AI Hunter Chronicles: Energized (Season 1)

Episode 46: Dread of a Fiction Worldview

Outside of Holmfirth, DDICU 14

We cut to Ruby Smith, deep in the woods surrounding Holmfirth on a patrol. Every so often, demons and other fiends of the forest use the trees as cover for their schemes against the village, so Ruby makes sure to check them every no and again.

Ruby, sword in hand, kept her guard up as she looked around. As she was walking through the forest, she heard a noise up ahead and tensed up a bit, listening and watching for what made the sound

It sounds like someone, specifically a girl in her late teens, raising their voice at something. It's not someone Ruby recognizes; she knows nearly everyone in the village.

???: Hey, seriously now! I don't want any trouble, and I don't want to come with you.

Ruby, concerned, headed carefully and quietly towards the noise, trying not to catch attention from who's arguing. She eventually finds the source of the noise, a teenage girl, about 16, with brown hair in a ponytail, being cornered by a blue humanoid hedgehog like thing with a weird face.

???: Stay away from me you freak!

Ruby Smith knows that this "freak" is something known as a Majin, and these things are not good. They kidnap unsuspecting people with the lure of "fun". She doesn't know what exactly happens to them but doesn't imagine it is anything good.

Ruby prepares to fight when she recognizes the Majin. She carefully sneaks behind the Majin, then speaks up.

Ruby Smith: Hey, leave her alone.

The Majin stops its slow movement towards the girl and turns towards Ruby. Its twisted smile grows wider as it lunges at Ruby, seemingly trying to get her out of the picture before taking the young woman. Ruby sidesteps out of the way before bringing the sword down on the Majin's back. It strikes it clean on its back and shatters it into two pieces. The halves fall to the ground, where they crack from the impact. The Majin has been downed, but it's unclear if it is killed. They have a tendency to reform when "killed". The teenager sighs in relief, nevertheless.

???: Hey, thanks for the save. That guy was just a creep. I swear, I thought he was about to kidnap me or something.

Ruby Smith: That guy was a Majin. They are extremely dangerous if unprepared for. They are nearly impossible to kill normally.

???: Well, sh#t. Guess I really owe you one then.

Ruby Smith: No problem. What's your name? I'd like to know the name of the person whose life I just saved.

The young woman slaps her head and chuckles for a moment.

???: Shoot. Right. Name's Nicole. I'm from Class of 09' Universe 687, at least DDICU 14's version of it.

Nicole reaches out her hand in greetings to Ruby, which Ruby accepts.

Ruby Smith: Nice to meet you, Nicole. My name is Ruby Smith. And you are... Human, Correct?

Nicole laughs a little bit.

Nicole Is it that obvious?

...

The two of them begin to walk and talk through the woods as Nicole tells Ruby her story.

Nicole: So basically, I found out about the Multiverse, along with other things, about four years ago. I ended up visiting other versions of myself, as you do, and found that they were complete Douch-bags. Basically, were the reason why their family stayed divorced and one or both of their parents died. So, you know what I did? I thought, "screw those clowns", and basically did a 180. Never got my parents together unfortunately, but I got them on good terms at least. Anyways, I thought for the summer I do a bit of sightseeing across the multiverse. Made up a lie to my folks that I was visiting a friend I met online out of state for the summer, so yeah, that's how I got here.