Four Years Ago
We open up on a group of Century Corps members operating opposite another group composed of Juni, Zaylee, Falconer and Hyane
Viridian: Alright guys…we have to pin down that group over there, they’re closing in on us, anyone got any suggestions
Sien: My suggestion IS CHARGE
Sien sprints out of Group Formation to go chase down Juni, who expertly avoids his powerful slash attacks
Nolan: So much for a plan…
Viridian: Ease it rookie, that’s just how Sien likes to swing things
Sahu: Aye Mates, watch out
Falconer’s Falcon dive bombs towards them but Sahu jumps and expertly blocks the assault
Nolan: That was close…
Zaylee jumps towards them, with Sahu blocking the strike
Sahu: It’s kinda futile to strike me so hard
Zaylee: I’ll just have to respond in kind
Zaylee and Sahu begin trading blows while Viridian preps Nolan’s aim
Viridian: Ok, so you see, Falconer’s Falcon is flying overhead, if you shoot an arrow just right you can bring it down to earth
Nolan: So if I knock it down, it won’t be able to just up and fly away…
Viridian: That’s right….
Nolan: Ok…so if the shot lands, then I’ll be able to isolate Hyane…
Viridian: That’s right?
Nolan prepares to fire a powerful shot, pulling back the bowstring with all he has, it breaks the sound barrier as it rings with powerful force
Viridian: Oh alright!
But instead of the sound of an astral bird being pinned to the ground, instead, a sharp piercing noise is heard as an arrow ends up burring itself into something that is not the ground.
Falconer: HYANE!!
Nolan: That’s…not….
Viridian: Uh oh….w-
The Brawl stops as they circle around Hyane…The now broken arrow falls out of Hyane’s head as blood spills onto the ground
Falconer: HEY, STAY WITH ME
Zaylee: C’mon dude…
Viridian: I don’t…think…there’s,,,
Sahu: Hey Viridian, maybe you should…
Viridian reaches down but Sahu and Nolan move to grab her
Nolan: I…think…you need a minute
Sahu and Sien move to escort Viridian out of view as she breaks down sobbing
Nolan: What have I done?
Nolan stares somewhat emotionlessly into the scene he caused
Falconer: Hey Hyane, you can’t give up on me now
Juni: Hyane, you know, we still got so much left in life to do
Zaylee: Please, stay
The Three begin crying while Acantha and Auralie hit the field…
Acantha: What’s the status?
Nolan: He’s dying…
Auralie: I think we need to get a doctor
A Doctor is called as quickly as possible, Zaylee, Falconer and Juni are asked to move away by Acantha, as Xen and Demeui take the field
Xen: So…another one is gone…
Demeui: I wonder what happened…
Nolan: I…just killed a man….
Xen: Huh…so you did this…
Acantha: Hmm..you may have to be discharged for this…
Juni tries to move against Nolan but Zaylee stops her
Nolan: I will…accept any punishment that you deem is fit?
Demeui: So my question is that if Hyane survives this…then what happens next
Xen: What do you mean?
Demeui: What is left behind then?
Xen: Huh
Demeui: Hyane…what’s left behind of that man…
Nolan: Nothing…that man…is nothing now…
Demeui and Xen fall silent, and Nolan continues staring darkly into Hyane’s eyes
Nolan: That man is nothing…but a Husk now…
Hyane slows opens his eyes…
Hyane (Whispering): Husk…I’m…a Husk…
Present Day
Falconer: What you did…caused Hyane so much pain…you could not believe it with just my words..
Juni: Even though…it’s been four years…I still do not forgive your actions…I can’t forget the pain and suffering you’ve caused…
Nolan: Speaking about Hyane…where is he…
The Century Corps fall silent…
Nolan: Huh!
Zaylee: Hyane died...again…he’s now gone for real…and right after regaining his memories as well
Nolan: Huh, what the fuck!
Falconer: Yeah…
Nolan: That’s-
Juni: I don’t see why you care you heartless bastard
Edera: Ok ease off on him stargirl, my friend Nolan regrets his actions and you don’t need to continue blaming him for your own misery…
Juni remains silently before clenching her own fist
Juni: What’d ya say to me?
Edera: I said..stop blaming Nolan for your own mis-
Juni strikes Edera across the face
Edera: Excuse me?
Juni: Say it again
Edera: Stop wallowing in a pit of your misery
Edera gets struck across the face again by Juni who responds in kind by grabbing her neck and throwing her against the wall. Nest props herself in between the two to prevent the fight from escalating
Nest: I BELIEVE…that’s enough
The Detective also springs to his feet
The Detective: Listen…like it or not, go brawl outside I don’t want to deal with your nonsense
Falconer: Sorry for being bad houseguests
The Century Corps, The Detective, Nest and The Neighborhood Watch leave the house
Nolan: Like it or not…now we have to work together, the Buzzard can’t be allowed to go on and cause anymore damage…
Nest: So we’re gonna try to kill him?
Falconer: That sounds…very difficult
Edera: We have to try…The Neigborhood Watch is too scared but me and Nolan aren’t, and The Century Corps recently defeated an actual goddess
Zaylee: Ok and-
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Edera: You’re making us look like slackers!! The Buzzard has killed many people…we should stop him with upmost agency
Juni: Pass!
Falconer: Huh?
Nest: Say what?
Edera: YOU CAN’T PASS ON THIS, YOU HAVE A MO-
Juni: Pass
Zaylee: Ok Juni wh-
Juni: I don’t want to go, it sounds like a waste of time, and it’s your problem, not ours
Edera: I S-
Nolan: If she doesn’t want to go, then don’t force her
Juni: Huh
Edera: BUT-
Nolan: You can’t always get people to do what you want, and you have to be able to live with that, and carry on with your life..we can get The Buzzard by ourselves…
Edera: Ok…
Nolan and Edera take off, The Detective joins your party
Nest: So what now
Suddenly, the coin begins glowing
The Detective: Huh
The Bluebird Token begins rotating, with the beak pointing in a certain direction…
Nest: So, do we follow it?
Falconer: I guess we do…
Juni: Let’s go
Zaylee: I got a bad feeling about this
As she says this, a Gull flies overhead as they rush after the coin
Begin District 3
When you’re 25% of the way done
Nest: I wonder why so many birds love me?
The Detective: I believe it has to do with your innate counts of both Astral Energy and Aether?
Nest: So what does that mean?
The Detective: Birds see you as something like a Super-Alpha, like instead of being the top of the Totem Pole, you are the Totem Pole
Zaylee: So that’s a powerful ability
Nest: It must be why the Buzzard wants me, he wants to corrupt my power for his own nefarious reasons…
Zaylee: Must have to do with the bird motifs
Nest: Still don’t know what my crest has to do with it?
Zaylee: No idea?
The Detective: Perhaps The Crest is linked to your Aether count or something?
Nest: No clue…
Resume
When you’re 50% of the way there
Zaylee: I can’t feel the warmth of my star, even though it is where I draw my eternal power from
Juni: Oh? Why can’t you feel it?
Falconer: Perhaps The Buzzard creates an aura so overpowering that it blots out the light from that o-so far away celestial body
Juni: How could it even do that?
Falconer: I have no idea?
Zaylee: Huh…but I’m beginning to feel cold, so very cold…
Falconer: It must be tough, knowing your power comes from so far away
Zaylee: I manage knowing the source of my strength comes from so far away because I could feel its inner warmth inside me all the time, but it feels like the fire has gone cold, like I’ve gone cold…like my very life's a hair's breadth away from ending…
Juni: Wait…what?
Zaylee: I’ve never felt more unsure…of anything…in my life before…
Resume
When you’re 75% of the way there, the token begins glowing even more
The Detective: This token…maybe it’s like some kind of weird aether detector?
Nest: So how come it doesn’t glow when I touch it?
The Detective: Maybe…it glows when it picks up a faint trace of it or maybe it stores the aether around it?
Nest: What’s the answer genius?!
The Detective: I have just the slightest sneaking suspicion that this token could be a key to defeating The Buzzard…
Nest: And…how would we do that?
The Detective: Well I don’t have a fucking clue
Nest: C’mon, you are Pisslock Shilmes, you can figure everything out!
Falconer: Wait, your real name is Pisslock Shilmes?
The Detective: Yes…it is….and by jove you’re right I blimey can figure about just darn anything I set my mind too
Juni: I’m just gonna call you Pisslock now that’s really funny
The Detective: I’m technically Pisslock the Fourth
Juni: THERE ARE FOUR OF YOU!!
Juni breaks out into a fit of laughter!
The Detective: My name is no laughing matter!
Resume
When you’re 90% of the way there, the coin begins glowing ominously
Nest: Uhm, what does this mean?
The Detective: I genuinely have no clue, perhaps an incredibly strong source of untapped Aether is nearby?
Nest: I feel that could be true
Suddenly, a raven lands in Nest’s hair
Nest: AH
The Raven flies away as suddenly as it landed
Falconer: That can’t be a good omen
Juni: What’s that saying…when life hands you lemons, make lemonade?
Nest: Huh, how am I gonna make lemonade out of a bird?
Juni: What?
Nest: What?
The Detective: Raven lemonade is a bigger priority then the glowing blue token?
Nest: N-
Juni: Absolutely
Another Gull flies over Juni
Falconer: Gulls can symbolize wanting to run away from your responsibility
Zaylee: We can’t run away from whatever comes next…
The Detective: I believe the token is beckoning us to go forward, it’s why the light gets ever brighter…
Nest: Clearly the mystical token is glowing for a reason that’s bad…
Juni: Let’s i-
Falconer: C’mon Juni, why don’t you want to press on?
Juni: It’s just that…I think we have no reason to press this anymore
Zaylee: Huh
Juni: We were here to bring the token back, not to watch it glow all evil like
The Detective: Oh right, the Board of Mysteries are prudes…
Juni: So let me just take it…now!
Juni makes a swipe at The Detective, attempting to knock him down
The Detective: What in the hell do you think you’re doing
The Detective expertly moves out of the way as Juni tries waking him with her weapon.
Juni: C’MON, GIMMIE THE TOKEN!
Falconer: Juni! Stop this madness at once!
Juni: But why…we can go home…we can-
Zaylee: Juni, I know your fear has grown, but you need to stop this senseless violence
Juni: Sometimes..I-
Nest: Please, your really scaring us
Juni tries once more to strike The Detective but Falconer intercepts her punch
Falconer: I think that’s enough!
Juni: But I-
Falconer: I don’t know what has inspired this foul attitude of yours, but you need to cut it out, we’re just around the corner of something that could be genuinely dangerous…
Juni: I can’t, can’t, can’t-
Zaylee: Ok…then don’t
Juni: Huh!
Nest: Uh what are you saying?
Zaylee: Juni is clearly traumatized for one reason or another, the four of us can carry on if Juni needs to sit one out
The Detective: I mean that sounds good to me
Nest: I’m all for it
Falconer: Ya know what, it’s not a bad idea
Juni: No I c-
Zaylee: Ya know what, why don’t you sit over there and take a break
Juni: I do-
Zaylee: That’s an order actually..
Juni: Bu-
Zaylee: Now!!
Juni slowly turns away in shame as she goes to sit on a nearby bench.
Juni leaves your party
The Detective: I hope she ends up ok
Zaylee: I’ve never seen her like this before
Falconer: Something is terribly wrong with her…
Resume
When you get 100% of the way through District 3, you see a small fountain on the streets of District 4. The coin’s light is incredibly bright, the fountain appears to contain a notch of some kind
Zaylee: So…do we place The Token in the notch
The Detective: Seems like we shouldn’t
Nest: I’ll try…
The Detective moves up to the Fountain but suddenly a strange darkness appears before him
The Detective: The hell is this
Falconer: Uhm…is this bad
Nest: Please don’t be who I think it is…
The Buzzard appears from the darkness and grabs Nest
Buzzard: Hey there…I believe that token belongs to me
The Detective: Blimey!
Nest fishes out the Token and holds it up to The Buzzard, temporarily blinding him
Buzzard: GRAAH
Nest then slams the Token into the notch, which activates the fountain and the water there begins glowing
Nest: What just happened
Buzzard: Darn it!! Darn it all!!
Zaylee: What’s so darn it?
Buzzard: The fountain is going to release some of the untapped astral energy locked under the city
Zaylee: And?
Buzzard: It’s not good for me…
Falconer: Ah, so it’s good for us
Falconer’s Falcon attempts a dive bomb attack but misses
Buzzard: Go ahead and fight me if you wish…I promise it won’t end well for you
Zaylee: We don’t have a chance do we?
Fight The Buzzard
When he has 75% of his health left
Nest: You’re taking quite the hefty beating aren’t ya
Buzzard: I’ll punch a hole into you
Zaylee: Try it
Buzzard: Gladly
Resume against The Buzzard
When has 50% of his health left, the fight ends there
Buzzard: Ok…I promised it wouldn’t end well
Falconer: Huh
The Buzzard unleashes a powerful attack that sends the energy of the attacks that they previously unleashed on the party back at them, knocking them all down to the ground
Falconer: What the hell…
Buzzard: I’m kind of like a very malicious mirror, I can reflect the very worst parts of you in my current form
Nest: Current form…
Buzzard: Once the Astral Energy is unleashed, I will revert into my original form and become a really big bird…
The Detective: Ah…
Zaylee: What now
Buzzard: I got an ide-
The Buzzard is interrupted by an arrow whizzing by him, The Neighborhood Watch has joined the fight
Nolan: Stop your evil doing at once!
Edera: That’s right…we can defeat you right here and now
Buzzard: How trite, if you are to interrupt me I appreciate it actually being important
Edera: Huh!
Buzzard: I’ve killed so many vigilantes from the watch who set off after me, you are like flies that I easily swat down
Nolan: Wait what?
Buzzard: I’ve got no time for this
The Buzzard moves to them and grabs Edera by the neck
Edera: What the hell?
Buzzard: I don’t even feel like taking your crest, that’s how little I care…
Nolan: Wait st-
The Buzzard crushes Edera’s neck with so much force that her head flies several feet into the air
Nolan: Wha-
The Party moves to get up in the commotion but The Buzzard throws down an attack to knock them back down
Buzzard: Don’t think I forgot about you either
Suddenly, Juni appears as well, ready to fight The Buzzard
Juni: Not so fast, I’m here
Buzzard: Ugh another one
Before Juni can even make a move, The Buzzard knocks her down with a powerful attack
Zaylee: So what now?
Buzzard: I think I’ll try punching a hole through you
The Buzzard moves over to Zaylee and moves to punch her, Zaylee attempts to block it with her mace, but The Buzzard’s punch shatters that along with going through her entire chest, destroying her heart
Juni: I-
Juni begins to completely breakdown, Falconer is completely still
Falconer: What?
Buzzard: Let your friends be a warning that if you try to trifle with me again, that I will kill the rest of you without hesitation
Nest: Oh, what about me?
Buzzard: I no longer care about you, i just don’t want you in my way anymore
The Buzzard smashes part of the fountain, dislodging the token, before disappearing into a cloud of smoke
Nolan: Edera, Zaylee…how can I…how can I
Juni: Go on? That’s what I thought! You SUCK, I HATE YOU
Juni in her rage attacks Nolan and begins to beat him senseless
Falconer: Guys stop, just stop…
The Token is glowing even brighter than before….
Juni: I….can’t…stop!!
The Token rolls over to the brawl between Juni and Nolan as Juni pummles Nolan over and over again
Nolan: Maybe…this is what I deserve…
Falconer’s falcon reaches for the Token…and the light becomes so overpowering, before finally…Falconer, Nolan and Juni fall still
The Detective: So what now?
Nest: Alright..
Nest whistles and a few relatively large eagles swoop down
The Detective: Huh?
Nest: We load their bodies onto my friends and head up into the sky until things calm down…
Nest and The Detective load the unconscious bodies of Nolan, Juni and Falconer onto the Eagles…before setting off into the sky