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.

In the dizzying warmth of Paradise, Mossie is finally home.

She's in the Room of Stars, perched on one of the tall crystals, the cracked ruins and her hard-won altar stretched before her. A crowd of followers floods the cave, all eagerly hanging on her every word, for she alone can parse the words of the Shadow. A curtain of mycelium drapes from the ceiling, and fungi of all shapes and sizes--fungi she's seen before, and fungi she hasn't--have infested the cave's substrate. And somewhere in her heart Mossie knows that she did that. She made a mark on the caves. She created something, tasting divinity in her jaws.

Isaac is by her side, fluffy tail wrapped around hers.

"You don't have to choose, Mother," he says, blinking slowly. And though the memory of his big brown eyes clouded over in death flashes before her eyes, she knows in her heart it can't be real.

It was a bad dream, nothing more.

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!"

The silence is all-encompassing.

Reverend blinks back into what he assumes is reality, staring up into all too familiar blue eyes. Oliver watches it, silent, but giving a kind smile, as he pulls the younger up to his feet. Reverend looks around, and the two of them are in a green, fern filled meadow, like a version of Eridanus that was open to the sky.

"I missed you," it chirps, pulling the illusion into a hug. They stay there, the breeze blowing through their feathers.

He could stay here for a very long time.

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!

Why should Yvan ever question this place? At least, the place he's led to after following the pack, his ears pinned throughout the whole trip down and into the pods. Nothing seems off, everything's fine— he has food! And he has— ...

He pauses when he sees Ryoto, eyes wide and head tilted. For a brief moment he hesitates to smile, but it comes soon as his tail thumps happily on the grassy floor. How is this different from his every day life, after all? He's had no reason to have meetings with long lost loved ones, nor does he want for much.

He's happy enough to reach up and tuck Ryoto close in the strongest hug he can imagine. It's nice here.

Yes, Yvan could very well see this as a paradise.

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.

Wilder did not understand what had happened. One moment shed been climbing into the strange pod, nose twitching with curiosity, and the next she was in the Vaa. The endless expanse of the sky stretched out above her, the sun warming her dark fur, the breeze gently whispering through the grasses.

Vaati was nearby, somewhere, comfortable and hidden. She could see a figure ahead, beckoning. White wings and a halo of golden hair. Tamulus? Had she truly returned to the surface but this time...to stay?

She had forgotten about anything else. She didnt wonder why she was here. All that important was that there were others with Tamulus - all her old friends were waiting for her, welcoming, a promise that she would never be alone again. That she was loved, oh so deeply, that she would neverhave any need to be afraid.

The purr that she hadnt realized had started in her heart only grew louder when she recognized the rusty feathers and dark wings of Aure at the front. She didnt have to say anything to him - there was an understanding. All was forgiven.

She wanted to cry from sheer joy. She wanted to laugh and run across the Vaa and play in the grass and listen to Tamulus's stories. She wanted to snuggle up close to Aure's side like they used to do when she was younger and never feel the hollowness of loneliness again.

And she was already bounding towards them when her steps began to falter. When an icy veil descended over the joy in her heart. Emotions melted away and a horribly sad uncertainty began to tarnish the edges of her vision. Was it truly all this easy? After all those cycles of working through forgiving herself, of fighting dark thoughts and anxieties to live a life worth living, was it truly just going to behanded to her, just like that?

She looked to her friends, a pit hollowed deep in her heart, and then up to the sky. She wanted it to be real. Oh, she had never wanted anything else so badly! But it couldn't be. She was not a fortunate one. She was not deserving of paradise, not like this. What had been the point of all her work to be a different person, to leave the past behind and move forward? Was accepting this dream as good as giving up on the future?

She trembled where she stood, feeling more alone then ever.

572 had not wanted to go down into that dungeon. But as the rest of the party made to travel down there, it could only creak in a display of nerves. It followed them. And eventually it had forgotten all about it's journey. But this new world, this new paradise was just fine. It did not know many, but those who appeared comforted it. It's paradise suited it just fine. Creatures with nimble hands settled inside it, joining Lumut.

It was resided in constantly, and 572 knew there was no risk of being abandoned. Its new family resided in it, and it's interior became more and more furnished. Lived in. It was cared for, and it was happy. The house settled into the ground heavily. For perhaps the last time, it dug itself into the earth and began to rest and feed. Satisfied with its new home.

Kestrel eyed the pods with a deep mistrust in his eyes. They were strange and he didnt appreciate the compelling feeling forcing himself to climb into one. He was going to resist. He didnt want to do anything without thinking, he was strong, he wasnt going to go to sleep, he was gonna get out of here he was

in Orion. Upon the throne, with others gathered around. There was a feeling of hope in all of them, joy. They were free, all of them, no Masters above them, no fear of death. Only the infinite future that they would build themselves. Their lives were their own.

Teosar was next to him - he could feel the deep rumble of his approval and gratitude. No longer hunted, no longer needing to hide. On the other side was someone that looked much like Kass. The same pelt markings, but different, somehow. N'chard, or at least what he believed N'chard to look like, among his people once again, safe at last, from oppression and betrayal.

And although Kass initially basked in this warm feeling of freedom, of his friend given his freedom, it wasnt right. How had they gotten here? What price had they laid for it? He tried desperately to remember, red lights filling his mind. This was a dream, it had to be!

"Get my out!" He called out, voice echoing off the empty walls. He pushed through the crowd of gembound, trying to find his escape. Trying to leave this place and return to the real caves, where freedom would not come so easily.