Star - Wind Stone

[the_last]

[As soon as Star chomps on the fruit, she will experience sudden disorientation, as if suddenly unfamiliar with being inside her body, perhaps not even knowing why she is there or who she is. It lasts for but a moment and then slowly fades... She will suddenly find herself in a place that seems unusually quiet and mostly gray, as though the color were stolen but there remains just enough to suggest that things have been greatly subdued. Despite this, there is the faint echo of birdsong here and there are brighter splotches of greenery here and there, perhaps recent additions. There are also about three spots in the distance that seem to almost glow with gentle hues of color, soft and welcoming. Too bad, they seem much too far away to reach.

A hoof-trodden path, apparently well used, leads into an expansive forest of every tree imaginable and is edged by baby springs of fresh grass amid a dry, barren ground. Faded prints can be seen upon the ground in numerous areas. The sky is a confused mix of faded blues and grays, with one wispy cloud resting to the side.

A dark mist swirls erratically around the forest, almost as if it were agitated. If one were to gaze more carefully at it, they would see that parts of it seem less thick than others. In fact, one of those lighter areas might even be a tiny gap. That said, the feeling around the forest is very threatening, as if daring anyone in it to linger for long.

Amid all these other oddities, it may take Star a bit to notice that she's somewhat... shorter than she should be. . .]

Comments

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, this feels... very uncomfortable already. Still, with the way these things go, I should... probably head for the forest. Threatening feeling? That's probably where I should go!

...It's still strangely uncomfortable to be even shorter than usual, though.]

[the_last]

[As she does that, she'll notice it's becoming increasingly harder to remember why she's here. . .

Oh and she'll spot more swirls of Darkness popping up around her. These appear much more gentle than the ones from earlier.]

[mirroredvalue]

[Focusing on trying to keep the memory of why I'm here for the time being. I'm... probably going to lean against a tree while I try to sort myself out. I'm here to do... something. But what was it...]

[the_last]

[That tree is starting to look more like a familiar humungous mushroom. What's up with that?]

[mirroredvalue]

[You know, this is actually less weird to her than it would be to most people. Hallucinating all the time means you're used to this sort of thing. If it's not going to eat me or something, I'll just stick to using it for support while I think...

I'm here to... change? Change what? Myself? Probably myself. Now how long can I keep this thought before I forget it again...]

[the_last]

[That tree to Star's other side is other kind of strange, like the mixture between a lemon and an apple tree... maybe there's some oranges too.]

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, let's focus on that for the time being. Investigating the lemorapple tree! I mean, are the fruits really lemons, apples, and oranges, or some bizarre cross between all three?

But wait, no. Giving up on that after a while and continuing forward. We need to keep moving forward, because... because.]

[the_last]

[There's a voice. It sure doesn't sound like the Unicorn's, but it is sickeningly sweet, coaxing.]

"Your task... It will be exactly as promised. Just do as we said."

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, that... does not reassure me, but...]

And... what did you say to do?

[the_last]

[Eventually, the sound fades to ABSOLUTE SILENCE again. Even Star's footsteps make no sound as she moves deeper into the forest. It also is getting increasingly darker and more difficult to see.]

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, this is... Kind of weird in a lot of ways. Absolute silence, huh...? This is in a lot of ways a new experience, yet surprisingly familiar

Slowing down quite a bit, now that there's a need to be careful. Just... Taking things one step at a time, being careful to try and make sure her leg isn't going down a hole or something.]

[the_last]

[Well, as if that isn't unsettling enough, enjoy having those friendly swirls of Darkness start to wind around you, always gentle, always soothing. . . :)]

"Your task... yessss, your role."

[mirroredvalue]

[Yes this is actually kind of creepy. Then again, I remember Sakuya saying something about Personae being trapped in a role?]

Then... is this the unicorn's role?

[Well, it's not like I'm likely to get a response, so I'll... keep moving instead of waiting for an answer. Maybe the Darkness will go away if I keep moving!]

[the_last]

[NOPE! It's completely engulfing her!

It feels as though every feeling has been stripped from her. And there is a soft, unnerving laughter.]

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, that's... all kinds of completely different yet uncomfortably familiar. At least I don't have to worry about what feelings are mine when I don't have any at all, I guess?

But yes, finally stopping. Let's see if we can get this darkness off. There's a limit to this sort of thing I'll take without resisting.]

[the_last]

[And just like that, it disappears! And the trees are back as they were.]

[mirroredvalue]

[Well, that was... all kinds of worrisome. A hallucination?

...Possible, but unlikely. Pretty sure I've moved since the darkness started showing.

Okay then! Time to check on damage! First, let's pinch our arm to make sure we still have the senses of touch and pain. You know, the important senses.]

[ademoelord]

Why would you want to move at all?

[mirroredvalue]

Because we have to do something while we're here?

[...Wait.]

Pitch-shan?! What are you doing here?! Aren't we supposed to do this sort of thing alone?!

[ademoelord]

No we don't. I'm here because you're here, right? We should just wait here until someone comes to find us.

[mirroredvalue]

The Darkness was just here, though? Shouldn't we... do something about that?

[debossy]

[whether it was a hallucination or not, this guy appears as suddenly as one, stepping out from nearby--surely he must always have been there--and looking her over critically.]

What are you doing, injuring yourself deliberately? You are not dreaming, if that's what you're on about.

[mirroredvalue]

Star was just attacked by the Darkness. Seemed like it was sucking stuff out, wanted to make sure everything's still in one piece.

[debossy]

Wh--what?! How can you say so so casually?! What do you mean, sucking out . . . ?!

[he goes from stoic to concerned in like half a second, like flipping a switch.]

[mirroredvalue]

Well, that's what it felt like? Like something was being taken away. Seems like it's gone now, but. Wanted to make sure nothing too bad happened.