On the planet Earth, night had settled gently over the world.
The sky was deep and endless, pierced by several bright pinpoints of white light—stars hanging silently at the center of the heavens. Below, a tranquil forest stretched outward, its lush canopy whispering softly in the night breeze. A winding river cut through the land, its surface reflecting the starlight like liquid glass.
Everything was calm.
Then the sky changed.
A brilliant blaze tore through the darkness, entering the atmosphere in a trail of roaring flame. The night sky split open as the object descended, its fiery path painting the heavens in burning gold and white. Trees rustled, animals scattered, and the river shimmered violently as the air itself trembled.
Whatever it was, it could not yet be recognized.
To the world below, it appeared as nothing more than a falling meteor— a rare spectacle, destined to be forgotten by morning.
But this was no ordinary stone.
It was a meteor born of stars.
Like many legends before it, the soul carried within was strong and swift, forged in courage and guided by an unyielding heart. He possessed the instincts of a warrior, the resolve of a protector, and the spirit of a leader long before he would ever know it himself.
Yet there was something more.
Something unseen by the world. Something hidden even from fate. Something only the Star Knights perceived as the meteor crossed the void.
Within that falling light burned a singular force— a radiance unlike any other.
A Star of Hope.
The Afternoon arrived gently on Sunbloom Gardens.
Warm sunlight filtered through towering palms and ancient trees, painting golden patches across the lush meadows. Wildflowers swayed lazily in the breeze, butterflies drifted from blossom to blossom, and cheerful birds filled the air with song. Families had gathered beneath colorful picnic blankets, children chased each other through the grass, and a small food stand stood near a winding footpath, its delicious aromas drawing a steady stream of customers.
The vendor happily flipped burgers on a sizzling grill while fresh fries crackled in bubbling oil. Nearby, homemade pies cooled on a wooden display beside lemonade, sandwiches, and baskets of fruit.
It was the perfect peaceful morning.
Then— WHOOSH!
A streak of brilliant blue and gold exploded across the meadow.
The blur zipped between picnic blankets, whipped around trees, and shot straight toward the food stand faster than anyone could react. Plates rattled. Napkins flew into the air. Hats spun off heads from the sudden gust of wind.
"...What was that?" one woman asked, blinking. "I—I didn't even see it!" another replied.
The vendor looked down.
His biggest burger... Gone.
A large order of fries... Gone.
One large soda and freshly baked apple pie... Also gone.
"H-Hey!" he shouted, looking around wildly. "Who stole my lunch special?!"
The nearby families looked just as confused.
"Was that a bird?"
"No... I think it was something...fast."
"It looked blue."
"No, gold."
"I think it was both!"
The vendor sighed, expecting the worst. Instead, resting neatly on the counter was a folded napkin.
Curiously, he picked it up.
Written in large handwriting were three simple words:
I.O.U.
The vendor stared for a long moment. "...Well," he muttered with a tired smile, "at least he or she's polite."
Several customers couldn't help laughing.
Far away from the meadow, hidden beneath the roots of an enormous oak tree, the mysterious blur finally slowed to a stop.
Standing there was a ten-year-old boy with bright blond spiky hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a brown monkey-like tail swaying happily behind him. He wore a blue shirt emblazoned with a large golden star and the letter A, a red hood resting around his shoulders, turquoise shorts, bright red sneakers, and a floppy blue-and-red striped nightcap.
This was Alan.
No ordinary kid. No ordinary troublemaker.
He unwrapped the still-warm burger with a grin. "Mmm..." He took an enormous bite before swallowing happily.
"Excellent burger."
He grabbed a handful of fries.
Crunch.
"The fries could use more salt though." He nodded thoughtfully as if judging a gourmet meal. "And this pie..." Alan cut himself a large slice. "...looks amazing."
Within moments he was happily enjoying breakfast inside his secret hideout.
The cozy hiding place was filled with odds and ends he had collected over the past several days—comic books, shiny rocks, interesting sticks, an old telescope, a slingshot, blankets, a few electronics nobody had noticed missing, and even a small wooden crate that served as his table.
To Alan, it was the greatest clubhouse in the world.
As he ate, he stretched his legs and leaned back against the tree roots with complete satisfaction.
People across Sunbloom Gardens often wondered about the mysterious blue-and-gold blur that occasionally darted through town.
Some believed it was a magical spirit.
Others insisted it was a strange creature from the forest.
A few thought it was simply their imagination.
Nobody suspected it was just a cheerful ten-year-old boy.
Alan himself didn't fully understand why he could move so impossibly fast.
Ever since he could remember, he'd been able to run faster than anyone else. Along with his incredible speed, strange magical powers occasionally appeared whenever he needed them. No scientist, wizard, or even Alan himself knew where those abilities had come from.
He had stopped worrying about it years ago.
"If I've got cool powers..." He shrugged before taking another bite of pie. "...I might as well use them." His tail swished happily as he finished the last of the fries.
Outside, the peaceful meadow carried on as though nothing unusual had happened.
But somewhere beyond the trees, destiny had already begun moving toward the carefree boy who thought life was one endless adventure.
Alan brushed the crumbs from his shirt and leaned back against the thick roots of the ancient oak.
"Now," he said with a satisfied grin, "I'm thirsty."
He snapped his fingers.
A circle of tiny golden stars swirled through the air in front of him.
Poof!
With a flash of soft blue light, a tall frosted glass appeared in his hand, topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, rainbow sprinkles, and a bright red cherry.
"A triple chocolate milkshake!" Alan beamed.
He took a long sip.
"Sluuurp."
His eyes lit up.
"Perfect!"
The magical drink was ice cold despite the warm spring morning. Tiny sparkles danced around the glass before fading away.
Alan smiled to himself. "Magic really makes life easier."
He set the milkshake beside him and glanced around his secret hideout.
Wooden shelves built into the tree roots were filled with all sorts of interesting things he had "borrowed" over the past several days.
There were comic books from a bookstore he'd promised himself he'd return someday.
A shiny brass compass that always pointed somewhere strange. A colorful kite that had become tangled in a tree. An old telescope with scratched lenses.
A fishing rod.
Several polished gemstones.
A pirate hat he found "lying around."
A toolbox full of curious gadgets.
A stack of adventure novels.
Three stuffed animals.
An old radio. A toy robot. A pair of binoculars. A weather vane shaped like a dragon. And in one corner sat an old wooden treasure chest along with lots of money.
Alan opened it with excitement.
Inside were marbles, trading cards, colorful feathers, coins from different countries, polished seashells, and dozens of little treasures he simply thought looked cool.
He picked up a sparkling blue crystal.
"So pretty..." He placed it back carefully before grabbing the pirate hat. "Heh." Alan put it on dramatically.
"Captain Alan, greatest explorer on the seven seas!"
He struck a heroic pose. "...Nah." He laughed and tossed the hat back into the chest.
Taking another sip of his magically created milkshake, he looked proudly around his little hideout.
"One day," he said, smiling, "I'm gonna have the greatest adventure collection ever." Outside, birds chirped peacefully as sunlight streamed through the leaves overhead.
Hidden away beneath the giant oak, Alan had no idea that his carefree days of borrowing interesting things and living life at super speed were about to give way to the greatest adventure of his life.
Soon, Alan finally returned home.
After everything he had seen and experienced, the familiar countryside felt almost like another world. There were no strange machines crashing through forests, no mysterious enemies hunting him, and no cosmic mysteries demanding his attention.
For the moment, there was only home.
Alan stood at the top of a grassy hill with his hands resting behind his head. His brown monkey-like tail swayed lazily behind him as a warm breeze brushed across his face.
Below stood his beautiful countryside house.
The large stone-and-timber home rested peacefully among rolling green hills, gardens, orchards, and farmland. Flowers of every color surrounded the property, while fruit trees stretched across the nearby fields. A winding stone path led to the front door, and balconies overlooked the countryside from the upper floors.
And towering proudly above the roof was Alan's favorite feature—a gigantic golden star with a bright blue A in the center.
Alan grinned.
"Yep."
He placed his hands proudly on his hips.
"Home sweet home."
For several moments, he simply stood there admiring it.
Alan had grown rather proud of the place. It wasn't some enormous royal castle or futuristic headquarters.
It was his home.
A place where he could wake up whenever he wanted, wander outside barefoot if he felt like it, eat fresh fruit straight from the trees, and spend an entire afternoon beneath the sunshine without anybody telling him where he needed to be.
Most importantly... It was peaceful.
Alan inhaled deeply.
The countryside air smelled of grass, flowers, soil, and distant fruit trees.
"Ahhhh..." His shoulders relaxed. "Now this is living."
A few minutes later, Alan had already changed into some old work clothes and headed toward his fields.
There was work to do.
But Alan didn't mind. In fact, he enjoyed it.
He grabbed a shovel, rested it over his shoulder, and marched toward a freshly prepared section of farmland.
"Alright, little plants," he said cheerfully. "Let's get you guys some new neighbors."
Alan pushed the shovel into the earth.
SHNK!
He scooped out a patch of dirt and tossed it aside.
Then another. And another.
Alan could have easily used his incredible strength or magic to finish the entire field in seconds.
But where was the fun in that?
Sometimes doing things the ordinary way felt better.
He dug neat rows through the rich soil before carefully planting seeds and young vegetables. Tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries, and several other crops filled different sections of his garden.
Alan knelt beside one tiny sprout.
"There."
He gently pressed the soil around it. "Plenty of room." He grabbed his watering can and gave it a generous drink.
"Grow big, okay?"
A butterfly landed on his nose.
Alan crossed his eyes trying to look at it.
"...Hi."
The butterfly fluttered away. Alan chuckled. Once the vegetable garden was taken care of, Alan headed toward the orchard.
Apple trees, pear trees, peach trees, cherry trees, and several other fruit-bearing trees stretched across the hillside.
Alan carried a wooden basket beneath one arm.
He reached up and plucked a bright red apple. "Hmmm." He inspected it carefully.
Then— CRUNCH!
Alan took a huge bite. His eyes lit up. "Mmm! Perfect!" He tossed several more apples into his basket. Soon he had peaches, pears, oranges, berries, and other freshly grown treats. One particularly juicy peach disappeared into his mouth before it ever reached the basket.
Alan wiped his mouth.
"Quality control."
A nearby squirrel stared at him. Alan stared back.
"What?"
The squirrel's eyes moved toward the peach tree. Alan followed its gaze. Then he smiled.
"Oh."
He plucked another peach and placed it on the grass. "There you go." The squirrel cautiously approached.
Alan backed away, giving it plenty of space.
After sniffing the peach several times, the little animal grabbed it and hurried beneath the tree.
Alan laughed. "You're welcome!"
Working his way around the property, Alan eventually reached the woodpile. Several fallen branches and old logs needed chopping.
Alan placed a log upright on a stump and lifted an axe over his shoulder.
"Okay..." He swung.
THWACK!
The log split cleanly in half. Another followed.
THWACK!
Then another.
THWACK! THWACK!
Before long, a tidy stack of firewood stood beside the house.
Alan rested the axe against the stump and wiped his forehead. "Whew." He looked over everything he had accomplished.
Freshly tended fields.
Baskets of fruit. A vegetable garden watered and cared for. Enough chopped wood for plenty of cozy evenings.
Not bad.
Some people imagined farm life as endless work.
Wake up. Work. Eat. Work. Sleep. Repeat. But Alan wasn't interested in living like that. He worked because he enjoyed caring for his home.
And when the work was finished... It was finished.
Alan stretched his arms above his head. "Okay! Farm work's done!"
His grin widened. "Training time." Alan walked toward an open grassy field behind his house. He placed his feet apart. His playful expression became focused.
The breeze passed quietly around him.
Alan closed his eyes.
Then— WHOOSH!
His fist shot forward. Alan immediately transitioned into a series of practiced strikes.
Punch. Palm strike. Elbow. Kick. Sweep. Spin.
He practiced different forms of martial arts, flowing between them rather than relying on a single fighting style. Some emphasized quick movement and evasion. Others focused on powerful strikes, grappling, throws, defensive blocks, and counterattacks.
Alan moved smoothly across the field.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
His fists sliced through the air. He planted one foot firmly and launched a high kick.
FWIP!
Then he dropped low, swept one leg across the grass, rolled forward, and sprang back onto his feet.
Alan wasn't training because he wanted to pick fights.
Quite the opposite. He trained because he knew the world could be dangerous.
If something threatened him, his home, his friends, or someone who couldn't protect themselves, Alan wanted to be ready.
"Defense first," he reminded himself.
Alan raised both arms into a guard. "Don't attack unless you have to." He imagined an opponent throwing a punch.
Block. Counter. Step aside. Redirect.
Alan practiced several defensive movements before transitioning into another style. He continued until sweat covered his forehead and his breathing grew heavier.
Finally, Alan stopped. "Okay..." He bent forward slightly, hands on his knees. "That's enough." Training was important. Knowing when to stop was important too.
Alan grabbed a basket of fruit and headed toward his favorite tree overlooking the fields.
He sat beneath its enormous branches and leaned comfortably against the trunk.
The shade was cool. The grass was soft.
Birds sang overhead.
Alan selected a bright red apple from the basket.
CRUNCH!
"Mmm..." He smiled contentedly. Just an apple beneath a tree. Alan looked across his farm. A pair of rabbits had wandered into the vegetable garden.
They cautiously sniffed around the lettuce.
Alan noticed them.
The rabbits froze. Their ears stood straight up. Alan narrowed his eyes dramatically. The rabbits stared back. "...I see you." They didn't move. Alan pointed toward the vegetables.
"Don't eat everything."
One rabbit twitched its nose.
Alan sighed. "Fine." He waved his hand. "Go ahead." The rabbits immediately began nibbling.
Alan laughed. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome." Soon more animals appeared. Squirrels scampered down the trees. Birds fluttered onto the grass. A deer cautiously approached from the edge of the nearby woods.
Alan picked up another apple. He gently rolled it across the grass.
The deer sniffed it before taking a bite.
Alan smiled. He never minded sharing.
There was more than enough food growing around the property, and as far as Alan was concerned, the animals lived here too.
Over time, many of them had stopped being afraid of him.
Some even seemed to recognize him. A squirrel climbed onto the tree root beside Alan.
Alan handed it a berry. "There." The squirrel happily accepted it. Another bird landed surprisingly close to his foot.
Alan broke off a small piece of fruit and placed it on the grass.
Before long, his peaceful afternoon had turned into a tiny countryside picnic.
Alan leaned against the tree with an apple in one hand while rabbits ate vegetables nearby, squirrels enjoyed fruit, birds pecked happily through the grass, and the deer rested several yards away.
Alan gazed toward the rolling hills.
The sunlight painted everything in warm gold. Clouds drifted lazily through the brilliant blue sky.
Flowers danced in the breeze.
Alan smiled. This was the life he loved. He didn't need every day to be an adventure. He didn't need every moment to involve fighting monsters or saving the world.
Sometimes happiness was simple.
Growing something with your own hands. Eating fruit beneath a tree. Watching animals play in the fields.
Feeling the breeze. Having nowhere you needed to rush off to. Alan took another bite from his apple.
CRUNCH!
"Yep..." He pulled his nightcap slightly over his eyes and relaxed against the tree. "This is a good life." His tail curled comfortably beside him.
And surrounded by the peaceful countryside and the little wild friends who had come to trust him, Alan simply enjoyed the afternoon.
Because Alan wasn't the kind of farm boy who believed life had to be nothing but— Work. Work. Work.
There would always be another field to tend. Another piece of wood to chop. Another training session tomorrow.
But there would also always be time to sit beneath a tree and enjoy what all that work had created.
And that was exactly how Alan liked it. He was simply home.
Alan's smile faded as he turned toward the forest behind them. Leaves rustled violently, branches snapped, and there was the faint echo of something crashing—followed by what sounded suspiciously like trouble.
Alan's eyes narrowed, curiosity already taking hold.
"That didn't sound normal," he said, stepping toward the tree line.
The forest grew thicker as he pushed deeper into the forest. Sunlight filtered through dense leaves overhead, dappling the ground in shifting patches of green and gold. The air felt tense—too quiet in places, too disturbed in others.
Alan slowed, hand raised.
"Yeah… something definitely happened here," he muttered.
Ahead, the underbrush was torn apart. Broken branches littered the ground, and frightened woodland creatures scattered at the sound of movement. Then Alan saw them.
Strange creatures lumbered through the clearing—a mix between dragons and turtles, each with a massive shell arched over its back. Their bodies were squat and clumsy, their movements awkward rather than threatening. Big eyes blinked cluelessly as they stomped around, knocking over logs and chasing startled animals without seeming to understand the chaos they were causing.
They didn't look vicious.
Just… goofy.
But that didn't make them harmless.
One of the creatures turned suddenly, a hatch snapping open on its shell.
WHUMP!
A small blast fired out—a compact mini cannon embedded in its back.
Alan reacted instantly.
He dove forward, rolling across the forest floor as the blast tore through the air where he'd been standing moments earlier. Dirt and leaves exploded behind him.
"Hey!" Alan shouted, springing to his feet. "Watch it, shellhead!"
The creature blinked, tilting its head in confusion. Alan cracked his knuckles, eyes sharp but calm.
"Alright," he said. "Let's clean this up."
He launched forward with practiced speed, weaving between the creatures' clumsy movements. When another cannon fired, Alan vaulted off a fallen log, flipping over the blast and landing behind the creature in one smooth motion.
Using his combat skills, he struck precisely—not to harm, but to disable. A sharp kick jammed one cannon shut. A quick sweep sent another creature tumbling harmlessly onto its back, legs flailing in surprise.
Animals fled the clearing, finally safe.
Alan releases a controlled burst of electricity that crackled just enough to stun without injuring. The shell-creatures froze, eyes spinning, before collapsing in a heap of confused groans.
Within moments, the forest fell quiet again.
Alan exhaled slowly, straightening up.
"Man," he said, glancing at the subdued creatures. "You guys really need better aim… and maybe a little less enthusiasm."
Alan smiled—but then his expression shifted.
These things didn't belong here.
Alan stood in the quiet clearing, hands on his hips as he looked over the toppled shell-creatures. The forest had settled again, birds cautiously returning to the branches, the animals peeking out from hiding places.
He scratched the back of his head, tail flicking thoughtfully.
"What if more of these strange creatures are here in the forest?" he muttered. "I mean it's not my problem, but…"
He glanced toward the forest, then down at the frightened animals slowly creeping back into view.
"…no one deserves to be treated like this."
Alan shrugged, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Eh. Why not?" he said lightly. "It'll be more fun like this."
With that, he turned back toward the deeper forest, already moving, curiosity and conscience pulling him forward in equal measure.
He didn't know it yet—but this choice, made so casually, was the first step toward something much bigger.
A hero's journey rarely begins with destiny calling.
Sometimes… it starts with 'why not?'
The path out of the forest opened suddenly into sunlight. The deeper Alan ran into the forest, the stranger the atmosphere became. The peaceful sounds of birds and rustling leaves slowly faded beneath a harsh metallic roar echoing through the trees.
VRRRRRRRRMMMMM— KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!
Alan leapt over a fallen log and pushed through a wall of bushes before skidding to a stop at the edge of a massive clearing.
"…Whoa."
The forest floor had been torn apart.
Huge trenches carved through the earth like giant claw marks. Trees leaned dangerously, their roots exposed. Small woodland creatures hid behind rocks and bushes, trembling as smoke and dirt filled the air.
At the center of the destruction stood an enormous drilling machine robot.
It was massive—nearly three stories tall—with thick mechanical legs that slammed into the ground with every movement. Rotating drill-arms spun violently, tearing through stone while glowing orange vents released bursts of steam from its back.
Its main body resembled a heavily armored mining tank mixed with a spider-like excavator. Red sensor eyes scanned the area while mechanical claws shoved broken boulders aside.
And stamped proudly onto the front armor plating… Was a strange emblem. A circular symbol colored crimson and gold. The face of a snarling dragon-like creature with glowing red eyes.
Alan narrowed his eyes.
"…That logo."
The robot suddenly gave a loud mechanical CHUNK!
A huge slab of stone was ripped free from the earth.
Buried within the shattered rock was something incredible.
A sword.
Its blade shimmered silver-white beneath layers of dirt and crystalized stone. Ancient glowing lines ran across the metal like veins of starlight. The weapon looked old… impossibly old… yet untouched by time.
Even stranger— Embedded beneath the stone was a glowing white crystal shaped like a five-pointed star.
The drill machine's scanners immediately locked onto it.
BEEEEEEP!
"TARGET IDENTIFIED."
A mechanical claw reached down and carefully extracted the crystal star from the rock.
The moment it lifted free— The entire clearing pulsed with light.
Alan's eyes widened slightly. "…Star energy?" The sword reacted too. The ancient blade hummed softly, faint white energy traveling along its edges as if awakening from a long sleep.
But the robot ignored the sword entirely.
Its attention remained fixed on the glowing crystal.
Alan finally stepped out from the trees with his hands raised casually. "Uh… hey!" The drilling robot froze mid-motion. Its red sensors immediately turned toward him.
Alan pointed toward the frightened animals hiding around the clearing.
"You mind chillin' with the whole giant-drill-doom-machine thing?" he asked. "You're freaking the animals out and disturbing the forest."
The robot's speakers crackled. "WARNING. UNAUTHORIZED LIFEFORM DETECTED."
Alan blinked. "…That's kinda rude."
The machine's drills slowly began spinning faster.
VRRRRRRRRRR— Alan quickly pointed at the forest around them.
"Hey, hey, I'm serious! Look around!" A family of rabbits darted behind a tree stump.
Birds circled nervously overhead.
Even the wind itself felt uneasy.
Alan crossed his arms. "This forest didn't do anything to you."
For a moment… The machine actually paused.
Its scanners shifted toward the frightened wildlife.
Then back toward Alan. "…PRIMARY OBJECTIVE TAKES PRIORITY."
Alan tilted his head. "And what exactly are you digging for anyway?"
The robot lifted the glowing white crystal slightly. "STAR RELIC ACQUIRED."
Alan's expression changed instantly. "…Star relic?" The sword embedded in the stone suddenly emitted another pulse of white light. A faint whisper echoed through the clearing. Not through sound— But directly through Alan's heart.
His hand instinctively moved toward his chest.
The strange energy from earlier… It was reacting again.
Alan tightened his grip and stared up at the massive drilling machine.
The robot's drills spun faster.
VRRRRRRRRRR— Red warning lights flashed across its armored body. "UNAUTHORIZED INTERFERENCE DETECTED."
Alan sighed dramatically. "Alright. If that's how you wanna play it…" He cracked his knuckles. "…then you leave me no choice."
The machine lunged first.
Its enormous drill-arm slammed downward with enough force to shatter the ground.
BOOOOM!!
Dirt and stone exploded everywhere— but Alan had already vanished. "Too slow!" He darted across the battlefield in a blur of movement and leapt upward.
WHAM!!
His fist slammed directly into the robot's faceplate.
The machine staggered backward violently. "WARNING—STRUCTURAL DAMAGE."
Alan landed lightly on the ground. "…Seriously? That worked way easier than I thought." The robot roared mechanically and unleashed both drill-arms at once.
Alan ducked beneath one, jumped over the other, and spun midair.
KRAAASH!!
A powerful kick shattered one of the drills completely.
Sparks exploded everywhere. The machine stumbled again. Alan rushed forward one final time. "Hyaaah!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
A burst of energy erupted from his punch and blasted straight through the robot's core.
The giant machine froze.
Its red sensors flickered. Then— KABOOOOOM!!
The entire drill bot exploded into a heap of smoking metal and broken gears. Silence returned to the forest.
Leaves drifted gently through the air. The frightened animals slowly began peeking out from hiding.
Alan brushed dust off his clothes proudly. "…Okay, maybe I hit that a little too hard." The glowing white crystal star still hovered faintly above the shattered rock.
Nearby, the ancient silver-white sword remained embedded in stone, glowing softly beneath the evening sunlight.
Alan slowly approached both objects. "…So what exactly are you two?"
The sword hummed quietly. The crystal star pulsed brighter.
Alan looked between them. "Okay… definitely magical."
He reached toward the sword first— but stopped.
Something about the crystal called to him stronger. Like it recognized him. "…Guess I'll try this one."
The moment Alan touched the crystal star— Everything stopped.
The wind froze. The drifting leaves hung motionless in midair. Even the light itself seemed frozen in place.
Alan's eyes widened. "…What the—" Then the visions came. A flood of images exploded through his mind.
He saw— A beautiful planet of fairies surrounded by swirling dark matter and shadow. A colossal lava castle floating high in the sky, rivers of molten fire pouring from beneath it. An enormous academy engulfed in flames while figures ran through collapsing halls.
Alan clutched his head. "Ghh—!"
Then— Seven crystal stars appeared before him.
White. Blue. Yellow. Red. Orange. Green. Purple.
They floated together in the darkness like celestial guardians. The ancient sword suddenly rose into the air— and transformed.
Its blade reshaped into a massive magical staff.
A wand-like weapon of gold, blue, and cosmic light. A radiant five-pointed star shined at the top while the seven colored stars orbited around it.
Alan stared in awe. "…What is that thing…?"
The visions intensified.
A gigantic palace appeared in space itself— floating among stars, galaxies, and glowing crystal fragments.
Then— Everything went white.
Alan gasped. His feet touched solid ground again. "…Huh?" He looked around in confusion. He now stood before an enormous palace floating high above the clouds of space. Massive crystal bridges connected floating islands around it. Giant glowing stars drifted peacefully through the air while waterfalls poured endlessly into the cosmos below.
"…Woah…"
The palace shimmered with celestial energy.
Gold. Blue. Purple. Silver.
Every surface reflected the stars themselves. Alan slowly turned in circles. "What just happened?"
He looked behind him. Nothing. No forest. No destroyed robot.
Just endless stars.
"…Okay. Either I'm dreaming…" He looked up at the giant floating palace. "…or this is the coolest thing ever."
Alan cautiously walked toward the towering entrance. The massive palace doors slowly opened on their own.
CRRRRMMMM— "…Not creepy at all."
Inside, the palace was even more unbelievable. Huge stained-glass windows depicted glowing stars and cosmic symbols. Crystal chandeliers floated without chains.
Tiny floating star-creatures drifted around the halls curiously.
Alan stepped carefully across the shining floor. "Hello?" His voice echoed endlessly.
No answer. Eventually, he entered a massive throne room.
At the center— Floating above a pedestal— Was the same white crystal star.
Alan blinked. "…You again." He slowly approached it. "Did the star… bring me here?" The crystal pulsed softly. "And show me all those strange visions?" Another pulse. Alan scratched the back of his head. "…Okay, so maybe you understand me somehow." He looked around the empty throne room. "…Maybe you can get me back too."
Alan grabbed the crystal confidently. "Eh. Worth a shot."
The moment the star pulsed in his hand, Alan closed his eyes and focused.
Home. The forest. The camp hideout.
A bright flash exploded around him.
FWOOOSH!!
Suddenly— Alan stumbled forward onto solid dirt again.
"…Whoa!"
He looked up. The camp hideout.
Back on Earth. And the sky was now evening.
Alan blinked. "…Cool."
He looked at the glowing crystal still in his hand. "Looks like I was gone for a while though."