[Empress of Neon]

*Tossing and turning in a sweat, Laura's sanity is anything but spared even in the dreamscape as her mind struggles to cope with scars and voids that may never heal...*

*It isn't until she finds herself in a familiar cabin in a familiar woods that shape begins to find its way...*



*Inside, Laura is greeted by a familiar giant of a woman. The only way she remembered her.*



Mora: Grandchild, you seem lost. What brings you to my cabin tonight?

Laura: I can't remember...

Mora: Remember what?*She said, stroking an insect lightly on her hand; leaning back into her cushions as a purple mist seemed to flow out of nowhere in particular.*

Laura: ... my life. Between... the burning... the deaths... captivity...

Mora: Nothing?

Laura: ... only fragments. As if I was missing an eye... more...

Mora: But you still remember your life?

Laura: I stood wife to chieftain... the one that killed us...

Mora: Your mother and siblings?

Laura: ... yes.

Mora: Shame.

Laura: ... leave me alone. I chose life.

Mora: Shame.*She dabbed her talon-adorned finger, before leaning back with a grin.*

Laura: ... stop mocking me.

Mora: Or what? This is my cabin... my domain. Always will be. You know that...

Laura: ... I need help.

Mora: Only the Voidmother can give you back what is lost. And she is a -very- jealous creature... rare to give up her prizes.

Laura: ... I think she took someone important from me.

Mora: What makes you say that?

Laura: Something... someone is missing. I don't feel safe... I feel lonely... I'm so confused...

Mora: You're broken.

Laura: ... no.

Mora: Broken and weak. Like I always knew you to be.

Laura: NO!

Mora: No?

Laura: NO! I will tear what is mine back! Tear what is HERS! I will have bloody vengeance!

Mora: *She chuckled.* Look at you... so much arrogance, just because you have the Gift... you think you can contend with a goddess?

Laura: ... no. But I can hurt her.

Mora: There's always a price to pay when invoking the ire of such beings... you know this.

Laura: She broke honored pact. She started this.

Mora: Did she? Or did you walk the path that offended her most?

Laura: I stand loyal.

Mora: Why?

Laura: The empire... it is the Lady's. I want... I -need- to be a part of it... it's so much more than what you knew, grandmother...

Mora: It is. But why Rechotti?

Laura: Aligned interest... mutual...

Mora: Good girl, you're learning to pick the right allies. But that comes with enemies...

Laura: Help me.

Mora: How? You're not awake, silly girl. I'm still dead!

Laura: Please, grandmother...

Mora: I can only offer you wisdom, if you are set on this path. Fill the void left. Grow stronger. Seek greater domain over greater creatures than those you find in the land.

Laura: The elements...?

Mora: Your gift is great. Never settle for less like I did. Nurse it.

Laura: I didn't want to destroy anymore... I want to create...

Mora: Do both. Create... to destroy.

Laura: But-

Mora: Nurse life. Vicious life. Predators. They will hunt your foes.

Laura: ... I wanted them to do more.

Mora: There is room for both in your life. Destruction... creation... domination. These were your birthright. Protect your domain.

Laura: I want revenge...

Mora: Anger, humiliation...

Laura: ... yes.

Mora: You must learn to endure these. They will destroy you.

Laura: I'll not be deterred!*She snapped.*

Mora: ... you've grown, grandchild. In more ways than one. Very well, give heart's desire and see it answered...

Laura: HOW?! How do I make the Voidmother know loss?! As I?!

Mora: I think you already know the answer.

Laura: What?

Mora: Silly girl... don't you have a little chest that mirrors goddess's power?

Laura: Wh-

Mora: Yours is not the only power that needs nursing.

Laura: It'll never listen to me.

Mora: Do not beseech. Dominate.

Laura: I -can't-.

Mora: Then perhaps it's time to fill that void... maybe with something that can.

Laura: You're telling me to make pact with darker spirits?!

Mora: No fool. I wouldn't wish such an afterlife's fate on worst enemy, let alone my own blood.

Laura: Then who?

Mora: That is a question only you can answer. Just remember... no pact was made that stood without price.

Laura: I won't forget... thank you.

Mora: It's been so long since we've talked...

Laura: Before...



Mora: You've lived a full life. Are you comfortable with joining me yet?

Laura: ... no. I can live much longer... do more... honor the Lady... give line meaning before I fade.

Mora: You want to bring beauty to the world.

Laura: Yes...

Mora: You think it will last in this empire?

Laura: ... with the Lady's Gift, yes.

Mora: You always did like playing with mud.

Laura: ... I'm making clay golems now.

Mora: I know.

Laura: I miss you, grandmother...

Mora: You'll be with me again, eventually...

Laura: I'm scared.

Mora: You're alone... surrounded by people who want to use or kill you...

Laura: I don't know who to trust.

Mora: You know who you should trust? *The woman slowly extended a bowl of water; a younger Laura's reflection in its waters. One draped in tribal tattoos; a growing ball of flame in her palm. *



??: Hello again. It's been a long time...

*After a single blink, all color drained... the dreamscape darkening, save for one light to be seen within.*



*All sound began to fade; anything resembling ambience shuddered away to a gentle whisper of a voice...*

Laura: The world is cruel...

??: It will take... and take...

Laura: It will only give what you take back...

??: The strong dominate the weak...

Laura: The way it always was...

??: The way it always will be...

Laura: They want to break me... enslave me... use me...

??: First men, now gods...

Laura: I've been betrayed...

??: I won't tolerate it...

Laura: I won't bend knee...

??: You stole from me...

Laura: You hurt me...

??: I hurt you...

Laura: ... you are not my goddess... you never will be.

??: Give all your woe... I am stronger than you think...

Laura: I will not be deterred...

??: Your men are all going to die...

Laura: This is MY domain...

??: Your women are all going to die...

Laura: You TRESPASSED on it...

??: Your children are all going to die...

Laura: ... hello again.

Laura: Hello.

Laura: ... I'm ready.

Laura: Let's kill them all.

*The dream ended in flames...*

[Empress of Neon]

~Snuggled against a feminine figure, Laura's dreams once again hazed to a lucid, otherworldly experience in the dead of night...~

Laura: Hello...

Laura: Hello again...

Laura: Why aren't we hunting?

Laura: We're close to horizon's reach.

Laura: But I want to kill them...

Laura: We will... in time...

Laura: We used to be feared.

Laura: It doesn't matter anymore.

Laura: It doesn't?

Laura: What we leave behind... that is what matters.

Laura: We're in danger...

Laura: We're always in danger.

Laura: Everyone is always out to get us.

Laura: Not everyone.

Laura: Everyone.

Laura: Allies... underlings... their own impatience. I want to create again... like when we were young...

Laura: I want to destroy. Like when we survived...

Laura: It's not home.

Laura: It's worse.

Laura: And better.

Laura: I will make it better when their throats are around our hands.

Laura: I will make it better still when our children are born. For us... for everyone.

Laura: They don't deserve it.

Laura: By love of the empire... in deed to our Lady.

Laura: We should be hunting...

Hoi: WHAT?! WHO IS THIS?! I HATE YOU! GO AWAY!

Tem: You are not WORTHY to bask in TEM'S presence! Familiar! Bring us tribute! Chewy, bloody, nourishing!

Laura: ... you.

Hoi: THE THREAT! THE THREAT! WE'RE NOT READY TEM!!!

Tem: Insolent creature! How DARE you try to seize our familiar!

Laura: Go back... leave us alone for awhile...

Laura: I'll kill you again...

Hoi: HIDE TEM!!! LEAVE THIS SPHERE!!! NOT SAFE!!! AHHHHHH!!!

Tem: We're on to you...! We'll be in control someday, oh yes! YES WE WILL!!!

Laura: Just go... please?

Tem: ... AHHHHH!!!*It screamed out in protest, before its presence faded.*

Laura: ... they're kinda adorable.

Laura: We should gouge out every eye.

Laura: Stop it.

Laura: They're not our friends.

Laura: We're bonding.

Laura: Why?

Laura: They fill... something. I feel more... whole... even though they can be maddening. And of course, power...

Laura: They know.

Laura: Of course.

Laura: They accept it?

Laura: They're different from us. Tem takes delight and feels safer.

Laura: What about the other?

Laura: He will always be disgusted, but feels less threatened and angry when Tem feels safer.

Laura: They will turn on us.

Laura: No.

Laura: You're wrong.

Laura: No. We will listen to the Blue Star's servant. We will be more than we are now if we stay determined.

Laura: I don't trust anyone.

Laura: Do you trust me?

Laura: ... yes.

Laura: Create with me. We don't have to waste life destroying everything to survive anymore.

Laura: ... like when we were young?

Laura: Yes.

Laura: Why?

Laura: Why what?

Laura: Why -those-?

Laura: They'll outlast any legacy of blood. Shaped by our hands. Given life by the Gift.

Laura: It's like... making children with Mystyrl.

Laura: Deed worthy of love and gratitude.

Laura: Can we make others...?

Laura: Others?

Laura: ... why?

Laura: The world is ugly. I want to make it beautiful.

Laura: Me to...

Laura: You're making children with Mystyrl...

Laura: ... yes?

Laura: I want to make children with another goddess.

Laura: The Earthmother?

Laura: It feels... right.

Laura: They won't live forever...

Laura: They will outlast our blood... they will take care of themselves. They will kill our enemies...

Laura: And...?

Laura: ... they will make the world a more beautiful place.

Laura: We'll never go hungry...

Laura: Our domain will never lose its canopies...

Laura: Our home...

Laura: We're free to do so much more...

Laura: I'm kind of excited.

Laura: See? See?!

Laura: ... yeah.

Laura: Let's practice.

Laura: Where?

Laura: Near town.

Laura: Why?

Laura: More food. More beauty. It's almost harvest season...

Laura: And then?

Laura: And then... we visit the forest.

Laura: Which?

Laura: The elves'.

Laura: Why?

Laura: They need it.

Laura: ... oh, right, the fallen Woodkeeper...

Laura: He deserved everything he got.

Laura: We should've killed him slower.

Laura: Oh well...

Laura: I'm ready to create...

Laura: Let's make the world a better place... before Journey's End.

Laura: Do you think the next will be better?

Laura: Let's not worry about the Journey After...

Laura: Yeah...

Laura: Yeah.

~The dream ended in a breathtaking sight; a glimpse of a place. One that would be, is, or never was. Whether it was a gander of past, future or another place mattered little in the end. When Laura awoke... she did so with inspiration.~

[Empress of Neon]

Laura: What happened?

Laura: What?

Laura: I can't remember. Laying down... an office... a camp... then... nothing.

Laura: I took care of us.

Laura: Why did I wake up naked?

Laura: It was hot.

Laura: You made a fool of me.

Laura: I haven't felt the air kiss my skin in a long time.

Laura: Please don't do that again... please.

Laura: ... alright.

Laura: Did we escape?

Laura: I tore open our escape. None of it was real. Not our home. Not our land...

Laura: Did anyone get hurt?

Laura: They kept their distance. I didn't hurt them.

Laura: Even...?

Laura: I didn't kill the false druid... yet.

Laura: Good...

Laura: She knows nothing.

Laura: What?

Laura: Jannath needs blood.

Laura: I know.

Laura: Life demands death.

Laura: I know.

Laura: ... I need my claw.

Laura: No you don't.

Laura: We need it. Blood is power.

Laura: We don't need it anymore. It's gone.

Laura: Make a new one.

Laura: No.

Laura: Yes.

Laura: I'm not doing this again. I want to create life with the Gift.

Laura: And I. It begins at death.

Laura: No.

Laura: Do it.

Laura: No!

Laura: DO IT!!!

~The dream ended in a sweating pant; the woman soon laying on her side as the moon-lit room left her to her thoughts. All of them.~