After tending to the fainted man's troubles, meaning they took him to the hospital, the group went back outside.
Once more returning to outside, they found themselves in a merged Fourside-Moonside. Moonfour. Or Fourmoon. Possibly Fouoon. Or Mooour.
"What's Raltise planning?" Cirra asked worriedly.
"I'm sure it isn't good," Matt mused.
"Was Mani Mani actually killed?" TsuramiSea asked. "It looked more like he died..."
RG looked at Harsemhin.
"What?" Harsemhin shrugged his shoulders, then went off.
"I think he killed Mani Mani," RG disclosed.

"I didn't kill anyone," Harsemhin whispered. "Except Cyan. Can I bring him back?"
Harsemhin felt a chill surround him.
"Use your Stellar," Cyan urged.
"Why do I keep getting these weird chills and feelings?" Harsemhin asked no one.
"You've got weird senses, Harsemhin," Cyan said, "so use them. Sense me! Listen to what I have to say."
Harsemhin shuddered.
"Am I catching a cold? Has a sorceress bewitched me?"
"I'm not a sorceress," Cirra curtly replied.
"I wasn't speaking of you, my lovely metre maid, but of another sorceress -- and not you, Luna -- who has bewitched me and stricken me with a disease. A disease which condemns me to ever feel coldness about me."
"ABERFYDD!" Cyan boomed. "Hurry up and revive me!"
Siris now shuddered.
"I'm sensing something now," he explained. "I think someone has bewitched me too." He winked slyly at Luna, who rolled her eyes.
Cyan moaned.
"Will I ever be revived?" he asked. "Cirra," he then whispered, "can you hear me?"

Raltise grinned evilly.
"Like chessmen on a chessboard, life is merely a matter of moving the pieces around. Illusions are meant to facilitate this," he mused, "and my illusions are much more powerful than those of the Demon of Mani Mani. Yet who is to say that a puppetmaster like myself is merely the puppet of a greater puppetmaster? And so on?"
Raltise paced around.
"Marionettes all. The marionettes and the puppetmaster. I've merged one world with another, and in this strange world, my powers rule supreme. I may yet effect my plans before I am defeated. If I am defeated, that is," he added for good measure.

"What's happening?" Lardna exclaimed.
"It looks like everything's going on the fritz!" Aphrodite replied, warmly gripping her daughter Venus.
Picky and Tracy were hiding under a table.
"Picky..." she said.
"Tracy..." he said.
"Everyone, calm down!" Mrs. Lee urged. "Please, calm down!"

"Why are we sitting in a war council of sorts?" Siris asked Cirra.
"We're all sensing weird things," she replied, "so we have to get to the bottom of things. And it's called a séance, Siris."
"This would be why we're holding hands?" Harsemhin asked.
"Right. Now," Cirra urged, "let's all concentrate and bring to mind the wayward spirit trying to contact us."
The others loitered around.
"What do you think they're doing?" Matt asked Kyle.
"It looks really weird."
"Weird or not," TsuramiSea countered, "there's a reason. They keep having weird happenings common only to them."

As Cirra gripped hands with the people beside her, she felt a weight in her pocket. She remembered the Niveous rod, and sighed as she placed it upon the table, where it rolled slightly before coming to a complete stop.
With that distraction aside, Cirra closed her eyes, and lifted them mentally toward the ceiling.
"Spirits of the underworld...make haste to aid my cause, and the cause of my friends...ancient people, ancestors!"
Harsemhin twitched slightly, but continued to pray for help long with the others.

Raltise peered around the room he stood in, admiring the pulsing blackness of the merging worlds. However, he knew better.
"Merely an illusion of course...soon, it will be different. Illusions will become reality, and Reality will become a facade!"

Cyan stood in the corner of the room, watching the gathering. He walked up to the table, and looked into each of the faces of the praying. However, they were all the same; pale and rigid. He slunk back to his corner, hoping that he could be reached to for contact soon.

Luna opened her eyes slightly, in the middle of the séance. Looking to the center of the table, she noticed something odd, and proceeded to tap Cirra on the shoulder.
Cirra looked up, startled out of her deep trance.
"What is it?"
Luna merely pointed to the middle of the table. "Look."

Sitting stationary in the middle of the table, the Niveous rod began to cast off a white-blue light. Cirra reached out to touch it, but thought better of it. By that time, Harsemhin and Siris were also staring at it. Puzzled, Harsemhin tapped the base of the rod. A small beam of light came out of the center, and a hologram popped up.
"Hey, this reminds me of Star Wars!" Siris exclaimed, excitedly. He received two blank looks from Cirra and Harsemhin, but Luna nodded slightly.
In the center of the hologram, a woman stood. Harsemhin recognized her with little eyestrain. "That's my Cirra!"
Cirra looked into the little woman’s face, and indeed, it did bear a striking resemblance to her.

"However, she has my sister's hair..." Cirra grumbled, but listened as the tape rolled.
I have not much time; however, my message is brief. The power of the heir is to dispel illusions; you need three eyes but only use one. Casting shadows on shadows creates and destroys.
The Image began to crack up, and slowly faded out. Cirra scratched her head. "3 eyes..."
Luna arched her eyebrow. "You don't suppose she means a psychic third eye, do you? You only ever use it by itself, which would make sense..."
Siris nodded. "Cirra, try looking at the wall over there, and concentrate on looking out your forehead."
Cirra stared blankly at him. "What?"
"Just...Imagine you have a 3rd eye in your forehead, and that your vision has shifted focus so you see out of it. It takes a little concentration."
Cirra nodded, and gave it a try. She saw a small flicker of peach, and jumped. The others looked at her, curious, and she collected herself to go on.
"Cast shadows on shadows to create and destroy..."
She looked out of her '3rd eye' into the corner, and saw a familiar man leaning against the wall.

"I ... see someone," started Cirra.
"Who?" asked Harsemhin.
"It's Cyan. He must have been following us."
"So he's the one we've been feeling!" exclaimed Siris.
Siris' outburst caught Cyan's attention. He moved towards the table. "Does this mean you can finally hear me?"
"I can see his mouth moving, but I don't hear any words ..." Cirra informed the group.
Cyan fell over. "So you can see me but not hear me!" he groaned.
"I think he just said something about seeing but not hearing," said Haremhin.
"You can hear him?" asked Siris.
"You can hear me?" asked Cyan at the same time. He then made a mark in the air.
"I can't hear him clearly, but I can make out some of it," Harsemhin clarified.
"If you can hear me, find a way to bring me back! Use your Stellar, anything!"
"I don't remember any Stellar that can revive someone ... wait. I DO remember one, but I forget what it is ..."
Cyan fell over again.
"If it exists, I'm sure you'll be able to remember it," said Cirra, confidently. "All you have to do is work at it."
Harsemhin knew he had come across such a Stellar skill before. He knew he had encountered a Stellar skill that would be able to revive someone. He just couldn't remember what it was.
But he knew he had encountered it. So, he tried to remember... tried to remember...

---

Harsemhin's Memories

---

I tried to keep my mind off her, but I couldn't. She was so ravishing... so beautiful. Her hair sparkled in the air like the innumerable stars in the night sky.
The princess... I want to marry her!
"Harsemhin!" The wizened magician rapped her wand on my knuckles, sending me out of my princess-induced stupor.
"Wh... what?" I stammered, much to the delight of my classmates.
"Could you explain to me the three different levels of Stellar?"
"There's three?" I asked.
"Mr. Aberfydd," my teacher moaned, "you should spend more time on your studies. You'll never be able to become a full-fledged wizard if you persist in daydreaming. And all this on the day Princess Cirra of our great kingdom of Altus has deigned to visit our classroom."
Princess... Cirra? I darted my head around hurriedly. There she was. So innocent, so carefree. So beautiful!
I blushed. Whispers swelled up about the classroom: "Harsemhin has a crush!" "Harsemhin is in love!" "I wonder if she loves him back!"
The teacher gave the rest of the class a harsh look. The whispers quieted down.
"Excuse me," Princess Cirra said with that sweet voice of hers, "but might I be able to answer this question?"
The teacher nodded. "I'm sure you've been more attentive than certain members of this wizardry class."
"The lowest level is Stellar. It is comprised of calling on the powers of constellations. The second level is Decanate, and involves combining two Stellar skills to make one. The final level is Prism Stellar; Prism Stellar is enhanced abilities based on the Stellar level."
"Very good, Princess. Now, who knows the Stellar and Prism Stellar variants on the constellation Phoenix? Cirra?"
"Phoenix Consumption and Rainbow Phoenix--"
That voice! So ravishing!
"Aberfydd!" the teacher boomed once more. "Pay attention!"

---

---

Harsemhin's Memories

---

It was the night of the day of that embarrassing debacle at wizard's school.
I was dedicated to studying from there on in, so that would never happen again. I couldn't let it happen.
"Scorpius. Scorpius Blade, Rainbow Scorpius Needle.
"Centaurus. Centaurus Flare, Rainbow Centaurus Incineration.
"Pegasus. Hollywood Pegasus, Rainbow Pegasus Sparkle.
"Sagitta. Sagitta Halt, Rainbow Sagitta Blinding Halt.
"Pavo. Pavo Sight, Rainbow Pavo Illusion.
"Phoenix. Phoenix Consumption. Rainbow Phoenix Magnificent Rebird.
"No, not rebird. Reaper."

---

Raltise sat down at his chair.
"They seem to be involved in something. It would be unfair if I were to interfere in their affairs by attacking them. However, interfering indirectly is another matter.
"The Puppetmaster has powers over his puppets. I, the Puppetmaster, can control them, the puppets.
"Though this never happened in old-fashioned theatre, this is not truly old-fashioned theatre. I shall shrink them that they shall be easier to defeat."

"It's not working." Harsemhin slumped to the floor, exhausted.
"Would Lyra Orphean Rhapsody work?" RG offered.
"No... not really," Harsemhin replied. "Lyra Orphean Rhapsody works only when healing someone still living; Cyan is dead. To try to use it on one already dead is nonsensical, as it could result in the user's death."
"Perhaps," TsuramiSea mused, "we need another approach."
"Huh?" Mike asked.
"Please explain," Kyle extended.
"I will. Anyway, since Phoenix Consumption, as I've heard, was based on one aspect of the Myth of the Phoenix, the fact that they burned themselves to death..."
Cirra snapped her fingers.
"The Prism Stellar variant would be based on another part of the myth."
"But what is the Myth of the Phoenix?" Matt asked.
"It's simple, Matt," Cirra answered. "The Phoenix was a mythical bird of fire. When it was about to die, it would build a nest and immolate itself in it. Later, the phoenix would be reborn out of ... out of the ashes!"
"Cirra?" Luna asked. "What are you thinking?"
"It's not Magnificent Reaper," she exclaimed giddily, "but Magnificent Rebirth!"
"Harsemhin!" Cyan yelled. "Can you try one last Stellar skill?"
"I'll try..." he replied.

"Are we now in a partial-negative world?" Lardna Minch asked.
"Perhaps," Mrs. Lee replied.
Picky and Tracy were sleeping in sleeping bags downstairs. The current events had quite exhausted them. Even if they hadn't, Lardna and Mrs. Lee would have made them sleep anyway. They were sleeping downstairs because the parents were afraid something might happen to them upstairs.
Aphrodite was busy brewing some oolong tea.
Venus looked out the window. Just like in the house, the world was arranged in alternating stripes of regular colours and their opposites.
"I wonder what this forebodes..." she mused, looking up at the sky. In one of the dark patches of sky, it stood as night. One bright point of light glimmered against the stark blackness. It was red. Mars.
Venus backed up.
"Mars..." she moaned.
"What, Venus?" Aphrodite asked, concerned.
"Nothing, mom," Venus replied. "I just saw something that reminded me of something I learned in my night school studies at Corness University in Fourside."
"Which class?" Lardna inquired, intrigued by this conversation. Partly because she knew Corness' reputation, and partly because she was a terrible gossip.
"Astronomy and Mythology. One class I distinctly remember concerned the planet Mars." Venus pointed to the fourth planet from the sun in the black patch of sky. "People once believed that if Mars was a very deep red, like it is now, battles or wars would be forthcoming. And it's very red now, so I expect the wars or battles have already started."
"Is this weird situation we're in a result of the troubles once said to be prophesied by Mars?"
"Quite possibly, Mrs. Lee. In fact, that superstition gave the planet Mars its very own god. The god of war."
Picky struggled awake.
"The god of war?" he asked.
"Nothing concerning you, Picky," Lardna argued. "Back to bed."

Harsemhin concentrated his heart and soul into this Stellar skill; it was imperative that it work. With Cyan's ashes as his focal point, Harsemhin clearly vocalized the four words that he hoped would bring their friend back to life.
"Rainbow Phoenix Magnificent Rebirth!"
Everyone drew a deep breath, in anticipation. For a few apprehensive moments, time seemed to stand still...
Harsemhin's outstretched palms suddenly gave off a brilliant white light. This light, as if affected by a prism, then shattered its glow into all of the colors of the rainbow. The people all around watched intently as this radiant glow formed into a rainbow-colored sphere, which moved ever so gently to the bottled ashes of Cyan, which were now on the ground. As this globe touched it, the bottle and it's contents burst into brilliant red flames that flared easily six feet up. Everyone jumped back in surprise, and the glow and flames subsided suddenly. As the flame died down, the bottle of ashes was clearly replaced by Cyan's body.
"Cyan!" exclaimed his close friends in unison. Harsemhin smiled at his success, as he began to lessen the gap between Cyan and himself. Siris did the same, and all of the others began to move closer as well.
"I'm a bit tired," Cyan explained. "But I suppose being dead will do that. I'm fine now."
Siris put his right hand on Cyan's shoulder. "I'm glad to have you back, Cyan."
"Yes," Harsemhin smiled. "As am I."
"Me too," Cirra nodded. And the others affirmed this as well.
This is definitely a good thing, Siris thought.
Matt leaned against a wall, eyes just lifted enough to watch the friends rejoicing. Although he was glad that Cyan was revived, he felt uneasy with his presence. Although he knew that Cyan's actions were being exteriorly influenced, he was still distrustful of the one who had brought him so close to death. Stepping forward, he addressed the group.
"I don't mean to be a party-pooper here, but I don't think we have the time for celebrations right now."
"Yeah, we kind of have the whole 'end of the world' thing happening now!" added Kyle.
"Your right." agreed Siris, motioning for the group's attention. "We need to think of a plan an action! Mani-mani's energy is transforming our world from reality to illusion. How are we going to stop this?"
"The way I handled it was just busting the statue to pieces..." said Ness, trailing off at the end of the sentence."
"We all origanally thought that the destruction of Mani-mani would end all this, but we were all at fault for that assumption." added Luna.
"We have to find out a new way to dissipate the illusions." said Cirra, pondering the possibilities.
"How are we going to eliminate such illusions?" asked Cyan. "They are so powerful!"
"I'm not sure..." answered Siris. "But I think that our only hope of finding the key is if we confront Raltise."
The others nodded, all save one. As the group walked out the door, Harsemhin stopped them.
"Siris...do you honestly think this is all Mani-Mani's energy? It just doesn't seem likely to me. We all saw him get destroyed. If Raltise IS behind this, he doesn't strike me as the type who would let others follow in his wake."
"Yeah, he's a real One-Man show," Luna said, laughing bitterly.
Cirra concurred with Harse's statement. "I don't think this is Mani-Mani either. He was completely unstable during his last moments. Unless all of his energy left him as he died, and is now ripping the worlds of reality and illusions to shreds, i think Raltise is obviously getting this illusion power from somewhere."
"Well, certainly not his muscles," Siris laughed, but Cirra silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"But where? Where would he be getting all this energy to create such powerful illusions?"
Matt rolled his eyes. "Oh, I don't know, maybe he's got six ancient temples somewhere that he's funneling power from, and they are truly the source of the Universes energy?"
Cyan blinked, and lifted his hand to say something, but thought better of it.
Harsemhin stared at Matt. "It may seem funny, but Raltise IS getting power from somewhere. Joking won't help us find it."
"So what IS our plan?" Cirra inquired.
Harsemhin looked at her for a few moments, and then stared away. "I don't know."

"Wait, temples?" Mike blinked slowly, as if contemplating something.
"Yes, temples." A voice responded to Mike's question.
"Wha?!" Mike looked around. The voice seemed to belong to-
"Yes, Mike, I'm you. Remember?"
The rest of the group looked at Mike as if he were crazy. Harsemhin looked at him. "Mike, are you okay?"
"Mike, temples. My, no our, temple is near this area. Go there, you may find a beginning to an answer." The voice stopped all of a sudden, and Mike blinked.
"Yeah... I'm... fine. I think. Perhaps we should go to... one of these temples that you speak of." Mike looked at Matt.
"You know, that'd be a good plan, but we don't know if there are any temples around here." Cirra looked into Mike's eyes, as if looking for something.
"Actually... that's not entirely true." Cyan started to speak. "There's a temple very near to this location. I believe that it's called 'Gulf Temple'. I brought Luna and Skulryk there earlier."
Skulryk looked shocked. "That's where I got thi- nevermind." He fingered his dagger delicately.
"Well Cyan, if you know where this temple is, then we might as well examine it." Harsemhin looked around. "Do you agree?"
"Yeah, I suppose so. Let's go. Lead on, Cyan." Cirra waited for Cyan to do something.
"Very well. Follow me." Cyan walked away from the city, towards the water.

"It's... underwater?" Harsemhin shuddered.
"What? Are you afraid of the water, Harsemhin?" Cirra asked.
"No, not really... it's just that the water could give Raltise the opening he needs to defeat us."
"Perhaps we should have some people remain up here, to guard against any attacks out of water, and others should go down to the temple," Tsurami offered.
"Who would be willing to do that, though?" RG asked.
"I'll stay dry," Harsemhin announced. "I'll remain on the bridge."
"I'll be going with Luna, no matter what," Siris disclosed.
"I might as well remain above ground. If I lose control of myself again, I could possibly kill you all if I were underwater," Cyan said.
Cirra spoke up. "I would much rather remain out of the water as well."
TsuramiSea announced a will to go underwater, as did Skulryk, Luna and Godeg. Ness, RG, Kyle and Matt also decided they wanted to go down to the temple.
Joe and Dan decided to remain abovewater.

Harsemhin and Cirra sat side by side on the Numbers Bridge, watching the group go underwater.
"Do you think we can win, Harse?" Cirra asked.
"Of course we can, Cirra."
Joe sat down beside them, his staff nearby.
"The world is depending on us. We have to win," he amended.
"The only way to help the world would be to defeat Raltise," Cyan added. "There's got to be some loss throughout this adventure. Hopefully, we can end it at Raltise."
"But will it be right if that happens?" Dan inquired. "After all, there were losses before we became involved." He thought back to the ragged ribbon he had seen only days ago.
"I don't think we should be viewing it on a basis of right or wrong," Cirra mused. "We should be viewing it on more of a shades of grey basis."
"Shades of grey?" Harsemhin was perplexed.
"It's not whether it's right or wrong," Joe explained. "It's whether it's more right or more wrong."
"Kind of like how you killed me back then," Cyan offered as an analogy.

"What are we supposed to be doing down here?" Siris asked.
Skulryk handled his dagger.
"Mike recommended it," he said, "so he should tell us why he brought us here."

"Ness told me he was thinking of this song when he visited me after this 'Googi' person was defeated," Venus explained. "I think I should sing this song to keep him in our minds..."
Picky and Tracy propped their heads up on their wrists. Mrs. Lee, Lardna and Aphrodite sat down in chairs.
"The children are not here, but all my memories are here, in my backpack," Venus sang. "My lucky baseball cap, my worn out sneakers.
"Deep in my pocket, my worn down guitar pick. There were things so sad that tears came, but you came to my side... every time...
"We thought we'd just be friends, but without realizing it, maybe I loved you..."
"Hooray!" Picky and Tracy clapped. "Go, Venus, go!"
"There was laughter, and we played, and while we got hurt we walked. Shortcuts, and long routes too, while we were lost, I remembered:
It doesn't mean there are only people who believe in you.
"I know only the heart you believe in can't be thrown away. As it is, only you made me stronger.
"You always make me strong, like a gentle breeze blowing, swaying the grass, you always walked around with a smile..."
Mrs. Lee wiped a tear from her eye, and joined in.
"So, tears and smiles, in turn, the two that came together again.... I miss you... we were very far apart..."
"Here." Aphrodite gave Mrs. Lee a Kleenex.
"Thanks, Aphrodite." Mrs. Lee loudly blew her nose.
Picky and Tracy had now begun singing the song Venus had sung for them. They enjoyed the melody; it reminded them of something.

Dan had wandered away temporarily to see the changes that had taken place due to the fusion of the two worlds. He took caution not to be noticed by the wayward flames and energetic street signs that now roamed around.
Someone sidled up to him.... a man with a coat wrapped around his head. "Are you looking for something to eat?" he asked in a hopeful voice.
"Er..." mumbled Dan.
Before Dan could finish responding, the man took off his shoe. "Here! You can have this!" Dan backed off and ran away as swiftly as he could.
Dan saw someone lying in the street. "Now what's going on here? Maybe he's playing dead to escape the insanity." He chuckled to himself. He neared the body, only to gasp in recognition. It was Rockwell!
Rockwell was quite a sight. He had dried blood all over him, and his clothes were somewhat ragged. His eyes had a strange depth to them, and it almost seemed as if they were looking inward. Rockwell's mouth was hanging open, and not a muscle of his body moved.
The sight prompted Dan to guess at what Rockwell's fate had been. Had someone attacked him and placed him in a state of shock? Was this illusory world simply too much for him? Was he free from Mani Mani?
Frozen by this thought, Dan had a realization. Mani Mani, for all purposes, was destroyed. Rockwell's mind should have returned. Unless that mind had been destroyed, and the departure of Mani Mani's will had left him a vegetable?
Dan dragged Rockwell over to the Numbers Highway. Harsemhin, Cirra, Cyan, and Joe all looked over and became nervous to see him pulling a prone body along. When he got close enough, they realised WHOSE body it was.
"That - that's Rockwell!" started Harsemhin. He took a close look at Rockwell's condition. "What on earth happened to him?!"
"I think Mani Mani's death left him without a mind," explained Dan.
"Not another casualty," sighed Cyan.
"But is he really dead?" Cirra asked, looking for a heartbeat or pulse. "Maybe there's still something we could do?"
"At least we have something to do now," said Joe. Cyan glanced at Joe for a moment, but then joined the others in looking over Rockwell.

That's right, down to the Gulf Temple, heard Mike in his mind. It was the voice of one of the other Mikes. There you can find something to help you.
But what's the nature of whatever we're looking for? asked Mike mentally, not knowing if he'd get an answer. Is it something to get rid of this illusion world? Is it more information?
It is something that will give you insight, towards the forces working against you, towards the powers that each one of you wields, and towards the nature of the multiple worlds. It may be hard to take in all at once, but your mind can handle it. You have a strong will.
But is it only meant for me?
The others will find their own insight. Don't worry, you're almost there. And so they were.

Dan looked at Rockwell. "The question is how we get his mind back...I doubt Mani would have directly corrupted it; No, that would cause too much interference. He created one without a conscious..."
"So..." Cyan said. Being dead himself at one point, he knew how it didn't feel to not be among the living. "He isn't dead, but how do we know his min still exists? It could have been destroyed or deleted when Mani's final mission was sent."
Cirra looked at the body. He'd be in a bad way if he had a mind, she thought to herself.
"Where would I hide a human mind if I was a psychotic paranoid omnipotent demon..." Dan mutteredto himself.
"Maybe..." Harsemhin thought back to what Mani had said shortly before he had plunged to his death. about the people haunting him...the ones he had killed...Maybe... "I've got it!" He yelled triumphantly. Several stop signs stared at him for a moment, then went about their daily work.
"Every time Mani killed someone, or ordered them killed," He explained, "Their mind, their conscious, haunted him...went inside him...He had basically killed Rockwell...The only thing that remained was his physical form..." "So Rockwell is, or was, Mani Mani?" Joe asked.
"Correct. A part of him, that is...but what happened to those spirits when Mani died?"
The group all said the same name. "Raltise."