Chapter 13
Natural Distortions
As the mechanical door rotated, I felt a strange feeling rush over me. It was neither positive nor negative; just pure emotion. As the door opened, I then found myself in a Japanese castle. I looked out the window only to see that the sky was perpetually in daylight; maybe this was due to the Flood of Light. "Beautiful, isn't it?", a voice behind me asked. I turned around to see a teenage girl with long blonde hair and green eyes wearing a beautiful if overly poofy white dress with green stripes; the bottom of the dress seemed like it was styled to resemble a giant teacup. "Hello there, my name is Jack. Who are you?", I asked. "Oh, it seems you've forgotten about me, too. No matter. My name is Celine of the Kingdom of Firene.", the girl said. "Sailing?", I asked. "No, Celine.", Celine replied. "If you don't mind me asking, Celine, where are we?", I asked, curious. "It seems this is an otherworldly kingdom called Hoshido.", Celine replied. "Wait, you mean Hoshido from Fire Emblem Fates?!", I replied. "I don't know what a Fire Emblem Fates is, but yes.", Celine replied, gently walking up to me. As she embraced me, I couldn't help but notice a sad look in Celine's eyes, as if she was mournful about me not remembering her. I gently embraced her back. "Much like the man I knew. He was gentle too.", Celine mumbled under her breath.
After Celine left, I wandered through the castle in order to piece together what was happening. Not only was Cyber Space apparently beginning to crack due to being overcapacity, but I was being warped to completely random locations to protect me from the "Chosen" only for the protection to fail. It was as though Cyber Space was deliberately bringing me to the Chosen, but for what purpose I didn't know. Suddenly, my right eye was overcome with pain, prompting me to instinctively close it and cover it with my hand. "No, not yet. Not right now.", I said. The pain then strangely subsided as quickly as it appeared; breathing heavily, I wondered what had caused the pain to appear so strongly only for it to disappear. I then saw a vision of Toby, only for him to appear to be engaged in sexual relations with a child. Or rather, to be more accurate, it would appear that Toby was actually raping the child instead. The vision gave way to another vision, this time of another me with mint green hair wearing a white tunic having a golden crown placed on the forehead. The attendees including who appeared to be Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude bowed down to the other me as the other me then raised a golden sword whilst glowing with a green and golden aura. That vision in turn gave way to yet another me with matching blue hair and blue eyes battling that purple dragon that looked like a cobra and manifesting a spectral dragon. "Wait, are they all other versions of me?", I asked. The vision promptly faded; I then found myself in an icy wasteland with ice and snow as far as I can see. "Well, this is at least different to that desert I was in.", I said.
Noticing a castle in the distance, I walked toward it hoping to find any answers to what was happening. I looked up only to witness a strange sky that looked absolutely smothered in nothing but daylight. "Looks beautiful, doesn't it?", a deep voice said behind me. I turned around to see a man with messy black hair and purple eyes wearing a loose white shirt, black trousers, brown shoes and a long black cape. "Hi, who are you?", I asked. "It seems Celine's right, you have forgotten about us. No worries, we can rectify that. Incidentally, my name is Kagura Mutsuki.", the man said. "Wait, you know Celine?", I asked. "That's right, all of the Chosen know each other. You could even say we're family.", Kagura said. "Wait, what do you mean by 'family'?", I asked. "Never you mind. You just focus on fulfilling your role as the key and bringing us over to the other side. You could even rule us once you do.", Kagura replied. "That doesn't answer my question though.", I said. "Still, to think you actually defeated Giganto without your powers fully restored. That's impressive to say the least.", Kagura said.
As we walked to the castle together, I saw a vision of a giant mechanical angel with a mechanical halo with the Chosen surrounding him and myself opposing them. "You chose wrong, false hero. You thought you could oppose us without our lord knowing but you were wrong. Now suffer for your crimes!", Noah shouted before Eunie shot a beam of energy out of her rod. The vision faded, leaving me confused. Walking into the castle's foyer with Kagura, I saw a woman with long blue hair tied up into a ponytail with two tufts of hair sticking out like antennae and magenta eyes wearing a midnight blue dress that partially exposed her cleavage and dark blue slippers. "Lady Mai, I've found and brought the key here.", Kagura said to the woman. "You've done well enough, Kagura.", Mai said. Turning her attention to me, Mai then said, "So you're the young man we've been trying to find. And your parents said that we'd never find you even in Cyber Space. Seems they were wrong.". "Anyway, what's whole deal with the Chosen and the Titans? And what are the Titans anyway?", I asked. "In reference to both questions, the Titans are ancient machines created by the Ancients and used by them to fight against an extraterrestrial being known to us only as 'The End'; we are concerned about them as we believe them capable of teaching you new techniques to use in battle. We were planning on having them destroyed so you wouldn't have to go through the hassle of potentially risking your life and dying before you are able to fulfil your duty as the key. That's why we also entered Cyber Space when YHVH's agents acted out of turn and trapped you here when it should have protected you.", Mai explained. "But I thought the Titans were supposed to be my guardians and help me.", I said. "Where did you get this notion?", Mai asked. "It's just that when I was very young, my parents got me a book about very ancient history and showed me pictures of four Titans they called Giganto, Wyvern, Knight and Supreme; according to them, they were waiting for someone to train up and help them to defeat this angelic being called YHVH.", I said. "Well that certainly conflicts with what we know- that the Titans are four living barriers preventing the Divine One from reaching its true power and becoming the key to helping us travel and unite the Multiverse under the Sovereign Empire.", Kagura said.
After my little 'conversation' with Kagura and Mai, I found myself in a strange stone corridor underneath the castle. The atmosphere was oddly hot for a castle in an icy wasteland. I turned to the wall behind me only to find that it was sealed shut tight. Firing up a Tao Mandala, I sent a magical pulse of energy into the wall; against all expectation it refused to budge. Since I had more important to things, I then turned my back to the wall and walked on. As I walked through the corridor, I caught a glimpse of a girl with short red hair and light red eyes wearing a short red dress and a blue jacket and a yellow shawl on her head. I sped up, only to notice the girl's clothing changing into a black and dark red dress with a red opening for her cleavage. She then turned to face me and smiled. "Hi, who are you?", I asked. Perking up significantly, the girl then said, "Oh, you've returned to us! By the way my name is Sophie Neuenmuller.". "Where are we anyway?", I asked. "Oh, this is Cyslodia. We're currently underneath the provincial castle here- well, it's Cyber Space recreation anyway.", Sophie said. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Oh, did they not tell you that? Well, Cyber Space is a digital realm that apparently works by scanning the user's mind and creating a virtual space based on their memories or something. I don't really understand how it works myself.", Sophie explained. "And why is Cyber Space bringing me to the Chosen when it's supposed to be warping me away from them to protect me?", I asked. "Oh, that's because we're trying to get you to a stable location and log you out so you can truly fulfil your destiny as the key. Though I'm a very powerful mage, my skills lie in alchemy so I refused to help contribute to the spell overtly. I also thought you'd remember me at least.", Sophie said. "Why do you say that?", I asked. "Wait, you really don't me? It seems Cyber Space isn't just a failed cradle for you, but also a way for you to forget your friends and your true purpose.", Sophie said, heartbroken. Gracefully walking up to me, Sophie then embraced me like Celine had done before, only to then look into my eyes as hers started glowing. Utterly transfixed in place, I found myself magically paralysed as Sophie said, "That's right, Jack. Look into my eyes, deep into my eyes.". I then found myself in a strange hotel room as Sophie walked in through the door wearing a beautiful white dress. "How do I look, Jack?", she asked. "Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.", I said. I then noticed that my own clothes had changed too; I was wearing a very handsome suit and tie. "So, are you ready now?", Sophie asked. "Wait, where are we going?", I asked. "What do you mean, 'where are we going'? Have you forgotten already? Today's the day of our wedding!", Sophie said.
The memory then changed to another location- now I found myself in a sinister cathedral with Noah and Mio at the altar. Noah was wearing a golden crown whilst Mio was wearing a beautiful white and silver dress. "This is a very beautiful moment.", Ivy said beside me. "Y-Yeah, I guess.", I said, confused as to where I was. "Still, to think that Noah and Mio will be the next Sovereign and Maiden to rule the Sovereign Empire. Brings a tear to my eye.", Lanz said. The location shifted again to a battlefield where arrows, rocks and magical spheres flew and explosions rocked the ground. Through the flames I saw a legion of knights in white mechanical armour wielding mechanised swords, axes, lances and bows- this gave way to another memory of me approaching and activating a giant stone chair whilst walking through a volcanic field which then proceeded to flicker to life, glowing a dark red. Returning to the corridor, I asked, "What were they?". "These were all time loops you lived through- one where you and I got married, another where Noah and Mio were crowned as the Sovereign Empire's next rulers and another where you led an expedition to Chaos Island. Well, to be more exact, they were time loops that YHVH placed you through after trapping you here in Cyber Space. We've been trying to extract you ever since so you could finally lead us to victory against YHVH, even if it means costing you your life.", Sophie explained. "But why can't I remember them?", I asked. "To be honest, it's not like you can't remember them but more like your mind is choosing not to for some reason.", Sophie said. Letting go of me, Sophie then walked away, determined. Deciding to follow her, I then found myself in the Sovereign Empire's chapel where Sanctus was waiting. "And the final piece appears.", Sanctus said with a vacant look in his eyes. "Wait, what do you mean by final piece?", I asked. "He means the final piece of the puzzle we've been solving ever since we came to Cyber Space to find you.", Melia said, walking in. I turned around to see that Melia was now wearing a beautiful silver dress with a golden corset. "Wait, you're the Queen of Keves, right?", I asked. "Wrong. The King of Keves is my father, Sorean. My brother Kallian is the heir; as far as the kingdom is concerned, I'm just it's pretty princess and the spare to the throne.", Melia said. "Wait, didn't Zanza kill your dad and turn your brother into a Telethia, though?", I asked. "To be honest, this isn't the prime universe anyway. And in an alternate universe like this one, any writer can play fast and loose with canon- that's what this story is ostensibly about.", Melia said coolly. Turning to face Sanctus, I then noticed Veyle sleeping on the altar, the chapel only lit by the dark crimson flames coming from the candles surrounding the central altar. Walking over to Veyle, Melia stroked the young Fell Child's hair, saying, "Poor girl, suffering how she did under that poor excuse of a father.". "Wait, what did her father do to her?", I asked. "I'll answer that question. Young Veyle here has had a very checkered past, what with her father Sombron sewing her vagina shut when she was still just a child and having a one Yuuki Terumi 'babysit' her and allowing him to casually burn her with burning cigarette butts. Which we Sovereign Imperials condemn in the strongest of terms.", Sanctus said. I covered my mouth in horror at this. "And I personally thought Lady Edelgard had a dark past. How naïve I had been.", Sanctus said.
As I struggled to comprehend how violent Sombron had been to Veyle, Melia then said, "And that not's all. Sombron also hit and shouted at Veyle on a very frequent basis. Poor girl must have been so scared. At least the Sovereign Empire's medical team was able to reopen Veyle's vagina; unfortunately though they weren't really able to find a dedicated therapist for her outside of Doctor Maruki. Still, we've at least tried.". "Now, as for your purpose, young one,", Sanctus said upon turning his attention to me, "your base powers haven't yet fully awakened. It appears to me that you can use the power to manipulate the four cardinal elements of fire, earth, air and water but your abilities to manipulate gravitational forces and create weapons of your choice out of thin air haven't yet awakened. It seems the Archangels made a very crucial mistake in that; worse, because your powers haven't fully awakened, you cannot access the upper echelons of your base power.". "And I guess you're going to subject me to some BS so I can fully unlock my Semblance, is that what's going to happen?", I asked. "You certainly catch on fast. Yes, that is indeed what I am going to do.", Sanctus said. "Well, I've played enough RPGs so I can roughly guess what's going to happen.", I replied. Thinking back to my encounter in the Leicester Space Centre, I asked, "So what is this World anyway?". "Well, when the world of Nintentopia formed, it's reality- well, what the rules of reality run on anyway- take the form of what people back in your world would call a role-playing game or RPG.", Sanctus said. "It's just that when my parents linked me to the Eye of Harmony back in my world, I saw a world based heavily on the RPG mechanics of Tales of Arise, .hack/G.U., God Eater 3 and Scarlet Nexus alongside elements of Final Fantasy XVI, Cosmic Break, Genshin Impact, Fate/Extella Link, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris. Maybe that's what Nintentopia's reality is based on.", I said. "And those would be what your world plays for entertainment, is that right?", Sanctus asked. "Not exactly; some of those games haven't been released yet in my world. I only saw them due to the Eye of Harmony allowing me to glimpse into the future.", I replied. "Of course, both our world and your world are suffering from the distortion of excess light aether creating a Flood of Light. That's why we need your full powers awakened- so you can stand up to the Flood and survive fighting it. And I'm already sure you've seen the flood but not necessarily how Nintentopia is suffering.", Sanctus said. "Not to mention how Cyber Space is also starting to become affected by the Flood too.", Melia said.
Leaving the chapel, I then found myself in the hospital ward again, this time with Ivy watching over my bed. "Ivy? What are you doing here now?", I asked. Ivy turned to face me and smiled, a red infinity symbol forming in her left eye. "So you actually are one of Moebius after all.", I said. "I'm glad you realise it now.", Ivy said, walking over to and embracing me. "It's just, when I was growing up in Elusia, my father made it clear to me that my duty is to the Fell Dragon rather than the Divine Dragon; with you around, I feel like I can finally defy him.", Ivy said. "You must have been really close to the Divine Dragon then.", I said. "No, not Lumera, but her daughter Alear.", Ivy said. "Wait, Lumera has a daughter?", I asked. "Yes. You remind me very much of her.", Ivy replied. "If so, then why did you join Moebius?", I asked. "To protect you, Jack.", Ivy answered. "Wait, what?", I asked. "I failed to protect my sister Hortensia; for that matter, her retainers Goldmary and Rosado also failed to protect her from the Fell Dragon and his loyal Corrupted. By joining Moebius, Goldmary and I figured that if not Hortensia, then we could at least protect you. Well, that was the plan anyway.", Ivy explained. "But then you became distracted and decided to prolong the Endless Now, is that right?", I asked. "More or less.", Ivy said. Thinking hard for a moment, I then found myself in the forest temple near Garreg Mach. Steeling myself, I then approached the altar, ready for anything.
The story continues in the next chapter.
