When Darren arrived in the past, he hadn't intended on getting in a fight immediately. That changed when the kits ran into trouble, Darren and his friends battling a group of teenagers before a most unexpected event occurred. Unable to help himself, the teen now hugged Tatsu tightly. "You're alive!"
Tatsu paused, confused by this teenage boy as he now studied his surroundings. It had been an odd morning for the kitsune lord. One moment he was in his home, the next moment he had found himself in the forest with more than 200,000 of his people. Tatsu, nor his fellow kitsune understood how they found themselves in that situation. All the celestial kitsune understood was that someone was attempting to summon him. Arriving in a forest clearing, Tatsu was surprised to see a group of magical teenagers in battle.
"Grandpa!"
Tatsu paused, stunned as a red and black kit now kept at him, squeezing him in a hug. "Grandpa I missed you," Raiden sobbed, the kit clinging to his neck. Still confused, Tatsu now studied the teenagers before him before speaking. "I am unsure of what is transpiring," he stated. "However, I believe it best we find somewhere to talk."
Tatsu now turned to Nat, the kitsune recalling a conversation he recently had with Akira and his training of a dhamphir. "We have not met before young one but I know of your master," he said. "Inform Akira of what has happened. I'll shall contact you shortly." With a flick of his wrist, Tatsu now vanished with Darren and the others, leaving Nat and her friends bewildered.
The explanation Tatsu now listened was astounding but, not out of the realm of possibility. The kitsune learned of Darren and his friends traveling through time, hoping to save a future that had been destroyed by an organization known as the Normal. What no one could explain though was how Tatsu and more than 200,000 kitsune had ended up in the middle of the forest. "I have no idea how that happened Tatsu," Darren stated.
"Could it have anything to do with this Normal you have spoken about," Tatsu asked. "You stated they had attacked my people in your future." Darren rubbed his chin, he couldn't be sure. The Normal certainly had the magic to accomplish something like this but why? "Maybe but I don't know why they would do that."
"Maybe we should just go to the land of the kitsune," Misaki stated. "This many kitsune in the human world can't be safe."
"Agreed," Tatsu stated. "However, I am having difficulty opening the portal." Darren balked, how could Tatsu have trouble entering his own homeland? "How is that even possible," he asked. "The magic I've sensed appears to need a second to unlock the door to my kingdom," Tatsu said. "I believe together we can open the portal." Darren nodded, the kitsune and Catalyst now focusing as a doorway between the world's began to open. Sighing in relief, Darren and Tatsu stepped through, completely shocked by what they saw.
Darren gazed at the kitsune homeland. It appeared exactly as it did when he visited the last time, still rebuilding from the Normals attack. Signs of construction were everywhere, confused kitsune gazing at the portal in wonder. As they saw their beloved and deceased leader step through there were gasps of shock and cheers of joy. A wave of euphoria rising amongst the populace as they rushed everywhere.
"Was wondering when you were going to show up."
Darren turned, gasping in shock as he stared at Evan Harris, the former dark wizard looking tired as a smile cracked across his face. "Evan," he exclaimed. "How!?"
"Wasn't easy," Evan sighed. "Morgan and I felt reality shifting and cast a spell protecting the kitsune. We've been waiting for you ever since."
"Does that mean Morgan is here too?"
A sad expression now washed over Evan's face, Darren understanding that Morgan did not survive. "I'm sorry." Evan nodded, the two wizards now watching as Tatsu stepped forward, other kitsune stepping through the portal, obviously confused by what they saw. "Darren," Evan asked. "What's going on?"
"I have no idea," Darren said softly. "I found them in the forest. Did you do this?" Evan shook his head, at first confused before his eyes widened in surprise. "Holy shit it makes sense!"
"What? What makes sense?'
"When you traveled to the past," Evan stated. "Our spells overlapped. I protected the kitsune when reality altered and when you arrived in the past you were able to bring the kitsune that died in the Normal attack with you."
"Are you telling me I resurrected the dead!"
"No," Evan stated. "More like merge the past and the future. The kitsune kingdom may be from your future but you being in the past allowed the kitsune from that time to come here." Darren nodded, watching as the kitsune of the past now reunited with family who thought them dead. Thr most joyous of these reunions being Tatsu and his family.
Shizen and her children gasped, their eyes wet with tears as they sprinted towards Tatsu. As they now swarmed the celestial kitsune, Darren let out a contented sigh. Maybe they had a chance to stop the Normal.