Chapter 1
Introduction & Volume One
A Study of the Age Regression Universe:
Introduction & Volume One
As a Traveler of the MultiVerse, I came to believe I had seen it all. I was proven wrong when I stopped in a cozy little universe for a coffee and a muffin.
As I was enjoying my treat, I watched as a waitress, the daughter of the cafe’s owner, was hit with a water balloon, splashing her outfit in purple-dyed water. Not a single soul seemed bothered by the sudden turn of events; even the waitress continued, despite her soaking-wet attire.
I tried to put this event out of my mind and continue with my break. It didn’t take long for me to notice the oddity happening in real time; the waitress, who was about 21, was rapidly altering!
I watched with practiced control as the waitress went from a young woman to a child roughly six and a half years old. Not only did she lose mature bodily features, but her current outfit of kakis, comfortable work shoes, and a perch, long-sleeve shirt morphed into a cute, but stereotypically “waitress” costume.
This entire event was truly bizarre, but the truly shocking part came when the other customers weren’t affected by this sudden change; they treated the former adult like she was playing pretend. Another waitstaff member came over to the regressed girl and began following her around, basically doing the work while the now-child continued her game of pretend.
I had traveled the multiverse for over 25 years and had endured things that would drive most into a complete mental breakdown. But what I just saw left me feeling a sense of uneasiness I haven’t felt in over two decades.
I decided I needed to clear my head and headed to an outdoor concert event.
I chose a poor location to try and ease my troubled thoughts.
Not long after the band began their performance, I witnessed the event I had seen just an hour earlier repeat itself, only on a larger scale. I watched, with growing horror, as many people randomly returned to childlike states. Unlike the event with the waitress, people's attire didn’t change with them, and they were aware of their changes, most panicking, some still trying to enjoy the show while holding their oversized attire.
I left the park, but unease gave way to curiosity. One isolated event was a random event by travelers' standards. But for the same event to happen in rapid succession couldn’t be classified as random any longer.
With that in mind, I launched an investigation into the nature of this abnormality.
My search didn’t take long; using the tools I acquired from many years of multiversal travel, I located the source causing the abnormality. I wasn’t surprised to find a microscopic tear in the fabric of this universe.
What confounded me was how the universe was responding to the multiversal energy leaking into it.
In most cases of energy of the multiverse leaking into a universe, the result was that the universe didn’t take steps to try to mend the tear until it grew beyond control. However, this world was taking steps to ensure stability.
This had brought an unusual partnership between this world and the energy leaking into it. The world itself had become a place where regression on a physical and mental levels are common place.
Curious about the unusual turn of events, I decided to continue with my investigation to gauge the level of this change.
My investigation quickly revealed much, from the mystical fountain itself to advanced scientific equipment. There are even more bizarre takes, like a cooking powder that, if too much was spilled on a person, would regress them.
Now thoroughly invested in my research, I chose to continue my studies into this Age Regression Universe.
From this point forward, I will divide my findings into two volumes so as not to create cross-confusion.
(Volume 1)
For my long-time studies, I had chosen the small, country town of Amber Ridges, and no, I didn’t misspell the “Amber”. I had chosen this area because it focused on both the supernatural and scientific approach this universe is settling into.
My focus will be on two mystical items that have entered into this town’s ecological system: the mysterious Wishing Well, or as I had labeled it, the Well of Innocence, as well as its counterpart, the Youth Stone, and those whom these items have affected.
(The Wishing Well/Well of Innocence)
This item works on a “mokney paw” logic, but without the curel twisted these types of items usual brings. However, the Well's true goals are still hidden in mystery; even with all my equipment, I can’t get a full analysis on it.
What I have learned from my research is that the Well appears to those who are emotionally distressed, granting their desire by regressing the target, and in most incidents, the wisher.
The well also possesses several abilities to make its task easier. The most notable is erasing itself from its user's short-term memory, leaving the wisher unable to recall anything about the well. Interestingly, the well can move, moving to different locations in the blink of an eye.
The well also creates blind spots for those affected by it; anyone not immediately connected to the family of the wisher wouldn’t perceive any sort of anomalies. I suspect this is to give the wisher the “reset” to enjoy their new childhood.
(The Youth Stone)
In a sense, the Youth Stone operates under similar principles as the Wishing Well: it regresses a target and creates mental blind spots. However, the stone has three key differences that set it apart from its counterpart.
The specific difference is that the stone is a tool; it could be used by anyone who holds it. That means anyone of questionable morals could operate it, as it could grant anyone who holds it the knowledge needed to use it. Its next trait is near-indestructible; no matter how many times its reluctant guardian tries to destroy it, the stone will quickly reform and find ways to create more chaos. The stone would also escape its guardian from time to time, suggesting it has some form of intelligence.
Research is still ongoing on whether the Well and Stone have a prior connection or if it is merely a coincidence that their abilities line up.
(Re-Parenting)
On the surface, Re-Parenting serves as a non-profit counseling group meant to help unexpected parents. The group, however, has a second purpose: creating a support network meant to help those who find themselves at the center of a regression event.
In this sense, the group had created a way to avoid suspicion, as they had others to support and give support when needed.
Here’s a summary of Re-Parenting’s important staff.
(The Joneses)
The Jones family has the earliest encounter with the Well of Innocence, when they twenty-five-year daughter, Miranda, used it to gain a connection with her five-year-old sister, Heather.
The father, Ivo, was the driving force behind the formation of Re-Parenting, having been a planning manager for his company for nearly 15 years. Ivo is also a warm and inviting man; others tended to gravitate toward him due to his open nature.
The mother, Joan, despite her age, lacks some social cues but is just as warm and inviting to others around her. She is also a natural with children, not surprising since one of her early jobs was working with children.
Mindy and Heather are the Joneses’ young daughters. Mindy was originally a twenty-five-year-old woman until her encounter with the Well. Now she’s a happy six-year-old (later seven-year-old) child, easily bonding with her younger sister.
Despite being a regressed child with a matching mindset, Mindy can help out with planning events, though in a childish fashion.
(The White-Doves)
The White-Dove family has the earliest encounter with the Youth stone, and since that time, Kevin, the single parent of the household, has become a reluctant keeper of the item.
For his part, Kevin is a loving father to his two daughters and a steadfast partner in the “Re-parenting” group, as his role as an accountant helps to keep the group from running into any problems due to being a non-profit.
The stone, in an ironic turn, granted Kevin a deep desire, as a childhood injury made him unable to have children with anyone. So, the man of Indian/Italian descent took pressure in having children to raise.
Kevin's two daughters, Lissie (Age seven) and Jenny (Age five), both shared a history with the man. Originally, Lisabeth was Kevin’s wife of 12 years before Kevin’s co-worker, Jennifer, used the stone in an unhinged scheme to get Kevin for herself. The plan backfired, and now both children are under Kevin’s care, with Lissie being two years older than her new sister, helping to keep the bratty girl under control.
(The Rokks)
The Rokk family, successful business owners, has another run-in with the Age Stone, completely changing the very dynamic of their home life. The single father, Chris, like most others in their encounter with the stone, had taken this change in stride.
Chris, like most, had to navigate the chaos that suddenly one find themselves as a single father to four children, and one preteen. However, unlike most, he takes a loose, whimsical tone with this change, like filming his oldest child when he caught her dancing during her younger siblings' band practices.
Chris’s role in “re-Parenting” is the face of the group. His role as an independent store owner and organizer of local events had given him a vast connection to the larger town. This had him acting quickly when receiving news of regression events.
Brandy Rokk was at first Chris’s loving wife until her encounter with the Age Stone regressed her into a girl in her preteens. She kept her warm, loving nature, but now focused on daughterly affection and sisterly teasing.
The Little Guardians is the name of Chris’ four children's musical band. The band was originally called Warguard-X, and the band members were ages 20 through 18 until bathing in the regression light of the stone.
The group, now around the ages of seven through 4, acts as a novelty band doing the rounds in their towns for charity events.
The band's main vocalist is Gloria Rokk, formerly 18, now five, lead the group with energy only a child could have. The lead guitarist is Glenn, formly Gloria twin brother, now her older brother by a year. On bass is Amanda, foster sister (now adopted by the Rokks), who is the oldest at seven when she was previously seventeen. Finally, the band’s drummer is Gloria and Glenn’s cousin, Martin, a twenty-year-old who became the youngest at four years old.
(Closing thoughts)
I will end this volume with a warning; if the Well of Innocence and the Youth Stone are the positive aspects of this universe, then my next findings, which I will publish in my next volume, will have a detailed explanation of the negative aspect of this Age-Regression Universe…Youth-trafficking.
From the research notes of Donald William Blacklight.
(G Corner)
And with this, I finished the first leg of my AR-Verse storyline I started nearly three years ago. Be warned, however, when I next return to this idea, the stories following it will be darker than my previous entries.
