Dragonball M, Chapter 2: Lighthouse! Across the Shores of Shattered Time!

[Sub-Zero MKA]

It was over.

The nightmare was finally over.

With simultaneous exhales, the sisters Sarada and Parsley relinquished their power and returned to their normal states. Exhaustion beset them immediately; both from the lengthy battles and from using so much energy.

"The last gasps from a dying animal," Parsley spat. "How pathetic."

While Sarada didn't want to be as dismissive of Jagam's final words as her sister, it wasn't something she wanted to deal with at the moment. Perhaps once she had a chance to rest her mind and body, she'd talk to Ishtar about it. She likely knew more about curses than she did.

They descended until they touched down near the others. "It's over guys," Sarada declared with a wide, gracious smile. "We won. The human race is safe, and now so is the Saiyan race. We couldn't have done without you."

Parsley scoffed. "Of course we could have. Half of them didn't even do anything of note."

"That's her way of saying thanks."

"No, it isn't."

Sarada sighed. "Is everyone okay? We have four of those fruits Eva brought with her if anyone needs one." As for the fifth, she removed it from its capsule and ate it.

[Tami]

It was over.

The nightmare was finally over.

With simultaneous exhales, the sisters Sarada and Parsley relinquished their power and returned to their normal states. Exhaustion beset them immediately; both from the lengthy battles and from using so much energy.

"The last gasps from a dying animal," Parsley spat. "How pathetic."

While Sarada didn't want to be as dismissive of Jagam's final words as her sister, it wasn't something she wanted to deal with at the moment. Perhaps once she had a chance to rest her mind and body, she'd talk to Ishtar about it. She likely knew more about curses than she did.

They descended until they touched down near the others. "It's over guys," Sarada declared with a wide, gracious smile. "We won. The human race is safe, and now so is the Saiyan race. We couldn't have done without you."

Parsley scoffed. "Of course we could have. Half of them didn't even do anything of note."

"That's her way of saying thanks."

"No, it isn't."

Sarada sighed. "Is everyone okay? We have four of those fruits Eva brought with her if anyone needs one." As for the fifth, she removed it from its capsule and ate it.

Meagan, who had been hovering nearby as backup, return ed tot he ground. As she did, Cyanna appears and gives her a big hug.

"So, it's over, huh?" Dash asks, then sighs, then smiles and nods the Sayians, "Queen Sarada, Princess Parsley, that was mighty impressive work. Thank you." She then looked for Totoma, "Ah guess I should thank the other guy too. Earth could've been in really bad shape if not for you."

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

A subtle magic shift that Ishtar, Etrina, and maybe Meagan pick up on seems to flare briefly before dying away as nothing seems to happen.

Perhaps the sky is just a bit darker.

Perhaps the ground they all just fought on is just slightly different. Less rocks, perhaps? Less plateaus and columns of rock?

But it is a hard thing to see in the midst of having bested a foe like Jagam without any losses or even heavy damage to Earth. The sheer thrill of what has occurred is almost too much relief.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

As before, the elation Ishtar feels is offset by the feeling that this was not right.

Too easy.

And as the others began to cooldown from the events of the battle, the Oni senses a subtle shift in the magic that permeated the air. And ... what was that ?

The sky is off. The battlefield is wrong.

Turning away from the others Ishtar focuses on the wrongness of the moment, in an attempt to pierce the illusion, as she had six months prior with the Junjo.

Damnable Witch.

OT: 2

[MrSandman]

It was over.

The nightmare was finally over.

With simultaneous exhales, the sisters Sarada and Parsley relinquished their power and returned to their normal states. Exhaustion beset them immediately; both from the lengthy battles and from using so much energy.

"The last gasps from a dying animal," Parsley spat. "How pathetic."

While Sarada didn't want to be as dismissive of Jagam's final words as her sister, it wasn't something she wanted to deal with at the moment. Perhaps once she had a chance to rest her mind and body, she'd talk to Ishtar about it. She likely knew more about curses than she did.

They descended until they touched down near the others. "It's over guys," Sarada declared with a wide, gracious smile. "We won. The human race is safe, and now so is the Saiyan race. We couldn't have done without you."

Parsley scoffed. "Of course we could have. Half of them didn't even do anything of note."

"That's her way of saying thanks."

"No, it isn't."

Sarada sighed. "Is everyone okay? We have four of those fruits Eva brought with her if anyone needs one." As for the fifth, she removed it from its capsule and ate it.

"That's it, surely you have a better way to show your thanks then a little fruit...?" Erosa slid up, still in her magicite form, with a Smug Self satisfied smile. "If you really want to thank us....I'd think a royal feast is in order. You CAN get royal feasts right? Queen Monkey-lady?"

"Less talking, more standing still....I'm still adjusting you hearts stability." Etrina stated as she followed behind with her four foci in tow. "Unless you WANT to explode in someones face."

Cupping her hands to her face, Erosa puts on a blushed expression. "Master....what are you suggesting...ero..."

".....wait...no I......Ughhh......stop talking..."

[MrSandman]

As before, the elation Ishtar feels is offset by the feeling that this was not right.

Too easy.

And as the others began to cooldown from the events of the battle, the Oni senses a subtle shift in the magic that permeated the air. And ... what was that ?

The sky is off. The battlefield is wrong.

Turning away from the others Ishtar focuses on the wrongness of the moment, in an attempt to pierce the illusion, as she had six months prior with the Junjo.

Damnable Witch.

OT: 2

Eyeing her out of the corner of her vision, Etrina spotting Ishtar turning away from the group...quiet and with a serious look on her. Though she had been focused on maintaining her familiars fluctuating magicite heart, she had felt a certain wrongness with the surroundings for a brief moment. Any distraction from her current task however might cause some lasting damage, so while she was curious it would have to wait until she could devoute her personal attention.

In the meantime though.

"Hoi...." The white etrina fluttered over to Ishtar, taking position on her shoulder. "Master wanted to know if you felt what she felt...something weird happened right?"

[Tami]

A subtle magic shift that Ishtar, Etrina, and maybe Meagan pick up on seems to flare briefly before dying away as nothing seems to happen.

Perhaps the sky is just a bit darker.

Perhaps the ground they all just fought on is just slightly different. Less rocks, perhaps? Less plateaus and columns of rock?

But it is a hard thing to see in the midst of having bested a foe like Jagam without any losses or even heavy damage to Earth. The sheer thrill of what has occurred is almost too much relief.

Gently pushing Cyanna aside, Meagan get's an uneasy feeling in the back of her mind. Looking around, she notices that Isthar and Etrina are reacting to it as well.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

Eyeing her out of the corner of her vision, Etrina spotting Ishtar turning away from the group...quiet and with a serious look on her. Though she had been focused on maintaining her familiars fluctuating magicite heart, she had felt a certain wrongness with the surroundings for a brief moment. Any distraction from her current task however might cause some lasting damage, so while she was curious it would have to wait until she could devoute her personal attention.

In the meantime though.

"Hoi...." The white etrina fluttered over to Ishtar, taking position on her shoulder. "Master wanted to know if you felt what she felt...something weird happened right?"

Ishtar nodded slowly, never taking her eyes away from the Wastes, and its now darkling sky. "There was a flicker of magic, and now everything is wrong. What is changed yet however, I cannot say ... "

[Cyke]

A few things happen:

1), watching from a far, Eva and Kai both freakout as the beams spiral towards the moon to blow it to hell alongside Jagam. Grabbing Ereshkigal and Nunlil, Eva and Kai quickly get a spell together and cast it.


Far away, just before the beams strike the moon, they’ll pass through it instead (though still connect with Jagam as the spell only effects the moon) as their spell phases the moon out of synch for a few precious seconds.

2), Sahseem’s magic transformation attack strikes instead of the moon, Jagam himself. No one will ever know he actually got the killing blow on the halfling.

3), two combined Saiyan ki attack’s obliterate Jagam’s body wholesale, their beams passing through a phased moon but striking cheese Jagam perfectly.

4), just before the moon phases and he finds himself floating freeform and not cheesed or dead, Jagam finishes his blood spell. It wouldn’t have been possible if so much of his blood hasn’t been spilled all over the battlefield on Earth, but in this last moment, he was grateful for that fact. The blood sigil pulses once more and then fades away as he dies, his last thoughts echoing to Totoma, Sarada, and Parsley somehow.

“You’ll never find.....peace...now....unravel...to your very.....core, in my...eternal...curse....”


And that seems to be all for now. Jagam is dead for good, and so seems to be Anula.

Zaofan dutifully looked up, but... nothing happened. "Huh. There was no moon-shattering kaboom. Where was the moon-shattering kaboom? Where was the moon made of cheese, for that matter?" Deep down, being the culinary cultural explorer he was, was a bit interested in what moon cheese would taste like. Nonetheless, there are more pressing matters.

"Something's off... It was almost painful to sense all those attacks. The moon should've been obliterated, one way or another! Well... I'm thankful that, somehow, that's not the case."

As before, the elation Ishtar feels is offset by the feeling that this was not right.

Too easy.

And as the others began to cooldown from the events of the battle, the Oni senses a subtle shift in the magic that permeated the air. And ... what was that ?

The sky is off. The battlefield is wrong.

Turning away from the others Ishtar focuses on the wrongness of the moment, in an attempt to pierce the illusion, as she had six months prior with the Junjo.

Damnable Witch.

OT: 2

Eyeing her out of the corner of her vision, Etrina spotting Ishtar turning away from the group...quiet and with a serious look on her. Though she had been focused on maintaining her familiars fluctuating magicite heart, she had felt a certain wrongness with the surroundings for a brief moment. Any distraction from her current task however might cause some lasting damage, so while she was curious it would have to wait until she could devoute her personal attention.

In the meantime though.

"Hoi...." The white etrina fluttered over to Ishtar, taking position on her shoulder. "Master wanted to know if you felt what she felt...something weird happened right?"

Instinctually, Zaofan hovers to Etrina, but he notices a twitch before he could mutter the word, "Mistress." Indeed, he hadn't actually seen Etrina throughout the entire battle, but still, his observational senses are still keen.

Gently pushing Cyanna aside, Meagan get's an uneasy feeling in the back of her mind. Looking around, she notices that Isthar and Etrina are reacting to it as well.

Switching eyesight between Etrina and Meagan (who, in turn, noticed Ishtar), he spots the both of them seeming concerned. Being no mage himself, unable to sense mystical energies or slight changes in the skyline, this is Zaofan's only clue that something is amiss.

"Etrina? Meagan? You two seem like you've got a bad feeling about this..."

[KingofPie]

"Bah..." Sasheem folded his arms. "Sasheem wanted the moon to turn to cheese, dammit..." he stated in a disappointed tone. "Ah well, at least Jagam's dead. That's one rival down," he smiled to himself, before looking around. "Uh...what's got the magic users lookin' like they pissed their pants?" He asked eventually.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

The sun, hidden behind clouds, seems just a shade or two...darker? No, duller perhaps. Older. The soil and rock beneathe their feet...alien, in a way. Not of Earth, but similar too.

No magic permeates the air. No sense of.....anything. No comm connections aside from with each other.


—————


Far away from the battlefield, sitting amidst the ruins of her ship, Anula opens her eyes. Her clothing was pristine, her form unharmed. Her doppelgänger, a magical homonculus or double, had been brutally dispatched and made her decision to hide amongst the falling debris of her ship a very practical one. Unlike the ki version, the multi-form technique, her power was not split evenly when she creates her homonculus double. She is just limited to one, though. Anula is thankful she had not fought alongside it as clearly her power had not been enough to sway the difference.

Still, no matter. Jagam was dead, a last ditch spiteful blood magic had stolen away the Earth’s defenders before his death, so now she could quietly finish her second objective:

Jinzi Pantaloon.

His technology was impressive, most impressive, and his capsules the only technology they had been unable to intuitively understand. She had been told to...acquire...Pantaloon and bring him back to the homeworld for....persuading.

Cloaking herself to keep hidden from those few left on Earth that could oppose her, she starts making her way towards Capital City and Jinzi Pantaloon.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

The sun, hidden behind clouds, seems just a shade or two...darker? No, duller perhaps. Older. The soil and rock beneathe their feet...alien, in a way. Not of Earth, but similar too.

No magic permeates the air. No sense of.....anything. No comm connections aside from with each other.

As Ishtar continues to stare, there is a momentary trembling, and a burst of Ki laced with electricity as Ishtar's undergoes a shift into the second stage of Spəntā Aēšma, the air warping around her slightly -- as her temperature begins to spike -- and she exhales steam, before straightening back up again.

It did not take much long after, to realize what had happened.

"We are not on Earth."

Or if they were, it was far and away not the Earth they had once been on.

"I will return shortly."

Disappearing in a burst of blue, Ishtar teleports past the veil of clouds above, to get a look at the stars above the planet. She had traveled most of the universe, in her duration outside the Timeless Garden. There was a good chance she might know where they were.

OT: [Locked] in 5

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Despite the joyous and satisfactory outcome of the battle, the others were celebrating like Sarada thought they would. In fact, some - Etrina, Ishtar, and Meagan - were acting as if the threat was still there. Jagam was dead. Everyone should have been happy.

She frowned and looked up at the sky. "What?" Something wasn't right. The sun was too dark. Too dull? It didn't look like the sun of Earth. The dirt under her feet suddenly didn't either.

"What the hell happened?! Where are we?"

Parsley sighed expansively and picked herself off the ground, where she had been sitting for the last few minutes. "I should have left right away. You people are nothing but bad luck." She rose into the air and scanned all she could see with Observational Focus.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

As Ishtar continues to stare, there is a momentary trembling, and a burst of Ki laced with electricity as Ishtar's undergoes a shift into the second stage of Spəntā Aēšma, the air warping around her slightly -- as her temperature begins to spike -- and she exhales steam, before straightening back up again.

It did not take much long after, to realize what had happened.

"We are not on Earth."

Or if they were, it was far and away not the Earth they had once been on.

"I will return shortly."

Disappearing in a burst of blue, Ishtar teleports past the veil of clouds above, to get a look at the stars above the planet. She had traveled most of the universe, in her duration outside the Timeless Garden. There was a good chance she might know where they were.

OT: [Locked] in 5

As she ascend upwards, Ishtar can see two moons and a faint ring around this planet, easily telling her this is not Earth. Yet every fiber of her being is also telling her that the celestial position of the planet matches almost exactly where Earth should be. Yet distant Mars twinkled more brown than red, and far Venus wasn’t there.

Nor has time been messed with, as she would have seen the tell-take temporal signature. No, this was something....new.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Despite the joyous and satisfactory outcome of the battle, the others were celebrating like Sarada thought they would. In fact, some - Etrina, Ishtar, and Meagan - were acting as if the threat was still there. Jagam was dead. Everyone should have been happy.

She frowned and looked up at the sky. "What?" Something wasn't right. The sun was too dark. Too dull? It didn't look like the sun of Earth. The dirt under her feet suddenly didn't either.

"What the hell happened?! Where are we?"

Parsley sighed expansively and picked herself off the ground, where she had been sitting for the last few minutes. "I should have left right away. You people are nothing but bad luck." She rose into the air and scanned all she could see with Observational Focus.

They appeared to be in a desert wasteland littered with rocky outcroppings. No vegetation or habitation in sight.