CW:
-Implied workplace abuse
-Impled SA
-Light Racism
-Sexual Themes
-A Suicidal reference
In the dome, the fetus had lit up. It bled grey lightning, striking the dome. Its energy reverberated out into the rest of the realm.
The fetus stood up, its body beginning to take shape, "bring her to me," it called out in a voice like the driest desert in eternity.
"Yes my lady," Adolpha exclaimed.
"Of course, my lady," Donna added.
The two hands placed her on the ground. The hands changed to claws and they vanished, travelling upwards.
She narrowed her sharp, silver eyes, "Yer judgment'll come soon, 'Mara,"
---
"What's that?" Arnold asked.
The Resistance base was Arturia's Island from AKT II. It floated in the white and purple void, overlooking many worlds within the Realm as well as the grey and purple abyss below and the purple star growing above. Their island was equipped with canons, armour, and even a bridge with a captain's wheel. It was like they were on a pirate ship.
Arturia manned the wheel, though she was mostly holding it steady at the time. Arnold stood atop a mast, looking out with a monocular. Armina stood on the figurehead, her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed.
Her hair was even whiter than previously, with only about a third of black left. She wore a black coat and a silver breastplate.
Arnold leapt down from the mast, "Armina, there's-!"
"A sealed world," she stated. "Rather, it was,"
There had been a tiny flicker in the distance, but it grew into a portal emitting a bright silver light. Silver electricity fueled it as it formed right between the white and grey voids. The portal only revealed clouds of white, grey, and purple inside.
"D'ya think that be the key to reachin' the Core?" Arturia questioned, already directing the ship that way.
"I ain't concerned 'bout such things no more, but I'll bet that's where Amara an' that scum 're,"
Chapter XXVI
Lynception
AKT VII
Amongst the Clouds
"Crap!"
"We're gonna die!"
They were fine.
They looked left and right. They were on a metal platform, surrounded by clouds in the shape of a dome. They couldn't see anything. They tried peering through the clouds, but they moved with them.
"Come on, what's the twist?" Lyn questioned, placing her hand where her chin would be. "Nothin'? Borin',"
"Speak fer yerself," Amara responded, dusting herself off and trying to redo her pigtails. "It'd be mighty nice if I had a mir-,"
"'Scuse me!" a cleaned up version of herself called out, running through the clouds.
Amara blinked, pointing in her direction. Lyn shrugged and gave a nod.
They followed after the clean Amara. Through the clouds, they stepped over a Drescher logo. Amara didn't notice, but Lyn did, her eyes narrowed.
They reached a desk, a front desk to be exact. Amara's eyes shrunk, and tears formed.
"I'd like to schedule an interview with the Mondgreif fer her next visit?" clean Amara asked, struggling to lean over the desk with her height.
"Sorry Little Miss, but minors don't receive no appointments," the woman sitting at the desk chuckled, her voice like a cool, clear water in the desert. "Though y'all can come back in a year 'r two an'-,"
"(I'M) ((EIGHT))-(((TEEN)))!" she responded.
The woman sitting at the desk had long, wavy red-brown hair that covered one of her ocean blue eyes. She had caucasian skin with a beauty mark on her chin. She wore a white, button down blouse with a busier down collar and long, puffy sleeves, and a black long skirt. Around her neck was a bolo tie with the Drescher logo. Her grey slippers and mesh leggings couldn't be seen, but Amara could remember them.
Lyn snapped her fingers, "Oy, Patridiot,"
"I'll have you know, I'm the latest reporter at the Reisenest branch of The-,"
"National Drescher Papier, right?" the Front Desk lady asked, leaning forwards and resting both of her arms on the other, a smile on her face.
"Not like there's any other papier out there," Clean Amara remarked.
"Sorry, but when the Mondgreif is here she don't take no interviews,"
The clouds briefly covered the pair. Dirty Amara tried to look through anxiously. The clouds eventually opened again.
"Yer baaaaack again," she exclaimed.
"I know, I know, but ya could…let me in anyways," she responded, pulling herself up and leaning forward with a wink, ignoring that her feet were no longer on the ground.
"Yer cute, but the answers still no," She responded, shaking her head and shrugging. "That's out of my control,"
"How much?!" she insisted.
"More than ya could ever 'ford that's fer sure," she responded, turning her side to her, raising both hands and shaking her head.
"I'll keep comin' back, ya hear,"
"Funny, an' I'll keep tellin' ya what everyone else hears little miss,"
"Name's Amara Auer," she announced, reaching out her hand.
"Carina Thomas," she reciprocated.
When clean Amara shook her hand, she was clearly nervous. Her pale face turned a pinch of red. Carina could tell, cause she giggled a bit as she gently shook her hand.
"If this leads to sex I'm gonna kill myself," Lyn interjected, hunched over, eyes narrow, scarf frowning.
Dirty Amara coughed, "What the-!?"
The clouds expanded a bit. The Clean Amara ran off. Lyn opened a new portal.
"Well, this ain't what I'm lookin' fur. Let's-,"
"WAIT!" Amara responded, grabbing Lyn's arm. "C-can we stay here fer a bit, please,"
Lyn narrowed her eyes. Amara gave her puppy dog eyes.
Lyn narrowed further. Amara got puppier.
Lyn's eyes had practically vanished. Amara's were about to pop out of her head.
"FINE!" Lyn exclaimed, turning her back to her and closing the portal. "But I'm going to keep a relative distance so that I don't have to see this,"
Clean Amara returned.
"Yer reeeaaaal persistent ain't ya 'Mara,"
"'M-Mara?!" she exclaimed, turning bright red.
"Its cute dontcha think?" she stated, her chin in her hands.
"Wel…uh….listen, could I interview one of the Vassals that work here?"
"So thatcha build up yer repertoire of interviews, slowly workin' up the chain 'til ya get the Mondgreif?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, if I can't get to meet 'er right away, might as well-,"
"The Vassals don't do interviews. They're the busiest of bees. The Drescher Lords do interviews, but ya gotta be a big deal fer that,"
"Oh….um…," she responded, looking down. "Ya seem purty-,"
"Thanks,"
"I-I-I mean ya seem purty knowledgeable, I don't mean to compliment ya," she exclaimed, her hands behind her back, her body swatying left and right. "(It ain't wrong though),"
"Ya wanna intervieewww meeeee, 'Mara?" she asked, placing her finger on her beauty mark.
"If I-,"
"Queenless Cafe. Brunch. This Waxin' Crescent. Don't be late," she stated, handing her a note.
"O-...Okay! I-I'll be there!" she answered, running off.
Dirty Amara chased after her. Lyn followed, cringing from behind. The ground changed from metal, to a road. A car almost hit Lyn, but she grumpily flipped it over.
There was a faint ringing in the distance.
Clean Amara and Carina sat across from each other in the Queenless Cafe. Amara was the one sitting on the ground, on her knees, while Carina used the seats, her legs crossed.
"S-sorry I'm late. The bosses were quite angry today,"
"Ya could always chase a more interesting story if this one don't fit what they want?" Carina questioned, leaning forwards and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Nah, this is a side project fer me," she responded, twirling her left pigtail.
"Makes snes, whatcha written?" She asked, leaning forwards.
"Wrote the story on that Newspapier thief,"
"I think I missed that papier,"
"The one 'bout systemic censorship?"
"Must've been in the back pages?"
"The conspiracy piece 'bout underground deals between Zvezdens and some Drescher Lords?"
"Would they 've even published that?"
"Not really," she exclaimed, her head on the table.
She raised her head excitedly, "An' that's why I neeed this here interview,"
"I'm tellin' ya 'Mara, she don't see no one,"
"'Scept the ladies. The cute ones too, an' ya said-," she insisted, raising a finger to her cheek.
Carina looked down. Amara paused.
She waved away whatever she was saying, "Let's save that fer latte, how 'bout we talk 'bout ya instead. "
The pair were briefly covered by the fog yet again.
"How'd ya end up employed at the Reisenest Government buildin'?"
"Money was miiighty tight growin' up," she cheered up a bit and brushed back her hair.
"Small world," She chuckled.
"Didja know that there's water north of here too?"
"Well IIII'lll be, who'd of thought,"
"I had to pick up a lot of jobs. Helped that as a kid I was considered purty cute,"
"N-no surprise there," she responded a little flustered.
"An' then I got older, more options just opened up fer me," she continued, flashing a wink. "An' at one of 'em, a Drescher told me I'd be perrrfect fer this job,"
As Amara was enamored in old memories, Lyn couldn't help but notice the clouds expanding around them again. She went and swiped a dream coffee in the dream cafe since the option was available.
"How do ya drink without a mouth?" Dirty Amara asked.
"With the power of Sha Dup. Whenever ya have a question, just focus on those words ahn you'll know what to do,"
She flattened her eyes, "uh huh,"
They followed the pair outside. What they could see of the city was much less foggy than normal. Amara and Carina walked beneath rose coloured trees where the lamps were supposed to be. There were even plains of grass in place of the roads.
"What's it like workin' fer Adolpha and Donna?"
"Tough. They're purty mean an' demandin',"
"Have ya thought 'bout quittin'?"
"I could, but there ain't no other jobs in journalism here,"
"Hear there're more options in Rem," she commented, taking a drink of coffee.
"Can't go there. Adlernest is…welll…-,"
Carina smiled, turned to her, her face right in front and her hand in her's, "Wanna go fer a jog?"
"R-right now!?"
"Yeah, lets go!" she exclaimed, pulling her along.
They two ran off, a bright smile on Carina's face while she ran Amara ragged. Amara tried to follow along, but she was two slow. The pair vanished into the clouds.
The clouds expanded yet again.
"Armina, this is my Girlfriend Carina," She introduced, her face completely red.
"Pleasure to meet ya, 'Mara talks 'bout ya lots," Carina greeted, reaching out a hand.
"Why thanks, she don't talk 'boutya much though," Armina responded, shaking back, an eyebrow raised at her sister.
"Why's that?" she questioned, raising her eyebrow too.
"(By Omnes, Arturia, I'll getcha fer this). Ya see…," she tried to explain, looking back and forth between the two.
Carina laughed into her hand, "No worries, I getcha,"
The three walked on. They past through Lyn on their way back to the cafe.
"So Carina, I hear ya work at a Drescher Government Buildin'?" Armina questioned, a slight grump under her breath.
Amara shrunk.
"That I do,"
"Amara ain't causin' ya no trouble is she?"
"Just the right amount," she stated with a smirk and a wink.
"An' uh….," Armina questioned before whispering into her ear.
Carina's eyes shrunk.
She whispered back. Armina sighed and whispered again.
Both Amara's and Lyn tried to listen in. Even Lyn couldn't get through the growing ringing.
The fog covered them. Once it clear, the lovers were standing in front of an apartment door.
"Yer sis seems lovely," she complimented, brushing her hand against Amara's cheek.
"Ya don't have to be so nice. I know she can be a bit of a mudstick,"
"No no, she's great. She cares an' worries 'bout ya. She's got a good head on 'er shoulders, an'....she's…aware,"
"Aware of what?" she questioned, holding her hand.
"How…great ya 're,"
"welll I am pretty great," she exclaimed, raising her chin and smiling confidently.
"Ya really 're…," Carina agreed, placing her mouth on her's.
Amara kissed her back. The two pressed against each other. Amara unlocked the door. Carina picked her up and led her into-.
Lyn whipped the door closed, "Nope!"
"OY!" Amara exclaimed, both hands raised.
"Yer spendin' way too much time with me Patridiot,"
They heard a phone ring. Amara's heart sunk, Lyn's eyes narrowed.
They opened the door and snuck into the messy dark apartment. Amara picked up the phone.
"'Mara…," Carina called over the line.
"Everythin' okay 'Rina?"
"Yeah….just reeeaally busy today,"
"Feel that, with the Mondgreif suddenly bein' there an' all. Security must be a mess,"
"Yeah…I don't have a lot of time…Just thought I'd talk to ya fer a moment,"
"It's no problem. I'll wait up fer ya tonight,"
"Thankya,"
"No, Thank youuu,"
The fog cracked.
Dirty Amara ran off, leaving the clean Amara in the fog. She ran over to the door. Lyn chased after her.
"Oy!"
Amara reached the door. She opened it and heard a sharp ring in her ears.
On the other side of the door, Carina stood. Her clothes and hair were disheveled, water and tears dripped off of her. Rain echoed in the distance.
"'Rina!" Clean Amara exclaimed. "What happened 're-?"
"Do ya still wanna hear… 'bout…her…?"
"I-I don't think now is-?" she answered, her voice shaking, her eyes darting left and right in confusion.
"I'm leavin', 'Mara,"
More cracks formed.
"Will ya come with me?"
She paused, "...I can't,"
"Now is the only time. I'm sorry," she responded, shaking her head, her lips quivering.
Her's quivered too. She took a breath in through her nose and led her in.
Dirty Amara rushed down the halls.
"Quit runnin' Patridiot!" Lyn called out, chasing after her in a brisk pace.
They reached the outside, down the stone steps. Amara watched Carina get in an automobile. Both of them watched her leave, but she didn't look back.
The world cracked again.
"Amara Aurer," Donna called out from nowhere. "Are you familiar with the woman who worked at the front desk of the Reisenest Government Building?"
"N-," Amara exclaimed before Lyn pulled her over with her wire.
Lyn pointed her fingers out, "Grift 1 ahn Grift 2, finally showin' yerselves aye,"
"We know that you knew her. So we ask, 'Where did she go?'!" Adolpha added.
"Ya have family right? We don't want to have to ask them too,"
Amara looked down, tears on her face, "I don't know….I really don't…,"
"Its a shame really. We thought you loved your country-,"
"OY!" Lyn called out. "Ever heard of Sha dup! Its great for morons like ya that ask too many questions!"
"Ugh….this Mede is such a pain!" Donna exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Donna. We'll resolve this problem shortly!"
A giant metal claw broke through the ground, grabbing at the pair. Lyn jumped off of it. She latched onto a building with her whip and SWUNG away.
Another claw broke out, sending the debris right at them. Lyn dodged it with the flick of her cape. {Light reference to DMC Devil May Cry}.
The two claws went together down on her as two heads came out. Lyn countered with her ruler, holding the behemoth back.
"Chin up Patridiot, I've got this," she commented, gritting her teeth.
Eyes widened, Amara rushed off so that Lyn could have the floor. Before them was a MASSIVE metal torso with two Drescher heads. Lyn kicked them back.
"Give yourself up. You only incur your own judgment!" They screeched in unison, their yells shaking the world, their claws raised.
She pointed her fingers their way, "And yer judgments interest me not!" {reference to Devil May Cry 4}.
To Be Continued...…