Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't.

[goddessnanshe.livejournal.com]

Wednesday, sometime, somewhere in Dream

Once upon time there was a beautiful princess. Her hair was the colour of jet and her skin was the colour of nutmeg, and each of her teeth were like pearls. Flowers grew where she walked, so that the fields around the tower that was her home was carpeted in blooms as white as snow. The princess was very happy, all save for one thing: her fear that one day the thorn of one of the flowers would prick her. Her servants combed the field for thorns every day, trimming the stems so that it would be safe for her to walk. But still the princess was afraid, and she neglected to notice that each month the forest encroached closer on her home, until one day, standing in her field of flowers, she looked up to see the trees looming around her, undergrowth thick with thorns. Frightened, she fled inside, and as she ran she began her first bleeding, and the blood that trickled down her thigh fell to the earth and stained the roses around the tower a deep and brilliant red.

Inside the tower the princess was afraid that she was dying, for her father had always insisted that royal blood was the most precious of all things and must never be spilled. Weeping, she showed the blood to her old nurse, who laughed and kissed her cheek and told her this was the secret gift of women, and now she was blessed. So the princess wiped her eyes, and was no longer afraid of bleeding. But the thorns of the forest came for her all the same.

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[lord-icelus.livejournal.com]

So the silly bitch got herself some loyal friends. No matter. There are still many tricks I can play.

The skies open, because if we're to have a dramatic showdown the sky should reflect that, shouldn't it?

All fairytales are about dragons, in one way or another. In the tongue that first named me the word comes from δέρκεσθαι, to see clearly. Dragons are what we know wait for us in the dark. Dragons like me.

And so I come as a dragon, but not of scales and teeth. That is wrapped underneath something else. Something to make Nanshe's own people turn on her. I come as what each of them love best, and they are going to watch Nanshe try to put a sword through me.

I smile as I approach the tower.

[goddessnanshe.livejournal.com]

I walk out into the storm, and I'm glad to see that the roses are dead. I move my hand, and they are cleared away. I'm not strong enough to pull down the woods, not yet, but this I can do. There is wet grass and wet grass alone under my feet, and from the north comes a dragon. I raise my sword. I could make myself armour, but it needs to be like this.

Overhead thunder rolls.

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy when all the water falls from the sky, it's almost like being back in the river. But then I see a tall woman with a sword and then I see Maryk and Karina. And the sword-woman is swinging at them!

This makes me so angry! And afraid for them. No! You can not hurt my family! I let out all my anger and fear in one loud and painful sound and I'm so far away I don't know if anyone can hear me. So I reach up and out to the water demanding it help. That it knock her down or push her sword away.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

Zann gives me an almost exasperated look when I yell at her, but at least it gets her attention. "God no, My Carousel, my baby running sweet and bright,"

Oh, well. That's... a carousel. To each their own. "Zann, I promise you, I don't see a carousel!" I have to yell now, out of necessity for the wind is starting to pick up.

"I need to get down there! I'll meet you at the bottom." "Alright, but be careful!" I yell back and release her hand. I run down the stairs as fast as I can without risking slipping, for I still have Rose. I burst out the door at the bottom, and the wind is whipping the rain into my face. I quickly make sure my child is covered, and run around to the side to meet Zann. It is hard, because the mud that the rain is causing is pulling at my boots.

"We have to help her defeat what she faces, but I don't know how!" I admit, raking wet hair from my face.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

I see a naked woman in a field, and something about her makes me think I know you, just as I did about Tess. Tess is in the field too, and wearing different clothes to before, but I don't have time to think about that.

I see Wanda and rush over.

"Syl's badly hurt," I say. "But she needs to come to the tower. I can't carry her on my own, and the girl with no face ran off and left us. Will you help?"

[goddessnanshe.livejournal.com]

Leah. I know you, river girl, and I know what you're calling. I don't have much time. In the distance I hear the roar of the river as it overspills its banks.

I heft the sword and march on. I don't have much power yet, not that's mine, but with my borrowed strength I make the ground beneath me dry so I can walk to the feet of the beast without slipping.

"You are an invader," I say. "You are not welcome. This is my kingdom. You will let us go."

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

There's a rush of people going down the stairs, and I follow. I don't know that I can protect the princess, and she has my sword now, but I know I must try to help her. She strides out naked into the rain, and even scared as I am I can admire her, her beauty and her strength, and then I see -

I feel like the breath goes out of me, looking at the woman the princess is walking toward. I've never believed in love at first sight, and this doesn't feel like first sight, not really. I feel like I've always known her.

"Pilgrim soul," I say quietly, wonderingly, and then I realise that the princess is holding up her sword, about to bring it down on the love of my life.

"No," I say, running across the field and throwing myself at the princess, pulling her down to the ground, the sword dropping from her hands.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Th'water helps, even if'n't bashes me 'gainst a couple trees 'n I almost pass out. Might be eas'er if'n I could get back inta m'seal skin, but't's torn'n ragged 'n wound 'round m'shattered legs, an'I can't get't free. 't smells th'water 'n th'salt, annit tries t'sink't's roots in, but't ain't quite workin'. But't least drawin' m'self through water, seizin' branches 'n bushes 'n haulin' m'self forwards, s'eas'er 'n draggin' 'long th'ground.

When I get 'ere, first thin' I see's m'twins, m'twins standin' wit' Genny, an' Nanshe's chargin'em witta sword. Think I musta knocked m'damn head, cuzzat don't make no sense. An' th'next thin't happens izza dark-haired man tackles'er, knockin' th'sword from'er hands.

Jesus Christ I can't fuckin' stand. "Nanshe!" I bellow, proppin' m'self up on m'hands. "NANSHE! HERE!"

[sapphira-ststep.livejournal.com]

I've looked so long to find myself, and gone so far, and now I'm here, standing in the rain. A man's sent my enemy sprawling on the ground, sword gone from hand, and Syl's howling her name, and I go past them all.

Yes. It's me. I wonder what it'll be like to know who I am again, and the thought fills my heart with something that's not even joy. A renewed awareness of how much is missing, a hunger that is sweet with the promise of satiation.

The line of cheek and temple, the soft padding of skin, the expression heralding all there is to express. "I've missed you," I say, reaching out to take my face back.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

His eyes, I remember them. And his smirk. I slapped him, once, because of that smirk. He was haphazard, reckless, he- he got me in trouble... but he also helped me, saved me, loved- betrayed me.

Horus. I want to run to him. Hold him, tell him I remember. But he's fractured, somehow, splintered, pieces missing or in the wrong place. He reflect wrong, like a broken mirror.

A mirror. It's a mirror! The blank doll is reaching for his face like she knows him. "Marrana, don't!" I shout & run for her (I know her name!). "It will cut you!" And a woman, broken & bleeding, is pulling herself & I know her, too, but I can't be in two places at once. Unless... I look to my hands. My silver hands. "Go to Syl. Help her." There's a pull, not as terrible as when I first lost them, & they sever, flying towards Syl. I hope she knows what to do. And I run for Marrana.

[goddessnanshe.livejournal.com]

It hurts when he knocks me to the ground, and I haven't been hurt by a human in so long. I'm still so weak. I hear Syl calling my name and I roll out from underneath Valmont.

"I can't let you hurt her," he says, pushing me back down. "I'm sorry, princess, but I've been looking for her for so long."

"She's not Hermia," I say, and my voice sounds hoarse. I touch my lip and find it's bleeding. "She's just a shadow." And I think of the strength that Zann gave me, and my hands are gears and steel and I push him off me hard and rise.

"Nanshe! Here!"

It's Syl, and I run toward her. The river has started spilling across the field, and it slows me down.

"Ice," I say impatiently, and it freezes. I glide across it with feet that are blades. It feels like walking on broken glass; but that, too, is an old story.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

The place has errupted into chaos. People yelling, tackling Kent who is not Kent, and Valmont knocks Godmother to the ground.

"Syl's badly hurt," Kate comes over, her words a rush. "But she needs to come to the tower. I can't carry her on my own, and the girl with no face ran off and left us. Will you help?"

"Girl with no.... nevermind!" I shake my head. "Lead the way." I yell, figuring doing something is better than nothing. I run behind Kate, holding Rose close lest I jostle her too much, or I slip in the mud. It seems Gothmother had the same idea to get Syl, for she is striding in front of us.

"Ice" She calls, and I skid to a stop before I slip, then start to ease across along with Kate. I hear yelling from behind, and I swear I hear Kent's voice calling to me for help, but I shut it out.

Syl looks wrecked, and Godmother tired. "What can I do to help?" I ask as I reach their sides.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

We's reached th'point where I ain't askin' questions no more. Th'water freezes 'round us, an' I see a pair'a silver hands flyin' through th'air t'wards me. Hes'tate't first, but'ey drift t'wards me, palms up, an' what choice've I got, 'at'is point?

"Pull me," I says, an'I grip'em. 'ey's cold, but'ey's strong, an'ey glide me 'cross th'ice, draggin' m'legs b'hind me. 'ey drag me, an'I see'er comin', on razor-sharp feet. Yes. Fin'lly.

'ere's a red-headed woman'ere too, but I don't know'er....'scept somethin' tells me not t'trust'er. An' she ain't important. What's important's Nanshe, an'I r'lease th'silver hands t'seize hold ovver wrists.

"Time fer me t'return th'favour," I says, breathin' hard, but grinnin' through th'pain. "Kiss me and wake."

I pull'er down, press m'mouth t'ers, an' th'burnin' golden egg rises from m'belly, t'm'throat, t'm'mouth, t'hers.

[lord-icelus.livejournal.com]

The boy-who-would-be-prince pulls Nanshe down, and I giggle to myself. And then the blank-faced girl comes for me, seeing herself in me. I do love vanity, and I turn into her arms and kiss her, kiss her with such passion that my tongue chokes her and my arms crush her lungs. I can feel her struggle weakly, bubbling sound rising from her chest, and I smile and drop her.

And then I am furious, seeing what that bitch is doing, and I strike the ice with my foot and it melts. Lightning dances in the sky. I will not give up my dominion.

[goddessnanshe.livejournal.com]

Syl has been terribly hurt, but I cannot ease her. There is no time. "What can I do to help?" says Wanda.

"Pray," I say, because if I have ever needed prayers it is now. And then Syl draws my head down and kisses me, mouth open wide, and she passes me -

Yes.

Yes, Phobetor, you tempted me with this. This is a gift for my town, for my people, and I will have it, and I will cast you out.

I swallow hard, and I rise, raising the sword, and I turn to the dragon. The wind howls and the ice melts, but I do not fall. I hold the sword above my head.

"I am the daughter of the Lord of the Earth.

I am the Guarantor of Boundaries.

I am the Lady of Shadows, and you are no king here. I drive you out," I say, and the dragon's mouth opens, waiting for me to strike at him. That's how these stories usually end, isn't it? With the death of the dragon. But that is not Icelus, and that is not my kingdom.

My kingdom is me. I am the Lady of Shadows. I am Dream, and he is inside me.

With all my strength, I drive the sword through my heart.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

The Mirror-man takes Marrana in his arms, & I'm slipping on ice, running to stop him. She takes his face in her hands & they kiss-

-and she starts to crack. His arms crush her & he buries his mouth into hers & I'm still running, but I can't get closer! Her blank face changes from Comedy to Tragedy & the Mirror-man drops her. He stamps his foot & the ice melts & I am now wading, but she floats... at first. But she starts to sink as he moves away, a dragon again. I shout, but my voice is lost in the storm.

Please, no, I can't lose another!

I reach her & plunge my arms in, but my hands are still with Syl. But I try again, I can see her, please, please let me reach her!

I feel her arm, & I grab- grab it, pulling her up above the water, cradling her like a child. She's limp, not breathing & I shake her. "Marion, please!" I know that's not her name. The dragon opens it's mouth to swallow someone & inside I know this is for a reason, know it's not real, but outside I rage, screaming at it, "You bastard! I'll kill you!" Gods, let her wake up!

And the axe is in my hands again. My human hands. The scar on my shoulder like a fresh wound. And I'm charging at the dragon(nothing but ash shall remain!). I can't stop myself & I strike-

The Warrior Maiden pierces her chest with her sword & there is pain & light & I- I-------

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

"Pray."

I have known Gods, befriended them, lain with them, hated them, loved them. Have I ever prayed?

"Nanshe deliver us." I say without hesitation, but with my full heart and mind, finally making the connection. "Deliver us from the nightmare so we may dream again." Syl kisses Godmoth---Nanshe and something passes between them. She turns to the not-Kent, sword raised, proud and in her power.

"I am the Lady of Shadows, and you are no king here. I drive you out,"

Perhaps because I have done it myself, I recognize the swivel of the wrist, the arc her arm will take. "Please Dream Lady let this work." My left arm curls around Rose, clutching her to me, and I whisper to her that I love her as the goddess of Dreams sacrifices herself. My right hand draws my own sword, and I will not fall on it, but I turn to whatever the being is she faced and smile darkly at the visage of my husband, who smiles darkly back.

"I told you I was not afraid of wolves, for I am the Wolf's Bride!" I snarl, and aiming for his throat, my arm swings---