CHAPTER 24 – THE CRYSTAL SHORE
Second Age, Echo Realm
Down below, TAP lay on the ground, and watched a mile away, as Teddy continued unabated on his path. "Finally found you" came someone from behind, their face concealed by a white mask. "Crystallized Apricot" TAP gasped. The woman was quick with her hands, dusting her off. "Maiden-Mother, there is so much I want to confess …" she began but was cut off. "There's no time. You have to do something. See him over there … don't let him get to the shore and see the reflection" TAP pleaded, "take the red aurora". The light carried her swiftly to where the shore was, hovering over its surface. "It's time to get rid of this skin" she said, and the crystalized sugar that was her outer covering shed itself, and with her energy she collected it all into a single crystal. Teddy could see the natural lake waiting for him. Through the coastal neighborhood he came upon the shore, and just at the moment before a crystal plopped into the waters and a sheath of crystalized sugar like ice swept over it, veiling the reflection
"If this is the way it is, I accept it. Emotions and everything will just get in the way" Ostigim pleaded. Echo felt the weight of the decision. The memory of the sacrifice of the echo seal generation played in detail in her thoughts. "No … I won't let anything happen to you" she said and placed a hand upon her daughter's chest. Inside Ostigim the Circadian Annulment, the weapon that was forged to fray the avatar chain transferred from her body to its forger. The "ES" upon the chest of Echo lit with the incorporeal flame. The Couple saw that Nomi began to writhe, and behind them materialized the eyes of the mirror maze realm, and from them projecting a spell-beam. Then out of her thrust the seven avatars, each dangling by their position on the tread. Etheria was first, followed by the others, with the monk at its terminal. Upon their bodies the Couple ignited the flame of the spark of the ascension. They flew to Etheria, and each placed a hand upon her hand, transferring the element. Then Etheria's body was engulfed for a moment, and it vanished again and reappeared on Veles and continued down the chain to Ralamara. Sparks danced upon Nomi as it consumed her. The glitter ceased its egress and her face returned to normal, the eyes peering out at echo. "You came" she said. The patron looked down, at her chest, seeing the band-t-shirt, then looked back at the woman that slowly turned to ash. A waste, like a book being used for firewood.
Encroaching upon the galaxy, the white voids continued their unrelenting march. They breached the solar system, tearing patches away with ease. Agreeing to a temporary truce, the competing fleets turned tail and ran to safety through the soul-shell gateways of the SOTA into the interior. Echo looked and saw the flame of the spark of the ascension upon her parents, and it beckoned forth a white vacuum besides them. "We are being invited" Linden said to Melina, holding her hand. Total repose overcame their faces as they began towards it, being drawn inwards. Already, they were too far to reach. She closed her eyes and could hear a voice within her inner realm of silence whisper a suggestion. "Let's save them with Sade's talent" Visioness said, and an image formed of a knife piercing her hand and slashing a deep cut and a wound in space opening to receive them. From her side Echo withdrew the deer knife and held it over her palm. "This could be my last chance" she thought. Then she looked down at the palm of her hand, whole, awaiting the force of the blade. "I'm sorry … I can't take the pain" she yielded. Perspective navigated through the mirror maze until arriving through her parent's eyes she witnessed herself for a moment, and then they were gone. Etab grabbed hold of her waist, "Let's ditch this place!" and turned to carry her back to the bunker. Rider had just arrived besides Timecurrent and guided them through the fray.
Within the emptiness gravity welled up within the Couple, and they could feel the reappearance of the singularities. "One more spell" Melina said. The Dyson-SOTA activated, drinking in the surrounding sectors and their worlds, downloading them all. Forces soon took over, and their bodies became folded into the cells of the singularities. In the blank canvas of the vacuum, Anti-Mitosis took effect as the two became one. "That was a good distraction" thought Orchidia Everglow, her long blond hair flowing behind her as she watched the dancing of the prominences upon the corona, it's supple flesh ready to accept her as it's host, "I will be a happy parasite". The first trial of the cosmic tree, she was not one single individual, but many, the ring of paint, the never-ending cycle of the Coup d'état. Each holding the throne for a time until another would be birthed, severed from the icon in a temple, and rose to overthrow them. Not knowing the truth until their blade cut through the other, revealing not blood, but paint. Now the three ingredients, the essence of the echo bloodline through the True of the True Color of Mar, and the dust bloodline with the essence of Idea and the dream aether bloodline with the essence of Emzeser mingled inside her. In the digital realm she silenced Lifegiving Computer, after she had offered a good struggle. Laying upon a bed of coursing information, she placed her hand upon her forehead, expunging all memory, then hid in plain sight, allowing the other personality to awaken. "Enjoy your freedom" Orchidia thought, watching Zemmy gain her bearings, fleeing away into the digital. On Coffee Island, the patrons all gathered around Etab as he descended. "A little worse for wear, although I think we'll keep it. found this stray out back, and I thought she needed a home" Etab declared, to the laughter of the others. "Welcome back" Mar said, taking her hand, his blue eyes shining like a nebula that perished long ago, and Echo smiled, knowing she could never be alone with so much family
After a time of in the care of the patrons, Echo got up, and walked along a path. She found her body felt light. Then she slowly vanished.