The World Beyond Ever After
"Report damages." With irritation, The Wolf ordered his crew.
"All the Monoliths appear to be in good condition. Damage to the fleet was minimal." A female, wearing a lizard mask, reported discreetly. "But we lost the signals of all deployed Minotaurs, while the lieutenant hasn't reported."
"It's not like she could, even if she wanted to. Remember you cut down communications with her." Slightly angry, The Boar clarified.
After hitting his chair with one hand, The Wolf gave a new order, reluctantly admitting his earlier mistake.
"Open all communication channels." Seeing that most of the screens lacked footage, he added another command. "And reestablish all possible surveillance over the area. I will show up soon. I can feel it."
•
While an exhausted Neo walked over the barren land, the small amount of aura she had left began healing some of her wounds. Looking for any signs of Roman's hat and her partner, she forcibly kept her aura activated. Neo remembered The Blacksmith's advice, regarding the pollution generated by Zenith's weapons.
Eventually, she came to a stop, confirming that the path forward had been cut. The ground section she was standing on had been separated from the next one by a 10-meter chasm. Probably one created by the kinetic bombardment.
As the smoke from the kinetic explosion dissipated, she saw the Monoliths in the sky, still surrounding what remained of the acre. Despite wanting to run or hide, Neo felt too tired and depressed to plan something. It didn't help that at any random moment, her body's aura shield could turn off.
"AAAAH! You survived! Thank goodness!" An adorable and cheerful loud voice brought down the sorrowful atmosphere. It was The Rabbit, who hugged Neo from behind and lifted her to celebrate.
Bitch! You did this! How could you!?
Furious and desperate, Neo tried to break free from the hug, hitting the 'opponent' in the head with her elbow. The Rabbit understood her intentions and stopped hugging her.
"I know what it looks like, but I did my best so that-" As The Rabbit nervously explained the situation and her side of the story, a tired Neo put her crying face on The Rabbit's chest and hit her torso several times.
You took away my chances of ascension. My voice. My mementos. My new partner... Give them back!
Neo was fighting the urge to bawl, focusing on the anger she felt for The Rabbit.
I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!
The Rabbit didn't defend herself. She was aware of how the decision she took had hurt the girl in front of her. Even if said decision was for the sake of her survival, it was clear that Zenith's forces were still the ones to blame for her tragedy.
"Rabbit, you found the stupid nadir clown. Arrest her!" The Wolf angrily ordered through the comm device she was wearing.
"In- Grand Admiral, matte. It's just-" The Rabbit wanted to calm down the situation, Neo still clinging to her, but got interrupted by her superior.
"It's nothing, lieutenant! Don't think of getting attached to a priority target. If you don't immobilize her, I will have you punished under The Zodiac's martial court for not obeying orders and protocol procedures."
The Rabbit couldn't come up with a rebuttal. Neo couldn't hear or understand well the orders that her superior was exasperatedly saying, but she at least could tell that something was off between both.
"Also, what value is there in keeping alive a target that could escape at any moment? If the nadir tries to run off, I will have the Monoliths erase every single trace of her." The Wolf threatened both.
Hearing this, The Rabbit decided to quickly spin Neo and pin her down, with her back facing the ground.
"I'm sorry. There's no other way if I want to get you alive out of this one." The Rabbit frustrated said, placing Neo's hands behind her back to handcuff them. Just when she was about to secure the handcuffs, something in Neo's pocket called her attention.
"Is this some sort of mobile device?" At the same time The Rabbit grabbed and pulled out Neo's scroll, she felt something that disturbed the flow of the air behind her.
It all happened in less than one blink of an eye.
Turning around, The Rabbit saw the figure of The Blacksmith. They had a wooden sword in hand, likely made from The Great Tree, and it was already going for her neck. Even if her aura defenses were still up, she knew that getting hit by that sword was going to ascend her. Dropping the handcuffs and Neo's scroll, she tried lowering her body and reaching for either Sakura or her wakizashi, before it was too late.
Neo felt a strange pressure and heard a slash. Someone had been cut by a weapon.
"You finally showed up, Ever After." Then she heard a cocky yet menacing male voice. It relied on the same translator device as The Rabbit, which slightly modified one's voice as he or she spoke.
Neo turned around and caught a glimpse of what had just happened, only for her concerns to get worse.
First, Neo saw The Rabbit. She had lost her balance and fallen to the ground next to her, in a sitting position. This explained why the weight on her back had disappeared. The scared bunny girl was grabbing her neck, checking it for any injuries. Neo could quickly tell that she was fine.
Unfortunately, Neo saw The Blacksmith next. They were missing both of their hands and had multiple lacerations over their body. As Neo was looking at her injured partner, she heard something fall just a couple of meters in front of her. It was their severed hands clutching tightly a wooden sword. Neo understood that it had been her partner who she heard being cut down.
Finally, Neo noticed a third figure behind The Blacksmith, holding an unsheathed katana in his right arm. The male figure was also wearing a mask. One of a wolf.
•
"Usagi, you idiot! You let your guard down and almost got ascended!" Back at Monolith 1's commanding room, The Boar scolded her partner with an angry, but also extremely relieved voice.
The crew saw everything that had just happened over at the screens of the battleship.
"... What?" Usagi couldn't hide her confusion about what she had witnessed, still checking over her body for any injuries.
"Seems the deity of this world, or the avatar of the Ever After, tried to slice your head off." The Monkey clarified, looking at her on one of the screens and making fun of how everything played out. "Be thankful that The Wolf was able to save you with his semblance, in the nick of time."
•
Blacksmith, are you okay!? Answer me!
Neo tried to get up, but The Rabbit carefully pinned her down again.
"Don't get up. Or he will kill you." The Rabbit gave her a warning.
Shut up! My partner is going to die if I don't do somethi-
"Neo, she's right." The Blacksmith telepathically told her, with a surprisingly calm tone. Neo stopped thinking altogether, after hearing their voice. "The Tree, no, I still got some energy left. It's not much, but I can open a door for you to cross."
For us to cross! You are coming with me!
Neo did her best to not cry again, as she was pinned on the ground.
We can think of something together.
"I ask again for your forgiveness, my disciple. The truth is that I have always been not just an avatar or representative of The Mother Tree, but... A part of her." As The Blacksmith's body tried to move, their left leg came apart. It had been sliced multiple times by The Wolf's katana.
I can still repair you. I will make a new body for you, with my semblance.
Neo closed her eyes, as her jaw began to tremble.
"I cannot exist without The Tree or outside of the Ever After." The Blacksmith explained to her serenely. "But that doesn't apply to you. Please, you need to escape. Make use of this last opportunity I gave you."
Shut up, I'm thinking! I'm not letting go of you! There's got to be a way!
Neo desperately was having a brainstorm, searching for a plan that would allow her to beat both masked figures and save her partner.
"It's impossible. Even if your aura wasn't almost depleted, you still wouldn't be able to take down both by yourself." The Blacksmith warned Neo. "The members of The Zodiac are far above anyone from Remnant. Their aura levels and semblances are abnormal."
"Using this girl as bait was worth it." The Wolf bragged, sheathing his sword. "When I noticed that she was allowed to touch roots and trees without getting ascended, I figured out that you had a soft spot for this little nadir."
"Bait?" The Rabbit asked with a broken voice, carrying sadness.
If I had ascended in time, you wouldn't be in this mess.
Despite having her eyelids closed, Neo's tears were starting to go down her face.
It's all my fault again, isn't it?
"You are not to blame for Zenith wanting to take over this world. Do not be fooled by his words." Even if Neo couldn't see in their direction, The Blacksmith tenderly smiled at her. "Protecting you was important, my child. It was the Ever After's... My choice."
Why go this far for my safety? After everything I have done?
Neo fearfully asked.
"Because it's my role to give others a chance. To help those that stray yet wish for self-improvement." The Blacksmith closed her eyes, remembering something. "It's my purpose to help you."
Neo couldn't think of a comeback.
"Let me serve you, one last time. Perhaps I couldn't ascend you, but I opened a path for you to travel. I beg you to leap and continue moving forward." The Blacksmith began sending her final thoughts to their disciple. "You must survive, for his and my sake."
Memories of Roman and The Blacksmith flowed in her head.
"It's still not too late for you, partner." Neo opened her eyes and stopped crying the moment she heard these last thoughts.
"Rabbit, if you are done securing the prisoner, take her already back to Monolith 1." The Wolf cruelly instructed. "Might as well analyze her aura, since we went through all the trouble of capturing her alive."
"Ah, sure. Inu- Grand Admiral." The Rabbit, concentrating again on her task, made Neo stand up and grabbed the reinforced wire connected to the handcuffs. "I will guide you."
Now!
Using their remaining leg, The Blacksmith launched their body against The Wolf, only for him to effortlessly jump back and dodge their fall. This was all the distraction Neo needed though, as The Rabbit and Wolf failed to notice Neo dispelling the illusion that she had placed over her handcuffs. They hadn't been secured properly. Thanks to Overactive Imagination, back when The Blacksmith attacked The Rabbit, she was able to fake that her handcuffs were correctly secured.
The moment her handcuffs came off, Neo ran and rolled forward. The Rabbit pulled the wire connected to them but realized too late her prisoner's trick. Neo then grabbed The Blacksmith's wooden sword that had fallen earlier in front of her and threw it with enough force for it to spin toward her target.
The Rabbit dodged it by falling to her knees and bending back her body, but Neo wasn't only aiming at her. After the sword made it past her, The Blacksmith used their wood telekinesis on it to make it spin and move faster in the direction of The Wolf. Narrowly comprehending in time what was going on, The Wolf used the sheath on his waist to break the weapon going for him, but by then Neo was already running toward the chasm ahead.
"Do not hesitate! Leap!" The Blacksmith sent a final encouraging message to their disciple and partner.
Neo jumped toward the chasm, but possibly due to her low aura reserves, she hadn't enhanced her jump and was going to fall into it.
"Oh, no. She's not going to make it. I will catch her!" Extremely scared, The Rabbit decided to jump and slide into the ground near the chasm's edge to gain extra momentum. She extended one arm to grab Neo before she fell into the abyss, but it was too late...
To stop Neo from reaching The Door placed horizontally 8 meters deep into the chasm.
Thanks, Ever After.
Neo smiled sadly before this time she was able to cross The Door.
The Rabbit, looking down into the chasm, saw Neo disappear into the portal.
"AAAAH! INU-SAN, SHE FELL INTO A HIDDEN DOOR! WHY IS THERE SUCH A THING DOWN HERE!?" The Rabbit shouted alarmed, gazing at the abyss and flailing over it the arm with which she tried to catch Neo.
The Blacksmith couldn't help but laugh at her cuteness.
"You opened an evacuation portal in such a blind spot!?" The Wolf furiously grabbed and lifted The Blacksmith by their 'collar'.
"As long as there's some ground left, I can place them all over the Ever After." The Blacksmith bragged, refusing to be intimidated by The Wolf.
"I'm going to ki-" Just when The Wolf lost his composure and went for his katana, a message from his comm device interrupted his actions.
"Grand Admiral, Usagi-" The Boar attempted tactfully saying something, but The Wolf scolded her.
"Not now, idiot!" He looked up as he shouted, in the direction of Monolith 1.
"Your lieutenant jumped down into the chasm." The Monkey, holding his laughter, informed his superior.
"Uh?" The Wolf looked back to the chasm's edge, confirming that The Rabbit was gone too. He dropped to the ground The Blacksmith's body in his astonishment.
•
Something is wrong with this portal!
Neo thought to herself after she entered The Door. She was flying extremely fast and out of control, inside a horizontal dimensional tornado. Due to either her indecision when it came to a destination, The Great Tree getting attacked, not ascending in time, or lacking a strongly defined purpose, The Door wasn't working properly for her.
Probably has something to do with telling it to take me wherever and whenever, but Remnant. I'm such a fool!
Neo could see that outside of the tornado that was flying her across the 'dimensional space', there were other worlds of different colors and sizes. One looked like a frozen planet, another one like molten rock, a third one had its moon crashing on it, courtesy of The God of Darkness, a purple one was completely covered in dark clouds releasing titanic electric charges, the fifth one was getting bombarded by 'spaceships', the next three planets were getting absorbed by their own expanding sun, the following one was just a black hole, and the upcoming ones were being destroyed by a cosmic entity with tentacles.
At least take me to a safe world, damn it! One that will not instantly kill me, the moment I land on it. Please!
Neo continued flying across space, catching glimpses of insane alien habitats.
One with oxygen, perhaps? A world with Ever Afteran evacuees or something.
As the tornado narrowed, objects flew close to her trajectory. Neo could barely control well enough her flight to avoid hitting a quetzalcoatlus, an astronaut hanging out from a space shuttle, some kind of space whale, and broken pieces of Remnant's Moon.
Wait, wasn't that... Never mind. Bet you did a better job safely transporting RWBY and Jaune back to Remnant.
The tornado narrowed even more. Neo could tell that her speed was slowing down. Fearing that it would leave her stranded in space or a world suffering a cataclysm, she continued sorting out her thoughts and feelings.
I must be needed somewhere or somewhen!
Suddenly, her speed increased once more. The dimensional tornado regained strength for one final burst. Breaking through time and space, Neo was turned into a pink comet. She couldn't even process anymore all the worlds, environments, and objects she was passing by.
For a moment, everything outside of the tornado went white. All she could discern was the vague shape of two giants fighting each other, above and far away from her trajectory.
Neo covered her face and closed her eyes, till her speed decreased once more. The white void had been replaced by the distant surface of a blue world with continental landmasses and surrounded by a big ring.
Blacksmith, I may have found a new path to travel.
•
"Who was that nadir girl anyway?" The Wolf annoyed, but curious asked The Blacksmith, as both were standing on the barren lands of The Tree's acre.
The Blacksmith didn't answer, as they were trying to balance their body into a kneeling position, with their remaining leg and cut arms.
"Let me guess." He started toying with one of his two sheaths. "Judging by her earlier failure at crossing the portal, she's a reject or exiled from another world." He placed the sheath underneath The Blacksmith's face, to raise their face and force them to look back at him.
"The identity of those constructs? People that don't give a damn about her." The Blacksmith tried to keep control of their emotions.
"Someone left behind by her world, who nobody loves or will miss." The Blacksmith's 'face' couldn't hide their anger at The Wolf's words.
"A defect that thought ascending would magically solve her problems." Despite wearing a mask, it was easy to tell through his mocking tone that The Wolf was smiling.
The Blacksmith recalled their first meeting with Neo in the ascension plane. One that happened shortly after RWBY and Jaune went back to Remnant.
•
You know everything about me?
Neo thought, showing anxiety in her face and looking at The Blacksmith's back while they were working.
"Not everything. For example, not even I know what future choices you will make. But I know everything about your past if that's what you meant."
I have done some terrible stuff. Even before ending up in the Ever After.
Neo's expression changed into one of regret and sadness, slightly lowering her head.
"I am aware." The Blacksmith wanting to seem busy and stoic, continued working on ascending Ever Afterans that had been hurt by Neo. They were hammering a metallic bird mask.
Oh, that's the bird guy from the market, that... Thankfully, I didn't have my Jabberwalkers eat... Unlike The Cat.
Neo thought with an awkward and nervous gesture.
"Young lady!" The Blacksmith raised slightly her voice and stopped hammering so that they could face her.
I'm... Sorry. That's what I wanted to say.
Neo stepped backward, closed her eyes, crouched a little, and raised her hands into a defensive position while apologizing.
"What you did was inexcusable and unforgivable, and I don't mean only your crimes against the Ever Afterans." The Blacksmith replied, walking toward Neo.
They sounded like a parent disciplining their child. Their height difference reinforced this feeling.
Neo slowly took off Roman's hat and continued looking down, avoiding The Blacksmith's face.
I know that I have no excuse. It's just that... I miss him. He was the only one that put up with me back in Remnant. Or in my entire life. He was one of a kind. My dum-dum.
"Neo..." The Blacksmith's tone softened a bit.
Without him, I have no purpose left or any reason to exist in Remnant anymore as my current self. I don't want to go back to those first years of my empty life.
"If I'm not mistaken, those 18 years of daily confinement and discrimination make up most of your life." The Blacksmith corrected her previous thought, with pity in their voice.
After hearing this, Neo decided to open more her heart, so that her feelings could reach The Blacksmith.
I won't let vengeance take over my decisions. I felt like shit, after what I did in the tea party. It didn't help me at all to deal with my loss, as I expected. If ascending will help me rebalance my feelings, improve as a person, and give me another chance to get along with others, then I don't mind undergoing the process.
"You are willing to leave the old you behind?" The Blacksmith kneeled to meet her eye level. "Even if that means sacrificing all your memories?"
Wait! All my memories!? Including the good ones!? Not like I have many of those, but...
Neo subconsciously clutched tightly the hat in her hands.
"A small part of your heart will be able to vaguely recall a bit of him, but most of your memories will be wiped off. For the sake of completing your ascension." The Blacksmith gently put a hand on Neo's left shoulder.
Will most of my memories be wiped off? Including the conversations I had with him? Memories of his personal life that he shared with me? If something goes wrong, the few good things he did in his life will be lost in the process. I won't be able to honor him anymore.
Neo bit her lower lip, forcing her jaw to stop shaking.
"The choice is yours to make, Neo. Hush will always be available for you to pick up again. However, returning to Remnant could prove to be a challenge if you still have most of your old memories." After saying this, The Blacksmith returned to their work. "You can stay here, as long as you want. If you need time to make up your mind."
Neo slowly put on Roman's hat.
After a long and awkward pause, she was finally able to voice another thought.
Denim is no good.
"Forgive me. I don't understand." The Blacksmith was taken by surprise.
The painted figure over here is a prototype for Mr. Bird's new form, right
Neo was looking at one of the finished animal figurines on a nearby table.
If it rains or there's moisture in the air, the denim of his clothes will get heavy, making it hard for him to fly around. Birds already struggle with small rains, have them wear denim, and it will make matters worse.
"Maybe he wants to be a bird that doesn't fly in his next life." The Blacksmith tried to restart their hammering, but their raised shaking hand was unable to lower the tool. Neo walked over to their side.
Seriously, is that the best lie you could come up with? Even I can tell that those wings are made for flying.
Neo crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow to express her annoyance.
"RWBY and Jaune never criticized my work. They were polite." The Blacksmith turned toward her, showing their frustrated face.
I wouldn't trust the fashion sense of Stuck Cape, Big Braid, Zipper Cat, Potato Sack, and Banana Boy.
Neo smiled with contempt.
"I cannot hear your thoughts anymore!" The Blacksmith forcefully restarted their hammering, louder and faster than usual.
Hey, stop ignoring me!
Neo clenched her fists in frustration but eventually calmed herself down when she came up with an idea.
Care if I give it a try?
Neo asked, using one of her index fingers to play with her lips and rolling her eyes.
"You mean helping with ascensions?" The Blacksmith once more was surprised by her.
With her eyes closed and a big smile, Neo gave them a couple of nods.
•
"... She is not a defect." The Blacksmith happily replied with absolute confidence, despite the state of their body. "She is my disciple. And my partner."
The Wolf couldn't believe what he heard. Somehow, The Blacksmith had managed to escape from his manipulative tactics, despite seconds ago showing signs of the opposite. He then used the sheath under their face, to hit them on their head.
"Silence, Ever After." The Wolf urgently changed his approach to a more aggressive one. Attacking The Blacksmith through the girl wasn't going to work.
"You know why we are here. The core of The Great Tree. The Ever After's anima mundi. The key to ascension and its astral plane." The Wolf pulled out his katana a second time. "Where is it?"
"I will not give over such power to you or any member of The Zodiac." The Blacksmith said with scorn, trying to stand up the straightest they could, despite missing a leg.
"I know what Huwang Di is planning! That rotten fox will never gain access to the ascension plane!" The Blacksmith declared their final curse.
A vertical line sliced in almost perfect halves of their body, after they were done speaking. The gigantic aura-boosted, sword slice continued traveling across the destroyed acre until it cut down in two the trunk of The Mother Tree. A flow of rainbow-colored energy came out of the tree's trunk at the same time The Wolf sheath his katana.
"Penal Code by The Zodiac for the Prosperity of Our Glorious Zenith. Chapter 1. Article 3. Section 1. Anyone that defiles the name of our beloved and supreme Huwang Di (狐王 帝), shall be immediately executed, with no right for a court appeal."
The two fallen halves of The Blacksmith rusted away.
"Looks like I found the core without your help, anyway." The Wolf taunted the fallen deity.
•
Neo was in the near space zone of the planet she was heading to when the dimensional tornado that was flying her around entirely vanished. Unbeknown to her, she had just become the first person from Remnant to ever space dive, since over 100 kilometers remained for her to reach the ground. She was about to enter the world's mesosphere.
Oh, no. No. No. No. No. That's no good. No good at all.
The comet effect and her frail aura shield were also beginning to dissipate. 40 kilometers remained for her to reach the ground. She was in the planet's stratosphere. It wasn't even going to take her 2 minutes to land at terminal velocity.
Unexpectedly, Neo broke the sound barrier, which caused her body to shake and lose its comet barrier. Doing her best to keep herself in a favorable diving position, by balancing herself with her arms, and holding her breath, she continued looking down into the world she was about to fall into. 30 kilometers remained. Neo had less than 80 seconds to think of something.
Ok. No Hush. Almost zero aura. I can do this!
...
A couple of seconds passed, while Neo immersed in her thoughts saw the surface getting closer to her.
AAAGH! I am going to die! Why this keeps happening to me!?
"DOOOOOOLL!"
Neo turned in the direction of the distant shout.
No way! It cannot be! It's her!
The Rabbit was diving in her direction with a body position that reduced her air resistance. She was going to catch up with her.
Did she jump into The Door just to capture me!? And she still wants to fight, despite our current deadly predicament!? How annoyingly persis- Oooooh, so that's how Ruby must have felt about me!
While Neo deeply thought about the biggest irony in her entire life, The Rabbit positioned herself in front of her, getting as close as possible so that she could hear her shouts. Less than a minute remained for them to reach the ground.
"How are you going to land!?" The Rabbit asked concerned for Neo.
None of your business, bitch! It's your fault that I lost my friend! My mementos! And that I'm about to die!
Neo tried to hit her in... The mask, but she dodged her attack easily.
"Hold it! I want to help you! I can use Sakura and Wind Dust to get us out of this one!" The bunny girl grabbed her umbrella.
Oh... Now I remember. There's something in which I excel more than anyone in Remnant.
Neo approached The Rabbit with a tearful face begging for help.
"It's okay, don't be scared. I will save you." The Rabbit extended her right hand to Neo, offering to help.
Something at which Salem, Cinder, or even Emerald and Roman never beat me.
Neo kept closing the distance between both, giving her 'savior' a thankful smile while clearing her tears with a hand.
"Calm down! You can trust me!" The Rabbit said with a happy voice.
Blacksmith, you were wrong about something. The Zodiac isn't absolutely above anyone from Remnant. Because I'm sure...
Neo tenderly and slowly took The Rabbit's hand.
That they could beat me in a fight.
"Great!" The Rabbit filled with joy grabbed Neo's hand. "Let's go, frie-"
BUT NO ONE, IN ANY WORLD, BEATS ME AT STEALING!
Neo quickly twisted The Rabbit's arm and spun around to position herself behind her victim.
"Wait!? What are you doing!?" The Rabbit's voice sounded scared and hurt, but as she demanded an explanation, Neo kicked her in the back as strong as she could.
That's for the Ever After and my friend!
The poor rabbit girl could hardly react to the situation. Not because she was slow, but rather due to being shocked by Neo's insane actions.
"But you are going to die!" The Rabbit gave her a last warning, extending again her right hand to help her.
"How will you-" She froze in fear. It was too late for her to reverse the situation.
Searching for something?
Neo put her hand over her opened mouth, faking a surprised face. On her hand was The Rabbit's AAIS right bracelet.
"No, wait!" The Rabbit felt betrayed and in pain. She could only implore her target to stop her plan while keeping her right hand extended.
See ya, bunny girl!
Neo activated the AAIS bracelet by pouring her final burst of aura into it. As if attracted by a magnet placed in Neo's hand, Sakura flew straight into it. The weapon felt strangely familiar to her.
Hush was better, but this will do.
She pushed a button on its shaft to open the canopy, but without any aura left Neo couldn't activate the dust stored within Sakura. Fortunately, the current of the air was so strong and Neo's weight so light, that Sakura's canopy by itself managed to slow down her descent.
Neo turned down to see The Rabbit continuing to fall. Surprise hit Neo when she realized that her rival said nothing more after getting her weapon stolen. The Rabbit didn't even put effort into stopping Sakura from reaching Neo's hands. Eventually, she fell into the distant sea below, making a splash. Neo's tears were still flowing.
Idiot, the act is over. No need to continue crying. She is my enemy. Besides, considering her ludicrous aura level, she's going to be fine.
She placed her left hand over her chest.
I hope.
•
[A resentful snake imprisoned in a neglected land.]
With some kilometers and minutes still left for Neo to land in a city close to the sea, she took time to recall and look peacefully at the discernible landmarks of the mysterious world she fell into.
When she still was very far away from the planet, she noticed that most of it was covered in what she assumed were oceans of water, like those of Remnant. Continental masses varied in colors, with some being greener than others. Deserts and tundras existed also in this world.
I don't want to end up in a desert. I would melt...
Wish The Blacksmith was here to listen to my thoughts.
[An arrogant rat monitoring everything from his technological cloud.]
Before breaking the sound barrier, what called her attention the most were the flying or floating landmasses. Some of them looked of natural origin, while others were artificial. Certain flying locations resembled more fortresses.
Hope one day I get to fly to all those floating places.
[An elegant rooster playing a shamisen, in front of an old shrine.]
The architecture of some distant buildings was like that of Mistral. Right now, she appeared to be heading into a continent that had cities resembling that kingdom of Remnant, but way bigger and possibly more populated.
[A fiendish goat reading at his residence, atop a prestigious city.]
An enormous structure with multiple layers on the far horizon caught her attention, she would have to investigate that one more closely later. But it was already easy to tell that this world's landmarks were more ambitious and experimental than anything she saw back in Remnant's kingdoms.
The lack of Salem and Grimm probably helped this world achieve advances in engineering and technology, which Remnant could only dream of.
[A courageous bull traveling on a boat, across ferocious waters.]
The atmosphere and weather so far felt close to home. If she focused solely on the sea and sky of this world, it was easy for her to imagine that she was still in Remnant.
Maybe, I will finally get to visit a beach or travel across the ocean in a boat.
[A noble horse contemplating on his throne, at his majestic castle.]
Neo pondered if the dominant species in this world would turn out to be humans like her. At least her fear of instantly dying, due to lack of oxygen or the air in the environment being poisonous, was gone.
[An exuberant tiger dancing and celebrating, in his modern temple.]
Will this world also have music, traditions, and complex cultures?
Neo wondered what kind of hobbies and relaxation activities she was going to find here. Gymnastics, dancing, and fashion design were among her favorite hobbies, so hopefully she could continue her old leisure activities and experience new ones.
[A wise dragon training his disciples, in the courtyard of a time-honored palace.]
The wind current finally made Neo reach the top of a huge Mistralian-looking castle surrounded by a town. It possibly was as tall as the main building of Beacon Academy or the tallest ones back in Atlas. After landing on its roof, made of tiles and bark, Neo closed Sakura and walked over to the edge, where a golden statue of a dragon was resting. From there, Neo could see an incredible amount of people entering and exiting elegant pagodas and temples.
They are just like the people back in Remnant! One head with a face, one torso, two legs, and two arms! Settling down in this new world will not be as difficult as I expected.
The sun of this world was beginning to set. Before venturing down into the town, Neo decided to feel, for the last time today, the warmth of this world's sun on her face and the wind that saved her blowing through her hair. For once, she wasn't worried about anything.
No one was ever going to catch her in this world... Or at least that's what she thought.
A flying shape on the horizon caught her attention.
Wait... That thing!
Neo got nervous and quickly grabbed the golden dragon statue, to make sure she didn't lose her balance and fell off from the castle's roof.
There was no mistake. In the sky, flying at a high speed, a Minotaur was heading toward a floating city, above the sea she had just been carried over.
It cannot be! This world...
Neo looked with more attention at the big landmark that she had missed earlier on. From it, flying battleships, like the Monoliths that she had just escaped from, were coming out.
This world is the one that attacked the Ever After.
Neo then noticed an extremely tall 'tower' coming out from the city that went up, far into the sky. So far and tall, her eyes couldn't see its top. And while doing so, she observed in the sky a mined moon and a sinister 'star' looming over her.
Neo had fallen into the worst possible world she could think of.
[A divine fox looking down the world, from his heavenly forbidden enclosure.]
Zenith.