Any Door

This is joint-written. This is the end of Seisen.

“Where will you be going?” Ambree asked, walking alone with Glide Niqi, and Shetani, who had chosen to remain in physical form. It’d been three days since the extermination.

Niqi shrugged. “Our business here is done. Wherever the wind takes us. Or wherever the Nexus takes us, I suppose,” she said, smirking.

“So this was never really a long-term home for you guys, was it?” It was more of a statement than a question, but Ambree still felt the need to ask.

“We don’t have a home. We try to leave every planet in slightly better condition than when we arrived, though,” Niqi replied.

“We usually seek out planets that are truly in need of our assistance.” Shetani said. “Those under the rule of tyrants, or plagued by hordes of evil creatures.”

“Yeah, I guess you could say we’re the omniverse’s guardian angels.” Glide grinned, putting his sling back on and finally sheathing Magus.

“You didn’t have to keep that out,” Niqi commented.

“I know.” Glide muttered. “I like to be ready for a fight at any moment, thank you very much.”

“Not much left besides the normal monsters and Wildkin,” Niqi pointed out. “Perhaps the planet will finally be able to flourish.”

“And if anything happens, just tell Lujuria.” Glide grinned. “He knows how to contact us. Well, me.”

Ambree fidgeted nervously. “Well I was kind of…expecting that I wouldn’t be around to do that.”

“Oh, right.” Glide said. “How about this? We’ll go to the Western Cross, tell everyone that they're finally safe, and then you can come with us.”

Ambree blinked, shocked. “You wouldn’t mind?”

Niqi shrugged. “Why not? It doesn’t usually happen, but nothing is usual about our lives.”

“Maybe if we’re lucky, when we come back to visit, humans will know who you are.” Glide snickered, his comment directed at Shetani.

The goddess heaved a frustrated sigh. “Shut up.”

“I did write up a brief description of the events that happened. I could probably leave that with my dad,” Ambree mused.

“I’d like to see his reaction when he reads it.” Shetani smirked. “What you’ve been through is... well, ‘out there’, I guess we could say.”

“They’ll come around when they see the condition we left the Southern Cross in,” Ambree stated. She paused. “Do you think the laws about humans leaving the Western Cross might end sometime?”

“They were created because of the demons.” Glide said. “They’re as good as gone, now that those fuckers are, too.”

Ambree smiled. “We’ll have to come back to Seisen in a couple years, see how it’s doing.”

Glide nodded. “We sure will. Now, come on, let’s get to the Western Cross. I don’t wanna have to spend tonight explaining to Lujuria why he can’t come along.”

 

…

 

Ambree pushed open the Western Cross’s gates. They creaked and groaned from not being used. “Never thought I’d see the day when this opened.”

“And just think,” Shetani grinned, “you’re the one that’s opening the gates.”

“Ugh, the symbolism is gonna kill me,” Ambree muttered.

Many shocked human faces turned towards the gates as Ambree, Glide, Niqi, and Shetani entered.

“Go on, tell them,” Niqi said to Ambree.

“The demons are gone,” Ambree yelled. “Spread the word that humans are no longer limited to the Western Cross.”

“In fact,” Glide added, “if you guys can fix the place up, you can even claim the Southern Cross!”

“Come.” Shetani said. “Let’s go see your father.”

Ambree nodded, although she hesitated. “I don’t think it’s sinking in. We might have to go tell the Queen afterwards.”

“That’s fine.” Shetani smiled. “We have all the time in the world to-”

“- powwow with ol’ queenie.” Glide finished, smirking.

Niqi snickered. “You say the strangest things.”

When they reached Ambree’s house, her father was already out the door. “I thought I heard your voice,” he exclaimed, picking Ambree up and hugging her.

Ambree laughed. “Put me down, dad. You’re gonna break something.”

Her dad obliged, and then seemed to notice the others for the first time. He went slightly pale. “Ambree, they’re not-”

“I know they’re not human, dad. This is Glide and Niqi, the ones who sprung me from the Western Cross, and this is Shetani, the goddess of mischief,” Ambree explained, indicating each one in turn.

Ambree’s dad blinked. “Goddess?”

“Yes.” Shetani nodded. “Goddess. Would you like proof? I could turn your house into an enormous mushroom, if you'd like.”

“Um, no thanks…” Ambree’s dad replied, seeming a bit dazed.

“Dad, focus. I came here to tell you that we’ve eradicated the demons of the Southern Cross. Seisen is free again. The laws about humans being confined to the Western Cross and the laws about other beings staying out of the Western Cross will most likely crumble in the next couple of days,” Ambree said.

“I, um…” Her dad still, evidently, could not process this information.

“If you don’t believe me now, wait until the Queen tells you the same news. But I also came here to tell you that I’m leaving…again. The last time I was here, I thought I wouldn’t be able to come back because of the laws against Crusaders in the Western Cross. But this time, I’m not even going to be on Seisen,” Ambree continued.

“What?” her father breathed, this news seemingly bringing him back to reality.

“Glide and Niqi, they’re travelers. And I’m going with them,” Ambree explained.

Ambree’s father breathed deeply. “Am I ever going to see you again? Tell it to me straight, because I don’t want to cling to false hope.”

Ambree paused. “Yes, dad. We’re going to come back in a couple of years, to check up on Seisen. I won’t forget to come see you.”

Ambree’s father caught her up in another fierce hug. “Tell me you’ll be doing good things.”

“I’ll be doing great things, dad,” Ambree replied, smiling. “I’m going to help other worlds.”

Ambree’s dad pulled back, nodding. He smiled. “That’s my girl. Ambree, defender of the universe.”

Ambree laughed, blushing. “You’re going to embarrass me.”

Ambree’s father sighed, ruffling his daughter’s hair. “I guess I’ll see you around, then, kiddo. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

“You’ll manage,” Ambree responded, smiling.

 

…

 

"The humans are free." Shetani stated, standing before the queen. "The demons are gone, hopefully for good."

The queen raised one eyebrow, staring at Shetani. “And you are?”

Niqi snickered. “They still don’t know who you are.”

“Why does she care about who Shetani is more than the news she’s saying?” Ambree complained.

"And if I said that I was Shetani, the goddess of mischief?" Shetani asked, smirking.

“Goddess?” The queen asked.

“Ugh! I am sick of you people all reacting the same,” Niqi growled.

“If you will not listen to her, will you listen to me, one of your own?” Ambree asked, stepping forward.

The queen simply stared at Ambree.

“The demons are gone. Do you get that? Gone. The entire Southern Cross has been emptied. The laws about humans are obsolete,” Ambree said slowly.

“Here.” Shetani said, raising her paw. “Let me give you definitive proof.” She paused for a moment, then snapped her fingers. “Smell that? That's a mushroom. A giant mushroom. It’s also your castle.”

“You didn’t have to actually turn something into a mushroom,” Niqi muttered.

“This way, she knows I’m serious.” Shetani smiled.

“How do I know you didn’t just stuff your pockets with mushrooms before you came in?” The queen asked.

Shetani shrugged. “Go outside and have a look.”

The queen, not one to be made a fool out of, went outside to look for herself. She nearly had a heartattack when she saw that Shetani was for real. “Change it back this instant!” she shrieked.

“If you insist.” Shetani chuckled, snapping her fingers and restoring the castle to its former glory. “There. All fixed. I even polished the floors.”

“Okay, so what if the demons are truly gone? What do you wish me to do about it?” the queen asked, appearing a bit frightened.

“Nothing.” Shetani replied. “Just spread the word to your subjects. The humans don't need to remain within the Western Cross anymore. You’re free to venture out.”

The queen nodded. “This is good news,” she said to herself, seeming to finally understand the message.

Ambree smiled. “Do good things with Seisen.”

“Maybe pass the time by having Lujuria teach the humans capoeira.” Glide suggested, snickering. “We’ll be back in a few years to see how everything’s goin’.”

“Oh, and play nice with the selkies,” Niqi added. “We just brought peace to the planet, and it wouldn’t be a very nice surprise to come back to more fighting.”

 

...

 

“Strangely enough, this place seems more like home than the Western Cross does,” Ambree mused, walking through the doors of the Snapdragon.

“Well, we try to make it as nice as possible.” Belleza smiled.

“Does this mean you’re leaving again, Glide?” Lujuria asked, staring at the floor.

Shetani sighed softly. “Just bring him along. I can’t stand tearful goodbyes…”

“What would Felix say, though?” Niqi asked.

“Felix?” Ambree became confused.

“Felix knows I’m not into the whole monogamy thing.” Glide said. “He’s cool with it.”

“Who’s Felix?” Ambree insisted on asking.

Niqi sighed. “Can’t you guess? Another of Glide’s lovers. Now shut up.”

“Come on, Lujuria.” Glide grinned. “It’s time for the five of us to be hittin’ the ol’ dusty trail.”

Lujuria gave a girlish squeal, clinging to Glide.

Niqi looked to Belleza. “I guess it’s just…ah, why the hell not. Belleza, you want to come with us, too?”

“I love the young people.” Belleza said, completely unaware of the situation, as per usual.

“…Let’s just call that a yes.” Glide laughed.

“Off to the Nexus, then,” Niqi said, smiling. She looked at Ambree. “You’re gonna like this one.”

“Everybody ready?” Glide asked, pulling a key from his pocket. “Hope so.” Grinning, he shut the Snapdragon door, then slid the key into the lock. Turning the doorknob, he opened the portal to the Nexus.

Ambree stared at the room before them, rushing in and looking around. It appeared to be a metal building, filled with doors. There were many, many levels. The place was massive…and there was something about it… “It seems…familiar,” Ambree said, confused.

“You would’ve used it, traveling from Earth to Seisen,” Niqi concluded, walking into the Nexus, smiling.

“Now,” Glide said, vaulting over Ambree and leaning, backwards, over the catwalk’s railing, “pick a door…any door!”

Reviews

[selkietales]

And on to the next book! Because this was freaking awesome :D

[KEi]

One word is springing to mind.....
Sequel?
Do I hear a sequel?

That aside, I was wondering; what's even remotely serious about turning someone's castle into a mushroom?