The path not taken
The room was getting excited as the time was coming for the trip to happen. The majority of the time that the other world had been shown was in the basilicom, due to this they had not gotten a good idea of what the world was like.
Now however they would get the chance to see what the other side looked like. What the magic and technology was like. It was exciting for the kids in the hall. For the family heads they could not wait to see how the meetings would go as it would be a make or break situation. So it was that they were on edge as one thing going wrong could cause no end of issues for them.
Chloe however could not help but groan at the memories of what happened. True it mostly went well. There were however some bits that just had to go wrong. Though she had to admit that it would be amusing to see the reactions of those that were here to what happened.
Chapter 21: The Visit: Arrival.
Chloe was standing in the room with the dimensional transfer device and was waiting for the visitors from Earth. She would need to have words with the Malfoys when they came through, and warn them that, because of Draco's words on the train they would be watched a bit closer than the others.
Narcissa turn a cold look to her son, who for the first time looked a bit sheepish though if it was that his mother was giving him the look or for his actions they could not tell. Lucius nodded at this as it was a prudent course of action to take. He could not fault them for it. Some of the other heads of house had a smirk at this however. A smirk that Chloe knew would not last them long.
Histoire had put the rest of her vacation on hold to prepare Planatune for the visit and would be helping Nepgear with the tour of the nation.
Chloe had, in her hands, the cards for the visitor's expense accounts, and a pamphlet on how to use them, and a rough program for the time they are there.
Rough because there was so much to see, that they might find things more interesting, to them, than what she had selected.
It should be noted, that entrance fees, lodgings, and food would not come out of the expense accounts.
Chloe did most of it during the week she was bedridden since she had nothing else but games and paperwork to do anyway.
This got the blushing girl a look of disapproval from not only the resident healer but also her past lives mother. Ironically it was the later that had the most effect on the girl. Most of those who had to deal with such workload could only nod in agreement as that was what they would have done. Except for Neptune, She was too busy munching on a pudding that had been on the table to care.
Beside her were two other individuals, ones she felt could help the visitors adapt to being in Gameindustry for the eleven days they would be there.
Sirius Black, a pure blood wizard who lives in Gameindustry full time, and Dudley Dursley, a 'muggle' that also came from Earth. It should also be noted that he was close to being kicked out. The cleaners were complaining about the minor pranks, both getting caught in them, and cleaning up after them.
Chloe was personally surprised how Harry's cousin had improved since moving to Gameindustry.
In fact, part of the reason why he was there instead of questing with his instructor/guardian was that he was on medical leave.
This had caused lily to be surprised at the fact that the boy had been chosen to help. True she knew that he was there but the fact that he was helping Chloe and had apparently turned a new leaf pleased her. However upon hearing that he was hurt caused her to feel concerned about the boy. True they might not have the best of relationships but he was still her nephew, she did care for him.
Chloe smiled as she remembered the first meeting with the boy since she had been reborn, as she had simply approved the paperwork for him to move, and assigned him, Linda.
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Flashback!
Chloe was standing outside of a hospital room frowning. She didn't want to confront any part of her past life, but the boy's actions the day before deserved a reward, and considering where he had been injured, she felt she should be the one to do it.
Firming up her resolve she knocked.
"Come in!" a male voice sounded from within.
Throwing her ever-present hood off her head, she did so.
"Hello Linda, Mr. Dursley," Chloe said formally and was privately impressed by how Dudley had shaped up over the year. If she was attracted to males she would probably have some attraction to the heavily muscled youth currently covered in bandages (EN).
"Chloe, why are you here?" Linda asked, surprised to see her sponsor for her parole to be there.
Dudley, on the other hand, tried to stand up and bow, despite the fact that he had two broken ribs, and a sprained ankle.
"Stay down Mr. Dursley, I don't expect you to get up when you're injured. The reason I'm here is I heard that you jumped in to defend one of the orphanages I donate money to often, and I wanted to reward your bravery. You held the main entrance, alone, for two hours until reinforcements arrived."
There was a silence filling the room. This boy who had originally been shown as overweight and selfish had not only put himself in the line of fire for others but had held it for that long. The aurors could not help but be impressed.
Lily could only smile at how the boy had turned out. It seemed that all he needed was the right motivation. It seemed that his parents had been a bad influence, ironically enough. It also appeared that his potential had been given a chance to show and it had done so in spectacular fashion.
"Goddess, I..." Dudley started.
Only to be interrupted when Chloe walked over to him, and placed a hand on his forehead, and said in a formal tone, "I, Chloe, Goddess Candidate of Leanbox, grant full citizenship to one Dudley Dursley, with all the rights, responsibilities, and potential of any other citizen." when she had finished a green glow surrounded the boy, and his menu opened, and where his level was, changed from, 26/50 to 26/99, and the exp for the next level decreased significantly. "I would also like to offer you official citizenship in Leanbox, but that is completely up to you. Get well soon."
With that, she left the shocked duo behind.
"What just happened?" Dudley asked.
"She nearly doubled your potential growth and offered you citizenship in Leanbox. Well, that means I can increase your training," the green haired woman said with a smirk.
The young man gulped and prepared himself for more pain when he recovered.
Their was a groan from those who had been either in the auror program or the duellist circles. There was always that one sadist trainer who, despite being a slave driver, was renown for training some of the best in the field. The fact that Moody was grinning widely just proved this fact right. He was that sadistic trainer.
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Outside the young man's hospital room Chloe was looking at her hand.
Her non-shaking hand.
She had looked at one of her greatest tormentors when she was Harry and felt... almost nothing. The most she felt was the pride that her gamble on bringing a bully to Gameindustry panned out, and he had been reformed.
Frowning she left to talk to her sister, this is something she needed help to understand.
Chloe was pulled into a hug by vert. Chloe just smiled, it had taken some time but she had figured out why she felt so little and that was that she had accepted her new life. She had become emotionally detached from her past. It was proof that she had finally become 'Chloe' and not still harry under a new name and face.
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Shaking her head to clear it as the transporter activated, she braced herself for the visitors. Even with Vert's and Chika's help she still didn't understand the lack of reaction, but she needed to concentrate on the here and now.
The first to arrive was a bushy-haired young woman with haunted eyes in a wheelchair, and a woman who was obviously her mother, and then one after another the rest of the group arrived.
"Hello, My name is Chloe, the goddess candidate of Leanbox, and I would like to welcome you to Gameindustry, we have a full, but malleable schedule. Today I thought we would get you settled in, and then a Chocobo ride around our main city. Here are your charge cards, and instructions on how to use them, as well as a rough schedule on the attractions to visit. If the majority of you wish to see something that's not on the list, tell me and we can slot it in. We will be paying for food, lodgings, and entrance fees, so feel free to use the provided funds."
Then a pair of blonds walked up to the candidate, and the older of which formally bowed, before saying, "Candidate, I wish to apologize for my son's words on the train ride, and wish to reassure you that he will not be acting on his idea, I personally guarantee it. On another note, can you arrange a meeting with Green Heart for me? I wish to discuss opening avenues of trade."
Lucius had to hide the smirk he wanted to have plastered on his face. This act alone proved to him that not only was he and his alternate very similar as this was what he would have done in the similar situation. He however cold not help but wonder what he was planning as it was clear to him that while true the trade excuse was only one part of what he wanted.
"I thank you for your apology, and I will see whether she will have the time for a preliminary conversation on the matter," Chloe replied formally, and nodded her head at the man, while his son fumed quietly. "One last thing, your son will be under heavier observation than the others, given his threat to my sister."
The man nodded, while his son fumed at his father, they were pure-bloods! They should be ruling even here, not these so-called goddesses.
Draco went bright red, both from the embarrassment of having his thoughts being broadcast to the entire hall but also from the rage at the fact that he was being humiliated in front of his peers. The fact that his father in that world had just accepted the situation without complaint however confused him. His family was one of the most powerful surely he could have done something about it. Couldn't he?
An old woman with a vulture on her hat approached Chloe, and asked, "May I have a meeting set up? It's for an important matter."
After promising to see what she could do, Chloe was approached by the two in a wheelchair, and the mother asked, "Professor Dumbledore suggested that your nation might be able to help my daughter, is it possible?"
Chloe frowned, and then said, "I can set her up for a consultation at a free clinic, but paying for the procedure could be a challenge for you."
"We have money," the woman stated.
Chloe shook her head, and responded, "What I gave you wouldn't be enough for a major operation like that, and your money from your world, is worth exactly what it's made out of, so it's almost worthless here, but we will see what the consulting doctor thinks."
The woman nodded as she walked off, pushing her daughter's chair, her heartbreaking as the hope seemed to get more distant.
Hermione could not help but sigh at this, it was clear that there was a possibility of her other being healed but without knowing how or at what price, there was little that could be done. At least if they knew it was possible they might be able to get together an appropriate funds. Again she sighed. Only to be held by lily with a small reassuring smile upon her face.
Then the machine activated again and to the surprise of everyone present, Minister Fudge walked out.
"Minister, What are you doing here?" Chloe asked.
"Two reasons, one is I want to meet the rest of the goddesses and candidates, so that I will know who I might have to interact with later, and second is I need a vacation. I have some gold bars to exchange for local money."
Chloe shrugged, and said, "Let me get everybody settled in, then I can help you exchange the money."
The minister nodded, and while he was upset at being sidelined, he knew that his presence hadn't been accounted for, so he was willing to wait... and incidentally not piss off someone that could break him like a twig.
This caused some sniggers to run around the room as it was a true statement. The minister could not help but smile at the self depreciating statement. He could take a few jokes like that, he just tried not to when in public. The office of minister of magic had a reputation to maintain after all.
Chloe set up the group in a decent, but not exceptional hotel, while she brought the girl and her mother to the clinic, that happened to have a consulting doctor available.
After looking at the MRI, Magi-imaging, and X-rays the man sat across from the two females, while Chloe had left to help the other guests.
The doctor looked at the two females across from him and gave the good, yet bad, yet good news.
This caused everyone in the room to pay more attention. It had been stated that the injury was not treatable by magic or muggle means, So it was that they were curious to hear what the news would be as it would give a possible indication of the differences in such capabilities. The aurors and healers in the room were taking notes to see if the treatment could be replicatable.
"The good news is, there are procedures that can allow you to walk," as he said that, the two across from him brighten, only to have their hope crushed. "the problem is that the cheapest option, is nearly a million credits, and I do not believe our goddesses will simply hand over the money."
Hermione shrunk into herself as her mother said, "So there's no hope then."
The doctor smirked, and said, "Not... necessarily."
"Explain," Mrs. Granger all but demanded.
At this Hermione went bright red at the way her mother had all but demanded the doctor tell them. The parents in the room understood the woman's view point as none of them would be pleased at all if such a thing had happened to their children.
"I checked with Chloe while going over your results. After two days in Leanbox, you are heading to Planatune, and that is an opportunity. I have a friend there, that needed someone to use as a demonstration dummy at one of the largest teaching hospitals in Gameindustry. Normally they would use a simulacrum, but they prefer a live human. If you agree, your back would be exposed to the students, but the procedure, materials, and medications would be free, so are you interested?" the doctor asked with a smile.
The two females looked at each other, and then Hermione smiled and replied, "Yes!thank you!"
This got wide eyes from those in the hall. They had the ability to heal a broken spine? And they would be doing it for free? The healers in the room could not believe their ears at this. Hermione herself was shocked beyond belief, true she was embarrassed as she would be on view to a class of students but she would probably be unconscious at the time so she could not exactly complain as she was being treated for something that was incurable here.
Her mother was less enthused simply because she wanted to know what the procedure would entail, and the risks. She knew that her daughter wouldn't care about the first, as long as she could walk again, so she asked the second, "What are the risks?"
"Negligible. The man is a professional, hundreds of operations of this type, no failures. This particular procedure was pioneered a hundred years ago, and is still in use because it's safe and often the most affordable option."
The woman smiled, and replied, "Thank you, please pen us in then."
As the two left to call for a ride to their hotel, the man typed into his computer, H. Granger, cybernetic spine repair, demonstration volunteer. (EN2)
"a hundred years?" whispered out Poppy in shock. The idea that they were that far behind was horrifying for the healer. She was not the only one who was in shock, most of the hall was too.
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Fudge was only slightly angry at being put at a second priority to the rest of the guests, as he was an unexpected addition. He decided to explore a bit while waiting for Chloe to finish with the rest of the guests.
Most of his anger had bled off when he saw what he thought was a sheer impossibility, magic users using magic openly, alongside non-magical who didn't care about said magic being used.
Technology being used by all, as well as technomancy.
At this point, he was wondering what his undersecretary had been smoking with her complaints. Yes, things were different, and the place ran on different rules, but the place worked with apparently fewer problems since there was only one society, rather than one hiding from another.
Looking at the images being shown, quite a few of the magical s could only look on in envy as it was something that they had been told was impossible yet here they were looking at a society that had magic being used freely. It was a dream.
He decided to take notes and speak to some of the citizens.
He would make it clear that he was a visitor, and wanted to find out what the people here thought of their rulers.
When Chloe found him two hours later, he was confused. The goddess and the candidate were well thought of, more the candidate actually than the goddess, mainly because she was more visibly hard working. His notes have grown impressively, and while he knew that he couldn't use much of what he heard, perhaps he could fake it.
He was seriously sick of being a puppet and hated that he was almost blackmailed into the position. He had grown to like the power the position gave him, but he was a puppet, and he knew it, but perhaps, after observing the rulers from each of the four nations, he could make himself less so.
He followed the young ruler back to the hotel after she helped him exchange his gold for credits, after all, he had the first thing of her plans to experience.
The Chocobo ride.
The minister sat their pleased with his other, true they were not the bravest or most talented but they were not pleased with the situation. It was something that was shared with both of them. It seemed however that his alternate had been given an opportunity to find a way out now if only he could get one too?
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Chloe and Cyberconnect2 led the group to the Chocobo stables, where the large yellow birds awaited them.
"These are Chocobos, they are the preferred mounts of those who don't like the more technological transportation or those not in too great of a hurry to use them. They are relatively intelligent, so please don't piss them off. Miss Granger, we have a saddle for disabled people here for you," Chloe said while petting the head of the sole gold Chocobo of the group. It was her personal mount.
"So you ride on big dumb birds? Fitting for such a crappy society," Draco said with a scowl. He had not been enjoying the trip so far. There were no house elves, none of his magical toys, and a, to him, idiotic monetary system.
His father facepalmed. He had been having trouble adjusting as well, but he also realized it was because it was simply different, and he could see that some would be interesting to import to his own world.
This got a look from the others in the hall. They had not expected him to think something like that. What they forgot was that he was a business man thus he had to be pragmatic. Just because he did not like something personally did not mean it had no use.
He also observed that if the dark lord had tried to attack this world, he would have been mercilessly crushed by the military.
And now his son was trying to piss them off.
Chloe's eye twitched, and then ignored him.
Something that pissed the boy off, more than her shooting an insult back would have.
Chloe then explained how to mount the birds, and helping Hermione on hers, with Draco not following the instructions, having not learned from his first care of magical creatures lesson.
Finally, after everybody was mounted, Chloe led them on a ride around Leanbox's capital city... which was also named Leanbox, which was common for the capitols of the four major nations.
Most of the ones present were impressed at the smooth ride the well-trained birds.
Most. Draco was complaining about how it would've been better on broomsticks.
To be fair, the bird could tell it was being insulted so was giving him the most uncomfortable ride it could.
This caused the hall to burst out laughing at the fact that the Chocobo was in essence trolling the snobby slytherin. The fact that the students from the other schools were trying to hide chuckles only made things worse for the boy. Chloe was sure that any reputation that he had once had would be well and truly destroyed by the end of this.
During the ride, Chloe was pointing out attractions as they rode.
"What's that large paved area over there?" Lucius asked pointing.
"The local military airfield, and where I park my private jet. Nobody seems to like riding with me, too scared of a few tricks I suppose."
"No," CC shouted, "you're just too insane!"
This caused the griffindors to start chuckling as it was a well known fact that harry did not play quiditch for the game but because it let him fly to his hearts content. The fact that stunts were included in this was never mentioned although every new seeker was told about his habit of pulling stunts so that they could avoid being caught up in them. So it was amusing to those in the hall that Chloe had the same tendency.
"I'll take that challenge!" Draco shouted, "No muggle aircraft could intimidate me!"
Chloe sighed and looked at the rest of the group, and was surprised that they all seemed supportive, as the blonde boy had been getting on their nerves.
"Fine, but you will follow my instructions," she said and was feeling vindictive.
Chloe could not help but laugh at this. Upon seeing the gleam in the girls eyes the potters and friends could not wait to see what was about to happen.
Soon they had parked their birds at the airfield, and Chloe told Lucius how to get his son ready, and left to put on her own pilot suit.
The suit in question was reminiscent of the plug suit of the Evangelion series, as the skin tight nature, reinforced with some armour, helped keep blood flowing while pulling large amounts of Gs.
She then climbed into the cockpit and taxied her aircraft to the take-off field.
It was a highly advanced fighter craft, further modified by her for responsiveness, acceleration, and top speed.
She was almost the only person that could use it to it's fullest potential.
And the only one insane enough to try.
Neptune could not help but start chuckling as she was well aware of the types of performance that the military aircraft could pull. The others in the room were starting to look worried at the descriptions being given.
Draco looked at the craft and sneered before climbing in, and buckling up. A thin pane of plastic separated him from the part that Chloe was in, a necessity she had added ever since her sister had projectile vomited on her during a trip.
This alone told the goddesses just how hard the girl pushed that aircraft because if you could cause someone who had the ability to naturally fly to be sick due to your flying. Well lets just say that it was definitely not your normal flight.
After checking that Draco was in, she started.
Throttle to three quarters, breaks on, and the frame of the jet started to groan, then with a practised motion, before Draco could open his mouth, she stood the plain on its end, and opened up the throttle to full, causing them to shoot up like a rocket. Draco was pushed back into his seat, and if it weren't for the shock he would have been swearing.
As the jet passed through a cloud Draco realized. He was higher in the sky than any wizard had ever been before, and the trip was just beginning, especially with the nasty smirk the candidate was giving him. She turned the nose of the aircraft straight down and started corkscrewing rapidly, and Draco was glad he really hadn't eaten.
He was also screaming in terror.
She stopped spinning just in time to have the aircraft inverted mere centimetres from the ground. She then pulled back into the sky to perform stunts that professional stunt fliers would look askance at.
Draco, by the time she landed, was catatonic.
After popping the canopy, she looked back, and said, "Oops."
"What do you mean... oops?" Malfoy Sr. asked.
"Your son's fine, just a tad catatonic. Let's finish our ride and get him to bed, he should be fine in the morning."
Chloe could not help the smirk on her face as everyone just dead-panned at her. Though the potter boys were looking on in envy at the plane and the stunts she had pulled. Lily looked white in shock and fear at what she had just seen.
The blonde man sighed, he really couldn't blame the girl, his son had been annoying him, all day. So he used the incarcerous spell to bind his son to his bird, and he enjoyed the rest of his ride and ended up in a three-way conversation with Chloe and Green-grass about business. Chloe was an amateur, but her experience ruling helped her keep up.
Soon enough they had to stop, and the Chocobo Lucius rode seemed reluctant to let him go but eventually did.
After getting the group back to their hotel, and having food delivered, Chloe headed back to her room, to get some relaxation. She didn't feel guilty about the condition of the boy, he had almost literally asked for it. Hopefully, he would be better behaved tomorrow when the real tour begins.
She could hope.
Things seemed to be going relatively well all things considered. True, Draco had been acting like a child having a tantrum but that was to be expected as he had always gotten everything he had ever wanted. Now however Lucius was seriously considering putting his foot down with the boy. He had let him get away with too much. Now was as good an opportunity for change as any.