A Mysterious New World
Episode 11: Can Normal Ever Truly Return?
By Chessrook44
Chesrook: Well, here it is. I hope you read the last 2 chapters. Madison confessed her love to Lister (Sorry all you T&E, or Tomoyo and Eriol fans out there.), Fought in a war, and died. Sakura changed back to her normal self and drove off the remaining army alone. And now she has turned and run.
Sakura ran as quickly as she could back to Madison's body. When she finally got there, she found everyone gathered around in a circle. Sakura ran up and held Madison's body. It felt so cold to her touch.
"Madison. No. Please, don't. I."
Sakura broke down and cried. She was not alone in her sadness. Kero hung his head as he took off his helmet and placed it over his heart. Meilin began to cry. Li kept his face stern, but you could see his fists shaking at his sides. Lister stood still, tears beginning to form in his eyes. Emperor Chezrok and Sokkru were there as well. The Emperor said a prayer in a strange language as Sokkru made a star symbol with her left finger, touching in sequence her forehead, left hip, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and again her forehead, saying the following words as she touched each:
"Stars, Sun, Moon, Life, Death, Jurita."
Sakura wept for what seemed to her to be days, but in reality were only 5 minutes. Until, suddenly, an idea struck her. "Li." she muttered, lifting her head. She whirled to face him. "Li! You're a cleric! You can."
She was interrupted when she saw Li shake his head. "No, Sakura, I can't. I can't revive her. I'm not a h- I mean, I'm not skilled enough yet. I can't bring back the dead."
Sakura turned back to her friend's face. "You mean. She's."
"Dead forever." Li said, his voice faltering.
Lister lifted his head. "Maybe not." he said loudly, and dashed off. A minute later he came running back, the large book from TAGOR in his hands, Lister flipping frantically through it. Finally, he stopped on a page, his finger pointing. He turned to Sokkru. "Sokkru, can you take me here at once?"
Sokkru looked at the book and understanding appeared on her face. "I think I can," she said. She chanted a spell, and in moments she and Lister were gone.
A minute later, they returned with another person. This person was dressed in long robes, a sash with a crown symbol on it trailing from his belt. He had blue eyes and dark hair. "Eleron, can you do it?" Lister asked the man. The man silently nodded and moved to Madison's side. He motioned for Sakura to step away, and began to chant, his knobbed wooden staff waving over her. Slowly, a blue light surrounded Madison's body. Minutes that seemed like hours passed, until, finally, Madison stopped glowing and Eleron stepped back. Sakura rushed forward to her friend's side. Slowly, progressively, Madison's eyes began to open. "Madison!" Sakura shouted in glee. "You're alive! She's alive! Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you so much! Madison!"
Madison began to speak. "Unh. ooh. Wh. what happened"
"Madison, oh, thank God! How. how do you feel?"
"Well. My body hurts and I can't move. I can barely speak. but. why? The last thing I remember is seeing an orc's face, and then. I don't know."
"Madison, I don't know how to say this, but, well. you."
"You died," Li said sternly.
"I. I what?"
"You died," Sakura said. "We thought we were going to lose you forever. But then this man came and."
Madison smiled. "I see. A resurrection spell. Thank you. But, Sakura, you. you're you again! Are we."
"No, Madison, we're not home. I."
"OK, I think there has been enough conversation for now," Eleron said. "The woman has gone through a great ordeal and needs to rest to get her strength back. Is there anywhere she can go?"
"Yes," Sokkru said. "She can come to my. my living quarters."
"Very well. I shall need some assistance in transporting her."
"I can do it!" Sakura said, taking a card from her pocket. He staff had been found and returned as she wept, and she used it to release the Float card. Almost at once, Madison's body rose into the air. Sokkru and Sakura then took her to Sokkru's room in the basement and let Madison rest on Sokkru's bed. Upon arriving, Madison spoke up. "Laramie!"
"Madison, shh. Eleron said you need to conserve your strength," Sokkru said.
"No! Get Eleron into the TAGOR basement! Laramie is down there with a broken leg!"
"OK, I'll tell him. Sakura, you stay here."
Sakura nodded as Sokkru left and moved a chair next to the bed to sit on. "So, Sakura," Madison said. "I see the battle ended. What happened?" Sakura explained everything she knew. "I see, Sakura. But how did you change like that?"
"Care," said Sokkru, standing in the doorway. "Sakura cared for you a lot, Madison. A myth says that caring enough for someone who has just passed can break through any spell. I never thought it to be true." Sokkru sat in another chair next to the bed. "Sakura, your change to a full-grown elvin sorceress was a side effect of the spell I cast to bring you here. Your care and love for Madison broke through the spell's effects, thus giving you what you wanted- this magic of yours. You must explain it t-"
"Not now, Sokkru," Sakura said. "Right now, I just want to be with Madison."
Time passed, and the others came to visit Madison. Meilin ran in and hugged Madison very tightly, relieved that she was going to be fine. Kero gave her a pat on the shoulder for living, and even Li gave her a smile. Even Laramie came in, to thank Madison for helping her with her leg, which was now fully healed.
But by far, the visit she awaited most was Lister's. Lister walked in wearing a white toga, his golden armor off. By this time, the only parts of Madison's body that weren't fully recovered were her legs. A few moments passed in silence.
"So, Madison," Lister finally said. "You died and came back. Tell me, what was it like?"
"Um, well, it was very bright. But it was also lonely."
"I see. You missed Sakura, I assume?"
"Yes. And not just her. I missed Li, Meilin, Kero, Sokkru, and."
"And?"
"And. you."
Lister smiled and leaned forward. "You know, we never got to finish what we were doing."
"Yes, well, the explos-"
Madison was cut short when she felt a pair of warm lips on hers. She was surprised for a moment, but then silently returned the kiss, her arms wrapping around Lister's neck. A minute passed as they kissed, until they finally separated. Both were smiling, but Madison was smiling slightly less. "Is something wrong, mi Majurit?" Lister asked.
"Well. It's just."
"Hm?"
"I heard earlier that Sokkru had found a way for us to go back home."
Lister's face fell. "I see. Well, I hope you'll be happy."
"I will be."
The day of the return had come. Sakura, Kero, Madison, Li, Meilin, Lister, and Sokkru were standing in a side room that contained the doorway to their world. Sakura's room could be seen on the other side. A minute passed in silence. "Well, Sokkru, Lister, I guess this is goodbye," Sakura said.
"Sakura, before you go, I want to tell you something," Sokkru said, crouching and putting her hands on Sakura's shoulders.
"Sakura. A theory had formed in my mind as I was working on a way to transport other people here. My theory was this: Every person has an Other, who lives in another world. This Other is essentially the same as the person, their experiences being the only main differences. Sakura. You are my Other. Just as I am your Other. We are essentially the same. When I first saw you in the palace, I saw an older version of myself. As I see you now, I see myself as I once looked. Green eyes, short brown hair, smooth skin. Sakura, you and I are one and the same. Because of this, I wish to give you this."
Sokkru handed Sakura a necklace. The chain was gold, and a wooden heart lay as a charm. Within was a realistic painting of Sokkru as she now looked. "Take this charm, and use it to remember your Other," Sokkru said.
Sakura put it on and spoke. "Since you gave me something, I shall give you this." Sakura then gave Sokkru a necklace she had been wearing. It also had a gold chain, but a gold locket was attached. Within lay a photograph of Sakura from a month or two earlier. "I got this necklace from my father. I want you to have it, so that you may remember your Other," she said.
Sokkru smiled and put it on. "Thank you, Sakura. I shall wear it always," she said.
Sakura's smile faded. "Before we leave, there is something we must tell you," she said.
"Oh? What is it?"
"It's about this world. In our world, this world, this place, is. is nothing more than a game. A game called Dungeons and Dragons, in which you create a character and play him or her through various adventures. When we arrived, we found ourselves in the bodies of the characters we played as. I'm so sorry we didn't tell you earlier. We didn't want to lose your trust."
Sokkru hung her head. "I. I understand. It's alright. It doesn't matter. Now, it is time for you to go. The portal has only a limited amount of energy. Now go."
Sakura stepped in front of the portal and took a deep breath. Slowly, her eyes closed, she walked through the portal. She felt only a tingling feeling as she walked through, and only stopped a few steps later. She opened her eyes. She was in her room. She was herself.
She was home.
Sakura turned around and smiled brightly. She saw Kero standing in front of the portal.
.It was Madison's turn. Everyone else had gone through. Only she, Sokkru, and Lister remained. Everyone else had changed back when they walked through. Madison took a look at her love and walked through. She stopped on the other side and looked at herself. She was no longer so tall. She felt her ears. They were normal. Her hair was its normal length again. She turned around, a sad smile on her face, only to find Lister standing in front of the portal. He stepped forward.
As he closed in, the tall half elf she knew disappeared and a brown- haired child took his place. The child stopped and opened his eyes. They were a stunning blue-green. "L-L-Lister?" Madison stumbled, staring at the 12-year-old before her. The boy nodded. "Yes, mi Majurit, It is I, Lister."
"B-but, why? How?"
"Madison, you said it yourself. You wished to be with me, but you wished to go home. Thus, I came with you." Lister turned to face the portal. Sokkru was looking back at them. "I talked Sokkru into letting me go, and putting an effect on the spell such as the effect done unto you. I have my mind, but I have the body of a 12-year-old human boy. Now, mi Majurit, we can stay together and grow up together. You can teach me of your world, and I shall teach you of mine."
Sokkru spoke up. "The portal is fading. I am afraid this is the time in which we must part. Perhaps someday we shall meet again. Lister, good luck in your mysterious new world and your new body. And all of you, do not forget what happened to you in this world. I shall miss you. Farewell."
And with that, the portal closed, and thus the way to the D&D world.
Chesrook: And thus, my series has come to an end. I hope all of you who read it liked it. I have many other ideas coming. So, Lister, Sakura, what did you two think of the whole series? Sakura: An interesting plot and a happy ending. I am so happy Madison is alive! Lister: As am I. Quite happy. Sakura: Say, Lister, how come you kept calling Madison mi Majurit? Lister: Ah, translated literally from Remoan it means "My Heavenly Madison." You know I love her. Chesrook: That should clear that up. I may make an epilogue to this, by the way. And I have a one shot coming up, followed by another series entitled, "A New Type of Adventure" in which. Ah! I can't spoil the. Lister: Oh, just tell them! Chesrook: Fine! Here is a short review/summary I had written once:
Oh, no! Sakura's been shrunk b the Little Card- again! And even worse, it's escaped and nobody knows where it went! Find out how Sakura deals with being only an inch tall for a lot longer than a day.
Chesrook: OK, that should tell you. I hope you're happy. Sakura: I'm going to SHRINK?!?! Chesrook: Sakura, calm down. Now, for the thank yous. Thank you Ruka and Michael for putting me on your sites and to fanfiction.net for making such a wonderful site. Thank you reviewers for letting me know what you thought. But most of all, I want to thank you, the readers, for, well, reading this. Sayonara, for one more time.
Chesrook: Well, here it is. I hope you read the last 2 chapters. Madison confessed her love to Lister (Sorry all you T&E, or Tomoyo and Eriol fans out there.), Fought in a war, and died. Sakura changed back to her normal self and drove off the remaining army alone. And now she has turned and run.
Sakura ran as quickly as she could back to Madison's body. When she finally got there, she found everyone gathered around in a circle. Sakura ran up and held Madison's body. It felt so cold to her touch.
"Madison. No. Please, don't. I."
Sakura broke down and cried. She was not alone in her sadness. Kero hung his head as he took off his helmet and placed it over his heart. Meilin began to cry. Li kept his face stern, but you could see his fists shaking at his sides. Lister stood still, tears beginning to form in his eyes. Emperor Chezrok and Sokkru were there as well. The Emperor said a prayer in a strange language as Sokkru made a star symbol with her left finger, touching in sequence her forehead, left hip, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and again her forehead, saying the following words as she touched each:
"Stars, Sun, Moon, Life, Death, Jurita."
Sakura wept for what seemed to her to be days, but in reality were only 5 minutes. Until, suddenly, an idea struck her. "Li." she muttered, lifting her head. She whirled to face him. "Li! You're a cleric! You can."
She was interrupted when she saw Li shake his head. "No, Sakura, I can't. I can't revive her. I'm not a h- I mean, I'm not skilled enough yet. I can't bring back the dead."
Sakura turned back to her friend's face. "You mean. She's."
"Dead forever." Li said, his voice faltering.
Lister lifted his head. "Maybe not." he said loudly, and dashed off. A minute later he came running back, the large book from TAGOR in his hands, Lister flipping frantically through it. Finally, he stopped on a page, his finger pointing. He turned to Sokkru. "Sokkru, can you take me here at once?"
Sokkru looked at the book and understanding appeared on her face. "I think I can," she said. She chanted a spell, and in moments she and Lister were gone.
A minute later, they returned with another person. This person was dressed in long robes, a sash with a crown symbol on it trailing from his belt. He had blue eyes and dark hair. "Eleron, can you do it?" Lister asked the man. The man silently nodded and moved to Madison's side. He motioned for Sakura to step away, and began to chant, his knobbed wooden staff waving over her. Slowly, a blue light surrounded Madison's body. Minutes that seemed like hours passed, until, finally, Madison stopped glowing and Eleron stepped back. Sakura rushed forward to her friend's side. Slowly, progressively, Madison's eyes began to open. "Madison!" Sakura shouted in glee. "You're alive! She's alive! Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you so much! Madison!"
Madison began to speak. "Unh. ooh. Wh. what happened"
"Madison, oh, thank God! How. how do you feel?"
"Well. My body hurts and I can't move. I can barely speak. but. why? The last thing I remember is seeing an orc's face, and then. I don't know."
"Madison, I don't know how to say this, but, well. you."
"You died," Li said sternly.
"I. I what?"
"You died," Sakura said. "We thought we were going to lose you forever. But then this man came and."
Madison smiled. "I see. A resurrection spell. Thank you. But, Sakura, you. you're you again! Are we."
"No, Madison, we're not home. I."
"OK, I think there has been enough conversation for now," Eleron said. "The woman has gone through a great ordeal and needs to rest to get her strength back. Is there anywhere she can go?"
"Yes," Sokkru said. "She can come to my. my living quarters."
"Very well. I shall need some assistance in transporting her."
"I can do it!" Sakura said, taking a card from her pocket. He staff had been found and returned as she wept, and she used it to release the Float card. Almost at once, Madison's body rose into the air. Sokkru and Sakura then took her to Sokkru's room in the basement and let Madison rest on Sokkru's bed. Upon arriving, Madison spoke up. "Laramie!"
"Madison, shh. Eleron said you need to conserve your strength," Sokkru said.
"No! Get Eleron into the TAGOR basement! Laramie is down there with a broken leg!"
"OK, I'll tell him. Sakura, you stay here."
Sakura nodded as Sokkru left and moved a chair next to the bed to sit on. "So, Sakura," Madison said. "I see the battle ended. What happened?" Sakura explained everything she knew. "I see, Sakura. But how did you change like that?"
"Care," said Sokkru, standing in the doorway. "Sakura cared for you a lot, Madison. A myth says that caring enough for someone who has just passed can break through any spell. I never thought it to be true." Sokkru sat in another chair next to the bed. "Sakura, your change to a full-grown elvin sorceress was a side effect of the spell I cast to bring you here. Your care and love for Madison broke through the spell's effects, thus giving you what you wanted- this magic of yours. You must explain it t-"
"Not now, Sokkru," Sakura said. "Right now, I just want to be with Madison."
Time passed, and the others came to visit Madison. Meilin ran in and hugged Madison very tightly, relieved that she was going to be fine. Kero gave her a pat on the shoulder for living, and even Li gave her a smile. Even Laramie came in, to thank Madison for helping her with her leg, which was now fully healed.
But by far, the visit she awaited most was Lister's. Lister walked in wearing a white toga, his golden armor off. By this time, the only parts of Madison's body that weren't fully recovered were her legs. A few moments passed in silence.
"So, Madison," Lister finally said. "You died and came back. Tell me, what was it like?"
"Um, well, it was very bright. But it was also lonely."
"I see. You missed Sakura, I assume?"
"Yes. And not just her. I missed Li, Meilin, Kero, Sokkru, and."
"And?"
"And. you."
Lister smiled and leaned forward. "You know, we never got to finish what we were doing."
"Yes, well, the explos-"
Madison was cut short when she felt a pair of warm lips on hers. She was surprised for a moment, but then silently returned the kiss, her arms wrapping around Lister's neck. A minute passed as they kissed, until they finally separated. Both were smiling, but Madison was smiling slightly less. "Is something wrong, mi Majurit?" Lister asked.
"Well. It's just."
"Hm?"
"I heard earlier that Sokkru had found a way for us to go back home."
Lister's face fell. "I see. Well, I hope you'll be happy."
"I will be."
The day of the return had come. Sakura, Kero, Madison, Li, Meilin, Lister, and Sokkru were standing in a side room that contained the doorway to their world. Sakura's room could be seen on the other side. A minute passed in silence. "Well, Sokkru, Lister, I guess this is goodbye," Sakura said.
"Sakura, before you go, I want to tell you something," Sokkru said, crouching and putting her hands on Sakura's shoulders.
"Sakura. A theory had formed in my mind as I was working on a way to transport other people here. My theory was this: Every person has an Other, who lives in another world. This Other is essentially the same as the person, their experiences being the only main differences. Sakura. You are my Other. Just as I am your Other. We are essentially the same. When I first saw you in the palace, I saw an older version of myself. As I see you now, I see myself as I once looked. Green eyes, short brown hair, smooth skin. Sakura, you and I are one and the same. Because of this, I wish to give you this."
Sokkru handed Sakura a necklace. The chain was gold, and a wooden heart lay as a charm. Within was a realistic painting of Sokkru as she now looked. "Take this charm, and use it to remember your Other," Sokkru said.
Sakura put it on and spoke. "Since you gave me something, I shall give you this." Sakura then gave Sokkru a necklace she had been wearing. It also had a gold chain, but a gold locket was attached. Within lay a photograph of Sakura from a month or two earlier. "I got this necklace from my father. I want you to have it, so that you may remember your Other," she said.
Sokkru smiled and put it on. "Thank you, Sakura. I shall wear it always," she said.
Sakura's smile faded. "Before we leave, there is something we must tell you," she said.
"Oh? What is it?"
"It's about this world. In our world, this world, this place, is. is nothing more than a game. A game called Dungeons and Dragons, in which you create a character and play him or her through various adventures. When we arrived, we found ourselves in the bodies of the characters we played as. I'm so sorry we didn't tell you earlier. We didn't want to lose your trust."
Sokkru hung her head. "I. I understand. It's alright. It doesn't matter. Now, it is time for you to go. The portal has only a limited amount of energy. Now go."
Sakura stepped in front of the portal and took a deep breath. Slowly, her eyes closed, she walked through the portal. She felt only a tingling feeling as she walked through, and only stopped a few steps later. She opened her eyes. She was in her room. She was herself.
She was home.
Sakura turned around and smiled brightly. She saw Kero standing in front of the portal.
.It was Madison's turn. Everyone else had gone through. Only she, Sokkru, and Lister remained. Everyone else had changed back when they walked through. Madison took a look at her love and walked through. She stopped on the other side and looked at herself. She was no longer so tall. She felt her ears. They were normal. Her hair was its normal length again. She turned around, a sad smile on her face, only to find Lister standing in front of the portal. He stepped forward.
As he closed in, the tall half elf she knew disappeared and a brown- haired child took his place. The child stopped and opened his eyes. They were a stunning blue-green. "L-L-Lister?" Madison stumbled, staring at the 12-year-old before her. The boy nodded. "Yes, mi Majurit, It is I, Lister."
"B-but, why? How?"
"Madison, you said it yourself. You wished to be with me, but you wished to go home. Thus, I came with you." Lister turned to face the portal. Sokkru was looking back at them. "I talked Sokkru into letting me go, and putting an effect on the spell such as the effect done unto you. I have my mind, but I have the body of a 12-year-old human boy. Now, mi Majurit, we can stay together and grow up together. You can teach me of your world, and I shall teach you of mine."
Sokkru spoke up. "The portal is fading. I am afraid this is the time in which we must part. Perhaps someday we shall meet again. Lister, good luck in your mysterious new world and your new body. And all of you, do not forget what happened to you in this world. I shall miss you. Farewell."
And with that, the portal closed, and thus the way to the D&D world.
Chesrook: And thus, my series has come to an end. I hope all of you who read it liked it. I have many other ideas coming. So, Lister, Sakura, what did you two think of the whole series? Sakura: An interesting plot and a happy ending. I am so happy Madison is alive! Lister: As am I. Quite happy. Sakura: Say, Lister, how come you kept calling Madison mi Majurit? Lister: Ah, translated literally from Remoan it means "My Heavenly Madison." You know I love her. Chesrook: That should clear that up. I may make an epilogue to this, by the way. And I have a one shot coming up, followed by another series entitled, "A New Type of Adventure" in which. Ah! I can't spoil the. Lister: Oh, just tell them! Chesrook: Fine! Here is a short review/summary I had written once:
Oh, no! Sakura's been shrunk b the Little Card- again! And even worse, it's escaped and nobody knows where it went! Find out how Sakura deals with being only an inch tall for a lot longer than a day.
Chesrook: OK, that should tell you. I hope you're happy. Sakura: I'm going to SHRINK?!?! Chesrook: Sakura, calm down. Now, for the thank yous. Thank you Ruka and Michael for putting me on your sites and to fanfiction.net for making such a wonderful site. Thank you reviewers for letting me know what you thought. But most of all, I want to thank you, the readers, for, well, reading this. Sayonara, for one more time.