Oz: Crossroad of Legends

A guard perched outside the door to John Doe's cell came in and told him exactly what he already knew from Rotom and Grinn, meaning he had to just smile and nod like he was paying attention. That the guard took to answering questions with "wait for the queen" made it worse. The only new thing Doe managed to learn was that swords were apparently still in use alongside traditional firearms, since the guard had both a sword and a handgun in his hip.

Then again, it could be that they're still not as advanced in the firearm department.

Finally, a knock on the door as an elegantly dressed, silver-haired woman carrying a staff opened the door. The trooper bowed, and left to stand outside as she entered the room. Once the door had closed, the lady, presumably the queen, took a seat on the other side of the forcefield.

"My sincerest apologies regarding all of this", she said. "Please allow me to introduce myself: I am Queen Glinda of the Yuleia queendom. What is your name?"

"...I am John Doe, humble... outsider of this world, I suppose", he said, choosing not to cause additional questions as to what an egg smuggler was to be asked.

"Then... you are already aware that you are not of this world", said Glinda. "Very well; may I call you Mr. Doe?"

He nodded.

She's humble.

"Well, Mr. Doe", she continued. "For what it is worth, allow me to formally welcome you to our home: the realm of Oz. I had hoped to grant you a better introduction, but..."

"I mean no offense", said Doe, "but I would really like to know why I'm here to begin with."

"Yes, well" her voice trailed off. "There are... others here in the palace. Like you, there were brought from their own worlds here. I wish to speak in detail to all of them at once. However, I will say this much: our world is in the brink of ruin. We are under siege by the empire of the northeast and powerful forces from a time long passed that indiscriminately attack humans. In an attempt to find aid to battle these forces, a ritual was performed to call upon heroes from other worlds. However, the ritual was interrupted and most of them; such as yourself, were scattered.

The sorceress overseeing the ritual... is now comatose, but can be revived. I... confess I am not familiar with this field of magic, but from my understanding, you may be returned to your world at the approximate moment when you were summoned to continue with your duties there, with the margin of error being a few minutes. I... must ask you this: will you aid us?"

"...Are you absolutely certain about the part about returning to my world?" said Doe. "I don't mean to sound insensitive, but... my world is at war -- a rebellion against a tyrannical rule -- and I want to be there for it. Plus I have friends that are counting on me, and... a girl that I do not want to worry with my disappearance... nor do I want to leave her, so..."

"Believe me when I say I understand how you feel", said the queen. "Fortunately, the scholars were certain of this fact. Regardless, I'm afraid I do not believe it would be easy to return you until the individual overseeing this field is revived, which would require a journey the center of this realm; though I warn you the territory is not uncontested."

"I guess", sighed Doe, "but..."

"As for your friends..." Glinda walked over to the table with Doe's stuff and picked up the stack of glowing cards. She walked over to the forcefield and showed him the cards. "Are these the people you are referring to?"

"...Yes", said Doe. "There are a few people there I don't recognize, but even so, I can still identify them as being from my world."

"Interesting", said Glinda. "In this world, there are powerful beasts that can be summoned through the use of cards like these for a brief period, though their current locations currently elude us. Those cards glow red, however... These glow blue. With your permission, I would like our scholars to examine these cards. If it is as I suspect, the people within these cards may also be brought to our world, the extent to which is uncertain, of course."

John Doe tensed a bit.

So then... I can still see Yancy and the others?

Doe thought a bit as he swallowed. "...Okay", said Doe. "But on the condition that I get to stay here and supervise everything and make sure no harm comes to any of them... To tell the truth, I'm more suited to infiltration missions, so it's probably best that I help in other ways besides a frontal attack on 'not uncontested' territories."

"What about when you charged in to save mama that one time?" asked Rotom.

Yes, and I nearly died from that. Given the circumstances though, I don't regret it.

Glinda thought a moment. "Very well. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

She stood up and made a signal with her free hand. Three figures suddenly materialized behind her: three soldiers in black armor that covered their appearances. Two of them had a mace and a glowing longsword as their respective weapons and had medium-weight armor that were suitably medieval. The other one had what appeared to be a shotgun and a helmet with some kind of electronic visor; overall a more modern military-esque appearance. Thankfully, they sheathed their weapons and appeared to go at-ease.

Okay, I was wrong about the technology level.

"My royal guard", she explained.

Glinda stood and deactivated the force-field. "I shall soon call you and the others in an audience so that I could speak to you all equally about our plight." She observed the untouched food in the corner as the guards returned John Doe's items to him. "...Is the food not to your liking?"

"...To be honest, I have no idea what any of those are", said Doe as he reequipped himself. "I don't like trying something until I know what it is."

"They are fruit", said Glinda. "...And I find them to be quite delicious. Please eat and make yourself comfortable."

---

Irving quite uneasily observed the breakfast the palace workers had brought him and the other guests in the room. Meats, sausages, eggs, bread, and fruit. Minus some of the fruit, not only did the meals not seem particularly exotic (although admittingly, it's not like he was an expert in examining and identifying meat), but also quite extravagant. For Irving, it was the kind of thing he would only see in paintings. It was outside of his comfort zone.

...Alright, what exactly do these royals want that makes them try to bribe us with food?

Not sure how to feel about the food, Irving just took the crappiest looking pear offered to them (which isn't saying much) and began eating that.

"Yollo Mario how are you doing this morning?" Starlow asked a still sleeping Mario. "Really we are in a strange new world, our friends are missing and you still want to sleep?" Starlow bemoaned. Mario woke up and said "Mama Mia," because somebody was trying to wake him up. "Oh so nice for you to get up, looks like they brought us some food," Starlow pointed out while she made her way towards Baron and Sam. Mario would follow her after stretching and putting his hat on.

"Good morning Baron and Sam," Starlow and Mario said. "Good morning, Starlow is it?" Sam said while Baron was eating. "Wow a talking black cat don't see many like you around," Starlow said to Sam in amazement. "I am actually, curouis myself I have never meet anyone like you before," Baron said while addressing Starlow. "If I may young lady, and please I don't mean to seem rude but what are you exactly?" Baron asked full of amazement. "How kind of you, I am what they call a star spirit," Starlow replied in a pleasant tone while Mario started eating. "A star spirit uses the emotions of a person or group of people to do amazing things, like grant wishes," Starlow said as Baron and Sam just stared at her. "Great I wish to find Catie and go home," Baron said rather impatiently. 

"I wish I could do that Baron but I am still a young star spirit so I am unable to do anything like that," Starlow told a disappointed Baron. "Its okay I am just worried about my wife," Baron told Starlow. "That's so sweet you remind me of Mario over here and Peach," Starlow told Baron try to comfort him."Baron if you don't mind me and Mario would like to know more about you, Catie, and Sam," Starlow told Baron. "Okay but only if you tell me about you and Mario," Baron replied with a wink. So throughout the rest of the breakfast, Mario, Baron, Sam, and Catieexchanged stories about their many adventures and about their home worlds. After breakfast Baron went to his bed to gather some things while Mario went to his bed to gather some things.

Irving looked up from covertly eying the other group over there as a red-headed woman sat across from him and introduced herself and began making small talk.

"Yeah...I'm eating", said Irving, not sure what she meant. "I'm Irving."

...Small talk!

"I'm a mercenary back in my world", he said. It was a small lie though, as mercenaries are usually better received in the eyes of the general populace back in Austur than bounty hunters. Probably because bounty hunters outright kill for a living while mercs can get by fine just being bodyguards, depending on the type of buyers they attract. "How 'bout you? Do anything in your world?"

While Mario and Starlow were staring at the cards before Mario, Sam noticed a couple of individuals at the table sitting and chatting. "Hey Baron you think those two would know anything about these cards," Sam asked. "It can't hurt to ask besides I kinda of feel embarrassed for not noticing them before," Baron said sheepishly. "Well thats okay, I am already use to your clueless ways pretty sure these three will get use to them to," Sam chided Baron. Baron and Sam made there way over to the table but Sam was the first to arrive while Barron was hesitant.

"Serouisly, slow poke, aw whatever scardy cat," Sam said in a mocking tone towards Baron. "Anyway pleased to meet you two, my name is Samuel Freeman but everyone just called me Sam," Sam said to the two individuals. "Sorry for not saying anything sooner I just had a lot on my mind especially with my wife missing and again sorry it took me so long to introduce my self," Baron said rubbing the back of his head. "My name is Baron by the way," Baron told the two individuals eating.

"Really you are not even going to wait for us jerk," Starlow said to Baron. "Anyway my name is Starlow and this here is Mario," Starlow said introducing both herself and Mario. "Now that the introduction are out of the way, would you happen to know anything about these cards?" Starlow said as Mario showed the cards he had to the group.

"That was a nice rest, despite everything that's happened," Lana commented as she stretched. "Oh hey Charlie surprised you're still here, thought you would want to be with Alyssia" Lana said rubbing the head of Charlie. "Princess Lana are you okay?" Tom one of the palace guards asked as he was accompined by Coco, an attack dog. "Yeah I am fine, just a little worried about mom considering everything that happened" Lana said getting up from the couch. "She's doing fine princess just a little worried about the outsiders, and everything going on," Tom said "Princess did you sneak over to the kennel, yesterday and borrow one of the dogs, again?" the guard sighed while Coco just made his way over to Charlie. "I was lonely and I thought a dog would be good campany," Lana said rather sheepishly. " Sigh, really this isn't the time to be sneaking around considering with us knowing so little about the outsiders, the witch attacking, and who only knows what that other kingdom is planning," Tom lamented. "Well I shall remember that for next time, by the way what do you mean outsiders?" Lana asked Tom while sitting on the couch.

"Well after you were escorted to the safe house the summoning was started," Tom told Lana. "Oh yeah the hero's that were going to save us, was it successful?" Lana asked. "Well yes and no the hero's did appear but after that the witch attacked and only four remained insifde of the palace" Tom informed her. "Oh so what about the hero's that appeared?" Lana asked Tom. "Well one of them was a .....," Tom was interrupted when Coco started making his way upstair. "Hold on princess, Coco seemed to picked up on something," Tom said as Coco made a beeline for one of the doors upstairs. Coco was growling aggressively at one of the doors upstairs, having caught the scent of Bowser. "Can somebody stuff up that chain chomp, some of us are trying to sleep?" Bowser called out from the other side. "What was that?" Tom said reaching for his rifle. "Nothing maybe it was the wind?" Lana said trying to blow it off. "Stay back princess there could be something on the other side, that's dangerous," Tom said taking an offensive position.

Well that's all Bowser needed to hear as all of a sudden Bowser busted through the wall and was looking for something. "Princess where is she?" Bowser said looking for the princess. "Hey you stand down," Tom said pointing his gun at Bowser. "Oh my god, I am so dead, mom is going to kill me," Lana said in sheer horror at what was happening before her.

"Joanna, get back upstairs!" Anthea shouted before diving in her direction.

"Wha-"

The younger girl was cut off mid-word by a Stopga cast off of the Indigo blade that Anthea managed to catch inches before it impaled Joanna in the face. Anthea felt herself slow down significantly once again. She called back to her floating assailant.

"Rydan! There is no-!"

A Fire Raid flew at her. One half of the now bisected kitchen table teleported into Anthea's hands to deflect the attack and bounce the blade into the oncoming Thundaga. But Rydan's onslaught held after those strikes.

"That that name. You know. How?" The usage of his name seemed to shake him a lot more than anything else had the right to.

"There is no Kingdom Hearts here! No realms of darkness and light. No heartless! People die here Rydan!" Anthea called out with the most understanding facade she could muster.

Rydan recalled his blades to his side, floating passively, but he continued trying to bore holes in Anthea with his gaze.

"You you you know...HOW?" Rydan demanded.

Anteha spoke slowly, as if speaking to a wild animal. "A woman in red told me...I'm out of my element too. We're supposed to work together!"

The word together seemed to shock Rydan too. His blades began to vibrate, as did his hands, before the blades lit up with their respective elements and released a huge burst of energy with a great "YES!" His voice seemed layered with what could only be described as "darkness".Furniture was shoved into walls and the carpet was incinerated as Fire, Ice, Lighting, Light, Time, and Gravity were rent before him, leaving a wreath of darkness to surround him. Anthea could only barely hold her ground behind her table-shield as Rydan began to rave. His eyes and head twitched about madly, glancing at all of his blades around the room.

"TOGETHER?!?! WE WILL BE TOGETHER! THE WORLDS WILL BURN WITH OUR PROMISE AND YOU WILL FACE JUDGEMENT! TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME!!!! HOW STRONG IS YOUR HEART?!?!?!"

There was a guard who Rydan stabbed a little while ago who's body was never disposed of. Even though it was now reduced to a broken heap in a corner, it began to rattle and shake as a black energy began to ooze from inside it apparently at Rydan's bidding. It began to take a shape...glowing eyes...antennae, claws...some sort of symbol...

And then with a *shoop* the entire scene was winked out of existence. Anthea looked around somewhat dumbfounded, until she saw Joanna holding up a card, a little more than a little scared, but holding it up nonetheless. The card featured a rainbow with the same symbol as that creature.

Anthea spoke quickly. "Did you stop him?"

Joanna shrugged. "I...I just did what the nice lady in red told me to."

While Baron and Mario were talking with the individuals a masked stranger entered the rooms. Mario just got a glimpse at the figure before returning to the conversation with the other individuals. "Baron I sense darkness coming from that stranger," Van informed Baron. "Really, but can that stranger be behind everything the attack and being summoned?" Baron asked Van. "I don't think its him i did sense darkness from him but also déjà vu coming from him like we know him from somewhere," Baron informed Van. "So just be wary of the masked one then?" Baron asked Van. "I wouldn't be wary but keep your guard up," Van told Baron as his voice went silent.

"Oh yeah," Mario responded. "I will take it from here, might be hard to understand him unless you can speak Italian really fast," Starlow told Irving "The people here in the cards are people from our world," Starlow said. "This here is his younger brother Luigi," Starlow said hovering over his card. "This here is his girlfriend, Princess Peach" Starlow said to Irving. "The others are friends or rivals that we came across, but I don't seem to see him in our deck," Starlow said to Mario referring to Bowser. "If we may ask where do you guys come from?" Starlow asked Irving. "Me, Mario, and the cards Mario has, we come from the mushroom kingdom," Starlow said.

"Hey baron are you going to see where we are from?" Sam asked as Baron was deep in thought about something. "Sigh, me and this one overhere come from a world called Austur," Sam said to Irving

As Arcturus watched the others overlook him he tried to see if he recognized anyone.

"So, what's the deal with portal food?" He asked mindlessly as he waited for a response before realizing what Sam said. "Wait wait wait, did you just say Austur?"