Here's the idea that's been living in my brain rent-free for a while that I need to clear out for some new stuff:
Squib Games
A clown walks around the city, doing that basic trick where the magician pulls coins out of people's ears. Except, each person who gets a coin realizes that one face is a set of coordinates and the other face is a profile of someone they know - usually a relative.
One by one, each coin-receiver tries to contact the person on the other side of the coin, only to find out their loved ones have gone missing.
Panicked, every single person travels (in their own way) to the coordinates, which lead to a rocky island with a lone, derelict building. Don't ask me how or why they all elected to show up at the same time.
Predictably, there's a storm, so even the people who want to leave can't due to the rough waves and they head inside the building.
Once inside, the lights flicker on and its made up to look like the inside of a big circus tent. In the middle of the ring is the clown that gave them the coins. There's panache, flair, razzle dazzle - the works. At some point they are shown a comically large cage filled with their friends and family, begging fearfully to be set free.
They need to complete 3 tasks based on magic tricks if they want everyone to be let go, so they have no choice but to comply.
Task #1 is Juggling. Spin the wheel to find out how many balls to juggle. The options are 0, 1, 25, and 3. The clown ringmaster expresses such sorrow that he accidentally wrote 25 instead of 2. Somehow, everyone mystically gets 0, 1, or 3 until the last person, who gets stuck with 25 balls.
They obviously fail to juggle 25 balls. Their kidnapped person - their childhood friend, is pulled from the cage and shot point blank by the clown.
Everyone screams in hysterics.
Task #2 is Pull Fabric Scarves Out of the Mouth. They are given an IKEA-style diagram on a slip of paper and 30 seconds to learn how to do the trick. Everyone is rattled, but somehow, many of them manage to get through it.
Nerves get the better of six people and now there's a half-dozen people lined up for the clown's target practice. The bullets fly. They all fall.
There is lots of terrified sobbing.
The clown calls out "Cut!"
All the people that were dead, suddenly get back up.
We learn that each person in the games is related to a magician or performer; rather than bullets, squibs have been used the entire time to fake the deaths. It turns out this is all being filmed for a new web series, all done via drone and remote cameras.
Everyone has a good laugh and the participants promise to continue to act shocked for continuity in the last trick.
The "dead" people go back to laying on the ground.
The clown calls out to start filming again.
Trick #3 is Pull a Dove Out of a Hat.
One old man isn't able to pull off the trick. His nephew, a veteran street magician, is pulled up to the front, gives his uncle a wink and makes an arrangement to grab a burger later.
The clown shoots the magician.
Everyone pretends to be shocked!
The clown turns to the cameras posted along the ceiling to say:
"OK chat, now that you've seen how the game is played - you can start placing your bets."
The participants and the "dead" people on the ground look around in confusion - except for the corpse of the street magician who doesn't do anything.
After a quick tidy of the room and another round of tea for everyone except Munto, Yumemi brought everyone up to speed.
"Gridori wants to what?" Ichiko asked incredulously. "And that old guy is back too?"
Kazuya ran a hand through his hair. "This will end the peace negotiations. How much power does the Heavens have?"
Tatakohe stroked his chin. "Enough to cause some considerable damage to your race if it's employed to its fullest extent. Without fail, Gridori and Gntarl will coordinate an attack, and they'll do it quickly."
"We should rescue our friends first; they can assist with any attempts to foil this plot," Munto said. "With me looking as I do, we will need every creditable person to help convince the other rulers of the imposter."
"You know a prophetess, right? Do you think she is cooperating with the attackers?" Munto bristled slightly and Kazuya immediately put up his hands. "Cooperating was the wrong word - do you think she is being coerced to cooperate? If so, the enemy may be able to foresee any action we take."
Munto settled back, and Yumemi could tell he was secretly impressed with Kazuya's insight. The two young men were barely apart in age and intellect, but Kazuya must look young and untried in the eyes of Heavenly beings like Tatakohe and Munto.
"No," Munto said. "It won't be a problem if they see us coming. In fact, let's hope they do."
Tatakohe caught on. "A distributed effort: one party to target Gridori, another to target Gntarl, and a third to free the prisoners. The group that finds Gntarl can also attempt to disarm any weaponry he's preparing. Similarly, the group that frees the prisoners can try to liaise with the other rulers and begin persuading them."
"I will go after Gridori," Yumemi said, surprised a little by her own confidence. "Gridori believes I don't know the truth. I can distract him."
"No," Ichiko rushed to her side. "You said he was dangerous, didn't you?"
Yumemi took a breath. "There isn't anyone better suited to distracting him. Anyone else and he might be suspicious. Even if he has reservations, he is planning to use me, and that should let down his guard enough."
Ichiko grabbed her shoulders. " I've seen what that magic does to you - it drains your energy. He could destroy you. If you go alone, you are handing yourself on a silver platter."
"I never said I was going alone," Yumemi turned and smiled at Munto. "I believe in our strength, and if he does something, the future is always open. We will find a way forward."
Then she wrapped Ichiko in a hug, which Suzume joined. She felt a sigh run through Ichiko's body, but it was resigned.
"Alright then, let's find a way to keep our so-called future open."
****************************************
Gntarl made quick work of reassembling the New United Army and finalizing a plan of attack. With the help of Lardy Amsaralle's spell, not a single Heavenly ruler dissented to fly their flag under Gntarl's banner.
Gridori looked outside at the stars glittering coldly in the sky. At dawn, the Heavens would launch the first attack against the Lower World in centuries. There were no Outsiders or weakling kings to get in the way this time.
He caught a glimpse of himself reflecting off the window's glass and an evil version of Munto looked back with a smile.
When Munto and I saved the world, we believed ourselves to be invincible: if we were together, we could accomplish any feat and bring about any future. Even separate by time and space, split across different realities, we would always have faith that our hearts could connect. We would find a way out of the darkness.
***********************************************
"Munto is still in the void, or at least his spirit still is," Yumemi explained for her friends.
Ichiko shivered. "I still think it's creepy that someone else snuck back into his body."
"How are you going to find him?" Suzume laid a small hand on Yumemi's shoulder.
Yumemi squared her shoulders. "Our memories connect us - I can use that to find him initially. But I am worried. Last time, something in the void opened the portal the rest of the way. I don't know if I can do it on my own."
She looked at the cup of cold tea in her hands. "There's also the challenge that if I can find him and bring him back, I don't know how to get him back in his body."
"You could put him in a bottle, like a genie!" Suzume chirped.
Tatakohe made eye contact with Kazuya as if to say: And these girls saved the world?
Ichiko sighed and gave Suzume a light chop on the top of her head. "This is why everyone calls you childish at school. We're not going to stick anyone in a bottle."
Ignoring her friends' bickering, Yumemi put her cup down and moved to the center of the room. She closed her eyes and once again recalled Munto.
This time, instead of drawing on her physical memories, she honed her thoughts on the feeling of wearing their special rings: feelings and emotions flowing freely between their spirits. She remembered the sensation of all the dreams and visions they had shared, of when he pressed her against his chest to reveal what was in his heart.
The tiniest golden light flared on the edge of her consciousness, a flickering, warm light, one that she would know anywhere.
Gently, she cupped her hands around the flame and was suddenly hit with the sense that something was terribly and horribly wrong. Pain flared in her joints, traveling along her limbs. She could feel herself curl into a little ball while her friends shouted in concern, their voices muted as if through many layers of water.
What was causing Munto this much pain? Where was he?
Yumemi?
She was rewarded with a voice that was weak and strained, but it was his.
Pushing through the pain, she scrambled to her feet, her mind casting out a tiny blue astral line towards the flame. At the same time, she raised her hand and felt the pressure of space-time magic against her palm. With all her might, she pushed and tore, tearing open a new hole in reality.
Please let him be safe!
The apartment trembled with mild tremors. Teacups rattled, and Yumemi could vaguely make out her friends' concerned yells.
"What's happening?" it sounded like Ichiko called out. "Is it an earthquake?"
Yumemi opened her eyes as she watched the ball of glowing energy start to grow in the center of the room, with small black swirls around the bright cortex, spiraling quickly and whipping the air.
Kazuya had dragged Suzume to his side and held her close, preventing her from falling. She smiled cheerfully as the objects fell from the shelves and tables: "Something's coming!"
The magic suddenly expanded and exploded into a brilliant, fragmented light that sparkled. Everyone in the room covered their eyes from the unexpected glare.
Squinting against the fading light, Yumemi cast her gaze on what had come through the portal.
In the middle of the floor was crouched a creature that she had seen several times in her nightmares. Fiery red hair, menacing white, branch-like limbs, and a terrifying brown mask with bubbling water behind it. This was the beast who had almost killed Munto many months ago, that Gass had given his life to banish.
Tatakohe stumbled backwards. "Gridori!"
"What is that?" Ichiko asked, voice tinged with anger and fear. "Is that another one of those things - those dolls - like the silver one we fly around on?"
"No. Stay back. That is Gridori, the former mad king of the Horguze," Tatakohe was reaching into his pocket and strapped on some sort of smooth bracer, aiming it directly at the stranger.
Yumemi simply watched intently. Despite what her logic was telling her, she felt a timid gentleness radiating outward from the creature. As the monster tentatively raised a clawed hand, reaching out to her, she knew.
"Munto!" She raced over and wrapped her arms around the spindly neck, opening her heart to him.
Joy, relief, exhaustion, and sadness flooded her mind as she relished their restored connection.
"Yumemi." Munto's voice was gurgling and alien, but it was him. The two remained locked in an embrace, enjoying the reunion.
He showed her all that had transgressed since they parted ways earlier that evening. She didn't understand all of it: the emptiness of the void, the madness of the fallen king, the cruelty of the space-time witch, and his own suspicions around Gridori's intentions.
Another face wavered in her mind. Gass was alive?
Her silent question was met with a pang of sadness that filled Munto's heart and made her own ache in sympathy.
"He had to stay behind," Munto said, choking with emotion. He released a watery, ragged breath. "We might be able to find a way to pull him back."
Yumemi ran her palm along the side of Munto's masked face, almost able to see his pained expression despite his concealed facial features.
"The future is full of potential," she agreed softly. "We will find a way."
"You expect me to believe that is Munto?" Tatakohe asked, keeping his bracer aimed directly in the center of the room.
Yumemi rushed over and placed a delicate hand on the weapon. "I know what this looks like. This is not Gridori. It is Munto."
Tatakohe frowned, unconvinced. "I believe we are being too trusting-"
"Give it a rest! You better listen to Yumemi or I'll come over there and knock sense into you myself!" Munto spoke in burbling tones. "Gridori has returned in my body and we have to stop him."
Tatakohe's eye twitched. "He's certainly hot-headed enough to be him."
Suzume was watching the drama unfold with a twinkle in her expression. "So what do we do to stop the non-Munto-Gridori person? Nyan!"
Ichiko rolled her eyes. "How can you possibly say 'nyan' right now?"
"Every time is a good time for a 'nyan' - it helps diffuse a situation!"
"What do you mean, 'created the Guardian'?" Munto hovered protectively over Gass, who was ashen under the space-time runs scrawled across his face.
"It is straightforward: your people were nothing - simple magic casters with hardly any skill to recommend you. I did what any evolved life form would do: I offered my advice and a choice."
"A choice to do what?" growled Munto. Slowly, Gass sat up, breathing heavily and sweating profusely, but alert.
"Abandon their material forms to become one with akuto," Lady Amsaralle said with a cold glee. "In exchange, I was able to watch your society descend into madness over a thousand years."
Munto froze. "Why?"
Lady Amsaralle drifted around them in a circle. "Some of your kind might say they live forever, but I actually do. You cannot imagine the level of ennui I endure from such longevity. I must arrange myself entertainment from time to time - lest I pursue the more destructive alternatives."
"Then whatever powers you granted Gridori - that was all for your pleasure?" Munto dug his claws into the floor.
"Just as it was when I granted your first Outsider their ability to manipulate space-time magic - with stipulations, of course."
Gass was starting to get onto his feet and then fell back on the floor. Munto was immediately at his shoulder.
"When I say run, you run," Gass murmured under his unsteady breath.
"I'm not leaving you here," Munto said in desperation. It was almost like he was about to lose his father again.
"You must," he said with a strained smile. Gass lifted the remainder of his arm and brushed against Munto's chest.
Munto was overwhelmed with the emotions that flooded into his heart. Alas, there was no time to process any of it because Gass let loose a massive cloud of space time magic in Lady Amsaralle's direction.
"Run!"
Munto did as he was told, sprinting away from that courtyard, from that cursed castle, his breath choppy and filled with pain. As he ran, it was almost as though he could hear Gass's voice one last time:
If I could have sired offspring, it is my sincerest wish that they would be like you, Munto.
Save travels, Outsider.
This time Munto did scream, unable to hold back his anger. He could have pleaded harder for Gass to join him, but such efforts would have been in vain, as the Guardian's answer would not have changed. There was nothing the young king could have done.
Leaving the fortress behind, Munto was alone again, and in that infinite darkness, he mourned.
Wrapped in his sadness, he almost missed the spark of blue light, trembling and weak.
Yumemi?
The luminescence of the spark started to grow stronger, brighter, and bigger. Munto raised his hand, letting the black ruins to form magic rings around his forearm. A crack formed in the dark, and he grasped onto a line of brilliant blue light that pulled him through the portal.
"I don't think we have much time. Are you coming with me, or not?" Yumemi asked, meeting the young man's dark expression.
Growing slightly impatient, she insisted: "Look inside your heart, Tatakohe-san. Why did you come to me to begin with? What do you believe is the right answer?"
She heard panting approaching from behind her as Ichiko caught up. "Yumemi! Watch out!" Her friend jumped out in front of her, swatting her hand down.
"You!" Ichiko pointed an accusing finger at Tatakohe. "What do you think you are doing?" Suzume trotted up, a tired, but happy smile on her face. "Oh, it's the weirdo!"
Tatakohe's eye twitched.
With her friends by her side, Yumemi renewed her request. "These are my friends, Ichiko and Suzume. Can you work with us to
Her friends watched the exchange curiously.
"Hidaka Yumemi," he said. "Girl of Destiny, I accept your request to form an alliance and-"
"Great. Now let's get off the street where some other sky weirdo could see us, okay?" Ichiko grabbed Yumemi and Suzume, pulling them along, looking to the sky. "We can talk more about it at the mall."
Wait - we can go to Kazuya's place!"
"Suzume, do you realize what time it is?" Ichiko stopped them in their tracks. "I'll be the first to admit that I don't really want to go to the abandoned mall this late in the evening, but going to a boy's place?"
"I'm sure it's fine," Suzume gave a big smile.
Kazuya was no stranger to the trio of girls using his apartment to talk about magicians or akuto dolls, the Magical Kingdom, floating islands, and most importantly: Yumemi's crush on the "red-haired alien king". Improperiety aside, they all agreed that would be the best place.
Yumemi frowned and then raised her fingers to her lips to let out an ear-piercing whistle. Soon enough, their ride arrived.
"Akuto-san!" Yumemi called, giving the doll a giant wave as the group ran up, Tatakohe approaching cautiously behind them. She helped her friends clamor up onto the giant silver claws and held on tightly as huge gusts of wind kicked up dirt as they took off.
At their altitude, it took only minutes to reach the second floor of Kazuya's apartment building. While Suzume rummaged in her pockets for the space key and Ichiko suggested they just knock, Yumemi addressed the doll, which was curiously peering over the railing.
She smiled and rubbed her hand against its claw that rested gently on the side wall. "Thank you so much, Akuto-san. I am sorry to ask this, but can you wait for us out here? I'm afraid you are too big to go inside."
It carefully withdrew its hand and took flight, landing in a nearby tree, much to the surprise of a flock of birds who had just nestled down for the evening. It crouched on one of the branches, trying to look inconspicuous. Or as inconspicuous as a large other-worldly life form can be in a tree.
Once inside and settled around a low coffee table, Ichiko got down to the "brass tactics" as Suzume called them. "Okay, Yumemi - spill: what happened? Who is this guy?"
Ichiko and Suzume's faces were a kaleidoscope of emotions as Yumemi recounted everything from the disastrous date, to the issue at the headquarters, all the way to "Munto" returning. More than once they glanced at Tatakohe, who stoically attempted to sip his tea next to Kazuya.
"So we need to bring back the real Munto, right?" Ichiko asked. "That doesn't sound too hard-" her phone buzzed with her text message alert. "Hold on a second."
She sat, looking at the glowing display for a minute. "It's - it's from Rui, but I don't understand." She handed the phone over to Yumemi.
Gridori and Gntarl in control.
Allies in prison.
Munto missing.
"Gntarl?!" Yumemi's jaw dropped and quickly explained for her friends: "Gntarl is the general who tried to stop us from building the link between the Heavens and our world. He was going to crystallize us for our akuto!"
Ichiko took back her phone. "That old man? I thought Munto put him in prison!"
"Then that means Gridori must be the imposter and he has somehow convinced the entire Alliance to accept Gntarl's release." Tatakohe remarked pensively. "If they are unchecked, it is almost certain they will goad the other rulers into attacking the Lower World."
"Haven't you all been working hard towards the peace efforts? Why would they just go along with that?" Ichiko scoffed. "Munto doesn't have that much charisma."
"If Gridori has assumed Munto's form, then it would not be unreasonable for him to have other powers we don't understand; those powers could make him very persuasive."
"We need to stop them," Yumemi said quietly. "We can't allow them to fight because once they start, I don't think it'll ever stop."
Tatakohe grasped her shoulders firmly. "What we need is to find Munto and see if he has any information that might help us break Gridori's magic. If we go into the Alliance Headquarters blind, we will be destroyed or imprisoned, like your friends."
Yumemi cast down her eyes, worried for all her friends, both floating in the sky and on the ground. There was so much at stake; could she really accomplish everything on her own?
With a glare, Ichiko pushed Tatakohe out of the way. "Yumemi, let's just focus on getting Munto. Once the two of you are together, everything will be right again."
Quick note if you are reading this the week of release - this is not a happy part and may provoke anxiety in some readers. It's just kind of where my head is at giving recent news.
When Gass trapped me in the Void, my body was already long on its way to disintegration. A relentless need for revenge was the sole sensation I could feel. That's what drew her to me, at least that's what the damned witch said.
From the flames of my scorn, she was able to discern my true desire: to take what was rightfully mine. She offered me three favors to make that dream a reality, and I immediately agreed. After all, what did I have to lose?
She created 'contracts' for each of those favors, verbosely articulating the terms of the mutually beneficial agreement, ethereal documents containing ridiculous terms and conditions, but that I signed anyway.
For my first wish, I swapped forms with Munto. For my second wish, I would finally gain the admiration and gratitude of my peers.
From outside the doors to the United Alliance chambers, Gridori could hear the loud raucous of concerned voices traveling down the hall.
"This is most unprecedented," said the council moderator, their thin and reedy voice carrying above the chorus. "Neither the Magical Kingdom, nor Horguze have representatives in attendance. There is only precedence for one absent continent."
One of the elders cut through the clamor by raising his voice. "Yet, we must discuss what transpired today; the incident with the anomaly must be reported to this assembly as soon as possible."
"How do you propose we do that without Lord Munto here? Are you suggesting that we review the details first and then hope that he makes an appearance before long?" Another elder chimed in, equally as loud. "Perhaps we should postpone the session."
"That won't be necessary." Gridori let himself into the room. "If we are only missing representation from one country, then we are good to begin, are we not?"
The entire group quieted as he slowly made his way around the table, tapping each participant on the shoulder. "As you can see, I am fine in health, despite my recent ordeal."
He smiled slightly as the magic started to take hold. "Allow me to elaborate on my experience."
Everyone nodded numbly, eyes riveted to him.
"Fellow leaders of the United Alliance of the Heavens: the testimony I have to share may shock you, but I request that you listen carefully and hold your questions to the end."
"Earlier, I was abducted into the Void," he paused for the theatrical gasp from his captive audience. "During that time, I saw the most terrible nightmares, creatures that should never leave the shadows. Monsters you could never imagine."
"When I returned, I immediately sought out who was responsible for creating that anomaly, for almost unleashing the worst possible threats upon the Heavens." He left everyone hanging dramatically. "Do you know who it was?"
There was only silent head shaking.
"It was the humans from the Lower World."
Everyone in the room was shocked, but held their tongues, per Gridori's earlier command.
"Esteemed leaders, the time has come for us to take action. Many of you have long believed humanity to be suspicious of us, of our size, our strength, our speed, our intelligence, and of course, of our talent for akuto manipulation. While we have tried everything in our power to demonstrate good will, their actions to me and this assembly are nothing short of an attack."
We must revive our army and protect ourselves before damage is done to us.
"Many of you have long believed humans to be suspicious of us
He released his grip on the magic spell, which was now fully entwined in their minds, and said, smacking his hand on the table: "Now is the time to strike. It is our responsibility - no, our right - to protect ourselves before the light of our future is snuffed out for good. Are you with me, brothers and sisters? Can I rely on you to defend the brilliance of the Heavens? What say you?"
His audience erupted in applause, and all the leaders stood to shake hands with him. Griodri basked in the glory of it all.
"If I may, there is one other I would like to re-introduce to this group," he smiled and gestured toward the door. "Presenting former General Gntarl of the United Alliance Army."
"Gntarl!" the elder from Ender sputtered as the Heavenly being in question glided to the front of the room. "Aren't you supposed to be in jail?"
Gridori regarded the doddering old fool with a piercing glare as he walked over and placed an arm on the elder's shoulder. He tapped his fingers a few more times, giving the magic spell a little more juice. "Yes, and you all are supposed to be holding the Heavens together, yet I don't see that happening either."
"We are on the verge of war; we must be prepared to what is necessary." This time, the elder agreed and took his seat once again.
"Thank you everyone for your support. As the most experienced commander in the room, I'd like to turn the discourse over to General Gntarl, who can speak more on our proposed next steps." Gridori sat down in the chair for the Magical Kingdom representative and swung his feet up onto the table, his malevolence fully on display.
Gntarl smiled coldly. "I am so glad that you've all finally come around. Those pitiful peace talks you were a waste of time, but now we can make a plan."
He narrowed his eyes. "Each of you has the gumption and the duty to bring back the former brilliance of the Heavens. No longer will we be viewed as parasites, bowing to the people who have been masquerading as peace mongers. We cannot doubt their intentions."
The audience sat enthralled by Gntarl's argument.
"Lend us your support, your soldiers. Give us your power, your might," he said. "Go home, prepare your armies. Tomorrow, we send out our forces to reclaim our rightful place over the humans."
Gridori gleefully smiled as those gathered in the room rushed over to Gntarl in a frenzy. He had missed the heat of battle, and now it happened without so much as a peep of resistance.
Deep beneath the Alliance Headquarters, Gridori moved through the dimly lit corridors, his boots the sole sound marking his passage into the dungeons. Down he went until he reached the most obscured cell in the entire building, with bars crossed over a door humming with magical energy.
A cloaked figure stood and moved out of the shadows. "Gridori, I presume?" said a raspy voice that carried above the thrum and buzz of the force fields. "I take this to mean that all is going according to your plan?"
"Yes, exceptionally so." Gridori placed a hand on a set of runes carved into the wall next to the opening. The barrier came down instantly.
"Shall we get going, Gntarl?"
The former general of the United Alliance Army stepped out of his prison cell with a small chuckle. "Lead the way."
****************************
Yumemi's journey to the mall was going quietly. Almost too quietly. Unless her brother was very good at distracting and her parents very good at running interference, she would have expected to have Tatakohe or one of his lackeys on her tail by now.
It wasn't until she was rounding the corner onto the street to the mall that she realized someone was following her.
She whirled around and caught a glimpse of yet another new face - this one with dark hair and eyes. "I am not going with you," she said, raising her voice. "Leave me alone!"
Not even bothering to look behind her, she stepped back towards the mall. "What do you think you are doing? Is this the way the Heavens operates now?"
The man tilted his head and then disappeared from view. Yumemi blinked, and then she was suddenly grabbed harshly by the arms and lifted from the ground. Immediately, she kicked and twisted, managing to get away for a second.
"Yumemi, run!" Ichiko was sprinting up the street from the other end, Suzume not far behind her.
She didn't need to be told, and she bolted away into the derelict park across from the mall entrance. She took a quick peak as she got away, seeing Ichiko slam full force into the person, bringing them to the ground.
Tracing the edge of the park for a few minutes brought her to a bridge over a water channel. She scooted down the slope so she could catch her breath, tucked away between two of the main supporting beams, next to the running water. Refuge for a moment, at least.
She tried to tuck her mussed hair behind her ears and accidentally brushed against a small cut on her forehead that she must have gotten during her brief encounter with her assailant. She winced at the contact with the wound.
"I do apologize for that," said the stranger, as he joined her under the bridge.
Yumemi backed away, seeking an escape route that she might use to fly back to Ichiko and Suzume.
"That's really not necessary," her opponent said. "All I want to do is talk."
"Barging into my home, trying to kidnap me, and accosting me in the street feels a bit much for just wanting to talk," she said.
"It is imperative I speak with you," he said with a shrug.
There was something in his tone and manner that was nagging in the back of her mind. Something familiar.
"I doubt that," Yumemi replied. "I'm not sure what 'mission' you could be talking about-"
"That was a fabricated excuse designed to make your parents feel comfortable. There is clearly no mission." He gestured as if brushing away the lies buzzing around him.
Yumemi figured it out. He wasn't wearing the mask, but without question this was:
"Tatakohe?"
"Lord Tatakohe, if you please," he said, casting a rebuking stare.
"Why exactly do you need to talk to me? Are you going to drag me before the council and force me to become an Outsider? Or are you trying to take my powers for some plan with Gntarl?" she asked.
He frowned at her. "I'm afraid you're wrong on both accounts."
"But Munto said-"
"Munto is hotheaded and impetuous, especially when it comes to you. He misread my motivations entirely."
Yumemi glared. "Please stop interrupting me." She gathered herself. "Which part am I wrong about?"
Tatakohe sighed and leaned against a pillar. "I have no intention to drag you back before the Council; I certainly do not wish to use your powers for anything - nevermind any purpose associated with Gntarl."
"Then how did you learn about my powers and why did you prompt the Council to force me into an interview?" She crossed her arms.
He gaped at her incredulously. "Do you seriously think that your efforts in the akuto crisis are some great secret? This is why I hate working with magicians."
Yumemi let out a small huff.
"Since you are obviously not aware, but virtually every aspect of the akuto crisis was recorded through the United Alliance observation system. I recognize that few on the council are inclined to interact with the magitech, but that information has been available to anyone who wishes to see it. Neither you, Munto, nor Gntarl hold a monopoly in that regard."
"And the interview?" she quipped.
"It was the only way I could get the rest of the council to carefully review what transpired and to explore the possibility that you were appointed as the successor to the role of Guardian of Space and Time." He clicked his tongue. "You must have noticed that I asked you no questions during your inquiry; I already possessed nearly all the information you shared that day."
"So you do want me to become Outsider," she said.
He was silent for a minute.
"We have to strike a careful balance of the powers in the Heavens. The Guardian is one of the controls to preventing any person or continent from having too much power. Ever since the akuto crisis reached its peak and the Guardian disappeared, everything has been imbalanced." He looked at her with a hint of remorse. "We need an Outsider."
"You will find someone," she said.
He shook his head. "Not fast enough. Right now, if Munto felt in the mood, we would be powerless to prevent him from seizing power over all of space-time and subsequently the Heavens."
"Munto would never do that!" Yumemi cried.
"But his imposter might."
Yumemi's eyes went wide. He knew about the fake Munto.
"When my informants told me about the space-time anomaly, I went to investigate. I did not expect to see his disappearance or the return of the creature from the Void." He scoffed. "I'm not sure who it thought it was fooling; it was clear that the being was not Munto."
"Then surely the council will stop him if he tries anything," Yumemi said hoping.
"I don't think you understand just how much sway Munto has had over Heavenly affairs. The imposter does not need to put on a heavy facade to get the council to follow their lead. They will not see the tells as easily as his friends and allies."
Yumemi was puzzled. "What about you? How could you tell?"
He sneered slightly. "My distaste for Munto and the Magical Kingdom resulted in a type of close observation."
Hmmm. Ichiko would calm him an obsessed stalker.
"And that was why you wanted to talk to me - to make sure I didn't go along with his plans." She looked up at the underside of the bridge in thought. "Then you really aren't working with Gntarl."
"No. We've never even spoken."
Yumemi wasn't sure what to do. Munto warned her to be wary of Tatakohe, but right now the biggest threat was the impostor. She would need all the help she could get to expose the lies and stop the danger before it got out of hand.
Standing tall, she faced Tatakohe and stuck out a hand. "I agree to an alliance, if you can handle working with my friends."
For as long as I could remember, Gass, Guardian of Space and Time, had been a constant in my life. He was the Outsider to all the countries in the Heavens, but for me, he was almost a foster father, providing a guiding hand as I took the throne. I took his presence for granted; without his support, I would never have been able to open our current future.
Never once did I stop to think on how he took on that mantle, how the Guardian was appointed, and what the consequences might be if we broke any unspoken rules that governed the power of space and time.
*************************************************
"Careful: your current form is vulnerable to the effects of the space-time magic. If you push too hard now, you might not make it back."
Munto gasped slightly, feeling more exhausted than he had in a very long time. "I don't understand how I'm supposed to get proficient if I'm not allowed to practice properly."
Gass floated next to him. "You are doing well, but these things take time."
"Time that I don't have," Munto said, his face mask gurgling. "I'm beginning to think that-"
"Silence." Gass held up an arm and Munto immediately froze.
Barely above a whisper, Gass said: "We need to leave."
Leave? Go where? This was the Void - an endless space of emptiness, a vast expanse of nothing. Munto did not speak his thoughts aloud, lest he draw the attention of whatever entity Gass was concerned about.
Movement in his line of view distracted him: black space-time runes swirled around Gass' remaining arm. Munto quickly wrapped his twig-like fingers around Gass' hand and shook his head. Whatever was approaching, they could see it through together, rather than let Gass lose another arm.
Dark, thunderous clouds formed, from which rose a massive castle, the clouds forming a foggy ring around the base of the towers. Munto had never seen anything like it. Judging from Gass's expression, this was not the first time the Outsider of old had come across this compound.
With a rush of wind, the impenetrable clouds buffeted them as if in a storm and when the winds had settled, they were in a great courtyard of sorts.
Gass murmured low: "There's no helping it, now that she's caught us."
"Who?"
"The space-time witch."
A beautiful woman with pale silver hair and glowing golden eyes gracefully floated down the stone steps towards them, her robes shimmering in silver and frosty blue.
"Oh ho, Gass. Why am I not surprised to see you here?" She raised her sleeves to hide a mocking laugh.
"Nothing escapes your gaze, Lady Amsarelle," Gass said. There was an undercurrent of animosity in his voice that put Munto on his guard.
She turned to Munto with an icy stare. "You must be the poor soul that my little pet Gridori used the first of his favors on." She smiled sweetly with cold eyes. "I would be more than happy to fix your current predicament."
Gass stepped in front, his arm barring her from getting closer. "Do not listen. Lady Amsaralle's contracts are no laughing matter and have far-reaching consequences."
"I'm hurt that you would say such a thing, my darling Guardian."
Munto desperately wanted some context. "Who is she?"
Lady Amsaralle pulled a fan from her robes and opened it with a snap. "Why, I am the warden of space between realities, the custodian of time, and an administer of fate."
"She is the manifestation of chaos," Gass corrected. "A deity who makes deals for her own amusement and then breaks them for pleasure."
Her expression lost all traces of joviality as her eyes turned pitch black, teeth became pointed, nails grew long, and her hand fanned out behind her in a pale halo. "Break my own deals? Who do you think you are, pitiful Outsider?" she hissed.
Gass groaned and dropped to a knee, his remaining hand wrapped in space-time magic, vanished a second later.
Munto crouched beside him, trying to offer what comfort he could as Lady Amsaralle returned to her normal appearance.
"I take my deals very seriously. Simply because you do not understand the nuances of the negotiated terms does not mean I will allow you to slander me, in my own home no less."
"You witch!" Munto leapt up, ready to strike her down.
"No, Munto!" Gass yelled and Munto stopped himself. "She speaks the truth."
"She just took your hand away!"
Lady Amsaralle tilted her head. "Technically, I took his other arm away too, if we're to be specific."
Munto faced her again. "How?"Gass heavily returned to his feet. "She created the Guardian."
Yumemi slipped in through her bedroom window and saw Chikara huddled on the bed, eyes wide in fear. "Onee-chan?"
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"There's some stranger downstairs. He said he has to speak with you. That you have to go away with him."
Yumemi crouched low. "Is it Munto?"
He shook his head. "It's not King-man. Someone different."
Yumemi crept to the edge of the loft to see if she could make out any of what they were saying.
"What business do you have with our daughter?" Her father never spoke in a harsh tone.
"I require her presence," said a voice that Yumemi had heard once before: that person from Horguze. Tatakohe?
"Has she done something wrong?" her mother asked.
"Her history with the Heavenly Being known as Munto, king of the Magical Kingdom and member of the United Alliance of the Heavens qualifies her for a special initiative. She will be briefed in full once we arrive at our destination."
"Where exactly is this destination?"
Yumemi frowned in confusion. Between the Council's questioning, Munto's imposter, and now this, this could be no coincidence. Tatakohe must be in league with whoever had taken Munto and it would be no surprise if they had nefarious plans.
“What special initiative?”
If she had to guess: tensions between humans and Heavenly Beings had been rocky recently and no doubt Tatakohe or other akutoloids shared the opinions of the likes of Gridori or Gntarl who had caused trouble in the past and were looking for a flimsy opportunity to ignite a fire. For Munto's sake, for the sake of all that she cared for, she would prevent a war with everything she had.
"She will be briefed in full once we arrive at our destination," Tatakohe replied coolly.
"You can explain it in full here, or you can leave," her father said.
This was going to go sideways very quickly and that would possibly cut off her only window for escape.
Yumemi crawled back to her brother and gave him a gentle pat on the head. "I have a very important mission for you."
She grabbed her phone charger and a change of clothes to stuff in the bag she had carried around earlier. "I need you to go downstairs and distract the stranger for as long as possible. Can you do that?"
Chikara slightly quivered in panic.
Yumemi drew him in close. "Chikara, you have a strong spirit and you will become a great man one day. The person downstairs will not hurt you, I am sure of it."
The voices downstairs were becoming pronounced. "We will not cooperate. Leave at once."
She needed Tatakohe detained downstairs as long as possible so she could make her escape. She nudged Chikara. "Go."
Her brother almost slipped down the stairs
"Are you trying to take Yumemi away?" he started, pitching his question loudly. "Why can't you ask Yumemi the questions here?"
Turning her focus back to the window that she didn't even have a chance to close, she wished the akuto doll had lingered only a minute more. Now she would need to try flying again.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Chikara had started wailing.
No, wait. Perhaps flying was what he would expect. It might be better to do it the old-fashioned way. With a small breeze, she floated out the window and wavered down to the ground, where she kept low.
Once she was past her family's fence, she continued to make her way into town. She whipped out her phone.
Y: Need a place to talk.
I: What's going on? Your mom called earlier.
Y: Will explain. Ideas for a hideout?
S: Let's go to the abandoned mall!
I: Wot
Y: Where?
And that was how Yumemi found herself heading into a derelict part of town, to an abandoned shopping center, after curfew, still in the middle of the biggest fight she'd ever had with the love of her life.
Rui had gathered everyone he could find: Sheza, Marty, Tail, Harka, Toche, Lady Ryuely, and even Leica from the Ender continent. They were all clustered in Munto's office back in the Magical Kingdom - a space that usually hosted half as many people.
"I will try to make this quick," he started. "Earlier today, members of this group confirmed the presence of a space-time anomaly in the Alliance Headquarters, located not far from the section holding Former General Gntarl."
"Lord Munto and I went to investigate, whereupon he was attacked by Void magic and vanished." There were some hushed gasps around the room. "Thankfully, Princess Yumemi was able to open a portal and bring him back."
"That said," he interrupted the relieved sighs. "I have reason to believe that the person currently masquerading as Munto is an imposter."
"What do you mean, an imposter?" Tail asked.
"What evidence do you have?" quipped Marty.
"He..." Rui hesitated. "His actions towards the princess were not normal." He did not feel comfortable blabbing about the king's argument and desire to apologize. Instead, he directed their attention to Lady Ryuely.
"Have you been able to see Munto?"
The prophetess shook her head. "The Pool of Sight is turbulent; I cannot see him clearly. It is as though he is here, yet not here simultaneously."
"And what of Gntarl?" Sheza said.
"He is as he ever was, in his containment room."
Rui addressed the group again. "We don't know the full extent of what is happening. For now, I ask that we all go along with this facade - only until we can define a few more of the variables."
"I thought you were more discrete than this." Everyone whirled around as 'Munto' finished pushing open the doors to his office. "I see you've gathered everyone here, per my orders. That will make this easy."
"Lord Munto," Rui kept his face and voice as neutral as possible.
"Dispense with the pretenses," 'Munto' crossed his arms. "Since you are all aware of the situation - you have two choices: you are either on my side or against me. Make your choice."
"What makes you think we would ever side with an imposter?" Rui said tersely, dropping the act.
"To be on the winning side of history," 'Munto' said. "To bask in the glory that you foolish magicians have robbed the Heavens of for so long."
Rui tried to make eye contact with the others to signal for them to escape. "You mean to attack the Lower World? That would destroy the reconciliation efforts."
"That doesn't matter. They were never worth of our benevolence." 'Munto' held up an arm towards Toche who had failed to sneak out of the room. "No one goes anywhere until you've made a decision. Join me or face the consequences."
Rui stepped in between the child and put up his own hand. "You will not get away with this."
'Munto' smiled cruelly. "But I already have."
Warriors dressed in armor and white robes swarmed the room. "Guards, detain these traitors. They are all conspirators in a plot to overthrow me."
The royal guards came up behind Rui to capture his arms. He writhed, attempting to get free. "Idiots, can't you see this isn't Lord Munto?"
"Throw them in the dungeon," 'Munto' said. The squad delivered a sharp bow and marched off with the first wave of prisoners.
Lady Ryuley remained poised and calm, Toche tucked behind her skirt. "I do not know what transpired in the Void, Gridori, but threatening the future of the Heavens and the Lower World will not grant you what you seek."
"So you did know and you didn't think to tell the others?" Gridori smirked.
She didn't reply. Not all questions deserved an answer.
Once the akuto doll was airborne, Yumemi whipped her head to look back at the courtyard, watching the group descend to the main part of the Magical Kingdom Palace, led by Munto.
Or, at least the person who was pretending to be Munto.
For a brief second, she had sensed Munto's aura, his real aura: bright and gold. The instant the gap to the Void closed, none of that sunshine remained.
When the stranger kissed her, she could see flashes into the darkness in his heart, block and swirling. Even if Munto's spirit had become irreparably corrupt in the Void, shadowed by the worst emotions, she would never mistake her partner for someone else.
She wiped away the disgusting aftertaste of that imposter's kiss. Whoever they were, they were dangerous. Without knowing where Munto was, if he was a hostage, if he was safe, any wrong step could lead to his death. She would need to be careful opening a path to the Void again.
Too many unknowns, too many options. It was time to talk to her friends.
*********
Munto was crushed.
Every second that he remained trapped in Gridori's body and the Void was another moment that Yumemi and the rest of his loved ones could fall to the unknown dangers that walked among them. By the time they realized the switch, it might already be too late.
To complicate matters, severe pain was creeping along the edges of his body.
Before Gridori's exile, the fallen king had recklessly transformed into the monster that remained. Doing such an act would clearly upset the nature balance of his form and the magic was struggling to stay intact. Not to mention the space-time corruption was growing ever quickly, eating away at the already fragile limbs.
Munto screamed in silent frustration, his vocal chords stopping him from making a sound.
What should he do? What could he do?
"GRIDORI!" A deep voice yelled through the expanse, and Munto barely brought his arms up in time to protect his core from a blast of space-time magic.
Stunned, he wildly scanned the area and saw who it was.
A short distance away, floated the figure of a man with one arm, his skin almost completely covered in black space-time runes.
It was a silhouette Munto had seen every day of his childhood, one he would recognize in a heartbeat.
Outsider to all the Heavenly continents, Gass, the master of all space-time magic and gate keeper to the Void and one-time foster father figure to Munto, raised his remaining arm, a gesture that once was a source of guidance and stability for the young prince, and prepared to unleash another attack.
"Gridori," Gass growled. Runes formed around his arm, creating larger and larger concentric magic circles. "You underestimated me; but no matter - we end this today."
Munto was lost. How could he convey his true identity?
He wasn't given much time to think as he barely dodged the space-time magic hurled at him. Again and again, the relentless attacks came hard and fast. Then came one so powerful that he knew he wouldn't be able to clear the damage range in time. Instinctively, he held out his arm to cast a spell and swept it in a graceful arc as he had done thousands of times before.
No magic came out.
Curses! Of course the Horguze, masters of magitech, couldn't cast spells like magicians.
Munto turned his head to the side, waiting for the pending impact.
But none came.
He turned back to see the older man frozen in apparent shock. "That spell casting stance. Munto, is that you?"
Munto numbly nodded, the liquid beneath his mask bubbling.
Gass dashed over and wrapped a strong arm around his shoulders. "I am glad to see you, again, no matter the circumstances."
When Munto could not respond, after a quick examination, he closed his eyes in concentration as black runes floated around Muntos' throat.
"There," he smiled crookedly. "No doubt you would be able to do a better job, but there is no akuto here, so this is the best that I can do with what magic I have left."
"Gass?" Munto croaked, trying out his new voice. "How are you here? I thought you had-"
"Died?" The former Outsider ran his hand through his short beard. "I confess it is a bit of a surprise to me as well to find myself floating in the Void, rather than wherever we go after life leaves us behind. Even more of a surprise to find Gridori here as well."
"Never mind that, how did this happen?" He gestured at Munto's current form.
"It was a trap. Gridori is back in the real world in my body and I am stuck here, in his." Munto bitterly laughed. "I don't think I have much time left."
Gass grasped his shoulder firmly. "You might not, but we might be able to make it last longer than you think. Let us not dwell on this and instead focus on returning you to reality so you can return to your body."
"And you'll come with me?" Munto asked, hope against hope.
There was a pause.
"I will if I can," Gass said gravely. "Every time Outsider magic is used, it comes at a risk. Use it too much, and you will break apart." He gestured at his arm and the rest of the runes on his skin. "I may have used too much already beyond the guardrails that are permitted."
"But you're the Outsider. How is it that you cannot use the magic?" Munto tried to look his mentor in the eye.
"That is because I am not the Outsider. I passed that power along to you."
Munto drifted, mind reeling. So that day, at the amusement park, twinges in his side - the infinitesimally small hints suddenly added up in his mind. He was the Outsider?
"Why?" He shifted uncomfortably. "The Outsider has to sit outside every Heavenly continent. If I'm the Outsider, then I have to abandon the Magical Kingdom."
Gass sighed heavily. "I did not intend to put you in a difficult position. I gave you the Outsider mark in the hope that you could find a path forward that would not require you to sacrifice anything you loved."
He couldn't deny that Gass certainly did not have many options and the decision was a prudent one, even if Munto couldn't help feel the tiniest bit shocked by the recent turn of events. On the other hand, if he was the Outsider, that would protect Yumemi from the Council's oversight forever.
Gass was right: he would find a way. He always did.
"Then how do I use Outsider magic?"
"I will teach you the ways and secrets of the space-time magic used by the Outsiders, but you must be careful. Without the Outsider's mark, you are vulnerable to the space-time curse, more so in that body, which has already been damaged by the Void corruption."
Munto brought his hands forward as he had seen Gass do in the past when casting and turned his head expectantly. "I will accept that risk if that means I can get back home, return to my body, and save everyone."
Gass nodded with a slight smile. "Let's get started."
The Magical Kingdom always carried too much weight in deciding the fate of the Heavens. They were the ones who convinced all the Heavenly continents to seal away our respective lands from the Lower World, but then their descendants were the ones consuming all the akuto, leaving the rest of us with a pittance of power.
In Horguze, we responded by creating technology that needed only a fraction of the energy of a traditional magic spell. Yet, somehow, those magicians always seemed to be in control.
Not to mention that confounded Guardian, Gass. He'd always taken a shining to the stupid little magician prince, especially after the king passed down the throne. Munto should never have been able to go down to the Lower World or possess the ability to merge realities. At least Gass was gone and Munto would soon be.
As I was pulled across space in a tunnel of pure and pristine light, I felt almost a giddy sense of accomplishment, despite how far I still had to go to reach my goal.
*********************
Gridori tumbled out of the portal, crashing into a girl.
For a few seconds, he enjoyed the experience of a body not yet ravaged by Void corruption. The muscle, bone, and tissue were lithe and limber. Opening his eyes, he reveled in the precision and clarity with which he was able to see the worried faces of Munto's aides.
The girl sat there, amber hair askew and emerald eyes filled with concern.
Putting on his best confused expression, Gridori reached out to stroke her face. "Yumemi."
He was rewarded with a small, yet tired smile. "Munto, how are you feeling?"
Her hand wrapped around his as it rested on her cheek.
Gridori hid a smirk. It would be so, so, so easy to twist those sweet, bright emotions into doing his bidding. He gently brought her head in for a kiss.
She stiffened in surprise, and everyone in the courtyard blushed, looking away, embarrassed. The girl relaxed, at which point he released her.
"Thank you, Yumemi. You saved me."
She averted her eyes and used her hands to partially cover her red face. There were some stammered words, but Gridoir had no time to waste on such banalities, now that he had won her over.
"Call everyone together, for I have news from the Void." He stood, offering a hand to the girl and drawing her in for a loose embrace.
"Of course, Munto. I shall arrange it immediately." A blue-haired man nodded with some sort of salute, presumably the second in command. "What should I tell them it's about?"
Slightly annoyed, Gridori kept his irritation in check. "Tell them I wish to share new information about the Outside and the Void. We can discuss the details later."
He looked down at the girl in his arms. "Yumemi, you should go home for now. There is much we need to do here; I will come to you later."
She smiled back at him, a little awkward after the open display of affection from earlier. "Of course."
Soon she was on the silver winged creature and away.
Good - she was out of the picture until he needed her again.
"Make sure the meeting happens as soon as possible. I want to review the information with all of you before the Council reconvenes." He strode out of the courtyard, his right-hand man and retainers in tow. Everything was going according to plan.
Back in Lady Ryuely's courtyard, Yumemi once again stood before the Pool of Sight. She would have preferred to have Ichiko and Suzume there, but time was of the essence.
Even without the rings, even without having a clear mental connection to Munto, she had to bring him home.
Closing her eyes, she reached deep into her memories: the ones Munto had shared with her from his childhood, the first time they met, when she jumped from the ferris wheel into his arms, when he held the bridge between their worlds open so she could save her friends, the day they exchanged the rings, their first kiss.
If human emotions formed akuto, then surely that was enough to find him, wherever he was.
She opened her eyes and furrowed her brow in concentration as green, blue, and golden lights started to sparkle around her clenched fist. A slight breeze started to pick up as she carefully began to repel the forces of space-time once more.
She imagined herself as no more than a tiny fractal, traveling along the paths of light, cutting a winding way to where her king was.
What felt like hours must have only been a few minutes, but Yumemi found herself tiring rapidly. The strong thread leading the way became weak and frayed. She held on as long as she could under the increasing strain.
Munto! Where are you? she called out in her mind.
***********
Munto, where are you?
Yumemi's voice, soft and distant, resonating like the traces of an echo. A tiny prick of light formed in the space next to Gridori, who made a wide sweeping gesture, expanding the light into a circle.
Within the circle, Yumemi was visible: determined, arm outstretched, green eyes shining, caramel hair blown back as she repelled forces the size of planets to carve a path into the void.
"Munto!" Her arm extended, breaking into the dark space.
In desperation, Munto tried to scream her name, only to find that no sound issued from his throat. Somehow, Gridori had morphed his form to mangle the vocal chords before swapping bodies, and Munto had no time to magically make them work again. He couldn't warn Yumemi.
"Yumemi!" Gridori called out in a cruel mockery of the precious endearments Munto had shared with her in the past. "Languish away, pathetic king, and reflect on your mistakes."
With these words, he moved forward to grab Yumemi's hand. Munto screamed silently in anguish and rage as a brilliant white light filled through the space-time. When the light faded, he hurriedly looked around.
Gridori's attacks did not abate as hour after hour passed, if it was even possible to tell time in the Void. Without akuto available, Munto felt his energy begin to fade away, his own defenses dwindling.
Gridori gave a harsh laugh. "You pathetic magicians were always so greedy with your akuto consumption. I bet that's giving you a hard time now, isn't it?"
Gritting his teeth, Munto barely dodged as one of Gridori's arms whipped around towards his neck. "Why are you doing this?" he panted.
"I am correcting the error you made," said Gridori. "I will forge the future that should have been: with Heavenly beings in our rightful place as Lords and Masters over the Lower World."
Munto's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't let that happen.
Gridori continued, letting his attacks abate for a moment. "It won't stop at one reality. There are thousands of worlds waiting to be conquered. That fool Gass couldn't see it, you can't see it, but I can see the open doors and I will be the one to walk through them."
An imagine of Yumemi flashed in Munto's mind: shackles at her wrists, bruising her delicate skin, eyes empty and spirit broken - devoid of all life and happiness.
Munto shook with fury and gathered his remaining energy into his right hand. "You will not touch her!"
"Oh, the girl? Yes, she is a necessary part of the plan." Gridori gestured at his distorted figure. "You can see what happens to those of us who use space-time magic improperly. I can't afford to waste time on curses."
Enraged, Munto brought up his arm and unleashed a massive energy blast, right at his foul opponent. Then his body went limp as he tried to keep the last of his akuto intact. He would not die here!
Unfortunately, Gridori vanished a second before impact and then silently reappeared at Munto's side.
"Foolish, young king."
Spiny fingers reached around to bind his arms to his sides, but he did not have the energy to fight back. Needle-sharp digits pricked into his head, piercing deeply, causing him to clench his jaw to stop from screaming.
Gridori drew close to his face. "I have spent much time preparing for my revenge. Thanks to her graces, I can accomplish all that and more, including this."
The hundreds of needles in Munto's head throbbed, bringing on another wave of pain. Spots floated in front of his eyes, blinding his vision.
When the pain finally ebbed away, he opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, as if viewed through a red liquid or glass. With a terrifying thought, he looked down and saw a mess of branch-like limbs. Twisting against his invisible ties, he tried to lift an arm and confirmed what he feared to be the truth.
"As you can tell, that body is rapidly deteriorating. I doubt I would have lasted much longer. Thanks to you, I can start anew."
Meters away, Munto watched as his own body flexed its muscles and then met his gaze with a smirk. "It is liberating to be free of that wrecked form."
When they arrived at the Alliance Headquarters, Yumemi was surprised to see Rui waiting for her. The akuto doll dropped rapidly and was still running the last few steps when Yumemi leaped from its outstretched hand. She staggered and then raced over, almost collapsing against Rui.
"Princess, I don't know what happened," his eyes were wide and fearful. "There was an anomaly that attacked, and Munto disappeared."
She noticed the other retainers were hovering nearby. "Can you bring me to where it happened?"
Rui shook his head. "We need to get away from here. The Alliance has sent investigators. If they find you here, they will seize you for questioning. In fact, I should never have called you here; it's too dangerous. It's better we find somewhere to regroup."
Terrified as Yumemi was for Munto, Rui was also visibly shaken by the events. He had to be: his best friend was taken before his very eyes.
"Rui-san," she said, forcing him to focus on her. "I have been to Lady Ryuely; I think Munto's spirit is trapped beyond our reality."
"Then he is lost?" Rui looked so much like a child in that moment. "There is no Outsider - there is no way back."
"I believe I can make it to him," Yumemi said, courage welling up. Every time she had pushed through space-time in the past, all she had to do was focus her energy on reaching Munto and, in doing so, overcame the impossible.
"But you could be cursed," Rui whispered.
She offered him a brief hug around his waist and then stepped back. "I haven't been cursed before; I am confident it won't happen now."
"What if you can't make it back? Munto would never forgive me," Rui asked quietly.
Curse aside, the possibility of no return did chill her. What if she became lost herself, fated to drift between worlds forever? She might not be able to survive in that environment.
In this time, this world, she was safe. Her life, her family, friends, and loved ones offered a safe cocoon to wrap herself in.
The scale in her heart weighed everything: her home, her mother, father, brother, Ichiko, Suzume, Kazuya, her school, her future. If she did not return home, they would be devastated.
If Munto did not return, she would be.
It was an impossible decision to make, but either way, time was running out. She could already hear the footsteps approaching.
Yumemi looked up into the worried faces of everyone gathered around her. "I must believe that I can safely return with Munto, for if I do not believe, who will?"
Rui nodded. "Then I will believe you will bring him back."
She smiled in return as she climbed back into the akuto doll's hand. "I know I will." They traveled back to the Magical Kingdom, oblivious to the lone figure watching them from the shadows.
Munto had only spent a split second in the Void before, on the winter's day that Gass had sent him to Yumemi's world. That briefest of moments could not have prepared him for the magnitude of the emptiness in the space between worlds. Not a soul for miles.
At least, that's what he thought.
Suddenly, his limbs were clamped tightly against his body. Munto reacted, instinctively channeling his magical energy to push against the bindings, and he dashed away to a safe distance.
"I didn't think that would work," burbled an alien voice, cutting through the quiet.
Munto gaped as the fallen ruler Gridori made himself known. Last seen being forced in the void by the Outsider Gass, the time he had spent in the Void had not improved his unstable state.
Gridori's brown mask bubbled and gurgled with water, crowned with flaming red hair. Spreading from his head was a tangle of spindling white branches and claws, an indefinite shape that had almost abandoned the concept of humanoid altogether. Limbs constantly cracked and creaked as they expanded and contracted, twisting, as if each had a mind of his own.
"You survived," Munto said, afraid to voice the real question he was desperate to find an answer for.
"Did you think I would succumb to that Outsider?" Gridoi scoffed. "No, I ended him for good."
Munto's eye burned with tears that were held at bay. He had mourned Gass once when the older man had sacrificed his life to trap Gridori in this plane beyond their reality, but he had never lost that glimmer of hope that Gass might have somehow survived.
That precious was now well and truly gone.
Yet, now was not the time to grieve; he needed to find some way to get out, to get back home.
With nothing else around, there was little he could do except keep the specter in front of him talking.
"If Gass is gone, how did you create the anomaly?"
"You think your precious girl is the only one who can use space-time magic?" Gridori circled around him. "There is more than you could possibly imagine."
Munto frowned. Then again, talking with a crazy king might lead him nowhere. Perhaps he could trick Gridori into creating another anomaly, another portal of sorts that he could sneak through.
"Then how did you get me here?" Munto kept his eyes on the monster.
"Quite simple really. You already had a connection to this wretched place; your body is receptive to the Outsider magic. All I had to do was wait for you to appear, and then I could take advantage of this weakness to pull you over to this side."
What did he mean by that?
Gridori tilted his head. "Ah, so you weren't aware of the mark that fool Gass put on you. Pity. You spent that entire war with Outsider magic at your fingertips, and you didn't even know."
As if on cue, his lower abdomen twinged with a crinkling discomfort and Munto looked down to see the shifting runes of space-time magic curling around where Gass had punched him to send him to the Lower World. Apparently, there had been unforeseen consequences of the Outsider's actions.
Or maybe knowing Gass, it had been intentional. "Enough chatter," Gridori snarled and he opened a volley of attacks against Munto.
Yumemi headed straight to Lady Ryuely's courtyard of mirrors, landing a bit heavily in the lower yard next to the silver akuto automaton. Taking the short flight of stairs to the prophetess's domain.
"Daughter of Destiny," Lady Ryuely said. "I have been waiting for you."
"I need to see Munto, something is wrong."
Yumemi followed Lady Ryuely to the other side of the courtyard and up the final steps to the dais holding the Pool of Sight. She recognized the golden oval suspended over a small fountain for she had looked into the waters when she had prepared to forge a future for the world.
Now she saw her own reflection in the crystal waters, but it dissolved seconds later into a vision of Munto, the black space-time magic rippling over his skin, being attacked by blue-tinged light.
To her horror, she watched as the light got brighter and brighter until it consumed the portal entirely, and when the light faded, Munto was gone.
"What does it mean?" she asked, trying to brush her shaking fingertips against the vision that only showed a distressed Rui. "Where is he now?"
Lady Ryuely shook her head. "He is beyond my sight."
That could mean one thing: Munto's future was in another place and time, beyond the prophetess's sight unless she made a great sacrifice.
"Do you think he is safe?"
Lady Ryuely waved a hand, and the image in the mirror changed; this time it was Munto - not the Munto of today, but the one several years ago, the Munto that Yumemi had first met.
Flecks of light drifted away from his body as he started to disintegrate.
"Wherever Lord Munto is, without access to akuto, his physical form will dissipate and he will cease to exist."
"He's dying?" Yumemi couldn't look away.
"We are born of the akuto, and to the akuto we will return," said Lady Ryuely, bending down slightly. "But that need not be this day; you have overcome much sorrow and trouble - you can again."
Yumemi smiled, rallying her courage. "I must go to Rui."
The akuto doll must have sensed her desire to leave, for it had walked up beside her. She was eternally grateful that she could disembark immediately. Jumping into its open hand, she held on tightly as its gray wings unfurled and flagged, creating small sand dervishes around the Lady Ryuely.
