Meta frowned a little and took a step backwards as she looked around at the Tzhaars. She turned to gaze upon Tzhaar-Craf and opened her mouth to address him. "How is it that you already know of my reason for coming here, even though I only made my decision mere moments ago?"

"Hm-hmmm." Meta hummed, duly noting it with a nod at Tzhaar-Craf. She found it quite amusing that she had made her decision to try and pick up leadership over these beings at the very same time these creatures had apparantly decided that they would like her to be their leader. She looked around at the other Tzhaars that were present, at the Tzhaar-Mej and Tzhaar-Craf. "Very well then," She said, and her face started to show hints of a grin, "I shall take up responsibility over your tribes, and protect you with all my power." She said. Then she hesitated for a moment. What would then come might make the Tzhaars suspicious of her, or distrustful. "However, I believe that we cannot be safe until one of our neighbouring realms is safe as well. The realm of Earth has recently known the appearance of a great number of evil creatures, and despite my being the Keeper of the Dark of a wholly different realm from that of Earth, I believe I must venture into that realm to ensure its safety. Still, if I am to be your leader, I must not abandon you all, who have faith in me. As such," She swallowed at that moment and was thus silent for a second, "as such, I ask of you, would you come with me to Earthrealm, so that I may watch over you whilst I try to ensure the safety of both our realms?"

Meta rested her chin in the palm of her hand, whilst the elbow of the same arm rested on the other arm as she thought about this. She had told Xoquoxitill she would think about the issue, but the amount of time that had passed by between the time of her saying it and the present hadn't really been to call lengthy. She honestly had not expected the Tzhaars to so readily accept her as their new leader, and had thought that she would have had much more time to think about the question that had now popped up. After several moments having spent in deep thought, Meta glanced around at her new followers again, and spoke. "I honestly do not know where we should go, really. I have more followers in the prisonrealm of Tartarus, but I don't think that that place is suitable for the tribes. I have also considered places with other allies of mine, but the few I know of either do not possess a moveable base and rather are composed of a large army of robots that just roam about, and another fellow I met once, but he's all on his own. He did mention one named Ziatoch whom he told me would ally with me if I wished it and that he would make it happen, but I haven't heard about that anymore. I suppose we could search for him, but until we would find him, we wouldn't know if he can offer us help, or if he will offer us help." She suddenly seemed frustrated, as well as a tad bit saddened because of the current flow of events that appeared to be occurring. "I don't suppose anyone else from this realm has once spent a long time in Earthrealm and knew of a moveable base? I dunno... like a giant carriage, or a floating castle, or a ship?"

"I suppose that's possible." Meta agreed. "I haven't had enough practice with my new powers yet to do such things as of now, I believe, so Xoquoxitill could certainly help out."

"Well then, then we'll have to go to see Xoquoxitill." Meta concluded. "Unless you have some way of summoning him here." She added with a shrug.

Meta didn't seem much pleased with this new information. However, she assumed that Xoquoxitill would still be near the area where she had left him. To check up on it, she used the scrying technique she had recently learned and searched until she found Xoquoxitill. After that, she would teleport towards his current location and say to him, "Xoquoxitill, me and the Tzhaars wish to speak with you."

Meta nodded at Xoquoxitill, after which she turned on the spot and disappeared yet again, only to reappear again in Jet-Kiel amidst the Tzhaars.

"We need a ways to go about Earthrealm with the entire tribe." Meta explained. "A large moveable base, like some sort of ship or flying fortress of some kind. Preferably undetected, too."

Meta tilted her head upwards to grasp the full size of the portal that Xoquoxitill had created. It was indeed quite sizeable, and although she thought that it he had overdone it a bit, she simply shrugged off that fact, turning around and gesturing the Tzhaars to follow her, before she entered the portal.


~ The City of White Metal ~

After Meta had entered the city through the portal, she took one quick look around before walking further into the city, as the Tzhaars would be following her and she'd have to make way for them. She came upon the scrying pool and saw a scene from Earth. A smile came to her face, and she turned around to look at the Tzhaars, half expecting the Tzhaar-Mej or Tzhaar-Craf to stand behind her. "This is perfect."

Beyond the wasteland of X's mind was a secluded corner untouched by darkness. It was a small enclave of lush greenery, an oasis and white temple. It was here that a man with long blond hair and a beard, and dressed in white robes tended to the plants with a smile on his face.

It was around this time that the Dark X waltzed into his garden.

"Hello," the man said softly. "I trust that it went well?"

The dark X smiled, "Yeah yeah. My partner got her sealed up nice and tight..." he trailed off. There was silence for a moment as he gazed at the temple. "...she in there?"

The man nodded. "Yes. She's sealed behind the gates for now. But regarding the battle... I did promise that I would help you focus your energy, but try not to use it so carelessly."

Dark X shrugged. "All I know is that it lasted longer, old man. You were right about this whole focus thing... but why's it gotten wasted this whole time?"

The man sighed. "It's because you don't focus it. It just keeps pouring out of you. You used to only use about 10% because everything else would just leak. Now you're up to 70%."

Dark X got angry, "Wha!? Only 70%? You rat-bastard, you promised me 85%!"

"X... there is only so much I can do. The more you waste it, the harder it is to focus for you."

Dark X scoffed. "Whatever, I'm out."

R.D. lowered himself to the ground, watching the new Mercy warily. This was new, and not all that comforting, he decided. The resemblance of NightShade was uncanny, and it unnerved him. He landed next to Alasea, keeping silent. The girl was also watching Mercy, and slowly sheathed the Megami Tsurugi on her hip.

The silence was tense. R.D. decided to break it.

"So, crisis averted. Now what?"

===In England===

He was growing more uncomfortable by the hour. While he waited for X to wake up, strange, egg-shaped metal things had appeared in the air, each with long, straight tails and using what appeared to be spinning black disks to stay aloft. What in the world had gone on in this world since he was corrupted by Diablo? This world was no longer a home to him; he recognized nothing of it. The alien structures, the flying ships... his world had disappeared in the sands of time. How was he supposed to find this island in this chaos?

"Are you awake yet, X?" he asked, looking back at the man's silent form, hoping for an answer.

Alasea nodded to Mercy, understanding the reasons behind such. "It's okay," she said, "Just take care, okay?"

"It's perfect." Meta repeated, "Isn't it?" She said as she looked around, gazing with her penetrating eyes at those whom she now lead. "A city that can move according to my will, a fortress that can go unseen and travel through dimensions. It is perfect."

Meta turned around and looked at the barriers that surrounded the Obsidian Weapons. She walked around the scrying pool and extended her arm. She momentarily, for just a split second, hesitated, before her arm passed through the white barrier around the Obsidian Ring. She picked up the small object and withdrew her arm to get a good look at the black, circular piece of jewelry. A smirk stood on her face as she put the ring on a finger and examined it for a moment. Then she once again looked at the Tzhaars. "Once everyone is ready and rested, we shall leave for Earthrealm. Be sure to install yourselves well as we shall be staying at this base for quite a while, it can be presumed."

R.D. watched Lee go, his face carefully neutral. After fighting with himself for a moment, he turned towards the red-haired child, looking down on him. "Mercy," he started, "Do you know which one of the Seven Beasts that Juno's ragtag army is targeting next?"

Alasea looked at R.D. curiously. Why did he want to know which of Juno's targets was next on the list?

R.D. sighed. "Well, great," he muttered, "No way of finding out for now. Dammit."

"Let's just go back to the house," Alasea said, motioning back to the woods she lived in.