First Orb - Somehow not the craziest thing in his life

[worldcrosser]

[ The next face that appears in the Duck network is that of an unsurprised young man.

In fact, he stares at the screen for a long moment, as if realizing this was the cause of all of that insanity. His eyes turn to one side of the screen, looking for a long while. Then to the other, watching for a long time.

He settles back forward. The cat on his lap meows. ]

Oi. Are you all responsible for my world opening a portal and getting my friend to grow horns and tail when she went as an exchange student to another school?

Comments

[divide_by_zeronos]

Horns and a tail?

[Guess who is new to the Duck as well. At least one can say that she's at least new. Though her face... you might want to get your eyes checked because Xion is in that mutable state right now and might show up as anything you might imagine.]

[worldcrosser]

W-wha?

[ Indeed, for a second, Xion looks like a cat-faced person talking him. Which makes the cat Tomoya holds in his lap happily meow and bat at the screen. ]

Y-Yeah. She's a human like the rest of us. But after she communicated with us through this network, she's been looking more and more like a dragon-lady by the weeks.

[divide_by_zeronos]

[Xion isn't aware of this, but at the very least, she's unperturbed by the way he reacts.]

That would be the Magic protecting the World Order. It's a method of blending into the worlds.

[worldcrosser]

Somebody told me that, but it doesn't change how weird it all is! [ Tomoya has a slight outburst, particularly since Xion doesn't seem to decide what the hell is she.

He breathes in, then out. ] Kotomi gave us all a mobile phone that had a duck in it, and I kept noticing people from all over a lot of places popping in. Where are you from, anyway?

[divide_by_zeronos]

[Xion doesn't even know what she is. Is she a Nobody? A heartless? Something in between? Who knows. Spoopy.]

It is very weird.

I am from the World that Never Was. Currently I am getting out of Vexen's way.

[worldcrosser]

World that Never was? ... Is that why...

[ How does he put it softly? One thing was transforming, but having no identity to call his own... ]

What do you mean?

[divide_by_zeronos]

Vexen told me to get out of his way, so that I wouldn't be a bother to him right now.

Currently, I am staying out of his way by talking on the Duck in Twilight Town.

[The area around her seemed a little more orange-y, like it was sunset.]

[worldcrosser]

Twilight Town...

[ The other world. Tomoya comes to remember Kotomi's mentions of it. It is possible such a world exists.

He looks back up at Xion. ]

There must be other places to explore. Kotomi-chan does this all the time. Someplace out there could be your home.

[divide_by_zeronos]

There's the Pirate World I visited. I'm a Helmsman there for a Pirate Crew.

[Because that's a thing.]

[worldcrosser]

[ Now this gets to sound like fantasy from books Kotomi would read for ultra-light entertainment. ]

You are also traveling great distances. A job is part of your livelihood and your identity, and they are good to keep. But you should also find a place where you can rest easy and feel comfortable in.

[ Where you are not afraid of going back to. ]

[divide_by_zeronos]

I'm still learning about having to pilot a ship. We're still preparing it for travel, and our captain has a few crew members on board right now.

Every evening I go back to the World That Never Was.

[worldcrosser]

What is the World That Never Was? You should still plan for a home and a group of people that will welcome you.

[divide_by_zeronos]

It is a world that doesn't exist. It is made up of the cast off shells of those who lost their hearts, the leftover bodies of those who lost their hearts.

[best_ghoulfriend]

Ah, zat is not our fault. Our worlds are linked together now. And that is a part of protecting the World Order. Or so I'm told at least.

[have a cute vampire on the other end of the feed there.]

[worldcrosser]

[ Tomoya looks at her for a long moment. Either surprised or not, his eyes focus on her purple skin and the outward fangs coming from her. He slowly blinks, and states in the most deadpan manner possible. ]

My town got in touch with another world some ago. We even got tourists visiting this place for the local food and calm environment. Most of our visitors only have the odd trait then and there. Hikarizaka High School got in touch with Monster High, and in reward for Kotomi's high grades and draft of a thesis regarding other worlds, they agreed on an exchange school program for her with the end of the semester. She told us she'd call us daily through the same network.

[ The boy then lifts a group photograph of how Kotomi originally was. Shorter, and very clearly without the hint of horns, tail, or wings. ]

I just got a message from her puffing fire out from her lips. I'm pretty sure she did not do that back home.

[best_ghoulfriend]

Yeah, we're not sure why a normie is changing like that, but we figure... magic? I mean, there's a lot going on here that's different right now.

Our school got added to an interdimensional network and now there's people from other worlds talking to us and visiting all the time now.

It's really quite fun, and they take on characteristics of Monsters.

[worldcrosser]

So it's not that much of a problem to visit, but we'd all change the moment we visit Kotomi at Monster High. Do you know what people would transform into, anyway? Kotomi always seemed like the bunny type to all of us.

[best_ghoulfriend]

Nope, seems like completely random to me. Considering that we've got monsters of all kinds, it's really fun to meet up with new monsters!

And some of us are really happy to see friendly normies around, even normies that turn into monsters too.

1/2

[worldcrosser]

Normies that turn into random monsters? Hmmm...

[ From the camera, Tomoya puts a hand underneath his chins, and hums.

He suddenly realizes a once-thought implausible scenario is actually likely. ]

2/2

[worldcrosser]

[ Then, he breaks out laughing like a madman, scaring the cat away. ]

Re: 2/2

[best_ghoulfriend]

Huh? Did I say something weird?

[What a strange normie...]

[worldcrosser]

I have a modest proposal to give to you, [ Tomoya composes himself within a blink, ] there is a wealth of girls from Hikarizaka that are friends with Kotomi Ichinose thanks to both her intelligence and the bonds she has made with everyone around her, and we are both incredibly proud of her and keep in touch with her.

[ He then adds in the most serious tone possible. ]

In order to solve this, let's invite more people from our world into yours. Kyou Fujibayashi is secretly a fox that needs to be brought into your world so she can become a real fox-girl with ears and tail. You will be doing her an insurmountable favor.

[best_ghoulfriend]

Oh! Oh sure, that can be arranged. We can do that no problem. There's enough that we can set that up for her to come over here and she can ensure that she gets what she needs to transform here.

[worldcrosser]

Roger that! I will send the invitation through to Kyou Fujibayashi and tell her everything she needs to know. She will then come back to Hikarizaka as how she should rightfully be.

My name is Tomoya Okazaki. Thank you very much for your help with our helpless student.

[ He gives her a big thumbs up. ]

[best_ghoulfriend]

No problem, I'm glad to help. As co-founder for Monster High, I'll welcome you and your friends as much as possible!

[worldcrosser]

Very well! Thank you very much. We will be seeing eachother soon.

[ After this, Tomoya is not too sure if he gets to end the communication with Darculaura or not, because he leans over a wall and holds his face because it is hurting too much not to laugh. ]