Tales of The Multiverse
Chapter 6
Arrival of the goddess
It was a rather gloomy looking day, the sky was grey, and the clouds dark like a storm rolling in, which was a rather large contrast to the bright grassy field in which a young woman roamed, with long jet black hair, parted bangs, brown eyes, wearing a white long sleeve shirt, in which the sleeves were a bit poofy, and a blue dress of sorts. It went partway up to her chest as straps went over her shoulders from the back and attached to the front, and the skirt went all the way down to her ankles just about and was rather large as he blew wildly in the wind as she walked, her small blue shoes walking on the soil path, her short white socks rather visible due to how the wind blew. She continued along, fighting against the wind for a bit as she walked past a tree to her right and tried to look around, but oddly enough the path seemed to end.
"Am I lost?" she asked, but then her attention quickly turned to the sky as the clouds parted suddenly and the sky grew pitch black, save for a large planet visible in the distance, but to her surprise she could almost make out details on it. "Wha…how close is…!" she quickly gasped as she took a step back, the planet began to get streaks of yellow and red, like burning amber lines going through the planet's surface, the whole planet itself began to seem to tremble before it suddenly exploded, making her yelp as she heard the boom as if she was a few feet from it, holding her arms in front of her face she felt her feet slide backwards across the dirt slightly as the wind grew even more intense. She managed to look after a few seconds and her eyes grew wide in horror as what seemed to be several large pieces of machinery flying in her direction from where the planet was. She stumbled back as several pieces slammed into the ground, most embedding into the soil upon impact while others bounced off in random directions, thankfully non went in her direction but she nearly fell over due to how much they shook the ground.
"Wha…what just happened? What's going on!?" she asked, a bit horrified and confused.
"YOU!" a loud woman's voice boomed from the sky, nearly toppling the girl off of her feet as she fell backwards but managed to catch herself on her hands before her butt hit the ground, she managed to get back up and quickly grew horrified as she saw a pair of dark eyes gaze at her from the sky as two large white hands began to reach for her from the black sky. "YOU HUMANS DESTROYED MY WORLD!" the girl quickly turned on her heel and ran as one of the hands smashed the nearby tree easily as the other reached for her.
"NO! NO GET AWAY! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" the young girl pleaded as she fled in terror, but then suddenly the ground fell out from under her as a large hole appeared before her, causing her to scream loudly as she plunged down it face first into the black pit for a few seconds, until suddenly there was a loud *THUD* as a headache quickly spread from her forehead. Slowly putting her hands out she pushed against what felt like a solid wooden floor, and shakily propped herself up as she looked around, her head throbbing as she felt a cold sweat all over her body, she saw she was in her bedroom, and was currently in an awkward position as her legs were still mostly in bed while her upper body hung over the side. Around then the door opened and a woman who appeared older than the girl with short blond hair, blue eyes, and dressed in a robe with slippers came in, while the girl herself realized she herself wore a nightgown as opposed to what she wore in her nightmare.
"Jennifer!" the woman exclaimed in both shock and concern as she hurried over to Jennifer's side, taking careful hold she managed to lift her up back into a safe sitting position on the bed as Jennifer then gripped her forehead in pain from the headache that pulsed through her skull. "Are you alright? I heard you scream followed by a loud noise…"
"Yeah…obviously me falling from bed and having a head on collision with the floor…literally…" Jennifer groaned as she tried to massage her forehead.
"You gave me a bit of a fright there…I honestly thought your nightmares would be finished with now all things considered. But then again I guess it'll take time for them to work out of your system," the woman said, prompting Jennifer's eyes to shift to her direction, pausing her movements. "It was a nightmare…wasn't it?"
"Yeah…but it was a weird one, not like the others in the past," Jennifer replied.
"Really?" the woman asked, looking a bit puzzled, but also concerned.
"I'll tell you later…right now I think we could use a refreshing breakfast, Helen," Jennifer replied.
"Right, right. Just try and take it easy today, ok?" Helen asked, to which Jennifer nodded before she went off. Jennifer sighed once she left the room, holding a hand to her forehead as the pain began to faintly subside, but the images of the planet and the words lingered in her mind.
"It was so unreal…yet it felt so real…" Jennifer said. "It's just a dream…nothing more…just…a dream," she continued, trying to disconnect herself from it, as it really didn't have anything to do with her or any of her past endeavors. She climbed out of bed as she went and grabbed her robe and slipped it over herself as she gazed in a nearby mirror, she was a sixteen year old girl, who managed to see a lot of things in her early life beginning at the age of fourteen, and unto fifteen. Her full name, was Jennifer Simpson, who lived with her guardian, Helen Maxwell, a thirty-one year old woman who had adopted Jennifer into her care recently, and the two have gotten to be like sisters since. Once she had her robe tied around her waist she then went over to the window to have a look outside, it was an actually bright sunny day in London, and it was currently the year of 1997. Once she had her clothes picked out for the day she went and put them on aside near the washroom as she went downstairs, and entered the kitchen area where Helen was currently fixing breakfast for the two.
"Feeling any better?" she asked.
"A bit," Jennifer replied as she went over to the small table and took her seat.
"Wanna share?"
"Well, it had nothing to do with what I had to deal with in the past, it was just so…strange…"
"Elaborate on "strange"," Helen stated, as Jennifer realized given what they had dealt with last year, strange was a relative term.
"I was wandering lost somewhere when I saw a planet in the sky…strangely close to Earth, but it then exploded, and the debris landed around my instantly," Jennifer replied.
"A…planet exploded?" Helen asked as she stared in Jennifer's direction, she would attempt to make a joke, but knew joking with Jennifer wouldn't be a good idea, let alone nice.
"I really have no idea why, but then…a woman shouted at the top of her lungs in anger, about us humans destroying her world, I didn't see her…but her hands were coming after me, I ran…and I then I fell into a hole that appeared…and hit my head on the floor," Jennifer replied.
"Well, I have no idea what to make of it, but if it does hold any sort of meaning, I imagine we'll find it eventually," Helen said as she walked over, carrying two plates with the typical breakfast meal and set one in front of Jennifer and the other in front of a vacant seat as she then went to get the silverware along with a cup of juice and a mug of coffee. "Well, different topic, how have you and Nolan been getting along since…well…" she tried to find the right words as she set the stuff down and sat at her seat.
"We haven't spoken to each other since we broke up. While I am looking for a commitment relationship, the problem is…well, he's over ten years older than I am," Jennifer replied as she took the juice and began to drink.
"I see, so that means that you really haven't been seeing him then?" Helen asked, to which Jennifer shook her head.
"We may see each other on the street or in a store, but we don't go out of our way to say hi, or wave, we're respecting each other's space," she replied.
"I'm just glad you didn't go through with it. May not look like much right now but you'd eventually look like a young woman with a much older man," Helen commented.
"Trust me I know. I think I've had enough problems without having to have a huge age gap of a marriage when the time finally came," Jennifer stated. "I forget, are you doing anything in particular today?" she then began to actually eat her breakfast, cutting it into small pieces before chewing.
"No, just the usual work. Might be working a little late tonight," Helen replied as she began to eat a little, but then paused as a thought quickly came to mind, swallowing before she began to speak again. "You don't think something bad is gonna happen again do you?" she remembered how when Jennifer visited her at work one night during the Scissorman murder case last year, just simply checking how she was doing she had to stay at work late that night, and Jennifer ended up being chased by Scissorman that very night.
"No no, I'm just wondering. Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea," Jennifer replied honestly.
"Guess I'm the jumpy one this time," Helen commented in a joking tone, and the two resumed eating in relative silence, and when about a quarter way through breakfast something else came to mind. "Hey Jennifer…I never really asked you this before, mostly on account of not wanting to stir bad memories or anything…but do you remember your parents at all?" this caused Jennifer to freeze in place for a moment as she drank her juice, only her eyes shifted towards Helen's direction before setting the nearly empty glass down.
"To be honest, I only really remember my father," Jennifer replied.
"He was a doctor, right?" Helen asked.
"Specialized in helping deliver newborns. He loved his work, really," Jennifer replied.
"I can imagine. Although it can be a little stressful at times, it is a wonderful experience to see that new life," Helen said. "And your mother?"
"I sadly don't remember my mother…I do remember her faintly when she dropped me off at the Granite Orphanage, but I don't remember much else at all," Jennifer replied, beginning to look and sound a little sad. She was silent for a moment as she did begin to recall bits and pieces faintly. "I do remember she apparently became a bit ill after my father vanished. Thus her inability to even work, and properly care for me. Where she got to after she left me at the Orphanage I don't know…I don't even remember her name, I don't even know if she's even alive right now."
"I'm sorry…" Helen said, sounding a bit saddened by this.
"It's alright. It was bound to come up eventually," Jennifer stated. After a few more bites she had finished her breakfast. "If not from you then from someone else." she then pushed the plate away from herself before she scooted her chair back and stood up. Helen remained seated as her cup was still reasonably full of coffee as Jennifer went off to get changed. Helen knew it would take awhile for Jennifer to fully adapt to a normal lifestyle, give how she ended up living and being raised, she's almost like a child in a grown body in her opinion, although she's finally been able to get to reading a bit more, her technological skill hasn't been the greatest. Not that she could blame her, since she's basically been living without most forms of technology for most of her life, since her childhood and a bit of her teen years were spent in the orphanage, she hasn't been exposed to the world like she has. But if there is one thing she's sure of, Jennifer is a survivor, pure and simple. If it wasn't for Jennifer's quick thinking and the sense to collect what she'll need in the future, Helen would probably still be locked in a box back at the Barrow's castle. Scratch that, she'd be a mangled crushed up corpse given how the castle collapsed.
"It's funny, thinking about it, London, if not the world owes you a dept it probably can never truly repay. And the best I can attempt to do is give you a normal life to live," Helen commented to herself before taking a long sip of her coffee before resting it on the table, hands wrapped around it as she gazed at the steam coming from the brew. "All I want is for her to be happy, she deserves that much." she then began to ponder a bit, her thoughts drifting to Jennifer's parents. Walter Simpson, a respectfully known doctor who worked especially in the process of helping a mother deliver her babies, happened to be the poor soul who was called out to the Barrow's Mansion in 1986, when Jennifer was barely five years old. No one was able to find him, and more over didn't know where he had attended, until Jennifer had found his corpse in an airtight room, one of his hands missing from one of the demon children having actually devoured it upon being born. He unknowingly helped give enough clues to Jennifer on where to locate and deal with at least one of them, and ultimately led to the other's demise as well. Then there was his wife, strangely enough she seemed to have just vanished. It was assumed she died not too long after leaving Jennifer at the Granite Orphanage out of grief from the loss of her husband, but no official records seemed to indicate what happened, she seemed to have just vanished, no record of a burial either. And even if Jennifer remembered her mother's name regardless, there wasn't any mention of any other woman with the last name Simpson in London. All she really knew for certain from pictures and photos, despite being aged it was apparent Jennifer's mother had long bright colored hair. Most likely blond, but Jennifer took after her father's dark hair color.
Helen's gaze looked up at Jennifer as she reentered the room, wearing a dark blue coat which went down to a quarter of her thighs, and knee high black boots.
"Say Jennifer…" Helen said as she looked at Jennifer's boots.
"Yes Helen?" Jennifer asked.
"I've noticed you've been wearing boots almost ever since I took you in. I'm not complaining mind you but I'm just curious. I almost never see you wear anything else. Except slippers on occasion," Helen replied.
"Why I wear…" Jennifer paused as she looked down at her feet, faintly pivoting her legs at the hips, turning one leg towards the other as she would stand said turning leg on it's toes for a moment, and then mirror the pose by turning the other way. At first she wasn't sure but she then recalled when she ran from Dan for the first time in the Barrow's mansion. "Well…I guess I'm wanting to be a bit prepared when it comes to what I may come across. Ya see, when I first encountered Dan, I ran, and had to run through icy cold water with just little shoes and socks. Not only that my long skirt got soaked. So that's also why I've been wearing shorter stuff lately." she added as she adjusted the lower portion of her coat a little.
"Not a bad idea all things considered. Not to mention I'm sure a few young boys might find you rather cute in that getup," Helen commented with a smile.
"Oh stop it!" Jennifer said as she put her hands to her cheeks while turning away to try and hide her blush.
"By the way, where are you heading exactly?" Helen asked.
"Just out," Jennifer replied as she turned back to face Helen. "I need a bit of air. I'll be home before dark this time, I promise." she then continued to the front door, unlocking it before stepping out. Things had been rather calm the current year since that incident at the Barrow's Castle. At this point in time she was just glad to finally put all that stuff behind her, and at last get to being normal. She would wander the streets of London for a bit, eventually passed by the library, prompting her to stop and look at it. She remembered Mr. Sullivan's Archeological collection was still on display as it hasn't gone through the needed channels to be appropriated by a museum yet. She also recalled Helen was here when Mr. Sullivan died, along with the former library secretary. This was but another landmark of the Scissorman murders. She began to continue on her way before she heard the doors to the library open as a young woman came rushing out to greet her, the new library secretary.
"Say, aren't you Jennifer?" she asked as she took hold of one of Jennifer's hands.
"I…yes…I used to come here a bit often," Jennifer replied honestly, while also being a bit stunned by this situation.
"I thought I recognized you when you were standing outside the door. I understand you and Helen used to be close to Mr. Sullivan," the secretary commented.
"Well…I can't say we were close but, in a way we did get along. He often fancied showing off his collection," Jennifer added.
"Well, I feel a little obligated to do something. You haven't been here since the incident, have you?"
"No, but what are you driving at?"
"Well, why not one last look at the collection before some museum makes you pay through the nose to see it?"
"I…suppose it wouldn't hurt."
"Good, right this way." the secretary horridly pulled Jennifer into the library non stop thanks to it's automatic doors Jennifer felt a little flustered but she had to admit it would be nice to have one last look at the artifacts. They went up to the second floor and through the head librarian's room, whom was currently out.
"I'll wait for you in here should the new head librarian come back," she said, to which Jennifer nodded as she entered the exhibit room. Already memories poured into her head as she looked at the numerous statues, ancient weapons, stone heads, pots, and other assorted little nick knacks. She recalled the hours she ended up spending listening to Mr. Sullivan talk about a lot of the stuff he found and how he found it. Pleasant but boring memories to an extent. The room had various counters and shelves, along with display cases, and even an empty fish tank in one corner. She walked about the room for a bit before spotting something glimmering in the far corner where some display cases failed to really meet. Walking over she saw something shinning on the floor, and had to lean over while also bending down to reach it, seeing it a bit more closely as she reached she saw it looked like a giant light blue emerald, almost as big as her hand.
"I don't remember Mr. Sullivan having this before…where did this come from?" Jennifer asked herself as she went to grab it, but then yelped as she felt a slight sting from the Emerald, pulling her hand back she waved it a bit. "OW!…what in the world…that stung!" she looked at the Emerald with a slightly disgruntled look, unsure if it would shock her again she reached down a lot more swiftly and scooped it up before finally standing upright and examined it, the glow faded a little but it clearly was sending a tingling feeling through her fingers. It was unusual but there was something oddly warm, comforting about this sensation, if not outright empowering in some way.
"This...isn't a normal gem by any means...but this feeling it gives me...makes me feel safe for some reason. You're not from around here are you?" she looked into the Emerald intently, it was very shiny, perfectly sculpted and just all around beautiful. The sense of calm she felt, along with warmth was a better feeling than from that bitter cold statue she found. "I think I better put you away for save keeping." she gingerly put the Emerald deep into one of her coat's inner pockets, and then began to examine the room room, both to see if she could find anything else unusual, as well as to spend just a bit more time inside before exiting, not wanting to act too suspicious by just leaving suddenly.
-After a bit of time passes in Cadillacs and Dinosaurs-
Our heroes eventually pulled upt outside the Blue Spire, and as they got out they would see just how ancient it looked, but yet so firm, it's design wasn't like any other tower they had ever seen before. It's top was a pointed tip, and everything was symmetrical.
"Wow…this tower looks almost as old as the Warp Gate…if not older!" Batgirl stated.
"It's so beautiful…Jack…do you really believe this tower has really stood here all these years?" Hannah asked.
"Well, where it's located, it looks like everything except the foundation was undisturbed, it's not even tipping!" Jack replied.
"It's taller than most skyscrapers, that's for sure. I wonder how it managed to stay standing given most other places toppled over," Spider-Man commented.
"I can actually sense a form of magic here…very potent even. It's almost as if it's sentient…" Link paused.
"Like, the tower didn't want to be found unless it wanted to?" Mega Man asked.
"Or more rather it only came out because it was beckoned to show itself. I think something is now inhabiting the place," Regina replied.
"Right, we won't do much good just gawking here, let's go," Spider-Man said, and thus they walked along the stone bridge over a giant chasm, and soon were at the base of the tower. They were greeted by a giant stone dragon head in the center of the tower.
"This is essentially an archeological find, isn't it?" Felicia asked.
"I believe so, and we're the first ones to find it," Hannah smiled in response as Link stood in front of the dragon head and gave it a very stern look.
"I can't help but feel there should be a door here," Link commented. Mega Man and Regina went over to either side of the dragon head, Mega Man on the left side and Regina on the right. Both noticed something about the eyes, or rather where the eyes should be.
"Say Regina, is your side blank?" Mega Man asked as he examined the eye socket further, it did seem like it was missing something.
"Yeah, it looks like my side is missing an eye. Your side missing one too?" Regina asked back.
"Yeah. I wonder…say, what about those gems we found in the poacher camp?" Mega Man asked.
"Ya mean these?" Link asked as he pulled out the two stones from his bag and held them up in each hand. He quickly brought them over and stood at the front of the statue where Regina and Mega Man met him. Both took a gem in hand, and realized upon proper closer inspection and the time to do so, the gems were sitting in holders of some sort. And the holders themselves did seem to be shaped for the eye holes of the statue. Both looked at each other before going to their respective sides again and carefully placed a gem into eye socket, finding they fit with a firm a click, soon followed by a hum and rumbling, prompting them to run back, and once clear the statue head began to open by splitting in the middle, revealing a doorway with a small set of stairs leading up into the tower slightly.
Everyone entered in single file due to the doorway being a little narrow, but spread out upon entering the main hall.
"I'd almost call this place a palace at this point, but it sure seems empty," Mega Man commented.
"Given who knows how many eons it's been sitting here I'm not surprised," Jack added.
"I dunno guys…I'm getting a creepy feeling all of a sudden," Hannah stated.
"Unwanted company inbound most likely," Batgirl stated.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised. But it means we just have to hurry. Come on," Link stated as he took point.
"You're used to places like this, so I'll just follow you if you don't mind," Batgirl commented as she followed behind Link. Everyone more or less followed Link through the various halls and corridors, but no traps or any kind of monsters seemed to jump out at them.
"This ground floor is a heck of a lot bigger than I thought it was," Regina remarked.
"We didn't get to really walk around the place, but it's almost as huge as it is tall apparently," Hannah said.
"I almost feel like we're walking around in circles," Spider-Man remarked.
"Say…are we in a maze?" Batgirl asked.
"Oh dear gosh I hope not!" Felica stated.
"Now why are you panicking?" Jack couldn't help but ask.
"It's because I read up on how some people get lost in mazes and never find the way out," Felicia replied.
"She's right, this is essentially worse than us going through that excavation site, that place was basically like a labyrinth, which I said before," Hannah added.
"Don't worry, we just have to go this way," Mega Man said as he started to lead.
"Now what makes you suddenly the expert navigator?" Link couldn't help but ask in surprise.
"I just...seem to know. Trust me," Mega Man replied. Everyone looked at him a bit in confusion, but Hannah noticed the back of his right hand was glowing briefly. She at first thought it was that meter of sorts that would appear on his forearm, but realized the glow was actually on the hand itself. Regardless they started following him. And it was true, they were navigating a maze of sorts but they soon exited out another door and into the open, soon finding themselves on another bridge, and soon gazed upon the actual tower itself.
"Oh…we were only in the perimeter surrounding the tower," Regina remarked.
"Well it'll buy us some time in the long run as we scale the tower," Jack said as they walked across the bridge to the tower, and they found the tower itself was rather blue. And partway across the bridge they found a statue of a woman in the middle of a small fountain. She had long flowing hair that wrapped around her body as she held onto a crescent moon in her arms.
"What's this? Is this what's called a statue? Or sculpture?" Hannah asked as they stopped to look at it.
"A stone sculpture to be exact. I almost wonder…could this potentially be a goddess?" Mega Man asked.
"Some kind of depiction of some sort of person of divinity for sure," Felicia replied as she cupped her hands together, looking rather excited at this discovery. "I've read and seen some of these things in books."
"So have I," Hannah chuckled, glad to finally have someone else that was as a big a book worm as she was. "However this isn't like any particular statue dedicated to a deity I've seen. Not even the style." however as she looked away she saw Mega Man starring at the face almost like he was in a bit of a trance. When she opened her mouth and before she could speak he resumed on his way though. The group then continued on and soon found themselves walking across a big blue carpet once they entered the tower, and found it really was beautiful and majestic inside as it was outside, several stone pillars lined the path on either side of them, leading to a statue of another female in robes, holding onto a small orb. There were a few staircases to either side from there.
"Hmmm, should we split up to try and find the stairs?" Jack asked.
"That'll be a climb and a half for sure. But I suppose it'd be a bit much to ask for an elevator," Spider-Man remarked.
"Well, some of us should take the left and some of us should take the right," Batgirl suggested.
"And if we see something that looks like it should be pressed possibly, like an actual switch or something, it maybe in our best interest to do so," Link said.
"How so?" Hannah asked.
"Just a hunch," Link replied.
"I think staying together maybe best, don't want to get outnumbered should the unwanted guests arrive," Mega Man stated.
"Good point," Regina said before they took the right staircase, and after following it's path for a little bit they found a big floating orb above a pedestal.
"Well what do we have here?" Spider-Man asked.
"Do you think it dangerous?" Jack asked.
"I don't think so," Mega Man replied as he approached, soon giving it a light tap with his knuckles, it let out a ding and a faint hum. "I think it's some kind of activation device. There maybe a few more. It could be out ticket to the top of the tower if I'm to understand this right."
"I think he's onto something," Hannah said. "We're in one of the four corners of the tower currently, let's check the other tree." And with that everyone quickly hurried to each corner of the tower, finding and orb in each. Once they activated each one they soon went to the middle of the tower, where a unusual pattern was on the floor which faintly glowed. They were silent as the approached the middle, before circles of light quickly rose up from the floor around them before they could fully react, and they soon vanished, leaving sparkles behind before they reappeared elsewhere within the confines of the tower.
"Ohh…I think I feel a little dizzy all of a sudden," Hannah remarked as she wobbled a little.
"From which? The teleportation or the sudden increase in height?" Link asked before he walked over to a doorway, and he could see railings that overlooked the entire landscape outside.
"Whoa…I think it's a good thing none of us have vertigo," Jack commented.
"Haaahhhhh..." Felica let out a bit of a gasp before her legs gave out, landing on her butt with her knees together after peering out into the distance just slightly.
"At least most of us," Regina quipped.
"I don't have vertigo it's just...with the dizziness I wasn't prepared to see I'm at the highest point in the world...at least here..." Felicia retorted.
"My legs almost gave out too..." Hannah interjected.
"We're really at the top of the tower?" Batgirl asked.
"Most likely a floor just below it," Regina replied as they walked along the perimeter of the tower, and was a spectacular view from way up there, able to see so much of the land and even the ocean.
"Hey! I can see the City in the Sea from here!" Hannah remarked.
"We'll have to give Dahlgren a full explanation when we get back. If we can see it from here they probably saw it as well," Jack stated. They continued on before walking into another doorway with a brief set of spiral steps, and they soon reached the top floor.
"Well that wasn't nearly a bad a climb as I thought it would be. But question is, what exactly are we looking for in here?" Link asked.
"You have a good point. We don't even know what came into the tower. If anything at all," Batgirl said.
"Oh something's here alright. All we need to find what would look like a receiver of sorts. Like another teleportation device," Mega Man stated. Everyone nodded in agreement and began to search the current floor, but didn't wander very far before they found another floating orb.
"What do you suppose this one activates?" Hannah asked as she approached.
"I would say it's perhaps a teleporter itself," Batgirl suggested.
"To a hidden chamber ya think?" Regina asked.
"It's worth a shot," Spider-Man replied, to which Hannah then lightly touched the orb, and they were teleported like before, and soon found themselves in a large open room that had a constant hum.
"Ah! The hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end!" Hannah gasped.
"There's something very potent in this room somewhere," Spider-Man commented. At that moment they spotted a large floating crystal at the far side of the room, it was above a pedestal which had a few steps leading to the crystal itself, and the crystal seemed to have a device rested left and right of it, and arched over the top of it.
"Say, do you think that's what arrived here?" Link asked as they approached slowly, and saw it slowly spun as Mega Man moved ahead a little and mounted up the steps slowly, finding it was much wider and taller than any of them were.
"I'd find it hard to believe…I mean, why would a crystal just randomly teleport itself into a…" Mega Man didn't get to finish speaking when suddenly there was a flash below the crystal, which made Mega Man jump back several feet in surprise as it sounded like an energy spark when the flash appeared. He then landed firmly onto his back with a thud before Hannah quickly went to Jack's side, Batgirl staring in shock as beams of light began to surround the crystal from the floor, and moved around the crystal itself as it stopped spinning. Regina slowly put her hand on the handle of her gun as Link slowly reached for his sword as the room flashed with brief flickers of light, Felicia herself meanwhile took a few cautious steps forward, rather stunned by what was transpiring before them but then had the sense to keep her distance.
"Mega, I think you were right about a receiver," Spider-Man said as they began to see a dark shape begin to form within the crystal. "Because whatever was received, is coming out!" the humming took on a more loud hum as the figure inside slowly took on a more visible shape within the bright crystal, it seemed to have long flowing hair and clothing. Soon an arm reached out, fingers outstretched as the figure slowly moved forward, it's fingertips soon pushing through the crystal as if it was mere water, revealing a black leather glove as the hand slowly continued to push through, followed by the rest of the arm.
Mega Man slowly sat up as the rest of the figure slowly came out, it's face soon coming through, it and looked feminine, followed by a red hat with a gold piece attached to the side of it along with what looked like a round gold piece in the front with a black crescent moon on it, and the figures long flowing blue hair and red cloak, with her arm outstretched the cloak was parted enough to reveal her black clothing, which composed of a long sleeved semi baggy shirt, a small black skirt, and form fitting pants, and knee high boots, along with a pendant around her neck that had the same symbol as the one on the center of her hat. She floated out of the crystal, her hair and cloak flowing elegantly in the air as she continued to float out into the open, casting a long shadow across the room due to the bright shimmering light behind her.
Everyone was rendered rather awestruck, unable to really move or even speak as she slowly began to float down after lowering her outstretched arm. She landed softly on her toes, the boots lightly clacking against the stone before softly clunking when her heels touched down, gravity taking a proper hold of her hair and clothing as they all settled around her, and the light finally subsided.
"I…it's a girl!" Hannah spoke softly in surprise as all eyes were fixated on this young woman, her own gaze seemed to stare off into space with her light blue eyes, but soon her head began to gently look towards them, her expression was soft, sweet, and compassionate, if not curious. A number of them sorta flinched in a very minor brief bit of momentary fright when she locked eyes with them but tried not to do anything further.
"My name, is Lucia. I have come from the Blue Star, on an urgent mission. Your worlds are in grave danger. I must find the one known as Annet Myer immediately. Take me to her," the young woman spoke, in a soft, gentle voice.
"An…Annet Myer?" Mega Man asked.
"Drawing a blank here," Link said.
"Who is this woman?" Jack couldn't help but ask.
"She's so young and yet so beautiful...I...almost wonder if she's...do you think she's a goddess?" Felicia whispered in excitement to some of them.
"At this point I'm about ready to believe anything," Hannah retorted. With that Lucia began to mount down the steps and proceed to head past Mega Man and Spider-Man.
"Hey wait a minute!" Mega Man said as he scrambled to his feet and walked aside her. "Where you going?"
"I must seek Annet. My search begins," Lucia said as she stopped amidst the group.
"Well, we may not know who this Annet is but we maybe able to help. What can you tell us about her?" Spider-Man asked.
"From what I've been granted to see, she has green hair, and golden brown eyes," Lucia replied. "Last place she was seen was in a place called New York. I'll begin my search there."
"New York? Aweee chrimeny. I hate to tell this to ya, but I think your travel got a little mixed up," Spider-Man said.
"You mean this is the wrong place?" Lucia asked. "But it was the closest…"
"That's what I figured. But while there is a New York here, it's now known as the City in the Sea in this world. My world is the real New York. Whether or not it's the New York you're looking for remains to be seen, but I can understand why your teleportation brought you to this world, given this tower is probably the only one in close proximity," Spider-Man replied.
"And besides, I have a pretty good hunch we're on the same mission at this point. We're already aware our worlds are facing a bit of trouble," Batgirl commented.
"In other words we ain't just gonna let you wander off on your own. We'll take you back with us. You can count on us," Link said with a smile as he pointed his thumb at himself.
"Then if you're aware of dimensional travel, and know of the worlds, then please, lead the way," Lucia requested.
"A…at your command madam…" Mega Man replied as he bowed slightly.
"Oh Mega Man, you're such a sap!" Regina teased. "But given how polite Lucia is, I can't really blame ya." she added quickly before he could get flustered. Around then they were all quickly teleported back into the room they were in previously before they found the teleportation crystal room.
"Oh good, I was gonna say we need to get moving. Scharnhorst and her goons are likely on their way here right now. We may not have a whole lot of time to get Lucia out here before she's discovered," Jack stated. "Follow me." he quickly took point to leave as everyone followed, but as soon as they exited the room they were face to face with Scharnhorst, Hammer, and several poachers and guards.
"Ummmm, wrong floor?" Spider-Man asked.
"You always had a knack for getting in my way in the past Tenrec, you and your Ambassador friend have been causing me an awful lot more trouble than I ever thought two people ever could," Scharnhorst stated.
"Hey, somebody has to fill the roles of heroes in any world. Jack and Hannah have been doing the same job we've been doing, stopping the ambitions of tyrannical maniacs like you on a daily basis. Dinosaur reference, entirely intended," Link retorted.
"Hmmm, although this is the same group that saved that one redhead, I see they found someone new," Hammer commented as he referred to Lucia.
"I do believe you're right Hammer. Although I can see why you thought the one would interest me, this one has me even more interested," Scharnhorst stated as she looked at Lucia. "There is just something…unique about her that has my interest." the statement made Spider-Man quickly get in front of Lucia.
"You lay a finger on her and I'll use your head for a football, Scharnhorst, it's big enough!" he stated coldly, but then Regina put her hand to his chest as she got in front of him.
"Come off it web head, you don't have that kind of violence in you. I on the other hand," Regina paused before she quickly looked at Scharnhorst and the others as she drew her fully automatic handguns and aimed them. "They know I'm not squeamish about blood."
"You're in no position to make threats. You're outnumbered and cornered. But, I am willing to make a deal," Scharnhorst stated calmly, which prompted Batgirl to put a hand to the side of her mouth as she leaned over slightly to those close to her.
"Bet ya a hundred grand we won't accept," she whispered.
"But I don't have any money," Lucia replied, prompting Batgirl to face palm as she quickly covered Lucia's mouth.
"I didn't mean literally!"
"I am willing to let you all walk away and leave this place, and world, on the condition you leave the blue haired one with me, in my custody," Scharnhorst stated.
"In other words an off world banishment, Scharnhorst?" Hannah asked.
"More or less I suppose," Scharnhorst replied coyly. "But if you refuse, my men and Hammer's men will execute you on the spot."
"And no trial or court?" Jack asked.
"I am the law in this land you foolish Mechanic! I have been denied what I want long enough!" Scharnhorst scowled.
"You're out of mind ya old wind bag! You're messing with stuff that's well out of your own comprehension!" Mega Man stated.
"This conversation is getting awfully tedious, send the girl my way or I'll take her by force," Scharnhorst said as Hammer drew his melee weapon, tapping it in his open palm a few times.
"And force is my kinda style. I'd rather smash Tenrec's skull in myself," he said with a sinister smirk.
"Back, off!" Felicia shouted as she pointed her rifle at them. "You may have fooled my father but not me!" Everyone was almost ready to charge in head long into a fight but Hannah's gasp startled them as they also began to hear a sparkling sound.
"L…look at Lucia!" Hannah said as she backed to a nearby wall in the small room they were in as Lucia had was surrounded by a blue aura as she began to float up into the air again.
"Cwahoo!" Jack said in astonishment. Everyone was looking in shock as most of Scharnhorst's and Hammer's forces were beginning to grow afraid at this unusual sight.
"Sh...she is a...!" Felicia tried to say before Mega Man covered her mouth.
"Ixnay on the status flay!" he said in a hushed tone, resulting in Felicia giving him the most bewildered look.
"Those who wish to keep me a prisoner when I have done nothing wrong, and wish to keep me from fulfilling my mission, will only meet defeat at my hand, for I command the might and power of the goddess Althena, and you wish to impede my progress when the worlds are at stake? Then I will take up arms against you!" Lucia stated as she began to hold her arm up as she began to channel energy into her palm, prompting all of the essential soldiers to scream and flee in terror.
"Scratch what I just said," Mega Man remarked.
"Let's get out of here!" Hammer's brothers exclaimed as they ran off as well.
"Get back here you fools!" Scharnhorst shouted.
"AHAHAHAHAAAAAA!" a familiar woman's voice suddenly echoed loudly, prompting Lucia to stop her attack and look around in shock.
"Who in the world…" Regina asked in shock.
"Uh ohhhhh…." Spider-Man gulped.
"Neifirst!" Mega Man exclaimed. After that Neifirst fell down from the ceiling, landing before Scharnhorst and Hammer with her back to them as she stood up and soon glared back at them.
"Foolish old woman, do you not realize when you're outclassed? A governor is outclassed by a king, a queen. But we stand before the presence of neither," Neifirst said before she chuckled, and smiled up at Lucia, soon kneeling down and lowered her head. "We are in the midst of a living goddess!" she then quickly stood up and thrust her arms out to the sides in joy, her cape and hair flowing in the action elegantly. "The goddess Lucia!" Lucia could only stare at Neifirst in utter confusion before she floated back down to her feet.
"How do you know who I am?" Lucia asked as the aura faded.
"Through intensive research and study my dear, Lucia," Neifirst replied as she let her arms down and her cape drape around her body. "I had been under the impression I'd need to wait many years before you awoke, but to my great delight, you've awakened much sooner than I excepted!"
"You've been following us, haven't you?" Mega Man asked.
"Only recently. But I suppose it's of no great surprise you were the first to find Lucia," Neifirst replied. "Let alone become her noble guard without even having to be asked."
"Now just a minute here! I demand an explanation!" Scharnhorst protested as she made an approach, only to receive a cold glare from Neifirst as she looked over her shoulder, and it was around then Scharnhorst realized Hammer had left the premises as well.
"If you value your life and your "ambitions" you'll leave here while you still draw breath easily," Neifirst stated firmly. Normally Scharnhorst didn't feel intimidated, but Neifirst's appearance and faintly glowing red eyes made her listen for a change and promptly left the room.
"You looking for a private duel or what?" Spider-Man asked as Neifirst looked back at the group.
"On the contrary my arachnid foe. When I saw you had the keys to unlock the Blue Spire, I became hopeful. And then when the Blue Spire appeared along with the Blue Star, I knew Lucia was coming at last. I personally wanted to greet her," Neifirst replied.
"You seem to know so much…and you're clearly not human. Just what are you?" Lucia asked.
"I, am a Numan. A being "forged" by "humanity" as a beacon of hope, light, and prosperity. But that aside, I know all about Althena, the Blue Star, and Lunar. And in this knowledge I found about you in it's depths. Your beauty and appearance are similar to that of the goddess herself, dear Lucia. But whether or not you're Althena's offspring remains to be seen. But small detail, it matters not," Neifirst replied. After she spoke Mega Man quickly stepped forward and stood front and center of the group.
"I don't know whom you think you're fooling, but you obviously didn't come here to leave empty handed," he stated firmly as he took a stance while transforming one of his hands into his buster, everyone else got ready to fight her as well.
"If you're so intent on fighting me, I suppose I may as well oblige," Neifirst said as she drew her energy sword.
"You may have been a potential threat to a smaller group, but there is no way you can handle all of us at once," Link said as he drew his sword and shield.
"Such bravado, your resolve seems tireless, "heroes"," Neifirst said, but soon noticed something, the heroes glowed faintly, except for Lucia, whom noticed the brief glow and looked in surprise, while the heroes didn't seem to notice. "…the "Power of Humanity"…so it does exist."
"What?" Batgirl asked in shock from that comment, and everyone else was shocked as Neifirst withdrew her sword.
"I'm surprised to see it exists. Hm, this development actually amuses me a little," Neifirst stated as she took a few steps back before turning around and began to leave. "Now is not the time for our confrontation, but mark my words Lucia. Before this war is over, I will make the power of Althena my own to command! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed as she faded into the darkness, her laugh echoed but grew quieter and softer before falling silent.
"Power of humanity? Is that what she said?" Hannah asked.
"Is that your burning question? I'm more amazed we're still alive really," Regina replied.
"It looks like we've lucked out. I think this is quite a large step above your typical adventures before you met us," Spider-Man quipped.
"We've lingered in this place too long, we must depart," Lucia requested, before there was a thud and a clatter, prompting everyone to look to see Felicia had fainted.
"I think we overloaded the poor dear," Batgirl remarked.
"Well she lasted longer than to be expected at least," Regina said as she and Batgirl helped Felicia up, and retrieved her rifle.
"Well come on, I'll take point," Mega Man said as he started to lead everyone out.
-After the journey back to the entry way-
"Hey...what happened?" Felicia asked as she came around as they were close to the exit.
"I think you might want to save that discussion till after we're in a better place to sit and talk," Regina replied.
"...good point," Felicia agreed as she took back her rifle and stood on her own. About then Mega Man and Lucia departed out of the dragon door together, and Lucia looked around in a mixture of awe and wonder at the sight of the jungle and mountains around them.
"This rather new to you?" Mega Man asked as the wind blew her hair and cape a bit gently to one side.
"The Blue Star was so dark, devoid of color save for grey and white. Everything is so bright and vibrant here, and the wind is so warm..." Lucia replied before then gasping in shock as she looked forward, causing everyone to get on alert as they exited, as they saw Neifirst standing by their vehicles, her own hair and cape blowing softly in the breeze. She then whipped her cape around herself and vanished without a trace.
"Did she just...guard our vehicles?" Batgirl asked.
"She doesn't want Lucia to fall into Scharnhorst's hands anymore than we do it seems," Felicia replied.
"And that's rather worrying," Link added.
"Regardless we better get going, it won't be long till they try and resume the chase," Jack said as they all started going, Mega Man followed but stopped when he realized Lucia was standing there in a daze.
"Lucia?"
"Neifirst is...our foe isn't she yours and mine?"
"It seems that way."
"Then I wonder why she's helping us..."
"We'll figure that out later, but we have to get moving." he then gently took Lucia by the hand and hurried her along the path, ushering her to Felicia's jeep and sat her in the back. "Quick word of advice. When you want to remove this strap..." he paused after buckling her in.
"Better yet I should just stay with you for now," he corrected himself as he sat beside her.
"He's becoming a noble hound isn't he?" Regina joked to Felica as they drove off.
"I find it rather cute," Felicia smirked as they went.
-In another world-
The sky was dark as it was covered by thick dark clouds, and while raining still it wasn't as hard as it was before. Roaming through the woods during this event was Annet, who was joined by Carrie, Deedlit, and Shanoa as their various boots lightly stepped through the wet grass, partially sink into the soggy soil, and splash in the various puddles along their path. Deedlit was wearing basically a trimmed down version of her large cloak, as they had cut it up and divided it and combined it with similar material to fashion similar smaller cloaks to provide some protection from the rain, basically they had on hoods with small capes. Except for Annet as she chose not to do so and thus allow the others to have more material to work with.
"Shanoa, how far is that city now?" Carrie asked, and with that wings that glowed a purple color appeared on Shanoa's back as she then soared into the air, going above the treetops and gazed out to a cityscape a few miles away, it's various lights giving a good direction indicator.
"Just a few more miles. It won't be long now," she replied as she touched back down and resumed the walk.
"So...how are we going to get back to this city of Chicago if this doesn't turn out to be that city?" Deedlit asked.
"We'll work it out when we get there. We'll just need to sort out our method of transportation," Annet replied.
"Alright then," Deedlit said as they continued walking along in silence before a question in her mind wanted answering. "Say Annet...I hope you don't mind but, what exactly are you? Your occupation or..."
"Well, I might not look it but I'm technically a priestess," Annet chuckled.
"A priestess? Is that where your power comes from?" Shanoa asked.
"In a way. This head band here?" Annet asked as she took each of the long ends of the white and red band into each hand. "Actually helps channel and focus my power."
"An accessory with a function. That's rather interesting," Deedlit smiled.
"Yeah. Besides that are a few other things, but I digress," Annet said as she let the band go. "Say Carrie...?"
"What is it?"
"You're...alone aren't you?"
"As in you don't have any parents."
"N...now how did you know that?"
"Yeah how?" Shanoa asked, equally as stunned by this.
"Somehow there was just this air about you. While you may not intentionally show it there is this air of sad solitude around you. Even you Shanoa," Annet replied.
"Now that's a rather astute observation. But why did you ask really?" Deedlit asked.
"It's because...well, I'm alone too really," Annet looked away in a bit of sadness, but then suddenly her right foot slipped, causing her height to drop as her weight shifted, her left foot them slipping. "EYYAAHHH!" she screamed as she began falling, slipping off a sloped ledge and about to go down a hill, but as her arms went into the air Shanoa and Carrie managed to grab each one and kept her from going any further.
"I think we've done enough tumbling recently," Carrie quipped.
"Yeah, no arguments from me on that," Annet faintly chuckled as she shuffled her legs a bit to get footing as they pulled her back into a safe sitting position.
"So, does this make us sisters?" Shanoa couldn't help but ask as they lifted her to her feet.
"Not if you don't want it to be," Annet couldn't help but laugh in response.
"To be honest I could use an older sister figure," Carrie chuckled.
"Hm, I kinda miss that," Deedlit said as she had the back of her hands on her hips.
"Miss what?" Annet asked.
"Having cheery companions. To be honest I've been traveling on my own for quite awHILE! DOOPH!" Deedlit ended up yelping as she turned and started to take a step her foot slipped, causing her to slide down for just a second as she hit into a tree with her side very lightly. "Geeze this waterlogged terrain is dangerous! The slightest slope and zip!" she protested as she peered around the trunk of the tree and then her eyes widened.
"Hey girls! The edge of the city is here!"
"Finally, soon we'll have road beneath our feet. Not that I don't mind hiking but the weather ain't optimal," Annet remarked as they saw the edge of the city finally in front of them a little ways.
"Do you recognize it?" Carrie asked.
"Not from here, and sadly no real signs either," Annet replied. "Oh! Be mindful of the horseless steel carriages!"
"A horseless carriage? Like a horseless wagon?" Deedlit asked.
"She means cars and automobiles. They're basically powered by a form of magic to move on their own but you're still in control," Carrie replied.
"Interesting," Shanoa cupped her chin slightly. They hurried along carefully, and after a few more minutes the entered the vacant streets, only broken up by the light posts around.
"Come on, we should find a place where we can take shelter, and maybe call for a lift if able," Annet said as she took point as they walked along the sidewalks, stepping through the puddles of various depths. "Oh, be mindful of the puddles." she then cautioned.
"Huh? Why?" Carrie asked as she and Deedlit looked down at a puddle at their feet, seeing their clear rippling reflections.
"The reflective water can easily hide holes and dips. Last thing you want to do is twist your ankle in this weather," Annet replied.
"Sound advice," Shanoa quipped as they followed alongside Annet, roughly entering unintentionally into a bit of a diamond formation. They were being mindful of their surroundings, as while they were finally in the clear as it were, even in relatively open areas danger can lurk and hide.
Chapter end.