This is the Cirno News Network with a breaking news story! The forest of magic has come alive once again with the movement of an elusive creature! The black-white and the red-white attempted to track it down in order to discover if it had any hostile intent, and somehow it managed to evade! While the former calls it a coward and issues a challenge to it in order to have a proper battle between magicians, the latter merely shrugged and returned home with her maid so as to take tea. If anything does happen, have trust that we shall be the first to report it, after alerting the authorities and barring our doors!

Thank you, and enjoy the show. This has been THE STRONGEST! Now back to your irregularly scheduled fic.

Grounded Alien from her Future Age

The amount of foliage in this forest is still beyond what I had imagined could have been possible. Verdant landscape as far as the eye can see. Well, not technically true, I do suppose. The flatlands in the distance are quite void of vegetation of any kind. They appear to be some kind of wastes. Still, compared what we have at home, it is very… distracting.

Bah, I need to focus more. I'm not going to find her by staring at these large things that tower above me. What were they called again? I do not quite remember… Hrm. I should have to consult my computer. At the very least, it is still operational. Whatever was that attack that managed to damage my ship, I do not know.

Quite disturbing, in all honesty. Not to mention the variety of creatures that were beginning to come after me. Truly something out of this world. Too fantastical to actually be real. Still though, who would waste so much effort in creating creatures like that in order to fool me?

At least they didn't even try to think about what they were projecting. The winged creatures I can at least somewhat believe were realistic. But the wolves? Surely not even a simpleton would have held much a belief in such a sight. Not even a rocket pack to keep them aloft.

It is too bad that whomever was controlling those creations will certainly be coming after me soon. It was quite clever. Trying to distract me with something so obviously inaccurate, causing me to ignore whatever else may appear from the mountain. I must commend them on their efforts, indeed. Especially as it allowed me to travel straight over the location they kept their secret weapon.

It was a miracle that it took out that part of its operating systems. There is no way that a random shot was able to disable that portion of my vessel. Therefore, it must have been intentional. Which leaves me with a couple of possibilities here.

Sad thing is how primitive this land seems to be. How is it possible that they could have known about and exploited my ship's weaknesses? Granted, this could be some hidden enclave that was never yet found. But how would they have the technology to create such advanced illusions, while at the same time the largest village is built out of twigs. Something is quite fishy here. I intend to get to the bottom of this.

What's that? Rustling of the green floppy things on the big plants… snap of a rod of some kind on the ground. I believe I am being approached. Who could it be that is seeking me out? Could they have already arrived? Not so preposterous a notion… However, I did not detect any developed roads. And a helicopter would have been audible, even to my ears. So, who could it be?

Good thing I still have my pistol. If it turns out to be some animal, I will take it out easily. Just to check the chamber… Good. Seven in the mag, one in the chamber… Very good. Now, let's see whom it is that is approaching.

…Bah, more illusions. Now they are truly becoming ridiculous. A floating bronze shield? A disk of some kind… I wonder what purpose it may serve. Granted, it could be but a costume linked with an illusion, but what would be the point? Again: distraction. And it's working, as I am continually talking about it while I should be focusing on more important things.

What of the others, though? An odd girl carrying a cat… Probably the mastermind of the operation. They always do seem to love their cats for some reason. Always been such an odd thing. Nasty creatures, making me want to sneeze all of the time. Why is it that people care for them at all? Heh, I suppose that's why the masterminds like them. Cats of a feather, and all that…

Wait, there's another with them, behind the illusion. What could it be? Carrying a body of some kind, if I can tell from here. Pretty nasty wound from the cloth wrapped around its midsection. But what is carrying it?

This robot. This robot. This robot. How could I forget that line? Obviously familiar, is what it is. Never seen a model quite like that one. Newer? Older? Not exactly obvious from first glance. Still, I know that make. Walks the same, looks about the same. Has the same indention from which she fires her weaponry.

Still, radioactive signs? Nuclear energy hasn't been used widely in years. Saboten is much more efficient. Therefore, I would assume an earlier model. Might explain why it located in such a rural locale. Perhaps a prototype of some sort? Questions, questions, and more questions. No answers at all.

However, I shall find out, soon enough. I just must not be seen. That robot could easily tear me in twain if it decides to. Is it even vulnerable to my rounds? Hrm. Again, questions that I have no answer to, nor the ability to discover said answer.

I know what I must do, though. They need to be followed. I need to discover what it is doing here. Just follow along, and hopefully that she cannot discover me. Must be quiet…

Wait. The girl and that cat are staring right at me. How could they see me past this large plant I'm hiding behind? The cover should have been great enough to prevent any such thing from occurring. Just hold still, and maybe she'll think it was just an animal. Just an extinct wolf or some sort of cat hiding in the cactus…

Bah! When'd you- How did you- Wait what- Let go of my neck! Damn girl, who does she think she is? Well, if there is one thing that masterminds are, it's that they're not that good in personal combat. So if I can just get them with the pist- urk! …air!

Alright… alright, I yield. You caught me there. Caught me well and good. How, I don't know. Must be some kind of sensor suite built into that robot of yours. Detects living creatures within a certain distance, perhaps? Infrared, I might imagine. I've nothing to cloak my signature. Or was it motion sensing? Auditory? Some form of radar or ladar?

Why is it that you seem to have no knowledge of what I speak of? This isn't that hard, is it? Am I speaking of concepts far beyond your reckoning? That shouldn't be possible… Unless you are but a random passerby, perhaps? Were you the one to shoot me down?

Well, that's good to know that you haven't been doing any shooting recently. Still, why the coy manner? You're not telling me anything; neutrality is all that I hear from you. Wait! You're trying to make me talk. To make me spill the secrets. Both those of my squad, my unit, my command, my sis-

No, stop it! There you go again. All that you three are doing is grinning at me, and suddenly I'm spilling everything that I know. How did you do that to me? Is there something in the air? There shouldn't be. You are not wearing a mask.

Fine then. Whatever. Just take me to your leader, and I'll tell what little I am permitted to. Said leader has been here the whole time? I find that quite odd, unless you are the leader. Not to mention that you don't quite have the correct demeanor. You appear more to be an enforcer; as if you'll tear my guts out the moment I say something wrong.

…I just said something wrong, didn't I? I suppose that's my cue to be quiet.

So, where is this leader? I she the one hidden behind the illusion over there? I admit that it is very impressive. If I wasn't quite so sure of myself, I might think that was actually a bronze disk floating in the air. I am impressed at how you managed to muffle the sound of the jets holding it aloft. Or is there someone simply walking there, and you've hid the shuffling of the debris on the ground?

Don't tell me it is the robot. I'd hate to imagine having to negotiate with her kind. Always so cold and murderous, nothing feeling. Yes, I am talking to you, robot. I've met the ones like you. I've met your sisters. So unfeeling…

Ok, so you've hidden your leader somewhere. Perfectly understandable, and probably your best recourse of action. A leader is either the weakest or the strongest of the group in the vast majority of my experiences. And since she isn't apparent… Where is she?

A hologram? Very paranoid, I can see. Is there something more to this situation that I do not know about? Of course there isn't. I've just arrived and been shot down. Maybe there is some sort of localized war or skirmish going on here that I've just happened to stumble upon.

Although, a very odd hologram. Very realistic. No projector source that I can find. It isn't the robot either. You're able to move independently of it. Very odd indeed. Some sort of drone high above, out of my eyesight? No, that can't be it either; the cover in these plants is too great. Nothing could pierce through the canopy. Unless it was extremely high powered, or created through a composite of different sources.

So you say there is an easier answer than what I'm trying to think of. If that's the case, why don't you go ahead and tell me? The only thing that I can think of is that there is an independent unit floating inside the projection, and is somehow able to disguise itself from sight? Again, odd. Even as you move about, there is no indication whether or not it exists. No glitching, no slightly off field of view. None of the images seem incorrect, and all of the distortion is consistent. I will admit that I am at a loss.

Oh please. Don't feed me that slop. Do you believe that someone of my caliber would fall to such pathetic lies? If you're wanting to shovel such manure, go and tell my sister. She loves that stuff completely, way too much for her own good, if you ask me. It's probably what made her disappear in the end. Although I still hope that I'm wrong, and that she's not gone at all.

Wait, I just admitted it, didn't I? Shit. Alright, alright, I'll say who I am. Name and rank is all you're getting, though. First Lieutenant Tolia of the Earth Defense Force. I hope that satisfies you, because I am saying no more than necessary. I shan't be giving out any more information on either military or personal matters, as they are my business alone.

So, tell me, why am I to believe that such a thing as magic exists? Such a ridiculous concept. I will not even go into how ridiculous it is for a spirit or a ghost to exist at all. Why would you bother hanging around once you have died? Perhaps there is some afterlife, but why would you be allowed to return to the planet, once you have finished your time? Would you at best have been reincarnated into a new body?

Not that I believe such a thing is possible. It just makes more sense. If there exists such a thing as a soul, then why am I to believe there are just an infinite number of them? A finite number is much more possible, especially considering that we have still not encountered any signs of alien civilization yet.

Heh. Well, you've got balls to claim something like that. Walking out of hell itself sounds like something the marines would claim to do. At leas they have some tangible base to that claim of theirs. What do you have? A projected image that cannot be proven to be real, a floating shield that is probably fake, another girl and one of those damn maids carrying a body.

Speaking of… Whose body is that? Did you happen to kill someone? Perhaps one of those that had attacked me? I doubt it; I do not detect anything that seems to be indicative for uniform. Too bad those wings and tails were fake, otherwise it would have been easy for me to have determined exactly which side you are on.

Ah. I think I see. It is remarkably similar, yes? Well, in that case, I don't suppose you have a twin, do you not? Or that you are just an artificial intelligence carrying out your last orders?

I should be heading on my way soon enough, though. No need for me to continue talking while I've no doubt hostiles on my tail. So, care to tell me if you're going to let me go? I need to hurry and get moving. Not to mention recover what is possible from my ship before I find a safe place to hide out.

I had assumed that you were unaware of what I was speaking of. You've found another vessel such as mine previously? Odd… How odd. Tell me, does it look similar to anything like the one that you saw earlier? Oh! Well, might be difficult. Hrm… Well, you can't get close to it. But I suppose there is no problem for you to simply look at it. Not like the images aren't readily available on the net.

Just come along. It's right behind these bunch of damn plants. More annoying than anything else I can imagine. At least they're not prickly, on top of anything else. Then it would be truly annoying. Hrm? Yes, the big tall brown things covered with the paper like green pieces. So they are called trees. I believe I remember that from somewhere back in training of the way the Earth used to be.

You don't know what happened? Hrm. This enclave is much more isolated than I had previously anticipated. Either that, or I simply am not at home anymore. But what could cause a dimensional rift that would propel me into a relatively similar but altogether different planet? Who knows? In that case, I might have to acquire a fair few seeds before I return. The higher-ups would greatly enjoy having some piece of fertile land that could be used once I'm back.

I probably should explain to you. Even if you're a hologram, and should have been able to hack my flight computer based on your current proficiency with mechanical illusions, I might as well. My home planet has become quite barren. It is unknown of what caused it, but sometime not quite half a century ago, the plant life on Earth suddenly disappeared. There was no rhyme or reason as to the how or the why. Every single acre was slowly wiped out, withering away. The only things that were left were the cacti, which began to grow like wildfire.

After all, how then could we create enough energy to power our ships? Oh, that's nothing classified. It's well known that the only and best way to get into space without using an elevator is to take a cactus-powered ship. It's quite surprising that we were able to do such a thing. Fusion technology was still in its infancy, and wasn't advancing nearly as quickly as it was projected to initially. Oil could be created by using the remains of the plants, but it would be inefficient.

Thankfully, there was someone who managed to have a breakthrough. It was awfully convenient, but most attributed his discovering it as a spark of genius. Considering the inventions he's created, though, I am not sure whether I would call him that. After all, look at the killer that you've got standing here, carrying that body.

Take a good look at it, anyways! I know those lines. Older and less sophisticated, but I am sure that it is his. Don't even get that hurt look in your face, robot. I know that it is but a lie.

Bah. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. Not to mention makes my bones ache at the memories. But here we are. That is my ship right there. Heh, you look like you've seen a ghost, spirit. Are you sure who's pulling whose leg, here?

Wait, if you recognize this, and my previous thoughts were correct… Who else did you see flying one of these? Alright, I get it, you never actually saw the vessel in flight, but you saw one anyways? But tell me, who was the pilot? Short girl, blue hair, pink clothes?

Good! Good. I know where she snow. She's not lost. She just ended up stranded here. Far away from where the rest of us were. Still, she is alive. Isn't she?

Gotcha. At the human village, seeking out assistance to repair her vessel. I wouldn't imagine that there were many scientists during this time that were capable of repairing starships of such complexity. Granted, assuming that I was correct in thinking that this is an alternate dimension may mean that advanced technologies can fall through. Surely advanced technicians might follow.

Yes, yes, I understand. I shall stop rambling. Off I go. Why is it that it's called the human village? Shouldn't there only be humans, anyway? It's not like there's any other type of creature with the knowhow to make a village. Or is it just a name for those who do not bother to cloak themselves in illusions, and appear to be crows and wolves?

Very well. The roads are dangerous, and I shall proceed cautiously, but quickly. Not that I'd want you, much less it, to escort me, I can't help but wonder what you're up to. I should have figured. More attempts at the occult.

Well, do have fun with that. I shall instead remain grounded in reality, and not worry about these silly superstitions about magic, monsters and youkai. Why is it that you look as if I am mad for claiming that? It is the only logical thing to do.

I will find out on my own. And once I pull away the mask, I shall have to rub it in your face whenever I meet you in person. Until then.

…Best to keep my gun ready though. Just in case.

Optional Quest: Help the Stranger from Another Dimension: 70% Complete

A/N And now for the last of the intermission chapters. You didn't think that Felia from way back when was a one-off, did you? I had to get some others joining in, after all. Even if they aren't a major focus, they all have their place in the storyline. Some more than others. There shan't be too many, though.

Anywho, Tolia. A bit more serious than Felia, and with none of the grounds for belief in magic. Getting her to believe otherwise is going to take hitting her over the head with a rather large stick. I do have a feeling that someone in the village will make sure that she believes. That, or a youkai along the way will open her eyes. Oh well. At least she has something to distract them with.

Digressing, let me point out one thing from last chapter. Did I ever say that he had the power to understand other languages? Or did I merely point out that he was capable of doing so? I'll leave it up to your interpretation, as always, but everyone seemed to jump on that bandwagon quickly.

So, on that note, we're back to the important stuff next chapter! And more importantly, we shall gain a teammate within the next three! No, Sokrates doesn't count, unfortunately. Even though I know who it is, I'm curious as to whom ya'll think it is. So do tell!

Mr. Muss, I shall debate you on that point. Especially as cats like to cling to you when you pick them up, much less than when you throw them. Although, Aya would be sad if we had taken Momiji, so we'll just have to make do.

Enough of my yapping! Thanks all, and please read and review as always. Until next time!