TRINITY RISING

Summary: Tiffany and Fiona come home. After a brief moment of grieving, Forgal and Trahearne show up to discuss meeting the Pale Tree tomorrow. Afterwards, the earth family show up. Phillipe and Joslyn and Tangwen all realize the problems arising from the fact that they can't really be there for their daughters/friends. The next day, Tiffany and Fiona head to the Grove and meet up with Trahearne, and they all go to the Pale Tree. She brings them into the Dream, where Tiffany is awash with joy and peace. She realizes that the Dream is the Tyrian representation of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit… and she is given a Wyld Hunt.

Chapter ten: Undefined Troubles… RESOLVED

Author's Notes:

I made a Discord server that is all about this story! It'll contain progress updates and places to discuss certain aspects of the story, so if you want to join up, go ahead! I'll figure out how to put a link here…

discord. gg/ mcZyx7a

Take out the spaces and copy+paste into your browser (or just the string of letters and numbers after the slash into the Discord server search engine).

Oh I love this chapter SO MUCH! This was the funnest chapter since EVER to write. I've been looking forward to this since Soldiers, Scholars and Spies, even before I'd decided exactly how it was going to play out. Uh… major warnings (/cry you're missing so much) for religious/Christian content.

Okay, here's the story now:

Tiffany and Fiona had been sent home for the night by General Almorra. Other Vigil soldiers would hold the city until the next day, in case the Risen started coming again.

But that means that they don't have anything pressing to do except sleep… and then, all the things they hadn't been thinking about that day come to the surface.

There are a lot of things to think about, but the one that hits them in the face with painful realization is Deborah's death. Petra and Andrew are… grieving.

Tiffany stands in the doorway of the inn and realizes that they are grieving.

Tiffany feels a cold chill run down her spine at the word. She swallows thickly as she tries to imagine never seeing Deborah again, never joking or cursing each other, never fighting side-by-side in battle again… somehow, she manages to understand that she will never hear Deborah's delighted laugh, or her teasing tone.

Fiona notices her stricken face. "Tiffany, are you - ?"

Tiffany shakes her head. "No." Her voice sounds gruff. "I can't - I need to be - "

"Tiffany," Forgal calls from behind her.

He hadn't been with them - he'd been detained by General Almorra over something.

"Tiffany," Forgal continues, "Trahearne wanted to speak to you, but you were already gone."

Tiffany freezes for a split second, before stuffing everything about Deborah into a corner of her mind. She blanks her face and makes sure her voice carries no trace of the sudden realization of Deborah, and turns around.

Trahearne is standing by Forgal, who says, "Warmaster Tiffany, Trahearne here had a… concern. General Almorra redirected him to you… and told me to put you in charge of retaking Claw Island should I think it best."

Tiffany blinks, the mask of the absence of grief fading into truth as she busies her mind with the new information. "Uh… alright..." She glances inquisitively at Trahearne.

"First of all," the sylvari begins, "I would like to know your thoughts on the current state of Claw Island."

Tiffany frowns, trying to figure out how to phrase her reply. After a moment, she answers, "It had protected Lion's Arch for a long time, and has the potential to do so for longer if we retake it. It's occupation by Zhaitan at the moment is both dangerous… and a warning - Zhaitan is on the move. Of the two, I think the warning to be more significant - Claw Island can no longer withstand Zhaitan's army. After retaking Claw Island, Tyria has to take intiative if we want to avoid another such massacre."

"Not to mention we've kind of got to," Fiona inserts helpfully. "I mean, we can't just let Zhaitan get away with this, after all. Not retaliating would be almost criminal of us, and it would be a direct insult to Deborah's memory."

Trahearne nods. "I feel the same way. Tyria is in great danger, my friend. Zhaitan's corruption is spreading, and fast. I fear that many may die before we retake the island."

"And his army is growing," Forgal adds. "Even if you're winning, you're losing when fighting Risen. Their sheer numbers make for daunting odds."

"That is why we take out the problem at the head," Tiffany replies cheerfully. "Once we beat up the champions… uh, do these ones have names?" She addresses the question to Trahearne. She knows they do, but she hasn't the slightest clue what they are.

He answers promptly, "Ogravos the Moondeath, Fafnarin the Heartslayer, and Horrogos the Soulbreaker. But I doubt that we faced the whole of their army today." Trahearne frowns. "In fact, what Zhaitan's lieutenants did send is most likely spare troops, or just to frighten us before sending the real army in."

Tiffany pales. "All that… spare? How - ? We're going to have the biggest trouble in the world retaking Claw Island. If that was a scare tactic… their real force has to be ten times that."

Trahearne grimaces in agreement. "They're likely ready for us, and I am… concerned. Zhaitan has never responded this way before, even to the death of a champion."

Tiffany frowns slightly, but Forgal is the one to respond. "We can't give up hope, Trahearne," the norn rumbles.

Tiffany nods. "If we don't get Claw Island the first time, we'll regroup and try again."

Fiona pipes up at Tiffany's side, reciting an old verse from their earth days. "If at first you don't suceed, try, try again!"

"I quite agree," Trahearne tells them. "I have not given up hope at all - in fact, I am counting on it to lead the way - but it would be preferable to not have to make a second attempt."

"Oh, certainly," Tiffany says sagely. "The last two times…" she trails off and swallows. "The last two times we've had to retreat we've lost somebody."

Trahearne nods somberly, and Tiffany feels like facepalming as she remembers Brun. Trahearne had lost somebody as well. "To that end," the sylvari continues, "I suggest that we visit the Pale Tree. Her wisdom can guide the way - and if anyone knows how to defeat Zhaitan, it is the Mother Tree."

Tiffany brightens. "That sounds…" she pauses, trying to find the right word.

"Fun!" Fiona smirks.

"Quite interesting," Tiffany finishes with a grin. "Plus I get to meet the Pale Tree, which I've never had a chance to do yet."

Trahearne nods, seeming slightly amused by their replies. He glances at the sunset on the horizon. "Meet me at the Grove tomorrow morning," he tells them.

"Of course I will," Tiffany tells him. Then, she frowns. "But the asura gates are down… how did you get here?"

"Same way you did," Forgal shrugs.

"Oh. Right," Tiffany says, feeling slightly stupid. The Durmand Priory had hacked the waypoint system to delete any long-range traveling from the system since the asura gates were down. But they'd only hacked certain waypoints - the ones right next the asura gate in each city. Both the starting and the ending waypoint had to be the closest one to the asura gate in whichever city, otherwise the travel is still logged in the Dynamics waypoint database. Normally there is no such thing as a 'starting waypoint,' but the cheat the Durmand Priory had installed only works if the person waypointing is within ten feet of the waypoint closest to the asura gate. "I suppose if they haven't fixed the gates by tomorrow I'll use that method as well."

"Where did your norn friends go?" Forgal asks. "I saw some impressive fighting from those three."

"I don't know," Tiffany frowns. "They wanted to stay around and help until Claw Island is free, so they probably didn't go back to Cragstead, but I also doubt that Braham wants to go back to Hoelbrak right now. They might be staying at Fort Marriner."

Forgal frowns. "Why wouldn't Braham want to go back to Hoelbrak?"

"Because of Eir. He doesn't like her much," Tiffany reminds him. Forgal gets the hint and nods. "Will you be coming with us to meet the Pale Tree?" she asks him.

Forgal shakes his head. "General Almorra needs as many warriors as she can get, and the two of us are some of the best Warmasters. I don't think depriving her of the both of us is a good idea."

Tiffany frowns. "You sure I won't be needed?"

"She gave special orders for you to help out Trahearne," Forgal reminds her. "She's planning based off of the assumption that you won't be there."

Tiffany nods. "Alright then. See you tomorrow, Trahearne!"

"I look forward to it," the sylvari replies, and he waypoints away.

Forgal glances at the two of them. "Tiffany, did you know this was going to happen?" he asks.

"The sound enchantment is in place," Fiona tells them.

"Which part?" Tiffany asks Forgal.

"This Pale Tree thing," he explains.

"Oh. Yes, I did," Tiffany nods. "It's rather important for many reasons - I think it showed Trahearne that he could be a leader. It also - I think - helped him finish his Wyld Hunt. It's also when the Pale Tree granted him Caladbolg."

Forgal nods. "I see. He'd likely kill you if you kept him from something pertaining to his Wyld Hunt."

Tiffany gives Forgal a mix of a grimace and a grin. "He's the most dedicated person I've ever met."

Forgal nods. "Well, I'll see you when you return. Good night, my friend."

Tiffany returns inside with Fiona as Forgal waypoints away, and the two head up to bed.

"Hey!" Fiona exclaims as they drift off to sleep. She sits up in bed.

"What?" Tiffany asks. "I'm sleepy. And trying to talk to Beorn." That last part isn't quite true. They'd been sharing feelings, but nothing like an attempt to communicate. Just basking in the companion bond.

"We never told Deborah our secret," Fiona whispers.

Tiffany blinks, a chill running down her spine. "She'll never know…"

Beorn pokes her with the feeling that means 'Zhaitan.'

"Aand it's better that way," Tiffany sighs. "Zhaitan knows what its minions know, and if Zhaitan hasn't Raisined Deborah I'll… I'll…."

"Eat Beorn?" Fiona asks. "And - "

"That's not funny." Tiffany says flatly. "But anyway, yeah. If Zhaitan knew we knew how to defeat it… it wouldn't spare any measures to get rid of us."

"Fiiine," Fiona groans. "But we really should've told her."

"Maybe we can tell her when we die," Tiffany suggests. "It's not like - uh… maybe it is."

"Huh?"

"We don't know if God's spiritual justice system is in place here," Tiffany reminds her. "We might not see her again." A pit of horror forms in Tiffany's stomach. 'Never' had not been a word in her vocabulary - not seriously, anyway. Even when somebody died, she knew she'd see them again someday. But now…

Fiona seems to have been having the same thoughts. "She's gone," the mesmer whimpers.

Tears spring to Tiffany's eyes as she - somehow - manages to grasp the entirety of Deborah's absence. "Never," she whispers, and for the first time in her life, she means it, and understands what it means.

"There you are!" shouts a voice, and Tiffany jumps, hands going to her axes as she leaps out of bed. They aren't there, of course - she'd put them away before bed - but she realizes they aren't needed as she sees Harrison's character standing on the table.

Tiffany sighs in relief as the quick adrenaline spike ebbs away, then is replaced by a stab of annoyance at her younger brother for interrupting her thoughts. "You've been looking for me?" she asks irritably.

"We haven't seen you in almost a week!" Harrison declares.

"One week…" Tiffany mutters in shock.

"MOM! DAD!" Harrisson shrieks. "I FOUND TIFFANY AND FIONA!"

"Wait, have we seen them since Beorn 'died?'" Fiona asks.*

Tiffany's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "That was before the whole Seraph thing - it's been a Season since we've seen them! More!"

"What does that mean?" Falcon, who'd just appeared in their room, asks in a bored tone. The one he uses when he knows he won't get an answer.

"Oh, uh…" Tiffany says, trying to remember the Earth equivalent, then translating to English. "About three months."

Falcon's eyes bug out. "Three months for you guys? It's only been a week! Where've you been this whole time?"

"Well, for the last two months I've been waay up north doing Vigil stuff and beating up the Flame Legion, before that we were helping out the Seraph for a week following the Seraph Training Academy, which was when we saw you last," Tiffany explains. "This last week we've been doing the Claw Island story arc."

"And I was inside Sorrow's Embrace, you wouldn't have been able to find me since instances don't seem to work like that," Fiona inserts.

Before Falcon can reply, Tangwen appears. "There you are! I know it's only been about a week for us, but it must have been ages for you!" she says in distress. "We couldn't find you anywhere! All the instances seemed to shut down and revert back to normal - even Petra and Andrew just had standard dialogue like 'normal' NPCs!"

Tiffany frowns. "That's weird. Are they still like that now?" She is speaking in English, she'd made sure of it. It's more natural to speak in English when talking about NPCs and such anyway.

The door swings open - nobody had touched the handle, even from the other side - and Joslyn runs in, zipping across the room in an instant.

Tiffany looks perturbed at Joslyn's unusual - read: never ever done - display of energy, but then Joslyn stops abruptly and she realizes it is just the way the characters move. The other times she'd seen them it had been a bit more realistic, but the door had just opened on its own like it did in the game when you hit F… maybe the game is taking over?

"We haven't seen you since Forgal attacked you, remember?" Joslyn exclaims.

"Oh right, you were there for that," Tiffany nods. "I forgot. In that case, it's only been about… uhh… two months for us. Two thirds of a Season or eight weeks."

"You don't count by months in Tyria?" Phillipe asks, with a frustrated frown.

Tiffany shakes her head, wondering how much of her previous sentence had been delivered in Tyrian. "Nope. They don't even have clocks that use numbers. We've got magical wristwatch-style sundials instead, but nobody calls the ticks hours. They're just ticks or notches, though there are still twenty-four of them in a day."

"It looks so weird to see you moving so naturally inside a game," Falcon notes.

"Didn't we before?" Tiffany frowns.

"Not really…" Falcon frowns.

"Well, I've never seen you moving so much like player characters," Fiona points out. "When Joslyn ran in just now, it looked weird. Normally she'd just walk in, even with the whole game interference thing."

"It must be gamifying more," Joslyn frowns. "That's… worrying."

"Maybe it's in response to the changes we've been making to the storyline?" Tiffany suggests, thinking of Destiny's Edge being together already, Braham learning that Tiffany knows Eir, the whole Claw Island debacle… and Deborah's death. She glances at Fiona.

"What's wrong?" Joslyn asks upon seeing the looks on her gamified daughter's faces.

"Deborah is dead," Fiona tells them softly. "Did any of you ever get up to Claw Island in your storyline?"

Falcon, Harrison and Joslyn nod. "Oh, I'm so sorry," Joslyn exclaims, and she steps forward to encase one of them in hug, but she flies across the room in player running.

A frustrated sigh emanates from the character. Joslyn remains facing into the wall, although Tiffany knows she is actually watching the rest of them and not bothering to turn the character around. It's disconcerting.

"Hey look!" Falcon exclaims. "You can sit in the chairs!"

Tiffany watches in a mix of amusement and sadness as her family all sit woodenly in the chairs, exclamations of delight coming from the stiff figures at their newfound capability. She glances at Fiona, who shares her look of resignation at the 'gamification' that is slowly separating the family.

Phillipe glances at Joslyn. His daughters - his daughters! - enduring so much death and destruction. Their sister dying! He knows they have alternate memories of the world, and that they knew Deborah as much as one of their native siblings. This death would hurt them as much as Falcon or Harrison, Nate or Eden or Vinn or Laura dying would.

And he and Joslyn - the parents of the two! - can't help. They can stand and watch their daughters grieve, unable to do anything… or they can leave and not watch. They can decide to let the two young women - they aren't his children anymore - go their own way. They can separate the family, move on… but Phillipe can't do that. These are his two oldest children - even though they are twenty-four, they've always been his children - he can't just leave them here to deal with death and destruction and everything that is the basic nature of a fantasy world, however distinctively not imaginary or fake it is.

He can't just leave his daughters like this… but he also can't help. Words alone will have to suffice, and their characters don't act naturally. Their mouths don't move when they speak and the idle animations are dreadfully short and obvious when put in a real life perspective.

It's killing him, not being able to help. Not being able to do anything beyond unnatural words coming from a stiff mannequin like a mechanical speaker… and the little things. Not counting months, and using different terms for the hours of the day. Things like that will always separate them.

Not to mention the alternate language - that Tiffany and Fiona speak in as if it is native (which, come to think of it, they do have memories of speaking it since a young age) - which keeps getting in the way. And the time difference!

Phillipe and Joslyn look on as Falcon and Harrion engage the two otherworldly people in conversation, talk jumping from one thing to another and never staying anywhere very long.

Tangwen speaks to him - nobody else but he and Joslyn react to it, so she must be using the 'grown-up channel.' "It's heartbreaking, realizing they're on their own," she says sadly.

Phillipe agrees, and says so. "I just can't wrap my head around the fact that they're really gone… we just haven't realized it yet. What makes it worse is that we have to watch… but we can't just leave them."

Tangwen sighs. "I know what you mean. They're my friends - younger siblings to watch out for and take care of. I never expected them to have to deal with something that I didn't understand… and while I understand at an information level that this Deborah is as much their sister as your other children, I just can't process it properly that they feel so strongly."

"I imagine…" Joslyn says softly. She clears her throat and starts again. "Maybe - probably only in their subconscious, but still - Deborah replaced you. Older sibling by quite some years, yet more of a close friend than parent despite the age difference.

"Oh." After a pause of several seconds, she continues, her voice rather flat. "That explains it."

Oh, the limitations of voice chat. Body language is almost everything. Phillipe wishes he were in the same room as Tangwen, if just to get a better read on her emotions. There are many things she could be feeling, from feeling replaced by Deborah and perhaps a bit betrayed to feeling touched that her friends would mourn her this way to surprise at how her friend's parents regard her to worry that Tiffany and Fiona now have nobody to play the older-sister-friend role to a strange kinship with Deborah and sadness on her own part that the Seraph sister is dead to being unable herself to figure out which one she feels.

Tiffany and Fiona had talked with their family long into the night. Many lapses of language occurred, but many things were discussed - Deborah's death, though, was quite firmly avoided as too emotional a topic to carry on with people who showed no emotion whatsoever, no matter what they are actually feeling - everyone knows that even the /sad and /cry animations are totally fake.

Another difference to earth is discovered when Falcon asks why they're going to bed at three in the afternoon. Fiona had replied that they go to bed with the sun, and Harrison had bluntly said the the sun was still up, and Joslyn had inserted that even if the sun wasn't up, the sun goes down at much before bedtime.

Phillipe had reminded them then that two hours was a day for them, so they would be going to sleep again in two hours. This astounded Harrison, who sat down in a chair to contemplate going to bed every two hours. Tiffany found this slightly funny and quite in character for Harrison - who is only about seven and detests bedtime. She had told him that they are quite exhausted and ready to go to bed each and every time, as well, which confounded him even farther.

That is what had led to the end of the conversation; Phillipe had decided that Tiffany and Fiona needed their sleep, especially with the Claw Island arc going on, and he promised to catch up on storyline so he'd know what was going on next time he met up with them.

It makes no sense for him to not understnad what is going on and so divide the family even further, after all.

In any case, both Tiffany and Fiona fell asleep without much ado once the others left, being quite tired physically and (in Fiona's case) magically from the long day fighting, as well as mentally tired from explaining things to their family and trying not to think about things like Deborah's death.

And they don't get a chance to think through and sort out any of their thoughts and feelings regarding anything, since they fall asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows. Even Beorn conks out almost immediately, even in the middle of worrying about Tiffany and Fiona's inability to get a moment to rest mentally.

The next day, the asura gates are not up, so Tiffany and Fiona waypoint to the Grove.

The discussion that she and Fiona had been having before the players logged on the night before had come up in Tiffany's thoughts again that morning, and she mentions it to Fiona as they head toward the waypoint.

"I feel so… guilty," she admits, as a chill runs down her spine. "We just don't have enough time. I haven't been able to set aside a period of mourning for her - but I can't just be sad now and then. My mind doesn't work like that. It doesn't… honor her memory. She deserves a proper mental funeral from me, and I just can't give it. Things are too… hectic. And they will be from now until at least Zhaitan is dead."

Fiona grimaces. "I know exactly what you mean. We've got to deal with Claw Island right now, then we'll have to form the Pact, then there'll be all the Pact's campaign to destroy Zhaitan… and it doesn't feel right. I can't give Deborah's memory the time it needs to rest. It's… disturbing."

Tiffany nods sympathetically. "Even the thought that Deborah would have wanted us to throw ourselves into this - reclaiming Claw Island, then pressing our advantage against Zhaitan? Even knowing she would have wanted that, it still… doesn't feel right."

"And we never told her," Fiona says sadly. "We never told her we knew the future. And it's our fault - we made changes, she died. She stayed safely at home in the game, was never killed. And even if she'd have preferred to go out in battle… none if it clicks. None of it relieves me of the guilt that it was both our fault and that we can't mourn properly.

"I don't think it will click until we have time to think about it," Tiffany sighs as they reach their destination and waypoint to the Grove.

"There you are," Trahearne greets them. "I believe you have been to the Omphalos Chamber before?"

"Yes," TIffany nods. "That was the time you showed us Ventari's Tablet."

The three make their way to the Omphalos Chamber. Nobody else is there, which is unusual - the Pale Tree must have wanted privacy for this discussion.

Trahearne approaches the Avatar of the Tree with Tiffany and Fiona trailing behind. "Hail, Mother," he greets her. "We come to seek your wisdom."

Fleetingly, Tiffany wonders why so much formality between a mother and her child - particularly one of the Firstborn - but then realizes that Trahearne greatly respects the Pale Tree, and would of course treat her accordingly.

"Bide a while, Trahearne, my son," the Pale Tree says. "And you as well, Tiffany, Fiona and Beorn Tassof. I have much to show you all."

'Did she just give Beorn a last name?' Tiffany wonders in amusement. Beorn returns affirmative feelings wrapped in amusement, some of it Tiffany's own. There is a touch of indignation as he mentally rolls his eyes. That is a 'yes,' delivered as if it was the most natural thing in the world. 'Of course I am Beorn Tassof.'

"On what subject to do you seek my counsel?" the Pale Tree asks.

"Mother, I am sure by now you have heard of the destruction at Claw Island and Lion's Arch," Trahearne says - half a query, half a statement - gravely.

The Tree's Avatar nods sadly. "The soul of Tyria mourned at the beast's destruction. The Dream weeps for the corruption caused, and the numbers of dead are a source of grief throughout the land."

"My friends and I seek to right that wrong," Trahearne tells her firmly. "We wish to fight Zhaitan, and take back what was lost. We have come to ask your advice."

"The answer will determine Tyria's future, my child - and that is where it will be found. All of you must face the darkness and become guiding stars in the night. Zhaitan can be defeated - but only through great courage and sacrifice. Come. Enter the Dream with me, and see a vision of your future."

RELIGIOUS/CHRISTIAN CONTENT BEGINS HERE

Tiffany's vision blurs, colors mixing together, definitive lines fading, foggy mist clouding her vision. She feels weightless, suddenly, as if she had been pulled out of her body - as if she is seeing through her eyes from afar, in a distant, disconnected sort of way. She is covered in a blanket of warmth, as if the Dream is welcoming her. She feels a sensation of home and peace, as if the Dream is calling her home after a long time of being away.

Then, as if her soul closed its eyes to the monitor displaying her body's senses - as if she stopped paying attention - she sees nothing and feels nothing and hears nothing, at least not physically. But she finds she is not blind; she is not senseless. She doesn't feel afraid of the sudden lack of a body (or at least the feeling of it).

Her soul can 'see' and 'hear,' and although it is more of a mental sensation than anything else, she finds that she does not need anything more.

Tiffany can feel Beorn, still connected to her - but more of a bond than ever before exists. She can feel the imprint of his mind, his soul, his very being, near her. She can feel the same of Fiona and Trahearne - except they are more like presences. She can feel them near her, as if they are radiating something that identifies them. The Pale Tree is there as well, but she feels more like a connection back to… reality? No. 'Reality' is the wrong word, although it is the one she would have used without hesitation prior to entering the Dream. Back to Tyria. The Dream exists somewhere else - the Mists, maybe? A separate realm? Maybe it is a whole new world - as different to Tyria as earth is.

The feeling of the Dream - warm and welcoming - has not left. It is wrapped around her like a blanket. She feels like she knows the Dream, like she has felt this before, as if she should recognize it but she can't quite remember.

Beorn does not have the same recognition, only curiosity at why Tiffany feels that she should recognize the Dream.

Trahearne seems… he seems one with the Dream, rather than being surrounded with it as Tiffany, Fiona and Beorn are. Tiffany finds herself longing desperately for the same sort of… oneness with the Dream. To be suffused through and through with the quiet joy pervading the Dream.

All this she realizes within a few seconds of entering the Dream, although it seems like an eternity. And she feels the Dream… touching her. As if the Dream, despite holding her in the warm embrace of home, is somehow… trying to get in. She opens herself - she is not quite sure how, only that she did it consciously - in a welcome invitation.

The Dream - the warm, welcoming embrace - flows through her, filling her mind with the same sensations she had been feeling - or knowing about - outside of her. She had thought she felt warm and accepted as she never had before, but now she realizes that had only been a pale imitation of the real thing.

And then, Tiffany recognizes it, realizes what she ought to have known beforehand, and pure joy floods through her whole being as she embraces the presence within her, welcomes it eagerly.

And Beorn does not recognize it, but he welcomes it as Tiffany had, with just as much joy. Tiffany can sense the Dream permeating Fiona, as well… but this is all registered subconsciously as Tiffany melds with the Dream.

The Dream speaks to her. My faithful child. You never lost hope, even when all the evidence was against you.

And Tiffany knows - knows with a sense of assuredness, a firm belief that is unshakable - that the Dream is the answer to her oft-prayed question; the Dream is who she had before called Jesus, the Holy Trinity, and God the Father. And her heart swells with love fit to burst as she realizes that, despite her doubting and fears, He still loves her, does not care that she doubted so long as she never strayed, and found a way for them to be reunited at last. And she loves him on a deeper level, as well; as deep as it had ever been before she came to Tyria; but she had never been consciously in this much contact with Him, had never felt his presence as solidly as she feels him now.

All her questions, all her doubts, evaporate in a trice. She no longer fears that pursuing the Elder Dragons is the wrong way to go; had not the Dream bestowed numerous Wyld Hunts commanding sylvari to fight the corruption? She no longer fears that she is following the wrong path completely in trusting that her God would be there for her; is the Dream not entwined with her, through her being more thoroughly than ever before?

She receives assurance from the Dream that all her goals and hopes and dreams - how ironic is that - are not impossible, that she should continue striving for them…

The joy wraps her up and she can think of nothing else but how wonderful this is - her doubts relieved, her fears dispelled, and her God, her Savior, here to hold her in his arms. For such it is; within the Dream, it is her soul and mind that traverse the vast mindscape. Her soul, her innermost being, its senses not dampened any more by the feelings of the body or urges of time or concerns for the present… they are all trivial, taking place in an utterly different world to this.

Her soul, without bodily obstruction, is open to the pure sensation of the Dream within her, the Lord's spirit caressing her own, a part of it, mingled together.

All the abstract portions of spirituality that she had, perhaps, not quite understood before are suddenly made quite clear. 'My spirit and yours are one.' She had never quite managed to grasp how that might be possible, but now - only now does she understand. Together they are mingled, together they are a single unit, a single soul… with Him seeded throughout her, how could she possibly not understand?

'My Lord my God, my most awesome Savior,' she thinks reverently. 'My creator and caretaker, my parent and friend. I trusted you, and you took care of me; I doubted, yet you brought me home. Jesus Christ, my eternal light and salvation.' Tiffany notes, with a touch of humor, that she suddenly understands where the eloquence of the Psalms sprung from.

And you shall not be alone such as this again, comes the reply. I left you once, though I guided you as surely as if you had never your native land. I shall never leave you to such doubts and fears again. Though you may not feel me, I will never again give you cause to doubt my existence in a strange land.

Ephemeral light floods Tiffany as she revels in having an almost normal conversation - as normal as it could get in such circumstances - as if face to face with her Savior. And as she receives the meaning the Dream had given her, she understands with a touch of… finality that something about her has changed.

A covenant, Tiffany, the Dream tells her. A seal on the unbreakable promise that you will never have cause to doubt Me again.

Tiffany feels her entire being - her soul, devoid of bodily restraints, can feel the change so drastically - suffused in purpose. An intention, a goal, a far-off objective to strive for. She feels it in her spirit, mind and soul; and it is so like her and so aligned with her personality that she can only barely tell that it was bestowed on her by the Dream.

And she knows what it is, knows without having to be told even by the Dream…

She has a Wyld Hunt.

THE CHRISTIAN/RELIGIOUS STUFF ENDS HERE.

Author's Notes:

Yes, I just had to end it there. It's a little short for a chapter… (really, really short if you didn't read the marked off sections, really sorry about that) but seriously, that's the best chapter ending in the world.

And yes, I have been thinking about this little piece of never-revealed information about the Dream for AGES. I got so excited while writing it that I couldn't stand to sit still writing any more. Can you imagine that? Me, unable to write, because I'm excited about my writing? ME?!

* I actually did have to go back and look up when was the last time they saw their earth family. That is just sad, in and of itself.

And also. I had the HARDEST time figuring out where to put the beginning of the warning tag.