CONCLUSION: wish full

[ximilian]

// CONCLUSION:wish full 

After Sabriel and Minimus report their discussions with the princess to the rest of the crew, one by one they begin to gather outside of the sacred caves — there, Yzak spots Queen Mother Xemiane, having arrived to wait until her granddaughter is found. He approaches and, in his usual straightforward way, explains the situation to her: that the pearl had made the queen disappear and despite Xoria’s best attempts, she had been unable to reverse the wish that she made in anger, not knowing that it would become real.

Xemiane is determined to follow him to where the pearl is, to see the cause of it all for herself — and, as the former monarch, she will put up with no arguments. As they swim deeper into the caves, a familiar pair comes across them: Minimus along with the princess, being escorted from the caves. As soon as Xoria notices her grandmother, she lets out a strangled wail and with astonishing speed, crosses the cave and throws herself at her Mia, who hugs her grandchild close.

“It’s okay, dear. No one is angry with you. You didn’t mean to do it. And now, I will find a way to your mother. Leave it to me.”

“Mia… they said — they said it can’t… it wouldn’t listen. Mom is just g-gone.”

Xoria struggles to get the words out in between small, miserable hiccups, her sea dragonling curling around her shoulder in a valiant attempt to provide comfort.

“If your mother is truly gone… then your father and I will support you, and we will get through this together. But let me try first.”

Xoria nods, and with some reluctance allows Minimus to pull her along to where the rest of the team has assembled. She peers up into their faces, averting her eyes at some, studying others, but it’s clear she’s looking for something or someone in particular: and then she sees them. Bucky and Eleven, two of the orbers with whom she remembers liking, who may be the closest thing to friends that she can think of … she swims towards them.

Still inside the caves, Yzak and Xemiane continue to speak.

● ● ●

Now, Yzak and Xemiane make their way through the archway within the cavernous tunnels to where a trident lies forgotten, half-buried in the sand bed. Next to it is Sabriel, and in a hole deep in the sand lies a round, unassuming pearl. It appears to be almost colourless, except for the faintest shade of lavender that glints back in the dim light.

Without waiting, Xemiane rushes forward and picks it up, her expression suddenly severe against the calm, amiable demeanour she has exhibited thus far.

“You took my daughter,” she says, every inch a queen, her tone sharp and commanding. “Now you will give her back.”

For a moment, nothing happens. And then the pearl in her hands begins to glow — purple smoke swirls within its confines, the glow slowly growing until the entire chamber is lit in hues of violet.

Xemiane seems to be listening to something, a voice only she can hear.

“Of course,” she says. And then without hesitation, she adds, “Just bring her back.”

The purple glow pulls its light into one concentrated tendril reaching out from the pearl and curling around Xemiane’s arm, coiling itself around the rest of her body until the Queen Mother becomes enveloped in its hue. Beside the trident, the air shimmers. Yzak and Sabriel have little else to do but watch as Xephia’s shape gradually emerges from that shimmer at the same time that Xemiane’s, in turn, begins to fade. For a moment, mother and daughter look at each other across the chamber. Xephia looks only confused to be back, but then, all at once, realization dawns on her.

“Mother, no—”

“It is best this way,” Xemiane says with a smile, her tone warm. Across her cheeks, around her eyes, a deep purple begins to bloom — the “tears” of a xrisora. “It was my carelessness that brought us here. And a queen never leaves a mess if she can help it.”

“Mother—” Xephia looks torn between happy and sad, grateful and grieving. There is so much more to say, but so little time to say it. “Thank you.”

Xemiane shakes her head; the movement is barely visible against the light.

“Be good to each other.” The Queen Mother speaks softly, but with the haste of one who knows she has little time left. “Tell her I’m sorry, and not to be too sad and miss me for too long— And for the hvalus’ sake, mind your tempers.”

The sound Xephia makes is somewhere between a laugh and a sob, but before she can even hope to say anything else Xemaine is gone. The silence of her absence is deafening, and though Xephia’s face is now flushed with purple, her movements are steady and strong as she swims to catch the now falling pearl; the glow has retreated back within the orb all at once, now pulsing faintly. For a long moment the queen says nothing, staring down at the pearl as her fingers flex around it briefly — the smallest sign of an anger quickly quelled.

“This has been promised for you,” she says eventually, turning to look at Yzak and Sabriel. Her gaze is steady. “And you will have it … in a moment. I have something I need to do first. Come.”

● ● ●

The moment the group exit the caves, there is a sudden shout and a little blur — it is, of course, the princess Xoria, colliding into her mother with a fierce crash. For a moment, the two of them clutch at each other, Xoria blubbering apologies and Xephia murmuring soft understanding.

But Xephia doesn’t languish in the reunion, knowing there is still much left to do. Still holding her daughter, the queen turns to look up at the orbers.

“Thank you for your assistance,” she says. “I’m afraid I was not as speedy in delivering you the pearl as I promised… but it is here now. But before I give it to you — Remi left me something else to give you.”

From the pocket of her dress, she pulls out three letters; two of them are sealed with an elaborate, beautiful wax “A”, but it is the third letter that she opens — instead of text, a swirl of blue light leaves the page… and with the spell, Remi’s voice suddenly carries through the water to each and every orber.

“Greetings. This is Remi d’Arbes. I don’t know when you will receive this message, but I hope for your sake and this world’s that it is soon. I have sealed the orb but that will only stop it from causing chaos on its own. The sooner you take it away, the better off this world will be.

“By the time you hear this, Aureliah and I have already moved on. We’re off to a world called Yusdale. I don’t know how likely it is that we come across each other naturally, but — I owe you a debt. Keep this letter. If you ever need my help, simply burn it. As long as one of your number carries the necklace or the earring my niece gifted you, we will be able to find you, wherever you are.

“I’ll see you when I see you. Good luck.”

During the broadcast of Remi’s message, Xephia locates Alina and Mal among the crowd and swims to them. To Mal, she gives the letter containing Remi's message. She offers Alina the other two letters.

“These are for you and someone called Rhys. Aureliah made me swear I would get them to you.”

Then she turns to Yzak and Sabriel.

“And now, the orb. It has been here far too long. Please… take it away.”

With these words, she deposits the pearl in Yzak’s offered palm — and like clockwork, the call of the station is not far behind.

The last thing the team hears as they are slowly teleported away, is Princess Xoria’s voice, confused:

“Mom … where’s Mia?”

● ● ●

Back on the station, it is perhaps a bittersweet reunion — the queen is returned, and the wish reversed… but, as ever, it is not without a cost, without sacrifice.

The cost to the team, however, for once has not been a big one: there has been no battle, no fights, no terrible injuries… aside from one in their number.

Viveca’s voice cuts through the hum of the teleportation machine.

// VIVECA

“Someone get him to the infirmary.”

While the white glow of the machine dies down, it is purple that illuminates the platform; in the middle of the air, the orb hangs as if suspended, its glow pulsing brightly.

// DEGAR

“I think you’ve had your share of bargains.”

Degar’s hand nabs it in mid-air, and absently, he throws it in the air like any old ball before catching it again, the glow disappearing so suddenly its absence is almost jarring.

// DEGAR

“Right, let’s get you out of here before anyone else has any more bad ideas.”

With that, he returns to the North Wing, its doors closing behind him, while Viveca stays behind to welcome the team back.

● ● ●

N O T E S

This is the end of the eighth mission! If your character goes back to review the mission file, they will notice that next to its name, a little check-mark in green has appeared.

This is not an official log — however, for the next two weeks, your characters have downtime on the station and all its locations (aside from the north wing) are available.

Players are encouraged to make their own logs for what they do during the downtime.

Should characters want to talk to Viveca or Degar, they can do so here.

Finally, your soundtrack for this conclusion: ♪

▶ NAV