Chapter Text
There is no use in defying Paradox Space. Once something has been set, it is meant to happen. No matter how horrible the events it would be. Every person that has played their part and dies for it, are finished. They are never meant to come back to do more important matters. Some do not even get to live again. Why should they?
Even those that try to improve are punished for it. Beings like them are not allowed to become something more than the role that was placed upon them. It would make their timeline irrelevant by the end of it. It would make them unimportant after their death.
You had accepted this.
You acknowledge that with the actions you have done, someone like you would never deserved to continue.
So why do you still feel sad?
The Dream Bubbles. Neither troll heaven or troll hell. It is a place for you and all the friends that have died. From your timeline and many others. Some have reached to greater heights. Some has better relationships with other trolls. But anything they have done up until then, it never mattered. However, the choices and actions you have made were the right ones. They were the stepping stones to lead the real heroes on their path to the correct timeline. You are the only one out of all your other selves that came from a place that was important. But the events that lead up to it, were the wworst.
All hope was lost. You knew this because you were the Prince of Hope.
So then, wwhat wwas this?
As you had drifted to another Dream Bubble, something was wwrong the moment you went in. The memory, or what should have been someone's memory...was nonexistent. Everything about it was in absolute darkness. Though you are a nocturnal creature, you could not make out any shapes or details of your surroundings.
Clop clop clop.
The sound of the hoofbeast's footsteps were heard.
You search around to find the source. But cannot seem to find the equine in question.
"You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth..."
A deep voice speaks out to you. Then, something within the darkness starts to take shape and form. Around glass mirror that is seemingly burning a bright green fire. It had a well detailed frame all around. The flames within soon die down and a left hand is shown. Palms were open and is extended out in your direction. It seems to be calling for you.
"If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror."
What will you do?
Eridan: Take the hand. ==>
You reached out for the hand. Upon contact, you lose consciousness.
"As flame reduces even the stars to ash
As ice seals away even time itself
As great trees swallow even the sky
Fear not the power of darkness.
Now...demonstrate your power."
"To me. To them. To yourself.
The hour grows long, and time is scarce
Keep steady your grip, no matter what may come..."
Eridan: Wake up. ==>
Eridan stirs from what might have been his sleep. The sound of a rumble and wooden creaks was heard.
"wwhat the...."
When he tried to stretch out, his knuckles hit something hard. wwood?
"wwhat?! am i in some box?!"
Another voice speaks out.
"I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me. Urggh.. This lid weighs a ton!"
The boy didn't recognize that voice. Whoever they were, they seem to be trying to pull or lift something. They sounded close by.
"Try this on for size!" the voice exclaims. "Mya-ha!"
Before he could process it, bright blue flames engulfed his vision. If it weren't for the wall behind his imprisonment, the teen would have certainly fall back. His arms raised to shield himself from the fire.
"hey! wwatch wwhere you aim!"
As the flames died down, he notices some light and has a clear vision of what was outside of his containment. He steps out, hands fanning away the smoke that still lingers. Eridan finds himself in a room. It was a dark room that was lit by green light. Above him was a black chandelier that had purple light glowing. All a round him were tall wooden boxes that floated in the air. How was that possible? Not only that, but in the center of it all was a mirror with a dark glass reflection. Its frame was silver and had some excellent detail all around it.
"Now to grab the goods..."
"!"
That voice. Eridan turns to his left and is somewhat surprised by what he saw.
"What?! You ain't suppose to be awake!"
A black cat with a white fluff on its chest. Inside his ears were blue flames. At the end of its tail seems to be like a trident pitchfork. A black and white striped ribbon was around its neck.
"a purrbeast?" Not only that, but it can talk too? The only time he knew similar creatures were talked were his own lusus after entering the game.
"Huh?! Purrbeast?! Whatever it is, I am NOT that! I'm the great Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!" The one called 'Grim', puts his paws on the side of his hips and smiles proudly. Sharp teeth gleaming in pride. Sorcerer.
"like a wwizard?" A part of him was curious, yet was also doubtful. His question seemed to be ignored as Grim continued on.
"Tch," he scoffed. "Whatever. You...fish guy!" He points to Eridan. "Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it! Cause if you don't...you're gonna regret it!" He tilts his head up and from his mouth, blue flames escaped from his lips.
Uniform? Eridan looks down at himself and his eyes grew wide. The grey teen now sported some black hooded robes with purple lining and gold embroidery on the end of the sleeves and hood. A purple belt made of sash held by a golden buckle, tied around his waist. There were even holes for his horns. The only things that were kept on him were his glasses, the golden rings on his fingers, and his blue scarf still wrapped around his neck. He looks back up at Grim.
"Come on now, little fishy. Take them off!"
That command just made Eridan all the more uncomfortable. As if he has to listen to some purrbeast mewing orders at him. Not only that, but this attire is quite beautiful. Like hell he would give up. There was one thing to do at a time liket his.
Eridan: Abscond. ==>
Eridan notices a door from behind himself at the side and immediately bolts for it.
"wwoop wwoop wwoop wwoop wwoop!"
Grim didn't have time to react as the young kid with bright orange horns had dashed on out.
"Hey! Get back here!"
The boy found himself dashing through hallways, rooms with strange desks and chairs within. He ran across what it seems to be like a courtyard. Eridan didn't have time to stop as he ran faster. He needed to lose the purrbeast and hide. But what is this place?
It wasn't long until Eridan found himself pushing two doors to let himself inside. The room he had entered in was filled with books. Books on the shelves, books that seem to be floating in the air, and books high above another floor. A bookhive? Eridan slows his pacing down to obverse this room. His head turning and twisted to look everywhere. He reached out for one the books and pulls it out to look at it.
"Down the Rabbit Hole: A History of Twisted Wonderland!" it reads. He opens it up. On the first few pages appears to be a map of what seems to be a islands of different shapes and sizes. Each one having their own name.
"twwisted wwonderland?" he raised a brow. "wwhat kind a name is that?!"
His question was once more cut off by the sound of flames bursting behind. It caught him off guard that he almost dropped the book, but caught it and closed it shut. Eridan turns around to see it was none other than Grim.
"Dumb kid! Did you really think you could slip away from ME?" The purrbeast smirked. If only he had his crosshairs, Eridan could have easily blasted that thing to nothing. The sea dweller could take up any pain, but third degree burns was like the pain of a sunburn. He didn't want to deal with it.
"Now unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that-"
Before Grim could continue, he heard a piercing crack from something that struck Grim. The purrbeast screamed in surprised as something long hit him. He backed off to the side. "Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?"
Footsteps were heard from behind as another figure appears. A tall human wearing a mask that resembled like a bird. His eyes seemed to be glowing yellow. It was almost like Eridan's, but he felt that something about the other one felt different. He had short black to dark bluish hair. A white dress shirt with black tie, blue vest with black embroidery. The cape shawl on his shoulders were a mix of blue and purple with golden embroidery. The shoulders of his cloak also had black feathers, giving him more of the air he was like some bird. "Consider it tough love," he answers back at Grim as he retracted a long leather whip that was held in his right hand. Golden claw rings were in all his of fingers. They look much like talons as he gripped his strife weapon. At least, that's what Eridan thinks was this man's main weapon. He tucks the whip away at the side of his belt and grabts onto Grim from the back. The creature struggles in his grip.
His attention then turns to Eridan and his mood changes to something more formally. "Ah, I've found you at last. Splendid," he spoke to Eridan as if he was expecting him. His hand reaches out to him. Eridan is unsure what he meant. If it meant the book, he carefully hands it to him. Whether this was the right response, he didn't seem to react and just placed it back on the shelf where the boy had found it. "I trust you're one of this year's new students?" he asked. The taller man pauses to look over at Eridan. He made a puzzling face for a moment before his expression shifts to disapproval. His arms crossed and scolded Eridan. "My, were you ever eager to make your debut. And bringing a poorly trained familiar with you? That is a clear violation of the school's rules."
Black-violet eyes turn to look at Grim. "him? he's not mine! as if i wwant a purrbeast as a familiar or evven a lusus!" he huffs.
"As if I'd serve some kid with a weird accent! Now lemme go!" the feline screeched, flailing his arms and legs about. The masked man digs into his pocket before pulling a pen. At the top where the cap is sealed, a gem sits on top. "Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won't you?" As the man asks this, he points the gem pen towards Grim. A glow came from the jewel and with a bright flash, rope was wrapped around Grim's body and some tape sealing his mouth. The only noise emitting from the small creature were muffled shouts.
Eridan had to briefly lift his hand to shield his eyes to not be blinded by the light. But what amazed him more is how all of that happened? How did he do it? Nothing was pushed, so it couldn't have been something from a machine. It couldn't be, right?
The tall man sighs, "Dear, me. Of all the students I've dealt with, you're the first temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you?" He shakes his head. "No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber."
"student?" he asked. "me?"
"You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not? All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates." Does he mean those long boxes? Was that how Eridan arrived here? How was he placed in there?
"Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up."
"wwell," Eridan sighs. "a little lusus seemed to havve blowwn the lid up off mine." He eyes towards Grim, who was still muffled and trying to break the ropes through brute force strength. "You're the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!" he scolds one more.
"wwhat?! are you deaf or somethin? i told you that this purrbeast does not belong to me!" His sharp teeth clenches in anger. He was going to flip the fuck out at this point. "But now is not the time for such prattle," the tall man ignores his protest. "You've a student orientation to attend!" He moves closers to Eridan before pushing him, trying to get him moving. "Go on, now. Make haste." The troll backs off, not wanting to be touched by this other being. But the other man continues to push him on through the door. Eridan reluctantly turns to walk on out the bookhive.
"wwhatever! just tell me one thin: wwho the fuck are you?" he growled, patience wearing thin. The man seems to have ignored or tried his best to let that foul word pass by and responds back to him with a puzzled tone. "Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness? The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories..." Timespace is now involved? What year was this? Did those Gates really take him from the Dream Bubbles? Was that even possible? "Well, these things happen, I suppose. I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless." He smiles, which earns Eridan rolling his eyes.
The two were passing by the familiar courtyard as the taller man clears his throat. "This is Night Raven College," he begins to explain. "It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage." Magic. Headmage. These all sounded like something he had read in his wizard books. One of his favorites being about Troll!Harry Potter. No way. This has to be a dream, right? The trolls shakes his head.
"magic, yeah right. as if. its all fakey fake bullshit," he scoffs. "if this is your wway to play a ruse on me, it is not wworkin."
"Then how have I wrangled your familiar then?" Crowley asks. Eridan bit his lower lip. He's unsure how to explain it. He didn't pull it out from any pockets. The rope and tape were not around anywhere in the bookhive that he had seen before his arrival. What would make it scientifically possible then? "You're the one who is playing a ruse to make such claim. After all, only those who the Dark Magic perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those "gates," which can appear anywhere."
They could? Even after death, Eridan thinks to himself. He tries to deny the existence of magic, but something deep inside him felt a bit...excited. How come? "A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you," he adds. "carriage?" Eridan questions. "wwhatevver that is, i only recalled the hoofbeast footsteps troddin along." Crowley tilts his head on hearing the word hoofbeast. What an odd terminology to use to speak about the horses. Must be a unique speech pattern for someone like him. Right along with his wavy accent. "If you refer to the horses, then yes. They are the ones pulling the black carriage. That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition."
"a carriage takin me awway wwithout my say? that's an interestin sort a tradition," Eridan responds in a sarcastic tone. Grim muffled again, the ropes and tape still holding him down. He was still being carried by Crowley by the hand.The two arrive back at a large front door. The same one Eridan had used to leave the room he had came from.
"Now, let us attend your orientation."
"We're done with orientation and dorm assignments?" asked a boy with red hair as he stands in front of other similar students wearing the robes. "All right, new students - let me be clear. At Heartslabyul House, I am the law. Break the rules, and it's off with your head!"
A yawn had escaped from one man's lips. He had tan skin with brown hair with two braids and had lion ears on top of his head. "Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever," he grumbled. He seemed to have no interest of what had taken place from the start to the end. "I'm going back to the dorm. If you're in Savanaclaw House, follow me."
"New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement," addresses a young man with gray, wavy hair and glasses. "As dorm leader of Octavinelle House, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience."
A handsome young man with blonde hair had looked around the room, knowing that someone was missing from this event. "Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went? He disappeared midway through the ceremony..."
"Some headmage he is," mutters came from a floating blue tablet.
"Maybe he had a tummy ache?" a dark skinned man with white hair and red eyes, proposed on this possibility.
"I most certainly did not!" Crowley exclaimed as he barged through the door with a loud bang. "Ah, speak of the devil." Eridan follows in suit as he looked around at the other people. They also wore the same robes as him. Some of the students took note of Eridan's appearance. There were mutters about his gray skin. Others whispered that he had fins on the side of his head, noting he might be a merfolk. But questioned how he is able to be on land without looking like a human. Was he a new type of merfolk? Many also took note of his orange-yellow horns and its shape. Terms like demon or fae were spoken within the mass and he heard them as he walked torward to the other students that stood in front of them as if they were leaders in their own sort. The people that had stood in front of the large crowd, also gave various reactions to the newcomer. They range from calm to observing the troll, on guard to think he was some threat, and one seemed more surprised if not excited to see someone new. He finds himself standing in front of the large crowd with them, feeling a little awkward by being there. As much as he had wanted and liked the attention, this is not how he wanted to be introduced.
"If you must know, I was searching for the new student who failed to show for orientation," Dire Crowley stated. His arm motions to Eridan. He gave an awkward smile to them. They had either responded with indifference or a pleasant grin in return. At least, one of them was genuine compared to the others. Crowley leads Eridan over to a fountain, where a familiar round mirror floats in place. He pushes the troll lightly towards it. "You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the Dark mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your tanuki." A muffled angry rebuttal came from Grim.
A face then appears from the mirror. Green flames gave it a glow to this floating face. Strange detailed marks were around its eyes that made it look like it was wearing a mask. Eridan finds himself standing straight up as he saw it. Everything about it didn't make sense and only bottles up his uneasiness each second this strange place gives him. "State they name," the face's deep voiced echoed.
The troll swallowed. "eridan....eridan ampora!" he responded, his voice slightly cracking at the beginning. Couple of seconds passed in silence as the face narrowed his eyes to give a better look at the sea dweller. Its eyes widen for a moment during his observation before returning to its neutral expression. The man in the mirror spoke that Eridan almost forgot he could breathe on land.
"Eridan Ampora. The shape of thy soul is..."
...
...
...
...
"Unknown."
In unison, majority of the students were shocked and surprised. Crowley especially as he goes to Eridan's side to speak with the mirror. "What did you just say?" he gasped.
"Formless, nameless," the face in the mirror stated. "A light too bright to see the magic within at all. This mortal flesh hath no connection to any dormitory hall." This gave a bigger wave to whispers and murmurs from the crowd that were already skeptic of Eridan. The sea dweller's shoulders slumped and his fins drooped down in disappointment. Though he believed magic to be fake, it was still disheartening to hear that he doesn't have it. Childhood dreams of being a wwizard have been crushed once more.
"Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic?" he asked the mirror. "But this is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence! How could this have happened?" While Crowley tries to ponder, the ropes that held Grim started to break. With his arms free, he went to rip the tape off from his mouth. He gasped for air, finally being able to speak. Crowley was taken by surprised that he accidentally let him go. Grim pushes Eridan away from the mirror, taking his place.
"ME! Let me have this student's seat!" he exclaims. "Unlike this kid, I can actually use magic!" So let me be a student here!" Grim turns to face the other students. Paws on his hips as he smiles proudly. "Look, I'll show you! My spells're the cat's meow!"
"Everyone, get down!" shouted the red haired man.
"Myaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Grim blew a burst of blames towards the ground near the students. Eridan and some of the others backed away or jumped to the side to avoid it. One of them was unfortunately got caught in the blast and was in a panic.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! HELP! I'm on fire over here!!!" The young man runs around in a frenzy.
"Someone catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!" ordered the headmage. The boy with the lion ears groaned. "Can I go now or...?"
"Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter," the blond boy comments. "Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel!"
"Too much effort. Do it yourself."
The other boy in glasses steps up with a grin. "Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley," he offers. "If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility."
"WTG Azul," the floating tablet praises sarcastically. "Rackin' up those participation credits."
"I'm sorry, were my instructions unclear?!" Crowley asked apprehensively.
The lion man sighs, "Preeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy tanuki all on your lonesome there, headmage."
"For the last time, I am NOT a tanuki," the cat objects. "I'm the Great Grim, spellcaster extraordinaire!"
"Aren't you a spunky little fellow?" The boy in glasses crosses his arms. "Riddle, would you be so kind.." His eyes trail to the red haired boy.
"Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule-breaking," he proclaims. "You will be judged by my hand."
Grim begins to run away from the pair. All the while the chaos ensues, Eridan just watches the boys trying to capture the odd purrbeast. They seemed to have pulled out pens, similar to the one Crowley had. Except that the gems on theirs were different. With each wave, gusts of wind and an invisible force shield blocks Grim's attacks. They casted their own fire and water spells. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was it magic? It can't be. It has to be some advance technology, right? Like that tablet close to him!
It wasn't long until Grim was faced at a dead end. He couldn't run anywhere. The red hair boys raises his pen and points it to the creature, shouting,
"Off With Your Head!"
A metal clang rung through the room. Around Grim's neck, was some golden lock collar with red and black dual tones. "MYAH?! What are you doing?!" cries out Grim as he tries to pull the choker off him. But no matter how hard he tried or scratching it, it was firm as iron.
"The Queen of Heart's Rule 23:" Riddle began to recite something from his memory. ""One must never bring a cat to a formal affair." Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately."
"I'm not a cat either!" Grim protests once again. "Don't you try'n collar me! I'll burn it right off!" He takes a deep breath and...only a small smoke puff cloud came out. The cat stares in confusion before he tries it again. The flames still wouldn't come out no matter. "Huh...? Wh-What gives? My fire ain't workin'!"
Riddle smirks and gives his reply, "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won't be using any magic. You're naught but a pet cat now." The troll looks over at the collar and then at Riddle. There were spells like that too?
"M-meoWHAT?! I ain't nobody's pet-NOBODY!"
"Oh, you've nothing to worry about there. I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet. The collar will disappear once you're removed from the campus."
The boy in glasses, Azul, gives a small laugh and applauds. "Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It's quiet handy," he compliments. "I've just GOT to have it-" he pauses. "Ah, I mean, I've just got to have respect for it." Eridan grimaces as he glances at the guy. He could have at least be more subtle about it.
"Eridan!" His train of thought was cut off as Crowley gives a small finger flick to the back of his head. It didn't hurt, but the touch was still an annoyance. "Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar? Now discipline your-"
"i TOLD you he is FUCKIN NOT mine!!!" he yells. "he is not my familiar and certainly not evven my lusus! I. Do. Not. Know. HIM!!!!" Those who had paid attention to how he spoke would notice that his accent has left at the end. Eridan breathes heavily as he let out his frustration out. Everybody in the room stared in shock. Was it from his yelling or being bold to drop a swear word right in front of the headmage? "What's that? It isn't yours?" he asked. The troll takes off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose before putting them back on. "nevver in my entire life i havve evver seen or met a lusus like him," he growls. "Oh...Is that so?" Crowley looks at him awkwardly. His body straightens and clears his throat to look authoratative. "Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner. My, but I AM kind. Someone take this away, please."
Three hooded robed students that appear to look much older compare to some of the rest, grabbed onto Grim and starts dragging him out the door. He tries to scratch at them, but they barely flinched and did not let go. Grim screeches. "Noooooo! Let me goooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I'm gonna go down in the annals of magic hisory! You'll see! YOU'LL SEE!!!!" The door shuts with a bang and his shouts soon died down with him.
'wwhy wwas he so desperate to stay here?' Eridan questioned in his mind. The creature had some unique abilities on his own, why join here?
"Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas," Crowley spoke to break the silence. "I hereby declare that orientation has concluded." He turns to the one group of students that had been in front with him and Eridan. They were calm after that mess. The fire that was on one boy, is now gone. Much to his relief. "Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms," he orders. The Headmage stops to give a look at the people that were the 'Housewardens'. A small confused expression was on his face. "..Hm? Come ot think of it, I don't see Housewarden Draconia of House Diasomnia anywhere."
"And that surprises you?" the man with lion ears sighs. "Dude's a total recluse"
"Wait a sec...Did anyone even invite him?" the dark skin boy with red eyes asks. "If you're that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself," the beautiful blond man points out. The other frowns on his suggestion. "Maybe, but I don't know him too well either..." Eridan hears the crowd of students whisper again.
"Draconia... Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?"
"So it's true? He really does go to school here?"
"Eeeeek!"
The troll looks around in confusion. It seemed like they were afraid of him. But why? Was he powerful or something?
"Ah. Just as I'd expected," a deep voice spoke out. Eridan looks to see the source and was surprised the one who spoke was a young looking boy. He had black hair with some fuchsia-pink streaks. Even his eyes matched that color. "I figured I'd come down and see myself where Malleus had made an appearance." Wait...had he been here? Eridan couldn't remember when he first wwalked in here. Did he appear just after Grim left? "But once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at any official ceremony."
Azul goes up in front of the shorter man, a guilty expression plastered on his face. "You have my sincerest apologizes," he laments. "I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub."
"I mean, you must admit, he's not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with," Riddle comments. Not an easy one to talk to?
'couldnt be wworse than me,' Eridan thinks to himself. They could even send this Malleus guy something like a text message or email if they want to keep their distance. So what's with the hesitation? The shorter man shakes his head. "No matter. All who were assigned to House Diasomnia, follow me. I just hope he doesn't sulk about this..." Minutes pass by as the humans exited out of the ceremony. Nobody else was there except for Crowley, Eridan, and the Magic Mirror.
"Well, Eridan. This is a most unfortunate turn of events," he confesses. "in more wways than one," the sea dweller sighs.
"I'm afraid you that you will not be attending Night Raven College after all. Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy."
"it is pity." Eridan shrugs his shoulders. Deep down though, a part of him was sort of interested in this facility. Seeing magic as not fakey-fake bullshit, he wanted to see how far it had gone. Was the magic like the books he read? Was it something new? But he couldn't admit that out loud to anyone at this moment.
"But worry not. The Dark Mirror will see you safely home."
home. Eridan repeated that word in his mind. Would the Dream Bubbles be considered home? It's nothing more than a visual memory of places by everyone that has died. Including him. The troll had almost forgotten that he had died and was now alive again for some reason. Would he be able to go back there? Does he want to? Was he better off dead?
He was snapped back to reality by Crowley's voice. "Now, step into a gate, and visualize the place from whence you came."
Eridan looks over at the Magic Mirror and steps in front of it. Would it even be able to reach such a place? He had arrived here from the Dream Bubbles. It couldn't be a one-way path. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and thinks about the Dream Bubbles. The memories of his past up until his death. The people that were once his friends that he had seen that also died. His supposed dancestor, that would have grown up to the Dualscar he had once admired. Feferi...
A twinge of pain struck his heart, but he shoved that emotion aside. The others might be surprised he will be alive. But Eridan will be ready to go on ahead and kill himself just to properly be back in as a ghost before promptly being left alone like always. He may have apologized to Feferi and knew she had forgiven him, but Eridan still couldn't find it in his heart to say that he deserves to be someone he was close to. Someone he had flushed feelings for. Were once moirails with.
"Magic Mirror on the Wall," Crowley begins to chant. "Guide this soul to home they call!"
The troll's eyes tighten, ready to be trasnportalized. But seconds after the headmage's request, silence returned once more. Eridan's eyes cracked opened a bit to peek. Nothing like a flash of light or something taking him in. The face in the mirror just stares blankly. Even Crowley was confused as he had also expected something to occur. "Ahem, once more with feeling," mutters the headmage. He repeats once more, "Magic Mirror on the Wa-"
"Impossible," the Dark Mirror responds.
"Huh?" Crowley and Eridan responded in unison.
"Where he has come from to this place,
Goes past beyond both time and space."
"How can that be?" Crowley stares in shock. "My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!" Eridan grew nervous. He can't go back? The Dream Bubbles isn't exactly a location in itself, but what else could he have thought of? Alternia? As much as he would have loved to see his home planet again, he has acknowledge that place he once grew in and had accepted its customs, was destroyed because of Sgrub. Even if the Magic Mirror were to somehow transport him to another Alternia from an alternate timeline, it would lead to more confusion if another Eridan is present. Crowley paces back and forth, his arms crossed as he tried to wrack his brain about this current situation. "This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess that I am at something of a loss." His body stops and turns to face Eridan. He looks straight directly at his eyes. "Tell me: From what land do you hail?"
Should he be direct to say that he was once dead and came from somewhere where others have died? Could he make a half truth and use his home planet's name, despite being destroyed? What should he say?