((You can find April's backstory here if you need to find out what exactly happened to her in the beginning.))
((Because I finished this episode, if you wish to reply to April about how she's now free of the shade, feel free to, because she's definitally going to be jumping around in an extreme bout of happiness to share her experiences.))
"...I'm scared now."
April Hymnoxlynpoxy has once again retreated to Eastgate Park at 'The Hollows' in order to deal with her internal problems.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep my happiness facade up. The Shade is becoming more dominant, I feel like I'm losing my mind, and I'm feeling so fearful and depressed internally. And my birthday is coming up in a few days... I'm so scared."
April sits on one of the benches, a crumple note clenched within her left fist. She sighs to herself and slumps down, looking at the cold, hard concrete.
"I don't know what to do... do I throw this note away and disregard it... or do I act on my gut and go with it? Ooh... I wish I knew the answer..." April sighs again, and rests her forehead on her palms in a state of being flustered.
The note she holds today came from contact with the Circle of Thorns. While she was on a routine patrol, which lead to entering Oranbega to retrieve a painting dubbed 'The Portal of Darkness' from the High Death Mage Prodigium, she ran into a dilemma. Prodigium was nowhere to be found, but one of the Death Mages within the area spoke with April before disappearing through the nether which he controlled, throwing her a note before his disappearance. Now the message is crumpled in her left hand, offering something which may change April forever...
...
April Hymnoxlynpoxy, I have watched your actions since you have entered Paragon City. The nether which you control is intriguing, as the essence that radiates from it is not that of a true joint of the darkness of the nether.
You are tainted with a dark spirit, April. I wish to clense you of it in order to further my own research of the nether. You may have tried many scientific means of ridding yourself of this manifestation, but I know my means of magic will work.
I have stolen the artwork 'The Portal of Darkness' not for any significant wealth that may be attached to it, but because it is actually a focus in disguise. With this, I can open a portal to the nether, one that is passive, not agressive like your scientists have done. Through this portal, I am sure your 'spirit within' will wish to return to its homeworld. If all goes right, I should be able to extract the shade for my purposes once banished back to the netherworld, and you will become normal again. Think about it, April Hymnoxlynpoxy. No longer do you need fear that your mind is plagued by darkness. No longer will manifestations of the nether seep through the world due to your presence. You will be normal again, back to your original self if all goes well.
If you truly wish to be rid of this bane, meet me in Oranbega, midnight tonight, through an entrance in Eastgate park. It will be made obvious to you. I will be waiting there, with the key to your freedom. The only price I ask is for you to free yourself of the shade, which I may utilize for my own purposes. We will both gain, nothing will be lost except the looming darkness that plagues you.
I do hope you make the right choice.
High Death Mage Prodigium
...
"... I'll do it."
April holds her head up, a sad facial expression of deep throught, yet a feeling of being blank. She looks up at the sky, a bright shade of a beautiful cyan.
"...as much as I... enjoy these powers... it's time for you to leave me, shade. Yes... As much... fun... as this... romp as been... I think it's time we part our ways. I want to be... myself again. Return me... to the nether. Yes... you return to the nether... I return to my normal self!"
April stands up, and walks to the edge of the concrete, which looms over the fast green hills of what remains intact of Eastgate Park.
"But... if I do this... then I have to return home... Saint Joseph School won't keep me if I no longer have any super powered differences... mom and I will have to return home. But... if it means I no longer am in this state of denial and depression... I think I have to. But what if this is all just a trap? I need to keep on my toes too... after all, I did attempt to arrest him today..."
April stands up tall, takes a deep breath, and exhales into a smile of acceptance.
"Whatever trial is ahead of me... I'm ready to hit it headstrong. Well, shade... here's to the best!"
April punches her fist into the air in a brief fit of exclaimation and cheer. Whatever lies ahead of April, she readies herself mentally to be prepared to lose everything... and to be prepared to protect everything as well.
"Think, April... I'll do this for the good of all... the removal of darkness in a world which needs light... it might be a smart move... or a very foolish move. Either way, you need to leave, shade. You don't belong in this world anymore."
April walks back to her bench, and lies down on it, looking up at the sky, colored in a beautiful shade of cyan.
The Wonderful Month of April
Moderator: Student Council
The Wonderful Month of April
Last edited by April on Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:40 am, edited 2 times in total.
Yeah! No fear! Into the fray with no regrets!
As April enters Eastgate Park, all that can be seen is the glow of the moon across the vast landscape. She slips around the area under the cover of her Shadowfall, trying to remain unseen.
"Prodigium claimed that the entrance would be made clear to me... lets see...oh!"
As bright as day, a stone in the distant shined with an unnatural glow from the moon's shine. April smirks, and jumps towards it, keeping a close eye our for troublemaker and others on the way.
As she lands near the stone, she notices a large, wooden door underneath it, placed within a carved out rift. It appears to be dusty and unused, but April had a deep feeling that this had to be the place. As she pushes the door open, it creaks loudly, opening to a pitch black darkness. Swallowing her fear, she marches inside to face whatever may lie beyond.
Once inside, she notices that she must have slipped through a portal on the way, as she's now in the familiar surroundings of the city of Oranbega. The torch lit hall entices her, and she wanders down it, remaining in the Shadowfall for cover. As she walks down, she sees that one of the Circle's men, a guide, appears to be stationed and on watch through the archway. April tries to sneak by, but the Guide notices her easily from far away, and calls out to her.
"You... girl!"
April drops her shadowfall, knowing her cover is blown.
"I'm ready to take you on to meet my goals, creep!"
"I am not here... to harm you. High Death Mage Prodigium is expecting you... please, follow me."
As he says those words, a torch suddenly appears in his left hand, while his right hand holds on to one of the Circle's mysteriously shaped blades. Aprils shrugs, and follows the Guide through Oranbega. She follows him on avery diverting pathway. Through warp portals and gates, up stairs and down temples, she follows the guide vigilantly and silently, trying to piece together a mental image of what might happen in her future.
"We'll miss you, April!"
"Take care of yourself!"
"So long, and keep in touch!"
April waves to her friends from a compact blue car, driven by her mother. Gone of any supernatural abilities, she is to return back to the Bronx, to attend normal high school.
"Take care my friends! Please don't forget me, and keep in touch!"
They drive off into the distance, heading back to her home in New York. Oh, what a warm feeling it is to be back to normal!...
"Here you are."
April's dream is shattered by the cold voice of the Guide.
"Beyond this portal is the chamber of High Death Mage Prodigium. Do not cross him, or else you may draw your last breath. Do as he asks."
The Guide turns around, and walks off, hunched forward with a tight grasp on his torch. As he turns the corridore, the light of his torch fades more and more. April turns to face the portal, which is an odd shade of green, and appears to be extremely whispy.
"Here goes nothing..."
As she takes a deep breath, she jumps into the portal. In an instant, she is brought to an ornate room, looking much like a large library found in a mansion. The walls are covered with bookshelves, which are stocked to the edges with books. Scrolls lie on tables and holders all over the room, and torches decorate and light the room from the walls. A shadowy figure in dark blue has his back turned, his robe covering his entire body. He looms over a table with many parchments on it, and a small, but dark painting next to him.
"April... Hymnoxlynpoxy. I am glad... you made the correct choice."
As he calls out to him, he slowly stands, and turns to face April. His appearance is that of an elderly man, with a long, but thin beard of gray. Age has definitally take its toll on his body, but he appears to be as limber and wise as any member of the Circle.
"April... I called you here to be part of my ritual. I can open a gate to the nether, to send your shade back, freeing yourself of this torment, this... taint." As he says this, he walks closer to her, hands behind his back, and circles her with his slow, but large steps.
"You see, I have never seen or heard of a case in which a shade of the nether actually inhabits the mind of a human being outside of any magical cases... this does not make sense at all. I wish to study this shade of yours to see why, and how, the powers of the nether were transferred to you. However, doing this will mean that you lose your abilities. Are you willing to do this, April Hymnoxlynpoxy?"
April stands there, somewhat petrified in fear and confusion, trying to decide the best coruse of action. However, she then looks up at Prodigium with an expressionless face, one of seriousness, but knowing that she will have to accept the consequences.
"...yes. Please, cleanse me of this shade. Do whatever you need to do."
Prodigium smiles in a creepy, old man way. "Very well, let us begin the ceremony."
Prodigium walks back to his desk, and grabs the small painting. He then walks over to the area of his library which has open space. He waves his hand over the area, conjuring up circles on the ground, with what appears to be runes all around it. April can tell, and feel, that this is magic beyond the scopes of which she has ever seen or felt.
"Now then, please... walk over here, and stand in the middle of the circle. Once you are here, I shall start my chant, which should cause the focus to erupt into a portal to the nether. The shade should attempt to leave you at that time, in which I shall use my chants to mark him, to be able to summon him at will. Prepare yourself now, and above all things, do NOT move from the circle."
April walked over to the circle, and stood in the center, bracing her legs in case of any impact. Prodigium then places the painting about 10 feet away from her on the ground, and stands to the side of it. Clasping his hands together, he begins to chant in a language copletely foreign to April. Though at first it appears nothing is happening, she slowly begins to see the painting glow a deep shade of blue and black.
The painting suddenly erupts into a violent vertical stream of blue and black energies, taking the shade of a portal, which opens up to what appears to be pure darkness. The portal manifests itself in front of April, and Prodigium continues to chant.
"This is it..." April says, but gets cut off quickly, as a bright light flashes from the pitch black portal. Suddenly, it appears that a bright beam of light penetrates the darkness, and aims directly at April's heart. It appears to pierce her soul, and April begins to scream and writhe in pain on the ground within her circle.
"What... WHAT... what is... is... is going on...?"
She falls to the ground, and starts to convulse again, going through the same series of instant nightmares which happened on the day the shade entered her.
It is time to leave you... and when I said I would kill you when I found my way back... I meant it... now die, human, as I devour your soul to take back to the nether.
"No... NO... Noooooo!" April shrieks in pain, as she convulses on the ground, helpless to do anything. Wisps of nether start to seep out of her head, especially from her eyes, and jet towards the portal, entering it's darkness with all due haste. Bright flashes happen constantly, as if the nether is ripping April's soul right from her body as it exits.
During all this, Prodigium continues to chant, but appears to draw a faint smile, while still chanting.
The wisps of nether now become a full stream, jetting towards the darkness much brighter than usual, carrying the soul of April with it. It is now such a powerful force that April's body begins to levitate as the shade exits, though very limp.
Die...
A final burst of nether energy escapes April, and jets into the portal. The portal seals up behind it, leaving the painting where it was before. April falls from her levitation, and crumples to the group, lifeless, motionless, expressionless. Her eyes are wide open, showing signs of life, but no sentience. Her soul has been extracted from her body.
"Couldn't hold on to your soul? A pity. Your powers have been stripped, but so has your soul too. For shame... at least I'll have the shade to study whenever I wish, thanks to your dreams of being normal again... heh heh heh..."
Prodigium walks around April, examinging her for any sign of life, but sees nothing.
"Mindless as a zombie... I bet we could turn her into a slave of the Circle... my own personal slave. I'm sure it can be done..."
Meanwhile, in April's conscience, all that remains within her thoughts is nothing but a pitch black view. As she lays there, she begins to think to herself... while her sentience has been stripepd from herself, her brain is still functioning, as she starts to see images within her head...
"...April, don't worry. Whatever happens to you, we'll be there to help you through any hardships that shade may cause to you."
April's mind sees only darkness... but she heard the sound of Cronology's voice just then. Her memories are coming to her in flashbacks.
The sound of Casey speaks up. "Do you control the darkness? Or does the darkness control you, April?"
Suddenly, Faster's voice chimes in. "Look, don't worry about that stupid shade. just live life as it is, be happy, silly!"
Stasis' voice now pops in too. "Feh, don't let that Shade get to yourself! You are yourself, all the time, unlike the Kheldians!"
Kai's, Raphael's, Cricket's, Misericorde, Andrew, Alex, and Eshva's voices now seem to chime in at the same time. "Yeah, April. We'll help you whenever you need help!"
Autumn, KK, PU-244, and Detective's voices also speak up. "Believe in yourself, don't be overcome by the darkness!"
Barrier, Blitzen and Kali's voice chimes in last to her. "It's good to have you back, April. Please don't leave us..."
Then... darkness. Pitch black. The voices of the students... her friends... her... other family, calling out to her... gone. All gone.
I... I... I... I...
April tries so hard mentally totake action, but seems to be done. Lost, unfinished, and disestablished she has become, but she continues to try as her body lay limp.
I... I... must... I... Must fight... fight... fight this... oppression...I!
She begins to gain a mental balance within herself, as the sheer force of her willpower begins to bring her back from the bring of death!
I... I am in control...! The shade has not... won! No! The powers... used for good... darkness... used in the method of light... where even perceived evil can be used to pursue and maintain the... the good. If I truly am... in control... then I am the one in charge of myself!
April's lifeless body lays there within the circle.
I am in control, my body belongs to me... to me! ME!
Suddenly, the painting begins to glow a dark blue again, which causes Prodigium to turn around to see what is going on. His face is in shock and awe, and he looks on at what is happening, the portal opening without his control.
I am in control! My soul belongs to me, not to the nether! Not to the nether!
The painting once again shoots up into a brillaint beam of dark blue and black!
My soul belongs to me, not the nether! My soul... my soul... my... soul... the nether... is for my soul to control! My soul to control! My soul... TO CONTROL!
The portal violently opens up, and a bright beam of white light shoots out of the darkness, back to April's body. It bathes her in it's glow, appearing to restore the soul of April back to her body! Her persistance, thanks to the mental motivation of friendship, has brought herself back from the nether! Even Prodigium cannot believe his eyes.
"What!? That's... that's impossible!"
April's body stops glowing, and the portal closes up quickly, but instead of turning back into a painting, it turns into dust, as if too much energy and disturbance has come to it.
"No... NO! The focus! What have you done! I'll... I'll KILL you for this!"
April opens her eyes from the ground, and staggers to her feet. She grasps her head, apparently in a lot of pain and discomfort.
"Ooh... my head... shade, what.. what happened?"
But instead of any response... nothing. The shade is out of her head, gone for good. It has gone away, and taken his powers with it.
Prodigium notices too that she appears to no longer have any contact with the shade, and no more gifts of the nether for her to wield. He quickly summons up Teneborous Tentacles around April, and grasps her within then before she gains her bearings!
"You have destroyed the focus! It was one of the last in the world! I will slay you for that, April Hymnoxlynpoxy, now CHOKE!"
The tentacles grasp her neck. April tries to stop the tentacles, but they choke her too hard, and restrain her while she's still weakened.
"No... NO! Let me go! Let me... GO!"
As she says those last words, something amazing happens, which even causes High Death Mage Prodigium to gasp in awe.
April eyes... her eyes begin to glow again... as if the nether was once again within her. As if she had gained control of the nether itself through her will, not through the will of a shade!
"Let... me... GO!!"
As she exclaims this, she bursts into a nova of dark, negative energy, eliminating the tentacles, and knocking back Prodigium into a wall, blinding him as well. April floats where she was standing, apparently flying now.
"You.. selfish... bastard!" Her rage consumes her, and she entangles Prodigium in a web of Teneborous Tentacles of her own. She dangles him high in the air, at the point of where she'll slam him into the wall.
"Wait! Wait, April Hymnoxlynpoxy, wait!" Prodigium cries this out as he hangs helpless.
"What!?" April asks back, in a very angry, aggressive voice.
"Look at yourself! How do you manifest the energies of the nether...without the shade?
"Ooh!" April suddenly stops, dropping Prodigium to the ground in a thud. "Oh my... oh my God! Oh... oh my GOD!" She exclaims this while looking at her hands, seeing that she can conjure nether within her fists... but of her own will, not with borrowed power of a shade.
"Oh my god! Oh my.... GOD!" April is in too much amazement to control herself... she's in so much amazement, she does not notice Prodigium casting a spell on her, banishing her from Orenbega.
She apparates outside, within Eastgate Park, and crashes into the ground. While her face lay in the dirt, she doesn't move, still in a state of shock and awe.
"Oh my God... Oh my God... Oh my God...get a hold of yourself!"
April picks herself up from the ground. She notices that she feels a strange sensation within her body... as if her soul extracted the forces of the nether while trapped in the netherworld. She feels much stronger than she ever did before in her life, as if her new ways to control the nether was much more potent, bringing out the true potential of her original abilities.
April jumps to Eastgate Park's pavillion, and takes a seat on a bench underneath the Maple tree there.
"Oh my... how in the... what the... why is this... I am so confused..."
April sits on the bench, constantly staring at her own hands while asking these questions.
"I went to Oranbega to be free of this... but now it's only intensified!... but... this is through myself... I'm... actually... different... super... the power is mine to control, mine to command... belongs to myself... I control myself... myself! Oh my God!"
April suddenly opens her eyes wide, and stretches her mouth into the widest smile ever seen, and leaps hundreds of feet into the air, cheering loudly.
"Yes! I'm finally free!~ Woohoo! I'm finally myself, no longer haunted or scared of the shade within me... All gone! Woohoo! And the powers I borrowed are now mine for good! Mine for my life! I've won my internal struggle! WOOHOO!~"
April lands on the ground, and smiles into the greatest smile ever manifested. She runs off back to the school as fast as she can. She sure has one heck of a story to share... and no longer needs to fear herself.
April Shade... is now only April.
"Prodigium claimed that the entrance would be made clear to me... lets see...oh!"
As bright as day, a stone in the distant shined with an unnatural glow from the moon's shine. April smirks, and jumps towards it, keeping a close eye our for troublemaker and others on the way.
As she lands near the stone, she notices a large, wooden door underneath it, placed within a carved out rift. It appears to be dusty and unused, but April had a deep feeling that this had to be the place. As she pushes the door open, it creaks loudly, opening to a pitch black darkness. Swallowing her fear, she marches inside to face whatever may lie beyond.
Once inside, she notices that she must have slipped through a portal on the way, as she's now in the familiar surroundings of the city of Oranbega. The torch lit hall entices her, and she wanders down it, remaining in the Shadowfall for cover. As she walks down, she sees that one of the Circle's men, a guide, appears to be stationed and on watch through the archway. April tries to sneak by, but the Guide notices her easily from far away, and calls out to her.
"You... girl!"
April drops her shadowfall, knowing her cover is blown.
"I'm ready to take you on to meet my goals, creep!"
"I am not here... to harm you. High Death Mage Prodigium is expecting you... please, follow me."
As he says those words, a torch suddenly appears in his left hand, while his right hand holds on to one of the Circle's mysteriously shaped blades. Aprils shrugs, and follows the Guide through Oranbega. She follows him on avery diverting pathway. Through warp portals and gates, up stairs and down temples, she follows the guide vigilantly and silently, trying to piece together a mental image of what might happen in her future.
"We'll miss you, April!"
"Take care of yourself!"
"So long, and keep in touch!"
April waves to her friends from a compact blue car, driven by her mother. Gone of any supernatural abilities, she is to return back to the Bronx, to attend normal high school.
"Take care my friends! Please don't forget me, and keep in touch!"
They drive off into the distance, heading back to her home in New York. Oh, what a warm feeling it is to be back to normal!...
"Here you are."
April's dream is shattered by the cold voice of the Guide.
"Beyond this portal is the chamber of High Death Mage Prodigium. Do not cross him, or else you may draw your last breath. Do as he asks."
The Guide turns around, and walks off, hunched forward with a tight grasp on his torch. As he turns the corridore, the light of his torch fades more and more. April turns to face the portal, which is an odd shade of green, and appears to be extremely whispy.
"Here goes nothing..."
As she takes a deep breath, she jumps into the portal. In an instant, she is brought to an ornate room, looking much like a large library found in a mansion. The walls are covered with bookshelves, which are stocked to the edges with books. Scrolls lie on tables and holders all over the room, and torches decorate and light the room from the walls. A shadowy figure in dark blue has his back turned, his robe covering his entire body. He looms over a table with many parchments on it, and a small, but dark painting next to him.
"April... Hymnoxlynpoxy. I am glad... you made the correct choice."
As he calls out to him, he slowly stands, and turns to face April. His appearance is that of an elderly man, with a long, but thin beard of gray. Age has definitally take its toll on his body, but he appears to be as limber and wise as any member of the Circle.
"April... I called you here to be part of my ritual. I can open a gate to the nether, to send your shade back, freeing yourself of this torment, this... taint." As he says this, he walks closer to her, hands behind his back, and circles her with his slow, but large steps.
"You see, I have never seen or heard of a case in which a shade of the nether actually inhabits the mind of a human being outside of any magical cases... this does not make sense at all. I wish to study this shade of yours to see why, and how, the powers of the nether were transferred to you. However, doing this will mean that you lose your abilities. Are you willing to do this, April Hymnoxlynpoxy?"
April stands there, somewhat petrified in fear and confusion, trying to decide the best coruse of action. However, she then looks up at Prodigium with an expressionless face, one of seriousness, but knowing that she will have to accept the consequences.
"...yes. Please, cleanse me of this shade. Do whatever you need to do."
Prodigium smiles in a creepy, old man way. "Very well, let us begin the ceremony."
Prodigium walks back to his desk, and grabs the small painting. He then walks over to the area of his library which has open space. He waves his hand over the area, conjuring up circles on the ground, with what appears to be runes all around it. April can tell, and feel, that this is magic beyond the scopes of which she has ever seen or felt.
"Now then, please... walk over here, and stand in the middle of the circle. Once you are here, I shall start my chant, which should cause the focus to erupt into a portal to the nether. The shade should attempt to leave you at that time, in which I shall use my chants to mark him, to be able to summon him at will. Prepare yourself now, and above all things, do NOT move from the circle."
April walked over to the circle, and stood in the center, bracing her legs in case of any impact. Prodigium then places the painting about 10 feet away from her on the ground, and stands to the side of it. Clasping his hands together, he begins to chant in a language copletely foreign to April. Though at first it appears nothing is happening, she slowly begins to see the painting glow a deep shade of blue and black.
The painting suddenly erupts into a violent vertical stream of blue and black energies, taking the shade of a portal, which opens up to what appears to be pure darkness. The portal manifests itself in front of April, and Prodigium continues to chant.
"This is it..." April says, but gets cut off quickly, as a bright light flashes from the pitch black portal. Suddenly, it appears that a bright beam of light penetrates the darkness, and aims directly at April's heart. It appears to pierce her soul, and April begins to scream and writhe in pain on the ground within her circle.
"What... WHAT... what is... is... is going on...?"
She falls to the ground, and starts to convulse again, going through the same series of instant nightmares which happened on the day the shade entered her.
It is time to leave you... and when I said I would kill you when I found my way back... I meant it... now die, human, as I devour your soul to take back to the nether.
"No... NO... Noooooo!" April shrieks in pain, as she convulses on the ground, helpless to do anything. Wisps of nether start to seep out of her head, especially from her eyes, and jet towards the portal, entering it's darkness with all due haste. Bright flashes happen constantly, as if the nether is ripping April's soul right from her body as it exits.
During all this, Prodigium continues to chant, but appears to draw a faint smile, while still chanting.
The wisps of nether now become a full stream, jetting towards the darkness much brighter than usual, carrying the soul of April with it. It is now such a powerful force that April's body begins to levitate as the shade exits, though very limp.
Die...
A final burst of nether energy escapes April, and jets into the portal. The portal seals up behind it, leaving the painting where it was before. April falls from her levitation, and crumples to the group, lifeless, motionless, expressionless. Her eyes are wide open, showing signs of life, but no sentience. Her soul has been extracted from her body.
"Couldn't hold on to your soul? A pity. Your powers have been stripped, but so has your soul too. For shame... at least I'll have the shade to study whenever I wish, thanks to your dreams of being normal again... heh heh heh..."
Prodigium walks around April, examinging her for any sign of life, but sees nothing.
"Mindless as a zombie... I bet we could turn her into a slave of the Circle... my own personal slave. I'm sure it can be done..."
Meanwhile, in April's conscience, all that remains within her thoughts is nothing but a pitch black view. As she lays there, she begins to think to herself... while her sentience has been stripepd from herself, her brain is still functioning, as she starts to see images within her head...
"...April, don't worry. Whatever happens to you, we'll be there to help you through any hardships that shade may cause to you."
April's mind sees only darkness... but she heard the sound of Cronology's voice just then. Her memories are coming to her in flashbacks.
The sound of Casey speaks up. "Do you control the darkness? Or does the darkness control you, April?"
Suddenly, Faster's voice chimes in. "Look, don't worry about that stupid shade. just live life as it is, be happy, silly!"
Stasis' voice now pops in too. "Feh, don't let that Shade get to yourself! You are yourself, all the time, unlike the Kheldians!"
Kai's, Raphael's, Cricket's, Misericorde, Andrew, Alex, and Eshva's voices now seem to chime in at the same time. "Yeah, April. We'll help you whenever you need help!"
Autumn, KK, PU-244, and Detective's voices also speak up. "Believe in yourself, don't be overcome by the darkness!"
Barrier, Blitzen and Kali's voice chimes in last to her. "It's good to have you back, April. Please don't leave us..."
Then... darkness. Pitch black. The voices of the students... her friends... her... other family, calling out to her... gone. All gone.
I... I... I... I...
April tries so hard mentally totake action, but seems to be done. Lost, unfinished, and disestablished she has become, but she continues to try as her body lay limp.
I... I... must... I... Must fight... fight... fight this... oppression...I!
She begins to gain a mental balance within herself, as the sheer force of her willpower begins to bring her back from the bring of death!
I... I am in control...! The shade has not... won! No! The powers... used for good... darkness... used in the method of light... where even perceived evil can be used to pursue and maintain the... the good. If I truly am... in control... then I am the one in charge of myself!
April's lifeless body lays there within the circle.
I am in control, my body belongs to me... to me! ME!
Suddenly, the painting begins to glow a dark blue again, which causes Prodigium to turn around to see what is going on. His face is in shock and awe, and he looks on at what is happening, the portal opening without his control.
I am in control! My soul belongs to me, not to the nether! Not to the nether!
The painting once again shoots up into a brillaint beam of dark blue and black!
My soul belongs to me, not the nether! My soul... my soul... my... soul... the nether... is for my soul to control! My soul to control! My soul... TO CONTROL!
The portal violently opens up, and a bright beam of white light shoots out of the darkness, back to April's body. It bathes her in it's glow, appearing to restore the soul of April back to her body! Her persistance, thanks to the mental motivation of friendship, has brought herself back from the nether! Even Prodigium cannot believe his eyes.
"What!? That's... that's impossible!"
April's body stops glowing, and the portal closes up quickly, but instead of turning back into a painting, it turns into dust, as if too much energy and disturbance has come to it.
"No... NO! The focus! What have you done! I'll... I'll KILL you for this!"
April opens her eyes from the ground, and staggers to her feet. She grasps her head, apparently in a lot of pain and discomfort.
"Ooh... my head... shade, what.. what happened?"
But instead of any response... nothing. The shade is out of her head, gone for good. It has gone away, and taken his powers with it.
Prodigium notices too that she appears to no longer have any contact with the shade, and no more gifts of the nether for her to wield. He quickly summons up Teneborous Tentacles around April, and grasps her within then before she gains her bearings!
"You have destroyed the focus! It was one of the last in the world! I will slay you for that, April Hymnoxlynpoxy, now CHOKE!"
The tentacles grasp her neck. April tries to stop the tentacles, but they choke her too hard, and restrain her while she's still weakened.
"No... NO! Let me go! Let me... GO!"
As she says those last words, something amazing happens, which even causes High Death Mage Prodigium to gasp in awe.
April eyes... her eyes begin to glow again... as if the nether was once again within her. As if she had gained control of the nether itself through her will, not through the will of a shade!
"Let... me... GO!!"
As she exclaims this, she bursts into a nova of dark, negative energy, eliminating the tentacles, and knocking back Prodigium into a wall, blinding him as well. April floats where she was standing, apparently flying now.
"You.. selfish... bastard!" Her rage consumes her, and she entangles Prodigium in a web of Teneborous Tentacles of her own. She dangles him high in the air, at the point of where she'll slam him into the wall.
"Wait! Wait, April Hymnoxlynpoxy, wait!" Prodigium cries this out as he hangs helpless.
"What!?" April asks back, in a very angry, aggressive voice.
"Look at yourself! How do you manifest the energies of the nether...without the shade?
"Ooh!" April suddenly stops, dropping Prodigium to the ground in a thud. "Oh my... oh my God! Oh... oh my GOD!" She exclaims this while looking at her hands, seeing that she can conjure nether within her fists... but of her own will, not with borrowed power of a shade.
"Oh my god! Oh my.... GOD!" April is in too much amazement to control herself... she's in so much amazement, she does not notice Prodigium casting a spell on her, banishing her from Orenbega.
She apparates outside, within Eastgate Park, and crashes into the ground. While her face lay in the dirt, she doesn't move, still in a state of shock and awe.
"Oh my God... Oh my God... Oh my God...get a hold of yourself!"
April picks herself up from the ground. She notices that she feels a strange sensation within her body... as if her soul extracted the forces of the nether while trapped in the netherworld. She feels much stronger than she ever did before in her life, as if her new ways to control the nether was much more potent, bringing out the true potential of her original abilities.
April jumps to Eastgate Park's pavillion, and takes a seat on a bench underneath the Maple tree there.
"Oh my... how in the... what the... why is this... I am so confused..."
April sits on the bench, constantly staring at her own hands while asking these questions.
"I went to Oranbega to be free of this... but now it's only intensified!... but... this is through myself... I'm... actually... different... super... the power is mine to control, mine to command... belongs to myself... I control myself... myself! Oh my God!"
April suddenly opens her eyes wide, and stretches her mouth into the widest smile ever seen, and leaps hundreds of feet into the air, cheering loudly.
"Yes! I'm finally free!~ Woohoo! I'm finally myself, no longer haunted or scared of the shade within me... All gone! Woohoo! And the powers I borrowed are now mine for good! Mine for my life! I've won my internal struggle! WOOHOO!~"
April lands on the ground, and smiles into the greatest smile ever manifested. She runs off back to the school as fast as she can. She sure has one heck of a story to share... and no longer needs to fear herself.
April Shade... is now only April.
Yeah! No fear! Into the fray with no regrets!