Shattered Reflections - Chapter 6 - Coming to Terms

Major Edit: This has nothing to do with the story. However, I wanted to just take a second to give my two cents on what is currently happening to Rushia. I hope this isn't how you find out, but she has been terminated from Hololive. She won't even be getting a graduation stream or any chance to say a real goodbye to fans. This is terrible, absolutely terrible. Obviously, none of use can sat for certain what the true cause of all of this is (at least for right now), but it had to have been serious. With the current controversy and the fact that she was Hololive's second highest superchat source, Cover would not have terminated her contract unless what they found was serious. I would recommend reading Cover's official statement on the situation on their twitter or subreddit to see what you think of it yourself. I hope she does well in future endeavors.

Sorry to bring down the mood and break "character" I guess, but I just needed to say something. I never watched her regularly, but some of you probably did. I'm sorry that this has happened, but there is very little that anyone can do about it. I hope we get a more concrete explanation as to what happened behind the scenes, though I think that's just a wish for now. I hope you all take the news well and remember to cherish these girls. They may not be here for as long as we would like...

Anyways, enough of being a downer. Let's get to the final chapter of SR.

Enjoy.

A dream similar to her first one began. Gura floated underwater in a dark ocean with the smell of blood lingering all around her.

"Αλήθεια σε άφησαν ελεύθερο;" Primal Gura's voice came from just beyond her field of vision. Somewhere in the darkness, that part of herself lurked.

"Yes, they did set me free. It's because they trust me!" she yelled out in defiance.

"Oh really?" she said in English this time. A sharp pain shot across Gura's cheek. Her hand reflexively reached up and covered it. When she pulled her hand back, it was covered in blood.

"Come out here and face me, coward!" Gura screamed. A dark laughter filled the waters around her.

"How hypocritical." Primal Gura shot out of the darkness and stopped right in front of her. There were chunks of flesh in her teeth this time. She picked at them.

"Why are you pulling me into these dreams?" Gura tried to keep up her confidence. Primal Gura wasn't having it.

"To show you who you truly are. But for some reason, you can't seem to accept that," Primal Gura got the piece of meat out of her tooth, "You know, humans actually taste really good."

"I don't care! I have a food source now!" Gura lashed out. She wanted to slash at the reflection of herself, but couldn't. This place was Primal Gura's domain.

"Yeah, well it tastes like shit," she barked back, "If you can't understand on your own accord. I'll just have to make you."

"W-what does that mean?" Gura began to worry for her friends' safety. Primal Gura pulled her lips back into a terrifyingly large smile.

"I'll kill them all!" she said cheerily.

Gura woke up in a similar dream state, just like the night before. Her body moved on its own, getting out of the bed and walking over to her door. When she opened it, a dart gun fired into her leg.

Thanks Emersyn.

Gura felt control return to her slightly. She slowed her walk down the hallway to a snail's pace. She wouldn't let Primal Gura hurt anyone else.

Emersyn's room burst open, followed quickly by Ina and Amelia's. All three of them looked ready to fight.

"Gura wake up!" Ina called out first. Emersyn raised her katana, ready to block any strike that came from the semi-Primal Atlantean.

Amelia was rooted in place the instant she saw Gura's face again. Half of it looked like what she'd seen the prior night. Impossible wide smile with blood red eyes. The other half looked scared. Tears built up in that side's eye.

"Χτύπα με…" Gura mumbled with her slight control. She couldn't speak English, it took too much energy. She could only hope that Emersyn could understand her.

"She wants us to hit her," Emersyn translated. Gura was so thankful to have such an amazing manager.

"I'm sorry, Gura…" Ina obliged and raised her hands to fire her magic. Gura continued to resist her Primal side, wanting to leap at her friends. She took the blast in the chest yet again. All control returned to her, besides the fact that now she was convulsing.

"Σας ευχαριστώ…"

"She wants to kill you guys," Gura broke the news the next day. Emersyn unlocked the restraints binding her. They had put her back into the containment room as a precaution.

"What do you mean? Is she hungry?" Amelia asked. Gura gritted her teeth in anger.

"No, she said she wants to show me who I really am." Ina worried greatly for her friend's well being. This was taking quite the mental toll. She knew how difficult it could be to resist voices whispering in your ear.

"Do you feel like she's influencing you right now?" Ina asked. Gura nodded.

"She's trying, but I don't think she can do anything while I'm awake."

"It appears like gaps in your consciousness invite her to take control, though," Emersyn added. Amelia thought hard about what she could add to the conversation.

"I did a lot of experimenting with my powers over the past couple years," she began, "If I really did destabilize you, then I brought another version of you into this timeline. She shouldn't still be lurking around like this, though." This confused her. Why was this other version of her still here? It should be gone by now.

"She is me, Ame." Amelia's eyes went wide.

"No, she is just another timeline's version of you. A timeline where you couldn't resist your Primal instincts and-"

"I SAID SHE'S ME!" Gura screamed out. Ina put her hands over her ears from how loud it was. Amelia winced in pain.

"So you're thinking that this is your Primal side talking to you?" Emersyn questioned.

"Yeah, I'm guessing that the Destabilization awoke that side in me, letting me remember my past fully," Gura explained her thinking. Amelia nodded slowly.

"Alright, I think I understand now. If you lose consciousness, like during sleep, she'll try to take control of your body and kill us because she wants you to become who you really are?" Amelia summarized the situation.

"Yeah, and the person she thinks I am is a killer. An apex predator who has no feelings." Gura leaned forward over the table and stared into the metallic reflection. The image of herself was distorted by the uneven metal, how fitting…

"Looks like you'll have to be awake for a while then," Emersyn concluded. Gura shook her head, but couldn't bring herself to disagree. It was the only thing they could do for now.

Ina quietly watched on as Emersyn began to explain how she would help Gura stay awake. Something about what Gura was saying didn't make sense. There was no reason for Primal Gura to go after something unless there was food involved. What did that side of her have to gain by making her into a killing machine?

"I'll help, too," offered Amelia. Emersyn agreed to let her help. Ina also offered her help, which was also accepted.

The next few days were hell for the Atlantean. Beyond 48 hours of constant consciousness, her mind began to flicker. Gura avoided her reflection now since all she could see in it was her red eyes and massive smile. Most of her time was spent in her room with either Amelia, Ina, or Emersyn keeping her awake with conversation and a constant flow of stimulation.

Ina had put caffeine and other stimulants in the food she'd make for her. It helped a little bit, but after 60 hours it was barely enough to keep her functioning. Emersyn offered to keep guard so that Gura could at least nap. The Atlantean respectfully declined. She didn't want to go back to that horrible dreamscape.

"Are you afraid of her?" Ina asked. It was nearing the 64th hour of her sleepless existence.

"Uh, uh, I… guess…" Gura's speech had become incredibly slow by this point as well. Her movements were also sluggish and inaccurate.

"Why are you scared of her?" Ina probed deeper. Gura looked up at the ceiling, slack jawed in thought.

"Um, I think… she's kinda scary…" Gura eventually answered. She pulled her head back down to the horizon. Ina looked at the massive bags under her friend's eyes.

"I think you need to confront her again, Gura." The other girl just stared at her with blank eyes. Ina wasn't sure if Gura had even registered that she'd been spoken to.

"I.. don't want… to…" Gura sounded sad. It was the first emotion she'd shown in a while. Ina rubbed her friend's face a little with her hand. The skin was cold and clammy.

"I think Primal Gura wants you to accept her as a part of you," Ina said. Gura tilted her head, letting it completely flop over to one side.

"Wha…" she didn't even finish the word. Ina sighed.

"Primal Gura wants you to become who you are meant to be, so it could be that she just wants you to accept her. She is a part of you after all."

"But she's scaaaaryyy…" Gura whined.

"You aren't just a cute little girl, Gura. You're a strong warrior of an ancient race."

'...you need to embrace that side they didn't. It is still a part of who you are.' Amelia's kind words drifted into Gura's mind. Was this what she meant by them? Could she accept the fact that she was a killer?

"Maybe… you're right, Ina…" Gura mumbled.

"Do you think you can talk to her in your dream?" Ina asked. Gura let her eyes drift close for the first time in nearly three days.

"Yeah… I think I can…" And within a few seconds of them being closed, she was back in those dark waters.

"Well, well, well, look who finally came back," Primal Gura's voice taunted her from the shadows.

"Ugh, just come out already," Gura said. She didn't want this to be longer than it had to be.

"You're no fun." Primal Gura rushed out of the darkness and appeared in front of her.

"Who are you?" Gura asked sternly. The mirror image of herself laughed in her face.

"I already told you, I'm you. Can't you get that through your thick skull?" Primal Gura put one of her sharp nails into the top of Gura's head. A little bit of blood drifted out of the subsequent wound, but Gura didn't move.

"Fair, I guess I should ask what are you?" Primal Gura's slight smirk changed to a frown.

"I'm the embodiment of everything you reject," she answered. Gura slowly put the pieces together.

"I'm not scared of you… I'm scared of my past… I'm scared that I might hurt people with my powers again!" Gura moved her body for the first time in the dream. She reached up and put her hand on her face, which Primal Gura mirrored. The crazed smile returned to her reflection's face.

"Now you understand!" Primal Gura slashed out. Gura blocked it and countered with her own. Back and forth the two went, but neither could land a hit.

They were mirror images of each other.

It was impossible for one to win.

Gura pulled her strike just before it would've been deflected.

"What? Finally accepted the fact that you're stuck with me?" her other version egged her on. Gura pulled her hand back and stared at it.

"No." Gura reached out her with her arm and put it around Primal Gura's body. Her other arm followed suit. The other version of her was shocked at what was happening. She was being hugged.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" she protested. Gura smiled genuinely.

"I'm thanking you." Primal Gura scoffed.

"For what? The fact that I'm going to kill everyone you care about?" Gura laughed as she hugged her other self even tighter.

"I'm thanking you for letting me be with these people I call my friends. I would've never met them without you. Even though I've done horrible things, I have another chance here that I can't afford to waste." Primal Gura's rage faded away. Gura continued, "All of my mistakes are in my past now. I can't change them, but I can become the person I want to be in the future. I won't let you stop me from doing that."

"Heh, looks like you finally figured me out," Primal Gura said before finally hugging back.

Gura woke up normally. No weird daze or murderous sleep walking. Emersyn sat on the edge of her bed looking at her. She smiled at her when she saw the Atlantean had woken up.

"Welcome back, Ms. Gawr. How was your sleep?" she asked kindly. Gura laughed a little.

"Never felt better!" Gura cracked her neck and stretched her arms above her head.

"Ms. Ninomae told me about your dream plan. How did that go?"

"I think me and her are going to get along just fine." Emersyn smiled.

"Well that's great timing. Our last two talents should be arriving soon."

"Wait, how late did I sleep?" Gura started to look around for something to tell the time with.

"It's around 3 in the afternoon, Ms. Gawr." Emersyn seemed to be in a very good mood today. Not only was she joking around slightly, but her voice was much more relaxed.

"Holy shit, I have to get ready then!" Gura sprang up from the bed to put on some clothes. Emersyn laughed, an incredibly rare sight for that woman.

A couple minutes later and Gura was downstairs with the other two girls in the lounge.

"Hey Gura!" Amelia called out. Gura ran up to her and gave her a big hug. Ina just nodded in her direction, happy that her friend was feeling a lot better.

"So you're feeling better?" Amelia asked.

"Yep, never better!" Gura said happily. Amelia plopped back on to the couch, leaving a space for Gura to sit between her and the Priestess. She sat down in said space.

"Hey, Ina," she got the other girl's attention. Ina looked over at her with her normal soft expression. "Thanks."

"Any time…" Ina said quietly. The three friends joked around in the lounge for a few more minutes before Emersyn returned.

"They should be arriving soon, so I'll brief you on who they are," Emersyn stated. All three girls leaned forward in anticipation. "Calliope Mori, she is a Reaper and the apprentice to Death themself. She is here because she is interested in one of you, but won't state which one yet. Her hobbies include making music and combat."

"She sounds intense," Amelia leaned back onto the couch. Gura and Ina both nodded.

"Takanashi Kiara, she is an ancient Phoenix that has been around for millenia. She is Ms. Mori's closest friend and 'battle buddy'. Her hobbies include drawing and singing."

Ina took interest in her. Maybe they could draw together when they all debuted.

"Ms. Ninomae, I can see what you're thinking as it's written all over your face." Ina turned away from her manager, embarrassed that she was that easy to read. "Ms. Takanashi is very energetic from what I've heard. But I guess the saying is, 'opposites attract'."

There was some light commotion from outside of the room in the direction of the reception.

'That's them, I assume," Gura said. Emersyn hummed her agreements.

The door to the lounge burst open, revealing two figures.

"Hey everyone!"

"Sup."

Author's Note: And that's the prologue everyone!

What? You didn't realize that was all build up to the main event? Oh boy, you are in for a ride from here on out. With Calliope and Kiara in the mix now, our group of lovable idiots just got a lot busier, and more aggressive :)

Enough foreshadowing though, I said I was going to give my full ramble about Primal Gura and the state of the story in this chapter. As it turns out, she isn't just an asshole for no reason. If anything, you can probably think of her as Gura's older, slightly mean, but still caring in her own way, older sister. Everything she does is for a reason that will eventually be a net benefit for Gura. The technicalities will get ironed out shortly, but for now Primal Gura is a voice that lives inside Gura's head. They will make a great team in the future, I'm sure of it. All they have to do is learn to help each other out, but that might be easier said than done. Like I said, explanation coming in the future chapters. That was a mouthful, but I think I got the point across. If you wanted redemption for her, you'll be getting it soon.

Now talking about 'Broken Myths' the next part in the story and probably the longest, at least so far. The plot up until now has either been "resolved" or it has been personal issues. Those will be staying around of course, as I really enjoy my character-driven stories. Primal Gura and Enma are certainly my favorite characters to write. In 'Broken Myths' they are really going to get their times to shine. However, there will be a main central plot introduced. It has been lurking in the background since the beginning of all of this, so be on the look out for it. The events up until now have not been just coincidence.

I'll see you all in the next part!

Next Chapter: Meeting the Eternals

Any feedback/criticism is appreciated!