~.The Guardian.~

The people look at me strangely. I pay them no mind. I keep my sword pointed to the ground as I walk to find the extension of the Energy Border. I pass by tall buildings, modern civilians, and a generally more modern world than the Number Kingdom. This world as well as the Number, Monster, and other Kingdoms all make up the entirety of the Energy Territory, and I intend to protect all of it. 

Small children approach me. Their mothers pull them away. Adolescent Energy Beings approach me, wanting to poke and prod but unable to bring themselves to do so. Adults merely watch, confused and alarmed. They part before me as though I am a dangerous thing. 

I pay them no mind.

Soon, I sense an entourage of Energy Beings following me, wanting to see where I go. One of the small children succeeds in approaching me. He reaches up and touches the armor on my leg and then quickly pulls his hand away. Seeing that I will do nothing dangerous to him, the child stays close to me, even going so far as to clinging me from time to time.

The Border is far. Past the end of the city and into the wilderness before the first small town I travel. The others do not travel with me past the city borders; only the child follows. We go through small towns, large cities, suburbs, and wilderness. We travel for days and nights. While the child stops and eats, I wait patiently because his safety is now my responsibility. With one hand carrying my sword and the other carrying the sleeping child is how we travel by night. He does not complain about sore feet.

"What are you, child?" I ask one day during our travels. 

"My mother says I'm an abomination," the child replies. "Do you know what I am?"

I nod. Years of dealing with the child of the red hands has taught me what a hybrid feels like. "You are a hybrid of a regular Energy Being and a Number, child, and hybrids are typically treated as you have been." I turn my gaze to him. "If your feet hurt, I will carry you. You seem to be limping."

The child looks down sheepishly. Then, after a moment, he lifts his arms up to be carried. With one hand, I pick him up. "What is your name?"

"Ashi." The answer is immediate. "What about you, mister?"

"You may call me the Guardian."

"Okay!"

We travel for a few more days before I stop, set Ashi down, and plant my sword on the true Border of the Energy Territory. Here I stay for many days and nights. Ashi keeps me company the entire time. 

~.Astral/Nova.~

The Number Kingdom has been showing major signs of destruction. The Numbers have been sensing this for a while, but Blackie was the first to know. We've had no luck finding the lost item; at this rate, the Number Kingdom may fall. 

"It will not fall," Blackie whispers to me with finality as we help other Numbers settle into the extra chambers. Lately, it's become much too cold for everyone to stay in their homes, so the castle is open to them since it has proper insulation. 

"Blackie, in only a few days since you first sensed the fall, a strong winter has settled. Even Coal and Ichigo cannot stand it," I hiss. 

"Then we will hurry to find the lost item before the fall happens."

"But how?"

Blackie falls silent, but I know he intends to keep searching. I do not know why, though. None of the secret chambers hold the item. We've checked multiple times for days, and still, there was nothing. I'm afraid that this world will die. 

"How about we take a walk to clear your mind?" Blackie suggests when we finish. He calls a servant to bring us our thick cloaks, boots, and gloves. The ground is much too cold to put our bare feet on at this time.

"Where do you suggest we go?" I ask as we make our way to our room to take off the capes.

"Out to the Border. Maybe the Guardian knows something we do not."

I nod. It's a good idea, especially since the Guardian has been around for longer than any of us. Maybe he can remember how it looks, at the very least. Once we put our warm clothing on, we set out to see what the Guardian knows.

We walk in silence. It's comfortable silence between us as the snow falls continuously. I pull my hood closer down my eyes to protect myself from the freezing flakes. After a long while, we arrive at the Border.

"He isn't here," I breathe. 

Blackie doesn't say anything. He just stares at the place the Guardian once stood. "He left somewhere. He couldn't have gone anywhere beyond the Border, though. He bound himself here."

I look up at the world beyond this Border. "Maybe he went to the other side. We should go check."

We cross the Border together and arrive at the clearing where the Guardian tried to stop me. Blackie grabs my hand and guides me quickly through the forest. It's snowing here, too, which is strange. It's almost as if the Number Kingdom and this place are connected. I ignore it, though. Right now, we have to find the Guardian. 

The first city we arrive in is the main city, where all the industrial places and big businesses are. There are also a few people living here, but it isn't exactly ideal. We continue on since this place clearly isn't where the Guardian is. I myself can sense him. He's farther from here, closer to my town than here.

"He's by the town I used to live in," I tell Blackie. "We should check there."

Blackie nods. "Good idea. Here, we should travel by air to be quicker." He picks me up under my arms, grows wings out of his back out of ooze, and flies me across the various cities and towns. At this rate, we'll be there in less than a day.