SPIRIT WORLD

~ Musca ~

"Orion!"

The fellow spirit turned toward me wearing a sad smile. "Musca."

"Is it… is it true? Are you and lord Nhil really being made into mortals?"

"Yes. We leave at the end of the month."

Tears started streaming down my face. "But why? It's not fair!" I clenched my fists, knowing that being childish wouldn't help anything but unable to help myself, unable to do anything else in my powerlessness.

"It's alright, Musca," Orion ruffled my hair. "I don't regret anything. Ukyo and Kohana got their happy endings. It's what we worked so hard in all of those worlds for."

"All of those worlds…?" I echoed. "So you travelled through multiple worlds?"

"We had to. It was the only way to piece everything together in the end."

"But you know that once one world is chosen, the happy endings of all of the other worlds get deleted. What's happening to the rest of the worlds?"

"Well, all of Kohana's worlds revolved around a single person respectively. So, those people are simply not experiencing the happiness or the relief that she brought them."

"But… that's not…"

"I know, I know. Nothing is fair. But Lord Nhil's mission was to help Ukyo. I grew fond of the others too, well, most of them, but the world in which Kohana and Ukyo attained happiness is the one that must stand according to Lord Nhil's will. He gave his everything, Musca."

"I know that, and I respect it, but don't you think that taking away the happy endings of others weighs on him?"

"Of course it does," Orion murmured. "But there's nothing we can do…"

"What if we get someone else to travel through the worlds then?"

Orion lifted his gaze from the ground, suddenly wide-eyed. "But, even then…"

"It's still one more happy ending. Don't you think there's someone that wants to leave their world for other worlds, someone that would be willing to fight though the worlds you did again?"

"Kohana's worlds are all dangerous in their own ways, Musca. It might not be a good idea."

"But if I could convince my master, do you think it's a worthwhile idea?" I pressed.

Orion closed his eyes, releasing a sigh. "… Yes. For Lord Nhil, I believe that it would be a solace beyond belief to complete the rest of the pathways. But I'm not saying that other than for his benefit it's a good idea. The person who does this may have to go through a lot."

"If it's for you and Lord Nhil, I don't think my master and I need any other reason."

"I know that your master Lady Faera is Lord Nhil's friend, but…" Orion shook his head. "Do what you think is best, Musca. But just be careful who you pick to do this, if you do decide to go through with it."

"Thank you, Orion," I dipped my head and ran off to my master's dwelling, a white cloud formation in the middle of the cosmos we resided in. "Milady," I bowed deeply once in her presence.

"Musca," she smiled warmly. "What is it? You seem troubled."

"It's Lord Nhil and Orion,"

Her face fell. "Yes, I am aware. I will certainly miss having tea with them… Orion was a good playmate of yours, correct? I am deeply sorry, Musca,"

"I'm sorry too… sorry doesn't even begin to describe it! I feel angry! I mean, I know that what they did is breaking the rules, messing with all of those worlds, and that's why, that's why…!"

"Calm down and have a seat, child."

I plopped down in front of her. "I have an idea for Lord Nhil's and Orion's sakes, if only you'll permit it. I don't know what the repercussions for us will be, but… I feel this is right in my heart."

"What is it?"

"I want to achieve happy endings for the rest of the center individuals in the worlds Lord Nhil and Orion travelled."

Lady Faera was silent for a long time. "I believe in the righteousness of your thought. We would likely be punished, though not to the extent that our friends are… Truth be told, I have been thinking of an act along the same lines and have already arranged a candidate, but was hesitant to go forward for your sake, Musca," she smiled at me gently. "It warms my heart to know we share the same thought."

Warm tears pricked at my eyes again. "I as well, Milady."

"Are you sure you're up to doing this? I cannot interfere with the mortal world so easily, but you, as a familiar, can be sent with relative simplicity."

"Of course I'm sure! I've got all the determination in the world, I'll leave right now!"

"Very well… You will have to traverse four worlds to complete your task. They are known as the Heart, Spade, Clover, and Diamond Worlds. The candidate I have chosen is very different from the first heroine, Kohana, but I believe that this is what makes her suited to the role."

"Are you sure that this new heroine will accept the role?"

"She is currently comatose with little time left to live due to a car accident that claimed the lives of her remaining close relatives. I can see less than a one percent chance that she will deny this opportunity."

"Okay, Milady. I'll be going now."

"Best of luck, Musca. You carry my hopes with you," Lady Faera opened a portal to the world in which the next heroine was waiting.

"What do I call her?"

"Her name is Michi Ohayashi."

"Michi," I nodded, throwing myself into the portal before I had a chance to question or feel fear. I ended up in a hospital room, where a thin form rested unmoving on a white bed, full of tubes. I bent over her, speaking through my mind. Michi Ohayshi.

What…? Who's there?

My name is Musca. I've come here with an opportunity for you. It's up to you to decide whether or not it's for the best though.

I'm dreaming… I'm in a coma, and I'm dreaming… What the hell… Can't I at least dream about mom and dad…? I know they're gone, but…

I'm sorry for what happened to you, Michi. But my proposition for you is to go to another world, one where you haven't experienced this suffering, where you'll be alive.

What's the catch?

You'll have to bring a few people who need it some happy endings. Maybe even find a happy ending for yourself along the way.

If I don't go?

Well, then you'll die here.

… Shit. Well that kind of makes my choice obvious, doesn't it? I'm not ready to die yet. Not anywhere near it.

I'm so glad you said that, Michi. My name is Musca, and I'll be helping you along in your journey. Now, are you ready to come with me?

As I'll ever be, I guess.