6. [Text]

[brodakota]

Has anyone mapped out the tunnels in Twilight Town yet? 

Just wondering because it's a maze down here.

Comments

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo snorts.]

He does, but he also lies regularly, so it's difficult to tell what's a real reason and what's hiding a sinister truth.

[He takes a deep breath.]

Long ago people lived in peace, and bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people’s hearts. It covered everything and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived in the hearts of children. With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It’s the world we live now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That’s why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to innermost darkness will open. And true light will return.

Obviously it's probably not literally true - though recent events make me wonder - but it's illustrative of the belief system here.

[And really, where can North be? He must be close; the tunnels aren't that wide-ranging, unless they took a wrong turn somewhere.]

[unrecovered]

[It sounds like a fairy tale or a creation myth - not quite like one he's heard before content-wise, but the format's familiar.]

And you think Xehanort's trying to set off that chain of events - the door to darkness.

[It makes as much sense as anything else he's said.]

[And North wasn't kidding about being lost, jeez.]

[brodakota]

[In the distance, one might hear two voice talking.]

Tiger!

Rhino

Uh...octopus

Snake

You said that one already. And I think someone's coming.

About time.

[North and Theta are sitting by a wall, with the shield up around him and his spirits.]

[shadearchivist]

I hope we aren't interrupting.

[Ienzo's smile at North and Theta is considerably nicer than the ones he gives Wash, but that's probably because he likes them. He's not sure how they could get so amazingly lost in the tunnels, however; it doesn't seem very likely.]

[He pulls out a potion, stopping short of the shield.]

You said you needed this?

[unrecovered]

No, you don't get to say that when you got lost in the first place and then told me to wait an hour.

[Sarcasm aside, he's still glad that North is okay, and he waits until the shield goes down before offering North a hand up.]

[brodakota]

[The shield comes down quickly, though North's spirits are still on their guard. North nods his thanks, accepting Wash's hand up.]

Not really. We were just playing.

North's just saying that 'cause he was losing.

Wash, you've seen this place now. I'm sure you'd have the same problem.

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles at Theta]

What game were you playing? [To North, he adds] And I believe York and Delta will have mapped out this place to their satisfaction soon. We should contact the others and notify them that we've found you, assuming that they aren't also horribly lost.

[unrecovered]

Not really. [Eidetic memory, remember?]

[He lets go of North as soon as he's standing and opens his communicator, typing a message while Ienzo speaks.] Already done. We should head back.

[brodakota]

It was a word game. You name an animal and then the other person has to name an animal that starts with the last letter of the animal you named, and you go back and forth, and you can't repeat. I'm super good at it.

No need to brag, Theta. I'll just follow you guys out. Me leading would just get us into more trouble.

[shadearchivist]

I used to play a game like that when I was young. I'm glad you found a way to pass the time; Washington and I were stuck with storytelling for entertainment.

[Ienzo turns to head back the way they came.]

[unrecovered]

[Eventually he's going to learn to tell when Ienzo is insulting him. Eventually. Today is likely not that day. Wash just rolls his eyes and continues out.]

How badly were you beating him, Theta?

[brodakota]

Not as bad as he says he was.

Hey! I won like, three times!

[shadearchivist]

[Surprisingly that wasn't a knock at Wash; he'd already told North the same story.]

It would likely be more difficult to play with people from different worlds; if we included heartless or dream eaters, I think people would be accused of making up names.

[unrecovered]

Pretty sure those don't count as animals.

[Wash takes the next turn without hesitation. He's got their route in memorized; reversing it is easy.]

[brodakota]

Why don't they? They look like animals.

[North follows along. He's surprised Theta's being so bold. Usually he'd just back off.]

[shadearchivist]

I would think that they'd qualify for the purposes of the game. Though obviously everyone is allowed house rules.

[Sure, he'll side with Theta for the purpose of needling Wash. And because Theta isn't wrong.]

[unrecovered]

Because I'm pretty sure you don't make animals out of rainbow colored pieces.

[He shrugs and takes another turn, not really caring enough about this particular conversation to be needled by it. Suck it, Ienzo.]

[brodakota]

Except that we do here, Wash.

[Sure, he'll support Theta in this.]

[shadearchivist]

I'd be loath to call them something other than animals, though obviously they're of a particular type, and rather intelligent.

[If only Even were here. Then it would be a fun discussion.]