Written by Joshua David Tarwater
Special Thanks - @Cutegirlmayra
Illustration - SmilesFPS (SmilesFPS www.twitter.com)
Logo Design - Xenoko (XenokoYT www.twitter.com)

♪ ~ [Another Eden ～時空を超える猫～ ~ Yasunori Mitsuda ~ Another Eden Original Soundtrack]

Shifting buildings and whole neighborhoods.
Parks and schools, mountainsides and markets.
Scholars with patches of wrench and gear on their sleeves.
Flags flying the same motif.
Craftsmen and students hurrying about.
The small planet eclipsing the sun watching from on high.

          ~I feel like Sonic has been making things difficult for me on purpose.

          ~What do I mean?

          ~Well, the Tornado needs repaired, and even though we’ve had to help the Engineers out quite a lot to get everything we need, Sonic has said these repairs are too important to teach me about maintaining the plane, so he chased me out. Of course, he told me to wait and not cause any trouble, but~…

          ~Tee-hee~♥ No way is that happening!

          ~While Sonic leaves me out of learning about his plane, I’ve taken to fending off my boredom by going shopping! Well, window shopping at least. It’s not like we can buy a bunch of stuff and take it with us. Though there are some really cute clothes I would love to buy!~

         Stopping for a moment in front of a windowed store front, Rosy looked at her reflection and the cute dress in the window she stood close enough to level with. Standing up onto her toes she struggled to position her reflection so it seemed like she was wearing the dress. By accident she started to turn, and as she struggled to maintain her balance, she did a full spin and laughed at herself. Curtseying as she came to a stop, she bid the dress farewell.

          ~Hee-hee! I hope when Sonic and I reach the end of this adventure I’ll remember all the wonderful places we visited and the people we meet. I just know I’ll want to keep in touch with everyone and keep up with what their lives are like. And who knows, maybe visit them and surprise them wearing a dress. I love my leotard, and it’s really practical for adventuring compared to a dress, but it would be a lot of fun to get dressed up too.

          ~Ooh~! That creep Yolk! Why does have to make this such a hard adventure. It would be so much more fun if I could buy all the clothes and food I want without having to worry about him.

          ~The weirder thing is though, no one seems to know about Yolk. No matter who I talk to, no one even knows the name of the planet which is always sitting in front of the sun. I keep asking why that is, but no one knows the answer to that either. They just blame it on how Rings can steal memories and figure it’s a price they have to pay for making use of them despite the taboo. It makes me feel like I should be keeping a diary just in case. Everyone here seems to take notes all the time. I guess that’s how they remember things, but it’s kind of what you would have to do living in land where Rings steal your memories. Sonic says that’s not right, but it’s the only thing I know too since I don’t have most of my memories.

          ~Hrm… this would be easier if I had a lead on a researcher or someone I could ask about Yolk. There has to be someone. Oh!~

         Pausing as she spied some cute jewelry in a window, it was not the jewelry that held her gaze, or even the diaries in the next store’s window that did. It was not even the red ring that was three-fifths a cog wheel that replaced her left iris that stopped her. As the gear was turning, she did not fail to miss that, especially as it was an important hint to what she was looking for.

         “So, Blister is being controlled by Yolk. That creep! And she doesn’t even know it.”

         Watching Blister traveling through the crowds via reflection, only her pack allowing the tiny sapient mouse woman to stand out, Rosy smiled brightly.

         “Sorry Sonic! I’m going to get into some trouble! Tee-hee~♥”

         ♪ ~ [Bandit Gang Monoculus ~ Naoshi Mizuta ~ LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK]

         “Hm. Hm. You really are of a different sort,” Blister commented in her typically sleepy yet energetic way of speech as she studied Rosy sitting next to her on a bar stool.

         “Well, I am called a rascal,” Rosy laughed.

Midday sun peering in through slatted windows.
Ceiling fans turning lazily.
Shifting blocks covered in glowing blue geometric lines.
A bar built to support patrons weary from their studies.
A shadowy place not meant for the bright and cheerful.

         “And Sonic said that you’re an information broker, and I want to know more about Yolk,” Rosy explained her presence in the bar, even as the sapient gecko and ox bar tenders exchanged uncomfortable looks at the minor’s presence. Blister was far more used to the unusual however, and the mouse woman donned a cat-like smile.

         “Hm. Hm. You made the right choice,” Blister nodded. “Mr. Yoluku is a client of mine, so I know about him. Yes. You definitely made the right choice, except for two things.

         “They’re both bad, aren’t they?” Rosy asked, her ears drooping, even as she playfully kicked her dangling feet.

         “Not entirely,” Blister disagreed. “One is business related. You see, it’s bad form to talk about my clients.”

         “And the other?”

         “Well… Well, I suppose it’s business related too. After all, Mr. Yoluku would like me to bring you to him.”

         “Then you must know how to get up to that small planet in the sky,” Rosy pushed and surprised Blister. But it was the realization that she did not know how that held her tongue. And in her moment of confusion, she noticed the strange Red Ring around a five-pointed star that replaced Rosy’s left iris. The one that was three-fifths a cogwheel. The cogwheel that was turning through the Ring.

         “Is something the matter?” Rosy pushed again, not missing that Blister was stopped by the very control that should have allowed her to act as needed for her capture. “I bet there is. You did this when I asked you to help Sonic and me before too. And I bet what is wrong is that even Yolk doesn’t know how to get to where he is. That means you both need our help to. But you know what, I don’t think you should be dragged into this just because Yolk decided to use you. It should be your own choice to help us or him.”

         “That’s a very–”

         “Uh-uh!” Rosy shook her head and interrupted Blister. “I know Yolk is controlling you because Sonic and I already destroyed the Yolk Device that was in this realm and the one in my eye wasn’t active until I bumped into you. So, you have one somewhere on you too. But you seem to be really strong, so Yolk is having to work extra hard which is why you’re having so much trouble. I’m sure of it!”

         “Hm. Hm…”

         Blister could not argue. She was at a loss for words, but she could not explain why either. And unquestionably the device in Rosy’s eye was distracting her. So was the knowledge that her client had not provided her the details she needed to perform the job. Now she was curious, even as the device in Rosy’s eye became more distracting. Until Rosy closed her left eye and cut it off.

         “No way am I letting you lose yourself to that creep while I want to talk,” Rosy stuck out her tongue as though to mock the unseen entity. But it was Blister she wanted to talk to. “See, I told you were being controlled.”

         “That you did Ms. Rosy,” Blister agreed. She was however still exhibiting signs of distraction. Signs that Rosy did not miss. Signs that led both to look at the mouse woman’s clockwork arm. “I would advise against that.”

         “Is that you or Yolk saying that!” Rosy asked, as she shifted in response to Blister shifting her left arm back and out of the way.

         “I think we should perhaps discuss business another time, by appointment even.”

         “Not before I save you from Yolk!”

          ~I didn’t mean to make a mess of the bar. I mean, I know I’m not even old enough to be in one unlike Blister, but she shouldn’t have struggled. I just wanted to help after all. Or maybe it was that creep Yolk who made her struggle. But even though we both have speed like Sonic’s, I won this time!

          ~Tee-hee~! I upset Blister quite a bit too when I took her arm off, but it was the Yolk Device that was in the shoulder socket for her fake arm that I was after, and her shock let me get it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure how to destroy it, so I left Blister in the bar to take it to Sonic. He didn’t have to be that mad though. And it would have been nice if Blister had stayed at the bar, but I guess suddenly being freed of mind control would probably leave anyone wanting some alone time.

         ~Well, hopefully the next time I see her I’ll be able to actually talk with her and apologize for having taken her arm off. I hope I didn't break it. Though her being a pirate, an adventurer, and a merchant means I could never see her again. I hope that’s not true. She really does seem nice, and I’d love to be friends with her.