[EVENT] FOLLOW ME TO PARADISE - Printable Version

The young orangutan shuffled down the stairs among the rest, gently puzzling over all that she was seeing. She took it in, too inexperienced to gauge it in any way, simply accepting the black metal and the red light, the pulse of the pod, the drowsy cold that overcame her.

Hairy arms were left wrapped tightly around her own stunted torso as her breathing went soft and slow.

And then--jungle: an expanse of it, slowly opening around her, past the strange diamond she had seen in the sky. Trees and vines towered in an open sky, mist filling the open space. Distantly, she heard familiar cries--nothing she had heard before, but something her instincts grasped to as "home." She began to knuckle-walk forward, and then took to the trees, pulling herself up past the canopy and sturdy leaf-nests toward distant figures she could see moving in the branches.

Elation overcame her. She called out, pulling her way toward them, faster and faster--noting the smiles on dark faces, the gleam of red fur as they waved her closer.

I've come home, she thought, and was at peace.

Casimir awoke blearily, in the middle of a garden, sunlight drifting down through a distant canopy. The world was still, and quiet, and for once his fur didn't snag or pull as he rose to his feet. The only sound that disturbed the silence was the gentle babble of a nearby creek into a small, flat pool of crystal clear water. That water seemed to nurse the wide array of plants. Not a single creature seemed to disturb the area; he was blissfully, and completely, alone.

He was filled with the sense that he would be free to do as he like; that his every need was provided, that there was no want that could not be achieved here. No foolish brother would come, drenched in mud, to try and drag him off to a party.

He could finally be happy. Finally have peace. Everything was so absolutely, completely perfect. Not an ache filled his bones, and he felt like he could raise a paw and the world would answer: his magic would not fail him here, no, his every desire would be met.

... deep down, panic seized Casimir. He hadn't wanted to come here; he hadn't wanted this. He had warned... Something was missing, and wrong. If he thought about it too hard, then the stillness would be ruined; his paradise would be ruined. Why would he ever want that? He was happy here!

He was happy. He deserved to be happy. Couldn't he just, for once, suck it up and accept that this was his life now?

"I don't want to be happy," Casimir blurted out to no one. No one was there to hear him, after all. "I want to go back!"

Floor lights. Pollen's ears flick upwards at the new voice, at the artificial tone of it. Somehow, this reminds her of the Palace, the theater, and Pollen's hands find themselves gripping in a tight fold. All for the story, hm?

So she doesn't complain when she's set into a pod. Not that she can complain for long, even as she doesn't want to let go to consciousness. Oh, but it's so easy to slide to sleep, especially as tired as she is.

Her golden eye snaps open in an instant.

Where is the fight in her? Where is she? Casting her gaze about the garden, she takes in everything. A dream? The Palace (... she thinks?) is all around her. But— no. No no no, why is everything so... easy? No, she doesn't like this. It's too perfect. She doesn't think she's even woken up, even if she doesn't remember falling asleep. Where's the messiness? What of the plants that were wilting, the ones that needed tending; she has so much to do, and—

It's just a dream. She just needs to let herself stay in it, follow that little voice in her head to welcome this. But no. No! She has stuff to do! She shouldn't be back at the Palace! Physically shoving into action, Pollen walks onward, trying to get back to what she set out to do.

She's stopped in her tracks as a purply hide blocks her path through the garden. Zoey? Zoey, she knows those colors anywhere, and she lets her guard down just so.

She can spend some time with her for a little bit. That's fine. ... but after, she'll set off, she swears!

What was reality, the true place Fahl belonged? Had it been the cradle of the chrysalis, his first home, that the iguana's fragile form had curled up in long before the beginnings of a single thought could spark? Or had the caves been where he actually was meant to be, cast out of comfort and security to cling confused and afraid to the slick stone of Pisces? He'd come around long ago to accepting the second as proper existence—almost forced to, really, as the way back to the previous one had felt more like embracing death, suffocating while the hindrance in his mouth grew into a full-blown throat blockage and crept over nostrils.

But maybe both had been shells preparing him for a greater life in the next, each cracking apart once its job finished to deposit him unceremoniously into the realm just above it. Surely that was the explanation for the similarities of the world which greeted him now as he blinked away the bleariness from his eyes. Much as the chrysalis had introduced him to basic sensations such as touch and sound while he'd slowly developed, the caves had taught him the environment of the new world and the beings within. Masters of great power to envy had been tools to encourage magical improvement. They'd been preparation for the strength he was supposed to wield.

Pisces couldn't measure up to the chill of its counterpart here. Every breath exhaled was a visible cloud of wispy condensation, and water droplets froze into glistening jewels upon his hide as he clambered out of a shallow pool set in gray stone. Normally, his limbs would've stiffened entirely from the effects of the environment, but no longer in the better version of his native cave. Not with a better him in it than the last.

Blood running hot underneath scales changed ice back to rivulets of meltwater. The effort required to twitch a clawed toe was all that was needed to turn his surroundings to roaring flame, the heat licking at him but never daring to burn its commander. Confusion gave way to delight as he channeled the magic to jaws and caused a long scorching blaze to gust out in place of shimmering air. No longer was he the eternal student crawling after those leagues his superior in firepower; Fahl had surpassed them and lived to laugh at any daring to challenge his current lofty position as teacher and protector of his domain.

He wasn't alone to revel in it all. Numerous faces looked upon him from a safe distance, admiration and awe evident in their expressions. Some he recognized by appearance like the bridle-wearing comrade he'd coordinated attacks with in the Black City. Others had the honor of being known by name such as Comet, Stormy, or Lorelei. Their appreciation tasted sweet, but there existed those whose good regard for him satisfied even more so.

The most well-known possessed respect instead of open-mouthed amazement at his feats: Dragon accompanied by his Children of Rot, those unfamiliar among them cloaked in shadow but their gazes burning bright as they quietly observed him. An amused rumble acknowledged Fahl, and the following nod of confidence made his heart swell.

Imp... true to form burst out of the crowd, crowing all manner of statements, equal parts vulgar and approving of the situation.

No Masters here. Fahl was certain to the core of his soul they were gone. Being manipulated to participate in petty squabbles had become a thing of the distant past. The Gembound had conquered and reaped the reward of being in full control of their destinies. He, of course, had taken the role of general for the forces that had ensured this outcome.

An upgrade in station well-deserved for the work he'd put in to advance himself. Everyone's lot improved and peace established in the caves. No reason existed to long for times of youth and inexperience. It'd be foolish to descend to ground level when the view at the top of the mountain was vastly more triumphant.