Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan, AdventureQuest, AQ Worlds, and Warcraft.
Detectives In The Lands of Lore.
Prologue
-Professor Agasa's house-
The Detective Boys, mostly three of them, were enjoying an afternoon at Professor Agasa's residence. They were watching the latest episode of Kemen Yaiba when a sudden news report interrupted the show.
"Hey what gives!" said Genta. Genta was the large self-proclamied leader of the group. Today he was dressed in a high collared shirt and shorts.
(As of today, the number of disappearances related to these mysterious lights has grown to five. Police are still baffled as to the cause of these lights, and the missing persons that accompany them," said the TV reporter as he finished his segment.)
"Conan, what do you think are the cause of these lights?" asked a young girl named Ayumi Yoshida. She was seven years old, and a member of the Detective Boys. Today her black hair was kept tidy with a headband, and she was wearing a red shirt with a matching skirt.
Conan bowed his head, deep in thought.
'That's not the right question Ayumi. The lights can be easily explained, the real question is why is the culprit leaving behind obvious signs to his kidnapping?'
"Maybe someone was using magnesium torches. I once saw mother use one of those when she took me to one of her classes, they were really bright," quipped another Detective Boy, Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya, seven years old, who was wearing a blue long sleeved shirt and white pants.
"Bah, somebody must be using fireworks!" said Genta.
"What do you think Ai-chan?" asked Ayumi.
Ai Haibara, "seven" years old, who was wearing her typical red sleeveless shirt and khaki pants, looked up from the magazine she was reading.
"Mitsuhiko's guess was the closest," she said, before once again burying herself in her reading. Mitsuhiko beamed at her, while Genta simply looked confused.
Silence ensued, before the Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Genta immersed themselves once more into the show. While this was going on, Conan went over to Ai to share his thoughts on the matter.
"I don't know Haibara, why would someone want to leave behind something so obvious at a crime scene?" he said.
Ai looked up from her magazine, a smirk on her face.
"Oh, has our dear Kudo finally run out of answers?" she asked. Conan shot her a glare.
"What answers can I come up with when there are no clues to begin with?" he snapped back.
Ai stifled a giggle.
"I was just joking Kudo-kun. But really, I haven't any idea why on earth this criminal would want to advertise his crimes, unless he wanted the public to fear him," she said.
Conan gave her a thoughtful look, which turned into one of understanding a second later.
"I think that's it Haibara! The man wants to draw attention to himself, and thereby lies the key to taking him down!" said Conan.
Ai was about to reply to him when Agasa came out of his room.
"Alright kids, it's getting pretty late. You need to go home before the sun sets completely. I wouldn't want you to be attacked on your way home," said Agasa.
Mitsuhiko, Ayumi, and Genta all adopted nervous looks from their faces.
"Agasa, stop scaring them," reprimanded Ai. Conan was beside her, amused.
"But he's right, you should go home now while there is still some light shining," she added.
The three she was referring to tried to protest, but one look from Ai was all it took to shut them up. They had no choice but to obey her.
"Bye Ai-chan, bye Conan, see you tomorrow!" called Ayumi when they were finally outside the gate.
-Unknown street, on the way to Ayumi's house-
Mitsuhiko was walking Ayumi home, a privilege Genta did not enjoy, as his house was much closer. Both of them were walking at a casual pace, with only a few blocks to go before they reachthe Yoshida residence. As the two rounded a corner, Ayumi spoke.
"Do you think they'll ever catch the criminal behind the lights Mitsuhiko?" she asked.
Mitsuhiko, too preoccupied with enjoying Ayumi's company, hadn't heard what she said.
"Mitsuhiko?" Ayumi asked again. This time Mitsuhiko heard it.
"Huh?"
"Do you think they'll ever catch the criminal behind the lights?"
"Of course! The police has never had a case they can't solve, and with the Detective Boys helping them, catching the criminal will be a piece of cake!" he said.
Ayumi smiled, and both resumed their walking.
They only had to round one more corner before reaching Ayumi's house when an incredibly bright light blinded them.
And for the two young detectives, it would be the start of an incredible journey.
-Unknown location-
The courtyard was packed with wizards, all practicing their magic. In one corner, a young sorceress can be seen with her mentor, an aged man whose appearance hides a strong mind and an adventurer's body. He spoke in a deep, gentle voice.
"One more time Jaina, then you're free for the rest of the day."
The sorceress, Jaina, nodded, and once again tried her magic.
She compressed water molecules into a singe area, molded it into a vaguely humanoid shape. The finished product looked like an ape with a huge neck, no head, and no legs. It was also around the height of her chest. Jaina frowned when she saw her handiwork.
"Master, this is barely half of what is standard for an archmage!" she complained.
Her master laughed. "At ease Jaina, considering you only graduated from becoming a master sorceress, having a water elemental that big is a huge achievement, I wouldn't worry about it."
This made Jaina smile. "Thank you master," she said while bowing.
The old man laughed again, and made to reply, but was interrupted when a sudden bright light erupted on the center of the courtyard.
All activity stopped, and everyone stared at the spectacle, spells at the ready. When the light dies down, all of them expected some huge monster to come charging. What they didn't expect was a little girl, in a red dress, lying unconscious.
Shocked silence followed. Jaina and her master, one of the first ones to recover from the shock, immediately went over to the body.
"Master, she is still alive," said Jaina.
"I can see. What I want to know is, where did she come from, and what brought her here?" he said.
He levitated the body, and gave it to the nearest person besides Jaina.
"Take her to the infirmary."
"Yes master Antonidas."
As the girl was taken by the priest towards the clinic, Jaina turned towards her master.
"That is the seventh time this has happened master, what is causing these portals to appear?" she asked.
Antonidas sighed. "I wish I knew Jaina. I'll have to study the energy signatures of these portals to find out where they lead to, perhaps then we can find out who or what is behind these," he paused, "I'll try and ask Warlic if any of these portals opened up in Lore."
"Your friend who lives in Battleon?"
"Yes, he's the one, recently however, a meteorite incident prompted them to move the entire town into another location, though I heard they had to move it twice since the first time had them end up on top of a mountain," he chuckled, "maybe the sheer amount of magic involved is what is causing these portals to appear."
He looked back to Jaina.
"You can have the rest of the day off Jaina, though I think you will want to visit our little guest," he said.
"Thank you master," said Jaina before walking off into the clinic.
-Still an unknown location-
A ship was on its way to port, having just sailed for three months straight into uncharted waters. Everyone on board was eager to step on familiar land once more.
"Captain, land ho!" came the shout from the crow's nest.
"Aye! Release the sails and head straight for land mateys!" replied the captain, a muscular man wearing a red jacket and dirty white pants. His unruly brown hair was kept clean by a black pirate hat.
The ship has nearly reached port when a bright light enveloped it. When the light died down, guns, spears, cannons, and the occasional mop were all staring down an unconscious seven year old boy wearing a blue shirt and white pants. The captain saw this, and yelled before someone accidentally shoots the lad.
"Stand down!" he shouted, before approaching the boy.
The others lowered their weapons, and took in the scene before them. Chaos ensued.
"Tis a boy!"
"That be one of the portals Aquella spoke of!"
"Why did it decide to take the lad?"
"Quiet!"
Everyone shut up, and looked at their captain. He was kneeling in front of the boy.
"He's still alive, take him ter me cabin," he said
One of the crewmen picked the boy up and took him towards the captain's quarters.
The captain stood up, and looked towards his crew.
"Well, shows over! If all of ye want ter get back ter port, man the sails!"
Everyone immediately went back to work. The captain walked towards the edge of the ship, and looked out the sea.
One of the crewmen decided to be brave and approached him.
"Captain Rhubarb sir, that was one of the portals your friend Aquella spoke of."
Rhubarb only nodded, and continued to stare out to sea.
A tense silence followed, before the crewman asked again.
"Who's behind these portals, and why did he kidnap that boy?"
Rhubarb gave him an annoyed look, before answering, "we'll ask those questions after we get to port."
"Y-yes sir," said Boon, before returning to his post.
Chapter 1
-The next day, Dalaran infirmary-
Ayumi opened her eyes, and squinted in the light. She was lying in a bed. She rubbed her eyes, and moved to a sitting position.
She saw that she wasn't in her room. She was inside what looked like a clinic. The curtains surrounding her bed were drawn. A candle on a stand provided the only light in the room, though the light was unusually bright. There was a table beside her bed, on top of which was a clipboard like the one used by nurses to keep track of the patient's records. A piece of paper was clipped to it.
Ayumi looked at the writings on the paper. It looked different from Japanese, and it didn't look like English either. But for some reason Ayumi understood it completely.
"Por…tal…vic…tim," she uttered.
"Oh, you're awake," said a voice behind her.
Ayumi jumped, she looked behind, and saw a beautiful young woman with blonde hair and white clothing sitting next to her bed. She was holding what looked like a staff with a blue gem on top. She was looking at Ayumi.
The girl stared at the woman with questioning eyes.
"Who are you lady-san? And where am I?"
The woman gave Ayumi a gentle smile.
"My name is Jaina Proudmoore. You are in Dalaran-," Jaina cut her off when Ayumi was about to speak. "-I understand if you do not know where Dalaran is, so please let me take the time to explain to where we really are. But before that, what can you remember?"
"Well, my name is Ayumi Yoshida; I live in Beika, Japan-" started Ayumi
"No, no," said Jaina, who chuckled," I meant what can you remember before you were pulled into the portal?"
Ayumi gave her a confused look. "Well, I can remember me and Mitsuhiko-kun walking back to my house after we left from Professor Agasa's place, that's when we saw this really bright light. After that, I'm here," she said.
Jaina nodded and closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. She was about to reply when Ayumi suddenly spoke.
"Jaina-san, what's a portal? Was that the bright light? Where is Mitsuhiko-kun?"
This snapped Jaina from her musing. She looked at Ayumi, her mind trying to piece together an answer.
She finally replied after a few seconds.
"Well, a portal is a rip in the fabric of space, and sometimes time. It allows casters to instantly travel from one location to another. Yes, I am certain that the light you saw was caused by a portal. I have not seen your friend, however I am sure we will find him soon," she said.
Ayumi looked down. "Oh," she said, the wheels of her mind were turning, trying to make sense of everything that was said to her. As she slowly realized what had happened to her, her face steadily fell.
Jaina noticed the look on the young girl's face, and hastily added.
"Do not worry young one, I am sure we will get you home. Master Antonidas is already tracking down the signature of the portal that was used."
She gave Ayumi a kind smile, which the girl returned. Then a thought occurred to her.
"Jaina-san, how do you make portals?"
Jaina raised an eyebrow, before she smiled. "It is done by magic," she replied.
Jaina watched with some amusement as Ayumi's eyes widened and her expression changed from solemn to wonder.
"Wow! Does that mean magic is real?"
Jaina nodded. "Yes it does. I take it you do not use magic from where you come from?"
Ayumi bobbed her head up and down. "Uh-huh! But we do have a lot of gadgets," she said, and showed Jaina her watch.
Jaina looked on in interest as Ayumi pushed a few buttons, and the supposed watch turned into a flashlight.
"Interesting, do you hve any more?"
Ayumi shook her head. "No, Conan-kun has the other gadgets the Professor Agasa made, I wish he would give some to us though."
A moment of silence descended, one which was broken when Jaina stood up and drew the curtains, and Ayumi's jaw dropped.
Outside the window she can see dozens of mages and priests practicing magic. The mages were firing orbs of pure magic against each other, while the priests practiced their healing magic. Some of the more advanced mages even transformed their opponents into various animals, of which sheep seemed to be the most popular.
Jaina laughed softly as she watched Ayumi gape at the sight in front of her. She moved beside the girl.
"So, what do you think?" she asked.
Ayumi did not answer immediately, too preoccupied with dealing with the spectacle. It took her a few seconds before she finally opened her mouth.
"Conan-kun's never going to believe this," she said.
"Oh, doesn't Conan-kun believe in magic?" asked Jaina.
Ayumi shook her head slowly, still looking outside the window.
She was snapped from her spacing out when she heard Jaina laugh.
"Well then, you should tell this Conan-kun everything you saw here when you get back home."
Ayumi smiled and nodded enthusiastically. When she gets back home, she was going to tell everyone about what she saw. She was suddenly torn between staying so she can see more, or go home as soon as possible.
While Ayumi was having an internal debate, Jaina walked to the door.
"Come young one, we shall visit Master Antonidas and ask if he has already tracked down the signature of the portal."
She was about to exit the infirmary when she felt tugging at her shirt. She turned and saw Ayumi looking up at her.
"Jaina-san, can you teach me magic? And that wasn't Japanese that I read in the paper, how did I understand it?" she asked.
Unsurprised by this, Jaina took Ayumi's hand off her shirt and into her own hand.
"Master Antonidas casted a translation spell on you while you were asleep. It allows you to read and speak Common, the local language here. And of course, we would be glad to teach you magic," she said, and both she and a happy Ayumi made their way to Antonidas' chambers.
-On another part of the world-
Mitsuhiko awoke to the sound of the beach. He groaned, and sat up. The first thing he saw was a blue woman and coral-like horns and pointed ears. Beside her was a pirate, complete with an eye patch, a captain's hat, and beard. Both of them were staring out to sea.
He blinked when he saw this, and rubbed his eyes. He saw the exact same persons, and ended up staring at the female.
'Why is she blue?' he thought.
At this, the woman and the pirate noticed that he was awake, and turned to look at him.
"You're awake," said the woman.
Mitsuhiko could not answer. He was too busy staring at the woman for that.
The pirate moved beside Mitsuhiko's bed, and sat on a chair.
"Hey, kid, stop staring at the Water Elf, she'll think yer a pervert," he said.
This caused Mitsuhiko to quickly avert his gaze from the woman, his face a furious red.
The woman, water elf, chuckled at this.
"Don't worry about it child, I'm not offended. And Rhubarb, don't say stuff like that in front of kids."
She moved closer to Mitsuhiko, who blushed even more.
The woman, oblivious to Mitsuhiko's predicament, sat on the bed, and asked the boy.
"How are you feeling?"
It took Mitsuhiko a full five minutes to calm himself. When he finally thought he could control himself, he said.
"J-just fine, um, elf-san, who are you? Are you really an elf? But I thought elves weren't real! And where am I? And-" he stopped when the elf raised her hands.
"Please, a few questions at a time. My name is Aquella. Yes, I am an elf. Yes, elves are real, and there are even different types, I am a Water Elf. You are in the ship called The Red Betty," she said.
"Finest pirate ship in the whole of Lore!" boasted Rhubarb.
Aquella and Mitsuhiko ignored him.
"Aquella-san, how did I get here? And, um, I'm Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya," Mitsuhiko asked.
It was Rhubarb who answered.
"We were about to dock to port when this portal suddenly appeared on the deck. The portal dumped ye into me ship," he said.
"Mitsuhiko, what can you remember from yesterday?" added Aquella.
Mitsuhiko became silent for a few seconds.
"We spent the whole day on Professor Agasa's, then Ayumi, Genta, and I went home in the afternoon. Ayumi and I were nearly to her house when we saw this bright light," he said.
Aquella nodded, her head resting on a chin. "I see, Mitsuhiko, I'm afraid to tell you this, but it would seem as if the portal transported you into a different world entirely."
Mitsuhiko heard this, and panic began to creep up the spine of the boy. No amount of time spent with the Detective Boys could have prepared him for this. Tears started to well from his eyes.
Rhubarb noticed this, and clapped a hand onto Mitsuhiko's back.
"I wouldn't worry if I were ye kid. Aquella's already looking for the source of the portal and even got the great mage Warlic to help," he said.
Mitsuhiko rubbed his back, and managed to muster a small smile at the pirate.
"Warlic will go to Lolosia to gather what remains of the energy signature," said Aquella, "He will arrive in a few days. He would have gone sooner, but a predicament involving him fading in and out, two rarely seen Saleks, and some disrupted timelines, prevented him from coming immediately."
Rhubarb nodded and Mitsuhiko gave a sigh of relief. If the two of them had so much faith for this Warlic, it meant that he was very good at what he does. And at this point, after he found out he was in another world, that elves are real, and time travel is possible, Mitsuhiko was sure magic existed, despite going against everything he and Conan had believed in.
Aquella was now talking to Rhubarb.
"Now there is the matter of where he will be staying," she said.
"I'll see if Gibet has some rooms open," said Rhubarb.
He stood up, and held Mitsuhiko by the collar. Mitsuhiko tried to struggle, but found it difficult while being suspended in air. The boy looked at Aquella, who simply smiled and shrugged.
"Come on kid, we're going to Gibet and see if she has some space left for ye," said Rhubarb.
He put down Mitsuhiko when they got off the Red Betty. Mitsuhiko never had the time to complain, as Rhubarb was already walking away into the unfamiliar town.
They arrived at a simple looking inn after twenty minutes of walking. It was colored yellow, had two floors, and a sign that said 'Gibet's' swung in the wind.
Rhubarb stopped at the entrance of the inn.
"This is 'Gibet's', the most popular pub here in Lolosia. The place is run by Ruisha Gibet," he said.
He and Mitsuhiko entered the inn.
At the bar, which also served as the front desk, was a woman wearing a white and red shirt, with the collar of the shirt left open in a way that showed the top part of her cleavage. She looked at the newcomers.
"If it isn't Captain Rhubarb, what can I do for you, and who is the little youngster?" she said.
Rhubarb crossed the room and into the desk, with Mitsuhiko following close behind.
"This is the boy that caused the light in me ship. Turns out 'twas a portal from some world, the portal dumped him in the deck," he cleared his throat, "He needs a room for a few days, do ye have any?"
Gibet raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so this is the kid that has made recent talk here in Lolosia," she said, "You wouldn't believe the rumors that had bubbled up when a light erupted from the Red Betty. I've heard people talking about ghosts, demons, and even Twilly. But it looks like the truth is much more fantastic than the rumors."
She reached down, and pulled out a rusted key.
"This is the only room left, so it'll have to do. It's on the second floor, last one on the right," she said, handing Rhubarb the key.
The pirate took the key and headed for the room, Mitsuhiko following close behind.
The room, it turned out, was a Spartan style space with only the bare essentials for a guest room. There was a bed, a table, a chair, and a cabinet…and nothing else save for the toilet and the sink.
"Not the best rooms out there, but this isn't the time to be picky," said Rhubarb
But Mitsuhiko was not know for being choosy, and gladly accepted the room.
"I hope I'm not going to be burden Rhubarb-san," he said, only for Rhubarb to wave his hand absent-mindedly.
"Don't worry about it, we pirates may be called sea scourge, but we never attack those who haven't wronged us, and always help those in need."
"Whoa! You're a pirate?" asked Mitsuhiko, in awe at the revelation.
Rhubarb grinned, and pounded his chest.
"Ye me boy, are looking at captain Rhubarb, Captain of the most feared ship in all of Lore, and the most feared and respected Pirate in the face of the world!"
This only helped to increase Mitsuhiko's sense of wonder.
"Can I be a pirate too?"
At this, Rhubarb adopted a serious expression. He shook his head.
"Now, no. Ye still haven't got what it takes to brave the uncharted waters that the red Betty sails to," he said, and Mistuhiko's face fell.
Rhubarb saw this, and smirked.
"But I never said anything not taking ye in didn't I? Ye will not be sailing in the Red Betty until I say yer ready, but while yer waiting for me to say yes, ye can train yer body and mind to face the dangers that a pirate encounters," he said.
Mitsuhiko brightened considerably after that. He was eager to begin.
"When can I start?"
Rhubarb laughed at this. It looked like he has found a potential crewman.
"Now. And yer first mission is run from here to the Betty and back, I'll be waiting for ye."
Mitsuhiko's jaw dropped.
"But, that's too far away!" he said, only for Rhubarb to look at him, his eye shining with malice.
"Too far away is it? Ye better start to obey orders from me if ye want to become a pirate. Now get going before I make you walk off the plank!"
"A-aye!" and Mitsuhiko took off from the room and towards the Red Betty at blinding speed.
Author's note: Expect the next update in April. I hope you enjoy this. Please read and review!