To scale a mountain within decent time takes quite the effort, even more-so if you have a team of 4 that all need to make it. The weather is cold, and everyone is wearing parkas and jackets to keep warm. Except for Ika, who never leaves the house without her green sweatshirt. They had been climbing non-stop ever since they all woke up (which, granted, was a little after high noon), but they still needed to keep going. Every step they took was another step towards potentially saving an entire civilization. That was the hope, at least. They all rested on a small platform before heading further up. "Edgie, can you give a status report?" "I cannot, Mako, unfortunately. From here, it's too far for me to be able to reach any local mana hubs." "Mana hubs?" Ika seemed to have gained a new interest in the arcane. "What's uh, what's that?" Toby piqued up. "Oh, I know this one! A mana hub is like a collection of magic information, right? It can send out information to any other mana hub, and it can also relay that information to people who tap into it." "I'm impressed by your knowledge, Toby.", mentioned Edgie. "Yes, it's as if my second set of ears has gone deaf. Here on out, we're on our own." Edgie surveyed the shelf they were all resting on. "Well, as alone as four people can be." Ika and Mako weren't really paying attention, instead huddling together for warmth and reaffirming their vows of love. "Uh, Mako, are you two lovebirds alright?" "We're fine, just cold, Toby. She's trying her best." Ika was shivering badly in the frigid air. Arms on her sides, desperately clenching her face, she was clearly uncomfortable and wanted to go home. She didn't say anything. "Here, Ika, there's a cave over here where we can get warm, do you think you would like that?" She nodded yes, so the troupe set off to a cave just up a ways. Out of the cold and snowy weather, they all acclimated to the cave. it was quite interesting and unlike anything else they'd seen before. It was entirely a frosty blue, though Edgie's fire spells couldn't melt it, so that was out of the question. The ice, perma-frosted that it may be, continued back to the end of the cave, in a kind of semi-polygonal fashion. The walls were covered with icy stalactites, and the back was a flat surface of the stuff, so it was good to go in terms of making a fire. The team huddled close, helping Ika shake off some of the cold, as well as some of her fears. She kept close and didn't say anything, but she eventually relaxed when Mako poured her some hot cocoa from her canteen. "Phew. I appreciate it, Maks. You always have my back." "Of course! We all do, Ika. No reason to be scared of anything." "I guess... I'm thankful for all of you, though." Suddenly, the ice behind them shimmered. Audibly. They all perked their heads. "Mako, you heard that right?" "As clear as anything, Ika." "Edgie, Toby?" The other two nodded their heads. Ika slowly approached, pulling a sheathed blade out of her backpack and attaching it to her hip. The ice shimmered again, but the visible light reflection was becoming darker... yet darker. It reached a complete vanta-black after a couple of seconds. Part of it rose from the ice's surface, coalescing into a sphere, almost made of goo, stretching out from the ice. It grew an eye. "St-stay back! I know how to use this thing! Don't hurt us, please! We're friend, not foe!" Ika took some steps back and assumed a battle stance. The eye blinked. Ika could barely muster the courage, but death was facing her down. #### "Everyone listen up! Escape isn't going to work, it'll just undo all we've done. If we want to get through this, follow my lead!" Was that Ika? Indeed, it was. She took another step back, and the eye cut itself from the wall, closing the socket, before evolving, shapeshifting into... a reflection? It looked just like Ika, save for the matte black coloring, and... a single eye?! It immediately took a swing at Ika, using her own blade's reflection against her, but she was just as quick to parry. The reflection advanced on her, swinging time after time, and like a dance of the night, Ika parried and reflected in situ. "Everyone, stay back! I got this, don't worry about me!" Just before she was pushed to the edge of the cave, she made a daring move, quickly sliding underneath the reflection's legs, attempting to get in a sneaky shot. A swing and a miss, as the attack was yet again blocked by the reflection's arm. Edgie tried to get in some shots with fire, then lightning, then ice. Nothing worked. "It must be incompatible, somehow... But how is that possible?" Ika continued her strategy, her rhythm, but she saw herself being backed into a corner. "Uh, if anyone has any ideas, now would be a good time-!" Mako was paralyzed with fear. She couldn't bear to watch. Maybe she had already accepted Ika's death. This... thing, despite being so small, seemed to wield so much power in Ika's reflection. She had to take tactical steps backwards, up against the original mirror, having to hold back the sheer might behind her opponent's blade. Her hyper-focus made it hard for her to talk, but the other three knew she needed help, with no ideas on how to do so... She was the one who knew combat, not any of them! Mako was clearly panicked, still unable to muster a word, Edgie was of no use, and Toby? Toby felt helpless once again. He surveyed the room - nothing but ice, ice spikes on the ceiling - aha! But how could he cut them down? If he could just muster something, *anything-!* ## BLAM! One of the ice spikes from the ceiling of the cave exploded, causing it to come falling down, barely missing Ika, who had her back pressed to the mirror, and giving the mimicry something of a geological lobotomy. It contorted, desperately trying to escape the spike, but to no use. It eventually settled, popping into sparks and stars that settled on the ground. Ika panted, before collapsing to the ground. The rest of the team looked back at where that blasted sound came from. They looked over to Toby, who's normally claw-like arm was instead shifted into an arm cannon, with a large hole big enough to launch a small object - though, clearly, the projectile must have been pure energy. He massaged it, and it turned into a somewhat amorphous mass, before returning to its original form. "I'm fine, I'm okay, just check on her..." Mako rushed over to Ika, picking her up from the ground and hobbling her over to the campfire. "She's still out cold. Maybe we should wait for her to wake up." Toby nodded. "Probably for the best. If what we're up against is anything like *that*, we're going to need her." ... ACT ???: FIRESIDE SPITTLE *IKA's reality is warped. Instead of anything tangible, anything to grasp on, all she saw was flying colors, shapes, images, memories... Nothing could truly be held in her mind's eye for long. She just needed some peace and quiet, for once in her life, but it was all for naught. Suddenly, she found herself in front of a ticker of some sort, scrolling by rapidly, any individual numbers unable to be seen, like a slot machine. A SHADOW approaches from beside.* SHADOW: Well, well, well. Couldn't resist another, huh? IKA: What... What are you talking about? SHADOW: Another addition to the counter? IKA: That- that wasn't my fault! I tried to negotiate with it! It was in self defense! I- *The SHADOW shakes its head.* SHADOW: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Always the excuses with you. *"Oh, I can't go outside I'm too scared! I'll hang onto my girlfriend all the time because I'm so weak!"* Pathetic. You used to be such a great warrior. Now this? You're not worth the trouble. IKA: I... at least I have people that like me... *The SHADOW bursts into laughter, unable to control it.* SHADOW: Wow, haha, that's so *stupid!* I mean, really, your *friends?* You used to be such a lone wolf, a badass, you have *no* idea! I love seeing you squirm around, trying to comprehend your own visage! I could use a new show, actually! ... Ika peeled her eyes open. She was laid by the campfire, warming up from its heat. She took a second to adjust to reality, before sitting up. Her head was pounding, as if she wasn't missed by the attack from earlier. "I... ow... How long was I out?" Mako put a hand on her shoulder. "Not too long... just a few seconds. Are you okay? You fell on the ground after all that..." "I'm fine... what about you guys?" Edgie's voice was always something deep, but for once, she showed sympathy. "We're all in good health, Ika." Toby chimed in. "Yeah, we're all good. I didn't hurt you, did I?" Ika shook her head, trying to wick away the pain. "No, I'm not hurt. Had the weirdest vision while I was out... Some shadow... mocking... Urgh, my head hurts too much..." She hung her head in desperation. "Just a little more, sweetie... I know you can get through this. You're the strongest girl I know..." Ika couldn't help but give a little bit of a smile. "Oh, Maks, that's not fair... you know I can't help it when you're all sweet on me..." Toby nudged Edgie's shoulder. "Oh, so it's *bad* bad." Edgie just stared at the romantic tension going on between them. "I wouldn't be too harsh, Toby. If this is vital to our success, then we should allow this." "I get that, but they're making out right there." "Love is fickle and strange. Even I don't understand it. But it can be [[Healing]]."