom could be changed on a dime to be abnormally contrive to normality. What may seem rude one day, may be perfectly posh for tea time the morrow. The idea that a world could be utter nonsense, and where everything that was was not, could also be viewed as a world ripe with innocent chaos that only a child would partake in, but there were two types of children, and currently one of the naughtiest kind who found that cutting a deck of cards with a shapely stone was more amusing when they were decked up in a house, or a garden as was the case. The guests were cordially invited into chaos, but what sort of chaos disturbed the usual madness of this world and made an unusual madness that seemed to becoming ever so normal? As far as a keyblader was concerned, or a delegate of the highest proceedings to interfere with a world as it is, was a terrible act forsaken by rules given, but in this world making one’s own rules seemed the way one interfered less. So by that sense of logic, was the chaos that arrived foreign, or already here?

Regardless of the proposed ideas of yes to no and truths to half-truths the fact of the matter stood as present: someone was going to a lot of trouble to play a game of tag. Currently the doormouse’s kettle found its way down the waters of the river, only for his kettle to become caught in some twigs and other watery debris. The kettle had floated its way down the river toward the flower field where various vines crawled onto the water’s edge and over the smooth, shining stones. It captured the kettle and held it tight, along with twigs that had fallen from the trees above. The flowers whispered and rumored as the poor mouse struggled to free his kettle, the gentle currents of the river like an ocean to the small figure, causing a great sickness to raise in his belly. As he stood on the mouth of his kettle and fought back the vines with a teaspoon he cursed the Red Hound for all his flabbergasting and barking nonsense!

“Oh that bothersome dog, always making a mess!” He complained.

All the while the hound would finish filling his belly and making the most out of his meal of tea and cake. Rolling off the table he canted his head, ear turning toward the distant sound of cawing that fell from high above. Reaching up his hand he would pull himself onto the tall hedge that surrounded the tea garden and settle crouched at the top. Looking up he would see the faint shadow of the Jubjub in the clouds as it circled. A grin peeled itself over his features as a plan rattled together in his mind. The best way to lure the Light hearted was to set things on fire. Taking in hand the tablecloth and a shapely tea kettle the brute would set himself on his task. In the garden he would take the leg of the table and stake it into the ground. Dressing it as a person the Red Hound would admire his work. But it seemed bare this kettle scarecrow… brushing his chin in thought the beast smirked and went to fetch the last piece of treasure. Placing a hat belonging to the Mad Hatter upon the head of the kettlecrow it would, from a great distance, appear as the Hatter himself, a perfect replica really! Standing back the Red Hound pushed his thumb over his left nostril as he took a deep inhale and let out a stream of fire to light his effigy of warning.

Nothing like a good scare to really pull out the intentions of goody-two-shoes and make a bon fire proper enough for marshmallows! After his calling card was complete, the Red Hound would take a knife and carve into the table a message, now that it was bare of any cloth. With the message laid clear, the beast headed on to swirl the next pot of trouble.

I set to fire what I look to with dread.
In the distance I can now see red.
With the sun setting over the moat.
The clear swirl of what comes next, is smoke.
Over the hill, to a house.
There you will see a grouse.
Drowning in a pool of tears.
You will find there, all of your fears.

---

龍 Fai 'Titan' Jiao-long 巫
46 | Male | Dragon
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TAGS: Next~!| NOTES: The world is brightest when set ablaze.

[Deleted]

To blame Noctis for the chaos that had happened with the cards would've been an error. It would appear that whatever had made the cards hostile was probably the very thing that had punched holes in them and made them almost soulless...almost dead. This world and its nonsensical ways had already confused Noctis in the beginning, but by slowly accepting the world's insanity as the norm Noctis had more or less begun to become a bit more calmer as his mind sunk into the insanity.

However, just as Noctis thought that the situation that was already heavy and sickening could not get worse, he and his silver headed companion had stumbled upon what appeared to be a near massacre. Strange beings in the form of living cards were scattered everywhere in a bloody and messy fashion. While this deeply disturbed and concerned the prince, the situation only got more disturbing as his current ally moved into the midst of that caranage. Wearing an expression that made the silver head seem so empty, the man had easily healed the cards that were still breathing and easiest to save. The guy was so emotionless...so cold, but why?

Swallowing back the way the whole scene was twisting his stomach, Noctis had tried to question the cards only to get hostility and a roar about Red Queen wanting heads and blood before hearing a yell about the world being painted red. With this disturbing war cry, the cards had moved to attack causing Noctis to tense as his ally became snappy towards the enemies that surrounded them; however, before either of them could do anything, the message of death had fallen from the sky as a strange screech filled the sickening air.

As the message came crashing down upon the Ace that had wanted to harm Noctis, the commanding card was taken out in a horrible fashion as the giant rock smashed it to bits. With their leader gone, the other cards quickly turned tail and ran as whatever was screeching above caused them to tremble in their strange boots. With all enemies gone, Noctis had remained still until finally, he relaxed enough to check on his ally; he got a hum in response to his question of concern, but Noctis had to wonder exactly what that meant coming from such a strange man. The words that the silver head spoken before his comment had not escaped his notice either. The other had made a comment regarding how much of a mess the cards had made despite being thin....

Not finding the comment amusing at all, Noctis had frowned disapprovingly at the words before he watched as the other looked up at the sky seeming to try to find the source of the screeching in the dark sky above. The other continued to watch the sky, but whatever had caused all the screeching beforehand had decided not to come back, so the other continued to watch the skies without reason as he spoke about saying the screeching thing being new to him.

New...Noctis thought as he studied his ally for a moment with slightly narrowed eyes. Half of him wanted to trust the man, but at the same time Noctis was becoming a bit concerned as to exactly what he had traveling with him....

Not really sure the answer to that question, the young prince shook his head slightly as his eyes scanned the mess left behind. He left his nameless companion to do as he liked for the moment as his mind began to anyalze the mystery that was his companion. He seemed to be okay physically, but the more Noctis hung around him, the more he had to wonder about the man's mental state.

It was true he seemed knowledgeable and intelligent, but at the same time the guy displayed some traits that made Noctis wonder if the guy was truly stable. He seemed to have the uncanny ability to calmly accept what was happening in this twisted world..even the violence. While it was true that the other had said he had been here before, Noctis had to wonder how things were upon his companion's first arrival here. Was this world different? Or had it been more or less the same?

If it was the latter that explained why the guy remained level headed in such madness...but still to accept and not react that much to these events? That wasn't normal human behavior...so what was it that he was truly dealing with here? Did he even want to know?

Keeping his back to his companion, Noctis let the disturbing thoughts continue to play in his head as his mind searched for answers that refused to show. Then when the wandering started drifting into uncomfortable territory, Noctis mentally shoved himself off his thought path as he instead focused on the bloodied rock before him. He had read what was on it out loud before falling quiet for a moment to ponder the odd riddle; however, he was quickly drawn from his thoughts as he heard his companion moving towards him. Turning a bit, Noctis watched as the other made his way towards him stepping on the dead as if they were merely carpet.

Keeping the discomfort that the scene caused to well up in him hidden, Noctis heard the other's words as he allowed the other to come to his side. Listening to his words and what he had to say about the situation at hand, the prince let out a light hum of thought as one hand went to his hip and a light frown crossed his face as he studied the rock once more.

"I am not sure for unlike you I don't have anything to compare this insanity to; however, if whatever that thing wasn't here before then I wonder if whatever is twisting this world created it or the cards that came at us....or whatever Red Queen is...." Noctis muttered as his frown deepened as he pondered the situation that was becoming more and more unlikeable by the second.

After a few silent moments of pondering, the distant screech of whatever had dropped the rock could be heard and in turn, Noctis shook himself out of his thoughts and focused once more on a plan of action. Pointing towards a hole created in the garden by who knew what, Noctis suggested moving on to which his strange companion easily complied with. As they walk the pair chatted.

Noctis was concerned about the unseen screecher and mentioned being herded; however, his more cool headed companion said that they really didn't have anything to worry about. Despite the thing dropping a boulder nearby, his companion said that if they were indeed being herded then said shepard did not want them dead...yet. The words were spoken in calm tones and the logic was indeed hard to find fault in, so Noctis nodded slightly in agreement as he continued to push his way through the garden's twisted paths.

As they moved on, the silver headed man continued to give his view of the situation. He was saying that the Queen of this land was losing control of the lands to something and in turn was reacting in a violent fashion...even though this reaction was normally her way. Still, the way the man said his last words suggested that maybe this sort of treatment was extreme even for the Queen.

"The Queen has really gone mad..." Noctis repeated softly not liking the sounds of that. He didn't understand how something could be even more insane than what he already saw, but then again...as odd as this world was if this was the truth, would he have truly been surprised when he came face-to-face with the new madness?

Sighing inwardly, Noctis shook his head to push away the thoughts that became darker the more he pondered the answer to such a question. Keeping up the appearance of calmness, Noctis spoke.

"Well, let's hope that we find the answer to this issue before having to meet her," Noctis said as he continued on rounding more corners and bends. The pair walked in silence for a long while before his companion was suggesting they picked up the pace.

"Right," Noctis said in agreement as he took a small look back at the other and nodded. As he did this, he noticed the silver head's book was now missing; however, that little oddness did not matter as Noctis looked forward once more and focused on getting out of the maze. Walking a bit faster, Noctis made a path through the twisted hedges mainly following the large holes punched into the garden by the unknown force. As they moved, the hidden Cheshire Cat began to talk to them, telling them about something called the Jubjub Bird. While Noctis wasn't quite sure what to make of the words the cat was whispering, he did figure the cat was giving them the name to the screecher from earlier and warning them that they should not face the thing head on.

In response to such a strange warning, his companion made a comment about said warning and to his words, Noctis nodded in agreement.

"I rather not meet such a creature either," Noctis said as he ducked under a low arch and finally came to the end of the garden. As Noctis stepped out in the new surroundings, he found himself blinking in the sudden burst of sunlight that parted from the grumpy clouds above and illuminated before them a beautiful path shaded here and there by trees. Unlike everything else he had seen so far in Wonderland, this piece of the land was actually lovely and peaceful. The contrast was indeed jarring, but considering this field of flowers, green grass, and tall strong trees was the most normal thing he had encountered in this place, Noctis took the change in with open arms as a bit of relief filled him.

So the place isn’t a never-ending nightmare and it did know how to let up on its madness to give one a breather. Good.

Regardless of how nice this was, Noctis remained alert as his eyes drifted from the pleasant fields and trees to the cloudy sky above. That bird could be nearby and maybe next time it would not be dropping a boulder with a message upon it, but something worse.

While it was quiet now, Noctis could not help, but feel that in time they would be facing that bird or something worser. He really didn’t want a fight with anything here, but if fighting was what had to be done to gain the truth then…he’d just have to deal with it.

Despite the dreary thoughts that plagued him, Noctis’s face remained neutral as he quickly scanned the fields for other paths before settling on the only one before them – the one that led into the woods ahead. Glancing back to see if his companion had managed to keep up through the rather challenging path they had to take to get out of the garden, Noctis would eventually gesture lightly with his head to the woods before moving his feet once more to head in the direction he had motioned towards.

Noctis walked from the breezy field of flowers, taking note that said flowers had faces and seemed to gossip and whisper to one another as he and his companion passed. If he was truly seeing things right, he could even see some of the flowers blushing when they laid eyes on himself or the silver head, making Noctis wonder just what the flowers were thinking; however, instead of stopping to chat with said strange flowers, the young prince pushed on until the light of the sky was being blotted out by the thick canopy of leaves above.

This woods they had entered was still drapped with the fog of darkness, but unlike the garden they had left, this strange wood was beautiful and disturbing all at once. As tall trees leaned this way or that as the wind blew, strange creatures of frogs and cows and birds mixed together flitted about letting out strange calls as they moved. There were even Heartless in the area, but instead of lunging out at them, the shadows were strangely still as they peeked from behind this bush or that bush before darting back into the leaves and grasses as if they were afraid to attack.

Narrowing his eyes at the strange behavior, Noctis stayed on the path he was on carefully stepping over what appeared to be skulls and bones embedded in the path as he kept a careful eye on the Heartless that lurked nearby. He went further into the woods, the area becoming more humid and shady as the trees grew in closer and thicker clumps to one another.

As the prince moved on in silence, he would occasionally pause at forks in the road or move to examine odd markings on the tree here and there. Most of the markings were small, but there were some like the deep gashes within the remains of torn down trees that had the prince pausing to turn to his companion with a question.

“You said you were here before, so you would you know if this world carried anything large enough to create these gashes, yes?” he asked as he pointed to a downed tree nearby. The gashes in said tree were deep and mimicked a bear’s claws in a way, except the gashes were ten times deeper and longer than the average bear’s…and seemed to make the tree bleed from those wounds. The sight was indeed strange and worrisome; however, instead of panicking, Noctis had instead kept his neutral expression and awaited to see if his odd companion could shed some light on the situation.

If the gash marks were something the silver head was familiar with, then they could better prepare for whatever was lurking in the foggy woods. If it was something new, well then they’d both have to adapt.

In any case, once the question was asked, Noctis would fall silent as his eyes traveled around the beautiful forest, scanning the trees high limbs for danger as he gave the other a chance to answer and give himself a chance to think. He and his ally weren’t exactly going in circles, but without a some form of direction, he had a feeling they’d be in a worse position than they were in the garden.

That wasn’t a pleasant thought. It was true he had his companion with him, but something told Noctis that the other rather him figure things out on his own than give him hints, so maybe asking for suggested ways to go was a bad idea…since it was techincally his idea to come this way in the first place.

Yep…should’ve thought that one out, kiddo.. Oh well, the critic within said to him sarcastically as the young prince moved his eyes back to the gashes on the trees.

The gashes were indeed an interesting clue, much like the holes in the garden; however, unlike the holes that gave them some direction, the gashes were instead scattered at random, giving them no help when it came to choosing a direction…so what were they going to do--?

Hm?[/i]

Noctis, who had been standing with his arms folded and his head bowed as he stared at the tree deep in thought about things, was suddenly pulled from his raging thoughts as he first took notice of the sounds of water nearby and from wherever the water was, there sounded like a small struggling occurring.

“Is someone here?” Noctis asked softly not really expecting an answer as his hands dropped to his side and he began to move off the path. The young prince headed into the thick brush that surrounded the area as curiosity and the small hope of a clue took over him. Maybe the sound was Cheshire again or perhaps something even less cryptic. Still...despite the hope the young prince was cautious in his approach making sure not to make too much noise as he made his way in a slight crouch through the thick brush carefully pushing it back so the sounds he made blended in easily with the natural world.

When Noctis came to the edge of the brush and peeked out, he was surprised to find that what he was staring at was a small opening that a river ran through; however, outside of the green grass, shadowing trees, whispering flowers, and the mist caused from the darkness, Noctis couldn't see anything that could've...

Noctis wandering thoughts came to a stop as his eyes landed on a strange sight in the river. There was a mouse standing on the lip of a tea kettle tangled in the vines that drapped into the water. Using what looked like a spoon, the mouse was trying to get the kettle unstuck while the flowers simply watched and gossiped.

"'Floating along the river like a mouse in a cup, huh?'" Noctis muttered as he stood up a bit straighter before carefully stepping out into the open and heading out over to the river as his eyes drifted across the whispering landscape.

As he neared the river and carefully kneeled down amongst the whispering flowers, the mouse who had been oblivious to his approach before took note of the shadow that rested over it and with a gasp and jump, the little creature looked up and stumbled back slightly dropping its spoon into the water that quickly washed it away; however, the mouse who wobbled and managed to catch its balance on its shifting craft, did not seem to care as it instead went for what looked like a pin hooked in its belt. Drawing the weapon like a sword, the little mouse pointed the sharp end of the object at Noctis as its small face fell into a frown.

"Aha! So the hound’s henchmen have come to finish me, eh? Well, I won’t be so easy to kill,” the mouse said in a small yet clear voice as it waved its blade at Noctis threateningly…and in turn unbalanced itself and slipped right into the river with a small yelp! On instinct, Noctis quickly leaned forward to use his hand to catch the mouse that was about to get swept away. As the small creature hit his hand and felt his fingers close around its body, the little mouse naturally panicked and tried to fight back as it wiggled in his grip; however, having the upper hand in size, Noctis kept a semi-gentle grip on the wiggling and cursing mouse as he used his free hand to get the kettle out of the water.

After performing the action, Noctis got to his feet and turned to his companion with both mouse and kettle in hand. As he moved, the outraged mouse was cursing and as it continued to struggle for a moment longer, but then upon seeing Noctis’s silver headed companion, the mouse stopped moving and frown.

“First bloody hounds and now this,” the mouse growled as it seemingly glared at his companion for unknown reasons. Maybe it knew him. Maybe it was simply glaring to have something to glare at it. It was hard to tell. In any case, whether the glare was due to familiarity or something else, the mouse did not leave one room to think as it continued on its angry rant.

“Well, you’ve caught me so go ahead and kill me already while you have a chance, you vile beasts! 'Cause if you don’t, I’ll shred you in a second!” the mouse threatened the pair as it resumed wiggling. To this, Noctis’s eyebrows rose slightly as his eyes drifted to his companion as if questioning what he thought of the creature. Whether the silver headed man answered the silent question or not, after a moment of silence, Noctis would eventually part his lips and speak to the mouse he held.

“We are not here to kill you and we are not associated with whatever hound you speak of,” he told the mouse, but only got a heated scoff in turn.

“Oh that is a pretty lie, but I am not buying it. You’ll probably murder me the moment I let my guard down,” the mouse retorted angrily as it turned slightly to glare at him with its dark eyes. To this, Noctis shook his head.

“If that was my purpose I would’ve let you drown rather than try to help you,” Noctis said.

“Hmph! I don’t call it saving, I call it plotting!” the mouse growled back as it moved its eyes from Noctis to his companion once more. “For all I know you’ve both come to worsen this already messy situation. Meddlesome beasts…”

The mouse grumbled angrily at the pair before falling into silence to steam as it folded its arms across its chest in agitation; however, instead of becoming annoyed with the mouse, Noctis smirked as the wheels in his head began to turn.

“Alright then. To prove I am not your enemy, I will release you,” he said as he kneeled down and gently placed the kettle and the mouse on solid ground. As soon as the small creature was free, it scurried back a few steps as its small hands balled into fists as if it was really going to try and fight him.

Rising back up to his normal height, Noctis eyed the mouse emotionlessly for a moment and then giving it an apologetic smile, he bowed slightly before turning on his heels to leave.

“Come on, guy,” he said lightly as he brushed past his silver headed companion and headed into the woods as if he was truly leaving; however, as soon as Noctis was back in the deep brush and out of sight of the mouse, the young man would quietly signal for his companion to halt before dropping down into a crouch and becoming hidden in those tall grasses. From his lowered position, he would sneak forward a bit before finding the perfect spot to spy on the mouse hopefully without it noticing him or his companion if he had decided to follow allowing.

Remaining quiet, Noctis watched through the swaying blades of grass as the mouse watched the path they had gone down making sure that they were not coming back before it was cautiously moving to its kettle to examine it. As it circled the kettle, the mouse let out a small cry of distress as it saw something in the reflected light that came off the kettle.

Pulling its ears slightly, the mouse would let out a small moan before it was falling to all fours and scurrying quite quickly through the woods and up another more hidden path in the woods. Seeing the mouse as their way out and maybe even guide to the next clue, Noctis would signal for his companion to come with him before he slipped out of the brush and began to follow the mouse’s path.

Remaining at a distance and following such a small creature while surrounded by thick foliage was a challenging thing. Noctis could not count the amount of times, he had to pause in his hiding spot and search the area for where the quick little creature went when he’d lose the mouse to this bush here or that patch of grass there, but with patience and careful eyes Noctis would eventually catch a flash of the creature’s odd clothing and white fur as it continued to move quickly down its path pausing only here and there to let out a distressed moan before moving forward again at amazing speeds.

The mouse would lead them through the woods, down a twisted path, past what appeared to be a pig with a baby bonnet on, down another path, under a hill, and then finally across an open field of burnt down trees and blackened ground that rested under a sky of black clouds stained an odd shade of orange red as the sun tried to peek through the moody clouds. Like a heavy wave, the depression that had been washed away with the woods returned ten fold as the darkness in the area increased once more causing Noctis to fill sick from the pressure that was placed upon him.

The pain and sickness from within slowed the prince down a little as his hand automatically went to the place where his heart rested. Wincing slightly, he rubbed his chest slightly to ease some of the discomfort he felt as he pushed forward determined to finish the mission he had set out to do even if he was being harmed by the very substance he was seeking to stop.

Pushing forward with sweat clinging to his skin despite how cool the air was, Noctis kept following the mouse until they came to an desolated area surrounded by thin and burnt looking trees that rested against an angry and swirling sky. There was a house in the distance that seemed to barely stand on the thin legs that suspended it in the air; however, as Noctis pulled himself to a halt at the entrance of this strange section of the land. The young prince did not focus on the house as he leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees way more winded than someone of his age and fitness should be.

As he fought to regain his breath and sweat ran off him in small rivers, Noctis took note of the mess he saw on the ground. Broken plates, shattered tea cups, turned over kettles and more rested around a large rectangular table that had been set for tea or some form of party; however, much like the garden something had ruined the scene leaving the table a warzone of half eaten food and bent silverware.

There didn’t appear to be anyone in the area, but Noctis could smell the scent of something burning. Smell it and hear it.

“NOOO!!”

The high pitched cry of the mouse came shortly after Noctis had noticed the odd sounds and smells. It was a cry of distressed and as Noctis looked up and across the table, he found the reason why such a cry was released. At the opposite end of the table, there was a figure of a person with a hat that had begun to tilt and sag under the heat and disintegration of its own body.

Upon seeing the sight, Noctis forgot about the weight the darkness pressed upon him as he forced himself to stand straight once more and move towards the burning figure. As his eyes scanned the area for something to put said person out with, Noctis was distressed to find everything that could’ve been used was empty and the river they had found the mouse in was too far to run back to.

So as Noctis rounded the table and came to a stop off to the side of the burning figure, his blue eyes darted to his companion as his lips parted. His plan was to ask him if there was something in that strange book of his that could help. After all, if the book could be used to heal then could it not be used to cast other magic? The thought was risky, but it was the only thing Noctis could think to do; however, just as he was about to ask said question, the prince found himself falling silent as the figure collapsed into a burning pile on the ground. It was too late.

So watching as this pile burned in silence, Noctis had to endure the cries of the mouse as he watched the flames become lower and lower. He felt like kicking himself for not being quicker and yet…there was something off about the pile the mouse was crying over that made Noctis not feel as guilty for letting it collapse, but what was it?

“Haha!” the chuckle. It started off lightly and then rose to become a deep hearty laugh that drifted from the end of the table that Noctis had come from. Looking up sharply at the strange sound, Noctis’s eyes drifted across the long table to find at the other end of the table there sat a strange red headed man in one of the chairs. He had his bare foot and pegged leg crossed upon the table as he leaned back in the chair at a dangerous angle as he laughed as if he had seen a great show before calming enough to speak.

“Oh, how amusing the land has become since the new make over, don’t think?” the man was asking in a jovial voice. “Deadly hounds unleashing deadly birds and leaving words of amusement everywhere. Like this one for example,” the man paused as he pushed his feet off the table and swung forward in his chair when the thing came crashing down into the ground with a loud clunk.

Leaning over the table, he looked down at some strange markings on it and began to read what was there out loud.

“ ‘I set to fire what I look to with dread. In the distance I can now see red. With the sun setting over the moat. The clear swirl of what comes next, is smoke. Over the hill, to a house. There you will see a grouse. Drowning in a pool of tears. You will find there, all of your fears,’” the red head stopped in his reading as eyes that appeared to glow in the gloom flickered from Noctis to his companion as a grin that suggested true madness appeared upon the thin man’s lips.

“I must say that I am quite jealous of the creator of this play. So much action and mystery and fun. It beats any of my plays any day, so it makes me wonder who or perhaps what the creator is to allow it to write so elegantly and produce such fine creations,” the man said as he looked up at the sky with that mad grin widening.

Not sure what this guy was on about or if he was a resident of the area who had magically appeared at the table, Noctis was quiet as he observed the man on the other end of the table. As he did this, the mouse who did not trust them before found it easy to forget about Noctis and his companion as it instead scurried up the table and began yelling at the red head accusing the other of burning someone called Hatter…..
_________________________________________________________________________________

TAGS: Tag! You’re it Ienzo!

NOTES: Cheshire Cat asks: “A blaze, a riddle, and a suspicious man. Is there a connection between this and the previous destruction? Or is this simply more of Wonderland’s charm?”

Character Introduced: The Captner (reference: Check out Madness Returns version of him for looks.)

[Deleted]

What was twisting the world he asked. Ienzo would’ve chuckled at the simplistic question; the answer just looked too obvious to him. Instead a smirk graced his lips; it probably wouldn’t help the other’s judgment of him, but the researcher hardly cared what many thought of him. He had a complex one on himself. With a newly bestowed heart, he was still learning through experience of coping with it. Being who he was and being who he is now made him more prone to respond in unconventional ways like a smile or a non-chalant aura in the most chaotic setting.

“Darkness has a way with creating monstrosity. I wonder if some was inspired by this Red Queen,” his voice was dipped in humor as it rose and fell as he spoke, “who perhaps attracted another. I find her too petty to concoct this much darkness and not be consumed by it.”

This stranger and warrior was seeking out darkness, but he seemed relatively new to it all. Or was this the first he’d seen it in large devastating quantity? Was this too much too chew? It was almost laughable that he wanted to avoid Her Majesty, but given her reputation and his little knowledge of the world it was understandable.

“The Red Queen?” His voice inclined in inference. He never understood the obsession with titles: The Red Queen, the Cloaked Schemer. From his standpoint now, it looks rather childish. And yet the Red Queen maybe more suitable. She wasn’t too threatening like others to be queen of hearts; Queen of Heads would’ve been more appropriate. “I take it being the Queen of Hearts wasn’t enough. Honestly, the Queen is only as harmless as her followers. Meeting her swords and her pet would be more problematic than the loud mouth herself.”

You’re only as strong as the power you have. For the Red Queen, her power only relied in the people who feared her. Remove the head and the rest of the body cease to move, think, or live. If only it was that simple; with her guards and touch of darkness, she can be more volatile. Darkness have a way with inspiring the worst. Look what it did to the world so far.

““You said you were here before…,” hearing his voice Ienzo shifted his head to glance at him waiting for him to finish the sentence, “so you would know if this world carried anything large enough to create these gashes, yes?”

How hopeful.

“Unfortunately, no. The last time I was hear the world was more colorful and light hearted like you saw minus the destruction.” The Tulgi woods were still filled with life even if something just raced through marring it. With Ienzo current interest and gardening activities, he briefly wondered if he’d appreciate nature more. The woods were far more refreshing than the mayhem and mess where the cards laid in a pool of blood. But he wondered if he can get past the odd fauna and flora of this world. Would this world stay standing for long as it is?

“With world order as it is, it’s uncertain to judge whether what made those is native to the lands by the darkness or darkness beyond this world,” he briefly elaborates utilizing the heartless as an example. With their rise in numbers and even power, they can easily travel from world to world; some are born in the very world by the darkness. Either way, one can conclude that both would be abominations, invading species. Still it was only an example; with the walls between worlds gone the possible suspects are endless. “Actually I doubt it is a heartless per say. They hunt for hearts; this looks like a destructive child’s play than drones following an ingrained code.”

“In this day and age, there are chaotic enough to ignore the law of meddling; actually I think it’s too late to draw a line; it’s been blurred over too many times.” He talked, while his fingers traced over the gashes taking note of its shape, sharpness, and depth to deduce size, power, etc. “This is all interesting nonetheless. PART of the world is tainted and infected, while other parts are fairly the same. You have a new fiend of a bird, and something else. All of this couldn’t have simply occurred overnight. So what happened, and what’s being inspired by all of it?”

When he heard the other inquire about a someone, Ienzo wondered if he lost his interest or when. He began walking away towards a stream. The researcher simply sighed as it reminded him of the Organization; something just doesn’t change. He still rambled, but with more confidence. Still some may drown him out or simply walk off. Tucking his hands in his pocket, he found himself tailing behind him. By the time he reached him, he only heard him repeat a line of the riddle.

“Well, it’s certainly not a head,” he replied flatly even if it was a joke. He stopped at river’s bank, while he watched Noctis retrieve it. His eyes looked about for anything. With those marks amongst the trees, he didn’t trust the woods. A brow quirked watching animated flowers gossip; perhaps he could trust the woods to be informative. But who’s to say they know what ran through, since they weren’t trampled in the process?

"Aha! So the hound’s henchmen have come to finish me, eh?”

A snarky mouse? What did he had more patience for gossiping perennials or a mouth rodentia? At least one wouldn’t make futile death threats.

“I think I may actually prefer floating decapitating heads than the rat,” Ienzo replied in response to Noctis’ unasked question, “Then again how does the saying goes ‘dead men tell no tales.’”

Yes, convincingly they’re certainly not here kill mice. Ienzo wasn’t amused with the back and forth; it was getting them nowhere, nor did the reformed nobody wanted to return to other tactics to get what he wanted. Looking at the river flow, Ienzo determined his next move; he took one step than halted at the command.

What did he just call him? His visible eye widened with a quirked brow. Was he a mere follower in this forsaken expedition? He should’ve left him standing stupid in the Rabbit’s House before they entered the main dwellings of Wonderland.

---

“This is stupid.”

Ienzo sat against a tree, while whomever peered through the grass to his detective work. His head rested against the twinning tree bark, while a knee pushed up to his chest.

“We could’ve very easily ask other residents or at least follow the river upstream from whence it came. We ARE the Hound’s henchmen to finish a task he didn’t, which means he may be closer than you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was up and moving again. Taking his time, Ienzo stood to follow with a groan; all of this was becoming tiresome. “I can’t believe we’re following a bloody rat.”

During their course, the stops, and gos, Ienzo followed half-heartedly; his fellow company was getting more excitement out of this than he was. From time to time, Ienzo would softly sniff the air. He didn’t know how he felt about the fading scent of darkness in the general direction they trotted to. It eventually ended at a demolished Tea Party.

“This is,” how many words can he use to describe all of this, “unpleasant.”

Unnecessary destruction wasn’t Ienzo’s tastes. He understood collateral damage; it was always a plausible result from his previous ‘employment’, but with irrational destruction and reasoning, it only made it more disheartening. Watching a man burn wasn’t on his to-do list or his fancy.

“There’s nothing we can do here. We better be on our way,” the longer they stayed the more it would bothered them. Ienzo personally had no choice, but to bottle everything up and suppress his bundles of emotions. Only one slipped as made him frown, disgust. The laughter only made the frown tighter. His patience was wearing thinner, and he too needed to put a barrier between himself and this world. Darkness hadn’t improved its nauseating effect by any means; instead it just made their inhabitants more annoying with their mad filled blabbering.

“We go what we need,” Ienzo muttered to Noctis, “ask the mouse if it knows where we should go. I can try to track him, but there’s enough darkness here to muddle it all. It’s probably better for it not to stay here.”

His eyes glanced back at this so called Hatter.

“I am not staying here.”

/blockquote]