Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

—START—

-3^rd Person POV-

Standing here looking over a world with limitless potential, a place where fiction, reality and what is left can coexist without any problems and develop.

A long stream of different ‘stories’ can meet, understand, learn, and grow from one another along their experiences and environments.

Places beyond your wildest imaginations, beyond the known limit in your universe, whether that is the Root, God, Karma, Nirvana, Nothingness, or whatever connotation you may have of the origin at all.

Thus the hand above wants to see what it can be done here, with that purpose the trials of unity shall begin existing, teams of two shall dispute for victory in a competition.

There is no price, there is only the motive posed by the question ‘What if?’ Developed only for your enjoyment of experiencing this one in a lifetime opportunity to meet those who never would have met, so interact and work alongside each other.

Wouldn’t it be fun to see it happen ~

Well, let us begin dear participants, only once you have read this letter and are united will this fun experience begin.

Signed Mystic

---

A giant round platform stood in the center of the world, sitting on a mountain it reached the clouds and surpassed them, this would be the place of origin for all.

Sixteen tiles light up with a light blue glow all equally distant from one another until one’s shine intensified.

The first to arrive manifested, a man with white hair and a red mantle, a hero drowned by tragedy, Heroic Spirit Emiya. (…The letter wasn’t lying…) He stood alone in a stage, no land in sight having been teleported the moment he finished reading the thing.

He’d been suspicious when he was pulled into that vast nothingness from before, switching from his resting place to a white void with a single piece of paper inside an envelope on it.

(This isn’t a summoning either, the connection doesn’t exist…the body is spiritual still) Nothing was sustaining him and yet he continued to exist, that defiance of natural servant rules could only be attributed to being out of world.

No Alaya, no Gaia eroding him, the mana in the air was the strangest combination of what he was used to and something else. (This couldn’t have been Zelretch) Even the Mage would find this more intriguing than entertaining and would investigate not annoy him like this.

Beyond maybe the Kaleidoscope itself. “So, what now mysterious entity” Nothing short of one could do something like this, and if the letter was to be believed more than himself would find themselves here.

From the corner of his eye another of the tiles began to glow stronger. “AH!” The second ‘competitor’ had arrived and it was…a little girl. “Where?!”

Panic was evident and Emiya felt angry at the inclusion of a child in stupid game with no goal as the letter had called it.

The girl was small, wearing a red open tracksuit jacket and shorts, her pink hair was held up by a bandana and she had multiple Band-Aids in her legs but perhaps the most interesting thing were the two horse ears sitting on top of her head and the tail.

The shining star for losers everywhere Haru Urara had appeared screaming, scared of awakening far from the academy and the subsequent teleport. “Please calm down” It took him no time to arrive to her side, trying to be as unthreatening as possible.

(Not human…but she also doesn’t have any presence at all) Honestly she just felt like a confused scared child, there was no way this was a phantasmal specie. (Different worlds beyond comprehension, right)

“Y-you!! Did you kidnap me!” Jumping to that conclusion was a good instinct on her part, at least Emiya thought so, not trusting him out of the bat was good for her but problematic for him right now.

“No, I’m trapped just like you” Her eyes looked like in the brink of tears, scared of this unknown. “now please breathe slowly, in…out”  His voice slowly reached her, his steel colored eyes locking in with the pink ones as he attempted to sooth her.

Which was working. (…If this is supposed to be a battle royale like the Holy Grail War there is no way this girl would be a participant…) This could take armed conflict out of the possibilities lest the responsible was a sadist asshole.

Seeing as she was calming down he got closer, showing both hands to show nothing was wrong and instead he simply gave her a pat in reassurance. “Th-Thanks” The horse girl had regained some composure after some moments, but there is no rest for anyone as another two tiles began to bring their victims simultaneously.

The first was a person dressed head to toe in what looked like spandex or something similar, his red and blue suit was akin to a comics superhero design with a spider on his chest. “Ugrh, I’m going to throw up”

“Aeons, this is weird” The other one was a gray haired woman, rather tall, wearing…something, he doesn’t know if what she’s using could be counted as a dress color black with yellow highlights.

The two of them looked around for a moment, talking in their insane situation and breathtaking surroundings before finding the two others in the platform and each other.

“Heathens, was it you who brought the amazing Galactic Baseballer here?!!” A bat materialized in her hand seemingly out of nowhere, a foreign energy had allowed it to materialize.

“Woah there Jin Palmer, drop the bat” The teenager, because Emiya could tell that he was one from his voice and general stature, tried to quell the rage of the woman making a reference he didn’t really understand. “I’m ninety nine percent sure they are in the same boat as the two of us, strange letter in a white void everyone?”

He was joking, trying to drop all tensions and ease the situation I true Spider-man fashion, still he’d been able to figure out he and the girl were the same as them. “Mhm, ok!” The weapon disappeared in another lightshow, all suspicions were dropped from her face as if she didn’t care.

And he wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case as Emiya had gotten a glimpse into the weapon and…well calling it insane would be little, this woman, the Trailblazer Stelle had shown how out of his norm the others here might be.

With no time to process the information he received the heroic spirit focused once more on the pink haired girl. “Are you better?” She nodded in response to him with a smile.

A huge smile, then a hug. “Yeah, Thank you!!” It felt like a complete one eighty becoming energetic and warm at the drop of a hat. (Not a fake persona…she recovered fast)

The costumed kid approached them followed by Stelle, the Uma letting go of him as they did. “Alright people maybe we should introduce ourselves, figure out what’s happening here and all” Placing a hand on his chest he began. “As you may know I’m Spid-”

No more time was given to him in order to introduce himself as another three tiles began to glow, this ones rather far away from them. (I’m surprised they didn’t come earlier, how much time can you take to read a letter)

However these new additions to their still unknown situation were not in any way like the others.

The first was a punk styled purple dinosaur girl, or maybe just a reptilian, carrying around an axe and with spiky bracelets with an angry expression in her face at being taken, Susie was her name as the axe supplied.

“Alright you sick fucks whose fault is this” Her temperament ran wild as she drew the tool with aggression.

Next to her was an orange cat…just a cat wearing a hat and a pair of leather boots, a rapier attached to their belt as he took in his surroundings with excitement, as if this was just another adventure.

Smirking he looked over at the other arrival. “Now, now pequeña, there is no reason to be scared with the Puss in Boots around” Bravado was the name of his game.

“The hell did you call me!!” The monster had no idea what that word had meant, thus she took it as an insult.

Lastly came a pink pony, curiosity all over her face that shifted into excitement at the prospect of more people. “OHHH!! HI, I’m Pinkie Pie! There’s so many new friends here I can’t wait to throw a party!!” Emiya could have sworn her eyes shone, literally.

“…” Nobody said anything, the axe girl tripping over herself at the disregard for all laws of volume the mare displayed.

Spiderman tried to take control again, “Well, that was certainly an introduction-” He was cut off by two more arrivals. “come one man” he muttered to himself after that.

Emiya felt the girl, who he still didn’t know the name off, stir beside him looking a bit nervous at the others even going so far as to tug his mantle. (I try to be nice and she gets attached, wonderful) This had been a special occasion so he avoided his usual display of indifference for her.

…It wasn’t as if this was a bad thing, but knowing what could come next…

A blonde man wearing a stupid stripped had strode out of the light calmly, his clothes were of a similar green and wore wooden sandals on his feet while he twirled a cane.

“Ah, It would seem I’m not the last one, yay!” His default attitude went into goofing around but the more experienced ones weren’t fooled the eyes of the ex-squad twelve captain Kisuke Urahara were calculating them all.

On the other side a woman wearing a large dress with wings on the lower side stepped out her dark blue hair and serene expression gave her somewhat of an unnatural aura.

(Divinity!!) Archer could feel it emanating, in no way similar to a god’s but not too far off. (But…it’s familiar) What he didn’t know was that this woman was the eldest of the Valkyries Brunhilde.

“This really came at the worst time” She whispered to herself, whatever thing had dragged her here was wasting her time, unbothered by their presence but also mildly curious.

(I think I’m just going to wait until everyone arrives) Spider-man decided before he tried to do anything else, his spider sense had been giving him slight danger warnings on some of the others but not imminent.

His predictions were correct as the last six left to arrive had begun to glow more one by one.

Traditional Japanese styled clothing and dark blue hair made up for the next individual, a teenager girl that looked as if she’d been dragged through a dirt road, she was carrying a pouch and looked around calm.

The hero of Hisui Akari or Dawn stood glancing at everyone, the diversity in  individuals while strange would not be in the strangest things that happened to her. (This…is similar to Mount Coronet)

Nobody seemed to acknowledge how weird some of their fellow kidnapped friends were so maybe it wasn’t strange here, that or they were keeping that to themselves.

There was no time for the silence to be broken again, the next had arrived also in very old school Japanese clothing, a mismatched haori and a Katana by his side.

His eyes were blue and his hair black, there was no shift in his expression but paranoia was written all over his movements, there was no trust here for any of them for the Water Hashira Tomioka Giyuu would not allow his guard to be down.

It was honestly surprising how still he went the moment their more extravagant companions came into his line of sight.

“Who ar- ?” His voice was deep but even he couldn’t grab anyone’s attention when the next guest arrived at their party of clueless individuals.

It was also another teen, this one was buffer than the other two, his hair was blonde and he had blue eyes a frown constantly in his face as he attempted to understand who they were and what was going on.

Having left any semblance of panic behind in the void the third rate villain Ed Rothtaylor moved to keep everyone on check. “I imagine we’re all the same here?” Confident in his question there was no time for him to be cut off.

Of course no answer reached him other than the enthusiastic nod from the pony before her eyes went to his left.

There a small humanoid creature appeared, instead of hair there were short tentacles on their head akin to a squid’s and rocked what could be described as some form of uniform.

Agent four of the new squidbeak Splatoon was a species none of them had ever seen before, she strode with confidence a grip on what looked like a sniper in her hands. “Alright, who was it!” Her finger pointed at them but no one answered back.

And she herself shut off completely the moment she saw the others here, people that couldn’t be more unfamiliar.

Then another superhero was brought in, a small black mask covering his eyes as his flashy red, yellow, and green suit with a cape created a very distinct image much like the Spider-man’s costume.

The leader of the Teen Titans Robin was the second to last part of the game to arrive. “Outside, fourteen others in a round platform beyond the sky” He spoke to himself as he analyzes everything he could to attempt a return to jump city.

Simultaneously another pink colored creature appeared before them, this one was like a middle ground between the previous two, bipedal but also animalistic in appearance.

She wore a red with white dress and boots, rings around her wrist and had what looked like spines, looking confused but not scared at her surroundings, Amy Rose the Hedgehog arrived.

Fifteen had arrived here, all through a tile that did not glow anymore as they watched the others do it.

Everyone’s eyes then turned to the last tile glowing, the last one of them. (Everything’s supposed to begin once they are here) Robin recalled the last of the letter.

There was no waiting for them, the arrival signal had begun slightly after the others and thus the last one got out of the void, an orange tracksuit with some gray parts.

Their light green hair was styled in one of the strangest ways possible and was the same color his eyes were, the time traveler Fei Rune was the last of the participants of the Trials of Unity.

…

A beat passed with no noise from anyone.

Not because nobody tried to say anything, nor because something had distracted them rather noise had literally disappeared from the world as a whole.

They had been silenced.

“Welcome all dear guest into the world of Paradox” From the middle of the platform a voice echoed through their heads, no noise, just intent turned into language. “The one relaying these words to you is your gracious commentator and host Mystic your favorite pen pal for those who paid attention” Something materialized in the center.

It was a person with long lilac hair and brown eyes, they wore a black two piece suit with red on the inside a little microphone mounted on their ear in sports commentator fashion and white gloves on their hands.

It was hard to tell if this new individual was a woman or not even the noise they made sounded neutral in every way.

“While now would be the time to go around introducing each other I’m afraid such a thing would only be repeating what’s already been said, so it will be left to when the pairs are made” With a snap of their fingers sixteen different silver armbands were created, each held a different colored sphere being two of each color.

They floated around the being waiting to be called. “The rules for this game are rather simple, you will be allowed to coexist together with your partner in a prepared space where you will bond together” A golden coin then then appeared in her hand. “Achieving higher ‘levels’ of unity will gain you friendship tokens which can be exchanged for goods in the shop”

“Every day there will be a challenge for the teams, not all teams may partake in it nor will it be the same every day, participating also rewards tokens but winning gives more” With a move of their hand the coin was gone and in its place was a map. “Common time will come next, everyone will be together for some time and boding with others also rewards tokens but not as much”

“Finally comes either exploration or learning whichever you prefer, once you choose one you’ll get your explanation” With that the basic structure was explained, the nuance was for them to figure out and external surprises would surely come.

“Now for the teams announcements”

A holographic display appeared in the middle, strangely omnidirectional so that everyone had a good view of it.

White team: Fei Rune – Haru Urara.

Pink team: Giyuu Tomioka – Pinkie Pie.

Black team: Ed Rothtaylor – Kisuke Urahara.

Purple team: Akari (Dawn) – Susie.

Yellow team: Stelle – Puss in Boots.

Green team: Robin (Dick Grayson) – Amy Rose.

Red team: Agent 4 (???) – Archer (Shirou Emiya).

Blue team: Brunhilda – Spider-man (Peter Parker).

The silver armbands flew towards each competitor and attached itself to them following the coloring given, there was no way for them to resist what was happening no matter how much they struggled.

For some that felt very suffocating, others could handle it better. “And with that we’re finished here, every space is equal until you modify them through tokens, the winner will be the team with the most tokens earned at the end so try your best and good luck”

The lights began to dance around them once more, this time colored to fit their designation, disappearing into the world down there and releasing them unto the world.

“Now for our dear audience, take note that in your hands is not only the option to addition challenges per request but also each individual has the choice to gift their favorite team tokens after each exploration” Mystic winks at the sky, the hand that guides this world was asking their dear audience to be a hand as much as them. “So put those creative minds to use and help me make the most fun omniveral game there is, because really what else is this for other than fun”

—END—

--Mystic--

Chapter Text

—START—

-Red Team-

This was a normal living room, as average as one could ever expect from one with a couch, a tv and it’s stand with glass doors that showed how empty it was, there were other doors leading to other rooms of the house.

The agent looked around herself with suspicion, kidnapped would be the only correct word to describe her current state. (Damn it…this doesn’t seem like Octarian work, I can’t even imagine they being able to do whatever this was) Worst of all, she had left Octavio alone.

Her responsibility and duty to the other agent, to Marie, was left behind without her being able to do nothing about it.

“Hey~ one last message  for everyone from your dear old host” The TV had lit up without anyone touching it, her supposed teammate was nearby looking around much like herself, head turned towards the screen. “This little baby will allow you to keep a time table on everything you have to do as well as notify you on any important events to come”

“It’s a central computer with information on all other save for your own teammate, but the info need to be unlocked~” Her face was an innocent smile, as if she had done no wrong here. “today there will be a…gracious period from challenges, that is all”

Day 1

The screen displayed that information before shutting off, it wasn’t written in Inkish four could tell and yet she understood it. “That was the responsible for bringing us here” The voice of his partner was really deep, hearing him also may have startled her.

“Y-yeah” Her stutter almost seemed to amuse Emiya. (Damn first impressions) Walking up to him she extended a hand with all of the caution she could muster, and there wasn’t much of that in her. “I’m Agent four…I suppose we’ll be partners from sometime” When she’d seen that her assigned other was someone named Archer with another name attached to it there were a lot of things Four had expected.

That he was the giant of a man that was consoling the little girl wasn’t in her list of predictions. (At least I didn’t get the worst)

Archer looked up at down at her. “You can call me Archer, whether I’ll stay here for long…we’ll see” God the guy didn’t even look put off by this place and had an air of asshole around him that just spelled danger.

(Wait, didn’t the screens call him Shirou Emiya?). She’d ask about the name later. “For now playing along to that thing will be for the best, it holds great power over us at the moment” His finger pointed to their new armbands.

That had dangerous implications. “They have something in em?!” Emiya’s head shook slowly and she released a sigh of relief which begged the question as to why he pointed it out.

“It put the thing on us and no one could stop her, that’s enough to be threatening” As if he could read her mind the answer was given. “I say we take some time to figure this place out, then we can talk about this…friendship”

Killing things, fighting hell even cooking were all thing Emiya was very accomplished at, he did so well and efficiently. (The idiot who thought I was a good participant for this need to stop drinking) His curiosity over the creature that was his new ‘companion’ was big but irrelevant compared to understanding the place they would apparently live in.

“Alright…we scout then retell everything here” Her nervousness vanished when given a goal she could focus on. “I’ll inspect from the door behind me, you can take the other” With that both went their separate ways.

Neither wanted to speak for now, not until things felt more under control.

Yet before anyone looked further a ping coming from the TV got their attention.

“Uhh, we should check that right?” By the time her words had come out Emiya was already nearing the device, its remote control waiting for them in the TV stand.

It was not a usual controller. “It has only five buttons” A coin, a letter, a black dot, a shopping bag and the power on and off button. (Very little function for a supposed central computer)

Turning the thing on led them to the same screen it had powered down on, marking the day, but with some extra additions like a counter on the bottom left  and a letter icon on the top right.

Which had a red dot on it. “Mail? Is this thing trying to mess with us or something?” Hadn’t she already told them everything they needed to know? Why would the host keep sending messages their way.

Emiya clicked the mail button, leading them to another interface with an email like structure where everything they received was listed. “There is no navigation” This way they couldn’t just choose and open whatever they had been sent.

📧 Felix_Uro_Maboros

“No nav? The hell do they want us to do then?” Musing to herself and thinking of every piece of technology she’d ever seen the agent came up with something. “Open first mail?” Nothing happened, Archer looked at her contemplative not finding her idea stupid at the very least. “TV open first mail?” she tried again, this time with an activation name.

And this time it worked, the display changed and the contents of the letter were there for them. “Huh, good job I would have never tried that” It was not a piece of tech he’d ever come across before. (why even add buttons if it can do this?)

You have been sponsored, 10 tokens are now in your vault.

That was all it said, direct and to the point. “Wait huh? Sponsored?” Who in their right mind had sent them anything, the name didn’t align with the other participants either.

“This is bigger than expected” There may be people watching, or maybe it’s a betting type of situation, whatever the case was Emiya’s idea to leave this place was becoming messier each discovery they made. “At least now we have funds of some kind”

Checking what the store had would be a good idea too. “You won’t mind if I browse this and you explore the house would you?” Normally he would just do what he wants and be done with it, but Four was probably the only consistent ally he could have since their performance would be tied to one another as partners.

“That would be for the better” She agreed with that staring for a moment at the screen before walking away.

-Pink Team-

“Well I’m a pony” He could see that, an honest to god pink talking pony that he was teaming up with after being kidnapped by, not a demon, a then transported to a house.

A very…clean? Modern? House.

“My name’s Pinkie Pie, I love parties and cake and baking and sweets and my friends andGummyandtalkingandpartiesand…” The equine was loud, louder than any other person the Hashira had ever met in his life.

It was hard enough to accept what he was looking at and adding to that uncertainty she had just pulled a list of things she likes out of her mane was just unsettling him more.

Still she clearly wanted him to introduce himself to her which he should comply with for now. “Tomioka Giyuu” In the most neutral and boring tone possible he introduced himself, no movement other than his mouth.

“Aw HI!! But I already knew that silly it was in the floaty words” The announcement had given them everyone’s names, even those under a cover name were revealed. “Oh I know we’re going to be great friends” Then she proceeded to hug him.

(I…I?!) Giyuu couldn’t understand her, not in the slightest so he did nothing about it and allowing her to, with surprising strength, snuggle him for a moment.

Eventually he was let go, his own instinct hadn’t fought against the mare’s affect and deemed her amicable, allowing him to focus on what should be more important things. (How we got here…it’s clear it’s the host power) The whole different world thing might have already been proven the moment everyone was together.

As absurd as it may have been, Pinkie, the squid kid and the horse girl were all proof that he could not relate to demons as an explanation, they didn’t burn nor did they have the same kind of presence.

This power worried him.

“Your face actually reminds me of my sister always so serious” Pinkie commented without any reason other than to talk, she was already happy enough to have an opportunity to make new friends and her super-duper teammate friend was the first. “If I had my party cannon I would through us a party!!”

Wanting nothing to do with any kind of party Tomioka walked to another room in silence, followed right by Pinkie who wanted to know what he was doing. “We should look around” was all he told her.

The door he just crossed had led to what appeared to be a kitchen. (This…this is technology?) The furniture was unlike anything he’d ever seen too, advanced was the best word to describe it.

“OoO what a pretty kitchen!!” She passed him in an instant, going around as if she recognized the machinery and knew how to use it. “I’ll bake us some friendship cookies!! You can explore and find more awesome things”

Pinkie began to rummage through the cabinets in the kitchen so Tomioka let her, from now on she might be the only ally he may have so he’d trust her with the investigation here.

The water hashira walked to the next room, this time it was a bedroom.

Two shelfs stood on each side of the entrance, two beds on the same wall but separate and lastly a small box on the side of one of the shelfs. (Beds…it’s a western house then) Futons was what one would normally find in the homes of his world, was it different everywhere else or was this place more orientated to the west?

A place to sleep existed and that would work for the time being, instead his attention was brought towards the box.

Why? Well because it was full, all kinds of things like rice, soap, even extra mattresses were inside the thing. (It’s bigger inside?) There were more things kept in the box than it should be possible due to its size.

“Whacha find there Giyuu” As he inspected everything that it had the pink pony approached him from behind without him noticing.

There was no outward reaction to that but inside. (When?! I-I didn’t notice her) Like a ghost she appeared without making a noise entering his personal space by perching and looking over his shoulder. “Supplies”

“Nice! I waaasss wondering why the kitchen was empty” Having found nothing Pinkie followed after Tomioka. “But hey now I can make some awesome friendship cupcakes, do you like chocolate? Or maybe strawberry? Or maybe…”

As the questions continued Giyuu had to ask himself what he’d done to deserve this, his own traitorous mind gave him that answer in the form of a peach haired boy and a black haired woman.

His mood could only drop at that memory. (I need to find a way back) Unbeknownst to him Pinkie Pie was much more perceptive than most would give her credit for.

And she noticed his little slip.

-Blue Team-

“As the announcement might have told you, I’m Brunhilde oldest amongst the Valkyries” The woman sat composed in the table the living room provided, properly introducing themselves. “And you are…Peter Parker, yes? Or should I address you as Spider-man?”

Secrets identities meant nothing in here, the host had made sure all names were for everyone to see on the big hologram save for one, in turn Peter couldn’t do anything but accept it, taking off his mask to talk to her. “Yeah, I’m Peter, Spider-man’s just my superhero name” It doesn’t mean he was all that comfortable with it.

Not when it had just been revealed to the world in his universe and all that had done was make his life harder.

“Superhero, such an interesting concept” They would be warriors of justice if she wasn’t mistaken, nothing real in her world, a simple concept in fiction that in turn was real in other realities. “Well Peter as the two of us will be confined together for the foreseeable future let us get along”

“Oh yeah totally, I’m all cool with it I mean I met a Valkyrie before and she was totally cool with her Pegasus and all” He was rambling, a problem he had when the nerves took over and while he could fake all the confidence he wanted Brunhilde’s demeanor just made him nervous.

And yet the things he said somewhat made her demeanor soften slightly. “One of my sister? We exist in your world? What an incredible coincidence” She did not expect that, then again this was but another possibility across infinity. (If she rode Pegasus then it must have been Reginleif) Maybe this was why they were paired together, there was no chance this could be random. “Then I am not the first member of Valhalla you encounter”

The way she phrased that confused Parker. (Isn’t Valhalla when they go after death?) Universal differences he supposes. “Hm? Yeah I fought together with Thor too, he was super cool” Either way he was glad to have quickly found some common ground with her.

(With…Lord Thor) This teenager was shaping up to be more surprising that she ever expected him to be. “You have to quite the warrior for him to agree to such a thing, lest he is different from my own” This would be a good partnership, the kid seemed well adjusted and wasn’t a coward.

“I guess he really isn’t all like portrayed in mythology” Science was his field, while the tales from mythos were interesting and entertaining Peter hadn’t given it that much thought. “Loki was much more accurate though”

Another familiar name to her, this time however it was not one she had a ‘clear’ relation to. “Him too then? Am I to surmise you know Odin as well” Trying to push the subject away from the trickster.

“Not really, but from what I know he died recently” It was a passed through comment while they put them up to speed on the events after the snap, or before but were relevant to the story in this case. “I don’t know much about the guy”

(To speak of god with so much casualness even to the point to where the death of one isn’t all that impressive?) His world had to be dangerous or he simply held more power than she could tell. “I see, better off that way, humanity should not depend on the gods”

“Bit of a cruel thing to say…he was Thor’s father” It was a memory that the one of the original Avenger carried so he didn’t appreciate the disrespect. “And what’s wrong with depending on someone else, I mean not always that would lead to nothing, but sometimes all someone needs is a bit of help”

“Correct, but a god’s assistance has a price” And with humanity’s fate hanging on Ragnarök there would be no born god that would help them. “I believe we’ve gotten acquainted enough, as days go we shall understand each other better, for now we need to understand our quarters” She believed it was better to drop this conversation for now anyways, he was but a young one after all he most likely wasn’t aware of the weight of what he said.

Beside, from the moment their host dropped them here they had been engaged in conversation, leaving to the side the new environment around them in favor of communication.

“Sure, yeah awesome” Peter gave her an awkward thumbs up, not exactly sure if it was something he said what killed the conversation.

-White Team-

No short of a moment ago they were under the open sky, then in a manner similar to how they got there in the first place they now found themselves in a house. (That was unlike teletransportation and time travel) Neither were just as straight forward as this, security checks and conditions were needed.

This was something else entirely, still Fei wasn’t particularly worried about that rather it was the fact that he’d just left everyone behind in the El Dorado’s base. (Just hold on everyone)

“Eh?!” Beside him was a short girl, Haru Urara according to the teams. “Archer?” She was beside that man who consoled her, finding that he wasn’t around anymore.

“Hi!” Softly but with enthusiasm he called for her, much of the fear was subdued thanks to the man in red so she didn’t immediately jump. “I’m Fei, Fei Rune and your teammate for now”

It takes her a moment to realize what he just said before fumbling to answer. “Ah hello, I’m Haru Urara nice to meet you” Still the smile she gives him is comparable only to Tenma’s own in Fei’s opinion.

“Nice to meet you too” Before they can do much the host gives one last announcement telling them of the TV before leaving them on their own for good.

This whole situation was a complete mess and he didn’t know how to begin with it. “What are those trials?” Haru speaks before he thinks of anything, curiosity over what they would be supposedly doing. “You think I’d be like racing?!”

“Racing? It could be anything but why racing?” That was a very specific thing to ask.

“Oh, well as an Uma racing is what I do so I don’t think I could do anything else?” An Uma, that wasn’t a concept Fei was familiar with, and apparently they had races.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask right? “You say you’re an Uma but what is that exactly?” She gasped as if this had been the most outrageous thing he could have said.

“You don’t know?!” Her hands moved rapidly towards her ears and tail as if it explained everything. “It’s like a girl, like me but….uhhhh” Explaining the concept of it was strange in itself, after all explaining what a human is would also be strange for someone who’d never seen one. “just people like me? Yeah!”

 He could have guessed that when she confirmed herself as one. “Like…with horse ears and tails?” Fei attempted, trying to have something more to go on for the sake of clarity.

“What’s a horse?” It was now his turn to look as if this was the strangest thing she could say, as a very common animal in his world just didn’t exist in another.

(Different worlds Fei, it can be as weird as it wants) He scratched his head a bit before answering . “Nothing important I guess, still its impressive that you race so young”

“Thanks! I’m getting stronger and faster by the day, maybe next race I’ll finally win my debut!” While he wasn’t exactly sure how that would put her when compared to everyone else from her world the energy she held was contagious. 

“I’m sure you will I have full confidence in you!” He liked her and she liked him back, two good souls that just clicked rather fast in their passion for life as a whole.

It would take the both of them a while to begin properly looking around their home, where they came to a very critical and worrisome conclusion.

Neither knew how to cook

-Black Team-

“Come on, how could a humble shopkeeper like myself be that much of a problem” His smile felt really stupid, like the kind one gives when eating their favorite food and nobody’s watching.

Yet for this man in front of him, yeah that was hiding something. “A shopkeeper? Really? I don’t buy it” Skepticism was the only thing Ed would ever feel for the man in front of him, how dumb did he think he was.

In turn Urahara was lazily laying on the couch from where he hadn’t moved ever since they finished their search. “Really kid? What’s wrong with me being one” They hadn’t got the best first impressions on the other as the Shinigami had acted like an idiot as usual.

The blonde teen, being more aware than he ever expected a kid actually being, basically told him to get his shit together and began to look around.

Kisuke of course did his own poking around even trying to destroy one of the wall to see the outside when Ed wasn’t looking at him but his failure was clear.

“I’m not an idiot, beside nobody brought here was normal you can’t be the exception” The reincarnated boy tried to understand everything the best he could when dropped on that platform and everyone had something about them.

A walking squid, a horse girl, the pony, beside all of those who clearly looked like battle was their everyday life, Ed couldn’t imagine this guy to be any different from them, he himself was also a ‘special case’. (He’s a natural liar) Because the whole attitude felt genuine and the Rothtaylor could only base his claim on doubts and paranoia, still,  It wasn’t that bad of an idea to keep his capabilities hidden.

But it would be a liability to himself if he didn’t try to set things straight with this guy, more so seeing him act like a slacker.

Clearly the man was smart, so mush as to follow with his train of thought when he hand said anything else. “Fine, fine ya win kid” Urahara agreed in some way with that idea. (I’ll give him some so he’s satisfied, then keep the rest to myself)

Telling things about himself would let Ed open to him more increasing their cooperation, beside there were things he wouldn’t be able to hide forever if the host actions were any evidence so it is better to get it out of the way now. “I’m a soul reaper” Hell if he’s lucky he might not take him seriously or not know what that is.

Most normal humans didn’t. (He does have some form of energy emanating from him) Either a thing normal for his world’s people or he was special in it. (…Why isn’t he saying anything…?)

Ed had frozen the moment the words soul reaper came out of Urahara’s mouth. (A god of death? He is some form of spirit my spiritual perception tells me that but one of this level?!) This wasn’t even high level, this was beyond that, he should be careful with what he says form now on, better not to anger him.

(There was never a spirit of death in the game like this?) Was the whole different world a real thing, it wouldn’t be his first time happening but he imagined that was just the consequences of reincarnation.

“You there Kid?” Ed hadn’t been subtle at all in his surprise, having just stopped moving at all, Kisuke feared what he drew from what he said. “If you are thinking of me as a god I’ll go right ahead and stop you, I’m just a spirit that guides the dead” That should be a good enough simplification.

It wouldn’t be the first misunderstanding with the religious meaning of the name either. “Oh…I apologize then” regaining his sense took no time, instead he looked on to the TV in front of them to change the subject. “Did you find anything about it?”

It was what he said he would do before. “Oh totally, supper neato this television is” With the remote in hands Kisuke went to the first screen. “Turning it on leads us to what day it is, what mail we have and our amount of Tokens” Then it changed to the mail interface. “It’s basically emails…do you?”

“I know what an email is” It was better to check before saying anything and Ed wasn’t exactly in a tech savvy world. “Who would write to us anyways?”

“It’s a mystery!!” God Kisuke wished he had his fans, everything was funnier with them. “That aside, we also got the shop!” Several categories appeared in a button list kind of format.

“Home, food…weapons? chemicals? Clothing? Machinery? Magic? Extras?” The list continued for a while every need, and maybe some desire, was covered by it. “have you seen the prices?”

“Goes from ‘1 yen sale’ to needing a ‘mortgage to afford it’” It all depended on the item itself, there are some special offers though at least that hadn’t changed. “Lastly we have the most…interesting of them all” He clicked the black dot option.

In the middle of the screen a black dot appeared dividing with lines all the space into fourteen extra spaces where the face of each other competitor filled them. “This is what she meant with information on them huh?”

Urahara nodded, everything had been blank except everyone’s names but as they went forward they’d probably get more. “Well I say we put ourselves comfortable for now there are still functions to discover and it will be some time before we get to do anything…probably”

(I really don’t know if I like this guy as my partner in this) He behaved like an idiot but also just said smart things from time to time as if random. “Very well” Not like he could change his decision.

For now it was better for him to try and regain as much mana as possible, then try to contact Merilda through their contract or something the story scenarios wouldn’t stop just because he was here. (I can still practice my magic here)

He sighed, taking a seat on the couch beside Urahara hoping that there were no more issues the rest of his day.

-Purple Team-

“This is so fucking cool!!” Susie had seen a lot of things while hanging out with Kris and Ralsei, experienced things she’d never had and eaten so many tasty things.

But this, this was in one of her top coolest. “Heh, it’s nice to hear that right Zoroark?” The white Pokemon was shinning under the lizard’s touch, enjoying the petting. (Pokemon are cool) Despite how people view them in Hisui she would always love them.

Even if Alphas tried to kill her every time she crossed one’s path.

“He’s like a fox ghost monster that sucks souls out or some shit how can he not be cool” Akari had told her a bit of how the Zoroark line was portrayed in stories, not exactly sucking souls but she didn’t seem perturbed by that. “Bummer those two idiots could see this”

There was certain affection when calling people dumb that said a lot on your relationship with them. “Friends of yours?” So Akari asked about them curious.

“Oh yeah I guess” It felt embarrassing for the girl to admit to that to someone else, but what else could she call them after all the shit they went together. “Funniest nerds there are, Kris will eat basically anything and Ralsei makes good cake” If this was another darkworld then those two would come for her eventually. “What about you? Any favorite dumbasses?”

(Maybe back home) The past was not kind in anyway, people were incredibly harsher and paranoid, Pokemon weren’t trusted and as an outsider she was too.

Sure Rei was a nice kid and the professor had basically got her a home and a job but honestly she can’t say there is any real friendships there for her. (Irida or Adaman? No they still somewhat distrust me…Volo? Kinda annoying if I’m honest with myself and the higher ups are a no go too). Really who did she have. “I have my Pokemon with me, I really don’t need anyone else”

Beside she would leave eventually for her time when whatever Arceus wanted from her was done, no point in creating deep bonds with people she would abandon. (Wait isn’t exactly that what the host is telling us to do?)

“You mean there’s more than one!!?” If this white one was already this cool Susie couldn’t imagine how others would be. “Show them!”

It was a child like wonder that of seeing a Pokemon for the first time, one Akari herself had experienced once watching TV with her mother in that league’s year. “Sure, I’ll need to feed my team eventually either way so you can see them then”

Most of them were big enough that the house would be uncomfortable for them, Zoroark could phase through things so he didn’t really have that problem.

Looking around Akari wondered where exactly was this place located in. (I was basically kidnapped from my divine kidnapping already, where could we be that Arceus hasn’t taken me back to where I was) Her mission wasn’t over after all and it was apparently very important for history.

They were then startled by a sound coming from the TV similar to a phone’s notification. “Argh bitch” The sound was enough to startle the lizard girl into punching the wall, which hurt. “The hell was that?”

“It came from the TV” Was it the host again? What else did they want to say to them now.

Taking the remote Susie turned it on. “Why is there only four buttons?” They hadn’t really paid attention to the device before, more worried about the situation and where they were. “The mail shit has some red?” As someone who had never really used any electronic device like this one Susie had no idea what that meant.

(A notification then) Akari was there fortunately for the two with more tech culture that the purple girl. “Is there a mail button, try clicking that” It opened a new interface for them, a single letter in it.

📧 Felix_Uro_Maboros

“…” Nothing happened for a few moments before Susie broke the silence. “What now?”

There were no buttons, no other clear ways for them to access whatever that was, so they sat there trying things, seeing if the TV itself had buttons, trying the others on the remote.

It wouldn’t be until twenty minutes of trying later than they would figure it out receiving their 10 Tokens.

-Green Team-

“None of the walls are hollow, there are no exits doors or otherwise, the ventilation is controlled” Amy looked on as the colorfully dressed teen tapped the walls, looked for any vents around event moved some furniture in what he called an investigation. “Rose, a hand”

Now he was trying to get her to lift the minifridge. “Robin, there is not going to be anything under it” What would secret storages and passages be worth for someone who could teleport either way. (He’s like if Tails was paranoid and lived based on coffee)

“Doesn’t matter, exhausting every option we have while our captor isn’t here might be the difference between getting out or not now lift” The kid was smart Amy wouldn’t put that into doubt after she got a ten step program on what to do while he inspected everything.

But he was also not stopping and thinking about this from another angle. “Fine” Still she did what he asked he made his test and came out disappointingly with the same answer.

“We are completely boxed in” Pico hammer could have told him that when the hedgehog tried to put a hole through the wall but better he came to his own conclusions. “The only thing left to verify is the central computer”

“Can we please just talk for a moment?” Running and ignoring her again Robin threw himself into his detective work while testing every possibility he could for the TV functions. “Rose try to lift the device from its stand, maybe then I’ll be able to see the cables”

He didn’t get an answer, looking around the boy wonder found that the woman hadn’t followed him into the living room. (Where is she?) Slowly he creeped back into the kitchen, carefully looking for the pink one.

Who was humming as she took contents from the box they had found beforehand and was organizing them into the shelves. “What are you doing?” A nonsensical action.

She didn’t turn to look at him, clearly there was some irritation on her part towards him. “Organizing our provisions” Once Robin got his answer she continued to hum as if nothing had happened.

The indifference hit Robin the wrong way however. “We aren’t staying here for long, we leave the moment we find an exit” That was the plan, staying in the hands of their kidnapper would be detrimental. “This is why you have to help me here”

“And then what? Where do we go? This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this alternate world stuff before, without proper means we won’t be stuck in this house we’ll be stuck in this world” And the host most likely had a way to find them in this place. “We can do nothing in this situation but play along”

Sometimes lowering one’s head would get them better chances but clearly Robin wasn’t a fan of that, Amy didn’t dislike the kid at all he seemed hardheaded sure but clearly good, it was his inability to listen that was irritating her.

“I imagine there’s people you want to go back to, I do too but this frantic search isn’t going to give you anything” She would know as being stubborn caused problems for the Restoration HQ before, something she’d learnt from. “Take a breather, help me organize things here and then think about it with a cool head”

Honestly she was killing this cool mentor vibe she tried to put on. “You’re right, I need to be rational about this” He accepted to relent for now but he wasn’t done with investigating this place.

He’d just have to do it when she wasn’t paying attention.

“Good, now for proper introductions I’m Amy Rose” She extended her hand, a proper introduction unlike his simply acknowledging her name form the hologram and using it.

“I’m Robin” He reciprocated, the rocky start they had gotten up to starting to being left behind.

-Yellow Team-

“Ha ha ha, then I turned around to meet my adoring fans as they chanted for their hero!” Gato heroically told the tale against the giant, arms extended to the side basking in the one clapping in the room.

Adventure was in the blood of both and this one was but another one for them. “What of you my brave companion? Tell this hero of one of your tales”

Stelle honest to Aeons loved this cat, like, he was the cool guy with the charisma stat so high that it might as well be maxed, couple that with his adventurous style and he’d be a shoe in for a member of the express. “But of course, as a Nameless I have been to a lot of places and saved planets” She was one to boast too so they had that in common as well.

“Traveling through and saving planets eh? What does lay beyond the starts? oh nameless” Glory beyond this world even, Puss could get behind such a thing. (Maybe then he won’t be there)

He shook off that thought, even here he couldn’t outrun thinking about that wolf. “There was this one time we stopped a worlds leader from freezing the entire planet, I had to climb a giant robot to do so, even got stabbed, it wasn’t fun but it was fun” It was a crude summary of Jarilo-VI but it gave the general idea.

Stelle missed their friends from there, ever since arriving in Amphoreus she couldn’t get through to anyone with either the beacons or her phone. “Of course the mighty Trailblazer was victorious in the end and even got a power up”

“The spoils of adventure are always grand” Stepping down from the table where he was talking Puss began his trip to the kitchen. “Did we have any milk in that box?” Stelle had bolted to that thing the moment she laid her eyes on it, calling it a treasure and hoping for some ‘stellar jade’

When she nodded to him he thanked, confidently going to get it. “Telling tales always leaves a dry feeling in my throat” Grabbing the minifridges door he opened it.

A sudden chill ran through his body, a whistle carried through the air with a menacing presence

(No…NO) He couldn’t be here, looking around himself there was no trace of the wolf.

The sound stopped and his hairs went down again. (Mierda, What was that?) Maybe he was just being dumb, it was impossible for the bounty hunter to be here.

“You good?” Eventually Stelle had reached him, wondering what was taking him so long.

He played it off. “Of course”

---

“Can we not do this?” Mystic knew things would come to this, stealing people from their timelines and universes didn’t exactly happen silently specially with people around higher powers.

The three goddesses, Alaya, Death, Arceus, Harmony, beings with sufficient power to reach them here. (Luckily there wasn’t anyone else from the other worlds) Each was in a different location within the residency area, separate from one another.

“Demand: Counter Guardian Emiya’s invocation status unauthorized” The blue amalgamation of humanity’s desire to survive didn’t take long to vocalize her complaint. “Attitude improvements would speed up mission completions and minimize resistance, Trials of Unity acknowledged” Still Alaya was timeless in nature, this would cost nothing from the being.

Harmony giggled, their form that of a simple cream pony for easier communication. “I somewhat enjoy this idea, friendship is magic and this place could make beautiful things” Laughter was a good choice too, everyone else from the elements would be more close minded or interested in the world itself rather than the people. “Good luck dear~”

“…My chosen has found themselves distressed as of late, if this does not impede her mission I will have no problem with it…” The God of all Pokemon conceded, they had all been conversing for a while on this after all. “As long as she is returned from when she was taken that is” A simple demand to fulfill that would take nothing.

Then were the sisters. “It would be beneficial to young Haru/Her development is our desire/Train her to reach the top” Mystic didn’t get these three’s deal but hey that was permission and they didn’t ever raise an issue to begin with, they were rather hands off in their world.

Then it was the last one, the one who didn’t exactly come for their selected but rather hunting them down. “His life is mine for the taking you are aware right?” Of course she knew that, aware of the nature of the being in front of her and what he desired. “Fine…he’ll never escape me either way and who knows…maybe he’ll learn for once” Enough time was bought for him.

Still she needed to drive that point in. “Just don’t try to kill him again, also leave Stelle alone too you hold no jurisdiction over her” Another that had escaped Death more than once, he didn’t like it when he saw that.

Those had been but the conclusions as the conversation worked either way with them leaving as if they had never been here not paying the existence of the other entities any mind. “Fucking hell man, that was terrifying” Still this was a true greenlight for the project. “Well dear viewers you saw it”

“The trials of Unity begin officially with the exploration phase of day one, enjoy” …… “I do have to warn however that chapters will focus on only two or three teams for now which is how many will partake in each challenge, this was but the introduction to them, the regular schedule is to be decided yet this is not the rate I will be broadcasting this and that the max sponsorship per individual is 20 Tokens”

“That’s all :>” A final wave to the camara left Mystic alone to construct the first challenge.

—END—

--Mystic--
Map of the homes

Chapter Text

—START—

-White Team-

After enough time had passed a door ended up appearing.

It held the same normalcy as all other door around this house but unlike all others it wasn’t there from the beginning, instead at the five o clock or 17:00 as the TV marked It simply began to exist.

Day 1: Exploration

The display had also changed, announcing what Mystic had called the exploration phase of the ‘game’

Fei looked towards his companion, little Haru who was just bouncing up and down with excitement at the prospect of finally getting out. “What high spirits” He laughed softly, the way her eyes sparkled by such a simple promise.

“Of course!! I can’t slack off in training not eve here!” She pumped her arms confident with her smile somehow widening. “so I’m going to run so, so much!” It was contagious in a way and beside, Fei too was curious on this world.

It was called Paradox if he wasn’t mistaken. (Appropriate name for a place that exist in somewhere things shouldn’t) It had taken a bit for the time traveler to somehow pin an idea on where across the universe, or beyond, this world could be.

Multiverse theory was increasingly more real in his time than ever so it wasn’t unfair to assume that. (But if it was an anomaly like this would most likely be detected by whatever civilization could sense it) But then where could it be.

Outside everything, that could be it. (There isn’t really a point in thinking about it) Outside of his thoughts Fei failed to notice that his teammate was gone.

…

Haru took in a big breath of air, the sun was still shinning in the sky above her as she glanced towards their current residence for the first time.

It turns out they were living on a farm, specifically they were in a side building that belonged to a much larger plot, a red barn with a large fence where she could see animals rummaging around. (It’s so pretty here)

The land was located over a large hill, one significantly elevated to the point she could see from here a lot of things. (There’s a city here) Her eyes ended up landing on a faraway place where there seemed to be houses.

She couldn’t tell from here how the buildings looked just that they were incredibly big she didn’t know if it reminded her of Tokyo or those American magazines she’d seen before , not that Haru knew the difference between both kinds of buildings, but at least they looked modern.

Still it was a strange place for the host to have left them.

Then the door opened behind her. “Haru don’t go on without me!” From behind Fei finally exited the home and was soon mesmerized as well with his surroundings.

“…It’s so clean…” In every age he’d traveled to the air was always the first thing his mind would go towards and this one felt better than anything. (There’s more than just air though) He wasn’t exactly sure what or how he could tell but it wasn’t harmful in any way.

“Fei-san look, there’s so many animals here” Once again the girl took off the second he distracted himself, her hand latching unto the fence as the hanged from it, focusing on him and then on the animals she mentioned.

Five cows, four sheep, a chicken coup, four pigs. (This place really is a full on farm) Inside the barn there were tools he’d never seen before, machines he wasn’t sure how they worked.

Fei didn’t know if this was their home or if it was simply a place to connect their lodgings with the world around them as it looked like a proper workplace.

“Want to check out the barn?” He yelled towards his teammate, who was still looking at the animals and making faces at them, she turned around and ran in his direction. (That’s…fast) Definitively faster than he was used to in normal people, but for a football player that was still a manageable speed.

Then again they could manifest Hissatsu techniques through spirit and those defied most common norms of the world before they got used to it. “Let’s go!” She reached him In a moment, grabbing his arm and beginning to drag him in the buildings direction.

He kept up with her as she ran towards the barn, the lights were on inside and it looked well kept without any signs of decay from abandonment. “Oh, look!” His new friend spotted something before he did while his eyes took on everything around him.

Haru ran towards her discovery, letting go of him. “It’s a bag? There’s coins inside” It was in fact full of money, Fei didn’t recognize the currency nor they were the tokens they’ve been shown.

In the girl’s hand was also a paper, one she read out loud. “This is a…rent payment?” Squinting her eyes at the words and trying to understand them she continued. “Every week a new one will appear and in turn people from this world will come work here? Can’t exactly put kids to work on a farm you know Signed Mystic”

(Did…did that woman turn us into the owners of this place and landlords?) Since they were in a new world their money would most likely mean nothing, but he thought that was what the store and the tokens were for. “Can you check how much is it?” He asked Haru.

Fei had never seen someone go red so fast as just a moment ago, the pink haired girl had taken a tomato’s coloration while pouting. “It’s better if you…count…them” Extending the bag in his direction.

(She…she doent know how to count?) She in fact did know, however she wasn’t exactly a bright bulb either and would take her more time than her confidence would let her spend to do so. “Ok yeah, I’ll do it”

“You can go see what else we have in the meantime, I can trust you with this right?” It felt like trying to appease a kid, giving her another task so she can stop pouting over the money counting. “But it needs to be fast, so I need someone fast to do it”

The words were correctly used, Haru flipped a switch instantaneously as she took off running, the ground was made of dirt so it was right up her specialty, a smile in her face once more.

“Je, je, je” That girl had way to much energy for such a tiny body. “We’ll let’s see here”

…

It took him a while to get everything rounded up as there were more than one type of coin in the bag. (Thirty reds, ten silver and a golden one) He wasn’t sure what the values for each were but he knew the amount now.

“But why give us this kind of money?” Apparently if they had been adults she had planned to make them work on here which was probably applicable to everyone else. (It’s probably this worlds currency, does she want us to interact with the world?)

The host goals with this were still a mystery he couldn’t piece together one that as long as he can’t find an answer too Fei wouldn’t be able to make his way home and help his friends with El Dorado.

Raimon was strong, he trusted they would get out of there fine but you can’t blame a friend for worrying.

The sound of fast approaching steps, rather loud steps, became more and more intense for a few moments. “Fei-saaaan!!” Then the call from Haru was also in range for him to hear. “ha, ha” She was panting when crossing the doors inside, a bit of sweat forming.

“Hey, had fun looking around” She reached him in no time, a big smile plastered across her face.

“There’s a…ha…a super cool field in the back!” She spoke between breaths, having ran all through her investigation. “This place is huuuuugee, maybe even bigger than some race tracks I’ve seen” Her hands go wide as if trying to show him the size through them. “The ground’s perfect there, I could run forever there”

(She really loves running huh?) Her words carried the same passion that Tenma’s had for football, the same starry stare whenever he played. “I’d be nice to see it” Not like there was more to do here, sure he could see what more the barn held but honestly the bag was most likely the only thing for them here.

So he followed her as she ran back outside with the same energy, it wasn’t hard to keep up with her so in a couple of minutes they were in the back of the place where a huge rectangular field stood in front of them.

It’s measures weren’t known to them but with that size it might even be five hundred meters in length and width, perfectly squared. (It is big…and apparently ours) What were they supposed to do with this much space.

“Yosh, it’s time to train!” While he thought on what to do it would seem like Haru already had a clear idea of what she wanted to do. “Want to come with me Fei-san”

“Sure thing, and just call me Fei Haru in my time honorifics aren’t all that used” He sure didn’t use them often so he’d rather not have them used on him either. “Race you down?”

His proposition had him get a strange stare, in his eyes this was a fun thing to do together so they could get close so why was she looking at him like that. (Do humans not race with the Umas?) It was possible they were simply to different for it to be fair in her world.

“Heh don’t look at me like that, you seem to forget I’m not exactly the kind of human you are used too” Without wasting a second he sprinted forward the wind brushed against his face as his legs carried him forward with great speed. “Are you coming or not?!”

His voice was playful, inviting the girl to try and catch up with him. “Wow!! I’m not going to lose!” It worked, not a second later Haru was already after him, slowly catching up as they descended the small distance needed to reach the field.

Still Fei’s advantage was too big for her to close in such a small gap. “Looks like I win” A toothy grin spread across his face his competitive side speaking for him.

“Just because you had a head start, next time I’ll win” Despite the ‘loss’ she laughed alongside him, having enjoyed as much as him how the exercise gave live to their bodies. “But for that I need to get stronger!”

With that proclamation she began to run once more, willing to push her stamina to its limit just to gain some more for the future.

“Huh?” Just then, the moment she passed by him Fei had noticed something. (Is she?) That should not be possible, they were form different worlds. (But…all you need is spirit…so it could be)

Maybe he’d have to teach her to play football to see if that was real or not.

But for now he’d enjoy this climate and watching her run so happy.

-Yellow Team-

“Freedom!!” The door to their home was opened with a bang, arms stretched as Stelle screamed towards the sky, her eyes scanned her surroundings quickly as any good trailblazer do, realizing what their place was in reality. “IT’S A TRAIN!!”

More specifically a train station, but the entrance was situated on one of the old trains repurposed to work as a living space. (What? The train isn’t even big enough to fit all we have) This was some genius fuckery, the kind Herta would do.

“Quite the strange stage indeed amiga” Puss was right behind her, his boots clicking with the floor with each step. “but It hasn’t been the strangest place I’ve lived” Nothing would make him get over the cat lady’s home, that was the weirdest.

“True, I normally live in a space train anyways” The Astral Express was infinitively cooler sure, but it being a train did add some homey vives to it. (Thinking on the express…I hope Dan Heng is alright with me having just disappeared) She hadn’t been able to communicate with the rest of the crew since arriving  in Amphoreus so this wasn’t that different.

But Dan Heng, he was with her going to stop Aquila before she poofed out of the world. “Well it’s time to trailblaze” Still before her was a brand new world to discover, and this train station would be the beginning of this adventure.

She felt something climbing her, grabbing her jacket, and joisting itself up to her shoulder, it was Gato as it turns out. “Si, adventure is ahead of us so let us explore” There wasn’t a problem with him hitching a ride on her shoulder so Stelle simply moved on, looking for their first objective.

As it turns out the vehicle now turned home was located on the back of the station, both a parking and repaired centered area for the trains which had a direct, rather big entrance towards it.

But on the other side had a view of the environment around them. “We’re…in the middle of the Ocean?” Water spanned around them for as long as they could see, two bridges disappearing into the horizon on each side. “What a shitty spawn”

Gato laughed at her words, he seemed a bit put off by the water for a moment before he composed himself. “Maybe but see it as a treasure my friend for we have access to travel to every corner of this world from here!! I think at least” Being in a train station would facilitate getting to know the word itself.

Surely there was a map here. “Then we look for a map” She voiced her idea to which Puss patted her head.

“Just what I was thinking young apprentice, let this cat teach you the ways of adventure” Despite clearly treating her like a novice Stelle embraced the bravado, enjoying just having fun doing this. “Now, into the station”

Grabbing his hand before Gato could pull out his blade the Trailblazer said. “Better not charge with sword in hand” As reckless as she was not ever her was stupid enough to charge guns blazing…most of the time. “We’re friendly adventurers after all”

“Heh, I suppose I’m not the dangerous and handsome outlaw around these parts” Letting go of the blade Puss was left holding unto the woman as she made her way inside.

The building was built out of bricks with an old styled German appearance with a more modern interior. (There’s a lot of people here) Many different kinds at that, the variety reminded Stelle to the streets of Penacony.

Everyone seemed either in a hurry to get to their train or taking their time to arrive, humans of all kinds and some not so human creatures were there whether they had animal limbs, were actual anthropomorphic animals or just animals with clothes.

Fantasy creatures only known in books to the girl, some others were similar to the Intelletrons and the Pepeshi. (There’s a lot of species on this planet)

“Truly what a colorful sight” Puss was also taken aback by the sheer variety, but like her he was used to many different individuals. “Let us not stare, rather book our own train to leave for adventure amiga mía” By looking around he ended up finding what most likely was the information department of this station. “That way”

With the agility of a cat he jumped, spinning in the air and using a lamp on the ceiling for an extra boost he propelled himself to the top of the counter, landing perfectly on his feet.

“meh, six out of ten” In the time it had taken him to land the Trailblazer had caught up, giving her review on the move. “It’s just too slow” Her comment was snarky and he liked that, this girl had spirit and the Puss in Boots approved.

“Excuse me” A serene voice spoke from the other side of the glass a black haired woman wearing some form of uniform from this place called for their attention. “I imagine you are the two sent here?”

When they expected her to ask about what tickets they wanted to get the real question felt like a curve ball. “Xscume wat?” Golden eyes looked at the woman confused. “Ya got any idea wat she’s talking bout fam?”

Instead of answering it now she was the one getting the weird look from Gato. “Did your speech pattern change?” They blinked simultaneously looking at one another. “Never do that again” Ignoring the stupidity of his partner for now the cat turned towards the lady. “Apologies gattita, my friend here and I aren’t sure what you speak off”

“Right you don’t know, as per the mandate two individuals from a ‘unclassifiable’ place would begin their stay in the Bifrost Station and in turn they would act as a security measure for it under contract” A paper that was eerily similar to the first letter they ever received stated just that, it was even signed under the same name. “the hours at least one of you will need be from five to seven on specific days”

“That woman…she got us a job” Stelle concluded, odd jobs were her specialty and if this would allow her to get some money then everything in the world was right. (And why those specific hours, can things not happen outside of those?)

Puss wasn’t as quick to accept it however. “Now why should the great Puss in Boots do such a thing, I’m a free spirit and won’t be forced to work where I don’t want”

“Lunch and a home will be provided and you will have a gold coin as earnings” Basically the place they were living in was included in this work deal the Host had set up. “It’s not like you will have to do things every day, just when it’s necessary and you will be paid weekly”

It was honestly a lot when put that way, Puss couldn’t deny that having money would be beneficial, but then again he could always steal from some rich fool. “This will be acceptable for now, until more appropriate terms can be discussed”

While Gato was complaining Stelle had took a moment to read over the letter left. (Wait so we have to work because we’re adults? Does that mean if they aren’t they get free money?) That was just not fair, lazy adults have rights too. “Well, there’s still a lot so station to Trailblaze and chest to find, we can go another place another day”

“Actually, what do we have to do as security?” They still weren’t sure what they had to defend the station from. (Better not be caught with our pants down) Ironically neither of them wore pants.

“Not common thugs we can guarantee that, your call will be obvious” Taking one last thing from under her desk the woman put a sack on the counter. “This is your initial stipend, don’t blow everything off” She didn’t tell them anything else, going back to her work without offering anything, not even a name.

Both of the players in this game stare at her for a few moments more but she doesn’t say anything else. “Ok then” Taking their newly acquired money the two of them leave to explore.

The lingering thought of what they were supposed to protect this place from fading slowly.

“Over there” Hearing Puss’s voice from below Stelle looks on to where he is pointing towards. “It’s a map” Finally some reference to this strange place.

They approached it, in a golden inscription was written Paradox, the name of this world which they now knew the basic layout off. (Weird…there’s cities that clearly look modern, but also castles, villages and towers that are claimed as cities of their own)

It wasn’t as if she could tell how advanced those places could be compared to one another, this station in itself felt like a mess with the old timey architecture but with ATMs and very futuristic looking trains.

Not as cool as the express of course, Stelle would never find another train as cool as the Astral Express, but still it was somewhat jarring to see.

More so when people dressed so differently as if the trains were more like gates across time than the three islands they connected.

“New lands for the Puss in Boots to conquer await us” While she was thinking apparently Gato had been monologuing to himself, something she didn’t exactly pay attention to.

“Yeah, but not today…how sad” With her best sad impression she struck a pose before doing a one eighty. “Now there’s one last important thing to check in this place”

In the corner of her eyes she had spotted that which she needed to see, an object that filled her heart with desire and wonder as it’s possibilities were endless.

With a mighty sprint her legs carried her towards it and with reverence she opened it.

“That’s…that’s a trashcan” Beside her was Puss, who believed Stelle had found something of importance.

He was beginning to think this partnership was a bad idea.

-Red Team-

The outside world was not at all what they expected, an empty extension of land, some sort of camp for all the participants were together but standing here now looking through a window she didn’t know what to expect.

But an actual full on world that none of them were native to, this was not in Four’s idea of a ‘game’ at all. (Archer doesn’t seem all that surprised) Looking towards him from the corner of her eye the man’s expression had yet to change. (To believe I’d ever meet a human before)

Kamino had records of their predecessors, a general outline of the species appearance that the Inkling could see fitting for the man. (And not only one) The inhabitants of this world were also human…mostly.

Were she the research kind of Inkling she would be fawning by the mouth at the prime material this whole thing gave her.

Yet in Four hands it felt like a waste. “Getting overwhelmed this early?” The deep voice of his teammate took her out of her stupor, with a smile that halved on both mocking intentions and a genuine concern he was looking at her. “Not used to so many different kinds of people?”

She was read like a book, the man had only needed to look at her once to tell what was going on through her head, something she wasn’t a fan off. “Maybe…back home things are similar but different”

The city in itself was much more gray and symmetrical than anything Inkopolis would be, billboards and giant screens were still around but not with the same vibrant colors she was used too.

Emiya listened carefully, clearly she lived in similar conditions to humas if that’s what she was saying but he didn’t know enough. “Hm, I never did ask but what exactly are you?” There was no better moment to find out.

“Oh yeah you don’t know” Turning to look at him the agent properly introduced her species. “I’m what’s known as an Inkling an evolution of what you might call a squid”

(Evolved from squids, interesting) It was curious to know that other species could continue their evolutive chain to reach such a human appearance. (One would think they’d accent their better traits rather than change them completely) Nodding at the answer he went to introduce his own specie. “Very well, I’m a-”

“Human, right?” Yet she didn’t let him finish, showing she was aware of the existence of his kind even from a different world all together. “We know of you through archeological sites and the things they left behind” Archer could feel a bile forming in his throat at the implication.  “We’re kinda the successors of the planet after you guys…went extinct”

If she was honest, Four wasn’t about to reveal all of this to him, but when she began talking she got more increasingly nervous under his stare and that just made her puke all the words her brain supplied her.

The man was that intimidating.

“I see” Yet there was no grand reaction, no sadness or tragedy at the knowledge that his people could go extinct even if it was from a different reality. (In the end, what Alaya makes us do it’s still for humanity’s survival) And in a world where she isn’t even a concept, well humans were on their own.

Was he really so twisted that he found some renewed faith in himself after learning this. (Is it wrong that I feel glad that my job is not worthless) It did mean he did end up saving someone.

That it wasn’t all death for him no matter how many bodies he buried in the process. “Humanity always did have a self-destruction problem, you don’t need to look at me with such pity, we were aware that was a possibility” His words were directed at Four, he didn’t need to be a rude nor snarky, not right now.

“Really, that…doesn’t sound good” Maybe it was better the SSN could get any of the information on humans Tartar had safeguarded until they destroyed him If humans had information that could lead them to the same outcome. “Well, I guess nice to meet you properly Archer?”

“Call me Emiya, it’s my real name and I’m letting you use it without a doubt you saw it displayed along my title so it’s better I just clarify it” Turning around he finally began to pay some more attention to where they had been dropped off into this world.

It was a café.

The host had just given them a café, left a bag of money in the counter and the place stocked for an opening. (She’s forcing us to be a proper part of this world, as if we were just another person) How long did she plan to keep them here?

For him it wasn’t a problem, eternity awaited after this but all others, what would it be for them to lose years of their lives.

“Are we really opening this place up?” It’s appearance was alright, wooden walls and a stone floor, tables placed well organized in a grid with a large counter that

“It’s not a choice” This was a statement that beyond the Friendship Tokens regular money that belonged to the civilizations here was a necessity to them. (Most likely for food and other necessities) They could buy those things through the tokens sure, he’d seen them in the store, but it would be wasteful. “We need stability here”

The ten they had would only give them for a two person meal as a whole.

Four scratched her head disappointed. “Damn, I thought I had escaped my days as a bartender the day I became a ranker” It was what they needed to do however so complaining would be worthless. “So, what do we do then?”

“We begin tomorrow, it’s too late already” Nobody would come to a business recently opened way past the middle of the day. “We get to know the city today” Instead familiarizing themselves with their surroundings was the best course of action.

There was nothing else for them to learn from the home, nor did they have anything special to say to one another, thus it was exploration for now. (At least the name is appropriate) Four walked towards the entrance of the café, a little sign that said open hanging in it.

Stepping outside the Inkling could tell immediately how different this world was from her own. (Oh wow) The air was unlike anything she could have expected, it lacked a certain weight it normally did back home.

Why couldn’t she feel that while inside their place? “This is very urban, reminds me of Washington” Emiya hadn’t taken too long to follow his focus was more on how the world itself looked.

Looking from the inside had only let them see more immediate locations, now he could appreciate the magnitude of the street they were on. (It goes to the edge of the city) His eyesight allowed him to tell even from this distance. “We’re near the ocean”

The casual mention of such a large body of water caused a shudder in Four’s body. “There’s also a park nearby!” Trying to shift the focus away from it she pointed towards the other direction where a large grassy area was.

“Hmm, this place is big” More or less the size of a medium city if compared to his own world, a place for 200000 people more or less. “Locating a supermarket should be a first priority”

Four could see it, finding a place where all basics could be covered was important but with their location it might not be necessary. “Can’t we go to different stores around here, there’s a lot of different essentials around here” And she was right, food, clothing, hygiene stores were all around them.

They were specialized for different species too in case the need of some didn’t match the others. “Cheaper goods is something we’ll to find to deduce this money’s value” Knowing it at least compared to Yen was important to know lest they want to be scammed or make poor profits on the café. “We can’t afford most of the things they sell either way”

As specialized shops they were too expensive. “Right” She hadn’t thought about that. “Supermarket it is” With that they began to look through the big city with the clock ticking as the hours passed.

In the midst of it all locals notice their presence and note that a new establishment would soon be opened.

—END—

--Mystic—

Chapter Text

—START—

-Purple Team-

Nighttime arrived after a couple of hours of exploring, the sun disappearing over the horizon nearing nine.

Of course Akari couldn’t exactly see that from the forest she was currently in. (Good thing for artificial lighting) Despite the whole aesthetic of this village being a natural space they still had all essentials of modern society.

People here lived in tree houses, bridges out of wood connecting many of the homes while market stalls and farms laid underneath. (There was one city like this…where was it)

To top it off It was actually a self-sustaining village, one that was thriving inside of a forest with minimal contact to the exterior for fear of the outside.

It was a bit sad that this town was founded by escapees from all around the world, with few humans amongst them, in fact it was them who they were running from. (Now, where is she?) Turning her attention back unto the road Akari sighed.

The trainer was currently sitting on a little platform that extended from where her lodgings were located, beside her was a staircase down to floor level. “Bray!!” Flying above her was Peak, her Hisuian Braviary, who was helping searching the area.

Susie had bolted off as soon as the door had opened, taking in everything before running off to do whatever, she didn’t stop her and in turn went her own way to learn of this world.

Which leads her to now where her teammate is lost to her in all manners.

“Ah~” Still besides that Akari was…appreciating this little rest she was getting from being kidnapped. (When was the last time I could lounge for hours like this) Despite these people’s fears they didn’t receive them with harshness nor scorn but rather openly.

They knew before the door had manifested that the house was theirs, aware of their out of this world status and even informed her of their supposed role here.

Without a hint of hatred nor distrust she wasn’t kicked out, like it recently happened back in Jubilife. (Because we hadn’t earnt it, those were their words) Honestly she felt refreshed even if it hadn’t even been a full day.

Her Pokemon alerted her with a cry that someone was approaching her, her eyes moved towards the bridge at first before turning her head down where a purple reptile girl came in carrying a basket of fruits.

“Yo Akari check this out!” Her toothy grin displayed all of her fangs, as if proud of what she had done. “An old lady gave me all of this when I beat the shit out of some animals” Apparently she wasn’t the only one getting chummy with the locals.

“Oh, what kind of animal?” Animals, the substitute for Pokemon in Susie’s world and here, they were non sensible creatures but that’s where their similarities with Pokemon ended.

No typing, no legendaries, not even intelligence comparable to them.

“Think it was a boar, it ate the grandma’s crops so she asked me for help” She laughed boastfully, like she was showing off. “If ya ask me to beat up something I’m not gonna say no!”

With one arm she began to go up the stairs while keeping the basket safe with the other, at the same time Peak descended with her duty now finished. “Whoa that’s a big bird!” The sharp gaze of the psychic type landed on Susie.

“He’s another member of my team, his name is Peak” The flying type allowed himself to be touched by his trainer the moment she got up. “Leave that inside, then we can hitch a ride on him”

“!” Akari could see the glow on Susie’s eyes at the proposal, honestly it felt like spoiling a kid. “Be right back!” Such wonder made the trainer feel old, she just didn’t have the same energy anymore.

Turning eighteen in the past was like missing something important with her family…and things just became dull even more from there.

(Good thing they gave me back my fly HM here) Hm’s were bullshit, all this move did was make sure any flying type couldn’t get exhausted after a few hours of carrying passengers nothing else. (At least it’s not like cut…why does the league regulate these anyways) Pokemon by themselves were able to do this on their own.

Using the disk on Braviary’s Pokeball she was able to teach the move to him in an instant, this was not tech that existed in the time he was from but the trust between the two had grown enough for him to let her do this.

“I gotta ask, why does he get a name?” Brutishly slamming the door, the teen returned with a passion, flying being a completely rad idea. “The Zoro-guy didn’t get one”

“Zoroark, and he didn’t want one” She did offer each of her new partners one, but only two of them ever accepted them, something about honor and earning things that she couldn’t understand. “Ready?”

 “Just like that? Bummer, Shadow fox would go hard on him” Akari wouldn’t agree with that, taking her words and pose as a sign that she was indeed ready.

With hop she got over the Pokemon’s back and sat just in the middle of it legs crossed. “If you would Peak” Susie yelped in surprise at the sudden lack of gravity, her body floating towards Akari who was waiting for her. “Don’t tense up, it makes it harder to land”

“Warm me before you do this!!” Even with the complaint Susie listened after a while, slowly being put behind the trainer.

Once she was close enough Akari took her arm and lowered her. “No need to hold on, the move Fly won’t allow us to fall” At first she had forgotten about that, good thing she remembered.

“The move-? AHHH!!” Ascending was an increase in speed that borderlines absurdity, in a single flap of his wings the Braviary had left the floor behind and neared the clouds. “A warning would have been nice!!”

(Ah, deja vu) Still Akari laughed as the reptilian attempted to balance herself when there was no need. “Let yourself go kid, that’s how you’ll enjoy it more” Freedom, oh how she yearned for this freedom back in Hisui.

Where all of her actions were scrutinized, where she couldn’t go near a Pokemon lest they were for investigation, where she had a tight sleep schedule dictated by others.

Even if things had let up with time and enough of that freedom was gained back Kamado’s eyes would always feel like a cage for her. “Woah” The gasp wonder behind her took reminded her of where she was.

And as Akari’s eyes watched over the horizon a new world was opened to them. (A city…dessert, mountains) So many places to know and see. (Maybe I’ll enjoy this place if Arceus allows it)

A similar thought was shared by Susie. (…This…It’s like the first time in the dark worlds all over again, so much shit to do!) Without worrying about classes or grades or when she’d have her next meal? Sign her up!

Still, a little hole in her chest the size of two idiots was noticeable, more so now that she’s had learn to have fun WITH them. (I’ll get them something when I go back, yeah)

They wouldn’t blame her for enjoying this. “Go higher!!” Pumping her fist to the sky she shouted.

“Well you heard her Peak, show of a little” From a little under the clouds they went above it, the night sky shining beautifully over their heads with no impediment to show them the cosmic aesthetic. “It’s a different sky” None of the stars were in the places she remembered.

“Awesome…” Once again the slow awe of the purple girl was heard. “Man I wish I could take a picture”

(Me too) The Arc phone didn’t allow such a feature sadly, still being here right now. “I think just seeing this is enough, just you and I…and Peak” Would you look at that she did end up making a friend.

“You got it you crazy lady…you got it” The sun was finally set completely and the first night arrived.

-Green Team-

Turns out nights are much more dangerous than expected in this place.

 Hammer impacted the ground with such force that everything around them shook with the impact leaving behind a crater and a blue stain on the floor. (Urgh) Amy wouldn’t normally consider squashing a life like this.

But the things that had tried to attack them shouldn’t be considered as such, all aggression, and no rationale at all, just charging forward even if it would kill them for they would win as long as any of them. “They aren’t very strong, but they are durable and relentless”

When they were informed of their role as defenders of this merchant’s village thanks to the host’s intervention Robin expected something different.

Using his staff be he swatted another of this giant bugs in Amy’s direction. (I was expecting thief’s or bandits not giant bug monsters) But these creatures were self-replicating at an alarming rate, when there was only one now they were dealing with near twenty. “On your right!”

Plus the other thirty they had killed already. (Doesn’t help that I only have my staff and I’m not physically strong enough to one hit them) His teammate was and it was a blessing, still it was frustrating.

“HIAA!” And that was another one down, at the same time the pink hedgehog had propelled herself with the impact into the air to curl up in a ball, spin, and crash into a different bug, cracking it’s exoskeleton. “There’s so many of them, are we sure they will only be here two hours?!”

It was what the locals had told them. “Just keep formation, you are the best suited to end them” Sure he could puncture them through their eyes but even those were resistant and it took a lot of energy he couldn’t afford to waste.

So he kept them at bay, slowly picking them off by sending them into Amy’s direction when she was free while piking off maybe one or two that were unfortunate enough to give him a clean enough shot. (They are like robots Robin, they aren’t people)

Killing creatures felt…wrong, he didn’t like how their fluids would stick to the staff or the screeches they let out when beaten, but they had tried to eat him and even with broken wings and legs they still attacked.

He’d yet to find a way to knock them unconscious too. “They…they’re retreating!” It was like the flip of a switch, seconds ago the closest of these things had tried to maul him to death and the next it just…stopped.

Looking around Amy caught all the other lights on the town coming on again, they had been sitting on the only lamppost that wasn’t off. “The lights” The people were still awake even now after two hours past midnight.

“It’s over, two hours exactly” It was millimetric the precision which the attack ended. “It’s clearly calculated in some way, but the creatures weren’t intelligent flocking towards the only light around” Maybe someone commanded it or was their biology so tight with whatever forced them to retreat that they knew to pull back now.

“Phew, finally” Despite making those sounds Amy had yet to break a sweat, her tiredness came from the hour this was taking place at rather than the effort it took. “It’s like killing Badniks but grosser” Using her hammer as a crutch she looked at him “Are you alright?”

Turning to look at her she could tell he was at least winded after the encounter. “Yes, your help was essential in this” He’d definitely would have struggled killing the bugs more if she wasn’t here to help. “We should head back inside”

“Those things were a little tough though, it was kinda like punching metal” Amy had attempted to just use her hands and had injures seriously one of the things with them before realizing her hammer would make things easier for her. “More than the average robot I’m used to”

(Fighting robots on the norm, noted) The hero wasn’t sure if she was giving that info on purpose or she was just this much of an airhead. “It would have been much more problematic over longer periods of time or if more of them had come”

Only one turned into fifty in two hours, five of those things would have put them in serious danger if he based himself on all he’d seen from his partner up until now. “We should find a villager too, they might give us an answer”

“You go do that, I call dibs on the shower~” Sprinting ahead, and she moved fast, Amy went further into the town with a smile, dreaming of cleaning all of the bug juices off.

He didn’t respond, his mask narrowed as he squinted his eyes in the fleeing swarm’s direction. “Why leave?” Is this another thing to do with the game that was set up in this place, his mind tried to make up excuses for it.

“Kid, you should go inside!” The sudden call came from another one of the houses, a middle aged man stood there looking at him. “Nights get dangerous the later on they go”

(More? Is that why they left?) Feeling some sort of caution at that idea he probed the man. “Why? Didn’t the swarm just leave?” The reason as to why only at night was also one he wanted, but it was not the time to ask

“The swarm’s the worst because they can enter the houses kid, the other ‘things’ don’t we’ve got protection against them” He gestured towards the insects in the distance. “And even they don’t want to deal with what comes after so they go back to their cave no matter how many of them are left” And the from what they told them before the insects were nocturnal, leaving only a two hour window for them to act here.

It was more time than that if you wanted to be precise but they required time to arrive and leave. “Just head home kid, your jobs over and it was finely done” With one last goodbye the man went back inside leaving Robin alone.

(This place is dangerous then…is everyone else’s location like this?) He couldn’t see the pink haired kid nor the pony surviving something like this. (What a sick game) Still he took the advice to heart as he made his way to the house.

It was…common looking from the outside, the kind of home one would find in the suburbs of his country.

Stepping through the door was like entering a portal, the air and temperature changed instantly between the two spaces with a similar feeling as nausea setting in his gut for a second before dissipating.

The sound of running water told him exactly where his teammate was. “Self-replicating giant insects with a durability akin to Cinderblock” Something must have gone wrong in the evolution chain for such abominations to exist.

Beside that his own partner was a subject all on her own of impressive feats of strength. “Easily capable of building destructive strength, an absurd durability, incredibly fast” Her species, beyond being a hedgehog, was apparently called a Moebian according to her. “She said she’s far from the most impressive of them”

If her power wasn’t impressive, then what could be considered as such for her? (Irrelevant at the moment but figuring something out in case of a betrayal could be necessary) He spared no trust for her, not yet, but he’d accept her good attitude as a sign of character on her part.

Instead what he needed to focus on was understanding how to return home. (The Titans should have at least noticed my disappearance at this point) Figuring out universal hopping might be too out of their league however, not something they were ready for.

Which most likely means…they’d try to ask someone who can and would care about him. (Bruce with the league might but, is it wrong that I don’t want to see him) The teen was still incredibly angry at him, but was that enough reason not accept help in a situation like this one?

“Ah, finally done” So immersed in his thoughts he was that he didn’t notice when the water sounds stopped and Amy stepped out. “It’s a shame there’s no proper quill treatment soap” Normal soap would do for now, being dirty wasn’t an option. “It’s free for you to use, don’t want to get any bug disease”

Her tone was joking but it did spark another spiral for the titan, as he walked towards the bathroom himself thinking on what possible illnesses existed here that he had neither a natural immunity too or were also mutated in nature like the insects.

“Chaos I can see the paranoia in his eyes” Muttered the girl when watching him enter the bathroom. “Well, I should set up a laundry and then go to bed” The clothes she was wearing right now, her dress and another get up were the only pieces of clothing she had here, keeping them clean would be vital.

“I should tell him to do the same” They would waste less if it’s done together and both of them use clothes of color so it should be fine. “Well, it’s a problem for tomorrow”

She made her way towards the kitchen, getting everything set up for laundry even leaving a small note telling Robin to put his dirty suit inside and start it.

Then she went to bed calmly. (Robin’s really worrying about this whole thing, we’ll find a solution eventually to this but he needs to relax before he breaks form stressing out)

Dreams took her not long after.

-Pink Team-

Day 2

(It is truly a different world) That was the first conscious thought Tomioka had the moment he woke up.

For a moment he had expected it all to be a dream or some form of illusion by a demon but as the day went on the less and less he could attribute it to anything he knew.

Pinkie Pie was the sole responsible for breaking those ideas…alongside with his sense of reality. (Never had I seen someone so fast) His eyes couldn’t follow her when she ran and that felt wrong.

Maybe he’s simply too weak to do so.

There was no way to see the sun from the inside of this house so he couldn’t tell if it was properly in the morning, sleeping during the night was not something he was used too anyways, so he got up the second he felt awake.

And even still he was still not the first one up. “Oh good morning Giyuu!!” Storming the kitchen was his teammate, moving from side to side while somehow carrying things in hooves without them falling.

(She’s cleaning) Had she prepared something? Breakfast most likely.

Without saying anything he fully entered the room and began to look inside the pantry to see what he should make for himself. “What are you doing silly? Breakfast is already done” Tomioka tensed the moment something grabbed him by the arm.

Standing on her hindlegs was Pinkie, pointing to the table with her other limb. “I made cupcakes!!” In the dining table was exactly what she said, twelve pastries decorated with pink, red, and blue cream. “They are friendship cupcakes because I couldn’t throw a party for you!”

He only blinked in response, following her train of thought wasn’t hard it just didn’t make a lot of sense. “This much sugar for breakfast is unhealthy” Instead he countered with the most logical way to refuse.

“Whaaaat? Nooo, sugar is what keeps the world going!” Everypony needed sugar for a stable diet, it’s essential for life in Canterlot. “AHHH, right you’re not a pony!” Like a thunderous revelation it dawned on her that little idea, and just as fast as it arrived, it left. “But a little sugar won’t be that bad, c’mon just one”

Grabbing one of the red ones, which he still doesn’t know how she does it, the sweet was put dangerously close to his face way beyond his personal space. “Fine” So to get her off him he accepted it.

Biting into it allowed him to taste it all. (This…is good) Not just good, the best thing he’d ever tasted, withing the sweets parameters of course, but so good that it left an impression on him.

It was like he could tell the cupcake was made to give people happiness.

“Aw, that didn’t turn your frown upside down” Still his expression remained unchanged despite it all, Pinkie’s attempt to make Tomioka smile failed. “I’ll just have to try harder…but food first”

They ended up sitting and eating together, the pony talked as if her voice would stop working the next second or if she stopped. (She’s like Mitsuri) His mind pictured another of the Hashira in his mind beside Pinkie. (Uh, never mind)

The woman might be bubbly and happy, but this is a different scale of that.

Even after they were done and he prepared himself to leave the home, changing into his uniform and haori Pinkie remained attached to him, not when he was changing but on the other side of the door, during which he tuned out most of what she was saying.

Giyuu could not keep up with her at all. “Giyuu? Are you awake? Need some more sugar in you?” Seeing his posture deflate even slightly the Pie went out of her way to try and help.

(Using my name again) He didn’t care exactly but it was weird having someone use it on him. “Hm” In response to her he shook his head with a small noise to signal he listened even if it was a lie.

“Phew I was worried since you didn’t answer my question” Then she expectantly watched him as if waiting for an answer.

Tomioka had been planning to go outside, learn more of the area before the supposed time for challenges began, taking his sword as a last thing before going to the door.

The left behind pony could only stare at the man with a perplexed expression as he went through the door. “Hmm, how strangeeee” Ever since yesterday’s she’d tried to get at least a laugh or a smile out of him but nothing she did appeared to work.

(Did I use to little confetti? Or maybe he doesn’t like cupcakes?) He did feel lighter after eating the pastry but his face didn’t shift at all. (He’s not like Maud at all) At first she’d believed that his face was so similar to hers, unchanging no matter what she felt but she couldn’t have been more wrong.

Her sister did smile, laugh and was happy her own way, Tomioka on the other hand wasn’t allowing himself to be happy his eyes lacked something that made Pinkie want to hug him each time she sees them.

Yet while that was what rubbed the pony wrong most, this world was just so different from Equestria in ways that would never occur to her.

People were one of those, the humans here had nothing to do with the ones on the other side of the mirror, they were just…darker would be the best way to describe it, maybe lacking the same vibrant energy all equestrians had.

The town they were living in was a reflection of that, instead of the unique and colorful houses she was used too everything followed a white or red coloration that was the same as the materials, few houses were painted on the outside.

There were no fun quirks to the houses either, no candy cane decorations no giant tree nothing at all like Ponyville.

After staying for a few moments inside her own home here, which she was totally going to properly decorate in the future, Pinkie decided it was finally time to leave.

Walking towards the front door after putting the things in the kitchen in their place she went with every ounce of energy she had to it. “Good morning everyone!” It wasn’t overly loud, she was trying to be jolly not a hazard but it did garner the attention of everyone around.

Included Tomioka who was listening to a half snake half person, a lamia, about something. “Giyuu, there you are” Trotting quickly Pinkie caught up to him. “We were talking and you left, that’s a bit rude” She was mostly teasing him, despite what she saw that he clearly wasn’t listening the pony didn’t care all that much.

“Ah, Pinkie good morning” The lamia, who had been the one to introduce them to Liberty Town yesterday, greeted her with a smile not bothered in the slightly about her volume. “I was simply asking Tomioka here for the opening date of the bakery”

Turns out the outside of their home was in fact a bakery under the name Sugarcube corner, the Pie was happy with whoever named it that as it made her feel fuzzy.

“We-” There was no intention on doing such a thing on Giyuu’s part, he cooked the necessary for survival and that was that, but this was apparently an obligation.

So before he could say they hadn’t talked about it his teammate had gotten ahead. “Soon! At least after the first game though” It was approximate, there were a lot of logistics involved in running a business but it should be enough for others.

“Ah, that makes sense” The people all seemed to just be aware of the game and their out of this world status, which they didn’t address directly anymore because nobody answered to them. “Good luck with the trials then!”

Looking at the clock of the church nearby Giyuu confirmed it was just about seven thirty in the morning, according to the person who brought them here they should still have some time before they go whenever these things are supposed to happen. (Will we be teleported again?)

“Thank you friend!!” Waving the lamia goodbye Pinkie then turned to Giyuu. “What a nice person” The complicated expression on his face told her he wasn’t exactly of the same opinion.

Debating whether to speak or not the Hashira ended up keeping his words to himself but the thought remained. (…That was not a demon…) It may have looked like one but the instinct trained to feel them before they attack didn’t tell him anything.

And she had walked under the sun as well. (I need to go back) With that idea he shook the woman of his thoughts trying to focus on what he should be doing.

But how could he begin to find that? There was nothing he could realistically do.

All the while his partner looked completely at ease with their kidnapping.

(What a fun adventure!)

—END—

--Mystic—

Chapter Text

—START—

-Blue Team-

The events would be beginning in just an hour, both him and Brunhilde had received the information through the armbands at the ten hour mark of the second day.

Not knowing what they would be facing Peter wanted to prepare himself for what was coming. “I’m going down to the city!” That’s why as soon as he finished eating breakfast he was quick to move out.

He was lacking web fluid after stupidly using what he had left last night to stop a mugging in their city.

Said city was an Underground city, one that resided in the bottom of the tower they lived in, although they only owned the top room where everything was located according to the guard.

It was originally a technological enterprise of this world that created an advanced city that ‘took’ itself underground to further their research of everything uninterrupted by the rest of the people living in the planet.

The tower became the only entry point in and was also known as a ruined place for the rest of Paradox’s inhabitants.

(Surely there will be a way for me to buy a small chemistry set) They had been given some money by said guard before being informed of their responsibilities as guardians of the tower.(What do I wear though?)

He could go in his civilian persona or as Spider-man, he had no choice when telling Brunhilde since she’d seen his name in the screens and they would be living together but he wasn’t sure he wanted the people down there to know. (Yeah, I’ll go as Peter)

Despite being told their role nothing happened after, something about being informed when needed. “Wait, I agreed to help you with your trouble have I not?” Peter was taken out of his musings when Brunhilde approached, her clothes were the same as yesterday’s.

“Ah, right” Both of them had agreed not to go apart too much when they were the only thing they could trust, after their talk the teen found himself liking the Valkyrie’s attitude and way of thinking, at least what he saw of it.

Due to that he wanted to have said trust…but Mysterio had ruined any kind of easy confidence Peter might have on people. “We’re ready to go then!” Still their lives were tied here so it’s not like it was much of a choice.

Walking out lead them to a high balcony in the top of the tower, on the other side there was a window from where they could see the plains, lakes and forests nearby.

If one were to look closer to the entrance they would see riddled all around fallen or broken structures covered in moss or just dirty.

It was all an appearance to make this place seem like it had been abandoned long ago, like ruins.

“Man, I miss home” Only a day had passed, no it hadn’t even been twenty four ours, but Spider-man still felt homesick in some manner.

Swinging through the city, Ned, MJ, and Aunt May…maybe not school at the moment with his whole identity reveal.

There was the creaking of a trap door behind him. “Hasten your pace, we don’t have much time” Whatever the person who brought them here was going to do would happen soon. “And please do be careful on your way down”

That last comment held some mockery in it, he hadn’t grabbed the ladder on his first trip down because the lighting had hidden it so he ended up falling halfway down before he made contact with a wall.

Brunhilde laughed at him for some time after that. “Coming, coming” Using the ladder took a full minute just to go up, less if you were coming down.

Peter didn’t need to use it however and he was quickly down and ready, waiting for his teammate. (I was sure I saw some stores that sold what I need, let’s hope I can remember where they were)

The way down towards the city, unlike their current living arrangements, was a portal system not unlike Doctor Strange’s that was hidden behind a wall.

Pushing the correct rock led them to a portal that connected them to the in-between. “Space bent through technological advances rather than magic or divine power, it still is surprising” Brunhilde had put his thoughts into words with that.

“I know, what I would give to take those apart” Without his crafter or any other tools it would be hard to achieve much and he the time wouldn’t allow for much right now, but Peter was determined to get his hands on something.

Entering towards the hub they were met with many kinds of people coming and going towards the different sections of the city, whether it’s the residential areas, the shopping districts or their workplace.

All parts of The Tunnels were connected by this central place with a singular building in the middle, a building of importance as it was the general management building of it all.

Out of nowhere Peter’s hairs began to stand for a moment, everything becoming blurry around him as his own head screamed to do something.

“!!!”

With Supernatural speed his arm shot up and grabbed what had come their way.

It came fast and hard, not something that was simply dropping from above.

He had ended up stopping  a pipe from hitting them having fallen from above, a sharpened pipe. “Impressive reflexes” The compliment from his side was appreciated but what the teen wanted to know right now was the origin of this thing.

It was dark above them, the ceiling of the cave spanned way higher than necessary.

“Is there just pipes raining here?” Nobody else seemed to notice it or saw nothing happened and kept going with their day. (They aren’t treating our arrival here as something strange either) As if they knew who they were.

His spider sense flared up again, this time harder than before yet it stopped without anything happening. “Again…something IS going on” Had they triggered him on purpose? Or did whatever they were going to do fail?

The Valkyrie hummed. “It is too dark to see what is higher up” If it was some sort of construction material someone would eventually come looking for it, but there was the possibility it’s completely intentional.

“Do you think I should look into it?” Climbing the walls he’d be able to find out what was going on there.

After a moment of meditation Brunhilde shook her head. “No, we should be avoiding acting out” Gesturing to his partner they both began walking once more. “If there is something more about this they will try again” And it would be then when they could catch them.

“For now we focus on the event to come, should we not?” Parker reluctantly agreed, if the ones up there were to be actually going for someone he wanted to stop them, but nothing had happened afterwards. (Looking out for others)

Her eyes stayed with the slouching figure of Peter for a moment, the kid was clearly someone with a desire to help she could tell from the storied he’d shared of his own world.

Someone who chose to sacrifice nothing and tried to save everything. (Let us hope such kindness isn’t stomped on) Much how she had done so with Heracles and his ideals.

Or many of her sisters for that matter.

“okay, we can see it later”. Still Peter listened to her and resigned himself and walked towards the portal directed at the shopping district, not confident if his choice would be correct.

Nodding to him she began to walk through the portal hoping she could return home in time to see the end of Ragnarök and his liberation.

-Black Team-

Ed Rothtaylor felt the nerves creeping up on him. “Do we have everything?” Finding himself sheathing a dagger he’d bought on the local blacksmith while he waited for his teammate to finish with his strange invention was keeping him on edge.

Having gotten so used to foreknowledge on how matter would happen in the world he was had affected him and brought him more stress for something like this..

“Sadly there isn’t enough time for me to finish the Gigai~” The blonde noble was really not sure if he liked who he ended up teamed with or not, Kisuke was both the shadiest man ever but also had shown to be an incredibly smart individual. “But we shouldn’t worry too much, these are friendship games, remember?”

Friendship games, sure if anyone believed that they would be caught off guard when Mystic did whatever they wanted with them, there was no trust to give them.

The same could be said for his partner, all he knew was that the Shinigami was dangerous while he painted himself as some sort of harmless shopkeeper. “It’s not wrong to be prepared” Hat and clogs hadn’t told him what the Gigai was at all nor what it did either and that just drowned any sort of confidence he might have on the spirit.

Both kept the other as far away as possible.

“I could have made you something better” The glare thrown his way was ignored masterfully, it was refreshing to deal with someone sharper than Kurosaki for a change, at least Kisuke saw it that way. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m not lying”

Ed avoided taking anything he said as neither true of false, for every correct thing there would be a hidden nuance with this man. “But it would have cost me from my share of the money and maybe even a construction fee, right?”

“Well~ I’m a business man what can I say” The counter on the tv went down to five, watching it made both of them realize that it was finally coming, the true ‘trials’ were coming and they’d have to participate. “What do you think they’ll want us to do?”

It was a doubt they hadn’t addressed yet, the meaning of the trials and the objective behind it all. “…” Neither shared their hypothesis up until now mostly out of fear of the other being with the host.

Kisuke would have been more inclined to do so if Ed wasn’t as closed off from him as possible, it made his suspicious mind run even though he was intellectually sure the kid had nothing to do with this and his actions were mostly paranoic.

(Compared to Aizen…nobody here seems that good of a liar) Yet even still he held everything close to his chest. “I suppose there’s nothing to do but wait for it then” It was disappointing that he didn’t get an answer.

“I’m more concerned about why us specifically” Yet the idea posed by him was just as interesting. “These teams, they clearly weren’t random” It could be sure, but such a coincidence when Kisuke and himself had this weird similarity that was evident when they interacted. “I can’t say for the others but…us being together was intentional”

The people selected from each world were carefully picked, that’s what he was telling him he believed. “I have noticed, so you want to know why us? Why you?”

What do they know about then that would make them their primary choice for this.

It would be a nice thing to know. “No idea” But sadly it was not something he had the privilege of understanding either. “I’d wager there is a connection just not what is seen firsthand” Another tic on the TV marked their time once again, Kisuke rising from his feet when it happened. “Let’s ensure we get some of those tokens however, the store may have out ticket out of here”

“But nothing concrete?” The Shinigami had been the one to see through it while Ed had explored the city they were now in with a new job as mechanics of all things so the student didn’t know what there was there.

Shaking his head Kisuke’s expression darkened slightly. “No” But the Hogyoku was an available option, thinking on it made him sick. “There was a pretty sword made of gems that was said to pull power from alternate world, so it is not impossible” Hearing Ed choking on air at that description was music to his ears.

Even such a mature brat could be caught of guard. “So we ensure victory” It also seemed to lit some fire under him. (Surviving scenarios is something I can do, I have been doing, for some time now and I won’t begin to fail here) And if they end up getting out of here through their means then maybe they could take some of the things from here.

Avoiding Sylvania’s bad endings could be much more doable with more absurd artifacts from other worlds.

“That we do” Finally the last minute was down and in turn a second countdown had begun. “Would you look at that~ It’s time” From all happy go lucky Kisuke actually acted serious for once.

Even he was not comfortable with their host’s presence and what they could do with them, so he was going in focused for any trap or trick.

Ed wasn’t that worried over the host but rather what they would have them do.

That creature, because he refused to believe a human could have enough power to breach multiversal travel, had their lives on a string hanging and could do whatever they wanted so worrying over it was pointless.

The challenge however, that was supposed to be won by someone.

Seeing the screen he muttered to himself. “Five” The count went down at the same pace it had.

Until number one was reached and they were taken by the now familiar light.

…

It took a moment to adapt to the light around them as they were taken, a sound piercing through it all.

“My friends welcome to the first game of the Trials of Unity!”  Everyone was here in the platform where they stood but a day ago. “As you can see today everyone will be participating!!” Mystic spun on herself as if showing everyone off to a public. “Please welcome out participants!!”

Sixteen lights erupted while grouped in pairs, each of those with the color that represented them.

Everyone was here.

Robin glanced at his own arm muttering to himself. “It was this thing that brought me” In trying to find out more on the power behind the game he wanted to see if the band had anything to do with it.

“Here we are again, did you have fun watching us?” Emiya went directly to the main culprit with a hollow tone, he lost nor gained nothing from this thing not even time.

Beside him Agent four shifted uncomfortable at the stares in their direction.

“Now, now, no need to be so rude, I’ve felt the animosity for me” And it was more than they expected, of course it wasn’t as if the idea of them accepting this as was realistic. “I do believe there are some things I should…enlighten you on before continuing to ease tensions, so go on ahead and ask your heart out”

A young voice was the first to rise above all other and confront the host. “You are allowing us to ask questions now?” Robin felt he was being toyed with and if he wasn’t being careful he would have tried to subdue this person by now.

Confirming his words she added. “I might not answer some things of course” With that they were given free rein to ask away.

“Then who is responsible for all of this?” Cutting trough everyone’s first question and with a demanding voice Brunhilde made hers first. “Who is behind the trials?”

“Me” The answer was simple, Mystic was the only responsible for all of this. “I apologize if you expected some secret backer or mastermind in the dark but it is all me” It was a good thing to get that out of the way now.

“Why then?/Why all of this?” And with the culprit in front of them what other thing could they ask so much so that Ed and Akari talked over one another.

“Why? That’s a complex thing to answer…I suppose because I can won’t be satisfactory to you all” Capacity was indeed one of the reasons the other one was just as shallow as well. “I wanted too, that’s it”

The answer didn’t make anyone happy, displeasure came in many levels but nobody had a good opinion on her reason, to be ripped from their lives for nothing more than a desire.

It was beyond infuriating.

Calming himself the Rothtaylor focused his thoughts. (This might be the only chance I get to ask this) Ed thought back to his conversation with Kisuke earlier, even if he ended up asking something else his major doubt was still the same.

“When will we go home?” Yet a timid voice stopped everyone, Haru’s priorities were different than everyone else as well as her impression of Mystic, there was not anger as much as there was worry for the future.

Many of the nuances of this all escaped her. “I…have a race soon” That was her priority, her third maiden race that she was pumped for and had trained hard for.

This unexpected trip would ruin that if it went for longer than two weeks.

“Don’t worry, similar concerns have been raised by…observers from the world of many of you” Of course there was never the intention to harm any of these people, disrupting them from their timelines would be doing that. “You will be returned to the second after you were taken, of course keeping what you might have earned here”

Not physical objects though, but that wasn’t what they asked. “Sigh your relief away everyone, I mean it when I say nothing bad will happen to you”

The truth behind her words was felt, not like being thrown a ‘trust me’ and being left like that, it was like the world was validating the meaning of what she said.

Even the most skeptics had a hard time taking it as a lie. (Did she do something to her words?...No, but then this thing has no point) Emiya had already heard the reason, this was just because they could, even if all of them could gain something from this or not the host wouldn’t care.

“Ah, ok!” The answer was more than enough for Haru, her eyes regained a lot of cheer with it alone and in turn she became excited for the challenge.

“Why are the teams like this?” Tired of the interruptions Ed got his chance. (Everyone is still somewhat weirded out by the feeling from earlier) Which gave him the perfect chance to ask.

“Oh, see that’s an interesting question” Mystic’s grin grew twice the size after speaking. “There IS a reason for the teams forming, to the point it can be summed up to one word for each team” There needed to exist some resonance between the individuals or there was no point in putting them together, that’s why the selection wasn’t random. “Sadly that information is crucial for a later trial and so it won’t be disclosed now”

They ended up refusing to answer beyond confirmation that it was a thing.

“I do believe we’ve wasted enough time and hearing me Yap is not what people want to do so let’s move on to the stage of our first Trial!!” She clapped once and suddenly the area became empty. “The only rule here is…find the exit!!...I mean there are more rules but those are for you to figure out and accumulate points…”

There was not a single soul in sight at the peak.

-Pregame-

Fei felt the shift, the blue sky wasn’t for them to see anymore and in turn for brick walls had them completely surrounded, all but a singular door that was behind him.

There was no fanfare in their transportation here, not even a lightshow, analyzing the room didn’t give him anything else to find other than his partner.

“Ewrg” Kneeling on the floor was Haru having taken the force teletransportation worse than him. “I never want to do that again” Then she began to shake herself and slowly recuperating.

“Are you alright?” Lowering himself to her level he began to use his palm to circle her back. “Being moved like that can be uncomfortable” Helping her let her recover faster.

“Th-Thank you” Her eyes, which only now Fei had seen up close and were extremely unique, went to him and then towards the rest of the little room. “Fei-san, where are we?”

“I have no idea” But it was obvious what the host wanted them to do, their instructions did at least. “That is the only way out”

A smile suddenly appeared in the girl’s face, the energy she had lost in the transfer back to full as she demonstrated it with a sprint towards the door. “Then let’s go!! We have to win!”

Her enthusiasm was contagious and the information they were given beforehand was also soothing for their worries as well, so Fei could face this challenge matching Urara’s spirit. “Let’s win then!”

The door lead towards one big room, it’s structure was rectangular and was layered with another four doors in front of them all lined up and closed. (Doors? What do we have to do?)

While the football player pondered the horse girl ran. “Hummm…that one” Haru sprinted forward, choosing the third passage from the right seeing as though Fei wasn’t doing anything. “This has to be the exit”

She couldn’t be stopped in time, any kind of caution Fei may have had didn’t matter and the door was opened. “Haru?! Geez girl slow down” She had boundless energy that was for sure.

“Uh, Fei? I don’t think this is the exit” Approaching her the boy saw what lay beyond the door, it was a long corridor that didn’t allow them to see the end.

Was there something at the end there? Should they try? “Maybe we check the others?” With a nod they agreed on seeing where every door took them, Haru would look at the remaining one of the left while her teammate would check the other two.

The first one Fei tried simply led to another dark corridor, this one’s length being shorter than the previous one but with one turn at the end that was barely noticeable. (Each door is a path then?)

“This one isn’t opening?” Across from him he heard Haru, her normal volume was loud enough to reach him even from there, and what she said was strange.

(Will this one?) To see if he was right he went on to the last door and attempted to open it, leading down another long hallway. (So…it’s not the extremes that are locked?)

Footsteps approached him. “I couldn’t open the last one” Haru didn’t think much on it, just a door they couldn’t access and if he was honest Fei didn’t either.

All he wanted to know is why that one door specifically was locked.

“Ejem~ this is a test of our announcement system” Sounds originated from nowhere and reached their ears, the voice was that of Mystic as she used the same cheery tone that they had associated with her. “Seeing as though some of you are not advancing, most of you aren’t actually, I will tell you this is a labyrinth and each door is where you want to begin”

“What you have to do is reach the exit! Good luck!” The sound cut off and they were abandoned once more to their own whims.

—END—

--Mystic—

Chapter Text

—START—

-Game 1-

The path through one of the doors had locked them on the other side.

“There’s bars at the end” Entering locked you in the little visible space from the outside. “Either we’ve been played or we are supposed to be waiting for something”

Trying to use magic on said bars proved them to be too strong for him to break, although he had given up after the first attempt, cautious of running out of mana.

His second suggestion was most likely the case for the why. “Maybe everyone needs to go through a door, it’s only fair we all begin at the same time” Despite how jovial he acted Ed knew his partner was as unsettled as him.

“We had a simultaneous start when arriving” Everyone had been teleported towards this location at once, this couldn’t be to stop a head start. “Sorting maybe? Or a choice of passage?”

“Aren’t you a smart one Ed” Despite the condescending voice Kisuke acknowledged the idea and was confident it might be the reasoning. “That would mean we’re waiting for-”

The door swung open a black void on the other side rather than the other room, from there came a different team.

“-Others to come through” The two children, girls, looked at them in silence for a second much like they were doing, his assumption had been based on the number of doors present.

“Well hello there! I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting” His smile was back on his face in an instant, a façade of closeness. “I’m Urahara Kisuke a humble merchant”

“…” Akari stared at him, blinking repeatedly in his direction, then to Ed and back to him. “What a de ja vu” Muttered the trainer to herself.

“A merchant? You look like a vagabond with those clothes?” The other girl, Susie spoke with confident, an axe in her hands that seemed to be itching to get some use.

“ptff/heh” Both Akari and Ed found the comment rather humorous, unlike the target of said words who’s face dropped.

The other men threw his own comment. “Wasn’t it a shopkeeper?” Added the noble with the same amusement in his words.

The Shinigami answered in kind. “Adapting to the situation is key, and I have no shop here” With his eyes he gestured towards Ed, telling him to introduce himself.

(So we’re going with friendly then?) Without giving a hint of noticing he looked at the two. “I’m Ed Rothtaylor, it is a pleasure to meet you both” His tone was much more respectful a hand propped and ready for shaking.

One that was taken aggressively and gripped hard, so much it hurt. “Sure, nice meeting you the name’s Susie” She looked ready to chomp on his head any moment but holding back something.

And she was. (Think of the Ralsei friendship shit!) Which ended up being something told by one of her few friends.

With a more polite attitude came the human. “Hello, I’m Akari” She introduced herself as well, keeping her distance but with a smile.

All of them could more or less remember the names shown the first day, but only now they were given faces.

-RTRTRT-

A lout chain like noise echoed, the bars lifting pulled everyone’s attention out of their presentations, instead moving to the dark corridor that now had a continuation.

With his mouth already opened Kisuke spoke. “Looks like this was what we were waiting for” A different group was necessary to continue, but why would that be?

“The path was blocked until we arrived?” They had seen it open before their eyes and both blondes had looked as if waiting for something. “Why?”

“Maybe we are supposed to be working together?” Offered Ed, diplomatic and calm, trusting his judgement at this ‘friendship’ game. “It is-” He never got to finish that explanation.

“Nah, you’re really dumb if you think that” Lots of sharp teeth were shown when Susie gave a very big smile. “It’s a competition” Grabbing Akari’s hand she bolted out of there at an impressive speed, dragging the other teen. “Later losers”

“Wait!!” It was too late for the girl to say anything.

They disappeared from view in a moment, lost to the impending darkness of the labyrinth. “Lovely girls those two, maybe you can get a girlfriend here!” Joked the older teammate.

“Can I get the serious Kisuke or am I going to have to stand you like this?” Answered the other back annoyed at his comments. “Because I’d like some competency when handling an unknown”

“Silly Ed, I’m super-duper serious right now” Despite the sardonic smile he was being honest with that statement, he was not feigning cheer but wearing it as a mask. “And what we should be doing is chasing after those two lasses”

There was no need to ask why, they were together in the same situation and together in the labyrinth most likely meaning they’d have to work together for something.

The laughter of the dinosaur girl was still reaching their ears by this point so they couldn’t have gone too far. (This will be a good opportunity to see what Ed can do)

Both of the men soon began to run after the other team, the pace was something that could be considered slightly superhuman yet not all that impressive for the observer beside him.

(Not all too fast, there is no energy coursing through him) Being able to enhance himself was unlikely then, or he didn’t think it was necessary. (His body is well constructed though to keep up like this) Kisuke might be using anything close to his top speed, but it was still above human parameters.

And that was telling of Ed’s body strength as a baseline. (Maybe humans have a different bottom and top in his world) That could reveal some interesting details about physiology that he wasn’t aware off before. (Oh, look at me thinking like Mayuri)

Eventually they began to encounter diverging paths, one route split in two, two into four and by the time they were no longer hearing the crackling of Susie they were too deep into the maze.

Still, they marched on but with a changed strategy. “It will be best if we begin as early as possible” Even if the walls were to be too tough to break Ed had tried scraping at them with success.

Thus he drew his new blade to draw an X on each split they took, always moving right first and returning on all dead ends, that way they knew what path to take. (Reasonable and good with problem solving) For a teen, or young adult Kisuke wasn’t sure, the mental capacity of Ed looked incredibly mature.

By allowing him to lead the way the Shinigami had learnt more and more on his teammate character.

Traps began to reveal themselves as they moved, all were futile in the face of caution and intelligence. (These traps are…really obvious, only a meathead would trigger these)

The walking continued for half an hour, traversing through the dim lighted halls made of stone with their senses in alert.

Until something changed. “Huh? The floor is different here” The color was white, no longer made of rocks places randomly but a pure white that had no imperfections. “Did we reach the end or just the next part?”

“There is only one way to know” By adventuring for that path they entered a long straightaway as the walls became wider and wider by their sides until it became a room.

In front of them laid a mural a line dividing it in the middle.

Cave painting like drawings spread all over the wall itself, one side depicted twenty two stick figures running eleven per side with a sphere wearing a halo in the middle.

In the other were more sick figures, however this time there were only nine of them and they had tails, all running all in the same direction with the visage of three faces looking from above at them.

“Do…do we know what any of this mean?” Ed could more or less tell the first one was a football match but the other one eluded him completely.

“No” And Kisuke wasn’t fond of things he did not know. “Maybe this has something to do not with us but some other team” It was then when the older man noted an inscription on the bottom of it all.

“For talent Is a two faced coin? Shall you decide who holds the most and who holds the least?” Having read it out loud the confusion it provoked was increased. “How intriguing”

“Holds the most and least? It may be asking who the most talented of the two is” Maybe they had approached the preparation for this wrong, these were challenges for ‘friendship’ and rather than finding threats.

They might find uncomfortable truths. (Maybe not now, but in the future) With that idea Ed spoke directly to the mural. “I’m the least talented and Kisuke is the most talented of the two”

A gamble to reveal what might be the trial in itself.

Correct

The rocks of the mural shifted and recreated the word for them to see, a passage opening behind the mural. “Oh? That’s what it is then” Urahara caught up to the noble’s thoughts a rather interesting approach.

Soon enough another sound got their attention, a small ball of white light manifested and entered both of their armbands. “Great, more unknowns”

“Maybe it’s just to signal our success?”  There was no confidence in those words yet it did not feel entirely false. “I think we’re making progress at the very least”

And they were, for the first zone of the maze was opened for both teams to traverse and opening the whole of the structure.

The first thing both of them saw before them was a larger room than anything they had seen up until now, four pedestals and a locked door. (Great, another one)

When checking what each had something different.

In one of them was a piece of paper, statistics of players written in it.

The second one had something similar, instead of players however there were horses on it.

The other two were slightly stranger, a very small football field, small players all over it, was the first of the two while the other had tiny horses waiting on them on a race track.

In the latter two an inscription laid, a message for them. “For those who find this, given to you were the opportunity to predict the future of those activities before you” Began to read Ed out loud. “Make your bet as indicated in the latest sheet and wait, whether it’s right or not you will be allowed to leave”

“What correct answers might bring, we speak not of that” And that was it, for them it was the most random challenge that they could have put on them.

The sheets however brought them closer to the answer as two names stood out amongst them all.

Everything was information, to know the others as they get to know their partner in the first phase of the labyrinth.

For that was the first game’s purpose as strange as it was.

---

Flames began to burst from the wall in front of them, it was the third of these kind of traps that they had encountered along their exploration.

“Hydro Pulse” A water sphere collided against them creating a blast that completely killed the flames. “Thanks Bass” Akari pet the ghost fish thankful for their help.

Ever since separating themselves from both Ed and Kisuke, under Susie’s desire, the two teens had been wandering without much success across the labyrinth. “Could you keep looking forward?” The Basculegion nodded once and phased through the walls much like Zoroak had done so some time ago.

Despite the resistance of the walls they didn’t stop specters from coming and going.

It was them who had been guiding them along.

“Why did it have to be a maze, those are boring” Once she understood where they were and what they had to do the reptile girl had begun to sulk, calling this place boring and stupid continuously.

She wasn’t being very helpful. (I wished we could have gotten that help from those two, If Urahara was as similar to Volo in appearance as in resourcefulness then he would have been a lifesaver) At the very least he would be better conversation than her partner.

Ed also seemed to have a calm approach so he might have also been good to travel with.

Of course keeping a certain distance with them, Susie could still be right with this being a competition and they could have back stab them if it came to it.

“Chin up, we might find another one of those boulder traps” It had been surprising to see the axe in action for one, an attack she had called ‘booster-something’ had split said rock in two before it could touch them.

It had gotten her excited. “Yeah! You’re right I can just entertain myself with traps while you do the boring problem solving” It was her favorite strategy when she adventured through the dark world, she hits and the other two do the puzzles.

From then on Susie took the front while hearing Akari’s instructions on where to head.

Another boulder was thrown to them and ended up much like the first one, split into two.

A spike trap ended up split in two by a swing of the axe creating some safe landing for the falling teen where the water ghost Pokemon had carried them out of it later.

“HA HA HA” Arrows were shot at them but not a single one of them would reach them as they were cut down from the sky or blocked by an axe. “Keep trying stupid maze, I’m going to beat you”

(At least she’s not complaining anymore) While the behavior was worrying the trainer had bigger things to think about with proof that traps wouldn’t be a problem. (Why were there two teams in one starting point)

Susie suggested competition while Ed had proposed cooperation. (I’d be happy to have some help with figuring this out) For all she was great at puzzle solving mazes done from ground view were not that.

At least not when you had no knowledge on strategies to do so, leaving her to either ask her Pokemon for help, what she did, or leave it to luck.

Which in both cases just made it tedious. (But what good could have teamwork done on a labyrinth) Another instance of not knowing what to do.

“Uh, Akari?” Her thoughts were interrupted by her partner, who had stopped moving a few meters from her. “I think I found something” From their position there were two different paths to take, one that was red while the other held the same appearance as the one they were standing on.

The chosen of Arceus looked at the decision in front of them, while they were following Basculegion they had stumbled upon this. “Do we risk going towards the red?” She was talking to herself, Susie had let her choose he path up until now out of boredom of this place so she knew it was her who’d have to say where to go.

Her Pokemon weren’t exactly helpful from here, apparently they couldn’t cross over to the red as if completely off limits yet Akari could stand on it with their Pokeballs on hand.

“So?” Slowly she was drying the short well that was patience for the reptile teen, her frown becoming more apparent with each passing moment.

“Lead the way” If they couldn’t scout it then there was little reason to risk going there right now, but as a precaution she instructed her Zoroark to stand guard there.

Just in case she was making a bad decision.

---

“Then I spent all afternoon training!” A high pitched voice echoed through the walls of the maze, despite the gloom environment the girl seemed to be in high spirits.

Soon after entering one of the doors both Haru and Fei had found themselves with another team already waiting for them, a really tall man and a girl who’s hair was made of tentacles.

Haru basically jumped the man as soon as she saw him, Fei had recognized him as the guy who she was with when they first arrived.

The group spent some time debating what to do, the path previously blocked had opened and now they were all walking together.

Emiya had taken the front while Four, which he doesn’t know why she calls herself that, protected the back each seemed to have experience in traversing narrow spaces and fighting in them. “Oh and the workers were so nice”

His teammate was currently talking Emiya’s ears off, telling him all about the place where they had been placed while walking right behind him with a smile completely oblivious to the formation both of them had taken.

Said man didn’t look bothered, keeping his attention ahead while sometime looking back unto the girl and dropping one or two words. “Ain’t she a sweet kid”  The football player turned around to look at Four, standing closer to him than before. “Even that guy is just accepting her talking”

From Four’s perspective Emiya was a very pragmatic and goal oriented individual, no fanfare nor distractions when carrying out a task, that’s what she saw in him their first day together. (Maybe I haven’t approached him the right way) With her own paranoia making her avoid him she knew why they haven’t really talked much.

“Haru has a lot of spirit and she is really nice” And persistent, she ran for hours despite looking like she would almost fall over after some time and had slowed significantly. “I don’t think he has the heart to tell her to stop”

“Emiya’s a polite ass, he wouldn’t do it without a reason” Key word being reason because Four had spent a day with the guy and he had already critiqued her way of cleaning dished, making her bed, eating habits and other mundane things.

It was also the most passive aggressive thing ever and she thinks not even Marie could be this picky about things.

“Emiya has a really good hearing and has now a reason to be an ass” Her body froze for a second and Fei had to make a double take when those words reached them.

“eh? What did you say Archer?” Little innocent Haru did not process what had happened and kept on her way as they made a right turn.

“Nothing you need to worry about” The bastard even smiled at her when his face had not changed from neutral this entire time. “And Four please don’t go spreading false information”

The agent’s eye twitched with his words but said nothing about it, honestly it felt like they were bonding despite not having learnt anything personal on the servant.

And he had gotten some truths out of her.

-CLANG-

Two metal objects collided, a straight guillotine like blade falling from the ceiling incredibly fast had been intercepted at the last moment by someone. “That was close” With a black blade on his hand Archer stopped the trap from touching anyone. (Joke about friendship all you want, this could have killed anyo- huh?)

Seeing the blade gave the Heroic Spirit all information on it, It was a construct willed into existence from nothing meant for this place.

It was sharp and made of steel, but the most interesting thing about it was it’s ‘elimination’ trait. (All damage will become false until deemed lethal, if it reaches such a state the target shall be expulsed from the labyrinth) No trap in this place was meant to hurt. (It means the challenge can be failed)

“Archer!! Are you alright?!” Someone tugged at his mantle, worried pink eyes looked at him with such light that it almost hurt to see them.

“Yeah, stopping something like that” The guillotine had come fast the moment it had triggered Four had barely got time to react when she heard it coming.

Not that it had gone for her but she still should have been able to perceive it. “You’re really strong”

“I am unharmed” He had stopped the trap before it could reach anyone, even himself, Emiya saw no reason for the worries. (looking at it the blade couldn’t wound me even if it hit me) It was of common making despite being a construct, the mantle and armor he wore would have stopped it.

“This just shows how much more dangerous this to our initial assessment” Archer would be keeping what he saw for now, thinking it’s a real danger would keep the others on their feet and would stop them from knowing more on his abilities.

None of them seemed to question where the sword had come from and if they didn’t ask then he would not explain.

“Yeah, it’s better if you guys stick closer to the both of us now” Four agreed, the other team were basically kids and defenseless in her eyes, it was a good thing they decided to stick together rather than split up.

It didn’t change much how they were going, the Inkling and Fei stuck together while Haru stood with Emiya like a little shadow following him.

Eventually they did encounter more traps of different kinds, either falling from above or from bellow.

It wasn’t too hard to avoid the threats and the group continued on their journey together, with the three youngest talking amongst each other while the red mantled hero watched.

Until a certain question was asked. “Archer…why do you call yourself that?” He wasn’t sure how the conversation had reached this point, the kid had said so many things up until now that he was simply letting her talk.

But this wasn’t a question he liked to hear. “It’s nothing important” Thus he deflected it hoping it wouldn’t be followed.

“eh? But it’s your name” The Uma said it as if it was that important, and sure Emiya knew what kind of power names would have, but he didn’t think Haru did.

“My name is irrelevant” His tone was final.

“But….but” For an Uma their names was the legacy they would leave behind, the star that would make them shine even when they could not race anymore.

Symboli Rudolf, Mr CB, Maruzensky, were all names that echoed in her world despite not partaking in the Twinkle Series anymore.

So to leave their name aside, as the hologram at the beginning had shown, it was a doubt that Haru Urara couldn’t leave alone.

“…” Her saddened expression came so out of nowhere that for once Emiya had no immediate response, he could ignore it, not care her mood and it wouldn’t be entirely out of character for him to do so. “It’s my class, a title meant to hide my true identity for my name would spell my weakness” But instead chose to give the standard reason for calling servants by the moniker so he used it.

“But it doesn’t mean anything for us, you let me call you Emiya” Agent Four also chimed in, curious as well. “What’s wrong with Shirou?” From the beginning she had wondered something similar but said nothing because she was in a similar boat.

Hearing the name really irked him way too much.

Fei, seeing how the man’s expression was eerily neutral tried to stop them. “Guys I don’t think it’s our place to ask that” His smile was strained, he trusted Emiya wouldn’t do anything rash but not if they pushed his buttons.

This was clearly a big red one.

“Don’t worry Tohsaka, I will try my best”

The Heroic spirit sighed, allowing the anger to fade, he knew better than to explode toward kids because of a name.

“You are right, my name wouldn’t mean anything” He was not a remembered spirit but a Counter Guardian, there was no need for a legend. “I hate that name, because who I was and I am now too different”

Talking about this was commonly a no go for him, a topic he’d stray from whenever he had the chance. “The me now wants nothing to do with the past me and thus I left Shirou behind” But these were kids, young people whose only doubt was why not use his name.

No ideals were disputed, no argument for the meaning of pride in battle.

Just the name.

“Don’t worry Tohsaka, I will try my best”

And damn it that promise meant trying to leave even this grudge to rest for once.

“Emiya is the name I got from my father who, despite it all, I am grateful for” No matter if his words had sent him to hell itself, the man was all Emiya truly recognized even after so many faded memories.

Him and her were his only clarity in the existence with Alaya.

“This is why I am either Emiya or Archer” He turned around to look at them. “You are free to call me whatever” Was he being too soft, maybe and Chaldea might have had some fault in that.

But here, where no one from his world could see, he could be not the red archer that was a dick to everyone, but Emiya.

To choose who to be for himself for once. (Hell taught me how to be more human that living as Shirou ever did, so maybe it’s time I use that)

“I like Emiya” And he was right, here there was no expectation for him, Fei’s simple answer was proof. “In turn call me Fei” There wasn’t much he had said but he wasn’t particularly inclined to interrupt this conversation until now.

“I’m Haru Urara, call me Haru!” Everyone started to introduce themselves, Archer imagined it was some sort of symbolism but honestly it was kinda childish.

“I’m Agent Four, and before anyone says anything, Four is my legal name” It was the name she had chosen for herself, that made her someone, so she might have forced Marie’s hand to change it to that. “Nice to…properly meet you partner”

“oh, partner?” His tone slipped into something amused. “That comes with certain expectations you know?” Of course, Emiya would stop being himself just because of a little realization. “like making your bed and shower daily”

“Fuck you!! I bathe everyday” Laughter from the other team almost made her turn red and Emiya’s smile was so infuriating that she might have tried to rip it out of his face.

But it felt comfortable at the same time, like something had clicked for once, maybe their team did have a chance to win this game after all.

In her embarrassment they did not notice until further in that they had stepped into a colored path.

—END—

--Mystic—

Chapter Text

—START—

-Game 1-

Turns out these challenges were pretty weird.

Trying to make sense of this ‘map’ wasn’t going well for them.

First due to not being an actual map but apparently a diagram of the different realms of another participant’s world, the former being told to them by the map while the other was a deduction of Peter, and secondly because they had no idea what laws that universe follows.

Making everything much more confusing.

“Such a configuration is strange…rather than the worlds being layered it’s like they occupy disconnected parallel spaces” It was nothing like the world’s tree configuration even to the point of appearing random.

The Valkyrie had never seen something of this type, no matter how much she had investigated on the workings of her own world, yet the game put on their path a rather intellectual challenge. “It’s kinda like a planetary system with no star and not theoretically located in the same space, how incredible!” To her side the superhero teen was having a much better time than her analyzing the two objectives they were given.

(I was aware of his mental prowess and still I find myself impressed nonetheless) Peter had solved the first of the two problems poised by the black colored room already, which had disappeared the moment he finished it’s assembly.

The dark room called it some sort of magical artifact, Brunhilde had little to know experience dealing with such items yet according to her partner the device followed conventional engineering to simplify its function and which magic was only applied afterwards.

At least that is what he deduced after finishing the repairing and placing it back on the pedestal that it was found and showing it to her.

It would also be rather embarrassing for both of them to admit that they did not notice the inscription on the back wall with words akin to a hint.

All they could figure out was that their approach to the tasks was what needed to change to solve either.

“Maybe it’s not something as physical as the nine realms, different dimensions could be an explanation” Now they were faced with a map of cosmology, one of three central figures with some others superimposed or surrounding them.

Peter believed that since this was a matter on how to approach things then maybe they needed to do something different than with the artifact, whatever not-reverse-engineering things was.

Shaking the thought past the eldest attempted once more to focus on the problem. “Dealing with the matters of space on such a level is outside of my understanding unfortunately”  Still, no amount of thinking would substitute the lack of knowledge.

It was intriguing beyond anything however, how much had the gods missed in the immensity of reality and why were they not aware of such worlds beyond their own when people like Peter had awareness of it.

“I get that, stuff’s pretty confusing at first” It was nothing he could not crack eventually, quantum physics were a hobby for him he got while still in school, supernatural worlds wouldn’t resist him long. “What I’m not sure it’s what exactly do they mean by solving this…it’s a map”

Tracing his fingers over the figures, three big circles almost in a triangular fashion with one larger oval in the middle.

Two of the three ‘planes’ also seemed to have another directly below while another had one above them while only one of those two had one above.

“Hmm, maybe we’re seeing it wrong” They had been at this for a while and making sense of the images before them hadn’t progressed at all. “This center piece could be the connection we’re missing and everything else are the realms”

The woman felt like groaning right then, something avoided as to not ruing her image, feeling as if everything went back to square one. “Who thought this was a good idea, even a trial of combat would have been better”

Violence as the solution, maybe if the people had done something wrong that called for it but Peter didn’t think that had to be the solution. “It would be simpler…but with kids participating that didn’t seem like a good idea” he also didn’t say anything about it however. “Some of those guys look really strong, I doubt it would be easy”

“You should not be that far from them” Witnessing his strength was a splendid sight but not something outrageous for one like her, still having him on good terms was preferable so she complimented him with a smile.

And with a body still developing to lift so much weight counts as something impressive for a human being.

“Aww thanks” He wasn’t so sure, his arachnid sense might not have warned against an attack but it did find it important enough to point out both Archer’s and Urahara’s presence as a danger in itself.

Getting back on track the teen had to rack his brain for an answer. (If we have to approach this differently to the artifact does that meant I need theoretical knowledge compared to the practical one used on that? Or is it a matter of hard science versus magic thingies?) Clearly something was missing from his answer that the room didn’t want to recognize.

(Actually that could be how I need to think about it, the artifact only disappeared when?) It stayed for a while after completion, maybe there was no need for him to fix it at all, rather it’s disappearance happened once he shared what he thought of it. (Ok this could be a possibility)

Looking at the map once more he tried to get any new information he could, Peter was able to theorize a couple more point that could be gotten from what was given with some imagination.

And instead of immediately telling his teammate as he’d been doing the entire time he shut his mouth, deliberately hiding something that could be considered important.

Only with this his idea could be confirmed to be the approach of information handling. (So it really was hiding information…is this Urahara’s or Ed’s approach to things? The black walls most likely tell us whose team it is) A thought for later he could see movement from the corner of his eyes.

“!” The demigoddess had to take a step back when the map she had been trying so hard to understand became nothingness before her eyes similarly to the artifact. “Have we failed in some way?”

“Quite the contrary” Giving his best winning smile Spider-man points towards the now opening in the wall for them to continue forward. “I figured it out”

The small window of surprise in Brunhilde’s face quickly disappeared, replaced by an impressive yet inquisitive gaze. “Impressive, will I be made aware of the answer?”

“Oh, yeah, of course!” The next step of the journey was on.

---

 “I kinda wanted to see what spider boy could do” Hour two had just finished passing by and Stelle couldn’t find this place more boring. “Do you think he could make webs?”

“He is but part spider my friend, I am doubtful of such a thing” Gato twirled his sword around as he walked through the wider halls of the second stage of the labyrinth. “Of course nothing as impressive as me, but that’s just a given” A little game of amassing as many creatures as possible and dodging projectiles as if their lives depended on it had stood in their way to here yet it was cleared with ease.

Stelle cheated with her lance and directed all attacks at her but that wasn’t important.  “Sure dude…hey can I get down already?” Golden eyes moved down to look at the talking cat.

The Trailblazer was now using said weapon as a crutch she continued walking across the walls. “I have to say no, we cannot risk missing treasure up there by letting you down” Earlier by the entrance Stelle had detected a high concentration of Memoria accumulated, interested she convinced Gato to follow.

It was there where she found the wall walking bubbles of Penacony. “And only I can use them I know” Using the remembrance plume she was able to activate it’s properties and that’s how she ended up like that. “Doesn’t make it less trippy” Not that the awesome Trailblazer got motion sick, she just didn’t like it.

(How much of this is there actually left?) The first level had already taken long enough for her to lose all interest in exploring it, with no chest, puzzles and only traps in the way Stelle’s bat felt rather rusty. (I honestly just want something to happen)

As if the Aeons themselves had listened to her plight the grey haired woman heard something.

“It’s open!” The end of their current path, and the next crossroad, began to glow similarly to their own gate out of stage one. “Oh I can tell this is going to be so much fun!! Right Giyuu!”

“…” Two new characters were then presented to Stelle, a boring looking man who can rival with even Dan Heng and s pony so bubbly and full of energy that even March would be left behind.

(…Actually, are we sure this isn’t them from another universe or something like that…?) The familiarity couldn’t just be a coincidence. (Could be~) Mem didn’t give much of an interesting answer.

“Oh, would you look at that” Gato was approaching them already, taking off his hat and bowing dramatically. “I am the Puss in Boots, hero of San Ricardo”

Fast reflexes were not enough to dodge the incoming pink missile that impacted with her teammate. “AHH!!! KITTYY!!” The Trailblazer watched as Puss struggles pointlessly in the arms of the pony.

“How?” The voice did not come from either of the two, the tone was firm and too deep for it to be them, rather it was the Dan Clone who spoke.

He was also looking directly at her. “This is nothing” Clearly someone had never been to Penacony, and also never met the incredible baseballer either, a mistake that needed correction. “I’m the Galactic Baseballer, who might you be?!”

It took a few moments for him to say anything, there was no silence thanks to the strangled cat noises, after which he finally introduced himself with a not very friendly tone. “Tomioka Giyuu” And she got nothing else.

(It’s not just a March turned to eleven but a negative eleven Dan Heng too!!) Her dramatic posing only sent Giyuu farther into not understanding, an all too common feeling since yesterday.

Everything  about the guy told the Trailblazer Tomioka was not exactly doing good in this environment.

(Talking ponies, walking on walls, different worlds…am I not under a Blood Demon Art?) If living alongside Pinkie for a day hadn’t pushed every boundary Giyuu had kept up his entire life and shattered some of his common sense seeing another human being simply ignoring gravity was definitively making him question if he had any remaining sanity.

The talking cat with boots and a sword being lifted by his pony teammate was also strangling his sense of reality.

Even the traps in this place didn’t make sense, Pinkie had been stabbed at least twice trough the legs and nothing serious had happened to her. (Control yourself!) His frustration with the little sense the world made forced him to keep himself in check, making him heated like never before.

He was confused and lost in this situation where a blade could not solve anything as it had for many of the demonic issues of his own home.

It wasn’t as if anything too insane had happened, but it was like a damp, every repressed insanity this place had thrown at his was coming back full force.

“The name’s Stelle” At some point while he was off to his own thoughts the Trailblazer had come down from the wall and standing directly in front of him. “I can hazard a guess that this is your first adventure of this kind” Some people weren’t keen on changes to their environment and it was clearly overwhelming him.

It most likely had the whole time but pink menace didn’t look like someone with enough awareness to notice. “Let it all sink in, then try not to compare too much with your world because you will find out that each world has its own rules” With a hand on his shoulders it was the best she could give him all while presenting her more calmer attitude in hopes to not stir his mind further.

Being a goof and an idiot was nice but Stelle knew to draw a line, planets weren’t saved by comedy after all, getting serious when needed was well within her repertoire. (I’m surprised he hadn’t exploded before)

There was no verbal answer, his expression didn’t appear to change either yet behind his eyes there was a certain weight that had lessened.

Giyuu nodded to her once, then he concentrated once more in his breathing. (Control…resist and march forward, there is nothing else you can do) His eyes opened once more, now finding his little show somewhat pathetic at how he allowed himself to be overwhelmed, now his heart  was unwavering again.

“Well, this was fun and dandy” Muttered the Trailblazer to herself not trying to disturb his moment, turning to look at the…wilder side of this meetup. (Is this going to be the rest of my day? I’m all in for some fun but this seems exaggerated)

“Release me, this cat is not one to be touched” Gato had managed to free one of his paws and attempted to bash the pony in the head and be released. “Let go!!” It was not going his way at all.

The pastel horse seemed completely immune to the, rather weak, strikes as she continued to coddle him. “Aww, but you’re so fluffy!! Can I call you fluffy?!”

Cutesy nicknames were not for the Puss in Boots, unless he gave them to himself to seem more charming, making his disagreement very vocally. “You will not!!” Desperate to get out his eyes finally landed on herself her side, where Tomioka had moved when she wasn’t watching.

(This guy’s too silent) Maybe he was a mix of Dan Heng and Blade then?

“Give a helping hand here partner and release me from this mare’s evil hooves” His eyes bulged anomaly into the mist shinning, pretty and cute eyes she had seen from a cat ever and she almost did go help him.

Then she remembered that he had her walking on the walls for half an hour to which she just smirked with all the pettiness she had.

To her side the man was much more compassionate than her. “Pinkie, release him” The pony that refused to listen perked up immediately at his words and did as he said.

(It’s the first time he calls my name!!) That was a step into friendship in her book alright so she agreed to listen in her happiness. “Okei Dokei!!” Trotting up to him the Pie gave the best smile she had before introducing herself to the yellow team finally. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie and this grumpy pants is my super friend Giyuu!” The presentation came with confetti that exploded at the end.

Giyuu, already having experienced the confetti craze of the mare didn’t pay any mind to her and stood in place while finally taking in the rest of his surroundings.

“Yes, sure well met travelers” With enough time Gato recovered from the cuddling struggle, grabbing his hat from the floor. “Me and my partner have braved this labyrinth for long yet have found nothing, have you seen anything that might hold some value”

“Oh, yeah we were just with another two friends but then we got a yellow colored path that just let a pair come through it, our friends were so kind to let us go even though I was like ‘no we got to stick together’ but we had to check out what was there so we went in and there was this words and a problem that was mostly a puzzle, or well two of them, then we got out of that super hard puzzle and the door opened and we met”

In a singular breath Pinkie told them of their journey nonstop with what didn’t appear to be useful information. “Oh, we also found this and took half of them, because our friends took the other half since sharing is caring” Taking something out of her mane Pinkie proudly displayed a couple of small ring she’d found on a pedestal somewhere along the second floor. “We don’t know what they do!”

They looked like regular rings, some held gems while others were just whatever metal alloy they were. “Oh? So there is treasure in this place!” Common as they might look they were enough for his adventuring drive feel more alive than it had.

Whatever the host of this show wanted out of this was not of his interest. “Thank you for the tip amigos, however this is where we part ways” Now that he knew there was something to gain out of this, and his shadowy hunter was not after him constantly, Gato felt better than he had for quite some time.

The Trailblazer herself could feel slightly more motivated knowing there were things to find here. (Maybe there’s hope for some Stellar Jade here, hell I’d be satisfied with just a chest) Which is why she understood Puss’s desire to split ways.

Pointing towards the diverging path they  near them Gato began to walk. “We shall take this path, you can continue on the other” Stelle watched as the blatant attempt to just leave those two behind happened. “This hero thanks again your contribution”

She didn’t really care if they continued together or not, sure trailblazing as a group was always fun, with the express it was at the very least, but she understood this was some sort of competition, a notion she could tell none of the others were thinking off.

Gato was more interested in both the adventure and then maybe the treasure, meanwhile both Pinkie and Giyuu were just going with the flow of it all.

So, as a competitive player of any game imaginable Stelle would take the separation as to not divide rewards. (It’s not like anything that happens in this place makes sense)

Looking towards the other team their opinions on the matter could not be more obvious, Tomioka didn’t care or just had no opinion on the matter while Pinkie looked as if someone had killed her entire family.

“Why? We can all go together and have fun on the way, like friends!” The sentiment was really nice and the Trailblazer would never say no to making new friends wherever she went.

But as her brain stated before, this is a competition for then, beside. “Hah ha ha good one pink pony but Puss and Boots doesn’t do teams, the one I’m forced upon is more than enough” Turning in her direction he mouthed a no offense to her before looking back. “So once more, it was good meeting you but here’s where our paths diverge”

Disregarding anyone else he signaled to her to follow and made his way where he’d decidedly pointed towards.

It was an awkward two seconds later that Stelle gave her own goodbye when Gato continued on towards who knows where. “Uhh, nice to meet you I suppose and be careful on your way”

Pink team was just left behind choosing not to go after them. ”Well aren’t they nice” Pinkie’s smile didn’t reach the Hashira completely.

Today had been enough for him, all he wanted was to finish this maze.

Thus he began walking in the opposite direction.

---

Turns out having a teen with trust issues and a very capable mind was the worst way to solve a maze.

Amy might have had some hope that her partner would use his incredibly extensive knowledge on getting out of this place faster, allowing her to return to that house and eat a nice meal at lunch.

That had been the case while they were traveling alongside Tomioka and Pinkie.

Lovely people in her opinion, although that Tomioka guy gave really strong Shadow vibes even if less talkative and aggressive, that agreed to go together as this was a ‘friendship test’ as Pinkie had put it.

However once they were forcefully separated by the rules this place put on them it was all over and Robin decided to investigate the last corner of this place.

Or maybe it was something he chose to do back when they found the rings, which were wearing rings not power rings much to her disappointment, that made him want to find out what else this place had.

Good news was, there were more things and they now probably held some sort of advantage in whatever game the host is playing.

Even if they had no idea what half of the stuff did.

Bad news was, they had been here for five hours now.

(I’m ninety nine percent sure everyone else has already found a way out of here) (Isn’t there some time limit or something)

In her left shoulder was a bag with a strange red and white motive that they had found in this place, it was where everything they had was kept.

Something about the thing made it so there is much more space in than it looks, incredibly convenient and a design she swore she’d seen on one of the others, the only problem was that it did not  deal with the weight however, a solution she had.

Herself. “It would seem we’ve reached the last corridor possible” Hearing Robin speak those words gave her a unimaginable hope that the hedgehog felt like singing. “Making way towards the exit is imperative”

“I’m never blindly listening to you again” She muttered to herself, this whole experience had been dull to the point Amy didn’t understand why it was happening to begin with.

Wasn’t this place supposed to be a challenge? Or test or whatever? (This just feels like a bad idea badly executed)

The way towards the last colored path in this maze was soon before them, markings on the walls had been their guide for the majority of the walk so they made sure to keep this signaled correctly.

Red was the color left for them as every other color had been closed shut after a team went in. (All of them were the colors of each team) It had been a theory of Richard when he laid eyes on the first one but to make such a deduction on just that felt like stretching it.

(If only I had my cards, I could have divined this) So many things were easier with her precious tarot cards, it’s what led her to Sonic after all.

“Remain focused, we know nothing of what’s there” For what felt like the tenth time today Robin took the moment she went into her own thoughts to speak.

Yet this time there was a flaw in his words. “We do know, it’s an inscription and two different tasks, Pinkie told us” She could tell there was some eagerness within him to say those lines so she mostly let it slip.

“You are correct, but we know not what those task will be” Quickly he reasoned his words as they reached the end of the path into the chamber.

“For those whose duty bring despair hope can hurt more than anything, in turn there is something in their nature that stops them from ending said duty” Amy read out loud once the mural was in their presence. “What differs is the choice”

“Archer’s demeanor is either empty or sarcastic so he’d hard to read while Agent Four’s is one of a soldier despite the little I’ve seen of her attitude” The sidekick was trying to piece together what duty meant for both people under red team’s banner, it was the word that seemed to matter the most in the mural.

Said piece depicted both a stickman walking alone on a hill layered with swords while the other one was of a stick-squid-person guarding a post in a cabin.

It could not make it more clear whose team this place belonged too.

“This could probably tell us a bit of them” Was that the purpose of this event, maybe. “What do you…?” As it had been for a while her words were doing nothing but falling on deaf ears.

Robin was already checking out one of the two pedestals given to them. (This kid…I’m going to have to teach him to listen) Disappearing mid conversation would only get him problems.

Now was not the time to do that, the pink hedgehog walked towards the other pedestal where a small TV sat and a DVD player did so beside it. “Am I going to have to watch a movie?”

Hitting the on button played the contents immediately, words resounded on the room loud enough to get Richard’s attention as well, yet the more it went on the more disgusted Amy felt.

Two boats carrying three hundred people in total and an impossible choice in it.

Which would you save, one with a hundred people or the one with two hundred, the one not saved would be one you’ll be forced to kill with your own hands as they try to stop you from reaching the other.

Amy stared at the DVD player, two buttons were there telling her to choose, left for the more populated boat and right for the other. “What is the point of this?” It was obvious what this thing was asking of them, the moral dilemma that it posed.

“It isn’t giving us any option, there isn’t any third guess we can do” Robin’s voice was dry, enjoying this little view as much as she did. “It is either reflecting Archer’s mentality or Agent Four’s”

“To save one another must dies” She got that yet faced with it directly in front of her the Moebian couldn’t do anything other than pity them. “Do I?”

“Yes”  Both knew what they would pick, there was sadly nothing two heroes could choose other than saving as many as possible. (I don’t think I’d have the courage to kill anyone though) She pressed the button.

The problem did not end there however as the saved ones would suffer a similar situation where only two hundred of the three fit in the emergency lifeboats.

Forcing you to choose again.

“Again?!” wasn’t it horrible enough already?

“Three hundred die instead of two hundred even though we choose to save as many people as posible” This was a sick joke, one that neither as a titan or as Batman’s sidekick he would ever want to see again. “It’s trying to tell us that is pointless to try to save them”

That it was pointless to be a hero.

“What of the other?” Looking back at the other pedestal she could see that there was nothing there anymore.

“Solved, it was just a question of loyalty in the face of posible abandonment” Of doing a duty even though you seem to be the only one left remembering that such a thing needs to be done and that those standing beside you left.

Or that is all that you know. “I answered with both faith and knowing when enough was enough, nothing as…disturbing as this” Disgusting was a word he’d wanted to use, but he doubts anyone would willingly desire a situation like that one.

“I’m pressing it then” Once again the most were chosen to be saved and the TV dissipated. “…” After a beat of silence between the two Amy asked. “Can we just find the exit? No more exploring?”

“Yeah…yeah, even I don’t feel like doing it after this” The door to the next level opened to them, a maze much similar to the one they just left.

In a manner of ten minutes the last team had left the labyrinth, marking the first game’s end.

---

Within the core of the world Mystic observed the last team reach the finish line. “That took long” Clearly she’d misjudged heavily how this would go and it’s entertainment value. “We got decent character moments but action was basically zero and so was the stakes”

Stakes, that’s something that the challenges needed for the guest to show some more interest in participating and getting closer to one another.

“Not going like you expected?” Entering the control room came in one of her now very impossible to get rid of guests. “Maybe you shouldn’t deal with other’s worlds if you can’t do anything decent”

Luckily for Mystic the Presence seemed more interested on the project more than anything. “Even your participants found it incredibly dull, the second part mostly as it was more of the same” His expression gave away nothing but his tone said it all. “The hidden messages of the others also mostly went over their heads, they were too vague…good thing mine is intelligent enough to figure it out” Amusement.

“The trials are still a bit of an experiment, the power of love and friendship and all it carries is something applicable on most worlds for whatever reason and I plan to find out how” Her hand went towards the screen showing the teams. “Beside three of the others also figured it out”

“But not first” If they didn’t know any better Mystic could say the Presence sounded proud their creation was ahead of all others.  “Beside what do you seek with this experiment?”

“Shouldn’t you know as an omniscient creature?” It was a bit of a jab, both of them were aware of their statue of incarnation of the one truly developing their story, thus making it something that would not be answered.

“I could ask you the same thing again then, why do this? they gave you that same capability of knowledge too did they not?” It did give him that rebuttal chance however as their creator had indeed granted something to that effect, not really omniscience though, to facilitate observation. “Either way, I’m content with observation on this, just make it a good story next time”

“That’s the plan, improving it as it goes” Their eyes went to a certain notebook with everything that had been planned. “This will need an overhaul first though”

“Good luck with that, you will need it” The Presence vanished no longer watching over their shoulder.

They were right however, everything including the trials needed a bit more spice.

—END—

--Mystic—