With a snort, i jolt awake in the middle of a back alley. It is late in the afternoon and the sun is about to set on the slick streets of the metropolitan skyline. The mists of smog and fake-climatisation from the fake-clouds let out a static kind of noise that dull out the jumble of all the slimy junkies and hobos that litter out the darkened alley, where i currently lay in a puddle of my own piss. Wait! That’s beer, not a leak in the plumbing! I feel half wet and half over-dried out from all the dehydration. I reach for a flask in my coat, and noisibly wince when i realise how empty it is. I undo the cap and put the gunky straw to my lips. a sip makes me cough and i realise just how much of a mess i'm in. Judging from where i've woken up, I clearly didn't plan this through. A piercing pain from my lungs makes me writhe in the pile of garbage until i find a suitable position to breathe again, slowly. What the hell happened last night? How did i end up here?

Where is here? I can make out neon signs in windows reflections around me, so i must be somewhere downtown or some commercial district. But, more importantly... I didn't recognize any of this. Not the back alley, not the lights, nor the golden skies opening above. I felt a sensation in my back, looking at the skies. Like i longed to soar, feeling the breeze around me- under my hooves. Hooves?

I somehow coordinated my broken body into a standing position. Stumbling down the alley in the search of some mirror, i noticed some shop's bay window glistening under the amber rays of the setting sun. looks fine enough. My shuffling steps eventually made it to the display, where a bipedal and a few quadrupedal mannequins wore expensive dresses and suits- it was a high end shop. My hunch about being downtown was correct, even though i didnt recognize where i was. I couldn't remember such a large city where i grew up, or where i lived... But where was that exactly? It wasn't far out in the countryside either. Nor was it the suburbs... I could picture a forest and a wooden shack, made of round logs and decorated with colorful adornments and flags of some kind. I can remember a breezy feel and a certain moisture in the air, and the silence. sweet rustling of the leaves. Distant cawing of birds. Raindrops dripping on a muddy forest floor. Mushrooms.

That last thought awakened something in me. I can remember tons of different mushrooms, and i feel something stirring within me. An inspiration of sorts... And a kind of crawling under my skin. Itchy. I crave strawberries for some reason. No, it feels more like an artificial, hard-candy vibe, watermelon flavor. Yes. Thats what i want for breakfast. there's still a deep understanding vibe coming from the furthest reaches of my subconsious, a pull edging from the abysses of my comprehension of my "conscious self" and the far expanses of my almost esoteric subconscious senses. The rattling sound that accompanies the itchiness seems to come from the labyrinthine folds of my sixth sense, and my sense of pure identity. I feel like i just became my true self, and finally feel like the skin on my shoulders just became mine for some reason. Like i've been dreaming another life in a dream, where i was something else. Isn't there a philosopher that wrote something about that ago? About being a butterfly, dreaming it was a human, then not understanding upon waking up what it was? Funny sometimes how i can recall the weirdest shit for some reason. That was one hell of a trip. I proceed to try and recall what i took last night to feel like such a hell of a day-after. My head is heavy, heavier than my normally sinking body body weight. My shoulders and my back feel so heavy, its almost like i'm being physically held by a pair of claws, digging deep into my skin and bones. I can feel wounds that i know aren't there. I can feel words etched unto me in places i can't see, and i can feel the heavyness of wings on my back... Even if my back is bare. Yes, there is a shoulder bag, but it cannot compare to the weight i'm feeling- and it's in a trully precise location, too, as if my shoulder plates actually sported bones and muscles that aren't... Showing. I try to flex them- the sensation is comparable to pain, though it is only an unsettling creepyness that makes my whole spine and tail shiver.

Finally, a window!I was a weird hybrid species- that i could recall, i had parents that really didn't make much sense as a couple, but were still happily wed, living a cute lovely existence... Somewhere... South? North? I know it was in another... District? Country? Where even was I before coming here? Where is here? Let's put this on the backburner. I look like shit. My dark eyes were baggy and bloodshot as hell. My pale beige face was dirty and grimy, the short pelt no longer soft and caked with sweat. My mane... It was usually an abyssal mess, but it legit scared me right now. The darkness swirling with streaks of ashen blonde, grey and even white in a few strands, acknowledging my dark bloodline. I took a moment to stretch my eyes open... And almost clawed them out. is it just me... Or I'm not used to having claws after that weird dream? I remember that dream more vividly than my memories of here, as it so happens. Weird... It seems only my sense of identity has remained. I remember my ancestry and a little culture... But nothing past slang and brands. Lets ignore those trippy thoughts and focus on the now, i keep spiraling in patterns.

i was a mix of a unicorn and gryphon, netting me magic instead of flight. I considered it a good Payoff, if you asked me, but my parents didn't seem to follow my logic. My boring beige body was patterned with streaks of white in tribal patterns on my left arm, symbols of a dark ancestry long related to demon clans of old. Usually associated with gangs and crime syndicates today, as well as a very certain dark family whose name was forgotten to all, since uttering it's name wrought chaos and destruction everywhere. It was common knowledge, thought through tales to every children. even those raised in governmental facilites of every kind. i sighed and ran my claws through my mane- my usual messy style on the left side of my face and down my shoulders, a panel i used to hide edgily from the world. I was old enough to wear it with class when groomed up, though. I just didn't care since it was... A day off? Where do I work again? Argh, gotta stop it with the needless thoughts.

My body was covered with a long trench coat, made of leather. People usually steered away from me when i wore it, since it was a sign of bad luck for some... And an identity badge, or cultural appropriation kinda thing to gryphs. It was reserved to bad ass types that wouldn't let themselves being trampled on... And i wore it kinda to repel trouble. I was pretty much the most submiasive creature around... In appearance. My coat hid me all the way to my ankles, near my rear legs that ended in hooves. My haunches were disjointed- a gift from my tech-savy bavkground- letting me stand on either all fours like a pony, or bipedal like fighting gryphs and humanoid species of all kinds. It let me hid easily in crowds, and save energy on long trips. I was raised as a bipedal to Mimic high class folks, but could bring forth muscle memory of both quad- and bipedal martial arts.

My pockets were heavy with gear, rations and stuff of all kinds. I had kits of random tools of pretty much every conceivable use, nothing too fancy but everything was usable, and well maintained. I had canteens, and a hooked jar on my person- however, both felt like they were near empty. I took a cursory glance at my wallet, and noticed how empty it looked. I need some water, as purified as possible without costing a leg, and some sugar-free kombucha for the jug. Also, maybe clean it first. Don't recall doing so. the linen clothes under my clothes held pockets for my vital stuff, and my coat had my tools and food in its pockets. Jar hung from a strap across my body, in opposite shoulder as the very light bag containing my drugs and rig to consume them. A little device was in a chest pocket of my linen shirt, a cannabis concentrates inhaler. I was a walking drugstore, living away from the prying eyes of the law. Getting caught with those meant jail time, community service, obvious destruction of everything seized and a gaping anus. From both the cavity search and the jail sentence's shower times, obviously.

I looked at my stock, knowing i wasnt being in a noticeable spot. Quantities seemed excindiny high... I'd definitely get "possession as a re-seller" kind of holdings in the court's sentencing. Really, needed somewhere to stash most of that.

The rest of my food was still good. It was mostly nuts and snacks targeted as gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and all kinds of vegan. Diets here ranged from herbivores to carnivores, and i was on a weird scale between the two. I needed grains, meat, and herbs to really trive. Veggies were good sources of vitamins, which while optional were vital to my soul's satisfaction, and i couldnt go many days without sashimi, raw fish of any kinds. I recall not having such a diet, before, and missing dairy, and sugar a lot. I recall eating fruits... A pang of nostalgia hits me, and a literal tear rolls down my cheeks. My reasons for being were simple- esoterism, food and sleep. I didn't care much about sex, and shelters were for loosers who needed a roof over their heads. Tho it was nice to have something to keep the rain and winds at bay, it didn't mean having a luxurious manor was required to make me happy. I was fine in the woods, something almost alien nowadays. Is it because the woods are rank-C dangerous and above? Nah, people are lazy and prefer staying home on their helmets or between city walls, safe from the monsters out there. Only the minority of high-ranked adventurers still made it outside on a regular basis. And weirdoes like me, i suppose. I don't even have a rank, yet i still travel all around. What an outlaw! i jokily wiggle my body as i'm shuffling down the alley way, my inspection complete. I was heading for the city's walls, then to a door leading outside. I would hunt for my breakfast, and with some of the loot, i'll buy something sweet like some flowers to put in my kombucha. Strawberry blossoms, maybe? Defloran petals? A twinge of honey, something berry-like... cherries would go well with my mood today.

what i remember and what I don't is increasingly weird. I remember my habits, some of the world's adventuring laws... But from another perspective, like videogame basics more like a lived through experience. Those drugs last night definitely didna number on me... Whatever that was, glad i tried it, but never again. i could recall laws and the common sense people valued around. I could recall common courtesies and cultural rituals, handshakes and expressions. I could recall faces... Though they all look alien to the me of now, they felt so familiar in that dream. I feel like i just travelled here from another world after that dream. What a weird feeling... I don't wanna hold to it. Something makes me feel homesick for some reason, and I don't know the way to that home. Its driving a part of me crazy... Yet bringing relief. Like... I dont have to care, or more like worry about it anymore. Like i died or something. God, that's bleak. Speaking of which... lets talk religion. Who's god around here? Cause i got a feeling eldritch horrors exist here, and not where i was when i dreamt a few minutes ago. I can recall a small part just before I woke up, in that dream. I can remember a mosaic of lights blinding me, in the shape of a vaguely familiar face. It’s traits were fair and breezy, and an aura of lazy zenitude just washed out of him in blissful, peaceful waves. Recalling his face makes me sleepy… And i find myself jolting awake in the middle of yet another street. I’m just in front of a crappy, decrepit delicatessen that caters to the lowest of classes. Have I found my way into the slums?

I raise my head to look at the sign, it’s barely lit and is missing some letters. I can read it as ‘Bra_n St_w’, which shows up as ‘Braun Stew’ in my HUD. Weird… Let’s slip inside. Maybe they have some cucumber water or something.

A bell chimes as i push open the door, and instantly I’m hit with a wave of pure nostalgia. Yes, you read correctly- It wasn’t a robotic door bell or a jingle from the shop’s speakers that announced my entrance, but an Old School artifact- an actual bell made out of copper, hanging just slightly above the door, so that the dingle inside could get hit by the door when it opens. I’m flabergasted. This place must be a familial business that owns the very land and space over and under itself for it to still be running. Furniture doesn’t look like it’ll hold any weight at all. Walls are peeling… And the counter legit has a layer of dust on it. The sign did say ‘open’, right?

‘’Ah, a customer, Welcome to our humble abode, the Brain’s Stew! How can I melt your mind today?’’ In a blink, a respectably dressed gentleman with a dashing fedora appeared behind the bar. It was a feline, with dark markings ranging from ocre to terra cotta, and a base griege coat. His dark mane parted in the middle and hugged his face, and sophisticated facial hair that gave him a refined look… At cursory glance. It was unkempt, misshaved, and his outfit showed signs of heavy wear. That wasn’t a shopkeeper’s uniform, either, but most probably his usual daily clothes. His suit is literally holding by strings, but his posture… He’s hiding bulges in his pockets and the worst of damages on his clothes. He’s clearly working some gimmick and trying to use as much charisma as possible. I could feel an intent behind those glassy aquamarine eyes… His slits weren’t black, but an ever deeper shade of turquoise, with a single yellow dot at the very middle of his irises. The dot suddenly widened as he realized i was studying him. ‘’Is something amiss, Good Sir?’’ The way he emphasized that definitely strikes a chord in me. I feel as if he’s trying to connect with me on some level…

‘’Sorry, I was lost in thoughts. I would like to refill my water canteens if possible, and get some breakfast to go. Would you mind-‘’ He straight up interrupted me, no doubt knowing what my question would be.

‘’We do not have menus here. Just tell me your intolerances and allergies, if any, and we’ll have something ready in a jiffy!’’ His chipper tone and wagging tail made my tensed muscles relax. He wasn’t trying anything weird… So far. My gut told me he wouldn’t jump me, so long i showed him glittery bits or some currency of his liking. I finally recognized the yellow dot in his eyes. Greed. That’s how to appeal to him. Mirks usually favor food over cash, but this guy is sleazy as Tartarus.

I shot a quick look at their installations- the kitchen was spotless, a complete opposite of the dining room. I didn’t intend to stay anyways… Like most of his regulars, seeing as i could see a well stocked pantry at the back. ‘’Indeed, I am quite the troglodyte. I’m near allergic to glutes, dairy and sugars of all kinds. Including substitutes and most fruits… But low sugar density ones like citrus and berries, in moderation, are fine. I’m also weak to strong spices and stuff hard to digest, or acidic, like tomatoes and red cabbage. Here’s my medical.’’ I handed him a card i fished from my wallet, which he scanned at his terminal, an old model that blinked and noisily vibrated as he operated it. This was more or less a drive that held medical information, which different terminals read at different levels. When presented in shops, it showed your money, status, and credit. used in restaurants, it showed your allergies and intolerances. When used in medical facilities, it showed your entire medical background and operations history. It was vital in today’s society… Where does this knowledge comes from? Feels like it’s been uploaded straight to my memory somehow… But i guess it’s normal i know that. I might have dreamed another life, but I’m a native of this town… Right?

‘’Actually… Maybe you can help me? I feel like my mind’s not exactly right this morning.’’ What the hell? Why did I say that to such a shady looking guy i never met before? The cat handed me my card back, and made his way to the kitchen while wagging his tail to some music that definitely wasn’t the same as the background crappy house jazz i could hear. I could hear a 4/4 beat, and he definitely danced to some latin 3/5 or something equally weird. It kinda upset me that i wasn’t hearing the same music he was, when i had felt him try to connect with me a moment ago. As he reached the separation of the dining room and kitchen, he dramatically spun and locked eyes with me. ‘’I can see you eat fairly healthily, yet don’t take care much of yourself. You look like someone that enjoys spoiling himself with foods and drugs, even though your body can’t purge all of their toxins on it’s own. Are you in good health?’’ He was good. He was thinking at the same speed i was, if not faster due to my fatigue and condition. I have to keep my wits to myself here.

‘’You guessed right, I’m sick with some undiagnosed disease. And my memory is pretty foggy today… In fact, I only remember automatic daily stuff so far.’’ The cat raised an eyebrow. I could hear him mumble under his breath, ‘’Another?’’ Before his yellow dots bore into my mind. I raised a claw and nervously stuttered, ‘’C-Can I extend some trust here? I seem to only remember that long dream I’ve just had… And I’m fairly lost here.’’ The guy’s eyes lit up with a gleeful, if creepy vibe. ‘’Of course, I’ll tip generously if you could, eh… enlighten me?’’ Hook, Line, and… Sinker! His dot took on a golden hue.

‘’Of course, Of course, It’ll be my pleasure to be your Sherpa for a day, if you ever so need it. I can have my siblings look over here for me. But please, let’s first share a meal and a miso soup, while I answer your questions. Sounds good?’’ I nodded, and he happily twirled into the kitchen. I could see him through the parse marble curtains. He walked to some appliance and pressed a button, before cartwheeling to his fridge to take out a large salmon steak, and a slab of bright red tuna. Something wasn’t right here- it looked like first class ingredients to me, from where i was standing, anyways.

‘’So, what takes you to our neck of the woods? Did you meet with any weird people on your way here? Locals can sometimes scare travellers.’’ I cleared my throat, and replied a brief ‘’You’re the first person I’ve spoken to-‘’ Before he started flourishing twirls and elaborate steps on his way to the preparation table. Busying himself cutting various vegetables and slicing even slices of fish, as well as cutting me off yet again. ‘’Good, Good, I’ll introduce you to the good folks around, don’t let the masses of bleak, dead folks tarnish the reputation of the city where dreams come true! You’ll fit right in, in no time, believe me.’’ He stopped whatever he was doing to lock eyes with me for a second. ‘’You’re not the first to wake up in an alley, confused and trying to find his way around. I’ve partly set up shop here so i could welcome newcomers like you.’’

Now that sent my mind reeling at the implications. In under a second, We both had guns pointed at each other. His was a long spread buckshot type, with a shoulder pad and a recoil system. It had a laser shining a smiley face on my chest. Myself, i was pointing a pair of finger guns with my claws. Instinctively, my bottom two claws where gathering mana, while my pointer and middle claw where pointing and aiming a funneling, swirling vortex that would propel spells at near instant speeds. I don’t know if that was common or not, but seeing his eyes widening and his body jerk behind some cover, it either was recognized as scary, or wasn’t common and thus spooked him. ‘’Don’t try any funny biz in my shop please! I have no ill intentions!’’ He yelled through his thick cover, the fridge’s door as it so happened. I could see the mouth of his gun roam in search of my body so he could keep the threat up, but… He can’t see me from where he is, let’s press the advantage.

I deftly rolled over the counter I’ve been leaning on, and crawled around the bar. The curtains didn’t reach the ground, and so i had a fairly good ventage point of the kitchen. He poked his head through the crack between the fridge and it’s door, as in, pushed through the very thin crack and exposed his whole head for a second. Cats can squeeze through anything like liquid, kinda forgot about that. I cracked my neck, and his hear spun towards me. Sharp. He’s no stranger to a battlefield. ‘’I’m not about to punch holes everywhere here either. I just want to get my bearings, I’ve no quarrel against you either.’’ Hiding my position was pointless. Might as well negotiate. ‘’Let’s have breakfast. I didn’t intend to have a fight this early in the morning.’’ I was fully conscious of how late it was, saying that. I just wanted to drive my point home. I just woke up. I might be sick, but im in peak shape. On the other hand, he’s got a day through him. If we have a standoff, or a battle of attrition, i can definitely play the time card. If he’s as sharp as i am, he sensed we’re more or less on the same level. And he definitely knows I’m smart, so he won’t let himself get caught off guard. He’s being cautious… And wants to avoid fighting as well. I think i just made a friend here, if i play this right.

I slowly raised from behind my cover, and parted the curtains. He walked out of his fridge cover and even closed it’s door, with a shiver. right, i had him pinned in the worst place possible. Looks like a desert-breed, he must’ve been freezing his ass off. ‘’I can see you and I are cautious, we share good instincts. Trust me, I’m far from hostile. Just jumpy after wakin’ up in an alley, you know?’’ His tensed tail relaxed and he quietly let out a breath of relief.

‘’To be honest with you, I haven’t fought in a while. My heart was racing so fast when i saw that glint in your eye, i kinda panicked and reached for the ole’ blaster here. No hard feelings, right?’’ I shook his offered paw with just enough vigor- he replied in kind. I could feel the assertive grasp of a man that has worked his paws off. His knuckles had been broken and overhealed, telling me he could pack a solid punch and knew martial arts. His form was slender and precise. He has an aerodynamic style, minimizing wind resistance and useless movements. Tight mastery of his personal space. He could break me in half in a split second. The strength i felt in his upper body was that of a lightweight, but he looked even lighter than that. Which meant… He’s enhanced. I can’t feel the vibration of bearings, so they’re either magnetic or… Wait a minute. He brings me closer to pat my back in the traditional Miksen greeting, and thus i have a feel for his body mass. Pure. Muscles. This guy is scary.

‘’I’ll be honest too. I feel like I’ve never fought for my life before… At least, not with magic or bullets. I’ve definitely saw more than my share of brawls, but… Only memories of training halls and dojos. Nothing with real stakes.’’ He gave me a warm smile. We had shared a little, and now we had the beginning of a bond of trust between each other. A notification in my HUD pinged in a corner of my vision. New Friend Request received. Accepted. You are now friends with Miksen Stradivarius Von Hecat. i opened his profile- he most likely did the same- and we both took a quick look at each other’s titles.
High-Class Chef, Pillar of the Community, Archduke of Merlafis. Archduke!? We both looked at each other in surprise.

‘’So… You’re an outlaw? You don’t look like one. How can you have those righteous and unlawful titles at the same time?’’
‘’How the fuck are you a noble? Weren’t those extinct?’’

We both spoke at the same time, and shared a chuckle. The tension having died down, his purriness went to the sink to wash his paws, and resume cooking while we chatted. ‘’Yeah, some introductions are in order, First, my furr is obviously dyed. I’m a royal from Miksen, political refugee actually. After the wars died down between canines and felines, Miksen got swallowed by Caniklaws and our community got more or less enslaved by them. Royal families that oversaw counties were given a choice to join the new administration as highly respected slave officials, read ‘’bitches on a leash’’, or flee the country and get hunted by canines half the world over. I settled on the city cause it’s safer than villages and towns outside walls, but… It has its risks. I brought a few retainers and family members with me, but most of them went in hiding in other parts of the slums. I do have a little sister and a little brother that stay with me, but the more of us together, the more we stand out. Luckily, I had a friend who operated his restaurant. Took us in, but, he died last year. Kids are still grieving his passing.’’

I smiled darkly. ‘’My sympathies. Must’ve been hard to’ve been on the run all this time.’’ He shook his head, reflecting my expression. His eyes were misty, but he held his composure with a stiff upper lip.
‘’Truth is, it’s been easy with him around. He was a canine, so he kinda cloaked us from our pursuers. I closed his place and sold whatever we had to move here, where the law won’t come, and tried to make the kitchen of my dreams to forget about whatever happened around me. Then, maybe five months ago, people like you started appearing in the back alleys around this shop. All of them speak of ‘’Synchronicity’’ and of some weird, white thing they met before coming here. Thought you’d be no stranger to that.’’ Of course, I remember something like that. wasn’t that a dream though?

‘’I… Really thought I’d saw that in my dreams. I don’t understand…’’ He held a paw right before my lips. ‘’Shush for now. Time to enjoy the now, the past and future can wait. Itadakimasu!’’ He exclaimed, shoving a plate before me. On it rested a large, rectangle shaped bed of rice. It looked like it had been pressed in place by a panini grill or something. On top layed many vegetables, some pickled, some raw, some caramelized in some thick sauce. The very top layer consisted of thick slabs of tuna and salmon, slightly smoked and torched with Unagi sauce. A small bowl of edamame joined the plate, and a large traditional drinking bowl, adorned with lotus flowers and religious symbols associated with good health was presented before me. I took it in my claws as my feline host filled it with deeply aromatic miso soup. It even had very small dices of tofu and some nori chips in it. We both sat on the ground, around a square table at the back of the kitchen. It looked like an employee’s break room. We both bowed our heads before partaking in what was a truly memorable meal. Every ingredient was worked to perfection, and flavours subtly combined with each other. It was extremely satisfying and fulfilling, yet i didn’t feel heavy or overfed after licking my plate clean- okay, I wasn’t that feral, but you get the idea. I could cry right now. I can’t explain it, but it was probably the best meal I’ve had in years. I feel so energized, so… Healthy.

‘’So, did you enjoy my cooking? I can tell you weren’t expecting that, right? Or, maybe you did when you saw my chef title. Miksen was a meritocracy, you see, and I rose through the ranks by being the best chef around! I was almost worshipped for my cooking back home. I had a 4 star restaurant before moving to the slums, too!’’ It sure explained a lot. It’s definite. I’m never leaving this guy’s side, ever. I’ll work if i have to, I can’t go back to normal food now that I’ve tasted this!

‘’With all of my respect, if i were to judge you on your dining room, I would’ve left the second i came in. But, now that I’ve had one of your meals… I can see why you called this place brain stew. I’m flabbergasted. There are no words that can truly express how special that meal was. The choice of ingredients, and how they were prepared, really come together as a greater sum than each of their separate values. Name any price, and if it’s in my power, I’ll give it to you. Anything.’’

I spoke more or less without thinking. Now, the glint in his eye made me shiver in cold sweats. Had I just sold my soul or something? ‘’Anything, you say? I’ve no need for money. In fact, I’m trying to look as poor as possible, but my kitchen betrays me. Mhmm… I sure could use an extra pair of hands on deck. Waddya say? Wanna work that meal off? Stay here for a week, while you get your bearings. I’ll find some work to compensate a week of lodging and meals. Would that work for ya?’’ Either this guy’s a psychic, or he’s been thinking ahead. Ever since i passed through his door… I can feel that was his intent. I mull it over. I had intended to see as much of the town as possible. One of the things i remember was a cave not too far from the city gates- but his offer was definitely more than worth it. I was just wary of how much of a debt I’d be worked into.

‘’So long as you don’t ask for the unreasonable, and don’t hold me captive here more than a month, I think you’ve got yourself a new helper. We’ll just hafta figure out how best I can help you around.’’ He chuckled, and we shook on it. For the second time, I’ve felt his strong paw in my claws, and i can tell he’s a trustworthy sort. He’s got a good look in his eyes. My gut didn’t lie earlier- the shady thing i could see in him is almost gone. But it’s still in there somewhere. My instincts are hinting at something that’s too good to be true, here. But I keep those feelings in. I don’t want to spoil the greatest gift of all, the most precious resource to have when lost in a huge metropolitan area like this one. Could this be? My first friend?

‘’Alright, Waddya say to a little run around town? I’ll show you the safest parts of the slums, and teach you how to stay out of trouble. Show you the spots around, it might jiggle your memory. You don’t strike me like the kind of guys I’m used to meet from those circumstances i explained earlier. For starters, you don’t speak weird like they do, and you definitely know a few ins and outs of theses parts, the way you carry yourself.’’ Maybe I should try and get some more information on that?

‘’About that, Stradivarius, was it? Or should I address you with the authority you deserve?’’ He shook his head, and i took it as a sign to continue. ‘’I’m curious… What are these people like? How are they so different from me?’’ He took a pensive look for a second. I think he caught unto something… But I really have no other motive, I’m honestly just curious!

‘’Okay. I have a kindling you didn’t meet with him, or you’d have told me by now. I’m more or less responsible… Wait, that phrasing ain’t right. I’ve been hired by some… God, if you would believe, to welcome travellers from other dimensions into our city. Something about a certain elite gathering, souls borrowing specifically crafted bodies to attend a kind of convention about multi dimensional crossing and the possibility of making a tourism industry out of it, somehow. Okay, explaining this requires some kind of background first, I’m not sure I should be the one unveiling all of this, in that loose order…’’ I jump the bit. ‘’No, please, do go on. I think I’m starting to remember things…’’ It wasn’t completely untrue. I’m starting to recall images and faces from that dreamt life.

‘’Alright, then. I just hope it doesn’t get me into much trouble with my employer… Anyways. You know how people nowadays work to afford computers, which they use to create their own V-Spaces on the net?’’ I nodded, unsure but unwilling to admit it just yet. ‘’People spend their all into creating worlds of their own, where they spend all of their downtime. It’s their escape from reality, if you will. And some gods took notice of that… So they sent for an invitation, to souls across the universe. If we can create customizable universes to whoever has enough to afford it… And then create their paradise resort there, with the living creatures they want to spend time with. Be it replicas of actual living people or made up perfect mates, it’s all about delivering the ultimate, most immersive and pleasurable experience to any soul who can afford it… Or deserves it the most.’’ Something flashed in his eyes. I could feel him seize me up… ‘’I can see you’re an awakened soul already, and that you have a solid barrier of mana around it. Must be your own solar body, right?’’

I gulped. Now was the time to admit I barely believed in gods and, while i knew basic telekinesis and apparently could use finger-guns… I didn’t really know much about it. I mean, a gryphon that uses magic, can you believe it? Pretty rare breed indeed! Nobody taught me shit about it, i just kinda picked up on it while growing up, figuring it out by myself. So… What the hell is a solar body? I guess it showed on my face. ‘’Welp, now you’re in the loop wether you were or not. Guess you’ll be my employee then, can’t just let you walk around spilling beans after all this. Okay, we’ll figure it out together, step by step. Let’s shake our legs a bit, it’ll help us digest that meal.’’ He got up and guided me out of the shop, without a word. He swiftly locked the front door, closed a fence to protect his windows, and locked that one too. As we stumbled down into the street, he flicked his phone at me. I took mine and bumped it on his, initiating a call between our brain chips.

{Allright, Now we can freely talk while I show you around. Not that people would believe us much anyways. I’ll try and figure out just how much basic knowledge of the works you‘ve got. First, you know how mana flows through our universe, right? In large veins under the earth, known as telluric lines, and over the ground as uncrossable fields of dangerous radiations.}
I nodded to let his flow going. He sure wasn’t holding his stream of information back at all, and I was a sucker for free info.
{Okay. There’s multiple things going on at the same time, and it might be a pain having to explain everything from the ground up, so I’ll stick to the need-to-know. You seem like you‘ve at least got subconscious knowledge of magic, so I‘ll hope it pops back into your mind. First, only those with chaotic energy are able to safely cross those chasms of radiation. People sent here by my boss more or less have that energy signature, or at least they’re harmonized to it. What we do, is we give ‘em a proper soul vessel, a solar body, to go and meet with the boss, which then makes a univers tailored to your every whims. We then siphon large amounts of mana from the earth, corrupting it in the process, and it releases more radiation. You could consider us the bad guys of the whole world, here, but honestly we’re no worse than any multi corporation owning 99% of everything in this world. I used to be a traveller myself before i settled into my life as a cat here, and when my kingdom fell, my boss gave me the sweet opportunity of guiding his VIPs to his meetings. Feels like i’m kind of an angel, right?} he gave a hearty laugh at that.

{You don’t look like the kind of depraved guy I’m used to meet. Most VIPs are absolute scum, deviants that want a custom made universe to satisfy their sexual needs. I’ve seen some come in with sex slaves- the kind without limbs and vocal chords, that are fitted with a harness and that self-sustaining backpack so they don’t go hungry or need sleep. You just need to plug them on some IV or give ‘em a water bowl in their cage. I’m telling you this, so I hope I don’t have to serve you as that kind of customer in the future. I hate those with a passion!} He bawled with laughter, the kind that turned my blood to ice. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to stake my heart with a claw the very second he saw me as a deviant or some lowlife.

We soon walked up to some stairs that jutted from the ground at a weird angle. The construction of the slums was made on unstable grounds, but there was still a subway station at the edge of it. Kinda weird, but it led to an underground mall, of all places. As we got inside, my Sherpa casually mentioned there were evacuation orders at least once or twice a month, so we should be wary of falling dust. It could signify our impending doom… And some hobos live here? I mean, its not cold and there’s not much humidity, but still. Getting crushed in your sleep could happen any day. We slid down the stairs (they were both sticky and oily from the weird grime of the city, nice!) and passed through a checkpoint.

{Seeing as you’re chipped, this is our fastest mode of transportation around. We’ll go to the Artistic district on the other end of the commercial one, and walk our way back into the slums. I’ll greet you to the ones you oughta know if you want to live here. Crime syndicates, Merchant guilds and big corporation heads. We’re also gonna meet my best informant, she owns a bar on the edge of downtown and the Arts. Then, if all goes well, we might catch my boss on the way back. Hope he’ll hire you, otherwise… This’ll be your first and only date in the Hollows!” another signature laugh out of him, as we find ourselves on a platform. A catwalk ahead leads to the other side, if we were to take the train in another direction- The bays actually welcomed trains from 7 directions. A long stairwell in the middle of the station lets us choose which station we’ll be heading in. I read automatically the stations names… Until one clicks with me. {Wait… Could we go through the Academically district? I feel like… That’s where I was headed when I met you earlier.} My thoughts almost slip into the channel we’re talking through. I need some insurance that he won’t try to hold me hostage, too. I want to see how much freedom he’s willing to give me.

{Yeah, sure. I don’t mind walking a little more, it’s more or less on our way anyways. Wanna hit it first, or go through the Arts first? If we take the rest of the journey into account, it’s the logical choice to start northernmost and work our way down.} I happily nod, and he leads me to the right dock to wait for our train. As we approach the corresponding ground level, an electronic board showed the train times. It seemed we still had around ten minutes to wait. Since this was a mall, there were halls littered with shops and stands, so we strolled through them lazily. {It’s been a while since i last walked around like this, it’s pretty nice.} I nod, and he twirls around to face me. {It really does feel like a date, no? Ahah, don’t worry. I’m married to my knives and stove. But i do enjoy theses activities once in a while. It’s a lonely life in the kitchen at times.} I know what he means. I was no stranger to loneliness in my dreamt life, and I have a feeling the life i led here wasn’t painted in shades of pink either. {Tell me a little more about yourself, before i keep explaining the boring stuff. There’s a magnetism around you… You must’ve been someone pretty special before you forgot whatever. Maybe your dreamt life could give us some hints?}
True, I guess whatever, and whoever i was in that dream could have been a reflection of what i am in reality. Good thinking.

{I remember being sick, in an hospital bed growing up. Then… at around twelve, stuff happened that pushed me out of my home. My family lost custody of me, or i ran away? Maybe a parent or uncle died? I know i slipped away from family drama of some kind. I remember a pretty pink lady trying to heal whatever ailment i had in my mind, that was after i got physically better. I… Remember a kind of nursing home? Therapy center? I was half working there, half undergoing treatment. I remember stealing drugs and fleeing to become a bum. I remember playing music on stage, i remember acting on stage. High as fuck. I remember… Friends. Deep bonds. I remember feeling… so many emotions. So many faces. I remember a childhood, i remember relationships, one pretty serious. I almost got wed… Before i died. Before… Something within me snapped, and i… Did irredeemable things.} A paw on my shoulder brought me back to whatever we were doing. The train had just arrived. As we shuffled towards the rush of people disembarking, he motioned for me to continue. A sad smile told me he was empathetic to my story so far, at least.

{I can also remember meeting… nevermind.} we got on the train after the people were done leaving it, and we found some available seats. {I know i was a pretty righteous person in that dream. I worked as a private investigator, amongst other things. In fact… Now that i think about it… I remember more…} I almost let that slip. Should keep to myself that i feel like i remember more than a single life, after all. One of those childhood ended in my death, i wasn’t even twelve, and now i recall being 35ish, working as a PI? I also think that therapy thing… was another life altogether. {I think i’d like you to explain a bit more about souls, i feel like it brings back memories of the past when you do.}

The wise Pacha leaned back on the seat, and used his tail to hang onto one of the posts around, while I leaned against one of said posts, my disheveled mane clinging to the cold metal. It soothed an headache I didn’t know I had until now, and the relief made me smile. Genuinely. He reached a creepy hand on my thigh, but I kind of didn’t bother. It was… welcome, in fact. I feel as if being touched relieved some stressed part of my mind, and it made me acknowledge that I had indeed been alone for quite a while in this life. Memories of being alone and wishing for someone to be near, not even talking or anything, just knowing you’re not alone. “You seem to know a little, and I really don’t wanna have to give a whole course on the subject. Such stuff is pretty unique to everyone, too, so bringing enlightenment would ruin most of the process. It must come from within.” What he said sounded… sad, somehow. As if he had made the mistake of ruining people in the past, maybe? What would that entail to that ruined person? That was a thought to file for later, definitely. For the answer… can only be death, for how grim his expression is. I can see it in his eyes. That happy spark he’s been having has faded drastically. I oughta bring that back up if I want to keep the conversation flowing right. I know now, what i must do. I need to know what’s the dirt under his claws.

“So, from where does this love of cooking comes from?” It was the obvious question to ask. If you want to know about someone, ask about his passion. A grin slowly etched itself upon his face, and i could see a distant look in his eyes. Nailed it. “It’s a long story. You should be asking questions that will benefit you in the times to come. Not things about my personal history… Unless, it really is what you want to know?” For the first time in a long while, the crisses in my eyes betrayed an honest smile, as I nodded. For a manipulator, I sure trust the other party a lot. I should hold myself back… He really has a nasty vibe, deep in his core. I know I shouldn’t trust him blindly. Yet… I fell back and leaned next to him, as to stop looking straight at him from the side. We both stared straight ahead, and looked at each other by looking at the reflections in the screen/windows of the subway. Many adds and informations about the train times and weather and whatnot flied by and cut our expressions once in a while, but it was clear we were hitting it off like old pals to anyone who might be noticing us. Though, to be fair, we were hanging in the darkest part of the subway, under the unlit parts reserved for nocturnal species, hanging next to nightmarish creatures and thestrals. There was even a buggy one in the corner, a changeling maybe? Those were rarely in natural form nowadays. It was a girl, donning white and cream clothes. Her eyes were a swirling rainbow mess with a pinkish dot in the center. She was the very embodiment of lust. She radiated sexual vibes to a stinking extent, it was almost nauseating to my weak, overbearing senses. As i leaned back in my seat, she slithered on the bench next to me, and joined our conversation fluently. “Oh, are you a newbie in town? That fish outta water look, can’t mistake it! Sup, Strads? Doing the whole spiel again? I’ll arrange one with the queen, so let’s just ride to the Arts like usual!” That… Was a lot to take in at once. But my face kept it smooth and I managed to sail along.

“I told you, white, I go by Varius now. And yeah, thanks for the setup. He ain’t a VIP, by the by. He’s… A friend.” Did that imply some different treatment in store for me? I mean, it’s basically telling her he’s off-work, right? Am I reading too much into this? Relax. I reach for the inhaler in my pocket, swiftly turn it on, and take a drag. I blow it above us so it gets drawn through the air vents of the subway, and no one gets much of a whiff. It doesn’t go unnoticed by my party, but they obviously don’t care. I’ve noticed the girl in front of me carried a similar apparatus to mine. By taking drugs to calm down, I was also scoring brownie points with my interloper. Guess that means an advantage on charisma rolls for next dialogue options, right? Right? The Changeling’s wings unfold slightly as she, being in close proximity, catches an evasive aroma. “Woah, dude. Is that WiFi Cake?” She has a sharp nose.

“Actually, It’s a mix of White Fire OG and Ice Cream Cake, instead of Wedding Cake. Makes for a more Cakey flavour and the main terpenes don’t contain Alpha-Humulene, which relieves more stress and don’t net as much of an appetite gain. It’s a snack, literally, instead of an appetizer.” Her eyes bulge slightly as she hears more about the strain in my cartridge. I eject it and toss it at her- she grabs it with dexterous wings, and using a hole in her leg, maintains the mod in place as she switches the cartridges. She takes a good drag… And her eyes glaze over. They loose their rainbowness and focus more on graphite lilac, a soft cerulean that bordered on turquoise, and pastel baby blues, with both a magenta and a yellow line separating the fat Colors by bright, vivid and saturated warm ones. I caught a solid vibe from her, that matched the high of WiFI cake, as she released a puff of pinkish smoke.

“Dude, tell me you’ve got more strains. You’ll be treated like royalty by the Queen, she’ll trip her balls off!” She shakes her mod deftly, and the cart flies right into my mod back, the magnet catching it with a soft clink. That… Takes solid skills. She embraces me with her forehooves, and I reply in kind with a foreleg. She smells of sex, and something sweet like honey, or something that reminds me mucus being caught in an itchy part of my nose. It smells something oddly sweet like that. It shouldn’t be sweet, it’s definitely pheromones. Yes… Some part of me wants to give in to her. But i steel my resolve, bite my tongue a bit behind my smile and am brought back to some semblance of focus. It’s like a miasma around her. My Cat guide, Stradivarius, definitely notices that too.

“Hey, White Noise. Bring that down before we get chased by the cops. Again.”. I felt this was a repetitive ending to nights with those two. Why do I feel like we’ve partied many nights together before? Is that instant friendship? Definitely pheromones. Thanks for the call to reality, but I’ll bring the mood back to ‘friendly fun’. The more points, the better I can make it through with info and brownie points to both my new chef and new whitewashed party cannon. Just like with my cat friend, I can tell this one will stick around. Must be another one of those special people i was supposed to meet?

{She isn’t, but well, there is something special about her, just like you. That’s why I’m going out of my way to make you meet the bosses around. Most don’t have that chances and don’t get to make a case of themselves before they eventually screw up, end on their bad side, and owe them stuff. I’m just… trying to give you a good start here.} We share a look through the window, and the drunk, high and… well, wasted girl gets off me. She grins and moans at my Cat senpai. Yes, he was my upperclassmen… He feels older. She licks her fangs, as the light at the other end of the cart gets dimmer. “We’re getting close. This station has been converted for a nocturnal species festival for a few weeks. It’s obviously our Queen finding an excuse to enjoy the outside air for a little while, without any sunlight to mess with her precious skin.” Skin? Now that interesting. Not a lot of species have evolved towards that choice, and some elites shave their bodies and pay fortunes to have a ‘nice skin’. The creature i was, in my dream, was nothing but skin. Maybe I’ll find some way to angle that with the Queen? I remember quite a lot of good things for the skin… I think. Why do I know this?

The train slows down, as the lights shift to red. Every light in the station we’re coming to is red. It gives me an horrific vibe. Some part of me screams that there are murdered people around here. Souls are screaming in angst and disgust. The air is littered with lamentations and the like. Cries, shouts, screams, tearing, choking subs, flesh ripping and and loud squelches come together in a hoquet of cacophonies, an harmoniously sad and depraved melody. Is it weird some part of me enjoys that? I recognize shifting time signatures and rhythms, songs from that dream I had. Maybe I’m being infected with the madness this place gives off in waves. We come to a halt, and people stay inside. Only us make it out, along with an eldritch horror that tips his hat to us before devouring corpses laying around. The air makes me choke. It smells of a miso of gore and dried blood, entrails of every species on the face of the earth. The large station we have come to is painted over with what used to be people, and some bloods aren’t red. Scales are in the mix! I bring a balled up claw to my mouth, suppressing a gag, but otherwise showing no emotion at the spectacle before me. Neither of us flinch much. Damn. I’m toughening it out here, but these two are legit used to it that much? Is the lair of the Queen always so… Messy? I realise there are no functional cameras around- so our augmented reality showed in our HUD dies down. Every window or display now show nothing but dark graphite reflections of our blank faces. The slightly pulsing red lights of exit signs show us the way towards where we should be headed... Unless we were apparently insane, which we all were for some reason. We're headed for the service tunnels at the other end of the platform, I sure hope there weren't any trains coming in the next few minutes. Don't want to end up like the décor.

"Right this way, mammals. Get ready to meet our Queen, the pinkest bug you'll ever see." The fluttering girl took the lead, and shook the weight under those chitinous plates around her ass. She was literally shoving her privates under our noses and making sure we get sprayed in whatever pheromones she's squirting. Please, don't get any in my mouth. Also now could be a good time to inform you that while she was sluttily dressed, she wasn't wearing any underwear. Not like it matters since half the population walks around naked, but still. She was obviously drawing attention to her slender neck, bare legs and gaping holes. Sorry, it had to be said. I could fit both my hooves in one and booth my claws in the other! Something tells me she actually hopes someone would.

With her tail perked up, her wiggling rump led us towards the darkened tunnels of the high speed subways. If a train were to arrive, we barely had a second to react if we wanted to avoid turning into bits and mist. She picked up her pace and we hastily trudged along behind her. It was worthless to worry about the security noticing us- the last guard I saw was hung with his own tripes. You'd think they's send reinforcements or something. I guess those bugs really are dangerous if the law won't raise an eyebrow and let them slaughter a whole station. After reaching the end of the stairs, we jumped down into the tracks. The Cat warned us about the live current on some of the rails, and the bug instruced us on where to walk to avoid being fried on the spot by a misstep.

We soon arrived to a large red door, really out of place straight between the two sets of tracks. My companions each took an end of the door and both pulled to show a hole floating in mid-air. It led to somewhere even darker than the dimly lit subway. The edges of the hole seemed to be made out of teeth and black sludge, and the magic holding it together made me wince in disgust. It was aberrant. Fiendish. Straight out of tartarus. Spatial magic that could cross planes, no doubt. Highly illegal since it could be used in warfare in unfair ways- imagine opening a portal to the fire plane right under the opposing army. I know things like that, yet still can't recall my name. I have a feeling my last name starts with an 'A', but that's about it for now. I wasn't worried- with time, i would definitely remember stuff like that. Panicking would only delay that eureka.

"This is it. Once inside, stick close to me. I can't guarantee your safety if some other member of the hive snatches you away. But don't worry, they'll probably let you go after fuckin you for a few days."
With that horrible warning that made me clench my rear end, we took turns touching the almost aqueous surface of the warp, Which swallowed my friends with a nerve wracking squelch. With an audible gulp, I reached a claw.

Author's Note

Welcome, one and all, to the worst nightmare ever written by the worst author on film fiction. Kidding! I’m just more of a deviant. I couldn’t wait to get this shitshow started. Now, some things do belong to hasbro in this one. Changelings is a race that exists here… But well, so does ponies of every tribe, thestrals, gryphons, hyppogryphs, Kirins, manticores, timberwolves, zebras, lamas, deerfolks, demons and devils, hecathonchires and… wait, no, not that last one. They do include lots of greek mythos, but they don’t have humanoids with like 6 arms and 4 legs. Will I include them? What do you think? I’m rolling through entire bestiaries and japandemonium here. Got so many mobs to choose from, i don’t think there’s a monster out there I won’t eventually include here! Anyways, point is, if species names and descriptions can be copyrighted, just step on up and we’ll hash it out like proper adults, we’ll talk money when it comes to it. I don’t intend to sell this work, yet. Thanks to those who supported this idea and pushed me to leave the boundaries of fan writing. Thanks for seeing this as fan-writing enough to enjoy it as such and reading this far! Sorry for not making sense. The author, as well as the main character, are diagnosed with a brain eating bullshit. Please understand that madness is creeping from every edge of my conscious self, and I’m holding myself from rambling as much as I can here. Does that suit you? Sorry, don’t be offended. Or just be! It’s 2022 soon, someone will screenshot my old twitter account where i posted racial slurs and I’ll be canceled! Just kidding, I’m not that racist. Please don’t leave! I’ll stop hurting your brain with those layers of jokes. I’ll stop being meta.

This story is the culmination of many DnD seshs I’ve held in my mind, to take my mind off boredom. Many characters are really messed up because of people i met in my life. I’ll try to make it so they don’t recognize themselves too much, but… They say, write what you know, and I’m a mess, and so are my friends. But i like that about them, and i came to like that about myself. Love your damage. that the first real step to healing it the right, lasting way.

To all those wondering, yes, people will die like flies at some point. Just hold your bloodlust in, I’m not even halfway into the intro yet! You need to meet the crew first, and receive the quest! You haven’t met half the crew. Calm the fuck down! We've stopped before reaching the first underworld boss. Probably the worst. Prepare yourselves for a bit of lore next, sorry for the information dumping. I want to get going too! Such a large universe to explore! But we first need to see the boundaries, so we can picture just how huge of a scale this game will be played on.

If you're confused about stuff, just leave a comment. I'll ramble about it somewhere in the upcoming chapters. Otherwise, feedback is appreciated. Constructive criticism. Even insults, at this point. Anything to break the deafening silence in my mind!

Dont leave a like, forget about following me, and dont bother looking me up on other media. Hope to see you in the next author notes! I'll probably start leaking stats and skills of the main crew... I could even give a spoiler! If you're reading this and it's not november 2021, then just press next chapter allready! What are you waiting for? I told you i just needed excuses to ramble on the web. I'm almost done here. You most probably dont need to read this next part.

I'm looking for comments to steer things ahead. When the quest will be accepted, I'll be giving choices in the author notes. It might be picking a number, a dialogue option, or even rock paper scissors- but you will help shape the story along with me! Isn't that exciting? I have no idea what's coming next! Everything just happens along somehow, the writing flows like ink. I didnt know I would introduce a cat and a bug first, for the record. I just stumbled upon his restaurant/shop and was hungry. Same with the bug! She literally popped out of nowhere! Going to meet every big boss was kinda one of the goals... In the first quest stages. Apparently, Stradivarius knew his way around and let us skip ahead a bit. Not that it matters much, but our main character's hunch is right. It will positively impact relationships with those leaders... Most of 'em, at least.
I'm running out of space here. I guess this is goodbye for now! Don't be a stranger, feel free to say hi. Talk amongst yourselves. This will be a work of cooperation with the public, and I might steer things along by asking friends to comment some stuff. Lead you on possible outcomes. Let chaos begin!