Chapter One: Lost


"Why!?"

Subaru had the blessing to hear Emilia's lovely voice, calling out to him before he could leave to finish off the whale.

"Why are you doing this!?" Emilia had a frantic look, worried for her friend's sake, "Why are you going so far, just for… me!?"

With the payload on his hip quickly burning brighter and brighter, Subaru did not have the blessing of time on his side. The clock was ticking, yet he wanted to answer the elf's plea.

Thankfully, it was an easy question to answer.

"Because I love you."

With those words baffling Emilia, she was unable to respond to those feelings, watching with shock as Subaru rides off with Patrasche… Towards the Whale.

Subaru, now with vigor, locked his sights on the giant beast, who was trapped under the massive tree that was once was the Tree of Flugel.

He needed to get rid of the explosives. He also needed to make sure the White Whale was truly dead.

Finishing this whale off would mean the Happy Ending that Subaru desired, after Returning by Death so, so many times.

The payload of fire stones were sizzling, fuming out a toxic smoke that trailed behind him. It was thanks to Patrasche's speed that he currently wasn't coughing out fumes.

Subaru paid no heed to the violent explosives that were primed, only keeping his focus on the whale that was 'supposed' to be dead.

"Get there in time…"

He had to finish the job. He needs to the finish the job.

For everyone.

For Emilia.

"Damn it… Come on…!"

Soon enough, Subaru was in throwing distance to the Whale, the body crystallizing with mysterious traces of the Witch's Miasma—despite the whale supposedly being dead.

The heat was bouncing off of his skin, and it was a miracle the bag holding the stones hadn't burned or melted away. However' Subaru paid no attention to the heat.

He knew that if the whale was alive, this was going to finish him for good.

Without a word, he throws the payload inside the carcass of the whale, the bag burning bright under the shade.

"Let's move!" Subaru calls for Patrasche to start running away from the whale, and the ground dragon heeds the order…

But Subaru doesn't even make it halfway.

*FWAAA—PMMMMMMMM! ! !*

A brilliant light came from behind Subaru—

Then, the world shook.

The explosion rocks him off of Patrasche, his ears ringing something fierce as flames rushed towards both of them!

Almost by instinct, Patrasche coils around the boy, protecting him from the flame.

The world continued to shake, and the flames blazed past his face. His ears kept ringing, and his body locked up from the sudden trauma.

If he knew any better, Subaru would assume he was dead.

And yet… the elements that ailed our Hero would slowly come to pass…

Subaru would crack open his eyes, once the flames disappated.

A small glimmer of hope burned in his heart…

Until—

*…vvvvVRRRRRRRRRR! ! !*

A new noise, and one that Subaru could hear through his humming ears.

One that spelled trouble.

Subaru looks at the site where the explosion took place… and saw…

"…Shit…"

A void, pulling anything inside it's 'mouth'—and growing stronger by the second.

A black hole.

Powered by the sudden destruction of the White Whale, the violent reaction of flame and miasma spurs on a phenomenon only found in space.

"Shit… Shit!" Subaru had nothing but foul language, cursing his luck to go awry at the worst time.

But words couldn't quell the massive entity.

Neither could the tree, turned outward and slowly being channeled into the void.

Nor could the whale, or what was left of it, as chunks of the Mabeast were sucked inside.

Subaru was convinced… that this megaton of energy could not be stopped.

Then… he felt it.

A pull. A tugging that he felt on his entire being.

It was being lured into the Black Hole.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" –Grabbing onto grass and digging his feet into the ground, he was given very little to counter the phenomenon.

He could see Patrasche, unable to fight against the pull, suddenly flying toward the Black Hole.

"No! Patrasche!" Subaru cries out, watching the beast disappear into the void.

That sent Subaru's hopes plummeting into the ground. Guilt and fear were the only feelings left, and it rocked his entire being.

The tugging only kept getting stronger and stronger… Subaru's body was starting to actively rise off the ground.

The only thing stopping him from flying, too… were his hands, grabbing the grass for dear life.

"I'm so sorry, Patrasche…" Subaru's eyes started to get watery,

"I'm so sorry… everyone…"

There was no way of escaping this. His fate was sealed.

Soon enough, the blades of grass gave out…

Subaru's body was sent careening toward the massive void.

"Ghhhg… Ghhhhh…!" Subaru hissed, as the pull got exponentially stronger, his own insides almost threatening to come out.

Subaru could do nothing but shut his eyes.

And braced for the inevitable.


When Subaru awoke, he was greeted by strong rays of sunlight, and the sound of ocean waves.

His body felt sluggish and weak. His mind felt dizzy. He felt like throwing up…

And yet… he wasn't dead…?

Groaning, he forced his body upright, and took in the surroundings.

He was on a beach… with the cliffside right behind him.

Also right behind him was…!

"P… Patrasche…?"

Indeed, the loyal ground dragon was alive and unhurt, sleeping behind Subaru while acting as his pillow of sorts.

Subaru felt joy in seeing the steed unhurt, raising a hand to pet the beast.

Patrasche grumbled in response, almost sounding like she was purring.

"Heheh…" He felt amused at the beast's reactions, before looking around once again.

He didn't recall a beach anywhere in Lugunica. None that he knew of, at least.

Was he and Patrasche whisked away to a neighboring country? Like the one Rem spoke of, before? Kararagi, was it?

Subaru was filled with nothing but questions, and eventually one came out of his mouth:

"…Where are we…?"


Subaru plucks off a fruit from a tree some distance away from the beach they arrived on.

He gave the fruit a look-over, and mused to himself… It looked like an apple, yet it was shaped like a pear… was it edible?

Patrasche nudged him from behind, and Subaru turned with the 'apple' at hand, "Hold on, Patrasche! I'm not sure if this is something you can eat…"

Patrasche, easily doubling his size, hovers over the fruit and gives it a couple sniffs… before chomping right into it!

Surprised, Subaru releases the fruit, letting Patrasche eat it vigorously. Subaru watches, before sighing.

"Man, look at me. Getting worked up over fruit, of all things." He mutters, grabbing a couple more of the mysterious fruit before eating one himself.

Apple? No, Peach? Pear? A dividend of flavors made up the strange food, yet nothing came out to him as poisonous.

"It's good…!" Subaru whispers, before noticing Patrasche looking at him with an almost puppy-like look.

He smiles, tossing her another fruit, "Eat up! Don't wanna go looking around with an empty stomach, right?"

With a happy yip, the two of them ate the fruit graciously.


Riding Patrasche, Subaru had a clear view over the hill they were climbing.

Lush green trees, crystal clear waters, and a breeze that carried the aroma of dandelions.

And yet, despite all the beautiful scenery, Subaru could only feel dread.

This place was not Lugunica.

Ways away from the sight of nature, it seemed there was civilization. Windmills and tall buildings stood perched upon an island, sitting on a large lake.

Subaru, glad that there were people in this land, looked towards Patrasche below him.

"Think you can make it there, girl?"

Patrasche yips happily, unburdened by her partner's weight as she quickly picks up the pace.

Their destination, which was looking at them from miles away.


Riding past a much smaller lake, Subaru stares at the statue perched on the small mass of land.

Light seemed to radiate from the statue, with a small, blue beacon shining up towards the sky.

"…Weird…" Subaru whispers to himself, finding the monument strange.

Watching the statue, he could only wonder what its purpose was, as they continued towards their destination.


Now much closer to civilization, Subaru could see just how big the city was.

The buildings were tall, and the windmills even taller. (Yet, he was certain his home in Japan still held first place.)

Still, the buildings fairly reminded him of those found in Lugunica, with their rustic look and all.

It was enough for Subaru to start believing that home was just around the corner—

"Hey, you! Stop right there!"

Subaru jumps a little once he hears a voice call out to him, "Huh?"

He turns to see a girl run through the clearing and jump off a small slope. Landing, she rolls only once to stop her momentum, then stands upright.

With brown hair and an outfit made of white-and-red, the newcomer turns to face Subaru, a red trinket bouncing harmlessly off her hip.

"That was… Impressive…" Subaru is sheepish, not expecting the girl's arrival to be so… flamboyant.

"Thank you! May the Anemo Archon protect you, stranger!" The girl replies back, and her sentence makes him confused.

Archon? Anemo?

What…?

"My name is Amber!" The girl takes up a salute, much to Subaru's surprise, "Outrider of the Knights of Favonious."

Subaru's jaw locks up, as he is given more terms he isn't aware of.

'Favonius? That's not a country I've heard of…' Subaru thinks, and the odd sense of déjà vu grows in him.

Amber eases up the stance, glaring at Subaru with suspicion, "You don't look like a citizen of Mondstat, not to mention your steed is…"

Amber gives a careful eye to Patrasche, unsure of how deadly the animal was. Patrasche only huffs in response to the stare she was given.

"A-Anyways, explain yourself!" Amber points to Subaru, "What is your business here in Mondstat!"

Subaru raises his hands in a peaceful gesture, "H-Hold on, I—er, We don't mean any harm, I promise!"

Amber gives Subaru the stink eye, "Oh really?"

Subaru, feeling like he was being tested, clears his throat and puts a hand on his chest.

"My name is Natsuki Subaru," Subaru contemplates whether he should refer to himself as 'Emilia's Knight,' but remembers the situation that occurred when Julius called him out.

Knowing better, he says something 'safer', "I'm from the Kingdom of Lugunica, and I… happen to be lost, at the moment."

He gestures to Patrasche, "This is Patrasche, my partner. She's an Earth Dragon, lent to me by a friend."

Looking back up, Subaru sees the confusion on Amber's face, and worry starts to seep in him,

"You… know what Earth Dragons are, right…?"

Maybe different countries have different rides?

"No… I don't…" Amber's voice did not hide her confusion, "Also… 'Lu… gunica?'"

Amber looks away briefly, "I'm not sure I know of a place like that…"

With those words, Subaru felt a cold sweat on his cheek.

Remembering how confused Emilia was, when he mentioned Japan... His déjà vu was not misplaced.

Amber quickly returns her glare, "…You're not lying to me, are you?"

Shit.

Subaru's fears were realized, as he was quickly on the defensive.

"No… It's… I'm…" Whatever conversation he had—whatever hope he previously harbored before—had quickly died in his throat.

The unthinkable happened… again!

Subaru found himself in yet another world!

"I'll ask once more, 'Subaru,'" Amber speaks up, the mirth in her voice turning serious, and a bow shimmering into Amber's hands.

Now armed, Amber's question held a different meaning,

"What is your business here in Mondstat?"

Subaru, seeing the situation he was in, held up a hand.

"Sorry for the trouble. I was just leaving."

Amber blinks, "Huh?"

Subaru held an apologetic smile, closing his eyes.

"Thanks for helping me understand what's going on. Goodbye."

Subaru's tone was melancholic, much unlike the voice he used earlier. It rubbed Amber the wrong way.

Tugging on Patrache's lead line, he moves away from Mondstat, turning back to the direction they came.

"…You're—w-wait!" Amber, shocked that the man would simply leave, watches him retreat off into the distance.

The Outrider continues to stare towards the leaving duo, a frown on her face.

Shaking her head, she looks elsewhere, "…What a strange guy…"

Despite saying this, the nagging feeling in her gut wouldn't leave.

Something about what that man said…

It felt… wrong.


"…If she doesn't know what Lugunica is… Then I can't waste any time here…"

Patrasche was being lead a different direction. Up a cliff, one that was near the beach they arrived on.

Subaru looks up the cliffside with hollow eyes, calculating… something.

Soon, Subaru makes a small smile.

"That should be enough."

With a snap of the liner, Patrasche doubles her speed, climbing the cliff.

The dragon's own eyes reflect a sign of worry.


It takes a few minutes, but soon, the duo find themselves on the edge of the cliff.

The wind around them was turbulent, a testament to just how high up they were.

Patrasche's instinct was to leave this place, less they get swept up by the raging gusts of wind.

"Welp!" Subaru, however, was anything but scared as he hops off Patrasche, much to the beast's surprise,

"As much as it pains me, this is where we part ways, Patrasche."

The beast gives a puzzled look, trying to understand Subaru. He, however, kept a look of confidence.

"Sorry, buddy." He apologizes, petting Patrasche. The loyal dragon nuzzles against the touch.

Subaru's confident look is shaken a bit.

"Wish there was something I could do to help you."

Releasing Patrasche, he moves behind the dragon, much to its confusion until—

"Go!" Subaru slaps Patrasche on the rear, making the beast retreat and run away.

Patrasche, confused, turns to see Subaru waving,

"Take care, alright! Stay safe!" Subaru's gestures did nothing to alleviate her worries, yet she had an idea on what he was saying.

She was being released into the wild. Into unfamiliar territory.

Subaru's waving stops, and he almost looks upset. His smile disappears.

"You hear me, right!? I said get going!" Subaru's exclamation startles Patrasche. Soon enough, Patrasche runs away from Subaru.

Subaru's smile returns.

"Good girl. You'll be fine."

Subaru turns to the horizon, wind rushing past him.

"Now… how should I do this…"


"And that's that!" Amber exclaims with a triumphant look.

With the Hilichurl's camp in disarray, Outrider Amber's commissions were finally completed! Now she can return home and rest!

Stretching, she whisks away her trusty bow and rubs her shoulder, "Ah… think one of them got me here… Hope it doesn't bruise…"

A shuffle of leaves surprise Amber, as she looks over to the source of the noise—

Only to find the beast that man she met earlier rode on.

"Y-You're…!" Despite Amber's shock, the beast quickly approached her, and… offered it's saddle to her.

"Gauu! Gauuu!" The dragon's cries were that of worry and panic. Amber felt her shock turn into confusion.

"Wh… What are you…?" Amber whispers, unsure of what the mount was trying to say…

Until it hit her.

If this dragon was here… where's her rider?

"Gauuu!" Unfortunately for Amber, the beast's impatient cries gave little time for her to think.

So instead, she acted.

"Alright, fine!" Amber, reluctant, approaches the beast to get on the saddle, "We're looking for your owner, right?"

"Gau!" The beast makes an immediate response, as if acknowledging her question, then quickly gets up once Amber makes herself comfortable.

"Woah!" Much to Amber's surprise, the beast bolts off into the direction she came from.

Running swiftly through the forest trough, Patrasche finds a clearing, and runs to a distinct location.

Amber, holding on tight, could only whisper her thoughts at the moment.

"Starsnatch Cliff…?"


"…One helluva view…"

Subaru's legs dangled from the Cliff's edge, as he looked all the way down to the ocean floor.

Subaru's eyes get shaky, as he fights his natural instinct to stay away from such a dangerous spot.

"…God, this is tough…"

His heart was racing, and the cold sweat from before only got worse.

However, he knew better. He knew what he had to do, to return to his friends back in Lugunica.

If he wants to return home… He has to die.

With that resolve, Subaru pulls away his legs and stood on the edge, forcing down all of his instincts into the pit of his stomach.

"I have to do this. I need to do this…!"

Hyping himself up, he avoids looking down, opting to look up at the sky.

"This is the only way I can go back…!"

Subaru feels himself tear up. He knew what was waiting for him...

The White Whale, That bastard Betelgeuse, and all the effort to defeat both of them.

Making a couple hops, he tries one more time to approach the Edge of the World—

"Wait!"

Subaru heard another's voice, and dread filled his soul.

He turned to find Amber… riding on Patrasche!?

Coming to a stop, Amber looks towards Subaru... noticing quickly how close he was to falling off.

"Hold on! What are you doing!?" Amber hops off the dragon, approaching Subaru, "It's dangerous to be that close to the edge, y'know!"

Subaru's frowns.

"I know."

Amber felt a chill, hearing how convinced Subaru was, "Then… step away from—"

"I can't."

Amber's confusion matched her worry, as Subaru faced her.

"This is the only way I can return to Emilia."

Giving Subaru a puzzled look, Amber lets her guard down for only a moment—

"Sorry."

Subaru begins to fall backwards, much to the chagrin of Patrasche and Amber.

"No!" —However, Amber is quick on her feet, as she jumps off the cliff, too!


Subaru, with his eyes closed, feels solace in the wind rushing past his face.

Despite his doom, he kept smiling.

'I'll see you soon, Emili—'

Subaru feels something soft wrap around him in a hug.

He peeks a glance to see a mat of brown hair, "H-huh? Amber?"

Suddenly, he felt that embrace tug him, hard!

"Guh!?" Subaru lets out a grunt, as his back almost threatened to snap from the force of the pull!

Now wide-eyed, Subaru takes the time to realize what had happened.

He was gently floating, rather than freefalling to his death.

Looking upward, he noticed a pair of makeshift wings coming from the girl holding him. It seemed to be struggling, carrying the weight of two people.

"Khh—Hah!" Amber's own grunts were also uncomfortable, as she struggled to carry Subaru…

Yet, she clings onto him, as if she was desperate to save him.

Subaru could only watch as Amber looks up towards the boy.

Her eyes, albeit beautiful, were glittering with tears.

"How could you do something so reckless!?" She cried out in anguish, "You big idiot!"


Author's Note:

This was an idea that was burning in the back of my head. It really became apparent as once I started writing this, I… did not stop.

This was written all at once, much to my surprise.

If this ends up becoming something, I'll also make it in Wattpad, with drawings and all!

If you enjoyed what you read, I hope you let me know!

Thanks for reading!