Zephrun’s Imperium

Astral hissed loudly and snapped, making her clothes dry. "Why you impertinent little orb!" she cried. Sophie would have giggled had she not been so shocked with terror. "If you think that that girl is going to be able to do anything to be able to help Xino, you're kidding yourself. He is a marvelous warrior. Last time, I watched him fall, but I shall not do so again." She smirked, looking at her nails. "Besides," she said, "I happen to have a sort of control over the withergeists. You need my help. Don't you agree, Sophie?" Sophie sat up. "Aqua..." she said. "We could use the help. And... I'd rather be on her side than against her." Astral chuckled. "Do I scare you, little one?" "Yes..." Sophie muttered as she got to her feet. Astral's grin widened, revealing slightly sharpened teeth. "Good."

Astral was faster than she should have been. She knew exactly where she was going and exactly what she wanted to do. Perhaps it was determination that got her where she wanted to be. Whatever the case, Sophie's bare blue heels were quickly within her sight. Or, well, "sight" was an interesting term. She didn't have eyes in this form, but she could... sense things. Say what you will about TVG, she was a very giving woman. Such power was a priceless gift and Astral was forever grateful for it. Astral slithered through the prickly grass (she hated the stuff, but she was so close and she wanted to surprise the girl...) and began slowly sliding up Sophie's ankle... ------------- Sophie shivered. Something slimy was touching her foot. Was it a slug? She didn't like slugs... She lifted her foot.... And screamed. Never had she screamed so loud before. Her cry was long, loud, and shill, and sent a flock of birds flying from the trees in which they perched. She shook her foot, trying to get the disgusting black substance off of her, but ended up tripping and falling backwards. She watched in horror as the black stuff began to boil and formed into the shape of a woman. Astral herself. The Queen of Shadows, manifestation of the beauty of brokenness and power. Specifically, Star's brokenness and power. Sophie, of course, screamed louder and tried to scramble backwards. But then, as Astral laughed to herself, Sophie felt something... something odd. Something... awful. She found that she couldn't feel her hands moving as the tried pushing herself away from the Queen. It was like... something was being pulled out of her. She felt her head fall against the ground and her vision blurred. What in the world was happening? Was she going to die? She was going to die. Oh, Shards. She was going to die right here. Killed by her own sister. She tried to scream again for Aqua, but found she could only whimper. Author above, she'd never imagined going out this way!! More was sucked out of her and she faintly felt Astral's mental presence. Whatever she was doing, she was extremely happy about. Sophie squirmed on the ground, trying desperately to escape. Xino... needs me! she thought. Xino... I can't... can't die. He needs me... But she couldn't even move. She closed her eyes, feeling tears drip down her cheeks, but then... The awful feeling halted. Her vision cleared. What... why... No. She didn't have time to think why. She had to slow down and calm herself. Astral was probably gone by now, she could slow down and- Cold fingers touched her shoulders. When she opened her eyes, Astral was kneeling beside her, holding her down. She opened her mouth to scream again, this time sobbing as well, but Astral clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, you quiet down," she hissed. Sophie whimpered. Again. Astral's silver eyes were terrifying. "You're looking for Xino?" she asked. Sophie nodded weakly. Astral's face... fell? She looked conflicted. Almost... distressed. She looked away. "Well, then you'll need some help." Sophie's eyes widened. "W-w-w-wha... wha..." "Don't stutter," Astral growled. "Why?" Sophie finally forced out. "Because it's unbecoming," Astral said with a glare. "But... why... Xino?" "He's an old friend," Astral said softly. Then, almost to herself. "One that might actually deserve a happy ending." She stood, then glanced at Aqua. "I trust your pet won't give me any trouble?"

*eyes widen* OKAY, I REALLY WANT ASTRAL TO FEED ON SOPHIE'S FEAR! *grins* You guys will love this, there's a twist involved... But Astral has to get to her before the withergeists do. Astral stretched her arms over her head. She wanted to do something. She wanted to feed. And she just happened to know a little blue girl who might be fun to torment. An evil grin on her face, she melted to sludge and began to make her way to her little sister.

Too... late? Sophie thought. What would that mean for her? What if... what if she had to see Xinoehp dead? Worse, what if she arrived just in time to see him die? She felt her heart begin to ache. That possibility was still quite hard for her to picture. Xinoehp was so much larger than life, this grand hero. And... if he couldn't face the what-ever-it-was, then what chance did she - a cowardly scholar - have? She whimpered, despite herself, and continued to run.

"One," Sierra said, shuddering. @Snipexe

YKYASFW you see someone in the hallway with Starsight and start yelling, "YES!" repeatedly! And then a teacher tells you not to yell...

I know. The power sucked me in. Authors are nice plot devices when it comes to motivating your characters.

TVG speaks for me. She is me. Not a physical manifestation - as that's impossible - but still me. She is a broken rule. But a rule broken out of love.

Just as Astral was about to drag herself to TVG's feet and beg her master to let her go back to the QoS thread, end her life, or bring her to CBST so she could fulfill her purpose, she felt something massive surge through the thread. It wasn't sustenance... But... All of a sudden she felt... stronger. She gasped and sat up, watching her dress re-weave itself into the silken beauty it had once been. Her lips regained a sort of shine, her hair deepened into a rich midnight black, flowing smoothly once more, and her eyes shone silver as the moon, her circlet fixing itself above her head. She groaned in pleasure, then started to laugh as she rose to her feet. Things were looking up for the Queen of Shadows. Her job was not yet done. -------- Dark clouds rolled into the sky, moving unnaturally fast. Sophie slowed, looking up. "I didn't think it was gonna rain today," she said. As the sun was blocked out, she suddenly felt herself feeling afraid again. She had only vanquished a handful of withergeists. She got an image of being swarmed by hundreds upon hundreds - thousands upon thousands - of withergeists, of being bitten and scratched and torn apart by them. Sophie ran a little faster.

Sophie began to skip. "Ya know," she said, "this isn't so bad! I think..." Her face brightened. "I think I like Plot. I..." She laughed. "I like Plot!!!"

Sophie smiled, a rush of adrenaline pumping through her. "Aaaaalright, baby!" she said, raising her spear high above her head. "Let's GO!!!" With that, she ran.

... Uh.... I have zero context. @Ookla the Sesquipedalian

I really don't want power tiering. Making TVG so involved in the Narrative was a mistake and I've tried to make up for it by keeping her out of the Narrative. As I said, making a fourth tier is a bad idea because Authors aren't supposed to be involved in the Narrative at all. You're basically just creating another version of a Narrator; an extension of the Author's will. Narrators Narrate. Characters are Narrated. "Author" is just the name for a Narrator who has characters that have the ability to Narrate. I know it's complicated, but I don't want it anymore complicated than it already is.

Oh, I understand. But making a "Narrator of a Narrator of a Narrator" is pointless. Authors do NOT have more power than Narrators and the only thing you're doing by making a third place is trying to give yourself more authority. That does not slide with me. Authors are each and everyone of us. It's like this. Luna is an Author, not a Narrator. Because she only posts Narration. She doesn't have characters. The idea of an "Author" has been around since Star married Marsh and became less of an extension of my will than a Sentient, living, breathing character. Just, a character with the unique ability to Narrate the story. I was Narrating her. I daresay this is my magic system and I get to decide how it works. What I was trying to say through TVG was that I don't like it when randomness interferes with plot. That's why we moved the plot to a different thread. Unfortunately, the very idea of Plot with a capital "P" originates from this chaos and I have to use it. Astral wants to leave. Xinoehp wants to leave. Sophie wants to leave. They are creatures of Plot and they deserve to have that Plot. But right now the whole Plot is that they're trying to leave. When my characters are gone, I will return as my own self, TVG, Narrating the randomness. That was what I intended with Sophie, but for as revolted as she says she is by it, she is drawn to the Plot. That's my fault. But you have to admit that Sophie is a masterpiece and if I have to defend her for the good of her own character development and storyline, then I will do so. *sigh* I really, really care about this story. Star was me. I went through all of that with her. I want her to live her life, I want Astral to fulfill her grim destiny, I want Sophie to find the hero inside of her because I want to find that hero inside of me too. In many ways, she is my favorite of all of my characters. Please, please don't change the rules because you want to be able to move forward. Star tried to do that. And now Marsh is dead and her life sucks. But if you keep shoving, eventually I'm going to stop shoving back and let you fall on your face. Sophie glowed. Almost literally. Her hair floated around her head in its natural flow and she danced around in the grass, close to bursting with joy. "Aqua!!!" she said. "I did it!"

Making more role titles does not make more roles. TVG shook her head. It is clear to me that you do not understand and that you will refuse to show me the respect I deserve. People will always want more power. But simply saying you have that power is a waste of time and words and an abuse of authority. It's pointless because it doesn't do anything but make you look like a miserly fool. I am not all powerful and I have accepted that. Next time, let your Narrators do the speaking. And keep your underlined mouth shut. With that, TVG disappeared.

TVG rolled her eyes. Don't you get it? I am Narr. SoT. Star. Shard of Thought. Ookla the Narrator. TVG smiled, incredibly happy with herself and with her youngest daughter.

TVG scoffed. Then she smiled. You're making this too complicated. It's not Rocket Science. It's Narration! Plot! WORDS! With that, she continued the story, her pride and joy. Sophie looked up. FT. He was... he was about to get hurt. And he had no way to save himself. Sophie's face fell. She could save him. Her fingers fell upon her spear, but she hesitated. Did she really want to do this? Did she really want to risk that awful pain again? Did she really want to risk her own life for someone else? Yes. Yes she did. Sophie's forcefield evaporated and she stood, spear in her hands. "Get AWAY FROM HIM!" she yelled. She raised the weapon and pushed all of her light into it, sending a stream of power through it. A beam of radiance shot from the tip, spraying against the withergeists. The little creatures screamed in pain as the light consumed them. In just a few moments, they were all gone. Sophie breathed out slowly as it all sank in. "I... I did it." Her face brightened. "HOLY MOTHER OF BUTT VENTURE I DID IT!" She let out a squeal of joy and began jumping up and down in her euphoria. TVG smiled. That joy, she said, was earned. Because she did it by herself.

TVG chuckled. Of course you do. You just do it though others. My dear, that's what an Author is in this world. So is my daughter, Tamika. Or, she was. Anyway, use your power wisely, friend.

You. The one behind the screen.

Let me ask you something. I want you to think long and hard about this. Why do you Narrate?

All of you are no better than Astral and Ruin, TVG said ruefully.

"N-now?" Sophie asked. "But... I..."

TVG smiled again. Yes. That was what Silence was for. Shutting the mouths of babes. Sophie trembled. "I just froze..." she said. "I... I'll try again. I promise."

TVG smiled smugly. What you just witnessed was chaos in its purest, most evil form. Killing. And not caring. At least when I kill, people cry over it. Why do you think Butt turned on you when you murder people that you don't even give names and faces to? As for you, don't you know you don't have to manifest yourself physically? Just go to your own Plane, you're a Narrator, you can be safe whenever you want to be. And Ruin brought them. Well, more specifically, Heather brought them, the poor girl... It wasn't her fault though.

It's not fair that my characters have to follow rules? That's just life. Sophie would want to do it on her own anyway. If you keep helping her, then she will feel like a failure. She has to do it herself.