There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[wheremst]

Oh, uh... sure!

[ She puts Player down. ]

What's up? ... I'm Carmen, by the way. Forgot to actually introduce myself to you guys during that whole thing.

[onefuture]

It's a pleasure, Carmen; you may call me Lif. It was quite an ordeal, so do not worry.

[As for business, though...]

It's about something that needs to be taken care of at home. Someone, rather. I know not if this is an option for us, but I would very much not like to go back to my own world. The problem, however, lies with the goddess I serve. I worry that if Hel were to go unchecked, she might be able to find me, and it would put countless people--and worlds--in danger.

I would like to ask you if there is a way I can put her out of the picture. For good.

[...This is about the nicest way he's ever said "so yeah, can i go commit deicide real quick", but you know. This hopefully isn't the oddest question Carmen has had to field???]

[wheremst]

[ Carmen, for her part, takes this in surprising stride. ]

Yyyyeah, that does sound like a problem. What exactly would you be wanting to do to her, like... are we talking magical goddess prison or execution?

[onefuture]

...I'm not going to mince words; execution. I have the method by which to do so at home; I simply need to retrieve Angrboða, and to seek out Hel once more before destroying her entirely with it.

[bless you in these trying times carmen, but also: you do not deserve this]

[wheremst]

Okay, that's... I'll just go ahead and trust you on that one.

[ OTHER DIMENSIONS... ]

Do you know where we can find Angrboða? I assume it's some kind of sword or something?

[onefuture]

My thanks. And...apologies, as well.

[HE KNOWS THIS IS A LOT. LIF IS ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT SORRY.]

Ah, no, not at all. It's akin to Breidablik from our world; a weapon that is able to shoot a beam of magic out. It's quite like...

[...Lif mimes the usage of a gun. Because Fire Emblem Heroes is a mess and fantasy glocks exist. (Also it's probably not that big since they imply Lif's been carrying this around with him the whole time??? But this is the best image I could find.)]

But it should be near the gate to Hel, in my version of Askr. You'll be able to recognize it easily; it's...very cold and dead. [Beat.] Hel as in the realm, not the...Goddess. She was vain enough to name the realm after herself.

[wheremst]

Luckily for you, stealing is something I excel at.

[ She looks at the monitors for the machine. ]

Well, if you can help me get a portal open when the time comes, I can get in there and grab it for you.

[onefuture]

[Lif chuckles at that.]

I appreciate it; I'm more than willing to do all that I can, to assist you in this matter. You...have my thanks for making it possible, in the first place. I cannot understate how much this means to me.

[Ah--]

Once you're able to, however, Aela has asked to come with me to see her fall. I hope that much is alright as well.

[wheremst]

[ Carmen chuckles and nods. ]

Sure thing. We're actually working on a way you guys can get this thing working remotely, once we figure out how VILE was doing it.

[onefuture]

Remotely?

[...Wait--]

Do you mean that...we'll perhaps be able to visit other worlds? That this we will not have to say goodbye?

[wheremst]

Might take a little doing, but we're optimistic about your chances.

[onefuture]

...I'm sure many of the others will appreciate this much as well. You're doing many of us a great service, Carmen; thank you.

[Ah, but--]

I must be distracting you from your work; my apologies. Would it be too much trouble to speak with White Hat, now?

1/2

[wheremst]

No problem, fixing all this'll actually help me out too, in the long run. Gotta... you know, make sure VILE doesn't try to reform in you guys' worlds or anything.

[ She'll grab the phone and offer it. ]

Sure thing. I know he'll be happy to talk to you in person.

2/2

[wickedskills]

[And here's that kid again, with his face all lit up by like. Five computer screens.]

Hey! There's my Dance Dance Revolution buddy!

[onefuture]

[Lif nods at Carmen; all of that makes sense, and he is glad at the very least that someone's going to be working to attempt to keep this shit from happening again.

Of course, when the phone is handed to him, Lif's gaze softens from it's usual hardness and he seems pleased.]

So that was you. I had been hoping so, but I never got the time to ask. [Lif chuckles, though.] I do hope that we're able to have a rematch, one of these days. But I did want to ask after you; how are you faring?

[wickedskills]

Guilty! Sorry about being a tough opponent. That game is a lot easier when you're using keyboard arrows.

[Player chuckles as well.]

I'm doing fine, nice and secure in my little hacker cave. It's comfy in here. But... maybe I'll step out of it for a while to play against you for real.

[onefuture]

Keyboard arrows?

...Gah, never mind. I should have known you'd have some sort of advantage. But if nothing else, that did inspire me to work harder to master some of those songs.

[Lif laughs, not nearly as put out as his words imply.]

Should you ever do, do let me know. I would quite like to see just how well the both of us do, on an even playing field. I believe it will prove to be wonderful competition.

But as long as you're safe, that is what matters most.

[You're a good, White Hat, okay.]