Hey again, guys. I've been going through a rough patch these past few months and I've not been able to write properly for a long time. I finally got my muse back and I wanted to try writing a truly heartbreaking story. It's...more or less planned out. I don't normally upload stuff until it's done and dusted, but...I'll change that terrible habit. Plus, I want to see how this goes down.

Selene-soulwar's helping me brainstorm and get the script down, so writing speech from Elyurias and Sion and parts of the imagery is her work.

This is very much a prologue, written quite quickly. Following chapters should be more detailed.

Once again; this has got huge spoilers from the get-go. Enjoy~

He was gone.

That was the only thing that was going through my mind.

Sion was gone.

He'd died in front of me.

I lay there beside his lifeless body, tufts of white hair still visible from underneath my scarf that had been carefully laid over his face. There was still blood oozing from the wound on his chest. It wouldn't stop.

It had to stop.

Sion couldn't be dead.

It just...wasn't possible. He wouldn't leave me.

He wouldn't leave me alone in this world.

He promised.

He said he'd always be by my side; my equal. No matter what happened.

This couldn't be happening.

A wave of emotions overcame me and tears started to streak down the side of my face, dripping onto the floor.

There was only one choice.

The only thing I could do.

The only thing that would mean we would still be together.

Wait until death takes me as well.

Moments later, a soft glow enveloped the small space where we lay, and I felt myself being lifted up slightly by a pair of gentle hands. Fingers ran over my cheeks in a soothing manner as a soft voice echoed through my mind. It was a woman's voice. The same voice I always heard in my dreams.

Get up, my child. There's still time.

I recognised the voice. It made me shoulders quake in fear. She was here. She was watching me. She was holding me. But still, I had to ask. 'Who...who are you?' My voice came out nothing more than a whisper, raspy and barely recognisable as words. I'd used up the last of it singing for Sion's soul.

Humming began drifting through my mind. That song. That same song.

You know very well, my little one. Stay with me.

No. I couldn't. I had to stay here. I had to stay with Sion.

I began to struggle against her. Or at least try to. The light seemed to have caged me, preventing me from escaping.

It's not your time to go, [ ].

I froze. My true name. My true name...It'd been so long since I last heard it. In our language...the one of the Forest Folk, it sounded weak. Pitiful. But it was the one Elyurias had given me. The name she had honoured me with. Translated out...it sounded worse. I didn't want anyone to know it. It didn't suit me. I wasn't weak. I was strong. I needed a name that reflected this strength. Not...this...

But now was not the time to complain about my name.
Sion.
Sion was gone.
And she was trying to make me stay.
I opened my eyes, feeling them well up again as I saw him.

Don't go.

Please...don't go.

'I don't want to live...if..I'm without him,' I managed to choke out, my words coming out sloppy, peppered with sobbed and sniffs. So...so weak.
I felt her fingers run through my hair and I dared take a peek at her.
She looked nothing like the carvings. Like how I'd envisioned her. I'd half been expecting her to still be using Safu's body.
My breath caught in my throat.

It was my mother.

She was using my mother's form.

Dark curls tumbling down past her shoulders. Soft grey eyes looking down at me gently as she continued to hum in my mind.

...perhaps she knew I'd resist Safu...and chose a form that would be calming and appealing to me.

Mother...

I mustered as much strength as I could and grabbed her arm, pulling myself up a little, eyes and voice turning pleading.

'I don't want to live my life if I'm without him.'

She shook her head.

'Please...I need him...I didn't want this to happen.'

She smiled gently, helping support me in her arms, holding me close against her chest.

What would you have me do? This is the way it happened. And he would want you to go on.

'I just...I didn't...I can't.'

So weak. When did I get so weak? Was it when I first met him? Was it sometime after?
I'm soft. Too soft. It was my downfall. Our downfall. I should've kept a closer watch on him. I shouldn't've brought him here.

You must. I need you.

I glared at her, beginning to shake my head repeatedly. 'No...no, no, no, you didn't need me. You never needed me. You only needed that girl. You only needed Safu!'

A smile.

I have always needed you.

The light seemed to have intensified. Or was that my vision failing? I was still losing so much blood...how was I still going? Was it her? Was she keeping me alive?

'I want him back.'

He isn't one of mine. I have no control over him.

Of course. It would never be possible. He's gone...that's the end of it. There wouldn't be anything she could do.
'Then...what can you do with me?'

I'm going to make sure you survive.

No. No, no, no, you can't do this. You can't take me away from him. Bring him back or let me die. Just don't take us away from each other. You can't. You just can't.

'Is...there nothing you can do...to let me be with him again?'

More humming again. And fingers running through my hair. Stop trying to calm me down. Just stop it. Telling me there's nothing you can do is not calming in the slightes-

What would you have me do? Ask.

I swallowed hard. What was she asking? Did she actually have the power to bring us back together again?

'I'll...I'll destroy the correctional facility by myself...he won't be at risk. He'll be safe.'

She smile again, cupping both of my cheeks and pulling me closer. Our foreheads pressed together...this was...just what Mother did...when she was...

You wish to change the course of the past, little one?

'Yes.' I'd spoken even before I knew what I was saying. Changing the past? Was that possible? What would that entail? Would Sion be safe? Would things be better?

It's impossible for you to destroy this place alone.

'It's not...I know how to do it now. I know what I have to do.' Get in through the garbage shoots, climb up the pile of bodies, climb to the summit, take out any guards along the way, be extra careful not to get shot, blow the mainframe up and get out...easy. I know what to expect this time.

You wish...to sever the ties between you two?

What? Is that what would need to happen? If we never met...would he still be at home...safe? Would nothing bad have ever happened to him? But the bee...he'd die from it...if no one's there to take it out of him...

'...If I meet him...will he die?'

She motioned to the space around us and I looked over my shoulder, following the movements her arm was making.

This is what happens, should you take some of the choices that lead you here.

So...it was possible...I just had to be careful what I repeated and didn't repeat. But...if it meant me not being able to interact with him...

'I'll watch him from afar. And keep him safe.'

You will not be happy that way, little one.

But...he'll be alive.

But he will not know of your existence, and you will not give him the guidance or the promises that made his life so rich and fulfilled...right to the end.

She was reading my mind. How was she doing that? Stupid question...of course she had the power to do that. Was it because of the link between us? Could she do it to anyone?

'We'll have met...that one time...when he was younger...but...he'll be happier without me. He'll be safe without me.'

I urge you to think this through very carefully, [ ]...this isn't what he would want.

That name again. It was sending shivers up my spine. Stop using that name. Please. Just stop.

...I'll..I'll figure something out...

She sighed, placing both her hands over my eyes, robbing me of my vision, replacing it with something else. Something far crueller.

Allow me to show you a glimpse of the future you wish for.

My whole body stiffened as the scene flooded through my whole being. It was all I could see. And I couldn't look away. The city was destroyed. The whole thing. The Moondrop, Chronos, Lost town, the whole thing was gone. There was chaos. So much chaos. An enormous rift between the two classes; those who lived in No.6, and those who came from the West District. But where was Sion? Why wasn't he there? Wait...no...There he was. His hair hadn't changed. It was still brown. He so looked different. He was working in the bakery...eyes tired...soulless...No. No, stop. Please. I don't want this. Anything but this. Please.
More floods of tears started rolling down my cheeks as I grabbed her tightly, my voice quaking.

'Then what am I supposed to do? How can I save him?'
Tell me. Help me. Help us. Please. You're my only hope.

...everything comes at a price, little one. You of all people should know that. It is possible to save his life, but...for that, you must sacrifice everything you two built together, and shared. Consider your choices carefully.

'...so...we can never be together...'

Didn't you already predict this?

We can never be together. It was supposed to be this way...yet...if it meant Sion was still alive...was it worth losing him? Was it worth simply becoming a shadow in his life. Just watching over him, intervening when I needed to...becoming a wandering stranger he'd never know was there.

I made a quiet sound, clinging onto her a little tighter, before giving a firm nod. 'I'll do it. I want him to live. I want him to survive.'

She cast a sad look at me before gathering me up in her arms, gently tracing a symbol over my forehead. She started to whisper in my ear in that quiet and soothing voice. I felt light. I felt like I was about to float away.

How far back should I turn the wheels of time?

If I was to never be with him...I at least wanted to meet him one last time...for him to know I exist...and that I would forever devote myself to his safety. To his life.

'...the night I met him...and...use me as your host.'
If I was the host...there'd be no need for the bees. She'd know there'd be no need for them. Because she was with the last of her children. And Sion would be safe. He'd never know of the pain he'd went through on that fateful night when I cut that thing out of him...

She cradled my face in her hands again, giving me a sorrowful, almost apologetic look, as if pleading for forgiveness. She started to sing, the light enveloping both of us. I clung onto her, my fingers intertwining with hers as I felt my eyes grow heavy. My voice had returned. I was singing with her. Both of us singing that same song that had haunted my dreams ever since everything I knew...everything I loved...everything I had was snatched away from me.

...you are not alone, my child. Just remember that. As long as you don't lose your faith, I will protect you.

I felt a pair of lips press against my forehead before she disappeared into the light.

She smiled at me.
Mother.

Please.

Forgive me.

I won't be joining you just yet.

I hope you'll understand.

My last ounce of support vanished and I began to fall.

Well, there you go. First part over. Please feel free to leave feedback and such. It'll be much appreciated!

I'll try and get the next part written soon.

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