JAPAN

The moon was full and high in the sky, gleaming, as a lone figure cackled atop one of the rooftops of a grand feudal castle.

"Hahaha! Weak! Weak! You lot! Are you really assassins?" The speaker was a young woman dressed in all black, hair in a topknot and sword bared. She was splashed with blood and none of it was her own. Around her lay bodies, bleeding out onto the roof tile. "Is there really no one stronger than me?" The woman asked, grin sharp.

"Once again, you have disobeyed my orders, Kurogane."

Kurogane straightened, frowning. "Princess," she muttered. She jumped rooftops, landing in front of the bridge that led to where her princess stood, a young girl with long dark locks and forlorn expression. Another female ninja was crouched down next to her. "I've gotten rid of all the disgraceful people who tried to take over Shirasagi Castle. How can you have complaints about that?" she asked.

"My order was to not kill needlessly," Tomoyo reminded.

"To kill anyone who attacks is one of the ninja rules, Tomoyo-hime." Kurogane informed as she clomped over to the princess.

"I've never heard of that rule before," Tomoyo said and Kurogane scoffed.

"Ugh, can't you just shut up?" the bloody ninja grumbled.

"Kurogane! How can you talk that way to the princess?" the ninja by Tomoyo gasped.

"It's fine, Souma." Tomoyo smiled at her. "With such a good, loyal ninja like her, why is there such a ninja like you, Kurogane?" She sighed, resting her palm on her jaw.

"There are good ninjas and bad ninjas," Kurogane smirked. "I want to be stronger than anyone else. That's why I fight. I don't care who lives or dies."

Tomoyo looked down, sad but resolute. "Is that so? There's no one as strong as you left in Japan. So…we have no other choice." She said, bringing her hands together to sign.

"Ah?" Kurogane grunted in confusion. The wind around her grew strong, magic swirling around her as a sigil formed in front of Tomoyo. "What…What's happening?" she demanded.

The magic started wrapping around Kurogane, tying her down. "As they said in the olden days: a bad kid should be sent on a journey to better themselves." Tomoyo giggled.

"No one said that!" Kurogane howled.

"So now, I'll send you flying to another world." Tomoyo ignored her.

"I don't want to fly!" Kurogane growled, flailing against the magic.

"You will probably meet many new people. There, you will find the real meaning of strength." Tomoyo said serenely before she looked away, smiling through her tears. "For that, it's hard for us to part, but I will give you a sendoff."

"No, you're not sending me off! You're forcing me off!" Kurogane barked.

"Ah, yes, one more thing. You'll have a spell cast on you." Tomoyo said, the symbol she'd created with her magic shrinking down to the size of a palm. It flew over to Kurogane, seeping into her forehead.

"What's this?" Kurogane demanded.

"A 'curse,' so you won't kill needlessly anymore." Tomoyo replied. "Each time you take a life, your strength will decrease, so be careful."

By this point, Kurogane was sinking into the floor as the magic dragged her down. "Don't kid around, Tomoyo!"

"Stop yelling at the princess!" Souma scolded.

"But," Tomoyo giggled, "if fate allows it, we'll meet again, Kurogane."

"You! I'll remember this!" Kurogane vowed, thrusting her sword up before she was gone.

There was a moment of silence before Souma looked over at Tomoyo. "Hime-sama…um… is Kurogane…" she trailed off.

"I sent her to that person. She will be fine," Tomoyo assured. "The journey…has begun."

CELES

A large castle floated in the sky, bottom as jagged and sharp as the icy wings that enveloped it. The further past the halls and steps strewn with cold corpses one went, the less harshly the wind howled. Inside the innermost chamber free and muted from the elements, a young woman with long blonde locks swam up to the surface from a central pool. She pulled herself out, dressed only from the waist down, hair falling over her chest to her waist. Long, winding tattoos were revealed across her back that went all the way to her front.

She knelt on the floor, grabbing her shirt and pulling it on. A young blonde girl with equally long hair watched her. She had an unusual set of ears that were furry and large.

"Is the king sleeping?" the girl asked.

"Yes. There's no other way…" The woman said, pulling on her coat.

"What are you going to do now, Fai?" The girl questioned, worried.

"I can't stay in this country any longer," Fai said after a moment as she braided her long hair into an intricate plait. "No, not even in this world…" She amended after a moment, placing a gentle hand on the girl's head.

"This world?" the girl prompted.

"This dimension is what I'm trying to say," Fai smiled down at her.

"I don't really understand…" The girl said, lost.

"For you, Chii, that's alright." Fai assured, nuzzling her and Chii returned it gladly. "Oh," the taller blonde realized, "there isn't much time left." She stood, pulling her coat on tighter and summoning her staff.

Chii murmured questioningly, floating in the air.

"I have to go, or nothing will happen," Fai explained.

"Where to?" Chii asked.

"Far away," Fai said, "as far away as I can get." They looked down into the water, where a man lay at the bottom, dressed regally with his long dark locks spread around him like a halo. "To a world with no Ashura."

They were both silent for a moment before Fai spoke again.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"What?" Chii looked at her.

"If the king wakes up, tell me." Fai requested. "For that, may I change your appearance a bit?"

"Yes," Chii smiled gently, placing her hands on Fai's shoulders. "Because it's Fai who made Chii after all," she reminded.

Fai raised her staff, the crystal in the center glowing, and Chii melted into a mist of shimmering magic, seeping into the water and down to where Ashura slept.

"At least," Fai murmured with a pained smile as she looked down at the king, "you'll have a good dream."

Fai began writing in the air with her staff, forming a circle of glyphs around her.

"Well, I'm going…" the woman smiled to herself as her magic started to envelop her, "to see the witch."

"This child's name is 'Saku' you say?" Yuuko questioned.

"Yes," Xiaolian answered.

"Yours is?" Yuuko asked.

"I'm Xiaolian," she replied.

Yuuko leaned down, fingers brushing Saku's forehead. "This child has lost something very important to him, yes?"

"…yes," Xiaolian answered.

"And that something was scattered across various worlds," Yuuko continued. "If he continues to be like this, this child will die." She stated, causing Xiaolian to grit her teeth, clutching Saku closer to her, helpless and frustrated. "Watanuki!" Yuuko called and a young girl hurried over, dark hair in pigtails and glasses wet with rain.

"Y–Yes?" the girl stammered.

"Go to the treasure room, there's something I need you to bring back." Yuuko ordered and Watanuki hurried away, flustered and unsure. Yuuko looked back at Xiaolian. "Do you wish to save this child?" she asked.

"Yes," Xiaolian replied immediately.

"There will be a price. Even so?" Yuuko informed.

"If there's anything I can do, I'll do it." Xiaolian vowed.

Suddenly, there were dual high-pitched sounds that cut through the air and Xiaolian tensed.

Yuuko smiled mysteriously. "…they're coming."

Xiaolian held Saku closer, coiled tight. Beside her, twin spaces of reality warped with magic as Fai and Kurogane appeared.

"Who the hell are you?" Kurogane demanded.

"Are you the Space-Time Witch?" Fai questioned politely.

The two had spoken at the exact same time, and they looked at each other in surprise before Yuuko gestured to Kurogane.

"You first," the witch allowed.

Kurogane looked around at the skyscrapers surrounding the little area. "I'm Kurogane, but where the hell are we?" She asked. "What are these buildings around us?"

"Japan," Yuuko replied.

"Well, I came from Japan." Kurogane said.

"A different one," Yuuko amended.

"I don't understand." Kurogane frowned, but Yuuko had already moved on.

"You?" the witch asked Fai.

Fai bowed deeply. "The witch of Celes. Fai D. Fluorite," she introduced herself.

"You do know where we are, right?" Yuuko questioned.

"Yes, a place where you grant wishes if a suitable price is paid." Fai nodded.

"That's correct," Yuuko confirmed. "Well then, since you are all here, that means you all want some sort of wish."

"I never want to return to where I'm from."

"I want to return to where I'm from."

Fai and Kurogane spoke in unison again and the ninja glared at Fai for their unintentional sync.

"That's a hard thing, for both of you." Yuuko paused. "No, for all three of you." She corrected. "Those wishes you have, if you pay separately, it won't be enough…" She said and Xiaolian looked at Saku, worried. "But, if you three pay together, it might barely be enough." Yuuko continued and Xiaolian looked up sharply, breath catching.

"What the hell are you talking about—" Kurogane began.

"Please be quiet, Kuro." Fai huffed with an exasperated smile.

"It's not Kuro—it's Kurogane!" the ninja yelled.

"You three all have the same wish." Yuuko began, gaining their full attention. "You, child, want to go to different worlds to collect this boy's memories." She said to Xiaolian. "From a different world, you want to go back to your own world." She said to Kurogane. "You want to go live in a world other than your own." She said to Fai. "Your purposes are different, but the means are the same. You have different reasons why you want to go to different worlds. I can't grant each one of your wishes, but if the three of you each combine your precious items into one payment, then the three of you can go to different worlds together."

"What do I have to give you?" Kurogane asked seriously.

"That sword," Yuuko replied.

"What? I'll never hand over my silver dragon!" Kurogane bristled.

"Fine, then." Yuuko leered, poking Kurogane in the chest. "In exchange, you can roam around looking like a cosplayer, violate weapon laws, get arrested by the police, and be interviewed on television." She grinned.

"Eh? Poli? Tele?" Kurogane repeated in confusion.

"I'm the only one in this world able to send you to another world," Yuuko purred.

"Bullshit!" Kurogane cried.

"It's true," Fai interjected.

"Really?" Kurogane grimaced, pointing at Yuuko in disbelief. The blonde nodded cheerfully.

"What are you going to do?" Yuuko asked, but it was clear she already knew Kurogane's answer considering she was stretching her palm out.

Kurogane ground her teeth, sheathings her sword in anger. "Shit! When I'm free from this curse, I am coming back for it!" She vowed, thrusting the sword at Yuuko.

Yuuko accepted it, turning to Fai. "Your price is that tattoo…" she said.

Fai paused. "Will this staff not do?" she asked sheepishly.

"I said, the price is your most valuable thing." Yuuko repeated and Fai's face fell before she smiled weakly.

"I guess I have no other choice then…" Fai murmured, and her tattoo lifted off her skin and through her coat, floating in the air.

"And you?" Yuuko turned to Xiaolian. "What is the most precious thing that you own? And will you give it to me to go to another world?"

"Yes," Xiaolian said immediately.

"Your price has not yet been told and yet you will still give it to me?" Yuuko questioned.

"Yes," Xiaolian still didn't hesitate.

"I can only help you travel your paths to different worlds. You must search for this child's memories by yourself," Yuuko informed.

"…fine," Xiaolian's gaze was unwavering.

"…good. You're prepared." Yuuko smiled. She turned as Watanuki ran out, carrying two small creatures, one white and one black. They were shaped like large eggs with long fluffy ears. "Here she comes."

"Eh? There's more of you?" Watanuki blinked in surprise before handing Yuuko the white one as two younger shop girls came over as well, taking hold of Kurogane's sword and Fai's tattoo.

"Its name is Mokona Modoki," Yuuko explained, "it will take you to different dimensions…"

The black Mokona waved cheerfully and Kurogane held out her palm. "Hey, you have an extra one, hand me that. I'll go home with this one."

"That's only for keeping in contact," Yuuko smirked. "All it can do is communicate with this Mokona. Mokona can take you to another dimension, but it can't control where you land. Your wish becoming true is only by luck." She held Mokona out on her palm. "But there are no coincidences in this world. There is only destiny. You were destined to meet each other." After a moment, she looked to Xiaolian. "Xiaolian, your payment is…the relationship." She stated, and Xiaolian shivered, confused. "To you, the most important thing is the relationship with that boy. So, I'll take it."

"What does that mean?" Xiaolian asked shakily.

"Even if he gets all of his memories back, you will not have the same relationship with him as before." Yuuko explained gravely. "What is he to you?"

Xiaolian looked down at Saku, closing her eyes. "My childhood friend, the prince of my country, and someone who is very dear to me." She answered honestly.

"…I see." Yuuko said, somber. "But, if you're going to use Mokona, that relationship will disappear. Even if you were able to return all his memories back, the parts about you won't return. That's your price," she restated. Fai and Kurogane stared down at Xiaolian, knowing that this moment was important, more than they realized at this time. "Still?" Yuuko prompted.

Xiaolian clutched Saku, teeth grit and eyes alight with fierce determination. "…I'll go! I won't let Saku die!" she vowed.