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Edalon Shattered

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An Edalon Chronicles Story

By: Mune Cinteroph

[Runetech Advanced Research Laboratories]

[Industrial District, Aleonis City, Tor'meld Continent]

[One Week Before the Shattering]

The laboratory was dimly lit. The hour was late, and the laboratory was occupied by a lone soul. The canine tapped at the keys of his computer, entering string after string of data, brow furrowed in concentration. In frustration, he growled and slammed a hand upon the keys and sat back roughly into his seat. He turned to face the hulking piece of machinery that lay beyond the glass shield separating his lab from the construction bay.

Years of work and a continent wiped out, and still, we cannot move forward. His frown deepened. What am I missing?

The soft chirp of a message arriving at his terminal drew his attention. With a sigh, he turned and glanced. A video message. He tapped a key and the video file opened. The sound of a chipper voice filled his ears and the face of a brightly smiling otter filled the screen.

"Doctor Vanderweil, did you forget about dinner tonight? You probably did! It's okay I suppose... but, you owe me you know."

Dojo rolled his eyes and closed the message before the otter could continue. Cute as he was, he was growing tired of the pretty otter after only a couple lays. He grumbled lightly, staring at the figures on his screen again, trying to see where his calculations could possibly be off. Years of study and engineering and he felt no nearer to completing the Rune Core. The only thing he could figure was that it needed more power to kick-start the process. If his team's hypothesis were correct, the device could replace all other forms of fuel and energy.

The corgi roared his frustration, pulling at his head fur before rising and stomping to the shield to stare out over the bits and pieces of so many years of work. The IMS had promised him some of the most powerful runes he could ever lay his hands on. Where they could obtain such things, he was not about to question. Not as far into the game as he had come.

He caught sight of the digital timepiece on the wall. Four o'clock, ugh.

Giving up for the night, he tugged on his jacket and keyed out of the lab. It was minutes before he slipped from the facility and made sure the magnetic lock snapped shut behind him. He padded into the cold night air.

He found it difficult not to think about how the project could have been forced back to square one, exactly five years prior to the very day. The facility the Core had originally been had been attacked and destroyed. The terrorist was never caught. It had been dumb luck that it had been moved to its current home. Dojo was glad for it, however close it had come to being lost to them completely.

The industrial district was quiet. Very little of the noise from the entertainment district spilled over. Dojo's apartment was on the border of the two. He debated going to his favourite lounge but decided best to avoid running into the otter there. The otter's voice would just grate on his nerves he decided. He took the stairs to the lobby two at a time before grabbing the door handle and stopping. He shot a glance over his shoulder. He could not shake the feeling that eyes were watching him. His emerald eyes swept the shadows, a frown upon his muzzle.

Just shadows. He knew better.

"Who's there. Show your damned face asshole," He demanded.

The shadows seemed to taunt him but no one emerged to meet his demands. The corgi shook his head and entered.

"So you think someone followed you last night?"

Dojo stretched his aching muscles before rolling his chair over to another terminal to check the readings that flashed across the screen. He cursed and got up from his seat only to plop his rump onto his creeper, lay back and roll himself under a section of machinery.

"I do not think. I bloody well know someone was following me." Dojo fumbled with a wrench and removed a plate. Grease shot him in the face and he sputtered and cursed louder, "Fuck!"

The other engineer passed a rag down to him. "Maybe you should ask for an escort? Perhaps not stay so late?"

"There is too much work needing to get done," Dojo shot back, wiping the grease from his fur. His face fur was matted with it. Ignoring the mess he reached into the opening and worked at dislodging a component. "Looks like one of the amplifiers is toast. Damn it to hell."

"I can have another one built within a few hours."

"Do it."

The badger nodded and was quick to withdraw his cellphone from a pocket and make a call to his team. Dojo rolled out from under the piece of machinery to see a message flashing on his personal terminal. He left the badger to his discussion to check who was trying to reach him. The contact information was blank he realized and saw only a text message.

I have what you need.

Dojo glanced over his shoulder to the other engineer, he was not paying attention. The corgi tapped at the keyboard and sent a response. Who is this?

That does not matter. Just know I have the missing piece. Meet me at the burnt out facility at 4th Street and West.

I am not meeting you anywhere until you tell me who you are, Dojo typed back.

There came no further response. The corgi growled and turned to see the badger finishing his call. They went back to work, replacing additional components. In a few hours, the component was lifted back into position on the outside of the massive core. Machines bolted the component back into place. Dojo ran a diagnostic and nodded; "Okay, amplifiers are all at maximum efficiency again."

"That is nice, Vanderweil, but it means nothing if the machine does not work."

Dojo shot a glance at the cross fox. The vulpine never ceased to irritate the hell out of him. Dressed primly in a suit and tie, he always looked like he thought he was above everyone in the room. Probably cries like a whore in heat when he takes it up the tail. The corgi smirked then motioned to the nearby consoles. "As we've noted in previous diagnostics, a key component is missing to create a stable reaction within the core."

"Refresh me on what it is this component may be?"

"Were uncertain. By my calculations, we require a powerful magical catalyst to begin the process and once stable, it can be maintained indefinitely." Dojo explained.

"Clean, infinite magical energy that can power entire continents..." The suit nodded and rubbed his chin. He glanced over the readouts and Dojo found himself doubting the fox even knew what it was he was examining.

This is just money to them... weapons... power...

The fox tapped the screen, "Here."

"Hmm?"

"There is a fluctuation in the reading. One of your runes is unstable, are these ones not intended to stabilize induction?" The fox arched a brow questioningly.

Dojo grinned.

Five short minutes later, lab equipment clattered to the floor and there is a gasp. The dog pinned the taller fox on the floor, tugging at the vulpine's slacks. The cross fox was more than happy to help, wriggling his hips to wiggle free. Dojo tore his crisp white shirt open, his blazer left forgotten in a pile on the floor. The fox' scent filled Dojo's nostrils, sharp, powerful, the edge taken off by the scented powder in his fur. The canine huffed each other's scents, muzzles touched, becoming more familiar with each others' scents.

Dojo's paw came to rest on the bulge in the fox' underwear. He felt the warmth there, the heat, the dampness of the pre that drooled into the fabric. The fox struggled with Dojo's pants, trying hard to control his whimpering moans as he was groped and rubbed. Dojo growled, giving a firm tug, the fox found himself without his underwear. The dog may have been short, but he was strong, and he lifted the fit and handsome fox, bringing his legs around his hips. The dog's cock, thick and hefty as it was, slid slickly along the sweaty taint of the moaning fox.

With a grunt, Dojo plunged in, opening the cross fox up wide. He began to work into that tight tail hole, using him without hesitation, without preamble. Dojo nipped at the fox' throat, a growl deep in his throat. The fox' ears laid back against his head, a deep shudder running through him. Dojo slammed his hips up, burying his length over and over into the fox, using the prim and proper male for his own stress relief.

The fox grunted, he felt his back slammed against a cool steel wall. Every thrust sent a thrill up his spine. The scent of sex filled the air, fox' never could be anything but strong scented, not everyone minded so much. It was obvious the dog did not mind in the least. He felt the delightful ache of a large cock gaping him, a fire that burned with such warmth in his core. His own cock was free from his sheath, dripping and drooling onto his stomach fur. He felt every firm, sure grind, working into that tunnel, pre drooling out with every thrust.

There was nothing gentle about the treatment. Dojo grabbed the fox' hair and jerked his head back to expose his throat. He snarled and nipped then bit at the fur there. With a snarl, he shot his load into the fox. A few shudders, a growl, then a grin and the fox knew he was in for more.

Within an hour and two orgasms, Dojo was zipping his overalls and climbing into the core to examine the rune in question. For the fox to have spotted the 0.05% fluctuation had caught the dog by surprise. He hadn't expected the suit to know anything about the inner workings. Well, I got to know something about his inner workings. He smirked to himself and felt the slightest twitch in his sheath. The fox would not be sitting proper for a good week after the dog left him gaping and dripping from his bruised hole.

Dojo tapped a button on his handheld, the holographic screen flashing to life from the side of the device. He examined the diagram and found the rune in question. "A microfracture. Huh." With a sigh, he dragged a hand across his face. He was in for another late night.

Dojo gingerly picked his way through the broken glass and crumbled concrete. The building was left to crumble over the past five years since the attack. Everything of value that could be recovered, had been. The corgi decided only an hour before that he would make the meeting with the mysterious stranger. He had not come unarmed, however. His handgun was tucked into a shoulder holster just underneath his jacket. He eyed the shadows cautiously as he moved through the rubble, careful of his footing. Not knowing what his contact even looked like, he could not be sure what to expect. That was if the stranger showed at all.

"Vanderweil."

Dojo tensed. He did not recognize the voice nor the scent, so he was certain he had never met whomever the stranger was. He caught the strong odour of fox. He reached for the gun and froze. Violet eyes stared at him from the shadows, glowing brightly in the darkness.

Slowly, the figure padded out into the open. The creature was easily at his shoulder in height, even though it walked on all fours. Tails slowly lashed about behind it. Only when it completely emerged from the shadows could Dojo make out the snowy white fur and vivid purple marks that seemed ablaze with the glow of its eyes. Then it spoke his name again.

"Vanderweil."

"A Kitsune."

The beast grinned, showing rows of vicious teeth. Dojo could nearly see the arc of blood created by those fangs tearing out his throat. The beast, however, did not move. Rather, it sat and regarded him with those vivid and terrifying eyes.

"You are a kitsune, are you not?"

"It matters not." His voice was rich, deep, tremulous. It sent shivers down the spine of the engineer.

Dojo drew his gun and flicked the safety off to take aim. "I came! Now, what do you want!?"

There was a laugh that trembled upon the air. The shadows seemed to swell and press in all around them. The creature lowered further until he was lying upon the cold concrete. "The Institute will come to you in four days hence. They will supply you with a Rune. The suited cross fox will convince you that this final piece will allow your machine to work."

"Wait.. what?" Dojo blinked.

"You will abide them, and install the Rune as bid. Then, the world will crumble."

Dojo aimed down the sights. "Who the fuck are you."

"I am your one and only warning."

Dojo fired.

The seven tailed, oversized fox took the bullet to the skull. The creature imploded and shadows spilled forth in a rush of icy cold wind. A hand grasped the dog's shoulder and spun him around. Violet eyes looked deep into the dog's own before a fist caught him a blow across the muzzle. Dojo stumbled but did not go down. He brought his gun up but before he could pull the trigger, it was knocked from his grip.

The kitsune found his fist caught when he made to punch the dog a second time. Dojo growled, blood running from his nose. He eyed his assailant, a tall, white and purple fox of seven tails in loose cargos and hoodie. Not a fox, Dojo noted, he was too broad at the muzzle and even his build screamed wolf. Half-breed folf.

The folf swept the dog's feet out from under him, Dojo hitting the ground hard. The air burst from his lungs. He rolled before the folf's knee thudded down where his head had been. He heard the loud crack of the concrete slab.

"Killing you works just as well, I suppose. The Shattering will not happen."

"I don't know what the fuck you are talking about, folf." He snarled. The hybrid had at least two feet of height on him, not to mention how many pounds of muscle.

The folf reached forth and drew from the void a wicked scythe, the curve gleamed angrily. There was no hesitation when he lunged forward, the wicked edge of the vicious weapon rending the air. Dojo dodged with a yelp of surprise. The kitsune adjusted his footing and when his swipe reached its zenith, he brought the weapon into a nasty horizontal arc that would have taken the dog's legs at the knee had he not leapt back.

"Son of a bitch!" Dojo stumbled back. The folf had leapt again towards him. The dog narrowed his eyes, reached into a pocket. He felt the warmth surge through his veins before he drew the rune and barked a command. The vortex of flame exploded between them and forced his attacker to jump back to avoid being burnt. Dojo frowned, sweat beaded upon his brow, "Listen here asshole! I am not fucking around! Tell me who the fuck you are before I kill your psycho ass!"

The folf laughed, dark and menacing.

"Oh fuck you!" Dojo gripped the rune tighter and with his other hand motioned sharply. A fireball exploded forth.

The explosion rumbled through the ruins. The loud whoosh of flame and bright orange heat seared the surrounding concrete. From within the flames, Dojo saw the wicked violet eyes and the contorting of the dark silhouette of the kitsune. He watched in confusion the flames whip about the creature as the magic behind the explosion were literally consumed. Flames whipped about his assailant, tendrils of fire flowing into any opening they could find as they were sucked in. The glow of the purple markings upon his body grew brighter.

Dojo cursed his luck. "A damned void?!"

The flames vanished from the night and the kitsune's feet touched the heated ground. He blew a puff of smoke before grinning wide. His clothes were in tatters, his body and scythe remained untouched.

The scythe must be an extension of his void. Dojo ascertained.

"You are about to die, Dojo, I'll give you my name I suppose. A parting gift, this world will remain thanks to your passing." The kitsune lifted his scythe once more, "Thorne Vultaire. I've seen the results of your future with my own eyes. I am here to ensure it does not come to pass."

"Seen... you are from...?" Dojo's eyes widened. "Chronomancy is a myth. You are bullshitting me."

"Heh. May you find peace in death..."

Sirens filled the night. Dojo felt the folf upon him. All became dark.

[Runetech Advanced Research Laboratories]

[Industrial District, Aleonis City, Tor'meld Continent]

[Two Days Before the Shattering]

"Should you really be back at work?"

Dojo brushed off the badger's concern. He had only survived the attack because the IMS soldiers had arrived. Seemed the cross fox had bugged him. He wondered still why it had taken them so long to respond. He decided not to dwell on it. He had work to distract him from such thoughts. Too much work. He climbed up onto one of the segments of the Rune Core and opened a panel. He got to work recalibrating the energy conduits. He could not help but think about what the folf had said.

The Institute would not do something so risky, money and power require the world not being demolished. He thought back to the disaster of their first activation. The region was still uninhabitable. If we get it working, we can repair the damage there.

He motioned to one of his assistants, "Natalie, I need you to run an identity check on a Thorne Vultaire."

"Sir?"

"Just do it, I am curious. Use our link up with the governmental database."

"Yes, sir." She hurried off.

Dojo tapped at the buttons on the inside of the panel to activate the holographic projection of the inner workings of the segment. "Chronomancy my fucking ass. That was definitely a Void concealed within his body though... did he throw any magic at you?" The dog found himself analyzing the battle and frowned at the realizing that the kitsune had not in actuality used any magical. "There was that illusion... unless it was no illusion and rather he blinked." Dojo's eyes widened. "Of course! He blinked and shapeshifted before he rematerialized!"

"Sir?"

Dojo blinked and realized he was talking out loud and one of the other assistants had approached with a look of concern. He waved the assistant off and continued his analysis of the projection. "If we tighten the angle of the amplifier by point five of a degree..."

It was nigh on midnight when Dojo closed the panel and stretched his aching limbs. He felt the cuts and bruises of the nights prior, a dull ache in the back of his mind. He looked down from his perch to see three suits talking. When he was noticed by the cross fox, he was waved down to join them. He was cold and stiff as he always was, Dojo chalking it up to the fox just needing dog dick plunged into his ass all over again. He found himself thinking of the otter awaiting his phone call and felt the slightest pang of guilt.

"Doctor Vanderweil. We hear you've made progress," The stallion in the group boomed.

"Yes. Progress has quickened and I believe the Rune Core will be ready for testing within the next twenty-four hours."

"Your team has done well." A tigress chimed in.

A large breasted girl, her voice was almost musical but her eyes were ice. Dojo had to admit, he'd have loved to see her without the skirt and blouse. He managed not to stare and instead look at the smaller of the three suits. The cross fox.

"It has been no easy task but, when I set out on this project it was with the intention of seeing it to completion."

"Excellent!" The tigress again, with a deep purr to her voice.

"Grigor," The stallion motioned to the fox, "Informs us that you were assaulted the other evening?"

So that is his name. Dojo gave a bit of a nod.

"Any idea who this individual was?" This time the tigress.

"No, ma'am. He was a stranger to me."

The tigress shared a glance with the fox but nothing more was said regarding the attack. Grigori spoke up next, "We believe we have acquired the component you've been needing to complete the core. It is being brought in tomorrow, likely in time for your tests to begin immediately."

"You've acquired a compatible rune?"

"We believe so." The suits shared a look before Grigori continued. "It is a very powerful rune, we are entrusting it to you for this project with the understanding that you will make the core work, for the future of Edalon."

"How did you acquire it?" Dojo pressed. He recalled the folf standing over him. The dog bled from wounds to his right hip and another in his shoulder. He had continued to struggle and fight back. The sirens were nearly upon them. His words echoed through Dojo's recollection, If you use that rune, know well that you use the souls of many to fulfil your ambitions. They'll not get a second chance, but you do. Do not use the rune! The dog frowned and eyed the fox who shifted uneasily under the firm gaze of the corgi.

"That is of no concern here," The tigress purred with an edge of warning.

"Just know it was no easy task to acquire it," Grigori added.

Thorne was not incorrect, Dojo thought, that souls could be coerced into the shape of a rune. All things were energy and runes were the containment of energy in one shape or another. Though he doubted heavily that many could be made one, the containment would be imperfect and made perhaps even tremendously unstable. Dojo also thought how terrible an act it would be to do such a thing to a living creature. He helped in refining the process of rune creation, the machines in current use were all by his design. Nothing was wasted in the process and containment of energy was ninety-five percent perfect.

"Your team will be ready?"

"Yes," Dojo affirmed. He shifted his gaze to the tigress. "I'll make sure of it."

Work continued well into the earliest hours of the morning.

Dojo checked the time, Four o'clock.

He pulled his jacket tight over his frame. The sensation of being watched followed him from the lab to his building again. He could only assume the nogitsune, as he had discovered the darker kitsune, were called; was still keeping tabs on him. If his words were on the mark, would he refuse to use the rune? It was a question Dojo found himself wrestling with. He had to admit, it had been his passion and his ambition to complete the Rune Core for nearly fifteen years. He had begun calculation even before the dream gained traction. When the Institute of Magical Sciences had approached him with the offer of his own division, he had not hesitated in the least. They very nearly threw money at him every chance they got back then.

He proved himself within the first year by designing and manufacturing the current rune harmonics utilized by the currently in employ Rune Knight Armour Suits. He found himself hesitating at the door to his building.

"What will you do?"

He turned and glared furiously at the taller folf. "You bastard. Is messing with my future fun for you?"

"It kind of is, admittedly. Though, I admit too, that there is a greater purpose to it all."

"Thorne, you fucking asshole, this is not some game!"

"You're right, of course, why else would I step in." The nogitsune gave a shrug but his body language lacked in sympathy.

"You think you know me..."

"I know what I need to know, there is no need to know more." He said in a flat tone.

"I gave my all for this career! For this opportunity! I have worked my fucking ass off!"

"So that makes it okay?"

The corgi laughed, eyes bright with his anger. "How many have you killed to get here, Thorne."

The folf stood straighter, surprise in his violet eyes.

The corgi bore his teeth in a nasty snarl. "Come on you fucking asshole! Tell me! How many did you bloody well kill to get here! More than one. Hell, more than two... I bet it was even more than a dozen. Come on. Since you are being open and honest and sharing."

"One-hundred and sixty-two."

Dojo froze, his eyes widened. He realized then, he should have been dead. Why had the beast before him not finished what he had started? He swallowed thickly, his mouth suddenly dry. His point was lost, along with his rage.

"I did not come here to add to my body count."

"Yet you likely would have, had it not been for the IMS showing up to save my ass, you overpowered motherfucker."

The nogitsune growled, "Tomorrow is it."

"How can you be so certain it will transpire as you say? You being here already changes things if what you said is true." Dojo pressed.

"For all I know, I was here the first time. Who is to say how time works." Thorne turns, his tails flowing elegantly behind him. "I never claimed to have all the answers."

The nogitsune faded back into the shadows. Dojo stood, feeling more alone than he ever had before.

[Runetech Advanced Research Laboratories]

[Industrial District, Aleonis City, Tor'meld Continent]

[The Day of the Shattering]

Grigori's eyes wandered over the numerous screens, probably the only of the three suits that understood the information displayed on the screen. His brow furrowed, pointing to a blip that appeared in one of the graphs.

Dojo glanced at the screen and nodded to confirm he saw it before making the appropriate adjustments. "The initial tests look promising."

The other two suits stayed back, though the tigress held a large case in one paw. It was only once the final test sequences were completed that she stepped forward to lift the case up onto a table. She tapped in the code into a digital keypad, the locks disengaged and the lid flipped open to reveal the decently large gemstone. A rune. Swirling, milky white light moving through its surface. Dojo glanced in and found his ears laid back against his head. It seemed to glow with its own gentle luminescence and was easily larger than the few offensive runes he carried on his person for defence.

"This is the rune we promised."

"I've never seen one this refined before," Dojo muttered, studying the smooth, swirling surface. It was completely smooth, oval in shape. He traced a finger pad over it. It felt warm to the touch. His emerald eyes traced the perfect contours, the elegance of it. He withdrew his paw and turned his eyes on the tigress. "Is it stable?"

"Of course," she sounded mildly indignant.

"Pardon my asking, but it could very well mean the difference between success and armageddon." He shot her a look.

Grigori made a motion for them to wrap up their banter. "If you are done with taking shots..."

Probably needs dick again... Dojo thought in annoyance.

He closed the case and led them down from the lab, down to where engineers were checking and rechecking their diagnostics. Dojo motioned for the case before putting hand and foot to the ladder and climbing. Every rung he climbed, the echo of the conversation with Thorne rang through his mind. He pushed those thoughts aside and tried to focus on the task at hand. With a grunt, he hefted the case up and into a small conduit He opened the case, removed the orb and shifted the case back out of the way so he may climb in beside it. With an effort, he shimmied in and squeezed deeper into the machine.

Dojo reached the end of the conduit and entered a code into another keypad. A panel opened and he placed the rune delicately in, adjusting the clamps. Closing the panel again, he shimmied back out again into the far cooler air. Wiping the sweat from his brow he gave the thumbs up to the control room. He soon joined the other engineers making final preparations in the control room, flanked by the suits.

"Everything looks set to make history," Grigori grinned.

Dojo padded over to the main control panel and began entering in control sequences. He heard the subtle whisper in his mind, a gentle brush of shadows swelling to drag him back but he would not be halted. I will change the world, one way or another.

"You don't want to be pressing that button," Thorne spoke evenly.

The corgi began to turn but Grigori's voice cut across any response he would have given; "The mystery assailant I presume?"

The other two suits were incapacitated on the floor. Thorne stood over them, magic crackling between his fingers. The cross fox eyed the nogitsune, a grin slowly splitting his muzzle. Thorne's eyes scanned the cross fox wearily. "I've warned you, Vanderweil."

"And offer no proof," Dojo shot back, his eyes narrowed.

Thorne made to move forward but stopped when he heard the click of the safety being turned off on the gun the cross fox aimed at him. The nogitsune frowned, his eyes narrowed and ears lowered, tails going very still. He studied the gun before flexing his claws and focussing on the feel of magic in his veins.

"I would not go collecting magic just now," Grigori warned.

Thorne relaxed his hands and glared, "What are you?"

"Why do I have to be anything other than a fox?"

The corgi growled, "I am not throwing away years of work, I do not care what you think you know, nogitsune. This is my life's work. I will change the world."

"You are not wrong there, Vanderweil," Thorne answered angrily.

Dojo turned back to the console and tapped at the keyboard. Command sequences flashed across the screen. He heard Thorne shifting behind him but trusted, at least, that Grigori would keep the nogitsune in his crosshairs. In the room beyond the glass, machinery whirred to life. Engineers scampered about, making sure the many pieces of machinery were starting up properly.

Thorne snarled and bristled, he made to move forward but a sound from Grigori reminded him of the gun. He knew he could stop the bullets with his fire but the fox posed a conundrum. You are not just a fox, what are you.

Consider me... Fate.

The thought was not Thorne's own, the nogitsune's eyes widened. A fire erupted to life in his left hand and Grigori fired. In a swirling crackle of blue flame, the bullets were halted in their course. Thorne lept towards the corgi but the weight of the cross fox slammed into him and he was sent sprawling.

Dojo shot a look at his prone assailant then Grigori. He nodded to the other man, ears laid back as he worked to get the core started up. He did not care what Grigori's reasons were, his achievement would not be marred. He heard the hum building up. He eyed the gauges on the monitors to his left.

"You don't understand what you are doing, Vanderweil."

"Don't I?" Dojo turned a baleful look on the nogitsune.

"You are not understanding what went into..."

Dojo cut him off with a bark, "What? What went into the creation of the rune? Magic, of course!"

Thorne snarled, trying to sit up but Grigori's foot pressed down on his chest to keep him pinned. "You think you know...."

"Know what? What are you trying to tell me? That kitsune and tanuki and what other forms of magical creatures went into its making? Who cares, you fuckers are magic, just magic. If we need to use that magic to forge our better world, fuck it! Deal with it!" Dojo finished in a snarl.

Thorne froze, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"I figured it out when I touched it," Dojo filled in the blank. "Suffice to say... I don't care.* His eyes were cold.

Grigori's muzzle split in a wicked grin that went all the way to the back of his long fox muzzle. There was nothing sly or foxy. It was all nasty and twisted up with something dark. "All things are expendable if it means fulfilling one's goals... this world will be ours for the changing. You are just another battery for the machine of progress, nogitsune."

The lights flickered. The machine hummed louder. The core initialized, power building within the reactor. All systems continued to show green. Dojo frowned, "Listen, it is nothing personal. Sacrifices get made every day in the name of progress. It is the way of this crazy world. This reactor... it can change all of that. No one ever needs to be hurt again." The corgi voice was even, certain, full of the confidence he felt in his decision. He was certain he was on the right course.

"Until the next experiment, you mean," Thorne shot at the dog.

Dojo sneered then turned back to the computers.

How is he like this, he at least listens to reason back home... Thorne glared at the dog's back. He felt the weight of the fox keeping him pinned. He had to do something, he could already feel the natural flow of energy being altered and warped by the harmonics of the machine. Then there is this cross fox, what is his deal?

Grigori leaned in close, "Don't worry. This is where we get off the ride, nogitsune, make peace with the Jewel Maiden."

Thorne looked in confusion into eyes that burned like embers. He felt the magic sizzling off the cross fox' form. He felt the ache building in his skull and knew his own magic was reacting with the ambient magic in the air. The machine was continuing to build up the resonant energies. It would only be another moment before even the magicless folk would be able to feel the building pressure in the atmosphere.

"A lot of people will die. You will die," Thorne warned.

"You sound scared. Why fear it? You have not even been born yet after all."

Thorne's eyes narrowed. The fox knew he was from another time. No one knows I am here, nor does Vanderweil believe me. Thorne grabbed the fox' ankle and twisted, dragging him off balance. Grigori stumbled to the side, giving the nogitsune the split second he needed to roll and get back to his feet. He did not have to raise magic, it was already crackling all around him, visibly now. The trouble was the second person in the room aiming to stop him from stopping the disaster.

Dojo cursed and fired. The round caught Thorne through the shoulder. Blood spattered the floor. The nogitsune blinked and glanced. "Really... Dojo?" He turned baleful eyes on the dog. Grigori fired and Thorne found his kneecap shattered. Pain lanced up his leg and a scream escaped him. He crumbled to his good knee, his vision swimming.

They all heard the explosion, ears swivelled towards the sound. Dojo jerked his head around to see the smoke beyond the protective glass. The radio clicked on by the main console, an engineer shouting that a warning. Dojo's eyes narrowed, "The ambient magical energy is causing an instability... but... the machine should not be affecting anything outside of the reactor..."

Grigori knelt in front of Thorne, his grin wide, ears up. There was no fear or even uncertainty behind his brilliant blue eyes. He leaned in close, his lips brushing those of the confused nogitsune, caressing slow and sure, then deepening the kiss. Thorne's ears laid back against his head. He straddled the purple and white folf, tongue stroking and exploring the muzzle of the injured male.When he finally broke the kiss, a grin split his muzzle. Thorne could do nothing but stare in confusion. "The path of time must remain intact, Thorne, a younger you understood that more than anyone. I forgive you, I hope, you can forgive me. I love you."

Thorne's tails went limp, he searched his memories, so many lost to time and the long lives of a kitsune. He stared into the brilliant blue eyes and felt the sting of tears when he recognized his husband. "I'm sorry."

"I forgive you."

The glass of the window erupted inwards, computers exploded. Dojo covered his face against the rain of shrapnel. The entire building felt as though it were rumbling violently. The hum of the machine reached into the very foundations of the facility, down into the deeply buried soil and rock.

Magic crackled then in a surge exploded inwards. Thorne sensed it, as did the cross fox, their ears laid flat. Eyes closed the two kitsune were obliterated, magic calling magic, their physical forms unmade by the vortex of energy that crashed towards the epicentre of the building cataclysm. Dojo was thrown to the floor, the other engineers screamed in horror as the building began to crumble. The machine erupted, steel and wire sent hurdling through the air. More than a few engineers were killed by flying debris. The disaster would not be halted. Power arched between the runes and the core rune. Arcs of energy shredded concrete and steel. The singularity grew, another surge of energy rushing to the epicentre.

The tremors were not in the building alone, the entire city was shaking. Glass rained down upon cars and pedestrians, from shattering windows of skyscrapers. Lightning flashed through the darkening sky.

Dojo rose slowly, his vision filled by the growing singularity. The building was crumbling around him, it was only a matter of time before he was crushed beneath it or killed by debris. So, this is how it's going to work. The corgi sighed heavily, his ears remained flat. The light pulsed, another implosion of energy and the corgi felt his fur standing on end. He knew his time was up. He heard the building finally give up, the crash of the upper floors rushing down to crush him. He closed his eyes.

The light engulfed the building, the city trembled then shuddered before a wave of devastation ripped inwards, levelling the city. The dark sky was lit by its brilliance. The world rumbled then, Edalon in its entirety. Everywhere, night or day was dark and lightning streaked the sky, the world screamed in agony. The crust tore and crumbled, oceans churned, cities collapsed and lives by the thousands were extinguished. Then the explosion that shattered the world. Debris erupted outwards, sent towards the skies.

Over months the world writhed. Survivors struggled to stay alive, as their own world tried desperately to end the suffering. On the fourth month, the singularity collapsed and the world could never be as it was...

To be Continued...