calm before the storm

“…. So, what are you going to do when it’s time for her to go home?” Jason asked his compatriot. “She has to, eventually. You saw it in the dreams to. If she’s on the same timeline, she’s got to fight the New War. If she doesn’t, that’s the end of the System.”

Zora stared off into the sunset through the trees of the forest campsite. “I’m not sure. I told her she always had a home here. But I know she has to do her duty. Falchion submitted to her for a reason. She’s strong, and with Falchion she’s free of the stigma of submitting to that man again. The fate of her world rests on her. Speaking as myself, that is. Speaking as a mother… I want to protect her from all that. And that’s not fake words. Not like some others.”

“Heh. I can feel the spite.”

“Yeah… me in the dreams wants to believe she can be saved. The Lotus, that is. Me here, though? Myself? I want to protect my child from someone who’s out to kill her. Even though I know Chandra has to be the one to go.”

“Who says we can’t, though?”

“What?”

“Why can’t we go back her up?”

“Jason, that’s crazy. Sentients can adapt to-”

“Only up to a point, Zor. Only up to a point. You know that. Think of how many of us there are. Think of what we can do. We can overwhelm them. You said it yourself. We’re the emmissaries of Blahblahland. We fought in the War of the Spark even though we weren’t ‘canon’. We’re bringers of the beneficial chaos to play counter to destructive, to hear you say it. That in mind, can’t we fight in the New War, too?”

“Rare of you to be the one to try to pep talk me.”

“Because you’re not talking like yourself. Come on. Think like the Zor I know. Think like you would in that world. Think like the Dragon of Zariman.”

“… Even there, it’s been a long time since I heard that title.”

“You were a general for a reason. She needs you. With that on the horizon, you need to prove you’re committed to this mom thing. Be the Dragon again. Lead us into the war like I know only you can. You’re the Eyes of Shadow, the Speaker of the Void. Be your sister. You can channel the Void and give us all the power to fight back.”

“You sure you’re ready to be in those shoes again?”

“...It’s better than being in some other shoes.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“Will you help her, then? Will you prove that you’re in it for life?”

“… Yeah.”