The memories of the noble Ori flows through the blackness of their mind. From the start of their life in the arms of their caretaker to the very end with their sacrifice, giving birth to new life as the great Spirit Tree. But in the deep recesses of their spirit, one three-eyed creature oversees their tree's growth until it's completely sprouted. Very gently, she takes one hand and shakes the plant a little. With her other hand's sharp fingertips, she pinches at one of the branch leaves, plucking it off. She watches as it drifts away in the breeze before it quickly picks up speed. So much that it starts to boost itself like a rocket through the many colors of hyperspace! Before long, time has shifted. The white glowing wisp lands on a small rock on an ashy forest floor. Soon enough, the leaf shines brighter until it forms a distinctly anthropomorphic shape. Short and stout with big hands, hooved hind legs, two big ears and horns, and a nice long tail.

Resurrected once more, Ori at first checks their surroundings, then gazes at their bulbous hands. While the environment looks similar to their own, it is foreign to the little one. In the not so distant past, Ori was born to save the forests of Nibel and Niwen from the threat of the Decay: dark, destructive forces that sought to purge the land of its light. Could this be another calling to save their world? Perhaps it is a gift from The Ancient One, somehow plucking Ori's memories from death and instilling it onto their new body. So many thoughts roll through the young imp's head as they begin to wander through this strange new world, past the smoldering stones and branches onto a cliff in perfect view of the vast war-torn land before them. A small volcano over to the right in the distance seems to have erupted as its ashes spread across the skies, only to be blocked by a heavenly light from above a forest path among a small army of reptilian-like people wearing natural suits of armor. What seems to be another legion of troopers, albeit larger by the lava fields, run in the opposite direction gathering whatever remains from the ruins. Small shuttles of sorts fly off into the smog, while pieces of large machinery are shipped away, brought aboard metal carrying vessels for sailing.

Curious, Ori hops down the nearest rock sturdy formations of the cliffside, jumping from one slope to another until they reach the forest floor. As they touch down, the wondrous fauna starts to blossom. Ori's very light revives the war torn surface, causing the purple grass to rise and restore color to the scorched trees. With a stroke from their bulbous paws, the vines stretching across the ground extend to the branches and regrow large leaves. Going further into the ruined land takes the young creature to an area populated by the same lizard people from afar. But these men were injured, wounded and scattered over the floors of what seemed like a large fortress without a roof. They examine one of these armored beings, attempting to move their body from such a terrible position on the ground. Sadly, this was another fallen brother skewered by a blade. Others around him met a similar fate, including one in particular sat against a scorched tree with a sword planted between him and the bark. Barely conscious, he waves one hand at Ori, grabbing their attention. In their last moments, the soldier smiles with water in their eyes, not of sadness but of relief. Beauty.

"It's true…" says the man. "The angels are so beautiful."

In seconds, the trooper moves onto the next life, going limp to the side, caught by Ori's palm. They rest them gently against the ground, sparking the grass as it starts to grow around the soldier, engulfing him within moments. Soon his body becomes one with nature, forming a stump of a tree that has yet to fully grow. Before long, the very same process occurs for all the other fallen men without Ori's intervention. They wander through the ruins, repairing each and every nook and cranny with but a touch. Eventually, the clouds disappear and the moonlight shines down, welcoming them to a neat perch to rest on for the long night ahead.

…

"Hey, buddy, you ok?"

Ori awakens after what feels like a few minutes of sleep to come face to face with a white and orange creature of some kind. A bat-like girl, the same size as their own, with big eyes and large wings lowered to her sides.

"Morning. I uh…didn't mean to bother ya. Just wanted to grab that apple behind you."

Indeed, the fruit sits behind Ori above their tail, fully ripe and ready for picking. Silently, they reach for the apple, removing it from the branch and handing it over to the Nimbat with a blank stare, still curious as to whom or what they're looking at.

"Thanks," says the creature. "Say, you don't look like you're from around here. What's your name?"

Ori voices their name in their familiar language but the Nimbat only hears gibberish. She tilts her head in confusion.

"Um…Well, hi, Origami. Name's Fidget. Nice to see something new after, well, everything yesterday an' all."

Ori continues to stare blankly out of curiosity.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

They shake their head.

"Ok, lemme summarize it for you," Fidget says, putting her hands together. "Two dudes died. They got fused together to create Dust. Dust took out the bad guys and it looks like he died at that lava field not too far. There was also some ancient sword that I sto- I mean was guarding. Totally didn't make it up. Ask the Elder. End of story."

More silence comes from Ori again.

"Look, it's very complex and it's got several plot holes. This is the best I could tell." Fidget straightens her wings and shakes her body when a breeze comes by. "Knowing how spirit-y things have been, and the fact that this technically isn't the first time Dust died…I get the feeling he's still out there. I just wish I knew where. Unless…"

Fidget looks closer at Ori, leaning to them while examining their face…then it hits her.

"You're him, aren't you? You just forgot who you were like last time! Good ol' case of video game amnesia! I mean, granted, you look nothing like you used to. But if I bring you to Ginger or the village, you'd totally start remembering!"

Ori shakes their head and hands as fast as possible to deny it. They already remember who they are and it has nothing to do with Fidget's claims.

"Whaddya mean no? You were totally interested in learning before, in a very…angsty sorta way."

The imp hops off the branch and reaches for the vines that grew overnight to shimmy down to the forest floor. They cut a piece of bark off the tree to plant in the dirt to sketch several unique symbols and figures. Soon they make up a scene, albeit crudely drawn, from their birth to the corruption of their land, to its repair and their ultimate sacrifice. Fidget doesn't talk the entire time. Instead, she lets Ori tell the tale with just the drawings. Soon, they stop once they reach the moment they're at now, with her.

"Huh…" says the Nimbat, now on the ground with Ori. "Well…that kills the reincarnation theory. But it was fun to think about. Guess you don't wanna come see the village or anything. I'll get outta your hair."

Fidget looks very disappointed while saying that. She still feels guilt over not being able to rescue Dust when the lava was ready to overtake him, along with Ahrah the sword. Likewise, Ori feels sympathy, not knowing if this is the same world as their own or an entirely different one. Fidget bows her head, lowering her long ears and pouting. She starts to leave, too upset to leave with her wings and simply walks off. But as she exits the scene, she hears more footsteps behind her. Ori follows her. She takes a few steps back, which the imp walks toward to clearly communicate, "I'll come with you". Seeing the calming smile on Ori's face lightens up the Nimbat. Wordlessly, she takes Ori's hand and spreads her wings back out, preparing to take flight with her new friend, and a kindred spirit.

The End