??th Kupo

[revenancenpcs]

[A moogle shows up on the communicator. It bobs at the screen; it looks like it's in the second district, on the stairs leading down to the lower level.]

Hey!

There's something going on at the fountain in the second district. I think you should all come look, kupo.

[The moogle flies over to the fountain; a glowing gold keyhole is now in the center of the design. You'll probably recognize it from the dreams you've been having since you got here.]

A keyhole, kupo! I wonder what it could mean.

Comments

[raisethemoon]

[There's a flash and a crack!, and Luna's standing in front of the fountain.]

Fascinating! We must endeavor to open it forthwith!

[buymedumplings]

This better not be another---

[Bolin actually looks at the screen. He blinks and while he's not sure what it MEANS, he knows it's familiar because of those dreams he's been having.]

I guess the only way to find out is investigate it, right?

[Turns off screen and shouts.] Ping! Mako Jr! Come on!

[brodakota]

So does this mean the world‘s dreaming now as well?

[frostyfuntimes]

Well, they did say this world was sleeping when we got here.

[brodakota]

That's true. I guess I expected the world to be having a different dream than the rest of us.

[This whole thinking of worlds as people is still new to him]

[frostyfuntimes]

This is my first time experiencing a world that sleeps, let alone dreams. Who knows what's gonna happen.

[brodakota]

Same here. Far as I know, my world didn't do either.

I guess we'll find out if someone opens that keyhole.

[frostyfuntimes]

No anybody with a giant key?

[He's mostly joking, after all Jack hasn't had the opportunity to see the various kids running around with keyblades...yet.]

[unrecovered]

Does anyone else find it weird that this only showed up after we blew up a giant monkey?

[Voice]

[dork_of_keys]

Actually, that's how it happened last time. Once the big Nightmare was beaten, the Keyhole appeared. But, last time it appeared almost right away and in the same place I fought the monkey.

[In the sleeping world anyway. In waking, he'd found the Keyhole first, and then had to fight off a Heartless before he could lock it. He's really not sure what to make of any of this. If they're in the sleeping world, why is the Keyhole in the same place as in the waking world.]

[unrecovered]

Wait, you've done this before? The exact same fight and everything? Why didn't you tell anyone? [Yeah, no, he's really not happy about this.]

[dork_of_keys]

I've fought a giant enemy and had the Keyhole appear, yes. But the monkey I fought last time didn't float or disappear and leave a bunch of hands to fight.

What could I have told you? It was a totally different form from the one I fought, if it was even the same thing and not just a related thing. And whoever called everyone there should have known better anyway. You don't need a large team to fight one enemy, even if it does summon help. Monsters like that usually only summon however many they think they need to try to fight off the opponents. Everyone that was there already when it showed up should have been enough to take it down.

[Yeah, someone's actually kind of not happy either. Sora knows he screwed up in contributing to the magical clusterfuck that caused the explosion, but that doesn't mean there weren't other factors that made things as bad as they were.]

[unrecovered]

But you knew this kind of thing could happen, and you didn't tell anyone.

[He's frustrated at the lack of information and Sora's unwillingness to tell people about it. Giant dream eaters with that kind of power appearing from nowhere is something they really should know about - even without the specifics, it would have been useful. He swallows his frustration and tries to keep his voice level.]

So now what? We have a keyhole - probably the same one everyone's been dreaming about - in the middle of the fountain. What do you usually do next?

[dork_of_keys]

[Well this just keeps getting weirder. That's where the Keyhole was in the waking world.

Sora doesn't say anything, though. He just heads over. It'll be a little while, though, as he was in the tea shop with a full, fresh cup of tea and a tray of scones. Figures. when he decided to check the network.]

[skysmirror]

[When he gets there, he'll find Xion already arrived. She's never seen a world's Keyhole before, so this is interesting.]

[dork_of_keys]

[And everyone is gathering around again. At least there isn't an enemy this time, though Sora had fought through a couple packs of Nightmares on the way and he was a little concerned that something might show up.]

Hey.

[He's still trying to figure why things are going the way they are. The Keyhole being in the fountain in Second District would suggest that they're in the waking world, but the presence of Dream Eaters says they're in the sleeping world. Which is it?]

[skysmirror]

[Well, with all that been going on most people would probably be interested in the Keyhole. At least the Nightmares were no worse than normal.]

Hey.

[Xion's no expert on world keyholds; just knows what she's seen in Sora's memories. She does pick up on the fact that something seems to be bothering him, though.]

Everything okay?

[paopucharm]

The Keyhole?

[Kairi was at the hotel, at the time, so it doesn't take her long to get to the fountain, her Pricklemane bouncing along behind her.]

This is it, right? [She frowns at at her Spirit, who just continues bouncing in place, clearly having nothing to contribute in regards to the question. Probably didn't realise that the question was in part directed at it, either. Kairi sighs.]

[wingheart]

( Rinoa, too, had been in the hotel when she saw the Moogle's transmission and she immediately headed out, Angel in tow. She spots Kairi and heads over, a confused expression on her face. )

Hey.. um, did you see the Moogle on the communicator?

[paopucharm]

[At the question, she turns to Rinoa, still looking a little perplexed. Sure, she knows the logic of what to do - key in the lock - but... how exactly to go about that isn't obvious to her.

She nods.] I did, yeah. They mentioned this... [She nods to the Keyhole behind her.] ... so I came to see it.

[wingheart]

( Rinoa walks closer to the keyhole, placing her hands on her legs as she crouches a little to examine it. )

Yeah.. I've never seen anything like this in real life before but.. ( She stood up straight and tilted her head back to Kairi. ) I think I've been dreaming about it..

( Dreams about D-District prison, about trying to unlock the cell where her friends were kept..but being unable to reach them.. about seeing the exact same golden keyhole before waking, frustrated. It was all very strange.. )

[paopucharm]

[Kairi watches her go, frowning in turn at the Keyhole as well.] I've heard about them. [From this one, as it happens. In the same place, also. Weird.] You've had dreams about it?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Well, that's a sign if ever there was one. When something like that appears, it's up to a Keybearer to seal it.]

[Without much reply, he immediately heads off in the direction of the Keyhole, with all three of his Spirits behind.]

[wavesinherheart]

[Well, that's certainly something, and even without the dreams Aqua would have known exactly what to do about it. If there's a Keyhole, it's their job to deal with it, and she wastes no further time in heading out to the second district, her spirits trailing along behind her as she goes.]

Let's actually do something about the Keyhole, yes?

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora hadn't exactly taken his time getting to the Second District, but he had been a bit side tracked. Nightmares along the way had been the least of his problems. The drama bomb he'd created just by mentioning Xehanort over the network was still gnawing at his thoughts and he had actually stopped to focus more on the conversation when it started to get a bit heated. So he hadn't gotten there as quickly as he could have otherwise.

But, he's there now, entering the district from the door directly behind the fountain. He doesn't bother going for the stairs to get down to the lower level, instead jumping right down to one side of the fountain.]

Why is it here? This is where it was in the waking world.

[He's mostly musing to himself, but he isn't exactly trying to keep from being overheard.]