Ribbontail: Enter Emalia
Chapter 15: Sasha

Author's Note: Please read my artist's comments before continuing. :3
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Ribbontail struggled to keep herself upright as she crawled her way through to the top of a hill. She ached in every possible muscle; the days prior had not done her well. She had been in this “Emalia” land for no more than four days. Yet in this short time she had fallen into a river, been chased twice by two massive beasts, and scaled a canyon’s great walls.  

Pausing to wait for her two friends, Ribbontail’s ears drooped with relief. Hours ago Ribbontail and O’liday had left the canyon alone, miserable and yearning for the alleged death of PuppetRibbontail. But they traveled for a mere ten minutes before resting- it was then that PuppetRibbontail arrived again by their sides, unscathed.

Apparently, as O’liday explained, spirit guardians did not die easily.

As the three fell to rest at the crown of a hill, O’liday elbowed Ribbontail’s sides and silently gestured at the expanse of field up ahead.  He didn’t need to say a thing. Indeed, far into the distance Ribbontail could make out the pearly white figure of Fidei.

“'Bailing out!” croaked O’liday, licking at a cut on his soft white paw.

Ribbontail couldn’t help but nod. Why would he run? she thought in dismay, If he’s supposed to be a god then why’d he run?

It was not to be said that they needed Fidei’s help, anyway. With PuppetRibbontail at her side Ribbontail felt almost reassured about herself: an undying beast to protect her at all costs was more than enough safety-wise.

“I’m… too tired to go on for now. Sorry O’liday,” moaned Ribbontail as she curled up in the grass, “I’ve got to take a nap…”

“Hey dude, no problem.” O’liday stretched his legs and continued to tend to his wounds, “Nothing like a siesta, I say.”

Sagging down into the fieldgrass, Ribbontail let the dying sunrays wash over her. It was nice to relax for once. She had done nothing but travel for the past days- was there any rest amongst the chaos?

She felt a soft form press against her aching back. It was PuppetRibbontail nuzzling against her, as though to comfort her master, and Ribbontail couldn’t have felt more comfortable.

“Thanks Puppet,” sighed Ribbontail, though she knew she would get no response.

An awkward silence loomed amongst the three for a moment, as they lay there reveling in the silence of the blood-colored sunset. It was these calming moments which often made life worth living: to see the sun slowly dip below the horizon, as it had since the beginning of time.

Ribbontail pressed her eyes shut and sighed, knowing that though this world was dangerous she could not be any happier. Peacefully, Ribbontail passed into a deep sleep.
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Ribbontail was half-expecting to wake from her sleep via O’liday: he would throw another witty remark at her, and she would wake up as groggily as ever.

This time it was different. When Ribbontail awoke she did not know where she was- the featureless gray world around her hung in stolid quietness. For what seemed many minutes, Ribbontail simply lay curled up before finally gaining the nerve to arise.

“H…hello?” she called after yawning.

Indeed, the undistinguished void around her lacked any life at all. All around her was naught but a stone-colored world, cloaked in a thick foggy mist. There was nobody there but her, and when there was no response Ribbontail shivered back into a sitting position.

Great, she thought as another yawn escaped her lips, another new world. First Earth, then Emalia, then this… I just wished I knew what was going on with me.

Ribbontail’s head drooped.  Hurt and confused, she waited for whatever was to come next.

It was not a long wait, evidently.

From behind the curtain of fog came a massive figure. It parted the mist like a boat parts water, cutting through it in a faint white glow. It was a large dragon-like creature- slow, regal, and mystifying.

The dragon was immense, looming overhead like a great white god. It had a build much like a centaur: a large white dragon’s body topped with a more humanoid torso. Down her long neck, then along her back and snaking tail, was a silvery metal which glimmered oddly in the dead light.

So beautifully-adorned with jewelry was the dragon that Ribbontail had to gape up with wide eyes. She was a beautiful feminine creature, bejeweled with light and intricate detail right down to the crystal that glowed on her forehead.

It was the pair of white wings, mounted daintily behind her arms, which made her seem most appealing; she was almost angelic.

“Ribbontail,” said the figure, its female voice soft and muted, “Why is it that you question your own being?”

A sudden look of shock crossed Ribbontail’s face as she stared back at the mighty glowing figure, her mouth parted in awe. “What? Wh-who are you?”

The dragon remained silent for a moment, as though she were thinking, before the voice called, “Who are you?”

As though she had just swallowed a fly, Ribbontail’s mouth clasped shut. She almost retorted with the same question, but the solemn stare prevented her from doing so. “I...” the girl stammered instead, “I don’t really know. My name’s either Stephanie or Ribbontail... I don’t really know which I am anymore.”

The next question came abruptly. “Stephanie or Ribbontail- which would you rather be?”

Ribbontail’s ears flattened to her skull. The dragon, mighty in her vigilance and light, merely watched Ribbontail without saying a word. But it- she- seemed to feel Ribbontail’s confusion and woe.

“Ribbontail,” the dragon finally whispered, “Did you like Earth?”

Eyes wide, Ribbontail looked up at the dragon. “I... no. I didn’t like Earth. Nobody liked me there. I’m kinda happy I’m not there anymore.”

“What about Emalia? Do you like it here?”

Finally Ribbontail nodded, a bleak little smile finally marking her face. “Yeah, I guess I do. O’liday’s nice, and I like PuppetRibbontail, and the gods are cool. And I like being a wolf, too... But I don’t feel like I belong here.”

The large white dragon placed a comforting talon on Ribbontail’s back, her massive palm in itself almost the size of the wolf girl. “Tell me, Ribbontail. What is it that worries you?”

“I... well, I die one day and it turns out that I’m a goddess. Then these animal gods throw me down into this world and I get attacked by monsters. I haven’t even been here a week and I almost died twice! How would YOU feel?!”

Almost frustrated, Ribbontail turned and glared up at the dragon. It was no longer an amazed look of shock that was across her face- it was a demanding frown. But as a response to the sudden annoyance, the dragon merely looked away and waited. She said nothing to Ribbontail for a long while.

When Ribbontail finally relaxed, the dragon continued.

  “Ribbontail, did the goddess Pola tell you the story of our world? Of the gods, and Eclipse and his followers?”

Silently Ribbontail nodded. “Yeah, but what’s that got to do with me? Is it because I’m supposed to become a goddess?”

The dragon nodded. “Yes. The gods you met earlier are those who care for the mortals of Emalia. They rush to the aid of mortals in need, as untouchable miracles that can save thousands of lives at once. In person the gods are not much- they are humble, almost weak. But together the gods hold the safety of Emalia, and they are like a spider’s web: when one strand is removed, the rest falls apart.”

“And this has to do with me how?”

“You and Fidei both hold the future of Emalia in your paws. As your parents grow weaker with their powers’ decay, you two grow wiser, braver, stronger. You two must train together in the mortal world, completing the tasks assigned by the stars. Only then are you worthy enough to call yourselves gods. Only then are you ready to enter the fabric of the Emalian gods.”

A little wave of joy washed over Ribbontail, warming her heart. “So... it’s like, if I give up then this world is in danger?”

The great white dragon cast a motherly look down on Ribbontail, nodding as she swished her gold-fan tail. “Yes. Without you and Fidei, all of Emalia would collapse under the weight of the Eclipsians. Our world now is in turmoil; it’s dangerous, and it’s frightening. But perhaps you and Fidei can change that when you are grown.”

With a sink the dragon rose to her feet, stretching her arms and legs. She then blinked her eyes slowly at Ribbontail, the stoic air suddenly replaced with one of compassion.

“I shall return to you the night of tomorrow. Should you awake in a dream and not know where you are, know that you are safe and observe what the fates have to show you.”

Ribbontail stumbled to her paws and nodded. “Uh...thanks,” she called up to the winged beast, “I...I’m glad you visited me. Thanks.”

The dragon said nothing but nodded, then slowly turned and began slowly padding away. But she stopped and turned back, halted by Ribbontail’s voice:

“Wait!” called the little wolf girl, “What’s your name? You never told me who you were.”

There was a slight pause, and the golden eyes glimmered solicitously. “I am Akbar Mubaarak Azdaha Jo Hefaazat Karma a-Aalam,” she announced, the immense name thundering through the featureless world around them, “But those who cannot say it simply call me Sasha. I am the supreme god of this world.”

Then with a bow of her mighty head the Emalian goddess was off, turning to duck into the gray curtain of mist.