Zephrun’s Imperium

Ember was shocked. Her posture shrived and she bit her lip. She didn't want to go away. Hadn't she been feeling happy just a few moments ago? "But..." she managed to say. "I thought.... that you..."

Ember furrowed her brow in confusion, realizing that something was not right. "Heather. Are you okay?"

Ember walked over on her toes, happy energy flowing through her. She bent over curiously, then knelt, growing her shell on her legs to protect the floor. She clasped her hands before her and studied Heather's eyespikes. "They're shiny," she said matter-of-factly.

Ember stood on the deck, contemplative. She felt good. Really good. She was glad that Heather had encouraged her to 'say hi' to Star. The thought made her excited. She had done something right! Star was kind to her! Tingling with happiness, Ember rushed down the stairs to where she had last seen her friend, having completely forgotten the time-blip incident. She was not completely taken aback by her friend's change because she did not understand what had happened. She did not understand the weight of what it all meant. "Heather," she said, "you feel different."

Sophie made the forcefield opaque so that Ruin couldn't see her through it.

Star smiled and leaned down, kissing Pheonix on the cheek. So much for cuddles. Ah, well. She’d make sure it happened later. Star wandered around for a few minutes before finding an unlocked bedroom. It was nondescript, with generic furnishings, but the bed looked nice and that was all she cared about. She breathed a sigh of relief and kicked off her sandals, shutting the door behind her. At her utterance, she changed into something more suitable for sleeping and pulled back the covers, climbing in. Within seconds of her head hitting the pillow, she was asleep. Unhindered, she would rest for the next two days, trapped in uneasy dreams, her mind conflicted by her joy at Pheo’s very existence and her turmoil over the plight of her friends. Completely unaware that the world around her was far more unstable than she thought.

"My world is falling apart because of you and you ask me what's wrong? My best friend is missing, my... other... friend is charging off into trouble, and I'm questioning the morality of the mimes and my sister and you ask what's wrong?!"

Sophie's lower lip quivered and she cried some more, burying her face in her arms.

But CBST isn't the only universe. "You killed your opposite... Or tried to... I think..."

"I don't destroy," Sophie said. "I create. I use words."

"Because you think I'm weak..." She wiped her eyes with her palms. "I may be a coward, but I am not weak."

"I understand that you're a liar!" she shouted.

Sophie began to cry harder. "Leave me alone," she said. "I know what you are. I know what you want." The grass around her died, but within her forcefield bubble, it stayed green and alive. If this continued, then Sophie would be left alone. Forever.

Sophie saw what Xino was doing. Her mind was expanded in a way that let her hear any and all Narration on TLT. He was a hero. He didn't run away. Even when he was unconscious, he'd fight. Not her. She was a coward. A disgrace. She curled up into a ball and wept.

Sophie was confused. And terrified. She put her forcefield up again. She didn't know what to do. And so, true to her cowardly nature, she ran away and hid, hating herself for it.

Star sighed. She wanted that sleep for herself. But there was never any rest for her, was there? With a snap, she and Ember were sitting at a small table in a once grand hall. Fantastic’s abandoned castle from Queen of Shadows. A dark place in Star’s past, maybe, but it was quiet, and now that the time curse had been removed, it was rather pleasant. Sunlight streamed through the huge windows, birds fluttering around in the rafters. Astral’s old throne still sat on the dais, black and decaying, but overgrown with flowers. It was a place of beauty now. Of course, this place wasn’t the real thread, but a projection. Star loved creating places like this. In all reality, they were both inside Star’s head. It was a nice place to get away sometimes. Even if, on TLT, that hadn’t worked all that well for her. Ember took the transportation in stride, sitting with perfect posture opposite Star. It was infinitely unnerving to be watched so intently by those eyes. Like looking through the eye holes of a skull. “What do you have to say?” “I was wrong about you,” Ember replied in that stiff tone of her’s. “I thought that you must have done something to deserve your burns. That they were punishment for something you did. What I did not understand is that existence is cruel and unfair, particularly to the ones we should revere. Fate, however, is as impartial as they come. I misjudged you when I should have trusted that I was written to protect something truly precious. And you are… more than worthy of my protection. It is too much to call me your sister. You are my Keeper and Queen. Hurting the Shadow was terrible of me. I wanted so badly to destroy and… I…” Ember’s form began to shake and she made hiccup-like whimpering sounds. It took a moment for Star to register that she was doing her version of crying. The tears must have evaporated before they would even get to her cheeks. She made her odd crying sounds for perhaps two full minutes, gentle steam rising from her eyes. When she finally calmed down, she said, “ I cannot control my powers, or my human… emotions. I need someone to help me. Someone to guide me. Please forgive me my failings. Compared to your infinite light, I am an ember indeed. When I was first born, I thought that I deserved respect and recognition. I see now what an arrogant fool I was. I am nothing to you. But I hope that you will accept my servitude and protection.” Star’s mouth had dropped halfway through Ember’s monologue. She had wanted to interrupt her at times, but it was almost chilling to hear so much out of her. She was always so… reserved. Star was hit with the realization that Ember was… far more complex and self-aware than she had ever thought. “Ember,” she said, concerned yet deeply touched. “I don’t… I can’t accept this. I… I’m not worthy of your protection. No singular person is. And you, you’re so much more than just someone’s slave.” Ember shook her head. “No, no, no, no, no. You do not understand. I want this. I choose this. I do not understand enough to make the decisions that come with my powers. I am too afraid of hurting someone. I quite literally destroy anything that I touch. When the violet goddess left me, I did not have any direction anymore. But she wrote me to protect you. She is my Author and yours. I’m begging you, my Queen. Take me. In your hands I can reach my fullest potential.” Star sighed. “All right…? I guess?” A small smile seemed to cross Ember’s lips and she relaxed a bit. “Thank you,” she said earnestly. Star smiled back. “Well, then, we should get back.” I really need to sleep… With another snap, they had returned.

Awesome! Have fun! We'll miss you and your memes.

Ember was about to take another step forward, when something slammed into her head. It wasn't something physical, but something mental - a blip in time. But in that blip, things had happened. Important things. She tripped, falling headfirst into the ground below. What had that been? Star heard the crash and turned toward Ember. Author's Pen, would she ever get to sleep? She wiggled out of Pheo's arms and stood, attempting to help Ember to her feet before realizing that she was just a projection; a chilling reminder of their situation. "Are you all right?" she asked. Ember looked up at her master. "I am fine," she replied, standing. Her eyes widened as she realized her purpose for coming “I would like to request an audience with her Ladyship, the Hero,” Ember said, kneeling on one knee. She cringed at the sound of her own voice. That wasn’t ‘hi.’ Oh, well… Star cocked her head, eyeing the Destroyer. “You mean… me?” Ember looked up, her eyes burning like a lava lamp; slow, glowing with heat. “Yes,” she cooed. Star felt heat rise in her cheeks. “Ember, you’re my sister. And I’m not royalty. Come on now, get up.” She reached a hand of help out toward Ember, but the charred girl quickly scooted away, falling to her knees in a full head-to-the-ground bow. “No, do not touch me,” she said. “Please. And audience, Highness.” “I… all right.” Star looked to Pheonix, shrugging. She deserves my time too, she told him mentally. You don’t mind, do you? We’ll only be a minute. @xinoehp512...

*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* Fine... It's not like we abide by our own rules anyway... It can probably be explained away by Ruin's Connection to the Realm he's going to.... Ah, well. Love your rank BTW.

Oh wow, that's soon. Congratulations! Where are you going to serve?

Here's the thing; Narrators can't just do anything they want. What they Narrate happens. But what they Narrate is governed by the laws of Narration. You can't just do something because you say you did it. When you're working with Reality, a Reality whose rule Narrators have to abide by, you have to have the right tools. And you don't have that. Yet. You can slip over when Reality is breached. It will happen eventually.

Basically, yes. That's why you need to do it when reality is weak, like I told you.