Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:B4BD:4BD8:218D:2B1A-20191021195908/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:FC5C:33DA:7CF0:60A-20191024044218

Chapter 6

Sophie fussed with the sash on her tunic, which was smokey blue and dotted with glistening diamonds. It was paired with black leggings, Tinker's nails, a dark cape, and soft boots. Her hair had been curled and her locks flowed down her back, thanks to Biana. She tapped her feet impateintly on the jeweled stool in Biana's pink, pink, and more pink room. "You're messing it up!" Biana scolded, tossing a lock of chocolate brown hair and giving watchers a clearer view of her teal eyes. She was wearing a silky pink dress was waist length and held in soft folds. Her leggings were silver-grey and paired with enormous heels. Biana's locks were also held in a bun by a beautiful and fragile pin. Makeup made up her face, enhancing it even more. "Oh, stop scowling," Biana added. "You look amazing."

"She's telling the truth," Linh added as she brushed out her silver and black hair. She shook her head, letting her hair flow down her back and onto her silky grey dress. She was also wearing black leggings but chose to wear a pair of boots instead. "You guys look amazing too," Sophie told her friends. "But is it really necessary?"

"The Councillors were the ones who called the gathering," Biana reminded. "We want to look our best."

Two days ago, the morning after Sophie had hailed Amy about Fitz and Keefe, a scroll with a golden clasp had arrived, announcing a gathering of all species somewhere in the Himalayas, for reasons unlisted. And of course, the fancy Councillors wanted everyone to look their best. Grady had informed the Councillors twenty four hours ago, and they'd confirmed that Amy would be coming too. So when the doorbell rang, Sophie wasn't all surprised when Amy walked into Biana's room a few minutes later.

Her sister was wearing a pale blue tunic with silver pants and boots. The tunic was braided with light blue sapphires, and a silky grey cape was fastened around her shoulders. Amy threw her arms around Sophie. "I missed you," she mumbled into Sophie's tunic.

"Missed you too," Sophie said on the top of Amy's curls. "How's Livvy?"

"Fine," Amy replied. "How's Silveny and Greyfall, and the baby alicorns?"

"Better than ever. We could go flying soon, if you want. And I probably smuggle you in to meet Wynn and Luna."

Sophie had never seen her sister look more giddy.

Amy offered a shy wave to Linh and Biana. Biana smiled back, and Linh said, "It's really nice to meet you- from personal experiance, Sophie thinks about you all the time."

The grin Amy was wearing could have split her face.

The four stepped into the main living room, where Keefe, Fitz, and Dex were waiting. Marella's mom was having a bad day, so the pixie girl had decided to stay, and demanded for updates. Wylie had also chosen to stay with Prentice. Sophie tried not to focus on Fitz, waved at the way-to-cute Keefe, and threw her arms around Dex.

"I haven't seen you in forever!" Sophie told her best friend.

"You saw me at Everglen when Keefe showed us the memory," Dex reminded her, though his dimples were stretching so wide, Sophie thought they'd split.

"Yeah... but we haven't really talked since... well, the last time we talked was ages ago!" Sophie told him, her hands placed on her hips. Dex shifted his periwinkle eyes to the floor. Sophie noticed that he had styled his hair the same way Biana had taught him to, and his clothes were more fancy from what he usually wore. He was also taller, and less young. Sure, he was pretty small compared to Keefe or Fitz, but still.

Speaking of Wonderboy and his former BFF, both looked as handsome as ever. Keefe's rusty crimson tunic embroidered with golden patterns had rolled up sleeves, he wore black pants and boots. Fitz wore a blue and gold jerkin, that was buttoned up perfectly. It reminded Sophie of the portrait Fitz had shown her, right before they'd almost kissed and Silveny gave birth. She tried not to meet his glaring eyes or perfect hair as she focused her eyes on Amy again. "Amy, this is Dex- I doubt you've been properly introduced. He's my best friend."

"Nice to meet you," Dex said, offering Amy his hand. Amy shook it shyly. ''Aren't you supposed to be bowing and curtsying? ''Sophie asked telepathically.

I got it from human movies, Dex thought. ''And plus- I doubt Amy knows to curtsy. ''Sophie had to admit that he had a point.

"Are we ready to leap?" Fitz's crisp, accented voice said behind her. "We should head to the Leapmaster, then." He led everyone out of the room, and as they walked, an idea shaped in Sophie's head. She imagined her consciousness as silent as a shadow, creeping up on Fitz's mind. She was able to slip through his mind easily, and found herself in the midst of eight paths. One was warm and buttery yellow. The second was foggy grey and cold. The third was churning with bits of memory shards and glowed scarlet. The fourth was lilac and chorused with voices of 'I want! I want!'. The fifth was bright shocking blue as it zapped around, lightning darting from place to place. The sixth was murky green, with the path lined with a swamp-like mixture. The seventh was like an armade of cold grey, with swords and shields lining the path. If Sophie moved closer, she could see some sort of mist dam blocking some of it. And the last, the eight, was two faced. One side was a dark orange. And the other was a rich purple.

Happines, sadness, anger, jealousy, fear- or shock and surprise, disgust, anticipation, and dis/trust. Sophie picked the scarlet path, ignoring the howls and screams, and the shards that jabbed her like pitchforks. She eventually made her way to a pit of memories clustered together, and noticed a blue consciousness lingering in front of an especially large one.

Fitz's consciousness.

Sophie ducked back into the tunnel and watched as the scene with Keefe and Sophie replayed over and over, each time getting more fuzzier. In Fitz's point of view, he saw it as betrayal, treachery, disloyalty-

"We're here."

Fitz's words pulled her out of his mind and she shivered slightly. Fitz slipped into the beam, and one by one, the light carried them away.

Sophie found herself knee deep in soft, fluffy snow, with an enormous cluster of elves up ahead. The friends tromped up, finding themselves in the midst of chattering and shoving. Sophie spotted Tam and Linh's parents, white faced and teary eyed, and even Lord Cassius, who was talking earnestly with an unrecognizable elf. In the front, at the very center, there was a large gazebo filled with lush plants and tropical air, along with Councillors milling about. To the left of the elves were the gnomes, and then the trolls, the ogers, the goblins, and the dwarves- which were to the right of the elves. Sophie spotted Ro in the cluster of ogers, and Sandor and Grizel amongst the goblins. Tarina was with the trolls, and Flori with the gnomes. Sophie even thought she had seen her dwarf bodyguard somewhere, but she disappeared quickly.

Minutes later, Emperess Pernille and Queen Hylla showed up. A gnomish representative, this time a female with a gown of Panakes petals, walked up as well, and then King Dimitar crawled out of the ground, his head never looking more like barbed wire.

"SILENCE!" Councillor Emery shouted, raising a hand. "Today, we are here to talk about a pressing matter. An important matter. One that can not be ignored any longer."

Murmers started in the crowd, and Sophie didn't know what he was pulling at. Was it Wynn and Luna? Having Amy here? Or Alvar?

"Will Sophie Elizabeth Foster please come up on stage?"

Sophie felt a douse of shock overtake her as the crowd parted to let her move. She walked up numbly as Councillor Oraile helped her onto the foot high center.

"Time and time again, the rebels have attacked us, and now they're targeting Sophie." Councillor Emery said. Sophie wanted badly to shout that the Neverseen had always been targeting her, but she bit back the retort. "And time and time again, they have escaped and regrouped. Sophie?"

Sophie turned to the auidence, slowly walking around the perimeter of the circle center. "Ever since I was born, and even before, sparks have been flying," she shouted over the chatters. "They hurt Silveny and Greyfall. They kill Councillor Kenric. They backstab the ogers and leave us to wrongly accuse them of something Fintan had poured into King Dimitar's ears, leave us to flood Ravagog. They demolish the Peace Summit. They torture humans. They free rabid trolls. On and on, and we still have questions. What do they really want? What is their plan? How did the Neverseen begin? Still, we don't have answers. What is their ploy? What moral are they trying to get across to us?"

Suddenly, at the top of the cliff overlooking the different species, perched a frail woman wearing a delicate headress and an enormous puffy gown studded with rubies. She smiled thinly, resting her chin on a propped up arm as she crossed her legs. Her mouth parted to form a word.

Vespera's cold voice echoed around the room as she told them, "Redemption."