Chapter Text
Silence followed Meulin Leijon as she traversed the sugar pathways winding through the Land of Little Cubes and Tea. Though she was unable to hear it, the sound of a cold waterfall roared in the distance and flowed freely from a spring high up in the mountain. From that spring, a river made of the sweetest of sweet teas carved the landscape, which seemed to Meulin like a tantalizing piece of dark, oolong-flavored yarn unraveling against the brilliant white terrain. The thought made her laugh in a loud burst, emanating from her chest. She could feel it in her throat, but of course the sound never reached her hearing ducts.
Meulin's laughter echoed around the sugar dunes and piqued the interest of a few double-mouthed imps who loitered in the valley. As saccharine and colorful as her planet was, there were certainly dangers lurking around every teapot. After three sweeps of climbing the echeladders and doing battle with the underlings, the oliveblooded troll was used to the sight and smell of them. Even as they ventured closer, she could avoid them with expert precision.
Leaping up onto the handle of a hive-sized porcelain teapot, Meulin pulled herself up to climb and jump with an ease that would make her lusus purr with pride. Perched at the top of the lid, she got a good view of the enemies before her. She counted nine imps and if she was clever, she would only need to slay one or two of them to get away –
hey!
hey you!
Huh? Meulin blinked. Something echoed in her thinkpan, fleeting in a way that made her unsure if it had it happened at all. She lifted her head, looking around with a puzzled expression. One of the imps caught her eye and almost seemed concerned for her, if that were possible. Meulin then turned her attention to the sugar-snow landscape, and called out.
MEULIN: (^・o・^) < HELLO? DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING?
Silence. Not that she expected anything different. Perhaps it was just her imagination or another pesky case of the pan-fuzzies she was prone to. She took a moment to rub her temples, but the fuzziness was not present. This –- whatever it was –- was a different sensation. Maybe the imps gained a new ability while she wasn't looking?
hi meulin! don't be afraid
i know you can't hear me but i'm waiting for you in the furthest ring
please find an oppurrtunity to nap… i n33d to talk to you!
the fate of you and all your friends depends on it…
s33 you soon! :33
The exact wording was lost on Meulin; however, the esoteric urgency of the message could be felt. She rubbed at her hearing ducts with uncertainty. Something was reaching out to her, there was a message she was supposed to be receiving... and it was leaving her with the strangest urge to nap. At a time like this? How silly!
Another giggle bubbled up within her, feeling calmer as she processed the absurd idea of sleeping right now. Meulin was easily prepared to ignore it, already in the process of thrusting it onto the endless pile of strange thoughts and impulses and memories she was accustomed to discarding. What she needed to focus on was escaping these imps.
Taking a deep breath to center herself, Meulin bent her head and shifted her footing against the smooth teapot lid, when it suddenly gave out from under her.
MEULIN: (^°O°^) < 33P!!!!!!!!!!
She was slipping -- no, she was falling! Her rotund, sweater-clad form dropped like a sack of yarn into the barrel of the teapot. Instead of splashing waist-deep into cold-brew tea as she expected, Meulin landed abruptly on her tush. Before she could react, she instantly began to slide down a vast polished pipeline that wound deep underground. Further and further the bright light of the surface slipped away as Meulin was speedily plummeted deep into the planet's depths. Perhaps she cried out for help but it all happened so fast, she couldn't be sure.
OOF.
Suddenly, Meulin landed, tumbling tail over tea kettle onto a maroon cobblestone floor. Ow, ow, ow! She could tell that her horn was banged up and her vision spun. Meulin lifted her head with a mouthful of sugar. Coughing it up, she hurriedly wiped the grittiness away, her skin now sticky with it. As she regained her bearings, Meulin came to a few very sudden realizations.
One: She had never explored her planet this deeply. She was lost and uncertain of how she was going to make it back to the surface.
Two: She was kneeling in the lair of her planet's Denizen. The great serpentine form of Psyche was coiled in a pile of herself, the seemingly endless sea of pearlescent scales that she was. There did not seem to be a beginning or end to her form… in fact, she seemed to be slumbering and did not to Meulin's sudden arrival to her lair.
Three: Meulin was scared. In fact, she was frozen with fear. In spite of that, she managed to find her voice.
MEULIN: (^O∆O^) < OH NO, OH NO…
MEULIN: (^O∆O^) < IT'S PSYCHE'S LAIR! DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME SHE WOULD POUNCE AND EAT ME IF I CAME TO TALK TO HER?
MEULIN: (^>×<^) < MEOW-OW… WHO SAID THAT? IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER…
Meulin clutched at her thinkpan with her eyes squeezed shut, trying to mentally cycle through faces and conversations she had recently. Perhaps it was Aranea or Porrim who had said it, or maybe Meenah? Try as she might, Meulin's grasp on her own timeline was all muddled together. The more she dwelled on it, the dizzier it made her. Eventually, her arms dropped to her side, but her palms were clammy with determination.
MEULIN: (^>×<^;;) < PFFFT FOCUS, MEULIN!!! WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS? SHOULD I YOWL FOR HELP?
MEULIN: (^O∆O^) < NO WAIT, THAT MIGHT WAKE HER UP!
MEULIN: (^>∆<^) < OH FRICK, AM I WAKING HER NOW? AM I TOO LOUD?
Her panicked voice echoed loudly through the chamber but as Meulin clapped her own mouth shut, the Denizen did not stir. Surely she was alive, though? The troll could feel the great reverberation of her breathing against the soles of her feet. After a few moments of holding her mouth closed, yellow eyes wide with anticipation… the oliveblood slowly lowered her hand. As the seconds became a minute, her heart palpitations were calming. When Psyche still did not wake, Meulin dared to breathe a little bit easier.
Her eyes skirted over the expanse of the dimly lit chamber. The only source of light were pink crystal sconces protruding from the walls. At the moment, they were dimmed and cast only enough light that she knew what lay directly ahead of her. If she took the time to peer closely at them, the crystals seemed to flicker in time to the erratic rhythm of her heartbeat. The platform upon which her Denizen slept seemed to resemble a tea saucer. There, she could make out the multicolored tiles of a mosaic, glittering dimly with every color under the sun. Taking a few tentative steps around her massive form, Meulin spotted a darkened archway with stairs leading to a lair above. An escape!
Walking on the tips of her toes and keeping her back to the wall, Meulin began the tedious task of circling the room. She was so focused on her pace and doing her best not to disturb the piles of sugar scattered around, she did not notice a dark troll-like figure lurking in the stairway she was moving towards. Their features, shrouded in deep shadow, were impossible to make out. However, the pink yarn ball clasped in their hand was unmistakable.
With eyes trained on her Denizen, Meulin was helpless to notice the pink ball of yarn sailing through the air. It flew overhead in a dramatic arc, landing precisely between her two cone-like horns. Upon contact, as if induced by magic or some other sorcery, Meulin’s conscious mind blinked out. Her knees buckled, unable to hold her any longer and the oliveblood collapsed onto one of the nearby sugar piles, fast asleep.
The figure then entered the room, approaching Meulin as she slumbered, unaware…
Meulin could feel herself flying. Her mind was a whirl of colors, distant scents, and the memory of sound that could almost be heard as if it were trapped underwater. Her eyes remained closed, however. Meulin slept on, flying through an unknown space on instinct alone. She followed her nose in the dream, tugged along by the promise of familiarity.
Sea salt at moonset. She was happy.
A carnival by the sea. Meulin was excited! The unknown called to her.
She rested her head against someone’s shoulder. It made her heart ache.
??????: :33 < meulin! wake up!
Meulin startled, her eyes snapping open in surprise. The sensation of a voice piercing her mind ebbed away and as her consciousness suddenly flooded with focus, she realized she was still suspended in the air. The slippers of her feet were at least three feet off the ground and the hem of an elegant purple satin gown billowed around her. Since when did she have time to change into pajamas? Around her was the stunning sight and smell of a Beforan seaside carnival at moonset, the exact one she had pictured in her dream. The boardwalk! She was home!
In her excitement, Meulin instinctively landed onto the dock. Then, her eyes widened as she saw that she was not alone.
A lone figure stood a short distance away. As they lifted a gloved hand in greeting, Meulin thought she had never seen a prettier troll in all her life. This troll had short, wild, chin-length hair and cone-like horns identical to Meulin’s own. They wore a magenta mask and hoodie, the widest, friendliest smile on their face. Even more stunning, a pair of olive-colored insectoid wings sprouted from their back. With every step, they left behind a faint trail of glitter.
Meulin clutched at her face, in complete awe of the beautiful stranger.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < OH. MY. GOSH!!!!!!!!! AM I DREAMING??? HAVE I DIED AND ASCENDED TO YON MIRTHFUL PARADISE?
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < ARE YOU REAL? ARE YOU… AN ANGEL????????? OM-FUR-LICKING-GOSH, HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU HOW PURRETTY YOU ARE???
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < WHO ARE YOU??????????
She waved her arms like a mad woman, her shouting making it across the buffet of the sea breeze. Her words made the other troll laugh, suddenly prompting them to launch themselves to leap through the air. Their wings carried them as they sailed through the air. She could not hear their words but she could feel them as the olive troll flung herself at Meulin.
??????: :33 < 333333333!!! meulin! you're awake! i'm so happy to finally m33t you!!! :DD
With the strength of a mighty lioness, the fairy troll crashed into her with a tremendous POUNCE. Meulin herself was suddenly knocked off her feet and pinned onto the ground, laughing even as the wind was knocked out of her. The pain was sweet!
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < OOF! YEOW WOW, YOU ARE SO STRONG! IF I WAS A WILD HOOFBEAST, I WOULD DEFURNATELY BE SLAIN!
The olive troll looked triumphant, grinning wider as she laughed too. She sat back in a crouch, allowing Meulin the chance to sit up. As she rested her weight against her tippy-toes and knuckles, she seemed comfortable with the cat-like pose. Meulin was so full of awe and admiration of the cat-troll, she felt breathless.
??????: :33 < h33 h33, thank you!
??????: :33 < as soon as i saw you, i could barely contain my excitement! i wasn’t sure that you were coming
??????: :33 < but now you’re here! i think that’s a sign that our plan could work!
She rose to her feet then, extending a hand out to help Meulin up as well.
??????: :33 < my name is nepeta! i'm both your ancestor and your descendant… it’s kind of weird but trust me! fate has brought us together so that we can help one another
NEPETA: :33 < i have waited for the chance to sp33k with you for a long, long time!
Now that they were standing, Nepeta took both of Meulin’s hands to give them a squeeze. Meulin didn’t know why but she was compelled to squeeze them back. Her eyes were still shining.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < NEPETA… THAT’S SUCH A PURRETY NAME! YOU ARE MAYBE THE MOST LOVELIEST TROLL I HAVE EFUR EFUR MET
MEULIN: (✧o✧) < I’M JUST……… SO CONFUZZLED THAT IT’S OVERWHELMING! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS! LIKE… HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? WHY DO I F33L LIKE I KNOW YOU? ARE YOU FROM THE FUTURE??? WHERE AM I????????? DID I DIE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY WOKE UP PSYCHE?
MEULIN: (✧o✧) < YOU SAID YOU’RE BOTH MY ANCESTOR AND MY DESCENDANT… HOW DOES THAT WORK??? WHAT PLAN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? 333333333 I F33L LIKE SUCH A DUMMY ASKING ALL THESE QUESTIONS!!! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
Nepeta rocked on the balls of her feet, matching Meulin’s erratic energy despite herself. Her wings fluttered in all the excitement, her smile never fading.
NEPETA: :33 < it’s okay! i purromise things will make sense, i just n33d a chance to explain myself
She then took a moment to look around, looking up and down the beach, the docks, and the carnival behind her. Her eyes were bright with curiosity, but a strange uncertainty too.
NEPETA: :33 < is this your memory of your home planet? it's very purretty!
NEPETA: :33 < would you like to show me around? i can explain along the way
Meulin’s eyes sparkled with further excitement, now taking Nepeta’s hand for herself. She had never had a chance to show anyone new around her old stomping ground. This was a rare opportunity.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < YES, HELL YES! HELL FURREAKING YES! I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU AROUND!!!
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < LET ME BE YOUR GUIDE FOR THE COALITION COAST CARNIVAL GROUND… AND THEN YOU CAN BE MINE IN YOUR BUSINESS OF MYSTIQUE AND DESTINY!
Nepeta laughed as Meulin rushed off, following close behind her.
NEPETA: :33 < it’s a done deal!
Time did not follow as the two trolls had fun. As Meulin showed her the ring toss and the Merry-Go-Round, Nepeta talked about her home planet of Alternia. She told her of the forests she’d hunted beasts in and the cave she and her beloved Pounce de Leon had made their hive in. It was so far away from any kind of civilization, that she’d only had blood and charcoal to paint with!
Compared to Meulin’s own home of Beforus, it sounded like an awful place to grow up. When Meulin pointed it out, Nepeta had agreed wholeheartedly. Meulin, in turn, told her about her wrigglerhood growing up in West Beforus. She talked about her old townhive dormitory where she had gone to schoolfeeding with the other olivebloods, how her lusus would walk her to class every day and wait to pick her up.
However, dim seasons when feeding was out were the best! Meulin talked for what seemed like hours about all the fun she would have playing on the boardwalk. It was there she’d met her best friend! So wrapped up in her story that she was, Meulin did not notice the pained and wistful look that had fallen on Nepeta’s face.
She sighed as they rode the Ferris wheel together. It was perpetually moonset here, the brilliant light of the Beforan moon dousing everything in a warm shade of pink. Meulin peered at the other troll, now searching for the words she might be saying.
MEULIN: ฅ(๑’Δ’๑) < OH NO, NEPETA! WHAT’S WRONG? ARE YOU SAD?
Nepeta, hearing the concern in her voice, smiled apologetically and bumped her shoulder up against Meulin’s.
NEPETA: :33 < i guess i am a little sad! alternia wasn’t the kind of home where i could picture myself or any of my furriends living so peacefully
NEPETA: :33 < you didn’t even have to hunt beasts to survive or worry about being culled by drones!
NEPETA: :33 < it r33ly sounds like paradise… too good to be true…
She was looking wistful again. Meulin tilted her head with a note of confusion, still not understanding the source of Nepeta’s despondence.
MEULIN: (^・o・^)ノ < OH BUT PEOPLE GOT CULLED ALL THE TIME ON BEFURUS! ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE HURT, OR LOST YOUR LUSUS, OR IF YOU WERE A LOWBLOOD AND A HIGHBLOOD THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU
MEULIN: (^・ω・^) < YOU WOULD FIND YOURSELF SADDLED WITH A CULLEFACTOR LICKITTY SPLIT! THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FURRIEND, KANKRI
MEULIN: (^・ω・^) < THE STORY GOES THAT HE WAS A MUTANTBLOOD WHO WAS CULLED UPON HATCHING! I THINK HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE IMPERIAL ORPHANARIUM? IT’S ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THEY NEFUR LET YOU LEAVE BECLAWS YOU’RE THE EMPRESS’S PURRSONAL WARD
MEULIN: (¬ω¬) < OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT… IT’S IN THE PAST NOW, ASHES TO ASHES AND FLUFF TO FLUFF AS THEY SAY H33 H33!
Nepeta fell quiet, processing this bit of exposition. She responded thoughtfully, her eyes trained on some unforeseen distant horizon.
NEPETA: :33 < it’s strange how different our two worlds can be… yet so much stays the same
NEPETA: :33 < i think you are very sw33t, meulin, and you are so inspiring to me!
NEPETA: :33 < the universe might try to tell us that the gentleness in our hearts does not serve the game or our friends or even ourselves…
NEPETA: :33 < we are told over and over again that we are doomed to fail… but i think they are wrong!
NEPETA: :33 < you are more capable and stronger than even you might realize… and i want to help you!
NEPETA: :33 < that is my quest! i am here to set you upon the path of realizing your true potential
NEPETA: :33 < you are going to be the one who saves all of your friends, just like i have saved mine!
Meulin watched once again with awe, her excitement mounting as Nepeta pushed herself free from her seat on the Ferris wheel, taking flight with a little flutter of her wings. She turned back and gestured to her to follow. Meulin followed eagerly, her silk gown billowing around her in the memory of the ocean breeze.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < NEPETA, THIS SOUNDS AS WONDERFUL AS IT IS MYSTERIOUS! I WOULD BE SO HONORED TO ACCEPT A MYTHOLOGICAL QUEST FROM MY BEAUTIFUL AND WISE DEMI-GODDESS DESCENDANT-SLASH-ANCESTOR!!! I JUST HAVE ONE THING I HAVE TO ASK…
MEULIN: (✧o✧) < WHAT DO MY FRIENDS N33D SAVING FROM AGAIN?
Nepeta dropped down onto the dock again, this time taking a seat along the railing. Her little blue felt tail dangled over the edge as she kicked her green boots. Meulin rushed over to sit at her side, making a mental note to make a slight adjustment to her future wakeful outfit.
NEPETA: :33 < well… furst things furst…
NEPETA: :33 < you should know that the game that you and all your friends are playing is null! that is, it’s doomed to never bear the fruit of a new universe
NEPETA: :33 < your denizen is not meant to wake and truth be told, your dream self is not supposed to wake up either; the battle of light and dark cannot be won!
NEPETA: :33 < very soon, the leaders of your group will discover this truth and come to one conclusion: that you must reset the universe with the Scratch
NEPETA: :33 < and the only way to purrserve your souls is for all of you to die the instant the Scratch is complete!
NEPETA: :33 < only then can the game be played with a team that is tougher and more likely to potentially win the game… but you and your friends?
NEPETA: :33 < you stay dead for billions of sweeps, nourishing the eldritch horrors beyond the veil with the psychic agony you generate for infinity and a time
NEPETA: :33 < it’s… r33ly kind of awful :((
Meulin’s expression fell. For the first time since meeting Nepeta, she was frowning as she attempted to process the heaviness of the information she'd been given. Still, her pleasant attitude refused to be diminished.
MEULIN: (=xェx=) < WELL… HOPEY SHIT! YOU’RE NOT KITTEN AROUND!!!
MEULIN: (^・x・^) < I’M NOT GONNA LIE THE TAIL YOU HAVE SPUN FROM THESE GRIM TIDINGS PURRETY MUCH SUCK THR33 WAYS TO THE FLEA DIP
MEULIN: (=xェx=) < AND YOU SAY I AM MEANT TO SAVE EFURRYONE SOMEHOW? NOW THAT’S ONE TALL ORDER!
NEPETA: :33 < ummm…
Nepeta bunched her shoulders, her hands clutching at her knees like she didn’t know how to pick her next few words.
NEPETA: :33 < weeell… not exactly…
NEPETA: :33 < you’re not *meant* to save everyone
NEPETA: :33 < in fact, if it were up to the powers that be, you wouldn’t be meant do *anything*
NEPETA: :33 < the events of your story would play out as i have said before and… that would be it for you
NEPETA: :33 < wouldn’t you like an oppurrtunity to change your fate? don't you have something or someone you would do anything to save?
NEPETA: :33 < psyche asked me once…
NEPETA: :33 < what, o’ hero of heart, is your heart’s desire? what is your truth?
Meulin fell silent at this question. There was no way to be certain how to answer the question presented to her so directly. It resonated deep within her, deeper than Meulin ever dared to delve. These secret depths within were harrowing and alluded to some kind of answer that lay buried, an answer she did not currently have the power to unearth. However, with Nepeta’s unwavering faith at her side, perhaps it could one day soon be explored just as she'd finally explored her planet, after all this time.
She could feel herself grow excited at the prospect. The smile returned to her face.
MEULIN: (=｀ω’= ) < I MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR MYSTICAL QUESTION… BUT FOR SOME REASON, I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND OUT!
MEULIN: ヽ(=^・ω・^=)ノ < JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO, O WISE AND WHISKERED ONE! I’M READY TO SINK MY CLAWS INTO WHAT TERRIBLE TASKS YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR ME
MEULIN: ヽ(=^ω^=)ノ < THE GREAT QUESTING BEAST SHALL BE KICKED INTO SUBMISSION WITH FIERCE AND STEADFAST PAWS POST HASTE! MISTRESS VICTORY SHALL KNOW OUR NAME!
Nepeta laughed. Meulin's words seemed to lift some invisible weight on her heart. Her wings fluttered behind her. She could not be more certain that this iteration of her dancestor was more than ready for the quest that lay beyond.
NEPETA: :33 < that's the spirit, meulin!!! i'm supurr happy you have agr33d to take on this quest... somehow, i knew you would!
NEPETA: :33 < i can say from experience that the path you have chosen will not be an easy one
NEPETA: :33 < you will be tested and pushed past the breaking point; you will face trials and tribulations set to challenge who you are, the purrson you are at your very core as well as the strength of your conviction
NEPETA: :33 < but if you stay within the parameters of our Deal, if you k33p your courage and maintain the faith of who you are, you will be sure to achieve all that your heart desires and more! you will have an unyielding understanding of yourself and you will have saved your friends from a terrible fate!
NEPETA: :33 < i know that sounds r33ly vague... but here's the thing
NEPETA: :33 < due to a bunch of stuff that has already happened and purretty much doesn't matter anymore, reality is unraveling at the seams... but now we are presented with a unique oppurrtunity!
NEPETA: :33 < we get to do whatever the furricking heck we want!!! we don't even n33d to s33k an audience with psyche to make our Choice
NEPETA: :33 < my friends and i have managed to stabilize our own offshoot timeline and let me tell you, it was not easy to do
NEPETA: :33 < our next step is to help you do the same! the more gods we get for our cause, the more of paradox space we can manipulate for our purrposes
NEPETA: :33 < we believe that the synchronization of hearts across the sessions can create a gate to the end of the game; we would be able to leave once and fur all! the only thing we n33d to do is work together!!!
Meulin marveled at the prospects placed before her. While a lot of Nepeta’s explanation felt beyond her current purview, she could certainly understand the concept of her teammates needing to work together. Still, she tilted her head.
MEULIN: (^@_@^) < YOWL I'M CONFUSED AGAIN... DO YOU MEAN IF WE… AS IN ALL OF US… DIE ON OUR RESPECTIVE QUEST BEDS, WE CAN SURVIVE THE SUPURR MEGA APAWCATLYPSE PART TWO???
MEULIN: (^@-@^) < DANG… IT STILL KINDA SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF DYING IS INVOLVED
MEULIN: (=TェT= ) < R.I.P MEOWTHERFUCKERS...
Nepeta shook her head and gave a little tug of reassurance on the sleeve of her gown.
NEPETA: :33 < no, not exactly! i mean efurryone will have to reach god tier in the end, fur sure... but it's more than that
NEPETA: :33 < in order to achieve the level of synchronization that i’m talking about, you must assume your role as the Mage of Heart to guide your friends through the heaps of emotional suffering that is hindering their progress as heroes
NEPETA: :33 < your mission is to cultivate the withered gardens of their hearts and have them partake of the healing power of Tea
NEPETA: :33 < only then can you ascend the highest echeladders offered by your class and become the Devoted Matchmagistra you were always meant to be!
Meulin’s cheeks puffed as her confusion could only increase threefold.
MEULIN: (^@x@^) < GARDENS… TEA… HEALING… FFFT THESE ESOTERIC METAPHORS CAN BE SO CONVOLUTED SOMETIMES…
MEULIN: (=｀A’= ) < CAN’T ANYTHING EFUR BE STRAIGHTFORWARD FUR ONCE???
The other oliveblood stifled a giggle, shaking her head with further apology.
NEPETA: :33 < sorry… this is how these things go sometimes! parsing the riddles is part of the hero’s journey i think
NEPETA: :33 < sometimes you just have to go along with it!
NEPETA: :33 < luckily, your quest itself is more self-explanatory; i think you will be very pleased with this next part!
Meulin’s shoulders bunched up with anticipation, shifting on her perch against the rail like she could barely contain herself. After working out some of the wiggles, she sat up straight and met Nepeta’s eyes with intent.
MEULIN: (=｀ω’= ) < LAY IT ON ME, MY SW33T PURRECIOUS KITTYSISTER! I’M READY!
At Meulin's declaration. Nepeta placed her hands together in an eager clap. She seemed to steel herself for what looked like the lore drop of a lifetime. Just like Meulin, she appeared to be similarly unable to contain her own excitement. Then she began speaking.
NEPETA: :33 < *the mighty rogue of heart presses her paws together in d33p contemplation, purrparing to bestow the nature of the Quest onto the courageous shoulders of the heroine… in accepting this responsibility, our fates now rest in her humble paws*
NEPETA: :33 < *ac will first gift to her the tool of her craft which all mages must possess in order to m33t their obligation; this conduit has been imb-mew-ed with connection to the aspect of heart and shall aid her in the journey to come*
As she spoke, Meulin’s eyes widened as a strange pink energy began to light and pulse between Nepeta’s gloved palms. The power emitting from her hands seemed to generate a pink-hued haze around her form. In the instant she was expecting something to happen, a small object was being pulled into existence in a flash of white light.
NEPETA: :33 < behold o’ valiant mage! the Dreams of Psyche tarot deck!
NEPETA: :33 < this artifact will be instrumental on your quest; to use it, you only n33d to channel your own intuitive understanding of your aspect
NEPETA: :33 < let the wisdom housed in your heart be your guide!!!
Without further ado, Nepeta held out the Dreams of Psyche tarot deck to Meulin. Her eyes became dazzled in reverence of the holy object. The back of the top card was iridescent, brilliant with a patterned sheen which reminded her of shimmering butterfly wings. The symbol of the aspect of Heart created an elegant mosaic tiling pattern that reminded her of the platform which her denizen slept upon. Meulin accepted the gift with delicate fingers, first holding the treasure between her palms then clutching it lovingly to her chest.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < IS THIS… FUR ME? FUR REAL???
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < NEPETA… THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT ANYONE HAS EFUR GIVEN TO ME
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < PLEASE… TELL ME WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO USE THIS FUR
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < WHAT IS MY QUEST?
Coy as a cat, Nepeta held one knuckled hand up to the corner of her chin. She then winked as if it emphasizes the wonder and mystique found in her next string of words.
NEPETA: :33 < ;33
NEPETA: :33 < like i said befur, your friends are being hindered by the suffering perpetuating in their hearts; to make matters more difficult and more impossible, there are forces at work actively ensuring the utter destruction of your session… your fate is all but set in stone!
NEPETA: :33 < however, the completion of this quest will grant you the one and only chance for the heroes in your session to achieve synchronization and finally make it out of the game
NEPETA: :33 < you must use your specific expertise and wisdom in the aspect of heart to guide them through the obstacles that prevent the maturation of their souls…
NEPETA: :33 < they must create connections and interpurrsonal bonds that stir their passions, inspire them to weather the storm, and thus, allow the best parts of themselves to flourish
NEPETA: :33 < lucky for us, we already have use of a culturally supported institution that functions to promote the well-fare of individuals within trollkind society…
NEPETA: :33 < just a little thing called… troll serendipity
NEPETA: :33 < ;33
Meulin’s eyes were as round as saucers. When words found her again, her voice was little more than a whisper. A loud whisper.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < YOU DON’T MEAN…
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < MY GREAT AND LEGENDARY QUEST…
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < TO SAVE ALL MY FRIENDS FROM CERTAIN DOOM…
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < INVOLVES ME…
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < DOING THE ONE THING I LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE FURRICKING WORLD………
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < I HAVE TO *********SHIP********* THEM???
NEPETA: ;333333333
The gasp that followed was so powerful, Meulin followed gravity all the way to the ground. The tarot cards fluttered all around her in a kaleidoscope of colors and painted images. Hands clutched at her face as she all but forgot to breathe.
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < OOOOOOOOOH
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < 333333333M
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < G333333333
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < !!!!!!!!!
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < I AM
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < SO
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < FURRICKING
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < HERE FOR THIS
MEULIN: (✧O✧) < !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
NEPETA: :33 < YES YES YES! a thousand times yes!
In her delight, Nepeta tumbled off the railing herself and landed beside Meulin with such a laugh she wished with all her heart she could hear it. Her arms pumped over her head as she danced in place.
NEPETA: :33 < you were hatched to play this role, meulin
NEPETA: :33 < i know you can do it!
NEPETA: :33 < i know you can save everyone!
Meulin rolled up to sit on her haunches, grabbing Nepeta’s shoulder and giving her an enthusiastic shake.
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < THIS IS THE GREATEST NEWS IN ALL OF PARADOX SPACE!
MEULIN: (✧∀✧) < I SIMPLY ***HAVE*** TO TELL EFURRYONE I KNOW!!! THEY’RE GOING TO BE SO EXCITED TO HELP ME ON MY QUEST, I CAN ALREADY S33 IT!!!
It was Nepeta who sat up then, meeting Meulin’s words with a sudden rebuke.
NEPETA: :OO < wait, no, meulin!!! there are rules to this Task!
NEPETA: :OO < one of them is that you can’t tell anyone what you’re up to!
NEPETA: :OO < if they begin to suspect or manage to figure it out for themselves, fine… but it’s very important that you do not sp33k explicably of the Deal!
NEPETA: :OO < that is… it is a mission meant to test the depth of your conviction and the strength of your soul
NEPETA: :OO < if you tell your friends about it, then they could end up rejecting your objective or worse… end up trying to outright destroy it!
NEPETA: :OO < matters of the heart can be very volatile… you must handle this with as delicate of paws as possible; the fate of you and your friends depends on it!
Meulin stiffened at Nepeta’s words. Her excitement was still present but at the same time, not as potent as it was a moment ago. It soon became apparent that her enthusiasm was veiling a growing note of distress underneath.
MEULIN: (=｀A’=) < OH…
MEULIN: (=｀A’=) < SO I HAVE TO SHIP THEM BUT NOT TELL THEM THAT'S WHAT I’M DOING? OR WHY?
MEULIN: (=TェT=) < ISN’T THAT A LITTLE BIT DISHONEST? I DON’T WANT TO S33M LIKE I AM MANIPULATING THEM OR HAVE IT BE REVEALED THAT I AM DOING IT FOR OTHER REASONS THAN WANTING MY FURRIENDS TO FIND HAPPINESS
MEULIN: (=TェT=) < IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT THAT WOULD CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD!
MEULIN: (=TェT=) < ESPECIALLY WHEN I R33LY WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO FIND HAPPINESS AND LOVE! I WANT IT MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE FURRICKING UNIVERSE!!!
MEULIN: (=TェT=) < THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY!
Nepeta could only rub gentle soothing circles into her back. Although Meulin couldn’t hear her, a comforting little purr was kicking up in her throat.
NEPETA: :(( < oh meulin… it’s nothing like that
NEPETA: :(( < there will come a time when you can sp33k fr33ly about your quest
NEPETA: :(( < it’s just that… your friends aren’t in a place where they can tend to their emotional wounds; as such, they wouldn’t be able to understand that the end goal of your mission is pawsible
NEPETA: :(( < you’re trying to help regrow the gardens of their heart remember? partake of the tea?
NEPETA: :(( < you’re not forcing anybody to commit to the cause… you are simply opening the doors they don’t realize are closed… but they will be opening the doors of their hearts themselves beclaws they already want to, do you understand?
NEPETA: :(( < efurryone wants to be happy
NEPETA: :(( < nobody wants to be alone
NEPETA: :(( < nobody wants to f33l like they deserve to be alone
NEPETA: :(( < the goal is to use your powers as the mage of heart to offer insight and guide them into becoming the people they already want to be! if you are to be successful, you must believe that you are the purrson they n33d right now
NEPETA: :(( < you can offer to help but you can’t force them to take it, right? the test is that you k33p the faith and stay by their side until they understand that everything they want… that their truest heart’s desire is just within their grasp… they just have to believe it!
NEPETA: :(( < that is your mission! you don’t have to lie to them about that… you just can’t sp33k about knowing the timeline is doomed and that you’re trying to save everyone, that’s all!
NEPETA: :(( < telling everyone the timeline is doomed is a surefire way to making sure it comes true… the same way that believing a happy ending is obtainable makes it true!
NEPETA: :(( < do you understand now?
A frown had formed on Meulin’s face as Nepeta explained further. By the end of her speech, she was exhaling a gentle sigh. The tangle of worry had unraveled and she found herself nodding.
MEULIN: (=｀^’=) < OKAY, YES… I UNDERSTAND BETTER NOW
MEULIN: (=｀^’=) < THEY CAN KNOW I AM TRYING TO HELP THEM BUT NOT THAT THE TIMELINE IS DOOMED… THAT IS BECLAWS IT WILL BE REVEALED WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT… I THINK I CAN DO THAT
MEULIN: (^・・^) < WHAT ARE THE OTHER RULES FOR THE TASK? ARE YOU SAYING THERE’S MORE?
Nepeta nodded.
NEPETA: :33 < yes… there is always a purrice that must be paid with these legendary tasks, something that will k33p the hero or heroine accountable and on the hunting trail to completion
NEPETA: :33 < she must fight to take it back and it has to be this great big dramatic affair; something so purrecious to us that it weighs down the scales of fate until it can be ours again!
NEPETA: :33 < in this case… it is our red quadrant!
Meulin blinked, tilting her head with yet another bout of confusion.
MEULIN: (=｀A’=) < MRROW! MY RED QUADRANT?
MEULIN: (=｀o’=) < WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THAT?
MEULIN: (=｀^’=) < PURRHAPS YOU CAN COUNT THIS AS SPOILERS BUT I DON’T HAVE ONE! IT’S A R33LY LONG STORY… ONE THAT I FEAR IS TOO LONG TO GET INTO RIGHT NOW
MEULIN: (=｀^’=) < HOW CAN I SACRIFICE SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T EXIST? IS IT A MATTER OF NOT HAVING ONE AT ALL?
Crossing her arms over her chest, Nepeta rested a hand against her chin in contemplation.
NEPETA: :33 < hmmm… no, it’s not about sacrifice; you don’t have to give it up or anything like that
NEPETA: :33 < it’s kind of hard to explain… but essentially, the nature of the Task is the struggle! so whatever you do, don’t tell everyone that the timeline is doomed and, on your journey to achieving troll serendipity alongside all your friends, you must save your red quadrant for last
NEPETA: :33 < everything else is fair game!
Meulin found herself huffing, committing all this information to memory as best that she could. She vowed that as soon as she woke up again, she would HAVE to start writing a dream journal. She busied herself with picking up the tarot cards for a moment… but as she held the cards in her hand, Meulin became overwhelmed with emotion.
MEULIN: (=xェx=) < NEPETA…
MEULIN: (=;ェ;=) < THIS HAS B33N THE SINGLE MOST INCREDIBLE DREAM I HAVE EFUR HAD… IT IS PAW-INSPIRING; I DON’T THINK I COULD EFUR, EFUR FORGET IT!
MEULIN: (=;ェ;=) < I JUST CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER…
MEULIN: (=;ェ;=) < WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I WAKE UP? WILL I EFUR S33 YOU AGAIN? DO YOU R33LY THINK I CAN DO THIS?
MEULIN: (=;ェ;=) < DO YOU THINK I CAN SAVE EVERYONE?
Nepeta’s eyes shone and as Meulin pleaded with her, she could see that her bright, starry eyes were glazed with an olive tinge. There were tears in the corner of her eyes as she threw her arms around Meulin in a tight hug. The emotion threatened to burst in her own chest, a single tear prickling before rolling down her cheek. She hugged her back with all her might.
After a few long moments, Nepeta pulled back. Still, her hands held onto her shoulders tightly. The expression on her face was kind but fierce. As Nepeta nuzzled her forehead against her and purred, Meulin could swear feel the beat of her own bloodpusher in her chest, suddenly twice as strong.
NEPETA: :33 < i believe it with all my heart
NEPETA: :33 < we will s33 each other again
NEPETA: :33 < all you have to do is…
NEPETA: :33 < WAKE UP!
As if with a snap of fingers, Meulin startled awake. She gasped and sat up as memories flooded back into her consciousness. Psyche’s lair! She had woken her up, hadn't she? She looked around wild-eyed.
She was no longer in the distant memory of a Beforan beach nor was she in the bowels of Psyche’s lair. Meulin was alone, finding herself napping peacefully at the cavern-like entrance of her denizen’s castle. The sugar dunes and the expanse of the pale sky stretched infinitely above her. She was once again wearing her familiar comfortable sweater and skirt, not a single pajama dress in sight. To further perplex the young oliveblood, a hand-knitted pink shawl was wrapped around her shoulders like a blanket. Did she always have it?
Rubbing her head in confusion, Meulin squeezed her eyes closed and tried to review what she could recall of the dream. She remembered playing in the carnival, she remembered Nepeta, she remembered her kind words and the courageous feeling she had been left with.
Eyes snapping open, Meulin remembered her quest! Hand dropping to her pocket, she was delighted to see the Dreams of Psyche tarot there. The dream was real! Nepeta was real! She knew what she had to do!
Tying the shawl to her shoulders like a magnificent cape, Meulin sprung to her feet and began to race back to her hive. She sprung over mounds of snow-like sugar, dousing nearby imps without apology. Her laughter had returned, this time mingled with a fierce determination that super-charged every spring in her step.
She had a very important job to do.