This chapter is mainly written by me with some additions by KelseyAlicia :)
Ceci sighed shakily as she gazed upon what was presumably a new source of concern. She drummed her fingers against the top of her oak desk nervously. Her friends would be arriving any minute. She had texted them about it nearly ten minutes ago.
The luminous white and green scroll lay halfway open on the desk in front of her. Some of the words, composed in intricate cursive, were still perceptible. She forced herself to look away. She had already been goggling at it for too long.
Since her disastrous double date a few nights ago, bizarre things had transpired. The ghosts seemed more unsettled and active than expected. Moreover, new faces materialized left and right. And now, it appeared that something even more serious was awry. She was already running on little sleep, which was not helping.
Finally, she heard a knock on the door downstairs. She haphazardly seized the parchment and practically flew to answer it. Thankfully, none of the other Masters were home to see it. Her parents were each at one of her siblings' schools for parent-teacher conferences. So they'd be gone most of the night. Her siblings were at her friends' houses for sleepovers.
She wrenched the yellow front door open. Standing shivering outside were her best friends Denise and Jamie, looking concerned and almost as sleep-deprived as her. She waved them in, and the three emerged into the family room.
"Thank you so much for coming so quickly," Ceci spoke breathlessly. "I think something extraordinary is occurring..."
"When is it not in this town?" Jamie remarked sarcastically with a tired smile.
"Girl, take a breath. We can get through it together like we always do, alright?" Denise consoled her girlfriend quickly. She started to notice the beginnings of a panicked Ceci. She understood that the consequences of that were never favorable.
"Okay, okay…" Ceci took a few breaths before holding out the scroll to show them. "This materialized in my bedroom like twenty minutes ago."
"What is it?" Jamie questioned confusedly after a few seconds of uncertainty. "A ghost thing?"
"Let me just read it," Ceci responded. "It says, 'Cecilia Masters-Spirit, James Ramsey, and Denise Duquesne, your presence is requested at Clockwork's Tower immediately. The fate of the multiverse may depend on it. Further details will be forthcoming upon arrival. Regards, the Ancients.'"
Her friends both blinked at her, too dumbfounded to respond. Ceci sighed exasperatedly. "I know, I know, it sounds insane! Yet I've heard of the Ancients previously. Moreover, we've all encountered Clockwork!
However, I'm not confident regarding the fate of the multiverse resting on our shoulders! Don't we already have enough to agonize about? We're still in high school, for Ancient's sake!" She pulled nervously at her hair, which was beginning to come out of the braid.
"The ghosts know our names?!" Jamie whispered to Denise, who shrugged but looked like she was wondering the same thing.
"Well, we don't have a choice, do we? The Ancients wouldn't have sent that scroll if they didn't think we were capable of helping, right?" Denise asked, sounding much less confident than earlier in the interaction. She alternated between looking at Ceci and Jamie.
"Eh, sounds plausible to me," Jamie responded. "Plus, what if the crisis the Ancients need help with is connected with our existing situation? Then it would be two birds with one stone! Piece of cake!" He grinned but didn't quite manage to hide the apprehension from his expression. Still, leave it to Jamie to keep any situation lighthearted and optimistic.
"Maybe both of you are correct." Ceci took a deep breath. "Well then… I suppose we should get ready to go."
In another universe, three more teenagers huddled around a scroll.
"Are you confident this is genuine?" Sam asked, poking the composition with one finger. "What if it's a trap set by Skulker or something?"
"I haven't seen Skulker in days, Sam! I'm kind of worried about him. I got so used to threats of my pelt being taken that now I almost miss it." Danny said half sarcastically. "But in all seriousness, I think it's genuine. Something about it feels… consequential…." He looked back down at the scroll in his hands.
"In that case, we should go as soon as possible," the goth girl responded.
"Let's split up to pack what we need and meet back here." Tucker piped in. "I need to uncover Patricia to pack as a backup to Trixie! And some extra chargers!" As he hurried away, Danny and Sam shared a knowing, amused look before springing into action.
The Ancients gathered in the Nexus once again after a brief recess. The six heroes had responded to their call and were now standing in two groups in the council room. Clockwork didn't overlook how they stared wide-eyed at each other in the few seconds that had transpired since they arrived.
"Your worlds, along with others, are facing a significant threat," Dimensie informed, catching their full attention. "Ghosts and energy can travel freely between your two dimensions, which is unprecedented and unnatural. We would appreciate your assistance in keeping individual spirits in their proper dimension. This will assist in slowing the deterioration that they generate."
"Simultaneously, we, the Ancients, will locate the origin of the problem and rectify it," Clockwork added, changing to child form. "However, we cannot interfere directly in the affairs of either dimension, which is where all of you come in."
"Here are Multidimensional Pendants for each of you. They will permit you to unlock a portal between the two dimensions effortlessly. However, they may only be used once every twelve hours, so use them wisely." Enchantra said solemnly. A necklace with a lustrous gold pendant etched with ghostly runes appeared in front of each of the heroes, floating in midair and gleaming brightly.
"We know you are capable of great things and are already heroes in your own ways. So do not doubt your abilities. Have faith in yourselves." Vida added warmly.
"You are more intelligent and capable than you know," Cognite said with a nod.
"We will be watching you on your journey. Good luck." Clockwork concluded with a nod. Then, with a wave of each Ancient's hand, the six heroes were transported out of the Nexus.
"Do you honestly believe these young ones are capable of the dangerous mission we've just assigned them?" inquired Tempest. "This is a storm neither group has ever had to weather."
"Tempest had a valid point, Clockwork. But, unfortunately, we've scarcely contained this to only two dimensions. Neither Discord nor I can frankly keep our domains in check if this spreads to even more realities," Harmony whispered frighteningly.
"I pray these groups can form the critical bonds they need to succeed in their unique mission. We've already cast the spell that binds Phantom and Spirit. Yet now their friends also need to forge substantial and unbreakable bonds to survive this crisis," Echantra pointed out reasonably.
"All we can do now, my friends, is hope and pray," Clockwork finished.