The Labyrinth of the New Moon

[bravenewmods]

Most of Union was familiar now with the second world that had so abruptly inserted itself into their lives. They called it the Dream World: a place where fiction became more real than reality and where the imagination knew no bounds. If it weren't quite so intrusive, some might even find it an amusing place to visit - there were secrets to be uncovered here, surely, where the mental barriers of friends and enemies were relaxed, and powers to be taken advantage of. Who wouldn't want to host a pool party every night?

For a week, the people of Union continue to pop in and out of the Dream World until most have grown tired of the seemingly random nature of the disappearances. Low mutterings and disgruntled complaints begin to spread throughout the city, but it seems as if no one truly knows how to stop it. Giant fans to disperse the fog are suggested facetiously once, and a number of Fan Rotoms are seen working hard the next day... But such efforts amount to nothing.

On the night of the seventh day, something changes.

Those who pop into the Dream World tonight will realize immediately - the landscape has changed. Dream mists still swirl and eddy at random intervals, but the Neutral Spaces have grown dark and shadowed. There's no ominous feeling of danger, but rather... alertness. The sense that something unusual is about to happen.

Up in the sky, a shadowed moon gleams with a faint luster. A new moon. ...This is impossible, of course, but then, many things are impossible in this world. And no matter where you head, it seems as if each step takes you closer to that black moon, a gaping maw in the twilit sky... Step forward, retreat backwards, close your eyes and flee. It matters not. One more step and it has devoured you whole.

There is the sensation of falling, of spinning, of coming to an abrupt halt without feeling an impact. But when you open your eyes, you are not alone. Two or three others you may recognize are with you, and a long corridor stretches out before your group with doors dotting each side as far as the eye can see.

Welcome to the Labyrinth of the New Moon.

[OOC: All plot logs for people in the Dream World will occur here. Please make the first post with all the names of the people in your group in the subject line so people know where to post. Mod responses will come about once every 24 hours as long as at least one person has posted.

The group listings are here. We will not be running randomizers anymore, but you may still sign up with a full group of at least three if you can find one and tag in. Keep in mind though that the log may not be finished depending on when it is posted. You may also hop in an existing group as long as all existing group members give permission and the group is not full.]

Comments

[realmenknitplushies]

[Screw your masks. Seriously. Kanji likes his marks.

Right. Sticking with what he's already doing, mostly, which involves a lot of Thunder Punching if anything comes too close.

Shouting over his shoulder-]

I don't know what's goin' on! But I don't want t' fight ya! Just let 'em go! Ma - if you're in there somewhere, if this is a dream of yours - listen to me!

[bravenewmods]

[Fire and lightning seems to be effective against these things, although not as overly so as Feliks and Kanji might like. They're managing to clear waves with relative ease, but where some fall, even more appear.

As both blonds get close to their prospective Yamasked, they'll notice something, albeit subtle. There's something off about their appearance--maybe the hair isn't quite the right color, or some kind of feature is totally wrong--but it becomes painfully apparent.

These aren't them. They're imposters.

As if realizing that their ruse has been uncovered, they quickly reel back further, energy surging more. The mob leaps into action, surrounding them on all sides, but incredibly careful not to hurt the three. Were they controlling the mob?]

[kickboards]

[--Bingo.

Rei wasn't much of a fighter. If anything, he was an observer. While he wasn't on the front lines like the other two, and his only pokemon that might have an affect here was still far too low a level for him to feel comfortable bringing out in this chaos, he was still trying to find some way that he could help.

The quick withdrawal of the trio and the subsequent actions of the rest of the mob weren't lost on him.

--Indeed. It was like a game of chess, and they had fallen for the bait.]



Everyone, we've been doing it wrong! [He called, trying (and likely failing) to keep the panic out of his voice.] We've gotta get them-- not for why you're thinking!

[realmenknitplushies]

The hell?

[And there. As he gets close enough, gets a better chance to look, it's the little things that start to go together. Hair's too light. A bit too small.]

They really - dammit! Lady, you ain't got the right to look like that!

[Switching from defense to attack, to try and get close and get his hands on the impostors...]

[niepokonany]

[It strikes him then -- the feathers don't stretch far enough down his back. He's too tall, just a little too lanky, though it was hard to see it from further away.]

[So what are these three?]

[Feliks grits his teeth, the gods-awful smell starting to get to him now that he realizes it's not Fai, that there's no reason for worry for him to override everything else.]

Oh, my gods! Quit messing around with us!

[He lunges for the Fai Yamasked, grabbing directly for the mask and trying to set it on fire, with Emilia providing as much cover for the three humans as she can manage.]

[bravenewmods]

[Usually ghosts aren't as susceptible to fire or electric attacks, but the imposter Yamasked don't seem to be nearly as hardy as the greater collective. Fai-Yamasked goes down with very little fight, and while Ma-Yamasked and Yuuna-Yamasked, seeing this, try to escape, they're downed in one fell lightning attack.

The mob stops, and the sound of a mask clacking to the ground echos. Then another, then a torrent of sound as each one drops, the bodies disappearing completely.

The imposters' bodies disappear as well, save but one; Yuuna-Yamasked.]

I see not all humans are as simple-minded as they seem.

[Its body distorts, the mask's eyes opening slowly to reveal glowing blue slits.]

[kickboards]

Of course we're not,

[Rei said, stepping forward to face the thing that was masquerading as his mentor and friend. If his voice wavered, it was because he was wholly unused to any kind of fighting-- but, this?

It wasn't unlike when he faced the nightmarish apparitions before. He didn't need to be able to fight to have courage.]

We need a push to understand things sometimes, but no one is as simple as they seem.

[He took a breath, digging deep within himself to find his stability.]

What do you want from us?

[niepokonany]

[Feliks looks at Rei in a bit of a new light -- he knew he was smart and stuff, but it's a little surprising to see him being so brave! He's a little impressed, honestly. Just a little, you know?]

[He turns to fully face the strange, distorted being, struggling a little to stay calm even as Emilia brushes up against his leg, growling quietly at the Other Pokemon threatening her human. Rei seems to have said all that needs to be said, so he waits, flames still flickering near his fingertips like they're waiting to be called on.]

[realmenknitplushies]

[Kanji's feeling a bit sick at the sight, as his pulse stops racing, but he's not letting as much on.

Damn, when he gets home, he's giving Ma a present.

Still, for now, he's glaring at the last of the imposters, arms folded. He doesn't have the patience for this crap any more.]