The Story of All of Us

This story is great

Chapter 4: A Storyteller’s Haven. 

Oftentimes, when a person travels through a portal into another world, the portal at first appears to lead to a blinding white void. However, once the person goes through it, it is revealed to be a normal world filled with objects, rather than the blinding white void that it appeared to be. 

In this case, however, the portal in fact did lead to a blinding white void. 

The three of us cringed and shielded our eyes in sync. 

“Oh! I forgot. Here, have some sunglasses,” he said, and when I squint my eyes open, he has three in his palm. “Don’t worry. They’re prescription.” 

I grope forward, grab one, shove it onto my face, and open my eyes. The shining has now dimmed to having staring directly at a lamp, rather than the sun. 

I watch the Author write, “Dimmer”, and the world around me obeys his command. 

I look around. It really is an entirely blank white void. There’s no shadows anywhere. There’s walls, no ceiling as far as I can see. It’s the same anywhere. I can’t even tell if I’m standing on a floor, or floating thousands of miles up into the air. 

“It’s my own personal world that I made myself!” the Author says cheerfully. “Nobody else is here, and nobody else can ever come! Here, come.” he says, walking off into the distance. 

We shrug at each other and follow him.

As it turns out, space is not the only thing that’s weird in this place. We walk and we walk and we walk, with no landmarks anywhere. Time and speed lose all meaning. 

“How much longer is it?” Swap says, panting. “We’ve been walking for hours.”

“Just a few more minutes,” the Author says cheerfully. “I think they’re minutes, anyway. Time is weird here.” 

“You don’t say,” I mutter under my breath. 

Suddenly, a rush of brown blows by us. 

“Wait! Wait! That was our destination. We have to turn back around.” And the Author wheels around and starts walking back in the other direction. 

We all look at each other confusedly and follow him, more slowly. 

The rush of brown was revealed to building. It was a rather boring structure. In fact, it looks kind of familiar. 

“This is the building from The Beginner’s Guide! The coffee shop!” Classic exclaims as we walk slowly towards it. 

Inside, however, there are no tables. There’s no hole in the ground that leads to some whole other world.

Instead, there are doors. Lots and lots and lots of doors. They looking the doors that the Author always sketches, but the lines are thicker. They feel more solid.

“It’s a gateway to other worlds. Much more permanent than those quick sketches that I always make,” he explains. He writes the word “table” and one appears in front of us, complete with chairs and a tablecloth. 

“Sit, sit,” he says with a gesture. We comply.

“So, How was that?” he says, looking at each of us in turn. 

“Fun,” I reply. “When can we do it again?” 

“FUN?!” Classic shouts. “We nearly died! I am NOT every trying this again!”

“I have to agree with him,” Swap mutters. “This is stupid.” 

“We’re done,” the say in sync. “Get us out.” 

The Author gestures to a pair of doors. “There’s your exit.”

The two of them look at each other as if they can’t believe their luck, then run through the doors as fast as lightning. 

The Author chuckles. “Little did they know, they each picked the wrong door,” he chuckled.

Yeah, you're amazing HTP

Thanks, guys. That reminds me. Next chapter comes out Saturday, July 13.

Sorry that this came a day late. I'm sure you're all devastated. Anyways:

Chapter 5: Swap

The instant I stepped through the door, the white void transformed back into my normal kitchen around me. 

I was back home. 

I rubbed my temples. Holy hell, I didn’t know what the heck just happened, but now it was over. No more adventuring, no more insane powers…

I lifted my hand up to see a burning flame in the center of my palm. 

Oh-Kay, maybe not that last bit, but still, I’ll be fine if no one sees…

My brother suddenly comes around the corner and sees me with the flame still in my palm. 

Wait a moment. I don’t have a brother.

I watch as the shocked expression on his face distorts. In fact, I watch his entire body distort, until the boy suddenly flickers out of existence. 

I feel a hand on my shoulder. 

“Come on,” I hear my black-sweatshirted self say as he drags me back over to the stenciled door. “The Author will know what to do.” 

The instant I stepped through the door, the white void transformed back into my normal kitchen around me. 

I was back home. 

I rubbed my temples. Holy hell, I didn’t know what the heck just happened, but now it was over. No more adventuring, no more insane powers…

I lifted my hand up to see a burning flame in the center of my palm. 

Oh-Kay, maybe not that last bit, but still, I’ll be fine if no one sees…

Suddenly, my brother appears. Right in front of me, just as if he had teleported. But it’s not exactly normal, either. He’s flickering, almost as if he’s about to disappear from existence at any second. 

I feel a hand on my shoulder. 

“You too, huh?” I hear my black-sweatshirted self say as he drags me over to the stenciled door. “I really hope that the Author knows what to do.”

“It’s as I feared,” the Author says calmly, now that the four of us are all back together. “Because of my removal of you three, the integrity of our stories has begun to degrade.” 

“Well, isn’t that your fault?” Classic asks, scowling. I let him be the annoyed one this time. 

The Author ignores him. “Now, there’s a way to perform a ‘reboot’, and reset the stories back to how they were before. There’s a machine in my world that we’ve built that can get the job done. However, with how much of it we’ve been doing…” 

“With what?” Swap exclaims. 

The Author prattles on. “We’re in need of a new energy supply. To do another reboot, we’re in need of seven new orbs of energy called, for a lack of a better term, ‘Joules’. Now, scattered across the multiverse, I’ve located the seven that we need. It’s up to you guys to get them.” 

“Once again, why don’t you do it?” I interject. 

He’s unfazed. “Like I said, there’s all sorts of things that I need to do. Should I leave my post to go adventuring, several universes I’ve made would immediately fall prey to my enemies.” 

“And I’m not forcing you to do this. It’s all up to you. If you don’t want to do it, you can go. I’m sure I can find some other volunteers.” 

The three of us all stare at each other for a moment. 

“We’re in,” we chorus in sync.

“All right!” exclaims the Author, and there’s a mischievous glint in his eye. “Now, you guys have heard of Hamilton, right?”

Next chapter comes on Saturday, July 19.

Hamilton srsly lol

Wait for it. 

Chapter 6: The Story of Ham-

“This is a terrible idea,” I mutter under my breath, trying to adjust the unnecessarily elaborate waistcoat.

“Just freakin’ put up with it!” Classic mutters right back at me as we jostle our way through the crowds. 

“Do I know Hamilton?!” the three of us chorus in sync.

“Like I thought. Anyways…” He writes the word “Disguises” in the air, and three Colonial outfits appear out of thin air. With a flick of the pencil, he throws them onto us.

A few minutes later, all three of us are standing in front of the Author, now dressed like people from the 1800s. 

He points towards one of the doors. “This will take you to where you need to go. Now, then, the orb is buried in the ground. Here’s a map that pinpoints where it is.” He gives a scrap of paper to Classic, who tucks it into a pocket. “Try not to use your powers in front of other people. We don’t need universes destabilizing any more than they already have.” 

The three of us nod solemnly, turn simultaneously, and march out the door.

“So where’s this stupid place that we need to get to, anyway?” I ask, peering over Classic’s shoulder at the map. 

“Just some cliff somewhere,” Swap replies, sauntering on ahead casually.

We pass a store. All three of us recognize the name on it. 

“I don’t want to go in here,” Swap mutters.

“Well, we do!” Classic and I chorus, and together we push Swap inside. 

Manning the shop is a familiar figure. 

“Hey!! C•0/e4!!!” Classic and I cry out in sync as we go up to the man behind the counter. 

He puts out a hand and stops us before we even get there. “Aaron. What are you doing here? You know that half the town wants to lynch you for all the stuff you’ve said? Aren’t you supposed to be dueling - ahem - him,” he says, pointing to our companion, “like, right now? And why are there two of you?” 

Swap goggles. “We’re dueling?” 

“Awesome!” I cheer. 

C•0/e4 looks at us oddly. “Awesome? As in, ‘Our Lord, awesome in power’?”

At that moment, we all mutually decided to leave the store. 

A little while later, we find ourselves walking around a rather average street that’s mostly deserted. Houses with dainty porches and whatnot. 

There’s the sound of a door slamming, and suddenly, a young woman in a light brown housedress has tossed herself onto Swap.

All three of us know her very well.

Classic and I stop in our tracks.

“I am so glad to see you alright!” she practically squeals, giving our companion a peck on the cheek. I see Classic balling his hands. “How did it go? You have to tell me everything,” 

“Darling, I’m glad to see you too.” Bless his soul, Swap can react quickly. “But I have some… things I need to take of before I can tell you.” 

He leans in until his mouth is right next to her ear. “It’s about the duel.” 

She nods solemnly and goes back inside, in complete understanding of how life works.

Except not quite. 

She sees my face. 

Classic quickly turns away and begins to start admiring some flowers. Thank God.

I watch her eyes pop out of their sockets a little bit and train themselves on me. She comes stomping back down the steps, and boy, have I never been so terrified of anything in my entire life.

“After everything you did! To my father! Get out of my face!” she hisses.

My heart cracks a little. 

“As you wish, madam,” I reply, my voice somehow not breaking. 

And the three of us turn tail and walk away.

The instant we’re around the corner, we simultaneously break into a sprint. 

“We have to stop that duel!” Classic pants as we dash down alleyways. “Did you see their reaction?” 

“No, we can’t, you idiot!” I reply. “The duel has to happen! It’s part of the story! If we stop it, there will be more of that destabilization the Author mentioned!” 

“So you’re going to let a good man die?” I see Swap’s mouth twitch into a grin. “And let all these people be devastated?” 

“Haven’t we already kind of messed up the story by existing?” Swap questions. “Aren’t we going to mess it up by digging for this orb thing?” 

“Guys.” Classic’s voice isn’t steady. “The orb is buried right where the duel is.” 

“WHAT? How do you even know where the duel is?” I exclaim. 

“Because I, unlike you, actually study my history!” 

“I’m you! What the heck are you talking about?” 

“Oh, too busy being freaking [he said a ruder word than freaking] edgy to actually be smart?” 

“Take that back, you idiot piece of s-“ 

He’s swinging his shovel before I’m even done talking, and on instinct, I stick a bone through his back. 

He chokes a little and drops his weapon. There’s a red hole that’s oozing blood. 

I’m mad. I put another one through him. Right through his heart. 

He drops to his knees. I laugh. 

“FELL! KNOCK IT OFF!” Swap yells in my face. 

I blink. I realize what I’m doing. 

The bones retract back into the ground. I hang my head a little. 

Swap flicks his fingers, and some ink appears and covers the wound. When it disappears, so does the hole. 

Classic glances at me a little warily. Like he’s expecting an apology. 

“I’m sorry,” It’s so hard to sound sincere. “Let’s just go.” 

Not quite meeting my eyes, the two of them follow after me into the rising sun.

Chapter 7 comes out on Saturday, July 27.

My WiFi shorted out but good story hope you receive this

I did receive it. OR DID I?!

.... htp lol

Thanks. Maybe I will one day.

Chapter 7: Weehawken

Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of Classic staring at his map and running us around all of the dang town before we’re finally hiking up some stupid cliffs to some stupid place where we have to get a stupid orb. 

We can see the two figures before we’re even close. Apparently, they arrived much later than anyone expected. I can see two more running back and forth, measuring out the paces, filling up the guns. 

Our pace intensifies. 

“You handle this. You’re the do-gooder,” I mutter to Classic. He nods solemnly. 

By the time we finally, finally make it to the top of the hill, they’re standing apart from each other, guns cocked. 

“Stop!!” Classic shouts at the top of his lungs. 

The two figures turn and look at us with pictures of macbere shock on their faces. One of them, of course, is me. And one of them is him.

They just stare at us. Frozen, in shock at people who look exactly like them. 

“Who are you?” Swap asks under his breath. 

“I’m Aaron. Duh.” I reply. 

“No, I mean who are you?” 

“I’m AARON. Don’t you know?” 

“I MEAN WHO ARE YOU HERE?” 

“I’M AARON!” 

“Oh,” Swap says, pausing to consider it. “I guess that would make sense.”

Suddenly, the two figures blink out of existence. 

But just for a moment. They come back. 

But now words are peeling off them. 

I’ve seen some pretty weird things, but this one takes the cake. Letters made of black ink, moving too fast to read, rush out of their bodies, leaving only empty white void behind. They swirl and scatter and vanish. 

“Find that Joule!” Classic yells, his shovel appearing, and for once we listen.

Together, it still takes an agonizingly long time for us to dig away. All the while, the world around us begins to dissolve, even the words making up the cliff and the ocean far below collapsing into the letters that made them.

After a while, we find it. 

The ball glows and pulsates, emitting a faintly yellow glow. You can feel the power in it. It is power, power condensed into material form, outside a body, in a way that none of us can understand. 

I lean down to pick it up. 

Pain. And heat. Pain and heat worse than anything that I’ve ever felt in my life, burning me, burning me so badly that I want to die, just to make it go away. 

I feel arms on me, and the feeling is gone. Classic and Swap pulled me back. 

I look at my hand. 

Actually, I don’t look at my hand. Because my hand is gone. 

I watch in astonishment as, before my eyes, black ink drips down from my wrist and refills the shape of my hand, until the body part is replaced. 

I watch Classic lift the orb out of the ground. With gravity manipulation, of course. 

We turn to see that half the world is gone, turned into void. The words have turned into a maelstrom. 

And then they turn into something. 

Imagine the worst monster from your nightmares. If they had nightmares, they would dream of something far, far tamer than the sight we saw. 

It shifted. It pulsed. It transformed. If you ask me about it now, I honestly can’t tell you the exact shape the beast formed. 

It was, however, gigantic. I can tell you that. It emitted a sound that shook our bones. The three of us simultaneously drop to our knees and cover our ears in a useless attempt to block the sound. 

It stomps towards us. Fortunately, it’s far away, but it’s getting closer every minute. 

The three of us see it, and instantly, we know. 

An entire wall of Gasterblasters appears in front of us. No. Layers of them. Hundreds, maybe. 

They open their mouths and fire as one, every laser aimed perfectly at the monster.

Somehow, it barely even reacts. It charges directly towards the light at us. 

The wall disappears, the blasters spent, and I feel so, so tired.

There’s the sensation of being pulled backwards. 

The Author is there, the stenciled door he came through still open slightly. He turns and faces the monster stoically. 

Impossibly, the thing seems to get even angrier. It bellows and stretches out an appendage, a claw of words at us. 

Right as it reaches us, the Author flips his pencil around and erases it. 

It bellows. It takes me a very long time to realize it is a cry of pain. 

With quick, efficient swipes, the Author completely erases the thing out of existence, the few words left over disappearing or flying away. 

All that’s left is a half-empty world, what’s left of the cliffs falling into the ocean, the sky half-blue and half-white. Half-empty. 

The Author turns towards us, dead serious. 

“Time to head back,” he says, and none of us protest this time as we walk into the haven.

Chapter 8 comes out on Saturday, August 3.

Great story

By the way, August 2 is a Friday. Saturday is the 3rd

I think Quantum Theory is better