Part 1A - Nice to Meet’cha!

''Aurora slowly opened her eyes. She was staring up at a large light coming from a hole in the ceiling. She sat up and looked around herself. She was lying on a bed of golden flowers. She didn't remember how she wound up where she was now or where she even was.''

''???: *You've fallen a long way down... Guess there's nowhere to go but forwards now.''

Aurora looks around in a panic, suddenly realizing that she's hearing voices in her head.

Aurora: Wh- Who's there?!

''???: *Relax. I'm just a part of your subconscious talking to you.''

Aurora doesn't fully understand yet, but she decides that with how things are going that there are other things that should be questioned first.

''???: *You try to remember how you fell... suddenly, it all comes flooding back to you.''

''Aurora feels a little bit sad remembering how she fell, but she's at least happy that she's alive, even if she's in a little bit of pain from falling from such a height. Aurora gets up off of the floor and looks at the bed of golden flowers she landed on.''

''???: *A bed of golden flowers. Seems they somehow miraculously cushioned your fall. You notice something poking out from the bed of flowers.''

Aurora reaches into the flowers and pulls out an unused bandage.

???: *Found a bandage.

''Aurora puts the bandage on her forehead to cover up a small bruise. She notices a small stick next to the flower bed and picks that up as well.''

''???: *Found a Frail Stick. Seems like you have a means of defending yourself from whatever may be down here.''

''Aurora is really unsure if she should press forwards at first, but she decides to brave it and leave the room she found herself in upon waking up. Once she leaves the room, Aurora finds herself in a smaller room with a singular hibiscus flower in a small patch of grass. She takes a step forwards, only for the flower to move. A small, smiling, friendly face appears on the flower.''

Flower?: Howdy pal!

Aurora screams in shock, pointing her stick at the small hibiscus flower.

Flower?: Woah woah there buddy! Take it easy! I'm not gonna hurt you!

Aurora slowly lowers her stick, before warily raising the stick at the flower again.

Flower?: Really, I mean you no harm buddy.

''Aurora lowers the stick fully. She isn't sure she trusts the flower, but she decides that she had might as well hear it out, no matter how strange the situation is.''

''???: *It's a talking flower... gosh this is so bizarre.''

Flower?: That's better. You feel better?

Aurora: Yeah... sorry, I'm just... really confused. Flowers don't talk last I checked.

Flower?: Well, I can assure you that I'm no ordinary flower pal! Let's start from scratch with introductions, shall we?

Harper: Howdy! It's nice to meet'cha! I'm Harper! Harper the Hibiscus!

Harper: Hmmm... you're new to the underground, arent'cha?

Aurora: The... underground?

Harper: Yup! This place is called the underground! Judging off of where you came from, you probably fell from that hole back there, right?

Aurora: Yeah.

Harper: Well that's no good at all! Somebody oughta teach you how things work around here! I guess since there's nobody else around, little ol' me will have to do for now. Ready? Here we go!

''The world around Aurora and Harper suddenly turns monochrome. A red heart appears in front of Aurora and Aurora notices that she can move it around with her mind.''

Harper: See that heart? That's your SOUL! It's what makes you up and gives you life! Your soul will start off kinda weak... but it can grow stronger with LV!

Harper's smile fades for a second.

Harper: LV... uh... heheheh... maybe we don't need to cover that right now.

''A small yellow bar appears under the box that Aurora's soul is in with the words "HP 17/20" near it. A small part of the bar is red.''

Harper: See that bar? That's your HOPE, or HP for short! That's what keeps you alive! You uh... you're gonna want to keep that above 0 if you value being alive.

Aurora: Well gee, that's useful information.

Harper: Right! Now onto the basics of a battle from your side! We'll get to the more complex stuff later, for now let's start with the basics!

Harper: Down here... there are a lot of threats to a human like you, and those come in the form of attacks.

Small, white pellets appear above the box Aurora's soul is in.

Harper: Attacks come in all shapes and sizes depending on who the person is you're fighting. For example, my attacks look like this!

Harper: If you couldn't tell, these are bullets. They aren't really good news for you, but for now I think we should use them just to help you understand how things work.

Harper: As I'm sure you've noticed, you can move your SOUL around. That's gonna be your main form of defense for now.

The pellets begin to slowly fly towards Aurora.

Harper: Now, if you want to survive, what you need to do is you need to dodge attacks. Go ahead! Dodge the bullets!

Aurora moves her soul around, avoiding getting hit by the white pellets.

Harper: Good job kid! Seems like you've already gotten the hang of that.

Harper notices Aurora's HP isn't at full.

Harper: Uh oh! Looks like you're already a little hurt from that fall huh? Well don't worry pal! I've got something to help with that!

Small pellets fill the air, but these ones are green instead.

Harper: See these green pellets? Unlike the white pellets you just dodged, green attacks can heal you! Go ahead, collect some of these!

Aurora collects three green pellets, bringing her back to 20 HP.

Aurora: Oh! Thank you!

Harper: No problem buddy! Just don't forget, white is bad, green is good. Got it?

Aurora: Green is good, white is bad. Got it!

Harper: Great! Now let's move onto the more complex attacks!

''Blue pellets line the entire box that Aurora's soul is in. Aurora begins to sweat nervously.''

Harper: See these blue pellets? They work pretty differently from green and white ones.

Harper: Blue ones can damage you, but only if you're moving.

Harper: So if a blue attack is coming at you, then stay still... got it? Why don't you give it a try?

''Harper launches the blue pellets at Aurora. She stays still and they go right through her, so she takes no damage.''

Harper: Good work kid! Although, I suppose you really didn't need to do a lot to dodge those, huh?

Orange pellets surround the box.

Harper: Now orange attacks are the exact opposite of blue ones. Do you know what that means?

Aurora: That if I'm moving, then they won't hurt me?

Harper: Wow, you sure are smart! Go ahead and test that theory!

Harper launches the orange pellets and Aurora moves through them, not taking damage.

Harper: Outstanding! Looks like you've got the basics of survival down then!

The color of the world returns to normal and the battle ends.

Harper: Now, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me, okay kid? I'm always happy to help!

The upbeat and cheerful music stops as footsteps are heard.

Harper: Oh! Do you hear that? Sounds like somebody is coming!

A tall lady wearing a dark blue hoodie and jean shorts walks into the room from a large doorway.

Harper: Howdy Winter!

Winter: Good morning Harper! It's a lovely day today, isn't it?

Harper: It sure is! You here to water those golden flowers again?

Winter: Yup, I am.

Harper: Well that'll have to wait a bit! Look! We have a guest!

''Winter looks up from Harper to see Aurora standing there. Winter lets out a little gasp, dropping her watering can.'' Music to play over the scenario. Winter: Oh my!

Winter runs over to Aurora, placing her hands on Aurora's shoulders.

Winter: Are you alright kid? You must have fallen a long ways down!

Aurora: I'm okay. Harper over here helped me by healing me and teaching me how to dodge and stuff.

Winter: Oh, that's good. Thanks Harper, you really are a sweetheart.

Harper: Aww thanks! Anything for a new friend!

Winter: Don't be afraid kid. I'm not a foe, but a friend.

Winter: My name is Winter. I'm the guardian of the Painted Ruins.

Aurora: It's nice to meet you Winter.

Winter: You must be hungry. I'll take you back to my place. Do you want to come with us Harper?

Harper: Sure! The more the merrier!

Winter: Excellent! Then let's not waste any more time.

Winter bends down and picks up her watering can, then she leads Aurora and Harper out of the small room, truly beginning the journey.