You gonna treat them like mushrooms?

No, Viv - I will not try to keep them in the dark and feed them shit. Trying to hide who I am is pointless now. I might not give them the whole truth, but they will get the truth.

Good - I'd be disappointed if you tried to lie.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's get on with this! And I will lie if they ask me whether or not I knew how everything that happened so far would turn out.

I turned to to look at Geralt, Aloy, our Lynian friends, Theseus, Zoe, Olin and his family. "Okay, I can explain this, but you cannot tell anyone this, unless they already know."

"Kinda guessed that for myself," replied Geralt. "Your reaction gave it away."

"I'd be surprised if it hadn't. Now, first thing's first, this is not the second world I've visited."

"Figured as much. I'm guessing it's probably around the nine or tenth, right?"

"...I'm gonna have to wonder on how you figured that out, but yes, this is the ninth world I've been too...well, from a certain point of view."

"Define that point of view," implored Aloy.

"Well, this is the ninth universe I have journeyed to. In terms of plaents, this is way past the hundredth one I've visited."

That got some rather...interesting looks from my companions. "...What?"

"Let's just say it involved someone powerful enough to be considered a god needing something done and deciding to use me as their errand boy."

"And who would do that?" questioned Zoe, somewhat disbelieving.

I glanced at Viv, who actually looked rather embarrassed and, surprisingly, remorseful. If I'd seen her act that way earlier in my travels, I'd have written it off as acting, but now, I knew it was genuine.

And apparently, I wasn't the only one to notice her change in demeanor.

"Wait, she is the one who put you on this journey?" questioned Aloy, absolutely incredulous.

"Yes, and we fought at first, but then bigger problems showed up and we had to work together until we became friends," replied Viv in an unbelievably rushed manner. "Now can we move on to focusing on the people and dinosaurs in front of us."

"Not yet," was the Seeker's reply. "You seem...oddly familiar with our worlds. How?"

Okay, time to fib. "A bunch of beings who observed your universe made it into a story to tell for amusement?"

"..What?"

"Yeah, that was my response. And before you ask, they always keep changing the story, so I don't know how this ends. You could live, you could die, the Eclipse could suddenly try to make up for its crimes, the Nora might turn into an evil empire, but I really can't help you there."

Aloy took a moment to glance over with the rest of our party. The looks shared were ones of confusion and disbelief.

"Can I ask you one last question," spoke Aloy once more.

"Go for it."

"What was your world like?"

"When I left? Similar to this one. The same, in fact, as this one. Just...fifty years before the machines rose up and ended the old ones."

Okay, THAT got Aloy's attention. "Wait, you were one of the old ones?"

"In my world, yes. But this isn't my world, we hadn't built the machines when I left, and I have heard too many conflicting stories about how the machines brought ruin to the old ones to give you any information about it."

"...Fine. Now can you explain your friends?"

"The human villagers come from a town known as Cetus, built in the shadow of the Unum, also known as the bleeding tower. It is a remnant of an ancient civilization known as the Orokin, and overlooks the Plains of Eidolon, named after a massive machine that was slain there. In the universe it was built in, the tower is on this world, just really far to the West. As in, you'd have to cross a giant body of water called on ocean to get there."

"What's a universe?" asked Zoe.

"Everything. A universe encompasses all things - air, water, matter, fire, living beings, everything. But at any given point in time, the universe is finite, though constantly growing. Other universes exist beyond the bounds of yours, but getting to them is...well, difficult would be an understatement."

"Okay, but what about the people in the funny armor guarding them? And the lizard people?"

"The armored being are Tenno, ancient warriors of the Orokin. They were given the power to control the warframes, mighty suits of armor that allowed them to master gun and blade to fight the machines known as the sentients. Eidolon was one of the. The Orokin...were not nice to the Tenno."

"How bad were they?" questioned Aloy.

"They made the sentients to colonize other worlds, and made them capable of logic and reason in the process, but made it so that the machines would be barren when they reached the new worlds, so that they could not claim those worlds for themselves. Then they used the lowest members of their empire, the Grineer, as slaves to build great works, created a vicious, intelligent disease as a weapon, and then raised the Tenno from childhood to be warriors and denied them even the most limited amount of respect. Let's just say there's a reason there aren't many Orokin left."

"And the lizards?"

"The lizardmen come from another world entirely, and were created by an ancient race of beings that are referred to as the Old Ones. They are not in any way related to your old ones. The Old Ones that created the Lizardmen of Lustria intended them as an army to battle hordes of demons from beyond the stars."

"...Can we continue this conversation later? I need a moment to process all that you have said."

I sighed in relief at Aloy deciding to end the conversation. "Sure. As is, this beings are a...protectorate of mine, and they wish to have an audience with the Sun King."

"Why?"

"They wish to trade with the Carja, why else?"

"...Fair enough. Come one, lets get back to Erend."

XXXXXXX

The ride back was rather quiet - Olin and his family in particular were totally silent. I think they had hit their limit for absurdity today and just wanted to go home and figure out how the world they knew had gone mad.

When we returned to Erned, the Oseram was pleasently surprised to see us.

Then he noticed the Lustrians.

It was funny, seeing him so completely stunned. His men, meanwhile, had no idea what to do, though some meekly tried to put on a show of force.

Said show of force didn't really have the intended impact, seeing how our group of weirdos included a dinosaur whose species had hunted the dragons native to its homelands inot extinction. But those men still deserve an A for effort.

I filled Erend in on the details before he could do something stupid - he isn't one to act rashly, but considering that he might have just realized his sister wasn't dead, but kidnapped, and that he was also facing down a giant dinosaur or five, his ability to reason was somewhat impaired at the moment.

"...So these people and lizards come form worlds seperate from our own, as do you, and your world is the same as ours, but you left long before whatever caused the Old Ones to fall?"

"Yes, and I will gladly offer you a more detailed explanation, but can we now focus on more immediately pressing matters? Such as what happened to your sister?"

"...How do you know about her?"

"I have my own eyes and ears, as well as some knowledge from shady, but honest people."

"...Very well, but we WILL discuss this later."

"We will."

From there, things mostly went as they did in the game, with Aloy and Erend examining where Ersa has (supposedly) been killed, and in the process, finidng out the attackers were not Shadow Carja, but other Oseram.

As I was pondering this, I received a report from one of my spy rones.

'Drone 347 Reporting: Have Located The Oseram Camp Where Subject Designation Ersa Is Being Held'

'Understood, anything else of not?"

'Analysis Of State Of Camp And Conversations Between Occupants Indicate It Was Attacked Within Last Week By Bird Wyverns - A Maccao Pack, Based Upon Carcasses Deposited Outside Camp.'

'Why is this a concern?'

'Subject Ersa Has Variation From Expected Template: Wounds Are Not Fatal At This Stage If Treated Within A Week. Condition Unlikely To Deteriorate Enough Within Expected Rescue Time Table For This To Change...Also, Subject Celempheros Has Forbidden You From Telling This To Aloy And Your Companions. He Is Watching You Right Now.'

'...Well, crap. Keep me posted.'

'Understood.'

XXXXXXXXXXX

Our journey to Meridian took longer than expected - whilst Erned returned first to examine the body mistaken for his sister, we were sidetracked by what appeared to be a group of Shadow Carja massacred by the machines. As it turned out, the true killers were a pack of rotfiends. Whilst our group was able to make short work of the beasts, it was nevertheless a learning experience for all of us barring Geralt. Aloy especially was surprised by the necrophages, have had exactly one encounter with a dangerous entity that was not human or machine.

When the last of the beats had been carved up and skinned, we resumed our ride to Meridian, ending with us on the outskirts of the City of the Sun. The reactions we received were...rather amusing. The guards had been expecting us, but whenever they saw the Saurus and Skinks, they were more than a little unnerved. Understandable, seeing how talking lizard people were not exactly common in this world. Still, they managed to keep themselves together and maintained their vigilance, earning them nods of respect from the Saurus. As for the rest of the Carja, those that didn't stare in shock wisely decided to back off.

It did not take long for us to reach where Erend had asked for us to meet. Of course, instead of the Oseram, the man we found waiting for us was the Sun King's main advisor, Blameless Merad.

"Greetings, Aloy and company. I am known as Blameless Merad. Please, come with me - you are all needed for an important consultation."

Aloy, unsuprisingly, answered exactly how she did in canon. "What do you mean? Where's Erend?"

"He's inside, attending the Sun King, where we should be without further delay."

As we advanced, Aloy couldn't help but notice the line of people waiting for an audience with the king.

"All of these people are here to see the Sun King?"

"Yes, and each has come to ask a favor of him. Unpleasent, but that's politics."

"Commoners ask for an ease on their burdens whilst nobles try to curry favor to the king and advance their interests," intoned Geralt. "The rulers may change, but the actions and motivations remain the same."

"From what I have heard of the other tribes, your word holds true," agreed Merad. "You are the one known as the Witcher, yes?"

"Correct. My friends call me Geralt."

"Ah, well, I assure you that the Sun King will not be..judgemental toward you based upon only your appearance. Erend mentioned how many fear you solely because of your...interesting looks."

"You get used to it."

"Perhaps. Now, let us hurry - it is rude to keep the Sunk King waiting."

True enough. As we advanced up the steps, I watched as the gathered nobles examined us, conflicting emotions crossing their faces. Some were outraged at being forced to wait for outsiders to finish their business with the king, others were amused by our (to them) funny appearances. Many were taken aback by the sight of the Skink travelling with us, evidently shocked to see a lizard that looked like a man. Lastly, some of the gathered nobles were staring at us inquisitively, trying to determine how best to interact with us to advance their interests.

I sighed - politics. Such annoying field, yet one that I was eventually forced to master.

XXXXXXXXXX

AN: Originally, this chapter was going to include the audience with Avad. After three days of writing and a lot of boredom, I decided to save that for next chapter.

After dealing with Dervahl (next chapter), our 'Fellowship' is going to be broken so that Aloy, Geralt, and the Monster Hunter cast can explore their own quests.

Also, if anyone is wondering why I'm not trying to build a portal and bring in my commander, keep in mind the Horizon Zero Dawn world has...issues with big machines. The world ended because of self replicating machines, and pulling out a full scale Von Neuman would probably make everyone really umcomfortable.

Also, expect some sidestory stuff up soon - I want to expand on the things that happened in the Warframe arc, and we will get to see a certain sexy voiced pirate radiowoman in those segments.

So, Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!