E6.2 Collab - Slight Change of Plans - 08

Korasu was probably the only one who was having somewhat of a good time in the forest. Mind you, he wasn't enjoying the darkness, just like the others hadn't. Yet due to his cheerful nature it almost seemed like he was having fun, despite the creepy surroundings.
Confidently he walked along the path the illusory forest had laid for him, sometimes stopping to look at something interesting that wasn't really there. In a way he was making fun of the forest. It tried to make him believe in a reality that wasn't true, so instead he created his own. Flowers, berry bushes and interesting rock formations seemed to line the path as he followed it. He didn't really believe in them, though. It was all just fun. Mocking the forest for its feeble attempts at fooling him. He was quite sure the others were in no trouble either. The forest made it too easy.

"Boy, I sure hope I find the others soon," he explained loudly, to no one in particular. Who was there around to hear him anyway? That was the thing though. Korasu was sure the forest had no mystical powers of its own. The cause of the illusions must have been with its inhabitants, that much was certain. So amongst all the fog and the moving trees and bushes someone must be sitting and watching him, waiting for him to drop his guard and think of some dark secret from his past.
But no such things came to his mind. What was there to feel bad about? He was part of an able and successful merchant team, an apt fighter and had no regrets about his past. No regrets, but a few questions...

Years ago, before he had come to Tao, he had lived in a small town and learned how to fight from his old master. He had had a few friends, among them someone he had held very dear: A young Wingull by the name of Florsal. She was his mentor's daughter and as such always lived under the pressure of her father's expectations. He had been a tough old Pelipper who demanded from his pupils to always give everything they got. Korasu had been his best student, even though he never admitted it or congratulated the Pidove for his skill.
Florsal wasn't half bad either. They would often train together and Korasu actually had to put some effort into keeping up with her. She was good. Very good. Maybe that was why he liked her. For the challenge.
However, her father was never satisfied with her. He always pushed her further, made her train harder than anyone else.
And then, one day, she was gone. Korasu should have seen it. The signs had been there for a long time.
They said she had committed suicide, but no one ever found her body. "Probably eaten by a predator" her father had assumed. No one had ever bothered looking for her, to see if she had really died. It seemed like no one had cared. No one but Korasu.
But without seeing her body he had refused to believe that she was truly gone. Maybe she had just run away, to find a place where her skills would be appreciated more?

It was then that Korasu became aware of something. He could hear a sound in the distance. A smile appeared in his face. Whoever was lurking in the forest ahd finally decided to try his stupid tricks on him. Well, he was ready for it. Nothing they would throw at him could possibly phase him.
Further down the path the sound became louder, clearer. They were taking their sweet time with the whole event. Following that path felt like it would never end, but he could hear his destination.
Someone was sobbing. A girl. He could hear her voice and felt slightly disturbed for once. Whatever the guy in the forest did to creep into his mind, it was more effective than Korasu had thought. The voice was spot on. Almost too much like hers to be true. And when he finally reached the small clearing the path would inevitably have to lead to he saw his expectations confirmed. In the middle of the space, amongst all the mist and darkness, was a small creature with white feathers. Florsal.
She was crying, of course, and even though Korasu knew it wasn't real he felt the sight upsetting. The real Florsal had never cried. Not in front of him at least. Maybe she had done it on her own and no one had ever been unfortunate enough to walk in on her.

She noticed him and tried to supress her tears, but it was already too late. Her emotional dam had broken and the flood that was streaming from her eyes was beyond her control. "Y-you idiot... I didn't want you to see me like this... I..."
"Yeah yeah, could you just show me the exit? Nice show, by the way but not very convincing," the Tranquill interrupted the illusion rudely and without much sympathy. It didn't matter how real everything felt, he knew it was just a trick. Best get it over with.
"Wh-what?" the illusion asked in confusion, "B-but Korasu! It's me! Florsal! We've been-"
"I don't care who you claim to be," Korasu interrupted again dismissively. "I just want to get out of here and reunite with my team mates so we can save Jasmine. So could you please get it over with?"

The illusion stared at him in disbelief for a while, perfectly still. Upon closer inspection it seemed like it had even given up on the pretense of needing to breath and was nor frozen in place like a statue. But then it moved again. Small waves of spasms moved along the illusions throat, growing in intensity as they went on. It turned into a chuckle, then mad giggling and, finally, roaring laughter which echoed through the forest. Now Korasu was getting a bit creeped out.
Muscles tensed up in anticipation of an attack that never came. The illusion looked at him one last time, eyes filled with madness. Then, without a warning, the Wingull's throat tore open as if cut by a cruel beasts claws.
The sight was sickening. Korasu couldn't imagine what sick mind would come up with something like that and firmly closed his eyes. Half afraid to look at the horrible illusion again he opened his eyes only very reluctantly. But his fear was meaningless, as the illusion had disappeared again.
Without waiting any moment longer Korasu jumped into a sprint before taking to the air and navigation through the forest as fast as he could after the trees had seemingly movedaway from each other to get some distance. After seeing what horrible things the creatures behind the illusions could come up with Korasu didn't want to waste another minute to find the others.

"Elliot!" a very excited Larvitar cried out happily and lunged at a Flaaffy that appeared out of the nearby brush. Of course the sudden attack caught him by surprise and both of them fell into the bushes, getting all tangled up in roots and each others' limbs.
"Gee Max, we're supposed to save Jasmine and you got us into another mess."
"Oy I was worried about you, okay? So excuse me for being glad you still have all your limbs," Maxwell countered against Elliot's foot that was repeatedly pushing against his mouth.
"Umm, do you guys need help?" Kiteline asked.
But the two were already untangling themselves and managed to get back on their feet shortly after. And then they laughed heartily together. After all that had transpired in the forest it felt really good to just laugh for once. Though their laughter didn't last long. All three of them were incredibly exhausted, mostly mentally and emotionally. It was time they got out of that horrible place.

"Where are Lute and Korasu?" Elliot inquired.
Diving out of the forest, Korasu could only barely hide how he had rushed to find them. Luckily the others were too tired from their encounters with the forest's illusions to notice him being anything else than his usual carefree self.
"Oh hey! You guys managed to find each other. Everything alright?"
"Lute's still missing," Kiteline sighed. "I guess she's not on your side either. But the rest of us are fine, I suppose."
Even though she said there weren't any problems, it was too half-hearted. Everything was not alright, but they lived. That was all that mattered. Except for Lute, who's still in there.

But they still had a job to finish and he hoped they were still in a decent enough condition for it. Things would only get tougher before they were allowed a break.
He nodded. "Okay then, shall we get going and get our friends back?"
Reluctantly they agreed and followed him as he took the lead. None of them were particularly eager to deal with the forest's tricks again, but they would have to. Not long after they started marching they already saw light ahead. A clearing? Could that be Lute? Or maybe that was where Jasmine was being held. Anyway, there's finally some good luck for them. Their spirits rose again, as did the speed of their steps as they walked towards the light. They would see this to its end. They would save Jasmine.

In the end they had beaten the forest after all.

--

Eighth and last part of "Slight Change of Plans" by

A collaboration between Rhapsody and Second to None for

Joking, there's only one last page.

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