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[i]A forest grew undaunting, yet his feet burned the leaves. The sound he crept made not a creature stir for fear had already taken their voice. Darkness warned him of a looming night, his father's words rung true to his mind bewaring of beasts both hidden and shunned. Grass as dry as the sun, bark as pale as the moon with ash draped across his head. Winter had gone, and so had the trees to become a cemetery place, his hand gripping cold steel as his finger bled against its edge.

[i]"Jaws that bite...claws that catch. A manxome foe I seek to match."

[i]The lemming licked his lips as red spilt in his wake, drops vermillion from his finger that led back the way he came. The mist froze all that touched the silt, but its icy breath seemed never to touch his blood as it shone beneath the wooded dark. His hand unguarded brought up a flame briefly through his fingers, gyring gimbled flames that waned against the cold as his eyes caught someone else. A shadow slipped between trees, a pawn amongst pale kings that stood with the face of a raptor.

[i]"I have waited for you."

[i]"My saviour," said the lemming kneeling, "have I come to this place as true?"

[i]"More than," the creature stepped forth and touched his head, "a place where destiny unfolds from the beast's turgid back, a beast greater than the moon and deeper than the stars who have died before your birth."[/i]

[i]"I have long searched for this answer," said the youth averting his gaze, "to bring light back to these woods, to bring us home to a waking realm."[/i]

[i]"And I shall guide you vorpal, through and through the ties that bind you until you have all freedoms to pursue the peace."[/i]

[i]"Where is this beast?" He stood up as the raptor stepped away. "Where must I sever his hide to bring back the light?"[/i]

[i]"In the borogoves hence," the raptor pointed to a forest mauve, "he lies hence, but heed your saviour's words."[/i]

[i]"I have my father's words too-"[/i]

[i]"Do you place him higher than I?"[/i]

[i]"No, never, of course you are higher!"[/i]

[i]"Then listen dear, my namesake." He placed his hand again upon the lemming's head. "Seek out the beast and pierce its heart...then eat it."[/i]

[i]"Wh-what?"[/i]

[i]"His heart carries power, a force this forest has never seen."[/i]

[i]"But...but father told me its heart is-"[/i]

[i]"James. Your heart is pure. What have you to fear from a thing so debased?"[/i]

[i]"I...I-i do not fear it, I am cautious!"[/i]

[i]"Caution is the daughter of cowardice, whose mother waited too long to birth and so caution stills in her womb, now are you a stillborn or are you a saviour?!"[/i]

[i]"I...s-saviour?" James gasped with a hand to his heart. "Do you...call me akin to you?"[/i]

[i]"I expect nothing less," the raptor crossed his arms and stepped aside, "be a guide only I may seem, but the truth of your destiny is unfettered James. You know this. You have sensed it since the day you first stepped through the realms and taken your blade in hand!"[/i]

[i]"I was...I was uncertain," he shuffled his feet forwards to the grove.[/i]

[i]"Are you not the great scribe of your kin?" said James the elder. "Are you not one whose mind turned brillig with the songs of stars?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, yes I am but-...I could never be as great as you."[/i]

[i]"You do not have to be." The raptor took his hand. "You need only come closer than any of your kin."[/i]

[i]"Yes..." his eyes twinkled up to him, "closer than...they could be."[/i]

[i]"Now step forth. Into the borogoves and take its heart. Let its power fill you, learn from its sorrows as the fruit of knowledge."[/i]

[i]He turned towards the wood of ash, that wore a cloak of widow's needs as he stepped between. Tall white rooks croaked in the wabe within phantomous towers and bristling branches, casting the burning snow upon his hair which darkened to a seep. The ghastly pale slipped away to reveal a deep lake of purple, standing out amidst the monochrome wood as James raised his blade and cast its sheen over the water. Something answered his call, burbling beneath with a groan of the earth as the willows shook in rememberance, slaking poison down the arms and knees of a dreadsome beast. Eyes of a burning home, body sculpted in thinnest grief with teeth of a wretched gnash, a head twisted on itself with eyes uneven and a dozen around its jaws vertical. Wings had once draped this beast but not for more, now burnt stumps as its slithy arms tore out in wrothful glee.[/i]

[i]The lemming stepped back out of reach and shot a plume from his palm, scorching screams that sang with smoke as the creature reeled back from the fire and swung its pleistocene neck towards James with rasping teeth. He dove to the left and struck fast with his sword across the creature's eye, barely missing to scrape the cheek as it shrieked with rage and slammed a bony fist against James' head. Rolling through the dust he pushed himself from the lake's edge, his face coated in grey and his cloak smeared in silver as he rolled fire across his blade, spiralling serpents of flame that wreathed asclepian towards the beast and shot through with viperous strikes. Lancing across its face in dual-strikes, the flames burned and wrapped briefly round its snout before James came lunging from underneath, raking his sword along its chest with lacerating cut that sent a curtain of red upon the earth. The monster roared and sprayed upon his fiend and lashed with rabid cuts of its long-fingered sweeps, skeletal limbs like the branches above that twisted and snapped with muscular vivacity.[/i]

[i]The first swipe whooshed over his head, the second he cracked against the wrist with his sword before the third he swung towards its face and stabbed through the chin, wrenching its tongue with a twist of his blade to pull through the wound and make it shudder with coughing blood. The beast slammed both fists hard to bring a cloud of ash that fogged his vision and hid its paleness, the lemming spinning himself with a blasts of wind that spirited upwards to the abyssmal eve. But not soon enough to evade the creature of the tulgey wood who came swinging with its gaping maw of crooked teeth. James rolled to the side but caught his leg against the razor fang, shredding his foot as he gasped and dripped crimson beneath his foot. Stepping back he braced himself against the screeching wyrm whose slender form whipped forth in a snarling rage. The moment the monster lunged he took a diving run, turning his body in mid-slide to plunge deep into its throat and sever through its flesh, splicing the seams of its flesh as it gurgled a deep revenant gasp. Its legs fell first to crumple against the lake, waters of poison kissing its neck as its head slipped beneath the surface where the blood-soaked James stood gazing upon it. His hands shook as he waited and watched for its twitching creep, before walking over to its still body and cut open its chest further to reveal its twitching heart.[/i]

[i]"This...is this-"[/i]

[i]"Good." The raptor's spirit walked past him. "Now take its heart."[/i]

[i]"Yes...m-my..."[/i]

[i]He gulped with uffish cringe and cut the strings of its heart, pulling it free with a deep black and ruby gleam that contorted beneath his fingers. Warm and moist, raw and dripping across his fingers as he looked towards his saviour.[/i]

[i]"What do I...do after this?"[/i]

[i]"You will see," the raptor walked across the surface of the lake, "the jabberwock was your first lesson, child."[/i]

[i]"What...exact lesson?" he asked strolling past the corpse.[/i]

[i]"To keep a vorpal mind and to remember beasts come in every form. This heart, of your previous hart shall help attune your senses for the future that you seek."[/i]

[i]"Senses. I see, yes but, wait, are you saying there lies deceit?"[/i]

[i]"Every saviour has a villain," said James the elder on the lake, "and in turn there are minions. Even though they do not know it, they are agents of the dark."[/i]

[i]"The darkness." James the younger looked down at the heart cooling on his fingers. "Can it...employ servants?"[/i]

[i]"Those who are weak to it. And you are better than that, my name-descent."[/i]

[i]"I am. I won't be enslaved to it, my saviour."[/i]

[i]"Good." The raptor turned to him with a pivot of his foot. "The fate of your people rests in your hands...what will you do, James?"[/i]

[i]He stared into the deadened organ as it shone beneath the trees, dappled ash sprinkling upon his neck with burning creep down his nape. The lemming bit his teeth and closed his eyes as he raised the heart to his lips opening wide. He awoke when he tasted meat.[/i]

"Whuh...wh-what?"

His eyes blinked at the ceiling of his room, wrought in wooden thatch as the sun slanted through the window behind his head. James turned his head seeing his brother still asleep, the teenage lemming muttering to himself with his pictures of seascapes and mountains against the wall.

"Huh...rare for me to wake up before him."

He pushed himself off his bed and left his house to embrace the morning breeze. The salt whispered through his cheeks as he sighed with a strange peace in his heart. The sounds of the village slowly stirred as lemmings opened shop with calls of greeting across the square.

"Jaaaames?" He turned to see his mother calling as she came out with a basket. "You're up early dear!"

"I had a good sleep," he smiled to her, "need some help with the laundry?"

"Oh why thank you dear, that would be lovely!"

He helped Winifred fold up the clothes from the washing line, smoothing out the creases and warming his fingers with the gentlest flame to carefully dry out the sheets.

"Excited to head back to your friends?" she asked.

"Oh definitely," said James, "I have some new research to delve into that I'm quite eager to start on!"

"Lovely, I hope it goes well!! How is sir Durai doing?"

"Not too bad," he folded the last sheet, "his partner Dr. Dixon has been making a fantastic new invention, you know how he is with all that star-gazing."

"Oho yes," she chortled carrying the basket back, "you know I always thought you would become a tailor like me."

"Really mother?"

"You always had very lithe fingers, your father called you his little pickpocket."

"Ahhh, huh." James squinted. "He did tell me your scarves are selling well so that is good!"

"You know I almost gave up tailoring fully," said Winifred pushing the door with her hip, "if it wasn't for your father I would have but he made sure I stuck with it."

"Well you are a supplier for his wares, twould be bad business for him."

"Yeees but, still being supportive! It's good to have someone support you, not in the way that sir Durai does with you but a...well, closer person."

"I understand mother." He kissed her cheek and took the basket. "I'll put these clothes away."

"Thank you James. Could you wake your brother, it's his turn to make breakfast with me."

"Wellll alright then, but if I don't make it back, tell my master I said hello."

"Hahaha, as you wish!"

James cracked his knuckles and stepped back towards his bedroom, ready to the face the day with his first and greatest challenge of rousing a teenage brother from his unkempt sleep. But his mind was far more preoccupied for his own future studies.

[i][u]Third Energy Research - Subject Fourteen ("Red and Angela")[/u][/i]

[i]25-06-2044[/i]

[i]Recorded by Maj-Gen Thomas Brightman[/i]

[i]Subject Fourteen arrived within the week of our estimates, despite the fact that one of them had evaded our sensors and somehow snuck into the base. A small group of thieves resembling animals had spread themselves out over the isle with one of them in control of dimensional technology similar to ours. A police officer from their world, a human named Angela Middleton had followed them with her partner, a dragon-like known as Red.[/i]

[i]She explained that her world was inhabited by beasts known as "Pokemon", sentient creatures some of which are feral, some of which are anthropomorph, but all have at least a basic understanding of human speech allowing her world to form a coexistent society. Unfortunately our soldiers were vulnerable to electronic interference and Oddclaw was instead chosen to be Middleton's guide to assistt in capturing the thieves. All of them were successfully captured without further incident, and officer Middleton returned with her partner Red in tow after offering their gratitude. Hopefully future anomalies will be as amicable and easy to resolve.[/i]

[i][u]Diplomatic Negotiations - Mohberrin Village[/u][/i]

[i]14-08-2044[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Kevin Izquierda[/i]

[i]For the first time since their installation, the people of Mohberrin Village have opened to us for trade agreements. Since their arrival to prehistoria, I've been helping them set up their village to be more self-sufficient which I've already talked about in previous reports. My lab buddies Adenine and Ribose have been our main contacts with them, even learning their language of Hyrulian without the use of our collar translators and teaching them medicine that we use with the plants in this world.[/i]

[i]I don't want to jinx anything by talking more about what they want, but I'm really happy that they want to negotiate with us! Almost as happy as the day I met Amy for being a big help in the lab since she's basically a living dispensary of chemicals to mix and match into anything I need! Well, almost anything I need, that's part of why I'm excited to see how these negotiations go since what we can't synthesise for ourselves we'll have to get from them.[/i]

"Just a little more," Linnaeus said.

"Nnngh, like this?!" the rhinobot pushed.

"Abouuuut...two inches more! Aaaan-STOP, stop that's great!"

"Hoo!" The robot pulled back from the wardrobe. "This thing's damn heavy what you keeping in here!?"

"Books mainly," said the rabbi squaring his fingers, "also various clothes since I have to make sure I've a spare when the other robes are in the wash."

"Clever," Chanoch nodded scrubbing down the last pew, "I am done, rabbi."

"Alright!" he clapped his hands. "Thank you both very much, you can have a sit down if you like, lunch isn't ready for another ten minutes."

"Souuuunds good."

The machine wheeled round on his single tyre and pressed his rear against the pew in a half-lean backwards, taking pressure off the wheel as it rolled gently whilst Chanoch and Rabbi Linnaeus sat on either side of him. The minigogue was quieter than usual, the parishioners having all left as the three sat in silence admiring the tranquil beauty of the light from the sun gleaming onto the plinth.

"So uhhhh I wanted to ask," the rhino craned his neck, "how'd you guys decide to be a part of this?"

"I was hired already by NASA," said Linnaeus, "gotta make sure everyone gets their moment of peace and guidance."

"I escaped from the army of darkness," said Chanoch dusting down his powdered suit, "did you not remember that trial?"

"Yeah I do," said the rhino, "I meant like your, religion."

"I was born part of the faith."

"Same!" cried the rabbi. "Wow we have so much in common!"

"So wait," the bot revved his wheel slightly, "you guys didn't get the 'three questions asked' thing like you did with me?"

"I mean it's really hard to question a baby's faith," Linnaeus smirked scritching his cap, "babies don't think about the big picture of their place in the world and the existence of all things when they're still trying to figure out what mom's face looks like."

"Oh. Wait, what, is that how babies work?!"

"Well yeah, I mean I'm not a father myself but-"

"I just assumed you organics like, downloaded all your data from your parents and just grew into your bodies!"

"We are not machines," the lizardman shook his head, "we learn from our families who show us what we do. Because my parents are part of Elohim's light, I too was born within it."

"Ohhhhhh," the bot nodded, "so I'm like joining your server."

"Uh...yes?"

"You join us from the outside yes," said Linnaeus patting the mech, "normally most rabbis don't do the 'three questions' thing, but I like to do it because it's a simple way to test someone's faith. I'll admit, I've never had a robot before in my group but you passed all the tests and you read up on everything sooooo it's great to have you Plastrum!"

"Thanks!" the rhino grinned with plated teeth. "But you can just call me Rum though, I know my name's kinda weird."

"I dunno I like it, sounds like an eighties band, speaking of which Chanoch you got a name for your band yet?!"

"Yes," he nodded clasping his hands, "Spellbound Symphony."

"Mmmmm that's really good!" Linnaeus twisted the hairs of his chin. "I thought you had Knights of the Rock already."

"We thought it too basic."

"Yeah I agree," said Rum nodding to him, "Spellbound Symphony sounds way more powerful."

"I thought so too," Chanoch nodded, "what made you choose to join the light of Elohim?"

"Well um, see, a group of us were like meeting up to talk about how we weren't FEELING it, yanno? Like with life existing and all that and just, we felt sorta lost in a way we can't figure out."

"I remember you said that when you first came," said Linnaeus leaning forwards.

"So we asked around, the humans came back to us saying 'well we've got religion for that', so we went to the library and looked up all the religions you had and we all chose different ones. Bob joined Hinduism, Nerv went with the Muslims, I joined you guys, the rest of us sorta split over the different groups. Am I really the first robot you guys had?"

"Maybe ever?" the rabbi shrugged. "I mean I'm learning a lot of new challenges here I never had to deal with, I'm genuinely surprised you haven't asked us why we have so many religions."

"Oh nah I understand," the robot nodded, "it's like different operating systems like how some of us run on CA-2, some on ZX-3 soooo I assume that religion is kinda-sorta like that?"

"Mmmmm yeah I can see that, well long as you're happy with us that's what matters."

"Oh yeah it's been great, everyone's been super nice especially you."

"No problem Rum." Linnaeus stood up and dusted off his robe. "I just have to change before lunch."

"Alright well I'm meeting with my buds," Rum pushed himself up and wheeled over to the exit, "gotta recharge my fluids so I'll see you guys later!"

"Take care," Chanoch walked him to the door, "have a good day, my friend."

Waiting for his rabbi to finish changing, the knight escorted him down to the lunch hall as people feasted on the usual fare of faux-meats and vegetables grown in the base. Reploids even sat with some of the humans eating the same food, processing it differently but still partaking in the social conventions whilst the badniks were more traditional with processed plant oils injected into their systems.

"So what's on your agenda today?" asked Linnaeus tucking into a sandwich.

"We have newcomers today," said the lizardman wiping his lips, "I am to escort them."

"Oh how cool, yanno I heard about them but I've never seen them!"

"They are good people." He finished his glass of juice, "Ribose has made a translator for their language, with Stonevoice's help."

"Well that certainly makes things easier," the rabbi pointed his fork at Chanoch's own translator, "definitely helps you but you've been doing well on your English lessons right?"

The knight responded by clicking off his collar and clearing his throat to speak with halting English.

"I am, dew-ing good, it's...deeferent from the English at the kassull."

"You spoke English already?"

"The...old, English, yes."

"Aaaah, so I bet you'd be perfect for a Shakespeare play, I remember you liked plays right?!"

"I do," Chanoch nodded, "I used to play, in...a play."

"Really?" gasped Linnaeus chewing fast through his veg. "What sort of roles did you play?!"

"Soldiers. War-ree-urs. I was Oedipus, one time."

"Haha, wow Oedipus?! What made you go for that role?"

"The...the man who, commands," he gestured like a composer, "head of the play, that man."

"The, director?"

"Yes! Dee-rektur, made me Oedipus to...say the words and prak-tis?"

"Ahhhh I getcha," the rabbi gave fingerguns with a cackle, "pretty cool though I bet you could set up a theatre here!"

"No," Chanoch shook his head, "I play music, that will enough."

"Hahaha alright then. Well I hope the newcomers have a good time here, bring them up to the Chapel so all the leaders can say hi!"

"I...try to."

Lunch was soon over as Chanoch made his way back to his room and took off his formal suit, washing himself briefly in the shower before slipping on his armour from the mannequin in the corner. Half of his room had now been taken over by James' work, various scribblings on his desk involving theorems and odd words that Chanoch barely understood despite understanding the language. With sword and rifle packed he made his way to the entrance and waited for the arriving guests with the rest of the guards next to Jane.

"Wind's picking up," she said to him, "think it's going to be a monsoon again."

"Hmm." He sniffed the air. "You are right."

"You going to be alright with your armour out in this?"

"I have rust protection," he nodded, "if weather turns bad, they stay here yes?"

"I should say so yes," Jane put a hand over her eyes towards the distance, "how's James doing by the way, you two alright?"

"Yes," he clasped his arm smiling, "I am excited to see him soon."

"I'm excited for the concert you've got planned, must be bit of a nightmare to have it all planned with Amy off in space and James coming back and forth."

"We make it work. I would like to visit his family."

"That would be lovely, why can't you?"

"His village has rules to not bring others back with them. Haytham found them himself, he earned their trust."

"Ahhhh I was about to say," Jane nodded slipping her hands into her pockets, "hopefully one day you might get a chance."

"Haytham said he will vouch for me. There, they are here."

Jane straightened herself on seeing the Ducky fly closer towards the base, the guards taking their positions to look formal yet relaxed as it landed upon the beach. Ribose and Adenine stepped out first to wave to them, the cloaked alchemists motioning the newcomers from the ship as the humans saw two squat little pigs and a taller ganglier beast with spear on his back and a hog-nosed snout that hung down over his lips.

"Goodness what a lovely place!" squeaked one of the bokoblins. "And such warm sands by the sea this place is wonderful!"

"Do we really gotta wear these?" asked the other bokoblin tugging at her collar. "Feel like we're getting into a cave orgy."

"OH, Nette don't say things like that!"

"I know the collars are weird," said Adenine walking on, "but it just saves a lot of time cuz we'd be just translating back and forth for like everything."

"It saves time," said the tallest beast trudging behind, "if these braces can ease our diplomacy then all the better."

"I mean if this goes well then the humans can wear them when they go to your village."

"But you'll still come too, " said Bokonette gripping Ade's sleeve, "r-right? I wouldn't want you to leave-"

"Nooooo nooo of course I'd keep coming!" He squeezed her fingers with a grin from his beak. "Seriously your village is awesome, I love hanging out with you guys."

"Th-thanks," she pulled on her earring with a blush, "you uh, t-teach me a lot about cool stuff like uhm, healing others?"

"Hey, it's what I do."

The older bokoblin nudged her daughter and pointed towards the humans waiting for them. The newcomers walked together in a row with Adenine and Ribose out front as the guards saluted and Jane stepped forth.

"Hello there! Welcome to the T.E.A.R Base, my name is Dr. Jane Addison."

"Well met," the mighty moblin bowed and shook her hand, "I am Mobenheim, chief quartermaster of Mohberrin Village."

"I'm Bokorie," said the half-pint mother, "this is my daughter Bokonette, it's very nice to meet you!"

"Did we not meet before?" asked the daughter clicking her fingers. "Like I think we met before I'm certai-"

"OH, YES, you were the ones who came to rescue Ade and Bose!"

"Hmhmhahaha," Jane smirked with a hand to her chin, "you know I actually forgot about that."

"How could you forget?!" cried Ribose stepping past her. "You lost a hand during that!"

"Wow rude," said Bokonette poking his leg, "I don't bring up the fact I never see your face."

"I'm just saying-"

"Yeah well don't be a dick."

"Alright alright," Jane separated them with a wave, "we all know each other well that's what matters."

"I must apologise for our actions," said Mobenheim with a hand to his chest, "please understand that our orders came from the Yiga clan and not of our own volition."

"Oh it's fiiiine don't worry that was years back, come on get inside! This is Chanoch, he'll be your personal escort."

"Good morning," the lizardman bowed to them, "we are fortunate to have you at our base, sir and madames."

"Ohoho!" squeaked Bokorie giving a curtsy. "What a fine lizalfos you are, thank you very much for having us good sir."

"Allow me to guide you."

He stepped into the base with Jane and the group following as they gave the tour around the civilian sections of the base. Recreational rooms, the kitchen, the lunch hall and the library all through which the two bokoblins were fascinated by the layout of the place, whilst the moblin kept on his guard always with stiff lumbering walks as he towered over most of his companions. But even their guard was startled by the machines that ran the length of the base in all shapes and sizes over a plethora of forms, from metal flying wasps and wheeltanks to stud-riven bears and seals.

"Woooooah," Bokonette gasped, "look at all these little guys!"

"Good sweet Nayru be careful dear!" her mother pulled her back. "You remember the last guardian we met?!"

"Yeah but they all look so COOL!" She waved to a small penguin with a drillbeak. "Hiiiii there li'l guy how are youuu?!"

"I'm not little," he snorted, "I was built to a specific modification as appropriate for my original performance, and I'd appreciate not being devalued in society because of my appearance."

"O-oh...ummmm, kay, I'm really sorry I didn't-"

"It's alright dear," her mother stepped forwards, "we just haven't met any um...machines as you before."

"Really?" the bird-bot waddled to them. "Well there are plenty of us round here, you guys joining us?"

"Oh no no dear we're just visitors, I'm Bokorie and this is Bokonette, my apologies for what she said."

"I'm Carl, nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy our base. Take care ma'am."

The reploid waddled off much with Bokonette biting her lip.

"Hnnnnrrgh dammit," she pulled her ears over her face.

"Heyyyy don't worry about it," said Ade pulling back one of them, "he's got a lot more to think about than that, he understands you're new."

"Yeah but...I...I dunno, I wasn't expecting a guardian to talk back I shouldn't've just assumed."

"We have some robots that don't," said Jane walking onwards, "those are our own machines, but the ones shaped like animals are all refugees from other worlds such as you."

"Truly?" asked Mobenheim stroking his horn. "And they are individuals of free will?"

"Yes very much so, in fact it was one of them who made those collars for you to help speak with us."

"Incredible. Self-sufficient guardians not enslaved to an operator is not something I expected to see in this world."

"So what do you do here miss Jane?" asked Bokorie hopping beside her.

"I'm a therapist," she rubbed her sleeves, "when people are having problems or suffering with issues they come to talk to me."

"That sounds lovely. So can I ask why exactly are you all here in this place?"

"We're here to study anomalies, things that happen which other groups can't decipher."

"Ah, like the princess," said Mobenheim nodding.

"Princess?" Chanoch looked to him.

"Her Highness Zelda of Hyrule, she was a scientist who studied the events towards the awakening of the Malice."

"Well that's sorta like what we're doing," said Adenine stretching his sleeves, "except instead of malice it's more like just, random occurrences like the one that sucked you guys here."

"PLUS an entire region!" chimed Bokonette beside him. "It was crazy when it happened, like the whole sky just burned and it looked like the sun had just MELTED!"

"I'm terribly sorry about that," said Jane clasping her hands.

"Hey nah it's all good, we got to escape from Ganon's influence and actually be our own selves!"

"Indeed!" said her mother with an arm around her. "This anomaly may well be the best thing to happen to us!"

"Well that's good to hear!" the doctor giggled as she stepped briskly forwards to an atrium. "Now, here we have our prayer rooms which we collectively call the Chapel. We have several faiths represented in this base-"

"Several?" the goblin cocked her ears. "Surely it's only the three goddesses and Hylia herself."

"In our world there is Elohim," said Chanoch casting his eyes above, "other faiths speak of Him in a different name."

"Whilst others still," continued Jane, "have their own pantheon of gods and goddesses."

"Interesting," Mobenheim rubbed his snout observing the symbols placed on the doors, "to us there are only four goddesses, known as Din, Farore, Nayru and Hylia, but we worship all of them equally."

"How did your goddesses come to be?" asked Chanoch as they walked on.

"In the beginning, the land of Hyrule was created by three immensely powerful beings who came together. Din, the goddess of Power who sculpted the land with her arms; Nayru, the goddess of Wisdom who inscribed the laws of the world's existence; and lastly Farore, the goddess of Courage who gave life to the world with her rich soul."

"And Hylia?" asked Ribose tip-toeing behind his shoulder.

"Hylia is the goddess of the Sky," said Mobenheim looking over, "she became the caretaker to watch over the land of Hyrule and to see that its creatures would bring balance."

"And the Triforce is what brings balance!" piped Bokorie with a spring in her step. "The three parts of which symbolise the origin of all things and the power to change the future!"

"So you guys have a holy artifact?" asked Adenine rubbing his head.

"Something like that," Bokonette slipped up against his leg, "Ganon's always Power, Zelda's always Wisdom, and there's always a kid who's Courage."

"A kid, like, young'un?"

"In every era of Hyrule," continued the moblin, "there is one who seeks Power above all else, one who stands against this power with Courage, and the font of Wisdom who so chooses which shall win."

"Ahhhh I see," Jane clapped her hands, "it's an eternal struggle between good and evil, sorta like Zoroastrianism!"

"Wait you got Zoras in your world too?!" cried Bokonette.

"Do any of the goddesses receive more or less praise?" asked Ribose sliding round Mobenheim.

"Some races are closer to a goddess than others," continued the moblin, "the Zora are attuned to Nayru for she is the water, Din is closest to the Gorons for her fire, and lastly the Korok are Farore's favoured for her connection to the wind and forests."

"But all of us worship Hylia," added Bokorie with hands in prayer, "her statues are dotted all over Hyrule for she watches over each of us."

"I thought Ganon was who you worshipped," Chanoch leaned against the library door.

"Well, he's not a god, he was our leader that's different. Even he was beneath the awe of Hylia."

"Some even argue he is an arbiter of balance from Hylia herself," said Mobenheim as he rocked his heels, "for Ganon is the symbol of Power and as such he must always exist to be opposed."

"I don't believe that myself," said the older bokoblin, "but some do."

"AHHHH hey you're here!" The familiar clanking of steel legs heralded Kevin from down the hall. "Howsit going guys?!"

"OH HELLOOO!" Bokorie ran up to shake his hand. "Ohhhh how are you doing mister Kevin?!"

"Hahaha, hey-ey it's just Kevin I'm good how's you?"

"Doing great!" cried the daughter shaking next. "Not seen you in like ages, where ya been?!"

"Trying to exist basically."

"Wow, same."

"Well met, good doctor." Mobenheim bowed and shook him last. "Your assistants have been a boon to our village."

"Awww shucks," Ribose rubbed his hood, "makin' me blush through my beak!"

"Also I don't really call them my assistants," Kevin put his arms round both of them, "they're my lab buddies!"

"I mean we don't call him boss," said Adenine patting his belly, "I guess that's true!"

"Are you to join us for the negotiation?" asked the moblin.

"Yeah course!" Kevin patted his side. "S'all about, you know, give and take and that, also the whole flowers thing that you're offering to bring, I'm an expert on that you know."

"Indeed. Shall we meet with your superior then?"

"Si!"

"Whilst they're doing that," Jane clapped her hands to the bokoblins, "did you want to read some of our books?"

"Oh I would love to dear!" the mother chirped. "But I'm afraid I cannot read your language."

"I can read them out for ya," said Adenine leading them, "I'm kind of a bookworm so-"

"OH YEAH COULD YOU?!" Bokonette shrieked a bit too loud. "U-uh, I mean yeah cool that'd be great sure."

"Awesome alright well lemme think what's a good start."

"Not Animal Farm," said Chanoch with a waving finger.

"Hahaha naaah no no let's say something less political."

"Not Dracula."

"Oh why not that story's awesome!"

"I do not like its inaccuracy."

"Well it's a STORY dude it doesn't have to like get stuff right!"

"Hey how about Little Women?" Ribose watched them turn their heads to him. "What?! That book's great!"

"Yeah it actually is," Jane said tapping her cheek, "read that when I was in college too!"

"Well I do love stories about the little people," said Bokorie pulling her ears from side to side.

"She means class structure by the way," said Bokonette, "not like tiny people or anything."

"Oh now Nette you used to love the stories about the Minish folk!"

"Yeah when I was seven, now we got cooler stories especially if Adenine's gonna read 'em to us."

She grabbed at his arm a little too roughly as he gasped and pulled at his collar with a smirk growing beneath his beak.

During all this Mobenheim went up the hall with Kevin, guards becoming more common as they entered the more military side of the base to which the porcine saluted in turn to them.

"Your fortress amuses me," said the visitor.

"Really?" Kevin looked up to him. "Is that the word you wanna use?"

"The construct between science and militia is often overlooked. Something that few understood, even within the depths of Hyrule."

"So you were a high-ranking soldier?"

"I commanded a small legion," said the moblin tugging his snout, "controlling parts of the Hylian castle when Ganon took over the land."

"So what's the deal exactly with Ganon?" Kevin reached his arms behind his head. "he like your boss or a god or-"

"A warlord reincarnate, a beast of malice who embodies the great desire for pure strength and supreme power. Those such as my kin are indebted to him as part of his army."

"So why'd you leave then?"

"Because we tired of the many years from which his essence revived us, moon after moon we returned from the numerous wounds inflicted against. I remember every death that I experienced, so too have all of us at Mohberrin Village until the day that Ganon was defeated, and so our immortality had ceased and we became vulnerable to the world that was against us."

"That sounds real bad dude." Kevin tapped his foot. "So you guys just wanna live someplace without fighting?"

"Correct," the beast nodded looking to him, "we have our first generation of children, the first to live in an era without war against us, and it brings us hope. Your tribe have been good to us, so our leader has decided to make reparations for your companionship."

"Hey it's what we do," he shrugged, "I mean we're all stuck here like you."

"You chose to be exiles?"

"Not as such." The voice of Thomas came from a doorway as he stepped out before them. "But we do what we can. Major-General Brightman, I'm the commander of this base."

"Well met good sir," said the moblin with deeper bow, "I am Mobenheim, chief quartermaster of Mohberrin Village."

"Have you enjoyed the tour around our base?"

"We have thank you. I was just speaking to your doctor concerning its blend of scientific and military usage."

"Well then, we can get started on our negotiations when you want but first would you like something to eat? Lunch has already passed but I can have the chefs cook up something for you."

"I would prefer negotiations first, if only so as to make our feast afterwards a more deserving reward."

"Sounds good, alright this way then."

Thomas led the two towards the meeting room, sitting on one side of the green-gridded table whilst Mobenheim sat opposite next to Kevin.

"First off," began Thomas, "thank you once again for coming to meet us at our base."

"It seemed only fair," said Mobenheim, "for all the times you have comt to visit us.

"Now, what exactly is your offer?"

"Conferring with your colleagues sirs Adenine and Ribose, we have discovered a plethora of flowering plants that can be utilised for various poultices. We have also learned how to plant and sustain them so as to expand their population."

"Ade and Bose brought back a few samples," said Kevin pulling out papers from his pocket, "we have these ones for anaesthetic, these act as astringents, these ones help with blood clotting, and you got these polysulfide ones that we use for our armour-strengthening."

The officer looked over each of the reports, showing a photo of the flower and the quantity by which the village had been planting them for personal use. He stopped on the polysulfide-based flower to ask:

"What do you intend to use this one for?"

"To enhance our weapons," explained Mohberrin tenting his huge fingers, "acting to penetrate the natural armour of beasts more effectively."

"Makes sense. So what is your offer exactly?"

"In return for harvesting these plants and giving a subsidy to your base, we request one thing. A supply of steel armaments and materials to help us strengthen our defences."

"Really? Any particular reason?"

"The anomalies you continue to experiment with have given us reason for caution.

"Hmmmm...well," The major-general leaned forwards, "I would say that arms may be more difficult since under our ordnance we cannot give our weapons away. But as for materials, those we can definitely give."

"So our defences will be certain," said Mobenheim pressing his chin against his fist, "however, we would wish to have greater offensive capabilities, especially considering that you not only brought us to this world but also have no certainty for what other greater ills you shall bring."

"What do you mean?"

"You are responsible for anomalies that come through this land. As such you have a debt to protect this land from creatures that you bring, and your refusal to aid us in protection-"

"I never said I was refusing mister Mobenheim, I said that we cannot give you our weapons."

"In my language I consider that a refusal, sir Brightman."

"Uhhh, can I add something?" Kevin raised his hand. "Just yanno, I have a-"

"For god's sake Kevin it's not seventh grade," said Thomas, "put your hand down."

"Just being polite, cabron. Anyways, I have an idea that'll fix this up. What if we taught the village to make their OWN weapons? Like you know, teach them to make a gun an-"

"An excellent idea!" the moblin thumped his fist. "In truth, I have noticed the size differences between our kind and yours, which made me realise that refitting weapons to our specifications would be difficult."

"Hmmmm..." Brightman leaned back in his seat. "I'm not entirely certain what the legal requisites are for teaching a native tribe in an era of peace how to construct munitions."

"Would it be easier than giving us a portion of your armoury?"

"I would say yes, but...I will have to ask our legal department concerning this, so if you will permit me to adjourn this meeting for now."

"Of course," Mobenheim stood up with Kevin in turn, "I will await you in the library."

"Oh," Thomas stepped to the door first, "actually I'm going there too, that's where our legal is."

"Then may I accompany you to rejoin my group?"

"Of course, right this way."

They walked halfway around the base to where the library was, but there was oddly no sign of their entourage as Ms. Kerkorian looked over her desk.

"Hello there," she waved from her copy of The Silmarilion, "are you one of the traders visiting?"

"Indeed madame," the moblin lowered his head with horn scraping the ceiling, "I am Mobenheim, have you seen my compatriots?"

"They were here briefly, but they're off to the kitchen I believe, something about honey?"

"Ah. Hmhmhm, of course."

"We actually came to ask something," said Thomas leaning at her desk, "legal issues."

"Oh well certainly," she put her book aside, "how can I help?"

"Do we have legal certification to supply arms to settlements during peace time?"

"Hmmmm, let me see..."

She shuffled off to the back room whilst Kevin sat himself on a beanbag, inviting Mobenheim to do the same which he struggled with. His long gangly legs strutted upwards like a bridge arch as he gazed around the walls of literature with a nodding look.

"Are all these reference works?" he asked.

"Nah mostly fiction," said Kevin scratching his nose, "yanno stories and stuff."

"Still worthy, a society that writes and reads is a healthy society."

"You guys got any books back at the village?"

"Some of us have kept a few from our pillages. Ill-obtained but regardless, though a few of us have been writing memoirs once we binded books."

"Oh hey that's awesome, you got any ideas for a book?!"

"No," he shook his head, "I have had no time to write."

"Well you could still write little things down," said Kevin patting his knee, "you could retire, get to them one day."

"And what audience would I have for my story?"

"Well, we could read them. Put it in our library."

"Really?" He looked towards the human a gentle gasp. "You would...catalogue my work?"

"Sure, any of you guys if you want."

"...th-thank you." Mobenheim sniffed deep. "I appreciate that."

"ALRIGHT here we are!" Anna returned with a book in black. "Right now, supplying arms to a settlement, now are you part of a nation sir Mobenheim?"

"No," he stood up with a long creak, "we are unburdened by state."

"Right so that essentially puts you in nomadic, let's see..."

Another twenty-five minutes passed as Ms. Kerkorian read through her texts and started noting down pieces of legislature, putting together a document with input from both Mobenheim and Thomas before they came to a conclusion that satisfied both. Not wanting to leave his compatriots out of the official agreement, the moblin was led to the kitchen by both Kevin and Brightman, seeing Chanoch and Jane and the two alchemists standing outside the entrance looking bewildered within.

"Hey you guys seen the uhhh bokoblins?" asked Kevin.

"Yeah they're in there," Ribose pointed within, "but you'd probably want to stay out for a bit"

"Why?"

"YO CHOCK ME THAT BUTTER OVER HERE!"

They all peered inside to see the two bokoblins scurrying between the chefs, mostly humans with the odd robot in a toque trying to stir and baste and batten and stew amidst the newcomers frantically tossing out sprigs of leaves and butter sticks, snatching spices and swinging from the hanging racks to pepper the range of foods.

"What do you call this one?!" asked Bokorie.

"U-uhhh cayennes?" muttered a cook.

"NETTE, GORON SPICE HERE!"

"GOT IT!" The daughter caught the bottle and shook it into a stew. "OH hey Mobenheim howsit going?!"

"EXCUSE me," Thomas leaned in with a scowl, "the kitchen is off limits to visitors."

"No it's cool sir the chefs are letting us!"

"What?!"

"These two are awesome!" cried the head chef. "Okay they're like flying all over the place like monkeys but damn they know their spices, and the fish is looking fantastic the way they salt it!"

"Sorry for getting rather hands-on," said Bokorie grating faux-cheese, "we're born-and-bred kitchen staff!"

"Literally in my case," said her daughter hurling a pepper grinder, "almost burned my head against the oven door when I popped out!"

"That's definitely not sanitary," said Kevin swishing his hands, "you guys cleaned your hands right?"

"Of course we did!" barked the mother catching the grinder. "We're not savages dear, and can I say your kitchen is stuPENDOUS for how sleek it looks!"

"Yeah this place is awesome!" cried Bokonette swinging over the rack. "There's way more stuff you can do in here than we got in the village!"

"Well you know we COULD make you a couple extra-"

"Kevin," Thomas warned.

"What I'm just saying they're gonna get the steel anyway might as well make more machines out of it like I dunno, a freezer maybe."

"OOOOH that would be LOVELY!" the mother bokoblin clapped her thick fingers. "Would certainly help preserve more meat if it's a bad month for hunting."

"We have signed the contract," said Mobenheim scraping his horn on the door, "the meeting was a success."

"Heheyyyy YEAH!" Bokonette clapped in turn. "Hey you guys want us to cook you something, just yanno to commemorate the signing and our future trading?!"

"That is an excellent idea Bokonette. Moreso because I am dearly famished."

"If the staff consent to it," said Thomas looking over their faces, "then I accept your offer, thank you both."

"Alright cool!" Bokorie jumped down and pulled out a notebook made of bark. "SO, who has allergies an-"

"I have a list," Chanoch noted with finger raised.

"More like a freakin' novel," Kevin snorted, "but uhhh yeah no bananas for me thanks."

"We don't have bananas," said Jane scratching her head.

"Yeah but you can't be too careful right?!"

Lunch was served to a rousing success as the bokoblins served up a mini-feast of the many ingredients they were given, with a surprising twist on the faux-meat that they had shaped to look even more like actual meat and somehow taste that bit closer to it. What they taught was the art of presentation, sculpting the food to look closer to the real thing as well as giving tips to the kitchen staff from their perspective of how "the first taste is with the eye". In turn the kitchen crew gave their advice on what spices existed in this world and what plants went best with which, even offering samples from their internal garden that were more easy to grow and acclimatise in the wild back to their own farm in the village. Two weeks after the Mohberrin group had left, on a soft rainy day where the monsoon approached from the east, James and Haytham arrived via their linking books at the base's entrance, where Chanoch and Andrea greeted them eagerly.

"Heyyyy professor!" Andrea hugged Haytham.

"And a fine morrow to you my tamer of the stars," he said squeezing her firmly, "how goes the gravity well-"

"Oh you have GOT to see what I cooked up, you're gonna blow your SHIT when you see this!"

"Well I certainly hope not, these are my favourite trousers!"

"HAH, trousers, god, alright let's head on in."

James and Chanoch said nothing as the lizardman pulled him close with a kneeling hug and a deep kiss that took James' breath, shivering from the heat of his tongue before they held hands and walked into the base with Haytham and Dixon taking the lead, the rain sleeking off their heads as a pale mist.

"So I've tweaked the constant a few times and I think I have the right formula."

"You have not begun construction yet?" asked Haytham with his arm round her.

"No no this is still planning, first we gotta make sure we can power it before we actually get anywhere with it, THEN we can start adjusting the ratios."

"And if all goes well you have my student to thank."

They looked back towards James who buried his head into Chanoch's waist, the knight pulling him close with claws brushing his neck.

"How are you doing James?" asked Dixon.

"Mmm? Oh, very well thank you," the lemming blushed, "just happy to be here again, I have some new exciting experiments to try out!"

"Oh that's cool, hey maybe we can get in on it and watch!"

"Um, of course, that would be great! I would most certainly appreciate an audience to test this on."

"Wait, test?" Andrea reeled back. "You're not gonna throw anything at me are you, cuz I like my head the way it is thanks."

"Hmhahaha, no no just someone to give feedback to, I mean obviously I have Chanoch as my assistant but the more the merrier."

"Yes," the lizardman smiled nodding, "you are welcome to come watch."

"Then so we shall!" Haytham clapped his hands with bearded grin. "And of course we have your concert to bring revelry to the base!"

"Definitely'll help lighten the mood round here," said Andrea pulling Haytham by the hand, "alright we're off to do some work, what say we meet up again in like uhhh...two hours?"

"Sounds good!" said the student. "Gives me plenty to settle in an-A-AAAH!"

Chanoch lifted him into his arms like a babe much to the humans sniggering.

"Ch-chanoch please!"

"No, we are cuddling tonight," he smiled at him.

"N-not NOW j-just let me at least walk there!"

"No, I like carrying you."

"Well we shall not tarry you," said Haytham bowing with a smirk, "we shall see you forthwith in two hours yes?"

"Yes, good day sir Durai, Dr. Dixon."

"You kids have fun!"

The scientists waved them off as James and Chanoch headed back to their dimly-lit room, the lizardman gently laying him upon the bed as he took off his armours to put on the mannequin, whilst the lemming slipped off his robe and undergarments wordlessly upon seeing the thick muscular back of his beloved tensing beneath viridian scales shimmering from a lamp in the corner. James in comparison was a slender wormy profile on the bed, pulling up his arms against himself with a bashful look as Chanoch smiled to lay down beside him, and lifted the lemming's body on top of him with a small eep as James turned red in the face. Pressing their bodies together the savoured the other's warmth, Chanoch's lungs resounding within James' ears as he felt the knight stroke his cheeks. The smell of grass by the sea came from the soft hair, whilst James breathed in the dry bark and leather scents from Chanoch's belly as they both felt each other stirring within the loins. But they did nothing, letting their bodies ease with tender rubs of their members against each other's skin, hard smooth scales of lukewarm touch against soft-prodded flesh where whispering warm hairs crossed its surface. James giggled softly at the rubbing creep of Chanoch's length peeking from its slit, a tender moan from him in response as he rubbed his claws down his back.

"I had a dream," started James, "a dream that I was hunting this dreadsome beast and my saviour was guiding me."

"What did he say?" asked Chanoch thumbing his hair.

"To keep watch for those weak to the darkness...I wish he specified but then dreams always have to be vague about things."

"It is the nature of dreams. Sometimes I heard Elohim spoke to me when I was little."

"Really?" James looked up at him.

"Only a few times," the knight pulled him up against his neck, "do you have dreams often?"

"Not like this admittedly...it's, actually only been recent I started having these sort of dreams."

"What do you think they mean?"

"That...that I have a purpose." James lifted himself up to face him. "I feel like...like this is right, this thing I am doing, this research."

"You are trying to help your people. Of course it is right."

"Then why am I so nervous? Why do I feel something, something wavering in my being th-there is such hesitation that I-"

"James." Chanoch kissed his lips. "I am here. I will be your strength, if you need it."

"...hhhhh...thank you." He wrapped his arms around his neck. "Sorry, my mind is rather overflowing with a lot of things I just really want to put them all down an-"

"You want to start now?"

"Would that be alright?"

"Of course. I just want to be here with you."

"A-alright!"

James bounced off the bed and went to his desk, giving a shot of his naked rump that made Chanoch give a toothy grin as the lemming sat and worked on his notes with two different pens in two different books. One was a linking book that he wrote with quill, the other a notebook where he used a modern pen. Chanoch simply watched him, getting an idea as he rolled over to a drawer and pulled out a sketchbook with his own set of pencils. The sounds of scribbling filled the room as the lizardman started with a basic stick posture, smiling at James' profile hunching slightly over the desk, hair curling beneath his cheeks in two shades of green as he started forming the body and a simple outline of his head. Sometimes the lemming would look back at him with a smile when Chanoch caught glances from him, pulling up the sketchbook to hide his look.

"How do you write a linking book?" asked Chanoch.

"I never told you?" James replied turning his head. "Also are you drawing me now?!"

"Yes."

"Is there nothing you cannot do by this point?!"

"I cannot sing."

"Oh come on you can!"

"Not as good as Amy," he shrugged, "I cannot make my own armour, or weapons, or write stories-"

"Well have you tried?" James hung his arm over the back of the seat. "You're already learning a new language."

"No one would be able to read it," he returned to his sketching.

"I could be your writer, I could write your ideas down for you!"

"Mmmm...I am not sure."

"Alright, but I would love to if you wanted."

"I will consider it," Chanoch nodded.

"Speaking of writing, linking books!"

He put down his pen and moved himself round fully to face him.

"The best I can explain it is like trying to draw a map with words. The land already exists, but if you don't detail its geography well enough, the map looks ridiculous and no one can reach it if you draw it badly."

"But you know the world exists before you see it?" Chanoch looked up from his sketch.

"I already see it when I write it," James tented his hands, "but at the same time I must describe it in such a fashion so as not to damage it. I have some powers over a realm, of which my tribe forbid ourselves from doing but theoretically I can select what type of realm it will be."

"Like what?" Chanoch scratched his spikes with his pencil.

"Chief Arino said that there were four laws one must consider when writing the Art, which we learned from the works of the original scribe, a sorcerer from an island called Myst."

He raised his fingers counting up to four.

"Energy powers future motion; nature encourages mutual dependence; dynamic forces spur change; and balanced systems stimulate civilisations. Strictly speaking, a realm where energy powers everything will create constant upheaval and the realm becomes very unstable. But a realm with mutual dependence of nature creates a place evermore resistant to change."

"So you balance both," Chanoch leaned forwards on his belly.

"Exactly. When writing an Age, it is always preferable to reach a realm of balance with occasional upheavals. When I linked to this realm with master Durai, that was our ideal and you have seen it in action. The co-dependence of Oddclaw's natural habitat, followed by the occasional upheaval of the humans' third energy station. Perfect harmony, apart yet together."

"You had a hand in all this?" Chanoch gestured round the room.

"No, not at all," James waved a finger. "This realm already existed, I was merely looking for a realm LIKE it. A balanced place, but I admit it is unusual to have a place so balanced and yet without a civilisation."

"You forget Mohberrin village," the lizard smirked pointing his pencil.

"...OH!" James clapped his head. "Of course, well truthfully speaking they were not here that long."

"But they are a village yes? They were only here a month before you arrived, they now use machines but are also part of nature."

"You are right...huh. You know, I never realised but..." he bent his head forwards and clenched his hands. "They were not here long...before we came, that is true. I actually only started writing about Oddclaw's realm for a month before we came so, I wonder if my words influenced."

"Do you think so?"

"...I don't know. I never...that...hahahh, th-that is interesting."

"So, what are you working on?" Chanoch pulled himself closer to the edge of the bed.

"AH yes!" James grabbed his notebook and produced a page of values. "I am working on what I call Kinetlatives, or rather kinetic superlatives. You remember that experiment I had you help me with, when I took the stone out of a book and sent it back?"

"Yes, it has a name?"

"Well, not officially, I thought it best to give it a name since it relies primarily on alteration of the grammar."

"Ahhh...how does that work?"

"Well...actually, why not wait until we have Dr. Dixon with us, that way I can also bring her to this discussion."

"Mmm, good idea, I will let you work."

Two hours would pass as James kept writing, whilst Chanoch finished the sketch and laid on his side to take a nap, the sounds of scratching pen and James' soft mutterings lulling him to sleep for the next forty minutes. Once it was almost time, James cracked his knuckles and laid back in his seat with a deep sigh and a sudden pang of hunger.

"Hhhhhalright...yes, I think this is good. Chanoch?" He turned his head. "Chaaaanoch?"

"Mmmhhh?" His crimson eye blinked open. "Yes?"

"I'm finished for today, we can head off to our experiment now."

"Good. Ah!" The lizardman got up. "I finished my sketch, but I also have another gift for you!"

"Wh-wha?!"

"Here."

He handed James the sketchpad showing a lemming in repose turned away from the viewer, signature curls tailing outwards from his head with a handsome rump within the gap of the seat.

"H-hah, ohohoho wow this is fantastic! You even captured my hair perfectly!"

"And now your gift. Close your eyes."

"...a-alright."

He did as asked, nervously putting the sketchbook down and briefly considering whether he could write blind before Chanoch's thudding feet came closer behind him. His hands wrapped something carefully round his neck before he stepped back and let James witness his gift. A small two-sided talisman made of threaded cloth, showing a green-haired face in portrait on one side with a reptilian face on the other, framing each side separate by a thin metal coin.

"H-hoh my goodness."

"Do you like it?" Chanoch asked. "I know talismans are important to your people. So I made you your own, out of love."

"I...I love it." James fingered along the soft thread. "Oh my saviour Chanoch this is lovely!"

"If I cannot come to your home...at least a part of me can."

"Th-thank you." He got up from his seat and hugged him tight. "You have given me so much, your strength and your kindness-"

"No," the knight pulled him close, "you gave me freedom, and love. I owe you that."

"N-no no, you owe me nothing. But I appreciate you being here, a lot."

"Mmmm...so, shall we go?"

"Absolutely! Could you bring the stand as well?"

"Of course."

Closing his book with umbrella in tow, James stepped out with his lover-assistant behind carrying a book stand as they met up with Haytham and Andrea shortly. The four of them headed out onto the beach just past the entrance of the base, Haytham bringing out a shield of magic to cover their heads from the growing rain that started spittling down over the beach. Thunder came looming from the east as the wind started to pick up scattering sand over their feet, the lemming unfurling his brolly as they stepped over the beach.

"Goodness what a tumultuous day," said Haytham with hand raised above him, "did we come upon the monsoon this early?"

"Actually it was supposed to come last week," said Andrea beside him, "but yanno how weather is."

"There is a saying back in Ivalice. Astrologers can read the stars and hear the voices of gods, whereas meteorologists throw the dice and pray for the best."

"Hmhahahaha, wow seriously?!"

"Not even nature itself is bound to the rules of gods."

"Hoooo jeez don't I know it," she rolled her eyes, "you sure you wanna do it in this weather James?"

"Oh it's fine!" he cried with book in hand. "A little rain won't hurt a linking book, fire is more worrisome!"

"So what's this experiment about?"

"WELL!" James smiled a pearly grin as Chanoch put down the bookstand. "I am working on what I call Kinetlatives, or rather kinetic superlatives. What I plan to do is, to bring objects from other reams rather than travel TO those realms. That way if I can harness my searching prowess, I could divulge information needed for something to defeat the Great Darkness without having to go through every single realm."

"Ahhh huh."

"Essentially what I am doing is creating a portal in this book that can store its energy and pull BACK whatever is sent through it, like a boulder rolling between two hills!"

"Ahhhh!" Andrea clapped. "Right, totally getcha now, yanno that's actually not too different from what we do with our third energy."

"Well if I must be honest, your third energy gate was the inspiration for it."

"Awwww I'm flattered, looks like my baby TEG's making movements!"

"Now James," Haytham tapped his shoulder, "I do hope you are going to be reticent concerning this new ability."

"Of course," he planted his tome on the stand, "what do you expect of me?!"

"I only ask because this is unventured territory, please use discretion."

"Oh he's fine," Andrea patted his arm, "honestly you act like you're his dad sometimes."

"As a mentor it is my duty to oversee his development, as a Scribe who learned the process comparable to that of my initial studies in the homeland."

"So I wanted to ask, are there other types of books you use?"

"Yes," James nodded beneath his brolly, "besides linking books we have also prison books, such as the one used to trap the warlock Meen within."

"Prison book?"

"By altering key variations of the text, one can create a book that goes only one way. No return."

"How?" Chanoch stood in the rain with head peaking past the shield. "You cannot have the book with you?"

"If one has a linking book with them yes, they can theoretically escape. But a prison realm is usually one that is so oppressive in its atmosphere that not even a linking book can hope to break through."

"An anti-magic field?"

"Yes, let's say that."

"So I get how you connect to other worlds," said Dixon with hands in pockets, "do you have like different books for different worlds?"

"Exactly," James flicked open the book as Haytham stood over him, "each realm has its own linking book, the power required to connect to another realm is staggering once you comprehend it."

"Do you name the worlds, so not to get mixed up?"

"Oh definitely, whosoever first writes the linking book chooses a name for it, though it's not a conscious thing strictly speaking. Usually it's a collective of letters that you can feel and it...untwists, like deciphering an anagram, except you're inventing something new."

"What name did you give this world?" asked Chanoch stepping back.

"Schiseria. I named that myself."

"Oooooh spooky," Andrea rubbed her hands, "sounds like some Dark Crystal shit."

"That movie was tremendous," sighed Haytham, "what a fascinating demonstration of drollic empowerment, it is rare I see such mastercraft of puppetry-"

"Hey, muppets are real I don't care what anyone else says!"

"Hmhmhahaha!"

"Alright everyone stand back please," James warned them off, "I'll need some space for this, Chanoch could you hold my umbrella please?"

"Yes," the knight tried to hold the handle before he flinched, "nnnh!"

"What, what is it?!"

"I...cut myself on the handle."

"Oh no are you alright?!"

"Yes I, forgive me."

"No no it's fine the handle is rather odd, let me see."

James looked over his hand with a thin sliver in the scaled palm before he pressed his fingers into it, summoning a magic breeze of soothing heat that kissed across his wound and stitched up the skin before handing Chanoch the stem of the brolly. Once they were set, the lemming began his experiment by bringing out his quill with Chanoch keeping the umbrella over him and the book, whilst Haytham and Andrea stood apart with his magic shield. James brought out his quill and put it to paper with inkpot beside the book, whispering to himself as he started writing with golden strings spilling out around his fingers. Words started flowing onto the page with glistening emerald hue whilst the page adjacent started to form a miniature portal.

The book shuddered with increasing power as James started to flow into his zen, fingers still scribbling subsconsciously as the vortex thickened and bulged out of the page as the sands gently shifted away from him, pulling apart around his feet as a deeper pressure built on his body, the lemming's fingers going faster as his eyes turned blank and his hair curled upwards. Only Chanoch heard what he was saying.

"Seas to the south, far and away great totems uphold the land from the heavens...skies full of ships, powered by stones float over an ancient city...darkness...the earth...the realm where darkness runs beneath, a grand...grand grimoire."

The book stand shuddered with deeper weight against the sand, burning almost a hole into the dirt as James' cloak burst out from his back to become a cape where songs of dimensions flowed through its thread. The sound of the abyss, Andrea's eyes widened with both shock and excitement at how similar it sounded to her own experiments. James grabbed a book from within the book itself, pulling it through with a gasp after ending a sentence on a full stop. The book on the stand suddenly stopped, murmurs fading to the earth as it closed with portal disappearing from its pages.

"YES!" James stumbled back clutching his reward. "YES, HAH, HHHAHAHAAHHAAAA YES I DID IT, I DID IT!"

"Hoholy SHIT!" cried Dixon. "Did you just fuckin' pull a book out of another book?!"

"YES I DID!" James crowed holding it up before them. "I don't know what I have but I did it!"

"Well DONE my lad!" Haytham clapped dropping his shield as he ran to him. "That was exceptional artistry, to see it in practice was remarkable!"

"Th-thank you! Ohhh, ohhh my head-"

"Are you alright?" Chanoch put an arm round him.

"Yes, yes just...h-hoooo, my head feels like a furnace!"

"Oh shit," Andrea came to his other side, "that normal?"

"Well no, but this...nnngh, experiment took a bit out of me."

"So uhhh what is this book you just pulled outta nowhere."

"Well let's find out together!" He took a deep breath and opened the dark velvet tome. "It...is...completely in another language-wait this looks familiar."

"Yeah I think I seen this too," murmured Andrea.

"I do not understand," Chanoch shook his head, "it looks Nordic."

"Yanno what yeah kinda, got all them strokes in there."

"May I see?"

"Of course," James offered the book as Haytham perused it brief, "I must admit I wasn't expecting a book."

"What DID you expect?" Dixon patted his back. "Some kinda mystical artifact that'd lead you to a magic orb?"

"I, well, yes why not?! Stranger things have happened Dr. Anomalies Beyond The Moon!"

"HAH, hmhaha alright alright that's fair."

"This is really more of a test than anything," James rolled up his sleeves, "all goes well I should be able to guide my kinetlatives towards obtaining specific things, like say books."

"Also good to control it," said Chanoch keeping brolly above them, "if not you might bring something dangerous."

"IS there a size limit on what you can bring through?" asked Andrea biting her lip.

"I do not know," James shrugged with a huge smirk, "we'll just have to find out for ourselves maybe I could pull out a whole library!"

"Damn, you better be able to return them all on time or else your ass'll be in debt from all those fines!"

"Heeheehaha, SO, master what about that book have you-"

"I have," Haytham closed the book and put it underarm, "may I ask how exactly you summoned this?"

"Well I...I just thought about the darkness, thinking of something anything that could explain more about it and ways to deprive its power, and that book came ou-WAIT!"

James clicked his fingers with a gasp.

"IT...th-that book it's-I KNOW THE LANGUAGE!"

"Wait what?!" Andrea snorted.

"It's Ivalician, master Durai i-it's your language right?!"

"Correct," said Haytham bowing slight, "and I can tell you now that this book will bring you nothing but trouble."

"What? Why?"

"I cannot tell you James forgive me, but this tome is a perilous sort and I will not have you ruin your mind with such machinations."

"I....I-i do not understand, let me-"

"No." Haytham stepped back pulling the book from James' grasp. "This is not for your eyes, nor for anyone's."

"Wha-...what?!"

"Haytham hold up," Andrea stepped forwards, "what's so bad about this book it got a curse or something?!"

"Nothing of the sort," he waved his hand, "it contains forbidden knowledge of which I already regret reading."

"If it is not cursed," said Chanoch stepping beside James, "why not let James read it?"

"Because this knowledge is never to be shared! James I do not know how your spell managed to bring this to your arms, but this tome was never to be read!"

"And why not?!" cried his student. "Do you not trust me to make my own decisions?!"

"I trust you well, it is this book I do not trust!"

"Oh this is absurd that book is not alive!"

"It is not," Chanoch shook his head, "I can tell."

"Let me read it."

"No," Haytham stepped back.

"Master. May I read that book?"

"You may not I have told you!"

"What right do you have?!" the lemming barked stomping forth. "I worked on this experiment for THREE years and now when I finally make progress you snatch it from my fingers?!"

"I am not impeding your progress, I am preventing you from engaging this wretched lore from my homeland!"

"And what exactly is so terrible about it?!"

"That is not for you to know!"

"Haytham hold up!" Dixon stood between them. "What's the deal with this thing, is it like...super bad?"

"May I tell you in private?"

"No. No, he's your student he has a right to know."

"THANK you doctor," James stood hand on hips.

"Woah woah," she put a finger towards him, "I'm NOT agreeing that you should read it, I just think that Haytham needs to explain."

"All I will say is this." Haytham stood prompt clutching the book to his chest. "This grimoire speaks of a dreadsome evil that lurks beneath the surface of my home, a vile rancorous sickness that robs people of their very essence."

"S-seriously? Like, some kinda plague?"

"Worse than that my dear, it is the death of the soul and everything it possess. This book, is an instruction to damnation itself."

"Alright," James nodded with restrained fists, "and if it is something from YOUR realm that does not exist here, then there should be no problem for me in reading it if I cannot do anythi-"

"Absolutely not," Durai turned away from them, "no one should suffer with this knowledge, not even me, I shall seal this book from all eyes including mine own and you would do best to forget it."

"Master, master WAIT! MASTER!"

Haytham walked off as fast as he could with Andrea heading after him, grabbing at his arm before he muttered something sharp causing her to look back and hurry on with him. James stood agasp on the beach, rain pouring down his face until Chanoch stepped closer to him with umbrella still in hand.

"Why...what is this?" James looked up at him. "Why would he just refuse to show me something that I brought here?!"

"I do not know," said Chanoch shrugging, "he said it was dangerous."

"But it's just WORDS, it's not...it's not cursed is it?!"

"No, I have seen cursed books, that one was not."

"So why would he not trust me to make my own judgments?! This, h-he's never done this before, I am the greatest scribe of my village he doesn't even-"

"James." The knight put a hand on his shoulder then stroked up to his cheek. "Come on, it is raining."

They walked back together, Chanoch taking up the book stand and handing James the umbrella whilst the lemming marched across the beach, his hands tightening to pale fists as he swallowed back the fit of rage that started twitching in his face. Questions savagely fought in his mind as he tried to piece the little he read of the book from what he knew of Haytham's language.

"Chanoch?" James took his hand. "You trust me right?"

"Of course," he nodded squeezing his fingers. "Why would I not?"

"I just...I-i do not know what to think."

"We will talk with sir Durai, I will come with you."

"You...so you think I am right?"

"I do. You are a scholar, you are an adult, you should have the right to know for yourself."

"Right exactly, why should he decide, I'm not a child!"

"Exactly. I will come with you, if you want."

"I would like that...thank you." He hugged him tight. "Let's...let's prepare for the concert first, I need to gather my thoughts for when I speak to him."

"Good." Chanoch petted his neck.

"I'm not letting him stop me from gaining knowledge just because he's frightened of it. If I were so fearful then I would...well...I would never have left my home and never have met those like you."

They smiled at each other as Chanoch leaned down to kiss him, James pulling his brolly back to let the rain drip down their faces as the sound of thunder came booming over the sea. His hair turned slick as his curls dripped to a porous sheen within Chanoch's fingers until they broke their kiss and headed back inside to plan for their big event.