Author's Note: So this is a pretty ambitious project. I played through living story 1 and 2 and I fell in love with Scarlet. Most people didn't like her for specific reasons, but I loved her. The troubled villain who's motivations are more than just hey, let's blow up this town for the lulz. This is going to follow pretty close to lore for the times that she actually appears in it. I will try my best to make sure I don't go OOC with the events that were never elaborated on.

So sit back and enjoy this ride with me. Like what you read? Leave a review :) Let's take a journey.

Chapter 1: Hi, I'm Ceara!

I was in a black void that stretched as far as the eye could see. It was unnerving. It felt like just moments ago I was lying in the forest staring at the night sky. I was pondering being born for what was probably the millionth time when my world went black. There was a feeling worming through my chest. I couldn't describe it with a word, but it made my body tremble. A soft laugh found its way to my ears, high and wild.

Don't you know? Scarlet is my name now. Scarlet Briar!

More laughter...and then…

I won't let you forget it.

The voice was low and sensual, much different than it was moments before. There was an image that flashed briefly before my eyes. All I could make out was a hint of red...it almost looked like hair...like…

A red dot appeared in the distance, drawing my gaze. With each passing second it drew closer. The feeling that I experienced earlier returned. I didn't want that thing to come closer.

What's this? Another fragile mind? How interesting…

What? Fragile mind? What was this thing talking about? As my mind scrambled to figure out what that thing meant, it suddenly appeared in front of me. It wasn't a dot, but the eye of something horrifying. There was something terrible lurking in that eye...I could feel it worming its way into my mind.

Shh...don't fight it. I will know your secrets little sylvari. After all, you're my chosen one. I'll see you soon…

I screamed.

"Sapling! Sapling!"

The world exploded with light and I screamed louder, my hands flying up protectively across my face. Hands grabbed my arms, intending to soothe/restrain me.

"Easy! Easy! What is your name, sapling?"

I took several shuddering breaths. I could still feel that thing's touch on my mind.

Calm yourself, Ceara. You've got to get a hold of yourself.

Strong arms lifted me up into a sitting position, giving me a few of my surroundings which were currently obscured by other sylvari. Sylvari faces that met mine, twisted in confusion and concern. I covered my mouth with my hands, forcing stifling myself from screaming again. I glanced down at them and saw that they were shiny and wet. Was I crying…? A sylvari knelt down in front of me, peering into my face with a thinly disguised frown. I stared back at her. Her bark was a rich brown, which reminded me of the color of the tree trunks back in the forest. Suddenly, I would have given anything for me to be alone.

After a few moments of silence, the sylvari reached out and touched my hands.

"My name is Selene. I'm one of the helpers tasked with helping the newborns. I'm one of the Secondborn like you. Welcome home, sister."

Home? Secondborn? Newborn? There were so many questions floating around in my head. One thing was for sure, I wasn't in the place that I had called home for so many days.

"My name is Ceara," I mumbled through my fingers.

Selene smiled. I knew the smile was supposed to make me feel welcome, but it had the opposite effect.

"Good, good. It's wonderful to meet you sister. When you feel ready, I will take you to the menders."

Selene held her hands out towards me. With trembling hands, I took them and stood up.

"Alright, shows over everyone. Go find your mentor. Shoo," She said in a loud and commanding voice.

The crowd slowly dissipated, accented with mumbles and the sound of shuffling footsteps. I followed Selene through the stragglers and into a tunnel that was lined with earthen walls with roots interwoven throughout. I took a long, slow sniff of the air. It was sweet and cloying. I paused a bit, taking more of it in. Selene stopped a few paces ahead of me near the exit of the tunnel.

"Do you need a moment? Are you feeling ill?" She asked, her voice echoing slightly in the tunnel.

I jogged a little to catch up to her, feeling a tiny bit like I had been caught in the act of doing something slightly unflattering. The word embarrassment came to my mind, but I had no idea where it came from.

"No, the air smells wonderful here. It smells...welcoming."

Selene nodded.

"I understand completely. This is your new home, the Grove," She said as she motioned for me to step outside the tunnel.

I did as she asked and let out a soft gasp. The Grove was massive with curving walkways lined with flowers and vines. There were pod shaped buildings with sylvari bustling out and about. And that was what I could see. As I looked around, my mind supplied knowledge that I had no idea I had obtained in the first place. But nothing prepared me for what I saw when I looked up.

There were branches with giant leaves that illuminated the upper boughs as well as the surrounding area in a soft purple light, much like the current night sky. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. This place was the Mother, our Mother, the Pale Tree. I hugged myself gently. It was so overwhelming. I felt new...raw. I was afraid too. I knew no one here. I hadn't seen Canach at all. He definitely wasn't in the crowd that had gathered around me earlier.

"I swear Dearheart, these new sylvari are so uncultured. Standing around with their mouth open. That's how you catch flies."

The voice belonged to a sylvari several yards ahead of me who was walking with a partner. Clearly she was talking to her companion, but I had a feeling I was the topic at hand. I gently touched my mouth just to check to see if it was indeed open.

It wasn't.

The sylvari who had spoken earlier had bark the color of plums. Her hair was distinct with thin spindly branches snaking forth from her scalp with leaves peppered about here and there. Her companion had rich green colored bark and a head full of green leaves that framed her face. She chuckled softly and shrugged.

"Oh Faolain, don't make fun. We were all like that once," She admonished.

Faolain? Who is Faolain? Before I could ask Selene about it, I was led away from the duo into a the closest hut. I followed her deep into the hut and sat down in the chair that she had pointed to seconds later.

"Wait here a moment sapling."

Selene smiled and disappeared out of sight. I gazed around. I was in a large room filled with beds and chairs. It was empty as far as I could tell and quiet too.

"I've got another one, Mender."

That sounded like Selene's voice…

"Another Secondborn woke up screaming?"

There was someone else like me? Who saw what I saw? I slowly got up from my chair and looked around. Where were they? I couldn't see them.

"There seems to be so many of them lately. Someone should tell the Mother about it."

Was there something wrong with me? The red eye and the voice that chilled my soul…

"The Mother is almost impossible to get to unless you're Firstborn. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble."

A sigh.

"I know...its just happening more and more now."

"I'll check her over, but I'm sure it's not of any concern. Thank you for telling me."

I quickly settled back into my seat, my mind buzzing with thoughts and questions. Maybe I could talk to the others. Maybe I could find Canach too and find out if anyone saw what I saw.

I went hours at the menders hut where I was poked and prodded constantly. I kept myself from asking questions. I didn't want them to know that I had overheard their conversation. Once they were satisfied, they sent me to my new home under the guidance of Malomedies, the mentor for those born during the night cycle. He was one of the Firstborn, the sylvari that were closest to our Mother. After meeting him, I went right to bed, grateful for some rest. I needed time to process things and to plan.