Press Start [homestuck] (on hold)

Chapter Eleven - My New Reality

Steve's POV

I had managed to retain consciousness through the entire transference process, but that didn't make it any less of a confusing blur. I had been thrown down to the couch and pinned there by something, and I could no longer move anything from my waist down, effectively trapping me. A few times, I caught a glimpse of black fur and... something else. Something primal. I couldn't describe it properly for you, not even now while I sit at my desk, a long time later. Even if I cast my mind back to that day, there's nothing I could say to describe the fear and pain that I felt. OK, back to the present.

After what felt like a week, the world stopped spinning, at least, on the outside. But it was still a swarm of craziness in my head. I thought that this must be what it feels like to return to Earth after a long trip to space, zero gravity all the way. But then, gravity has a much more poignant effect when you can barely stand, because you are tethered to the ground, and only gravity combined with your determination is a mix strong enough to get you back up.

I saw that the coffee table had been blown up on to me, pinning down my legs. All the books that had been on it had fallen to the floor or ended up on top of me. I thought of a way to escape from under the weight, but I didn't know if I would even be able to move after they were off, I had been under them for a while. I reached down to the lever that could be used to stretch the legs of the couch out over where the table would normally be. My theory was that once I pulled the lever, the coffee table would be displaced and topple off. I grabbed the lever, praying it would work, and gave it a crank. The legs shot out from under me, and all the books were shoved about, but the table stayed painfully put. I threw all my weight forward, but just ended up hanging upside-down off the side of the couch. 

Suddenly, the table vanished, and I toppled off the couch, books and all, not for the first time today. A blur of black whooshed in the middle of the room, attracting my attention. At closer thought, I figured that it was Sly, or SlySprite I guess. However, the ugly pug toy I had prototyped was not integrated as part of his body, he was holding it. He then threw it across the room at me, hitting me in the face just after I had gotten back up, leaning against the couch. 

"How did you get the pug out?" I asked him quietly.

"As a guardian, I do have a bit more control over my form as a Sprite then either of us originally surmised." At this point, I saw that his eyes were shut tight. "So I was able to pick a....more optimal form for my mission." 

"Why aren't you opening your eyes?" I inquired.

"Here's why." He opened them, and a flash of yellow light surged across the room, into me. I was blinded by its force. But I began to feel much better, more vital, less drained. As soon as the light died away, I stood all the way up and strode over to where Sly was floating a few inches over the ground. His eyelids were mildly smoking, and closed tight over the blazing orbs of light, thankfully not blinding me anymore. "W-what was that?" I said, my voice shaking slightly.

"I fused myself with the most powerful source of light I could find in this miserable world. It should explain why your thought process is moving so slowly, and why you were in such a state when you woke up. The movements and energies of the humans are hopelessly intertwined with the workings of the sun." He explained criptically. That didn't make me feel much better, and my head made the sensible desicion to go back to spinning in confusion.

"So.....you fused with the....Sun?" I confirmed nervously. 

"Yes, of course. I thought it would be obvious." Sly said, and if cats could smirk, he certaintly would be right now. "The force of the sun is much more useful than the force of an ugly pug doll with no fashion sense."

He continued airily. "With my skills and the help of this WaveCrasher person, we quickly transported your apartment through the Medium and in to your Land."

"What is my land, anyway?" I asked, making my way over to the kitchen window, followed by a levitating SlySprite. I leaned out of the window, seeing no open air or anything. In fact, it was almost as if I was looking into an elevator shaft. That couldn't be right. "What's the land called?" I asked, turning back to Sly. 

"It's shortened to LOGAF, or Land Of Glass And Fear." He said quietly. "Now Steven, if you never listen to anything else I say, listen to this one thing."

I looked quizzically over at him, wondering what this one thing could possibly be.

"Don't go outside." He said simply, his yellow eyes flashing at me in the darkness.

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so short, I felt bad for not updating this story for a while. I'll post more updates for a bunch of my stories this Spring Break, so keep your eyes open. I've been pretty much working on Echo full time. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!

~Steve