Paul and Starfruit both ordered a large cheese stuffed-crust pizza. Paul would have ordered a pepperoni pizza but they didn't have any. "They don't have any meat products in this dimension." Starfruit said. "Why, and why do they call the reality I come from the third dimension?"
Starfruit giggled, "Because it is the third dimension, silly boy! The first and second dimension exist beneath yours and this is the fourth dimension where most anthropomorphic mammals, reptiles, and avians--like me--reside. Each dimension follows its own laws of science and metaphysics."
"Like what?" Paul asked.
"People here can levitate themselves, read each others thoughts, control the four elements with their minds--stuff humans haven't fully evolved to do yet. Manipulation of matter via thought or alteration of your own DNA are two of them." Starfruit replied.
Paul had a clueless look on his face. "In my reality scientists are working on technology to read each other's thoughts. Scientists have discovered how to edit DNA before an embryo is even born. They don't even have the technology to alter genetics after birth!"
"Yes, you humans need technology to do a few of the things we do here without any aid from technology." Starfruit said. "Humans haven't even yet touched their true potential and you think of yourselves as hotshots for all your tech toys." She smiled, "Not that you humans are stupid or anything, just haven't progressed that far yet."
"But if the laws of physics of the third dimension prevents us from doing so, how can we make it that far?"
Starfruit said, "There are two ways. The first way is by reincarnation. If you learned the right kind of life lessons and paid off some of your karmic debts, you will be reborn here as one of our people."
"Ugh!" Paul groaned. "I am not ready to die yet, I have a full life ahead of me! But your dimension is for more cooler. I wish I could be here sooner than that."
"Hmm, there is a second way but that only happens once every several tens of thousands of years. But lucky for you--it is going to happen in about a few years--give or take."
"What is it?" Paul asked.
"It is a planetary ascension."
"Like those New Agers say?" Paul said cynically. "Those guys are nut jobs! They go on with stories about Sirius being our true sun, blonde extraterrestrials upgrading our DNA, and how the Illuminati has been defeated by some kind of galactic federation!"
"Take what they say with a grain of salt, boy." Starfruit said. "No, Sirius is an important star and the brightest in the night sky; but it is certainly not YOUR sun. the mysterious Illuminati is real; but they are certainly not defeated. They sometimes make deals with fourth dimensional beings. Heck, they have even threatened Jasmine about interfering with their plans. And no extraterrestrial can upgrade your DNA to a fourth dimensional basis, the only thing that can upgrade your DNA is the combination of ascension energy and YOUR OWN EFFORTS to strengthen your chakras and spiritual energies. It'll take time, work, and patience but it will be rewarding, believe me on that one." She looked behind and saw Prince Oregano looking at a menu and from time to time glancing up at them. "Better keep our voices low, Prince Snoops their is spying on us."
"But he doesn't look like he's going to cause us trouble. What do you have against him anyway?" Paul asked.
"That is a story I'll tell you some other time, kiddo." she replied. No sooner than she said that, a green dragoness with green scales with yellow horns and yellow underbelly entered the restaurant. She sat down next to Oregano and began to discuss something with him with serious looks on their faces. "Whatever they are talking about must be concerning." Starfruit said. "Especially for your reality because Rosemary is a ley finder."
"That's Rosemary? She's Jasmine's girlfriend!" Paul said.
"Yeah, dragon society is cool about same sex marriage; heck, they are even okay with husbands and wives being married to more than one spouse." She replied.
"You mean polygamy is legal here!" Paul gasped. "Doesn't that require a ton of responsibility to tend to each spouses needs and lots of children to care for?"
"You'd better believe it." Starfruit answered. "Yet, dragons have been successful in that department. They have perfected marriage in more than one way." The door opened again and a humanoid female orca in a black business suit entered the pizzeria and sat in front of Rosemary and Oregano and joined the conversation. "Now that is serious, especially where you live." the toucan observed. "That whale woman is Mayor Blacktide; the mayor of Solar Plex City--the town we are in. She has been mayor for ten years." There was a loud crash and right through the wall was a black ox-headed spider. Customers screamed. Mayor Blacktide raised a trident at it and shot a bolt of electricity. The spider got zapped and vanished into black smoke. Two more arrived. "We need to get you outta here!" Starfruit cried.
Paul remembered his whistle. "This whistle will transport me back home."
He was about to blow it when Starfruit pulled it away from him. "Who gave this to you?"
"A magician named Prof. Carnegie."
"That magician is a wanted criminal." Starfruit exclaimed. "If you blew that whistle; you would have ended up in the rakshasa world. Prof. Carnegie is notorious for luring people to said realities as a way to eliminate obstacles to anyone who hire him."
"So he is some kind of mercenary." Paul asked. She nodded
"Having a good time, Paul?" the boy nervously looked up and saw Mira standing over top of him with her hands on her hips. "When I get you home, you will have a lot of explaining to do!" She unsheathed her sword and attacked a spider ox with stunning grace. Paul wished he could fight like her; but he had no weapon. An anthro blue jay woman was throwing orbs at the monsters. She took refuge where they kids were hiding.
"Pardon, but what is a human doing here?" she asked.
"I was tricked." Paul said miserably.
"I know a way to get you back to your dimension." she said kindly.
"I just wish I could fight the monsters."
"There is a way you can." the blue jay replied. She handed him a pouch. "It is filled with the orbs of Shiva and it constantly refills after you use one up. Take it, and don't worry about me, I always carry a spare." she said. "The name's Stella Sky by the way. Now hand on tight to me!" Paul gripped on tightly. She closed her eyes and the next moment, found himself on the front porch of his house. Starfruit was with them but in their reality. "You alright, kid?" Stella asked. Paul nodded. "Maybe after school you could practice with those orbs. Ta ta! Maybe we'll meet again!" she vanished.
Starfruit smiled at him. "Next time we meet, let's make it a date. How about in a few weeks? Will the fourteenth do?"
"But that's Valentines Day!" Paul exclaimed.
"Yep, the ideal day for a first date. See yah, later!" Starfruit too vanished.
Mira came back. Paul apologized to her over and over again. She sighed, "I can tell you are sorry. How about this, if you ever go to another reality again, I will hire an ethereal babysitter to watch you for a month because I can't have you sneak off to dangerous places without me knowing. But if you ask my permission, you may go freely on your own as long as you get back before the day is over because I don't know if you've been kidnapped or worse."
"Yes, ma'am." Paul said. The two embraced (though Paul couldn't really feel her).
He entered the house with his grandpa waiting for him in his easy chair. "So how was your day?"
Paul smiled, "It was a good one."

End of Chapter

PS Some of the topics mentioned here is loosely based off of stuff I personally learned during my spiritual journey since 2019. I'm not a New Ager but I do believe in multiple dimensions, in-between realities where dark creatures lurk (rakshasas and asuras) and that the earth is going through a planetary ascension. Just thought I should share that with you guys. I have been meaning to get that off my chest for a while. I am spiritual but not religious. Thank you and enjoy the story!