Cross-ing the Line (Part I)

(Jhonny)

"Thank you all for coming today, so that we might send off our vaunted heroes who will not only represent us, but hopefully our world in the upcoming Regional Qualifiers!" Mallory's already loud voice was enhanced by the use of crystalized symphonic components and long noncorrosive metallic tubing.

Hearing her voice, and the subsequent cheers provided by all of the citizens of Worlds End caused a wave of intensity to burst into and through a frantically preparing Jhonny, who was even now getting his makeup ready as he prepared for his upcoming part in this day long affair.

Yes, their Guild, the Midnight Hunters, received a Guild Quest to make a long production out of building up attention from not only the residents of the Midnight Hunters, but for the myriad of real world watchers who would stream their activities, over the actions taken by others.

Guild Quest Received: Your Guild (Midnight Hunters) Needs Ratings: Your guild has members and participants who will compete in the upcoming Regional Qualifying rounds in order to ultimately compete in the Planetary Positioning games. Part of this process is drumming up ratings that can be quantified. Prove your Guild's worth by drumming up the most ratings during this time, while you introduce not only the strengths of your guild, but who will be representing your Guild in the upcoming competitions. Time to meet (5:59:17…). Rewards: Experience, variable.

Of course, the Midnight Hunters were not the only guild to get such a cryptic Guild Quest, as it had been sent to every guild on every server. A warning about what the bottom line of these competitions really were all about, ratings.

Thus, it was all hands-on deck, and since the Guild needed to showcase all of its important members, that explained why both Jhonny and Gwen were in makeup mirrors applying touch-ups to their skin as they both prepared to take on their respective roles for the Guild.

In Gwen's case, she was once again going as King Galuminous De'Arcaneri, the leader of the Deolorian ghost elf faction that was now an integral part of World's End society. By contrast, Jhonny was preparing to reprise his role as Princess Octavia De'Arcaneri, daughter to King Galuminous, and also the recognized leader of the Mage's Guild for World's End.

Only now that the had a moment to sit down and reflect on how crazy everything turned out. The mere fact that so many high-level guild members of the Midnight Hunters carried out these illustrious roles in secret, made talking about them that much harder. This was why, Jhonny chose this moment to speak about the absurdity that had come into their lives, and how it somehow now felt natural.

"Have you ever wondered how we got to this position?" Jhonny, who was manifesting Octavia's avatar, finally asked, his need to talk and destress at the forefront of his mind.

"How we got into these chairs?" Gwen, who was manifesting Galuminous' avatar, replied.

"No, have you ever stopped to wonder how us cross dressing for the betterment of our Guild became accepted?" Jhonny finally asked.

With that Gwen paused as if truly contemplating the comment, before ultimately responding. "I can answer your question with two words."

"Two?" Jhonny parroted.

"Yes, my mother." Penelope stated holding up one finger for my, and a second finger for mother.

With that Jhonny paused and realized that Gwen was absolutely correct. No one else by Dr. Spiritlight could make things as odd as cross dressing, no wait, not even cross dressing, this was something entirely different. Just as he was trying to figure out what the next stage up from cross dressing, where you didn't just change clothes, but changed body types and everything, that's when he felt the disturbance first.

Poof.

"My ears were burning, must have been people talking about me," Dr. Spiritlight stated as she randomly appeared floating over the backs of the makeup chairs that Gwen and Jhonny were sitting in. Her appearance was perfectly high enough to be seen in the full length mirror that Jhonny had been staring into a moment ago as he checked to make sure his make up was being applied correctly. Yes, this was another thing Jhonny had to do as part of his role of being the Mage Guild Leader for World's End. Given the secrecy around his tenuous position, he also had to learn how to apply and remove makeup to better fit the role. Not that Octavia needed much, but there were a few slight shades and shadows that Jhonny had noticed that he wanted to fix every time while portraying this role.

"What? No, we weren't…"Jhonny tried to get out, before he was stopped.

"Hah! I knew it," Dr. Spiritlight cut in, pointing her finger perfectly at Jhonny's reflection so that he would know she was watching him. Only after a second did Jhonny realize how impressive of a feat that was, as she was blind. Well allegedly blind, making looking through a reflection in a mirror allegedly impossible. Just when he was going to ask that question, Gwen cut in with an even more important question.

"Wait, you are outside of Raygunnr? Aren't you doing that extended twenty day challenge thing?" Gwen asked.

"What? That? The quest ended a few days ago, but Raygunnr really wanted to continue, but honestly I was tired of being with him for everything," Dr. Spiritlight answered.

"So you gave up on a bonus reward for a quest?" Jhonny asked, his own mind wondering what was happening as Dr. Spiritlight never gave up on a quest.

"What? No, I did what I should have done a long time ago and outsourced."

"Outsourced?" Gwen and Jhonny replied in unison.

"Yeah, I swapped places with Terra-Ulacrum and let the two go wild saving the world. Honestly, she is not the hero I wanted, but the hero I needed. That type of self-sacrificing martyr who makes everyone sick with their unfeigned piety, but truly great people that you could never hope to mimic." Dr. Spiritlight replied, grabbing her chest and seeming truly thankful for Terra-Ulacrum.

"Wait, isn't she an aspect of you? Of your overall consciousness?" Jhonny found himself asking.

"Yeah, but she is that ultra save the world type who would normally exhaust me for a month, after trying to act as she does for an hour." Dr. Spiritlight replied.

There was a moment of silence as everyone tried to take in that concept, when finally Gwen responded. "Wait, why are you here though?"

At that, Dr. Spiritlight shook her head, and then looked back at Jhonny's reflection in the mirror, even going so far as to make eye contact with his reflection.

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"I came back to see history being made," Dr. Spiritlight began, then looked around almost expectantly.

"Wait? History? What type of history?" Gwen asked, a note of concern. Only after hearing her comment did Jhonny realize that there were often two types of history. The good types of history that often get overlooked by history books, and then the bad ones that change the face of a world forever.

"Com on, nothing but the best type." Dr. Spritlight began, then looked down at Jhonny as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh, I will need to take that back."

Before Jhonny could ask what she would need to take back, multiple spells popped off all at once. First there was another Teleportation spell that his Qi reserves instantly picked up on, and even indicated the direction and distance that the new person would appear at.

Poof.

That's when Penelope appeared, seeing her Jhonny almost managed to get out his question but only got so far as a "Whaa?" before he too felt a touch on his shoulder.

Poof.

And like that, Jhonny went from being tall and curvaceous, to just tall and rather gangly, with his clothes falling off of him for a second, before their soul-bound properties began kicking in and forming to his regular body's true proportions. Unfortunately, it meant he was wearing a very regal dress, one that didn't suit his normal body shape or face at all.

Before anyone could say anything, Dr. Spiritlight turned to face Penelope, seemingly ready to give the avatar of Octavia to Penelope, when she stopped and opened up her third-eye and stared.

"Well shoot, you can't be her either." Dr. Spiritlight stated.

"What?" Penelope asked the one question that everyone was now feeling.

Shaking her head, Dr. Spiritlight seemed to dismiss the question and instead turned to open yet another Teleportation portal.

Poof.

This time a second version of Dr. Spiritlight appeared. Seeing the two floating pixies there was a pause as the new pixie looked confused for a moment, but then they shared a glance of Third-eyes. This simple glance of third eyes was apparently enough to convey everything that was going on as the newly summoned pixie nodded, then dropped to the ground. Then once on the ground, Dr. Spiritlight reached out and touched the pixie that Jhonny had to crane his neck to be able to see while she was on the ground.

Poof.

Until they touched, at which point the Avatar of Octavia De'Arcaneri was apparently transferred to the pixie, causing even more confusion. Then with a giant smile on her lips, the manic pixie and now regular sized royal elf of Octavia both crowded around Jhonny and seemed to watch him intently.

Silence.

After no one made a sound as everyone watched on with complete shock about what was happening. Finally, Penelope broke the silence.

"Okay, I get that this is something to do with Jhonny, but why am I here?" Penelope asked. Hearing the question Dr. Spiritlight turned to face Penelope before responding.

"Well, originally you were going to be Octavia, but it seems that you too will be acknowledged here shortly by the system," Dr. Spiritlight stated matter-of-factly, as if discussing the schedule of trains.

"Wait, what?" Gwen asked, her voice confused.

"Oh, Jhonny here is going to become a new Guild Master, congratulations." Dr. Spiritlight stated, and even went so far as to clasp Jhonny's shoulder in congratulations, the most the normally xenophobic Doctor had ever done when not directly involved in a sparring match with someone else.

Jhonny for his part was confused, as the only Guild Master he could even see himself being the leader of was already taken. Then looking at the pixie who was wearing his Octavia avatar, he realized that she all but dared him to challenge her for that position.

"Wait, what guild? I stink at Alchemy, I'm not an Engineer, and I don't go anywhere to constitute being an Adventurer." Jhony quickly listed off his reasons for not being a guild leader. "Also, I don't even know if the Thieves Guild is a real thing. Lord knows I've looked!"

Cackles.

At that everyone, even the Simulacrum posing as Octavia, randomly started laughing at Jhonny for some reason.

"What? I mean it, I've tried, but I don't think they are a real guild." Jhonny stated.

Boisterous laughter.

"Oh Jhonny, you are far too pure. Please don't ever change," Dr. Spiritlight stated while patting Jhonny reassuringly on the shoulder. Normally Jhonny would still be angered by the insensitive nature of the comments, but found himself slowly relaxing. He knew the Doctor was likely doing something to calm him down, which he tried to resist, but ultimately gave in and felt the tension leave him. It also helped that everyone stopped laughing at him, which made the complex emotions he was feeling slowly disappear.

More silence as first Dr. Spiritlight and her Octavia Simulacrum began staring at Jhonny again, followed shortly thereafter by the other two. Suddenly, Jhonny who had long ago gotten over his feeling of unease or tension began feeling truly creeped out.

"Can you change?" Dr. Spiritlight stated, while it might have been posed as a question Jhonny knew an order when he heard one. Only after that comment did Jhonny realize he was still wearing a very regal dress with a plunging chest line that now showed of his bare and very hairy chest.

"Right," Jhonny stated as he quickly switched out one soul-bound item for another. The power and magic of the system protecting him and only showing a faint glow around his body before his dress quickly got exchanged for his normal school attire.

Wince.

Seeing the uniform, Dr. Spiritlight turned to face Penelope, "he's going to need a much more, professional uniform."

With that Penelope took out a notepad and began taking notes, "professional how?"

With that Dr. Spiritlight looked at Jhonny, and then shaking her head questioningly answered, "I don't know something more dojo-ey. You know with the colored belts and loose-fitting pajama pants."

Silence. There was a moment as everyone tried to understand what the pixie was talking about, then finally someone responded.

"You mean a Gi?" Penelope asked.

"If that is the silky pant and body suit thing then yeah."

At that Penelope just nodded her head and began scribbling down more notes. No one commented on the fact that Dr. Spiritlight as usual got the name of something wrong, or didn't seem to care.

"You know, it's odd," Jhonny finally spoke his thoughts into existence. At his comment everyone shifted their gaze back from Dr. Spiritlight and Penelope and back to Jhonny.

"What is?" Gwen asked.

"The fact that you have named over half the things in this city, and yet you are bad at both remembering the names of normal things, and creating the names of things yourself." Jhonny stated, realizing the joke was slightly flatter than he had intended, but only realizing this mistake after trying to make the joke.

"Oh," Dr. Spiritlight began, and hear that contemptuous tone in her voice, Jhonny knew that he had done it, he had drawn the wrath of the pixie. "And just what would you name a new guild for us Qi users that is both non-copyrighted by the outside world and meaningful?"

Hearing the question, Jhonny could feel that there was a trap, but he realized at most it would be something that would ultimately fall bac on Dr. Spiritlight for going along with the crazy name, so he began. He knew things like Street Punchers, and Mortal Fighters was taken, as such he wanted to go wild. Knowing that there was nothing to lose and everything to gain, he felt an idea forming in his mind.

"The Mojo Dojo Guild?" Jhonny pressed.

Dr. Spiritlight looked, her eyes went wide for a second, but ultimately she just shook her head. "I think that's too much. Try to get it down to one word."

"Like the Dojo Guild?"

Chime.

Congratulations: You have successfully named a new Guild Type currently exclusive to the world of BiPrism. Your vaunted halls will be filled with professionally trained Qi fighters with you as the first truly recognized master of this prestigious guild. Rewards: Experience, Titles, Badges, Guild Membership, Guild Leadership, Guild naming rights.

Experience Gained:

1,000,000

Ding.

Level up.

New Title Gained: First Dojo Master: You have been identified as being the first true master of a Dojo Guild. Effect: Gain a 50% bonus to all teaching and learning skills when trying to pass on your knowledge of Qi and Qi related activities.

New Title Gained: Dojo Master: You have been identified as being a certified trained Dojo Guild Master. Gain a 25% bonus to all teaching and learning skills when trying to pass on your knowledge of Qi and Qi related activities.

Founding Guild Member: Dojo Guild Membership: You have been granted access to the vaunted Dojo Guild, the exclusive guild for learning and practicing Qi related activities.

…

At that moment, Jhonny realized he had been pushed into a trap. One that had hundreds of options and steps for him to take.

"Wait, aren't you the master? You are the one who trained ME!" Jhonny exclaimed excitedly.

Cackle.

"I can't, I'm already the leader of a Guild here, as such it fell to my disciple," Dr. Spiritlight stated.

At that Jhonny just nodded, before a question filled his mind. "Wait, what guild are you the actual leader of?"

More laughter, this time Jhonny realized the laughter for what it was, the laughing at someone who is completely oblivious to the obvious, but still can't understand what they are in fact missing.

Jhonny, still confused, turned to face Dr. Spiritlight, only to realize that she and her Simulacrum had both apparently come here to witness this? Then They watched as he walked his way straight into that whole setup by the mad Doctor. Finally he asked the important, "you knew?"

More laughter. This time only from just Dr. Spiritlight and her Octavia avatar wearing Simulacrum. At which point Dr. Spiritlight just smiles and nods contentedly.

"You knew, and you didn't tell me? But why? Now I'm stuck being the guild leader of the stupidly named Dojo Guild forever?" Jhonny found himself protesting, and feeling a bit of the discontent that Dr. Spiritlight must often feel. Only after a moment of introspection did he finally acknowledge his mistake.

"I must apologize, I didn't realize how much the system seemed to wait for you to choose the worst possible name to strike. I now know and…" Jhonny trailed off as he could not find the words to describe how he currently felt. At that the Doctor gave her most poignant response ever.

"Oh irony, though are truly left with only our face as your stalwart ironing board."

Silence.

There was a moment before everyone paused. Only then did they hear the crowd of cheering fans go quiet, a sign that things were wrong. Finally, the exasperated voice of Mallory called out, "and now the moment you have all been waiting for!"

"Oh shoot, we are late." Gwen still in her King De'Arcaneri avatar cried out as she jumped from her seat and began to scramble out. Seeing her leave, Jhonny too got up hurriedly as well.

"We should go too," Jhonny cried out as he tried to leave, only to realize that Octavia Simulacrum was gone.

"Just wait, it's not our time yet." Dr. Spiritlight stated, casually patting Jhonny on the arm to calm him.

"You sure? I think we need to go now."

"Relax, you're with me," the Doctor stated, and with those words he did feel somewhat relieved knowing that Dr. Spiritlight would not let him down.

Jhonny relaxed long enough to hear her next words, "besides, what's the worst that could happen."

Then suddenly he realized things were not going to go well at all.

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