Smoke had filled the room of one of the mostly vacant hotels. It was so very quiet...so very peaceful...

It was exactly what Dani wanted right now.

The woman, former counterpart of Audrey Jones, former restraint to the girl's anger, was lounging quietly on the bed in the room. Her shades were placed on the small dresser beside the bed, as was the ashtray that she used to smash her cigarette against. That was enough for now.

Though she was relaxing now, Dani had planned to set off very soon. She had promised to bring followers to her fellow ex-counterpart, Ignis Fatuus. Soon was probably a good time to do so now. Plus, the usual routine she had been going through while in hiding was beginning to grow very old for her. Yes, it helped to keep her face off the map for a while, but it really didn't help if it was starting to grow boring.

That wasn't to say she was going to create noise like her friend, oh no. Dani was much smarter than that; she knew to be more subtle to get her way. She just needed to make sure to keep off the radar for a bit longer while traveling the worlds. That, she felt confident that she could do.

But thinking back on her friend, Dani had to wonder. Where was he now...?


Outside the room, there was a burst of black fire. And from it and from it appeared Ignis Fatuus and his new ally, the alternate Yuki Masami called Rikka. After they had formed their alliance, Ignis had brought the girl here to bring this news to his fellow ex-counterpart. He felt confident that the three of them would be able to work together in this.

The man released his hold on the girl then, and announced, "Here we are." He turned to the door, about to knock. "Now, you wait here while I speak to her."

====

"Very well."  Rikka said as she formed her light bed once again and sat on it.  She did not like the feeling of teleporting with Ignis.  Then again she disliked teleporting in general.  She preferred a Gummi Ship, which reminded her she needed to get one like her old one.

Which meant it needed to be as lavish as possible.

====

Ignis was once again amused when Rikka immediately summoned up another light bed. They had more important things to do however, so he left any sort of comment out. And so with that, he knocked on the door and called, "Oh Dani? I know it hasn't been too long since I've been away, but I bring good news."


Dani perked her head up as she heard the knock, as well as the voice behind the door. Well, this was certainly a coincidence. Just what sort of news did her partner bring?

The woman quickly fixed her hair and some of the make-up she had put on. Ever since gaining her own form, she always had a habit of looking her best always. First impressions were always very important, especially when it came to swaying people to her side. After making sure her appearance was fine for now, Dani picked up the sunglasses and put them over her eyes. Even if Ignis was here now, he might have brought their first follower. She rarely ever showed her face to a complete stranger, unless she was using her hypnosis.

With that done, Dani stood from the bed and sauntered over to the door. As she opened it, she smirked as she saw the Nightmare Illusionist.

"Hello again, my dear Will-O-the-Wisp," she said, in her seductive tone. The hypnotist had caught sight of the girl on the light bed as well; good thing she had put her shades back on, else that would have blinded her. "Would that be our first follower?"

Ignis smirked back at the woman as she greeted him. It was funny; back when they were enemies, he was usually annoyed with her antics. Now, it was almost pleasing. To her question, he shook his head and answered, "Less follower, and more a third ally. There's no need for you to force her against her will."

====

Rikka scowled at the woman named Dani.  She was no one's follower.  Still Dani didn't realize Ignis would be bringing her so she would let it pass this time.

"I am Rikka, though you may know me by my true name, Yuki Masami."  Rikka said, introducing herself.  While she did not recognize Dani, there was a chance she recognized Yuki like Ignis had.

====

That chance was lost, however. Though Dani did know about Yuki, it was only by name. She didn't really know or care too much about the girl to give much thought on it.

"So I see..." Dani looked back at Ignis, not really giving too much of a care over the new ally. "Well, you must have some reason to have agreed to such a thing."

"We are both in need of more allies," the man replied simply, allowing a small smirk to cross his face. "And she has promised to help rid of our target, so long as we help her against her own."

====

So it seemed Dani didn't recognize her like Ignis did.  Still an ally was an ally and Rikka needed as many as she could get her hands on.

"I have heard from Ignis that you are against Audrey Jones.  I wish to see her dead along with several other Interferences.  I feel that working together would be advantageous to all three of us."  Rikka said.

====

Now Dani had to smirk. With that fact, she could tolerate this girl somewhat now. "Well, anyone who is an enemy of that worthless little girl is definitely a friend of mine. But I must ask...what sort of help would you offer?"

Ignis gave a frown to this. All he knew about this girl was her light powers; he truly had no idea what she was really capable of. "Actually, that is an interesting question," he said as he turned to Rikka. "What exactly [i]would[/i] you do for us?"

====

"You can obviously know of my powers to manipulate light.  Beams, shields, that sort of thing.  My other main power involves these."  Rikka pulled out some of her cards, showing off a Monster and a Spell.

"I can use these cards to summon monsters or use various effects.  Such as this one I can summon a trio of swords made of light, that I not only use as weapons but can also prevent a enemy from fighting for a couple minutes.  However due to my travel to this universe I only have a few rather weak monsters and the Swords."

====

Dani merely 'hmph'ed in response. Only a few weak cards and those Swords she's mentioned? She'd make a scornful comment to that, but she held it in. If they were going to be working together, she might as well be easy on the girl. "So long as you perform serviceably, and don't do anything to betray us, then we should work well together."

'Perform serviceably'? "Dani, she is our partner, not a hired mercenary." Ignis turned to Rikka, smiling apologetically. "Please excuse my friend's behavior; she...has very high standards, we can say."

"Don't speak as if I am not here, Ignis," Dani said with a scoff. "If the girl is to work with us, then she must prove her worth before I change my mind."

====

Rikka glared at Dani.  The Light of Destruction is not liking Dani.  However she needed her as a ally.  Still she could not deny that she was not at her full strength.

"Once I regain my full power you shall see that I am a powerful ally."  Rikka said as she crossed her arms.  Before anyone could get another word in, in a flash of light a pair of cards appeared in front of Rikka.

Rikka blinked as she took the cards.  "Well that was rather random.  However I will not complain."

====

Both Dani and Ignis also had to blink as the cards randomly appeared. Granted, it wasn't the strangest sight to behold, but it was still rather sudden.

"Odd..." the Nightmare Illusionist admitted, but then allowed a smile to cross his face. "Perhaps if you travel among the worlds, you will find more of these cards. You'll regain your lost strength in no time."

Dani rolled her eyes. That was a ridiculously corny thing for him to say. Ignis really needed to work on his social skills. "Does she even have any other way to travel?"

====

"No I do not.  I was more focused on coming to this universe more than anything."  Rikka said as she narrowed her eyes at Dani.  She did not like how Dani talked like she was not here.  If Rikka did not need allies she would not agree to work with this woman.

====

Dani opened her mouth to speak, most likely to put Rikka down again. But before she could speak a word, Ignis interrupted her.

"In that case, the two of you should partner up until Rikka can get her own form of transportation."

The woman looked at the dark pyromancer, almost as if he had gone crazy. "Do you really think I would agree to that suggestion?"

"And why wouldn't you?" he asked, smirking back at her. He really liked to have the upper hand. "This will give Rikka a chance to prove her worth. And besides, weren't you already about to take off?"

====

Rikka scowled at Ignis.  She did not like this idea as much as Dani did.  However she was in no position to complain as she was the new member to this group and she for now would follow their lead.

Plus if it gave her the chance to show up Dani and prove her worth it would make up for it.  Slightly.

====

Dani also scowled at Ignis. She didn't want to have to babysit some girl that the man had took in, even if she was going to work with them. Even if she did prove herself, the woman still found the thought of that to be a chore. But she too was in no position to argue. As he said, she was going to be taking off soon.

So she sighed. "Very well, I shall take her along for now."

Ignis' smirk widened. "Good. You two will have plenty of time to acquaint yourselves." He looked between the two females and said, "Now, if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."

"Other matters?" Dani asked with a scoff. "I never thought you had any business plans of your own."

The Nightmare Illusionist merely chuckled in response. "My dear Dani, you underestimate me just as much as I underestimated you..." And in a burst of black flames, he was gone.

====

Rikka glared at where Ignis stood.  She was not happy with his idea and now that he left that left her with no choice but to go with Dani.

"Since we have no choice now, we might as well go and get me a Gummi Ship so I can go out on my own."  Rikka said to Dani while glaring at her.

====

Dani 'hmph'ed again, not really caring too much about the glare. Might as well just get this over with. "Let us be off, then." Dark threads then appeared around both the woman and Rikka, cocooning them. Then, as they burst out, they were gone from the world as well.

[size=1](Next thread will be up shortly.)