3rd moon [accidental voice]

[puppet_paladin]

...Why...

Does it matter? This world is unworthy of us. It has no crystals. It is below the notice of Baron's order.

Not again... How could I...

How could you? How could you not! This world has stolen us from our home! It has taken us from our vengeance!

Then again, those beasts might be helpful in retaking the crystals once we return to Baron. It is

Comments

[Voice]

[thisdesertrose]

Cecil? Cecil! What's wrong? Where are you?

[OOC: Eventual action since he's still in town?]

[Voice]

[puppet_paladin]

What's wrong is that I am unable to return to Baron and finish my mission. Certainly that is easy enough to understand?

Firion, run. Stay away from the City. If you come close, you'll die like the rest of them. So please, get away from here.

Or stay. Wouldn't a quick, painless death at my hand be kinder than waiting for the end of this world?

((Sure!))

[Voice]

[thisdesertrose]

I know we cannot return just yet but you will be able to soon, I-

No, I will not run! [He's opening the door from his room to go look for Cecil now.] Cecil, where are you?!

[Voice]

[puppet_paladin]

Near the Pokémart. Why don't you come over? We see each other so little these days.

Oh, but do mind the corpse. Some of them might not be quite dead yet.

[Voice --> Action]

[thisdesertrose]

What?

[He's outside and... doesn't see any corpse. Eventually, he makes it to the PokeMart and finds Cecil. It was a drastic change from the man he saw earlier but he wasn't sure what to do. Was this what had changed him before?]

Cecil?

[Action]

[puppet_paladin]

[Cecil is currently curled up on the ground, but he stands when he sees Firion.]

Firion? Why are you here!? If you stay, they'll-

[And then everything changes: his body language, his tone of voice, his expression...]

Now, don't listen to him. Why would we hurt you? Your help might be quite useful in achieving our goals. Besides, you have never betrayed us, have you?

[And once more...]

Have you?

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

Because you are worrying me, Cecil, I-

[He took an involuntary step back when Cecil's entire demeanor changes. He can't exactly tell if it was for the worse but it wasn't exactly for the better either.]

N-No, I have not.

[Action]

[puppet_paladin]

Of course you have not. You're not like Kain or Ceodore after all. I'm sure you'll see the reasons behind our duty.

Even shells such as you could prove useful, in this land.

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

Cecil, what are you talking about? What duty?

[Wait, "shells"?]

What do you mean by "shell"?

[Action]

[puppet_paladin]

Bringing Baron's order and justice to the world, and in doing so retaking the crystals our land was given. That was her request, and it became my duty.

[He looks like he wants to say more, but...]

We attacked our own friends! We helped bring our world to the edge of destrutions! That is not the face of justice!

[His look of anguish is replaced by something dark and cold.]

What is there to misunderstand? A person's true self is lessened by the shell that contains it, and the light that is imposed on it. Only I, who have been freed from the body that caged me, am truly myself.

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[He couldn't help but step forward now.]

This is not your true self! The light is a part of you, it does not cage you.

[He is starting to get the idea that Cecil is not in complete control. But that led to the questions of: Who was?]

Who are you?

[Action]

[puppet_paladin]

...Not our true self? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Have you ever heard someone speak in three voices at the same time? Because Cecil is somehow doing it now.]

We are Cecil! We are the sides of us we always keep hidden!

We are the side that hated and hated even as we pretended to forgive!

We are the side that was weak enough to be taken by the darkness!

We are the side that regretted killing but still obeyed orders, even when we knew they were wrong!

For years we were suppressed, repressed. But now we are free once more!

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[No, he hasn't and it's damn creepy.]

No! Cecil, you are stronger than this, I know you are!

[This couldn't be just the darkness, could it? Cecil knew how to control both darkness and light! He remembered! But this was anything but control.]

Darkness is a part of everyone. But I remember, you said it yourself, you can make darkness into hallowed light. How could someone like that have so much hatred? So much anger?

Please, Cecil!

[Action] (1/3)

[puppet_paladin]

How? How?

Would you like to hear a story, Firion? Let's see. Once upon a time, a boy named Theodor lived with his father Kluya and his mother Cecilia in a little village. The family was very happy, for they loved each other and were expecting another child. But tragedy struck. A mob of inferior humans murdered Kluya out of fear of his magic, and the shock of it killed Cecilia in childbirth. What did Theodor do with the newborn child, you ask? Did he take care of him, as any brother should have? No! He took the baby and left him in the forest to die!

[Action] (2/3)

[puppet_paladin]

How about this one? Once upon a time, there were two good friends who loved the same. One of the two she loved back, and they were happy together. But their friend was angered by that, and he allied with a monster in hopes of taking the woman for himself. He failed, and returned to the light. But did he try to rekindle the friendship he had with the couple? No! He ran away! He left for seventeen years, never contacting his friends, letting them believe he might have died! And when he came back, did everyone tell him off for that? No! They took his side. Even the woman, and even her son! They both chose him, instead of helping us!

[Action] (3/3)

[puppet_paladin]

A last one, perhaps? Once upon a time, there was a knight who loved his king like a father. He was willing to do anything for him. But the knight realized that he was doing wrong after attacking a peaceful village, and so he confronted his liege. And because of that, he was thrown away! He was tricked into burning down a whole valley! But the knight decided to repair his mistake. He worked hard at it, and eventually he managed to do so. But then she came! She took over his mind, ripped his self in two, and used him to destroy his world! And when she couldn't use him anymore, she left behind nothing but a shell! A shell who could only depend on others, who couldn't fight his own battles!

Is that man not right to hate the world? Is that man not right to hate himself?