As I drifted into conciseness I felt myself floating. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that I was still in the bubble and the traveler hadn't moved. Looking out of the bubble I saw that we were floating over very dense woods. There were a few clouds in the sky but for the most part the suns were freely shinning down on the earth... wait, suns?
I snapped awake and looked up into the sky. There, in place of the one sun that would normally be hovering in space, were three. They were unevenly placed; one further ahead than the other two and each of the three were a different color: white, blue, and red. As I 'looked closer' I realized that two of them were also further back than the other... the light from them made the woods around us look more alive than I had ever seen before.
"You are getting a special treat..." The traveler said.
"Really?" I asked surprised at both what he said and that he was talking. "What is it?"
"Look around you... Take a good long look... This isn't within your universe. This universe is one that most travelers are unable to even reach. It borders on a completely different existence."
"So, not many people are able to come here?" I asked.
"That's right. Except for once, the only way that a large number of beings are able to be here is if they are born here." He replied.
"What was that once?" I asked intrigued.
"Billions of years ago the now native species within this universe trekked here from another universe. This is their home, their prison. The universe was, you could say, designed specifically for them, made so that they could never escape... that species originated within my home universe, the only place they were ever created, and they were moved here..."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because they were wiping out all life within the world that I lived on." He said. "They are a very dangerous species, similar to humans, but far more dangerous... Because this universe is the only place they are found, except for very special instances, I call this universe after them, Aricitopia."
"What is so dangerous about them?" I asked almost fearing the answer.
"They contain a virus that could destroy any civilization in less than a year. It is this virus and their nature that makes them so dangerous." He said. "Because of a... incident, that happened early on when they were a young species they have an unruly rage against humans. Over the millennia they have gotten over it, but there is still the possibility that they may attack."
"So then why did you bring us here?" I asked beginning to panic.
"Because they won't attack me and if you are with me they won't attack you..." he told me calmly. "Besides, this is the best place for you to advance your powers. We literally have all the time in the world here..."
"Ok..." I said looking down at the ground. I saw something that looked different than the forest surrounding it. It was like a large mountain but I knew that it couldn't be natural because I could see artificial structures. "Hey, what's that?"
"That would be a city. This species has decided to live peacefully with nature and makes every attempt to not destroy anything. They may be quite advanced but they still have a caring heart for the things around them..." he said. "The only city that isn't integrated within some part of nature is the capital of this half. It stands out in an open field... but we won't be going there for a while."
We began to descend towards the ground. I watched as the trees moved ever closer and I was able to see the buildings better. This species really had made their best attempts to live with nature without destroying it. I could see only parts of the buildings around the forest because the forest was living directly on the structure of the building itself.
"Um, Gwydion," I asked getting nervous again as I watched some green creatures crowed around where we were landing.
"Yes?"
"What do the people of this species look like?" I asked.
"You are looking at them right now." He replied. "They are known as Aricitics. 'Uh re ka tic' since you probably need to know the pronunciation."
I looked down at them and saw that they looked like green wolves. They stood on all four legs while walking around, their mouths came out exactly like a wolfs, and they had long tails. Their ears, though, were stretched back, almost like a human's but were much longer. They moved like dogs but acted almost human; I began wondering what their language might be like...
"When we land don't be frightened. They won't hurt you unless you are a threat to them, and if you treat them with respect they will treat you with it as well. Their method of speaking is different than you will expect and they can understand everything you say. If you find that there is anything that you need to know just ask..."
"Ok..." I said my breathing irregularly. I gulped and breathed out to calm myself down. As we landed I pushed away my fear and readied myself for anything.
The bubble began to disappear from the top down. Suddenly it was gone and the traveler stood up. He bowed to the Aricitics and they bowed to him. They looked over at me and I made my best attempt at bowing. When I picked myself back up I saw what I swear must have been a smile on their faces.
Welcome traveler, welcome Terra. I heard a voice in my mind. It wasn't just a voice but I also felt feeling and saw images all within my mind as one of them spoke. I am Araith. I hope your journey wasn't too difficult.
"Not at all." The traveler said. "And certainly not as difficult as the one ahead of us will be."
"How... How do you know my name?" I asked staring with blank shock at the Aricitics.
We are a telepathic race, that is how we are able to communicate, and that is how we can understand you. The same one said again. Now, come, you both must be hungry...
The four Aricitics that were standing in front of us began to walk away. The traveler followed them and I followed the traveler. As I entered the building, which was surprisingly human-like, I noticed many things that I had never seen before. The doors were almost living; as they opened as we neared them they parted like hands opening... The floors, walls and ceiling were built out of some kind of metal or rock which gleamed in the lights that were placed everywhere. The lights weren't electrical or fire but almost living themselves.
I watched as other Aricitics passed by us either ignoring us completely or glancing at us and continuing on their way. Everyone seemed to know the traveler here, and they all seemed to like him. They all moved respectfully away as we walked down the halls and some even bowed. I was beginning to feel special, to be able to witness something like this... but I decided not to get carried away.
Suddenly I heard a human voice and looked where it had been coming from. There was a small group of humans and one creature that I didn't recognize, but looked human, walking towards us. The human in the lead looked strangely familiar, but I couldn't quite place where. One of the others was holding a few books and pulling along a suitcase that was on wheels. She had glasses on and had long dark hair. Another one, who also had glasses on, had short blond hair and was wearing a blue turtleneck shirt with long brown pants. He looked just a few years younger than I was.
"Well, well, well... if you had told us you were coming we would have been a little more prepared, Gwydion." Said the lead man.
"Well, you weren't supposed to know." The traveler said. "But it is good to see you again anyways, Gwyosis."
They met in a brotherly hug and Gwyosis said, "So what brings you back so soon? Do we have another guest; is this the one that you are going to help regain a body?"
"No, I brought Terra hear because she made the decision not to join Slade, and because she asked me to help her with her powers." The traveler told him.
"Oh, but weren't you going to-" Gwyosis began.
"I haven't gotten there yet. I have an obligation to help Terra first. Besides, it isn't like I won't be returning, and I don't think that is the right universe anyway... but this is beside the point and we can discuss this at a later time; I need to show Terra where she will be staying for now."
"Ok then, we will see you later, dinner perhaps?" Gwyosis asked.
"Sounds good, but I will need an escort..."
"HA! When have you ever needed an escort?" Gwyosis retorted.
"It isn't for me, it's for her. I don't think that it is a good idea for a new human to be roaming around Aricitopia alone."
"Right... True." Gwyosis said. "Well, I will be sure to have someone do the job. So, will we see you at dinner then?"
"Of course, when the emperor of nearly half a race asks you to dinner one usually doesn't refuse. I will see you all then..." He said. "Now, Terra, allow me to show you to where you will be staying."
He began walking away giving a nod to the group. The Aricitics that we had been following had left at some point during the conversation. I looked around for them but saw no sign anywhere. Ignoring this I continued to follow the traveler, though something continued to bother me...
"Um, Gwydion, I don't understand something..." I said scratching the back of my head and watching the floor.
"What is that?" he asked turning into a different hallway.
"I thought you said that Aricitics don't like humans..."
"True..."
"And just now you said that Gwyosis, a human, is their emperor..."
"True as well."
"So then how can a person of a race that is disliked by another lead that other race?"
"Terra," he said stopping. He turned around and looked me in the eyes. "Something that is hard to accept is that there are people who will use power to take advantage of others. In common human history alone there are many such incidences..."
"So then he is ruling over them with power and fear?" I asked shocked.
"Heavens, no... I just thought you should know that... Gwyosis was once a great Aricitic but the time came when he had to give that up and become a human once more... but when he was still an Aricitic, and even before, he did so many great things for them that they have him as their leader by choice and respect. If they wanted to they could probably overthrow the five royal figures of this half of Aricitopia..."
"He was Aricitic? So do Aricitics become humans at some point or something?" I asked even more shocked.
"Well, yes, if an Aricitic is killed that Aricitic will be reborn as a human... but Gwyosis was not killed, his Aricitic part was sacrificed for... well you may find out later. In any case, we are here at your room."
I looked at a surprisingly human door. It really stuck out in the material of the Aricitic complex. The traveler turned to it and opened it; I looked inside and gasped. The room was huge, it must have been a condominium at least... I walked in and saw everything from a bathroom to a kitchen. It had a television, a computer and a radio; the refrigerator was full of many things that I had never heard of but looked good... I walked over to the bed and jumped onto it, it was surprisingly firm yet soft at the same time.
"Enjoy," the traveler said. "The television has every channel with every television show ever connived by any sentient race. The computer is... well, let's put it this way... Aricitopia has become a universal hub. Even though travel in and out of it is very restricted, right now at least, knowledge and other things are brought here from literally every other universe within this existence. So enjoy, we won't be staying here very long..."
He walked out the door waving good bye and disappeared. As the door closed I looked at all of the things around me. Every thing that anyone could have ever dreamed of was almost within my grasp... it was like I had died and gone to heaven, except that we would be leaving it... I looked around again and tried to decide what to do first.
