THE MOMENT
The old gentleman hesitated at the sound for a moment, then smiled to himself. He reached forward and plucked the golden rose from the ground. It stood out from the field of orange flowers around them and ruined the uniform look. Then, he stood to turn and face his visitor: a tall, woman in a black dress with twisting bone white horns. He gave her a courteous bow as a shimmering, liquid green portal opened in the air next to him.
"Didn't expect you to be visiting her. Go ahead, I'll come back later," he said. Ballisea shook her head.
"I'd like your assistance; it happens that this is where I found you," she said. He tilted his head at her and narrowed his eyes. Although, her gaze focused only on his right eye. Unlike his left, his right eye resembled a glass eye painted like a globe and it currently rotated slowly in its socket. Below that, the number 37 was tattooed on his right cheek, just under the eye. He gave another formal half-bow.
"I'm listening," he said.
"Have you made a selection yet?" she asked. The old man shook his head.
"I'm not in a hurry to," he said. Then, he shrugged and asked, "Unless I need to be?"
"Not especially, I suppose. Blueberry has yet to make his selection as well," Ballisea said. "However, there is someone whom I'd like you to consider. And before that, escort her to a different Earth. The one she's on now won't last three days." The old man raised a silver eyebrow at Ballisea.
"Taking an interest in a Mundo?" he asked. She nodded.
"She's proven entertaining for a time now. However, recently a stray myth and an adorable little Estrella have also provided me with a great deal of amusement. It so happens they crossed paths with the Mundo and now I have a nice little group of toys to play with. But, mourning isn't particularly entertaining. So, I request you save Mundo, without mentioning my involvement." This time, both silver eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Something you don't want credit for?" he asked. Again, she nodded.
"I've already attempted to bargain with your aid; it would be inconvenient in the future if they realize I helped anyway." He nodded at her, then reached up and stroked his silver goatee.
"If that's the case, I shouldn't go in person either," he stretched his hand forward and a peppermint plant sprouted on the ground. He crouched to pluck the plant out of the ground, then he held it out to Ballisea. She did not reach for it. Instead, a small black portal opened next to is hand and he dropped it in. He also took a moment to toss in the golden rose. "I'll send the twins, she'll interest Mundo." Ballisea nodded, then disintegrated into black dust and disappeared.
*
in an alternate universe:
*
Astra, Oz, Cadence and Gaia left the damaged building to move to a safe spot. Spencer had hero duties to tend to, Ruin left to meet Minerva and Ozmond went home to pack up his life. The four of them found a quiet table at the mall's food court. There were only a few shoppers strolling through the mall. Given the solitude, the group managed to make some progress on setting up an evacuation plan for the world. Astra did not hesitate to ask Melody for help and she was eager to do so. Now, the only question was how to help Gaia.
"I thought for sure Melody would know a way..," Astra whined at the table.
"If Sharp Development doesn't know of a way...," Cadence hugged her mother closer. "...there might not be one."
"There is!" Oz said with more excitement than he meant to. Ballisea offered him a deal which meant there was a way. But, he didn't know how to tell them that without revealing that Ballisea's been whispering in his ear. "I mean, there has to be!" he managed to recover.
"We just have to keep asking different people. I know there's someone out there that knows something." Gaia stiffened for a moment, then she stood up. Her focus was on a pair of young women, twins, walking towards them. Oz noticed both of them had green hair, though one had a darker shade.
"Are they Unique?" Oz nudged Astra. She looked up at the twins and golden stars glowed in her eyes.
"What....the ... fuuuudge?" Astra's eyes opened wide. It was the first time Oz had ever seen her surprised.
"#11, El melón and #28 La sandía," Gaia said. Though, she did not take her eyes off the young women as they came closer.
"Wait a minute," Oz turned to Gaia. "There are plant souls on this Earth and you're only worried about yourself??" She shook her head.
"They weren't on this Earth five minutes ago," she said.
"What?" he asked. He wanted more answers, but the twins reached them with broad smiles.
"Hey Mundo!" the one with the darker shade of green said. "Wow, we found one fast this time."
"Call me Gaia," Gaia replied.
"I'm Canta, that's Sidra," the lighter haired one said. Oz tried finding other differences, but somehow their hair color was the only thing setting them apart. Their hair was styled the same, and they even both wore matching barrettes made from peppermint leaves in their hair. "We're taking a tour of the multiverse," she said.
"Because we can," Sidra added with a broad grin. "So, Mund..Gaia. What's happening on this Earth?"
"How are you here?" Gaia asked. "How did you Traverse?"
"What are you??" Astra asked. The golden stars were still shining in her eyes. The girls smiled and answered both questions at the same time. Sidra nodded at Gaia and touched her hand to the peppermint leaf in her hair. Canta nodded at Astra
"Peppermint," Sidra answered.
"I'm twins!" Canta answered.