A different world

Chapter 7 - the First Step on a Long Road

"Maybe this time I should stay behind? Y'know, so that you can get used to everything." Orange smiled anxiously, turning to walk away.

"What? No, no, wait-" Sabre ran up to him, confused. Why was Orange suddenly against this? He reached him and grabbed his arm. Orange sighed. "What's wrong?" Sabre probed.

"They're just...yknowww..." Orange grumbled. "They're scary. Relatives, friends, acquaintances, all that stuff... It's scaryyyy..."

"Well if we don't go now, they could be in even worse trouble, right?" Sabre pulled his arm towards the portal. Orange was taller and heavier than him, which made the endeavor a little difficult.

"I think we'd benefit from locking ourselves in dirt and pretending we don't exist." Orange plopped down on the mossy stone bricks, defeated.

"Orange!!" Sabre attempted to pull him by his leg. He managed to get a few feet of distance before Orange kicked him away. "Come on, man! This is serious!"

"How do you know? Betcha 10 bucks that it's nothing." Orange stuck his tongue out as he got to his feet, then sighed. "You know what, fine. We'll check. Let's just make it quick." That took much less time than he thought it would. Sabre grinned as Orange stood up, quickly standing next to him and half-dragging him over to the orange portal.

"Okay, so, how do we do this? D'we do some secret dance? Say some magic words? Ask the portal nicely?" Sabre bounced up and down on his heels as Orange stood at the foot of the portal, pinching the bridge of his nose like he already regretted his decision.

"It's not that deep, man. Just walk in." And with that, Orange stepped into the portal, his body wavering with it for a few seconds before disappearing. Once again, Sabre was alone.

His happy-go-lucky grin faded the second Orange was gone. He stared at the portal, wondering silently.

If he stepped in here, he'd have to be a hero, and that would make it all the harder to leave. Still, it wasn't like he had anything else to do. And if he didn't go, Orange would be upset with him. Couldn't have that this early in a friendship. (A friendship that would have to be cut short anyways, a voice in Sabre's head argued.) Sabre ignored it, rolled his shoulders and breathed in. Suppressing any further doubt, he stepped forward, and the scene changed.
——
This is bad. Very, very bad.

What? What is it?

This wasn't supposed to happen.

What??

If only I knew he was capable of overruling me...

You're not making sense. Please, explain to me the situation, and I will do my best to help.

It's Sabre. This sort of situation has never happened before, he's never overruled me before.

Ah, I see.

How could this happen??

You're the one in power; more than me, even. You should be the one with the answers.

I can't be 'in power' if he figures things out. I didn't tell him much, but if he realizes...

The very fabric of the universe could fall apart?

You catch on quick.

I'm flattered.

If I hadn't been so blind, I would have-

Hey, relax. We'll figure this out. Sabre isn't malicious in any way. I'm sure I can put a stop to this before it's too late.

But Sabre is stubborn. Easily subjected to anger. And devoted. Very devoted. That kind of devotion can only lead to worse things...