Same as It Ever Was (Part 28)

A certain Seelie prince has been rebuffed and sent elsewhere, his guards (who were monstrously abused by the prince) sent away to safety, and Nepantla has been revived in a great and wondrous resurrection conducted by both Harkashan and his alternate, Shankahar. While Nala is recovering from her sudden bout of bleeding from the nose, Nepantla answers the greetings given to her.

"Peace upon all places." Nepantla sounds almost amused as she looks at Zeke, her head nodding gently. "All places..."

And then she looks at Harkashan and Rune, very specifically. "And all times. Greetings, chosen of They Who Desire Change. Greetings, Fatebreaker-Fatemaker." Then her eyes slide to Zeke. "Greetings, Ipalnemohuani. I welcome and greet you all again. Now that the prophecy has been complete, may we discuss what is to come next?"

A wondrous end, but... it raises more questions than answers. Was Raeluin the 'hungry one' from the vision? Certainly there are different kinds of hungers, some even less savory than others. But... they are still missing Zeke's alter ego. And so Telamon clears his throat.

"Yes, Honored One," he responds. "We seek... well, for lack of a better word, the counterpart of my friend and cohort here." He puts a hand on Zeke's shoulder. "At first we had thought said double was hunting you, but... now it seems our trail is cold, for the moment."

Zeke nods low to Nepantla. "Pleassse. If you will. Thisss one isss anxioussss to sssshare wordsss with you." His tone is exceedingly polite as he inclines his head. Telamon's words and comforting touch is something that Zeke can appreciate today, and he nods to the other man in a show of that appreciation.

Simony gives Nala a reassuring pat, happy to see that the young woman is recovering from her ... event. The Goblin moves to Telamon's side and hugs at the man. She remains silent as the now-alive-again dragon speaks to Zeke, Rune and Hankashan.

"It seems as though the dragon was expecting us, and this prophecy.", she says softly, peering up at the sorcerer. "This expedition of ours grows all the more curious."

She nods at the dragon's words. "It appears that you have knowledge you wish to share? Visions of a possible future?"

As the dragon's voice speaks once more, Rune turns her attention away from the entrances and exits, if only briefly, to ensure that she regards Nepantla with all due respect. However, her weapons have not yet been lowered. The Fae prince was not the threat they were warned about, and she is still on guard for one who may very well still mean harm to the dragon.

However, the address does have her quirk an eyebrow. Perhaps it is because she has never been given that particular title, as fitting as it may be. She seems about to say something, but Telemon, ever the diplomat, speaks of their concerns before she has a chance to. So, she inclines her head to him rather than repeat herself.

"Speaking of that... I'm going to keep watch." Which is what she goes back to doing, even if it is obvious she is keeping one ear on the conversation.

Harkashan bows deeper before the Dragon, as he is titled. Or rather, chosen of a very specific titled one. He does not answer, instead rising back up and looking aside to Rune. It would appear that this being is aware of Rune's history, regardless of this being another reality. Most unusual. Or is this the story from the outside seeping into the inside?

He steps along with his beloved and moves to opposite side of the door, ensuring that any enemy who might seek them harm by rushing in, would be flanked by a rather dangerous pairing.

Aryia rests on her back foot, massaging her knuckles absentmindedly as the others talk. She gives Nala a cursory glance- it was quite a power to wield to just vanish someone like that. It made her worry slightly, as having someone still out there tends to come back to bite one in the ass later, but- oh well.

She turns back to the discussion, tilting her head to the side.

"I do," Nepantla says in reply to Simony's words. Her eyes remain trained on Harkashan and Rune, even as the latter is busied with guarding. "There is much I am aware of. I am the space between: Nepantla." It is the literal meaning of her name.

She eyes Rune in particular, followed by Runelei. "You are unaware of how pivotal you are, yourself and your alternate you. For your time-lost parent is inextricably linked to time. As the one called Zenith said, Leirune's mother is one anomaly. This timeline is, in of itself, an anomaly. There are agents afoot working against the one that you know as the Raven to disintegrate time. This is part of why he is as focused as he is."

Runelei frowns as she looks at Nepantla. "And what of my father, Great Dragon?" she asks. "He is lost in time too. I've been told so."

Nepantla's brilliant eyes nictate. "He has been compromised," she says. "Now that the devourer has been defeated, he is the last remaining--for he seeks to destroy the time loop he is in, unduly influenced by an agent working against the Raven's plans. If we analyze time as the passage of stories... Runelei, your father is the last villain, for he has gained great power that would truly disintegrate this time, should he and his assistant--the Giver of Life's alternate--succeed."

Zeke blinks at this and glances at Telamon as if to reassure himself that he had heard this right. "Thisss onessss... alternate-" A word he dislikes. "-isss working with Runelei's nessst-father?"

There are times when Zeke wishes he understood the others connections to their nest-parents better. He knows that his relationship to his own nest-parent were far from usual for a sith-makar, but they aid him in understanding no one.

"Thisss one ssseeksss to aid him in turning away from the dark godsss." Zeke's head lowers slightly.

Telamon looks slightly stunned at this revelation, his eyes shifting to Zeke as well. "I... don't know Rune's father all that well, myself. But... again, different world, different people. Different outcomes." He runs his hand through his hair.

"If he holds your alternate in thrall, Zeke, we would have to confront him anyways. But if he threatens this entire timeline... well, that just adds to the urgency." His lips flatten into a line. "We'll need to find him. Do we know where he is, or shall we track him down?"

Aryia scratches her head and looks in front of the space in front of her. She counts on her fingers, poking each digit and looping them through the air with brows knitted. Then she puts her hands together. "So. If we remove the last anomaly, turn Zeke's mirror to a better light, the timelines will collapse?" she concludes, barely wrapping her head together, glancing to the others that comes to similar conclusions. <Handspeech/Tongues>

If Rune weren't already tense from the fight with the Fae, she would be moreso the moment that her counterpart's time-lost parent is mentioned. For her, the one that was lost was her mother, but this world is very different. It is enough of a distraction to have her giving up that guardian stance to turn fully this time, blades lowering slightly. If Runelei is as close to her father as Rune is with her mother, it may be problematic for him to be involved as a destructive force.

Her eyes fall on her counterpart, then she adds, "He's your father. Can you accept it if he isn't the man you once knew? Can you face him?" This adventure has been an exercise in compassion from time to time, and this is Rune taking on that role. If she had to stand against her mother, evil or no, it would be heartbreaking.

For a moment, she leaves the others to their planning, more concerned with the other version of herself.

There's a bit of a side-eyed glance towards Rune when that revelation comes. Neither Harkashan nor Rune have had much in the way of good experiences with Rune's father. But he knows very little of Runelei's. And he was someone she'd been looking for, so surely there is some reason to seek him out rather than... you know... stabitha treatment.

After Rune speaks, Harkashan lifts a hand and adds; "I think it's best we first understand what kind of man he is. I'm sure there is a reason his daughter was seeking him out to begin with.”

The Goblin's jaw hangs open, as she takes in the dragon's words. She struggles for a few minutes trying to put words to her thoughts. "You... are the space between." A blink. Simony's eyes go to each of the others in turn, staring up at Telamon last.

Her gaze goes back to Aryia then. "It would be hard to say, but if I were to hazard a guess, the timeline might collapse... or it might merge back into ours, or another. IF timelines arise from decisions made, changing the decision that cause the timeline to arise could cause it to cease to exist... or..." She shrugs. "There are many possibilities."

She looks back to Nepantla. "The space between... you are... between realities. You can see multiple timelines?

"Yes," Nepantla answers Simony gently. "I am They Who Desires Change's 'twin' in this timeline, which is the closest word for what this timeline is, as well as the inhabitants in it. Twins need not be identical to exist. The Prime Timeline--the one that you all are from--is of great importance to the Raven, and he tolerates little experimentation to it. This timeline that I occupy was always intended to be a test bed, designed to graduate one Zenith or Apotheosis into a servitor. It succeeded. And then it was destroyed."

Then Nepantla regards Aryia. "But this timeline will be allowed to continue... provided that our timeline controller will willingly give up her power once the quest is done." Nepantla answers Aryia's question as she looks at Nala. "All alternate timelines have a 'timeline controller', and for the sake of graduating a Zenith or Apotheosis into a servitor, Nala was designed as the controller. It is a heavy burden."

As Nala looks wide-eyed with the revelation, Nepantla continues. She looks at Telamon as she says, "Primarily in that the Apotheosis assigned to the Prime Timeline refuses to graduate. Which I, myself, do not blame him for. I can provide some insight into the whereabouts of Runelei's father and Maxitia-mayana, but it is difficult to provide an exact timeline. The dark gifts that Runelei's father has been given--seemingly by a god of shadow, as Maxitia-mayana has similarly been touched by shadow--obscure him from my perception."

Runelei is also staring in rapt attention at Nepantla. Her hand has balled up into a fist that clenches tightly, and she looks at Rune with tears in her eyes. "Honestly... I don't know what I feel. Anger. Sadness. I... I thought I wanted him back in my life, but... if he's going to destroy this world... Maybe he's better off dead."

Shankahar gives a sith-makar frown. "Does... he have to die?" He looks at Rune and Harkashan. "I think the Sunguard might have a point. Perhaps he, like Maxitia-Mayana, can be saved from himself."

"Thisss one believesss that compasssion isss posssible." He lifts his head and his green eyes are firm things. "Thisss one hasss faith that the godss of light are watching over our efforts, and know our heartsss. That they would not give usss a tasssk too great that we might find only failure here at the end. Thisss one mussst try."

Though that still leaves the question of where to find them. Maxitia-mayana and Runelei's nest-father. Then it occurs to him that he is being too narrow minded and he turns to Telamon. "Thisss one can asssk the Dragonfather. Thissss one can act asss a conduit for the quesstionsss. Sssurely He mussst know."

Telamon listens carefully, his expression calm, not showing any emotion. Serenity, above all else. When Nala looks at him in shock, Telamon simply nods, but makes a gesture to stifle any questions. Later. For now... there is work.

"It's possible," Telamon says a bit heavily. "But... it is one thing to be afflicted, and another to willingly embrace the darkness. We may not be able to save both." His eyes flick to Zeke again, but there's no reproach there, only agreement. "We will try. I think we owe it to ourselves, at least. Some of us have wandered dark places before finding our way here. We can't deny them the chance at redemption."

His eyes turn back to Nepantla. "You say he is covered by shadow, Honored One. But I do not fear the dark. Perhaps Leca'fi Amdamu might guide us to where we need to go?"

Aryia exhales out of her nose, casting a side glance to Nala as the cat is out of the proverbial bag. Suggestions of compassion are heard. "A broken nose tends to be a good persuasion to make people stop being a dick, I've found," she shrugs.

<Handspeech/Tongues>

There are aspects of how alternate worlds are created and destroyed that go well beyond Rune's comprehension. Even so, in this moment, this world is very much real, at least to those who dwell within it. If there is a way to save these people, then that is what matters. Her blue eyes flick to Nala, but she doesn't push any pressure on the girl just now. There would be time enough for her to make her decision before this story finds an end.

"If it is possible to reach him, we can try. Though, I imagine it would need to be you, to either turn him away from this path, or end his journey." It is a heavy burden.

As for the comment about shadows, Rune reaches beside her, drawing a few wispy strands around herself in the process. "I'm not afraid of shadows." Then, she turns to Zeke, nodding her head once to his suggestion.

The Goblin looks relieved, letting out a breath. "For a brief moment, I had thought you were saying you were Navos. His realm is essentially that which lies between... but between, and outside of, time. I am relieved at the clarification." Her expression softens. "What is the reason for Pothy doesn't want to... oh." A blink. "I think I understand." Her eyes widen.

Simony lets out a breath. "I think we're all about second chances here. Many of us have enjoyed such, how could we deny it to others? If they can be reached, we shall try. But... If push comes to shove..."

"It is, if anything, worth trying." Harkashan answers his and Rune's Alters. "And if we are lucky, he is the kind of man who enjoys talking about why he has been wronged and must do what he must do. I am sure you know the type." He motions with a clawed hand, as he moves and then puts his hand on Rune's head - messing up her hair.

"Monologuing about their great plans and ambitions like they're about to take over Charn? Yeah, I know the type," signs Yiara with a little roll of the eyes. "I agree with my twin." <Handspeech/Tongues>

Nepantla nods gently to Zeke and Telamon. "Asking the Dragonfather and navigating through dreams are both good ideas. This combination may lead the way to the golden ending you wish to find." Here, ever-briefly, Nepantla's eyes flicker golden.

Nala shudders a little, holding her arms. "I..." She speaks up at last, having been quiet for a little while. "I don't want to be the 'controller'. I just want to be an ordinary girl. I just want to live. I just want Zenny to come live with me and Telanmo after we get married." (This makes Telanmo blink, but a smile blooms across his face all the same.) "And then... We can host little tea parties for everyone. That's all I want."

Runelei frowns and she comes close to Nala, touching her shoulder comfortingly. "I want that, too," she says. And then she looks back at Rune with a smile. "I'm not afraid of shadows, either." Which makes sense. They are 'twins'.

"Are there any more questions that I might be able to answer?" Nepantla asks. "I must still attend to the rain festival, as thanks to your efforts, I live still to fulfill my responsibilities."

At the Great Dragon's final question, Simony raises her hand. "I have one, though it's a bit self-serving. But I am deeply curious." The Goblin inhales and exhales. "Just how many Simonys am I?"

Nepantla sounds amused with her answer. "A number beyond numbering," she says. "Even if you do not feel it and realize it. You are all of them. But you are also _you_."

-TBC