The Story So Far... (Alliance version)

These are the words spoken by

The One They Misplaced

Before the Emperor of Napix

And all ears he deemed worthy

Prejudice and discrimination

Defined the Napix Empire

So deeply rooted

To pull them out would cause collapse

Or so it was thought

By those blinded

Not to their existence

But to their injustice

And by those who could see

But who lacked audacity and power

Change is inevitable

A Protector serves his district well

An Aylata both like the people and not

He catches cowardly thieves

Keeps things in their place

Heart nourished by expectation of grandeur

The Emperor is dead

His sons meet the same fate

One was warned of the Ravida’s intentions

But he would not heed the words of a stranger

And so he fell into a Mind Aylata’s gaze

Eyes never to reopen

The Protector is summoned to Aylata Tower

Where a new emperor

Introduces him to change

Its vastness camouflaged

Because the Protector does not understand

Does not yet believe in it

He embodies defiance

But he goes

Lost, curious, nervous

To a region called the Alliance

Where Aylata have no place

In the hearts of the people

Yet

There is one who is regret

Beauty and Talent compose her

But even in such potent combination

They could not save the one she loved

She is not invincible

And she no longer believes she is

She finds the Protector

Welcomes him though she shouldn’t

She serves a similar role

A protector of the cities here

Called an Adjuvant though she is unique among them

Adjuvants share an ancient heritage with Aylata

Aylata are Magni and Napix

Adjuvants are Magni and one of a variety of worlds

This one is Magni and two

A contradiction of herself

A work of art that should not be

She is rightly wary

The Protector’s mission

Is to rescue a lost crew

And abduct one such as her

But she is like an elitbeast

Guarding the pack that guards her

She is strong

And the Protector is learning to think

He wants her smile

Not her glare

Her friendship

Not her surrender

He will not capture her

His thoughts distract him

And he crashes his borrowed transport

She brings him to his rescued ship and crew

Farewells exchange amid reminders

Of how much impact one person can have

One person can always make a difference

That is the motto of his home

He believes it now

More than ever

He will be that one person

Halting quarrels before they start

She is trapped on board

He will set her free

He is attacked by his own

She is chased down

A final message sent

Desperation carrying it to those she left behind

The contradiction is given to the emperor

She awakens in the Tower

To medical scents and sounds

She is clever and escapes one room

But not the Tower

The computer that guards all

She is lost in a never ending maze

The Protector comes for her

Promises to see her home

But doubts and betrayal weigh his hands

Tangible weapons for the right Talents

Items the emperor uses as poison

The Protector runs

Finds her, the contradiction

Flees further

To the home of a friend

Where lies meant to protect

Sow more betrayal

They abscond again

Parting ways

She to recover her transport

Refusing to further involve him

To turn him against his own

To shatter his future here

An ambush awaits

She is injured and limping

Overwhelmed and outnumbered

With no one watching her back

The Protector returns

To fight alongside her

There are no winners

The Protector alone stands

Choices shining down on him

Too bright, too searing

He cannot turn away

He cannot remain idle

He carries her

Listless in his arms

Dying and spilling secrets

He begs her to hang on

Just a little further

He brings her home

Where he is not welcome

She awakens

He is gone

She will find him

Offer him a home

Convince him to stay

Because one person can always make a difference

___

Alliance

Papers rustle as he sets them down

On a dusty desk

And sighs like it is his last breath

I do not look

Lost in my own thoughts

Though I return the sigh

Any Love Lost

Is A Nightmare

Constantly Enduring

What is confidence

Except a belief that drives one forward

Amidst impossible odds?

Confidence in one’s allies is imperative

And yet sometimes

They are not enough

Love is not invincible

As I stare out the window of this reclaimed ruin

Everything I see once belonged

To a place called the Alliance

And I cannot help but think

Of how it was

Of those who wanted to protect or claim it

Twi, who is danger’s obsession

Ject, who is determined to set things right

Revel, who pulls the strings

Xlack, who must choose a side

‘Wait’ I tell the one who has found me

’And I will continue their story

But pay careful attention

History altering changes are not made once

But day by day

So as not to be undone’

He quotes the first Emperor of Napix

’A choice is a powerful weapon

You claim a new duty

One you have chosen

But the one you inherited remains

In your blood

Did you think you could escape it?’

I smile

And say

’Do you not believe in me?

For I believe in you’

—The One They Misplaced

Collector of Memories

Teller of Tales