Needle and Thread

You

[Fandom+ 1)]

Lyra looked around for the next platform and wiped sweat off her face, wishing that Anesine wasn't so scared of heights. She could really use someone to talk to.

There it was. Lyra stared at it and sighed. It was harder in real life, jumping from platform to platform. In videogames, you didn't overshoot, Lyra thought as she gauged the distance. Then she jumped.

The jumping was the best part of platforming. Lyra loved it. If she hadn't been so worried about where she was going to land, she probably would have been doing tricks and flips like there was no tomorrow.

She landed on the platform and skidded. She would have fallen off if her sneakers had gotten a bit less traction. Lyra walked over to the center of the metal landing pad and sat down, panting. The metal was so cool. She put her cheek up next to it and sighed. When had it gotten so hot up here?

She could ask Luna to Apparate her to the shining city, of course, but that was no fun. Besides, Lyra thougt, maybe I could use the exercise. Of course, I did just climb a mountain. My feet hurt. Should I take Andesine out and make him jump with me? Nah, he's too scared. Gotta respect a guy's phobias, after all.

She turned over to face the sky and said aloud, "I wonder if anyone is listening to this." There probably was. "Do you know the way to the Temple of Gravity?" She said aloud. "Could you get me there? You probably could. But you're testing me for some reason. I get that." Lyra chewed her lip. "I wonder why you're testing me," she continued. "I mean, it's not as if there are other humans on this planet. I know Air elementals look like humans, but I'm not one. I've got Immorta, whatever that means to you, and I've got the keys. The test thing just doesn't really make sense."

"It's all a game, sweetheart," a voice purred. A gentleman in a green suit appeared standing over her. He held out a hand to help her up. "Hello."

"Who're you?" Lyra asked.

"The East Wind," he replied, tipping his hat. "And you're Lyra the Gatekeeper, correct?"

"Yes. What were you talking about earlier?"

"Well, there are millions of ways to screw with your head, yes? You've seen it in Earth movies, I presume. In any case, the Ancients love to pit you against obstacles and play with your brain. You're like a rat in their maze, dear Gatekeeper."

"Okay," Lyra said. "Can you tell me something I don't know?"

"You knew that?"

"Given that Andesine was ranting about it for half of our walk up when he wasn't shoutig at me or telling me to hurry up or stop apologizing, yeah," Lyra said. "He said that nothing in this world is ever going to make sense because the ANcients made it that way to throw me off."

"Oh." The East Wind looked affronted. "You already have a guide then? A rock elemental? Where is he now?" He paused and added hopefullly, "Did he fall off?"

"Nah, he's in my interdimensional storage compartment as a rock," Lyra replied. "When we get to that big city off in the distance I'll let him out. He's not a big fan of heights."

"I see." The East Wind finally said, "Very well then. I shall take ou to the city. I'm rather anxious to meet your guide."

"Really? Sweet!" Lyra got up. "Wait a second," she said. "Are you gonna try and do the teleportation thing that Andesine did?"

"Uhm, no." East (as Lyra had begun to think of him) gestured to her body. "You are aware of the lower gravity here?"

"Yeah."

"I help control that. And I and alter your gravity to almost nothing, and then I'll just fly you there."

"How?"

"I just have to touch you," East replied easily. "Boop." He poked her nose, and Lyra giggled.

"Wow, that tickles!" She began to rise off the platform.

"And off we go!" East said, and rose himself. He held her hand, and a strong wind began to blow them towards the city of glittering spires.

[<3 <> <3< c3<]

Roxy woke up with a snort. She'd fallen asleep while reading, it seemed. She looked at her Pesterchum alerts, and saw that Benny had invited her to another chat. After a brief conversation (see earlier chapters), she shut her phone with a snap and looked back at the instruction manual. It looked like she'd just gotten to the part where it was describing how to add rooms. She read it (not paying attention to the time; hours or days could have passed, for all she cared) and walked over to the control panel.

"Let's see..." Roxy looked at the variety of nobs, buttons, dials, and toggle switches and pressed three buttons. She cranked a dial up to three, and finally flipped a switch. Over on the-- Roxy referred to the book. What was it? Ah, yes. Over on the flibberteshmitt a fresh sheet of paper lit up with invisible lights. Roxy walked over to the keyboard and squinted at it for a second as the Gallifreyan translated. She typed in the dimensions of the room, its contents, and coloring. Then there was a small ding and the central display lit up, reading: Room Now Available. Corridor Three.

Roxy walked over to the third corridor. At the very end, a new door had appeared. It was made of dark, gleaming wood. She grasped the silver handle and yelped as a surge of static electricity swept through her body.

Inside, a small room awaited. A spiral staircase was embedded in the floor, leading down to what Roxy knew was a personal mini-library/study corner. A small bed awaited her in the corner, draped with purple sheets. Roxy hadn't ordered them, but suspected the TARDIS had added its own personal touches. Like the teddy bears sitting just in front of a mountain of soft pillows. Just opposite the bed was a toy chest, next to a vanity and a cozy-looking bean bag.

"It's perfect," she said, hoping that the TARDIS would understand what she meant by that. "Thank you."

The flowered wallpaper bubbled and darkened to form words. You are most welcome, my Mage.