I am Louis Starsky, age nineteen. For whatever reason, I can travel to dimensions that are considered fictional. To put things simply, the video game characters I used to control and the animated characters I used to watch have become people who I can actually talk to. It sounds like a dream come true, right? It would be I had more control over where I wind up..
So far, every time I find a nice new place to hang out, something comes up and I have to flee from everyone I met and everything I accomplished in that world and start all over.. Maybe this really is a divine punishment. If I keep having to run away from every world that I go to, there's eventually going to be nothing left. And then what..?
"And then you become exhausted."
A clear voice sounded in my mind just now. Whoever it was must be nearby. After several fruitless scans of the area around me, the source of the voice decides to draw my attention directly from my right side. As I finally look at the creature who contacted me, I immediately realize the nature of the dimension that I stumbled upon.
"Speaking of energy, the quantity inside of you is well above average."
"You must be imagining things," I assured it. "There's nothing special about me.. well, besides that fact that I'm from another dimension."
"Are you for real? Is there really a human civilization that is capable of dimensional travel?"
"Not that I know of.. The fact that I'm here is more or less a fluke."
Before I knew it, I was under interrogation by the extra terrestrial of this dimension. Kyubey huh..? So much for my streak of meeting consecutive ladies..
The Road Paved in Concepts: (1-3) Broken Patterns, Second Maiden
"One of the fundamental secrets of dimensional travel is being aware of other dimensions. Do you know how you are aware of this place?"
"Where I come from, this place exists as a fiction," I answer with a sigh. "That fiction is a tale of how you persuade innocent teenagers to become magical girls for some higher purpose."
"Oh I see. That's very interesting."
Ever since this alien animal started talking to me, he kept going as if our terms with each other are casual. Why would Kyubey even bother with me anyways? Doesn't he have schoolgirl lives to ruin?
"If that is the case then I wonder what brings you here," Kyubey continues. "Since it sounds like you have a fair understanding of the universal mechanics here, would you like to become my recruiting assistant?"
"Yeah... that's not going to happen."
"Then do you intend to interfere with our goals?" he asks while lazily collapsing on its side.
"I really don't think I could pull that off either. Look, I'm just your ordinary inter-dimensional visitor. Don't worry about me too much."
Kyubey stretches its forepaws. "Even if you say that, your friend that arrived here with you is displaying an immense energy reading."
[BGM~0IDOo7nztHA "Highland (Quest 64)"]
"What friend..? I came here alone."
"Is that so?" Kyubey responds while observing how dumbfounded I am. "Well someone definitely emerged from the same warp that you came from. Do you really have no idea of who it could be?"
It has to be Lulu. Did she decide to follow me? "Take me there, please!"
"All right, follow me. I was going to head there anyways."
I didn't see this coming at all. I was starting to believe that I was only one that can go through those dimensional warps. It's just like Lulu to be curious at something like that but she really shouldn't have followed me. I don't even know if there's going to be a way for her to get back home at the way things are going..
Upon returning to the hospital, a new imperfection catches my eye instantly. An all-too-familiar object is lodged in one of the building's pillars. This must be why Kyubey wanted to be here.
"I started off here not knowing where I was," I say aloud. "Seeing a Grief Seed in this place makes me realize exactly where I am.. and what lies ahead."
"You understand how dangerous it will be inside of this area and yet your friend is in there wandering without a clue. What will you do from here?"
"I'm going in, of course."
I say that with certainty but honestly, my confidence isn't the greatest right now. Out of all this world's labyrinths I saw from online, why do I have to deal with this one? I ultimately decide to swallow my doubts and move forward.. Lulu would probably have fun in these kind of surreal settings.. of course places like these are not meant for playing around.
[Fade BGM]
Another human being stood at the entrance just as Kyubey and I arrived. She whips around to face us the moment our presence is detected. After studying my existence for a long moment, she convinces herself that I am not a threat once she sees who is with me.
"Huh..? Kyubey? Who is this?"
There is only one magical girl on site; a graceful-looking individual with two curly blonde pigtails and bright hazel eyes that seem adept at judging character. I decide to state my purpose to the fair valkyrie quickly.
"Hello Ms. Tomoe, I am Louis Starsky. A friend of mine is trapped inside of here. I came here to investigate."
Tomoe glances lightly at Kyubey before responding. "I see. Rest assured that I have everything under control. I will keep an eye out for your friend and rescue him or her accordingly."
"I know it's dangerous but I want to tag along," I insisted. "I'll make sure not to hold you back."
"..What should I do, Kyubey?"
"Let this boy go with you. This is a very rare and interesting development."
Something struck me as off with the exchange of words. Since when was Tomoe so loyal to the one who took control of her life? Or was it that she had no idea of her predicament until later? Wait, that doesn't sound right either because when she and Kyubey first met, everything became clear to her shortly after. This sucks. I don't remember as much about this world compared to the others since it's more recent and I only ran through it once. Either way, this is no time for internal monologue. The scenery is changing while I'm wasting time like this!
[BGM~Rt01YBiWmhA "Blazing Internet (Megaman Network Transmission)"]
Three undefined small creatures face us with the intent of preventing our advance. The bizarre appearance of the foes are even stranger than the surreal environment itself. Looking at the mouse-eared jumble of patterns is much more trippy in person.
"Company, move out!" sounded Mami as she sprang into action.
She generated a one-shot rifle with an experienced motion and blasted one of the monsters out of commission. She discarded the used weapon directly after words. So that's how Mami's fighting style works! I was having a hard time remembering. I can't help think that there's something else I should be recalling too..
One of the oddities heads in my direction. I counterattack its lunge with a hard vertical swing, bouncing the enemy off the ground. Their floaty nature allows me to see an opportunity for a follow-up, so I launch a horizontal gale that finishes the monster off from mid-range. Looking to my right, I notice that Tomoe was watching me.
"Interesting," she commented. "I never expected to get competition from someone like you."
"Ah, it's not really like that.."
The remaining creature decides to attack Tomoe while her back is turned. She quickly read my warning expression and phases out of the monster's range in the blink of an eye. My eyes failed to discover her new location before I notice a perfect circle of rifles surrounding the poor thing that tried to pounce her..
"One Ring Circus."
One-by-one, the rifles unloaded their rounds displaying an impressive barrage of firepower. The last shell sends the target tumbling helplessly towards the inner field. Unfortunately for it, Mami stood at the end of its trajectory with a giant fuse cannon that was lit. The rest of the sequence becomes predictable once the monster falls perfectly inside the giant tube.
"Have a safe trip," the blond show-off says with a smirk.
I shout "KO!" on impulse, but the sound of the final cannon blast was definitely too loud for anyone to catch that. I definitely don't remember seeing an attack like that in the animation before.. Perhaps it originated from a different source?
[BGM~lb88VsHVDbw "Forest Temple (Zelda OoT)"]
"Mami Tomoe is in a good mood today.." Kyubey remarks after coming out of hiding. "Louis Starsky, the way you hold your own in a place like this is far from ordinary. Were you lying to me before?"
When I think about it, ever since I learned barrage attacks from Patchouli Knowledge, it's become more difficult for others to dismiss me as an average person. I can't even begin to describe why I have a problem with that in the first place.
"What did you think of that finisher?" asks a confident magical girl. "This was its first use in a real situation."
"About that.."
"Yes?"
"It was undeniably impressive," I admit. "But how much of that was even necessary against that minion? You even named it.."
My answer appears to visibly shock Tomoe. Was I too honest?
"I-Is naming my attacks really that strange?"
"That's not really the problem.."
I could think of several stranger developments right off the bat. A few moments ago, this girl was rightfully wary of my existence and now she seems relaxed after just one skirmish. What's with her? I wish I could remember more. I still feel like I'm forgetting something important. I should utilize the time navigating this pastry-filled maze into recalling everything I can..
Doors that connect to nothing yet lead to new areas.. cream-filled platforms.. more of the indescribable critters.. no real clue as to which way is forward with the exception of crumbs that we would occasionally tear off the terrain.. and still no sign of Lulu. Eventually our travels reach the middle of a large bridge with a spooky view.
"Mr. Starsky is your name, correct?" Tomoe asks.
"Louis works too."
"I see. Then Louis, what kind of person are you looking for?"
I ponder for a moment. "Let's see. She's small, has purple skin, wears a strange red robe, a pointy hat, curly shoes, and she carries a big stick."
"...?" Tomoe looks confused.
"Oh that's right! I have a card with her picture on it if my description wasn't strange enough."
I quickly brandish the card and prove to her and Kyubey that I'm not completely insane.
"You're looking for someone like this?" Mami remarks in disbelief. "Is your friend by any chance.. the witch of this place?"
"Oh no, it's nothing like that. You see, she's not from around here, just like me."
"More specifically," Kyubey added. "Louis Starsky and his friend are from a faraway dimension."
"Amazing.."
Here we go again. I'm with an alien psychic and a gun-spawning magical girl, and people are calling me amazing. Maybe logic has become a thing of the past. Either way, it looks like the time for talk is over.
[Replay "Blazing Internet"]
Two of the undefined creatures approach us from opposite sides; they are much larger than the ones from before.
"This looks like an ambush," Mami stated calmly. "Be careful."
The creature closest to me lets out a high-pitched squeal. At the end of the annoying wail, three more average-sized cretins accompany it.
"We may need a plan this time, Ms. Tomoe."
I glance to my partner's side and notice that a yellow helix made of ribbon surrounds her. As Tomoe manipulates the ribbon to constrict the foe in front of her, I feel like I'm starting to remember more vague memories of her.
"Louis Starsky," Kyubey calls from a distant telepathy. "How come you do not ever use your contracts in battle?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"That card you showed us is an older form of a contract that you forged with the girl in the picture. If you hold it close and call her name, she should come to you."
...
"I don't even know what my first Spell Card does yet."
"So that's what it is. The Spell Card Louis controls is capable of simultaneous summoning rituals. It sounds powerful in theory, but if they're all blank.."
...
"Lady Lulu's image is on this card. This card looks to be a bond forged into a physical contract."
"Yippee! When I look at this, I think it means that we'll always be together!"
...
How the hell did all of that slip my mind? I've been looking for Lulu all this time while carrying the means to find her! Alright, if simply calling your name is all that I have to do, then I need you now.. Lulu!
A bright red laser projects from the face of the card to the chocolate eclair surface. The light grows and morphs into a familiar small figure.
"Ta-dah!" shouted the summoned girl as she waved her oversized staff at the crowd of cretins. "Cuddly incoming!"
The four undefined creatures near me were turned into miniature cupcakes, which ironically made them blend in with the dessert filled labyrinth much better.
"What impressive magic," says Tomoe as she conjures a dozen rifles towards the altered monsters. "It would be a waste not to follow-up."
I aim for the largest confection with a directional barrage while Tomoe bombards the rest of the minions. The combined assault wipes out the entire mob with the exception of the sole creature that Tomoe tied up earlier. She manipulates the ribbon web to fling the captive towards my direction. I instinctively swing down at the monster, slamming it hard and making it rebound off the pound cake floor. Tomoe finishes off the spiraling target with a precise skeet shot.
[Fade BGM]
"It looks like the two of you make a very strong combination together," Kyubey comments.
I sigh. "No matter what you say, I'm not very strong at all. I'm weak, and I'm a coward."
Ironically, that's part of the reason I got here in the first place..
Tomoe politely jumped in the conversation. "Knowing one's own weaknesses is a sign of strength, or potential at the very least."
"Maybe so, but someone like me doesn't know the difference between pretending to be strong and truly being strong.. if that makes any sense."
"It does," she replies softly.
The strange look on Tomoe's face suggests that I struck a chord with her. Something's coming back to me.. I think this girl had a relatively similar conversation with the main character of this series. Yeah that's right.. this girl and Madoka, the pink-haired heroine, became closer friends in this setting. Something else important happened on the same episode too! Now what was it again..
"Cool..."
[BGM~Zq3q6Rd1jMk "Oh, I'm a Flamelet! (Seiken Densetsu 3)"]
Right, I almost forgot that I made a summon just now. Lulu seems to be enjoying the fact that she's surrounded by sweets.
"Hey Lulu, is everything okay?" I ask while failing to break her daze. "Hey, Lulu!"
"Huh? Oh yep! I held the bear off until its owner came to pick it up. Would you believe that humongous roarface was a pet all along? The owner's a total cutie pie too!"
"That's nice and all, but we need to figure out how to get you back home. It wasn't a good idea for you to wander off like that."
Lulu tilts her head. "Wander off? But Louie, I only came here because you called me."
"I mean before that. Kyubey said someone followed me through the portal and came here.." unless I was tricked?
"Oh!" cried Lulu finally remembering. "You must be talking about the purple-haired girl with the funny hat!"
"You are the purple-haired girl with the funny hat!"
I lightly hear giggling in the background coming from Ms. Tomoe. I'm glad someone's enjoying all of this but I wish Lulu would be a little more serious right now..
"Louis Starsky," signaled Kyubey. "I sense the energy of the one that followed you nearby. Lulu is not the one you're looking for."
[Fade BGM]
"What..? It's not Lulu? But who else could it be?"
"Hey, it might be the purple-haired girl with the funny hat!" Lulu repeated.
"Lulu, for the last time.." I started until a shocking theory came to mind. "Wait a second.. It can't be.."
I take off towards a suspicious door without thinking. There is someone waiting for me on the other side. Could it be..? The instant I push the door open, a small flying object beams me on the center of my forehead as a welcome. I look upwards just in time to notice that the object is coming back down for a second attack, so I catch it with my right hand.
This is... an apple?
"Louis Starsky, it is hard to keep promises with you if you are constantly on the move," sounded a voice in the room.
"Patchouli!" I shouted while rushing to the voice with the tossed red apple still in hand. "So you're the one that followed.. Woah."
A living decoration sat on top of Patchouli's funny hat. I've seen those large red ears and cute beady eyes before..
TO BE CONTINUED
