The Follow-Up Inverter
Hello all, Phaazed here!
So, uh, this is an interesting one. I'm not sure how many of you know the existence of this webseries on Youtube, but... Well, it's such an honestly well-made series (and the individual is originally Spanish, yet they go out of their way to make everything as properly English as they can make it), that I felt it necessary to pay it a proper homage in whatever way I could. My solution? Fanfiction. Promote the ever-living shit out of this series in the only real way that I have access to. Yeah, I know, it could easily be classified as bad form to be doing this while the series is still technically in development, but as was previously stated by Geo_Exe themselves, the most recent episode (being the 8th at the time of this writing, on October 11th, 2020), this episode shown is the penultimate episode. Second to last.
To be frank? I don't know how to feel about a series as amazing as the one they managed to create ending so quickly, at least in terms of number of episodes made. Maybe they'll continue the story in the form of a comic-style webseries, maybe they'll leave it to stand as is... it's up to them, really. But I'll be damned if I don't make sure that this series is in the hearts of as many people as I can reach out to, especially those who find a love for it as I had upon seeing the pilot episode that fateful day 4 years ago. So, please, before reading any of this Fanfiction, I implore you as the reader; go watch this series.
Well, enough rabble rousing. Onst with the tale!
(DISCLAIMER: The following is a non-profit, fan-based parody. The plot of Gwain Saga, the original and featured characters of Gwain Saga, and the world depicted by Geo_Exe are all owned by their respective owners. I, Phaazed, claim zero ownership to all property with the exemption of any of my inserted characters, and the plotline that is established in this Fanfiction and in no other location. Please support the official owners.)
The Follow-Up Inverter
A Gwain Saga Fanfiction
Chapter 1: Follow-Up Humans Land No Softer
It's a beautiful, shining day in the large city that I reside, a day much like many others that have come and gone through the annuls of history. The springtime breeze flows through the buildings with little guidance from the people on the streets below, howling their glory for time immemorial. The citizens of the city pay little heed to such things, however, all of them bustling along on their own time constraints, whether it be for work, errands, or maybe just even trying to get home and catch the next episode of their favorite TV series.
Me? I'm doing no such hurrying. I've got nothing but time at this point anyway. TV shows? Bah, I'm almost always down for video games over those, and I am an introvert, so I don't really have friends beside those online. Work? Done for the day, and today was my last day at the job that I was at due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. Errands? Already got all the food I needed for the day, simple eats at a local BBQ place that's relatively cheap, and I have no other pressing matters in my small apartment.
There is a reason why I'm just meandering along though.
I'm trying to find beauty in the world again.
That's all you ever hear about on news stations and online wherever you may go: war, destruction of nature, humans being just a deplorable species in general... you get my gist. I mean, shit, I'm technically contributing to the problem by being passive on it; things don't get done when people sit on their asses, twiddling their thumbs, do they? No, of course not.
However, it's hard to muster up a reason to care when all you are to the governments around you, along with your superiors and co-workers in the workforce, is a cash cow to be milked for all it's worth. As an old friend of mine once wrote in a note to me before leaving to find new horizons; "It's hard to think about your place in the world at large, because you quickly begin to realize just how insignificant a drop you are in this ocean of humanity, and it's not a clean ocean by any standards."
Awful to think about, but sometimes your mind drags you through barren lands of self-hatred and spite without your own consent to the matter.
And by the way? My name's Chris. Simple name for a simple guy, yeah? I'm 22 years old as of 8 months prior to this, and I wear glasses, though I'm not clinically blind, thank god: I only need minor correction to prevent headaches. I'm 6' even with my shoes on (183 cm), 190 lbs (86 kg), dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. On days like today, I'm normally seen wearing a dark colored T-Shirt with a band name on it (this one happening to be a band well known for their dueling dual lead guitars and powerful vocals about the darker side of things), a pair of jeans, black tennis shoes, and a charcoal gray windbreaker to top the look.
I've been about the city for the last 4 hours or so, just milling along and minding my own business, with those around me doing much the same. My headphones on and a small pack with a change of clothes and my charging cables slung across my back, I stand out no more than the average passerby on the streets at thereabouts of 7 pm. The sun is starting to head down, but I figure that I can make one last stop and chill out for a short while before making the 10 minute trek back to my cheap apartment.
Said stop? A large tree in the center of a large park within the city, resting at the crest of a hill, and reaching on high into the air with the grace that only an object that has stood the test of time for years longer than I have lived could hold. I plop down and recline against the old bark, as I'm certain that many others before me have done, and will do long before that tree is gone.
Little did I know that this is the same tree that one known as Geo rested against a couple years ago, and that this location is exceedingly close to a dimensional rip that gives a technically two-way but exceedingly difficult to find on the flip side trip to a land of magic, possible adventure, and unknown hostility.
And that was the moment that said dimensional rift decided to shift from its normal location, being underneath the tree's roots, making an increase in elevation relative to sea level and slightly toward the easterly direction.
For those unaware, I was sitting on the east side of the tree.
I was minding my own business, listening to some music (I can't confirm anything, but I can assure you that the band's name absolutely doesn't have any relation to the phrase "repaid seven times over", and it involves personally getting released), bobbing my head to the beat with my eyes closed.
Imagine my great surprise when I open my eyes to see that I had a glowing gold light rise in front of me, and then shoot off into the sky. Then another, and another. I place my hand on the tree and make to stand, but little did I know that I had already been beyond the point of no return. Halfway up to my feet, I lose my grip of the tree, mostly because it's not there anymore what the hell, and I'm suddenly very light. Like, weightless. Almost as though I'm not being supported by ground at all.
I glance downward.
There is only open air beneath me.
Oh.
...OH FUCK!
"Oh, FUCK!" I verbally shriek, realizing that I'm now plummeting downward with no way to break my fall. Panic sets in hard, before I remember a video on YouTube that I watched a fair while ago that explains exactly what to do in this situation. I manage to figure out how to twist my body into a spread-eagle position, having never done this before, and make an attempt to scan for anything to break my fall and maybe allow me to not die horribly on landing.
The key word in the series of events playing out here is try, as I get all of 2 seconds to glance around before slamming, belly-first, into the face of a mountain.
I feel my bones rattle violently in protest to the sudden change in velocity, going from terminal to zero and rebounding off the mountain near instantly, dazing me horribly.
Maybe that's why I only barely notice the 12 other impacts against the mountain face, each one tearing a gouge into it as my (unbeknownst to me) increased body mass and durability tear the mountain a new one on each impact.
I finally land amongst some trees, the heavy foliage only barely managing to keep together as I smash through, and wind up face first on the forest floor, shaken and definitely stirred.
I take several long moments to gather my bearings, questioning how I managed to survive such an event, before taking stock of my situation. I forego deciding to try and stand, and instead move my appendages about to check if they're injured. Upper arm, lower arm, hand. Upper arm, lower arm, hand. Leg, foot. Leg, foot. Appendages seem fine.
Next, I attempt to roll over. The key word is attempt. I put down my right arm and push with the force normally required to complete the task, and am horrifically startled to suddenly be sent hurdling through the air at high speeds into a tree, and subsequently through said tree. I land on my side, and roll several times, coming to a stop of my left side. Blinking multiple times in bafflement, I look at the tree that I hit, and am shocked to see the point of impact between me and the tree completely obliterated.
"Holy shit." I mutter, before simply twisting my body and resting on my back, which leads to another realization.
My pack is still on my back, and the strap looks completely fine.
What the hell?
I sit up, looking at my pack in shock, before reaching up and feeling that my headphones are now on my neck rather than my head, a shocking turn of events considering the ordeal that was just experienced, and they look none the worse for wear, outside of a few scuffs. I take stock of my inventory by pulling my pack off, which oddly feels about the same in terms of weight as it did before I wound up in this mad situation. Odd considering just how much strength my muscles clearly have now. I sigh, pulling out my phone and reveling in the fact that it looks the exact same as it did before. So I have this at least, though I have no idea if timescales or even whatever power this world does have access to with even work with it. One step at a time, Chris. You're getting ahead of yourself.
Survival priority one: Find a way to get to civilization. Shelter if not findable within the timeframe of daylight.
I stand up, finding difficulty in even that task with how odd my being feels. Like... heavy, but not? I couldn't possibly describe it with my feeble human brain at this moment. Baby steps it is, then. I need to get this down, and fast. I stop inspecting my phone and put it into my pack, along with my headphones, and sling my pack back on.
I take a step. Everything comes so easily that I overshoot my foot placement by a long margin and nearly do a full split. I get back up and try again, gentler this time. It works. I do it again. Some wobbliness this time. Another, another. With each step, it's getting easier to get back into walking, much like riding a bike, and my body finally getting used to itself. Before long, I find what looks to be a well-trodden path. Normal route for some folk? Must be. I pick a direction at random, and start walking again. From there, I get to a power walk. Then a light jog. Full jog. Fast jog. Run. Sprint. The way before me is clear, and I quickly found my stride at a steady sprint, keeping my breathing stable as I power forward, my feet tearing deep troughs into the path behind me. To be frank, I could care less; I needed to try and find somewhere out of the elements before night fell. I keep running, increasing my pace to a dead sprint, maximum effort: The world passes in a blur, the greenery of trees and plants melding into a blur as the beginning stages of tunnel vision begin to affect my eyes.
I keep the speed on, running hard and fast, before I finally catch something in the distance: what appears to be a castle, bright and white in stark contrast to the greenery around it. I change course slightly, heading straight for the castle.
Hopefully I can at least get some directions. Given that I can even communicate. Baby steps. It's just starting to get to be twilight, the sun (with its big-ass magic circle around it) only just beginning to touch down on the horizon. I have no time to waste.
I run up to the gates, slowing down drastically on my approach down to what would be considered a light jog for the humans of my home world. As I approach the gate, a male voice resonates, coming from a humanoid figure standing to my right of the gate, covered in armor, with the exception of his head, with him having long lavender hair and eyes, and his body fully covered by armor and black fabrics.
"Halt!" the voice calls, filling me with great relief that they at least speak a language similar to English, whether the write it the same or otherwise, that's at least a starting point. "State your business, young lad!"
"Apologies, I'm just horrifically lost, and am looking for the way back to the city!" I call back, stopping where I stand, in case the individual is under orders to attack anybody coming within a certain distance of the castle. You can never be too certain in a situation with a guard outside a place of importance.
"Ah, I understand young man, but you are a fair way off from Gwain City. Please pardon me for a moment, I'm going to see if there's anything we can do for you here, especially in your predicament of being out of magic!"
Eh?
How could this person tell that I'm out of magic, if I even had any? Is there some kind of tell? As far as I know, I look much like he does...
"That would be appreciated, sir! I ran into some local fauna that decided to try and make me an easy meal and I had to hold them off!" I reply, banking on the fact that the world being magic, based on this man's words, would have dangerous fauna.
"Understandable, there are some quite dangerous beings about here, so please come up to the gate as I send an inquiry to the Queen to see what shall be done." the man calls back, and hearing his words, I walk up to the gate. I make no moves to enter, and he nods. "Wait here, I'll return shortly. The others will make sure no other wildlife bothers you."
"Heard sir, and thank you." I reply, falling into an old habit of replying "heard" as a confirmation to vocal statements. I watch as he waves his hand over his shoulder as he briskly walks off, before I turn around and intently stare forward into the forest.
Little was I aware as to how dangerous a predicament I was about to find myself...
-With the Guard-
Eolo is far from a moronic individual. His no-nonsense attitude has made him as observant as he can be, partially in an attempt to prove himself as being a better guard than others, but also in his personal pride as being one of the guards of Queen Gwain and Princess Ami. His no-nonsense attitude has already tested that Geo fellow once, making sure his aptitude as a guard was founded. He was thankful to not be disappointed, as his strike toward Princess Ami would have certainly wounded her rather badly had Geo not intervened. And now...
Now he's run across someone who claims to be horrifically lost, all while not being far from the nearby Gwain City. This individual also has the same bone-white hair as Geo did, and he can vividly recall what occurred when Gwain first met Geo. After all, the castle shook with a mere two of her blows against him. She was out for his blood.
Eolo is smart enough to put two and two together without much effort.
On that same note, he doesn't wish for a young man, who for all intents and purposes could very well not be lying at all, to be placed in a truly difficult situation, even more so than he already seemed to be.
It was with that thought, along with hope in his soul, that Gwain wouldn't engage this young lad like she had Geo after he told her his suspicions. For if this man was like Geo and was... whatever the hell Geo even is, then may the gods have mercy upon him.
He stood straight and proud as he politely knocked on the door to Gwain's private quarters, the queen having retired for the night a mere 20 minutes ago. He waited for 3 minutes before calling through the door.
"Queen Gwain, a moment of your time?" he requested, and stepped back at attention to await response.
A mere 20 seconds later, her highness opened the door, a curious look on her face. Eolo would take this happily, as her being curious was a far better result than her being miffed, as was wont to happen at her being interrupted in the evening.
"Eolo, what do you need? It's rare that you call upon me like this." Gwain asked, opening her door fully to reveal her in casual wear rather than her nightwear.
"Milady, there's a young man at the front gates that claims to be horrifically lost, and has also claimed to have to fight off indigenous fauna in order to get here." Eolo began, maintaining attention.
Gwain's face transitioned from curious to serious, while still quirking a brow at his statement. "Oh? That is odd. But there's more, isn't there?" she asked.
Eolo nodded, quietly swallowing his nervousness down as he hopes his next words do not trigger Gwain's known apocalyptic fury. "Ma'am, he... appears to be very similar to that Geo fellow. He also seems to be telling the truth, though I wouldn't put it beyond this stranger to lie, as he is just such: a stranger."
Gwain noticeably froze, her face showing disbelief. "What?" She asked quietly, uncertain if she heard him right the first time.
Eolo nodded. "It's as I said, ma'am. He appears to be the same as Geo. Bone white hair, clothing somewhat dissimilar to our own... it's a perfect match, outside of him not having any weaponry. Just a pack on his back and whatever he's wearing." Eolo reiterated.
Gwain's posture steadily transitioned from frozen disbelief to palpable fury. Eolo's fear had been realized; he had brought forth Gwain's rage, and could only hope that the results weren't catastrophic for the castle at large. "I... see." Gwain grits out, her teeth clenched so hard that Eolo swears that he hears her jaw creaking in protest. "Then... let us pay him a visit, shall we?"
With these words ground out with enough malice to ward away even the most hostile of spirits, Gwain turns and heads the way Eolo came from; straight to the main gate. Eolo, understanding that Gwain was nowhere in the realm of joking about, followed quietly, giving no words to either dissuade nor encourage the infuriated queen.
-With Chris-
I get a disconcerting feeling of dread all of a sudden, the sense of impending doom that nearly all humans have screaming at me to run to the hills. I know that it's not a wise move, as humans have gut instincts such as these for the reason of survival, but even so, I remain stationary.
Until I see a glint of yellow-gold light in the peripheral of my right eye, as I had been looking to the right in a moment of marveling the forest around me once more.
I throw myself to my body's left in an instant, the ground below me cratering as I see a lance of yellow-gold shoot through where I had been standing mere instants prior.
I barely get a chance to land and look toward the source before a leg, clad in black skin-tight fabric, slams into my face, hitting me across the mouth. While my jaw was able to take the abuse, it certainly wasn't happy to do so, and I get stunned for a moment, being rewarded with another impact, this one sending burning pain into my right kidney from a fist surrounded by what has to be magic. I crumple to the ground, gasping for air as I try to look up at my assailant.
My first note: that's a lot of hair. Hair matching the hue of energy that has just attacked me going to the knees, almost ankles, of my assailant. I continue to force my head upward, seeing a regal-looking lady with enough muscle on her to really hurt, as I had already learned, and a face looking set to murder the nearest thing glaring down at me. I try to wheeze out a word, a cough, anything, but all I get is silence from my vocal chords for the moment.
Any further attempt to observe to lady before me is cut off by a fist slamming down onto the top of my head, rattling my entire skeleton as the energy shock raced through me into the ground. I merely sit there, heaving, as the lady huffs in irritation.
"You know, I expected more of a fight from a filthy human." she states coldly, and I manage to gain enough bearings to look up at her and respond.
"I do apologize for the failure to impress ma'am, but please understand that I am not combat trained and don't like fighting anyway..." I manage to get out breathily, not having quite recovered enough to fully speak.
"Shame." she states impassively. She does pause for a moment though, before asking a question. "Say, if you tell me how you got here, I just might let you live through the night. I would like to know how humans get here, and how to stop it."
I sigh. "So, I'm gonna die anyway? Damn, I'm only 22. Well, I can't tell you exactly how I got here-" I start, and the lady's eyes narrow threateningly "-because I have no idea. I was just sitting under a tree, minding my own business after having taken a walk through the city I lived in, and suddenly, glowing orbs went into the air in front of me. Before I could do anything like get away from the area, I was freefalling from the clouds into a mountain." I explain, the lady's face going from hateful to thoughtful.
"A dimensional rift, then? No way to close it, that's for sure..." the she mutters, before refocusing on me. "Tell me, human. Where was this place you fell from?"
"Over the biggest of the formation of three mountains in that rough direction there. There were a bunch of other mountains too, but it was mostly dominated by three big ones." I state, pointing behind her head. The lady merely nods, before her face returns to a glare.
"I see. Well, that was an enlightening chat. Good night, human." She states, and before I know it, I'm getting slammed again by her foot, this time directly into my temple.
I didn't really know much more than blackness after that one.
-With Gwain-
Gwain sighs in relief as the human in front of her crumples to the ground, his eyes open wide but clearly unseeing. Unconscious in a single clean strike.
She'd pat herself on the back for not letting any rust set in on her combat abilities if time weren't of the essence. This human could wake up at any time.
That was a risk she wouldn't take without him being restrained as tightly as her security could get him.
"Eolo! B-Top!"
With the diligence of the guards being proven once again with how quickly the response came, Eolo and B-Top were there in a moment. Gwain gestured to the downed human, nudging him with her foot to show no threat being presented.
"Take the human to the high security containment in the lower floor of the castle. Highest level magic. He cannot be allowed a chance to run free without me getting him to comply to my demands. I'm returning to my quarters."
"Ma'am!" Eolo and B-Top respond immediately, B-Top lifting the human with only minor difficulty, and Eolo leading the way to get the security set up.
A mere 5 minutes later and Gwain is within her private quarters once again, except now, she's in her sleepwear. She sits on her bed and places her head in her hands in frustration.
"Damn, now there's another one. They just keep coming out of the woodwork, I swear. If push comes to shove, I suppose I can use Geo as leverage on this one..." she ponders, before lying down. "I'll need to think about this tomorrow. It's too late to do anything now."
-With Chris-
The blackness of unconsciousness lifts slowly from me, and I wake on the floor. I take some time before opening my eyes and looking around and seeing a stereotypical dungeon room, with some changes. There's a brace around my ankle, pulsing with five glowing white runes, and the door at the front of the small room, which has a small bed, tiny table, and toilet, has the same runes glowing around it.
"Well. Guess I'm not out of here any time soon." I mutter quietly. Rather than struggle to ponder a solution to my problem, I instead sigh. "Fuck it, she said she was going to kill me at some point. May as well try to get comfy before I die."
I move to lie down on the rickety bed, and settle in for a long night.
What a fucking day.
A/N: Done! With the first chapter, comes the first of a possible (maybe, I dunno) commitment! I just need to get motivation to write a bit more often, I guess.
To anybody willing, please, leave a review, so long as it's constructive or just being nice. Flames will be used to heat dishwater, so try to be reasonable and constructive with any criticism.
My Discord: discord. gg/XtPKKd7
Take out those spaces and you're golden! Now, off to the land of rest myself. I hope you all have a good rest of your morning/day/evening/night, and I'll see ya when I see ya!
-Phaazed