Exploring a new world (open to all)

[Ishtar]

Above the lake, a ball of dark energy was forming. The ball grew, ripples of dark energy rolling off of it. When it had finally stopped growing, it exploded. A wave of energy eminated outward. Someone, or rather, something was at the center of the blast. When the waves finally ended, the figure closed his eyes and fell to the lake surface, breaking the water.

[Miri, EarthGuard]

A black-haired girl was sleeping by the banks, having recieved a message and semi-permanent reassignment from Higher Powers to this world. The dark energy woke her, and she sat up, eyes wide, as she saw the figure crash into the lake.

[Ishtar]

Ishtar awoke on the bottom of the lake, his lungs already adapting to the water. Seran pulsed gently, envelouping the surrounding darkness in a blue light. He pulled the blade from his back and swung it in a slow arc in front of him, illuminating more darkness. His wings moved, making sure they were alright. Ishtar swam up a bit, his wings finally taking over for him. He finally got to the shore, where someone was sitting with wide eyes. "This world," he said blankly, "what is it called?" Deciding he sounded too bossy he added, "I mean you no harm."

[Miri, EarthGuard]

She leapt to her feet, eyes wide in surprise. "Wh-who are you?" she asked, incredulously.

[Ishtar]

"I am called Ishtar." He stabbed Seran into the beach and knelt before Miri, as was customary in his universe when introducing one's self. He looked up. "And may I ask what your name is?"

[Miri, EarthGuard]

"Miri," she said. Her eyes were wide as he knelt before her. "I... you... what are you? Where are you from?"

She couldn't believe her eyes, really.

Is he one of your people? she asked inside her mind.

I don't believe so... I thought I was alone. And yet... who is he?

[Ishtar]

"I am from beyond the Great Void, from a bleak universe." He stood up, leaving Seran where it was. "My great ancestors found a way to travel the Great Void long ago. They found a universe full of human beings, and settled there. However, the universe was covered with dark powers, and over the many centuries my people were tainted with this darkness." Ishtar picked Seran up and returned it to his back. "But enough about me, may I ask where I am?"

[Miri, EarthGuard]

"This is the world of Allorum," she told him. "It is a Twin World - it's twin is a world known as Earth, which is my home." She sighed. "I suppose that I should tell ou what's going on. See, Allorum is in the middle of a giant World War. Oh, not much actual fighting has broken out, but thirteen of the world's fourteen countries have allied under an evil dictator who was once an Archangel. Heroes were summoned by a seer to this world from Earth in order to fight the minions of Trucido."

[Ishtar]

"I... am sorry to hear about that. I know what a total world war feels like." Ishtar looked around, something was bothering him, but he didn't know what. "Why does this place seem familiar?" He whispered as he continued to look around. "It feels like I've been here, but I never have." He blinked and looked down at Miri, almost forgetting she was there. "Forgive my nonsense, it was nothing." His eyebrows twitched as he remembered a few minutes ago. "Sorry if I disturbed you, I have the effect of startling people when I first enter their world."

[Miri, EarthGuard]

She shook her head. "I should be used to it by now. Truthfully, you startled me because... I know someone who you remind me of. It's strange, because I'd always been told she was the only one."

[Ishtar]

Ishtar blinked slowly, taking in what Miri had said. "And she might be right," he finally said, "I came from somewhere else a lot... darker. Here, however, seems to be less dark." He looked around, not feeling anything. "May I speak to her?"

[Miri, EarthGuard]

"She wants to speak with you too," she replied, then closed her eyes. Something came over her, then, an aura of darkness unlike anything Miri herself had exhibited. Two black wings sprouted from her back, and something about her demeanor changed, becoming more confident, more haughty. When she opened her eyes, they were gold instead of brown, and she shook her head, as if clearing her mind. When she spoke, her voice held a different timbre.

"You wished to speak with me?"

[Ishtar]

For some reason, that voice reminded him of his world, the higher up lords. Without thinking, and for the second time that day, he drew Seran and plunged it into the beach. He knelt once again, but this time stretching his wings out to their full extent, and doing with extreme speed. "Yes," he replied, his head tilted down, "but you may go first."

[Miri, EarthGuard]

"There's no need for such reverence, though some have shown it to me. You are Ishtar, you said?" Barely waiting for an answer, she continued, nodding. "I have been called many things, but I have no name of my own. The most common name for me is simply 'The DarkAngel'. Every few hundred years, I'm reborn into a new world. As I have no body or heart of my own, I must reside within a host - that girl, Miri, that you saw. This...." she broke off, looking down at one hand, examining it. "This is not my true form. I am speaking through her body - not unlike a sort of.... voluntary posession. She calls me 'Dark'... I suppose you can, as well." She smiled, then sat down. "Your turn."

[Ishtar]

"I am sorry for that, you just remind me of... higher power where I come from." Ishtar stood up, keeping one hand on Seran for comfort. "I am from a universe that simply call my race the 'Old Ones.' My world is inhabited by humans and is shaped like a plate turned upside down." He picked up Seran and etched a half oval with a triangle on the bottom into the beach. "My kind, however, is not as friendly as I am, and they wish to exterminate the humans." Ishtar stabbed Seran back into the sand and sat down beside it. "I was helping the humans with this weapon, when I was pulled out of my world and into the Great Void. Since then, I have been isolated from my world."