THE MOMENT
Before Oz could pose a question, a flash of black covered his vision. His mind was confused as to whether he blinked or not; but, suddenly the park was slightly different. The trees were taller than moments ago; the portal and the pale woman were gone. He turned to ask Astra but she was on her feet pulling his arm and yelling.
"RUN!" she screamed. She ran forward down the path with Ben at her side; Oz followed. He had a rough few first steps. Obsidian darkness flashed over his eyes with every other step. It wasn't until Oz noticed that Astra was looking back after every black flash that he realized what was happening. Every few steps, Astra was taking them to another universe. Oz had a million questions, but at the moment, he trusted Astra more than he trusted himself.
Before Astra revealed the multiverse, Oz might have been tempted to try and fight the strange woman. He was a relatively new recruit with the organization; but, all his training told him he was a powerful magical combatant. Astra's reflexive flight at the stranger's appearance hinted to Oz that he wouldn't stand a chance. After another black flash, Astra halted. Oz ran into her, but managed to slow himself enough not to topple them over.
"Estrellita, you know you can't run from me," a now familiar voice said. Oz would never forget that voice for the rest of his life; and, it was burned into his brain mostly based on secondhand terror. He had no idea who she was. But, he knew that they ran through at least seven alternate universes; and, somehow she was waiting for them.
"Please don't hurt him, Ballisea!" Astra yelled. She stood in front of Oz and spread her arms wide to defend him. Ballisea's obsidian eyes flitted to Oz, then back to Astra. She sighed with disappointment.
"Little one, if I was going to hurt that Zero, I wouldn't have let you take him for a walk. I happened to overhear your conversation, and it sounded like that Earth could use a little shake-up, hmm? Maybe do away with those kidnappers? I really could use the entertainment." Astra stepped forward and tilted her head at the horned woman.
"Are.. you.. asking me?" she asked. "For... permission?" Ballisea sighed.
"For reasons I don't feel like explaining, yes," she said with a nod.
"No way!" Astra yelled. She was so excited she jumped in place. "This is because your team lost, isn't it?" she asked. "EVERYONE saw that game; this is why the stakes were kept private, isn't it?" she asked with a broad grin; and, standing closer to Ballisea than Oz would have liked. Ballisea stared at Astra expectantly, but did not answer the question. "I won't give you permission if you don't answer me," she said. Ballisea narrowed her eyes at Astra for a moment, then nodded.
"No. This is not related to the stakes of that game," she said. "This is related to the stakes of the next game."
"The next game?" Astra asked. "But.. your team... kinda died...?" she said.
"I'm building a new one," Ballisea replied.
"Can I-?"
"No," Ballisea cut off Astra's request.
"Oh. Okay," Astra nodded, then she looked at Oz.
"Is it okay if she kills all your bosses?" she asked him. Oz replied with a dazed nod. Astra turned back to Ballisea.
"JUST the evil organization. Take your skeletons and leave that Earth alone once they're gone. I have family there; if you hurt them or any other innocents there, you break the terms," Astra said. Ballisea nodded.
"Agreed. I'll leave in peace. Once I finish," Ballisea said. Then, she dissipated into a black mist that disappeared.
"What the hell just happened?" Oz asked. “First, we're running for our lives.. then you're giving her orders?" Astra shrugged and smiled.
"Everyone knows that the game is only fun if people follow the rules."