The group followed Mars into the observatory, their eyes taking in the surroundings. The huge interior was a blend of modern technology and ancient mysticism; star charts adorned the walls alongside strange devices and celestial artifacts.
“Woah, this place is bangin', eh?” Rachel complimented.
Mars let out a chuckle before replying, “I appreciate that. Now let's keep on going, shall we, lepton?”
…The fuck is a lepton? Rachel thought with wrinkled brows.
Carmen nudged Rachel's shoulder with her elbow, whispering into Rachel's ear with a smirk: “Get ready, girl. She ain't gonna speak ‘normal’ from this point on.”
“Oh boy…'least you warned me,” Rachel whispered back with a sarcastic eye roll.
Mars led the group into a central chamber, the air cold and thick with the scent of ancient tomes and cosmic dust. She gestured for them to take a seat on a plush couch, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with books, scrolls, and ancient star maps. Alice read the signs hanging from one of the bookcases, one of them reading ‘research data'. She raised a brow at this but continued on with the others.
Once settled, Mars perched on a large, ornate chair at the center of the room. She steepled her fingers, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of wisdom and theatricality. "So, you seek knowledge about the Twilight Fragments, do you? Interesting. Very interesting indeed!"
The group exchanged glances, eager to hear Mars' explanation. Rachel leaned forward, her voice filled with curiosity. "Yes, we've been told these fragments hold some kind of significance, but we don't know much about them or what they even do. Can you tell us more?"
Mars chuckled, her voice taking on a tone of mystique. "Ah, the Twilight Fragments. All right, leptons, here's a light-speed rundown: long ago, there were three leptons who held three different beliefs. One lepton fought for the Light, one for the Darkness, and one who was neutral. After the joules upon joules of light pollution from all ends, the Twilight Fragments as you knew it were born. The original blade, the Twilight Ultima, split into the Twilight Fragment L, D, and V, meaning Light, Dark, and Void respectively. You use them to close gateways of Light, Darkness, or both, depending on which one you have.”
Mars continued her explanation, her voice taking on a lecturing tone: "Let me give you an analogy to help you understand. Imagine the universe as this vast cosmic canvas. Inside this canvas, there are these cracks, right? These are the gateways, the doorways to other worlds, universes, realms, and dimensions. The Twilight Ultima shattered into its three parts - the Light, Dark, and Void - for a specific reason. Each Twilight Fragment represents a different aspect of the primordial forces of the universe: Light, Dark, and Void. They are not merely ordinary objects. They possess unique and powerful energies capable of manipulating the fabric of reality. The Light Fragment harbors the essence of order, creation, and purity. The Dark Fragment holds the power of chaos, destruction, and the unknown. And the Void Fragment embodies the neutral balance, the perfect harmony between Light and Dark.
Mars leaned back in her seat, her eyes scanning the group. "The Fragments aren't just tools to interact with gateways; they're also symbolic of the very principles that shape our universe. To use them, you need to understand their essence, harmonize your thoughts and intentions with their innate energies, and channel that power to close the gateways. Do you understand, leptons?”
The group nodded. Zalgo raised her hand, her voice filled with caution. "We understand that the Fragments have these unique abilities to close Gateways. But what are these Gateways exactly? Are they like portals to different dimensions or something?”
Mars smirked, pleased with Zalgo's interest. "Yes, that's a good way to put it. But it's more complex than that. These Gateways are essentially ruptures in the fabric of reality, areas where the boundaries between different realms and dimensions are weakened. If left unchecked, these Gateways can lead to chaos, dangerous creatures, and potentially even the merging of worlds.”
Rachel chimed in, her voice filled with surprise. "Whoa, hold on a minute. So you're saying that these Twilight Fragments can close these chaotic gateways and prevent inter-dimensional messes?”
"Exactly!" Mars replied with a nod. "The Twilight Fragments are cosmic keys designed to heal the rifts. When used properly, they can seal off these gateway rifts and restore order to the universe. It's a delicate and powerful task, but one that has been crucial throughout history."
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Noelle then appeared in the middle of the room in a bright magenta flash, approaching the girls with an urgent vigor. “Alice, everyone…may I have your attention?”
Zalgo blinked, turning to Noelle as she lightly gasped. “Wh-what's wrong?”
Noelle looked unsure as she hesitated, but then spoke up: “There is a Gateway of Darkness in a far away world, we must travel there now to close it!”
“Hey hey, hold on,” Rachel protested, gesturing to Mars. “This gal here is dropping bombs here, telling us what all this Twilight Fragment crap is about! We're learning about the Gateway stuff and–”
“It'll have to continue another time,” Noelle shut her down, her voice stern. “We must shut down the Gateway in time before it affects all the other ones.”
“Fine fine, which world is it?”
“The Royal Marines. It's an island paradise famous for its laid-back lifestyle…until now.”
"That means we will be traveling to a far island paradise known for its laid-back lifestyle?" Rachel mused.
Alice and Zalgo stared curiously at the news. "Well, that certainly sounds like a change of pace," Alice remarked.
Noelle chuckled, a hint of worry seeping into her voice. "Indeed, it does. However, it appears that the tranquility and peacefulness of the Royal Marines is under imminent threat."
Zalgo's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Wait, how is it under threat when it's supposed to be a relaxing getaway?”
"Unfortunately, not anymore," Noelle replied, her gaze turning graver. "The Gateway of Darkness that needs to be closed is located in the Royal Marines, and its presence is disrupting the balance between Light and Darkness.”
"Damn," Carmen whispered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “I was just ‘boutta bust out with a swimsuit for some beach time. How does this Gateway of Darkness affect the place?”
"It's not good," Noelle continued, her voice steady but ominous. "The presence of the Gateway of Darkness is throwing the Royal Marines off balance. Dark energy is seeping into the world, corrupting the natural environment, and affecting the people's behavior. It won't be quite the paradise vacation you were expecting.”
"What!?" Rachel said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "So, you're saying we'll have to deal with this darkness stuff while on vacation? Ain't that just great…”
"I'm afraid so," Noelle replied, her expression solemn. "We must act quickly to prevent the Gateway from spreading further. The Royal Marines is a delicate ecosystem, and it won't be able to withstand the onslaught of Dark energy for long. You will need to use the Twilight Fragments to close the Gateway and restore the balance. Now let's please hurry.”
Noelle enveloped Alice, Rachel, and Zalgo with her aura, with them disappearing in a bright flash, leaving Mars and the others alone.
“...Should we go there too and see what's up?” Carmen asked the others.
Teigen nodded with a smirk. “Hell yeah, I could soak up some sun right now, and I'm bored so why not?”
“Count me in,” Naphi joined.
…
Alice, Rachel, and Zalgo find themselves standing on the soft, sun-kissed sands of the Royal Marines, the azure waves gently caressing the coastline. The air is scented with the fragrance of tropical blooms, and the vibrant hues of corals just off the coast add to the world's beauty. They look around, taking in the tranquil paradise that surrounds them: tall palm trees, vibrant corals, coconuts, and dozens of people surfing or sunbathing.
“There doesn't seem to be anything serious going on here,” Zalgo commented.
“You haven't seen anything yet, we must find Shelly, the woman who needs our help. Let's get going, please.”
As they approach, they overhear a woman speaking with a friendly smile, addressing the crowd:
"Fellow Royal Marines, what a glorious day we have! The weather is perfect, the water is pristine, and the waves are calling us to surf them!”
The pumped up crowd responds with energetic cheers.
A man from the crowd called out with a grin, “Hey, Camilla, are ya up for some surfing soon?”
The young woman, Camilla, chuckled and replied, “You know I’m always up for a little bit of fun on the waves, but I have an announcement to make first!”
More people in the crowd begin chattering among themselves, anticipating Camilla's announcement. Alice, Rachel, and Zalgo move closer, intrigued by the suspense building in the air.
Camilla, her smile widening, silences the murmurs with a raise of her hand. She then addresses the crowd: “Greetings, everyone. It brings me great pleasure to announce a little surprise!”
Intrigue stirs in the people as they lean in, curious about the surprise.
Camilla continues with her arms spread wide, as if trying to embrace the excitement of the moment: “Starting this very day, we will be hosting a series of thrilling surfing competitions, sponsored by the world-renowned company, Wave Riders!”
The crowd erupts with applause, with some people cheering and whistling in approval.
Camilla, the energy from the crowd feeding hers, continues her announcement, her voice lively and enthusiastic:
“Yes, you heard right! We're joining forces with Wave Riders to bring you the most exhilarating surf competitions you've ever seen! Not only will there be a grand prize, but the winners will also have the chance to represent the Royal Marines in the World Surf Championship!”
“Uh,” Rachel said, her tone doubtful. “Noelle, these people are literally talking about a damn surfing competition. They don't seem like they're in any danger to me.”
Noelle shook her head. “You're right, there doesn't seem to be any immediate visible danger here. But we must remember, dark influences can often be subtle and not instantly apparent. Dark energy and anomalies don't follow the same natural laws as we understand them. Sometimes, the real danger lurks beneath the surface, in the behavior and actions of the people, or in the very environment itself.”
Rachel shrugged in agreement, her arms crossed as she scanned the crowd: "Yeah, you might be onto something. As they taught in Umbra Academy, Dark forces are sneaky bitches, always hiding in plain sight.”
Noelle added, her expression thoughtful: "That's true. Dark energy has a way of taking hold gradually, like a slow poison. It twists things, changing the very nature of life and its surroundings. Sometimes, the signs of its influence can be subtle or easily overlooked. But they're there, if you know where to look.”
Camilla noticed Alice and her friends in the crowd, her eyes lighting up as she trotted towards them.
Noticing this, Zalgo gasped and instinctively stepped back. “Um, she's coming over here now.”
Alice gulped, crossing her arms as Camilla came over.
Not again… Alice thought.