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HILDA: ACROSS THE HILDAVERSE

ACT TWO

By: Half_Half

I: Strangers In A Familiar Land

"That can't be good... but please catch me up on what's happened."

You might be wondering...what in the cruddlesticks just happened? Well, dear reader, it all started in the beginning. Let's do this one last time.

Hi, my name is Hilda and for twelve years, I have been this city's one and only adventurer. Yeah, I grew up rough and wild. Recently, I've been through a lot of misadventures with magic. Got turned to a deerfox, discovered a mirror dimension, nearly tore my whole world apart, fend off a bunch of Red-Eyed Trolls, and broke a universe!

But, it's nothing worth getting down about. Sure, I often end up falling flat on my face in these kinds of adventures. Literally and... not so literally. But I just keep getting up, each and every time. A little roughing up is worth getting to see the great big world out there! And who's going to take a look if it isn't me? 'Cause when I think about it, I guess I'm the only Hilda Trolberg has.

As they say...such is the life of an adventurer. I mean, its not all bad. There's a few friends I would love to have you meet.

Outside Library
Day 2, 10:37 PM

"David! Oh thank god, you're okay," David cried as he gave him a little hug.

New David returned the gesture, feeling warmth graze his body, although he could feel his energy draining from his fingertips. Fatigue ran amuck all over his body, as his energy fades like water through a sieve before resting his back against the ground.

"David," he cried again, "Do-do-don't worry, we can– David!" His concern growing bigger as New David couldn't move...then his body ran cold, as if ice replaced his vital organs.

As he sat there with him around his laps, he could feel his eyes tearing up, and he couldn't blame himself. The tears have been welling up, he could feel it in the sides of his eyes...then he felt a hand gently placed over his shoulder.

"Hey kid," Adult Hilda sits next to him, "Are you...okay?"

A moment of silence passes and a gust of wind blew between them. "No..." he felt a tear run down his face, "No, I'm not." David moves himself a little bit away from her.

"Do you–"

"No." David stopped her, "Please, keep it to yourself." He cried out, letting his helplessness get to him.

His reaction struck out to her...it felt like what her David felt back in her world. Adult Hilda didn't attempt to reach out to him, letting the silence settle the dust. As time ticked, she considered what she should say to him, given the situation. Then...she heard something right next to her. He sniffled his nose. She took a glance and noticed that, he was crying. She can see the tears come out of his swollen eyes. David's near-quiet sobbing is all she can hear and the sound of it just compels her to do something.

She couldn't keep it to herself. Hilda sat closer to him and placed her arm around him.

"What do you want to say?" David asked, annoyed.

"David..." she paused, "I noticed how you felt, and how you cried." The statement prompted him to pay attention. "It's a feeling that I can see in my David, that feeling of being unable to help...to be honest, I feel the same way."

Then for a moment, silence befalls the moment. That biting silence clinging to her throat, its uncomfortable. Then, he spoke.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she then faced him, "This whole thing just made me feel lost. Luckily I still have my David around, but I know he has his limits too...just like you," Hilda dearly says, lightly pinching his cheek.

He chuckles lightly. "How come?"

"Well...even though he's not you in some way— He runs a band and travels the world for quite some time, but David's still just a man. He still feels scared, hopeless, afraid...mad."

"Mad?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. Even through all of that, my David's still the same guy I knew...and loved," she hints with a giggle.

"Wait," David says in surprise, "So are you and him like in l–"

"Aaand that's enough talk for today." Adult David walked in uninvited, halting the conversation entirely. "I'm sorry for doing that, but we really need to get inside."

The Librarian nods to his caution. "He's right. Making them stay out here for too long leaves them vulnerable to it happening again." She explained as she took dibs on the Deerfox version of Hilda. "We still need to warn the others, this could be dangerous for all of us."

"Agreed!"

"Now we must make haste, lest lightning strikes twice," the Librarian concludes before carrying Deerfox Hilda over her shoulder.

"Wait, what do you mean? Lightning doesn't strike twice." David rebutted.

"David, I think they meant that it might happen again." Adult Hilda briefly explains the idiom. Now, she gets to see his realization dawn over his face as his jaw drops.

Summoner Kelly followed along and chose to carry Lieutenant Hilda over her shoulder as well. The urgency now convinced the others to begin lifting the others inside as cold winds begin to breeze in front of the library.

Outside Library
Day 2, 10:46 PM

The wide and high stairway up to the library proved to be quite a challenge for the group. While Adult David and Adult Hilda had to carry New David and Tired Hilda respectively, David, luckily had to carry nobody as they walked.

At the same time, both The Librarian and Summoner Kelly were lifting Deerfox Hilda and Lieutenant Hilda respectively. Kelly turned out to had the worst choice out of the four.

"Why does this–" she struggled dragging it up the steps, "–have to smell like–" Kelly kept dragging, "–like she took a bath in alcohol!" She continued but had to hold back her gag. Even so, she can't help but feel dirty having to drag her ruined police officer uniform up with her hands.

"I don't know," the Librarian responded, "It just came here like that."

"Seriously!? Ughh!" Kelly bemoaned in frustration as she tried to lift it up from her arms.

Over at the adults side, both of them were able to carry fairly fine. This is probably because they're adults carrying children and not adults.

As they were carrying them over the staircase, Adult David took a glance at his girlfriend.

"Hilda, about what you told to him earlier," he starts, "I...couldn't express how much that means to me. I thought you didn't mind if I felt that way to you before, but hearing you say that you also felt it too and put up with me through it all...I find that quite touching."

The spiel caught her attention and Hilda still felt those same butterflies as ever. But hearing him appreciate her effort to calm David down and feel what she feels is enough to keep her happy. Her face lit up soon after, giving away her smile as a sign of thanks to him. 

Adult Hilda brushes her arm lightly against his, quietly murmuring as she does. "I love that side of you. It reminds me that, even as you grow old, a part of what makes you...you is still there for me. I like it that way." Her face now blooms red, as Hilda pushes her hair off to let it show.

Her face is as gorgeous as ever, with her soft locks giving way to a clear face smiling at him. It gives off all the feels. Adult David couldn't help himself but return the gesture back with his boyish smile. His smiles make her feel like drinking a warm glass of milk before bed or snuggling with Twig whenever she's bored back at home.

Its warmth shines to all who sees. Even David couldn't help but be at awe at it too. "Wow...still had my smile," he commented, "Good to know I have something in common with my doppelgangers for once."

"Oh!" Both flinched surprised and in sync. The timing got a chuckle out of all three, thinking it was funny that they said it at the same time. Then they turned to David. "Yeah~ his smile is just the best," Adult Hilda groaned with joy, "How come your Hilda didn't see it too?"

"Babe, they're just kids."

"I know, but I can't help it!" Her giddy excitement over him makes David feel somewhat comfortable of the situation. At least it soothes him from what happened.

He chuckles at it. "Right, but unfortunately I don't think Hilda thinks of me like that," David scoffs at the idea.

"Aww, but maybe someday."

"Guys, are you coming in or what? This door isn't gonna keep itself open for long." Summoner Kelly yelled from the doorway.

"Right, sorry!" Adult Hilda shouted back before turning to the two Davids. "We can talk more about that later. Deal?"

Both nodded in approval.

Inside Library
Day 2, 11:23 PM

Now at the secret room, everyone had to take a break from all that heavy lifting. Both adults rested nearest to the mirror, the Librarian and Summoner Kelly at the stairway while David is at the chair downstairs. 

As he lets the fabric envelop his body into a cozy warmth, his eyes noticed the carpet at the floor in retrospect, following the arrows etched inside before trailing off. He didn't pay any mind to it, thinking the carpet was just for aesthetic purposes.

At the stairway, the silence proved to be a biting nuisance. It's uncomfortable to hear absolute silence. The Librarian then looked at Kelly.

"So.. Since you're here now, how did you got here?" she asked.

"Me?"

The Librarian nodded in agreement.

"Well...its a long story."

Okay, how do I approach this? Hello, my name is Kelly. You might not know me, but for the past fifteen years, I've been living in one of Trolberg's many underground Marra colonies. It's not a hard life, but it is not easy. I've been living in fear for quite some time, not for being a Marra, but because of something called the Shadows in my universe. What are they, you may ask?  Well they are malignant entities that roam the streets, foreshadow your death via the Midnight Channel and manifests through your most intrusive thoughts and then kills you if you don't accept them. They even show how you die the following day!

How I got here? Well, while me and my friends were trying to enter the TV World to save another life from the Shadows in a Junes, a portal just came in and somehow transported us here.

"Did that help?"

The Librarian possibly couldn't keep up with all of this information. Underground Marra colonies? Shadows?? TV World!????

"....Yes, I think I did."

As the minute passes while everyone waits for the mirror to at least come to life, one among them rises from their slumber.

Tired Hilda jolted herself awake, shaking as if she's shivering. The sudden shock of it all caused Hilda to wake up gasping for breath, like she'd been through a nightmare. Not a good experience.

Her awakening surprised everyone else in the room, all eyes now on Hilda. "Hilda!" David ran over to her side, embracing her as she sat up. 

She couldn't process what happened, but feeling his hug felt....nice, although it doesn't feel the same. Hilda tried to return the gesture, hugging him back with a hesitant face. 

"Are you okay? Did the blast do anything to you? Were you hurt? Do you feel anything?" David kept on asking and asking to her. This didn't sit well with Hilda and had to excuse herself, her face contorted to match her mood. He soon caught up with the expression and stopped.

Now that a brief silence returned, it allowed for breathing room to let Tired Hilda take it all in —both literally and figuratively— at once. She finally mustered the courage to talk.

"I don't know what to say. Honestly, I've been through worst," she prefaced, "but I feel fine, are there any—" 

A sudden splitting shock of energy invaded her psyche, bolting her to the floor and rolling along the wooden floorboards. The shock surprised everyone around the room and soon turned to her side, as the others ran quickly to Hilda as she jerked all over the floor.

Her own disturbing nightmares returned to the fold, gripping her tightly as she clung on to whatever she can grab. Sweat ran down from her forehead, heartbeat sprinting like a repeating rifle firing shots rapidly, it all feels as if she's been suffering through those nights again.

Loneliness is an eerie feeling.

Those words echoed all over the darkness, the void that kept following her ever since.....well, that happened. It all happened so suddenly, and briefly.

BEEEEEEEEPP!!!

Sounds of a loud car horn pierced the veil of silence, shaking Hilda awake and in shock, with a terrified look on her face. She doesn't feel well at all, her heart felt as if it was stomping over her chest. Disoriented, lost, and breathless, her eyes kept turning to every direction as she sensed to be over the edge.

T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ f̵̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊̆̇ͅŏ̸̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́̆̍͜͝ͅǧ̷̷̡̟̲̹̩̱͉̮̭͇͚̮̖̟̽̓͊̔̓̌̕̕ f̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊ͅi̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝ǎ̴̯̀͠l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆y̶͔͗ c̵̛̥͊l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ.

Hilda is now being allowed to see. As she lets herself be rest assured by this, another danger arises. It now appears that she has been chained to the driver's seat, the chains wrapped around and locked to the brim. Soon, her heartbeat returned once more to being extremely distressed, eyes frantic with fear as she hears the engine being turned on.

"Help!" she cried, immediately thrashing herself in the seat, "Help! Please, get me out!"

Her pleas were left ignored as the engine roared to life with a great green fire within. Immobilized and helpless, Hilda couldn't help but whimpered to her fate. The wheels then began to roll as tears roll over her eyes. "Please..." she wept before the inevitable.

T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ f̵̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊̆̇ͅŏ̸̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́̆̍͜͝ͅǧ̷̷̡̟̲̹̩̱͉̮̭͇͚̮̖̟̽̓͊̔̓̌̕̕ f̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊ͅi̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝ǎ̴̯̀͠l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆y̶͔͗ c̵̛̥͊l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ.

A big steep road looms over a hill as an intersection laid below. It seems as if nothing was in its path, then further down the road laid another car in its midst. Hilda could see what was ahead and to her shocking realization, knew what this was. She's been here many times before and this never ends well.

In the real world, Hilda kept rolling over the floor with her hands around, drenched in sweat and in disarray. Her breathing now composed of short gasps and heartbeat now drilling its way out of its place inside.

"Hilda!"

Everyone had now gathered at the floor, all trying to understand what is going on or how to stop it. Seeing it all affect her, they kept their distance.

"God, how long until they're coming back!?" The Librarian stressed, quickly grabbing as much books off the shelves, "We need to be quick before this gets worst."

"Hilda, what's happening to you?" he says, afraid.

"David, give her space," his adult counterpart pulled him away, "The more we interfere, the more it gets worst."

The nightmare continued to unfold, now going in an absurd direction as Hilda began to pull her hair out while they can all hear her vain attempt to scream.

Finally, they have their answer.

"Bli av kvitt dine mareridt!" An incantation was summoned, as The Librarian thrusted her wand forward and towards Hilda. A thin purple light emits out and impacts her and for a while, it seemed to work.

"David, Hilda!" she called out to the adults, "Move the others out of the way! This might have–"

"I'll help!" Summoner Kelly leapt from the stairs and before she could land, she swiftly changed into a wisp of flame before landing safely to the floor once again.

"Whoa..." Adult Hilda felt amazed. "Now that is not our Kelly."

"Guys!"

The pleasantries of joking around had to be postponed, as everyone quickly got around to dragging them all nearest to the mirror while The Librarian held the incantation over.

"Bli av kvitt dine mareridt...Bli av kvitt dine mareridt...Bli av kvitt dine mareridt," she had to keep chanting to keep it stable. Soon, she turned to the spell and to her horror, it began to climb its way toward her...almost as if its conscious.

Trying to think up of a quick solution, the Librarian had to think at the drop of a hat before it reaches her. What could it be? What would it be? What should it be?

As it reaches the tip of the wand, everyone looked in horror. Even though they relocated the others to a safe place, the Librarian herself is now about to be in a pickle.

Then–

"Mala somnia tolle, maligna anima!" The right spell came along, and it energized the spell to new heights. Now it glowed yellow and repelled the greenish invasive spell out of the way, clearing the way to liberate Hilda from her nightmare.

Though that didn't came with repercussions. The room suffered a moderately low quake as soon as it expelled the invasive spell, not devastating but a shocker to wake the others up.

One of them was awakened by the quake while the other was shook awake by a pair of falling books next to them.

"Hello!? Where am I? What's going on?" A voice similar to Hilda's can be heard.

Everyone quickly turned to each other and had found out that Deerfox Hilda, the Hilda that smelled like alcohol and dressed like a cop, and more importantly, Tired Hilda 

It was a giant sigh of relief for the team, at least relieved that none of them were dead. But having learned from what happened, they kept their distance and gave them time to process things and breathe for a bit.

"Did something happen while I was asleep?" Tired Hilda asked, her head a little ached.

"...No, not at all." The Librarian helped her stand up.

11:56 PM

After the attempted possession of Tired Hilda, everyone had to rest themselves against the shelves, all alert as to not fall victim to whatever happened to her. As they waited for the mirror to open up, Kelly turned to the adults.

"Hey..." she asked, "Why were you guys kissing in the dark earlier?"

"Wait, how do you know that!" snapped Adult Hilda at her while Adult David looked away embarrassed.

"Because I can see you from the stairways."

As they were about to object, both adults looked up and saw the railing over the stairs and soon realized how she was able to see them...

"See?" Kelly grinned at their reactions, "So...what's your story? Why are you two like this?"

"Well...."

Let's say this isn't those kinds of stories. Hi, my name is Hilda and I've spent about 12 years of adventuring and fun, 6 years of pure high school torture and about 5 years working with Frida in the Trolberg Zoo. I love my work there but it can get a little stressful. David had to move out to Norway and ran a rock band from there, so there's that.

Then, two things came in that changed my life forever... One, I thought some random old geezer was my dad and after that, I actually looked for my dad...then, he happened. My one true BBF, my best boy friend, David. You might think its predictable, but I've been a few dates before him, but they're boring compared to him. We've hung out for quite a while, ate some dinner, maybe kissed one or two times, but he's helped me find my father. Without him, I wouldn't have come this far.

How did we get here? Well we were just returning from the lake and...how do I describe it? It's like walking into the wrong classroom and not realizing what you've done. That's all I know.

"I think I covered it all."

"That...is quite confusing." Kelly was left speechless. "I don't know how to comprehend it...what about you? How's your story?" She pointed to David.

"Me?"

Okay, let's go through this one last time. Hi, my name is...well wouldn't you like to know? I've lived in Trolberg during my childhood but due to unknown circumstances, we moved to Norway when I was 14. We lived in— Hey! I ain't telling you that, it's personal! For a while, it was a nice life but it got better! 'Cause Sola Manor happened! Ahmed, Daoud (yes that's a name), Nessa and–

"Wait, you have a Nessa in your world!?"

The interruption scratched the flow of his spiel, "Wait, there's one in your world too?"

"Yes! Although I hear that in mine she's...uhhh dead?"

Only silence followed the statement, the shocking news felt like falling into cold water and being shocked by the suddenness. He couldn't believe it, neither does Hilda.

"No...she can't be," he said in disbelief, "What happened to her? How did–"

"Guys, the mirror!"

As the other David pointed out, the mirror gleamed bright into the dark room, even though no other light source was present. Soon, a glowing ripple began to emerge from the mirror, as if someone is reaching up to them.

"...let's agree never to speak of it again–"

The only voice that escaped the mirror's grasps echoed through. It sounded like Hilda's voice but...it sounded like a boy.

It did signal to the group that they're returning. "Everyone, grab onto something! This is gonna get messy." The Librarian yelled, hand already gripped the banister.

They all followed through her orders, running away from the mirror and grabbing on the railing or one of the shelves, as they anticipate their arrival. The winds begin to pick up, as gusts of wind began to bellow towards the mirror like a hurricane as the mirror beams off a blinding blue light all over the room.

Then, it refracted its light to let someone through, landing with their ankles first before stepping forward. A three-pointer landing if there was one. Soon, the others followed along as Hilda got out landing foot first before adjusting herself, then she moved out to let the inexperienced doppelgangers land.

"Ack! Do I still have to land on my ass!?" Teen David screamed, "Jeez, is that how I always land?"

"Yeah, even in the TV World, you couldn't even score a good landing." Teen Trevor joked, snickering as he said it.

"Shut up, will ya?"

"Children, please refrain using those words," Angel Alfur politely scolded, coming out of the floor and back up into the air.

As the minute ticked, the mirror finally settled to its status quo, allowing for both David and The Librarian to run to both Hilda and Hilbert with bated breath, wanting to hear what came of their trip to the other side.

"Hilda!" Both hugged her out of relief. "How did it go? Did you manage to get the other Librarian's help?"

"Well..." she glanced to the others behind her, "Not exactly."

"We ran into trouble with those people." Hilbert then pointed with his thumb to the back.

"Look, we apologize for destroying your Library," Teen Hilda reasoned, "If it weren't for your angel, none of this would've happened."

Before she could add on to her defense, a sudden realization hit Teen Hilda quicker than a bullet. She looked to herself and noticed that her hair now flowed to her shoulders again. Seeing this, she turned to her Frida immediately.

"Frida! Look at yourself!" She shook her. "We're not dudes anymore!"

"Yooo," Frida looked in awe, tugging her own shirt, "That was...weird, I kinda like it."

As they both helped each other stand up, they both eyed each other up and down to see the differences. That mirror got their curiosity up a notch. "Bet the TV World couldn't do that," Randall joked as they snickered. 

"Please, can we not go through that again?" Summoner Alfur shuddered, "I cannot handle the change."

Over at the desk, New Frida went over to her David still laying on the floor. She still felt sorrow and looked over his unconscious body, kneeling down to check his heartbeat at least to see whether he's still alive or not. Frida couldn't express how much she felt bad for him; he's been through a lot just to keep Hilda safe, to keep her from danger and to maintain Hilda's humanity. 

As she was about to feel her eyes breaking down into tears, she felt a gentle hand placed over her shoulder. Frida turned to her back to see who it was.

It was David, the other David. "I can imagine how it must be like."

"...You really think so?" 

He knelt down with her. "I wonder how it must be like for this David."

As they were talking about their own pasts over at the stairway, New David could feel his head aching, as if it was still bleeding. The pain echoed through his skull like a bullet to the head. Was it a concussion? A shock? A punch to the face? He couldn't quite put his finger on how it feels...David sat up feeling somewhat inebriated.

He couldn't think straight, his mind felt like being strangled by a pair of hands. Something inside of him must be a reason for this. Hands already trying to keep his head up, as if they were loose parts in a doll's body. Then, he starts hearing voices...they don't belong to him, but they linger in his mind like an unwanted guest.

Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅ O̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅW̵̰̻͍̉̔̅̀̐͐͒͆̒̚N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅ                    Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏B̶̨̛̺̤̱̾̀́̋̔̆̏̎͘͘I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔Ḑ̷̮̳̣̟͉͋͗̓̕͜Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕O̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅ M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅ P̷̛̛̛̩̺͇̊̅̍͂͗͑͐̎̂̏̐̐L̷͖͈̓͌̎̉͒͗͂̓̌̚͝Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅ                          I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚ Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅ M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑R̷̎̍́                         Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ W̵̰̻͍̉̔̅̀̐͐͒͆̒̚Ḩ̵̛̘̤͙͔̝̫̖̻̦̞͙̺̅̿͘͝Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔ Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑

Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ F̵̜̜͎͉̯̜̓͂Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑                             Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ W̵̰̻͍̉̔̅̀̐͐͒͆̒̚Ḩ̵̛̘̤͙͔̝̫̖̻̦̞͙̺̅̿͘͝Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔ Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑                              Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ F̵̜̜͎͉̯̜̓͂Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑                         Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ F̵̜̜͎͉̯̜̓͂Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑

Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏B̶̨̛̺̤̱̾̀́̋̔̆̏̎͘͘I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔Ḑ̷̮̳̣̟͉͋͗̓̕͜Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑ T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕O̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅ M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅ P̷̛̛̛̩̺͇̊̅̍͂͗͑͐̎̂̏̐̐L̷͖͈̓͌̎̉͒͗͂̓̌̚͝Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅ                               I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔ Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚ Ý̴̥͙̘̇̈́̇̃͒̿́͘͘͝͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅU̴̡̢̱̳̳͓̗͔̮̔͜͜͜Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅ M̶̧͚̪͉̯̜̰͎̘̀͋̇̀͗̍́͆̑̏͂̿̊̚Ą̵̺̰̻̻͔͇͓̈́̓͛̏̈́͌͋̄̑͆̏Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕Ȩ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅ                         Ḑ̷̮̳̣̟͉͋͗̓̕͜O̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕                               Ḑ̷̮̳̣̟͉͋͗̓̕͜O̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅ N̸̡̧͕͙̼̻̳̦̪̞̯͎̦͓̏̒͌͑͒͊̾͌̑̅̕͝ͅO̵̧̗͕̹̼̦̗̮̱̝͆͊́́̈̿̋ͅT̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ Ŗ̷͇̙̰̭̪̟̺̲̜̹͔̎̍́ͅȨ̸̪̯̗̘̥̣̲̣̣͍͚͙̥̩́̀̈̆͑Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔Ś̸͙̺̥̰̯͙̭͆̏͂T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕                                                        

These voices screamed within his own body, as if it was speaking from a different entity. He couldn't keep them out of his head, or rather he can't. But before he can scream, his eyes finally opened to a strange sight. Everyone in the room was looking at him, all eyes now on David as he sat up from his seat.

"David!" They all shouted with relief. The nearest ones ran to his side, giving him a warm hug to make sure he feels noticed. Frida gave him a long embrace, as she thought he might've died by the explosion. She felt herself about to break down until she had to part ways to see him face to face. "I'm just glad you're back."

The voices soon disappeared as they all gathered around him. His head still feels heavy however. "Th-thanks..." are the words he can utter before his head ached again. 

"His head's hurting," Hilda said, worried. "Can someone please give him an ice pack?"

As they all looked for one, over at the carpets, the deerfoxes explored the floors using their snouts and noses, mapping out the room with their scent alone. Deerfox Hilda could also sense the smell and was about to bend over and join with them before Adult Hilda grabbed her arm. "Hilda— Wait..."

The deerfoxes trailed the carpets near to the mirror before approaching the one near the desk. Following the arrows etched into its insignia, they all turned to the area of the room that its pointing towards. As they point their noses to the shelves, an eerie scent followed which caused them to begin to growl. They stood up and began scratching the shelves, hoping to find a way in. 

Them making a noise out of this has caused everyone to notice. "Twig, what's wrong?" Hilda ran up to Twig and tried to pet him, but he seems scared. His tail swirled around his body, shaking as he approached the shelf.

"Hey, Leaf, what's wrong, girl?" Hilbert too ran up to his deerfox, pulling her out and petting her head. Even so, she too is shaking in fear, keeping herself close to Hilbert as he petted her head.

This doesn't make sense, they never acted like this before...unless— They both turned to the shelf that both were hollering at. They turned to each other with questioned faces. What did they smell in there? Is there possibly more to this room than they thought?

"Am I thinking what they're thinking?" Deerfox Hilda intrigues, "The last time they acted like this is when I found this room."

The thought-provoking possibility sent chills up everyone's spine though the Librarian had kept her mouth shut for now. They all knew this room was secret enough but another one on top of it?? It sounds conspiratorial but they can't help but think it is. Inspecting the shelf closely, both Hilda and Hilbert checked the edges to see if there were any loose ends. Although Hilbert didn't see it, Hilda did and as she noticed the gap, she placed her hand inside and pushed it to the side.

A new room unfolded right before their eyes as the shelf slid to her left like a sliding door, giving way to a new secret room inside. Everyone was in shock and awe, they immediately ran inside with fascination as they walked down the steps.

"Whaaaa~ No way!" Hilbert exclaimed as his jaw dropped to the floor. "The secret room has another secret room!?" 

"This must be where the really good ones are," Teen Hilda joked as she slid down the banister to the floor. "C'mon, there must be more to this than we thought."

Everyone had begun to spread out within this new room, inspecting every book within just to see if there are any that are worth giving a look. The trio couldn't help but be at awe with this room. Then, the adults went down to the room last.

"We have the ice pack—" they said upon arrival, "What the fuck!? There's another secret room!?" Both Adult Hilda and David shrieked, accidentally cursing in the process.

The Librarian had to elbow them in response. "Quiet down, there's children here!"

"How come you didn't tell us about this?" Hilda questioned the Librarian, "This could've helped us find info on the portals!"

The Librarian looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "And? I told you, I don't have books on the subject." She defended herself.

Hilda pouted before turning to the room. As she saw the others grabbing books left and right, she turned to Hilbert.

"Hilbert," she grabbed his attention, "If there's no books about it upstairs, then this place must be it."

"But Hilda, we looked for 25 minutes! If there's none here, what do we do now?" he reasoned.

"Well, if a secret room has a secret room, then this place likely has another one."

"What are the odds?" New Frida inquired from their discussion. "There's no way that another room is gonna be found here."

"Then, let's find out."

A montage appears. Each group from their own universe splits off into groups in order to hunt for information about the Anomaly, the portals, the green eyes, all of it! Grouping all of their books in one place, they all read every page, every footnote, every appendix and bibliography of it all, but still, none were found. As they were reading it, a few of the Davids chose to talk to each other as they searched.

"Woah...you're hot," Teen David couldn't help himself to say it, staring into Adult David's beefy arms. "No wonder Kelly said you're hot."

That last part was a mixed bag to him, and he felt both flushed and uneasy that a Marra thought that he was hot. He chose to change the subject. "Yeah...my Hilda thought so too. How's your Trolberg like?" he passed the conversation over.

"It was...fine. More or less the same except there's a wall construction and uhhh there's someone out there that wants us dead." He kept on reading.

That was...unexpected, Adult David thought to himself, and turned to his red-haired counterpart. He saw that his head was buried into the text, faceplanted into the page. A little worried, David tapped his head.

"Hey...are you feeling okay?"

As the question lingered in the air, the other David looked up and turned to him with a drowsy face, almost as if he just woke up. "Yeah... I'm fine."

"If it doesn't bother you...what's your story?"

"My story?" he asked. Adult David nodded back. "Well..."

Where do I even begin? Hi, my name is David and for the past few days, my life has been a never-ending series of unfortunate events and near-death experiences. It all started when Hilda's Mum was trying to find us and...how do I put it lightly? Got killed in a car crash. Ever since, she's been living at my house. I've done everything to keep Hilda safe, and that took a lot out of me, and so did Frida's. We saved Trolberg from a crazy meteorologist, had to contend with Hilda's magic shenanigans ranging from the Black Hound to necromancy (if you're wondering why I have blue hair) and—

"Wait, your Hilda did some necromancy?" 

He was left speechless. He has no answer as to why she ever resorted to that. The question left an uncomfortable silence...they chose to move on to another topic.

"So...do you have any idea how you guys found this room?"

"Well..." the other David raised their voice, "I think those carpets had something to do with it," he said, pointing his finger toward the yellow carpet with a singular dashed arrow in the middle."

The carpet intrigued the other Davids in the room, as it leads to another section of the room. Could these carpets be a sign of where to go next? The Davids all thought simultaneously. They all internally freaked out now that they can hear their thoughts. Simultaneous internal thoughts with different people are not fun.

As they walked over and followed the trail, the other Hildas and Fridas were deep in their study as the Alfurs used their magnifying glasses to inspect every letter in the books. Reading through countless piles of books are no fun, demonstrated by the teenagers in the room as of now. 

"Ughhhh," Teen Hilda groaned in frustration, "This is so boring! Where's a Junes when you need it?"

"What's a Junes?" a tiny high-pitched voice similar to Hilda's asks.

"Wait, who said that?"

"Me!" Elf Hilda jumped out of the other Hilda's air and on to her hands. "What's a Junes?"

"What? I didn't know I would be like this," Teen Hilda looked closer, "Why are you like this?"

Before the elf could muster an answer, the sound of heavy furniture being pushed rang out around the room, catching everyone's attention. "David, what are you doing?" Adult Hilda asked from the chair.

"Something," he said briefly before the shelf gave way to space. Dust befell over the heads of the Davids, causing all of them to sneeze and cough at once. The moved shelf had caught their intrigue as many ran up to them out of curiosity, accidentally pushing New David back to the room behind them as a result. With them in awe, his headache relapsed once more, hitting him as if a broken bottle had been thrusted into his throat. Trying to resist the ache, he collided with the shelf before he got knocked out. Then, his eyes glowed green.

As the others went down without him in pursuit of their curiosity, this David began to hunt for books, using his newfound vision to find the ones his puppeteer wants him to find. Picking up different books, he began to safekeep them in his hammerspace* with no regard for how the information will help him or not. Then, as he was about to look up to the harder-to-reach shelves, he heard footsteps coming up of the stairs. All of a sudden, the feeling went away, as if it was switched off.

"David!" Frida ran over to him. "What are you still doing here? The others are already ahead of us."

"Wait..." he felt dizzy, eyes still not adjusting to the shift, "Was I meant to be here?"

"Well, not really," she replied, "But come on, we need to catch up, they're already underground!" Before he could even say a word, Frida already ran over to the new secret room and David had to quickly catch up before he gets left behind.

After exploring all of those rooms and searching for books about the multiverse like a goose chase for about longer than 25 minutes, the team had finally reached the bottom of the iceberg. It presents a looming hallway surrounded by statues of cloaked and hooded figures holding unidentifiable books in their hands as it leads to a door at the end of the hall. As they walked, the vibe and mood had clearly changed and some among them are expressing their discomfort.

As they walked along the hallway, many began to press the Librarian for questions about the whole debacle and if she was a witch or not. The Librarian refuses to answer or even give a comment to their questions, preferring to keep it silent rather than try to answer all of their questions at once.

"I don't have a good feeling about this," Angel Alfur spoke up, as the aura around him grew dimmer and dimmer with every step, "This place...I sense it is corrupted with demonic powers. I don't know where it's coming from, but it is a power that must be avoided."

With the angel's statement, this caused them to feel cautious of what is ahead of them. This is their first foray into this area, so who knows what laid ahead of them? Hilda and Hilbert lead at the front and as they approached the end of the hall, an uneasy feeling developed between the two. Could it be a lair full of monstrous Lovecraftian beings plotting the end of the world? A hidden library protected by a tall blind entity willing to decapitate their heads if caught? These questions lay at their feet as they open the door.

They were expecting a lot more, but their result was not the one they were looking for but it still matched their expectations. A vast labyrinthine cylindrical tower lay in front, zigzagged by a complex network of stairs that span the entire place, reminiscent of an Escherian painting of stairs upon stairs. The group looked at it in awe as they stepped forward to gaze at its magnificent structures.

The awe-struck Hilda and Hilbert couldn't believe their eyes. It's always been rumored in their worlds of such a tower like this, but never one to be found so close to home. They both walked forward, almost in parallel sync with each other, towards the edge, eyes still glued to the wonder of witches passing by, doing their daily activities and whatnot. As they teetered near the edge, David and Dana felt in their gut that something was wrong.

Then, they turned to Hilda and Hilbert.

"Hilda!"

"Hilbert!"

Both shouted, running up to them and dragging them back to the surface, tugging them by the scarf as they pulled. "Look where you're going, please, Hilda."

Dana faced him, hands both on his sides. "Hilbert, please look where you're going."

"You're right." Hilda said.

"You're right." Hilbert said.

As they continued walking over to the right, they all noticed the big slab of stone that sits at the intersection of the stairwell. It has the emblem of a skull with an open eye donning on a pair of golden wings at the top before their eyes followed down to what seems to be the map of the Tower in a completely cryptic, hieroglyphic style of runic texts detailing each area of the Tower before trailing off to a triangular point towards what seems to be a void that looks like the sun flanked by snakes.

"Woah..." everyone is fascinated by the look. "And I thought The Mummy was fake."

"David," his Hilda responded, "this isn't a museum."

"Yeah, can you not reference movies?" his Teen self spoke up, "It's not funny."

"Guys." The group turned to the front. The path laid ahead was all set in stone, surrounded by marble and cobblestone pillars toward a dead-end. "Where now?"

"It's obvious we can't go anywhere from here." Soon, the group all turned to the Librarian for something to do.

The Librarian rolled her eyes at their staring, crossing her arms and pouting. Everyone looked at her like children waiting for a magician to pull a magic trick. Hilda and Hilbert looked confused, unaware of what they're doing. They went up to Frida and tapped her shoulder.

"Why are they looking at her?" he asked.

"Everyone thinks that she's a witch, so they're all waiting for her to make a spell to like- open a door there or something." Frida explained, pointing to the situation behind them.

"Well, if she really is one," Hilda reasons, "Then make her do...something here, at least to prove it."

The two nodded in unison. As they all moved past the others in the hall, New David was pushed to the back of the crowd again. Due to the tightness of the area, he couldn't keep himself straight from focusing about the intrusive voices once again. While everyone was busy with The Librarian and questioning her of her magic and alleged association, he could feel his own self losing power to another force. Then...his eyes glowed green once more.

He isn't in any danger, but now he couldn't feel his eyes. They were moving around in places he didn't command, and he can hear a smug snickering from within that did not belong to him. 'Oh, my poor poor David' it spoke, You've done exceptionally well.

As his eyes remained green, The Librarian kept ignoring their questions and avoided answering any of them, but over their heads, she noticed that David's eyes have turned green, light gleaming back to her as if it was reflected off of a mirror. Now left with no other choice, she turned to the group.

"Fine, just wait."

Chapter Text

HILDA: ACROSS THE HILDAVERSE 

ACT TWO

By: Half_Half 

II: Revelations Of The Underground

As she hushed everyone's questions down, her eyes once lingered to the edge of the dead end. Locking eyes with Hilda and Hilbert over at the end, she noticed something behind them. New David's eyes...they were now growing green and he remained motionless. Fine mist flown into the air like a flame as he hissed quietly like a snake. How come they never see this? They're probably too caught up with the whole "witch" thing.

But not the Librarian. She noticed how erratic David acted and felt her nerves tingling quickly. She had to act now. Running over to his side while having to excuse herself from the ceaseless questioning of the group, then she finally reached to his side and the effects had apparently disappeared as soon as someone approached. 

However, The Librarian spotted the glow before it dissipated and seeing it fade away at an instant, that now became her worst fear. Running up to him, she shook David briefly before looking at him in the eye with a worried face. "David, you need immediate help!" 

He couldn't bring himself to even speak. All it left behind was a David that felt ever more drowsier than ever...his eyes couldn't keep itself up, overall mood dropping and he can feel his skin losing its color. It's like being Tired Hilda all over again...without losing one's mum. It all felt like time was being lost on her hands, how can this happen! 

But, he did muster up some energy to at least communicate. "Uhhh...wha- what help? Do I really need help?"

The affair had caught the attention of Hilda and Hilbert, both at the back, and walked up to the Librarian. "What's going on?"

Swiftly, the Librarian pulled her cloak up and cloaked the two from sight. She then lean down to the two with a serious face, as she considered this to be of urgent attention. "Hilda, Hilbert, listen," she addressed quietly, "This is serious. David is about to turn." 

Both gasped at the shocking news. "No...you don't mean—"

"I'm afraid so," The Librarian abruptly interrupted. 

They couldn't believe it...one of them is now about to be fallen as they speak. As the weight of the worst scenario dawned over their minds, they all glanced to the other David, sitting down next to a pillar with a disheveled and weary face. He looks so traumatized yet appeared deeply insomniac.

They turn to the Librarian. "What do we do now? How are we gonna find help?" Hilbert shuddered.

"Do not fret," she hushed, "I know how and who will help us." The Librarian assured, taking the cloak down and facing the group with a somewhat confident face. Keeping her chin up to save face for the group, she then lifted her voice.

"I'm afraid that David is going to turn." She disclosed to everyone, causing a wave of gasps to follow suit.

"Oh god, this is terrible!" Angel Alfur grieved, "How can this happen? He's only just a boy."

"No..." Both Tired Hilda and New Frida said in disbelief, "This can't happen! It can't!" Hilda gathered her hands over her eyes, her breathing short-circuited as she tried to resist the pressure to cry.

Then...all of a sudden, New David tried to speak up to the best he can. "Gu.. Guys... I- I'm.. okay."

Although his spoken word was slurred between the lines and a bit haphazard, it was now clear to everyone that it is indeed what they feared. His words reverberated to the group, causing many to be worried and scared; the teenagers began whispering to each other while both Tired Hilda and New Frida were horrified at his condition.

This predicament had caused many to be concerned about the series of events that happened earlier; the Anomaly, the explosion, the marra. Everyone became agitated and the situation under shaky conditions. Seeing the mood, Hilda tried to calm everyone's worries, walking past Hilbert and the Librarian and raised her voice.

"Everyone!" she started, now all eyes turn to her. "I know you're all scared, but I have good news, the Librarian promised us that we're gonna get help." 

"Help? How are we gonna get help here?" Teen Hilda queried, "We're in a witch lair! Who's gonna help us?"

"Someone will!" The Librarian responded.

"And where is that, we may ask?" the Adults pushed.

Her face squirmed at their quizzed faces, they all look skeptical and it isn't helping at all. Then, she thought up of an idea and lightly smirked to herself. "Right here." She pointed to the wall.

The others heard her clear as day. "There? That's a wall." Angel Alfur clarified. "Ghosts can go through them but witches? I do not believe it."

"Then let me show you."

After cracking her knuckles, the Librarian kneeled down and placed her hand over the smooth stone surface. As she held it firm, she kept a steady breathing pattern and allowed her mind to settle down before casting the incantation softly...and then she repeated that over and over again in a steady incrementally louder and louder volume, feeling that energy flow from her mind and towards her fingertips. Soon, a shining light emanated into the wall as pink and purple rays burst out of it before bouncing back to the portal. Now the entire wall that she touched is now filled up with a light pinkish magenta spell, almost as if it was a deceivingly realistic portal.

Everyone was at awe with the view, admiring the way the spell was summoned and the way the portal lit up in front of them. They all had their jaws dropped to the void with this.

"That.. was... awesome!" Hilda shouted with excitement. "How come you never use this often?"

"We don't talk about it." She replied. "Also, I want all of you to forget that I ever did this. Please."

Everyone nodded along. "I agree. I don't want to have my memory be erased again." New Frida cringed at the thought.

"Wait, that happened to you?" Adult Hilda asked, "Did she like...do it Men In Black style?"

"Who the heck are the Men in Black?" Elf Hilda asked from Frida's shoulder.

Adult David lightly elbowed her. "Babe, they don't know that."

"Wait, they haven't?" She had to give it a thought before coming to the embarrassing conclusion.

"Now follow me, and do as I say." The Librarian sternly ordered.

Circular Room

Day 3, 12:45 AM

As they all entered the portal, it felt like diving through a rippling pool of water or splashing in a wave pool. To Hilda and Hilbert, crossing the portal felt like their first time walking through the Eversing Mirror; an eerie, transcendent feeling as if they were floating over the Aurora Borealis. It felt...majestic. 

They finally went across the portal, and it felt refreshing. As they stepped out, the Librarian waited for them outside until they've all cleared the crossing. Some got out rather neatly, like Hilda, Hilbert and their cohort of friends while some got rather unlucky missteps such as everyone else.

Stepping out of the portal, everyone looked at their surroundings and were at awe at what they found. A vast underground library with shelves upon shelves towering over the flat plain of the glass surface, the shelf serving as the imposing walls of the area. Their jaws were all over the floor, admiring the grandiose layout of the Tower.

"Woah..." Hilbert was amazed, even he cannot help but feel astonished at it all.

"I didn't even know this existed," Hilda muttered to herself, still bewildered at its grandiose structure.

"So where can we find help?"

The Librarian turned to him. "I'll find them, but let me talk to them," she states, "They can be quite...prickly." She cringed at the memory.

Seeing how her face twist at the thought of their new allies, Hilda and Hilbert could feel their guts begging them to reconsider their ideas. But they nodded along either way, hoping that their luck would save them again.

With their agreement, the Librarian began to walk along the vast glass floor. Surrounded by interlocking layers of bookshelves, separated office desks reminiscent of those found in an office building and a chilly air looming over her, she tries to give her best to keep everyone safe and sound, even if it means facing the people she tends to not want to meet again.

As she stood in front of the huge concrete stand that served as the negotiation table for all witches, she could feel her heart beating ever faster as she could hear footsteps making their way up to the stand. Already prepared for the proper etiquette and the formalities, the Librarian kneeled down and covered her work uniform with her cloak, awaiting for their statement.

"At long last, we meet..." A voice called out to her. "What brings you here, Keeper of The Books?" It inquires, awaiting an answer.

"I greet you, your majesties. I am here to seek for your guidance and help," she requested in her most formal language, "I have brought to myself a major magical threat to this world, and I need your–"

"Hush hush, I think we know what this is," they interrupted her formal request, "Is this the one involving that giant orb in the wall a few days ago?"

She gasped audibly. How did they know? The Librarian looked up from her kneeled position and there they were, three ghoulishly fashioned witches looking down from above, all wearing their usual formal attires. 

"Ye-yes! Yes, that one!" She confirmed their suspicions. "As I was saying, may I please formally request your assistance for this serious—"

"I'm afraid we cannot delve into that," the shortest witch abruptly stops, "This issue seems to be outside of our hands at the moment."

"Agreed!" The tallest witch then summoned a book out of thin air using a wand with the tip of a rose. "I'm afraid that such otherworldly matters are not of our importance!" She then whipped her wand to the book cart, pulling a book out and pulled it to her hands.

"It is decreed here that such intrusions to our natural laws of the universe would be outside the responsibility of the Witches' Tower!" All stated with a dramatic, almost theatrical tone.

From afar, the entire group hid collectively behind a stacked up book cart placed so distant from where The Librarian is now. With the book pulled out, they all flocked to the sides and away from the book that was pulled.

Peeking from the sides, they were focused on the Librarian and her negotiations with the three witches up high above while the teenager and adult variations were more awed at the monumental and imposing nature of the underground.

The elves sit up from above, confident that they won't be spotted since they haven't signed the contracts as far as they're concerned.

As they peered, both Hilda and Hilbert were concentrated over the conversation, attentively clutching their fists in anticipation for the results. Considering the distance, they can only hear a bare minimum of words from afar, but they hope all of them are beneficial to their quest.

"Please! Let me explain myself!"

"I apologize, dear. But for the crime of letting this slide under the rug, this shall not be tolerated." The three witches have all stated their agreements. 

"But—"

Before she could lift her finger, a tightened wooden rope tied her tight, restraining her from continuing her negotiations. The rope restricted all movement out of her control and she couldn't even feel her shoes touch the surface.

Over at the other side, the group has become alerted at the sight of seeing their Librarian tied up over the middle and Hilda felt the need to run over and scream 'Stop! Please!' As she was about to stand up and take a sprint, Hilbert had to grab her arm before she could even take a step.

"Hilda!" 

Quickly pulling her aside, she stumbled to the glass surface and toward the group. "Hilda, what were you thinking?"

"Who's there?" One of the witches shouted. "Figured you brought visitors."

Then, the tallest witch whipped their wand over the cart, summoning a light pink ray over to the object and soon swung it to her right. The cart flew by at such a rapid pace, it appeared as if it was pushed at the blink of an eye. Now only Hilda, Hilbert, and the rest of the group are to be seen.

"Wha- Guys!" The Librarian scolded at them.

"So, is this the major magical threat you were talking about?" the shortest witch jested, to which she didn't laugh to.

"We aren't!" Hilda shouted, raising her hands over her head, "We are no threat!"

She turned to her group, "Are we?" They all immediately shook their heads in disagreement.

The three witches still look at them with suspicion before turning to their keeper. "Do you know any of them?"

She turned to her disparate and diverse group with a blank stare. "Sort of."

"Are any of them witches?"

"Well–"

"Yes..." Hilbert answered for her. "Well some of us are."

"So are you implying that one among you are..." the tallest held their tongue, "non-witches?" she finally said, keeping it quiet as if it was forbidden.

"Oh my, this is terrible! Abigail, can't you believe it!?" she continued, referring to one of them as Abigail, "Non-witches stepping foot in our sacred halls!"

"Well I'm sorry for that, miss..." Hilda turned to the Librarian, "Uhh what are their names?"

"Oh, what does it matter?" the other witches pipe in, "According to the natural laws of the universe, you are all trespassers!"

Hilbert took light offense to that. "Look- We may be one according to your book but we ca–"

Before he could make a defense for his team, they were all reaped in one place and forcefully tied with such force, as if someone was tightening it. The rope had the same composition and aura as the one that tied the Librarian over.

As they all gasped with fear and dread, they can all see the witches over at their high horses in the concrete stand.

"I'm ashamed to have our world be PESTERED! LITTERED with such dreaded non-witches!" Abigail, the tallest witch, bellowed out, "This is a matter that must be resolved immediately!"

Hilda tried to pull her arms out of it, but the rope felt like an iron vice clamping down on soft styrofoam. "Please, just listen! We can work on this issue together if–"

"SILENCE!" Abigail then bolted out a prowling zip that quickly closed her mouth shut, like putting weights over her lips.

This overreaction has caused quite a concern with the other witches, seeing this undiplomatic approach as an oversight. "Abigail, this act is excessive just to deal with some trespassers." The shortest witch called out.

"The forces of the universe must be kept at bay and our magic has been ruined thanks to these fools!" She reasoned. "This is the only way."

"This isn't the only way!" The Librarian screamed. She had to think fast, what idea could appease her superiors? Think! Think! Think! Think! 

Then...her mind resorted to an idea. "The mirrors! Remember those!?" she blurted, "That can be our only hope!"

Abigail took note of what the Librarian said and quickly shuffled the pages of the book she grabbed. As she turned each page, the others in the group were beginning to worry. 

Especially...Hilda and Hilbert.

"Wait... you knew about this!?" Hilda cried out. "You...knew about it all along?"

Hilbert couldn't believe it too. That mirror... the one that caused all of this, all that devastation, chaos, confusion, and destruction they've suffered... could all be stopped. But somehow, nobody did anything...

"...How could you!?" Hilbert snapped, pushing himself against the rope, "Why did you all let it happen!? You could've stopped the mirror! You could've stopped the parallel worlds from colliding! You could've helped us stop the Red-Eyed Trolls from invading! You could've SAVED US FROM BEING TROLLS! But you didn't!? Didn't you!?" His voice gone coarse from shouting with betrayal in his heart.

Normally, this is where Hilda would've intervened. But this time, she can see through his anger and fury...she went through what he went through and suffered... all of that can be stopped.

"How could you!? All of you!?" She snapped. "You all could've seen the problem! You all could have done ANYTHING to stop it! Why didn't you do anything!?" Hilda reprimanded, tears forming in her eyes. Then she turned to the Librarian. "Why? Why didn't you help?"

The Librarian couldn't help but feel awful for them. She could see how much havoc that mirror left behind but, by some miracle, she chose to be on the sidelines. She looked at the two once again.

"I couldn't help... I can't." She mustered an apology, although she knew that it would be a futile one.

"This...doesn't change anything!" Abigail slammed her fist down at the book. "We've already abandoned that practice long ago, and that wouldn't affect anything."

"But please consider!" The Librarian responded. "These things can only be–"

"Enough!" The other tall witch shouted. "This has gone on for far too long!" She then turned to her southwest. "Loyd!"

Even without stating a command, he followed her orders. Under his hands lay an elongated bass guitar with a very thin fingerboard to serve the one and only string it has. By the first stroke, a deep chord echoed into the room, and as each wave rippled back, it activated the floor below them.

The outlined circular area beneath them had now been turned red by the deep bass, glowing ever brighter as time wore on. This decision had clearly gone overboard.

The Librarian braced for her punishment while the group all began to scream and attempt to pull their way out of the string, but none couldn't break out. As the three witches began to bicker amongst each other, the situation steadily reached to its boiling point.

Soon, a true miracle happened.

"What's with all the ruckus about?" An elderly voice called out. "I couldn't even teach my classes thanks to your fuss!"

All of their bickering had to be stopped due to this interruption. The witches now looked toward a short elderly woman probably around her late 60s in her usual wooden brown skirt, light maroon shirt underneath a deep red coat.

"Oh great, just what we needed," Abigail muttered, sarcastically.

Soon, the elderly woman became horrified after adjusting her spectacles. "Oh dear! Why are you misusing the Void of No Return?" She spoke out, "You three knuckleheads never learn, do you?" The old lady expressed her annoyance.

"Never learn? Say that to your student, Pilqvist!" The other witches joined along with the heckling.

"My student? Oh please, she would never harm a fly." She scoffed, before taking a glance at the rest of the room.

As her spectacles gleamed against the light, her eyes could see only a glowingly red floor, an angry group of witches, and then she turned to the unfortunates that were tied up above the floor. Bunch of new faces she's seeing, but only one stood out from the rest.

A familiar one. She adjusts her spectacles once again. "...Kaisa? Is that you?"

"KAISA!?" the entire group shouted in shock. "I didn't know she had a name."

"Oh, yes she does," the old woman said before muttering something under her breath. Then she began to float with a blue aura under her slippers. "It's right here in her nametag," she snagged it out of her cloak.

"That was...interesting," Hilda remarked.

The elderly lady chuckled at their reactions to this revelation. "What do you think her name was?" She lightly poked fun, keeping a jovial face.

"Maven," every single one of them answered back.

She giggled at their answer. "Now...as I was saying," she then turned to the witches, "Nobody is going to the Void for nothing! I waiver the charges." The old woman then twiddled her finger in a circle.

In an instant, the ropes that binded them like sardines in a tin can vanished out of thin air. This sudden loss of magic caused this weird effect called...gravity to exist once again, resulting in both the Librarian and the group falling to the floor.

The adults were able to withstand the fall, the teenagers were slightly okay, but the others didn't stuck the landing.

"Aahh... it hurts," New David groaned in the distance, holding his head.

"David!" Both Tired Hilda and New Frida ran to his side.

With their gang now finally down, the bookcart that hid the elves could now be able to slowly push themselves back to the centre of the room.

"That old lady's speaking funny," Elf Hilda says, "she's fighting the other funny looking ladies at the top. Why do they need makeup here?"

"Hilda, I think we need to take a break," her elf dad nudged her with his elbow, "This...is frankly too much for today."

In the air, Angel Alfur flew out of the cart and toward New David, the glowing light somehow ignored by the bickering witches and the distracted mob. As he descended, he anded safely over his bright orange shirt.

He walked up to his dust-smitten, bruised face with nothing but a tear on his face. The angel kneeled in consolation, blessing him with a prayer under his breath. Then, he took a sigh before looking at his pitifully pathetic face.

"May the Lord have mercy on this boy," he rests his stubby hand over his mouth, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Am–"

Before he could complete the prayer, the Angel was suddenly thrown off from his face, causing him to dither around in the air like a falling piece of paper.

"Alfur!" Frida shouted, seeing him fly around like a lost fly. "Oh no...David, what's happening to you?"

Over at the stand, as the witches continued to bicker over every detail, both Hilda and Hilbert walked over beside the elderly woman. They still had bitter resentment over the knowledge that these people could've stopped catastrophe at any moment, but they kept it to themselves for now.

"So... what's your deal?" Hilbert asked.

"What's your name?" Hilda asked.

"Well...if I were to continue the formalities," she started, "then I–

I am Matilda Pilqvist! Archsorceress! Enchanter of Livelihoods! Grand Alchemist of The Dark Communion of Halgar! First Blood Sister of The Order of The Black Candle! Tormentor of The—

"We get it, you're accomplished and scary." Both Hilda and Hilbert interrupted her at the same time.

"Figured," Matilda stopped her spiel, "You can call me Tildy, it's much simpler."

"Tildy," Hilda shook her hand. "My name is Hilda...I think I'm the one who rang your doorbell earlier."

"Ahh, so it was you," Tildy shook her hand in return. "It's nice you didn't dingdong ditch me like that Trevor fellow."

Hilda held in her chuckles. "Absolutely."

After the friendly gesture, Hilbert also followed along, shaking her hand as well. As they shook, he couldn't help but feel an uncanny feeling out of Tildy. "You look familiar."

"I am?"

"No, you look familiar to someone I might've seen on the street. I think..." he squinted his eyes, "Wait...yeah, I know now!"

"Know what?" Hilda looked intrigued.

"There's someone like her in my world! ...except, it's a dude. I think."

"So is there like a Manny Pilqvist or something?"

"No, he looked a little similar to her. I didn't quite catch his name but I think..." Hilbert contemplated, "I think his name's Peter or something, I can't quite recall."

"Peter?" Both Hilda and Matilda raised their eyebrows.

"Peter Ostenfeld, I think? Yeah, I think that's his name."

Hilda is a little surprised but Matilda was taken aback. She didn't even quite expect that he would take the mantle of her position as archsorceress in her mirror world. But she digress.

"Ahh, I see. That's neat," Tildy said with a hushed voice.

As Hilbert were about to introduce himself, the loud squabbling over the stand had intruded their conversation.

"The mirrors won't fix anything! The process has already costed us our secrecy, we cannot risk it again!"

"It's the only way we can get rid of these trespassers! What other way can we–"

"That would be a detriment to our world! Imagine the damage we've already done!"

"Oh, quiet down, you buffoons!" Tildy yelled from below. "You witches of all people, shut up! All of you!"

The harsh language had caught their ears and all turned to Pilqvist with a speechless face. Now that they all stopped talking, the room had gone awfully silent.

With the silence now subsiding, Hilda and Hilbert could now take advantage of it to finally press the problem to their face, now without the histrionic arguments blocking their way.

"Kaisa." Both shouted. "Start explaining. What was the Eversing Mirror? Why was it a thing?" Hilda demanded, stomping her foot on the glass.

"And why did you let me take it home?" Hilbert added.

Now backed to a corner and without any excuses to pass, she sighed and began to step forward to both of them and her mentor.

How do I even begin explaining this? So the mirror that you call the Eversing is not the only mirror that can do that. But let's not split hairs, please? This mirror was concocted not long ago but it was quickly abandoned for...unknown reasons, so I hid it under a tarp at the secret room...the first one that is.

"So...the mirror had a purpose, but why was it hidden?" Hilda questioned.

"Can you let me finish?" Kaisa asserted. Hilda became quiet afterwards.

The mirror was supposed to be a connection between us to the Communion of Halgar and the Order of The Black Candle, but due to unforseen circumstances, the mirror and interdimensional travel as a whole was abandoned and shut down by the Tower as a result.

A realization whooshed over both Hilda and Hilbert, as their jaws slowly drop to the knowledge. "No wonder those titles exist," Hilbert said.

"Yeah, they can be quite obselete," Matilda replied.

"If you're looking for an answer," Abigail butted in, "Then let us clarify what Kaisa said."

"Please, stay out of this–"

"Wait," Kaisa waved her hand up, "Let them be, trust me."

These mirrors served as a convenient transportation device to these far-away lands and bring over our allies to Trolberg. But when things gone so wrong when rogue witches try to overthrow the Tower, we had to banish them into the Void of No Return. Afterward, all of our mirrors had to be destroyed and whatever remains become hidden away forever.

"—and that's why this Void existed."

"Does that explain why you had to throw ANYONE to the Void?" Matilda sarcastically joked.

"Oh yes we do!" the shortest one piped back.

"Beatrice, there is no right to just throw anyone to the Void and face no consequences!"

The fighting and quarreling flared up once more and both Hilda and Hilbert distanced themselves away from it all again. Quite a complicated lore..

They went back to their group with at least some affirmation in their hearts, though they still felt a sense of perfidy and betrayal within them. Thankfully, the answer they got is enough.

The two ran over to New Frida's side to see what is up. New David has been laying down there for about a while now and it's becoming a concern.

"What's happening?"

"David! He's knocked out!" She cried out to them.

This is going to become a problem soon. Hilda and Hilbert turned to him quickly, sweat now building up behind their backs. That frigidness returned to him once more and it is quickly settling in.

The growing coolness of his body temperature is beginning to stress everyone out. "David!" Tired Hilda cried, keeping her attention over him as she shuddered at the sight.

With the crushing state of affairs all at once, Hilda and Hilbert now had to turn to the others. Hilda had to keep her eyes over David but Hilbert was about to run to the others.

"Hilbert!" she turned to him, "Where are you going?"

He turned to her, seeing her shocked face. "I– I'm getting help!" Hilbert said in a brief moment before running up to the other characters.

As they ran away toward the others, Hilda had to contend to both Frida and her other Hilda. New David actually began to lose his color, his eyes shimmering like water.

In the middle of the situation, Frida started to conduct a session of cardiopulmonary resuscitation —CPR for short— and tried to rescue her David out of his predicament.

Keeping watch, her adrenaline rush kept her out of her decision-making process. Hilda couldn't keep up with what's happening, it all whizzed by her so fast.

Over at the other side, Hilbert began to run around the entire room screaming at the top of his lungs, having to command every other doppelganger to help out, but the noise of the bickering witches crowded the air.

As he riled them up to help them out, Hilda finally had to make a move, kneeling down to check on David's heartbeat, placing her fingers over his wrists. Feeling his beat, she felt a little surprised that he was still somehow conscious. Now seeing him under CPR felt conflicting.

Then, her nerves shocked her with a sudden solution. "Frida, stop! He's actually conscious!"

"He's knocked out! What am I supposed to do!?" Frida yelled as she continued the resuscitation.

With Frida continuing the resuscitation, she was unaware that he had been breathing, and under pressure, she had applied too much force in his chest in a vain attempt to resuscitate him.

Soon, before Hilda could say he's fine, the Adult David ran over and had to shake her off from the cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As soon as Frida took her hands off of David, he instantly awoke with a gasp, grabbing for air.

Still out of breath and sweating as ever, his hair began to gleam brightly under the red colour, finally entrenching itself onto New David as a headache settled in.

The entire ruckus had finally forced the witches and the archsorceress to turn to their backs to the group.

"Oh dear! This has gone bad!" Tildy looked at them with shock. 

As the chaos now simmered down, both Kaisa and Tildy ran over to their side while the three witches stood there aghast. They noticed just how many books were scattered all over the place as they observed both Kaisa and Matilda run to the group.

"This is an absolute mess."

Over at the group, everyone could now see David's shimmering eyes as he looks around him. Everyone began having their worries again but the one who has a great amount of concern about the situation...was Kaisa, their librarian.

Having unwittingly admitted to them that she had brought them all here, she cringed at herself for letting this all happen, how she let a world-ending event pass her by and not stop it. Now seeing the consequences, Kaisa couldn't help herself but retreat to the shelves in regret. 

As she briskly walked her way there, both Hilda and Hilbert along with her mentor, Tildy, noticed where she was going and they all slowly followed her to the shelves.

As they followed, both Hilda and Hilbert conversed with Matilda about their grievances.

"You both look upset," Tildy glanced, "What seems to be the problem?"

Hilda looked away from her while Hilbert scratched the back of his head. "It's...complicated."

A brief moment of silence stood in between the two from her. A little sigh before a reply.

"I hope you're not mad at my student," she adjusts her glasses, "But I do understand why you would be." Matilda confided with her statement, saying it with a soft tender voice.

That tone helped the two to soften up and turn to her attention, at least it was a necessary step to forgiveness. 

"....thanks," Hilda muttered, giving off a grateful smile to her.

"....thanks," Hilbert said under his breath, shaking her hand lightly.

"Not at all," Tildy thanked. As they nodded each other a silent thanks, she came up with a topic.

"I know she isn't the witch you expect her to be, but I always wanted the best for her. She always had a fond desire with books and magic but then...she started visiting me less. I never know why but I know she wouldn't leave anyone behind...not even you."

The backstory, though short, summed up who Kaisa is as a person and at least eased the idea to both Hilda and Hilbert of redemption. They turn to her once again.

"I...didn't know she had that in her," Hilbert said.

Tildy exhaled. "I'm glad you listened. If you don't mind, what's your problem? What brought you two to this?"

"...I hope you're ready."

Let's do this...differently this time. Like, real differently.

His name was Hilbert Gribley. He had pretty much a similar life as me, but we never met...until that mirror. I found the mirror around the same secret room where I found the Tide Mice book, and I thought he was the only other me in this world. Later on I found out, he wasn't the only one. I think you know the rest after this.......

You don't? Well, alright. I'll explain the rest. He had his own friends, Dana and Freddie, and for about an entire week, that mirror had caused so much havoc. Two worlds colliding from the same sky, the Red-Eyed Trolls attacking our worlds and the Runestones...do I even have to mention them? I thought there was no possible explanation for why it exists, until now.

Their backstory had now been passed on to Matilda, and honestly she had no words to express how bad she felt for these two. How much they had to go through to keep their group alive and well. She had to chip in.

"If it does make you feel better," Tildy says, turning to them, "Then I hope talking it out can help." She then waved her hand toward a deeply regretful Kaisa.

Sitting down on the floor disgruntled and dispirited, she tried covering her body in shame with her cloak as she felt so steeped in guilt for causing devastating effects to the city, Kaisa cried her regrets out like a sorrowful mother on the death of their child during their birthday ceremony. She knew she was good at heart, Kaisa assured herself that, but how could she ever call herself human? Now that her actions caused such a calamity.

This sight is just...depressing. Hilda and Hilbert felt horribly bad for her, seeing her just huddled up to her knees like this. Glancing at Tildy with quite a distressed face, she only gestured them to go closer to her, waving both of her hands to Kaisa and stepping aside, letting them take the stage once in a while.

With her gestures, they both kneeled down at her side and placed their hands over her cloak. Still managing to hear her weep, they held their throats back from making the first move. Though, Hilda mustered her confidence enough to give her a comforting and tender hug, embracing her underneath her cloak and on her blouse. Giving away her warmth, she felt Kaisa's weeps turn from one of remorseful regret to one of gratitude and compassion, hugging Hilda in return.

Seeping her tears through her hair, Hilda pulled her closer to her embrace, discerning the shift in tone and action. Hilbert saw it all unfold and it quite moved him emotionally. He couldn't help but shed a tear at it...no, he had to do something. He too joined in on the embrace with Hilda, hugging Kaisa from the back and letting her take it all out.

It became a pity party, just like the one at the house. But at least for this one, it's actually disheartening.

Kaisa couldn't thank them enough, even if she had indirectly wronged them in the past. As it lasted, she finally got her act together to deliver at least a word for their kindness.

"...I'm sorry," she blurted, "for letting that mirror exist. It was stupid for me to–"

"Kaisa, you shouldn't say that to yourself." Matilda joined along, caressing her hand along her shoulders. "I know you tried to do good —I know you are. But we can never see the future, dear, and we shouldn't fault ourselves to what we can't control."

"That's right," Hilbert said, "But..." his gut gurgled at the thought, "...at least you had good intentions. That, I can live with."

Hilda agreed with him and looked up to her face with a reassuring smile. Then, she took her distance to look at her eye to eye. "Kaisa.. I know you and even though I feel mad, at least you had a good reason. I forgive you."

She ended her statement with a hug, giving her a warm embrace even if Hilda didn't feel comfortable to forgive her this fast. At least, she could come around to that.

"Uhh I hate to spoil this but David's awake." Summoner Kelly shouted over at the centre of the room.

Now that the broody air had been forced out, their concerns had now focused to him once again. They all quickly started running to their side as both Kaisa and Matilda ran to the Committee of Three to discuss how to tackle the matter.

Over at New David's side, they all looked at his side with worry and relief. But both New Frida and Tired Hilda were pleased that he became conscious once again, embracing him from both sides with tears building up in their eyes.

As they hugged, the group had begun to convene over what they have seen and what that could've meant for their universe.

Hilbert: There's no question now, he's gonna turn.

Tired Hilda: No! Please, don't tell me we're gonna lose him!

New Frida: Hilda, calm down. He's gonna get through this, I promise.

Adult Hilda: This is going south real fast, how are we stopping this?

Teen Hilda: Are you asking me what to do? I don't even know what the hell is going on!?

Summoner Alfur: Hilda, calm down. There's no need to get mad over this.

Alternate Kelly: He doesn't even have the hallmarks of a marra anymore. I should know because I am one!

New Frida: Then how should we know what's wrong with him!?

Hilda: We need more help!

Hilbert: Where do we even get help around here? Those witches clearly don't know what they're doing!

Adult David: That's because we haven't even started asking for one. How are we getting help if we aren't even–

Angel Alfur: Please! Everyone...all of you! Stop fighting! This is not how we fix our problems.

That loud pipsqueak-y ethereal voice captured everyone's attention as he fell down from the air like a burning airplane, crippled by the dark forces. He couldn't even stand up, much less keep his head up.

"Alfur!" Hilda kneeled to the floor like looking down at an ant. "What happened to you?"

He crawled toward her face. "The– Th- There's someone wicked in the air," Alfur slurred and stuttered with their lines.

This caused an uproar of worries to boil over once again, as many started to question what could happen under the hands of the Tower. All voiced their concerns, many began to doubt their survivability.

Then, a pause occurred.

"Guys, good news!" Kaisa ran up to them.

Hilda was relieved that she came when she did and Hilbert felt delighted to be out of a stressful and destabilizing situation. They all turned to her with intrigue.

"What? Please be good!" Tired Hilda pleaded.

"The Committee of Three are willing to help us." She relayed the news. "They want you to come with me."

"Wait, what?" Hilbert asked as everyone followed what she ordered.

"Thank you! Please help David!" Tired Hilda cried in joy.

"Let's just get this over with," Summoner Alfur rolled his eyes as he walked with them.

While the others now running over to Tildy and Kaisa's side with New David carried away with them by Tired Hilda and New Frida, Hilda ran up to Kaisa, grabbing her cloak.

"What is going on?"

Chapter Text

HILDA: ACROSS THE HILDAVERSE 

ACT TWO

By: Half_Half

III: Unexpected Allies and A Rising Threat

Everyone followed along with the two witches toward the back of the large concrete stand that stood over the entire room. After walking along with Tildy and Kaisa since everyone else went with them, both Hilda and Hilbert caught up with Tildy and looked at her with an inquisitive face.

She noticed their face and turned to them. "Yes?" Matilda said, adjusting her spectacles.

"I'm.. not quite sure about this," Hilda expressed her worries, "Would those witches really help?"

"I hope so," Tildy responded.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt," Hilbert butted in, "but are those three witches always like that?"

She scoffed with a giggle. "Oh yes, those fuzzbutts always handle things like that. Can't figure where their heads are at sometimes."

They all now arrive at the place the Committee of Three have led them to. Being witches, everyone had...certain expectations of what to see, considering that this is a witch lair and all.

Since they entered last, Hilda tapped her shoulder. "What room is this exactly?"

"Oh this?" Tildy pointed, "This is where all of the witches do experiments and test spells, magical items, all the bobbles and geegaws." She then opened the door wide open before walking in.

As they walked in, a bright light flashed right at the front. They couldn't discern what it is. Was it a light bulb? A reflection off of something? A hole to the surface that was left unplugged? They couldn't see what it is.

Laboratory

Day 3, 1:01 AM

As their eyes finally adjusted to the light, both Hilda and Hilbert were quite surprised to see what's inside. It can be described as a totally opposite view of what they thought beforehand.

An entirely white painted room, reminiscent of those laboratories they saw in documentaries, littered with stacks of folders and papers next to a series of beakers filled with all sorts of contents. A row of test tubes along a test tube holder sit next to a complicated set of tubes and flasks arranged like a Rube Goldberg machine.

"...I don't know what I was expecting," Hilbert remarked.

"Broo, I didn't know witches had this all along," Teen Frida admired the bunsen burner, "How come I didn't sign up for this?"

"This is crazy..." Angel Alfur awed at an Erlenmeyer Flask, "Didn't know witches are this sophisticated."

"That's right!" Abigail pointed, "We witches too innovate like the rest of society. Eventually cauldrons and decaying spellbooks can only get you so far."

"Correct," Kaisa added, "These equipment helped us formulate new spells and potions, though we don't use them anymore." Then she had to run over to the counter. "Over here, we use microscopes to inspect the things we needed to–"

"–Hey hey hey! Don't touch that!" Kaisa managed to stop Elf Hilda from reaching a contaminated Petri dish. "That...isn't safe for you."

"Interesting," the angel said as he zoomed around the equipment, "I was wrong about you. I always assumed you witches were backward-thinking but... I have been proven wrong." He bowed his head.

She took a keen notice of his demeanor. "Hey.. why did you bow your head? Did I say something–"

"No, it's not you." Angel Alfur raised his hand. "I have made a mistake for making a judgment prior to evaluation."

She blinked twice at the response. "Wait, a mistake? No, you don't have to–"

"Angels aren't perfect, we are equal creations to mortals, thus we make mistakes," he explained, "But we're quick to react, and once we realize that we have committed a mistake, we atone for them." His wings faltered with his ears as he spoke.

Kaisa felt stunned at his response, not quite sure what to say. The concept of an angel wasn't brought up to her but she could understand what he was saying, his philosophy somewhat grazed her heart with its simplicity.

"...well then, I'll take your word for it."

"Hilda!" Her Alfur ran after her. "Please, just be careful and don't touch...whatever that is." His face contorted with disgust seeing the contents inside.

All of a sudden, the other Alfur arrived at the scene, its senses leading it toward the dish. As it leaned forward, the light bulb over its head beeped a yellow light and rung out like a bell. It turned to Kaisa with a blank yet curious face.

"Are this the remains of Ashen Rotspore?"

The monotone, almost robotic voice shook everyone in the room. Elf Hilda's Alfur was the most surprised out of the others. "Where did you come from?" he questioned.

"Don't think about it," was the response he got.

"Oh..." Kaisa was surprised as well, but she was taken aback that it still knew about that. "Wait...you can still know about this?" She turned to the elf.

"Yes. Why yes I can," Android Alfur responded, "I don't seem to get your disbelief."

"No– Just tell me now what you know about the Rotspore," Kaisa requested, pointing her finger to the petri dish. 

His ears folded and his eyes glared at her for the offense; to think that his only role is to dispense information. The reaction he gave out surprised Kaisa, now dispelling the thought that he was just a mere robot. Nonetheless, he leaned over and used his eyes to scan the contents of the petri dish.

As it beamed a faint blue light from his dotted eyes to gather information, the group looked closer with questions in their heads as to what it could possibly be. What would be something witches would look through a microscope at?

With this attention, the Adults went closer and saw in their eyes, a completely different Alfur. One that wore a completely black suit with a grey undershirt complemented with a deep blue tie and contrasting yellow tie clasp to boot.

"So...what is this Alfur?" Adult David approached Kaisa, "Is he just a robot? I know my Alfur acts a little too formal but not robotic."

"Apparently so."

As they watched and pass questions each other, Android Alfur ultimately finished his scan, with the light bulb at the side of his head pinging a loud bell as it shined green, like a toaster finishing a toast.

"The Ashen Rotspore is a tiny, single-celled bacterium that thrives on the decaying remains of elves. The bacterium's defining feature is the formation of tiny, spore-like structures on its surface, contributing to its name, "Rotspore." Ashen Rotspore thrives in environments laden with decomposed bodies or corpses in post mortem in order to feed on to the remaining nutrients left in their carcasses. These bacteria are predominantly found in shadowy forests, abandoned graveyards, and other eerie settings where elven corpses lie undisturbed. It is said that the bacterium remains dormant until it senses the presence of elven remains, upon which it activates its metabolic processes."

The android had relayed all of this information out like a fax machine, rapidly stating each word out in a moderately fast, monotone and emotionless voice. The information it carries however has left some...mixed feelings however. The elves quietly distanced themselves from the dish as a result, fearing that it might latch on to them.

Hilda, Hilbert and the others all turned to Kaisa about the contents of the Petri Dish, looking at her with a horrified face. Even the Alfurs couldn't help but glare at her for the implication of having elf corpses in their hands. The angel looked mortified, his aura dampened by the information received.

With the uncomfortable stares and glares having all eyes on her directly, Kaisa relented to their silent boycott. "That...isn't mine. Another witch did this one, don't know the details."

"That's rich," Summoner Alfur sneered.

"Wait," Hilda said, walking over to the dish, "If this Alfur can still identify something and give that...essay about it," she began rambling, "then that means there's still a chance our worlds are still connected to one another." 

"Still, there's a possibility that...maybe it's also a thing from their world as well," Hilbert said, "I mean, all of us here have something in common with each other."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"If that's the case," Teen Frida pondered, "I suggest we start talking about it now."

"What–"

"Think about it," Adult Hilda said, "If we found out something that we all have in common here–"

"Then we can certainly have enough material to bring you all back," Matilda interrupted her.

"Wait...you can always bring us back?" Teen David said in surprise. "Then why didn't you do it earlier?!"

A witch scoffed at his ignorance. "Magic isn't that easy, boy." One of the other unnamed witches testified. "Magic takes dedication, years of training, and fondness for research in order to actually execute a spell, nevermind bringing trespassers back to their respective realms."

As she said it, everyone had begun to question their own preconceived notions of being a witch and witches in general. This was surprising information for all of them, they didn't expect the standards to be this high.

"That's quite a strict criteria," Summoner Kelly pointed out, "I mean, it doesn't take that much to be a Mar–"

"Silence!" Beatrice suddenly whipped her wand over to Kelly, a green ray shining from the tip. It struck Kelly like a brick, knocking her out as a result.

The attack shocked everyone in the room, causing them to move and accidentally knock over some equipment in the room. Everyone flinched as soon as her body dropped to the floor.

"The fuck was that for!?" Randall shouted.

"Least she learns a lesson, young man," she then placed her wand back in her pocket, "Those people should know better than to say that in here."

"What? That doesn't make any sense!" Teen Frida stood up for him. "Just because someone said ma–"

Before she was about to finish it, Beatrice already got into an offensive stance, now about to grab a wand from her pocket. As the situation unfolded, Angel Alfur intervened once again, stepping in to her aid and pulled out his trusty bow and arrow.

"Now who is this?" Beatrice shouted, "Either way, step out and let proper authorities handle this."

He tightened his grip over the bow. "I'm afraid I can't do that," he responded. "I sense a fiery aura around you, and I cannot let a witch harm anyone."

Teen Frida turned to him with a slightly assented face. "Whoa.... uhh thanks?"

"Don't mention it."

"Oh— So you're not gonna make me correct what has been wrong here!?" she taunted at the angel, "Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? You don't even belong here!"

That statement alone led the first cracks. Angel Alfur was about to loosen his grip over the string to let go of the arrow and New Frida was about to take charge against Beatrice for her heartbreaking taunt. It wasn't before long until Matilda had to intervene.

"All of you, what are you doing!?" She stepped in the middle of the standoff. "Look at yourselves. All arguing over a petty squabble. Just what do you make of yourselves?"

Tildy turned to Beatrice. "Back down. You've used enough excessive force for one day." She then twirled her index finger toward her pocket, pulling it out and zipping it to her hands.

Now toward the angel and Frida. "And as for the both of you. I know her words may be harsh but your actions say a lot more." 

The lecture didn't help. "But didn't she knock Kelly out first?" Teen Frida called her out.

"That, she was wrong for. There was no need to use magic on a teenager." She then placed her hand over her shoulder. "I'll take care of it, don't worry."

Though a little agitated, Frida could at least be at peace, knowing that a responsible mediator is in action. Then, Tildy turned to the angel, whom had already laid down his arms.

"It was all for her defense. I still sense a wrathful aura, which worried me," Alfur reasoned, "That's why I sided with her when she was being threatened. I cannot accept to see a witch ravage."

"I do too," she nodded back in agreement, "You're in luck that I'm keeping them all in control."

He looked surprised. "Witches have a leader?" Tildy nodded in return. "I... I didn't know about that. I apologize for such prejudice."

"No need."

With the situation now defused, she then went over to Beatrice's side, the thorn of the group. Approaching her gently as she always does, she only looked at her with a stern face.

"Care to explain what happened?" She asked with arms crossed.

She flustered on an explanation, trying to come up with one that lined up as a perfect excuse. "We- well she was about to mention those Huldrawood squatters and I cannot stand it being mentioned her again. It just had to be done and–"

Before she could finish, Tildy then faced her with a soothing expression, placing her hand over her shoulder. "Bea," she referred to her by her nickname, "You really don't have to."

"B-bu-but-but the past! Don't you remember what happe–"

"I understand," she nodded with a shred of cringe for remembering it, "But whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. It's unhealthy to dwell," Matilda advises, patting her in the shoulder.

As soon as she was patting, the other witch approached her as well. Bracing for another earful of screaming, she...felt a hug. Feeling the other witch step in and actually relieve the other witches had brought a smile out of Pilqvist, now believing that they can be together as a group. As soon as her comforting smile now crested across her face, Beatrice couldn't help but feel her mood ease up at her smile.

With her head now screwed back on, she looked at the unconscious teenager before turning to the taller witch. "...I don't know what else to say," she told her, "But thank you...Elba."

She then gave her a pat to the shoulder before turning to the teenager, the angel and the group. She faced them bowed to the floor in shame, but with a little push by Elba and Abigail, Beatrice is now convinced by Matilda and her to apologize.

"Well...I don't know how to say this," she started, "I don't know what came over me.. but please don't mistake what I did for evil intent, that was reactionary. And it was uncalled for," she reasoned, turning herself away in shame. "I realized just how impulsive my actions were and how I didn't consider the respect of others to understand it... i'm sorry."

For Kaisa, that sounded hollow. But to the group, it was sincere enough to receive the bare minimum of hospitality. To Angel Alfur however, it was a revelation. A witch openly admitting to her faults and atone for them was an eye-opener for him. He retreated to a corner of the room to discuss it with himself.

Seeing their faces waver with pity was enough to convince Elba that she had apologized. Waving her own wand, she then whisked it in the air before dapping it at Kelly.

Her body now became surrounded in a green mist before regaining consciousness. She gasped with a hack, coughing for breath before finally able to inhale at a steady pace. Seeing Kelly back brought everyone from her world to rush toward her, embracimg her with relief in their eyes.

"Oh thank God you're back! I thought that witch killed you."

"Kelly, oh sweet jesus, you're alive! You're alive!"

With all of this attention, Kelly couldn't help but return the gesture back. As they all enjoyed the sight, Kaisa snapped her fingers to bring them all back to reality.

"Sorry to rain on the parade, but there's still pressing matters," Android Alfur said.

Everyone was still surprised at his presence. "I still forget you're still here."

Circular Room

Day 3, 1:34 AM

Meanwhile, over at the Circular Room, a lone David walked around with his eyes all over the shelves. His eyes had now been fully transitioning to a bright greenish color as he limped around like a marionette on stage. The voices in his head mock and laugh at him for every step he took.

He then looked up at the shelves with his neck cracking like crackers in a cereal box. Up above the walls and amongst the shelves, he gazed at the gleaming silver plaque labelled Interdimensional Research. His face contorted on its own, forming a wide grin from side to side.

We're finally here, A voice called out in his mind, Wasn't expecting this many books, but it'll do. Now fetch!

As it demanded, his body slowly limped toward the direction of the shelf. Arriving at the spot, David looked up and realized just how high up it actually is. It stood atop two entire shelves. The voices in his head cried foul at this inconvenience, punishing him to suffer another explosive headache, leaning against the wall as he held his hands up his head.

Holding it all in, as he could feel his head throbbing in pain like a beating heart, New David tried to maintain his breath, keeping it at relatively short gasps and exhales in order to keep his composure. The voices don't like him when he does anything on his own, especially independent thought.

Then, his eyes manage to detect something at their periphery. Over at the side, next to the pillars, a very lengthy ladder that stretches up to god-knows-where stands idle. Before he could even sigh in relief, his mouth began to move on its own.

It began to sculpt a very unsettling smug grin from ear to ear, an expression he knew never belonged to him, and as he kept his sight to it, the voices celebrated his discovery. In his guts, David knew he wasn't feeling himself..quite a literal sentence.

You're one observant fellow, are you? it echoed, Now, you know what to do. Fetch!

Laboratory

Day 3, 1:35 AM

Inside at the laboratory, the group had taken up space around the room for different reasons. One went with the witches to oversee the process while the others sat down to discuss and talk, while some others just tinkered around the chemistry equipment out of curiosity.

With the witches, Hilda and Hilbert watched Kaisa and Tildy direct the three witches: Abigail, Beatrice and Elba, to gather as much info as they could on the creation of portals and how to construct them with the power of just a magic wand.

As bubbles form inside a volumetric flask and liquids flow from a wash bottle and into a buret, the two turned to the librarian with an inquisitive face.

"Tildy," Hilda said, "How would this help us go back?"

"How does chemistry help with interdimensional travel?" Hilbert added.

Kaisa looked at the equipment with a confused face. How does chemistry help with interdimensional travel? She turned to the two. "Honestly, I don't know either."

"I apologize I didn't come to your aid sooner," Matilda lamented to her, "Otherwise I could've helped you with this.. thing." Hilda and Hilbert still didn't take kindly to the fact.

She breathed calmly. "Well then, I should start explaining how."

In order to create a mirror, one must need a big obsidian rock. Obsidian proved to have a good reflective surface once polished using a scraper. Then, it must be coated with a silver lining to allow for spells and magical elements to be implemented into the mirror —that's how mirrors couldn't reflect vampires— and once it's fully coated, a witch must have a wand dipped into a bowl of water that contained the materials that belonged to another person's dimension, then chant the appropriate incantation in order to tap into the dimension of its own liking.

"Is that all you need to know?"

Hilda looked at Matilda with utter cluelessness of what she said, and Hilbert felt the same as well, staring off to the distance. Kaisa though looked at her with a speechless expression.

"....How come I never heard of this?" are the only words she could mutter.

Tildy heard her and looked at Kaisa with a quizzical gesture. "You don't know this one, do you?" She raised her eyebrow.

"N-no I don't actually. There's nothing in the library about this sort of...thing."

She then felt a tug from her cloak. "About that, how does the magic work?" Hilbert prompted a question. 

"Here, let me show you." Tildy then grabbed a piece of paper from a desk. "I'll use this as an example. If this paper is a mirror, in order to transport it from one place to another, magic had to be applied to it." Then, she pulled out the wand that she confiscated from Beatrice.

"Wait, how would that work?" Hilda queried, "Are you going to make the entire paper a portal? or turn it into some kind of door that–"

"No, not like that," she chuckled, "It actually does this instead. Watch closely."

As she said, Matilda Pilqvist then began to bring her wand over to the paper and hover it gently at its surface, quietly chanting a spell under her breath, and as she dragged it around in the shape of a circle, a glowing white line radiates out of the paper like stroking a blank canvas with a soft pen. Finishing the circle, she then made the final touch by softly letting the wand touch the surface of the paper, dissolving the area it captured under a nebulous hole of sorts.

Seeing the process, it immediately captured their curiosity and attention, prompting Hilda and Hilbert to stand there in awe with the paper. Meanwhile, Kaisa was taken aback by the simplicity of the action undertaken.

"...i have no words how awesome that is," Hilda articulated.

"...same," Hilbert replied to her.

Matilda was quite flattered. "Thank you," she responded, "But this isn't the end of it. Far from it." Before she could continue, Kaisa raised her hand like a student.

Noticing the gesture, she turned to her. "Yes?"

"Ahem," she eased up her throat, "Matilda, if it doesn't bother you...how does that work? I just– I have no words."

"Oh, not at all," Tildy assured, "But well, here's how it works. Maybe it would help if one of you try it out." She then turned the paper to them.

Seeing how devoid the spot is, they all hesitated to do so. Tildy noticed and then looked at the paper once again.

"Well then, might as well do it myself."

As a demonstration, she then stuck her hand into the spot. Instead of blocking it, the hand passed through it, as if a hole has been ripped off from the paper and into...wherever its headed. It felt like an actual void; no wind, nothing grazing her hand, nothing at all. To demonstrate that its safe, she pulled it out to reveal that her hand had still become fully intact.

From their eyes, it looked like she was reaching into a hole rather than sticking her hand inside. But either way, it just surprised them how it worked.

At the other side, the group were busy just talking together about their own experiences and their lives as they had pretty much nothing to do around the room. But the idea that their worlds may be connected somehow intrigued them.

"–and then this book tricked me into being an elf! It tricked me! And now.. I look like this," Elf Hilda ended her story, pulling her dress in complaint.

"Damn," Adult Hilda said in surprise, "And I thought I had it worse."

"Clearly, you aren't," Elf Hilda remarked, "I mean, you're going out with David– You're holding hands!!"

Everyone gasped in surprise as they turned to the two grown adults among their group and lo and behold, they really are holding hands with each other! The two quickly distanced each other out of embarrassment.

As they all looked, Teen Trevor just had to pull out the most childish chant of all. One that annoyed schoolchildren and teenagers for years to come and has allegedly used this back in his world.

"Hilda and David sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage! Then comes Hilda with a baby carriage!"

If this were any situation, everyone would've booed to that. But since this came up at such an opportune time, the group just bawled out in laughter, they lost it at the chorus. Both Adult Hilda and Adult David were flushed, faces turning completely red, and their cheeks were blooming with a bright pink blush.

"Trevor! That was– What the heck?" Teen David couldn't breathe from all that laughing, "Damn you!"

Randall was losing it. He was slapping his knee, he couldn't even compose himself as he laughed. "Man, I couldn't with you."

Even Elf Hilda's Alfur couldn't help himself but laugh along at his joke. Angel Alfur though wasn't impressed.

He stood —or floated— there with his arms crossed and his face screams unamused and indifferent with the banter and the joke.

As they all relished in the laughter, Elf Hilda noticed the grumpy angel and looked up. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?" he looked down, "I must admit, that Trevor fellow did not amuse me."

"Oh..." she lowered her ears, "Well, I apologize for his behalf. Didn't know you'd take offense to it."

"Not at all," he backtracked, "I just didn't find it funny, that's all." The angel then landed down to the floor to meet the elf face to face.

Elf Hilda was somewhat glad. "I see...say, if you don't mind me asking," she asked, twiddling her hand-like appendages.

He looked at her with a giggle under his breath. "I don't mind," he says, "What do you ask?"

"What's your story?" she requested.

Angel Alfur was a little taken aback. "My story?" Elf Hilda nodded in return.

"Well..."

Where should I start with this one? 

Oh well, here goes.

Greetings, children. My name is Alfur and for about eleven years, I have been assigned to be Hilda's one and only guardian angel. Angelf if it suits your comedic tastes. My job isn't always easy. Do you have any idea how much power I use up to keep her from fatal accidents every day? To keep her out of harm's way, to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her? I literally have to manipulate fate itself just for her. Multiple times! It can be very exhausting. Eleven years and I don't even get a proper thank you.

Thankfully, she realized that it was I that was keeping her adventures relatively safe and sound and now she respected me. I'm glad that she did.

How did I got here? Well I must've used my powers without thinking... maybe it was when I had to slow down time so she could meet the Midnight Giant? Who knows? But all that aside, there was a strange portal that I encountered along the way....

"...and that's how I came here."

"Whoa.." Elf Hilda had her eyes glittery with awe, "That sounds awesome! I didn't know Alfur had superpowers!"

"Superpowers? That's uhh extraordinary," her Alfur remarked.

"Technically they aren't powers but yes," he gave a comforting smile, "I do have superpowers, if that's how you see it." The angel then patted her on the head.

"Cool!" she exclaimed, "Show me all of them!"

Over at the chemistry lab equipment side, Hilda and Hilbert were still fascinated at the black hole paper, sticking their hands into the aperture and back out again as a form of entertainment.

"I can't believe this is real," Kaisa approached Tildy with an excited face, "How come you didn't put any books about it up there?"

The question only perplexed her, to the point that she adjusted her spectacles again. "What?"

Her perplexity caught her off-guard. "Wait– You don't know?"

"I'm afraid I don't," Tildy sighed, "I don't have any knowledge of where those books went—"

"—And it will remain that way," Abigail stepped into the conversation. "The details are...murky at best."

"WHAT!?" Kaisa, Hilda and Hilbert screamed all at once, in disbelief about what they just heard.

Matilda was also in shock as she heard of this revelation. She audibly gasped, "...why didn't you tell?"

"Why didn't!?"

Abigail gulped her own spit down her throat. "As I said, the details are murky– dubious at worst. But I still know a great detail about as to why."

Suddenly, someome came up to her shoulder. "Abby, I don't think it's a good time to bring that up," Elba cautioned, "Especially not in front of the Archsorceress."

"What are you hiding from me again?" Matilda pressed. "Did you hide the Trolberg Digest copies from me again?"

"It's not that," Abigail insisted. "It's far deeper than that..."

Long ago, the Witches' Tower used to wield the power to create transdimensional mirrors to gain access to technology and riches from other worlds that Trolberg does not have. It helped us tap into resources that we needed for our activities and reach out to allies whenever possible. Those mirrors were never perfect but to us, it proved far more lucrative than having to steal from the city and hunt for them.

Me, Elba and Beatrice were just witches-in-training at the time and we saw everything.

It all changed one day, when a group of witches had gone rogue and used the mirrors to invite a multitude of invasive species onto our own world, trying to usurp the Tower and reign supreme. Although we expelled most of them, there are some of which we cannot banish completely. It devastated the Tower and left us ruined in its wake, but we have banished the rogues out...for now.

The story had proven itself to be a shocker to them. They had nothing to say about what happened to them or as to why there were rogue witches after them. They all just looked at them with an astonished face.

Then, the pressure wore off. Hilda took a step forward. "...what happened after?"

The three witches turned away with a disquieting expression. "Well..."

There was no happy ending for us witches, as it usually does. After the invasion, the Tower had been forced to go underground by the city, many of us witches either banished, purged out of our ranks or thrown to the Void of No Return, and any books relating to transdimensional and interdimensional research, travel or otherwise had to be kept archived, extremely classified or burnt to ashes to prevent it from falling into the hands of a witch ever again.

As soon as she got to this part, Abigail quietly summoned an imaginary flame at the tip of the rose.

We had to destroy as many books as we can, gathering many of them at one place before setting them ablaze. But that's not all. The Tower also forbade all witches from using the mirrors ever again, had to cut off all communications with our erstwhile allies and either hid them around the library or were thrown into the ashes as well.

It was a chaotic time of instability and persecution...one that we had to experience as a group. During all of this, me, Elba and Beatrice were elected on a whim by the last committee, and now forced to keep a dying institution survive, we.. had to do what we had to do.

As the series of events progressed, the imaginary flame grew out of control and consumed a huge chunk of the room —as if it was real— and within the fires reveal a bunch of books, entire bookshelves, broken shards of mirrors and...the shadows of what seems to be a thousand witches begging for mercy as they burned alive among the ashes.

The flames soon dissipated right in front of their eyes, disappearing right into the charred and withered rose that became part of the wand.

Now.........they were truly speechless.

They have no words to describe what they were feeling about it. A conflicting mess of astonishment, wonder, heartbreak and contempt competing to see which one would be expressed to the witches as a result.

Hilda and Hilbert couldn't believe how much of a miracle the Eversing Mirror was. Kaisa and Tildy could not have been more speechless, now finally understanding why their attitudes were like this. It's all in their faces.

The three witches saw the expressions and empathized. "You don't have to worry. Once the formula has been complete, we can finally bring them back home."

Seeing their solidarity for their cause and now being on their side...it brought much gratitude and tears out of their hands. Hilda walked over to them unannounced and gave Beatrice, the shortest, her dearest hug as a sign of thanks. Hilbert too followed.

She was quite surprised by the sudden expression but she didn't mind, patting them in the back as they embraced. Kaisa then shared her condolences to Elba while Matilda shook hands with Abigail.

But before they could even express how much they appreciate their support, someone rushed into the room with a burst of panic and panting.

"Where's David!? Have you seen him here!?" New Frida screamed, barging into the door.

"David!? David, are you here? David!" Tired Hilda ran around the room, frantically searching every inch of the laboratory.

Their cries had brought a great deal of concern for the entire group, as they all looked around the room if New David really was among them.

"Where could he be?"

"Wasn't he with us?"

"How can he be lost? He was being carried—"

"He couldn't have left us, he can't—"

"David wouldn't leave us, I know him—"

"Why wasn't he here?"

Their voices have now become a topic of great concern as New Frida and Tired Hilda kept running around in a wild goose chase to find their red-haired friend. Seeing them approach every David and search the tiniest nooks and crannies for him had become pitiful to watch.

But for Kaisa, his absence could only mean one thing... She then ran over to Hilda's side and had her turn to her direction, "Hilda, we're in trouble."

"We are?" Hilbert asked timidly.

"If New David isn't with us, then..." the consequence dawned over her eyes like an eclipse, "He's gonna turn to a Marra!"

Pilqvist was shocked while Elba had to put her hand over Beatrice to avoid another dispute. Yet she too was appalled at the news while Abigail put her hand up her mouth in shock.

"No- No, he can't! There's no way!" Hilda's in denial. She couldn't believe the possibility, but the dismayed face of Kaisa tells her everything she needs to know.

"But if he is..."

"Then we mustn't waste any time left," Beatrice stepped in with her, "We cannot afford to have a marra in here, let alone a trespasser be turned into one."

"Oh no! This isn't happening!" Tired Hilda exclaimed as she passed them by.

"Then we had to hurry."

Circular Room

Day 3, 1:52 AM

Over at the circular room, New David had now scaled one of the tallest ladders available around the library to reach the Interdimensional Research shelf. As he took one step after the other, his arm began to grab books to see whether or not they suit the needs of the voices. Judging them all by their cover, once it left them dissatisfied, he would just simply toss them aside (a grave opposite to David's attitude to books).

One of you has got to be it, a voice unlike David's spoke out of his lips.

He then grabbed a book from a shelf and brought it near their eyes. Their eyes followed the words laden out in the leather cover.

Volumen Unum Aliquam Operam Magicam, it reads. Boring! Seriously, who's naming these books!? In a split second, it manipulated his arms to toss it away before climbing up a few steps again.

After reaching a certain distance, he heard the ladder slightly creak. It wasn't that loud but it was audible enough to raiss his attention. Looking back down, it now dawned on him just how far he has reached without falling down. The end of the ladder appeared as if it converged to a dot while the floor loomed massive compared to him up above.

New David was trembling as he looked, fear prickling up in his skin while the voices, annoyed by the interruption, kept pressuring him to continue...they feel like a horde of needles jabbing at his brain over and over and over.

Compelled and afraid, he turned back to the shelf and forced himself to keep going. As he kept getting closer to the ladder's end, his arm grabbed another book and brought it up to his face.

Virtuous Simplicity: Facile Spells for Beginners, it reads. Facile? Please, this book is facile to me, In a minute, they simply dropped the book off from the shelf and continued climbing.

After what seems like a dozen minutes had past, what with all of this continuous climbing, New David finally reached the Interdimensional Research shelf. Seeing the plaque that bears its name, he suddenly lost all control of himself and the voices had taken over.

Letting the voices settle down in their new host, green eyes emerge and a smug smile curved around his face while the red hair gleamed bright like a light bulb.

"This should be easy."

Quickly getting to work, they began to scour the nearest books in their vicinity, taking any that suits her interest while getting rid of those that didn't. As she emptied out the nearest portions, David managed to fetch a nice catch.

"A Phonebook to An Open Universe!" she exclaimed, "and by Drusilla Iverson too! Finally!"

But before she could even relish in the success to get a reading, she heard footsteps coming from the concrete stand. Hearing them in quick succession, she frustrated to the body before having to hide again.

"There he is!"

"David?! What are you doing up there?" Hilda screamed from below.

Finally being able to feel in-control with himself, New David let out a big gasp for breath. Inhaling and exhaling at a rapid pace, he turned to the right to see both his Hilda from below and the book in hand.

He noticed at his hand and saw the book in his hands, and he never remembered holding it in his hands. Soon, his attention had to be redirected elsewhere.

"David! Can you please come down?" New Frida shouted with all her ability.

"Hey! Can you get down? If I were you, I would definitely not look down!" Adult David requested.

As they all yelled him to come down from the ladder, the three witches kept their distance while everyone else jusy watched. All their eyes turned to New David himself...and his terribly bright red hair.

Among them, Angel Alfur looked up and saw the red hair as well. Unlike the others, he had suddenly befell a gut-wrenching surprise. His head was stricken with a powerful headache, his angelic aura giving way to a dark green mist —a terrible omen— and his wings shuddered to himself in protection.

As the ache gnawed away at his capability, Alfur couldn't control himself anymore. Hilda noticed and terror ran down her nerves. Already aware of what affects him, she could only conclude that...something terribly wrong is happening.

"Alfur!" she ran to him on the floor, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

He couldn't answer back as Alfur huddled his legs up to himself, wings faltering to the body as well. The body language is clear, and Hilda is not prepared for what it entails.

Hilbert then discerned what Hilda's doing and leaned over to see what might be happening. But he too was noticed by Hilda at a glance and quickly, she ran up to his attention.

"A- Hilda? What's going on?"

"Hilbert, something is definitely wrong," she's now freaking out, holding him at his sweater, "Alfur's not feeling well."

"Wait, Alfur? The one with you or the–"

"The angel! He's not okay, this is bad!"

He gasped, his face now concerned for his wellbeing. They both kneeled down to the beleaguered Angel Alfur, now surrounded by a red haze. Those are not good signs, they presumed. 

"Hi– Hilda.." he started coughing, "He- Help...him."

This is shocking news to both Hilda and Hilbert, both knew that a sick angel never ends well. Soon, the others took a glance and noticed for themselves what was happening and many had to split their attention to both New David and Angel Alfur.

"Hilda, what's wrong with him?"

"Oh no.."

At the ladder, New David was trying to pick up on what they were shouting all about. He couldn't hear a single thing from up there. He slowly leaned away from the ladder, keeping a steady grip as he does so. While he leaned, he could feel an uneasy balance between him and the ladder, causing him to tremble lightly as he tries to hear it.

Then...the ladder moved an inch. His senses felt the movement and his adrenaline rushed to the gap, pushing himself toward the ladder to avoid falling off. The ladder returned to its initial position soon after, at the consequence of him letting go of the book and...his own balance.

The force that allowed to push the ladder back had unfortunately bounced back to bite him back, toppling New David's balance off-course and as he wailed his arms to reach for the steps, his feet had slipped and thrusted him further from the ladder.

"David!"

Seeing the disaster unfold in front of their own eyes, both New Frida and Tired Hilda ran after him while Adult David ran with them as well. Everyone else...had stayed where they are, already disturbed with what's happening near them and what they were seeing.

They had to run at a quick pace, not taking the chance to look back in order to save their friend, whatever the cost may be. As they sprinted, they weren't sure where he would land and thus, had to always adjust their speed to estimate.

As he fell, New David kept flailing his arms around in a panic, screaming as loud as he could while his body spun around in the chaos. His clothes fluttered to the wind while his breathing and heartbeat at a panicky state. Meanwhile, David is now approaching the floor down below.

Tired Hilda was the nearest out of all of them and had to hurry in order to prevent him from landing to a harsh platform. With sweat dripping from all sides while her heartbeat ran to the beat of her boots, Hilda kept up the pace and rushed to save her friend. Her vision focused solely on where he might land and her arms are already open.

Suddenly...

BONK!

A book fell on her head, at just the most unfortunate time. Tired Hilda lost her balance at once while her legs slipped at the last second. The feeling of defeat had now been spilled all over her face as she stumbled to the floor.

Her head felt hurt, she couldn't feel herself at first. She remained at the floor while New Frida had to run up to her aid. Adult David, the furthest out of the three, had to keep running.

"Hilda!" she went up to her, "Are you okay?"

Even though her head hurts, she lifted it up from the floor and took a glance at Frida. "...I'm okay.. my head hurts," she placed her hand over her head.

Then, as she turned her head back to where she was about to go, her eyes had the absolute displeasure of seeing a sight. One of which she couldn't even think could even happen.

David...fell down.

"David! No!" is all she can scream.

Seeing it all go down, her adrenaline took a massive spike and Hilda immediately ran to his aid followed by Frida and his adult counterpart. Her screams had managed to capture the attention of the group and as they all ran to their side, the three managed to arrive to New David's side to assess the situation.

He fell face-first and his arms were all flailed upon landing. Frida quickly checked for the vital signs while Hilda kept pushing him in his back to wake him up, akin to a child in the morning waking up their mother. As they were checking the signs, Adult David had to turn him around to fully assess his conditions.

It only got worst.

His face had been nearly mangled by the fall...but that wasn't even the worst of it all. One of his dotted eyes had received a damaging concussion to the point that it bled. It continued to drip out of the open wound and onto his face.

Such a harrowing sight to see, and his friends were the unfortunate people to see it firsthand. Hilda bowed her head into his stomach out of shame, bawling her eyes out while Frida stood there, unable to bring herself to be shocked nor to tears. Her first friend...

For Hilda however, he meant everything to her. He was the first friend of hers that sheltered her during her darkest hour, stood up for her when she needed him the most and gave her time to at least recover. Now that he's gone, she couldn't help to think of the worst.

As she kneeled down and gave him.a warm embrace, the stinging frigidness had only confirmed her worst fears. Hilda whimpered as she lamented for the loss. Then, as she could hear an argument fomenting around her, she held on to David, muting their loud and invasive words out as her eyes kept trickling down while she mourned.

Laboratory

Day 3, 2:05 AM

Inside of the lab, the witches helped with whatever they can to patch New David's ruined face. Using an eye pad and a gauze bandage wrap, they applied it over his ruined eye while wrapping the gauze around his head to keep the pad applied to his face.

Tired Hilda and New Frida waited from the sidelines, overlooking the whole operation, both holding each others hand as tears rolled down from their eyes.

Seeing the friend that had to do the most to keep his word, the one that remained at their side, aided them in their times of need and stayed friends until the very end...they couldn't gather the energy needed to describe what they were feeling.

They were too hurt to even try.

At the other side of the room, the group had now befallen to an argument. Adult David began to press to both Matilda and Kaisa about their inability to respond to New David's plight.

Adult David: Why didn't you all help!?

Adult Hilda: David, calm down—

Adult David: Hilda, please–

Kaisa: I'm sorry, Angel Alfur needs help too!

Matilda Pilqvist: Kaisa, please calm–

Adult David: Calm down? Have you've seen what's happening right now?

Teen David: Yes, but we don't scream to solve it!

Adult David: And where were you, huh!?

Teen David: Where was I!? I was just as concerned—

Teen Frida: We're all just as concerned as you. How the hell can you say–

Adult David: Have you've seen him fall!? Why weren't you helping us?

Matilda Pilqvist: David, we could've. If it weren't-

Adult David: Weren't for what!?

Adult Hilda: David, please. Watch your voice.

As the disension and war of words quarreled each other over the air, Angel Alfur sat back from a wall and could not help but watch the group now tearing each other apart for him.

"...i'm sorry," he muttered, "..how could i've let this happen to my children?"

Hilda and Hilbert noticed what he said and went closer to his side. His condition, although not as painful as New David's, still deserves pity and mercy for what just happened.

"It isn't your fault," she assured, "It really isn't." Hilda then patted him in the wings, using her finger to do so.

Angel Alfur appreciated the assurance, and it at least helped him regain his angelic aura back. Hilbert joined along with Hilda, letting him rest on his finger while he watched the argument unfold behind them.

He still regretted having to drag the group down for letting New David fall. Now seeing that it had caused a crack among the group, Alfur couldn't help but pray for atonement.

To both Hilda and Hilbert, they had to take action immediately.

"...this is getting worst than I thought," Hilbert quavered, "What do we do?" he turned to her.

In all honesty, Hilda is just as broken down as Hilbert. She couldn't gather how much all of it had come down to this. "I- I- I don't know..."

The answer didn't help. Hilbert turned to Angel Alfur and then to the rest of the group for help. The helplessness that he feels, seeing them either incapacitated or infighting to actually help.

It dismayed him, and seeing his face, Hilda now felt bad for having to be honest with him. Before they could mope around and sulk, she felt a warm touch on her shoulder. She turned around to see who it was.

It was her other doppelganger, Tired Hilda. Standing there with a pitied expression over her face, she tried to say something for her loss...but she couldn't.

Hilbert soon glanced over at his side and noticed who was accompanying her. Looking at the sides, he noticed New Frida and the Committee of Three.

"...hello?"

Her response finally brought Hilda out of her thought bubble. "Oh.. hello," she responded back, "I'm sorry for what happened to your David," Hilda finally brought it out.

She then moved in for a hug to express her condolences, and Tired Hilda returned the favor. Sharing a brief embrace, they both then looked at each other in the eye.

"What..." her eyes drifted to see the Committee of Three behind her, "..are you here for?"

Beatrice sighed. "I figured that it's only now or never," she started, "that you all have to go home."

"Or end up like them," Elba pointed at the group.

"Well...I do want to return," Hilbert lilted, "But I don't know how to say it.. especially with what's happening."

"Would you know how?"

The Committee of Three turned to the group once more. The squabbling had died down but they've settled to an uneasy silence, where each universe retreated to its own corner while Kaisa and Tildy walked off to New David's side.

Seeing how much it devolved the group, New Frida contemplated for a while and as the silence was about to reach them, she finally thought up of an idea.

"What if...we should tell it together?" she proposed.

"Together?" Hilda asked. "But what if–"

"Let me come with you," Angel Alfur volunteered. "I need to give them peace, for it can atone for my mistakes."

Although nervous, Hilda and Hilbert looked at New Frida. "If it works, it works."

"I hope so."

Chapter Text

HILDA: ACROSS THE HILDAVERSE

ACT TWO

By: Half_Half

IV: Preparing For The Storm While I Sleep

After a brief moment of contemplation and some back-and-forth discussions, the matter had now settled on their minds. Both Hilda and Hilbert agreed with New Frida's plan. They're going to talk them out of their rut and bring them back into a plan again. It might not work, but it's worth the shot.

Walking over to their side, Hilda and Angel Alfur went up to the adults while Hilbert and Tired Hilda went over to the Teenagers and Deerfox Hilda, then the Committee of Three toward Kaisa and Matilda.

Hilbert walked up to Teen David with a worried face, yet took a cautious approach. "Uhh hey.."

He turned to him with an agitated yet misquieted face. "..hey, what's up?"

"I'm.." he hesitated for a moment, "I feel sorry for what happened to you." Hilbert sat next to him. 

"It's fine," he muttered, dejected, "About what you heard, its.." David couldn't bring himself to say it, "Nothing, just ignore that." 

Both New Frida and Teen Frida noticed his expression, taking a glance to see what's going on. Seeing his dispirited face just made them feel bad for him, to see how he had to argue with his own other self.

Even Hilbert caught on and felt bad. "I understand..." he then placed his arm around him. "I hope you don't mean what you said to him–"

David shook his head. "I don't. I have no bad intentions, it just that I...it's kinda heartbreaking to fight your other self."

Hilbert felt that personally. He remembered the last time he and Hilda had argued over...anything really, and it was draining to be put through that experience. He patted him in the shoulders.

"Honestly, it is," he blurted out. "But I could help us all out."

Teen David's attention picked up how Hilbert's voice changed tone and lent his ear to it. "How? How exactly?"

The teenagers also lent their ears to what Hilbert had to say, considering the suddenness of him telling everyone about the plan. Even Deerfox Hilda and the elves turned their attention to him.

Then New Frida came in and helped him stand back up to explain the plan further. As he stood up, he looked at her with a dose of uncertainty– doubtful even, but with a bit of assurance by Frida at his side, Hilbert turned to them.

"I don't know if this will work, so can I have your attention?"

They all nodded in return, relieving his stress a bit. "Okay...uhh so remember that idea of making our own anomaly to bring you all back?" Hilbert recalled, pointing to Deerfox Hilda.

She was taken aback by the recollection. "Umm no- No, I don't."

"So?" Elf Hilda's Alfur asked, "Didn't you say that's not an option?"

"Well..." he glanced at Frida for a moment, "Yes, but I sort of changed my mind about that." He responded, giving away a smile to ease the tension.

"What do you mean by that?" Teen Hilda questioned.

"We have a new plan now," Hilbert replied.

"Wha-" Everyone in the group was in questions after he said that. They were all curious, intrigued but confused as to why he would change his mind. Some in the group have no idea at all but joined along in their confusion anyway.

All of their reactions didn't seem to go quite as planned in his head. He could feel his nerves tingle up his spine trying to get himself out of this predicament. Luckily, someone stepped in to his aid.

"Everyone, calm down." New Frida came in. "Please listen to what–"

"Can you tell us what Hilbert meant by a new plan?" Elf Hilda queried.

"Yeah, agreed."

"What does he mean by that?"

Now that the logjam had cleared, New Frida then stepped aside to give him room for explanation. With the space given, Hilbert could breathe calmly enough to start. Before he does, he glanced at her with an appreciative smile before starting.

"So we thought that the Anomaly is the only way for universes to meet, right? Well I learnt from this Tower that it is not the only way...I hate to say this because it hurts when I found out, but the mirrors are our only other way back. According to those three witches, the mirrors possess transdimensional powers through a magical process. If we could get it right, we can get back home by morning."

Thankfully, everyone kept their questions to themselves during the planning.. until now. As soon as he finished it all, they all proverbially raised their hands about the plan.

"So you're telling me that the mirror we went through earlier....can take us to other dimensions?" Teen Hilda inquired, taking turns to glance at Frida and Alfur.

"Well I don't know..." Hilbert shrugged, "The only other thing I can recall from the Eversing is that its very portable."

"Hold on," Deerfox Hilda raised her hand (paw?) "Are we actually being serious with this? What if it doesn't work out like last time?"

That question did brought up concerns of whether or not it will fail, with memories of the plan of having New David to touch the Anomaly with all the Hildas together backfiring right in front of their faces still a bit fresh in their minds, it worried the group.

Hilbert had to rationalize why. Then, as his eyes discerned the background view of the room behind the group, he saw the Committee of Three walking up to Tildy and Kaisa. Soon, an idea sprung in his idea.

"About that..." he started, "If this plan were to work, we need the help of those witches," he pointed behind them.

"But Hilbert, they're witches!" Elf Hilda brought up, "What if they.. uhh make us look like clouds?" She asked, although quite immaturely.

Teen Frida had to hold in her laughter, snickering as a result. "Sorry–" she held it off. "But that elf is right, they're witches. How can we trust that they'll help us?"

"Ever moreso, the same people that didn't help him out?" Teen David added, implying New David in the question.

"They're not heartless people," New Frida objected, "I've watched them bandage him around his eye, at least that helps."

"Wait, they are?" David said in surprise, turning his head back to his other self to check. Everyone else soon followed. 

After taking a quick glance at him, he and the others returned to where they were with a somewhat reassured face.

"I guess you're right."

Hilbert took a sigh of relief, getting that hesitancy off his chest for once. Now with an assured look of what to come, he focused on the person in front, Teen David.

"You see, not all people are what they seem," he then reached out his hand, "Speaking of such, I know someone who owes you an apology." Hilbert then gently dragged him over to the other side of the room.

Over at the other corner of the laboratory, as she walked up to them, Hilda could somewhat overhear what they were saying...it sounded so piteous judging from their voices.

"I— I— Hilda, I don't even kno- What am I doing here?" his voice quivered as he spoke. "How could I h— What is even going on?" Now he shuddered as he kept voicing out his thoughts, on the verge of tears.

Before he could dissolve himself into a bout of sobbing, his Hilda reached out her arms to him, letting him to scoot over her side and rest against her stomach as soon as David could feel his eyes prickled by the tears. He embraced her in return, letting the tears out and buried his face underneath Hilda's shirt as she caressed him in his hair.

"David— Please.. It's not your fault," her voice faltered, "I— I'm sorry for not— I'm so sorry." Adult Hilda mumbled, as if she's whispering it to him closely. She then tried to keep him calm by caressing through his hair.

From Hilda's eyes, seeing him huddling up to Adult Hilda's midsection and is sobbing his eyes out on her while she herself is dearly resisting the urge to let her eyes bawl out with her boyfriend, it felt too much for her to look. Sitting atop Hilda's shoulder, Angel Alfur could sharply sense the pain both now had to go through together, it felt like a needle had penetrated his abdomen...it made him shed a tear in his dotted eyes seeing it all unfold.

As she took a step closer, Hilda took careful notice of the noise, unwilling to barge into their moment uninvited–lest she risk making a fool out of herself. Neither did Angel Alfur, seeing how David acted in sorrow in front of her and wept around her arms, just couldn't resist to shed a tear. Thankfully, her boots are made of wool and the tiles are fixed to the ground.

Taking one foot after the other, she managed to walk over to the weeping couple just in time. Hilda sat down next to her adult doppelganger, resting her back gently against one of the white wooden shelves. She then scooted a bit closer, but she couldn't think of what to say. Hearing their melancholy had slowly drowned out her thoughts, and their sadness had then seeped into her mind as well. Unable to muster up the words to say what she had to say, she turned her head toward the empty corner.

"Why did you turn around?"

Angel Alfur then used his wings to float in front of her face. Her face took a glance back at them in response to his question. 

"I— I don't know," she stuttered briefly.

Her face is littered with emotions and so is her mind. She didn't have the courage to at least speak for their own sorrow. Would she try to console them for the argument? Would she attempt to forgive them for their words? Would her words even matter?

As she contemplated on her decisions, Angel Alfur noticed how her face twisted and turned based on her emotions, as if she couldn't decide.

"Is...there something wrong?"

Hilda looked at him powerless. "...Yes." Her eyes seem to well up with tears.

He took a great pity to her, and thus he floated closer to her face, using his stick-like appendages for arms to soothe her cheeks.

"It's fine...you don't have to pressure yourself," he assures, slowly caressing as he radiated his warmth. Then, he began to sing.

"Make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred, let me bring you love. Where there is darkness, only light. And where there's sadness, ever joy." 

Angel Alfur had used this hymn from his world to deliver that sense of ethereal serenity, a prayer used by guardian angels whenever their mortal subjects seem to be in distress. Thankfully it worked for Hilda's hesitancy. As he sung, his angelic aura had now grown to a soft ray of light to embrace not just Hilda, but for the weeping adults as well.

The hymn gave Hilda the space needed to ease her nervousness and discomfort from what happened before and the confidence to face the future. Taking a few short moments to inhale and exhale, controlling her breathing pattern, she now felt ready enough to give it a shot.

"Thank you."

With renewed conviction, she then turned over to her adult counterpart and, without a word, she then extended her arms and gave her a soft embrace from her back, letting her hands take it easy to let her know of what she's doing. Soon, she got what she expected.

"What are you doing?" Adult Hilda asked.

"Giving you some peace," Hilda replied, "I saw how much you cared for David back there...I couldn't help but feel bad."

Then, Alfur took the time to flap his wings up toward her adult self's shoulders. "What troubles you?"

"Alfur–" Adult Hilda looked at him surprised, "—what?"

"As Hilda said, we saw you crying with David earlier, it pains me to see you in pain," he then rested his wings against her neck, "What troubles you?"

She looked down at her boyfriend with a touch of sorrow. David had now gone quiet but he's still hugging her midsection as softly as he always did, and seeing his miserable self in her arms is enough to make her cry.

As she was about to wipe it out of her eye, another hand had reached out to do it for her. A little startled, she looked to her side only to see her younger self also joining in to pity with her. Seeing her younger self's face mixed with pity and fascination, she turned to the angel with tears now about to well up.

"It's fine, take your time," Angel Alfur reassured.

With his repose, Adult Hilda took a breath. "It's...just David," she mumbled, "I always knew he's a kind man at heart, and he never ever picks fights, but seeing how he acted with the others and how he hugged me...I couldn't help myself." Her eyes finally lets the first tear flow down to her cheeks.

As she silently cried, Angel Alfur could feel her inner sorrow in his heart. It ached like a heart attack, causing his aura to grow dimmer as each tear dropped and his halo slightly wobbled. With her distress now disclosed, he then slowly flew up to her ear and then silently chant.

"Make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred, let me bring you love, Where there is injury...your pardon Lord, and where there's doubt true faith in you.  Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is despair in life let me bring hope. Where there is darkness only light. And where there's sadness ever joy."

His soft spoken choir-like song proved to be a soothing lullaby, and soon Adult Hilda sniffled from the angelic voice. As she wiped the tears off her face, Alfur flew up to her nose and sat down on it.

"I...thank you," she expressed her gratitude, "I wasn't expecting a hymn to lift my spirit...literally," she lightly chuckled.

Even Hilda couldn't help it too and chuckled. "Thank you as well," she also gave her respect.

The angel smiled at her with a caring expression. "You're welcome," he replied, "I appreciate your respect. Some things in life, there are things that we cannot control, but we can always find peace after every day. It's a thing I see whenever I guide Hilda everyday," Alfur gave a sermon, "Although you all don't have the mark, you are all still my children and I will protect you and give you peace no matter what."

Afterwards, he then embraced her in the face and let his wings to graze Hilda's skin, its soft touch bringing a soothing nerve to the cheeks. As she sat there with a teary eye, she also felt someone loosen theor grip over her.

Looking down, Adult Hilda now saw that her David has now laid down over her hips and looking up at her with a smile. His smile had now eased her mood, her face breaking out into a severely red blush as she shared prolonged eye contact with him.

Even Angel Alfur couldn't help but give him a look either. "You're quite the dashing chap," he complimented.

"I am," David turned his eyes away flattered, "Thanks too...for the hymn, I recognized that."

"You do?" Both Hildas asked.

"Well...it's kind of hard to explain," Adult David said as he rested his back next to hers. "Hilda," he turned to his side.

"Remember...when I told you about my mum?" She was at a loss of words seeing him mention his mother while Hilda was clueless.

She took a glance at him. "What.. happened to her?"

He sighed, "It's...personal, okay?" David responded with dismay in his voice, "Frankly, I wish not to tall about it. All I remembered is that.. that hymn, it was sung at her funeral."

That...caught all of them by surprise. His Hilda couldn't believe it while both Hilda and Angel Alfur were.. to put it mildly, stunned at his statement. To think that her David would've lose his mother someday...she tries to dispel the thought out of it, she can't afford to speculate.

Alfur though, he was quite shocked. "Oh my...I'm sorry for what happened–"

"You don't have to say it, please," he interrupted, "It's fine." David then leaned his head back to the wall, looking up to the ceiling holding it all in.

Seeing how he acted as he responded, Angel Alfur flew to his side while his Hilda just held his hand tightly, now feeling sorrow as she hadn't learned that about him until now. Leaning her head over to his shoulder, she laid there in hopes that it would comfort his mood.

"Well...I hope you found your peace by then," Alfur replied to his statement. Soon, his angelic aura emanated out of his halo and embraced the adult, giving light to his tragedy.

The rest of the group was at awe with what they were seeing. His aural presence now looked as if a higher being came down to this mortal Earth just to give a tranquil farewell. They all stood back, watching with gleaming eyes.

Afterward, the aura dissipated as Adult Hilda swooped in for the hug, to nuzzle and welcome him back into her heart after that. Then, Adult David felt his feelings sink in to himself, akin to one's own reality drowned out and replaced with a new normal...and he sobbed, quietly.

As his tears slowly flowed down to his cheeks, it just convinced her to hug him tighter while Teen David looked back at him with a pitied face. He sat down with him and rested his back.

"...how do I start this?" he mumbled to himself, "Well.. I kind of heard what you said back there and–" Teen David sighed, "I feel sorry...I understand what it feels like to lose someone you love."

"You do?" Adult David asked, glancing at him with tearful eyes.

"Yeah..." he looked down in melancholy, "I remember, it was just a summer's day and I was about to ask her out...then it happened. Still couldn't believe it happened to her." Teen David recalled his own story, talking out into the air as he spoke. "She was too young to die."

"You're not alone." Then, Tired Hilda came into the crowd holding her sketchbook, one that she hid from everyone else. "Sometimes there really are things you just can't control."

New Frida gasped audibly at her Hilda showing her sketchbook while everyone else tuned into what she had to say. Walking over to his side before sitting down with her knees, she then carefully laid out the book as she retold her story.

"This used to be my favorite sketchbook. It kept all of my memories of the wilderness and Mum–" she tried to withheld herself from tearing up, "–it kept their memories together inside, but after we lost Frida's book...things didn't go so well."

Tired Hilda then flipped the pages to the middle part of the book, showcasing a bunch of messy scribbles in pencil and coloring pens of all colors, featuring a horrific car accident and one stickman that looked like her mum and another that seems to depict the driver of the other car. It looked as if it was drawn by a child. Flipping the pages once more, they weren't seeing something like it...but they wished never to see again.

A real picture...one that showed the harrowing aftermath of the drawing earlier in the page, picturing an intersection, two cars mangled together, a blood trail that came out of the open door from the red car and inside...was the bloodied remains of Johanna's corpse; windshield completely shattered, engine tarnished and desecrated, a small flame lit next to the air-conditioning as her body laid barren on the steering wheel as it snowed all around her.

It all looked unreal but to everyone's shock, Tired Hilda said that these are in fact, the only pictures that she have of her as she received the news. At this point, she was crying, weeping her tears from her eyes as the memories came flooding back to her. The other Hildas just...stood there and stared at the picture in complete shock and horror, they couldn't even think of this happening to their own mums, let alone be it such a brutal affair.

New Frida was at a loss for words, she couldnt even begin to think up of anything to say anything for her sake. As the picture dawned on her, she knew deep down that– all of it was her fault; the lost book, the ghost fight, their breakup at her bedroom of all places, all of it was her fault. She kept herself back.

"Sometimes...the hardest part of life is that, I can't always save everyone."

As soon as she finished her statement, Tired Hilda broke down into tears without a word, covering her face with her hands as she kneeled there with the sketchbook in front. Hilda and Hilbert couldn't believe their eyes while the others sat there speechless at the sight. An uncomfortable silence followed although her weeping didn't help.

Seeing how in pain and in sorrow she really is, Angel Alfur —who sat on Adult Hilda's shoulder— felt a chronic ache in his chest, it felt like a heart attack. As an eighth-order angel, he knew that an ache like this is the cause of an overwhelming sense of grief and dread over his assigned mortal, and then it caught his attention.

Hilda, the one with dull blue hair, had been the cause.

With this realization, Alfur then turned to her with pitied eyes as he felt his aura dimming as he looked directly. Now sought to at least give her peace in mind, Alfur used his wings and then flew his way to her, flapping them like a bird as he goes.

"...I did not know you had to go through all of that," he said softly, "Nobody deserves to suffer for this long. Would you like me to help you in any way I can?" Alfur asks gently.

Tired Hilda sniffled. "Ye-yes, please..."

With her approval amidst her feelings, the angel then flew right up to her face and then spreads his stickly arms out to give her a tiny hug, with his wings serving as a second pair of hands. Hilda appreciated the sentiment and lightly touched him with her hands, feeling his delicate angelic robe graze her skin.

Afterwards, the angel then moved out to give his wisdom. "I still have no words about your loss..." he states, "I'm shocked, but if it helps, I can offer you a–"

Before he could lay out, New Frida walked up to Tired Hilda unannounced and wrapped her arms around her in an embrace, lightly gripping her tightly as she hugged. Soon, she too broke down into tears...one of regret.

"Hilda, I'm so sorry–" she wailed, "–I'm sorry that I had to make you go through this...I'm sorry for fighting you over the book, I didn't– I'm sorry."

Soon, she just held Tired Hilda tight and began to bawl out sobbing, staining her sweater and surprising everyone in the room. Although she was weirded out by this, Hilda soon didn't mind what Frida's doing.

Angel Alfur seemed concerned. "Why? What happened?"

New Frida halted her sobbing for a bot and turned to the angel, still keeping her hands on her Hilda, eyes reddened from the tears.

"Well..."

Let's do things differently this time. So differently. Her name is Hilda Pearson.

She moved to Trolberg after her house was stepped on by a giant...and she's been my friend until the very end. She didn't had it easy, but she's been my friend until the end. Hilda had lost her mum in a car accident and now, nothing has ever felt the same.

Loneliness is an eerie feeling. It’s difficult to know how much a person means to you until they aren’t there for you. I wish I was prepared for this...but I wasn't.

About a month ago, I found out that bedrooms don’t clean themselves. I know it seems silly, but as it turns out, I grew up with a room cleaning ghost. However when one of my books disappeared, he suddenly... stopped cleaning, apparently he liked that I was protecting his book.

Hilda tried to help me out with this no matter the cost, she even summoned the ghost back, and we ended up wrestling another ghost, due to some ghost rule. 

Saying I’m a kid sounds like an excuse but, I really am just a kid. No one ever told me Hilda’s mom would die. No one told me Hilda would be like this. It may not matter now. I witnessed her crash like a falling star. What I knew now was how far she’d fall. I remembered how sickened I was when I found out.

At the time, it felt as if we were going nowhere and...I was so frustrated. I told her that I wished she had never moved here... My life would not be the same without Hilda— I regretted ever saying that out of impulse, however... hers might still be okay if she had never moved here. Perhaps I was right?

We had to sneak out at night to fight the ghost and the weather took a severe downturn afterwards. Then came that fateful night...that night Hilda’s mom came to find her in a hurry, and she never did. She was killed by a drunk driver, crashed into each other in the midst of turbulent weather… all the while we were fighting over a book.

I remember when she first joined the Sparrow Scouts, she had this energy, one so infectious… I was drawn to her, and it wasn’t just the blue hair. She had that adventurous spirit that lured me in. I did get a badge for including her as well, which was —admittedly— selfish of me to add her to myself and David’s ranks. She didn’t always help us earn badges —quite the opposite, but I did earn a friend that day. 

Adventure always followed Hilda wherever she goes. It feels as if its the only thing she knows how, whether it was getting kidnapped by elves, intervening in a scuffle with the vittra or accidentally almost stealing David’s soul. Now that it has been robbed from her, Hilda now feels like a different person.

After she heard the news of the accident, Hilda blamed herself for constantly sneaking out and having adventures, as she thought she was to blame for her mother's death. Her identity shattered in front of our eyes, just like that. David’s parents took her in, and...only he’s seen her since. I didn't mean to hurt her, but it felt as if the blood was on my hands.

"I hope its enough to understand."

Angel Alfur was at a loss of words. To hear how much she and Hilda had to endure and suffer for so long...he couldn't help but shed a tear to their struggle. Everyone else too was speechless, they couldn't wrap their minds around what it must be like to be in their shoes.

"....i-" Alfur finally convened on what to say, "I suspect you're all not at peace, its disheartening."

New Frida wiped away her tears, "I know...but what can we do about it?"

"Well..." he flew closer to Tired Hilda, "Although I cannot bring your mother back to life, I can at least ease your mind and give you my peace."

Seeing his angelic shape now take form with his aura now gleaming like sunlight emanating from his wings, Hilda couldn't help but cry mercifully at the sight. With Frida's now soft and comforting hug around her arm easing her mood, she lightly nodded.

Along the crowd, both Teen and Adult David were in awe of what's happening right now. Out of his own instincr, the teenager moved closer to the scene, his hair accidentally grazing his adult counterpart's arm.

"Oh.. hey," he greets, then silence ensued.

The biting reticence didn't help but as the angel across them began discussing things such as finding your inner peace and resolvong any conflict, the two glanced their eyes to each other, hoping to have the other make the first move.

As this staring contest lasted for a brief moment, at last, the teenager relented and blinked.

"....I'm sorry for- for yelling at you back there," he said it first with a weak voice, "I did not know he meant a lot to you."

Now that he made the first move, Adult David took this as a keen sign and wrapped his hand around his neck. "I- I think I owe you an apology too," he responded with a pat on his shoulder, "I shouldn't have lost my temper at you."

With the two now having forgiven each other, the teenager then held out his hand to him as a sign of respect and camaraderie. Seeing his demeanor, the adult shook his hand gently but then Teen David took the advantage to give him a bro-hug.

As the situation now eased and with the group now finally settled its scores, they finally set out to their goals. But before that, they must talk to the Committee of Three alongside Kaisa and Matilda over the plan.

But in Tired Hilda and New Frida's minds, they all thought about one person. David. They were distressed of his conditions and were hoping that he would come back alive, or at least conscious for the best case scenario. In their eyes, they cannot lose another friend.

Approaching the other side of the room near all of the equipment, both Hilda and Hilbert walked up to the Committee of Three, tapping their backs to notify.

"Oh," they were lightly startled, "So.. how did it go?"

"Surprisingly well," both unintentionally said at the same time. It didn't bother them how unsettling that was until a few seconds passed.

"How's David?" New Frida asked.

"He's doing just fine," Matilda said, "although the fall gravely caused him to be in a coma." She then pointed to the body.

At the floor laid a completely comatose David, with one of his eyes covered up and wrapped to keep it from bleeding. His other eye were closed shut and his mouth didn't fare much better, the blood staining his lips and face. For now, the only proof of his consciousness is his chest...at least it keeps inhaling and exhaling as usual.

Tired Hilda now returned the favor, and clung on to New Frida about his condition. As they both looked at him with fear and concern in their eyes, Frida couldn't help but caress Hilda on the hair as she hugged, like a mother trying to comfort her child during a tragedy.

Then, they turned to Kaisa.

"Anything on David?" Hilda queried as she glanced at the body.

"It's not good," she prefaced, "He's not coming back to us, and he's lost all control."

That did not sound good. Hilbert looked at her with shock. "What– How can that happen!?" His voice is all panicky, his breath out of shape. "Is there a way–"

"I'm afraid not," Kaisa abruptly interrupted, "This kind of magic... it's out of my boundaries, this isn't witch magic!"

"What do you mean?" both Hilda and Hilbert asked, leaning towards her.

"It's...marra magic."

This sent shockwaves to the group, with everyone gasping at the revelation. They couldn't believe their eyes nor their ears to what's happening as of now. The Committee of Three were speechless, they knew just how troublesome marras are but to this extent? It needs an immediate response.

Elba rushed into the scene and the other witches followed, conducting a search all over. Beatrice had to stand up while Abigail and Elba took to inspecting his vital signs and symptoms, using their wands to hover over his body while Beatrice murmurs an incantation that allowed them to examine it further.

With their sudden and unannounced move to examine it, many in the group were startled at what was happening.

"What are you doing!?"

"We're just inspecting, this boy might've have something–" Soon their voices muffled down to nothing as they spoke before resuming to their examination.

Using their wands, they envelop New David in a light semi-translucent blue aura to check the damage. Before long, the aura quickly bursted out of control and popped like an overinflated balloon. This didn't ease the tension.

"What was that for?" Matilda pressed, "You witches should know more than to run into situations without assessing the problem."

"This is more urgent than we thought," Beatrice shared her suspicion with her, "We need to consult the rest of the witches about this, immediately!"

"Wa- Why? Can you stop dragging me out!?" She pulled her arm out of their grasps. "What's the matter with you? What is going on!?"

Beatrice turned back and after seeing all of their concerned and scared faces, she couldn't bring herself to state it aloud, not wanting to cause a scene. Instead, she walked over to her ear and whispered everything she needs to know about New David and his...worrisome conditions. Matilda's face wrinkled with shock as she heard the news, now she understood what brought them to such action.

She turned to Kaisa with a serious face. "Kaisa, I'm afraid I need you with me at this moment."

"Wait what–"

"I apologize for being too urgent," she said, grabbing her arm, "But I need your help." Her eyes turned to New David as hint of what she meant. Kaisa followed where her eyes pointed and then quickly realized what she meant.

As the three witches already made the call and left, Matilda then chose to pat her in the arm. "Just come to me when you're ready." She then gave a warm smile before briefly hugging her to calm her down. 

Kaisa returned the gesture, hugging her in return. She kind of missed when Pilqvist does her comfort hugs, it always keeps her calm aside from her Walkman™. Afterwards, Matilda then left the laboratory and toward with the committee in the hall out to the circular room.

Then, once the chaos subsided, someone came up to her, tugging her cloak. 

"Kaisa?"

She turned around to see Hilbert up on her cloak. Kaisa pulled it out of his hand and focused her attention to him. "Yes?"

"If it doesn't bother, why were they like that?" he bluntly asked, "Why are they in a panic?"

Her eyes then turned to the exit before turning to Hilbert once again. She sighed. "Well.. it's complicated. I'm afraid I can't explain it," she responded.

Hilbert just looked at her disillusioned. "Wha– Why!?"

"They haven't told me anything. If they would, they would've helped out us of this problem." She then walked off to the exit, rubbing her temples in a fit of frustration.

"Wait!" A voice called out to her as she was about to leave.

"Wha–"

"Kaisa, wait!" Hilda ran after, "I haven't told you something yet."

"Wait, you haven't told her the plan yet?" he looked at her dazed.

"The plan?" She asked, moving back to where she was before.

"Uhh yes, the plan!" Hilbert exclaimed, "I don't know if it'll work, but at least we have a plan." He raised confidence in it.

"Remember when Deerfox Hilda suggested that we should make our own anomaly?" Kaisa shook her head, a little disturbed that they still remembered that.

"Well... what if you could tell them that they could use their witch magic to bring them back!" Hilda proudly recommended, "If the mirrors really are a gateway to other worlds, then you should tell Tildy about it."

"But what if they don't support it?" she disputed.

"What do we have to lose?" Hilbert defended, "Please, this is our only chance," he pleaded.

Even though Kaisa had no idea what is this for, she does feel somewhat comforted by the fact that a plan existed. Faced with either leaving them helpless or attempt a bold plan, she then took a breath and relented on taking the latter.

"I'll try," she noted, "I just hope it would be enough." Then Kaisa turned around and gave a short wave of goodbye before walking off of the laboratory and then followed Matilda and the Committee to wherever they are in the Circular Room.

Over at the rest of the group, they had no idea what is going on at the exit. As they all dithered around the room without something to do, Adult Hilda suddenly sensed a loud vibration in her jeans. Not noisy to be heard by others but it rung at just the right volume that it caught her attention immediately.

In an instant, her hand moved to her pocket without thinking and pulled something out of it and brought it to her face. Clicking it on the side, a ray of blue light faintly emanated from her hand, her eyes twitching as she stared.

It's been a while since she took a look but then her eyes adjusted. "2:36 A.M? Holy fricoles," she muttered under her breath, "I've been staying up for far too long."

As soon as she knew about the time, Adult Hilda yawned out of instinct. Then as her eyes looked into the object with a blank and cold stare, her mind couldn't put its finger on what's wrong... then it finally clicked. Soon, her eyes were bewildered in shock, but she couldn't risk making a scene, no not here.

Then, her eyes lean to him. "David," she lightly poked his arm, "David. David. David. David. David. David. David. David. David–" she kept repeating, poking his arm every time.

"What?" he finally noticed, chuckling a bit.

"David, get your phone."

"Wait, my phone?" he asked, perplexed, "Why?"

"Oh my–" She couldn't bring herself to laugh, definitely not on his face. "Look," Hilda responded.

As quickly as she showed it, Adult David gasped audibly at the sight. "Holy shit," he quietly exclaimed, now quickly fetching for his own phone in his pocket. He pulled it out and he too was in bewilderment, "Oh my god, we still have our phones..."

Soon, the two both exchanged looks at their surprise. The fact that somehow their phones manage to survive the journey– its relieving to see. Then after the excitement subsided, a question now sat in their minds all of a sudden. Has anyone ever asked where they went? If so...do they think they're missing??

With this unsettling thought in their beads, the two then begin to check their contacts, to see if anyone from their world contacted them once. They check everything, from their messages to their calls, even on social media platforms, they scoured for at least anyone to hit their inboxes or any unread emails somewhere.

As they were exploring their contacts, David finally found an unread message. He turned to his girlfriend, "Yo, found an unread message," he disclosed, "Any message in yours?"

"Aww fuck," Hilda snapped under her breath, "There's no Wi-Fi here," she rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Damn...that's sad," is all David replied.

"Ahem?"

"Wait who said that?" Adult David looked up from his phone.

"I did," Angel Alfur pointed, "And Hilda..." he had to sigh in disappointment, "Please do not swear next to the kids, it's not good to the ear." He lightly scolded although his face is sternly mad.

"Oh...my bad," she said, feeling a bit lectured, "Sorry that–"

"What is that thing in your hand?" Elf Hilda curiously asked, unintentionally interrupting her and pointing to the phone.

"What–"

"Yeah.." Elf Hilda's Alfur also looked up in curiosity, "What is that thing in your hand?" He asked. "Is that a chocolate bar?" Now all eyes are on her.

"What? You mean this?" Adult Hilda finally showed to the elves. They all looked with it with fascinated eyes, their pupils glimmered as they watched.

She noticed their awe-struck reactions and giggled. "Is it really that good? It's just a phone." Hilda couldn't handle the awe brought to her attention.

Angel Alfur flew next to it with quite a modicum of skepticism. "Is it really?" He flew closer to the screen. "This is likely nothing more than a fax machine, right?"

Hilda looked at him with stunned eyes. "A fax machine?" Suddenly, the phone beeped for a brief moment. It lasted for a moment but it did rung out a loud vibration, so unexpected it spooked the angel.

Then someone else walked into the picture. "I hear you guys talking about phones," Teen David said, "Who said it was a fax–" His spiel was interrupted when he laid eyes on the phone.

"Oh. My. Cruddlesticks," is all he can say to it. "It's real...Guys," he turned to his own group, "Guys, check this out!"

Even though it was meant to be just for his own gang, the rest of the group heard his call of attention and went over to his side of the room out of pure curiosity. Even Hilda and Hilbert, which were concerned for if Kaisa were to succeed or not, went over.

As the two walked along the many free aisles offering passage, Hilda instinctively ran a long yawn across her face, stretching her arms as she does...

"Feeling tired?" he consciously asked.

"Yes..." Hilda felt another yawn coming, "It's probably late at night by now." Then, she feel her jaws now motioning itself into a yawn, as she lightly exhaled.

"Yeah, it is," Adult David said to Hilda, "It's now 2 in the morning..." he took a look at the phone, "holy fuck, i should sleep," he muttered to himself, yawning as well.

"Is that..." Hilbert squinted his eyes to his hand.

"Yes, this is uhh a phone," he responded, "I don't know how to describe this...uhhh imagine your mobile telephone," David tries to analogize, "but make it half the size and weight, and is multiple times as capable as your home computer, all of which is accessed on a screen the size of a chocolate bar."

"Whoa, really?" Randall ran up to him, looking at the phone, "Wooow...actually I'm not confused."

"Wait, you aren't?"

"Yeah. I see them everywhere back in my world," he recalled, "They're all expensive as hell though..."

"Agreed," Teen Trevor replied to him, "Too bad I couldn't get my mum to buy me one."

"Can I just go to sleep?" Deerfox Hilda yawned, "I don't feel so good right now.."

"Here?" Summoner Kelly pointed to the floor, "Umm no thanks, I'm not sleeping in steel tiles." She then crossed her arms as she pouted her lips.

"Kelly, please be somewhat considerate," Randall jeered.

"I'm afraid she's kind of right though," Elf Hilda raised her voice, "I don't feel comfortable sleeping without a pillow."

Before Elf Hilda's Alfur could come in and lecture her about her complaints, everyone stopped talking as soon as they hear the door to the laboratory creaked open, like a creeping silence in the middle of an empty room. They all turned their eyes toward the door, abruptly halting their conversations.

"Is this a bad time?" A familiar voice asked.

Hilda turned to the exit and right there, before her eyes, stood someone she clearly thought was with her but actually isn't. Their cover mostly covered by the pile of pillows and blankets they have on their hands, but its soon clear based on the color of their hands.

"Frida?" she finally figured, "Wha– What took you so long?" Hilda couldn't settle her disbelief. Where was she before all this???

"Wait– Hilbert?" Another voice called out.

"Freddie!? Where have you've been?"

"It's uhh kind of complicated," Freddie said, turning to the side with a hint of shame..

Hilda didn't mind what they did, and helped them unload their piles on to the clean floor, placing them cautiously as she does. While they assort the pillows and the blankets from each other, she couldn't help but ask.

"What did you do while...we were down here?"

Then, someone popped from Frida's hair. "Well, it's quite a long story," Alice answered for her, "Oh– Hello! Hadn't seen you in a while."

"Alice!" Hilbert went over, "Where were you?"

"Okay," she inhaled deeply, "So as you guys were walking into the portal, we didn't feel confident in the Librarian's plan so to speak, so we went back up."

"And then what?"

"We tried going back to our houses to see if we can at least get some sleep," Frida testified, looking down with regret, "But we noticed that everyone had gone asleep...so we just brought whatever we could and went back."

"They're correct," Freddie vouched, "Even me and Dana went along with them. To be honest, all of this is a bit...overwhelming, if you know what I'm saying." He scratched the back of his head.

"...That's awfully considerate of you guys," Hilbert's face gave way to a smile, "But do tell us beforehand, I hope that helps." Hilda nodded along as well.

"Thanks," both Frida and Freddie said. As they thanked, the team then began to properly arranged and assort the pillows into separate categories; based on color, size, and thickness. It didn't take long before they finished up the assortments.

"Say," Dana pondered, "Have any of you wondered where David–"

"David!" He ran frantically at his side, kneeling down at the body. "Oh cruddlesticks, what happened to you!?" he quickly cupped his cheek to bring New David's face closer, "What happened to him!? Why is his eye all bandaged!?"

His shocked demeanor and strained voice from his screams caused much discomfort around the room. Everyone looked at both him and New David with a tinge of fright in their eyes as he tried to wake him up from his coma.

With everyone standing at the sidelines, helpless to try and calm him down, Hilda now had to take the mantle. She ran up to his side and knelt down to his level before she lightly pats her hand over his shoulders. As David sat there on his knees now about to regret his own actions, Hilda tried to at least not cause another scene.

"David," she turned to his face, "He's not dead– He's just...unconscious again," she explained his situation, "But he'll be fine, trust me, he's going to be fine."

Silence followed.. then words. "Please..." David uttered under his breath, "Please.. let me know if he's okay." He finally said it aloud. Hilda followed it up by giving him a friendly embrace, at least one that keeps him calmed.

Soon, someone wrapped a blanket around him. "Come on, I think you need some sleep," Frida advised, helping him up and accompanied him away from the body.

Then, as Hilda got up on her own, Hilbert too offered her a chance to sleep, handing her a pillow. "Frida's right," he says, "I think we all need some sleep." Then he picked up a pillow for himself as she grabbed the one he's giving her to.

Everyone heard what Frida said and all agreed that they all need some sleep, walking over to their side of the room, still making sure to avoid New David to avoid accidentally stepping over him, and taking turns being given a pair of pillows and a blankets, some stuff toys as an extra bonus.

When I Can't Sleep

Hoping to sleep in for the night, everyone gathered around to patiently receive a pair of pillows and blankets for their respective groups. Seeing the commotion, Hilda and Hilbert had no choice but to assist Frida and Freddie out with this task, even Dana and David had to be convinced to help. For the elves however, both Alfur and Alice volunteered to distribute some for their own elfkind.

The elves were given some spares of elf pillows and a few blankets first. With limited resources, Elf Hilda and her Alfur set up their own bed and then began to lie down. Her Alfur looked up to the ceiling with a contemplation of what had just happened while Hilda had already fallen asleep, embracing her father figure as she dozed off into slumber. Peppercorn too was brought along for the ride, and Hilda now had at least something to give herself some peaceful thoughts before bed, allowing her to sleep quietly.

Alice initially wanted to sleep alone but then, as she was setting up her bed, the other Alfur came over and requested someplace to sleep since he gave away his own pillow and blankets to Elf Hilda and her Alfur. Instead of leaving him to the frigid glass surface of the desk, she accepted and made some extra space in the blanket to accomodate both elves enough to keep their distance while sleeping.

On the floor, athough it's hard seeing him like that, both Tired Hilda and New Frida are still willing to sleep beside their friend...the one who had to suffer the most for their sake. New David. They casted their blankets and laid down next to him, the chilling cold making them shiver. Trying to fall asleep with the sight of their friend and the chills, Frida tried to close her eyes out of fear and loathe while Hilda still slept by his side, just like how he used to, and wrapped her arms around him, just like how he used to. She kept her embrace tight, as if she never wants him to let go, letting herself silently weep to her sleep.

The teenagers on the far end still tried to stay up as long as possible, wasting some time trying to give everyone the space necessary to lay down and some talking back and forth, mostly about nothing. Eventually, some of them –like Kelly and Alfur– soon snoozed into sleep first while the others such as David, Randall, Trevor took quite a few minutes before their eyes inevitably caught some Zs. Hilda and Frida fell asleep after Kelly and Alfur.

At the corner of the room, both Adult Hilda and Adult David made sure to sleep together in one bed, just like how they'd done it in their world. As they laid down in the blanket, Hilda looked out into the laboratory with loosely awake eyes, dwelling on everything that has happened and is happening right now. It all feels...overwhelming. All of this chaos in such a quick pace, she couldn't handle it. So too did David, she noticed at a moment's glance.

David noticed just how worried she is, her face twisted with emotion while her eyes appear as if they're gonna cry. He couldn't bear seeing his Hilda looking like this, but he most he can do right now is a simple hug. Even so, he took the offer even if it was for a moment, embracing her with open arms, gently and intimately caressing his hands over her back to give her a sense of safety as she laid there with phone in hand.

While everyone began to slowly let their eyes fall to their own devices, Hilda and Hilbert couldn't get themselves to sleep. Perhaps sleeping on purpose is as difficult to do as they said it before. Then they couldn't help but ponder...why does it have to be like this?

It's been one harrowing journey from start to finish ever since... that mirror. That goddamn mirror. It all could've been prevented...if Kaisa said anything about it at all. Why was it there? Who left it out? Why was it hidden? Both reminisced the very moment they knew who was behind it all. The very thought that; all the hardship, all the conflict that they had to endure, all of that...was the Librarian's fault. They really thought she was innocent in all this.

While Frida, David, Dana and Freddie are already fast asleep, Hilda and Hilbert still stayed up at night with all these questions in their head...they really couldn't sleep at all. Everything that today had to offer....it was too much, they couldn't bring themselves at peace with it, even if they tried. While Hilda soon succumbed to the ever-growing need for sleep, Hilbert still stayed up with his eyes open (probably because his body still works in the laws of his universe) and its uncomfortable being the only one awake.

When I Can't Sleep

Dream World

Day [REDACTED] xx:xx 

Silence followed...

......

...........

................

........................

................................

Silence followed trepidation.

New David rose up from the floor with a yelp, gasping for air as he tried to control his breathing. He could feel his heartbeat throb against his skin while sweat runs down from his scalp.

He kept turning his head back and forth, each turn swifter than the last. He couldn't keep himself together, he wasn't sure of where he even is... And then, his eyes begin to shift. As if the entire world he's seeing right now is transitioning in a jagged motion, giving the illusion of it glitching away from his sight.

David could feel the grass in his feet, each blade coursing through his toes gently. The winds kept blowing and blowing around him, breezing through the trees and uprooting a few gravestones. He couldn't put the pieces together...until his ears picked up a noise.

It was ringing, it echoed deep into his ear like a booming drum. But it didn't feel like a deafening noise– no, it was different. It more felt like a strong breeze of wind just invaded in his ears and nothing more, causing that darn ringing. He couldn't figure out what was going on...then he came to his senses.

"Hilda! Your mom wouldn’t want this!” A scream yelled out. His head turned to the side. He damn knew that voice was Frida's but...she wasn't there.

Then, he turned to what was in front of him. It was...one of his memories. Hilda floating into the air unconscious as her eyes shined all blue, her body convulsing over a bright beam of light shooting upwards to the sky. As the memroy finally shot back into his mind, David couldn't believe his eyes.

As he tried to do already, he tried to run up to her in an attempt to push her off. But then, as he tries to get up, David could feel someone gripping his leg with such strength, it immobilized him. Tripping to the ground, he fell face first, now unable to help.

With his attempt, David tried to kick off whatever was holding his leg. Turning to his back, he was about to do a kick before he noticed one thing about it. There was just nothing, no silhouette or anything visible to discern, it was truly nothing. Because of this, he quickly tried to get himself out of the quagmire, which he got out eadily with no questions asked.

But too late, Hilda had already came down to the ground and the beam of light was no more. Shocked, David quickly ran up to her with a racing heart, running to her side as tears build up in his eyes. Holding her in his arms as her frigidness quickly settled in, he knew that she had been lost... Without any sign of consciousness or even a heartbeat, David just hugged her tight, finally letting his tears out while keeping her embrace.

Soon, he felt a hand gently touch his back. David turned his back, hoping it was Frida, but only nothing greeted him back. As he was about to return his attention to her, he heard a voice in the distance.

"Wake up......"

His ears pricked up what seemed like a distant call, which intrigued him to turn toward where the source is. Then, it came back.

"Wake up..........."

It echoed back louder. David kept his attention over to the far edge of the darkness ahead, trying to find where the sound is and who or what made it. His eyes concentrated at it like a hawk as he saw a reindeer on the loose.

"Wake up................"

It repeated itself again, this time though was different. He felt a pat on the back as he heard it. David flinched at the touch and looked back to whoever patted it. Then, a terrifying sight had just landed on his hands.

Hilda had been awake! But her eyes are glowing green...and an unsettling smirk had sculpted itself across her face. No...this isn't my Hilda. David quickly stood up in fear as he watched her giggle and laugh like a villain. He couldn't understand– What is happening? Why is she acting like this?"

As he stood there in disbelief, the unthinkable happened. Hilda began to rise up from the ground —almost akin to waking up from your bed— and then started to stand up on her two feet, but the way she's standing up...it looked as if her legs have been crooked, misshapen even. Soon, she looked at him with her glowing green eyes and almost inhumane smile as she limped her way forward.

"Hello David," she greeted ominously.

He couldn't believe it. He just stood there perplexed at what she had become. Almost speechless even. He can't muster a single word toward her as his heart began to run all over the place in a panic. His brain too also joined along in the panic.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" Hilda sneered, snapping her fingers.

David knew she can't snap her fingers yet.. she couldn't actually! He was put at unease by that, then he felt as if something inside of him had to burst. David succumbed to the ache and quickly vomited all over the floor, with a cat hanging on to his tongue for dear life. In an instant, he caught on to what Hilda meant.

He looked up to see what things he had vomited, but then he glanced up to notice Hilda– or what remained of her. She was...laughing, she was bawling her eyes out, she even slapped her knee. David quickly took offense to what she was doing —that is wholeheartedly NOT something she'd do— and finally mustered the words.

"Hilda, what was that for?" he gathered the courage to say it, looking at her quite offended.

"Oh I'm sorry," she replied sardonically, "Guess I'm not the Hilda you know..."

"Who are you!?"

"Well..."

I'm from your past...one year ago–

"Oh please!" She interrupted herself, "As if I'm telling you anything!" Hilda rejected the notion of a backstory.

"Why?"

"Why would I tell you everything? This isn't a movie, much less someone's made-up story within a story."

"Wha–"

"Ignore that," Hilda said, "Now wake up!"

After the nightmare, New David finally woke up, opening his eyes shocked while his breathing became short-circuited and composed of gasps. His eyes darted left and right out of panic, looking to see whether there's anyone woken up yet.

Nobody hasn't yet. It did relieve him that he's finally out of the dream...but it did leave questions in his mind. Why did Hilda turn a marra? What was the dream's meaning? Was it all just a dream?

The last question did give New David some sense of tranquility, which helped him be able to calm down and breathe into the cold air from the air-conditioned laboratory. It was...peaceful, he finally allowed his mind to remain calm.

His eyes noticed that Tired Hilda had been hugging him for quite a while. Appreciating the sentiment, New David tried to move his body to the side so he can look at her face as he sleeps, just like how he used to, and give her a hug in return. As he twisted his body, he quickly found out a horrifying revelation.

He can't move.

New David swiftly tried any other movement around his body, to prove that he isn't going through another bad dream. Yet, it all feels as if it is. His limbs refused to cooperate with his panicky mental state, his fingers couldn't even be bothered to move, he couldn't even scream for help. As he keeps firing emergency flares to his body, all he can think of are...

Why can't I move anymore?

Why can't I scream?

His mind began to panic once more, with each thought stumbling into each other in a frantic disarray of fear and shock, while trying to keep his body in motion. Yet it doesn't even move an inch, almost as if his brain hadn't woken up yet...or something else is at bay.

At the peripherals of his eyes, New David had spotted a being that he knew yet still keeps him at unease. At the edge appeared a dark mass...almost akin to a shoddily scribbled black hole, rising from the floor and climbing on to it as if it emerged from the underground. It peered its head outward as it looked around for any vulnerable persons in sight. Then, it turned to him.

Staring back at him with chartreuse lime eyes, it then began to its way to stomp and lurch toward him, marching forward with every slimy step of the way. New David couldn't believe his eyes as to what he saw; a rugged boorish version of Hilda looking at him with perfevid and fiery eyes, with her hands bearing similarly colored flames to match. He wanted to scream, to cry for help, or even try to talk her out of this...but he can't do anything to stop it. The paralysis kept him grounded to the floor and his mouth couldn't even muster to utter not a single word out of his lips...

Helpless to at least try to understand or reason what is happening, all New David can do is close his eyes intensely and just pray that it goes away. It's all just another bad dream, right?

As he kept his eyes shut, Marra Hilda steadily marched closer to him while taking a glance around the rest of the room at the same time. She then finally reached face to face with her victim, hovering over his body like a demon looking down on its mortal prey, and soon kneeled over his chest with her once iconic boots. Glaring at his fearful eyes with a blank emotionless stare, she then held out her hand —flame engulfing her palm and fingers— and then slowly inched it closer to his face.

New David swiftly woke up from his dream, sitting upright as he tried to control his shortness of breath. His heart now feel as if its actively trying to break out of his ribs...it hurts. On the other hand, he quickly realized that he was sitting up, a glaring contrast from what he experienced earlier, which at least gave him peace in mind. As he sighed out of relief, New David also now noticed that the laboratory was very well lit, furthermore confirming to him that he finally broke out of the dream.

Then, he felt a hug around his arm.

"David!" Tired Hilda embraced him from his side, "I thought I never would see you again..." she nearly bursted out crying, gripping his orange sweater.

He was quite taken aback by her reaction. What did she mean by that?

Looking at her from the side, David knew her enough to know when she would be crying, and the surprise didn't last long, so he responded back by lightly caressing her along her hair, calming her down as he does.

She appreciated the gesture and looked up at his face. "If only I could save your face," Hilda then placed her hand over his temple, near his injured eye.

"Wait, what happened to my face?"

As Tired Hilda was about to give a somewhat mild response, someone else was also waking up from the blankets, sitting upright with a yawn across their face.

"Hilda...is that you?" New Frida asked, slurring her words before rubbing her eyes.

"Yes...please wake up."

"Huh?" She was a little perplexed, "Why? Did you wake up from a bad dream–" As she was about to ask, her eyes came to their senses and her sight finally cleared the fog. Then, she noticed a familiar face next to Hilda.

"David!" Her face lit up with relief and joy, "You're awake!" Frida exclaimed, going over to his side and hugging him too out of feeling at ease, embracing him with Hilda at both sides.

"Oh thank god, you came back," she expressed her gratitude, "I'm...sorry for what happened to your eye."

"My eye?"

He then placed his hand over one of his eyes. Soon, his hand touched a soft cotton-like fabric over his left eye. He gently pressed it against the skin and with the stroke of his fingers, felt the dried patches of blood that remained over his eye. He shuddered at the touch and placed his hand down.

Seeing him disgusted to what a bloody eye feels like, Tired Hilda scoots herself closer to him, hugging him slightly harder to the point where their bodies made contact. New David tried to return the gesture but feels a little uncomfortable with her grip on his body.

"How did you wake up?" New Frida then asked him.

"Wha– Why do you ask?"

"Nothing," she shrugged, "Just curious."

Then, they all heard a yawn coming from the other direction. The trio all turned to the corner, toward the source of the noise. Turns out that someone had been awoken by their own relief. Keeping quiet while also keeping watch, they all saw the person across them to sit up and glancing their head back and forth while they rubbed their eyes out.

"Who's there..."

They then neatly pushed the blanket aside and stood up weakly as they leaned back against a wall. As they cleared their eyes from dust, the person then turned toward their left.

Even though New David only had one eye, he can still recognize that the person in front was her. However, he had to squint his eye closer to them in order to actually identify who could it be.

"Hilda?"

"Wait, who said that?" she said, turning toward the sound, "Is that David?" she wondered, before rubbing her eyes.

As she cleared her eyes and her senses came back on, Hilda then turned over to the corner and discerned the red hair from afar. After looking at the hair for a brief moment, it finally clicked to her who that person is.

"David!?" she seems startled, "Wait– How are you...awake?"

All three of them shrugged their shoulders in sync.

With this sign, Hilda then moved in to wake Hilbert up, slightly pulling the blanket to get his attention. Although he got bothered by it, he still woke up to his blanket being pulled.

"Hilda~" he hissed, "Why are you waking me up this early?"

"It's David," she replied, "He's awake."

"Which David?" he asked as he yawned.

"Look," she then pointed toward New David. He didn't quite felt shocked to it but he did feel surprised.

"Wha– How? I thought he fell down from the ladder?" Hilbert said in disbelief.

"I don't know how," she says, "But I'm just glad he's not dead."

A few hours had past since and everyone had now been badgering New David with questions. He tried his best to answer them but his answers had been drowned out by the ceaseless questioning that he started to feel overwhelmed. New Frida and Tired Hilda tried to stem their questions but it didn't help.

At the corner, Hilda and Hilbert began to theorize how he managed to get back up from such an ordeal. There has to be a reason for everything, right?

"Since he said earlier that he woke up from a dream," Hilbert said, "What if this is related to the marra?"

"No, that's unlikely," Hilda objected, "I don't think marras scare unconscious bodies."

"Why would they?" Summoner Kelly came in, "It doesn't make any sense that they would."

"Unless..." Hilda pondered, "This isn't a marra."

"Impossible!" Angel Alfur entered, "Every marra has the same presence of mind. He's surrounded by something dark, I can feel it."

"Well he did say he had this other dream where he can't move," Hilbert added.

"Wait, can't move?"

"Yeah. He said he was awake but he couldn't move, then he saw something–"

"Okay– That is not part of the marra powers," Summoner Kelly said, "I do not recall a single marra being able to pull that off at all! Unless..."

Everyone soon realized the implication. Their eyes widened in shock as they did, though they never raised their voices about it. But before they could, they heard the door sprung open loudly. Everyone turned to the door.

"Everyone, come with me," Kaisa ordered.

"Wait wha–" Adult David was caught by surprise.

"Excuse you–" Teen Frida said

"What? Why?" Elf Hilda said.

"The Committee of Three are calling you," she sternly responded, "It's urgent."

Circular Room

Day 3, 10:45 AM

At Kaisa's behest, they all followed her along the hall toward the circular room. Seeing the same old hallway built out of smoothened cobblestone and purplish obsidian, many began to feel worried. Some had become anxious of what was to come, taking Kaisa's urgency as a sign of trouble while many had been antsy of what to expect. Hilda and Hilbert were just as concerned as everyone and held on to each other as they walked.

Stepping out of the back of the huge concrete stand, many were treated to an astonishing surprise. A huge group of witches had been setting up frames across every inch of the room while some had been assembling mirror parts together in order to be handed off to the ones keeping the frames together using duct tape and superglue. The remains of the place where New David had fallen down had been cleaned up by the witches while the Interdimensional Research shelf had been emptied in order to be studied by Tildy and a select group of witches.

They were amazed at the sheer cooperation the witches had been doing. Were they doing this as they slept? many thought. Although the view was nice, they still had to be led away to the scene by Kaisa in order to address another problem regarding the mirrors.

Near at one of the office desks that used to surround the Void, Kaisa finally escorted the group to the Committee of Three whom were overseeing the joint effort from below. As they were commanding each witch to do as they say, Kaisa excused herself from the group and walked toward the committee.

"Ahem," she cleared up her throat, "Your Majesties, they're here."

"Ohhh excellent," Abigail clapped once with her wand, "Good for you, Kaisa."

"Thanks."

"Umm excuse me?" Deerfox Hilda asked, raising her paw up.

"Yes?" Kaisa turned to her.

"Why did you call us here?"

"Well..." Beatrice paid her attention but lost track of what to say, "Who's doing the explaining?" she whispered to both Abigail and Elba.

"Oh my–" Both Elba and Abigail sighed frustrated, rubbing their foreheads together. 

They both looked at each other with a serious face, as if it was some sort of staring contest for them. Then, for a brief second, one of them conceded and stood up from their chair.

"Alright," Elba relented as she sighed, "I'll explain."

With someone to volunteer, she then moved right next to Kaisa and inhaled. "We called you here today because we needed something out of all of you in order to bring you all back."

Everyone didn't quite get the memo. They were all confused, bewildered and befuddled at what they meant at that. Even Kaisa couldn't help but rub her temple in light disappointment of how mishandled thay explanation was.

Beatrice and Abigail just facepalmed at her for that haphazard execution. Soon enough, Elba has read the room and now have no choice but to step out, with Beatrice walking out her seat and walked up to Elba.

"I think I should handle this right now," she took responsibility, "And Kaisa, please watch over the other witches."

Kaisa nodded, and as she walked past them to take her place, Beatrice took a breath before turning toward the group, all looking at her for an explanation.

"So the reason why we called you here is that in order for the mirrors to bring you all back, we need to possess at least one thing that belonged to your world and hand it to each witch. Because the process needs to be individually executed by a single witch to avoid tampering, we need a piece from every person in order to properly create an incantation that belongs to your world. After every other step is finished, then we aim our wands toward each mirror and by using up whatever magic we have left, we can at least collide our incantations in order to create a mirror big enough to hold all the magic needed to bring you all back to your own worlds."

"I hope you all understand," she concluded.

Everyone nodded along. "Why does it have to be complicated?" One of them asked.

"We witches tend to be excessive with our methodologies at times, I'll admit."

They all rolled their eyes at her response, but at least they finally caught up to what was happening. Afterwards, the group were all escorted toward another desk by Kaisa, switching places with Beatrice after the explanation, toward Matilda Pilqvist to finalize the processes.

Approaching her from the right, Tildy saw them coming and adjusted her spectacles. "Splendid, how did it go with the Committee, Kaisa?" She greeted.

"It was.. okay," she noted, "Although I think they should explain the process more clearly however."

"About that..." Hilbert pointed out, "Why do we have to give something to them?" he retorted, "I don't get it."

"Well..." Tildy twiddled her fingers, "You see, in order to channel the magic that belonged to your worlds, we need an item that only belonged to said worlds so we can safely summon its magic to power the mirrors to reflect."

"I see," Hilbert understood.

"I hope everyone understood this by now," Kaisa said as Tildy arranged little bowls in front of them.

The elves jumped off of their shoulder and as they all looked at the bowls, Elf Hilda climbed on one of them and turned to Tildy. "Is there an elf bowl for us?"

Her Alfur had to run over just to get her down while Tildy lighrly chuckle at her question. While he lightly scolded at her for climbing on the bowl without telling him, she took the courtesy of creating very small bowls (akin to a toy mug used in dollhouses) just for the elves.

After the scolding, Elf Hilda walked under the bowl to mope, but she was at least greeted with a pile of bowls their size waiting for her. Excited once more, she grabbed them all and showed it to her Alfur and the rest of the group. Everyone was quite amused with the bowls for their size and awed at their look. She turned back to Tildy with a delighted face.

"Thank you, old lady!" she granted her gratitude, "I love your bowls!"

Matilda grinned. "No problem, little elf."

Standing over the bowls, everyone assumed that they had to dispense something in order to go back to their dimensions. Many were unsure of what to give to them, thinking it would not fit the bowls or hesitated on their decision to act. Hilda, naturally, stepped out of the group and walked over to Tildy in order to clear some things up for them.

"Do they need to put something big or small?" Hilda asked.

"We don't need much," Tildy replied, "Even a tinge of hair is enough."

Everyone heard what she said and were pleased with the clarification. Adult Hilda and David were about to put both of their cellphones to their own bowls but luckily they don't have to. As some placed down ripped off bits of their fabric and pieces of their hair, Angel Alfur plucked out one of his feathers and placed them on his bowl while Tired Hilda took out her sketchbook and —as she closed her eyes— ripped out a small part of it and placed it on her bowl. Android Alfur, although a robot, still manages to offer a piece of his world to the bowl by ripping out his tie and tossing it to the bowls.

Now it's New David's turn. He dispensed an item from his world just like everyone else, plucking out a strand of his red hair to the bowl. But before he could walk out, his mind started to doubt leaving just one strand alone. Would his hair count as from him or from the Anomaly? To make sure, he looked down at his sweater and to his fortune, he spotted a loose strand of fabric along the edges. Pulling it and then ripping it out, he then placed it on the bowl next to his red hair.

Afterwards, it's now Hilbert's turn. Even though he and Hilda shared the most similarities due to their shared history and their experiences to stop the Red-Eyed Trolls, he was still convinced by the group to partake in dispensing a piece of his own world to return. Before he does, Hilbert feels hesitant to put it in. A lot of questions swirled within his mind as he stood there with a nervous face. Would this mean the Eversing Mirror won't work anymore? Can this be reversed? Will I never see Hilda again?

These questions paralyzed his decision-making as his emotional state took over and held him back from going.

Hilda noticed how emotionally distressed he is, which is preventing him from doing anything. She can discern from his shaking body and the quivering state of his eyes that Hilbert is probably incapable of letting his experiences in her world go, not yet. Acknowledging his feelings and empathizing with his nostalgia, Hilda then walked over to his side and placed her hand over his.

"I know you'll probably miss me once you go," she mumbled to him as she caresses his hand, "But that's okay. I'm glad to have a friend like you, and that can never be taken away." Hilda then expressed her sentiment through a thankful smile.

Seeing her smile after she shared her grateful sentiment just filled his eyes and mind with wonder and feelings, and out of an emotional outburst, Hilbert went in for the hug, embracing her intimately as he allowed himself to cry his emotions out for her. Feeling his gratitude through his embrace, Hilda returned the gesture back by hugging him back, as her own feelings became rack with a settling emptiness in her heart, a reflection of her own mind not feeling ready to bid someone farewell.

With her encouragement and symbolic farewell, Hilbert now gulped his own hesitancy and moved forward to the bowls and as his hand hovered over it, he glanced back to Hilda with a thankful smile of his own, before finally dispensing his hair onto the bowl, committing himself to return to his own world.

After everyone's pieces have been discarded for the witches, Tildy then applauded them all for their contribution before Kaisa politely lead them to a section of the Circular Room where they can wait the process out until it is ready.

A few hours past since they dispensed items and many had been waiting around in an open area of the room, watching the construction process above them or flocking over to Adult Hilda and Adult David for further curiosity on what their cellphones can do. Meanwhile, some of them have been reading a few stacks of books that Kaisa had provided for their leisure, hoping that these books wouldn't bore them to death.

"This book's boring," Teen Trevor said, closing a book in his hands, "Are there any cooler books than atlases and encyclopedias around here?"

"There's this one though," Randall picked up a book from the pile, "I guess you can read a book called..." he paused to read the title, "What the fuck?"

"Language," both Kaisa and Angel Alfur politely asserted.

"Sorry," he blurted.

"Why the hell did you say that?" Summoner Alfur questioned, "You know there's a bunch of kids here."

"Yes– This book just has a stupid title, I couldn't help it."

"What's the title then?" Teen Hilda asked.

Randall sighed and then turned to the book cover. "Get Out of There: Situational Risk Awareness and The Science of Knowing Just When To Leave," he uttered out loud before turning the book to the group.

"Yeah, that is a stupid title," Teen Frida commented.

"Oh my–" Deerfox Hilda held her mouth to avoid laughing, "That really is dumb. Who writes a book that sounds like a weak comedic setup?"

"I know right," Summoner Kelly cackled, "Sounds kinda lame if you think about it."

While the teenagers were having fun with the pile of books, both Hilda and Hilbert and New David's friends kept an eye on him, to see whether or not he's feeling anything...fishy lately. His somewhat surprising recovery from his coma still left questions in their minds and it doesn't feel right that there would be no reason for this, unless...

"Do you feel anything right now?" Hilda queried.

"Well, I do feel something in my head," he places his hand on his forehead, "I don't know what it is, I just feel it."

"About that thing you said about waking up not able to move," New Frida pointed out, "Did you dream of anything that caused it? What did you see?"

New David felt a light shock coming from his back, it felt as if he was lightly electrocuted. He flinched lightly to the action before turning to her.

"I don't remember much...all I can say is that I dreamed of that time," he cringed at the memory, "That time Hilda tried to raise her mum from the dead, then you— I don't even know how to describe it, but you somehow— somehow rise from the dead and become...a marra."

This shocked everyone. His testimony had proved that the marra that they have seen and heard had just been more of a threat than they realized. Both Hilda and Hilbert looked at each other with worried faces while New Frida and Tired Hilda just looked at him with shock and horror. How could this happen?

"...is that all?" Tired Hilda inquired.

He shook his head as a gesture. "I woke up, but everything was just dark. I tried to move but I couldn't, and then I saw another thing in the darkness. It was...you, but somehow with flames on her hands and...green eyes. Then it just— stopped."

His testimony lined up with what the marra had been described to them multiple times before by many of their contemporaries all over—although the flames on their hands is a new detail— and with this revelation, they all feel like they've been punched in the gut. Hilda was just speechless. New Frida was aghast while Tired Hilda hurdled up in her legs and just buried her head under it.

Hilbert however, thought that the process should not take any longer. The only solution he sees now is to return New David back before it gets worst. Standing up quickly, he walked forward to Kaisa, who was overlooking the process, with a number of questions in his mind. He needed some clarifications.

"Kaisa."

She turned around, raising her eyebrow.

"Can you uhh tell me how much longer until it's finished?" he pointed to the mirrors.

"Until the spell processing is complete, that's all I know." She shrugged off before walking along the room looking above her. "Hey, no mirrors on top of the shelves!"

"What? What does that mean?" He ran up to her.

"Not now– Hey! Be careful carrying that up the ladder!" She couldn't focus much on him as she had to keep her eye on the witches.

Her inattention to his questions just frustrated him further. "Kaisa— Hey! How does the spell processing work? What are the mirrors for? How is this helping us!? How does this entire thing work!?!" He raised his voice and stomped his foot.

"I don't know!" Kaisa snapped at Hilbert. As she was about to let it out on him, she then lost her train of thought. "I— I actually don't," she admitted, biting her tongue.

"Then who can?"

"Just...just ask Tildy, I'm sure she knows." She then admits defeat before walking off to a separate desk to continue her work.

With their search for answers took to a standstill, Hilbert now had to resort to walking back to Hilda empty-handed. As he scampered, his eyes took a short glance overhead to see the mirrors up above him. They all seem like a hall of mirrors, gleaming off faintly with the light bulbs provided in the room, shining off of the dark ceiling like stars in the night sky.

He took a brief smile before turning back ahead. As he walked, Hilbert now contemplated on whether or not he should inform Tildy about what New David is experiencing or do it on their own. Glancing at the far-end of the room, he could discern the Committee of Three and Tildy in a desk, working on the bowls and overlooking the operations up above. His gut had been urging him not to seek out their help. Maybe they were busy setting up the plan that they have devised earlier? He isn't sure...

Hilbert came to the group with a dismayed face, holding his arm up.

"What's wrong?" Hilda noticed, "Where have you been?"

He turned to Hilda. "We... might have to wait for the answer."

"What– What do you mean by that?" New David asked.

"I tried to ask Kaisa about you, but then— I changed my mind."

An audible gasp escaped out of their mouths, they couldn't believe it for themselves. "Hilbert, you mean–"

He nodded. "But I suppose we still have a chance," Hilbert suggests, "We might have to do this on our own."

Another few hours had past and the mirrors had now already been set up. As the Teenagers and Elves conversed with each other along a desk spared for them and the Adults sat next to each other, Hilda and Hilbert had been reading a few books they found along some nearby shelves about the marras and their possible signs, assisted by New Frida and Tired Hilda.

Meanwhile, New David's mental capacities had been gradually deteriorating. As he waited and the hour kept ticking, his eyes began detecting strange visions around the library— or the underground portion of it— where he can discern a shadow has been lurking amongst the witches, seeing it almost pushing one of them off the ladder, crawling on the floor, and even slowly approaching him at times. They only disappear every time he closed his eyes, but whenever that happens, he can always see a pair of green eyes masked under it.

He wanted to scream that he can see it, tell everyone of what he was seeing, but his mind couldn't get the words— not even the feelings— to cause a scene. After all, they can't see it but he does.

Within the books, Hilda turned to a page that she felt was familiar before. A page with an illustration of how a marra haunts its victims. As she skimmed through the words, it now clicked in her mind of what this page is.

"This was the book where we learned how to deal with marras," she proclaimed, "I remember this one."

"Neat," Tired Hilda says, "Is there anything there that could explain David's dream?"

With their attention on the book that Hilda has as of now, she then chose to lay it out along the glass floor to allow for a collective reading. As they all skimmed past sentences and letters, Hilda then flipped the page in order to find the answer they were looking for. Scanning through all of the paragraphs, they landed on what they were looking for.

"Right here," Hilbert pointed with his finger, "According to polysomnograph Professor Christina McBride, whenever a marra conducts sleep paralysis on a victim, it will inhabit his mind and play tricks with his eyes. Then in order to take control of its host, it must force the victim to give up its consciousness over to the marra."

"So...does that mean—"

"It's stealing his soul!" Tired Hilda exclaimed, interrupting Hilda in the process. "Sorry," she lowered her head.

New David heard her exclamatory statement and turned to her with concern. The visions had just gotten worst, however. The shadow had now begun to invisibly torment his friends in front of him, as it began to kneel over their heads, act out horrifying acts seen in nightmares and staring back at him with those macabre green eyes, he couldn't help but look away at them.

Even if those eyes can be seen even if he closes his, David still maintains his aversion from the shadow that has been following him while a headache began to ensue in the back of his mind.

"Wait wait wait," New Frida said in disbelief, "If what David said about not being able to move during his dream—"

"That means the marra still has him under control," Hilda concluded.

A wave of shocks whooshed the group as the conclusion now weighted upon their backs. But before they could even comprehend this revelation or even think up of what to do, a witch had walked up to them and abruptly walked into their discussion.

"I'm sorry to barge in, but Kaisa has been calling all of you."