Sometimes, you don't really appreciate what you've got until it's gone.
At least, that's how I felt… both before, and after everything that happened.
Just imagine, living out your mundane and ordinary everyday life, and then one day as you're casually minding your own business and doing your thing, this one event happens - almost in an instant - that changes your life forever. The experiences you have, the places you go, the way you see the world, the friends you meet along the way… it's hard to believe I went through all that, looking back at it.
Often I found it all too overwhelming, and there were times when I wished for nothing more than for my everyday life to go back to the way it was.
And before I knew it, it was all over.
Now here I am, back to my mundane, ordinary life. Back to being a nobody-in-particular, a background character, and sitting on a bus full of old people en route home from a day out in the town... well, maybe that's not the right wording. More like the usual, bi-weekly trip to a public employment agency. I graduated from University some time ago, but after all is said and done, I've got nothing. Nowhere to go. I'm kinda lost and don't know what to do with my life anymore.
Feels like I've been on this bus for a while, but at least it has free Wi-Fi, I guess. Maybe I'll log in to Bookface and see how my friends are doing.
Now that I think about it, it's amazing what you can do in this modern age of the digital world. For starters, you can instantly chat with other people halfway across the globe. Of course, having been there myself I can tell you tha - uh, hmm... I've said too much.
Well, can't dodge the subject any longer. This may be hard to believe, in fact you probably won't believe me at all when I tell you that I've been to another world. An alternate dimension, if you will. You'll believe me even less when I tell you that this world was likely born from the digital networks across our planet. You're probably just itching to have me sent to a looney bin.
But then again, you might not be the type of person to do that. After all, the only reason you clicked on this at all was a very important keyword beginning with a letter "D", right? If that's the case, then so far, we're on the same page.
As a kid, I was more or less raised on pop culture imported from the Land of the Rising Sun. All kinds of icons ranging from colour coded superheroes and giant robots, to regular day everymen driving around fantasy lands in a go-kart. One in particular that stood out was a monster show with a memorable cast that fought to save two worlds from destruction. You know what one I'm talking about. Again, that's the very reason you clicked on this link. I still enjoy this kind of escapism to this day, but never did I imagine experiencing any of those things in my lifetime... well, okay. Maybe I did. I was twelve, and in following the footsteps of an old friend of mine, I ended up writing terrible fanfiction of this one particular fictional world. It had that much of an impact on me, I guess.
But you wanna know what the weirdest thing is? Somehow, that horrible fanfic I wrote when I was twelve was only one of the things that ended up leading me to this other world, the creatures inhabiting it, and the friends I made there… speaking of which, I wonder what ever happened to that old friend I used to write those awful things with?
Anyway, I'm getting off track.
Following this rambling wall of text is my recollection of the events that transpired involving the other world. The adventures I had, the beasts that were tamed, the frontiers that were crossed, this world that was saved from a seemingly endless war… and the friends and allies I made along the way.
Hopefully, someday, I'll be able to r̹̼̳̮̯̥̳͢èl̞͔̳̼̲̰ͅi̮n̹k̥̬̦̫̻̯͉ ̹̩̺͉w̖͚̩̘̰͔ì̟̜̯̖̜͙̲ṱ̸̜h͙̹̝̘ ̱͓͔̮t̶̰͙h͔͔̥̘͔͡em̺ ̣̗̝̰̝͈͝a͖g͉̲͉̖͖̩a̜̤̟̩i̳̱̬̥̗͟ͅn̖̤͍͎̙̰.̧̠̤̯͈̠͕͕͚͙̘̗̹͞ ̭̝͕͕̮̖ ͔̮̝̯̩ ͏̳̣̜͙̱ ̶̭̭͎͇̩͖̹ ̹͍͚͉̻̗ ̲̳̫̦̖̱ ̴̙̩͓̹̜͎ͅ ͝ ͏̱͎̱͚͓̥̭ ̯̰̞̭͈̻ͅ ̶͖ ̷̙͇͍̗͍ ̨̤͇ ̧̼̥̭͚̠͙ ̣̬͚ ͓͍̘̟͚ ̲̲̞ ̡ ̲̰̬̮̩̝ ͏͇̬̹ ̯͉̺̪ ̟̭̦͈ ͇͈̮̣̲ ͈̤ ̨̙̣ ̡̪̻̮̰ ̗̪͈͉̻ ͕͝ͅͅ ͔ ͎̭͚̰͍ ̡̼͎̼ͅ ͓̤͙͇̱ ̦͕̜̠̹̖̬ ̲̤ ̘͓͇̘ ͔̱̺͔̝̞͕ ̼̪̤̹̪͍ ̷̰̣̱͚ͅ ͍ ̦̩̝͘ ̹ ͙̖ ̹ ͕̮̞̻ ̮͖̹̻̀ ̠ ҉̰̺͙̲̤̖̖ ̣̪̗͠ ̤͙̘̘ ̮̬ ̸ ̻̩ ͉̱̖̗͍́ ̻̼͢ ̴̰ ̩͜ ̮̰͇̙ ̪̖͉͘ ̙͉͔̼͔ͅ ̳ ̪ ̥ ̦͓̟̘̞͉͡ͅ ͚̫̟͍̰̭̟ ͙̪̞ ̪͉̙͕̹ͅ ̰̙̖ ̶̙̣̲̪ ͇ ̦ ̥̭̳̻ ̨̠ ̘̳ ̜̀ ͇͎̦͖̹ ̻ ̯̠̙͕͕ ̧̞͔̜ͅ ̛̣͖͎͓ ̙̱̦̱̤̜͇ ̶̹͍͚̣̥̤ͅ ̢͇ ̯̙̀ͅͅ ̫̱͕̖͈̞͚ ͎̠̖ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝ ͇̭͍ ̻̦̺̕ ̘̙ ̖͓̤̘͖̯ ̣̟ ̴̳ ͓͙̺͇͕ ̲̙ ̧̠͉̣͙̟̙̠ ̼̺̫̣͉̮̟ ̟ ̺̠̹ͅ ̣͖̖̘ ̪̬̻̥͇ ̢͈ͅ ͔̭̰̖̪ ͖͓̟̞̦̱ ͉͚̦̯͖͓ ̣̜̙͉̯̜ ̲͚̱ ̣̠͙͖ ̖̹̩ ̬ ̘͙̤͕̣ͅ ̧̻ ̷̣ ̨̱̻̠͚̣̖̻ ̬̲̘̱͙ ͈͕̝ ̗ ̥̞̠ ̵̖̼͕͇̞̞̯ ̪̼̪͉̳͠ ̤̞͇̰ ̪̖̩̖͞ ̸̯̖̬̱̲̠ ̰͔̳̜̕ ͙͇ ̗͔͘ ̴͕̭ ̴ ̷̯͈ ̛̲̜̻̠̩ ̯ ̙͉̠̜̫̣͠ ͚̥̘ ̥͍̗̟͠ ̜͈ ͜ ̼̤͚̘͙̥̕ ̖ͅ ̙̰͇͡ ̘̯̗̬̺̩̤ ̦̯͕̖͔ ̵ ͝ ̸̯̬ ̴ ̳̞̗̥̲͎̺ ̱͇͍̖̗ ̶̦̬̦ ̝ͅ ͝ ̤͔̣̬̜̲̩ ̨͕̭̟̰̠ͅͅ ̵̼͉̯̣ ͇̦͍̠̩̦̀ ͔̼̣̻͎ ̬̻̫̦̗͜ ͖͕̝̭̣̝ ͉̜͚́ ͕̪̥̜̱͟ͅ ̶̤̝̼̻͎͈͇ ̞̼̤ ̻̫̦ͅ ̣͎ ̲̞͔ ̬́ ̺̘̞͝ ̠̦̭͙ ̳̩̮̠͈́ ͕ ̞̬̝̀ ҉͍̱ ̨̟̥̩̻ ͞ ̻̀ ҉͍̺ ̮͔͍̙͞ ͙ ̜̯͍͔ ̷̯ ͍̱̰̞̼̖̩ ̟͎͖͙̜ ͙ ͇̬͉̲ ̥̦̤̟̗ ̢̝ ̫͉̭̯ ̶̹̥̟̞̯̰̩ ̻͉̙̺ ̠̣ ̢ ̰͟ ̵̱ ̖̲ ̧̹̹͓̗ ̵͔͙ ̰̝͖̥͝ ̷̻̳͈͍͔ ͖̭́ ̗͉̠ ͔̮͔̦̺͜ ̧ ̰̼̦ ̯͖̼̦̝͎͠ ͞ ̥͔̜͈͘ ̬̭ ̛̣̖̥͎͇̩̰ ̷͕̩̥ ͏̤ ̫̲ͅ ͏͙̭̻̜̗͔̯ ̢̦̪̖ ̜̺̥ͅ ̕ ̡̺͙ ̯̺̺̖̻ ̞̙ ̶̯̪̳͈ ̶̗̰̦̦̣ ̴͚ ͚ ͖͖͞ ̤̳̘͍ ̵̘̝̬ ͖͔͡ ̠̜̻͙ ̺̥̙͠ ͎̭̗̰̗̘̫ ̴͕ ͖̦̼͚̫͍̜ ̧̻͍̦ ͚͔̙͍͉͚͢ ҉̙̹̥ ̼̼̭̤͍̥ͅ ͏̲̤̰̜̯̣͔ ͔̙̯̮ ͈̥̱͈́ͅ ̦͓̰̖ ̨̩̞̘͎̮ ͔̩̰̯̺́ ̰̼͜ ̯͙͇͓̰̩ ̛̺͔ ̶ ̱̫̹͟ ̝̬̰́ ̦͔̣͓̞ ̴̝̝ ̝̜͡ ̛̜͇̼̪̱̟ ̼ ͚ͅ ͔̰͖ ̹ ̮̼̞͓̹ ̞̞̖ ͇̮̪ ̫̦͈̟̩̻́ ͖̘̙̟̠͚̪ ̻͝ ̝͕̖̼͜ͅ ̹͍̱̤̤̦͡ ͏̣̜͓ ͈͚̫͙ ̡̦͈̜͓̣̮̞ ͕͇͡ ̼̟̯̺̞͉͓ ҉͔̣͈͉ ̙ ̗̟̳͓̗̬̫ ͜ ̛̙͖͖̩̠ ̳͚̖̝̤̗̠̀ ̹̟ ̠̱͔̮̤̳͘ͅ ͔̳͓̀ ̴̗̝̖̻͉̹ ̫̀ ̴̣̳ ̶̻̜͉͙̮̪̻ ͍͍͓̼͍ ̩͖̜̺̺͍͔͜ ̨̫͙̰͎͖̗̺ ͚̩̥̥͘ ̬͕̬̠̩̟ ̹̞͎̪̕ ̗̹͉̞̖͚̪̕ ̮̯̭ ͘ ̵ ̳̯̺͈͠ͅ ̬͙͞ͅ ̥̬̥̙̪ ̺͕̯̥̟ ̭̰̲ ̺͘ ̰̱̮̙̼̯͈ ̸͈̪͔̼ ̭̪̤̖ ͈͍̱ ͖̺͍̤̩͔̹ ̴ ̦̹͓͇͢ ͓͙̝̻ ̫̮̣̝͍̝͖ ̰̱͖ͅ ͎̯̣ ̣̣̥̯̺̺͝ ̭̝͕͕̮̖ ͔̮̝̯̩ ͏̳̣̜͙̱ ̶̭̭͎͇̩͖̹ ̹͍͚͉̻̗ ̲̳̫̦̖̱ ̴̙̩͓̹̜͎ͅ ͝ ͏̱͎̱͚͓̥̭ ̯̰̞̭͈̻ͅ ̶͖ ̷̙͇͍̗͍ ̨̤͇ ̧̼̥̭͚̠͙ ̣̬͚ ͓͍̘̟͚ ̲̲̞ ̡ ̲̰̬̮̩̝ ͏͇̬̹ ̯͉̺̪ ̟̭̦͈ ͇͈̮̣̲ ͈̤ ̨̙̣ ̡̪̻̮̰ ̗̪͈͉̻ ͕͝ͅͅ ͔ ͎̭͚̰͍ ̡̼͎̼ͅ ͓̤͙͇̱ ̦͕̜̠̹̖̬ ̲̤ ̘͓͇̘ ͔̱̺͔̝̞͕ ̼̪̤̹̪͍ ̷̰̣̱͚ͅ ͍ ̦̩̝͘ ̹ ͙̖ ̹ ͕̮̞̻ ̮͖̹̻̀ ̠ ҉̰̺͙̲̤̖̖ ̣̪̗͠ ̤͙̘̘ ̮̬ ̸ ̻̩ ͉̱̖̗͍́ ̻̼͢ ̴̰ ̩͜ ̮̰͇̙ ̪̖͉͘ ̙͉͔̼͔ͅ ̳ ̪ ̥ ̦͓̟̘̞͉͡ͅ ͚̫̟͍̰̭̟ ͙̪̞ ̪͉̙͕̹ͅ ̰̙̖ ̶̙̣̲̪ ͇ ̦ ̥̭̳̻ ̨̠ ̘̳ ̜̀ ͇͎̦͖̹ ̻ ̯̠̙͕͕ ̧̞͔̜ͅ ̛̣͖͎͓ ̙̱̦̱̤̜͇ ̶̹͍͚̣̥̤ͅ ̢͇ ̯̙̀ͅͅ ̫̱͕̖͈̞͚ ̢̩̦̰ ͈̟̲̻͍̟̜ ̨ ̴̭̳̜͙͕ ̺ ̻͇̣̮ ̬̝̻͔ ̧ ̟̦̟̣̠͇͝ ̧̺ ͖̺ ̝͖͚͠ ̭͇͚̤ ̖͉̺̘ ͎̬̟̲̖̲ ͍̙ ̡ ̳̹̪̹́ ͎̠̖ ͟ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜̝ ̗ ̢ ̬̲͎͈ ̲̳ͅ ҉͓̥̣̩̳̭ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝ ͇̭͍ ̻̦̺̕ ̘̙ ̖͓̤̘͖̯ ̣̟ ̴̳ ͓͙̺͇͕ ̲̙ ̧̠͉̣͙̟̙̠ ̼̺̫̣͉̮̟ ̟ ̺̠̹ͅ ̣͖̖̘ ̪̬̻̥͇ ̢͈ͅ ͔̭̰̖̪ ͖͓̟̞̦̱ ͉͚̦̯͖͓ ̣̜̙͉̯̜ ̲͚̱ ̣̠͙͖ ̖̹̩ ̬ ̘͙̤͕̣ͅ ̧̻ ̷̣ ̨̱̻̠͚̣̖̻ ̬̲̘̱͙ ͈͕̝ ̗ ̥̞̠ ̵̖̼͕͇̞̞̯ ̪̼̪͉̳͠ ̤̞͇̰ ̪̖̩̖͞ ̸̯̖̬̱̲̠ ̰͔̳̜̕ ͙͇ ̗͔͘ ̴͕̭ ̴ ̷̯͈ ̛̲̜̻̠̩ ̯ ̙͉̠̜̫̣͠ ͚̥̘ ̥͍̗̟͠ ̜͈ ͜ ̼̤͚̘͙̥̕ ̖ͅ ̙̰͇͡ ̘̯̗̬̺̩̤ ̦̯͕̖͔ ̵ ͝ ̸̯̬ ̴ ̳̞̗̥̲͎̺ ̱͇͍̖̗ ̶̦̬̦ ̝ͅ ͝ ̤͔̣̬̜̲̩ ̨͕̭̟̰̠ͅͅ ̵̼͉̯̣ ͇̦͍̠̩̦̀ ͔̼̣̻͎ ̬̻̫̦̗͜ ͖͕̝̭̣̝ ͉̜͚́ ͕̪̥̜̱͟ͅ ̶̤̝̼̻͎͈͇ ̞̼̤ ̻̫̦ͅ ̣͎ ̲̞͔ ̬́ ̺̘̞͝ ̠̦̭͙ ̳̩̮̠͈́ ͕ ̞̬̝̀ ҉͍̱ ̨̟̥̩̻ ͞ ̻̀ ҉͍̺ ̮͔͍̙͞ ͙ ̜̯͍͔ ̷̯ ͍̱̰̞̼̖̩ ̟͎͖͙̜ ͙ ͇̬͉̲ ̥̦̤̟̗ ̢̝ ̫͉̭̯ ̶̹̥̟̞̯̰̩ ̻͉̙̺ ̠̣ ̢ ̰͟ ̵̱ ̖̲ ̧̹̹͓̗ ̵͔͙ ̰̝͖̥͝ ̷̻̳͈͍͔ ͖̭́ ̗͉̠ ͔̮͔̦̺͜ ̧ ̰̼̦ ̯͖̼̦̝͎͠ ͞ ̥͔̜͈͘ ̬̭ ̛̣̖̥͎͇̩̰ ̷͕̩̥ ͏̤ ̫̲ͅ ͏͙̭̻̜̗͔̯ ̢̦̪̖ ̜̺̥ͅ ̕ ̡̺͙ ̯̺̺̖̻ ̞̙ ̶̯̪̳͈ ̶̗̰̦̦̣ ̴͚ ͚ ͖͖͞ ̤̳̘͍ ̵̘̝̬ ͖͔͡ ̠̜̻͙ ̺̥̙͠ ͎̭̗̰̗̘̫ ̴͕ ͖̦̼͚̫͍̜ ̧̻͍̦ ͚͔̙͍͉͚͢ ҉̙̹̥ ̼̼̭̤͍̥ͅ ͏̲̤̰̜̯̣͔ ͔̙̯̮ ͈̥̱͈́ͅ ̦͓̰̖ ̨̩̞̘͎̮ ͔̩̰̯̺́ ̰̼͜ ̯͙͇͓̰̩ ̛̺͔ ̶ ̱̫̹͟ ̝̬̰́ ̦͔̣͓̞ ̴̝̝ ̝̜͡ ̛̜͇̼̪̱̟ ̼ ͚ͅ ͔̰͖ ̹ ̮̼̞͓̹ ̞̞̖ ͇̮̪ ̫̦͈̟̩̻́ ͖̘̙̟̠͚̪ ̻͝ ̝͕̖̼͜ͅ ̹͍̱̤̤̦͡ ͏̣̜͓ ͈͚̫͙ ̡̦͈̜͓̣̮̞ ͕͇͡ ̼̟̯̺̞͉͓ ҉͔̣͈͉ ̙ ̗̟̳͓̗̬̫ ͜ ̛̙͖͖̩̠ ̳͚̖̝̤̗̠̀ ̹̟ ̠̱͔̮̤̳͘ͅ ͔̳͓̀ ̴̗̝̖̻͉̹ ̫̀ ̴̣̳ ̶̻̜͉͙̮̪̻ ͍͍͓̼͍ ̩͖̜̺̺͍͔͜ ̨̫͙̰͎͖̗̺ ͚̩̥̥͘ ̬͕̬̠̩̟ ̹̞͎̪̕ ̗̹͉̞̖͚̪̕ ̮̯̭ ͘ ̵ ̳̯̺͈͠ͅ ̬͙͞ͅ ̥̬̥̙̪ ̺͕̯̥̟ ̭̰̲ ̺͘ ̰̱ ̸͈̪͔̼ ̭̪̤̖ ͈͍̱ ͖̺͍̤̩͔̹ ̴ ̦̹͓͇͢ ͓͙̝̻ ̫̮̣̝͍̝͖ ̰̱͖ͅ ͎̯̣ ̣̣̥̯̺̺͝ ̭̝͕͕̮̖ ͔̮̝̯̩ ͏̳̣̜͙̱ ̶̭̭͎͇̩͖̹ ̹͍͚͉̻̗ ̲̳̫̦̖̱ ̴̙̩͓̹̜͎ͅ ͝ ͏̱͎̱͚͓̥̭ ̯̰̞̭͈̻ͅ ̶͖ ̷̙͇͍̗͍ ̨̤͇ ̧̼̥̭͚̠͙ ̣̬͚ ͓͍̘̟͚ ̲̲̞ ̡ ̲̰̬̮̩̝ ͏͇̬̹ ̯͉̺̪ ̟̭̦͈ ͇͈̮̣̲ ͈̤ ̨̙̣ ̡̪̻̮̰ ̗̪͈͉̻ ͕͝ͅͅ ͔ ͎̭͚̰͍ ̡̼͎̼ͅ ͓̤͙͇̱ ̦͕̜̠̹̖̬ ̲̤ ̘͓͇̘ ͔̱̺͔̝̞͕ ̼̪̤̹̪͍ ̷̰̣̱͚ͅ ͍ ̦̩̝͘ ̹ ͙̖ ̹ ͕̮̞̻ ̮͖̹̻̀ ̠ ҉̰̺͙̲̤̖̖ ̣̪̗͠ ̤͙̘̘ ̮̬ ̸ ̻̩ ͉̱̖̗͍́ ̻̼͢ ̴̰ ̩͜ ̮̰͇̙ ̪̖͉͘ ̙͉͔̼͔ͅ ̳ ̪ ̥ ̦͓̟̘̞͉͡ͅ ͚̫̟͍̰̭̟ ͙̪̞ ̪͉̙͕̹ͅ ̰̙̖ ̶̙̣̲̪ ͇ ̦ ̥̭̳̻ ̨̠ ̘̳ ̜̀ ͇͎̦͖̹ ̻ ̯̠̙͕͕ ̧̞͔̜ͅ ̛̣͖͎͓ ̙̱̦̱̤̜͇ ̶̹͍͚̣̥̤ͅ ̢͇ ̯̙̀ͅͅ ̫̱͕̖͈̞͚ ̢̩̦̰ ͈̟̲̻͍̟̜ ̨ ̴̭̳̜͙͕ ̺ ̻͇̣̮ ̬̝̻͔ ̧ ̟̦̟̣̠͇͝ ̧̺ ͖̺ ̝͖͚͠ ̭͇͚̤ ̖͉̺̘ ͎̬̟̲̖̲ ͍̙ ̡ ̳̹̪̹́ ͎̠̖ ͟ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜̝ ̗ ̢ ̬̲͎͈ ̲̳ͅ ҉͓̥̣̩̳̭ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝͟ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝ ͇̭͍ ̻̦̺̕ ̘̙ ̖͓̤̘͖̯ ̣̟ ̴̳ ͓͙̺͇͕ ̲̙ ̧̠͉̣͙̟̙̠ ̼̺̫̣͉̮̟ ̟ ̺̠̹ͅ ̣͖̖̘ ̪̬̻̥͇ ̢͈ͅ ͔̭̰̖̪ ͖͓̟̞̦̱ ͉͚̦̯͖͓ ̣̜̙͉̯̜ ̲͚̱ ̣̠͙͖ ̖̹̩ ̬ ̘͙̤͕̣ͅ ̧̻ ̷̣ ̨̱̻̠͚̣̖̻ ̬̲̘̱͙ ͈͕̝ ̗ ̥̞̠ ̵̖̼͕͇̞̞̯ ̪̼̪͉̳͠ ̤̞͇̰ ̪̖̩̖͞ ̸̯̖̬̱̲̠ ̰͔̳̜̕ ͙͇ ̗͔͘ ̴͕̭ ̴ ̷̯͈ ̛̲̜̻̠̩ ̯ ̙͉̠̜̫̣͠ ͚̥̘ ̥͍̗̟͠ ̜͈ ͜ ̼̤͚̘͙̥̕ ̖ͅ ̙̰͇͡ ̘̯̗̬̺̩̤ ̦̯͕̖͔ ̵ ͝ ̸̯̬ ̴ ̳̞̗̥̲͎̺ ̱͇͍̖̗ ̶̦̬̦ ̝ͅ ͝ ̤͔̣̬̜̲̩ ̨͕̭̟̰̠ͅͅ ̵̼͉̯̣ ͇̦͍̠̩̦̀ ͔̼̣̻͎ ̬̻̫̦̗͜ ͖͕̝̭̣̝ ͉̜͚́ ͕̪̥̜̱͟ͅ ̶̤̝̼̻͎͈͇ ̞̼̤ ̻̫̦ͅ ̣͎ ̲̞͔ ̬́ ̺̘̞͝ ̠̦̭͙ ̳̩̮̠͈́ ͕ ̞̬̝̀ ҉͍̱ ̨̟̥̩̻ ͞ ̻̀ ҉͍̺ ̮͔͍̙͞ ͙ ̜̯͍͔ ̷̯ ͍̱̰̞̼̖̩ ̟͎͖͙̜ ͙ ͇̬͉̲ ̥̦̤̟̗ ̢̝ ̫͉̭̯ ̶̹̥̟̞̯̰̩ ̻͉̙̺ ̠̣ ̢ ̰͟ ̵̱ ̖̲ ̧̹̹͓̗ ̵͔͙ ̰̝͖̥͝ ̷̻̳͈͍͔ ͖̭́ ̗͉̠ ͔̮͔̦̺͜ ̧ ̰̼̦ ̯͖̼̦̝͎͠ ͞ ̥͔̜͈͘ ̬̭ ̛̣̖̥͎͇̩̰ ̷͕̩̥ ͏̤ ̫̲ͅ ͏͙̭̻̜̗͔̯ ̢̦̪̖ ̜̺̥ͅ ̕ ̡̺͙ ̯̺̺̖̻ ̞̙ ̶̯̪̳͈ ̶̗̰̦̦̣ ̴͚ ͚ ͖͖͞ ̤̳̘͍ ̵̘̝̬ ͖͔͡ ̠̜̻͙ ̺̥̙͠ ͎̭̗̰̗̘̫ ̴͕ ͖̦̼͚̫͍̜ ̧̻͍̦ ͚͔̙͍͉͚͢ ҉̙̹̥ ̼̼̭̤͍̥ͅ ͏̲̤̰̜̯̣͔ ͔̙̯̮ ͈̥̱͈́ͅ ̦͓̰̖ ̨̩̞̘͎̮ ͔̩̰̯̺́ ̰̼͜ ̯͙͇͓̰̩ ̛̺͔ ̶ ̱̫̹͟ ̝̬̰́ ̦͔̣͓̞ ̴̝̝ ̝̜͡ ̛̜͇̼̪̱̟ ̼ ͚ͅ ͔̰͖ ̹ ̮̼̞͓̹ ̞̞̖ ͇̮̪ ̫̦͈̟̩̻́ ͖̘̙̟̠͚̪ ̻͝ ̝͕̖̼͜ͅ ̹͍̱̤̤̦͡ ͏̣̜͓ ͈͚̫͙ ̡̦͈̜͓̣̮̞ ͕͇͡ ̼̟̯̺̞͉͓ ҉͔̣͈͉ ̙ ̗̟̳͓̗̬̫ ͜ ̛̙͖͖̩̠ ̳͚̖̝̤̗̠̀ ̹̟ ̠̱͔̮̤̳͘ͅ ͔̳͓̀ ̴̗̝̖̻͉̹ ̫̀ ̴̣̳ ̶̻̜͉͙̮̪̻ ͍͍͓̼͍ ̩͖̜̺̺͍͔͜ ̨̫͙̰͎͖̗̺ ͚̩̥̥͘ ̬͕̬̠̩̟ ̹̞͎̪̕ ̗̹͉̞̖͚̪̕ ̮̯̭ ͘ ̵ ̳̯̺͈͠ͅ ̬͙͞ͅ ̥̬̥̙̪ ̺͕̯̥̟ ̭̰̲ ̺͘ ̰̱̮̙̼̯͈ ̸͈̪͔̼ ̭̪̤̖ ͈͍̱ ͖̺͍̤̩͔̹ ̴ ̦̹͓͇͢ ͓͙̝̻ ̫̮̣̝͍̝͖ ̰̱͖ͅ ͎̯̣ ̣̣̥̯̺̺͝ ̭̝͕͕̮̖ ͔̮̝̯̩ ͏̳̣̜͙̱ ̶̭̭͎͇̩͖̹ ̹͍͚͉̻̗ ̲̳̫̦̖̱ ̴̙̩͓̹̜͎ͅ ͝ ͏̱͎̱͚͓̥̭ ̯̰̞̭͈̻ͅ ̶͖ ̷̙͇͍̗͍ ̨̤͇ ̧̼̥̭͚̠͙ ̣̬͚ ͓͍̘̟͚ ̲̲̞ ̡ ̲̰̬̮̩̝ ͏͇̬̹ ̯͉̺̪ ̟̭̦͈ ͇͈̮̣̲ ͈̤ ̨̙̣ ̡̪̻̮̰ ̗̪͈͉̻ ͕͝ͅͅ ͔ ͎̭͚̰͍ ̡̼͎̼ͅ ͓̤͙͇̱ ̦͕̜̠̹̖̬ ̲̤ ̘͓͇̘ ͔̱̺͔̝̞͕ ̼̪̤̹̪͍ ̷̰̣̱͚ͅ ͍ ̦̩̝͘ ̹ ͙̖ ̹ ͕̮̞̻ ̮͖̹̻̀ ̠ ҉̰̺͙̲̤̖̖ ̣̪̗͠ ̤͙̘̘ ̮̬ ̸ ̻̩ ͉̱̖̗͍́ ̻̼͢ ̴̰ ̩͜ ̮̰͇̙ ̪̖͉͘ ̙͉͔̼͔ͅ ̳ ̪ ̥ ̦͓̟̘̞͉͡ͅ ͚̫̟͍̰̭̟ ͙̪̞ ̪͉̙͕̹ͅ ̰̙̖ ̶̙̣̲̪ ͇ ̦ ̥̭̳̻ ̨̠ ̘̳ ̜̀ ͇͎̦͖̹ ̻ ̯̠̙͕͕ ̧̞͔̜ͅ ̛̣͖͎͓ ̙̱̦̱̤̜͇ ̶̹͍͚̣̥̤ͅ ̢͇ ̯̙̀ͅͅ ̫̱͕̖͈̞͚ ̢̩̦̰ ͈̟̲̻͍̟̜ ̨ ̴̭̳̜͙͕ ̺ ̻͇̣̮ ̬̝̻͔ ̧ ̟̦̟̣̠͇͝ ̧̺ ͖̺ ̝͖͚͠ ̭͇͚̤ ̖͉̺̘ ͎̬̟̲̖̲ ͍̙ ̡ ̳̹̪̹́ ͎̠̖ ͟ ́ ̹ ̠̦̻͇̖̙ͅ ̤͕ ̠ ̦͈̪̱̝̘̹ ̞̣͟ ͇͇̬͉͚̼ ͇́ ̧ ͓̥̠̳̫͘ ̟̘̞͙͉̀ ͙̩̙͇̮̳̰ ̺͕͢ ̧̪͕ ̹ ̸͍͖͉̺̞ ̵̠̦͍̠̘ͅ ̣̭ ̸̜ ̢͇̻̺ͅ ̵̼ ̫̠̙͜ ̞̲̕ ͕̮̻̻͖̀ ̖͚̞ ̝͈̜̰̖̲̲͡ ̦̦͠ ̟͉̝̱̩̟͔͢ ̬̝̻̞̀ ͎̥͙̕ͅ ͏ ̯̀ ͇̳̘̹͖͕ ͓̲̜ ͔͢ ̠̲̥̬̖͜ ̖͍̙ ̪̤͉̜̝ ̗ ̢ ̬̲͎͈ ̲̳ͅ ҉͓̥̣̩̳̭ ̙͙̬͇͍̤ͅ ͏̥̩̲ ̻ ̝̗̳̞̲ ̯͙ ̫̰̪͇͝ͅ ̞͓̗̼̥̗̼͝ ̖͇͕̞̱ ̙̤̫ ̶̱̗̗̺̗͇̝
…
…what the?
…OK, so this bus I'm on has stopped. It's suddenly gone dark outside. Everyone on board has vanished and I'm the only one left. What the heck happened? Where'd they all go? More to the point, where did I go?
In spite of what's just happened, I'm doing little more than blankly staring out the window. I should have been more surprised by this, but I've seen stranger things in my time. I've seen things that shouldn't exist. I've seen monsters. I've seen miracles. Hell, this bus being teleported to wherever the heck this is ain't anything new to me either; I distinctly remember the time a whole frickin' train was rerouted into that other world.
I'm looking outside now and wondering if that's where I actually am. After all, that world basically is the internet, I think, and my phone was hooked up to the WiFi network on the bus, but... no, this isn't it. The world I left behind was about to be reborn after being enveloped in total darkness. This isn't what we fought for. It can't be… right?
And if that is where I am, then what on Earth happened here? It's been almost two years since all that took place, but I'm looking around and I'm not so sure if that's actually where I am. In fact it looks almost exactly like the road this bus was on just a moment ago, only, someone applied way too much post-apocalyptic grimdark filter.
Crashed car remains litter the streets, though I hate to think how they even got there. Even the bus I'm sitting on looks like it was smashed to bits, and yet I don't recall that actually happening. The buildings here also look worse for wear, almost like ancient relics - not that they were much better to begin with. The sky is murky and red. And looking around, there are floating blotches of bright, green light, dotted around in random places. Just looking at it all is enough to make you feel miserable. You'd think I'd taken the 'bad future' route.
At this point I'm certain this isn't the other world that I'm used to. But this land of darkness also isn't my world. I know that much. All I can do now is step off the bus and investigate.
I haven't heard from anyone involved in all those events in a long time. What is this place? Do they know anything about it? And if so, then why haven't they reached out to me? So many questions swirling around my mind, most important of them being: how am I going to get home from here?
Out of the force of an old habit, I get a particular electronic device out of my backpack. Well, I don't know if it'll do anything as it hasn't been of any use since all that happened. But I always have it on me just in case. As it is, I already feel like a superhero who'd been stripped of his powers, but who knows when I might have to answer the call again.
I used to speak to a certain friend through this small, handheld device… can you believe he used to live inside this object? I really hoped that he would appear to help me in this instance, before remembering that he still lives in the other worl- oh hey wait, the screen is lighting up. And I'm filled with a strong feeling of relief as a familiar voice echoes from it:
"Steven, look how much you've grown!"
…I'm not sure how to interpret that, but, OK!
Well, don't know what I've gotten myself into this time, but I guess my adventure continues to evolve. Anyway, before I was suddenly interrupted; here is my recollection of all the events that occurred over those two years, which I've already made available to you in a convenient, readable format.
Be warned, though: you're in for a long ride.