I Choose You

Jewel and I came somersaulting out of the rift onto a carpeted surface. It did little to shield our bodies from the impact as the pair of us groaned in displeasure. I got up gingerly, looking around the space.

We appeared to be in the servants’ wing of the castle in one of the many corridors. Only... It was a bit different. The familiar walkway, which would typically end with a wall containing a painting, instead continued on forever in both directions. To say it was disorienting would be quite the understatement.

"Is this some kind of joke?” I muttered, turning around frantically. “Well, it isn't funny anymore..."

"Of all the people to get stuck in a pocket dimension with, it had to be you!" Jewel lamented out loud.

"Hey, you're the one that tried to save me! So you clearly don't hate me as much as you let on. I'm touched. Bring it in, you little tsundere, you." I faked like I was going to hug Jewel, but her death stare froze me in my tracks.

"Die." She spat.

Harsh!! No hesitation, either...

"Not the time, I know, sorry. Does that scroll give any more clues on how to get out of this area, or find the other hostages?" I asked, putting Jewel's bloodlust aside.

"Hmph! It seems like all the riddles that were on here suddenly vanished and got replaced with something else." She looked over the scroll.

"Well, what does it say?" I asked, growing impatient.

"Ahem, it says: ‘You fools. Hahahahaha ha-ha, haha-haha...... ha.’” Jewel replied in a completely monotone voice, pairing it with a similarly blank expression.

"You're being serious, aren't you? UGH! Why did it have to turn out like this?" I couldn't help, but feel exasperated with our current situation. "This is like one of those shitty game shows on television, where the host changes the rules every five minutes! When is the clown gonna suspend from the ceiling!?"

"Clown—? Listen, I don't know what you're going on and on about. We're not going to get anywhere cursing the tele... whatever it is you just said." Jewel sighed. "We should really be thinking of a... plan...!"

"Plan?" I repeated her words in the same high-pitched tune.

"Shut up for a second, do you hear that?" Jewel asked, putting her hands up to her cat ears.

"Hear what exact—" I cut off my own sentence when I heard a flapping noise approaching. It was coming from somewhere down the corridor. "I do hear it! It's coming from over there."

I pointed in the direction of the noise. Both directions looked the same, so we had to follow our ears to guide the way. Eventually, we came to a door where the noise appeared to be originating from. I hesitated to open it at first, having seen the same scene in a dozen horror movies.

There could be anything behind this door. Although... When I'm this close to the noise, it almost sounds like...

Jewel swung the door open, paying no attention to my hesitance. The origin of the flapping sound finally revealed itself.

“PON-PON!”

"Pon-Pon! I knew it was you!" Jewel sang in glee. Amber's familiar, Pon-Pon shot out of the doorway, nuzzling Jewel with his pudgy face.

"Pon-Pon Pon-Pon!" The familiar flew around us in circles as if to tell us something, but I still couldn't understand it well enough to interpret its chittering sounds.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked. It was odd to see him on his own, with Amber likely trapped in one of these pocket dimensions like her sister was. “Where is the princess, where is Amber?”

"Pon-Pon..." He responded with a dejected look.

So she's not around here, huh?

She must have summoned him just before Phantom appeared, or Pon-Pon was already off somewhere by himself. That was pretty unlikely though, since Amber didn't have much mana to keep him summoned. As I had come to learn.

"What's that? Can you tell us where Queen Veranda is?" Jewel listened to Pon-Pon intently as if she could understand exactly what he was saying. "Very good! Pon-Pon tells me this door is the way we're supposed to go, but he says to be careful."

Much to my disbelief, Jewel pointed at the doorway Pon-Pon had just escaped from. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She really could understand everything Pon-Pon was telling her.

"Are you telling me that you can speak Pon-Pon...?" I asked Jewel who began to walk through the entryway.

"I dabble a little bit. I spend most of my non-working hours in the library, and pick up some strange books when I'm bored," she shrugged. "And because I thought it would help get me closer to Princess Amber..."

There's the REAL reason why. It's still impressive though... Meanwhile, I don't even know how to read or write in the standard language of this country.

"You sure do love Amber, don't you?" I asked Jewel as we followed Pon-Pon down a brand-new corridor.

"Well, yeah. Of course I do! She's so strong and beautiful. She always says what's on her mind, and nothing ever gets to her." I wouldn't go as far as to say that last part. Amber’s face during our waltz argued otherwise. "I mean... Isn't that why you're here too? You're risking your skin, because you love Amber?"

"Eh!!!?" Jewel's words almost made me trip over nothing as I struggled to regain my balance. "No, no, no. It's not like that. It's just that I respect her a lot as a friend, and she's gonna be the future ruler of Aurelia. So..."

My frantic voice trailed off as Jewel met my gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"So… You would risk so much to save someone you don't even care all that much for? Then you would try to marry them on top of that, while denying that you're anything more than acquaintances?" Jewel put her hands on her hips, now glaring at me with her sharp blue eyes.

Oh crap... Is she on to me? Does she know about our plan?

Suddenly she sighed, taking on a lighter attitude.

"You really don't understand anything, Sakuta. Not about your feelings or especially Princess Amber's." Jewel said. "Idiot."

"Hey, that's rude!" I protested. "First off, I don't even understand what you're getting at. And another thing—"

"Pooooon-Pon!" I was interrupted as, at last, we reached the end of the corridor. A door came into view on the previously empty, almost beckoning us inside. I could understand just enough of Pon-Pon's mannerisms to conclude that he wanted us to enter.

"Want to do the honors, since I know you'll just swing it open without a care anyway?" I asked Jewel facetiously.

"Don't mind if I do." She gave me a sarcastic smile, before swinging open the doors like before.

The room was a miniature replica of Queen Veranda's throne room, and seated on the throne was the woman herself. The Queen was unconscious just a few steps from where we were standing in the doorway.

"Your highness!" Jewel yelled, sprinting towards her.

The feeling of unease returned with a vengeance, the same one I had before Henrí's men were ambushed. My skin was covered in goosebumps, and my hair stood on end.

"Jewel, it's not safe!" I tried to run after her, but the door slammed shut behind us.

"Right you are, young man!" Phantom rose from a rift in the ground, and grabbed Jewel with a small dagger to her throat.

"Jewel!"

"Pon-Pon!" Amber's familiar growled.

"Let me go!" Jewel whimpered. "I said… Let. Me. Go!"

"Put her down, Phantom!” I shouted. “You didn't come out here to kidnap a maid did you? So release her!"

"A great point! Both the girl here and her Majesty are completely inconsequential to me. The real reason I'm here—for this whooole façade in fact—was all just a ruse to isolate you, Yamada Sakuta-kun."

There are the honorifics again...

"Isolate... me?" I gritted my teeth. "I don't understand... What's so special about me!?"

"Playing coy? It's quite siiimple really. Through my vast information network, I came to learn that a new Materializer had revealed themself to the world." Phantom smiled. "The trail just so happened to lead back to Morningstar Castle, and the unassuming butler working there."

Meaning… It’s all my fault that Amber's big night was ruined, and everyone is in danger?

"Who are you getting your information from!?” I started losing my composure. “Spit it out!"

"Making demaaands, are we? Do you not see the precarious position you’re in? Here's an act of goodwill from me to smooth things over." Phantom swung Jewel to the side. "I will let this girl and Queen Veranda go, but you must stay here and endure my test, and perhaps a bit of light discussion. What do you say?"

A test, huh? I don't see much choice in the matter. Could I possibly fight him after all he’s done here?

If giving myself up could save the two of them for now, I had no problem doing it.

"Don't, Sakuta! He's gonna hurt you, or WORSE!" Jewel grabbed her uniform with balled fists.

I looked over at her, smirking.

"Don't worry about me. You're the one that just told me to die, anyway. Right?" I chuckled, trying to play off how terrified I was really feeling. Jewel bit her lip.

"Of course, I'm gonna worry when you say such dumb things," she yelled. “This is serious, you know! I’m just a maid, you’re much more important to Princess Amber than–”

"That’s not true, and you know it, Jewel,” I said. “I’m just as serious about this as you are. I’m determined to get everyone out of this alive if I can… that includes you, of course.”

“But that’s…”

“That's why I'll accept your terms, Phantom." I decided. “Set them free.”

"Wait!" Jewel tried to argue otherwise.

"As you wish, Sakuta-kun." Phantom snapped his fingers, and Jewel—along with Pon-Pon and Queen Veranda—disappeared into rifts leading back to where we previously were outside the castle.

"What's this? The Count and the Senator have just succeeded in rescuing their fathers and are headed back to the ballroom as we speak.” Phantom smiled. “As of now, four of the five hostages have been saaafely rescued except for one lone girl."

Amber...

"Let us begin the final turn of this game. The fate of Princess Amber might very well rest in your hands." Phantom said exactly what I was afraid of. "I hope you're ready, materializer."

Whether or not I was actually ready didn't matter. One way or another, The Engagement Ball was about to reach its closing act.

8.2

I stared at the man behind the mask, Phantom. I couldn't help but feel like the next few minutes would be some of my toughest, not to mention most crucial, in this world thus far. Maybe in my entire life. With just a single crooked smile, he was able to give me that feeling.

"So... You got what you wanted, we're alone. Do you mind telling me what this is all for?" I began my questioning. “This test of yours?”

"What do you know about love, Sakuta-kun?" Phantom crossed his arms, ignoring and surprising me with his choice of topic.

"Are you seriously asking, or are you playing some kind of game again?" I scanned him from head to toe, trying to get a feel for his motives. He revealed unsurprisingly little.

"I'm not playing any games. I'm simply curious to hear what your thoooughts are. I couldn't help, but overhear your conversation with the small maid earlier." Phantom mused. "You fall into denial all too easily in matters of the heart! Is it not love that helped you summon that power from before?"

"Power from before... You mean on the ship?" Phantom nodded in response. "That was just dumb luck, I guess... I just remember being really scared, and some kind of interface appeared and spoke to me. Then there was the cannon arm… But I haven't been able to do anything like that since! And where did you—?"

"—Where did I figure it out from? Does the name Golden Dragon mean anything to you?" Phantom interrupted.

Captain Dag's men... It all makes sense now.

"I just happened to be in the area, and they attacked my vessel in their desperation for supplies. Can you believe they thought I was easy prey?" Phantom shrugged, chuckling. "After some prodding, they told me all about you."

"What about?" I took the bait.

"About how you gave everything you had back then to save that girl. Oh, the love! It sounds so exquisite!" Phantom sounded as giddy as a young child. "I have lived for many centuries. I knew your predecessor, a man who could turn his emotions into anything within his imaginaaation. An alchemist of untold power. I'm here to test your abilities. Go ahead, and show me. Just a taste, if you would and this all goes away."

"Show you? I can't just…” I began. “I've tried several times to materialize again, but it didn't work. That’s the honest truth!”

The joyful expression on Phantom's face suddenly faded, and the atmosphere in the room changed. I could see a silent annoyance in his icy blue gaze.

"Ah, I'm beginning to grow impatient with your deniiial. You love Amber, yes? It was love that saved her, just like it was love that your predecessor had for the very world when he created The Crossing to unite it before another Great War could break out.”

Created the crossing… to unite the world?

“Simply use those feelings you hold for her, and pass my test with flying colors." Phantom extended his arms out wide. “It's so simple! So why do you look at me as if I do not speak true?”

"Because feelings don't work like that! If I said I loved Amber in that way it would be hollow, untrue. These people here, to them I’m just…”

“Just, what?”

“Anyway, you keep going on about my predecessor, but I'm NOT the mage of the crossing." I insisted. “I'm just Yamada Sakuta. A normal kid from Earth who wants to get home.”

"Sakuta-kun... Do you think your commitment to being so average is endearing!? It's revolting! A disgusting waste of talent, and potential!" Phantom shot forward abruptly, landing a powerful punch to my ribs.

"NGH—!" I doubled over, trying to shield myself from another blow.

"You've been given all this power, and you waste it playing butler in the castle for scraps under their table..." Phantom spat before landing a knee to my chin, sending me crashing backward onto the floor.

"That's my own choice..." I coughed. "It's my own way of doing what I can, of keeping to a routine. If I lose that..."

That's when I lose myself.

"How I pity you. Even in this state, I can see you clinging to who you were on Earth like it's all that maaatters." He held me up by my hair. "As you are, you could never hope to grow into someone with the power to protect them, much less defeat me. Can’t you see where struggling in vain gets you?"

This is bad... He’s right, I'm completely out of my element here. Another hit like that and I’ll be down for the count.

"Even so... I will not dare kill you. Not until I can face you at your full strength like your predecessor before you, the so-called Mage of the Crossing." His hand lingered on his mask momentarily, before he dropped me back to the floor. “Only then can I receive that which I truly desire most.”

“What… do you desire?” I winced in pain. Phantom smirked without answering my question.

"I had really hoped to make you materialize without resorting to regicide, but this is your final chance." Phantom opened a rift to the ballroom. Through it, I could see a monstrous shadow on stage with glowing red eyes. “The shadow you see before you is the Princess.”

"What… what have you done…?" I gasped, standing to my feet.

"She has been encased in a shell of sorts, made entiiirely out of residual darkness. It comes from the deepest wells of her heart.” Phantom laughed mockingly. “If you won't give in to love, you must find your own unique way to pull her from this nightmare. Don't dally now, because if the time runs out... She'll be my puppet forever. But not before slaughtering all her friends and family first."

“You monster!”

“One day you’ll see the necessity in my actions here on this day. Best of luck, Sakuta-kun.”

The man snapped his fingers, and I was back in the entryway of the ballroom. Count Cleishay, Senator Henrí, and the Queen's guard were fighting Amber's shadow. Looking at it up close was even more terrifying. It produced shadowy arms that attacked from virtually every angle. One guard fell after another into its dark embrace.

"Where did everybody else go!?" I shouted, keeping a bit of distance. My ribs were still aching from the force of Phantom's strike, and I struggled to stand.

"Sakuta, there you are! The hostages and anyone else that couldn't make it out are taking refuge in the dining room while we fight this thing," Henrí said. "It suddenly appeared just when we thought we had cleared the last of Phantom's dark minions..."

"Ah, Yamada Sakuta. You look absolutely dreadful. Well, more than usual." Count Cleishay was the next to greet me. "Here, take this, butler boy."

He threw me a vial of something that looked suspiciously like dirty dish water.

"You're being very open about trying to poison me." I jabbed.

"Don't be daft. That's a healing elixir, you simpleton. I certainly don't believe in handouts, so you can pay me back when your servant wages kick in." Count Cleishay smirked while I looked at him distrustfully.

Well, I guess there's only one way to find out...

"Down the hatch. Surely it can't make me feel any worse." I sighed, swigging the disgusting liquid.

It did, in fact, make me feel worse. Though only momentarily. After a few seconds, my wounds began to magically disappear like they were being rinsed away.

"Amazing..." I muttered. “It tastes like dirty dish water too.”

"Sakuta..." The shadow surrounding Amber said my name. It launched a full array of arms directly at me.

Wait, it can talk? Then she must still be in there, but why would she attack me?

"Are you serious!?" I had no time to react. Just before a giant hand could crush me flat, Henrí sliced the arms into several pieces with his halberd.

"Thanks for the save." I exhaled deeply. "Listen, I'd hate to ask for another favor, but... I need your help again. I know it sounds crazy, but that shadow... is Amber."

I looked at the monster manifesting all the hands, and shuddered.

"THAT thing is Amber!?" Henrí exclaimed, dodging a strike from one of them. "That shade has been trying to crush us flat for well over an hour, and it only continues to grow in size. We’re the only ones left standing to fight it."

I spent an hour in that rift talking to Phantom!? But it only felt like a few minutes at most.

Unless time operated differently within his pocket dimension, but that was a theory to mull over another time.

"This is all Phantom's doing. If we don't break that shell surrounding her, she'll be lost forever... We can't fail." I clenched my fist.

"You should just get out of here, Yamada Sakuta. You're a butler. What are you going to do, clean it?” Count Cleishay warned. “I would take no pleasure in having to fight you as a shadow minion. Not that you'd pose much of a threat."

"Clean it, huh? I guess that's not too far from what I was thinking. I may have a plan, but it’s a longshot. First I want to try speaking to Amber, I just heard her voice.” I gazed in her direction, my heart aching to see her in so much pain. “Can you guys get me close enough?"

The Count stared at me like I was insane, but then his gaze softened.

"C'mon Charles! It's not like we have much chance of stopping this thing anyway, right?" Henrí laughed. "The look in Sakuta's eyes tells me all I need to know. I trust him."

"You would really—ugh—fine! Go whisper sweet nothings in the shadow's ear, and we'll keep those hands occupied. But only momentarily.” Count Cleishay readied his rapier. “You had better have something in mind, Yamada Sakuta."

"That's the spirit, Charles." Henrí gave a hearty laugh as he cut down several more shadow arms with his halberd. “Now let her have it!”

"Thanks, you guys..." I smiled. “I owe you one!”

The Count was surrounded by a sparkling red aura.

"My name is Count Charles Cleishay, the firstborn son of Duke Marlon Cleishay. For the sake of my honor as a swordsman—and a noble—I will now reveal the bloodline magic of my lineage. Focus your attention on me, shadow. BLOODLUST!" A burst of red light escaped The Count's body, drawing Amber's focus completely off of me.

"Must... destroy Charles!" Her hands surrounded him in great numbers, but he effortlessly dodged or slashed through them using his rapier.

"I've heard about this! The bloodline ability of the Cleishay clan makes the person of their choosing target them blindly, and attack until the effects wear off." Henrí explained. "Charles is now a shining beacon of rage for the enemy."

You mean his bloodline ability is being unlikable!? It makes sense, but I almost feel a little bad for him.

"That’s just the opening I needed." Sensing my opportunity, I rushed forward until I was on stage. I was directly beneath the growing ball of miasma as the carnage continued in the ballroom around me.

"Amber! Can you hear me in there!?" I shouted.

"Run away... Sakuta." Amber muttered. Her glowing red eyes remained focused on me while her hands chased Cleishay around the ballroom, flipping over tables and the instruments left behind by the live band.

Thank goodness... She's not completely gone yet.

"Can't you see, boy? Time is almost up. Now is the time for you to proclaaaim your love, and achieve your true power." Phantom's voice invaded my head. "Isn't that the only thing left that you can do?"

.......................

Was it? Back on the cruiser... I drew from my emotions to save the day, but it wasn't simply romantic love that fueled me. It was the combination of mine and Amber's dreams. Hers to find her father, and mine to return home. One may ask how feelings can grow for a person in such a short time, but it was true of everyone I had met in this world up to now. If I had to describe it, it was akin to finding a second family here.

At that moment, I decided. That I wouldn't let Phantom—or anyone else—cheapen my feelings. Not with a blanket concept like romantic love.

"You see, Phantom. That's what you have wrong about this whole thing. You keep talking about the power of love, but you don't seem to understand how human feelings work." I replied.

"I suppose I'll bite. Whatever do you mean?" Phantom asked in my head.

"Love is slow, painful even. You agonize until the last possible second about whether that person likes you until it's too late. When they return your feelings with genuine care, you feel elated. Love is kind, but can it also be ugly... jealous." I looked at Henrí.

"Your point is?" He began to grow impatient.

"Thanks to some acquaintances of mine, I think I finally understand my feelings." I smiled brightly. “There’s so many of them, after all. Love, fear, desperation, but also appreciation for all the things I’ve been able to do as a result of coming here. I have my goal, sure, but I’m not ready to give this all up just yet.”

"If you keep running around in circles, you just may lose what you hold most dear."

The words of an unexpected source echoed in my head. I realized at that moment that Count Cleishay was trying to give me advice in his own way, as had Jewel been earlier.

I felt it, the guilt of not only enjoying myself in this world while my family grieved my loss back home, but of the people I would eventually have to leave behind here as well. I thought I didn’t deserve them, and I still may not. But that didn’t matter in the end. I had been awfully dense, thinking I had to keep denying myself, to not let myself grow attached to these people so that I didn’t lose who I was back on Earth. At least until now.

The me of this world, and the me of that one. There’s room for them both as I grow into the person I’m supposed to be. Knowing that, I can finally admit to something.

"I DO care about Amber, Queen Veranda, and everyone here in the kingdom! Much more than I originally thought I did." I nodded to myself. "But... I'm not going to rush things or change myself to unlock some power. I'm a jealous guy... I'm going to care for them in my own way, and not let you or anyone else take them from me!"

"And just how do you plan to do that? You're the weakest of the weak! You're NOTHING like your predecessor!” Phantom taunted. "To even think that you could rise to the challenge with no training, no discipline. You haven’t yet reached the starting line in the pain you will endure for these people. This is the veeery personification of arrogance, and yet you continue?"

“Materialize: Level 2 unlocked. Continue…?”

"Continue… Yeah, that’s right. I’m the type to never give up when there’s a girl in trouble, and my allies are beside me." Count Cleishay and Henrí both glanced at me, sporting determined looks. If there was any time to try out a new move, this was it.

"MATERIALIZE!!" My right arm suddenly morphed into a bazooka-like weapon significantly larger than the cannon I created on the ship. It took my free arm just to hold it up.

A mass of piercing white light gathered at the end of the weapon. I was planning a direct assault on the layer of darkness surrounding Amber's body. I only hoped it would work.

Amber's shadow arms tried to crush me, sensing the new danger I posed. It very nearly succeeded in breaking my concentration, but then...

"Oh, no you don't!" Henrí wouldn't let them get close enough, as he slashed through the limbs with his halberd. "Give it all you've got, Sakuta!"

Responding to his confidence in me, I let forth a huge beam of light from the end of my weapon. The beam was a direct hit on Amber's shell, but it didn't create so much as a dent in the outer layer as I had hoped.

Not enough power? I thought to myself. I kept up the pressure, using every last bit of effort and emotion I had to free her.

“A little bit more!” After some serious toil, I began to see small cracks forming around the shell.

"What's this..." Phantom gasped.

It's working!

"Amber, I know you're in there somewhere. You told me what your goal was, remember?" I struggled to keep my feet firmly planted on the floor below. "I want to be there when you find your father. I want to be there for everything!"

I want to be with you. My partner in this fake engagement, but more important than that…

My friend.

"If you can hear me... Then choose me over this darkness." I pleaded.

"Get out of my head!" Amber's shadow shouted, producing dozens more hands. They rushed us at the same time. Both Henrí and the Count looked to be completely overwhelmed. This was the crucial moment that would decide everything, the final dance of the ball.

My mind flashed through all of our experiences together up to now. Long gone was the scared kid who contemplated whether he should jump in after someone who was drowning in the Toyohira River. Slowly, but surely I had begun to feel a change in my heart. I strengthened my resolve for one final shout from my heart.

"CHOOSE ME, AMBER!!!" The beam of light intensified. All the hands were burned away in the pure brilliance of the light, and I heard the sound of glass cracking.

My cannon dematerialized as Amber’s dark shell shattered into hundreds, if not thousands of individual pieces. Amber, in her beautiful red dress, fluttered from the sky like the last petal from the Sakura trees in spring. She landed directly in my arms, having finally been freed from her dark prison.

"Ah... I see now. I acknowledge your resolve." Phantom's voice whispered. “Though you have passed the first test of wills, I will be paying close attention to your progress from now on… Sakuta-kun.”

.......................

"Is that... Sakuta?" Amber's eyes fluttered open as she looked at me in shock.

"Who else would it be, dummy?" I chuckled.

"It was so dark, and I was alone... But then I heard... your voice." Amber smiled.

"What did I say?" I replied quietly, looking deep into her crimson-red eyes.

"You asked me to choose you. I don't know... I was really considering Viscount Bertram. His Aurelia Slide was pretty nice..." Amber looked at me playfully. "Just kidding."

"Amber!!!?" Amber swung her arms around me tightly. I was briefly taken off-guard before I could feel her warm tears soaking my cheek. At last, I understood.

"I CHOOSE YOU, SAKUTA!" She wailed, holding me tight.

People filled the ballroom, erupting into applause. I returned Amber’s embrace and swung her around in my arms as I felt the tension of the previous moment release. Jewel and Poppy, Queen Veranda and Mavis, everyone converged on the four of us at the center of the room. My sometimes odd, but equally cherished, new family in another world were there to celebrate our triumph. Together.

All in all, it was quite the end to Aurelia's most action-packed Engagement Ball to date.