Post by Vaellin the Bard on May 19, 2021 23:01:15 GMT -6
The new Phantom steps back as he encourages everyone to leave. It’s time now and shaking can be felt as the upper half starts to separate. No time to waste!
The remaining survivors hurry off the train. Kaguya, Miyuki, and Chika leading the charge. Neferpitou lingers slightly, looking at Neku with intrigue but is pulled along by Red. Neptune similarly is led out by Rinko, who looks frightened for the broken but happy girl. Steve meandered a little along with Makomo, but both made their way with time to spare. Kiryu and Majima were last off, the latter scooping up the doll on the way off. A distinctive click sounded as the last person stepped onto the Storming Fleet and the passageway to the central platform, and to the Phantom Train entirely, faded into mist.
Then the rushing water returned. A popping sensation as pressure built up disoriented much of the survivors, all standing in Room Hall A as water flowed around them. Pitch black darkness, except the occasional glowing from an unknown source. The sounds of whales and other sea life replaced the sound of railways and ghosts.
“Well, I think it’s time to get out of here.” Kiryu charged forward towards the Admin room and soon everyone followed. The problem… the password.
“Well we know most of it, don’t we?” Miyuki muttered, looking down.
“From the game with the magic circle?” Chika asked, blinking in innocent confusion.
“I was thinking about that,” Kaguya replied. “J-H-X-A-U-E. How many did we get right?”
“One or two, I think,” Majima pondered as he looked through the wine bottles for an unopened one. Success! He pops the wine open and pours a glass for everyone. “I didn’t really pay much attention.”
“They said we were close, so yes, one or two.”
Kaguya nodded. “Well I think… I think we were right on the first three. In that case…”
She dove into a long explanation, one that Miyuki jumped in occasionally with an additional point. Soon nearly everyone was talking, Neferpitou listing words idly that fit their details and Makomo writing down a few comments. An hour later, they came up with it.
“E-S-C-A-P-E, but shifted 5 letters?” Red asked, pointing dramatically. “So that becomes J-H-X-F-U-J. Let’s give this a go.”
“If it fails, I say we try escape!” Neptune cheered. She had somehow found pudding and was talking, occasionally, to the air. Heading back, Red typed in the six letters.
Password accepted.
Auto-pilot engaged.
A collective sigh of relief was heard as the train started back up. Heaving forward with the effort of a long slumbering giant, the Storming Fleet returned on it’s journey. Over half its passengers dead, but it was still ready to go the course.
Kaguya, Chika, Miyuki, Neptune, Kiryu, Majima, Rinko, Makomo, Red, Steve, Neferpitou. 11 survivors.
Ending: Neutral
Survivors
The arrival at the first platform was surrounded with a flurry of reporters and police. The Storming Fleet had arrived days late and with a dozen people missing. Some rooms were a mess, food had fallen scarce, and there were signs of blood and murder in at least one room. The news hit hard and soon everyone who survived was thrown into constantly interviews or followed by people desperate to know the story.
Of course most people were skeptical. A Ghost Train? Really? Whatever actually happened was probably involving drugs, or some kind of brainwashing, or just a collective of lies. But with no bodies and no evidence (excluding the evidence in the office), all people could do was theorize. Eventually, the 11 were allowed to go their separate ways once more
{Kaguya, Miyuki, Chika}The surviving student of Shuchiin Academy returned to school. The student body were obviously interested, but Kaguya’s ice cold stare and Miyuki’s defeated glare sent them scampering. Perhaps not the best look for the student council but… well everyone understood why.
Kaguya specifically closed off, going back to her ice queen state more often. Losing her maid, arguably her best friend hurt,and having Miyuki--and even Chika--was all that was keeping her sane. She never confessed to Miyuki. It couldn’t happen. Not for a long time, at least. Having happiness in the absence of her friends? It was hard. Instead, she used her influence how she could, seeking to uncover other accidents covered up by other corporations--hers included. With Miyuki and Chika by her side, and Makomo working in the background, she knew she could do it.
Chika remained as optimistic as she could. She kept in contact with Neferpitou and Makomo, and invited both to many games. Neferpitou accepted, Makomo would reply but only connect through long distances. She missed Ishigami and Hayasaka, but she pushed through, determined to keep all her friends, both new and old, happy. And she avoided dangerous games from then on.
Miyuki was hurt the hardest. He felt responsible as the president, not to mention feeling he did nothing to save Ishigami and missing his chance for revenge. He didn’t give up, however, and strived to find Neptune while still making sure to stay with Kaguya and Chika for their endeavors, almost protectively. Eventually, he found her, a few years down the road, presenting a peace offering in the form of homemade pudding. That Neptune spent about a week with a stomach ache likely had nothing to do with him.
Kaguya specifically closed off, going back to her ice queen state more often. Losing her maid, arguably her best friend hurt,and having Miyuki--and even Chika--was all that was keeping her sane. She never confessed to Miyuki. It couldn’t happen. Not for a long time, at least. Having happiness in the absence of her friends? It was hard. Instead, she used her influence how she could, seeking to uncover other accidents covered up by other corporations--hers included. With Miyuki and Chika by her side, and Makomo working in the background, she knew she could do it.
Chika remained as optimistic as she could. She kept in contact with Neferpitou and Makomo, and invited both to many games. Neferpitou accepted, Makomo would reply but only connect through long distances. She missed Ishigami and Hayasaka, but she pushed through, determined to keep all her friends, both new and old, happy. And she avoided dangerous games from then on.
Miyuki was hurt the hardest. He felt responsible as the president, not to mention feeling he did nothing to save Ishigami and missing his chance for revenge. He didn’t give up, however, and strived to find Neptune while still making sure to stay with Kaguya and Chika for their endeavors, almost protectively. Eventually, he found her, a few years down the road, presenting a peace offering in the form of homemade pudding. That Neptune spent about a week with a stomach ache likely had nothing to do with him.
{Steve}Steve returned home. To his dog, who he presented the dog tags to after modifying them to present the correct name. He didn’t contact anyone from the train afterwards, but he did keep a medallion as treasure, never crafting with it. He also took a lot of things from the train when no one was looking, making a lot of items into newfound creations to his people. He became famous as the bomb expert, as well. Occasionally he slipped back to the rest of civilization to see how things were going and to take some new item to craft with back. And maybe to check on the others.
{Kiryu and Majima}Majima took a trophy home with great honor. Doll, who had largely gone immobile after leaving the train. Except some morning’s he’d wake up with the doll cuddling him in the bed, mumbling something about Daddy.
Kiryu made a point of checking in on the others, making sure they were safe. He promised to get them out and of that he was committed.
Majima and Kiryu had another rematch in which Kiryu won. And another where Majima won. And a back and forth challenge, largely from Majima’s side. But their brawls didn’t end there. They also took to expanding their occupation. While they couldn’t punch Phantom himself, whenever the two caught a hint of a haunting, they were there, ready to punch the spirits into submission.
Kiryu made a point of checking in on the others, making sure they were safe. He promised to get them out and of that he was committed.
Majima and Kiryu had another rematch in which Kiryu won. And another where Majima won. And a back and forth challenge, largely from Majima’s side. But their brawls didn’t end there. They also took to expanding their occupation. While they couldn’t punch Phantom himself, whenever the two caught a hint of a haunting, they were there, ready to punch the spirits into submission.
{Red}Red went back to space, specifically back to the station he and Blue were from only to find that a new crew had taken place. They welcomed him, and he was quickly the most expedient member of the crew. He was even the first to notice when an alien replaced one of the other crew members, this new alien not nearly as good as Blue at pretending to be “not sus”. Red was committed to accomplishing his tasks, watching the admin map, and occasionally sending a message back to Kiryu to keep him updated. Even if doors kept slamming in his face at the worst times, forever haunted by Blue.
{Neferpitou}Returning to their king, Neferpitou told him of all they saw, excited to present a few individuals their king would be interested in meeting. Especially Kaguya. They kept in contact with Chika, going to Shuchiin Academy every so often to meet with Kaguya and play games with Chika. Mostly, the Phantom Train event was forgotten. People die, it happened, Neferpitou didn’t care. There was only two signs of loss for the Chimera Ant: Maddox’s body remained frozen and forever under study, and Neferpitou still mourned the loss of Ishigami. They didn’t seek out Neptune, but losing such a brilliant mind was not something they wanted to forget. * Their success with Maddox did yield something interesting, though. His body, powered by whatever it was that let the Phantom exist and connect to the living, was a source of a newfound energy. One Neferpitou intended to utilize to its fullest potential.
{Rinko}The attention was not something Rinko enjoyed, but she managed to survive it, determined to make sure people knew of Ken and his honorable sacrifice. It was… all she could do to return the favor. She got Ken’s coat from Miyuki and, as she stepped back into the life of music, it became a symbol of courage for her. Her fame from the incident boosted her music, which wasn’t how she wanted it to go, but there wasn’t much she could do to stop that. Instead, after a few years she left the big celebrity life and moved to something smaller. Something more personal, taking up playing in a little piano bar and creating a more personal relationship. It wasn’t the most extravagant life, but she got to be herself. Included in her songs was the one she played on the train. And every time she suffered nightmares, she felt a presence, something there to calm her and promise, whispering, to protect her from any force of evil.
{Makomo}The driving force of bringing down Sandson and Amano, Makomo ensured she got every bit of evidence of the wrongdoings of both corporations before the police could hide it away. She used Kaguya as well, asking the Shinomiya daughter to use her influence to make sure nothing was ignored. She made sure vengeance was gotten before disappearing into obscurity once more. Occasionally Makomo popped up again, responding to Neptune’s messages as she continued to hunt down the threads of corruption in those two particular families. She took solace in the fact that she saved those she could, but she also knew her mission wasn’t over until she could end the threat entirely.
Makomo carried a dark secret, one she would forget on occasion due to the depth she went into for her disguises. Stopping these families was important to her, avenging those who died in the Serpentine Spirit and ensuring the spirits of the train were at rest was a lifelong goal, for Makomo was a descendent of one of the survivors. The only survivor.
The real Ramona Flowers was safe, too, having taken a different vacation when offered and completely oblivious to what happened on the Phantom Train. Except for the occasional cup of tea sent to her, she remained disconnected.
Makomo carried a dark secret, one she would forget on occasion due to the depth she went into for her disguises. Stopping these families was important to her, avenging those who died in the Serpentine Spirit and ensuring the spirits of the train were at rest was a lifelong goal, for Makomo was a descendent of one of the survivors. The only survivor.
The real Ramona Flowers was safe, too, having taken a different vacation when offered and completely oblivious to what happened on the Phantom Train. Except for the occasional cup of tea sent to her, she remained disconnected.
{Neptune}Something broke in Neptune on the train. Of that, no one denied. Her “friend” Simon continued with her back into the real world. Delightfully oblivious, Neptune lived a good life, excluding an excruciating week after Miyuki came to visit. She was… a bit frightened of him from then on, wondering how he managed to turn something so good and wonderful into something that made her stomach feel like it was inside out. But more than anything, Neptune thrived on pudding recipes. She opened a pudding shop with Simon, using his recipes and ones he “recommended” down the line. Nothing involving shellfish. It was of moderate success, bringing in people who were both interested in the pudding varieties and in her quirky habit of talking to nothing.
Her other self remained hidden for a long, long time.
Her other self remained hidden for a long, long time.
Dead
{Storming Fleet}Those who died during this most recent event (Katherine, Blue, Maddox, Hayasaka, Ishigami, Ken, Dazai, and Neku) were taken from the grave they’d resided in before, to live with their own “Phantom” after a few days. Neku was significantly more benevolent, but that came at a price. Their grip on the realm that was their home was weak without bringing in more residents. So Neku (Phantom( changed it. He shifted it so that everyone existed on their own, allowed to explore as a ghost in Limbo until they could be at peace. Some did, some did not.
Katherine was the first to find peace, having removed herself from the sufferings of the Phantom Train. She accepted her death, her second death, but made sure to let Ken know she didn’t regret dying for him. He had no reason to feel guilty over what had happened.
Dazai passed on not long after. He took the time to make sure everyone was okay and sought to have Hayasaka and Katherine enjoy eternal peace together--a kind of ghost suicide--but after Katherine was gone and he lost track of Hayasaka, he was content to spend a bit of time sorting his life out, but he’d always been prepared to die. Nothing held him, at least not strongly.
Maddox lingered a while. He sought out Marrion and was relieved to see she survived, though at the same time pained. She’d have to suffer the loss of him. So he watched over her for some time before a gentle pull called to him. Another Marrion, the one he’d witnessed die alongside him in fire, called him forward and the two rested at last in each other’s embrace.
Ishigami was the last to find peace, spending years or even decades keeping an eye out on his friends and a few others who hadn’t even made it onto the train. He begrudged his fate, but more than anything he wished them well and so long as they proved they hadn’t moved on, neither did he. But he made use of his time, deciding to find a way to present what he could. Ease their… memories and let it fade. He purposefully worked through what he could do, trying to replicate what Phantom claimed to be able to do. Fading memories, just a touch, was the best he could muster.
Whether Hayasaka found rest is unknown, unfortunately. She remained an ever vigilant guard of Kaguya long after death, and kept watch until at last Kaguya or Miyuki confessed and the two damned love birds got together. Her life did not revolve around Kaguya, however, and she noticed a strange bond with Miyuki. Using this bond she was able to, occasionally, interact with the real world. She took the opportunity to live out what dreams she could, including letting herself get to be her own person. It was rare, but those moments were what her ghost self lived for.
Ken did not find peace. Beyond watching over Rinko when he had a chance, he wanted to make sure that justice was served. He didn’t want Danni to win, he refused to let Danni win, but he and Dolly--who was able to follow as a non-Serpentine Spirit resident--spent much of their time ensuring that at the very least Danni’s name was dragged through mud. He uncovered anything he could, as a ghost, but struggled to convey it on account of being dead. Eventually he joined Kiryu and Majima on the odd ghost hunting job, their unknown ally punching ghosts and seeing what he could do. But justice was never done being served.
Neku became Phantom and with that gained great power. He refused to use it to kill others, however, as Orion had. Instead he used it to gather the malevolent souls of the dead, pulling them into his grave and forcing them to either retreat to eternal rest or remain imprisoned in the empty void of limbo. He just wanted everyone to live, and that meant making sure none of them ever encountered the Phantom Train again. Rumor did come about because of him, however, rumors of noise echoing before a soul is grabbed and dragged, screaming into limbo. Power can corrupt, but it remains unknown if Neku fell to that corruption.
Katherine was the first to find peace, having removed herself from the sufferings of the Phantom Train. She accepted her death, her second death, but made sure to let Ken know she didn’t regret dying for him. He had no reason to feel guilty over what had happened.
Dazai passed on not long after. He took the time to make sure everyone was okay and sought to have Hayasaka and Katherine enjoy eternal peace together--a kind of ghost suicide--but after Katherine was gone and he lost track of Hayasaka, he was content to spend a bit of time sorting his life out, but he’d always been prepared to die. Nothing held him, at least not strongly.
Maddox lingered a while. He sought out Marrion and was relieved to see she survived, though at the same time pained. She’d have to suffer the loss of him. So he watched over her for some time before a gentle pull called to him. Another Marrion, the one he’d witnessed die alongside him in fire, called him forward and the two rested at last in each other’s embrace.
Ishigami was the last to find peace, spending years or even decades keeping an eye out on his friends and a few others who hadn’t even made it onto the train. He begrudged his fate, but more than anything he wished them well and so long as they proved they hadn’t moved on, neither did he. But he made use of his time, deciding to find a way to present what he could. Ease their… memories and let it fade. He purposefully worked through what he could do, trying to replicate what Phantom claimed to be able to do. Fading memories, just a touch, was the best he could muster.
Whether Hayasaka found rest is unknown, unfortunately. She remained an ever vigilant guard of Kaguya long after death, and kept watch until at last Kaguya or Miyuki confessed and the two damned love birds got together. Her life did not revolve around Kaguya, however, and she noticed a strange bond with Miyuki. Using this bond she was able to, occasionally, interact with the real world. She took the opportunity to live out what dreams she could, including letting herself get to be her own person. It was rare, but those moments were what her ghost self lived for.
Ken did not find peace. Beyond watching over Rinko when he had a chance, he wanted to make sure that justice was served. He didn’t want Danni to win, he refused to let Danni win, but he and Dolly--who was able to follow as a non-Serpentine Spirit resident--spent much of their time ensuring that at the very least Danni’s name was dragged through mud. He uncovered anything he could, as a ghost, but struggled to convey it on account of being dead. Eventually he joined Kiryu and Majima on the odd ghost hunting job, their unknown ally punching ghosts and seeing what he could do. But justice was never done being served.
Neku became Phantom and with that gained great power. He refused to use it to kill others, however, as Orion had. Instead he used it to gather the malevolent souls of the dead, pulling them into his grave and forcing them to either retreat to eternal rest or remain imprisoned in the empty void of limbo. He just wanted everyone to live, and that meant making sure none of them ever encountered the Phantom Train again. Rumor did come about because of him, however, rumors of noise echoing before a soul is grabbed and dragged, screaming into limbo. Power can corrupt, but it remains unknown if Neku fell to that corruption.
{Phantom Train}Phantom was not defeated, but he didn’t return for a long, long time. His people able to rest while gathering energy from the latest sacrifices. However, some things would never be the same. The happy puppy guide was gone, Jester’s occasional whimper of pain caught echoing in the Phantom’s Realm. Alicia and a few others were able to find peace as well, their power no longer able to bring the terrors they did in their suffering. Mayu and Orion were talking once more as well, at least for a time before the magics of the train pulled once more, draining memories and leaving only fragments. But Mayu never forgot, not completely, and the room Orion was in was no longer sealed away. So even when, decades later, the Phantom Train appeared once more, the passengers of the latest victim stood a better chance.
you got this
