Chapter Six

Jace reeled back, pressing a hand against his forehead and yelping in pain. He had only left Mianite's temple and Amber because he had noticed Lara approaching before she suddenly collapsed at the stairs. Now, though, Lara was perfectly conscious and holding her head in a similar manner to Jace, himself, who had gotten head-butted when his sister sat up too quickly.

"Ow," he whined.

"Dammit, Jace, don't do that," Lara scolded, grimacing in pain, "don't hover over me like that. Ow, my head…"

Jace sighed. "The hell were you laying there for? And where's the man-whore?"

Lara opened her mouth – Jace knew it was probably to snap at him not to call Jay names, in typical Lara fashion – but a cough cut her off before she could say a word. Jace glanced up. Waglington was standing behind Lara, at the bottom of the quartz stairs. His face was unusually somber, unlike the playfulness that the Wizard normally had written along his features. His stance was lacking the levels of confidence it usually held as well.

"Jace, Lara… I hate to be the bearer of bad news…"

Lara's expression changed to one of realization, and then one of desperation. "No," she mumbled.

"He… made a sacrifice, dear girl," Waglington offered, clearly trying to come off as comforting. Jace could tell that his efforts were for naught. Lara's shoulders tensed and she looked at Waglington as if he had just told her an entire village had been set alight – and Jace remembered that expression hauntingly well.

Before Jace could offer his own consolations to his sister, she got to her feet and darted into the temple. Jace followed behind her, watching her race past Amber while she hollered for Mianite. When the god appeared, Amber let out a hiss and Jace decided that it was definitely time for the Netherian creatures to leave, lest Amber's first real interaction with Mianite be to start a fight. He grabbed Amber's arm and led her away, silently wishing the best for Lara.

"Lara, my girl?" Mianite asked, glancing around. Nothing seemed out of place. The mortals had yet to return to their beds, but the threat to the Overworld was gone. They would return soon enough.

What is amiss? He wondered.

"Bring him back," Lara demanded, "bring him back!"

"Bring who back?" He inquired, before reaching out to Ianite.

Perhaps this is an issue best settled between women? He guessed. He was unsure what could lead Lara to be so concerned over someone. He would assume it would be Jay, but she seemed to have no memory of him the last he knew. And all the better for that.

"Bring Jay back," Lara growled.

Mianite glanced over at Ianite when she appeared. Sister, you didn't tell her, did you? He thinks. After all I did to ensure her safety…

"I see," Ianite said with a small frown. If she could hear Mianite's thoughts, she made no offer of a response. Mianite kept silent, listening as his sister continued, "That's a lot harder, you see, than it was for you."

"I don't care. Just do it," Lara snapped.

Mianite bit his tongue so as not to scold Lara for her words or tone. He did not appreciate her talking so harshly, even if he did not agree with helping the boy at all. Ianite would tell her, though, that it was impossible and Lara would eventually move past this silly phase of hers. Everything would return back to the way it had to be.

"When I meant harder… I meant impossible," Ianite informed, sighing. "Jay's father is dead. We would need his birth essence and body."

Lara was silent. Mianite thought that she had finally conceded, especially when she nodded and turned towards a chest in the temple. "Fine. It's impossible then…"

Good. Now, to just—

"Mianite," Lara called as she opened the chest.

"Y-Yes, darling?" He asked, caught off-guard by her almost blank tone.

What's the problem, dear? Are you this upset over him? It will pass. Or I will help it along.

"Did you know that the mortals weren't respawning? And that, hypothetically, it would be easy to get into their chests? Move some of the items around? Because I did," she pointed out.

He raised a brow. "Honey. It's just after-effects. They'll spawn soon."

"That wasn't my point," she stated.

She pulled her hand out of the chest. In her grasp was the sword Dianite had given to Tom. The hand holding it was already being burned and Mianite starred at it, refusing to believe that his Guardian – his precious daughter – was holding a weapon made to kill him. His breath caught in his throat as he was torn between the desire to rip the sword from her hand to spare her what he knew must have been horrible pain from holding a weapon not fashioned for her use, and the desire to knock it away and warn her against threatening him again.

She waved the blade in front of her. "I knew where the sword was," she sing-songed. She shifted her grip on the sword and pointed it directly at Mianite. "And I know that, since the sword you gave to Tucker can kill Dianite, Dianite's sword can kill you."

Mianite backed up a pace. Jay had this much influence over her? A petty, little Void-spawn could make his daughter do this?

"Honey…" He warned, before deciding to switch the topic. "T-There might be a way. But it requires a trip to the Void. You would die there. Only void-born creatures can go."

Silently, he cursed the way his tone rose up an octave, betraying his otherwise calm composure. Lara did not seem to care, or to notice. The sword remained pointed at him and her glare remained firmly locked on him. Inwardly, he wondered if Ianite would attempt to stop her if she tried to move forward, but he knew his sister would take a neutral stance. Saving Jay would mean saving himself from a fight with his child, and Ianite would favor that above stopping either he or Lara.

Lara shrugged. "I don't care what the risks are. I'm fast enough that it shouldn't be able to affect me," she growled, "and if I stay? Are you prepared to kill your own daughter? Because I don't care whether or not you die."

Lara, Mianite thought, mouth agape, has he poisoned your mind so much already?

"Wait! If she goes with me, she's safe," Polaris cheered as she rushed over. Her hand fell to her knees. Mianite blinked at her, but Ianite seemed quite satisfied to see her Guardian. Mianite had known Ianite had done something to the Enderdragon, but to see it in person was shocking.

"No, Polaris, you should stay. Jordan will be looking for you soon," Lara replied.

Polaris straightened up, clearly determined. "I'm fucking coming."

Lara turned her glare to the dragoness. "You're a child, Polaris," she snapped, "you don't belong in the affairs of adults. Go play. Go make sure everyone wakes up fine because Jace won't."

Mianite saw hurt cross the human-formed Enderdragon's face as she recoiled visibly from Lara's words. "F-Fine! I don't wanna be near you anyways!" One of Polaris' hands moved up to wipe at her eyes before she turned, darting away.

Ianite sighed. "I can protect you for a short while, but without her, your chances are slim to none."

Lara nodded, lowering the sword back into the chest and closing it. "I understand that. Now… Waglington!"

Polaris walked toward Jordan's house, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Lara was never mean to her. Why was she being mean now? Polaris had only wanted to help, and Lara would be safe with her! Why didn't Lara trust her? She wanted to help.

She walked into the house and spotted Jordan's bed, noticing that it was empty. She walked over, laying down. Even in human-form, she could smell better. The entire house smelt like Jordan – familiar and warm and loving – and it started to make her mind haze over with the desire to sleep, along with the frustration that Lara's words left her feeling.

Perhaps a bit of sleep will help you, Polaris, Syrreth suggested.

"La-Lara doesn't want me," Polaris lamented aloud, "I'm a freaky, dragon-human thing."

You are not, the eons-old Enderdragon growled back at her.

Polaris closed her eyes.

And then made a pained noise when someone landed on top of her.

"This bed is bumpier than I remember," a familiar voice mumbled groggily as the person sat up.

Sitting on you is unnecessary, Syrreth grumbled as Jordan immediately got to his feet. He looked at Polaris with wide eyes, and Polaris realized that he had yet to see her like she was currently. He didn't recognize her.

"Dear gods, I'm sorry. Who are you, if you don't mind me asking?" Jordan asked, offering her a hand.

Polaris smirked, deciding to play a harmless prank as she got off of the bed. "Name's Polly. Yours?"

"Jordan," he replied.

Never one for patience, Polaris decided that she wouldn't tease Jordan long enough to get a real response. She hugged him. "Thanks for offering me help up. That was very gentlemanly."

Jordan's cheeks went a light-pink color. "Y-Yeah, no problem."

"I told a lie. My real name's Polaris," she informed after detaching herself from him.

Polaris barely stifled a laugh. Jordan's eyes went wider and he nearly fell over his own feet. She could tell that he had put the pieces together. "Wha-What?! Wh-Wh-How…?"

Polaris hummed and gave him time to fully decipher the puzzle in front of him.

"Ianite. A blessing from Ianite," he breathed, seeming to realize it completely now.

She smiled and bounced on her heels, laughing in delight. "Now I can come back inside the house, right? I don't like the tree! It's lonely in there."

He shrugged, still looking a bit beside himself. Polaris knew that he understood her hatred for the tree. Before, she had followed him from the tree every night. She wasn't really big enough to need to be out of the house anyway. According to Jordan, he was getting her accustomed to the tree because she would eventually grow too large in Enderdragon form to sleep in the house.

"Well, I suppose. Can't have you feeling lonely," he replied. "So, how did this happen?"

"Lady Ianite. She's getting stronger," Polaris answered with a smile.

Jordan grinned at her. "Good," he said, "Tom will try and slay her, but you should have seen what she did to him last time!" He laughed, nearly doubling-over, before slowly regaining his composure.

Polaris nodded, and then blinked. Because… if Jordan didn't recognize her, then neither would Tom. Slowly, a grin crossed her face. "I should go and see if Tom's okay, too," she pointed out, giggling and rushing out of the house.

This is going to be so fun, she cheered inwardly.

Syrreth rumbled out a quiet chuckle. It is good to see you are feeling better, she commented. I highly prefer you cheerful, than upset.

I'm sure Lara will explain herself. She better, Polaris replied, growling a bit for show.

She stopped in front of Tom's house and closes her eyes. She focused on her memories of the few times she had been inside of Tom's vault, remembering that his bed was there and, like Jordan, he would most likely wake up there. When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in Tom's vault, watching particles fall to the ground and vanish around her.

"Who the hell?" Tom cried out, scurrying back across the floor on his hands and knees. "How'd you get in my vault?"

Polaris offered a smile that she sincerely hoped didn't convey her mischievousness. "Oh… you left the door open," she lied. "I closed it, though."

She glanced around the room. There were chests stacked atop one another, as high up as they could reach in the area. It was a rather low ceiling, especially in comparison to the rest of his newest base. She knew the chests were filled with goods stolen from the others in secrecy, or designed for the Purges.

Tom drew himself to his feet, brushing off his pants. "Well. Thanks for not being a sneak lil' thief, mate." He offered out his hand to her.

"Speaking of which. When'd you get here? Do you know of the gods? Support Dianite the beast?" He asked as she shook his hand politely.

Polaris hummed, trying to decide how best to play with Tom. As a dragon, she would just chase him around and try to light him on fire. It was fun watching him scramble for the nearest pool of water, all the while hollering that he wasn't ready and that she really couldn't still be annoyed about the tree. Yes, Tom, she could be.

"I know about them," she said, "and I know Dianite's really mean to people. I don't like mean people. Ianite's nicer!"

Tom scowled. "That pussy bitch? She's neutral because she's scared," he teased, rifling through a chest.

Polaris' eyes flashed dangerously and she let out a long, low growl that visibly made Tom go tense.

Oh, he recognizes me now, she informed Syrreth.

I believe he does, Syrreth agreed.

A/N: Note to self: do better at planning out chapters. All of them recently have needed to be broken up into two parts.