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Hoshi Amakasu     It's a beautiful, bright summer day in Alberichstadt, and the air smells clean and fresh as the city and it's inhabitants continue their blissful lives, ignorant of the threats that still remained hidden in mirrored places in the town. Of course, not all places are so bright and cheery; the ancient woods of the Black Forest loom as tall, dark, and mysterious as ever. Furthermore, a certain group of people here had come for what might end up being a grim task. One of their number, one of their friends had been hidden away, trapped in the Mirror Forest's nightmare paths for untold days.

    Now had come the time to free Hoshi Amakasu from the unnatural, horrible circumstances that bound her. Provided, of course, those concerned could stomach to work in each other's presence.

    When they finally push their way into the haunted, crystaline expanse, the same gloomy pathways and shadowy, twinkling boughs await them as they always had, but off in the distance there appeared to be some kind of break in the gloomy atmosphere. A town, perhaps, much smaller than the one outside, bathed in soft yellow light, as if completely unaware of their position in the existential horror of the Mirror Forest's existence...
August Kohler August would provide the way-in for those who needed it to the Mirror Forest. He's armed with a knife and a pistol on a belt, and has a sour expression on his face. He's not happy about this, at all. The Mirror Forest was supposed to be done. Nobody else to be rescued, no more Shadows that /needed/ to be slain, and yet, here they are. Wearing a jacket, he has a mirrored bracelet around the right sleeve which he tugs at briefly, and his right hand and arm are covered with burn scars.

Once inside, August notices the town immediately as standing out. "That's new. Probably our destination." And so, the redhead will draw his pistol in preparation for Shadows, and head in that direction without waiting for planning. Yes, this is Nagato's mission, but he never said he was following her orders, and the Mirror Forest doesn't spring stuff out of nowhere.
Robert Speedwagon     Truth be told, Robert Speedwagon didn't understand most of what was going on. Supernatural stuff tended to go over his head. But what he DID understand, was that there was a girl that these kids knew, that needed help. And as much as he's been trying to leave behind the old attitudes of his world -- attitudes outdated for dealing with the rest of the Multiverse -- admittedly the fact that Hoshi was a girl didn't hurt in kicking his protective instincts into overdrive.

    He's come loaded for bear -- sledgehammer in one hand, his bladed hat atop his head. Though at least the blades have been hidden, so it doesn't look too out of place. One wonders why he bothered, since a hat with blades on it is hardly the weirdest thing happening here. He's also brought Tattoo and Kempo, and the group is being... surprisingly quiet. Though to be fair, most of the group's loudness is usually from Speedwagon himself.

    But here he's surprisingly silent as the group ventures into the forest. He might not see the town from this distance, but that yellow light has GOT to stick out in all this gloom. "...What's that?" he notes quietly, pointing towards the light. "Almost looks like it don't belong, in this place..." He shudders a little. Yes, he's aware he's basically surrounded by existential horror -- and yes, he's scared. But he's never let being scared stop him from helping someone!
Nagato     Nagato's on approach, wearing something not like her normal clothes. Done up in a set of slacks, white top and jacket, she tries her best to 'fit in' so she doesn't draw suspicion... at least, she would if it wasn't for the gunblade at her side hanging in a locked sheath. She takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh, she didn't think she'd have to go into this Forest again, but one of her own is in here... and most likely in danger, something the Battleship couldn't abide by.

    She wordlessly acknowledges the people present as they are led in by August. "Strange." is the only thing she mutters for a bit, scanning the horizon of the Mirror Forest, eyes landing on the strange town in the distance... and August heading forward, "I'll defer to your knowledge of the Forest, August. You know it better than I do." This is her mission, indeed, but an area she's only had brief interaction with? She'll let someone take the running reins for it.

    Plus, she can use August to scout the area ahead.

    "Keep your eyes out for anything out of the ordinary." in the Forest? That could mean anything. Nagato clutches the hilt of the gunblade, eyes reading over the area. She didn't like this one bit, devoid of needed intel... "Relay anything immediately."

    Under her breath, she just whispers, "I'm coming, Amakasu."
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa had thought Hoshi had gone back to Japan and simply left the Multiverse behind, how could she fault her for that? There'd been a number of times that Kotone herself had almost done the same thing too after all. She had geared up, she didn't know what they would be facing here. Nagato had ordered her to go all out, so she had, her Armed Suit, however, was still undergoing repairs from the fight with the Defenders of Man super weapon so she'd had to come on food, but she wasn't lacking in weaponry give her matter manipulator? She was very well armed, she carried some sort of heavy battle rifle today, clad in her stealth armour and followed by several drones two spider-like gun turret units and a pair of hovering camera drones.

"Admiral I'm all geared up and ready to go."

August gets a nod, it was good to have him along for this. She also took note of Robert and his crew have arrived as well. She seemed glad they were here as well.

"Drones going up."

The Camera drones, were cheap things hobby units really but they had Cameras. Which is just what Kotone needed she'll send the two drones out and fall in following after Nagato. They would find Hoshi, to Kotone? Failing today was not an option.
Hoshi Amakasu     As they tread the crystal paths, the silence of the Forest around them is almost deafening. Other entries into this place had seen the adventurers beset by monsters on all sides, yet it would appear as though the Shadows had simply stopped existing here. Or perhaps they were hiding, evil eyes staring from hidden recesses amongst the glass trees. Kotone's drones initially see little activity beyond the group themselves, but for a moment, there is something... hidden in shadow, a body moves catlike out of sight, and does not reemerge.

    So they came to the bright little town unmolested; first glance would show that it's clearly inhabited, and dominated by a large, slowly groaning grain mill spearing into the sky from the center of the town. Humanoid figures walk the village's roads, seen from the corner of one's eye, but they flit strangely, and turning to look at them shows flashes of bizzare colors and utterly inhuman movements timed perfectly with each other, or lazily spinning figures in the corners of streets... All except one.

    The most human among them is in the shape of a huge, bear-like figure in an apron and smock; he spots the group and cheerfully waves, telling them in his booming tone, "Why strangers, thine presence is seen! Thou hast come to witness mine daughter's bless'd wedding vows an' hear the ringing bells? But mine daughter hath gone to be with her handsome bride-groom, and the bells gone silent. Beware the Forest! A great Beast stalks the lands of shadow between Here and There, it's hunger unceasing."

    It's not especially helpful information, but the seemingly-cheery fellow points down another path into the grim shadows of the Forest. All the while, the misty, inhuman figures turn to stare at the group with bright golden eyes, and they whisper sibilantly, "The Beast..."
Nagato     "This isn't settling well." Comes the first words out of the Admiral's mouth, keeping stride on the path. "No radar hits either." she takes a soft breath and trudges along, this place unnerves her a bit. MOre like a lot, but she's not going to say anything. "Last time I was here, there were strange beings wanting to attack left and right. That was... over three years ago. I assume most of this is your doing, August?" she questions the 'leader' with a curious tone to her voice...

    That falls off once they reach the town. The visage of human-like figures moving around in inhuman ways causes the battleship to shudder, this definitely wasn't your normal farm town. With the bear-like figure announces his spotting, Nagato gives a nod and approaches. She lets him speak a bit, listening... all the while she overtakes August to stand a few feet away, her hand off her blade's hilt. "We would stay for the wedding, sir, but we are looking for a specific person. Perhaps you can tell me if you've seen her?" there is a brief pause, 'bride-groom'?

    She shakes her head momentarily and pulls out a small picture from her pocket and shows it to the bear-man. "Specifically, her. She's a close friend of my followers and I. If you can tell us if you've seen her, we'll be grateful for the information." there's a pause, a minor perk, "In addition, can you explain more about this /beast/ that threatens your lands? My comrades and I are equipped to take care of such threats."

    She whispers a bit, hopefully out of listening range from everyone else but the bear-man, "Please, if you can give me any information about this girl, it'll mean much for myself and two others."
Robert Speedwagon     Yeah, Speedwagon doesn't understand any of this. All he knows is these shadowy people-shapes are NOT human, and looking at them for too long hurts his head. But he listens, nonetheless. Maybe something will be useful to the others later, with the natives to this world knowing more about what's going on. He does pick up on the 'wedding' thing. "What?! Poor girl's not bein' forced ter marry, is she?!" he exclaims. Well, there goes the quiet.

    But as he listens more to what's being said, something clicks. "...Wait, 'ang on a tick." His eyes narrow, and he rubs his chin thoughtfully. This time he's quieter as he asks, "...Is what 'e's sayin' soundin' familiar ter any of ya? I could swear I 'eard that in a storybook somewhere..."
August Kohler "We managed to clear out more, but they shouldn't be entirely gone. It's probably part of whatever this town is that they're not all around us." The various creatures keep August's hand to his gun - they have to be Shadows playing roles. It's the only possibility. Only Shadows lurk in the forest, to all experience. As the bear-man talks about the Beast, though, August looks down the path. "Is that so?" Then that's there lead.

While the others talk to the bear-man, August moves to head down the pathway. He keeps his eyes and ears sharp for anything lurking, and especially for any sort of growling, such as the type a Beast would make. He's going to get straight down to business. "Amakasu! You out here?" He does shout out, trying to get her attention if she can hear him, once down the path. He'll shout it every so often, as it also functions well as bait for any monsters.
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa pauses as she gets feedback from one of her camera drones, there was something almost cat-like moving there. She freeze frames and saves it as unknown_1. She'll keep moving. "I saw something out there moving from one of my drones, almost cat-like but it was too fast to get a good image."

Then they hit the town and the shadows do not seem hostile and she does not move in as the Bear like Shadow? Talks about a wedding of his daughter?

She stand back letting the Admiral do her thing while she starts to try and scope out more about the town and has her drones start to fly high over the town hoping to see if anything else.

She falls in with August now moving to follow him.

"Got my Camera drones up, hopefully, they can help us a bit with this."

She notes to August as she follows right after him.
Hoshi Amakasu     The Miller pauses and takes a look at the picture he's shown; he laughs and slaps his belly with a huge, clawed paw. "Why stranger! Thine depiction shares oft similarities with mine beautiful, sweet daughter. Thou must tell how thee hast found such a familiar childe!" When Nagato mentions the beast, the sibilant hissing comes again, echoing her voice and words with creepy precision, but the Miller seems to pay them no mind.

    "The Beast hunts our village for spite and hate, but it cannot come into the Light! We are protected here, by the grace of the Queen." TO Robert, the Miller seems surprised. "A handsomer man this village hath not known; of course mine daughter took his hand as she should. She hath gone to his home as his blushing bride, and all is good."

     Back in the Forest, August and Kotone make their way away from the glowing light of the town's safety, and August's voice echoes amidst the delicate branches and crystal leaves of the forest to no avail. Amakasu isn't here, or at least isn't answering; but Kotone's cameras catch movement again, a slinking creature that has slowly come to the side of the path they tread. She has a moment to warn August, but soon after the Beast bursts from the crystaline folliage onto the path before them, and roars! A female lion glowers and growls as it stalks on thick, padded claws forward... Only, it looks as if it's been getting into fights and losing them, covered with scars and tufts of missing fur. Certainly, it doesn't seem like as big a threat as it the Miller said it should be?

    Brown eyes stare at the two as the Beast roars again, smacking it's paw against the dirt underneath with impatience, but it doesn't seem interested in charging. Eventually, it growls and shuffles off back into the Forest from whence it came... leaving behind a woven basket filled with sweet peas and green lentils in it's wake.
Nagato     "Really? Yes, she is a sweet girl. See, she is also one of my daughters. She was lost for a few years, and I've only become of her whereabouts here." comes Nagato's reply, her eyes looking around the area. She hmms lightly, listening to the 'beast's description... hmm, she taps her foot "I see, could I ask where this home is of his is? Perhaps I would like to take a visit, at least wish the bride and groom a good wedding." there looks to be a forced smile upon the woman's face.

    She looks towards Robert curiously, "Storybook? Let's go meet up with August and Yamakawa and discuss this." hmm, she really isn't liking this, "I don't think they're being forced, by the way... after all, he'd probably maim the first person who even /tried/." she chuckles, "A real papa bear, if you ask me."
August Kohler As the Beast bursts forward, August has just enough time to be warned, and rolls, keeping his pistol drawn and taking two shots at the Beast. They're not the most accurate in the world due to being spooked, so probably aren't very bad, but he's a pretty good aim in general. It's when he notices the brown eyes that he hesitates a little. It's not a rule to Shadows, but this one isn't being too hostile...and it's running off after leaving a basket. August moves to check it briefly, and then...

"Get back here!" The German's leaping through the trees and into the Forest, moving to pursue the Beast. August sheathes his gun for extra mobility, trying to track it through the woods. Hopefully, he can keep close enough to it to not get lost in the Forest's twisting woods.
Robert Speedwagon     Speedwagon nods when the bear-man confirms that the picture of Hoshi looks like this 'daughter'. "Aha. What I thought," he decides, though he doesn't look pleased with himself for having guessed that part of it. He's still thinking, when that bear-man mentions 'the Queen'. And he winces, not able to help but think about the Black Queen. Didn't they off her already? Or do these 'people' just not know she's dead. Or... is she not really dead? That's a horrible thought...

    Huffing out a breath, Robert nonetheless tips his hat to the bear-man. "Thank yer muchly, Sir," he offers politely. He nods to Nagato's suggestion of moving on to find the others. "Good idea," he agrees. "No tellin' what kind 'f trouble they'll be gettin' inter out there. This forest's not a place for the livin'." Of course, he adds a soft snort of laughter at the pun.

    He waits until they're far enough away from the bear-man to answer the question about the storybook, however. "A beautiful girl from a town beset upon by a 'orrible, ferocious beast... doesn't it sound familiar?" He hasn't accounted for the possibility Nagato might not know the story.
Kotone Yamakawa The forest goes on, as do August and Kotone. She gets another ping on her Camera.

"I have something there's something nearby ... wait it's incoming!"

She shouts out her warning as the Lion is coming after them, she notices the damage on it and she notices it doesn't seem to be as large as was said it doesn't seem to be right or normal either there is a sense of concern on Kotone's face she backs off not yet firing off her weapon. She doesn't fire, she will follow after August using her on inhuman speed to chase after the Lion, still, she wonders for a moment. That basket the food? Something about it is niggling at the back of her mind, her Ghost is trying to tell her something, for now, she moves.

"August there's something funky about that Lion."
Hoshi Amakasu      "Aye, a sweet lass, but small and easily frightened," the Miller tells them jovially. "Tis a shame thine daughter is lost, truly. I cannot say what thoughts would come should mine daughter be lost amidst these shadowed boughs." He points down the pathway that August and Kotone had taken, but cautions them, "Beware the Beast, who stalks the path. It is vicious and savage, and mine village wouldst be pleased to be rid of it." He nods to them, and waves them off as they make their way,--seemingly a whole world apart from the strange golden gazes of the Shadows that wander the village, whispering into the wind as they go, "The Beast...!"

    August's first shot goes wide, but the second one buries itself into the lioness' back leg, forcing a pained yowl from her throat as she nearly crumples, but tries desperately to move away into the Forest again to escape. Not that she can; August and Kotone are hot on her tail and she's wounded, and her blood leaves a clear dark trail against the glittering folliage even as it scrapes and grasps at their flesh like frigid glass talons. Eventually, the Beast turns around and loewrs hersel to pounce, grunting in her chest and swatting the air in front of herself protectively. Her brown eyes lock on them, both angry and scared and pained, yet somehow not beastly... hopeful, perhaps?

    Speedwagon and Nagato take the trail and would eventually find themselves at the place where the basket has been left... only, there seems to be only one bloodstain next to the basket, the rest seemingly having been lost in the gloom. With communications out, where could August and Kotone be...?
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa does not attack that bit with the basket is very odd she does keep moving, after the Beast. It's easy enough, as she sprints along August makes the attack she keeps moving the Lioness is hit and seems to be slowing down a bit. She looks like it's ready to pounce and it looks at them. She take a look at the beast for a moment? Is that hope? the basket that has her making her wonder just what's going on.

That niggling little voice in the back of her head. She lowers her weapon and raise her hand to August.

She looks at the beast and asks a question.

"Hoshi?"
Nagato     "Alright. I'll see what we can do. I thank you and wish prosperity here for you and yours." she gives a genuine smile this time before heading out with the Speedwagon. "I'm afraid not. I spent most of my life on the battlefield with bullets and torpedoes filling the sky and sea." she gives a bit of a sigh, "I'll tell you more about it later. We have to catch up with August and Yamakawa. I haven't heard comms from them in the better part of a while."

    For Yamakawa, that's unusual... for August, she doesn't know.

    On the path down, she unlocks the sheath and draws the blade, loading up the chamber with some shells. "Be on your guard..." pause, "I don't think I caught your name. I'm Nagato." With that out of the way, the trail continues.. until the basket. And a bloodstain.

    Gripping the blade's hilt in two hands, her eyes scan the horizon... she doesn't have her radar helm with her, so that's out... "Yamakawa! Kohler! Respond!" she shouts out, trying to get a response, "Yamakawa! Kohler!" she grumbles, this isn't happening, this shouldn't be happening. She's lost one of her fleet members... she's lost another... and she's lost August.

    "Damnit, this ... this isn't happening." there's a bit of panic... and she just /runs/ forward, "August! Yamakawa!" she leaves Robert behind... the focus is on the one person who can get her in and out of this place... and her fleet member.
Robert Speedwagon     "Ah, I see. Like yer said, I can explain later." But he does offer his name. "The name's Robert E.O. Speedwagon!" There's not much time for more than that, though. A gun going off is likely to be loud enough for the Ogre Street gang to hear. The three of them all look in that direction, and then Speedwagon notes, "Come on, lads and lady! Sounds as though they 'AVE run across a spot of trouble!" Not to worry, Nagato -- Speedwagon and his buddies aren't far behind!
August Kohler The Beast is getting ready to attack, as August pursues...but he doesn't fire again. He keeps the gun levelled at it, speaking with a tone of anger and frustration. "Are you Hoshi Amakasu? Signal some way if you are. You don't seem to be hostile, and your eyes aren't yellow, but I don't trust you even slightly. If you pull /anything/ suspicious, I will shoot you again. Can you understand me? If not, there's no way to interact with you." If that is Hoshi in there, August wants to help her, but he's not going to let his guard down. The gun remains raised. It's probably not the best course of action.
Hoshi Amakasu     Hearing the name causes the lioness to yowl again, laying down and spreading her injured leg out awkwardly. She looks between the two knowingly and taps her paw against the ground once, then sighs and flops over onto her uninjured side, grumbling lowly. Whether or not it's actually Hoshi can still probably be up for debate, but at the very least it doesn't seem like it'll be threatening them again. Her ear perks up, hearing other voices on the path... So she sighs and comes to a stand again, looking to amble past the two with her limping gait to lead them back to the path.

    Nagato and Robert's voices echo lowly in the cavernous reaches of the crystaline trees, and Nagato's hurried pace only takes them further from the light of the town and into deeper, dimmer darkness. Eventually, it starts to become so dark that seeing one's hand in front of one's face becomes difficult; just when there's a fear of losing themselves, however, an impressively large stone cabin looms before them. Perhaps this is the place the Miller was mentioning? It seems to be quite dark and forboding like the rest of this Forest, with only the tiniest lights from a lantern by the door providing any luminessence...
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa looks to August for a moment and now finds her comm is out too. Still, the lioness is not hostile, no it's just kind flopping she tilts her head. Could it be Hoshi? She's not sure but it's not hostile it might know the name. Either way, it's time to follow them. She looks to August. "Looks like we better follow." With that Kotone will follow the Lioness back to the path.

"Comm's out on my end August."
August Kohler Well, that atleast is an expression of 'I'm not your enemy', so August sheathes his pistol. When the Beast rises and leads him out on the path, he keeps his hand to it, however, and follows her. "If you /are/ Amakasu, then three years have done quite a damn toll on you. If not, you're our best lead to her." He follows closely, keeping his eyes and ears out for anything suspicious. "Damn." He replies to Kotone, sighing.

"Your sensors have anything?"
Nagato     The Darkness is getting more and more thick, unable to see the path ahead of her she aims her gunblade ahead... and fires... to get at least a burst of light from the muzzle flash. It may echo around the forest too, to give anyone... ally or enemy... a hint to where they are. "Damnit..." she grumbles, stumbling forward, continuing her pace... "Damnit, where are they... why is it getting so dark?!"

    There's another shot fired... another muzzle flash but it's getting too dark to even rely on that. And without her rigging, she doesn't have spotlight access either. At least, it changes just a bit... the tiniest lights from the lantern... near the door of this stone cabin. She slows down and moves towards the door, her breath is rapid from the running, so the brief respite is good.

    She looks around, hoping to see at least Robert there... before she knocks on the door. "This is Admiral Nagato, requesting entrance." the door opens with a creak, a creepy sounding creak... "Mmm, this isn't good." she muttered, moving to head inside. "Hoshi? It's Nagato... I'm here. Please, tell me you're here..."
Robert Speedwagon     No worries, Nagato -- Robert and his crew are following the sound and flash from her weapon. However, they all but skid to a stop near the stone cabin. Which also means near Nagato. "Oi, wait..." he breathes. He's out of breath with all this running!

    However, Tattoo and Kempo have been looking around, and both scowl. "I 'ope they're not 'ere," Tattoo says, his voice almost a growl.

    Speedwagon adds, "I almost 'ope you're right, Tattoo... This place REEKS 'a horrors..."

    However, Nagato's going in, so Speedwagon's got her back. "Yer want me ta go in first?" he offers. He's expendable, after all. Nagato isn't.
Hoshi Amakasu     The Lioness leads the two back to where they had first left the path, and she grunts and shakes her head once upon seeing the basket is still where it was left. The Beast grunts once and thwaps Kohler across his knees once with her tail as if chastizing him. Before she takes them anywhere else, she makes a point of picking up the basket with her mouth and shaking her head once, sending the peas and lentils scattering onto the ground before placing it on the ground ahead of August and Kotone again. Then, the lioness moves forward into the gathering darkness of the path ahead, towards the distant cabin.

    As they begin their approach, however, they start to hear other sounds--human sounds, men's voices loudly cursing and laughing and grunting. Another gang is approaching the cabin. "Ahhh, our dinner awaits lads! Fresh young bonny lass..."

    The slow, painful creak of the door opening is the only sound that greets Nagato, Robert, and the gang. The inside of the cabin is at least much more well-lit; comfortable if rustic wooden furniture fills the room, and animal rugs and taxidermied heads provide some macabre decoration. THere is, however, no Hoshi; just a bird in a cage near the fire, who ruffles it's feathers and stares at them with beady eyes. "Turn back," it squawks eventually, before preeening itself. "Turn back, thou bonnie bride, Nor in this house of death abide!"

     Just when it seems like there's no hope, however, there's a sound from the bed, a gasp of fear; a feminine figure suddenly bursts from under the covers and tries to flee down another door into a cellar! Nagato and Robert can both see her plainly before she disappaers; it's Hoshi, her face done up beautifully so that her nut-brown skin shines, still dressed in her wedding gown and a green, flowing cloak.
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa looks to August for a moment and now finds her comm is out too. Still, the lioness is not hostile, no it's just kind flopping she tilts her head. Could it be Hoshi? She's not sure but it's not hostile it might know the name. Either way, it's time to follow them. She looks to August. "Looks like we better follow." With that Kotone will return checking on the drone and try to see what thermal vision might pick up as they move.

"I'll see what I can do but this is the forest, Physics is a suggestion rather than a rule."

As the party returns to the path Kotone notices the Lioness behaviour towards August. It just raises the possibility it is Hoshi goes up a bit in her mind.

The words of food and just how it infers to the lass? It sounds like the Lass is on the Menu, and not a guest. She approaches now and looks to August for a moment then towards the sound of Voice.

"I think this is about to get rough."

Kotone now strides towards the group nearing the cabin. She has a confidence she'd never had some time ago as she moves towards them.

"Dinner you say? Is the Lass a guest?"

Oh she suspects this going to get mess, but it never hurts to ask.
Nagato     Nagato's eyes scan the room.. taxidermied heads... animal rugs... she gives a sigh, "A hunter's cottage?" she questions to the air, the squaking of the bird gets ignored... she has no time to deal with idle warnings from fowl feathered birds. "She isn't here, Robert." she mutters, a sigh coming to her as she moves to head back out...

    Until the gasp of fear from the bed. Nagato quickly aims her Gunblade towards it... then drops the tip... "Hoshi?!" she looks around, following the figure... she knows that face, that was Hoshi. She turns to Robert, "No one enters..." she commands, "If August or Yamakawa come... only then. For now, Hoshi needs me. I need to let her know it's okay, that I'm here."

    With that, Nagato places her hand on his shoulder, squeezes it with a look of trust upon her face before she breaks contact and heads down the door to the cellar. She knows this is reckless, everything in her mind is screaming, 'Wait here for everyone!' but this was Hoshi. This was someone she confided in. ONe of the few outside her Sister or the other Capital Ships who's seen her at her worst...

    Bad Things catch her nose... but only one goal. "Hoshi..." she starts, "It's me, it's Nagato. I'm here, I'm finally here. Your parents came to me, they said you haven't been home..." a pause, "The fleet misses you, your parents miss you. Please, come back to us... I'm here to ... no, we're here to rescue you."
Robert Speedwagon     The sound of the creak and nothing else gets a frown from Speedwagon. "Tattoo, Kempo -- you two stay out 'ere. Give us a 'eads-up if there's any trouble comin'."

    "Right-o!" Tattoo agrees, and Kempo gives a quiet grunt of affirmation, and then Robert follows Nagato into the cabin. He doesn't see anything initially, though that bird gives him the creeps. "Ugh... 'oo'd teach a bird ter say somethin' like THAT," he half-growls.

    Though it's cut off when something bursts out of the covers. "Look out!" he calls to Nagato, not initially seeing that it's Hoshi. Not until the words are already out of his mouth. As soon as he sees the dark-skinned girl, he calls out, "Wait! We're not gonna 'urt ya!" A pause, and a whiff of something foul reaches his nose. The cellar? Where Hoshi's heading? A whiff of something foul, and not just something smelly. "No! Don' g' down there!" he blurts out, slurring his words more than usual in his panic.

    Nagato's going after Hoshi then, though... and asking him to stay behind. He's about to go after her... but then he happens to catch her words as she heads down. And then he stops. He doesn't have to follow her QUITE so closely, does he? It's not the first time he's had to sneak into a place he shouldn't have been.

    So he'll wait. Give her a few moments. And then he's going to follow. He should be far enough back that she shouldn't catch sight of him, particularly not as focused on Hoshi as she is.
August Kohler The thwap against his knees gets a grunt from August, who stares coldly at the Lioness. The fact she's leading them through the path doesn't get him to strike back. However, once they're up near the cabin, after her odd thing with the basket, he pauses when he hears the human sounds. Sounds like trouble. Luckily, there'd be no humans walking so casually in the Mirror Forest. No /real/ humans.

The pistol is redrawn as August moves to Kotone's side and moves to approach the source of the noises. He's quiet, up until he finally speaks up. "Lass for dinner? How about lead, instead? It's part of a balanced breakfast." If there's a hostile response, he raises the pistol and fires it, not considering the men people. The only person out here is the group and Hoshi.
Hoshi Amakasu     August and Kotone come closer to the source of the voices as they approach the cabin, and soon spot those making them: Tall humanoid figures in the garb of hunters, but they're so skinny as to be like scarecrows, with bright golden eyes. Their bodies tremble and shake even as they walk, and more than once one of them bursts into spontaneous, insane laughter for no discernible cause. Tattoo and Kempo can see both Kotone, August, and this new gang of five approaching, but the gang stops upon seeing the newcomers and hiss like angered animals. "More meat?" One says, and all of them take up the chant, flexing their hands on bows and flintlock weaponry. "More meat! More meat! More meat!" The lead one cheers wildly, moving forward only to get shot. He topples over, but the rest snarl and move forward like starving animals.

    The cellar is dark and cold, and it reeks of blood and spoiled meat; Nagato comes out from the darkened stairwell to see the room is filled with countless Hoshis... beheated, dismembered, chewed upon, eaten. 'Hoshi' stands in the middle with her golden eyes wide in horror; she almost shrinks from Nagato, but compared to the horror around her, Nagato is the only safe one. "Mine husband," she weeps, "I am afraid, and there lies no escape for me!"

    The Lion, meanwhile, can't participate in the fight, injured as she is; she simply growls and retreats back down the path, shaking out more of her basket's contents as she made her temporary escape.
August Kohler The 'hunters' all have bright golden eyes. Excellent. August raises his mirrored bracelet to his eye, not wanting to rely on his pistol for this alone. "Persona!" The Tin Soldier manifests in a spark of blue, the burn-scarred soldier raising its gun-leg and moving to get into the fight. "Only meat will be you. Burn in hell, Shadows! Yamakawa, give me a hand!" August moves to set a sweeping burst of fire across them to stagger them back and try and make an opening for anyone moving to attack them, before focusing on one completely and attempting to immolate him. It's a good thing he has no idea what's down at the cellar.
Nagato     Step and step... down and down. The smell is horrid... she pulls her blazer off and wraps it around her mouth and nose... even as a ship, she still can smell. "There is no husband here... there's only pain. Look around you..." so many 'Hoshi' around... Nagato's anger is rising so much, but she's trying hard not to show it. Wait, show it? "Hoshi, I know you'll know this look." she kneels down a bit, and swipes her hand up...

    A menu opens in front of the Battleship... "Remember your first trip into Alfheim Online? The big Salamander you were..." she chuckles, "The Cait Sith you ran into... me." she taps a few more menu options, "Log in." There's a bright flash of light and soon, the Cait Sith form of Nagato replaces the adult woman. "Remember Tana? Remember me?" she approaches, weaponless right now.

    "Remember how you came up and tackled me... how you were able to lift up the mighty battleship?" she chuckles a bit, "Remember anything? Even Operation Rei-Go? The night we lost Kuma... we went to your Germany... your parent's place. They were a bit non plussed to see me." there's a light chuckle.

    "How we cried and cried. We wern't Admiral and Destroyer. We were just Hoshi and Nagato. Two women lost in emotions." she opens her arms, the cat tail twitches behind her, "Hoshi, come with me please. Let me take you back home. Back to your parents, back to the Fleet... back with August if you have to."

    Nagato looks around a bit more... there /has/ to be something else she recognizes... "Rosamond. Where is your Persona? The one you bared to me that patrol night?" a pause, "Please?" there's a pleading look in her face, moving to press the log out button to return to normal. "Hoshi... I missed you, I really did. I need you back. Your parents need you back. Rosamond would want you back too..."
Kotone Yamakawa The fight now is on as the forces are clearly shadows, she did attempt to talk right it's just how she is. She looks at them for a moment she pulls her own weapon and just opens fire, there's no mercy that's normally in Kotone, there's no hesitation. It's almost machine-like as she just opens fire on them as they charge she'll leap into the air kick off again and rain bullets down on the breasts her gun turrets deploy and lay down additional fire on her targets.

"Sorry meat is off the menu, boys!"
Robert Speedwagon     Pretty soon, as Robert sneaks down the path behind Nagato (surprisingly he can stay quiet enough to do this; maybe without a situation to overreact to his stealth capabilities increase), the smell of Bad Things becomes more literal than figurative. He stays back, but he can still see in -- and it's a horrible scene. He draws a breath, though covers his mouth; whether it's in shock, to keep himself quiet, or to keep himself from throwing up is anybody's guess.

    ''('That's... that's horrible! That she'd have to see a thing like this... herself, killed and savaged so many times over... It's enough to drive someone mad!')'' Fortunately he keeps all this quiet, so he doesn't give his presence to Nagato just yet. He just watches as Nagato tries to get Hoshi to remember. ''('She... she's forgotten? Augh... well, no wonder, being surrounded by this. How many times has she been...')''

    Even the thought trails off as something terrible occurs to him. ''('God help me... does she remember what happened to them all?!')'' The thought crosses his mind and prompts a look of horror. He really hopes that's not the case...

    "BOSS!" Tattoo suddenly calls down. "We gots trouble up 'ere! Get up 'ere quick -- it's the other two!"

    "Ruddy Nora..." Speedwagon breathes. He really doesn't want to disturb Nagato, but... Starting to run back he calls down into the cellar, "Oi, Nagato! There's trouble topside!" Pause. "Stay 'ere with Hoshi, me an' the boys'll handle it!" And then he heads out to meet the snarling shadows alongside Tattoo and Kempo.
Hoshi Amakasu     The Shadows snarl and split up, luckily saving most of themselves from the fate of their compatriot, who bursts into flames. They fire their guns and arrows back at Kotone and August in return, but being caught against two Elite-level opponents is hard for any creature, even Shadows. Two others get scythed down in Kotone's fire and scream in inhuman voices, while their bellies expand and burst like boils, spilling out fountains of disgusting fluid and gristle onto the ground and the cabin's stone walls.

    There's a different sound now, though, another voice... clear, and strong, yet filled with indignant anger, it screams, "MINE WIFE...!" Somewhere from the darkness of the Forest away. More trouble seems to be brewing if they can't get out soon.

    "Mine name is not Hoshi," the weeping girl says between sobbing breaths. "I hath not lain eyes upon thee before! I am scared...!" Yet, as Nagato transforms and takes a less threatening form, she seems to calm, and approach slowly. "I only know if mine father, and mine village... I know not of what you speak." She stops, and seems confused. "Rosamond... Mine name is Rosamond. Will you take me from this terrible place?..."

    She seems to understand there is no fairy-tale hope for her here... so she eventually slowly nods and steps forward to take Nagato's hand. "B-but... what will we do about the Beast? Mine husband beat it away before... and the path is so dark." Still, at least she seems willing to leave with them.

    Back topside, as others come in to join the fight, there is something strange happening: light is coming to the Forest, by the softly glowing pea and lentil shoots that have grown where the Lion has spread them, showing them a path to retreat from the cabin.
Nagato     Nagato blinks... "Not... Hoshi?" she questions quietly, perking up from Robert's yell. She gives a firm nod, she knows what she's going to do. "I know and I am sorry." Nagato 'logs in' again and transforms back to the Cait Sith, it's less threatening, and she's approaching. She moves to take that hand, and she nods, "I have friends here who are taking care of this 'beast'. Rosamond..." a pause, "I'll take you from this terrible place."

    She gets a confident look, despite the adorable looking body. "I shall take you from this terrible place, I shall reunite you with your father and your village." she moves, tugging on that hand towards the stairs. "Rosamond... Hoshi's persona..." she whispers to herself, she looks just like the Persona she summoned... "Robert, give me a clearing. I've got a princess to save!" Nagato's voice is different right now, calling out to Robert..

    "Rosamond, we're flying out of here!" she runs up the stairs, taking Rosamond with her, until they burst through the door top... and then out the front door. 'Tana' has a quest now, deliver Rosamond to Father Bear and Village. As soon as they're free of that door, the Cait Sith's wings burst out... "I hope you don't mind a flight."
Robert Speedwagon     It's a horrible scene that Speedwagon runs out of the cabin to see, but it's not one he didn't expect. Nonetheless, Tattoo looks pale and skittish -- which is a bad thing, because a skittish knife-user is bad for everyone around him -- and even Kempo can be seen to be shaking if one looks closely. This is not a battle that any of them are confident they can fight!

    However, Nagato's call-up for a clearing gets a nod. "Right! Follow that light path!" he calls out. He doesn't know that the lion was the one who put those things there, or why they're growing light. But he knows these are shadows, and the bear-man did say that the beast couldn't exist in the light near the village. So it stands to reason that the light is a safe spot.

    Though he's about to do something... not so safe. "Tattoo, Kempo! NOW!" He's not going into the fray via hat, though. If there are any Shadows left, he's going in against them with a cry and a swing of his sledgehammer. Tattoo and Kempo soon follow suit.

    They're not trying to fight them, no... they're just trying to back up any remaining shadows so that Nagato can get Hoshi out. And so the others can retreat. And in case they need any help, Speedwagon looks to August and Kotone and barks, "Go! We'll be right be'ind ya!"

    ...Hopefully.
August Kohler If there's still a Shadow remaining, as August counted, he'll let Speedwagon deal with it, as he's focused on the noise. "Oh, shit. Something's going down. Nagato's been down there a while. What's the situation?" August moves over to the building, as Nagato comes flying out. "Nagato, let's get her out of here!" That's definitely Hoshi in her grip. Either way, August moves to head down the pathway with the others and get the hell out of here. They have their ally, after all.
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa takes several hits there is pain but unlike Batou she is not as prone to turn off her pain receptors given the other issues that can cause. The's got one in her stomach though that looks off-putting and her armour mitigates the bullets. She will come in for a landing and keep shooting until the last one has fallen. She looks at the arrow break the shaft but leave the point in, she'll deal with that later. She grimaces though as she hears the voice.

"Your wife?! To hell with that, not even another shadow deserves to be treated like that!" She also takes note of Robert and his crew.

"You always have our backs don'tcha?"

She will turn to pull out with the others with Nagato getting Hoshi out? She calls to the Lioness

"Come on with us we can't leave you here."

She Gestures at the Lioness to follow.

"Admiral, August! Let's go!"
Nagato     "This isn't Hoshi!" Nagato calls out to August, moving to pull Rosamond into a bridal carry. "This is Rosamond! Hoshi's somewhere else, but if I can get Rosamond to the village we ran into..." she floats up a bit... follow the lights huh? She nods and smiles, "We'll get there." she takes a brief look at the lioness... "Where did that cat come from?" she questions, that tail twitching a bit. She takes a deep breath, then looks forward.

    "Rosamond, I'll keep you safe. Yamakawa, Speedwagon, Kohler. Take that cat, break me a path. We're getting out of here and back to that town!"
Hoshi Amakasu     Rising up over the cabin and the trees of the Forest, a beautiful male face appears... followed by his neck, and shoulders, as he towers above everything nearby. "SHE IS MINE!" He roars out... his belly is massively distended, and the faces of dozens of other Hoshi clones appear, their hands straining out to desperately try to flee from the monstrosity that has consumed them. It's definitely Time to Leave!

     The last remaining Shadow is caught by Tattoo, Robert, and Kampo, and it struggles against them mightily, with inhuman strength... but not so much as to be undefeatable, even by those who seemingly lack powers. It too goes down with a pierced heart, it's belly similarly growing and splattering them with pus and gore, but the greater threat was still approaching, shattering the glass trees as it heaved it's tremendous bulk, shuddering and twitching with great spasms that roiled it's whole body yet never touched it's beautiful face...

    Rosamond clutches to Nagato tightly, and lets out a short scream upon seeing the Beast--yet the Lioness simply yowls and tries to hustle down the now-glowing pathway it has helped create. Unfortunately, she can't move very quickly with her wounded leg, but that's where the others would seemingly come in!
August Kohler Oh, /crap/. "Get over here!" August shouts in the direction of Robert, Tattoo, and Kempo, as the gigantic thing comes running. They need to get out of here and hope that this piece of the Forest doesn't persist. "Clearly, that village isn't the right destination! We need to take her back out of the Forest, and fast!" August actually sees the Lioness falling in pain. He considers, briefly, what he should do. And he decides he's going to help it, just this once. He shot it in the first place, after all. The Tin Soldier moves forward with August to support the Lioness, the Persona trying to give her what she needs to keep moving forward. Part of this is because August hasn't entirely ruled out her being important to this puzzle, because otherwise, why would she be helping them? And if she's tricking them...his Persona's right there.

Hopefully, in the end, they can get Hoshi out of here. August isn't sure what's up with the Rosamond thing, but his gut guess is 'that's not a Persona', and that instead something weird is going on. He never trusted the village.
Kotone Yamakawa The Beast comes, what Kotone would see as the beast. She ends up moving quickly to follow after August to help with the Lioness, they need to get out of here. She tries to shudder a bit as this somewhat reminds her of a nightmare she's had. She looks to August she nods once and is moving to help get the Lioness the heck out of here. She adds her own strength into giving the Lioness the help she needs to get the heck out of here if this is a trap? She can keep between August and it hopefully so she ends up getting mauled rather than him. After all, she just needs repairs...
Robert Speedwagon     Betwen sledgehammer, knife, and mighty blows with the fists.... victory against the Shadow! Not without a cost, though -- getting sprayed with foul-smelling gunk! Speedwagon raises a hand to shield his face, while Tattoo shrieks and leaps back. Kempo gives a disgusted sound. However... the bigger threat looms.

    Literally.

    "Cor blimey!" Robert exclaims, tilting his head back to behold the abomination heading for them. He takes a step back, and Tattoo and Kempo break quickly to flee with the others. "Boss, hurry up!" Tattoo calls back. Speedwagon is the slowest of the three of them, so he's going to be bringing up the rear. Not by choice, no. But he IS fleeing as fast as he can.
Nagato     Nagato clings tightly to Rosamond, "I'm here, Rosamond. We're going to be safe up here." she looks down at the Beast, the Lioness... something... something is catching her eye but she can't place it. She listens to August and hmms, nodding. "Alright. Rosamond, we're going out of the forest for a moment. I promise to get you safe, I promised you there and I never... never break my promsies." she grins a bit and hmms. There's some conflicting info in her head...

    This isn't Hoshi, this is Rosamond. That lioness is curious... "Rosamond... I'm going down. Don't worry I'll be there between you and everything else."

    It's this point that she dives down and hovers over the LIoness, following the trail with her. "Hey August, who's the Lioness?"
August Kohler "She's the Beast they mentioned! Seems to be more of an ally than anyone else around here, she made this path." August replies on the way.
Hoshi Amakasu Given help by August and Kotone, the Lioness can move with greater speed; she groans and grunts as she tries to hustle towards Nagato and the 'Hoshi' that the battleship holds. At first, the girl screams in fear and tries to hide in Nagato's embrace, but as the beast comes close, a blue glow begins to overtake the both of them. Rosamond turns to face the Beast with wonder in her eyes, and reaches out to touch it's snout, and the Lioness gratefully nuzzles the hand. The sound of shattering glass fills the air around them as the frostfire blue glow grows strongly... and then it fades. In Nagato's arm, a wounded and bloodied Hoshi with a hole in her leg and battered kendo gear now waits.

    "Ngh... Naga...to?" She mumbles quietly. Her eyes open, and fall upon the massive beast approaching them. "No... you won't have us again. Clear a path, Rosamond!" Another crack of glass, and the huge woman in her wedding dress and green cloak appears above them all, pointing her sword towards the looming, massive threat. Instead of firing light, however, the blue fire wraps around her arms and shoulders, forming into massive Battleship-class cannons.

    BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM! The cannons fire with resounding cracks, causing the glass of the forest to shudder around them with the reports. From the abomination's face and eyes spew gouts of viscious blood and gore, temporarily halting it's advance... and then Hoshi groans and goes limp, pale and drawn from blood loss.
August Kohler As the lioness is reunited with Rosamond...the blue glow momentarily stops August, but as she returns to Hoshi, his eyes widen. He didn't expect that. His only expression is to sigh, and turn to continue help. "Come on! We're getting her out of here!" Hoshi herself has the beast...but she's starting to go limp, so as they approach the exit, he'll help Nagato get her there faster, and then split off to open the portal.

"Let's go." Is all August says, in a bit of a rushed tone. He'll close it behind them once they're out.
Robert Speedwagon     Even while running, Speedwagon watches this odd exchange, seeming confused. All he knows is Hoshi seems to finally recognize Nagato, and that's what he was hoping would happen. That's all he really knows. "Oh, thank God!" he exclaims. Though there IS still that monstrosity chasing them. Which is a problem in and of itself!

    Suddenly Hoshi is summoning... wait, wasn't that the same woman they saw before? The one with Hoshi's face but wasn't Hoshi? All that matters is that the three of them get out of the way of her attack. Speedwagon pauses just long enough to see the damage inflicted and observe, "HA! Now THERE'S mud in your eye, mate! That should slow 'im down--"

    He trails off as he notes Hoshi's sudden weakness. No more wasted words, she needs medical attention immediately!
Nagato     Nagato blinks... "It's ok, Rosamond. I'm here..." she clings to the maiden but with the blue glow catching her off guard... she pauses, blinks, and the fade into a wounded, bloodied girl.... "Y...yes, it's Nagato. I'm here. I'm here, Hoshi." a pause, "Well, Tana... but." she shakes her head, "I've got you..." the Cait Sith smiles, keeping her guarded, focused on flight and making sure she's safe. The rapport of battleship guns is very distinct.

    /REALLY/ distinct since they were her guns.

    "How... did you..." she shakes her head as Hoshi goes limp.. "I'm taking you to Hikari." she goes in silence, and follows August. She owes him a big favor later... but for now... she's got a girl to return back to home.. "Robert, follow me. I can't return her to her home like this, we're going to HIkari Seaport. I need your help."
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone Yamakawa watch for a moment as a sight unlike any she has ever beheld. She watches the Lioness vanish and fuse with the other Hoshi? Then comes the canons she sees the fire she now turns to her friends.

"We need to get her medical attention stat." With that Kotone os running with everyone else to get the hell out of here, she is happy though Hoshi is alive! She looks to the Admiral nodding.

"I'm with you on this Admiral. The sooner we're to the port's medical bay the better."
Robert Speedwagon     Speedwagon nods to Nagato's statement to him. "Right ya are! Lead the way, I'll follow as best as I can!" he offers. Alternate means of transit would be wonderful, but he'll just hoof it if he has to.
Hoshi Amakasu     THe bridegroom screams in impotent rage as the gang flees down the lit pathway, unable to see them even as it blindly strode forward to stop their escape. Whatever the golden village was, it appears long gone now; it's now a long, extended flight from the Forest to return to real life. The yowls and screams of Shadows dog their steps as they flee, but ultimately there is nothing that can stop them from escaping from the looking-glass, with August there to seal it behind them as they went.

    "I had the worst dream," Hoshi whispers softly to no one in particular, stuck between wakefulness and blood loss induced coma. "Ngh... at least... it's over now..." And with that, she sighs and relaxes in Tana's arms, once again free in the warm summer air of the real world and Alberichstadt.