New Game + (Open)

[Makoto Yuki]

I opened my eyes. This mildly freaked me out. Just moments ago, I would not have been capable of even this insignificant feat. Stone statues aren't usually built with such actions in mind. My confusion didn't last for long, as the only other form I could recognize in this endless abyss I found myself in, besides myself that is, had begun speaking to me.

The creepy grinning silhouette in question began explaining my.. "situation" to myself. I tried to interject at multiple points, I needed to know what had happened, was the Great Seal still intact? Did Nyx bring about the fall, destroying the world? Did Elizabeth succeed in finding a method to free my soul that did not involve dooming the rest of humanity? But instead found out the hard way that my mouth was magically sealed, somehow. I did NOT appreciate that fact.

The silhouette proceeded to Identify itself as Omni, the instigator of my current dilemma. It handed me a glittering multi-colored orb, identifying it as Omnilium. It sounded like a drug, looked like one too. Nonetheless, I felt a resonance with this strange unknown sphere, and watched as it was seemingly absorbed by the hand that it came in contact with. Omni, continued with his explanation of the situation by noting that Omnilium was everything in this world, the Omniverse as he called it, and that others would be there and in search of this Omnilium as well.

Armed only with that vague warning and however much that amount of Omnilium was worth, I felt the darkness that was almost suffocating me only moments prior begin to fade away, sweeping Omni away with it. When I regained my bearings, this time actually feeling solid ground underneath his feet, I found myself staring at a large, circular fountain with a statue of an oversized, ornate gate at its center. It felt almost teasing, like he could just open it and return from whence he came, but at the same time couldn not, seeing as it was only a fixture.

I averted my eyes from the mocking fountain, only to find a vast white expanse, stretching as far as my eyes could see. Thus far, all I knew about my situation was that I was kidnapped by a being of immense power, and deposited among others who shared the same fate, in a world I knew nothing about. This was going to be fun.

I realized that the only clue I had that could be acted upon was this ethereal substance, called Omnilium. Omni had said that the knowledge to use it would come naturally to me, and he was not joking. When I tried to remind myself of the characteristics of the rainbow sphere from before, the knowledge just flowed naturally from my subconscious mind. There were no clear instructions, no steps or directions. It was much like the knowledge of how to breath, always there, but never in focus. I spread my fingers and watched, as a luminescent orb formed in the palm of my hand. It began to expand in front of my eyes, acting on my intentions to move from this location and find someone I can question about this place, perhaps?

As I watched, the light expanded enough to reach the ground from its original position in front of my navel. Once it reached this height, it began expanding horizontally, turning its shape from a sphere into more of a capsule-like shape. Its desired dimensions met, it started coalescing and turning from a not-entirely-there presence, into what was very much a solid substance at its center. The light kept shrinking and the substance kept growing, until it reached a stage where I was almost certain it was forming a motorcycle. This Omnilium could apparently transform itself into a physical construct at the whim of its possessor, no wonder Omni said it was in high demand.

The final form of the construct did turn out to be a motorcycle, as I had guessed. It was more than just a motorcycle though. It was a motorcycle he recognized. One he had ridden before. It was Mitsuru's. Seeing her bike jarred me from my fascination with the process taking place in front of my eyes. It reminded me of some of the questions I had wanted to ask Omni. What was happening back in my world? Were my friends okay? Were they even alive?

No. I shouldn't think like that. I can't afford to right now. They had survived the entirety of Tartarus, Monad, Strega and a battle with Nyx of all beings. No, of course they were okay. They had to be. For now he'd just have to find a way home. Home. It's funny how over the course of only a single year, I have come to view our dorm as my home. Of course I would, after all, it is where my family is.

For now, I have to find out as much as I can about this world, Omnilium, and Omni himself. If there's a power in this verse that can bring me home, it would be held by the one that brought me here.

With a half-formed plan, more of an objective really, I chose a random direction and set off on the mechanical beast I know called my own.

[Guu]

As he was riding along, Makoto kept his eyes forward. As one of the gates ahead slowly grew bigger than the rest, he set his sights for that particular one, adjusting his direction so he was heading straight for it.

As he continued on, he heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet against the cold white ground. He looked around for the source. Didn’t take him long to spot the strange sight beside him.

Riding on top of a giant yellow chicken, was a strange rabbit like creature. It was sitting upright on it’s bird, paying no mind to the man next to it. It wore a cute little magenta tank top with a small little keytair strapped on it’s back. It had white fur with light green spots, some small enough to be confused as freckles and one large enough to eclipse a vibrant green eye. Fluttering in the breeze are her ears which ran down the sides of her head and down to her waste. They are a little bit green on the tips.

Seeing the strange creature, he stops in his tracks, causing the bunny to rocket ahead of him. The bird suddenly stops and swerves in place to face him. The rabbit creature smiled at him pleasantly. It spoke up in a bit of a southern accent.

“Greetings. My name is Tia.” She said politely. “Pardon for the intrusion. I saw you were new and wanted to help you out!”

A thousand questions must have swarmed his head, but somehow, the following is the one that escaped his lips.

“What are you?”

“I’m a mamiga! I’m a traveling a musician of sorts! My bird friend is a chocobo” She said, patting the bird affectionately. “A rare flying breed. Again, I’m sorry, I’m guessing you’re not used to our kind.”

“I’d say I’m not…”

The rabbit person rode up next to him. She looked him pleasantly.

“Welp, if you’re not going to get used to that, you’re going to be so lost.”

Makoto was silent for a moment. His first encounter with life in this world was a 3-foot bunny rabbit. He couldn’t think of a better sign that he was no long in Kansas anymore.

“What is this place and why was I brought here?”

“You’re in the Omniverse. It’s a world created by a god named Omni.” She begin, never breaking eye contact with her new riding companion. “This is the Nexus. Each of the gates surrounding us lead to different universes he created.”

His mind swirled with all this new information. He couldn’t comprehend the prospect that he was in a whole new universe altogether. But just like a sadist, she kept going.

“As for why you are here, this Omni fellow apparently likes to be entertained. You’re what is called a prime. You were brought here just to amuse him I guess. He even gave you the power to grant wishes just so you could shape the world around you. You’re a far greater entertainer than me.”

Before he could ask anymore, or more pressing question had come to mind. The gate ahead was becoming much more clearer. He could see it was made of large stones, looking ancient like a relic of the past.

“Where are we headed right now?” He asked the rabbit lady riding next to him.

“Camelot.” She said plainly, as if it were a normal everyday word.

[Makoto Yuki]

Camelot?

"You mean King Arthur's Camelot? That Camelot?" He asked, barely wrapping his head around the ridiculousness that is his new travel companion.

"Who?" She asked, her brow furrowed. As if he was confusing her. As if he was the confusing one. As if he was the anthropomorphic tiny rabbit riding a golden oversized chicken that could somehow keep up with Mitsuru's motorcycle-

Stop. Take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Much better.

"...I'll take that as a no." He opted to say, instead of the thoughts circulating in his troubled mind.

The closer they got to the portal in the distance, the clearer he could see it, and the more Stonehenge-esque it looked to him.

When he felt they were getting close enough to warrant slowing down, but not actually doing so, he called out to his companion.

"Shouldn't we slow down? Just a tiny bit?" Asked Yuki somewhat worriedly.

To his surprise, and discomfort, Tia only laughed at such a notion.

"Don't worry. We'll pass through the portal just fine the way we're going." Tia replied confidently.

He wasn't entirely sure about the truthfulness in her words, but she seemed trustworthy enough, and looked very confident in those very same words.

Plus, she was taking the lead, so if anything were to happen to her, he'd just about-face and look for someone less crazy to ask for directions.

We were getting dangerously close to the stone structure know, I clutched the handlebar tightly, preparing for a sudden turn should the need arise.

Fortunately, Tia and her yellow chocobo appeared to pass safely through the portal, disappearing from his view.

'Well, she's trustworthy at least' Thought Yuki as he took the plunge so to speak, and went after Tia on his ride through the shimmering portal.

Thread to be continued in Camelot sub-forum.