((Note on the post: Take 1 and Take 2 are two possible scenarios. Take 1 is canon, while Take 2 takes on a more humorous approach, breaking the fourth wall and such. Point is, Take 2 should be ignored.))
Her body chilled as they walked outside, the sweat that had formed inside the café evaporating as she left the crowded establishment. Zephyr hated crowds, and she was glad to be out in the open where she could stretch her wings without fear of hitting something.
The nobody took her to an isolated corner where he proceeded to pull out a crystal orb. Zephyr could not help the grin that overtook her as he performed his theatrics, tossing the crystal between his hands while he spoke of words filled with intrigue. As he offered the crystal to her, she took it with a look that almost said the suggestion was unnecessary, as her mind had already been made up. She did as he instructed, clearing her mind and filling it with a white mist, but the white mist reminded her of clouds, and clouds reminded her of home. Her head shook as she tried it again, dispelling the image of the Pivot Tower and replacing it with a white mist, but that eventually became the Starberry Forests.
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Take 1It took another few tries before Zephyr could successfully clear her mind and keep it focused on the white mist, at which point she opened her eyes and gazed into the magic crystal. Shapes began to form in the crystal; small, blurry shapes that had Zephyr pulling her goggles over her eyes so she could actually make out what she was trying to see.
“It’s a moon,” she said, excitement growing as she thought of home, but her voice took on an air of disappointment as she continued to describe it. “Grey, and blemished.” It seemed as though this wasn’t her moon at all. So upset was she that she nearly gave the crystal ball back to the nobody before a dark shape flew across the image. She peered closer into the crystal.
“It’s a shadow,” she murmured, not speaking to Jason directly, but more to herself. “I’ve seen a shadow like that before.”
She watched the scene unfold before her eyes as the shadow streaked across the sky, through a dark forest, and a spindly town complete with a green fountain. The shadow stopped upon what could only be described as…
“…a spiral hill…”
… before it came to rest on its peak, rearing itself up and unfolding huge black wings before it screeched to the sky.
“It’s a
night hyren,” Zephyr said, her eyes wide behind the goggle lenses. If her mind had been set before, now it had been reinforced with a thousand bricks. Wherever this place was, a night hyren was there as well.
The image dissipated, the white mist rolling back, but not before one last image appeared before Zephyr’s eyes.
“An
osatch?” Zephyr shook her head. “No, a pumpkin.” That was what they were called.
Once the crystal had returned to its white misty sheen, Zephyr handed the orb back to Jason, and after he had spoken his words, she took his hand, more confidence now than ever before.
“Take me there,” she said, her voice filled with the intensity of a sun at its zenith.
She watched as he created a portal that led into darkness, her hand going up and touching the weight on her shoulder that was Jispo, just for reassurance he was there. The nobody began to lead her towards the portal, but a thought caused her to hesitate. Amatsu had never shown. The Arderian looked behind her, seeking the district for the taller man, but was unable to find him. Perhaps he had never received the letter, or had better things to do. A feeling of disappointment was quelled as she thought of the night hyren, and followed the nobody towards the portal until Jispo took flight, forcing the pair to stop.
“Jispo!” Zephyr called to him, curious as to why he had become so skittish all of a sudden. The hinko halted in his path, hovering in the air as he chirped and cried off in the distance.
“Come,” she said, and Jispo doubled back, nestling in the crook of her arm that she had brought close to her body. Her wing folded in front of her to provide added protection and soothe the hinko’s nerves.
“Shh,” she shushed as he whined at her, her finger scratching beneath his chin.
“You know,” she said to the nobody as they stepped through the portal, “I don’t think we ever exchanged names.”
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Take 2It took another few tries before Zephyr could successfully clear her mind and keep it focused on the white mist, at which point she opened her eyes and gazed into the magic crystal. The white mist remained, and though Zephyr waited for something to happen, nothing did.
“I don’t see shit,” she said.
"Very well then... The place you have described is a place of terrors, though perhaps there is something special that is leading you there. It is known as Halloween Town. And that is the place we shall head to. Now then... Take my hand, and I will guide you there..." the nobody responded.
Zephyr’s face twisted into one of utter confusion. “Are you even listening to me?” she said. “I haven’t described anything!”
"Hold on tight..." he responded, creating a portal of darkness.
“Ugh, whatever,” Zephyr said, and walked through the portal.