Inkblot 3

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Amaterasu arrives on the Plane with a very angry-looking tree. It looks half-dead; the trunk is twisted and there are no leaves, only enormous fruit that is glowing with a sickly, pinkish light. It's also writhing as if it wants to strangle someone. Amaterasu is snarling at the tree, but she looks up when she realizes where she is.]

Oh, really now...

[The tree whirls around and lobs one of the fruit at her. Amaterasu dodges and the fruit explodes when it hits the Astral Floor.]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

Amaterasu?!

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[She backs away from the tree until it goes stiff and seems to forget about her.] Hello, Mu. Forgive me--my arrival here was unexpected. As unexpected as the fact that the tree arrived with me.

[lamb_of_gold]

That tree looks to be rather dangerous...

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Watching the tree.] Only if you get too close to it. It is a demon tree; they appear sometimes in cursed zones. I was heading into Hana Valley to try and dispel the curse when I came across this one. I can restore it to its normal self, but I need to stun it first.

[lamb_of_gold]

And how would one go about doing that?

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

Wh..what is that thing!?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Backing away from the tree enough that it goes rigid again, losing interest.] Shun. It is a demon tree, a tree that has been affected by the cursed zone.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

A demon tree? [Poofs off the Plane for a second, then comes back wearing his God Cloth] How are we suppose to get rid of it?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Headtilt at the armor because whoa impressive.] The trick is to stun the tree by hitting it with its own fruit. After that I can simply make it bloom and it should return to normal. The fruit is dangerous, however , as you can see.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

You have to turn it's attack back on it? I think I can do that.

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

The trees aren't all like that where you are, right?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Backs away from the tree until it goes rigid again.] My work would never be finished if that were the case! No, only a handful of the trees affected by cursed zones become like this.

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

[ Angela looks at it. ] Need me to teach it a lesson? Fire spells usually work well against plant monsters.

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Ah, that is alright. I would rather save it if I can. I need to stun it first, then I can restore it to life.

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

[ Angela hums in thought. ] Be right back, then! [ Momentary poof, and she's back with her boomstick staff. ] Should be able to smack one back with this.

[only-a-pup.livejournal.com]

[Toboe comes trotting up at having smelled Amaterasu, but let's out a startled yelp as one of the fruits explodes near him] W-what is that thing?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Ah, look out! Its fruit is very dangerous. [Moves backward until the tree goes still again.] This is a demon tree from my world. It became this way because of the cursed zone.

[only-a-pup.livejournal.com]

[Stands besides Amaterasu, still looking rather scared] A demon tree? How do we stop it?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Stunning it with its own fruit tends to work. [She smiles at Toboe.] Don't worry. I'll take care of it.

[only-a-pup.livejournal.com]

[Toboe looks at her, then seems to shake the fear from his face] Tell me how I can help.

[barelyemoting.livejournal.com]

[the Brig has no idea what it is - but he knows, instinctively, it is bad news (ignoring how it looks bad news as well, of course). it only takes him seconds to have his gun in his hands :|b]

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately Amaterasu is from before guns were invented, so she has no idea of how badass he's being right now :P But she trots over to him, putting distance between herself and the tree until it goes stiff again, losing interest.]

Ah, don't get too close to it. In this state, its fruit is quite dangerous.

[barelyemoting.livejournal.com]

[the Brigadier has so gotten used to talking things that he doesn't bat an eyelash, instead just gives her a side glance] I can hit it from here.


[and just to prove the point, he carefully aims and fires at one of the fruits]

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[Amaterasu starts a bit at the bang, but the gun does the trick. The fruit explodes all over the tree, which jerks backward and then falls limp.]

Heavens! Well, whatever you did, it did the trick!

[She trots forward and, though the Brig won't be able to see it, makes a circular brush stroke around the tree. In the next instant the tree has sprung back to life; flowers and leaves sprout from the branches and suddenly the tree is a perfectly normal apple tree.]

There we go! Good as new~ [She looks back at the Brig, smiling.] I thank you for your help, young one.

[barelyemoting.livejournal.com]

[he is just the slightest bit pleased with himself]

I shot it.

[he eyes the tree for a few moments after Ammy does whatever it is she did, scrutinizing it for anything amiss before nodding his head and holstering his gun]

What exactly was that?