Allura agrees to go back with him, shooting a last suspicious look at the orb. She stops and looks at Alaina.
Would you like to come back to the Oasis with us?Alaina shivers, looking at the glowing orb
"I guess I should, but where's Lyn?"
"Her grandfather and JH took her over by the world tree over there. I'm not sure what's wrong, but she collapsed earlier. I'm not sure that there's anything that we can do to help. I suppose it can't hurt to ask."
Help us, pls Yggdrasil.
A voice that sounded much like her own spoke from behind her. "You know who you are. Now it's time for you to face what you are. Transformations are never easy, but it's time you faced yours and accepted the truth."
She turned and saw herself, but a much different self. Wind swirled around her, stars swirled through her eyes, and the music she had heard earlier seemed to come from this other one of her self.
"Then tell me what I am," she demanded of herself. "I don't understand. I know I've changed. Tell me how."
"Do you really expect me to believe that you don't know? That you haven't the slightest guess? You can't fool me. I'm you, remember."
She swallowed hard, not wanting to say out loud what she had been afraid to admit from the start. "I still have the goddess's life energy. She died, but it was still inside me. What does that make me?" she asked, nearing panic. She was so afraid to hear the answer.
Alaina walks over to the supine form of LJ.
"She helped me. I have to help her."
She sinks down beside LJ and falls into a deep trance. Her soul falls into the Green searching for LJ
Lyn? Where are you?
Help us, pls Yggdrasil.
Within his mind, Yggdrasil drew him in as it had before, showing him not the things of the earth this time, but the sky and the stars. In the distance he can see Lynora-Jill trapped behind a barrier, talking to herself.
The calm and strength of the Green soothe her panic. Her other self laughs.
"Am I so horrible then, that you are that afraid to admit that you are me? Yes, you have the life energy of the goddess. Yes, it changed you. But not for the worse. Trust yourself. You resisted her influence for so long, how can you still fear it now? You must let go of your fears and accept what you are, Star Song. They need you, all of you, whole and unbroken."
Alaina can also follow the link through the Green to the sky. She can see LJ in the distance among a sea of stars, having an argument with herself.
Alaina hesitates, not wanting to interfere
"How can any good come from power that originated with HER?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Come off it already. You used to siphon energy off her all the time to use it for good. I know you were hurt, but let it go."
"You still won't tell me the truth. What am I?"
Alaina hesitates, not wanting to interfere
Go. She is still stuck. She needs your help.
Alaina travels to where Lynora is having her argument with herself
Lyn! Are you OK? Please come and talk with me!
Alaina travels to where Lynora is having her argument with herself
Lyn! Are you OK? Please come and talk with me!
Alaina! I can't go anywhere, she says frustrated. I was lost, and then Jack Hammer called me and I'm trying so hard to go back, but there's this barrier in the way, and She, pointing to her mirror image says I can't go back until I face what I am. But she won't tell me what that is.
Alaina looks to the mirror image
So what is she image? What does she have to face?
Alaina looks to the mirror image
So what is she image? What does she have to face?
The image responds. "She does not want to face herself. She does see herself as she is, but as she was. She is afraid. It was easier when she served a deity. There was someone to back her up, guide her decisions, to keep her on the right path. She is afraid to accept her own power outside of those restrictions. She will not see who she is. She will not admit that she is the Star Song, an incarnation of Sky itself, and that she has to take responsibility for her own power now."
The image continues. "She is afraid the one she loves won't accept her as the Star Song. Which is completely ridiculous, by the way. You know that. You're being absolutely childish," she adds glaring pointedly at LJ
LJ bites her lip. Alaina, tell me the truth. Do I really look like that? she says pointing to her mirror image.
Do you think that she is telling me the truth?
Alaina Smiles and holds her hands out to LJ
I will accept you no matter how you change. You have seen me through two separate incarnarions, how can I not stand by you as you transform?
Alaina smiles, the sunburst over her eye gleaming, the fire flower on her forehead glowing with an intense red light
Accept that things will always change, darling Lynora, and become who you are destined to be. JH and I and everyone else will love you all the same.
Alaina Smiles and holds her hands out to LJ
I will accept you no matter how you change. You have seen me through two separate incarnarions, how can I not stand by you as you transform?
Alaina smiles, the sunburst over her eye gleaming, the fire flower on her forehead glowing with an intense red light
Accept that things will always change, darling Lynora, and become who you are destined to be. JH and I and everyone else will love you all the same.
Thank you, my friend, she says, hugging Alaina tightly. It means a lot to me having you here. I'm still scared, but I think it's time.
She steps back and looks towards the barrier where her mirror image is waiting. She glances over at the Oracle as well.And thank you, too, for your encouragement and comfort. It's time for me to go back now. JH is waiting for me.
She steps towards the barrier, and right into her mirror image. They merge into one and she steps through the barrier as if it were never there.
Alaina hugs her friend
I am so glad to see you again, Star Song ...
By the glint in Alaina's eye Lynora can tell she is gently teasing
LJ speeds back towards her body, towards where she heard JH calling her. She awakens with a gasp.
'Thank you', JH says to no one in particular, and to all at the same time.
Are you OK?
'Thank you', JH says to no one in particular, and to all at the same time.
I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you, my love, she whispers. I was afraid.
If I could have broken down the barrier I would have. But only you could have done it, Star Song. He winks
She smiles, tentatively. You really don't mind? About what I am?
A shapely woman appears, holding two orbs.
Has anyone seen my orb...
She sees the collection of heroes and vanishes as soon as the last word reaches their ears
She smiles, tentatively. You really don't mind? About what I am?
You're the woman I love. That's good enough for me.
She smiles, tentatively. You really don't mind? About what I am?You're the woman I love. That's good enough for me.
Thank you, she says throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly.
Thank you, she says throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly.She smiles, tentatively. You really don't mind? About what I am?You're the woman I love. That's good enough for me.
For what? You're the one who put up with a bum like me, and turned me into a hero.
For what? You're the one who put up with a bum like me, and turned me into a hero.Thank you, she says throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly.She smiles, tentatively. You really don't mind? About what I am?You're the woman I love. That's good enough for me.
You were always a hero. You just couldn't see it at first. And I was thanking you for accepting me as I am. Even when I wasn't so sure about me. She smiled at him. We do seem to be well matched, my love.
JH still hasn't fully let go of Lyn. He turns to Alaina.
Welcome back, Fire Flower.
Alaina curtseys
Thank you Earth Champion!
JH can feel the thrum of earth power in Alaina's new set of tattoos.
Alaina curtseys
Thank you Earth Champion!
JH can feel the thrum of earth power in Alaina's new set of tattoos.
JH notices the tattoos but focuses on the one over her eye. It's a world unto itself. Or a gateway.
And Spring Sapling is restored to us too. One big happy family.
But what happens next? Alaina shivers as she looks over at the orb with the runny colors
The small green shape of the Witch Hunter General's Flunkie comes scuttling into the clearing.
Hey guys, how are you all? Uhh, I heard something bad happened to Club Calistria.
He shakes his head.
Bad stuff that.