If I must state one thing, and state it concisely, I shall say this: interesting. Considering I was just moments ago on a planet that would, at random moments, burst into sectional flame, I feel this is rather apropos. Maybe I’m dead. I doubt it, I expect death is less substantial than this – filled with less coruscations.


I almost prefer the fire and the quaking. At least there was some means of constant entertainment; this seems like I’ve simply been put in a dark room with a small crowd of paparazzi. How utterly annoying.


I’ve no time for this. There are better uses for my time; this is little more than a waste of it. Perhaps if this… place offered some visible means of escape, it would be worth the effort to explore, but at the moment, no. To whoever may be hearing me – provided anyone can in this place or that there is even anyone else here – I’ll be taking my leave. I’ve better things to do than stumble about in the dark.

Oh, great. Wonderful. Fantastic. Bloody geniuses, the lot of you! What was it this time? Come on, tell me. Ring me up! Oh, but no, no radio here, no telly. Will the stars sing out the answer? A heavenly chorus of medical malpractice? What sort of drug did you overdose me on this time?

Well, come on! [hits himself on the head] Where’s the television? I need to see how the rest of this case plays out. I just want to go– [disappears for a moment, before reappearing]

...

All right, so maybe it isn’t drugs.

T-This isn't an Obsolete Space, is it? [messes with her wristband and frowns] It won't give me a version. No data? [lifts her glasses slightly, then drops them back down] All right, this can stop now! It's creepy! It's like those rumours about... [shudders]

[rubs her arms] This is ridiculous. It isn't...it isn't anything! It's just some old Space! It isn't that! [cups her hands around her mouth] Yasako? Haraken? ...Daichi?? Anyone??

I happened across a most peculiar shop tonight. This record is simply for my own purposes, so that I might remember the strange incident, because I suspect that something is amiss. As I say this, the quill which I have bewitched is kindly recording the words for me.

I was walking, as is most usual, around Diagon Alley, when I saw a shop like none I had ever seen, or even imagined would exist, before. It did not look completely out of place, as a wooden cottage, but nonetheless seemed rather quaint. Naturally, I decided to approach it. As I did, I began to feel that I was alone in my awareness of its presence. Not another person even spared it a passing glance. The strangest thing, however, was that as I got closer, I began to feel like I must go inside, that I really had no choice in the matter.

Inside, I met a pair of twins, dressed most interestingly. They had, I admit, smiles which I found rather unnerving. I remember nothing else of the shop, save a metallic humming and clicking. It seems that after that point, I found myself amongst the stars with a woman named Meredith Sault. I asked her, "What has happened?"

She responded most vaguely, and concluded by welcoming me to "The Machine." I'm afraid that was the end of the whole ordeal.

I stand now back amongst the stars, this time without Ms. Sault, on what appears to be the galaxy, as my parchment floats in front of me. It seems I can now come back here simply by wishing it.

This certainly begs for more investigation; it seems too extravagant even to be explained by magic. The shop, and my encounter with Ms. Sault, are immensely interesting, and likely important, events.

Of course, it is possible that I simply had too much brandy with dinner this evening.

...bloody hell.

I need a pint. And you all have the honour of paying for a round each. I intend on getting right and fully cocked, too.

It worked! I'm here again! I thought it'd all been a dream, but I knew somehow that I'd be able to reach out like that and touch this place...

[with a small, bemused grin on his face]

Say what you want about it, it's beautiful here. It's a lot different to see the stars without anything in the way.

I see you (or sense you?) other people out there. Has that Meredith lady made an appearance? She didn't answer my questions the last time!

I....oh for the love of god Saga! If this is your illusion then...

Saga?

Anybody?

Such a vast expanse...Saga's never made something so elaborate before...everywhere I look, I see a complete illusion, yet everywhere I Look, I see nothing...

Then this is no illusion.

And yet all this is somehow familiar. I feel as though I've seen this place before, though not with my waking mind...


Is this what a cosmo looks like...?

Well. This is certainly interesting.

I'll assume the rest of you were taken from your regular environments, after encountering a shop you'd never noticed before?

A nexus point, perhaps. I wonder if we've anything in common, or if this is merely a random sampling.

Whatever the method or motive, I'm not fond of being interrupted. I don't suppose any of you have discovered a way of removing yourselves?

This is... strange.
Let's see, I was walking with Nami and Usopp when I stopped to look at this strange shop. Then I met those creepy twins and the old woman, and now I'm among the stars. This island is really weird.
[picks his nose]
Naaamiii! Usooopp! Where are you? [groans] I think I got lost.

I don't like the smell of those twins. Maybe they killed me and this is the afterlife. Though that lady didn't look like an angel to me.
I feel hungry. Is there any food in the afterlife? I don't think I like being dead.
Isn't there a way to go back? I still haven't realized my dream to become the King of Pirates!
Heeey, old lady! Where's the exit? I want to-

[disappears and reappears after a while, holding a piece of roasted meat]
Well, this is interesting. [munches on the meat] So I wasn't dead. Is this the inside of the shop? It didn't look so large from the outside.

...I can't believe it. Is this really a real place? It looks more like something that would have been on the ark...

It really is pretty, but I probably shouldn't stay too long. Mr. Link is probably already wondering where I went. But...[He laughs slightly]

Maybe some peace and quiet would be nice. Mr. Link is nice and everything, but it's a bit tiresome to be followed around all the time. But I thought I heard someone else a minute ago. Are there other people here or did I manage to wander into the ark after all?

Aah, it's kind of dark in here.

I see some lights - I think - but they're not like the ones in Twilight Town.

Are there other people here? The voices don't sound very familiar.

. . .

How do I get back home?

This place... is like nothing I've seen before. The sky's so pretty...

But really, this place is completely deserted, or at least it seems deserted. I keep hearing strange voices, or feeling like something's following me. Let's hope that's not an AKUMA

No, I'm going to need to find someone here. Allen? Rinali? Yuu? Krow-chan? If you guys are here, an answer would be nice.

Hmm? Looks like another dimension, there's no way getting burnt to a crisp can bring me back to England. I wonder who else can control dimensions... Another type of Innocence? No matter, I think I like this place a lot. It's strange and eerie and the sky keeps changing.

I know there has to be people around. There always is. Which just means more toys for me to play with~♥

I can't wait.

[The twins are holding their clipboards and checking off things. They look up at Meredith] They're all beginning to access the plain of their own accord now, so it's time to officially begin the experiment! This one should produce better results than the Chimera experiment.

[Meredith stand still, voice light and careless] Perhaps we should explain some things to the subjects. It seems this may facilitate the progress of the experiment.

[The twins frown and tuck their clipboards under their arms in unison] Why do we need to do that?

I have previously given my justification. [Meredith gazes across the plane] We may find it beneficial.

'Beneficial'? [The twins give long, somewhat dramatic sighs] Fiiiine. If they really need to know...

[Turning away from the Twins, Meredith sets her gaze on those nearby] If you are inclined to ask questions of us, we may elect to answer them. Please direct all queries here.

Wah! I'm back here! I knew I could do it! Look at all the pretty lights! I wish Ikki was here, it would be so romantic! I want to go and explore~

[He reaches up and moves the eyepatch so it covers his left eye instead.]

Guess you were right that we could get back here, Akito, but I still don't trust this place. That woman was already creepy enough, who knows what other fucked up crazies walk around here. We're going to be careful.