[Nostalgia]

The Blue Vessel hovered in the air as they watched the other's assault, watching Ice-onus being attacked before a shout suddenly got their attention, making them perk up in a panic and turn just a moment before being hit with a blaster shot, sending the little bug flying!
GJAK_j1hp_1d20+5(Hit by Gery's wild homing attack! 23% damage taken)

In the air they spun and twisted as icy spears shot out over the battlefield, managing to slip between them as they flew.
p_1d20+5(Baaarely avoided ice spears)

The wave of cold air however was too much for them, their tiny body unable to handle the heat as it quickly spread over their body, freezing them solid as the poisonous gasses got to them.
p_1d20(Definitely frozen)
p_1d20(Poisoned)
p_1d20(Poisoned for 4 turns)

---

The Vessel glanced around uncertainly through the thick ice, watching Porky attack some of the others from their immobile position. Their eyes closed as a white energy flowed through them, repairing some of their ragged features and combating the poison in their body.
p_1d8+3(Focus: 9 health restored, poison status removed)

Inside the ice they closed their eyes, blue gel slowly spreading over their as they took a long slow breath. (Lifeblood wings, +2 dex and wis for 3 turns)
And then they did something that is either stupid or reckless. Their body slowly darkened as they concentrated, black spears erupting from the ground around Porky, flailing a bit haphazardly and missing quite a bit. However, they also erupted up around the Vessel them self, attacking themself encased in the ice! (30% damage taken, freed from ice!)
p_1d20+5(Call of the Void: 30% damage if it hits, +2 to hit, -3 to a dodge)

The Vessel exploded from the ice after attacking themself, flying up high into the air as they looked down to Porky once more, letting loose another flurry of stabs with renewed fury after watching their friend literally explode.
Haste: -5
p_1d20+2(Needle Spear Combo: 11% damage if it hits)
p_1d20+2^
p_1d20+2^

Blue Vessel :106/150 :0/50 : 5/12 Buffs: No shield regen for 3 more turns, LBW: 2 more turns, -3 to a dodge Cooldowns: LBS: usable next turn

1d20+5·1d20+5·1d20·1d20·1d20·1d8+3·1d20+5·1d20+2·1d20+2·1d20+2

[PolarStarQuote]

As Porky's Shield was rittled by Busterfire and the Magical Mystical forces of Reimu, The Damage suddenly caused the Shield on Porky to Explode, as the Reeling spider mech growled out a  Reeching noise, as with Grey's Incredibly Powerful Charge Shot, A Massive Bellow of Smoke, Sparking with Red Electrical currents exploded from Porky's machine, as the Bratty young man inside let out a panicked "WHAT?! Damnit Damnit Damnit!!" In a Fit of Rage, as Porky was then Stabbed upon several sides by the Vessel, as Porky's Machine, As Strong and powerful as it was, suddenly had one of its legs cut off-- Granted, in a very rough manner, but still, Removed from its body, as Porky sputtered and coughed!

"You damn Flies! Cant you just get swatted and crushed so i can remove that dung pile of a city you call home already?!" Porky would call out, as his Machine reeled back once more, as Porky grinned. "Alright then....Guess there's no point in holding back anymore~ Time to blow up the entire damn area!" Porky would say, Reeling back, Aiming directly at the Frozen shadow...

...

...

Before suddenly, Porky smashed a button on his console, as suddenly, A Black, Inky Void ripped open above Porky!

The Subspace Generator suddenly glimmered, Opening up wide and dropping a gigantic, Steel Pod atop of Porky, Who quickly Jumped inside of said Steel Pod as it landed with a large Thud...

Porky's Absolutely Safe Capsule!

Porky has used his Final Smash! Porky is now inside of his Absolutely Safe Capsule! All of Porky's Stats have been reduced to 1, Except for Constitution, Which, Has now become a whopping 9999! As well, All attacks directed at Porky now have there damage reduced by Porky's CON Stat, as well as reducing there damage by half.

...

...

...However, Due to the fact this machine cant really act or do anything...


So, By Definition...The Fight is Over.

...

...


...

...

(The Wait is so long, everyone's Status Ailments have Worn Off...)

...

"Hehe...Hahaha....HAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAA~! Awwwww, whats wrong? Cant hit me in here???" Porky would call out, Sticking his tongue out of the window of his Absolutely Safe Capsule, Giggling. "Come on! Hit me, Hit me, Do whatever you want~ This thing survived the WORLD ENDING! AND I KNOW YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A BUNKER BUSTING BOMB HIDING IN YOUR ARMPITS! Isnt it gonna drive you nuts? That, You never even got a chance to hit Me? You just smacked around the metal shell i was sitting in! Kaaaaahahaahahahahaaaa!!! Spankity Spankity SPANK!" Porky would laugh aloud inside of the Horrible Metal Machine...


"...Though, I think im not entireluy satisfied myself...Oh, I got an idea~!" Porky would say with an additional chuckle.

...The Subspace generator suddenly moved back, Further away from the battlefield, as it settled down onto the ground, and glimmered a bright color, as suddenly, a Massive Machine was placed onto the earth, The Machine itself Eminating a Dark, Blackened Aura...





"So, What is it you keep calling this monster? Claaauus?" Porky would ask, More directed to the Thawed Shadow, as Porky would chuckle.

"Hey Claus! Go into the Devil Machine. That's an ORDER."





Following porky's orders, Claus suddenly unfurled his wings, and Jet Boosted into the Devil Machine Post-haste, as the Gigantic, Fleshy Contraption suddenly loosed a set of PSI Tendrills, Which wrapped around claus...


"...Oh, And did i mention? The Machine's gonna rip out your brain and eviscerate your body. So, All together now class~ 'Byyyyeee Claaauuuss~ Have fun DYING! HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!'"


As Claus was Entangled within the Glowing Array of Tendrills, He looked back to the rest of the Party one final time, Before Claus's body was...Absorbed into the Center Orb of the Devil Machine, His face cold and Expressionless as he was trapped inside...

...


...


...

You can hear Claus's Heartbeat...

...

...

...

The Orb inside the Devil Machine turns a Pitch Black...

...

...

...

The Glass of the Orb Shatters. The Black Mist inside Spills out at a frantic rate, Engulfing the ground, The Sky, And is Expanding at a Massive Rate!

There's no chance to escape, as everyone is Engulfed in Nothing but...


Darkness.

[Claus]

The Black Mist surrounding you suddenly begins to become a Bloody Red Color, as Shadow, Reimu, Vessel, Bowser Jr. Joe and Grey were stood upon a endless, Pitch black void, Slowly engulfed with Red...




Two Red Lines Intersect into what appears to be the Silhouette of a Crying Child, Who curls up in Utter Agony...


The Boy suddenly turns to you...


...And begins to expand, And Morph into the Red Vapors...

Before you, Is The Vaporous, White-eyed, Horrified Face of Claus.

Everyone! You arnt sure how, or why...Your Brain simply cant comprehend it. But, You are being Mentally assaulted for 32% Worth of damage! Make an INT Check of 17 to Resist!

---

THE RED VAPOR

HP: ?


No attack can hit. It simply fades into the Void.


...

[cynda1]

Shadow felt his eyes widen as Porky aimed his arm at him this time. Probably because he knew the hedgehog wouldn't have been able to escape an attack, the coward. Shadow glared at the child as he tried to form a Chaos Spear to no avail. Well, at least he tried anyway... Just as the hedgehog thought he would've been attacked, a void formed over the brat allowing a metal... ball thing to plop down, and the spoiled brat to jump inside.

Porky bragged that they couldn't get to him now, but now that Shadow had snapped out of his inner madness, the hedgehog couldn't care less about Porky. There was a more pressing matter than that right now. Shadow... blinked a couple of times before suddenly feeling the bitter cold ice melt away, allowing the hedgehog to gasp in some air.

The hedgehog shook his head before looking around to try to see where Claus went. The hedgehog was somewhat bewildered as he hadn't snapped out of his rage much sooner than he had been frozen. It seemed as though Isonus was gone from the battle for good, but the hedgehog had been aware of that fact for a while. It had almost gotten him into a rage again, but the hedgehog couldn't allow himself to fall into that again.

Claus needed him to stay focused...

Shadow's eyes landed on Claus, who was still completely unharmed, and Shadow tried to approach him again. However, before the hedgehog could get a word in, something else happened. A massive machine appeared emanating a dark energy. Shadow couldn't help but bring his attention to it before hearing Porky talk again. Shadow glared at him as the pig child mocked Claus's name in a way that was meant to belittle it. And then Porky told the boy to go inside!

"Claus wait, don't-!" Before Shadow could even finish his thought, or get to him, the kid propelled himself toward the machine using a jet pack to fly himself toward the machine like Porky told him to do. Shadow covered his face as the kid took off, causing Shadow to try to stop him. "Claus, no!" Shadow said, but something about this machine caused the black hedgehog to be incapable of getting too close. The energy was just... so intense. Claus, stop! Come back!" Shadow called out, trying to get the kid to get away from the machine.

Shadow caught the expression on Claus's face before the kid became consumed by the tendrils that came out of the machine. Shadow began to panic. "CLAAAAUS!!!" Shadow called out in pure concern, the terror in the hedgehog's eyes clear as day. Whatever it was that caused everything to turn dark, or even when it did, Shadow couldn't tell. The hedgehog tried to push his way toward the machine, even when he couldn't see where it was.

Finally, when the hedgehog stopped trying, the Ultimate Life Form fell to his knees. This... couldn't be happening. He promised... he promised Claus so many times that everything was going to be okay... why? Why did this keep happening? Was he wrong to make that promise? Did Shadow have no reason to even hope that Claus would be okay?

...Was Shadow wrong? Was there really no hope for...?

"Isn't there any way to free you?"

"...If you kill me."

...Was that really the only way to save Claus?

Then... Shadow heard a voice. The hedgehog's head perked up as he glanced around trying to desperately find Claus. "Claus?" Shadow called out, before seeing the form of a crying child. He knew that had to be him... Shadow instantly tried to run for him. "Claus..!" But before the hedgehog could get to him, the child morphed into something else... something more sinister. "Ack!" Shadow started backing up again.

Shadow heard the phrase... Shadow tried not to let it affect him, but the hedgehog felt a pain in his mind... or was it his heart? Whatever the case, Shadow tried his best to shake it off, though it took a bit. It... hurt quite a bit.

ozS5iiOFp_1d20 (Shadow's attempt to resist the mental damage... failed. Shadow receives 32% of damage... But that won't stop him.)

Shadow took steady breaths, and they were a bit shaky. Shadow's faith in his cause was starting to shake, but... somehow he needed to reach within himself to find the resolve to see this through to the end. He promised himself, and Claus, that he would. "...Claus?" Shadow said, incapable of hiding the sadness in his voice. "It's Shadow, okay? It's me, remember? I'm right here, Claus, and-and I'm not gonna stop. Okay?" Shadow gulped as he felt himself getting far too much emotional than he really liked. He wasn't crying or anything, but the hedgehog was desperate for this boy to finally be free.

"Do you remember our talks, Claus?" Shadow felt himself shake a little, but the hedgehog ignored this and tried to approach the giant, sad face, looking at it directly in the eyes. "Remember what I told you? I said I'd find a way to help you, remember? You... you told me you used to like climbing trees, that-that you used to have nice dreams. You would see someone in your dreams, someone you knew, someone important to you!" Shadow tried to reach out to touch the kid's giant face in an effort to try to comfort him.

"I... I know it's hard! I know it's hard to resist someone who's trying to turn you into a machine! Shadow continued to explain. "Sometimes you wonder... if there's even any good reason to try. If you're even strong enough to resist it... but... Shadow paused for a moment glaring up at Claus, emotion clear in his eyes. "But I know you're strong enough, Claus! I've seen you. You had breakthroughs before, I know you have! I-I know you don't wanna hurt anyone anymore, and-and you don't have to!" Shadow felt his eyes sting a little but kept his stance firm.

"...Just talk to me, kid," Shadow pleaded. "Let us help you. Let us save you from your sadness... Then you'll be able to climb trees again, and live like a kid. Doesn't... doesn't that sound nice?"

---

Shadow
Health: 56/155
Shield: 50/50
Status: Desperate, and Emotional
Cooldowns: None. He's not attacking.

1d20

[Reimu Hakurei]

Reimu continued to be silent and ready for his next attack, her eyes still shut as he... summoned a giant ball and hid in it? What? This was his great evil scheme? The girl started kicking and firing her divine energies at the capsule before her eyes opened up and she began talking again. "Dang it! Stop pulling such cowardly tactics and take your punishment like a woman!" Reimu declared as she tried to bash the armored shell more before falling back, breathing a bit in exhaustion as the poison wore her down exiting her system.

"... There has to be something we can do... Let me try gapping him to the bottom of the ocean. That ought to show him..." she said bitterly, she could always gap him out later... probably. However before she could enact her revenge another... thing appeared. That did not look good. "... Claus! No! Don't get in that thing!" she called after before everything went dark.

---

"... Claus? That monster is worst than any Yokai let alone human..." Reimu lamented, looking at the face and hearing the echoes... Alright, time to confront the problem at it's source. Now that Porky wasn't here to interfere anymore, maybe they can reach him. The chances are slim but... she made a promise and saving this boy was something she wanted too and she'll put her all into making it happen.

0B3iaDV5p_1d20+2

The Shrine Maiden managed to willpower through the... bizarre pressure as she stepped forward. No. This wasn't the end. Not for them and certainly not for him. She looked to Shadow who had a better understanding of the boy than she did before adding her own two cents. "You're not a machine, a monster or any other form of puppet, Claus! It's your choice to be whatever you want to be. And I know without a doubt none of this is your choice! I do not know all you've been through but I do know that together we can help drive away the darkness clouding you!" Reimu declared as she pushed forward a bit, standing her ground in the face of danger and despair. "We can help you drive away the nightmares, Claus, you just need to let us into your dreams! And if you keep trying to push us away we will keep chasing after it! That's what people that care do, Claus! That pig headed monster doesn't care what happens to you but we do. Now fight the nightmares and let us be your guide to dreams that any boy should have!"... Whatever those are. "We can help give you back what he stole. A normal and happy life!" she finished, holding out a hand into the darkness.

Reimu Hakurei HP:80/135 Shield HP: 40 Status: Barrier (2)

1d20+2

[Jade Callisto]

Joe had to admit this was getting annoying as Porky entered a capsule of some sort making his impervious to damage but thanks to it not being able to move Joe was able to be cleared of all his status effects that were ailing him. But as worse came to worse Claus jumped into a strange machine that turned him into a giant horrified face that unleashed a mind attack of some sort. "Claus no don't do this." he cried out in agony.

INT Roll: 

VPreA1xnp_1d20-2

Joe wailed in agony as the attack hit and would suffer a lot of damage from the attack as he took 32% damage to his total health reducing him to 13% health left. 

Joe used his last turn to lower the cooldown of his Take 2 by 2 reducing it back to 0 using his 2 actions then he would use his last one to use Take 2.

CHA Roll for Take 2: 

p_1d20+1

Joe received 17% health back from Take 2 and the second effect was renewed. Meaning that if he died next round he will be bumped back up to 10% health with -1 to all stat mods. 

Joe had to leave the Six Majin now as it's time being here was up as he hopped out and landed smoothly on the ground. This was not good as he was already looking like it was over for him, hopefully he didn't need to use the Take 2's second effect next turn but it was looking like it might happen. 

---

Viewtiful Joe

HP: 30/160

SHIELD: 55/55

STATUS: None

VFX: 6/6

Cooldowns: Take 2! at 3 turns.

Active Abilities: Take 2: If defeated next round Joe revives for 10% health with -1 Mod to all stats.1d20-2·1d15+2

[Nostalgia]

As porky retreated into the strange metal ball the Vessel seemed to not be done, their eyes focused on it as they kept throwing their needle at it over and over, face blank as they walked closer, zoning out and spending the time waiting to continuously try and stab the orb. Sunken slightly in the pools of blood from the earlier battles, the Vessel stood beside the machine, rhythmically slashing at it all the while.

It was only the sound of the generator moving that finally broke their focus, making them hesitate and perk up to look at the rather ugly machine. And the name 'Devil Machine' wasn't the most appealing either. As Claus flew into the machine the voiceless Vessel could do little to try and persuade them otherwise, their wings shot out behind them as they tried to follow them, but they were too far behind, getting a clear view of Claus' face right before they were consumed completely.

The billowing darkness surrounded them quickly, the Vessel losing their orientation and falling back down to earth with a wet thud, slowly lifting them self up as they found them self in the darkness. The far off silouette was enough to motivate them again, the Vessel's pale face lined with uncertainty. They just wanted to help. They wanted to help Claus.

The Vessel tried to walk closer, wincing as they felt the broken reality around them assaulting their mind. But they did not resist. They did not want to resist Claus. They wanted to help Claus.

They Vessel stopped and held their head as the pain went through them. It was not too different from the first time they met Claus really, so much pain. It must be hard for Claus. The Vessel straightened and pulled their hands off their skull, looking up and facing Claus as they opened their arms. The needle on their back started to glow a pristine white, silver flames dancing from the blade as they hoped it being in contact with the mist would be enough to count as contact with Claus. They wanted to help Claus.

Despite the pain the mute Vessel made themself smile up at Claus, their arms open as if expecting a hug. Through the glowing blade they tried their best to connect with Claus' mind, three voices in harmony trying to speak to his mind, if there was one to connect to.

"It's okay to feel sad. It's part of what makes you alive!" "I'm so thankful that I got to be alive with you, so don't throw it away, go home with us and live!"

The Vessel's arms trembled a little as they held their outstretched position. They had so little they could give. But they wanted to help Claus.

"Please experience life with us, we want to spend time with you Claus." "You deserve the chance to live, you don't need to hurt anymore. We can help you." "Please let us help you"

With a smile still on their face bright blue tears started to stream down their cheeks. The frustration of desperately wanting to communicate and being limited making them shudder slightly in their stance. Wanting to communicate just how desperately they wanted to help Claus.

Blue Vessel :74/150 :5/50 : 5/12 Buffs: Cooldowns:

[KashKey]

"GOTCHA!"


Grey had never been so satisfied to see a mech be destroyed before, but that charge shot felt really, REALLY good. Listening to Porky panic as it went up in smoke, gave him a grin he'd... Never really had when he'd caused that sort of destruction. But hey, this guy was... Frankly, the most vile person he'd ever had the displeasure of dealing with. He thinks he'd earned that panic.

But then everything went wrong.

What WAS that thing he just broke out?! What was that portal?! What was that... STUPID CAPSULE?!

As Porky bragged, Grey snarled, firing off buster shot after buster shot upon the capsule. A veritable torrent fell upon the capsule as Porky gloated about how thoroughly and truly safe he was. And it just angered Grey further.

"Get out of there and TAKE YOUR JUST DESERTS ALREADY! LET! CLAUS! GO!"


As Grey shouted out his final snarl, he kicked the capsule itself, snarling. He was still in a terrible mood, quite frankly. As Grey panted, watching the capsule roll away... Porky gave Claus his next order, a massive, deadly machine being dropped off in the middle of the area. Grey turned to it, shocked.

"Wh-What?! What is that thing?!"


Grey took off after Claus, watching in horror as the poor boy was consumed. The Reploid couldn't do anything. He wasn't even half as fast as Shadow, he knew that all too well. But he hated how... Thoroughly helpless he felt to stop this. But... There was nothing he could do.

Claus was... Gone... Grey had failed. Again. He'd screwed the whole thing up. Again. He'd been playing into Porky's hand from the start.

Why couldn't he help anyone right here? Why couldn't he save even one kid? Why was he so... Useless?

"No... Give him back... D-... DAMNIT ALL!"


Grey threw his Busters up at the machine in frustration, a hair's width away from fully pulling the trigger as his grip shook, when something changed. Something that completely threw him from his anger at his own failure. Something that completely contradicted the death that had been promised.

... Bump bump... Bump bump...

... A heartbeat. Claus's. Heartbeat. He couldn't believe it. Yet that was what he was hearing. He was still alive in there. Claus was alive. He could still-!

CRASH.

And then everything went to hell. That strange... Orb exploded, and Grey shielded himself, screaming in fear. He didn't know what was happening. He couldn't know what was happening. Whatever it was... He didn't like it. He was terrified, for himself, Claus, and the others

This was a nightmare.

"WAAAAAAAUGH!"

---

... He never knew he hated the dark before today. This... Pitch black was setting him on edge like nothing else. He'd been in hard to see places before, but he always had Model P to make it easier to see, or some other method of getting through dark corridors as fast as possible. Here? He didn't have any of that. He was trapped in pitch black. And he didn't know what to do with it.

"G-Guys...? Everyone is here, right...? What... What do we do now-"


Grey was cut off again by a sudden, new development. Red. Everything was turning a blood red, as it all intersected... On a figure of a crying boy. Claus. It had to be. It was the only explanation.

"Claus...? Is that... You...?"


As the boy turned to him, his suspicions were confirmed... In the worst way possible, prompting a gasp of shock as that... Horrific face revealed itself to him. What was he supposed to do here...? How... Could he help THIS? He was at a complete loss... As he heard a voice in his head.

"You're... Sad... I... I get that... G-Gaaaah!"

Suddenly, Grey felt his very being assaulted. His processors were being totally over loaded at a rate he couldn't hope to fathom or keep up with. He didn't know what was happening. But he had to fight it... He wasn't just going to get overwhelmed that easily!

HCtN7rA8p_1d20

"Nngh... G-Gaaaah! S-Stop... Stop messing with my HEAD!"

Grey panted as the attack suddenly came to an end, panting as he held his head in his hands. It was a vice grip... His head still hurt. Slowly, he removed his hands, the pressure easing up. He had been gripping his own head way too hard. But... But he couldn't focus on that. He had to save him. He had to save Claus. There was still a chance.

"Watch out, Grey! Another one of those and I don't think I'll be able to keep you merged! I don't know what your plan is... But... But stay safe, okay?! Don't go dying and leaving me alone with some... Nightmare kid! I won't ever forgive you if you do!"


"Yeah... Yeah I know, Model A..."


As the others talked, tried to get through to Claus... Grey decided to finally give his two cents.

"I... I get why you're sad, really. That... Porky guy might just be the worst person I've ever met. I've never met someone so... Willing to kill, so... Full of hatred for everything around him! And... He made you fight for him... He stole your will... Your freedom! I understand exactly why that made you sad! But it's over now! He can't touch you anymore! We don't need to fight! You can end this at any time! It's your choice now! Not his! You can take your life back! And once you do... We won't let Porky touch you. Ever again. I can't speak for the entire life sphere, but I know one thing for a fact... No one here would ever let Porky get away with this. It's done. Let's... Put this whole mess behind us, and head back to the life sphere. Get you somewhere to stay, somewhere nice. Okay, Clause?"

After a while... He was just rambling. He knew that full well. But he couldn't help it, truthfully. He just really... Really wanted this fight to be over. He needed to help somehow, and if the others thought that talking him down would do it... Then dang it, he was sure gonna try.

---

Grey Status: Finally calmed down. HP: 49% [||||||| ] Shield HP: OFFLINE [ ] Cooldowns: Charge Shot: Ready! Homing Shot: 1 Turn. A-Trans: 1 Turn. Again. Dangit Grey. Shield: Offline for 2 turns. Final Smash: Used

[/font]1d20

[Claus]

. . . . . .

"Let us help you. Let us save you from your sadness... Then you'll be able to climb trees again, and live like a kid. Doesn't... doesn't that sound nice?"




""We can help give you back what he stole. A normal and happy life!"



"You deserve the chance to live, you don't need to hurt anymore. We can help you. Please let us help you"




"No one here would ever let Porky get away with this. It's done. Let's... Put this whole mess behind us, and head back to the life sphere. "






"Claus! No, Dont do this!"

Everyone! True to the last attack, Another Mental Barrage is assaulting your brain, As you feel a welling of misery, Sadness and Woe filling your entire body. Roll a INT Check of 17 to resist, Or else, Suffer 50% Damage, and be afflicted with Mind-melted!

...











...

...


...


...

The Woman's voice causes the Figure's distortion to End.

The Figure before you...

...Is Claus.






...

"...Im sorry, Everyone. But...After all ive done...All of the people ive hurt..."

"...I dont think it would be fair for me to have that Life that you all want me to have."

"Shadow...Grey...Vessel..."

"...Thank you. For never giving up on me. No matter what happened..."

You are all surrounded by a powerful Psionic Shield. All Attacks with the Elemental Typing of Fire, Ice, Thunder or Grass...Will be reflected onto the attacker.

...

"...I'm...Very tired..."

"...So...Im going to go home."

"...Thank you...Again."

[Claus]

... You see a Sunflower Field once the White Dissipates. The Air is...Fresh. You dont feel like your back on Li anymore, Certainly. 

..However, You can faintly hear the voice of a Young Boy, and a Woman close by. You cant see them...But there voices are clear.


"Claus...I know you want to stay here. But, I think it's for the best...That you go back."

"B-back? But...But no! I-i dont want to go back...A-after everything ive done, I-i..."

"Shh...Its okay, Claus. You always were just a little too hasty for your own good, you know? ... I think your friends will wait forever to bring you back if they have to."

"B-but i want to stay here! I want to stay here, with you, i-i dont WANT to go back!!"

"I know Claus...But the world there...It needs you. It needs someone strong, and Brave...Just like you."

"M-mom..."

"I love you, Claus...I know...You are so Tired. So...Exaughsted...But, You can rest all you like, With your friends...When the time is right. Then...Then you can come back to me. Okay?"

"N-no...M-mom, I-i dont..."

"...Take care, Claus...Ill always watch over you."

"M-m...Mom..."

[Claus]

...


...

You suddenly Awaken from a Dream, In which you recall seeing Sunflowers and hearing the voices of many people...You're all laying in a War-torn landscape, that you recognize as the Mushroom ruins, Or at least, a Place similar to it. The Thoughts about what had happened are ringing in your head still, as you recollect what happened. That Nightmare-scape of Red Mist...The Sunflower field...Was any of it real? You look ahead, and see the Devil Machine that had taken Claus, is now Broken and Powered down. Porky, and his 'Absolutely Safe Capsule' Are nowhere to be seen...

But instead, Infront of the Devil Machine...

...Is Claus.

"..."

...Claus Stares at you all with a souless glare, akin to how he always does, Robotically taking a step forward. However, As he does, Claus reaches up for his Helmet-- His Mask...And removes it.




Claus's Orange hair, Bright skin and...Human eyes look at you, as he approaches. He walks closer and closer, Until eventually reaching...


...Shadow.

". . . S-shadow. . ."

...Claus suddenly wraps his arms around Shadow, Hugging the Hedgehog tightly.

"I-im...So...So Sorry...E-everyone..."

...

Claus is free of porky's control.


The Pigmask army has retreated...


Mission Complete!

[cynda1]

Before anything, after everyone had said their piece to try and reach out to Claus, something Shadow had been desperate to do from the start, the hedgehog felt another mental attack, just like before. But this one was different. It was stronger. If the hedgehog didn't push through, he didn't know if he would be able to do anything to help the boy further. The hedgehog pushed, forced himself to withstand the mental attack.

T|sAOM0Lp_1d20 (Shadow actually succeeds in an INT roll for once in his life... Thank. Chaos. So no damage, and no Mind Melted status.)

Perhaps it was true... perhaps Claus's sadness was incomprehensible, but that hardly mattered to Shadow. The hedgehog would continue to face it over and over again, with more ferocity. He wouldn't lose to this force that was hurting his friend...

However, the emotional torment that was trying to crush them suddenly stopped. Shadow, just like everyone else and Claus, heard a soothing voice, one that was not only warm but it was also wise. It made all of the fear and sadness calm in a moment. Was... this the person Claus had talked to him about? The person he dreamed about and climbed trees with? Maybe but... perhaps there was another... Whoever this was, though, she was obviously incredibly important to Claus.

How could she not be with the effect she had on him?

When she was finally done, Shadow found a child. A boy. With red hair...

Shadow's eyes widened slightly. This was the first time the hedgehog had seen the boy without the mask on his face, and... there he was. A real person really was behind that mask... but then again, that went without saying. Everyone here knew that, Shadow couldn't exactly take all the credit for knowing that Claus was a person. Everyone here, without exception, was trying their very best to reach him. Shadow didn't look at their direction, his attention was fully on Claus, but the hedgehog assumed that everyone else was doing the same. He appreciated their effort, even if he wouldn't say it out loud right at that moment.

Right now, Shadow could only look at the kid who finally didn't have a mask on. That was good, right?

So why were they still there?

When Claus started talking, the first thing he did was apologize somberly. The hedgehog's heart instantly fell. He'd heard that tone before, that far, far too familiar tone of a child who had lost all hope in himself... or herself. No... No he can't be...

Hoping against all hope, Shadow continued hearing him out, hoping it was just the emotions that this whole situation created that caused him to sound so hopeless. However, the more he talked the more Shadow could sense what was about to happen, and Shadow couldn't help but try to protest. "Wait, hold on!" Shadow reached out, being interrupted as Claus claimed "it wasn't fair for him to have the life they all wanted him to have". "Claus, Claus, I-I know it-it doesn't seem possible right now, but we can-" Claus said his name, as well as Grey's and Vessel's and Shadow stopped talking.

There was no talking Claus out of it... Shadow couldn't anyway. He thanked them, and then surrounded the entire group in a shield. "Wha..?" Shadow turned around to face the shield that surrounded him, causing the hedgehog to become more desperate and panicked more than he had during the entire battle. The hedgehog ran to the side of the barrier as close to Claus as he could get, trying to punch past it, but it did little good. He could practically see a capsule instead of a shield... "Claus, please! Listen to me, don't-" Claus continued to talk about being tired and wanting to go home. Before Shadow could get another word out, the boy shot at them, or rather at the barrier, allowing the attack to reflect back onto himself.

In that very moment, Shadow could feel the heart that had previously fallen to completely shatter. The child he tried to hard to save, the kid he promised a better life, promised to protect, promised the freedom he deserved... had just shot himself. Shadow stared at the mortally wounded child in pure horror as a familiar terror surrounded him completely. "Claus!" Shadow instinctively called out as he continued to try to punch at the barrier...

Or at least he would have... if the barrier hadn't disappeared. In fact, everything disappeared...

Shadow found himself in a garden of... sunflowers? So many sunflowers that Shadow couldn't see the ground. The hedgehog, and assuming everyone else, was hearing voices. At first, Shadow was still too overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed, but once he heard Claus's voice, the shaking hedgehog stopped and tried to hear the voices out. The woman's voice... Claus's mother, was talking... reasoning with him that he should return with them. By the end of the conversation, Shadow felt everything fade into black around him...

...And then he woke up. The hedgehog blinked awake to find himself in the middle of... what was essentially a war zone. Well, that's because that's what it kind of was. They were basically fighting a war not that long ago here in the middle of the ruins. Wait... was all of that just a dream? Wait...

Shadow shot up in a sitting position, looking up to see Claus. Shadow slowly got up to his feet, staring at the kid silently. The black hedgehog looked at the kid directly into his soulless eyes... He was alive. Shadow didn't dare move, didn't dare think. He only waited to see what the kid would do. The wait was painful, it made the hedgehog's anxiety increase bit by bit, but still he waited.

When Claus finally moved, he took step after step toward him. This did little to ease Shadow until he stopped. He then grabbed the helmet to reveal... the same red haired boy he'd seen in that dream. So... all that really did happen... and yet here he was. Alive and well. Shadow could feel himself calm down as the kid continued to walk, just as silent as he was. Shadow only stared, and without even realizing, walked toward Claus as well, somewhat meeting him half way. Shadow continued to stare, wondering if this was real. Was Claus really okay? Did they... really do it? Shadow's ears perked up a bit when he heard his name come out of Claus's mouth.

Claus then embraced the hedgehog, wrapping his arms around the hedgehog so tightly, he knew how desperate he must've been. Shadow was frozen for a moment, but then looked over at him sadly. The kid had been through so much... he wouldn't be able to get over everything overnight. This would take time... time to heal, time to adjust to this new gift he'd just received. Freedom. It was finally Claus's. And after all the hardship Shadow had to suffer to get to this point... it was all worth it. Every bit of it.

Yes... Shadow wouldn't change any of it. If it meant that this was the result.

Shadow finally wrapped his arms around the kid and allowed a relieved smile to form on his face. "It's okay, Claus," Shadow whispered to him, feeling something wet on the corner of his eyes as he slowly closed them. He finally did it. He kept his promise. "I knew you had it in you. You were really brave kid, but it's over now." Shadow didn't have any interest in stopping his hug until Claus was satisfied. Again, whenever that was was fine with Shadow. "You're finally free... Finally free..."

Shadow didn't remember the last time he felt so happy...1d20