digibutter.nerr

[Francine]

I ran through the forest, the flames failing to touch my hair or burn my skin. I hardly even felt the heat of the fire. When I sighted the first untouched town, Blumiere's magic started to wear off. I started to sweat from the oven that was once a forest.

As I reached the village's outskirts, a blinding streak of light came from the clearing where the fight was taken place. It seemed like lightning, but no more fire erupted from there. I wanted to go back to make sure Blumiere was safe, but the fire-proofing was almost gone by this time.

"Besides," I reassured myself, "he can handle Dimentio and lightning."

When I reached the town, it was already empty. From the disarray, it seemed like it was abandoned in a hurry. I grabbed some pails and filled them with water to put out the approaching flames.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

I appeared in a dimension-ripping flash... How could Dimentio travel like that all the time? I was pondering this as I noticed more important issues: The town I had appeared in was burning. A single woman was attempting to put out the inferno.

"You might need some help here," I called over. In this kind of heat, my Ice Beam was more like a stream of water. That would do.

[LordBlumiere]

Count Bleck tucked the rock that was once a Pure Heart into his cape. He sighed, then straightened himself and shuffled on. After a while, though, he began to sweat... and sweat...

OOC: I won't be on today... I'm going to Banff.

[Lord Vaati]

Vaati: *appears by shadow warping* I wonder what has been going on here

[Super ShadowArticuno]

[Lord Vaati]

[Super ShadowArticuno]

[Celeste Dimentia]

In a distant, untouched part of Mobius, Dimentio reappeared, a black hedgehog with crimson streaks in his fur standing just across from him.

"Hmph. You are not welcome... and you have brought nothing but trouble to this fair world. I advise you to leave now, before I have to obliterate you... permanently."

Dimentio lowered himself down onto the ground, hands held out at either side. "Ah ha ha... but I have no intention of leaving... Shadow the Hedgehog! Not until this world - and the Chaos Emeralds - are destroyed!"

Shadow crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. "So that's your goal. Well, if you think you can get away with this, you're dumber than you look - and that's saying something."

Dimentio gave a slight bow. "Ahh, but of course! I wouldn't dream of disturbing the peace any longer." As he spoke, he snapped his fingers, and the forest all around them burst into flames.

"Your world is on a countdown to destruction, Shadow... and if you think that it can be saved now, then it is you who are mistaken."

Shadow's eyes snapped open. His hands balled into fists, and he went into a fighting stance.

"Hmph. We shall see...!" There was another flash of lightning like before, and Shadow appeared instantly before Dimentio, unleashing a barrage of furious attacks.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

Before I could even start dousing the flame, I noticed a flash off in the distance...

"Dimentio." I was sure of it. Without another word, I flew off towards the flashes, only to see Dimentio and a black, sinister looking hedgehog battling it out.

I released my Sheer Cold attack, just to see if it would grab their attention.

[Celeste Dimentia]

(( Why does everyone always have to pop up instantly wherever I am... are you that hungry for interaction?! T_T Ah well... ))

The attack narrowly missed Shadow, who faltered in his attacks nonetheless - a rare moment, indeed. Dimentio took the opportunity to release a burst of magical energy right in the hedgehog's face, sending him rocketing to the ground.

Seemingly undeterred, Shadow picked himself up again.

"What is this... another mindless, killing beast?" said Shadow, looking up at Articuno.

"Ah ha ha... you're one to talk, hedgehog," replied Dimentio swiftly.

"Me?" Shadow raised an eyebrow. "I am not without common sense - I do not destroy things for my own gain. I am the Ultimate Life Form!"

Shadow held out his palm, which began to pulsate with dark energy.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

OOC: Articuno is trying to figure out what the Pure Heart is. T.T

"Dimentio! What is a Pure Heart?"

I could have asked more questions, but I noticed the hedgehog, Shadow, apparently, charging up some dark energy thing!

[Celeste Dimentia]

"The Pure Hearts are dead... but if you were to hand them to me... I would fill them with power once more! I could show you TRUE might."

Shadow waved a hand impatiently. "Enough! The worlds shouldn't be connected like this. I'm not sure how, or why... but I feel like I know you. And somehow, I just know... the worlds have begun to merge."

He shook his head. "Haaaa.....! But I've no more time to try and reason with you both. Get out, or get destroyed!" Indicating quickly with his other hand, Shadow sent the orb of dark energy sailing into the air, where it promptly split in two, homing in on both Dimentio and Articuno.

"Is this the power of the Ultimate Life Form?" said Dimentio, almost lazily, as he summoned a golden barrier to block the attack. "If so, then you'll be well served to vanish with the Chaos Emeralds. Your death will be delivered by my hands... and thus, by MAGIC! Ah ha ha... ciao!"

Another snap of the fingers, and Shadow found himself consumed in searing flames. Staggering back, the hedgehog beat relentlessly at the blazing fire, but it only continued to spread across his body, enveloping him.

"You.....!!!!"

[Count Bleck]

*Comes back to hover over the topic*
*Notes this RP has become mature since last time*

[Super ShadowArticuno]

Fork over the pure hearts? Why would I do that? I flew behind Dimentio as he raised his barrier.

I spied a lone object in the distance. Without Dimentio noticing, I managed to fly over.

"Another... Pure heart?" I cried out loud. Oh snap... Dimentio was still within earshot.

[Celeste Dimentia]

Shadow fell to the ground, covered in flames. Dimentio, meanwhile, snapped his fingers yet again, vanishing and reappearing next to the object. It was indeed a Pure Heart, but it was as dead as the others.

"Do you really think I allow so many things to escape my notice? I can see in all directions through magic... but if you believe that you deserve the Pure Hearts more than I... it is all yours for the taking. Ah ha ha... may it serve you well!"

Some distance away, meanwhile, Shadow had given a furious cry of rage. Dark flames surrounded him, immediately snuffing out Dimentio's fire. Standing up once more, seemingly unharmed by his own aura of shadowy flames, Shadow turned and sped towards the both of them.

Catching sight of the approaching hedgehog, Dimentio floated up into the air again. "Ciao... for now!" And he vanished once more, but this time did not reappear.

Shadow halted, just a few feet away from Articuno and the Pure Heart.

"Damn... I need to find the others! Much as I hate to do so..." He turned and looked at the flames, which had now consumed the entire forest. All of the trees were gone, leaving behind a barren, smoking sky - and the fire was continuing to spread.

"This fire is unnatural... some sort of magical force is keeping it alive."