TwoKinds: Dimensional Catastrophe

Part 13: Parallel Threats

The next morning, in the dining hall...

Sythe How's your...thing?
Kyle My interdimensional timespace teleporter? It's nearly charged enough.
Raine To get us home?
Kyle Er, not quite...
Flora Why don't you just send us home immediately?
Kyle The device needs to charge longer in order to do so, but the longer we stay in another dimension, the stronger the paradox can get.
Raine I thought you said-
Kyle Interdimensional paradoxes can be formed by touching a dimensional clone of yourself or staying in another dimension for too long.
Sythe When do we get to get home!?
Kyle Don't worry; I made a plan before we left the mansion. Trust me.

Then Trace and Tracy appeared, followed by Florence and Keitha.

Trace/Tracy Morning.
Kyle Same.
Florence Morning, flower.
Flora "F-flower!?"
Florence I don't know how your frail body slipped through my muscular body, but at least I'm with you again.
Flora Ugh...
Keitha You got up early.
Keith No, you got up late.
Keitha *giggle*
Tracy Uh, Trace? I got a weird feeling...
Trace Maybe it's Flora's gaze...
Tracy Why would she do that?
Trace I think she's jealous.
Tracy Oh...
Kyle I cannot believe I'm seeing fluent interdimensional conversations within my peripheral vision... Actually, I can, just I have never seen it before. Just a few more dimensions, then they can get home and get the mindwiping...

Roslyn came out with a few plates.

Roslyn Food's done. Just wait until I get out every plate.
Trace Uh, may I help you with that?
Roslyn Oh, er, no thanks. As you are "Tracy's double," you have equal status to her.
Trace I mean, yeah, but-
Roslyn Please, say no more. I'll be back.

Roslyn left to retrieve the rest of the dishes.

Sythe So, uh, you wanted to say something earlier?
Kyle Yeah. I have that feeling of presence again.
Raine What's that?
Kyle I can feel presences of other demigods of ranks higher, lower or of equal rank to me.
Trace Is it...him?
Kyle Maybe, maybe not. Could be Ephemeral.
Flora Ephemeral!?
Sythe That demigod!?
Tracy Uh, who's, uh-
Kyle Another demigod, also named Neutral. But it couldn't be the one from Trace's homeworld; it has to be one from here.
Florence Where!?
Kyle Outside, waiting...
Keitha What does that mean?
Kyle We're trapped inside until it goes away.
Roslyn Uh, what were you talking about?
Trace N-nothing, Roslyn.
Roslyn Oh, okay... I'll be back again.
Trace Alright then... So, Kyle, what do we do?
Kyle Ephemeral is a slightly high-rank demigod compared to me, but if you help, the powers will balance.
Trace Wait, you want me to help you fight Ephemeral!?
Kyle Insane, yes, but it'll buy time. The device, like I said earlier, is nearly charged. Besides, I really need some exercise...
Trace Alright, if you wish-
Flora/Tracy No!

Flora and Tracy hugged him, aware yet unaware.

Flora Please...don't go...
Tracy You don't have to do this...
Trace Sorry, ladies, but I want to do this...
Kyle That's the spirit! You're nearly behaving like an auxiliary demigod.
Trace Really?
Kyle Yeah. A true subordinate, you are, indeed. Keep that up and I'll hire you, heh heh...

So Trace and Kyle walked out to face Ephemeral...

Ephemeral Ah, Tracy Legacy. Oh how good it is to see you...
Trace Actually, it's Trace Legacy.
Ephemeral Really now? Still trying to hide your identity? Even though I can see it through yoir disguise?
Trace This isn't getup! I'm not Tracy!
Ephemeral Geez, your acting as nearly as convincing...
Kyle You know what, "Ephemeral?" Your visit here will be ephemeral!
Ephemeral You dare mock me, mortal? Do you wish to die!?
Kyle If I die, I'll die, but I can't...
Ephemeral Oh, enough of this!

During the fight, inside...

Tracy Trace...
Roslyn Please, stand a little further away from the window... Ma'am?
Tracy He needs my help, but I don't know how...
Roslyn Tracy? Are you even listening to me?
Tracy Wait, is he- Is he a mage!? Wait, if he's me, then-
Roslyn Tracy! Get away from there!
Tracy I know how to help him...
Roslyn/Florence/Keitha/Keith/Sythe/Raine/Flora What!?
Tracy But I need to train, and fast! Any good room?
Roslyn Er, I don't know, ma'am. But I must forbid you to go out there if you tend to harm--or worse, kill--yourself.
Tracy But he needs help!
Sythe Kyle said that with Trace, they will be equally matched with Neutral!
Tracy Then I should even the odds better!
Roslyn Tracy!

Outside...

Ephemeral These two? Equal to my strength? Impossible!
Kyle <Come on, Trace! Just a little while longer...>
Trace Getting...tired... Mustn't...stop...now...
Ephemeral Getting tired? Well, I hope you-
Tracy Hey, you!
Ephemeral Who dares- W-what!?
Trace Told you so...
Ephemeral B-but how can this be? I-I though you were-
Kyle People can look like anyone, even each other.
Trace Tracy! Why'd you come here?
Tracy I want to help!
Kyle Unless you know how to use your "powers" and how to control both them and yourself, you may not be able to help us whatsoever.
Ephemeral My my, what a paroxysm. Are you calling her...worthless?
Kyle O-of course not! Why would I!?
Ephemeral Ah, I know your weakness...
Kyle How!? *cough* And what?
Ephemeral You're heartless, yet not callous. Inhuman, yet humane.
Kyle You're saying I have a soft spot? Ha! Very unlikely!
Ephemeral Oh? Then let's see about that.
Kyle Wh- Aaaaaahhh! No-ho-ho!
Trace Kyle!
Tracy Trace, please...

Trace looked back and forth, between Tracy's big eyes and the suffering demigod.

Trace Oh, alright...
Tracy Alright! But, uh, I never knew I had powers...
Trace Well, I hope you're a quick learner... Hey, Neutral! Let's end it!
Ephemeral Oh? As you wish- Aagh!
Trace Tracy, do...something!
Tracy O-okay...

Tracy ran up to the semiconscious demigod.

Tracy Uh, uh... Rrrrrrrrrg... Work, work! Work!
Ephemeral *cough* Heh, powerless, you are?
Trace Hurry! It's getting up!
Tracy Work! Work!
Ephemeral Oh well, you tried. Farewell...
Tracy Aaaaaaaahhh-!

Boom!

Tracy cowered but found herself unharmed; Trace had jumped in front of her and took the hit, bleeding badly and coughing.

Tracy Trace! No!
Trace *weakly* I'm *cough, cough* fine...
Tracy Don't go! Please, don't...
Trace I...won't...
Ephemeral Ooh, what a twist. Lo and behold, the imposter dies before the idol!
Tracy Grrrr... He's no imposter! He's me!
Ephemeral W-what? No! W-wait!

Kaboom!!

Tracy found herself weakened and exhausted; the mask of Neutral lied shattered in front of her. She collapsed before spotting Trace, eyes closed, unmoving. She crawled up to him.

Tracy *weakly* Trace...