star_kingdom | ooo ☁ "You cannot replace your devils." ☁ ACTION

Current Location: Halloween Town

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ooo ☁ "You cannot replace your devils." ☁ ACTION

[ "If you have anything worse than that Chimera, I'll gladly fight it."

Daenerys understands what honor means to a knight; nonetheless, she's struggled with refraining from exchanging heated words with Kain ever since the end of the Hades Cup. Though she's unable to decide if she's angry at him or afraid for him, either way she is quickly losing the battle against her urge to say something on the matter of the dragoon all but inviting the god of death to have another go at killing him — and apparently again, if that attempt fails, then yet again should the third try fail too. Notably, she's very much aware that it isn't her place to reprimand him, especially since he believes so fiercely that this is how he's going to atone for his past. Still... Kain should know better. It's obvious Hades doesn't fight honorably.

Once Kain recovered from the injuries he'd sustained during the tournament, he and Dany left the Coliseum for the Land of Dragons. It was indeed a disappointment, the planet's name seemingly an obvious misnomer, and there were no clues as to where Rhaegal, her third dragon, was. They moved from planet to planet, the Targaryen girl taking the time to ensure Kain kept his strength up, but they didn't find the green and bronze infant dragon.

Although her hair had steadily been growing back since she emerged from the funeral pyre that birthed her dragons, in Halloween Town, her hair is as long and as flowing as it always was. Her skin is encrusted with hard scales that remind her of white opals and her fingernails are more akin to black claws. She looks like one of the many horrific monsters here, complete with long spiraled onyx horns protruding from either side of her head and short spines trailing down her back. At first, she was afraid, but after seeing what the rest of the world of Halloween Town looked like, she almost felt relieved about her transformation. Even the dark, delicately boned wings on her back and the thin tail aren't out of place. She just hopes this isn't permanent, because between the search for Rhaegal remaining to be in vain and Kain's insistence on putting himself in danger again, Daenerys can't help but feel discouraged as she stands at the peak of Curly Hill, overlooking the dark graveyard with Drogon at his usual perch on her shoulder. The last thing she needs is a new look. ]

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[Kain's alteration in appearance isn't too unlike his usual look. Although it has turned him even more draconic than his armor usually appears, and much... darker in nature too, the color a purple so dark it's nearly black. The plates of the armor have been replaced with hardened, darkly gleaming scales, while anything pointy, such as the shoulder pieces, are now sharp, jutting bones. His helmet too is scaly and resembling even more a dragon's face, with Kain's own face still hidden underneath. The small cape he wears on his lower half has become a tail, and like Dany he also has wings. His match the deep, darker-than-usual color of his outfit.]

[At the moment, Kain is looking for any sign of the stray dragon. But unfortunately they'll have no luck right now. With a sigh, he turns and goes to where Dany is, a short distance away. At least he's regaining his usual endurance. He could likely search longer if she'd want that.]

...No sign of him yet.

[ ]

Perhaps Rhaegal is not here either.

[Kain looks from one little dragon to the other. They would undoubtedly alert them to the presence of their sibling. That they've given no sign thus far indicates as much to Kain, too.]

One more world eliminated as a possibility, then...

[He stares for a moment at the dark and dreary landscape, as if making certain no dragons are appearing.]

[ ]

We will move on from here after rest.

[ ]

[True enough, Kain would consider himself "fine" whether really fine in actuality or on the verge of collapse. He doesn't feel too bad right now, though.]

I would be fine with moving on as soon as you'd like...

[But he wouldn't argue the matter, if she preferred they take their time. He wasn't too bothered by the overall atmosphere of this world, even if it wasn't the most comforting.]

And I wish for that to be tomorrow. [ ] Hades will use all the underhanded tactics he is capable of to ensure you are slain.

Then we leave tomorrow. [They can find somewhere safe enough to rest until then, Kain figures. Yet as she approaches, he notices that somber tone's suddenly taken. He frowns lightly.] He won't succeed, I can promise that.

No. [ ] You cannot promise that. He is a god and you are mortal. I have seen —

[ ]

I cannot care for them without you. I cannot defend even myself without you.

Daenerys...

[Kain looks down, a guilty expression on his face. He feels the pain of her words, and the thought of her- and her dragons- defenseless is a terrible one. He supposes... he'll have to be more cautious in sharing any of his intentions. He can't stop fighting or taking on challenges... but...]

I'm not leaving you or the dragons unguarded. I promise.

[ ]

Hades is after your very soul. I have heard that the Darkness that took our worlds can still claim us. Do you take this into consideration when you are asking Hades to continue trying to kill you?

I'm not asking him to kill me, I'm asking for a challenge, for something strong to conquer and prove myself against... To become stronger.

[But the very idea of someone stealing his soul from him, claiming him as Zemus had once, actually gets through to Kain. He doesn't fear death but he does fear being controlled or trapped, turned into something with no will of his own.]

[ ]

What did you do? Were you bested in battle? What is it that causes you to believe endangering your life in pointless tournaments will help you regain your honor?

[Kain hates admitting these, his deepest sin and weakness both, to her, but he has no choice.]

I'm a traitor, and there is darkness inside me.

So you have said. [ ] You will tell me no more than that, will you? [ ] Everyone has darkness in their hearts.

[Kain clenches his hands into fists.]

Yet not everyone is overcome by it as I was.

You would be surprised how often even the whitest of knights are... [ ] Sometimes the best challenge to conquer is not a test of physical prowess.

[He actually seems to be... comforted, by her touch. Kain thinks that over, brooding quietly.]

Yet I know of no other way to prove myself... How else could I...?

[ ]

My brother, Viserys, and I were the last of our blood, rightful heirs of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms, where we were exiled from as children. When we lost the nearest thing to home in the Free Cities, he dragged me from place to place for years, desperate for anything and anyone that would help him reclaim the power he was robbed of when the Usurper killed our father. Paranoid and vain, he squandered all of our family heirlooms and gold on anyone who praised him even lightly as the true king of Westeros, until all we had left of home was gone and we were poor, reduced to begging in alleyways and bazaar streets for the simplest of life necessities.

Then, when he gave me to the great khal Drogo, in exchange for his warrior riders, he would not wait even then, though the Dothraki are known for their pride and aggression. He deeply offended my lord husband and all people. For that, he is dead.

[Kain looks down sadly.]

I'm sorry, for the loss of your brother... and for all that you had to endure...

[ ]

Perhaps one day you will learn of another manner in which to prove yourself. Be patient until then.

[Kain would be shocked to know anyone thought of his words as 'kind'. Cecil is the kind one. And Rosa. He's always just... the grumpy moody one of their group, the one who people don't warm up to like those two. He nods slowly, unsure he what else he can do though. He's been trying in vain to replace Mount Ordeals...]

I must take all opportunities that come my way, and I must continue to show my bravery. These things, I can't back down from.

As long as you recall your promise... I will not stand in your way. [ ]

I won't ever forget what I've promised you. That's... important.

[And helping her and the dragons is giving him a new purpose.]

[ ]

Let us find shelter for the... [ ] ...time being. Where do you suppose refugees and visitors stay in this world?

[Kain wants her to trust him. He needs to be trusted as much as he'll constantly insist otherwise.]

There seems little comfort to be had in this world... but there must be something. If we had materials for a tent...

[He and his friends have set up camp in worse locations.]

[ ]

The dragons also have not eaten in a while.

Then our priority must lie in obtaining food for them. We'll rest afterward.

[Dragons > Everything Else]

What do you suggest? I doubt there will be any meat they can safely consume in this... place. We will travel further, past this graveyard at the very least.

We'll find something. Even if I must spend all night tracking it down.

[Kain looks to the graveyard, half-expecting something to attack, but so far all is well. The setting of this world is very much a good place to brood in, he'll have to remember that.]

[Frog's travels in search of his lost queen have already taken him to a number of worlds. So far he has been travelling alone, without even Marle or Lucca, despite them being the only familiar faces here. This is his personal quest, his duty, not theirs. Still, of all the worlds he's seen so far, none of them have been quite like Halloween Town. It's almost like Magus' Keep in sheer eerieness, where he had been forced to battle through reanimated corpses, listen to sobs of the tormented echo down the dark corridors, and avoid countless guillotines and spikes and pit traps that spelled certain death. Here the atmosphere is similar, but isn't nearly as threatening or oppressive. But, as he battles through a group of ghost-like Heartless in the graveyard, he feels it comes close.

Frog's shift in appearance in this town makes him think that the place must have a terrible sense of humour. He now appears even more grotesque than his froggish appearance had been previously -- he has become a toad, warts and all. His yellowish eyes remain the same, but his usually bright green skin is a swampy brown. His cape is black and tattered at the edges, and his breeches, boots and gloves are all shades of faded grey; likewise worn, as if they had seen years of use. Even his golden breastplate, and the Masamune, usually bright and well-polished, look dulled and disrepaired. Thankfully, he quickly discovered that both changes are merely cosmetic; his battle abilities are unhampered. The Masamune's inner shine is just as bright as ever.

All in all, though, he looks like a witch's familiar, a thought that does not endear itself to a warrior committed to fighting all forms of evil. But if the changes are only temporary to this world as he suspects, he can tolerate it.

After battling his way through the graveyard and reaching the hill, Frog stops and stares up at the draconic figure on the hilltop. Silhouetted by the moon, it's impossible to tell whether the figure is a Heartless, a resident of the town, or neither. Gripping the hilt of the Masamune tight in his hand, he moves closer, and calls out.]

Who goes there? Are you friend or foe?

[ ]

My business is no concern of yours. I am no trouble to you though — I promise that.

[No Heartless he's met so far is capable of speech -- or capable of any kind of intelligent response. They seem driven only by the mindless instinct to kill. So, hearing her response, Frog sheathes the Masamune in a gesture of peace.]

Pray forgive me. I near mistook you for one of those dark creatures... The town crawls with them.

[He doesn't relax completely, though, yellowish eyes fixed on the dragon perched on her shoulder. One of such meagre size would be nothing to fear if it attacked; even so, he won't drop his guard.]

[ ]

...The world's habit of tinkering with one's physical appearance does not make the task of differentiating people from the Heartless easy. [ ] I am Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen.

[House Tagaryen? The name itself means nothing to him, yet it's enough to tell him she must belong to a house of nobility, if not outright royalty. He's quick to give a bow in response, albeit a short one. Only the King and Queen of Guardia receive his complete deference.]

That it does. I am known as... Frog, milady.

[She's worthy of some show of respect, even without a title. Her composed response surprises him. Over the long years he's come to never expect -- or even seek -- anything other than contempt or disgust from others. He expects trust least of all. Ironic that in this world when he looks even more repulsive to others, it's perceived as altogether normal. He rises from his bow, and croaks out his next question.]

From which world do you hail, if not this one?

[ ]

I am not certain what my world was called. It was lost to the Darkness. I crossed the grassy plains of the Dothraki Sea with my lord husband's khalasar, his people, before it came. That was one of my many homes... Ser Frog, is it?

[What she speaks of all sounds exotic, and nothing the likes of which he'd heard. Undoubtedly she's of another world. At her question, Frog croaks and shakes his head.] No, not Sir. I haven't the right to such honours.

[Least of all now, when he failed to protect both his Queen and her kingdom, and all had been consumed by a darkness even greater than Lavos. A thought which reminds him, abruptly, of his mission.]

I seek a woman, of perhaps your years and stature. She is fair-haired, and though her appearance may differ in a world such as this, she constantly wears a coral hairpin. Have you seen anyone fitting such a description?

[ ]

I have not. My companion and I have seen little else but Heartless here and... the strange natives. A few of the misplaced like ourselves, but no one who fits that likeness.

[Frog doesn't make any indication he's bothered by her surprise -- on the contrary, he barely even takes notice. He's more interested in what she does, or doesn't know. And while her reply is disappointing, he hadn't expected much. Not one person has sighted his Queen thus far, but he isn't going to be daunted that easily.]

Then I cannot linger here. [He gives another short bow as a by-your-leave, then turns to head back for the Graveyard.] You would do well to exercise caution if you remain. The Heartless nearby have been beaten back for the time being, but they shall return.

[ ]

Thank you, Frog. I shall. I promise my knight escort is not far. I pray the gods will look kindly on you in your search.

Fortune likewise favour you in your travels.

[And with another croak of farewell, he sets off at a brisk pace -- hopping rather than walking -- to the Graveyard. It's a much faster way of moving around, suggesting he's probably a lot more familiar with his amphibian form than Dany is with hers. He'll scope out the last of this world he hasn't yet searched, then move onto the next. There's no time for rest.]

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ooo ☁ "You cannot replace your devils." ☁ ACTION

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