On that fated land, a great war shall transpire

[iracorn]

Who: Ira and you
Which: Interactive Dream; Open
What: Ghosts of the past. Ira dreams of the Keyblade War and his part in it.
Warnings: War, NPC death, violence



The Dream Begins

[It's a weird feeling, almost like watching a dream within a dream.

It is a large room, a gathering place, with a large, round table in the center. There are five figures gathered around it. The five Foretellers, the leaders of the Unions. Aced, the bear and leader of Ursus, Invi, the snake and leader of Anguis, Gula, the leopard and leader of Leopardus, and Ava, the fox, leader of Vulpes. The air is heavy and tense between them.

Eventually, it is Ira who speaks.]

There's a traitor among us.

[This prompts shock from the others and Ira reveals that he has found a Nightmare Chirithy sniffing about. Evidence that someone has fallen to the Darkness. The arguments grow and eventually Aced storms out.

The dream fades, and you wake up. Sunlight is glittering through the window and if you sit up, you can see Daybreak Town. It's a new day.]


The Tide of War

[Daybreak Town is not an unfamiliar setting to anyone who has seen Ira's dreams before. He dreams of his home often. It is a town that glitters under the rising of the sun, often matched with a sense of hope and brightness. It is the home of Keyblade Wielders, of those who live in and protect the light.

Though the tension in the streets is palpable. As you walk away from the Wharf Park, there is a street in ruins. Buildings collapsed and deep gouges in the cobblestone, accompanied by whispers.

"Master Aced and Master Invi really fought?"

"But why? Are we fighting each other now?"

"I heard Master Gula was involved to."

"What is going on?"

Rumours continue to grow and fear sets in. If the Foretellers are fighting, what does that mean for the unions? The light of hope, of promise, seems muted as the fear takes hold.

From the corner of your eye, you might see shadows, Darklings lurking in alleyways, those who have fallen to the darkness, Nightmare versions of the helpful Chirithy following close behind.

Do you chase them down? Do you try to find the Foreteller in charge of your Union?]


A Bell Tolls as the Dream Changes

"Imbalance observed, strength misplaced, a future filled with sorrow.
Words of truth misunderstood as they explore the secret of tomorrow.
With a single strike, toll the bells and herald the end, bringing war upon us, as fate did intend

On that fated land, a great war shall transpire. Darkness will prevail and the light expire"


The Keyblade War

[It is a desolate place where the five Unions gather.

A barren place that is not but rock and wind. Dark clouds gather overhead and the wind picks up. It is going to storm.

And in a span that feels like hours and yet takes no time at all, the battle is joined. Thunder crashes above, almost drowning out the sounds of battle. Of Keyblade clashing against Keyblade and magic spells exploding.

There are those who fight bravely for their unions and those who collapse among fallen friends, wondering what the point of it all is. Keyblades clatter to the ground, becoming a monument to this carnage.

And through it all, Ira fights, defending his Union, and perhaps you join him in facing off against another Foreteller. Or perhaps you dare to challenge him in battle as a member of a different Union]


The Dream Ends

[The last scene of the dream is Ira fighting with Aced.

They are evenly matched. Ira dodges and feints against the heavy, yet powerful blows of the bear-masked master. Neither one holds back, neither gives any quarter. It is one of those battles that you do not know who to support because you know that no matter what, there will be no true victor.

Above them, the sky begins to clear as a familiar Heart-shaped moon shines down. Kingdom Hearts, as always, bears witness.

It happens in an instant.

For one moment, Ira's guard is down and Aced knocks him back with a powerful blow. Ira lands heavily on the ground and looks up to see Aced towering over him. But before any final blow is struck the light from Kingdom Hearts glows brightly, to the point where nothing can be seen.

And then there is darkness.

And then the dream ends.]



--

[OOC: For the purposes of this dream, everyone takes on the role of a Keyblade Wielder in Daybreak Town ala Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. Everyone gets a Chirithy and is part of a Union. Unicornis is Ira's union, but there is also Ursus, Anguis, Leopardus, and Vulpes. Ira will obviously help Unicornis where he can, but may be cold to other unions, and if encountered on the battlefield, he will not hold back.

To avoid repeating the discussion from the first part of the dream, it can be viewed here (9:43 for time code and is about 5 minutes) for those interested.

If you wish to encounter Ira after the dream, he will likely be on the beach.]

Comments

1/2, let me know if this works! sorry for the... length orz

[judicialassistant]

[ All the fighting happens in a haze. Susato finds herself in foreign, heavy armor that she doesn't recognize, holding a large key adorned with flowers. She has never seen it before, but it is familiar to her, much in the same way Ira is familiar, whom she vaguely recognizes as her leader. Somehow she has managed to survive up until this point. She can't tell how long she has been on the ground, nor can she remember how she got there. Everything is sideways, and she is disoriented, but as she catches sight of Ira falling onto the ground, she knows Aced has gotten the upper hand.

Her breaths become heavier. She wills her body to move, but even as her resolve and determination strengthen, her vision starts to blur in a white haze, consciousness creeping in. The bright light from the heart-shaped moon is blinding, causing her to lift her hand to shield her face. After that, there is a peaceful sort of darkness as Susato awakens in her bed.

...Her face is wet, and the panting she hears is not her own. The weight she feels upon her chest is no longer that of the armor she wore in the dream. ]

Toby?

[judicialassistant]

[ Suddenly, it makes sense. A dream.

She's atop the Wild Harvest, in Kazuma's home, which has felt more and more like home ever since he invited her and Gina to stay. For a while she doesn't move at all, simply resting her eyes and cuddling with the black pup and trying to collect her thoughts, but she finally reaches for her journal, which she always keeps nearby.

...... ]

Mr Ira, [ She starts, as if writing a letter. ]
I apologise for troubling you. It has been some time since we last spoke, but I believe I found myself in your dream last night.

[ .........

In her brain fog, she doesn't quite know what else to say just yet, so she decides to wait and see if he will respond; signing her name, just in case. ]

[iracorn]

[It's a while before he responds. He probably should have checked the journal earlier but, well, after everything his thoughts were elsewhere.

But seeing the message, he knows he has to respond. Though, that takes its own time.]

Susato,

If that was the case, then you have my deepest apologies. I did not intend to have everyone experience those things. I hope you are alright.

Ira

[judicialassistant]

[ By the time the message comes, Susato has taken Toby out for a walk. It is still early, so it's not usual that he would take his time. She's sitting at a bench at the Bark n' Play dog park as she writes a reply, Toby tugging at her wrist by the leash as he is playfully distracted by this and that. ]

I'm alright. To be honest, I was more concerned about you.

[ She presses her pen to the page, prepared to write more, but there's just a stray mark there until she follows up with: ]

If you are not busy, would you be opposed to meeting with me?

[iracorn]

[There's a part of him that is both relieved, and wanting to say that he's fine, that she shouldn't worry. It would be a lie, but still.

He takes a moment to reply, but these conversations are probably best in person.]

I appreciate your concern. I am about as well as can be expected.

But I can meet with you. Where would you like to meet?

[judicialassistant]

[ A generic response if she ever heard one, but he didn't say no. Small victories. ]

I am with my friend's pup Toby at the moment, at the dog park. I could meet you by the Dream board if you'd like, and we can decide from there.

[ A decent landmark. And a leisurely stroll sounds nice? Maybe Ira has some places around the town that he likes to go. ]

[iracorn]

[Well he certainly doesn't want anyone worrying about him.]

I shall make my way there then.

[He does dither for a little bit though, intentionally letting himself get distracted, dragging his feet as he lets himself prepare for the conversation ahead. But eventually he arrives.]

[judicialassistant]

[ There's no way to tell, but Susato and Toby haven't been waiting long. Susato busies herself by reading the contents of the Dream board for the month, though by now, she's already familiarized herself with it. She can suddenly feel a tug at her wrists as Toby pulls, and when she turns, she can see Ira approach, having captured the pup's attention. ]

Oh--

[ His tail wags, and when Ira's close enough, he barks in greeting. Susato greets him, too, trying to keep her tone lighthearted and casual: ]

Hello.

[iracorn]

Hello. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long.

[He knows he was procrastinating. Even so, he manages a smile, at both Susato and Toby.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Toby seems to take the smile as permission to approach. He sniffs at Ira's feet and looks at him expectantly, and Susato tugs at his leash to discourage him from jumping. She shakes her head. ]

Not at all. You didn't have to come too far out of your way to meet me, I hope.

...Let us walk together.

[iracorn]

[Ira has. Never been the best with animals but he leans down to give the dog an awkward pat on the head.]

No, I was just at home. It's not far.

[He falls into step beside her, letting them at least start walking. He's been considering how to start this conversation.]

I. Suppose you must have questions.

[judicialassistant]

...Mm. [ Susato hums. She doesn't know him that well, and hardly wishes to make him uncomfortable. The dream also shifted a lot, with no reference to time or place, making it all confusing, but she can only go on what sticks out to her the most. ] It's hard to know where to begin.

The key I held looked different from yours... It was lively. Gold, with flowers. Quite a contrast to the desolate place where we all fought.

[iracorn]

Indeed, but I will answer what I can.

[He has no reason to dance around his answers after all. Everything was more or less put on display. But, it is heavy information.]

A keyblade. It would look different, as most keyblades are a reflection of their wielder's heart, or the keychain that the weapon bears.

I wish I could have seen it. Though, I may have been preoccupied.

[judicialassistant]

[ There was a lot going on. Susato has never been on a battlefield before, though in the end, perhaps it didn't matter what her keyblade looked like. A weapon is still a weapon... She remembers it feeling heavy in her hands, and she makes a fist to indicate as such. ]

It's alright. It was... quite a whirlwind.

[ Literally, in fact. But before she even saw the Keyblade Graveyard... ]

In the beginning, you mentioned something about a traitor...?

[iracorn]

[Ira nods, solemnly. Perhaps the first of his follies.]

Yes. I had assumed, having found a nightmare chirithy, one of the little cats you may have seen, that someone had fallen to Darkness.

I may have just jumped to conclusions.

[judicialassistant]

[ Nightmare cats, huh? She nods, looking like she is trying to remember what they look like. ]

What makes you say that? [ Did he find evidence that he was wrong? ]

[iracorn]

Truthfully, I never found any evidence to the contrary. Certainly no one came forward, and in the time that passed, nothing seemed to change.

No one really acted out of character enough for me to become truly suspicious.

[And while cracks did appear because of this distrust, it wasn't specifically because of the Darkness. At least, not in the way Ira assumed.]

[judicialassistant]

And yet your suspicions were enough to cause a rift...? [ Is that how the fighting between the Foretellers began? The war?

...... ]

Did you ever find the source of the nightmare cat? I, I mean--chirithy?

[iracorn]

I didn't, as the divisions started to take over.

[He sighs.]

I don't think it was just my suspicions. Our Master had disappeared, and left us with different roles. I think we were still dealing with his absence, and well, not everyone was happy with me being made the leader.

[judicialassistant]

[ Ah. Susato averts her gaze... The sudden and abrupt lack of guidance certainly would pave way for chaos. She can't imagine that to be a pleasant position to be in. ]

Did you want to become leader?

[iracorn]

[Did he want to become the leader? That is a question that Ira has never really thought about before. He'd never really thought about becoming the leader, rather it was just the role that he fell into within the group.]

I suppose it was what was expected of me, and I would have taken the position one way or another.

But, I also did not want my Master to leave.

[judicialassistant]

[ 'One way or another.' Well, she can certainly feel the slight weight of that pressure behind his words. ]

I suppose we all must do things we aren't necessarily prepared for, at one time or another. I have learned it is a part of growing up.

[ Ira seems already far older and wiser than she, however. ]

Perhaps your Master did not intend for his disappearance to come so soon, or so suddenly.

[iracorn]

[Older maybe, but he is not sure about wiser.]

I would hope so, but it was impossible to tell with him. He was inscrutable at the best of times.

[The Master of Masters certainly marched to the beat of his own drum.]

He knew he was going to leave eventually. I probably should have prepared myself better.

[judicialassistant]

[ Eventually could mean anything, though. Tomorrow, next month, next year, ten years. Susato struggles to grasp how he could be prepared for that anymore than…

Than her waking up to finding her father gone from this dream world, along with all of his belongings. ]

…Are you still searching for him?

[iracorn]

Yes, though, between the war and coming here, I suppose I've put it to the side.

[He sighs, ruefully.]

There was hope that gathering lux and summoning Kingdom Hearts would cause him to return, but instead there was just fighting.