Chapter Text
Unlike the first time she found herself in another world, the spells Reine prepared were cast with intent and precision, and with less accidental mishaps. Thankfully, there was no sudden furniture floating, getting tossed into time and space, or being thrown face-first into unfamiliar dirt.
That was a relief for both of them, though a part of Amelia did wish she’d been able to see that last bit happen.
Instead, she took a moment to marvel at the portal Reine almost effortlessly placed on the left wall of her office. Almost a perfect doorway in between dimensions, save for a calming blue glow that traced the outline of the egress. Rolling, vibrant hills and a perfect blue sky confronted them within, illuminating and contrasting the dimmer, warmer confines of the room they were in.
“Huh! It worked!” huffed Amelia, as the last sparks of peafowl magic faded away.
Reine chuckled, the colorful sound weaving effortlessly around the faint chirps of wildlife beyond the portal. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
The detective scoffed. “Me? Pff, yeah right, I’m not the one who just opened a hole in reality!”
“Well, I certainly couldn’t have done it without your assistance.”
“All I did was beat up some people and ask for some magic help. And mostly in that order,” Amelia pointed out, before gesturing to the interdimensional rift. “But enough of that! Why didn’t you tell me how pretty your homeworld was?”
A sheepish smile from Reine followed. “Oh, please. I bet it’s nothing compared to what you’ve seen in your lifetime.”
It’s nothing compared to you, thought Amelia, who instead shrugged and said, “Well, I think it’s pretty high on my ‘that’s really cool’ tier list.”
“Heh. I appreciate it. And, um...” said Reine, turning to Amelia. “I appreciate you, too. Thank you, Amelia. For staying with me for all this time.”
At that, Amelia was half convinced that Calli was going to appear and tell her she died.
“Oh, geez, it’s nothing, really!” she replied, despite their time together being anything but.
“You know, you don’t have to come with me,” said Reine, “If you don’t want to, I mean.”
“Aw, come on!” teased Amelia, crossing her arms and pouting excessively. “Don’t want my company?”
“Wha-, hey, you know it’s not like that!” exclaimed the royal peafowl, a small blush appearing on her face. “It’s just… I know you’re busy and all, and the last thing I want to do is waste your time-”
“Okay, please tell me you see the irony of what you’re saying,” chuckled Amelia, lightly jabbing Reine with her elbow. “As if I’d miss out on the chance to investigate another world with you!”
Or spend more time with you in general.
“Are you really sure?” asked Reine, almost in disbelief.
“Has my future self arrived to tell me to do otherwise?” Amelia looked around, waiting a few seconds, then turning back to grin at Reine. “No, I don’t think so. And even if she did, I’d kindly tell her to make like a tree.”
Finally, it seemed that her cheesy humor worked out. Reine let herself smile, and nodded. “If you do insist.”
Without any more signs of hesitation, Reine allowed herself to leave Amelia’s side, and step through the gateway. A transition made with no fancy magic lights or sounds, just a seamless passage from one life to another. An entire journey travelled, with nothing but a single step.
Amelia didn’t follow, suddenly feeling as if going through without permission were forbidden. So she waited as Reine took it all in. Understandably so. The wait wasn’t long, however, as Reine shifted her attention back towards the detective, the one who had assisted her return in the first place. She offered Amelia her hand, through the gateway.
“Are you ready to start?” asked Reine.
“Handholding? Didn’t take you for a lewd one,” commented Amelia.
Reine blinked. “Wait, huh-”
But before she could finish that, Amelia gladly took her hand. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
And Amelia took that next step.