- Invitation Status
- Writing Levels
- Give-No-Fucks
- Adept
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Horror, Modern, Modern Fantasy, Multiverse/Panfandom, Mystery, Paranormal, Scifi, Survival
This story can be alternatively read at this blog post.
To pass the borders of reality and peer into other worlds. To see glimpses of the lives loved ones could have possibly led. To interact with those that she had come to lose, even if they were not exactly how she remembered them. A second chance to say what she needed to say, before it was too late all over again. These were the desires of one Junko Enoshima.
The Ultimate Fashionista felt like she had walked into some kind of fairy tale, having stepped into a dusty old shop hidden deep in some back alley to find herself in a magical world of trinkets and artifacts. The smell of incense filled the air, making Junko feel light on her feet as she resisted the urge to rush past the elf leading her to his promised treasure. He had said the artifact in his possession would take her to other worlds, which only seemed truthful considering she was in Columbia, a city with a strange knack for randomly drawing people to and from it. Now that she was here in this ancient shop that smelled of fairy dust (or what Junko figured fairy dust smelled like), any doubts on her mind had conjured up had simply been whisked away.
As the merchant elf stopped for a moment to peruse some kind of tattered tome, Junko examined his bald head, smiling that the dim sunlight falling in from the few open windows seemed to reflect right off his scalp. She suppressed a giggle by bringing a hand to her lips and asked, "What are you looking at?"
The elf, who Junko believed had been referred to as Solas by his associate, tilted his head slightly to regard her. He seemed to calculate a response before pointing down at the open page. "The method through which you'll travel to other worlds," he said as she leaned in to take a look. She expected some kind of ancient spell to be written on the page, but it seemed more a compendium, with two items meticulously painted on each brown and faded page. Solas' pale finger pointed to one item in particular: an orb with strange patterns grooved into its bronze surface. It certainly looked magical in some manner, but Junko wasn't sure why some lame orb would be used for dimensional travel.
Whether Solas realized Junko was unimpressed or not, he closed the book on her and shuffled away from the table. He raised the staff in his right hand, though Junko couldn't tell what the point was. A few seconds passed where she considered asking him what the deal was, but she shut her mouth when the back wall of the store suddenly jutted out of place. She watched in wonder as the wall turned slowly, revealing a hidden assortment of items adorning a new wall that was setting into place.
The movement sent dust dancing into the air that shone in the sunlight, dazzling Junko. It looked like none other than twinkling fairy dust that doused the merchant's artifacts in something magical. Junko was reaffirmed in her belief that she was becoming a part of some fairy tale, one that was only just beginning. She could only fantasize that this tale would culminate in her meeting her friends and sister once again.
"This is like... so amazing," she said once the wall had settled. She looked to Solas with a smile. "How can I ever pay you for this?"
Solas nodded and smiled in return. "Payment will be discussed in just a moment. First, I think it better if I give you a chance to examine the artifact."
The elf stepped forward and Junko eagerly followed behind him. Passing rows of strange objects patterned with markings Junko couldn't identify, they eventually came upon the orb laying plainly on a podium, supported by a cushion. Solas stood on one side and gestured for Junko to take a closer look.
"How does it work?" she asked, holding a finger close to the orb. She considered poking it, just to see if something would happen.
Solas waited a moment before answering. "... Touch the orb, and all will become clear. If you are satisfied, then we can talk of compensation."
Hearing this, Junko shrugged. What could go wrong? "Ahuh... sorry if I break it. I'm no Ultimate Magician... Person..."
Junko reached out, taking the orb into her hands. She marveled at it, pressing it into her palm to feel the grooves along its surface. She felt powerful just holding it, as if the orb was transferring something to her. It made her smile. She looked up to see what Solas thought, but he was looking at her impassively. Almost as if he was anticipating something.
It wasn't inherently strange, but something about it made Junko feel wary. "Uhh, well--" She moved to place the orb back on the cushion, but she froze when a tingling shock ran up her arm. Gasping through clenched teeth, Junko tried to drop the orb, but her right hand was clasped tightly around it. A wave of panic overtook her and she attempted to pry her fingers off the orb with her free hand.
"H-Hey!" She looked to Solas with pleading eyes. "Get it off!"
But the elf didn't move to help. He watched with the same impassive gaze as before. A look that was only unsettling before instilled a deep fear within Junko, and she cried out loud. "What the hell? What is this?!" She took a few steps toward Solas before the shocks going up her arm turned painful, making her knees buckle beneath her. With a great shudder, Junko dropped to her knees.
"Oh, god, this hurts..."
Junko felt the world around her waver. Even on her knees, she felt like she was staggering in some kind of dizzy stupor. The orb glued to her hand flashed green and she was forced to shut her eyes. The world was cut off to Junko, and all she could feel was a cutting pain blossoming in her palm. She had a sick feeling she was going to die.
"H-Heeeelp!" she yelled, but no help came. Instead, Junko felt the ground below her give way. She wildly reached out for something to hold on to, but she nothing solid could be reached. When she opened her eyes, everything was dark, and the orb in her hand was gone, leaving only a scar in its place.
Junko continued falling, enveloped by the abyss.
***
"Yeah, I guess we really will see each other soon. Remember! Homemade cookies! I... or, well, he'll be able to tell, so don't try to fool him! Okay, Misaka? It's the least he deserves for going up against the strongest Esper in Academy City!"
Just what sort of person did he take her for?
Misaka Mikoto had returned to a world she felt out of place from, one that she already knew the conclusion of. It had been a strange feeling, forcing oneself to go through the motions, recreating something she didn't actually know how to recreate. All she could imagine was the possibility of doing something wrong, that an incorrect choice would lean her world down the wrong path.
A bad end, so to speak.
Misaka could only act as herself, one naive and unaware, no matter the hardship that came with it. She expected the worst, but her efforts brought on something else. She put her world on its right course, leading it into that future she'd glimpsed. The future where it was all over, where the project had ended and she had no one more to thank than him.
He was in the hospital and Misaka knew she had to thank him. Normally, she would have just bought the cookies, but that other him had said otherwise. It had to be homemade.
Cookies. It had felt like ages since he had brought it up.
It was practically going to be a mission unto itself to make the cookies, all things considered. Using the dorm's oven wasn't happening, considering all the prying eyes. What would they think of Tokiwadai's Ace baking cookies? It wasn't happening, no matter how much that guy wanted it.
There was a solution, however, and her name was Saten Ruiko.
"Misaka!" Saten had cried, looking far more excited about the favor being asked of her than Misaka felt comfortable with.
"You have to tell me who these are for! Please? Come on..."
Misaka's friend had a sly look on her face. One that made Misaka want to run far away. She'd already thrown on an apron and was running around the kitchen in preparation. Misaka had asked for Saten's oven... and her help. What a horrible decision, in hindsight.
"Must be for someone I don't know, why else would it be a secret? Is it a girl? A... boy?" That sly look only deepened. Misaka could feel her face heating up in embarrassment. Needless to say, she was already mortified.
"Saten, please... I'm not saying, no matter what you do." She hoped that didn't come off like a challenge. In an effort to hide her face, she looked down at the array of cookie cutter shapes Saten had gathered for the occasion. Her heart had flipped internally at the sight of the frog face, but had tried to look disinterested in that one in particular. Instead, she picked up the bear face and held it up to her own face.
"Let's just get this over with. This one, okay?"
Saten had giggled at her choice, but didn't disagree.
The rest of Misaka's time in the kitchen was spent dodging and fighting further questions from Saten, who Misaka could only hope would give up after the cookies were finished. It was just a thank-you gift, and it wasn't like Misaka would ever have to talk to that guy again!
That was totally what she wanted, yeah.
Once the cookies had been complete and Misaka had been on her way, she felt herself growing uneasy. In the afternoon sun, Misaka couldn't help but feel melancholy. She already knew what he was going to say, anyway... That he was fighting for his own sake and that he didn't need any thanking. It would have been absurd, especially considering this was his future self's request, after all.
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Misaka stopped in her tracks to look up at the sky above. There was still time before she made it to the hospital, still time to back out. A part of her wanted to do that, even though most of her knew she had to follow through. Damn him, did he even know what he did to her?
"H-Hello?"
Misaka turned quick as lightning, sparks dancing around her. What she saw was a surprise, some random girl with big hair who looked like she just finished running a marathon. Misaka tried to place the girl's face, but found it was someone she didn't recognize. "Who...?"
"J-Junko Enoshima!" the girl said loudly, taking a shaky step toward Misaka. She didn't seem entirely dangerous, but Misaka did notice a strange glowing scar on the girl's right hand. Was she an esper like Misaka?
"I'm so sorry, I have no idea where I am or how I got here... Do you have any food? Anything...?"
Misaka could only stare back at her. Never a dull moment in Academy City, was there?
"Hey... what's in the bag? Can you share? I swear I won't take much!" Junko reached out to grab the bag, but Misaka wasn't having any of it. She snapped forward and grabbed Junko's arm, holding it away. She gave the girl a glare, ready to lay into her, when something odd happened.
"Wait... I can't--" Misaka grunted, realizing she couldn't let go. Electricity coursed down her arm outside her control, causing Junko to scream. "Hold still for a second!" Misaka yelled, as the electricity continued down Junko's arm to focus on the mark on her palm.
Misaka had only a moment to meet Junko's gaze and blink-- Then they were both gone, leaving a small bag of cookies that fell and spilled out on to the ground.
***
The girl Misaka had been holding on to fell away from her grip, disappearing into some kind of void that Misaka could only barely register. Visions passed her by rapidly, conjuring feelings and memories within her. Moments of her life on display like a slide show, then a movie. Misaka felt both like she was watching each memory, while also being a part of them.
First she was a little girl, crying, then she was a little older, meeting Kuroko Shirai for the first time. She moved quickly, attending Tokiwadai and rapidly increasing her esper level. It wasn't long before she was meeting Saten and Uiharu, her other dear friends. Rivalries and friendships, adventures and hardship. Misaka experienced it all rapidly. Sometimes linearly, sometimes randomly. Misaka was on a roller coaster, speeding up with every moment.
It finally slowed down, halting on a memory that Misaka remembered vividly.
...
The ceiling then exploded outward, threatening to crush the girl from above. Her body twisting to a stop in retaliation, electricity coursed through her body as her electromagnetism slammed into the iron pieces of debris and reflected it all away from her body.
"Oh, well," she muttered, dust and dirt swirling all around her. "That'd just be too easy."
Moving forward, Misaka expected another drop from above, but a sudden heat from below caused her to jump to the side, avoiding another trail of flame. Reaching what appeared to be a doll, it exploded, forcing the girl to raise her arms to shield herself against the sudden heat. She should have expected whoever was behind this to stuff bombs into toys. Spinning around, Misaka caught sight of three more trails of fire. Crying out, the girl grabbed two panels of debris from above and slammed them down on to the flame in an effort to put them out. Using her esper ability, Misaka carried the two pieces of debris like shield as she turned back around and ran in the opposite direction.
might want to toss away that one on your right. uh, again.
"W-What?"
Misaka stopped in her tracks and looked around for the source of the strange voice. She looked upon the piece of debris in question, noticing now the bomb planted inside of it. With a yelp of surprise, Misaka tossed it away, managing to get it away far enough so that she wasn't hit by the recoil of the sudden explosion. Bombs all around her began to explode in response, and Mikasa dropped down to the ground to avoid the shrapnel. Groaning, she brought her remaining piece of debris and floated above her to take the brunt of the damage. It only lasted a few seconds, but once it was over, Misaka's ears rang inside her head. She tossed the debris and stood to her feet, now noticing that something was standing before her.
hey, it's sans. don't be scared, kid, we've already met.
in fact, we've met a bunch of times. oops. sit tight, 'cause i got something important to tell you.
***
Junko forgot all about that strange electrical girl from the moment they had separated. Just like that, the memory had been plucked from her brain. Not just that one, either. As Junko was whisked across time and dimensions, a great deal of her recent memories fizzled into nothingness. Her meeting with the elf and the orb... gone, just like that, as well was her entire time spent in Columbia.
When next Junko awoke, she last remembered Riley.
It was in some kind of dark ventilation system, a cool breeze brushing her skin as she opened her eyes. At first she was panicked, especially when a foul smell hit her nose, but Junko figured she couldn't be too far from Riley and those Coalition guys. He wouldn't have abandoned her, would he?
Junko decided to get up and follow where the breeze led. "Come on, you, time to get going. We're going to see Nikki and Riley and Shiki again sometime soon... Whatever you do, smile, and don't be scared..."
All that was left for Junko to do was traverse these vents.
To pass the borders of reality and peer into other worlds. To see glimpses of the lives loved ones could have possibly led. To interact with those that she had come to lose, even if they were not exactly how she remembered them. A second chance to say what she needed to say, before it was too late all over again. These were the desires of one Junko Enoshima.
The Ultimate Fashionista felt like she had walked into some kind of fairy tale, having stepped into a dusty old shop hidden deep in some back alley to find herself in a magical world of trinkets and artifacts. The smell of incense filled the air, making Junko feel light on her feet as she resisted the urge to rush past the elf leading her to his promised treasure. He had said the artifact in his possession would take her to other worlds, which only seemed truthful considering she was in Columbia, a city with a strange knack for randomly drawing people to and from it. Now that she was here in this ancient shop that smelled of fairy dust (or what Junko figured fairy dust smelled like), any doubts on her mind had conjured up had simply been whisked away.
As the merchant elf stopped for a moment to peruse some kind of tattered tome, Junko examined his bald head, smiling that the dim sunlight falling in from the few open windows seemed to reflect right off his scalp. She suppressed a giggle by bringing a hand to her lips and asked, "What are you looking at?"
The elf, who Junko believed had been referred to as Solas by his associate, tilted his head slightly to regard her. He seemed to calculate a response before pointing down at the open page. "The method through which you'll travel to other worlds," he said as she leaned in to take a look. She expected some kind of ancient spell to be written on the page, but it seemed more a compendium, with two items meticulously painted on each brown and faded page. Solas' pale finger pointed to one item in particular: an orb with strange patterns grooved into its bronze surface. It certainly looked magical in some manner, but Junko wasn't sure why some lame orb would be used for dimensional travel.
Whether Solas realized Junko was unimpressed or not, he closed the book on her and shuffled away from the table. He raised the staff in his right hand, though Junko couldn't tell what the point was. A few seconds passed where she considered asking him what the deal was, but she shut her mouth when the back wall of the store suddenly jutted out of place. She watched in wonder as the wall turned slowly, revealing a hidden assortment of items adorning a new wall that was setting into place.
The movement sent dust dancing into the air that shone in the sunlight, dazzling Junko. It looked like none other than twinkling fairy dust that doused the merchant's artifacts in something magical. Junko was reaffirmed in her belief that she was becoming a part of some fairy tale, one that was only just beginning. She could only fantasize that this tale would culminate in her meeting her friends and sister once again.
"This is like... so amazing," she said once the wall had settled. She looked to Solas with a smile. "How can I ever pay you for this?"
Solas nodded and smiled in return. "Payment will be discussed in just a moment. First, I think it better if I give you a chance to examine the artifact."
The elf stepped forward and Junko eagerly followed behind him. Passing rows of strange objects patterned with markings Junko couldn't identify, they eventually came upon the orb laying plainly on a podium, supported by a cushion. Solas stood on one side and gestured for Junko to take a closer look.
"How does it work?" she asked, holding a finger close to the orb. She considered poking it, just to see if something would happen.
Solas waited a moment before answering. "... Touch the orb, and all will become clear. If you are satisfied, then we can talk of compensation."
Hearing this, Junko shrugged. What could go wrong? "Ahuh... sorry if I break it. I'm no Ultimate Magician... Person..."
Junko reached out, taking the orb into her hands. She marveled at it, pressing it into her palm to feel the grooves along its surface. She felt powerful just holding it, as if the orb was transferring something to her. It made her smile. She looked up to see what Solas thought, but he was looking at her impassively. Almost as if he was anticipating something.
It wasn't inherently strange, but something about it made Junko feel wary. "Uhh, well--" She moved to place the orb back on the cushion, but she froze when a tingling shock ran up her arm. Gasping through clenched teeth, Junko tried to drop the orb, but her right hand was clasped tightly around it. A wave of panic overtook her and she attempted to pry her fingers off the orb with her free hand.
"H-Hey!" She looked to Solas with pleading eyes. "Get it off!"
But the elf didn't move to help. He watched with the same impassive gaze as before. A look that was only unsettling before instilled a deep fear within Junko, and she cried out loud. "What the hell? What is this?!" She took a few steps toward Solas before the shocks going up her arm turned painful, making her knees buckle beneath her. With a great shudder, Junko dropped to her knees.
"Oh, god, this hurts..."
Junko felt the world around her waver. Even on her knees, she felt like she was staggering in some kind of dizzy stupor. The orb glued to her hand flashed green and she was forced to shut her eyes. The world was cut off to Junko, and all she could feel was a cutting pain blossoming in her palm. She had a sick feeling she was going to die.
"H-Heeeelp!" she yelled, but no help came. Instead, Junko felt the ground below her give way. She wildly reached out for something to hold on to, but she nothing solid could be reached. When she opened her eyes, everything was dark, and the orb in her hand was gone, leaving only a scar in its place.
Junko continued falling, enveloped by the abyss.
***
"Yeah, I guess we really will see each other soon. Remember! Homemade cookies! I... or, well, he'll be able to tell, so don't try to fool him! Okay, Misaka? It's the least he deserves for going up against the strongest Esper in Academy City!"
Just what sort of person did he take her for?
Misaka Mikoto had returned to a world she felt out of place from, one that she already knew the conclusion of. It had been a strange feeling, forcing oneself to go through the motions, recreating something she didn't actually know how to recreate. All she could imagine was the possibility of doing something wrong, that an incorrect choice would lean her world down the wrong path.
A bad end, so to speak.
Misaka could only act as herself, one naive and unaware, no matter the hardship that came with it. She expected the worst, but her efforts brought on something else. She put her world on its right course, leading it into that future she'd glimpsed. The future where it was all over, where the project had ended and she had no one more to thank than him.
He was in the hospital and Misaka knew she had to thank him. Normally, she would have just bought the cookies, but that other him had said otherwise. It had to be homemade.
Cookies. It had felt like ages since he had brought it up.
It was practically going to be a mission unto itself to make the cookies, all things considered. Using the dorm's oven wasn't happening, considering all the prying eyes. What would they think of Tokiwadai's Ace baking cookies? It wasn't happening, no matter how much that guy wanted it.
There was a solution, however, and her name was Saten Ruiko.
"Misaka!" Saten had cried, looking far more excited about the favor being asked of her than Misaka felt comfortable with.
"You have to tell me who these are for! Please? Come on..."
Misaka's friend had a sly look on her face. One that made Misaka want to run far away. She'd already thrown on an apron and was running around the kitchen in preparation. Misaka had asked for Saten's oven... and her help. What a horrible decision, in hindsight.
"Must be for someone I don't know, why else would it be a secret? Is it a girl? A... boy?" That sly look only deepened. Misaka could feel her face heating up in embarrassment. Needless to say, she was already mortified.
"Saten, please... I'm not saying, no matter what you do." She hoped that didn't come off like a challenge. In an effort to hide her face, she looked down at the array of cookie cutter shapes Saten had gathered for the occasion. Her heart had flipped internally at the sight of the frog face, but had tried to look disinterested in that one in particular. Instead, she picked up the bear face and held it up to her own face.
"Let's just get this over with. This one, okay?"
Saten had giggled at her choice, but didn't disagree.
The rest of Misaka's time in the kitchen was spent dodging and fighting further questions from Saten, who Misaka could only hope would give up after the cookies were finished. It was just a thank-you gift, and it wasn't like Misaka would ever have to talk to that guy again!
That was totally what she wanted, yeah.
Once the cookies had been complete and Misaka had been on her way, she felt herself growing uneasy. In the afternoon sun, Misaka couldn't help but feel melancholy. She already knew what he was going to say, anyway... That he was fighting for his own sake and that he didn't need any thanking. It would have been absurd, especially considering this was his future self's request, after all.
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Misaka stopped in her tracks to look up at the sky above. There was still time before she made it to the hospital, still time to back out. A part of her wanted to do that, even though most of her knew she had to follow through. Damn him, did he even know what he did to her?
"H-Hello?"
Misaka turned quick as lightning, sparks dancing around her. What she saw was a surprise, some random girl with big hair who looked like she just finished running a marathon. Misaka tried to place the girl's face, but found it was someone she didn't recognize. "Who...?"
"J-Junko Enoshima!" the girl said loudly, taking a shaky step toward Misaka. She didn't seem entirely dangerous, but Misaka did notice a strange glowing scar on the girl's right hand. Was she an esper like Misaka?
"I'm so sorry, I have no idea where I am or how I got here... Do you have any food? Anything...?"
Misaka could only stare back at her. Never a dull moment in Academy City, was there?
"Hey... what's in the bag? Can you share? I swear I won't take much!" Junko reached out to grab the bag, but Misaka wasn't having any of it. She snapped forward and grabbed Junko's arm, holding it away. She gave the girl a glare, ready to lay into her, when something odd happened.
"Wait... I can't--" Misaka grunted, realizing she couldn't let go. Electricity coursed down her arm outside her control, causing Junko to scream. "Hold still for a second!" Misaka yelled, as the electricity continued down Junko's arm to focus on the mark on her palm.
Misaka had only a moment to meet Junko's gaze and blink-- Then they were both gone, leaving a small bag of cookies that fell and spilled out on to the ground.
***
The girl Misaka had been holding on to fell away from her grip, disappearing into some kind of void that Misaka could only barely register. Visions passed her by rapidly, conjuring feelings and memories within her. Moments of her life on display like a slide show, then a movie. Misaka felt both like she was watching each memory, while also being a part of them.
First she was a little girl, crying, then she was a little older, meeting Kuroko Shirai for the first time. She moved quickly, attending Tokiwadai and rapidly increasing her esper level. It wasn't long before she was meeting Saten and Uiharu, her other dear friends. Rivalries and friendships, adventures and hardship. Misaka experienced it all rapidly. Sometimes linearly, sometimes randomly. Misaka was on a roller coaster, speeding up with every moment.
It finally slowed down, halting on a memory that Misaka remembered vividly.
...
The ceiling then exploded outward, threatening to crush the girl from above. Her body twisting to a stop in retaliation, electricity coursed through her body as her electromagnetism slammed into the iron pieces of debris and reflected it all away from her body.
"Oh, well," she muttered, dust and dirt swirling all around her. "That'd just be too easy."
Moving forward, Misaka expected another drop from above, but a sudden heat from below caused her to jump to the side, avoiding another trail of flame. Reaching what appeared to be a doll, it exploded, forcing the girl to raise her arms to shield herself against the sudden heat. She should have expected whoever was behind this to stuff bombs into toys. Spinning around, Misaka caught sight of three more trails of fire. Crying out, the girl grabbed two panels of debris from above and slammed them down on to the flame in an effort to put them out. Using her esper ability, Misaka carried the two pieces of debris like shield as she turned back around and ran in the opposite direction.
might want to toss away that one on your right. uh, again.
"W-What?"
Misaka stopped in her tracks and looked around for the source of the strange voice. She looked upon the piece of debris in question, noticing now the bomb planted inside of it. With a yelp of surprise, Misaka tossed it away, managing to get it away far enough so that she wasn't hit by the recoil of the sudden explosion. Bombs all around her began to explode in response, and Mikasa dropped down to the ground to avoid the shrapnel. Groaning, she brought her remaining piece of debris and floated above her to take the brunt of the damage. It only lasted a few seconds, but once it was over, Misaka's ears rang inside her head. She tossed the debris and stood to her feet, now noticing that something was standing before her.
hey, it's sans. don't be scared, kid, we've already met.
in fact, we've met a bunch of times. oops. sit tight, 'cause i got something important to tell you.
***
Junko forgot all about that strange electrical girl from the moment they had separated. Just like that, the memory had been plucked from her brain. Not just that one, either. As Junko was whisked across time and dimensions, a great deal of her recent memories fizzled into nothingness. Her meeting with the elf and the orb... gone, just like that, as well was her entire time spent in Columbia.
When next Junko awoke, she last remembered Riley.
It was in some kind of dark ventilation system, a cool breeze brushing her skin as she opened her eyes. At first she was panicked, especially when a foul smell hit her nose, but Junko figured she couldn't be too far from Riley and those Coalition guys. He wouldn't have abandoned her, would he?
Junko decided to get up and follow where the breeze led. "Come on, you, time to get going. We're going to see Nikki and Riley and Shiki again sometime soon... Whatever you do, smile, and don't be scared..."
All that was left for Junko to do was traverse these vents.
