in my long forgotten cloistered sleep [DREAM LOG]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ The world is asleep -- the night hangs high with their stars glittering and decorating the deep blue velvet sky. Usagi is out at the edge of the Verdant Forest and the Rolling Plains, laying on the ground with Pinky the Clefairy laying next to her. In the tree next to them preening her feathers, is Lucky the Talonflame while Turnip the Gloom is napping underneath the same tree that Lucky has taken over.

Luna the Meowstic is curled up on her chest and Kira the Carbink seems to have taken upon itself to be the camp watch -- ready to transform stop any wild predators from getting the drop on their little group!

But, Usagi's attentions are purely focused on the sky above and the giant crescent moon that's lighting the world below with its silvery light. ]

Man, you can't get this kind of view in the city, huh?

[ It's a question that's partially directed to Pinky, who coos a Fairy! in response, but, really, it's to anyone else that wants to answer. ]



[ This was the destined day! That cake shop that Usagi had seen during her shopping trips had finally opened its doors! Of course, she had been one of the first customers waiting in the long line, having heard that this store's pastries and sweets were to die for and now that she was finally inside, Pinky sitting on the chair across from her at their designated table, she couldn't wait until their treats were brought over!

A few moments pass, and a waiter (and a cute one at that) finally brings an array of cakes for Usagi, as well as a few poke puffs for the Clefairy before sliding away. ]

It looks so good! Come on, Pinky! Let's dig in!

[ Usagi's first choice just so happens to be this delicious looking Strawberry Shortcake, and forking off a piece, quickly shoves it into her mouth to taste the deliciousness!

... except what she tastes isn't a sponge cake or whipped cream or strawberries. No. What she tastes is the distinct flavor of carrots. ]

EW!

[ Odd. Usagi then tries her other cakes, only to find they all taste like carrots. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing... if she didn't hate carrots. So, there's really only one thing that Usagi can do in this situation, as Pinky just chews happily away on her own food. ]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!



[ It's something that Usagi's never had before when her dreams usually consist of bright colorful worlds or the usual first world problem dreams like all the food that she consumes tasting like carrots. How disgusting.

Darkness. Complete and utter black.

The only thing bright in this world is her. ]

Hello?! [ Her voice echoes through the nothingness, and unlike before when she was in the Dream World, while filled with ghost pokemon and had some sort of life energy.. this place is empty and soundless. Panic sets quickly inside of Usagi as she starts to run through this lifeless world.. hoping that she finds something... something.. anything to help her out.

But then, there's something off in the distance and instead of running aimlessly, her new goal was to see what that lonely bright object is. She notices that it's a mirror floating amidst the dark and hesitates to look into it... She does though -- and what reflects is someone that is her, but isn't. A little taller. A little older. Silver hair, but most peculiarly a golden upturned crescent mark in the middle of her forehead. ]

Woah! Is that me? No way!

[ Usagi does a few poses in the mirror, because wow the maybe her in the mirror definitely had a better figure than her (but that's just what happens when you get older right? You fill out in the places that matter?), and then leans forward to inspect the thing in the middle of her forehead. Right as she's about to touch it, she notices the reflection of a Small-sized Pumpkaboo staring straight at her.

She doesn't have enough time to react because as soon as she turns to try and face the pokemon, there's a sudden flash and the world ripples -- changes around her. Soon, it's not the black silence she had been racing through. It's a town that, by the looks of it, has been recently decimated. There are still some buildings that are smoldering from fire. Others have been razed to the ground but that's not what frightens her the most. What she sees are pokemon and humans alike, laying unmoving and unbreathing on the ground. There's no doubt about what she's seeing...

They were dead.

Usagi's mouth opens to start screaming, trying to back away from what she's seeing and feeling when she bumps back into a wall with a mostly standing glass window. There was that reflection again -- that person that was her but wasn't.. except when she looks down, she lifts up on of her long tails to watch as the pale silver strands fall between her fingers. Her hand pulls away from her hair as if it's burning her hand, and steps back until she's in the middle of what was supposed to be the main road through this small town. What was going on? Who was she? Was she alone? Why was she here? ]

W-why... I don't... I don't want this... I don't want this at all!

[ ooc: herp derp I should have mentioned this before, but dream III is meant for anyone who has history dating before the savior, so, feel free to have your characters (or past versions of them) go who the eff is this chick crying in the middle of a razed town. Other wise, dream I and dream II are ripe for the hilarious and friendly picking!

also content warning with dream III: violence and death of both human and pokemon alike. ]

Comments

3, of course

[child_of_luv]

[Hey, Usagi... those dark shapeless things that were coming towards you? They didn't look friendly. And they were getting closer... fast.

Only...

Usagi wasn't as alone as she thought she was.]

Iron Tail!

[A whiplike band of energy swept across the area, taking out the closest ones. Another girl, Usagi's dream age, lands in front of Usagi, blocking the approach of the shadows.]

We need to get through them!

[When the girl looked back over her shoulder, she looked like Minako...]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ No, she hadn't noticed those shapeless things gunning for her. In fact, she's too in her shock and fear of her current predicament that Usagi doesn't even notice that there's one other human soul near her until she sees the back of someone that looks all too familiar. ]

Minako..? What....

[ It hasn't really quite hit her that she's really in a dangerous position because why would she be dreaming about her friend fighting as if this were just second nature? ]

Get through what? I don't understand what's going on....

[child_of_luv]

We have to get to the Tower! It's our best chance against them!

[Minako pointed ahead of them, through the horde, towards a large tower in the distance. It resembled an ancient tower Usagi might recognize from the time of the Savior.]

Come on!

[She reached her hand back to take Usagi's.]

[inthenameofthemoon]

Them? [ When Usagi's eyes behold the tower, they become as wide as saucers. That was... No! That was something she had only seen in passing -- in books when her class had forced them to study and go on field trips to the shrine of the savior.

And they were heading to it? That couldn't be...

But, as if she were compelled by a force outside of her own consciousness, Usagi just reaches out for that hand and grasps it tightly as if her own life depended on it. ]

2.

[ladyofluminosity]

[Usagi, having a dream about cake? Perish the thought! It would appear, however, that Lux, upon entering her dream, had been cast as one of the wait staff. Or at least she assumed, given her new attire. Walking up to Usagi's table, she tilts her head slightly, smiling. Maybe she wouldn't recognize her.]

Is something wrong, miss?

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ Lux would be greeted with the water fall of tears that are streaming down Usagi's face as she looks up from her partially eaten cakes. It doesn't seem like she recognizes the lady at first, but maybe it's because she's too busy blubbering about the lack of sweet and the abundance of carrot flavors. ]

My cake.... they taste like carrots....

[ladyofluminosity]

[Usagi, you are such a simple soul.]

Really? Let me try.

[Is that your cake, Usagi? Lux isn't going to steal it, but she is going to grab another fork and take a bite. She blinks a few times in surprise.]

You're right, it does. How bizarre.

3

[actsmagnificent]

So that's it.

[ Haruka can't even sound surprised at this point: she's been through Rei's dream, she's noticed the way they all react to Usagi in the present day. She's still not about to get down on bended knee or anything (who would?) but she can't deny there's a connection any more.

So mostly she sounds solemn. And tired. And maybe just a little bit sad, like she's been through hell for nothing. ]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ There's the sound of timber crumbling from being ablaze for too long. It startles her, but not as much as hearing a familiar voice through the still sounds of death and destruction around her.

So, she turns her head to where the sound came from, and those blue eyes of hers, teary with the pain and suffering she can feel in this unsettling scene, widen in recognition before slowly turning her body to face Haruka.

Had she heard right? "That's it"? What was it? What did she not know? ... and why did Haruka look so unhappy? ]

Haruka?

[ Just saying the woman's name harbors all the different questions going through her mind. But, she can't even begin to figure out where to start. ]

[actsmagnificent]

Don't look away.

[ That's right. She can't afford to be ruled by her emotions - particularly when they're so pointless. Upset this girl was a warrior? But there's nothing that can change that! So Haruka will kill her own compassion, with her own hands.

For Usagi's sake. There's a bigger picture here. Knowing that gives Haruka strength. She's fine now. ] This is reality. What has been, and what could be.

[faithfulflame]

[Usagi is not as alone as she might think she is. And after the display of friendship and solidarity, and all that’s transpired between them, she’ll never be alone again. Stepping out of a nearby ruin is a woman, as similar to Rei as this past self is to Usagi. She’s not much taller and there’s a hawkish severity about her that could almost be the priestess, but not quite, and her long dark hair is bound up into a neat braid that trails down over a quiver bristling with arrows. She’s dressed all in red leathers, armored and padded in various places, but no less elegant than the modern incarnation. She too bears a mark on her forehead, a circle with an arrow, a sigil who’s significance is lost to time. A Murkrow caws and lights on her shoulder, and her shadow twists and writhes like something alive, a pair of eyes peering out at Usagi. A hand reaches down to a long knife on her belt, almost a sword, holding the hilt in a casual gesture of control, a tick to steady her breathing.

And then the obvious warrior takes a step closer to her friend. Her leader. And her eyes, at least, seem to shift…back to a soft violet. The closer she gets, the more Rei-like those eyes become, until she’s standing beside her friend and they’re back to their usual…calm and gentle.]

Usagi-chan…

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ Usagi can't seem to stop the tears that are falling down her cheeks the longer she stares at this broken and destroyed town.

She's frightened. She's confused. She knows this scene even though she's never been here before. She's her but not her and she's afraid that if she's here for any longer then she might not be the person she had been walking into this dream. Maybe if she shut her eyes and tried willing herself to wake up, that would work. ]

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

[ Blue eyes are clenched tightly, just as her hands are clutched tightly around the staff that's in her -- wait. Usagi's eyes open as she looks down at the pearl white staff in her possession. Where did this come from? Had she been holding it this whole time?

But, she can feel the material in her gloved hands. It's pearl white with wings that cradle a crowned heart like an item of nobility would have in the fairy tale books that her Mama used to read her to bed. It's warm and worn but she knows it -- it's a part of this other her that her brain has come up with, because she still hasn't accepted that this is anything but a product of her imagination. She's felt this before though -- this feeling of dejavu and it's hard not to believe that this was something real.

Her examination of the staff is interrupted, however, once a flash of red makes its way into the corner of her eye and she turns her watery gaze to where Rei, but not Rei, is. She looks familiar. She is familiar. She's known her for years and she can feel it in the deepest parts of her soul that there was a bond that could not be broken. She might look different, hold herself like someone who's done more battles than anyone ever should, but Usagi knows.. ]

.... Rei... chan?

[ Suddenly, that fear of this world becomes all encompassing, and it forces her feet to start moving quickly towards the fire priestess with such speed that she never knew she really had. Usagi needed someone. She needed someone to help her focus so she wouldn't be as scared. She runs because once she can cling to someone, maybe this nightmare won't be so bad. ]

Rei-chan!

[faithfulflame]

[It's never been more apparent to her that she and Usagi share a bond that right here and right now. The destined link explodes through her like wildfire as Usagi hugs her, and Rei wraps her arms around the silver haired frame. There's nothing about this that feels out of place, and it's more than deja vu. It's destiny, it's fate, and it's the will of the cosmos that this happen.

Just as habits she never knew she had...habits she never had...return and she strokes Usagi's long hair with her hand while she holds her. As she does so, Rei's shadow coalesces around them, forming a protective barrier of shadows that seems to refract the light passing through it to give them a moment of peace. Sabaeus knows there may be danger, and he's not letting either of his charges be easy targets.]

It's me, Usagi-chan.

[She doesn't pull away, instead continuing the motion she knows...somehow...will comfort her best friend. It's an odd feeling, but she doesn't think anything of it after a moment, just going on and on. Maybe it's childish for a grown woman to do this, or a grown woman to need it...but that's always been Usagi. She may be a leader, or have been one...but she was a friend first. One of the few people Rei knew, deep down, she'd lay her life down to protect. Someone who, like her, was born noble...but set a shining example.]

I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.

1.

[hige_san]

No. No you can't.

[Those were the only words that Harima could manage though the deafening uptick in the rhythm of his own heartbeat when he realized just who he was in this dream with.

He couldn't move. He couldn't take a step forward.

He didn't want to disturb his cute little Usagi.]

We're just going to pretend I didn't royally fubar just now.

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ It's unfortunate, however, that Lucky's noticed Harima's entrance into this world of dreams. She straightens up from finishing her preening and glances over in the direction she had heard the voice.

Kira's noticed that Lucky's body language has changed and is immediately on the hunt for whatever it is that the fire bird has noticed. Where were they? Who was here to disturb their camping trip?!

It's then that the Carbink spots Harima through a stroke of luck and the wind blowing through the trees enough to let some moonlight shine down. ]

BINK!

[ The sound of her Carbink calls Usagi's attention, and she immediately sits up to look in the direction it's coming from. ]

What's going on?

oh lol!

[hige_san]

[Harima suddenly gasped in a breath-- she noticed him!

--Ah, crap, she noticed him!

Quickly looking around for a place to hide, Harima did the first thing that came to mind and dove into the bushes nearby.

Nope. There was nothing to see here.]

3.

[worldmother]

[Silence, save for the sound of blood rushing in her ears. Elly was frozen there, startled by what she saw. Her legs felt weak, her stomach and head spinning. No. This was wrong. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. What was this? This wasn't a dream, was it? It felt real--too real--and the force of it made her physically ill.

Hearing a woman's scream, Elly immediately stood up straight, holding a hand over her mouth as she forced her stomach back where it belonged. With a deep breath to seal the deal, she broke into a run toward the scream.]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ The destruction around her might have been the loudest thing Usagi could hear, but, soon there's a sound that foreign to the town. Those were footsteps headed in her direction. The displaced moon rabbit looks around, maybe hoping for some place that would be a good place to hide, but, anywhere around her still leaves her open and she doesn't have time to go running before she's spotted.

So, with a strength she didn't even realize she had, Usagi just holds out her pearl white staff with the precious heart crown in front of her in a defensive position, all the while trying not to let her legs shake with fear too much, and calls out to whoever, or whatever, it is that's heading in her direction. ]

Who's there?!

[worldmother]

[Slowly down to a light jog, and then to a walk, Elly kept her wits about her. There was no telling what might jump out, and from where. However, as she came closer, she noticed the other young woman. Even without her previous training, she could see the fear--Elly felt it too, to be fair.

It wouldn't do to keep hiding in the shadows so, hands up, Elly stepped out from behind a pillar.]

It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you.

[Maybe a little patronizing, but she wasn't sure what else to say in this instance. Her eyes focused on the staff, then back to the bunned woman. If she had to, she could probably dive out of the way of an attack. Elly hoped she wouldn't need to.]

3

[incousinswithyou]

[and here's Michiru, carefully picking her way across and making her way towards Usagi. It's almost callous, the way she spares the bodies only the briefest of glances. But then again, she's seen this scene - or variations thereof - too many times before.]

So what will you do about it?

[her face is carefully blank, though the deathgrip she has on this odd hand mirror is telling. She's barely aware she even has it, however.]

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ Michiru's voice immediately grabs her attention and soon she's watching the graceful woman who seems to calm for words. It's a small comfort to see someone she knew... but it's a fleeting comfort because she's still scared and she's still so confused. ]

I don't know what I'm supposed to do!

[ she's not like the others who have had these dreams for years. she's just been regular usagi who just wanted to go on adventures with her friends and pokemon and enjoy the world for what it was. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[her usual friendliness and smile seem to have disappeared. If anything, she has stopped a couple of feet away from Usagi and seems to be examining the girl. Their leader, her mind automatically corrects.]

Will you sit here and cry, then?

3

[allergictoloveletters]

[A woman who is slightly older than Ami actually is walks out of the remnants of a destroyed building, covered in blood of those she tried so helpless to help, only to have them die in her arms. Medical knowledge was useless in the face of such desolation. She hears the scream, but the young woman who looks at Ami isn't quite the Ami Usagi knows, though she looks so very similar. In her arms is a lyre, a harp of shining gold and behind her, a Luxray, battered and bruise, seems to just glare at Usagi. Around her waist are bottles and a small dagger. Gloved hands move the goggles away from her eyes, and wipes the soot from her cheek. She's much more solemn, much more bold. The shy, introverted girl that Usagi knows is more forward.

She knows this girl, this woman. It takes her a moment but she merely gazes at Usagi in silence, analyzing everything about her, everything that is so pristine, a shining light in the darkness.

She was brought here by Usagi, she knows this much. She stops when she's in front of her and takes a deep breath as she sees those eyes, deep blue and almost utterly destroyed from the sorrow. The harshness of this woman softens and she bites her lip and presses her knuckles to her mouth before crouching down in front of Usagi.]

Usagi-chan.

[inthenameofthemoon]

[ Everything about this place just seemed so wrong and terrible and every time Usagi tried blinking through the veil of her tears, she hoped that maybe she'd wake up back in her bed with her Pinky and all her other pokemon still sleeping around her. And everytime her eyes show that she's still in that broken landscape, it just makes her even more sad.

When she hears the sound of footsteps heading towards her, Usagi quickly shifts her gaze to see who it is, and her eyes widen at the familiar, but at the same time unfamiliar, form of Ami. At first, she's not even suure if this might just be an illusion that her dream might just be trying to pull, but, it's when she gets closer and closer, and Usagi can really feel that presence of her intelligent friend that she allows herself more than just fear and confusion and despair. ]

Ami-chan...? [ Her voice, while filled with sadness, also holds a small bit of relief because this dream could have given her something she'd have to fight. Instead, it gives her a familiar face, a friend in a time that she needed it the most. And without even thinking, Usagi moves to clear what little space is between the two of them to cling to Ami in the biggest hug she can possible muster up, all while her crying starts up all over again. ] Ami-chan!

[allergictoloveletters]

Usagi-chan! [Her arms wrapped around the other, holding her close, wanting to protect her with every ounce in her body. She could never let anything happen to Usagi. She didn't understand all of it, but everything within her knew that this was right, and that Usagi was to be protected at all costs. She stroked her cheek and just kept the other in her arms. She rubbed her back.]

Usagi-chan, this is not a place for you.

[Even if it was not a place for either of them. But it was. They weren't here just because they read the history books on the savior. Not when it was like this...]

I won't let you face it alone.