One My Try

The world was small in her hands, but it was hers and hers alone. Tiamat smiled softly and stroked one of the oceans, adding a little salt and wind to its newly formed surface. Behind her stepped forth a tall man with piercing blue eyes. His hands slid around her waist before she could notice.

Is one little continent going to be enough? He whispered into her ear.

Tiamat spun out of his grasp, cradling the little planet and hissing. Stay away! This one is mine! You killed all the others! You won't get this one! 

The man chuckled softly and from the darkness pulled a copy of himself.

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. You've done so well in resisting me so far. The copy grew smaller and smaller until it vanished. Tiamat gasped and looked down to see it walking on her plains. He turned and started to walk away.

Lets see how well you do this time love. I'd hate to see your last chance at motherhood go up in smoke like the others. 

Once he was gone Tiamat crumpled, cradling her world. She could see the peoples she worked so hard to make slowly falling to him...but she had to do something. Rules be damned, this was hers. With a soft prayer she started to form her own avatar. There wasn't much she could do for her little ones, but she could try. When she was satisfied with the creature, it started to shrink. It changed as it did though.

No! Apsu! Damn you! She scrambled to halt the changes, but the avatar crumpled into dust. No... 

On her planet the seas started to roil and the skies darkened. The small people looked up at their Goddess as she sobbed over their fate. One stepped forward. A tall woman with wings of soft gray that shimmered in the light.

“Mother? What sorrows do you carry? Is there anything we can do?”

Tiamat smiled softly at her child from the surface. I...am not sure. Apsu has sent his avatar and destroyed mine...

The woman smiled and hugged the goddess. “Well... we will just have to give you a new one.”

How do you propose this?

“We are your children. I more than most being the first. It...may take a while but I think one of my line might be able to help.”

Tiamat smiled softly and patted the woman. How could you possibly know something like that?

The woman smiled back, “Chaos is life. How can we possibly stand by and let something like Order infringe on our future? We cannot see the future, but we can at least make it so.”

Ah, my sweet child. So let it be. 

The sea of pale golden grass swayed gently in the ever present wind. The tall stalks brushed gently against the second floors of the perfect white houses that defined the border of the small town. From my window, I could see that every house was cut from the same cloth, down to the littlest detail. Little pains turned my head from the sight and I ran my fingers along the windowsill, tracing the shape of the nails embedded deeply into it. A sharp edge on one snagged the fraying edge of my gown and tore it further. It made me smile. I was about to tear it completely when a sound pulled my attention to the door of my room. A lock clicked softly and in came my brother. He terrified me. From his pale golden hair and frighteningly clear blue eyes right down to the starch white suit. His smile was bright and false as he tittered softly. 

“Sister dear, why are you at the window again? You know that will only make you sicker. Back into bed.”

Too tired to argue, I slid slowly from the sill to get into the dusty low bed. Across the room was a plain white dresser and mirror, the ghost that looked back at me made me sick. Mouse brown hair that was limp and ragged hung down past her waist while fathomless blue eyes stared with a feverish light. Her skin was tight and gaunt across the high cheekbones and stubborn chin. The pale blue gown did nothing to help her luminescent complexion. My brother placed a small vial into her hands.

“Take your medicine like a good girl and go to sleep.”

The crystal of the vials always fascinated me, how something so clear and beautiful could hold something that burned so badly on the way down. I gagged slightly and gave him back the now empty vessel. As always, the noxious brew pulled me into a deep sleep. It was my secret hope that this would be last time I had to taste that vile medicine. 

I felt cheated when I slowly became aware of the warm darkness that enveloped me. If this was Death I wanted it to be over quickly so I go back to my rest. From it came a tall woman, clothed in the same darkness, but somehow still distinct. Her features were ethereal, something that shouldn't exist in the world I knew, and so very cold. But it was her eyes that unsettled me the most; they were a chaotic swirl of shapes and colors.

Sorry about this, little one, but I can't let Death claim you just yet. 

“And why ever not?” I said, arms crossed, my foot managing to tap on a nonexistent floor. Ah, sarcasm, the refuge of people scared out of their minds.

I need you to do something for me.

“Well, in that case, I think you might be more than a little mental.” I was proud that my voice hadn't wavered one iota. I did jump when the woman burst into laughter and her features became much warmer. 

You are probably right, my dear daughter, but much to my despair you are the only one left to hear me out.

“Don't call me daughter. You aren't my mother and if it pains you that much to ask me why bother?”

She smiled softly and reached out to gently brush my face. You are a daughter of mine, many times removed and my despair is for the coming troubles I must place on your shoulders.

“Well...I guess I can hear you out at least. What do you want me to do?”

I need you to save the rest of my children.

I stared at her and chewed my lip, unsure of how to phrase my response. “That is a pretty tall order considering that I am mostly dead. Even if I wasn't my body...wasn't the strongest or even close to healthy.”

True enough, but that was because you were being poisoned by what I detest to call you family.

My heart wrenched to hear my secret confirmed. “I...figured as much.”

The look of surprise on the woman's face was oddly gratifying. You are taking this much better than most people would. Is there no rage in you?

I could feel my lips twisting in the semblance of a smile. “Not particularly. I can see their point if the Mother of All Chaos is calling me a daughter and asking for a boon.”

The Mother of All Chaos chuckled softly and sat next to me. Dimensions didn't really seem to exist in this space. You are most definitely of my blood. So, do you feel like granting my boon?

“ I don't see how I could. Or why at this point.”

Well how about this? I could restore your body to a point. You would be able to feel the wind, fly among the stars, and be among those who would give their lives for you, rather than take yours. 

“Sounds nice, but that sort of thing comes with a rather hefty price.”

Mother smiled and put an arm around my shoulders. That is true. But the price is one imposed by laws beyond my control. If you chose to do this for me, you would have to deal with the pain of the poisons for the rest of your life and more poisons will make you deathly ill for a while but never outright kill you.

“That sounds like a pretty raw deal for saving your children.”

Yes, but I will also give you power and wealth beyond your wildest dreams.

My chuckle seemed to startle Mother and I shook my head slightly. “That doesn't mean much to a dead person. Why do your children need saving?”

They have become lost to me as the humans gain in power. The God of All Order is eying my territory. This planet was mine to do with as I wished, and his greed will destroy what little balance remains. 

I sighed and chewed my lip. “I wish I could help you, but I still have a hard time seeing how I could do anything for you at all. I mean look at this wreck of a body. It isn't worth feeding to the dogs.”

Mother smiled softly and kissed my head. Do not worry about that, my dear child. This is how you will be once fully restored to your proper glory as one of mine. She formed a mirror and I was startled at my reflection. No longer did a ghost reside there. In its place was a tall, lithe young woman with rich chocolate hair that curled around her to the floor like a glorious cloak. Her skin had darkened a few shades to the color of warm sand that highlighted the deep blue eyes filled with determination. 

“That...is me?” I touched the reflection, and the sense of relief when it mimicked me brought me to my knees. 

Yes, my dear one. You look much like your mother, you know. She had that same stubborn chin. Mother chuckled softly and vanished the mirror. It may be a week or two before you are fully restored, but nonetheless, that is you. Will you grant my boon?

I smiled softly at her, “Well...it can't hurt to try. I'll need all the help I can get, though.”

It will be provided. I will call the Red Twins. They have served me many times over in their many lives. They will be your strongest allies, and the ones who will love you the most. I am sure of it. She started to fade back into the darkness.

“Ah, before you go. I'm...not human am I? What am I then?”

The Mother of All Chaos smiled widely. You are a direct daughter of Chaos, my sweetling, and as such, are the strongest and the wisest of my children. You are a force for the destruction of the past and for the birth of a new future. You are a Dragon of the Highest Order.

“Fantastic.”