Destiny 1.2
Ritsuka slung one leg over the other as she sat in the Director's office, still simmering in irritation.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I don't know where Jeanne Alt-"
"Joan."
"
Joan is," I finished. "I don't know who told you otherwise, but…" I shrugged.
She narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down. "You've got the air of a bad liar. Alright, I'll accept that," she allowed, expression softening.
Mash gave a sigh of relief.
"But that doesn't explain Lulu or whomst-the-hell saying you'd know where she is, or the note the Director sent to the location I arrived at saying you guys would need Shadow Border," Ritsuka said, pointing her finger at me with a frown.
"...Luxu?" I felt my face pale.
"That was him," Mash agreed. "Ritsuka had been… unhappy… about Joan's departure."
"Look, I am a simple woman with simple needs. Joan is my tsundere, Mash is my Kouhai, Sherlock is my butler-slash-ikemen, and I have Fergus to blow my back out every once in a while," Ritsuka counted off on her fingers.
Taylor made a strange choking noise.
"Yeah, I just need a twink for him to do that with sometimes," Ritsuka said airily. "Any volunteers?"
This… was not what I had expected of the Hero of Chaldea. At all.
"Sorry Ritsuka, but you're not going to be able to build much of a harem around these parts." Cu snorted in laughter. "I did miss your… engaging personality, though."
Mash looked skywards. "She's usually more restrained," she noted after visibly composing herself. "However, she's been in a state ever since Joan vanished. Then came back! Then vanished again. We've been traveling through Textures looking for her ever since…" Mash rubbed her chin. "How long ago?"
"A year, give or take," Ritsuka said darkly. "Look, I played nice. I put the catalysts back, letting go of a lot of friends and loved ones. I know that sustaining Servants indefinitely was a no-go. Hell, if it wasn't for some trickery Merlin pulled, I wouldn't have the family I have now." She crossed her arms. "But Joan is special to me, in her own way. Everyone is."
...oh dear.
"So… I don't know how much the Director told you about me…"
Fou snickered.
Ritsuka gazed at me. "Wait.
You're the First? The human Grail?"
I waved timidly.
She slouched back in her chair. "Well shit." Ritsuka looked to Mash, then me. "So…?"
"Luxu works for someone who has powerful Clairvoyance. It's a good chance that if you let us use the Shadow Border to get where we need to go, we'll find Joan on the way." I folded my hands. "If it has as much space as I remember, I'll be able to set up a Worldgate to link back through it. If she's bound to someone, there's not much I can do, but I can at least enable visitation."
Cu's arm around my shoulder tightened, bringing my head to rest under his on his shoulder.
"I can work with that," Ritsuka accepted in an easy tone. "You'll need some sort of AI to pilot it though. Da Vinci-chan went back to the Throne, and we've mostly been going around areas stored in the database."
I slowly pulled the flash drive Tess had given us out.
"Well that's covered," Tamamo remarked dryly.
"There's an AI on that stick?" Ritsuka asked in an impressed tone.
"Her name's Theresa. She's a Hero that goes by Dragon," Taylor said, finally speaking up.
"Wait, like a superhero? A superhero AI?" Ritsuka became visibly excited.
"Well, if you like, you and your… uh…" I trailed off.
"Harem, poly cluster, family, take your pick." Ritsuka smirked.
Oh-kay.
"Right, your family can stay on Earth-Bet with the Guild. It won't raise too many eyebrows; there's poly groups there too. Also superheroes. Lots of superheroes."
"How many bad guys?" Ritsuka asked.
"We beat them all." Taylor smirked. "Well, the worst ones. There's the odd cape who's just naturally an asshole, and the usual petty crime, but that's about it."
Ritsuka's eyes glowed. "So. In exchange for handing my vessel to you for use, we get a vacation on Hero-World, with lots of hot people in spandex, and our Joanie back with us as often as she can."
I winced upon thinking of some of the 'hot people in spandex'. "Well-"
Cu placed his hand over my mouth. "That's right." He winked at me and caressed my cheek with his thumb.
"SOLD!" Ritsuka leapt up.
"Also you'll see a lot of the old guard," Cu continued blithely.
The Master of Chaldea beamed. "Alright! Thanks, Mattias. I'll show you guys around the Border, get you set up, then roll over to Earth-Bet! I bet Fergus is gonna be excited too," she cackled.
Mash sighed, shaking her head. "Do you see what I put up with?" she complained fondly.
"Hush, you love it," Ritsuka preened, grabbing her hand and dragging her along.
Fou outright guffawed. "The more things change, huh?"
Tamamo nodded. "You said it."
"
Wait, did Fou-kun TALK!?" Mash yelped.
I grimaced behind Cu's hand.
Taylor glanced at Fou and shook her head. "Let's go."
____________________________________________________________________________
Sora leapt over the finish line, Riku throwing himself bodily.
"That's a tie." Kairi placed her hands on her hips. "So, you'll need to find some other way to name the ship."
"Or we could use both," Sora said. "Excalibur Highwind sounds pretty cool."
Riku snorted out a laugh. "It's kind of extra. I like it," he admitted.
Kairi shook her head. "Then why race?"
"For fun," Sora replied with a shrug.
Riku grinned. "Yeah. I thought you had me when you got to the zipline first. But…"
"I got greedy and tried to hop trees to the marker." Sora blushed. "Yeah, I know."
"Maybe next time." Riku stretched his arms. "I got my part of the supplies. You?"
Sora walked over to Kairi, and she gave him his bag. He checked it. "I think one more mushroom and a bottle of fresh water ought to do it. The replication charms Mom put on the storage for the raft will do the rest."
"Alright. So meet you on the docks after you wrap up?" Riku offered.
"Sure. We can all paddle back together," Sora agreed with a nod.
Kairi giggled. "I'm glad you two are getting along again."
Achilles shook his head invisibly, smirking. "Kids."
Sora grinned at him.
"Your friend say something?" Riku tilted his head, fist on his hip.
"He thinks we're funny, that's all." Sora stood with his hands behind his head.
"I have a name, you know," Achilles grumbled.
Sora shouldered his bag. "I'm gonna go get the stuff. See you at the docks!"
Kairi waved with a pleasant smile on her face as Sora turned and left, Riku flashing a thumbs-up.
____________________________________________________________________________
Kairi let out a shivering breath as Riku walked away.
"I sensed it, too." Medea floated near her. "There's malice on this island. A remnant of malevolence." She placed a hand on Kairi's shoulder. "We speak to Tina Branford tonight. Catastrophe nears, and we are unprepared to stem it. So we will do what we must to endure, and ensure that the enemy does not seize your power."
Kairi nodded slowly. Medea wrapped her arms around her in a phantasmal hug, offering what comfort she could.
"I am sorry, Kairi. Were that I had the power to interact with your world, this burden wouldn't fall to you."
"It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault. We just… need to be ready." Kairi exhaled. "It's too bad. I was looking forward to sailing along the stars."
Medea didn't let go.
____________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Sora had made his way into the Secret Place he and Riku had found as children. It was a large cavern with a strange wooden door in the back, and he, Riku, and Kairi had used rocks to scratch pictures into the walls for years. (There was one that Sora remembered fondly, where he, Riku, and Kairi had drawn each other's heads.) As it was dark and near the waterfall, it was a good place to find mushrooms.
It didn't take long to find them near the door. Sora hummed, picking one up and putting it in his bag. "That oughta do it."
"Look alive, sunshine. We have company," Achilles warned, stepping closer.
Sora stood up.
"I've come to see the door to this world."
Enveloped in a brown cloak, the figure loomed in a dark corner, seeming to repel all light that came near it.
"Who… are you?" Sora whispered, flinching back from the feeling of
wrongness. Frost gathered on his fingertips.
"This world has been connected. Tied to the darkness… soon to be completely eclipsed." The figure made no motion to advance, or answer the question.
"That's not an answer." Sora held his hand up, ice spinning into a sharp crystal.
"Skillful, for one so young." The figure's monotone broke, conveying a sense of acknowledgement. It was... impressed? "Even so, you do not know what lies beyond the door."
Achilles stayed close. "Sora, I don't like this. We should go. Keep facing him, but make for the exit," he said lowly. He grimaced. "I hate retreating, but I have no body to protect you, and I don't know what he can do."
"So what's behind it?" Sora asked, doing as Achilles suggested. As he stepped backwards, the figure's hood tracked him. "You seem to know."
The cloaked person radiated a short, sharp burst of dark amusement. "There is so very much to learn. You understand so little."
"Is that what you're here to do? Teach?" Sora's voice grew sharper. "Or just to mock people for not knowing, not bothering to try and enlighten them?"
"...no. I am here to observe." The man - the voice clarified that much - bowed his head. "It is a pity. Though it is doubtful you would be receptive to the darkness, there is potential in you. Perhaps when all fades, you will survive the cessation of this world."
Sora swallowed. "Does this world have to disappear?" he croaked.
"Sora!" Achilles hissed.
"It is too late to salvage it. The door has been opened. Earlier today, the heart was made vulnerable, and even now the dark swarms within. If you had been given the power, perhaps… but alas." He shook his head. "Cling to your heart. Do not let it dim. Perhaps you have the potential to learn. Even if it is only as a worthy adversary, I will grant you that respect."
Sora smashed the ice crystal on the ground, scattering shards as he retreated. Once the figure was out of sight, he turned, using his smaller size to his advantage, and rushed towards the light.
Once out, he grasped his bag to him, gasping for air as he shivered.
"I've got you, I've got you," Achilles soothed. "Let's get you to the docks and get you home."
Sora nodded shakily as Achilles held him in a one-armed hug, helping stabilize him. He managed to stay upright as he stumbled, the cloaked figure's words burned into his brain.
His mother had told tales of monsters of great power, of dark magics that could pillage lands and destroy worlds. She hadn't told him about 'hearts' and 'darkness'.
Sora hated not knowing. He would ask her when he got home.
____________________________________________________________________________
I smiled at the inside of the Shadow Border. "Wow. It really is huge in here."
"Right? Plenty of space for plenty of people," Ritsuka said, slapping a console. "This bad boy can fit so much trauma inside it!"
"What?"
"What?" Ritsuka smiled politely.
...best not. "So, who all is here?" I asked.
Taylor remained quiet, observing.
"Just who I said. Joan's been away for a while, but…" Ritsuka trailed off. "Alright, you two. Come on out."
A sharp-dressed man appeared from thin air, twirling a magnifying glass. "Ritsuka." He glanced at me. "You'll forgive me if I keep my distance. Your simple existence, frankly, is terrifying. Logic and reason don't exactly apply where you are concerned."
I shrugged. "Do you, Holmes."
He narrowed his eyes, then turned to Ritsuka. "Fergus stepped out-"
"CU CHULAINN!" a boisterous voice roared in joy.
I covered my mouth as I laughed.
"They know each other?" Taylor asked.
"He's Cu's foster father," Tamamo replied with a smile. "They get along infamously. Better when they're on the same side."
"Oh wow. So this is like you meeting the parents?" Taylor had a too-innocent look on her face.
"No. Way." Ritsuka's grin had widened to terrifying proportions.
Mash sighed. "I truly am sorry, Mattias."
I scratched my neck. "Eh…"
"Think it'll be a shotgun wedding? I mean, when you consider poor Cu's virtue…" Ritsuka simpered. Yeah, she was giving me shit.
"Uh…"
Taylor shook her head. "Mattias is… asexual? Demisexual?" She frowned. "Something."
"I think I've arrived at 'if it's Cu, it's okay'," I muttered, feeling my face turn red. I began rubbing my cheeks in frustration.
"Huh. Well then." Ritsuka gave a smaller, more honest smile.
"Do stop giving him a hard time, Ritsuka," Holmes chided.
"Holmes is like that himself. Watson was his 'dearest friend', but I don't think he really does 'sexual attraction'," Ritsuka whispered loudly, leaning in.
Sherlock frowned sharply. "Ritsuka."
She shrugged. "Anyways. If Fergus hits on you, just say no. He's good at boundaries."
"Cu would kill him," I said frankly. "So many magi want me in their family for my kids that it's a minor miracle he doesn't start flinging his Noble Phantasm around."
Mash blinked in shock while Ritsuka gave a low whistle.
There were several loud footsteps, and I turned my head just in time for my cheek to be smushed into a broad, bare shoulder by an arm the size of my head.
"So you're Mattias, eh?" Fergus said jovially. "I'm sure you know who I am, from what Cu said. He's a good man, glad to hear you treat him well! Even with your circumstances," he finished in a loud whisper.
"Eh?"
"Fergus," Cu chided in a fondly exasperated tone.
"Also, apparently his orientation is 'if it's Cu, it's okay'." Ritsuka gave a catlike smile.
Cu smirked. "Hand him over, Fergus."
After I was released from the hug, Cu wrapped his arms around my stomach from behind.
I cleared my throat. "We should probably plug Dragon in. And I should get started on the Worldgate."
Ritsuka sighed. "I guess that means you'll be wanting us to clear out?"
Fergus gave a small frown. "Shame, I wanted to speak with you more." He grinned. "But this gate means you'll be able to visit, right?"
I laughed a little and nodded. "Yes, don't worry. I'll be in and out."
Ritsuka hummed happily. "Good. I have
so many questions." She grinned. "Like about Cu's-"
"Or you can spend time with Romani and Da Vinci. That's a thing," I said quickly.
Ritsuka froze, and Mash's visible eye widened.
"Roman was summoned as a Caster by a boy named Rain Frazier. Leona is my personal Caster, and in charge of both the Guild's Tinker collective and Earth Bet's Clock Tower," I explained. "They're happy and together." I smiled. "I bet they'll be thrilled to see you both."
"Leona… as Caster? So her adult self?" Ritsuka's voice quavered.
I nodded.
She stomped forward, wrapped her arms around my neck, and squeezed me violently before dashing out. "ALRIGHT DIRECTOR DEMON-FACE, FIRE UP THAT GATE! I'M READY TO SEE MY FRIENDS
NOW!"
Mash stared at me for a long moment, then dashed forward and gave me a quick hug. "I- thank you! I'll- later, but-!"
I waved her along. "Go see them." I paused. "Galahad should be there too. Will that be a problem?"
She shook her head, her eyes tearing up. "Thank you!" She ran after Ritsuka.
Holmes sighed, a slight smile on his face. "Well. It seems you, at least, are benevolent."
"Eh?" I blinked.
He inclined his head towards me. "Best of luck on your quest, First Magician. You will need it." He strode out.
Fergus grunted. "No clue what's going on, but you did a good thing telling the little lady before letting her go on ahead." He grinned. "You two take care of each other! I want you hale and hearty enough to share drinks and stories, you hear?"
Cu chuckled. "We will." He kissed me behind my ear, squeezing my ribs.
Fergus gave a two-fingered salute, still grinning broadly as he marched out.
Taylor smiled as Tamamo peeked in. "They done being themselves yet? I hang out with Nero, and they're
still a little much for me," the fox priestess complained.
Fou poked his head out from under my hat. "Yeah, they made feet."
"Honestly, I think you spooked Mash more than anything," I grumbled, leaning back into Cu. I closed my eyes for a moment.
"...you okay?" Taylor asked.
"Don't have much of a choice, do I? The Master of Masters knows me. He learned my name as of now, and he knew me before. There's a connection there. And he's left me the Keyblade used by the seeker of darkness himself. I don't know how things will go from here. The Keyblade War didn't happen, but the Foretellers and Unions are gone. He's not even supposed to be active for a couple years, yet. What else don't I know? What did Lisa change? What's different
without interference? Earth Bet had differences outside of
my interference, so it stands to reason…" I trailed off.
"Breathe." Taylor gave me a level look. "Your metaknowledge won't be the sum of everything. However, you'll still have a heavy leg up in terms of knowing what's coming. Besides that? With our powers together, we're hell on wheels. You have fourteen incredibly powerful Servants."
"Two of whom are AWOL," I reminded her.
"So twelve. Still a lot. Tamamo can bring her full power to bear in a worst-case scenario. And then we have Fou. We're entering this universe with overwhelming force." Taylor smirked. "We'll be fine, so long as we play it smart."
I shook my head. "If you say so."
Cu squeezed me one more time before his arms dropped. "You're going to be okay. That's a promise."
I handed the USB to Taylor. "If there's not one near the pilot seat, let me know and I'll work on an adapter when I'm done here."
She nodded and went off toward the cockpit, Tamamo in tow.
I turned toward the empty space in the largest room on the Border, and raised my hands. Silver gel began to spin from the edges of the air, making a closed circle.
<Prior schema accessed. Cost reduction applied. 25% total power. Regeneration in absence of activity, three hours. Beginning 'Worldgate' construction. Projected build time twenty minutes.>
"I'll go keep an eye on things with Taylor," Tamamo said as my eyes glazed over.
Cu leaned his chin on my shoulder as the priestess left. "At least it sounds like he wishes you well."
"...he did do something wrong, but he wants to atone. Cu… I might know who he is, but I don't want to make assumptions." I grimaced as the faint outline of the metal ring came into focus.
Fou jumped up, leaping off of the top of my head. My hat tumbled to the floor as he landed on his feet, shaking his fur out. "Don't worry about it."
I blinked at Fou.
"You're
you now. Whoever you were, whoever he is, doesn't matter unless someone makes it matter." Fou wandered off towards the cockpit. "If he makes a fuss, I'll end him next time. That trick won't work forever."
The light in the room dimmed as a brief halo of silver light engulfed Fou.
"Whatever he thinks he is? He's not ready for
Cath Palug."
Cu turned away and leaned his back against mine as I kept working. "Want me to grab your hat?"
"It'll keep. This feels nice."
He gave a soft laugh. "Not distracting, I hope?"
I smiled as runes etched themselves into the solidifying metal ring. "Not too much. If you want to distract me later, I'd allow it."
"Hm. We've come a long way, huh? I remember when you insisted on pajamas in bed." Cu mused.
I nodded. "Thank you for being patient with me."
"Hey, thank
you for sharing yourself with me. I know it's not easy, given your past."
"It makes you happy, and…" I bit my lip. "You make it okay."
"Just okay?" he teased quietly.
"Okay's about as good as sex gets with me," I said dryly.
"Oh, so you mean mind-blowing for anyone else. Good to know." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"It helps that I, you know, love you. And stuff." I kept my tone playfully sarcastic, even as I felt myself blush.
"Well, I guess it helps that I love you too. And stuff." Cu snickered. "Shit, we sound like teenagers."
"I have it on good authority that we are, in fact,
worse. Vicky said so."
"
Oh?"
"And
Lisa."
"Ouch."
I chuckled as Cu stood up, turned around, and began hugging me again. "Oh?"
"Hugging shall continue until morale improves. And you
did say I could distract you. Never said
how."
"Isn't it 'beatings will continue'...?"
"Mm, nah. I like you too much, and hugging works better on you. I'd probably just break my hands," Cu joked.
"Heh!"
____________________________________________________________________________
Sora and Kairi sat at the table, looking at his mother with wide eyes.
Tina rubbed her hands together. "Alright. So Kairi felt something evil on that island." She turned to Sora. "And you met a man in a brown cloak who said the world was being corrupted into non-existence."
The two teens nodded. "Yeah, that's right," Sora said.
Tina nodded. "Okay. I'll see what I can do. For now, you two rest and stay safe." She looked at her hands, then frowned. "There is one last thing I can do for you."
Kairi leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "What're you thinking?"
"My experience with magic is considerably more than yours. I've been around Sora long enough that I can identify the type of energy that your 'friends' draw on, and you both have sufficient amounts of it. The magic is focused on power from the 'soul', where most magics in this part of the universe focus on 'heart' and 'mind'. Not to say there isn't a component of 'mind' in this other magic," Tina said, gesturing, "but that the power source isn't common around here. The heart will simply regain power if you overtax it, but overusing the power of a soul will cause…" She frowned slightly.
"Oh." Sora blinked, slumping. He looked to the side for several moments, then straightened. "Maybe we can hold onto it as a last resort? In case of emergency. Achilles wouldn't do anything unless he had to."
Tina turned her gaze to Kairi.
She nodded. "Medea wouldn't either. If she did manifest, she might try to tap into a ley line… but from what she can tell, they're corrupting. It's hard to tell how quickly based on her training, because she's not familiar with what's happening."
"So she won't be doing that." Tina's voice brooked no argument.
Kairi shook her head.
Tina exhaled. "Alright. Simple manifestation shouldn't tax either of you too much, but I want you to keep a close eye on how much power you have. I can't help you past unlocking these paths. I need you both to promise me you'll be responsible."
"I promise." Sora swallowed. "I don't want anyone to die, including me."
Kairi nodded in agreement. "We'll mind our limits, Ms. Branford."
"Alright then. Give me your hands."
Tina took their hands in hers. She hated it, but they needed guardians. She couldn't… no, she would make it off the world when it all came crashing down, but she couldn't be sure where they would be.
There was no point in trying to lie to them. There was no way to fix what was happening, not for her. All she could do was ensure they weren't alone when it ended.
She narrowed her eyes as the faint image of circuitry appeared on the children's skin.
"It feels funny," Sora muttered.
Kairi nodded. "It's different from the magic we know. We'll need to be careful."
There was a sound of cloth in the wind, and a woman in purple robes appeared behind Kairi. "Don't be afraid," she said, a small smirk in place. "Thanks to Tina, I've managed to tamper with our connection. I can use the well of your 'heart' instead of 'soul', or as a supplement. Our contract is solidified, so my own power is also in play." She frowned. "That said, our initial plan is the best. We should stick to it."
Kairi nodded. "I agree."
Sora slumped. "I don't like it."
Tina's eyes widened as a tall man with green hair leaned over her son, arms around his shoulders.
"Hey, it's going to be okay. With the way it's set up, you'll be able to find her after you split up," he said soothingly. "And your mom's tough. She'll find you. Not to mention you've got
me."
"Okay, but what about Riku? Does he know about any of this?" Sora continued to fret. "We should tell him."
"Tomorrow," Tina said decisively as she looked out the window. The sun slowly set on the horizon. "Kairi, do you want to stay for dinner?"
Kairi shook her head. "No thanks, Ms. Branford. I'm going to check in on Papa and stay the night at home."
"Alright. Do you need us to walk you home?" Tina offered.
"I'll be more than a match against most threats," Medea said with a small smile.
Kairi stood up. "Okay. We'll discuss any further plans tomorrow?"
Tina nodded, glancing at Sora. The boy stared at his hands, opening and closing them as Achilles gently rubbed his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.
"Night, Sora," Kairi said. "We'll tell Riku tomorrow, and we'll all be ready for whatever's going to happen."
Medea paused, then stalked over to Achilles and whispered into his ear. Achilles' eyes widened.
"Ah, so that's how that works. Right." He smiled. "My powers are more draining than hers, so she shared her trick with me," he explained as Tina stared. "This way, I won't hurt Sora on accident trying to protect him."
"How does it work?" Tina asked.
Medea turned on her heel. "I'll leave the explanations to you," she said firmly. "It's time for Kairi to get home." She swept towards the door, Kairi following along with a quick wave.
After the door shut, Sora and Tina looked to Achilles.
"Well, our souls were already connected through the Command Seals. It's a shallow connection, but there. Medea puzzled out a long time ago that hearts also work by connections, so…" Achilles scratched his chin. "Yeah, we're drawing on our bonds with the kids. It's different enough to tell, but similar enough to work." He grinned. "Long and short, I can protect Sora if things go bad before we're ready."
Tina nodded once. "Right." She looked at her son. "Sora? You alright, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, Mom. It doesn't hurt at all," Sora said with a small smile. Achilles' hand stayed on his shoulder. "It'll be good to have Achilles around to look after me."
"Excuse me?" he said with a teasing tone.
"You know what I mean," Sora retorted, shoving his hand off of his shoulder.
Achilles retaliated with a loose headlock and mussing up Sora's hair with his free hand.
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed, laughing.
Tina sighed with a fond smile. "Alright, you two. Go wash up and I'll start dinner."
"Yes'm."
"Okay, Mom!"
As she watched Sora wander off, she frowned. How was she going to tell him…?
She'd seen Riku see the two of them off.
From the dark power swirling around him…
He probably already knew about what had happened. Assuming he wasn't the cause.
Tina knew better than to hope otherwise.
Riku… why? The raft would have worked with my magic. Were you really that desperate? Did you not believe in me? Or was it something else entirely?
She rubbed her face tiredly, then walked to her kitchen. So many questions, and no answers in sight.
In the distance, there was a faint rumble of thunder.
____________________________________________________________________________
I stretched my limbs as I walked into the bridge - it was too large to be called a cockpit, really - and Cu followed along.
Taylor sat in the pilot's seat, her legs crossed as she watched the stream of binary flow across the screens. The USB was plugged into the console. Fou sat in her lap.
Tamamo sat in a chair further back.
"How goes?" I asked.
"I've downloaded and connected, I'm just wrapping up integration," Tess' voice echoed around the bridge.
I winced. "Maybe one speaker?"
"Sorry, this vehicle's systems are a little new to me," Tess apologized from Taylor's vicinity.
"Ritsuka and her group are already on Earth-Bet," Taylor said. "They're all fine. Better than fine, actually."
"And it seems I'm just in time to see you off," Crowley said in a low voice as he made himself known.
I turned to look at him.
The demon's hands were in his pockets, and he wore his sunglasses. "I'm glad I caught you."
"Like we'd leave without saying goodbye," Tamamo scoffed.
"Wouldn't we be able to connect here with the Worldgate anyways?" Taylor asked. "So it's not like it's 'goodbye' in the first place."
Crowley tilted his head upward, then let it drop with a heavy sigh. "You miscreants."
Fou snickered sleepily from his spot in Taylor's lap.
The screens resolved into normal readouts, and the one in front of Taylor displayed Tess' face. "Alright. I've fully integrated. Da Vinci and I had to work something out, but I'm the pilot." She sounded extremely pleased with herself.
Crowley shook his head. "So you're ready."
"Looks like," I agreed. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
"I shall. You do the same." Crowley paused. "Keep one thing in mind, however."
I frowned in confusion.
"For this universe we've connected to, a majority of the Beasts have been subverted or defeated. Goetia is in the hands of Roman. Tiamat remains in her realm. Half of the third was slain. The Fourth is with you, half of the Fifth has fallen, and both parts of the sixth are your allies." Crowley's scowl deepened. "Three remain. Be vigilant."
Taylor slowly looked up and at Crowley. "Run that by me one more time?"
He smirked. "I'm sure all will be well. Good luck." The demon turned on his heel and strode out.
"Bye!" I said cheerfully.
"No, I want to hear more about these Beasts." Taylor scowled darkly.
"Oh look at the time," I chirped. "Tess! Start the engines!"
"And here we go…" Tess muttered with a small grin.
Cu grunted. "More Beasts. Fantastic. Can't have just a normal fight with a normal fighter, always needs to be some fate of the world shit…" he grumbled good-naturedly.
"Oh please, you love it." Tamamo snickered behind her sleeve.
Fou perked up. "We're going? We're going!?"
"The Director has left, the door is sealed, and we are ready to go!" Tess announced. "Everyone get in your seats, we're about to hit Imaginary Number Space!"
I scrambled for a chair next to Taylor as Cu simply dematerialized.
"Stay physical for interdimensional travel!"
He sat in a chair behind a console of his own, reappearing. "Fine," he said with a smirk.
Fou settled down into Taylor's lap as the engines started, a harsh thrum carrying through the Shadow Border.
"Once more… best of luck. You'll need it," Crowley's voice echoed through the speakers.
The inside of the Spirit Grave began to melt and blend together as the vehicle pitched forward. Slowly, everything faded to black as we continued to move.
"Well that was fast," Tess commented. "We're underwater now."
"Wait, like water-water?" Taylor asked.
"Yes. There's some mildly hostile beings in here, but they're being frightened away by something. No big readings behind, so probably us. I think we're coming up to some kind of shore, though?" Tess sounded more intrigued than anything.
I felt my breath catch.
"Mattias?" Taylor asked.
"He
said as much," I muttered. "We're in the Realm of Darkness, and getting close to some kind of dark shore."
He'll need training. You'll find it before him.
I grit my teeth and exhaled. There was one person in the Realm of Darkness that I knew of who could train Sora in how to use a Keyblade.
"Full speed ahead, keep an eye out for one to two humanoid figures," I ordered. "At least one will be a woman with blue hair."
"There's someone on the beach," Tess acknowledged. "No visual yet."
Taylor looked at me. "Who is it?" she murmured.
"Someone who's been in this starless hell for far longer than she's deserved."
"We're breaking the surface! Projecting forward view."
In the place of a windshield, an image appeared.
"Oh." Tamamo's voice was faint.
"Well. Now we know where she went." Cu's amusement was palpable.
Joan of Arc, the Dragon Witch, stood watch over a shocked Keyblade Master Aqua, who was looking out to sea.
"Run her over?" Taylor offered.
I glared at her.
"What?" She blinked innocently.
Fou let out a strangled noise, waving his tiny paws. "Well! We found
her real quick!"
"Tess, get us onto the beach and open the hatch," I said as I stood up. "We have a Keyblade Master to retrieve. And her Servant." I rubbed my face.
"Adventure!" Taylor cheered in a deliberate monotone.
Cu watched me with a fond smile as I made my way towards the door.
"Bring back some cookies!" Fou called.
"Don't get burned!" Tamamo offered brightly.
I flipped them off and kept walking.
____________________________________________________________________
A/N: And with that, I've worked through my backlog of pre-written stuff. From here on in, it's post as I write.
Just so no one is alarmed, I do intend to show Ritsuka's reunion with Da Vinci and Roman. The planned setup for the rest of this arc is: the first Daybreak (when Lisa met MoM), the Night of Destiny/Meet Aqua (Destiny 1.3), and then an Interlude before Traverse Town (where the reunion takes place with some other fluff/slice of life).
