I’m kind of impressed with the fact that I remember how to get back to the dock from Don Tom’s house. It’s such a peaceful little clearing surrounding the dock, you never would’ve guessed that I should’ve died twice here. As I make my way up the ramp, I contemplate my next course. I’ve never really been one to make plans, so I never bothered figuring out where I’d go. Should I charge straight for the center? Should I go to the edge and spiral inwards? Should I just pick a random direction and see where that takes me? Actually, yeah. That sounds like the best idea. Figure it out in the moment. Go with the flow.

I reach the top. There’s a few planets I can see clearly from here. The closest one is a small, mostly green orb, with veins of brown and blue. I had no idea Ninia could look so small! As much as I love home, that way is an obvious no. I turn around. A ways off, I see a deep blue orb, with speckles of a sandy brown color all over it. That might be interesting. No clue what planet that is. In another direction even further off, I see a small red dot. I have no idea what’s going on there. Maybe I’ll check it out after that neat-looking blue planet.

Alright, blue planet it is. Let’s go!

I jump up, and I’m off!

~~~

After last time, I’m a bit more comfortable swimming through the aether. You just glide on through! To turn left, you wave your left hand out. To turn right, you wave your right hand out. The harder you flail your hand, the harder you turn. To slow down, wave both hands evenly. I guess having one awkward near-death experience was all I needed to get the hang of this.

There’s already much bigger life between Arbnia and this other world. Maybe because there’s more space for it to cultivate? This distance is much further of a swim. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen this planet from mine. Or if I have, it was too small in the sky for me to notice it. Either way, the life here is so much bigger than I’ve previously seen. Off to my left, a very spherical-looking creature a little smaller than my own body is slowly sliding through a large school of vibrantly-colored fish, each fish about the size of my thumb. Off to my right, a cluster of green, almost fluffy-looking vines covered in pink and yellow flowers is spinning in place.

Aether life is so cool.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

While I’m distracted, a bright blue fish about half the size of my head rams me in the face. After a moment of absolute disorientation, I grab it with both hands. This little guy was paying no attention to where it was going! It squirms desperately in my hands, but with every wiggle, my grip tightens. Shouldn’t a fish in the aether know that it’s dangerous to run around with no awareness of its surroundings?

Speaking of which, I’m suddenly getting that distinct feeling of the hairs standing up on the back of your neck that you get when someone’s looking at you.

That’s weird, I think, nobody’s here.

I look around, to confirm that it is just me. Just me, this fish in my hand, and the spherical creature from before, behind my back, sliding directly towards me with hunger in its eyes.

Oh.

Suddenly I realize that it isn’t looking at me- it’s looking at the fish in my hand! And then, I get a fantastic idea. Or maybe a horrible idea.

Well, only one way to find out.

I flip upside down, still tightly holding the fish with both hands, straight out from my head. As Mr. Sphere rapidly approaches, I brace myself for impact. It’s getting closer and closer, until…

Chomp!

Not letting go of the fish, I feel my body slam into its back. On impact, I wrap my legs around it as tightly as I can. I let go of the fish, and wrap my arms around where I assume its neck must be, given the position of its face.

Perhaps out of an understanding of the trade deal I just proposed, Mr. Sphere does not slow down. Instead, it’s making a line straight for the blue planet, still so far in the distance.

Operation Sphere Ride was an astounding success. Who needs a boat when you can have a fish-eating friend? Igby is honestly such a sucker for staying back. This is amazing! Especially because I was just starting to get fatigued. Now I get to just chill out on the back of my new best friend, Mr. Sphere. Or at least, chill out as much as you really can when holding on for dear life.

~~~

As we approach the blue planet, it’s much easier to make out the details. The sandy-brown speckles are all actually islands, with the blue color being ocean. Some of the islands have small, green forests in the center, but most of them are just sand. I wonder why there doesn’t seem to be much plant life? This is such a stark contrast to Arbnia, which is almost completely covered in trees. Since I’m feeling a little hungry, I gently pull Mr. Sphere’s head to steer it towards the largest island, which has the most forest. Hopefully, there will be something good to eat there. Like puapols.

We get a bit closer, and I feel that pull again, like what happened when I crash-landed on Arbnia. But this time, Mr. Sphere slows down, not going any closer. It’s almost at a stop, and nods its head, gesturing for me to get off. I scritch behind the little hole on the side of its head, which I’m assuming is its ear, to show my gratitude. And then I carefully slide off its back.

Alright, let’s try this again.