Chapter 1: The Outrealm Gate

"Location: Ylisse, the Nintendo Realm of the Dream World, June 29th 2169"

Iniabi and Cynthia were with the Shepherds, and they were visiting the Outrealm Gate to the south of Ylisse.

"Oh, hey, guys!" Anna greeted, excited to see the group stopping by.

A Merchant Anna was with the group, as they had picked her up along the way.

"Hey, sis. It's so great to see you again." Merchant Anna greeted.

"It's great to see you too! And I love what you've done with your hair." Gatekeeper Anna said.

"Thanks! Oh, hey, did you..." Merchant Anna started to ask.

Iniabi cleared his throat, causing the two identical sisters to turn their attention to the blue haired Exalt.

"Oh, right. I forgot our leader/tactician and his wife want to talk to you." Merchant Anna said.

She walked off into the group and instantly tried to sell something to Brady, who was standing close by. Iniabi and Cynthia walked up to Outrealm Anna.

"So, what can I do for ya?" Gatekeeper Anna asked.

Iniabi turned to Cynthia.

"That's actually a good question. Why exactly are we here?" Iniabi asked.

"Well, I heard a villager in Ylisstol mention there was a temple located in the Outrealms that harbored some sort of treasure." Cynthia replied.

"What kind of treasure?" Iniabi and Gatekeeper Anna asked in unison.

"I'm not sure. I didn't hear enough details, but I did hear that it's one of a kind." Cynthia replied.

"That doesn't sound interesting. Well then, I'll just open the gate and... uh-oh." Gatekeeper Anna said.

"What's wrong?" Iniabi asked, having a bad feeling of what was coming.

"Something's wrong with the portal. I'm detecting some unusual energy readings. It's powering up!" Gatekeeper Anna replied.

"Oh, gods!" Cynthia said.

Frederick frowned.

"Is there a problem, milady?" Frederick asked.

Gatekeeper Anna kept her attention on Iniabi and Cynthia.

"It's gradually starting to become a powerful vacuum. I suggest you start running right about... now." Gatekeeper Anna replied.

A rising hum, similarly that of a beating heart, began emanating from the Outrealm Gate. Dark blue light began glowing, getting brighter by the second, before forming a white circular light in the shape of a crystalline eye several feet in diameter. Everyone stopped in amazement at the sight before them. In a second, the light created a powerful vacuum in the form of a howling gale, dragging all into it's vortex. The Shepherds and Annas were violently dumped by the gale as sand was blown into their ears, eyes, and mouths. They desperately dug their fingers into the soil, trying to get some sort of grip to prevent them from being dragged into the vortex. All eventually looked in horror as Cynthia lost her grip and was pulled towards the vortex, disappearing as soon as she made contact with it.

"Cynthia!" Noire cried.

Laurent turned to face everyone.

"Everyone, we have to leave now! Go!" Laurent yelled.

Hearing the urgency in the blonde's voice, everyone starting running away from the portal. However, Iniabi's tactician coat became stuck on a large rock that had fallen, due to the vacuum. Merchant Anna stopped running and ran back towards Iniabi so she could help him. Suddenly, the boulder lifted and got sucked into the portal. Iniabi started to get sucked in as well, but was stopped by Merchant Anna's hand grasping his, while her other hand hung onto a nearby tree.

"Anna, you need to let go!" Iniabi yelled over the noise of the vacuum.

The redhead was starting to lose her grip on the tree.

"Are you insane? If I'm lost, everyone will be fine, but if they lose their leader, who knows what will happen!" Merchant Anna shouted.

Her grip on the tree started to loosen even more, so Iniabi did the only thing he could think of.

"Sorry about this, Anna." Iniabi said.

He pulled out an Elwind tome and used it on Merchant Anna, propelling her out of the vacuum's range, but propelling Iniabi into the portal. Once he was in, the portal stopped sucking things in and disappeared. The group started to approach the now-shut off Outrealm Gate. Gerome turned to Gatekeeper Anna.

"What happened to the gate?" Gerome asked.

"It was unstable, so it shut down. Don't worry, it'll come back on... eventually, but I don't know how long it will take. When it opens up again, your leaders should be able to come back." Gatekeeper Anna replied.

Kjelle looked to where the portal used to be.

"Just get our friends back." Kjelle ordered.

"Gods, I hope their okay." Yarne said as he looked at where the vortex used to be.

Nah couldn't tell whether the half-Taguel said that as either a statement or a prayer.

"If we can't figure out the portal, divine intervention might be the only thing that can rescue Iniabi and Cynthia." Nah thought.