Chapter 4
Subaru continued to walk with the many parties that formed from the mass of people gathered to the area. Tsukasa was still nowhere to be found. She tended to worry when Tsukasa was not with her. "Why would Tsukasa request a meeting so peculiar and then not show up? This isn't like him. Not at all." She said almost as if to deliberately make everybody discuss this. Kite was concentrating on some more shocking news rather than Subaru's complaints.
"I don't think this will lessen anyone's worry, but I have some rather bad news." Kite pulled his head up, just enough to see everyone. "Elk has not even logged out yet. That is the first thing he would have done by now. Also, if Tsukasa were to show, he would be here by now. I do not believe that he is even coming. For some reason, he had us all com here. But why?. And one other thing.The last time Mia saw Elk it was when that error occured at the cathedral. She FMed me a short while ago." The group suddenly stopped simultaneously, and looked at Kite with somewhat a sign of disbelief, and a newly founded suspicion. This was all about Tsukasa, for whom they didn't blame. However, getting into the first floor of the dungeon was a challenge not most would want to accept.
D Server Zone: Sleeping Child's Fate
"You are going to set Cubia on them? You know he can't kill them." Tsukasa sighed and viewed the window, still watching the useless fighting of data bugs in the first few floors. "He has the bracelet. The bracelet and Cubia co-exist. It would be impossible for him or Cubia to die. Your plan will fail." A slight smirk rose to his sorrowful little face.
"I have no intention of killing the twinblade. I will kill him later, when fate decides it is time."
S Server Zone: Trapped Betrayed Nothingness
"This place is full of data bugs Kite! What other proof do you need to know that Tsukasa is a liar! I knew he couldn't be trusted!" Blackrose was angry, no, furious at the fact that Kite would even allow any leeway on what Tsukasa had done. He had deliberatly lied to them, just to amuse himself by having them come there. She couldn't forgive that, she could never forgive that. "I bet he is having a big laugh about this back at Root town."
"I cannot believe that, Blackrose. Because this could not be deliberate. He could not have wanted to do this. It just isn't like him." Bear was holding back an enraged Mimiru, who had found that her twin's accusation was more than just an insult. "Tsukasa would only lie to protect something. I think that, because Elk is still nowhere to be found, meaning that something is up if he told us to come here."
"Tsukasa is always self-aware. If he cannot get out of a situation by telling the truth," Subaru thought to herself, thinking of a way to express her idea. "He hides."
"subaru's right. Tsukasa will do anything possible to protect himself or somebody else. Since Tsukasa mentioned Morganna, it is possible that she was the cause of all this. Perhaps she coerced young Tsukasa to bring us here in hopes of capturing us." BT nodded and folded her arms, leaning against the wall of the dark dungeon. Blackrose's fury subsided slowly as the discussion was starting to resolve.
"If Elk is in danger, Tsukasa will do anything in his power to get him away from it. Even if that means to sacrifice his other friends, right?" Kite began to say, leading the split parties down the stairs onto the seventh floor. Most of the party was in silence, taking in the realization of this matter. This dungeon seemed to go on forever, and the everyone was beginning to wonder if this area even had an end to it. Some were thinking of gating out and forgetting the whole thing. But because they were all stubborn, the were curious and would stop at nothing to 'finish the event.'
D Server Zone: Sleeping Child's Fate
Tsukasa sat in the depths of Morganna's domain, ever lonely because of Elk's sedation. If he was put under anymore pressure, he wouldn't last. "A twelve floor dungeon. Is that really the best you have? This is not like you at all." This was how he masked his disloyalty. He would pretend to be interested and make like he knew better ways to dispose of them, in order for Morganna not to see through him.
"Well well, Tsukasa. Do not worry, there is much more in store for your friends. That dungeon and my lovely Cubia should be the least of their worries. It is themselves and each of their own pasts that they should worry about." As the frighteningly calm voice spoke, Elk begun to stir again, shifting his head so that his face met his forlorne friend beside him, who looked more and more like he was about to go and give up.
"Tsukasa. Help me. Please, help me. I am scared, Tsukasa." A tear streamed down the side of his cheek and hit his ear before falling onto the bed. "I want Mia. Please, please find Mia. I don't want to be alone, please find help."
"Elk, please, do not cry. I'm trying. I just don't know." Elk's hand began to move when the vine grips tightened. Tsukasa was tired of waiting and was increasingly getting angrier at their captor. He stood to his feet, throwing his staff to the floor and started tearing at the vines as much as possible, knowing it was futile. His hands bled as he ripped his way to get Elk, but he could care less anymore. His only concern was Elk. It was all for Elk. The lying, the false hope that rose from his lips. It was all so that he would hold on, just a little longer. "Stop this! Let him go!" Tsukasa yelled in rage, causing the vines to retract and coil at him, spiraling up his arms.
"Tsukasa. You should rest now. This stress is not good for you." The vines constricted around his neck and squeezed, until he collapsed, nearly lifeless. Unconscious.
S Server Zone: Trapped Betrayed Nothingness
The squadron of players sat down in the next floor down, the first room off the stairs. They decided to rest for a bit and recover. Eleven floors had so far been conquered and they were running out of supplies. BT, leaning against a wall, her staff lying limply on her legs, looked to her most trusted comrade. Bear. Crim and Subaru sat close, but away from everyone else. Mimiru and Blackrose were identically positioned in a corner, and Wiseman sat by the stairs, looking their similarities over. Spare supplies were being passed out, the constant clattering of gift and trade-button indicators echoing throughout.
D Server Zone: Sleeping Child's Fate
Tsukasa's eyes opened, about sometime later. "Have you rested enough, Tsukasa? Are you ready to quit trying to stop me? Can you not just accept it?."
"Not really. Why? Because I hate this situation."
"That aside, Cubia should be ready soon. You should return your view to the window I brewed up. My plan is, yet again, in action." Tsukasa stared at Elk, it wasn't right. It was never right. Elk shouldn't have had to suffer with this. He shouldn't have tried to free him like that. Elk was out like a light again, the restraints still extremely tight.
S Server Zone: Trapped Betrayed Nothingness
Purple mist rose from the door leading to the final room. The allied force stared into it with anticipation and terror. Crim made note of going on by blindly swinging his spear at the mist. Most turned to Kite when he told them of his knowledge. He was determined to find out what enemy was behind this phantom door. "It's the sign that means something in the next room will give us our answer about why we are here." He said this, answering any questions that might have been lingering in the air. He sighed, looked around and then turned to face everyone behind. "All right. Now, this is for anyone who does not wish to continue. I have the stock of everybody's Sprite Ocarina's. For those who wish to leave, please tell me so." Nobody spoke up, and he smiled. He then bolted around and through the fog-covered door.
wvw
A girl hovered dully, in the middle of the room. It was as if she had belonged in this chamber, imprisoned. Her purple and white dress, along wtih a clasp, accented her, as if to tell who she was before all of them. It was the same as the descriptions given all over the BBS. "You!" Said BlackRose, her face looking up at her with awe.
"Who...is that?" Subaru noticed the figure, advancing towards her, examining the face a little closer. "Is that the girl from that place long ago? Aura?" She stood with Crim, who nodded his head, sure that it was.
"Please, you must leave here immediatly." Said the shining girl. Her pale face and her melancholic expression brought the mood of the room even lower.
"Why Aura? What is here that we must run from?"
"I cannot say, but it will be like an experience once passed. I will bring them back. I promise." Aura's body faded off as the familiar branches of purple broke through the walls and up from the floor, pulling up the massive core that revealed the ever-frightful Cubia, the Hidden one.
"That thing is still alive!?" BlackRose yelled in shock. "why... Why won't it ever die!?" But before any moves could be made, Cubia activated an unknown attack, and absorbed everybody into its body.