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The Clock Festival
Topic Started: Jun 3 2008, 12:20 PM (335 Views)
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[ *  * ]
When did this all start?
Change in time...
When did the fires of fate begin to burn?

The sun was just starting to set. The great Millennial Clock's shadow stretched sleepily across the whole of eastern Schwartzwald. Already, tiny lanterns strung across all the streets were beginning to light up, lit by magic.

Although the festival had technically been going on the entire day, night was when it really started to get interesting. All of the dancers, the singers, the magicians, the party-goers, and the performers were starting to step up their acts. Conversations got louder, with one topic heard above the rest: The Millennial Clock's hand. Never in five hundred years, when the hand had been pointing straight down, had the hand been so vertical. Maybe this was finally the year that it would finish its revolution. Bets were placed, but there were still doubts. The hand had been close to the top for years. Who knew when it was going to reach the top, if it ever did.

Nevertheless, the party continued.

The main street of Schwartzwald, Noon Street, was particularly full of people. Noon Street was famous for its shops and even more so during the Clock Festival. Merchants called out into the street to bring people over to see their goods, and one voice, bright and soprano, rang over the rest.

"Step right up, folks! Tell me yer name and I'll tell you yer fortune!" Gwen shouted with a clap of the hands. "The future revealed, free of charge!"

From under Gwen's shop counter, there came a sigh and a melancholy voice. "Your advertising leaves something to be desired" The round djinni poked out from under the clothed counter, his squinty eyes looking more squinty than normal. "A name for a fortune? It sounds shifty to me."

"Shush, Havoc, I'm trying to work here!" Gwen replied with a scowl, but who was she kidding. There hadn't been very many people interesting in getting their fortunes read. So far, only a few had come. She leaned against the counter, staring into the crowd. Her seemingly brilliant plan was failing, but she kept on yelling into the streets. She wanted to find one good fortune before the night was over. No, before midnight, if she could.

"Futures told for free, deadly accurate! Step right up, folks!"
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"Futures told for free, deadly accurate! Step right up, folks!"


"No, Amene, don't even--"

"Oh shush, Amy! I love this kind of stuff!"

"Exactly...and it spells trouble."

"Actually, it spells 'future'."

". . ."

On any other place than that of Sententia, it would have been odd to see a girl bickering with a cat that padded at her side. However, since it wasn't, it was casual and normal. Even though the cat itself seemed more alien than animal, with her large eyes, big ears and interesting build and very short orange fur, not many people paid attention to the two as they wove their way over to a particular stand. Amene apologized as she bumped right into a tall man, brushing off her short green skirt as she skittered around another potential bumping hazard.

Amy huffed and sprinted to catch up, her tail whisked high as she easily pranced around the cavorting citizens. Before Amene could reach the counter, Amy leaped up onto it and sat there, not looking very happy as the long-blond haired girl finally made it.

"Hello! I couldn't help but hear the 'deadly accurate' part--the last one I went to said I'd die if I kept Amy for over a year...and it's been two." Amene said as she leaned against the counter, poking a casual thumb over at Amy, who huffed again and flicked her tail.

"Let's just get this over with," the cat grumbled, catching sight of Havoc.
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"Righto!" Gwen exclaimed, waving the customer over. "Now, before I can tell your future at all, I have to know your name. After all, names are the root of your destiny, given when your connection to the Other Side is the greatest!" As she was explaining, she was pulling a deck of cards, her tools of the trade, from a pouch at her waist.

Havoc, still underneath the table, somehow managed to roll his eyes. Gwen really had to make a show of everything, didn't she. Well, as long as she got whatever it was she was after, he didn't care. He as after something else entirely.

That something may or may not have coincided with being eaten by a cat.

He looked over his nonexistent shoulders at the feline. He wasn't particularly startled. Instead, he stuck out his scythe menacingly. "Shoo," he hissed.
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"Shoo?" Amy all but hissed, rising to her paws instantly, the tip of her tail twitching. But before she could attempt to jump down and pop that darn rascal, Amene simply swept the scuffled cat up into her arms, not missing a beat to answer Gwen.

"My name is Amene Kavi," she answered, her eager eyes focused on the cards Gwen glowingly displayed.

Amy exhaled a long huff, her big entrancing golden eyes narrowed in a perfect glare at Havoc. Her body was stiff, ready to pounce the instant Amene's arms showed signs of releasing her.
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The Pierrot nodded. "Amene," she repeated, solidifying it in her mind. With one deft movement, she flung a card out of the deck and caught it between the index and middle finger of her left hand. Without looking at what card it was, she closed her eyes.

Spark that ignites the waves of change, reveal to me your plans for the being known as Amene, she muttered under her breath. "Destiny Card!"

Gwen flicked the single card into the air. It spun a couple times, its face distorting before falling onto the table. On its face was an image that certainly wasn't there before: a http://www.snowman-jim.org/science/images/north-pole-sun-moon.jpg of a tremendous moon hanging low over an arctic lake.

"And there you have it," Gwen said. "I must say, it's rather vague. What you find there, wherever that is, you'll have to find out on your own." All business now. Havoc, with the feline menace gone, looked up at the Pierrot. The look in her maroon eyes said that she hadn't gotten what she wanted, although she hid it well. "Oh, and be sure to check out the party while you're here!"
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"Oh, that was so useful," Amy said in a perfect sarcastic tone, rolling her large eyes. And even though Amene had no clue, Amy saw as Havoc did that she was...disappointed, maybe? The cat decided not to comment on it, but rather squirmed until Amene set her back on the counter, where the cat promptly ignored Havoc and settled her almost intruding gaze on Gwen.

However, Amene didn't share the same disappointment as Amy did about the outcome. As seemed to be a habit, her left hand gently fiddled with the gauze that wrapped securely around her right wrist as she smiled in a thoughtful way at the other girl.

"That was neat, miss! Thank you for your time--I will certainly be awaiting that time for when I'll find out on my own," she glanced over her shoulder to the festivities, but somehow it didn't seem so glamorous anymore. As she turned back to Gwen, a brief shadow of doubt settled onto her features before it was lifted into a smile. The only real reason why she wasn't in Cilantro right now was because something had felt different, not quite right. And Amy had been more snappy and on edge, and less willing to actually talk to her openly.

"I will see you again, right?" Amene wasn't sure where the question came from, but she felt it should be said. Amy had practically chased away her friends, insulting them one way or another, whether on purpose or as the outcome of her personality. But the girl seemed to tolerate the cat for who she was, something only Amene had done so far. Plus, she was interesting.
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Gwen raised an eyebrow at Amene's question, as well as the rather scathing comment from her cat. Hey, it's not like I can just pluck a useful fortune out of the air, Gwen thought. She had to resist sticking her tongue out at the cat or making some other rude gesture at the feline for the sake of her customers.

"Yeah, you'll probably be seeing me around," Gwen replied with a brief wave. "I get around a lot, after all. Lots of people in need of a little foresight." Or something like that.

"Psst, here comes another one." Havoc was peering out from under the table, his round face shrouded from the crowd by the tablecloth and advertisement boards.

Gwen glanced down at the Djinni quickly, then looked up. Another person--a woman, one who reminded Gwen of a teacher she once had--was indeed heading towards the table.

"You're telling fortunes?" she asked, the dragon djinni wrapped around her neck like a boa.

The Pierrot nodded. "Yep! I'll trade a name for a fortune, nothing more and nothing less!" she said. She took the card, the one with Amene's fortune, off the table and handed it to the Terran. With the rest of the cards, she gave them a quick bridge shuffle and fanned them out.
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The Terran blinked when she was nearly shoved aside by the very not-so-graceful entrance of a woman, but made no comment as she and the other began to talk. When the card was handed to her, she took it with a nod. Amy ignored these newcomers, as was custom to people who didn't make a good first impression or disappointed her in some way. She huffed in her dignified way, walking across the counter to Amene so the girl could pick her up.

Amene tucked the card into her small pack, then scooped up the ruffly cat. She suddenly felt foolish for asking the Pierrot that question, instead of her name or the likes. As she was walking away, Amy extended her neck to gently touch her nose to Amene's.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know."




Seen was praying that he wouldn't be stepped on, seeing as he wasn't exactly tall compared to the majority. His feathery hair shifted in the little breezes the cajoling people made as they passed around him, smiling and even reaching over to fluff his hair or pat his back. It had always been like that, ever since he had been a little(er) boy--people just had this inkling to touch his light creamy blue, dark blue streaked hair or pat him on the back. Over time he had gotten use to it, so receiving these greetings now wasn't out of mind for him.

He twitched his vest back into place with a small smile as he got closer to a stand that was currently occupied, but he could see that it was run by a strawberry-blond haired girl. Hmm, future tellings aye? Of course it pricked his interest, but he did not stray too close as of yet. There was someone else there, and he didn't want to be rude by breathing down the woman's neck.
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Gwen snatched the cards back with a huff. Those cards were extremely valuable, despite not having the average face symbols, and she didn't like other people touching them without her permission. "Useless to you, perhaps, but that's because you don't know how to use them." She brushed five cards off the top of the deck and fanned then out, revealing a Royal Flush of spades, which then faded back into the blank white cards they normally were. On three of the five cards, however, symbols bleed back onto the card's face.

On one was the image of a pair of wings, almost like the symbol of the Valkyrie mirrored. On another was a calligraphic dragon, wings outstretched. On the third was a clock. Gwen glanced down at them with curiosity. How did those show up...?

"I...guess these belong to you," she said. She handed the dragon card to Rabiah and the clock to Ronson, which still left one card...There was only one other person near the stand, and that was Seen. "And this one goes to you." She handed the last card, the one with the wings, to the Cleric.

There was something else, something tugging at the back of her mind, besides the mysteriously warping cards...

"It's midnight," Havoc muttered. Finally, he moved out form under the table, although still not entirely in view of the public. Only the people standing in front of the fortune teller's shop would be able to see him clearly. He was staring at the Millennial Clock. It was midnight when the Clock moved its hand so slightly every year.

Gwen glanced up to the Clock, then back down to her customers. It was time, alright! "Sorry folks," she exclaimed. "It's time to close up shop!" She grabbed the Chronos Djinni by the scythe, shoved the card deck back into its pouch, and ducked out into the crowd. Almost apologetically, a small sign saying, "Sorry, we're closed!" sat on the counter where her cards had been.

The tip of the hand finally reached the pinnacle, pointing perfectly straight into the heavens. As the hand shifted, gears within the Clock tower started to grind into action after a thousand years, the groaning of the old machinery reverberating over the entire city. A gong rang.

As if from the sound of the gong, every light in the city, magic or natural, went out, bathing the city in darkness. Everyone in the crowd looked to their neighbor, asking what had happened. No one knew. Several Magicians and Incendiaries tried to relight the fires and the candles with no success. The lights were gone completely.
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Seen found himself drawing closer to the stand, his head slightly tilting as the other boy grinned over at him. As if that had been an invitation, he wandered closer and cautiously peered around Ronson as he gave the Pierrot her cards back. Seen was fascinated as he watched Gwen work with her cards, his apple-green eyes brightening in his curiosity.

However, he raised an eyebrow when a card was handed to him. He hardly noticed as Gwen and her djinn scurried away as the Clock drew their attention, his bright eyes on the card. Wings... what did that mean? His thoughts were muffled as every light went out, springing up a rather mellow panic as people tried to light candles and the likes.

"What happened?" he asked aloud, almost forgetting he was right next to Ronson. But he slid the card into his satchel, suddenly feeling as if it were precious, and he'd rather not have it taken from him by any chance.



Amene had since set Amy down, trying to calm her own thoughts as she watched the Clock point its hand up to the very heavens. When the lights went out, there was confusion and suddenly the poor girl was victim to being bumped into and incidentally pushed around.

"Amy? Amy!" she called, but she had been drawn away from her cat friend who was probably trying not to be stepped on and looking for her at the same time. A panic swelled in the Terran's chest--it happened every time she and Amy got separated, but now this was different. Amy could get easily hurt...

Amy heard Amene's voice, and it seemed rather far away for only being maybe a minute or two apart. She flicked her white-tipped tail, feeling alarmed. There was no light, not even a speck of it that could help her eyes draw off of to navigate around. Even cats needed some light to see in the pure dark.

"Amene!" she called, her whiskers warning her when she drew too near to another and helped her from being stepped on. She twitched her nose, catching onto a different scent from the other humans. She gently brushed up against his legs, pawing at him.

"Excuse me, have you seen my human?"
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Cody looked down as he felt something brush against his leg, which was really pointless considering how dark it was. He thought it was a cat...until it talked. A shiver crawled up his spine...

Until he remembered that some more intelligent animals could talk. Right.

"I'm sorry, Miss Cat, but I haven't seen much of anything," he said to Amy. He could hear hundreds of people bumping into each other, yelling out sorries and ouches and curses. A few people were smart enough to not move, but it didn't help with the countless people that were moving.

Speaking of which, he had to get a move on himself. He hesitantly and cautiously reached down, gave the cat a pat on the head, and ran, coincidentally running past the group of people by Gwen's abandoned stand. He almost tripped as he ran past them. He sensed something strange about them...No, it couldn't be...So he continued on in the dark, dodging people despite the lack of light as he hurried towards the Clock Tower.

It wasn't pitch dark for long. A dark light started to seep up from the ground closest to the Tower, crackling with electricity. If one looked closely enough, they would see that something--a dark, shapeless mass- was slowly growing within the light. It continued to get larger before spreading, revealing a shape almost like a dragon. Its head turned towards Noon Street, its bright orange eyes staring down the crowd of tiny people below. Its mouth opened, the insides the same shifting, painted color as its eyes and let loose a horrible screeching roar.

As the sound waves of its roar blasted over Schwartzwald, the great beast melted. It collapsed in on itself, breaking into tiny parts, each similar to the whole safe for the size. Each tiny demon rushed out over the city, passing by the people as if they were ghosts, and out into the world where they could wreck what havoc they pleased.

Suddenly...it was over. The lights, as if afraid to come back on, slowly flickered back one by one. Even the cloud cover had gone, leaving the moon and the stars to shine down comfortingly.

Two figures, one tall and well-postured and the other small and slumped over, stood on a rooftop a short distance from the Clock Tower, watching with interest out of the view of the crowd and the lights. The taller one chuckled.

"Ragnarøkkr," he said simply. "Let the war begin."
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Amene was probably amongst some of the calmest as the scene unfolded, her gaze following one of the little demons as it passed right by her. Hmm, intriguing! As the lights began to go back on, she began to walk back to where it had headed---which lead her straight back to Gwen's stand, Seiche, Seen, Rabiah and another. At least she knew Amy would have an easier time finding her now, instead of her having to push through people to find the cat.

She was right; the fiery pelt seeming to ripple as Amy lightly padded toward them. Now she gave everyone equal attention, since she was in an actual lighter mood now.

"Maybe we should go after those things?" Amy suggested, her whiskers twitching in interest as she looked up at the djinni. Seen stepped out from around Rabiah, frowning lightly as he looked out deeper into the town. Amene nodded, but unlike Amy who would as soon dash away rather than wait for the others, giving the others a chance to agree or just let it slip them by.

Seen rubbed the back of his head, then took a step forward.

"Well, I had better, seeing how you may need a Cleric."
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Seen was right. Before anyone else could react, a high-pitched cry rippled through the air. Nearby, someone was screaming.

Not all of the demons had cleared the city. Some had taken an interesting in these smelly bipedal creatures, particularly a blonde girl making an awesome lot of noise. It wrapped its claws around her thin arm and pulled her hands off of her face, only causing her to scream louder.

Several nearby men rushed forward protectively, punching the demon and trying to pull it away. It turned away from the girl, its orange eyes now focused on its attackers. It moved towards them like a monkey and punched, knocking each of the burly men down with one blow.

Luckily for the girl, it had lost interest in her. She took the opportunity to run, leaving the demon to find another human to prey on. It turned towards Amene slowly, regarding her with a look almost like a puppy...An ugly, writhing black puppy dragon. An orange crescent broke over the bottom half of its face in a twisted smile...

Before having a playing card get buried in the side of its head.

Instantly, the demon literally fizzed out of existence in a puff of fog, leaving the card to flop to the ground. Gwen's gloved hand picked it up off the ground before placing it back into the deck. She gave a look to the others standing by the stand. "I hope you guys can all fight, because we've got company." She nodded down the street, where several more--at least five--of the monsters were appearing, hobbling down the street towards the group.
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Amene's hand twitched to her shoulder bag in the familiarity of habit, Amy automatically standing at her side with a low, menacing growl. Anyone could laugh at the cat for such an act, sure--until they saw what kind of damage her teeth and claws could do.

Luckily Gwen--or to Amene, 'The Pierrot'--sizzled the thing out of existence before anything else could happen. Seen twitched, for the scream had brought to existence the shaken reality of what they were coming up against. He nodded to Gwen, even though he was more defensive than offensive.

Amene smiled her thanks to Gwen as she pulled out what appeared to be a meager dagger...but in her hand, it was much more than that. Her long, thick hair was brushed over her right shoulder as she narrowed her eyes at the monsters that lumbered near, glancing down at Amy. This wouldn't be the first time they had encountered a foe, but this also wouldn't be a first time when Amy's normal cat nature (no powers) might work against her.
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The demons were interested now. Humans were fun enough, but when they fought back it excited them like nothing else; their blood--if they had any--boiled at the thought of battle. The demons rushed forward, reckless and ruthless, not stopping at their comrades were blown back by the the force of Rabiah's magic. One of them exploded away, but there were still several left, clamoring towards the group.

One of them noticed the cat. It stopped in curiosity and stared at the hissing kitty before reaching out for her with its curled, jointed fingers, aiming to pick the cat up. The others took a more offensive approach.

Two of them crouched down before springing up at Amene and Xion. Another tried slashing at Rabiah, while another took a kick at Seen's head. One more stretched its claws out to Ronson, while the last one faced Gwen.

Gwen didn't like the odds. The humans were only barely outnumbered, but demons were obnoxiously tough. They were killed most easily by surprise, as she and Rabiah had both done. She just hoped that her side had some tricks up its sleeve...

Wait...she was a Pierrot...Of course she had some tricks up her sleeve!

"Catch me if you can, demon spawn!" she yelled, fanning the cards in her hands. She raced forward and, just feet from the demon, sprung up and twisted, plowing the cards into the demon's face like a drill. Unfortunately, the demon had seen some sort of attack coming. Before Gwen could hop away, it slashed, catching her shoulder as she turned. It wasn't deep, but like a paper cut, it sure stung!

Havoc growled from a good, safe distance away. "Well, if you would stop showing off, you wouldn't get injured, you buffoon!" Stupid clowns. Gwen just shot him a glare and turned back to the rest of the humans, to check on how they were doing. She was prepared for the demon's arrival. The others were probably not.
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