The Hyper City Chronicles: Mission - The Hall of Mirrors
The Hyper City Chronicles: Mission: The Hall of Mirrors
A part of the Wake Up and Start (By Dusk Celeste) , and Animal HRT universe. Written by Aqua Celeste.
Ft. @iristhedarkwitch @darkmagenugget @nuggetsoftotalchaos As well as Star, Mira, and Aria of our system.
In Hyper City, there lies the mystery of the hall of mirrors. When a passing carnival had entered the city, they brought with them the Hall of Mirrors, a simple funhouse attraction, or so it seems. Quickly, people found themselves compelled to stay, unable to bring themselves to leave. Or returning everyday to gaze at it's wonderous power. The hall was said to have shown the beholder their true inner self. And the longer you stay in the halls, the more the physical form begins to change to match. But only for as long as they stay in the hall. Driving people to stay until losing their minds in the image, and slowly wasting away.
Upon realizing the hall was to blame, the hall was quickly shut down and locked up, set to be demolished. But when the crew came to tear it down, the hall had seemingly vanished. The hall then began to appear randomly across the city. And every time it kept getting shut down, and disappearing. The cycle repeated, eventually they were given an order to demolish it on sight, and a warning put out across Hyper City to never enter the Hall of Mirrors. The hall has yet to be caught, and no one knows how it works.
"So Naturally, you are sending us to the dangerous mirror hall?" Dusk asked, ears pointed in a questioning manner, arms crossed, glaring at the scientist in front of her.
"Naturally. You being natural shapeshifters, you in theory should be resistant to the whole "True Self" thing, since you already can just shapeshift into any form the mirrors would show you." Kevin answered. An uncaring look in his eyes.
Kevin had a habit of using Dusk for dangerous experiments. One of these leading to her becoming a shapeshifter in the first place, and though he seems uncaring, does actually care for the people around him. (Has a shitty way of showing it though.)
He specializes in sci-fi style engineering. Making devices previously thought impossible, like a watch that lets users change their clothing and connect to other devices, and make physical projections of various objects using data he took from the digital world he punched a whole into. By molding this junk data, that watch is able to do incredible things.
"Look, I need you and Iris to figure out the source of the hall's magical properties. And the Magical Commission is full of incompetent bastards who can't even seem to find the damn thing. So I've added data to your watch. You should be able to locate it's next appearance. And we can use the magic data to maybe be able to actually let people safely shift through the watch, and we knock out a dangerous magical artifact. Win-Win." He continued to type away at a small laptop he had on him. Sending the tracker to Dusk's watch.
"Dusk, I'm going to say to avoid using your armor in the presence of the hall, unless you want whatever makes it disappear to cause it to move again while no longer trusting your approach. It is crucial it doesn't think you are there to dismantle it."
"Willing to assume I have no choice in this. Alright. I'll go and get your precious data. But at the very least I need caffeine before I leave. Want to be topped off just in case."
"Check the studio fridge. Should be some E in there. Thought ahead on that one. Grab it when you head back topside."
Dusk then proceeded to head toward the elevator and head back up to the surface, towards the studio.
"There go my plans today. Though maybe we can get it done fast." Iris had called from the headspace, as Dusk was currently using the body.
"Do I at least get to smash somethin' this time? I still feel ripped off that I didn't get to use a single weapon on that last thing ya did." Chaos, a 3ft tall blue gremlin with bright red hair, piercing red eyes, and sharp teeth, had asked from the head. She holds a special power of being able to summon weapons on command.
"Ms. Chaos, I kind of hope it doesn't come to that."
A kind voice responded. The voice of Star, a pink bunny cat in the nugget system. "I'm still not a fan of extreme violence."
"Star, I do think for now it might be best if you hang out in the back. This one might actually involve some good amount of mirror smashing." Dusk responded.
After some preparation Dusk had set out. Though something different in her eyes, as Mira had taken over temporarily her eye could be seen under the bit of hair covering Dusk's right eye. Dusk herself not the best with directions, even having a radar of where to go.
After a while, they found it. A small carnival attraction, looked a bit worn down outside. Like it had been abandoned for years. The building didn't seem out of the ordinary for a traveling carnival. A portable building with a ticket booth in front and a ramp leading around. Curtains lined the the entrance. A sign above had likely once been there, but was definitely lost to time. But the energy signature was definitely that of the Hall of Mirrors. Confirmed by Iris herself, doing an energy reading. Mira retreated back into the Nugget headspace.
Dusk begins to approach the hall, and as she approached the ticket booth, with a sudden start, the Hall seemed to have come alive. A loud music playing at the entrance. The loud sounds getting to her, Dusk tucks in her ears while her tails curl around between her legs. A prerecorded message playing over the music, with a voice so booming, it overpowered the loud music. Making Dusk wince more. She wanted to retreat to small mode, but she didn't want to tip whoever ran this hall off that she could change Their look. At least not yet.
"Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors! Please form an orderly line and purchase your tickets from the booth! Come see your true inner self, experience this MAGICAL EVENT!"
Dusk already wasn't a fan. But a single ticket seemed to stick out from the booth. Dusk tried to ignore it, but for some reason the curtain in front of her wouldn't budge. Reluctantly, she took the ticket from the booth, and suddenly, the curtain let them through.
The hall looked significantly more put together on the inside. The mirrors kept in pristine condition, the lights everywhere. But something about the place wasn't sitting right with Iris. Taking over front from Dusk to give her a break from the loud noises and bright lights, Their eyes began to glow that signature yellow glow we know so well. Still keeping Dusk's form though, as this place still wasn't trusted yet. The curtains seemed to solidify and lock behind them.
"The outside hasn't looked touched in years, but the inside seems well upkept. Definitely something magic going on in here. The place is coated in it. Though hard to get a read on from where with all the mirrors around." Iris peaked at all the mirrors.
Inside them, she could see her own reflection. Though she was still in Dusk's form physically. "Seems the rumors are true of it showing you your true self. Let's see if it holds true of changing our physical form as well." Iris lowered her magical barrier briefly, but kept an eye out for magic being used on her.
10 minutes seem to have passed while Iris kept walking through the hall. But something felt strange. Dusk's paws began to lower down. Tails receding. Hair growing. Was their shifting going haywire? Was she shifting herself on instinct? No. Something was definitely transforming her. It was definitely the mirrors. After a few minutes, Iris was standing there as herself. Instinctively, Iris put back up her magical barriers subtly. The voice appeared again. Though this time, definitely not prerecorded, and not through the hall's speaker system.
"Well well, seems we have some cheaters on our hands. Witches aren't an uncommon sight in this hall, but you instictively raised that barrier on yourself. You knew how to use that spell instantly. You're a shapeshifter aren't you, witch? Honestly, I am surprised you let me transform you then." The voice said calmly.
"So… We all agree this guy is some kinda demon, right?" Chaos spoke in the headspace.
"Without a doubt." Iris answers back, speaking in the headspace so the demon couldn't hear. At least so she thought.
"Oh, how delightful! There's more of you in there!" That explains the fox at the start. Probably thought because of the shapeshifting you are immune to the hall's effect of showing you your true self, and granting you your true form. But let me tell you, this… what it reflected on you is permanent as long as you stay in this hall. None of your caffeine requirements. None of the stress on your body."
"What?" Iris checks her own energy to verify, but the demon was speaking the truth. The body was no longer expelling excess energy. This was just… Iris.
"And of course, we can't forget the others in your head. I am detecting seemingly 7 in there. And 2 more with a strong connection that somehow freed themselves already. But they are a distance away. Let's give the other 6 the forms they desire too."
"Um… Ms. Iris… what is going on?"
Iris quickly turns around. That voice had NOT come from the headspace. That sound came from behind her. That… couldn't be. "Star!?"
"This seems so strange. Are… Are we physical? But the body is right there…" That voice… That one belonged to Aqua. And another read of her own energy, Iris realized, Aqua was no longer in the headspace. This WAS her. Not some illusion.
"I… Think we are. Iris, what the fuck!?" Dusk had said. Suddenly appearing from one of the mirrors. Confused, ears on end, as if she was on High Alert.
"Yeah, this ain't sittin' right. Somethin' fishy goin' on here." Chaos commented getting ready to summon a weapon at a moment's notice.
"This is not possible. This isn't the projections I use to talk to you all in physical space. You're actually here!"
"Seems so. Though not sure how. Do you happen to know what's going on?"
A confused Mira floats there, observing the hall.
"Wait… if we are all here… Oh no… No no no no no! She can't!" Dusk begins to panic frantically. Knowing who was coming next.
A sudden soft wimper could be heard next to the group. Mixed with a pained whine as all the music, lights, and sounds were getting to her. "ARIA! Oh no. Hold on pup. We'll get you out of here somehow." Aria being out of the headspace, in a body of her own, was recieving a sensory overload she couldn't seem to escape from. Dusk began calming her down by petting her, softly.
"Don't worry. She will get used to the body over time. There always is at least one that doesn't like the transformations initially. But you all will find, if you leave this hall, you will go back to not existing. You are free now. You can--"
The voice was cut off by the sudden sound of a mirror being smashed. Shattered glass flying everywhere down from a spiked bat held by Chaos.
"Fuck. That. And Fuck yer monologin'! Free? This ain't free. This is just trapped in a new space that can't go anywhere. And look at what yer doin to Aria! I don't give a shit what ya think will happen here!"
"AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" The voice screams out. "What do you think you are DOING! Breaking my precious Mirrors! You brute!"
Of course. Iris couldn't say it wasn't predicted. The Mirrors are the source of the demon's power. And not going to lie, part of her did want to stay with her own body. But looking at poor Aria on the ground, clutching her ears, Iris knew there was only one answer. "We stick together, no matter the space. And while I'd love to see everyone with their own body, this place is too dangerous to be kept. I see how this place works now. You've been feeding off the energy of the people that come in here! The hall itself is the demon!"
The images of the Nuggets in the mirrors began to warp and melt. The twisted images leaving the mirrors.
"I finally found your magic signature. Chaos! The mirror back there! It's reinforcing itself! That must be the source. We need weapons, we only have the one watch."
"On it! Take these, an' let's show these fucks how the nuggets fight. We don't appreciate bein' food for a fuckin' carnival attraction of all things." Chaos said as she created weapons for most of them to use. An energy blade for Dusk, One of Iris' magical staffs for her, And finally crystal Knives for Mira, who then separated into 30 of herself. "Aqua! shadow mode! Protect Star an Aria! There's gonna be glass flyin' doppelgangers droppin, an' a whole lotta mess!"
"You got it." Aqua responded as she began to be coated in shadow, tail gaining a new shape, and eyes glowing a piercing yellow all around the shape of their glasses.
"YOU REALLY THINK I AM LETTING YOU KEEP MY GIFTS AFTER ALL THAT!? I'LL JUST TAKE YOUR ENERGY BY FORCE! SO MUCH PRECIOUS ENERGY! I… WILL… FEED!"
"Sorry, no take backs. At least not yet." Iris had been leaned over a quick spell circle. Not very detailed. The circle glowing. A smile rising on her face. "Had to be a quick one. Spell lock. We've got 10 minutes before this fades. So, as chaos said, let's show this asshole how big a mistake they made."
Without even a moment's hesitation, Chaos threw the bat at another one of the Mirrors. Making one of the doppelgangers disappear. With a quick leap, she caught the bat as it bounced off and then threw it at one of the Nugget copies. The twisted chaos copies spawning their own weapons to protect the mirrors. Dusk grabbed the watch from Iris, bringing out her power armor. She then proceeded to speed through as many of the copies as possible, slicing as she went. Leaving the mirrors open for the Miras and Iris to smash as chaos went for the main mirror. Hitting it with full force. As the spike bat bounced off.
"Y'all, the main one's not breakin'!" "All together!"
Dusk, Iris, Chaos, and the Mira's proceeded to attack the mirror at the same time. Iris shooting it with a blast, Chaos swinging at it with the bat, Dusk stabbing it directly and the Mira copies aiming for the corners. And with that, the Mirror shattered. Glass flying everywhere as the Demon let out one more shriek. The battle over. Whatever data they could get from the place was recorded through the watch. The building started to shake. "Everybody, we got to get out! Now!" Aqua shouted, dragging Star and Aria with her.
Chaos summoned a giant hammer breaking down a nearby wall as they all ran out before the building collapsed around them. Nothing but a pile of rubble and broken glass left of the old Hall of Mirrors.
"Is everyone okay? Did we all make it out?" "Yeah. It seems so." "Good. And finally, that damn music stopped." "So do we need to go back to the headspace now, Ms. Iris?" "I'm sorry, sweetie. Yeah. I couldn't get more than a 10 minute lock on that spell. Should only have a few minutes left." "Honestly, I'm fine staying with everyone in the headspace. I like haning out with y'all." "Havin' our own body would be great, but this ain't the way to go about it. 'Sides, I've grown used to ya. Ya ain't gettin' rid of me that easy." Aria nods softly. "Yeah. Let's get you home." "Before we fade out though, there is one thing I want to do." Dusk pulls Aqua in for a kiss. A real kiss. In the phsyical world. And then gets up close to Iris, staring in her face, the witch blushing red as Dusk is still the only one able to fluster her. "I just really want to do this." Dusk then plants a big kiss for Iris too. She wasn't letting this rare opportunity slip by.
With that, the Nuggets (With the exception of Iris) started to glow, before fading from sight, their energy returning to Iris' body. Iris sat there stunned for a few minutes before smiling placing a hand up to her lips, and letting the relief of everyone being back wash over her.
"Welcome home, everyone." Iris said to her headmates. Now all safe back in the headspace. "Glad to be home." Dusk said with a smile. And looks like Aria is doing instantly better too. "ARF! ARF!" The puppy barks in response. Grateful to be back in the headspace and away from the sensory overload. Tail wagging in happiness as everyone starts petting her for her comfort.
"…"
"Now let's head actual home. I feel like I could use a nap after we give the data to Kevin." "Sounds like a plan. I can handle my plans tomorrow." "Honestly, I'm quite tired too." "I wanted to kiss Iris too." "You'll get to, hun." "I'm glad none of ya tried kissin' me." "That was adorable though, Ms. Dusk."
"ARF!!!"
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End Chapter
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This started as a story concept of "What if we all had our own bodies, but came with a catch. Asked each of my headmates how they would react to each scenario. And Chaos absolutely wouldn't let the demon finish his speech while Aria's having sensory problems. And ultimately we all agreed, Though having our own bodies would be convenient for planning and work, We don't think we'd want that permanently. We'd miss each other too much. (And can't afford that much food on mira's point about it.) So, looks like we are here to stay.
Honestly, this was just a fun little side story I wanted to do to show the typical things Dusk does as a lab assistant.
On another note: The 7 was not a typo. For story purposes and the fact that Nero was already established as separate, Nova and Nero are separate entities from the body. With Nova being a fae that took a liking to those in the tower, and Nero already being established as coming from the digital world and lives in the watch when he isn't hanging out with Nova.
