Golden Age: part 3: I Dremt
Story by Kaminari Kitsune on SoFurry
I'm thinking, if this turns out well enough, I can publish it in print. Maybe sell it at Megaplex 2017, as it won't be done before Megaplex 2016. I'll be a published author before 17 if all goes well.
Megaplex, just so you know, is my local con. (In Orlando, Florida)
Make sure to comment what you like/don't like about Golden Age
Sebun tried to overcome his vertigo, but he just couldn't. An island. In the sky. That sounds impossible. Sounded impossible, until Jessica explained it. “The steam district is located at a crossroads. It stretches from the 10°E to the 10°W and from the 10°N and 10° South. Due to the magic field of the planet, we have five districts: The Tolkien and Mythos quarters, in the Fantasy hemisphere, and the Science hemisphere. In the center is the Steam District, home to what Earthmen call 'Steampunk.' There are two of those: this one, and the one centered at 180°. Furthermore, both Steam Districts are the same size. The other two planets aren't organized like this, don't worry.
“Homonus is full of natural oceans and forests, and has a society quite like earth. Dragalia is home to several extremes, ensuring that Dragalian culture is" Jessica seemed to search for the right word. "Unique. Anyways, due to the Fantasy, we can have things mildly disobey the laws of physics. Say, gravity? The balloons and propellers help it along the way. The Science side gives us just enough to have semi- advanced tech, like zeppelins and airships." After Sebun gave her a look, she added, “You know, floating boat thingies. Combined, they let us turn a crossroads into a paradise."
“Are you telling me that this island encompasses the entire steam district?" Sebun asked.
“Aren't you tired of asking questions? Your alive. Let's go on an adventure," the hare said, avoiding the question. He shouldn't have been surprised at this point.
“Like what?" Sebun asked, just feeling tired. It was a long day of being tied up and interrogating the hare. At least, he felt that way.
Jessica must have noted the Japanese man's weariness, as she proposed to 'have an adventure' at her place. Not in a dirty way. Surprisingly, her house was far away from the place that she kept him. Apparently, she wanted to rent a space so he didn't wreck her place. They rented a small- what did Jessica call it? An airship?- just big enough for two people. As they rode across the city, Sebun spotted a variety of things, namely an entire neighborhood in the air, a huge, domed building, a castle of some sort, and a dock for ships such as the one they were riding on the side of the island nearest the huge city he saw before. There were also a few other islands in the distance, none quite as big as Coggsworth. They passed several ships and zeppelins on the way to Jessica's house. From a few, he could hear snippets of conversation.
“Come on, Fen! We need to get to the Tolkien Quarter as soon as zoomanly possible!"
“Zoomanly possible? You never say that. Nobody ever says that."
“Koroki, Stephan, settle down. Stop fighting. Now."
And from the second and third zeppelins, just swords clashing, complements on style, and grunts of pain.
They located the Steele household just as the sun was setting. Jessica opened the square door to a round hallway. The physics were already so weird here, and his weariness so intense, that Sebun didn't question it. It was no weirder than a four-sided triangle, and he reckoned he saw one on those out towards the Fantasy hemisphere. After all, how could it be in The City? After this nonsense thought, he fell asleep on Jessica's couch.
Sebun's pov: (translated from Japanese)
When I fell asleep, I dreamt. First, a phone that was far ahead of Earth's most advanced smartphone and a piece of parchment worked together to run a race. Then, they split apart, competing. Each splits in half, and the halves of each fought. They battled until two gears appeared and tried to stop the fighting, but got torn apart. It was a very disturbing dream.
I woke up sweating, to the sound of propellers. Then I remembered where I was. Steampunk always included balloons and propellers and gears. I showered, thanked God that Coggsworth was advanced enough for a shower, and went to the kitchen table, where Jessica's grey eyes were scanning a newspaper. The headline was Dragons Declare War on Apes. “We need to lay low a bit, “ she said, showing me the headline. "If you meet a Dragalian, there might be trouble." It was fine by me. I had no intention of getting involved in a war.
The only problem was that I feared that I might have to.
***