Stupid shadow clone meeting for a stupid reason. For some fucking reason, all the sentient shadow clones are having a meeting about their lovers or some shit. I wouldn't know. I wasn't invited. What's worse is that I was stuck with babysitting duty. I fucking hate that duty. I'd rather take cleaning duty, dungeon management duty, or hell, I'd even take Ark Watching duty. At least on that duty, all I have to do is watch an insane man yell at his cell roof for days on end. Since the Shadow Madeleine that's usually on babysitting duty happens to be in that stupid meeting, here I am. Speaking of babysitting… where the fuck are the kids?

"They've already run all over the castle. Worry not. I know where they are. Just let me finish this level." I looked at Medya to see her standing by my side, staring at the screen of her phone (I think that's what Ava called it), her focus solely on it. If she's bee- "No need to finish that thought. I just used Prophecy, one of the few things I'm actually thankful for from my biological mother." Oh… okay.

I stand around, twiddling my fingers, waiting for Medya to finish. Oh yeah, I didn't explain where I'm at, huh. I'm at The Castle In The Sky, one of Mendass' prime tourist attractions ever since ownership of the flying castle was passed down to the… the… something conglomerate, I don't remember. Anyways, I took the kids to a flying castle cause that shit is cool, isn't it? And kids love cool shit… speaking of kids, how many was I looking after?

"Five. Six if you count Cookie." I turned to Medya, who had put her phone in her pocket. How the hell does she know what I'm thinking? "Prophecy. By the way," She pulled out a mask that fully covered a person's face out of her backpack. Man, her parents sure spoil her. "Put this on."

I put the mask on, surprised that it let me see through it. It's almost like I'm not wearing a mask. "So what's up… the mask lets me speak. That's convenient."

"I was meant to give it back at the mansion, but I was too engrossed with my game. I'd apologise, but I won't."

"Huh… didn't ask. So, let's go grab the kids." I started walking forward before stopping and turning to Medya. "Where're the kids?"

Medya sighed and then started walking past me. "Just follow me." We started walking into the castle through its grand entrance. I can see why Physical Madeleine likes castles. While I was busy taking in the castle, Medya rudely stopped me. "Before we get the others, touch the castle doors."

"Why?"

"Sacred Power."

"Oh." And so I touched the smooth, luxurious, breathtaking wood of the castle's entrance. Just exquisite, like the table Physical Madeleine and Mel own.

Huh. That's cool.

"What the hell is this?"

"I believe it is just the typical bout between the three. They grew quite close during their first fight."

Medya was leading me through the castle, even pointing out some things along the way, when she opened a very inconspicuous door that led to… well, I can't tell if the floor is made out of sponge, cheese, yellow socks, a combination of all three, or a non-existent material, and at the centre of all this chaos were three familiar children. 

The first was Marigold, who was menacingly standing upside down whilst her arms were outstretched, the second was Mayfield, who was busy dodging energy-imbued balls that Marigold was throwing at her, and the last was… does the Chaos Storm have a name?

"Makos."

"Oh, thanks, Medya." Lastly, Makos, the Chaos Storm and probably the reason why this room seems otherworldly. If you're wondering where her lemony caregiver is, she's on vacation in the Shadowrealm. Oddly convenient that the day I'm on babysitting duty, she just so happens to decide to take a break. Maybe the universe has it in for me. "So, any ideas on how to calm them down?"

Medya stood still for a moment when her eyes suddenly glowed golden, then returned to their not-glowing state. "Throw a dagger at Makos. It will cause a domino effect."

"Oh, okay." I threw the dagger at Makos, which was intercepted by a skeleton bird which appeared out of nowhere. The skeleton bird exploded, sending its bones everywhere, including right at Marigold's head, causing her to panic. In her state of panic, she shot an energy ball at the ground, somehow creating a black hole that only sucked in the colour yellow, which somehow caused the entire room to return to normal. Marigold, May, and Makos all ran to my side, looking at me with impressed eyes. "Uh… that happened. So where's the last kid, Medya?"

Medya sighed, then walked away. Guess I'll follow her.

Medya led us to a room at the top of the castle, which is supposedly closed off to visitors. How did we get up here? Marigold, obviously, or maybe Makos. Could even be Mayfield. She's told me she was taught magic by an adventurer party before. "Wait… am I the weakest one here?"

"You aren't, that would be me. All I have are my eyes."

"Oh, that's good. By the way, this room is empty. I don't see the last kid or Cookie anywhere."

"Look up." 

I looked up to see Cookie and the last kid, I think her name was Filia, playing a game of cards on the roof. After yelling at them (I even had to yell at Cookie through the Shadow Clone Mind Network, but she wasn't listening), they eventually came down. 

"So… you kids done with the castle?" I turned to look at each kid plus Cookie, who each nodded at my question. Wait… why is Cookie here? Before I could continue to ponder about that question further, a magic circle appeared below the seven of us. I turned to Medya, whose eye briefly glowed golden, to see if she had the answer.

"We're being sent to another world."

"Another what now?" That's when we suddenly disappeared.

Item profile: The Castle In The Sky

Sacred power: Sky Castle

Years operational: Four hundred and eighty seven

Description: A relic of the past. The Castle In The Sky is a personal creation of the Creator, which she originally wanted to use as her home away from home, but she quickly got bored of the isolated castle surrounded by dull clouds and sold it away in an auction filled to the brim with the wealthiest people on Mendass. The castle would continue to be sold until it eventually fell into the hands of the Mogait Conglomerate, who are seen as rivals to the Dragon's Keep Guild.

Chapter namesake: Kids by MGMT