Zephrun’s Imperium

I cannot. That would require me to interact with the story. Besides, Star's wounds are... abnormal.

The goddess expanded into Shadow's mind. She wouldn't pry at things that were hidden, but she would let a warm feeling wash through her.

And you don't know what that is or you're ashamed of it?

You want a happy ending. Like everyone else. Unless you don't believe you deserve one?

The goddess smiled. What is it you want, Shadowy one?

Just wait, Shadow, the goddess said kindly. Once Star is healed she will speak with you. We greatly appreciate your help, unwilling though it was.

Under Ember’s direction, AJ opened the portal. It wasn’t opened to a place, exactly, but it wasn’t opened to a specific time either. It was just… space. The Void. No one knew the Void’s true power. Not Jay, not Ember, not the purple goddess, and no one could know it fully anyway. The portal was simply a hole. A hole in the timeline of the thread. Something had been removed here, just pages ago - an action that had rippled through the entire thread. Because of its grandiose scale, there were still inconsistencies about. Any one of them could have been used - Xino’s memories, Ember’s existence - but Ember choose one specifically. Keeping hold of AJ’s mind, Ember reached out for the mental signature of @BringerofShadows. She called upon the girl’s memories. The day when the violet goddess had made her cry at the sight of a single corpse, just after she had murdered hundreds. Harnessing the emotion of that single inconsistency, Ember entered the timeline. Her work was swift; in a few keystrokes, a few thoughts, things had been reset, exactly as her master had commanded. As things began to click, she ripped a soul free of confinement before things began to burst open. Go to him, Ember whispered to her. The soul’s mind raced toward the source of power, enveloping him. Even as AJ faded, his emotion at seeing her one last time sent shivers down Ember’s spine. She herself wouldn’t last long either and she hadn’t experienced much emotion in the time leading up to this moment, but now she understood why AJ’s sacrifice - and her own - were so important. A burst of light flooded through the thread. Every character and Narrator were blinded for a split second and then… peace. One by one, characters appeared on the ship. Thought, still teary eyed from AJ’s death (AJ himself was nowhere to be seen, his body erased from the current timeline) Zeoy, looking awfully confused, Bozo and Havel who quickly bounded away to opposite sides of the deck once they noticed each other, Max, standing next to his mother and father, @Butt Ad Venture, his knowledge about the Narrator's existence still intact, and Pheonix, a little pale, but alive and well. Even Lift had been reborn. Star, however, was nowhere to be seen. In the center of all the newly returned characters stood Ember. The fiery glow between the cracks in her charred skin had been extinguished and she was still as stone, her head hung. Suddenly, as if some sort of thick liquid was being poured down her shoulders, her outer layer began peeling away, revealing human skin beneath it. The figure underneath was wearing a white shift and her once pale skin was now covered in sickly third-degree burns from her neck to her toes. Ember looked up again. There was no light in her eyes at all. She looked… dead. Then, she raised a hand to her face and gripped what was left of her outer layer. She pulled the mask-like shell off to reveal the burned face of Narrator Star. She looked pained and tired. Her eyes met those of one of the character that had been resurrected. “Pheonix…” she whispered. Then she fainted.

AJ uncorked it, then hesitated. "Take care of Thought for me," he said. With a shaky breath, he drank the entire thing. Ember entered his mind to help guide him. The violet goddess watched from her perch. Things were going well. Nothing could stand in her way. No. Nothing could stand in Star's way.

Ember nodded to AJ. The blonde man took a deep breath, holding his hand out for the serum.

"Let it commence."

"I can speed up time," Ember said. "And you may do whatever you wish with me," AJ added. "Are you prepared?" Ember said. It was time.

It fell on Narrator Ark's head.

"AJ doesn't need to survive." AJ nodded solemnly. "I will be dead by the time this is over. So long as I can survive long enough to get Ember in position, this will work."

"Then do it. As much power as possible."

"Please wait, Tom. I will return." Ember teleported to the foolhardy Narrator. "You know not to whom you speak. Take back your words. Immediately."

Ember smiled faintly. It felt good to be respected, even a lifeless Vessel like her knew that. "A device that will increase AJ's portal-making ability tenfold." Ember eyed Ganvcho with resentfulness. Her master did not like being godmodded.

Ember gripped the man's mind firmly, expressing her intent.

Ember was aware of the Shadowy one, but she was far more interested in completing her mission. The violet goddess, however... She watched the watcher with sadness. This one was broken. And she deserved a second chance.

Meanwhile... Ember didn't hide the truth from AJ. If he chose to help them then he would die. But he would be doing it so Thought could live. He accepted the proposal. How could he do anything else? It wasn't as if his life had meaning anyway. "She'll know what I did, right?" he asked. Ember nodded emotionlessly. "She will know." AJ nodded. "So... Tom? Where-" With a flash, Ember was back on Tom's ship, this time with AJ beside her. She touched AJ's mind. Be careful. Tom is not what he was. I am working on remedying that. AJ acknowledged the statement. His natural telepathic ability really was a wonder.

To be continued... Tomorrow then! "Please do not mistake my words' meaning," she added after a moment. "My characters have been shipped enough times now that I now know that it's better to leave nothing to the imagination in times like this. My affections lie... elsewhere. I simply mean to say that I feel friendless. Abandoned, really. Having my primary champion be stolen away quickly was unnerving and Ember is little more than a puppet. Your help would be greatly appreciated. And... Star will be damaged after all this is over. She needs someone to heal her."

The Goddess smiled. Someone recognized her. Good. "What I have planned cannot be interfered with and Ember is unstoppable. But this story would be much less lonely with your help. I understand Pheonix now. Narration is empty without the others."

*grins* I'm rarin' to go!

By that time, I'll be in control again. There's a reason I pull off a good Shard; I'm cocky enough to be one in real life. It only comes out every once in a while, but once you notice it... It's always there.

Unfortunately, I have to do this completely alone. Because Xino and Jay are too depressed to help. They ruined Xino's story and that's straight up not okay.

I aim to please. I'm really excited to unleash Ember's plan. Well, it's the Violet Goddess's plan, but whatever.