Descend and Ascend

[nintendonut1]

Upon Nepeta entering her puzzle chamber, the walls of the maze retracted and the floor opened up into a pit of shale imps. If John had been forced to surrender himself to the mercy of gravity, he might have been caught off guard and had been in some amount of trouble.

As he was, John whipped out Villyhoo once more and made his descent as dramatic as possible, ending it with a heavy slam of his hammer that took out at least three of the smaller imps. This continued for a while, wielding his weapon and collecting scattered grist; just like old times!! It felt good to have some familiarity in this new world, and it felt even better to be swinging his hammer with wild abandon again.

Soon enough, the room was cleared, and a door above, back in the empty maze chamber, opened up. John entered through and inspected the room for anymore monsters before putting his hammer away.

This room appeared virtually empty to begin with, and it seemed like there was nothing between him and the far door. Nothing but a geometrically tiled floor. Which obviously meant the floor itself was a puzzle, ah-duh.

John did what any gamer would do when faced with a new challenge; he tested the waters, placing a foot on one tile, then another, then...

crrrrrackle-snap-ZAP!!!

The heir of breath got out a staggered cry as electricity shot through his body, and he stumbled backwards to fall over on the panel he entered on. It took a moment for him to recover from the jarring sensation; CHRIST this hurt way more in real life. Suddenly he felt terrible for all the pain he watched Link go through on account of his mistakes, even if Link really was just a mess of pixals.

"N-nuh. Nep?" he called out across the way. "Are there panels in your room too? C-careful, they. Hungh. Shock you."

[shiftyPotentate]

As she completed her puzzle, Nepeta walked forward into the next room. She found tiles like the room John was in. She noted that the tile in front of the door was glowing blue. When she stepped on it, nothing happened from her perspective. However, over on John's side, the tile he was sitting on started to glow green.

"They do?" she called across the way. Experimentally she stepped forward onto the next tile. Assuming John wasn't ready for this move, Nepeta would see the blue tile she just left flash three times. John would see the green tile move forward one, and also flash three times.

When both tiles stopped flashing, both of them received a shock (poor John got his second one). Hopping around in pain, Nepeta stumbled back to her blue tile.

Evidently when one explorer moved to a tile, the other had about two seconds to follow to the matching tile. If they could not, both would be punished with a painful shock.

Furthermore, they each had a maze. The mazes were different in structure, each seeming to have multiple junctures from any given position, but being different, one might take a path the other could not (because of an obstructing wall), which would result in another shock.

However, there would be one path both could follow. The key was to cooperate and find that path.

[ryocker]

Now Wax was getting curious. He had seen their actions, knew a good deal of what was going on- and wondered what that sparkling geometric stuff was. "Hmmm... Maybe I'll ask them when they get back..." he thought aloud. Though try as he might, things were definately starting to get a bit boring on his end.

He had to start thinking. Deciding to seperate his current hands and leave them on the tiles (in case they had to be open when John and Nepeta came back), Wax took a moment to slither around a bit. He considered running in after them to see what was going on more clearly, but that could be just as much of a hinderance as a help- maybe more hinderance.

"Well," he sighed, shrugging. "I guess I better get busy with something." He could've practiced shape shifting, but there's a little too much effort to that. So staying in place, Wax put his hands together and mashed them a little- making another mini-wick. Deciding to be creative, he also gave a bit of his own body to make it- once it was alive, it started cooeing cutely. "Heh, well that's worthwhile." he smiled.

[nintendonut1]

John cried out again, the shock just as jarring as the last one, and fell back to lean against the wall, trembling.

Welp. The moment they both stepped on the tiles, more walls came down to create even more mazes on both sides. Looking over their perdicament, John summed it up nicely with an exasperated, "fffffucking christ."

But, the only thing left to do now was tackle it head-on! ...smartly, of course. "Okay... okay, Nep, we can do this... just... one step at a time."

Together, they plotted routes as they went along, and through experimentation, discovered that backtracking WAS an option if they hit dead ends, which was useful. They called out commands to each other, lightning fast as they had to be, and naturally, mistakes were made. Naturally, being a god tier upped his resistance to bodily harm far past that of a normal thirteen-year-old, but even then the constant shocking was starting to wear him down.

At last, he nearly crumpled in front of the far door. "Nnnn... Nepeta? Did you make it...?"

[shiftyPotentate]

Recovering from the first shock, Nepeta made sure John was okay. He seemed to be. Being a god tier probably helped. She nodded at him, and they started on the puzzle.

Nepeta made more mistakes than John, which made her feel really guilty, as she was dragging them down. Unlike John, Nepeta wasn't as resistant to the shocks, though trolls' natural fortitude and her status as a healer did help a little. John still had far more resistance than she did.

Depsite that, she pressed on, refusing to let this get in her way. She managed to make it to her far door as John reached his, and the puzzle deactivated, having been solved.

"Yes... did... did you?" She looked over, panting. John looked hurt! She wanted to go to him, but faltering now might make them have to do it over again.

Both of their doors opened, and behind them, smaller switches. Nepeta flicked hers, and when John did the same, the main door down below began to open. The walls and traps that had been left in their wake instantly vanished to allow them to return to that main door, and the switches Wax had been holding down no longer needed pressure to stay active.

When the two of them managed to make it back to the main landing, Nepeta helped John, using her power to recover the energy he had lost. She also thanked Wax for his help, noting the two severed fists that had been weighing the switches down.

Beyond the door that had been locked, a pinkish glow emanated. Spirits wandered around the room aimlessly, and yet around whatever was in the center of the room. A faint trace of light shone down from a passage through the earth to the night sky. A glance upward through it would reveal a blue region, with clouds, and light coming from it.

Skaia.

The light shone down onto a dark red slab of rock with the heart symbol on it.

The Rogue of Heart's Quest Bed.

[ryocker]

Having meshed the small Miniwax into himself and removed its mini wick (don't worry, they don't mind), Wax moved into the room with them, and was greeted to a spectacular sight. "Maaan, this place looks awesome~" he said in awe. "Nowhere in my world can you be greeted by a sight like this."

As much as Wax wanted to ask about the sparkly shapes (Grit), he had a feeling this was where things needed to be done. "Considering this place is where the two of you have been searching for, I'm guessing... that stone in the center is it?" he asked, observing it. "...it does look like those other things littered throughout the temple, doesn't it?"

A symbol surrounded by a color...

...Toothpaste?

"Wait a minute..." Wax began, looking at John. "John, have you already been through something like this?"

[nintendonut1]

After limping back to the main chamber, John was highly grateful for Nepeta’s healing touch. The ache quickly evaporated from his body, and he nodded and smiled to her to ensure he was well again. Together, the three of them proceeded onwards.

Amongst the softly glowing spheres of pink, John caught the shape of the grand artifact in the middle of the hollow, and it looked terribly familiar.

John: Go through a series of realizations

You do so. You are unaware your lack of a poker face has you wearing the various emotions you cycle through as clear as day.

Oh, it’s a Quest Bed! Piqued interest.

Oh! It’s for the Hero of Heart! That means Nepeta can God Tier!! Blissful elation.

…oh. That means she has to die. Sobering turn-around.

Oh fuck. And someone else has to do it. Gut plummeting into shoes.

If you had even heard Wax’s question, you would have hoped your quietly terrified pallor and rigid stance would answer it well enough. For approximately two minutes and seven seconds, you proceed through an emotional shutdown at the thought of Nepeta having to die.

And probably by your hand. She would want it to be by you. You’re her moirail! You above all else understood to the terms, and what it meant to her, coming all this way. You couldn’t back out of that. And letting Wax do it would be too easy, cowardly.

All you can think to do is look to Nepeta hopelessly, waiting for her response. Waiting to see what she wanted to do. As well as try to not throw up.

[shiftyPotentate]

Rogue: Face your destiny.

You spot your quest bed. It looks similar to how your friend described it to you. Stone and colored. Sure doesn't look very comfurtable for stretching out on!

But the playful notions aside, you let the gravity of the moment sink in. You and your moirail have found your quest bed. You know what has to happen. In order to god tier, a living player must be killed while asleep on their quest bed (barring slight rule-dist0rti0ns and manipul8tions). The only one here who you trust to do so for you...

... is John.

Nepeta: Give John the clawKind.

You return the Blue Harpoon Claws to your strife specibus, then remove the clawKind card from your strife portfolio. Your hands are bare for the first time since you can remember. With that comes an odd feeling of powerlessness, but you let it pass.

Without a word, you turn to your moirail and offer him the clawKind card, containing the claws. You then tell him you're glad he's your moirail, and that you trust him completely to do what has to be done. You give him a reassuring hug, a little bit tighter than usual.

You maintain the hug for at least three minutes, assuming you kept count.

[ryocker]

Wax wasn't sure what was about to happen. He'd never seen SBURB, and honestly only thought John had gone through what Nepeta was about to do by his shirt's pattern- it was all just a lucky guess. He had seen John stammer, saw Nepeta remove those sharp claws of hers, and had witnessed the hug- three long minutes, all wrapped around Nepeta telling John that she was sure he could do what was needed.

Wax smiled and watched on. "Now I know for a fact this is none of my business," Wax said, when he was sure it was alright to start talking. "but nepeta's not the only one who believes in you, John." he said, slapping John's back. "So cheer up a bit! I may not know what's about to happen, but I do know you'll do it- if Nepeta believes in you, I do too, little bud.

"And Nepeta," Wax grinned, extending his hand. "Like i said, I don't know what's about to happen, but I know it's for good reason. And... good luck, if it involves some kind of journey." Nepeta most likely shook his hand, but then Wax took it just a bit further- one of his finger's stretched out and lightly slid across her cheek, not unlike a lick.

Now it was time to stop interfering. Wax slid to the side of the room and watched. No matter how gorey, or disturbing it was going to get, this was their job to do- so he didn't truly have a say in the matter. Wax most likely freaked a little when he saw John use Nepeta's claws in an almost murderous fashion, but watched on anyway.

[nintendonut1]

John: Accept your grim task.

That’s going to take you a minute. Or five.

Not many words need to be traded with your moirail. Her face, her eyes, speak a thousand of them. You hope yours does the same in return.

You accept the BLUE HARPOON CLAWS with trembling hands, slipping them on with unfamiliarity. You suppose this would probably be infinitely better than beating her with your hammer. This was difficult enough as it was, but you were certain drawing something like this out in that fashion would just about kill you.

Only two things kept you in check, kept you from protesting. One, she was your moirail, and it was your responsibility to do what was best for her. And two, you’re quite aware of what’s supposed to happen when you DO kill her upon the slab.

She’ll be back. She’ll be back with awesome heart powers and wings and you can go flying together and it will just be the best.

Hopefully.

Within the tight, lingering hug, you whisper to her that it won’t even hurt all that much. You promise you’ll do it as painless and absolutely possible.

You then pull back and let her get comfortable, taking the time to gird up your loins. Be a man.

Kill your moirail.

[shiftyPotentate]

After pulling away finally from the hug, Nepeta decided she would distract herself a bit before actually completing the task.

She pulled her tablet out and checked who was online. Karkat was still logged in, she noticed.

Nepeta: Pester Karkat.

-- arsenicCatnip [AC] began pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG] at ??:?? --

AC: :33 < hi karkitty!
AC: :33 < *ac purrowls into karkats room and hopes he is there to talk to her, and finds a comfurtable spot to lay down*
CG: NEPETA???
AC: :33 < oh good you are there! *ac gives cg a big hug!*
CG: HOW ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
CG: LAST I HEARD GAMZEE HAD KILLED YOU AND...
CG: OH, I GET IT.
CG: YOU'RE FROM SOME EARLIER POINT IN THE TIMELINE AREN'T YOU.
CG: FORGET I SAID ANYTHING.
AC: :33 < nope! h33 h33, though that is a good guess!
AC: :33 < i am in a diffurent place entirely!
AC: :33 < theres a lot of our furriends here too and i got to talk to them all!
CG: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
CG: THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT DREAM BUBBLE BULLSHIT FEFERI WAS GOING ON ABOUT DOESN'T IT.
AC: :33 < no, but i was there fur a while
AC: :33 < you dont get to talk to anyone who isnt dreaming and you didnt want to go to sl33p so thats why!
AC: :33 < but no, i woke up somewhere else
CG: UH, YEAH.
AC: :33 < and now gamz33, tafuros, john, eridan, theyre all here with me!
CG: IF YOU'D SEEN THE KIND OF DARK MONSTROUS SHIT I'D SEEN YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SLEEP EITHER.
AC: :(( < i have s33n them
AC: :33 < but they have a mission fur me!
CG: WHAT...
CG: NO, AS YOUR LEADER, I EXPRESSLY FORBID YOU FROM LISTENING TO THEM.
AC: :33 < and i think they want something good to happen but efurrything is going to be okay!
AC: :33 < too late
AC: :33 < besides i died to i dont have to listen
AC: :33 < *ac covers her ears and does not listen to karkittys purrotests!*
CG: THIS IS SERIOUSLY WEIRDING ME OUT.
AC: :33 < okay
AC: :33 < i am going to make efurrything better! you wont have to worry anymore beclaws you will get to s33 john and efurryone else!
AC: :33 < s33 you soon!
CG: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'SEE YOU SOON'?

-- arsenicCatnip [AC] ceased pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG] --[/size][/b]

Nepeta: Take legendary nap.

You put your TABLET away within your sylladex, and take your place on your quest bed. With a final look upon John and Wax, you allow John to soothe you to sleep. As you fall asleep, your thoughts drift. You think about your friends, your moirail, Karkat... everyone.

Finally, you are out.

>John: Do what's right for your moirail.

[ryocker]

Waxevius watched it all go on- he even saw her looking through that... that thing. That thing with the letters, that an angry person was using to talk to her. Once she put that away and was slowly lulled to sleep, Waxevius put a hand on John's shoulder, eyeing the claws.

"...I hate watching this as much as you don't want to do it, but..." Was he even saying it right? "Listen, you two were close. probably closer than family... but don't leave her hanging like this. I know nothing about this, but I know you don't leave a lady hanging like that."

Backing up from John, Wax hid his eyes from view. anyone could see it plain as day, though- he was cry- no... fire crying, embers floating around. He obviously hated seeing her go- she was his very first friend, after all.

[nintendonut1]

>John: Do what's right for your moirail.

You hesitate for a moment longer, enough for Nepeta to finish her pesterlog with Karkat. Not that you had noticed she was talking to someone in the first place, as you had been distracted girding your loins.

You look up as she sprawls across the slab, hands curled on her tummy, tail twitching. Incredibly endearing as usual. This is going to be way harder than you thought.

You are reminded of fonder times, the mall romp back in Void City, and you remember some valuable information you had catchalogued in your think bank. To ease Nepeta to sleep, you take a gloved hand and rub into her candy corn horn. The effects are immediate, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. She’s even purring in content.

Now or never, Windy Boy.

Wax’s soft pleas are beyond your hearing. All your focus is on the task at hand. A flick of the wrist, and the vicious claws are fully extended. You kneel above your moirail, pressing the tips of the claws against her chest, right on the Leo symbol. You almost make the mistake of looking at her calm pallor before you screw your eyes tightly shut and shove all of your weight downwards.

For a split second of detachment after the deed is done, you note gingerly this is the first time you have killed an actual person. It’s a putrid taste in your mouth, and it stains your rosy look on the world just as the olive blood stains your clothes.

You stagger back, entire body trembling once the realization hits you in full swing. Nepeta, your dear moirail, is lying dead in front of you, by your hand. Her face is still, eerily calm in death.

Again you hold down the bile rising in your throat, but just barely.

[shiftyPotentate]

As Nepeta purred her way to a blissful slumber, she took a very calm exterior. Very unfitting, considering what she and the others knew had to happen.

While she was asleep, as John pierced her body with her own claws, she didn't even feel a thing. Her consciousness slowly slipped away... and had the circumstances been different, she would have been gone for a second time.

Nepeta: Rise up.

For a moment, it seemed like nothing would happen. Olive-colored blood pooled on Nepeta's chest and the bed beneath her, trickling up the claws (they had shallow grooves on the undersides to allow for more bloodletting, a grim little addition Eridan had thought useful). Despite the bloodiness of the scene, her face never changed.

Very shortly the blood had stopped. She was gone. And for another chilling moment, it seemed like Nepeta had been killed for nothing.

The four pillars that surrounded the bed began to glow faintly, and the spirits of the room started to approach Nepeta's body. A deep throbbing sound pulsed through the chamber - no, the whole temple - as energy seemed to fill the room. The spirits descended and laid upon Nepeta's body, which started to glow a pinkish tone.

One's imagination could almost say her body lifted up slightly from the energy, but that was a trick of the light.

----------

Somewhere, in the middle of the null Incipisphere, in Skaia, near the unprototyped battlefield, a gray stone quest bed appeared.

On it, a girl dressed in purple pajamas appeared. She slept soundly. Her chest began to bleed slowly from eight small puncture wounds, but it stopped quickly.

The bed began to glow. Pink glowing energy began to surround it, and a spirographic symbol appeared around the bed. Her form was lost in the glow, becoming visible only as a silhouette to any who might have seen. As she lifted, blood trickled down her arms, dripping onto the bed.

The light seemed to begin to change her. A pink heart symbol glowed in the air above, visible to any who might have been observing Skaia from a distance.

---------

A pink heart symbol glowed in the air above Nepeta's body. Through the hole in the ceiling, one would have been able to see this same symbol in Skaia. The beam of light shining down on Nepeta turned to pink.

---------

As the transformation took place, the girl became garbed in a dark red coat, which split from the waist down. Pink leggings adorned her below the waist, with gray cloth tied to her lower legs and dark red soft shoes on her feet. The half heart symbol was emblazoned on her chest, and an even darker hood was over her head, with holes specially buttoned around her horns.

Olive green wings fluttered behind her, with a somewhat pawprint-shaped design on them.

The girl opened her eyes, which were orange with olive green irises. She looked at herself, and slowly became aware of what happened.

NEPETA LEIJON had ascended to become the god tiered ROGUE OF HEART.

---------

As the light slowly grew fainter, Nepeta's body seemed to become devoid of activity. She no longer breathed, moved, or made any form of reaction.

The spirits lingered upon her, before leaving the room. Their presence had been required but no longer.

Nepeta Leijon lay dead on the quest bed.

[ryocker]

After hearing the stabs take place, Wax couldn't hold back a sad, almost inhuman roar. He couldn't help it. Waxevius loved that girl. Her niceness, her sweet demeanor, all of it. She was very likeable, to say the least.

Though still upset, Wax drug himself over to her (so thought) final resting place. Flames fell out of his eyes like they would an agitated campfire. Wax just couldn't believe it anymore- she was truly gone.

For the first time since he entered the temple, he wasn't paying attention to John- he was a bit too sad for that. He had wanted to place a hand on her body, but was soon sidetracked by the fact flames were beginning to surround her- spirit fires, something he had been up until a while ago. Wax's mouth went wide, slowly backing away as her body began to glow with a holy, unearthly light.

The four pillars surrounding her on the bed began to glow, and Wax almost couldn't believe his eyes- it looked like... the symbol from the rest of the temple was beginning to glow overhead, and was coming to her along with the spirits. A brilliant flash and a strange sound then burst from her body, a similar sight seeming like it wanted to take place in the hole up above them.

It was, in simple terms, amazing.

"...John," Wax asked, awestruck. "What... what just happened?"